The Media

I feel it is the media's duty to report on information that they can claim as factual as much as possible. Media sources want to "have the scoop", and using conspiracy theories would only leave viewers in confusion and specualtion. Conspiracy theories are also not stories that can be used frequently. The media would much rather report on useless pop culture news, usually with celebrities, or everyday stories, such as homicides, car accidents, and political news. They are always happening, can be expanded on, and can be reused all the time. Despite a lot of useless content that the media usually produces, they have to remain factual and not biased, to give viewers a guarentee of credibility that they are not being lied to. To use stories like conspiracy theories tends to show bias in the news. These theories are often unproven and are for people who "believe in that kind of stuff". Though they are interesting, they cannot support themselves as a constant outlet for news stories. The internet plays the part of hosting these stories well, because they are not always credible, yet are valuble in questionability.

My Favorite Poem from the 4

My favorite poem is “You Are Reading This Too Fast”, by Ken Norris. I like to think of this as more of a guide then a poem, as it is telling me how to read a poem. As I read through, it tells me the pace I should be at, and how I should pay attention to every word. One thing that is really neat about it is how at the beginning, it tells me to slow down. Almost every time I read it, I seem to be reading fast, then I slow down like the poem tells me to. I think that every time I read another poem, I should take in consideration the tips that this poem gave me.

Johnnie’s Poem Questions

In “Johnnie’s Poem”, I believe the message is that poems can written about almost anything, and the deeper you search through your emotions, the more thought and meaning will come out of the poem. I partly agree with this. Most poems are probably written out of this theory, but I think you can make a poem about anything and still put tons of meaning, thought, and depth if you try hard enough. Now, what exactly is poetry? I don’t think there really is a logical definition for poetry, because all poetry is different and holds many meanings that are probably almost impossible to break into a definition. However, one way you could put it would be a series of words, paragraphs, phrases that all connect together to prove a meaning.

Cue For Treason

Cue for Treason was a very well written novel in my opinion. The book was exiting, and had many themes that evenly flowed with each other through the book. The best part was that the main characters were around my age, so it was easy to relate to their feelings, and actions through the book. I was a little disappointed that the main plot wasn’t introduced until halfway through the book. It felt I was waiting quite a while until the actually storyline came along. However when it was introduced, it was very exciting and held lots of action. Overall, the book was great, and had much depth to it. Definitely not the best I’ve ever read, however it was worth reading. My personal rating: 75/100.

January 10th 2010

The House of the Scorpion: 5/5

December 4th 2009

Matt is beginning to fight back verbally against the keepers. The keepers have beaten him because of his arrogance, and his rebellion he has created with his roommates. The keepers cannot get Matt to confess a sin, so they decide they will beat Fidileto. Before Jorge the keeper hits him, Matt knocks the cane out of his hands, and the children gang up on him.

All I can think is that I really hope that there never comes an orphanage like this, where children are forced to work, and are beaten. Then again, there probably already is one. It may not be an orphanage but there are places around the world where child labor exists.

Matt and Chacho are dumped into the whale pit, as punishment for ganging up on Jorge. Luckily, Ton-Ton and Fidileto who rescue them on their shrimp harvester save them. They escape the facility and are brought to a hospital.

It is there that Matt finally finds Maria, and her mother Esperanza. Matt learns that Opium is in lockdown. No one can enter or leave the country. Only El Patron's DNA can deactivate the security. Esperanza tells Matt that because he is a clone of the dead El Patron, he has inherited Opium and is the new El Patron. She offers Matt her support, provided that he promises to destroy Opium from within and return it back to normal. Matt agrees, and returns to Opium, planning to shut down the drug empire and turn the eejits back into normal humans. Matt manages to re-enter Opium, but only to learn that El Patron killed most of his staff and family. El Patron viewed his staff and family as his possessions, and killed them with the wine they drank at his funeral.

The ending of the book really surprised me. I never really expected things would turn out so great for Matt. How Matt basically became the “new El Patron”, really was a shock to me. Though it does sadden me that among the people who died at El Patrons funeral, Tam Lin was one of them, despite him knowing the wine was poisonous.

The book had an overall feel-good ending. However, the ending was ambiguous. Matt conquers his enemies and obstacles (El Patron, Tom, the Keepers ect..) and now he is left, the leader of Opium. He is left as El Patron. It really makes me wonder what happened next. I think the book was written way too well to ever have a sequel. It a way, it reminds me of The Sopranos. It was a perfect series, and it ended “boom”, just like that. It was good, but it left you wanting more, wanting to know what happened next.

I think the whole objective of these kinds of endings is basically to make people think of their own sequel, or ending to the series, and make them think what ever they want to happen next. I think the author wouldn’t dare try to pick one of these outcomes to such a good book, as it may not suit everyone’s taste in how they want the story to continue or end.

This is definitely one of the best books I have ever ready. Though the book was long, it never proved difficult for me to read once. It perfect climax build ups that really made it the most exiting book I have ever read as well. My personal rating is 89/100. I would recommend this book to anyone ages 14 and up. Anyone who has the reading ability to read this book should do so.

The House of the Scorpion: 4/5

November 24th 2009

After being taken away, Matt finds himself in the hospital, awaiting the surgery: his inevitable death. El Patron says his farewell speech to Matt, revealing that Matt owes him life, for not taking away Matt’s intelligence when he was born. Then, Celia reveals he injected Matt with a poison that does not kill him, but rather make it impossible for his organs to be fit for a transplant. El Patron dies.

The next day, Tam Lin is ordered to dispose of Matt, to dump him in the eejit wasteland. After being dismounted from the horse, Tam Lin reveals he has created an escape route for Matt. He must escape from Opium into Aztlan, and find Maria in San Luis.

Matt is sent out, on the journey to the border. When he finally reaches it, he makes a running attempt. He barely outruns the farm patrol, and is saved by a “keeper”. Matt is brought into a labor orphanage. He meets new friends Chacho and Fidelito. Every night the children must rehearse principals of work, and must confess to a sin they have committed.

The 3 are transported to a new factory orphanage where they must collect the plankton out of shrimp tanks. It is here that the boys must spend the next 4 years of their life. Matt is commonly referred to as the aristocrat, for his disagreement with the confessions, and how he preaches that the keepers get all these luxuries while the children must work. If you misbehave or disagree with the rules of work, or do not confess, you must “assume the position”, and be beat with a cane until you have learned your lesson.


I am very happy with Matt’s outcome. I’m glad Celia did what she did and Matt escaped. However, it did seem a little sad when El Patron died. He didn’t seem that bad, and Matt kind of felt bad for him too. I agree with Matt, when he said a part of El Patron will live a long as Matt lives.

Overall, the plot turned from good to bad though, when the Keepers took in Matt. It would really suck to have to work for 4 years until you are set free. It really shows how much we take for granted the fact that we live how we do here in Canada.

This section became more inciting, reading that Matt was fighting back against the keeper and their beliefs, however I don’t think this will have a positive outcome for Matt.

The book’s turn of events flows real nice, with each section of the book having an overall segment in setting and conflicts. I’m glad some of my older questions were answered. However I have many more. Will Matt live all 4 years here? Will him, chacho and Fidelito ever escape or be set free within that period? Again, I guess the answers lie within the next, final segment that I really look forward to reading.

The House of the Scorpion: 3/5

November 23rd 2009

PG 153-228

The next section continues at the funeral. The priest discovers Matt is Patron's clones and threatens to kick him out, however Maria saves him, and takes him away, inside the music room passageway where they kiss, and speak to each other for the first time in years. Maria says she forgives him for killing Furball, but Matt doesn’t think Maria will believe him if he told her he didn’t do it. Maria once again must leave once the funeral ends, but they vow to see each other soon.

Matt, one day, decides to take a horse, to go try and find his old home in the poppy fields. He ventures off towards the uncharted lands, and comes to the eejit pens. The ground becomes unstable and the horse falls. Matt is left unable to move while having asthma attack in the toxic fumed wasteland. Luckily, the Farm Patrol pick him up, but they believe he is a runaway eejit. Matt tells him he is the clone of El Patron and threatens them. They believe him and return him to the “big house”. They tell Matt of Tam Lin’s history.

Steven and Emilia, have been ordered by El Patron to be married. However, during the wedding, El Patron has an almost fatal heart attack. It is here that Matt learns why he was made; to transplant his heart or any other organs that Patron would need in the future. Everyone is searching for Matt who has hidden in the house. They must find him before Patron dies. Tam Lin plans an escape for Maria and Matt, however Steven and Emilia find them, and Matt is sent away to the hospital.

This part of the book has proved to be the most inciting so far. It all builds up to the final climax, and Matt and Maria’s love is finally revealed. I think the ending is very sad. I really hope that Matt’s fate turns out good. I highly believe it will, as I'm not sure how else the book will go on if Matt were to be killed off.

My earlier question about Tam Lin has finally been answered. The farm patrol tell Matt that Tam Lin was a terrorist that tried to blow up the prime ministers building, but instead killed 20 kids that drove by on a bus. El Patron had saved him and brought him here to work while being protected from the police, and government.

I think I have too many questions now. Will Matt ever see Maria again? What exactly will his fate be? Will El Patron die or live from this heart attack. The list goes on. I guess this is what really makes me hungry for more House of the Scorpion.