Welcome New Year

With New Year just around the corner, it would definitely be a good idea to sit down and evaluate the year before. One way to do that is to take out your checklist from last year. If you haven’t got last year’s checklist, make one this year!

The problem with many checklists, however, is that they may contain the ‘unrealistic’ factor. Decided to study 20 hours out of the 24? The resolution isn’t going to last more than a month or two(if even that long), let alone the rest of the year. What good is a resolution like that? (not that you shouldn’t study at all, I mean) The point is, resolutions should be small, simple and positive: they are changes that you can easily integrate into your life.

Some examples of ideal resolutions could be

• Staying in touch with old friends whether through the internet, phone or in person
• Eating healthy
• Quitting a named bad habit
• Being nice to other people, regardless of who they are
• Caring about yourself and being happy!

Of course, these are just examples. But here’s another suggestion if you happen to fall into this category.

If that’s the case, here’s one really nice suggestion I found on tumblr. Take a jar and keep it aside. Every time something good happens to you, write it down on a slip and put it into the jar. Throughout the year, your jar should slowly fill up and at the end, you can sit down and realize how fulfilling your year had been. If you ask me, this really sounds like an exciting and cheerful way to end your year!

-Riku

Stay Warm in Winter

AssalamuAlaikum and happy winter holidays! I hope everyone is enjoying their end of the year break from school, studies and exams! I’m sure this is a well-deserved break for many students!

This week’s article will be about different ways to combat the cold. With rumors in the air of drastic load shedding in the electricity and gas department, it wouldn’t hurt to know a couple of ways to keep warm without having to use your heater, whether it runs on gas or electricity.

First of all is dress warm. The human body gives off quite a lot of heat and it would definitely be a good idea to insulate yourself and thus keep warm. Try wearing turtlenecks and leg warmers, a hat wouldn’t hurt either. Dressing in layers would also efficiently keep the heat trapped in. Wearing a pair of socks is also good for staying warm.

If you feel that it is cold inside the house as compared to outside, the best thing would be to draw open your curtains and let the sunlight in. Sunlight is nature’s way of warming your house up. It would be ideal to remove any obstructions that block sunlight. Before dusk however, remember to put the curtains back because now you have to retain the heat absorbed during daylight.

Still feeling cold? Make yourself a nice cup of coffee to warm you up! It doesn’t have to be coffee, by the way. You can drink tea, hot chocolate, soup, whatever you like and it’ll keep your body warm by raising its temperature. So this is definitely a good past time for cold winter afternoons.

In case of black outs and no power for lighting, you can utilize candles. Not only are candles a source of light, but they’re also a source of heat, no matter how small. Buy several candles and enjoy a winter night in the candle light. Watch out where you place them though!

Do you enjoy cooking and baking? These two activities can keep you and your kitchen warm! However, watch out for steamy meals. Steam can increase humidity and thus make the environment colder since humid air has the ability to absorb heat efficiently from its surroundings!

Try out these tips and see what results you get. Not only would you be utilizing activities available to you, you’d also be saving energy and resources! Have a nice winter holiday and stay warm!

 -Riku

The Do’s and Don’ts of Studying

Yayy! My exams just finished and I am absolutely ecstatic with joy since I can finally get my nose out of my school books-well for the time being, anyway. In the meantime I’ve been celebrating in my own way by reading, writing my story, baking and watching a teensy bit of TV. At times I want to run back into the school building and go straight to the Headmistress’s office to shout “Wait, I need those exam papers back! “since I’m just so unsure of how my exams went. Well even if they didn’t go so well this time there’s always next time, right? Right!

This is why I have decided to enlighten you all with the dos and don’ts of studying before exams. I can’t guarantee you a brilliant grade; I’m no genie after all. But what I can guarantee you is more ease while you’re studying. Here goes!

 The Do’s and Don’ts of Studying

On Normal Days:

Do take notes in class-and not just the kind that your teacher dictates. Make your own notes in your own words. This way it will be easier for you to understand what you’re reading when you go over them.

Don’t miss out on classes. Bunking class to go to the cafeteria may seem attractive at first but you’re going to regret it in the long run. If you miss too many classes they’re going to pile up and you’ll have a lot of catching up to do. Make sure to borrow someone else’s notes (or better yet, get your teacher to explain what you missed out on if they have the time) so that you don’t get left behind.

Do revise daily. Go over your notes at least once before every next class so that what you actually understand what your teacher is saying.

Don’t leave all your studying until the last minute. Cramming does not work before exams-especially when it’s your finals and you have to learn the entire syllabus. Cramming only works on tests. Studying a bit daily keeps the load of studying from piling up on your shoulders.

Do attempt from the chapters you complete. If your teachers give you worksheets then even better! If you get stuck on any problem, move on. In the end discuss all your problems with your teacher.

Don’t procrastinate. Delaying only leads to it building up.
Do practice, practice, practice. Because practice makes perfect! :3

The Day before the Exam:

Do decide how many hours you plan on studying that day beforehand. A timetable really isn’t necessary just so long as you keep a fixed number of hours in your head. Then stick to that special number like your life depends on it. ;)

Don’t overburden yourself. Keep taking five minute breaks after every hour of studying to keep yourself from losing concentration. If you easily lose track of time, set an alarm.

Do turn off your mobile phone and sign out of all your social networking sites. And by this I do not mean that you should turn your phone on to see if your friend replied to your last text message every break. Try to minimise all the distractions.

Don’t skip out on meals. Especially breakfast as it is the most important meal of the day. According to studies, it helps to keep you energised throughout the day so that you can carry out your daily activities.

Do keep a water bottle on you at all times. Keeping hydrated helps to clear your mind and hey, a little water never hurts anyone.

Don’t leave your room a dump. Your exams aren’t an excuse for you to keep your room messy. The tidier your room, the less the distractions, and the easier for you to concentrate.

Do keep calm. This may contradict all the other things I mentioned but seriously, what are exams anyway? I mean they’re just sheets of paper with questions that are meant to mess with the student’s minds. No big deal-definitely not the end of the world. So keep your calm and give it all you've got! :D

On the day of the Exam:

Do have breakfast.

Don’t oversleep.

Don’t panic

Don’t have a nervous breakdown (remember what I told you-you survived 2012. You’ll survive this too!)

Do pack your stationery beforehand along with anything else you’ll be taking with you to the exam hall.

Don’t be late! The last thing you want is to not be in time for the exam you’ve been studying so hard for.

Do go over your notes if you have the time.

And then keep your head high as you walk into the exam hall. Give it all you’ve got and just pray for the best. Have faith in yourself and it will work out!

Good Luck! J

-Sam

The Guest Speaker Program at Agal

The first thing that came to my mind when I woke up this morning was “Its Blog Post Day yayyy!” Well okay, maybe that wasn't the first thing…but it was the second! The first thing that came to my mind was more along the lines of “I have GOT to stop falling asleep reading”. Lol. Nevertheless, I was pretty thoughtful of what I ought to write on-and that was when it hit me. Why not do a post that isn't extremely random but rather, is more concerned with something that actually happened at school. Hey, this is the Agal Blog after all. J Well, here we go!

The Agal Guest Speaker Program

Just yesterday Asad Umar came to Agal for a motivational talk. You can only imagine how excited everyone was. Especially all the PTI fans. A Council Meeting was held 2 hours before the actual event and for once, no one was tripping over chairs or yawning-everyone was ACTUALLY pretty wide awake. All the Council Members were given their assignments for the duration of the event (including being an usher, giving out refreshments and checking on the guests from time to time). AK was given the responsibility of being an usher. Ha! The halls were filled with teachers and students alike as they scurried from one room to the other, making sure that everything was in place. I once happened to walk into a group of girls testing over a hundred pens to make sure that they worked and another girl re-washing a tray! Talk about strange…

The talk itself was to be held in a huge tent that had been set up earlier in the front garden of the school. It looked lovely with the stage, chairs and decorations. A red carpet had been rolled out from the entrance, leading up to the stage. By 12:10, the head girl had “The Welcoming Committee” standing on either side of the red carpet outside the tent. The moment Asad Umar stepped into the school, all the talk of getting autographs and pictures died down. A bouquet of flowers was given to him and he was welcomed to the school. He was led to one of the two sofas at the front of the tent just as the headmistress and students of another Beaconhouse Branch also turned up. Everyone took their seats and the event began.

The Head Girl began by giving all the guests a warm welcome and expressing how pleased she was that everyone had taken out the time from their busy schedules to be there. Another Student was called upon for a brief intro on Asad Umar. The Student explained that Mr Umar was a graduate of one of Pakistan’s leading Universities and had won many awards. Not only had he been the CEO of Engro corporation, but once he realised that everything led back to the political stature of the country, he gave up his job (which he was being paid around 7 billion for) and instead stepped down into the busy battlefield of Politics. Whoa.

Mr Umar then began his talk. This being his first talk at a school since 1977 led him to admitting that he had been somewhat hesitant on how to keep teenagers interested. He had finally decided upon a talk on the topic of success as that is pretty much what everyone at high school is concerned with. He explained that his life had not always been perfect. In his childhood he had to face many tragedies including his mother being diagnosed with cancer and the death of his grandmother (who he happened to be very fond of).  Furthermore, he emphasised on the education he received as a young boy. Having attended an average school as a child, he had been blessed with teachers who believed in all their students and encouraged them to pursue their passions. All these reasons led up to his being who he is today.

Strangely enough, Mr Umar informed the audience that in Pakistan approximately only 1% of the total population receives a proper education. Being part of that 1%, he said that everyone ought to try their best our believe that they could do anything that they set their mind to. His advice was priceless; Make your own decisions and do what you are passionate of. Don’t do anything just because someone told you to. You grow from making decisions and learn from your mistakes.

The air seemed to change once the talk came to an end; as though everyone were still deep in thought. Having been fully prepared for an hour long bore of a speech, everyone was fascinated by his humorous talk that carried so much meaning. A short question and answer session followed, accompanied by the presentation of a shield to Mr Umar. Finally, The Headmistress of Agal thanked everyone for being there and had the refreshments served. Mr Umar then went to the Principal’s office for tea.

In the meantime, a group of us girls (including yours truly) waited outside the office to somehow get some autographs from him. Having been given the duty of doing the write up for the event, I had a pen and Diary on me. Sad as it was, everyone had me take out pieces of paper for them for their autographs (Luckily enough everyone had their own pens). Which is when it hit me; Mr Umar had said that he was in a hurry…wouldn’t a group picture be a better idea? Everyone agreed on the “Group Picture” Idea and in the end we even got it!

Overall, it was lots of fun and almost everyone was extremely pleased after the talk. (I say almost because there were many girls who didn’t get to be in the picture-technically it was their own fault though. They didn't have to rush up to the Cafeteria Area to finish their Lunch).

Well that’s all for today! The Midterm exams are starting on Tuesday so I need to get cracking…eek! Keep following us and leave us your feedback. See you around! ;)

-Sam

Perfect Weekend Desserts

The weekend is here at last and I can’t WAIT to get baking. To say I like desserts would be the understatement of the century; I LOVE desserts. Sugar will always make you feel better at the end of a long week. Always. If you don’t like baking just yet, allow me to bring to your attention some delicious dessert recipes that will leave you yearning for some more…literally.

And best of all, these are the recipes I use and they always turn out great! All the pictures I've included in this blog post are pictures of my own baking using the recipes mentioned.

1. Apple Pie

I cannot resist pies. That is probably why I absolutely had to bake one myself. People prefer to get the Pie Crust from the supermarket and then just do the filling and put it together. But believe me when I say that making an apple pie from scratch is easy peasy. What’s more, the recipe requires ingredients you probably have at home right now. Oh, and have I even mentioned how the short crust pastry is good enough to eat on its own? I’ll say it now, then: IT’S GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT ON ITS OWN.

For the crust you need all-purpose flour, butter, salt and cold water (though I like adding in sugar because hey, a little sugar never hurts anyone). For the filling you just use 3 large, stewed apples. I like my apples stewed in 1 tablespoon of water and 3 of sugar. You rub the butter into the flour and salt until it resembles bread crumbs and you then add in the ice water 1teaspoon at a time until its good enough to roll. I normally divide the dough into two parts, wrap the halves in cling film and refrigerate for half an hour-the dough is easier to work with that way.

Next you’ve got to roll one half of the dough out and then push it in to the aluminium plate, pour in the stewed apples, sprinkle in some cinnamon(if you like), and then cover it with the other half of the dough. Pop it in the oven for 20-30 minutes (I leave mine in longer so that the top browns a little) and let it cool before serving. You can do either a normal top or a lattice top.

Here's the recipe: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/maryhenrysproperappl_67463

2. Chocolate Fudge Cake

Up until last year, I was in love with the cake mix kind-not that there’s anything wrong with it of course! But then I found this recipe which is amazing. You will never go back to the box stuff. Like the apple pie recipe, it’s a BBC Recipe which you cannot go wrong with. The cake is moist, rich and everything you look for in a chocolate cake.

Isn’t it beautiful?

I always use Cadbury cocoa since I think it tastes best but feel free to use Hershey’s or any other kind that you like. Top it off with some chocolate butter cream and voila! You've got yourself a delicious chocolate cake to devour.

Here's the recipe: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/easy_chocolate_cake_31070

3. Red Velvet Cupcakes

I never really got red velvet cupcakes. I mean sure, they are pretty and all but I was never that big of a fan. Until my brother asked me to bake them on his Birthday for him. I think baking them myself made me really appreciate the cupcakes. They haven’t got too much vanilla or chocolate…they’re just right. Chocolate will always be my favorite since I’m a total chocoholic but my family prefers red velvet to any other cupcakes that I've baked.

The secret to red velvet cupcakes is the vanilla cream cheese frosting, the buttermilk and vinegar, which are responsible for their unique flavor. Oh and if you’re out of buttermilk, you can always substitute each cup of buttermilk with one tablespoon of vinegar mixed into a cup of whole milk. Leave it for 5 minutes before using it. Get the recipe here: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2010/11/08/red-velvet-cupcakes-cream-cheese-frosting/

4. Carrot Cake

When I was younger my mum had a friend who used to make amazing carrot cake. She would have all the ingredients mixed and in the cake tin in under 5 minutes. As soon as it was done she’d give me a huge slice with two scoops of vanilla ice cream. Mmmm.

A while back my mum was just saying how much she missed that friend (because she moved away) so I decided to surprise my mum by baking her some carrot cake. I mixed the batter in the blender because that’s what I remembered her friend doing. Then I poured it all into a bowl and stirred in the Carrot before putting it in the oven.

What you really need to know is that the cake rises to more than twice its size so MAKE SURE YOU DON’T OVERFILL THE CAKE TINS. Also, I omitted the nuts and used 3 teaspoons of cinnamon instead of 2. Carrot cake and sprinkles make for a deadly combination. :3

Get the recipe here: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/carrot-cake/64acd01e-14ad-4e03-9fe1-b62b03ff4667

5. Fluffy Pancakes

By now you’ve probably guessed that aside from being a chocoholic, I really love cinnamon. If you like cinnamon, you’re going to fall for these pancakes. Hard. For years I’d been trying various pancake recipes trying to find the right one. Just when I was about to give up, I found these babies. So good!!

They taste divine drenched in chocolate syrup…Especially THIS Chocolate Syrup. Don’t forget to quadruple the cinnamon though so that it’s one teaspoon! :Dhttp://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-syrup/ on http://www.food.com/recipe/fluffy-egg-free-or-eggless-pancakes-354622

That’s all for today! Try out the recipes and let us know how they turn out. Follow us and check out our blog on Tuesday! Have a Happy (Sugary) Weekend! :)

-Sam

Hello, everyone! For today, we have a guest post by Riku, a student who is in her final year at Agal! Enjoy and let us know what you think!
-Sam

Five Amazing Anime Series

 When entering a discussion about anime, many people back away immediately, deeming the genre of entertainment as “cartoons” and “for kids”. For many others, the face of anime is DragonBallZ, Naruto, Bleach or One Piece, which often doesn't appeal for most. However I’m here to change your view about it by letting you know about the top five anime series that I believe are entertaining and worth watching.

Number Five: Sword Art Online

Based on a light novel with the same name, Sword Art Online (also known as SAO) consists of twenty five episodes that cover the first two volumes of the novel. The anime is in the process of being dubbed in English. The series takes off with the main character, Kirigaya Kazuto entering a game that takes control of all of your senses and transports you to the virtual world of Sword Art Online. Here, Kirigaya Kazuto (or Kirito as he names himself) begins playing when suddenly, the creator of this virtual reality reveals himself and announces that there is no “Logout” button and players are trapped in the game until it is cleared.

Although SAO appears to be of action centered category, it actually falls under the label of romance with action complementing it. The animation, scenery and overall setting of the series is very enjoyable, particularly season one. On a personal note, I did not find season two as enjoyable, nevertheless, I find it definitely worth suggesting.

Number Four: Angel Beats

A thirteen episode long series, Angel Beats is about letting go of past regrets and finding the strength to move forward into the unfathomable. Taking place in a school like setting, with an apparent monarch controlling the affairs and the working of the institute as well as keeping down rebellion posed by a group of students with a charismatic girl leading them. Oh, by the way, the students have all died and are in the school as a transitory period between lives.

Angel Beats is a short, heart touching anime where the personal stories and regrets of each student is explored, each having a sad or unfair life that they wish they could change somehow. The series is, at the same time, light and humorous with quite a bit of action now and then. To sum up, Angel Beats should definitely been on your bucket list of anime.

Number Three: Durarara

Also based on a light novel, Durarara revolves around the everyday lives of different people living in the city of Ikebukuro, all connected together in various strange ways along with a certain headless horsewoman, known as a Dullahan,  looking for her missing body part. Consisting of twenty five episodes, Durarara covers the first two volumes and is available in English dubbing.

Durarara has a very interesting and memorable cast of characters who can be easily related to, whether it’s the shy country boy Mikado who founded the city’s largest gang online, the outgoing and cheerful Masaomi who is hiding a deep dark secret of his past, or the pretty but anti social and dependent Anri who has a secret of her own to hide. Sorry but I can’t really describe any more without giving away the best parts. Overall, DRRR is a very enjoyable anime that would come under supernatural and somewhat every day life with lots of action-and flying convenience store trashcans!

Number Two: Shingeki No Kyojin

Translated to “Attack on Titan”, Shingeki no Kyojin (SnK) is only available in English subtitles as of now. Lasting twenty five episodes, SnK is about humanity trying its best to counter the relentless Titans, towering human shaped creatures with little or no intelligence and a fixed desire to consume humans. In an attempt to keep themselves alive, the remaining human population resides inside fifty feet tall walls that keeps titans out. But as all good things come to an end, the wall is breached and humanity is reminded of the terror of living under the rule of Titans.

Shingeki no Kyojin is an action packed series with some mildly disturbing violence, but with plenty of strong memorable characters. The series also looks into the terror of fighting a losing war, human limitation and corruption at the heart of civilization. Overall, Shingeki No Kyojin is a MUST WATCH because of the amazing animation and overall quality of production.

Number One: Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood

Not as short as the other mentioned series, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood (FMAB) is made up of sixty four episodes. Set in an alternate world where a major science studied is alchemy, main character Edward Elric (no, he doesn’t sparkle that much) and his brother Alphonse commit the ultimate taboo of alchemy: attempting to resurrect the dead. Paying a hefty price for trying to bring back their mother, the two brothers leave their small village to join the government of Amestris as State Alchemists (also known as the Dogs of the Military). In an effort to regain what has been lost, Edward and Alphonse find themselves mixed up in a deep dark conspiracy that began from before the country was even made!

Packed with action, FMAB may seem a little slow at first but quickly picks up the pace. The plot deals with several ideas like the repercussions of war on the victims and soldiers involved, conspiracies in the government, the struggle to correct these vices and how power is able to corrupt. I placed FMAB at the top of this list because it really makes you sit down and think about several issues since the series is more than relatable to our reality today.

These are the top five anime that I would suggest for you to watch. So waste no time! Watch these short (compared to Naruto and Bleach) animes and find yourself hooked for more!

-Riku

Six of the Greatest Fictional Heroines of All Times

My first thought had been to do a post on six book characters. However, the moment I realized I couldn't include Mulan, there was a change in plans!

I have over fifty fictional Heroines but I somehow managed to narrow this post down to my top six.
The majority of the characters mentioned below are brilliant, kick-*** female protagonists. Nevertheless, you’ll love them all! Do leave us comments below letting us know who YOUR favorites are…and why!

6. Tris Prior from Divergent

I love this chick. Sarcastic, strong-willed and determined, she goes from being regular, boring old Beatrice to brave, confident Tris. She proves herself by training incredibly hard and becoming better than everyone else. She’s a brilliant fighter who can beat up anyone twice her size (Oh and if you haven’t read Divergent yet, pick it up THIS INSTANT. No, seriously. Finish the series before the movie comes out in March-hasn't AK’s review got you hooked to the series yet?!).

What’s more, Tris is a little insecure about herself. She thinks she is “average-looking” and “plump” while in reality she’s pretty stunning. And she isn't full of herself, going around boasting and who knows what else. She cares about her family and friends. A lot. And despite her attempts at leaving behind her previous faction (Abnegation), she can’t help being a little selfless. Hey, she’s a Divergent, after all. ;)

5. Rae Voight from Fingerprints

Rae seems kind of out of place in this post as unlike the majority of them, she’s no hero. At least not in the “sword-flinging” or “arrow-shooting” way. At first glance, Rae seems like your average high school red head with a love for art. Turns out she has a skill for reading fingerprints. Whenever she touches a fingerprint, she hears what the person was thinking when they left it there. Pretty cool, huh? Up until she realizes her mom’s murderer is out to get her, that is. Together with Yana, who is a volunteer at the mental hospital she goes to, and Anthony, who she met at group therapy, she keeps her powers a secret.

I really admire how Rae manages to keep her cool in even the worst of situations-and also how she hides all her troubles from her dad who is still in grief over the loss of her mother. Rae is bold and daring, ready to do anything to find out who killed her mom. Her determination is what keeps her going and more importantly, keeps her alive.

4. Alanna of Trebond from the Song of the Lioness Quartet

At the age of ten when Alanna’s father sends her to the Magicians so that she may be taught how to be a lady and learn to control her magic, she decides otherwise and instead swaps places with her twin brother Thom. She goes to the Palace with her Guard; Coram, as “Alan” of Trebond, where she trains to be a Knight-the first Female Knight in Centuries. She befriends the King of the Thieves and the Prince of the Palace, defeats the Evil Magician who wants to get rid of the Prince and teaches herself how to use her powers. Best of all, she manages to pass the Ordeal and become a Knight. Alanna has taught me that where there’s a will, there’s a way. And she goes out there and does the impossible.

3. Fa Mulan from Disney's Mulan

I don’t think I even need to say anything about her. I mean who doesn’t know Mulan, today? Mulan’s concern for her father (who’s actually pretty old) drives her to take his place in the Imperial Army as “Ping”, Mulan’s imaginary brother. Throughout the movie, she is transformed from a somewhat pretty, outspoken girl who thinks of herself as a disgrace, into a warrior who upholds her family’s honor by saving China. And it was all for the love for her father and the concern for his life. More than anything else, Mulan has brought me to realise that anything is possible just so long as you have faith in yourself!

2. Celeana Sardothien from Throne of Glass

Words do not begin to describe Celaena Sardothien. Honest. Once the Princess of Terrasen, Celaena was found by Arobynn Hamel during the overthrow of the Empire. She trains at the keep and becomes Adarlin’s greatest assassin. She survived after watching her parents being killed at eight, paid off her debt to Arobynn, managed to get out of a lifetime sentence to the Endovier salt mines and is now the King’s Champion. Celaena has it all; the looks, the talent, the sarcasm and the skill. Regardless her constant getting into trouble and being a tad bit too impatient, she has a passion for reading, shopping and fine dining, so you are bound to fall in love with her!

1. Luna Lovegood from The Harry Potter Series

Often lost in a world of her own, Luna is a dreamer with a wide imagination and a love for books and animals (which kind of makes me think of Lucy Pevensie from the Chronicles of Narnia-another favorite of mine). At first glance she may be seen as “weird” or “awkward” but she isn't really! Luna is different. She believes in that which can’t be seen (take the Nargles, for instance), always speaks her mind, and isn’t afraid of standing out from the crowd. She is quite easily amused (as she is known to have once told her father “Daddy, look — one of the gnomes actually bit me!”) and takes no notice of what anyone thinks of her or says behind her back.

Although she makes her first appearance in the Order of the Phoenix, Luna proves to be a loyal friend to Harry and stands by his side whenever she possibly can. She is a member of Dumbledore’s Army and fights by Harry’s side during the Battle at the Department of Mysteries and the Battle of Hogwarts. Along with Ginny and Neville, she helps to reconstitute Dumbledore’s Army in the absence of the Golden Trio.

She is a good listener and is always there for her friends. Her quiet, caring personality can be experienced in many places including how during their imprisonment at the Malfoys, she helps to keep the wand maker Ollivander alive. Moreover, she also expresses her gratitude to Dobby at his funeral and then suggests they close his eyes, “There. Now he could be sleeping.”

Moves me to tears every time :’)

Even JK Rowling herself has a soft spot for Luna as she married her off to Newt Scamander’s grandson Ralf, of whom she was rather fond (See 

http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/09/12/fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-harry-potter-movies-jk-rowling/

 for details).

Overall, I love Luna and believe she isn’t appreciated nearly as much as she should be-we SO need more Lunas in the world. ;)


Well, that's all for today! But stay tuned for our post on Tuesday and don't forget to leave us some comments!
-Sam

5 Books I fancy

There is no friend as loyal as a book.” ― Ernest Hemingway

Urgh! what a cliché! But, what to do? Clichés are mostly true.

Now I rhyme! Ha!

Okay. Today, I bring you some good reads. I have 5 incredible books to suggest! All from different genres so there is something for everyone.

1. Destiny Disrupted by Tamim Ansary.

An engaging and easy-to-read "history of the world through Islamic eyes", "Destiny Disrupted" is a great introduction to the history of the faith more than a billion humans profess. With friendly, conversational prose and a keen eye for revealing anecdotes, Ansary leads us through nearly 1500 years of Islamic history, from the revelation of the Quran and the early life of the Islamic community, through the Abbasids, the Ottomans, the Mughals, and up to the beginning of the 21st century. "World history", Ansary writes "is not a chronological list of every single thing that ever happened ... it's the arc that counts." "Destiny Disrupted" is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of the Islamic world. But the book is more than just a litany of past events. As Ansary writes in his conclusion, "The conflict wracking the modern world is not, I think, best understood as a 'clash of civilizations.' ... It's better understood as the friction generated by two mismatched world histories intersecting." Ahem ahem. Very serious. Very informative.

2. Divergent by Veronica Roth.

Divergent is one of many books about dystopian societies that are appearing on the shelves of bookstores all over the nation. What makes this one unique is the depth that Roth includes in her writing. It is more than just the struggle of living in a dystopia, or more than just the normal teenage girl struggles, of love and acceptance, but of doing what is right and standing up for the things you believe in. I may not be living in the same world as Tris but I found myself able to relate to her, at least a little. Her struggle between staying alive for the sake of those she loves, or sacrificing herself to save the world she knows. Excitingly, its movie is coming out next year. And one more thing….Do not fall in love with ‘Four’. He’s mine!

3. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

      This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland to Spain in search of a treasure, buried near the Pyramids. This book talks about destiny. Not Love related destiny, you single track people! It’s about the journey towards a person’s destiny. It can be anything. Your goals, your obsessions, whatever you are searching for. Life will take you there, if you don’t stop.

                                            

4.  Getting More by Stuart Diamond.

It’s a self-improvement book. Oh, come on! It’s not boring it’s awesome! It’s exciting. It’s a good read for students of business studies, accounting and economics and anyone who wants to improve their negotiation skills….cause let’s face it we love to negotiate. We negotiate everywhere-unless we're buying jewelry from Accessorize! Ha. Nevertheless. Negotiation skills come in handy and we all need them in our day to day lives.

5.  Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.

Whimsy and Mythologically dramatic, Neverwhere is a fun Urban Fantasy refreshingly free of vampires and werewolves. There is real elegance in how this book hooks you in and takes you on a wild ride. The heroes are minimally sketched ciphers and the readers are invited to project themselves into. They take shape mainly from the quests; Richard wants to get back to his boring life, Door wants to avenge the murder of her family, Hunter wants to kill the Great Beast of London. The power structure of this society depends on bartering and favors, so it is impossible to tell who to trust. The most evil and supernaturally powerful characters in this tale, Mr.Vandemar and Mr. Coup, take so much fun in their mayhem, you can't help liking them  ("Cant make an Omelette without killing a few people")

I suggest these five books to you, now hit the stores, get the books OR download their ebook versions and read them on your kindle or smartphones. Either way give me your feedback. I'm sure you'll love them, so much so you won't wanna put them down! I bet you're going to have some quality time in their company. Enjoy!

-AK