Scout and Salamanca

Scout and Salamanca have many similarities and differences. One of the similarities is that they both learn similar lessons in both of these books. They both learn that you shouldn’t judge a person. You need to get to know them first. One of the differences is that Scout lives in reality, while Salamanca lives in fantasy.

In the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout sees Boo Radley as just kind of a story, but towards the end of the novel Scout realizes that Boo is an actual human. She realizes how kind and sympathetic he actually is. Scout might not even have lived if it wasn’t for Boo. Acttius says, “You never really understand a person until you consider his point of view…until you climb in his skin and walk around in it.” This quote shows you that you can’t judge a person solely on first impressions. You can’t judge them by the way they look or what you have heard about them. I think that is shows that you need to be compassionate and considerate to other people. Walk to Moons also shows some of these characteristics.

In Walk Two Moons, Salamanca was very suspicious of Margaret Cadaver. Sal thought that she had intentions to be with her father and Margaret figured out that her father wanted to be just friends, so she keeps it that way. Sal realizes this too, and figures out that she became friends with her mom while she was alive. Salamanca gets a note that says “Don’t judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins.” This quote is very similar to the quote from To Kill a Mockingbird. It explains that you should never judge a person before you really, truly get to know them. Sal judged Margaret before she got to know her. She didn’t really want anything to do with her, but later she figured out that she was friends with her mother.

In To Kill a Mockingbir, Scout lives in the reality of life. One of the things she has to deal with is the way people act towards black people. She realizes and knows how wrong it is. She is made fun of and mistreated, because her dad is defending Tom Robinson in a trial. Her father teaches her how wrong racism is and doesn’t see why people act that way toward black. So, she fights for what is right. Acctius said, “There is a lot of ugly things in this world, son. I wish I could keep ‘em all away from you. That’s never possible.” This quote shows you that there are a lot of bad things in this world, but you don’t have to follow them. You need to do what is right no matter what. You shouldn’t make the wrong choice that people are making. You need to do what you think is right.

In Walk Two Moons, Salamanca lives in almost a fantasy. Sal was very close to her mother and she died. This caused her to live in a fantasy. She was so hurt by her mother’s death. She stopped spending very much time with her dad and she doesn’t talk about her past with Phoebe. She decides to go to Idaho hoping that her mother really isn’t dead or that she can even maybe bring her back to life if she wishes hard enough. Salamanca is living what she wants and not in reality. But, towards the end of the book Sal realizes that her mother is actually dead. “I did not think cheerleading tryouts would matter, but I was not so sure about yelling at your mother. I was certain, however, that if your mother left, it would be something that mattered in the whole long course of your lifetime.” Salamanca misses her mother a lot. She makes herself believe that her mother is still alive. She doesn’t want to face the reality.

Scout and Salamanca have many similarities and differences. They both learn that you should never judge a person before you get to know them. But, Scout lives in reality, while Salamanca lives in a fantasy. They are both very different, but very the same.

SUMMER!!!

I can't believe how close it is to being summer. We only have fourteen days left of school. I swear time has gone by so fast. It seemed like just a couple of weeks ago we stared the new semester and now it is almost over. I think it is crazy. I seems like have been so busy and not have had very much free time. I have been so busy doing home work and other activities. It is just so amazing how fast time has flown by. I am so excited for summer to finally be here, but I am kind of sad too. Since I am going to be going to Davis High School, and a lot of my friends are going to be going to Layton High School. I really don't think that the district should split up the school, because most of my friends, one of my friends has been best friends since first grade, are going to a different high school than me and also a lot of people that I have been going to school with since I was in Elementary. But, I am totally excited for summer to come. I am not really sure what I am going to be doing, but I really am convince my parents to let me get a Lagoon season pass. But, the very first week after school gets out I am going on the Pioneer Trek for my church. I am not paticularly excited about it, but my mom and dad really are pressuring me to go. We are going up to Deseret Land and Livestock for the trek. Here is what the trek will kind of be like: For three days, some 220 teenagers pushed 725-pound handcarts up and down hills for 22 miles. Dinner on the first day at 10:30 p.m. consisted of a bullion based barley soup and a roll. Prior to bed, they brushed their teeth with baking soda instead of toothpaste.
No shorts or t-shirts were allowed. The girls wore bonnets, bloomers and skirts. The boys donned long sleeve shirts and cowboys hats. No Ipods, Gameboys, cell phones or even sunglasses. No candy or soda. And the group from the Canyon Rim Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints loved what sounds more like a hard-labor camp than a time for spiritual growth. “It feels good to do something hard”, said youth leader Kristin Monson. “The kids loved pulling up hard hills and were high-fiving each other with encouragement after they made it up top.” The youth were separated from their best friends and assigned to temporary families consisting of a ma and pa, aunt and uncle and several brothers and sisters. No tents were used, no soft foam pads allowed and there were no showers for three days. The trek took place recently on the 220,000-acre Deseret Land and Livestock Ranch in eastern Utah near the Wyoming border. The 14- to 18-year-old youth took on the journey knowing full well they were leaving behind the comforts of home for a few days in order to get a glimpse of what early pioneers went through. Some 70 adults consisting of medical professionals, transportation personnel, food services and other staff oversaw the event, which was at least a year in the planning. There were squares dances, tomahawk throwing, concerts and homemade taffy pulling. There was teamwork, testimonies and bonding. There were illuminated skies of stars at night and songs of praise by day. Singer and songwriter Kenneth Cope gave an impromptu concert of several of his songs and group sing-a-longs. Why put these youth through the rigors of pioneer life? “This is a pivotal generation,” said Canyon Rim Stake President Bruce McDonough, who was quoting author Sheri Dew. “We want to give the youth every advantage we can to help them succeed in life.” LDS Church service missionary Monty Bolton praised the Canyon Rim group. “I hate to brag about one group,” said Bolton, assigned to escort the numerous youth trek groups, “but this has been the best group this summer. The leaders were well organized and supported and they brought in mountain men to entertain the kids. It was a lot of fun to watch.” Only minor injuries such as blisters, sunburn, heat fatigue, were reported. Temperatures ranged from 48 degrees at night to 95 degrees during the day. That doesn't sound very fun to me, but oh well. I'm not really sure what I am going to do the rest of the summer, but I am going to try and make it really fun.

Cute Story from France

Once upon a time a wicked King invaded a Queen's land, seized the Queen and her infant daughter as prisoners, and shut them both into the highest room of a tall tower. The room was very tiny and empty, with only one table and a very hard bed on the floor. Then the enemy King sent for a fairy who lived near his kingdom. He nearly pushed the Fairy up the stairs to see the Queen. The Fairy was so touched by the sight of the Queen's miserable condition that when she kissed the Queen's hand the Fairy whispered to her, "Courage, madam! I think I see a way to help you."

The Queen whispered her thanks. Then the wicked King cried harshly, "Silence!" He turned to the Fairy. "I brought you here for one reason and one reason only. Tell me this: Is this baby girl destined to grow up to be a worthy bride for my son?"

The Fairy answered that indeed, the Princess was destined to grow up to have every grace good fortune could bestow, that she would be fair, fortunate and in every way worthy of a throne. The old King growled to the Queen that it was lucky for them both that the Fairy had said it would be so. Then the baby would be saved to become the future bride for his son, a spoiled boy already terrorizing the palace with his wild tantrums and mean pranks. The King thundered that if the Fairy had forecast differently, both the baby and her mother would have immediately been hanged. Then he stamped off, taking the Fairy with him, and leaving the poor Queen in tears.

"How can I wish my little daughter to grow up with good graces only to be married to that horrid King's son!" she cried. "And yet, if she were ill-fated we would both be doomed right now. If only I could hide her safely away, somewhere, anywhere! There must be someplace where the cruel King could never find her."

As the days went on, the Queen and the little Princess grew thinner and thinner, for every day their hard-hearted jailer gave them only three boiled peas each to eat and a tiny morsel of black bread, so they were always terribly hungry. At last, one evening, as the Queen sat at her spinning-wheel -- for she was made to work day and night -- she saw a tiny, pretty little mouse creep out of a hole. She said to the mouse, "Alas, little creature! Why are you coming here? I have only three peas each each day, so unless you wish to starve I'm afraid you must go elsewhere for your food."

But the mouse ran hither and thither, and danced and twirled so prettily, that the Queen clapped and laughed with joy and at last gave the mouse her last pea, which she was keeping for her supper, saying, "Here, little one. I'm sorry I've nothing better to offer you, as your fine dancing deserves far more than this wrinkled little pea."

She had hardly spoken when upon the table appeared a succulent roast partridge and two dishes of preserved fruit. Amazed she was! Quickly she mashed a portion of the meat and fruit and spoon fed her baby, who licked each spoonful with glee. Then the Queen ate with great satisfaction herself, and offered what was left to the little mouse. The mouse danced even more charmingly than ever before. The next morning the jailer brought the Queen and the Princess' daily allowance of three peas each, which he brought in upon a large dish to make them look even smaller. As soon as the jailer left, the Queen gave the mouse all three of her peas.

The empty dish was instantly covered with all sorts of wonderful things to eat, and the Queen shared a feast with her daughter once again. But afterwards, as she sat at her spinning-wheel, she began to worry that the fine meals could end any time, and even if they didn't, that her precious daughter was doomed to live as a prisoner, only to be forced to marry that horrid prince when she grew up. The Queen despaired, "Oh! If only I could think of some way of saving her!"

As she spoke, she noticed the little mouse playing in a corner with some long straws. The Queen began to braid the straws, thinking, "If I had but enough straws I could make a basket with them, and let my baby down in the basket from the window to any kind passerby who might take care of her and raise her in freedom."

By the time she had finished her thoughts, the little mouse had dragged in more and more straw, until the Queen had plenty to weave her basket. The Queen worked at it night and day while the little mouse danced for her. At lunch and supper time the Queen gave the mouse the three peas and the bit of black bread, and always found something scrumptious in their place. She really could not imagine where all these yummy dishes were coming from. At last one day when the basket was finished, the Queen was looking out of the window to see how long a cord she must make to lower it to the bottom of the tower, when she noticed a little old woman down below leaning upon her stick who was looking up at her. Presently the old woman said, "I know your trouble, madam. If you like, I will help you."

At last one day when the basket was finished, the Queen was looking out of the window to see how long a cord she must make to lower it to the bottom of the tower, when she noticed a little old woman down below leaning upon her stick who was looking up at her. Presently the old woman said, "I know your trouble, madam. If you like I will help you."

"Oh, dear lady!" said the Queen. "If you really wish to be of use to me you will come at a time I will describe to you, and I will let down my poor little baby in a basket. If you will take her, and bring her up for me, when I am rich and free again, I will reward you splendidly."

"I don't care about any reward," said the old woman. "And you can be sure your little daughter shall be well taken care of by me. But there is one thing I should like. You must know that I am very particular about what I eat, and if there is one thing that I fancy above all else, it is a plump, tender little mouse. If there happens to be any mouse in your garret just throw it down to me, that is all I ask." Well, when the Queen heard this began to cry. The old woman, after waiting a few minutes, asked her what was the matter.

"Why," said the Queen, "There is only one mouse in this garret, and that is such a dear, sweet little thing that I cannot bear to think of its being killed."

"What!" cried the old woman, in a rage. "You care more for a miserable mouse than for your very own baby? Good-bye, madam! I leave you to enjoy its company. For my own part I thank my stars that I can get plenty of mice without troubling the likes of you!"

That night when the Queen's baby was fast asleep, she packed it into the basket and wrote on a slip of paper, "Here is my beloved but unfortunate little baby girl. Please raise her with tenderness and love." This she pinned to the baby's robe. Very sadly she shut the basket. Just then, in sprang the little mouse.

"Ah, little one!" said the Queen. "It cost me dear today to save your life." Whereupon the Queen collapsed and cried her heart out.

The Mouse answered, "Believe me, madam, you will never regret your kindness."

The Queen was immensely astonished when the Mouse began to speak, and still more so when she saw its little sharp nose turn to a beautiful face, and its paws become hands and feet. Then it suddenly grew tall, and the Queen recognized the Fairy who had come up to her tower room with the wicked King to visit her.

The Fairy smiled at her astonished look, and said, "I wanted to see if you were capable of real friendship before I extended myself to help you. You see, we fairies are rich in everything but friends, and real friends are hard to find."

"It is not possible that you should want for friends, you charming creature," said the Queen, kissing her.

"Yet it is so," said the Fairy. "For so many are only friendly with Fairies for their own advantage, and that I do not count at all. But when you protected the poor little mouse, you could not have known there was anything to be gained by it. To test you I took the form of the old woman whom you talked to from the window and tempted you to forsake your little mouse friend. But this you did not do! At that moment I realized that you are indeed capable of true friendship." Turning to the little Princess, she kissed her rosy lips three times. The Princess cooed and giggled.

"Dear little one, I am going to take you and your mother to my very own enchanted cottage, quite a distance from this wicked kingdom. There you both will be invisible to all others and you, sweet baby, will grow up safe and free, together with your mother."

In an instant, the Fairy, the Queen and her baby vanished from the tall tower prison room, never to return.

Crazy News Article

I found this news article on the internet and I thought it was really funny and interesting.

More People Leaving Money to Their Pets
By DAVID B. CARUSO Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - Leona Helmsley's decision to leave $12 million to her dog so it could live out its life in luxury proved once and for all that she was not one of the little people.

But legal experts say that, size aside, Helmsley's gift to her beloved pet _ a Maltese named Trouble _ wasn't unique.

A growing number of people, not all wealthy, have been setting up trust funds or adjusting their wills to ensure that their pets are well cared for if they die, according to attorneys and animal welfare groups.

States have rushed to make such gifts easier. At the close of the 1990s, only a handful recognized so-called "pet trusts." Now, 39 states plus Washington, D.C., have enacted laws dealing with such gifts.

The types of bequests vary. Some well-off Americans go as far as to set aside tens of thousands of dollars to allow their pets to continue to live comfortably in their past homes with a professional caretaker, rather than be shipped off to a relative.

Others leave money for future veterinary bills, or just to compensate a new owner for taking on the responsibility of a new dog or cat.

Rachel Hirschfeld, an estate lawyer in New York who specializes in pet trusts, said the idea isn't so crazy.

"People really think of their pets as their babies," she said.

Yes, she said, gifts like Helmsley's are extraordinary. Her clients more commonly leave $5,000 to $10,000, although she had one who set aside $5 million.

Tales about eccentric millionaires leaving chunks of their fortune to a pet go back decades, but the creation of trusts for that purpose became easier in 1990 because of an update of the Uniform Probate Code, a model upon which many states base their laws regarding wills.
Animal welfare groups have also lobbied for a federal bill that would create tax benefits for a pet owner who creates such a trust, then leaves the remaining money to charity when the animal dies.

Sara Amundson, a director of legislative affairs for the Humane Society of the United States, said even a small gift can keep a pet from winding up in dire straits.

"As a nation, we still euthanize 4 to 6 million cats and dogs every year, and a good number of those are pets left without care when their owners die," she said.

Pet owners of moderate means can ensure some stability for their animals by including a few lines in their will spelling out who gets the family dog, said Kim Bressant-Kibwe, associate counsel of trusts and estates for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"Maybe it's a situation where a person only has $500 or $1,000 to leave for a pet's care, and that's fine," Bressant-Kibwe said. "What we want people to think about is making arrangements."

The specifics of Helmsley's gift to Trouble are spelled out in private trust documents and aren't publicly known. Her will says only that the dog will be cared for by her brother, and that when it dies, its remains will be buried next to her own in a lavish family mausoleum.

Hirschfeld, who was also a longtime acquaintance of Helmsley's, said that even given the hotelier's famous penchant for fine living, the trust's size is startling.

"Twelve million is outrageous. Come on! Let's get real!" she said. "If someone had come to me and said, 'I want to leave 12 million bucks, I'd say, 'why?'"

One possible reason, she speculated, is that money left over after the dog's demise might ultimately be destined for animal-welfare charities.

A strongly written trust, she said, could likely protect the dog's gift from becoming the subject of a court fight.

New York state law allows a court to reduce bequests to pets if a judge finds they are more than needed for the animal's care, and there is always the possibility that disappointed relatives might be waiting in the wings to argue that the dog got too much.

Helmsley, a hotel and real estate magnate who died Aug. 20 at age 87, decreed that the vast bulk of her multibillion-dollar estate would go to charity, not to her family, although she made individual gifts of $5 million to $10 million to several relatives.

She also expressly stiffed two grandchildren with whom she had feuded, saying in her will that they would get nothing, "for reasons that are known to them."

Songs

I really like these songs. They are some of my favorite.

Love Song by Sara Bareilles

Head under water,
And they tell me to breathe easy for a while.
The breathing gets harder, even I know that.
You made room for me but it’s too soon to see,
If I’m happy in your hands.
I’m unusually hard to hold on to.
Blank stares at blank pages.
No easy way to say this.
You mean well, but you make this hard on me.
I'm not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you asked for it,
'Cause you need one, you see.
I'm not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you tell me it's,
Make or breaking this.
If you’re on your way,
I'm not gonna write you to stay.
If all you have is leaving,
I’m gonna need a better reason to write you a love song today.
Today.
I learned the hard way,
That they all say things you want to hear.
My heavy heart sinks deep down under you,
And your twisted words, your help just hurts.
You are not what I thought you were.
Hello to high and dry.
Convinced me to please you.
Made me think that I need this too.
I’m trying to let you hear me as I am.
I'm not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you asked for it,
'Cause you need one, you see.
I'm not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you tell me it's,
Make or breaking this.
If you’re on your way,
I'm not gonna write you to stay.
If all you have is leaving,
I’m gonna need a better reason to write you a love song today.
Promise me you'll leave the light on,
To help me see with daylight, my guide, gone.
'Cause I believe there's a way you can love me because I say,
I won't write you a love song,
'Cause you asked for it,
'Cause you need one, you see.
I'm not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you tell me it's,
Make or breaking this.
Is that why you wanted a love song,
'Cause you asked for it,
'Cause you need one, you see.
I’m not gonna write you a love song,
'Cause you tell me it's,
Make or breaking this.
If you’re on your way,
I’m not gonna write you to stay.
If your heart is nowhere in it,
I don’t want it for a minute.
Babe, I’ll walk the seven seas when I believe that there's a reason to,
Write you a love song today.
Today.

Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis

Closed off from love
I didn’t need the pain
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass
Before you know it you’re frozen
But something happened
For the very first time with you
My heart melted to the ground
Found something true
And everyone’s looking round
Thinking I’m going crazy
But I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open
Trying hard not to hear
But they talk so loud
Their piercing sounds fill my ears
Try to fill me with doubt
Yet I know that the goal
Is to keep me from falling
But nothing’s greater
Than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I’m going crazy, maybe, maybe
But I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open
And it’s draining all of me
Oh they find it hard to believe
I’ll be wearing these scars
For everyone to see
I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love

My Neighbor

Do you know anyone who doesn’t acts younger than they really are? My neighbor, Rick, is one of those people. Even though he is a father of three and a respectable lawyer, he seems like a seventeen-year-old person trapped in a near 40-year-old’s body. Not only does he dress like a teenager, he acts like one too. He is also very good all the extreme sports. My neighbor, Rick, acts younger than he really is.

Rick dresses like a teenager. He wears clothes that most of the teenage boys would wear. He loves to wear skate shoes. One of his favorite brands of shoes is Audio. His favorite store is Zumiez. I am pretty sure that most of his clothes are from Zumiez, a skater shop. He doesn’t usually buy his daughter any clothes except when they come from Zumiez. Rick gets mad when she buys clothes with his money, so she has to sneak in her clothes. He usually is seen wearing a beanie, hoodie and jeans. He doesn’t just look the part he acts like it too.

Rich acts just like a teenager. Rick loves to tease people, mostly kids. He especially loves to tease the neighbor kids on the street, like my sister Abbi, and his nieces and nephews. He always teases my little sister and calls her names like, “Princess Abbi” and “Pretty Princess.” She says she doesn’t like it, but I think she does. He also loves to watch TV. One of his favorite shows is South Park. I know he has seen a lot of the episodes. He even talks like a teenager too. One of his favorite things to say when he gets really excited is “Hot Digity Dog.” He speaks his mind and says whatever he wants. Usually, if something is bothering him, he will just tell that person that it is bothering him. He also likes to do sports a teenager would do.

Rick loves all the extreme sports. He spends a good portion of his money on things for the sports that he enjoys. One of his favorite sports is snowboarding. He has at least eight snowboards that he uses. Most of them are Burton. He went snowboarding every month last year, except July. I think if he didn’t have a job, he would go every day he could. Most of the people that work at Snow basin know him by name. Once one of the guys on the lifts thought he didn’t have a job, because he goes snowboarding so much. He even goes snowboarding with professional snowboarders, like Jeremy Jones. My eleven-year-old brother and his friend went with him and they thought it was the coolest thing ever. Rick is an amazing snowboarder, I have been with him and his daughter, and he taught me so many things. He is one of the best snowboarders I know. He also really likes snowboarding movies. Instead of watching movies likes to watch those instead. He loves to ride motorcycles. He has three Yamaha motorcycles. He rides his motorcycle during the summer a lot. He also likes to skateboard. Early on summer Saturdays mornings, you in the skate park. He usually takes his son. Some of the boys in our neighborhood also invite him over to go snowboarding or skateboarding with them.

My neighbor Rick is just like a teenager in every way. He likes to wear skate clothes. He acts like a teenager. He loves all of the extreme sports. That’s my neighbor Rick, just one of the kids.

Power to the Poachers

CHECK OUT MY FAV POACHING VID (to the left, it's the one with the guy in the neon jacket)


Until snowboarders everywhere are free to ride where they want to ride, until the snow and the slopes of this great nation have been purged of the scourge of segregation, until the four elitist, fascist resorts lift their draconian bans, there shall be no rest, no justice, and no peace.
In the face of this blatant and aggressive disregard for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America, poaching isn’t simply a peaceful form of protest, it is truly your patriotic duty.
-Jake Burton


ALL WE WANT IS SOME PEACE!!!


SABOTAGE STUPIDITY: BURTON'S POWER TO THE POACERS (5ones.com)

Can it seriously be possible that we are now beginning the year 2008 and there are still mountain resorts in the United States that are getting away with banning snowboarders from their hills? Unfortunately, and unbelievably, the answer is yes. While we are now down to the final four mountains that refuse to lift their snowboarding ban, it’s still not good enough. Mad River Glen, Vt., Taos, New Mexico, Alta, UT., and Deer Valley, UT. all somehow continue to institute a ’skiers only’ policy. Apparently the godfather of snowboarding, Jake Burton, has had enough.

Burton is encouraging all of us fellow knuckle-draggers to band together and peacefully protest this atrocity at each of these mountains. On Dec. 15 of last year, a sneak attack was led on Mad River Glen. About 40 white-clad boarders organized themselves at Burton HQ, conveniently located 45 minutes from MRG, for an early morning sneak-attack. They were armed with donuts and smiles, taking an early morning hike up the mountain and catching the elitists before they even knew what hit them. With cameras rolling, the brigade took to the hill while on-lookers below gathered to see their mountain being poached. Once the group made it to the bottom they proceeded to greet skiers with donuts and a friendly hello while staging a peaceful picket line in protest of the continued segregation.

In addition to the protest that already took place, Burton is encouraging snowboarders to poach other mountains and submit a video that documents their experience, and the best video will be awarded with a cash prize worth $5000. So far there are no user generated videos posted on the site. Is that a sign of a failed attempt at Burton trying its hand in social media marketing? Or is simply because snowboarders don’t care enough that only four out of the hundreds of mountain resorts in the U.S. don’t allow boarders?

I’m sure each of these resorts has their reasons for limiting their guests to two-plankers, but at this point those reasons just don’t fly anymore. There simply is no way that these mountains can continue to justify picking and choosing who is allowed on their slopes. Burton has it right as he continues to encourage more of these peaceful poaching-protests, even going as far to call it our “patriotic duty.” Poach away my friends, poach away!!!

Daylight Savings

I guess you could say I'm not the biggest of daylight savings (yes, I know it was like a week ago, but I'm still not used to it.) I've heard something about it saving energy, but in my case that is defiantly not true. I can't go to sleep at night and I can't get up in the morning. If I try to go to sleep early I end up just laying in bed for hours. So, I'm stuck watching TV and watching tons of TV at night doesn't help save energy. Since I'm staying up late I end up not wanting to get up in the morning. I end up looking like crap. I only did my hair twice this week, and I usually do it at the very least three or four times. Daylight savings wears me out. I'm pretty sure that I'm using a lot more energy then I normally do. So, in my opinion we shouldn't even have daylight savings. It might be helpful to some people, but not me. I kind of like the one in the fall, but I would rather have no daylight savings.

My Fabulous Weekend

This weekend was kind of fun. On Friday I babysat for ever, but I actually had kind of fun. I babysit almost every Friday. I don't always enjoy it though. It it kind of stinks because I don't get to hang out with my friends and do fun things, but on the bright side I get paid. I guess you could say that it is my job. Some days it is fun, but sometimes it is not at all. I went babysitting right after school got out. We played some games, and stuff like that. After we ate diner, we made snow cones (my family has a snow cone machine, and my mom brought it down.) We had Root Beer, and Tigers Blood. Tigers Blood is my favorite. After that we made homemade chocolate chip cookies. They love to make them, and ask me every time I come over if we can make them. Their mom has this really good recipe, and they are delicious. So that's what we did most of the time, it was really fun. I got home around ten and then watched TV. When I woke up the next morning, I got up and went snowboarding. I had really fun. My dad's, bosses son used to teach snow board lessons, so he went up with us. He gave us a couple of tips that would help us a lot, and once I started doing them I noticed a huge difference. The tips that he gave my helped my snowboarding go so much easier. That day was the half pipe competition and one of the chair lifts was right next to the half pipe. We went up that chair lift, it's called Eagle, and we saw some snowboarders on the pipe while we were there. The half pipe walls were twenty two feet high (it is one of the biggest half pipes in North America). While we were on the lift we saw Shawn White on the half pipe. For those of you that don't know who he is one of the best snowboarders in the world, at least in my opinion, he won the olympic gold medal in 2006. He is so amazing. It was so cool to see him while I was on the chair lift. After we were done snowboarding, I went babysitting again, so that pretty much was my whole weekend.

World Hunger

World Hunger is a major issue in today’s society, and we have so many people that are hungry on the earth. There are around 850 million people in the world that are suffering from hunger and malnutrition problems. There are around six billion people in the world; there shouldn’t be that many people that are starving. Jimmy Carter said, “We know that a peaceful world cannot long exist, one third rich and two thirds hungry.” We need to do everything we can to help them.

The issue of world hunger and malnutrition is so widespread and far-reaching. It touches all walks of life and all aspects of life. Not only is it a social problem but it is an economic problem as well. Those that face extreme poverty seem to be the most effected. Third world and developing countries have the most serious issues associated with hunger.

There are many advocacy groups trying locally, nationally, and globally to help against hunger. Even celebrities use their names to help fight this issue. Every bit of attention to the need to help and education about the situation is helpful. It takes more than money.

Education about hunger to those who can help, like governments, and also to those who need assistance is key. Health issues arise because of hunger issues. Hunger begins with poverty and the inability to provide for oneself. It then leads to malnutrition and deficiencies which lead to disease and then ultimately death.

People, right now, are dieing from hunger and hunger-related issues. Every day we have 2,400 people that die from hunger. That means someone leaves this life about every 3.6 seconds.

It is not because we don’t have enough food. We have enough food for everyone to have nearly two loaves of bread per day. It is more about availability and money for the food and distribution of the goods.

About one fourth of the world lives on less than one dollar a day, and three billion people live on around two dollars or less each day. That is not a lot of money, the richest one percent make as much as the poorest fifty seven percent make. The richest fifth of the world consumes eighty six percent of goods, such as food and technology, and the poorest get about one percent of those goods. That is a major difference. There needs to be more equity in the system.

The children suffer most from hunger and malnutrition. They say that three fourths of the deaths caused by hunger are children under the age of five. That is really sad. There are around 15 million hungry children that die every year from hunger. There are 160 million children that are hungry in the world. One half of the hungry children are in South Asia. There are 183 million children today that weigh less than they should. There are a lot of cases of hunger, and the children are suffering most. The children are our future, but if they are not helped how can they help us? Even though the mortality rate is going down, we still need to do everything we can to help the hungry. They are dieing at an alarming rate, and need to be helped. Even though most of the hungry are in Asia, Africa and India, it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening here. “If you want to eliminate hunger, everybody has to be involved,” said Bono. We all need to stop and fight against the hunger and malnutrition that is going on today.

WAKE UP!!!

In English we had to do a persuasive essay, and I did it on how school should stop later. So here is some of the reasons I think it should start later...

Wake up!!! It’s time to get ready for school!!! You look at your clock and have fifteen minutes to get ready. You are exhausted, because you didn’t get as much sleep as you would have liked. You couldn’t go to sleep last night. You skip breakfast, because you don’t have enough time, even though it’s the most important meal of the day. You get to school just on time, but you will have a hard time staying awake during the day. You wonder why school couldn’t just start at a later time. Schools, especially junior high and high schools, should start at a later time.

Teenagers have biological clocks that effects how and when they sleep. For teenagers, it causes them to stay awake even when they are tired and want to go to bed. These irregular sleep patterns are also affecting the quality of sleep that teenagers are getting. This time can be between nine and ten, but it is different for every person. This is affecting our sleep significantly. Some researchers from Brown University and Stanford University did a study with teenagers. They saw these biological clocks in action, and know that they are keeping many students awake at night. They need to get more sleep and are having a hard time in school because of it. Some students are falling asleep in class, and not paying attention, because they are too tired. We are not as alert as we could be. This is making us lose a lot of sleep and we are suffering because of it.

We as teenagers are losing sleep, because school is starting so early. We are being sleep deprived. Bill Dement, started sleep research at Stanford, says that many teenagers are sleep deprived and are like that every day. This is causing us to not have all the energy we could have. According to the National Sleep Foundation 85% of teenagers are getting less than eight and a half ours of sleep each night. We are supposed to be getting at least that much. We aren’t getting the energy and the concentration that we need. “There are literally millions of adolescents who feel despondent, get poor marks, or are too tired to join high-school teams all because they are getting too little sleep,” says Sarah Sprinks producer of an Adolescent and Sleep article. The same symptoms of sleep loss are a lot like the symptoms of depression. Sleep researchers are pushing schools to start at a later time, because of these issues.

Since teenagers aren’t getting enough sleep they aren’t performing as well as they could be. Brown University’s study has shown us that lack of sleep affects mental and physical skills. We need to get more sleep so we can do better in these things. “Teenagers that do not get enough sleep have worse grades, more depression, anxiety, irritability, and somatic complaints; poorer attendance; and a greater tendency toward delinquency and violence.” Said William C. Dement, MD, PhD, Stanford University. Some people say that the students will need to get up early to get them prepared for life. Part of that may be true, but school should not be starting this early. Students are being physically challenged to go to school and not just in PE. They have to get up earlier and it is making them tired throughout the day. This sleep deprivation can be very dangerous and deadly for teenagers that are driving. If you stay awake for eighteen hours or more then it is equal to having a blood alcohol limit of 0.08%, which is above the legal limit. This is very dangerous and can cause people to die from it. There have been many studies done on teenagers sleep, and they all show that we need to get more sleep. Some students are sleeping through class so they aren’t learning at their full potential. Because we aren’t getting enough sleep; we aren’t doing as well as we could be in school.

Teenagers desperately need to get more sleep. We have biological clocks that are keeping us a wake at night even when we want to go to sleep. We are losing sleep that we need so much. Not getting enough sleep is affecting our abilities. School needs to start later so we can get enough sleep.

Music

I love music so much. I think sometimes I would be lost with out it. Think how boring life would be. You would go in to a movie and there is no dramatic music. LAME!!! I would hate it.

MUSIC
by Charles Baudelaire

MUSIC doth uplift me like a sea
Towards my planet pale,
Then through dark fogs or heaven's infinity
I lift my wandering sail.
With breast advanced, drinking the winds that flee,
And through the cordage wail,
I mount the hurrying waves night hides from me
Beneath her sombre veil.
I feel the tremblings of all passions known
To ships before the breeze;
Cradled by gentle winds, or tempest-blown
I pass the abysmal seas
That are, when calm, the mirror level and fair
Of my despair!

Please don't stop the music (4x)

It's gettin late I'm making my way over to my favorite place
I gotta get my body moving shake the stress away
I wasn't looking for nobody when you looked my wayPossible candidate (yeah)
Who knew That you'd be up in here lookin like you do
You're makin' stayin' over here impossible
Baby I must say your aura is incredible
If you dont have to go don't
Do you know what you started
I just came here to party
But now we're rockin on the dancefloor
Acting naughty Your hands around my waist
Just let the music play
We're hand in hand
Chest to chest
And now we're face to face
I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music DJ let it playI just can't refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin to it
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the music
I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the musicDJ let it play
I just can't refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rocking to it
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the music
Baby are you ready cause its getting close
Don't you feel the passion ready to explode
What goes on between us no one has to know
This is a private show (oh)
Do you know what you started
I just came here to party
But now we're rockin on the dancefloor
Acting naughty
Your hands around my waist
Just let the music play
We're hand in hand
Chest to chest
And now we're face to face
I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music DJ let it playI just can't refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin to it
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the music
Ma say ma sa, Ma ma coo sa Ma say ma sa, Ma ma coosa (2x)
Please don't stop the music
Ma say ma sa, Ma ma coo sa Ma say ma sa, Ma ma coosa
Please don't stop the music (2x)
I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music DJ let it play
I just can't refuse it Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin to it
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the music
I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music
DJ let it playI just can't refuse it
Like the way you do theKeep on rocking to it
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the music
Ma ma say ma ma sa, Ma ma coo sa Ma ma say ma ma sa, Ma ma coosa(6x)
Please don't stop the music

Snowboarding (again)

I know you guys are probably sick of hearing me talk about snowboarding all the time, but I love it. It is the best thing in the world. This week I went up snowboarding, and I had a blast!!! I went up with my little brother, his friend, and my mom. We were gone for almost twelve hours. We went up to Park City. I usually go up there, because I have a season pass. My brothers friend skis, and he is pretty good, but he kept falling. We kind of just took random trails, and I found the best run ever. There was nobody on it. I swear I only saw like four people. It was awesome. It is I think brand new this year too. Well, at least it looks new. On this run there was a jump, and my brothers friend went off it. He did like a half front flip thing. It looked really painful, but he was laughing. It was kind of funny. We did that run so many times. I loved it. I also went on this other really fun run. I don't rembeber what it is called, but it was so cool. It had this part where you went in to a bunch of trees. You were completly surounded. It felt like you and the mountain were the only things that existed on the earth. It was completly silent. There was this really cool half pipe on this trail that was natural. It was so awesome. I love snowboarding so much I wish that I could go up every day.

Super Bowl Sunday

This year for super bowl sunday my neighbors came over to my house. We had a party. I thought it was really fun. We had about half of the people that wanted the patriots to win and the other for the giants. I wanted the giants. Personally, I didn't really care, but I just didn't want the patriots to win. I really thought that they were going to though. They had an undefeted season. We watched the super bowl together, and I was so excited the last couple minutes of the game. I couldn't believe that the New York Giants had won!!! I was freaking out. The people rooting for the patriots weren't to happy. I was so excited. It was really funny to see my brother though, he was so glad that the patriots hadn't won. The rest of the night we played games like guitar hero. I'm not very good though. I don't know how people can play it on expert. I can barely play on hard. It was way fun. I love super bowl sunday for a couple of reasons. You get to eat tons of junk food, and my family always does something fun. This year we had stew, but I don't really like stew that much, but I actually thought it was pretty good. Every year we have a seven layer bean dip. I love it. This year it was only six layers, I forgot to get the guacamole at the store. We ate a lot of junk food it was really fun. I think it is kind of weird how super bowl sunday is a holiday for people. It is almost one for me. We focus so much on that one game, that in thirty years who will remeber that much about(except for the players.) It seems kind of weird to me, but I love it.

One Republic

This past week I went to a One Republic concert. It was so much fun. I went with one of my best friends, Alex. We were so excited when we got there. I really like that band. Some of my favorite songs of theres are Stop and Stare and Apolagize. They have really good music. It was really crowed, but way fun.

This town is colder now,
I think it's sick of us
It's time to make our move,
I'm shakin off the rust
I've got my heart set on anywhere but here
I'm staring down myself, counting up the years
Steady hands, just take the wheel...
And every glance is killing me
Time to make one last appeal... for the life I lead

Stop and stare
I think I'm moving but I go nowhere
Yeah I know that everyone gets scared
But I've become what I can't be, oh

Stop and stare
You start to wonder why you're 'here' not there
And you'd give anything to get what's fair
But fair ain't what you really need
Oh, can u see what I see
They're tryin to come back, all my senses push
Un-tie the weight bags,
I never thought I could...

Steady feet, don't fail me now
Gonna run till you can't walk
But something pulls my focus out
And I'm standing down...

Stop and stare
I think I'm moving but I go nowhere
Yeah I know that everyone gets scared
But I've become what I can't be, oh

Stop and stare
You start to wonder why you're here not there
And you'd give anything to get what's fair
But fair ain't what you really need
Oh, you don't need
What u need, what u need...

Stop and stare
I think I'm moving but I go nowhere
Yeah I know that everyone gets scared
But I've become what I can't be
Oh, do u see what I see...

My Fabulous Weekend

On Friday I went baby sitting...how fun. I actually usually babysit on every Friday. I love the kids to death that I babysit. They are so dang cute. On Friday it was one of my best friends, Alex, birthdays. So after I babysat I went over to my other friends house for a party. But, by the time I got over there most people had left. It was pretty sad. I had tons of fun though. We ate tons of food and ate a cake. We also had a frosting fight, but ended up getting frosting on the floor. The frosting was a dark green and there carpet is like a creamish color. But, my other best friend, Kenzie, magically removed the stain with water I was ipressed. So, we just had tons of fun. That night I could'nt have a sleepover, because I was going snowboarding the next morning. I stayed up till 1:30 which was a really stupid thing to do. I got only six hours of sleep that night. I got up the next moring and went up to snowbird. I had never had been to snowbird before so I was pretty excited. When we got up there it took us forever to actually get on the lift. Every one took forever to get all there gear on, we went with like twelve people. It was a pretty good skiing day, except there were kind of a lot of people there. The snow wasn't the best, but it was pretty good. I had lots of fun, but I think snowbird is more for skiiers then snowboarders. It is kind of hard when it is almost a perfectly flat track and you don't have ski poles to push you. I had tons of fun though. Right after when we were done we all went to my grandma's house. She made us dinner and I ate a ton. After we had dessert I fell asleep with my head on the table. I was kind of uncomfortable so I went over on the couch. I slept for at least two hours. I was exasted. So that's pretty much my weekend, so far. Tomorrow though, I am going snowboarding with four of my best friends. It is going to be so much fun. Then on Tuesday I'm going snowboarding with my family. So I guess you could say I snowboard way too much, but I love it.

Snowboarding

I went snowboarding for the first time this season (because of my surgery.) It had so much fun. I went up to the Park City Ski Resort, it was one of the best snowboarding days. It wasn't even that crowed once you got off the pay day lift and went to other ones. I went up with my brother and mom. We went up on some lifts that I had never been on before, I was kind of scared because I thought there would be double blacks and things. There were, but you didn't have to take that way. You could go on double blues and things. I loved it. I think that is one of my new favorite runs. We did that like two or three times. I also went on Jupiter I like that one okay, there are lots of trees and things. the only thing is that it is mostly flat and it's harder on a snowboard when you don't have poles or anything. I did okay, next we went on a different lift and my mom ski's and wanted to do the slalom so we did. It was actually pretty fun on a snowboard. My brother and I rode out of bounds most of the time on the slalom because it was really powder. We had lots of fun though. After, we went and got hot chocolate. I love hot chocolate...yum. I think next week I am going with some of my cousins and things up at snowbird. I have never been there...hopefully it will be fun!!!

Christmas Vacation

This year over Christmas Break I went to Califronia. It was so much fun. We stayed at in condos that were right on the beach in Oceanside California. We went with my moms brother and his family. This year instead of flying we drove...ugh. I slept a lot of the time and when I wasn't I was listening to my iPod, texting, or watching a movie a movie. I did all three sometimes. I was actually surprised that I didn't watch that much tv. My sister on the other hand parked herself right in front of the tv, like she does every time we get in the car, even if we are just going to the grocery store. She watched the Pink Panther cartoons the whole time. We drove forever. I am just glad I wasn't driving in my uncles car my one and a half year old cousin got car sick and was throwing up. So my other two cousins came in our car and watched the pink panther with my sister. When we got there we went and got pizza at the Pizza Port. I love there pizza every time we go to Califorinia we eat there. It is some of the best pizza in the world(at least in my opinion.) After that we just went back to the condo and watched tv and ate the pizza. The nexted day we just went swimming and stuff it was really fun. One of the days we went to sea world, because my uncles in the army and he can get free tickets. That was a lot of fun. My little cousin was so excited to see the whales she started to act like them. She was jumping up and down and laying on top of us acting like them, it was so cute. While we were there we didn't really go into the ocean that much because it was freezing cold. We did all kinds of fun things there. On the way home we stayed at a hotel in St. George on New Year's Eve. It was kind of fun, we went out to eat and that was fun. But, we really didn't do anything after that. I just watched tv until midnight because everyone else went to sleep. My dad, sister and brother all got sick on the way home. We think it could have been food poisoning or something. So I had a pretty fun Christmas Vacation.