Blog Refelctions

I learned many things about myself as a reader doing these blog posts. The blog kept me going with reading, since I had to keep reading new books, and taking notes and notice details I wouldn't have normally noticed. Writing in a notebook is different than a blog, because people will see it, so you have to be sophisticated and formal, and organized. Writing online can be limiting, because since people read it, you have to be careful with what you say in case, you hurt someone feelings, beliefs, or religion. There are more rules to follow with writing on the World Wide Web. Since people create profiles for themselves, to make them seem like a better, cooler, or more superior to their peers.

With the sculptured profiles, I think people are more comfortable with saying certain things to other people, online, that they wouldn't normally say to the persons face. Online, it is easier to be bullied since it can be anonymous. And you don't see the either persons reaction to the situation so it is different. Those rules apply over text too. I don't always think it is a good thing, because of the anonymous thing. And I would rather have conversations with people in person, but I am living in a world, where everything including bullying or chatting online, or via texting.

Personally, I wouldn't keep this blog going necessarily, but I would be willing to start another blog. That blog would be about babysitting. Where you can get information, recommendations, places to get certified. In addition, there would be tips about dealing with kids, and what age groups I am comfortable with, and information about people to get babysitters if I am not around. I think blogs are a good idea to keep people updated on information and opinions. I learned a lot from these blog posts and syntheses pages. The syntheses pages help me realize details about the book, and character realizations. I think I had a good experience with the blogs, and I am good at posting biweekly

Last Non-Ficiton Critical Analysis

Raccoons National Geographic

The article Raccoon from National Geographic is about how raccoons live closer than we think in our world. They give examples of citing of raccoons in the suburbs or in urban areas, and pictures. People think raccoons are bad and a negative part of our world. Also, how the raccoons interact with us. For example, “Raccoons also eat fruit and plants—including those grown in human gardens and farms. They will even open garbage cans to dine on the contents.” In addition “Bandit-masked raccoons are a familiar sight just about everywhere, because they will eat just about anything.” These examples help show what type of live raccoons live in the city or suburbs.

The pictures are taken from the people who saw them. It helps supports what type of live these raccoons live. For example, “In the natural world, raccoons snare a lot of their meals in the water.” In addition, “Raccoons also eat fruit and plants—including those grown in human gardens and farms. They will even open garbage cans to dine on the contents.” Another example, “They are adaptable and use their dexterous front paws and long fingers to find and feast on a wide variety of fare.” They're nocturnal so many people don’t interact with them, so they sometimes forget they're there. But they are there and they're just trying to live like we are. Also, “ The young raccoons often spend the first two months or so of their lives high in a tree hole.”

I think National Geographic included pictures with the article to show certain characteristics of raccoons that people don't know about. Many people think they're scary and not friendly because they steal our food, or maybe eat our trash. But they're just trying to make it in this world, so they have to do what they have to do. I think the pictures show that they're innocent in what they do to eat and find shelter and raise their young. I was camping in my back yard in the south of Park Slope, and a raccoon came clawing on our tent from food. At first I thought it was scary, because it as 2 am and I was freaking out. But after I realized that the raccoon was just after our food to eat. They were just trying  to survive like everyone does in this world. The pictures shown depict the innocence of raccoons and that them living isn’t as harmful as we think. 

Blog Post on Independent Reading Book

The Princess Diaries Series by Meg Cabot

In the series The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, is about a 15 year old girl who had an ordinary life, until her grandmother told her she was the princess of a small European country. Her live changed. People treated her differently, her friends did too, but in the end she kept some old friends, and made new ones. Her family and friends stood bye her. A person who Mia doesn’t know is always there is her grandmother Grandmére. Mia gets frustrated with Grandmére because she pushes Mia to be the best,, since she thinks so has a lot of potential.

Mia’s grandmother does a lot of strange things to Mia that affects her life in one way or another. For example, in Princess in Pink Mia wants to go to prom with her boyfriend Michael. On her birthday, her grandmother brings her dog to a restaurant and causes the workers to go on strike. It effected Mia’s life because the restaurant where the workers went on strike, was the location where the senior prom was to be held. Her grandmother doesn’t always understand Mia, the way she thinks and the twenty-first century concepts, like dating, or prom. Her grandmother also told the press about her before everyone knew she was a princess. Which made her have to go and do interviews live and in public (and Mia isn’t much of a public speaker). She tries to ruin her love life with Michael, by trying to get her together with her royal cousin Rene. Mia thinks all these things are bad, but are they?

Those things aren't always bad or good. Mia doesn't realize that the things her grandmother does benefits her no matter what. Even though it seems like those things are bad, her grandmother tries hard to fix them, and to teach Mia lessons when she can, during her princess lessons. She gives Mia challenges to help her become a better ruler of a country and as a person as well. Her grandmother not only teaches her how to be a princess, and soon after a queen, and how to live life, and how to be friends. 

In conclusion, I think Mia is incredibly lucky to have a women like Grandmére to teach her things. Also, sometimes Mia takes Grandmére for granted with somethings. She doesn't understand that Grandmére isn't going to be around for ever. The challenges and things Grandmére makes Mia do make her a stronger person, to help her life and on the throne. Grandmére loves Mia, and I think that is why she does those things to Mia, to push her to be the best she can be.

Blog Post on Independent Reading Book

 The Princess Diaries: Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot

In Princess in Pink, Volume V, (in the Princess Diaries series,) by Meg Cabot, it is Michael’s (Mia’s senior boyfriends) prom. Mia is a freshman, so she can’t go to prom with her friends (since they are going) unless she goes with Michael. This is Mia’s last year to be with Michael, at Albert Einstein High School (her school) for prom. Her dilemma is that Michael hasn’t asked her, and it is one week away. She wanted Michael to ask her on her 15^th birthday, but he didn't. Mia got all worried that he was losing interest, and doesn't love her. As a princess, she feels like she should go to prom with her boyfriend, and friends, since they have senior boyfriends. Having a couple, with such a big age difference can be hard, and sometimes a great idea, and not a great idea.

At her 15th birthday party, while they are playing seven minutes in heaven, Mia asks why he hasn't asked her to prom. He says, "Prom is so lame and stupid." Mia overreacts, and gets mad at him for no reason. Just because he didn't ask her to prom. Since she is 15, all she wants is to go to prom, with her boyfriend. But at her senior prom, Michael will be out of college, and the thing she is worried about, is that Micheal will have a beard. That is ridiculous, they aren't going to be together forever. Why does it matter, it is Michael's senior prom, not hers. She should do what he wants for his senior prom, like go to a movie, or spend time together. All Mia wants to do is be a pretty dress, and be with Michael like the Winter Carnival, where they first got together and had their first kiss. And all she wants, is to be with Michael. So why doesn't she just do what he wants to do on prom night, like watch movies and home and order in food, like they did after the Winter Carnival. They are fighting and Mia is all upset with him, but I am sure they are going to end up at prom together, and Mia will get what she wants.

My prediction is that Mia is going to end up at prom with "the boy of her dreams," and "the love of her whole life." Or Michael is going to set up a wonderful scene for them on his roof for them just to spend time together before he goes off to Columbia. And Mia is going to forgive him, because she loves him, and probably won't have another guy who is older than her interested in, since it is hard to have a relationship with such a big age gap (when you're young and in high school). Michael is so sweet to Mia, and understands relationships, but Mia doesn't since she is only 15, and doesn't know much about love really. She can be so insensitive to him. 

I think this will happen because Mia will always gets what she wants. Even if she doesn't think so. Fro example, she fights for what she wants, like helping orphans, or donating to world peace funds. And also, Mia is a character in a book. So she has to overcome obstacles to get what she wants. But I think Mia is being incredibly rude and insensitive to Michael, for overreacting. It is not like they are going to be together forever. So I think she just needs to spend time with him, and do what he wants to do while she can. This is because Mia is four years younger than Michael, and not a mature about things like the prom as he is. He just wants to be with Mia, and not with other people, he wants to do something special. But since Mia is all caught up in going with the crowd, she misses out the most important moments she could make with Michael.

Blog Post on Independent Reading Book

 The Princess Diaries: Princess in Love by: Meg Cabot

In The Princess Diaries series, Mia an ordinary girl, finds out she is the next princess of Genovia, a small country in Europe. She is faced with many challenges with her friends, school, family, and love life. In Princess In Love Mia, finally gets to be with the boy of her dreams, even though it wasn’t easy getting there. And on top of all of that, she has a tough Grandmother, trying to teach her the ropes of being a princess, and ruler of a country. I think, Mia’s tiara/crown, is an important symbol throughout the whole series, not just Princess In Love. Not just that it makes you look like a princess on the outside, but how you feel on the inside and more.

Mia has more courage to be a public speaker with the tiara. For example, she had to speak on several live shows and interviews, when her high school and neighborhood found out she was a princess. She makes a total fool of herself, and messes up what she is trying to say. Mia fixed it nicely, because that is what her grandmother taught her. Without the crown, Mia wouldn’t have the courage to even be interviewed. Before she knew her future of being a princess, Mia had to speak at a debate, and threw up because she was so nervous. Since people treat her with more respect, Mia feels better and safer/ more secure with the tiara. This proves that Mia is more brave, with the title of being a princess, and her tiara.

Also, it shows how Mia is more fearless when she is wearing her tiara, and with the tiara, it is okay to be scared on the inside. For example, Mia thinks, that without the tiara she is just an ordinary fifteen year-old girl. But when she has the tiara, her body guard, a limo, and an escort, it changes a lot. For example, in the first book, someone leaked the secret that Mia was a princess. So at her school there were reporters, and paparazzi’s. And to keep her safe, her father order a ton of people to be with her for her safety. The tiara changed her social life and how she was treated with the public. If she didn’t have the crown with her [or the title Princess Mia] people would just think she is invisible. For example, before she knew she was a princess [in the beginning of her freshman year] people wouldn’t even notice her. One time, a guy she once had a crush on her, sat on her, because she didn’t know she was there. It shows a lot about how appearances can change a lot, or having a big title. Without some type of special object or title or reputation, people with treat you like you are a nothing. Another example, Mia’s “enemy” has a reputation, and all the senior boys know who she is, even though she a freshman like Mia.

Clearly, I think that Mia feels better making a mistake as a princess, and [better] with her tiara on, then as Mia Thermopolis.This is because, without the tiara, people see Mia as just, Mia Thermopolis a 15 year-old boring, girl, than they would with her full name and title: Alela Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genovia. In conclusion, I think this book and society judge to many books by their covers, and focus on what is outside rather than what is on the inside. Mia is a great person, and she would be a good person and ruler without being a princess.

Non-Fiction Critical Analysis

 The Platypus Is Cute But Far From Harmless by Henry Fountain

The article The Platypus is Cute But Far From Harmless by Henry Fountain from the New York Times Science Times, is about how dangerous platypi can really be to other predators. Many people thick they are harmless because they are so charming and likable. Henry Fountain interviewed an expert to tell us more, and wrote the article to inform us on how threatening these lovable mammals are. He interviewed experts to show that this issue is the legit. For example, “Dr. Maturin states ‘A platypus is among the few mammals that produce venom.” This example shows that Dr. Maturin nows what he is talking about and that Fountain knows what he is writing.

Interviewing experts makes it seem real and more reliable then just researching things on the internet. That is why he interviewed Dr. Maturin. Dr. Maturin also stated, “That a new study shows that [because of the venom] they can be [more] harmful to predators [than we thought].”
“… That can produce venom (only the males can produce the venom). That same study also proved “that is more harmful because we didn’t know what chemicals were in the venom. The chemicals in the venom are very toxic. Another study is trying to show what is really in the toxic chemicals that make it so painful. For example, “Using high-performance liquid chromatography and other techniques, Masaki Kita of the University of Tsukuba, Daisuke Uemura of the Nagoya University and colleagues analyzed venom samples and identified about a dozen peptides, small chains of amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins.” Experts and people studying to become experts in an area, know what they are genuinely talking about which is why they are so reliable.

I think this article was helpful in answering questions about the unknown venoms in this incredible animals. And it informs the reader about how harmful these cute mammals are. And most importantly that we need to protect these animals since they currently only found in Australia, and are or is on the verge of going extinct. But for me it raised more questions than answers like: why don’t females have the venom? How will the females [in that case] protect themselves? How do they produce it? Where is it stored? Maybe other studies and articles and experts can tell me more.
 

Blog Post on Independent Reading Book

 The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, is about an ordinary girl who lives in New York and goes to school and isn’t exactly popular, but one thing happens that flips her world upside down, and changes everything. Her father comes to town with some news about his country Genovia. It turns out Mia’s father is the Prince of Genovia [which Mia never knew], which means Mia is Princess of Genovia, when her father is ready to give up the thrown. Her father had cancer, and they got rid of it, but when it came back, her decided to tell Mia, since he realized his time is short. Even though her life got turned upside down, and she changed in many ways, she still kept a bad habit; lying.

First, [before Mia life changes] she lies to her mother and her close friends, just out of habit. For example, she lies to her mother about her feelings for multiple things. One, her feelings about her relationship with her father [since they aren’t married], second, about her feelings about her friends, and thirdly, about her mother dating her algebra. Mia is currently failing algebra. Her mother then tells her to write down her feelings in a journal. Clearly, I think Mia has trust issues with her mother, and with people she is close to.

Also, Mia lies to her best friend about a couple things. Mia lied to her best friend Lily, who she has known since kindergarten, about her feelings about her mom dating her algebra teacher. In addition, Mia lied about her liking Lily’s older brother Michel, because Lily thinks it would be so weird if Mia and Michel dated, since Mia was friends with Lily first. Lastly, Mia lied about the secret that turned her life around. Mia didn’t tell anyone, but when the press found out, and Lily found out she wasn’t one of the first people to know, she got really mad at Mia. For a while it was hard for Lily to forgive Mia, since she lies all the time. Lily wants Mia to stop lying, because if she doesn’t stop she is just going to keep doing it. 

In conclusion, I think Mia lies to people is because she is scared to deal with the reaction of the people who find out the truth. But when she does she their reaction she keeps not telling them, because she still doesn’t want to deal with the consequences. But she keeps doing it, and it because a bad habit, that keeps going around and around like a cycle that never ends, because she is scared to break it, and deal with the truth, whether or not the truth will hurt people, Mia needs to learn who to tell the truth the first time, and break her bad habit.