Gallery Walk Reflection 1/31/2015

Gallery Walk Reflection 

By: John Zalazinski

1/31/15

One thing that I learned from the gallery walk from Justin R.'s blog is that people are using harmless apps to bully people. It is an app that lets people share their feelings or thoughts on the app, and people are just getting hurt for what they put on the app. Why would you just go on app just to make people feel bad when you know the app has an entirely different purpose?  Bullying is a international thing so why let somebody from a different corner of the world bully you for things like your culture or even intelligence. In my opinion all the people who download this app just as an opportunity just to bring someone down, is an overall bad person, and need to find something else to do. 

The next thing I learned is that ISIS is keeping two Japanese hostages and demands a ransom of 200 million US dollars. If ISIS kills both hostages Japan will kill ISIS's suicide bomber, an eye for an eye situation. The Japanese government is asking for international help which means that if any country would be willing to help they would be more than welcome to do so. This can be a problem because you never when the ISIS army can strike, so it is really important to be informed about what is happening about this subject.

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake Prompt: Summarize what you have just read. Week of 1-26-15 to 1-30-15

One Came Home by Amy Timberlake

John Zalazinski

1-28-15

A body was found that appears to be the main character's sister, well its not. She determined to find her no matter what. She attended her sister's first funeral which wasn't her sister's funeral. No one really seemed to get what she was trying to do because no one ever realized the situation.  Half the time her grandfather, Bolte was teaching her how to shoot a rifle.

She has a really hard time getting to where she wants to be. For example, a smart aleck named Billy who sold a horse to Georgie(The main character), Billy doesn't have a good personality. Anyway she did get the horse then somehow... never mind I won't tell.  Anyway she has a friend named Agatha whose going through some stuff too like marriage.

Sometimes its hard to keep up on what's happening, from Georgie getting a chore increase or her owing someone back. Like right now, Grandfather Bolte was teaching her more tricks about how to fire a rifle before dinner but what now? A lot of things could be heard in this book like her grandfather used to put a lot of money where his mouth is, otherwise known as gambling. Well now he is really impressed on a huge bird she hunted, and now he is really aggravated with her. The tone can change at any given second.

The Wall: Growing Up Behind The Iron Curtain By Peter Sis Week of 1-19-15 Prompt: What do you like about what you are reading?

The Wall: Growing Up Behind The Iron Curtain

Prompt: What do like about what you are reading?

1/21/15

John Zalazinski

I like how this book was about the Berlin Wall, yet it's so unique. A kid goes through life behind the Berlin Wall and he draws whatever he sees or hears about with a crayon and a piece of paper. For example he drew shapes as in a the star from the Soviet Union Flag or he drew blood because he literally saw people draw blood. Drawing seemed to be his only "escape" from the chaos that is happening around him. The book also taught me a few things about Berlin at the time. 

For example, rock music for a period of time was banned for reasons I can't seem to remember. Different age groups had to wear different clothing for example, a yellow polo and jeans. Any western flags were strictly prohibited, so you would most likely get arrested if you were got caught with one of many flags. Radios were jammed because there might be a radio host with "wrong" opinions and the Soviets would not want that stuff floating around.

The main character wrote journals of what happened to him from day to day. It is really interesting to know what's happening on the pages of the book. Even though this book was only roughly fifty pages it was still very interesting to read. For proof, I read it in a single day. To be honest the AOW of the Lights of the Berlin Wall wasn't interesting at all, this made the Berlin Wall worth knowing about.

Sherlock Holmes and The Irregulars: The Fall of the Zalindas Pages 0-20 By Tracy Mack and Michael Citrin Prompt: After Reading I Wonder... Week 1-12-15 to 1-16-15

Sherlock Holmes and The Irregulars: The Fall of the Zalindas 

Prompt: After Reading I Wonder...

John Zalazinski

1/14/15

After reading I wonder why Sherlock Holmes is still not involved yet. His name is in the book so you would expect after two chapters the big main character should be mentioned. Well, he was mentioned for a little bit, but still it should be more mentioned than his name. There was also in between that he was other people, climbing a window or something else. For now it has just been about the "Irregulars" a group of orphans who escaped their orphanage to form a group. 

I also wonder if the Zalindas are the bad guys in this because the story also mention someone in the crowd who didn't really find them so "amusing." He whispered to himself "Death to all" so is it just something to throw the reader off or to give the reader a little hint to know where the story is going to go. Well if it is a hint its basically a spoiler, sorry. For a lot of people this confusing, but it is a Sherlock Holmes book, so it might not be surprise for people who have read previous Sherlock books.

The number one thing that I wonder is that who was that character that was in the introduction, YES I  read the introduction, the part 99% of people don't read. He or she was most likely an observer of the main characters, but I'm not so sure about it. He sounded more a background than someone who would want to get noticed. I hope at the end or close to the end of the book I will find out or maybe just leave without the answer wanting to read the next book, very clever.

The First Time I.... Week of 1-5-15 to 1-9-15

The First Time I....

By: John Zalazinski

Week of 1-5-15 to 1-9-15

1/9/2015

September 6th, 2014, I traveled to Georgia, but this time it wasn't for vacation. I was really shocked when I heard the news that my family and I were going to move to Georgia. To be honest this was one thing I knew wouldn't last forever. It was actually going quite well at first, going to a new school, meeting new people, but when I found out that clubs were mandatory and I had to ride two buses to get home, I almost got lost and just confused overall. I tried to pretend that some of the people I meet over there would relate to the people I know in Berwyn. They actually somewhat do relate to them and that me feel a little bit better. 

                                                                                                                                                            Georgia was still on my brain when I moved back to Illinois. People would call me crazy, but I think my mind is messing with me because I almost see the other kids I met walking around the school. I know it is my head only but I really hope it isn't a bad sign because I was happy to go back to my hometown. The biggest reason I was happy is that since we were a away the family was just completely torn apart. I sometimes thought about this question after we came back to Berwyn is that "If we were still in Savannah, Georgia, what would my family be like right now?" That is one question that will most likely be never answered because it can be answered by time. 

I still remember how the day went when we were all packed up and ready to move. There was enough tears to fill a dozen jars, seriously I'm not exaggerating by a long shot. For a long time I was denying it over and over until it happened. There are days like that you want to last as long as possible, but you can never control time unless you super powers and I don't have any so there's that. I'm so glad to be back, from the day packed up to go to Savannah to the time we left.