2013

Introduction

     Lots of important events happened in the year 2013. Many of them could have an important place in our minds like the Boston bombing or maybe Hurricane Haiyan. I'm going to write about the life of Nelson Mandela. He was an african president who was in jail before becoming one. He was sentenced to life in jail for a law many citizens thought was unfair. Many people fought for Nelson Mandela. Even the ones who didn't know him. Artists drew pictures about it, pop stars sang about it, and other things were done for his sake. The effect of Mr. Mandela's imprisonment was crazy. So that was why they let him out of jail. Then he went for president. Suprising,  isn't it? Though it was akward he still did it and actually even got elected president after doing some work to create very inspiring speeches. Now a days we admire people like him. He was an example-setter for the whole world! Yup, the whole world.

My Opinion

     Many moments were very memorable in 2013. I can remember last year the ball dropping on New Year announcing "IT IS NOW 2013!" Also I remember hearing Gangam Style on tv sometime before the ball dropped. I remember Sai coming out all energetic. Good times, good times. My most favorite time this year was when the last day of school came and every student in school waited for that joyous, melodious bell to ring. Sooner or later it did and dozens of children rushed out like the last molocule of oxygen was outside. So that was it, my most memorable day of the year. Now let's move on to 2014. In this year I'm looking forward to new styles and new songs. I wish I could get a sneak peek to hear one new song that's gonna be created in 2014. I really wish I could. 

Top Ten List 

1.   China moon rover lands on moon
2.  Nelson Mandela dies
3.  Boston bombing
4.  Super typhoon Haiyan destroys the Phillipines
5.  Kenya mall attack
6. Tokyo, Japan wins to hist 2020 olympics
7. Spain train crash
8. Huge tornado hits Oklahoma
9. Deadly earthquake hits China Sichuan
10. Meteorites injured hundreds from Russia

Your Turn

     You've probably heard of many events that happened in the past year, 2013. Well,  I want you to pick what you think is the most important event that occured in 2013. Remember it could be anything. Even the day you got your own lpod or something. there's only one rule. if nas to have happened this year. It could be on January 1 or even on December 31. AS long as it occureathis year. Well that's all folks, SEEYA!

Can It Snow When Its Not Cold?

Introduction

     Snow! Snow! Come again! Go away another day! This is something crazy you might be saying when winter comes rolling in. Although, mother nature doesn't always cooperate. Sometimes it doesn't follow a childs wisheThat's o that's why people invented...wait for it. Artificial snow! Plus, you can read all about it in the rest of the blog below. 

Snow!

    For snow to fall you need a certain weather condition. There needs to be moisture high in the air so it can fall to the ground as precipitation. Also, the temperature has to be cold enough to freeze the moisture. When this happens the moisture will turn to snowflakes rather than raindrops. As you can see that's how snow forms. 

Artificial Snow!

     You probably know how snow is formed from reading the first paragraph. Though, you might not know how artificial snow is made. Because conditions weren't always right to make snow some people invented a man-made snow, not the actual type. If you didn't know, though, it's actually made in almost the same way as mother nature makes it. A machine uses water and compressed air to shoot tiny water droplets into the air. As they hot the cold air they turn into ice crystals, or at least artificial snow. So even if there isn't enough moisture snow will still be able to form.

My Opinion

     In my case, I love it! Being able to have snow when it's not on the forcast is fantastic. Also, it lets me prove a weather person wrong! In your face weather people! It felt good saying that. You should try it sometime. Now, let's get back to the main subject. So, this could actually make lots of people experience snow who are in like India or southern Mexico. They might feel so happy finally being able to feel and see it or atleast artificial snow, but it's good enough, right?

Top Ten List

1. SnoWonder Instant bucket of snow
2. Buffalo Batt & Felt
3. Design Master Holiday Snow Spray
4. Instant Snow to Go
5. Kikkerland Instant Snow in a Can Powder
6. Art Wall Snow Spray
7. Santa Artificial Snow Spray
8. Buffalo snow
9. Let it SNOW Artificial
10. White Iridescent Artificial Snow

Your Turn

     You know how I said people who've never experienced snow might feel. Well in the comments below write a description, long or short, of how you think those people might have been. Remember, it's all up to your interpretation. That's all folks. Seeya!

How Much Does The Sky Weigh?

Introduction

     When you look up at the sky, have you ever thought about it? Perhaps about phrases that come into your mind or even wondering about it pushing you around in a hot air balloon. To be specific, have you ever imagined about how much the sky weighs? Well if you read this you might find what you're looking for.

Really!?!

     When thinking about how much the sky weighs you might be a little surprised or shocked to find out its actuall weight. You probably know that air is all around you. It starts at the ground and floats all the way up to the tippy-tops of the sky. That air isn't empty, though. It's full of molecules. Molecules, by the way have weight if you didn't know that. With all that air pressure on top of you it could probably knock you to the ground. But there's one catch. Not all that air is on top of you. Some of that air is on the sides of you. In fact all the air is evenly spread out all around your body. so, back to the main question, how much does the sky weigh? Well, the atmosphere weighs around 5 million billion tons. By the way in case you didn't know 1 ton is equivalent to 2000 pounds. So 5 million billion multiplied by 2000 is about a random number that is out of my calculations. If you still can't imagine how much that is I'll give another example. Some scientists estimate it is about the same weight as 570,000,000,000,000 adult Indian elephants! That's a lot of elephants. Now you now the secrets to how much the sky weigh.

My Opinion

     When I first read the article informing me about this exotic information I was astonished. I wouldn't be surprised that after you read this that your jaw would drop to the floor. I would've guessed about 14 pounds or so, but this was not even close to my answer. If anyone were to get that right I would most likely think of them as some kind of astronomer genius. Also,  I think that because other flying animals don't sink down there's probably less air pressure the higher you go. I can tell because the higher you go the less air above you there is.

Top Ten List

1. nitrogen

2. oxygen

3. carbon dioxide

4. helium

5. hydrogen

6. methane

7. chloroflorocarbon

8. argon

9. neon

10. sulfur dioxide

Your Turn

     We've found out how much the sky weigh, right? Still, though we haven't talked about how scientists found this information. In the comments below type down the apparatus used to get this information. It could be a guess that you take or a well developed answer using the internet and/other useful resources. When you answer I'll check to see if it's right or not. You don't have to, but it would be nice if you did. That all, PEACE!

Why We Eat Turkey On Thansgiving

Introduction 

     Have you ever wondered why we eat turkey on Thanksgiving. No one really knows why, though. It's kind of a mystery. The turkey found it's way to the table each year, somehow. Now, if you read this you will learn the reason behind this. 

The History of Turkey

     Thanks to letters by early settlers we are able to tell when and what people ate on what we call today Thanksgiving. One day colonists sat down with the Wampanoag Indians to eat beef and fowl. This was later known as the first Thanksgiving. Still, a fowl could be a rooster, hen, or a chicken. But, in a letter by a pilgrim named Edward Winslow it mentions a hunting trip before the meal. If you're not satisfied with that then listen to this. Queen Elizabeth got news that a fleet of Spanish  ships sunk on their way to attack England while she was eating goose at dinner. She was so happy that she ordered another goose be served.

My Opinion

     Now, in my opinion I think turkeys must be special in order to be on the menu for Thanksgiving. Don't you think so, too. There so special that Ben Franklin  tried to make it America's national bird. Although, not enough people voted for it. Yet, now it has one day all to its self. The bald eagle won, but it didn't win all of the fight.

this video gives a little more information that wasn't
included in the written part of my blog, so i would
recommend you watch the short clip

Top Ten Meals Eaten On Thanksgiving

1. Turkey
2. Stuffing
3. Mashed Potatoes
4. Cranberry
5. Bread/Rolls
6. Pumpkin Pie
7. Sweet Potatoes
8. Salad
9. Ham
10. Coffee Cake

Your Turn

     Now, it's your turn. What do you eat on Thanksgiving? Is it just the usuall leftover pizza from yesterdays meal at a restaraunt or is it the fanciest meal you'll ever get. Please post your answer in the comments below. Next time you eat a turkey remember this blog and feel free to tell everyone about it.                                                                     PEACE!

Advertising In Your Hands

Bandwagon Commercials

    You see so many commercials a day. Some persuade you and some don't. Well, if you read this you'll find two techniques that professional producers use or include in their ads. In the commercial below you will see them using bandwagon. This is a persuasive propoganda that tries to make you follow the crowd. In the ad you see the child writing Bandwogon on the man's helmet. This is a heads up that something related to bandwagon is coming up. Later in the commercial you find the man changing the team it supports each time that team loses a game. This is a perfect example of bandwagon because the man is following the crowd.

In this commercial you see them using the bandwagon
technique. It's noticed by the child writing it on the man's 
helmet and also seen by the man changing jerseys each
time a team looses. This is following the crowd. 

Testimonial Commercials

    In the commercial below you will find the producer using the testimonial technique. This technique uses famous, well-known people to demonstrate and display the products from the company. One of the popular people in the ad is a the basketball player, Rajon Rondo. They probably used him because his fans might do what ever he suggests and in this case he's suggesting to buy from Foot Locker. If you want to see another ad where they use the testimonial technique just go to this link. (Lebron James beats commercial)

    

In this commercial you see them using the testimonial 
technique. You could notice because you can see 
them using a famous, well-known person to persuade 
you to buy their product. This is what a commercial 
using the testimonial strategy would look like.

My Opinion

    I like the first commercial because the man is changing his favorite team every time that team looses. To me this is a great example of bandwagon including the fact that the child writes in marker on the man's helmet "Bandwagon". The strategy used makes me want to buy this product because in the end of the commercial the two children say that they hope that Dorittos is part of the bandwagon. In this ad they pick a certain type of people they want to buy this product. It's not just that they just think everyone is going to buy their product. They have a specific target audience. In this ad I think the target audience is young parents. I think so because it's usually the main actor who is the target and in this case  it's young parents. Also, I think this product will sell because they made it funny and when it's funny it usually attracts some attention.
    I liked the second commercial, also because it has an amazing basketball player in it. When they added Rajon Rondo to the commercial they did themselves a favor. When other people that like him see that he is suggesting to get shoes from Foot Locker they might beg their parents to get shoes from their and then Foot Locker will get a lot of money. I think the target audience in this ad is teenagers. I believe this because teenagers are the people who really care about nice style and good shoes, so I think their are the target audience. Mostly, I think this commercial will help Foot Locker make money because I think Rajo Rondo's fans will go to Foot Locker because he suggested it.

Top Five List

 

In this commercial you can see them using the testimonial technique. You can notice because they use Eli Manning and make him drive a Toyota. Then they want fans of Eli Manning to buy a toyota.


In this commercial you can also see them using the testimonial technique. I noticed because in a testimnial commercial their is always a well-known person. In this ad Old MacDonald was the famous person.



In this commercial you might spot the technique that I spotted. I found them using the bandwagon technique. I could tell because one of the women ws jealouse of the other woman because her insurance helped her save more money.




I think this commercial is using the testimonial technique. I have a feeling because they are saying that if you want to be fast and amazing at soccer like Ronaldo you have to wear the nike shoes shown in the ad. This is why it uses the testimonial strategy.


I think the technique used in this commercial is bandwagon. I think so because bandwgon is following the crowd. Also, in this case the crowd would be the children so the ad wants you to follow what the children and the man say.

Your Turn

    Now I'm putting this into your hands. Since you know these two techniques now try and find two commercials that use these strategies. When you comment put in a link to tell me where to go and I'll watch that video that you chose. Just remember the next time you see an ad think if it has or uses any of these two techniques.

The Terra Cotta Warriors

Introduction

 

    Over 2,000 years ago a clay army of more than7,000 was built of unique faces and different clothes along with chariots, horses, and archers. All of this was built to guard what lay inside the chamber it protected. Qin Shi Huang (the emperor)was obsessed with the afterlife he beleived in. He built this army to accompany him in it. Crazy, right. And what's even more crazy is that this is the emperor of China who was the founder of chinese writing, their weights and measures, and built a sereis of highways and the first version of the Great Wall of China.

My Opinion

       I disliked the emperor because he called thousands of people to build this enormous tomb just for him and his imaginary afterlife. In the video provided by National Geographic it says that it took 37 years to build the Terra Cotta Empire. I don't think people should've wasted 37 years building somthing that won't happen. Also,  Qin Shi Huang killed all his wives and many others - the day he died - he wanted to enjoy his fairytale afterlife with(source ononimous).

Top Five Facts

1. Over 700,000 workers were employed for construction
2. The clay figures were over 2,200 years old
3. Archeoligists believe more than 160 underground chambers are still yet to be discovered
4. Local farmers digging for water discovered and found a few fragments of the Terracotta Empire
5. When the figures were found they were smashed into more than 2,000 peices(so far 1,000 peices restored

Your Turn

      What do you think about the emperor? Would you wan't him to be your ruler? Please post your thuoghts below.

 

The Vicious "SuperCroc"

Introduction

      Over 110 million years ago a deadly creature walked on the face of the earth. No, it wasn't a T-rex

20nor a kentasouras. It was probably more dangerous than both combined. It was a SuperCroc! At 40 feet long  and weighing in at eight tons intimated every living thing that saw it. Being able to hunt on land and water made no one safe. Even with a tank you might not be able to take this beast down. Many creatures were crossed off the list as being dangerous or having any chance of taking down the well- known mighty SuperCroc!

My Opinion  

    I'm glad SuperCroc don't exist today because it probably would've wiped out the human race by now. Sereno found out that SuperCroc's skull was 6 feet alone and had 132 teeth. That meant it would be able to swallow a human in one gulp. That would be enough information to make me hide in my basement all day, every day. Sereno's team also found out that it had bony armor on it's back called scutes. This covered the head, body, and part of the tail of this mighty beast. That would probably make it tougher than an armored, armed truck. No wonder Sereno's team said it was constructed like a fighting machine.

5 Cousins of SuperCroc

1. BoarCroc-could grow up to 20 feet long and has three rows of fangs
2. RatCroc-can grow up to 3 feet long, it eats plants, grubs, and it stood upright
3. PancakeCroc-largest of the new finds but still not as large as SuperCroc
4. DogCroc-dog size, upright, and had a dog like noise
5. DuckCroc-about 3 feet long and used its long narrow snout to search shallow waters for its meal of fish and frogs

Your Turn

      Now it's your turn. What did you think the strongest thing to ever step on the planet was before reading this? After reading this does this change your mind or do you still stick to your same answer? Please comment below and write about your opinion.