Challenge Time! #2: It's Time For A CONTEST!!!

It's time for another challenge time! This challenge will consist of... that's right! A CONTEST!!! This is my first contest on my blog, so bear with me here.

The contest is an essay explaining your family's traditions during the year, during holidays, etc.! Essays can be sent to my e-mail in .pdf or .doc and I will judge for the best one!

Things I will be looking for:

• Interesting information
• 3 of your family's traditions
• Details about each tradition
• A little bit of commentary and your thoughts on each tradition

And now, the PRIZES!

There will be three winners. The top three winners will receive a signed autograph of me and their essay will be featured on my blog! If you win and would not like the prize, that is okay also.

The deadline for this contest ends on March 31st!

Good luck to all and I hope for a lot of people to enter!

There is an example of an essay I'd like to see that was actually one that I did for school which I had gotten a 78/80 on (and yes everyone, I am Jewish!!!)

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Hanukkah is a very unique holiday that Jews around the world choose to celebrate during the winter season. On Hanukkah, my family eats traditional food, enjoys the company of relatives and other Jews, and opens presents.

     Around the time that most other families are putting up their trees for Christmas, my family begins celebrating Hanukkah in the comfort of our house making and eating many holiday treats, snacks, and meals. One of the most traditional foods of this holiday is a latke, which is a deep-fat-fried potato pancake. These scrumptious treats may be enjoyed with sour cream or applesauce. I enjoy eating latkes with ketchup because it makes them taste like french fries. Another well-known treat of Hanukkah is gelt, which is a chocolate candy wrapped in gold foil and in the shape of a coin. These candies are frequently used during the holiday game of Dreidel as a source of “money” for gambling.  Gelt used to throw a party on my taste buds, but now they seem to be as tasteless as water. Latkes and gelt are the most commonly spoke of and consumed foods on Hanukkah.

     After everyone in the family is done eating, it is time to start the festivities that begin Hanukkah. Dreidel is a fun game that doesn’t require any skill – just luck – where players take turns trying to win gelt. One player at a time spins a dreidel, which is a four-sided top that has a different Hebrew letter on each side. Whichever Hebrew letter it lands on determines all players’ actions. Each action is as follows: ה means take half of the pot, ש means put an extra gelt into the pot, נ means do nothing, and ג means take all in the pot. As the game progresses and the dreidel gets passed to me, I love the feeling of seeing that ג facing towards the sky and taking all of the gelt in the pot. In addition, dancing is another activity enjoyed on Hanukkah by many families. People hold hands and karaoke in a circle to the tune of Hava Nagila, which is also known as the Hora theme song. My family does not do this at home; instead, we go to my temple, which is similar to a Christian’s version of a church. The congregants form a big circle in the social hall to dance the Hora. These are some of the many creative and unique ways to celebrate Hanukkah, including playing Dreidel and dancing the Hora.

     Throughout the eight days of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, children receive many presents. Each day, the presents increase in value, leaving the “best” gift for last. Traditionally, eight total presents are received, but extras may come as well from relatives. As many people find it to be disrespectful to buy me gift cards for Hanukkah, I love them because they allow me to buy what I desire. Games are incorporated when finding presents such as “Hot and Cold” which adds suspense. It has become a tradition in my family to seek for presents around the house. This game can get frustrating at times as my house has a lot of space for hiding presents and the game can take a long time. There is no doubt that a child will not be dissatisfied when opening their presents.

     In conclusion, Jews love rejoicing on Hanukkah around the world. The Festival of Lights can be a very meaningful holiday with delectable foods, wonderful family gatherings, and generous presents.

Smiley Face

Here Comes the Hype...

Well, here we are. A brand new year. I hope you guys made some New Year's resolutions!!! Anyways, to start off this new year, I'd like to talk about the worthless countdown to "The End of the World" that starts now. I do not believe in this junk. I can tell already that there is going to be a lot of hype this year about the world ending.

For all people who are not aware, the world supposedly "ending" came about when a man named Constantine Rafinesque discovered the Mayan calendar in 1832. He discovered that the calendar ended on December 21, 2012 which led people into thinking the world will end on that date. There are many ways people think the world will end on that day and people who believe that the world will indeed end.

There were many other occasions when people thought the world was going to end. Remeber in the December of 1999 everyone thought the world was going to end when it became the year 2000? People thought the computers were going to explode since they thought they could not go up to the number 2. How ridiculous was that?

Just imagine what the Mayans were thinking about during that time...

I beg of you all to please not believe all of this hullaballo as it will be the story-of-the-year and will be talked about a lot. There was also a joke I had heard about the world ending in 2012:

I'll bet you a million dollars that the world won't end in 2012 because if it does, I don't owe you at all.

 So my question for this week will be...

Do you believe in all this hype about the world ending?

Happy New Year!!!

Well, everyone! Today's the day! I'd just like to wish everyone a...

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Expect for more blog posts coming every week on Saturdays!

Struggling With Ambitions

I do not usually do this, but I'd like to make this blog post a little more about me. Please stick with me here, as this may interest you.

Over the course of last week, I had a very strong ambition that was unlike any other. It isn't surprising to have many random ambitions pop into my head at times. Let me tell you now: Deep down, I am an entrepreneur. I feel it. I know it. I've always loved the sight of money and earning money. I love the feeling of having that power and being able to spend money for my own desire. Please note that I am wise with my money and I am not greedy.

I know it is perceived as disrespectful to buy someone a giftcard for their birthday or for the holidays. For me, however, I view it a different way. I think of giftcards as someone saying, "Here you go. This is yours. You buy what you desire and what you wish." and not "I didn't know what you wanted, so here you go."

I'm still a very young kid. I am always trying to think of creative ways to make money that isn't just allowance or chores around the house (even though we could use some of that). When I tell my friends I would like to make money, they are always like, "Ask your parents for some money or do extra chores!" There comes my point - I don't want to receive money from my parents, because when I get money in that form, it seems as if nothing has changed because it was my parents' money; therefore, it technically could be my money already. I want to make money from the outside world as it gives me a feeling of gratitude and accomplishment.

So my most recent ambition was to make an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad application. Many problems had struck me. Some of the problems are as follows:

What is my idea for an app?

How will I make money/market the app?

I can't design an application! Who will do it for me?

How the heck is this going to work?

This list could go on and on folks. My point is, I am not going to give up on this (at least not right away). Hopefully, someone out there can help me design my application and I could acquire Internet stardom at an early age or be quite rich. My question for this week isn't really a question - it is more of a task:

Stick with your ambitions and turn dreams into reality.

I know this might seem like a nursery rhyme quote or something, but honestly, let that sink into your mind and think about it. Maybe something will be able to go your way...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!

My Sixth Sense

Almost everyone I know has a unique sense other than sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. If you search hard enough, you might be able to find your sixth sense. It isn't exactly a sense, but it's something unique that you feel only pertains for you. It comes naturally, and you have to think of what you've done earlier.

I think that my sixth sense is very interesting. As being one of the computer junkies in my family, I have the sense to know when someone has left the television on. I hear a faint buzzing sound in my ear and I know that the TV is still on. It is very strange, but it helps because I can help save some energy from being wasted.

http://watermarked.cutcaster.com/cutcaster-photo-100856711-The-5-senses.jpg & edited by the blogger.

Sciencists always argue whether there are more than five senses, such as the sense of pain. I still believe that there are only five senses, but having a sixth sense is just a saying. So, if you think you have one like me, it's not really another sense, but it is something unique that most people probably wouldn't have. I would like to hear what your sixth sense is, so my question for this week is...

What is your sixth sense?

Challenge Time! #1: The Amish Spirit

As I watched one of the new Family Guy episode that aired on November 28th, 2011, an idea struck me. The idea was to set up some challenges for my blog viewers once in a while. Many of you out there may not enjoy the adult cartoon humor, but I however, find it to be hilarious. The new episode had the main character, Peter Griffin's car break down in the Amish country. Everyone hated the life there with no modern day technology for the Griffin family. The Amish treat them as guests until Peter causes some issues within the Amish country. It is then a battle of technology vs. modern times. Eventually, the two make up and become friends in the end.

Of course with the crude humor that makes up Family Guy there were a couple of stereotypical jokes about the Amish. I hope this does not offend anyone. My favorite part of the episode was when Peter was "introducing rock & roll" to the Amish which they were not too pleased with. Below is a picture from the scene:

This image is copyright of Fox.

Anyways, I was thinking about the Amish and how they can survive with so little technology. I remembered the idea from last year when one of my teachers tried to make us go a week without electronics and then we had to blog about it on our class blog. I failed the challenge within the first 12 hours as I am very dependent on electronics - especially computers. This week, I am challenging my blog viewers to try and go a day - just a day - without the use of technology, just as I did. That means no computers, iPads, iPhones, iPods, electric blenders, coffee machines, washing machines, electric fans, etc. I would like to hear about your experiences and complications that arise during the challenge in the comments!

EDIT: (December 30, 2011)

Try out this Peter Griffin soundboard! Click on one of the phrases for Peter to say it!

Soundboard Archive - Prank Call Soundboards

4 Interesting Ways to Get Rid of a Sore Throat Immediately

As the winter season approaches, we might start to be getting colds and notice we are getting some symptoms of them, including sore throats. This how-to guide will show you how to get rid of sore throats immediately.

Everyone gets a sore throat at some point. When I get a cold or a symptom of a cold, I stop at NOTHING to eradicate them right away. I do my research and test out some of my own ways to get rid of a sore throat right away. Some ways listed may be truly disgusting, but they absolutely work if done correctly. As there are only four ways listed here, notice that these are to get rid of it IMMEDIATELY.

1. Swallow Vinegar

As disgusting as it may seem, swallowing just a spoonful of vinegar eliminates the sore throat right away. I always try this method first as it works best for me.  Vinegar has a very strong taste and smell so try not to think about it when you have it and don't be nervous. Just think: "One gulp and it's gone." Make sure you have water around for after you swallow it.

2. Gargling Salt Water

This is one of those methods that works to get the mucus out of your throat. Take half a mug full of water and heat it for 30 seconds in a microwave or until very warm. Using the hottest temperature of water your mouth can hold works best. Next, take a spoonful of salt (you don't need that much) and put it into the cup of warm water. Stir it up and go to your bathroom. Take mouthfuls of the salt water and gargle it as if it were mouth wash. After about 30-45 seconds, spit it out and repeat until the mug is empty. It is a repetitive process, but it gets rid of the mucus in your throat.

3. Hot Drinks

If this doesn't work, resorting to hot drinks works best. Keeping your body hydrated is the next step in getting rid of a sore throat. Make hot drinks such as tea or warming up some orange juice. Try to only have heated drinks and avoid soft drinks like soda.

4. Use a Humidifier When You Rest

Adding a humidifier to the room you are resting in helps you breathe in the water vapor and clear your sinuses. It also keeps you warm in the room. It helps release the mucus in your sinuses, helping you to breathe better. Swollen sinuses is usually a cause of a sore throat. Do not purposely try to breathe it in. It just happens naturally.

I hope these methods worked for you! Happy holidays!