Monday, March 14, 2011
March Maddness
The NCAA tournament is about to begin and I have already filled out two brackets. This is my favorite sports tournament for any event. I love watching the top teams dominating the 16th seeds and the hopeful Cinderellas upsetting a number 2 seed. This year i have Pitt going all the way, they are in an easier bracket and have 3 of the most talented guards this year. They also have a possible player of the year candidate in Wanamaker. I can't wait for the first games to start and watch my picks soar to the top or fall short and prove to be disappointments.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Positively Fifth Street
James McManu
Literary Fiction
Pages 1-33
The story starts off with the murder of Ted Binion, the icon and in many ways the godfather of no limit Texas hold'em. He was a Vegas man; he was addicted to heroin, alcohol, gambling, sex, and poker. Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish were close friends to Ted, but were also his murders. Why would anyone want to kill Ted you may ask, simple the incentive of money. Ted Binion was the king of poker, he mad a fortunate off of it and started the world series of poker tournament. He made tens of millions of dollars every tournament he held because so many people were addicted to gambling. They would through away 10,000 dollars to compete in the tournament hoping to make the money. The narrator is a writer who is to go to Las Vegas and report the Binion trial. He is also suppose to analyse the success of different genders and origins at the poker tournament. He decides to enter the tournament himself because he enjoys the risk of gambling and the excitement of winning money. He uses his bonus to pay the 10,000 buy in and the journey begins.
I love poker, but rarely play for money. However, when playing with money it does make you feel more intense and excited. Your adrenaline starts pumping and the success of victory is so much sweeter. I love the idea of high risk high reward, but would never gamble away 10,000 dollars on a card game. So far i enjoy the book and can't wait till the narrator starts playing people in poker. i believe that Tabish and Murphy will get away with murder because of their fancy attorneys.
Literary Fiction
Pages 1-33
The story starts off with the murder of Ted Binion, the icon and in many ways the godfather of no limit Texas hold'em. He was a Vegas man; he was addicted to heroin, alcohol, gambling, sex, and poker. Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish were close friends to Ted, but were also his murders. Why would anyone want to kill Ted you may ask, simple the incentive of money. Ted Binion was the king of poker, he mad a fortunate off of it and started the world series of poker tournament. He made tens of millions of dollars every tournament he held because so many people were addicted to gambling. They would through away 10,000 dollars to compete in the tournament hoping to make the money. The narrator is a writer who is to go to Las Vegas and report the Binion trial. He is also suppose to analyse the success of different genders and origins at the poker tournament. He decides to enter the tournament himself because he enjoys the risk of gambling and the excitement of winning money. He uses his bonus to pay the 10,000 buy in and the journey begins.
I love poker, but rarely play for money. However, when playing with money it does make you feel more intense and excited. Your adrenaline starts pumping and the success of victory is so much sweeter. I love the idea of high risk high reward, but would never gamble away 10,000 dollars on a card game. So far i enjoy the book and can't wait till the narrator starts playing people in poker. i believe that Tabish and Murphy will get away with murder because of their fancy attorneys.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
World War Z
Max Brooks
Literary Fiction
Pages 374-404
America was the first to eradicate the zombie infection, but the rest of the world is still struggling against the infection. America has established its continent as a zombie free, which was suppose to establish a sense of security. However, the society will always fear the zombies and it'll take centuries to restore the nation's confidence. Even though the nation was declared safe people were very cautious in returning home. Also, the United States military had to travel across seas to help their allies who were having no success in killing the zombies. The war was harsh and long, but the humans avoid extinction and were able to eradicate most of the zombies. This war has effected society greatly. People went insane and some people will never be able to let there guard down.
I believe that the society will always be in constant fear of the zombies and will never ever to be at ease. I hope that the soldiers will be able to forget of the tragedies they have experienced and move on with their lives. They never figured out how to kill the zombies in the ocean, therefore i fear that its only a metter of time for the next outbreak to begin.
Literary Fiction
Pages 374-404
America was the first to eradicate the zombie infection, but the rest of the world is still struggling against the infection. America has established its continent as a zombie free, which was suppose to establish a sense of security. However, the society will always fear the zombies and it'll take centuries to restore the nation's confidence. Even though the nation was declared safe people were very cautious in returning home. Also, the United States military had to travel across seas to help their allies who were having no success in killing the zombies. The war was harsh and long, but the humans avoid extinction and were able to eradicate most of the zombies. This war has effected society greatly. People went insane and some people will never be able to let there guard down.
I believe that the society will always be in constant fear of the zombies and will never ever to be at ease. I hope that the soldiers will be able to forget of the tragedies they have experienced and move on with their lives. They never figured out how to kill the zombies in the ocean, therefore i fear that its only a metter of time for the next outbreak to begin.
Monday, March 7, 2011
World War Z
Max Brooks
Literary Fiction
Pages 328-374
America's assault on the Zombies was entirely different then Europe's in the sense that America's assault was strategically planned and the military personnel were well trained and their were minimal casualties. In Europe the military didn't plan out any assault they marched into the cities without and strategy and hoped to eradicate the Zombies. This was a horrible idea because zombies could come from any building or back ally way. The Americana's used blow horns to draw the zombies out of the cities and into open territory for a reason. Millions of people live in major cities across the world and those people were now zombies. The Europeans suffered many hard losses to the zombie hoard es within the city because of running out of ammunition and getting trapped in from all streets by Zs. The push to liberate Europe from all zombies was a one of pain and suffering. One of the most gruesome facts was after every squad went down, it meant that they only strengthened the Zombies numbers. The Europeans didn't have a battle of Hope where their confidence was restored, they fought the entire war scarred and knowing that many of them would be killed and reanimated as Zombies.
I believe that if the Europeans government would've followed Americas strategic planned that they could have successfully assaulted the zombies with less casualties. I also believed that because of their many failed attempts the militarise morale was plummeting knowing that they would have to kill their buddies, who came back from the dead to only devour them. It would pain me to be bitten by one of the zombies and knowing that i was going to change. The military forced officer to execute infected military personnel. It's heartbreaking that the officer were forced to do this and many of them couldn't coup and killed themselves. War is a horrible thing and violence can only bring suffering.
Literary Fiction
Pages 328-374
America's assault on the Zombies was entirely different then Europe's in the sense that America's assault was strategically planned and the military personnel were well trained and their were minimal casualties. In Europe the military didn't plan out any assault they marched into the cities without and strategy and hoped to eradicate the Zombies. This was a horrible idea because zombies could come from any building or back ally way. The Americana's used blow horns to draw the zombies out of the cities and into open territory for a reason. Millions of people live in major cities across the world and those people were now zombies. The Europeans suffered many hard losses to the zombie hoard es within the city because of running out of ammunition and getting trapped in from all streets by Zs. The push to liberate Europe from all zombies was a one of pain and suffering. One of the most gruesome facts was after every squad went down, it meant that they only strengthened the Zombies numbers. The Europeans didn't have a battle of Hope where their confidence was restored, they fought the entire war scarred and knowing that many of them would be killed and reanimated as Zombies.
I believe that if the Europeans government would've followed Americas strategic planned that they could have successfully assaulted the zombies with less casualties. I also believed that because of their many failed attempts the militarise morale was plummeting knowing that they would have to kill their buddies, who came back from the dead to only devour them. It would pain me to be bitten by one of the zombies and knowing that i was going to change. The military forced officer to execute infected military personnel. It's heartbreaking that the officer were forced to do this and many of them couldn't coup and killed themselves. War is a horrible thing and violence can only bring suffering.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Weekend blog assignment: Spellbound
1. Pick any two of the students in Spellbound and compare and contrast what you see as their motivations for pursuing success in the National Spelling Bee.
I believe Nupur and Neil are both very self motivated and want to achieve success. I think they stive for perfection and push themselves to achieve it to be successful not only for themselves, but to make their parents proud. They are both pushed hard by their paraents and I believed they feel pressured to win for their parents. Both of their parents are successful and they only wish to pursue in their footsteps to make them proud.
I feel that Ted Bringham is motivated by his teachers and himself to make it to washington where he can find other kids as intelligent as he is. His parents are already proud of him and want him to win, but more importantly to develop frienships with other kids. Since Ted lives out on the country not many people are as smart as him and see him as an outsider because of his intelligence. In Washington Ted can truely be himself and make lasting bonds with the people at the nation spelling bee.
I believe Nupur and Neil are both very self motivated and want to achieve success. I think they stive for perfection and push themselves to achieve it to be successful not only for themselves, but to make their parents proud. They are both pushed hard by their paraents and I believed they feel pressured to win for their parents. Both of their parents are successful and they only wish to pursue in their footsteps to make them proud.
I feel that Ted Bringham is motivated by his teachers and himself to make it to washington where he can find other kids as intelligent as he is. His parents are already proud of him and want him to win, but more importantly to develop frienships with other kids. Since Ted lives out on the country not many people are as smart as him and see him as an outsider because of his intelligence. In Washington Ted can truely be himself and make lasting bonds with the people at the nation spelling bee.
Tough Loss
Homestead's boys basketball team suffered a tough loss to Jay County friday night. Going into the game we were playing some of the best ball we have been all year with 6 wins in our last 7 games. Unfortunately things didn't bounce our way friday. Jay county got out to an early lead and we couldn't find our chemistry which allowed to beat some high quality teams. It also doesn't help when you only shot 20% from the field collectively, while the other team is shooting in the high 40s. It was a tough loss to a great season. It was alot of fun and hopefully will be back next year.
World War Z
Max Brooks
Literary Fiction
Pages 292-328
Once the world was able to establish safe zones throughout the world there was only one thing left to do, go on the attack. This will be the first time the world will enter into a total war. Most wars victor are decided by who can endure the most violence and suffering. But Zombies have no emotions and feel no pain. Zombies will fight never stop coming until they are all wiped out that's why so many people were scared to fight the billions of zombies across the world because there was no surrender. Todd was a marine grunt who was part of America's attack force. He was there at the battle of Yonkers where the U.S discover how horrifying their enemy was. He was also at the battle of Hope in New Mexico, America's first assault on the Zombie hoards. The military learned a lot from Yonkers they invested all their supplies and effort into manpower and ammo. The only vehicles that were at the battle were transporting Hum Vs that brought the grunts and ammo in. The grunts have been trained for this they formed a square shape around the supplies and ammo and when ready sounded the blow horn attracting the zombies. A constant chain of zombies arrived because on zombie moan attracts all surrounding zombies and that moan attracts more zombies even farther away. The first wave of zombies came in and the soldiers were able to take them out quick and efficiently, their motto was " 1 second for aiming, 1 shot to the head." Hundred of thousands of zombies stormed the area, but the soldiers killed them all Zombies had to start climbing over the wall of corpses that surround the square. This was the start of what would be a quick and efficient assault on the infected territories in America.
The United States was able to effectively kill thousands of Zombies with no casualties because of their training. Ever since Yonkers they have trained to properly fight of Zs. The United states military is very intelligent and I believed developed a proper system for tacking down the zombies. Also i believe that by the time the soldiers got to the fight that they would be able to effectively get head shots because of there training it was pure instinct at the time. This shows the the U.S can re train and adapt to any situation.
Literary Fiction
Pages 292-328
Once the world was able to establish safe zones throughout the world there was only one thing left to do, go on the attack. This will be the first time the world will enter into a total war. Most wars victor are decided by who can endure the most violence and suffering. But Zombies have no emotions and feel no pain. Zombies will fight never stop coming until they are all wiped out that's why so many people were scared to fight the billions of zombies across the world because there was no surrender. Todd was a marine grunt who was part of America's attack force. He was there at the battle of Yonkers where the U.S discover how horrifying their enemy was. He was also at the battle of Hope in New Mexico, America's first assault on the Zombie hoards. The military learned a lot from Yonkers they invested all their supplies and effort into manpower and ammo. The only vehicles that were at the battle were transporting Hum Vs that brought the grunts and ammo in. The grunts have been trained for this they formed a square shape around the supplies and ammo and when ready sounded the blow horn attracting the zombies. A constant chain of zombies arrived because on zombie moan attracts all surrounding zombies and that moan attracts more zombies even farther away. The first wave of zombies came in and the soldiers were able to take them out quick and efficiently, their motto was " 1 second for aiming, 1 shot to the head." Hundred of thousands of zombies stormed the area, but the soldiers killed them all Zombies had to start climbing over the wall of corpses that surround the square. This was the start of what would be a quick and efficient assault on the infected territories in America.
The United States was able to effectively kill thousands of Zombies with no casualties because of their training. Ever since Yonkers they have trained to properly fight of Zs. The United states military is very intelligent and I believed developed a proper system for tacking down the zombies. Also i believe that by the time the soldiers got to the fight that they would be able to effectively get head shots because of there training it was pure instinct at the time. This shows the the U.S can re train and adapt to any situation.
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