Living Like Weasels

For class I read Living Like Weasels by Annie Dillard

This reading was full of rich words and excellent description, The way the author words everything painted a mental picture for me, and although at times I didn't fully understand what they were saying it was a great piece of descriptive reading. The main point the author had was to pick that one necessity in life and to grasp and hold on to it as tightly as possible like the way a weasel does when its getting a meal.

Phantom limb pain

For class I read Phantom Limb Pain by Kris Saknussemm page 165-166

I didn't play much sports while I was growing up so I'm not sure I know what it feels like to be that determined to be the best athlete. This kid knew what he wanted more than anything else and he was determined enough to work towards it every day. However when Miller got in the crash he somehow felt like it was his fault, He seems to look up to Miller in a way. And then in the last paragraph when Miller complimented him on how he plays that was like the ultimate moment to him. Finally a conclusion to his nightmares and the fact that he felt it was his fault. 

No Cats in America?

For class I read No Cats in America by Patrick Jose page 167-168

This is an interesting story comparing how an immigrant might feel about moving to America and how hard it actually is. Like the author I saw that movie as a boy, but to me it was just entertaining and didn't mean anything seeing as how I already lived in America. I now understand it represented the American dream at the time, to move to America and start a new life and a better future. However it isn't all that easy over here either, years ago there wasn't as much ethnic diversity as there is now making it hard for people that immigrated here to fit in with a culture that doesn't understand their own. But ultimately in the end a life here in America would mean a way better future then whatever country they came from.    

Masks

For class I read Masks, Page 169-171

I think this story shows two important sides of growing up in public school. Two different social classes, people that are popular and don't let their true self show and people that try to work as hard as they can to make it through school and get a good job. I liked the Authors use of a very descriptive portrayal of how the popular girl looked and acted. Everybody wants to be popular in some way, the girl in the story took it to the next level though by fabricating a lie about her entire personality throughout her years in school. However like the author wrote in the story she was nothing more than someone with a mask on, take it away and there wouldn't be anybody left. Where as the unpopular girl was the one with real power because she is independent.   

30 Little turtles

For class I read 30 Little Turtles by Thomas L. Friedman

I feel that what they are doing is a good thing. Giving young Indians jobs in a world where there's not enough jobs for everyone. When I have a problem and need to call technical support at home I often find myself talking to someone on the other end that's not American. Sometimes they can be difficult to understand but that's why they are teaching the Indians in this passage to speak proper English. All-in-all I think its a very good thing what their doing, bringing jobs to poorer poverty stricken nations of the world.     

Clash on the Congo: two eyewitness accounts

for class I read clash on the Congo two eyewitness accounts. page 105

I found it interesting to hear the story on two different sides of the totem pole so to speak. The first side accounted by Henry Morton Stanley, the second by Mojimba. The "white people"were traveling up the river when they see a "flotilla" of giant canoes, this frightens them so the fire upon the native peoples ending in a blood bath. Told on the other side of the story the native people wanted to welcome the "white people" as they had never seen them before. However when the "white people" fire upon them they think they are hostile and fight back till the end. Both sides were peaceful until they misunderstood  their intentions, all of this could have been prevented with a little communication. I found this to be an interesting story because it shows how important proper communication is today.