The Cow

Author's Note: This is a creative piece about a rabid cow.

One day, when I was a young. I was walking along a path when I saw a barn. I went up to the farmer and he said, "The farm is being shut down, if you would like to buy an animal if you'd like." I have always wanted a pet so I asked the man for giraffe (of course I was kidding).

"Sure! We have only one though."

" What! You have a giraffe."

"Yeah, It just wonder in one day."

"You can see it if you'd like."

"Sure"

We walk behind the barn, but then something caught my eye. There was a cow standing at the edge with glowing red eyes. I just stared at me, as if I was his prey. I run to the farmer and tell him to look but when I looked back the cow was gone. I tell the man that I didn't need the giraffe and thanked him for showing me it. I ran out of there as fast as I could. It was getting dark and I had to get home. The fastest way home was through the forest, but I hated going through the forest during the night, but it seems like that is the only choice. I start sprinting as fast as I can, when I hear a branch snap. I spin around to see what was there. All I see is 2 red eyes glowing in the darkness.     

To be continued

The Lottery

Author's Note: This piece is about theme of the inhumanity in the book "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson.

There are many themes in this book, but I chose inhumanity. The inhumanity in this book really takes you by surprise the in this story. Though it starts off really like a small, nice, happy town. It completely changes in the end.

In the beginning the boys are collecting stones, what I think is just for fun. No, these are weapons of death. People are ready for the lottery but this isn't just an ordinary lottery. When you win the lottery it is a good thing, right. No, when you when  win you die. They just kill people by throwing rocks at the person. Also even the little kids would throw rocks at their own mothers. That is terrible.

The inhumanity in this book sickens me. It so terrible I don't even know what to say except: What kind of world do they live in.

Life as a Birthday Card

Author's Note: This is a creative piece on the live of a birthday card.

When I was created, I was the best card ever. On the front it said, "Party…….." and on the inside it says, "…Like there is no tomorrow." I knew I would sell super quick, but I was wrong. When I was first put on the shelf I sat and talked to the birthday cards next to me. At first I was super excited, but as the days past, I slowly started to lose hope. It fell like forever, until one day a boy come into the isle. He starts looking at all the cards. I had to choose me, he has to. Until finally he picks me up and takes me to the check-out. Yes! Oh, I am so excited, the day has finally come. Once I got home, they put me into the envelop. It pitch-black in here and I can't see anything.

I the darkness I wait. Until I feeling I am moving. Yes, he is open the envelop. The birthday boy pulls me out, but wait. Dang, we have to wait, his mother has to find a camera. The boy starts reading me. "Party……..Like there is no tomorrow, from your friend." But he doesn't put me down to open his present he keeps reading me over again. In the same boring tone. "Party……..Like there is no tomorrow, from your friend." "Party……..Like there is no tomorrow, from your friend." "Party……..Like there is no tomorrow, from your friend." If his mother doesn't find that camera I might go crazy! "Party……..Like there is no tomorrow, from your friend." "Party……..Like there is no tomorrow, from your friend." "Party……..Like there is no tomorrow, from your friend." AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to explode pretty soon! "Party……..Lik…" Finally she found the camera, now he can continue. After I am placed on a shelf, for all to see. That is my life as a birthday card.  

Viruses

Everyone has had a cold before, but do you know what it really is? It is a virus. Non-living particles that can infect living cells then will spread to a new one. Almost like a zombie, if you think about. Viruses can be very dangerous, but also can be helpful.

First of all, viruses are very tiny non-living organisms that infect living things cells (What is a Virus). The virus will kill off the cell and spread to another one and so on. The reason you become sick is that your body is trying to get rid of the virus by coughing and sneezing. That is also why everyone tells you to cover your mouth or nose because that is basically bacteria from the virus.

Unquestionably, the most common virus that everyone knows of is the common cold. There are many reasons why the common cold is so common, but the easiest way to catch the common cold is to inhale it through the nose or mouth (What a Common Cold is). The common cold is a virus commonly found in the nose, but it gets worse it can spread to your ears, sinuses, and your bronchial tubes. An easy way to avoid a cold is to wash your hands often and not to touch your face, because the virus could be sitting right on your hand.

On the other hand, the flu is another one of the known viruses in the world. This one is a little more serious than the common cold, because it affects your nose, throat and lungs (Seasonal Influenza). The flu is also contagious. Ways to prevent the flu is about the same as the common cold except try to not come in close contact with another sick person, the flu is contagious. If you want to have absolutely no chance of getting the flu, then a flu shot is your best bet (CDC).

Nevertheless, viruses can be very harmful in many different ways, but they also can be helpful. We can research and study them and use them to advance farther into science (Virus Uses). They are also very helpful to the study of molecular and cellular biology.

In conclusion, I believe that it is amazing what these tiny particle can do even though they aren’t even living. I only told you about two viruses out of the millions of viruses. Just remember to wash your hands and stay virus free. 

CDC. 25 April 2012 <http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm>.

Seasonal Influenza. 18 April 2012 <http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm>.

Virus Uses. 20 April 2012 <http://www.news-medical.net/health/Virus-Uses.aspx>.

What a Common Cold is. 2007. 18 April 2012

<http://www.commoncold.org/undrstn2.htm>.

What is a Virus. 18 April 2012 <http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-a-Virus.aspx>.

What is a VIRUS? 2012. 20 April 2012 <http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/virus/page.html>.

You don't know what you've got, till it's gone

Author's Note: This piece is a theme piece on the poem Big Yellow Taxi. I am working on the introduction and I am trying to add quotes into the piece as well.

How would you feel if you lost everything? If everything you owned was just gone, just like that? Would that make you appreciate what you had a lot more than you probably do now?  In my opinion, no one really knows or appreciates what they have, until it is gone.

First of all, the poem is about how "You don't know what you've got, till it's gone." A quote from Big Yellow Taxi. Say you have this great life, but maybe you don't appreciate it as much as you probably should. Then when it is all taken away, and once you have nothing you probably realize how great your life really was.

However, this isn't about someone's life, but how nature is being taking away and man is taking over. Paradise in the poem is nature and the parking lot refers to people taking paradise away. The poem talks about how the people are cutting down so much of nature, that it is rare to see a tree. The author is saying how no one really notices how beautiful nature is, until it's been taken away. 

Of course, the theme of this piece was "You don't know what you've got, till it's gone." That really reminds me of the movie It's a Wonderful Life. In the movie, George Bailey (the protagonist) has some bad things going on in his life and wishes that he was never born. An angel then shows him what life would be like if he was never born. After seeing life without him, he then realizes what he had, and how great his life truly was.  He sees he has really made a difference in the world, and is grateful for all his friends and family!

In conclusion, I think people should appreciate what they have, instead of just wanting more. Most likely you have more than you think. Just think how would your life be if you lost everything.  Remember "You don't know what you've got, till it's gone."

What happened to Nature?

Author's Note: This is a piece reviewing the poem and music of Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell

 and Field Below by Regina Spektor.

These poems are about how nature is being taking away by man. Big Yellow Taxi talks about how you don’t know what you got until it's gone. Field Below talks about someone who had it but lost it and is longing to get it back.

I feel that both of these poems are both sad poem. They have the feel of regretful and depressed and longing to get nature back. I didn't really like them, because they were sad and depressing and instead of doing nothing they should get up and do something, make a stand.

Big Yellow Taxi poem was very different from the music, because the poem made you feel sad and depressed and then the music was happy and jumpy song, but then you listen to the lyrics and you are like why is this person happy. Field below, on the other hand, was exactly the same the poem was sad, the music was also sad and slow. Definitely not a song to cheer you up.

How free were free blacks in the North

How free were the free black in the north back in the civil war age. After becoming free were able to have a life like everyone else. I think to be free would be great but it wasn't the best for the African Americans.

When it came to politics the free blacks didn't have much of a say in it. They were not able to become any part of the government. They weren't allowed in a jury with other whites. The only thing they could do is vote, but what was the point.

Economic freedoms were basically the only freedoms that black had in the north. They were able live, to thrive. They would have to pay taxes. They could also perform duties. They were able live like the white people in their own black communities.

Though they have the right to live and thrive they could never, ever mingle or mix with the other whites. They were not able to dine with them, join the jury, attend court, represent white in the legislator, and no mingling what so ever.

          

It would still seem horrible to be African American back in those times. I mean if one thing wrong, even the simplest things, you could be sent right back into slavery! How stupid is that. Though you are free and able to live the way you want, you are restricted to do so many things. Overall free or not it was nothing compared to a white person’s life.