"The Terrorist Bombing in Moscow," by Kelley

The Terrorist Bombing in Moscow’s Airport

            On January 26, a terrible bombing happened in Moscow’s Domodedovo airport. Officials believe that it was set off by a suicide bomber in the arrivals hall. As of January 24^th, thirty-five people have been reported dead and 100 people have been reported injured. Two of the people announced dead were Britons. This bombing occurred at Russia’s most used airport. There is lots of footage showing smoke and dead bodies everywhere. They believe that the equal amount of TNT would be seven kg in the bomb. That’s fifteen pounds! Russian TV's Vesti news program tells that the suicide bomber yelled, “I’ll kill you all” before lighting the bomb.

            Russia’s President, Dmitry Mendvedev, had extra security all across the capital and promised that whoever was behind this, would be hunted down and penalized. There was also mention of the Dagestan Region subway stop bombing in Russia’s capital. Two female suicide bombers were the cause of this bombing. They killed forty people and injured even more than eighty people.

            Since the explosion, all departing flights have  been canceled and all arriving flights have changed destinations to Moscow's Sheremetevo airport. Russian police are looking for three people associated with the bombing. The British Prime Minister states that, “We should never allow the terrorists to win”.

Source:

                                                        http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12268662

"An Interview with Ms. Nadow," by Talia

1. What is your favorite movie?

“I hate this question because there are so many good movies out there. My favorite kid movie is either Elf, The Polar Express, or Despicable Me. My favorite overall movie is probably Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly, but I also like Secondhand Lions, The Fifth Element, and Moulin Rouge. And The Young Victoria."

2. What is your favorite television show?

“Castle."

3. What is your favorite holiday?

"Halloween… no, Christmas…no… Superbowl Sunday…no, Halloween.”

4. What is your favorite electronic device?

“iPhone.”

 5. What is your favorite store?

“The L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, Maine.”

6. What is your favorite part about teaching?

“My fluffy ducklings.” [Her students.]

7.  What is your favorite memory of teaching?

“Poetry Camp every year.”

8. What is the funniest thing a student has ever done or said in your class?

“Probably the day Max started undressing in the middle of class because he didn’t know that we don’t really do that in America in front of other people."

9. What college did you attend?

“Simmons College in Boston.”

10. What was your favorite subject as a kid?

“Lunch. And then band, chorus, Art, English, French, and that’s all.”

(Artwork by Tori)

"Cholera alert reaches Venezuela via Dominican Republic"- By James

“More than 20 Venezuelans have contracted cholera after visiting the Dominican Republic, the Venezuelan health ministry has said.”

            The infected were taken to a local hospital in Caracas and are kept in quarantine. The patients had gone to the Dominican Republic for a wedding celebration. Cholera had reached the Dominican Republic last November. A number of people living in Venezuela might also have Cholera.

"The people must remain calm because all those infected had attended a family gathering in the Dominican Republic," said Venezuelan Health Minister Eugenia Sader. She also said that Venezuela had sufficient medical supplies to treat the Cholera.

The Dominican Republic had reported 286 cases of Cholera. I Haiti, almost 200,000 people have been infected since October. The aid agency said that the infection is slowly down.

Cholera is a bacterial disease spread by contaminated drinking water or food, but is treatable with oral or intravenous re-hydration and antibiotics.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12292666

  

Softball in the Olympics by Talia

Softball and baseball were voted out of the Olympics as of 2012. The vote surprised even longtime International Olympic Committee members. Softball joined the Olympic games in 1996. Softball is a sport now played by all of the world. The sport has belonged to the USA since it joined the Olympics. The American softball team has won three of the four available gold medals. The International Olympic Committee considered replacing the sport with one from a waiting list of five: Squash, Rugby, Karate, Golf, and Roller Sports. Karate and Squash were nominated but shot down. Softball along with baseball, are the first sports cut from the Olympics since polo which was cut in 1936. The USA softball team broke eighteen records, some previously set by their own players. These records were:

--- Most Doubles: 11- USA (2004)
Previous was 10-Australia (1996)

--- Most Triples: 4- USA (2004)
Previous was 2- Japan (1996)

--- Most Runs Batted In: 46- USA (2004)
Previous was 32- USA (1996)

--- Most Runs Scored: 51- USA (2004)
Previous was 41- USA (1996)

--- Fewest Runs Allowed: 1- USA (2004
Previous was 7- Australia, China and USA (2000)

--- Most Stolen Bases: 8- USA (2004)
Previous was 7- Japan (2000)

--- Most Shutouts: 8- USA (2004)
Previous was 5- USA & China (2000)

--- Most Stolen Bases: 5- USA, Natasha Watley (2004)
Previous was 3, Jackie Smith, N. Z. (2000)

--- Most Consecutive Victories: 9- USA (2004)
Previous was 8, Japan (2000)

--- Highest Team Batting average: .343 USA (2004)

Previous was .296- USA (1996)

--- Highest Slugging %: .559 USA (2004)
Previous was .465- JAPAN (1996)

--- Most Hits: 73 USA (2004)
Previous was 70- USA (1996)

--- Lowest Earned Run Average: 0.12 USA (2004)
Previous was 0.25- USA (2000)

--- Batting Average: Lisa Fernandez .545 USA, (2004)
Previous was .524 (Chika Kodama, Japan (1996)

--- Most Home Runs: 5, Crystl Bustos USA (2004)
Previous was 4, Haruka Saito, Japan (1996) & Peta Edebone, Australia (2000) 

--- Most Runs Batted In: Crystl Bustos, 10 (2004
Previous was 9, Shelia Cornell, USA (1996)

--- Most Runs Scored: 9, Crystl Bustos, 9 (2004)  Tied
Chanfung Zhang, China (’96)

--- Most Wins: 9 – USA (2004)
Previous was 8 – USA (1996) & JAPAN (2000)

The USA Olympic softball team won a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics which was the last game of softball to be played in the Olympics. Both softball, and baseball are eligible to reapply for the 2016 Olympic Games. The loss of the sport affects our USA team in many ways. The Olympic Committee no longer founds the teams, which is hundreds of thousands of dollars lost. The team can no longer travel as ofter nor practice as often. The players can no longer make a living from playing on the national team. They have to have a normal job and play softball on the side. Now, the plan to save money is to condense its activities to about two months in the summer. A two time Olympian stated: “The money isn’t there and it’s not as easy to stick around with it not being an Olympian sport.” the same woman also said: “These women on this team, we have lives, we have to make a living. We have to pay rent and eat, and so I think that’s a big part of it.”. That sums up what is happening to the team without its Olympic involvement.

Sources:

• http://www.usasoftball.com/folders.asp?uid=153
• http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/8504326/
• http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2005-07-08-baseball-softball-dropped_x.htm
• http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=5399291

"Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World", By:Ellen

Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World is a quirky romantic comedy directed by Edgar Wright and is based on a graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The film is about a 22 year old, bass-guitar playing, guy from Toronto, named Scott Pilgrim. When Scott meets the woman of his dreams, Ramona Flowers, he instantly tries to win her over. Unfortunately for Scott, he soon realizes that in order for him and Ramona to have a chance of being together, he must conquer her seven evil exes. Through out the movie, a wide variety of Ramona’s evil exes pop up at unexpected times and places, and he must defeat them all.

            What made the movie so eccentric was the art direction. The visuals were set up to make the movie have a comic book feel. There were screen divides, thought bubbles, plenty of sound effects, and even onomatopoeias that fly across the screen while the action was happening in the foreground. There was a lot of creative thinking into the artistic direction as well as subtle nods to the fans of the original Scott Pilgrim comics.

            The cast in the film was spectacular as well. The protagonist, Scott Pilgrim, was played by Michael Cera. His offbeat personality adds to the all around quirkiness to the film. Ramona Flowers, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, is Scott’s mysteriously witty love interest and Wallace Wells, played by Kieran Culkin, is Scott’s sassy roommate.

            The script was superb. There are many subtle jokes that you will never catch if you just watch it once. This is one movie you can see over and over again and notice something new.

            This unusually funny coming of age story is very clever, there is something for everyone, there’s action, comedy and romance. I would give it 3 out of five paw prints.

(Artwork by Tori)

"The Facebook Comic," by Tori.

An Interview with Mrs. Carr by Talia

Interview: Mrs. Carr

      What inspired you to become a teacher?
I always really liked history and I wanted to help kids like history as much as I do.

2.   What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas

3.   What is or was your favorite cartoon?
I liked My Little Ponies™ when I was a kid.

4.   What is your project that one of your classes does?
I really liked the iMovie project we did in Model UN  this year.

5.   What is the funniest thing a kid has done in your class?
When Shubh wrote about Kentucky Fried Chicken™ on his test as the cause of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

6.   What is the best season? Why?
Summer, because I like to be outside and I like to go to the beach.

7.   What do you enjoy most about being a teacher?
I like when kids find something we talk about in class interesting.

8.   What is your favorite topic to teach? Why?
The Renaissance, because the politics are fascinating and the artwork is beautiful.

9.   Do you believe in magic?
No.

10.      Do you like teaching 7^th or 8^th grade better? Why?

I like them both, but I have favorite topics in each grade. I like Renaissance in the 7^th grade and World War II in 8^th grade.