Trick or Treat?

By Ashrita Kuppili

         Halloween is coming up! Are you excited to go to trick or treating? Halloween is celebrated on the evening of October, 31^st. It is the eve of ‘All Hallows Day’, which is celebrated on November, 1^st. It is interesting to know the stories of Halloween how it started.

The custom of trick-or-treating and the use of jack-o’-lanterns comes from Ireland. Hundreds of years ago, Irish farmers went from house to house, begging for food in the name of their ancient gods on the Halloween day. They would promise good luck to those who gave them food, and made threats to those who refused to give. They simply told the people, ‘You treat me, or else I will trick you!’ That is how trick-or-treat for Halloween started.

People carve jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween. This practice originated from an Irish myth about a man named Jack. When Jack died, he could neither go to heaven nor to hell because of his bad deeds. As a result, he became evil spirit wandering over the earth with his lantern. The Irish began to carve pumpkins and place lighted candles inside to scare away evil spirits from their home.

In America, Halloween is celebrated by wearing scary costumes, carving jack-o’-lanterns and visiting haunted houses. Trick or treating is an activity for children. Children wear scary costumes and go to houses for trick or treat on Halloween day evening.

Do you like to celebrate Halloween? What’s your favorite costume?

            HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Federal Government Shutdown

Reported by Arya Sinha

      There is a debate whether all U.S citizens should have healthcare. Republicans refuse and say that the each state  can provide healthcare for its citizens. Democrats say That Obama-care should provide healthcare to all citizens. Now we are at a standstill. So the federal government has shut down. National Parks have been closed. The U.S capitol has been closed. One million  people have to work without being paid.

      There are still some jobs where people are still employed. Social Security beneficiaries will continue receiving checks. U.S mail will continue being sent. Military will continue. Air traffic controllers, prison guards, border patrol agents, and NASA continue. Also some other important jobs  that are still continuing include police officers, firefighters, and Medical workers.

   On day 14 of the shutdown some states have reopened their National Parks; for instance, The Grand Canyon,AZ, and The Statue Of Liberty,NY have opened.   Republicans want this government shutdown to end soon. Some  people in Virginia want the shutdown to keep continuing  so President Obama and other leaders can talk about it.

  After 16 days of the government  shutdown, the federal government reopened it’s doors. “Welcome back. What you do is important and don’t let anybody else tell you differently.”-President Obama.  He beat the republican side. All National Parks have been reopened.  If you were the president what would you do if our country had a debate like this? This is reporting live by Arya Sinha.  For more options go to www.wjla.com/articles/2013-obama-to-meet-with-boehner-ried-mcconnell-Monday-95353.            

                                                                   NBA 2k14

                                             By Arya Verma

             NBA 2k14 is part of a basketball video game series. The NBA 2k series has

been very popular since it started. It’s newest video game, NBA 2k14, will

definitely be the best of the pack. 2k has now decided to allow European league

teams. One of the best features is the LeBron James Path To Greatness Mode.

LeBron is the cover athlete and one of the star players on the Miami Heat team.

The LeBron James Path To Greatness Mode allows you to control LeBron’s future.

You can even choose what team you want him to be on! 2k had also done something

like this in NBA 2k11 with Michael Jordan. The controls have changed too. Now you

must use the new ’‘pro stick’‘. You can now use the ‘‘pro stick’’ to shoot the

basketball and make crazy dribble move combinations.

            NBA 2k14 is priced very high at $59.99 because of its extreme popularity.

You can get NBA 2k14 on the Xbox 360 and the Ps3. I want to get NBA 2k14 but I

only have a WiiU. I hope they make one for the WiiU because basketball is my

favorite sport and a big part of my life. Maybe I could get a Ps3 for Christmas :).

As you can see, there are many reasons  behind the fact that NBA 2k14 is the number one rated

basketball video game in the world.  Are you a fan of video games.  If so, what do you enjoy and

why?  If not, does this blog peak your interest?

The People Who Changed Our Life

By Kaasha Minocha

Barack Obama stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28th, 2013.  He stood there to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s amazing speech, “I Have A Dream,”  given on the same date in 1963.  Mr.King was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi who stood for freedom, rights, and

India’s independence from Great Britain. Martin had the same idea and followed in Gandhi’s footsteps as he stood up for the rights of African-American’s in America.

              Martin was also inspired by a woman named Rosa Parks.  Rosa Parks was riding home on a bus one night after work in 1955.  At that time, African-Americans in Alabama were forced by law to sit at the back of the bus because front seats were reserved for “Whites Only.”  On this particular night, Rosa was tired and, when told to get up from her seat, she refused.  Rosa was arrested.  Dr. King encouraged African-Americans to boycott the busses until the unfair law was changed. Boycotting is when people stop using a business or service as a way to keep it from making money.  The bus boycott worked.   African-Americans worked  together to break the bus system.  

Later, African-Americans spent a lot of time, money and effort to go to Washington D.C to hear Dr. King deliver his speech.  Their gathering was a symbol of their perseverance to gain their freedom.  If it wasn’t for the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama would never have had the opportunity to become an American President.  This is why it is so significant that Obama spoke in the same place as Dr. King fifty years later. Thank you Dr.King!