Medical researchers, cosmetic companies, and others often perform experiments on animals. Many people feel that experimentation on animals is wrong and should be stopped immediately because animals do feel pain, and there are other alternatives. How do you feel? State your position and explain your reasons.
I think that experiments done on animals is a touchy subject. If there are other alternatives besides animals that would be great. On the other hand something not alive may not react the same way as people. I know that animals don't react exactly the same as people but similar. And we definitely wouldn't want to experiment of people or babies. So for the present I think animals are the only sensible things to do experiments on.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Friday, October 17, 2014
Writing Prompt #2
I am really late! It's almost time for #3. Oh, well.
Today's writing prompt is: According to some people, elderly drivers should be required to reapply for their driving licenses because with age comes diminished vision, hearing, and reaction time. How do you feel about this issue? Explain what you think should be done and why.
Some people say elderly drivers should have to reapply for their drivers license and I agree. It is not that I don't like elderly people; I love elderly people! It's that as people get older they may have health problems that can cause them to not drive properly. But we do need to make sure we have easy ways for our elderly people to get around if they can't get their license. Maybe even for free. People can volunteer to drive elderly people from place to place. Although the volunteers do need to have some kind of license or permit to be allowed. We don't want just anyone doing it.
*Feel free to post a comment with your story or essay.
Today's writing prompt is: According to some people, elderly drivers should be required to reapply for their driving licenses because with age comes diminished vision, hearing, and reaction time. How do you feel about this issue? Explain what you think should be done and why.
Some people say elderly drivers should have to reapply for their drivers license and I agree. It is not that I don't like elderly people; I love elderly people! It's that as people get older they may have health problems that can cause them to not drive properly. But we do need to make sure we have easy ways for our elderly people to get around if they can't get their license. Maybe even for free. People can volunteer to drive elderly people from place to place. Although the volunteers do need to have some kind of license or permit to be allowed. We don't want just anyone doing it.
*Feel free to post a comment with your story or essay.
Randon 5 ~ October 17
1. I got a really interesting book yesterday, The Power of a Praying Teen by Stormie Omartian. I've only read the first part but it's very good.
2. I am receiving two books from PaperBack Swap. A Young Womans Walk With God and I forget the other one. It's by Bryan Davis.... of course.
3. We are going fishing today. I love fishing. How about you?
4. Bobo is going to ride in the van for the first time. We have to brush him out because he is shedding like crazy. I don't think he's going to like the new van. He likes being up front and there's no room for him. He has to go in the back.
5. We finished the Return of the King. I think this was the fifth time we've watched The Lord of the Rings in a year and a half. We've seen the Hobbit that many times in six months. (I think we are really big fans!) I like the movies better than the books. The books are harder to follow. What do you think?
Check out the host of Random 5 at The Pebble Pond (BTW, she's my mom!)
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
My Finished Essay
Starlighter
Are you looking for a good book for your teen? Or are you a teen looking for an awesome book? Then stop looking. You found one. Starlighter by Bryan Davis is a must read for everyone!
Koren is a slave to dragons. To her humans living in freedom seem like a fairy tale. But when the dark prince shows Koren a boy from the human world she begins to think the tales might be true. A slave free world may really exist! But can she ever get there?
At the same time, Jason lives in a world where people disappear and never come back. Some say they were eaten by bears, others say dragons kidnapped them and took them to their world to become slaves. When Jason comes face to face with the truth, he must take the lead, slay the dragons, and rescue the Lost Ones.
Starlighter is told in a third person’s point of view. It starts off with Jason and Elyssa's story:
Then it tells Koren's story:
I believe that the story would be confusing if it wasn't in the third person. This way it allows you to see everything that is going on, since you follow multiple characters. If it only followed one character there would be a lot of holes in the plot.
Starlighter is very interesting. One way Davis made it interesting is creating cliffhangers that make you want to turn the page over and over:
This isn't a great cliffhanger. However, it was the only example that you don't have to know the surrounding details to understand what's happening. I'm not exactly sure what a photo gun is. I do know one thing though. It doesn't work when it's wet, but when it does work, it will kill you.
Davis also does a good job at describing the setting. I can completely see where the event is taking place when I am reading the story. It is sometimes hard to follow a story when you can't picture where the characters are.
It's fun to read a book with a good setting out loud, then see everyone's opinion on what it looks like.
Bryan Davis is also the author of Dragons in our Midst, Oracles or Fire, Children of the Bard, Dragons of Starlight, Tales of Starlight, and the Echoes from the Edge series. After working as a computer professional for twenty years, he pursued his dream of becoming a full-time author. Davis has been married to his wife Susie for 30 years, and they have seven children. They make their home in western Tennessee with three of their children. Their first two sons live in Florida, their eldest daughter lives in India with her husband and two children, and their youngest son is going to college at the University of Memphis. Davis is a graduate of Avon Park High School (Avon Park, Florida) and the University of Florida.
He has received many awards, including:
During an online interview Davis says, “My goal is to write captivating stories that encourage readers to embrace faith, courage, and love so that they will follow God’s light and show sacrificial love to Him and others.” Based on what his readers have told him he believes he has reached that goal.
When asked how he got the idea for Starlighter he replied, “My daughter Amanda gave me the idea. We were brainstorming to come up with new ideas, and she gave me the foundation for Starlighter. I expanded on it quite a bit, but the framework was hers.” He goes on to say, “I wrote Starlighter in about four months, including editing.”
In response to questions about Starlighter's cliffhanger ending, Davis countered that the ending wasn't really a cliffhanger. "The major part of the story was over, and the main characters were out of danger. Certainly there were many unsolved mysteries, but it’s important to leave some issues unsolved so readers will want to go on to the next book in the series." Finally, Davis' characters are not based on real people in his life: "I sometimes borrow certain characteristics from people I know, but no character matches any real individual to any extent."
I read this book for hours at a time. Every spare moment, I read it in the car, I read it while I was doing my chores, and I read it when I was supposed to be sleeping. I must admit, there were quite a few times that I fell asleep while I was reading. I don't have any negative thing to say about this book. It is safe. There is no objectionable language. Sin is shown as wrong not “okay.” It isn't filled with junk like most teen books. It may be scary to young children, though. There are battle scenes, near death experiences, etc. They aren't overpowering, but just enough to keep the book interesting.
I definitely give this book a 6 star rating for being interesting and clean. This is going on my shelf for sure! So if you are looking for a wonderful book to read that has values but is still interesting, read Starlighter, part of the Dragons of Starlight series, by Bryan Davis.
References:
Davis,
Bryan. Starlighter.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010
Davis, Bryan, “Bryan Davis.” Facebook. (January 12, 2009): Bryan Davis. September 18, 2014.
https://www.facebook.com/BryanDavis.Fans/timeline
Davis, Bryan. Full time Author. September 22, 2014
Are you looking for a good book for your teen? Or are you a teen looking for an awesome book? Then stop looking. You found one. Starlighter by Bryan Davis is a must read for everyone!
Koren is a slave to dragons. To her humans living in freedom seem like a fairy tale. But when the dark prince shows Koren a boy from the human world she begins to think the tales might be true. A slave free world may really exist! But can she ever get there?
At the same time, Jason lives in a world where people disappear and never come back. Some say they were eaten by bears, others say dragons kidnapped them and took them to their world to become slaves. When Jason comes face to face with the truth, he must take the lead, slay the dragons, and rescue the Lost Ones.
Starlighter is told in a third person’s point of view. It starts off with Jason and Elyssa's story:
Tibalt
tapped the sign with his ax handle. “This is as far as my old
noggin remembers clearly. The last time I went to the gateway, I was
just a little tyke, and the dungeon spiders spun cobwebs in my brain
over the years. I could try to lead us, but we wouldn't want to fall
into any bottomless pits.”
“Bottomless
pits?” Elyssa repeated. “That's not possible.”
“Is
that so, little lady?” Tibalt raised a finger. “My own pappy told
me about them, and he never told a lie in his life.”
Elyssa
winked at Jason before shifting back to Tibalt. “Can you tell me
who fell into one of these bottomless pits and then came back to
report that there was no bottom?”
Then it tells Koren's story:
While
Zena was speaking, a soft voice sounded. “Are you all right?”
Koren
glanced at Arxad. It couldn't have been his voice. The call was too
soft, too weak. And it couldn't have been Zena's. She was talking
already. Koren rose to her tiptoes and looked behind the egg. No one
was there – only an empty goat-hair bag with a long strap lay near
the egg.
“Shall
I take her to the Zodiac now?” Arxad asked.
While
staring at Koren, Zena nodded. “If she is a Starlighter, the sooner
she begins her duties, the better.”
“And
if she is not?”
A
blend of a frown and a smile twisted Zena's face. “Then terminate
her. She knows too much.”
I believe that the story would be confusing if it wasn't in the third person. This way it allows you to see everything that is going on, since you follow multiple characters. If it only followed one character there would be a lot of holes in the plot.
Starlighter is very interesting. One way Davis made it interesting is creating cliffhangers that make you want to turn the page over and over:
In
the midst of a series of lighting flashes, the figure finally came
into view. It was Randall, his cloak drenched and dripping and his
scowl displaying a determination he had never shown before.
“You’re
alone,” Jason said as he raised his sword, fighting to keep the
blade steady. “You know you can't beat me.”
Stopping
out of reach, Randall pulled a photo gun from underneath his cloak
and aimed it at Jason's face. “Drop your sword.”
This isn't a great cliffhanger. However, it was the only example that you don't have to know the surrounding details to understand what's happening. I'm not exactly sure what a photo gun is. I do know one thing though. It doesn't work when it's wet, but when it does work, it will kill you.
Davis also does a good job at describing the setting. I can completely see where the event is taking place when I am reading the story. It is sometimes hard to follow a story when you can't picture where the characters are.
As
he swiped gravelly dirt from his pants, he scanned the chamber. A
gray ceiling loomed overhead with a few stalactites just out of
reach, each one dripping cloudy water at the rate of a slow
heartbeat. Three brackets hung on a side wall, two holding antique
swords and scabbards and the other empty.
Behind
him, the river flowed swiftly past a sheer rock wall. Dim radiance
emanated from somewhere, but there seemed to be no hole to the
outside world.
He
looked at the river – dark and deep with islands of white foam
speeding by.
It's fun to read a book with a good setting out loud, then see everyone's opinion on what it looks like.
Bryan Davis is also the author of Dragons in our Midst, Oracles or Fire, Children of the Bard, Dragons of Starlight, Tales of Starlight, and the Echoes from the Edge series. After working as a computer professional for twenty years, he pursued his dream of becoming a full-time author. Davis has been married to his wife Susie for 30 years, and they have seven children. They make their home in western Tennessee with three of their children. Their first two sons live in Florida, their eldest daughter lives in India with her husband and two children, and their youngest son is going to college at the University of Memphis. Davis is a graduate of Avon Park High School (Avon Park, Florida) and the University of Florida.
He has received many awards, including:
- 2012 Family Fiction Readers Choice: #1 Speculative Fiction Author, #1 Young Adult Author, #2 Overall Author, #1 Novel (Song of the Ovulum), #1 Series (Children of the Bard).
- 2012
Darrel Award for best Young Adult Novel (Starlighter)
- 2010
Clive Staples Award
- 2010
Darrell Awards Hall of Fame
During an online interview Davis says, “My goal is to write captivating stories that encourage readers to embrace faith, courage, and love so that they will follow God’s light and show sacrificial love to Him and others.” Based on what his readers have told him he believes he has reached that goal.
When asked how he got the idea for Starlighter he replied, “My daughter Amanda gave me the idea. We were brainstorming to come up with new ideas, and she gave me the foundation for Starlighter. I expanded on it quite a bit, but the framework was hers.” He goes on to say, “I wrote Starlighter in about four months, including editing.”
In response to questions about Starlighter's cliffhanger ending, Davis countered that the ending wasn't really a cliffhanger. "The major part of the story was over, and the main characters were out of danger. Certainly there were many unsolved mysteries, but it’s important to leave some issues unsolved so readers will want to go on to the next book in the series." Finally, Davis' characters are not based on real people in his life: "I sometimes borrow certain characteristics from people I know, but no character matches any real individual to any extent."
I read this book for hours at a time. Every spare moment, I read it in the car, I read it while I was doing my chores, and I read it when I was supposed to be sleeping. I must admit, there were quite a few times that I fell asleep while I was reading. I don't have any negative thing to say about this book. It is safe. There is no objectionable language. Sin is shown as wrong not “okay.” It isn't filled with junk like most teen books. It may be scary to young children, though. There are battle scenes, near death experiences, etc. They aren't overpowering, but just enough to keep the book interesting.
I definitely give this book a 6 star rating for being interesting and clean. This is going on my shelf for sure! So if you are looking for a wonderful book to read that has values but is still interesting, read Starlighter, part of the Dragons of Starlight series, by Bryan Davis.
References:
Davis, Bryan, “Bryan Davis.” Facebook. (January 12, 2009): Bryan Davis. September 18, 2014.
https://www.facebook.com/BryanDavis.Fans/timeline
Davis, Bryan. Full time Author. September 22, 2014
Friday, October 10, 2014
Random 5 ~ October 10
I'm finally doing Random 5 on Friday on a Friday! Yay! Here we go...
1. I'm sick. We've had a bug going around and I thought I already got it, I was wrong. I'm a little better today. Yesterday I felt horrible. My throat hurt, it felt swollen and dry. I had a headache and I haven't stopped blowing my nose. I hate being sick.
2. I finished an online writing class yesterday. I even got live feedback from a writing teacher! That was great. It was really fun to do. I had to write a Textual Analysis. I will post the finished essay in another post. By the way, my writing teacher gave me an A+!
3. My Aunt is getting married! The bridal shower is tomorrow. I love bridal showers. And the guy she is marrying is really cool. They are so cute together!
4. I spent 4 hours at the mall with Mom. We had to get me an outfit to wear to the bridal shower. It's not what I had pictured, but it's really cute.
5. My brother is CRAZY! We watched a movie called Escape From Planet Earth. Never watching it again! One of the aliens name is Scorch. Whenever he is in a fight or trying to escape from humans he says, "Scorch me baby!" Carter now says it ALL. THE. TIME.. I'll tell him to stop picking on me. His reply, "Scorch me baby!" I ask him to do his chores. "Scorch me baby!" Oh well, what do you expect from a boy. Just kidding. Kinda.....
1. I'm sick. We've had a bug going around and I thought I already got it, I was wrong. I'm a little better today. Yesterday I felt horrible. My throat hurt, it felt swollen and dry. I had a headache and I haven't stopped blowing my nose. I hate being sick.
2. I finished an online writing class yesterday. I even got live feedback from a writing teacher! That was great. It was really fun to do. I had to write a Textual Analysis. I will post the finished essay in another post. By the way, my writing teacher gave me an A+!
3. My Aunt is getting married! The bridal shower is tomorrow. I love bridal showers. And the guy she is marrying is really cool. They are so cute together!
4. I spent 4 hours at the mall with Mom. We had to get me an outfit to wear to the bridal shower. It's not what I had pictured, but it's really cute.
5. My brother is CRAZY! We watched a movie called Escape From Planet Earth. Never watching it again! One of the aliens name is Scorch. Whenever he is in a fight or trying to escape from humans he says, "Scorch me baby!" Carter now says it ALL. THE. TIME.. I'll tell him to stop picking on me. His reply, "Scorch me baby!" I ask him to do his chores. "Scorch me baby!" Oh well, what do you expect from a boy. Just kidding. Kinda.....
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Writing Prompt #1
I don't blog much. I'm sure you noticed that. I want to blog more but I'm not sure what to blog about. So I came up with an idea. I found a list of 501 writing prompts. I will post one a week along with my essay or story. Anyone who wants to join me can comment with a link to your blog or if you don't have a blog just write your story or essay in the comments. But keep it reasonably short.
Today's prompt is: Many
people believe that television violence has a negative effect
on
society because it promotes violence. Do you agree or disagree?
There isn't a right or wrong answer to this. Just write your opinion. Here's my story:
Does violent television promote
violence? Should we stop making violent movies? Should we stop
watching them? That is the question.
This is a tricky one. Yes, violent
movies may give some people the feeling that violence is okay. Do I
believe violence is okay? It depends. Sometimes things have to get
violent. Is a fight violent? Yes. Is fighting okay? No. Is fighting
sometimes necessary? Yes it it. If a woman and child are being
attacked, should a man stand by because he doesn't believe in
violence or should he protect the woman and child. Protect them of
course.
On the other hand people do get
unnecessarily violent. Fighting for no reason, abusing women and
children, etc.. Violence isn't a pretty thing.
To balance the two we need to be
careful. We don't need to watch violent movies all the time. An
occasional movie that contains violence is fine. Also, a movie may
contain violence but it may not show it as and okay thing. The bad
guys are violent. And they are punished for that. We just have to use
discretion and not over do it.
Well, what did you think?
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Random 5 ~ October 3
Friday again? Really? Okay, it's really Sunday. Whatever. Here's my Random 5.
1. I finished Warrior. Now I'm going back to Oracles of Fire. It's great! I only have a week to read it though. I'm not sure if I can do that. I'll try though.
2. I found this awesome website. PaperbackSwap. It's AMAZING! It's just what the title says. You trade books. I've already "sold" 5 books. So when the "buyers" get the book I will get one credit. I can use that credit to "buy" any book on the website. There are millions of people on it. So there's every book you could think of!
3. Morgan was sick a few days ago. No fever, just a really bad sore throat, sleepy, just sorta blah. Now I don't feel good!
4. Since Morgan started horseback riding lessons we have been begging Mom to come up with $200 a month so we can board a horse. I am so jealous.
5. We watched The Two Towers last night. My favorite scene in Lord of the Rings is when Gimli is hopping up trying to see what is happening during a battle and Legolas says, "Shall I describe it to you?" Then looks at Gimli and smirks, "Or would you like me to find you a box?" It may not sound funny, but if you've seen it, you know it is.
Well, there it is. I think that may have been really boring....
Have a good week!
1. I finished Warrior. Now I'm going back to Oracles of Fire. It's great! I only have a week to read it though. I'm not sure if I can do that. I'll try though.
2. I found this awesome website. PaperbackSwap. It's AMAZING! It's just what the title says. You trade books. I've already "sold" 5 books. So when the "buyers" get the book I will get one credit. I can use that credit to "buy" any book on the website. There are millions of people on it. So there's every book you could think of!
3. Morgan was sick a few days ago. No fever, just a really bad sore throat, sleepy, just sorta blah. Now I don't feel good!
4. Since Morgan started horseback riding lessons we have been begging Mom to come up with $200 a month so we can board a horse. I am so jealous.
5. We watched The Two Towers last night. My favorite scene in Lord of the Rings is when Gimli is hopping up trying to see what is happening during a battle and Legolas says, "Shall I describe it to you?" Then looks at Gimli and smirks, "Or would you like me to find you a box?" It may not sound funny, but if you've seen it, you know it is.
Well, there it is. I think that may have been really boring....
Have a good week!
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