Glogster

Journal 26: Caesar's Ghost

Rachel White

Mr. Allam

English II

11 March 2011  

People of Rome! I, the ghost of the late Julius Caesar, am amongst you once again, but only briefly, to tell you of what I, in death, have learned.  Many of you believe that a friend is always one whom you are always able to trust. This, I have learned, is not true. You see, my former people, not everyone is as much of a friend as they claim to be, for a true friend will not turn against you as Brutus did me, and a true friend will also defend you even after death, even like Antony.

                Brutus may tell you otherwise. Brutus may say that if it is for the greater good of the people, you can take down even those who care most for you. Brutus may also say that a friend will help you accomplish your goals. Yet Brutus, Brutus who I once loved so, is not a friend. He does not understand what true friendship means.

One point of true friendship is that betrayal is never an option. Yet Brutus felt the need to dispose of what he wrongly saw as a threat. One such as him is blind to the truth. He was blind to how much I cared for him. As I died I said “Et tu, Brutѐ?”(III.i.77) Oh, how my heart ached to see him as one of my assassins. I could not understand how one of my most trusted could turn around and allow me perish at his hands. Truly, betrayal by your friend is far worse than betrayal by any other ally.

Another part of true friendship, I should add, is that they will protect and defend you even after death. Antony is a fine example of such, for as he spoke to you he defended me against Brutus, saying “Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? …Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man.”(III.ii.92, 95-96) In this saying did Antony disprove what lies he believed Brutus was spreading about me. Now, my friends, do you not want for your own friends to protect you even when you are not around? Many times have people had the chance to, hearing others disrespect their friends, and yet pass up such a chance. Yet Antony, true friend that he is, did not. He took that chance to defend me when others would have forgotten all I had done for them.

Truly, in friendship, betrayal is not an option. Rather instead, the better choice is to defend them, even when you are not in their presence. I hope, my people, that you will take these sayings to heart, and live by them through all eternity. With that, I bid you all farewell.

POW#4: Does the opposite sex ever tick you off?

Calphurnia,

I've just about had it with Brutus! Its almost like he doesn't care about me any more except to sleep with him! Something has been on his mind, but he refuses to tell me. Its not fair! I'm his wife! He should be able to tell me these things! But no. He refuses to tell me anything that is going on. He said that he would later, but I feel he is hiding something.

From
Portia
~~~
Portia

I can completely understand how you are feeling. Caesar and I are having troubles too. I may not belive in prophecies, but now... I just had a dream that I was certain is telling of the future. I fear it means that Caesar is going to be killed... but he will not listen when I beg him to stay home! That Descius is saying I interpreted my dream wrong and that it tells of a more glorious future. He's wrong. It was my dream; I know what it had to have meant. Is Caesar going to Listen to that man above me? His own wife? Men's stupidity often leads to their downfall, and I'm afraid that it is the same here. I just hope this is all resolved soon.

From
Calphurnia

Letter to Dr. Berry

Dr. Berry,

There have been six snow days this school year when there should only have been four. What are the consequences? None yet, but it has been rumored that there will be two days added to the school year. While it may seem okay at first, it is not something that the students of this school will stand for. I, too, do not think two extra days at school should be added to the school year, because near the end of the year, students buzz with too much energy anyways, and some people might need those two extra days away from school for vacation purposes.

What good would come of two extra days of school? Perhaps a student could make up for a lost day or school of work, or they might have friends at school that they cannot see otherwise. This is understandable, yet there are still downsides.

Towards the end of the school year, Students are buzzing with so much excitement that they are unable to focus. This excitement may prevent them from concentrating on assignments the teacher may give to them. Why add two extra days when it would just add to their anxiety? The assignments may just be turned in incomplete or not even touched. Excited students also mean chatty students. When a teacher is trying to talk or give a lecture, anxious students in the room will undoubtedly be whispering about their summer plans. This could interrupt the class and frustrate the teacher. Believe me when I say that we are better off without this type of anxiety.

Some people just need to get away for a little bit as well, and will plan months in advance. What if a student was planning on a vacation already when they were informed of these new school days? It is very likely that it could infringe on their plans. This would be especially irritating if they were planning on going out of state or country. If they were having other people coming to visit them, this would be even more annoying. When those people hear that they are coming at a bad time, they may change their plans, which could interfere with other plans. It could just start a domino effect, but I’d rather not go into detail. Don’t add those extra days for the sake of the people with plans.

While some early aspects of adding extra days to the school year may seem appealing, there are some major downsides to doing so. Please, for our community, don’t do this.

Outside Reading #1

The book I am reading for this project is Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.

It is the third and final book in the series The Hunger Games and is really widely popular. After the book Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen was taken to the underground District 13, where they want her to become their political figure: the Mockingjay. At the same time, Everyone is preparing for an upcoming war, Capitol versus District 13.

My rating sastem is really unique. Its going to be on a scale of 1-15, 1 being the worst, and 15 being the best. On top of that, I will be using the pictures of all 14 members of Organization 13 from the video game Kingdom Hearts, (plus Riku as 15)

The book is kind of slow in the first few chapters. Its a good read but... the only action so far is Katniss finding her shackled prep team in room Three-Nine-Oh-Eight, half naked and everything, at the end of the part I read. (I about finished the book already, I'm just splitting up what parts I use for my posts.) I find it interesting to know what exactly District 13 is like. It kinda makes me wonder what it would be like to live underground... Its also very touching to see that Cinna, the former head of her prep team, still has some sketches for clothes for her to use as the Mockingjay. One of my favorite things is the Mockingjay pin, under which is written "I'm still betting on you." The fact that he wrote that however... it almost makes me think he already knew he was going to die.

If I were to ask the author anything, I would ask why she writes the book in the present tense, instead of the past tense. I also wonder what significance Buttercup the Cat has in the story. I don't see any reason for the author to bring him back...

POW #2

It would be difficult to pick my favorite snapshot, or my least favorite, but I would have to say the picture of my brother, Zack, with my mom when he was just barely born. Whenever I see that photo, I can't help but say "aww" like most girls when they see something cute. (I suppose he's more cute to me since he's my brother.)

I actually remember where I was when the photo was taken at the hospital... I was at home, looking at the Pokemon cards I had gotten for 25 cents. its pretty sad, but it was a good deal, considering there were at least five hundred... But I digress. Because I was too young at the time, I wasn't allowed in the room to see my brother, although one of the nurses carried him to the dorrway and held him up, before waving his hand at my sister and me. That moment will stay with me forever, and the previously mentioned photo is the closest I have to it.

AOW #1

I understand that Byrnes has been expelled from her nursing school, but for what? A simple mistake in which there was no warning of the consequences? To my understanding, when Byrnes asked her teacher if she was in trouble, the teacher herself said that she was not. Now, going against her previous statement, her teacher has had her expelled. I find this quite deplorable.

Perhaps Byrnes acted a small bit imatture, but to my understanding, she is serious about what she belives to be her calling and her studies. Her teacher never said she could not take a photo with the placenta, nor was there anything in the school's code of conduct against it. If you ask me, I believe she should be readmitted into the school. Its really the school's fault, after all, since if they had given her fair warning, she would not have acted in this manner.