Ginsberg that lucky fellow

Ginsberg, That lucky fellow

He saw the best minds of his generation destroyed by madness
All of the minds in my generation were destroyed
by television
He could write about
defying the social norm
But now, no one understands.
He had the vietnam war, the 60's
ginsberg was a lucky fellow
writig material was all handed to him
On a silver platter
But now
All that we write about
is sunsets, and roses
How are they going to start a revolution?

Ode to DNA

A protein would not even try to compare
To a molecule so great, it wouldn't dare
Though scientists tried to lead us astray
This is an ode to DNA

It began with a question. How did we come about?
And soon enough, an idea did sprout
of a single molecule so important indeed
that to create new life it would be all that we need

So in my heart lies a special place
reserved to be thankful for each nitrogen base
and in each and every human cell
a strand of DNA will always dwell

Old man on the sea essay

The Old Man and the Sea essay assignment


When there is defeat, a yearn to try harder is born with it. After losing a game, the team has a motive to practice harder than ever, because they now have a goal to reach. After getting a bad grade on a test, one has the drive to study longer, and harder. In the novella, Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, Santiago has not caught a fish in 84, and has been defeated by the sea. Throughout the book, there is a theme of determination. Santiago’s determination was fueled by his previous defeat, and it makes him try harder to reach his goal.

In the beginning of the book, on page 10, we learn in the first paragraph that Santiago is “definitely and finally Salao, which is the worst form of unlucky.” Although it is true that Santiago was unlucky or that you could argue he was unlucky, this doesn’t defeat him, and he continues with the activity that he loves. Also, Santiago accepts his "unluckyness" and believes that he will be lucky again, when the time has come. Instead of being defeated by this, he turns it around to make himself more determined to defy what others are saying about him. Although in the book it is emphasized that this is what he loves doing, he is pushed further by this defeat.


It is not only Santiago, but the Marlin and shark that are determined to survive, and refuse to be killed, whether that is not being caught (the marlin) or claiming food (the shark). "If I were him I would put in everything now and go until something broke. But, thank God, they are not as intelligent as we who kill them; although they are more noble and more able." This quote explains the intellectual difference between hunter and hunted, and that the hunted are usually not as intelligent as humans, but still as noble. I have noticed, and think that it is almost entirely true that animals never immediately give in to a threat, and will keep their pride throughout the struggle for life.

Fish, you are going to have to die anyway. Do you have to kill me too?" Santiago says on page 111. As well as knowing his death will come, he knows that other species are certainly not immortal. In this quote he fights for his "survival" (really meaning financially in this quote. or being knocked into the sea) and pushes the fishes life aside. this quote explains how we can often rank a species importance by how long it lives, as well as their asset to the world. But what asset are humans to the lives of fish? I answer this by saying that our superiority makes this question not matter.

In a famous quote by Hemingway, he says "the fish is a fish, the old man is an old man, and the shark is a shark. The symbolism you hear is [crap]" And i agree that there really is no allegory whatsoever in the story. The struggle for life in this story may be shadowed by the plot, but when it does come up throughout the book, it is not a metaphor for something else. A fish is a fish, and survival is survival for any living animal. Being one of the most prominent themes in the story, we learn how even with the fullest knowledge of knowing our downfall, we still use every ounce of courage we have to stay alive. Fascinating, isn't it?

third quarter outside reading book review

Third quarter outside book review

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

Little brown and Company, 2008. Fantasy fiction.



Breaking Dawn is the four books in the twilight saga, continuing and perhaps concluding the story of Edward and Bella’s romance, and the Journey they have been through together. The book is written in three sections; in Bella’s point of view, then Jacobs, and then back to Bella’s. It starts off with Edward and Bella’s wedding, which Alice plans, although Bella is reluctant to let her. They leave for their honeymoon that night and end up at Isle Esme, a private island on the coast of Brazil that Carlisle bought Esme. They arrive at the home they will be staying in, and fulfilling his promise, Edward makes love to Bella. After a long stay on the island, Bella realizes her period is late, and feels a bump in her stomach, which she thinks to be a baby, but realizes that it couldn’t have grown so much in this amount of time. She calls Carlisle who tells them to come home immediately, and learns she is pregnant. The baby grows very quickly and is a vampire hybrid. Because it is so strong it is hurting Bella from the inside. After just a month, the baby is born, by tearing its way out through Bella’s stomach. Bella loses so much blood that Edward can only save her by turning into a vampire. She sees her child for the first time, and names her Renesmee. Soon, the Cullen’s got a visit from Irina, who misunderstands Renesmee for being an immortal child and goes to the Volturi, who then try to kill Renesmee and the Cullens. The Cullen’s go around the world in search of other vampires to stand as witnesses that Renesmee is not a threat. When the Volturi confront the Cullen’s and their witnesses, they realize that they have been mistaken and execute Irina for her mistake. When they are still deciding whether Renesmee is in fact a threat to the discovery of vampires, Alice and Jasper show up with a hybrid named Nahuel, who demonstrates that she poses no threat.

“A near-genius balance of breathtaking romance and action…” –VOYA

Stephanie Meyer has an incredibly descriptive writing style that shows throughout her series. Love is also a prominent theme in all of the books. In this book, however, she used two different perspectives of the story, something she has not done before. She references the bible several times, and also uses Shakespeare’s books to compare with events or struggles in the story.

“Though the fire did not decrease one tiny degree-in fact, I began to develop a new capacity for experiencing it, a new sensitivity to appreciate, separately, each blistering tongue of flame that licked through my veins-I discovered that I could think around it.” – pg. 378

Yes, I am one of those crazed Stephanie Meyer fans. The ones who come home from a long day of school and pick up the book right as they walk in the door. But the reasons for this are her amazing use of description, and getting to know each and every character and event so well, as well as her emphasis on the power of love, that everyone, including me can relate to and strive for.

Unpredictable

“Nathan!” Mrs. Simmons yelled shrilly. She maneuvered around the labyrinth of glitter dusted tables, and piles of light up sneakers to the rug in the center of the room, to where Nathan Baker stood over his brother Thomas lifting him up by his shirt. Thomas had a bloody nose and a split lip, and the pallor of his gaunt face was more prominent than usual.
“What have you done?” The teacher directed toward Nathan, who just stared at her as if nothing was wrong.

“I think it’s time for you to take a trip to the office young man. Once again, your callowness has shined through.” She said, in a low angry tone.
Mrs. Simmons cradled Thomas in her hands and rushed down the carpeted hallway to the Nurses office. She plopped Nathan on the examination bed, which smelled of rancid dirty socks, and handed him over to the Nurse, Mrs. Brown. About 15 minutes later, right before the school day ended, Thomas showed up back in Mrs. Simmons classroom with a cherry red lollipop in one hand and an icepack in the other. He looked content, but also partially in pain.
“Thomas, are you alright?” Mrs. Simmons asked him.
Thomas nodded, and then flinched in pain. The bleeding had stopped, but the bruising had begun.
Strangely, this wasn’t an irregular thing. It usually didn’t take until the end of the day for Nathan to have Thomas in tears. He treated him like a piece of dirt, but usually only verbally. Mrs. Simmons wondered what set him off today. Nathan knew the time out corner like the back of his hand, and wasn’t ashamed of it. He and a small bevy of his friends were the bullies of the first grade class, but Nathan got the worst of it. The real reason for this feud was because Nathan didn’t feel he got the attention he deserved. After Thomas was born, all the attention turned to him, the dimpled, baby faced brown haired boy that everyone loved. He was jealous, and that jealousy never seemed to fade.
Mrs. Simmons sat Thomas and Nathan down at one of the blue round tables in the class, likes she did every time something like this happened. Their class mates giggled at the door, trying to listen to what had happened in the most recent battle royal. Nathan took his usual seat across the table, propping his legs up, and Thomas sat right next to Mrs. Simmons. Apologize were exchanged, lessons learned, and nothing really changed for either of them. The discussion was soon over, and the kids ran off out of the school to meet their parents eager to go to soccer practice, or piano lessons.
Nathan and Thomas greeted their mother, Beth, in front of the familiar red minivan and jumped up into their seats. Beth took one glance at Thomas and let out a shrill cry.
“My baby! What happened to-” she stopped mid sentence and turned to Nathan who was haphazardly casting his books out of his backpack into the car looking for leftover snack.
“Nathan Isaac Baker, what in heavens did you do to him now?” she exclaimed, reprimanding him.
“I was just playing.” He said, snickering into his palm.
“This,” she said, pointing to his lip, “Is not playing. You are grounded until your married!” then Beth picked up the heaviest book that flew out of his backpack and hit Nathan upside the head.
“I hate you!” Nathan yelled. “I hate you all! Especially you Thomas. I hate you the most! No one pays attention to me! It’s all about you!” he said, then took off into the parking lot away from the van.
Thomas pulled his thumb out of his mouth and cast a panicked glance at his mother.
“Mommy? Tom exclaimed. “Why did he say that? It wasn’t true, right?”
“Oh sweetie, of course not!” Beth embraced Thomas, and mashed his face into her curly brown hair. What was she supposed to say?
“I have to go get him. I have to tell Nathan I love him. Because maybe he doesn’t know. NATHAN!” Thomas wiggled out of his mothers iron grip and sprinted into the parking lot.”
“Thomas get back here! Thomas!” She exclaimed. But he had already run halfway back to the school where Thomas sat by the front doors, face nestled in his hands.
“Nathan! Thomas tried again. “You don’t have to worry! Mom and I love you just as much as anyone loves me. And even if you get mad sometimes, I still-“he was cut short by the loud horn of a pickup truck turning into the parking lot by the front school. Just as Thomas finished its sentence the bumper of the truck knocked him prostrate on the road.
“Thomas!” Nathan immediately jumped up from his sitting position and ran over to his brother, leaning down over his closed eyes, and still chest.

“Ring this buzzer on the side of the bed if you need me,” the nurse said glibly to Beth, in contrast to the otherwise tense emotion in the room. The crash had left Thomas in a coma, with severe hemorrhaging and after the incident Nathan was by his side nonstop. He refused to leave the room, and sat right by Thomas bed starting at his closed eyes. Nathan read stories to Thomas and left little cups of chocolate pudding by his hand in case he woke up hungry. Immediately after the accident Beth had seen a change in Nathan. He had realized that in that moment he could have lost his brother forever and there was still a chance that would happen now. As Nathan stood over Thomas, he constantly blamed himself for what had happened. Beth had tried to convince him that was nonsense, but he didn’t believe her.
Nathan, Beth, a few nurses, and Tom’s father all sat cramped in the tiny patients room watching the monitor like their favorite TV show. Hours had gone by without a clue as to Tom’s condition. But suddenly, everyone’s heads perked up with the sound of a constant beeping.
“Mommy?” Nathan asked impatiently, “Mommy what’s that? What’s happening?”
“I…I’m not sure. Nurse!” she pressed the small white button and watched as the nurse rushed into the room.
“The monitors beeping. What does this mean?” she asked.
“Well, it looks as if Tom is waking up!” she informed us after checking the monitor. “His heart is at a steady pace, and his brain is functioning normally.”
“Does this mean he’s ok?” Nathan asked hopefully.
“Well, let’s go and see.” The nurse replied. They all walked over to Thomas bed to find no change.
“Thomas. Thomas can you hear me?” the nurse said. And then, Thomas stirred just the tiniest bit, and everyone in the room gasped. In a matter of minutes, he had opened his eyes, and accidentally knocked one of the pudding cups off of the bed. Thomas looked around the room in shock, and seemed vexed and disoriented.
“You’re ok! My baby. We thought we were going to lose you!” Beth said, alleviated, and kissed him lightly on the forehead, brushing his hair out of his eyes.
“How do you feel?” Thomas didn’t respond, but smiled weakly up at his mother.
Nathan ran up to his bed next.
“Oh Thomas! I’m so sorry. It was my entire fault you got into the accident; I shouldn’t have treated you that way.” He exclaimed, tears building in his eyes.
“I promise to never ever be mean to you again. You’re my brother, and I’ve always loved you.” He embraced Thomas, who in turn let out a squeal of pain.
“Nathan, honey, you should probably let Thomas rest.” Beth told Nathan.
“No, it’s ok,” Thomas replied weakly.
“Nathan, I love you too.” He said.
“And the accident was not your fault,” Beth added, “it happened by chance, and life can be full of surprises, and that should remind us all to love the people who are close to us more.”
Thomas was emancipated from the hospital that night. The brother grew closer to each other with each passing day and Nathan never layed a finger on Thomas. But that day was ended with a lesson, that you can lose the ones you love when you least expect it.

short story (draft 1)

By the end of class, the color of Thomas’ Simmons face was almost completely white. The pallor of his gaunt face made him appear to be see through. He definitely looked sick. I maneuvered around the labyrinth of glitter dusted tables, and piles of light up sneakers to the rug in the center of the room, where all the children sat, and waited anxiously for the ding of the afternoon bell. I squatted down near Thomas, and eyed him keenly. He didn’t usually get sick, and was normally jumping off the walls by the end of the day.
“Thomas,” I asked, concerned, “Are you feeling alright?”
He deliberately shook his head, and breathed deeply as if to calm himself. Then he leaned back and cast his lunchbox on the floor.
“The nurse is still in her office. We could go stop by if you’d like.” I suggested.
“No, that’s alright Ms. Annie. It’s almost the end of the day, and I don’t feel that bad.”
“Ok.” I replied suspiciously, “But keep me updated.”
I smiled and tickled his chin, and then I turned to look at the clock. Five minutes before three, just in time for afternoon announcements.
“Alright second grade, listen up!” I clapped three times, and waited for them to repeat.
“Tomorrow, we have Nathan and Thomas’ parents coming in to tell our class about each one of their jobs for Parent week, so think up some interesting questions to ask them when your home tonight, okay? And our first spelling test is on Friday, so you only have two more days to study. And have a good day!” I managed to get that out right as the bell rang.
I hopped up on one of the benches on the rug to avoid being trampled by the stampede of children, and then walked over to clean up the cubbies. I stopped in front of Thomas’ to scoop up his change of clothes that had fallen to the ground. Thomas was by far the recluse in the class, but also, no question, the most inquisitive. Instead of swinging from the monkey bars like the rest of the class, we had a whole conversation about long division yesterday at recess. I was surprised at how much he knew, but lost him once I talked about the concept of remainders. Not only was Thomas smart, but he thought differently than the other kids did. Once they got an answer to a question, they were through with it, and kept it stored In the back of their little brains, cluttered among other useless information. But Thomas would toy with the subject, questioning it until it was dry, wanting to understand every aspect of it. I had known Thomas and his family for quite some time now, and loved him just as much I would my own child.
I walked over to Nathans cubby, at the other end of the cubby rack. His large pile of action figures and rancid spoiled food represented his callowness. He and a small bevy of his friends were the bullies of the class, but Thomas got the worst of it. He knew the time out corner like the back of his hand, and didn’t seem to be ashamed of it. And it wasn’t uncommon when he had Thomas in tears by lunch time. But I never seemed to mind reprimanding him, and pulling out the ‘old ruler and giving him a good smack every time that happened. What I wouldn’t do to protect Thomas.
I got to school an hour early to set up for parents day, when I ran into Thomas’ mother in the office. I waved, and smiled graciously, but the smile in return wasn’t nearly what I’d hoped it would be. There were dark circles under her eyes and her hair was pulled up into a messy pony tail. She looked distraught. Worried maybe? Regardless, she came over to say hello, and walked me out of the office into the hallway by my classroom.

“Hello Ms. Annie. Unfortunately, I have some bad tidings for you. It’s about Thomas.”
I was vexed by her story and knit my brows together in confusion.
“Well,” she continued hesitantly, “About an hour after he came home from school, we found him passed out, and prostrate on his floor. We took him to the hospital, not expecting anything to be wrong, but they told us he had some, “complications,” and needed to run some blood tests.” She took a deep breath before she spoke again. “It turns out that….Thomas has leukemia.” She cupped her hand over her thin mouth, and made a shrill crying sound, then started to sob softly. I embraced her and let her cry on my shoulder.
The news took me completely off guard. I gasped, and soon felt tears of my own start to run down my cheeks. Why Thomas? Why now? I asked myself. I asked the Office to find me a substitute for today, and took off with Thomas mother. She informed me that he was at the hospital now, starting treatment, but it didn’t look promising. The whole thing just felt unreal.
I got to the hospital only to find Thomas knocked out from the pain medication, and decided to go home to think things over. I kissed him on the forehead before I left, and left my good wished with his parents.

The next day went by in a haze. Without Thomas in class, it felt like an important piece of me was missing. Some of the kids asked where he was, others didn’t notice. But what they did notice was my change of mood. From cheerful, peppy teacher to dismal, pessimistic Annie. I hated to make them sad, so I tried to put my best face forward, but I was still aloof to the class. Weeks passed by, a number of hospital visits, only to find Thomas asleep, or in some type of surgery.
But then, in the middle of math class on Monday, I got a phone call. A simple exchange of three lines, between me and Mrs. Simmons when I learned that Thomas had been pronounced dead this afternoon. I cried with the class, and even Nathan joined in and apologized for all he had done to Thomas. For the rest of class, we decided to write letters to him in heaven; talking about all of the things he’d done that made us happy. Mine was the longest.


(sorry jenny! its not that good, and it ends kind of fast. ill make it better)