tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082361747224263002024-03-08T13:10:51.116-08:00amendment 1samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-68606908728953558732011-06-08T17:30:00.000-07:002011-06-08T17:30:28.830-07:00The main character of my book, from Where's my wand, has faced the coming of age by discovering the reality of the world around him. Along the book, the main character See's and experiences a lot of different things, that eventually completes his coming of age.<br />
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When the main character and his family meets his neighbors, he is immediately attached to them. Every now and then he stops by their home to be served with all types of delicious foods by the mother of the house, Elaine.<br />
Soon after, the main character receives news that Elaine has cancer and is in the hospital. He is stunned by the news and is sad from then on. One day he decides to visit her in the hospital and See's her lying on the bed motionless and deeply ill. A few days later his home receives the news that Eliane is dead. This hits him hard, since this is the first time in his coming of age where he experiences death and loosing a loved one, which of course is all part of coming of age.<br />
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During a vacation to Kansas with his sister and father, the main character is riding on a bus to a hotel. Along the way their bus unexpectedly hits a car. At first it doesn't look serous but the main character, while resting, learns that the bus he was on hit a car and killed to people inside it. This completely catches the main character of guard and he is stunned for a long while. This also is a part of coming of age, experiencing unexpected events that randomly happe<br />
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When the main character catches his friend with a BB gun he is later disgusted to find out that his friend Andy is actually shooting innocent creatures. He even runs to the yard and picks up a dead bunny, which he later on buries. The main character feels angry towards Andy and once even mentions the fact that he wants to grab the rifle and whack it over Andy's head until bleeds. This is also a part of coming of age, thinking differently about your friends and the actions they commit<br />
Coming of age for my character happened through experiences like death and loosing a loved one, facing unexpected horrific events,as well as seeing a different side to your close friends.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-59266699243272475462011-05-24T19:00:00.000-07:002011-05-24T19:00:20.343-07:00The Main character of my book, Where's My Wand? Is going through a time of change, that many are familiar to, puberty. Puberty, Isn't just getting taller or becoming more pretty, its also about growing up and seeing the illuminated world around you. There's beauty and hard experiences through out growing up and thats exactly what Where's My Wand teaches.<br />
The main character goes through a lot of problems in school but you already know one of them is bullying. Tim, a bully, is constantly picking on the main character, physically and mentally. Throughout the book Tim calls the main character names like, "One ear", " pee stain" and many others. Along with that, Tim one day pantses the main character and throws him off a bridge, into a creek. There's one of the problems with meeting the real world, all the cruel people that are gonna hurt you.<br />
As a young male child, girls weren't always your favorite creatures, it was those dreadful cooties that everyone was afraid of. By the time you reached thirteen, something changed about the girls and all of a sudden you started to notice the Beauty that inherits Women. Its as if you're walking through a garden and every flower is so different and beautiful from the other, in its very own way. A similar thing happens to the main character of my book. One day he comes to class and spots a new girl, Stacy. He then starts to describe her and her beauty, " Stacy was lanky, Blonde and beautiful, with a smattering of sun-kissed freckles across her nose." This i one of the beautiful parts of growing up, acknowledging pure Beauty. <br />
Every bodies parents fight at least once, when your grown up, you realize the true reality of these fights, you can feel depressed or guilty. For the main character of Where's My Wand, he definitely feels depressed. When his parents are arguing and yelling at each other, he closes his door and goes to bed. This is just one of the several examples of what it means to grow up, its to feel pain.<br />
Through out puberty and growing up, humans can have many different experiences. Some fun, some painful, some...just amazing. What ever happens, try to take it as it is because believe me when I say, Its going to happen.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-67289764471061818352011-04-25T21:23:00.000-07:002011-04-26T20:25:59.530-07:00A book I have recently read is " A little History of the world" by Gombrich E.H. I appreciate this book mainly because it portrays every nation as if it was a human with its own problems and psychology. The author, when mentioning historical events never mentions his opinion upon the event and simple shares information. Also When reading the book, the author keeps his writing on a personal level, which makes it comfortable for the reader.<br />
When talking about World War,the author mentions how each nation is in an economical race against another, like France, Germany, Italy, etc. Feeling threatened, each country rushes to build powerful armies and navies, just to say " Attack me if you dare" , Similar things happen to humans. When in competition, humans rush to build strength and status, just to show each other who's boss and to prevent the other humans success. This situation almost always leads to war, which is mainly why World War 1 happened. This example does prove that in many ways, a nation is almost alike to its people.<br />
"A little history of the world" mentions the year 70 AD, when Titus, the future ruler of the Roman empire conquers and destroys Jerusalem. Along with that the Romans destroy Jerusalem's temples, burn down homes, murder civilians and exile the Jews from Israel. Even though it was a truly evil act, the author never mentions his opinion. Instead he simple tells what happens to the exiled Jews-"They huddled together in prayer schools, after being scorned and exiled, still keeping there ancient traditions and religion." In the first place, not including an opinion might have saved the author from a serous argument.<br />
At times reading about history maybe boring to some but when kept on a personal level, it could entertain most people. In "A little history of the world" the author, when mentioning an important fact in history, always adds a little question for the reader, like when talking about caveman the author asks " Do You know what else these caveman invented? Can you guess?". Another example would be, when the author is talking about the fires that happened in the Roman empire, he then asks " While the fires were burning down homes, What do you think Nero(Roman emperor did?" Keeping your writing at a personal level does indeed keep the reader interested in your book, as well as increases the book's popularity.<br />
Talking about different nations as if they were humans helped me understand the picture of politics, leaving opinion out of historic events left me to understand whether a certain action was bad or not and keeping writing on a personal level helped me engage in reading. These reasons are why I praise " A little history of the world.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-14157003118435586822011-03-09T17:02:00.000-08:002011-03-30T16:29:51.415-07:00 A book that I have recently read is called A Little History Of The World. I enjoyed this book greatly, mainly because you feel like the author is your Grandpa, telling you a story about when he was young. Throughout the book the author includes important human time periods in every chapter, things from biblical times to World War 2. He also includes important figures in different time periods. The biggest reason why I appreciate this book so much, is the fact that the author always gives the real history and also pitches in his opinion and link to modern time. This book can actually help America win the Afghanistan war, since it teaches about numerous Muslim tribes and their culture, which can help Americans win Afghan civilian influence. the author also presents different nations as if they were people. The way the book is written is also very nuetral, right or wrong is barely mentioned, only facts.<br />
The author includes a lot of human cycology throughout the book, for example when he mentions World war 1, he includes all the super powers like U.K., U.S., Germany, Austria, etc. The author mentions that some of the nations attacked each other because they feared that others would get too powerful. This is a human emotion called fear.<br />
In the book, there is a chapter where Caesar gets murdered by his own friends, there is still a modern connection. The same things happen today in governments around the world. In Cuba Fidel Castro betrayed killed Che Guevara. Even in the mafia friends kill each other because of fear, jealous, etc.<br />
Another thing I favor about this book is its neutral style of writing and sharing information. For example, when the author writes about the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, he never mentions who actually deserves Jerusalem, who is wrong or who is right. This is definitely one of the pros in this book, mainly because anybody, from every religion, culture or country will not be offended by what the author writes.<br />
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samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-29018385079736826862011-02-16T16:50:00.000-08:002011-02-16T16:50:42.145-08:00 Looking back at my classmates blogs, you can see that many of them have gone through hard periods in their lives, maybe a drastic change or death. Things like 9/11 were mentioned, deaths of relatives, etc.<br />
To even share and mention things like death, I find extremely brave and I give full credit and appreciation of those who stood up, talked and told.<br />
The way they expressed their feelings was original and unique. They included rhymes, metaphors and true symbolism. This not only drew the reader to the poem but it also allowed the reader to truly connect and feel what the reader was feeling. In way you basically experienced the same things, just on a different level.<br />
Sonnets were also quite amazing, at some points I couldn't tell whether it was Shakespeare or a fellow classmate who was writing.<br />
samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-20271319237673428222011-01-26T15:39:00.000-08:002011-01-26T15:39:00.170-08:00 The Waltz is a confusing poem. The moment I read over it couldn't understand the father, was he an angry drunk or just...drunk? We even debated about it in class, child abuse or just a good time? man... I don't know ask somebody else.<br />
Well the kid did mention feeling a belt buckle, so maybe his dad is beating him. The kid also did mention the negative smell of whiskey coming from the fathers mouth, "it could make a young boy dizzy"<br />
Then again the Waltz is a fun dance, its also good music, that explains why the young boy still clings on to the father's shirt, it also implies that the boy is enjoying himself and the time he is spending with his father.<br />
So whether or not this is child abuse... please don't ask me, cause once again I don't have a damn clue, come to think about it I don't even know if there's a message to this poem, but oh well who knows.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-50074208609651111192011-01-24T14:47:00.000-08:002011-01-24T14:47:00.729-08:00show your teethThe Dopeman is standing at the corner, making society out of order, got his crack from over the border, but the cops just slack and dont attack, somebody better put a gat into his back.<br />
The gangbanger is playing his track, about pump led from his mack, his caps will hit and then he will spit on the bodies, just like John Gotti. Hostile as hell but kills very well, yet he doesnt dwell but he always will tell, his gory story. Thousand of kids die in L.A., everday, some never living past the age of twenty, man there are plenty. <br />
Yet kids in town want to clown, why would you put yourself down? by not showing your teeth you already got beef. Stay with yourself, dont immitate, it will change your fate, don't rate others and take care of your brothers and mothers.<br />
<br />
<br />
.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-38146689616488196572011-01-18T16:08:00.000-08:002011-01-18T16:08:16.780-08:00My cat got no love,<br />
its like a glove that keeps smacking your face<br />
and its not because of your race.<br />
<br />
I realized my cat cat got no love<br />
because his eyes are cold but<br />
very bold, which means,<br />
he wants a challenge.<br />
<br />
It scares me the way he glares,<br />
from high above the stairs,<br />
he stopped purring but he snares,<br />
for all he cares I'm just a walking<br />
salmon, to eat for fun,<br />
I can't imagine what he would<br />
do if he found my gun,<br />
yes I would most definitely run,<br />
its definitely the truth that my cat got no youth.<br />
My cat got no love.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-50747303592416250592011-01-13T16:34:00.000-08:002011-01-13T16:34:32.769-08:00Oh royal cat, why must your glance be so flat?<br />
Do I look like a tasty rat?<br />
Am I possibly fat?<br />
<br />
Oh royal cat,<br />
Why are you so Judgmental?,<br />
Why do you always talk mental?<br />
Do you want to use my mind as a rental?<br />
<br />
Oh royal cat,<br />
you look just amazing,<br />
but your eyes are glazing.<br />
<br />
Oh royal cat,<br />
I am no match for you and your mind,<br />
it is something I will never find.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-4561343871882459442011-01-13T16:27:00.000-08:002011-01-13T16:27:11.548-08:00At first I couldn't find a single link between a young girl going through puberty and Russia. 1921 was of course the time of the Russian revolution, there was drought and starvation, people were dying left and right in the millions.Meanwhile this girl is going through puberty but she cant grow, That's where it suddenly hit me.<br />
The possible message the author was trying to convey was that, leaving a girl without food and water is the same thing as not giving a girl attention and caring about her, either way she will not grow into a beautiful mature woman, Its a lesson that some people have to acknowledge, its something that all girls need.<br />
This Poem is very symbolic as well. The young girl represents Russian itself. Neither Russia or the girl are advancing in a positive direction, Russia has a drought, the young girl can't drink, Russia has no food, the young woman is starving. But both Russian and the young girl have a potential to bring wonders to the world.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-41397063940898145982010-12-12T18:36:00.000-08:002010-12-12T18:36:26.042-08:00I was scanning the New York times when I stumbled upon an article titled " Where did god go in Afghanistan?" In the article, Atheists and Religious soldiers debate whether it is possible for a person to not to prey to god, also they debate about whether it is necessary to prey to god. There has always been an argument between atheists and Religious people, mainly about if god is real? and if science can actually prove the existence of the world.<br />
Atheists always argued that if God does exist why do so many people die even when they prey to him, in war, strangely enough that doesn't always matter, what does matter is what you are when entering the war . War makes you feel... small, vulnerable, the only way people can actually feel slightly secure is to prey to god. Though, if you come into the war as a believer and see the hell going on around, you will eventually question " How could god let such things happen?" later on you could come out as an atheist. Of course this isn't the only place where the two sides collide, this also happens in public places, like school. Atheists have also questioned " Why when you ask god for something he doesn't give it to you immediately? Well imagine such a world with free will and free power? Okay ill make it simpler Free will+ Free power= Anarchy.<br />
Now even though there will always be debates and fights on both sides, I just wanted to remind people that even though we all are different... doesn't mean we can disrespect each other's perspectives.<br />
<br />
samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-35893342549794270402010-11-17T18:41:00.000-08:002010-11-17T18:41:51.146-08:00why not?As everybody knows, Leonard Cohen and I say, horrible, unspeakable and ugly things happen during war. Many turn to god, some don't and many cant understand how somebody couldn't, during war time... Well I'm here to express my theory.<br />
Whether you believe or don't believe in god during war time, sometimes it depends on who you started out as before. For example you might be an atheist and end up as a believer, vi ca- versa. Why? because for believers when you see yours friends die, when you see guts lying around, it all makes you question how god could let things like this happen? how? why?. For non-believers its the other way around, when they come and experience war, they realize how small and vulnerable they are. Who can they look up to? who can protect them if not themselves? It all points to god, it gives them hope that they are now being protected by a guardian angel, from above.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-5400790184236460012010-11-17T18:20:00.000-08:002010-11-17T18:20:33.197-08:00No peace in the middle eastMany people around the world believe and have faith that there will be peace in the Israeli-Arab conflict, personally... I'm not sure that will happen.<br />
To prove my theory, there are historic facts like the war between Lebanon and Israel in 2000, when the UN forced Israel to move back from Lebanon, shortly after Hezbollah soldiers attacked and in 2006, Israel was forced to go back and fight another war. There are also historical events like the six day war, in which Syria, Egypt, Palestine, etc attacked Israel. Also later, in the 1970's, Egypt counter-attacked, trying to wipe out the Israelis.<br />
In general Israel is opened to any immigrants from any Arab country but yet still, bombs and gunfights are still going. Peace negotiations aren't going to help anyway because each sides claims that Israel belongs to them, only one is right. I hope one day both sides make an agreement but for now the only thing that's gonna be popping for possibly the next several decades, is the the same thing that has been going on for thousands of years, in Israel, war,war,war.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-9539802864922719802010-11-08T18:25:00.000-08:002010-11-08T18:25:36.053-08:00 MS51 is a generally nice school, with nice people.... well... that depends on who you are.<br />
For some reason Ive noticed a heavy concentration of negative energy among my classmates and peers. Mean things have been said, sometimes for really no reason, except maybe to provoke or to bring attention to an individual. Well to understand where this all came from I thought about the usual nature of how people turn nasty, eventually I hit a conclusion. Usually all this happens depending on how a person is treated in school or even at home. For example peers of a person might jokingly say something rude to his/her friend, now even though its a joke the person might take seriously, this might break down his/her self-confidence and it could possibly send them into tears, I don't know about you but Ive seen it happen. This of course causes a negative response, which spreads like Mel Gibson's stereo types.<br />
People still have to keep all these negative things in their minds and obviously few have conquered this technique. Oh yeah and I really try not to hurt any ones feelings but If I ever I have... I'm sorry... I'm sorry....my apologizes.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-26504644800262365922010-10-26T17:29:00.000-07:002010-10-26T17:32:47.738-07:00Mother to son Mother to son was a poem I enjoyed because it didn't have any simple literature, there for it forced you to think deeply about the message of this poem. My theories were that the mother was describing her life to the son. " Life for me ain't been no crystal stair", this probably means that the mothers life was no beautiful nor a easy stairway to higher success. this theory is also supported by the sentences " it had tacks in it, and boards torn up and places with no carpet on the floor-bare." These are rugid things.<br />
Yet the mother is also telling her son in my theory not to give up. " Don't you set down those stairs, don't you fall now." The mother also tells the son its gonna be harder in the end, if he does give up.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-12351129396543387752010-10-21T19:45:00.000-07:002010-10-21T19:45:24.335-07:00 Freak the Mighty was one of my most appriecated childhood books for several reasons. Freak the Mighty consists of many different lesson and morales, that are taught throughout the book. I found out about the book when my 5th grade teacher read it to us outloud. It definitley caught my attention for another reason, its ending. The ending is part of why the book is so amazing, its why Freak the Mighty isnt just another clishay.<br />
One of the lessons that appear in Freak the mighty, explains the importance of both physical strength and mental strength but the book also implies that when both strengths are combined a human is capable of doing almost anything. For example when Freak and Max are being chased by a gang, Freak uses is mental capabilietes to think of a way to escape. He comes up with a solution to jump in the pond where there is mud. Max then runs to the pond and jumps in, the gang follows until their leader almost gets sucked in the mud. In the end both Max and Freak escape.<br />
Recently I had researched a movie based on Freak the Mighty called the Mighty. I did this mainly to see what the characters of the book looked like through the eyes of the directer. When I saw Max his description from the book fit him accuratley, yet in the movie he looked much more vulgar and tough. Even so this tought me a lesson, dont judge a person by their image. Most people who have seen Max in the movie would immeaditly identify him as a possible redneck. The truth is Max is a gentle,sensative, caring person. For example, The first time Max spots Freak in years, Max could of ignored him and gone on with is erans. Instead he walks into Freak's back yard and retreives a toy bird that Freak was trying to get down from a tree. Not only that but throughout the book Max carries Freak on his shoulders as well as bears with Freak through hard times.<br />
Most of the childhood books I have ever read in in my life time, have always contianed happy endings. Now of course this isnt a bad thing, cause who doesnt like happy endings? Sometimes you also need happy endings and not heavy ones since it might break a young childs heart. Even so happy endings can get boring at times and thats what made Freak the mighty such an original book, its ending. In the end of Freak the Mighty, when Max is being held hostage by his father, Freak brakes a window to the basement of the house and sprays finger juice into Max's father eye's. This gives Max enough time to escape. Even after this happy event, Freak shortly after dies. This puts Max under a seige of grief. This ending is so very perfect, because it has an even balance of a happy and sad ending. This is one of the reasons I appreciated Freak the Mighty so much.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-84355043985194924002010-10-13T18:20:00.000-07:002010-10-13T18:22:54.987-07:00 One of the things that I researched that had connections with Freak The mighty, was the film, The mighty based on the book.<br />
I had already visualized the characters of Freak the Mighty through my imagination but now I was curious of seeing the characters through the directers eye's. I later discovered that Max fit his description from the book quete accuratley but yet Max looked slightly more rough and vulgar. Even so this taught me a lesson, that many people become aquanted with everyday... Never judge a book by its cover.<br />
Most people who would see Max in the film, would imeaditly identify him as a human who could hurt and possibly even kill someone. You see... The truth is Max is big but an extremely gentle and sensative creature, even if its hard to believe. For example, for the first time in several years Max sees Freak in the yard, trying to retreive a toy bird. Max could of just ignored Freak and gone on with his erans but he made a choice to get Freak's bird down from the tree. All through the book Max lets Freak ride on his shoulders, due to Freak's physical problems, as well as back him up in his critical situations. <br />
Who knows, maybe the directer of The Mighty tried to imply the same message.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-90937592594437394062010-10-06T18:03:00.000-07:002010-10-06T18:03:57.754-07:00You need both One of the many special things about Freak The Mighty, are the several morales and symbols that this book contians. Like its lessons about physical and mental strength.<br />
One of those many lessons explain that both physical strength and mental strength are important but when combined, people can accomplish and succeed at almost anything. For example, when Freak and Max are being chased by a gang of redneck thugs, Freak gets an idea to run into the nearby pond, so Max runs into the pond and the gang of rednecks follow until their leader almost downs and they have to pull him out. The symbole that represents this lesson is the picture where Freak is sitting on Max's shoulders and even though max is tall already he is taller with Freak on his shoulders and even though Freak is small, on Max's shoulders he is high up.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-608236174722426300.post-76730627344851171382010-09-28T17:33:00.000-07:002010-09-28T17:33:03.377-07:00 I think that charlotte is a true guardian of Wilbur because she protects him from threats and other animals that wan to harm him in any way they can. She is also a guardian because she educates him and credits him if he tries something and doesn't succeed.<br />
When the lamb over hears Wilbur talking about how his recent meals were wonderful, the sheep tells him that its because Mr Zuckerman is fattening him to later on eat him. This sends Wilbur in to panic and tears. Charlotte who feels pity for Wilbur yells at the sheep to silence him and tries to comfort Wilbur by telling him its not true. Not only that, but she promises to make a plan to save him. This is an example of how Charlotte protects Wilbur from threats and other animals.<br />
When Wilbur, for fun, attempts several times to make a spider web but fails, Charlotte, to try to make Wilbur feel better, explains to him that he lacks spinnerets, which is a substance that only spiders have to help them make webs. This is one example of how Charlotte credits Wilbur at something he tried to do, even when he didn't succeed.<br />
Charlotte would always tell Wilbur the reasonings of her actions and how she does things. For example when Wilbur sees her trap a bug, Wilbur asks her why she does that? Charlotte explians to him that, she traps bugs for their blood, so she can live. She also explains to Wilbur that before she kills the bugs, she injects poison within them so they wont feel any pain. Charlotte points out the parts of a spiders body too, for example, the Coxa, Trochanter, Felmur, Patella, Tibia, Metatarsus and the Tarsus. This not only amuses Wilbur but educates him as well.<br />
In my opinion, Charlotte is a perfect guardian simply because she does everything a guardian needs to do, educate, Protect and credit to build up someones confidence.samuel kaganskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08624284119974587996noreply@blogger.com3