Thankful for New Submissions!

All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this group  (November writers).  Everyone is required to comment on at least THREE different pieces of writing.  You must post the comment here on the blog (below the post is the "comments" link to click) AND cut and paste your comments, complete with dates and times, on to a Word document and turn it in to me by December 6, on Google Classroom.  You must do both to get credit for comments this month.

Remember, comments must be positive, supportive, constructive, and SPECIFIC.  No "Good Job!" comments, unless you follow that with specific things you thought were done well in the piece.  Show them you actually took the time to read and enjoy their work!

"The 911 Road" by Sabrina M

      35 years of driving background would seemingly prepare you for any obstacle the open
roadways could throw at you, yet in the shaded awning of the jungle, a million years of experience could not have prepared my father for what was to occur.
     After seeing photos of the breathtaking landscapes of Costa Rica on Google, my father decided that our annual summer family vacation would journey a little farther south of the equator. Our days were charged with bus trips through sugar plantations and monkey territories, hikes through the forest, swims in the humid rain, and a cuisine of the most delectable regional foods. Although we rented a car for our trip, most of the rides we took were on tour buses, as the locals would be more familiar with the terrain than us Americans, but after a curiosity in what lay beyond the tree line urged us to take the car ourselves deep into the wilderness, mystery began to sneak in.
Google Maps had guided us to the most astonishing of beaches, but monkey noises and the impending nightfall urged us to head back to the hotel. With the GPS now offline, we had only our memory to guide us through the foreign land to the safety of our resort. As the road became bumpier, our fears heightened, and soon, we were all clutching the sides of the seat, eyes glued to what parts of the path we could glimpse through the dim headlights. Now engulfed in

the darkness of the jungle, we all felt a sense of impending peril. The road was too narrow to make a U-turn on, and it was too dark to merely reverse your way back through, so forward we continued. Until suddenly, water surrounded the car. Quickly shifting gears to reverse out of the water, we realized we had landed on the bank of a river with an unknown depth. To simply drive through the river would be almost suicidal, yet there was no other place to go. Images of a potential news article titled ‘American Family of Six Dies in Costa Rica’ prompted my dad to send my mother out into the unknown to scope out the area, locking the car door behind her, so whatever would potentially kill my mother could not get to us as well. The river seemed to go on forever, only pushing us more into the terror we already found ourselves in. Headlights, approaching from behind, snapped us back into reality, though. A local was now with us, although we did not know whether they could be trusted.  With the little Spanish I knew, we managed to ask them for help. The angels driving the minivan agreed to drive slowly in front of us, a light unto our path. After crossing two rivers, we realized that those bodies of water were not ends to our path, but merely obstacles. We had allowed the fear of the unknown to overwhelm our thoughts and rationality, forcing us to stay glued to our current predicament, unable to depart.
     Well into the next day, we elected to drive the road, which Google had named the 911 road, once more. In the daylight, the endless river now seemed as threatening as a puddle. But how could something that managed to suck the life out of our very lungs only a few hours earlier now seem so irrelevant? Were we all just overreacting, or was there something more prominent at play that we could not realize? Does seeing the finish line really make our troubles less troubling?

     Many times throughout life, challenges seem to overwhelm us, especially when there is no end to be found. The anxiety, fear, and panic that accompany only hurt us even more, yet usually, the seemingly perilous journey yields a pleasant outcome. We tend to have tunnel vision; only able to see what is occurring right at this moment and never the whole picture. Uncomfortable situations, as a result, become unbearable, and awkward moments last a lifetime. Knowing the outcome before being placed in certain circumstances is rarely a plausible expectation, but realizing that you are always more significant than that which you fear can prove helpful.
     Driving back on that 911 road taught me that when the ending is shrouded in a layer of darkness, and I can barely see what is going on right in front of me, things seem a lot scarier than they indeed are. Humans are not afraid of the dark, they’re fearful of their inability to know what lies ahead. But when the light at the end of the tunnel becomes shrouded by the darkness of strangeness and ambiguity, that’s when fear decides creeps in. How we perceive fear can either enlarge or reduce it, but if I initially minimize my anxiety of the uncertain reality that I often seem to find myself in, I know that the conclusion will have a much brighter outlook because tomorrow and all its promises of new hopes and beginnings will find me.
      I have driven down many more 911 roads since then, in school, in my relationships, and with my own personal thoughts and feelings, and they all have one thing in common. In hindsight, the mountains I once thought I faced began to seem like minuscule hills once enough time had passed. I now know I will always be able to cross my rivers and find my way back to safety.

"How to Make Samosa with Mint Chutney and Masala Chai" by Rumjeet P

     Growing up in an Indian household means lots of spices and peppers. If you can't cook with spices, then your not an Indian. Since I was young, my mom has taught me how to cook different dishes. Samosa is a wonderful appetizer to start with for people who are just learning how to cook Indian food. Samosa is a fried snack than is most commonly eaten in India with chutney and chai.  Now, it is eaten globally by people who love the taste of spices. They are mostly eaten during festivals and as an evening snack. Though this recipe has measurements, I was never really taught off of measurements. 

                                                         (Photo taken by kspoddar) 

Ingredients:
Serving-4
12 uncooked tortillas
(If you don't have Tortillaland Tortillas, please stop reading and run to a grocery store to pick them up)
4 large potatoes
1 Tablespoon minced ginger ( Peel before mincing)
10 Thai chiles (Add more of less for desired taste)
1 red onion
2 cups of Vegetable oil
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1⁄4 cup of frozen peas
1 Tablespoon of salt
1⁄3 cup of water ( used for tortillas)
1 tablespoon of cumin seeds (Jeera)
2 tablespoons of Garam Masala (mixed spices)
1 bunch of cilantro

!Make sure to wash your hands before starting this process!
Step 1- Boil four potatoes in a pot (boil until cooked).
Step 2- Chop one red onion, green chiles, and ginger and add to a pan with cumin seeds and olive oil. Step 3- Saute until translucent
Step 4- Add Garam Masala, salt, and frozen peas. Mix well.

Step 5- Let the filling cool down for 10-15 minutes and move on to the potatoes. Step 6- Mash the potatoes and mix with the room temperature filling.
Step 7- Grab a clean flat surface, knife, spoon, fork, and tortillas.
Step 8- Cut the tortillas in half and break apart.
Step 9- Put your finger in water and apply to the edges as you close the half tortilla into a cone
Step 10- Fill the cones half way with a spoon (DO NOT OVERFILL, THEY WILL EXPLODE)
Step 11-Apply pressure with a fork dipped in water to close the tortilla
Step 12- in a separate pan and the vegetable oil and add the samosa, cook until crispy, golden brown

Mint Chutney Ingredients:
1 bunch of Mint leaves
1 bunch of cilantro
5-10 Thai chiles
1 tablespoon of ginger
2 teaspoons of salt
1 lime
1 tablespoon of cumin seeds (Jeera) 2 teaspoons of Garam Masala 

                                                   (Photo Credits: Rumjeet)

Step 1-Peel the mint off of the stems and wash in warm water
Step 2- Add mint to the blender
Step 3- Wash chiles and peel ginger, add to the blender Step 4- Add cilantro and blend for 30 seconds
Step 5- Add salt, Garam masala, and Jeera into the blender
Step 6- Add half of lime juice from lime (Adjust to your taste) Step 7- Blend all together
Step 8- put into fridge
Step 9- Serve cold with samosa
Step 10- Enjoy! With chai (Recipe below) 

Masala Chai 

Chai is a more of a ritual than a necessity in life for Indians. Many North Indian families drink chai 3 to 4 times a day and include cookies or Samosa as a snack. Perfect time to gossip with a nice cup of chai!) 

 

Ingredients:
Fresh ginger
4-5 Black and green cardamoms 1 teaspoon or 2 sticks of cinnamon 2-3 cloves
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
2 tablespoon of loose black tea
1 tablespoon Sugar
2 cups Water

Step 1- Boil water in a pot, and add thinly sliced ginger.

Step 2-Add fennel seeds,

cloves and cinnamon sticks or powder to the boiling water

Crush black and green cardamoms in a mortar and pestle and/or grinder, and add to boiling water

Step 4-Let  the water boil until it is reduced in appearance.

Step 5-add loose black tea into the water and boiled for a minute or two Step 6-Add milk and sugar
Step 7-Let it boil until it begins to come up
Step 8-Use a strainer over a cup to strain the spices out of the chai
Step 9 -Drink with some cookies or with samosa and chutney (recipe above)

Step 10- Enjoy the different spices included in these recipes!!

Hope to hear back some great comments on how you thought of the recipes. Something different full of spices and lots of chiles that give you a flavorful memory on this original recipe. Hope you enjoy!!!

"Last Day of Bohem" by Jacob H

     In times where the medieval crusades existed and the people lived in fear as hundreds of ‘steel’ headed soldiers roamed around killing whom they believed to be in heathens, lived one soldier who seemed to be an odd one out. The only one who refused to go into a burning village, the only one to pull his sword, and the only one who praised the lord in a more innocent and calm manner, and lastly, the only one to go against the word of the pope. As many horses with soldiers charged into the villages he charged in, heart beating, sweat dripping, and his mind horrified. He knew these murders were spreading all over the country like a pestilence. He commits an act of treason and abandons his position, instead of assisting his fellow knights he flees, however not alone. He assists a family of four, two small boys and their, all seemed skinny, covered in ash, and horrified. Although a man of little words, his actions truly spoke out to the family. “My name is Bohem, please I am not here for harm.” Bohem, our confused soldier raids their food closet, only finding baskets of stale fruit and nearly rotten bread, however anything to keep him energized will have to do, he shoves the food into his sack. Bohem stares at the family and shows the children his sword, one that the average crusader may have been seen holding, he hands it to the eldest son, who seems to be in early adult years. “Why are you giving me this, for what purpose do I have with it?” says the boy. “My son will not follow in these attacks!” The father yells as he pulls out a small dagger and takes a jab towards Bohem, chaos occurring in this single home as much larger chaos occurs outside. Bohem grabs his arm just before he could be stabbed, “It is just for protection, we are leaving and escaping, down south is a village hidden in the forest.”. He begins outside and waits for the family to family them, he waits for a few minutes as the entirety of the family discussed amongst themselves. However, no one has heard the mother's voice yet and she has not spoken through all of this confusing chaos. The family walks out, sacks hung over their backs and the youngest child carries a small book, with the phrase “Poetry” written across its filthy cover. “Child, what is your favorite poem?” asks Bohem, “Chardon de Croisilles, it’s about the abandonment a man may experience when he is forced into the armies.” a creepy response, yet quite understandable considering the current years. A full eight hours of groaning and silence as the family and soldier travel, the shining sun fades below the darkness of night. “We shall rest here, use the sacks to rest your head, we must not all sleep, father and husband of the family, will you assist me in keeping patrol?” Bohem urgently asks the father, “Im William, and of course, I can not trust you with my children.” replies William, aggressively yet again, understandable. In the middle of the night Bohem decides to switch and gives William a tap, suggesting to switch, William does so happily, oddly. During the night William holds the dagger in his hand and stares at Bohem, not for seconds, not minutes, but for nearly an hour. Slowly approaching Bohem, he wakes up and stares at William, unarmed and no way to fight back. Stab wounds, many stab wounds, enough to kill a man, yet Bohem seems to have not passed yet. With coughs and struggled breathing he leaves his final message “Take them South, head towards the protected village and protect your family, do not refuse to do whatever you must, the times we live in are cruel and confusing and you must do whatever you must to protect yourself.'' His final breath passes as does his soul and his life.

"The Creature That Lurks" by Jonathan B

     I wake up, a rare glimpse of sunlight bathing my skin, as it has shown through the window. Waking up felt like such a pain, my body aching from working long hours in a coal mine. I live in a town in Scotland called Fort Augustus. Our town has been known for Loch Ness monster sightings, but honestly, I believe in none of that crap, it’s obviously another outlandish way to get more tourists into our town. Honestly, I have never been the social type, I always hated associating with my neighbors and since I’ve always kept to myself my co-workers look at me like I’m crazy, they have no idea what I have going on in my life. I’ve been taking care of my mother for about two years now, she has been mentally diagnosed with schizophrenia and I feel like the stories revolving around our home town only make her condition worse. It has been really hard taking care of her, I really do try my best to afford her pills and give her a good life but it doesn’t seem like it’s enough. She’s been having recent hallucinations, talking about this monster that has been roaming around our lake.  Probably another one of the town’s stories for tourists, but I’ve been getting more worried about her.
There’s been a lot of commotion in town lately, news started spreading through the town like a flood. They say people are starting to go missing overnight. My mother isn’t getting any better either. When it hits dusk my mother yells on our porch saying she sees this beautiful creature in the lake, but every single time I look towards the lake I see nothing at all. It must be all the stories getting to her again; I just wish this God-forsaken town could move on from these myths and tall tales. Nothing but an old wife's tale that seems to take over the town. She’s constantly getting out of bed at night, at first it was sleepwalking but now she’s fully conscious. With all the rumors of how or why people are going missing, it only makes me stress out.
      The air felt colder; dark clouds started to stretch across the sky. It must be raining soon. I was sound asleep until lightning strikes and thunder roars. I know mother doesn't mind storms at all, but I felt the sudden urge to go check on her. I walked in her room to check on her but nothing, she was gone and it seemed like she disappeared into thin air. Was it the kidnappings! I grabbed my ax that was laid against the front door and run outside. All I heard was my mother screaming filled the air. I was frozen in fear, has she been kidnapped?
      My senses came back to me and I ran through the front door to follow her. There she was in the lake, I could not believe my eyes. It was a creature, not the Loch Ness monster, but some horse. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Beautiful was the only word that came to mind when I saw it. Its gorgeous silky white coat shone brightly in the moonlight, its long white hair looked softer than anything I had ever seen. It’s deep blue eyes shone in the night and sparkled like a pair of sapphire gems. A loud shriek echoed in my ears. I snapped out of my trance and saw my mother her body merging into the horses. This was wrong, the horse was no longer a beautiful white coat, but a murky black skin. This was a kelpie, an old tale of demon horse in disguise. They lure in victims with their looks and once they touch them their body turns into black sticky goo and they drag them into the water to eat.
     I saw my mom in agony and tried to help her but, she was stuck and I realized so was I. I panicked, I couldn’t get my hands off its thick fur, it was like my hand was trapped in ink. I remembered that my ax was on the floor and struggled to get it. After a couple of tries of tugging and pulling, I managed to get a hold of it. I knew there was only one thing I could do, I grabbed

the ax and hacked at my hand that was stuck. I could not bear the pain, it was so bad it felt like I was going to die. I tried swinging at the horse, but I became dizzy and weak. I just felt everything around me spinning, my mother’s scream was fading, I collapsed in the floor and I just looked at my mom, tears streaming from her face. Then it was pitch black.
     I woke up, and right beside me was what was left of my mother, body parts shredded and scattered. A nearby neighbor saw me and immediately screamed. I was still in a lot of pain and I felt weak. I couldn’t get up. After a couple of minutes, the police arrived. I saw them running towards me and I felt like there was finally a sense of hope. They were getting close and they started reaching for there guns. I tried to explain that I had nothing to do with my mother’s death, but they didn’t believe me. I yelled at them telling them about the Kelpie but they looked at me like I was insane. They cuffed me and took me to an asylum, where I was left to rot. I warned them that the monster was still out there, but no one believes me. One thing I do know is that every day more people are going missing, and that beast is still out there.

"You Should Read JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" by Cameron H

While currently sitting at a whopping 939 chapters in the main story alone and over, reading all of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure will appear as a monumental task to overcome, it is worth reading. Hirohiko Araki’s masterpiece, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, has been in constant publication since its debut in 1986 and has grown to be as influential and as popular in Japan as the big four of shonen1 manga2, Bleach, Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Naruto, though it has not reached quite the same popularity in the west. This massive popularity has lead to several other spin-off manga that have been written and drawn by Araki himself, several spin-off light novels3 that feature illustrations drawn by Araki, multiple video games, and anime adaptations of the first five parts. Araki is also the only mangaka4 to have his art displayed in the Louvre and to have collaborated with famous high-fashion brands as Gucci and Balenciaga. Because of Jojo’s such wide appeal and success, it is difficult to find a shonen manga that does not have roots in, or is in some way connected to Jojo’s, from the poses and quotes to the over the top fight styles and Stand cries of “ORA ORA ORA” and “MUDA MUDA MUDA” to the ever-present use of the katakana digraph ゴ5.
Araki’s system of “parts” is arguably the best part about Jojo’s because it allows Araki to sometimes entirely change fighting styles and powers, as well as, write different, self-contained stories in different genres, so he doesn’t ever get bored or tired of writing the same kind of story, which can lead to a sharp decline in the story’s quality. The parts system allows a newer reader to skip parts (though this is highly advised against) and not be too lost within the story, though much of the prior lore will be lost. This also means that any reader can find a genre they like amongst the current eight parts of Jojo’s such as Dracula-esque vampire horror, Indiana Jones-esque action-adventure, and whodunit murder mystery.
Part 1: Phantom Blood​ (Chapters 1 - 44)
Phantom Blood is set in 1880s England where the main antagonist, Dio Brando, schemes to steal
the Joestar fortune from the Joestar heir and protagonist, Jonathan Joestar, or Jojo. After worming his way into the Joestar family, Dio finds an Aztec stone mask that Jojo’s father, George Joestar, was studying and discovers that when it is splashed with blood, it turns the wearer into a vampire. After this discovering this newfound power Dio turns himself into a vampire and aims his sights on loftier goals, that being to take over the world. After seeing Dio turn himself into a vampire, Jojo sets out with his companions Robert E. O. Speedwagon and Will A. Zeppeli to learn Hamon, a breathing technique that allows the user to channel the energy of the sun and kill vampires, and put an end to Dio’s reign of terror.
Phantom Blood is the worst and shortest part of Jojo’s when compared to the other parts, which is to be expected as it is Araki’s second major manga series and his first foray into the extensive story that is Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure but is still good nonetheless.
Score: Decent 6
Part 2: Battle Tendency​ (Chapters 45 - 113)
Battle Tendency is another sun-breathing, action-packed romp set in 1938, where Speedwagon, recruits Jonathan’s grandson Joseph Joestar to help him destroy all traces of the stone masks. After having
1 ​Shonen manga are manga series that are aimed at teen boys, which are commonly seen in magazines like Shonen Jump.
2 ​Manga are Japanese comics.
3 ​Novels that target teenage readers.
4 ​Manga artist/author.
5 ​The character ​ゴ​ is often used as a comic sound effect to connote a menacing atmosphere or to describe a rumbling sound.

been attacked by a comrade that turned himself into a vampire, Speedwagon gets taken in by the Nazis to help with the investigation of a man trapped in a pillar , who turns out to be one of the creators of the stone mask, who is also a more powerful, higher being than the vampires. The Nazis then research further and discover three more Pillarmen in Italy where Joseph teams up with Will A. Zeppeli’s grandson, Caesar Zeppeli to defeat the Pillarmen before they can obtain the Red Stone of Aja, which would allow the Pillarmen to conquer the sun and become ultimate beings.
Battle Tendency is an improvement upon Phantom Blood in both story and fights, but still comes up somewhat lacking when compared to the other parts. The fights are much more interesting and having recurring villains in the Pillarmen lends the plot more overall structure and helps to build up the Pillarmen as better developed villains.
Score: Strong 7 to Light 8
Part 3: Stardust Crusaders​ (Chapters 114- 265)
Stardust Crusaders is the most popular and widely known part of Jojo’s and is coincidentally the part where Araki finally comes into his own with a new power system and fighting style in the form of “Stands”, which are the manifestation of the user’s fighting spirit that can only be seen by other Stand users. The introduction of Stands allows the fights to be much better written because a seemingly weak Stand can win against a seemingly strong Stand given the correct conditions or set up, which forces the Crusaders6 to think of interesting and clever ways to use their set abilities, unlike many other shonen series that use the ‘power of friendship’ or being angry enough to become more powerful.
Stardust Crusaders begins with DIO7’s coffin being hauled up from the bottom of the ocean and then flashes forward four years to 1987, where Jotaro Kujo, the grandson of Joseph Joestar, has locked himself in prison because he was being haunted by an ‘evil spirit’. Joseph and his friend Avdol go to Japan to convince Jotaro to leave the prison where they learn that Jotaro had developed a Stand, 「Star Platinum」8. Soon after this Noriaki Kayoin, Jean Pierre Polnareff, and Iggy join the group on their journey to Egypt to defeat DIO.
Stardust Crusaders improves greatly upon Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency in story and character writing, but especially in the fights. The era of the punch ghosts9 is the best era of Jojo’s and is one of the best shonen power systems because of its power-scaling and well-defined, limited ability sets because characters are forced to use their powers in clever ways, rather than to become more powerful. Overall the pre-Egypt half of Stardust Crusaders can get somewhat repetitive, but the Nine Glory Gods fights in the Egypt arc are much more interesting and fun to read.
Score: Light to Decent 8
Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable​ (Chapters 266 - 439)
Diamond is Unbreakable brings yet another innovation to the system of Stands, small though it may seem, in the form of the naming scheme. Stardust Crusaders used the major arcana of the tarot and the Nine Glory Gods of Egypt as Stand names, which had small breaks like, 「Tenore Sax」 and the only pun-based character and Stand name combination, Vanilla Ice’s 「Cream」, whereas the Stands of part 4
6 ​Crusaders will be used in all further instances to refer to the main group in part 3, which consists of Jotaro Kujo, Joseph Joestar, Avdol, Kakyoin, Polnareff, and Iggy.
7 ​Dio Brando stylizes his name as DIO after developing a Stand in part 3.
8 ​「」are Japanese quotation marks and well be used to show Stand names in all further mentions.
9 ​Stands are often referred to as “punch ghosts” because almost all of the Joestar Stands are humanoid, close-range, power type Stands whose main abilities consist of superhuman strength coupled with an extra side-ability.

and all further parts take their names from musical artists, albums, or songs like, Josuke’s 「Crazy Diamond」, Koichi’s 「Echoes」, and Rohan’s 「Heaven’s Door」.
Diamond is Unbreakable is a murder mystery set in the small Japanese town of Morioh in the summer of 1999. The story follows the main Jojo of the part, Josuke Higashikata, the illegitimate son of Joseph Joestar. At the beginning of the story, Jotaro arrives in Morioh to handle inheritance matters with Josuke when he sees that Josuke is a Stand user. Jotaro then informs him that there is a murderer on the loose that is likely a Stand user. After defeating this Stand using murderer, the Gang learns that the murderer was not the only hidden threat in Morioh.
While Diamond is Unbreakable suffers from a sometimes slow pace because it is the longest part of Jojo’s, it does have some of the series’ best and most interesting Stand abilities and fights, as well as non-combat “fights”, like the “Let’s Go Eat Some Italian Food”, “Yukako Yamagishi Dreams of Cinderella”, and “I Am an Alien” arcs that take the focus away from the hunt for the part’s big bad guy and gives the reader a slice-of-life tinged reprieve. These non-combat arcs help to solidify the characters as well-developed characters rather than one-note fight machines.
Score: Strong 7 to Light 8
Part 5: Vento Aureo​ (Chapters 440 - 594)
Vento Aureo10 is the story of Giorno Giovanna, a half Japanese teen and the son of DIO. The plot of ​Vento Aureo​ is set in Italy in 2000 and follows Giorno as he joins Bruno Buccellati, an officer of the Italian mafia, as he infiltrates the mafia, Passione, to ascend the ranks of the mafia and defeat the boss to eliminate the movement and sale of drugs. Giorno teams up with Bruno Buccellati, Guido Mista, Narancia Ghirga, Leone Abbacchio, and Pannacotta Fugo, to form the part’s main group, as they are given the duty of protecting the boss’s daughter, Trish Una, and thusly pitted against Passione’s assassination squad, La Squadra Esecuzioni, and the boss’s own elite protection force, Unità Speciale on Giorno’s journey to dethrone the boss.
Vento Aureo​ features some of the best Stand abilities and Stand battles, as well as a real sense of power progression and character development, with characters learning to use their set Stand abilities to do new things within the predefined bounds and deeply developed character backgrounds and behaviors. Giorno, unlike Josuke and the Duwang Gang, has a concrete goal from the very beginning, to dethrone the boss of Passione and eliminate the drug trade in Italy, which gives the story a strong, tangible foundation and prevents the plot from wandering or seeming poorly paced at times like Diamond is Unbreakable. ​Vento Aureo a​ lso Araki’s best introduction to the main villain’s Stand, where he intentionally confuses the audience to place them in the shoes of the characters who don’t know what the villain’s ability does either.
Score: Strong 8 to Light 9
Part 6: Stone Ocean​ (Chapters 595 - 752)
Stone Ocean is set in 2011 in Florida, where Jolyne Cujoh, daughter of Jotaro Kujo, is framed for
murder and imprisoned in Green Dolphin Street Prison. Soon after being imprisoned and obtaining her Stand, 「Stone Free」, Jotaro breaks into the prison to help Jolyne escape, where Jotaro’s Stand and memories are turned into discs and stolen by a mysterious Stand. The rest of the part follows Jolyne, Ermes Costello, Foo Fighters, Weather Report, Narciso Anasui, and Emporio Alniño as they search for Jotaro’s memories and Stand, as well as hunt down the Stand user that took the discs.
10 ​Vento Aureo​ is Italian for Golden Wind.

Stone Ocean is often called the worst part in Jojo’s, but while it is odd and has some lackluster story arcs, this is simply not the case. Stone Ocean introduces the concept of Stand and memory discs that can allow almost anyone to wield a Stand and brings back the concept of the evolving stand that hasn’t been seen since part four in 「Echoes」. The part brings more interesting situations, characters, Stand abilities to the table, and like all shonen, takes the stakes even higher than before and does an excellent job of subverting shonen tropes.
Score: Light to Decent 7
Part 7; Steel Ball Run​ (Chapters 753 - 847)
Steel Ball Run begins in San Diego in 1890 with Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli teaming up to compete in the Steel Ball Run Race, a transcontinental horse race for $50 million. Johnny, a paraplegic, ex-star jockey, joins the race after encountering Gyro’s spinning Steel Balls that allowed him to stand for a short time to learn the secret of the Spin. As they continue through the race, Johnny and Gyro learn of nefarious goings-on connected to the mysterious Saint’s Corpse, which allows the holder to develop a Stand. Johnny and Gyro forge onward to find all the corpse parts and stop the unknown evildoer that is searching for the parts.
Overall, Steel Ball Run, with its decreased dependence on Stand’s, which function more as enhancements rather than a weapon, focus on the Spin, the race itself makes for an exciting and interesting part. All of these elements, as well as unique and interesting Stand abilities, combine to form one of the best parts in the series.
Score: Decent to Strong 9 Part 8: Jojolion​ (Chapters 848 - ???)
The only ongoing part and the second part set in the Steel Ball Run timeline, Jojolion is set after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Morioh, Japan. Jojolion follows the part’s protagonist, Josuke Higashikata or Gappy, after he wakes up naked and half-buried in the ground with no memories, as he searches for his true identity with the help of Yasuho Hirose and Rai Mamezuku. There is still much that is unknown, even 91 chapters in, about the plot of Jojolion.
With Araki’s best art to date, character writing, best Stand designs yet, Jojolion is one of the most interesting and mysterious parts in the series. Araki also chooses to include fewer “punch ghost” Stands, which makes for more interesting fights and Stand encounters.
Score So Far: Decent 8 Conclusion
You should read Jojo’ Bizarre Adventure because its an excellent manga series and it has something that everyone can find enjoyable in its more than 30 years of serialization.

: Beep Beep Beep The Last Talk" by Zoe P

     The monitors chirp their monotonous little song for the hundredth time that day. The first couple days I was in the room, every little beep made me jump a mile high, always made my heart race a million miles per hour. But now, I merely glance at them, reading the numbers that I could recite by heart to this day.
     It was February third, twenty nineteen, with a sharp patter of rain banging on the hospital window that showcased the beauty of the hospital garden, but I could not appreciate it then and I can not appreciate it now, months later. Because, as ironic as it was, the life outside was not inside of my crumbling grandfather’s body, where it should have been. I turn away from the window, not knowing how long I had been staring out of it, thinking about what to say. As I look across the cold room, walls painted a blaring white and the coarse blankets a bland mixture of beige and green, I see him for what seems like the first time in forever. My grandfather was no longer the healthy, bike riding, painting handyman that he used to be a month before the chaos began. With each robotic step I take towards him, I feel the weight of the universe on my frail shoulders, a million thoughts racing in my drowsy head. “What do I say? Will this be the last thing I ever say to him? Is this our last moment alone?”
     The numerous machines and tubed hooked up to my grandfather’s body seemed to beep a little quieter as I began to talk to him. My grandpa opened his eyes, and looked at me with his beautiful blue green eyes, full of love, even when he was barely breathing, and that was all it took. I completely broke down, sobbing my heart out while holding his cold, skeletal hand, with

the hospital bracelet three times bigger than his wrist. I wailed that I was sorry for the things I had done, for the times where I didn’t appreciate everything that he had done for me. “I’m so sorry!” I howled, rocking back and forth like a mad woman. “I’m so sorry for every time I thought more about myself than you, or when I took your kindness for granted! I was a terrible granddaughter to you, and I love you so much! But please...” I pleaded with all my heart “Please, don’t leave me.” And as I was sobbing, my grandfather tried to talk to me, but couldn’t form any words as there were numerous tubes in him. But he knew this, and only mouthed the words that I needed to hear so desperately at the time.
     “I love you.” he said, and I took this one like a sword going through my heart. My grandfather was not a man to talk about his emotions much, and when he said these three words, it always meant the world to me. As I calmed down a bit, I began to reminisce on all of our adventures together, from a simple drive to school on a cold day, coffee in both of our hands, to a trip to Canada where we saw the most magnificent cities and forests. My mind racing like a prize winning horse in a derby race, all my recollections and memories flashed before my eyes as I held his hand.
     While I talked with him, I asked him questions- but they were like empty boxes that could never be filled, and will never be answered. My main question was:​ ​“Why,” I wondered, “Of all the people in the world, all the criminals and ill-natured, why did it have to be one of the most selfless, purehearted people I knew?”
     To this day, I’ll never have the answer of how within two months my grandfather was seemingly healthy to being on his deathbed, and I never will. At first, of course, I was blinded by rage and fits of melancholic depression, cursing the world for my problems. But over the course

of time, I’ve learned and grudgingly accepted that some questions will never be answered and that everything happens for a reason, and that some things are better left unsaid. And while I didn’t want my late grandfather to pass, I can say that through his passing, he’s taught me to remain strong for myself and for my family, to pursue my dreams, work hard, and to fight for what you love with every last breath you have.

"Brown Eyed Girl" by Valerie C

     Thud​. I opened my eyes to reveal a bedroom lit by a pale-yellow bulb hanging from the middle of the ceiling. There’s a bed in the left corner of the room, sheets undone, with a pair of shoes lying under the frame. If there’s one thing I know for sure, those aren’t mine. I try to slowly lift myself off the ground to get a better idea of where exactly I’m at, but I’m met by resistance. Looking down, I notice my arms and legs are bound. I feel a sense of panic rush through me, how did I get here? I catch a glimpse of someone in a dirty mirror in the right corner of the room, surrounded by pictures of people I don’t recognize, posters of bands I’ve never listened to, and jewelry I’ve never worn. Why am I here? I try to scream but nothing comes out, my mouth isn’t covered but there’s an overwhelming sense of fear present that refuses to let sound escape my lips. I dart my eyes around the room to make sense of my surroundings, but nothing is familiar and I begin to feel that trouble is looming.
     From behind me, I hear a light thuds approaching the room I’m in. They are so close, but so far away, leaving an empty pit in the middle of my stomach due to the anticipation. I close my eyes and pray silently to wake up from this nightmare, but I know it’s not going to happen because I hear a door swing open behind me. If the air in the room wasn’t cold enough, it’s stone cold now. I lay dead silent, eyes squeezed shut with tears threatening to spill over. I figured that if I play dead, whoever is hovering above me may just go away, but they don’t. I can hear them walk over to the bed and take a seat, because the springs in the mattress give the faintest squeak.My heart is beating a mile a minute, and I’m sure whoever is in here with me knows it too.

     It begins to mumble words I can’t recognize in a chant-like manner. I dare to open my eyes and I’m relieved to see that I'm not met by the face of a demon, but rather by the back of girl. She sits cross legged on the bed, both hands stretched towards the ceiling, appearing to be conducting a ritual of sorts. The tears that threatened to spill over have now begun to run down my cheeks, leaving my face wet and sticky. I try to stay as quiet as possible to avoid confrontation with my tormentor but my effort fails, a low choked sob manages to escape my lips. The girl stops chanting and slowly lowers her arms in an ominous matter. Knowing that I’m sure to meet my end in this room, but still having enough hope that I can prevent my untimely fate I plead with her to not hurt me. Her body begins to contract and contort in ways that I know are not humanly possible, and I realize my cries are no use. I try to inch myself further away from the bed and make a swift exit but the door slams shut behind me. The single bulb in the middle of the room begins to flicker and the girl turns her head slowly. My eyes are fixated on the mirror in the corner of the room, staring into a pair of brown eyes that I don’t recognize to avoid seeing the demon. This is it.
     I can see her looking at me in the corner of my eye, and my face turns a sickly grey color. I’ve stopped crying and my breathing isn’t rushed, but my heart is beating in my ears. A feeling of curiosity rushes over me for the quickest second, and in that moment I’m brave enough to face her. I turn my head and look at her face, her features appear to be familiar but she’s still virtually unrecognizable to me. All the unfamiliarity makes her and the situation more terrifying. She cocks her head to one side as if to question my confusion, and then I notice her eyes.Big brown menacing eyes, the same pair I first looked into when I woke in this strange room and noticed the mirror in the right corner in the room surrounded by pictures I now know where my family and

friends, and bands who made the songs I loved to listen to the most, and jewelry I put on every morning. This is my room, those are my eyes. And when she realizes I’ve made the connection, she flashes a big wide smile with her big brown eyes and my world goes dark.

"How to Build a Computer " by Benjamin S

When I put each component of a computer together, my senses come to life. I smell the stale air as I open each component’s box. I feel the snap of the 24-pin motherboard connector slotting into its respective location. I hear each fan accelerate to 5000 RPM as the computer takes its first breath. I see each LED light up and shine in vivid RGB through the tempered glass panel. And when every part comes together, I taste the success of a completed build.
Most people tend to think of building a computer as examining a complicated circuit board and soldering various connections to points on the circuit board. However, this couldn’t be any farther from the truth. Building a computer is similar to putting legos together, every part has a respective slot and clicks right in.
Although it’s simple to put a computer together when you have all the parts, you’re going to need the components if you plan on building a computer. These components are:

• ●  Motherboard: This is what connects every part of your computer together and allows each component to communicate with each other.
  
• ●  CPU (Central Processing Unit): You can think of this as the brain of your computer. It does the basic arithmetic and calculations in your computer.
  
• ●  RAM (Random Access Memory): RAM is what stores data in your computer very temporarily, allowing it to run. Has your computer or phone ever lagged when you opened too many tabs? You didn’t have enough RAM.
  

• ●  Storage: You can get storage in two forms, Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD). HDDs carry more space for cheaper but are relatively slow. SSDs are more expensive for the storage amount but work very quickly.
  
• ●  GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): A GPU is what allows you to see anything on your screen. It calculates how each pixel on your computer should appear and sends a message to your monitor to display images. You can get a dedicated GPU if you are going to do intensive things like gaming or you can rely on the integrated graphics in your CPU which is perfect for watching youtube and doing homework.
  
• ●  Power Supply Unit (PSU): This is the heart of your PC. It takes electricity from your outlet and distributes it to your computer, giving it life.
  
• ●  Case: The case for your computer is what everything is housed in. Every component of your computer should fit cleanly into your case and some cases even have spaces for you to hide wires, making your computer look cleaner.
  
• ●  Operating Software: Buy Windows 10 from Microsoft Some optional components are:
  

• ●  LEDs for a vibrant, colorful computer.
  
• ●  Extra case fans for better cooling in your computer so components don’t overheat.
  
• ●  Sound Card for better audio quality.
  
• ●  Network Card for a better connection to your WiFi.
  
• ●  CPU Fan if your CPU does not come with one.
  
• ●  A monitor if you don’t have one.
  

The first step in building your computer is choosing the price range for your computer. If you want a computer to do homework and watch youtube, I recommend spending $400 (A good example is: ​https://bit.ly/2QwrP52​). If you want to do gaming like Fortnite I recommend spending $700 (A good example is: ​https://bit.ly/2QvTjHZ​). For AAA games like Battlefield and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, I recommend a computer worth at least $1000 (A good example is: ​https://bit.ly/2QtnMX7​). The second step is purchasing components. You can calculate prices on ​https://pcpartpicker.com/list/​ or you can use one of the builds I linked earlier. Once you purchase everything, you should be ready to build your computer. WARNING: DO NOT BUILD YOUR COMPUTER ON CARPET. THE STATIC ELECTRICITY CAN FRY COMPONENTS, RENDERING THEM NON-FUNCTIONAL.
Now, onto the building portion of the guide. The first thing you need to do is unbox everything but leave components on top of their respective boxes as placing them directly on the floor can scratch and damage them. Here is an important diagram of a motherboard you may need: https://bit.ly/34aE4Z7​. Take your CPU and match the arrow in the corner of the CPU with the arrow in the corner of the G slot indicated in the diagram. Be sure not to apply pressure to get the CPU slotted, it should slide in without any pressure. Then, attach the CPU fan you have to the motherboard with a screwdriver and the screws that came with the CPU fan. Next, take your RAM stick(s) and line them up with the H slots on your motherboard. When placing two or more sticks in, color coordinate them so you have a RAM stick in both blue slots. This will make the RAM run faster. Now you are ready to place your motherboard in your case. Take the side panel off of your chosen case and lay the case down with the open side up. Lay your motherboard

down very gently inside the case, making sure to line up the screw holes in the motherboard with the standoffs in your case. Screw the motherboard in. This can take some time as lining the motherboard up correctly can be difficult. Once it is sufficiently screwed in, get your GPU, if you have one, and place it in the PCI-E slot indicated by letter A on the diagram. It should click in. Next, you need to put your storage in your case. Most cases will have trays that you can put your Hard Drive or SSD in. Find these in your case (They should be pretty big). Some trays require that you screw in your storage so do that if necessary. Great job! Most of the computer is now built. It is now time to put the heart of the computer inside. Look at the bottom of the back of your case and you should see a rather large rectangular hole. The side of your PSU with the outlet connection is going to face this side. Place your PSU in the case with the outlet connection facing out through the back. Connect each cable from your PSU to the respective connection on your motherboard or GPU. If you’re unsure of where to connect some of the connections, look at the manuals for your motherboard and power supply. Now, take the connections for each case fan and the CPU fan and insert them into the correct spot (Your motherboard will label them “CPU Fan” and “Fan1” “Fan 2” etc. so it should be easy to find). If you can’t find them, look at the motherboard diagram in your motherboard manual. You will also need to connect the power button to your motherboard. This too will be labeled on the motherboard. Once everything is connected in your computer, close up your case and connect the power cable to your PSU and the wall. Then connect your monitor to your PC with an HDMI cable. To install your operating software. Download the windows installer onto a different computer or laptop and transfer the install files onto a USB. Once the files are on the USB, connect the USB to your computer through a USB slot and press the power button of your computer. Your computer should boot up

and load off of your USB which will cause the Windows installer to open up on your computer and once you get everything installed, your computer should work perfectly.
I have built a few computers in my lifetime, all of them throughout high school. This means that not too long ago I learned how to build, and successfully built, a computer for the first time. I too thought that building a computer was some intense task that only the smartest of people could do but I discovered that it was much easier than I had ever expected. By following this guide, you too can learn to build a computer.
Here’s a picture of my personal computer that I built myself by following the listed steps! 

"How to Change Your Brakes " by Kyler L

When experiencing issues with their car, most people tend to resort to paying mechanics to fix their problems. Although this may save a person time and energy, It's going to cost a lot of money in the process. By doing this operation yourself, you can save up to $115! Hers how to do it
(This tutorial may vary depending on the car)

Materials needed
-2 car lifts
-2 Jack stands
-Tire iron
-Assortment of sockets (for variations in size from car model to model) -New brake pads and brake hardware
- Large C-clamp Steps

1. Park your car onto a non-inclined surface, preferably in your garage if available. This is to prevent the car from moving when working on it.
   
2. Place the lift under one side of your car and raise it up, putting the lift on the metal edge instead of directly onto the body. This is so we can remove the tire.
   
3. Lift the car until you can slide a jack stand underneath it. Place the jack stand under and lower the lift until the car sets onto the jack stand. This is for safety precautions
   
4. Take the tire iron and remove the tire by taking off the hubcap, and unscrewing the bolts that hold the tire into place. This is so we can get to the brakes and rotors.
   
5. Once the tire is off, go to the other tire and slightly loosen the bolts, but not entirely. Just enough to where you would be able to unscrew it with your hands. This is to help remove the tire.
   
6. Grab another lift and lift the other side of the car as well
   
7. Repeat step 3
   
8. Repeat step 4
   
9. Now that the tires are off, unscrew the bolts that hold the brakes to the axel with
   a proper socket (not the caliper). This is to remove the brakes from the rotors.
   

10.Remove the brakes from the rotors. Make sure it isn't hanging from the hose it is attached to.

11.Grab a C-clamp. You must now push the brake piston backwards. To do this, use the C-clamp to sandwich the piston by putting it onto the back of the brake housing, and the other end on the edge of the piston. Twist the clamp until the piston is flush with it's housing. This is to give enough room for the new brake to fit.
12.Remove the old brakes from their slots along with the brake holding pins. Place the holding pins to the side to use them again later.
13.Remove the brake hardware that the brakes slot into, and replace them with their corresponding new ones. Make sure when removing the old ones, you pay attention to the orientation and piece that you are removing so you can properly place the new one in a correct position.
14.Once all the new hardware has been replaced in each of the four slots, place the new brakes into the slots where the old ones used to be.
15.Place the brake housing back on with the new brakes in, and bolt it back to how it was before.
16.Now you must remove the caliper (the part that slides). Unscrew the caliper and take it off This is to allow us to see the back of the pads
17. Now that the back of the pads are exposed, place the brake holding pins into their corresponding holes.
18.Once the pins are in place, bolt the caliper back into place.
19. Repeat the process for the other side.
20.Now you must put the tires back on. Place the tires on the bolts over the rotors,
and screw them back into place with your hands. Do not tighten them all the way with the iron because both sides are still lifted, so the wheel will turn when trying to tighten it.
21.Remove the jack stand from one of the sides by using a lift and lower it down to the ground.
22.Tighten the bolts on the tire that is still suspended into the air until it is extremely tight. This is to get the tire back on tight and properly attached
23. Lower the side that was just tightened, and then lift the other side back up (the non tightened one) and tighten the bolts
24.Lower the car back down
25.Congratulations, you have just changed the brakes in your car!

 

This is an image of my car. I recently changed the brakes on my car a few days prior. The brakes are working perfectly and I can now drive my car without the worry of brake damage.
I am knowledgeable on the topic because I am taking an auto elective class here at Etiwanda. My teacher has showed my how to change brakes, and we have practiced doing them ourselves with his supervision. I was also educated by my best friends grandfather, who is a handy man with cars. He helped me walk through the process when I changed my brakes a few days ago.
I hope you are now able to save money on your car expenses, and now have a better understanding as to how cars function and what you can do to fix them. Working with your hands can help you build critical thinking skills, and is an overall rewarding experience. Please take this information into account, and enjoy saving your hard earned money!

"A Scar " by Daniel V

     June 1st 2014 in East Los Angeles, just an everyday Saturday in what people would call the hood. It was a hot and sunny day, the cars driving by the dogs barking. I was 12 at the time living in a 2 bedroom apartment with 6 people, not ideal conditions, yet I couldn’t be happier or more grateful with what I had. My family of 6 plus my cousin who was staying for a couple of days, decided to walk to church to avoid the crazy L.A traffic. It was only 5 blocks away so it wasn’t that bad. We got to church, enjoyed the service and bought some corn in a cup from our favorite street vendor Mr. Juan. Like I said it was just like any other Saturday, until it wasn't. Being that we walked to church that day me and my cousin decided to leave earlier than my family because they were talking to the priest, which meant a 30 minute plus conversation. We ended up taking a shortcut which meant we had to take, what my community called “the ally”. I was constantly getting warned about the ally because of all the gang violence and drug deals that my parents heard happens there but being the stubborn 12 year old I was I decided to ignore what my parents told me and continued on. My thought process was that they wouldn’t hurt me or my cousin we were just kids, so we proceed through the alley. The alley was fairly long, it was about 2 blocks but 2 was better than 5. The alley was empty as we walked so I wasn’t worried, in fact, the thought that anything would happen to me went away by the time we walked our 1st block. The second block was where all that worry came rushing back like blood in your leg after it falls asleep. We were about a quarter of a block away when 2 guys approach me and my cousin, these guys were about 16-17 years old, like 5’10-5’11 and fairly muscular,

which to a 12 year old was terrifying. I tried to walk around them knowing in the back of my head they would never let me by. One of the guys ask me where I’m from, so I tell him “I’m from Cypress Street”. They both laughed and looked at each other as if they were telling each other “ You thinking what I’m thinking”. I waited for what would happen next for what felt like 30 minutes but in reality was 30 seconds. When one of the guys walked behind us and the other pulls out a knife preventing us from running.They ask us to give them everything we had. My cousin didn’t have anything on him but me on the other hand had a Gameboy that my grandma had got me for Christmas. It was so dear to my heart that nothing would get me to give it up, not even a knife, but one of the guys saw it in my pocket and asked me to “run it,now!”. It took every little bit of courage I had in my body to tell him “ NO, NO WAY”. This really got them mad and caused them to charge at us. The guy with the knife swung it in my face to try to scare me, but my cousin pushed him off so we could run but when he pushed him away the knife cut me in the lip. It was a really bad gash, my lip was split in two and started to gush out blood. I was on the floor screaming with a puddle of blood around me. The 2 guys ran so they wouldn’t get caught, and my cousin started yelling out for help. I started to get dizzy and my eyes started fading in and out. The last thing I remember was seeing the flashing lights of the ambulance in front of me and thinking about what my family would think. Several hours later I wake up in the hospital with a weird feeling in my lip. This was from the 12 stitches they used to close my lip. I was so lucky that that's all it was just a couple stitches it could of been so much worse. I turned to my side to see my family there waiting to see me. Once they saw I woke up they rushed in and the first thing my mom tells me is not if I was ok or how I felt, but “ I told you never to walk through that ally” and smacked me in the leg. Out of love, of course, I could tell they were all incredibly worried about me. But If there Is one thing that I learned from this crazy experience it’s to always listen to my parents and that no object is worth your life.