Attempted assasination on President Reagan

What provokes planed assassinations on US Presidents? Is it a disagreement with his/her platform? Or is it simply to take out the one in power? That we don't know. So far, 4 United States Presidents have been assassinated, and one has survived an attempt.

Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President), James A. Garfield (the 20th President), William McKinley (the 25th President) and John F. Kennedy (the 35th President), have all been assassinated in office, while Ronald Reagan came very close to being among them. 

On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was open fired on by John Hinckley Jr. while exiting the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. A total of six shots were fired, one of them hitting President Reagan just below his left arm coming with in inches of his heart. Luckily, Reagan survived the attempt and on April 11 was released from the hospital to return to his Presidential duties. Reagan bounced back from this incident, leading our country into some of the best years it has seen. 

Click here to link to article

Krista Ramsey

Krista- The very poor case for arming teachers

• http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/columnists/krista-ramsey/2014/02/22/krista-the-very-poor-case-for-arming-teachers/5744065/

In this entry, Krista discusses the controversial issue of arming school teachers for protection against school shootings. This however brings upon many new risks and responsibilities, causing many citizens to go against the proposal. 

A powerful and well constructed line from her column is, "But sending weapons into schools – the vast majority of which have not been and will not be the scene of violence – is the most unwise of solutions." This line takes a clear stand on the issue, persuading the audience of her own beliefs. She makes her point by first addressing her opposing side, then by backing it up with information to support her claim, and lastly by taking a side. By writing her sentence in the opposite order of how we would normally state a claim. She is able to draw readers in and catch there attention, without immediately turning them away to not read on by bluntly stating her opinion at the beginning. Hyphens are used in this sentence to separate her closely related thoughts. 

Ramsey's writing style is professional and includes voice, while incorporating elevated diction and syntax.  She uses varied sent ace structure, placing telegraphic sentences following medium ones. This draws the readers attention to certain lines and topics of importance, as well as keeps the readers interested. Several rhetorical questions are found in this column and help to support her argument. "Does an armed teacher leave his class to respond elsewhere? Will she make the correct split-second call in a situation that would be daunting to the most experienced police officer?" Voice in this piece is presented as interruptions, surrounded by hyphens. "You are clearly about to be lobbied – probably heavily – to vote to give the Protecting Our Students and Teachers plan a six-month trial." 

Questions to ask Ramsey:

1) Do you believe laws will be passed forcing school teachers to be armed? 

2) What topics that you do column writings on are you most interested in? 

3) When writing columns, do you often incorporate your opinions on the topic as you did in this column? 

Important lines

Safe Haven

The most memorable of important line from the pages I have read over the last couple of days was " The last time he'd seen that, he reflected, was when Carly had been alive." This is important because one of the main characters in the novel had just been introduced, Alex. Alex owned the only shop around town where you could find everything, and Katie would be making trips there requently. Alex has a young daughter named Kristen, and a son named Josh. We also found out in that line that he his wife, Carly, has passed away. This line stood out to me becuase it begins the development of Alex and Katie's relationship. It shows that Katie stood out to him, and the way she was with his children reminded him of his wife. For just meeting Katie, he seems to see something in her that he has been unable to find since the passing of Carly. Kristen was immediatly attatched to Katie, and loved talking and being around her. She looked up to Katie, and might end up being the daughter Katie never had.

Katie, Alex, Josh, and Kristen

Setting and Imagery of Safe Haven

Safe Haven by: Nicholas Sparks

Southport, North Carolina

Safe Haven takes place in Southport, North Carolina. Southport is a small costal town on the banks of the Cape Fear River. Its stunning views, breezy air, and small town feel make Southport a perfect get-away. It is the perfect place for the setting of this book as Katie tries to escape from her difficult past and start a new life in a place she can call her "safe haven". The towns calm and welcoming feel contrasts with the dark and fearful life she previously experienced.

 "It was late April, the temperature hovering just around perfect, and blue skies stretched to the horizon. Beyond her, the intercostal was calm despite the breeze and seemed to mirror the color of the sky. A dozen seagulls perched on the railing, waiting to dark beneath the tables if someone dropped a scrap of food."

The imagery found in the book paints a vivid picture of what the town of Southport is like, and makes the reader feel as if they have been there themselves. Through the descriptions you are not only able to envision the scenic environment of the town, but feel the serenity.

The way Southport is described reminds me of a vacation spot in Florida that I have been going to ever since I was young. Palm Beach is a small privet island off Florida separated by the intercostal waterway. secluded from all the tourist, it has the residential feel that Southport is described as having. It has always been our getaway, like Southport is now Katie's.

Summary book/ Romeo and Juliet

The Lucky One:

Beth finally is beginning to open up to Logan and become comfortable spending time with him outside of his job. She is letting all of her fears go and giving him a chance. Nana knew all along the interest Beth secretly had for Logan and pleased to see Beth no longer living in denial of it. Beth is also not worrying so much about Ben and being with other men because she is realizing how Logan just in these few short months he has been around has been more of a father figure to Ben than he has ever had in his life. Even though Ben still sees his father, Clayton, Beth knows he is not the the role model that Ben needs. Beth and Logan have gone out together on a few dates now and are growing very close to one another. Clayton has whitened them together and his rage is growing. He will do anything to make sure he has Beth exactly where he wants her.

Romeo and Juliet:

The language used in Shakespeare's writing has concerned me ever since we began this unit. However, as we go through each of the scenes and break apart what is happening, it helps me to understand the text. I am beginning to get better at translating what is being said in the script into modern day terms, but still struggle with it at times.

I am enjoying reading Romeo and Juliet because it is such a well known story that I have heard a lot about, but never really knew what happened in it. Some of the famous quotes from the script I am recognizing as we read through it. For example during the balcony scene, Juliet lines to Romeo asking why he must be a Montague, I have heard many times before, but had no idea what they meant. It is interesting for me to finally get to read this story that is so heavily referred to in society today. I also enjoy being able to compare the language that they used to talk about things in back then, with how we talk today. Reading a modern day book is so much different than reading Shakespeare's work.

Nicholas Sparks

Nicholas Sparks

About the Author: 

With 89 million copies in print worldwide, 50 million copies in the United States along, all in over 50 languages, Nicholas Sparks is one of today's most popular authors. He has published to date eighteen novels all of which made New York Time Bestsellers list. Eight of his romantic-fiction novels have made into movies. 

Sparks attended Notre Dame University and wrote his first never published book, The Passing, in 1985 while still in school. After graduating he began selling pharmaceuticals and was transferred to Washington, D.C. in 1993. It was there he wrote the novel The Notebook. Only two years following that he was discovered by a lady named Theresa Park, who offered to represent him. In October of 1996 The Notebook was published and made the New York Times Bestsellers list with in only one week of release. He went on to publish many more books in the years following and made a huge impact on the literary world. 

Published Works: 

• The Notebook (October 1996)
• Message in a Bottle (April 1998)
• A Walk to Remember (October 1999)
• The Rescue (September 2000)
• A Bend in the Road (September 2001)
• Nights in Rodanthe (September 2002)
• The Guardian (April 2003)
• The Wedding (September 2003)
• Three Weeks with My Brother (April 2004) 
• True Believer (April 2005)
• At First Sight (October 2005)
• Dear John (October 2006)
• The Choice (September 2007)
• The Lucky One (September 2008)
• The Last Song (September 2009)
• Safe Haven (September 2010)
• The Best of Me (October 2011)
• The Longest Ride (September 2013)

Family Life: 

Nicholas Sparks currently lives in a quite life in North Carolina with his wife Catherine and family. He and his wife started the Nicholas Sparks Organization, a non-profit program which works to improve cultural and international understanding through world wide education for children of all ages. He also contributes to many charities including the MFA. 

Beauty Queens by: Libba Bray

Beauty Queens 

Review on Beauty Queens

In chapter one, the girls experience a disastrous plane crash involving many casualties.  Taylor, Miss Texas, immediately takes charge of the situation, rounding up all the other Pageant girls in sight.  She takes action by proposing an idea to break off into two groups.  One group is called The Sparkle Ponies, whose job is to tend to the wounded.  The other group is called The Lost Girls, whose job is to search for other survivors.  They go on there separate ways trying to help the situation as much as possible.  This book has a main theme of you never know what challenges life may face you with each day and you have to learn to roll with the punches.  Each and every day is a blessing and you cannot take anything for granted.  You never know what could be your last day and many of the girls aboard the plane found out.  None of them probably had the slightest bit of concern when they boarded the plane.  It never crossed one of there minds that it could be there last day.  Unfortunately, that's the uncertainty of life.  Nothing is ever a definite and anything could go wrong at anytime.  This was brought to many of the girls attention as they experienced there fellow Teen Dreamers, their friends, pass away before their eyes.  The theme of making the best of every situation and staying positive also comes into play when they are stranded on this island with no means of communication.  Many trembled in fear, but others rose to the occasion.  None of the girls had ever had to fend for themselves before, let alone in the wilderness on an unknown island.    Libba Bray takes you on an adventure along side the Teen Dreamers as they overcome their fears, bond with one another, and grow as a person.  Over the course of the book each of the remaining Teen Dreamers develops as a person.  They  have a greater appreciation for life and others with experiencing so many others around them die and realize how easily it could have been them.  They all put their differences aside and learn to work as a whole.  Lastly, they learn survival skills as they have to preserve to stay alive.