Reflection

This semester I read 1733 pages. My reading was mostly non-fiction. At the start of this class, I was not really a big reader. I only read for school. I read in my room sitting on the floor. About half way through my nightly reading, I would lay down on my tummy. I never listened to music because I get distracted and sing along. Also, I always put my phone away and my computer turned off. It is really hard to work with my phone. During the semester, I read a lot of factual books. I really enjoyed them because they were documentaries in book form, and I love documentaries. It was sort of hard to find reading material because some factual books are really boring. I have changed because I realize that there is always time to read. I have started to enjoy book more. Also, I am a faster reader now which helps with homework and school. I have started to read more factual books because in the beginning I thought factual books would be boring. I think I am more likely to read over the summer because I have many new books that I want to read. I am now more motivated. In the beginning, I was not a fan of poetry at all. I thought poets were a group of bored writers with nothing better to do. However, now I like poetry a lot more because I understand it much much better. I actually enjoy some poets now. Overall, this class was fun but there was a lot of work. I liked the blogs but four to three posts is a lot. The last week with two posts was the perfect amount. Overall, FIVE STARS :)

stressed out!

School is almost over. This is a postive for the obivious reasons like SUMMER and no homework. BUT it's a negative also. Why? Well... you don't see your friends as often and all the teachers decide to pound you with projects. I have a project/paper/big test right now! omg...

The Great American Stickup, pg. 49-110

The first chapter is called "The Clinton Bubble." Under Clinton, many deregulation acts were passed. Citigroup started and Clinton supported them not seeing the negative effects. DC was filled with lobbyists. Although it was a bloom time, the foundation for the crash was setup.

The next chapter is called "The Valiant Stand of Brooksley Born." At the time, she was the only person against deregulation. She was for the people because of her background. She was one of the few women in DC. Everyone was against her including DC and the media. Eventually, she was just pushed to the side.

I am enjoying the book so far. I have learned about a lot of people that I hadn't heard of before. I like this book. :)

The Great American Stickup, pg. 1-48

This book is about the recent stock market crash. This book explains how, when, where, who, and why! The first chapter is called "It was the economy, stupid!" The author Robert Scheer blames the top wealthy ten percent of American who bribed politicans to better fit the aristocracy's lifestyle. He goes on to blame Robert Rubin, who was a part of Clinton's adminstration. Even after the crash, he wouldn't let the media blame the government. He said it was a one day collapse and everything would whip into place. That wasn't true. Rubin was just covering his butt. Scheer says the main goal of the book is to prove some common myths about the market.

The next chapter is called "The high priestess of Reagan revolution." Under the Reagan adminstration, he blames the Mr and Mrs Gramm. Mr Gramm was a senator and reversed an act put in place in the 70s to regulate the market. Mrs Gramm worked in the CFTC. She led to mass deregulation. Those two are often blamed for the crash.

So far, I am really enjoying to book. For some reason, I really like to know why the crash happened. I have watched many documentaries on this subject, however the book gave a lot of new information.

Myq Kaplan

This is one of my favorite comedians. Myq Kaplan is from NYC, and he was on Last Comic Standing. I found him on a NYC based podcast I listen to. Myq's style is very wordy. There's a lot of puns etc. Sometimes I listen to his CD, Vegan Mind Meld, and I think, "WOW, I'm such a nerd." His website is myqkaplan.com. CHECK HIM OUT! He's HILAROUS!

Dishwasher, pg.326-354

The first chapter is called "The Blue-Rimmed Plate." He got a job in Pittsburgh. Pete and Amy Joy got an apartment and a dishwashing job. He was the 'reliable' guy. He was settling down but that bugged him. All the dishes had white rims except one. Pete started to count how many times he washed that dishes. He left frustrated. Then, Pete decided that by his next birthday he would work in all 50 states.

The next chapter is called "Hell Train." Then, he went on to Rhode Island. He got a job on a train. The train was super busy! The water was brown. The machine barely working. After his shift, he was done.

The next chapter is called "In a Lather." Then, he moved on to Myrtle Beach, SC. There were a million restaurants, but he couldn't find a job. Then, he found out that there was a group of teens who worked together to steal all the jobs. He decided he was done.

The next chapter is called "Kiss the Dishmachine Good-Bye." One day, he decided to retire and left. After he left, he remembered that he forgot to kiss the dishwasher but didn't go back.

The next chapter is the Epilogue. He married Amy Joy and moved to Amsterdam. He decided to find a job but couldn't. Then, he found out that he wasn't being hired because minimum wage for teens was lower; therefore, he had no job. He decided no more dishwashing.

The ending wasn't AWESOME but it was good. Overall, it was a good read. :)

Poems for Anthology

My theme is nature. My poems are Spring Snow By Linda Gregerson, Haiku Journey By Kimberly Blaeser , Morning Warming By Joyce Sidman, Taking to the Hills By Rachel Wetzsteon, The Flowers By Stéphane Mallarmé, Falling Leaves and Early Snow By Kenneth Rexroth, Furry Bear By A. A. Milne, Wind on the Hill By A. A. Milne, October By Bobbi Katz, and Earth Day By Jane Yolen. The poem that I'm turning into a video is Earth Day By Jane Yolen.

Dishwasher, pg. 298-325

This first chapter is called "Dude wants his free meal." Pete goes to some town called "Branson." It is the dinner theater capital. He goes into town and gets job at Golden Corral, a chain buffet place. Then, he has a break 3-5, so he goes around town and is offered a new job. They talk trash about Golden Corral and conveice him to work at the new place, so he does. They promised him a free meal. On the first day, he got a meal. A couple of days later, he asked for his free meal. They said no, one for the whole time you work there. He feels betrayed and quits. Then, he leaves town.

Then, the book starts part three, and it's called "Quitting Time." The first chapter in this part is called "Just Wandering." Then, he gets a job in Idaho. He is living in his car. He calls a fan of his magazine in the area and asks if he wants to hang out. The 'fan' says no. He feels lame and remembers that he has many friends.

The next chapter is called "Cheap Houses, Cheap Dishman." In this chapter, Pete considers settling down. He looks around and finds a house. He bargins the price down to 25 grand. Then, he realizes he has NO money saved and doesn't apply for loan. He moves on.

These chapters were interesting. They were a really quick read! I'm enjoying the book so far. :)

MC Mr.Napkins

I found this guy via a podcast I listen to. This guy is MC Mr.Napkins. He is a comedian who raps. The things he raps about are random and totally un-ghetto. It's hilarous! His website is www.mrnapkins.com Here's one of his hilarous raps about a BEE!

Dishwasher, pg. 265-297

This first chapter is called "Kosherized." Pete got a job at a Jewish restaurant. The diary and meat dishes have to be washed seperately. He works with Martin, a guy who to hang out with Pete, and Zlatko, who was a foriegner. Martin always wanted Pete to join his Christian group. Pete said no and Martin got upset. That day, Zlatko had a heart attack. The next day, Pete was working alone and saw that Martin had mixed up all the dishes to make more work for Pete. He kissed the washing machine and quit.

The next chapter is called "We Never Forget." He borrowed some money and printed some more of his magazines and bought a cheap car. He saw some restaurant that said former President Gerald Ford had washed dishes there. Then, Pete talks about other people who had worked in the restaruant business. Then, he visited a grave of someone who died in CIO union strike.

The next chapter is called "Utopian Dishwashery." Pete went to Missouri. He got a job at a utopian society. He lived in his van. He was fed. They grew and cooked their food together. After dinner, they sang songs. Pete was freaked out. He thought they are just some hippies. Everyone worked together so he decided to help. However, all the hippies stopped washing dishes and he always got stuck washing dishes even when it wasn't his turn. Then, he kissed the washing machine and quit.

I liked the first and third chapter I read. There was a short story in those chapters; however, the middle chapter was boring and full of history. Overall, I liked it. :)

Tech and Family Time

The article I read was by the NY Times. They were talking about how you could be in the same room with a family and no body was talking. Everyone was involved with there tech gagdets. This is so true! It mentions how couples email chores and play games to keep in touch. Another couple says that technology is keeping them apart. My response- seriously technology is keeping you apart. false, its the fact that you just married someone that annoys the crap out of you if you spend too much time together, so you use technology to stay away and then blame it.- Then, the writer compares the rise of technology to the rise of books. Books took people to new realities just like tech. However, the family also connects with tech on different levels.

Osama...

Like most of the world, I hate him... But, I hate him extra because it's is his fault that racist and racial profiling has increased SO MUCH. I'm not even middle eastern but because I could be, I have been mistreated for years. I remember in elementary school this girl named Tammy said she didn't want to be friends because I wasn't white and the same. So screw that. Everytime I fly, security checks... I mean come on! I'm an average American teen BORN in the USA... but no. I'm a terrorist! Of course! The world's not going back to the way in used to be before 9-11-01, but it makes me happy to see he FINALLY got what he should get for ruining and changing so many lives for the worst.

Dishwasher, pg. 239-264

This first chapter is called "sure you can wear pants." Pete was getting fan mail and a lot of it was asking what he would do after washing in all the states. He wasn't sure.(duh. that's not a surprise.) He gets a one day job and meets a girl named Amy Joy. After work, he takes her out for dinner and finds she only 19. He liked the cold weather and went to Maine to wash dishes. As he went around the U.S., he found a lot of change on side walks while looking for a job. Once, at a job they asked him to sign a loyalty agreement and he said no. This was the first no and they were okay with it. Then, he hitchhiked to Reno, Nevada.

The next chapter is called "Darryl's Room." Pete has a job at a casino. There are multiple restaurants there. He alternates between all of them. There's a room labeled Darryl's Room. Darryl, an old drishwasher, went into the room and fell asleep and died. No one found his body for days. Pete was very interested by the room. One day, he goes in and tries to sleep by fails. When he got paid, he went to a different casino and sent his money. Amy Joy came and visited. She stayed the night at Pete's and paid for dinner and left in the morning.

This chapter were interesting but a little long. Overall, the story is coming together.

Dishwasher, pg. 199-238

This first chapter is called "Seafaring." A friend, Lara invites him to go to Alaska to dishwash there. But he had no money, so he decided to get a job, save, and go with her. He got a job on a oil ridge. He was on and couldn't leave for 2 weeks. Cheryl dropped him at the shore, where a helicopter picked him up. He went on the oil ridge. His leader/supervise person was named redneck. Everyone was super duper close. He became a part of the group. At the end of the 2 weeks, he left and went to Cheryl's.

This next chapter is called "Pearl Divrs Who Passed Before." He got a job in some college in Wisconsin. When he got to his washing station, there were a million dishes. Apparently, the whole last time quit at once. He found out that one girl was fired for no good reason and the whole team quit with her. Pete felt extremely proud of the group. When he quit, he wrote a thank you note to the group.

This chapters were good but dragged alittle. Overall, still extremely awesome!