More Garbage Please! *Nonfiction Reading Response*

America needs more space to dispose garbage. To us, garbage is nothing, and we need to find ways to get rid of it. Landfills are filling up, and we are resulting to littering. In Oslo, the problem is exactly the opposite. Oslo is running low on garbage, and they need more in order to keep the small town running. Garbage is burnt to be used for gas, electricity for homes and schools, and to power up many things. So now, while America is rushing to get rid of the excess of garbage that we can't seem to dispose of, Oslo is running low on it. Oslo has found a good way to get rid of garbage while being productive, and now they might just not be able to keep it running.

The fact that Oslo is running low on garbage is a little weird. First of all, I live in a big country where we are running out of places to put waste, and yet there is a place on the other side of us that is running out of trash. The landfills here are filling up, but the landfills over there are almost empty. Why don't we just donate our trash to Oslo? In no time, Oslo would be able to keep running for ages, and we will be rid of our landfill problem. That would be a pretty good solution to both our problems. And then the littering here would stop (mostly) because the landfills wouldn't be that full anymore. Why hasn't anyone thought of that?

If there are some questions I would ever want to ask, I definitely have one now. Doesn't burning trash cause pollution? I remember seeing a show where the families would have to burn their trash. The fact that they were burning the trash was causing air pollution. If it does cause pollution, then I would get why America would not want to be giving trash to Oslo. I hope it does not cause pollution, because then Oslo would have to find another way to make electricity. And soon, Oslo might be over filling their landfills as well.

Blog Post on a Critical Thinking Question: How does this book help you to think about social issues you care about or causes you are committed to? **REVISED**

Suicide is a social issue that has become more common in the past years. In the novel "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher, suicide is an evident social issue. A girl, named Hannah Baker, commits suicide. She has pre-recorded tapes before her death, which go around to 13 people. These thirteen people are the reasons why she committed suicide , and the tapes explain how. Suicide is a very important issue in the world, and it makes me feel like anyone can cause it, even when they never thought much of their actions in the first place.

  In this Novel, Hannah gives examples of why she committed suicide. For example: "It's not exactly your actions that caused it, it's the things that were caused by your actions that made you one of the thirteen." While Clay (the main character) listened to the second tape, Hannah talked about how when Alex Standall voted her "best ass" in a 'hot or not list', his actions affected her because it caused Bryce (number 11) to grab her ass in a store. These explanations make me feel like some people are more sensitive then others, and that you should really be careful of what you do to others. It might just make them commit suicide, and that is a very serious thing. Even when you consider things a joke (like the 'hot or not' list, which was originally an innocent joke), it could lead to actions that may not be considered a joke to the victim.

  Another quote in the book that proves that anyone can cause suicide is a quote that Hannah says on the seventh tape:“Maybe it didn’t seem like a big deal to you Zach. But now, I hope you understand. My world was collapsing. I needed those notes. I needed any hope those notes might have offered. And you? You took that hope away. You decided I didn’t deserve to have it. ” This quote proves my statement because of what was going on. Zach was mad at Hannah because she rejected him. So he stole her notes from Peer communications that was supposed to give her encouragement. I don't think that it was necessary to steal he notes. The notes that would let her smile for once, especially at the time where she mostly needed it. This harmless little action led up to a more serious conflict because Zach didn't know what those notes meant to her. And it caused something that couldn't be erased.

 This novel was very interesting, and it made me think about things differently. Especially the fast growing social issue topic of suicide. After all, You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. People need to be more careful, because something that you think is cosidered harmless can actually affect people in more ways than one. And considering this subject, that isn't a good thing.

Blog Post on a Critical Thinking Question: How does this book help you to think about social issues you care about or causes you are committed to?

Suicide is a social issue that has become more common in the past years. In the novel "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher, suicide is an evident social issue. A girl, named Hannah Baker, commits suicide. He has pre-recorded tapes before her death, which go around to 13 people. These thirteen people are the reasons why she committed suicide, and the tapes explain how. Suicide is a very important issue in the world, and it makes me feel like anyone can cause it, even when they never thought much of their actions.

  In this Novel, Hannah gives examples of why she committed suicide. For example: "It's not exactly your actions that caused it, it's the things that were caused by your actions that made you one of the thirteen." While Clay (the main character) listened to the second tape, Hannah talked about how when Alex Standall voted her "best ass" in a 'hot or not list', his actions affected her because it caused Bryce (number 11) to grab her ass in a store. These explanations make me feel like some people are more sensitive then others, and that you should really be careful of what you do to others. It might just make them commit suicide, and that is a very serious thing. Even when you consider things a joke (like the 'hot or not' list, which was originally an innocent joke), it could lead to actions that may not be considered a joke to the victim. 

  Another quote in the book that proves that anyone can cause suicide is a quote that Hannah says on the seventh tape:“Maybe it didn’t seem like a big deal to you Zach. But now, I hope you understand. My world was collapsing. I needed those notes. I needed any hope those notes might have offered. And you? You took that hope away. You decided I didn’t deserve to have it. ” This quote proves my statement because of what was going on. Zach was mad at Hannah because she rejected him. So he stole her notes from Peer communications that was supposed to give her encouragement. I don't think that it was necessary to steal he notes. The notes that would let her smile for once, especially at the time where she mostly needed it. This harmless little action led up to a more serious conflict because Zach didn't know what those notes meant to her. And it caused something that couldn't be erased.

 This novel was very interesting, and it made me think about things differently. Especially the fast growing social issue topic of suicide. After all, You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. People need to be more careful, because something that you think is cosidered harmless can actually affect people in more ways than one. And considering this subject, that isn't a good thing.

Reading Response On Question: Is This Book Fair?

So far, I'm Reading "Anne of Green Gables" in class. I feel like this book wasn't fair in the beginning, but now it is. The reason I feel this is because in the beginning, Anne was in an orphanage, and was very upset. Then she got the false delight of thinking that she was actually going to be adopted, as someone had called for an 11 year old girl, and she was the only one that actually filled the description. So she had this false hope that maybe she was actually wanted, and that she was actually needed, and that she would finally get a home, as she couldn't imagine the crowded orphanage being one, despite all the imagining that she does. And then when she gets there, she finds out that there was a mistake and that she wasn't actually wanted, that it was a boy that they requested. Not Anne. I thought that it was unfair that Anne had to go through all that happiness that she was actually wanted, just to be returned.

I think that is is fair now because they kept her and the people are actually nice. They figure out that even though they wanted a boy originally, they can't really live without Anne. I think this is fair for Anne, because she never could experience anything a normal girl could, and I'm happy that she got to stay and green gables. I feel that this is truly fair.

How New York's Bright Lights Inspire Me

New York's Bright Lights inspire me a lot. New York always seems to be shining bright, and it's almost never dark. New York inspired me to write this poem:

New York
How very bright
How it shines all day and night
How no matter how dark
How much in pain
How much you're hurting
You can't ever be fully engulfed in darkness
For you always will have a part of New York with you
And New York's light
Never goes out.

New York has also had a lot of references in poems and songs. I actually felt like this poem could actually be related to New York, even if it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with it:

Star shine, star bright,
when I go to sleep tonight,
wish me well, help me fight,
get me through the day alright.

Star shine, star Bright,
Will I ever see the light?
Will i ever learn to fight?
Star shine, save my life.

Star shine, star bright,
I am flying like a kite,
over the sea's, through the night,
Star shine, lead me right.

Star shine, star bright,
when I go to sleep at night,
Lead me forward, guiding light,
shining star, shine so bright.

It's sort of like a kid in New York (New York being the star) and the Kid is afraid of the dark, but with all the lights, the kid is never really lost. I think that New York can inspire people to do anything, especially it's bright lights.

Something that inspires me.

I don't really find inspiration in things. I usually find reasons to do things. But, The fact that True Love exists inspires me. It inspires me to keep on living life, because even though life is stupid, and ugly, and just on giant piece of poop, There is at least one good thing to look forward to. And even though it hasn't happened yet, and you probably think it's never going to happen, it is. You just have to keep on looking. And meanwhile, live life. To me, true love is the sweetest thing in life. And that's why we are always looking for love, or are already in love. I feel like you have to work for it, especially when life gets in the way. Even then, I believe that true love is defiantly worth fighting for. The fact that love IS going to happen, is what keeps me fighting. Throughout all the hardships, I'm happy that I have hope. So True Love inspires me to live. And I don't have it yet, the small voice inside my head that screams "Keep holding on. You're almost there," even when 'almost' feels like 'forever,' The chance keeps me fighting. And I think that love is worth living for, even when everything else isn't.

*Draft* Why Banning "Looking For Alaska is A Bad Idea PART 2 *Draft*

All Around the world, people are frequently trying to challenge books for a chance to be banned. One of the books is "Looking for Alaska" by John Green. This book is about a few kids in high school, Mostly revolving around Miles and Alaska. Throughout the way, Miles and his friends are trying to find Alaska's purpose for doing things. Alaska tangles Miles up in her messed up world, and drags him along when the most painful thing hits her. This book shouldn't be banned because it teaches important lessons, and Looking For Alaska is a heartfelt book that should not be banned for containing "Adult Content".

 In "Looking For Alaska," there are many meaningful things that should be taken into proportion with the bad. For example, the fact that Miles sees Alaska so incompletely due to the fact that he is so busy fantasizing about her that he can't see the seriousness of her pain. This teaches Middle Schoolers that you should see people through other perspectives, as someone can be hiding something terrible, yet you can't see it because you are too blinded by your own thoughts. This is really deep and emotional, and many middle schoolers need to learn that because they usually judge people by looks when really you need to find what's underneath.

 In "Looking for Alaska", Alaska mentions something really important. "Y'all smoke to enjoy it, I smoke to die". Opponents may argue that this encourages suicide, as Alaska is obviously hinting. But, I don't think so. This quote shows the dangers of smoking plain as day, and Alaska is stating that smoking kills, and that you shouldn't do it. Even though Alaska is hinting that she is suicidal to a point, She also states that she knows the dangers of smoking, yet she does it anyway. "Lung cancer? That's what happens when you smoke. Yet......" This is another quote that proves that Alaska does know the consequences of smoking. And if some one's child Perseus smoking after reading this book, then it would be all on them because they knew the dangers of smoking yet they have done it anyway. Don't blame it on the book. Blame it on your child.

Many people argue that many children or middle schoolers are taking up cursing, and doing things that they shouldn't be after reading these books. They might also say that this book may influence children to do bad things because they may "copy" the book due to the actions done in the book looking "fun" or "rebellious". But I completely disagree. First of all, don't you teach your kids not to curse, smoke, drink, etc? And all the dangers of doing so? So when they read this book, shouldn't they know that this is bad already? And that they shouldn't do it? So if they do bad things like shown in the book, it's not because of the book. It's because they chose to do it on their own. A book is not going to tell you "DO DRUGS! IT IS GOOD FOR YOU!" No. In fact, most books show "How a life can go off rails way too fast" like in "Go Ask Alice" Or that "bullying to be in the 'popular' crowd is not the right way to go", like in "Blubber" by Judy Blume. So if a child decides to do these things, it isn't because of the book. It's because they chose the stupid road. It sometimes, it's actually because of the parents, like Alaska's. Conversation Over.

  In conclusion, The book "Looking For Alaska" by John Green, and other books like it should not be banned. Banning a book is pointless, as it would make children go to library's to read the magical book that was so bad it had to be banned. Face it. Banning books won't delete it of it's existence. Unless you burn all of them, which I'm pretty sure is illegal. I don't think you should ban this book. It just isn't a good idea.

*Draft* Why Banning "Looking For Alaska" isn't a good Idea *Draft*

One of my favorite books is "Looking For Alaska" by John Green, Yet, this book has been frequently challenged for a chance to be banned in middle school libraries. This book is about a few kids in high school, Mostly revolving around Miles and Alaska. Throughout the way, Miles and his friends are trying to find Alaska's purpose for doing things. Alaska tangles Miles up in her messed up world, and drags him along when the most painful thing hits her. This book shouldn't be banned because it teaches important lessons, and Looking For Alaska is a heartfelt book that should not be banned for containing "Adult Content".

 In "Looking For Alaska," there are many meaningful things that should be taken into proportion with the bad. For example, the fact that Miles sees Alaska so incompletely due to the fact that he is so busy fantasizing about her that he can't see the seriousness of her pain. This teaches Middle Schoolers that you should see people through other perspectives, as someone can be hiding something terrible, yet you can't see it because you are too blinded by your own thoughts. This is really deep and emotional, and many middle schoolers need to learn that because they usually judge people by looks when really you need to find what's underneath.

 In "Looking for Alaska", Alaska mentions something really important. "Y'all smoke to enjoy it, I smoke to die". Opponents may argue that this encourages suicide, as Alaska is obviously hinting. But, I don't think so. This quote shows the dangers of smoking plain as day, and Alaska is stating that smoking kills, and that you shouldn't do it. Even though Alaska is hinting that she is suicidal to a point, She also states that she knows the dangers of smoking, yet she does it anyway. "Lung cancer? That's what happens when you smoke. Yet......" This is another quote that proves that Alaska does know the consequences of smoking. And if some one's child Perseus smoking after reading this book, then it would be all on them because they knew the dangers of smoking yet they have done it anyway. Don't blame it on the book. Blame it on your child.

Many people argue that many children or middle schoolers are taking up cursing, and doing things that they shouldn't be after reading these books. They might also say that this book may influence children to do bad things because they may "copy" the book due to the actions done in the book looking "fun" or "rebellious". But I completely disagree. First of all, don't you teach your kids not to curse, smoke, drink, etc? And all the dangers of doing so? So when they read this book, shouldn't they know that this is bad already? And that they shouldn't do it? So if they do bad things like shown in the book, it's not because of the book. It's because they chose to do it on their own. A book is not going to tell you "DO DRUGS! IT IS GOOD FOR YOU!" No. In fact, most books show "How a life can go off rails way too fast" like in "Go Ask Alice" Or that "bullying to be in the 'popular' crowd is not the right way to go", like in "Blubber" by Judy Blume. So if a child decides to do these things, it isn't because of the book. It's because they chose the stupid road. It sometimes, it's actually because of the parents, like Alaska's. Conversation Over.

  In conclusion, The book "Looking For Alaska" by John Green, and other books like it should not be banned. Banning a book is pointless, as it would make children go to library's to read the magical book that was so bad it had to be banned. Face it. Banning books won't delete it of it's existence. Unless you burn all of them, which I'm pretty sure is illegal :/. I don't think you should ban this book. It just isn't a good idea.

Malala Muse Monday Post

"One Child
One Pen
One Book"
It can change the world!
They (they) can learn it all,
Education can change the world.
I'm sure you'd want some thingd
You want to learn for yourself
So when it comes to girls,
We wanna learn like everybody else!
La la la la la la la la la la la la (2x)
I got a million things, I want to know (Hey!)
La la la la la la la la la la la la (2x)
"Nothing will silence us", We want to learn (COME ON!)
Who says?
Who says we can't learn?
Just cause we are girls,
Does not mean we cannot be educated!
Trust me!
Everyone wants to learn!
(Yes, Yes we do!)
Especially us!
Us girls.