Frankenstein Book Review

    Created by a teenage girl named Mary Shelley in the early 1800s, Frankenstein is still considered a masterpiece of horror literature.

Frankenstein is a sad story of mistakes, morals, and life. A man of science and magic named Victor Frankenstein is obsessed with the idea of creating life. He begins a project of making a man out of dead people. When he brings the creation to life, he panics and abandons it. The creation, who is like a child. must learn to grow up on it’s own. He soon becomes bitter towards humans because they hate him, and the once gentle creature turns to evil.
It is one of my favorite books, and I love how deep it went. I couldn't help but feel empathy for the neglected creature, who only wanted to be loved and raised by his “father.”
One of my favorite parts of the book is when Victor finally brings the creation to life and the creation smiles at him. Victor totally freaks out and literally runs away, leaving the creature to fend for itself. The scene says a lot about Victor Frankenstein, and how all along he didn't consider the consequences of his actions.

Young Mary Shelley

Education Rights for Girls around the Globe

Could you imagine not going to school? For some of us, it might sound like the greatest thing ever, but for others it is something you would fight for, break traditions, or even risk death for.

    In the United States, girls like us have the right to education, even though it might feel like we’re being forced to get up early in the morning for school. In just about every country, girls at some point were unable or discouraged to get an education just for being girls. Without education, girls were (and would be) unable to get good jobs, live on their own, see the world, or do all the other great things that we can do now.

    Sadly, some girls don’t have any of those opportunities even today. Education rights are very important, for girls and for girls of the future.

    In Mexico, many girls (and boys) do not finish their primary education. About 1 in every 10 students doesn’t finish grades K-12. If you think about it, that actually a lot of children.

    Indigenous children (especially girls) in very rural Mexico sometimes don’t get an education at all. Not going to school, and even dropping out increases the risk for turning to drugs, violence, and otherwise very unpleasant lifestyles not only in Mexico, but all over the world.

    Pakistan is another country of interest for girl’s education rights. The Taliban, an extreme Islamic political group guilty for many deaths and public terrorism in the Middle East do not believe that girls should go to school. They have shut down schools and  silenced teachers and activists.

    Often, in Middle East, people have thought that girls should not be educated for such a long time, that the idea has been passed down for generations and is still held true in their minds. It is the future, and girls should have the right to education, especially today in a time where education opens the doors to girls so they  can be engineers, astronauts, physicists, and so much more.

    For us, going to school is as easy as making it on time for the bus in morning. Some girls have to actually risk their lives for it. We are extremely lucky to be able to go to school freely, and learn without limit. Hopefully one day, our sisters around the globe will all be able to have the freedom of education as we do.

Girls everywhere deserve the right to education.

Racism and Sexism in Vines

The other day, I was watching Vines on Facebook and I came across one called How Guys Work on Cars vs How Girls Work on Cars. It shows a relatively normal looking young man working on a car engine with him saying “How guys work on cars.” The short video cuts to him in drag with a blonde wig saying, “How girls work on cars.” With a weak whimper, he hits part of the engine with a hammer and a hose that had been hooked up to the engine briefly sprays water into his face.

I laughed. A lot. I even shared it with my family and friends. However, now that I think about it, it was very sexist. It implies that only guys can fix cars, and girls only mess things up. From experience, I know this to totally not be true. Girls and guys, if trained properly have the ability to work on cars equally.

Another very common type of video I see is racism. It is usually from a person of any race or color making fun of themselves and others. Although, some might say something along the lines of, “He’s black so it’s okay to be racist.” or “He’s only joking. Don’t take it too seriously.”, is it right? They justify making slave jokes or ethnic slurs with the excuse of comedy. Sometimes it is funny, but recently from what I've seen in these videos, it takes it a step too far.

This type of media is readily available almost everywhere. On YouTube, Facebook, Instagram: these short 6 second homemade videos are gaining popularity by the minute. Is it positive to send out such sexist and racist messages? Is it okay to use the term “gay” as an insult? No matter who does them, or how funny they are?

It might seem harmless and comedic, but it is shaping whole generations. Into what it is shaping, I don’t know, but usually “implanting” racism, sexism, bullying, and lack of empathy into the minds of young people has bad consequences based on events and societies in the past. (Think Nazi Germany and the United States in the 60's)


       People should stop to think before supporting racism and sexism. Everyone should be considered equal and people should be taught tolerance and acceptance. In normal circumstances, like everyday conversation, speaking like they do in Vines would be unacceptable.

Equality!

Bone Health for Girls

     I am a Girl Scout, and I just made a presentation about bone health as part of a Women's Health badge. Please read it, it has lot's of cool info and advice! This is a link to the slides in Google Documents where you can view it: 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FdXsPQnGjH89Y44X5z7YZrBV5Xy1RF2S3b55UFPRyC0/edit#slide=id.p

For more info about bone health for girls, go to bestbonesforever.gov

The International Space Station

     What is a zero-gravity environment, 230 miles above the surface of the Earth, in a satellite moving 4.8 miles a second called? The International Space Station! Otherwise known as the ISS, this large satellite is larger than a football field.  However, unlike other satellites, the ISS is home to a crew of  usually 6 international astronauts all year round.
     The ISS began as a dream during the Cold War. The Cold War wasn't actually a war, although it did close a couple times, between the Soviet Union, AKA the USSR, and America as a battle for space exploration and world influence. The space exploration part of this "war" was called the Space Race. It pretty much ended when the U.S. sent man to the moon, and now instead of competing with the USSR, now Russia, we are partnering with them. The ISS is an international project with much contributed from the U.S and Russia.
     The ISS began to be built in the early 90s, and with modules being added. The ISS will technically never be complete, because countries keep adding new modules, building the ISS even today.
     The International Space Station is the most expensive project that the world has ever taken on. Despite what many people think, the ISS is in full use. It is used as a research lab with international scientists living full-time on board.
     Life on the ISS is very cramped, but they manage. The crew switches out every so often, and new scientists and astronauts (Russian astronauts are called cosmonauts) come on board.
     Ever wonder how they get to and from the ISS? Well, they use a Russian spacecraft called the Soyuz, which was built in the 60s. It holds up to three people and it uses a really cool docking mechanism to attach to the ISS main module.
     The International Space Station is one of the most prestigious projects that mankind has ever done, and not many people know much about it. You can look up more info on the ISS on the NASA website.

Journal Writing!

     What does society think of when the word "journal" pops up? Do they think of a junior high girl giggling as she writes about boys in her diary with a bedazzled pen? Or do they think of an explorer, jotting down his adventures into a leather-bound book in the light of an old lantern?
     There are many different ideas when it comes to keeping a journal. In my opinion, keeping a journal is very important. Starting to journal when you are young will prove beneficial in your later years, or maybe even in a few days. Looking back at what you did and how you felt at the time can help you make better choices in the future.
     I am an avid journal-er. I write every day in my personal journal (which is an awesome bright orange), and I journal about everything: my feelings, music, crushes, and even current events. It makes me feel better when I'm upset, and it's fun to read later on.
     Keeping a journal is very easy, and consists of three basic steps. First, write down anything you want. Just put what's in your mind on paper, even if it seems silly. You don't have to put any planning into it, or punctuation. You could even draw pictures in your journal. The next step is to never tear out pages or delete/erase what you wrote, no matter how tempting it is. Even this step is hard for me, and I have broken this "rule" many times in the past. The last step is review what you wrote, either immediately after to a year later. You can reflect on what you wrote, and maybe see how silly it was. All of these are the basic start of journaling, also, you don't have to write every day if you don't want to.
     When it comes to picking out what kind of journal to have, it is entirely your choice. You could make your own journal, or you can use a composition book. Maybe a pink diary with a lock and key is what you want, or you could even journal on the computer.
     Journaling is a great habit to start early, and it will prove to be very valuable later in life. I highly recommend it!

   

Malala Yousafzai (Again)

Remember Malala Yousafzai? Well, she has been released from the hospital in London! She will be staying with her family nearby for about four weeks until she can get another skull reconstruction surgery. She has recovered well, according to the doctors who took care of her. I hope she will continue her work as a young activist, and maybe get a Nobel Peace Prize.

Malala leaving the hospital.

End of the World?

     Over five years ago, I heard about how the world was going to end in 2012. I was mildly shocked about how it would happen before Christmas. No presents! I also thought about how old I would be, and how I would look as a teenager, with a purse and boyfriend, and going to High School. It's 2012, and only one of the predictions came true, the rest didn't. First of all, the world didn't end. Second, I don't have a purse or a boyfriend. The only one that came true was the inevitable, and I am in High School.
     Back to the main topic, why do people come up with end of the world dates? Well, the practice of coming up with a date for the end of the world can be traced back to the Romans over 600 years B.C.E (That means Before Common Era, or before Christianity was a religion. Alternately, C.E means Common Era, or after the death of Jesus which is the time period we are living in.) That was one of the first recorded apocalypse dates, and with many more to come.
     Nostradamus, a famous prophet from the 1500s predicted that the world would end in 1999, and guess what, it never did. Every date for the end of the world has not come true. This is the case with the most recent one, which was yesterday. Probably the most famous one so far, the 21st of December, 2012 is just another case of false predictions.
     Most doomsday prediction dates have a reason behind them. Whether it be biblical, signs in the stars, or just a hoax made up by someone who wants money, there's always one. So what's the story behind the 21st? Well, the date can be traced back to a calendar that the Mayans used. The Mayans, an indigenous group that lived in what is now modern day south Mexico, or Yucatan (On an unrelated little fact, the ancestry on my dad's side are Mayan.) The long count calendar, called Tzolk'in, pronounced sol-kin, is the one that ended yesterday.
     Even though it ended, it never meant the end of the world, not even to the Mayans. The Mayans actually never predicted an end of the world date. The Tzolk'in started over. The reason it can be assumed that it started over is that, obviously, the world did not end, and the calender is circular, and was meant to start over. 
     A lot of people considered things like planetary alignment, solar flares, and other "signs" like a ring around the moon and more. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. No planetary alignments or anything. Only a solstice, which happens every year on this date, which is something that scientists knew from the start. Even NASA insisted that nothing would happen, and they (and many other scientific groups) were right.
  There is only one end of the world date that I believe in that science has proven correct. It will be in about 5 billion years, which is when our sun finishes the phase that is currently in and becomes a red giant, expanding and destroying Earth. Luckily for us, we won't be around to see this, and we can continue living on the planet for many years to come. Unless aliens come and take us away, or the planet Niribu crashes to Earth, or if there is a nuclear war...the list could go on and on! Anyway, happy holidays!

The Mayan Calendar

Malala: The Bravest Girl in the World

     Have you heard of Malala Yousafzai? If not, she's the Muslim girl with an insane amount of courage and an amazingly strong will! Malala, a 15-year-old Pakistani native who is fighting for the right of education, was shot a few weeks ago by the Taliban for speaking out about her cause. Yes, education is a right, and before complaining to anybody (including yourself) about how school is the worst thing in the world, listen to Malala's story.
     Malala started as a blogger for the BBC about living under Taliban rule. She would post about going to school (and not going to school), violence in the street, and life living as a girl in the Middle East. When the Taliban made it illegal for Malala and other girls, to go to school, she just couldn't stay silent about it. She probably got her beliefs about education from her father, Ziauddin Yousazai, a poet, school owner, and education activist.
     After protesting, Malala could go back to school, But one day, after school had ended and the bus has stopped, a man in a mask with a gun got into the bus and threatened to kill everyone unless Malala identified herself. After he saw which student was her, he shot at her, and one of the bullets went through her head and neck, then lodged in her shoulder close to her spinal cord.
     Miraculously, Malala survived. She is currently in the U.K. at a hospital, still recovering. The doctors say that she is going to be all right, thankfully!
     Think about it! She was shot for her and other's education! We have it so easy. We don't go to school with even the slightest notion that we are going to be shot for it! Whenever you want burn your schoolwork and books, remember Malala, and what she fights for.

Many people want Malala to win a Nobel Peace Prize. What do you think?

Elections!

     So we all know about the whole "Romney VS Obama" thing, but what about the elections themselves? There is so much more to checking a "Yes" or a "No" on a little piece of paper and sticking it into a box! There are also many terms that you might not understand that you hear your teacher or your parents use that all have to do with elections, so the major terms used in this post will be in bold with the definitions of all the words at the end.
     One of the most important things involving an election is what party you side with. Each party is defined by it's platform, or what they believe in. For example, the Democrat party has more liberal beliefs than the Republican party, who are usually conservative. Depending on the person's individual morals and beliefs, each person has a political party to which they belong to. The president and the candidates that run for president or any office also belong to a political party. A few other political parties include the Green party, the Libertarian party, and Constitution party.
     The President of the United States! What a title that is! But what do presidents really do? Well, the president doesn't have all the power that we usually imagine him having. Really it is by vote of the people and the vote of Congress that can pass a law. Sure the president has power, but really he signs the bills that are to become laws. All in all, the president is more influential than powerful.
     A president is selected every four years on an election day, and he serves four years at a time, otherwise known as a term. The president can only serve for two terms, or eight years in all.
     Electing or re-electing the president isn't the only thing that is decided on an election day, also laws and propositions are voted for. Laws and propositions are carefully planned with arguments for and against, a debate for each one.
     Registered voters over the age of 18 are sent a sample ballot in the mail with all the propositions, candidates, and laws to be voted for or against. You can go through ahead of time and decide on what you will vote for. Ask your parents if you can look at the sample ballot to see what kind of props and laws are on it.
     On election day, the voters go to an official polling location where the real voting takes place. The voters are checked in and given an official ballot. They go to a high, small table where it is private and they can vote. There are also electronic ballots in use that reduce the amount of paper. After the voter is finished they put the ballot into a box. And that is how voting is done! I would recommend to go the the polling location with your parents to see for yourself. And did I mention that you get a free "I Voted!" sticker too?


Glossary

Election-An organized and formal process of selecting, for example the President.
Party-An organization that wants to gain political power.
Platform-The principals, beliefs, and goals of a political power.
Democrat-A political party that follows strong liberal and social programs.
Liberal-The beliefs that are open to new ideas and not the traditional ones.
Republican-A political party that is conservative and stands for strong national defense.
President-Any leader or head of an organization, or in this case, the head of the United States.
Candidates-Any person running for election.
Vote-The formal choosing between things.
Congress-The national legislative body of a country.
Law-A rule or rules that are enforced by penalties.
Bill-A law before it is passed.
election day-An official day set aside for voting.
Term-The amount of term a president, or other political figure serves.
Proposition-Also known as "prop," it is a statement expressing an opinion or belief about a political subject.
Debate-An organized argument.
Ballot-An official document that is used to show what is voted. It can also be virtual.
Polling location-An official public place that is a place for people to vote.
Candidates-People that want to be selected for office.

P.S. I would highly recommend looking these terms up for yourself and learning more about them!