Nothing

Rio Dawson

Rio Dawson

Nothing

February 4, 2013

A Semi-Formal Essay about Nothing in Particular

           
             Sometimes it is necessary to read an essay, just to say that you are doing something with yourself. There is a saying, “Life is short” but in reality, it is long. Most people live about 75 years, and unless you are immortal, that is a pretty long time. There will be days when you are very bored—so bored, in fact, that you may be contemplating killing yourself. So, this essay is to give you something to do, and while doing so it may be preventing the potential risk of suicide.
              This is the second paragraph, ladies and gentlemen. The introduction was filled with rather boring content, so perhaps it would be wise to write about something interesting here. Did you know that women blink twice as much as men? How about that black cats are bad luck in the United States but good luck in Japan? Or that it is more likely to be struck by lightning than to be attacked by a shark? Wait, you knew those facts?! Well, I bet you did not know that right now my dog is licking the handle to a drawer for no particular reason. You did not know that one. You are not psychic like me. Yes, I am psychic. For instance, I can guess that you are on Planet Earth right now, reading an essay. And that the planet you are on is orbiting a star of average size in the Milky Way galaxy. Also, you are either, 1) a girl or 2) a boy. I’m pretty good, aren’t I?
              This marks the very beginning of the third paragraph. It is time for an interview. The first question is this: why in the world are you wasting your precious time reading this completely useless and unhelpful essay? There is a lesson to be learned from this experience: never assume an essay is interesting simply because it is formal and MLA and written by an awesome person (me). Just think about it—right now, you could be doing so many amazing, wonderfully exciting things. You could be skydiving, horseback riding, rock climbing, or reading a book. Yes, reading a book counts as amazing, wonderful, and exciting. While we are on the subject of books, I might as well mention that The Giver is my favorite book of all time.
              I also want to recommend a couple movies: Rango and The Hobbit are good ones. But enough about movies and books. This essay was supposed to be a time-consumer, and nothing more than that. It was supposed to go absolutely nowhere. We are onto the fourth paragraph, did anybody notice that? Hey, we forgot about the interview! Mind if I ask some deep, embarrassing, personal questions? Okay, I will take your silence as a definite yes, and here is the question: do you feel like you have made a major difference in the world? Or even any difference at all? Do you think the world would notice if you disappeared? What is the most humiliating thing that happened to you when someone was watching? What about when no one was watching? Do you enjoy watching children’s movies? Do you like the color blue?
              Well, I hope you enjoyed this essay. I hope it was satisfying to be doing something besides sitting around picking your nose. And I really hope that is not what you were doing before you touched this essay. If so, please calmly hand the paper back to me and we can continue with our lives. Actually, you can hand the paper back right now anyway, because the essay is about to end. It is ending right now. Goodbye.

   Summer is the time my family likes to get outside and be active. We love hiking, road trips, biking, swimming, exploring, and climbing. Recently my sister and I made a big accomplishment: hiking Mt. Sopris.
   We went with our dad's friend Paul and his two kids. Our parents stayed home (they are planning their own trip up). Paul came to pick us up on a hot, cloudless day in his little gray car. We were packed and ready to go. He drove us out of Carbondale and up a rocky, dusty road to the base of Mt. Sopris. We stopped at the beginning of a trail called Thomas Lakes Trail, where we got our packs on and began hiking.
   The first stretch we covered felt difficult. Our bags were heavy, we immediatly tired out, and I knew we couldn't drink too much water--there wasn't much. The beginning of a hike is always hard: you're just getting used to your pack. But there were plenty of facsinating things to observe on the trail, for instance, there was a variety of plants around that I recognized: oregon grape, service berry, wild rose and fireweed. The forest was bright and had mostly aspen trees with some evergreens. Warm breezes drifted our way.
   Eventually we crossed over to another hill, climbed that, and found ourselves on a clearing overlooking Carbondale. We weren't that high up yet, but the view was still pretty.
   We trudged on, through another forest and over a few more hills. It took hours, but finally we stumbled upon Thomas Lakes. The first one we saw was absolutely beautiful--glistening blue in the afternoon sunlight and reflecting the towering peaks that rose up behind it. The other lake was less stunning, but was shaped like a whale.
   We had a great night that involved swimming in the cold lake roasing marshmallows, and eating crunchy noodles. Bedtime came early. We had a big day ahead of us.
   In the morning, we were up at the crack of dawn, eating breakfast and then packing light bags for the hike to the top. We left our tent set up and most of our stuff at the campsite.
   It was steep on the trail, and then it got even steeper when the forest thinned out. There were more wildflowers, smaller trees (and mostly evergreens), and lots of rocks providing homes for rodents.We came to a clearing where we got our first real view of the Roaring Fork Valley. It was amazing. Rolling hills covered with evergreens, ragged cliffs, red rocks, Carbondale, and faint purple moutains in the distance. We ate a snack and really let that all sink in.
   When we started going again, we made it pretty far up, past the treeline, before it started getting dangerous. We went almost to False Peak. It was amazing being that high up, even if I wasn't at the very tippy-top.
   Once we reached our campsite, we broke camp and headed down to the car. It didn't take long. Going downhill with a pack on is a lot faster than going uphill. We reached the car in only a couple of hours and then drove the rest of the way down.
   It was a great trip. I had lots of fun climbing and seeing the great views. I hope to have another big adventure soon.
  

The Liver and Gallbladder

The liver is a large, reddish-brown, meaty organ which sits on the right side of the belly, under the rib cage and partly covering the stomach. It is held in place by a web-like substance called peritoneum. As the body grows from infancy to adulthood, the liver rapidly increases in size. In an average adult, the liver weighs about three pounds. It is the heaviest gland and one of the largest organs. The liver has many important functions including: the secretion of bile (a healthy liver produces about 1 quart. – 1 ½  quarts of bile daily), filtering the blood coming from the digestive track before passing it on to the rest of the body, metabolizing drugs, digesting, absorbing, and processing food, maintaining the level of glucose in the blood, synthesizing protein and bile salts, the conversion of amino acids into energy, and the storage of certain fats and vitamins. 

             The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped muscular sac that acts as a storage tank for bile. The indigestion of food (and especially fats) can cause the release of a hormone, cholecystokinin, (CCK) which in turn signals the relaxation of the valve at the end of the common bile duct (the Sphincter of Oddi) which lets the bile into the small intestine (from the gallbladder). It also signals the contraction of the gallbladder which squirts the bile into the duodenum where it helps with the emulsification or breakdown of fats in meal.

            While studying the liver and gallbladder, it’s necessary to understand all the terms used. Bile is an important one. Bile is a fluid that aids the process of digestion and is also used as an antioxidant which removes toxins from the liver. Bile is made up of the following...water (85%), bile salts (10%), mucus and pigments (3%), fats (1%), inorganic salts (0.7%) and cholesterol (0.3%). 

Herbal Remedies for Liver Diseases

Alcohol can damage the liver if consumed over long periods of time and in large enough quantities. Drugs can also have a negative impact. Here are a few of the conditions that can occur: Cirrhosis, Hepatitis A, B, and C, and liver cancer.

Prescription drugs to undo the effect of illegal drugs and alcohol can be damaging to the body and sometimes ineffective. Herbal remedies, on the other hand, have proved themselves a powerful yet gentle alternative. They have been used for centuries to heal different parts of the body, and below are some that have been used as aids for the liver.

Milk thistle is a tall, spiny weed that can grow to be five feet tall and bears purple flowering heads. It has distinctive white markings on its leaves. The seeds are used for medicinal purposes. Silymarin, an extract of milk thistle, prevents damage to liver cells and improves cell regeneration in hepatitis, cirrhosis, mushroom poisoning, and other diseases of the liver. In the liver, there are specialized immune cells called Kuppfer cells. The job of a Kuppfer cell is to engulf toxins, bacteria, and other foreign matter that ends up in the liver. Kuppfer cells also destroy cancer cells. Milk thistle protects Kuppfer cells, therefore it works against cancer.   

            Andrographis is an ancient medicinal plant that grows in the wastelands and forests of China, India, Pakistan, and Thailand. Its leaves and stems are harvested in the late summer for medicinal use. Andrographis stimulates gallbladder functions, increases bile flow and the levels of bile salts and bile acids. Andrographis has been found to be more effective than milk thistle.   

Barberry is a shrub with tough leaves, small yellow flowers, purple berries, and thorns. Barberry can grow up to ten feet tall and is deciduous. The bark (of the root and stem) and the berries are used to make herbal medicine. The bark of Barberry is used to improve liver function and treat gallstones.

The Young Man and the Sea

By Rodman Philbrick

Book Report by Rio Dawson

A couple of weeks ago I finished a book called The Young Man and the Sea. I found this book light, exciting, very humorous, and hard to put down. The style of writing used here was casual and funny. The author has an effective way of writing that allows him to explain things without using many words. I really enjoyed this book and I hope to find another one like it.



Ever since twelve-year-old Skiff Beaman's mother died, things have been tough. Skiff's father spends all his time on the TV couch drinking beer and pitying himself. Their boat, the Mary Rose, needs constant attention. Skiff, out of hope that someday his dad will take him fishing, pumps out the bilge out every morning to keep her afloat. It takes a lot of effort to do so with only one pair of hands. One day she finally does sink at the dock. Her engine is destroyed and will cost thousands of dollars to replace it. When Skiff's lobster traps are mysteriously vandalized, he decides that the only way to make enough money to fix it is by catching a Bluefin Tuna by himself. Bluefin Tuna can be worth thousands of dollars each, but they require skill, knowledge, and the right equipment to catch one. Skiff is so determined that he is willing to go thirty miles out at sea, with only a little boat, a big harpoon, and an adventurous spirit.



The first thing I noticed about The Young Man and the Sea was how well it was written. The author’s strategy for explaining things is through connecting different subjects. He is excellent at describing the situation and then wrapping it up by bringing you back to the story. Another quality this book has is how it lets you in to the boy’s thoughts. The reader gets to know how Skiff thinks and how he deals with his emotions. I personally feel that Skiff is a very hard-working boy who believed in perseverance. He thinks his decisions over before seeing them through.



I think the Young Man and the Sea deserves a four-and-a-half star rating out of five. It's simple, well written, thrilling, and funny. If I could give it a texture, it would be smooth, because the book is easy to read and casual. It is well balanced; the sentences link together to form nice paragraphs. I would recommend the Young Man and the Sea to someone who enjoys light but engaging reading.

Herbal Remedies for Middle Ear Infections

Middle ear infections are highly common among children in the United States. These infections can be caused by both viruses and bacteria. Children are often more prone to ear infections, but older children and adults can get infected as well. Ear infections have a better chance of infecting people when the person is exposed to smoke, has allergies, has an upper respiratory infection, or was bottle-fed cows' milk as an infant.

Antibiotics are often used to treat ear infections, but do not always help, and cause damage to the body when used over long periods of time. Herbal remedies provide a safer, more effective alternative for the treatment of ear infections.

Echinacea's immune-stimulating properties are due to a host of polysaccharides and phytosterols. They help to activate macrophages that are directly involved in the destruction of bacteria, viruses, and other infectious agents, as well as cancer cells.

One of Goldenseal's active constituents is berberine, which possesses strong activity against a wide variety of bacteria and fungi.

Echinacea and Goldenseal, together, increases the body's production of globulins that attack both viruses and bacteria. This combination stops drainage and speeds healing. (Either one of the Echinacea species can be taken with Goldenseal.)

The Anatomy of the Ear

The ear is a very important organ which enables vertebrates to hear and maintain balance. From mice to elephants and everywhere in between, most animals are at least somewhat dependent on their ears. A deer uses its ears for signs of an approaching predator. A wolf listens for prey with the opposite intention. Even bats need their ears for ‘seeing’!


Since the ears have so many tiny, fragile parts, many things can go wrong in there. Some doctors are required to study those little parts in order to diagnose and prescribe medicine. In this essay, the anatomy of the ear and the functions of the parts will be explained.

The ear is organized into three main parts: the External Ear, the Middle Ear, and the Inner Ear. We will go in this order as we take a look at all the bones, cartilage, cavities, and nerves.

EXTERNAL EAR:

First, there is the visible portion of the external ear that we are all familiar with. It is the flap of skin and cartilage on the side of the head, scientifically called the pinna, or the auricle. The pinna helps direct/conduct sound waves into the ear canal. (Part of the reason dogs can hear better than humans is because they have such big auricles!) The pinna has anatomical terms by itself. The upper ridge of the pinna is called the helix. The antihelix is a long lump that runs parallel to the helix, and the two are separated by a furrow called the scapha. At the bottom of the auricle there hangs/dangles the earlobe, a.k.a. lobule, which is squishy because it is filled with fatty tissue. The deep depression of the pinna is called the concha. If you were to insert your index finger into your ear, it would only go as far as the concha, and would not be able to fit into the ear canal. (Do not stick anything smaller than your index finger in your ear.)

Beyond the concha there stretches the area of the ear called the ear canal, which is a narrow passage that leads away into the middle ear.

MIDDLE EAR:

The ear canal stops at the tympanic membrane, or eardrum. The eardrum marks where the external ear ends and the middle ear begins. A tool called an auroscope/auriscope is used to visually examine the tympanic membrane. A healthy tympanic membrane is shiny, taut, and tinted gray, whereas an infected eardrum is bright red, perforated, and/or has pus leaking out of it.

When sound waves reach the eardrum, it transmits vibrations over to the auditory ossicles in the tympanic cavity (the tympanic cavity is an air space within the temporal bone). The auditory ossicles are three tiny bones, commonly known as the anvil, hammer, and stirrup (Malleus, Incus, and Stapes). When the bones vibrate, the stirrup transfers sound vibrations into the inner ear through the oval window, which is firmly attached to the cochlea. The cochlea brings us to the next area of the ear.

INNER EAR:

The inner ear is where the organs of hearing and equilibrium are found. There are three main parts of the inner ear: the coiled cochlea, the bony labyrinth, and the membranous labyrinth.

The cochlea is a coiled organ which resembles a snail shell. It holds fluid that contains tiny mineral crystals. The sound vibrations that are gathered from the stirrup (through the oval window) are converted into fluid vibrations when they enter the cochlea. The fluid moves the crystals, which brush against the fibers. The fibers then turn the vibrations into impulses over a nerve into the brain. This nerve (called the vestibulocochlear nerve) also detects sensations for equilibrium.

We now conclude our ear overview by examining the bony labyrinth and the membranous labyrinth.

The sensations for equilibrium come from the bony labyrinth and the membranous labyrinth, a complex system of fluid and canals, which transmit signals to the brain concerning sensations of acceleration and gravity.

Dandelion

DANDELION: AN HERB OF MANY USES

Description...Dandelion is very common and easy to identify. Although, it can be confused with other plants that share a simalar appearance (see Sow Thistle). You only need to follow a few simple rules to identify this plant. First, make sure there is no main stalk, only flower stems. (Note: flower stems are hollow and can be either very long (a little more than a foot high!) or very small (only one or two inches in height) . ) Off of these stems grow lovely yellow flowers with numerous tiny petals. The flowers open when it is sunny, and close when it is not. Most gardeners are so furious with these "annoying, pesky weeds" that they don't ever stop to appreciate their beauty. Plus, little do they know, these plants probably contain much more edible/medicinal value than the vegetables grown in their garden (see below). Now make sure the leaves are green, deeply lobed, and hairless. They grow in a basal rosette, right off the root. Which brings me to the root identifictation. Dandelion has a brown taproot. Please note: the whole of the dandelion plant produces a milky sap when cut or damaged.

Edibility...The entire plant (and I mean the ENTIRE PLANT) is completely edible, safe, trusted, nutritious, and incredibly healthy. The only downfall: it is VERY BITTER. But, when young, it is less bitter. You can use the leaves and flowers to make a salad more exciting, throw it in sandwiches, make tea out of it, or just eat it plain. Experiment with this wonderful pant! Your body will thank you! The root may be used as a healthy coffee subsitute.

Medicinal Uses...BRACE YOURSELF for the AMAZING medicinal qualities this "pesky weed" has to offer:

Dandelion is a rich source of...vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, magnisium, zinc, and more. Impressed yet?

It also may be able to...prevent or cure liver diseases, such as hepatitis or jaundice; act as a tonic and gentle diuretic to purify your blood, cleanse your system, dissolve kidney stones, and otherwise improve gastro-intestinal health; assist in weight reduction; cleanse your skin and eliminate acne; improve your bowel function, working equally well to relieve both constipation and diarrhea; prevent or lower high blood pressure; prevent or cure anemia; lower your serum cholesterol by as much as half; eliminate or drastically reduce acid indigestion and gas buildup by cutting the heaviness of fatty foods; prevent or cure various forms of cancer; prevent or control diabetes mellitus; and, at the same time, have no negative side effects and selectively act on only what ails you. But that's not all. There are many more health benefits that I'm not going to state here.

By now you may be thinking this is all too good to be true. But it's not! All you need to do is find a way to ingest this great herb, which is probably growing in your backyard right now.

Habitat and Range...Throughout the United States; found in lawns, fields and meadows, along roadsides, cracks of sidewalks, and disturbed habitats. Native of Europe and Asia. Very abundant and common.

Word Origin...Suprisingly, the word dandelion does not have anything to do with the yellow flowers. Dandelion is actually a french word that means "dent de lion" which means the tooth of a lion. This is reffering to the notched leaves.

Lousewort

(Pedicularis species, common family name: Figwort family, Latin family name: Scrophulariaceae)

Description...Lousewort, a unique and attractive perenial, is known for it's distinct look and way of growing. The flowers, as they work their way up the stalk, resemble little elephant heads. They can be yellow, pink, or white, but are usually pink. The leaves are toothed and look similar to fern fronds, growing alternate up the long stalk. The roots connect to other plants around it, robbing them of nutrients.

Blooms...May to August, depending greatly on altitude and climate conditions.

Habitat and Range: Habitat varies between species, but look for it in moist fields and meadows of the montane and subalpine zones. Pedicularis Groenlandica thrives across the northern third of North America and south in the West to the mountains of California and New Mexico. Pedicularis Contorta, a dryland variety, ranges throughout the Rocky Mountains and Sierra foothills. More than two dozen other species inhabit the western U.S..

Edibility...Although not poisonous, Lousewort can be if taking nutrients from a toxic plant. If all plants around it are edible, it can be eaten in numerous ways: the fleshy roots can be prepared and eaten in moderation and taste somewhat like parsnips, the flowers are sweet treats, and the leaves and stems may be steamed or boiled as a potherb. But again, you must be positive there are no poisonous plants around it.

Medicinal Uses...Lousewort's use as a medicine dates back to at least the seventeenth century, when it was used in Europe to treat stomach ulcers and rheumatism. It is very good for urinary irratations. Herbalists recognize betony as a mild sedative and muscle relaxant, useful in treating cases of physical overexertion.

How to Write a Haiku Poem

Below is the way my teacher taught me to write Haiku Poems.
I'm passing the knowledge on to you, so that you may write
them also.

A Haiku is a short Japanese poem. Haikus are surprisingly easy
to write, and take little time at all. Although, I find it difficult
to write anything without inspiration, so I would suggest maybe
going for a walk outside, looking at pictures, or watching
the world from your window for a few minutes. That way you
might see something that you want to write about.

Materials needed: Paper, pencil, & inspiration.

Directions...
After you figured out what you want to write about, start with
a three sentenced rough draft. Each line should tell a little about
the subject. For instance, if you were describing a stormy day it
would look a little like this:

It's very windy and stormy outside.
I'm in here where it's warm, because out there it's chilly!!
Rain is dumping from the dark sky.

But, this type of writing is too casual to be considered a Haiku.
In other words, it's too conversation-like, and you must convert
it into something more meaningful. Each line must be simple and
short. So the creators of Haiku Poems decided that there must
be a rule to Haiku: five syllables for line one, seven syllables for
line two, and five again for line three.

That's five, seven, five.

So, this might be what your final draft looks like:

The sky is pitch black (5)
The cold winds are blowing fierce (7)
Rain dumps from above (5)

See how much more power is in that piece of writing,
compaired to the rough draft? That is the point of the
five, seven, five rule: you can't write much in each sentence,
so you put more effort into writing it. Haikus are
challenging but not hard to write.

Now go write one!

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry By Mildred D. Taylor

210 pages, printed first in the late 1970s by Bantam Books, inc. Genre: fiction.

Introduction

Not long ago, I finished a book entitled: 'Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry' by Mildred D. Taylor. The story took place in 1933, during the Great Depression. It was about a strong-willed black family that lived near Strawberry, Mississippi, in a time of racism.

Summary

The main character is Cassie Logan, a nine year old black girl. The story is being told from her point of veiw.

Cassie lives on a cotton farm in Mississippi with her three brothers, her mother, father, and Grandma. (A man named Mr. Morrison later moves in with them, and sometimes their uncle Hammer comes to visit.)

In those days, most white people in the South were very racist.

Cassie grew up oblivious to the fact that any white person might think of her as lower class. But as she hears of more and more black people getting abused, going into debt, losing their land, being burnt alive, and generally getting treated badly, she begins to understand.

The Logan family's problems begin when Little Man notices that the schoolbooks the black children have to use are dirty, ripped, and beat-up, but the white children got to use them when they were brand new. He throws a fit and refuses to use the books, and gets whipped for not listening.

But more serious problems begin occuring, like Mama losing her job teaching at the school, Harlan Granger, (the white man who sold the cotton farm to the Logans) wanting the land back, black people going into debt from purchasing things at a certain store, and people getting shot. The Logans try very hard to pay all their taxes, keep their jobs, and not get into debt.

Later in the story, a new problem arises. T.J., a 14-year-old mischievious boy, who used to be friends with the Logan kids, starts running around with R.W. and Melvin Simms, two 18 or 19 year old white boys. Soon, T.J. gets hurt, and it may mean his life is in danger.

As all these problems combine, Cassie and her family are faced with trying to save T.J. and their land, while doing their best to hold onto what they believe in.

Character Description

Family...

Cassie calls her family members different names. For instance, her Grandma is "Big Ma", her dad is "Papa", her mom is "Mama", and Clayton Chester is "Little Man".

Cassie has two younger brothers (Little Man and Christopher-John)and an older brother (Stacey).

Nothing will stop Little Man from trying to appear neat and clean. He's a typical six year old, but exceptionally intelligent for his age. Christopher-John is a chubby, round boy of seven. He generally prefers to keep to himself, and always wants to stay on people's good side. Stacey is almost 13. He tries to act like an adult, because he is considered a young man. Sometimes Stacey gets on Cassie's nerves, since he is not much older than her, yet he gets treated almost as if he's an adult. Cassie's mother (Mama) is stubborn, yet gentle and caring.
Her father is strong but kind. He works out on the railroad, and she doesn't get to see him often.

Other Important Characters...

Mr. Morrison, a friend that Papa met on the railroad, came to live and help out on the Logan's cotton farm (Papa invited him). He is tall, very muscular, and protective.

Stacey's friend, T.J. Avery (14 years old) , is very talkative and persuasive. He gets into trouble often. When he tells stories or news, he likes to tease his audience until they are desperate to know what happened. T.J. becomes much more important as the story progresses.

Most of the white people in this book are very racist, and don't give any respect to black people. The Simms family is racist, except for Jeremy Simms. Instead, Jeremy tries to be friends with the Logan kids and walk with them to school as often as he can, unlike other white kids. Jeremy stutters a lot and sleeps in a tree house. He is very kind.

Examples of White People Being Cruel

to Black People in the Story

There is a bus that drives past the Logan children (as they walk to school) every day, carrying white kids to their school. The bus driver is racist. He makes sure, every day when the ground is wet, to drive fast into mud puddles. And each day, the Logan children get soaked to the bone because of all the water spraying off the tires.

One day in December very early in the morning, Big Ma takes Cassie, for her first time, (because she is now old enough to go) out to Strawberry (a town 22 miles from where they live) with T.J. and Stacey. The Logans go to Strawberry every month for the Market. They go there to buy and sell food.

That day when they are done selling things, Big Ma goes into an office to do some business and tells the kids that when she comes out, it's time for shopping. But T.J. convinces Cassie and Stacey that they should go inside the store to do the shopping for Big Ma, as a surprise.

But when T.J., Stacey, and Cassie give their list of groceries to Mr. Barnett (the storekeeper), and he begins to help them with it, a white customer comes up with a list twice as long as their's and Mr. Barnett helps her instead--even though Stacey, Cassie, and T.J. were first. Then, when he is finally done with her long list, he starts helping the kids again, except a white little girl needs help nearby, and so he goes to her instead.

When Cassie is walking out of Barnett's Mercantile, she accidently bumps into Lillian Jean. Lillian Jean not only makes her apologize, she also forces Cassie get down in the road to walk.

Part 2.

My Opinions on the Book

I think that Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry was a very powerful and moving book.

Before I read this novel, I hadn't the slightest idea of what was going on in our country in the early 1900s, and this book really helped me understand the struggles that people went through back then. I learned the timeline of the Great Depresion when I did research on the book, and I discovered more about how black people and white people treated each other in that time.

The Logan family was very strong-willed, as I stated above, and I think that sets a good example for people: not to give up when you're facing problems in your life. Although, this proves hard when you're dealing with racism in the early 1900s in the southern U.S.A., like the Logan family. White people had so much power back then, it was very hard for a single family to do anything about racism, by themselves.

I think that the author was perfectly discriptive: she gave each character a flavor, a specific adittude and way of acting. For instance, T.J. Avery was very talkative, persausive, and troublsome. When he gave news or told stories, he loved teasing his audience untill they were desperate to know what happened. You can read more about this in the Character Discription above.

At first I didn't like the ending. But after reading it again, I began to realize that the author actually wrapped it up very nicely. In the end, something is taken from Cassie's life, and the author explains how Cassie will continue living her life, just without that particular thing. I liked this about the ending. To get a better understanding of what I mean, you must read the book.

Conclusion

This book was very powerful. The author made it very emotional and meaningful. I loved learning about how life used to be in the U.S.A.. The author was very good with words, she knew where to place them in a sentence. She was also very descriptive and gave each character a personality.

I'm really excited to read the next book in the series (Let the Circle be Unbroken), and I would give this book a five star rating.













　







　

　

　

　

　

　

Alphabet Story

A- person walked down the street, very
B-ored. Of
C-ourse, this soon changed because suddenly, out of the blue, came a gigantic
D-ictionary!! This dictionary wasn't just any old (huge) dictionary, either-- it had legs! And
E-very time it took a step, the concrete below it would crack dangerously. People were
F-alling into the big cracks! So the smart witted person (remember the person?)
G-ravely stood up to the terrible Dictionary. He shouted:
"H-ey, you there! Yeah you! Look what damage you're causing to our peaceful little town!
I-s this your intention--to come raging through this village, destroying everything in your path?"
J-ack, the smart-witted-person's friend, soon built up the courage to say something, too.
"K-ind old beast, won't you show some mercy? We are suffering because of your monstrous-ness!"
L-ittle did the villagers know, though, that the Dictionary was actually very
M-erciful, indeed. So he said: "Worry
N-o more, villagers, I am not a monster. In fact, I am here to help you all get smart! And with that,
O-ld Dictionary
P-lopped himself down in front of the local library
Q-uite exhausted, and said: "My dear, loyal citizens, come flip through my wise pages, learn about
R-eally interesting long words, and be merry."
S-o they did, really relieved that the Dictionary was not
T-errible after all. And the townspeople renamed they're town
U-ncruelville, after the Dictionary who's name was "Uncruel". After all these events, the people got
V-ery
W-ise and intelligent. So wise, in fact, that they started inventing cool things like the telephone, the
X-ylophone, the toilet, and the q-tip (which they called the anti-ear-waxer) . And all the
Y-oung children, the elderly, the adults, the dogs...had
Z-ero worries...and it was all because of their hero...the Dictionary.

Acrostic Poems

B ees on wildflowers
E ndless oceans
A utumn leaves
U kuleles playing
T rees in the wind
Y oung life begining

Haiku poems

The colors of fall
Are orange, red, brown, and green
The trees are changing.

The snows in winter
cover the Earth like a quilt
a vast land of white.

Springtime means new life
biennial plants come back
little sprigs of green

Summer sun is hot
Everything is lively
Plants are thriving now

Pineapple Weed

Description...

This plant gets it's name from it's distinct pineapple scent.
It is hairless, has leafy branched stems, and can grow 2-16"
high. Branches are alternate, deeply cut into fine segments,
and can be 1/2-2" long. Flowers are yellow to green.

Edibility...

Flowerheads can be a good snack, but Pineapple Weed
often times grows where there may be chemicals and oil spills,
so only choose ones that are growing in the right location.

Medicinal Uses...

Pineapple Weed has many medicinal properties that most
people are unaware of.
A tea made from the plant may be good for colds, upset
stomaches, diarrhea, fevers, and menstrual cramps. It has
been taken by women to build up their blood before child-
birth, to aid delivering the placenta, and to encourage
good, healthy milk.
This plant can also expel gas, relieve heartburn, and soothe
muscle contractions in stomach.
Since Pineapple Weed has a nice scent, Native Americans
used it as a perfume. It works as a sweet-smelling insect
repellent, too.

Habitat and Range...
Pineapple weed is often found growing near roadsides
and other disturbed areas, from the southern Yukon
and NWT to New Mexico.

Food

Why do you sit on that comfy chair,the one that makes you want to sink
deeper
and
deeper
into comfort, while you eat
and
eat
potato chips like a pig
until the bag is empty
and then you switch to a hamburger
you want quanity, not quality,
as long as it tastes good and is cheap.
you are like an ignorant pig
constantly consuming
never pausing to open your mind to reality
sitting slumped on your sofa watching commercials
advertising food
food, food, food,
it blocks your true thought and emotions
it causes you to take everything for granted
it is always there, available
as long as it's on the grocery store shelf,
there is nothing to worry about
you don't have to fight for it
seems simple.
The companies are making
you fat,
you give them money and they give you
trash food.
They are raising you to be a monstrous, yet powerless beast.
with fat on your weak bones,
you are vulnerable,
they are farming you like a pig
and taking your money as if it were meat.
Wake up.
You're not dead yet, there's still time.

Zoey Rockshindle: Chapter 10

Mellisa was at school.

This turned out to be quite a problem for the desperate birds, and as they wandered around
anxiously on Mellisa's doorstep waiting for her to come out, just that thought dawned on Zoey.
She stopped pacing.

"It's Monday," she muttered.
"So?" Woody asked.
"Mellisa's at school!"
"Oh, no," Woody said. He paused. "Wait, what's school?"
"It's...there's no time for explaining! And there isn't enough time to go get Mellisa, either! Now,
 what bird regurgitates food for their babies?"

Woody thought, then said: "Hens! Hens do!"
"Good! I know a spot where there are hens!"

And off she flew, beckoning Woody to follow her.

Soon they arrived at an animal farm, and both birds plopped down on the fence overlooking the
chicken coop. Zoey couldn't help but realize that, before now, she had always thought of this farm
as a "pig dwelling" and had never really appreciated it. But she pushed that thought out of her
mind and swooped down into the farm.

"Excuse me, hen, but--hen? Excuse me--"
"BucAWK! BAWK! Bawk-bawk-bawk-BUCAWK!"
"Hi, I'm--"
"BAWK!!"
"I was just wondering if you--"
"Bawk bawk BUCAWK!!"

And that pretty much explains how visiting the chickens went.

"We're hopeless. Chickens won't even acknowledge our existence, they just keep blabbering away
about eggs and roosters. Anyway...we better go back and check on the baby bird."

They arrived at the park about two minutes later. Woody plopped down in front of their tree, followed by Zoey. To their surprise, a plump little chickadee sat inside next to a sleeping baby bird.

"Uh...hello?" Woody said.
"Oh, I'm sorry, is this your little baby bird? It just looked so hungry and helpless...I couldn't resist,
I had to feed it..."
"No, it's great that you fed it! We were just trying to get it some food!" Zoey was practically jumping up and down. "What did you feed it?"
"Well, it seems to like torn-up flesh. I tried everything, until I realized what it wanted."
"Thank you so much, um..."
"I go by Pin. And you?"
"I'm Zoey, and this is Woody here--" she gestured to her friend. "--we just came upon an egg one
day, and...it hatched after a while of sitting."
"That's very interesting." Pin said.
"Well, Pin, it's been nice having you. And I was wondering...I'm not exactly in the position to take
care of a baby bird...are you interested in adoption?" Zoey asked.
"Um...Really? Wow, yeah! That would be great! Could I stay here to look after him?"
"Yes, I think it's time for me to move on to a different home. The tree's all yours."
And that settled it.

Our Big Move

Recently my family made a big move.

We packed up and left Bellingham, Washington.

After spending a few months in Colorado, we realized that we'd been missing out on sunshine, beauty, and fun. All the while we'd been up in Washington, waiting for a summer that basically never came! All we got up there was clouds and rain.

So, we took a little road trip to explore Colorado and New Mexico looking at towns we might want to live in. Santa Fe: too hot and dry. Taos: same deal. Telluride: we wouldn't be able to start a

farm there. Crestone (a small, cute town) too...in-the-middle-of-nowhere. Denver: no consideration involved. Too crowded!!

Then we came across a town near Aspen. It was perfect: great farming area, flat (for biking), enough sun, rain and snow, awesome place for skiing, nice community, cool schools, and a

gorgeous view of Mt. Sopris. We all loved the town (that I like to call Onnie), and we're in the process of moving here. I'm so excited!

Fragrant Water-lily

Fragrant Water-Lily, White Pond-Lily

Description...

Flowers smell sweet, are white to pink-ish, and they open at dawn and close at dusk.

Leaves look like giant green pack-mans on the water because they are flat, notched at the base, and float.

Where found...

Found in ponds, marshes, lake edges, slow waters.

Native to Eastern North America, introduced to all western states except Idaho, Wyoming, and New Mexico.

Uses...

Root tea good for:

Mouth sores, sore throat, dysentery, chronic diarrhea, bronchitis, urinary tract irritations, vaginal yeast infections. May be used as an eye wash or to diminish men's libido. Good for cancer.

Root and leaf poultices are good for:

Sores, boils, tumors, and rashes.

Chew stems for toothaches.

Book Report for: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

I recently finished a book titled 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,' by Sherman Alexie.

This modern-day story is about a Native American teenage boy named Junior Spirit, who lives on an indian reservation in Washington. Alcohol plays a major part in this boy's life. It controls and ends many people's lives where he lives. There isn't much money, either. So the schools aren't very nice. What starts Junior's little adventure is when, on the first day of high school, Junior notices that the school is so old and run-down, he has to use the same book his mom used. This gets him feeling angry and unimportant. So, in his frustration, he throws the book at his teacher. Later, Junior's teacher gives him some advise. He tells Junior he should leave the reservation to have a better life, somewhere nicer. So, as a start, he transfers to a nicer school, a school where he gets a better education. There he is happier. But his home is still depressing. Many people on the reservation think of him as a traitor for going to school with white people. Even his best friend Rowdy ignores and is mean to him. This is the story of how Junior finds hope in his new school while trying to face the problems at home.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a good book. I enjoyed this book for many reasons, partly because I love reading diarys. But also because the characters had real-life problems (such as food disorders and drinking addictions) which made the story more realistic.

What I didn't like about this book was...

-How it ended. From what I remember, the end didn't seem to wrap itself up, like how I'd hoped it would.

-Some people might not like that it doesn't have an obvious conflict.

I strongly suggest this book to people who are interested in Native American Reservation culture, like reading diaries, or just need a good book to read. And I'd give it a three-and-a-half star rating.

Zoey Rockshindle, chapter 9: The Bird

Over the next couple of days, Mellisa, Zoey, and the Woodpecker had

a lot of fun together. They were confident that Zoey's parents were not

at all worrying about Zoey. In fact, Mr. and Mrs. Rockshindle were happy

Zoey was away for a while, because they figured:

"Well, we might as well not worry about her. It won't do any good. And

she sounded fine in her letter. She's probably having the time of her life."

Indeed, that was practical thinking. But risky, too. If Zoey were not a bird

that could fly away at any moment from danger, she might've gotten into

trouble with that bad, snobby attitude of her's.

Luckily she was safe with her friends in the park wandering about. Zoey spent

lots of her time sitting on the abandoned eggs. The weather lately had

been cloudy, but with no rain. It was a bit depressing, but with her friends,
Zoey was happy.

One morning, Zoey woke up to a cracking sound. At first, she thought it

was pecking, and was angry with the Woodpecker, because they had

made a deal for him not to peck on the tree she was in. But then she

recognized it as an eggshell being broken. She jumped up, and ran

over to the eggs. A little beak was trying to make it's way through

the shell. It poked and scratched, until finally, Zoey could see a
squirmy, wet little body struggling out of the shell.

"Wow!" Zoey cawed as it made it's way onto the ground.

"WOODY!" She screeched.

In a few minutes, the woodpecker swooped into the tree cave and plopped

down beside Zoey.

"Woody, go get some bugs. Quickly, please!"

The woodpecker raced out of the cave. In a second he returned with a

mouth full of bugs. But the baby bird just would'nt eat them!


"Oh, no," She said. She was beginning to understand.

"What?" Woody asked.

"It doesn't want bugs. Some baby birds have to be fed food
that's already partly digested." Zoey said. She gulped.

Woody looked grossed out. He said:

"I guess...we could try."

So, since Woody didn't seem as eager to do it, Zoey ate the worms,

then unwillingly put her open mouth above the hungry baby bird's mouth.
But it just didn't feel right. It wasn't only gross--Zoey didn't think
she was meant to regurgitate, being a crow. Didn't crows feed their
babies bugs? She couldn't remember.

"I don't think crows can throw up," Zoey told Woody. "They feed their
young bugs."

Zoey and Woody knew what they would have to do.

"We need Mellisa." Woody said.