My other blog:

Hola! I just wanted everyone to know this, there is this other blog that I write on called "If  Blog Falls In The Forest".  It is shared blog, so I'm not the only author.  It's a funny, happy, depressing, enthusiastic, and just random blog where we post just for he fun of posting.  I'm writing under the pseudonym Guy (pronounced GEE) Noël Futterhorn (the name I use in french class). 

Currently, Blog in forest is having a vary serious problem.  Of the seven followers that we have, six of them are writing for the blog, and the other one doesn't even read it (at least as far as I'm aware).  that means we have no real followers!  We need you to read this blog, and  follow it too.  I couldn't stand to have out hard work and honest writing do down the failed blog drain! So please, just please read and follow this blog.

HERE IS THE BLOG: http://bloginforest.blogspot.com/

PSPS: if you do read the blog, the little enigmas that I write at the bottoms will be explained to you and only you if you follow it too!

PPSPS: PSPS stands for pre-signature-post-script and PPSPS stands for postpresignaturepostscript.

FOLLOW THE BLOG PLEASE!
the so-called Guy Noël Futterhorn,
Also known as Benjamin Futterman

PS: READ AND FOLLOW THE BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PPS: this is a cat: =^,^=

8 + 9 - 8 = 9

You need to give something up in order to get something.  I remember when I was younger watching an episode of Spongebob where Mr. Krabs, a money obsessed restaurant owner, buys a claw machine and puts it into the restaurant.  Everyone was surprised that he would spend his precious money on a seemingly worthless device. Eventually, Mr, Krabs explains his reasoning by saying something like "You've got to spend money to make money." 


In the book I am reading, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, The main character, Pip, Tells his close friend Biddy that He wishes to become a gentleman.  Biddy responds very seriously and calmly that although she would love for him to be a gentleman,  it could never happen.  Very shortly afterwords, A man comes to tell Pip and his Brother-in-law/ Father figure Joe the blacksmith, that Pip can go to london to become a gentleman, for he has "great expectations".  Only later does he realize that this requires him to leave Joe, Mrs. Joe (his sister), Biddy, and nearly everyone else that he loved.  


In order to pursue his dream, Pip needed to give up something very important to him.  Pip needed to give up seeing his family so that he could become what he had always wanted to become, Just like Mr. Krabs giving up his beloved money in order to get more money.  I guess that in order to get something that you want, you have to get rid of something.  Its sort of like a math problem.  Say you have the equation 9 = 9, and you want an eight in there.  So you add an eight to the nine in the front, but 8 + 9 ≠ 9.  You realize that  you need to take away something, so now 8 + 9 - 8 = 9.  The only problem with this math analogy is that you could add to both sides, which you can't do with a real world problem. If you find some exception to this (adding to the result without taking from the equation), than leave it as a comment.  

And although What Pip wanted after all was to become a gentleman, was it really worth it to leave his family?  I'm sure on some peoples opinions that would be like 8 + 9 - 10  ≠ 9.  Pip Is most likely not going to see 'his family for at least a year, if not longer.  Now back to the Mr. Krabs analogy, imagine he payed in cash.  Chances are that he will never see those couple hundreds worth of dollar bills ever again. Now back to Pip,  if he gets money to send back to his family and/or gets to visit them often, I think that, although it would probably be painful,  Would be worth it.  


From what I've gathered of Charles Dickens and Spongebob,  In order to get something that you want, you need to give up something that matters just as much, if not more.  If you need something,  there is now way for you not to give something up.  But sometimes, usually when there is nothing else to give, you can give too much.  Everyone wants something, but we need to think if we are giving to much to get it.  

My Blog Mentors:

The first blog that I chose was Pia's blog, Non-Linear Musing.  I find that Pia's posts, in addition to being moderately lengthy, they illustrate a real knowledge and understanding of the book.  Anyone can just skim over a paragraph in their book and write about that, but it will never truly be a good post if it isn't written with a true understanding of the contents within their pages.

The next blog that I chose was Izzy's blog, Pulp Fiction. Izzy, particularly in this post, has an amazing talent for adding in things that aren't exactly what most people put in, like definitions of words.  In doing so, she also includes a bit of her personality, like in this one by showing what kind of music she listens to.  I've attempted adding in slightly odd things before, but I also sound like a robot a lot of the time because I don't sound like I have a personality.

The third blog I chose, last, but not least, is Susan's blog, Good Morning Seniors.  What I love about Susan's posts is that she often includes an excerpt from the book, and even more often includes a comparison to another book that she read.  I give her many plaudits for this, as she would have to build up a library of books that she read in the back of her mind, and be able to pull one down from that metaphorical shelf and be able to remember it without re-reading it.  Not only is Susan being my writing mentor, but she is inspiring me to read more too!


Some other blogs that I think are great: Samantha's: A Blog Like No Other,  Molly's: This is One Spicy Blog!, and that thing who bears no resemblance to me, (my sister Annie), Evenings With Dr. Futterman.  I like other blogs too, but I still have to do the rest of ELA homework to do!

Telescope

"a lady looking through a telescope while her maidservant holds an umbrella" by Hokusai

"I shall gaze upon the land,
or maybe upon the sea,
but really anything will do
any thing, other then you"

This she said to me,
as she stared  out her glass,
to which a glare is my only atack
my teeth shining black.

She really seems so rude,
insulting me like that,
But it is meant to be,
She is is surely greater than me.

Truth be told, I like it
being lesser, that is,
for had I been she,
I'm sure, everyone would hate me.

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
by Dylan Thomas
The force that through the green fuse drives the flower Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees Is my destroyer. And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose My youth is bent by the same wintry fever. The force that drives the water through the rocks Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams Turns mine to wax. And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks. The hand that whirls the water in the pool Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind Hauls my shroud sail. And I am dumb to tell the hanging man How of my clay is made the hangman's lime. The lips of time leech to the fountain head; Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood Shall calm her sores. And I am dumb to tell a weather's wind How time has ticked a heaven round the stars. And I am dumb to tell the lover's tomb How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.

Don't you hate it when you know something, but you just aren't the one to say it? Like for example, in class, if you know exactly what the teacher is teaching, and you think you can teach the class more correctly then the teacher, but because they are the teacher, and in a way above you, you don't speak up?  Or when your parents are yelling at you when you know your right, but you don't yell back because you'll get into more trouble.  I think that is what this poem is really about. 

I noticed that in a lot of Dylan Thomas' poems, the last few lines of a stanza repeat going throughout the poem, like in "Do not go gentle into that good night".  in this poem, the repeated line was: "And I am dumb to tell... how...".  This in itself is not worth much, but added the two lines before it, it means so much more. The first line in a stanza describes some metaphorical force in nature, where as the second line (& 3rd) describe that same force within him.  But in the ending of each stanza, he says that he would be dumb to tell nature about the force described.  

the Third stanza and all the ones after it also really stood out to me, because instead of describing nature, and then himself, he describes something different.  Replacing nature he described something calm, like "the hand that whirls the water in the pool", but replacing himself, he describes a similar thing to the calm, only bad, like" Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind". 

I think that the stanza pattern is very important to understanding this poem.  In a way, he is saying that he knows that the natural or the calm is correct, so he shouldn't even attempt to fight it.  In fact, he would be dumb to do such, But I disagree. I think that we should all have the right to speak out and be heard.  if we are wrong, so be it! We will learn from our mistakes.  We do not live to be put down by others.  Evolution happens by things being different, standing out!  

But maybe, say he knew that death was coming, that speaking out wouldn't help him in the long run, only get him scolded.  Why waste time , when you know that time itself is very limited. I assume that if you know life has to end, there is little point in questioning, as it will probably not affect you.  I suppose, It really depends on your side of life.  

I think this can teach us about how to act.  Sometimes, there is really no reason to talk back or prove someone wrong, because it really helps no body.   this could solve so many parent and child fights. The main reason that I've seen people get detention for is talking out of turn in one way or another.  But on the other hand,  we should also share our opinions, while we are young.  these two Ideas are almost opposites, and yet I feel they are both right.  it depends on who you are. 

What If He Hadn't?

As with all of my blog posts, this may be a SPOILER

We've all ha to make tough decisions. You know, the kind that one choice is "the right thing to do", but the other choice benefits you more? The kind they talk about all the time in elementary school? That one. I'm positive you've been faced with one of these decisions before.  Only, I would probably guess that your life didn't depend on the answer.

Currently, I am reading "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak.  Hans, the main character's "father" lets a Jew hide in there house during World War Two.  If he is found out, the government will take him and his wife away, and probably kill them.  the reason that he is letting the Jew into his house anyway is because he made a promise with that persons mother to do what ever he could to help.  because of this promise, Hans decided to let him stay.

As I was reading his, I thought to myself, what if he hadn't? What if he had turned the Jew away? The Jew would have to try and find some other place to hide, probably fail, and in the end he would no doubt die.  As for Hans, of course if the police came he would have nothing to hide from them.  But I feel that by doing that, he is becoming an honorary Nazi himself, in a way.  He would be officially be no different than any other Nazi.  But the worst part is that he would be plagued by the guilt of that broken promise until he dies.

I remember once in elementary school, a fifth grader took my lunchbox which was mine since nursery school.  I wouldn't eat my lunch if it weren't packed in that bag.  I loved that lunchbox so much, I couldn't stand someone taking it.  I wanted to go up to her and tel her that it was mine, my lunchbox, but I thought that she might beet me up.  I had no Idea what to do.  either I face her and get my lunchbox, or I save myself from being bullied and loose one of my favorite things. I decided to confront her.  It turned out that she was a really nice person, and she had thought the lunchbox was hers.  she gladly gave it back to me.

If I hadn't gone up to her, I would have lost the thing that meant so much to me  forever.  I would have never gotten it back.  If Hans hadn't let the Jew stay, he would never be able to forget his guiltiness.  If you don't make the right decisions,  you can be affected for life. There are so many things I wish I had done, but I didn't.  I guess that's just life.

pride and foolishness

 as with all of my blog posts, this may be a SPOILER

We've all had an experience like this: when we know that we can do something,but when we attempt it, we cannot do it at all.  For example, today in band, I looked at the new song that we got, a West Side Story compilation, and thought to myself, 'wow, this is going to be an easy song.'  only, when I started playing it, I totally messed up.  I seriously underestimated the difficulty of the song.

I am currently reading The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak.  Liesel, the main character is still learning how to read.  When the teacher says that there is a reading test, she tests everyone but Liesel.  Liesel, out of pride, decides to read in front of he class anyway, which gets her in trouble. 

I think that this really shows something about people, and about pride.  Proud people will do things, foolish things,  without really thinking  about the results first. This always ends badly.  I guess what I am trying to say is to think before you do something, or it may turn out badly.  I think that most of the worlds problems could have been avoided if people did this. 

But then again, maybe it's good that Liesel did this.  It all lead to her beating someone up and gaining respect from that.  Had Liesel not done that, fellow students would have kept teasing her about her inability to read, maybe eventually leading to bullying.  It can be important to do things like this sometimes, but none the less, think them over first. In the end, it's all up to you.