Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2005. Genre: Fiction
This is 6th book in the Harry Potter series, the sequel to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Harry Potter is the main character in the story (quite obviously), along with his friends, and the head wizard at Hogwarts, Dumbledore. The story takes place in current day in London, England, and mainly at the wizardry school Hogwarts. In this story, Harry Potter, as well as others, are trying to take down the most powerful evil wizard, Voldemort. Harry Potter works with Dumbledore, to find a way to take down Voldemort.
In this book, J.K. Rowling likes to use a large variety of descriptive adjectives, that allows you to actually imagine what the majority of the characters in the book look like just from imagining them. Also, in this book, she put more drama between friends in the book, unlike most of the other books, which actually made the book more entertaining to read. "A scene of total devastation met their eyes. A grandfather clock lay splintered at their feet, its face cracked, its pendulum lying a little farther away like a dropped sword. A piano was on its side, its key strewn across the floor. The wreckage of a fallen chandelier glittered nearby. Cushions lay deflated, feathers oozing from slashes in their sides; fragments of glass and china lay like powder over everything"' (63).
I have read the Harry Potter series from the begining, as well as watched the movies, and I am awed by her work with these books. After reading one page, it makes me want to just keep reading on farther into it. This book kept me in suspense on what was going to happen next, with quite a bit of pitch black humor subtly thrown into the story. It also told later in the story, that people may understimate the power of a minor, which inspired me greatly. I would like to continue reading the series to know what will happen next.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Different angles of a FPS?
Many people value different things in life. It can very to just a lowly event, that brought satisfaction to a variety of people, or just something like an expensive objects such as jewelery. I value many different things in life, but there are a simple few things that just give me a feeling of glee. Things just as simple as pulling a good grade out of a test, or just doing well in a certain challenges are things that I value, but there are things that I value immensely.
I quietly open the door, making sure no loud sounds would occur, which would result in the hollering of an angry mother. I hover across the rickety floor and slowly descend onto my couch. I reach over and grab the perfectly shaped controller that fits just right in my hands, and slowly slide the headset over the top of my head. I hold down no the large silver button and kick up my feet as I am about to begin on a joy ride.
I pop in a game disc into the large console with the engraved letters, spelling out Xbox 360, that has been waiting impatiently for my return. A notification alerts all of my other friends that I have returned. I receive a few invitations from a few others, advising me that they would like if I were to join them in playing. I ponder whom should I tag along with, then I decide on who to join. I sink farther into my couch as a wave of relaxation flows over me as I enjoy the experience.
My friends and I ascend into the battlefield, ready for the action. The loud sound of a fragmentation grenade exploding sounds from behind me. I feel shell shock due to it, but shake it off as I trudge along. I mow down one player on the opposing team and quickly take the lead. An alarm sounds off, warning players that there is only a minute left. My character dies a few times more, but ends up re-spawning brand new every time. The battle ends, and my friends let out cheers and begin to boast about how good they did.
I slowly push my goggles back up the bridge of my nose and I crouch down and lightly step through the soft terrain, avoiding branches and other noise causing objects. In my hands I help my brand new m14, gripping tightly onto my the green rubberized ABS plastic and pushing the metal stock hard onto my shoulder. The majority of the gun was composed of iron, including the bolt and the sights, which gave it a more realistic feel. It was electric powered, running on a 9.4 volt battery. It is an average gun all around, but it pulls through whenever I need it.
I kept my head down, and glanced around quickly. Everything was still, almost peaceful, but I knew it couldn't be. I gripped tighter on my m14, having the feeling of paranoia kicking me in the stomach as a kept glancing into the distance. I quickly drop to the ground as a hear the click click of bbs tapping the bark on the tree I was moving next to. I pop my head up and surveyed the area around me and I see a faint figure at the top of the hill. He noticed he had been spotted, but did not retreat. He kept firing in my general direction, thinking I was gonna become impatient and try to fire back from my spot. After he had stopped firing, I revealed myself from my position and fired a well aim shot then hit him directly in the forehead. He shouted loudly then yelled out "hit!" and tossed both his hands into the air, one with a grip on his gun. I grinned to myself. It was my first 'kill' with my new gun, and I knew it was going to leave a mark.
With my Xbox 360, I can get hours of leisurely entertainment, which friends whom I knew in real life, or just people I have met from playing online. In total, it was $200 for the console alone, a range from $20 to $60, then it costs an additional $50 per year, to be able to play online with others. With airsoft, I play with my friends, and we play for fun, as well for bragging rights. I value both these immensely, not because of how much I spent on them, because they are both worth while things to do for me, and will continue to for quite a bit of time.
I quietly open the door, making sure no loud sounds would occur, which would result in the hollering of an angry mother. I hover across the rickety floor and slowly descend onto my couch. I reach over and grab the perfectly shaped controller that fits just right in my hands, and slowly slide the headset over the top of my head. I hold down no the large silver button and kick up my feet as I am about to begin on a joy ride.
I pop in a game disc into the large console with the engraved letters, spelling out Xbox 360, that has been waiting impatiently for my return. A notification alerts all of my other friends that I have returned. I receive a few invitations from a few others, advising me that they would like if I were to join them in playing. I ponder whom should I tag along with, then I decide on who to join. I sink farther into my couch as a wave of relaxation flows over me as I enjoy the experience.
My friends and I ascend into the battlefield, ready for the action. The loud sound of a fragmentation grenade exploding sounds from behind me. I feel shell shock due to it, but shake it off as I trudge along. I mow down one player on the opposing team and quickly take the lead. An alarm sounds off, warning players that there is only a minute left. My character dies a few times more, but ends up re-spawning brand new every time. The battle ends, and my friends let out cheers and begin to boast about how good they did.
I slowly push my goggles back up the bridge of my nose and I crouch down and lightly step through the soft terrain, avoiding branches and other noise causing objects. In my hands I help my brand new m14, gripping tightly onto my the green rubberized ABS plastic and pushing the metal stock hard onto my shoulder. The majority of the gun was composed of iron, including the bolt and the sights, which gave it a more realistic feel. It was electric powered, running on a 9.4 volt battery. It is an average gun all around, but it pulls through whenever I need it.
I kept my head down, and glanced around quickly. Everything was still, almost peaceful, but I knew it couldn't be. I gripped tighter on my m14, having the feeling of paranoia kicking me in the stomach as a kept glancing into the distance. I quickly drop to the ground as a hear the click click of bbs tapping the bark on the tree I was moving next to. I pop my head up and surveyed the area around me and I see a faint figure at the top of the hill. He noticed he had been spotted, but did not retreat. He kept firing in my general direction, thinking I was gonna become impatient and try to fire back from my spot. After he had stopped firing, I revealed myself from my position and fired a well aim shot then hit him directly in the forehead. He shouted loudly then yelled out "hit!" and tossed both his hands into the air, one with a grip on his gun. I grinned to myself. It was my first 'kill' with my new gun, and I knew it was going to leave a mark.
With my Xbox 360, I can get hours of leisurely entertainment, which friends whom I knew in real life, or just people I have met from playing online. In total, it was $200 for the console alone, a range from $20 to $60, then it costs an additional $50 per year, to be able to play online with others. With airsoft, I play with my friends, and we play for fun, as well for bragging rights. I value both these immensely, not because of how much I spent on them, because they are both worth while things to do for me, and will continue to for quite a bit of time.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Saving
Becca sat down at her desk and inhaled deeply, tossing the contents of the box across the table, then assorting them back into their own piles. She took slow breathes and examined the pictures and the other documents very closely. She slowly peered out the window and saw a large woman tugging on a young boy’s arm. His clothes were very torn and looked like they haven’t been washed in ages. The boy had pleading eyes and messy hair and stared straight into the window and Becca’s and the boy’s eyes met in a stare that seemed like it lasted ages. The gazing was broken as the boy was thrown 5 feet forward onto his face by the large woman. Suddenly broken from her concentration, she jumped up from her chair and ran outside to see if the boy was okay. She sprint onto the side with her window and saw no sight of the boy and the woman. Disappointed, she ambled back her office to work on the story with her grandmother.
What have I dragged my self into this time, thought the boy as he was being thrashed by his mother sensuously. The mother was thrashing the boy because the school principal had call to tell her that they had caught him stealing sweets from other students. He didn’t say a word as his mother as she beat him because he knew it would just end up crossing against him. One of the only things on his mind was the woman at the printing company. He knew she wanted to help him, that’s why he wanted to go back there as much as he could. If he could, he could sneak out of the school, or his own house to get to that woman.
Becca sat nervously at her desk remembering the cut and bruised face of the little boy. She felt sympathetic for the boy for the fact that he had been tossed around and looked like he was mistreated and especially malnourished. Her hands were trembling as she argued in her own mind over which to pursue first, the history of her grandmother, or to aid the little boy from what looked like an abusive mother. She discussed with herself back and forth what was more important, and she finally agreed upon that she would try her best to see if she could aid the little boy as quick as possible and then to uncover the past of the grandmother.
The next day, the boy, David, instead of taking his normal route to school, he thought of the quickest way back to the printing company where he had found Becca. He tried his best and sprinting down many different streets before standing directly in front of the door to the building. He thought immensely to try to remember which window he found Becca the other evening. His eyes wide, he remembered which window it was and sped right to that same window. Struck with great sadness, all he could see was a light inside an office and the desk in which Becca sat, was completely empty of anything that could have left a trace of her. Maybe she’s in that office talking with her boss, David thought. He waited patiently, knowing his time was running thin before people would start to become suspicious about his absence. In time, all he saw was a woman he had never seen before, and he dragged his head down and an idea popped into his mind. He could walk into the building and ask if he could see that woman. The shoved his face into his palm and shook his head at his idea. He didn’t even know the name of this woman, how could he possibly ask for her? He started into the window, and to his intent, there she was, Becca, walking right back to her desk. He jumped up into the air and tapped on the window, not too light, but loud enough to be heard. Becca eyes quickly shifted as she saw David from the other day, she signaled him to the front door as she ran there as well.
“Hey kid, you’re the same boy from the other day being dragged by that woman?” Asked Becca.
“Yes Ma’am, she is my mother,” he responded in a grim tone with his eyes beaming towards the ground.
“Oh, that doesn’t seem alright. Does she always act that way? And oh, sorry, didn’t mean to be rude, my name is Rebecca, but you can just call me Becca. What is your name?” Said Becca.
“My name is David Becca, I just hoped you could help me get out of the dreaded house..” David pained eyes drifted towards Becca’s. “Please Becca, I absolutely beg of you.”
“I will gladly help you David, let me call up the police station and they will be able to get you out of the life of that woman.” Becca said back with a smile.
The police arrived shortly after the call, the scooped up David, he had a frightened, yet grateful look on his face. He was put into the passengers seat of the cruiser and slowly waved, tears streaming down his face, as he looked directly at Becca’s face. She stared back and waved as well. It was a good farewell and Becca knew what she had done was right, she smiled and returned the matters of her grandmother.
What have I dragged my self into this time, thought the boy as he was being thrashed by his mother sensuously. The mother was thrashing the boy because the school principal had call to tell her that they had caught him stealing sweets from other students. He didn’t say a word as his mother as she beat him because he knew it would just end up crossing against him. One of the only things on his mind was the woman at the printing company. He knew she wanted to help him, that’s why he wanted to go back there as much as he could. If he could, he could sneak out of the school, or his own house to get to that woman.
Becca sat nervously at her desk remembering the cut and bruised face of the little boy. She felt sympathetic for the boy for the fact that he had been tossed around and looked like he was mistreated and especially malnourished. Her hands were trembling as she argued in her own mind over which to pursue first, the history of her grandmother, or to aid the little boy from what looked like an abusive mother. She discussed with herself back and forth what was more important, and she finally agreed upon that she would try her best to see if she could aid the little boy as quick as possible and then to uncover the past of the grandmother.
The next day, the boy, David, instead of taking his normal route to school, he thought of the quickest way back to the printing company where he had found Becca. He tried his best and sprinting down many different streets before standing directly in front of the door to the building. He thought immensely to try to remember which window he found Becca the other evening. His eyes wide, he remembered which window it was and sped right to that same window. Struck with great sadness, all he could see was a light inside an office and the desk in which Becca sat, was completely empty of anything that could have left a trace of her. Maybe she’s in that office talking with her boss, David thought. He waited patiently, knowing his time was running thin before people would start to become suspicious about his absence. In time, all he saw was a woman he had never seen before, and he dragged his head down and an idea popped into his mind. He could walk into the building and ask if he could see that woman. The shoved his face into his palm and shook his head at his idea. He didn’t even know the name of this woman, how could he possibly ask for her? He started into the window, and to his intent, there she was, Becca, walking right back to her desk. He jumped up into the air and tapped on the window, not too light, but loud enough to be heard. Becca eyes quickly shifted as she saw David from the other day, she signaled him to the front door as she ran there as well.
“Hey kid, you’re the same boy from the other day being dragged by that woman?” Asked Becca.
“Yes Ma’am, she is my mother,” he responded in a grim tone with his eyes beaming towards the ground.
“Oh, that doesn’t seem alright. Does she always act that way? And oh, sorry, didn’t mean to be rude, my name is Rebecca, but you can just call me Becca. What is your name?” Said Becca.
“My name is David Becca, I just hoped you could help me get out of the dreaded house..” David pained eyes drifted towards Becca’s. “Please Becca, I absolutely beg of you.”
“I will gladly help you David, let me call up the police station and they will be able to get you out of the life of that woman.” Becca said back with a smile.
The police arrived shortly after the call, the scooped up David, he had a frightened, yet grateful look on his face. He was put into the passengers seat of the cruiser and slowly waved, tears streaming down his face, as he looked directly at Becca’s face. She stared back and waved as well. It was a good farewell and Becca knew what she had done was right, she smiled and returned the matters of her grandmother.
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