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"There was a tree
In the middle of the ground 
The prettiest tree 
That you ever did see. 

Oh the tree in a hole, 
And the hole in the ground 
and the green grass grows all around all around 
and the green grass grows all around.

And from this tree, 
there grew a limb
the prettiest limb 
that you ever did see. 

Oh the limb on the tree, 
and the tree in a hole. 
and the hole in the ground, 
and the green grass grows all around, all around
and the green grass grows all around." 


And on that limb there was a branch. The prettiest branch that you ever did see. 


But this children's song skipped an important part.

[Extended Version] 
And on that  branch,

 there grew a  leaf. 

the prettiest leaf

that you ver did see. 

But winter came, 

and those pretty leaves and pretty branches fell off. 

So that pretty tree stood alone.  

But the green grass still grew all around, all around

The green grass still grows all around. 

Halfway along the New Jersey street a person appeared behind her, but she didn’t know. Random cars whizzed by on the road, and they caught her attention every now then. A red jeep with bright headlights reflected the strangers shadow on the pavement behind her. She turned around, and noticed the man. White, bear face, short shaggy hair. His dingy flannel shirt was tucked halfway into ripped blue jeans that were covered in random patches of bleach stains and dirt.

"Fear not for the future, weep not for the past."

"Have you see how skinny she is?"

"Yeah, and I heard she was in the hospital from throwing up."

"On purpose?"

    The topic in which I chose for my National History Day project was the "Manhattan Project". I became interested in the Manhattan Project after I found out it was responsible for the production of the first nuclear weapons. Those weapons were later used to end a war instantly and at the same time destroy over 90,000 innocent lives. I chose this topic because I hadn't done any previous research on the topic and I was really anxious to learn how it had come about.

    The way I conducted my research was by first finding my sources. I took my time and looked for some very useful primary sources, I also did the same with my secondary sources. I conducted my research by first researching every body who was involved with my topic. I knew that if i wanted to fully understand this information, I was going to need some good background information and I thought that information on the people involved was a good place to start. Next I started to do some basic research on what the actual "Manhattan Project" was. I got some basic facts including dates, and people involved.

    I selected the presentation category "Documentary" due to a couple reasons. The first major reason is that I consider myself very talented when it comes to video editing and creation so I felt ver comfortable choosing this category. Another reason is because I worked alone I believed that this allowed me to work more efficiently. I created my project using the video editing software known as iMovie. I also compensated for not being able to do a good voiceover by recording the spoken voice of the computer. I created my documentary as though it was a timeline and displayed everything in order in which it occurred.

    My project relates to the NHD theme of "Debate & Diplomacy: Successes, Failures, Consequences" because at first the use of radioactive elements was considered in creating a new energy source. It quickly jumped from something peaceful to a weapon of mass destruction. I believe that this is one of the most important projects undertaken by the American government in modern history and that end result is one of the most significant events also. There were many conflicts as too weather or not these weapons should be developed, a mass number of civilian support against its development.

A very scary incident happened on the bus this morning.  I yanked the signal cord right as the we pulled up to 21st and Arch.  As the back doors swung open, I noticed that the parked cars were within a foot of the bus and I wasn't going to be able to fit through with my backpack on.  As I dropped my shoulder to slip off my bag, the doors suddenly shut, trapping me between them.  The first "I'm stuck" was a quiet one, but they quickly grew louder as I realized how dangerous the situation was.  The bus driver couldn't see me and if he accelerated, I would end up in the hospital.  As my screams continued, other passengers joined as well.  Finally, I was released, but still could not fit.  The man across from me whispered, "Honey, I think you need to use the front." 

"Yeah, I think so too."

I walked off completely mortified, but happy to be alive. 

Today I stayed home because I was sick. I didn't realize how wiped out my body was. I literally slept ALL DAY LONG and the night before I went to bed at 6 pm. Like my god that is a lot of sleeping. I slept for about 20 hours, every now and then I would wake up due to the urge to pee but fell right back asleep. The funny thing is I'm still tired and I plan to sleep some more and hopefully all night after I am done writing this, so I'm going to stop writing so I can sleep some more. My body is just exhausted.

​Aquí está nuestro próximo proyecto.

Unos artistas: Siquieros, Botero, Dali, Rivera, Khalo, Picasso, Joan Miró, El Greco, Francisco de Goya, Diego Velazquez...y aquí hay más!

TAREA: Escoge una obra de arte y explica por qué escogiste esa obra para tu proyecto. Publica en SLA blog.

I HATE, like hate, the way you make me feel.
I see you around the neighborhood and it just puts my body into shock every time without fail. And then after the initial shock passes every thing goes into overdrive; I get mad butterflies, my heart beats at the speed of sound, I can't actually speak because it comes out a squeak or a cry and my hands start shaking violently. And it's all your fault!
Before, this used to sort-of be a good feeling. I enjoyed the rush of adrenaline, but before I got to use all of the adrenaline up when I got to run up and kiss you. Before, I spent time with you. Before, we went out of our way to make sure that we saw each other. And now I feel all of the same things and feel a surge of some kind of mixture between love and hate. I love to hate you and I hate to love you. It's an extremely complicated way to live out my life.
I guess it isn't bad enough that I think about you all the time, dream of you, wish I were with you, or just plain miss you. No, we have to take it to another level. You are the last person I would want to spend a moment with, but I wish I could spend nights and days in your arms. Every time I see you I want to kiss you and simultaneously want to punch you in the mouth and walk away. You are the one person in this world I want to tell all of my problems to and you're my main problem.
So, thank you… For making seeing you so damn complicated.

What did you learn from doing this project?
I think mostly, what I learned is that most people have a daily routine that they stick to, and that people everywhere do the same things in the morning whether they're in Spain or here, or where ever they are.
How do you feel about your final product? I think it's good. I like the song most of all out of the whole thing.
If you could do your project all over again, what would you do differently/the same? Differently, I'd do it in my mom's house. The same, would definitely be the song. I love Jewel.
Did you enjoy this project? Why or why not? I did! Even though my dad was asking me why I was getting ready for school at night. It was fun to show the world how frenzied I am in the morning.

Every Sunday on the BIO Channel, marathons of a documentary call "I Survived" are played. "I Survived features several different individuals every episode where they tell a story of how they survived a life threatening experience. This is by far one of the best documentary television series I've ever watched. 

http://www.biography.com/video.do?name=isurvived

Would you be so kind as to tell me of Celia?

Ellas es Ayoola y Jasmin. Ellas es muy cómicas. Nosotros asistamos la escuela de SLA.

College is so expensive and I dont understand why? Its shorter in school days, you have to pay before you even get accepted/rejected. What is the point of paying excessive amounts and then being in debt for years after college?

Graduating in less then 3 months! Another huge milestone in a very short life time period.

Come out this Friday March 11th, to see your fellow peers represent SLA in the first slam of the Philly Youth Poetry Movement's Slam League. The event starts at 4:30pm, it is free and will be held in the drama studio at SLA. Schools competing include Germantown High School, Constitution High School, Central High School, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Overbrook High School and of course, Science Leadership Academy.

 

SLA's team is coached by Mr. Kay and Sinnea Douglas after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Anyone who wants to join is more than welcome. It is not too late! 

SLA placed 2nd in the Mock Slam on February 25th. Gina Dukes, Eryn James, and Joshua Melendez all participated and had tremendous performances. Check out the videos on the teams Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/SLA-Slam-Team-PYPM/171147346261542. 

One year when I was around five years old. We went to the zoo trip that was outside of Philadelphia. I actually forget the area or location now being alot older but there is a video of the story. My family and our neighbor Maryellen went onto a trip to the six flags safari thing where your aloud inside the Forrest t​o see the animals up close. There is a strict policy that you cant feed the animals. But of course our crazy neighbor brang a blue little cooler with all types of fruits and snacks to feed the animals. We started the car ride down into the forrest and two monkeys came upon the car. A mother monkey carrying another child on the windshield and her song hanging from the side view mirror. Maryellen thought it might be a good idea to give some food to the animals. This caused havoc in the forrest and around five hundred dollars of damages. It was a great experience though and funny, it just goes to show you should never feed animals that are wild and if your in a small car.

I'm really flippin' tired of going to school.
I'm going to college in 178 days.

Bianca just tired a knot in her hair. What the hell, how do you possibly do that?
Oh well.
I'm in Economics.

Here's a poem, wait, Bianca just gave me the knot in her hair..
okay.

I don't know why
I don't sleep in class.
I don't pay attention
cause I sit on my ass.
I get really bored
and nothing is fun
except when we color
or when class is done.
I wish it was over
I wish it was through
in 178 days
I won't be seeing you
I'll be in North Jersey,
up by the beach
and I will be so happy
because I'll be out of your reach :DDD
​