Stepparrents

In most fiction film/books step parenting is bad. Films tend to depict that stepparents are always mean or cruel in one way or another. But there are the occasional films that show the other side of stepparents. An good example of one is the movie "Stepmom". In this movie, at first, the stepchildren will not accept Isabel as their new mother and fight with her the whole way. But later in the movie they warm up to her and discover how great it can be to have a step mom.

I have never had to experience the unfortunate loss of one or both of my parent through death or divorce. Although I have had Friends with stepparents. In my outside view of the experience a stepparent can be awesome and fill the gap of not having a real parent there.

Although step parenting can be fun, it does have its problems. Depending on when a stepparent is introduced into a child's life, there maybe more problems. Children have much difficulty adjusting to a new parent in the household. Younger children though tend to have an easier time accepting the change and moving on in life. Most likely the hardest age group to approve of this intrusion are, of course, teens.

Step parenting does have its perks though. It is a way enter into some one's life and directly affect it. Although it maybe difficult to deal with at first be a stepparent can be great. And if your good at it can greatly improve your statues in marriage.

"Madness in great ones must not unwatched go"

In the play, Hamlet, this quote is in Act 3, scene 1. I is quoted by King Claudius, Hamlet's uncle/step dad. Scene 1 is a scene where the king and his counselor,Polonius, are speaking to Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern about Hamlet's "madness". Polonius summoned Hamlet so that When he comes he will see and speak to Ophelia. While Hamlet is speaking to Ophelia, Polonius and Claudius hide and observe how Hamlet acts and what he says.

Ophelia is given a book so she may "read" it while Hamlet appears. When she attempts to return the gifts Hamlet had given her, he denies giver her such gifts as well as ever loving her. He then asks to see her father so he may speak to him, knowing that he is being watched. Ophelia lies to him, telling Hamlet that Polonius is at home. Hamlet then begins yelling and tells her to go to the nunnery. After Hamlet leaves Claudius and Polonius come out of hiding and deduce that Hamlet has gone completely insane, but not due to love as originally thought. This is where the quote "Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go" is used.

Many people propose this quote applies to our current president. Writers have quoted it insane to be at war with other European countries. They claim that if those countries have the weapons we believe they have, that it would be insane for them to use them against the United States. I, on the other had disagree with them. We have already had terrorist attacks on the US and lost a great many Innocent people. Who's to say that they wont do it again? The threat of these countries having biological weapons is eminence.

Thinker or doer?

In many ways I see myself as both a thinker and a doer. In more ways than one I keep seeing the truth in the phrase "actions speak louder than words". It is most important to mix the two together and think but don't over-think.

I am a thinker in the sense that I like to sit back and view the situation. I try to see problems from an outside perspective. I believe it is always good to think before you act. Although there isn't always the luxury of time for that.

I am a doer in the sense that in several cases I will act out of instinct rather than take the time to review. This is a very useful attribute if your careful. In most cases if you sit and think to long, you will ether talk yourself out of the action or you will change vital decisions that you had a great impulse about.

To what extent should parrents spy on their kids?

I believe parents should have the right to see what is going on in their child's life, but it should be limited to an certain extent. Parents have the resources and ability to rip apart their child's "privacy shield". The question is, how far should they go? Many parents are simply worried about their child's future. With the day we live in, they should be.

Many kids, even at a young age, protect and appreciate a little privacy once in awhile. Many times they go through a time in their lives when they will simply and suddenly withdraw from their parents and change the attitude they show towards parents. The most likely cause of this time period is due to stress at school from teachers and peers. This is when parents need to be forthcoming to their kids and NOT try to go in secret to discover the change.

People need to display restraint when it comes to the power they wield. Yes, they should look into their children's lives; but at the same time, they should try talking to the child first. With technology as advanced as it is today, people can find out anything they want about their child.

Parents have the ability to infiltrate their child's lives and secrets, but at what cost? Kids aren't stupid and in most cases the trust level that they have goes down. So parents need to try to talk to their children before reverting to a privacy invasion.

Can a maxed-out nation find true riches?

In her article, Goodman is wondering if this post-recession America will learn to have more self-control when it comes to spending. With more and more Americans falling deeper and deeper into debt one would think there's a lesson to be learned about how to handle household funds. CEOs are rethinking million dollar birthday bashes and wealthy people are taking a look at what they are "wasting" their money on.


The recession not only puts people in a money crunch, but huge corporations are also going out of business. The chain reaction from that aspect of the recession has not hit us yet, but it will. If Big Three car companies were to fold, the shock waves will be felt around the world. Car dealerships going under first, more people out of a job, followed by a sharply rising cost in automobiles and maintenance, and a chain reaction all the way to our pocketbooks.



I agree with Goodman that all people need to stop spending all their money and need to instead start to save it. By saving their money and putting it in banks, people will rise the value of the US dollar. Doing this will stimulate our economy more than the government handing out money for people to spend.


Since this recession has started, my family has backed off from our spending by a fair amount. We are keeping a close watch on our spending budget. We are also trying to save up as money as possible lately.

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Hamlet Act 1, Scene iii

There is some very good advice given to Laertes in this section. Polonius is trying to point his son down the "right path" with this advice so that Laertes will know right from wrong and become a better man. Most of what is said is directed to build off his son's character.

Advise with similar meaning is duely given to many growing boys around the world still today. My parents are the ones who distributed this knowledge to my brother and me. I, personaly, have found this guidance to steer true and be very helpful.

There are numerous times i have used these lessons in my lifetime. One of them has been extra contributive, "Beware of entrance to a quarrel; but being in, give every man thy ear, but few thy voice." An example of one occation is when my brother and i fight. These "rules of life" have taught me to walk away and talk it out later after we have cooled down.

interested in college

John Fife
Mrs. Sutter
Eng 4/P-3
Nov. 20, 2008

College Options

College is a huge step in many peoples lives. A good education is what every parent wants for their children. Unfortunately many of the teens leaving high school are ready to call it quits for school. So how do you get these teens to want to go?

College Options is a program to make collage interesting for teens leaving high school. It is designed to take a view of a growing teens life and help them see how important to their future a good education is. Before College Options there were only a few companies in California that offered help to teens. Previously most teens didn't apply to college due to the fact that they don't know how to fill out all of the applications, apply for scholarships, or even get their current transcript sent to their colleges of choice. This program is important to all teens because it shows them a better future and how to reach it.

There is a higher percentage of high school graduates in Shasta county than in the whole state of California. As of 2007 the percentages are: Shasta = 88.3% graduated, California = 80.2% graduated. College Options is the turning point in Shasta county's education. In the first few years of business Shasta county's high school grad percentage saw a 33% increase in numbers. The college grad percentages are: Shasta 18.8% graduated, California 29.5% graduated.

This is because the employees at College Options have the foresight to actually care about the future of all teens, thus affecting the future of our country. They take the time to sit down with students individually to discuss their education and plan ahead.

Friars tale mentioning

In the movie "A Knights Tale" the short story "Friar's Tale" is referred to when the Harold looses his cloths again to gambling… the guys who bet with him are summoners who claim to be “holy men”. They go around collecting payments by using ones sins/addictions against them.

Bridge to Nowhere

This is a small bridge being built to connect two islands in Alaska.

Gawain and the Green Knight

Gawain set out on All Saints Day in search of The Green Knight, whose head Gawain had severed 12 months earlier. Gawain had taken the place of King Authur in a deadly game and was to meet with The Green Knight to finish the game of one blow each with the axe. His goal changed by the end of his quest. Instead of just fulfilling this promise to take a blow by the axe, his goal is to "always be true to his word."

Gawain had to face his fears in the Abyss. He was afraid of fighting the Green Knight. Had he not accepted the green girdle from the Green Knight's wife he would not have been struck by the Green Knight's axe.

From his encounter with the Green Knight, Gawain learns that he is not as brave as he thought he was, but he needs to be true to his word in all aspects of life.

The Brotherhood of the Round Table benefits from Gawain's journey because they have another story of bravery and survival by a knight to add to their mystic.

Zakaria

I agree with Zakaria's premise that our nation needs to save more and consume less. As a nation we sell our resources to a vast majority of other countries. We also consume food, fuel, and other luxury items, like the plague. The answers seem so clear to the rest of us who are watching our nation become further and further in debt. It's almost like those representatives in Washington have their own agenda, and it has nothing to do with bettering our nation. Yes, I agree we need checks and balances, but to a point. Our government seems to be working against itself. This group and that group refusing to agree on simple agenda items because of some other entirely unrelated issue. Even though the decision is right for the nation, they can't seem to see past their own ideals of what they think is best.

Especially during election times, the democrats and republicans never seem to want to agree on anything. How does anything ever get done in Washington? Every time the President has a good idea for getting us out of this or that situation, the Congress votes it down or has to tack on some unrelated issue that they want passed too. Everytime the majority of the House wants to solve an issue with legislation, the President vetoes it because it doesn't fit into his agenda. They all seem to be working against each other.

I think Zakaria is trying to say "no one wants to work together" in the nicest possible way. He makes jokes and alludes to visual images that ties into problem solving. The only thing Zakaria doesn't seem to understand is that our government will probably never work it out. They'll always be pitted against eachother, but eternally bound for better or for worse.

Bail Out

No, the government should not bail these men out because doing so would put the US $700 Billion more into debt. Doing this would raise taxes on all US citizens. This would cause the stock market to drop once again and continue sinking to the debt is paided off.

On the other hand it could increase consumer confidence and make the market bounce back, which is good for everyone in the long run. However, it sets up a false sense of security and it doesn't teach anyone anything about being in debt and being a responsible consumer.

Age limit

Many studies have shown that more and more underage drinking is occurring. This has happened mostly in collages during student parties. The students have been performing a binge drinking ritual, or drink til you drop.

Often these drinking parties involve students who are below the legal drinking age of 21. These are the ones who are easily influenced to have another and another. Students have been known to get alcohol poisioning and even do irreversable damage to their system. On a few rare occasions binge drinking has resulted in death. Even with all these issues and dangers, the ritual continues and claims more students each year.

Blood and oil

Since the beginning of the fuel depression there have been many attempts to conserve as much as we possibly can. I think people are driving less and trying to consume less fuel wherever possible.

If we had a better transit system, people would probably use it more. People are carpooling and making less out of town trips. My parents recently went on a trip to Seattle. It was cheaper for them to fly from Redding to San Francisco and on to Seattle then it was for them to drive there and back.

I think we need to tap into some of the United State's resources off the Atlantic Coast and in Alaska. That way we have our own petroleum resources and we don't have to so heavily on outside countries to supply us. On the other hand, I think we need to come up with an alternative fuel source for automobiles. The new hybrid cars are just one example of what can be invented to combat the necessity for fuel.

"Big Bang"

Scientists should not continue with the LHC project. Today scientists have successfully made the first test run of their machine. This machine is designed to force two atoms into a collision at the speed of light. In doing this they could potentially create the destruction of the Earth by creating a black hole by accident. This threat to our existence is all so we can find out if there is black matter. It is not worth the risk to learn of something so insignificant.

Sir Agravaine

This was one of the many knights of the great King Arthur's round table. He had been nick-named "Agravain of the Hard Hand" by one of the other knights. Sir Agravaine was not only a powerful and fearless knight he also happened to be the nephew of King Arthur. He was a Strong and handsome knight but lacked in loyalty. In modern Arthurian he was titled "the killer of his mother", a drunken bloodthirsty coward, intelligent but unsympathetic. Sir Agravaine was the knight who exposed his own aunt, Guinevere, and the most trusted knight, Lancelot, in the affair they were having.

Heroes

My great grandfather influenced my life in many ways. His name was Daniel Price. In my eyes he was exactly what most people look for in a hero. He was kind, funny, and caring. My grandfather was a very wise preacher for many years, and many looked to him for advice. I personally remember him as the man who looked after me everyday after school, played guitar and sing with me, and told me to "get the stoppers out of my eyes" whenever he beat me in a game of connect four, which happened quite often. Most of all he showed me what unconditional love feels like.

Another hero in my life is Coach Greg Grandell. He works two jobs and manages to spend two-thirds of his life coaching the football team. He's there at every practice and game, film on Sundays and whenever I need him. He has been there for me for personal advice when I needed help making decisions or just to lift my spirits and make me feel good about myself. At times a kind word from him has given me confidence I didn't know I could muster. As a coach he always expects our best. He pushes us to limits we didn't know we had and makes us better than we ever thought possible. I appreciate all his effort and his ability to council.

Another hero in my life is Alex Woodman. I admire Mr. Woodman because he makes learning "interesting." He challenges rules and boundaries rather than just be content with what life gives him. He makes me laugh in class during a difficult subject, Calculus. He always has odd quotes and things to make you go "hmmmm....." While effectively teaching a tough subject, he makes it fun, memorable and meaningful.

Beowulf

The knowledge gained through the trials Beowulf faces, during his battles with Grendel and the "She Wolf", are wide and many. These include Grendel's ability to dull any blade edge the comes in contact with him and that Grendel's mother's blood will melt through numerous materials in a mater of minutes. Beowulf also learns that his great and powerfully crushing strength, given to him by God himself, is his only weapon of choice against his enemies.

When Beowulf and his crew of Geat warriors first arrived in King Hrothgar's domain they learned in further depth the damage Grendel had caused. During the beginnings of Beowulf's death match with the famed Grendel, Beowulf attempted to use his great sword to slaughter his foe, only to soon find out the no blade can Pierce Grendel's thick hide. After becoming aware of this Beowulf began to use grapple techniques and triumphed shortly after ripping his enemy's limb off.

Later Beowulf is celebrated as a great hero and hired for a new mission. He was to slay Grendel's mother, the greatly feared "She Wolf". After claiming a decorative sword, made for a giant, from the "She Wolf's" lair he thrust it into her, covering the weapon in her blood. As Beowulf makes his accent he discovers his massive sword had been reduced to merely a jewel encrusted hilt.