Tornados 

by Joshua Kim

          Firefighters from Washington, Illinois, stand near flattened and damaged homes after a tornado swept through the town on November 17.  This damage was caused by the deadly tornado.  It is most common in a place called Tornado Alley, which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.  This is how a tornado occurs:

1.  One way the rotation appears to happen is when winds at two different altitudes blow at two different speeds creating wind shear. For example, a wind at 1000 feet above the surface might blow at 5mph and a wind at 5000 feet might blow at 25mph. This causes a horizontal rotating column of air. 

2.  If this column gets caught in a supercell updraft, the updraft tightens the spin and it speeds up (much like a skater's spins faster when arms are pulled close to the body). A funnel cloud is created.

3.  The rain and hail in the thunderstorm cause the funnel to touch down creating a tornado.  The tornado then is pushed by the wind and causes destruction to anything in it's path.

      
    Many devastating events happened when tornados strike.  For example, In Michigan, two people were killed and 500,000 homes and businesses lost power. In Indiana, 12 counties reported either tornadoes or storm damage and tens of thousands of homes went dark.  I bet the people in states that are in Tornado Alley were scared when these events happen.  But luckily, many homes in Tornado Alley have storm shelters underground.  I would be scared of the dark and the sight of the tornado.  I would tell my family about the tornado.  What would you do?

What are YOU Thankful For?

By Avani Khaparde

     Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Thanksgiving? Some people might think all of it was completely Squanto(a indian who helped the pilgrims when they arrived in America), but that’s not all of it.        Let’s go back to when the pilgrims first came to America. We’ve just arrived to America, and trying to endure the hardships that are coming our way.We are starting to get settled, and have already built a special chapel to meet for prayer. In the holy room, we set our hands up in prayer. We are thanking god for the food we have harvested. We raised a livable and sustainable crop, and we will have enough food to last us through the winter. We are glad that after months of hard work, it paid off. Afterwards, we sit down to have a feast. We thank god for our family, friends, and good fortune. The indians come and sit down to eat. We are also thankful to them for teaching us how to raise a valuable crop. Especially Squanto who helped out the most out of his tribe. We pray, we smile and we eat.

    Almost 400 years later,we still do celebrate our Thanks, but with everything going on in our lives, does your family really take time to think about how hard our ancestors worked just to build the country? Does your family meet with your relatives every thanksgiving? Do you tell what you are thankful for when your family sits down to dinner. Do you say a prayer before you eat? Do you eat a turkey and cranberry sauce? Do you even celebrate Thanksgiving? Please share how you and your family celebrates Thanksgiving, in your comment. I am very thankful to you for reading my blog.

Plan C

By Ms. Regosin

Dear Students,

Surprise!  Tonight's blog is from me!  Ashwath's blog was giving me all kinds of problems as I attempted to post it, and though I persevered for quite a while, I had to step away and come up with a new plan.  Then I thought of Avani's blog.  I was almost certain that she told me that she had already sent it, but perhaps she actually said that it was on the way...couldn't find it in my email.  On to Plan C.  What was Plan C? I didn't have one yet.  So, I gave it some thought, looked around our classroom (you were all long gone by now), and realized that the only blog I could post (since it's your homework tonight, due tomorrow) had to be written by me!  Problem #2:  Did I have a current picture of myself?  Well, with this black eye, I wasn't exactly thrilled to take a picture of myself.  So...I sat for a while and gave it some thought.  Aha!  I got it!  I'll write my blog about my run-in with Niki (or maybe it was the Redwood Tree) and title it, "Niki's Great Escape." Then it would be appropriate to post a picture of me with my shiner! Brilliant, right?!

Maybe.  Truth is, it's getting late, I've been at my desk for over an hour and I truly need a break from heavy thinking, which as you know for me is required whenever I write!  Besides, you already heard the story.  Disappointed, are you?  Yeah, I know.  A good story is like a good book:  You can enjoy hearing it again and again. But this story, I'm ready to put behind me...along with this black eye!

Instead, I'd like to take this public opportunity to thank each and every one of you for making every day (well, almost every day- have to account for some of those talks that we've had- just sayin') such a pleasure to be your teacher.  I am grateful this Thanksgiving for the beauty, intelligence, and the free spirits of my students.  You make me proud and you are a true gift!

-Ms. Regosin

P.S.  Niki looks so innocent, doesn't she?  But we know better!
P.P.S.  If you could "hear" my voice in this piece, then you know exactly what "voice" sounds like in writing ( :
P.P.P.S.  I edited this post at least four or five times before I finally posted it!
P.P.P.P. S.  P.S stands for Post Script, which means "after the main piece of writing." So, I guess it would be Post Post Post Post Post Script.  Ok, I'm done now.

Plastic Bags Are Gone!!

Have you ever wondered why you don’t use plastic bags in some places or when will that happen? Well, all those questions will be answered in this blog! Don’t just bring nothing. Bring a reusable bag!

First, reusable bags will be used in Cupertino. Why aren’t plastic bags used in Cupertino anymore? The answer is that it provides more waste to landfills and dumps. Plus you will have to pay a fine of 10 cents to get a recycled paper bag. Cupertino wants to go green, starting from that date forever unless the government changes something.

Secondly, you should go green to because it saves lots of plastic in the world, If just you stop using plastic, it would save a lot of plastic bags over an year! All the polluters in this planet cause approximately 1 billion seabirds and mammals to die. I would like people to stop littering and polluting so more animals can live and survive in the sea.  Don’t you think so?

In addition, I personally think like almost everyone. I would recycle more if I have plastic in my hands. Here is a idea for good recycling. Get a plastic bag and hang it somewhere. Whenever you need to recycle something, put it in the bag. Whet the bag is full, take it off wherever you put it and tie it. Last throw it in the recycling bin and let the garbage truck take it away! Then you recycled multiple items at once including the bag.

To sum up, recycling is a good way to go green, to take care of the Earth especially on Earth day, and that way, you take care of yourself and our planet! In the world, many polluters pollute, and many animals die from them. That is why you take care of the great and healthy planet Earth.

Would you like to keep plastic bags or don’t keep plastic bags? Explain why.

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!

The Tragic Day

        Wednesday, 9/11, 2001 a tragic day in American history.  This day marks the day of the twin towers’ crash.  It represents a senseless terrorist act.  The man claimed to be behind this, Osama Bin Laden.  Luckily folks, you won’t have to deal with him anymore.

        The day started as a normal day. People running in n’ out of buildings, grabbing coffee.  Suddenly, BOOM! One plane crashes into the World Trade Center.  A few minutes later, BOOM! The second plane crashes.  Both planes were hijacked and all the people in all the planes died.  Shortly after, firefighters came to a rush saving people everywhere.  After the second plane crash,  the military was notified that there was a plane coming directly to the White House. Soon after, another  plane crashed into the pentagon.  The plane that was heading towards the White House crashed in a Pennsylvania farm. All the people died.  The crashing of the Twin Towers will be remembered in America’s heart.  The whole world watched in fear as the second plane crashed.  The  world was stunned as the third plane crashed into the pentagon. Subsequently, there was a  financial meltdown of the US economy followed by the world.

Though the 9/11 crash was devastating, it also represented a day of heroism, bravery, patriotism of ordinary people.  Every single firefighter who responded to the calls of the World Trade Center died helping people out. Their sacrifice and bravery will forever be remembered.   The bravery of United Airlines Flight 93 passengers and flight crew will also be forever remembered.  As soon as the passengers and crew on the plane got word that they were going directly  to the White House, they got worried.  They fought back with the hijackers to protect the President. They managed to reroute the plane 130 miles from the White House.  The plane ultimately crashed in a farm.  This shows patriotism of ordinary people.

What did you think about the tragic day of 9/11?

A Comeback?

A Comeback?

By:  Aum

Did you know that every year, about 10,000 to 100,000 animal species die off?  When a species dies off, it is known to be extinct, which means that it is never coming back.  Until now…

We now possess the knowledge, power, and technology to bring back some extinct species.  In order to bring back a species, scientists need the DNA, which is the genetic make-up of that animal.  This doesn’t mean that we are all going to be eaten by Tyrannosaurus Rex!  Researchers can only use the DNA from more recent species that have gone extinct because older DNA is no longer accessible in the fossils.  For example, Australian scientists are on the verge of bringing back the gastric brooding frog.

There are many different opinions about whether or not extinct species should be brought back to life.  On one hand, it would be neat to bring a species back, but there are also many concerns.  One concern is how a species would adapt to its new environmental habitat in modern times.  Secondly, many environmentalists worry that people won’t care about animals if we can bring them back so easily once they are gone.

I personally think we should not bring extinct species back because I agree with the environmentalists.  I also think some of the animals might be dangerous and don’t belong in our modern world.  We shouldn’t tamper with nature; we need to be responsible and take care of our Earth the first time around.  Where do you stand on this issue?  Looking forward to your comments!