Outside Reading #22

It's seemed when the move Twilight was coming out, every girl I talked to had read it and had loved it. I was the only girl I knew who hadn't read it, but I didn't really understand how a book about a deathly pale vampire who could kill you easily would sound appealing. I decided I would go watch the movie and see if I liked the plot before taking the time to read a 500 page book. The movie was okay, but there were some parts a bit too predictable. I still didn't have any desire to pick the book up, but I had to admit, I felt left out. So, I borrowed my neighbor's book and packed it with me to the lake for Christmas. I started the book Christmas afternoon and just finished it today during my 5 hour car trip back home. I thought the book was...alright. I finally understand why every girl  loves Edward Cullen, but I don't get why there were so many great reviews about the book. I didn't think Stephenie Meyer is that good of a writer. Her language seem very simple, and I don't think she did good in the category of "voice". I have not decided if I want to continue reading the rest of the books in the series. I could be reading something more intriguing, but I am interested in reading more about Edward and seeing how him and Bella turn out.

Outside Reading #21

After reading the playbook of All My Son's we watched the movie to get a fuller understanding. I felt that I already understood the play before watching the movie, but the movie helped providing tone to the plot. The movie gave more emotion to the characters that my imagination was not able to do. The movie also helped me better understand what was going though Joe's mind. I didn't get much conflict he was going though before I saw the video. 

Outside Reading #20

I know that I have no excuse for this, but I didn't read anything. I am in the middle of writing my world history paper and just remembered I had a blog post to do. I decided that outside reading can be replaced with a little outside writing. At the moment I am writing about how Islam has influenced our culture today, and my topic is Islamic Art. I discovered that Muslim artists invented Calligraphy, which is a artistic for of writing. The Islamic religion forbade the use of animals or significant human figures in their art, so instead they wrote the scripture of the Qur'an in their art. My thought is that this is sort of like all the Christian Bible verses that are on book marks, coffee mugs, and T-shirts that we see everywhere today. It would make sense that we might have gotten the idea from them. This is only one example in my paper on how Muslim art influences today's society. I've still got a lot more to write about!!

Outside Reading #19

"There's no Place Like New York for the Holidays" by Garrison Keillor

In this Editorial by Garrison Keillor, he gives an interesting comparison of New York City and Minnesota. He pointed out that the Christmas tree in Rice Park St. Paul is taller than the tree at Rockefeller in New York (90ft to 72), but that Minnesotans don't care. We don't care because, unlike New York, we are modest people. The article go's on talking about the differences between New York and Minnesota, and how New York is a great place to be for the Holidays. I liked reading this article because I had never thought about the social differences between where I live and New York, and how your geography has an influence on what kind of a person you may be.    

Outside Reading #18

Article: Aid accused of abusing 6 Montevideo nursing home residents

This article I just read from the Star Tribune made me really surprised. I never thought abuse when on in a nursing home. I don't understand how anyone could do that.

Outside Reading #17

"If these Walls Could Talk" by Graydon Royce, Star Tribune

I read an article about the building where I have danced in since 3rd grade, the Hennepin Center for the Arts. Memories came back looking at the pictures of the studio's and ballet teacher's I have had. There was a picture of my African- Modern teacher I had last year when I took a class at Zenon, and my old ballet teacher,  Lirena. I remember her Russian accent, and that she was the most strict teacher but yet also my favorite because she was so funny. Reading this article, I realize how much I miss not being there. I use to go down town almost every day of the week to take classes there, and I would slowly improve my ballet technique. I appreciate how they preserved this beautiful building so that people can go there to practice the performing arts. 

Outside Reading #16

Columbia!! -by Sam

I went to a leadership camp this summer, and one of my team leaders, Austin, was planning to travel the world. I just found his blog and started reading it.  Austin and his friend are on their second to last stop, Colombia, and I read the blog post of their discoveries. Austin's friend, Sam, described how modernized the city was, but just outside the urban area there are still signs from their last war. I liked visiting the blog because it is my dream one day to also travel the world. I want to see as many places as I can.

Their Journey           http://theadventurecapitalists.blogspot.com/         

1. The Philippines 

2. Hong Kong

3.  Dehli, India 

4. Nepal

5. Ghana

6. Burkina Faso

7. Amsterdam

8. Paris

9. Columbia

10. El Salvador