The Angel Factory, blog one, pages 1-49

This book is amazing. The best thing it has done so far is hinted at Thomas's parents being angels. When he and Gip go look at their parents files, they are labeled
"HOME
 BILLS
 SERAPH
 TAXES" (p. 9) Seraph is an old name for angel. Also, their neighbor calls them a band of angels. I so far have really liked the book and am wishing I knew the answers to all the questions I have now. At this point, everything is just established and not concluded. The files, the warehouse in the middle of nowhere. And the weird journey inside the warehouse. But I have some conclusions that may or not turn out to be true. I believe that the parents are angels. And possibly the surfer dude, and Thomas's sister too since they are all on the train no one sees. I believe that the purple place, since it is down under the ground and comes from the black elevator is representing hell. And the reason why Thomas passes out when he goes up, is because everything is too bright and holy. The way he gets in is not very lawful, he reads his parents mail, doesn't listen to them and goes on the train with them, and he pretends to be an "angel" and walks in with the other briefcase people. So he goes to "hell". But then when he once again tries to be and "angel" and goes into the second elevator. And with all this information in mind, I believe that his parents, sister and her boyfriend, are all trying to make Thomas so good that he becomes and angel, hence the name angel factory (the title).

5 best book blogs

As our assignment, we have to find 5 book blogs we like and why. Here are mine.

One book blog I like is this one http://youngadultbookreviews.com/. It has a long list of archives from previous months on the side. It also has a search box so I can search for relevant books I would like to find. And plus, it features a summary of each book and a suggestion for its audience and a basic theme, example, this book is about coming of age. That is why I like it.

Another blog I thought was good was this one http://loveyalit.com/. This blog is put up by two people named Nora and Em. It has two paragraphs for the plot synopsis and a sum up at the end. After that it has a rating by Nora. On the sides it has an introduction to Nora and Em. At the bottom it has links to reviews, archives, and other possible book blogs.

This is another book blog that was especially good, http://iwasateenagebookgeek.blogspot.com/. This blog has links to other blogs on the side and an archive on the other. It has a blurb, that seems like its from the book. Then a review type of blurb, some personal comments. And finally something at the end which can range from excerpts to interviews. I liked it because it felt more personal, not just and informative boring posts.

This is my next to last blog I thought was really good, this is it, http://lisadgibson.blogspot.com/. This blog has links to other book blogs on one side. On the top it has multiple tabs where you can see reviews by title, or rating. Also they have a list of books they are reading or have read, and something that appears to be excerpts from a book they are writing. The thing I liked best is how they put a blurb from a professional review maker, and then they put "my take" on the book. Then they gave it a rating.

And now, the final book blog I liked, http://yannabe.com/. This is a blog written by good reader (there are lots of book reviews). There are links to most recent posts, most recent comments, and popular posts. In their reviews, they give a short plot synopsis, what they liked and didn't like, a small excerpt from the book, and a sort of spinning the post out into the world with a few last sentences. That's what I liked

So there you have it, a long post with 5 different book blogs, a description, and what I liked. Ta da.
Nico

Krowemoh, Homework spelled backwards

Krowemoh or homework, how much should students get?


Many people say homework is bad for kids and destroys family time. But other people say that it teaches important values. The only way we can work this dilemma out is by finding a compromise, and a good one. I believe that the compromise is to only use homework to complete projects, with certain exceptions, like math homework, which is needed to pass tests.  People have argued, that there isn't enough time to get everything done in school. I agree, in school we hurry around to our classes and learn things and take notes. Unless you have an extensive time where we have no class, there isn't enough time to finish things just by doing it in school. If you were reading a book for class, would you do it at break? No, breaks are reserved times for social stuff, and they are not even long enough to retain knowledge from reading. Also classes you planned to read in can be replaced by other classes. This making reading in class not reliable enough. Therefore, all school related work that happens over a long period of time, studying, making a project, reading a book, must take place at home or in school.


If it is stated that we do need homework to get things done, then logical thinking would lead us to the conclusion that if we give more homework then more things will get done. This is  untrue. The National School Board Association's Center for Public Education has found that there is no large relationship between completing homework and  school achievement. There is a small relationship, which leads us to give homework to get projects done. But giving a lot of homework to students to heighten in school achievement is counter productive. The amount of homework only has a limited effect on in school achievement, and giving more than the limit will not make more achievement happen. In fact, students begin to resent the amount of homework they are given, which leads to hating teachers, hating school, and finally hating learning. Even though there are certain exceptions to the resentment of learning chain reaction, large amounts of homework usually only benefit people in high income homes because they more likely have a parent at home to help them with homework. This puts poor people at a very unfair disadvantage. All this abolishes the false need for overdosing of homework.


I suggest, that we should consider a compromise. In the compromise homework assignments would have to amount to a big picture objective. This would allow things to get done, as explained in the second paragraph, and not include high amounts of homework which cause multiple negative effects. In the compromise, teachers projects and plans would not be changed completely, but only modified to fit the compromise. For example, if students had to read something they had already read in class, and write a paper on it, the assignment has to correspond to the bigger picture of the class. If they were learning about analyzing literature, then the paper would have to be the analysis of the material so they could have practice for a big analyzation at the end of the unit. Either that, or the assignment would be taken away or replaced with something more important.

BTR or Born to Rock or Borntorock or Borntoroc

uote one: “I had a rich father!” (pg. 66)

This is an important quote because it shows the beginning of a long conflict. Leo had lost his scholarship, and was was going to join Purge on their trip Concussed. But he wasn't doing it to meet his father, but to get money for his tuition. This conflict causes problems later on, that Leo thought he wouldn't have to deal with.”

Quote two: “I just want to meet him, I lied.” (pg. 87)

This is an important quote because it shows the first signs of guilt from lying about wanting to just meet King Maggot, not asking for money. Leo was thinking about what to say, but he had a little bit of trouble because the guilt was distracting. This is a progress point in Leo's conscience, because he is starting to use his conscience and feel guilt.

Quote three: “Why don't you spend the summer traveling with me?” (pg. 96)

This is an important quote because it shows the start of a relationship between Leo and King Maggot. Before this, Maggot was saying insensitive things to everyone, and had no clear relationship with Leo. But then he offered to take him on the Concussed road trip, which is a big offer for someone you are not sure is related to you directly and you don't even remember their mother. This big generous offer shows a bit of emotion towards Leo coming from King Maggot, which is a big progress point in Leo's and King Maggot's relationship.

Quote four: “We'll make a punk rocker out of you yet.” (pg. 186)

Leo has a person he calls a genetic hitchhiker, who is the “King Maggot side” of him. This hitchhiker, being the King Maggot side, is punk. This remark came from King Maggot after Leo screamed a punk scream. At this point, Leo has begun to accept the punk side of himself by using it to scream “LLAMA!!!” This is important because for the first time in the entire book Leo has shown clear acceptance of his genetic hitchhiker.

Quote five: “I want to be a part of your life.” (pg. 260)

When it was discovered that King Maggot wasn't his father, Leo was really disappointed. Because he thought Maggot wouldn't give him the money for the tuition bill because he wasn't his father. However King Maggot's relationship with Leo had grown to a point where not being a father didn't matter anymore. And in this line, Maggot reveals that he actually cares about Leo.

9/11 stuff

1) when nine eleven happened, I was four. So I don't think I would really remember. Which means I have no memories. I think the biggest time when I really learned about it, was in fifth grade. I suppose I gradually learned about it over the years, but not as much as I did in fifth grade. In fifth grade, we were studying war, peace, and other things related to that subject. For one part of the unit, we studied terrorism. And then I learned about nine eleven. Most of the images that come to mind, are images we saw during the part of the unit. And I am still learning, Eli just told me that there were multiple plane attacks, not just two planes crashing into the world trade center building.

2) All I know about the cause, was that two terrorists got on a plane that went by the world trade center building. They hijacked the plane and drove it into the building along with another plane. The consequences were, that the building was destroyed and loads of people were killed. But a slightly more positive consequence was that some organization against terrorism was created to prevent further attacks. And that is all I know.

Snails and Freshwater

Most snails are listed on the endangered list, especially freshwater snails. They started to decline in the twentieth century. Dams and other changes made to rivers courses's, as well as agricultural and industrial pollution has been quickly declining the number and diversity of freshwater snails. When the snails die, other species such as crawfish who feed on the snails, begin to decline as well. A major snail killer is river channeling and dredging. When a river is channeled or dredged, infrastructure is added to the river, which can crush snails. Also, chunks of rocks used by snails can be loosened, snail eggs are crushed and adult snails are buried. And when snails die, their rotting bodies create large amounts of nitrates. Many snail conservation efforts are being taken, including water pollution control, and prevention of bad channeling or dredging that might kill snails. Freshwater snails are herbivores, and pollution poses a problem to this. They mostly eat algae, but sometimes large water plants. Pollution kills these plants and algae, when the snails have no food they die. When the snails die, they release nitrates which cause overgrowing of the plants they once ate. The overgrown algae and water plants is harmful to the environment of the freshwater source. Also, the amount of food snails eat, relates to their reproduction. When there is less food to eat, the population of baby snails goes down, and the baby snails are already having enough problems with channeling and dredging.

Lake Erie is a large freshwater source, and it has been having problems lately. High phosphorous levels coming from pesticides and fertilizers that ran into rivers, along with multiple sewage outbreaks from other cities has all flowed into Lake Erie and caused an outbreak of Mycrocystis algae. This algae can cause cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and sometimes death. It also uses up oxygen and causes animals with gills to sort of suffocate. The range of its oxygen sucking can vary from hypoxia (little oxygen) or anoxia (no oxygen). When the algae is in high concentration it forms little blooms which turn the water green, and suck up oxygen when they decompose. The cells are colonial, meaning that they can group together to create a film of algae near the surface of the water. It cannot survive in very salty waters, which is why it flourished in Lake Erie, a freshwater lake. Only one third of all the types of Mycrocystis algae are toxic. When it blooms, it is usually because the water is warm and nutrient filled, phosphorous fuels the blooming better than most nutrients. The main cause of this outbreak was there were sewage treatment systems and not enough control on pesticides and fertilizers used in industrial farming.

There are two types of pollution, point source pollution, and non point source pollution. Point source, is where there is one pipe for example that is polluting, non point source is where there are multiple little pipes that all add up to pollution. Point source pollution is much easier to fix, but non point source is not so easy to stop. All though its strange, heat is pollution, so when power plants use water to cool down their facilities, they harm temperature sensitive organisms in rivers. Non point source pollution consists of pollution runoff from industries or small sources. Construction, sewage management, agriculture, and mining are large contributors to freshwater pollution.

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. "Microcystis in the Environment and Its      Health Effects." Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish       and Wildlife Research Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2011.      <http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=25259>.

Grant, Julie. "Algae Overgrowth in Lake Erie Could Cause Sickness." af the      allagheny front environmental radio for western pennsylvania. af, 4 Aug.      2010. Web. 8 Feb. 2011. <http://www.alleghenyfront.org/      story.html?storyid=201008041136040.804177>.

"What do water snails eat?" What do Snails Eat? What Do They Eat?, n.d. Web. 8      Feb. 2011. <http://www.whatdosnailseat.info/>.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources. "Microcystis." Harmful Algae Blooms in 
     Maryland. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2011. <http://www.dnr.state.md.us/
     bay/hab/microcystis2.html>.

Johnson, Paul D. "Sustaining America's Aquatic Biodiversity - Freshwater Snail      Biodiversity and Conservation." Virginia Cooperative Extension. Tennessee      Aquarium Research Inst., Cohutta, GA, 1 May 2009. Web. 8 Feb. 2011.      <http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-530/420-530.html>.

Hicks, Sarah. "Pollution." LAKE SCIENTIST. Kent State U, 2010. Web. 12 Feb.
     2011. <http://www.lakescientist.com/learn-about-lakes/water-quality/
     pollution.html>.

water

1) one out of eight people does not have access to clean water. Every day, the global water and sanitation crisis claims the lives of as many children under five to equal that of jumbo jets crashing. Global warming dumps salt into freshwater, making it undrinkable instantly. Storm water is also a problem, with so much concrete, the water has nowhere to go, so it picks up a lot of garbage and floods into the sewer and later on out into the river. Also fertilizers used in farming, wash off the farms, down the roads, into the sewers, and out into the river. The fertilizers kill the animals in the river and make it undrinkable.

2) to deal with the shrinking amount of drinkable water, we are combating global warming to stop salt being dumped in freshwater. To deal with the storm water, more straining systems have been put into use in sewers to eliminate the garbage during flooding. To help with the fertilizer problem, more organic farms are being introduced, to lower the amount of fertilizers used. To solve the not having access to clean water, many organizations are creating easy ways to access a hidden source of clean water. Such as Ryan's wells, which builds wells that lead to clean water sources underground.

3) Water allocation is a very big problem. Its where people dam up a river so farmers/industries/power plants can get all the water for their needs, but the people/farmers/industries/power plants who gain the water from the natural course of the river don't get any water at all. One way to solve the problem is to split the water half and half to each group that needs it. Or split a little part off the river, but increase the efficiency the farmer/industries/power plants use it with. For example, the power plant could recycle the water it uses to turn the turbines which in turn (sorry for the pun) make electricity. The basic idea is to use, clean (if needed), and re-use the water. Or have a meeting with all of the people who need the water, and find if someone doesn't really need that much water. Or use new technology that makes water that was currently unusable, able to supply one or more of the water consumers.

4) We should shorten our showers so we save water, and avoid taking baths unless absolutely needed because they use up a lot of water. Don't water the lawn, only water your potted plants. Also cut the grass more to make the individual grass plants need less water, and when they need less water, they don't die because you didn't water them. That prevents erosion from happening when the grass dies and no longer holds the ground together, and no dirt washes down the street, into the sewer, and into the river where it might clog it up. Use more water efficient cooking. If you need to water plants, use rainwater collected from rain barrels to water them, this might work for cars as well. When we save all this water, we allow more of it not to be wasted, and are demand for water goes down in our neighbor hood, and it can be diverted to other places that need it more.