The Book Thief

My personal connection from "The Book Thief" By Markus Zusak is to the war. One of my favorite artists made a song called "The Ghost Of You" by My Chemical Romance, which in the music video is based in the war, it is very moving and can pretty much bring tears to many peoples eyes. This shows many different aspects of the war, like the constant loss of loved ones and the heart break to go along with it. The lines "And all the things that you never ever told me
And all the smiles that are ever gonna haunt me" is an example of this. It is an example of the things many soldiers went through during the wars loosing their friends and family's to the enemy. The emotions that the band expressed throughout this video and song are touching and very poetic. It connects to "The Book Thief" in a very strong emotional way because throughout Liesel looses many of her loved ones due to war and is very impacted by the experience but has to keep going because she cant "lie and and wait forever".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCUpvTMis-Y&ob=av2e

I never said I'd lie and and wait forever
If I died we'd be together
I can't always just forget her
But she could try

At the end of the world or the last thing I see
You are never coming home 
Never coming home
Could I? 
Should I?
And all the things that you never ever told me
And all the smiles that are ever ever 

Ever
Get the feeling that you're never
All alone and I remember now
At the top of my lungs in my arms she dies
She dies

At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are never coming home 
Never coming home
Could I? 
Should I?
And all the things that you never ever told me
And all the smiles that are ever gonna haunt me

Never coming home 
Never coming home
Could I? 
Should I?
And all the wounds that are ever gonna scar me
For all the ghosts that are never gonna catch me

If I fall
If I fall
(Down)

woooooooooooooah.woooooooooah.aaaaaaaaaa.

At the end of the world
Or the last thing I see
You are never coming home
Never coming home
never coming home
Never coming home
And all the things that you never ever told me
And all the smiles that are ever gonna haunt me
Never coming home
Never coming home
Could I?
Should I?
And all the wounds that are ever gonna scar me
For all the ghosts that are never gonna

PDDA

1. What are three main points in this article? Support each point with a properly integrated quote

In "Public Display Of Disaffection" by Anne Kingston with Alex Ballingall they discuss the important fact that cellphones can be good but the evil out ways anything positive. The three main points are people use them instead of having real conversations, they use them in inappropriate situations and they can cause harm to people in many ways. Many people will be sitting in the same room as another individual but be too preoccupied with their cellphone to pay much attention. This could be shown as a huge problem because “we’re losing our one-on-one people skills and ability to engage in uninterrupted, focused conversations.”. This also allows what we are saying to one person be easily spread to another within seconds which increases the rumour mill immensely. The worst use of cell phones is in inappropriate places such as funerals or major events. Not only does it distract others with the glow of the screen it also is incredibly rude and selfish. Many people don't find it rude at all even when it is something like a funeral. Before "tweeting from a funeral, for instance, once would have been viewed as sacrilegious, yet the Twitter feed from Jack Layton’s state funeral was regarded as a connective bond". That is just unbelievable. The biggest danger from cell phone users is it increases bullying and can cause accidents. More people have more guts when its no longer face to face so more people are willing to send a threatening text message, so it has the ability to "turn[] formerly nice, sensitive, creative types into assholes,” within seconds. Probably the biggest problem is young drivers, it causes a distraction which can not only hurt others but also the driver. The police are trying to crack down the whip on people who are using there phone while driving but "one woman [was] so preoccupied with her cell she didn’t even notice the sirens flagging her down ", so how are you able to focus on the dangers on the road if you cant even hear a siren behind you. This article is valid in its arguments against cellphones.
2. Agree or disagree with each of his points. Please back up your ideas with specific examples.
I agree with the authors points. One of the main reasons I agree is because the fact that working at a movie theatre you have to deal with many of these problems and it truly is. Many people become uptight when you ask them to shut their phones off because it is rude. Most people don't feel the need to shut off their phones because they are under the unrealistic idea that its not bothering other people but its does.

3. When are times when you believe that cell phones are acceptable? How about  Unacceptable? Should schools, movie theatres and other public places consider bans or cell phone jammers like Europe?
Cellphones are acceptable in places like the park or home or on breaks and what not but they have to be used properly, in some cases having them is convenient and if you are in danger or something happens they are there to call for help but many people misuse them. Places that is should not be used is in movie theatres, restaurants, while standing in line or having important conversations with other people. I believe cellphone blockers aren't the best thing because if you need to use your phone in a emergency and its blocked that can cause more dangerous situations, but people should understand when it is appropriate to use their cellphone and when it is not, people need to show restraint.

Intense Senses

If you could solve many issues in the world with a simple increase in the senses you already posses would you? I believe that the best super power to have is superhuman senses. I think that this is the best super power to have because unlike the other ones you can use this for every need you may have. The ability to see, smell, taste and hear more than a normal human would be the most useful power ever. Say if a fire had started somewhere obscured, like forest fires do, having the ability to see or smell the fire before anyone else would have known about it and being able to prevent it from destroying more of the forest and destroying many houses as it gets worst. Also being able to hear more than usual would be helpful in many situations. Say someone was being robbed and they were screaming for help but were in an unusual spot where no one could hear them, if you could hear them you would be able to help in the situation and reduce the chance of someone getting hurt. Being able to taste better than any human would also bring light to how many different things are in our "food" due to how much it is processed, it would also lower the chance of being able to get food poisoning because you could taste whatever is wrong with the food. Due to the dangers surrounding our world today having increased senses could help situations as they happen, it could also prevent things from happening. If there was a lead that there would be another terrorist attack but no proof you could go to where ever they were planning to meet and be close enough by to be able to hear there conversations, but far enough away to be undetected, giving the government enough information to prevent the unthinkable. Having improved senses would be the best superpower to have.  

Rebecca Allies

Newspaper

The Murder of King Duncan, Macbeth is the new king!

During the night at Macbeth's castle, Macbeth starts planning the murder of King Duncan. On his way to do the deed he runs into Banquo and his son. After this short visit Macbeth has a hallucination of a dagger that brought him towards the Kings chamber to do his deed. After the job is done Macbeth hears a voice that proclaims that "Sleep no more, Macbeth does murder sleep" This paranoids Macbeth

After the deed is done Macbeth and Lady Macbeth meet outside the chamber. Macbeth asks Lady Macbeth if she heard any scream or claim of murder. She claims that she heard not a sound of the murder and realizes even though the plan was that Macbeth would place the daggers and blood on the guards he failed to do so and this angered Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth placed the daggers and the blood on the guards after Macbeth was too frightened to do so they left to clean up before morning.

Early the next morning Macduff discovers that the King is murdered, he comes out in a panic and tells all of them to "Awake! Awake! Ring the alarum-bell murder and treason!". This awakens Lady Macbeth and being as innocent of the act as she can be she faints. Because of the blood and the daggers planted on the guards it is believed that they have done this terrible thing. Macbeth claims that "[His] fury, that [he] did kill them". Both of the kings sons flea for their safety, they believe that they could possibly be the next targets of the assault. Due to the fleeing of the kings sons Macbeth, who is next in line to be king after Malcom, is then crowned the new king of Scotland.

Moral Dilemma

123 Main Street
Happyville, British Columbia
V2A 3T1

May 30, 2011

Mayor
City Hall
666 Elm Street
Happyville, British Columbia
V2A 3Y2

The case against Gunter Grass should be abolished. Even if he was truly involved in the holocaust I firmly believe that all the good he has done for this village has been his repayment towards society. He has repaid his debt to society in many different ways. From 1962 to 1998 he was the villages mayor and helped out many people during this time. He also employs many of the villagers, who are all getting paid a good amount. He has spent a incredible amount of money on charities throughout the years, and has help many individual families throughout the years to make ends meet. Many of the families that he helped out would have become homeless or hungry without his assistance. He is also a 92 year old man, with not much time left, so there would be no point in punishing him because of his age and how many people since the Holocaust that he has helped. This all leads to the fact that the evidence against Gunter Grass should be destroyed.

This man has obviously made up for the wrong doings during the Holocaust through his many actions for this village. Also what is the purpose of causing the village this much shame and pain. This man has been our mayor for over 36 years, that would effect the village drastically. Also the impact on Gunter Grass, a 92 year old man, would be unpredictable. There is no point in wasting the money on putting this situation through a court case when Gunter Grass is most likely only a few years away from death. Finally the Holocaust survivors shouldn't be put through all the pain of reopening the case of the Holocaust over a man who is sure to die. This is why I firmly believe that Gunter Grass should not be prosecuted for this wrong he committed many years ago because he has made it right through his actions after the Holocaust.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Allies

The Afterlife

Death is a thing feared by most, but some people embrace it as a new beginning. The Buddhists, the Jewish and the Gnostic's all believe in a new start, and a chance for redemption.

            Buddhists are very peaceful people, they believe in rebirth. They don't believe in being forever separated from the world, like Christianity and Hinduism. They believe that there are 6 different places of rebirth. Naraka; being, which is the thought of being re birthed into a hell like place. Preta; which is the thought of sharing the world with both humans and spiritual beings. Animals; even though fully shared with humans, it is thought to be another life form of humans. Human Beings. Asauras; which is the realm of demons, angels and anti-gods. The final place of rebirth is Devas; this is thought to be a place for gods, angels and other spirits. Buddhists also believe in the infinite heaven only possible by being a skilled Buddhist follower. There is no damned soul, only a chance of a new beginning.
            Judaism is a firm believer in resurrection. There are two places much like heaven and hell in Judaism. They are called Sheol and the Garden of Edan. Sheol is the place for a people who have done wrong during they're period on earth, it is a place for them to heal they're souls from they're wrong doing. The Garden of Edan is Judaism version of heaven, the difference is that no matter what your religion you are welcome if you have done well in your lifetime on earth. Jewish people also believe that as one man dies, so does a animal and the other way around, it’s all a big cycle. The Jewish also don't believe in total damnation for most, only those who have done wrongs that are way beyond normal, the only exception to this is if a non-Jewish person does something unforgivably wrong they don't get sent to either places, they don't exist in any part of the cycle.
            Gnostic's also believe in resurrection. Gnostic's have come to believe that the body is evil and the escaping from the shell if escaping from all your sins. They view resurrection as a spiritual enlightenment, a possibility for a new journey. This is different from Judaism because there does not seem to be one place where you go too to start your new beginning it is all formed from the resurrection itself leading to spiritual findings towards your new life.

My personal beliefs are in rebirth. I believe there is no heaven or hell but a simple state of in-between lives to see your mistakes in a previous life and go through all the mistakes made in previous lives and to make changes for the better. Death is not a scary thing, it is a thing to embrace as it is embracing a chance for a new beginning. It is not something I think about all the time, and it is not one hundred percent based on a religion more on personal beliefs. When it comes it’s a new journey in life.

Tuesdays With Morrie--

Our society influences our everyday activities. In "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom, Morrie discusses the idea of changing our society for the better by creating our own, and by not following what we don’t believe it. Some of the many influences society has is what’s 'cool' or not, it tells us how we should dress, how we should look, how much money we should have, Morrie is stating that our dependency on materials is unrealistic and that we should focus much more of our time with our friends and love ones. Morrie also points out that many people are more unhappy than he is, even when he's dying, this is because most of the stereotypical looks out there are so far off, and so unnatural due to things such as airbrush and Photoshop that it is next to impossible to fit into these categories. Another common problem that our society suffers from is the need to be rich. Because of this need to have all our materials it causes our society to work like crazy and find jobs that pay the best, but this means giving away our core values in life and doing anything that pays the biggest buck. This is proof that what Morrie says is valid. We thrive for things that we think could make us happy but we throw away our own happiness in the process.

Rebecca Allies