Chasing the Tracks of the Bombinating Beast (Reader Response by Jewellee Lee)

 “Before you consider reading “Who Could That Be at This Hour”, ask yourself these questions:

 

1. 1.     Are you curious about what is happening in a seaside town that is no longer by the sea?


2. 2.     Do you want to know more about a stolen item that wasn’t stolen at all?


3. 3.     Do you really think that’s any of your business? Why? What kind of person are you? Are you sure?


4. 4.     Who is that standing behind you?”

Encyclopedias, classic novels, math workbooks, biographies, and a few fictionish fiction novels… these books fill my bookshelf. One day, I was cleaning up my room, I spotted a book that I had not seen. What drew my attention was the cover of the book. It was very cartoonish and said “Lemony Snicket” in huge bold letters. Judging by its cover I thought that it was some sort of graphic novel, but didn’t look like it looking at the thickness of the book. My hands automatically opened the book full of curiosity. I started reading the first page, then another, then another. By the time I finished the first two chapters, I couldn’t stop flipping the pages.

This book takes off with the main character, Lemony Snicket receiving a note from his chaperone, S. Theodora Markson.

 

“CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW IN THE BATHROOM AND MEET ME IN THE ALLEY BEHIND THIS SHOP. I WILL BE WAITING IN THE GREEN ROADSTER. YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES. –S” –chapter 1, pg.5

 

Snicket begins his apprenticeship with S. Theodora Markson. Their first case takes place in a small town called Stain’d-by-the-Sea. In that town, was a mansion so large it looked like several mansions had crashed together (pg, 29) and an old lady called Mrs. Sallis asking for help. She claimed that she had a priceless item stolen, the statue of a Bombinating Beast and knew the thief, the Mallahan family. She is sure of this because the Mallahan family has been enemies of the Sallises family for many lifetimes. So Snicket and S. Theodora Markson search for the Bombinating Beast in Mr. Mallahan’s house disguised as a couple on a honeymoon. There, Snicket meets Moxie, Mr. Mallahan’s daughter and Stain’d-by-the-Sea’s only reporter. As she talks about newspapers, the discussion moves towards the Sallises. Snicket tells Moxie the reason he’s here.

 

“I’m trying to solve a mystery,” I said, “concerning the Bombinating Beast.”

“The mythical creature?” “No, a statue of it.”

“That old grimcrack?” she said with a laugh.

“Come on up.”         (Chapter 3, pg. 53)

 

Moxie looked at me and smiled. “I guess your mystery is solved, Snicket,” she said, but that, too, was the wrong thing to say.        (Chapter 3, pg. 59)

And according to her, the Mallahans and the Salllises have been friends for generations.

But there were some strange things to point out. One, if Mrs. Sallis knows who the thief is, why doesn’t she call the police? Two. In the book, Mrs, Sallis says “I want nobody to know you are working for me, and I want nothing done to the Mallahans. They’re nice people.” Moxie said the Mallahans and the Saliises were friends for generations. Mrs. Sallis said the Mallahns have been enemies of the Sallises for many lifetimes. This means that one of them is lying. If Mrs. Sallis is the one, why?

What I like best about the book is the voice that each character has. The main character of this book, Lemony Snicket , is a thirteen year old apprentice. Lemony Snicket has its own thirteen-year old voice full of curiosity. On the other hand, S. Theodora Markson, who ranked fifty-second out of fifty-two chaperones in the chaperones list has that “whatever” voice. I think the author did an awesome job on creating that particular voice for the right character. I also like how the author put some bits of humor throughout the whole book. In some of the less interesting parts of the book, it had humor so as the reader, I was still with the book.

“Who could that be at this hour?” is mysterious and full of questions. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book. It has tumbling twists and dramatic flow. I would recommend this book for any 7^th grader.

Summer Teachings By: Louisa Song

“I’ll have practice SAT’s every Saturday, a vocab quiz everyday for four weeks!” my sister, Anica, kept whining as she stuffed another piece of clothing into her suitcase that already had loose t-shirts hanging out from the sides.

On the day after my birthday, June 22^nd, my sister was already heading out the door, her journey to camp just starting. I did not think one month was going to be a long time, so I just gave her a sweet hug, compliments, and good luck wishes at the airport.

The first few days I didn’t feel Anica’s absence that much. We were allowed to call her at night, so I could talk to her. She seemed to be having an intense time studying so hard. I started to reflect on my own summer. Most days I just lied around on my bed until it was time to eat lunch. After lunch I watched TV, and ate junk food. My sister was at camp studying all day and learning palates. That was my first lesson learnt. Be more efficient with time.

As time went by and the second week came along, I found myself bored much more often. When I talked to my sister that week, she was tired, but she told us she was getting the hang of it. It was hard work, but because she did it every day, she got into a schedule. There was my second lesson learnt. Find a system that works.

Another source of communication from families to campers were notes that the people at the camp could bring to my sister. I wrote often and called every night. At night they had to study in the study hall until 11:00 and then go to their dormitories. Even if you were tired, you still had to study. There was my third lesson learnt. If you want to be a good student, you also have to exercise and be fit enough to study through the evening.

By the fourth week, I was so excited that Anica was coming back home; I could barely wait for her to come home. At that time, we were staying at a place in Korea, so my dad, mom and I drove from Seoul to Incheon. It was a long drive, and because of the rain and the fog, the trip was hard, but when we arrived at Incheon, we were reminded again why we came all the way from Seoul. Anica seemed to have already become friends with lots of people. There I learnt my fourth lesson. Love the people you are with when you are with them, because sometime in your life you will have to say goodbye.

When my sister’s camp ended, we were all really happy to see each other and I couldn’t have been more thankful for my sister for teaching me all these lessons, just by talking to me on the phone and studying at camp. Of course I was happy, but I was also worried about my own hard days to come. I won’t even have a little sister to teach lessons to!

 

A creative story by Gauri (The Fortune Cookie)

The Fortune Cookie

Prologue:

It all started like this~

"Your life is in danger. Say nothing to anyone. You must leave the city immediately and never return."  That’s what the fortune cookie said. My heart skipped a beat!

The letters were written in black ink on blood red paper. I glanced around looking for some eyes that would answer my questions but none did. Then suddenly I saw a black smother in the front glass panes near the restaurant’s entrance. My eyes soon recognized the black smother, as it re-appeared slightly peeking from the glass pane. It was the man in black! The one who always kept his eyes on me whenever I was out of my house. I had wondered why that man was always there? A few times I even mustered the courage to go talk to him, but he, as always, would wander away before I could catch up to him. It was a secret that I was not willing to share with my parents or close friends. “The man in black” as I had nicknamed him because he was always wearing a pitch black blazer and lead black trousers. Only his desolated grey eyes where not the color of licorice. I quickly got up from my seat my blinded from reasoning by the blindfold of curiosity. I sprinted towards the door leading me out of the Chinese restaurant.

I followed him through the bustling crowd. Making sure he did not notice me. I was so close now shuffling through the crowd fast but silently. Suddenly, his head turned and his eyes met mine. I saw my pale reflection in them, my brown long hair scattered on my face, my green eyes alert, my mouth wide open. He turned and ran, ran straight out of my sight. I quickly regained my senses hurdling through the crowd out of the door.

I saw him running towards the next block, he was way swifter than I imagined. He was not as grizzled as I imagined either his grey eyes made me think that he was old and lonely but I had never seen his face because it was always covered with his mouth high collar. The only things that I ever saw were his eyes, sorrowful and strained. I ran straight towards him zigzagging through the pedestrians on the sidewalk. I turned to the next block where the “Man in black” had run, but I saw no sign of him. I had lost him again. My curiosity flattered and my mouth became a frown against my face. Without warning two hands stretched across my face covering my eyes and mouth. A slight scream escaped my mouth, but it was too muted that nobody could have heard it. After that I remembered nothing!

My eyes slowly opened, my vision blurry from tears. Sweat was dripping from my pale white forehead. My eyes were bulging painfully against my skull. I was sitting in a faded brown chair, my arms resting carefully on the arm rests.

“Where am I?” I inquired, my voice shaky from the crying.

From the darkness a figure formed. He was about 18 years old, no… 16. He was dressed in a moss T-Shirt and Dark blue jeans. His brown hair brushed slightly against his tan skin. He seemed unfamiliar, except those light grey eyes, still as empty.

“It…It’s you," I slight murmured under my breath.

The man in black! It can’t be him; he seemed so old and fragile. But, those eyes they are unforgettable the rare grey shade the same emptiness.

“Hi, I am Titus, Welcome Tyesha!” he said with a faint smile

“Where am I? ” I thrashed with an amazingly collected voice.

“You… well aren’t you going to introduce yourself? But I already know you, " he slightly smiled.

“First tell me where I am and why are you here?” I rashly asked, my curiosity unable to be controlled.

“Umm…. Okay so you are here to save the world from domination!” He said abruptly

“What kind of a joke is this!”?  My voice rising, my breaths shallow.

And then, there was an empty silence…

Vinegar

Vinegar

At 10:31 Mr. Carlen starts his lesson. We don’t have a clock in our classroom, so instead I count.

I slightly hear him talking, but I mainly focus on nature. My seat is right next to the window, and since I don't have anyone to text during class, I watch.

Every single day the same red car goes past at the same time. The busses arrive from morning drop off, and security allows the taxis to come in for the first time that day. But today, I see something else. Seven girls are sitting by the wall of the school. One of them is in the center of the circle holding a bottle while the other girls pour something inside.

The girl takes a big chug and throws the bottle to the ground, gagging. Somebody takes out a box, and the girl pukes inside of it. Then Sierra, the most popular girl in school says,

“All right, you lose. Who’s next?”

Everyone chants what sounds to be,

“Kelsey, Kelsey, Kelsey!”

They are speaking extremely loudly, speaking as though they won’t get in trouble if they get caught.  A smaller girl, who must be Kelsey, enters the circle. The other girls thrust the bottle at her and she takes a sip.

“Come on! Give it all you got!”

She takes a larger sip, drinking almost half the bottle. Trying not to puke is one of the hardest things to do. Her face starts to turn blue as she takes her last sip.

I can't watch any longer. Throwing my head back to the front of the room, it hits me. I know what they were doing. That liquid was vinegar.

I remember the teachers warning us about this game. They told us that they caught some people playing it, and whoever did it next would be suspended. I wonder why these girls didn’t worry about that.

Basically, in this game each girl is given a water bottle. They fill the bottle with vinegar and try to drink as much of it as they can without throwing up. If you finish the bottle, you win. Everyone in that group worships you and you never are forced to play again. Only one person has ever done it, Sierra.

The thought of this game disgusts me. No one ever volunteers, they get pressured. Something even worse is the people who want to be asked, because if they succeed then they will become popular. I know a girl like this. Her name is Ruby Wilson; she sits next to me in English. For years, she has been trying to complete the challenge, but with so much gagging, she ended up being bulimic and had to go to the hospital because of so much weight loss.

∆∆∆∆∆

At lunch I sit alone again. Normally I don’t notice anything special, but today I notice the vinegar players from this morning. They seem to be looking for someone, but this time when the thought hits me, it is too late. They are looking for their newest victim. Who are they walking towards? Me.

They all quickly slide into my booth, making me feel really claustrophobic. Some girls play with my hair, others just sit there and talk. Eventually they get to the point.

“Akhemm, Natasha, hey! So, we saw you looking at us this morning, and you know what that means!”

Sierra says to me with an evil grin.

“Now, you can come with us the easy way or the hard way. Your choice.”

∆∆∆∆

“Hey newbie! Your turn.”

The girls holding me down loosen their grip on my wrists and kick me into the middle. The green bottle is placed at my feet. I pick it up slowly, not ready for what comes next.

The smell of vinegar is already making me nauseous. I try to take a small sip, but that won’t pass Sierra. One second too late I realize she is pushing the bottle upwards so the vinegar goes even faster down my throat.

Me not drinking fast does not pass with Sierra, but drinking fast does not pass with my stomach. No one was fast enough to call it, so instead of my vomit going into the box, it goes into Sierra’s face. Brown is not a good color on her, and I am not the only one who notices that. All of the other girls start to laugh, groan and gag. The heat of the moment is starting to grow on Kelsey.

Approximately one second before she kills me, Principal Melton arrives. Well, I guess I should just say goodbye to the school. I doubt I will be coming back for a while.

Expository Essay- Anna

Go Green!

Everyone should go green and be more environmentally friendly. There are three main reasons why people should do this. One- you can do a lot for the environment while improving your lifestyle and health at the same time. Also, going green might be going out of your way, but it can be financially rewarding if you do it right. Lastly, not going green causes pollution, like in Beijing.

You can do a lot for the environment while improving your lifestyle and health at the same time. For example, riding a car produces pollutants such as carbon monoxide, causing global warming. If you ride a bike or walk instead, you will not only save the environment, you will also get some exercise. In addition to that, eating organic or natural products, instead of products produced with chemicals is healthier for you- and also great for the environment.

Going green might be going out of your way, but it can be financially rewarding if you do it right. For example, buying a new light bulb every year would be annoying to replace. In addition, it is worse for the environment. I you bought a CFL light bulb instead; it would last ten years without having to be replaced. The CFL light bulbs might be more expensive to buy, but in the long run it would save money and at the same time be more environmentally friendly.

I know that nobody likes the pollution in Beijing. In the summer, the vacation getaways we go to could become like Beijing if we carry on the way we are now. That smog is caused by a lack of reducing, reusing and recycling- and it can cause health problems as well.

This just shows that in the long run, going green is not only better for the environment, but also for you. It can help your health and it can save money. These are the reasons I think people should be better to the environment.

The Choking Game By: Eileen Lee

The Choking Game

By: Eileen Lee

 

For the past few days, I have read a book called ‘Choke’ by Diana Lopez. ‘Choke’ is a touching and a meaningful book. This book talks about a typical 8^th grade student, Windy, who wants to get in the ‘in-crowd’ group, not GP (General Public) or ‘out-crowd’ group. Windy is GP, neither a loner nor popular. But then the coolest kid in school, Nina, starts hanging out with Windy and plays this really dangerous game called ‘the choking game’. Windy is going through a big dilemma deciding if she should keep hanging out with Nina and get in the ‘in-crowd’ group or just stay in GP and not play the choking game.

 

There is a really important message in this book. The Choking game is a dangerous game between teens in which they self-strangulate in order to achieve a brief high. The high is the result of oxygen rushing back to the brain after it’s cut off by the practice of strangulation. This game is actually happening between teens in real life. The author of this book was once a teacher. One day, she noticed that her students were coming in with blood shot eyes. At first, she thought they were doing drugs, but later, she learned that they were involved in a game known by many names, mostly, the choking game. The choking game can kill many people because no air goes into their brains. So this is the reason why she wrote this book.

 

My favorite character is Windy Soto who is the main character of this book, because even though she had a hard time deciding if she should keep hanging out with Nina, abandon her best friend, Elena and play the dangerous choking game or stay in GP, but don’t play the choking game, she made the right choice. I think that could have been a hard decision because everyone would want to be a friend with the ‘cool’ guys. I also thought Nina was an interesting character. I always wore a scarf to hide the red mark on her neck from the choking game.

 

I like how the author started the book by explaining that there are groups of people in the main character’s school. People in ‘In-crowd’ group are very popular, GPs are students who are just normal and like invisible, and people in Out-crowd’ group are people who get bullied and have no friends. I also like how the author plotted this story. The plot is full of excitement and suspense.

 

The book ‘choke’ is very interesting and has been read by many people all over the world. The author wrote her message on the book very well, and as a student, there are some parts I can totally understand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Journey of Finding My Glasses By: Eileen Lee

The Journey of Finding My Glasses

Eileen Lee 7-7

I can’t walk properly.

All I can see are blurry things that are on my way.

I wave my arms not to bump into things.

I have lost the way to see.

I looked under the sofa.

All I can see is dust and my long lost pencils and erasers.

I looked at the side of my bed,

All I can see is half eaten bread.

I looked at the bathroom behind the towels,

All I can see is a BUG!?!? Ugh. Wait, no. It is a pair of lost earrings.

I am doomed.

What will my mother say to me?

Scold me?  Shout at me?

I saw the reflection of my terrified face on the mirror.

I notice something.

                                  My glasses were on my head the whole time!

Persuasive Essay by Gauri Kaushik

Cellphones should not be allowed in International School of Beijing

             These days almost all of ISB students have some sort of technology, apart from the MacBook Pro issued by the school. Having cellphones in school is a very bad idea and will affect the students' academics and can also affect their health.

             My first point is distraction caused by cellphones. As a teacher or student, we all know how distracting cellphones can be. Texting, video chatting, Facebook and all these things distract students from paying attention in class. The study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows that more than 80% of the students admit that their cellphones distract their learning. Also in a 15-week management surveillance program conducted by the California University, it is found that students are on non-school related websites 42% of the time in class. Not only will this result in unsatisfactory grades but the ability to concentrate and learn will also be decrease.

Talking about school behaviour let’s to refer to the point of cheating. When teachers allow students to bring cellphones into the class, they expect them to manage it with responsibility and usually trust the student, but what if this is not the case? What if the student actually cheats in tests and the teacher does not know about this? By eliminating cellphones in school we are not only ensuring that the student is not cheating it will also help in gaining your teachers trust and less dishonesty. After all, when you cheat on the test you are cheating on yourself by not knowing your true capability.

Another issue that is raised in most schools is the use of cellphones to cyber-bully someone. According to the i-safe foundation more that 1 in 3 teens in the United States have experienced cyber threats on the phone. Apart from the MacBook that is issued by the school, students can use their cellphones to either bully someone else or get bullied. As a result teens and pre-teens have increasing rates in depression in the past few years.

I think cellphones are a bad idea, they don’t only affect a students' academics but can also affect their lifestyle and health in various negative ways. To prevent this from happening we can ban cellphones in school. This will prevent bullying, distraction and cheating in school.

 

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Citations:

 

"Students Think They Can Multitask. Here’s Proof They Can’t." Faculty Focus Students Think They Can Multitask Heres Proof They Cant Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.

 

"UNL Study Shows College Students Are Digitally Distracted in Class." UNL. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.

 

"The Age of Distraction: Getting Students to Put Away Their Phones and Focus on Learning." Faculty Focus The Age of Distraction Getting Students to Put Away Their Phones and Focus on Learning Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.

 

Hunter, Nick. Cyber Bullying. Chicago, IL: Heinemann Library, 2012. Print.

 

Jenny's in Shanghai

Curtis's House, Shun Yi, Beijing

6/5/14

Pinnacle plaza, Bai xin zhuang village, Shun Yi district, Beijing

Mrs. Jenny Wang

CEO

Dear Mrs. Wang:
I live in River Garden. I enjoy having the convenience of your shop so close to my house. Every time I need to buy a grocery, I would bike to your shop and buy all of the supplies I need. I also like the fact that you have so many choices in your store. There is always a wide selection of products.

Unfortunately, I am moving to Shanghai, the second most thriving city (economic wise) in China. All supermarkets in Shanghai are busy, poorly located and don’t have a wide variety of choices for foreigners. There are very few choices for expats to buy supplies, and the few choices that are available are expensive. Opening a shop in Shanghai will be very helpful for the expats, and it will be an excellent business opportunity for you. People in the suburbs continuously have to go to the city to buy groceries. Installing a shop at suburban Shanghai would not only help the suburban citizens but will also improve your income by a lot. Your business will also benefit due to the amount of expats in the suburbs of Shanghai.

All in all, there are more foreigners in Shanghai than Beijing, and I believe that you should expand your company out of just Beijing. This would help both the people in Shanghai and you. I implore you to consider this proposal.

Sincerely,

Raj Rana

Grade 7, ISB

The Clock of Life

The Clock of Life

by: Andrew Liu

Watching the clock as time flies by,

full with grief and a little sigh.

“This is the end,” I muttered,

As the building nearby started to shatter.

Staring at the clock besides uncle Geero,

as the clock slowly ticked to zero.

Cursing the Sands of Time

The kids all watch the melting clock,

As if it were wax on fire.

Staring at the timepiece like a hawk,

 Waiting for class to expire.

The teacher’s speech is patience fighting,

He’s offering no assistance.

His appearance is even uninviting,

Making students desire a distance.

Alas! The bell finally rings.

Like a stampede of bulls in a hurricane,

Children rush for their belongings.

 Class was obviously finished in vain.

But the minutes of free time they have are few,

Because they still have treacherous homework to do.

 

The Tale of Two Rulers

The Introduction:

What happens when the Ancient West meets the Ancient East? What happens when the King of Macedonia meets the Emperor of China? What happens when Alexander the Great meets Xiǎn the Patriotic? The two nations would be ultimate adversaries. Alexander is a conqueror who is hungry for world domination. Xiǎn is an emperor who wants to unite his country. Both leaders want to strengthen their nation. Would there be a massive battle? Definitely.

The Omens:

The Xian Emperor - May, 335 BC

Every night I stayed up late and agonized about finding ways to unite the Provinces of China. The sun has vanished and the moon was almost directly overhead. I should look through the historical records for past attempts to unite China. I might be able to learn from any previous failures. However, my eyes were too fatigued to read the historical records myself. I will get an advisor to read. Suddenly, there was a knock on my room door.

“Come in,” I said sternly, attempting to conceal my exhaustion. My superstitious fortune-teller franticly burst in.

“Horrifying news!” My fortune-teller exclaimed, “I just envisioned an entire army coming from the west! They have conquered cities that we have never even heard of! They have excellent, strategic battle plans, they speak in a foreign language and their armor seemed very efficient and effective! The Himalayan Mountains will be their entrance to China!” For a moment, I was speechless. My mouth was open, my eyes were bulging, but I did not regard this as bad news. I ordered rice paper, ink, and a brush to write to the leaders of the divided states. I believe I just found the answer to uniting China.

Alexander the Great - October, 331 BC

There was nothing here. The troops were exhausted and our food supply was scarce. Maybe we should return home. During our search for new civilizations to conquer, I have been a bit too harsh on my soldiers. They should receive praise instead. Just before giving the orders to break camp, I heard a faint bronze bell, ringing. I asked my soldiers if they heard anything to reassure that the ringing was not my imagination. Many heard nothing, however, a few confirmed my suspicions. Quickly, I located the sound’s origin. The ringing came from the east. The ringing came from uncharted lands.

The Preparations:

The Xian Emperor - December, 331 BC

“Finally!” I said aloud. I just received word from every single state leader. They are willing to fight together against this foreign enemy. “This is my big chance,” I told myself, “Do not ruin it”

The next week, I met with all the military leaders at the base of the Himalayan Mountains. Each leader presented their best battle plan, given the terrain and our soldier supply. Many arguments bounced back and forth, but at least there was no violence.  We eventually created a master plan.

 

Alexander the Great - February, 330 BC

“King Alexander,” One of generals started. “The troops are freezing! Icicles are forming on their chins, some soldiers’ limbs are suffering from gangrene and some have even died!”

“We will let the soldiers rest by a fire more often.” I answered. I will not let my army be defeated before the actual battle. This weather will not stop me from searching. Somewhere out there was an unconquered civilization. I will not return home until this civilization is mine.

The First Contact: March, 330 BC

While Alexander the Great was looking for another civilization to conquer, the Xian Emperor was desperately waiting for a Westerner to show up with his army. The other leaders started to suspect treachery. “It has already been four months since the first meeting!” Si Jin, the arrogant leader of Wey challenged. “Many soldiers have died from hypothermia. The remaining soldiers are struggling to stay warm!” The other leaders angrily accused and surrounded the Xian Emperor. They were ready to kill him on the spot.

The leaders shoved the Xian Emperor against the mountainside. The poor emperor crumpled to the floor and tried to defend himself. Hui Wen, the murderous leader of Qin stabbed the emperor in the calf. As the Xian Emperor cried in anguish, an arrow struck through Hui Wen’s rib cage, pierced his left lung and finished in his heart.

The Battle: March, 330 BC

Alexander congratulated his archers for starting the war. The Chinese soldiers finally spotted the hidden Greek infantry and charged. The Greek archers on higher grounds immediately shot down the front row of the Chinese infantry. The remaining Chinese infantry clashed with the Greeks, resulting in a bloodbath. Alexander’s troops were greatly out numbered, but they were efficient and effective using the Phalanx battle formation. Like a spiked war elephant, the Macedonian Phalanxes cut through the groups of Chinese infantry and crushed anything in their path. However, the Chinese archers launched storms of steelhead arrows on many phalanxes, which perforated the formation.

Chinese Calvary stampeded into the Phalanxes, only to smash into the extended pikes at the front. The pure, white, fresh fallen snow was stained with the deep, rich color of blood. Hundreds of motionless bodies lay on the battlefield. One by one, the Chinese leaders, except for the Xian emperor, charged into battle. When Alexander saw the crowned leaders charging in on horses, he wanted the pleasure of killing them himself. He commanded his horse to stampede at them.

Si Jin was the first to reach Alexander. The arrogant leader took a swing at Alexander with his iron sword. Alexander dodged Si Jin’s attack, and impaled him in the back. Two other leaders charged at Alexander from opposite sides. The King of Macedonia chose his next kill wisely. The leader storming at him from the right was covered in snow. His hands were shivering. Alexander lunged at him, knocking the sword out of his hands. The commander of the Greek army turned around and skewered the helpless Chinese leader through the chest. Seeing their fellow leaders’ cold, dead bodies, the remaining leaders retreated back up the mountain. Alexander the Great charged after them.

Even though the war was over, the clashing of swords, thudding of shields and terrorizing battle cries still echoed throughout the Himalayas. Alexander the Great climbed to the mountain where the Xian Emperor, killed by his own people, had drowned in his own blood. The Great Macedonian King announced to his army below. “Today, we attain victory!”

Baja’s Department of Food and Agriculture

                                                                                                                                               May 5, 2014

Mr. Bob Roberts, Chairman of Baja’s Department of Food and Agriculture,

Baja White House

Office #13

 

Dear Mr. Bob Roberts,

As chairman of the Environmental Department, I, Bruce Wayne, plea for the reevaluation and restructuring of our food system. Our past way of eating was detrimental to our health. The processing and packaging of our food was problematic to the environment and to us. Other issues included insufficient nutrition and excess chemicals in food. If we want to survive on Baja, our food system NEEDS to change. Hopefully, my suggestions and opinions will help create a new, healthier food system for Baja, allowing us to prosper.

Most foods we ate were processed in some way. Apples were cut from trees, ground beef was chopped up and butter was creamed from milk. This method of mechanically processing food was beneficial. But, some mechanically processed food, such as white rice and noodles, were also stripped of their nutrients. Chemically processed food, such as snack products, deli meat, frozen meals, and drinks were food that has been altered through additives such as flavor enhancers, binders, colors, fillers, preservatives, stabilizers, emulsifiers and so forth. These additives usually include:

• High fructose Corn Syrup: a ubiquitous sweetener that helps maintains moisture while preserving freshness.


• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): a flavor enhancer that is found in salad dressings, condiments, seasonings, bouillons and snack chips.


• Benzoic Acid and Sodium Benzoate: preservatives often added to drinks, low-sugar products, cereals and meats.

Studies have shown that continued consumption of these chemicals will promote disease. Instead, we should use natural spices such as oregano, thyme, pepper, garlic and rosemary to enhance and preserve our food. Furthermore, we can make our food organic.

Organic, pesticide-free fruits, vegetables and starches may be laborious and costly, but in the long run, it is the healthier alternative. When you eat nonorganic plants, pesticide will build up in your body overtime, increasing the chance of pesticide related consequences. We can change this by not only eliminating the use of pesticide, but also using organic fertilizer such as animal feces. In order to make sure the animal feces are not comprised of chemicals, we should not feed the animals chemically enhanced food, or inject chemicals into them.

We ultimately receive drugs such as steroids, growth hormones and antibiotics when we eat the chemically injected animals. These drugs cause the animals to grow bigger or become immune to certain diseases. It may benefit the animals, but it is destructive for us to consume these excessive drugs. Ingesting antibiotics in the absence of bad bacteria can end up killing good bacteria. This results in an imbalance in bacteria and weakens the immune system. It can also lead to antibiotic resistant diseases. Steroids and growth hormones will disrupt our natural growth ability by promoting abnormal cell growth. Some cells may be cancerous, eventually leading to disease. Organic, chemical-free meat from properly fed, free-range animals is much healthier.

Free-range animals run around freely, making them healthier. Furthermore, animals such as pigs, chicken and cows should not be corn fed because it is not their natural food. Pigs and chicken should eat grain and cows should eat grass. The best method to farm cows is to let them roam from pasture to pasture during different times of the year. This allows each pasture to rejuvenate. The cows exercise as well. But the actual food is not the only issue at stake.

Plastic food packaging not only affects the ecosystem, but also has a detrimental effect on the food inside. Chemicals from the plastic will slowly seep into the food and ultimately into our bodies when we eat it. Packaging should be safe for human health and reusable to prevent waste. Furthermore, we need to eliminate food waste. It would be beneficial for the government to conduct yearly calculations of Baja’s food consumption rate. With these calculations, we can ensure that we do not over produce our food supply. This will eventually reduce the size of our carbon footprint.

The Department of Poverty should ensure that every citizen could afford this costly organic food. By using food stamps, the Department of Poverty will be able to subsidize those in need. Eating costlier but healthier food will lead to a stronger body with a better immune system, allowing them to be more productive in the community. Eating unhealthy food will cause citizens to get sick and pay extra for medical treatments.

Hopefully we will not only survive, but also thrive in Baja. Changing what we eat is an essential step. In addition, the Department of Education must educate our citizens to be more appreciative of our food. By using organic fertilizers and eliminating pesticides, our fruits, vegetables and starches will be healthier. By not adding drugs into our animals, our meat will be more nutritious and less dangerous. By reducing our food waste, our carbon footprint will be smaller. By changing our food system, we will flourish in Baja.

Sincerely,

Bruce Wayne

 

 

The "Fin" of Sharks

Sharks all around the world are hunted for their teeth, bones and most importantly, their fins. Shark finning is the inhumane practice of sawing off a shark’s fins and throwing its still living body back into the sea. Every year tens of millions of sharks die a slow and painful death because of this torture. Since the 1970s, the populations of several shark species have been decimated by over 95%. Sixty-five countries have already banned shark finning. But sadly, China, the largest consumer of shark fin soup, is not on that list.

Shark fin soup is of Chinese origin made with shark fin and flavored with chicken or other stock. The fin itself has very little flavor and it is used primarily to add texture to the dish. Because it is considered a Chinese delicacy, it is often served to guests at important events such as weddings and business banquets. Even though shark fin soup may cost up to $100 a bowl, this exuberant cost just minimally decreased the amount of sharks being slaughtered each day.

In ancient Chinese medical books, eating shark fins aids in areas of rejuvenation, appetite enhancement, and blood nourishment. It is beneficial to vital energy, kidneys, lungs, bones and many other parts of the body. However, there is no evidence to support this claim. Even if these health benefits are proven legitimate, it does not justify killing an endangered living being in order to make you healthier.

The consequences of decreased shark populations are immense. Because large shark species are apex predators, they help stabilize the ecosystem by maintaining a balanced food chain. For example, along the US East Coast, large sharks have been virtually eliminated. Therefore, their preys, such as the rays, have increased. The escalated population of rays consumed the shellfish at an unsustainable rate. Shellfish filter ocean water. Because of the dwindling shellfish population, the water quality deteriorated. Ultimately, ocean life will suffer. This leads to global food chain disruption. If you remove apex predators from the ecosystem, it’s similar to removing the supports of a building. Total collapse.

 

There are many ways to decrease the amount of sharks being butchered each day. First of all, DON’T EAT SHARK FIN SOUP. If you are craving it, you should eat imitation shark fin instead. It tastes really similar to the real one. Secondly, get involved with organizations fighting to save marine wildlife such as Sea Shepard, the Human Society International and Wild Aid. They all need plenty of support. You can donate money, volunteer or simply get the word out. Tell your friends about shark endangerment. Then your friends can tell their friends.

Sharks have been around for about 400 million years, much longer than humans. Sharks only kill about ten humans per year. We kill approximately 11,400 sharks per hour. Killing sharks just for their fins is inhumane and leads the disruption in the ecosystem. Will we cause the sharks’ extinction just because of our unjustifiable appetite?

Citations:

"Help Stop Shark Finning : Humane Society International." RSS. Web. 27 May 2014.

"Shark Finning - Sea Shepherd Conservation Society." Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Web. 26 May 2014.

 

"Stop Shark Finning." Stop Shark Finning. Web. 27 May 2014.

Our Valuable Friendship by Sunny Lee

Oh what a joy it is,
to have a friend like you.
For giving me strength,
the way you do.

For lifting me up like an elevator,
when I’m feeling down.
Putting a smile on my face,
when I’m wearing a frown.

Thanks for being there,
and helping me grow.
Your friendship means a lot,
and I’d like you to know.

The Island Dream

I hear the strums of the newly made purple guitar, the notes not perfectly in tune. The soothing melody being slowly played.  But every now and then, there is a stop, a pause, a perfect silence where you can hear the trees swaying and the waves gushing. My toes are planted in the sand, as I slowly move my feet back and forth, squishing grains in between my toes. My hair flies around in perfect wave movements, occasionally getting in my face.

I take a sip from my fancy glass, filled with a delicious mocktail. The coconut and the pineapple swirl around in my mouth, leaving an extraordinary feeling. I want more, but I must savor it.

It’s hard to think I am leaving tomorrow, so I focus on tonight. I see the birds flying in various patterns, the dancers walking up the beach. There will be a fire show as soon as the sun sets.

The perfect shades of pink, red, orange and yellow blend together right before my eyes. It looks like a painting; you can only see the outlines of the palm trees in front of the sun. The colors reflect on the rippling water. The water is empty, all of the fishermen have gone home, and the water sports have stopped for the night. Across the water I start to see the city lights coming from the other side of the island.

Many minutes pass, as I just stare, stare into the light. You can only see some pink and blue now, but it is still just as beautiful as ever. The fire show will start soon. The dancers and the musicians all come out onto the sandstone stage, holding what can only be torches. They come in all different sizes, some long and skinny, others in the shape of hoops. One man out front starts a fire towards the back. It looks like the sunset all over again. Taking turns, each dancer lights the ends of their piece on fire, making the stage blaze. At once, they all start flipping and turning their rods. I can’t keep my eyes off the fire dancing around their bodies. Tricks and tricks go by, but I don’t even remember blinking, I wouldn't want to miss anything. This is the island dream.

The True Teddy by: Louisa Song

The True Teddy

By: Louisa Song

Teddy fished out a dollar from his pocket. Huh, that’s weird. Where did that come from?  Teddy thought with a confused frown. Still, he clutched onto the flimsy bill tightly, because money was the only way he could get a chance for a job. Even if it was strange he found money, he still needed the money, so he was satisfied. Still holding the dirty old bill, Teddy came to a stop. On his right was a unique shop with interesting designs.

On the whiteboard decorated with Christmas lights that were way out of season, it said: SHOP CLEARANCE! 90% off all costumes!

Oh, it was a costume shop? I should get one! What a perfect way to spend my dollar! Teddy thought to himself, with his mind wondering about the different opportunities a costume held for him. He skipped over to the animal section and chose the bear costume, because people called him “Teddy Bear” because he looked like a bear. His soft brown hair, his round beady eyes; even the look of his round face made people think of a bear when they saw him.

“Where are the changing rooms?” Teddy politely asked the shop owner,

“It’s right over there by the corner. Are you trying out that bear costume?” The shop owner replied with a mysterious smile,

“Yes, I hope it fits me.” Teddy wished with a giggle,

“I hope so too, it fits you so well!” The shop owner grinned, staring at Teddy the whole time.

After Teddy made sure that the costume fit, he paid the shop owner his dollar and headed out the door. Teddy didn’t hear, but behind his counter, the shop owner whispered a word. “Transform”

Teddy continued to walk down the streets, hoping maybe a circus missing a clown might spot him and ask him to join. Teddy went through all kinds of trouble just for a job, and getting this costume was just one of his risky money-wasters.

The day went by fine, but as he took the costume off at night, he felt a burning pain, as if something had just been ripped from his skin. He put the costume back on, and it all felt better, as if he had just been shielded from a layer of thick cream to soothe his skin.

The next morning, Teddy wanted to take a shower, and also get into a new set of clean clothes. To his surprise, when he tried to take the costume off, the burning pain got stronger, and he didn’t even bother to try any more. He just kept the costume on.

That evening, Teddy thought it was too much. He ran to the costume shop to get help. He thought maybe there was a specific procedure that had to be followed to take the costume off. He ran and ran and ran. By late evening, Teddy was huffing and puffing, but he had no luck. The location of the store was perfectly clear in his mind, but he just couldn’t get there. The roads were endless and Teddy was starting to be tossed around between his nervous thoughts. Go home, or not? He slapped his face, trying to recreate the place he was at yesterday. Yes, the shop next to the electricity pole, next to the mall. When Teddy looked around, he saw the bright mall, and also the tall, buzzing electricity pole. He was in the right spot, but the shop was nowhere to be seen.

Teddy had no other option but to live with it. The pain to remove the costume was too painful for Teddy. As he struggled to adapt to his new life, he found that his voice got deeper and he didn’t like going outside. One, because he didn’t like how he had to wear the same thing everyday, but also because over the week or two in his “bear life” he realized he didn’t like socializing with people. His eating habits became more and more barbaric, and his movements became more aggressive.

At first he didn’t know, he didn’t want to admit, he was afraid to admit, but now, he had to understand. He was now a bear. There was nothing Teddy could do about his life now. All he could do was live his life until he died. Before Teddy died three years ago, he would have never imagined how much his life would influence children. He didn’t imagine how famous he would become.

Teddy’s story was widely known across the world, and people started to make “Teddy Bears” in honor of his curiosity to try new things. Companies hoped that customers would be influenced positively, and also think that “Teddy Bears” were linked tightly to humans, although they were just dolls. Some children still think “Teddy Bears” are just stuffed toys, but after they know the true story, no child will look at their old “Teddy Bear” the same way.

The Point of No Return

It seemed suicidal at first, to jump off a cliff, but it wasn’t. I could hear young adults behind me, whispering of my eight-meter cliff jump. I already impressed many people. I did not need to go any higher, but the urge clung to me like a magnet, refusing to let go. It was the thrill of jumping off a cliff. It sounds really stupid. You might say I was losing my mind, or even drunk. But I was just being myself.

My family and I traveled to Boracay at the end of 2013, during winter break. While there, we decided to take a lively daylong excursion to one of Boracay’s main attractions, Aerial’s Point. Our jaunt kicked off with a forty-five minute scenic boat ride from Boracay Island. The majestic mountains and the shimmering ocean water made the ride even more relaxing and refreshing. The college students on the boat already started to dull their senses by drinking the inclusive and unlimited beer. All I could drink was coke. Aerial’s point’s crew even had a slogan: “The more you drink, the higher you jump!” After the short forty-five minute period, we arrived at our breathtaking eco-adventure destination.

Our adventure commenced as we departed the boat, headed up the cliff side-whitewashed staircase and settled down at a shaded table. “Why don’t you go and make your first jump?” my mother asked me, as I was taking off my shirt. I aimed toward the wooden plank for the eight-meter jump, not knowing whether I should be excited or nervous. Several people were already lined up. “Why don’t you go ahead of me?” a stranger immediately offered. “Go in front of me instead,” another stranger insisted. They were obviously horrified, and attempted to use kindness to hide their fear.

My strategy was to jump, without hesitation, straight into the ocean. By executing this plan, I would not have time to be pessimistic and think about how high I was jumping from. I walked off the plank and plummeted down into the abyss.

I felt the water gushing into my ears and up my nose. It was a bit painful but it did not daunt me because of my previous swim team practices. I quickly kicked my way back to the surface for a gulp of air. “No harm done!” I yelled to my parents as I climbed out of the water and up a ladder. The moment of triumph was ephemeral because I knew waiting for me was another challenge, the ten-meter jump.

The fire within me extinguished after a few minutes of rest. Even though my energy was dampened, the anticipation of an adrenaline rush enticed me to the wooded plank that stretched out to Poseidon, the wooden plank for the ten-meter jump. I hesitantly walked across the beam. Uh oh. Big mistake. Pessimistic thoughts started zipping through my head like pesky mosquitoes. I wanted to forsake my mission, but visceral feeling prompted me to proceed. Physically, I was a nervous wreck. My legs were trembling, my hands were sweating, and my toes were fidgeting. Emotionally, I was in a battle. Should I jump? Or should I not? It was the thrill of jumping off a cliff. It sounds really stupid. You might say I was losing my mind, or even drunk. But I was just being myself.

Mind Power Of Divergent

Mind Power Of Divergent

 

I have only recently found interest in reading science fiction books, and so far Divergent is my favorite.  Veronica Roth has definitely perfected the idea of catching her reader’s attention. The details are so planned out, making every action more intense. For example, when Tris was taking the aptitude test one of the simulations was her having to choose how to react towards a vicious dog.  The action itself made my heart race; but along with the descriptions of Tris’s feelings and the action happening around her, I could perfectly see what was going on, like a movie inside my mind.

My favorite chapter in Divergent is chapter twenty. Tris is getting her second fear simulation; she is in a tank that was slowly filling up with water. Before the simulation started, she was freaking out because the last simulation she was in stayed in her mind and was haunting her.  I like this chapter because it is when she really starts to understand her divergence. I think this was the perfect simulation to show the reader what a divergent is. The way that the simulation could be so obviously manipulated really helped us understand that she was one of the only people who could.  One of the quotes from the book that really led me through to understanding was, “We walk quickly down the hallway, and then I stop, pulling my arm back. He stares at me in silence. He won’t give me information without prompting. “what?” I demand, “You’re divergent,” he replies.“ The contents of this chapter are important because when Tris finds out she is divergent, they told her it was dangerous and never to tell anyone. Now, because Four knows, she has to learn how to contain it.

I think the setting of this story also was one of the more important aspects, along with the saying “Faction before blood.” Factions are the area in the city that a person belongs to. In Divergent there are five factions, Amity that believes in peace, Dauntless that believes in bravery, Abnegation that believes in selflessness, Candor believes in honesty and Erudite that believes in Knowledge.  I think the setting is affective because different factions have different beliefs. When it describes how the faction transfers are having a hard time adjusting to their new faction, it really shows how strong the beliefs are. It also helps me understand how different one faction is from the other.

Overall this book left me wanting more. The feelings that come with this book are so strong, some of the feelings I have never felt as strong as when I was reading this book.  So remember, if you are divergent, try to contain it.

Our Valuable Friendship by Sunny Lee

Oh what a joy it is,

to have a friend like you.

For giving me strength,

the way you do.

For lifting me up like an elevator,

when I’m feeling down.

Putting a smile on my face,

when I’m wearing a frown.

Thanks for being there,

and helping me grow.

Your friendship means a lot,

and I’d like you to know.