Bless Me, Ultima Chapters 13-16

Bless Me, Ultima is starting to become very boring and tedious to read. I feel like its going no where, nothing all that new is happening and its very hard to predict what will happen in the future. Throught out these chapters nothing has changed dramaticlly, besides the death of Narciso. That was the only action in all four of these chapters. I loved this book at the begining, but she needs to go somewhere if she wants it to continue to be interesting. The only subject she ever discusses is Tony's future, and im sure im not the only reader getting sick of this topic. He's not going to choose his mothers dream nor his fathers, he is going to be a male form of Ultima. At this point in the book its hard to read on cause its annoying reading the parents continue to bicker back and forth knowing that their sons future lays in his hands not theirs. Since the only thing that happened in these chapter was Narciso's death I fell it had a deeper meaning. Narciso was very fond of Ultima and looked up to her. Nariciso protected her from the rioters and basiclly saved her life. when he died i saw it as maybe foreshadowing that danger may come to Ultima now that Narciso is not here to protect her.

Messages from beyond?

Do you believe in an energy out their in the world that allows the dead to communicate with the living? Kathy Chang had always been a sceptic about an outside force that allows things such a communication between the dead and living to happen. Her husband Lee believed in synchronicity, the "coming together of inner and outer events in a way that cannot be explained by cause and effect and that is meaningful to the observer." Kathy didn't know if she believed in what her husband did, she thought of it as more of a coincidence. Lee was open to the outside world and did all he could to connect with it including meditation. It is proven the more activity is bound to occur while in an open-minded and calm state, meditation. Kathy picked up on her husbands habits and also started mediation, not for the same reasons as him but to release stress. Once Kathy started meditation she experienced more and more unexplainable occurrences. Once Lee passed away from his struggle with cancer, weird things were happening to her friends and family all the time. She believes that this is her husbands sign to let her and his loved ones know that he is doing okay. Although she still is not a true believer, her husbands beliefs are rubbing off on her each and every day. 


Articles like this makes me think about if i really do believe in an outside force. I think i do but i am still sceptical in many areas of the concept. 


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-changlipsenthal/life-after-death-synchronicity_b_1160653.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D121806

Bless Me, Ultima Chapters 8-12

Through the first seven chapters of Bless Me, Ultima the author had my complete attention and i was submerged in the plot of the text. From chapters 8 to 12 i slowly lost interest as the plot remained the same and the essential question 'Who will Tony grow up to be?' started getting really old. By chapter 12 i have my mind set on the fact that Tony is going to grow up to become a male form of Ultima. It is very clear that Ultima already knows this, hence the fact why she brought him along with her to cure his uncle. One thing that i found very interesting within these chapters, was the situation where Tony's brothers came home, and then Leon and Gene left shortly after in order to start their new lives without their family. Andrew stayed home no one really knows why he did, but his family is extremely grateful that he did. I believe that this shows the difference between Tony's mother and fathers backgrounds. Leon and Gene take after their father and have adventure in their blood where as Andrew is scared of leaving the family, taking after his mother. Some of the questions i have after reading these chapters are what spiritual connection do Tony and Cico have that they can both witness the Golden Carp and be trusted? Also i wonder how Cico knows all that he knows, how did he know that the entire town was surrounded by water and how did he know the fate of the city? What is the difference between a bruja and a curandera? i know that Ultima isnt a witch but part of me believe that her powers are not always good. One scene that lead me to believe this is when all the men outside the house were waiting for Ultima to walk through the doorway with the holy needle cross on it to prove whether or not she was a witch. When Ultima was about to walk through her owl attacked Tenorio, blinding him. This caused a huge scene, they went to help Tenorio and the next thing they know Ultima was outside she had crossed through the door and was fine. This proved that she was not a witch, but once the men left Tony finds the needles on the floor.I believe that Ultima knocked down the needles when the owl caused a scene outside so that she could pass through the doorway. I believe that Ultima does have some evil powers but she does not want anyone to find out and she is really good at hiding it.

Bless Me, Ultima Chapters1-7

I feel like every single book we read has to do with a witch! Bless Me,Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya is a lot different than any other book i have ever read, and up to page 64 i am enjoying the book and find it very interesting. Reading about Antonio's life at home with his mother father and two sisters Deborah and Theresa was enlightening because i don't know much about the Spanish culture. The rival between Antonio's mothers family and his fathers family is starting to have a huge impact on Antonio's life, and the decisions he has to start to make as he gets older and starts school. Antonio is the youngest of six, his three oldest brothers being away at war leaves him the only son in the house, because of this his mother has big expectations and so does his father. Ultima is also beginning to have an impact on Antonio's life. He is very amused by her ways in which she can cure anything with the simplest of ingredients. I believe that in the future of this book Antonio is neither going to become a priest like his mother dreams of nor become a man of his father like his father has always hope of. I think that Antonio is going to follow in Ultimas footprints and become a wise man. So for i really like Bless Me, Ultima.

Virginia Tech Shooting: Shots Fired At Virginia Tech, At Least 2 Dead

Another shooting at Virgina Tech occurred yesterday, at least two people were killed in the shooting. Virginia Tech is considered one of the deadliest campuses in the United States after their first shooting in 2007. Even though this shooting was not as tragic as their previous shooting, the loss of a police officer and a student is still a tragic event that will hurt Virginia Tech and their hokie pride once again. The shooting occurred around noon yesterday when the police officer made a traffic stop in one of the parking lots. The shooter was supposedly involved in the traffic stop, but approached the officer and shot him in the head. Many witnessed and once the word got out the school went into lock down, warning texts and emails were sent out to all students and many officers patrolled the campus to keep any shootings to happen again. Many students agree that this shooting was handled a lot better than the massacre in 2007. Students and staff will be holding many ceremonies in memory of the lives lost yesterday, and they all claim that they will still love their school no matter what, because "they are Virginia tech".

This article and news really affected me because my cousin in a graduate from Virginia Tech. She was extremely upset when she heard the news yesterday. My cousin was there the day of the shooting in 2007, visiting the school. The following year she still attended even after knowing its violent past. She loved the way the school stuck together after the tragic incident and decided it would be a great place to be. She loved every day of her education and experience while at Virginia Tech. She is truly obsessed with her former school now and is extremely proud that she went to college there. She regularly returns the the school for football games etc. She just cant get enough.

Nation pauses to remember Pearl Harbor

70 years ago, 2,400 people lost their lives during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Pearl Harbor visitor center in Hawaii is opening at 7:40 a.m. to the public so that people can show their respects to our soldiers that gave theirs lives for us. The ceremony to honor those who died includes, "a rifle salute, wreath presentations and recognition of those who died." The National Park Service claims that their will be about 3,000 people that attend the ceremony. Exactly at 7:55 a.m. there will be a moment of silence. Why 7:55 a.m. exactly? This is the exact time the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. Many people will gather to honor this men that died that day during the attack. People take this ceremony very seriously because of the history behind this day. This Wednesday we should all participate in a moment of silence to honor those who died for us.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/07/us/pearl-harbor-70th-anniversary/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

Whats going on..

Bullying has been a problem for years and years now, but until the past couple years most of it has gone unnoticed. Victims of bulling have been coming out with their stories in hope of change. There have been kids that have appeared on talk shows, wrote about their experiences in magazines, and even posted videos on YouTube. The kid that appears in this video shows his emotions and story to his audience by flashcards. Each flashcard tells a part of the story, he started being bullied in first grade. When he posted the video, he was going into eighth grade. At this point in his life he had already cut himself multiple times and suicide was always an option to him. Videos like this can really hit home for some people, i know i did for me. hearing peoples stories like this really has an impact on me along with many others I'm sure. Bullying is an issue that we all as a whole need to work together to eliminate. Bullying has gone too far, it has a lot  peoples lives, and ended too many.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRXjqpfOnS0

Did the Grammys actually get it right?

Around this time every year, there are people complaining about the Grammys, the nominees, the winners, even the awards. Just because your favorite artist didn't win, or an artist you hate did doesn't mean you have to get all mad about it and cause a huge scene! If the artist was good they would have won, face the facts. For one of the first years in a while, people seem to not be complaining as much as they usually do. So, did the Grammys finally get it right? I'd say so, with nominees including Kanye, Adele, Rhianna, Mumford & Sons, and Lady Gaga. The Grammys seemed to have finally got it after all these years. People seem to be pleased and excited with the outcome of nominees etc. One question on my mind when reading this article, is how did the Grammys mess it up all these years? Wouldn't it be easy to just check the stats and tell who is the most popular out there in America right now? It doesn't seem very hard to me.

http://www.salon.com/2011/12/01/did_the_grammys_actually_get_it_right/

Living Well: Handy tips to keep the germs from spreading

Everyone knows that at this time of year, germs are spreading like crazy, in school, the office and at home. Some about the winter season just seems to get everyone sick at some point or another. The first week of December is officially "National Hand washing Awareness Week". People everywhere are making a big deal at the week dedicated to teaching people awareness of washing their hands, some people do not think its necessary to make a big deal out of it. Everyone should know that washing your hands is extremely important to not only your health but the health of every person you come in contact with. The thing is not all Americans know how serious not washing your hands is, and most Americans will go to the bathroom and then return to their activities without washing their hands. Because of this signs and even instructions on how to wash your hands are hung up in public bathrooms to remind people. Washing your hands is one of the best and easiest ways to prevent germs, so why wouldn't you wanna take the thirty seconds out of your life and prevent an oncoming cold. Not only washing our hands will help us in the fight against germs but cleaning any surfaces, especially ones touched by someone who you know are sick. Another way to prevent sickness from spreading is by coughing and sneezing into your elbow, and then wash your hands. It is also key not to touch your face because that is how germs enter your body through your mouth, nose, and eyes. ALL SOAPS ARE THE SAME. People have this idea that some soaps will kill more germs than another but really they all do the same thing and kill about the same amount of germs. Doctors suggest to use regular soap and water when you can and alcohol-based hand sanitizers when you do not have access to those. When washing with soap you want to wash your hands while reciting the alphabet or singing happy birthday twice, make sure to get all areas of your hand! Stay healthy!

http://www.wickedlocal.com/hanover/newsnow/x1622880470/Living-Well-Handy-tips-to-prevent-spreading-germs#axzz1fKKCa7bS

Baseline testing used as concussion awareness grows

Concussions have been around forever, but until recently most have been going unnoticed and ignored. Concussions have been considered serious, and a huge problem lately in high schools during sports seasons. There have been multiple concussions in the area already this year. Once a athlete gets a concussion, in most cases they go back to the game before they have completely healed. This leads to worst concussions. In order to stop kids from returning to the game too early, schools have been enforcing a baseline test that determines how an athletes brain works when healthy. this new system of testing has prevent kids from getting worst concussions once they have been sitting out recovering. All students that participate in a sport are required to take the test before their season starts.

I believe that the concussion baseline test should be mandatory in all schools where students are involved in sports. I took my first concussion baseline test at the beginning of my sophomore year. This cognitive test seemed like a pain in the but at the time, but when April rolled around and i obtained a concussion, it was a great tool to have when i was ready to get back into the game. If the doctors were not able to compare my final results to my baseline i may have gone back too soon, wish would have lead to more serious problems. I am thankful for Mr.Coyle who made it mandatory to take this test because it effected my life in a huge way.

Congressional war of childhood nutrition

Recently the House of Representatives passed a law that will end the enforcement of a strict nutritional and healthy menu for school lunches. This would include schools required to provide a large amount of fruit an vegetables to students, while cutting down on french fries served and any pizza that contains more that two tablespoons of tomato paste, since now a tomato is being challenged whether or not it is a vegetable. 12.5 million children in America can be medically considered obese, making it evident that nutritional laws in schools need to be enforced. The Obama administration is taking a big hit by the recently passed law since they has made it clear the putting and end to childhood obesity was a top priority for them. Even more for Michelle Obama who established the Let's Move! program to encourage kids to eat healthier, work out and get in shape.

On top of this slaw being passed, many schools are also cutting their Health and Wellness programs in result of budget cuts. For many children in America, wellness programs are the only way the will be able to learn how to take care of their body. Was that really a smart choice on the schools part? Think of how a child not knowing what fat, lack of exercise, alcohol and other drugs will have on their body. In many households it is a topic of discussion, but in many its not. There are many problems going on in the United States today that have to do with the size of children, so why are officials passing laws that are only going to make the situation worst? I find this absurd seeing as though the Obama administration cause made it obvious that it was a problem that was going to receive a lot of attention. America is basically contradicting themselves and its annoying.

ROUTE 53: Vacant properties drawing interest

If you have driven down Route 53 in Hanover within the past couple of months, which you clearly have. You have probably noticed that many of the buildings are abandoned, leaving the long stretch of Route 53 looking like a "ghost town". Town officials argue that Hanover is better than a ghost town though, and that they are thoroughly working on filling in the empty lots, to create a better feel to one of the most busiest areas in town. After to addition of Target Route 53 has become busier than ever. Some talk of small business trying to open up have been going around town hall. The old double drive through coffee shop across from JC's Dairy has the potential to become a small flower nursery. And the old carpet store is becoming a bakery and deli. Hopefully this is just the beginning to new businesses opening up on our ghost like main attraction, because I know that I am sick of driving down that long road everyday and seeing all the old abandoned buildings. Hopefully in the next couple of years if the economy starts to cooperate Route 53 will be seeing some new business.

Bradley Cooper; PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive 2011

His great looks, baby blue eyes and charming personality weren't the only reasons why Bradley Cooper was awarded PEOPLE's sexiest man alive this year. What traits do you have to have in order to qualify for the title of PEOPLE's sexiest man alive. What do Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Ryan Reynolds all have in common besides there amazing looks? One thing that sets Cooper aside from recent titled men is that he is a complete mommas boy. Coppers first reaction when we was told the good news was "My mom is going to be so proud." This has something to say about his great personality. His 36 years of being a mommas boy has rub of on his behavior towards women he claims. He is a single actor in Hollywood but promises that he's not your typical player that everyone makes him out to be. Cooper was spotted with the beautiful Beyonce a couple weeks back, he says they're only friends and he is totally single. I always love finding out who PEOPLE's sexiest man alive is, Bradley Cooper was a great pick for 2011!

The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The untold story of Nonna Bannister

Along with every other Holocaust story I've read, The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The untold story of Nonna Bannister by Nonna Bannister, with the help of Denise George and Carolyn Tomlin, absolutely blew my mind. Nonna the main character and the author of the many short diary entries in the book is a young Russian girl when she begins her experience with the Germans. As the smart girl she is she finds that keeping a diary during these troubling times of her life, basically her entire life, was a smart idea and they would in the future come in handy. Nonna lived a great life before the invasion of the Germans, she came from a wealthy family, with wealthy grandparents who were always there to provide for them and protect them whenever needed. As a young girl Nonna experiences the pain of lose when she is separated from her brother who is sent to a university, and of her father when he passes away after being beaten to death by Germans. Nonna and her mother Anna are then separated from all existing family, never to see them again. Nonna's childhood consists of long rides in box cars, cramped with dozens of other Russian prisoners, longs days of works in prison camps, near death experiences and witnessing hundreds of deaths. You can imagine the toll this takes on a child. In the end when the strong are separated from the weak, Anna and Nonna stick out from the crowd and are able to survive for that much longer. Anna was a talented singer, musician, painter and artist. Nonna was truthful and smart, and fluent in multiple languages. Eventually Anna and Nonna are separated, and Anna is killed in a prison camp after falling very ill. Nonna, living in a church with nuns as her family help her communicate with her mother until her death. Encouraged by her mothers letters Nonna attempts to make something out of her life and travels to America to begin her new life.

I have always found a huge interest in books about the Holocaust, Night by Ellie Wiesel is one of my favorites. What i enjoyed most about this book is the way it was written. Most of the book was written in small chapters, there were some small dairy entries, and some excerpts describing things that the reader may not be familiar of. I found this writing style very interesting and enjoyed reading a story about such cruel behavior in such a cool and interesting way. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone interested in books on the Holocaust, it was a mind blowing story as they always are and the truth to it and just knowing as your reading that this really happened shakes me up. Also, I read this book on a kindle! which was also very amusing it was my first time ever reading on one and i found it a lot easier than reading a real book!

FOR THE RECORD: Community Bloggers Wanted

Blogging started to pop up in the late 1990s early 2000s. When people started to realize how powerful the net was, they starting posting their opinions on just about everything and anything hoping someone would stumble upon their ideas. Bloggers can come in handy for towns because they get the news out to the public that the newspaper may not be able to cover, or just the news they didn't know or have access to. A good blogger is someone who always has something to say and can find time in the day to update their blogs with new and interesting stories. Hanover is starting the blogging process on their wicked locate websites. Hanover wants the get the online communication up and running. In order to do this Hanover needs community bloggers! You can pretty much blog about anything you want going on within the town, this will be a great way to start conversation and improve our town! The only requirement is that you blog at least twice a week, even though it will make things more interesting if you blog daily. Blogging will open new doors for Hanover! If your interested please contact Gregory Mathis at gmathis@wickedlocal.com. Let the blogging begin!

http://www.wickedlocal.com/hanover/newsnow/x360267624/FOR-THE-RECORD-Community-bloggers-wanted#axzz1d7pfsDTa

5 things to do this weekend in Hanover

Hanover has yet another busy weekend ahead of them,November 5th and 6th. You can always find something to do in this small town on the weekends, even though the activities may seem extremely boring. The top five things on Hanover's weekend agenda are 1, The St. Mary's Church Bazaar today November5th. 2, The Laura County Church fair, also today. Both of these activities included hours of shopping for homemade trinkets and lots of games for kids. 3, the Lion Pancake Breakfast, Sunday morning, this breakfast is open to the public. Seniors and children 6-12; $5 and adults; $5. Kids under 6 eat for free. This is a great way to start your Sunday morning. Two other events going on tomorrow November 6 are the "Peoples Walk" at SSNSC and the St. Andrew's Celebrates the Years concert and get together. Attending these events both benefit Hanover in a huge way. In addition to these five events this weekend there are always the weekly soccer and football games. I hope you all have a great weekend to start off November in a great way!

http://www.wickedlocal.com/hanover/news/x1760394132/5-Things-to-do-this-weekend#axzz1crGKgsWX

Is a teen "idol" star suddenly too skinny?

Celebrities have always have always felt the need to look good for the tabloids and their fans. Lauren Alaina is just another one of those girls who has made a complete transformation since her fame. After coming in second on last years American Idol, Alaina has lost 25 pounds, and still 10 away from her goal. Alaina is already wearing small and extra-small clothing, does she really need to lose 10 more pounds? She looks amazing and healthy the way she is now so, is her desire to lose ten more pounds a bad message to other teenage girls out there trying to lose weight? Mary Williams the author of this article believe so. Even though Alaina claims that she lost the weight in a healthy way, cutting out carbs and sticking to a work out plan. Alaina says that she did it for herself not for her fans or the tabloids. "You have to do it for yourself." Alaina says, she struggled with her weight as a teen and was always comparing herself to other girls. Her weight loss makes her feel good about herself and doesn't care if people judge her about her sudden weight loss. Alaina's message to young teenage girls that are struggling with their weight is to just eat healthy and workout, but never put yourself in danger just to lose a couple pounds.

Fall looks like winter this weekend

While we should be out apple picking, running through a corn maze somewhere, celebrating the fall and Halloween season. Not this weekend, the rain is coming down and the snow is not far behind. Snow in October? Something does not seem right with this picture, October was not meant to be snowy! This Noreastern snow storm is really hitting New England hard this Halloween weekend, some areas getting up to 10 inches of snow. All we can really hope for is that Halloween is nice for the little trick or treaters! Bundle up and get ready for a big snow storm! Happy Halloween!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/29/northeast-weather-fall-_n_1065021.html?1319915700&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%7C108507

Remember when MTV played music?

MTV used to be the channel to watch when you wanted to listen to the latest hits or discover new music. Some of the worlds greatest artists have gained popularity through MTV. Eveyone can remeber those saturday mornings when you sat on your couch and watched music videos for hours on end. Or early in the morning while waiting for your ride to school. Now, when someone thinks about MTV they automaticly think of the rediculous shows they  have now, Jersey Shore, Awkward, My Life as Liz, etc. Unless you wake up at four in the morning, its not likely that you will find some music videos. So many people are wondering what happened to MTV? where did all the music videos go? MTV viewing have increased every since they started showing TV shows, some have become pretty popular nation wide, but that doesnt make up for the lack of music.

Personally, i love some of the TV shows on MTV, but i do miss the good old days of music videos. I wish there was some sort of happy medium where there could be both.

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/27/remember_when_mtv_played_music/

My IPhone foreclosure

Have you ever gotten that feeling that a part of you is missing? and it eats away at you and bothers you for as long as you are without this piece? I have. I get that feeling when i misplace my IPhone. Its the worst feeling in the world. I lose all communications, and happiness with the world outside my own brain. I am obsessed with my phone, and proud of it. The thought of my IPhone ever breaking due to water damage etc. is heart breaking to me and that is why this article caught my eye. This poor young woman lost his phone for a whole night, only to wake up and find it in the drive way with water damage. She writes about how upset she was and how she felt also though she couldn't function with out her phone.

She puts a twist on the article by basically saying at the end of the article that she was lying, that this did happen to her but she really didnt care much. she was not devastated or extremely effected by the tragedy. She wrote this article to prove a point that yes, Phones are very useful and can become addicting but not all teenagers and young adults are obsessed with their phones, leading to the incapability of having a normal face to face conversation with a human being. Phone are necessary in this day and age, but that does not mean that we cant live and function without them. Ha to all the adults out there that thought other wise.
http://www.salon.com/topic/life_stories/

How music changes our brains

Listening to music on command has become second nature to those living in the twenty first century. You can listen to music just about anywhere thanks to Ipods, MP3s, and phones. This ability to listen to music constantly has raised the question in scientists heads, what is the sound of music doing to our brains? Although in some cases music results as being harmful to the brain, researchers have found that music can "help children with learning disabilities, elders feel more connected to the world, and even get people into better shape."(Rogers) Sound can also be very damaging. A recent study states that "sound is the second greatest pollutant in the world today." The volume of the music is the main reason sound can be so damaging, it is proven that sound can reduce the amount of healthy years you live. 45,000 "healthy" years world wide are taken away by sound per yeah. Now that's crazy. 

Every since i got my first Walkman I've been hearing my dad lecturing me about how loud my music is and that by the time I'm twenty ill be deaf. I do admit to the fact that i listen to my music pretty loud, mostly because when i listen to music that's the only thing i wanna hear. I believe that most teenagers listen to their music extremely loud just because its the thing to do, that's how we have always listened to our music. In our games, during a warm-up before games, loud is the best way to listen to music. i do believe that music and how loudly its played effects our brain, but i do not believe its going to cause us to become deaf, that seems a little extreme. 

Why Teens Should Read Adult Fiction

We live in a world where parents believe they are capable of shielding their children from the reality of life until the day they die. These days parents are keeping their children from reading adult fiction novels, essays, articles etc, for one reason. They are inappropriate for their age. Now not many believe this false accusation. Adult fiction books do expose teens to new things, good or bad, but it is simply a part of growing up. In the norms eyes, teens reading adult fiction books is perfectly normal, and affective with their learning and development. Parents keeping their teens from challenging themselves in literature by reading these books are just simply holding them back.

I enjoyed reading this article because i agree with it very much so. I hate when parents hold their teens back from something that can truly benefit them, its absurd to me. Reading these books are for their own good, for the bettering of their intelligence and pushing them to develop into young men and women. i encourage teens to read adult fiction often, they always seem to be great books and are a good challenge.

Is tanning really worth the risks?

Over the past couple years the obsession of being tan has increased dramatically. The thought that being pale is absolutely disgusting has filled women and even some men's brains, and has totally manipulated them. Appearance has always seemed to be a problem, usually hair and make up, which in the long run wont necessarily affect your health. Tanning on the other hand, artificially or even laying in the real sun can be extremely damaging to your health, not to mention you'll get major wrinkles. Melanoma is the leading skin cancer found in people today, after tanning daily for a long period of time your chance of getting skin cancer is extremely high.

Girls all over the world are trying to make a point that being tan isn't worth the risk of getting skin cancer. Although it can be almost harmful, there are cases of skin cancer that can kill you or injury you permanently. This article tells a story of a girl who realized that she had skin cancer when she was only thirteen years old. In a small period of time is affected her life in a huge way, and made her feel like and outcast. With friends and family by her side she was able to embrace the fact that she had skin cancer, and it was just a part in her life that she would have to learn to live with. Reading this girls story, i realized how skin cancer doesn't only affect your health but your life as well. Tanning in the end really is not worth the price, at all costs stay away from it.

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/16/cancer_survivor_open2011/

Can multitasking hurt your health?

In this day and age, we are expected to do more and more in a shorter period of time. Lets face it, we all wish there were more hours in the day. One way we try to cram everything we need to do, in our limited 24 hours is multitasking. Now researchers and scientists are not able to prove that multitasking can have an effect on your health, but they do know that if your multitasking then what you are working on is not going to come out to your full potential compared to if you were just working on one thing at a time. Scientists have also discovered that people with ADHD multitask, simply because its a hobby, something they like to do. They can only do one thing for so long before they get bored of it and need to switch activities. Multitasking can be an extremely dangerous thing, multitasking that involves driving a car, and maybe a cell phone, leads to an extreme amount of car accidents every year.

I enjoyed reading this article on multitasking and ADHD because it was eye opening, but i did not like that fact that the title made it seem life multitasking really did have an effect on your health, but then in the first or second paragraph you learn that it has no effect. That was the only factor of this reading i did not enjoy, I believe the author did a great job luring people in with the articles title, and then through out the reading.

It's October, so where are all the horror movies?

October has been known for it's horror films for years now. But not this year, so people are asking where did all the horror films go? For this fall season there is only one movie in theaters now and three more arriving soon. Some are saying that the horror month of august stole October's thunder this year, with six horror releases in just one month. Now ever since "Saw" fell of the radar "Paranomal Activity" has taken over. For so many years "Saw" has been top dog, no movie could stand a chance against them. Movie critics are starting to believe that this is a reason no one is coming out with films, they do not want to waste their money competing for the top stop they will never reach. Make sure to check the box office for this "fright-tober's" newest movies.


I enjoyed this article very much because I am a huge horror movie fan. There is nothing better than a month full of frightful movies. I'm extremely disappointed to learn about the lack of Halloween spirit this season. Hopefully next year they movie companies get into the competitive spirit and come up with better and scarier films. I love the way the author wrote this article. He knew exactly who would be reading this and was able to relate to them and grab their attention easily. Happy October everyone!






http://m.aol.com/moviefone/default/article.do?articleUrl=http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/10/03/october-horror-movies/&mainLink=news

Finishing School Journal Entry

When I was younger I spent my summers in Maine with my Mother's sisters and all of my cousins. One of my aunts was a nut when it came to table manners and being proper at the dinner table. When my cousin Kelsey and me didn't reach her standard of etiquette, she sent us to school. And not just any school, but a school where you learn how to act proper, know what fork to use for what meal, and how to sit when sitting at a dinner table. It was awful, every Wednesday morning we would wake up, put on our pretty dresses and make our way down the old dirt road to the center of town, where we would sit with straight spines for hours on end. By the end of the summer my cousin and I were correcting our aunt on her manners, we found great fun in this. 


Even though at the age of ten i found this a huge waste of my summer, today I am able to look back on it and correct myself. I'm a pro when it comes to setting tables, sitting up straight, and eating properly. It taught me what life was going to be like when i was older, and never resorted to my poor table manners again. This experience did prepare me for adulthood which I am grateful for today.  

Why should marriage last forever?

Until death do us part, or until the contract is up? Mexico City has been developing the thought of marriage licences with a time limit on them. Living in this world today where the divorce rate is 50%, this new law of marriage contracts would certainly help a lot of people in unhappy marriages out, but then where does the true meaning of matrimony go? Assemblyman Leonel Luna is all for these new marriage laws, he believes that it will take the stress and depression out of divorce. But what happens when your wife or husband decides that they do not want to renew the marriage licence? That is basically divorce, and that would cause the same amount of pain and suffering as divorce would. I one hundred percent agree with the Catholic Churches view on these new ideas, "This reform is absurd. It contradicts the nature of marriage. It is another one of these electoral theatrics the assembly tends to do that are irresponsible and immoral." Marriage is an everlasting contract of love between two people and love and that is how it should always remain.


I enjoy the way Mary Williams writes this article, especially because she gives both sides of the story and reasons why and why not the new marriage laws would or wouldn't work. She includes some really interesting quotes from the Catholic Church and Assemblyman Leonel Luna which made the article very interesting and seems as though the two sides of the story were fighting on paper. She also wrote as though she was mocking the creators of this idea of time limited marriage contracts. At some times she was extremely sarcastic, you can tell by the way she writes that she is not in favor of the new laws but of everlasting marriage. "It doesn't always last until one person gets the privilege of burying the other one." The assemblyman Leonel Luna clearly has something against marriage is Williams is able to say that they believe its a privilege to bury the one you are married to. After reading this article, I am shocked by the thought of these new marriage contract and think that they are absurd. There should never be a time limit set on love.

http://life.salon.com/2011/09/30/why_marry_forever/

Facing down my eighth-grade tormentor..





Has someone ever made your life a living hell? Has something ever bothered you so much that you never let go of it, even thirty years later? There is two sides to every story, and that is what Steve Almond went searching for, the second half. In middle school Almond was bullied like many kids are today. Some children are able to shake it off and move on with their lives, through high school and college. Other kids are strongly affected by early stage bullying and it sticks with them for the rest of their lives. Now, there are different reasons why a bullying situation would stick with someone through out their lives, one is because the actually bulling was so painful, physically or life threatening. Almonds reason why it stuck with him for so long, is because he wanted to know why his tormentor Sean was so mean to him in their eighth grade metal shop. 


There was no better way for Almond to find out why, then to finally grab control of this relationship, and call Sean, thirty years later. This conversation they have over the phone is the interview provided in this article. Sean barely remembers Almond, and of what he does remember about Almond, was not how he bullied him in eighth grade but how he envied him. Almond grew up with two loving parents, Sean's parents separated when he was young. Sean thrived for that parently love that Almond always had, that was his reason for lashing out and wanting to make other people as sad as he was. Today and surely in the past, people always favor and try to help the victim in a bullying situation. People very rarely look into the bully's life, what he is currently going through, and maybe what influenced him to do that things that he did to other people. Bullys are stereotyped as the football captain or cheerleaders, but a bully can be anyone if they have a motive. Bullys also are said to be bullys just because they are mean and heartless, but most bullys have family problems at home, or have faced serious trauma at some point in their lives. Bullys target people that will make them feel better about themselves because they commonly have low self esteem. Bullys have a side to the story as well as the victim, sometimes it is just important that you hear both before judging.


I love the way Almond tells his story. Reading the story of his life in eighth grade and then reading the interview with Sean was very interesting. I really enjoyed reading the interview, and the fact he left nothing out and was completely truthful made it that much better. Almonds story was a good one, i liked the honestly of Sean and how he basically admitted to Almond that he doesn't exactly remember bullying him but that he wouldn't doubt it because he envied him. THE BULLY ENVIED THE VICTIM. Almond proved that not every bullying situation is what you think and that every one has two sides to the story. It was brave of Almond to use his life story to prove this and to show that interview is an effective way to find peace with yourself and a past tormentor. I truly enjoyed Almonds writing styles i thought it added a lot of character to his story.

Taylor Lautner's Chest Gets A Movie?!

Coming soon to theaters near you, "Abduction" featuring Taylor Lautner...and several other famous actors that don't really matter. Abduction is a story about a boy Nathan, played by Taylor Lautner and his amazing body. Nathan is a troubled partier who accidentally finds out that his parents aren't his real parents, and that the CIA and quasi-Slavic hoods are after him. Somehow the movie turns into an action packed thriller with some erotic love scenes here and there. Director John Singleton, is actually very smart. He knows that his movie really isn't that good, BUT throw a teen sensation in there, have him take his shirt off a couple times, and guaranteed your movie will sell out the first week it's in theaters. Just knowing "Abduction" features this Twilight Saga hottie, it's a given that it will be extremely successful. Most defiantly sucking in crazed "Team Jacob" fans, ages 10-16.

I love the authors writing style in this article. He speaks his mind and feels no obligation to say anything good about "Abduction" what so ever. Now that's what I call a good movie critic! O'hehir compares "Abduction" to a knock of "Bourne Identity" several times throughout the article. I am able to admit that I am a Taylor Lautner fan, but he is not an incredible actor as O'hehir also mentions multiple times in his review. "'Abduction' may win the 2011 prize for wasting good actors in absolute balderdash" This film also features well known actors such as Sigourney Weaver, Alfred Molina, Michael Nyqvist and Lilly Collins, but their roles do no justice for them. Although the poor reviews of "Abduction" the movie will do just fine in theaters thanks to Team Jacob's crazed teenage girl die hards.

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/action_movies/index.html?story=/ent/movies/andrew_ohehir/2011/09/23/abduction

Tweet Tweet

Can you consider yourself a "twitterer" or "tweeter"? If so, you will be able to easily relate to this post. Twitter is taking over the world, basically. Lately its quite impossible to find someone who doesn't have a twitter account or hasn't considered one. Twitter is the new black, the new Facebook. Everyone and their mother wants one these days. Twitter started thanks to a 10-person start up group out of San Francisco, called Obvious. With over 200 million users, twitter is used by the world for a variety of tasks, emails, advertisment, and of course social networking. By one quick tweet you are able to share with the entire world your latest thoughts, whereabouts, and all time favorite, complaints. Whether its a, #Happytweet, #Sadtweet, or #Angrytweet your able to post that sucker just about anywhere, in between classes, on your morning commute, or laying in your bed at night. Twitter's accessibility and publicity has influenced its growth the past couple of years. Businesses and celebrities use it as an advantage to promote new albums or products etc. Its a whole lot more than just simply a social network.

The author of this article clearly understood who their audience was going to be, tweeters, soon to be tweeters and curious soon to be soon to be tweeters. As well as making the article easy to read and relateable, they also used statistics and hard facts to show how extremely successful twitter is becoming. The author uses comic relief and interesting facts to keep the reader interested and wanting more. I was able to relate to this article very well because I am a proud user of twitter, and love to admit that I am obsessed. As long as you can share what's on your mind in 140 characters or less twitter is the thing for you!

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/twitter/index.html