The Hunger Games. Important Quote

A line in this story, "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins  that made me think was on page 114. "Betrayal . That's the first thing I feel, which is ludicrous . For there would have to have been trust first. Between me and Peeta. And trust has not been part of the agreement. We're tributes. But the boy who risked a beating to give me bread, the one who steadied me in the chariot, who covered for me with the redheaded Avox girl, who insisted that Haymitch knew my hunting skills... was there some part of me that couldn't help trusting him?"  The word betrayal In this quote makes me think that Katniss actually cares about Peeta. At the beginning of the book Katniss hated Peeta's guts, literally she wanted to kill him. Before she was just doing everything she did, like holding hands with him on the chariot and acting like the team. She was faking all of it just to please the Capitol. This quote showed me that in this book Katniss is hiding her feelings, she isn't even aware of it. In the real world people have feelings that they hide or don't realize they even have.

The Traits of Katniss

In ''The Hunger Games'' by Suzanne Collins the main character Katniss has many traits. One trait, is protective. For example, she volunteered to join the hunger games, because she didn't want Prim to be in the hunger games. She cares a lot about the people she loves. Another trait, Katniss is very defiant. For example, when Katniss, Peeta, and Effie were eating dinner Effie said that at least you two have good manners, last year the pair only ate with their hands. Then Katniss thought, It's because they haven't ever had a enough to eat in their lives. Then Katniss made a point of eating with her hands for the rest of her dinner. This is an act of defiance. Another trait,  Katniss is very responsible. For example, After her father died she had to support her family and put food on the table. She was only 11 or 12 at the time, this shows that she is very mature and responsible.

Upfront Magazine Issue 10/17/13 Going to war who Decides?

       The framers of the constitution split the nation's war powers between the executive and legislative branches. One reason, to prevent Congress from intervening in the tactical decisions of war. The president might not make the right direction and this way congress will be able to make better decisions, instead of the president having all the say in this matter.
          By asking Congress to authorize an attack on Syria, President Obama strengthened and unified the nation. Instead of taking action right away and not considering the Republicans and the Democrats opinion in Congress, President Obama took it into Congress so the final decision would be mutual between everyone in Congress.

Is the Arab Spring a Failure

       I think that the Arab Spring should be considered a failure. For example, in Egypt the military killed 600 and injured close to 4,000 protesters that believed that Morsi should stay in power. Another example, in Syria the revolution has turned into a civil war. 100,000 people have died since the start of this uprising and not much has changed, Assad is still in power and there had recently been a chemical weapons attack from the government on it's people. 1,400 dead in the recent Syrian chemical weapons attack. Lastly, In Libya, dictator Muammar el-Qaddafi was overthrown and killed in this civil war. During the uprising some people died because of airstrikes from the U.N that killed some innocent people that were in the battlefront that was targeted. The violence continued, last year there was a terrorist attack in Benghazi where the U.S ambassador to Syria was killed. In many countries the Arab Spring has just been sadness and death, there really hasn't been a positive affect on any of the countries. I think that parts of the the middle east can still achieve democratic success. I think eventually the region will become peaceful and democratic because the Arab Spring was the start of something big, in a decade Egypt and Libya and Syria have great potential to be peaceful and democratic.

This was posted on Thursday not Wednesday.

Source: Upfront Magazine-Has the Arab Spring Failed? by Mark Landler, Ben Hubbard, Rick Gladstone, David D. Kirkpatrick, and Alan Cowell of the New York Times.

           

    CHARLIE MULLER 707     



                In "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore. The author, Kristin uses a lot of craft moves to reveal character in "Graceling". For example, on page 205, The girl circled the table of merchants, pouring cider into each cup. When one of the men reached for her arm, she recoiled. The merchants burst into laughter. he man reached out to her and drew back. reached out and drew back, taunting her. His friends laughed harder. And then the man at the girls other side grabbed her wrist and held on, and there was a great whoop from the men.She tried to pull away, but the laughing man wouldn't let go. Red with shame, she looked into none of their faces, only pulled at her arm. She was too  much like a dumb rabbit caught in a trap, and suddenly Katsa was standing. And Po was standing, too, and he had Katsa by the arm.
This shows that Katsa helps people who are in trouble and she stands up to bullies. This shows that she is kind and brave. The author uses actions of Katsa to show her traits and character.         Another example, On page 222. '' What is it?" he [Po] asked."What's bothering you?"    "If Leck has this Grace as you suspect..." She [Katsa] began. "How will I protect myself from him?"This shows that Katsa isn't used to having to be scared of anyone, she has always been better than everyone, until now. This shows that Katsa does in fact experience fear. Before Katsa said "I never have felt fear or pain". This is an example of dialogue showing character. 

My Name: Charlie

In English my name means "strong" and "free". It is a pick up basketball game on a Friday afternoon at the park. It's the feeling of ease after you get home from a long and hard day of school. Charlie is a friendly name.  Charlie is like the color orange, warm and welcoming. 

          My mom always liked Charlie Bucket from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Charlie was a smart, mature, and kind person. He was a role model to me. Plus he has a chocolate factory! What more could you ask for?  

        I started pre-k when I was three years old. I was the youngest in the class. All the "big kids " called me Chawlie in a kind of New York accent. I was their sort if mascot. No one really calls me that anymore but I wouldn't mind it. When I was young my dad always called me Sir Charles. I loved it because I felt like a king. But, today if anyone called me a name that has Charles in it I'd get pretty mad. Because I'm not Charles! My name is Charlie and that name truly represents my personality. In the future I would want all my friends and family to call me Charlie. But at work I would want to be called Charles because it's a much more adult name. 

The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood. Summer Reading Blogpost Charlie Muller 707

“The Year of the Hangman”  is a novel by Gary Blackwood. It’s about what might have happened if the Americans had lost the revolutionary war. The main character Creighton Brown is a mischievous boy from England. He is shipped off to America to his uncle who is in the military. His mother, thinks that he will learn discipline and respect while he is there. In America he switches sides to the americans and learns to follow what he believes is right. Creighton sees that his uncle lied to him about the death of his father and that his father really was helping the Americans. Creighton finds his father and discovers whose side he really is on.

He learns to follow his beliefs because his father believed that he was helping a good cause. Creighton wanted to honor his father because his father was a role model to him, Creighton wanted to be like his father.

Also, In America Creighton met Ben Franklin and learned that Americans aren’t cruel, ruthless people like he learned in England, they’re very kind. Creighton actually cared about Sophie and Ben Franklin. Creighton was very attached to some of these Americans and that’s why he was so eager to help them. When Ben Franklin died Creighton was very sad. Doing what you believe is right.