The Glass Castle

Inquiry Question: How do the parenting styles of Jeannette's parents affect Jeannette and her siblings?

      The Glass Castle is a memoir. It's about Jeannette Walls, a girl who grew up in the Mojave Desert and West Virginia with parents who loved her, but weren't very protective of her. Her father was an alcoholic, and her mother had never really wanted a husband or kids and was disinclined to take responsibility for them. Their approach to parenting was unconventional and sometimes put Jeannette and her siblings in real danger, but they really did love their children.
     Jeannette's parents put them in danger more than once. Jeannette's first memory is of being three years old, trying to cook her own hot dogs, and suffering severe burns. She spent six weeks in the hospital (not nearly long enough) before her father, who disliked hospitals, sneaked her out "Rex Walls-style." Often, the kids didn't have enough to eat. Jeannette would eat out of trash cans at school because she didn't have enough money to buy lunch. Jeannette's parents made their kids' upbringings unstable.
     Even with their unstable parenting methods, Jeannette's parents did love their children. When he was sober, Jeannette's father was charismatic and sweet and taught his kids about astronomy and geometry at a young age. He kept plans with him for the "Glass Castle," a mansion he always wanted to build for his family made completely out of glass. Jeannette's mom was raised in a restrictive environment, and didn't want to put limits on herself or her children. She was occasionally a teacher, and refused to hit her students as punishment. They both really cared about the kids.
     The Glass Castle is about love. Jeannette's parents weren't perfect, and they weren't very safe, but they loved her and her siblings.

EDIT: This didn't post on time because it was scheduled for June 19th somehow?? Sorry!

Bitcoin - Nonfiction Essay

     Bitcoin has recently been gaining attention in the media. For those who don't know what it is, Bitcoin is a digital form of currency that is not controlled by any banks or governments. The article "Will You Be Paid in Bitcoin?" discusses what Bitcoin is, and whether it is a good idea or not.
     The author mainly wants the reader to know about Bitcoin and its growing popularity. The author reports the facts: Bitcoin was invented in 2009. It is popular in countries that have unstable currencies, such as Argentina. Its value changes like a stock price; right now one Bitcoin is worth about $840. In July 2010 a Bitcoin was worth about 6 cents. The author includes both sides of the Bitcoin - they note that more and more businesses are using it. They also include a quote from Robert Shiller of Yale University: "It is a bubble, there is no question about it." The author does not have an explicit bias towards Bitcoin being a good or bad thing.
     However, the author does seem to think that Bitcoin is interesting, or at least rather futuristic. The author opens the article with the question "Could a mysterious Web currency someday replace dollars?" The use of the word "mysterious" indicates that the author is unsure whether Bitcoin is a good idea or not, but that he or she thinks it's cool and worth watching.
     The author of "Will You Be Paid in Bitcoin?" seems to think that Bitcoin is a cool and futuristic idea, but doesn't know if it will last. Personally, I am not sure that Bitcoin is a good idea. I have one question about Bitcoin: Dollars, and most forms of government-issued currency, are backed by gold. What is Bitcoin backed by?

Six word memoirs

     These are from about 4th grade to now.

Nothing before age 10 actually happened.

Tried to keep low profile. Failed.

Lost all but for one person.

Up three, down three, back up...

Hours a day in Sunset Valley.

Alone until the middle of February.

New people, new friends, new life.

Can recite "Graveyard Shift" with brother.

I was Nepeta Leijon for Halloween.

I eat, breathe, and sleep musicals.