HUNGER ACTION WEEK!!!!

Hi! This week, my family and I are doing hunger action week. Hunger action week is where you try to eat on the amount of money you would get if you had food stamps only. My family has four people in it, so we are allotted $22.00 per day. Today is the first day of our week, and so far it doesn't seem very difficult. I think the part I will have the most trouble with is the fact that the only dessert we get is popcorn. I am used to being able to eat something sweet every day. I know I am addicted to sugar and that I need to do something to stop it, but I know it will be difficult for me. But, I am very glad we are doing hunger action week. So far, we have spent $128.00 and we get to spend about $30.00 more. I think we can do it. This morning, we ate oatmeal for breakfast. For lunch, I ate macaroni and cheese, and for dinner we are going to have roast chicken because then my mom can make a soup out of it and we will have two meals from one chicken. Here is a brief list of food items we bought:

Milk
Oatmeal
Whole Chicken
Oregano
Cheese popcorn
Tortilla chips
Popcorn kernels
Macaroni and Cheese
Beans
Rice
Bread
Tomatoes
Honey
Pasta
Turkey
Peanut butter
Jam
Olive oil
Tortillas
Cheese
ETC.

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great of Macedonia
By Rachel
1/27/10

Alexander the Great was born in the year 356 BC. His father was King Phillip of Macedonia, and when Phillip was murdered, twenty year old Alexander became king. Alexander was a brilliant king. He began studying under Aristotle at the age of thirteen and Alexander kept up his studies until the age of eighteen, when he is proclaimed a general by his father. When Phillip dies, Alexander was proclaimed king, and he set off to conquer Persia, which was ruled by king Darius. Alexander never lost a single battle in combat in his life. He suffered along with his troops through everything they went through. After only three years of war with Persia, Darius is killed and Alexander is crowned king of all Persia. After winning Persia, Alexander traveled to Egypt, which used to belong to Persia, and was crowned Pharaoh by the Egyptians. While he was in Egypt, Alexander started believing that he was the son of Zeus, not Phillip. Alexander grew so haughty that his men almost rebelled against him. But, when he threatened to replace his Greek and Macedonian army with one of Persians, Alexander’s men immediately repented and begged his forgiveness. After Alexander’s crowning in Egypt, he set off to take Babylonia and India. Once he had taken control of Babylonia, he was going to go home, but when he glimpsed the forests of India, he forced his men to go with him to conquer it. After the first battle, Alexander’s men forced him to allow him to let them go home, because they had not seen their wives or their children in many years. So, Alexander turned his army around and they started journeying back to Macedonia. However, along the way, Alexander, the mighty warrior king and ruler of the known world, sickened and died. Alexander was the most skilled general in war that we know of, and his conquests will always be remembered.

Magnificent Music

The Story of Seikilos
By Rachel

Seikilos was an Ancient Greek musician. He composed the only song we still have today from Ancient Greece. It was called "Seikilos Song" and he composed it around 200 BC when his wife died. The song was written for the lyre. This song is about living your life and not being overwhelmed with grief when someone dies because in the end, everyone has to die to pay their debt to the gods. Here is a link to a video of this song: Song of Seikilos

Amazing Art

Norman Rockwell
By Rachel

Norman Rockwell was born on February 3, 1894 in New York City. He always longed to be taken seriously as a painter instead of just as an illustrator. Norman Rockwell was most famous for the 320 New York Times covers that he did. Norman Rockwell painted many holiday scenes; my favorite of them is called “The Discovery”. I love this picture. It is of a young boy who finds Santa’s clothes in a drawer in an old cabinet. Norman Rockwell died at the age of 84 in the year of 1978 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts on November eighth. Norman Rockwell was a wonderful painter.

History Mysteries

The Mystery of King Solomon’s Temple
By Rachel Donka
12/10/09

King Solomon was a Hebrew king who started his reign in the year of 965 BC, after his father, King David, died. King David had been preparing to build a large temple during the last years of his life. When his son, Solomon, came to the throne in 965 BC, he continued with his father’s plan to build a temple. This temple was to be built somewhere in Jerusalem. Archaeologists are not completely sure on the exact site, but most agree that it was most likely built on the mount platform in the city of Jerusalem. This temple took seven years to construct. Solomon’s Temple, as it was called, was destroyed in 587 BC by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon when he took control of Israel and Judea and banished the Jews from their home. Soon after Cyrus of Persia defeated Nebuchadnezzar and took control of the city of Jerusalem, the Jews were allowed to return and rebuild their temple presumably on the same spot as where it had once stood. Today, the Second Temple, as the second temple was called, is gone as well, and the only reason we know about this magnificent temple is from biblical records. But, with new technology and resources, who knows what new discoveries could be made about history and this puzzling mystery of Solomon’s Temple.

http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2008/temple.html

Magnificent Musicians

Peter Tchaikovsky
By Rachel Donka

Peter Tchaikovsky was born in Russia in 1840. Tchaikovsky began studying piano at the age of four. He graduated from law school at age nineteen and went to work as a clerk for the government. When Tchaikovsky was twenty-two, he entered the Conservatory at St. Petersburg. At the conservatory, he studied organ and flute. In 1886, Peter Tchaikovsky was hired as professor of Harmony in the Moscow Conservatory. Soon after Tchaikovsky arrived in Moscow, he was employed frequently by a widow named Mrs. Nadezhda von Meck to compose many different pieces. All though Tchaikovsky and Mrs. Von Meck corresponded often, Mrs. Von Meck insisted that that they never meet. After Tchaikovsky went on a tour of Europe and America, he began writing his most famous work, the Nutcracker Ballet. His last work was called the “Pathetique”. He died in 1893, just after his last work was performed. Peter Tchaikovsky was one of my favorite composers, and he will be always be remembered in history.

Poetry Potraits

Christmas Day
Rachel Donka

Snowflakes are falling from the sky,
In the air is the wonderful scent of a baking pie.
The cars are all sliding over the ice,
Christmas Day is oh so nice.

Children are screaming and laughing in joy,
As the open their presents which are filled with many a toy.
Then they dress in their snow gear and go out to play,
And their parents all say “We love Christmas Day”.

A story is told to the Children to teach,
Them a lesson that is slightly out of their reach.
“Don’t be naughty or haughty and just be gay,
Or else you’ll get naught but coal on a crisp Christmas Day.

The Turkey is sliced,
The baked potatoes diced.
“Thanks for the food on this day,”
A Family prays on Christmas day.