There was a time when I would have gotten emotionally, mentally, and physically sick from watching a chainsaw go through a human being.  But, damn, I haven't seen a chainsaw used like that in years.

It was okay, but I got bored... And, was that like field at West L.A. College, the liquor store on the corner of Braddock and Overland, and the second floor of the Fox Hills mall?

I've always been afraid of getting period blood on my leg.

Summer Reading Assignment 2007

"The more that you read, the more you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."—Dr. Seuss

Since research shows that those who read more, know more and read and write better, Westchester High School encourages students with its annual summer reading assignment. All students must select one book from the list below for their incoming grade and class and then complete one of the attached assignments; those in an Honors class must select any two books for their grade and complete one assignment for one book and the other assignment for the other book, and those in an Advanced Placement class must select both books and contact their teacher at www.westchesterhs.org for their assignments. Books may be borrowed or purchased; assignments must be typed and are due on the first day of school, September 5, 2007, in English class—work that is late or plagiarized or without a name will receive a Fail. All students should expect a quiz or test on this assignment. For examples of student work or more information, visit http://www.westchesterhs.org.

English 9 / Honors English 9
o Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
o Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
o The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
o Monster by Walter Dean Myers

English 10 / Honors English 10
Magnet students must contact Mr. Mernin at www.westchesterhs.org
o Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose
o A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass
o Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies by Laura Esquivel
o Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

American Literature and Composition
o Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
o The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
o Sula by Toni Morrison
o Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
Contact Mr. Mernin or Mr. Rojas at www.westchesterhs.org
o The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin
o On Writing by Stephen King

Expository Composition / Modern Literature
o Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
o Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
o Always Running: La vida loca, Gang Days in LA by Luis J. Rodriguez
o Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser

Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition
Contact Ms. Bernstein or Mr. Sacks at www.westchesterhs.org
o Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
o One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey


Assignment 1: Readers/Writers Notebook

A Readers/Writers Notebook is a personalized journal of a student's own comments, opinions, or questions about a work that helps him or her to remember, think about, and understand the text. Entries are frequent—every chapter or section—and at least one 5-7 sentence long paragraph with meaningful and relevant notes. The assignment is neatly typed and double-spaced in 12 point Times New Roman font in black ink with 1 inch margins on clean printer paper; no coversheet or folder is required. The assignment is due on the first day of school, September 5, 2007, in English class.—work without a name or that is late or plagiarized will receive a Fail. For examples of student work or more information, visit http://www.westchesterhs.org.


Assignment 2: Literary Notebook

A literary notebook is a study guide that summarizes and analyzes a work's various elements and helps review that work in preparation for any assignments, quizzes, or tests. Each element consists of at least one 5-7 sentence long paragraph with a detailed and thorough explanation of that element. The assignment is neatly typed and double-spaced in 12 point Times New Roman font in black ink with 1 inch margins on clean printer paper; no coversheet or folder is required. The assignment is due on the first day of school, September 5, 2007, in English class.—work without a name or that is late or plagiarized will receive a Fail. For examples of student work or more information, visit http://www.westchesterhs.org.

1. Title: What is the title of the book? How and why do you think it received its title?

2. Author: Who is the author? Describe his/her persona. What was his/her purpose or reason for writing this book? Who do you think is his/ her audience?

3. Summary: What is the book about? Briefly summarize the content or main plot and identify its exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

4. Setting: When and where does the book take place? Describe the setting in terms of the time period, and emotional, mental, and/or physical environment.

5. Motif/Symbol/Theme: What is an important motif, symbol, or theme in this book? Explain its significance with relevant concrete details or examples from the book.

6. Protagonist: Who is the main character? Describe his/her emotional, mental, and/or physical persona. What is his/her conflict or relationship to the antagonist? Explain with relevant concrete details or examples from the book.

7. Antagonist: Who is the individual in opposition to the main character? Describe his/her emotional, mental, and/or physical persona. What is his/her conflict or relationship to the protagonist? Explain with relevant concrete details or examples from the book.

8. Other: Select another character. Describe his/her emotional, mental, and/or physical persona. What is his/her function or place? Explain with relevant concrete details or examples from the book.

9. Style: What is your opinion of the author's writing style? Analyze his/her words, sentences, and other details. Explain with relevant concrete details or examples from the book.

10. Quote: Select a brief passage that means something to you, and then comment on or discuss its importance. What does it say? What does it mean? Why does it matter? 

When I was in Europe, Americans told me that you never see Europeans in America struggling with English as much as you see Americans in Europe struggling with French, German, Italian, etc...

They're wrong.

I was in REI tonight, and there was a kind of old man who cut in front of me in line.  I wanted to say something, but I was just like whatever.  Well, his wife and daughter join him and they go to the register, give the cashier their purchases, and just waited quietly for the total.  They didn't understand what a REI membership card was, and they finally admitted to being ITALIANOS!  I was like OMG, they are totally feeling what I was feeling when I was there, standing in line like a clueless fool.  I wanted to talk to them in my broken Italian, console them, and tell them it was alright because I know what it's like to hand a foreigner my money.

So, yeah.  I bought Boogie for the Wii... awesome.

Its worth the extra bucks, but make sure you sit near the back so that it doesnt look too blurry.

Im home...

Less than 48 hours until I get on that plane to go home after a whole month here in Europe!

But, until then...

I have to go to the British Museum to see the dead Egyptians, Tottencourt something street from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the London Dungeon, London Bridge, and Othello at the Globe... And, buy several souvenirs for peeps like this stuff called Heinz Spotted Dick Pudding... I dunno; dont ask.

London has been fun in the rain and all with all the "drama" that the media is putting out about Evan Almighty style flooding.

So, I went to the British Museum and spent an hour or two looking at all the stuff that the British Empire plundered from around the world and refuse to return to their rightful owners--like they have a signficant portion of the Parthenon in Athens and a grand collection of mummies from Egypt, but it belongs to GB.

Then, I got a snap of that Tottencourt sign... cause it was from the last Harry Potter book... and then I went to some Chinese buffet place that was pretty British, but was worth it to a certain extent I suppose... then I was kinda tired to walk, so I sat on a bench watching street performers including a 99 cent store version of Jack Sparrow--didnt even have a hat or jacket-- And, then I went to the London Dungeon which was fucking dumb, stupid, waste of time... saw Othello at the Globe which was awesome and now Im wasting my Internet time before I have to go home tomorrow afternoon.

The End...

Geez... there's a heatwave in Southern Europe?

So, I went to Stratford upon Avon today, and it was and still is flooded. The Avon River spilled over onto the banks, streets, or whatever you call them, and the train services were messed up all up and down that route... which was kind of cool. So, we had to get on and off the train and onto buses and stuff.

So, I went to Shakespeare's house, saw where he was supposedly born, and then went to his church where he is buried with an inscription basically cursing anybody who moves his bones elsewhere... There were lots of kids and teens there, so I guess thats where all those school groups that I saw in Italy went to... yeah, there werent very much in Paris or in London... There's like a Mercedes Benz Stratford Upon Avon... and a Blockbuster, a Staples, a Burger King, and a Subway... And some British git said it was said to see her Britain become so Americanized.

I went to a chinese buffet today and ate like an American for the first time in like 3 1/2 weeks... kinda feels good and bad, but at least I'm not hungry anymore. It cost $22 USD though.

Tomorrow, I get to go to the Star Wars Exhibit and see Avenue Q So its all good.

DEAD

Hedwig, Harry's Owl
Mad Eye Moody, Former Auror, Former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and current Member of
the Order of the Phoenix
... Scrimgeour, Minister of Magic
Peter "Wormtail" Pettigrew, Death Eater and Betrayer of James and Lily Potter
Dobby, Former Malfoy House Elf and current Free Elf
... Crabbe, Slytherin and Friend of Draco Malfoy
Fred Weasley, Gryffindor and brother of Ron Weasley
Severus Snape, Head Master of Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft
Remus Lupin, Member of the Order of the Phoenix
... Tonks, Member of the Order of the Phoenix
Nagini, Lord Voldemort's snake
Bellatrix Lestrange, Death Eater and Cousin to Sirius Black
Voldemort, Dark Lord

Took me about 12 hours to finish it (excluding distractions and interruptions)...