Hispanic Hertiage Month

As you may already know Hispanic Heritage month starts on September 15th though October 15th because many countries in Central and South America got their independence in 1821 during those dates. My family is originally from El Salvador and on September 15th we celebrate the independence day of El Salvador. Every year there are two big parades in Hempstead and Brentwood, New York that celebrate the Independence Day of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. I have gone to both parades and they are filled great food, music, and dancing.

The celebration of Hispanic Heritage originally started in 1968, when Congress authorized President B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. Then during the Regan Administration the observance of the week expanded to a month long celebration. America celebrates the culture and traditions of Hispanics in the United States that came from Spain, Mexico and all the Spanish Speaking Countries in the Caribbean and both Central and South America.

Grammar Point: Please write a short paragraph using 4 out of 9 vocabulary words that I used in my blog.

Vocabulary

1. Heritage- practices that are handed down from the past by tradition.

2. Country- the territory occupied by a nation.

3. Independence- freedom from control or influence of another or others.

4. Originally- with reference to the origin or beginning.

5. Celebrate- assign great social importance to something.

6. Proclaim- declare formally.

7. Observance- taking a patient look.

8. Culture- a particular society at a particular time and place.

9. Traditions- a specific practice of long standing.

Sentences

1. The identity of the United States is based on our cultural ____________.

2. What _________ is your family originally from?

3. What is the ____________ day of the United States?

4. The Aztec's____________ came from the northern lands called Aztlan.

5. When do you _________ your birthday?

6. President Roosevelt __________ October 12th as Columbus Day.

7. What how many holidays are _______________ in the United States?

8. The ____________ and customs that a person is raised with, contribute to their outlook and view of the world.

9. What are some of the ___________ that are celebrated by your family?

The Balloon Hoax

Last week I was watching CNN and I came across the headline news of a giant balloon that was flying through the air. At first I thought it was a flying saucer but when I took a closer look and listened to the news they said that a young boy that was in the balloon. I wondered about the parents how did this happen? Then the family was expressing their fear that their 6 year old child who could be inside the balloon. Why weren’t the parents sure? At this point I thought the parents were irresponsible because they were unsure if the child was in the balloon. Did the child run away? Did they look for the child? This story was all over the news and many people watched, but as time went by it became harder to believe that the child was in the balloon. After a few hours the child was finally found. He was in the attic hiding throughout the Balloon fiasco.
Now the child is OK, the family is being investigated because they went on the Larry King show and when the 6 year old was asked why he was hiding in the attic he said that he did it for the show. According to the authorities now there is enough evidence that shows that this was a hoax and that it was carefully planned by the family. The authorities also found out that the family wanted to be in a reality show and that this could be the motive behind the hoax. I think this is just bad parenting because they are teaching the children to participate in inappropriate behavior.

Grammar Point: Read a newspaper article and pick out words that are unfamiliar and define them.
Vocabulary
1. Headline- The title or caption of a newspaper article usually set in large type.
2. Giant- A person or thing of great size
3. Saucer- A small shallow dish having a slight circular depression in the center for holding a cup 4. Expressing- articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise.
5. Irresponsible- showing lack of care for consequences
6. Fiasco- A ludicrous or humiliating failure.
7. Investigated- To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information.
8. Attic- is a space found directly below the pitched roof of a house or other building
9. Hoax- subject to a playful joke.
10. Inappropriate- not suitable for a particular occasion

Sentences
1. The __________ in the newspaper was “The Boy in the Balloon Hoax.”
2. It is a __________ building.
3. Look in the sky it’s a flying _____________!

4. Larry loves to ____________ his thoughts through writing.
5. It is ____________ for parents to neglect children.
6. Due to the time ___________ I got to the dentist office 3 hours late.
7. The crime scene was fully ___________ and it resulted in a closed case.
8. The _________ in my house is a great storage place.
9. The _______________ turned into a big problem.
10. Excessive or ____________ speed is a factor in many road accidents.

Is the Swine Flu Vaccine Safe?

Well during the beginning of this week states such as Indiana, Illinois and Tennessee have started to get the vaccine for the swine flu. The government seems to feel that there is a need to for Americans across the board to get this vaccine, in just a few months. My concern with this view is that we really don’t know a lot about the real effects of this vaccine. Is it Safe?

The swine flu has similar symptoms to the seasonal flu and I haven’t heard of anyone dyeing from the flu. But the swine flu is a different story I have heard of various stories of people dying of complications due to this virus. So if you feel unusually tired, have a headache, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath or cough, diarrhea or vomiting you probably have the swine flu. So don’t get nervous this is just based on what I have heard in the news from various doctors and experts.

It all started earlier this year and people started blaming the pigs but it wasn’t the pigs it was a disease that came from people. Originally there was an outbreak of the swine flu in the late 1950’s so this disease isn’t new. I think that since we don’t know a lot about this virus we should try to take precautions to such as washing our hands frequently and staying home if we really don’t feel well.

So is it safe? According to the Food and Drug Administration they feel it is because it is made the same way the regular vaccine for the flu is made. I think you should be the judge of that if you feel that getting this vaccine will give you a piece of mind than you should go with you instinct.

Grammar Point: Tell me what your opinion is on this vaccine do you think it is safe or not? Write a paragraph about your opinion.

Definitions:

1. Government- the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states.

2. Vaccine- Injection of a killed microbe in order to stimulate the immune system against the microbe, thereby preventing disease.

3. Swine Flu- a virulent, highly contagious influenza infecting people and swine.
4. Symptoms- are what the patient experiences about the illness, disease or injury.

5. Virus- ultramicroscopic infectious agent that replicates itself only within cells of living hosts.

6. Outbreak- a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence.

7. Precautions- a measure of warding off impending danger or damage or injury.

Sentences:

1.Our _________ is composed of three branches, which are the Legislative, Judicial & Executive.

2. The ________ would help prevent the disease.

3. The _________ can be very harmful if not treated early.

4. The __________ of the flu can be painful.

5. The _______ can cause major problems for young children.

6. The __________ of the war caused many fatalities.
7. As a __________ Eric put ice on his leg to stop it from swelling up.