English Blog: Project of Interest

Today I listened to a presentation about whether or not patients should be able to cut off their life support by choice or by their families choice. Another name for this is assisted suicide. This project interested me because I had never heard of this issue before. Also because it was interesting to see that patients actually have a choice whether to live or not. I thought about my position on this and I decided that I agree with it. I think that patients who are suffering or are not happy with a medical condition to the point where death is an option, that they should have a choice whether or not they would like to continue living with it. I decided on this after the speaker talked about how family members often trying to hang on to the patient even though that patient is suffering. The family also cant feel the pain that the patient does. For this reason I think the patient should have the choice to cut their life support and the patients family shouldn't be aloud to interfere.

The only thing more dangerous than staying... Is leaving.

Domestic violence is a terrible part of our country, it is estimated that 1 in 4 women experiences domestic violence in their life. Domestic violence is very dangerous, but sometimes women can't just walk away. During my research of domestic violence I learned about the dangersnof women leaving an abusive relationship with their partner having knowledge. It is actually more dangerous when a women tries to leave. According to a story on domesticviolencenomore.com women leaving a violent relationship is fatal. A direct quote from the story is as follows,

 "So I went into the bathroom and packed a bag to go and stay at my girlfriend's house.  Ahhh, THAT is when it started.  He threw me across the bathroom and I hit my head on the sink and fell between the toilet and the sink to the floor.  I remember staring at my legs and arms.  They were not comfortable in the contorted position in which they landed.  But I was in shock mostly that he so effortlessly pushed my chest and I literally flew across the bathroom."

For my paper I will write about whether it is better and try to fix the relationship or leave without notice. Some pros and cons to leaving are if you do get away and aren't later found you are safe from your partener. If you are caught however this could lead to a rapid increase in abuse making it less safe. To stay with a partner the pro is preventing the increase in abuse, a con is your living with your abuser who may hurt you anyway.

Violent Love.

During my research of domestic violence I was utterly shocked as I read the stories of young girls abusive relationships, Scarcely I've also already come across the stories of some young men. Each relationship follows a cycle, there is not one story I've read that was an exception. I read about this cycle first on Domesticviolence.org    It describes the beginning forms of abuse to the process of forgiving, and why those victims forgive. Often because the partner promises never to do it again and buys them gifts.

The Pros of my topic are definitely scarce as domestic violence isn't a pro. Although the pros to researching this topic include a lot of information, real stories written by the victims, and awareness to those in need. While researching my topic i was able to come across a wide variety of research. my favorite source is the Domestic violence.org with its link posted above. This is because it has such detail and allows you to understand what goes on in both the mind of the victim and the abuser. Another pro about my research is that many people who have been through this abuse in one period of their lives have posted stories on sites like this one Abuse Stories. This is a good source of information because it shows how exactly these people were feeling, how they were put into this position, and why they felt they couldn't leave their abuser. Another great thing about researching domestic violence is it allows you to become aware of signs of an abuser or if someone is in an abusive relationship. By doing this you can not only prevent begging a relationship with an abusive person but also knowing how to get out if you ever find yourself in one. It may also help you spot a friend in trouble.

The cons of my research is definitely fewer. When reading the stories of abuse it really makes you wish you could reach out to these people. It really dampens your mood. Other than this I'm very happy with my topic because its both interesting and I feel its something I'd like to share with my class to help teach those at a young age how to get out of an abusive relationship early in life so they will have those skills. Also so they know its okay to ask someone for help.

PLN #3 Revised Revision October 5th, 2010

The book I am reading is called Bittersweet Sixteen by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman. The main character in this book is Laura. She goes to Tate, an all girls private school in uptown New York City. Laura however doesn't live around the school, she's adverage, not like these uptown girls. Ironically she is best friends with the most popular girl in school, Whitney. When a new girl moves to town, Sophie, Laura feels left out.

I feel sorry for Laura because she can't have what she wants when she wants it like most of the girls at Tate. Especially this year, with all the sweet 16's going on Laura feels more left out than ever.First off Laura's house isn't top notch, she lives in downtown New York, while all her friends live uptown, where it's normal to see eight or nine zeros following a one in their bank account.

"Unlike my house, where you just have to call up-because our intercom doesn't work we buzz anyone in (probably knife-wielding serial killers)- getting into Whitney's Park Avenue pad is like trying to penetrate the Pentagon."

I feel like I can relate to Laura in the sense that alot of my friends have more money then me. My parents are divorced so we typically bring in about half of a normal family's income. This makes me feel left out when I can't do something because it's too expensive. I feel like this quote shows how Laura compares herself to her friends, she seems to pick out the things she doesn't have rather than the things she does. I feel like Laura describes this when she says " unlike my house." and also when she describes Whitney's to be as hard to get into as a goveent office. Laura also has this happen when Sophie and Whitney go shopping.

"Laura," said Sophie, turning my way before hitting the dressing room herself. "Aren't you gonna try anything on? I'm feeling those lacey chemists are so you!" "Oh, no, I'm all set," I said, somewhat self-consciously."

These girls are whipping out their credit cards while Laura watches. Is this quote it shows that Laura feels somewhat "self conscious" about her unability to be purchasing new clothes. This shows how Laura isn't comfortable with her status compared to the girls at Tate and I think it's very important because Laura seems to feel this throughout the novel. Laura also has an amazing talent for designing and sewing her own clothes, this makes me feel happy for Laura because she doesn't have to feel like she doesn't dress well.

"Really, Laura, remind me to call Calvin Klien. He's a dear friend of my mom's. I totally want to link you two up. You could design for him one day," said Sophie." "Laura's going to be a major designer," added Whitney."

this quote shows what an amazing designer Laura is. For Sophie to want to introduce her to Calvin Klien one of Americas well known fashion designers Laura must be pretty good. This quote also shows what supportive friends she has to be giving her the confidence to follow her dreams. All in all I'm proud of Laura for being able to go to Tate and be happy even though the girls there aren't like her. I highly enjoyed this book and would reccomend it to anyone.

The End (:

PLN #3 revised October 2nd, 2010

The book I am reading is called Bittersweet Sixteen by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman. The main character in this book is Laura. She goes to Tate, an all girls private school in uptown New York City. Laura however doesn't live around the school, she's adverage, not like these uptown girls. Ironically she is best friends with the most popular girl in school, Whitney. When a new girl moves to town, Sophie, Laura feels left out.

I feel sorry for Laura because she can't have what she wants when she wants it like most of the girls at Tate. Especially this year, with all the sweet 16's going on Laura feels more left out than ever.First off Laura's house isn't top notch, she lives in downtown New York, while all her friends live uptown, where it's normal to see eight or nine zeros following a one in their bank account.

"Unlike my house, where you just have to call up-because our intercom doesn't work we buzz anyone in (probably knife-wielding serial killers)- getting into Whitney's Park Avenue pad is like trying to penetrate the Pentagon."

I feel like I can relate to Laura in the sense that alot of my friends have more money then me. My parents are divorced so we typically bring in about half of a normal family's income. This makes me feel left out when I can't do something because it's too expensive. Laura also has this happen when Sophie and Whitney go shopping.

"Laura," said Sophie, turning my way before hitting the dressing room herself. "Aren't you gonna try anything on? I'm feeling those lacey chemists are so you!" "Oh, no, I'm all set," I said, somewhat self-consciously."

These girls are whipping out their credit clothes while Laura watches. Laura also has an amazing talent for designing and sewing her own cards, this makes me feel happy for Laura because she doesn't have to feel like she doesn't dress well.

"Really, Laura, remind me to call Calvin Klien. He's a dear friend of my mom's. I totally want to link you two up. You could design for him one day," said Sophie." "Laura's going to be a major designer," added Whitney."

The End

Pln #3 September 29th 2010

The book I am reading is called Bittersweet Sixteen by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman. The main character in this book is Laura. She goes to Tate, an all girls private school in uptown New York City. Laura however doesn't live around the school, she's adverage, not like these uptown girls. Ironically she is best friends with the most popular girl in school, Whitney. When a new girl moves to town, Sophie, Laura feels left out.

I feel sorry for Laura because she can't have what she wants when she wants it like most of the girls at Tate. Especially this year, with all the sweet 16's going on Laura feels more left out than ever. I feel like I can relate to Laura in the sense that alot of my friends have more money then me. My parents are divorced so we typically bring in about half of a normal family's income. This makes me feel left out when I can't do something because it's too expensive. Laura also has this happen when Sophie and Whitney go shopping. These girls are whipping out their credit clothes while Laura watches. Laura also has an amazing talent for designing and sewing het own clothes, this makes me feel happy for Laura because she doesn't have to feel like she doesn't dress well.

The End

September 12, 2010

Why do good people do bad things?

Everyone in the world does bad things and no one really knows why. In my book Breathless by Jessica Warman there are two main characters so far. There is a girl named Katie and her brother Will. Will has some anger problems and later on depression and is often sent away because he won't take his medicine. Katie will do anything for her brother and well her brother does quite a few bad things. In my book Katie smokes ciggarettes and marijuana. The simple reason Katie does these things is because she wants to please her older brother, who in this point in the book has tried to commit suicide. That night Katie smokes, not to please her brother but to feel close to him. Why do good people do bad things? To try and please another person. They don't think it's a bad thing because there eyes are sheilded by that person.