The Dog Named Lady

My cousins are in town right now and for my reading I read a book called the Dog Named Lady. I read this picture book to them. It was really dumb but they enjoyed it. It was about this little white curly haired dog named Lady. In the book Lady goes on an adventure and meets lots of other dogs. It just so happens that dogs can talk in this book. I miss the days where stuff like this was actually interesting. Being a little kid is so easy, I really miss it. 

Yay Vikings!

Finally a big win out of the Vikes. Tarvaris Jackson got another shot at starting quarterback, and what a show he put on. In the article I read called "T-Jack's big day leads Vikings." It talks about the win the Vikings had against Arizona. I also watched parts of this game. Playing in place of injured Gus Frerotte, Jackson threw 4 touchdowns and the Vikings beat NFC West champion Arizona 35-14 to stay alone atop the NFC North. Adrian Peterson rushed for 165 yards on 28 carries, his franchise record ninth 100-yard game of the season for the Vikings (9-5), who won their fourth in a row. They can clinch the division title with another victory or loss by Chicago. This is a great sign for the Vikes! This win was much needed, and from this I think they will continue to gain some confidence and do some damage the rest of the season! Go Vikes!

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/36142909.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs

Missing Man?

In the article I read today, on the startribune online. A 45 year old man named Mark Vetsch has gone missing. St. Cloud Police are searching for a vulnerable adult who has a history of mental illness He apparently left his St. Cloud home on the evening of Dec. 3, driving a 1998 green Ford Taurus with Minnesota license plates RNY890. Police said he left a note indicating he may hurt himself. In the article they mention that the man has no weapons with him but no one knows where he is going or where he currently is. I think its really weird that people do this kind of stuff. I mean I know he has mental problems but still, why just randomly drive off? Hopefully the police are able to find this guy and figure out whats up with him. When they find him they should probably get hime mental help so things like this don't happen again.

http://www.startribune.com/local/35839734.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUT

Is Gaborik gone?

Marian Gaborik has been with the Wild for a very long time, he is pretty much the "backbone" of the team. He is the one player that everyone has always known the Wild for having, unfortantly hes looking for a trade. In the article I read called Gaborik and Wild: A road to nowhere? by Michael Russo, it talks about how Garborik is looking for a trade. Why? He desires a more wide-open system, assistant GM Tom Lynn has presented Gaborik statistics to prove he is not held back. Gaborik is tired of being leaned on, and wants consistent linemates. He has been frustrated by the Wild's lack of impact trade-deadline and free-agent moves. I don't blame him. The Wild never spends any money on well known players. Nor do they ever have a good team in general, they have yet to win a stanley cup. It would be bad to lose Gaborik because he is pretty much all the team has.

How bout those Vikings...

The article I read is called "Suspended Vikings head off field, maybe into court." Its about how Kevin Williams and Pat Williams will be suspended for the final four games of the regular season without pay for violating the leagues rules on anabolic steroids and other substances. However both of them, along with four others who were suspended on Tuesday, may apply for injunctions Wednesday in U.S. District Court in an try to continue playing. This is crucial for the Vikings to figure this out. There finally winning and they need to get things straight if they want to make play-offs. I don't know a whole lot about football and if these guys are "key" players, but if they are they better figure things out. I don't understand how professinal athletes who have everything going for them screw up by doing drugs and stuff like that. Its really terrible because kids look up to them.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/35435274.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs

Oh boy...whats america got to say about this one?

The article I read was called "Obama's picks: Longtime advisers, political foes to fill top positions in new administration." Its about how Barack Obama is planning on Monday to announce 6 people to fill administration posts, he is working at record speed to name the leadership team that will assist his job through a economy time during war and recession.
His selections include advisers and political foes, Democratic primary rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state and President Bush's defense secretary, Robert Gates, staying in his current job. How do you think America is going to handle this? I for one think its a good deciscion because it really shows his character that he is having his rival assist him. I don't know if other poeple will agree with me though, I guess we will just have to see how this goes.

Brothers story

My little brother who is 10 had a paper due. I read his paper to help give him advice or tips for his paper. His story was about a make believe fishing trip. It is kind of dumb but I give him lots of credit, it was a well written 7 page story for a 5th grader. I personally hate fishing but both of my brothers are obsessed and its annoying. So when I read this it took all of my strength to not chuck it out the window of our house. It was about a trip to some werid lake where he caught lots of big fish like pike, walleye, muskey, and bass. Every fish he caught was a new record in size and he went down in history for catching the most fish and the biggest in one weekend. Overall I would never ever read a story like this, I only read it because it was my brothers.

Voting

Today I read an article called "Rejected absentee votes may decide it" in the Star Tribune. This article is about the U.S. Senate recount and how it is still incomplete, attorneys on both sides have gotten ready for the next question on whether to reexamine thousands of rejected absentee ballots. Norm Coleman has a very small lead over Al Franken, 180 votes as of Saturday night, the question is how and when absentee ballots should be counted. This is very interesting because just the slighlightest add of absentee ballots could make all the difference. Personally I don't care that much about this, because I cant vote. I just think its crazy how Minnesota is really divided one way or another and how much of a nail biter this is. I guess if I could vote I would vote for Norm Coleman because Franken is planning on rasing taxes alot and since Obama is planning on doing that too, to combine them both would be alot. But I mean either way I think we will still be in good hands. People make such a big deal about elections, especially this year, and until I can vote I plan on even trying to get invovled in the chaos.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/34936534.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUl

Robberies

I read in the Star Tribune an article called "Minneapolis police seek tips on series of robberies." Its about how the Minneapolis police have been faced with many robberies and are seeking help. They are searching local homeless shelters to find a man responsible for 4 gun point robberies. I think that this is really scary because any time I hear stories like this i just get kind of freaked out. Its like why are there weird people like this who kill other people. I mean think of how hard it would be to be a police man/woman. Now in time the majority of cases have to deal with murders or robberies, what has happened to this world? I mean its almost common to hear about shootings in places like Minneapolis now. Hopefully people will start to figure it out and realize that killing and stealing and violence is not the way to live.

Twilight Craze

After being in Cloquet for this past weekend for a hockey tournament I realized that I had to join in the Twilight craze. Everyone on my hockey team was reading it so I started reading one of their copies of the first book while I was up there, and I'm hooked. Its about a girl named Isabella "Bella" Swan who moves from sunny Phoenix, Arizona, to rainy Forks, Washington, tolive with her father, Charlie. She does this because her mother, Renée, can travel with her new husband. One the first day of school Bella sits next to Edward Cullen in class. Edward doesn't really like her. He even tries to change his schedule to avoid her. So far I'm not far into it at all but I think it is really good. I am excited to see what will happen next. I think that Edward and Bella will end up dating actually.

Peace?

I read an article on Star Tribune.com called "Iraq's Cabinet overwhelmingly approves US security pact, parliament next hurdle." In this article it talked about how Iraq's Cabinet approved a pact with the United States on Sunday, ending issues with American forces. The army is to remain ther for three more years in the country until. For Iraqis, the agreement was kind of "ify" because the war will be over but our troops must be there until 2012. This is very good for us because this has been an issue for so long. I think it will work out well because you can't just pull the army out because that would be to hard but if we set a future date to it will be easier. This is also good because the money we will be spending there will stop. This is also good because its showing that our country is finally going somewhere with this war and putting it to a a gradual end. This could also be decision with aftermath because with there only being 3 years left it could get very crazy. Hopefully everyone there will still be able to be safe and in good hands along with the citizens here.


http://www.startribune.com/world/34544249.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7EaDiaMDCiUZ

Space Traveling

The article I read is called "Minnesota astronaut heads for space this week." Its about Minnesota astronaut who is going up into space for her second time. The ship is called Endeavour and is scheduled to lift off Friday night. Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, the woman who is flying, is the first woman assigned as the lead spacewalker on a shuttle flight. She is 45 years old and orignally was in the Navy but decided to switch to space. This is very cool because it takes alot of knowlegde and bravery to go into space. Its interesting that this is her 2nd time going up, there are millions of people that have/ never will go up into space. The best part is that she is from Minnesota, I didn't know that there were astronauts from here.

http://www.startribune.com/local/34173904.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7EaDiaMDCiUZ

Disney Heroes

Disney PIXAR Heroes

I chose this category because the reason I love pixar movies is because they are about average toys, monsters, cars, fish, bugs, people, even mice that save the day. In each movie the main character is usually just a normal person that is set to make a difference and in the end they are sucessful. These characters don't get enough credit for the things they accomplish, and even though they are cartoons they teach life long lessons that anything can be done even for the smallest of creatures or the biggest of people.

Buzz Lightyear and Woody are major disney heroes. Woody was the hero first. He was what every kid wanted, he lived in the Cowboy hero doll era in Toy Story. Then Buzz Lightyear came around and he was known as the new and improved hero. At first they hate eachother but then they put together there differences and were one overall hero in the end when they made sure all the toys made it to Andy's new house.

James P. Sullivan a.k.a Sulley and Mike Wazoswki are both Disney heros because they risk there life to save a human's. Humans are not allowed in the monster world so when Boo comes here, even after being told how dangerous children are, they takes care of her and hide her from other people that would do harm to her, like Randall. They are also able to return her back to the human world safely.

In the movie The Incredibles, Mr. Incredible says this at the begining;

"No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... for ten minutes! "

This quote shows that Mr. Incredible is out saving the world constantly and even though it gets to be alot he still does it. Even after superheros were banned he and his family end up savind the day.

Another important quote is;

"I remembered! P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. I remembered it again!"

This was said by Dory in Finding Nemo. When Nemo was taken away Marlin was set on a mission to find him. He then joined forces with Dory who even though had a terrible memory she was able to remember this address, which in the end helped them find Nemo. They were to very unlikely friends but they worked together to find Nemo.

This video shows that Flick from A Bugs Life is a hero. He could of easily gotten eaten by that bird but he risks his life to save dot. Him and the "warriors" save her life to prove that they can stay with the colony and help fight of Hopper, and in the end they defeat Hopper.

Conclusion:

All of these characters were heros in there story. Even if being the hero meant doing something as small as helping another toy not get left behind or something as big as savind the world from evil, it goes to show that everything has meaning. And to be a hero you don't have to save a life or something huge like that being a hero can be just helping your friends. Thats why Disney is so great because all there movies show an average being helping someone in someway, and that is what a hero truely is.

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia

In the People Magazine issue for October I read an article about Maureen McCormick a.k.a Marcia Brady. When I was little I would always watch the Brady Bunch with my mom on Nick at Night so it was really werid to read this article and find out about what a terrible at home life she had. The article was about how she wrote a book about her life story. She talked about how being on the tv show the Brady Bunch was like the family she never had. Her parents weren't around for her and weren't very family like. After the show ended she started doing cocaine and became bullimic. She also began suffering from depression. She also talks about how her and Barry Williams, who played Greg Brady, kissed. And show she went on dates with people like Michael Jackson and Steve Martin. This is just another example of a teen/child star who has everything going for them and it goes down the drain.

Reading to Young Ones..

Once again I read to my little brother, same book still, Murder at the Winter Games by Roy MacGregor. He's a really slow reader. But anyways in the book were at my favorite part where Nish, one of the main characters, holds the gross-out olympics. This is where he thinks of different events for all the teams in the tournament to compete in. They have to do werid gross stuff like burp the alphabet and stuff like that. My favorite character in the series is Travis Lindsay. Hes my favorite character because he is the team leader and he is the one that is not super brave but not shy. I can relate to him alot, I am that same way. He also puts a lot of thought and concentration into his hockey game, as do I. He is very postive and keeps the team together in tough situations. When I was little and would read these books I would pretend that I was part of the team and that me and Travis were best friends.

Boys Arm

One of the articles I this week was very interesting. It is called Twins Cities Reconstructive Surgeon Honored by Paul Walsh. It is about a John Thompson, who had his arms cut off by power equipment in North Dakota 16 years ago, was honored for a surgery and his career. Dr. Allen Van Beek was the doctor who did surgery for 8 hours on him when his arms were cut off to replace him. Now the patient has become the honored doctor. The 2 doctors have actually become good friends. This is very cool because it goes to show that one little thing in life could change what you end up doing. Because of this operation he decieded to do the same operation for others. I think it is also very cool that he has stayed friends with the one who operated on him. Its people like him that take oppurtunities like this to do something for others. Where as there are some that think nothing of it.

Little Kid Books

The past few nights I have been reading to my little brother. He is in 5th grade and loves to read, unlike myself unfortantly. He is currently reading Murder at the Winter Games by Roy MacGregor. So before he goes to bed he asks me to read a chapter for him because there not that long. This is one of my all time favorite books. I read it when I was his age. The overall book series is about a Canadian pee-wee hockey team that goes on lots of different trips and find adventures on them and get stuck in mysteries and stuff like that. The one that he is reading is about them going to the winter games in Salt Lake City. They are playing in the International Pee-Wee Olympics. One of the people they meet there are killed and they try to figure out who killed him. I love this book and series because I love hockey. I have read every book in this series because they are quick reads and they are very interesting. If I could find good books like these that I enjoy, I might like reading more.

Tom Petters

It's weird to know someone who is such a nice and generous guy and then find out a few years later that he has been cheating local charities and organizations. In the Star Tribune online for the past few days I've been keeping up with the whole Tom Petters fraud case. I've read most of the articles written. The reason why is my mom had his daughter in her Wednesday night church small group for 4 years, so my mom new him pretty well. I met him a few times and he was super nice. I also went to his daughters graduation party and it was one of the coolest ones I had been to. I also went to his son's funeral when he was stabbed about a couple years ago. It is really terrible what he has done to all these companies. Even local ministers and non-profit organizations are joining together in the law suits. This whole scam will go down as one of the biggest ones ever.

link: http://www.startribune.com/business/30825454.html?elr=KArksUUUU

The Switch is Coming

There are 133 days left until the federaly mandated switch to digital tv. In the article I read in Star Tribune called "The Feb. 17 transition to digital television has raised concerns over antennas and other issues" by Randy A. Salas. It talks about how Minnesota has the second highest number of TV sets in the nation that are affected by the Feb. 17 transition. People are concerned with the problems that will and have started arriving. Such as many people who have gotten cable boxes, there not working properly. The government is doing everything they can to help make the transition as smooth as possibly, such as giving out 40 dollar coupons to help pay. I personally think that it is so awesome that they are offically making the change nationwide. It is must needed considering all the places like, Esse Driving School, that need this change. At first the switch will probably be rocky for most people but in the end everyone will hopefully agree that it was a great idea.

Salmonella

Recently in the Star Tribune online i read an article called Salmonella Sickens People in 12 States. It did not say who wrote the article. It was about the government is telling people to cook their frozen chicken dinners thoroughly because 32 people in 12 states were sickened with salmonella. The main chicken dinners were, "chicken cordon bleu" and "chicken kiev." The USDA said that the people who were sickened did not read the packing to cook it at the appropriate time and temperature. Minnesota was one of the 12 states affected by this. The people who were sickened, I think, are just plain stupid. The boxes clearly state for how long and what temperature things should be cooked at. Also salmonella is something most people know about and the fact that people are still getting sick is kind of pathetic. The only thing that is good about the article is that it again repeats everything people should know about cooking chicken, but hopefully this time people will actually pay attention.

Country

I recently read an article in People Magazine about Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler and Julianne Hough. The article is called Country Girl Talk written by Eileen Finan. I really like this article because it shows how they all come together and are friends. One thing that really stands out to me is in the article Taylor Swift talks about how for breakfast she eats Cracker Barrel biscuits with apple butter and eggs with ketchup. This stands out to me a lot because girls these days get a sense that famous woman do not eat fatty foods and that its all about being really skinny. It's nice to know that Taylor Swift is a good role model for girls in the sense that eating is good. She is also a very down to earth person and her music and lyrics really come from the heart. I also like how in the article Hough said that they are not very competitive because there all trying to pursue the same dreams. It goes to show that not all famous stars dislike people of there genre. 

Number 1

The title of the piece is Family Matters. The authors are Lorenzo Benet and Jill Smolowe. I read this article in People Magazine. Sarah Palin who is running for Vice President is currently having to deal with many things happening in her life while dealing with the elections. The author talks about how Sarah Palin served two terms as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. In 2006 she became Governor of Alaska. She went from being a small state Governor to running for Vice President, i'd say thats a huge step. Once it was decided she was going to do this her 17 year old daughter announced she was 5 months pregnant. She is also the mother of 5 children. At age 43 she gave birth to a child with Down syndrome. I very much agree with the authors position because she is dealing with a lot in her life while going through elections. But I think she is fully capable of making a successful Vice President. I liked this article because I like finding out new information concerning politics. 

The characters I think are most different are Lyod and Codi. One of the main reasons why they are different is the fact that Codi doesn't feel like she belongs and Lyod knows his place. Codi has been searching for herself throughout the book. She goes to Grace hoping to find herself and even there she still feels lost. Lyod on the other hand seems very confident in life. Once way he shows her he belongs is when he brings her to his house to meet his family. You can tell that he is very comfortable where he is because he likes it so much he wants to bring Codi there. From that you can kind of get the feeling that Lyod is helping her try to become more comfortable and feel at home. Another thing that is different is that Lyod is very knowledgable about finding your true home. He shows the knowledge when he is explaining to Codi about how dogs have no permanent home but can make one any where they are and feel at home where ever they are. One way they are the same is that they both feel incomplete. Meaning that when Lyod lost his brother he thought he lost apart of himself. He talks about this feeling with Codi. This is similar to how Codi feels like she is missing a major part in her life, being her mom and her baby she was going to have. Throughout her life she has always felt incomplete with out them.

Musical

Music is something that does not run in my family. Both of my parents adore listening to music on the radio and singing along but other then that they had no musical knowledge. If it weren't for my great grandma Ginny, I would be in the same place as my parents. She was an amazing pianist, when i was about 5 years old she taught me how to play my first song, Silent Night, on the piano. After years of listening to her play she inspired me to start taking lessons in first grade. In third grade she passed away. I still continued to take lessons, but by that time is discovered something new I wanted to learn, the guitar. I made an agreement with my mom that after my 5th year of piano, at the beginning of 6th grade I could start learning that. I picked it up very quickly and now after a short year of lessons, I am still playing. I now write my own songs on both of them and lyrics I can sing to them with. Last year at my middle schools singer's concert i sang one of my songs. Music is something i love and cherish very much and my friends and family definitely see that in me. The way they see me and I see myself is, musical.