Blog Assignment #7 - English Made Fun...

What happens when you take a song and sing it backwards?  This man found out by trial and error, over and over again, until it sounded right.  Merry Christmas!  Try and guess the songs!

And some others for your enjoyment:

The next video is one of Abbott and Costello's from 1945 and is called Who's on first?:



Another video called 25 divide by 5 equals 14:

Blog Assignment #6 - Wouldn't You Like to Be a Poet Too?

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

I am Sam

I am Sam
Sam I am

That Sam-I-am
That Sam-I-am!
I do not like
that Sam-I-am

Do you like
green eggs and ham?

I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.

Would you like them
Here or there?

I would not like them
here or there.
I would not like them
anywhere.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.
I do not like them,
Sam-I-am

Would you like them
in a house?
Would you like them
with a mouse?

I do not like them
in a house.
I do not like them
with a mouse.
I do not like them
here or there.
I do not like them
anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Would you eat them
in a box?
Would you eat them
with a fox?

Not in a box.
Not with a fox.
Not in a house.
Not with a mouse.
I would not eat them here or there.
I would not eat them anywhere.
I would not eat green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Would you? Could you?
in a car?
Eat them! Eat them!
Here they are.

I would not,
could not,
in a car.

You may like them.
You will see.
You may like them
in a tree?
I do not in a tree.
I would not, could not in a tree.
Not in a car! You let me be.

I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox
I do not like them in a house
I do mot like them with a mouse
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

A train! A train!
A train! A train!
Could you, would you
on a train?

Not on a train! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! Sam! Let me be!
I would not, could not, in a box.
I could not, would not, with a fox.
I will not eat them with a mouse
I will not eat them in a house.
I will not eat them here or there.
I will not eat them anywhere.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Say!
In the dark?
Here in the dark!
Would you, could you, in the dark?

I would not, could not,
in the dark.

Would you, could you,
in the rain?

I would not, could not, in the rain.
Not in the dark. Not on a train,
Not in a car, Not in a tree.
I do not like them, Sam, you see.
Not in a house. Not in a box.
Not with a mouse. Not with a fox.
I will not eat them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere!

You do not like
green eggs and ham?

I do not
like them,
Sam-I-am.

Could you, would you,
with a goat?

I would not,
could not.
with a goat!

Would you, could you,
on a boat?

I could not, would not, on a boat.
I will not, will not, with a goat.
I will not eat them in the rain.
I will not eat them on a train.
Not in the dark! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! You let me be!
I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox.
I will not eat them in a house.
I do not like them with a mouse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them ANYWHERE!

I do not like
green eggs
and ham!

I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.

You do not like them.
SO you say.
Try them! Try them!
And you may.
Try them and you may I say.

Sam!
If you will let me be,
I will try them.
You will see.

Say!
I like green eggs and ham!
I do!! I like them, Sam-I-am!
And I would eat them in a boat!
And I would eat them with a goat...
And I will eat them in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
They are so good so good you see!

So I will eat them in a box.
And I will eat them with a fox.
And I will eat them in a house.
And I will eat them with a mouse.
And I will eat them here and there.
Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!

I do so like
green eggs and ham!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Sam-I-am.

The speaker is Sam-I-Am, and he is a very persistent, sometimes annoying, but overall, optimistic character and he is speaking to the knox.

Green Eggs and Ham takes place in many different locations: Sam-I-Am and the knox travel on a boat and on a train, and are in a house and on a tree, so to pinpoint one specific place would be difficult, as the story takes place in many different areas of Dr. Seuss' land, but it takes place in a very optimistic time, when Sam-I-Am tries to persuade the knox, his friend, to eat green eggs and ham.

The central purpose of Green Eggs and Ham is to get people to try new things and be open minded.  Green Eggs and Ham tells a story about these two friends and one tries to get the other to eat green eggs and ham, but the other refuses, saying he doesn't like them.  But the story also reveals human character in the way that humans don't like to try new things if they appear different than what they are used to.

The lines, "You do not like them. / SO you say. / Try them! Try them! / And you may. / Try them and you may I say." support how the poem is revealing human character because it tells the the knox says he doesn't like green eggs and ham, but Sam-I-Am retorts that he hasn't tried them and, if he had, he may feel differently actually like them.

The central theme of the poem is to not judge a book by its cover.

Sam-I-Am is very optimistic that the knox will actually end up liking something new, in this case, the green eggs and ham, if he just gives them a try.  Sam-I-Am is so persistent in his cause to get the knox to try the food, that he actually annoys the knox, who is bitter towards Sam-I-Am because he is so persistent and  won't leave him alone, which is shown in the quote, "Not on a train! Not in a tree! / Not in a car! Sam! Let me be!".

"I do not like green eggs and ham. / I do not like them, Sam-I-am." is one very good example of diction, as, even though it doesn't use any big, complicated words, it is effective to convey the nox's unwillingness to try the green eggs and ham and it helps reveal the conflict in the story of how the knox won't try anything new.

"I do so like / green eggs and ham! / Thank you! / Thank you, / Sam-I-am." is also effective not for it's complicated word use, but for revealing the ending of the story and how the knox finally chooses to try the green eggs and ham, and even ends up liking them and admitting he will eat them anywhere and showing that Sam-I-Am's persistence paid off.

"Not on a train! Not in a tree! / Not in a car! Sam! Let me be! / I would not, could not, in a box. / I could not, would not, with a fox." if an example of effective imagery because it expertly uses rhyming to convey how the knox does not want to try something new, and these lines use words like would not and could not, which are very similar, to express the idea of  the knox being stubborn, revealing his character, and also the character of Sam-I-Am and how he is so persistent to the point of being almost annoying.

"Not in a box. / Not with a fox. / Not in a house. / Not with a mouse. / I would not eat them here or there. / I would not eat them anywhere." appeals to the sense because there is a great rhyme scheme in these lines and, again, it shows the knox's stubborn personality and his determination not to try the new food.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss is so powerful for me because it conveys a very strong message in that, if given the chance, one should try something new and be open minded, and that we should never judge a book by its cover, or judge someone before we get to know them.

Blog Assignment #5 - Stranger Than Fiction

          Everyone, everywhere has a different preference of book type.  Whether it be picture books or novels, non-fiction or fiction, history or modern, romance or fantasy, interpretive or escapist, everyone differs in what they love to read.

          For me, I can handle just about any fiction book, as long as it has a decent plot line and a moderately obvious theme.  Some prefer interpretive fiction, where the main goal of the book is to help the reader understand events and what they mean - to dig a little deeper behind the surface of the words - whereas others prefer escapist fiction, which submerges the reader in exotic situations.

          Escapist fiction - for me - is a way to escape real life.  I just flip open a good, escapist novel, and voila! it's like I'm in another universe, experiencing someone else's life.  I don't need to worry about my own problems when I can just read about a fictional character's life and problems, withdrawing from the real world around me.  Escapist fiction, for me, is interesting, and it's these novels that I don't like to put down - the ones I'm riveted to until the final page.

          But interpretive fiction, I find, is just plain boring.  Although, once I understand the deeper meaning I sometimes find these kind of books interesting, I don't read novels because I want to have to think a lot, I read novels to slip into someone else's shoes, even if just for a little while, and I don't find interpretive fiction novels do this for me.

          In school it may be a good idea to offer novels that are interpretive fiction, but I don't believe that many students would choose interpretive novels.  Mostly it would be the escapist novels that are chosen, for teenagers find their lives either too hard, too problematic, or, contradictory, just too ordinary, and they wish to live in a novel where things are either easier for the characters or more exciting.

          My opinion is that we should be studying more escapist fiction, rather than interpretive fiction, and that students get more out of these novels than interpretive novels.  Although students should be grateful to be able to go to school and get a good education, many these days in North America are not, and are instead resentful of the fact that they have to learn new things nearly every day.  Students in Canada, the United States, and other prospering countries often forget the value of a good education.  They often overlook the importance of learning and forget that in other countries, a fair amount of children and young adults don't get the opportunity to go to school.  Students in Canada often skip classes, finding them unimportant and uninteresting, so, if offering escapist fiction instead of iterpretive fiction is what helps to intrigue them into doing their work and at least coming to one class in the day - English - then why wouldn't escapist novels be offered?
          Cultural literacy - the knowledge and ability to discuss history and the basic meanings in a culture - is a very important concept, but I don't think it should be a main focus when picking out novels for a class to study in North America.  To decide what novel a class should read - perferably an escapist fiction novel - the class should be allowed to select a novel from a list of appropriate books and vote on which to read.  As Canada is a democratic country, students should learn about that and be allowed to choose what they wish to read, and - as far as I know - escapist fiction will win out over interpretive fiction nearly every time, for that is what I, and many others that I know, want to read.
          Although interpretive fiction is very good for one's brain and thinking skills, I strongly feel that more escapist fiction novels should be offered in schools to give students a chance to step into another's shoes and feel what other people feel like in different circumstances other than their own real life situations.

Blog Assignment #4 - Supernaturals

          Due to a recently popular book series called the Twilight saga, supernatural creatures, such as werewolves and vampires, have become increasingly popular.  In the series, the vampires and werewolves have fought in more than one novel.  The werewolves have killed vampires, and the vampires have injured the werewolves, or shape shifters; but in this series, these mythical creatures have not had to take on any other make-believe creatures.

          But what if they did have to?

          What if the werewolves, such as Jacob and Seth, were forced to fight against centaurs or gryffins?  Who would win?

          Would the werewolf win because of it's human intelligence combined with it's animal speed?  Or would the gryffin win because of it's eagle's extraordinary vision coupled with being a majestic lion?

          Personally, I would side with the gryffin and bet that it would win the battle.  But many others would not.

          Werewolves have been said to have super regenerative capabilities, so, even if a gryffin does attack and injure it, it will heal extremely fast - faster than humanly possible.  Werewolves can see extremely well in the dark, can hear the beating heart of its prey, and can track its prey for miles by scent alone.  So, then, why do I not have faith in the werewolf's ability to win this fight?

          Because gryffins are part lion, it makes them courageous, along with being stronger and faster than any human.  And because gryffins are also part eagle, it gives them the ability to fly, for they are born with wings, enabling them to escape the werewolf if it was attacking.

          I would cheer the gryffin on for many reasons, including those just listed, but just one stands out to me in particular.

          My main reason for believing the gryffin would win this battle is that the werewolf is primarily human, with just the ability to shape shift into a wolf.  Now, this may not seem like such an impressive argument at the moment, but let me just explain something, or, rather, ask something.  Has there ever been a human who didn't stray from the path they were on, or do something they weren't supposed to?  The answer, in my opinion, is no.

          Humans, ever since our beginning, have been a fickle and frivolous species, disobeying even the wisest of people.  Take Adam and Eve for example.  Supposedly, even as the first two humans on Earth, they violated the rules and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

          Werewolves are volatile and whimsical, taking after humans in that regard, whereas gryffins take after both lions and eagles in that they are determined and strong creatures, not straying from their path once it has been found.

          Being both human and wolf is a deadly combination, but, opposing the best of the gryffins - who are said to be both the Kings of the Beasts and the Kings of the Air - werewolves don't stand a chance.

Blog Assignment #3 - Top 3 Reasons Why I Should Not Have to Write this Blog.

Students are constantly coming up with reasons why they shouldn't do their work, why it's so ridiculous that they actually have to work hard and earn a good future for themselves.   The reasons vary from absurd to comical to impossible, but they nearly never seem even remotely plausible.

When presented with the topic for our blog, some of my classmates complained that it was a boring, pointless topic and wondered why we had to write this blog, and I couldn't agree more.  Although I have decided to use my brain - something I was born with - and come up with a list of reasons why I should not have to write this blog along with my fellow classmates.

Students from across the globe come up with excuses that are unreasonable and, let's face it, just downright preposterous sometimes, but, seeing as how I've decided to use my brain and my gift of intelligence, my reasons are much more mature and logical than many other excuses.

It is believed that Canada is based on inclusion and fairness, but then why are we having to type out this blog on the computer?  Now, that last sentence may not make a whole lot of sense right now, but just think of this: a thin, round object - about the length of your hand maybe - in, most commonly, a brown, cream, grey or yellow color, with pink on the one end and a pointed, grey tip on the other.  This little object is frequently referred to as a pencil.  Now, you've probably used one just this morning, maybe to write a note to your family, telling them what time you'll be home at, or to write a grocery list, but as I write this, my wonderful pencil sits forlornly, waiting for me to pick it up and use it.  But my assignment is to write a blog, so that I must do - on the computer.  If Canada is all about inclusion, then why must my pencil - all of our pencils - be left out in this project?  Why must they feel isolated and alone, worried they'll never be held again?  Men - and women - used pencils long before computers were ever invented, but now they are being pushed aside, shunned, as computers are being used more and more often.  And for just that reason alone, I should not have to write this blog.

But I do have to write this blog, so I must state my next two reasons on why I shouldn't have to write this blog.  As previously written, I must type out this blog on a computer, thus using electricity.  I do not believe that this is right.  The use of electricity contributes to global warming, and, as a knowledgeable society today, we should be doing everything we can in order to prevent the Earth from further warming up and further destruction.  Also, there are these little organisms which are a black color which most know as the Mountain Pine Beetle.  Now, they have overrun our forests, but they aren't a new species.  The Pine Beetles have always been around, living in our forests, but, just recently, our winter temperatures have not dropped low enough for a long enough period of time to decimate the population significantly.  But by using electricity to run our computers, we are contributing to global warming, and therefore assisting in the Beetles' survival, and not doing our part to help hinder their reproduction, all because we are contributing to global warming.  I am all for protecting our world by whatever means is possible, and if using electricity to run our computers to type out this blog about our top three reasons on anything harms the environment, then we should not have to write this blog assignment.

My last - but most important - reason as to why I should not have to write this blog is that my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather fought for his freedom and finally won it in the early eighteen-hundreds.  He was a slave, just as his father and mother were before him, but he was freed and escaped on the Underground Railroad, swearing that he would never work for anyone else again, that he wouldn't let himself be forced to do something that he didn't want to do and believe in fully.  Which is why, as his descendant, I must follow on his honorable path, and not have to do something I do not fully wish to do, such as writing this blog.

Although my classmates may not be able to empathize with me about how my Great (to six degrees) Grandfather swore never to work for anyone else ever again and I am just upholding his vow, they should be able to identify with my other two reasons about our contribution to global warming and how our poor, forgotten pencils must feel.  If worst comes to worst and I am not to be believed that the pencils are being excluded and discriminated against - even here in beautiful Canada - just because they aren't as technologically advanced as computers, then I'll just have to allow them to speak their minds - or write their parts - next time I must do a blog.  For these three reasons - and so many more that didn't make the cut list - I strongly believe that I should not have to write this blog about our top three reasons about anything.

Blog Assignment #2 - Guilty Pleasures

          Guilty pleasures for most involve such things as eating sweet foods, or watching romantic movies, or singing songs that most others don't appreciate.  Mine isn't just one of these things.  Mine is all of these things – together; at the same time.

          In the late spring, early summer, I join Broghan, my dear friend, at her house, and we begin our enthralling day of indulging ourselves.

          It starts with turning on the music; the same songs every year: a compilation of Mika's works that we know by heart.  Then we break out in dancing, even if we are injured or sick, we cannot help ourselves; the singing and dancing just has to be done.

          Once Broghan brings out the recipe book, I know she means business.  We get down to work, and soon are testing our rich, dark fudge, ensuring it will turn out okay – usually it tastes fabulous but doesn't look quite so appetizing as some would like.   As we let it cool and set, we mix up the icing – one year green, one pink, then the last it was purple – and eventually are able to spread it on our fudge-concoction.

          We turn on Ever After, our favorite romantic, Cinderella-type movie, and curl up on the couch with blankets and our pan of fudge and spoons.  We devour the sweets right down to the very last spoonful, while Danielle De Barbarac and Prince Henry fall in love.

          As the movie finishes we sing Toby Keith – very loudly and very badly – but we don't care how we sound; it's our sheepish delight.

          And so, my guilty pleasure is a combination of many things: gorging myself on sweet foods, in this case, fudge, while singing music that many others do not like, such as country, and then watching romantic movies – Ever After being a favorite pick.

Blog Assignment #1 - Lord Sauron Returns to Power: The Fellowship was Broken, The Two Towers Remained Upright, and the King Never Returned

“Get off him, you filthy maggot!” a voice booms, as I feel myself torn off my quarry.

The fat hobbit has grabbed my shoulders and is dragging me backwards, his nails digging into my flesh.  But I cling, determinedly, to the other – the one called Frodo Baggins – who I must dispose of to claim what is rightfully mine: the Ring.

“Pesky hobbitses, let go of us!” I exclaim, wrenching myself away from the fat one – Samwise Gamgee.

I scuttle back to wear Frodo lies, but he has drawn his sword and I am without a weapon.  I glance back at the fat hobbit; he is still struggling to his feet after I knocked him over in my haste to get away.  The bags on his back – laden down with cooking tools and other necessary provisions – cause the hobbit to continually lose his balance, so he is slow in standing up, thus giving me time to grab his dagger from its sheath at his waist.

“Sméagol!  Give that back to Sam right now,” Frodo says, stopping me in my tracks.  “Do as Master says, Sméagol, please.”

“Yes, Master, as you wish,” I say, a sly grin creeping over my features.

I step back to where the fat hobbit has gotten to his feet and is trying to pull out his own sword, but I’m too cunning and reach him before he has a chance to defend himself.  I plunge the fat hobbit’s own dagger into his chest, leaving it there as he staggers backwards.

“Sam!  No!” Frodo – who I once called Master – yells, his pain for his soon-to-be dead best friend evident in his cries.

“Frodo, don’t listen to Gollum – he only wants the Ring for himself; he doesn’t really want to help you destroy it and save Middle Earth; he’s just making you believe he does,” the fat hobbit whispers, gasping for his last breath.

“We don’t listen to Master anymore,” I say, grabbing Sam’s sword from his hand as he lies bleeding on the rocks, dying.

I hop over to Frodo, who’s in his ready-to-fight stance and I take my own place before him.

“Don’t do this, Sméagol,” Frodo says.  “You don’t have to fight me.”

“Of course we have to fight you,” I hiss, lunging my attack, but I don’t penetrate my mark.  Instead I scurry up onto a boulder – the better to see the hobbit with the Ring.  “But, we wants to fight yous; we must fight yous; we wants the precious!”

“You won’t destroy it, will you, Sméagol?”

I don’t answer him, though, just leap off the boulder, swinging my sword in front of me.  I finally hit Frodo in his leg as I fall to the ground.  He gasps in pain and shock, but retaliates, catching my wrist with the tip of his blade.  I keep going at him, finally managing to knock his sword away from him, but not before he stabs me in the shoulder.

He falls to his knees as I draw his death blow, then the life leaves him.  I take the chain with the One Ring from around his neck where he has kept it for the past few months on his journey to Mount Doom to destroy it.

My Precious has been returned!

Lord Sauron is growing stronger.  He has been since the day the Ring abandoned me.  Again.  The first time being so long ago, that Bilbo Baggins – uncle to Frodo Baggins – found it deep within the Misty Mountains and stole it from us!  The second being not a year ago, after I killed the wretched fat hobbit and my once-Master, Frodo himself.

My Precious has abandoned us!

Everyday Middle-Earth gets a little darker.  I believe the Ring is near to its master, the great Lord Sauron.  I have no regret for my decision to kill those pesky hobbitses, but I do feel contrite for letting my Precious slip away from me.

Some days ago I passed by Fangorn Forest, but it is not as vast, nor as frightening as it once was.  The trees, and the Ents, have all been chopped down or burned.  Now I am fleeing through the Mines of Moria, trying to escape the orcs which run unchecked through the lands, killing all: the men, the women, the elves, the dwarves, and even the hobbitses – which, at some point in my past, I was just like.

The Shire grows near; this was where the fat hobbit and Frodo once lived.  Now no hobbitses survive – the orcs have killed them all, on order of the Lord Sauron who is back in power.

The sky is dark with smoke and ash: Middle-Earth is burning.  Lord Sauron’s army grows stronger day by day, trampling all those who resist him.  No men can stop Sauron now, for he has the One Ring in his possession.  They don’t even try anymore.  Men are weak, just like the hobbitses I had to eliminate to regain the Ring.

Master didn’t want this.  Frodo wanted to annihilate the One Ring to save Middle-Earth.  But my Precious made me kill him, destroying Middle-Earth’s chance to regain peace.  Soon I’ll be gone, too.  Sauron is a great force – unable to be stopped since I killed our hope – turning the world Dark in his wake.