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This book is brought to us by Steven D Salinger. It is a classic action novel filled with fire fights, hand to hand combat ,and treks through hostile jungles. The story takes place in the jungles of vietnam and on the streets of Washington DC. In chinese restaurants to corporate buildings there are fire fights and rogue Vietnamese agents.

A young John Carpenter was captured in the vietnamese war and was presumed dead for twenty four years. Finally his salvation comes after saving the life of one of his own. This salvation turns into an armed conflict between the US and the vietnamese government. The hopes of John being reunited with his mother are high but very unrealistic.

What kept john carpenter going through most of the book was the thought of seeing home and his mother again. with the drive and determination to stay alive he survived in the jungles of Vietnam and the urban jungles of New York City. With an assassination on his back and the police at his heels John is forced to stay in hiding. No where to turn, No one to trust he survives only by his will to survive and his skills to kill.

I would recommend this book to more of my friends that are guys than those of the girls. The constant gun fire and and fist fights makes this novel very exciting. This book keeps the readers interest all the way through.
This novel was well written with small chapters and four sections to the story plot. Readers with a low level of skill could read this book due to the simple sentence structure.

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It has been said that when a person is in love, they would give everything for the other, including themselves and everything to make their other happy. The title, Hanazakari No Kimitachi E, means “For you in full blossom;” so to say one person giving everything they could for another, due to love. Mizuki Ashiya is infatuated with Sano Izumi; which is defined as someone thinking they are in love when it is indeed just a like for another. Of course, the infatuation you have for a person can be transformed into what we call love; although only after having the opportunity to get to know and connect with them.

When Mizuki made the decision to cut off her hair, change her appearance, and move to Japan, she had no idea that her relationship with famous High Jump Athlete, Sano Izumi, would turn into anything more than friendship, even though she hoped it would. The reason for that being: Mizuki looking like a boy, and attending an all boys school; where no one could find out she was really a girl. Throughout the series, Sano becomes protective of Mizuki because of her secret that she is a girl; not to mention falling in love with her. Mizuki also falls in love with Sano, but the catch is that neither can tell each other for fear of Mizuki having to leave if her true identity becomes known. This is referred to as a secret love; when two individuals love each other, but the fact isn’t known by others, and sometimes even themselves.

The term “love” can be referred to many different feelings, but most of them are merely just feelings that have been confused with love. Hisaya Nakajo writes such an intricate storyline, that it leaves you with almost no doubt that what Sano and Mizuki are feeling is what some people refer to as true love. True love has been described as being your soul’s recognition of it’s counterpoint in another being; your soul being an eternal part of you, although separate from your body in existence. The soul has been deemed essential to consciousness, personality, mind, spirit, and self. The fact that your soul is connected to every aspect of your life also includes it in being the one to recognize who, when, and how you will “fall” in love.

When people say that you “fall” in love, it is merely a metaphorical term to describe the feeling. Really how it happens is that you grow into love, after you try to have a connection with that person, and learn about them. Throughout all the time that Mizuki and Sano spend together from being roommates, a special relation thrives between them that none other could share. By getting to know each other, they are able to connect on an entirely different level than they would have been able to if they had just “hung out” from time to time. Although Sano and Mizuki love and care for each other, Sano’s best friend Nakatsu Shuichi grows to love Mizuki as well; posing a problem and a tedious love triangle for all three.

If you like books filled with love, humor, and difficult life decisions, than I highly recommend Hana Kimi. It has a storyline filled with sweet sensitivity, as well as chances to make the wrong or right choice. Although it is meant to be more of a love story than a life changing tale, I feel as though it has changed me. Other than just changing my fandom and genre types I enjoy, Hana Kimi has also converted the way I feel about others. Sano and Mizuki’s twisted tale of hidden love is by far one of the most charming relationships I have come across in books, and it deserves to be known by far more than those who are already aware of it.

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A Collection of accomplishments. I would have to say this book teaches you some life lessons about never giving up. Reading about Lances climb to becoming one of the elitists in the sport of cycling is very motivational his determination and drive will influence the way you look at life. Starting from his child hood, which he lived in poverty with his young mother to his Tour De France championship. This No hold back raw version of the life of an athlete is a breath of fresh air showing the struggles and realities of making it and being a professional athlete.

Lance was an underclass athlete he struggled with finances through out his youth. Lance started as a triathlete he knew he was going to be great athlete. It seemed lance already knew who he was but he wanted to show the world who he was. The failure is not option attitude help him drive through working his way to the top of professional cycling. The majority saw Lance as a cocky hick. As read this book I connected Lances drive being unique standing out separating himself from the average person this beats in my heart all the hours I put into exercise and eating healthy standing for what is important to me maybe this is why I sometimes never connected with the male youth in my community I don’t care about jacked up trucks I don’t play hockey, I don’t quad or go sledding. Lance knew this part of his being he didn’t want to play football even though that’s what most his friends played. Lance and I both found our own paths that were way off the main route.

Who are you? We all will ask ourselves this question throughout our life many unsure people may develop depression trying to find out who they are. I know who I am I’m the guy who will drive hard for what he wants you tell me I can’t do it you can stick it cause I know I can I am into fitness I value family I value work ethic I value knowledge this is who I am this is my Identity. Lance Armstrong is a man who knows who he is and what he is going to do. If you’re a couch potato and don’t really like to work hard then this isn’t the book for you.

Our self is determined what we value and how we show our values. You value nice vehicles you probably have one and if you don’t you’re saving to get one and if not what the hell are you doing start saving. Values shape so many aspects of our life. Our values are constantly challenged as I sit here I could listen to Mr.Sader teach about Basketball tournaments and how wild cards work instead I turned up the volume on my iPod and kept writing because I value getting my school work done and if I get it done it makes room for other important values that I want to reinforce in my life. Lance valued athletics and work ethic his most common quote” PAIN IS TEMPORARY. QUITTING LASTS FOREVER” expresses this clearly.

So how do we know what we value and which values shape our self? Look at the decisions you make do you choose going to see friends over family the apple or the Twinkie all these decisions shape aspects of you’re self. If Lance never chose to ride his bike instead of playing video games we wouldn’t have an American winning the tour defrance. Decisions big and small make impacts on us even the smallest decisions may result in big things. When I was at the bar early September of this year celebrating my friends 18th I ran into a old friend who I didn’t really want to talk to but he came over and said hi and I made conversation he told me I should train for the strong man in elk point well this made me ecstatic I have always wanted to compete but never knew where by me merely making conversation I found the possibility to do something I have always wanted to. Every decision makes a difference.

Are you just a human? Am I more than a human? I am more than human I am being I have self a new made clone is a human but has no self. Lance Armstrong and many other great beings such as Hitler, Gandi, Stallin and the other thousands of people who have done great things are more then human we are people with self and identity.

To conclude my post would like to show you two films that prove to you that we are more than human. These films I found were very touching.

Pain Lance Armstrongs struggle

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Family is the most important gift that God has blessed humanity with. When I had received news that my uncle Kieth had drowned in Muriel Lake it felt as if my whole world had been shattered. Almost as if my whole world was falling down around me. This is why I try to always make the most out of every moment, cause you never know when it might be your last. This news has impacted my life greatly. Now I do not take for grantite all the little things, such as the time that I spend with family, but instead I try to cheerish every moment of it. I try to make the most of every moment that I spend with family and friends.

It was four years ago when my uncle Keith had drowned in Muriel Lake. What had happened was one day Keith had decided to pull a couple of the nephews and neices tubing behind the boat. It was this time that by the most unlikely of chances my uncle Keith had choosen not to wear a life jacket. Then ,”it happened,” my uncle Keith had had a heart attack and in the meanwhile had fallen over board and drowned. If Keith would have been wearing a life jacket I truely believe that he would probably still be here today, but instead he had choose not too. When making important life decisions you have to think about your friends, and family because your decisions do not just only affect you, but they also affect your loved ones around you.

I still remember going up to the lake to help them search for my uncle Keith and how ist seemed like all of Vermilion had made the trip to try and helpout. This is what 9/11 must have been like. With all the firefighters and paramedics flying in from all over the world to go down to downtown NY and help with the search and rescue. Why is it that it takes such a dark event to occur for people to truely come together? I still remember that even after we had found him, I couldn’t believe that he was never coming back. It just felt so unreal, almost like a bad dream.

In the book that I am currently reading called ‘United We Stand.’ In the book it shows Will and his father John Fuller barely getting out of the south world trade center building before it collapses. The next day when John and his son Will are talking about the events that had just occured the day before John believes that America will emerge from this catastrophic event, even stronger. How can he be so optimistic in such a dyer time? Over 3000 people were dead, 7000 people injured, and many people were still unaccounted for. I believe that it is only human nature to respond back in such a demeanor.

I believe that a person never fully gets over losing a loved one, but instead that person finds way to cope with living each day without them. I remember when I had first heard the news about how they couldn’t find my uncle Keith after the accident in Muriel Lake. I Kept on saying to myself that maybe had made it to shore and that maybe he was alright. I was in a state of denial. In the book that I am reading called United We Stand, James` father was a firefighter who went into one of the buildings to put out the fires from the plane crashing into it. When the building collapsed Will knew that there was no possible way that James father had made it out of the building before it had collapsed, but James kept lying to himself. Telling himself that his father could still be alive. So James went down to ground zero to help search for his father. I believe that sometimes it is better to start the grieving process and come to bring yourself to reality.

Family will always be one of the most important aspects of my life. I feel very fortunate to have grown up in such a great community and to have such strong ties with my family. My family is always there when I need to talk to someone and when I am having a rough day. I know that if I have to get someting off of my back that they will always be there to listen to my problems. Through the support of the community and through the help of family they helped to ease the pain and to help me to move on with my life.

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Family and Friends are an internal part of our lives and we need to treat the values, beliefs, and conditions that happen within these members with respect. Family members play a huge role in our lives because they help guide us through our lives. They teach us right from wrong when we are little kids, and when we get older they help us make the decisions we’ll need to use when we are older and out of the house. In the first line of the first poem Blake says his mother died when he was very young. It would be difficult to lose a family member especially when your that young and just starting to grow up. To lose a mother at that age must have really affected how the boy derived his decisions. The boy didn’t have much of a father either. The young boy was pretty much living on his own and to do this at a young age would be difficult. Always feeling alone, nobody to pick you up when you fall, what a harsh way to live. Treating family members with respect and being their to help them in times is a great way to have a good quality of life.

In the first poem, The Chimney Sweeper Song of Innocence, he says “my father sold me while yet my tongue”. I could not imagine being sold by my father right after my mother had died. Talk about a harsh life. Where was the fathers loyalty to his son and why did he not want to play an important role in the child’s life. The last thing that boy needed was for his father to sell him and not show that he cares for him. Even though the boy is stuck sweeping out chimney’s, and he hasn’t had much luck with his family being there to support him he is still very strong minded. The boys mother might have taught him to be strong and this shows when you have a family member  giving support, you are a stronger person. William Blake shows that no matter how hard someones life is they need to be positive and look for support if its from family or friends. With support of family and friends you become a stronger person and the decisions made are more wisely. Romantics need to admire Blake’s writing because it shows how having a positive mind set and believing that you will achieve in life can bring a good quality of life.

In the second poem a black boy is lying in the snow all alone while his parents are at church praying. The poem is describing how a young black boy is all alone weeping. Even though the boy is still happy his family isn’t there to help him while he is weeping. “And because I am happy and dance and sing, They think they have done me no injury”. The boy has been hurt inside but his parents don’t notice because they aren’t there to support him. This shows that if your family isn’t there to be your role model they don’t always know how you feel. They might be optimistic and guess how your feeling but really they have no idea.

The two poems together are both illustrating that each boy doesn’t have the support and values of a family. They are both missing a key concept in life which is having a family. Especially at a young age these boys need to have family and friends playing a key role in their lives. When they fall someone should be there to pick them up, if a wrong decision is made family support needs to be there for them to learn off the mistakes. Family helps guide individuals in society and without it, your alone and don’t have really close people to you. The two poems express the different values of white and black. The color white so fulfilling, hopeful and full of happiness while black is the color of shame, hopelessness, and disparity. Black or white, it shows that both chimney sweepers kept a positive mind.

Both the poems illustrate how important it is to have a family helping and supporting your. Nobody wants to be alone when they are a young boy, we want to be comforted and cared for and have a loving family we can come home to. William Blake is showing romantics how these boys families have mistreated them and disowned them. He’s telling us how having no family around to help make decisions can really affect someones life. Everyone needs to have family, and friends to be their role model and to have the support from these people.

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Throughout history how human beings treat others has been a difficult problem. I have always been taught to treat others how I would like others to treat me and that all human beings are equal. Realities on earth including slavery, war and chimney sweeping are all human conditions that are not treating others with kindness, respect and equality. Chimney Sweepers are individuals who clean chimneys for a living. The conditions are horrific and workers are exposed to dangerous working conditions and diseases. This is not a problem that is as well known as war and slavery but needs to be stopped. To what extent do certain individuals need to be placed in unsafe working conditions and treated horribly before the world puts inequality to an end? Chimney sweeping needs to be put to an end and all human beings need to be treated equally.

The realities and reactions of child chimney sweeping are strongly expressed in the poems “ The Chimney Sweeper” by William Blake. William Blake wrote two poems titled “The Chimney Sweeper”, one published as songs of innocence and the other as songs of experience. The first poem classified in songs of innocence would be strongly supported by a romanticist. A romanticist values feelings, intuition, and individualism. Personally I agree that feelings, and intuition are more important then reason and logic. I try and make my choices based on how I feel on the inside over the logic of others. Honestly, I understand my perspective on life and ideas will change over time and maturity but currently my perspective is feelings, intuition and individualism are more important then reason and logic. In this first version of “The Chimney Sweeper”, a child chimney sweeper dreams that an angel releases all the chimney sweepers. The angel tells Tom that if Tom listens to demands asked of him on earth, afterlife will be wonderful. The boy chooses to be happy with his horrific reality as a chimney sweeper because of the realization of a happiness beyond his human form. Tom has decided to be happy and obey orders for the chance of happiness and love from God, his father, in his afterlife. I read this poem numerous times before I began to understand the meaning of the poem, and I reacted strongly to the message. A romanticist would support the ideas behind this version of the “ The Chimney Sweeper”. Tom did not choose happiness, obedience and love for God because of the way he was treated as a chimney sweeper. Tom is looking past the reality and facts and looking into his beliefs, intuitions, and feelings. Tom feels that his current life is not the end and after death freedom and happiness take precedence. Tom is living a horrible life with no parents, horrific living and work conditions but has chosen to be happy proving his romanticist way of thoughts. Honestly to others this does not make sense but to a romanticist Tom’s choices are admirable. Others are treating Tom and the other chimney sweepers unequally and logically happiness is difficult in this situation. Looking at feelings and intuition can lead to happiness when logic and facts may not.

Though the titles and author of the poems “The Chimney Sweeper” are the same the message and interpretations of each poem are completely different.   A romanticist would agree strongly with the songs of innocence chimney sweeper but not with the songs a experience. The songs of experience poem would be supported by a neoclassical. A neoclassical beliefs are opposite of a romanticist. While a romanticist values feelings a neoclassical values logic, reason and facts. In the second poem a child was living a happy childhood with his parents until one day his parents sold him to be a chimney sweeper. The child felt as though he was being punished for his happiness. The child’s parents after having sold the child were at church praying. The child was angry with God for sitting back watching all these children go through misery and pain as chimney sweepers. This child is not looking into his feelings and intuition but only at facts and reason. This child is looking at the fact that he is going through this misery and is angry at life and God. A neoclassical would support this poem because the boy is not looking deeper into his heart and feelings but only at his physical reality and the reason behind that reality.  I agree that if I was personally in this situation my first reaction would be that I was being punished for my happiness and that God is sitting back watching my misery. There is more to life then facts and times occur that facts overrule feelings but overall only looking at facts will lead to unhappiness. This child chimney sweeper is right in the fact that his working conditions are unfair and need to be stopped but this reality does not make God evil.

If I am completely honest, I can say that  I did not know nor look into the working conditions and realities of chimney sweeping. Both poems emphasize on the realities of child chimney sweeping.  The reactions and how each child deals with reality differentiate but both poems show that these children are being treated unfairly. William Blake wrote his poems based on different perspectives of thinking involving the same situation. A romanticist views life not on the reason but of the beauty in life. Every aspect of life is not logically explained but  beauty and feelings are involved. A neoclassical views life like a mathematician. Every aspect of life is based on logic and rules. A situation occurs because pieces match together like a math problem. Reason is behind each aspect of life. If I was to view life like a neoclassical I would never enjoy life to life’s fullest potential. Judging experiences based on rules and reason causes a distraction from natural beauty.  The views of a romanticist and a neoclassical are completely opposite but neither is correct. The main message of each poem is to portray the fact that child chimney sweeping is a horrific reality needing to be stopped. Views differ depending on philosophical beliefs in each poem but in neither poem is chimney sweeping portrayed as positive.

All human beings are considered equal and the reality of chimney sweeping should be banned and put to an end. I cannot express fully how appalling the reality and lifestyles are for chimney sweepers. Not one individual can learn about the lifestyle of chimney sweeping and argue the positive affects of the job. Views and reactions will differentiate but the fact that these workers are being treated unfairly is clear. The poems ” The Chimney Sweeper” by William Blake shows that reactions change depending on the workers view of life. In the songs of innocence the child had a romanticist view of life whereas in the songs of experience the views were classical. Decisions based on pure reason or based on inner feeling will change how I will react to a situation but the poems by William Blake are showing the appalling lifestyles of the child chimney sweepers. All individuals need to be treated with respect, love and equality therefore chimney sweeping should no longer exist.

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I’m not a fan of worksheets. I do love planning sheets to keep me organized. This is a great website only because it lists almost any kind of planning sheet, inventory tests, and career planning resource.

http://www.khake.com/page95.html

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Being afraid of the dark is a fear that I often associate with kids under the age 7. When I babysit my cousins or any other kids they can be so brave. They will hang upside down on the monkey-bars, ride a bike with no hands, but the minute the lights turn off all that bravery they had built up that day melts away. This fear can be easily cured by plugging in a nightlight, checking for monsters under the bed, or leaving the bedroom door open. At least one, if not all, of these solutions have been successful in aiding a child to get over being afraid of the dark.

So why, as teenagers, are we still afraid of the dark? One of the main reasons why the dark scares me is because my vision isn’t as accurate and objects mold together which can easily be misconstruded. That sends me running in the opposite direction. Anything can be lurking around that next corner or hiding amongst the group of trees. The dark reveals very little leaving so much so the imagination. Thinking about this the next time you walk in the dark or are home alone at night I can guarantee will quicken your step and make your heart race.

As we get older and out of the monsters-under-the-bed stage in our lives, we become more aware of the situations in the real world such as hearing stories about assults, murders and kid-napping. Many of which usually happen at night. Watching cases like these or hearing about them solidifies the fact that it can happen to anyone. Thus, making us more susceptable to continuing or developing a fear of the dark.

When I stay at home by myself I get scared very easily. I can’t even watch CSI by myself because I think there is a serial killer hiding somewhere in my house or in my yard. Vulnerability washes over me and instead of feeling like the sixteen year old I am, I feel ten years younger.

Granted I overreact making myself terrified for no reason but to ever get over this fear that grips most of me, I should take a deep breath to calm the nerves because there is probably nothing to worry about anyway! I try not to let it get to me so much that it gets in the way of living life to the fullest.

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I am currently reading Christopher Panolini’s Brisingr the third book in the Inheritance cycle.  I enjoy reading the style in which Mr. Panolini writes. His writing takes you into the world of Alagaesia. I find his writing very impressive for starting  at fifteen. Christopher Paolini makes you think about one’s human condition and search of self and the effect of family and friends have on one’s life decisions.

People have a huge role in each other’s lives throughout one’s life. Before finding the dragon’s egg Eragon was a simple peasant boy who lived with his father and older brother. Eragon knew who he was and where is life was taking him, but that all changed during a hunt.  Eragon changed from that simple boy happy with his family, to the young lone dragonrider.  People in our society can find themselves feeling like this lone dragonrider, feeling like they are completely alone to battle through everyday situations.

Eragon and his dragon Saphira are best friends that keep each other’s best interests in mind. The two have set goals and they work together to achieve them.   I have related their relationship with the relationship that children and parents share. Parents are more like Saphira, being knowledgable and keeping watch over the one’s they are in care of.  Although, the parents help the children stay on track towards their greatest achievement they must not push the young one’s to hard without them revolting. The children and parents must come to a conclusion to work together for an outcome both parties are happy with.

Eragon had a huge problem finding who he was because of the changes that came into his life. Life is even more difficult without family and friends to help guide you to your best. Saphira was the main help to find the real Eragon. Trying to find the real you is difficult in our society because of the media. The search of self is influenced by everyday activities. Changing a location can be a life altering experience also. Eragon had no home he and Saphira lived on the run and off the land. Moving is character building because a person must learn to fit in but still keep true to one’s self.

A person should surround themselves with people who will help them find the real, true them and help push them to better themselves.  A strong family support group is an important aspect in someone’s  life, to strive for the best they can do. Friends are a different type of support group they understand the stress a person can go through at a set age in our society. Friends and family help shape each person to who they are.

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The the first book of the Gideon Trology, The Time Travelers (prevously titled Gideon the Cutpurse), Peter is with his dad at his house in London and and they are about to go out on Peters belated birthday trip and his father, Mr. Shock, has to cancel because he has to go into work for an important meeting. Peter has to go with his housemaid to a friend of hers house and Peter gets mad at his father and yells at his father because it wasn’t the first time his father had canceled his birthday treat. These, Peter does not know, are the last word Mr. Shock will hear from his son in a long time, “I HATE YOU.”

Peter now, after a long trip, arrives at the Dyer house with the 7 children, Dr. and Mrs. Dyer. It is nearly lunch when they arrive and Peter and the oldest of the Dyer children, Kate, are allowed to go to Dr. Dyers lab to fix a anti-gravity machine. After the machine was fixed they decided to try it out Dr. Dyer turned it on and Peter and Kate put their hands on the machine. Their hair started to rise and and Dr. Dyer turned up the machine and then their hair was straight up and they began to feel frizzy. That’s when Molly started to bark and ran out of the room frightened. The Three of them ran after her, but Peter and Kate started to see swirls and are taken back in time.

After being knocked out they wake up to find a man with a crooked neck and a white scar on the side of his face taking of with the anti-gravity machine. How do they get the machine back? Find out when you read this book. If your looking for a book to read this is a good one “for people who love Harry Potter.” Over all this book was really great.

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