Qt. 3 Outside Reaidng FOUR

Today I read an article from the New York Times titled a Breadwinner Rethinks Gender Roles by M.P. Dunleavey. This article discussed how a writer for the Times is the "breadwinner" in her family while her husband stays home, and cares for their young baby. I think this was an interesting article because it illustrated a couple good points, one of them being how much society has changed. The article discussed how her situation was like a flipped episode of "Father knows best." I think it is really cool how woman now are able to go to work and earn legitimate wages and are not just stay at home wives any longer. This article also illustrated how men take a sense of pride in being the soul provider of a family. Men have a natural wanting to be the person who is the "hero" of the family and keeping everyone safe and healthy with the money they earn at job. I think that it takes a special man to step back and say his role isn't what it has traditionally been thought to be, the man should be the breadwinner and the woman should care for the family. This article showed me just how awesome but rare it is that a man is willing to care for his child and allow his wife to go off to work and be the sole provider for the family. In conclusion this was an opening inside perspective on gender roles practically flipped.

Qt. 3 Outside Reading THREE

This week I read a short story in Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II titled The Porcelain Bride Doll by Marsha Arons. This story was about how a Jewish girl who would play with her non-Jewish Friend, Katy and they would play pretend wedding with Marsha's Bride doll. One day her friend said, something about how she was one day going to be a beautiful bride like the doll and Marsha said me too but then her friend replied, "Don't be silly. You'll never look like her. You look to Jewish," (Arons, 240). This quote represents how sometimes different religions can be like different cultures and often the difference causes slurs and hatefulness. Her freind Katy flat out said Jewish woman are not as pretty as others and do not make pretty brides. This story also illustrated the differences of morals that can be shown by people from different culture's or religions, Marsha's mother taught her too be strong and not to let things like this affect. I believe she taught her this because her mother probably had many slurs yelled at her and had to grow strong in her childhood. I believe her friend Katy thought it was okay because her parents say things like this because they can not expect people other peoples culture, because her parents probably grew up as a majority religion and have not felt the pain a slur like this can cause. This story preaches just how painful slurs and comments about other peoples cultures can hurt, and should be kept to oneself.

Qt.3 Outside Reading TWO

Today I read a short story in Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II called Good Night Dad by Luken Grace. The struggle in this story was about a boy who lost his dad the night before he could not bring himself to telll his dad he loved him, but really wanted to and instead said goodnight dad. Lucken has to now live the rest of his life with the regret of not saying I love you to his dad. I think that in time Lucken allowed himself to not be angry about not saying I love you too his dad because he realized life is not about what you say it is about how you act. This story really instrated the idea that actions speak louder than words. Lucken always helped his dad, told him he was the coolest guy he knew, and loved to hang out with him more than his friends. I think through those actions he expressed his love for his dad. Also to overcome soemthing as tragic as the death of his dad Lucken had to stay close with the people he did have in his life, and remeber the good times he had with his dad. In the end of the story Lucken said his dad was now in heaven with God, showing that he had a higher power to lean on, he also said to his brother God wanted dad with him and basically that the two of them should not be angry about that. The death of his dad was tragic but Lucken ajusted his life and had eventually had to forgive himself for not saying I love you the night before he died. In conclusion this story illustrated a few good points to me, actions speak louder than words, and to lean on others in time of need.

QT.3 Outside Reading ONE

I read an article about a natural disaster on startribune.com, the title of the article was Record-breaking heat wave drives wildfires, heat-stress illness across southern Australia. It was about a heat wave in Australia that lead to many wild fires. There was more than 20 houses destroyed and thousands lost power. There was also people dying from the heat being so hot, heat stress. The temperatures were above 109 degrees Celsius. The purpose of this article was to inform people of dangers in other Countries and to encourage others to potentially help with the fight against the heat wave. This article was also very informative and taught me a lot about heat waves, I learned that in order to fight heat related illnesses you must drink excess amounts of waters.

http://www.startribune.com/world/38694302.html?elr=KArksUUUU

Outside Reading NINETEEN

Today I read an article in People Magazine titled Australian Stars Support Heath Ledger Scholarship by Associated Press. This article was about how many high powered Australian stars are coming together to create a scholarship in Heath Ledger's name. The stars are donating the money to a good cause and never forgetting their close friend. The message of this article was that well you live your life, think about what people will think of you when you are gone. This means how would you like your friends to describe you to someone else. Be conscious of your actions and how the show who you truly are. Actions speak louder than words is really true in many cases. Act responsibly and remember people are always watching, people wanted to remember Heath and form this scholarship because he was a well behaved respectable man. This article showed me be careful how others portray you and the message you are sending out from your actions.

Outside Reading EIGHTEEN

Today I read another short story in Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II called What I Wish I'd Known Sooner by Meredith Rowe. For my response I am going to choose a quote from the story and comment on it's significance. The quote I choose was "You never know when your making a memory." This quote jumped out at me for a couple reasons. One reason is because even if and we all have been in those awful situations where you are like why am I here? Well those situations eventually lead to memories and good times to laugh about! Another reason I liked this quote is because it also in a way says you never know something until you try it, even if it is awful it will be something to look back on and laugh about in a few years. This quote also showed me just how important memories are. Always cherish funny moment and never forget anything that makes you laugh! Those funny memories can really brighten a dull day! This was a great story with some awesome lessons and a great quote that really enlightened me. 

Outside Reading SEVENTEEN

Today I read a short story in Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II called Andrea's Fresh Start by Peg Verone. The story was about a girl who isolated herself from everyone else and wore all black to school. She became very suicidal and felt shut off from the rest of the world, mostly because she shut herself off. She began to wish she was dead or head a life threatening disease. Only a few months later she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. The moment she became diagnosed she turned her life around and realized life was under her control, and she only had one life to live so she should live it. From that day on she did her best to be positive all the time and fought the battle against cancer and won. This story taught me to never dwell on the small things. I also learned that if you feel shut out or lost there are answers. Lastly i learned life is what you make it and its short to be mad or angry, have  a good time and live with no regrets.