I like soup, but this SOPA is nasty.

Since Theodore Boone is regarding the law, I'm going to talk about something in relation to legal legislature.

The government is trying to censor the internet. The Stop Online Piracy Act is an attempt by the government to essentially enforce copyright laws against website originating outside the U.S.. They plan to accomplish this by blocking advertising and requesting removal of the site from search engines, as well as payment sites (Paypal) from doing business with the site. If a site contains copyright material, SOPA is trying to shut it down.

You know all the copyright infringements that occur on Youtube daily?? That means Youtube would be dropped in a heartbeat. We all know that no one can live without Youtube. Dont even get me started on Facebook. Facebook would be taking heat like an oven. It would be shut down. That would probably lead to mass world anarchy or something.

In my opinion, this is just a bad idea. From an economic/political/whatever you wanna call it standpoint, SOPA will give rival production companies the ability to try to shut each other down. Also, if there is an inquisition of all sites granting access to a specific material, then the creator will probably be capable of creating a monopoly when it comes to accessing the content. If you want to see a movie preview, Youtube wont be allowed to have it, so you'll have to go directly to the origin, which means more hassle and strain on finding what you want. A flaw has been noted as well. If a domain name is shut down, it will come back within hours with a different name. Essentially, SOPA is just getting in the way.

From a personal perspective, I cant take SOPA. I need my pirated stuff. I'm not going to pay $1.29 for a song that I can get for free, especially because I'm a 16 year old without an income. You may say that its only $1, but you don't need about 5000 songs like I do. The beauty of the internet is quick, easy, broad, and generally free access to whatever the hell you want. I need that access just like most of the world. I can be having the websites I need getting shut down.


What's your opinion on this SOPA thing???

Here is a link to an article about SOPA

I'm desperate for Ideas.

We have been granted the liberty of free speech. We can discuss what we want. So now I ask you, my readers,

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO WRITE ABOUT????

Court is in session!!!!!

Here we go, third quarter. Time for me to read a book... yay. I have selected a book by the name of Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, by John Grisham.

Quick synopsis: Theodore Boone is like obsessed with the law. He spends heavy amounts of time at the courthouse viewing cases and dreaming of his future as a star lawyer. His high enthusiasm quickly gets him deeply involved in a local murder case....
Essentially this is an awesome mystery book.


So I have read roughly 50% of the book so far, and this is probably the 1st time I am actually enthusiastic about reading this book. Murder trials and mysteries tickle my interests and Grisham did a good job of captivating my attention. This book is so easy to read I literally just fly through the pages. I find no internal burden or struggle when I open the book. It's been a long time since I read a book i didn't have to force myself to pick up, or slit my wrists after I had put it down, and its relieving I found one that I actually enjoy for a change.
This book is amazingly entertaining. Who doesn't love the tension and mystery of murder trials? This book flows easily and keeps me on my toes, happy, and from breaking out the literary cannon....  I just really like fiction novels like this and I can easily see myself returning to Grisham whenever I'm finished with this book. The one thing I like most is how a young 13 year old has the character and genius to be like a prodigy lawyer. I enjoy debates and arguments because they're a warfare of wits, and seeing a young kid who is good at being a lawyer is impressive. I wish I had the audacity and cleverness to out wit anyone...

Well, I need to go read this book more, so now I leave you with a question: What's your favorite mystery???

A rant on Nathaniel Hawthorne

Dear Nathaniel Hawthorne,

            You sir, are an imbecile. Thanks for defiling the world and the 1^st semester of my English class. You wrote probably the most retarded book I have ever read so far, next to A Tale of Two Cities. You do not know how much agony this book has brought to me and my family. I got a C in English class because of how your book is impossible to read. Not only is it in stupid 12th century vocabulary, but the plot and readability of this book is so annoying, I shot it out of the literary cannon. I assume you don’t know what I’m talking about, so I’ll explain. The Literary cannon is a steel toed boot I wear whenever I drop kick books I don’t like off of my balcony. Whoever it was that decided your book was an “american literary classic” is a moron. I was forced to spend roughly two months with your infernal book in which time I could have done something so much more productive. Thanks to your book, my nights were spent eating ice cream, crying, and watching Oprah, all at the same time. My innocence is gone, and your book replaced it with the kind of feeling that produces some of the most wonderful suicide letters. Why couldn’t you have written something even moderately interesting. Who wants to read about some puritan hag committing adultery and getting pregnant? I guarantee no one in the late 21^st century will want to read your book. I can justify that because no one wants to read it right now. It’s a shame Hitler didn’t get his hands on every copy of this book… I’d be thankful for that. I’m sorry if this seems like a rant, but your book just sucks. It ruined my life. You better be happy the English department didn’t let me burn this book, because its starting to get cold, and I need to keep my house warm. Thus is probably the one benefit of your book: paper to BURN. Also, now my English class thinks I’m a retard because I wefused to read your book, and failed every test on the book. You should come to the 21^st century because I know quite a few people that need to beat the crap out of you; and before you leave take your ratchet book and A Tale of Two Cities with you… they dont belong here. Your book is like a troll within literature. It just goes around ruining people’s day and feeling good about itself. Why did you have to write it? Why cant you write like a normal person? You should have spent your time just going around the custom house counting all the illegal Mexicans instead. And don’t even get me started on the custom house. From your description, it sounded as if it were an Indian brothel. But anyway, I have a single suggestion for you. Go work for Disney Channel… you’ll fit in just fine.

With most disregards,

The Priest of Pain

A review on Around the World in 80 Days.

My time with this book has come to a close. I'm unhappy to say that, thanks to library policy, I was unable to finish the book. Of what I read of it, I wasn't the most amused, although it isn't the worst composition I've read. I didn't find anything wrong with the book, its just that I expected more of it. I expected humor, adventure, action, and something to give the book its own unique vibe. The book didn't have much motion and was really plain. It was just a bit too simple for my personal taste, but it has potential for being a good read for people who like this kind of book. The characters within don't really have anything special or unique about them, and the plot is very realistic in comparison to the time period. I really expected Mr. Fogg to be a CHARACTER but apparently he isn't. By character i mean someone who has an outstanding personality. The kind of personality that is a rarity as you don't get to meet very many people with that same style in your life. Mr Fogg is honestly just a really punctual guy to the point of it almost annoying me. The storyline is essentially the characters just traveling around. Its not the dramatic race against time i expected, and hoped it would be. Overall I felt this book was good because I could read it without having the want to kick it out of a window. I wish I had the time to finish it. I would have probably been able to appreciate it more.

Music to travel around the world listening to.

So I have spent about two or three weeks reading around the world in 80 days. I would make a post about music that is relative to the mood and setting of the book, but sadly, I dont know about any music that is dull. I'm sorry but around the world wasn't the most exciting thing I ever read, and it mainly consisted of the characters just traveling from place to place. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book... kinda, but it just doesn't have the action, thrill, drama, passion, or moving elements make a book unique. I simply looked at it and said, well this book is essentially about a race around the world against time... even though its not fast... at all... but anyway, here's the song I associate most with racing. 

Tiesto - Louder Than Boom


By the way, I also have a keen interest in foreign music since, well quite frankly, its better than the music produced in these states. Here's a list of music from around the world that i enjoy. BTW these all link to YouTube.

Colombia: Joe Arroyo - La Noche    This man is a genius.

Russia: Aidamir Mugu - Chornye Glaza   The accordion is just amazing. This is the song I grew up to.

Sweden: Swedish House Mafia - One
People who say perfection isn't real simply haven't heard this yet.

France: Alonzo - Determine
[Parental Discretion advised.... this is sick]

Germany: Extrawelt - confuzzled
Its just so chill. This song puts me to sleep really easily.


Netherlands: Armin van Buuren - Shivers
Peace. Pure and simple.

Sparknotes... shocking isnt it???

So I have recently been introduced to a website by the name of sparknotes.com. I must say this website is just so beautifully useful. Its essentially a compilation of study tools for books, as well as plentiful information about any book that you can access when you dont have the time to actually read whole passages, want a preview of it, or want info on a book you particularly dont want to read, especially when you're required to read it for a class. It includes summaries of the book, each chapter, characters, themes, plot, and important things to take note of. its essentially a cheat sheet for modern day English students. Any key piece of information is right where you can find it easily. There is a massive collection of books on the site and its all at the disposal of the people. I wish i had knowledge of this website back when I was reading A Tale of Two Cities and The Scarlet Letter. I wouldn't actually have to suffer through hundreds of pages of    :P.....    :( .....    uugghhh......      X(..... I would have also probably known more and gotten better grades on my tests of the books. This is what makes the website just so amazing. you dont have to read everything; just bits that give a complete understanding of what happens in the books.

Now although this website has wonderful potential, you just cant replace a book (especially if its good) with passionless notes... (unless you have a good enough excuse ;)   ). Its not the same experience. the author wants you to have a wonderful, moving experience as you flip through the pages, and notes just cant match the artistry and passion carved into the pages of the book itself. The writer wants you to read the words in the book because those are the words that they chose, and they put them there for a reason; for your enjoyment and learning. The writer doesn't want their work to be so easily replaced by simple notes that they didn't intend for you to read. Along with that, if its a goooooooood book, like the kind that drills through your sensitivity and manipulates your emotions and feelings, why would you pass up the chance to experience it? Its like listening to a 10 second sample of the most amazing song ever instead of the song itself. It just doesn't have the soul and force that makes you... move. The way I put it is that substituting the actual book for sparknotes is like taking the passion, feel, momentum, experience, imagery, imagination, creativity, and uniqueness of a book, crumpling it up and just reading the stupid words on the soulless paper... or in this case webpage...

Besides, its kinda disrespectful to the writer... how dare you replace their hard work they composed for you, and just passing it on your way to read the BS edition some person created on the website...

looking back.

So I have just received my grade for my 1st quarter blog. Its absolutely terrible and its safe to say that I got the lowest grade in the junior class. If anyone has actually read my blog, then they know that I deserve it. Even I'll admit it. I didn't put proper effort into creation of this blog. I didn't do most of what the teacher asked of me. For this second quarter, I intend of applying myself a little more along the lines of the rubric and accomplishing the set tasks instead of meandering around my own pointless ideas. I also intend on taking all the stupid trash out of my blog. Its time for a massive overhaul.

My attitudes on blogging? I have probably the most enthusiastic outlook on the concept. Its a turn away from the normal three page papers and I'm an advocate for variety and change. I love this assignment. Problem is, I took it the wrong way, hence the FAIL.

Now for my second book. I havent picked out a new book yet, but I'm thinking along the lines of: Around the World in 80 Days, Shipbreaker, or Theodore Boone, Kid lawyer. I'm leaning toward Kid Lawyer because now that the football season is almost over, I'll have the time I usually needed to recover from my war wounds in my pocket to spend on reading. You can expect a serious, well thought out blog for the most part unless my immaturity get in my way again. (Insert smiley face here).

A question to the audience.

Imagine you had eighty days to circumnavigate the world. you are at no rush in your goal. Where would you go? what places would you visit? Intrigue me with what you would like to do in an 80 day tour around the world?


This should be interesting and fun.






I hope someone actually replies for a change.....

An outlook on the 21st century english classroom.

What are your feelings towards the inclusion of activities such blogging, tweeting, facebooking, and interstate school interaction? How do these methods enhance your understanding of the text?

I think its a great idea. Why not take advantage of modern technology? It gives students the ability to publish their work where their peers, along with the rest of the world, can access it. It is also a completely different concept within the English classroom. All of my classmates and I have essentially grown up only reading books and writing papers in English class. The opportunity to do something completely different such as blog is a revolutionary concept of which we embrace. It gives us the liberty to step out of the generic classroom and allows us to experiment with these new activities. Blogging gives us the freedom to write in our own style, about whatever we want to write about (with limitations. This still is English class), and at whatever pace we determine.



Interstate interaction has been going on for like forever. Remember the Pen Pals concept? Its nothing particularly new. It allows us to communicate with students who may not think the same we do, and open opportunities to be exposed to different styles of thought from people our age. The other school contributes to our knowledge, and we contribute to theirs. Sadly, I haven't witnessed much direct interaction between the schools. Its been more of a passive interaction, where we aren't really directly acting on one another. It needs to be where we are actively engaging, and I mean ENGAGE, in what one another writes and discuss it with a passion. That's where you take full advantage of this ability to communicate with other schools. It takes more than a couple of posts and comments by an irrelevant third party for communication to be considered a discussion. There must be an exchange of ideas, points of view, philosophies and such and such. Imagine an internet, interstate debate where there is literally  massive gathering of people examining one another's ideas and discussing about the subject matter profusely, constantly learning from each single word casted into the fury of debate. This is where we learn... just like in the Greek or Roman forums or whatever....


How do these methods enhance our understanding of the text?  Shoot I dont know. Why are you asking me? I haven't been witness to an obvious or even subliminal change in understanding of content. No one has told me that this method of working and study help them understand the book better. It hasn't happened to me either, but thats probably because the past few books I have read I decided to shoot out of the literary "cannon"... literally.... the books kinda exploded against the target at the range I went to. But coming back to the actual discussion at hand, I'm not too sure if using blogging will actually help us understand the book more. It makes us approach the book differently than a book report does, so I think that's better. It may also provoke a sense of desire and enthusiasm students generally dont have, and that will definitely help. Only time will tell if these new methods will improve our comprehension.






 This has been your favorite English class troll with an actually, and surprisingly serious post.  Until next time.... whenever that will be.... I hear the economy is in crisis and the government is in trouble. I might have to take a break to go instill some common sense and solutions up in capitol hill, so I might delay in my posts. By the way, I gave up on writing in Spanish; Google Translate is pressing charges.... I think.... but anyway. Until next time.