Is It a Lion? Is It a Tiger? No, Its a Liger!

Introduction

The liger is one of the most fascinating creatures in the world. It's a hybrid cross between a male lion and a female tiger. In fact, that's were it got its name from. The l and i from a lion, and the i,g, and r from a tiger. Did you know that the world's largest liger is a liger named Hercules!? When he was three years old, he was even featured on the Today Show, at only three years old. The shocking fact is that he weighed 408.25 kg at only the age of three. 

My Opinion

My opinion of this fascinating topic is that it is very interesting. There is so much to learn about the liger that I can't just tell it to you is one blog. You can learn about a liger's appearance, history, its size, growth, and how it became a hybrid cross. Why I think that its an important for other people to hear about is it is fascinating topic, that can interest people into exploring new things and trying new things once they see how fascinating the liger is. And that is very important because if people don't try anything, they won't achieve anything. 

Watch this video to learn more about the liger

Final Question and Challenge To You

Question

What impact has this blog have on you? How?

Challenge

Like the liger, try to find other animals that have been genetically bred. 

Bump, Set, and Spike!

Introduction

Can you bump, set , and spike in the game of volleyball? Do know what volleyball is? if so, can you play it? This blog is all about the game of volleyball, how its played, who invented it, and so on. Let me start of by introducing you to the game of volleyball. Volleyball involves 12 players, 6 on each side of the net, a net, and, obviously, a volleyball. The objective of the game is to hit the ball back and forth until one team lets the ball drop on their side. Then, the other team gets a point. Did you know that volleyball has been around for over 100 years!?

Who invented it?

A man named William Morgan invented volleyball in 1895, Holyoke, Massachsetts. Morgan was the Director of Physical Education, and he based his game on a German game that is similar to volleyball. However, Morgan called his game Mintonette. He kind of thought of it as a mixture between the famous sports, baseball, basketball, handball, and tennis. According to Wonderopolis"After a spectator mentioned during a demonstration of the game that it involved a lot of “volleying” of the ball back and forth, the game was renamed volleyball.

The History Of Volleyball

Volleyball is all over the world. It is popular in many countries including America and even was in the Summer Olympics. According to Wonderopolis" Volleyball has been a part of the Summer Olympic Games since 1964. It is a popular sport in high schools and colleges all across America and many parts of the world. There are many different rules that players must learn, but the basics are fairly straightforward. Like most sports, volleyball has some unique lingo used by players. Some common terms you may hear include: Bump: Bumping the ball means a player uses the forearms to pass the ball to a teammate or to hit the ball back over the net to the other team. Set: Setting the ball means a player positions the ball in a way that lets a teammate spike it over the net. Many teams have one player known as the setter. It is this person’s job to set up teammates for an attack. Setters use their fingertips to push the ball high into the air where an attacker can spike it over the net. Spike: Spiking the ball means hitting it with a lot of force into the other team’s court. Spiking usually requires a good vertical leap to get high enough into the air to smack the ball with the palm of the hand with enough force to drive it toward the ground quickly."

Top Ten Most Popular Sports In The World

1. Soccer

2. Tennis

3. Cricket

4. Baseball

5. Table-Tennis(Ping-Pong)

6. Basketball

7. Hockey

8. Golf

9. Rugby Football

10. Volleyball

 

 

 

Samsung and Apple Rivalry

Introduction

    Have you heard of the I Phone 5s? Or maybe the new Galaxy Tab III. Whatever it is, millions and millions of people use Apple and Samsung products. But that's not what this blog is about. This blog is about the rivalry between the two enormous companies, Apple and Samsung. As of March 25, 2010, Apple was worth an astonishing $207.99 billion dollars! Its former CEO and founder, Steve Jobs, who died on October 5, 2011. Now, let's talk about Samsung. Samsung reported that it is worth about 172.5 billion dollars. Its founder is Lee Byung-chul, one of the most successful businessmen of all of South Korea.

Apple Inc.

    Apple is a multinational company that creates many consumer electronics such as computer, laptops, and much more. For over 20 years, Apple has been manufacturing Apple computers, like Macintosh computer and the Apple II. But then, Steve Jobs got ousted from Apple in 1985. Finally, he came back in 1996. Next year, he became the company's interim CEO, which soon became permanent. And according to Wikipedia "With the introduction of the successful iPod music player in 2001 and iTunes Music Store in 2003, Apple established itself as a leader in the consumer electronics and media sales industries, leading it to drop "Computer" from the company's name in 2007. The company is now also known for its iOS range of smart phone, media player, and tablet computer products that began with the iPhone, followed by the iPod Touch and then iPad. As of 2012^[update], Apple is the largest publicly traded corporation in the world by market capitalization, with an estimated value of US$626 billion as of September 2012."

Samsung

In 2013, Samsung began construction on building the world's largest mobile phone factory in the Thai Nguyen province of Vietnam."

    Samsung is a South Korean multinational electronics company. It was founded by Lee Byung-chul, who later died in 1987. It was originally a trading company, but after Lee's death, the company divided into 4 groups. The 4th group called Samsung Group was the one involved with all the electronics. Samsung has increasingly globalized its electronics and activities. According to Wikipedia"Samsung has a powerful influence on South Korea's economic development, politics, media and culture, and has been a major driving force behind the "Miracle on the Han River". Its affiliate companies produce around a fifth of South Korea's total exports. Samsung's revenue was equal to 17% of South Korea's $1,082 billion GDP.

The Rivalry

Samsung and Apple have been "rivals" for a long time now. Samsung's increasing sales has scared Apple, because there is a chance that Samsung might take Apple's spot as the "king of electronics." So, in return, Apple has sued Samsung for copying its touch screen electronics. However, that barely helped Apple, because after the case, Apple went down 18% in stocks, losing 108 million dollars, while Samsung went up 16% in stocks. This rivalry may last a long time. Will we ever know who will truly be the king of electronics?

Top Ten Most Popular Phones

1. Samsung 19300 Galaxy S III
2. Sonia Xperia S
3. HTC One X
4. Nokia 808 PureView
5. Apple iPhone 5
6. Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100
7. Samsung Galaxy Y Duos S6102
8. Sonia Xperia U
9. Nokia Asha 311
10. Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus S7500



What Will You Remember From 2013

Introduction

     As all of you know, there have been some tragic , unforgettable moments and some happy moments that we cherish till this day in 2013. Every year is different, and in these 365 days that have gone by, many events have occurred. Nelson Mandela's death, the Boston bombing, Typhoon Haiyan were some major tragic events that left me in a state of shock. I wrote this blog to talk about the these events and what to look forward to in 2014. 

      The event that keeps on coming into my mind is Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. This particular typhoon was a category 5 super typhoon. The sad part is that the Haiyan killed atleast 6,155 people in the Philippines alone. According to Wikipedia, "Haiyan is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall, and unofficially the strongest typhoon ever recorded in terms of wind speed". Haiyan formed on November 3, 2013 and it dissipated on November 11, 2013. So you can probably imagine how long the Philippines lived in fear during Typhoon Haiyan, event though many people did not survive.

      2013, for me, has been a year like none other. The transition from elementary school to middle school has made me more responsible and mature, and my family has noticed that. I have started taking more care of my little sister who is only 6 years old. The tragic moments during this year have really changed me to become a better person, and even I don't know how. The change that is occurring to me is a positive change that I am starting to like.

      I look forward to 2014, because I believe I can start all over again. I believe that every new year is a fresh start, and I can do better and better each year, be it sports, academics, or anything else. It is a once a year opportunity, and I don't want to ruin just like that. 

Top Ten 2013 Headlines

• Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 people
• Boston Marathon Bombing kills 3, injures over 264 people
• Nelson Mandela dies at the age of 95
• The death of Lou Reed
• The death of Corey Monteith
• The death of Paul Walker
• Hurricane Sandy destroys the U.S. east coast
• Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI
• Murder of Odin Lloyd
• United States ammunition shortage

Comment and Question

• My comment is that just like 2013, 2014 will also bring many happy and tragic moments

• How do you feel about 2014? What do you look forward to? What expectations do you have?

The Soccerball

Introduction

More than 3.5 million people across the world love soccer, including me. In fact, with this many fans around the world, soccer has managed to become the most popular sport worldwide. When I first think of the word soccer, thee first image that comes to my mind is a black and white soccer ball. But over time, soccer balls all over the world have changed. In this marvelous and interesting article, you will find many new and fascinating facts that will blow your mind!

 

 

 

 

The First Soccer Ball Ever

The earliest soccer balls weren't as perfectly round and spherical as the modern day soccer ball. No, soccer balls back then were very irregularly shaped, which made them unpredictable when kicked. Soccer balls at that time were actually just regular animal skulls and animal bladders. Village people would gather up in

large groups to see the soccer game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Problems With The Soccer Ball

Over time, the soccerball had changes to it that made it better. The newer soccer balls were made of tanned leather, and were better shaped than the original version of the soccer ball. But with these improvements came problems. According to Wonderopolis" Along with the new styles of balls came new problems. Balls relying on tightly tied laces to seal air inside leaked badly. Players would have to stop to re-inflate the ball multiple times during a game. Leather balls were good for kicking, but due to their tendency to absorb water, could become very heavy. This posed a serious threat of injury if a player hit the ball with his head."

Where Did The Black And White Design Come From?

Well, according to Wonderopolis "The ball that changed the look of soccer forever? The “Telstar.” The 1970 World Cup in Mexico was the first televised World Cup ever. The Telstar took its name from a combination of the words “television” and “star.” But there was one little problem. A white ball viewed on a black-and-white TV wasn’t easy to see. Game officials needed to come up with a way to make the ball easily viewable to those watching at home. Their simple solution? Paint black pentagons on the white ball.

 

 

Top Ten Current Soccer Players

Lionel Messi (Argentina & Barcelona)

 

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal & Real Madrid)

 Xavi Hernandez (Spain & Barcelona)

Andres Iniesta (Spain & Barcelona)

 Robin van Persie (Netherlands & Manchester United)

Gareth Bale (Wales & Real Madrid)

Wayne Rooney (England & Manchester United)

 Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast & Manchester City)

Radamel Falcao (Colombia & Monaco)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden & Paris Saint-Germain)

Thought, Question and Fun Fact

• Thought: I thought that it was really interesting that the soccer ball had to go through so many changes before reaching the modern day soccer ball. It really wants to make me research more about this topic.
• Question: I wonder who actually created the game of soccer? Why? I will definitely research this.
• Fun Fact: Did you know that till this day, the Telstar remains the most common design for a soccer ball?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Who Invented Basketball?

Introduction

Are you a basketball fan? Have you ever wondered who created basketball? Where did they get the idea? Well, let me just start off by saying that a  Canadian man named Dr. James Naismith had invented the game. He worked at the YMCA Training School in Spring Field, Massachusetts. Dr. James worked as a physical education instructor, who had been challenged to create a game that could be played indoors in the cold Massachusetts as an "athletic distraction" to a disruptive group of students. In response, he invented basketball.

Where Did He Get The Idea?

 Dr. James got the idea of basketball from one of his childhood games. He used to play a game called "duck on a rock." In this game, you lob a small rock at a "duck" in an attempt to knock the duck down. Dr. James thought of this game when creating basketball and originated the game of basketball from this idea.  According to Wonderopolis, an online educational website, "With a two-week deadline, Dr. Naismith decided to invent a game of skill, finesse and accuracy, rather than one that relied on pure strength."

Basketball Changes Over Time

The basketball Dr. James invented is not the modern basketball we know today. Why? Well, that's because more pieces to basketball were added along as it started to get popular. Here are some changes: Dr. James used peach baskets as the hoop, however, we use rings with nets as the hoop. Dr. James also said that you could only advance by passing the ball, but now in basketball we can dribble and take really long shots. Dr. James's version included using a soccer ball as the basketball, yet,  in modern times, we use a real basketball.

General Facts About Dr. James

• Dr. James was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
• He was also inducted in the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame
• He was born in 1861 in Ramsay Township
• He was a fantastic athlete and won numerous Wicksteed medals
• He earned a BA in physical education 
• He played Canadian football,soccer, rugby,and lacrosse
• He went to McGill University and earned a diploma at Presbyterian College in Montreal
• According to Wikipedia, an online educational website, "From 1891 on, Naismith taught physical education and became the first McGill director of athletics, but then left Montreal to become a physical education teacher at the YMCA International Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts."
• Dr. James created a new game called "Basket Ball" and the first game was played on December 21, 1891
• Sadly, Dr. James died on November 19, 1937

Top Ten NBA Basketball Players

1. LeBron James from the Miami Heat

2. Dwight Howard from Orlando Magic

3. Dwayne Wade from Miami Heat

4. Chris Paul from N.O. Hornets

5. Dirk Nowitzki from Dallas Mavericks

6. Kevin Durant from Oklahoma City Thunder

7. Kobe Bryant from L.A. Lakers

8. Derrick Rose from Chicago Bulls

9. Deron Williams from N.J. Nets

10. Blake Griffin from L.A. Clippers

 

Thought, Question, and Challenge

Thought: I thought that basketball must've been a sport on which you had to have good accuracy and stability if you wanted to be good at the game when it was first invented.

Question: If Dr. James hadn't been given the assignment of making up a game, what impact do you think that might have had on basketball?

Challenge: I encourage you to find 1 more person who either created another sport or played a major role in sports and write a small article about it. Please respond back to me and subscribe to my blog.



 





Why Is It Called "Black Friday?"

 Introduction

     Have you ever wondered why it is called Black Friday? Who thought of the name? Why did they pick that name? Well, you are going to find out the reason behind "Black Friday." After the turkey has been finished and the relatives have left, we prepare for another holiday. Black Friday is a sensational shopping spree, on which shops open nearly at 2:00 AM. The lines to get in are longer than the Empire State Building! Many shops like Macy's have enormous sales to lure in customers and to make money. In fact, since 2005, Black Friday has had the busiest shopping day of the year.

Why Is It Called Black Friday?

According to Wonderopolis, an online educational website,"Historians believe the name started in Philadelphia in the mid-1960s. Bus drivers and police used Black Friday to describe the heavy traffic that would clog city streets the day after Thanksgiving as shoppers headed to the stores. According to this alternative explanation, Black Friday is the day when retailers finally begin to turn a profit for the year. In accounting terms, operating at a loss (losing money) is called being “in the red” because accountants traditionally used red ink to show negative amounts (losses). " Black Friday is called Black Friday because of the fact that most business losses are written with red ink, and most promotions and new deals are written with black ink. Black Friday is when shops make much more money than usual because of all the people bustling in and out of the shop.

How did Black Friday First Start?

According to Black Friday.com "In the 1960's, police in Philadelphia griped about the congested streets, clogged with motorists and pedestrians, calling it “Black Friday.” In a non-retail sense, it also describes a financial crisis of 1869: a stock market catastrophe set off by gold spectators who tried and failed to corner the gold market, causing the market to collapse and stocks to plummet.As retailers began to realize they could draw big crowds by discounting prices, Black Friday became the day to shop, even better than those last minute Christmas sales. Some retailers put their items up for sale on the morning of Thanksgiving, or email online specials to consumers days or weeks before the actual event. The most shopped for items are electronics and popular toys, as these may be the most drastically discounted. However, prices are slashed on everything from home furnishings to apparel." So, as soon as shop keepers and retailers realized that they could lure in large crowds if prices go down. Retailers eventually formed one day where all the prices would go down and gigantic crowds of people would buy their items. That day is called Black Friday.

Top Ten Websites You Should Visit On Black Friday 

1. Amazon.com- a large website where whenever something comes out, they have it. Amazon has enormous Black Friday deals, including the new Galaxy Tab 3 for only $159.00.
2. Best Buy.com- a negotiable website with more items than you can count. Millions of people use this site to save money, and to get the best.
3. Black Friday.com- a enormous website that is especially made for Black Friday. It tells the deals other shops have so you can compare the deals, and pick the best one!
4. Walmart.com- a large selection of electronics, toys, clothes and much more. Walmart has anything and everything you would possibly want.
5. Target.com- choose from a wide selection of furniture, clothes, toys, shoes, and much more. This website is widely used by people all over the U.S. and you should use it too!
6. Kohl's.com- its just like any other store, except for the fact that it has its own cash. Yep, Kohl's is the perfect place to get money back! Get $15 Kohl's Cash for every $50 spent!
7. Walgreens.com- Its where everyone goes to get their basic needs, but also much more! Toothbrushes, paper, and everything you need is there, for great deals on this Black Friday
8. Costco.com- everything from computers to gourmet food, at the one of the lowest prices around. They also have a car station, where you can get your cars fixed up!
9. Sam's Club.com- Office supplies, TV's, furniture, and much more is all at Sam's Club. Sam's Club offers you the best deals on everything.
10. Macy's.com- a large selection of home items and beauty items. The perfect place for women to get their beauty items, with large sales for Black Friday.

Question, Challenge, And Thought Of The Day

Question: What stores do you like to shop at on Black Friday?

Challenge: Try to find one other store that people frequently shop at.

Thought of the Day: I thought it was a good idea to have 1 day where retailers make lots of money. In my opinion, Black Friday is a good way to make money for retailers, and a good chance to shop all you want for customers.

Thank You!