Tayler

My nana sent me this email that was a test if you were smarter than a fifth grader. Just like the show (Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader) except it was only one question. It is a math problem and to see if you were right, there was a attachment with the email, you had to type what your answer was as your password to get into the attachment. If you had the wrong answer than you had the wrong password and you could not open the attachment. I will honestly say I tried, maybe, ten or fifteen times and I still can not open it. I have no idea what the answer is! So I guess I am not smarted than a fifth grader. I couldn’t do this kind of math when I was in fifth grade! I have no idea how a fifth grader does it.

Anyway, here is the problem.

Subject: Are you smarter than a 5th grader? “Math problem”

Do you think you are smarter then a 5th grader? Here is a real
math problem with no tricks; can you solve this problem?
If you can you are smarter than a 5th grader. There are 7 girls on a
bus.
Each girl has 7 backpacks. In each backpack, there are 7 big cats.
For every big cat there are 7 little cats.
Question:
How many legs are there in the bus?

This is a REAL math problem so don’t say that a bus has no legs.
Paws are also considered legs. Do not include the driver.

GOOD LUCK!!

Leave a comment with your guess!

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I have been seeing posters around my school that say stuff like “stop animal testing” or “Stop animal cruelty” and then the other day I got a Pony Express with an article in it about animal cruelty. A Pony Express is my school’s news paper but it isn’t a weekly or monthly thing, it is more like whenever they have enough articles to feel it up. What I don’t like about the newspaper is it doesn’t address our school issues. It says a bunch of things that doesn’t have to do with our school. But what I do like about it is that it still has interesting topics. And this one is one of the most debated.

Here is the article from the Pony Express:

Animal testing is a controversial issue around the world.

Although animal testing for products is not required by law, companies still do it anyway. Products are mostly tested on rats, mice, cats, dogs, apes, and rabbits. Often, animal testing can be dangerous to the animals and can cause them to get sick or die.

So, how do animals die and get hurt in experiments, in some cases, medical researchers deliberately hurt or alter animals to make the animal more like humans with a disease that the researchers are trying to cure. Most of the time, the animals get nothing to take away the pain from these tests. Some animals are even killed in front of other animals in cages, making them nervous and scared.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are about 2-4 million animals experimented on in the United States and it is estimated the tens of millions of rats are killed each year by experiments in the U.S alone. According to the European Union’s Commissioner, new discoveries also show that animal testing in the EU has increased by 3.2% from the year 2002-2005.

The types of things that are tested on animals can range from shampoo to cancer drugs. Almost ever medical treatment you use has been tested on animals first; even some food for cats and dogs are tested on animals. In addition, British law requires that “any new drug must be tested on at least two different species of live mammal. One must be a large non-rodent.”

Researchers claim that there are other tests that are cheaper and more accurate that could be used instead of testing on animals, but these tests are not used. One example of the new test that researchers try to use is artificial human skin made from skin cells donated to scientists. That test allows them to test makeup without harming animals or humans. Since this new test has come out, more and more researchers are beginning to use it.

Yet, there are some positive things about testing products on animals, such as finding cures to very important diseases. However, it has many negatives too. Animals have helped to find certain cures, but the don’t always have the same reaction that a human might have. One of the main reasons that scientists test n animals is because it is cheaper and it is supposed to be closer to the reactions of an actual human. On the other hand, the stress an animal endures can cause animal testing to be inaccurate anyway, though scientists say that it has not been proven that there are differences between the effects on an animal from a human.

The biggest issue in the debate is whether animals have as much right to live as human beings and if research on animals causes unnecessary deaths. For more information about animal testing, you can visit the website for The Humane Society of the United States: http://www.hsus.org/animals_in_research/animal_testing .

Well that’s the end of the article. Keep in mind the was written by a 14-15 year who goes to my school. Not that it wasn’t a bad article but in my opinion this isn’t the way to convince people to stop animal testing. I don’t like animal testing but I don’t really care either way. I love animals, but I cant be responsible for every dog or cat or rat out there. The animals are just going to roam the streets if they aren’t somewhere. And what makes me laugh is a ton of people call exterminators to kill rats or mice in there homes, but nobody complains about exterminators killing them. Do they think that is more humane? Poisoning them or trapping them till they starve to death? I think animals have the right to live and I don’t think it is right that some animal testers torture the animals but the only thing I can do is not become an animal tester. Its an interesting topic though.
Love,
Tayler!

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My English teacher is getting surgery. She won’t tell us what on, but it must be serious because she will be gone for 6 to 8 weeks. We have her aunt as a substitute while she is gone and she is a really tough grader. When she first got there we had to write a paper on why the ninth grade English teachers should keep The Odyssey in the curriculum. We worked on it for four days in class. We weren’t allowed to take it home because it was like a test. She gave me a 60% on it. I was so mad because I worked hard on it but than I gave it to her to take to my real English teacher and than she gave me a 67% on it. I’m not happy with that grade but at least it is 7% higher than what the sub. Gave me. Well here it is.

The Odyssey by the blind poet, Homer should stay in the curriculum for multiple reasons. It is great writing and you can learn many things from this interesting story.

The Odyssey has excellent writing. Homer uses different words that you don’t hear everyday such as “contending”, most writers would put fighting. The writing also makes you think about what is going on in the story. “Whatever the end up doing, our students are glad to have acquired the tools to understand and appreciate literature.” (Bernstein 2). You really do need the tools to understand, so it is challenging.

The second reason is you can learn many new thing, such as who Homer was or what it was like and how they talked back than. While reading this I learned what an epithet was. The Odyssey has lots of examples of them. “You can study a classic and discover influences from other writers and other great works of literature.” (Perez 1). There is a lot to study and learn from The Odyssey.

The third reason why the English teachers should keep The Odyssey , is because it is just a great story. It was scary, romantic, and hard to put down. I kept thinking I hope Odysseus gets home but I didn’t want his journey to end. “A classic has a certain universal appeal.” (Perez 1). It is a classic and it is appealing with it’s dangerous adventures.

Those are just some reasons why The Odyssey should stay in the curriculum. I am sure there a more reasons but these were my favorite parts of the story. Over all it is a marvelous epic.

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My English class is reading The Odyssey by Homer. We had to make a brochure for people to go and visit Calypso’s island, Ogygia. We had to make up stuff about this island and make it sound appealing. I learned that is an actual island! I bet you didn’t know that. I don’t know where it is but Homer describes it as a beautiful island and that’s all we had to go off of. I thought since I did it anyway I would share what I put on the brochure.

Take an adventuress journey to the gorgeous island
owned by the one and only, Calypso! Ogygia has
many outdoor and indoor activities you may attend.

• Walk across the sandy beach and collect as many

magical sea shells that you can carry.

• Climb up the mountainous hills on a sunny day.

• Soar across the ocean to see the near by

fabulous islands.

• Take a guided tour to Calypso’s magnificent

kingdom.

• Watch the sunset from the balcony of your hotel bedroom.

• Shop at the many souvenir shops in the middle of the wild, tropical forest.

• Eat out at five star restaurants for every course of the day.

Ogygia is a mix between a tropical island and a classical bright city. With enticing weather and scenery. You will fall in love with the beauty of the island and the charm of Calypso. Relax in a care free environment with no worries. Expect a welcome from the happiest villagers and a smile from the stars. Be thankful for your privacy and this quaint island. Enjoy a vacation at Ogygia, you will never want to leave.

Ogygia was the first island to exist with a cocoanut and a palm tree on it. It has been around as long as dinosaurs. Many tourists have stopped by expecting to be on their way home again but did not wish to leave after they arrived. Calypso took over the island in 12 B.C. She found it after taking a trip around the world. She has seen the world but this is by far her favorite place to be. It has always been the most tranquil because Ogygia has never been in a battle nor war. Now that you know a little about the island I bet you cant wait to sail out!

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Here is an essay I had to write for world history/ geography. I like to put my school work up on here. It is on Marie Antoinette and why I think she should not have been beheaded.

Marie Antoinette, queen of France, was beheaded on October 16, 1793. She was convicted of immorality. After getting caught trying to escape the country she was put in a prison and taken away from her family. I don’t think she should have been beheaded for many reasons.

First of all, she was accused of a lot of debt in France that she wasn’t completely responsible for. Some members from the court pretended to buy a expensive necklace. When people found out about the necklace they blamed the queen for it. She was responsible for much of the debt but debt is not worth murdering someone.

Secondly, she was only trying to escape from France because she was worried for the safety of her family. I don’t think it is right that someone should be so scared for their family that they would leave their own country. She was brave and faced an angry mob once because she was being responsible and facing her country.

Finally, she should not have been beheaded because her children need her to take care of them. I would understand them taking her out of power but they were being cruel and took her away from her family.

Those are just some reasons why I think she should not have been beheaded. Marie Antoinette unfortunately was beheaded for reasons that are unreasonable to me. She did make mistakes but over all she had courage and good taste!

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Okay I have some more poetry but I think this is the last one I should put up because these are really bad. And I want to save you the time of reading them.

The Home We Live in
The home we live in
(loud and full)
The people we love
(forever and ever)
Who we are
(the youth of the nation)
The money we spend
(goes bye bye)
The world around us
(keeps on spinning)

Love,

Tayler!

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More poetry for English. This one is so simple.

Friends
supportive, fun
laughing, sharing, hanging out
loveable
Buds

Love,

Tayler!

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The last unit/ assignment we did in English was poetry. I had to do a couple of poems so I thought I would share with you how bad I am at poetry. Trust me I am BAD at poetry.

House for Sale
Drip drop the leak sounds
In the basement down below
No selling this house

That is actually my best poem! I am most proud of it because it just came to me. I didn’t use a pattern or anything. Except it is a haiku. If you don’t know what a haiku is it is a poem that consists of five syllables in the first line. Seven in the second line and five again in the third line!

Love,

Tayler!

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This was my English teacher’s and my mom’s favorite. I didn’t really like it because it is so boring. My mom liked it because it describes December perfectly but I just think anybody could have written that.

December
December is winter whispers
The color of snowy white
It sounds like jingle bells
It smells like baked cookies
It tastes like eggnog
December- Santa is coming!

Love,

Tayler!

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I had to do this letter for my English class, so I thougt I would put it up here.

Richard Connell

555 S. Hunter Avenue

Scary, Island 34359

Dear Mr. Connell:

“The Most Dangerous Game” is a clever, suspenseful, and the most interesting short story I have ever read. This story has an awesome theme, well described characters, and ideal word choice, but my favorite part was the foreshadowing.

I enjoyed trying to guess what was going to happen next with the scary foreshadowing. “Off there to the right -somewhere- is a large island,” said Whitney. “it’s rather a mystery-” I searched my mind for ideas on what was going to happen with the intriguing island. I thought I had a better clue when “The old charts call it ship-trap island.” Whitney replied. But turns out I was wrong. It wasn’t hard making foreshadowing my favorite part of the story because of it’s annoying, mysterious ways of tricking me into thinking, I know what is going to happen.

The theme made me more interested in the story. “Life is for the strong” is not a theme you read everyday but you hear said or implied in different ways. I don’t necessarily agree with the theme in general but it does fit this short story because it is about hunting and surviving. You need to be strong to hunt and to survive. I like the theme because it is short and simple. Both General Zaroff and Rainsford believed this but only General Zaroff acted on it by murdering the weak people who could not beat him in a fight. “Life is for the strong” stuck out in the story because it was clever and it was so perfect for these two hunters.

Plus, the characters were so well described. Not only with direct characterization but with mostly indirect characterization. I could tell Zaroff was conceded by the way he talked and by his actions. His actions were thinking he had the right to kill anyone he wanted to. He also found Rainsford hiding in a tree and arrogantly blew cigar smoke up at him trying to tell Rainsford that he was better than him. He also said rude things to Rainsford “Hunting tigers ceased to interest me some years ago” Zaroff said acting like the greatest hunter and mocking Rainsford for thinking he brought simple old tigers to the island to hunt.

I also loved the irony in “The Most Dangerous Game” it made me laugh a little because in the beginning of this story Rainsford asked “Who cares how the jaguar feels?” but than when he was getting hunted like an animal he knew and cared how a jaguar feels. It was a lesson to Rainsford that he should be more considerate of how something feels before he shoots it in the head. After being scared of being murdered by an insane killer, I would think Rainsford would quit hunting all together. The irony was just so good because he sounded rude when he said that and called Whitney soft for caring about the jaguar but than he understood what Whitney was talking about.

Over all “The Most Dangerous Game” was an amazing story with many strong points in theme, characters, irony, and foreshadowing. Definitely the most clever, suspenseful, and most interesting short story I have ever read.

Love,

Tayler!

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