Odysseus

A hero is a hero, depending on the situation. For example, the fire fighters who went in the twin towers, who risked their lives to save others, are heroes. A parent who finds the child’s lost stuffed animal, is a hero. If the fire fighters killed people, they wouldn’t be a hero. If the parent threw away the stuffed animal, they wouldn’t be a hero. Odysseus did do heroic deeds, but did do many selfless and stupid actions as well. Odysseus is not a hero; from his actions in the situations he was in.

Odysseus wasn’t nice to his crew at all. He could have prevented things that happened to his crew. He didn’t listen to his men when they were dealing with the Cyclopes. His men said to leave but Odysseus said that they should stay at the Cyclops’s cave. Odysseus got a bag full if bad wind from the god Aeolus, but didn’t tell his crew about it, and not to open it. The crew opened the bag full of bad wind and a storm comes and wrecked their boat. Odysseus doesn’t only kill his crew but he kills his relationship with his faithful wife.

Odysseus promised to stay true his wife, but he didn’t. Instead of staying true his wife, he cheats on her with goddesses. “I have been detained long by Calypso, loveliest among goddesses, who held me in her smooth caves, to be her heart’s delight, as Circe of Aeaea, the enchantress desired me, and detained me.” Odysseus could have not done this, but still went along with these actions. His wife is home without a husband and men are competing for and she stays true; Odysseus can’t stay true even if one woman comes close to him. His wife, Penelope, stays true because she awaits her husband to return form battle. Odysseus doesn’t think while he does his actions, he just acts.

Night

Bad things happen to everyone, some worse to others. People all suffer in pain but they recover mentally and physically at some point. In 1944 Elie in Night suffered more pain and suffering than we can ever know. Getting sent to a camp that treats you like dirt, getting barely enough food to survive, and being separated from half his family. That pain and suffering is nothing like breaking a bone, or losing a loved one. Before entering the worst place on earth at the time, Elie was a very religious teen. He loved to be Jewish and the qualities it came with, well most of them. Before entering the concentration camp, religion was very important to Elie, and then he lost that and didn’t believe in God.

Elie used to be very religious and tried his best to follow Jewish rules and laws. “‘By day I studied Talmud and by night I would run to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the temple’“.(pg.3) He always wanted to have religion in his life. He grew up like this and loved how it was involved in his life. He was like the little kid who is so excited to go to church Sunday morning. He is ready to do his part to make God super proud. Once he was in the concentration camp wasn’t like this for long.

Slowly but surely he lost belief in God. Elie kept asking himself how God could let this happen to everyone. He didn’t understand how God could let these entire innocent people die for just being Jewish. This made him not want to be Jewish. “I was no longer able to lament. On the contrary, I felt very strong. I was the accuser, God the accused”. (pg. 68) For example, when the planes crashed into the Twin Towers on 9-11, people blamed God. This is how Elie felt; he couldn’t understand why this happened. Elie wasn’t the only one who felt and thought this way.
Elie completely lost faith in God. Near the end of his time in the camp people totally lost hope and trust in God. Even a Rabbi said “‘it’s over. God is no longer with us’“(pg. 76). When Jewish holidays came up most people celebrated them. Elie felt no need to because he lost faith. A holiday included fasting; he didn’t because he said they were always fasting. Losing religion was the least of his worries, he wanted to live.

Elie had such horrible times in the camp. Once he was released he got very ill and went to the hospital for two weeks, in and out of life and death. He finally got up and looked at himself. “From depths of the mirror, a corpse was contemplating me. The look in his eyes as he gazed at me has never left me.”(pg.115) He seems to be more effected by seeing himself than going through the worst experience of his life.

Really Pakistan, really...

Pakistan is becoming more and more strict on everything their people see and do now.

Pakistan has decided to get rid of You Tube now, as well as 450 others links. They are becoming the new China. They are getting rid of the websites they don't want and or like. The day before they got rid of You Tube they won't allow Facebook. With Pakistan cracking down like this, the people will really begin to hate whats going on. They are getting rid of things because it is effecting how peoples thoughts. That's way they got rid of Facebook because "of a page urging people to draw caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed". Pakistan is trying to get the control they "need". They are trying to be a big, powerful and protective country but it could be making things worse.

Friends!!

Friends are one of the greatest things ever. They are they when you need them and even when you don’t they’re always with you. Without friends life would so boring. I have so many friends and I love them all. Hannah, Batool and Kelly, are just a few of my closest friends at school. I am friends with a lot people but they are my closest.

I know if I’m with them I will always have a great time. Hanging out for two minutes we could have a new inside joke. I love how whenever we are together we always have a great time, whether it is at Batool’s palace playing ping-pong, or at Kelly’s watching The Office, of at lunch I always have such a great time! We are always laughing and saying the stupidest things ever and loving every moment of it. We have some many inside jokes that sometimes one of us forgets about it. We say probably one of the most common, but greatest joke ever known as “That’s what she said!”. We say that even it doesn’t make sense and still just laugh as if it did. We constantly make fun of each other, I mean how can you not be best friends without making fun of each other, it’s like the law.

I love my friends. They are the greatest friends I could ask for! Without them I don’t know what to do. I we have a different lunch, I feel like a part of me is missing. That may sound lame, but it’s true. My life would be so boring without them making me laugh. They make my day when we laugh, which is all the time. Time with my friends is always so much! We all like to have a great time, and no matter what we are doing we find some way to have a great time. You would think that studying for finals would be really boring and stressful but not the way we study. We made it in to a Jeopardy type of game. We laughed more than we studied but still did well on the final and had fun, it was a win-win situation.

I think that my friends feel the same way. Without each other we just aren’t the same. They are the only reason I want to come to school. We don’t come to school to learn but to have hang out with friends, well that’s my reason why I come to school. I love my friends and I hope they do too!

SIMUN!!

During SIMUN I was given the country Tanzania. I thought that would be very difficult because I had no idea what goes on there, and how they feel. Getting to SIMUN was very stressful because I really didn’t know what was going to happen or how things were going to work. SIMUN was way better than I thought, I thought it would be straight work and no fun at all, I was wrong. I’m glad we had to do SIMUN because it ended up being fun. Acting like powerful people was a good change I could get used too. I didn’t feel, to me, that we were little high school kids but important people to world.

During SIMUN I wasn’t involved with any situation at all! I didn’t know how to get myself involved, so I didn’t do a lot of speeches, I only did one. I did ask many questions, to try to get myself involved. I felt kind of out of place because I wasn’t involved at all. I don’t understand why my country wasn’t involved at all though, everyone’s at one point with a news flash or the whole situation.

Preparing for SIMUN was very stressful because finding all the information you needed for the topic was hard to find. You need such detail and explanation to understand. Most news sites don’t really give you that. If I hadn’t prepared I would have been so lost, you wouldn’t even know. I would ask my parents if they knew anything about it and they were like, Madi what are you talking about. So preparation was a huge part of SIMUN! Without it no one would really know what’s going on.

Next year I will most defiantly prepare more, and hopefully get a country that will be involved more because if a country that doesn’t do anything it’s difficult to do things. Next year, I will look deeper into the situations and have thoughts about the situation and how my country would react to it, before I go in. Going back into SIMUN with the knowledge of what to do will make things a lot easier. Teachers tried to prepare us but they really can’t until your there. Once your there for a day, you get the feel for things and get into the grove of government people. SIMUN overall was a great experience, I wouldn’t say I’m good at it but I did have fun. I don’t think I want to do MAMUN because I don’t think I like SIMUN stuff that much. I did have fun and enjoyed the three days, and I’m looking forward to next year.

Tanzania would....

Of the situation was that Taliban was going to take over Pakistan, and the USA was going to come in and take control, Tanzania would most likely side with the USA. If we (Tanzania) had a powerful, hateful group come in and try to take over our government, we would want help. We wouldn’t want long lasting help, but to just get the situation solved and have the helpers, USA in this case, leave.

Pakistan needs help, even though they aren’t saying it, they will soon need it when the Taliban is taking over. If the Taliban took over, really bad things could happen, to Pakistan and the rest of the world. The Taliban would take the nuclear weapons and wipe the people they hate most off of the planet.

With the U.S. going in to help would help, everyone. Pakistan wouldn’t like it but there would be many supporters, like Tanzania and most of the U.S.’s allies. Even though Pakistan would feel intruded, it would help them in the long run, if someone came in and helped. If the situation were happening to Tanzania, we would want help. We would probably not want it at first but it would help us out in the long run. So with that being said, Tanzania would support the U.S. on going into Pakistan to help with the Taliban, issues.

Night

Night written by Elie Wiesel. This wonderfully written about one of the worst events in history, the Holocaust. This is more detailed than any show about it on History Channel. You can feel how he felt. He is really great at tell the pain and struggle he went through when he was a young teen.

A thought that I and Mr. Fielder came to was, how do you leave an experience like the Holocaust and function. People now go through a death in the family and completely shut down. When Elie saw hundreds of deaths and was in constant fear. With a young boy coming out of a horrible event in life and the world and to come out normal, is really fascinating to figure that out. How can something so tragic not affect you, like one death does to someone else. The strength to keep hope is outstanding. Going through any tragic event, most likely, affects peoples’ lives for a while or their life time. Why isn’t this the case for Elie Wiesel?

I think the fact that he knew something was coming similar to what had happened may have prepared him for what actually had happened. In the book he doubts God and doesn’t understand how He could let this happen to him and his people. He doesn’t really use God for strength, he has hope and that’s about. He uses his mind to live and not his heart and soul. He lives his way in the concentration camp to the way where he can live the longest. This man has a powerful mind and can take anything in life.

Dreams aren't always what they say....

Dreams lead people to the stars, but let them fall hard as well. I felt this way not to long ago; I know I will feel like this again. I have played softball for as long as I can remember. I have always loved the game, and competition and friends that go with it. I decided to try-out for the JV Stevenson softball team. I had a lot of support from my family and friends; I went to try-outs with my head up high. I was nervous because I had never actually tried out for a team before; I was still confident and proud of what I knew.
The try-outs were about 2 ½ hours long for three days. The first day I was doing so great; I felt like I was on top of the world. I was so sore the next and didn’t feel the greatest either. That defiantly put a setback on 110% effort. I was still nervous; I knew that everyday counted. I told the coaches I felt sick that day, just so they knew, and it’s a good thing they did. We started our five minute run and I did three laps; that’s all I could do before I had to run to the bathroom. That was most defiantly, a setback during. Puking then running and playing softball for 2 ½ hours isn’t my ideal afternoon. I didn’t let that stop me though. I fought through it and could only hope for the best. The third day came around, and I knew that I had to prove myself today. I went in with the minor setback behind me; I was ready to start fresh. I gave my all that day; fighting through all sorts of pain. We ended try-outs early to found out if we made the team.
They went in alphabetical order; this is where having the last name Wissmueller doesn’t come in handy. It felt like I was waiting for hours, but only 20 minutes or so. We said “Good luck!” to everyone; it was a very supportive group of girls. I was finally called and I had good hopes. I sat down in front of the coaches; this was one of the most intense moments of my life. They said “Thanks for coming out. What I saw was; you were confident in the batting cage, but not so much in fielding. I’m sorry but there’s no room on the team for you. Don’t give up; try-out again next year.” I said “Thank you. Goodbye.” The pain didn’t hit me at first. I walked out of the door thinking what just happened. I called my dad to tell him I was done and that I didn’t make the team; I couldn’t do it without crying. I felt like such a loser, I had no hope or confidence in life. I felt like I worked so hard for nothing.
After a lot of talks with my family; I figured out I wasn’t meant to play right now. Slowly and painfully, I became my old self and was ready for a new chapter in my life. I still don’t like talking about that though; it’s kind of a touchy subject. What made it worse was that basically everyone I meet there made the team. I’m looking on the bright side now; maybe they will be a crappie team and not win. I maybe, just maybe, got the deal in this deck.

Photography

I have always been a creative person and I love art and I am always looking for something new and fun to do. I found photography through my dad and feel in love. I started photography only a few years ago but I have learned a lot through my dad and school. I love taking pictures of really anything. Nature really sticks out to me because no one physically made them and how things fall that’s how it rolls. People say pictures say a thousand words and they truly are. When you try to explain a place to someone you really can’t because they will imagine things their way instead of the real way

My dad has really taught me a lot. It helps that we have a darkroom in our basement, so I can really get hands on it. My dad has a photography business I help him with that, and I get even more hands on with photos. I Learn from my mistakes and just goofing around too. Photography isn't really complicated it is just hard to remember all of "rules" like aperture, speed settings, filters and things like that. Once you know what you are doing the creative juices flow without issues.

Photography isn't for everyone because it is way different form just taking a picture. Most people think, oh I take pictures so I would be great in photography, maybe you would be but just taking pictures of you and you friends isn't considered real photography, but it still is a kind of photography. All pictures are considered photography,just some more complex than others. Some people don't really understand the focus and eye you need for it, I guess I am lucky that I have that eye.

I have posted my pictures on Facebook, hung pictures up at my old school and here, and my family has also seen my work and people seem to like it. People are saying how great it is, and beautiful, I really appreciate the complements but I really don't know how to respond but thank you. I don't to be rude and say I know, or not respond. It's something I really can't explain because I do love the complements but it is just kind of awkward.

Photography is something I want to do for the rest of my life. My dream is to become a famous photographer like Ansel Adams, and for people all around the world or really any where to see and enjoy my work. I would also love to make a book with my dad with our pictures in it. I know these are BIG dreams but you never what will happen in your life. I dream big so I live life to its fullest.

Sledding!

On Wednesday I didn't have wake up for school because the previous day it was cancelled, because of 3 feet of snow. What else do you do on besides go sledding? I waited for my friend
Hannah to get to my house for 11 hours. When Hannah arrived it looked like she was ready to go to a rodeo with her cowgirl hat, equestrian boots, chaps and a mini horse from Rob and Big. Hannah wasn't Hannah that day she was Hoedown Hannah.

Our friend Batool couldn't come that day because something was "wrong" with her. She wouldn't tell us what was wrong and Hoedown Hannah and I were worried. Batool was acting strange for a little while before this. Hoedown Hannah aka H2 and I went sledding anyway.

H2 and I went down the 50 foot hill in my backyard. We were sledding for hours and hours! We felt like someone or something was watching us. We would look around but we didn't see any one. We would see like critters run around but nothing unusual. H2 went down the hill and feel and did flips down the hill. Then we heard laughing besides mine. We looked around and saw a groundhog. The groundhog look familiar, but we couldn't figure out who it looked like. I texted Batool because of what happened, and then the groundhog started ringing. The groundhog was Batool!


So all of us started sledding. We were racing each other and having a lot of fun together. I thought that all of holding on to a sled and going down the hill was a good idea, I thought wrong. We all feel but were OK, so we tried again but this time I feel and got really hurt. My arm started to catch on fire! I tried to talk but no word came out. I couldn't tell anyone what was wrong. My arm hurt so bad and no one really new. I could talk but I couldn't say anything about my arm.

I didn't let my arm stop me from sledding and having fun Hoedown Hannah and Groundhog Batool. We kept on sledding and sledding. Then Batool was gone! We didn't see her any where. So Hoedown Hannah got on her Mini Horse and I grabbed my dog Kip who has strong stupidity. We were yelling and calling for Batool for hours, but had to give up because it got to dark and we were hungry.

We went back to my house and ate, and Hoedown Hannah had a very rare glass of super sugar, and caffeine pop. Hoedown Hannah went crazy!! She had know idea what was going on, she was literally bouncing off the walls. Pictures were falling of the wall and H2 fell and hurt her neck but she was okay. She had go home, so she jumped on Mini and headed home but that forever was one of the greatest snow days ever!

Is Autism really linked to vaccines?

Is Autism linked to vaccines?

Autism is not linked to vaccines.

In 1998 a man named Dr. Andrew Wakefield, did a study and said that autism was linked to vaccines. Now he is coming out and saying he was wrong. He didn't pick people by random, he paid kids at his son's birthday party to be tested. William Schaffner a professor and chairmen of the department of preventive medicine said "Since Wakefield's study came out, some 20 other studies have come out, and each one of these studies, done by different researchers, in different populations and different countries, has denied the associations between vaccines and autism. Scientifically, the story in over." Wakefield, also said he theorized and in his view in his reason.

If autism were linked to vaccines wouldn't everyone have it. With people not getting their children vaccinated because of Wakefield, there children aren't building up to immunity to other diseases. The Lancet, which is a medical journal, said that Dr.Wakefield was right. Many parents who's children have autism read The Lancet. Many parents were blaming themsleves because their kids had autism, because they vaccinated their kids. The parents have no power of what disorder the

What I LEARNED this semester!

This semester, yeah I'm taught a lot of things but what did I truly learn, and let process in my mind. Learning, in my mind, takes skill and it's not just listening and not remembering, it's hard work. This is what I truly learned this semester.

Doing these blogs I learned about myself, computers, and other people. The blogs gave me the freedom to express myself. Expressing myself is something I love to do but through pictures, now I learned how to do it through words. Getting assigned projects in blogs I still could express my self,and it was way better than writing a paper. Through blogs, my knowledge with computers went up, even though I knew a lot before.

Learning about Rwanda was one of my favorite things. I really got into what was going on, it was like a mini Holocaust! With the Hutu and Tutsi hating each other, and Interahameway killing people with machetes, and UN, MRND and RAF all basically on different sides. Watching Hotel Rwanda was crazy too. It showed a closer view of what was going o instead of a over view. Rwanda was interesting, to learn about because there were random people being hacked to death, people hacking random people, and the peaceful trying to help people, that were all focused on one issue but couldn't put their minds together to compromise.

Doing the Rwandan Genocide Debate was something I really took in because you could play rolls and really absorb different views horrific event. With many groups of people learning about one main topic, and them putting them together in sub-topics was very neat. Everyone had really put effort into what was going on. Learning different views was fun because instead of just knowing your part of the story you knew all the sides.

Writing a memoir was something kind of challenging to me. I learned a lot there, because my writing wasn't the best it could be, it still probably isn't but better than it was. Having to re look at my paper and really focus on what I was trying to say was new to me, and something at the time I didn't enjoy, but now I'm glad I learned it. Instead of saying, " the aroma of a closed building filled the air" I changed it to "The aroma of stiff air, form no one being in the building all summer, filled my nose". Just changing one little sentence can change the whole view on the story/memoir.

Listening to stories, let me think my own way and feel my own feelings,not that I couldn't do that before, it just let slack on the leash. Listening to the "The Man in the Well" was a very old story but gave me plenty of room to think and explore. With that exploration room people defiantly had some great, and not so great ideas. Bringing a group of people to talk about one subject they just heard and their thoughts is quiet interesting because so many different thoughts and views come up. Instead of half and half it was more like one person said this one no one even had struck up a thought like that.

Mr.Fielder has taught me a lot this semester and I will take that to my advantage. I will remember what I learned and try more to learn more in my life.

My thoughts of where to be a native.

If I was a native I would want to be from North America when the colonists were just arriving. I would want to be a Native American because even thought there was angry between the natives and colonists they still we together, slightly. In the beginning they taught each other the tricks of new ideas, like hunting and fishing to weapon use. They traded a lot of things, including illness. The illnesses didn't help anyone at the time but in the long run, it helped the future generations in North America. They had issues when the colonists when had more people and power. The Native American were sent west.

When they were together they made and did many things. It was a learning experience for all of them, they my not have liked it in the beginning but it helped them over all.When the Native American were sent west they had trouble but learned new ways of living, they expanded their knowledge. They found news ways of life and new materials. They had expanded their life and passed on new traditions. The colonists wanted what the Natives had when they found something good. Being a Native American when the colonist came doesn't seem so bad to me, that's why I would want to be a native at the time.