2014 Fifa World Cup(Brazil)

Introduction

     Are you a soccer fan just like me? Well, if your answer is yes, then this blog is perfect for you. Only three days ago, the world's biggest sporting event started. The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Millions of spectators have been anxiously waiting for this moment, rooting for their favorite team. Four years ago, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the European champions, Spain, had beaten the Netherlands in the finals, becoming the first European team to win a FIFA World Cup outside their home continent. However, let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, let's understand what the 2014 FIFA World Cup is exactly. According to Wikipedia,"The 2014 FIFA World Cup is the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international men's football tournament, that is currently taking place in Brazil. It began on 12 June, with a group stage, and is scheduled to conclude on 13 July with the final. " So as you can see, this is what a FIFA World Cup is.

My Opinion

     In my opinion, I truly hope the Argentina wins. This is because they have great, energetic players such as the world renowned Lionel Messi or the fantastic Kun Aguero. In addition, Argentina also has a very good formation. That formation is 4-3-3. This means they have four defensive players who stay back to make sure the opponents do not get to the goal, 3 midfielders who stay in the canter of the field to give support, and 3 attackers who have to keep on taking shots until they make one in. Argentina's strong points are the four fantastic players on their team. Those four players are Di Maria, Messi, Aguero, and Higuain. These four players are so good, they are often called "Los Cuatros Fantasticos" or the Fantastic Four.

Conclusion

     In conclusion, the FIFA World Cup is an exciting sporting event to watch, with changes every step of the way. The 2014 FIFA World Cup is the 20th FIFA World Cup, with lots of countries competing in this sporting event. With Brazil as its host, this shall indeed be a fascinating sight to see. I really hope the Argentina wins this year's FIFA World Cup. The have long had a craving to win the World Cup, and have not even made it to the semifinals since 1990. With the Fantastic Four now ready to play, this may be their year to change that, 

A Question To You

     There are 31 countries competing in this year's World Cup. Out of all of these countries, which one are you rooting for?

     

The Game of Tennis!

Introduction

     You probably have heard of players such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Novak Djokovic. And you probably have heard of the famous game they all play. That's right, its called tennis. But have you heard of the history behind tennis? If not, then this is the perfect place for you to find out! Well according to Wikipedia," Most historians believe that tennis originated in the monastic cloisters in northern France in the 12th century, but the ball was then struck with the palm of the hand, hence the name jeu de paume ("game of the palm"). It was not until the 16th century that rackets came into use, and the game began to be called "tennis." It was popular in England and France, although the game was only played indoors where the ball could be hit off the wall. Henry VIII of England was a big fan of this game, which historians now refer to as real tennis." In fact, even at that time, players could make a living out of tennis.

My Opinion

     In my opinion. the best player at the moment, right now, is Rafael Nadal. In fact, he is even ranked number one in the ESPN top rankings, with Novak Djokovic right behind him. I think that Nadal is the best player because he has immense power, something that manages to defeat most players. Inn fact, his forearm is so strong, that many players like Djokovic mainly try to hit the ball to his back hand. However, even then, Nadal manages to defeat his opponent. Another reason why I think Nadal is the best player is because of all the trophies he has collected and all of the tournaments he has won. He has won 14 Grand Slam men's singles titles, along with many more unbelievable feats! This is why I think Nadal is the best player in the world.

Conclusion

     In conclusion, tennis has a very fascinating history, Starting in the monastic cloister's in northern France, this spectacular and special game has made its way into modern day courts. Many players such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal, have all imprinted their names into these courts, dazzling the millions of spectators worldwide. I think that at the moment Rafael Nadal is the best player in the world, mainly because of the many tournaments he has won and the hundreds of opponents he has defeated. Thank you for looking at my blog!

Top 4 Players in the World

1. Rafael Nadal

2. Novak Djokovic

3. Stanislas Wawrinka

4. Roger Federer

The All Powerful......Zeus!

Introduction

     When reading books like The Percy Jackson series, have you heard of the Greek gods? If so, have you heard the king of gods, and the most powerful, Zeus? His Roman name is Jupiter. In fact, the god Zeus is so powerful, he is often referred to as the "lord of the sky." When Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades all defeated their father, the powerful Titan, Cronus, they drew lots to decide who would be the supreme ruler of the gods. It was Zeus who won, and as a result, Zeus became the king of the gods. Although this god may be all powerful and stuff, what is his personality? Well, three characteristics of Zeus are: he was carefree and loved to laugh out loud, he was unpredictable because no one could predict his decisions, and he was merciful and prudent. But what made this god so powerful and respected? Well, many people agree that it was the fact that he was able to defeat his all powerful father, and lord of time, Cronus. He is also considered the supreme ruler of all the gods.

My Opinion

     There is always a question at hand. Is Zeus a fair and honest god or a unworthy and dishonest king of gods?I believe he is a honest and fair god because although he may be unpredictable, his decisions are almost always good and he knows what he is doing. According to these facts, I would most probably fear this god. This is because I think that Zeus is extremely powerful, considering the fact that he is the supreme lord of the gods and that he defeated the Titan, lord of time, Cronus and helped his brothers and sisters escape from Cronus. So, I would obviously fear this god because although all the gods have power he has the most, and could easily kill me with the snap of his fingers. However, even Zeus has a weakness, and a strength to go along with it. Zeus's greatest weakness is that he can get in trouble over love affairs and can be moody. However, his greatest strength is that he is highly powerful, charming, persuasive, and clever. 

A Great Author.....Rick Riordan

Introduction

Rick Riordan

     Have you read the Percy Jackson series? If your answer is yes, then you must surely know one of America's best known author, Rick Riordan. This man, best known for writing the Percy Jackson series & the Olympian series, is the cause for thousands of students in America developing a love for reading. Born on June 5th, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas, he completed Alamo Heights High School. After graduating at the University of Texas at Austin with double majors in English and History, he was certified to teach English and History. Then, he got his first full-time teaching job at New Braunfels, Texas. This man sure likes to write!

His Books

The Lightning Thief

     Rick Riordan has written lots and lots of books that hundreds of thousands of people in America love. Just a few of these books are The Lightning Thief, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and The Last Olympian. And although he is very proud of his writing, he still is unsure of which book he loves best. In fact, according to www.rickriordan.com,"Favorite book I wrote: That’s a hard question for a writer. It’s like asking which of your children is your favorite. I like them all for different reasons." His Percy Jackson & The Olympian series are the #1 New York Times bestselling series! Rick Riordan has not only written books about Greek mythology, but also has written books about Egyptian mythology! I can tell why he loved to teach English and History!

Conclusion

      In conclusion, Rick Riordan is an amazing author! He has written lots of bestselling books, and will continue to do so in the future. He has a very interesting past with English and History, and I think we can all tell why he loves to write about mythology! His bestselling book such as The Lightning Thief and The Last Olympian have inspired the hundreds of thousands of kids around the United States of America to either try to write more and practice or to develop a love for reading. This man is truly a one-of-a-kind author who really loves to write!

A Question For You

     Do you think that Rick Riordan is a good author? Explain.

How Do Animals Communicate?

Introduction

Have you ever heard your dog barking at another dog, giving him/her a warning? Then you must know that animals can communicate. However, do all animals communicate by barking, meowing, or any other sound you can think of? Absolutely not. Many animals have different ways of communicating. For example, us humans our language and words within that language. We also write letters and communicate through word on a piece of paper. However, if someone is blind, how will they read the words on the paper? So, humans invented something for that too. It is called Braille, which are raised blocks that represent letters and words. Just in the same way, if an animal has weak hearing of a weak eyesight, they have something else to make up for that.

What Ways Do Animals Communicate?

     As I mentioned before, animals have many different ways of communicating. But these don't only involve sounds. It can involve sonar, looks, or even gestures. According to wonderopolis.org, "Many different types of animals use a range of sounds to communicate. Has your dog ever barked to be let out of the house? Perhaps your cat has meowed when she’s hungry? All you have to do is spend some time along in nature and keep your ears open to hear the wide variety of communication going on around you. Whales sing, wolves howl, birds tweet and chirp, and frogs croak. Although you probably can’t tell what they’re saying, they’re certainly communicating with each other and the world around them. Sounds aren’t the only way animals communicate. Like human beings, they can convey messages in all sorts of nonverbal ways. For example, the wag of a dog’s tail can indicate a wide variety of emotions and messages. Here are some other interesting examples of nonverbal communication among animals: Peacocks can fan their feathers in an impressive visual display intended to communicate a territorial warning. Many different types of animals mark their territories with their scent as a clear message to others to stay away. A dolphin may slap its tail on the water to get the attention of others in the area. Bees tell other bees when they’ve found nectar by “dancing” when they return to the hive. Deer flick their tails to warn other deer following them of possible dangers ahead. Animals can obviously communicate with other like animals of the same species, but can different species communicate with each other? Absolutely! Have you ever seen a dog communicate with a cat to let it know that it’s not wanted in its territory? Perhaps you’ve even been the target of a mother bird’s communication if you’ve accidentally stepped to close to her nest!"

Conclusion

     In summation, there are many ways animals can communicate. Just a few of these ways are sonar, looks (such as expressions), and gestures. For example, according to wonderopolis.prg ," the wag of a dog’s tail can indicate a wide variety of emotions and messages. Here are some other interesting examples of nonverbal communication among animals: Peacocks can fan their feathers in an impressive visual display intended to communicate a territorial warning. Many different types of animals mark their territories with their scent as a clear message to others to stay away. A dolphin may slap its tail on the water to get the attention of others in the area. Bees tell other bees when they’ve found nectar by “dancing” when they return to the hive. Deer flick their tails to warn other deer following them of possible dangers ahead." In conclusion, there is a wide variety of ways animals can communicate. 

A Question For You

     Name three other ways animals communicate.

Down A Dark Hall Novel

Introduction

     Are you a person that loves mysterious books with intense suspense and new surprises every chapter? In that case, Down A Dark Hall is the perfect novel for you. When Kathryn Gordon (also known as Kit), is left at a boarding school called Blackwood because her mother and stepfather have gone to a honeymoon, she gets suspicious. She fells that the place is "evil." Then, after the rest of the students come in, she realizes that there will be only 4 kids at Blackwood. Their names are Ruth, Lynda, Sandy, and of course, Kit. Then, one night, Kit wakes up only to find that she is playing the piano with her music teacher, Jules, to record her. Then, when she brings everyone down at 2:00 A.M. to find out what's going on, she gets some shocking information. Kit and her friends have been brought to Blackwood to receive information from spiritual people who had much to offer to the world, but couldn't because they died at a young age, such as Franz Schubert. Read the rest of thee book to find out what happens next!

My Opinion

     I truly love this book! There are many reasons for why I like this book. In this action-packed novel, there are many scenes where you expect something, but something else happens. When you least expect something to occur, that's when it happens. For example, when you are in a tough situation and you think it can't get any worse, but then, it does. Similar situations happen in Down A Dark Hall. Secondly, there is a lot of suspense in the book. Since you really don't know what happens, it adds suspense, making you crave to know what happens next. This book is suspenseful, mysterious, and thrilling book that is sure to leave you craving to know what happens next. This is why I love this book!

A Question For You

     Based on my description of this novel, what is your opinion on Down A Dark Hall?

What Is A Hatrick?

Introduction

     Have you ever heard of your friends talking about that amazing hat trick last night? But do you know what a hat trick really means? Well, a hat trick is when you have three successes in any sport. But how did this hat trick thing get started? Well, according to Wonderopolis.org,"Although many people understand that a hat trick means accomplishing a particular feat three times during a game, not many know where the term came from. As it turns out, the term can be traced back to England and the sport of cricket.

In 1858, HH Stephenson took three wickets in three balls — a feat that doesn’t happen very often in cricket. According to legend, a collection was taken to honor Stephenson’s achievement, and he was presented with a hat bought with the proceeds. Others believe that the term may have also developed from the practice of “passing the hat” around to collect donations to reward a spectacular athletic feat. The person performing the act would then be given the cash from the hat. But what about the “trick” part? In the mid-1800s, magicians had begun developing new tricks, such as pulling rabbits or other small animals or objects out of hats. Since incredible athletic deeds seem a bit magical — and might require a bit of luck — the term may have become popular because of its association with these popular magicians’ tricks."

How Is It Used Today?

     Today, there are many hat tricks in many different sports. A hat trick applies to lots of sports including soccer, cricket, and hockey. In fact, there are also different, and more difficult hat tricks! A flawless hat trick is when a player scores three consecutive goals in the same game without anyone else scoring a goal in between or interfering with the three consecutive goals. A golden hat trick is when a player scores three goals with different parts of their body. In order to score a golden hat trick, a player must score one goal with their left foot, one goal with their right foot, and finally, one goal with their head. However, this term can also relate to not only to scoring goals but also amazing or incredible feats. For example, a player can have a hat trick of assists or a hat trick of strikeouts. So, as you can see, a hat trick can be used in many different ways today.

Conclusion

     In summation, a hat trick is when you have three successes in any game. This idea was first created when a cricket bowler named HH Stephenson took three wickets in three ball, something that does not happen very often in the game of cricket. Since then, the term hat trick has been used to describe three consecutive successes. Many famous and impressive player such as Lionel Messi, Radamel Falcao, or Cristiano Ronaldo have all dreamed of such moments in their career. The term hat trick can also  be used to describe not only three successes but also three other things in a row. For example, three consecutive assists can also be said as a hat trick of assists. 

A Question To You

     Do you think that scoring a hat trick in world league soccer is a big deal? If so, then why?