The Year Is 2081

The year is 2081
And the war has finally been won
No more deaths
No more tears
No more gases
No more garbage
No more poisoned land
No more unsafe water
And no more unhappy lives
There is only to be tears of joy
Because we finally won against ourselves and the damage we've done

Thanks To You

Many are safe
We feel safe
Others are no longer in danger

There is less fear
We know no fear
Others fear no more

Many still live
We live longer
Many a lives are better

The horrors have moved on
We know not what horrors are
The horrors are over

There are borders
Our borders are in no trouble
Their borders are of less trouble

There is honor
We know what honor is
They’re learn honor

The name hero lives on
We our heroes stand taller
They now know what heroes are

Thank you for putting your life on the line
Thank you for protecting us
For helping them
Thank you for showing them the way
Thank you for saving lives
Thank you for standing up
For the little guy
Thank you for standing for liberty
Thank you for serving in the name of freedom

I made this in honor of my dad's friend Mike, who is currently serving in the military. Thank you to all who have and are serving.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is located between the Twin Cities, Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara Falls is the international border between the United States and Canada. It is made up three different water falls; Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are located on the American side. Most of the Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side. Its natural beauty has made it a popular honeymoon destination. Over 25 million people visit each year. This makes Niagara Falls a popular tourist attraction for people from the United States and Canada.

Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There are over six miles of walking trails in and around the zoo. There are several regions in the zoo, like the Indo-Malaya or the Americas. Animals are displayed indoors and out. It does not cost much to get into the zoo. The cost is between $13 to $21 depending on your age. The zoo has over 5,000 animals and they represent over 500 species. There are about 1.3 million visitors each year. This is the place for animals lovers. You could see some animals you might not see at other zoos.

A Concert To Remember!

On Wednesday, December 16, 2009 an amazing and beautiful concert was happening in the Pewaukee High School Auditorium. The performers included the Asa Clark Concert Choir, Asa Clark Swing Choir, Horizon Choir, and the Pewaukee High School Varsity Choir.
The Horizon Choir took the stage to start this incredible concert. They performed songs that were well known by many in the crowd. Those songs include Jingle Bells Rocks, Feliz Navidad, and Cooroo. Even though these were very young musicians, they really showed that they are good at what they like to do, by staying with the tempo and watching Mrs. Stingle.
The Asa Clark Swing Choir was next. This group had the audience tapping their feet and dancing in their seats right from the beginning. They really showed that not only are they good at singing long, standing still songs, like Christmas Time is Here, but that they like to add choreography to their songs. While watching this group you could definitely tell that they were well practiced. They hit the high notes in their songs really well. Their other songs included It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, and Hot Chocolate.
Next up was the Asa Clark Concert Choir. This group sang songs that were unique in their own way. The group knew to listen to the piano when they were trying to their notes. They knew exactly when to came in, but watched Mrs. Stingle for their cut-offs. The choir could improve upon rounding their vowels. Their songs were Colors of Winter, and Tis the Season. Their greatest accomplishment was showing their ability to work really hard to make the songs sound so great.
The next song was the combined Concert and Swing Choir piece. The song was And This Shall Be For Music. This song has become a school tradition to sing for the 8th graders that are leaving at the end of the school year. When this two choirs came together, they took the audience breathe away. Their harmonies were amazing! They were excellent at listening to each other to create a great sound.
Finally the High School Varsity Choir performed. This group was an invited guest, and they were phenomenal. During Ding a Ding a Ding they were able to make their voices sound like bells. By adding percussionists In Sleigh Ride, you really felt like you were on a sled.
My favorite song in this concert was, Grown Up Christmas List, sung by the Asa Clark Concert Choir. This song represents what many people really want for Christmas; peace, love, and happiness.
Overall, I thought these groups perform songs that showed they are ready to sing higher level songs. You can tell they love to sing. The concert touched the hearts of all who came, and provided entertainment for people of all ages. This was a concert to remember.

Every type of music has Power

Music has a long history of creating a feeling when you hear it. Patriotic music is no different. Some of the most famous patriotic songs were written in the 1800's and early 1900's. Songs like America the Beautiful, The Star Spangled Banner, Yankee Doodle, and This Land is Your Land are still sung at schools throughout the United States of America.

Songwriters will sometimes change or update favorite music into a new song, giving it new life. The words to the The Star Spangled Banner where written to the melody of a popular song called To Anacreon in Heaven. America the Beautiful came from a poem that was written about the beauty of traveling through this country. The song our choir performed Song for the Unsung Hero was written after September 11. It includes parts of an older, patriotic song called My Country ‘Tis of Thee. While each of the songs are patriotic, they differ as to when they were written, and what the song was written about.

I liked the song that our choir performed. I can remember some of what happened on September 11, so I can relate to it more than the older patriotic songs. I also feel that the song connects me to people all over the United States, who also were alive on September 11. I also love hearing and singing The Star Spangled Banner. I think the song shows what America is all about. Hearing patriotic songs make me appreciate living in the United States. That is the power of patriotic songs.

The King of Regions

Location

There are three major cities in the east region. New York City, New York has 8,363,710 people. It is located at 40° 47ʼ N Latitude and 73° 58ʼ W Longitude. The second is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with 1,540,351 people. Finally Baltimore, Maryland has 636,919 people. Land forms include the Adirondack Mountains in New York, White Mountains in New Hampshire, and Green Mountains in Vermont. These mountain ranges are part of the Appalachian Mountains. Resources in this region are stone, coal, and maple syrup. The relative location of the region to the compass is northeast.


Place

The weather depends on where you are in the region. The coastal areas average 50 inches of rainfall, while the western parts of Pennsylvania and New York get about 32 inches. Snowfall totals range from over 100 inches per year in upstate New York, to only a foot in the coastal areas of southern New Jersey. The climate is hot summers and cold winters. Major land forms in this region are Niagara Falls in New York, Central Valley in Connecticut, and Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Historically the majority of people in this region were Catholic. Today due to people from all over the world immigrating to this region, there are many cultures, and religions practiced.


Human Environmental Interactions

The geography of the east region forced those who settled there to create lives using local resources. Cities near the ocean harbor were best for fisherman. A city with river access allowed transportation of supplies to other regions. Rivers were used to create power supplies for mills. Lumber and grain were traded. Sections of the eastern region allowed farmers to grow crops. The geography and climate determined which crops to grow. The region experiences four seasons. This provides business opportunities from ski resorts to beach activities.

Movement

There are many ways to travel in the east region. You could choose to use waterways like the Hudson River or the Erie Canal or water ferries that are in Boston, New York City, and Baltimore. If you need to use a highway, there is the New Jersey Turnpike or the Interstate system. Recently the Boston Big Dig highway project was completed. It cost billions of dollars to improve this highway. The east region relies heavily on trains to move people throughout the region. The Amtrak system includes the Acela Express, a high speed train that connects Boston to Washington D.C. The major cities of the east region became very popular, because many people who immigrated to the United States have settled in this area. Many cities were built near riverways and coastal regions making transportation, and trade easier. Since the primary cities of Boston, New York and Philadelphia have access to the Atlantic Ocean, they became major shipping ports. Every December 16, Boston has a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party. This tradition has gone on for 236 years. Our capital city, Washington D.C. has a large celebration on Independence Day, July 4 every year.


Regions

Major tourist attractions are the Supreme Court, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Statue of Liberty. The Liberty Bell was rung on July 8, 1776, for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. The words "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" are inscribed in the bell. The bell cracked on July 8, 1835, while tolling the death of Chief Justice John Marshall. The Arlington National Cemetery holds many famous people, such as presidents William Howard Taft, and John F. Kennedy. In 1921, an unknown American soldier from World War I was buried in the cemetery. The monument at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was opened to the public in 1932. During World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam, other unknown soldiers were buried there as well. Recent DNA testing allowed the soldier from the Vietnam War to be identified as First Lt. Michael Blassie, an Air Force pilot from St. Louis, Missouri. This technology may prevent another “unknown” soldier from being buried without a name. The inscription carved on the Tomb of the Unknowns reads, “Here lies in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.

Be careful with Wishes

If you could wish for anything, what would it be? Each day people play the lottery, wishing to win the million dollar jackpot. They think money will bring them happiness. Once they are wealthy, they find that the money is really not the path to happiness. The Third Wish is about finding happiness, but in a different way than expected.
While reading The Third Wish I wondered what to wish for? Thoughts of new clothes, shoes, and jewelry danced in my head. Would those luxuries lead to total happiness? That was an overwhelming thought. In the end these possessions would not make me happy. What I’ve learned about myself is that I’m happiest when I’m helping others. When you help other it makes you feel better about yourself. Every time I helped someone I felt so good I decided to do more to help . I would rather be a giver than a receiver.
There is saying, “Be careful what you wish for.” Dreams of wealth or items are not really going to make you happy. It’s what you do with the wish that brings happiness, so maybe wishing is not something you do for yourself, but for others.

Medicine for the Better

Long ago medicine wasn’t as good as it is now. They used herbs, plants and magic to try to cure people. Until the 1900’s, people could call themselves a doctor with any training. Without that knowledge, they often hurt or killed their patients. Today people must go to school and be licensed to work in healthcare.

I learned many things reading this book. In the early 1300’s, there was a disease called, “bubonic plague or black death.” It killed one out of every three Europeans. In London alone it killed 17,000 people.

From the 1300’s to the 1600’s, the Europeans first came to the Americas. They also brought deadly diseases too. Smallpox and measles killed off much of the Native American population, as they had never been exposed to these diseases.

Farm animals have given us infectious diseases too. Cholera and tuberculosis were passed from the animals to humans. Pigs and geese can give us the flu. Sheep can give us anthrax. Bulls can also give us tuberculosis and smallpox.

In 1988, 350,000 children were struck with Polio. Polio is a viral disease that causes paralysis and muscle wasting. Vaccinations against polio have caused the disease to be nearly eliminated. I know I have been vaccinated against Polio and many other things too.

In the early days of medicine, we didn’t have good medicines or ways to treat disease. We now know the importance of research to help us know what works and what doesn’t work. Vaccinations have been shown to help eliminate diseases. If we keep learning more about diseases and learn how to treat them, we can save many lives. Perhaps in the future we can eliminate rabies, all the types of cancer, and heart disease.

A She-Pirate's Story

My pirate is Anne Bonny. She was a tough, blood thirsty pirate. She was born to a wealthy family, but was not satisfied. She wanted a free life of adventure.

Anne was born Anne Cormac in County Cork, Ireland, the daughter of a servant woman, Mary Brennan. Her father, William Cormac, was a wealthy man who moved his family to Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1700’s. Anne’s mother passed away when Anne was young and she had to take the responsibility of taking care of her father’s house. She didn’t like that. Anne had killed a serving maid in her father’s house for crossing her. When she was 14, Anne also beat up a young man for trying to harm her, injuring him badly enough that he had to stay in bed for several weeks. Anne was a headstrong girl who had long made her father despair over her tomboy antics. She was drawn to the unsavory of man that could be found at the wharves and ports of Charleston. That was where Anne met James Bonny. Before Anne was out of her teens she had married James Bonny, a renegade seaman and sometimes pirate. Apparently, James planned to steal William Cormac's land through the marriage, and Anne's father disowned her. Soon Anne met a man named “Calico Jack" Rackham. It is said that Jack was a handsome and debonair man that the women made much over. He offered Anne a chance to get away from her husband, with the chance to become a pirate. Anne said “yes”. Anne joined his crew by disguised herself as a man. It is said that Anne was so vicious and fought so well with both pistol and cutlass that no one questioned her, anyway, and the one man who that did challenge her lost his life to the tip of her cutlass.
James had a court order to forbid Jack and Anne to see each other, Anne ran away with Calico Jack. She not only raided with Calico Jack, but also Jack's lieutenant, with whom she developed a mutual attraction. “He” turned out to be none other than Mary Read. The two women revealed their gender to each other but kept it secret. Eventually, both were known as bloodthirsty, daring female pirates, swinging their blades and boarding ships, fighting with even more courage than the men—as they proved in their final battle.
Anne became pregnant and Jack took her to Cuba, leaving her to have the baby which did not survive. Jack came back months later to collect her and was saddened by the news. Anne was given a King’s pardon when Jack took her to New Providence to recover. James Bonny tried to have Anne and Jack hung but the Governor of New Providence, remembering a favor Anne had done for him instead punished her and returned her to James Bonny. Jack was let go. Anne did not like being treated like a piece of property and the next evening Anne and Jack escaped to their ship to resume piracy.

Anne became pregnant again. In 1720, a former pirate turned pirate-hunter, Captain Barnet, attacked Calico Jack's ship. Rackham and almost all the pirates were drunk, and the cannon fire was so thick the men hid below decks. Anne Bonny and Mary Read stood their ground, fighting furiously. Outraged by the men's cowardice, Anne is said to have shouted, "If there's a man among ye, ye'll come out and fight like the men ye are [thought?] to be." When this got no response, Anne and Mary shot the male pirates, killing one and wounding several—including Jack Rackham. But despite Anne and Mary's ferocity, the pirates were captured.
Before the trial, Jack Rackham asked to see Anne once more and she reportedly said to him, “ I am sorry to see you here Jack, but if you had fought like a man, you need not be hanged like a dog”. All were hanged—except for Anne and Mary, who "plead their bellies," claiming to be pregnant and it was illegal to execute a pregnant woman until they gave birth. Mary died in prison. Anne was released from prison through a deal her father made and took her back to Charles town, South Carolina. She gave birth to Jack Rackham’s second child and in December 1721 was married to Joseph Burleigh, a local man and they had eight more children. She died a respectable woman on April 25, 1782 at the age of 84.

Anne Bonny was a real life woman pirate that was so feared that even her own husband was afraid of her. In the end she fought harder and better than the men she sailed with but she got her wish to live a life of adventures.

Random Writing

The Clearing

It can be a problem when a person you don’t like is your neighbor. You live so close that you see each other everyday, however it is important to be friendly to your neighbor. Neighbors help each other by shoveling snow, watching their home when they’re gone or just helping each other out. “The Clearing” demonstrates the importance of neighbors working together.

A Secret for Two
Animals can be your pet, part of a farm, or companions you work with. You can become so close to an animal that you consider them a friend. As a friend, they keep your secretes and love you all the time, because of this you may find yourself treating them like a human rather than an animal. You should always treasure your friends, no matter whom or what they are.

The Circuit
Imagine your family has to move frugally and never stays in one spot for an extended period of time. You may love some spots, but you can’t stay for long. You can’t make friends because you have to work all the time. Right now you may be thinking “This is not how people live.”, but there are many who live this way. Each person has to experience the circle of life for survival.

The Glorious White Washer

Imagine yourself as a child free of any work, but then observing someone else doing an activity you can’t. Wouldn’t you be interested in it? It is all about using your brain to make people think that work you’re doing is fun.

A World Without the Sun?

The sun is important, not just because it warms the Earth. Its photosynthesis makes the grass green, and flowers bloom. The sun is also important to people. Many people enjoy the summer, with the sun’s warmth beating down on them. Even in winter, a sunny day can make you feel warmer than it really is. People can suffer from depression when they don’t get enough sunlight. Whatever the season, sunlight brings joy, and happiness to many people.
All Summer in a Day is a perfect example of the joy sunlight brings. Personally I can not imagine living in a world without sunlight. Margot had lived on Earth, but she and her family moved to Venus where it rains constantly. I don’t understand why her parents made the decision to live in such a wet and cold place. I’m surprised they didn’t change their minds, and go back to Earth, after living in the rain for a long time.
As I read All Summer in a Day, I also felt that something was taken away from Margot when she moved away from the Earth. She is described as frail, and washed out like an old photograph dusted from an ablum, whitened away. If she would ever speak all you would hear is a voice of a ghost. Is it because she has no sunlight? Her parents and the kids at school realize she is weak, the kids take advantage of her weakness, by pushing her around. Would Margot be frail and weak if she still lived on Earth with its warmth and sunlight? I believe Margot would have had a very different life. Mainly because the object that was taken from her was the sun. On Venus she had to use the UV light, and that is not real sunlight.
I have a hard time imagining life without the sun. Not only do I appreciate playing sports outside, but also growing strawberries and tomatoes. Neither would be possible to grow without the sun. Each night I go to sleep waiting for the sun to rise again. The sun’s warmth brings me joy and happiness, and fun with the people I love.

Winning It All.....Then Lossing It

Have you dreamed about winning the lottery or the million dollars on Deal or No Deal? Sadly not many people are able to stay rich after winning large amounts of money. People you never met before want to become your friend, and charities start calling wanting you to donate money to their cause. The sudden change in lifestyle causes people to lose their focus on who they are, and what is important to them.

That is the scenario in the novel, “The Pearl.” The main character is blinded by the thought of what the money from selling the pearl could do for him.
I don’t believe Kino understands that there is not a straight path to happiness. The path has many obstacles. There are decisions to be made along the path that may alter what will happen. As I read the book, I became frustrated with Kino, because he was so focused on selling the pearl, he did not see the danger around him. He knew not to trust people, who were trying to get rich from his good fortune. Unfortunately some decisions he made were not always in the best interest of his family.

In the book Kino changed because of money, like others in the real world. If I ever won the lottery, I believe I would not do anything with the money for several months. I would want to think about making the right decisions for myself and my family. “The Pearl” will make you think about decisions you make, and how they can change your life.

A Tiny Saver

Usually you think of a hero as a person, such as a police officer or a firefighter. However heroes can come in unexpected forms. This story is about how an under-dog becomes a wonder-dog. It is possible for a pet to be a hero.
As an animal lover, I know how wonderful pets can be. They bring comfort when you’re sad, and love when it is most needed. This caring relationship creates a bond between the pet, and its owner, each realizing they need to protect each other. ChiChi, a chihuaha dog, alerted his owner by barking that there were people swimming in the ocean that needed help. Although ChiChi did not save his owner, he knew to help and protect people. His owners recognized that ChiChi was a hero, who helped to save the lives of the two drowning women.
The world is full of heroes, you just have to open your eyes, and ears to their stories. Heroes go above and beyond, and it is important to reward their good work. Whether it is a police officer, fire fighter, truck driver, teacher, or pet heroes deserve to be recognized and thanked for the things they do to make the world a better place

The Blind One and Her Guard

There are many types of disabilities; some are more obvious than others. A missing limb can slow you down, but a body without any spirit is the worst disability. The Red Mare in the story used the Black Stallion as a tool to get over the challenges of life. The Black Stallion and the Red Mare proves that people can live a full life, without being limited by their disability.
As I was reading, I was reminded of another story. In it, Mr. Patrick John Hughes helped his wheelchair bound son Patrick by pushing him during the band's performances. The son’s name is Patrick Henry Hughes, who has been blind and crippled since birth. This young man, though wheelchair bounded, and blind , is a genius, he is writing songs, Like the Black Stallion, the father was there to help guide someone they love to live a full life. Or like how the Black Stallion guided his band of horses, and the Red Mare, or the young boy who could have chosen to be loyal to his father or the horses he loved. We each need to make a conscience decision about how to live life. Do you want to make a difference, or are you a person content with not making the world a better place? It doesn't matter if you're healthy, blind, or in a wheelchair. Each day has a challenge. You can either accept the challenge, or let it ruin your day.
One challenge to those who are disabled is that they are labeled. The word implies that the person is limited, or not up for a challenge. The Black Stallion and the Red Mare proved that they are up to the challenge, especially with the right attitude.

A Classic Story

Alexandre Manette is a doctor. He was sent to prison for 18 years. At that time he was married, and had a 2 year old daughter named Lucie Manette. Lucie grows up believing her father is dead. Dr. Manette "lost his mind" while in prison. During those 18 years, Dr. Manette learned to make shoes. He continues this hobby after he gets out of prison.
Another major character is Charles Darney. Charles is the nephew of Marquis St. Evermonde, who is a nobleman in France. Charles leaves France to escape his family's bad reputation. He later marries Lucie.
A Tale of Two Cities begins in 1775 and continues for almost 2 decades. During this time, the American Revolution was going on, and the French Revolution was beginning. The story takes place in London, England, and Paris, France. Paris is where Dr. Manette was imprisoned. Charles Darney meets, and marries Lucie in London.
Jarvis Lorry is a family friend of the Manette's. He is a banker, and responsible for the Manette's accounts. Jarvis meets Lucie in Dover. He tells Lucie that her father is not dead, as she had thought. Lucie and Jarvis go to Paris to bring Dr. Manette back to London, after he gets out of prison.
The book continues with Lucie caring for her father, trying to improve his health. Dr. Manette recovers, and is able to be a doctor again. Five years pass, and Dr. Manette, Lucie, and Jarvis are asked to testify at the treason trial of Charles Darney in London. With the help of a lawyer, Sidney Carton, Charles is found not guilty of treason.
In the middle of the book, both Charles and Sidney are interested in Lucie. Sidney does not feel worthy of Lucie's love, but promises to "lay down his life for her." Charles and Lucie get married. Charles decides to go to France, and visits his uncle, the Marquis. While he is there, his uncle is murdered.
The book ends with Charles going back to Paris again, to help a loyal servant. Charles is imprisoned, released, and imprisoned again. At his trial, papers are read that were written by Dr. Manette while he was in prison. The papers expose the Marquis, and his twin brother, of cruelty to peasants. The twin brother is Charles's father. This time Charles is found guilty. Sidney Carton, who looks just like Charles, switches places with Charles in prison. Sidney dies in order to save Lucie from suffering the death of her husband.
I really enjoyed this book. However, I believe it's a book you need to read several times to understand the story, and pick up all the details. For example, at the beginning of the book, you don't know why Dr. Manette was put it prison. It's not until the end of the book, that you learn Dr. Manette's was imprisoned because of the Marquis and his brother. I also didn't understand why Dr. Manette started making shoes again right after Lucie and Charles got married. It took me a while to realize Dr. Manette was upset, because his daughter married into the family that had sent him to prison.

The Run Away

If you think your life is bad, you should compare it to Hollies Woods. Living her life as an orphan, she runs from her foster homes looking for a feeling of belonging. She finally finds it, only to have it taken away suddenly in a tragic accident. Hollies blames herself for the accident and again runs away. Yet she keeps going back to where she had that sense of belonging. Along the way Hollies learns the true meaning or family, and to not run from your fears, but to challenge yourself to face them.

A Knight's Tale

By Sir Walter Scott

The story takes place in England, during a time when the Saxons and the Normans do not like each other. Ivanhoe is the son of a Saxon, Lord Cedric. Lord Cedric disinherits Ivanhoe after he follows King Richard, a Norman, to a crusade. Lord Cedric is the guardian of Lady Rowena. She is a distant relative. Ivanhoe loves Lady Rowena, but his father wants Rowena to marry a Saxon of royal blood.
Ivanhoe returns to England, traveling in disguise. In fact he is staying at his father’s castle, with Isaac of York as guests. Ivanhoe overhears Brian de Bois-Guilbert tell his men to rob and kidnap Isaac. It is planned for the following day. Before it could happen, Ivanhoe sneaks into Isaac’s room, and warns him. Ivanhoe and Isaac leave through the back gate with the help of Ivanhoe’s old friend and squire, Gurth. To repay the stranger for helping him, Isaac offers Ivanhoe a horse and armor to compete in the knights’ tournament.
On the first day of the tournament Ivanhoe, still in disguise, defeats all the other knights. Ivanhoe is rewarded by picking the Queen of the Tournament. He chooses Rowena. The next day Ivanhoe leads his group of knights against Brian’s. Ivanhoe’s is about to win, when he is wounded. Brian and two other knights continue to battle the wounded Ivanhoe. Suddenly a black knight enters the tournament. He defeats Brian and his group, but quickly leaves. Ivanhoe is declared the tournament winner.
At the winners’ ceremony, Rowena declares Ivanhoe the King of the Tournament. He takes off his helmet, is crowned, and then faints from his wounds. Ivanhoe is taken to get medical help, by Isaac and Rowena. They take him to Rebecca, who happens to be Isaac’s daughter. Rebecca recognizes Ivanhoe, whom she has always loved.
After a few days of rest, the group starts to travel to Isaac’s home. On the way, they join Cedric’s party. Cedric does not recognize his son. The group is kidnapped by people claiming to be Saxons. The group is taken to a castle that King Richard gave Ivanhoe. Richard’s evil brother, Prince John, had taken the castle away from Ivanhoe.
Gurth witnessed the kidnapping. He tries to get help, but he is stopped. Gurth gets help from Robin Hood. Robin Hood gets his men, and the black knight to storm the castle to free Ivanhoe, Cedric, and the others.
The kidnappers are really Brian and Maurice. They want Rowena and Rebecca to marry them. They threaten to kill Cedric. Robin Hood offers a priest before Cedric’s execution. The priest is really Gurth. Gurth switches places with Cedric. Once Cedric is out of the castle, Robin Hood, the black knight, and the men attack the castle.
Meanwhile, Isaac starts a fire in his cell that races out of control. The castle burns, and starts to fall apart. Gurth rescues Rowena, and Brian takes Rebecca. Rebecca does not want to go, but Brian forces her. The black knight rescues the others.
Brian takes Rebecca to Prince John to get married. Before that happens, Ivanhoe and the black knight find them. Ivanhoe kills Brian. The black knight reveals himself as King Richard, and Cedric reunites with Ivanhoe. Rowena and Ivanhoe later marry.
I liked this book because it had adventure, and romance. I would recommend this book to others.

A Great Friend In To Different Versions

Old Yeller is the story of a young boy, and his dog. Living on a small farm in Texas, the Coate's are a hard-working family. They are struggling with money problems, after the Civil War. Jim, the father, must leave his family to go on a cattle drive to earn money. Travis, the oldest son, is forced to grow up fast as the, “man of the house." Old Yeller, the adopted family dog, helps Travis keep the family going.

The book and movie Old Yeller are alike in several ways. Mr. Coate’s drives cattle to Kansas for "cash" money. Arliss, the youngest son, is known to make up a story or, “a big windy.” Old Yeller saves Arliss from a mother bear. Travis and Old Yeller get hurt by hogs, when they tried to tag the young hogs with the Coate's family mark. Finally, Old Yeller must be killed, because he was bitten by a mad wolf.

There are several large and small differences between the book and the movie. In the book, Old Yeller has a stubby tail and bitten up ears, but in the movie he doesn't have those features. A bull fight is not shown in the movie. The bull with hydrophobia wasn't shown in the movie, so Travis didn't shoot three animals with hydrophobia. Travis fell out of a tree in the movie, unlike the sand cave that collapsed under him in the book. The pup Lisbeth brought to Travis was not speckled; instead it looked liked Old Yeller. After Old Yeller was bitten by the mad wolf, Travis shot Old Yeller right away. In the movie, they kept Old Yeller in the corn crib for a month to see if he was infected.

Old Yeller is a classic story of a boy who misses his first dog, who had died. He tries not to love the new family dog, but as he grows up, so does his love for Old Yeller. In the end, the boy shows his love for the dog by not allowing Old Yeller to suffer when he is bitten by a mad wolf. The story is filled with exciting events. Starting with a bear attack, and then saving Travis from the hogs, Old Yeller finally saves the family one last time in a heroic fight with the mad wolf.

King Of Reptiles

The Komodo dragon is the king of reptiles, because it is the largest living reptile. It lives on the islands of central Indonesia. The Komodo dragon has a long flat head, rounded snout, large body with scaly skin, bowed legs, and a huge, muscular tail. Although it looks slow, it is actually quick and agile, can climb trees and can swim. A dragon can grow to 10 feet in length, weigh up to 300 pounds and eat 80% of their body weight. Their keen sense of smell helps them hunt. Dragons will eat most anything, including deer, pig, smaller dragons, water buffalo and humans.

Komodo dragons were almost driven to extinction, but now they are protected. There are now between 3000 and 5000 dragons in the world.

Mouse

He was tiny
Gray and white
With a long tail
And whiskers too!

His nose was pink
He squeaked when he spoke
He looked like a mouse
He squeaked like a mouse
He wigged his nose like a mouse.

His name is Mouse …….but he’s our kitten

In A Cave

I am surrounded by trees, plants, and long grass along the flowing river in the valley below. Listen to the sounds of birds singing and Eland running. The unique smells from flowers fill my lungs, adding to my relaxation. I am drawn to the smell of oranges. I pick one from the tree and feel the rough peel against my fingers, reminding me of the texture of the cave wall. Sitting by the cave entrance, I peel the orange and enjoy its sweet juice.

Animals

Little four legged creature
Wander hopelessly on the streets.
Digging in garbage cans for something to eat.
Flea bitten smelly and scared.
Dirty wet and cold.
Hoping one day, they’ll have a home of they’re own.
Sleeping on sidewalks and under benches at the park.
Fur falling out and nails growing apart.
Grown men chasing them
Beating them with a kick and a punch.
What did they do?
They were only looking for lunch.
I look at these creatures,
Abandoned and alone.
Hoping one day I could give them a home.
A nice hot bath and treats all around.
When I grow up.
I want to save the animals.

I didn't write this poem but I think it is a awesome poem.

People Of Old Tales

Robin
Brave, Kind, Gentle, Scared
Son of Sir John de Bureford
Lover of whittling
Who feels helpless
Who needs mother
Who fears the plague
Who gives a doll
Who would like to see his father
Resident of England
de Bureford

Sir Peter
Brave, Kind, Gentle, Protector
Cousin of Sir Hugh
Lover of Lady Constance
Who feels trapped
Who needs food
Who fears the Welsh
Who gives protection
Who would like to see other knights
Resident of England
de Lindsay

Brother
Kind, Gentle, Smart, Helpful
Relative of other brothers
Lover of God
Who feels like helping
Who needs God
Who fears the Welsh
Who gives lessons
Who would like to see Robin
Resident of England
Luke

John
Fast, Smart, Brave, Kind
Son of his mother
Lover of music
Who feels jolly
Who needs a message
Who fears the Welsh
Who gives a message
Who would like to see his mother
Resident of England
Go-In-The-Wind

What Does "Sheep: Mean?

In the book, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Santiago’s sheep represent people relying on others to support them throughout life. In life people can’t do everything by themselves, you need someone to lean on. The sheep are just like that but they lean more heavily on Santiago because they are not as smart he is: “As long as the boy knew how to find the best pastures in Andalusia, they would be his friends“(7). This quote shows that the sheep know who they can lean on to show them the way to what they need in life. Whether he knows it or not Santiago leans on the sheep as much as they do. The sheep give him their wool; he sells the wool and gets money that keeps him alive: “’I need to sell some wool,’ the boy said to the Merchant” (5). It’s the same with human to human friendships. People support each other and help show each other the way to fulfilling your life.

Who’s at Fault?

An officer is not at fault in the article, “Harvard professor gates arrested at Cambridge home.” Around 12:44 p.m. on a sunny Thursday afternoon a call came in to the Cambridge police about a possible break-in involving an African American man. This man turned out to be Harvard professor Gates, who was just having trouble with his jammed front door. Gate was arrested on Thursday afternoon at his Cambridge home, for disorderly conduct. While questioning Gates, the officer was accused the officer of being a racist pro-filer and then threaten him by saying he had “No idea who he was messing with.” Gates continued to yell at the officer both inside and outside of the home. The officer was just doing his job and Gates overreacted by taking it too far.

Tire Expiration

Expiration dates should clearly be put on tires. Every year 3,000-6,000 people in the U.S. are killed by not knowing when their tire expires. According to news articles and papers, there have been simulations that show a tire being defected and a professional driver having a hard time getting the car under control. Now, imagine a regular civilian having an even harder time trying to control his or her car. That is why we would like to propose a bill that puts expiration dates on tires. This bill will help reduce the car crashes in the USA and will save thousands of dollars in taxpayer money.

Section 1:
In this bill we want to enforce to keep your tires for no longer than 6-10 years. Driving with tires over 6-10 years old is an avoidable safety hazard. The rubber in older tires begins to break down which may cause the tire to rupture causing the car to lose control. The expiration date for bringing tires in will be after 10 years after production date. But we will specifically put the law into place 40 days after our bill is approved. This gives the people time check their tires and see if they need to be changed or see how many years they have left.
Section 2:
Our Auto Mechanics and Admission testers will enforce the law. They will be the one’s checking the expiration dates on the tires and either replacing them or telling the pedestrian how many years until the tires need to be replaced. Also, when they arrive at the mechanics shop, they will be given a pamphlet to explain why the tires are being replaced. These pamphlets will be handed out at the mechanics shop and admissions testing. They will also be handed out at any car check up when the tires are replaced. This ensures that if people don’t exactly remember when their tires were changed they have their auto mechanics to remind and check up on them.

Section 3:
The penalties for driving with or selling tires over 10 years old is a $750 fine. This fine will only be used 5 years after the bill has been passed to ensure time for retailers to check all of their stock and drivers to check all of their tires. Any retailer, who continues to sell outdated tires, will be fined 70% of possible profits on tires after the bill has been in effect for 5 years. This fine should be enough to make sure everyone on the road is up to par with the safety measure put in place.

Section 4:
There are about 3,000-6,000 people who die in car crashes every year in the U.S. related to expired tires. Not only is there a way to stop this but it is cheap and simple. Every year approximately $5,000 is spent on individual car crashes. With replacing your tires every year, you can save a lot of money. This decreases car crashes and is better for everyone.

Final Section:
Every year there are many people who don’t replace tires that need to be replaced. This results to accidents, family tragedies, and death. Hospital bills, car bills and everything can stack up so quickly. But with one quick and simple trip to the mechanic shop, your tires can be replaced and the hassle of bills stacking up and family members missing disappears. With your approval of the bill, a better life can be made for not only the U.S. but for families everywhere.

Vaccines That Need To Be Mandatory

Vaccines should be mandatory for children. Just because some types of viruses haven’t been seen in the US in a long time doesn’t mean they won’t come back. All it takes is one person to get the disease and it’ll spread like wild fire. In other countries they don’t have the resources to get vaccines so there is a bigger chance of getting a disease. It’s like we’re living in a bubble, the moment someone comes back from a trip with that disease the bubble is popped. Why would you put your children through the pain of the disease itself and the pains of the treatments? Vaccines service as a shield against pain and suffering.