Glass, Crank, and the upcoming Fallout

I have just finished both of the books by Ellen Hopkins, Crank and Glass. It is the lives of both Kristina Snow, and her alter ego Bree. While visiting her father she encounters the pusling drug that gives these books their titles. Kristina was a honor student with equally as brainy friends. She had never touched either a drink or even a cigarette in her life and it changes after that journey wayward with her father. When she decides to shake hands with the monster in the shady bowling bathroom, she instanly morphs into Bree. The alter ego that Kristina had never let out. It's just so pessimistic how she keeps trudging on with her life.

What i LOVE about Ellen Hopkins style is that she tends to show alternate personalities and different sides to each book. For instance, Identical shows the story of twin sisters Kaeleigh and Raeanne. Both similar looking, but very different when you look indepth on their thoughts and dreams. What is the twist you might add? Ellen Hopkins always has a twist in her books, most of the time towards the ending. Well as much as i would love to share the ending because it was so great, i simply cannot because it could ruin it for the stalkers that decide to read my opinion on these books. Impulse is very similar in showing others views on similar situations. It takes us into the messed up lives of Connor, Tony, and Vanessa. Each at a different stage of their lives but equally struggling with a life-altering situation. The ending is equally as jumping and moving like all her books. Impulse tells of the struggle of many teens and the awkward love triangle they take part in.

Sadly out of all the books, Burned did not include the alter-egos or the multiple lives. Same with Crank and Glass. But that doesn't change my love for these books. What i am truly excited for though is her new book coming out in August called Tricks which is the journey of 5 prostitutes. Each being in the situation they are in for many different reasons, a lot like Impulse.

Well now i am babbling on how much i love her books, as you can see i strayed away from talking solely about Crank and Glass. But i am excited for her new books.

Glass...

I am reading he book Glass by Ellen Hopkins. It is the sequel to the book Crank , which is about a 17- year old named Kristina Snow. In the first book we meet her before her deadly introduction with the "monster", also known as crystal meth. Kristina decides that her "crank" alter-ego has a name, and her name is Bree. Now in this book i am reading we recollect with Kristina/ Bree. We learn how after getting pregnant from a rape and working at a 7-11, that she is still in love with the drug. Only this time she tries a stronger version of it called "glass" which is a ice looking chunk that is smoked.

I have found this book very interesting and i continue to love these books by Ellen Hopkins. It shows some of the difficult some teenagers will go through if they don't watch out and stay true to themselves. Kristina/ Bree's struggle is very rare, yet also very typical. As-well as throwing you right into the mind of her and her alter-ego. These books she writes are very strong and yet hard to read. It throws things at you that would never be expected in a book. It is a very dark book.

Where is The Love...

What's wrong with the world mama?
People living like aint got no mamas
I think the whole worlds addicted to the drama
Only attracted to the things that bring you trauma
Overseas yeah we tryin to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin
In the USA the big CIA the Bloodz and the Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And if you hatin you're bound to get irate
Yeah madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
You gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate Let your soul gravitate to the love y'all
People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us Send some guidance from above Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?
(where is the lovex3)
(the love2x)
It just ain't the same all ways have changed
New days are strange is the world the insane?If love and peace so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations dropping bombs
Chemical gases filling lungs of little ones
With ongoing suffering
As the youth die young
So ask yourself is the loving really strong?
So I can ask myself really what is going wrong
With this world that we living in People keep on giving in
Makin wrong decisions Only visions of them livin and
Not respecting each other
Deny thy brother
The wars' going on but the reasons' undercover
The truth is kept secret
Swept under the rug
If you never know truth Then you never know love Where's the love y'all?(I don't know)
Where's the truth y'all?(I don't know)
Where's the love y'all?
People killing people dying Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can practice what you preach Would you turn the other cheek?
Father father father help us Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?
(where is the lovex3)
(the lovex2)
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm getting older y'all people get colder
Most of us only care about money makin
Selfishness got us followin the wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting their young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what the see in the cinema
Whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality
Instead of spreading love, we're spreading anomosity
Lack of understanding, leading us away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling down
It's no wonder why sometimes I'm feeling under
I gotta keep my faith alive, until love is found
People killing people dying Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?(fade)

This song is from the band Black Eyed Peas. I find this song very touching for this shows the lack of love that our world has created and interpreted throughout the years. We see many different reasons of why love is not being shown. I feel that this song really does show how twisted our world has become since when we had first colonized millions of years ago. Many people don't realize how corrupt our world simply is, and the lack of honesty and caring we have.


Black Eyed Peas, "Where Is The Love?." Lyrics 007. 27 May 2008. 23 Mar 2009 .

Gay Marriage...(Proposition 8)

I find this topic very controversial due to the fact of religion and many things like that. I have been to some gay rallies and i feel that the world is changing and that this is something that could do many great things for the world if it becomes accepted a little bit more. Both many citizens and government has barred both marriage and adoption of children to couples of the same-sex. And now more then 30 states have banned the marriage of gay and lesbian couples. But what many people were surprised by was the fact that even though having a black president is such a step in civil rights, i was disappointed that he did support same-sex marriage. What was also surprising was the fact that many religious people found this subject more important then that of abortion. They want it to be STOPPED. Proposition 8 was considered one of the most EXPENSIVE ballots with a spending of over $75 million. Many believe that the outcome of the California ballot spoke much for the rest of the nation. Many same-sex couples now struggle with the acceptance of equality the the hope of soon becoming an official married couple. I guess this makes me sad for the fact that  many men and women won't be able to have the rights that my mom and dad have. And that our country is so shallow that they cannot accept that love comes not just from gender but from the heart.

Jesse McKinley, Laurie Goodstein. "Bans in 3 States on Gay Marriage." NY Times: Politics 06 Nov 2008 A1. 08 Mar 2009 .

Mardi Gras...

Mardi Gras is well known throughout the Unite States, but the thing is do we really know the entire story behind the holiday, and what makes it become crazy. All many people think when they hear the word Mardi Gras, is that people are drunk, women are flashing people for beads and everything under those areas. But there is really more to the whole festival. It was heard to be started during Roman medieval times relating to the tradition of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a holiday to wish women fertility, the men would run around whipping the women because they thought it was considered good luck. The timeline that shows the history of Mardi Gras started around the early 1700's with settlers on the banks of the Mississippi River and moved openly to New Orleans. But not until 1875, was it recognized as an official holiday, New Orleans governor Warmoth made this holiday legit and possible.

Mardi Gras ends up falling between Feb. 3rd and Mar. 9th. But the official carnival celebration starts Jan. 6th. It ends on midnight the day before Ash Wednesday, also known as "fat tuesday". They made this a holiday because they want everyone to get the partying out of their system before the holiday and choice of lent. Beads are thrown to people with the best costumes and outrageous behavior, the more beads you were receiving means that's the crazier you are. You must also wear the colors purple green and gold, it stands for justice faith and power. Though New Orleans is well known for this festival, many places all over the world celebrate it all the same. Some people have crazier parties, while some just like being gathered as a group.

Peterson, Jan. "What is Mardi Gras?." Suite101.com 20 Feb 2009 03 Mar 2009 .

Bollywood...

I found a hilarious article about frequently asked questions about Bollywood on the Time website. Many of the languages in these films are Hindu, but frequently there are spoofs in English. But they are not considered legit "Bollywood" films. Many of the true movies are anywhere between 30-90 minutes longer then a normal movie anywhere else. Also, the difference is due to the many song and dances that are incorporated into the lengthy movies. They decide that this fits because of the fact that dialogue doesn't always express your feelings. Another reason someone describes of the singing and dancing is because many aren't able to marry for love or have those type of experiances. They add these things to it because it is unreal ; singing dancing and beautiful women. But the real secret is why these actors dont sing, honestly because they can't. But they can really dance. Many of the actresses are trained dancers. And many of the moves describe feelings. hence, when the girl is trying to say "don't come near me" she would often make submissive gestures. Also, many of the actors are untrained. The main hot topic though of these Bollywood movies is the fact that many of the women are light- skinned, and like the US many of the women like to react to those types of things. Many indian women try very hard to make their skin lighter and lighter. Many of these views have to do with the caste system and the classes. This is because many light- skinned women tend to have the money to afford this type of makeup.

This portrays the many alternate lifestyles of both Indian cultures and how "Bollywood" percieves this culture. These movies may not truelly portray the real thing. But every Indian watching these movies keeps their hopes up.

Corliss, Richard. "Bollywood: Frequently Questioned Answers." TIME Entertainment 12 Aug 2003 26 Feb 2009 .

Scientology...

Scientology is a religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard. It is based on a person being an immortal spiritual being, whose survival depends on themselves and is their attainment of brotherhood with others and the universe.

Clearwater, Florida, the Scientology headquarters. Many have tried to destroy Scientology's hope by sabotaging them. Within hours of a video being posted on YouTube by the group Anonymous, the scientology main website was hacked and shut down. Also their worldwide offices were flooded with prank phone calls and black faxes (pages of blank black pages). This lost them many ink cartridges and tied up their phone lines. Also secret Church documents, videos, lectures, and course materials were leaked onto YouTube and other many websites. This hacking and disruption of their website went on for 3 days causing many to show how they feel about Scientology, but using pickets and protesting instead. What many don't know though, is what actually is going on within the Church. An incident awhile back showed documents to target an investigative journalist who wrote on the scandal of Scientology. She said that they infiltrated her life and framed her. Many former Scientologists who have spoken out to the media and others have ended up being cut off from their families and friends. It is told that Scientologists are even forbidden from showing themselves to certain websites. Also, they do not believe in the use of both psychiatric and neurological drugs. So that goes to show you, is there actually some sabotaging going on inside the Church or is it just another publicity scandal?

Cook, John. "Cult Friction." Radar 17 Mar 2008 4. 14 Feb 2009 .

Gender Stereotypes...

I came across this feminist website called the f-word. I found this article very eye opening to many different things wrong with how people view the opposite gender.

The internet has exposed some very wrong things that would never be put into magazines or broadcasted, such as sexist jokes. But what we are noticing is that they are now everywhere. Women are seen as endless shoppers, money-spenders, demanding, and outspoken. At least that is how most television shows and advertisements portray us. Men are seen as stupid, lazy, sex addicts, helpless brats, and most of all, unable to understand women in their own and our crazy emotions. People say that the law has been changed when it comes to gender equality, but it's the same as racism, although the law has fixed it we must do our part to make it actually progress. Feminism talks about breaking apart from our stereotypical roles and branch out from that, in order to become successful and live life to the fullest. Men as well as women have terrible views of one another, and need to break those views. Every gender needs to throw out these negative ideas, and look for a fuller life.

Gibson, Alex. "Why men should care about gender stereotypes."The F Word: contemporary UK feminism. 02 Feb 2008. 

The F Word. 10 Feb 2009 .

Polygamy...

Polygamy - The having of a plurality of wives or husbands at the same time; usually, the marriage of a man to more than one woman, or the practice of having several wives, at the same time; -- opposed to monogamy; as, the nations of the East practiced polygamy.

Polygamy has long been discussed and been the topic of many articles and news broadcasts. Polygamy started with the early secretive Mormons. Many believe it has alot to do with gay rights and marriage itself. Many believe that opposite gender requirements for marriage is prejudice, exclusive, and an arbitrary denial of ones choices in love. Polygamists believe that the number restriction on marriage is just as discriminatory. Also many think the thought of Polygamy and Homosexuality completely different. Things like gay marriage and polygamy may be seen as a threat to traditional marriage. Or, they may see it as our cultures individualism and choice to branch out. Either belief or sexuality choice is being given a low amount of respect.

Krauthammer, Charles. "Pandora and Polygamy". Washington Post Company March 17, 2006: A19.

Human Trafficking...

I read an article from the Washington Post on woman being sold into brothels to perform as prostitutes. This struggle in the world is most common in India. Brothels is another word for the "red light district". Katherine talks about Meena, who was sold by her boss. She was only 12 years old.

Although India has been rapidly increasing in development of the economy, what we don't see is the poverty of the millions of Indians. Thousands of women and young girls are sold into prostitution each day. Many are lured from their villages and cities on the account of being promised of false promises like jobs and marriages. One problem is that India is so diverse, to the point that taking them only a certain distance and they will have a completely different language. The working of these underground businesses make it nearly impossible to track down. This is usually how things like this happen; a family member or friend decides to approach the girls family about a job that pays well or a marriage that lets them not have to pay for a dowry. In other cases though, the parents sell the girls straight up. Many of the girls and women who are able to escape are rejected by their family, leaving them alone and poor. Especially when family is everything to their society.

Sayre. Katherine. "India Struggles Against Trafficking," Washington Post 17 June 2007. Associated Press. 5 Feb 2009

Avalanches...

There were three prisoners who were going to be executed by a firing squad. (a blonde brunette and a redhead)They put the brunette up against the wall. Just as they were about to shoot the brunette yelled "EARTH QUAKE" every one ran for shelter and the brunette got away as the red head got up against the wall,She yelled "TORNADO" every one ran for shelter and the red head got away. Just as the blonde was about to be executed, agian they put her against the wall. The executer yelled "Ready, Aim...And the blonde yelled "FIRE."

I think this joke is quite funny to be honest. I am no longer a "blonde" due to the fact that i dyed my hair brown, but i have never found these offensive. I think all blonde jokes in general are just hilarious. Even though they make fun of blondes, they have the right to. Many girls ( including blondes) dumb themselves down for others, most of the time they are males. I think it is both quite amusing and sad. What i don't understand is why they don't equally make fun of brunettes and red heads just as much? That really gives blondes a huge dissadvantage to everyone elses hair color. I believe that there are alot of blondes haired women who are both very smart and great role models to many girls out there. As well, girls shoudn't "dumb themselves down" in order to get a males attention. It's basically a 2- way street. Don't act dumb, and these jokes won't be created.

dobson007 , "Digital Worldz". January 30, 2009 .

NUMBA 8

Prozac Nation

This is another memoir based on Elizabeth Wurtzels' journey through 10 years of chronic depression. It starts with her as a little girl, before the depression of being who she is and growing up kicked in, along with her new friend sadness kicks in. By the time she ages, she is long accustomed with the feeling of helplessness and a long list of the similar beyond that. This tells about her life and the struggle she dealt with, until the prescription drug. Prozac is a medicine used to treat depression.

I like this book, im not quite far yet but its good. It shows the lifelong struggle some people go through. I myself struggle with depression, so in some parts of the book i understand what she is going through, i believe thats why i am so fond of this book.

NUMBA 7

Paranoid Park

Based on the book by Blake Nelson. Alex, a 16 year old skateboarder that accidently kills a security guard. It all starts when him and Scratch (a guy he meets at Paranoid Park) ride the freight train. A security guard catches them, and is fighting with Alex and Scratch. Alex defends himself hitting the guard with his skateboard rendering him unconscious. The guard falls onto another train track, being run over and killed. Alex tried best he could to destroy the evidence, but his skateboard turns up with DNA putting that skateboard at the scene of the crime. No one knows about the incident at the train tracks, or that he murdered a security guard. This causes people to notice something is wrong. His friend Macy notices the most and tells him to write down whatever it was that was bothering him. The movie is based on the events he wrote down on a notepad and eventually burned.

This movie was EPIC! i loved it very much, it was superb. It was very confusing at first but the second time i watched it, things start to unravel and fall into place. Somewhat like a puzzle piece. I for sure recommend this movie. It was great.

NUMBA 6

In My Skin

This is a memoir by Kate Holden, a young woman struggling with heroin addiction causing her to turn to prostitution. She was once a shy innocent girl who always had her face in a book. She retraces her steps from when she had her first hit of the drug. To after when she truelly began to find herself after struggling to stay clean.

I found this book quite boring to begin with, but as you crept on in the pages of this book the more Kate held you in with her constant struggle to earn the money to drug up after her long shift at a Brothel. To her nightime was when she was alive, sleeping throughout the day only to wake up and go to work.

NUMBA 5

Paintbrush

I keep my paint brush with me 
Wherever I may go,
In case I need to cover up
So the real me doesn’t show.
I’m so afraid to show you me,
Afraid of what you’ll do – that
You might laugh or say mean things.
I’m afraid I might lose you.

I’d like to remove all my paint coats
To show you the real, true me,
But I want you to try and understand,
I need you to accept what you see.
So if you’ll be patient and close your eyes,
I’ll strip off all my coats real slow.
Please understand how much it hurts
To let the real me show.

Now my coats are all stripped off.
I feel naked, bare and cold,
And if you still love Me with all that you see,
You are my friend, pure as gold.

I need to save my paint brush, though,
And hold it in my hand,
I want to keep it handy
In case somebody doesn’t understand.
So please protect me, my dear friend
And thanks for loving me true,
But please let me keep my paint brush with me
Until I love me, too.

I love this poem because it is so true to some girls. I found it in a chicken soup book awhile back and i just have that poem in my journal with me constantly. It just really shows what some people really feel like on the inside and in a way its sad. I dont know why it is so touching to me but it just is, i find it very good. Chicken soup books are good to read if your looking for things that relate to you, its by people that know where your coming from and its just a good connection.

NUMBA 4

Th1rteen R3asons Why

Meet Clay Jensen, just a normal teenager like the rest of us. The only small difference between him and everyone else is the one and only, Hannah Baker. Hannah Baker had committed suicide just a few weeks earlier, and when Clay receives a mysterious box without a return address, it changes his life. Inside are 13 cassette tapes with whose voice, none other then Hannah Baker herself. Clay in fact is one of the 13 people to hear why she killed herself, in some way he is actually responsible for it. He decides to listen to the tape and follows Hannah's voice to locations she wants him to see. It speaks of betrayal, secrets, and guilt.

I am not quite far yet in this book but i have been so hooked on it that i have been reading this during lunch as well. It is so strong and touching to read and shows how even the smallest things can impact us on such a large scale. It is quite a handful to read but i am a book worm so i really like it. i REALLY recommend it.

NUMBA 3

Hold Me Down

I found a letter that said:
"I'm sorry that you were asleep when I wrote these words down,"
You'd think I'd ought to be used to that by now.
Save for a few of those late night episodes,
Missed opportunities, and "I Don't Cares,"
There's not a lot that I feel obliged to share or talk about.

I'll have my brother stop by this Saturday to pick up my things,
Just make sure you're not there.
This may sound bad, and don't take it the wrong way..
I love you, however, 
You hold me down 

You're the echoes of my everything,
You're the emptiness the whole world sings at night.
You're the laziness of afternoon,
You're the reason why I burst and why I bloom.
How will I break the news to you? 

Cancel our dinner with Max and Coraline,
feed Jacky's gerbil and try to stay clean.
We'll talk it over after I've had some time alone to sort it out. 
You hold me down 

You're the echoes of my everything,
You're the emptiness the whole world sings at night.
You're the laziness of afternoon,
You're the reason why I burst and why I bloom.
You're the leaky sink of sentiment,
You're the failed attempts I never could forget.
You're the metaphors I can't create to comprehend this curse that I call love..
How will I break the news to you?

this is one of my most favorite songs, along with my favorite band. This song is kind of sad but the beat and tempo is also very uplifting. i really like the lyrics and how they sound. This song just makes me feel good inside i guess. I recommend it for anyone who likes upbeat but mellow songs. Motion City Soundtrack is one of my favorite bands, i cannot even describe it. I have seen them once in concert and plan on one day meeting them, it would be very nice. But i recommend any of the songs by them but mostly their 3 most recent albums (i am the movie, commit this to memory, even if it kills me)

not to mention i own basically every song by them ;D

WEBSITE

NUMBA 2

The Tracey Fragments

This is literally one of the WEIRDEST movies i have ever seen, hands down. Tracey Berkowitz is a 15- year old girl who is riding the bus in journey to find her younger brother Sonny, whom she lost on a sunny day before the blizzard. This movie is about the twisted life of Tracey. She is stuck in her own mind and runs away. She sits on the back of the bus and tells us her story, wearing nothing but a shower curtain.

I liked this movie and DEFF recommend it, it was the kind that keeps you on your toes and wide awake.

WEBSITE

Advice!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Louisa Know It All,

My name is Anjun, i have friend who is having some troubles lately. He once wanted to find inner enlightenment or "nirvana". He did not care about material possessions or anything like that, but now all he worries about is how wealthy he is and how he can "tower" over everyone else. He lost his sense of patience and understanding and replased it with annoyed and unpatient. I miss the old him the one that loved the simplist things.

"But above all he was nauseated with himself, with his perfumed hair, with the smell of wine from his mouth, with the soft, flabby appearance of his skin. Like one who has eaten and drunk too much and vomits painfully and then feels better, so did the restless man wish he could rid himself with one terrific heave of these pleasures, of these habits of this entirely senseless life." (Hesse 82)

This does not seem like a person that is happy with himself or how far he has come on this journey. I just really want him back to how he used to be, someone happy with who he is.

NUMBA 1

Wristcutters: A Love Story

Going into watching this movie i believed that it was going to be a very depressing and a "downer" movie, what i found out is that it was the absolute OPPOSITE. This movie is about Zia, a heatbroken man that decides to end his life over his girlfriend. He wakes up in this afterlife, where things are similar to the real world, just a little worse. While spending his alternate life there, he discovers that his once girlfriend had also "offed" herself. Him and his new friend set out on a journey to find her. On their journey they learn that even though you are dead, it doesnt mean you have to really stop living. 

I really liked this movie, it was more of a happier movie then i expected, but i really liked it. The humor was awkward, but so was the subject or suicide and death. I DEFFINATLY reccomend this movie if you want a change.

WEBSITE