The Strike is Over, Charlie Brown

 

Chicago Public Schools had a teacher's strike. I thought the strike was good because I had no school for two weeks. Instead of going to school, I visited my teachers on the picket line. I loved visiting my teachers and picketing. At Stock School, I revisited old memories by playing on the playground.

I watched tv, when I was not visiting the teachers, and my mom read me books about labor unions, and I worked on the computer. I felt so relaxed!

I guess the teachers got some of the things they were fighting for, because we went back to school this morning. I was not happy because it was quiet and peaceful at my house and loud and crowded at school. I told my mom I wanted to go on strike. When do I get what I want from school? I want a quieter less crowded classroom and a quieter lunchroom with kids with better manners, less hotness in the classrooms. My mom says kids can't go on strike.

The other bad thing is that we have to make the days we missed up at the end of the school year. We won't go on vacation until almost July! I think that's not fair, because it's not the kids fault there was a strike. It will be so hot in the school by then!

I feel like Charlie Brown does when Lucy pulls the football away.

(I wrote this yesterday, but we had technical difficulties posting it until now.)

The Day I Met Dav Pilkey

Last Saturday, my mom and I went to Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville for a book signing by my favorite author Dav Pilkey. It was a really long drive but it was worth it. Pilkey recently released the long awaited ninth Captain Underpants book, “Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers”

I was very excited to see him but not so excited because of the long line. We had number 71 and I guess we were kind of lucky because we met some other people who had number 197! We waited in the bookstore for an hour. It was so crowded and loud. My mom found me a corner to sit in, so I read the new Pilkey book in between two bookshelves.

Finally, they said numbers 70 through 75 could line up. Whew! We waited for some more time, and then it was my turn! I told Dav Pilkey that my name was Andy and I am in 5^th grade. I told him I was a huge fan and that I felt all us readers should “fight for truth, justice, and all that is preshrunk and cottony!”  He said I really knew my books. Then he told me he liked my shirt. (I was wearing the one that says “my daily routine: get up, BE AMAZING, go back to bed.”) He signed my book and my mom took a picture of us.

I can’t wait to grow up and be an author like Dav Pilkey! I will do book signings like he does, because he gets to sneak in the back door of the bookstore and doesn’t have to wait in line.

Strike!

I have no school these days because my teachers are on strike.  The teachers are striking because the city doesn't want to be fair to teachers and students. So while the city and the teachers are negotiating, the teachers won't work.

I think the strike is pretty revolutionary. There hasn't been a strike in Chicago since 1987. That is when my mom and dad were in school. Tghe teachers need to fight for what is right for them and the students. The front page of the paper talked about air conditioning -- I give a thumbs up to more air conditioning in school. Heat makes me feel ill and makes my brain hurt. Air conditioning is GOOD.

This morning, we visited my teachers on the picket line. They were carrying signs and marching around my old preschool. I didn't get to see Ms Marcheschi or Mrs. Grossman because they were marching down by Nick's. I wonder if they stopped for hot dogs?

I crossed the picket line to visit the playground and to move a chair and a coffee pot for a teacher. I put a silver coffee pot near a post and brought a red coffee pot to the sidewalk. My mom took a picture of me with Mr Donlin and a sign.

I like being home at 11 am because I get to watch the new kids show "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood." It is a spin off to Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, or maybe a sequel, because Fred Rogers is dead. My mom says not to get too comfortable, because we will have to make up the days we miss at the end of the year. Boo!

Toon Comix

(video game sounds)
SpongeBob: Hey, I forgot that we have to make something for the school bake sale next week.
Sonic: How about cookies? We can make some.
Mickey: But what kind?
Donald: What about chocolate chip?
SpongeBob: I've got a cookbook here. First we need and egg.
(Tails picks up an egg and drops it into the bowl)
Mickey: That's a...fine start. The next thing we need is flour.
Sonic: I'm surprised chefs never use flowers in recipes.  I'll go find some.
(Sonic races to a field full of flowers and picks some. Back at the house, Tails puts the flowers into the bowl)
Sonic: The next thing we need is vanilla extract. Isn't that Cream's mom?
Knuckles: Or vanilla ice cream. But a whole pack costs seventy dollars.
Mickey: Dad got a pack from the Kwik E Mart. Let's try it.
(Knuckles takes a scoop of ice cream places it into the bowl)
Amy: I think that's all.
Tails: Not yet, all that's left is baking soda.
(Sonic takes out a two liter bottle of Sprite and puts it in the oven)
Mickey: I don't think that's a good...(boom!) idea.
Sonic: I'm okay.
The next week.
Food Critic: Blech! These cookies are terrible!
Sonic: At least we tried.
The end.
Created by Andy Mayer.
Based on a YouTube video by MobianAngel.

Back to School

Today was my first day of 5th grade. I still have Ms Marcheschi and Ms Jerome. They're both great. It was really hot today, so I'm going to bring a water bottle tomorrow.

I ate lunch in the hall by myself because the lunch room was SO LOUD! And girls were taking over my space, crowding all over me. Even though some of the girls are my friends, they can get really annoying. They talk so much, all the time.

I have a new school hat, because my old school hat is falling apart. My mom says that the hat is "skanky," like Jack's stupid red blanket he drags around. I think Mom is kind of mean and should realize that hats and blankets have feelings too!

On Saturday, we have tickets to have the book "Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers" signed by the author Dav Pilkey! I can't wait!

To conclude, it was a good day.

LightyearPig's Reviews: Madagascar 3

"Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" Now let's look at the first animated films of 2012. Secret World of Arrietty was great. The Lorax was fine. And the Pirates Band of Misfits was okay. Now that it's DreamWorks' turn to take the big screen, will this be a circus or will they have to try again in November? Let's find out.

The Story

Do you remember the story of the last film where it mixed world wrestling with wildlife? Well, the wildlife part is still around but not the wrestling. This time, we got a heist film with a plan to get the Penguins to take them back to New York. Now that's what I call a movie.

The Animation

The animation, eh? Well, it is top-notch. First, the animation on the animals. From the design to make them look realistic to the animation to make them look cartoony looking characters. Then there's the animation on the humans. It is pretty realistic but it makes them look like the humans in Puss in Boots.

The Characters

Now let's start with Alex here. Personally, I like him in this. And Ben Stiller did a good job reprising his role. Next, the recurring characters. Marty is still pretty funny, but I think Tom McGarth put a little too much Eddie Murphy into him. Melman should deserve an mention here too. I don't have much to say about him other than David Schwimmer is back. Gloria sounds a little different in this. Did Jada Pinkett Smith celebrate her birthday before this was released? The Penguins are pretty good and the chimps are really forgetable. King Julien and the lemurs are really hilarious and Mort hasn't changd since the lase film. Now, the new characters. Vitaly has a pretty dark past consisting on how he got so grumpy. Gia is like the main love intrest in this and Miranda Cosgrove should've voiced her. Stefano is my favorite and he's so funny. Finally, there's the main villain, Captain Chantel DuBois. Voiced by Frances McDormand who is more like a Disney villain. All in all, the cast of full of great and sometimes bad.

Madagascar 3 is like the avatar of DreamWorks Animation. It's like a baking a nice story, great animation and awesome characters in a pie and it comes out a success. And for those who are fans of "How to Train your Dragon", AW SHADDUP!!!!

Story: 7/10
Animation: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Final Rating: 11/10

Today was a Bad Day

Today was a bad day, I was really cranky, everything was very noisy and today was Toss Day. But that was canned because kids in my class got out of science class with Miss Sharpiro without being dismissed. I was really upset because I always wanted to throw a water balloon at somebody at school. I lost my cool and no matter how hard I tried, Ms. Marcheschi always refused to let us do the water balloon toss.  And at the end of the day, Ms. Jerome wanted me to take home a water balloon to make me feel better, but I refused because it'll make me more upset. Mom says this is a good lesson on how things aren't always fair, but I think it's a lesson in how things STINK. And now I'm upset again. I told Mom I need to take a day off school tomorrow but she says no. And guess what? No is a parent's FAVORITE WORD.