Imagine a world where wizards and witches exist. Flying brooms, spells, and all types of magic are just a normal part of life. J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series sucks you into a realm where all this and more is possible.
One theme of this series is pretty much Good vs. Evil. Voldemort, the mortal enemy of just about every wizard (except for his followers, the Death Eaters), plans to take over the world killing the main character, Harry Potter, in the process. Harry Potter has to war with the evil inside of him and kill Voldemort before Voldemort kills him: both cannot survive at the same time. With the help of his friends including Professor Dumbledore, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and many others, Harry strives to save the world from utter destruction.
There are so many characters in this book, it is almost confusing. So, I will just describe the main characters. Harry Potter, the star of the books, is an orphan boy trying to "fit in" in the "muggle" (human) world. He's just different, and then he finds out that he is a wizard! How crazy would that be? So he goes and trains at a school called Hogwarts and has amazing and frightening experiences there. He also meets Hermione and Ron, his two best friends in the series. Hermione is a goody two-shoes who is always the best at every class. Ron is Harry's awkward and clumsy friend who always messes up everything. Professor Dumbledore helps Harry along his journey to defeat Voldemort and wizard and muggle lives.
The story mostly takes place at Hogwarts, a training school for young wizards and witches. The school is protected by a shield that mostly keeps dark magic out. It is where Harry meets all his friends and his enemies, like the kids from Slytherin.
I was kind of skeptical of these books at first because I am not really into the whole "wizard" stuff, but once I started reading them, I could not stop. The movies are good, but they are NOTHING compared to the books. So, READ THE BOOKS! THEY ARE AMAZING!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Current Connections #2
In a recent article on CNN Hundreds killed in Brazil nightclub fire, reporters Shasta Darlington, Marilia Brocchetto, and Helena DeMoura record the tragic story of a southern Brazilian nightclub catching fire early on Sunday.
The ladies state, "The blaze at the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria killed at least 232 people, many of whom apparently died from smoke inhalation, state-run Agencia Brasil reported, citing fire officials. Others were trampled in the rush for the exits, one security guard told CNN affiliate Band News. More than 130 people were hospitalized, Agencia Brasil said." The fire started because the acoustic insulation caught on fire. No one knows how the fire started: the police are still investigating the cause.
According to the text, "About 2,000 people were inside the club when the fire broke out -- double the maximum capacity of 1,000, said Guido de Melo, a state fire official." Maybe if the club had only had 1,000 people in it, more lives could have been saved. There were not enough exits for everyone to get out.
Many families called their loved ones when they found out the fire had taken place; some did not answer. In the story, the reporters say, "Desperate families and friends wept as they searched for information outside a local gymnasium where bodies were taken for identification later Sunday. Inside, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff met with some of them as they waited on bleachers for word of their loved ones." The president had recently been on a trip, but cut the vacation short when she received the news. That was good of her to be there for her people in their hour of need.
This sort of reminds me of 9/11. there was not nearly as many deaths, but many people died by the blaze, smoke inhalation, or the roof collapsing; the same causes of death as 9/11.
We can only pray for those who have lost loved ones, or those who are still in critical condition.
The ladies state, "The blaze at the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria killed at least 232 people, many of whom apparently died from smoke inhalation, state-run Agencia Brasil reported, citing fire officials. Others were trampled in the rush for the exits, one security guard told CNN affiliate Band News. More than 130 people were hospitalized, Agencia Brasil said." The fire started because the acoustic insulation caught on fire. No one knows how the fire started: the police are still investigating the cause.
According to the text, "About 2,000 people were inside the club when the fire broke out -- double the maximum capacity of 1,000, said Guido de Melo, a state fire official." Maybe if the club had only had 1,000 people in it, more lives could have been saved. There were not enough exits for everyone to get out.
Many families called their loved ones when they found out the fire had taken place; some did not answer. In the story, the reporters say, "Desperate families and friends wept as they searched for information outside a local gymnasium where bodies were taken for identification later Sunday. Inside, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff met with some of them as they waited on bleachers for word of their loved ones." The president had recently been on a trip, but cut the vacation short when she received the news. That was good of her to be there for her people in their hour of need.
This sort of reminds me of 9/11. there was not nearly as many deaths, but many people died by the blaze, smoke inhalation, or the roof collapsing; the same causes of death as 9/11.
We can only pray for those who have lost loved ones, or those who are still in critical condition.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The American Dream
To me, the American Dream is what people want to do with their lives. My dream is not necessarily one big goal, but rather a series of many small achievements or ideas. Striving for what is important to me is a big part of my American dream, and I intend to acquire everything that I want in this life.
As soon as I finish high school with a fresh diploma in my hand, that fall I will be looking for a college to derive my education. What I really want is to go to Bible College in either St. Louis or Texas. There, I could further my talent of singing, playing the piano, building the foundation of my relationship with God, and receiving my normal education in the meantime. I do not know what degree I need to become what I want to become, but I intend to research that career and find out. Hopefully, I will not be in school too long.
Whatever it takes, I will become a librarian. Reading books is a major hobby for me, and I cannot imagine doing anything else. I want to spend my life doing something I enjoy, not moping around complaining about how boring and unexciting my job is. Being a librarian is the only thing I can picture myself doing. I love reading: being surrounded by books, and helping people get the perfect book would just make my day every day. I may be a book worm, but that is part of who I am.
Every girl dreams of getting married. That is number three on my list. I pray to God that I will meet a dark-haired, dark-eyed guy in Bible College who loves God as much as I do, if not more. He would be perfect for me and I would be perfect for him. We could build our life together after we get married, living out in the country surrounded by nature but not too far from town. I want 4 kids or less, and no more. I could take them to school and tuck them in every night. My husband would mainly support us, since a librarian does not make alot of money. We would grow old together, rocking on the front porch surrounded by our children and grandchildren. I know life would not be all peaches and cream, but I still want to be a happy woman with everything I need.
So basically, I want what every person wants; a life filled with accomplished goals and dreams. I want a future that is bright and chalked full of good surprises. Having strength, I can overcome the bad times. That is my Amercian Dream.
As soon as I finish high school with a fresh diploma in my hand, that fall I will be looking for a college to derive my education. What I really want is to go to Bible College in either St. Louis or Texas. There, I could further my talent of singing, playing the piano, building the foundation of my relationship with God, and receiving my normal education in the meantime. I do not know what degree I need to become what I want to become, but I intend to research that career and find out. Hopefully, I will not be in school too long.
Whatever it takes, I will become a librarian. Reading books is a major hobby for me, and I cannot imagine doing anything else. I want to spend my life doing something I enjoy, not moping around complaining about how boring and unexciting my job is. Being a librarian is the only thing I can picture myself doing. I love reading: being surrounded by books, and helping people get the perfect book would just make my day every day. I may be a book worm, but that is part of who I am.
Every girl dreams of getting married. That is number three on my list. I pray to God that I will meet a dark-haired, dark-eyed guy in Bible College who loves God as much as I do, if not more. He would be perfect for me and I would be perfect for him. We could build our life together after we get married, living out in the country surrounded by nature but not too far from town. I want 4 kids or less, and no more. I could take them to school and tuck them in every night. My husband would mainly support us, since a librarian does not make alot of money. We would grow old together, rocking on the front porch surrounded by our children and grandchildren. I know life would not be all peaches and cream, but I still want to be a happy woman with everything I need.
So basically, I want what every person wants; a life filled with accomplished goals and dreams. I want a future that is bright and chalked full of good surprises. Having strength, I can overcome the bad times. That is my Amercian Dream.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Current Connection: Jan 14
In a recent article "Gun violence task force meets video game leaders as debate continues", Mariano Castillo explians the world wide debate on how to control guns and violent video games.
Castillo says that Joe Biden, our nation's vice president, met with the game leaders on Friday, and Biden says, " 'We know there is no single answer and, quite frankly, we don't even know whether some of the things people think impact on this (gun violence) actually impact on it or not,' Biden said just before the meeting, stressing that video game industry officials are among 'a whole lot of people' participating in the discussion." This nation cannot control gun violence, but our government is taking every precaution to at least lower the crime rate. However so people are not to happy about that, such as the game makers. They will lose alot of money if the states ban violent video games.
Some states are not waiting for the government to step in, such as Massachusettes. Castillo states, "in Massachusetts, action has been taken against violent video games. Specifically, operators of four rest stops have removed -- at the state's request -- arcade games with guns or 'shooting components,' said Sara Lavoie, a spokeswoman for Massachusetts' Department of Transportation." I do not think that video games are the sole reason for the violence going on in the country, but it desensitizes the player from the real world and causes them to have those images ingrained in their minds. Violent arcade games should not be at state funded rest stops.
Massachusettes is not the only state working on weeding out violence. Castillo explains, "In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal -- like Dewhurst, a Republican -- on Friday proposed legislation to join 17 other states and make mental health records part of the screening criteria for federal background checks to buy firearms." To me, this is a wonderful idea. Guns are not the bad guys, but the one who shoots the gun to intentionally hurt someone should not be allowed to purchase a weapon.
In my opinion, violent video games are not the big cause to mass destruction. The person who is the one that holds the gun should be to blame. I do not the think the government should take away our guns because then what would we have to protect ourselves. Complete gun control is not the answer.
Due to the mass murder in Conneticut, the U.S. is in a tail spin looking for the right answer. What would this world be without guns? Remember that it is not the guns fault, but the person who uses that gun is to blame.
Castillo says that Joe Biden, our nation's vice president, met with the game leaders on Friday, and Biden says, " 'We know there is no single answer and, quite frankly, we don't even know whether some of the things people think impact on this (gun violence) actually impact on it or not,' Biden said just before the meeting, stressing that video game industry officials are among 'a whole lot of people' participating in the discussion." This nation cannot control gun violence, but our government is taking every precaution to at least lower the crime rate. However so people are not to happy about that, such as the game makers. They will lose alot of money if the states ban violent video games.
Some states are not waiting for the government to step in, such as Massachusettes. Castillo states, "in Massachusetts, action has been taken against violent video games. Specifically, operators of four rest stops have removed -- at the state's request -- arcade games with guns or 'shooting components,' said Sara Lavoie, a spokeswoman for Massachusetts' Department of Transportation." I do not think that video games are the sole reason for the violence going on in the country, but it desensitizes the player from the real world and causes them to have those images ingrained in their minds. Violent arcade games should not be at state funded rest stops.
Massachusettes is not the only state working on weeding out violence. Castillo explains, "In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal -- like Dewhurst, a Republican -- on Friday proposed legislation to join 17 other states and make mental health records part of the screening criteria for federal background checks to buy firearms." To me, this is a wonderful idea. Guns are not the bad guys, but the one who shoots the gun to intentionally hurt someone should not be allowed to purchase a weapon.
In my opinion, violent video games are not the big cause to mass destruction. The person who is the one that holds the gun should be to blame. I do not the think the government should take away our guns because then what would we have to protect ourselves. Complete gun control is not the answer.
Due to the mass murder in Conneticut, the U.S. is in a tail spin looking for the right answer. What would this world be without guns? Remember that it is not the guns fault, but the person who uses that gun is to blame.
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