Quotes from The Twilight

I found this most interesting to talk about when I read The Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

"Throughout the vast shadowy world of ghosts and demons here is no figure so terrible, no figure so dreaded and abborred, yet dight with such fearful fascination, as a vampire, who is himself neither ghost nor demon, but yet who partakes the dark natures and possesses the mysterious and terrible qualities of both." - Rev. Montague Summers.

The second quote:

"If there is in this world a well-attested account, it is that of the vampires. Nothing is lacking: official reports, affidavits of well-known people, of surgeons, of priests, of magistrates;  the judicial proof is most complete. And with all that, who is there who believes in vampires ?" - Roussean

Self Assessment

I think I did a great job on my blog I gave great detail in to the things I talked about. I pretty much liked everything I wrote in this blog because I read and listened to things that I would not have taken a second look at. Like the Al Gore speech. The Al Gore speech was insightful on how turning to alternative energies can actually increase this planets life by many years. Alternative energies like geothermal, solar, and wind energies are really great sources of energy. I enjoyed writing this I even had fun while writing. Like the post on what makes a good liar I learned a few things on lying to people when writing that post. The body motions that liars make is something i can practice to see, who know learning to pick out liars can be helpful to me in the future. Im most pourd of what makes a good liar mainly beacause what I wrote at the end (This quote means lies are usually planned out and can take time to remember. Losing your place or forgetting one part can destroy your plan, so why lie when telling the truth is more better. In fact it's more easy and it won't cause stress in which lying can cause a lot of it. Lies are used all the time and all the time they have consequences. Lying to people can discredit yourself in many ways. They won't believe half of what you say anymore and it always lead to mistrust which is not good.). I lied a lot of times in my life but for those words to come out of me tells me I have changed, that I have grown. Im proud of what I wrote in this blog, but only the nyc schools post I was least proud of. I had no interest in the post because those problems did not matter to me. I never gave it a second thought unless it actually affected me alone. I think that the grade based on the class assighnments and my blog should be between 80 and 90. after this class is over I think that I might make a keep on writing on events that go on. I may not be a talkative person but I certainly have things to say.

Busted

The internet is a good place to go for information especially information about someone. Having a social network site such as myspace and facebook is all good when someone wants to have fun or show their personality to people, but it can also hurt peopel in many ways. In three articles I read told the same story about how teens show their antics after hours online so people can see. Antics like drinking at parties and accidents that caused serious injuries and death. What they did not realize is what people say or leave online is permanent. Taking pictures of yourself drinking is not a good idea, but that didn't stop Joshua Lipton who was charged in a drucken driving crash that seriouly injured a woman. This 20 year old college student attended a party dressed as a prisoner living it up. What he did not know is someone at the party took pictures and posted it on facebook. The prosecutor in his case presented the photos of Mr. Lipton not taking the crash seriously as evidence and the judge sentenced him to 2 years in prison. I believe that if the woman had not survivd he would have been sentenced for a more longer jail time.

Another networking crime is recording fights and uploading them online to sites such as youtube and myspace so that everybody can see. people think that it is all fun showing these incidents online, but it is to be taken very seriously. Sites such as Psfights.com is devoted to showing people in pain. Incidents like school fights, girl fights, gang fights, and fights that seriously injure people. These fights are actually seen by police and they have made arrests based on this. As seen on the news 8 teens violently beat up a girl up and posted it on myspace and youtube. The teens have been charged and prosecuted by the victims parents when the footage was shown on the news everywhere. The victim was Victoria Lindsay who was taken to the hospital to be treated for a concussion, left ear, left eye, and several brusies. The parents of the 8 teens say the teens was motivated to have a popular video or in this case a shock video on youtube and that Lindsay had been harassing and threatening the teens on myspace. I say the 8 teens was not motivated by youtube to beat up this girl or by the threats from the victim. It was their choice and they got what they deserved in my opinion.

I think that people should be careful in what they publish on the internet in a blog, myspace, facebook, or any other place because it can be viewed by anyone anywhere easily. People everyday steal photos of people on myspace or facebook and put it up as there own and also hack account to get information from them. I have seen it happan to people around me and it has happaned to myself. I had to change passwords a lot and delete my account. I believe people should not be open to people they don't know and do know they should be private instead.

Satire

Satire is a tone used to ridicule or make fun of human vice or weakness, often with the intent of correcting or changing the subject of the satiric attack. The onion a source of a lot of satire. It is a news source that turns a spin on events around the world. The article on Al Gore in which they joke on Al Gores fight to save the people of this earth by turning his quest in a superman ripoff where he send his infant son to a new planet. This piece is satirical because it makes fun of bad situations. It turns a negative into a joke even though some people might find it offensive. A satirical piece has to spin any situation no matter the result. Twain is telling the youth to be good basically. He says always obey your parents, be respectful to your superiors, go to bed early and wake up early, be very careful about lying, do not resort to extreme measures, never handle firearms carelessly, and read books because they are they are a great, an inestimable, and unspeakable means of improvement. As I said satire changes the negative into a joke like when he said always obey your parents, but only when there around and do not resort to extreme measures simply watch your chance and hit them with a brick.

I think this is a successful piece but I would never go as extreme in a fight to hit someone with a brick thats just taking it to far. At least he said if the person did not have an intent on hurting me I should confess that I am sorry and did not mean it. I sure did learn lying is bad because once your caught I can never again be in the eyes to the good and the pure. I never thought lying could be a great art in which with practice and experience can give me and anyone the confidence, elegance and precision.

Source : Advice to Youth

What makes a good liar?

What Really makes a good Liar? I believe what makes a good liar is body control. Learning to control my body flaws that can give myself away. I Always make eye contact and never look away in any direction. I Don't fidget, or cross my arms or put my hands in my pocket. That is sign that I am nervous which can tell any other person that I am lying. I always go over my lines and go over it in my head and I will try to find holes in my story to questions I would not be able to answer. I found that smiling in certain situations are good and fake laughing. Fake laughing is hard but with practice it gets easy. If all of that doesn't work I would just give up and play like it was a joke, who knows it might work.

A Confession of Lies

No, it isn't needed: this blue sky, the two exact trees
Where they are green ash, blue pine. The seas can rise
To within an inch of the buildings but will not,
Ever. For now, like them, my words can be trusted.
There is no need for a doubt. We will not die.
We cannot keep the woods from receding north
To a cooler horizon. Red, white, and yellow
Trash will escape our hands to go into the water.
A glowing, new coal will escape our lips and go down
Through time in the water, to come up a cool, gold
Drink. The truth: We aren't eager to die. We
Turn all our acts to good. We think and desire
Alike. Whatever we start we complete. We don't
Let our anger loose. All earth
Is as wide and dear and clean as when I was small.
Whenever I lie, I tell a truth.

"Whenever I lie, I tell a truth." I think the author of the poem meant, what we believe is truth can also be a lie. Some people choose to believe what people say even though it could be a lie. I can lie to someone and they can believe what I am saying is the truth. I think that behind ever truth there is also a lie.

"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."

Mark Twain
(1835-1910, American humorist, writer)

This quote means lies are usually planned out and can take time to remember. Losing your place or forgetting one part can destroy your plan, so why lie when telling the truth is more better. In fact it's more easy and it won't cause stress in which lying can cause a lot of it.

Lies are used all the time and all the time they have consequences. Lying to people can discredit yourself in many ways. They won't believe half of what you say anymore and it always lead to mistrust which is not good. It's like the story of the boy who cried wolf he called wolf to many times that the townsfolk did not believe him anymore and it lead to his unfortunate undoing.

Why We Lie

Children lie for many reasons. Some of these reasons are kept to themselves and progress overtime that they have to lie all the time. Fear is one common lie that is usually motivated an upcoming situation with an adult. Usually children fear to have privileges taken away from them or they are pressured into lying. I remember when I had to lie to my family that I was not going to school, fearing that when they heard from teachers about what I am doing they would thing of me differently. They would take the title of being the most responsible one in the family away from me. Lies become habits that becomes a reflex when confronted on lies. Usually when I lie I feel guilty and it tends to build up and I just keep lie to people for my own sake. It tends to become a habit in which I lie by reflex and when I am confronted on this lie I say it's the truth while lie to myself and my parent to their face.

In some situations children learn to lie in experiencing other lies. Lie usually learned by children come from within the household. Lies that are harmless to one can be more of an nuances to another. The problem is shielding our children from these lies, But it is usually better for them to learn from the parents instead from others outside the home. There should be no lies in the home there should only be truth. Telling the truth always to children can give a great example that lies are not needed. The best thing is to be a model parent. Sometimes children over predict the reaction parents say. I know usually parents will give the same answers to different situations all the time and anyone would get tired of hearing no. We lie in response to these answers before hand not knowing that they would say yes. Parents should not box there children in but instead explain certain boundaries that are negotiable. I Have been in this situation before and it tends to back fire on me most of the time. I believe having and understanding and a good relationship with my parent leads to better living. I mother who let me skip school if a certain situation presents it self and I wouldn't have to lie. Taking the chance to ask my mother knowing the answer might be a no or a yes is a risk to take because it might benefit me in a good way. I have a great relationship with my mother why I don't lie.

Alternative Energy

Geothermal is a good alternate source of energy. Geothermal energy comes from geothermal reservoirs which is made up of hot water and steam that are trapped under the ground. Geologists and drillers search volcanic regions for geothermal reservoirs and they drill for the steam and hot water. If the rock they dig up show extreme heat erosion then it's good for constructing wells that produce the steam. The steam from the wells spin the turbine blades which spins the generators to produce electricity. This energy has been used in Thailand, Hawaii, California, Nevada, Mexico, Philippines, and Iceland. To provide this type of energy it will cost $0.05 per kWh (kilowatt-hour) from power plants and $0.03 to $0.035 from geysers. Only in peak demand the cost will go up. The alternative energy has very positive potential, it is a clean energy which is available 24 hrs a day and 365 days a year. Geothermal power is home grown and is reducing the use of foreign oils. Only excess steam is emitted in the air and no chemicals that endanger the ozone. It is a safe energy source for the environment. Geothermal energy also minimizes the solid waste and land required for energy production. This energy is a smart way to provide renewable energy to the united states.

"Gore's Challenge"

Today I will talk about the speech I heard from Al Gore our former vice president of the United States. His speech was about how our future will be in panic if we don't act now to save it. Studies from scientists and government officials have found that in five years the polar ice caps will be gone during the summer months. The weird weather, tornados, droughts, and higher temperature are signs that we are in trouble. The core of this crisis is the use of carbon based fuels. We as a nation have to cut down the use of these fuels. When gas prices run high as they are now they start drilling the oil from the ground and doing this does not solve the problem it just makes it worst. The old policies need to be changed like the old solutions to problems we have today. We correct the problems separately which just causes another problem to get worse instead of solving it together.

Right now is the time to act to save our environment. There are alternative ways to replace the use of carbon based fuels such as using solar energy, wind power, and geothermal energy. This can be achieved because it's affordable and transformative. It's a cheap source of energy that can give lasting energy for all. We do have many obstacles that we need to overcome but I the demand of oil, coal, and other fossil fuels need to be reduced. Al Gore gave us a challenge to have 100% renewable energy in 10 years. I believe this is possible because I will help the best that I can. I can buy energy efficient light bulbs and also start using solar energy. I can get a wind power machines to use on those windy days. I already know some places run on hydroelectric power which is a good source of energy. Tapping into those volcanoes an using there energy is also an alternative way. I can even help change laws and make new laws to help my environment. Laws such as the CO2 tax initiative which taxes on emissions like pollution. In  10  years if we all do our part we will provide better living for our children. I don't want to give future people a dead earth.

If you want to help please join the WE campaign at wecansolveit.org

Do you believe what you hear or see

"Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see" by Benjamin Franklin

This quote means unless I know what someone told me to be true I have to think and investigate this information before believing in it . Seeing with my own eyes is not always truth but can be a lie. When I think about this quote it reminds me of mystery novels. In Mystery novels I can never assume something to be true without the facts. Investigators are a good example they can connect small clues to solve mysteries or uncover facts about crime and theft. They Study every detail because if their wrong it can cost a person their life or something even worse. Thinking before acting is what I do and always the truth can be relieved when all the piece of the puzzle are in place. When someone hears a rumor do I always jump to a conclusion just because someone said it or do I find out if it's true with your own eyes?

One quote that I thought to be most interesting is a quote by Franklin P. Jones "Experience is that marvelous thing that enables me to recognize a mistake when I make it again". This quote says it all , The mistakes that I make prepare me for my future. I believe in this quote mainly because everyone makes mistakes now and then but learning from it is very important so that it doesn't happen again. The experience I gained can be worth it. I made mistakes myself I have skipped school a lot of times during high school. I just got lazy and just did not want to go. I wanted to stay home and hang out with my friends. I was given a chance to changed my ways and I took it. Now I am 2 credits away from graduating high school and I am proud of what I have done for myself.

NYC Schools

As I was reading the New York Times I came across a article about NYC schools education. The article named Students, Teachers and Parents Weigh In on State of the Schools by Jennifer Medina talked about the department of education survey that was given out through NYC schools to parents, teachers, and students. The article talks about the vast majority of response to the surveys that was given. Nearly 800,000 people responded to the survey this year stating that for the first time the major school systems have really listened to their concerns.

The Department of Education in my opinion has made a big step forward in the right direction. I actually have taken this survey this year and even though I don't care what goes on in schools, I took it and gave my view on what's going on around me. I agree that students tend to favor getting bad grades for enjoyment for others or they just don't care. I am satisfied with the education I am given now. I feel that some schools don't give what I need to have a better education. Mostly it's the lack of money that concerns me. If New York City can stop spending needless money on things we don't need I wouldn't have to watch schools in my neighborhood being shut down a lot in the Bronx.

My Music

Music makes people jump up. music makes people scream. Music can make people happy or sad. All of those things describes music to me. I love the sound of drums and base guitars. I love the feeling that I get when my favorite track plays on the radio. I gotta have my music everyday. I here many types of music from R&B to Gothic metal. When I listen to music I listen for that power and soul that gets you addicted to it. When you gotta hear that certain song for different situations that come up. I love hearing Gothic metal when I fight someone on a online game. Sometimes I listen to slow jams for those quiet days.

One Band that I listen to is Skillet. Basically they just rock. The first song I heard from them was shown to me by a friend I met on the internet which is call Whispers in the Dark. That song alone got me hooked into there music. Here are the lyrics I liked. No, you'll never be alone when darkness comes I'll light the night with stars hear my whispers in the dark. No, you'll never be alone when darkness comes you know I'm never far hear the whispers in the dark. I think the song is just incredible. It's loud and strong, I Felt love in the lyrics of protecting someone close to me, telling them I am right here when they need me. I blasted that song in my house a lot of times. I even got my friends on it and they loved it. I say that if a song can get you up everyday then it has to be crazy.

Skillet is a Christian rock/hard rock band from Memphis, Tennessee, formed in 1996. The band is comprised of John Cooper (lead vocalist, bass), Korey Cooper (guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist),Ben Kascia (guitarist), and Jen Ledger (drummer). Skillet has released seven studio albums, and has received Grammy nominations for two of these, Collide Comatose (2006). Over the past 12 years, Skillet has spanned many different genres, including alternative rock, industrial, and hard rock.

Whispers in the Dark
By Skillet

Despite the lies that you're making
Your love is mine for the taking
My love is just waiting
To turn your tears to roses

Despite the lies that you're making
Your love is mine for the taking
My love is just waiting
To turn your tears to roses

I will be the one that's gonna hold you
I will be the one that you run to
My love is a burning, consuming fire

No, you'll never be alone
When darkness comes I'll light the night with stars
Hear my whispers in the dark
No, you'll never be alone
When darkness comes you know I'm never far
Hear the whispers in the dark
Whispers in the dark

You feel so lonely and ragged
You lay there broken and naked
My love is just waiting
To clothe you in crimson roses

I will be the one that's gonna find you
I will be the one that's gonna guide you
My love is a burning, consuming fire

No, you'll never be alone
When darkness comes I'll light the night with stars
Hear my whispers in the dark
No, you'll never be alone
When darkness comes you know I'm never far
Hear the whispers in the dark

No, you'll never be alone
When darkness comes I'll light the night with stars
Hear the whispers in the dark
No, you'll never be alone
When darkness comes you know I'm never far
Hear the whispers in the dark
Whispers in the dark
Whispers in the dark
Whispers in the dark

I think that what their trying to say is that this woman is denying her feelings for him but he knows how she feels for him. He just wants her to know that even though she's denying her feelings he will always be their for her no matter what happens.

check them out at http://www.skillet.com/home and http://www.myspace.com/skilletmusic

Habits of Mind

The habits of mind means skills that are linked to your behavior. It's a skill that is the embodiment of your life. The way a person listens and talks can tell me a lot about them. The way they act around a group of people shows habits that they developed growing up over the years. Choosing a way to talk instead of fighting and thinking before I act are habits of mind. Knowing how to act on situation that come before me with the knowledge that I have gained. The experience in which my behavior was used in those situations stay with me to the future. My habits change over time and can better my life interactions with future events.

Managing impulsivity describes one of my habits. This habit are usually seen in problem solvers, people who think before they act . They are information gathers who hardly fail in some situations. I use this habit alot in school when answering a problem or asking questions that might sound silly or incorrect. I listen and form a plan instead of blurting out the answer. Guessing is okay to me but I like being right. I am managing impulsivity. Before I leave the home I expect to get to places on time. Some days unexpected things might happen and I can get me mad but I get threw it.

I am Garnett

I am quiet and calm
I wonder where I'll be
I hear talking around me
I see everybody around me
I want silence around me
I am quiet and calm

I pretend to be happy
I feel warmth within me
I touch people's hearts
I worry for others
I cry for others
I am quiet and calm

I understand I need to fight to get ahead
I say I'll never give up
I dream of a better life
I try to push myself everyday
I hope to be someone great one day
I am quiet and calm