Another class post! I promise I'll start back up with the book reviews!!!!
This is about the battle between books and e-books. In my opinion, I like both types the same. Normal books you can read as many times as you want, and the local library has many to borrow whenever you want and enjoy. E-books, however, are different. You have to pay to buy them (and sometimes rent them), and the digital reader you need for them could be in use, charging, or just plain broken! It is my opinion that e-books will eventually win out in the future, unfortunately. Print books can be translated into digital to be used on e-readers, and the companies can make money off of them as people start to buy them. Also, to actually read these e-books you need the e-reader provided by the company. If you have an Amazon Kindle, for example, and you want to buy an e-book that is only offered for the Barnes and Noble Nook, then you're out of luck. But if you want a print book and the library doesn't have it, you can request it from another library. There will gradually be more and more books offered for e-readers, and the use of print books will decline. However, I'll still be using print books, you can count on that!
--SwimmerGirl
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Bullying
Another class post!
This is about bullying. All forms of this act are cruel and unneeded. They only make a person feel worse about him or herself and make the bullier feel better about themselves. During my education, I have heard many presentations, lectures, and scenarios about bullying, and to tell the truth, I'm tired of it. I know what to do when someone is being bullied. I know not to be a bystander, and help the person in need. But nobody really listens to what people have to say anymore. No kid wants to hear about this every few months. I think it's a good program, personally, but maybe it should only be used once every year. That way, there would be time to create a new program if necessary. Although these talks can be boring, they are helpful. If saving one kid's life means I have to be bored for two hours every school year, then fine. Because these programs do save lives, whether it be in your town or not. Every time somebody is saved from hurting themselves or others, it makes the world a better place to live in. And if the world is a better place, we can all live in peace. So next time you have a long bullying presentation, just think of how many lives it could possibly save. Think of some kids you know who could use help. And act to help children in need of comfort, aid, and friends.
--SwimmerGirl
This is about bullying. All forms of this act are cruel and unneeded. They only make a person feel worse about him or herself and make the bullier feel better about themselves. During my education, I have heard many presentations, lectures, and scenarios about bullying, and to tell the truth, I'm tired of it. I know what to do when someone is being bullied. I know not to be a bystander, and help the person in need. But nobody really listens to what people have to say anymore. No kid wants to hear about this every few months. I think it's a good program, personally, but maybe it should only be used once every year. That way, there would be time to create a new program if necessary. Although these talks can be boring, they are helpful. If saving one kid's life means I have to be bored for two hours every school year, then fine. Because these programs do save lives, whether it be in your town or not. Every time somebody is saved from hurting themselves or others, it makes the world a better place to live in. And if the world is a better place, we can all live in peace. So next time you have a long bullying presentation, just think of how many lives it could possibly save. Think of some kids you know who could use help. And act to help children in need of comfort, aid, and friends.
--SwimmerGirl
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Pictures
Another class post...
This one is about pictures. You would think your pictures from Facebook, Myspace, or your blog/website are private to you, right? Wrong. Some companies can actually take pictures from people's accounts and use them without permission. Say, for example, you have a Facebook. Let's say you have three albums full of various pictures of your family, your friends, and where you go on vacation. Now let's pretend you committed a crime (I know none of you would actually do that, but this is hypothetical). Facebook can submit photos from your albums to the police if the police need them. There's always a danger of your images being used, so you shouldn't post anything online that you don't want people to see!
--SwimmerGirl
This one is about pictures. You would think your pictures from Facebook, Myspace, or your blog/website are private to you, right? Wrong. Some companies can actually take pictures from people's accounts and use them without permission. Say, for example, you have a Facebook. Let's say you have three albums full of various pictures of your family, your friends, and where you go on vacation. Now let's pretend you committed a crime (I know none of you would actually do that, but this is hypothetical). Facebook can submit photos from your albums to the police if the police need them. There's always a danger of your images being used, so you shouldn't post anything online that you don't want people to see!
--SwimmerGirl
Monday, February 7, 2011
Doodling
A class post once more!
This time, it's about doodling, courtesy of this article.
Although doodling may seem like a distracted person's pastime, it really isn't. Doodling helps the mind focus and retain information better. It allows our mind's eye to "see" what we are thinking about better. For example, if you are trying to design a new product, it helps if you doodle what you are thinking. Surprisingly, doodling also helps us focus. It lets our mind work while keeping the hands busy. Doodling is also an effective way of planning new ideas. So if your teacher catches you doodling in class, you have a reason!
--SwimmerGirl
This time, it's about doodling, courtesy of this article.
Although doodling may seem like a distracted person's pastime, it really isn't. Doodling helps the mind focus and retain information better. It allows our mind's eye to "see" what we are thinking about better. For example, if you are trying to design a new product, it helps if you doodle what you are thinking. Surprisingly, doodling also helps us focus. It lets our mind work while keeping the hands busy. Doodling is also an effective way of planning new ideas. So if your teacher catches you doodling in class, you have a reason!
--SwimmerGirl
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Snow Days
Another class post, my readers.
I don't know about any of you, but my area has had quite a few snow days so far this year. We are now into late June to make up all the time we missed. Personally, I am neutral about snow days. I like them because it gives me extra time to get my homework done, study for a quiz/test, or just relax. I do not like snow days because that means shoveling. Lots and lots of shoveling. (And when the snow piles are taller than you, it's a bit difficult to shovel!) I think that schools have to make them up because it subtracts teaching time for them, and learning time for us. So we make them up in June because it's the end of the year, and we take a bit of summertime for stuff we didn't get to in the wintertime.
I don't know about any of you, but my area has had quite a few snow days so far this year. We are now into late June to make up all the time we missed. Personally, I am neutral about snow days. I like them because it gives me extra time to get my homework done, study for a quiz/test, or just relax. I do not like snow days because that means shoveling. Lots and lots of shoveling. (And when the snow piles are taller than you, it's a bit difficult to shovel!) I think that schools have to make them up because it subtracts teaching time for them, and learning time for us. So we make them up in June because it's the end of the year, and we take a bit of summertime for stuff we didn't get to in the wintertime.
Monday, January 31, 2011
The Kneebone Boy
I recently read a book called the Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter. In my opinion it was a fantastic book. The writing was extremely well done, and her descriptions made the book come to life. There weren't really any slow points in the book, and it held my interest very well. I am hoping for a sequel, and I would recommend this to anyone who likes adventure books. The book is told in the third person, by one of the Hardscrabble children, but we are never told whom (although I have a guess). Whomever it is, however, talks to the reader as if they were speaking to them in real life. It keeps the reader entertained and wondering what the speaker will say/do next.
The Kneebone Boy begins by introducing us to the Hardscrabble children: Otto, who doesn't talk, Lucia, who likes to argue and make points, and Max, a very intelligent boy. They live with their father and are seen as strange to the rest of their town, Little Tunks. When their father sends them to live with their aunt for a bit, they are amazed to discover that she isn't at home. With nowhere to stay, the Hardscrabbles go on a journey to find their father, meet their mother, and unravel the mysteries of their family.
The Kneebone Boy begins by introducing us to the Hardscrabble children: Otto, who doesn't talk, Lucia, who likes to argue and make points, and Max, a very intelligent boy. They live with their father and are seen as strange to the rest of their town, Little Tunks. When their father sends them to live with their aunt for a bit, they are amazed to discover that she isn't at home. With nowhere to stay, the Hardscrabbles go on a journey to find their father, meet their mother, and unravel the mysteries of their family.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Censorship
Class post!
As some of you may know, in the People's Republic of China, they have internet censorship. For those of you who may not, censorship means blocking certain things from someone or many people. This is what the People's Republic of China (PRC) has on their internet access. Some websites like Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, Wikipedia, and WikiLeaks are censored in the PRC. These sites are blocked mainly because there is politically sensitive content on them. This means that there is information or there are pictures that go against the PRC's government or say bad things about the government. Other sites with content relating to the incident at Tiananmen Square, Taiwan's independence, pornography, and anything about democracy or the BBC. Also, if anything bad is posted about the government (or any other content that is not approved of) on an uncensored site, it will be erased within minutes. This censorship is applied in every city and town except for Hong Kong and Macau. Hopefully one day these sites will become unblocked, but for now they are still censored.
As some of you may know, in the People's Republic of China, they have internet censorship. For those of you who may not, censorship means blocking certain things from someone or many people. This is what the People's Republic of China (PRC) has on their internet access. Some websites like Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, Wikipedia, and WikiLeaks are censored in the PRC. These sites are blocked mainly because there is politically sensitive content on them. This means that there is information or there are pictures that go against the PRC's government or say bad things about the government. Other sites with content relating to the incident at Tiananmen Square, Taiwan's independence, pornography, and anything about democracy or the BBC. Also, if anything bad is posted about the government (or any other content that is not approved of) on an uncensored site, it will be erased within minutes. This censorship is applied in every city and town except for Hong Kong and Macau. Hopefully one day these sites will become unblocked, but for now they are still censored.
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