They Once were Giants Blog Post #2

Since I last wrote about my book not too nuch has happened. In the story Hebron has become one of the most dominate small schools in all of Illinois. Bigger schools have lost to the tiny school and some dont even want to face them. Almost every year Hebron made it to the big section playoffs but end up losing to Rockford and other schools. Fans sre still encouraged that they can win. There second coach left to a bigger school and a better job so they hired a new young coach who just graduated from the university of Northwestern. I cant wait to read more and give more information to you.

Once They Were Giants

My current book that I am reading for fourth quarter is called "Once They Were Giants" by Scott Johnson and Julie Kistler. This true story is about the small city and High School of Hebron, Illinois and there great basketball history. Back in the 30's-50's Hebron was a hude basketball town and it still is today. Back then the school had a total enrollment of 98 students. There odds to win were against them but every year they would play as hard as possible and finally the small school perservered and beat the odds by winning the state high school championship in 1952. This is a great story and right now I am currently reading about how the school has had to change coaches after their current coach got a better offer at a bigger school even though he was the coach for ten plus years.

Topic- Bollywood: Exercising Bollywood-Style

In the famous and probably best known movie in the last month Slumdog Millionaire has encouraged people to do things other than going to go see the movie. It has caused a sensation f or people to get out to the gyms and take dance classes about the Bollywood stlye. I think its a great idea that things are motavating and encouraging people to get out and excercise to something different to their culture and not only are you working your mind but your also working your mind watching and learning about different cultures that you may have not studied before the movie release.
Link to the article by the NewYork Times
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/exercising-bollywood-style/?scp=1&sq=bollywood&st=cse

Topic: Addressing Culture - After 2008's historic riots, China's Tibetan communities not celebrating the new year

Alot of Tibetan places are boycotting any style of the new year to boycot China after their historic riots and chinese control over the tibetans. I think it is sad that a country is controling another country for power and control. It also shows why America is against communist governments. I think we should all take time and see how priviledged we are to live in America and have our democracy.
Link - http://www.startribune.com/world/40219442.html?elr=KArksUUUU

Topic:Religion- South Korea's first Roman Catholic cardinal dies at 86

I was reading an article on south Korea's Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan who was South Korea's first cardinal. I think it was interesting to me because when I think of South Korea and asia I guess I dont really think of christianity. I think of more budhism and other religions. I think it was also interesting because he passed away at the age of 86 and has been the cardnial for almost 40 years. Its sad to see him pass.

Link from the Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/world/39658412.html?elr=KArksUUUU

Topic- Gender Roles

The article i was reading on the star tribune was about both boys and girls sthletics. Because of our struggling economy schools across the nation have started to cut girls and boys games. this I do not think is fair for kids because they put so much time anf effort into their talents and the schools are just shutting them down by taking 2 or 3 games out of the football season, or stopping certain sports all together which is not fair to kids who aren't good or talented enough to play football, kockey, basketball, ect... Whats your opinion?
Link to article - http://www.startribune.com/nation/39357252.html?elr=KArksUUUU

Topic - Culture

Former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami says he is running again for president against current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. I think that it is really wierd how a former president can come back and run again. That would be really wierd if lets say Bill Clinton or George Bush came back next time and ran again. now this couldnt happen since they sevred two terms but its something to think about a former leader trying to be the leader again.

Link - http://www.startribune.com/world/39282812.html?elr=KArksUUUU

Peanut Outbreak

Im sure that you have all herd about the outrageous peanut butter outbreak which raises the question "is are food ever really safe to eat?" Its scary when we here about people dying from eating foods in our common day grocery store and that the FDA needs to take action and step up to prevent these fatalities which should have never happened in the first place.

Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/nation/38746102.html?elr=KArksUUUU

Listening is an Act of Love

For my reading minute Jonny and I will be reading from a book called Listening Is an Act of Love. The stories are based from a small group called "storycorps". It started out very small and people just started telling them their stories. After time they just started becoming bigger and bigger and no many people know about them and are telling their stories. We have not finished yet but a story that we are going to read we both very much enjoyed. The story is by Paul Mortimer, 49 and Shawn Fox, 39 Interviwed each other. Now we chose this and even though it can be graphic it also shows some parts of american lives that can sometimes go unnoticed. The story is about a man who buys illeagal drugs and then accidentally shoots the drug dealer. This a a very good story so we hope that you will enjoy!







http://www.storycorps.net/book?gclid=COqmnY7Zs5cCFRs-awod43oojA

Wild Fast Start

If you haven't payed any attention to the Minnesota Wild this year you might want to start. I was reading an article in the star tribune about how the Wild are one of the best teams right now and are off to a really hot start.Right now the wild are the only team in the NHL who still dont have a single loss in regulation this year and its all thanks to their perfect penalty kill. They lead the league with only 8.7 penalty minutes a game and have not let a single goal score when they are down a man. So far they are off to a great start and fans are hoping that the success can continue for the Minesota Wild.

Star Tribune article
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/33479044.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUBP7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU

World Series

I have been reading both in the newspapers and sports illustrated about the World Series. It will kick off this week between the Phillidelphia Phillies and The Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Its been quite a season for the rays who have never had a winning record but the shock everybody by winning their division and now making it to the wotld series. I think this series is deffinatly worth watching. Cant wait to see the winner.

Hero's

Well when somebody says hero the first thing that really comes to my mind is probably a super hero. When you think of super hero's you think of the people and characters who are there to help the city with their supernatural powers. Some of these characters would include batman, Superman, The Incredibles, Spiderman, Flash, Green Lantern and the list could go on for forever. When people think of these they sometimes forget some of the underdogs. Super Heros that people just dont think they are any good or dont want them around at all. These could include Underdog, Hancock, Robin, Mr. Incredible at sometimes and others.

Politics

Im sure that most of you have read the Edina paper the Zephrus but in their last issue it was all about the prsidential electon. I have followed the the election closely and the paper really intrigued me. I was able to read about the different views of each candidate and was able to see how our school would have voted. In the polls it showed that Obama would have one by alot. But Obama is liked by alot of younger voters. Im very excited to see how the election plays out and who are next President will be.

Video Games Decline

In an article in the star tribune video games sales have taken a big hit. this was expected with how the economy is going but that may not be th only reason. Some others are blaming that Halo 3 could also be a reson. You may not have known this but the game Halo 3 accounted for a third or all game sales in september. I know its a little shocking to myself. I would expect video games sale to drop even more until this economy crisis is fixed.

Myspace and jobs

Well in a new article in the newspaper Myspace is now allowing people to promote buisnesses and products on the popular website. People know that this is not something new. Goggle has been doing the same thing but this may give people more options to get their products out to the people. Not only is it availible to small buisnesses but its also available to small bands who cant afford to promote their band to the nation. I like this idea because i think that it will give people more opportunities to promte a sell to the public.

Hispanic Players

Hello viewers,
some things that i have read recently was an article about how hispanic players are starting to almost take over baseball. Baseball has always been the american sport and tradition. Now if you look at teams such as the Los Angeles Angles who have eight or more hispanic players on there everyday 25 man roster that it is not so much as an american game anymore. Most of the great players today are hispanic such as Vladimir Guerrero, David Ortiz, Alexs Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Johan Santana and the list can go on. In Central and South America Baseball is a huge part of many cultures in country's like Peurto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba. Scouts are always looking there for the next great player which so many of the geats come from. Which brings us back to the question of is the american sport of baseball really american anymore? I will let you the viewers decide what you think on this interesting topice.

Phil Mickelson Injury

I was just reading an article about Phil Mickelson the pro Golfer is dealing with some respitory problems. This may prevent him from playing the opening rounds of the Buick Invitational. Mickelson who has played extremly well at the Buick Invitational. In fact he has won it 3 times and wants to make it a fourth but docters say he shouldn't play. We'll just have to see how it all plays out.

A Civil Action

In the world we live in today some people just dont really care about pollution and think well its just one small thing what harm can it bring? Well in the movie A Civil Action it showed that when a company was disposing of chemicals the wrong way by just dumping them showed that very bad events could occur. The chemicals spread into the water and it was making people very sick. Eight children died because of the issue of chemicals. it truly shows us that if we dont pay close attention and dont worry about pollution some very bad events could occur.

- Jason K33

Vikings Make A Switch

Well if you pay any attention to the vikings lately or read sports illustrated you have noticed that they have decided to switch from Tavaris Jackson to the old Veteran Gus Ferrotte. This is not Ferrotte's first time in a Vikings uniform. If you recall Gus was here about two or three years ago backing up Daunte Culpepper. Ferrotte now at age thirty-five hoped that he could make a difference for the team and he did. Gus got them their first win of the season against the Carolina Panthers. Vikings fans are pleased about the win and hope that the success continues.