World Today: Time Magazine

Article #1:

It all started last year when American Lawyer, Rebecca Spitzmiller, and her son got so sick of graffiti covering the walls of their apartment, they went out to clean it off. They weren't aware, at the time, that their one, small action was the start of Retake Rome: an effort to rid parts of the country of graffiti. Many major tourist attractions have trouble with vandilization such as graffiti, trash, and leaflets, and Rome is no exception. In fact, Rome is a case apart: many parts of the country you cannot walk through without seeing graffiti one the walls. Paola Carra, who over looks project Retake Rome, says, "We need to maintain [Rome] ourselves. We can't wait for somebody else to do it." Hundreds of volunteers work to clear buidings, houses, and monuments of the extensive graffiti, working to preserve the beautiful country and keep it clean.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2032022,00.html

Article #2:

When 5 young men (late teens-twenties) were arrested last december in Sargodha, Pakistan for plotting terrorist attacks, they were each given a 10 year jail sentence when they were convicted this June. But Monday the Lahore High Court accepted a petition to consider a life sentence (standar of 25 years) for the 5 five men, saying that, "Once they are out, they could be very dangeous for Pakistan." Though the men's defense lawyers claim the evidence is false, and the men are being wrongly accused, Prosecuters say the 5 Americans used the Internet to meet Pakistani militant organizations and plot terror attacks.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2033915,00.html

World Today: Time Magazine

Article #1:

The biggest and most important holiday in the islamic religion, the festival of sacrifice, is currently being celebrated by Muslim's everywhere. This year, around 3 million people from all over the world have gone to Mecca, the holy city of Saudi Arabia, to take part in the annual hajj Pilgrimage. The hajj is a huge ceremony in which muslims symbolically express their rejection of temptation by throwing pebbles at three walls that represent Satan. The beginning of this stoning ceremony also marks the start of the "Feast of Sacrifice," a muslim holiday known as Eid al- adha during which they commemorate the near murder of Abraham's son by slaughtering a number of sheep and cattle. In the past, this bustling time of year has led to deadly crushes and pileups, but the bigger problem this year is the immense amount of traffic.

Here's a link to the article: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2031609,00.html

Article #2:

Cholera, an easily treatable desease that, when not treated, can kill by causing severe dehydration, is currently raging through Haiti. So far around 17,000 Haitians have been diagnosed with the disease, and over 1,000 have died. Many citezens feel the need to get even with whoever brought the disease to Haiti, which they are blaming on the U.N security and stabilization mission, or Minustah, for short. Riots and protests habe broken out complete with burning tires and gunfire exchanged between Haitians and the U.N soldiers. Though some Haitians are acting violently toward a group of people they dont know for sure brought the disease to Haiti, it's hard to blame them for their anger, considering the devestation of the earthquake earlier this year and the fact that Cholera cases are rising extremely rapidy everyday.

Here's a link to the full article: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2031665,00.html

Reading Bowl: What Happened To Lani Garver

1) What are the themes of the book? What ideas and/or opinions is the book exploring or discussing?

One of the main themes in "What Happened To Lani Garver" is acceptance. The fact that you shouldn't change yourself for others or let people put you in "boxes": a true companion is someone who doesn't have to categorize or change you, but is able to appreciate and admire you for who you truly are. Carol Plum-Ucci encourages readers to stray from the pack, as Claire did, and trust themselves and the ones who fully accept them. The story proves that when you leave behind the version of youself that everyone wants you to be and follow your true self, you might just discover someone or something really special, the way Claire discovered Lani.

2) Consider the main character of the book: what does he/she learn over the course of the narrative? How does he/she change? What is the final plot event that causes the character to change?

Throughout the book, Claire totally transforms. When she meets Lani she discovers things about the world and herself that she never imagined. Lani opens her eyes to philosophy and imagination, risk and angels. Claire goes from being a fly caught in the web of popularity, where she follows Macie and sticks to the status quo, to an individual: someone whose independant, yet relies on others. Someone who is unafraid to show the world who she truly is. At the end of the book, when Lani is drowned by Tony, Claire learns a valuable lesson: life is short and you have to live it to the fullest. Lani was such a remarkable person whose life ended so suddenly. I think Claire realizes she has to live and be remarkable in the time she gets, and to be remarkable is to be completely and truly yourself.

3) What are three sections/events/elements of the book that you find the most memorable or interesting?

I thought the sections about Claire's leather attraction were really interesting and unique. Almost as though the way she loved leather was what made her different from her family, classmates, and friends. At the beginning of the book, Claire hides her "secret" about the leather, but by the end she was wearing her leather jacket around Hackett. I think it's a symbol of her growing acceptance of herself.

I also really liked the parts about her razor blade music, though they were kind of creepy. It created the impression that everyone has a dark side or a scary secret that we keep hidden away. It was really interesting to witness and hear about Claire's first hand, and read her reactions about it.

But my favorite scene would have to be the one with Lani in the angel costume. Not because it seemed especially symbolic or important, but because I loved hearing Claire describe his ravishing beauty and sheer powerful. It was really welll written and it felt as though I could see Lani standing there in front of me.

4) How does the book's subject and themes connect to the rest of your junior high curriculum (what you've studied or been exposed to over the past year and a half)?

This book has a strong correlation with what we've been learning in RCG this year. In the Gender circut, we've talked about not letting media or stereotypes change your identity as a man or a women. Many characters in the book feel as though, being a male or female, they have to act or dress a certain way. When Lani comes in, he shows the residents of Hacket that thats not the only way. He steps out of the "male" stereotype and into his own, individual category.

5) Did you enjoy the book? Why? Would you recommend it for next year's Reading Bowl?

I loved this book and would definately recommend it for reading bowl next year! It's not a short read, but it's extremely engaging and really makes you think. Claire, the main character, has a really unusual and distinct voice that gives the story a whole new dimmension. The characters are all really well developed and the whole story is gripping: you never know whats going to happen next.

World Today: Times Magazine

Are whales getting sunburned as a result of global warming? Yes, it is a strange question, even amusing, but whales could be in serious trouble for the future. CFCs are increasing, meaning the ozone layer is thinning. Because of this, less UV rays are being blocked. Whales caught near the water's surface are victims of the rising amount of rays reaching the earth. A group of European scientists have recently discovered that, because of this, whales are recieveing some pretty severe skin damage. The science team did an investigation by tracking the same group of whales over the course of three years. They took skin samples and found that the whales had patterns of dead cells caused by the increasing intensity of the UV rays. For us, its easy to just wear a hat or put on sunscreen, but for whales and other sea creatures, it's not that simple.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/11/10/brave-new-world-thinner-ozone-layer-means-whales-are-changing-color/

I chose this article because I'm very passionate about the environment and sustaining it. I like being updated on what's going on with global warming and climate change. I find it very interesting and sad that whales are going through this and I hope that, for everyones sake, humans can find a way to fix not only the whale sunburn problem, but global warming all around.