Book Review: "Killing Lincoln"

O’Reilly, Bill and Martin Dugard. Killing Lincoln. Henry Holt and Company, LLC: New York.  

                        2011. (90/315 pages)

            From what I have read to this point, I can tell that Killing Lincoln will be a very unique book. I would describe this as historical nonfiction that reads like a thriller. There are definitely not very many books that could be described in this manner, which is why I am enjoying it. I feel like I am reading something brand new and that encourages me to keep turning the pages. .

            So far the material covered in Killing Lincoln has been very dry which has made it difficult for me to keep a solid interest. I have been told by others who have read this book that it starts out slowly and gets much better as the “thriller” continues. The first 50 pages or so of this recently published book focus primarily on Civil War battles and a few interactions among General Grant, General Lee, and President Lincoln. There has been some background information provided about John Wilkes Booth, which I have found very informative.  

            Because I am not even one third of the way through this book I don’t feel like there is a great deal that I can comment on without being unfair. Killing Lincoln has by far been challenging because it feels like I am reading a textbook. This is good for me because it is a completely different type of book that I am not used to reading. Due to all of the commanders, generals, battles, important buildings, routes and locations it is hard to keep track of what’s going on at this point near the end of the Civil War. I am not too concerned about this though because I know the book will begin focusing more and more on the days leading up to Lincoln’s assassination.

Book Review: "The Hot Zone"

Preston, Richard. The Hot Zone. First Anchor Books: New York. 1995. (422 pages)

     Reading The Hot Zone was a totally new experience for me. This nonfiction horror story is nowhere near similar to the majority of books that I have read. The fact that it was a true story, yet so horrific and thrilling at the same time, had me flipping the pages faster than I would have ever thought when I picked this book off the shelf. I have not read a variety of nonfiction books this school year, so I thought this would be a good fit because I have an interest in biology. I was pleasantly surprised by how fascinating and scary The Hot Zone was to read.

     Between the balance of biological statistics and information, personal stories from the characters, and the narration, this book never once got old. It doesn’t happen very often that I want to keep reading and reading a nonfiction book, but The Hot Zone proved otherwise. It was told like a chronological story starting when the first virus was discovered through the event of eradicating the deadly disease. This made it a bit easier to follow and to fully understand what was going on, when, and in what location.

     There were many aspects of The Hot Zone that made it a challenging read as well. The book was split into four parts that consisted of chapters within those parts. Many times the chapters would be long so it was difficult to start in the middle of one without having to backtrack to get caught up on previous events or to review some of the scientific terms. Toward the end of the book it became easier as I became familiar with these terms. It was very practical because there was a glossary located in the back of the book that listed all of the scientific vocabulary. In addition to the difficult words, there were a lot of people involved with the “story” that The Hot Zone tells. Because this is nonfiction there weren’t really characters so it was hard to keep all of the people straight when all you could only recognize them by their job titles.

     There are not a lot of books that I could compare to this one just because it is so unique and the fact that I have not experienced a variety of nonfiction books. One that does come to mind is Survival of the Sickest by Sharon Moalem. This is a nonfiction book that focuses on evolution and how anything around us, what we do, or what we eat can affect generations to come thousands of years from now. Both The Hot Zone and Survival of the Sickest have a major theme of biology and science, which is how they are very alike and why I enjoyed reading them. I would certainly recommend The Hot Zone to anyone who is looking for a unique and riveting book to read. It will definitely force you to keep turning the pages.

Death by Procrastination

Procrastination can be deadly. As I sit here the night before fifteen blog posts are due, I can easily reflect on everything that I have taken advantage of over the course of the day to help me in this procrastination process. Most of the time I would not consider myself a procrastinator. I have a very busy schedule so in order to stay involved and on top of things its mandatory that I do all of my work whenever possible. It just so happens that periodically, a day slips in there in which that isn't the case. I have experienced one of those days today where literally everything is a distraction and nothing gets done. Until now when I am sitting here at 9:30 p.m. on a Sunday night doing my homework.

I do not understand how people procrastinate all of the time. It really drives me crazy, how do people do it? It makes me feel stressed and overwhelmed which then doesn't help me when I actually sit down and try to get some work done. Its a never ending cycle because then when I'm stressed trying to get my work done everything becomes a distraction.

Throughout the day today I have done an endless amount of things to put off everything I should have been doing. Some of these would include taking two showers, staying at work an extra hour, sending numerous Facebook messages and texts, taking my time at lunch and dinner and having nice little conversations with whomever is available at the time that I would never care about unless I was procrastinating.

Luckily due to my spark of creativity I was able to finally come up with a blog topic about procrastination. The irony is that because I was able to come up with this and complete a blog I am one step closer to being completely down with my homework and being cured of procrastination.

Drink Drunk Drank

Drinks and beverages, they are all around us, you can't avoid them! In many instances I like a specific drink or beverage more than I do the actual snack or meal. There are so many varieties of beverages and drinks that it would be impossible to write about them all. So here is my take on a variety of drinks that are out there...

--Milk: I will admit that I do not drink enough milk as I should. If I could I would probably just save it for the cookies but thanks to mom that isn't allowed. While were on that note, milk is perfect with cookies, cake, or brownies. This is the only time I will willingly drink it!

--Lemonade: Raspberry, strawberry, or original you absolutely can't go wrong. Lemonade is perfect for a hot summer day, its so refreshing! It doesn't get much better than sipping lemonade while at the pool or watching a baseball game. The best lemonade can't be too sweet or too sour, there must be a happy medium. It tastes delicious and quenches your thirst what more could you ask for?

--Soda: There are so many different kinds of soda I could do an entire blog on all of the varieties. (Hey now that's an idea!) I am not much a pop drinker but there are some foods that can't be eaten without a little soda. Take pizza for example, its just not okay to eat it without a Dr. Pepper or Sprite nearby. Popcorn is another example. Who goes to the movies and buys popcorn but no soda? It just shouldn't happen.

--Gatorade: There is a lot of controversy whether or not Gatorade is good for you or bad for you or whatever. I could care less about that. Gatorade is what I rely on to quench my thirst after a killer swim workout. The fruity flavor just does everything it needs too, refreshing and relieving my thirst. Fruit punch and orange are the ways to go for this drink!

Baggage

Ever since I can remember I have always had what some might consider an obsession. With what? Bags. Any kind of bag, purse, or backpack I will probably have an interest in it. I don't know where this comes from but I know that it has been going on for awhile. Progressing from my doll's diaper bag to new purses and shoulder bags, it has become sort of a hobby. I am always getting made fun of, primarily by my dad, for being the "bag queen" or being asked "why would you need another bag?" Now all of this makes it sound like my entire closet and all of my drawers are filled with bags. That is definitely not the case! I'm just always looking at them in the stores or complimenting other people's bags. There are four bags though, that I would consider are my favorite or the most meaningful.

--Backpack: It is important to me that I like my backpack because it is something that I carry with me each and every day. School can be tough enough without the issue of an insufficient backpack. My own is olive green, gray, and black. Its athletic looking and is very durable. It works out very well for me because there is room for everything that I need such as my books, binders, folders, wallet, keys, phone, and a water bottle.

--Coach Purse: I received this purse as a gift for my sixteenth birthday from my mom and my grandma. I had my eye on one of these for a long time because many of my friends had them and I thought they were super cute! I was really excited when I opened it up almost a year ago. It is black, gray and silver and goes over the shoulder. It's perfect for an afternoon of shopping!

--Swim Bag: For a complete breakdown of my swim bag, check out my previous blog titled, "Swim Bag Breakdown." This will tell you everything you have ever wanted to know about my swim bag or any swim bag for that matter. To sum it up, my lime green Speedo bag is my favorite decorated in lots of fun key chains and pins. It does the job well, transporting all of my equipment to practice and meets!

--Over the Shoulder Casual Bag: I probably get the most compliments on this primarily orange over the shoulder bag. It looks sort of "Seventies-ish" with multicolored pieces of fabric in lots of different shapes and sizes sewn onto the outside. I am always asked if I made it myself in which I always respond, "I wish!" I actually bought this bag at Summerfest last summer. Its a weeklong music festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with lots of shops and such. This bag is very practical because I use it as an overnight bag, a purse, I take it to workout or to work, really anything you could imagine!

A Month by Month Guide to Iowa Weather (Part II)

--June: Summer has finally arrived!! We start to see really hot days ranging in the eighties and nineties. You know what that means, time to go to the pool! Soaking up the sun, going on waterslides, and messing around in the pool is what the summer is all about. June nights can consist of grilling out, going to a baseball game or running around outside until the bugs get too bad.

--July: Time for some fireworks! The temperatures will creep up even more during these 31 days as we get to experience days over one hundred! Maybe it's time for family vacation, a day out on the lake, or a cookout with some friends.

--August: The time has come for summer to start slowly dwindling down. The days are still hot so last minute trips to the waterpark or amusement park are a must. It's these last minute plans that will make your summer worth bragging about! As school comes around the corner, so does the fall type of weather.

--September: School is in session, the leaves are falling, and the football games are rocking! September is the most perfect month to watch a good football game outside on Friday nights. It still tends to be warm during the day but by night you better bundle up. Another fun idea is to go apple picking! It's a unique way to be outside in the fall and eat more apples in one day than you ever thought you could.

--October: Fall has officially arrived. You better dig up those jeans and sweatshirts. There are occasionally warm days which give you a last minute chance at some warmth before the winter months take over. Raking leaves and jumping in the piles define a perfect fall activity. Plan a Halloween party and have a most creative costume contest!

--November: This is the time of year to start embracing winter. In Iowa you never know when the first snow is going to arrive but November is a good possibility. Thanksgiving is just around the corner so spending lots of indoor fun with family and friends is a must. Who knows there might even be that fluky day where its nice enough to play catch outside.

--December: The Christmas trees are being cut down, stockings are being put up and the cookies are being baked. It is very easy to ignore the bitter cold days outside when your so busy with Christmas plans. The snow just adds to the holiday spirit and no one seems to mind too much. Going shopping for gifts, going to holiday parties, putting up the decorations, and of course spending time with family and friends over the Christmas season!

Well there you have it, a glimpse at the crazy typical Iowa weather and how to make the best of it!

A Month by Month Guide to Iowa Weather (Part I)

Living in Iowa normally leads to a pretty consistent lifestyle. Most things are fairly predictable and easy going here in the Hawkeye state, all except for one thing...the weather!! Us Iowans are forced to go through a lot when dealing with the weather. From hot and humid ninety degree days in July, to cold and bitter twenty below degree days in January. We get it all here; sun, rain, clouds, snow, ice, cold, hot, storms, tornados, sleet, wind, alright you get the picture. I have come up with a month by month guide describing the typical Iowa weather for that month and the fun things you can do to take advantage of it.

--January: Snow, cold, more snow and more cold. That pretty much sums up an Iowa January. This most likely will be the month with the occasional snow day or as we frequently get, ice days. I recommend sledding and hot chocolate!

--February: This is the time of year when everyone is getting terribly sick of winter. Its still super cold outside and still seems forever away until those nice spring days! Being creative is the key to a happy February, make Valentine's Day plans, host movie nights, or go shopping. Staying positive is what February is all about.

--March: It is a waste of time to predict or to try and recall the typical weather in March. Most likely there will be days ranging from thirty degrees to seventy degrees. Take advantage of the warmth! Go for a walk or jog, shoot some hoops, or simply just hang out outside!

--April: Many times April could have worse weather than March; nothing is more disappointing than that. This is the time of year for all of us in school that we just want summer to arrive. Do your best at coming up with ideas to relieve that summer fever. Make smoothies, play tennis, or do some gardening!

--May: I would consider this to be one of my favorite months. Hopefully temperatures can average between sixty and eighty which is just perfect! School is almost out, its sunny and there is just no stopping the beautiful weather. There are hundreds of things you can do during the month of May; going for bike rides, fishing, going on picnics, you name it!

To be continued...

A New Addition

Recently it has been announced that a new program has developed that will provide certain students the opportunity to be placed in advanced math, science, and world language classes. Who are these students? The class of 2017, or the upcoming eighth graders next school year.

Middle school principals recognized students who could benefit from taking advanced classes at the high school. Most of these students have high standardized test scores and very good grades in science and math. In the past, these students were offered only math and science classes, but this upcoming school year world language will also be an option. Students are required to take at least two of these classes with the option of staying through third hour. This is due to the transportation system, the district provides a type of shuttle bus to return these students to their middle school.

There are definitely benefits and issues associated with this program. According to the Kennedy Parent Newsletter, one of the advantages is having the opportunity to study a foreign language for five years. The majority of students only receive four years of a world language. Another advantage is that these students will achieve a greater understanding of algebra. Algebra is the base of every other math class so this would be extremely beneficial. The increased opportunities for extra science study are another benefit for those who participate in this program. Essentially they are getting one year ahead and have the chance to take more advanced science classes down the road.

Along with many of these advantages a few issues also occur due to this program. There is a chance that these students are going to be hurried into rigorous academic work, according to the Kennedy Parent Newsletter. This could halt their learning by adding unnecessary stress to their academic career. There are social disadvantages as well. Managing two different schools, different classmates, and different teachers could be difficult for many eighth graders. They are being asked to not only do that but to maintain participation in their own middle school activities as well.

The addition of what will be over 50 eighth graders to our school will take some getting used to, for them and for all of us already here. Let's make sure they feel welcome!

Making a Difference

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary a volunteer is, "A person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses willingness to undertake a service." A volunteer can be a person of any age, race, gender, background, personality, or experience. The benefits of volunteering are endless. You are able to help people around you, the community in which you live in, change people's lives, make yourself feel better, and just know that you are making a difference.

I started getting involved in many volunteer activities my freshman year when I became part of the student government organization at Kennedy. I love all of the opportunities that are available and that I got to experience because of this. Between in school and out of school opportunities there are so many things that you can do to make a difference. In my opinion this is why I think there should be some sort of volunteer service requirement in order to graduate.

Volunteering betters a person, there is no doubt about it. There is something about knowing that you are making a difference and that makes you feel better as a person. I think this is important for students to experience before they are off in the real world somewhere. Simple volunteering helps make people well-rounded in the things that they do. Instead of just being an athlete or a musician being a volunteer plus those things makes you look much better for scholarships, jobs, and other opportunities.

I don't think an enormous amount of volunteer hours should be necessary to graduate. Twenty hours would be a good example, 5 hours for every four years of high school. This ensures that every person has had opportunities to help others and make a difference. It also wouldn't be difficult at all to achieve. There are so many things that students could do to volunteer and make a difference. These could be as simple as working at a concession stand or ticket booth or working at the staff Christmas parties. Around the community there are events every day and weekend that use volunteers. Churches, schools, and organizations are always looking for your help.

In the end it is very clear that it doesn't take much to make a difference. I challenge each and every person to make it a goal to do at least a little volunteering each year, there are only benefits!

Thoughts on Thank You's

Thank-you notes are one of those things in life that you rarely think about but they are pretty meaningful in many cases. It is just one of those unwritten rules that after certain events or occasions writing a thank-you note is expected. Examples would include birthdays, anniversaries, wedding showers, baby showers, weddings, and holidays. There are many other occasions that a thank-you note should be written for as well.

I am sure that writing thank-you notes is commonly overlooked whether it is for a long period of time or forever. It is extremely easy to get swept away in the planning and anticipation of an event and then enjoying it when the time actually comes. Then when everything is getting wrapped up you sort of let it slip your mind. Whether this be a wedding, birthday, or baby there are many more things on your mind, before and after the occasion, than thinking about writing thank-you notes to your family and friends.

It is a hassle it really is. I am not going to try and tell you that writing thank-you notes is a blast. I have grown up with the expectation that, if for example you receive a gift, you write that person a quick note to thank them for the present and/or coming to your party or whatever. It is a pain to gather addresses and to address envelopes and such but if that person made some sort of effort for you, this is the least you can do. It is always sort of a downer having to write thank-you notes because most likely your highly anticipated event is over with. By writing a nice thank-you note you can try and keep the memories alive with your friends and family.

Most of the time if you are the receiver of the thank-you note you don't think a second about the fact that you should have a thank-you note coming your way, most likely that just doesn't happen. But when it comes you are grateful that that person took the time to thank you. I have experienced a few instances in which the thank-you notes were completely overlooked. My cousin didn't take the time to send anything out after her wedding shower or wedding! I think that is just rude especially because we made two road trips to attend these events.

It is the thought that counts people, better late than never. That is the name of the thank-you game!

What Does Easter Mean to You?

Chocolate, eggs, bunnies, baskets, flowers, bonnets, family, friends, spring. These are all words that I would associate with Easter. This past Sunday, millions of people celebrated the Easter holiday. What does this holiday mean to you?

There are many Easter traditions that people partake in leading up to the holiday and on actual Easter Sunday. One of these is the dyeing of Easter eggs! This has been a tradition that I have grown up with and it never gets old. First it was always fun to make the solutions by dropping the color tablet in a cup and adding the smelly vinegar. Then we would have contests to see who could come up with the most fun or cutest design. By the end of the day all of the colors would be mixed together and the eggs would end up a nasty shade of greenish blackish brown.

Digging through your Easter basket and going on an Easter egg hunt around the best thing to wake up to besides the traditional Christmas morning activities. I would always check certain places around the house before my sister would wake up so I would know exactly where to find the largest and fullest eggs. There is something so exciting about opening a plastic egg and having chocolate and quarters tumble out of it.

To me, Easter Sunday always means family and church as well. It is a time that we get together with our extended family and go to church. Many times we follow this up with a delicious feast after the service. The afternoon is spent playing games, hanging out, and just having a good time together. Most of the time Easter Sunday lands on a beautiful day which makes this time with family and friends and even more enjoyable experience.

Amongst all of the chicks, eggs, chocolate, dresses, candy, and baskets the most important thing to remember is why we are celebrating this holiday. No matter what Easter means to you, I hope you all had a great opportunity to spend a beautiful day with family and friends!

Iowa Assessments...Too Many Incentives?

It is that time of year....the time we all get to sit in our desks at eight o'clock sharp and take standardized tests. Many students dread these three days while others don't particularly mind it. This is the very first year that the Iowa Assessments are being given. When those of us were in elementary school and middle school we knew them as the ITBS tests or Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. Then when we reached high school they transformed into the ITEDs or Iowa Test of Educational Development. Three different versions, same exact idea.

Many things are associated with these standardized tests. For three days we get to have shortened class periods and hopefully less homework, which is always a plus! The administration wants each and every student to do their absolute best and they are willing to do whatever they can to make sure that happens. This includes providing granola bars and cheese sticks during breaks and rewarding students with candy at the end of the day. On top of that there are numerous incentives for students to do their personal best and to show up each and every day to take the test. Homerooms that have perfect attendance can earn pizza parties or doughnut parts. Juniors who have their personal best score out of all three years of high school can receive hooded sweatshirts. There are also class money rewards, broken down into three 500 dollar checks for highest improvement amongst other things.

In my opinion this is getting a little out of hand. What is wrong with our society and education systems that we have to bribe students to do their best on a test? Just because it isn't for a grade many, many students take advantage of that and just screw around with it. That is uncalled for and just immature. We are high school students people, can't you just suck it up and do your best without bribes? I am all for a little bit of a reward for a job well done but I just think that something like this doesn't require all of the incentives that we are receiving.

That Time...Finding the Right Fit

Every high school student will go through this time in their life. The time in which the first letters and pamphlets from colleges are waiting on the kitchen counter when you get home from school. The time when your teachers and counselors encourage you to start prepping for the ACT. The time when your parents and principals strongly recommend researching colleges and programs that you might be interested in. This is a time filled with excitement, confusion, stress, and happiness. Its one of the first times that you really think about your future and can say, "Wow, I am really going to be gone in a matter of a year or a few short months." Its scary! Knowing what college is right for you is a very difficult decision and should be taken quite seriously. Personally, I don't really know what I want in a college so its hard to know where to start and I am sure many other students are in the same position.

Last summer I started this journey of finding the right college for me. In general I feel as if a medium size school would suit me best. As for private or public or in-state or out-of-state I don't have much of a preference. My visits last summer consisted of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. This was just the start, I have family ties to these schools and they are medium size and in the Midwest, my only preference.

Recently over spring break my family took a bit of a road trip and visited four more schools. A few of these I felt somewhat interested in going into the visit unlike some of my visits from the summer before. These consisted of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, St. Louis University, and the University of Missouri at Columbia. Every single one of these schools have a lot to offer both academically and socially. I liked things about all of them and hope to break each school down in future blogs.

This is a time for important decision making, you are essentially deciding where your going to live for four years and where your going to start your independent life. To all you high schoolers out there going through this time of your life, good luck!