Reading Response

     I am still reading Ranger's Apprentice: The Burning Bridge, by John Flanagan. I have been on this book forever, but I only have three chapters left. Hopefully, I will finish this book by next week. In the last few chapters of my book, the conflicts are coming to a climax for the war has begun, but the antagonist's plans have been ruined. He knows he has lost because he lost three-fourths of his army.
     Where I am in the book, the antagonist surrendered, but we know he won't give up that easily. There is much suspense to find out what will happen next. Hopefully, the problem is resolved before the end of the book because I don't like cliffhangers. Also, there is a mystery about what will happen because the antagonist is holding the main character of this series. This character is the apprentice who ruined his plans, and the apprentice's master is hated very much by the antagonist. I can't wait to see how this turns out. Hopefully, it is something good.

13th Gate (Free Post)

     Over this fall break, I went to the 13th Gate with the Cross Country Team. I was so scared at first when they told me about it, but as it got closer, I was more excited to go. We all met at the LSU lakes at 5:30pm  and then went in a few cars to the 13th Gate. When we got there, we didn't have to wait too long to get in, but once we got in it took a while for us to get to the start. The anticipation was the worst. The Haunted House had begun even before they sent us inside. There were so many things to scare us while waiting in line. 

     When we finally got into the elevator to start, I was so nervous and frightened about what would come next. There were so many pop scares at the beginning, but as you got farther into the house, there were more actors and more things to be frightened of. There was one part where there were strobe lights, and I think that put me into a daze. I felt like I was asleep for the next 10 minutes asking every 20 seconds if this was real or if I was dreaming. I must have put myself in a state where I thought it was all a dream because of how real everything seemed and how good the actors were at scaring people. Especially when there were parts from movies. I must have been making it all up. When we finally got out, everyone kept saying that it was the scariest it had ever been. I had to agree that it was super scary, but it was still super fun.

Comments Week 7

Kaya-Should We Abandon Louisiana? In Some Ways, We Already Have
Jack-Should We Abandon Louisiana? In some ways, we already have.

Response

How to Rig Elections, the Legal Way

by The Week Staff

     This article says that there is one way to rig elections, which is by shaping districts in a certain way also known as gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is when districts are drawn in a certain way to help a particular political party, and in effect, specific politicians, win those districts. I believe that gerrymandering is wrong because it is helping parties win more votes creating unfair situations. I think that districts should be drawn in a way to give each political party an equal chance.

     Gerrymandering needs to be solved, but it would be too hard ever to happen. Politicians won't give up their power easily. Giving up gerrymandering is giving up their higher chances of winning. People want to hold power and want to keep it as long as possible. Just like California, Arizona, and Washington, I think all states should have districts drawn by computers. There should, but doubtfully ever will be, a law passed saying that districts are drawn in a certain way to level the chances. People should be able to vote on who they want to not the other way around. Politicians are choosing the voters by shaping the districts, and it isn't just particular parties. Republicans do it, and so do Democrats. Even President Obama did it when he was a Senator. Gerrymandering divides the American people and should be addressed to create a more even playing field.

Comments Week 10/3

Lane-Free Post
Sydney-Sharks vs. Eagles

St. Joseph's Invitational

     Last weekend was one of our biggest races of the year, St. Joseph's. Usually every year this is the biggest meet. This meet, we had a chance to win. We were all very nervous, but we were determined to win. The weather conditions were outstanding. We all ran very well that day. Our top 5 runners were all under 12 minutes which was fantastic. I had finished with a time of 11:34 which was a season record for me. 

     I felt good about placing. I had gotten 11th overall. When we were sitting at the awards ceremony, we were confident that we had won but disappointed when it was time. We had finished 2nd. We had lost to the team in front of us by one single point. We were all sad, but we still had amazing times and did well over all of the teams.

Reading Response

     Sadly, I am still on the same book that I have been on for the previous month or so, but luckily I have done way more reading and a lot new amounts of excitement are going on. This book is, Ranger's Apprentice: The Burning Bridge. Since my last post, there have been a lot of turning points. My favorite part so far is the dramatic irony. We know stuff about some of the characters in the book that the other characters don't and it gives this book way much more suspense, but also mystery. Also, there is now lots of action involved between the main characters and the enemies.
     Over the last chapters, the war has started, but a new plan of the villains has emerged, and it is up to three apprentices to stop it, or the whole army will die. This plot line is creating a lot of tension especially because their plan failed the first time. My least favorite part of this book is the suspense. I keep wondering what will happen next but I always get cut off right at the important part. This book is very good especially because it is starting to wrap up, but I know it will still be a while before I finish.