Three Gorges Dam

  

Do you like dolphins? Because I do and the Three Gorges Dam is not doing the Yangtze dolphins any good, but harming them instead. Which leads me to my first thing, it is negatively effecting the environment. Secondly, it has forced 1.2 million Chinese people out of their rural homes. Lastly, it can cause disasters due to it's weight. Those are just some reason why it was not worth it to build the Three Gorges Dam. 

First of all it has many negative effects on the environment . It is releasing sewage pollution that will hurt the river life, including the rare Yangtze dolphins. It is also causing erosion which will just increase the amount of sewage pollution. Lastly, it's submerging land. That's why it has negative effects on the environment.

In order to build it many people had to be kicked out of their own homes. First of all it's just not right to kick someone out of their own house that their ancestors have probably lived in. The only place they can go is to the city which is already packed tight. Most rural people won't be able to get jobs in the city because all they know how to do is farm. Those are some reasons people getting kicked out of their own homes was not a good idea.

The Three Gorges Dam can cause disasters. Due to its weight it can cause earthquakes and landslides. With those disasters come damage that they will have to pay to fix. Lastly those disasters will effect the remaining nearby villages. Those are a few examples of how the Three Gorges Dam can cause disasters.

It was not worth it to build the Three Gorges Dam. First, it has negative enviormental effects. Second, it forced 1.2 people out of their homes. Lastly, It can cause earthquakes and landslides because of it's weight. When using your power don't forget to think about those poor, poor dolphins.

Book Review III The Living

The Living, by Matt De La Pena is about a boy named Shy who gets a job an a cruise ship and something goes terribly wrong. Shy thought it would be a good idea to work on a cruise ship for the money, but he would also have some fun. Shy has many friends from the crew like Rodney, his room mate, and Carmen who he has a major crush on. Early in on the cruise Shy witnesses a suicide, Shy tries to save the man, but fails. On the cruise Shy Skype's his mom only to find out his nephew has Romero Disease, a disease that killed his grandma. Shy is told that a guy has been following him to find out what the suicide man said to him. One night when Shy's with Carmen an emergency alarm went off, there was a giant earthquake and a tsunami was coming. Shy gets into a raft only to be hit by another wave. Shy and Addie make it to a beaten up raft and survive until they're rescues by Shoeshine. Shoeshine brought Addie and Shy to the island that Addie's dad worked at making medicine. Shoeshine injected Addie and Shy with a syringe to give them vitamins. Once they get up to the hotel Shy finds Carmen  who tells him about how that got shots to make them immune to what they think is a tropical disease, but some scientist took it on a boat. Shy connected the dots and figured out that the vitamins were actually the cure to the disease. Shy also finds out that Rodney has the disease. Carmen and Shy snuck up to where they keep the diseased. When they saw them they could immediately tell it was Romero Disease, and that Rodney was dead. While walking on the trail Bill, the guy that followed him, told Shy all about Lasotech and how the man that committed suicide and Addie dad created Romero Disease to make money off of the vaccine. After Bill told Shy all about the truth about the disease Bill pulls a gun on him and is about to shoot him, but Shoeshine saves him. Shoeshine tells Shy to stay away from the boats going to back to the mainland and then leaves. Shy meets up with Marcus and Carmen. While they're up in the trail they see the boats come in, but they don't welcome them in they shoot everybody and start to set the island on fire. Carmen, Marcus, Shoeshine and Shy all make it on a beat up boat and continue on they're journey to the mainland.

The Living, by Matt De La Pena is a great book and I would recommend it to other readers. The book starts off exciting and stays that way to the end. It has many plot twists that you wouldn't expect so it's hard to put down once you've starting reading. Although I think we should have got to know some of the characters better I still think it's a great book. If you're into books where people are fighting to survive this would be perfect for you. I personally really liked this book because my favorite type of books to read are adventure and mystery because there's always something happening. That's why I would recommend The Living, by Matt De La Pena to other readers.

One of the main themes in The living is to never give up one example of this is when a little boy can't find his mom and Shy stays with him until he finds her mom "The kid wasn't cursing now, he was crying an calling for his mom." (209). Another example of this is when Shy is questioning whether or not they'll ever make it to the island, but the eventually do "It will probably take a damn year with his one stupid oar."(312). One last example of this is when Shy and Addie can't catch a fish, but keep trying and eventually catch one "And I'm gonna catch us a damn fish this time."

The book starts in Otay Mesa, California Shy's home town. He's only there for a short amount of time, but in that time you can tell that he loves it there. Once Shy's on the cruise he's in more of a working mode and a lot more stressed. Except when he's with his friends and he can relax and be himself. When the ship goes down he's scared in survival mode. When they get to the island Shy finally feels safe until it's all taken away once he finds out the truth about it and the island is set on fire. When that happens Shy is back to being scared and vulnerable changing how he thought about the once safe island. 

We Should Have a Longer Lunch Time

During lunch I often feel rushed and can't even finish all of my food. If we had a longer lunch time we wouldn't get hungry later in the day. Also, we would get more time to clean up. Another reason is  you wouldn't feel like you're in an eating contest every time you go to lunch since you have to eat so fast. Therefore, we should have a longer lunch time.

As I said before, you won't get hungry later in the day. You would just be distracted during all of your classes that are after lunch; all you will be able to think about is food. Secondly, it's not healthy to constantly not be eating full meals. Lastly, if you have an activity right after school you won't have time to stop and get a snack, so your lunch is the only food you will get before your activity. You can't work on an empty stomach, and you shouldn't have to.

Another reason is that we would have more time to clean up. All those tables with all the trash left on them will no longer have that trash, because people would have the time to pick things up. The janitor also wouldn't have to clean up as much, even though it's their job. Nobody likes cleaning up for somebody else. Also, you would have more time to clean yourself up, you might even notice a stain that you wouldn't have noticed before. That's why it would be great to have more time to clean up.

Lastly,  you won't feel rushed while eating. If you're rushed while eating, you're not being as careful as you should be, and you could choke. You'll have time to actually enjoy your food instead of just stuffing your face with it. Instead of stuffing your face, you would be able to actually have a conversation with the people at your table instead of eating in silence. That's why we won't feel rushed while eating.

In conclusion, we should have a longer lunch time. First of all, you won't get hungry later in the day. Secondly, we would have more time to clean up. Lastly, you won't feel rushed while eating. Next time you see Mr. White, be sure to mention longer lunch times.

  

Book Review: Ungifted

 Ungifted by Gordan Korman is about a boy named Donavon Kurtis who accidentally gets sent to a gifted Academy. It all started when Donavon hit his schools statue ending in collateral damage to the schools gym, Hardcastle. The superintendent Mr.Schultz accidentally mixes some things up so that Donavon gets placed in a gifted Academy. While in the Academy he becomes very close friends with Chloe, Noah, and surprisingly Abigail. Donavon is failing all his classes and not doing much for the robotics team, but he brought a sense of normal and everybody loved him. he was a whiz with the robotics controller almost guaranteeing them a win in the robotics competition. A Hardcastle dance was held at the Academy due to the damage of their gym. The Daniels  (Donavons friends) brought out Tin Man, their robotics team robot, out on the crowded dance floor crushing the robot. Donavon gets his sister Katie to come to the school and talk about her pregnancy for Human Growth and Development so the Academy kids wouldn't have to go to summer school. The teachers start to realize Donavon is not gifted so they give him a retake on the computer with questions too hard for Donavon to answer. Abigail cheats for him by hacking into the computer. While the kids are practicing for the tournament Mr.Schultz comes in for Donavon having figured out it was him who hit the statue. Donavon gets sent back to Hardcastle with community service. The Daniels arranged for Katie to drive Donavon and them to the robotics competition. At the competition Cold Spring Harbors robot bumped into the Academy's robot on purpose, causing them to drop their obstacle ring. Donavon can't take it so he gets up and and takes the controller and destroys Cold Spring Harbors robot. Right after that Katie announces it's time to have the baby. In the end Noah says he cheated and gets sent to Hardcastle, Donavon and Noah get to go to robotics three times a week. 

I would recommend this book to other 7th grade readers because the story itself is so interesting. You got to see the story from different peoples pointe of views. You can read from Donavon or Noah two polar opposites. This is the type of book that everyone is going to read at least once and thats a good because it's a great book. That's why I would recommend this book to other readers.

I think that one of the main themes in Ungifted is to think before you act. One example of this is when Donavon is thinking of all the things he has done without thinking about it "I have to say this was always the best part of it for a guy like me-the split second the tomato hits the car; the very brief flight as I drop from the edge of the roof to the pool; the instant that the balloon lifts the toupee and suns rays glint off that shiny bold head" (pg.7). Another example of this is when Donavon told his very pregnant sister her husband was very far away "I regretted it the instant the word passed my lips." (pg.18).  That's why i think one of the main themes in the book is to think before you act.

Noah Youkilis is so different from everybody in the book. He is so smart that no matter how hard he wants to fail he succeeds. The funny thing is he doesn't want to be smart he wants to be normal. Noah doesn't want to be at the Academy he wants to be at a place like Hardcastle. I just think that he's so unique from everybody else who has to work to be a genius or isn's even a genius at all. I think being at the Academy really affected Noah. Considering he doesn't even want to be there. Once he's in Hardcastle he's still the same, but it's different for him. He feels normal even though he's anything but normal. That's how the setting of the book affected Noah Youkilis.

The Perfect Pancake Flip

The Perfect Pancake Flip
By: Makayla Moore

I was in my kitchen watching my sister flip a pancake. I could hear the sizzle as the pancake mix met the pan. It filled the kitchen with the smell of pancake batter. I knew how to make the mix, but I could never flip the pancake myself.

“How do you do that?” I asked with curiosity.

“Come over here and I’ll show you.”

“You start by spraying the pan with Pam,” she said as she sprayed the pan. The spray hit the pan covering it.

“What’s next?”

“You pour the mix into the pan, not too much or too little.”

“How do you know if you have too much or too little?”” I asked very confused.

“You’ll just know,” she said with certainty

“Ok,” I said still skeptical on what’s too much or too little.

“Here’s a good tip to know when to flip the, pancake pop a bubble if it fills in it’s not ready if it stays hollow its ready to be flipped.”

She said as she popped the bubble and it stayed hollow.

“So it’s ready to be flipped?” I asked already knowing it should be flipped, but wanted to be sure.

“Yes,” she answered

“Be careful while doing this you don’t want to burn yourself.”

“I won’t,” I said confidently

“That’s what you say now, but you never know.”

As we were arguing I watched as my sister flipped the most perfect pancake ever.

“So is it done now?” I asked eager to make my own pancake and eat it.

“Not yet, you have to wait for the other side to cook. It won’t take long.”

“Ugh,” I said disappointed it wasn’t done yet.

A little while later my sister announced it was time to put it on the plate.

“Finally!” I said very enthusiastically

She put the pancake on the plate and it was perfect.

“Can I try now?”

“Sure, but don’t forget to spray It with Pam or you’ll have some troubles flipping it.”

“I won’t forget.”

“Don’t burn yourself.”

“I won’t,” I said very excited to finally be making pancakes

Flipping a pancake is not as hard as I thought it would be. It’s actually pretty easy. Pancakes are the type of food that every person knows how to make. Because they are so simple to make.  So be sure to learn how to make them.

Right after she let me make my own pancakes while I was attempting to flip the pancake I accidentally burned my hand. I guess I learned two things that day how to flip a pancake and to be more careful while flipping the pancake. 

Book Review: Heir Apparent

Heir Apparent, by Vivian Vande Velde, is about a girl named Giannine Belisario who gets trapped in a futuristic video game. It starts when she gets a gift certificate from her dad on her birthday to Rasmusseum Enterprises, a futuristic gaming center. Once Giannine is in the game she is Janine de St. Jehan the sheepherder. Shortly after the game starts CPOC protesters break into Rasmusseum damaging the equipment. The damage to the equipment made it so if Giannine dies in the game she must start over and over again until her brain overloads causing her to die in real life. While in the game Nigel Rasmusseum creator of Rasmusseum Enterprises contacts her saying that she must find a magical ring. Her first couple of tries don't go too well, she dies in the game from being poisoned, the guards killing her, and being attacked by Wulfgar. While she's in the game she must do many challenging thing such as surviving the royal family, reciting deadly poems,  dealing with annoying ghost, being kidnapped by barbarians, searching for stolen gold, fighting a dragon for a crown, and not being killed because she made a tiny mistake. In her last life until brain overload Kenric was her most trusted friend. She tried to be friends with all the royal family members Wulfagar and Abas not including Queen Adreanna. At her coronation to become king, Kenric gives her a drink shortly after fizziness starts to take over as what happens when you die in the game. She thinks that Kenric poisoned her, but it was really just her brain overloading. She starts to cry thinking she'll never make it out of the game alive when Kenric quickly crowns her king. She wakes up in Rasmussuem to have her dad, who's never around, waiting for her.

One of the main themes in this book is to never give up. An example of this is when Giannine was doughting if she would ever make it past the first part, but she does "I was going to dies. I was never going to make it past the first part of the game" (58). Another example of this is when Giannine was questioning how many more mistakes she can make "How many more stupid mistakes can I make before time runs out" (121). The last example of this is when she is frustrated about dying again, but she keeps going "I was glad that I wasn't being deep-fried by the computer, but I would be if I didn't figure my way out of this convoluted, backstabbing, mean spirited game." (217). Thats why one of the main themes are to never give up.

I would recommend this book to other 7th grade readers because there are so many details that she finds out in her next life that are shocking. She also goes on so many adventures and it feels as if you're there as the story unfolds. You feel like your slaying a dragon or your in a hostage situation its amazing. Thats why I would recommend this book to other readers.

Practice Book Review: The Veldt

   The Veldt, by Ray Bradburry, is a story about a family in the future, who have become too dependent on technology. Lydia Hadley notices that something about their children 's  virtual reality nursery is different. Lydia Hadley and George Hadley, the mother and father of the children go into the nursery. While they're in the nursery they hear a scream. Once they're out of the nursery Lydia says "Did you see? Did you feel? It's too real.". Lydia suggest that they shut the house down for a few days. As George and Lydia enter the nursery they yet again hear a far away scream. George  tries to change the room, but it does not work. The parents suggest that Peter, their son, got into the machinery and changed something. When the parents ask about Africa in the nursery Peter denies it. Peter sends Wendy, his sister, to go check the nursery, she comes back and confirms that the nursery is not Africa. The parents find Georges old wallet covered in slobber and blood they also find one of Lydia's bloody scarves. When George suggest to Peter that they shut the nursery down Peter threatens his father. David McClean         a psychologist arrives at the Hadley's household and say something is very bad. David and George turn off the nursery. When telling Peter about turning off the nursery Peter says he wishes his dad was dead. George and Lydia go into the nursery one last time, the nursery door slammed shut. Lions are surrounding them, and they realized why the screams sounded so familiar.

    One of the main themes in this book is to not spoil your children. an example of this theme is when George Hadley says "But nothings too good for our children." (9). Another example is when George says "We've given the Children everything they ever wanted. Is this our reward-secrecy, disobedience?" (18). One more example is when David McClean said " I sensed only that you had spoiled your kids more than most." (22).  Don't spoil your children because if you do they might not respect you, and take advantage of you.

    I would recommend this book to 7th grade readers, because there is a lot of futuristic technology. There is also technology that wasn't possible when the story was written, but is now used today. There were also things that still have not been invented such as an automatic scrub bath, shoe tier, and picture painter. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in futuristic things or new technology.