Wanted fins, got boobs, that's life. 

Bucket List

By Kendrick "Diablo Blanco" Shetron

1. Don't Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk

    In his charming fiction novel Don't Stop the Carnival, Herman Wouk describes perfectly the classic American midlife crisis. It's the tale of Norman Paperman, a typical New York business man who tries to reinvent himself by fleeing his life to the Caribbeans. This book is delightfully written and just from the first few pages the humor Wouk possesses is relevant.

2. Nailed by Patrick Jones

    Nailed is the story of Bret Hendricks, a "weirdo" at his school. He doesn't fit in with the jocks who run his school. He still must still escape high school and his disappointed father. Patrick Jones conveys the tough environment of high school, and the social hierarchy that is upheld in the school. From reviews of the book and the first few pages, you can tell the struggles, including not being accepted by his father, that Bret will have to overcome to survive high school.

3. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

    The circus is a wonderful place, that brings back many fond memories for me. In Water for Elephants Jacob Jankowski is tossed into a circus from a young age. He recalls the story of his life and describes the love and trust found between Marlena and himself. The book received great reviews and from the first few pages you can tell that it's a story well worth reading.

4. Going Bovine by Libba Bray

    Going Bovine is a tale of Cameron, a severely sick boy. He tries to make it through high school, with the aid of a hallucination angel, a video gaming dwarf, and a yard gnome. As they set off on a road trip of the ages, this book should be an interesting story full of hilarious twists. A good humor in a book is important, and you can tell that Libba Bray will not disappoint.

5. The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

     In the Life of Pi, Pi Patel is a 16 year old boy who's family owns a zoo. He deals with the struggles of school, religion, and family. His biggest issue though, is dealing with being stuck on a life boat in the middle of the ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Yann Martel conveys the many questions that teen boys face in a very ratable way. The book has received great reviews and seems like a fantastic read.

6. Going after Cocciato by Tim O'Brian

    Cacciato is a troop who left his post in Vietnam. The remainder of his squad must go searching for him on an 8,000 mile journey to Paris. From reviews of the book and the first few pages you can tell that O'Brian tells the story of war in a very in depth and descriptive manner. This book is full of action and suspense and should be a great read.

7. Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrook

    When two young boys, one a giant who has trouble learning and the other a genius physically handicapped, join forces the become a lovable force. This heart warming tale by Rodman Philbrook describes the journey of Maxwell and Kevin. When they join forces they triumph over loss, shame, and embarrassment. The reviews of this book are nothing but positive, and from the first few pages you can tell it will be a great story.

8. Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks 

     Message in a Bottle is a story about a woman who has given up on love, but after a discovery of a simple note she changes her outlook on the search for the mysterious man who could be her special someone. This book has received great reviews and is a Nicholas Sparks classic. It is guaranteed to be a great story about love and how it sometimes leads you to somewhere you never expected to be. Also this book was recommended to me by my girlfriend, so I had to put it on here haha.

9. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd 
   
     In The Secret Life of Bees Lily and her care giver Rosaleen must escape to the small town where Lilly's mother is from, in order to get away of 3 of the towns racist residents. I've seen the movie and heard my mother talk about the book, and it sounds absolutely wonderful. The movie was extremely heart warming and even made me cry. I don't expect anything less out of the book and it should be an exceptional read.

10. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls 

     Where The Red Fern Grows is a timeless classic, that portrays the relationship between a boy and his dogs. This a story I have always wanted to read, but never have. Just from the first few pages, I can tell I'll love the story, and the way Rawls pulls the reader into the scenery of the Ozarks. It's a book that will bring out a lot of emotion, and should be just as great as all of the reviews it has received. 

 

Rebel without a Cause

     In the 1955 film Rebel without a Cause James Dean portrays one of his most memorable characters in his short lived, but brilliant career. The film was directed by Nicholas Ray and written by Steward Stern. In the film James Dean plays Jim, a troubled teen who is kind at heart. Jim tries to escape his troubles by moving to a new town, but is soon encounters a tough gang of bullys. As far as typical teen movies go, Jim is an outsider and is only seen as one because of his reputation as the new kid.
     Through his journey in the new town, Jim is in trouble early and often. The beginning of the movie is a drunken Jim in the streets, soon to be escorted to the police station in handcuffs. In the station he lays his eyes on Judy (played by Natalie Wood), the troubled girlfriend of Buzz the leader of the school. He also befriends Plato (played by Sal Mineo). The three unlikely friends all share a slew of family problems. Jim has a father who is pushed around by his mother and gets no respect. Judy gives her father affection, but this affection is not returned but rejected. Plato has a new story about his family everyday, but the only sure thing we know is that he is raised by a black nurse.
    James Dean is a rebel in this movie. He plays the bad boy who is loved by the girls, and eventually is on top. This movie is typical in character bias. You have Judy the girl who only dates the next big thing. Jim the bad boy who steals the girls heart. And Plato, the troubled teen who is driven through torture, and angst to do the unthinkable and ruin his life through revenge. This movie portrays the typical society, but in a way where you don't recognize the stereotypes. It's in a way where you respect the characters, and want more of them. You want to understand them.

Kendrick Shetron       

29 February 2012

AP Lang

Harmon

We’re late. What’s new?

            In his article Time Out!, Dave Barry’s sarcastic; whit displays his frayed depiction of men and woman. He uses rhetorical styles such as hyperbole and ethos to convey animosity towards the habits of women.

            Barry uses Ethos to relate to the male readers. He takes events every man has been through and reminds them of the painstaking habits women have when it comes to time management. He talks about the “husband being a nervous wreck”, because his wife is causing them to be late. The husband is diligent in his attempts to get her to leave. Barry relates something most men have been through, and depicts it flawlessly. When he gives the image of the husband “jingling his keys”, to make his wife hurry, it reminds men of past events. Barry’s ability to relate to the reader, hooks them to the article.

            He also uses hyperbole several times in the article. When talking about his wife being late for a plane he says that, “she’d stand at the end of the runway”, and have a “hook” catch her and carry her away. This exaggeration draws out how his wife is always late. He later exaggerates how in Cuban weddings, “the phrase “2 p.m.” is translated to, “possibly this weekend””. This statement on culture, pinpoints the difference in the upbringing of his wife and himself, and how it formed habits in their lives. He also talks about how his wife uses, “450 coats of beauty products”. He accesses this to express how women are too concerned with appearance and this causes them to be late. This also goes back to the Ethos and how all men can relate.

            Dave Barry is a master of rhetorical devices, and his ability to use them to hook a reader is simply magnificent. His use of Ethos and hyperbole in Time Out! draws the reader in and never lets them go.

Kill em, Crush em, Eat em raw

2. Paragraphs 5-7 compare and contrast football and war. Is this comparison convincing? How does the comparison appeal to logos?
Yes this comparison is convincing, it's appealing because it makes a bold comparison and really makes the reader think about how grueling football is.

4. How do the study's findings support McMurtry's argument against the brutality of football?
It supports it because it shows how the brutality of the sport can engage a strong sense of leadership, and toughness for the business world.

6. What other sports have a militaristic side?
In soccer we say flank and attack. In paintball you actually use guns and use lots of military tactics. You flank and use engaged attacks. It is the most militaristic sport.

8. Does the association enhance or tarnish their image?
Being associated with sports stars is an enhancement to an image, because for the most part sports stars are positive  role models for kids.