Outside Reading

What is it about the color red?! Is it our eyes? The brightness of the color? According to CNN's Theresa Tamkins wearing the color red boosts your sex appeal. In a series of five studies, one-hundred and fifty heterosexual men rated photos of women wearing blue or red clothing. Most of the men rated the women in red more appealing than the women in blue. Wearing red may make a women "sexier" but according to author Andrew Elliot, Ph. D., "red won't make you look smarter or more competent". As the article went on Tamkins related wearing red to the presidential race. According to Elliot wearing red does not apply to the presidential candidates, but has been proven to be a negative color depending on the setting. "So why is red so sex?" The color red has also been proven to be a "sexy" color due to the fact that we relate the color red with Valentines Day. A day of romance. Researchers believe women also find the color red sexy. In conclusion these tests and results can't give us the straight facts to why is red a sex appealing color. It can only tell us that men would prefer to be with women in red over women in a different color. This whole article can be found here at CNN.com

Comic Book Superheroes in a Box

The focus on my "Heroes in a Box" project are the fictional superheroes of comic books. When I think of comic book heroes the word super instantly comes to mind. Super-powers, super-weapons, super-costumes, the list goes on forever! These characters are considered heroes because they have abnormal abilities to fight crime for the greater good.

Comic Book Superheroes:

A comic book superhero is a fictional character with superhuman powers. Powers such as the ability to fly, enhanced senses, superhuman strength, or the ability to turn back time. For example Superman's superhuman powers include the ability to fly, turn back time, and superhuman strength. 

Superheroes don't have to possess superhuman powers to be a superhero. Some characters such as Batman do not possess superhuman powers but have mastered skills such as martial arts or another type of skill to fight crime. All the photos of batman in action are of him fighting by himself without any help of a gadget. This proves that comic characters don't have to have super powers to be a superhero.

 

Other superheroes suchpossess weapons or technology that make them super.From this video I

discovered some superheroes need the help of specific weapons or technology to fight crime. Wonder

Women's bracelets give her the ability to fly. This proves some superheroes are superless without

their powerful weapons.

This pictures provides a visual of a few comic book superheroines. All superheroes aren't all

men. In a way it proves women are just as good if not better than men at fighting crime.

Conclusion:

Speaking in terms of superpowers, superheroes are divided into three groups. One group of superheroes which have superhuman powers (Superman, The Hulk, Spiderman,etc..).  The second group is based on superheroes which have mastered skills (Batman). And the third group is superheroes with super weapons or technology (Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, IronMan, etc..).

Superheroes are also categorized by gender. Men- Superman, Spiderman, Batman, etc... And women- Wonder Women, Batgirl, Supergirl, etc...

All comic book superheroes/heroines fight crime. Therefore they put their safety on the line for the safety of others. I believe this part of being a comic book superhero is what makes a superhero a hero. Someone willing to sacrifice themselves for others is a hero. Someone who sacrifices themselves for others but with super powers is a superhero.

Outside Reading

Last week the Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were shot to death in their Chicago, Illinois home. Today, Sunday October 26th, Jennifer identified the bodies of her mother and brother, according to Cook County's medical examiner's office. However there's another mystery to the unfortunate event. Hudson's seven year old nephew Julian is missing. He has not been seen since friday, the day Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson and brother, Jason Hudson were killed. Jennifer's sister and Julians mom, Julia Balfour, made an announcement to the public pleading for her son back. Police have Balfour's husband, William Balfour is currently in custody. However Julian was not with W. Balfour was he went missing. W. Balfour's mother, Michele Davis-Balfour believes her son had nothing to do with the shooting and the kidnapping of Julian. Police have issued an Amber Alert for Julian. 

This article was found at CNN.com, and can be found here

Outside Reading

For the past couple of days I have taken a break from Gossip Girl. Since the election is near I decided to browse CNN.com in hopes of finding an interesting article on either Obama or McCain. The article that caught my eye was written by CNN's Jack Cafferty, explaining why dozens of foreign countries prefer Barack Obama over John McCain by a margin of almost 4 to 1. Between May and September of this year seventy countries were polled in AFrica, Europe, Asia and North and South America. Nearly half the world's population. The only people who preferred McCain over Obama were citizens of the Phillippines and Georgia. Cafferty's question "Why do citizens in s70 foreign countries prefer Barack Obama to John McCain by a margin of nearly 4-1?" was a question open to all who had an oppinion. Five answers made the air including, Obama is a "pasty" and can be pushed around, McCain and Palin are jokes. As well as because McCain is a republican, Obama is not white, and Obama is intelligent and knows how to represent America. 

The entire article a can be read at here

Comic Book Superheroes

Top Ten Comic Superheroes

1.) Superman

2.) Spiderman

3.) Batman

4.) Wolverine

5.) The Hulk

6.) Wonder Women

7.) Green Lantern

8.) Captain America

9.) Spawn

10.) The Punisher

Outside Reading

During the chapter the "the morning after" Blair over slept and is rushing to make her eleven o'clock interview for Yale University. This chapter was intriguing due to the fact Blair's character is always prompt. As Blair rushes around the hotel room she goes over the interview in her head. "Why Yale?" "Tell me about yourself." "Who is your role model." Besides wanting to be able to answer the interview questions thoughtfully and throughly, Blair wanted to look her absolute best. Blair woke up at ten o'clock and her interview was at eleven o'clock leaving her very little time. Cecily von Ziegesar does a very good job describing Blair's thoughts and emotions as she's getting ready. von Ziegesar describes Blair's put together very quick, look as smart and sophisticated. It wasn't exactly Blair's potential look, but it didn't matter it was a "Yale look". It was a look Yale was looking for. I understand the teenage girls of the Upper East Side faking their way to the top of the social pyramid. Yet I don't understand faking your way into college. I feel I would want to be myself during a college interview. Maybe thats a good thing to some and a bad thing to others, but thats just my opinion.

outside Reading

I am currently on page 123, the beginning of the chapter "best wester vs. motel 6". As of right now Blair and her step brother, Aaron, are taking a trip to visit Yale University. Yale is the only school Blair applied to and has dreamed about going to." ' I've been planning on going there since I was little.' " (Blair-page 123) Blair obviously is not aware if she has been accepted or not to Yale. Yet she is very sure that she will. Instead of reading farther into the chapter I thought about my own life. I've wanted to attend the University of Wisconsin and play on the Women's Hockey Team since I was about nine years old. Relating the two situations got me thinking. "What if my childhood life plans don't come true?" This not only scared the heck out of me, but also forced me to think about back up plans. Due to this little sentence in a random book I'm reading, I made a list of the top ten colleges I would like to attend.  As well as talk to my parents about my goals and options during and after high school. Going back to the book, Blair is obviously used to getting whatever she desires. Money is usually the essential to getting whatever she desires. However Yale University isn't something you can just buy your way into. In Blair's case and type of lifestyle. Yale could be something she could buy her way into. These thoughts make me eager to read more. Over all as much as I don't want to believe it, not all dreams come true.

Currently in Gossip Girl the drama is evolving around this wedding between Eleanor and Cyrus. Whether the drama is between Blair and Serena, or between Blair and Aaron, it all traces back to the wedding. I'm fortunate to say my parents are still married, and as a result I've never had to experience a divorce and/or stepparents. When reading this part of the story I can't help but think, "if I were in Blair's position how would I handle it." And then I realize, I would be an absolute mess. A nasty divorce, never getting to see your dad, and weird stepdad and stepbrother. It would all be too much. My conclusion to my own question also made me rethink my personal view on Blair's character. Blair's character is categorized as a "bitchy character". She's been a bitchy character in the first book as well. When I think about her situations I understand her "bitchiness". Since the beginning of the first book Blair has been experiencing some pretty negative situations. And due to experiencing negative situations, Blair has become a bitch. A flat out mean, whinny character. In this case I'm cutting Blair some slack. My view of Blair has gone from a stuck up brat to a girl whose just trying to make it through her difficult life.

The chapter I have recently read in Gossip Girl is "b gets the hell out". Previously to this chapter, Blair's mother, Eleanor Waldorf, got engaged to a man named Cyrus Rose. Blair is very unpleased with the news of her mother's engagement. Before her parent's divorce, before her father addmitted he was gay, Blair's life was picture perfect. She had a perfect family, Nate, the perfect boyfriend, and Serena, the perfect best friend. Besides the fact that her life was a total mess compared to what it used to be, Blair could not stand Cyrus. As well as Cyrus Blair is intolerant of Cyrus's son Aaron. Aaron is describe as the exact opposite of Blair with a head full of dread locks. 

During this chapter, "b gets the hell out", Eleanor is trying on wedding gowns. Blair is just sick to her stomach about this whole engagement and preparation for the wedding. Eleanor of course made Blair made of honor. As a result Blair was suppose to find a gown to wear. Blair loved to shop for just about anything. Due to the occasion the shopping would be done for, she had no interest in shopping. When Eleanor finds the dress she likes she turns to Blair and begins to question her about how she looks, is she excited for the wedding, what are her plans. It was all too much for her. Blair had to leave the bridal shop, even if it meant walking all twenty two blocks home. I can personally relate to Blair, not on her situation, but on how she is feeling. All girls can easily get overwhelmed emotionally and mentally. Whenever I feel this way I need to stop what I'm doing and just leave.

Outside Reading

  " If it weren't for the fact that she was head of the Constance's social service board, leader of the French club, and chairwomen of all the worthwhile junior social functions in the city, Blair would have told Becky to fuck off."- Cecily von Ziegesar, You know You Love Me, page 84. On the Upper East Side of Manhatten drama fills air. When it comes to keeping a good reputation however, the Drama Queens of Constance Billard's High School know how to fake a good smile. As much as these teenage girls of the Upper East Side despise each other and start nasty rumors about one another. They always seem to be somewhat pleasant to one another face to face. In other words they will fake their way to the top. If one doesn't believe faking kindness will get them to the top, then they believe rumors will. When it come to "bitchiness" the Constance Billard's social butterflies are "bitchy" in a tasteful way. They are very suttle when face to face. But behind each others backs only God knows how they start these awful rumors and spread gossip.

Outside Reading

  The book I have been reading outside of school is 'You know You Love Me', the sequel to 'Gossip Girl' by Cecily von Ziegesar. "She didn't care whether she ate steak or muscles or brains for dinner-she was fianlly going to lose her virginity!" (von Ziegesar page 4). Right from the start von Ziegesar gets into the dirty drama of the teenagers of the Upper East Side. This quote reveals how edgy this story is. von Ziegesar doesn't hold back, her writing style can also be described as edgy. She seems to not care about what people think about what she rights about, but she knows how to attract readers better than any author! To some readers this quote may have sounded appalling, while others found it exciting and wanted to read more. In the previous book Blair is a prude. Having this book start off with a topic like Blair loosing her virginity was different and intriguing. It also makes me think about the other drama that will occur through out the book. Which also leads to the thought of comparing and contrasting the drama of the Upper East Side in the book and the drama of Edina High School.