The Shadow of the Wind

To this point in the book, Daniel, a young boy, heads over to a cemetery of books, where books are left behind, but where each book has a spirit behind it. Daniel is taken to the cemetery after he is found crying because of the death of his mother, his dad takes him to the cemetery and explains to him that he may take one book. When he receives the book, Daniel finds it to be very thought provoking, and very enchanting. Being curious, he decides to ask his father about the title, and the author. When the father revises the book, he notices that it is a book he has never heard of, and as well an author that he has never heard of. They both decide to take it to a wise book store owner, the owner finds the book so interesting that he wants to buy it from him. Out of the same curiosity as the book store owner, Daniel decides to not sell it, but decide that they would keep further investigation. It seems like the book is a mystery it self, but has the mystery of the book brought Daniel to any danger such as people persecuting him for his book? Why has the author or the book kept such a secret that not even the wisest man of books cannot figure out who or what it is?

Their Eyes Were Watching God

"Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston, is about a young black woman named Janie Crawford who is searching for love, but love doesnt seem to be compatible with her; the book attacks themes such as love and relationships, quest for freedom, and holding secrets. Her first attempt at love was Logan Killicks who her grandma chose to join her in matrimony at a very young age. Joe Starks was her second attempt with whom she ran away with, and purchase a piece of land; Starks becomes the mayor where he built a grocery store and makes Janie incapacitated with anything that has to do with the business. Tea cake was the man with who she truly fell in love with, because of that, they relocate, and when they do so a hurricane occurs in which all of their belongings are destroyed, during the crisis Tea Cake helps Janie hold on to a cow so that she can survive, and takes a rabid bite from a dog; Tea Cake becomes ill with rabies and attempts to kill Janie, and because of that Janie is forced to kill him. After Tea Cakes death, she moves back to her home town, and re-tells her full detailed story to her friend Pheoby. 

-Would you ever consider taking some else's life to save your own?

Night

Night by Elie Wiesel is a narrative about the holocaust through the eyes of the author. The book follows a number of themes, two of them being ambition and quest for freedom. Through out the book, Wiesel endure pain, suffrage, and hatred; and though most would give in, he prevailed. his ambition became a key factor in the quest for freedom, because as he expected and fought for, his freedom came. Once outside, he enjoyed life much more, though the thoughts of people dying in front of him, and the constant shots fired and screams are still engraved into his head; he knows that the event is in the past, and he must live in the future.

-After being released from a place were one lived under fear of death change the perspective of ones life?
-What sense of will and strength must one truly have to be able to endure such pain? would you need someone beside you to endure the pain? do you think you would make it through?

The United States of Europe

The United Sates has been the superpower of the world for as long as anyone can remember. Which is something that will very soon change, Europe's strategies of using Americas history towards their advantage is working. Reid uses a cultural tone to explain how Europe seems to be taking everything that America has made, and made it their own. Although Europeans are not fond of Americans, they want to be just like them. Like the United States, Europe made their own currency, just as The United Sates did. Europeans have taken in The United States culture on a full on blast, Europeans have made such a big movement on American culture that now Europeans know more about The Unites States more than Americans do. Europe is kicking our ass in our own game. With Reid's wide ranged vocabulary, it becomes difficult to put the book down, as shows both the pros and cons about American stereotypes. His use of anecdotes keeps his readers entertained on what Americans look like to other nations.

Questions: 

1.) How can Europeans beat Americans at their own culture?

2.) Is Europe really the next superpower? Will they be better than the United Sates?

Oil Price Hits $100

In the editorial writen byan unknown author published January 3, 2008 (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-oil03jan03,0,525705.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials) talks about how the gas economy of the United States just went to an alltime high. Gas price just hit one-hundred on walstreet, and it seems like there is nothing that is going close to stopping it. Meanin that consumers will begin to suffer more and more if something isnt done about it. ¨Americans are beginning to change their fuel consumption habits, choosing to leave their gas-guzzling SUVs in the garage in favor of smaller cars (though perhaps not as quickly as the environmentalists among us would like)¨ The most popular vehichles are big trucks, SUV´s, and such others. In which case makes a lot of sense, but if Americans keep getting what they want and not what they need, the ecnomy will keep going down in a drastic way. The author seems concered himself because people do not seem to try to undersatnd.

This might not worry the wealthy class, but to the people that do not make so much income, it becomes a big impact. As we begin to look for a different alternative to getting from place to place. Which of course will take a lot of patience, which most people donty have, and a lot of courage to try something new.

Tone:Concerned/Informative

-Now that gas prices have hit an all time high, will you think twice about what type of vehichle you want to get?
-You think that now that gas has gone up higher, people will chose to walk? do you think thats good?

How Cliche

The freaking halarious editorial piece that appeared january 1, 2008 in the opinion section of the Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-cliches1jan01,0,1115330.story?coll=la-opinion-leftrail) who has no author talks about the cliches that people have been using for what has seemed to be centuries now. Phrases that even Jesus himself would tell his friends. Some such like ¨Thing outside the box¨ or ¨Too much information¨. The editorial makes one think of why not change all the old sayings from 2007, and begin some new ones, become more original with ourselves. Since we as young kids would try to look up to someone else, why not have someone look up to us, not just because we have gotten ideas from our friends, but as well because we should have some type of landmark, something original that someone would be able to remember us by, its time to ¨THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!!¨

-Do you know any phrases that have seriously been overused?
-Now that we are going to begin our new year, do you have something in mind to change about yourself, to be stand outside of th croud?

L.A.'s low homicide rate

In December 29, 2007, and unknown author put out an editorial piece in the opinion section of the Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-homicide29dec29,0,3053849.story?coll=la-opinion-leftrail) where he told all of the Los Angeles residents about how hapy we should be that the rates of violnce and gangs has gone down. As The Times show that the rate of violence has gone down, so has the gangs. The only problem is that they have gone nowhere. They all still exist, as now that Venice, Hollywood, and Echo Park prices have gone up, the gangs have begun to move out. Meaning that gangs are still running at lagre. The raise in price doesnt help with the elimination of gangs. "That doesn't mean the displaced gangsters have simply disappeared. Many have moved to places such as San Bernardino, where the murder count is up this year, or the Bay Area, or Fresno, or to other states." The editorial gives out a type of humorous fact that people of L.A are happy that violenve is leaving , but gives a thourough understanding that the elimination of complete violence and gangs wont be that simple.

-Can gangs really be pushed out of Los Angeles at this point in time where the youth consistently tries to find a place called "home"?
-What will happen now tp all the nice suburbs like Bakersfiel, Fresno, and other state? Will they get as much corrupted like Los Angeles was?