Monday, May 24, 2010
Fork in the Road
In a very small town in the state of Ohio there was a man named Phillip. Phillip was a very important business man, and owns many things all around Ohio. He might of seemed like he had everything and “everyone”, but instead he was a very lonely person, and had grown to be extraordinarily mean to every single person he could ever meet. This fact made him a very good person in business, and he was very successful.
Unfortunately once in a while he would feel a very deep pain, such a pain that he felt the urge to go to the doctor. But every time he went to a doctor the doctor would look at Phillip as if he had gone insane, because there was nothing wrong with him. So eventually he stopped going to the doctor, because it made him feel very insecure, and that turns up very bad for his business. So Phillip was thinking to visit a psychiatric, but before he decided it was time to buy himself a new Mac (he always did these types of compliments to himself before anything like going to the doctors or in this occasion a psychiatric). He went to the nearest Computer store to see if they have a Mac, and as he was walking through the ales he hears a very loud gunish type of sound, but he keeps on walking; it probably was nothing bad, so he keeps on walking until he finds the laptop section. When he got there he was startled, every one was running all over the place saying “WHERE IS HE!”, and still Phillip kept on walking. He had been practicing to avoid sidetracks since he became twenty (he was now 45). From far away he sees the lap top he was waiting for, so he went sort of running, but walking towards it and he went down to look for the box, then he saw the HE everyone was looking for. And to him HE did not really look dead hardly had blood around him! He was about to scream for everyone to come, when he felt a gun shape on his head, and then he slowly turned around and saw a man completely dressed in black ( just like the uniform of the store). The man said “DON’T YOU DARE SCREAM ANYTHING TO ANYONE DO YOU UNDERSTAND”
“Yes, Sir.”
“JUST LET HIM DIE HERE”
“But what did this man do to you?”
“A LOT OF THINGS AND NOW YOU MUST LET HIM DIE OR YOU WILL TOO”
Phillip thought to himself…
“What do I do? I don’t want to get killed but I just can’t leave knowing that a man might die because I never told anyone where he was! I mean I know how this man feels but how do I know if he will really kill me or not? I mean he might even kill me even if I don’t tell any one, just for the fun of it! I think I will not tell any one and live my wonderful life with no family to care for me, no wife, and 7 Macs! No that sounds too bad! If I tell I will get kill, if I don’t then I get to be haunted for the rest of my life. What do I do? I know I’ll…”
“Hey everyone the man you’re looking for is here”
“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?”
“LET’S GO, “BUDDY” YOURE COMING WITH ME”
“But...”
And boom, Phillip got killed for the good deed he had just done. He was later known as a hero, but that one little decision had made a big difference.
Cuba
Cuba es un país hermoso y también un país muy reconocido por el resto del mundo por su historia, política y economía. Los cubanos están muy orgullosos de su país y su historia. Espero que este proyecto les ayude a entender un poco sobre Cuba.
...
La bandera Cubana fue adoptada oficialmente en 1902. Esta bandera se basó en un diseño hecho por Narciso López, venezolano. Su diseño incluía el triángulo rojo. Los colores blanco y azul representan la libertad, igualdad y fertilidad. El rojo representa la sangre perdida en la revolución.
...
HISTORIA
Se sabe muy poco de la gente que originalmente vivía en Cuba (los Tainos y los Siboney). En el siglo XVI España vino a colonizar Cuba, pero con eso también trajo guerras y enfermedades que en poco tiempo acabaron con todas las culturas indígenas. En los 1700, el gobierno de España trajo a los esclavos africanos a Cuba para trabajar en las plantaciones de caña de azúcar.
La primera cosa que hizo Cuba para tratar de librarse de España les llevó a la abolición en 1886. José Martí, una persona muy querida por los cubanos, ayudó a empezar la segunda guerra contra los españoles en 1895. Esta revolución indujo a la guerra hispano-americana del 1898. Una vez que España perdió la guerra contra los americanos, Cuba se convirtió en un país “libre”. Sin embargo, los militares de los Estados Unidos tardaron poco en ocupar Cuba en 1902, cuando Tomas Estrada Palma se convirtió en el primer presidente votado de Cuba.
Obviamente la libertad de Cuba gracias a los Estados Unidos iba a venir con un precio. Ese precio era que los Estados Unidos podían intervenir con la política y la economía de Cuba. Del 1902 al 1959, Cuba estaba apoderado por dictadores corruptos, incluyendo a Fulgencio Batista, que estuvo en poder desde el1933 al 1952. Cuando Batista volvió a la política mucha gente se empezó a enfadar. Una de esas personas era Fidel Castro.
En 1953, Fidel Castro y un grupo de revolucionarios atacaron una base militar. Ese día pillaron a Fidel Castro y lo mandaron a la cárcel. La mayoría de los revolucionarios que mandaron a la cárcel, fueron matados. Cuando libraron a Castro de esa prisión en1955, él formó otro grupo llamado el Movimiento del 26 de Julio, con su hermano Raúl y Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Por cuatro años este grupo fue una guerrilla contra el ejército de Batista. Al final, Batista huyo del país el primero de enero del 59 y entonces Fidel Castro se convirtió en el jefe de estado.
Desde 1959, Cuba se empezó a conocer como una isla socialista. Cuando Castro trató de ampliar el socialismo por los países de América del Sur, los Estados Unidos mandaron soldados para pararlo. Al poco tiempo la Unión Soviética empezó a ayudar a Cuba, eso causó mucha tensión entre los Estados Unidos y la Unión Soviética, pero cuando la Unión Soviética se acabó en el 91, la economía de Cuba también. Fue entonces cuando Fidel Castro le dijo a la gente de Cuba que se quedasen, a pesar de los malos tiempos que iban a venir.
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ECONOMIA Y RIQUEZAS
Cuba todavía está sufriendo con su economía desde que la Unión Soviética los dejó en el ’91. Y los Estados Unidos añadieron más problemas cuando no le mandaban ninguna ayuda, el bloqueo, e hizo que los estadounidenses no pudiesen ir a Cuba. Hoy en día los cubanos se enfrentan con poca comida y poca gasolina, aunque la medicina todavía funciona bien.
En Cuba la gente trabaja para el estado, no para ellos mismos. La mayoría de la gente tiene dos trabajos, porque con uno casi no tienen para comer. Una persona puede ganar lo equivalente a $20.00 y eso con dos trabajos. Otro ejemplo que puede llegar a molestar, es que un portero, por ejemplo, puede llegar a ganar más dinero que un doctor.
El turismo es lo que ha estado ayudando a Cuba más que nada. Entre las playas de Cuba y edificios con mucha historia en la Habana, hay “los suficiente” para sobrevivir un tiempo más del turismo.
Una de las riquezas más conocidas del país es el tabaco y la caña de azúcar que es una parte vital en la economía de Cuba, pero eso si, nadie hace mejor el tabaco que los cubanos.
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LA GENTE Y SU ESTILO DE VIDA
Desde la revolución del 59, Cuba se ha convertido en uno de los países mas unidos del mundo. Los niños de Cuba tienen las mismas oportunidades en las escuelas, y muchas mujeres pueden tener buenos trabajos.
En Cuba la mayoría de la gente es o negro o blanco o “mestizos” o “mulatos”. Mestizos son la gente con mezcla de los indios nativos y los españoles, y mulatos, una mezcla de negro y blanco.
De los ciudadanos que viven en Cuba, la minoría son los judíos y los chinos. La mayoría de los chinos que antes vivían en Cuba se fueron con la revolución del 59, pero la Habana todavía tiene una “China Town”.
Con diferentes clases sociales y sin capitalismo, los intereses de los cubanos han cambiado desde querer hacer más dinero a querer ser mejores en otras cosas, como por ejemplo en la educación y el atletismo.
La mayoría de los latinos suelen tener más de dos hijos, pero en cuba con uno o dos les basta. También en la mayoría de los barrios cubanos las familias se tratan todos como una familia entera. Las mujeres no solo se limitan a quedarse en casa, desde la revolución del 59 las mujeres empezaron a tener casi todos los derechos del hombre. Hoy en día 42% de las mujeres trabajan en Cuba. Con tantas mujeres trabajando, los padres y los hijos han aprendido a hacer los deberes de la casa.
Muchos cubanos viven en apartamentos llenos y pequeños. A pesar de las condiciones, la mayoría disfrutan de los beneficios. El gobierno le da a cada cubano seguro medico gratis, seguro los niños gratis, y una educación gratis. Una costumbre de los cubanos es que a una edad como a los 13 o 14 se van los estudiantes por una semana o dos a campismos. Pueden quedarse ayudando a algunos campesinos o trabajando en las plantaciones de plátano o tabaco.
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EDUCACION
Toda la educación en Cuba es gratis. Los niños desde los 45 días a 6 años van al parvulario. Ya en el parvulario aprenden a leer, matemáticas y ciencias. Después de un año de lo que nosotros llamaríamos Kindergarten, van a una escuela elemental por ocho años (o hasta octavo grado), y después van a la secundaria. Los estudiantes de la secundaria tienen que estudiar historia, matemáticas, biología, física y química (pero también tienen que estudiar todo esto en la universidad).
Debido a que la educación en Cuba es gratis, los estudiantes necesitan ser muy buenos estudiantes y sacar muy buenas notas para poder entrar en las universidades. El sistema de educación de Cuba incluye práctica en tecnología que ayuda a los estudiantes a conseguir trabajo rápido.
Las escuelas de Cuba ofrecen muchos programas, como deporte, baile, karate y trabajo voluntario. Para todo esto los estudiantes tienen que pagar 1 CUC al mes, un CUC es equivalente a 1 dólar y 20 centavos.
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COMIDAS TIPICAS DE CUBA
En muchos países existe una variedad muy grande de comidas, pero en Cuba la comida se limita a arroz, carne de cerdo y de pollo, yuca, frijoles negros y aguacates.
Para entender la razón de esto, también tendrías que entender que hace muchos años Cuba estuvo colonizada por España. En aquella época todos los cubanos tenían que comer algo que les hiciese fuertes para trabajar, pero que fuese barato para que los españoles lo pudiesen comprar para toda la población. Esa es la razón por la que hoy en día Cuba come arroz, frijoles negros y carne a diario, aunque últimamente la carne apenas se ve en su comida.
Hoy en día, cuando compras arroz por ejemplo, ya viene procesado, es decir, que ha sido limpiado. Pero, en Cuba las personas que compran arroz, tienen que quitar todos los bichos y las piedras, y después empaparlo con agua para que el arroz se limpie.
También la carne no se compra en paquetes ni en supermercados. La carne que la mayoría de la gente puede comprar es la que se vende en puestos callejeros y está al aire libre. Te la cortan y te la ponen en una bolsa que debes llevar tú. (En Cuba las bolsas no te las dan, las tienes que comprar tú mismo y usarlas para comprar.)
En Cuba los supermercados son caros (para los que viven en Cuba), en realidad los supermercados son sólo para los turistas y estos no son muy grandes ni están muy, muy llenos. Los “supermercados de barrio apenas tienen comida, aunque está todo más limpio que en la calle.
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RELIGION
Cuba tiene una religión “especial”, llamada Santería. La Santería es una mezcla de las religiones del oeste de África y prácticas católicas. La santería vino de los esclavos africanos que eran paganos. Hoy en día hay por lo menos 4,000 cubanos que practican la santería, pero la mayoría de los que practican la santería son negros, mulatos y algunos pocos seguidores blancos.
La mayoría de los blancos en Cuba son católicos. Cuba tiene 260 curas católicos y sólo dos son negros. En los 60 el gobierno cubano no apoyó la religión católica, protestante y judía. Pero todas estas religiones lentamente están volviendo a Cuba, pero la mayoría de los cubanos, casi media población, no son religiosos.
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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
when my tooth broke
It all started one Saturday morning at my house. I was doing my first grade homework in the kitchen, and even though my mom had just mopped the floor, I was standing on the floor and gliding on it pretending to skate. Not really doing my H.W. My mom had gone to the living room to finish writing her lesson plans.
“Ring, ring.rrrring”the phone was ringing. “Sofia, can you get the phone for me?!” “Nop” I answered. But the phone kept on ringing, so I decided to run for it. I started to run fast, and then when I turned right… Boom!
I had slipped and fell, it hurt so much. All I noticed was that my lip was bleeding. I started to cry, and cry till my mom came all alarmed not knowing what happened. “Sofia, Sofia, what’s wrong? What happened?” I told her, still crying, that I had gone to get the phone, and I had fallen.
She simply said,”Sofi, I was going to get the phone, because you said you wouldn’t” She opened my mouth a little to see(it really hurt!!) then she spontaneously screamed ”AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH” Where did your tooth go????!!!!?”I had a look on my face like “What tooth?” “Oh no, you broke your tooth Sofi”, and that when it hit me I had half of a front fully grown tooth.
Friday, February 26, 2010
My Greek Myth
The war of troy had been going on for many years, 8 to be exact. This story takes place in one of the many battles of Troy. In his battle, there were two hopeless warriors in need of a way to win the battle. They asked Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom, for help.
Athena grants the two warriors their wishes in the form of two women. One is very beautiful, and the other is very ugly. Athena lets the two warriors choose one of them.
But, she does not make that easy. "First, I'll tell them a riddle, the smartest one out of the two will know which one to choose." Athena gathers up the two warriors and the two women. Once Sir Sandae saw Arymith, the most beautiful woman he ever saw, and the chose Arymith. Sir Sandae didn't even want to hear Athena's riddle. For a fact, Athena was red with fury.Sir Hugo on the other hand was smart enough to hear the riddle. And so, Athena "Cooled Down," and told Hugo the riddle. Athena riddle went like this,"
A lovely Flower
Last one hour
Then leaves an empty space
A weed grows
And always knows how to win the race." At first Sir Hugo did not know what Athena meant. But slowly he really started to think about what Athena meant when she read the riddle. Then he remembered Athena's red face when Sir Sandae walked away with the beautiful women. So obviously she would be the lovely flower that lasts one hour. Perhaps the ugly one was the weed. Maybe even though she was ugly, she might have something better inside, so then he finally decided which one to choose.
"I will choose that one" Sir Hugo said. (Pointing at Olimvia)
"Her name is Olimvia, but good choice. You are a good man indeed" said Athena.
Slowly but gradually Sir Hugo's warriors and him were starting to need food, and many men were starting to die of hunger. Sir Hugo was starting to get really worried and since most of his men were ill, he decided to ask Olimvia for help.
"Olimvia my darling, is there any hope to win the battle anymore?" said Sir Hugo.
"Of course Hugo in fact I have been thinking of something that may help us win the battle" said Olimvia.
"Please tell me we are at the edge of the cliff at this time."
"Well let me see, how many animals do you have left?"
"Just one cow ma'am."
"Good, do you have any weed, and grass........................."
"Only a few Olimvia, now can you please tell me what you are planning!"
"Now, now Hugo don't be impatient for this plan might take a while. You must feed the cow with all the food we have and the left over too. Once the cows become fat, come to me."
"How long should his take Olimvia."
"No more then a week." And so as Olimvia had said Hugo spent the week caring and feeding the cow with practically all the food they had left. After a week had passed, Sir Hugo came back to talk to Olimvia.
"I have bought the cow, all fed up and cleaned up" said Sir Hugo.
"Great to know that I can count on you. Now you must set the cow free, and make it reach Sir Sandae warriors" said Olimvia.
"I will do as I'm told Olimvia." So Sir Hugo let the cow go, not expecting much to happen. Once the cow reached the other side, Sir Sandae's warriors where starting to get worried.
"Don't worry you'll be fine Sir."
"What are you talking about?!"
"All Sir Sandae does is flirt with that girl of his, what is she called again" said warrior 2.
"OH, you must mean the most beautiful girl in the world called" said warrior 1.
"What! All I am saying is that Hugo has all his powerful army set up, while we are all practically dying."
"Oh come on! Don't say that! Look, all I am TRYING to say is that they probably let this cow go on our side to show us how hopeless we are. I mean look at this, nobody who was hopeless would let a cow like this run off."
"He is probably right. Already starting to sound hopeless."
"Who is right."
Sir Sandae said,"Hugo sent us a cow to show us how hopeless we are against them.
"What should we do?" said idk (fill in)
"We? Excuse me, by we do you mean I because I am the only on that can do anything OK" said Sir Sandae.
"Here comes the stuck up brat than can only flirt with Arymith," One of the soldiers managed to murmur without getting his head chopped off.
"Men don't worry I have a perfect solution."
"And that would be..............."
"We (coughed) I will ask my lady."
"Great! Lets see where that gets us!"
"I don't know all I am supposed to do is be pretty."
"Arymith, can you tell us anything?"
"What you asking me for huh?"
Then a warrior asked Arymith,"What is two plus two?"
"Um............... is it 800?"
"NOPE"
"321"
"NOPE."
"12"
"NOPE"
"I really don't know!"
"WOW" said Sir Sandae's warriors.
"STOP! Warriors I have made up my mind, we will leave today for any more time being spent here would be useless" said Sir Sandae. As soon as the warriors herd this they were instantaneously caught in a net of furry, so they started to throw rocks at him, some even lunged their swords at Sir Sandae. By the time they were finished he was more than mutilated, and Arymith was next.
Mean while Olimvia had called for Hugo to come to see her.
"What do you want Olimvia" said Sir Hugo. In a very annoyed tone.
"I just wanted to tell you that we have won the battle!" said Olimvia
"YYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" As soon as Athena herd that shriek of joy she came down to celebrate with Hugo.
"I am very pround of you" said Athena.
"You have won the battle for using your brains, GOOD JOB!!!!!"
6-419 10/1/09
When by tooth broke
It all started one Saturday morning at my house. I was doing my first grade homework in the kitchen, and even though my mom had just mopped the floor, I was standing on the floor and gliding on it pretending to skate. Not really doing my H.W. My mom had gone to the living room to finish writing her lesson plans.
“Ring, ring.rrrring”the phone was ringing. “Sofia, can you get the phone for me?!” “Nop” I answered. But the phone kept on ringing, so I decided to run for it. I started to run fast, and then when I turned right… Boom!
I had slipped and fell, it hurt so much. All I noticed was that my lip was bleeding. I started to cry, and cry till my mom came all alarmed not knowing what happened. “Sofia, Sofia, what’s wrong? What happened?” I told her, still crying, that I had gone to get the phone, and I had fallen.
She simply said,”Sofi, I was going to get the phone, because you said you wouldn’t” She opened my mouth a little to see(it really hurt!!) then she spontaneously screamed ”AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH” Where did your tooth go????!!!!?”I had a look on my face like “What tooth?” “Oh no, you broke your tooth Sofi”, and that when it hit me I had half of a front fully grown tooth.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
World War II Story
“This is the end for our country!”
“Jacques, don’t talk like that, we still have hope, maybe other countries like The United States will save us”
“Don’t get your hopes up Jacob, if it were so then they would have never let the Nazis invade France”
“Ok gentlemen; let us stop talking about this. Do you want to hear something funny? What is black and white and red all over?”
“What?”
“It’s a newspaper”
“That makes no sense Pierre”
“Really Jacques, the paper is white, the ink is black, and it’s red all over. As in every one reads it all over the place”
“Oh! Okay” said Jacques laughing
Suddenly, there was aloud noise almost as if the door had been knocked down, (which it had been). The men got really scared and froze in place. Then, they saw a group of soldiers; it appeared to be Nazi soldiers. That couldn’t mean anything good.
“Which one of you is Jacob Levi?” Ask one of the soldiers while the rest of the group where searching for something in the room.
“Jacob came out of the “croud”, and said “I am that Jew you are looking for”
Immediately the soldier said “Get your stuff”
But Jacob was not in his house so he had nothing to pack, instead he pretended to go to one of the rooms in the house. Very quickly he wrote a note for Jacques:
“Please tell my wife that I love her very much. Jacques, I know you will not see me again, but for my sake let the world know what is happening, write an article against the Nazis. Don’t let them destroy our country. Wish me good luck, I will need it”
Jacob walked out accompanied by the soldiers. Pierre and Jacques witnessed his exit. After that the room went silent, neither Jacques or Pierre dares to speak another word, they were in shock.
Jacques spent many days trying to write an article that would make the Nazis look bad and mad, but that was hard. He didn’t want to get arrested for it.
Days passed, and this idea was getting tiring, so he finally decided that Jacob was his friend, and he should be brave, for his country and for his friend. He finally came at with something good, it was something like this:
No more Nazis
After we’ve seen what the Nazis have done, and are still doing in my country there is only one think that comes to my mint, NO MORE NAZIS. People of France we should fight together, fight for our country, fight for our freedom, fight for our children. Let’s demonstrate to the Nazis that we are not afraid of then…
His friend Pierre was a journalist in Le Monde. Jacques showed him what he wrote. Pierre read the article, he was horrified, but he knew he had no other choice, so he decided to publish it.
One day after the article was published, 10 soldiers came in bursting into Le Monde building. They were looking for the person who wrote the article. 30 minutes later the Nazi soldiers stomped through the door of Jacques office, and took a screaming Jacques Dubois out. Everybody in the neighborhood saw his exit.
When Jacques wake up he could not remember anything, except being pulled out of his office, and being hit so hard by so many men that he closed his eyes. Now he found himself in an irritating smelling pitch black, and over filled wooden cart. Everything looked horrible. There were kids crying madly, people standing up and vomiting and the stink of necessities against his own face. This was a nightmare, he loudly asked if they where all Jews. Everybody looked up him, but nobody answer. The trip took about two more days. During that time there were no food, or drink for anybody.
Jacques closed his eyes and dreamed with the fresh air of the forest, and the wonderful smell of the spring. But when the doors opened, he got the horrible smell of burning flesh. An officer made them line up in a straight line.
“When you enter we will take anything of value you have with you, any one found with gold or silver amulet will be kill” said the officer screaming to all of them. Jacques gave his watch and a gold medal, but did not give in his journal and pen. For the tree days that he spent in Auschwitz, he wrote about was happening to him:
July 5th, 1940
I am stuck sleeping on the dirty, bad smelling floor with very sick people around. I keep asking me if I did the right thing. While I am writing this two more people die. I hardly feel anything.
Jacques Dubois
July 6th, 1940
Today the officers wake me up at about 6:00 a.m. They asked us to take all our cloth of, because we were going to take a shower. This would of been my first shower since the day the Nazis captured me. But unfortunately there was no soap, and we ended putting on the same clothes.
July 7th, 1940
I am really hungry and about to die of thirst. I am also so tired; I hardly get a chance to sleep. I keep thinking that this probably will be my last day. I don’t know how long I will last. Soldiers keep on taking people from my cabin that are never seen again. I wonder what they are doing to them. In France some people where talking about a gas that can kill many called Zyclon-B gas. And this smells…
Jacques Dubois died in July 7th, 1940. He was sent to a gas chamber. His journal was one of the things that the soldiers from the United States found when the war was over.
“What do you mean you can’t accept checks? You should have told me that before! (Breath)Oh..! Don’t put that face on me, I came from Manhattan, and I am here for my tickets, do you think I should be wasting my time like this! (Breath)Well then, I demand to see the manager immediately!
People these days, they do not know how to attend an old woman. Who on Earth wouldn’t accept checks?! I can only give in the money in checks; after all I don’t get much money from that rotten social security check from that husband of mines. Only 700 $ a month, who is able to live with that? I would definitely like to know. That is the only reason I have to go to Russia anyway! I don’t even want to imagine how things in Russia will be! After all this time living here I have to go back! Not only with my selfish sister be there to complain as she always does about me, but I will have to live with her. I swear if I would have had children when I had the chance to! All of this nonsense would of never happen, and now they would be taking care of me, and I would be talking care of my grandchildren. But of course, that would have never happened because my husband had enough children from his other marriage! Who will take care of me on those days that I get sick? I don’t have anybody, not even a friend. The only person that I had, had to die before me, now what? What I am supposed to do all by myself? I only have that sister of mines, we hate each other so much that we haven’ talked in 20 years. She always complained that when she needed money to live in Russia, I would never send her any thinking it wasn’t necessary. I mean, I really needed that fur coat! She could get all the money she needed off of begging in the streets, that’s all they do in Russia! Hey where are those tickets? It’s been half an hour already!
Worker: We accept checks ma’mm, and here are your tickets to Russia.
Anya: Finally!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
is the water you drink in school clean?

Is the water you drink in school clean?
Is the water you drink in school clean?
5 students said yes, 22 said no. Some of the students don’t like the taste of the water, while others simple don’t know why they don’t drink school water.
Most people actually know about how clean our school water is, but some apparently don’t. This really shows how people who actually know, and have proof that this is true, are letting parents and children know that they can’t drink school water. But nobody has made the effort, especially knowing that certain amounts of water that contains lead can do severe damage to the kidneys, the brain and the circulatory system.
In most schools the levels of the lead in water not exceeded the EPA recommended level of 20 ppb.
According to the Department of Education, every school must test the amount of lead in the water. The results of the test have to be sent to the school principal. Then, the school has to post in the main office. The results are posted and available for review are sent to the president of Parent’s Association, chairperson of United Federation of Teacher (UFT), school custodian, and unions for the custodians and firemen.
The following is an interview with one of the member of the PTA about the water in our school.
Q: Do you Know what lead is?
A: I think that it is something found in water, also it toxic for the human body.
Q: Do you think that the school water is clean?
A: For the most part I think that the water is. Now what I think is not clean are the water fountains. First of all no one cleans it so it must have a lot of bacteria.
Q: Has the school done any test to prove how clean our school water is?
A: I do not know , but I do know a guy that works in the in the DEP that for a living, check a box that is outside of the school that connects to a water fountain that connects to a water in the water in the school.
Q: Have you received any results about the lead in the water at PS 150?
A: You can receive results, but you have to request it. I think we have though.
Here are some tips to make the water we drink cleaner:
Sadly, buildings that were built before the 1960’s are more capable of providing water with lead in it. So if you live or go to school in a building that was built before the 1960’s follow these tips to make your water cleaner.
1. Run the water until the water is cold, once it is clean use for boiling and you will not have any germs. Do not use hot water to cook, always cold water.
2. If you have not used your sink water for days or hours, let the water run, that way it will slowly clean it self.
To find out more about drinking water in NYC public schools you can call or find website information at the following:
• Department of Education Drinking Water Hotline at (718) 482-3777
• Department of Environmental Protection
• United States Environmental Protection Agency
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El explorador y el leon
Un día uno de los chicos que llegaron a la escuela no lo dudo ni un momento en hacer una broma, pues sabía que Jacques estaba chiflado. Ese chico junto a otros, mientras los demás estudiantes estaban en clase, fueron al baño. Allí, se metieron atrás y sacaron un teléfono para llamar al profesor Jacques. Por teléfono le dijeron medio en francés, medio en español: “Tenemos aquí en la calle Andrade un animal místico, ¡Buena suerte!” El profesor se alegró mucho al saber que se había encontrado un animal místico y rápidamente se despidió de todos y se fue.
Nadie supo nada más de él, hasta que un día en el periódico Le Figaro salió una foto del profesor Jacques Laglan aguantando un león con pintas raras y debajo de la foto ponía: “Jacques Laglan el famoso domador de leones del circo Ringling”.
Por: Sofía Caraballo
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A PLAY FOR DRAMA
Narrator: The famous Trillionare Brian Clain has died recently, leaving his grandson a choice of a trillion dollars if he opens a store. Right now we are in the office of Mr. Clain, and the lawyer is reading his testament.
Lawyer: (lawyer opens the envelope and starts) Well it is now time for me to read Mr.Clain’s testament:
Dear Steven,
You are the most useless person I have ever known. But, unfortunately you are my grandson, and there is nothing I can do to change that. So I have to give you my trillion dollars. But things won’t be that easy. Just imagine a useless person like you with so much money! It would be the end of the world! So I want you to start a store with my spare two million dollars. There is going to be one condition: your store must start out great, but then be known as the worst ever. As a result of this, you would have to close it up loosing all “your” money, giving me a reason to give you my trillion dollars. Don’t think you can get away with this; I will have my lawyer control all the money and your actions. You must succeed at doing this in three month, or else my lawyer will gladly take all of it (The lawyer give Steve a huge smile)
Please sign as I and my lawyer did under here:
X__________________ X_________________
X___________________________
Steve: What? Is he crazy? What am I suppose to do!?...
Lawyer: (still reading testament) I knew you would say that! , and no I am not crazy, but this will be funny!
Steve: What?
Narrator: Steve spent the whole night thinking about what store he would be worst at, and finally at about 4:30 A.M, he was able to rest in peace for he had found the perfect one! And the next morning…Steve decided to make a call to the lawyer about the idea he had spent the whole night thinking about.
Steve: I have the greatest plan ever!
Lawyer: OK, let me in to it!! (All sarcastic, and tired)
Steve: I decided that...
Lawyer: That…
Steve: That, I want to make a candy store!
Lawyer: Are you serious! (About to burst into laughter) Don’t you know that that is the number one thing kids and some adults love?
Steve: well think about it, if my announcement reeks, my candy stinks, my store smells and looks awful, and the stores name is Don’t Eat Those Candies Store, they won’t even want to walk in!
Lawyer: You do know that kids these days are attracted to the most inhuman things known to adults…
Steve: oh come on, just let me give me a chance, I am useless any way!
Lawyer: glad you admitted it, less problems for me now! Useless Steve (Beginning to laugh)
Steve: IS that a compliment?
Lawyer: (still laughing) I Think I am going to keep that money all right!
Narrator: Steve eventually got the spare two million dollars to start the businesses. First he started by renting a space for the store… so he called the lawyer after a period of time and…
Steve: Hey do you think you could find any cheap place in a bad neighborhood?
Lawyer: What type of question is that?
Steve: You should know! You’re a lawyer!
Lawyer: Well a layers job is not to find a renting place!
Steve: Well, your job was to help me or guide me! So can you find a place or not?
Lawyer: I might be able to find a place, but it won’t likely be in a bad neighborhood, and absolutely not cheap!
Steve: I don’t care, I can live with it
Lawyer: In that case, I think I know just the right place!
Narrator: The lawyer was secretly thinking to put Steve in a high class neighborhood
Lawyer: Oh, and you might want to make the prices higher! They will definitely hate that! (Giving a little chuckle)
Steve: Oh, thanks you are so helpful, contact me as soon as you find out if that space you talked about is available
(They both hang up at the same time.)
Narrator: Steve finally got the space. He definitely did not get the space in a lower class neighborhood; in fact he got a store in Manhattan, in Fifth Avenue! But let’s continue with the story. Steve had to buy some merchandise from his friend Marco, a terrible business man. So he decided to give Marcos a call.
(Steve dials the phone and Marco picks it up)
Marco: Hello?
Steve: Hey Marco, how you doing?
Marco: Ok, I don’t get much business
Steve: Great! Then I have a perfect idea to get you back into business!
Marco: Really what is it?
Steve: Well you may think this is crazy, but ever since my grandpa died weird things have been happening to me, so weird that I have to open up a store. (Steve takes a deep breathe) can you send me all the bad candy you had?
Marco: What do you mean? (Really confused)
Steve: You know! ... All the candy nobody would ever buy! (In a very uncomfortable tone)
Marco: Ok… I’ll pass by your place tomorrow with the catalogue I just finished
Steve: It’s a deal, I promise to buy a lot of stuff from you
Marcos: Yes!!!
(Both hang up)
Narrator: The next thing Steve needed to do was buy some decorations, create and hang ads up, and hire some workers. But first, he had to meet up with Marco to buy the merchandise.
(Marco enters the room, and Steve greets Marco)
Steve: Hey Marco Polo! Long time no see!
Marco: Yeah!
Steve: Back to business, did you bring the catalogue?
Marco: Of course I did!
(Marco takes out the catalogue from his bag and shows it to Steve)
Marco: So do you see any thing you like?
Steve: hmm... Let me see…
(They are both flipping pages)
Steve: Well I like this mouth coloring bubble gum…
Marco: MMHHm…
Steve: Oh, and this wooden jaw breaker…
Marco: MMH, wait, seriously?
(Steve nods his head)
Steve: And this one...And this one...
Marco: uh…..ohm...
Steve: See this one over here, it says strawberry and banana flavors
Marco: So
Steve: I don’t want it to be strawberry or banana, What about onion and garlic?
Marco: Eeeeeeww!
Steve: I’ll even pay you 4 times the price, come on!
Marco: OK (in a very happy tone)
Steve: I want strawberry and banana doodles instead of cheese doodles...
Marco: Sure thing! (Writing everything Steve wanted as fast as he could)
Steve: I wan candies that break, and stick to children’s teeth!
Marco: What? That will have to cost you a thousand more bucks!
Steve: Ok! No problem!
(Marco looked appalled)
Marco: This is going to loose my reputation
Steve: come on dude, be serious, you don’t have any reputation. I also want candy that looks like you have braces on, and candy that is super sticky in dry surfaces
Marco: Um... Sure
Steve: OK, so the last thing I want is a candy that has 5,000 calories!
Marco: So, I think we can have this ready in about one week
Steve: Perfect!
Marco: Thank you for believing in me man!
Steve: Don’t thank me; I had to choose the worst businesses man I knew
Marco: Whatever! Bye, see you in a week
Steve: Bye to you too!
Narrator: Steve ended up buying a lot more candy than he needed, but it was worth it. Now it was time for Steve to make some ads!
Steve: (calling out to his future workers) Hey you over there!
1: What me?
Steve: Yeah you! Do you think you could help me make some ads, I’m kind of stuck here, do you think you could help me?
1: yeah sure why not?
Steve: hey and you!
2: Me?
Steve: could you help me too?
2: cool! Sure
Narrator: His two future workers and he, made a terrible mess with the ads, but after all that was what they needed. Next step was to open the store…
END OF ACT ONE!!!
©Sofia Caraballo
2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
One of my favorite foods I have is a typical plate in Spain, called Paella. I know my grandma makes the best paella I have ever tasted. I am not the only one who thinks so, everybody who has tried my grandmas Paella thought the same. On special occasions like when I go to Spain, my grandma makes paella not only , because she knows I love when she makes it, but because she knows that when she does it a lot people from our family come and eat. To make paella you need many ingredients. Some of these are; rice, water, tomato, pepper, food coloring, clams, squid, shrimp, and mussels.
Another type of food really like is called rice pudding. I mostly eat pudding in the summer, because there is more time to make it than during the year. It takes a long time to make it, there for you need to have a lot of patience to make rice pudding correctly. It takes about an hour and a half to make rice pudding. I love it when my mom and my grandma make it. I think it is mostly special when my mom makes it, mostly because she doesn’t usually cook.
Last but not least another food I like a lot is called crêpes. In this case my aunt makes them, and she does it the best. I really like it when she does it, because she lets me help her a lot. It is really easy to make, and also it is made quickly. My aunt only makes crêpes when I go to Spain since she knows I like them a lot. To make crêpes, you need to have eggs, flour, and sugar butter. Once you have mixed well, you fry it quickly, and you can only put little bit on the pan. After you just choose a filling, close it and Bon Appetite.
drama expirience

Drama Experience
I think that being in Drama class and at the same time being in a play was a lot of work, but I think it was worth it. Even though there were good times and bad ones everything went well. I think that my drama experience was fascinating. I learned a lot about things like the fourth wall, and can break it. Also what a tableux is, and how to do it, and many others things I really would not have learned as much of if it weren’t for Mr. Pagano. I even think I was very lucky to get one the best parts in the whole play. Mr. Pagano has a great way of getting along with people; witch in my opinion helped a lot. Also he is very kind and did a lot of work by himself. If I were do all he did, after the play I’d be absent for a week, and sleeping! All in all, Mr. Pagano is a wonderful hardworking man, and whatever he did this year to make the play outstanding he should do next year and all the years to come. I would give these tears play 5 stars
blood project

Blood is a very important part of our body that is why I choose this topic, because I wanted to learn more about how the blood works inside our body. It helps us breathe, and carries nutrients. It helps our body fight the germs that get us sick. Also, it helps us to get rid of the stuff that can not be used in our body.
One very important job that blood has is helping us breathe. Blood carries the air you breathe to every part of your body. The really red blood (which is the type of blood we usually think of when somebody mentions the word blood), is the blood that carries oxygen. The other type of blood is a bluish red, and does not carry oxygen.
Another job blood has is to carry nutrients around your body. Every time you eat, and the food you eat is processed, it’s divided into two categories. One of those categories is the entire good stuff that your body needs. The other one is considered the waste. The waste is carried down to parts where your body can get rid of it.
Lastly, one of the most important jobs blood has is fighting germs. Germs are tiny living things that can make you sick when they live inside your body. Special cells on your blood called white blood cells, fight these harmful germs, and help to make you well again.
All in all, blood has a very important role in the human body; it brings nutrients to your body, and carries oxygen so you can breathe. The blood also fights harmful germs. I choose to write about blood, because I found it interesting to learn about how it works in our body. With this work I learned cool stuff such as: did you know that if you stretched out all the blood vessels in your body and laid them end to end, they would be long enough to circle Earth three times? Amazing!!!

Hi, my name is Clara Barton. I am a nurse in the American cross (or the ARC), an organization that I found here in America. The first time that I ever got to nurse someone was when I was 11 years old, you see my brother got sick, and I was the only one who could take care of him. After many years of wars, and especially after been working in the Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War, I decided to make the American Red Cross in the USA. It was very difficult to start this organization, because at the beginning nobody took me seriously, or wanted to help, because they thought it was too much for a woman. And I have to agree, it was. Before me, there were many nurses, but what made me different was that I was the first woman to take it upon herself to make one of the most important organizations in the USA. Many people thought, that race, gender and color matter, but for me everybody who needs help deserves it, no matter how they look from the outside. Overall I think that women should keep on fighting till they get the best of them to come out. WE CAN DO THIS!!!
the lucky number seven
You get me! I have a second last name, Prime, because I am a prime number. A prime number is a number that can only be multiplied by itself and 1. Also I can not get dived further than 7, the number I am. For some cultures the number seven is very important, and constantly repeated. They say things like seven
times seven, a lot of times. Also there are 7 days in a week. Another thing that at least I think is worth studying for is that there are 365 days in a year. If you were to divide that by the number seven (me!!!) you get my uncle
52, which is the number of weeks we have. Also there are only 7 wonders of the world, (what a lucky number I am!!). My aunt 5 is a magician, and the number she uses the most is seven. She says it’s a magical number, because of its history. Also my 4th cousins are roman! , and they thought me how to write my name in roman numerals. It goes like this: VII. Well that’s for today, I hope to see you next time. Or maybe the next time my aunt can explain better. I hope you enjoyed me talking and the history of me’s (7).
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Anne Frank

Anne Frank was a young girl when the Second World War started. A lot of changes were done to her life, because of her religion. We all know her heartbreaking story and how she and her family were force to live hided for almost two years, thanks of the diary she wrote.
Annelies Marie Frank, (Anne Frank), was born in June 12, 1929. Anne was a Jewish girl that lived in Germany, but most of her life she lived in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Anne’s father, Otto Frank, and her family did not follow all the customs and rules of their religion. Otto always encouraged Anne and her older daughter Margot to read.
On March 13, 1933 their lives changed dramatically, the Nazis won the elections in Germany, and many Jews started to fear what would happen to them if they stayed in Germany any longer. Otto Frank left Germany, and found a job and an apartment for the entire family in Amsterdam. By February of 1934, the whole family was living in a place where more than 300,000 Jews had fled to.
Soon after that things started to get more serious for the Jewish people. Jews couldn’t go to the same schools like the rest of the children, they couldn’t go to any public place, and every time they were in the streets they must wear a Jewish star. In July 1942, Margot Frank, received a letter that told her that she had to go to a labor camp. Otto Frank decided that this was the time to hide with his family in a place that he was being prepared for moths. They moved to a secret room in which he used to work. The people who used with Otto tried their best to help the Franks, even though it was forbidden to help Jewish people.
The Frank’s moved in the secret room on Monday, July 6, 1942. They left a note in their old apartment saying they went to Switzerland. They were forced to wear several layers of cloth, because they were afraid to be seen with luggage. In July 13th, they Van Pels joined the Frank’s in the secret room, and latter another man came to live with them, Fritz Pfeffer.
Right before they went into hiding, Anne received a diary in which she told us her story. She named her diary Kitty, and almost all the entries she wrote there described how they lived and felt being hiding for two years. After living a long time with all these people, Anne didn’t like them at all. She also has a bad relation with her mother. But also there was time for love, and Anne felt in love with Peter, and she received her first kiss in the hiding room.
After surviving for two years living in a room in a very bad conditions, and right before the war was almost ended, in August 1944, they were arrested by the Gestapo. Anne and her sister Margot were sent to a work camp in Westerbork where women were treated very badly. During days they had to dig wholes. After a while, Anne and Margot died, like her mother. Otto was the only survivor, and the person who found Anne’s diary. After he read his daughter diary he decided that this diary should be published to let the people know what happen. He also was impressed of her daughter beautiful writing and her inner soul and maturity.
Anne Frank is a very important person in history. Not only because she lived in a very important period of time, the Second World War, but she also wrote about it and left we know how people like her suffer. Another reason why her writing is so valuable is because she wrote about that when it was happened, not like other people who wrote about years after. Stories like Anne Frank story can help us to be better persons, and never forgot, because we don’t want that what happen with Jewish people could happen again with nobody.
By: Sofia Caraballo
Amnesia
I woke up, I touched my nose to see how cold it was, and (it was really cold!). Then, I started getting up, but rapidly I went down. I had forgotten to put my pants on. So I put them on, and started walking.
At first I thought I was at home, but then I noticed I wasn’t, unless my house was a mansion. I saw a window and started walking towards it. When out of the blue, a police officer just popped up in front of me, and said “Excuse me miss, but where are your parents?” At that moment, I had no idea who my parents are, so I looked around to see if something would help me. Then I saw a sign that said “Lady’s room, do not enter or else”. Well, it didn’t exactly say the “or else”. But I just figured that one day that term could be added to the logo. So I told him, “Well, my mom is in the lady’s room”. I stared at him wickedly to add on to the scary effect. He proceeded away as if he just learned the most secret info in the world. What was with him? Weird stuff! But really, I don’t like a person who would do that.
While he was “running” away from me, he said “Sorry madam” with a French accent. I really could have sworn he was French. Except for the back of his suit said “Lufthansa,
After the police man was gone, I started walking towards the window, but this time I made sure nobody “interrupted” me. So when I got there I squished my face on the window, and saw an airplane. I thought, “Airplane”. Then, another thought came to my mind, “Airport”. Afterwards I came back to where I had wakened up, and found a bag that had obviously not been there before. I would have been nice to leave it there, but I just felt the need to open it. I opened it up to see what was inside… The first thing I found was 3 passports, and then I found 3 tickets to
I picked up everything, and started walking. All of the sudden the loud speaker said “Flight AACRBV, please report to door 26; number 44” After that announcement almost all the people in the airport got up. I opened the bag, and checked for the tickets, and soon I found myself running with the crowd.
As I was running through the crowd, an object caught my eyes. It was all the way on the other side from where I was, so I ran towards it. When I got there I found 3 little suitcases, I checked for the names…Great! They were mine. So I ran until I got inside the plane. I put all my luggages up, where everything else was. Since there was only one of me, and three seats reserved, I had a nice space set up for me. I choose to sit in the seat that was next to the window. A lot of passed by. After every one was seated, we started to go up in the air. Then, I slowly started to question myself “Who’s going to be waiting for me in
“Come on Mirella, we are going to be late”, “Oh ma, I just had the most horrible dream ever. I had no memory, I even didn’t know if you even exist!!” “Oh, you 12 years old, Mirella, come on, dress fast, we need to go to the airport fast.”
After Mirella got dressed up, she helped her mom bring the suit cases down. When they got to the airport her mom paid the taxi. Once inside her mother said, “We have 30 minutes left, go to the bathroom, I’ll wait for you here” As she was walking a police officer stopped her and said “Excuse me miss, but where are your parents? She just thought “my parents, I had no idea who are my parents”.




