BR#1: Before I fall.

Lauren Oliver's Before I fall is a page turning, interesting, entertaining book that will keep you reading for more.

One of the themes in the book is that you are left with many choices in life, but you just have to make the right one. Samantha relives Friday, February 12th seven times. Each day, she makes different choices to try and change the outcome of the day. The third time Sam wakes up on the same day, she chooses to completely rebel. She gets to school late, skips most of her classes, seduces her teacher, and smokes marijuana. The days following, Sam tries to be a better person.

With the author using the main character as the first person, it gives me a real teenage view of how girls look at high school life in this generation. I liked the fact that the author gave real life actions and experiences that teenagers go through, and how the author used slang and updated words that readers can understand. The book was somewhat funny. Parts of it had some humor, but overall, it was a dramatic story. The narrator's voice is stuck up and kind of care free, but during the end of the book, she decides to be a good person and turns her actions around. During the whole book, she repeats the same day of the last day that she will ever live, but each day she makes a better decisions and tries to make things right.

The writer makes me believe that all the characters are real, because the people in the book are the people that I've known all my life. Some of the characters are very rebellious and it makes me wanna grab them by the neck and choke them because of how horrible they act around people. For example, Samantha tries to seduce her teacher by giving him a flirtatious and exposing conversation with him. Samantha was also said to be smoking weed with a girl in the bathroom while skipping class.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone that loves a great story. I was recommended this by a good friend of mine and I would love everyone to read this because it is a great story!

CC#2: Cougars in Training.

In a recent article by Stephanie Goldberg in CNN news entitled "Cougars in training: Young women dating even younger men," Women, such as famous actresses, have taken more interest in younger men, other than men older, or even their age.

"As the public becomes accustomed to tales of 40- and 50-year-old women who date younger men, 20- and 30-something women who do the same are still regarded as a strange species." Men who date older women, cougars, are labeled to be "pumas." Many people might feel uncomfortable with the idea of dating a much younger man. Others might feel as if it was like dating their own mother, although some might think, dating a younger woman is just the same as dating a younger man.

"In October, London-based video blogger Emily Hartridge, 28, posted a video about the benefits of dating a younger man. The comedic vlog listed reasons such as 'younger guys try harder to please you" and "you get to feel more in charge' among the perks." Some men like women with power and independence. They might feel more taken care of when dating an older woman of their age. I guess some men like the fact of a women being more powerful than they are.

"As more Hollywood actresses and models, such as Eva Longoria, date younger men, the unwarranted stigma surrounding such relationships will fade, matchmaker Patti Stanger said." Many of the famous ladies in Hollywood are getting more into younger men these days. Such as actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who annouced her engagement to 23 year old baseball player, Cutter Dykstra; and even Demi Moore, who is currently married to Ashton Kutcher. They are 15 years apart, making Demi a much older woman.

Many of the women that I have known in Batesville are older than their husbands. My third and fifth grade teacher is 10 years older than her husband. This remind me of a show that I recently watched called True life: I'm dating someone older. A reality show of young men who are dating strong and powerful women, who they can not live without.

With more men wanting love and support, some might suggest on dating or marrying an older women due to the fact that they can take care of them instead of taking care of the woman. Dating younger men are becoming a more regular and normal thing.

CC#1: King discovered under parking lot in England.

In a recent article by Bryony Jones in CNN news entitled "Body found under parking lot is King Richard III, scientists prove," Studies show the body that they have discovered had belonged to King Richard III, who was killed during the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1845.

"Experts say other evidence -- including battle wounds and signs of scoliosis, or curvature of the spine -- found during the search and the more than four months of tests since strongly support the DNA findings," King Richard, a man who lived during the Elizabethan period, had a problem with scoliosis, giving him the character of a hunch back in Shakespears stories. The finding of the former king, had been a shock to scientists.

"Archaeologists say their examination of the skeleton shows Richard met a violent death." While searching for more evidence of how the body had been killed, they noticed 8 wounds to the head and 2 on the body. Researchers say that the fatal hear insures might be the cause for his death during his last battles. They also noticed that his hands were tied when he was burried to the ground.

"The initial discovery of the remains provoked much debate in Britain as to what would happen with the body, if it were proven to be that of Richard III, with many calling for a state funeral at Westminster Abbey, and others backing a burial in York Minster, in keeping with the king's heritage as a member of the House of York." King Richard was an annointed Christian King when was alive. They are planning to burry him next to Leicester Cathedral, and a memorial will be held early next year.

This reminds me of the many discoveries in unexpected areas of the world. In an article that I have read in the past year, a man was discovered in an ice block. Some say that it belonged to a mountain man that had drowned many years ago. Remains were still on his body. It was an amazing discovery for many scientists.

Wtth the founding of King Richard's body, it created more research into history that they have longed studied. It forced more research and examination, looking into history more deeply with the new discovery. The skeleton expanded history with better evidence, but more questions to answer.

My American Dream

                We can all remember Martin Luther King, Junior, a man with high hopes and strong beliefs, who gave America one of the most memorable speeches that changed the country forever. He had a dream; a dream that soon came to a reality. This was what gave me the motivation to foresee my own American dream to live life with success and happiness, with the hopes of America improving in the near future.

With a good education and school, I can achieve my goal of graduating with flying colors. I dream of walking down to my teachers as they finally give me that diploma I have worked to receive. After succeeding with high school, I have a dream of getting accepted to Arkansas State University to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse. With the knowledge of high demands for nurses in the next few years, I can be confident that it will not be hard for me to become what I want to be. Even though I think of myself as a very independent person, I hope to one day marry a man who can not only be a partner, but a best friend, who will stick by me till deaths do us apart and raise beautiful children until they are old enough to go off by themselves. This is my personal American dream. I dream of a happy and successful life, but we all know it does not come easy. With hard work, motivation, time, effort, and confidence, I can one day live my life that I have dreamed about since I have been an American.

                One day, this country will change, but for the better. Every day we witness several judgments and bullying, simply because of how we look, what we believe in, and the way we live our life. We all have the right to express ourselves. We have the right to be who we want to be and become what we want to become. Someday, I will walk down the streets of this city and pass by the citizens that we come across, and I will not be judged and looked at wrong, just because I am different. America is the land of the free and home of the brave. I dream of no more judging a book by its cover and peace with others around us.

                A dream is not always just an action. It can be turned into a reality if you strive to achieve  your goals. My American dream is not a fantasy, but a hope of a better future. Someday, I will not call it “my American dream”, but instead “my American life”.

Sandy Elementary School Shooting in Newtown, Connecticut

In a recent article by N.R. Kleinfield in Los Angeles Times news entitled "Security Increased at Connecticut Schools as Investigation Into Shooting Continues," The shooting spree on Monday in a small town of Connecticut caused many heart breaks of those who were the victims of the shooting.

"The town of Newtown started burying the first young victims of last week’s slaughter at an elementary school on Monday," One of the young victims that was shot in the shooting was Jack Pinto, who was only 6 at the time of his death, along with Noah Pozner who was also the same age. It became unbearable for families to watch their boys get buried underground at the Sandy Hook Elementary Funeral.

"Investigators said it could take months to recreate a full account of the events preceding and during the killing spree on Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which has been sealed off as a crime scene." The state policemen had later identified the killer to be Adam Lanza, who them killed himself after the massacre in Sandy School. He was only 20 years old. He took 26 lives; 20 students and 6 adults. According to Law enforcement officials, Lanza had killed his mother at their home, not far from the elementary school.

"The guns were legally acquired and registered by Ms. Lanza, who had sometimes taken her son to shooting ranges, according to law enforcement officials and her friends." The gun that Lanza had used was legally bought by his own mother. The gun he used was a .223-caliber bullet which was a a small, high-velocity round that has been used by Western military forces for decades, in part because it inflicts devastating wounds. His friends later confirmed that his mother, Ms. Lanza had a developmental disorder.

I pray for those families that sadly lost their little ones with their short amount of time that they had in the world. This reminds me of many school shootings that had happened over the last few years. One specifically that had happened here in Arkansas in Jonesboro. I can only imagine the pain and suffering that they feel. All because of a heartless young man with an unknown reason to kill such young children.

The students of Sandy Elementary School.will now be attending a different building in a nearby community. On Monday of the shooting, the staff members had done all they could to protect the children in the building, but it broke all their hearts when they could not save anymore than they tried. The town of Newtown will forever remember the horrible tragedy of Sandy Elementary School.

Sandy Elementary School Shooting in Newtown, Connecticut

In a recent article by Wesley Lowery in Los Angeles Times news entitled "Family of man shot by sheriff's deputies calls for FBI probe," Lowery informs that an IngleWood man was shot down by a sheriff deputy this month, requesting an FBI probe of the shooting.

"Jose de la Trinidad, 36, was shot and killed by deputies Nov. 10, just minutes after leaving his niece's quinceanera with his older brother." According to the article, Trinidad had just left his nieces and was caught by police when he over speed after his brother had been pulled over by another cop. With the fear of getting in trouble with the sheriff, avoided any confrontations and fled as quickly as possible, but in the 1900 block of East 122nd Street in Willowbrook, he finally stopped.

"After police attempted to pull the older brother over for speeding, he sped off. After pleading with his brother to stop, Jose de la Trinidad was let out of the car in the 1900 block of East 122nd Street in Willowbrook, family members said." When he finally got out of the car, he was unarmed. Although he had no kind of weapon visible with him, he was shot to death by deputies. The police men thought that Trinidad had some kind of weapon with him when he aimed for his waistband and took a very risky action when they shot the man down.

"The slain man's family, however, said that a 19-year-old woman who witnessed the shooting from her bedroom window reported that she saw De la Trinidad with his hands behind his head before shots were fired." This was clearly sign of surrender, but instead they gunned him down. According to eye witness, Trinidad stopped at the scene, got out of the car, and moved his arms behind his head, not towards his waist. Deputies that were in the scene had forced many witnesses to change their stories.

It seems that there are many stories that I hear of like this when police men are not doing their job by following the rules that they are to abide to. I remember a story that I've heard of like this. A man was shot down just because they accused him of owning a weapon when he had no possesion of it.

Family and friends had set up a memorial for Jose de la Trinidad at Wells Fargo Bank. The father of two daughters will never have that father figure to help them grow up to young adults. The widow is very much upset and depressed that this had happened to her family but will continue to raise their children together.

Opener, Subject-verb Split, Closer.

When it comes to your own beliefs and others beliefs, there are limits to speak your mind and thoughts about certain views that concern you or someone else, but what is the limit? In my opinion when your views or beliefs become threatning or destructing, it becomes dangerous. In our world today, radical Muslims force thoughts and ideas into many people minds, shoving there views into others, making them believe that their ideas are right. When convencing others about your beliefs, you can not just shove your ideas into someone else's throats and force them to think the way you do. Radical Muslims, making them a threat to our country, caused our country to change forever. During their lifetime, they were forced to learn about their religious beliefs, exposing the thoughts of America becoming a dictator to the world. There are limits to defending your views, but when you believe that others are wrong and you're right, you believe that their ideas do not matter, making it harder to except what others are saying.