What's the author's purpose?: to tell the story of a little girl who recently caught the Black Death and also to raise awareness to the fact that the bubonic plague is not just a disease of the past
Does the author accomplish his/her purpose?: Yes. The article tells news about the girl but also gives information about the sickness.
What ideas do you agree with?: I agree that there probably will not be a massive outbreak of bubonic plague in this country.
What ideas do you disagree with?: I don't agree with the author saying that we do not have the public health care problems we used to and that if an outbreak happened, the victims would be contained quickly.
What do you not understand?: Why did the girl's parents let her touch a dead squirrel OR keep an eye on her to keep her away from it if they did tell her?
What Connections can you make with the text?: I am around insects that could possibly be carrying the bubonic plague every day. (personal/self connection)
How can I become a more active participant in my learning? How can I take responsibility for my learning?: I will take what I read in the article into consideration and use the information that the article gave me to try to avoid getting sick. I will take responsibility for my health and in applying the information I learned in the article into everyday life.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Black Death
I just read the article 7-year-old Colorado Girl Survives Bubonic Plague by Ron Recinto. I really enjoyed this reading this particular article because I find and have always found reading about or studying the Black Death interesting. Then again, I was that odd child that always found the gruesome videos about half of the European population being wiped out by the bubonic plague fascinating.
Sierra Downing "was admitted to the hospital with a fever of 107 degrees. She was delirious, having seizures and had a high heart rate." It turns out, the child had come into contact with a dead squirrel at the park. Apparently, a plague-infected flea then jumped from the dead critter onto the unsuspecting child and then proceeded to bite her. Thus, she was infected with the Black Death.
The article then goes on to say that though the bubonic plague is still around, there will never be a huge outbreak of the disease in this country because we don't have the health problems that we used to have. Recinto also states that "people would be quickly confined if there were ever a large number of cases." I tend, however, to disagree with his opinions on this matter. I believe that in certain places in this country, we have every bit of the health problems that we used to have, maybe even more. For example, if the homeless people living in the sewers beneath the streets of New York come across a rat who then gives them plague-riddled fleas, whats to say that the Black Death wouldn't spread through the packed city faster than a wildfire? And how could we quickly confine the disease if the first people to get it are the ones that nobody notices if they die or have the symptoms of the plague? By the time we caught it, the damage would have already been done.
I do agree that there will probably not be a huge outbreak of the plague in the future, though, because now that citizens know about the disease and what causes it, they take more precautions around disease-spreading pests. Nowadays, people can use bug repellents and treatments that kill certain disease-bearing pests. Because of this, I don't foresee a Black Death pandemic in our country's future. One thing I don't understand about the situation with Sierra is why was she not being watched and prevented from playing with dead squirrels? After all, precautions are generally taken in this country to avoid touching dead critters.
Over all, this is a very good, interesting article. I think that Recinto was trying to tell a summarized story of the little girl who contracted the Black Death while simultaneously getting his opinions and voice across on the disease itself. Ultimately, I would say that he accomplished his goal, even though there were statements that I would not necessarily agree with in the article. Hearing about the plague and how it is still a very real threat in today's society really made me think about how I can prevent something like that, however unlikely it is, from happening to me. I am in situations every day where I am exposed to fleas and pests that could potentially be carrying deadly diseases. I do believe that now I am going to start making a more conscious effort to protect myself and start taking responsibility for my own safety.
Sierra Downing "was admitted to the hospital with a fever of 107 degrees. She was delirious, having seizures and had a high heart rate." It turns out, the child had come into contact with a dead squirrel at the park. Apparently, a plague-infected flea then jumped from the dead critter onto the unsuspecting child and then proceeded to bite her. Thus, she was infected with the Black Death.
The article then goes on to say that though the bubonic plague is still around, there will never be a huge outbreak of the disease in this country because we don't have the health problems that we used to have. Recinto also states that "people would be quickly confined if there were ever a large number of cases." I tend, however, to disagree with his opinions on this matter. I believe that in certain places in this country, we have every bit of the health problems that we used to have, maybe even more. For example, if the homeless people living in the sewers beneath the streets of New York come across a rat who then gives them plague-riddled fleas, whats to say that the Black Death wouldn't spread through the packed city faster than a wildfire? And how could we quickly confine the disease if the first people to get it are the ones that nobody notices if they die or have the symptoms of the plague? By the time we caught it, the damage would have already been done.
I do agree that there will probably not be a huge outbreak of the plague in the future, though, because now that citizens know about the disease and what causes it, they take more precautions around disease-spreading pests. Nowadays, people can use bug repellents and treatments that kill certain disease-bearing pests. Because of this, I don't foresee a Black Death pandemic in our country's future. One thing I don't understand about the situation with Sierra is why was she not being watched and prevented from playing with dead squirrels? After all, precautions are generally taken in this country to avoid touching dead critters.
Over all, this is a very good, interesting article. I think that Recinto was trying to tell a summarized story of the little girl who contracted the Black Death while simultaneously getting his opinions and voice across on the disease itself. Ultimately, I would say that he accomplished his goal, even though there were statements that I would not necessarily agree with in the article. Hearing about the plague and how it is still a very real threat in today's society really made me think about how I can prevent something like that, however unlikely it is, from happening to me. I am in situations every day where I am exposed to fleas and pests that could potentially be carrying deadly diseases. I do believe that now I am going to start making a more conscious effort to protect myself and start taking responsibility for my own safety.
Monday, September 3, 2012
My Book Bucket List
1. Fallen by Lauren Kate
2. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
3. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
4. The Queen by Steven James
5. City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
6. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
7. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
8. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
9. Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler
10. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
2. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
3. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
4. The Queen by Steven James
5. City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
6. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
7. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
8. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
9. Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler
10. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
Monday, May 21, 2012
Moving On Up
Growing up, I was always wishing that I was already done with high school so that I could get on with my life. However, now that I am here, becoming a senior, I find myself a little nervous as to what the future holds. I am not wishing that I was a kid again by any means but I am a little nervous and curious as to what it will be like as a senior. My year as a junior in high school has been hectic to say the least. I have always heard, growing up, that the eleventh grade year is the hardest and, up until now, I always thought that was a bunch of bologne. Now that I have gone through my junior year, I believe that it really was the hardest year that I have ever been through. It has not been aweful, per say, but it was incredibly stressful. Taking Pre-AP Precalculus and Chemistry as well as English 11, which is definitely not my strong suit, has kept me working hard and kind of stressed all year. Throw in taking the ACT test for the first time and looking for potential colleges and I have had a busy eleventh grade year to say the least. I do, however, believe that in the long run this especially trying year will benefit me. It helped me get ready for the stresses of college and life in general. I am very excited to be a senior in the class of 2013, though I am nervous as to what the future holds. It relieves me greatly to have earned almost all of the credits that I need to graduate in my junior year so that my senior schedule can be comprised of more classes that I want to take, rather than those that I am required to take. I think that my senior year will be amazing and one of the best years of school that I have experienced yet, and my slight nervousness is definitely not enough to hold me back from enjoying it!
How Far Would You Go?
When put into threatening situations, people may be surprised to find just what extent they would go to to their own, or even another's, life. I like to believe that, if put into such a situation, I would do the right thing and do whatever it takes to save somebody else's life, even over my own. However, I do believe that in some circumstances, my own instincts would take over and cause me to save myself. I do believe, though, that if the other person was a member of my family, I would not hesitate to sacrifice my own life to save their's. There is nothing that I would not do for my family in a life-or-death situation. Whether it be trying my best to save them from their own self-destruction or physically fighting someone who is threatening them, I would do it for my family. For my friends, I would do many things, though it would not be quite as instinctual to save them as it would be for me to save a family member. I would try my best to ensure their survival, but if I were to fail, though I would miss them and feel guilty, life would go on. Though I am ashamed to admit it, my pets rank high on my lift of beings that I would fight to save if something aweful were to happen. Most people do not get as attached to their pets and ultimately view them as replacable. I however, would even go so far as to risk my own health and well being for that of my pets. Everybody has a different scale of what extent they would go to to ensure the survival of themselves, others, and even pets. Mine is definitely out of the ordinary.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Survivor Synthesis Essay: Horseback Riding
Six-Word-Slant
Every year, thousands of people are seen in U.S. emergency rooms because of injuries they sustained during horseback riding and other horse-related activities. Riding atop a large animal that can easily weigh 1,000 pounds, especially a prey animal that is ruled by its fight-or-flight instincts, leaves a lot of potential for something to go wrong and for the rider to get injured. Horseback riders only survive dangerous situations that can not be avoided by being prepared and aware of their surroundings at all times.
In the first place, being prepared, both physically and mentally, improves a rider’s chances of survival greatly. Valerie Netto, in her article “Horse Safety!” stresses the importance of preparation in making the handling and riding of horses safer. Most people do not realize that being physically prepared means a lot more than just having a horse and a saddle. Having and using the correct safety gear, such as helmets, appropriate clothing, and good quality equipment would also fall in this category. The helmet provides head protection in case the rider falls off. Clothing is a large issue with horse riders. According to Netto, baggy and loose-fitting clothing can “catch on a protrusion such as the saddle horn” and cause potentially deadly situations for the rider. A safe rider wears properly fitted clothing and appropriate boots. Good quality tack can prevent equipment malfunctions that could cost somebody their life. Mark Rashid, in his book “Considering the Horse”, teaches that forcing the horse “into a very tight and uncomfortable circle” by pulling the horses head completely to one side with the reins can “[stop] the unstoppable horse.” A good equestrian learns the correct actions to take if something were to go wrong before actually hopping on a horse. This simple mental preparation strategy can make the rider safer and can give them a sense of comfort knowing that they are prepared in case something tragic does happen.
Works Cited
- Horseback riding; Be prepared. Don't panic.
- Horseback riders only survive dangerous situations that can not be avoided by being prepared and aware of their surroundings at all times.
Every year, thousands of people are seen in U.S. emergency rooms because of injuries they sustained during horseback riding and other horse-related activities. Riding atop a large animal that can easily weigh 1,000 pounds, especially a prey animal that is ruled by its fight-or-flight instincts, leaves a lot of potential for something to go wrong and for the rider to get injured. Horseback riders only survive dangerous situations that can not be avoided by being prepared and aware of their surroundings at all times.
In the first place, being prepared, both physically and mentally, improves a rider’s chances of survival greatly. Valerie Netto, in her article “Horse Safety!” stresses the importance of preparation in making the handling and riding of horses safer. Most people do not realize that being physically prepared means a lot more than just having a horse and a saddle. Having and using the correct safety gear, such as helmets, appropriate clothing, and good quality equipment would also fall in this category. The helmet provides head protection in case the rider falls off. Clothing is a large issue with horse riders. According to Netto, baggy and loose-fitting clothing can “catch on a protrusion such as the saddle horn” and cause potentially deadly situations for the rider. A safe rider wears properly fitted clothing and appropriate boots. Good quality tack can prevent equipment malfunctions that could cost somebody their life. Mark Rashid, in his book “Considering the Horse”, teaches that forcing the horse “into a very tight and uncomfortable circle” by pulling the horses head completely to one side with the reins can “[stop] the unstoppable horse.” A good equestrian learns the correct actions to take if something were to go wrong before actually hopping on a horse. This simple mental preparation strategy can make the rider safer and can give them a sense of comfort knowing that they are prepared in case something tragic does happen.
Additionally, when riding a horse, being aware can be the difference between safely avoiding a crisis and getting an ambulance ride to the hospital. According to Katherine Blocksdorf in her article “How to Fall Off Your Horse”, a rider should “try to see the spookies before your horse does so you can divert its attention.” This can prevent the horse from spooking or reacting badly, which can lead to disaster. An aware rider will most likely notice anything unwonted that could spook their horse beforehand, giving them a chance to divert the equine’s attention or go a different direction and ultimately avoiding a potential catastrophe. Valerie Netto also suggests in her article that a rider should “never assume that your horse ‘would never do that.’” This is part of being aware because if a person trusts their horse too much, they would be less likely to stay alert and aware while riding, which could allow them to miss something that, if only the rider had been paying attention, could have easily been spotted and avoided. Another important assumption that people make is that they can ride just any horse. However, a responsible rider makes sure that the horse that they will be riding fits their skill level. For example, a person who is inexperienced at riding and being around horses should not ride a ferine, rambunctious, rowdy, rodeo-worthy horse. Just as Hal, Mercedes, and Charles tried to control and maintain Buck’s skilled team of dogs with very little knowledge of dog sledding in Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild,” some people try to ride and control a horse whose skill level is way above their own, ultimately leading to disaster. Being aware of not only the surroundings, but also the skill level of both the rider and horse can play a large role in having a safe, fun horseback riding experience.
Furthermore, a responsible rider learns how to survive when the hard ground summons them and will not take no for an answer. “If you know you are going to fall, try to kick your feet free of the stirrups” and “roll out of the way of your horse’s legs,” Blocksdorf encourages. If not, the person caught on the saddle could be severely injured or dragged by a frightened horse. Breaking the fall with their arms could result in the rider sustaining broken or fractured limbs. YoungRider.com, the website of a popular horseback riding magazine, insists that a rider “let go of the reins” when they fall. What to do with the reins when a fall is unavoidable is a very controversial subject among riders. Some, such as Katherine Blocksdorf, state that “if you are out on trail, you [should] try to hold on to the reins.” However, this could lead to the rider having a broken arm or injuring the horse’s mouth due to the reins yanking on the bit that the horse is wearing. “Many horses put down their heads and graze after you fall, and if your mount runs off someone will catch him eventually. (YoungRider.com)” Being able to fall properly can give the rider a higher chance of survival and can ultimately lead to both the horse and rider returning safely after a ride.
All in all, riding a horse is a very dangerous activity to participate in and staying safe while doing so can be an arduous task. Good riders will do everything in their power to possibly lessen the threat of death or injury to both themselves and the horse. This can only be accomplished by being prepared, both physically and mentally, and by staying aware of themselves and their horses at all times. Next time you ride a horse or even consider riding a horse, think about what you can do to make the ride as safe as possible and lessen the chances of anybody getting hurt.
Works Cited
Blocksdorf, Katherine. "How to Fall Off Your Horse." About.com Horses. About.com. Web. 14 May 2012. http://horses.about.com/od/learntoride/a/falloffhorse.htm.
"Falling Off Your Horse." Falling Off Your Horse. YoungRider.com. Web. 14 May 2012. http://www.youngrider.com/young-rider-magazine/january-2007/falling-off.aspx.
Netto, Valerie. "Horse Safety." Horse Safety. InfoHorse.com, 2007. Web. 14 May 2012. http://www.infohorse.com/horsesafety.asp.
Rashid, Mark. Considering the Horse: Tales of Problems Solved and Lessons Learned. Boulder: Johnson, 1993. Print.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Call of the Wild Review
The Call of the Wild by Jack London captured my attention at the beginning of the book and kept it all throughout the story with the unique array of different characters portrayed by the author. London really outdid himself making a believable character that fits almost every archetype that one could think of.
Buck would be the hero. He finds himself thrown into the midst of something he never asked for or deserved and forced to do thing he would have never dreamed of and still made it out on top. He shows extreme bravery in many different situations such as when he fights for his life against Spitz, his rival, or when he jumps in to avenge the brutal murder of his favorite owner, John Thornton. He let nothing stand in the way between him and what he believed to be right.
Spitz is the aggressive antagonist. He fought until his last breath against Buck and proved to be a formidable foe. Neither one would submit to the other and both wanted the position and the power and respect that came with it. Spitz would do anything and everything to fight or aggravate Buck, including stealing his food, intercepting his hunts, and purposefully stealing his bedding places. Both of these characters are believable because almost everybody has something or someone that gets on their nerves and fights everything they do. For Buck and Spitz, these people were each other.
On the human side of things, Francois and Perrault are adventurers and tough guys. They practiced tough love when it came to their team of dogs. One had to earn their respect, not just expect to receive it. They were fair and just in their rule over the team, such as when they whipped Spitz for stealing Buck's food or when they scolded both Buck and Spitz for fighting. They didn't put up with any inappropriate or foolish behavior, but neither were they superfluously cruel or mean to the dogs. Though not very demonstrative, they made sure the dogs were healthy and well fed and that they were not suffering in their work. For example, when Buck was new to the team and his paws were all mangled and bloody from the amount of work he had done, they made makeshift shoes for him to wear so that he would not be in pain. Because of these ministrations, Buck was able to keep working at a pace that impressed everybody.
London used lots of detailing and different personalities in his novel to create realistic and varied characters. I would recommend this exciting and interesting novel to anyone who enjoys animal books or even someone who just enjoys a good, short classic. I found this book enjoyable and I hope that you do too. :)
Buck would be the hero. He finds himself thrown into the midst of something he never asked for or deserved and forced to do thing he would have never dreamed of and still made it out on top. He shows extreme bravery in many different situations such as when he fights for his life against Spitz, his rival, or when he jumps in to avenge the brutal murder of his favorite owner, John Thornton. He let nothing stand in the way between him and what he believed to be right.
Spitz is the aggressive antagonist. He fought until his last breath against Buck and proved to be a formidable foe. Neither one would submit to the other and both wanted the position and the power and respect that came with it. Spitz would do anything and everything to fight or aggravate Buck, including stealing his food, intercepting his hunts, and purposefully stealing his bedding places. Both of these characters are believable because almost everybody has something or someone that gets on their nerves and fights everything they do. For Buck and Spitz, these people were each other.
On the human side of things, Francois and Perrault are adventurers and tough guys. They practiced tough love when it came to their team of dogs. One had to earn their respect, not just expect to receive it. They were fair and just in their rule over the team, such as when they whipped Spitz for stealing Buck's food or when they scolded both Buck and Spitz for fighting. They didn't put up with any inappropriate or foolish behavior, but neither were they superfluously cruel or mean to the dogs. Though not very demonstrative, they made sure the dogs were healthy and well fed and that they were not suffering in their work. For example, when Buck was new to the team and his paws were all mangled and bloody from the amount of work he had done, they made makeshift shoes for him to wear so that he would not be in pain. Because of these ministrations, Buck was able to keep working at a pace that impressed everybody.
London used lots of detailing and different personalities in his novel to create realistic and varied characters. I would recommend this exciting and interesting novel to anyone who enjoys animal books or even someone who just enjoys a good, short classic. I found this book enjoyable and I hope that you do too. :)
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