Tuesday, May 22, 2012

101-Years later, San Francisco's Street Race is Wackier Than Ever


Name: Nemke
Teacher: Ms. J
Class: 6A
Date:5/22/2012

Title:101-Years later, San Francisco's Street Race is Wackier Than Ever
Link:http://www.dogonews.com/2012/5/21/101-years-later-san-franciscos-street-race-is-wackier-than-ever
Author of article: Meera Dolasia
Date of article:5/21/2012
Exact location: San Francisco, USA

New words: Trekked/trek:to journey on foot

Main Summary
   On Sunday, May 20th over 40,000 official competitors and 1000's of unofficial ones raced in the San Francisco race. This year it was wackier than ever because there were running bananas and walking Golden Gate Bridges. People dressed up in funny costumes came and raced. The overall winner was Sammy Kitwara from Kenya. The female winner was Mamitu Daska from Ethopia. Many people forget that this race has a prize of $25,000. The banana finished the race in less than a hour and thats pretty good considering that the banana suit weight over 10 pounds. 
I think that this is pretty cool because this is like Halloween in May. I would love to run in that race dressed like a TV with chicken legs. This shows San Francisco's athleticism and its love for fun. After this everybody had parties and I'm guessing that Sammy Kitwara and Miamitu Daska were celebrating to. Overall this sounds like a lot of fun.

101-Years Later, San Francisco's Street Race Is Wackier Than Ever

By Meera Dolasia on 05/21/2012
On Sunday, May 20th, over 40,000 official competitors and thousands of unofficial ones, took to the streets of San Francisco to participate in 101st Bay to Breakers, the city's most famous road race. Started in 1912 to bring some cheer to the residents following the devastating 1906 earthquake, the unique event celebrates not only athleticism, but also, the fun-loving spirit of the people of San Francisco.
The annual race is the only competition where some of the world's fastest runners share the starting line with adults dressed in all kinds of imaginative costumes. This year's line up included a banana, a team camouflaged as the Golden Gate Bridge, a group of bridesmaids and even, a refrigerator-sized airstream trailer.
Amongst all this mayhem many people forget that this is a real race - one that carries with it a grand prize of $25,000USD. It is therefore not surprising that it attracts elite runners from all over the world. As has been the case in many years past, this year's overall winner came from Kenya. Sammy Kitwara, who has won this race twice before, took home $12,000 USD for crossing the finish line in an impressive 34 minutes and 40 seconds.
The overall women's winner was Mamitu Daska from Ethiopia. She reached the finish line in 39 minutes and 2 seconds. However, because the elite women runners are given a 4.5 minute lead over the elite male runners, she was the first to reach the finish line, an honor that earned her a whopping $25,000 USD. She then tagged on another $12,000 USD for being the first female to finish and the first athlete to climb the notorious Hayes Street Hill, that rises from sea level to a height of 215 feet, in five short city blocks.
The banana, donned by 25-year old Mark Denari didn't do too shabbily either, reaching the finish line in less than an hour - Quite impressive given that the suit weighed over 10-pounds. While he was the first banana and first fruit overall, he was outrun by Flash and Batman! Though neither won any money, they did go home with bragging rights.
As with most San Francisco events, this one too ended with parties held in private homes, as well as, some of the city's finest restaurants. After a day of fun, all the participants trekked home to check their calendars for other upcoming events - That's because there is always something exciting going on in this beautiful city where people love to have a good time!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Space Shuttle Discovery Hitches A Ride To Washington D.C.


Name: Nemke
Teacher: Ms. J
Class: 6A
Date:

Title:Space Shuttle Discovery Hitches A Ride To Washington D.C.
Link:http://www.dogonews.com/2012/4/18/space-shuttle-discovery-hitches-a-ride-to-washington-dc
Author of article:Meera Dolasia
Date of article:4/18/2012
Exact location:Washington D.C. and Virginia, USA

New words:

Main Summary
  NASA's oldest and hardest working space shuttle is going to be put in a Space Museum in Virginia. It took its last take of from Florida but this wasn't the normal take of, it was a piggyback ride. NASA's customized Boing 747 was taking the space shuttle on its top. It landed in Washington D.C. as thousands of fans were gathered there waiting for the landing. It will be loaded on the 747 again and be flown to its new home. 

NASA's space shuttle program started in 1981 when the first space shuttle Columbia was launched. Through the years four more were added but 1 failed in take of and the other one failed in landing. In all the space shuttles have been in space for 3.5 years. In 2011 NASA retired the space shuttle program and started focusing on more interesting things like Mars and the moon.

I think that the space shuttle should retire because of the time it spent in space. It is probably  damaged from little meteors and rocks floating in space. This may be an issue for safety and people might die because of the age of the space shuttle. I wish I was one of the fans waiting to see the space shuttle when it landed in Washington D.C. because I've always wanted to see a space shuttle and its size.

Article:

Space Shuttle Discovery Hitches A Ride To Washington D.C.

By Meera Dolasia on 04/18/2012
On April 17th, NASA's oldest surviving and hardest working Space Shuttle, Discovery took off one last time from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. However, this was not a typical launch off into Space, but a rather tame flight piggybacked above a modified NASA 747 to the retired Shuttle's final resting place at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Virginia.
While the destination may not have been as exotic, Discovery generated almost as much excitement as it performed a flyby over its new home and then over all Washington D.C.'s downtown national monuments before landing gracefully, at Dulles International Airport, to the welcoming cheers of thousands of fans.
However, before Discovery settles down in its new home, Enterprise, the first Space Shuttle Orbiter ever built, will have to be removed and latched on to the same NASA 747, so that it can be transported to its new home - The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City. Named after Star Trek's fictional starship, the Shuttle had no engine or heat shield and was built to conduct ground and gliding tests only. In contrast, Space Shuttle Discovery has been on 39 missions, completed 5,830 orbits, flown 148 million miles and spent a total of 395 days in Space.
NASA's shuttle program began in 1981 with the launch of Space Shuttle Columbia. Over the years, four other Shuttles were added, and between them they completed 135 successful missions, orbited the Earth 21,152 times and spent, a total of three and half years in Space.
Of the five, two met with unfortunate accidents - Space Shuttle Challenger blew up shortly after take-off in 1986, whist the oldest, Columbia, met with a similar fate whilst returning from a mission in 2003.
In 2011, thirty years after it all began, NASA decided to retire the Space Shuttle Program and focus on more exciting destinations like the moon and Mars. While Discovery has reached its final destination - two others are Endeavor and Atlantis are still being de-commissioned. When ready, the former will head to the California Science Center in Los Angeles, while Atlantis will remain on display at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Coke Hug Me Machine


Name: Nemke
Teacher: Ms. J
Class: 6A
Date:4/25/2012

Title:Coke's Hug Me Machine
Link:http://www.dogonews.com/2012/4/23/video-of-the-week-cokes-hug-me-machine-dispenses-free-soda
Author of article:Meera Dolasia
Date of article: 4/24/2012
Exact location: National University of Singapore

New words: Lieu: place, stead. Emanate: to flow out, issue, or proceed, as from a source or origin; come forth; originate.

Main Summary
  Coke is starting to advertise heavily they put a hug me machine. You get free soda if you hug the machine. They put it in the national university of Singapore and the machine is part of coca cola's new advertising called 'Open Happiness'. The machine has the words 'Hug Me' so people can know what to do. If you hug it the machine will give you a chilled can of coke. all the kids are happy for getting free coke.

I think this is awesome even though I dont like coke. I wish Ice Tea would do the same thing because I like it a lot. The biggest problem is that people will get fat and some people will keep hugging it and putting the soda in a bag. Because the things are free coca cola will need many cans of coke because of everyone taking them for free.

Article:

Video Of The Week - Coke's 'Hug Me' Machine Dispenses Free Soda

By Meera Dolasia on 04/24/2012
It seems like advertisers are getting increasingly innovative in their approach to getting the word out. First there is Denmark's Generous Store that hands out gourmet chocolate in exchange for good deeds and now a 'Hug Me' vending machine that dispenses free coke cola in exchange for, you guessed it . . . . . . .  A hug!
The vending machine that was recently installed at the National University of Singapore is the brainchild of advertising and marketing company Ogilvy & Mather, and is part of Coca Cola's new marketing initiative called 'Open Happiness'.
To emanate this joyful emotion, the machine has the words 'Hug Me' written in lieu of a Coke Cola Ad. When a human fulfills that wish by wrapping his/her arms around it, the machine returns the favor by dispensing a chilled can of coke! Judging by the delighted squeals from the students, the machine is definitely creating a ton of 'Open Happiness' on the University campus.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

International Pillow Fight


Name: Nemke
Teacher: Ms. J
Class: 6A
Date:

Title: International Pillow Fight
Author of article: Meera Dolasia
Date of article: 4/10/12
Exact location: In over 120 cities on Earth, Solar System, Milky Way

New words:

Main Summary
                1000’s of adults and kids got together on Saturday April 7 and had a massive pillow fight. It was organized in over 120 cities across the world. They all had tons of fun and got rid of stress. But who organized the pillow fight. Two artists from Toronto have been organizing free fun events since 2005. In the pillow fights you can go and hit total strangers with pillows.
I think that this is tons of fun and I would love to be in one of these pillow fights. I would love it if Serbia joined the International Pillow Fight of 2013. I really want to go and hit strangers with pillows. These artists are very good people for making the pillow fights.

Article: Video Of The Week - 5th International Pillow Fight Day Is A Roaring Success

By Meera Dolasia on 04/10/2012
Description: http://s3.amazonaws.com/dogonews/pictures/10115/content/2012pillow-fight%5b5%5d.jpg?1333945560In case you missed it, Saturday April 7th, was International Pillow Fight Day - Yes that's right, a day when thousands of adults and children all over the world got together in their respective cities, to stage a pillow fight against total strangers!
Description: http://s3.amazonaws.com/dogonews/pictures/10117/content/2012pillow297550120-25173320.jpg?1333945614Now in its fifth year, the crazy event is the brainchild of two fun-loving Toronto artists - Kevin Bracken and Lori Kufner, and their organization Newmindspace. Since 2005, the duo has been organizing fun events that cost absolutely nothing - Things like inviting the general public to play capture the flag on city streets, or organizing massive city bubble battles and even, impromptu subway parties.
Description: http://s3.amazonaws.com/dogonews/pictures/10118/content/2012pillowInternational-Pillow-Fight-Day-5.jpg?1333945646
Whenever they organize any event for the residents of Toronto, they encourage people  living in other cities to do the same - Making the fun activities truly global. This year, over 120 cities ranging from Washington D.C. in the United States to Izmir in Turkey got into the spirit with some rocking pillow fight parties! To see what other fun events the two artists are planning next or to keep tabs on the 2013 International Pillow Fight Day, go to: www.newmindspace.com.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Create n Island

  In the second semester we started making our own islands. We had to make governments, tourism, history, the 5 themes of geography, education and one of our choice, I choose to write about my castle. We had to make a map of our island I made a map on an A1 paper. For more information look at the things below 
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Government

Type of Government: Democracy
Election Day: June 16 (every citizen above 18 years can vote)
President of Island: Nemke (He is president until he dies, other presidents have a 5 year president time)(He is Serbian because he gained the nations trust and helped it after war and he named two cities)
Vice President of Island: George Novis (smart person from my island)
Presidents Advisor: Jack Henrickson (smart person from my island)
Treasurer: John Jones (smart person from my island)

Motto
Glorious and Free

Laws
No stealing 2-10 years in jail
No killing 20 years-lifetime in jail
No chopping trees 4-20 years in jail
No killing animals 6 years-lifetime in jail
No guns unless presidents approval 2-20 years in jail
No explosives 2-20 years in jail
No fighting 1-10 years in jail
No Street gangs 10 years-lifetime in jail
160 kph on highway/motorway 200$-400$
No high jacking cars/planes/boats 1000$-20 years in jail
No homework Fridays –Sundays lifetime in jail
No torturing animals
All limits can be passed to even further punishments.
Holidays
August 19th Presidents Birthday/Nemke Happiness Day
December 31 new year
June 5th have fun day
February 2nd have fun day
June 2nd scream at 5:00 clock day
October 18th do whatever you want day
January 7th Christmas
March 5th marathon
August 2nd go to pool/river/sea day
November 8th-10th no school/work days

Import/Export

Import: Watermelon, cars, metal, iron
Exports: Gold, Banana, Wheat, Corn, Bacon, Steak, Eggs, Seafood, LOTS AND LOTS OF CHEESE
Population: 38,500,000
CAPPPY(Cheese ate per person per year) 90 KG


History

 Island of Nemkeland was colonized by the English people in the early 1400s while it was still called Terraofastrum. Terraofastrum means land of stars in Latin because the people that lived on the island liked looking at stars. The name of the native group was The Boomas. They are called Boomas because they invented explosives, they lived in the about 100 BC. All the natives were killed during the process. Before that lived a culture that was a lot like the Mayans, they liked looking at stars and predicted events like the earthquake in Valdivia, Chile in 1960. The natives believed in witchcraft so they tried inventing poisons against witches. They realized that by creating poisons they were witches so they killed all the mages. They started learning self defense and offence and hunting skills. They liked hunting elephants and fish and dodo birds that is the reason they are all extinct on the island. Scientists think there was a culture before the Boomas, they might have been called the Jebz. 



5 Themes of Geography

The 5 themes of geography are location, movement, region, place and human-environment interaction. Location for my island is 180 degrees N, S and 180 degrees W, E. it is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Movement, my products are shipped worldwide but mostly to Asia, Europe and America (mostly USA). Region, it’s a government country, my island has large amounts of corn farms like Serbia and the people are fun, polite and fun to be around like in most hotels. Place, my island is an exotic paradise with a lot of forests and beautiful cities with helpful and fun people. On my island there is no pollution and lumber jacks have to replace every tree they chop down. Human-environment interaction, the people of Nemkeland cannot chop down trees unless they are lumberjacks. The environment makes the people feel good that they can keep up such a green area and something that is so rare.





Tourism

 On my island there is three ways for tourists to get a tour of the island or something specific.
·         Tour Bus
·         Tour Guide
·         Tourist Brochures

There are a lot of tourist locations
·         Castle
·         Largest Beach
·         Large Stadium
·         Giant Forests
Tourists have hotels that have trips organized were they just have to reserve a place.



 
Education

On my island there are five types of schools. Each school can teach 4,000 kids, 2,000 from 8am to 2pm and 2,000 from 2:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
·         Elementary school
·         Middle school
·         High school
·         College
·         Intervention school
In elementary school the subjects are:
·         Math
·         Art
·         English
·         Art
·         Technology
·         Music or Physical Education (1 choice)
·         Languages (EAL, Spanish, Serbian, Russian)
·         Free time (if kids deserve it) on Friday
In Middle school the subjects are:
·         Math
·         English
·         Geography
·         History
·         Science
·         Art or Music or Physical Education(1 choice)
·         Languages (EAL, Spanish, Serbian, Russian)
·         Enrichment

In High school the subjects are
·         Math
·         English or Advanced English
·         Humanities
·         Chemistry
·         Biology
·         Science
·         Languages (EAL, Spanish, Serbian, Russian)
·         Art
·         Music or Physical Education
In College you learn about whatever you choose to.
In Intervention school you learn everything like in normal school except you learn it later and in an easier form.
Fact: 90% of the people in Nemkeland go to school, 4% don’t have money to pay for it, the other 6% don’t want their kids to be smart.80% of my people go to college. 




The Castle of Nemkeland

 The castle of Nemkeland is what most people call it because it has a complicated name “protector draconum” which means protector of the dragons. It was built in the early 1300s by the Boomas because they believed that there were dragons under the land on which they built their fort on, No one was allowed to go into a room that leads to the bottom of the castles because they thought that the dragons would get angry and kill them. The room was built by the first king and he named it “the sacred room” and he would cut of the head of anyone who disobeyed him by going in. The castle was locked with a special key after the Boomas disappeared. A hero found the key and kept it in a safe place because he opened the castle once and saw a diamond sword. The castle gate could not be open by explosives or any type of weapon or device because the Boomas made it explosive and fire proof. Now it is a great tourist attraction which brings a lot of money to Nemkeland.