Every person is unique, and every person has different interests. Some interests may be shared with others, and some may be things a person does on their own. Some interests may keep you close to home, and other interests, such as travel, may bring you far away from home. The world is a very big place, and there are so many different places a person can travel. Many parts of the world are totally different than they are here in the United States, with unique cultures, landscapes and people.
One of my favorite things to do is to travel to different places. For my age, I have done quite a bit of traveling. Some of the places I’ve visited in the United States are Florida, California, Washington DC, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, and all of the New England States. California and Florida are similar in some ways. They are both based on tourism and have a lot of fun things to do. I went to the Disney parks in both places; and although they were similar, many of the attractions were different. California also is known for their fine wineries, unlike Florida which is known for their fresh oranges. Washington, D.C. was very different compared to Florida and California. Washington, DC has cooler weather much of the year and is not full of theme parks. Instead, Washington is an extremely interesting place to visit because of all the history you can find there. With its many memorials, museums and political sites to visit, you could spend a month there and still not see everything! Texas is a large state, and the landscape is very different. It is similar to Arizona in many ways, with its dry, vast plains and cactus which can be seen all over.
I have been very fortunate to be able to visit many places outside of the United States as well. Some of these places include tropical islands such as Jamaica, Aruba, St. Thomas, St. Marten, and Punta Cana. These islands are considered to be “paradise” to many people because they are so tropical and have such beautiful beaches and waters. In Punta Cana, I was even able to hold a monkey! Mexico is similar to the islands because of the beautiful vacation resorts and the tropical vegetation. Mexico is a relaxing place to go, where you can relax by the pool or ocean and feel the warmth. The people there are very friendly and speak Spanish. Their culture is different than ours, making it feel very foreign and different than the United States. They even have toucans, parrots and other tropical birds sitting in the treetops! I have also been on a few cruise vacations which are wonderful, because you are able to visit many islands all on the same vacation!
In addition to the United States and the islands, I have been able to explore a few places in Europe as well. I have traveled to both England and Ireland and found them to be similar in many ways. Both of these countries are very old and have a lot of history to explore. You can see ancient castles and walls, even cities that have been there for many hundreds of years! The cultures again are similar, but different at the same time. In Ireland, Gaelic is the original language, although very few people speak it anymore. It is a very beautiful country and you can still see the old houses with thatched roofs. The people there are very friendly and make you feel at home right away. I have some cousins in Ireland who I was able to meet while I was visiting, which was wonderful. In England, especially London, the people there act very polite and more formal than in Ireland. I was able to visit Paris for one day, and took the Euro-Star train from London to get there. Paris is a beautiful city but is different than England or Ireland. There, I was able to see the Eiffel Tower, the famous Lourve Museum and other monuments. The people in Paris spoke French so it was more difficult to communicate with them. They were not as friendly to Americans as we had hoped, but it was still a wonderful place to see!
There are so many places around the world that I have not visited, but would love to! My dad travels a lot for his job and has taken me to many places I may not have been able to see which helped me to explore and let my interest in travel to grow. Since he does travel so much, I thought I would interview him and maybe learn something about a new place I haven’t been to.
When I began interviewing him, it was five thirty p.m. on April 12th. I asked him about places he had been, that I have not. He listed a few for me which included Alaska, New Orleans, Canada and others. I asked him what Alaska was like and he said it was a very beautiful place with a cold climate and a lot of mountains. He also told me a little more about Alaska’s culture which was a mixture of U.S. culture, Russian culture, and various Indian tribe cultures. He explained how this large state consists mostly of wildlife and land, but had less people than many states. Some examples of animals he saw there were bears, whales, eagles, moose, and mountain goats. Also, seeing the salmon fight the currents to reach their birthplace was amazing! People in Alaska are very active and love to go hiking, boating, fishing, ski mobiling, skiing, and hunting among other outside activities. Another thing you must do if in Alaska is to go on a “inside passage” cruise to see the huge glaciers, sea otters, puffins and other unique animals.
Next, my dad told me about another place he loves to visit; New Orleans. He said New Orleans is a very unique city with unique and interesting people. New Orleans is famous for their gumbo soup and beignets which are like donuts. The culture there is French. The city is most exciting during the famous Mardi Gras, right before the season of Lent, when everyone parties and there are parades and lots of music!
One place I have not been able to visit, but would love to, is China. Since it is located on the other side of the world, it would take quite a while to reach even by airplane. They speak a very different language than we do and have many different religions and religion majorities than we do in the U.S. and many other areas of the world. These religions include Chinese folk, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism and most people refer to all four religions. There is also a major time difference between the US and China; they are thirteen hours ahead of us. China also has many festivals each year such as the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival and the Spring Festival Flower Fair; in January, the Lantern Festival; in February, the Hainan International Coconut Festival and many others. There are also many traditional Chinese festivals, such as the Laba Festival. Many tourists visit China each year which has a very huge population. The people of China are limited to how many children they can have, due to population growth, unlike most areas of the world. The people in China have a very different culture and are known to be hard working. They also dress differently, eat different foods and speak a different language than we do in the U.S. Some of their great attractions are; the Great Wall, which is around 5,500 miles long and Crosses deserts, grasslands, mountains, plateaus and many other major pieces of land, from east China to west of China. The “Great Wall” of China took more than 2000 years to build.
This world of ours is a very large place with many different types of landscapes, people, cultures and traditions. I have been extremely fortunate to travel to places many people may never get a chance to see. I hope in the future, I can travel to China and other far away places and be able to share my experiences and travel with my own children. One thing is for sure; if you are interested in traveling you will never run out of places to see and people to meet!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
A Pirates Life for Me (Final Draft)
Treasure Island, by Robert Lewis Stevenson, is a tale of pirates, treasure, danger and a mysterious island. When we think in our minds of what a pirate is, the descriptions of the characters in this novel are most likely the source of where we get the images we have today. Whether it is a physical or a personality trait, the items they used, or their surroundings, the characters in the novel Treasure Island represents the thoughts that automatically come into to people’s minds today, even though that image is not true of today’s real life pirates.
Everyone knows that a pirate’s favorite drink is …rum. The novel Treasure Island opens with Captain Billy Bones whistling an old sea-song “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!” (p 13) When pirates drink rum, they become violent and destructive; chase women, curse, steal, and are just plain uncivilized. The officers on the ship, however, drink wine instead of a hard alcohol like rum. This makes the English gentlemen appear to be more civilized men, with manners, who can act appropriately in society. Comparing the pirates to English gentlemen makes the pirates appear even more uncivilized and unruly.
Along with being unruly, pirates love to fight each other especially with swords. Captain Billy Bones and Black Dog get into a sword fight at the Benbow Inn. “Then all of a sudden there was a tremendous explosion of oaths and other noises--- the chair and table went over a lump, a clash of steel followed, and then a cry of pain, and the next instant I saw Black Dog in full flight and the Captain hotly pursuing, both with drawn cutlasses, and the former streaming blood from the left shoulder.” (p22) They are both very skilled on how to use a sword, most likely because they have lots of practice fighting with each other as well as others they may cross their path along the way.
A pirate’s world is very violent at times. After Black Dog discovers Captain Billy Bones, he is eventually found and given the “black spot” while he is at the Inn. The “black spot” is another famous symbol of piracy, death and fear. Billy Bones is so frightened when he gets the black spot, that he has a stroke and dies. “On the floor close to his hand there was a little round of paper, blackened on the one side. I could not doubt that this was the black spot; and taking it up, I found written on the other side in a very good, clear hand, a short message: “You have till ten tonight.” (P33) The color black in general represents the pirate’s dark ways, such as their black flag, the Jolly Roger, which signifies death and destruction.
Because of their wild lifestyle, pirates are also known for having many injuries over the years. Long John Silver is very famous for his peg leg. Even with a missing leg, he can move swiftly and fight as well or better than any other pirate. It shows that he has learned to overcome obstacles in his life. The character, Pew, is a blind beggar who walks with a stick which he taps as he walks around. The tapping noise made by Pew and Silver makes people fearful because they can hear them approaching closer and closer and know that danger is nearing. “I suddenly put my hand upon her arm; for I had hard in the silent, frosty air, a sound that brought my heart into my mouth---the tap-tapping of the blind man’s stick upon the frozen road.” (p. 33) Pew’s patch over his eyes is another trait of pirates that we think of today. With all of their permanent injuries or disabilities, pirates somehow are still able to cope with their hard life and still be threatening to others.
Even with his peg leg, Long John Silver was able to travel the world and brought with him his loyal parrot, Captain Flint. When picturing a pirate in your mind, there is usually a parrot close behind, or on the shoulder of its owner. The parrot was very loyal to Long John Silver and was part of his crew. The parrot seemed to know the pirates’ treasured secrets and would repeat words over and over again, sometimes giving hints and clues to others, such as; “Pieces of eight!" Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! and so forth, without pause or change, like the clacking of a tiny mill. Silver’s green parrot, Captain Flint!” (p175) Jim Hawkins knew the pirates had taken over the fort when he heard Captain Flint’s loud cries. He then knew that Long John Silver and his mates were inside the fort. The parrot had given them away by mimicking his owner’s thoughts of treasure.
Captain Flint was not the only one thinking of “pieces of eight”. The adventurous pirate’s main objective in life was to search for gold and treasure so he can retire and live well the rest of his life, however short that may have been. The adventure begins when Jim finds the treasure map in the Captains chest at the Inn. He later sees the same map, given to the pirates on the island “And he cast down upon the floor a paper that I instantly recognized---none other than the chart on yellow paper, with the three red crosses, that I had found in the oilcloth at the bottom of the captain’s chest. Why the doctor had given it to him was more than I could fancy. But if it were inexplicable to me, the appearance of the chart was incredible to the surviving mutineers.” (pg.190). The map itself is a symbol of adventure and discovery of treasure. To Jim, the adventure itself is more important than the treasure found. To other people, and greedy pirates, the treasure itself may be more important than the adventure.
One thing is for sure; pirates are made for adventure! Pirates are also known to raid and steal others’ ships as well as to have mutinies while aboard the ship. No matter what way they choose, the pirates usually find a way to take control of the ship. In pirate movies, you will always see at least one fight on land or at sea where the pirates use cannon balls to fire at their enemies. Skulls, bones and skeletons were also known to be found on many islands where pirates had been which adds to the feeling of adventure and danger.
When you say the word, “pirate” people today automatically picture the “original” pirates from the 18th and 19th century. Although pirates are still around today, people don’t always realize this. The novel, Treasure Island, has impacted the way we think of pirates and adventure. Whatever the reason; a trait or characteristic, weapons they used, clothing they wore, or another item describing pirates that Stevenson put in our minds through his writing, this novel has made an impact on society. Since the book was written fairly close to the time these exciting adventures actually took place, most people today assume the novel was written using facts to describe these pirate characters in his writing. Whether or not this is true, people still think of pirates as Stevenson has portrayed them in his novel, Treasure Island.
Everyone knows that a pirate’s favorite drink is …rum. The novel Treasure Island opens with Captain Billy Bones whistling an old sea-song “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!” (p 13) When pirates drink rum, they become violent and destructive; chase women, curse, steal, and are just plain uncivilized. The officers on the ship, however, drink wine instead of a hard alcohol like rum. This makes the English gentlemen appear to be more civilized men, with manners, who can act appropriately in society. Comparing the pirates to English gentlemen makes the pirates appear even more uncivilized and unruly.
Along with being unruly, pirates love to fight each other especially with swords. Captain Billy Bones and Black Dog get into a sword fight at the Benbow Inn. “Then all of a sudden there was a tremendous explosion of oaths and other noises--- the chair and table went over a lump, a clash of steel followed, and then a cry of pain, and the next instant I saw Black Dog in full flight and the Captain hotly pursuing, both with drawn cutlasses, and the former streaming blood from the left shoulder.” (p22) They are both very skilled on how to use a sword, most likely because they have lots of practice fighting with each other as well as others they may cross their path along the way.
A pirate’s world is very violent at times. After Black Dog discovers Captain Billy Bones, he is eventually found and given the “black spot” while he is at the Inn. The “black spot” is another famous symbol of piracy, death and fear. Billy Bones is so frightened when he gets the black spot, that he has a stroke and dies. “On the floor close to his hand there was a little round of paper, blackened on the one side. I could not doubt that this was the black spot; and taking it up, I found written on the other side in a very good, clear hand, a short message: “You have till ten tonight.” (P33) The color black in general represents the pirate’s dark ways, such as their black flag, the Jolly Roger, which signifies death and destruction.
Because of their wild lifestyle, pirates are also known for having many injuries over the years. Long John Silver is very famous for his peg leg. Even with a missing leg, he can move swiftly and fight as well or better than any other pirate. It shows that he has learned to overcome obstacles in his life. The character, Pew, is a blind beggar who walks with a stick which he taps as he walks around. The tapping noise made by Pew and Silver makes people fearful because they can hear them approaching closer and closer and know that danger is nearing. “I suddenly put my hand upon her arm; for I had hard in the silent, frosty air, a sound that brought my heart into my mouth---the tap-tapping of the blind man’s stick upon the frozen road.” (p. 33) Pew’s patch over his eyes is another trait of pirates that we think of today. With all of their permanent injuries or disabilities, pirates somehow are still able to cope with their hard life and still be threatening to others.
Even with his peg leg, Long John Silver was able to travel the world and brought with him his loyal parrot, Captain Flint. When picturing a pirate in your mind, there is usually a parrot close behind, or on the shoulder of its owner. The parrot was very loyal to Long John Silver and was part of his crew. The parrot seemed to know the pirates’ treasured secrets and would repeat words over and over again, sometimes giving hints and clues to others, such as; “Pieces of eight!" Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! and so forth, without pause or change, like the clacking of a tiny mill. Silver’s green parrot, Captain Flint!” (p175) Jim Hawkins knew the pirates had taken over the fort when he heard Captain Flint’s loud cries. He then knew that Long John Silver and his mates were inside the fort. The parrot had given them away by mimicking his owner’s thoughts of treasure.
Captain Flint was not the only one thinking of “pieces of eight”. The adventurous pirate’s main objective in life was to search for gold and treasure so he can retire and live well the rest of his life, however short that may have been. The adventure begins when Jim finds the treasure map in the Captains chest at the Inn. He later sees the same map, given to the pirates on the island “And he cast down upon the floor a paper that I instantly recognized---none other than the chart on yellow paper, with the three red crosses, that I had found in the oilcloth at the bottom of the captain’s chest. Why the doctor had given it to him was more than I could fancy. But if it were inexplicable to me, the appearance of the chart was incredible to the surviving mutineers.” (pg.190). The map itself is a symbol of adventure and discovery of treasure. To Jim, the adventure itself is more important than the treasure found. To other people, and greedy pirates, the treasure itself may be more important than the adventure.
One thing is for sure; pirates are made for adventure! Pirates are also known to raid and steal others’ ships as well as to have mutinies while aboard the ship. No matter what way they choose, the pirates usually find a way to take control of the ship. In pirate movies, you will always see at least one fight on land or at sea where the pirates use cannon balls to fire at their enemies. Skulls, bones and skeletons were also known to be found on many islands where pirates had been which adds to the feeling of adventure and danger.
When you say the word, “pirate” people today automatically picture the “original” pirates from the 18th and 19th century. Although pirates are still around today, people don’t always realize this. The novel, Treasure Island, has impacted the way we think of pirates and adventure. Whatever the reason; a trait or characteristic, weapons they used, clothing they wore, or another item describing pirates that Stevenson put in our minds through his writing, this novel has made an impact on society. Since the book was written fairly close to the time these exciting adventures actually took place, most people today assume the novel was written using facts to describe these pirate characters in his writing. Whether or not this is true, people still think of pirates as Stevenson has portrayed them in his novel, Treasure Island.
Monday, March 1, 2010
A Pirates Life for Me
Treasure Island, by Robert Lewis Stevenson, is a tale of pirates, treasure, danger and a mysterious island. When we think in our minds of what a pirate is, the descriptions of the characters in this novel are most likely the source of where we get the images we have today. Whether it is a physical trait or a personality trait, items they used, or their usual surroundings, the pirates in the novel Treasure Island represent how we think of pirates today.
Everyone knows that a pirate’s favorite drink is Rum. The book Treasure Island opens with the Captain Billy Bones whistling an old sea-song “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!” (p 13) When pirates drink rum, they become violent and destructive; chase women, curse, steal, and are just plain uncivilized. The officers on the ship, however, drink wine instead of a hard alcohol like rum. This makes the English gentlemen appear to be more civilized men, with manners, who can act appropriately in society.
Along with being unruly, pirates love to fight each other especially with swords. Captain Bill and Black Dog get into a sword fight at the Inn. “Then all of a sudden there was a tremendous explosion of oaths and other noises--- the chair and table went over a lump, a clash of steel followed, and then a cry of pain, and the next instant I saw Black Dog in full flight and the Captain hotly pursuing, both with drawn cutlasses, and the former streaming blood from the left shoulder.” (p22) They are very skilled on how to use a sword, probably because they have lots of practice fighting each other.
A pirate’s world is again very violent at times. After Black Dog finds him, Captain Bill is eventually given the “black spot” while he is at the inn. The “black spot” is another famous symbol of piracy and death. “On the floor close to his hand there was a little round of paper, blackened on the one side. I could not doubt that this was the black spot; and taking it up, I found written on the other side in a very good, clear hand, a short message: “You have till ten tonight.” (P33) The color black in general represents the pirate’s dark ways, such as their black flag, the Jolly Roger, which signifies death and destruction.
Because of their wild lifestyle, pirates are also known for having many injuries over the years. Long John Silver is very famous for his wooden leg. Even with a missing leg, Silver can move swiftly and fight as well or better than any other pirate. It shows that he has learned to overcome obstacles in his life. The character, Pew, is a blind beggar who walks with a stick which he taps as he walks around. The tapping noise made by Pew and Silver makes people fearful because they can hear them approaching closer and closer. “I suddenly put my hand upon her arm; for I had hard in the silent, frosty air, a sound that brought my heart into my mouth---the tap-tapping of the blind man’s stick upon the frozen road.” (p. 33) Pew’s patch over his eyes is another trait of pirates that we think of today.
Silver traveled around the world with his loyal parrot, Captain Flint. When picturing a pirate in your mind, there is usually a pirate close behind. The parrot was very loyal to Silver and was part of his crew. The parrot seemed to know the pirate’s secrets and would repeat key words over and over again, sometimes giving hints and clues to others, such as; “Pieces of eight!" Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! and so forth, without pause or change, like the clacking of a tiny mill. Silver’s green parrot, Captain Flint!” (p175) Jim Hawkins knew the pirates had taken over the fort when he heard Captain Flint’s loud cries. He knew Silver was right there with him.
A pirate’s main objective in life is to search for gold and other treasures so he can retire and live well the rest of his life. The adventure begins when Jim finds the treasure map in the Captains chest, at the Inn. He later finds the same map, once again on the island; “And he cast down upon the floor a paper that I instantly recognized---none other than the chart on yellow paper, with the three red crosses, that I had found in the oilcloth at the bottom of the captain’s chest. Why the doctor had given it to him was more than I could fancy. But if it were inexplicable to me, the appearance of the chart was incredible to the surviving mutineers.” (pg.190). The map itself is a symbol of adventure and discovery of treasure. To Jim, the adventure itself is more important than the treasure found. To other people, and greedy pirates, the treasure itself may be more important than the adventure.
One thing is for sure; pirates are made for adventure! Pirates are also known in the book and in real life, to raid and steal others’ ships as well as to have mutinies while aboard the ship. No matter what way they choose, the pirates find a way to take control of the ship. In pirate movies, you will always see at least one fight on land or at sea where the pirates use cannon balls to fire at their enemies. Skulls, bones and skeletons were known to be found on many islands where pirates have been which adds to the adventure.
When you say the word, “pirates” people today automatically picture the original ones from, around the 1800’s. Although pirates are still around today, people don’t always realize this. The novel, Treasure Island, has impacted the way we think of pirates and adventure today. Whether it was a trait, weapons they used violence, fighting, or some other idea, the book has still made an impact. Since the book was written around the time of the original, exciting adventures of famous pirates, people today most likely would think that the author would know how the pirates were really like and probably wrote the book based on his knowledge. Whether or not this is true, people still think of pirates as being the way the author describes them in the book.
Everyone knows that a pirate’s favorite drink is Rum. The book Treasure Island opens with the Captain Billy Bones whistling an old sea-song “Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!” (p 13) When pirates drink rum, they become violent and destructive; chase women, curse, steal, and are just plain uncivilized. The officers on the ship, however, drink wine instead of a hard alcohol like rum. This makes the English gentlemen appear to be more civilized men, with manners, who can act appropriately in society.
Along with being unruly, pirates love to fight each other especially with swords. Captain Bill and Black Dog get into a sword fight at the Inn. “Then all of a sudden there was a tremendous explosion of oaths and other noises--- the chair and table went over a lump, a clash of steel followed, and then a cry of pain, and the next instant I saw Black Dog in full flight and the Captain hotly pursuing, both with drawn cutlasses, and the former streaming blood from the left shoulder.” (p22) They are very skilled on how to use a sword, probably because they have lots of practice fighting each other.
A pirate’s world is again very violent at times. After Black Dog finds him, Captain Bill is eventually given the “black spot” while he is at the inn. The “black spot” is another famous symbol of piracy and death. “On the floor close to his hand there was a little round of paper, blackened on the one side. I could not doubt that this was the black spot; and taking it up, I found written on the other side in a very good, clear hand, a short message: “You have till ten tonight.” (P33) The color black in general represents the pirate’s dark ways, such as their black flag, the Jolly Roger, which signifies death and destruction.
Because of their wild lifestyle, pirates are also known for having many injuries over the years. Long John Silver is very famous for his wooden leg. Even with a missing leg, Silver can move swiftly and fight as well or better than any other pirate. It shows that he has learned to overcome obstacles in his life. The character, Pew, is a blind beggar who walks with a stick which he taps as he walks around. The tapping noise made by Pew and Silver makes people fearful because they can hear them approaching closer and closer. “I suddenly put my hand upon her arm; for I had hard in the silent, frosty air, a sound that brought my heart into my mouth---the tap-tapping of the blind man’s stick upon the frozen road.” (p. 33) Pew’s patch over his eyes is another trait of pirates that we think of today.
Silver traveled around the world with his loyal parrot, Captain Flint. When picturing a pirate in your mind, there is usually a pirate close behind. The parrot was very loyal to Silver and was part of his crew. The parrot seemed to know the pirate’s secrets and would repeat key words over and over again, sometimes giving hints and clues to others, such as; “Pieces of eight!" Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! and so forth, without pause or change, like the clacking of a tiny mill. Silver’s green parrot, Captain Flint!” (p175) Jim Hawkins knew the pirates had taken over the fort when he heard Captain Flint’s loud cries. He knew Silver was right there with him.
A pirate’s main objective in life is to search for gold and other treasures so he can retire and live well the rest of his life. The adventure begins when Jim finds the treasure map in the Captains chest, at the Inn. He later finds the same map, once again on the island; “And he cast down upon the floor a paper that I instantly recognized---none other than the chart on yellow paper, with the three red crosses, that I had found in the oilcloth at the bottom of the captain’s chest. Why the doctor had given it to him was more than I could fancy. But if it were inexplicable to me, the appearance of the chart was incredible to the surviving mutineers.” (pg.190). The map itself is a symbol of adventure and discovery of treasure. To Jim, the adventure itself is more important than the treasure found. To other people, and greedy pirates, the treasure itself may be more important than the adventure.
One thing is for sure; pirates are made for adventure! Pirates are also known in the book and in real life, to raid and steal others’ ships as well as to have mutinies while aboard the ship. No matter what way they choose, the pirates find a way to take control of the ship. In pirate movies, you will always see at least one fight on land or at sea where the pirates use cannon balls to fire at their enemies. Skulls, bones and skeletons were known to be found on many islands where pirates have been which adds to the adventure.
When you say the word, “pirates” people today automatically picture the original ones from, around the 1800’s. Although pirates are still around today, people don’t always realize this. The novel, Treasure Island, has impacted the way we think of pirates and adventure today. Whether it was a trait, weapons they used violence, fighting, or some other idea, the book has still made an impact. Since the book was written around the time of the original, exciting adventures of famous pirates, people today most likely would think that the author would know how the pirates were really like and probably wrote the book based on his knowledge. Whether or not this is true, people still think of pirates as being the way the author describes them in the book.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Siddartha Visits America
When Siddhartha finally woke up he rubbed his eyes, yawning and stretching and got out of bed. He walked out of his temporary hut, what his tour guide called a tent, and went down to the river. He splashed the fresh smelling, cool water on his face. He sat with his legs crossed, putting his hands together and began to meditate, continuously saying, “
As Siddhartha sat and looked at the beauty around him, he could also hear the sounds of birds calling, the rustling of the wind through the treetops, and the sound of water trickling down the nearby rocky cliffs. He thought about how different his life would be if he lived here in
Kristen walked up to Siddhartha and sat next to him. He began to explain to her how this beautiful lake reminded him of a special river he had known in India. He explained how he had helped many people cross this special river and how the river speaks to us, although many do not hear it. She seemed to understand him. He knew there were other parts of
The flight arrived in the city at
As they entered the lobby of the hotel, Siddhartha looked up and was even more amazed. Kristen told him The Luxor had one of the largest atriums in the world. “What does this wondrous place represent? I have never seen anything like it!” Siddhartha said. “It represents
Kristen said “The Luxor has restaurants, pools, shops, bars, nightclubs and a huge casino for gambling.” “Ah…”Siddhartha said. “I once lived in a place with many of these same things. Gambling was at one time one of my favorite things to do, but it led me down a path of misery.” “Why did it cause you misery?” Kristen asked. “I thought I was happy with material things and the rich way of life I led. But I was very unhappy with my life and knew I had to move on to my old ways to reach enlightenment. I finally did find my way and connected with Atman. I hope you will find peace in your soul as well.” Siddhartha said.
They walked through the lobby to the casino. Siddhartha saw many colorful and shiny machines that were all flashing light in many directions. He could hear bells and whistles and loud noises but above all, he noticed the “
The following day, they boarded the plane to
Saturday, October 3, 2009
First Quarter Outside Reading Book Review - Twilight
Twilight by Stephanie Meyers. Little, Brown and Company, 2005. Genre: Fiction
Bella Swan, a seventeen year old high school student, leaves her home in Phoenix to live with her father, Charlie, in the small town of Forks, Washington. At her new high school in Forks, she meets many new friends and discovers a handsome man who catches her eye, Edward Cullen. Although Bella is very interested in Edward, there is something mysterious about him. Bella insists on finding out more about him and his deep, dark secrets. Bella discovers Edward is part of a family of vampires and she decides to become part of their world so she can be with him forever. Because this world is so dangerous, Edward tries to protect Bella and insists she remain human.
“Propelled by suspense and romance in equal parts, this story will keep readers madly flipping the pages of Meyer's tantalizing debut.” Publishers Weekly
Twilight enters the world of teen romance and discovery along with a twist of horror and the fictional world of vampires. However, this novel portrays a different view of the vampires we have come to know in other horror stories such as Bram Stoker’s, Dracula or Anne Rice’s, Interview with a Vampire. This book represents a new version of “good” vampires who do not feed on human blood.
Here the reader sees different types of vampires; those who are evil and those who are good. We are able to side with one family of heroic vampires who fight to protect Bella and try their best to be as civilized as possible in this role they have been forced to play. Twilight is similar to Meyer’s first adult novel published in 2008, The Host. Both books involve the paranormal and romance in their plots, however adults may find Twilight too teen based and may prefer Meyer’s more mature novel. However, the popularity of Twilight has led Meyer to write several additional vampire themed novels which have become a continuing series.
“I touched his face. Look, I said. I love you more than everything else in the world combined. Isn’t that enough? And he leaned down to press his cold lips once more to my throat.” (498) Meyer’s basic, easy to understand writing style attracts younger readers versus adult readers although all ages can enjoy the story represented.
I have always been interested in novels that involve the paranormal as well as teenage drama and romance books. Twilight brings all of these characteristics into one, which attracts me and makes me continue reading. There have been very few other books that have made me want to read on and never want to put the book down. I am eager to read Meyer’s next book, New Moon, to find out what happens next with Bella and Edward.
Bella Swan, a seventeen year old high school student, leaves her home in Phoenix to live with her father, Charlie, in the small town of Forks, Washington. At her new high school in Forks, she meets many new friends and discovers a handsome man who catches her eye, Edward Cullen. Although Bella is very interested in Edward, there is something mysterious about him. Bella insists on finding out more about him and his deep, dark secrets. Bella discovers Edward is part of a family of vampires and she decides to become part of their world so she can be with him forever. Because this world is so dangerous, Edward tries to protect Bella and insists she remain human.
“Propelled by suspense and romance in equal parts, this story will keep readers madly flipping the pages of Meyer's tantalizing debut.” Publishers Weekly
Twilight enters the world of teen romance and discovery along with a twist of horror and the fictional world of vampires. However, this novel portrays a different view of the vampires we have come to know in other horror stories such as Bram Stoker’s, Dracula or Anne Rice’s, Interview with a Vampire. This book represents a new version of “good” vampires who do not feed on human blood.
Here the reader sees different types of vampires; those who are evil and those who are good. We are able to side with one family of heroic vampires who fight to protect Bella and try their best to be as civilized as possible in this role they have been forced to play. Twilight is similar to Meyer’s first adult novel published in 2008, The Host. Both books involve the paranormal and romance in their plots, however adults may find Twilight too teen based and may prefer Meyer’s more mature novel. However, the popularity of Twilight has led Meyer to write several additional vampire themed novels which have become a continuing series.
“I touched his face. Look, I said. I love you more than everything else in the world combined. Isn’t that enough? And he leaned down to press his cold lips once more to my throat.” (498) Meyer’s basic, easy to understand writing style attracts younger readers versus adult readers although all ages can enjoy the story represented.
I have always been interested in novels that involve the paranormal as well as teenage drama and romance books. Twilight brings all of these characteristics into one, which attracts me and makes me continue reading. There have been very few other books that have made me want to read on and never want to put the book down. I am eager to read Meyer’s next book, New Moon, to find out what happens next with Bella and Edward.
Monday, September 14, 2009
A Curious Investigation of a Dead Man
A Curious Investigation of a Dead Man
Christopher Boone was looking out the window of his home, when the phone rang. His dog, Sandy, was sitting by his side. On the phone, Captain Jones told him they had found a dead body along the side of the London Bridge. Chris rushed for his coat, grabbed his coffee and ran out the door and into his car. He backed out of his driveway and drove towards the bridge. His pet rat, Toby 2, was in his pocket. He brought Toby 2 whenever he started a new case because it brought him luck in solving the crime.
When he arrived at the bridge, he parked to the left side where the crime had occurred, letting the cars on that side of the road pass. When Chris got out of the car he saw the body of a man, leaning on the rail of the bridge, with his mouth open and his head leaning forward toward his body facing the street. The man had a knife sticking out of his side and had multiple stab wounds all over him. Chris began to block off the scene with the yellow ribbon which said “Crime Investigation-Do Not Cross” written all over it. He thought to himself today was not going to be good, since it started with the yellow tape. Yellow was bad. But the blood on the sidewalk was red, which meant it could be a good day.
Chris began to examine the body, being careful not to disturb any evidence, and jotted notes down in his little black book. Next to his notes, he jotted down a few math problems just to make himself feel a little better. As an autistic man, his talent was in math. Doing math problems sometimes made his day go a lot smoother. It was another secret he had; just like Toby 2 was his secret.
Chris laid out a big piece of plastic, blue covering and wrapped the body in it and put the knife carefully in a plastic bag. The body was placed in the Coroner’s car and drove away. The other agents working at the scene would send along what facts they found out. They were fairly sure the body was of a man who was wanted by the Secret Service for a very long time.
Chris drove to his lab to prepare for his investigation. When he arrived, he starting looking at his notes, trying to piece things together. A man wearing a long, black trench coat walked through the door. Chris turned and looked at him. “May I help you sir?” Chris asked. “Hello, my name is Bond. James Bond. I’m with the Secret Service. I was called down to help with the investigation and to tell you all I know about the murder victim, since I knew of him pretty well.” Chris then asked him, “What do you know about this man, so far?” James responded, “His name was Ernst Stavro Blofeld. He owned the Institut fur physiologische Forschung in Piz Gloria, Switzerland and was the leader in the field of allergies. He was very corrupt and actually was responsible for biological agents getting into England over the last few months. He’s been trying to destroy our economy through destroying our agriculture. Needless to say, we won’t miss the chap.” Bond explained how he went under cover as Sir Hilary Bray so he could gather all the information from Blofeld and expose his plans.
James continued telling the story about Blofeld’s Institute and about his own skiing escape down the deadly peaked mountains with Blofeld’s men on his tail the whole time. He had barely escaped. Chris said, “Wow, you really do know a lot about this Blofeld; I’m glad he can’t cause any more chaos. Do you have any ideas about who my have killed him?” James said, “Well, with a man like Blofeld, he probably had lots of enemies. He was very harsh on his guards about a month ago. Had a few of them killed for not doing a good enough job for him. After my escape, he was furious with the guards for not catching me. He planned to keep them under his control through hypnosis. It was said that a few days later one of the guards escaped using my plan.” Chris said, “Do you think he found out where Blofeld fled to?” James replied, “Blofeld did come to London to pick up some more of his allergy infected girls, to bring them back to his scientific lab for a so-called, cure.”
Chris said, “Do you know this guard’s name by any chance, James?” He answered, “I only heard him mention names once or twice. I think it may have been Tyler. Yes, it was Tyler Blackwell, I think.” Christopher looked up the data on the computer. “Yes, here it is. Blackwell took a flight here last week. Guess that makes him a suspect.” Bond said, “I knew that guy was a snake, just like Blofeld!” “Now, hold on James, we aren’t done with our investigation yet. Don’t go throwing out assumptions. We have to be sure we keep our facts very organized. Why don’t you check for fingerprints on the murder weapon for me?” Chris went over to the computer and started searching again. “Oh. According to this data Tyler is staying at the Marriot on Kensington Road. Let's go find him. We can wait for those prints later.”
Both James and Chris put on their coats and went out the door. Toby 2 had to stay here for this one. They got in the car and drove towards the Marriot hotel. When they got there they parked and walked down to the hotel lobby. When they got to the lobby they went to talk to one of the hotel lobby staff. James said, “I’m James Bond from the Secret Service and I’m looking for Tyler Blackwell. Do you know where he can be found?” The man at the counter said, “Oh, yes let me see, he is currently staying in room 311, on the third floor. Just take the elevator up when you’re ready.” James said, “Thank you sir.” James and Chris walked towards the elevator and pressed the button next to it. A few minutes later the elevator arrived and both James and Chris got in and pressed the button for level three. They waited while the elevator rose and got off at their stop. James said, “Now, let’s see which way the three hundred’s are. According to the sign the three hundreds are to the left.” Both Chris and James kept searching until they arrived at room 311.
Christopher Boone was looking out the window of his home, when the phone rang. His dog, Sandy, was sitting by his side. On the phone, Captain Jones told him they had found a dead body along the side of the London Bridge. Chris rushed for his coat, grabbed his coffee and ran out the door and into his car. He backed out of his driveway and drove towards the bridge. His pet rat, Toby 2, was in his pocket. He brought Toby 2 whenever he started a new case because it brought him luck in solving the crime.
When he arrived at the bridge, he parked to the left side where the crime had occurred, letting the cars on that side of the road pass. When Chris got out of the car he saw the body of a man, leaning on the rail of the bridge, with his mouth open and his head leaning forward toward his body facing the street. The man had a knife sticking out of his side and had multiple stab wounds all over him. Chris began to block off the scene with the yellow ribbon which said “Crime Investigation-Do Not Cross” written all over it. He thought to himself today was not going to be good, since it started with the yellow tape. Yellow was bad. But the blood on the sidewalk was red, which meant it could be a good day.
Chris began to examine the body, being careful not to disturb any evidence, and jotted notes down in his little black book. Next to his notes, he jotted down a few math problems just to make himself feel a little better. As an autistic man, his talent was in math. Doing math problems sometimes made his day go a lot smoother. It was another secret he had; just like Toby 2 was his secret.
Chris laid out a big piece of plastic, blue covering and wrapped the body in it and put the knife carefully in a plastic bag. The body was placed in the Coroner’s car and drove away. The other agents working at the scene would send along what facts they found out. They were fairly sure the body was of a man who was wanted by the Secret Service for a very long time.
Chris drove to his lab to prepare for his investigation. When he arrived, he starting looking at his notes, trying to piece things together. A man wearing a long, black trench coat walked through the door. Chris turned and looked at him. “May I help you sir?” Chris asked. “Hello, my name is Bond. James Bond. I’m with the Secret Service. I was called down to help with the investigation and to tell you all I know about the murder victim, since I knew of him pretty well.” Chris then asked him, “What do you know about this man, so far?” James responded, “His name was Ernst Stavro Blofeld. He owned the Institut fur physiologische Forschung in Piz Gloria, Switzerland and was the leader in the field of allergies. He was very corrupt and actually was responsible for biological agents getting into England over the last few months. He’s been trying to destroy our economy through destroying our agriculture. Needless to say, we won’t miss the chap.” Bond explained how he went under cover as Sir Hilary Bray so he could gather all the information from Blofeld and expose his plans.
James continued telling the story about Blofeld’s Institute and about his own skiing escape down the deadly peaked mountains with Blofeld’s men on his tail the whole time. He had barely escaped. Chris said, “Wow, you really do know a lot about this Blofeld; I’m glad he can’t cause any more chaos. Do you have any ideas about who my have killed him?” James said, “Well, with a man like Blofeld, he probably had lots of enemies. He was very harsh on his guards about a month ago. Had a few of them killed for not doing a good enough job for him. After my escape, he was furious with the guards for not catching me. He planned to keep them under his control through hypnosis. It was said that a few days later one of the guards escaped using my plan.” Chris said, “Do you think he found out where Blofeld fled to?” James replied, “Blofeld did come to London to pick up some more of his allergy infected girls, to bring them back to his scientific lab for a so-called, cure.”
Chris said, “Do you know this guard’s name by any chance, James?” He answered, “I only heard him mention names once or twice. I think it may have been Tyler. Yes, it was Tyler Blackwell, I think.” Christopher looked up the data on the computer. “Yes, here it is. Blackwell took a flight here last week. Guess that makes him a suspect.” Bond said, “I knew that guy was a snake, just like Blofeld!” “Now, hold on James, we aren’t done with our investigation yet. Don’t go throwing out assumptions. We have to be sure we keep our facts very organized. Why don’t you check for fingerprints on the murder weapon for me?” Chris went over to the computer and started searching again. “Oh. According to this data Tyler is staying at the Marriot on Kensington Road. Let's go find him. We can wait for those prints later.”
Both James and Chris put on their coats and went out the door. Toby 2 had to stay here for this one. They got in the car and drove towards the Marriot hotel. When they got there they parked and walked down to the hotel lobby. When they got to the lobby they went to talk to one of the hotel lobby staff. James said, “I’m James Bond from the Secret Service and I’m looking for Tyler Blackwell. Do you know where he can be found?” The man at the counter said, “Oh, yes let me see, he is currently staying in room 311, on the third floor. Just take the elevator up when you’re ready.” James said, “Thank you sir.” James and Chris walked towards the elevator and pressed the button next to it. A few minutes later the elevator arrived and both James and Chris got in and pressed the button for level three. They waited while the elevator rose and got off at their stop. James said, “Now, let’s see which way the three hundred’s are. According to the sign the three hundreds are to the left.” Both Chris and James kept searching until they arrived at room 311.
Chris went towards the door and gave a knock. The door opened a crack. Through the door, Chris and James could see a face. It almost didn’t look human! Chris said, “I’m detective Christopher Boone and this is my associate from the Secret Service, James Bond. We’re here to ask you some questions. Are you Tyler Blackwell?” The door suddenly flung open. The man standing there was hideous, but somehow looked familiar to Bond. His face and arms were covered with oozing blisters and his skin was a greenish color. Black spots protruded and flesh hung from his face. “Ughh! I’m gonna kill you! Out of the way-- let me get a hold of him!” Just then Blackwell jumped towards Bond with his hands held out, but fell to the floor. “It’s your fault! It’s all your fault!” Blackwell screamed. “After you escaped, Blofeld decided to make me one of his guinea pigs and injected me with his chemicals. Now look at me! I’m dying! There’s nothing left! But at least Blofeld is dead too. God knows how many more people he would have killed. At least I did one thing good in my life. And I got my revenge!” Chris asked, “So you do confess to the murder of Ernst Blofeld?” “Yes, I do, and I’m proud of it!” he responded. “If anyone deserved to die, it was Blofeld.” Blackwell said.
“Well, guess that wraps it up.” James said. “Let’s bring him in.” The men walked Blackwell down the hallway with no resistance and put him in the car. “Thanks for your help, James. It’s been great working with you.” Chris said. “We’ll have to work together again someday.” James said.
Chris drove home that night and saw five red cars in a row. It really was a super good day after all. When he got home, his dog Sandy was there waiting for him by the door, tail wagging. Chris was proud of himself for solving another case and he knew he could do anything. He was a great detective after all.
A Curious Investigation of a Dead Man
A Curious Investigation of a Dead Man
Christopher Boone was looking out the window of his home, when the phone rang. His dog, Sandy, was sitting by his side. On the phone, Captain Jones told him they had found a dead body along the side of the London Bridge. Chris rushed for his coat, grabbed his coffee and ran out the door and into his car. He backed out of his driveway and drove towards the bridge. His pet rat, Toby 2, was in his pocket. He brought Toby 2 whenever he started a new case because it brought him luck in solving the crime. When he arrived at the bridge, he parked to the left side where the crime had occurred, letting the cars on that side of the road pass. When Chris got out of the car he saw the body of a man, leaning on the rail of the bridge, with his mouth open and his head leaning forward toward his body facing the street. The man had a knife sticking out of his side and had multiple stab wounds all over him. Chris began to block off the scene with the yellow ribbon which said “Crime Investigation-Do Not Cross” written all over it. He thought to himself today was not going to be good, since it started with the yellow tape. Yellow was bad. But the blood on the sidewalk was red, which meant it could be a good day.Chris began to examine the body, being careful not to disturb any evidence, and jotted notes down in his little black book. Next to his notes, he jotted down a few math problems just to make himself feel a little better. As an autistic man, his talent was in math. Doing math problems sometimes made his day go a lot smoother. It was another secret he had; just like Toby 2 was his secret.Chris laid out a big piece of plastic, blue covering and wrapped the body in it and put the knife carefully in a plastic bag. The body was placed in the Coroner’s car and drove away. The other agents working at the scene would send along what facts they found out. They were fairly sure the body was of a man who was wanted by the Secret Service for a very long time.Chris drove to his lab to prepare for his investigation. When he arrived, he starting looking at his notes, trying to piece things together. A man wearing a long, black trench coat walked through the door. Chris turned and looked at him. “May I help you sir?” Chris asked. “Hello, my name is Bond. James Bond. I’m with the Secret Service. I was called down to help with the investigation and to tell you all I know about the murder victim, since I knew of him pretty well.” Chris then asked him, “What do you know about this man, so far?” James responded, “His name was Ernst Stavro Blofeld. He owned the Institut fur physiologische Forschung in Piz Gloria, Switzerland and was the leader in the field of allergies. He was very corrupt and actually was responsible for biological agents getting into England over the last few months. He’s been trying to destroy our economy through destroying our agriculture. Needless to say, we won’t miss the chap.” Bond explained how he went under cover as Sir Hilary Bray so he could gather all the information from Blofeld and expose his plans.James continued telling the story about Blofeld’s Institute and about his own skiing escape down the deadly peaked mountains with Blofeld’s men on his tail the whole time. He had barely escaped. Chris said, “Wow, you really do know a lot about this Blofeld; I’m glad he can’t cause any more chaos. Do you have any ideas about who my have killed him?” James said, “Well, with a man like Blofeld, he probably had lots of enemies. He was very harsh on his guards about a month ago. Had a few of them killed for not doing a good enough job for him. After my escape, he was furious with the guards for not catching me. He planned to keep them under his control through hypnosis. It was said that a few days later one of the guards escaped using my plan.” Chris said, “Do you think he found out where Blofeld fled to?” James replied, “Blofeld did come to London to pick up some more of his allergy infected girls, to bring them back to his scientific lab for a so-called, cure.”Chris said, “Do you know this guard’s name by any chance, James?” He answered, “I only heard him mention names once or twice. I think it may have been Tyler. Yes, it was Tyler Blackwell, I think.” Christopher looked up the data on the computer. “Yes, here it is. Blackwell took a flight here last week. Guess that makes him a suspect.” Bond said, “I knew that guy was a snake, just like Blofeld!” “Now, hold on James, we aren’t done with our investigation yet. Don’t go throwing out assumptions. We have to be sure we keep our facts very organized. Why don’t you check for fingerprints on the murder weapon for me?” Chris went over to the computer and started searching again. “Oh. According to this data Tyler is staying at the Marriot on Kensington Road. Let's go find him. We can wait for those prints later.”Both James and Chris put on their coats and went out the door. Toby 2 had to stay here for this one. They got in the car and drove towards the Marriot hotel. When they got there they parked and walked down to the hotel lobby. When they got to the lobby they went to talk to one of the hotel lobby staff. James said, “I’m James Bond from the Secret Service and I’m looking for Tyler Blackwell. Do you know where he can be found?” The man at the counter said, “Oh, yes let me see, he is currently staying in room 311, on the third floor. Just take the elevator up when you’re ready.” James said, “Thank you sir.” James and Chris walked towards the elevator and pressed the button next to it. A few minutes later the elevator arrived and both James and Chris got in and pressed the button for level three. They waited while the elevator rose and got off at their stop. James said, “Now, let’s see which way the three hundred’s are. According to the sign the three hundreds are to the left.” Both Chris and James kept searching until they arrived at room 311.Chris went towards the door and gave a knock. The door opened a crack. Through the door, Chris and James could see a face. It almost didn’t look human! Chris said, “I’m detective Christopher Boone and this is my associate from the Secret Service, James Bond. We’re here to ask you some questions. Are you Tyler Blackwell?” The door suddenly flung open. The man standing there was hideous, but somehow looked familiar to Bond. His face and arms were covered with oozing blisters and his skin was a greenish color. Black spots protruded and flesh hung from his face. “Ughh! I’m gonna kill you! Out of the way-- let me get a hold of him!” Just then Blackwell jumped towards Bond with his hands held out, but fell to the floor. “It’s your fault! It’s all your fault!” Blackwell screamed. “After you escaped, Blofeld decided to make me one of his guinea pigs and injected me with his chemicals. Now look at me! I’m dying! There’s nothing left! But at least Blofeld is dead too. God knows how many more people he would have killed. At least I did one thing good in my life. And I got my revenge!” Chris asked, “So you do confess to the murder of Ernst Blofeld?” “Yes, I do, and I’m proud of it!” he responded. “If anyone deserved to die, it was Blofeld.” Blackwell said.“Well, guess that wraps it up.” James said. “Let’s bring him in.” The men walked Blackwell down the hallway with no resistance and put him in the car. “Thanks for your help, James. It’s been great working with you.” Chris said. “We’ll have to work together again someday.” James said.Chris drove home that night and saw five red cars in a row. It really was a super good day after all. When he got home, his dog Sandy was there waiting for him by the door, tail wagging. Chris was proud of himself for solving another case and he knew he could do anything. He was a great detective after all.
Christopher Boone was looking out the window of his home, when the phone rang. His dog, Sandy, was sitting by his side. On the phone, Captain Jones told him they had found a dead body along the side of the London Bridge. Chris rushed for his coat, grabbed his coffee and ran out the door and into his car. He backed out of his driveway and drove towards the bridge. His pet rat, Toby 2, was in his pocket. He brought Toby 2 whenever he started a new case because it brought him luck in solving the crime. When he arrived at the bridge, he parked to the left side where the crime had occurred, letting the cars on that side of the road pass. When Chris got out of the car he saw the body of a man, leaning on the rail of the bridge, with his mouth open and his head leaning forward toward his body facing the street. The man had a knife sticking out of his side and had multiple stab wounds all over him. Chris began to block off the scene with the yellow ribbon which said “Crime Investigation-Do Not Cross” written all over it. He thought to himself today was not going to be good, since it started with the yellow tape. Yellow was bad. But the blood on the sidewalk was red, which meant it could be a good day.Chris began to examine the body, being careful not to disturb any evidence, and jotted notes down in his little black book. Next to his notes, he jotted down a few math problems just to make himself feel a little better. As an autistic man, his talent was in math. Doing math problems sometimes made his day go a lot smoother. It was another secret he had; just like Toby 2 was his secret.Chris laid out a big piece of plastic, blue covering and wrapped the body in it and put the knife carefully in a plastic bag. The body was placed in the Coroner’s car and drove away. The other agents working at the scene would send along what facts they found out. They were fairly sure the body was of a man who was wanted by the Secret Service for a very long time.Chris drove to his lab to prepare for his investigation. When he arrived, he starting looking at his notes, trying to piece things together. A man wearing a long, black trench coat walked through the door. Chris turned and looked at him. “May I help you sir?” Chris asked. “Hello, my name is Bond. James Bond. I’m with the Secret Service. I was called down to help with the investigation and to tell you all I know about the murder victim, since I knew of him pretty well.” Chris then asked him, “What do you know about this man, so far?” James responded, “His name was Ernst Stavro Blofeld. He owned the Institut fur physiologische Forschung in Piz Gloria, Switzerland and was the leader in the field of allergies. He was very corrupt and actually was responsible for biological agents getting into England over the last few months. He’s been trying to destroy our economy through destroying our agriculture. Needless to say, we won’t miss the chap.” Bond explained how he went under cover as Sir Hilary Bray so he could gather all the information from Blofeld and expose his plans.James continued telling the story about Blofeld’s Institute and about his own skiing escape down the deadly peaked mountains with Blofeld’s men on his tail the whole time. He had barely escaped. Chris said, “Wow, you really do know a lot about this Blofeld; I’m glad he can’t cause any more chaos. Do you have any ideas about who my have killed him?” James said, “Well, with a man like Blofeld, he probably had lots of enemies. He was very harsh on his guards about a month ago. Had a few of them killed for not doing a good enough job for him. After my escape, he was furious with the guards for not catching me. He planned to keep them under his control through hypnosis. It was said that a few days later one of the guards escaped using my plan.” Chris said, “Do you think he found out where Blofeld fled to?” James replied, “Blofeld did come to London to pick up some more of his allergy infected girls, to bring them back to his scientific lab for a so-called, cure.”Chris said, “Do you know this guard’s name by any chance, James?” He answered, “I only heard him mention names once or twice. I think it may have been Tyler. Yes, it was Tyler Blackwell, I think.” Christopher looked up the data on the computer. “Yes, here it is. Blackwell took a flight here last week. Guess that makes him a suspect.” Bond said, “I knew that guy was a snake, just like Blofeld!” “Now, hold on James, we aren’t done with our investigation yet. Don’t go throwing out assumptions. We have to be sure we keep our facts very organized. Why don’t you check for fingerprints on the murder weapon for me?” Chris went over to the computer and started searching again. “Oh. According to this data Tyler is staying at the Marriot on Kensington Road. Let's go find him. We can wait for those prints later.”Both James and Chris put on their coats and went out the door. Toby 2 had to stay here for this one. They got in the car and drove towards the Marriot hotel. When they got there they parked and walked down to the hotel lobby. When they got to the lobby they went to talk to one of the hotel lobby staff. James said, “I’m James Bond from the Secret Service and I’m looking for Tyler Blackwell. Do you know where he can be found?” The man at the counter said, “Oh, yes let me see, he is currently staying in room 311, on the third floor. Just take the elevator up when you’re ready.” James said, “Thank you sir.” James and Chris walked towards the elevator and pressed the button next to it. A few minutes later the elevator arrived and both James and Chris got in and pressed the button for level three. They waited while the elevator rose and got off at their stop. James said, “Now, let’s see which way the three hundred’s are. According to the sign the three hundreds are to the left.” Both Chris and James kept searching until they arrived at room 311.Chris went towards the door and gave a knock. The door opened a crack. Through the door, Chris and James could see a face. It almost didn’t look human! Chris said, “I’m detective Christopher Boone and this is my associate from the Secret Service, James Bond. We’re here to ask you some questions. Are you Tyler Blackwell?” The door suddenly flung open. The man standing there was hideous, but somehow looked familiar to Bond. His face and arms were covered with oozing blisters and his skin was a greenish color. Black spots protruded and flesh hung from his face. “Ughh! I’m gonna kill you! Out of the way-- let me get a hold of him!” Just then Blackwell jumped towards Bond with his hands held out, but fell to the floor. “It’s your fault! It’s all your fault!” Blackwell screamed. “After you escaped, Blofeld decided to make me one of his guinea pigs and injected me with his chemicals. Now look at me! I’m dying! There’s nothing left! But at least Blofeld is dead too. God knows how many more people he would have killed. At least I did one thing good in my life. And I got my revenge!” Chris asked, “So you do confess to the murder of Ernst Blofeld?” “Yes, I do, and I’m proud of it!” he responded. “If anyone deserved to die, it was Blofeld.” Blackwell said.“Well, guess that wraps it up.” James said. “Let’s bring him in.” The men walked Blackwell down the hallway with no resistance and put him in the car. “Thanks for your help, James. It’s been great working with you.” Chris said. “We’ll have to work together again someday.” James said.Chris drove home that night and saw five red cars in a row. It really was a super good day after all. When he got home, his dog Sandy was there waiting for him by the door, tail wagging. Chris was proud of himself for solving another case and he knew he could do anything. He was a great detective after all.
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