Day After Thanksgiving

The day after Thanksgiving so far: I woke up and read a book for a little bit, then got out of bed. Dad went to the store. I was thinking, "I have a lot of school to do." I did. So I got my science done in no tome at all. So I thought I could do this easily. Our family had pie for breakfast because it was after Thanksgiving. I had pumpkin pie. Then Dad came home, and he got Shrek the Halls! It is a Christmas Video! And it is only 1 day after Thanksgiving! So we watched it.

So now I have this countdown thing going on!

That was my day after Thanks giving so far. I am going to go either do school or play.

Shakespeare

WHO IS THE BEST LEADER: BRUTUS, CASSIUS, OR ANTONY?
Joseph Lewis
In William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”, there are three great leaders: Brutus, Cassius, and Antony. But which one shows true leadership? They all have strengths and weaknesses. Which one would I follow?
Brutus was one of Caesar’s friends, and he is a very popular nobleman. People respected him. But he was influenced by other people too easily. In the play, Cassius got him to join the conspiracy by praising him. Brutus thought that if he killed Caesar, the people would still like him. I wouldn’t want to follow him because that makes him untrustworthy.
Cassius was an experienced war leader, he was smart, and he was persuasive. He got all the members of the conspiracy to be in it through different ways. An example is when he gets Brutus to join the conspiracy through flattering. He did sound good, but he had bad qualities also- he whined. Whining shows immaturity. So when things weren’t going good, he quits. Also, in the play, when he saw the war was lost, he killed himself. Not my choice of leader.
Antony was a great speaker because he spoke what was the truth. He was also a war leader. In the play, he allied with Octavius and won the battle. But he was dishonest. He tried to cheat the people out of their inheritance of Caesar’s will. He also kills senators to cheat the people out of the inheritance.
Each of them had bad qualities, and at first, I didn’t know who to choose. A good leader won’t be untrustworthy, he wouldn’t be a quitter, and he shouldn’t be dishonest. Marc Antony is most like this. He is a great guy, (other than killing senators). I would follow Marc Antony.

What a Relief!

Yay!!! Bionicle doesn't end this year! The picture is all of the Toa Nuva (on the bottom), and the Makuta (the top). The Makuta are the bad guys. I got Legends #11 (the last Legends book)in the beginning of November. I was thinking, "This is the last book and the end of Bionicle. Mata Nui is going to be awakened." So I was right. Mata Nui was awakened, but not in the way I thought it would be. The Toa Nuva came back to Metru Nui, and were praised. But then, a rush of wind came, and the stars made up the Mask of Shadows! Makuta, their arch nemisis is controlling the universe! Ahh!!! In space, the Mask of Life is holding the true mind of Mata Nui, traveling somewhere, saying, "I will return."

So 2009's Bionicles are the Glatorians. The new series is called Bionicle Quests. This is the storyline.
· The Mask of Life, possessed by the Great Spirit Mata Nui, is sent hurtling through the space between dimensions by Makuta - and it's up to a new generation of Toa to get it back. In the desert realm of Mazra Nui, the Glatorians of the 6 tribes, aided by the Toa Nuva, the Turaga Metru, the mighty warrior Tuma, and six brave Matoran, must battle against Skirmix, the son of Makuta, and his beastly "pet", Fero, to retrieve the mask and save the Matoran Universe. But what is the secret of Bara Magna, the Toa of Light in an ancient team of heroes?

We will find out in 2009! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time, Bye!

Shakespeare

MOB RULE
Joseph Lewis
The definition of Mob Rule is when a mob or gang has control of a place or government. They are often violent, making everyone go their way through fear tactics and intimidation. A mob is an out-of-control crowd. A gang is a group of people that just want to be tough. But can any good come from mob rule? Let’s find out.
The Sons of Liberty could be considered a mob. They were inspiring to some, but they were violent in their actions. For example, they burned the governor’s house, dumped tea into the harbor, and hung effigies from the Liberty Tree. The people saw them as heroes, but the British and Tories saw them as a mob.
It is never a good thing to make someone do what you want them to do by using force. That is taking away agency. Mob Rule occurred during Joseph Smith’s time when mobs were persecuting the saints in Missouri. The mobs took the Saints out of their homes and burned the houses, took some church leaders, including Joseph Smith, to jail and drove the Saints out of Missouri in the middle of winter. The governor of Missouri gave the mob permission to do whatever it takes to expel the Mormons. That was a horrible thing from my point of view.
Gangs are one of the modern day mobs. Gang members just want to be tough and controlling of others and territory. They have no purpose for their violence except to be powerful. They are just bad.
Satan is the great imitator and he copies all of Heavenly Father’s gifts to us. The greatest gift is family. Satan imitates families by making gangs look like they will accept you, but if you don’t do what they want, they beat you up, or worse they will shoot you.
The difference between a mob and a gang is: a mob does acts with a purpose, and a gang just is trying to be powerful. The Sons of Liberty is debatable, but, in my opinion, they were inspiring. Gangs are just bad. In conclusion, mobs can be good or bad, depending on what your point of view is, and what they are doing.

Star Wars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5_OSsawz4 Watch the movie. Click on the address.

This movie is so funny! My mom found it on msn last night. Star Wars is cool! Everyone knows what Star Wars is, so I won't explain it. The Clone Wars are HILARIOUS!!!! The droids are so stupid. The Lego group even makes Lego Star Wars. I am sure everyone knew that too. Why am I telling you stuff that you already know?!!

Things I like besides Star Wars are Bionicles, Heroscape, Liken the Scriptures, and games. Be sure to vote on my poll for your favorite Star Wars movie! Until next time, good bye!

Key of Liberty

THE AMERICAN CRISIS

What motivated Washington’s soldiers to fight twelve hundred Hessian soldiers in the freezing cold on Christmas day, 1776? It was words that George Washington read to his soldiers written by Thomas Paine called “The American Crisis”.
The words reminded the soldiers why they were fighting. They were fighting for freedom of future generations. Thomas Paine wrote: “If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.” They fought for me and for every citizen of America.
It also said that to have freedom, it is going to be tough, but we can work for it. “…lay your shoulder to the wheel, (sound familiar?), better to have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake.” We also need to work to have a better life. We can “show our faith by our works, that God may bless [us]…the blessing will reach [us] all.”If we work hard, we will get blessings.
Paine’s writings inspired Washington’s soldiers that there was “no real cause to be afraid.” The soldiers didn’t need to fear, and we don’t need to fear, because God will help us in our hard times. Heavenly Father had a plan for America. I am thankful for those troops who fought in the Revolutionary War for future times.
The American Crisis is an inspiring paper. The paper says what our world is like today. “These are the times that try men’s souls.” That statement is true for today, as it also was back then, because our world is in trying times. The American Crisis reflects on our times. It was really uplifting for me to read.

Shakespeare

Was Brutus an honorable man? I need to give 5 points for and 5 points against this question.



Good:

1.He stood for what he thought ws right. In Act 3, scene 2, he states what he thought was right. He wanted to help and protect Rome.



2. He was loyal and patriotic to his country. In Act 3, scene 2 and in Act 2, scene 1, he says why he was wanting to protect Rome.



3. He was loyal to his friend. Brutus loved Caesar, but he "loved Rome more" (Act 3, scene 2). And in Act 2, scene 1, he wanted to protect his friend from ignoring the people if he became king.



4. Caesar trusted him. In Act 3, scene 1, he didn't die until Brutus stabbed him. In history, he blocked Casca's stab and looked around at the conspirators. When he saw Brutus, he probably said that famous line, "Et tu, brute? Then die Caesar." He put his head in his cape and let himself get stabbed.



5.All the people followed him. In Act 3, scene 2, the respected him and wanted him to be the next Caesar in a hero.



Bad:

1.Brutus killed Caesar. He wasn't loyal to his friend. Act 3, scene 1.



2.He was part of the conspiracy. That is bad. He joined in Act 2, scene 1



3. He was actually ready to kill. Killing is never good, even if you think it is for a good cause. Brutus says why he killed Caesar in Act 3, scene 2.



4. He was more concerned about the power of Rome than a person's life. In Act 2, scene 1, and in Act 3, scene 2, he says that he was and why he was concerned.



5. He was influencedand was stupid for that. In Act 1, scene 2, he listens to Cassius, and in Act 2, scene, he was influenced by more praising. The conspiracy probably wouldn't have worked if Bruus wasn't in it.



That is it. Until next time, good bye.