When i am playing a sport such as basketball and I see that the score is 78 to 10 with 2 minute left in the 4th quarter I think to myself about what Vince Lombardi once told his team. Vince Lombardi said to his football team “Winning isn’t everything, its the only thing.” In a game with a 68 point difference and only 2 minutes left in the game this quote motivates me to try harder. I think to myself, we might not be able to get 68 points but I bet if we push ourselves for two more minutes we could get 20 maybe even more. Even if we only get 20 more points its a better score then we had 20 points ago. Even though we might loose and Vince Lombardi might not be too impressed at least we didn’t give up and we try our hardest. To me there is no point in giving up when winning seems unlikely.

In English we have been learning about Julius Caesar. As we sat in class discussing the book and movie I realized that Julius’ whole life was a big competition and I think that Julius would agree with this quote. Julius was willing to do anything to win. His whole life he tried to win over everyone in the community. He wanted to be a god. His wife would wake up in the middle of the night having nightmares about how Caesar was going to die. She warned him not to go out because she knew he was going to die. But that didn’t stop Julius even though he knew that winning over his community seemed very unlikely he continued on and tried to win. In the end Julius should have stayed home with his wife because he did end up getting killed.

I think that I can tell who would continue on when winning seeems unlikely through the characteristics they contain. Someone who is shy might not continue for as long as someone who is aggressive. An aggressive person would keep going and do anything to try and catch up to the winner and take them down. A shy person would be to shy to stand there ground and take the lead. I also think that someone who acts like they are better then everyone else would continue because they wouldn’t accept the fact that they were loosing. They would make a fool of themselves trying to win and then when they loose they would be ashamed of themselves.

I could tell Julius was the type of person who wasn’t willing to give up and loose by the way he acted. Julius was an epicurean, he was the type of guy who didn’t want to get his hopes up because then he would just be unsatisfied later on. Although Julius did try to be someone, he tried to be a god to everyone in his community. Julius should have known better then to get his hopes up because in the end he would just be ashamed. Julius looked at his friends, family, and the knowledge he had for pleasure. Julius was willing to stand up for his friends and family. Which is why in the end he let himself get killed as he tryed to satisfy everyone else.

When winning seems unlikely don’t give up. If I know my team is going to loose I think that I would forget about the score of the game and pretend it was a practice game and have fun. I would rather remember the worst game as the funnest game. I wouldn’t want to give up and be ashamed of how bad we played I would rather be proud of how much fun we had even though we lost. Having fun is just as important as winning.

Scene 1:   A cup of gravaclean sitting on a table.

Narrator: Gravaclean… it may look like gravel, but its way more then that. Gravaclean works like magic! It’s perfect for those people who need a better or easier way to clean up their dirty house. Just listen to some of our satisfied customers.

Scene 2:   A lady cleaning her microwave using gravaclean.

Lady: I used to hate cleaning but now that I have discovered gravaclean, cleaning is so much easier. Gravacleans rough, abrasive action really scrubs away my stained surfaces.

Scene 3:   A famous surfer sitting in his living room shining his surf board with gravaclean.

Van Malone: I am Van Malone, I have got gold in the last 4 world series surfing tournaments and I plan on bringing home gold this year too! I love to have my surfboard really shiny. I used to use the wax but now that I have bought gravaclean I use it to shine my board up.

Scene 4:   A pregnant lady sending her daughter to clean up the sink with gravaclean because she is too pregnant too clean it herself.

Pregnant lady: My name is Emily I am due next week and I have a 5-year-old daughter. I haven’t been able to clean my house much lately because it tires me out. The other day my husband brought home some gravaclean. He told me that it is an easier way to clean up my house but I didn’t believe him, until I tried it. Gravaclean is so easy to use even my 5-year-old daughter could use it, it’s simple, and really works!

Scene 5:    All three customers holding up there cup of gravaclean.

Narrator: After hearing our satisfied customers you can get the understanding that gravaclean is perfect for everyone. Go to your nearest Co-op store and pick up some gravaclean for yourself, at a special cost of $25.00!

From the many alcohol commercials I have viewed on the television and internet I have noticed a trend. A trend that I don’t necessarily think is appropriate. The trend includes being gender bias towards girls. Sure there is some alcohol advertisements that our funny, but the majority is gender bias. A few advertisements that I noticed are ratial is a Bud light commercial, Heineken commercial, and Molson Canadian Commercial.

To me, this bud light commercial is being gender bias. During the commercial it shows a guy and a girl walking into the guys appartment. When they enter the appartment the guy asks the girl if she would like a bud light. The girl says sure and spots a pole, she walks to the pole and does a little spin on it and the guy tells her that its not what she thinks its for and before she responds a guy slides down it and says did I hear some one open a bud light. I find this being gender bias because right away it shows a girl walking to a pole and begining to dance on it. I don’t think that all girls would walk to the pole and dance on it. This is one example of how I find alcohol ads gender bias.

A Heineken commercial that I have recently watched shows lady showing her girlfriends around her new house and a man showing his guyfriends around his new house. As the girls are looking around the house they walk into there friends new walk in closet and scream because it is so big. As the girls are screaming they hear that they are being out screamed by there husbands because they are looking at the new cooler that is filled with Heineken beer. I found this commmercial to be gender bias towards both the girls and the boys. Its gender bias towards the girls because it is stating that all girls love walk in closets more then beer, but I know many girls that would rather walk into a huge cooler filled with beer rather then a huge walk in closet. As well as the boys I know that some guys don’t like beer and they would be affended if they seen this commercial.

I also watched a Moslon Canadian commercial. I found this one gender bias towards girls because during the commercial it shows a variety of girls talking with guys that are drinking Molson Canadian beer. The way the girls are talkking to the guys is kinda in a flirty voice. To me, the commercial is showing that when girls are around guys who drink Moslon Canadian they are easy to get. But not many girls will get with drunk guys. Therefore, I believe this commercial is gender bias.

From the three commercials I have watched and the many other ones as well, I have come to the conclusion that the majority of the alcohol advertisements are gender bias. This is a problem because it isn’t being fair to those people who may get offended because of the way the directors are presenting both men and women in these ads. They should just stick to appropriate advertisements for alcohol.

The television is a device that people of both genders can watch. But the shows that our watched are made for different genders to watch. Pokemon for example is known to be a “boys show” and it would be weird for girls to watch it and most importantly like it. My Little Pony is known to be a “girls show” and if boys were to watch it they would be judged. With all the new TV shows coming out there have been a more variety of “girls shows” and “boys shows” being created.  Not only are shows being based on different genders, commercials for toys are as well. I have been watching a phew different commercials and looking at a phew different toys and I have noticed a phew specific examples of toys that reinforce the different roles genders play.

A toy that I noticed that shows how girls should be is barbie cali girl dolls. This barbie doll is known for getting first place in surfing contests and getting tanned with her friends in little bikini swim suits. If I was still a little girl and owned this barbie doll I would want to be just like the barbie. I would want to get first place in surfing contests and get tanned in little bikini swim suits just like barbie. But a little girl doesn’t need to be exposing her body to the sun and going surfing. Little girls should just be worried about playing in the sand in the one peice bathing suits. Not only is this barbie teaching girls to where tiny bikinis and get tans it is also stating that its a girls toy and boys will not be cool if they play with it. When I was little I liked to play with barbie but I also like to play boy activities. Barbies should be for both girls and boys.

A toy that I noticed that shows how boys should be is rocky the robot truck. Rocky the robot truck is a dump truck that can clean up big messes. The little boy thought it was so cool because it could pick up and dump dirt and rocks and it could talk to him. To me this dump truck inticated that it is only okay for boys to play in the dirt and get there hands dirty. I think that there are some boys who wouldn’t want to get dirty and they would rather race a car not be a construction worker with there toys.

Rocky the robot truck and barbie cali dolls have huge differences. I noticed thay cali dolls and other barbie dolls are girls that have thin bodys, tanned skin, make up, beautiful hair, etc. To me that shows that all girls should be pretty thin prepy girls and they should only worry about looking pretty. Rocky the robot dump truck and other toy trucks are used for cleaning up dirty messes. This shows that boys should be the ones that get there hands dirty and work outside. But there are some girls out there that would rather play with trucks then barbies and some boys that would rather play with barbies then trucks. So I think that the commercials for these toys should show both girls and boys playing with the toys so girls don’t have to be embarrased to play with boys toys and boys don’t have to be embarrased to play with girls toys.

This shows that our world has been involving a lot more stereotyping in it. Boys and girls should be able to be who they want to be. If boys want to play with girls toys then let them. It would be better for them to be who they want to be not who media is forcing them to be. The same goes for girls, if they want to play in the mud then let them. Its a free world and kids deserve to have a say too. If you disagree with me or would like to add something to my statement then in the forum we have been discussing the same subject. Just add a reply and join the discussion.

After reading the article Body Rituals of the Snaid-Anac, I found 2 sentences that resembled on of the following: Cultural Superiority, Cultural Relativism, Ethnocentrism, and stereotyping. The two that I am going to talk about are stereotyping and cultural relativism.

Stereotyping is when we take something and box it in; think that everyone does it. The sentence that I have chosen that resembles this is “Every household has one or more shrines for this purpose.” I believe that this statement represents stereotyping because it indicates that every household contains one or more shrine, not just some or most. As it says in the definition of stereotyping they are saying that everyone does it when they don’t know for sure that absolutely everyone does.

Cultural relativism is the belief that no culture is better then others; don’t judge. The sentence that I think represents cultural relativism is “While this is not unusual, the ceremony and philosophy concerning the body are entirely unique ti the culture.” This sentence represents cultural relativism because it is explaing how even though we may think it is unusual it is not. It clearly states that it is unique to the culture, not judging but giving the culture the benefit of the doubt saying it is a part of there cultures uniqueness.

Title: Perfect

Author: Sara Shepard

STJ School Forum : Book Talk : Fiction Book Discussion : Perfect by Sara Shepard
STJ School Forum

Perfect by Sara Shepard in Book Talk : Fiction Book Discussion, jtimpano, 2009-11-30
Spencer hands the essay in and the teacher tells her that it is an amazing essay and he has handed it in to the Golden Orchirds. The Golden Orchirds is a competition for the best writers. If you win the Golden Orchirds your most likely going to become famous for writing. Spencer was freaking out because if she got into the finals and Mellisa read the essay she would know who actually wrote it. She just went with it, and her whole family was so proud of her and they were actually paying attention to her again. She ended up making the finals and she was getting a photo shoot done and everything. Everyone was so happy for her, even Mellisa.

Perfect by Sara Shepard in Book Talk : Fiction Book Discussion, jtimpano, 2009-11-30
Hannah and Mona have been going through some troubles in their friendship. Hannah was getting interviewed by a police officer with her old friends when Mona called. She took the call even though she was getting interviewed. Mona was reminding her about there frienniversary. But Hannah told her that she can't talk now and Mona was like who is that talking in the background, that's your old friends isn't it and she hung up because she was mad. Mona always gets jealous when Hannah is with her old friends. Hannah finishes the interview and goes to their frienniversary and sees Mona sitting at a table with a group of girls that Hannah and Mona always make fun of.

Perfect by Sara Shepard in Book Talk : Fiction Book Discussion, jtimpano, 2009-11-30
After Spencer got caught with Wren, Mellisa and Wren broke up and Spencers family wouldn't talk to her. Spencer really liked Wren so they kept doing stuff but secretly. Spencer was always going to Wren's house and she was falling behind in school. She was on the phone to Wren explaining how she couldn't come over because she had so much homework to do. Wren said okay and she hung up. As she hung up her phone read new text message. She read the message and it said why struggle on this essay when you have a complete one in the same house. Indicating that she should just copy Mellisa's. She ended up copying Mellisa's essay.

Perfect by Sara Shepard in Book Talk : Fiction Book Discussion, jtimpano, 2009-11-30
Because Aria has known about her dads other relationship for a long time and has not mentioned it to her family members her mom gets really upset. Aria and her mom end up having a fight and she decides to move into Seans house for awhile. At Seans house she stays in the spare bedroom. The spare bedroom is so clean and perfect the whole house is. It kinda makes Aria feel uncomfortable. When Aria tries to sleep all she can think of is how she heard that there was a stalker in town. When she is going to sleep she keeps thinking that she can see someone.

Perfect by Sara Shepard in Book Talk : Fiction Book Discussion, jtimpano, 2009-11-30
At Emilys Tree Tops Program meeting she goes to lunch with Becka, an ex gay who attended the Tree Tops Program. At there meeting Becka Emily if she has any questions about the program an she ends up asking Becka personal questions about when she was gay. She asks if she had a girlfriend and what the program did to her relationship with her ex. Becka told her that she was dating a girl when she went into the program and now that she is no longer gay her and her ex still talk and hang out but not in a relationship. Becka said that tonight they were going to hang out and she asked Emily if she would like to join the and Emily said she would.

Perfect by Sara Shepard in Book Talk : Fiction Book Discussion, jtimpano, 2009-11-27
If I had a chance to ask the author some questions. I would ask her how she got the idea to write a storry based on this. I would ask her if she had any personal information that she based this book on, like something that took place in the book. Then I would tell her that this book was amazing and I never wanted to put it down. It reallly bothers me that I don't know who killed Ali. I really want to know which is why I keep on reading. I keep trying to guess who the killer is but the book is too good to give it away. Which is why I have to keep on reading.

Perfect by Sara Shepard in Book Talk : Fiction Book Discussion, jtimpano, 2009-11-27
One thing about this book that really bothered me was Emily and her relationships. When I read that Emily thought she was lesbian I got really frustrated because I don't think its right for people to be gay. There is two different sexes for a reason. If I could change one thing in this book, I would change the fact that Emily likes kissing girls. Although if Emily didn't kiss girls her life wouldn;t be as drama filled as the rest of her friends. Even though I don't agree with the way Emily feels towards girls I still really enjoy this book and I reccomend it to anyone who likes interesting books.

Perfect by Sara Shepard in Book Talk : Fiction Book Discussion, jtimpano, 2009-11-27
If I had to put myself in one of these charachters shoes I would have troubles choosing. I wouldn't want to be put in Emily's shoes because girls kissing girls is just wrong. I live in a divorced family so I know how hard it is to have your parents not get a long so I wouldn't want to be in Hannah or Aria's shoes. Because Ali is dead I would definately not want to be her. So that leaves me with Spencer. I guess I would put myself in Spencer's shoes because I have always wanted an older sister but after reading about how Spencer and her older sister react with each other I think that living her life would be very drama filled and there wouldn't be many times when I was bored. I think it would be very interesting to live in Spencer's life.

Perfect by Sara Shepard in Book Talk : Fiction Book Discussion, shryciuk, 2009-11-06
wow thats sounds so interesting!!!

Perfect by Sara Shepard in Book Talk : Fiction Book Discussion, jtimpano, 2009-11-06
After reading half of the book, I have realized that I live a pretty boring life. I mean sure I have lots of events taking part in my life but not as many events as Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hannah. I mean these girls are four teenagers, that live a regular drama filled life but on top of that they had there best friend murdered, they get threatening messages from a stranger almost every day. I’d say thats very eventful. I am lucky to have four best friends, that care about me and are always there in the most important times in my life. We have lots of fun together and live the lives of normal teenage girls but we don’t get threatening messages daily. I think I am very lucky to live the life I live and not have to worry about some creepy stranger always watching me.

My friends recommended for me to read the book series Pretty Little Liars. I have finished the first one which is titled Pretty Little Liars and I am now reading the second one called Flawless. As I was reading these books I noticed that they relate back to our grade 10 focus questions. The focus questions that the book has reminded my about is “When is it important to keep silent?” So far these books have been explaining different answers to this question.

The book series is about 5 girls that are best friends. These five girls share secrets, hang out all the time, and live a drama filled friendship like all best friends do. But little do the girls know they have a whole lot of drama ahead of them after one of the five girls goes missing. Their friendships slowly fade away and they talk less and less to each other. It turns out that Alison, the friend that went missing, knows certain secrets about each girl that they haven’t exactly shared with the whole group of friends. In the third year of Alison’s disappearance the each girl begins to receive threatening text messages, emails, and IMs about the secrets they have shared with Alison. Coincidentally they are signed by A.

Of course the girls just think that Alison is back and is trying to scare them so they don’t tell anyone about the messages, not even each other. But a few weeks later the new family in Alison’s old house decides to dig up the back yard. As the construction workers dig they find a body. Alison’s body to be more specific, so the girls then realize that they are receiving messages from a dead person or someone knows all there secrets. In a situation like this the girls need to decide whether or not to keep silent. At Alison’s funeral they end up telling each other about the messages. But they don’t tell each other what the messages have said because they don’t want their secrets to get out.

If I were one of the girls then I would tell someone about the messages I have been receiving. I might not fill them in on what the messages have said but I would let someone know that I have been receiving threatening messages form someone who goes by A. I think that it would be a good idea to tell someone about the messages because it could help answer two main questions. One, who Alison’s killer could be and two, who wants to hurt me. People could all react differently in a situation like this. Some people could react exactly how the girls reacted. By keeping silent and let A haunt them. Or people could tell someone like I would. Some people may even change their name, phone number, email address, and get a whole new life. There are many different ways to react.

However, if A sent a message clearly stating that she or he was going to seriously hurt me or kill me then the smart idea would be to tell the police even if your secret may get out. Letting my secret get out would be better to deal with then dying. There are times when it is okay to keep silent but there are also times when it isn’t. My opinion of when it wouldn’t be a good idea to keep silent would be in a time when someone is threatening me. The girls in this book series should tell the police about the messages they have been receiving. I have not yet finished reading these books. I am very close to the end of the second. These books are very interesting and I wold recommend them to all my friends. I don’t like to read and I find it very boring but when I am reading these books I don’t want to stop. I think that boys could read this book as well as girls. It is very good.

Bullying takes place too often in our society. Nothing good comes from bullying, in fact bullying can ruin a persons life. Every kid knows what bullying is and most kids have experienced it. Bullying is so big in our society today that all schools get presentations given to the students explaining bullying and how to handle a situation that involves bullying. Most bullies have troubled lives and expereince violence within there house. It is very important for kids to understand bullying. Kids should be told that bullying can lead to extreme problems like murders and suicides.

If kids knew that bullying can lead to serious injuries or death then maybe they would want to do something to stop it. Some kids just think bullying is talking rudely to a person and it wont lead to anything worse. But it can lead to so much more. If kids don’t understand that some people have comitted suicide because they believed everything that bullies have said to them. It is very important for kids to realize that bullies usually bully people because they are unhappy with there own life.

If we were to tell kids about bullying then I think we might be able to lower the amount of bullies. Some kids are bystainding and watching there friends get bullied but are to frightened to stand up to the bully and to scared to tell a teacher. If we were to explain to the kids that that is just as bad as bullying then maybe they would go to an adult and let them know who the bully is and help the innocent little victim. It isnt fair for kids to get bullied and we really need to do something about it.

If you were to see your friend being bullied the right thing to do would be to stop the bullying or tell an adult that could help. But some kids just watch there friend get bullied and do nothing to stop it because they are afraid that they are going to get bullied next. But technically if you just watch then you are by standing and kinda helping the bully out by keeping it a secret.We wouldnt want to get injured badly which is why we need to stand up and speak out so others don’t get hurt. Lets put an end to bullying.

From the different features I have thought of, I believe that looks or physical features is the most important. I chose looks as the most important feature because people my age are very prejudice about the way a person looks. For example, today all the kids want to wear brand name clothes like hollister, abercrombie & fitch, roxy, billabong, etc. The kids that aren’t wearing those clothes are thought of as uncool. Another part of looks that makes it important is your weight. Todays teens have many different weight categories, there are some people that are overweight, some that are underweight, and some that are a regular weight. Lots of people are very self conscious about there weight. There isnt many teens that are happy with the way they look. Lots of teens think that they arent pretty enought to hang out with certain people. If looks weren’t a matter our society today would get a long really well.