Utopia by LIncoln Child

“For a millisecond, silence. And then, there came a terrific double report; a concussive blast of incendiary color, a sudden flowering of fire—one within another—that stretched out into brilliant pinpoints of light, incandescent red and yellow and turquoise, a hundred tiny suns too bright and terrible too look upon. Warne felt almost violated by light. He tried to rise, but the brutal shock wave forced him back to the floor, where he lay a moment, stunned. Next he felt, or thought he felt, confetti landing around him, falling gently to earth. He lay still, trembling, eyes tight shut, afraid to move.
“For a moment, he could hear nothing, but a harsh buzzing in his ears. AS that faded, other sounds came slowly back: the rolling thunder of the salute as it echoed and reechoed deeper through the halls of C Level; the distant sound of a hundred car alarms blaring out in the employee parking lot. “I can’t see!” Peccam was crying behind him. “I can’t see!”
More sprinklers came on now, water running through Warne’s hair, down his neck, into the hollow between his shoulder blades. And then, at last, Warne pulled himself up the side of the wall, opened his eyes and looked ahead.
The truck lay as it had before, wheels slowly spinning, water trickling down its flanks in spidery streams. The stench of gunpowder and phosphorus hung heavy in the air. Shreds of money lay everywhere, covering the sides of the truck, the floors and the walls, darkening as waster soaked it. The man with the submachine gun had vanished. The truck’s open door was now awash in blood and matter and a curtain of blood ran up the wall behind it, fan-shaped and huge. Warne watched as the sprinklers traced clear lines of water though the crimson."

Lindsey's Review

So today I read my quality writing then Cheri did her review of our last class together. Shortly after, some people posted their "Golden Lines" from The Grapes of Wrath. Following that, we got into our discussion cirlce and Ms. Hillestad began by taking us back to Ch. 19 where she related the book to America today. We talked about how most of us don't even have to really work to go to college, unlike most countries where only the best of the best get into universities. Along with this same topic, we discussed the fall of westernism, and how America may be able to prevent that from happening. We then went on to discuss more about the book. We talked about Uncle John and how he believes he is such a sinner, and when anyone else does something noble it seems to make him feel worse about himself. We then talked about Ch. 22-25, which involved discussion about Weedpatch (the good things about it and why it survives as a community,) Ruthie and Winfield (how they are slowly growing up and learning along the way,) the inner chapter about music and how music can really change someones life, the dance at Weedpatch and how the problem was resolved so quickly. Then last but not least we discussed the inner chapter about California and its beauties, but the truth behind all that beauty. Of course, during the discussion time we got sidetracked a few times, veering off into discussions about jobs and how people complain when they have never been in that persons shoes, or the euro and the effect it has had on the european economy. And last but not least we found the reason for the title!!!! If you missed it, it is in the last paragraph of Ch. 25 on pg. 477!!!!! Alright you guys, I'm out!!! I'll see all of you on Monday!!!

Cheri Review...

On Monday 27 November class began with my "Thanksgiving" poem, followed by Zach's review of the previous class period. After we took care of the blogs, we went ahead and discussed The Grapes of Wrath right off the bat. Ms. H had us tell her some of the "golden lines" we found, or atleast what we thought were golden lines. She explained that the lines must be able to stand alone, free of the context, and be fully understandable. Then after the golden lines,we were so eager to discuss the book that we began discussing it prior to getting in our "happy circle". While disscussing we some of the topics we covered were, how strong ma was, laying with her dead mom to get across the border, how people were almost bitter in telling the Joads that there was no hope in California, how Noah decided to stay behind and fish, how Connie straight up left, the encounter with the police, and how they were to act Bull-simple, and how upon their arrival to California the Joads noticed that it wasn't as nice as they thought. The people were bitter and cold, and the state residents called the migrants "okies".

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not illmannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.

Cheri Blog- Full

I hope everyone had a good an "filling" Thanksgiving!!!

I'm Feeling Rather Full Tonight

I'm feeling rather full tonight.
I couldn't eat another bite.
I couldn't eat a half a bean,
or even taste a tangerine.
I couldn't lick a lettuce leaf
or bite the slightest bit of beef.
I couldn't polish off a pea
or sip a single drop of tea
or nibble on a nanogram
of pickled ham or candied yam
or lamb or clam or jam or Spam.
Yes, that's how full I truly am.
To even think of eating more
would leave me lying on the floor
and surely make my stomach hurt
unless, of course, you've got dessert.

--Kenn Nesbitt

Hello once again my fellow peers and comrades:
Today, the class was started by my reading from Christopher Moore's Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Friend. As I finished my passage reading, Ms. Hillestad compared the religious aspects of my book to that of The Grapes of Wrath. The religious undertone of Casey in the book is prevalent, as Steinbeck continues to make allegorical references continually. Also, the capitolistic reference is seen in the story as an old, wiry man that talks of California and warns them of further progression towards the so-called "paradise"; he relays his information of the flyer as a scam for businesses to pay less, which is a very capitolistic way of conducting businesss. We continued to discuss the references to Communism (Bolshevisky) in the story. Which, in some way or another, led to a discussion on small schools, and why Ms. Hillestad feels that these types are much safer and academically stronger. In the last bit of the period, we, the students, were assigned to look throughout the book and find "Golden Lines". Thank you for you patience, I shall end this now with a cheerful farewell. Goodbye.
-Henson Zach

Hello Class

Hello class!!! It is Ivan, just saying hello and to let you all know that I am thinking of y'all. In an hour or so I will be on the plane headed to Virginia for a week. Therefore, I thought I would drop a line telling everyone to have a happy thanksgiving and enjoy the long weekend. I will see you all again next Thursday. Take care!
Ivan

On Monday I first presented my piece of quality writing. Then the class got in our discussion circle where Megan and I presented on the topics we had researched. Then the class discussed The Grapes of Wrath. We talked about how the car dealers took advantage of the people. We discussed the family members, mainly Ma who is a very strong character. We talked about what we thought of Casey's prayers and what he belived. We were supposed to have read up to page 326 by today.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal - Christopher Moore

The first time I saw the man who would save the world he was sitting near the central well in Nazareth with a lizard hanging out of his mouth. Just the tail end and the hind legs were visible on the outside; the head and forelegs were halfway down the hatch. He was six, like me, and his beard had not come in fully, so he didn't look like the pictures you've seen of him. His eyes were like dark honey, and they smiled at me out of a mop of blue-black curls that framed his face. There was a light older than Moses in those eyes.
"Unclean! Unclean!" I screamed, pointing at the boy, so my mother would see that I knew the Law, but she ignored me , as did all the other mothers who were filling their jars at the well.
The boy took the lizard from his mouth and handed it to his younger brother, who sat beside him in the sand. The younger boy played with the lizard for a while, teasing it until it reared its little head as if to bite, then he picked up a rock and mashed the creature's head. Bewildered, he pushed the dead lizard around in the sand, and once assured that it wasn't going anywhere on its own, he picked it up and handed it back to his older brother.
Into his mouth went the lizard, and before I could accuse, out it came again, squirming and alive and ready to bite once again. He handed it back to his younger brother, who smote it mightily against the rock, starting or ending the whole process again.
I watched the lizard die three more times before I said, "I want to do that too."
The Savior removed the lizard from his mouth and said, "Which part?"
By the way, his name was Joshua. Jesus is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Yeshua, which is Joshua. Christ is not a last name. It's the Greek for messiah, a Hebrew word meaning anointed. I have no idea what the "H" in Jesus H. Christ stood for. It's one of the things I should have asked him.
Me? I am Levi who is called Biff. No middle initial.
Joshua was my best friend.

On Wednesday November 15, class began with my quality writing blog, “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Once I had finished, Ivan read his review of the previous class period. After the blog business, we spoke a little of the upcoming future fair. Somewhere within that discussion Mrs. H mentioned handing back the “graded” CTBC test, which brought anxiety and dead silence in the classroom. Then once Mrs.H was done handing back the test, she scared the class by saying that the reading expectations for the second quarter would change, partly because she noticed some of us weren’t doing our reading at home, and partly because we are to read much more. The tension ended when Ms.H handed back our quarter goal evaluations. We then discussed our evaluations with a partner and made new ones, which we are to turn in today. (Note: they must be FINISHED when we arrive to class- no printing or writing them during class.)
We knew class was to actually begin when Ms.H told us to get into our little happy circle. While in the happy circle, we discussed The Grapes of Wrath. We mentioned the inter-chapters that Steinbeck has in The Grapes of Wrath, and their comparison to the inter-chapters found in CTBC. (Aline likes Paton's inter-chapters better… ;) Then we discussed the turtle- classes’ new favorite word- and how not even Mrs. understood the significance of the turtle her first time reading The Grapes of Wrath. She even told us that she skipped the chapter, because it seemed to have nothing to do with the Joads. Next we talked about the “smart murder” and how after reading chapter two, we kind of liked him, because he seemed “cool/clever” or simply “a good guy”. Then we went on speaking about the men breaking, the problems with the land, how it really is to live in dust, Casey being a hypocrite and how preachers are humans and enjoy drinking at times, cussing, and hearing jokes, not to mention having sex with young willing girls, who have supposedly just been “saved” or “brought to the light” . We stayed a long time on the subject of the preacher having sex with the young girls, and why having sex is considered bad. Last Mrs. assigned for us to research something...literally, anything somewhat regarding the book.

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
By Victor Hugo

And if you would receive from the ancient city an impression that the modern cannot provide, go up (on the morning of some high holiday, at sunrise on Easter or Pentecost) to some elevated point from which you may overlook the whole capitol, and listen to the awakening of the bells. Behold at a sign form heaven, because it comes form the sun itself, those thousand churches trembling all at once. At first a faint tinkling passes from church to church, as when musicians give notice that they are going to begin. Then see, for at certain times the ear too seems to be endowed with sight- see how, all of a sudden, at the same moment, there rises from each steeple as it were a column of sound, a cloud of harmony. At first the vibration of each bell rises straight, pure, and in a manner separate from that of the others, into the splendid morning sky; then, swelling by degrees, they blend, melt, intermingle, and amalgamate into a magnificent concert.
This is an opera truly worth listening to. Normally the noises that Paris makes in the daytime represent the city talking; at night the city breathes. In this case the city sings. Lend your ear then to this tutti of steeples; listen to the buzzing of half a million human beings, the eternal murmur of the river, the infinite breathing of the wind, the grave and distant quartet of the four forests placed like immense organs on the four hills of the horizon. Soften, as with a demi-tint, all that is too shrill and too harsh in the central mass of sound- and say if you know anything in the world more rich, more joyful, more golden, more overwhelming, than that tumult of bells, than that furnace of music, than those ten thousand voices of bronze singing all at once from flutes of stone three hundred feet high, than that city which has become an orchestra, than that symphony which roars like a storm.

El Repaso de Lunes

Hahaha...that Stewie...Oh yes...my blog. Well, let's see. Ms. Hillestad was out so we had Mr. Vanado as our sub. After he took role, I, Ivan Rashad Tibbs the fantasticular presented my childish yet cute poem "My Shadow" by Robert Louis Stevenson. Then, Aline Villanueva the greaterifficester gave the class the review of what happened in class on wednesday, November 8. After the review, we got in to the ever so beautiful thing we call a disussion circle which in fact looks more like a deformed pancake. But that is beside the point. In the pancake, we had our first discussion on The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. In the discussion we talked about the significance of characters in the novel as well as the comparison between Uncle John and Pa. The comparison is what closed the discussion and with time to spare at the end of the discussion, we had a great classroom conversation about...well...life I suppose you could say. But nevertheless, more reading was assigned and we should have up to page 160...I say again 160...one more time...160 read by wednesday.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper"

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper"


…I am getting angry enough to do something desperate. To jump out of the window would be admirable exercise, but the bars are too strong even to try.
Besides I wouldn't do it. Of course not. I know well enough that a step like that is improper and might be misconstrued.
I don't like to look out of the windows even—there are so many of those creeping women, and they creep so fast.
I wonder if they all come out of that wall-paper as I did?
But I am securely fastened now by my well-hidden rope—you don't get me out in the road there!
I suppose I shall have to get back behind the pattern when it comes night, and that is hard!
It is so pleasant to be out in this great room and creep around as I please!
I don't want to go outside. I won't, even if Jennie asks me to.
For outside you have to creep on the ground, and everything is green instead of yellow.
But here I can creep smoothly on the floor, and my shoulder just fits in that long smooch around the wall, so I cannot lose my way.
Why there's John at the door!
It is no use, young man, you can't open it!
How he does call and pound!
Now he's crying for an axe.
It would be a shame to break down that beautiful door!
"John dear!" said I in the gentlest voice, "the key is down by the front steps, under a plaintain leaf! "
That silenced him for a few moments.
Then he said—very quietly indeed, "Open the door, my darling!" "I can't," said I. "The key is down by the front door under a plantain leaf!"
And then I said it again, several times, very gently and slowly, and said it so often that he had to go and see, and he got it of course, and came in. He stopped short by the door.
"What is the matter?" he cried. "For God's sake, what are you doing! "
I kept on creeping just the same, but I looked at him over my shoulder.
"I've got out at last," said I, "in spite of you and Jane. And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!"
Now why should that man have fainted? But he did, and right across my path by the wall, so that I had to creep over him every time!

Discussion questions (and answers) for Grapes of Wrath

Here's what we talked about in our intimate discussion circle:

1. Why does the first chapter deal with the effect of natural disasters on the country folk?
-They are usually the ones most affected by the disasters. Rich or city people usually are able to get help easier when disaster strikes.
-We could definitely see the parallel between Grapes of Wrath and Cry, the Beloved Country. The interchapters and the very elaborate description of the land. Paton, after all, did adapt his writing style from Steinbeck's.

2. What is the significance of the title?
-It's the fruit of anger
-We looked up the words to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" because that's where that phrase came from.
-Religious reference to God's anger?
-Josh wondered if angry grapes make angry wine

3. What is the significance of the slot machine?
-That the truck driver had just missed the jack pot
-Symbolizes people in general just missing out on a win
-Life is a game of chance

4. What is the role of the truck driver?
-He's judgmental
-Introduces us to the character of Joad

5. What is the significance of the turtle?
-TURTLE! (Torii just likes to say it)
-Longevity
-He's just slowly and steadily making his way, and just keeps trying
-Turtle represents the country and the ants represent the dust, getting in and irritating
-Joad wanted to give him as a present

6. Why does Tom break the cap to make it look older?
-So that he doesn't stick out quite so much as one who had just been released from prison
-Trying to blend in

7. What is the significance of Casy's song?
-He's a religious person (at first glance)
-We find out that even though he's not really a preacher, he still has some religious values
-He ends up contradicting himself on his morals (taking girls in the grass)

8. What is implied by Tom's remark that he should have been a preacher himself?
-Basically so he could have sex after preaching, like Casy would do

9. What is Casy's new moral code?
-Spirituality is loving people (not in a sexual way), but just loving everyone
-Telling them what they want to hear so they feel happy
-We are all part of the same spirit

10. How does the recollection of the Christmas card reinforce this feeling?
-The card's appearance was worth more than what was inside--kind of like religion
-Joad's grandma didn't really take the time to look closer at it, she just took it for face value

11. Compare Pa and Uncle John
-Pa is very practical, but competitive
-Uncle John is very irrational and wants everything right then

My Shadow

I have a little shadow
That goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him
is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me
from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me,
when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him
is the way he likes to grow--
Not at all like proper children,
which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller
like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that
ther's none of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion
of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of mein every sort of way,
He stays so close beside me,
he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie
as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning very early,
before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew
on every buttercup;
But me lazy little shadow,
like an arrant sleepyhead
Had stayed at home behind me
and was fast asleep in bed.

the day was november 8th...

after a short delay in class due to an unexpected fire alarm, i quickly started the class by reciting my blog, a simple prayer by st francis, a man of simple words... i pointed out the simplicity of its rhetoric... pointed the division of 3 parts within it, and ... you know. i did a simple analyzation of the text... explained its significance to Cry, the Beloved Country. there are many behaviors of Christianity portrayed in that book, from conquering other lands to humbling themselves for other people's well-being... and by understanding this simple prayer, you can understand the priests Msimangau and Father Vincent... how they find strength in living in Hell, and why they continue to help the Umfundisi... why they so simply love others more than fear for themselves in Johannesburg...

then, we took an objective test on Cry, the Beloved Country. we, unless if i'm stupid, were struck dumb by petty questions, such as "How many husbands did the girl have; three or four?"... you know. easy questions that can easily give you a "C".. that test took the majority of the class time.

at the end of class, Mrs. Hillestad shared large photographs of the Great Depression to give us a better understanding of the book we're reading... some were photographs by the famous Dorothea Lange.. Mrs. Hillestad also shared a recollection of her past: tales of the jalopies told from her own father. Jalopies were vehicles in which families simply took everything they could and went cross country looking for a job. "imagine being told you have to leave, and all you can take with you is your car..." imagine. then, the bell rang.

you don't have to read the Grapes of Wrath over the weekend. Just turn in your Quarter 1 Goals: Evaluation next class.. happy 4-day weekend..

A Simple Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace

Where there is hatred.... let me sow love.
Where there is injury.... pardon.
Where there is discord.... unity.
Where there is doubt.... faith.
Where there is error.... truth.
Where there is despair.... hope.
Where there is sadness.... joy.
Where there is darkness.... light.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled.... as to console.
To be understood.... as to understand.
To be loved.... as to love.

For

It is in giving.... that we recieve.
It is in pardoning.... that we are pardoned.
It is in dying.... that we are born to eternal life.

-- St Francis

6 November 2006

Fun fun fun. First, I read from Princess Sultan's Daughter by Jane Sasson, and Becky did her review. Ms. Hillestad suggested we read City of Fallen Angel's by John Berendt, which takes place in Venice. She read the prolouge entitled "The Venice Effect". I liked the description about the oil painting being "...reality once removed". Ms. Hillestad also mentioned an article on the SAT that stated students who write in cursive and who do not write in first person recieve a higher score on the essay portion. Essay writing led to the discussion of college acceptance essays and how it takes two years to write one. She read Kassie's essay for Stanford and we were all blown away. Since we couldn't remember where we ended up last week, our AP class stooped down to regular English status and wrote cinquains about anything we wanted too. Next class, have an evalutation for your first quarter goals. Also, we are taking an objective test on Cry the Beloved Country. =]

Princess Sultana's Daughters, Jean Sasson

Princess Sultana's Daughters
Jean Sasson

"Unveiled"

I have stopped breathing.
Relentless, my father continues to accuse. "Sultana, if you have difficulty in recalling these momentous events, then I suggest that you read this book!"
Father throws the book at my feet.
Unable to move, I stare, mute, at the book on the floor. My father orders, "Sultana, pick it up!" Kareem grabs the book at stares at the cover, he gasps-- a deep, ragged breath--and then turns to me. "What is this, Sultana?"
I am paralyzed with fear. My heart stops beating. I sit and listen, longing for the life-giving thump.
Suddenly the years evaporate. I am a child again, at my father's mercy. How I long for my mother to be alive, for nothing less than maternal fervor can save me from this vicious encounter.
Finding my voice, I protest weakly, blaming my deed on the highest authority, saying what all good Muslims say when caught in an act that will bring punishment on their heads. I thump the papers with my hand. "God willed it. He willed this book!"

November 2, 2006

Our day was fairly simple. I read my quality writing. The class read for 10 minutes. We supported our Saints at the volleyball games. The boys won because of our support. The class is supposed to have read up to page 41 in The Grapes of Wrath.

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

He made more soft sounds. He stumbled toward the bed and shoved the book clumsily under the cold pillow. He fell into bed and his wife cried out, startled. He lay far across the room from her, on a winter island separated by an empty sea. She talked to him for what seemed a long while and she talked about this and she talked about that and it was only words, like the words he had heard once in a nursery at a friend's house, a two-year-old child building word patterns, talking jargon, making pretty sounds in the air. But Montag said nothing and after a long while when he only made the small sounds, he felt her move in the room and come to his bed and stand over him and put her hand down to feel his cheek. He knew that when she pulled her hand away from his face it was wet.