tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39228232515434777002024-03-08T18:40:07.681-05:00BubblesHannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-8024443840567771802010-01-03T23:16:00.003-05:002010-01-03T23:18:28.245-05:00Avatar 3D Movie Review<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/S0Fr6lwUgUI/AAAAAAAAAC4/4682Fz2deYs/s1600-h/avatarr.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 244px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422734080642154818" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/S0Fr6lwUgUI/AAAAAAAAAC4/4682Fz2deYs/s320/avatarr.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Before I saw Avatar, I must say that I was a 3D skeptic. The half red, half blue glasses of the past made me dizzy, and though it was cool when virtual objects were flying towards you at high speeds, it just wasn’t worth the headache that inevitably ensued afterwards. However, the new digital 3D used in Avatar is a completely different story. Put on the black plastic glasses and you are immediately immersed in a shockingly detailed new world. When you mix this new on-screen dimension with the high definition of new movies, you are so intimately close that you can see the pores on a man’s cheek, a droplet of water falling slowly down, or the steam rising off a heated engine. A rainstorm seems so real, you can almost breathe in the humidity. The beautiful effects and fabulous animation are breathtaking, and for good cause; Avatar is the most expensive film ever produced!<br /><br />The story follows Jake, a paraplegic marine veteran, who must decide if he will take the place of his late twin brother on a mission to the planet “Pandora”, which is inhabited by its native people, the Na’vi. Jake is promised spinal surgery in return for gathering intelligence on the native people’s home, which contains a very valuable material. To communicate with this humanoid, though alien, species, Jake and others connect to a machine that gives them new “avatars”, or bodies that resemble the Na’vi. In his new avatar, Jake has abilities that are now impossible in his disabled human body: running and jumping and feeling sand in his toes. What starts as simply a mission to finish the job and return to Earth turns into a life-changing adventure for Jake. He quickly falls for the beautiful and haunting Neytiri, a native, and his eyes are opened to how stunningly deeply the Na’vi is connected to one another and the importance of retaining their home land. As Jake’s world is flipped upside down, he knows he must take a stand against the imminent danger of destruction by the human military. In a shocking and heartbreaking battle, raw emotion and betrayal fuel the fire from all sides. In the conclusion, though death and destruction leave a bitter taste, the flames of hope burn brightly. You don’t want to miss this movie; it is simply epic. </div>HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-26441802936484885302010-01-01T20:40:00.000-05:002010-01-01T20:41:07.954-05:00Reflections on a wild calmEarly this morning I crawl out of bed<br />a soft hazy light peeks through <br />where the curtain parts<br />cool morning air drifts in the room<br />through the open window<br />with a damp earthly pine scent<br />the scene accented<br />by the far off cry of an early bird<br />and the barely pervievable sound<br />of the calm waves lapping and singing<br />a song of summer<br /><br />I grab a blanket and<br />pull on my sweatshirt,<br />leaving me feeling warm and secure<br />I run my fingers through my braids<br />releasing the soft golden crimps<br />to feel the early summer breeze<br />of a morning by the lake<br /><br />I slip on my shoes and pad softly out of my room<br />hearing the soft, slow breathing of the people<br />through the next door<br />I drift down the creeky stairs <br />and across the living room<br />Hand on the heavy wooden door, I push<br />feeling it give and let in more light<br />power in my fingertips<br />through the veranda and the ripped screen door<br /><br />outside ripped rainbow ribbons<br />floating and bending around the trees<br />seeing the pastel blue of the water<br />reflecting reds and oranges<br />of the almost appearing sun.<br /><br />I break into a run,<br />powered by a rush of near ecstasy<br />I reach the bottom of the hill<br />and stand<br />facing the fabulous display of colors<br />I spread out the blanket<br />and lie down one hand out<br />palm up, playing with the verdant grass<br /><br />I look towards the sunrise once more,<br />thin wispy clouds streaked through the scene<br />glowing intense reds and golds<br />against the muted but spectacular background haze<br /><br />I sit in this wild calm<br />slowly watching<br />as the sun peeks above the horizonHannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-69236677289948360672009-12-30T19:33:00.000-05:002009-12-30T19:37:34.059-05:00Laws of Life Essay Contest "Learning to Fly"I slammed the car door behind me and started to sprint toward the unfamiliar school building, looking around as I did; feeling like there was nothing between me and the azure Virginia sky except the kaleidoscopic, picturesque falling leaves of the autumn trees. The innocent hope of my childhood was ricocheting through me; I felt the light, feathery tickling of nerves in my stomach.<br /><br /> “Hey!” laughed my mom, “You’ll wear yourself out before the race even starts!” Immediately I slowed, quickly fearful that she could be right. <br /><br /> The night before, I heard my parents talking in the kitchen while I was supposed to be doing my homework. <br /><br /> “I don’t know why she wants to run this race so badly!” my mother wondered, “She’s never run in her life!” I knew that was true, but there was something whispering to me, quietly nudging at my consciousness, telling me that I should try. The first time I heard about the half-mile race was at my elementary school. My teacher languidly rambled on about the run, indifferently, as if to make it sound as uninteresting as possible. After she finished relaying the required information, she continued to drone on in her monotonous, apathetic tone about some dull aspect of ancient history, but I wasn’t listening. Something on the leaflet she had handed out caught my eye. It was a drawing of girl running through the finish line, an ecstatic, euphoric smile on her face. It was at that point that I made up my mind; I wanted to feel what that girl was feeling. In my childhood naivety, the abrupt intensity of my determination felt like a matter of life or death.<br /><br /> When I got home from school that day I decided to start my training. I hurdled over the “Vote yes! On Issue 4” yard sign, barely clearing it, and ran as fast as I could through the field across the street from my house. At the end I lay down in the grass and waited for my little sister to catch up. Eventually she did, collapsing beside me, huffing and puffing, but proud of herself for finally running as far as her big sister. We lay and looked at the clouds, the trampled grass and crunchy fall leaves matting in our hair, feeling the elation of running, childhood, and the changing seasons. <br /><br /> We got to the registration desk and I safety pinned on my number, showing it off to my parents proudly, and posing for a picture before running to the drink table to pick up some complimentary water. I sat with my Dixie cup under a huge oak tree, watching the other kids coming in and registering. Some of them were stretching, so I decided to follow suit, touching my toes and rolling my shoulders. After what felt like an eternity we were gathered together at the starting line, the parents sprawled out on blankets and foldable sports chairs a small distance away to watch the race. I heard the starting gun go off, and I ran: the sun beating down on my skin, my hair flying behind me, free and wild, my shadow keeping my pace, and everyone else behind me. Down the field I went, happy that I was in the front, experiencing a runner’s high for the first time. At the end of the field, I turned around to run back, but was immediately stopped by the wise, knowing hands of the person showing children where to run. He pointed me towards the track and gently shoved me on my way. I can honestly say that my memories are only a blur of heavy breathing, black rubber, tight muscles, and sweat. In the last few meters of the race I felt numb, like I was floating above my body. I wanted nothing more than to lie in the cool grass like I had a week before, but I kept running. I still felt the determination, and even when two girls passed me, I kept running. Finally I passed the finish line, wheezing and coughing, but I had done it. I held that third place ribbon tightly in my sweaty hands and lay on the ground, knowing that I had finished.<br /><br /> Sometimes you are presented with an opportunity that seems insignificant: an opportunity that would be easy to reject, hard to attempt, and presents a situation that is different from your normal, everyday life. Sometimes you might be told that you cannot; that you won’t accomplish what you set your mind to, what some may say is impossible. But every moment in life is an opportunity to do something new. Everyday, you have a chance to accomplish the impossible, to defy your supposed limits, or to find a new passion. If you are presented with a challenge, throw your whole self into it. You never know if it will end up changing your life. As Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”<br /><br />(c) Hannah Chappell-Dick<br />Written as an entry into an essay contest known as "Laws of Life". It was chosen, along with 2 other sophomores and 3 other seniors at her high school, as a winner. We will find out what it won in late January.HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-30761861374813571072009-07-31T14:35:00.000-04:002009-07-31T17:51:03.345-04:0017 Again movie review<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SnNnOQCV4YI/AAAAAAAAACE/TfB2ftcsJ40/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 93px; height: 138px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SnNnOQCV4YI/AAAAAAAAACE/TfB2ftcsJ40/s320/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364745075649012098" /></a><br />Have you ever wished that you could go back to high school? Chances are that isn’t something that’s high on your list of priorities in life. But what if you were given the chance to start over? What if you could go back to your teenage years, knowing what you do now, and fix the things you think you did wrong? Well, this is the idea behind the new movie, “17 again”, being released on DVD this August 11.<br /><br /> 37 year old Mike O’Donnell’s (Matthew Perry) character is unmemorable and not particularly convincing, but fortunately this doesn’t have too much of an effect on the movie, as his older self is not highlighted throughout. He portrays a man who deeply wishes he could go back to his high school years. As a senior in high school, he is the star of his basketball team. The movie opens to a scene of 17 year old Mike (Zac Efron), shirtless and sweating, playing his most important game of the season, complete with hundreds of screaming fans, college scouts, and pressure from his coach. At halftime, he sees his beautiful girlfriend looking upset, and after much inquisition, she reluctantly informs him that she’s pregnant. In a daze, he stumbles onto the court to finish the game, and when the buzzer sounds, he sees her walking away, heartbroken. One impulsive, mature, and life-changing decision later, he finds himself running away from an unfinished game, his astounded coach, and a future in college basketball towards the girl he loves.<br /><br /> On day, Mike visits his old high school (which is now his children’s) as an adult who never went to college, is going through a divorce, doesn’t get the job promotion he wanted, and has two kids who never talk to him, now his children’s, and sees pictures of his basketball glory days and wishes he could go back, finish the game that he abandoned, go to college, and have no more regrets.<br /><br /> Of course, you must be careful what you wish for! Later that night, thanks to a jolly and surprisingly creepy janitor, Mike finds himself in a new body: his from 20 years before!<br /><br /> Together with hilarious and Sci-Fi crazed childhood friend, Ned (Thomas Lennon), newly 17 year old Mike attempts to live his high school years the way he had always dreamed. In this fabulous movie laced with nostalgia, regret, discovery, and romance, lessons are learned as Mike gets to know his children for the first time, overcomes his regrets and fears, and remembers the reason that he left that court so many years before.HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-85530482340592351442009-01-08T15:53:00.000-05:002009-01-08T16:01:45.653-05:00Post Secretpostsecret.blogspot.com<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SWZn7oT4YbI/AAAAAAAAAB8/RNYG1khBLgg/s1600-h/secret.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SWZn7oT4YbI/AAAAAAAAAB8/RNYG1khBLgg/s320/secret.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289029086523974066" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SWZn7qHmb0I/AAAAAAAAAB0/OouccCnMHxM/s1600-h/secret2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SWZn7qHmb0I/AAAAAAAAAB0/OouccCnMHxM/s320/secret2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289029087009337154" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SWZn7V2lQbI/AAAAAAAAABs/KM-tYp6B4TY/s1600-h/postsecret.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SWZn7V2lQbI/AAAAAAAAABs/KM-tYp6B4TY/s320/postsecret.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289029081569247666" /></a><br /><br />These are some postcards that people have sent in anony-mously with their deepest secret on them.HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-17093649602666214192009-01-02T14:36:00.001-05:002009-01-02T14:39:55.654-05:00Bedtime Stories: a movie review<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SV5tANdKjVI/AAAAAAAAABk/V8xe3n6HdpI/s1600-h/bedtimepic.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SV5tANdKjVI/AAAAAAAAABk/V8xe3n6HdpI/s320/bedtimepic.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286782862958955858" /></a><br /> I went to see the movie Bedtimes Stories with a few of my friends, because we had nothing else to do, and I wasn’t really expecting too much. Right from the beginning, however, I was laughing my head off. I thought Adam Sandler, who played an immature, lovable “Skeeter Bronson” was absolutely brilliant. He was hilarious, and for the most part appropriate for all ages.<br /><br /> In the movie, Skeeter is asked by his sister to watch her two kids for a few days while she is interviewed for a job. He has no experience with children, and has about the maturity of a 6 year old himself. The children have no TV, no junk food, and Skeeter has no idea what to do with them. So, he decides to just put them to bed. Or course, they demand a bedtime story, but their selection is limited. So, he decides to tell them a bedtime story he makes up himself, all based on his sad life. At the end however, the kids think it was not exciting enough, so they add their own plot twists. The next day, shockingly, the tale comes to life. People start to do the hokey pokey, it rains gumballs, and an angry dwarf kicks Skeeter in the shin. The next night, he tries to use the stories in his favor, which results in a highly random and funny sequence of events.<br /><br /> It does lack too deep a message, and although a bit shallow, I think that this film will make adults and children laugh from this rare movie that’s funny and appropriate.<br /><br />4/5 starsHannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-4037070166642404062008-12-23T22:53:00.000-05:002008-12-23T22:54:12.787-05:00Random Facts of the Week<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SVGyWiqDGSI/AAAAAAAAABc/JPj8i_8lTmY/s1600-h/moon.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 317px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SVGyWiqDGSI/AAAAAAAAABc/JPj8i_8lTmY/s320/moon.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283199938212337954" /></a><br />♥ The moon weighs 18 million tons<br /><br />♥ The shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes<br /><br />♥ The average person’s left hand does 56% of the typing.<br /><br />♥ There are more chickens than people in the world.<br /><br />♥ Porcupines float in water.HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-72377361355822565822008-12-23T22:51:00.000-05:002008-12-23T22:53:03.822-05:00Rant of the WeekOn the annoyances of not having access to the internet and trying to write a review<br /><br /> It’s kind of crazy how much we use the internet in our lives now if you think about it. I’m sitting here trying to think of how to start a review on the movie “The Quantum of Solace” for our local paper, and I’m getting absolutely nowhere. Why? Well, first of all, the movie was awful. It was action packed, but it had no plot. It was just about Bond’s shallow struggle with revenge, and he killed everyone interesting anyway. But probably the biggest problem that I’m having is not being able to go online. There’s a word I’m trying to think of, one that means “no consequences”, in reference to James Bond’s killing habits, but I can’t think of it and my phone modem is down, so there’s no thesaurus.com to look it up. I guess I could go find a hard copy of a dictionary (do we even own one?) but I would have no idea what word to look for. I need Google even to tell me one possiblility of a word, because you can’t just go typing in “no consequences” in the thesaurus box. Also, a review should probably have a reference to what other people around the world think of the movie, like online polls, box office sales, or critic’s ratings, and I don’t have access to any of that information without my internet. The movie was really bad though, so it’s not like I can’t guess what everyone else thought of it. But still…<br /><br />This has been the “Rant of the Day” with the editorHannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-25142028719081961912008-12-16T17:18:00.000-05:002008-12-16T17:20:13.848-05:00Random Facts of the Week!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SUgpj3n-ZWI/AAAAAAAAABU/f7h2efmzmlA/s1600-h/doughnuts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SUgpj3n-ZWI/AAAAAAAAABU/f7h2efmzmlA/s320/doughnuts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280516259295683938" /></a><br /><em>-There are more doughnut shots per capita in Canada than any other country</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>-Children grow faster in the springtime</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>-40,000 Americans are injured by toilets each year</em>HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-23977816986902872252008-12-12T11:57:00.000-05:002008-12-12T12:02:14.899-05:00Twilight- Movie Review<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SUKZCKiTqbI/AAAAAAAAABM/yHjMu_Cu7Hw/s1600-h/twilight.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278949975698680242" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/SUKZCKiTqbI/AAAAAAAAABM/yHjMu_Cu7Hw/s320/twilight.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Yesterday, I was offered the opportunity to begin writing movie and music reviews for our local paper. My first is on "Twilight", the object of my obsession for a long time... so here it goes:<br /><br />A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine and I went to Findlay to see “Twilight”. We had been waiting for weeks for the movie to premiere, and on the car ride there, we were giggling and clapping our hands in excitement like little kids on Christmas morning. Both of us had read the Twilight series, by Stephanie Meyer, and fallen in love with her characters, especially Edward. The plot of the story seems generic; A teenage girl falls in love with the gorgeous and seemingly unattainable boy (one Edward Cullen), who turns out to be an immortal vampire. Of course, it can’t end there. This vampire family is “vegetarian”. They hunt animals rather than people, because they don’t want to be monsters. It’s hard to resist humans though, and when one of them falls in love with the girl, it becomes more and more dangerous for them to exist.<br /><br />We arrived at the theatre, bought our popcorn and sat down in the best possible seats. We had come early, hardly able to contain our excitement, and had to sit through 45 minutes of ads, sitting on our hands, trying to contain ourselves until the actual movie started. We weren’t alone in this though. The movie had made girls all over the country (and even the world) crazy with anticipation. Eventually, the movie started, and we spent an amazing two hours finally seeing the books come to life.<br /><br />There were parts in the book that didn’t make it to the film, one of which I missed especially. There were a few extra scenes also but none that clashed with the theme and feeling of the book. There were also some details that they left out in an effort to make the movie less confusing, which I guess makes sense, although it’s slightly frustrating for fans of the books. However, all of the pivotal scenes were kept, which is good, and more than many books-made-into-movies can claim. As a big fan of the books before I saw the movie, I can honestly say that I approve. It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty close.<br /><br />Of course, not everyone has time to read a 498 page book, especially one aimed at teenagers (Although, there’s an internet movement going on now called, “Twilight Moms” for 30+ year olds who love the series). So, it’s important to know how the movie would be to a person who had never obsessed over the books. I talked to some of my friends, and I couldn’t find one that didn’t like it. (Well maybe one, but he hadn’t seen it, so it wasn’t exactly fair) My grandparents even enjoyed seeing it! I think the reason that the books are so appealing is that, even though it’s considered “fantasy”, it was completely relatable. There’s a first love which is dangerous and intense, and at the same time, very sweet and innocent, but most of all, completely forbidden. The onscreen chemistry was shockingly real and the acting was believable. Maybe the best part of this movie is the family of vampires. You’ll fall in love with them. Each character is surprisingly well developed and, of course, inhumanly beautiful, with golden eyes and pale skin.<br /><br />And, you can’t have a movie without a climax, of course. You’ll get your fix of action and suspense from the flick when there’s a conflict with another vampire coven… one that isn’t “vegetarian”. There are some intense parts, and one that is slightly disturbing, but nothing too bad. Also, there is one scene when the leads kiss, but not too much more. Don’t take anyone too young (it’s rated PG-13), but it’s appropriate for most people.<br /><br />So, is it worth paying nine or ten bucks and driving a half hour to the nearest big movie theatre to see? That depends. If you’re ready for a bit of cheesiness, a couple tears, and some predictability, then definitely! But there are also more important issues that are underlying the story: Moral and ethical dilemmas. If you were made into a vampire, a monster, would you have the strength to resist everything that you were made to be and do? Is it worth fighting against yourself to get back some of your humanity? If you can live forever, what do you live for? I do think that it’s a movie that you should see eventually, and while it was made for the big screen, I’m sure seeing it on DVD will be almost as good. In fact, when it comes out in the spring of next year, I’ll be first in line to get it!</div>HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-68075729771071179822008-12-08T17:22:00.000-05:002008-12-08T17:29:35.392-05:00Random Facts of the Week!<div align="center">And now we have our random facts of the week... </div><div align="center">________________________________________<br /></div><div align="center"><strong>The microwave was invented when a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>***</strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Pigs can run a mile in 7.5 minutes</strong></div><div align="center">My sister Sara commented on this; "That's better than I can do!"</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">_______________________________________</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">So there you have it!</div>HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-48131941587192669542008-12-03T18:16:00.000-05:002008-12-03T18:24:44.974-05:00So, there's this photo editing site: picnik.com<br />And I'm in LOVE with it! :) Today I had some fun with New York City.<br /><br />Here's the original picture I got from Google Images-<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275707181259935090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/STcTur35zXI/AAAAAAAAAAk/TeQ1LFED-mg/s320/newyork.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Sunrise on the city that never sleeps...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275707179146947234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/STcTukAIKqI/AAAAAAAAAAs/sBTvASm8hGc/s320/newyorksunrise.jpg" border="0" /><br />Wish you were here!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/STcTvNk6jYI/AAAAAAAAABE/MZsdanwyTwE/s1600-h/newyorkpolaroid.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275707190307097986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/STcTvNk6jYI/AAAAAAAAABE/MZsdanwyTwE/s320/newyorkpolaroid.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is New York City.... in 1961<br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/STcTu9CtZJI/AAAAAAAAAA0/WXegAM28Ryk/s1600-h/newyorkold.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275707185868661906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/STcTu9CtZJI/AAAAAAAAAA0/WXegAM28Ryk/s320/newyorkold.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />And here we have the sci-fi city...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275707187307112738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/STcTvCZqaSI/AAAAAAAAAA8/Uala9kxnKSk/s320/newyorkend.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div> There's so much that you can do, and it's really easy. Anyone can use it! Plus, it's free!<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-7436353267365313032008-12-02T21:05:00.000-05:002008-12-03T11:47:33.194-05:00Bogus to Bubbly<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/STXpb6zNP7I/AAAAAAAAAAU/kfu3eC8xIJM/s1600-h/bogus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275379204384178098" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 228px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/STXpb6zNP7I/AAAAAAAAAAU/kfu3eC8xIJM/s320/bogus.jpg" border="0" /></a> Bogus to Bubbly<br />by Scott Westerfeld<br />reviewed by Hannah<br /><br />I have been waiting for this book to come out for years! My friend Kallen gave it to me for my birthday last week, and I read it during that day at school. (I'm not exactly sure what the teachers taught that day) Scott Westerfeld wrote the "Uglies" series, which, despite the name, is actually quite good. It had to do with ethical and moral issues in a "Utopian" community. It's a good series, because it really makes you think! It's sci-fi, but it actually has a plot and characters with real feelings, which I have found many sci-fi books lack.<br /><br />This is a guide book, subtitled, "An insider's guide to the world of Uglies". Inside is information about the world which Westerfeld has created. Some sections include the science of beauty, a guide of the gadgets and technology mentioned, and the beginning of one of the books in a series from a different character's perspective To someone who only read the series once, this is an interesting read. I, however, have read the entire series 3 times (I'm sorry-- they're my favorite. haha) and so I knew most of the content already.<br /><br />I did learn some new and quite random facts, which was cool; The phrase "I love you" is said exactly twice total. Also, the unit one character uses to measure beauty, milli-helens, originates from Helen of Troy, whose beauty was said to launch 1000 ships.<br /><br />I would definitely get this is you see it, but only if you first read the 4 books in the series: "Uglies", "Pretties", "Specials", and "Extras". Those books, along with this guide, will give you an exciting and disturbing look in the direction our world is headed and an absorbing conspiracy plot of our planet 200 years in the future.<br /><br />All we need now is a movie!<br /><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275384370251525922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 89px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uWdSG_j8tHw/STXuInJ9byI/AAAAAAAAAAc/ji0iSjSRkVg/s320/series.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p></p>HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-85251349354857343742008-12-02T19:14:00.000-05:002008-12-07T13:22:39.896-05:00Untitled- by KerryWe have our first submission to "Bubbles". It's a short "flash fiction" story by Kerry, a senior in high school. Enjoy! :)<br /><br />"Untitled"<br />(c) Kerry / PsychoticxFreak<br /><a href="http://www.webook.com/project/FlashMicro-Fiction">http://www.webook.com/project/FlashMicro-Fiction</a><br />714 words, 21 November 2008<br /><br />“My name is Carter Anderson. I am the son of the people you murdered and I will hate you forever.”<br />One day I’m going to say that to the man who ruthlessly murdered my parents 10 years ago. I will get my revenge someday, Ponce Westley. Someday soon.<br />For now, though, it’s time to celebrate.<br />“Happy Birthday, Carter!” my family, friends, and fellow community members yell. I smile and blow out the candles. Kind of dorky, I’ll admit, but that’s how we do things here.<br />Aunt Millie and Uncle Jesse—who were my legal guardians until I turned 18 today—have invited everybody in the community for a barbeque at the village park. There must be a hundred people here, a fact that bothers me because I don’t like large crowds. It’s fantastic that so many people showed up, of course, but I like my alone time too.<br />So I head for the woods. Much of the park consists of a forest with various hiking trails going through it. They all eventually lead to (and around, if you choose to go further) a large manmade lake. I head up the main trail.<br />I’ve been hiking for about 10 minutes when I come across another hiker. He’s about Uncle Jesse’s age and is wearing very old, beat up clothes. I don’t know him, but that’s not much of a surprise. Even in a town as small as Shannon I am constantly running into people I’ve never met.<br />We strike up a conversation. He’s not from the area, but he’s here for the weekend to visit a friend. He doesn’t tell much about himself other than that, but he seems interested in my life. I tell him about my friends and my family. When he finds out that I’m living with my aunt and uncle, he asks where my parents are.<br />“They were murdered when I was eight by some crazy idiot.” I say, trying to sound nonchalant.<br />“I’m very sorry to hear that.” he says. He sounds like he really means it, too.<br />“I don’t like to talk about it.”<br />“Then let’s talk about something else. What year are you in school?”<br />Our conversation continues until we reach the lake. It’s hot out and I would like to go for a swim. My new friend says he wants to keep walking, so we part. I take my shirt off and dive into the murky water.<br />The water envelops my body like a cool blanket. I move with confidence despite the fact that it’s hard to see more than two feet in front of my face. My friends and I swim here often and nothing’s ever given us any trouble.<br />Then, suddenly, I see a huge boulder in front of me. I’m heading straight for it at top speed. Too late to turn around…<br /><br />When I come to, I’m lying on the grass soaking wet. My new friend is sitting next to me, his clothes drenched.<br />“Are you okay?” he asks.<br />“Yeah, I guess so…” I feel a little dizzy when I try to sit up. He gently pushes me back down.<br />“Don’t get up.” he says. “You need to rest.”<br />I gladly obey his orders and remain on my back. My rescuer is silent as I slowly recover.<br />When I finally feel well enough to stand up, I head back down the trail. My new friend follows me, catching me when I stumble. By the time we get back to the park he’s as good as carrying me.<br />My family greets me, my aunt in hysterics. “We didn’t know where you’d gone! Everyone is out looking for you. JESSE! We found him!” She then notices the good-sized lump on my head where I hit the rock. “What happened?”<br />I explain everything as my friend holds me up.<br />“…and he saved me.” I finished.<br />“Thank you so much for rescuing Carter!” Then my aunt looks puzzled. “But who are you? I think I’ve seen you before.”<br />“I am Ponce Westley.” Seeing my shocked face, he adds, “Yes, Carter, I am the ‘crazy idiot’ who killed your parents.”<br />I can think of nothing to say but, “My name is Carter Anderson. I am the boy whose life you saved and I will be grateful to you forever.”<br /><br /><strong>**editor's note- we had a question about this story from a reader, and I'd just like to clarify that this story is "flash-fiction" It was posted on a website that's subtitle was "Stories as short as my attention span", so, that's the reason it's such a quick read**</strong>HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922823251543477700.post-63280021828954124102008-12-01T21:40:00.000-05:002008-12-01T21:41:35.619-05:00The first post!<span style="font-family:arial;"> Ever since I was in 5th grade, I've had an interest in journalism. I first published a work called "The Hannah News" -- I know, creative! Anyway, It had articles about people in my family who believed in aliens, poems that my little cousins had written, a story about extremely good intuition on the part of a family member. Nothing special, but definately a good start as a 10 year old. I made about 4 or 5 issues and even started charging for a subscription to my mini- newspaper/magazine! Eventually I ran out of things to write about, because quite honestly I was to lazy to actually do any real research, and too young to understand most of the interesting things happening around me anyway. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /> Now, as a high school student, I'm taking the first step in making "The Hannah News" come back to life. My new magazine/newspaper will most likely to called "Bubbles", the reason for which I will discuss soon. I know that my writing won't be perfect, and to be realistic, it isn't likely that I will keep it up for a long time, but I'm going to try and write articles about whatever interests me at the time, normally about things like books, movies, technology, and my personal opinion on what's happening in the world. I'll probably sound naive to some, but I'm hoping that this blog will help me become a better writer, and help me be more comprehending about, well, everything.<br /><br /> And, the reason I named it "Bubbles" is that my favorite author, Scott Westerfeld, just published a guide book on my favorite series, Uglies, called "Bogus to Bubbly". His blog is great for me to read! He posts a lot, and always about things that I find relevant, so "Bubbles" seemed appropriate.<br /><br /> Keep reading everyone, I'll post more as soon as I can!</span><br /></span>HannahBrookeXDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15412447464971601205noreply@blogger.com2