Reading log

Reading log #6

Title: Los Angeles Lakers reportedly to retire both No.8 and 24 for Kobe Bryant

Text type: Article

Author: Marissa Payne

This article is about Los Angeles Lakers retiring Both Number 8 and 24 for Kobe Bryant. I picked this article because Kobe bryant was my favourite NBA player and I am happy for him because Los Angeles lakers is retiring both of his number throughout his career.

Kobe Bryant wore jersey number 8 in his first 10 years of his career and number 24 for the last 10 year of his career. Lakers retiring both numbers really surprised me. No NBA player has two number retired in his name and Kobe Bryant will be the first one. For me this is good because there is no need to debate for which number Bryant will retire. Bryant, who played with the lakers for his entire 20-year career starting in 1996, had several illustrious seasons wearing both numbers. Personally, If I had to pick which number he should retire, it would be the number 24. This is because when I started watching NBA, it was the number he was known for and it is the number he retired as. He did win three championship wearing the jersey number 8 but he also won 2 championship wearing number 24. And isn’t it disrespectful to just retire 8 because it gives the idea that the 2nd half of his career wasn’t so great so they’ll just retire number 28.

Reading logs

Reading log #5

Title: Roots

Artist: Imagine dragons

Text type: Song

I really like this song. I know lots of people can relate to this song. The lyrics has great meaning behind them. This single was released on the 27th of August 2015. As we see in the title, this song is about our roots.

Don’t throw stones at me

I believe this means “Don’t make judgement or assumptions about me”

Don’t tell anybody

Don’t spread around rumors about me is what I think the artist is telling us in this line.

Trouble finds me

It’s not always my fault and I seem to be a magnet of troubles, bad things and bad luck.

Those are the first three lines of the song. I think they’re really relatable. I can personally relate. Some people just makes judgment or assumptions of other people without really knowing them and spread around rumors which most of the time aren’t accurate. And the line Trouble finds me is really relatable especially to teenagers like myself. Even in school, some people are just doing bad things in purpose but I believe there are also kids who are good kids but trouble just seems to find them.

Rock bottom, rock bottom, rock bottom,

I’m going back to my roots

This lyrics is amazing. The artist tells us that when we’re depressed or feel like we’ve hit ‘rock bottom’, we always have our ‘roots’, which is our family to turn back to. This song teaches us that our families will always be there for us. That’s what family is for. And that when someone in our family is depressed or feel like they’ve hit ‘rock bottom’, we should be there for them. That we should help them get back up like how they are supposed to do when we hit ‘rock bottom’.

Reading logs

Reading log #4

Title: The Hunger Games

Text type: Novel

Author: Suzanne Collins

In a dystopian future, the totalitarian nation of Panem is divided into 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, brutal retribution for a past rebellion, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem. The 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors while the citizens of Panem are required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss' young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives.

An important idea I saw while reading the book was her love for her sister Prim. Just after Prim has been selected as a tribute, Katniss said “I volunteer”, “I volunteer as a tribute”. This event is I believe the most notable event that happened in the book. If she did not volunteer, Prim would most likely die in the games. Katniss volunteering for her sister made me feel relieved that her sister does not have to go through suffering or violence. Katniss has years of experience hunting which might not be like the training tributes from the other districts went through but it’s a lot better than letting her 12 year old sister be the tribute. If I was on her situation, I would’ve done the same. I guess it’s just natural for everyone to love their siblings this much that they’re willing to sacrifice themselves for them.

Another idea seen in the book is friendship. I believe that the most important friendship seen in the book is Katniss and Gale’s friendship. Gale is the one who can relate to Katniss the most. Like the difficult circumstances of providing food for their family. Gale has always been there for Katniss and supported her through the struggle to survive living in extreme poverty. I think it’s important to have a friend like Gale. A friend who can relate to you. A friend who goes through similar if not the same circumstances that you go through. A friend that will always be there to support you.