The Grand Rapids Press reports that a person was robbed today. There are two suspects that are trying to be found. The police are looking in a day care parking lot, as well as a southeast side apartment building. The robbery took place on the block of Charring Cross Avenue, and the victim was injured in the act. The suspects are believed to be in an apartment on Rowland Drive but the search will still continue until they find the bad guys.

The story doesn’t give any detail about how or why the suspects did what they did. I am sure they will have more information out for the public after they catch the bad guys. It is sad to think that an innocent person had to get injured because of two people trying to rob. I think that because of so many scary stories, Americans are afraid to even enjoy a daily walk outside, which should never be the case.

The vote was NO! The Grand Rapids Press shares with us that the Indian Village Condo owners do not want to rebuild their homes. They want their money instead. People who owned a home here will receive insurance payments from the complexes general policy. Owners of one bedroom units will be paid about $50,000, and two bedroom owners are to receive about $56,000. The vote was very clear as it shows 111 did not want their homes rebuilt and 24 of them did. The condo set fire on January 20, and is said to have started on the third floor while destroying 101 homes. The building was built around thirty years ago and was fully up to par on all of its fire needs.

This is tradgic story has a feeling of stress and dicomfort for the families who lost everything in the fire. This is very close to where I live and I am very surprised that the families did not want to rebuild there homes. I guess they just want to move away from the bad and good memories that they have lost in the fire and loss of home.

Robin Canfield is deniedas the Grand Rapids Press describes it. Robin Canfield is from out very own Holland Michigan and was able to make it pretty far on the reality t.v. show, “The Bachelor”. After Mondays episode, Robin was not given a rose by the bachelor Matt Grant. She was some what of a drama queen as she would start arguments with other girls in the house. Also she was known as the ,”date crasher” because she always interrupted one on one dates with other girls and Matt. There are four girls still in the running and Matt will go home with each of the remaining women to meet each family before he has another rose ceremony and kick off another girl. Robin spoke only two words to Matt as she left the set. She said, “Bon soi” and after leaving the set, she was viewed with tears and her eyes and told America that is was his lose.

This article has the feeling of drama and suspense which is what I love about these crazy reality shows. Sometimes I wonder what the girls are thinking because of the weird things they do on National Television. The amazing thing is that America and the Nation is run by T.V.. Most live to watch these shows and will set aside special time out of their lives to watch(me included). I just wonder what we could do with our time if there were no reality T.V. shows?

Every Christmas eve, the Grand Rapids Press writes, Jene Stella brings out Shenango China’s Twelve Days of Christmas dinner plates to place on her table. Each plate is exquisitely decorated, starting with the partridge in a pear tree and ending with 12 drummers drumming. They are trimmed in gold and have the song verse on the back. Every year throughout the 50’s and 60’s Shenango gave out a promotional plate to their valued costumers which happen to be many of the Stella family members. These plates appear at every Christmas and Jene prepares 7 different sea food dishes to fill the plates. They are a great memory that will get passed down in the family.

This story reminds me of all of the family traditions that my family has. We always go to church and then drive to my aunts house in Caledonia. Then we eat and then chose a “santa clause” which is the person who passes out all of the presents on Christmas Eve. Then we go home from our Aunts house where we opened gifts and in the morning, we open our stockings. Then we go back to my aunts house for Christmas dinner. After dinner we watch a family movie and take naps. Holidays always bring great memories that will never be forgotten.

The Grand Rapids Press reported a fire on Sherman Street SE. They determined that the fire started on the second floor and was caused by one of the sons(age 9) who was playing with a lighter. The fishermen arrived 20 minuets after the fire had started at 3:15 in the afternoon. The family consisted of a mother and children of ages 8, 9, and 19 who were all able to escape from the flames. After the fire had be smothered, the police went back into the house to try and rescue ten kittens and two adult cats that were still inside. They had found that some of the kittens were able to get to safety by hiding in a vent, according to firefighters, but many of them died in the blaze and smoke.

This is a sad story because first of all the house is half burned and second of all, animals were harmed. There were some lucky kittens who managed to hide from the smoke and flames but sadly, the rest of them died in the fire. Fire is so dangerous and the family is lucky to be safe and unharmed even though some of their stuff is destroyed. I think they will have learned there lesson in not leaving lighters out in the reach of young children where problems can occur.

Florence Fabricant writes about a great event that will happen tomorrow as restaurants around the world will donate part of their evening’s receipts to organizations helping the families of victims. Red Cross as well as fire and police families and others in need will all be sponsored throughout the next couple of months by restaurants, wine shops and food-related businesses. This event was thought up and started my several chefs in New York who think that eventually, this charity could raise millions of dollars to help those in need. There were 70 people alone who died just in the Windows restaurant in one of the world trade centers. This is not including those who died in restaurants close to the world trade centers and the pentagon but also people who were delivering food and coffee items to the same places. It is said that tomorrow will also bring more people out to eat in New York and Washington which is very helpful since there has been a decline in business after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Not only are restaurants in New York and Washington going to give money, but also chain restaurants around the world as well.

This is such a great event that is going to happen. It is great to see America coming together to help others who are suffering losses and those in need. This really shows how people can step up and help out when needed. I plan on going out to eat tomorrow to contribute and I hope many others will join in the wonderful event taking place.

When you are walking down a street, you don’t want to be encountered by drug and alcohol use, or loud music that can be disturbing to you and others on the streets.  Patricia J. Casey is writing a letter to the sports editor because she was in Las Vegas in February for her daughters high school volleyball tournament. She and her daughters were fearful of walking from different high schools were tournaments were held, to their hotels because of drug and alcohol users on the street. During the same time of the volleyball tournaments, there was also the N.B.A. All-Star team playing in the same city. This event was bringing crazy and uncontrollable fans out into the streets before and after the game. The family experienced bottles being thrown out of cars and strangers coming up to them on their walk home.

I can definitely see where the concerned parent is coming from. She wants to have a safe and enjoyable time while in Las Vegas but is unable to because of N.B.A. fans. But we cant forget about the fans side of the situation. They are also wanting to have fun but the problem is that different people have different ideas of fun. For the people who like to drink and do drugs for fun, should only do it in bars, clubs, and inside of their own homes and not around others who have different ideas of fun. I think this is becoming a big problem not only in Las Vegas but in Cities around the world and things need to change because people should not have to be afraid to go out onto city streets. 

The basketball essayby an unknown author talks about how there are so many students that work so hard and are not really being rewarded. They recive trophyin which they don’t even get to keep. They put everything on the line in order to win a Nation Champion ship. With injuries, time commitment, and hard work all for a trophy. The author talks about how after Kansas won the national championship, player Joakim Noah ran to his mother to give her a big hug. He argues that college sports are just stepping stones to bigger and better things such as the N.B.A. and how if Noah wins a Championship at a higher level, he will be embracing his agent instead. The basketball tournament is all over with now but next march will come fast and we will do it all over again. “Is it really worth it?” the author asks.

I think it is defiantly worth it. I say if you have the talent, then you should use it to the best of your abilities. Pro athletes are great performers and provide entertainment to the world. They are great at what they do and should mostly be looked at as roll models. The authors tone of this piece is very negative towards sports in general. I play a lot of sports and if I didn’t, I would wonder what else I would do with my time. Also, to win a Championship at any level of the game is a great accomplishment and not only do you receive a trophy, but you have the feeling of accomplishment and knowing that your team was the best of the best. You can’t beat that.

Kids have a hard time knowing what they want, and parents often have an even harder time understanding what their children want. The article by the anonymous author from parenting.com talks about ways of dealing with kids whose feelings conflict with their needs, yet they can’t express either. Kids tend to have an immense amount of contradictory impulses and often say the exact opposite of what they mean. The feelings kids portray can be the result of not yet learning another feeling that is appropriate to the situation. Some confusions kids might have include, needing to sleep, but not wanting to stop playing, being hungry, but not wanting to eat, not joining in on the fun, even though they really want to, and being mean to a beloved friend. The best thing for parents to do is to talk to their kids about their feelings. The author gives the example of a mom talking to her child and naming her emotions so she can recognize them in the future. “You’re mad that you had to leave your friends house. You wish you could play as long as you wanted.” Parents can only practice. Lots of practice will help the adult and the child understand the child’s feelings and needs. Children seem to be “masters of self-deception and denial” and usually, all they need is a little help.

I know as a child, and even sometimes now I’ve had problems identifying what I want or need. The author from parenting.com give lots of great examples and testimonials and stories that I’m sure would help any parent. Communication is key when it comes to raising kids, and helping them discern what they are really feeling helps them develop.

This essay was written by a guy about my age who also happened to be black. It was something he struggled with all of his life because he didn’t “act black” or wear “gangsta clothes”. He was also very smart, and on his first day of high school, he walked into his Honors Math class where immediately people thought he was lost. “What is a black kid doing in honors?” he heard one kid not so quietly whisper. Throughout most of the essay we get a glimpse of his struggle, and what he believes through it all. He believes in being true to himself. Yes, he wears tighter clothes than people expect him to, and he talks different and is in Honors classes, but that’s what makes him himself. He is staying true, and he wont change himself just to avoid stares and comments.

What intrigued me the most about this piece was the fact that people do make a bid deal when others do things or are something they aren’t “supposed to do or be”. It’s amazing that he stood strong through all the difficult times and situations.

I think in order to have a good This I Believe essay, the writer has to let the reader into their lives and emotions. Most of the essays I read were about overcoming struggles and hard times, and also sharing life experiences.