Stiff: Section 1

I have started to read this book, Stiff for my ap bio class. We had a list of books to choose from to read for the assignment. There are four different papers we are supposed to write. The first three are splitting the book into thirds to read and the last one is an overall view. This is over the first section of the book that I read.

When I went to Barnes and Noble to pick out a book, I had a couple in mind. I had to ask the ladies there to help me find some of the books and they ended up finding Stiff and Survival of the Fittest. I talked a little bit with some of the ladies there that helped me to see what one would be better to read. One of the ladies told me that Stiff was quite funny and clever. She thought it would be more interesting to read, so that’s the book I went with.

As I first started reading the book Stiff, I did not expect it to be too exciting or funny. When I started to get more into the book, it became more and more interesting. The author did a very nice job of really putting her personality and humor into the reading. When she would describe different work with cadavers it was always her observations of what others did and how they felt about it. She herself would put her own experiences in there too, but it was not all just her own feelings she shared.

Cadavers were used as practice heads for students at school. These students would practice facial reconstruction like face lifts. Cadavers are great study bodies for students to learn from before they start working with people whose lives are in their hands. Back in older times when using cadavers was not really allowed, anatomists would either use the bodies of criminals that were put to death, or they dug up the graves of those that had died. This led to a business of grave robbing. People would dig up graves at night and sell them to anatomists for a good profit.

Another thing cadavers go through is being embalmed. This is also practiced in school, usually for the poorer people who can't afford it. Some scientist would use dead bodies to see how the body decays. They would set out bodies to see exactly what parts of the body go first and what happens to the innards. These help know when a body actually dies. The book is very interesting to learn all the different ways cadavers are used. You would never know how many ways there actually are.

Ratatouille

The other day I went over to a friends house to hang out. We ended up finding this cute movie to watch on T.V. My friend had watched it and loved seeing it so I was really excited to see it too. I had already seen some of the previews so I knew what the movie was about, but once I started watching it the movie was just so easy to enjoy. It felt like one of those movies that anyone of any age would like.


As the movie started off I noticed that the graphics and animation were very good. Movies just keep getting better and better in that field. I liked how they still kept a little cartoon character feel rather than trying to make it as realistic as possible. The plot is such an easy one to follow and it is great to see the relationship between the rat, remy, and Linguini.

Remy is a rat that wants to be a French chef. He dreams of it and has studied to perfect his desire. Linguini has gotten a job at this restaurant and has no idea how to cook, but he is trying to prove himself to keep his job. In many turns of events Remy is discovered by Linguini when he tries to help him perfect a dish that has turned into a disaster. Linguini ends up saving Remy’s life when he is discovered by the head chef. You watch as their relationship grows and develops. There is still that uneasy feeling between them at first. Remy doesn’t know if Linguini will just end up killing him and Linguini doesn’t know if Remy just wants food and then he will leave him in the end. The movie portrays their feelings that they go through very well on their faces and you start to see them trust each other more and more.

To cook decadent dishes you need the right skills and the right knowledge. Linguini does not even have the slightest hint of these skills when he meets Remy. Slowly though they learn how to work together using Linguini’s body which Remy controls by pulling his hair. They train to perfect their skills so Linguini can have a successful career and Remy can fulfill his desire to cook and eat all the food he can get.

There are certain instances that test their relationship that they have built with each other and the head cook is always on the lookout to discover Linguini’s secret as to why he is cooking so well. There is an even greater turn of events that change the whole restaurant. This movie was a very cute, enjoyable movie. All ages could watch this movie and laugh along with the delightful story.

Nobody's Princess

As I picked up this book, I realized it would be set in the roman times. I started to read the book, as it began with the intro of Helen of Troy as a young girl. You start to get the point of view from the author as to how she grew up. She had very independent views and didn't want to be told what to do. She wanted to make her own life and own decisions without being checked up on. This leads her through troubles of doing what everyone else wants her to do and doing what her heart wants to do.

Her family gives thanks and believes in Gods and Goddesses. The main one her father and mother give thanks to is Aphrodite. In one of the opening passages, there is a ceremony to give thanks to her. Helen says that her mother is as pretty if not prettier than Aphrodite herself. This gets her in trouble, since no human can be prettier than a Goddess like Aphrodite.

She is born as a twin and since she came out of her mother's womb first she is the heir to the throne. She grows up in a life of luxury while her sister, Clytemnestra, despises everything that is given to Helen. She grows up the center of attention and is watched carefully by all, while her sister loathes Helens beauty and future that gets her all the attention and importance. Soon though, Clytemnestra is set up with her own arranged marriage to another kingdom. This brings her to the limelight and all the focus is set on her, and getting her prepared for the life of a Queen in another kingdom.

As Helen grows up, she has a mind of her own. This ends up taking her to do what she wants instead of doing what a girl who is the heir to the throne should do. Since everyone starts to focus on Clytemnestra and her soon to be marriage, it becomes easier for Helen to focus on her wants. She ends up sneaking out and training with her two older brothers, Castor and Polydueces, in fighting. Their training master, Glaucus, challenges Helen several different times. She still pulls through and meets those challenges so she can continue learning how to fight.

Soon Clytemnestra is on her way to the other kingdom and Castor, Polydueces, and Helen go along. Helen convinces her father that Clytemnestra needs someone to be there for her to make the transition in the unknown land. Castor and Polydueces are there for protection also. This arranged marriage is supposed to keep peace between the kingdoms. Soon after arriving though the King tries to get another one of his sons married off to Helen herself. She is afraid of offending him and starting a war, but soon there is trouble in their mothers original homeland that they use as an excuse to get away.

There is a wild boar in their mother's homeland that is destroying land and animals. There is a hunt being organized to try and kill it. Here Helen meets Atalanta. She can't believe she finds a girl who is all she wants to be, and has all the freedom she longs for. Soon she sneaks out to watch Atalanta ride her horse and train, but she is a good warrior and discovers Helens hiding spot in the trees. Helen gets rough training in riding from Atalanta, but it consumes her life. On the wild boar hunt she sneaks in and finds Atalanta. There she helps her spear the boar using her crafty thinking, but it is Helens relative that ends up killing it, therefore getting credit for it. This aggravates Helen, because she knows Atalanta weakened the boar enough, but she didn't finish him off in time.

As Helen struggles with wanting a warriors lifestyle and independence, she tries to cope with the fact that things don't always appear to be the way they are told. She soon plays her brothers and kingdom to go off on a voyage where maybe she can have that adventure to herself, but from a boys point of view, rather than the princess of Sparta.