Being in a Prison Vs. Being in a Zoo

Being in a Prison Vs. Being in a Zoo

Rafferty

Just imagine your self, inside a small dark room, on the cold, hard floor and behind bars. "Welcome to your new home," says the officer in a dark uniform with shiny, polished badges hanging from the pocket. Zoos and prisons are two very different things, although they differ, they also have many similarities. They may vary from all sorts of things such as being behind bars, to capturing animals from the wild. 

Jails and zoos have many things in common. For example, animals in the zoos, and convicts are both depressed throughout their stay. Although, whilst you visit animals in the zoo they may seem happy. But behind all unfaithful lies and fibs that the zoos tell you, is where the ugly truth lies. Another example would be that they are both held captive and whether you’re an animal or not. Nobody would ever be happy to be held captive, in a cage or a ‘habitat’ which zoos make for the animal; probably all your life. Not everything is bad in a jail/ zoo because you are still taken care of or being treated horribly/abused by the zookeepers and prison guards. Even though you are being kept in a prison/zoo, you are being taken care of and it’s also free! As you can see, under all the assumptions of being kept behind bars, depression, and being taken care of, you are still part of a “community”.   

In jail, people are captured for lawbreaking. These people are called prisoners. They are either guilty or falsely accused. The prisoners are locked up and they are kept there until they are released. You stay in a cell with either a room mate or alone. Staying in jail may not sound as fun as it is because it is where the most dangerous people live and stay. Many are even kept in there for life! As for the zoo, it is a place where animals are captured from the wild without a choice. These animals are taken care of by their zoo keepers which are hired from the money received from visitors for their recreation. The animals have no choice to leave and they are owned by the country/town/zoo. They are captured for display and they must entertain their audience. Some animals are kept there for research and breeding. These differences sum up to being behind bars, locked up for lawbreaking and being kept as a "prisoner" of entertainment.

As you can see, being behind bars isn't as fun as it sounds. You may be taken  care of, but you have no choice to leave if you are an animal. It is very depressing for both the animal and the prisoner in all conditions. We should all learn from this and we shouldn't commit any crimes or capture any more animals from the wild.

Never Judge a Book by its Cover

Never Judge a Book by its Cover

Rafferty

A childhood story Beauty and the Beast, is very different to the book House Rules. Although there may be similarities both books depend on a kind heart which takes care of them.
House rules is about a child who has Asperger's syndrome and is fighting through his trials as Jacob was accused of murder of his tutor Jess. The trail takes place in a small town in the United States. He is looks like an ordinary boy from far away, but as you get closer to him, he does things differently as he thinks in a different way as others.
Beauty and the Beast is about a monster wanting his cursed to be removed only if someone loved him. Belle's father made a trade with the Beast that he would let him go if he brought Belle to him. She must go to the castle and stay with him forever. Even thought is human from the inside, he was cursed. He may look scary but he is kind from the heart and he would try to make others happy.
The two books have many differences as well as similarities. They both have characters who are very different from the others. Jacob has Asperger's syndrome and the Beast is a monster. Two of the characters are isolated from relationships with others. This relates to people from different races complaining about other races and being racist. Emma and Belle from both books, want to care for Jacob and the Beast as they want others to accept them. Therefore, a kind heart can make a difference for others.
Even thought these two books are very different, they both have similarities such as accepting other people. As a popular saying "Never judge a book by its cover," connects to these two books. They may have characters who are not accepted by others, but I hope that these books will inspire others to be nice and kind to others.

Will the Internet bring the people of the world closer together?

 Will the Internet bring the people of the world closer together? 

Rafferty

Introduction:

Parents and teachers commonly say that the internet will bring the world closer together. But many instead, disagree with these thoughts and encourage others to talk verbally instead of on in the internet. The internet is a very big community where millions of users are active commonly.

Conclusion:

After all, many people think differently on whether the internet will bring people closer together. In my opinion, I think it will make bonds because you can use social networking programs such as skype and talk with video. I predict that in the future, people will use the internet more often to connect with each other. Its up to the user to make up the use of the internet whether it is to chat, or even call each other. 

Playing Video Games Vs. Sports

                                                         Playing Video Games Vs. Sports

                                                                          Rafferty

         Playing video games and sports are two very different things. First of all, playing video games has many disadvantages such as your eyes being damaged, or it can also be a distraction from studying. I think video games are not good for you because it may be a way of relaxing and leisure but it has bad deprivations. I would rather not play video games because they aren't good for you. On the other hand, playing sports is very good for you because you can stay healthy and have bigger muscles. You can grow your endurance and strength. Staying healthy is very important because it prevents illnesses and diseases. I think sports is very good for you because you can have lots of fun although playing video games can be fun as well. As well on the contrary, video games can be fun but they aren't good for you because it can be a big distraction for you can you can damage your eyes. They both differ in many ways, but for me, I would rather choose to play sports because it can be fun, it helps you stay healthy, and you can become stronger. In my opinion, playing video games and sports are very different.

Should Zoos Exist?

                                                                Should Zoos Exist?

                                                                          Rafferty

               A zoo is a place where animals are kept far away from home; the wild. Many activist and animal lovers are complaining/ protesting of how zoos shouldn’t exist. They say that this is harmful to the animals and that they might not be treated as they would like to. In my opinion, I think that keeping animals in the zoo is not good, because the animals belong in the wild and they deserve to be kept where they belong. One reason animals are kept inside zoos are that it is a very good form of entertainment and recreation. Many children and adults visit famous zoos to see endangered animals or to study animals. Another reason is that it brings visitors and children closer to nature. The visitors can go to one place and see many animals from all over the world in one place. It makes it convenient for the visitor. Zoos also create a source of income and employment for many people. There are many jobs such as zookeepers, security, and cleaners. I think this is very important because it gives many animal lovers opportunities for jobs to help their families. Some zoos are also research facilities which have benefits such as that there are more jobs given out, and that we can learn about the animals better. The disadvantage of zoos is that some animals aren’t treated properly and they make the animals live in cages far from the wild. After all, I think zoos shouldn’t exist even though there are some benefits. They are harmful prisons for the animals and they should be kept in the wild. In my opinion, I would protest against this if it became a tremendous problem. 

My Photo Journal of the October Break

 My Photo Journal of the October Break

Rafferty

Last week, my family and I went to Nha Trang; a beach in Vietnam. Luckily, it was very sunny and it didn't rain even though it is the monsoon season. I ate lots of food especially seafood because it's really delicious and mouth watering. 

While I stayed in Nha trang, I also went to Vinpearl, which is an amusement park on an island. I took a cable car to Vinpearl island and I went on lots of rides which was very amusing. I went on lots of rides and my favorite part was the water park. It had numerous watersides which allowed you to engage the excitement while you slid down. 

On the weekends, I went to The Grand Ho Tram Strip. It is a resort at a beach called Ho Tram and it took more than 3 hours to get to the resort. The resort was extremely huge and it had many facilities such as a shopping mall and many pools.

I played basketball on the holidays when I had nothing to do and I felt very energetic. I scored many baskets and it was very fun since I had my friends over with me as well. My favorite part was when my friend came over and dunked the hoop.

On the holidays, there was a new season of "The Walking Dead," and I watched the episodes and it was really fun and entertaining. My favorite part was when they went to a supermarket for supplies and walkers started falling down through the ceiling! 

I also played Fifa 14 on ios. It is the latest edition of Fifa and it was really fun since I had a chance to try out all of the new soccer players score a lot of goals! My favorite part was when Rooney did a bicycle kick and scored a goal! 

My Home "The Zoo"

My Home "The Zoo"

Rafferty

This is an introduction to a panda named Rafferty who is currently living at the Singapore Zoo in Singapore. This is the story of his life, his daily routines, and he would like to dedicate it to his fellow panda mates and friends. 

 I find that being a giant panda is the best because we don't have to do much and we can easily have special care by the kind zookeepers. Scientist call me a terrestrial animal which I think means that I only live on land. Once in a while, they come by and check my weight and height and they seem very impressed when they leave. I am about 1.6m and I weigh at about 107 kilograms! 

I find that staying in the zoo isn't that bad at all! I get well fed, and I get to be the spot light because at 5 sharp, I'm invited to perform at a animal magic show! The people and zookeepers all treat my nicely and I especially love the way that my neighbors are the monkeys and the other bears. We usually have long conversations about how we are feeling and I mostly like talking to the grizzly. He may look very tough but he is actually one of the nicest here. 

I am woken every morning by an unexpected time everyday. Behind the walls of my home, I can see the other animals in their homes quite a distance from mine. Outside the walls of my home, I also see these people looking at my home and using what's called a camera that can stop image at a certain time. The people cheer, smile and greet me as I have my breakfast, long bamboo sprouts. It may seem weird, but I would rather have bamboo sprouts than human food. I see them with cotton candy, hot-dogs  and popcorn. In their eyes, I think that they are calling me racist and international at the same time; I am black, white, and Asian  People from all around the world come here to my home and to the home of other animals to come and look at us. To me, I think that the humans are very kind and nice with their colorful skins of garments over their bodies. Its strange that they all come in different colors and when I see them again, their garments had changed! 

After all, being a giant panda isn't that bad. I get treated well and I am well fed. The people who come and visit me are extremely kind especially the little ones who are about a third of the size as their parents. My home is the best home I could possibly have! 

How To Be Cool By Rafferty

How To Be Cool

Rafferty

In this blog, you will learn the most advanced tips to become the coolest anywhere. There is also a vine video that comes with these steps. Please consider the following and you will become the coolest person ever! Follow the steps and you will learn to be cool in just a few minutes!


1. Where are the fans?
Every cool person has a lot of fans; even if its a cooling fan, or fans, you've just got to have them. You always have to stay cool to stay cool, never let yourself sweat even if its 40 degrees. Fans are one of the most important things you need to be cool; keep that in mind if you want to stay cool. 



2. Everyone loves cones! Cones have been the trend since the 1914's! You can use ice-cream cones or even traffic cones as the coolest accessory. Add them to you arms, legs, or use them as a cap to increase your level of popularity! You will always be cool no matter what you're wearing when you have your cones with you!



3. Stylish sun glasses
You can either wear colorful sunglasses or even plain black. Every cool person needs to keep their eyes protected from the heat and others would start to wear sunglasses because they increase your coolness level. The darker your sunglasses are, the more you will be able to see. Always have an extravaganza of sunglasses at home in case you lose them and you are losing your disguise. 

4. A Distinctive Accent
Speaking your own made up language is cool in all ways, even if the others don't understand it, they will start to speak your language as well. An example of a language is "skahlabtk" which means hello. Pronouncing it correctly is the most important thing about your accent. Everyone will 
understand you even if you're talking to aliens! 




5. A Pink Sweater

Having a pink sweater is also a very important thing you need to be cool because if you didn't have a pink sweater, you would be known as the weirdo. You should tie it around your waist and use it as a belt. Using a pink sweater as a belt also allows you walk slower because the coolness is weighing your self down. 




6. Add them all together
Adding them all together at the same time maximizes your coolness level. You should wear your sunglasses first, add the sweater to your waist, put on the cones on your arms, legs and head, then put fans around you and speak with your unique accent. You have now learned the most secret tips of being cool. 

Warning, we are not responsible for any injuries with the cones and you should use your coolness for good causes. Congratulations, you have mastered the tips of being cool. Good luck and stay cool!

Time Capsule Letter 2013

Dear future reader,

I'm Rafferty, and I am a 13 year old grade 8 student at the Canadian International School. You have found a time capsule that was buried in 2013 and should be opened in 2033. This is a time capsule assignment given by Mr. Vaughan and the things inside are related to ourselves or related to 2013.

a

Every weekday, I wake up for school, eat breakfast and take the school bus to school. We have a variety of subjects every day and we end school with two periods of literacy. I usually play basketball and sports after school and I end my day by completing my homework.

My classmates and friends mostly like listening to One Direction and Justin Bieber. I like to listen to other Pop artists such as Chris Brown and Katy Perry. I spend most of my time on the internet socializing or staying up to date on Facebook or YouTube.

Life in 2013 is very modern, people are using iphone5's, tablets, and smartphones; they are becoming more popular. Windows 8 touch screen laptops are also becoming more advanced and there was another cool gadget called "Google Glasses" which seemed really cool to me and was really futuristic.

In 100 years, I think that life would be much better because things would be more futuristic, convenient, and the economy would be better. There would be less chaos, terrorism, and global issues because those problems would be all solved. Who knows if I'll ever find out what happens or not, because I could still be alive.

I hope you've enjoyed reading my letter. Have a wonderful future!

Sincerely,

Rafferty Truong

The Time Capsule I Found In My Backyard

The Time Capsule I Found In My Backyard

Rafferty

Day 1, 2 pm: I was digging a hole in my backyard for the new tree I had bought recently until I found this large metal box sealed up with a wooden frame.  The box was usually heavy and i had to have my friends come over and help me take it out. We had left  it on the left side of my backyard and went in for some lemonade.
Day 2, 9 am: A woke up all of a sudden by a siren which was very irritating. I took a peak through the window and I saw that there were two police men at my door step. They were asking if I had been digging and I replied with a no.
Day 3, 10 am: I came back to the box with a clean towel and started to clean the dirt off of the front of the box. The next thing that caught my eye was the name written on the box, Thomas Edison, 1925. The time capsule was probably from the 1920's and that means that I was holding something very old. I opened up the box and in there a found amazing things. I found one of his first inventions a light bulb built by Edison, a movie camera, and a few photos of him and another small piece of paper which said "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 that didn't work-Thomas Edison." I loved what Thomas Edison had wrote because he showed that he had a lot perseverance and nothing is impossible to him. In there, I had also found a torn page from his diary which said, "October 23rd, 1879, I have tried ever since to improve the light bulb an I have finally succeeded yesterday. I had put a filament inside the glass bulb made of cotton thread. I only wish that my inventions would change our world and make it better."
Day 4, 12pm: I visited the museum and gave them the special belongings that once was Edison's. The museum gave credit to me by putting my name next to the artifacts. I came back home seeing the police at my front porch and this time they put handcuffs on me. It turns out my backyard was actually my neighbor's back yard and I didn't have a back yard. My neighbors were actually the Edisons and they came home for lunch finding a large hole in their backyard. I learned that Thomas Edison was a great inventor and he always had perseverance. I was sent to the police station telling all of the officers about Thomas Edison and how he was a great inventor. Two days later, I made two time capsules and each put in something inside and buried inside a small pot inside my house.

Almost Everything You Need to Know About Me

Almost Everything You Need to Know About Me

Rafferty
August 20th, 2013

Playing basketball

My name is Rafferty and I'm from Ontario, Canada. I’m now 13 and I have lived in Vietnam for the past 9 years. I love playing sports such as basketball and soccer. I have been playing sports since I was 5 and I loved it ever since. I also love travelling to different countries and tasting new food from different cultures. Travelling is very special and distinctive to me because excitement and joy are waiting for me to have it.  

My favorite animals are dogs and hamsters because they are very cute and they both like to play around. I also really enjoy eating snacks and sweets because they’re delicious and I like to eat sugar. My favorite colour is light green because it has this colour related to nature and the world. Of all places that I could go to, I would go to England because they are many cool things to do there and many things to see.

A song called "Scary Monster and Nice Spirits"

By Skrillex

My hobbies are reading books, watching TV, and playing sports. Some of my favorite series are “The Hunger Games”, and “Twilight.” Whenever I’m home, I’m always online, on the couch watching TV, or outside playing sports. I also like listening to Dubstep (electronic dance music) because it calms me down and it sounds really cool and it never gets old.

It's not the "End" yet...

Refrences:

http://ayof2013.olympics.com.au/images/dmImage/StandardImage/57160885.jpg

http://campuswellbeing.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/cute-puppies-with-worms.jpg

http://hollandsopus.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/skrillex-logo-smans.jpg