¡ ¡ ¡ An AwEsOmE bLoG ! ! !

I always liked to run as fast as I can. I was born in April 1998. When I was really young, I tried to shave myself even if I didn’t have facial hair. I like chocolate. I fell once at six years old when I was walking down our staircase which made me cry. I punched my sister in the nose which got me into trouble and I never punched anyone out of anger again. I don’t like vegetables. My like for reading only started at 4th grade when I read the first book of Harry Potter. I remember my uncle carrying me as a one year old as we stared at cakes in a bakery. I didn’t like to wear shoes when I didn’t go to school yet. My grandfather always made flowers out of plastic bottles. I liked to buy chocolate wafer sticks from my grandfather’s store. Having chickenpox and diarrhea weren’t pleasurable experiences. I never went on a field trip until 7th grade. I always wanted to have a dog like Lucky, my aunt and grandfather’s dog. I never had less than 89% as a final grade until 6th grade, though, I got my first 100% final grade in 6th grade.. The very first TV show I ever liked was Teletubbies when I was 2 years old. My cousins, Marie and Alyssa, used to have a babysitter who soon became their aunt. I remember trying to bite my sister’s hand when I was 3 years old. My very first best friend was named Kym whom I met at 1st grade. I just started watching The Walking Dead a few days ago. My cousin, Gizelle, taught me all kinds of computer games. I’m the only boy in my family on my mother’s side which always made me feel left out. I like mythology, especially Greek. At nights, when I was young, I used to be afraid of a giant muscular robot smashing our house. I’ve always wanted to be a scientist, although I don’t know what branch. One day, I hope to help the world.

Do you know what people say about your whole life flashing before your eyes a second before your death? It literally does flash before my eyes. I thought about my first days to school, my 7th birthday party, up til my recent days in algebra class. I never expected that life would end so quick. It was like a blink of an eye…

I was walking down the street to my friend’s house. I thought my friend and I could chill with some video games and soda. On my way, I came across an abandoned warehouse. I passed through it a million times but I never bothered to notice it. I thought it would be cool to check it out. Besides, it’s not like there are anymore people in there. I watched as the dormant machines creepily stared at me as I walked by. The walls were almost running out of color. My breath was the only sound I heard. The warehouse housed an eerie silence, almost the same type of silence you hear in a graveyard.

I was about to leave the building when the unexpected happened. All of a sudden, I heard a faint creak. Before I figured out what was going on, a policeman outside the building screamed, “Kid, get out of there!”

The last thing I saw was the world falling into darkness as a gust of flames from a raging inferno swallowed me as if it were a breathing carnivore.

I opened my eyes to find myself staring at the night sky. At least, I  thought I was. The sky was darker than usual. The sky seemed like a blanket of pure darkness. I stood up and found myself on a boat with a hooded figure staring at the horizon.
“Umm…mister, can you please tell me where am I?” I asked.
He turned around and I saw his face. A face that I hoped I never wanted to see again. He looked
at me with blazing eyes. To be truthful, they actually looked more like two pits filled with eternal flames. A long beard hung down from his chin that gave him a look that he has been in the world since it was created.
“We’re in the River Styx and arriving the River Acheron” the man said.
The River Styx. It’s a name I read in a book before. But where?
“We will be arriving shortly.” he said.

We came to a grand fortress guarded by impenetrable solid black walls and only one way in, and one way out. As we entered the great halls of the fortress we arrived on what seemed like a throne room. Torches hung from the walls. The ceiling was held up by majestic golden pillars. The room was adorned with jewels that any man would dream they could have. Tapestries of rich silk hung from the walls. A large man with flowing black robes was sitting on an obsidian throne. He had a face with intense ferocity. The man seemed like someone who can kill you in a second. He emitted an aura of wealth, power… and death.
“Greetings mortal. I am Pluto, god and overlord of the underworld. (Did he say that on purpose? I thought. Get it? Overlord, underworld. Oh, never mind.)” he roared with a voice that can cause an earthquake.
“If you’re Pluto…” I realized. The horrible truth came over me.
“Yes, Jack Williams. You are dead.”

I sat there pale and shocked. “How could this happen? I’m too young to die!” I shouted.
“That’s what they always say.” he mumbled. He pulled out a large scroll that seemed to just came out of a wisp of black smoke. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I was seeing things clearly.
As he opened the scroll, I asked “I thought people went to heaven when they die. Why do you exist? This must be a dream.”
“NEVER INSULT ME! Foolish mortal! People nowadays forgot the ancient gods and replaced us with new ones. If you weren’t so young I’d send you to Tartarus.” He opened the scroll. “Williams…Jack…ah here you are. Died in February 12, 2012 after an explosion caused by a technical malfunction and he accidentally came into the scene.” he read out loud.
“That can’t be possible, I was on my way to my friend’s house until…” I remembered.
“Yes, you died. Look around you, you probably can see your fellow ghosts more clearly.” he stated. He was right. I didn’t notice the souls wandering in a lifeless eternity when I came in!
I ran as fast as I could. It didn’t matter where I went, I just had to get out of here.
“Guards! Seize him!” he ordered. “I hate it when souls try to escape…” he mumbled.

I was running down the halls of Pluto’s palace trying to escape the walking skeletons. By instinct I saw a one and I kicked him in the gut, even though I didn’t think they had one, and picked up his sword. I slashed through a five with skill I never thought I had. I ran and ran until I came up to a dead end. “Stupid wall,” I muttered. They surrounded me. With the weapon in hand, I hacked and slashed and dodged. Suddenly, I saw myself in a house. I was no longer in danger. At least, I thought I wasn’t.
“Welcome Jack.” A woman’s voice said behind me.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I am Proserpina, the wife of Pluto.” she answered.
“I thought his wife was Persephone.” I questioned.
“That’s what the Greeks called me. I am here because I want to aid you.” she told me.
“Why do you want to help me?” I asked.
“I’ve seen your innocence. You have never done anything wrong.” she said. “You’ll have my protection for a while. The way to get out of here is to pass through Cerberus, the bane of heroes. You should run straight for the exit and you’ll be resurrected to your old life.”

Ten minutes.
I ran toward the light.
My blessing will only last five, though.
The skeletons were gaining up on me.
You’ll be only protected for five minutes but I’ll try to keep the portal open five minutes longer.
I swerved to the right just in time to avoid a thrown spear.
This is your only chance. Good luck Jack Williams.
With the sword of Olympian steel bestowed upon me by Proserpina, I slashed through the hordes of lifeless entities that blocked my way. Proserpina’s blessing guided and protected me. An arrow shot past me but scraped my side. I guess the blessing is gone. A ledge caught my eye. I jumped for it. If I miss, it might cost me my life. Success! The easy part of my escape is finished. Cerberus is the last thing that stands in my way. My protection is gone and time is running out.

Weren’t dogs man’s best friend? I think Cerberus never learned that in dog school.
The portal was in sight. There was a doorway that emitted a purple light. Your last chance…

The path was clear and I thought I could just stroll in and exit. Until, I saw it. Cerberus, a three-headed monstrous canine. He was as big as a three-story house. Compared to his bark, a lion’s roar sounds like a mouse’s squeak. Terrified, I walked back slowly. It growled then it pounced for the kill.

I brought up the sword to a deadly slash. At least, deadly for a human. For the mutt, it felt like a bee’s sting. My attack just raged him. I quick-stepped to the right to avoid his heads. Unfortunately, his third head swung right then hit me which tossed me a few feet away. In a way, that was a good thing. I saw a platform. If I could get up there, I would be on a head to head level with Cerberus (or should it be head to heads?). I climbed up but he swiped his paw to intercept me but I stabbed and it went straight through. He felt pain for a second. A second was all the time I needed. I leaped and brought the sword up to slash all his heads. He fell down, defeated. I ran for the portal immediately. I had no time.

“Jack! Stop for a minute and listen!”

Pluto came up to me with his long black robes and stern face.
“Why should I? You’ll just keep me prisoner in your kingdom for eternity.” I said.
“You are not the only person that has died. Every person must die. Life is nothing without death. Death is what makes life important. It would be unfair for everyone here if you go. Even if you do, you can never escape death. Death is what fills life, and life is what fills death.” Pluto said.
I pondered upon his sayings then I slashed.
The portal was destroyed.
“You have done well, young one. You would go to the Land of the Heroes, the Isle of the Blest. If you had escaped, I would have sent you to the Fields of Punishment. The idea of death always clouds people’s thoughts from the right choice. Because of this, I would give another chance to live. A gift I rarely give to a mortal. Live righteous once more and I might send you to paradise in your next afterlife. Now be gone.” I blacked out.

I saw myself in the destroyed warehouse. More importantly, I saw myself alive.

A Short  Story Inspired by Percy Jackson

Some rights reserved by michael pollak

The article told a story about a man who died for fighting for what he believes in. He believed in saving the planet. Trees are one of the most important organisms in the planet, without them we’d probably die. He was shot after trying to sabotage the illegal logging company in Cambodia. I guess he did it for the right cause, but it’s sad that he died.

What I don’t understand is why the government would even agree to this type of logging. I don’t know why people are so greedy that they would even try to destroy their future lives. Planet Earth has given us everything since mankind was created.   In return, mankind tries to destroy it. Why would you try to earn some money in destroying the Earth when the Earth will be destroyed and money won’t even matter anymore? I can’t believe, though, that a person like Chut Wutty, would do anything even if it takes his life. He was a truly selfless person.a

Believe it or not, most of the oxygen we breathe is from trees. Without trees, we can die. Plants are our main source of oxygen, which is one of our necessities. to live. The thing is, people would never do anything to change the world unless somebody else tries to do it. I bet that this guy has been an inspiration to the environmentalists worldwide. As a famous person once said: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Some rights reserved by jenny downing

And no, I’m not talking about mutants as in the X-Men. Mutants as in deformed fish. Imagine eyeless shrimp, clawless crabs, or fish with pink blobs attached to them. These types of sea creatures were harmed by the BP oil spill. The chemicals from the oil spill changed the biological structures of these creatures making them different from other creatures of their own species. This fact was proven by scientists working near the oil spill after fishermen saw sights of different disorders found in seafood. Imagine just looking at a shrimp in your plate with tumors growing in its body.

What I really want to know is how can oil do this to a creature? What component of oil makes an organism mutate?  All these questions bother me but the worst thing is, what are the people going to do about it? The article states the government thought it wasn’t a matter to panic about. I mean, it’s just a few fish! Why do some people care about themselves more than the environment? If the world would reach the final point of environmental destruction, they, along with the entire world, won’t even matter anymore. All people know this but a person’s pride is usually greater than how much a person cares.

This concerns me since seafood is one of my favorite types of food. I wouldn’t live without seafood (ok maybe I would, but still).  Who would like a mutated and poisoned fish in their dinner plate? Also this oil spill could lead to the seas’ destruction. Water is extremely important. In our science class, Mr.G told us that most of the oxygen we breathe is from the aquatic plant-like organisms that treat the oceans as their home. If there was no oxygen, we die. If there was no seafood, people in the coastal areas would starve. Aquatic creatures could die.

Would you want to live in a world with black water?

Some rights reserved by lgb06

When people came to this world, we didn’t have anything except sticks and stones. Now we have computers, tablets, and cellphones. Imagine all of this being put to a pair of glasses. Imagine all the info on the internet right in the front of your face. Imagine being able to call anyone you know in a single command. Imagine being able to capture moments in a blink of an eye and be able to share it to the whole world. These are the abilities of the new Google Glasses.

In my opinion, the Google Glasses provides easy access to our daily activities or at least easy access to the things we do in Google. This piece of technology was seen in multiple sci-fi movies, books, or games. The Google Glasses is one step towards them. This fact proves how fast technology is advancing. One day, we were thinking of them as sci-fi, now they’re on their way to reality. Can you believe that? The good thing about the Google Glasses is ease of access. With it, you can call friends, capture photos, take reminders, find locations, and many more.

The Google Glasses is one step towards the future. Technology is also about making things easier. First, we had calculators, then they were made into computers, then now we have tablets, and now all those things can be accessed anywhere at anytime. The glasses prove that sci-fi gadgets can be made into real items we can use.

How is this possible? Technology is all about making things possible.

I should not do work
I contend with petition,
And I was spurned bad

I am too lazy
That’s what they say every time
Like talking to rocks

I have fought today
Chores are my adversary
And now I am his

Petitions, ignored
Attempts to avert it, failed
Relaxation, gone

I cannot fight back
Argument is invalid
Begging is useless

I want to stop work
Work leads to endless trouble
I want to stop work

To indulge in work
Infinite and eternal
Inevitable

Working is too much,
Want to live with inaction
Work, so much hard work

To die from hard work
Would be humiliating,
I could have refused

Please show some mercy
I still have homework, projects…
So much work needed…

Please listen to me
Listen to my sentiments
I beg you, listen

I want liberty!
I want freedom from hard work
Freedom or nothing

The hard work kills me
Kills my mind, poisons my soul
Destroys everything

The arduous work
At least extenuate it
I’m supplicating

Don’t be delusive
I know how it really feels
It’s insidious

Unavoidable
I am forced to do it still
I cannot stop it

The colonies have been working for the British for too long. They felt like slaves. Patrick Henry’s amazingly emotional speech was a persuasive and morale-boosting one. If I was one of the colonists, there was no way I wouldn’t agree with him. The repeated messages of being strong and act against the British. Shouts of action improved his situation in making the audience listen to him. “Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?” He keeps bombarding the president with unexpected or unanswerable questions that leave you thinking about the thoughts he just brought up. Also, his emotions put on to his speech (especially when heard out loud) enhances the intentional effect of persuasion to the people listening. “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!” That statement was one of the strongest I heard in his speech. The exclamation about his God was one strong phrase because of the fact he just put his religion and beliefs into his speech. He wanted to impress that thought of his emotions to his listeners. Listening to his speech invokes emotion to lead people into what he wants: fight against the British.

Some rights reserved by PipPipHooray1

Over the years, humanity has never changed. People are usually classified into two: the ones that create and preserve, and the ones that destroy. People have tempted by greed, jealousy, hate, anger, and other evil things to acquire wealth, fame, and power. Joseph Kony is one of those people. This person has committed crimes that are almost unthinkable, unbelievable, and almost impossible. That’s why people all over the world to help not only to change the lives of the captured children, but to change the future of the world.

I think I agree with the video. Kony’s crimes are just evil. As the video said, Kony makes children live in fear everyday, but no child should do so. People like Kony try to make their lives better, but in so many ways, it makes the lives of the innocent worse. This is much worse when the video said the children are targeted. Without children there would be no future for the world. This also matters to me because I’m also a young person like them. I would be horrified if I stepped into their shoes.

This doesn’t only matter to the kids and their families in Africa, it matters to every single person in the world. The people being harmed, threatened and killed are like us. They’re people like us. It doesn’t matter how far away they are. They’re still a part of the global community. It matters because humans are supposed to be helping each other, not harming them. Why are we standing here in our own luxuries when those people are suffering every single day?  Those are some things we should try to ponder upon.

I was most surprised that Kony’s victims are mostly children. Poor, defenseless, and innocent children. At a young age, they’re forced to murder. I think that is the worst part of Kony’s crimes. The abduction of children and making them do what he wants. I think that’s just a crime that has gone way too far.

Joseph Kony must be stopped. For the good of all those innocent people, for saving the world’s future.

Some rights reserved by Yutaka Tsutano

Everybody probably knows Apple’s remarkable tablet, the iPad. There already was an iPad 2. Rumor has it that there’s going to be an iPad 3, and it might be called the iPad HD. The new iPad would probably be cooler and nicer (and probably more expensive) than it’s previous predecessors. It is what Apple might need to beat Samsung, Windows, Kindle, Sony, and other companies at the tablet industry. As the article said “But assuming it’s a new iPad, speculation and leaks have focused on a few possibilities”

The iPad 3′s display surprised me. I mean, it doubled the number of pixels in its resolution meaning double the clearness. The article said “The impact could mean more vivid gaming and movie watching as well as easier reading — a claim that Amazon has been able to make so far with its E-ink Kindles.” I’ve always wanted an e-reader making me want to get something like this. I think this clear display is the difference from the iPad 3 from its past version.

This huge leap on display made me think “How would Apple’s competitors counteract this new change?” This might have given Apple an advantage over them. Is the cheap Kindle Fire or the Android Samsung tablets better than the HD iPad 3? This article made me more interested about tablets and how helpful they can be. This reminds me of seeing how technology is helpful to mankind.

The iPad 3 would be a great addition to the gadgets people use now. This great leap from the iPad 2 to the iPad 3 shows how technology. Maybe one day, although this might still be far from now, every single person would own something like this. Each and every person has access to every thing man has discovered, predicted, and thought.