Mrs Carreiro's English

Acting Awards - 2008

2008-05-21T04:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Mr. Bilal for helping us out and helping choose the winners of the acting contest.

Here is the Best Actress - Runner Up

Zaina Mazen

From Courtroom Drama

Best Actor - Runner Up

Ahmed Hashmi

From Courtroom Drama

Best Actress

Zainab Bukhari

From Courtroom Drama

Best Actor

Hamza Bukhari

From Courtroom Drama

Best Group Production

Osvaldo's Testimony - 8A

From Courtroom Drama

Photos on Facebook

2008-05-21T04:43:00.000-07:00

See the photos from today's drama on Facebook

Pictures from the Awards Lunch

2008-05-12T05:19:00.001-07:00

Check out the pictures on Facebook

Extra Credit Due TODAY

2008-05-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

Don't forget the extra credit book review is due today. Make sure it is a REVIEW and not a REPORT. There are plenty of links available. A book review should include what you thought about the book and how it was written. A good book review will never give away the ending or important plot twists.

After you submit your review, make sure you bring your book to school so I can ask you a few questions about. This will help confirm that you've read the book.

If you haven't started it, don't try to plagiarize. This makes me very upset! Anyone who has been caught plagiarizing this year will have their names put on a warning list for the high school English teachers.

Announcements

2008-04-26T06:35:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder, we will probably only have 4 English periods next week due to the IOWA Testing Schedule
You should be finished with the book by now!
Final Exam will include Vocabulary, Plot, Characters, & Essays all based on what we've done in the fourth quarter
You should be memorizing your lines for your drama presentation of Monster
Tuesday May 6th we will go for an English Awards Lunch from 11:00 to 14:30 - Bring money for your lunch and dress to impress

Extra Credit - Book Review

2008-04-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

For up to 40 extra credit points (equivalent to 40 points on a standardized test) you can read a book and write a review of it.

What to do:

Choose a book appropriate for your reading level. Bring it in to school and I will approve it.
After completing the book, write a two page (double spaced, font 12) book review

How to write a book review:

Writing a book review is actually similar to writing a restaurant review. It's not a 'book report' where you just say who is who and what happens in the book. You must actually evaluate the book and form an opinion on how good it was, just like with the restaurant. Here are some helpful links to get you started

How to Write a Book Review

Interactive Online Book Review Tool - by Scholastic

How to Write a Book Report (to compare)

Book Reviews written by Middle Schoolers

Please do not even THINK about plagiarizing. Academic dishonesty is very disappointing and will certainly be reported to the office.

If you're having trouble finding a good book, look on Listmania! sites like this one

Best Middle School Books

Q3 Grades Available

2008-04-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

Today was the Parent Teacher Conference which means your grades are ready! I know you've all been waiting a month for these report cards, so make sure that if your parents didn't come today that you send someone to pick up your marks soon.

Announcements:

If you missed Friday's Standardized Test, please bring a note of application for a re-sit. Be prepared to take it the first day you are back at school. Once I have the note and the permission from the office then I'll grade. Until then you will have a ZERO.
Read to page 259 by next Friday
8A- Why do I only have proposals from 3 students? This was due a long time ago! I don't care if you get it to me by carrier pigeon but it must get to me soon if you want to get any credit for it.
8S - Your reading quiz grades on average are very low. Let's see an improvement for this week.

Stay tuned for this quarter's extra credit option.

Review of Bombay Dreams

2008-04-12T22:15:00.001-07:00

Riveting and Provocative Theatre- right in the heart of Lahore

With 75 cast & crew members, over 20 costume changes, tantalizing sound and light effects, Bollywood style dance numbers and Bollywood glam all live on stage, this was one of the best productions I've seen. This bold production takes a stab at many of the cultural taboos that are pervasive in this society and seeks to widen people's world views and understanding of those considered "least" among us. For anyone living in Lahore I definitely recommend you check out Shah Sharahbeel's latest: Bombay Dreams.

The plot revolves around a young slum dweller names Akaash (Zac Khar) who dreams of becoming a Bollywood star. His friends and family hope that in going to Bollywood he could make enough money to save the slums from the hands of the greedy developers Honey Singh (Omar Iqbal) and Money Singh (Kamran Rangeela) . Right when the Singhs give the slum dwellers a 30 day eviction notice, a pro-bono lawyer, Vikram (Gohar Rasheed), and his pretty fiance, Priya (Rudaba Nasir), show up to save the day. Priya agrees to introduce Akaash to her father Madan Chopra (Abdullah Farhatullah) who is a famous Bollywood filmmaker.

Once Akaash sets foot in Bombay he starts to realize that Bollywood isn't all glitz and glamor, but hard work, heartbreak and conflicts too. Is Bollywood too big for him, or will he become a superstar?

You're guaranteed to be on the edge of your seat as you share in Akaash's journey from the slums, to Bollywood, and back to the slums again. Choreography by Wahab Shah and Alyzay Sultan Ali will have you moving your shoulders, ready to jump out of your seat and join in with the bhangra beat. You'll get to see the two masterminds behind the dance scenes themselves during the number, "How Many Stars." An entourage of male and female dancers seem to appear in different costumes every other scene. I don't know how they can do so many high energy dance numbers all in one night!

Although it's a musical, you won't find any live singing this time. I assume part of that is because it would quite hard to sing well while doing all those Bollywood dance numbers. And, well in Bollywood, they usually don't do their own singing anyway! Hands down, Priya (Rudaba Nasir) is the best lip syncer of the cast, while others were not as convincing. The choreography will keep your eyes busy during most musical numbers, although it would have made it a little more intimate if some of the other main characters looked as if they were singing their songs.

Rudaba Nasir as Priya was not only good at the lip sync, but an excellent dancer and outstanding actress. There were only four women with speaking parts, but all were well chosen for their roles. Faiza Mujahid will crack you up as Shanti, Akaash's aging mother from the slums. The superstar Rani, played by Arfah Khawaja, is a character the boys will wish was on the stage more. And finally, Enshe Ahmed plays Paro who is a girl from the slums pining for Akaash's lost love. Among the male actors, many of the cast were excellent, but I'd have to say that Yasir Rehmat Hussain as Sweetie would win my "best actor" award, with Shams Aftab as Dolly at a close second.

As someone who has participated in musical dramas myself (as a dancer, choreographer, set designer, and backstage crew), I must give props to the costume designers, set designers, backstage team, and everyone who helped with lights and sound. It takes a lot to create the effects that they managed to pull off flawlessly despite the constant threat of loadshedding.

Bombay Dreams is directed by Shah Sharahbeel and produced by Umer Hameed, not only a manager but also a black belt and fight scene choreographer.

As Lonely Planet says, India will "whirl you mind and dazzle your eyes." Bombay Dreams will do all that more. Go see it for yourself!

**Bombay Dreams will be performed every night until April 20th at 8:30pm at Al Hamra Centre, Mall Road. Buy Tickets at Gloria Jean's (Hussain Chowk), Cafe Zouk, Marble Stone (Lalik Chowk, Defence), Mini Golf (Centrepoint) or the Al Hamra box office (Mall Road). Tickets are 500 Rs each.

Be sure to buy tickets 2-3 days in advance and arrive early and people start queuing at 7:00pm. Doors open at 8:00pm and close at 8:25. Go EARLY if you don't want to sit on the stairs or be locked out! Yesterday even the aisles were completely full with people sitting on the steps and the floor. At least 50 people came too late and were locked outside!

The original musical was written by Meera Syal with music by A.R. Rehman and lyrics by Don Black. It was first produced in London in 2002. Here in Lahore it is being produced with amateur actors and actresses from the city's universities.

English news

2008-04-12T00:20:00.000-07:00

We will finish the Monster collages on Monday, so bring any finishing touches, pictures, headlines, glue, scissors, etc. that you need
Reading quiz through page 159 on Monday
Email me any LATE proposals about the prison system in Pakistan, I don't want to give so many zeros as this counts for an assessment
In other news, check out the following article on BBC

Pakistan moves to drop media restrictions

Hopefully that means this blog won't be blocked any more!

New Definition of Monster

2008-04-09T00:18:00.000-07:00

People as monsters:

Serial killers

Monsters - Wikipedia

8S - Remember you need to bring in your research about monsters throughout history tomorrow

Monster Collage

2008-04-09T00:11:00.000-07:00

On Friday we will be working in partners to make our collage of the different perceptions of "monster" throughout history.

You can bring in pictures or words describing monsters from different time periods/literary periods

Examples: Roman mythology, Greek mythology, Hinduism, Medieval times, "freaks of nature," Sea Monsters, urban legends (Big Foot, Lochness Monster), cute and friendly monsters, people considered as monster (serial killers, etc.)

Click here for a list of legendary creatures on Wikipedia, although not all are monsters

Use Google Images to find pictures of different monsters and print them out

Print out newspaper headlines or words that describe monsters

Remember, you and your partner have a whole posterboard to fill! Half should show the traditional view of monsters while the other half should show the newer social concept of monsters.

What's due this week?

2008-04-08T06:12:00.000-07:00

Proposals for Prison Reform due on Friday
Read to page 159 by Friday...there might be a quiz!
Research about 'monsters' due tomorrow (Weds)
Keep up to date with your journals

Blog is Unblocked!

2008-04-04T20:18:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone! The blog is unblocked for now so here's the latest announcements:

Journals due on Monday April 7th - Each class should have six entries. Make sure you spend time and thought on your journal entries
Prison Proposals (group project) due on Friday April 11th
Read to page 159 by Friday - you should always be ready for a reading quiz
8S - you need to get reading. Your quiz results were very bad! 8A was somewhat better, but there were still some of you who haven't read. Remember all your grades for this quarter are coming from what we do based on Monster

Life in Prison

2008-03-31T04:05:00.001-07:00

I must say that today's 'research' was a poor showing. We had a lot of "my uncle told me" and "I heard from someone" information. When we do research we want it to be two things:

A) Quantitative (showing numbers, ratios, etc)
or Qualitative (showing the quality of something)

B) from a credible source

If your uncle is a police officer, then the best thing to do is to write down his exact statements in an interview. You should ask questions that will give quantitative or qualitative answers.

We'll be doing some more work on this in class as you need to be prepared to do research next year in high school.

Here's some links you can check out for info on life in prison:

Pakistan: Ministry of Interior

Execution looms for Briton after 17 years

Death without a sentence: 108 prisoners die in Punjab jails

Human Rights Watch: Prison Bound (Special Report on Pakistan)

Human Rights Watch: Background to Pakistan Criminal System

Try googling the following phrases and see if you get any informative sites:

lahore prison

pakistan jail

pakistan justice

lahore juvenile

pakistan prison

pakistan court system

Solitary Song

2008-03-24T05:31:00.000-07:00

This poem was found on a web blog for Black Poets. Think about the following questions as you read it:
1) Who is the author?
2) Who is 'you' in the poem?
3) Is the author happy with his/her current situation?

Solitary Song

You cage me up
Like a wild animal
Claiming to
Rehabilitate me
Then wonder why
I can’t find a job
Wonder why
I’m crazier than
When I went in
Why not educate me
Before I break the law
Why not give me opportunities
Before I turn to a life of crime
Strike one
Strike two
Strike three
Now I’m caged up for life
A life wasted
A life lost forever
Here I sit
Wondering who I could have been
All the things I could have done
If you had just given me the chance
You cage me up
And wonder why I
Can’t fly
When I’m set free
Sitting here looking at
My momma
My wife
My daughter
Through a glass plate
Trying to feel like a man
Not a wild beast
Waiting for you
To rehabilitate me

Poem: Solitary Song [Community] - nicholldenice - ndm01@bc.edu

http://homepages.wmich.edu/~d2baker/monsterplans2.htm

Don't forget the book and the journal

2008-03-24T05:22:00.000-07:00

Reminder - Make sure to buy the book Monster and get your journal ASAP.

Reading quiz pages 1-46 will be on Friday.

Spring Break

2008-03-14T19:28:00.001-07:00

Have a great Spring Break!

Please bring a journal with you when you come back next week. It should be smaller than a Scarsdale notebook (copy book) and something that you can easily carry with you. We will be using it for our literature journal as we read Monster.

Also, remember to bring 500 rupees for the book on Monday March 24th.

*Thanks to Anoushe & Ushna - My husband and I tried the Arizona Grill last night and it was great! He had the French Onion Steak and I had the beef Chimichanga. Mmmmm. We had to get our fill of beef before crossing the border.

Quiz Results

2008-03-07T00:26:00.000-08:00

Today's quiz may have seemed easy, but there were 44 mistakes to correct. Here's the class averages for the quiz (out of 44 marks, compared to a test out of 100 marks).

Grade 8A - 85%

Grade 8S - 80%

Let's see which class gets the higher average on Friday's test.

Grade 8S - please do WB+ page 106 if you have not completed it.

Grades Due Friday March 14th

2008-03-06T00:34:00.000-08:00

Reminder:

Compare & Contrast Essay Final - due Weds March 12th

All late work - due Weds March 12th

Standardized Test - Friday March 14th

Punctuation Quiz - TOMORROW March 7th

Late work will not be accepted as I will not have time to grade it before the spring break. As I must turn in all the marks on Friday at 12:40pm, I can not be reading your papers at the last minute. Do not miss the standardized test on friday! If you know you will be absent for reasons due to travel, etc. please ask your parents to come make an application to Ms. Lualdi so you can take the test on Thursday March 13th.

Quiz on Friday

2008-03-04T01:43:00.000-08:00

Reminder that there is a quiz on FRIDAY on punctuation and capitalization. You should know Unit 9 Section 1-4.

Peer Editing - Compare & Contrast

2008-03-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

We'll be using these questions for our peer editing sessions. While writing your rough draft you should look to see how you're doing in all the areas mentioned.

1. Does the topic sentence show the main point? How could it be improved?

2. Does the topic sentence catch the reader’s attention?

3. Is there a clear compare & contrast pattern in the paper? Is it AABB or ABAB?

4. Does the paper show the author’s personality?

5. Are specific examples used to support points made in the essay? If yes, cite one example. If no, cite one place where the author could use a concrete detail to make his/her point stronger.

6. Are wording and ideas fresh and interesting? How could it be improved?

7. Name three things you liked about the paper.

8. Give three comments or suggestions that you think would help improve the paper.

Compare & Contrast Grading Rubric

2008-03-03T18:56:00.000-08:00

If you want to know what I'll be looking for when I grade your C&C essays, see here

Compare & Contrast Essay - Self-Revising Checklist

2008-03-03T18:52:00.000-08:00

Revising
1. Have I used consistent point of view?
2. Have I used consistent verb tense?
3. Have I used a variety of sentence structures?
4. Does my personality come through my writing?
5. Do I show rather than tell?
6. Does my topic sentence show the thesis & main idea?
7. Does my topic sentence catch the reader’s attention?
8. Are features or subjects discussed in the same order?
9. Is the order features are discussed logical?
10. Are specific examples used to support ideas?
11. Are my wording and ideas fresh and interesting?
12. Are compare & contrast clue words used?

Proofreading
1. Have I corrected run-ons?
2. Have I corrected fragments?
3. Have I used indentation and paragraphing?
4. Have I used proper capitalization and punctuation?
5. Have I corrected spelling mistakes?

Format
1. Double spaced
2. Font size 12
3. Font Arial or Times New Roman
4. 1 Column
5. Title in Header
6. Written my name in bold italic on the first line
7. Justified the lines

Punctuation Paintball

2008-02-26T05:41:00.000-08:00

Since we're going to be starting our review of punctuation, I thought I'd look for some not as boring as the grammar book alternatives for you.

Like to shoot aliens with paintballs?

Two Sides of Room 505

2008-02-26T04:33:00.000-08:00

Here is the sample Compare & Contrast essay we read in class. Yes it was written by me, seven years ago!

Upon walking into Room 505 Lambein, one notices two completely different worlds. Personality leaps out of the walls and invites investigation of the details.

The side of the room closer to the window is quiet and organized. Pastels dominate the décor. Neatly made is the bed with its pastel purple and green comforter. Winnie the Pooh snuggles with another teddy bear next to a purple pillow. Two shelves a above the bed are covered with blue and purple contact paper. Atop the shelves sit framed photographs, a potted plant, a white clip-on desk lamp, card received from family and friends, and two white ceramic mugs portraying fluffy kittens. A wreath of roses and ivy tied with white ribbon is suspended from the ceiling next to the shelves. Likewise the desk is neatly organized. Her printer, laptop, small gray stereo, and accessory cup are accompanied by a small pot of violets. Directly above the desk are a dozen petite pictures of dancers in pink tutus. They surround an Anne Geddes poster of adorable angels flitting about on a moss covered tree branch. Tied with white ribbon, a small picture collage hangs over the bed next to more photos of friends. Garfield comics, photos, and a calendar cover the sliding closet doors. A keyboard lies propped up next to the closet and a lavender trash barrel is placed at the foot of the bed. Fringed and purple, a small carpet covers the floor directly next to the bed. Decorating the window are dried roses and babies’ breath. Smiling, shining, sun-lights hang over the window, making the room sunny and inviting.

Chaos and randomness describe the side of the room closer to the door. This bed is also neatly made. A green, yellow, pink and blue plaid pillow somehow matches the green, hot pink, dark purple and rainbow crocheted afghan on the bed. Shoved between the bed and the wall is a black bass guitar case and a short guitar stool. The shelves on the wall are plain and brown. Numerous CDs, hot chocolate mix, a black and red mug, framed photos, books and Star Wars action figures reside on these shelves. Her desk is covered with piles of random papers, book, index cards, CDs, an Arabic newspaper, a black stereo, a laptop and a black desk lamp. Shiny, silver garland encircles the legs of the desk chair. Covering the wall are poster-sized photo collages, ads for movies such as Wayne’s World and Indiana Jones, a cluttered message board, a few Monet prints, poetry, a Haitian oil painting and poetry in a myriad of languages and scripts. Orange streamers hang from the ceiling over the shelves and doors. Multiple pairs of colorful shoes peek out from under the bed next to a bright blue couch. Sunlight comes in and bounces off three small disco balls hanging from the shelves. In between her desk and the other girl’s desk is her squat white fridge which serves as a platform for a giant black Crate bass amplifier.

You may not guess that both girls actually have a lot of in common. They are both studious and like to go to sleep early. Waking up at 6:00am allows both girls to have ample time to get ready, eat breakfast and pray before morning classes. Dancing, music, and theater arts are activities they both equally enjoy. Despite these similarities, the room seems to shout out their differences to anyone who enters. Walking into room 505 Lambien and listening to what the walls have to say will surely help one to see the differences between the two girls who sleep in this room at night.

Answer the following questions about the two rooms.

1. Does the author use the ABAB pattern or the AABB pattern of comparison?

2. Write at least 10 adjectives that describe each side of the room.

3. Summarize the essay in two sentences.

4. What are some things the two girls have in common?

5. Which side of the room is more like yours? Why?

6. Which side do you think was Mrs. Michelle’s and why?

7. Brainstorm five ideas that you could use for your compare and contrast essay.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

8. Choose one and decide whether the ABAB pattern or the AABB pattern is better for the topic. Write a simple outline here.

Speech Evaluation Rubric

2008-02-22T23:49:00.001-08:00

If you want to know how your speech will be evaluated, check out this link

Oral Expression Rubric

Evaluation of Demo Speech Outline

2008-02-22T23:45:00.000-08:00

This is the rubric which will be used to evaluate the demonstration speech outline

Demonstration Speech Outline

Student Name: _________________

General Purpose (1) ____
Specific Purpose (1) ____
Central Idea (1) ____
Catchy and Clear Introduction (4) ____
Adequate details in Body (10) ____
Clear Conclusion (3) ____

Total (20) ____

Speech Topic Ideas

2008-02-22T21:29:00.000-08:00

Still stuck trying to think of a topic for your demo speech? Try these links for ideas

50+ Ideas for Speeches

25+ Demonstration Ideas

Best Speech Topics

Anyone want to show how to unclog a toilet? Yes, I have seen a demonstration of this by someone dressed as the superhero "Plunger Man." It can be done!

Demonstration Speech Outline

2008-02-22T21:26:00.000-08:00

Find the sample demonstration speech outline here

Make sure that you

Do not memorize your speech
Write your outline in points, not paragraphs
Include the general and specific purposes and central idea
Make a clear introduction and conclusion in 2-5 sentences each
Split up the body of your speech into 3-4 sections
Dress appropriately for your topic
DO NOT PLAGIARIZE YOUR SPEECH OUTLINE

Demonstration Speech

2008-02-22T03:20:00.000-08:00

Don't forget Grade 8:

Rough Draft of Speech Outline due tomorrow (saturday Feb 23rd)
Final Speech Outline due Monday Feb 25th along with Speech Presentation
You must use at least one prop for your demonstration
Time limit is five minutes
Practice at home so you can avoid fidgeting, fillers, talking too fast, etc

Tao Review Questions

2008-02-22T03:19:00.000-08:00

1. Where is Tao located?

2. Why do people have high expectations of restaurants in that city?

3. Why do you think “people watching” is like a sport there?

4. What theme did the author and her husband go for during dinner?

5. Pick out at least ten description words that the author uses while describing her food.

6. Does she make you want to eat there? Why or why not?

Find the Tao Review on Restaurant Review World

Postrio Questions

2008-02-22T03:17:00.000-08:00

Questions to go with the Postrio Review

1. Who is Wolfgang Puck?

2. Is the author’s family familiar with fine food?

3. What was the problem with the menu?

4. Why didn’t the family want ox-tail with their steaks?

5. Would you want to eat there? Why or why not?

6. Can you think of any restaurants that are overpriced or overrated, in your opinion? Write their names and why you think so.

7. What does exorbitant mean?

8. Would the author have tried the shrimp sausage if her husband hadn’t ordered it?

9. What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Enoteca San Marco RC Questions

2008-02-22T03:14:00.000-08:00

Reading Comprehension questions for Enoteca San Marco restaurant review

1. Who enjoyed the meal more, the author or her husband?

2. What were some of the disappointments of the meal?

3. Would you like to eat a meal consisting of several small plates of food? Why or why not?

4. Why did they order the pasta?

5. How was the pasta?

6. Does the author want to go to Mario’s other restaurants? Why or why not?

7. Would you want to eat at Enoteca San Marco? Why or why not?

8. List five of your favorite appetizers.

Describing Food - Adjectives

2008-02-21T20:11:00.000-08:00

Describing food is a great way to practice using adjectives. In class we reviewed what adjectives are and did a few grammar exercises. Then we went over a long list of food description words from

http://www.world-food-and-wine.com/describing-food.html

I made this word list into a four page packet.

After discussing the meaning and pronunciation of the words, each student wrote 10 sentences using words that he or she had just learned from the packet. Next, each student chose 5 words and wrote a short paragraph describing the "worst meal ever." Then they did the same with 5 other words and wrote about the "best meal ever." Students shared their paragraphs in class.

How to Write a Restaurant Review

2008-02-21T20:07:00.001-08:00

Restaurant Review Writing 101

At the end of the restaurant review unit, each student should write his/her own restaurant review. It should be a restaurant that you've actually gone to. You may have loved it, hated it, or seen it has somewhere in between.

In class we went over the factors that make a good restaurant review. Students looked at the list from Epinions.com and labeled those features in the three reviews we'd read: Postrio, Enoteca San Marco and Tao.

Then each student decided on a restaurant to review and made an outine based on the 9 factors discussed. Check out the link above to get the list of factors.

Writing a Restaurant Review

2008-02-21T19:49:00.000-08:00

We've been working on writing restaurant reviews in Grade 8. Some well written restaurant reviews can be found at
Restaurant Review World

Over three class periods we read the reviews on three restaurants in Las Vegas.

Enoteca San Marco
Tao
Postrio

If you've missed any of the reading comprehension question sets for these articles you wil find the worksheets posted online. Students read the articles and answered the questions indivually. Then we discussed the questions as a whole class.

Welcome to the Blog

2008-02-21T19:40:00.000-08:00

This blog is for both the students at Scarsdale International School and for fellow English educators. Students will be able to find class materials, assignments, helpful links, and a place to have their own work published. English teachers will be able to find lesson plans and samples of student work. I currently teach Grade 8 English, Grade 6-8 Elementary ESL, and Grade 7 Speaking Skills. My academic background is in Linguistics and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (Amherst, MA, USA). I am also TEFL certified and have conducted various workshops and classes in the following areas:

Teacher Training
Creative Writing
MA TESOL at Lahore College
ESL - Advanced Pronunciation (UMass)
Phonology & Phonetics
Syntax & Semantics
Listening & Speaking
English Improvement for Teachers

Hope you enjoy the blog!