Man vs Food
by Zack P.
If there is a region, there is a culture with its own flavor of unique food. And if anybody knows about that culture it is the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food, host Adam Richman. Adam Richman sets out to travel to countries looking for great places to stop and indulge him-self in every kind of food. He begins by trying to find the best traditional food in our great nation.
Adam has a lot of restaurant experience and a lifelong passion for food. After hunting down all the best unique culinary dishes in each city, he takes on that city’s best and hardest food challenge. Whether he’s eating hot wings or eating a 13 lb pizza, Adam will eat anything.
Adam has a lot of restaurant experience and a lifelong passion for food. After hunting down all the best unique culinary dishes in each city, he takes on that city’s best and hardest food challenge. Whether he’s eating hot wings or eating a 13 lb pizza, Adam will eat anything.
Music
by Tayler H.
There are many types of music; rap, hip hop, country, r&b, alternative rock, rock, metal, classical, folk, etc. Everybody has their own style of music for example; I like hip hop, country, and alternative rock. Music has been in the world since the beginning of time.
Music is a good thing sometimes. You can learn from it, but it’s also kind of bad because it teaches you things that may be inappropriate for your age group. Music plays a big role in this world though. Many people listen to music. Everybody has their own type of music, for some people, music tells their style, and personality, but not for all people, things aren’t always as they seem.
Music can influence kids in bad ways. Joshua Smith from SocyBerty Magazine, says that music can have a bad influence, like if you really listen to the lyrics you’ll understand what their talking about. Rap always talks about drugs, sexual things, and murdering people.
Music can also influence kids in good ways to. Sid Kirchheimer with WebMD health news says that “some types of music can influence their (young people’s) speech.” .Some music can teach kids things like love, respect, and other things that involve life. People like Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Anne Hutchens, Demi Lavoto, Miley Cyrus, etc.
What do you think about music? What does it do for you? Does it help you in life? Does it make you happy, sad? Music is kind of like a mood setter. If you’re in the mood for something calm, soothing, you could listen to jazz or classical music. If you’re mood for something fast, happy, and energetic, you could listen to hip hop, or rock. If you’re in a sad mood you can listen to slow country. There are many moods that music can set.
Music is a good thing sometimes. You can learn from it, but it’s also kind of bad because it teaches you things that may be inappropriate for your age group. Music plays a big role in this world though. Many people listen to music. Everybody has their own type of music, for some people, music tells their style, and personality, but not for all people, things aren’t always as they seem.
Music can influence kids in bad ways. Joshua Smith from SocyBerty Magazine, says that music can have a bad influence, like if you really listen to the lyrics you’ll understand what their talking about. Rap always talks about drugs, sexual things, and murdering people.
Music can also influence kids in good ways to. Sid Kirchheimer with WebMD health news says that “some types of music can influence their (young people’s) speech.” .Some music can teach kids things like love, respect, and other things that involve life. People like Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Anne Hutchens, Demi Lavoto, Miley Cyrus, etc.
What do you think about music? What does it do for you? Does it help you in life? Does it make you happy, sad? Music is kind of like a mood setter. If you’re in the mood for something calm, soothing, you could listen to jazz or classical music. If you’re mood for something fast, happy, and energetic, you could listen to hip hop, or rock. If you’re in a sad mood you can listen to slow country. There are many moods that music can set.
Justin Bieber
by Taylor C.
Justin Bieber
My favorite singer is now Justin Bieber. I love his song One Time, his voice is very awesome. Justin was discovered by Usher on You Tube, and they say that he saw a star in him. He is single and trying to find the right girl, maybe I should go to one of his concerts! Now that I listen to his songs, I see why lots of girls are crazy about him. I have a poster of him in my room; I look at it all the time. I love the song One Time; he did a good job on it. I haven’t seen that video yet, but I want to. I really want to meet Justin Bieber in person; he lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born on March 14th, 1994 in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. His favorite food is spaghetti. Justin’s middle name is Drew. He released his first album on November 17, 2009. His favorite color is purple that is another thing we have in common. Justin likes to play video games, watch TV, and skateboard in his spare time.
Some of his other songs are: First dance, One Less Lonely Girl. The other day he helped other popular singers create a relief song for the earthquake victims in Haiti. They remade Michael Jackson’s song We Are the World. Justin Bieber has only been singing for a few months and he already has thousands of fans. 99% are girls. I am one of those girls. If I see him on TV I will watch him sing. I first saw him on a talk show. He was performing his song One Time. He was very good for a fifteen year old. And he already had fans when he was performing his song, they went crazy
Some of his other songs are: First dance, One Less Lonely Girl. The other day he helped other popular singers create a relief song for the earthquake victims in Haiti. They remade Michael Jackson’s song We Are the World. Justin Bieber has only been singing for a few months and he already has thousands of fans. 99% are girls. I am one of those girls. If I see him on TV I will watch him sing. I first saw him on a talk show. He was performing his song One Time. He was very good for a fifteen year old. And he already had fans when he was performing his song, they went crazy
Trey Songz
by Mirriam H.
He is a typical young man who started singing at a young age. He was discovered by producer Troy Taylor during a talent show, which led him to the signing of a contract with Atlantic Records. Tremaine Aldon Neverson is his name, but he is also known as Trey Songz.
Who is Trey Songz? Trey Songz was born as a military brat on November 28, 1984 in Petersburg, Virginia. After discovering Songz, Taylor encouraged Trey to finish high school first. After graduating from high school, he moved to New Jersey to start his music career and to improve his vocal, writing, and production skills.
So far, Songz has released three studio albums: I Gotta Make It, Trey Day, and Ready. In 2008 he won the best male R&B artist at the BET awards, a Grammy for best male R&B vocal performance for“Can’t Help but Wait,” and Ozone Award for best R&B artist. In 2009, Songz was nominated for Best Collaboration on “Successful” at the Soul Train Awards and Best Contemporary R&B Album for “Ready” at the Grammy Awards.
Since making his recording debut in 2005, Trey Songz has crafted some of the most compelling R&B music of the decade. “I’ve always been the underdog of my class,” says Trey. “But this time nothing can stop me from achieving all that I want.”
Who is Trey Songz? Trey Songz was born as a military brat on November 28, 1984 in Petersburg, Virginia. After discovering Songz, Taylor encouraged Trey to finish high school first. After graduating from high school, he moved to New Jersey to start his music career and to improve his vocal, writing, and production skills.
So far, Songz has released three studio albums: I Gotta Make It, Trey Day, and Ready. In 2008 he won the best male R&B artist at the BET awards, a Grammy for best male R&B vocal performance for“Can’t Help but Wait,” and Ozone Award for best R&B artist. In 2009, Songz was nominated for Best Collaboration on “Successful” at the Soul Train Awards and Best Contemporary R&B Album for “Ready” at the Grammy Awards.
Since making his recording debut in 2005, Trey Songz has crafted some of the most compelling R&B music of the decade. “I’ve always been the underdog of my class,” says Trey. “But this time nothing can stop me from achieving all that I want.”
Be Prepared for Natural Disasters
by Elma I.
Natural Disasters happen everywhere. Some people are prepared for them and some aren’t. Earthquakes, tornadoes, snow storms, blizzards, hurricanes, and hail storms are just a few storms that occur naturally. Volcanoes, avalanches, and floods are some other things as well. Natural disasters are just the flow of nature. Mother Nature is the only one that can control what happens. All we can do is hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.
Earthquakes only last for a few seconds but they can do some real damage. An earthquake happens because the tectonic plates under the earth’s surface move against each other. The rocks usually break underground. Earthquakes destroy everything in just a matter of seconds. The last recent earthquake was in Haiti, Tuesday the 19th 2010. People have nothing over there. They are still searching and hoping to find their family and friends in the rubble that is left. You can get prepared for earthquakes by having a place to get under in case of a shake, like a table that can protect your head from anything that would or could fall on your head.
Hurricanes destroy everything too. But hurricanes use water to destroy. Hurricanes take time to produce. They travel the waters until they hit land and when they do it is with heavy force. Hurricanes can some times last for hours and some hurricanes stop and go at times. Some even last for days. A hurricane preparedness kit includes food, water, money, and anything you might need after the hurricane. The things you might need after the hurricane are probably money, clothing, food and water.
Tornadoes are just like hurricanes but without water. Tornadoes travel in a straight path for minutes. Tornadoes are hot and cold airs chasing each other round and round then they goes really fast and then form a tornado. Tornadoes usually come in the hot and humid air, in summer time. Get a tornado kit and be informed. A tornado kit should include a radio with fully charged batteries, candles or flashlight, some food, and water along with anything else you could use during and after a tornado.
Natural disasters are everywhere. All around the world we can’t do anything but be prepared for the worst. We need to get the safety facts and use them when bad weather strikes. Get the facts and use them when the time comes. Be prepared.
Earthquakes only last for a few seconds but they can do some real damage. An earthquake happens because the tectonic plates under the earth’s surface move against each other. The rocks usually break underground. Earthquakes destroy everything in just a matter of seconds. The last recent earthquake was in Haiti, Tuesday the 19th 2010. People have nothing over there. They are still searching and hoping to find their family and friends in the rubble that is left. You can get prepared for earthquakes by having a place to get under in case of a shake, like a table that can protect your head from anything that would or could fall on your head.
Hurricanes destroy everything too. But hurricanes use water to destroy. Hurricanes take time to produce. They travel the waters until they hit land and when they do it is with heavy force. Hurricanes can some times last for hours and some hurricanes stop and go at times. Some even last for days. A hurricane preparedness kit includes food, water, money, and anything you might need after the hurricane. The things you might need after the hurricane are probably money, clothing, food and water.
Tornadoes are just like hurricanes but without water. Tornadoes travel in a straight path for minutes. Tornadoes are hot and cold airs chasing each other round and round then they goes really fast and then form a tornado. Tornadoes usually come in the hot and humid air, in summer time. Get a tornado kit and be informed. A tornado kit should include a radio with fully charged batteries, candles or flashlight, some food, and water along with anything else you could use during and after a tornado.
Natural disasters are everywhere. All around the world we can’t do anything but be prepared for the worst. We need to get the safety facts and use them when bad weather strikes. Get the facts and use them when the time comes. Be prepared.
Keys, Bieber and Swift
by Chelsea F.
Justin Bieber
Do you have a favorite singer? Well I do, I have three because I can’t decide, I like Alicia Keys, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Swift. I like the kind of music that has meaning behind it. Like when you’re in your room and something is going bad, so you play a song and it relates to you in so many ways. Did you know every song tells a story? You just have to listen behind the words for the message. So next time you are at home playing a song, just stop and listen and hear what it the song is telling, you it might help you.
Alicia Keys is a young female artist. She turned thirty on January 25. She was born in New York in 1980. I think she has an amazing voice. She has a lot of voice for a little girl. She has sold tons of CDs since she became a singer. My favorite song that she sings If I ain’t got you. If you like an artist that has many different kinds of music, check her out.
Justin Bieber is a young male artist He was discovered on YouTube by Usher. He was on YouTube because he was in a talent show and some of his family couldn’t make it to his talent show so he posted it. Justin was born on March 14, 1994, so that makes him fifteen. He was born in a small town in Canada. He has only released one CD called One World. My favorite song by Justin is, Down To Earth . He has another CD coming out in February around Valentines Day. I can’t wait! Taylor Swift is a young female artist. She is now twenty years old. She was born in 1989 on December 13. She has released two CDs. She is working on the third one right now. I don’t know when it is suppose to be coming out but I am sure sometime soon. I will be waiting. I love her second CD Fearless, it is great. My three favorite songs on that CD are, White Horse, Your Not Sorry, and Breathe.
I am in love with music. It inspires me in so many ways. It makes me want to do something with my life. It calms me, helps me though my troubles, and I feel like I can breathe when I have music around me. I love music. It rocks!!!!
Alicia Keys is a young female artist. She turned thirty on January 25. She was born in New York in 1980. I think she has an amazing voice. She has a lot of voice for a little girl. She has sold tons of CDs since she became a singer. My favorite song that she sings If I ain’t got you. If you like an artist that has many different kinds of music, check her out.
Justin Bieber is a young male artist He was discovered on YouTube by Usher. He was on YouTube because he was in a talent show and some of his family couldn’t make it to his talent show so he posted it. Justin was born on March 14, 1994, so that makes him fifteen. He was born in a small town in Canada. He has only released one CD called One World. My favorite song by Justin is, Down To Earth . He has another CD coming out in February around Valentines Day. I can’t wait! Taylor Swift is a young female artist. She is now twenty years old. She was born in 1989 on December 13. She has released two CDs. She is working on the third one right now. I don’t know when it is suppose to be coming out but I am sure sometime soon. I will be waiting. I love her second CD Fearless, it is great. My three favorite songs on that CD are, White Horse, Your Not Sorry, and Breathe.
I am in love with music. It inspires me in so many ways. It makes me want to do something with my life. It calms me, helps me though my troubles, and I feel like I can breathe when I have music around me. I love music. It rocks!!!!
Mean Girls
by Kristina B.
Have you ever wondered why girls are so mean? Every middle school and high school has one girl who looks like a Barbie doll but acts like a devil. She is the one girl that makes other girls miserable and self conscious. Fortunately I was never one of those girls or the girl that got picked on. I was the girl that stood up for myself. Now I’m here to tell you why these are one of the worst girls you can ever meet.
You can pretty much say that every mean girl is jealous of another girl. Some things that might make a girl jealous are another girls looks, all the boys want her, or her personality. When they get jealous they choose to make that girl miserable. They will often taunt the girl until she can’t take it anymore, fight her, or spread bad rumors about her.
In a national survey, in grades 6th through 10th, 13% of kids reported bullying others, 11% reported being bullied and 6% said that they have bullied and been bullied. That is 30% of America that has been involved in bullying some how. These girls need to be stopped before more vulnerable kids get hurt but, no one will stop them. They are too busy to even notice what’s going on in their own school. I see girls spreading rumors everyday. Everyone thinks that they are little angels but under all that make up are little devils.
How do I know when a girl is mean? You might ask. Well there are plenty of signs like; she smiles at another girl in a provocative way, she starts rumors, or she knocks down a girl’s books on purpose. Many of our school faculty members don’t even notice until it’s too late. If you see any of the signs please report it to a teacher or trusted adult.
You can pretty much say that every mean girl is jealous of another girl. Some things that might make a girl jealous are another girls looks, all the boys want her, or her personality. When they get jealous they choose to make that girl miserable. They will often taunt the girl until she can’t take it anymore, fight her, or spread bad rumors about her.
In a national survey, in grades 6th through 10th, 13% of kids reported bullying others, 11% reported being bullied and 6% said that they have bullied and been bullied. That is 30% of America that has been involved in bullying some how. These girls need to be stopped before more vulnerable kids get hurt but, no one will stop them. They are too busy to even notice what’s going on in their own school. I see girls spreading rumors everyday. Everyone thinks that they are little angels but under all that make up are little devils.
How do I know when a girl is mean? You might ask. Well there are plenty of signs like; she smiles at another girl in a provocative way, she starts rumors, or she knocks down a girl’s books on purpose. Many of our school faculty members don’t even notice until it’s too late. If you see any of the signs please report it to a teacher or trusted adult.
Jerkin'
by Je'lyn P.
Jerkin’ or Jerk is a Los Angeles dance movement that started in 2008 in Los Angeles and spread into southern California. It has gained fans all over the west coast and is quickly gaining popularity on the east coast. The dance itself consists of moving your legs in and out and doing other dance moves like the reject- basically the running man backwards- dip-basically bouncing up and down, and the pin-drop-which is putting one of your legs behind the fold of the opposite knee and falling towards the ground. The rap group New Boyz really introduced the jerk when they made their hit song called You’re a Jerk. Another rap group named Audio Push also made a jerkin’ song called Teach Me How to Jerk, which was also pretty big. The typical fashion for people who jerk is wearing skinny jeans and unusual bright colors. There is one really popular dance crew in California called The Ranger$. They record songs and compete in jerk competitions throughout California. A lot of jerk crews around the country showcase this movement via YouTube. This is how most jerk crews are found. On YouTube, you can find tutorials on how to jerk, certain music to jerk to, and much more. Jerkin’ is pretty much known around the country now (thanks to the New Boyz) and most of my friends can perform the dance, so can I. I wear nothing but skinny jeans, there’s hardly a day that I don’t wear them and I like the bright colors as well. So I guess you could say that some of my style has been influenced by the fashion of people who jerk. Learning the dance is hard at first, but when you practice, it will gradually get better. It took me a while to get it but now, I could jerk all day if I wanted to. I have a question for you: can you jerk?
Indigo Vanity
by Oshun F.
Indigo Vanity
Who is Indigo Vanity? Well, Indigo Vanity is an average 16 year old girl that lives in California and has many talents. Her real name is Indigo Vanity Ford but she goes by Indigo Vanity. She jerks, models, acts, raps, and dances. The main talent she is really known for is jerkin’. She is titled as the “Best Female Jerk”. If you don’t know what jerkin is, it’s a dance movement started in Los Angeles California around 2008. It spread all over California and then spread around on the east coast. It really became known around the world when a group called New Boyz made a hit song called “You’re A Jerk”. Jerkin’ is a constant movement of the feet, sometimes called the “running the man backwards”. Indigo Vanity is an expert at all elements of jerkin’. She has battled the best of the best and won. That’s how she got the title “Best Female Jerk”. She has made many videos on YouTube showing off her talent jerkin’. She has also appeared in the New Boyz video “You’re a Jerk” and “Tie Me Down”. She has taken action and formed her own jerkin’ crew called Smooth Criminals Click (SCC). Indigo inspires me because she is just different. She is also known for her pink hair. You would think it would look weird on somebody, but it actually looks cool on her. She used to have black hair with blond bangs. Currently, she made her hair half pink and half black, which still looks cool. Her style of clothing is so different. Like most jerks, she wears skinny jeans, but she also throws in her own style consisting of bright colors. She is just so different, but in a good way. She is her own person. There is nobody else like Indigo Vanity.
Ignorance is Your New Best Friend
by Chelsea L.
Paramore
Paramore! This is not only my favorite band, but the favorite of others as well. This all American rock band was formed in Franklin, Tennessee in 2004! So don’t ask your grandparents about this band, they wouldn’t know. The members of this band include Hayley Williams (lead vocals/keyboards), Josh Farro (lead guitar/backing vocals), Jeremy Davis (bass guitar), Zac Farro (drums), and Taylor York (rhythm guitar).
This group released their debut album All We Know Is Falling, in 2005. The album they put out, in which made them famous is Riot! It was certified platinum in the US, and gold in the UK. Have you even heard of Paramore? I had a German exchange student come to my house for two weeks, and she said that even there, this band was a huge hit! Brand New Eyes is Paramore’s third smashing album, and was charted their best seller which came out September 29th, 2009. The furiously paced track blends the sass of the band’s Riot! Misery Business with hints of the darkness heard in Decode (off the Twilight soundtrack). Lead singer, Hayley Williams spits out the song’s catch and proclaims, “Ignorance is your new best friend!”
So, are you interested? If not, then become a new fan. You will not regret it! Paramore is a head banging rock band that will not let you live another boring moment.
This group released their debut album All We Know Is Falling, in 2005. The album they put out, in which made them famous is Riot! It was certified platinum in the US, and gold in the UK. Have you even heard of Paramore? I had a German exchange student come to my house for two weeks, and she said that even there, this band was a huge hit! Brand New Eyes is Paramore’s third smashing album, and was charted their best seller which came out September 29th, 2009. The furiously paced track blends the sass of the band’s Riot! Misery Business with hints of the darkness heard in Decode (off the Twilight soundtrack). Lead singer, Hayley Williams spits out the song’s catch and proclaims, “Ignorance is your new best friend!”
So, are you interested? If not, then become a new fan. You will not regret it! Paramore is a head banging rock band that will not let you live another boring moment.
Psychology
by Marina Z.
Inward Thinking:
Have you ever wondered why someone does what they do? Why they say what they say? Everyone is different, even if they look alike. They still have a mind of their own. They feel emotions, and react to what they feel (some more than others). How about you? Take a moment and think about yourself. Even you might not know why you do some of the things you do, or why you think the way you do. Some people are very confused, and let their impulses control them. They, or even you, may feel out of control. You want to do what’s right, but you end up back where you started. Can you control yourself?
Yes, you can. Psychology is the study of the soul, or the mind. It helps us understand ourselves. It’s basically about human nature, and actually a very interesting topic (depending on what you like). Your way of thinking and acting CAN be explained. These are types practiced by psychologists.
Branches of Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that looks at psychopathology and abnormal behavior. The term covers a broad range of disorders, from depression to obsession-compulsion and many more. Counselors, clinical psychologists, and psychotherapists often work directly in this field. Basically, if a person is content with their life, then they are of no concern to the mental health field. However, if a person's thoughts or behaviors are causing them personal discomfort or unhappiness, then they will be considered abnormal.
The most common symptom for abnormality is maladaptiveness. To be maladaptive is to have an inability to adapt to a certain situation. There are two aspects of maladaptive behavior:
1. Maladaptive to one's self - inability to reach goals, to adapt to the demands of life
2. Maladaptive to society - interferes, disrupts social group functioning.
A very simple idea that can be used to classify abnormal behavior is personal distress. Basically, if a person's thoughts or behaviors are causing them personal discomfort or unhappiness, then they will be considered abnormal.
Behavioral Psychology
Behavioral psychology, also known as behaviorism, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states. This usually pertains to children.
So, this would explain why children receive rewards or punishments. It’s part of their environment. If they were constantly rewarded, they would continue to do what’s wrong, and grow up thinking it’s right. But, if they were to constantly get punishments, which is also known as abuse (if there is no reason for the punishment, and if it’s too harsh), they would be wary, timid, and cautious. That’s not healthy for a child, but they grow up with their environment, and their behavior depends on their family, or surroundings.
Biopsychology
This branch of psychology focused on the study of how the brain influences behavior.This field studies anatomy, parts of the brain, neurotransmitters and the nervous system. When someone is having brain surgery, the surgeon who is operating on the patient would have studied this field.
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on internal states, such as motivation, problem solving, decision-making, thinking, and attention. For example; this type of psychology would greatly affect people in the detective field. To solve a case, they would need to be generally good with the qualities studied in the cognitive branch.
Comparative Psychology
Comparative psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the study of animal behavior. The study of animal behavior can lead to a deeper and broader understanding of human psychology. For example, if you compare a nice, domestic dog, with a wild, stray dog, there is quite a difference. The two dogs definitely have different ways of thinking, and a lot of it may come from their environment. The stray would be more defensive, and less social. The domestic would be friendly, nice, and considered “man’s best friend”, while the other might get shot for violence, or put in an animal shelter, and put to sleep later due to unfriendliness, and an inability to find a home for it.
Developmental Psychology
This branch of psychology looks at development throughout the lifespan, from childhood to adulthood. The scientific study of human development seeks to understand and explain how and why people change throughout life. This includes all aspects of human growth, including physical, emotional, intellectual, social, perceptual, and personality development. Topics studied in this field include everything from prenatal development to Alzheimer's disease.
Educational Psychology
Educational psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with schools, teaching psychology, educational issues, and student concerns. Educational psychologists often study how students learn or work directly with students, parents, teachers and administrators to improve student outcomes.
Experimental Psychology
Experimental psychology is the branch of psychology that utilizes scientific methods to research the brain and behavior. Many of these techniques are also used by other areas in psychology to conduct research on everything from childhood development to social issues. For example, a child that has a family that loves him/her would most likely grow up to be a good adult, but some children are loved, and are still unhappy. This may be due to a corrupt social life. They may be made fun of, bullied, etc. and they may drag out their problems into family life, and may take everything for granted. And that also may be how they grow up, and become a not-so-good adult.
Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology is a specialty area that deals with issues related to psychology and the law. Forensic psychologists perform a wide variety of duties, including providing testimony in court cases, assessing children in suspected child abuse cases, preparing children to give testimony and evaluating the mental competence of criminal suspects.
Personality Psychology
This branch of psychology is focused on the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behavior that make a person unique. Some of the best-known theories in psychology have arisen from this field, including Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. Erikson’s theory describes the impact of social experience across the whole lifespan. At each stage of development, Erikson described conflicts that act as turning points in life.
Social Psychology
Social psychology seeks to explain and understand social behavior and looks at diverse topics including group behavior, social interactions, leadership, nonverbal communication and social influences on decision-making. This is truly where political leaders shine. If a good leader speaks, they may influence a whole country (at least a majority)!! Not every leader has good intentions, such as Hitler, but he, and all the other bad-hearted leaders, could have used their social skills for bettering a country, rather than breaking it down. But, bad-hearted or not, they certainly know how to use this branch effectively.
Have you ever wondered why someone does what they do? Why they say what they say? Everyone is different, even if they look alike. They still have a mind of their own. They feel emotions, and react to what they feel (some more than others). How about you? Take a moment and think about yourself. Even you might not know why you do some of the things you do, or why you think the way you do. Some people are very confused, and let their impulses control them. They, or even you, may feel out of control. You want to do what’s right, but you end up back where you started. Can you control yourself?
Yes, you can. Psychology is the study of the soul, or the mind. It helps us understand ourselves. It’s basically about human nature, and actually a very interesting topic (depending on what you like). Your way of thinking and acting CAN be explained. These are types practiced by psychologists.
Branches of Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that looks at psychopathology and abnormal behavior. The term covers a broad range of disorders, from depression to obsession-compulsion and many more. Counselors, clinical psychologists, and psychotherapists often work directly in this field. Basically, if a person is content with their life, then they are of no concern to the mental health field. However, if a person's thoughts or behaviors are causing them personal discomfort or unhappiness, then they will be considered abnormal.
The most common symptom for abnormality is maladaptiveness. To be maladaptive is to have an inability to adapt to a certain situation. There are two aspects of maladaptive behavior:
1. Maladaptive to one's self - inability to reach goals, to adapt to the demands of life
2. Maladaptive to society - interferes, disrupts social group functioning.
A very simple idea that can be used to classify abnormal behavior is personal distress. Basically, if a person's thoughts or behaviors are causing them personal discomfort or unhappiness, then they will be considered abnormal.
Behavioral Psychology
Behavioral psychology, also known as behaviorism, is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. Conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. According to behaviorism, behavior can be studied in a systematic and observable manner with no consideration of internal mental states. This usually pertains to children.
So, this would explain why children receive rewards or punishments. It’s part of their environment. If they were constantly rewarded, they would continue to do what’s wrong, and grow up thinking it’s right. But, if they were to constantly get punishments, which is also known as abuse (if there is no reason for the punishment, and if it’s too harsh), they would be wary, timid, and cautious. That’s not healthy for a child, but they grow up with their environment, and their behavior depends on their family, or surroundings.
Biopsychology
This branch of psychology focused on the study of how the brain influences behavior.This field studies anatomy, parts of the brain, neurotransmitters and the nervous system. When someone is having brain surgery, the surgeon who is operating on the patient would have studied this field.
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on internal states, such as motivation, problem solving, decision-making, thinking, and attention. For example; this type of psychology would greatly affect people in the detective field. To solve a case, they would need to be generally good with the qualities studied in the cognitive branch.
Comparative Psychology
Comparative psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the study of animal behavior. The study of animal behavior can lead to a deeper and broader understanding of human psychology. For example, if you compare a nice, domestic dog, with a wild, stray dog, there is quite a difference. The two dogs definitely have different ways of thinking, and a lot of it may come from their environment. The stray would be more defensive, and less social. The domestic would be friendly, nice, and considered “man’s best friend”, while the other might get shot for violence, or put in an animal shelter, and put to sleep later due to unfriendliness, and an inability to find a home for it.
Developmental Psychology
This branch of psychology looks at development throughout the lifespan, from childhood to adulthood. The scientific study of human development seeks to understand and explain how and why people change throughout life. This includes all aspects of human growth, including physical, emotional, intellectual, social, perceptual, and personality development. Topics studied in this field include everything from prenatal development to Alzheimer's disease.
Educational Psychology
Educational psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with schools, teaching psychology, educational issues, and student concerns. Educational psychologists often study how students learn or work directly with students, parents, teachers and administrators to improve student outcomes.
Experimental Psychology
Experimental psychology is the branch of psychology that utilizes scientific methods to research the brain and behavior. Many of these techniques are also used by other areas in psychology to conduct research on everything from childhood development to social issues. For example, a child that has a family that loves him/her would most likely grow up to be a good adult, but some children are loved, and are still unhappy. This may be due to a corrupt social life. They may be made fun of, bullied, etc. and they may drag out their problems into family life, and may take everything for granted. And that also may be how they grow up, and become a not-so-good adult.
Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology is a specialty area that deals with issues related to psychology and the law. Forensic psychologists perform a wide variety of duties, including providing testimony in court cases, assessing children in suspected child abuse cases, preparing children to give testimony and evaluating the mental competence of criminal suspects.
Personality Psychology
This branch of psychology is focused on the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behavior that make a person unique. Some of the best-known theories in psychology have arisen from this field, including Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. Erikson’s theory describes the impact of social experience across the whole lifespan. At each stage of development, Erikson described conflicts that act as turning points in life.
Social Psychology
Social psychology seeks to explain and understand social behavior and looks at diverse topics including group behavior, social interactions, leadership, nonverbal communication and social influences on decision-making. This is truly where political leaders shine. If a good leader speaks, they may influence a whole country (at least a majority)!! Not every leader has good intentions, such as Hitler, but he, and all the other bad-hearted leaders, could have used their social skills for bettering a country, rather than breaking it down. But, bad-hearted or not, they certainly know how to use this branch effectively.
Neptune
by Manish B.
Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun; it is one of the two planets that cannot be seen from Earth, without a telescope. Neptune is a very unique planet.
Neptune is seventeen times heavier than Earth, and is thirty times farther than Earth from the Sun. Neptune is the only planet who does something very unusual, once every two hundred and forty-eight years, Pluto and Neptune switch their orbits, once that happens Pluto becomes the eighth planet and Neptune becomes the ninth. This switch lasts for at least twenty years. A day on Neptune lasts for about sixteen hours and seven minutes. Neptune is called a “gas giant” because Neptune is covered with gases including frozen methane, a chemical that is in natural gases.
One of Neptune’s most visible features is a white cloud, which is being called “Scooter”. Another visible feature of Neptune was the “Great Dark Spot”, which was similar to the “Great Red Spot” of Jupiter, however, in 1994; the Hubble Telescope discovered that the spot had disappeared. Neptune, being a gas giant, does not have any surface, but still has the fastest wind on any planet. Neptune has more than eleven moons, a couple of Neptune’s moons are called Despina, Galatea, Larissa, Naiad, Proteus, Thalassa, and Triton, which just so happened to be Neptune’s largest moon. Neptune has rings just like Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus.
Unlike Saturn, Neptune has faint and dark rings, so they aren’t visible as much as Saturn’s rings are. The idea of other planets behind Uranus was thought up by John C. Adams. He used math to come up with coordinates for Neptune. However, no one believed Adams, because nobody thought that there were other planets behind Uranus. At the same time, Urbain J.J. Leverrier, a French mathematician, came up with the same concept. He also came up with coordinates for Neptune, which was closely similar to Adams. Unlike Adams, Leverrier got his coordinates looked at through a telescope. Sure enough, on September 23, 1846, Neptune was found near Leverrier’s coordinates. Neptune had been found. So the next time you look through a telescope, be sure that you look at Neptune, because Neptune is a planet of beauty and mystery
Neptune is seventeen times heavier than Earth, and is thirty times farther than Earth from the Sun. Neptune is the only planet who does something very unusual, once every two hundred and forty-eight years, Pluto and Neptune switch their orbits, once that happens Pluto becomes the eighth planet and Neptune becomes the ninth. This switch lasts for at least twenty years. A day on Neptune lasts for about sixteen hours and seven minutes. Neptune is called a “gas giant” because Neptune is covered with gases including frozen methane, a chemical that is in natural gases.
One of Neptune’s most visible features is a white cloud, which is being called “Scooter”. Another visible feature of Neptune was the “Great Dark Spot”, which was similar to the “Great Red Spot” of Jupiter, however, in 1994; the Hubble Telescope discovered that the spot had disappeared. Neptune, being a gas giant, does not have any surface, but still has the fastest wind on any planet. Neptune has more than eleven moons, a couple of Neptune’s moons are called Despina, Galatea, Larissa, Naiad, Proteus, Thalassa, and Triton, which just so happened to be Neptune’s largest moon. Neptune has rings just like Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus.
Unlike Saturn, Neptune has faint and dark rings, so they aren’t visible as much as Saturn’s rings are. The idea of other planets behind Uranus was thought up by John C. Adams. He used math to come up with coordinates for Neptune. However, no one believed Adams, because nobody thought that there were other planets behind Uranus. At the same time, Urbain J.J. Leverrier, a French mathematician, came up with the same concept. He also came up with coordinates for Neptune, which was closely similar to Adams. Unlike Adams, Leverrier got his coordinates looked at through a telescope. Sure enough, on September 23, 1846, Neptune was found near Leverrier’s coordinates. Neptune had been found. So the next time you look through a telescope, be sure that you look at Neptune, because Neptune is a planet of beauty and mystery
Barrel Racing
by Kayla S.
Barrel racing, is my life. Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and its rider attempt a clover leaf pattern around three barrels trying to get the fastest time. Men and women, even boys and girls compete in this event, but most of the time it is women. It combines the horse's athletic ability and the horsemanship skills of a rider in order to safely and successfully lead a horse through a clover leaf pattern.
Three barrels are placed in a triangle in the center of an arena. The timer begins when horse and rider cross the start line, and ends when the horse and rider cross the finish line. The rider's time depends on several things, most the time it’s the horse's physical and mental condition, and the rider's horsemanship abilities.
Barrel racing started for women to compete in, while the men rode bulls, broncos and roped. Barrel racing is known to be the most popular event competition. In Barrel Racing, the fastest time will win. It’s only judged by the clock so it doesn’t have very many rules to go by.
Barrel Racers in competition at the professional level must pay attention to detail while going at a fast speed. Precise control is required to win. Running past a barrel and off the pattern will result in a "no time" score, meaning that the run just attempted will not count with no second chance. If a barrel racer or her horse hits a barrel and knocks it over, there is a time penalty, usually five seconds, which will result in a time too slow to win.
It takes a lot to be a barrel racer. When in training, you have to watch what you eat, exercise yourself and your horse. It takes a lot of dedication. When in training you must get a lot of rest, due to all of the time you are taking out of your day to build yourself and the horse in many ways. So to be a barrel racer, you have got to love it, because if you don’t, then you will never succeed. So, if you don’t know already it takes everything you’ve got to be a barrel racer.
Three barrels are placed in a triangle in the center of an arena. The timer begins when horse and rider cross the start line, and ends when the horse and rider cross the finish line. The rider's time depends on several things, most the time it’s the horse's physical and mental condition, and the rider's horsemanship abilities.
Barrel racing started for women to compete in, while the men rode bulls, broncos and roped. Barrel racing is known to be the most popular event competition. In Barrel Racing, the fastest time will win. It’s only judged by the clock so it doesn’t have very many rules to go by.
Barrel Racers in competition at the professional level must pay attention to detail while going at a fast speed. Precise control is required to win. Running past a barrel and off the pattern will result in a "no time" score, meaning that the run just attempted will not count with no second chance. If a barrel racer or her horse hits a barrel and knocks it over, there is a time penalty, usually five seconds, which will result in a time too slow to win.
It takes a lot to be a barrel racer. When in training, you have to watch what you eat, exercise yourself and your horse. It takes a lot of dedication. When in training you must get a lot of rest, due to all of the time you are taking out of your day to build yourself and the horse in many ways. So to be a barrel racer, you have got to love it, because if you don’t, then you will never succeed. So, if you don’t know already it takes everything you’ve got to be a barrel racer.
The Beatles
by Heath K.
The Beatles are a legendary band completely from Liverpool, United Kingdom. They are also way before my time but I still listen to their music and love all of it… except the song Wild Honey Pie, that’s just dumb. I find it cool that the newer Pop and Rap genres will have one huge popular song one day then the next day something else will come out and that’s the new fad. The Beatles’ music was the complete opposite of this because each of their songs was hits and is still cherished today.
The genre that they played in my opinion differs between songs and albums. For instance the album Abbey Road, is more of a Classic Rock/Pop album. On the other hand, The White Album, seems to be a bit more mellowed out. In all the Beatles have 13 recorded albums.
Abbey Road includes the songs: Come Together, Something, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, Oh! Darling, Octopus’s Garden, I Want You (She’s So Heavy), Here Comes the Sun, Because, You Never Give Me Your Money, Sun King, Mean Mr. Mustard, Polythene Pam, She Came In Through the Bathroom Window, Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End, and Her Majesty. That is a total amount of 17 songs which is a few more than today’s average album. This is probably one of my favorite albums. It got its name from the very first place they did a real recording. I have to say this is one of my favorite albums by them because it’s more of a Rock and Ballad sort of album where their others are more mellow and calm.
The White Album includes the songs: Back in the U.S.S.R, Dear Prudence, Glass Onion, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (One Song), Wild Honey Pie, The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, Martha My Dear, I’m So Tired, Blackbird, Piggies, Rocky Raccoon, Don’t Pass Me By, Why Don’t We Do It in the Road, I Will, Julia, Birthday, Yer Blues, Mother Nature’s Son, Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey, Sexy Sadie, Helter Skelter, Long, Long, Long(One Song), Revolution 1, Honey Pie, Savoy Truffle, Cry Baby Cry, Revolution 9, and Good Night. This album has a whopping 30 songs, which is about twice as much as the average album. This seems to be a pretty mellow album with all soft Easy Listening songs. I really like this album; I have the original vinyl for it. They put a lot of work into this album and it was well worth it because it was very well selling. This album sold 50,000 copies when it went gold!
The members of the band were Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and George Harrison. As I said earlier they are all from Liverpool, United Kingdom. They started making the band when this new style of music appeared over there. They got a lot of inspiration from Elvis Presley. They started off really minuscule but now they are the gods of classic rock! Their best selling song was I Want To Hold Your Hand.
I would have to say that my favorite Beatle was John Lennon. He was, as some people say “the ultimate hippie.” I honestly can say I agree with this because he was so peace loving. A very terrible event occurred on December 8th, 1980. A man named Mark David Chapman came to Lennon’s residence in New York City, New York and got his attention then shot him with a pistol. He did this because he wanted to feel like somebody so he thought that killing John would make him famous, as he said in an interview. Lennon is still missed very much to this day. Before he died, the Beatles had disbanded and this is partly why he was assassinated.
Well, this is pretty much all I have to say about the Beatles. On a last note I will just say that they had amazing music and it will be cherished for generations to come. I hope you have enjoyed this article on one of the greatest bands of all time.
The genre that they played in my opinion differs between songs and albums. For instance the album Abbey Road, is more of a Classic Rock/Pop album. On the other hand, The White Album, seems to be a bit more mellowed out. In all the Beatles have 13 recorded albums.
Abbey Road includes the songs: Come Together, Something, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, Oh! Darling, Octopus’s Garden, I Want You (She’s So Heavy), Here Comes the Sun, Because, You Never Give Me Your Money, Sun King, Mean Mr. Mustard, Polythene Pam, She Came In Through the Bathroom Window, Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End, and Her Majesty. That is a total amount of 17 songs which is a few more than today’s average album. This is probably one of my favorite albums. It got its name from the very first place they did a real recording. I have to say this is one of my favorite albums by them because it’s more of a Rock and Ballad sort of album where their others are more mellow and calm.
The White Album includes the songs: Back in the U.S.S.R, Dear Prudence, Glass Onion, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (One Song), Wild Honey Pie, The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, Martha My Dear, I’m So Tired, Blackbird, Piggies, Rocky Raccoon, Don’t Pass Me By, Why Don’t We Do It in the Road, I Will, Julia, Birthday, Yer Blues, Mother Nature’s Son, Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey, Sexy Sadie, Helter Skelter, Long, Long, Long(One Song), Revolution 1, Honey Pie, Savoy Truffle, Cry Baby Cry, Revolution 9, and Good Night. This album has a whopping 30 songs, which is about twice as much as the average album. This seems to be a pretty mellow album with all soft Easy Listening songs. I really like this album; I have the original vinyl for it. They put a lot of work into this album and it was well worth it because it was very well selling. This album sold 50,000 copies when it went gold!
The members of the band were Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and George Harrison. As I said earlier they are all from Liverpool, United Kingdom. They started making the band when this new style of music appeared over there. They got a lot of inspiration from Elvis Presley. They started off really minuscule but now they are the gods of classic rock! Their best selling song was I Want To Hold Your Hand.
I would have to say that my favorite Beatle was John Lennon. He was, as some people say “the ultimate hippie.” I honestly can say I agree with this because he was so peace loving. A very terrible event occurred on December 8th, 1980. A man named Mark David Chapman came to Lennon’s residence in New York City, New York and got his attention then shot him with a pistol. He did this because he wanted to feel like somebody so he thought that killing John would make him famous, as he said in an interview. Lennon is still missed very much to this day. Before he died, the Beatles had disbanded and this is partly why he was assassinated.
Well, this is pretty much all I have to say about the Beatles. On a last note I will just say that they had amazing music and it will be cherished for generations to come. I hope you have enjoyed this article on one of the greatest bands of all time.
Rock and Roll All Nite!
by Bradley H.
Rock and Roll, man! That’s where it’s at! If you know me, you probably know that I’m a tall, music crazed lunatic. My favorite bands are from the sixties to the early nineties, including AC/DC, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Dio, Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Jimi Hendrix. Almost a year ago, I started playing guitar. I’ve taught myself the famous riffs to such songs as T.N.T. by AC/DC, Layla by Eric Clapton, Enter Sandman by Metallica, Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin, Ain’t Talking About Love by Van Halen. I think I know a lot of history about my favorites bands, which I love to talk to people about.
The band Led Zeppelin is one of my top favorites. The band consisted of Jimmy Page, the guitarist, Robert Plant, the vocalist, John Paul Jones, the bass guitar, and John “Bonzo” Bonham, the drummer. From the late sixties to 1980, the British band rocked the world with such hits as Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker, Rock N’ Roll, Immigrant Song, Black Dog, and Stairway to Heaven. On September 25th, 1980, Bonham had been drinking heavily the day before and choked on his own vomit in his sleep. This killed him and caused the band to end their career in honor of their irreplaceable drummer. A movie, called The Song Remains the Same, was a Led Zeppelin concert that was filmed, truly a great movie for fans of the band.
To say that the band Metallica was a good band would be an understatement. What Hendrix and the Beatles were to the sixties, and Eddie Van Halen and Led Zeppelin were to the seventies, Metallica was to the eighties. The band, consisting of James Hetfield, the vocalist as well as rhythm guitar, Kirk Hammett, the lead guitar, Robert Trujilo, the bass guitar, and Lars Ullrich, the drummer, are the most popular heavy metal band, inspiring such modern bands as Slipknot, Korn, and others, as well as millions of imposters, the band has rocked the world with hits like Enter Sandman, Fuel, Sad But True, One, Orion, and the Unforgiven. The heavy sound of the band has become one of the most recognized sounds in the word.
My favorite band, AC/DC, is mainly made up of Scottish born Australian musicians. Angus Young, the lead guitarist, Brian Johnson, the current vocalist, Malcolm Young, the rhythm guitarist, Cliff Williams, the bass guitarist, and Phil Rudd, the drummer, have rocked the world since the seventies. The band has many stunts and tricks that the band members use, such as Angus playing guitar solos on Johnson’s shoulders, Angus running across stage, and his famed duck-walk in his school boy outfit. It seems that the only members of AC/DC who have not been replaced are the Young brothers. Bon Scott, the late vocalist, died choking on his own vomit in 1980, their most popular album, Back in Black, was a tribute to their vocalist. Before Scott, the band had a vocalist who he replaced named Dave Evans, who was kicked from the band due to his lack of showmanship. Chris Slade, drums, Simon Wright, drums, and Mark Evans, bass, were also members of the band but left. Their biggest hits in America are mainly Back in Black, Thunderstruck, You Shook Me All Night Long, Highway to Hell, Have a Drink On Me, Whole Lotta Rosie, Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap), and T.N.T. with their new album from 2008 being Black Ice. It is also known that the band Guns N’ Roses is a friend of AC/DC, having toured together and each one playing the others songs sometimes at concerts.
Being a fan of music, I enjoy playing and listening to it.I have tried to write music, but it’s a lot easier with a band to put in their ideas and to play it together. I’ve wanted my brother to learn to play bass, which he might be getting one soon. My friend Lachlan would like to play in the band too, as the rhythm guitarist. With them, I just need a vocalist and a drummer, which I hope to find soon and form a band and get a gig.
The band Led Zeppelin is one of my top favorites. The band consisted of Jimmy Page, the guitarist, Robert Plant, the vocalist, John Paul Jones, the bass guitar, and John “Bonzo” Bonham, the drummer. From the late sixties to 1980, the British band rocked the world with such hits as Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker, Rock N’ Roll, Immigrant Song, Black Dog, and Stairway to Heaven. On September 25th, 1980, Bonham had been drinking heavily the day before and choked on his own vomit in his sleep. This killed him and caused the band to end their career in honor of their irreplaceable drummer. A movie, called The Song Remains the Same, was a Led Zeppelin concert that was filmed, truly a great movie for fans of the band.
To say that the band Metallica was a good band would be an understatement. What Hendrix and the Beatles were to the sixties, and Eddie Van Halen and Led Zeppelin were to the seventies, Metallica was to the eighties. The band, consisting of James Hetfield, the vocalist as well as rhythm guitar, Kirk Hammett, the lead guitar, Robert Trujilo, the bass guitar, and Lars Ullrich, the drummer, are the most popular heavy metal band, inspiring such modern bands as Slipknot, Korn, and others, as well as millions of imposters, the band has rocked the world with hits like Enter Sandman, Fuel, Sad But True, One, Orion, and the Unforgiven. The heavy sound of the band has become one of the most recognized sounds in the word.
My favorite band, AC/DC, is mainly made up of Scottish born Australian musicians. Angus Young, the lead guitarist, Brian Johnson, the current vocalist, Malcolm Young, the rhythm guitarist, Cliff Williams, the bass guitarist, and Phil Rudd, the drummer, have rocked the world since the seventies. The band has many stunts and tricks that the band members use, such as Angus playing guitar solos on Johnson’s shoulders, Angus running across stage, and his famed duck-walk in his school boy outfit. It seems that the only members of AC/DC who have not been replaced are the Young brothers. Bon Scott, the late vocalist, died choking on his own vomit in 1980, their most popular album, Back in Black, was a tribute to their vocalist. Before Scott, the band had a vocalist who he replaced named Dave Evans, who was kicked from the band due to his lack of showmanship. Chris Slade, drums, Simon Wright, drums, and Mark Evans, bass, were also members of the band but left. Their biggest hits in America are mainly Back in Black, Thunderstruck, You Shook Me All Night Long, Highway to Hell, Have a Drink On Me, Whole Lotta Rosie, Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap), and T.N.T. with their new album from 2008 being Black Ice. It is also known that the band Guns N’ Roses is a friend of AC/DC, having toured together and each one playing the others songs sometimes at concerts.
Being a fan of music, I enjoy playing and listening to it.I have tried to write music, but it’s a lot easier with a band to put in their ideas and to play it together. I’ve wanted my brother to learn to play bass, which he might be getting one soon. My friend Lachlan would like to play in the band too, as the rhythm guitarist. With them, I just need a vocalist and a drummer, which I hope to find soon and form a band and get a gig.
Anarcho Punk
by Miranda E.
Due to the fact a majority of people in Kentucky listen to the awful, cliché, so-called genre of country music, I’m sure most have not heard about Anarcho punk. It is by far my favorite sub-genre of punk music. I am absolutely fanatical about this category of music. It supports many of the ideals I hold concerning matters such as government.. Without loud Anarcho-Punk blaring from my stereo, I doubt I would be able to get up in the morning. Anarcho–Punk brings me a vast amount of motivation.
As the name implies, Anarcho-Punk includes ideologies of both Anarchism, and Punk Rock. Anarchism is defined by the dictionary as "The theory that all forms of government are unnecessary, oppressive, and undesirable and should be abolished." Anarchism holds the principal that government, is awful and should be abolished. Other branches of Anarchism have also included abolishing religion, property, family, and other social institutions. Some people say that all anarchists are vicious, and they are often referred to as “bomb throwers”. This is positively not the case compared to the United States government, which dropped more bombs every day on Iraq than anarchists have thrown in the almost 150 years of the political movement. People also declare an Anarchist society would not work. There have been scores of successful Anarchist societies, including early hunters and gatherers, which lived as equals, devoid of authority. There are very many well known people that hold/have held Anarchist ideals, including Leo Tolstoy, Mary Shelley, Allen Ginsberg, Emma Goldman, Abbie Hoffman, and Henry David Thoreau.
Punk Rock is a genre that is mainly believed to have been created between 1974 and 1976. There are many punk bands, including The Clash, Sex Pistols, Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, Stooges, Flipper, Gun Club, MDC, Minor Threat, New York Dolls, Sham 69, Oi Polloi, Ramones, Raincoats, Reagan Youth, Subhumans, Television, U.K. Subs, X, Germs, Black Flag, and Adicts. The genre encourages a do it yourself attitude, and many bands related to the genre put out their own records, some on their own record labels. Anarcho Punk is said to have originated mainly from the United Kingdom, in the late 70’s to the early 80’s. It is more politically based and uses a faster tempo. The main objective is to provide a message, rather than produce a popular song.
There are many notable Anarcho-Punk bands. The band that probably got me hooked on the genre is Crass. Many of their songs endorse Anarchism as a way of life, direct action,environmentalism, animal rights, promoting feminism, anti-racism, anti-war, and anti- globalization. The song “Big A, Little A” seems to be about living as yourself as long as you aren’t hurting anyone, which is a great philosophy. “Punk is Dead” mentions how commercialized punk has become, and how commercial bands seem to have no message. Another great Anarcho-Punk band is Conflict. Their song “Force or Service” discusses distaste for police, and questions whether police are a force to protect us, or rather a force to rule over us with. Conflict also is one of the first bands to truly focus on animal rights.
If you ever need a break from predictable, boring, corporate sleaze, try getting your rookers on a great Anarcho Punk album. There are loads of albums just sitting on shelves getting dusty, and forgotten. Music is a very great way to send across a message to people. It may be total trash to some, but for others it’s treasure. Anarcho Punk is full of meaning, power, and inspiration.
As the name implies, Anarcho-Punk includes ideologies of both Anarchism, and Punk Rock. Anarchism is defined by the dictionary as "The theory that all forms of government are unnecessary, oppressive, and undesirable and should be abolished." Anarchism holds the principal that government, is awful and should be abolished. Other branches of Anarchism have also included abolishing religion, property, family, and other social institutions. Some people say that all anarchists are vicious, and they are often referred to as “bomb throwers”. This is positively not the case compared to the United States government, which dropped more bombs every day on Iraq than anarchists have thrown in the almost 150 years of the political movement. People also declare an Anarchist society would not work. There have been scores of successful Anarchist societies, including early hunters and gatherers, which lived as equals, devoid of authority. There are very many well known people that hold/have held Anarchist ideals, including Leo Tolstoy, Mary Shelley, Allen Ginsberg, Emma Goldman, Abbie Hoffman, and Henry David Thoreau.
Punk Rock is a genre that is mainly believed to have been created between 1974 and 1976. There are many punk bands, including The Clash, Sex Pistols, Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, Stooges, Flipper, Gun Club, MDC, Minor Threat, New York Dolls, Sham 69, Oi Polloi, Ramones, Raincoats, Reagan Youth, Subhumans, Television, U.K. Subs, X, Germs, Black Flag, and Adicts. The genre encourages a do it yourself attitude, and many bands related to the genre put out their own records, some on their own record labels. Anarcho Punk is said to have originated mainly from the United Kingdom, in the late 70’s to the early 80’s. It is more politically based and uses a faster tempo. The main objective is to provide a message, rather than produce a popular song.
There are many notable Anarcho-Punk bands. The band that probably got me hooked on the genre is Crass. Many of their songs endorse Anarchism as a way of life, direct action,environmentalism, animal rights, promoting feminism, anti-racism, anti-war, and anti- globalization. The song “Big A, Little A” seems to be about living as yourself as long as you aren’t hurting anyone, which is a great philosophy. “Punk is Dead” mentions how commercialized punk has become, and how commercial bands seem to have no message. Another great Anarcho-Punk band is Conflict. Their song “Force or Service” discusses distaste for police, and questions whether police are a force to protect us, or rather a force to rule over us with. Conflict also is one of the first bands to truly focus on animal rights.
If you ever need a break from predictable, boring, corporate sleaze, try getting your rookers on a great Anarcho Punk album. There are loads of albums just sitting on shelves getting dusty, and forgotten. Music is a very great way to send across a message to people. It may be total trash to some, but for others it’s treasure. Anarcho Punk is full of meaning, power, and inspiration.
Goal!
by Kassidy B.
Have you ever played soccer? Soccer is my favorite sport. I love the rush you get when you play. Soccer is the only sport that I would devote my life to. I’ve played soccer on a team since I was three years old. I guess you could say that I know the sport!
There’s more to soccer than a lot of people think. A lot of people believe that soccer is just kicking a ball around and trying to get it in a net. I guess that would be an okay description, as long as you add in other attackers trying to steal the ball from you, defenders trying to trample you to get the ball up-field, and a goalie that isn’t going to let you score. Other than having the opposing team though, you have your own team. Your teammates have your back on matter what.
Soccer is played on a large rectangular field. Both teams play with eleven players on the field at one time. Two attackers, or the people that shoot the ball (they’re the ones in front), four midfielders (these guys have the hardest job! Running all the way up and down the field), four defenders: the two on the sides are the wings, the closest defender to the other teams’ goal is the stopper. The “stopper” prevents the ball from getting to our goal, if it gets past them, the wingmen take over, and the person closest to your goal is the sweeper. The sweeper clears the ball up and out of sight! If it gets past the sweeper, then you have the keeper or goalie. The goalie is always the most important player on the field at all times. They also take most of the blame. So basically, you have ten people on the field at all times, plus the goalie. It’s also really good to have some subs if somebody gets hurt and has to come out of the game. Also, when putting together a soccer team, make sure you have more than one person that wants to play goalie. It’s a tough job and it stinks when your goalie is injured and nobody else knows how to play.
Things that you do when the ball goes out of bounds: If it’s on one of the long sides of the field, the opposite team that kicked it out throws it in. If it goes out on your goal side and someone on your team kicked it out, it’s a corner kick, made by someone on the opposing team. If it goes out on your goal side and someone from the other team kicked it out, it is a goal kick made by either the goalie or a defender on your team, going the other direction. Always remember: When in doubt, kick it out!
You can also get many fouls in soccer. Like for using elbows or purposely knocking someone over. They get to take a penalty kick on your goal, or the ball is placed in the spot where they got hurt and they can kick it towards your goal. Or they could kick it wide to a teammate and their teammate could come around and score on you while you were still trying to figure out where she kicked the ball. Three of my favorite soccer players are: Christiano Renaldo (cute), David Beckham (still cute), and Warren Central’s own Kelsey Burnette (amazing!). I actually got to play with Kelsey and she coached me when I played for Central. She is going on to play for WKU so you should go watch her sometime.
Soccer is a very interesting sport, I would advise you to play it or watch it sometime. There are lots of injuries in soccer, though so you should know what you’re getting in to before you play it. I love soccer, not just because it’s the only sport that I’m good at, but because I’ve played it for so long it’s become a part of me.
There’s more to soccer than a lot of people think. A lot of people believe that soccer is just kicking a ball around and trying to get it in a net. I guess that would be an okay description, as long as you add in other attackers trying to steal the ball from you, defenders trying to trample you to get the ball up-field, and a goalie that isn’t going to let you score. Other than having the opposing team though, you have your own team. Your teammates have your back on matter what.
Soccer is played on a large rectangular field. Both teams play with eleven players on the field at one time. Two attackers, or the people that shoot the ball (they’re the ones in front), four midfielders (these guys have the hardest job! Running all the way up and down the field), four defenders: the two on the sides are the wings, the closest defender to the other teams’ goal is the stopper. The “stopper” prevents the ball from getting to our goal, if it gets past them, the wingmen take over, and the person closest to your goal is the sweeper. The sweeper clears the ball up and out of sight! If it gets past the sweeper, then you have the keeper or goalie. The goalie is always the most important player on the field at all times. They also take most of the blame. So basically, you have ten people on the field at all times, plus the goalie. It’s also really good to have some subs if somebody gets hurt and has to come out of the game. Also, when putting together a soccer team, make sure you have more than one person that wants to play goalie. It’s a tough job and it stinks when your goalie is injured and nobody else knows how to play.
Things that you do when the ball goes out of bounds: If it’s on one of the long sides of the field, the opposite team that kicked it out throws it in. If it goes out on your goal side and someone on your team kicked it out, it’s a corner kick, made by someone on the opposing team. If it goes out on your goal side and someone from the other team kicked it out, it is a goal kick made by either the goalie or a defender on your team, going the other direction. Always remember: When in doubt, kick it out!
You can also get many fouls in soccer. Like for using elbows or purposely knocking someone over. They get to take a penalty kick on your goal, or the ball is placed in the spot where they got hurt and they can kick it towards your goal. Or they could kick it wide to a teammate and their teammate could come around and score on you while you were still trying to figure out where she kicked the ball. Three of my favorite soccer players are: Christiano Renaldo (cute), David Beckham (still cute), and Warren Central’s own Kelsey Burnette (amazing!). I actually got to play with Kelsey and she coached me when I played for Central. She is going on to play for WKU so you should go watch her sometime.
Soccer is a very interesting sport, I would advise you to play it or watch it sometime. There are lots of injuries in soccer, though so you should know what you’re getting in to before you play it. I love soccer, not just because it’s the only sport that I’m good at, but because I’ve played it for so long it’s become a part of me.
South Warren Schools
by Conner D.
Most of you have already heard about the new school here in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I think that you also know that some kids from Moss are being forced to go to South Warren. Students like me. Now some of these kids want to go to South Warren but not me.
I do not want to go for many reasons. The main reason is that I will have to leave a lot of my friends. The way that they divided us up means that only a few 7th graders get to go to South Warren, so I will have to go and a lot of my new friends are staying here. But, some of my best friends are going to South Warren with me so that is comforting, but some of them have to stay here.
Also, I will have to get used to a new school, again. Last year I had to switch from my old elementary school to Moss and that was a HUGE change, but now I’m used to Moss and I really like it now. But now that I’m finally used to it I have to change schools again! That means that I will have to get used to all my new classes, make new friends, and meet new teachers.
Another bad side to it doesn’t really include me. It is for the kids who play sports for Moss and Warren Central. This will be bad for them because if they played for Moss this year, and had a spot on the team for next year then they would loose that spot and have to start all over at South Warren.
Even with all of this to consider, there is a good side to all of it. The good side is that it will be cool to be the first class to be in that school. Another good side to it is that it is supposed to be a model school for Kentucky, so it will be cool to be a student there. It is also really, really, really big, and the middle school and high school are attached I’ll know more about where things are in high school.
Another good side to it is that it will give some students a chance to start over with teachers that do not know them. This is a good thing because if a student has a reputation for getting in trouble a lot or talking all time, then even if they try to change they already have that reputation with the teachers and can’t change the way that they feel. So if those kids go to the new school then they have a chance to change that reputation with the teachers that do not know them.
Here are some facts about the new school. First, the principal of the middle school is Mr. Bushelman, and the principal of the high school is Mr.Cook. The high school and middle school will be separated by an auditorium. It is 330,000 square feet, making it the largest school in Kentucky.
So as you can see, there are good sides and bad sides to having a new school in the county. Some kids really want to go to the new school and they have their reasons, but others don’t want to go to it at all and they also have their reasons. So whether you want to go or not there will be good sides and bad side and we can’t change it if we are districted there, so we should try to make the best of the situation.
I do not want to go for many reasons. The main reason is that I will have to leave a lot of my friends. The way that they divided us up means that only a few 7th graders get to go to South Warren, so I will have to go and a lot of my new friends are staying here. But, some of my best friends are going to South Warren with me so that is comforting, but some of them have to stay here.
Also, I will have to get used to a new school, again. Last year I had to switch from my old elementary school to Moss and that was a HUGE change, but now I’m used to Moss and I really like it now. But now that I’m finally used to it I have to change schools again! That means that I will have to get used to all my new classes, make new friends, and meet new teachers.
Another bad side to it doesn’t really include me. It is for the kids who play sports for Moss and Warren Central. This will be bad for them because if they played for Moss this year, and had a spot on the team for next year then they would loose that spot and have to start all over at South Warren.
Even with all of this to consider, there is a good side to all of it. The good side is that it will be cool to be the first class to be in that school. Another good side to it is that it is supposed to be a model school for Kentucky, so it will be cool to be a student there. It is also really, really, really big, and the middle school and high school are attached I’ll know more about where things are in high school.
Another good side to it is that it will give some students a chance to start over with teachers that do not know them. This is a good thing because if a student has a reputation for getting in trouble a lot or talking all time, then even if they try to change they already have that reputation with the teachers and can’t change the way that they feel. So if those kids go to the new school then they have a chance to change that reputation with the teachers that do not know them.
Here are some facts about the new school. First, the principal of the middle school is Mr. Bushelman, and the principal of the high school is Mr.Cook. The high school and middle school will be separated by an auditorium. It is 330,000 square feet, making it the largest school in Kentucky.
So as you can see, there are good sides and bad sides to having a new school in the county. Some kids really want to go to the new school and they have their reasons, but others don’t want to go to it at all and they also have their reasons. So whether you want to go or not there will be good sides and bad side and we can’t change it if we are districted there, so we should try to make the best of the situation.
Candace Parker
by LaTerial H.
Candace Parker was born April 19th, 1986 in St. Louis Missouri. Candace is 23 years old and is an all American basketball player for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. Candace is also the youngest sister of NBA player Anthony Parker. She was drafted to the Sparks from Tennessee in 2008.
She may be best known to be the first women to dunk in an NCAA tournament game and the first women to dunk twice in a college game. She set both milestones as a redshirt freshman at the University of Tennessee on March 19th 2006. Candace was also the second player to dunk in a WNBA game on June 22nd 2008.
Candace Parker missed the 2009 season after having her baby girl Lailaa. But, on June 30th Candace returned to practice with her teammates for the first time.
She played her first game back from maternity leave on July 5, 2009. Candace earned 2nd Team All-WNBA honors despite missing almost a full month.
She led the Sparks to the Western Conference Finals but lost in three games to the Phoenix Mercury and in the playoffs. Parker averaged 18 points and over 10 rebounds per game.
She may be best known to be the first women to dunk in an NCAA tournament game and the first women to dunk twice in a college game. She set both milestones as a redshirt freshman at the University of Tennessee on March 19th 2006. Candace was also the second player to dunk in a WNBA game on June 22nd 2008.
Candace Parker missed the 2009 season after having her baby girl Lailaa. But, on June 30th Candace returned to practice with her teammates for the first time.
She played her first game back from maternity leave on July 5, 2009. Candace earned 2nd Team All-WNBA honors despite missing almost a full month.
She led the Sparks to the Western Conference Finals but lost in three games to the Phoenix Mercury and in the playoffs. Parker averaged 18 points and over 10 rebounds per game.
The Teddy Bear
by Kaitlynn T.
They say the teddy bear started as a cartoon. The cartoon, Drawing the Line in Mississippi, was drawn by Clifford Berryman. It showed President Theodore Roosevelt refusing to shoot a helpless baby bear. According to the story, President Roosevelt had gone to Mississippi to settle a border dispute. While he was there, his hosts took him bear hunting. The hunting was so bad someone caught a baby bear and asked Roosevelt to shoot it. Roosevelt refused to shoot the captive bear and inspired Berryman to draw the cartoon.
Berryman’s cartoon was put in the Washington post on November 16, 1902. The cartoon was so popular that it was reprinted widely. The cartoon inspired Morris and Rose Michtom to make a bear in the president’s honor. They named the bear Teddy’s Bear and put it in the window of their store. Their bear was sitting upright. It looked sweet and innocent, not fierce like the other toy bears. The Mitchoms’ teddy bear was a hit. It was such a hit that, with the help of a firm called the Butler Brothers, they founded the first teddy bear manufacturer in the United States of America.
People loved the teddy bears. Americans went crazy over the stuffed animal in 1906. Society ladies carried their teddy bears with them every where. Lots of children had their pictures taken with their teddy bears. Even President Roosevelt used the teddy bear as mascot in a campaign and was serving a second term as president. A newspaper columnist name Seymour Eaton even wrote children’s books about the Roosevelt bears. Somebody wrote a song about them called, The Teddy Bear Two Step. These people were in love with teddy bears.
Teddy bears started to come in all colors. They had all kinds of teddy bears too. Teddy bears had electric eyes, teddy bears were on roller skates etc. American companies didn’t last long though. Since there were teddy bears coming in from Germany, it caused the American teddy bear companies to go out of business because Germany made finer teddy bears.
Although the teddy bear was still somewhat popular in the 1960’s, it wasn’t as popular as it used to be. In 1969 an actor named Peter Bull told how he loved teddy bears on television. After his confession about his love for teddy bears, they started to become more popular. In 1974, a doll maker named Beverly Port took a teddy bear she made to a doll show. The show was a hit. This also helped the popularity of the teddy bears. All of this popularity for the teddy bear increased the value of antique teddy bears.
Today the teddy bear is still very popular. Teddy bears are loved by both adults and children. They make great gifts and love you unconditionally. Maybe that is why people love them so much.
Berryman’s cartoon was put in the Washington post on November 16, 1902. The cartoon was so popular that it was reprinted widely. The cartoon inspired Morris and Rose Michtom to make a bear in the president’s honor. They named the bear Teddy’s Bear and put it in the window of their store. Their bear was sitting upright. It looked sweet and innocent, not fierce like the other toy bears. The Mitchoms’ teddy bear was a hit. It was such a hit that, with the help of a firm called the Butler Brothers, they founded the first teddy bear manufacturer in the United States of America.
People loved the teddy bears. Americans went crazy over the stuffed animal in 1906. Society ladies carried their teddy bears with them every where. Lots of children had their pictures taken with their teddy bears. Even President Roosevelt used the teddy bear as mascot in a campaign and was serving a second term as president. A newspaper columnist name Seymour Eaton even wrote children’s books about the Roosevelt bears. Somebody wrote a song about them called, The Teddy Bear Two Step. These people were in love with teddy bears.
Teddy bears started to come in all colors. They had all kinds of teddy bears too. Teddy bears had electric eyes, teddy bears were on roller skates etc. American companies didn’t last long though. Since there were teddy bears coming in from Germany, it caused the American teddy bear companies to go out of business because Germany made finer teddy bears.
Although the teddy bear was still somewhat popular in the 1960’s, it wasn’t as popular as it used to be. In 1969 an actor named Peter Bull told how he loved teddy bears on television. After his confession about his love for teddy bears, they started to become more popular. In 1974, a doll maker named Beverly Port took a teddy bear she made to a doll show. The show was a hit. This also helped the popularity of the teddy bears. All of this popularity for the teddy bear increased the value of antique teddy bears.
Today the teddy bear is still very popular. Teddy bears are loved by both adults and children. They make great gifts and love you unconditionally. Maybe that is why people love them so much.
Back When... The 80's
by Robin G.
Teenagers these days probably don’t remember leg warmers or “big hair.” They just worry about their iPods and their laptops. Teenage girls these days try to get their hair super straight, but in the 1980’s it was all about the big hair, the pony tails on the side of the head, and feathered bangs. In my opinion the 80’s were a lot better then modern day.
In the 80’s, teenagers were basically all about fashion and television shows. Teenagers would tight roll their jeans, and wear leg warmers and spandex. It was all about the fluorescent color clothing. Some of the popular T.V. shows were “Saved by the Bell”, “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”, and “Rainbow Bright”.
Now teenagers are just worried about their electronics, such as cell phones, laptops, iPods, ect. But in the 1980’s that’s when the rubics cube, hackey-sacks, Mr. Potato, snap bracelets, and other toys became popular.
Behavior of teenagers has really changed throughout the years. Modern day teenagers are out of control. Teenagers just need to look back on the 80’s and see how it was. Through out the years teenagers have just changed dramatically.
So, when you’re on your electronics stop and think about the way things used to be. Remember a lot of things have changed from 1980-2010. It is really amazing to compare how things used to be.
In the 80’s, teenagers were basically all about fashion and television shows. Teenagers would tight roll their jeans, and wear leg warmers and spandex. It was all about the fluorescent color clothing. Some of the popular T.V. shows were “Saved by the Bell”, “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure”, and “Rainbow Bright”.
Now teenagers are just worried about their electronics, such as cell phones, laptops, iPods, ect. But in the 1980’s that’s when the rubics cube, hackey-sacks, Mr. Potato, snap bracelets, and other toys became popular.
Behavior of teenagers has really changed throughout the years. Modern day teenagers are out of control. Teenagers just need to look back on the 80’s and see how it was. Through out the years teenagers have just changed dramatically.
So, when you’re on your electronics stop and think about the way things used to be. Remember a lot of things have changed from 1980-2010. It is really amazing to compare how things used to be.
Young Money
by Tamia H.
Drake was born on October 24th, 1986. He was born as Aubrey Drake Graham , But, he is known by Drake, or Drizzy Drake, or Heartbreak Drake. He raps, sings, and acts. He sings with Young Money Entertainment , which includes , Dewayne Carter(Lil Wayne) , Carl Lilly(Gudda Gudda) ,Onika Maraj (Nicki Minaj), Jarvis Mills (Jae mills) ,Rashad Ballard(Lil Chuckee) , Christopher Moore (Lil Twist) ,Jermaine Preyan(Mack Maine) ,Shanell Woodgett (SnL) ,Supreme Williams(Short Dawg) , Carl Watts (T-Streets) , and Michael Stevenson(Tyga) .
Drake was born in Toronto, Ontario. His father is African American, and his mother is white Jewish and Canadian. His parents got divorced when he was only five years old, then he was raised by his mother in Toronto’s wealthy Forest Hill neighborhood. He attended elementary school at a public school called Forest Hill, and attended high school at Forest Hill Collegiate Institution, that is where he began acting. He began his acting career as Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation in the year on 2001; and it ended in 2009 when the Degrassi staff, decided it was time to get some new actors on the show.
Drake released his first album in February 2006, called Room for Improvement. His first song with Lil Wayne was called Man of the Year. In 2008 he released Heartbreak Drake; it was a very popular release. Drake became the first unsigned Canadian rapper that had their video shown on BET, and was placed as joint of the day, in April 2007. On a billboard chart, July 4th 2009 Best I Ever Had and Every Girl, placed the positions of 3rd and 10th respectively. He was only the second artist to ever have his first two top ten hits in the same week.
Drake’s hit single “Best I Ever Had” was placed at number one, he was only the second artist to have their song at number one, and not even be signed by a record contract. On June 29th 2009 Drake signed a record deal with cash Money/Universal/Mototown, it was considered one of the biggest bidding wars ever.
Drake was born in Toronto, Ontario. His father is African American, and his mother is white Jewish and Canadian. His parents got divorced when he was only five years old, then he was raised by his mother in Toronto’s wealthy Forest Hill neighborhood. He attended elementary school at a public school called Forest Hill, and attended high school at Forest Hill Collegiate Institution, that is where he began acting. He began his acting career as Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation in the year on 2001; and it ended in 2009 when the Degrassi staff, decided it was time to get some new actors on the show.
Drake released his first album in February 2006, called Room for Improvement. His first song with Lil Wayne was called Man of the Year. In 2008 he released Heartbreak Drake; it was a very popular release. Drake became the first unsigned Canadian rapper that had their video shown on BET, and was placed as joint of the day, in April 2007. On a billboard chart, July 4th 2009 Best I Ever Had and Every Girl, placed the positions of 3rd and 10th respectively. He was only the second artist to ever have his first two top ten hits in the same week.
Drake’s hit single “Best I Ever Had” was placed at number one, he was only the second artist to have their song at number one, and not even be signed by a record contract. On June 29th 2009 Drake signed a record deal with cash Money/Universal/Mototown, it was considered one of the biggest bidding wars ever.
History of Chocolate
by Megan B.
Have you ever wondered where chocolate comes from? We tend to think of chocolate as a tasty treat created in modern times. But actually, chocolate dates back to the ancient people of the Mesoamerican, who drank the chocolate as a beverage.
Well, the tasty treat of cacao (Kah Kow) was discovered about 2,000 years ago, in the tropical rainforest of the Americas. It was the cacao tree. The pods of this tree contained seeds that could be processed into chocolate. The story of how chocolate grew from a local Mesoamerican beverage into a global sweet still puzzles many cultures and continents today.
The first people known to make chocolate were the ancient cultures of Mexico, and Central America. People including the Maya, and Aztec, mixed the ground cacao seeds with various seasonings to make a spicy, frothy drink.
Later, the Spanish conquistadors brought the seeds back home to Spain. There, new recipes were created. Soon enough, the drinks popularity spread throughout Europe. Since then, new technologies and innovations have changed the texture, taste, and the way we look at chocolate. But it still remains one of the world’s most favorite flavors.
Well, the tasty treat of cacao (Kah Kow) was discovered about 2,000 years ago, in the tropical rainforest of the Americas. It was the cacao tree. The pods of this tree contained seeds that could be processed into chocolate. The story of how chocolate grew from a local Mesoamerican beverage into a global sweet still puzzles many cultures and continents today.
The first people known to make chocolate were the ancient cultures of Mexico, and Central America. People including the Maya, and Aztec, mixed the ground cacao seeds with various seasonings to make a spicy, frothy drink.
Later, the Spanish conquistadors brought the seeds back home to Spain. There, new recipes were created. Soon enough, the drinks popularity spread throughout Europe. Since then, new technologies and innovations have changed the texture, taste, and the way we look at chocolate. But it still remains one of the world’s most favorite flavors.
Christofer Drew
by Shelby B.
Currently 19, Christofer Drew Ingle was born in San Diego, California on February 11, 1991. His family moved several times before settling down in Joplin, Missouri. He spent his teen years in this small town, but is currently touring America with his “Alternative” band.
Christofer Drew started his career with “NeverShoutNever” in September, of 2007. He began to gain fans by using the internet, mostly MySpace. He released his first album “Demo-Schmemo”, on February 29, 2008. He then released his more popular album “The Yippee EP” in September of the same year.
Chris began playing guitar in the eighth grade. He picked up one of his dad’s guitars that were lying around. A few years later he received a new computer for Christmas. The computer had sound editing on it, and thus his career began.
On July 29, 2008 Chris was featured on TRL, where he performed one of his many hits, “BigCityDreams”. Not long after singing on the show he began to book tours, such as the “Make like a Leaf and fall” tour. Not long after the same song made the #3 song on the “Hot 100 singles Chart.”
NeverShoutNever’s music career has taken off in the past couple of years. They are an amazing band, and work very hard to please their fans. Some of their most popular songs are “BigCityDreams”, “Trouble”, “I Can’t Stand It”, and “The Past.”
Christofer Drew started his career with “NeverShoutNever” in September, of 2007. He began to gain fans by using the internet, mostly MySpace. He released his first album “Demo-Schmemo”, on February 29, 2008. He then released his more popular album “The Yippee EP” in September of the same year.
Chris began playing guitar in the eighth grade. He picked up one of his dad’s guitars that were lying around. A few years later he received a new computer for Christmas. The computer had sound editing on it, and thus his career began.
On July 29, 2008 Chris was featured on TRL, where he performed one of his many hits, “BigCityDreams”. Not long after singing on the show he began to book tours, such as the “Make like a Leaf and fall” tour. Not long after the same song made the #3 song on the “Hot 100 singles Chart.”
NeverShoutNever’s music career has taken off in the past couple of years. They are an amazing band, and work very hard to please their fans. Some of their most popular songs are “BigCityDreams”, “Trouble”, “I Can’t Stand It”, and “The Past.”
NeverShoutNever
by Mackenzie L.
Christofer began making music as NeverShoutNever in September of 2007. He began a career and made a fan base using the internet, specifically MySpace. In fact, he’s a one man band. The type of music he sings is a made up genre called acoustic pop. Chris has made only one album so far called “What Is Love”. He’s in complete control of all aspects of his music.
Chris began music very casually. His father had a guitar lying around, and he picked it up and began to play with help from a friend in his early teen years. One year, his parents bought him a computer with sound-editing software in it for Christmas. That’s when his rise to stardom first began. Christofer believes that the band Dashboard Confessional and Jack Johnson are musical influences. He started liking them when he went through a self-described “emo-stage”.
Also, Chris’ is a vegetarian/vegan. He has a side project called Eatmewhileimhot. Just like any other Christian, he loves Jesus. His full name is Christofer Drew Ingle. Another cool fact is that he has six tattoos; peace sign on his left foot, “Love is my weapon” on his chest, a sun on his upper right arm, a moon on his upper left arm, an “A” (Greek letter Alpha) on his right forearm, and the Greek letter Omega on his left forearm.
In conclusion, he has many great songs. “BigCityDreams” is currently #3on the Hot 100 Singles chart. You can find his new album “What Is Love” at Hot Topic. Great things are happening for Christofer Drew, and I don’t see his music career ending any time soon.
Chris began music very casually. His father had a guitar lying around, and he picked it up and began to play with help from a friend in his early teen years. One year, his parents bought him a computer with sound-editing software in it for Christmas. That’s when his rise to stardom first began. Christofer believes that the band Dashboard Confessional and Jack Johnson are musical influences. He started liking them when he went through a self-described “emo-stage”.
Also, Chris’ is a vegetarian/vegan. He has a side project called Eatmewhileimhot. Just like any other Christian, he loves Jesus. His full name is Christofer Drew Ingle. Another cool fact is that he has six tattoos; peace sign on his left foot, “Love is my weapon” on his chest, a sun on his upper right arm, a moon on his upper left arm, an “A” (Greek letter Alpha) on his right forearm, and the Greek letter Omega on his left forearm.
In conclusion, he has many great songs. “BigCityDreams” is currently #3on the Hot 100 Singles chart. You can find his new album “What Is Love” at Hot Topic. Great things are happening for Christofer Drew, and I don’t see his music career ending any time soon.
Eye Color
by Shelby G.
Most people don’t think about eye color often. This is why most people don’t know that your iris is one of a kind, like a fingerprint. Whether you have brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes, or a mixture, your iris usually contains brown pigment. There are two kinds of pigment, melanin and lipochrome. They both work to determine what color your eyes are. The way light reflects off your iris and how much pigment it contains is what makes your eyes unique.
When you have a lot of brown pigment in your iris, your iris reflects brown light and everybody sees you have brown eyes. But if you happen to have sparkling blue eyes, this means that the front layer of your iris cells have little or no brown pigment in them. People’s blue eyes are blue for the same reason that the sky above us is blue. Your stroma cells, which are located in the stroma layer in your iris, behave like the dust and air molecules in the atmosphere. Because both the cells and the particles are so small, this makes the short frequency light rays in the atmosphere are more likely to merge and scatter then with red light, making the eyes blue.
It also means that you have the gene for blue eyes. The gene had information for your eyes to be set up like they are to make them blue, brown, hazel, or green.
Not many people have green eyes. That is because not many people have the gene for it. But this can vary, because my dad has bright green eyes and my mom has green eyes with brown flecks in them. But mine are completely different, ocean blue. My brother’s eyes are ice blue.
No scientist can fully explain how this happens, it just does. Brown eyes are still the dominant color in most people. Blue in second, then hazel, then green. Scientists conclude that this may happen because they believe human eye color is controlled by at least three color genes. But they still can’t predict what color eyes an offspring will have. But what they do know is that if both parents have brown eyes, then there’s a good chance their offspring will too.
Everybody’s iris pattern is uniquely one of a kind. Just like a fingerprint, no two eyes are alike. Eye color is a complicated thing that actually confuses scientists. And I think there’s no need to know how this happens. Why a person’s mother’s eyes are a deep brown, their father’s is a bright blue, and they have dark green eyes, is a mystery that will continue to make scientists wonder.
When you have a lot of brown pigment in your iris, your iris reflects brown light and everybody sees you have brown eyes. But if you happen to have sparkling blue eyes, this means that the front layer of your iris cells have little or no brown pigment in them. People’s blue eyes are blue for the same reason that the sky above us is blue. Your stroma cells, which are located in the stroma layer in your iris, behave like the dust and air molecules in the atmosphere. Because both the cells and the particles are so small, this makes the short frequency light rays in the atmosphere are more likely to merge and scatter then with red light, making the eyes blue.
It also means that you have the gene for blue eyes. The gene had information for your eyes to be set up like they are to make them blue, brown, hazel, or green.
Not many people have green eyes. That is because not many people have the gene for it. But this can vary, because my dad has bright green eyes and my mom has green eyes with brown flecks in them. But mine are completely different, ocean blue. My brother’s eyes are ice blue.
No scientist can fully explain how this happens, it just does. Brown eyes are still the dominant color in most people. Blue in second, then hazel, then green. Scientists conclude that this may happen because they believe human eye color is controlled by at least three color genes. But they still can’t predict what color eyes an offspring will have. But what they do know is that if both parents have brown eyes, then there’s a good chance their offspring will too.
Everybody’s iris pattern is uniquely one of a kind. Just like a fingerprint, no two eyes are alike. Eye color is a complicated thing that actually confuses scientists. And I think there’s no need to know how this happens. Why a person’s mother’s eyes are a deep brown, their father’s is a bright blue, and they have dark green eyes, is a mystery that will continue to make scientists wonder.
The Culture of Guam
by Lucas P.
Ypao Beach, Guam
The Chamorro (chuh-more-ooh) language is common to young adults and elders of Guam, but unknown to the youth on the island. Many of the words are pretty simple to pronounce, as the language was mainly derived from the Spanish language. It is however, of Austronesian origin but not seen as a dialect of another culture. A chain of islands where you can hear the language is Guam, Saipan, Luta, Tinian, Pagan, Anatahan and Alamagan, the inhabitants are simply known as people who belong to a major group of Malayo- Polynesian people (including the islands listed).
I am only 13 and I want to know the language because my whole life, in and out of school, I have been the only Guamanian (Chamorro) in the school. I want to be able to know my language not only to be “a true foreigner” but so that I can communicate with my family, even though all of the people that do know the language are above the age of 20. The common ages of the only people knowing the languages are normally around that age (20+). I want to know it to be able to also say something personal to somebody else knowing the language because a lot of people speak English rather than Chamorro and those who DO understand the language can be fun to communicate in a kind of secret way.
I don’t really get offended, but wonder why people always want to go to Hawaii or the Bahamas; Guam is JUST as interesting but is a tiny bit smaller. The saying “big things come in small packages” really is true. It would only take maybe 30 minutes to travel around the whole island. You can land at the airport in one city, then go down the street and be in another. Although it is small, I would NEVER get bored of it. The beaches, sunsets, food, and just everything about it amazes me enough where I wouldn’t mind living there my whole life. It would more than likely be the only exception I would have to being “stay put”.
What I really want to get into now is Guam’s traditional clothing and food. The women will occasionally wear a more islander type of Kimono, or one of those dresses with large floral print. If celebrating something really special, men and women will wear grass skirts and other floral items as an accessory or two, but just so you know, it’s not all coconut bras and fake flower necklaces. The clothing we wear is for a very special reason, of celebration.
As you may know Ferdinand Magellan, he is actually the person who discovered the country of Guam in 1521, so we celebrate every first day of March. Commonly known foods on Guam are Lumpia, Chicken Estufao, Keleguan, and Empanada. Lumpia is very similar to an egg roll, but you get to choose what you want inside, and you can eat it for any time of the day. Like Lumpia, Empanada is similar to a taco (something a lot of people know and love). It is sealed at the end and normally only has one or two food items inside. Chicken Estufao has (chicken), some Kikkoman soy sauce, mixed in with the flavored juice for the chicken to give it that special taste. Keleguan, lastly, is chopped up chicken, “misted” with lemon juice, some chopped up onions and green peppers, it may not sound as appetizing as it truly is!!! I just hope to see that people get into the interest of Guam and its background.
I am only 13 and I want to know the language because my whole life, in and out of school, I have been the only Guamanian (Chamorro) in the school. I want to be able to know my language not only to be “a true foreigner” but so that I can communicate with my family, even though all of the people that do know the language are above the age of 20. The common ages of the only people knowing the languages are normally around that age (20+). I want to know it to be able to also say something personal to somebody else knowing the language because a lot of people speak English rather than Chamorro and those who DO understand the language can be fun to communicate in a kind of secret way.
I don’t really get offended, but wonder why people always want to go to Hawaii or the Bahamas; Guam is JUST as interesting but is a tiny bit smaller. The saying “big things come in small packages” really is true. It would only take maybe 30 minutes to travel around the whole island. You can land at the airport in one city, then go down the street and be in another. Although it is small, I would NEVER get bored of it. The beaches, sunsets, food, and just everything about it amazes me enough where I wouldn’t mind living there my whole life. It would more than likely be the only exception I would have to being “stay put”.
What I really want to get into now is Guam’s traditional clothing and food. The women will occasionally wear a more islander type of Kimono, or one of those dresses with large floral print. If celebrating something really special, men and women will wear grass skirts and other floral items as an accessory or two, but just so you know, it’s not all coconut bras and fake flower necklaces. The clothing we wear is for a very special reason, of celebration.
As you may know Ferdinand Magellan, he is actually the person who discovered the country of Guam in 1521, so we celebrate every first day of March. Commonly known foods on Guam are Lumpia, Chicken Estufao, Keleguan, and Empanada. Lumpia is very similar to an egg roll, but you get to choose what you want inside, and you can eat it for any time of the day. Like Lumpia, Empanada is similar to a taco (something a lot of people know and love). It is sealed at the end and normally only has one or two food items inside. Chicken Estufao has (chicken), some Kikkoman soy sauce, mixed in with the flavored juice for the chicken to give it that special taste. Keleguan, lastly, is chopped up chicken, “misted” with lemon juice, some chopped up onions and green peppers, it may not sound as appetizing as it truly is!!! I just hope to see that people get into the interest of Guam and its background.
The Clarinet
by Alex S.
The clarinet was invented around 1690. The clarinet was made from the chalumeau. The chalumeau was the first true single reed instrument. Johann Christoph Denner improved the chalumeau by adding two more keys to it. That increased the instrument range by two octaves and then named it the clarinet.
The word clarino in Italian means trumpet. The suffix –et means little. So the word clarinet means little trumpet. The clarinet is mostly made of wood, plastic, and metal. Today the clarinet is played in classical ensembles, chamber groups, and in solos. The reeds of a clarinet are made from arundo donax it is a type of grass.
The first clarinet had a similar tone to the trumpet. The clarinet is part of the woodwind family. The clarinet family is the largest woodwind family. The most popular clarinet is the B flat soprano clarinet. Another type of clarinet is the bass clarinet.
The clarinet is widely used as a solo instrument. In concert band the clarinet are central parts of the instruments. In jazz band the B flat soprano clarinet is more common. In rock and pop type music the clarinet is rarely used. In Greece the clarinet is used in traditional music.
An example of a clarinet being used in rock music is when Pink Floyd used the clarinet as the melody in Outside the Wall. Another example is when The Beatles used a clarinet trio in When I’m Sixty-Four. A famous composer for the clarinet is Mozart. A famous clarinet player is Anton Stadler. Another Famous clarinet player is Richard Stoltzman.
The word clarino in Italian means trumpet. The suffix –et means little. So the word clarinet means little trumpet. The clarinet is mostly made of wood, plastic, and metal. Today the clarinet is played in classical ensembles, chamber groups, and in solos. The reeds of a clarinet are made from arundo donax it is a type of grass.
The first clarinet had a similar tone to the trumpet. The clarinet is part of the woodwind family. The clarinet family is the largest woodwind family. The most popular clarinet is the B flat soprano clarinet. Another type of clarinet is the bass clarinet.
The clarinet is widely used as a solo instrument. In concert band the clarinet are central parts of the instruments. In jazz band the B flat soprano clarinet is more common. In rock and pop type music the clarinet is rarely used. In Greece the clarinet is used in traditional music.
An example of a clarinet being used in rock music is when Pink Floyd used the clarinet as the melody in Outside the Wall. Another example is when The Beatles used a clarinet trio in When I’m Sixty-Four. A famous composer for the clarinet is Mozart. A famous clarinet player is Anton Stadler. Another Famous clarinet player is Richard Stoltzman.
Child Abuse
by Eric L.
A short definition of child abuse is the bad treatment of any child under the age of 18 by a parent, relative, caretaker, or anyone else living in their home, or someone who works around or with children .Over three million reports of child abuse incidents are reported every year. As a matter of fact, every ten seconds there is a call about child abuse. Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. Four out of every five of those children are under the age of four. This number is increasing every day. Some people in drug rehabilitation centers and in prison were abused as children.
According to data from the Administration on Children and Families, in 1998 there was an estimated 2,806,000 referrals of child abuse or neglect. There are four main types of child abuse: physical, sexual, physiological, and neglect. Physical abuse is where a person hits a child on purpose and tries to seriously injure them. Sexual abuse is where someone shows a child their private body parts. Neglect is depriving a child of his/her basic needs. Finally, physiological abuse occurs when children are not provided with the necessary environment to develop mentally and/or emotionally. These are the different forms of child abuse all around the world.
There are many stories about people who have been abused neglected and even killed. For example, there was a woman who was pregnant and tried to kill herself and her two sons by overdosing on a prescription drug. Also there was another woman who had a nine year old son and a five year old daughter. She continuously stabbed her children until they died and then she killed herself. There are many other reports but the one that really touched my heart was that of Dave Pelzer.
I just read the book “A Child Called “It”. I didn’t know what the book was about until one of my friends told me what it was about. I didn’t think it was going to be a good book, but when I started I didn’t stop. As a matter of fact, I finished it the same day I got it. The book made me realize that even though I have bad days and I hate everyone there are kids out in the world that to them every day is a bad day. This opened my eyes even more that child abuse is a growing problem. If everyone did a little thing to help it wouldn’t be such a big problem. There are ways to help identify child abuse. Here are five ways:
1) If the child has bruises all over their body
2) If the child looks like they haven’t eaten
3) If the child has a change in behavior
4) If the child talks about committing suicide
5) If the child doesn’t care about their appearance
There are many more ways but if you even have a suspicion or can identify these five points, then you should tell someone that can take care of it right away.
According to data from the Administration on Children and Families, in 1998 there was an estimated 2,806,000 referrals of child abuse or neglect. There are four main types of child abuse: physical, sexual, physiological, and neglect. Physical abuse is where a person hits a child on purpose and tries to seriously injure them. Sexual abuse is where someone shows a child their private body parts. Neglect is depriving a child of his/her basic needs. Finally, physiological abuse occurs when children are not provided with the necessary environment to develop mentally and/or emotionally. These are the different forms of child abuse all around the world.
There are many stories about people who have been abused neglected and even killed. For example, there was a woman who was pregnant and tried to kill herself and her two sons by overdosing on a prescription drug. Also there was another woman who had a nine year old son and a five year old daughter. She continuously stabbed her children until they died and then she killed herself. There are many other reports but the one that really touched my heart was that of Dave Pelzer.
I just read the book “A Child Called “It”. I didn’t know what the book was about until one of my friends told me what it was about. I didn’t think it was going to be a good book, but when I started I didn’t stop. As a matter of fact, I finished it the same day I got it. The book made me realize that even though I have bad days and I hate everyone there are kids out in the world that to them every day is a bad day. This opened my eyes even more that child abuse is a growing problem. If everyone did a little thing to help it wouldn’t be such a big problem. There are ways to help identify child abuse. Here are five ways:
1) If the child has bruises all over their body
2) If the child looks like they haven’t eaten
3) If the child has a change in behavior
4) If the child talks about committing suicide
5) If the child doesn’t care about their appearance
There are many more ways but if you even have a suspicion or can identify these five points, then you should tell someone that can take care of it right away.
She Shoots- She Scores
by Shelby S.
There’s only five seconds left, we’re down one point, we have possession of the ball now, 5-4-3-2 (you can hear the crowd counting down the seconds)and we went for a lay-up and scored. The crowd goes WILD, now we’re up by one with only a second left. BUZZ! Game over, we won!! Does this sound familiar? Well it’s called basketball and this is a game played on a court by two opposing teams of five players; the points are scored by throwing the ball through a round, elevated, horizontal hoop. This sport keeps you moving and you’re not just standing in one spot at all times and involves team work. This sport has been around for 119 years, thanks to James Naismith, a Canadian born physical education instructor invented basketball in the US on Dec 14, 1891.
This was a game that started with 18 men in a YMCA gymnasium in Springfield, Massachusetts, and has grown into a game that more than 300 million people play worldwide. The man who created this instantly successful sport was Dr. James Naismith. After taking instructions from the head of Physical Education at the School for Christian Workers, Naismith was given two weeks to invent an indoor game that would provide an "athletic distraction" for a rowdy class through the brutal New England winter. His creation didn't come to him right off the top of his head. His first intention was to bring outdoor games indoors such as the sports soccer and lacrosse but these games were too physical and cumbersome. So he decided on basketball, the name basketball came from James Naismith as well, but how? Well if you think about where theball goes, it goes into a basket or hoop so he decided to call it basket-ball.
If you think about it, basketball has become very popular and has been popular since at least Michael Jordan times. It was amazingly popular in those times, because it’s MICHAEL JORDAN; I mean who wouldn’t want to watch him play? He is a star on that basketball court. But, even though he’s not as amazing as he was in his younger days, basketball has gradually grown to be popular today. I know basketball that basketball is my life and my favorite sport. Many people have grown to like basketball because it’s fun and entertaining. But, like every other sport, basketball has rules too. James Naismith created thirteen rules for basketball and basically what they discuss is personal fouls (NO pushing, shoving etc). They also discuss how to play basketball, like a player cannot run with the ball without dribbling and a player cannot dribble with two hands at the same time. There are many other rules to this game/sport but they aren’t hard to understand.
In every sport, there are drills and coaching tips to help you succeed. There are some for ball-handling and defense/offense etc. Let’s just say basketball has a lot to learn for a “first time” player. That’s why they have drills to help you. As I said before, playing this sport takes skill, time, and intelligence. But, once you catch on and learn the basics it becomes easier.
If you haven’t caught on yet, basketball to me is the BEST sport ever and I really like it. I really enjoy watching and as well playing basketball. Basketball is very entertaining and takes skill. Some of my favorite basketball players are Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Danny Green, Ed Davis, and Kevin Garnett. Oh! And by the way every single one of these players except for Kevin Garnett has played on UNC (University of North Carolina). Kevin plays for Boston Celtics which is an NBA team. UNC is my all time favorite college team and they have won many NCAA championships. I have played basketball for many years (I think like six or seven) and know a lot about it Sometimes boys think it’s surprising that girls can play some good basketball. Oh well! You know what they always say, “In boys, it's ingrained in their heads that to dunk is just the highlight of basketball, whereas for girls, the shooting technique, making baskets and free throws is taught more.” It's a very different approach to the sport sometime. Coaches don’t usually teach the same as the boys, instead they teach the fundamentals of the game to the girls. They encourage them to work on their jump shot. So I just try my best and prove to boys that just because we’re girls, doesn’t mean we can’t be girls to try to work on our hoops. The boys don’t bother me that much though, so I guess you could still say that basketball is my life!
This was a game that started with 18 men in a YMCA gymnasium in Springfield, Massachusetts, and has grown into a game that more than 300 million people play worldwide. The man who created this instantly successful sport was Dr. James Naismith. After taking instructions from the head of Physical Education at the School for Christian Workers, Naismith was given two weeks to invent an indoor game that would provide an "athletic distraction" for a rowdy class through the brutal New England winter. His creation didn't come to him right off the top of his head. His first intention was to bring outdoor games indoors such as the sports soccer and lacrosse but these games were too physical and cumbersome. So he decided on basketball, the name basketball came from James Naismith as well, but how? Well if you think about where theball goes, it goes into a basket or hoop so he decided to call it basket-ball.
If you think about it, basketball has become very popular and has been popular since at least Michael Jordan times. It was amazingly popular in those times, because it’s MICHAEL JORDAN; I mean who wouldn’t want to watch him play? He is a star on that basketball court. But, even though he’s not as amazing as he was in his younger days, basketball has gradually grown to be popular today. I know basketball that basketball is my life and my favorite sport. Many people have grown to like basketball because it’s fun and entertaining. But, like every other sport, basketball has rules too. James Naismith created thirteen rules for basketball and basically what they discuss is personal fouls (NO pushing, shoving etc). They also discuss how to play basketball, like a player cannot run with the ball without dribbling and a player cannot dribble with two hands at the same time. There are many other rules to this game/sport but they aren’t hard to understand.
In every sport, there are drills and coaching tips to help you succeed. There are some for ball-handling and defense/offense etc. Let’s just say basketball has a lot to learn for a “first time” player. That’s why they have drills to help you. As I said before, playing this sport takes skill, time, and intelligence. But, once you catch on and learn the basics it becomes easier.
If you haven’t caught on yet, basketball to me is the BEST sport ever and I really like it. I really enjoy watching and as well playing basketball. Basketball is very entertaining and takes skill. Some of my favorite basketball players are Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Danny Green, Ed Davis, and Kevin Garnett. Oh! And by the way every single one of these players except for Kevin Garnett has played on UNC (University of North Carolina). Kevin plays for Boston Celtics which is an NBA team. UNC is my all time favorite college team and they have won many NCAA championships. I have played basketball for many years (I think like six or seven) and know a lot about it Sometimes boys think it’s surprising that girls can play some good basketball. Oh well! You know what they always say, “In boys, it's ingrained in their heads that to dunk is just the highlight of basketball, whereas for girls, the shooting technique, making baskets and free throws is taught more.” It's a very different approach to the sport sometime. Coaches don’t usually teach the same as the boys, instead they teach the fundamentals of the game to the girls. They encourage them to work on their jump shot. So I just try my best and prove to boys that just because we’re girls, doesn’t mean we can’t be girls to try to work on our hoops. The boys don’t bother me that much though, so I guess you could still say that basketball is my life!
Amazon Rain Forests
by Sara J.
The Amazon or Amazonian rain forests cover Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname, as well as French Guiana. That’s eight, yes, eight countries in South America. The Amazon rain forest is commonly referred to as the lungs of our planet. Today 200,000 Indians live in the Amazonian Rain forest’s lush green forests. This natural wonder is disappearing at a startling rate and the people and wild life along with it. Rain forests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface; now they cover a mere six percent. Experts estimate that the last remaining rain forests could be consumed in less than 40 years.Today the Amazon River is the most voluminous river on Earth, eleven times the volume of the Mississippi, and drains an area equivalent in size to the United States.
More than 300 mammals, 1000 amphibians, 1500 bird,3,000 fish, 50,000 insects, and countless reptile species live in the Amazon rain forest. Though they are not the only residents of this vast forest, 200,000 Indians also reside their. Jaguars,Orangutan, Bengal Tiger, and the Harpy Eagle are only a few of the endangered animals that call the Amazon home.
Even though the Amazon is of great value and worth, it is disappearing at a startling rate one and one-half acres of rainforest are lost every second.The forest is being destroyed because the value of rain forest land is perceived as only the value of its timber by short-sighted governments, multi-national logging companies, and land owners.
Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. This means about 50,000 species per year are lost. Even more startling currently 121 prescription drugs are sold world wide that are made with plant bases that come from the rain forests.
Even experts believe that if a cure for cancer exists the remedy will most likely come from the Amazon’s over 3,000 plants. Experts believe that by leaving the forests alone and harvesting their abundant natural riches we have more to gain than by cutting them down and using the land to graze cattle or timbers to build with.The latest statistics prove that rain forest land converted to cattle operations yields the landowner $60 per acre; if timber is harvested, the land is worth $400 per acre. However, if medicinal plants, fruits, nuts, rubber, chocolate, and other renewable and sustainable resources are harvested, the land will yield the landowner $2,400 per acre. The next renewable, green, and eco-safe power source for cars, electricity, and many other things my come from the Amazon.
The rain forests may even repair some of the damage to the environment’s atmosphere that humans have destroyed for years by burning it. It may even reverse the green house effect and global warming. Many people seek to destroy the forest, just as many seek its wonder and beauty. Leading experts say that by the year 2030 the Amazon will be ether entirely gone or severely damaged if the trends today continue. You can help by purchasing an acre online. This acre is yours and it cannot be cut or burned down
More than 300 mammals, 1000 amphibians, 1500 bird,3,000 fish, 50,000 insects, and countless reptile species live in the Amazon rain forest. Though they are not the only residents of this vast forest, 200,000 Indians also reside their. Jaguars,Orangutan, Bengal Tiger, and the Harpy Eagle are only a few of the endangered animals that call the Amazon home.
Even though the Amazon is of great value and worth, it is disappearing at a startling rate one and one-half acres of rainforest are lost every second.The forest is being destroyed because the value of rain forest land is perceived as only the value of its timber by short-sighted governments, multi-national logging companies, and land owners.
Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. This means about 50,000 species per year are lost. Even more startling currently 121 prescription drugs are sold world wide that are made with plant bases that come from the rain forests.
Even experts believe that if a cure for cancer exists the remedy will most likely come from the Amazon’s over 3,000 plants. Experts believe that by leaving the forests alone and harvesting their abundant natural riches we have more to gain than by cutting them down and using the land to graze cattle or timbers to build with.The latest statistics prove that rain forest land converted to cattle operations yields the landowner $60 per acre; if timber is harvested, the land is worth $400 per acre. However, if medicinal plants, fruits, nuts, rubber, chocolate, and other renewable and sustainable resources are harvested, the land will yield the landowner $2,400 per acre. The next renewable, green, and eco-safe power source for cars, electricity, and many other things my come from the Amazon.
The rain forests may even repair some of the damage to the environment’s atmosphere that humans have destroyed for years by burning it. It may even reverse the green house effect and global warming. Many people seek to destroy the forest, just as many seek its wonder and beauty. Leading experts say that by the year 2030 the Amazon will be ether entirely gone or severely damaged if the trends today continue. You can help by purchasing an acre online. This acre is yours and it cannot be cut or burned down
The Thrill of the Streets
by Brian Y.
Skateboarding is when you ride on a piece of wood with wheels. The piece of wood is called a deck. You try to perform tricks while you ride. Some tricks are the kickflip, (this is when the board flips 360 degrees along its long axis), the pop shove, (when the board rotates to bring the tail of the board in front of you); the heelflip, (spins the other way of a kick flip); and a treflip, (when you do two pop shuvits and a kick flip at the same time). Different tricks happen as you move your feet different ways.
Some famous skate boarders are Tony Hawk, Bam Margera, Rodney Mullen, and Rob Dyrdek. Tony Hawk is famous for all of his video games but also famous for skating. He landed the first 900 (two and a half revolutions). Also he started the Boom Boom Huck Jam a mini X games held in Las Vegas. Rob Dyrdek makes fantasies happen. He opened the first safe spot skate spot, a spot where skaters can skate in an urban environment without getting in trouble with the law. Also he built the worlds largest skate board.
I recently spoke to a local skater, Dylan P. Dylan said, “skaters aren’t always bad. I don’t even look like a skater but, I’m almost semi pro.” I think the same way. Not all skaters are punk, disrespectful kids. Actually most skaters are good. See that’s why I think skaters should be more respected. I know if people would actually get the time to know us we would be respected in public.
Some famous skate boarders are Tony Hawk, Bam Margera, Rodney Mullen, and Rob Dyrdek. Tony Hawk is famous for all of his video games but also famous for skating. He landed the first 900 (two and a half revolutions). Also he started the Boom Boom Huck Jam a mini X games held in Las Vegas. Rob Dyrdek makes fantasies happen. He opened the first safe spot skate spot, a spot where skaters can skate in an urban environment without getting in trouble with the law. Also he built the worlds largest skate board.
I recently spoke to a local skater, Dylan P. Dylan said, “skaters aren’t always bad. I don’t even look like a skater but, I’m almost semi pro.” I think the same way. Not all skaters are punk, disrespectful kids. Actually most skaters are good. See that’s why I think skaters should be more respected. I know if people would actually get the time to know us we would be respected in public.
Swimming Styles and Characteristics
by Solomona G.
Fish have fins and tails to help them swim fast. Polar Bears use their big paws and feet and their strong legs to push themselves through the cold waters of the Arctic. Penguins use their big feet, arms, and flippers to charge through the ocean. But what characteristics do humans require to become good swimmers? And how do we perfect the different types of swimming?
It is said that lean muscles, a large torso, and big hands help. It is also said that broad shoulders and strong legs help. As a swimmer, I agree that these characteristics may help but it really doesn’t matter how your body is shaped. As long as you have long strokes and strong legs to paddle through the water, you should do just fine.
In this article, we will discuss three types of swimming styles, the heads-up breaststroke, the butterfly stroke, and the side stroke.
The heads up breaststroke is when the swimmer swims on his chest while the torso doesn’t rotate. The majority of the time, the swimmer’s head is above water. Step one of the arm movement is the “out sweep.” The first movement of the “out sweep” consists of dropping the arms a little and keeping the hands faced inward. The arms stay straight/parallel to the surface. The next step is when the hands point down and push the water behind or backwards and the elbows stay horizontal through the shoulders. This step is called the “in sweep.” The last step is called the recovery. The recovery is basically just moving back into the “out sweep” position. The knees and feet stay together moving forward and pushing back. When pushing back, the feet separate. This is also known as the “frog kick.”
Next is the butterfly stroke (sometimes known as the superstar stroke.) The butterfly stroke is the fastest swimming style according to the FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation translated in English meaning “International Swimming Federation”)
The three steps of the arm movement of the butterfly stroke are called the pull, push, and recovery. The initial position is basically like that of the breaststroke, but at the end the hands move outwards to create a “Y.” Next is the pull movement: a semicircle with the elbow higher than the hand and the hand pointing towards the center of the body and downward. The recovery consists of swinging the arms forward on top of the water. The legs are pressed together and thrusted up and down in a wave like movement.
Last but not least is the side stroke, named because the swimmer swims on his/her side. This is also called “freestyle." Keeping the arms and hands as straight as possible, you stretch the right arm as far out as possible from the feet. The left hand is folded across the chest. The leg movement is easy, the scissor kick. The right hand sweeps through the water and immediately afterwards the left hand does the same.
I hope this article has helped you become a better swimmer and a more confident individual. It doesn’t matter how big or small or short or tall you are. Anyone can swim.
It is said that lean muscles, a large torso, and big hands help. It is also said that broad shoulders and strong legs help. As a swimmer, I agree that these characteristics may help but it really doesn’t matter how your body is shaped. As long as you have long strokes and strong legs to paddle through the water, you should do just fine.
In this article, we will discuss three types of swimming styles, the heads-up breaststroke, the butterfly stroke, and the side stroke.
The heads up breaststroke is when the swimmer swims on his chest while the torso doesn’t rotate. The majority of the time, the swimmer’s head is above water. Step one of the arm movement is the “out sweep.” The first movement of the “out sweep” consists of dropping the arms a little and keeping the hands faced inward. The arms stay straight/parallel to the surface. The next step is when the hands point down and push the water behind or backwards and the elbows stay horizontal through the shoulders. This step is called the “in sweep.” The last step is called the recovery. The recovery is basically just moving back into the “out sweep” position. The knees and feet stay together moving forward and pushing back. When pushing back, the feet separate. This is also known as the “frog kick.”
Next is the butterfly stroke (sometimes known as the superstar stroke.) The butterfly stroke is the fastest swimming style according to the FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation translated in English meaning “International Swimming Federation”)
The three steps of the arm movement of the butterfly stroke are called the pull, push, and recovery. The initial position is basically like that of the breaststroke, but at the end the hands move outwards to create a “Y.” Next is the pull movement: a semicircle with the elbow higher than the hand and the hand pointing towards the center of the body and downward. The recovery consists of swinging the arms forward on top of the water. The legs are pressed together and thrusted up and down in a wave like movement.
Last but not least is the side stroke, named because the swimmer swims on his/her side. This is also called “freestyle." Keeping the arms and hands as straight as possible, you stretch the right arm as far out as possible from the feet. The left hand is folded across the chest. The leg movement is easy, the scissor kick. The right hand sweeps through the water and immediately afterwards the left hand does the same.
I hope this article has helped you become a better swimmer and a more confident individual. It doesn’t matter how big or small or short or tall you are. Anyone can swim.
Patrika Barlow
by Gretchen M.
Patrika Barlow
Patrika Barlow was born May 25, 1986 in the town of Glasgow, Kentucky. Her mother and father are Wanda and Jerry King who are currently living in the small town of Edmonton, Kentucky.
As a young girl, Patrika attended Barren County schools. She was an honor roll student all her life. One thing Patrika loved about school was getting to play basketball. Patrika played basketball all of her school years as point guard.
After high school, Patrika attended college at the University of Louisville where she played basketball as a Lady Cardinal. Patrika was always one of the shortest people in her class or on her basketball team, in college basketball she stood at five foot seven inches tall, and was the smallest on her team.
Patrika didn’t always just play basketball; another sport she had a passion for was softball. On March 29, 2008 Patrika decided to end her college basketball career and try out for the Lady Cardinals softball team. Patrika had one semester left before getting her degree and she also had a lot of spare time, so why not use that spare time for softball?
“I had always liked softball. In the fall I went for the tryouts. I figured if I did make the team I would be used for speed.” Patrika said over the phone at her parent’s house in Metcalfe County. After tryouts, Patrika got a call from Louisville’s softball coach, Sandy Pearsall. She had made the team. Patrika also figured out that they liked her for more then just her quick speed.
When fall came around, Patrika said she started some games but then she hit a rough spot. She didn’t play for a few games but then she became the designated player. In softball the designated player is a player that bats in place of a defensive player. At the end of the season Patrika started 28 of the 43 games. The team had played 57 games and finished with a school record of 48 wins.
Patrika came to the University of Louisville as no stranger to the game of softball. She played for two years at Barren County High school, where she transferred before her freshman year at Metcalfe County. Her mother and aunt have been long time players of softball. Patrika, her mother, and her aunt play in slow pitch leagues. Softball is sort of like a family thing for them.
Patrika’s high school basketball coach, John Butler, said that the softball team he coached in 2004 at Barren County could have beaten Allen County if Patrika was on their team. Allen County had never lost one fast pitch district tournament game.
John Butler said that he tried to persuade Patrika to play for his softball team multiple times but Patrika was just too dedicated to basketball and was trying to improve her skills day after day. Patrika doesn’t regret her decision on softball. She has played basketball all of her life and she was also the first women’s basketball player at U of L to ever go to four straight NCAA tournaments.
Patrika’s journey through her basketball and softball career has changed her life and touched the lives of others. She is a magnificent athlete and a great friend. Patrika Barlow is truly one of the greatest athletes I have ever met and I am proud to call her my friend.
As a young girl, Patrika attended Barren County schools. She was an honor roll student all her life. One thing Patrika loved about school was getting to play basketball. Patrika played basketball all of her school years as point guard.
After high school, Patrika attended college at the University of Louisville where she played basketball as a Lady Cardinal. Patrika was always one of the shortest people in her class or on her basketball team, in college basketball she stood at five foot seven inches tall, and was the smallest on her team.
Patrika didn’t always just play basketball; another sport she had a passion for was softball. On March 29, 2008 Patrika decided to end her college basketball career and try out for the Lady Cardinals softball team. Patrika had one semester left before getting her degree and she also had a lot of spare time, so why not use that spare time for softball?
“I had always liked softball. In the fall I went for the tryouts. I figured if I did make the team I would be used for speed.” Patrika said over the phone at her parent’s house in Metcalfe County. After tryouts, Patrika got a call from Louisville’s softball coach, Sandy Pearsall. She had made the team. Patrika also figured out that they liked her for more then just her quick speed.
When fall came around, Patrika said she started some games but then she hit a rough spot. She didn’t play for a few games but then she became the designated player. In softball the designated player is a player that bats in place of a defensive player. At the end of the season Patrika started 28 of the 43 games. The team had played 57 games and finished with a school record of 48 wins.
Patrika came to the University of Louisville as no stranger to the game of softball. She played for two years at Barren County High school, where she transferred before her freshman year at Metcalfe County. Her mother and aunt have been long time players of softball. Patrika, her mother, and her aunt play in slow pitch leagues. Softball is sort of like a family thing for them.
Patrika’s high school basketball coach, John Butler, said that the softball team he coached in 2004 at Barren County could have beaten Allen County if Patrika was on their team. Allen County had never lost one fast pitch district tournament game.
John Butler said that he tried to persuade Patrika to play for his softball team multiple times but Patrika was just too dedicated to basketball and was trying to improve her skills day after day. Patrika doesn’t regret her decision on softball. She has played basketball all of her life and she was also the first women’s basketball player at U of L to ever go to four straight NCAA tournaments.
Patrika’s journey through her basketball and softball career has changed her life and touched the lives of others. She is a magnificent athlete and a great friend. Patrika Barlow is truly one of the greatest athletes I have ever met and I am proud to call her my friend.
History of College Football
by Colin B.
Football is an easy sport to learn whenever it is taught properly. In 1869 college football began and has continued ever since. College football is played by student athletes that go to American colleges. The first intercollegiate football game was played on June 4, 1874 at Jarvis Field in Cambridge, Massachusetts between Tufts University and Harvard University.
This sport started in England where it has its own various game which is also called rugby. This where players can pick up a ball and run with it. The game then moved to Canada with the British soldiers. The first game representing American colleges was played with soccer style rules. The game took place in Brunswick, New Jersey on November 6, 1869 between Rutgers College (now known as Rutgers University) and the College of Princeton (also known as Princeton University.) Rutgers won 6 to 4.
In 1870, a similar game between Rutgers and Columbia University spread the popularity of intercollegiate football around the world. Tufts vs. Harvard players were allowed to pick up the ball and run with it. But they also had eleven men on each side of the field and the runner was stopped by knocking him down or also known as tackling the runner.
In 1875 Tufts football team had a photo that commemorated a milestone for the team. The photo now hangs in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana. Harvard and Yale also began play in 1875.
In college football, the longest running football rivalry or most played game is between Lafayette University and Leigh University. Walter Camp is the “Father of American Football” this is because he is the one credited with changing the game of rugby into the unique sport of football. Camp is the one who decided to make it seven men on the line of scrimmage (were the ball is) and a four man backfield. He also made the game more popular by advertising it in papers such as Collier’s Weekly and Harper’s Weekly.
Jim Thorpe is known as one of the greatest players to date. He played for Carlisle University College. He led the team to a collegiate championship playing Army University that included an upset victory. Carlisle finished the season 11-1. Jim Thorpe won the All- American honors in 1911 and in 1912.
This sport started in England where it has its own various game which is also called rugby. This where players can pick up a ball and run with it. The game then moved to Canada with the British soldiers. The first game representing American colleges was played with soccer style rules. The game took place in Brunswick, New Jersey on November 6, 1869 between Rutgers College (now known as Rutgers University) and the College of Princeton (also known as Princeton University.) Rutgers won 6 to 4.
In 1870, a similar game between Rutgers and Columbia University spread the popularity of intercollegiate football around the world. Tufts vs. Harvard players were allowed to pick up the ball and run with it. But they also had eleven men on each side of the field and the runner was stopped by knocking him down or also known as tackling the runner.
In 1875 Tufts football team had a photo that commemorated a milestone for the team. The photo now hangs in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana. Harvard and Yale also began play in 1875.
In college football, the longest running football rivalry or most played game is between Lafayette University and Leigh University. Walter Camp is the “Father of American Football” this is because he is the one credited with changing the game of rugby into the unique sport of football. Camp is the one who decided to make it seven men on the line of scrimmage (were the ball is) and a four man backfield. He also made the game more popular by advertising it in papers such as Collier’s Weekly and Harper’s Weekly.
Jim Thorpe is known as one of the greatest players to date. He played for Carlisle University College. He led the team to a collegiate championship playing Army University that included an upset victory. Carlisle finished the season 11-1. Jim Thorpe won the All- American honors in 1911 and in 1912.
America's Greatest Sport
by Chelsea S.
2004 Olympic Gold Medal Softball Team
The smell of ball park hot dogs roaming in the air, screaming fans, the sound of the bat smacking the ball, and even angry umpires are all very important in the dearly loved, great American sport of softball. Softball is a sport that was invented for girls to prove themselves and show the world what they can do. Many girls live for softball and several girls have dreamed of playing in the Olympics some day. Unfortunately, many young girls’ dreams of ever making it into the Olympics have been shattered and destroyed. Their hearts are broken because softball has been taken out of the 2012 Olympics and, who knows, it may never make it back in.
In Olympic softball, eight teams compete for three medals. Those three medals are the gold, silver, and bronze. You see, since softball became an official Olympic sport in 1996, team USA has won three gold medals and one silver medal. Many young girls across the world look up to those accomplishments and those who made them. One player that has always been looked up to is Jennie Finch. Jennie has been playing softball since she was five years old and she has been pitching since she was eight. She is one amazing pitcher and has proven herself to the whole world. Seeing Jennie Finch and other athletic Olympic softball players play has inspired many young girls. Therefore, taking softball out of the Olympics would be wrong and harmful to the lively spirits of young softball players everywhere.
When softball was recently voted to be taken out of the Olympics, it not only shattered dreams, but it also caused confusion. It caused confusion because it was voted to be replaced by bowling. So, to see what other people think about this tragedy, I interviewed a few people who are involved with softball.
In my interviews I asked some key questions as to what was thought about softball being taken out of the Olympics. The people I interviewed were my coach, Coach C., a teammate Shelby B., and a friend, Natalie A. In my interviews I got some unique responses.
First of all, I interviewed my teammate, Shelby B. When Shelby was asked, “What do you think about softball?” She replied with, “Softball is the coolest thing ever!” She was then asked, “Do you think softball is more physical and is more of an athletic sport than bowling?” She quickly replied with, “Duh!” Shelby B. was asked one more question. “What would you say if I told you that softball (along with baseball) is being replaced with bowling in the Olympics?” She angrily said, “I don’t like that at all! That is just crazy! Why would they do that? No one cares about bowling. That’s just wrong because softball and baseball both have their own series on television that millions of people watch. Watching bowling is like watching the Discovery Channel because no one watches it except to watch it for the exciting parts. What is exciting about bowling? Absolutely nothing! Exactly!”
After interviewing my concerned teammate, I then interviewed my wonderful coach, Coach C. Coach C. was first asked, “What do you think about softball?” He replied with, “I like softball and I think it’s a good sport. I’ve played softball for twenty-five to thirty-five years. I’m starting to learn a little bit more about fast pitch, but I still think softball is a good sport.” After Coach C. made that interesting reply, I asked him, “Do you think softball is more physical and is more of an athletic sport than bowling?” His response was, “Yes.” Coach C. was asked one more question, “What would you say if I told you that softball (along with baseball) is being replaced with bowling in the Olympics?” He suddenly laughed with a small grin on his face and said, “In a way it’s kind of funny, but not in a good way. It’s kind of funny because it’s dumb.”
Finally, I interviewed a friend of mine, Natalie A. Just like the other people I interviewed Natalie was first asked, “What do you think about softball?” Natalie said, “Softball is a pretty good sport. I used to play softball myself, but I just don’t play it anymore.” The second question she was asked was, “Do you think softball is a more physical and more athletic sport than bowling?” She responded with a definite and confident tone in her voice, “Yes.” The final question I asked Natalie A. was, “What would you say if I told you that softball (along with baseball) is being replaced with bowling in the Olympics?” She then said, “Why bowling? I think that is so crazy.” As you can see, the people I was fortunate enough to interview had some pretty decent answers.
In conclusion, you can see that taking softball and baseball out of the Olympics would be wrong and hurtful to many people. Even in my interviews you could see that people who don’t even play softball were astonished and confused when I told them softball and baseball were being taken out of the Olympics. I know that bowling is a sport, but the truth is, it’s not as competitive as softball or baseball. If softball and baseball are permanently taken out of the Olympics then it will break many young kids’ hearts. Softball and baseball are two of the greatest sports in America so don’t take them out of the Olympics.
In Olympic softball, eight teams compete for three medals. Those three medals are the gold, silver, and bronze. You see, since softball became an official Olympic sport in 1996, team USA has won three gold medals and one silver medal. Many young girls across the world look up to those accomplishments and those who made them. One player that has always been looked up to is Jennie Finch. Jennie has been playing softball since she was five years old and she has been pitching since she was eight. She is one amazing pitcher and has proven herself to the whole world. Seeing Jennie Finch and other athletic Olympic softball players play has inspired many young girls. Therefore, taking softball out of the Olympics would be wrong and harmful to the lively spirits of young softball players everywhere.
When softball was recently voted to be taken out of the Olympics, it not only shattered dreams, but it also caused confusion. It caused confusion because it was voted to be replaced by bowling. So, to see what other people think about this tragedy, I interviewed a few people who are involved with softball.
In my interviews I asked some key questions as to what was thought about softball being taken out of the Olympics. The people I interviewed were my coach, Coach C., a teammate Shelby B., and a friend, Natalie A. In my interviews I got some unique responses.
First of all, I interviewed my teammate, Shelby B. When Shelby was asked, “What do you think about softball?” She replied with, “Softball is the coolest thing ever!” She was then asked, “Do you think softball is more physical and is more of an athletic sport than bowling?” She quickly replied with, “Duh!” Shelby B. was asked one more question. “What would you say if I told you that softball (along with baseball) is being replaced with bowling in the Olympics?” She angrily said, “I don’t like that at all! That is just crazy! Why would they do that? No one cares about bowling. That’s just wrong because softball and baseball both have their own series on television that millions of people watch. Watching bowling is like watching the Discovery Channel because no one watches it except to watch it for the exciting parts. What is exciting about bowling? Absolutely nothing! Exactly!”
After interviewing my concerned teammate, I then interviewed my wonderful coach, Coach C. Coach C. was first asked, “What do you think about softball?” He replied with, “I like softball and I think it’s a good sport. I’ve played softball for twenty-five to thirty-five years. I’m starting to learn a little bit more about fast pitch, but I still think softball is a good sport.” After Coach C. made that interesting reply, I asked him, “Do you think softball is more physical and is more of an athletic sport than bowling?” His response was, “Yes.” Coach C. was asked one more question, “What would you say if I told you that softball (along with baseball) is being replaced with bowling in the Olympics?” He suddenly laughed with a small grin on his face and said, “In a way it’s kind of funny, but not in a good way. It’s kind of funny because it’s dumb.”
Finally, I interviewed a friend of mine, Natalie A. Just like the other people I interviewed Natalie was first asked, “What do you think about softball?” Natalie said, “Softball is a pretty good sport. I used to play softball myself, but I just don’t play it anymore.” The second question she was asked was, “Do you think softball is a more physical and more athletic sport than bowling?” She responded with a definite and confident tone in her voice, “Yes.” The final question I asked Natalie A. was, “What would you say if I told you that softball (along with baseball) is being replaced with bowling in the Olympics?” She then said, “Why bowling? I think that is so crazy.” As you can see, the people I was fortunate enough to interview had some pretty decent answers.
In conclusion, you can see that taking softball and baseball out of the Olympics would be wrong and hurtful to many people. Even in my interviews you could see that people who don’t even play softball were astonished and confused when I told them softball and baseball were being taken out of the Olympics. I know that bowling is a sport, but the truth is, it’s not as competitive as softball or baseball. If softball and baseball are permanently taken out of the Olympics then it will break many young kids’ hearts. Softball and baseball are two of the greatest sports in America so don’t take them out of the Olympics.
Maurice Mitchell
by Eldar G.
Maurice Mitchell
Maurice Mitchell was a player for the Louisville, Cardinals. He was born May 22, in Chicago Illinois and he moved to Kentucky when he was in the 5th grade. Maurice red shirted his first year in college. For those who don’t know what red shirted means, it is taking time off from the team to strengthen muscles and bulk up so injuries are lessened when the player is ready to play.
Maurice doesn’t play anymore because he graduated from University of Louisville. His best friend’s mom got him into playing football because one day when he was playing with his friend she said that he was really good and that he should go out for a team. She thought he could actually have a career in football What you know, he went to high school played football and basketball, got a college scholarship and became a member of the Louisville Cardinal’s football team. He says he was the star athlete in high school.
He also played basketball and football throughout his time at University of Louisville. He was such a good player, that he got offers to play for UK and TN, but he chose Louisville.
He played for five years but then stopped because he suffered injuries and had two shoulder surgeries his junior year. He was out his junior year because he tore an arch in his front shoulder and did not enter the draft due to not wanting to go through surgery again.
Maurice doesn’t play anymore because he graduated from University of Louisville. His best friend’s mom got him into playing football because one day when he was playing with his friend she said that he was really good and that he should go out for a team. She thought he could actually have a career in football What you know, he went to high school played football and basketball, got a college scholarship and became a member of the Louisville Cardinal’s football team. He says he was the star athlete in high school.
He also played basketball and football throughout his time at University of Louisville. He was such a good player, that he got offers to play for UK and TN, but he chose Louisville.
He played for five years but then stopped because he suffered injuries and had two shoulder surgeries his junior year. He was out his junior year because he tore an arch in his front shoulder and did not enter the draft due to not wanting to go through surgery again.
Graphic Design
by Shelby B.
Graphic design is anything you see while you read this article. It is the use of graphic elements and text to communicate a concept or idea. It allows you to be able to be artistic without having to be able to draw or sing or dance. It can be a lot of work but it’s definitely worth it when you see your finished product.
Graphic design started a long time ago, back in the 4th and 7th centuries when they would carve wood blocks to make pictures. Then they started to reproduce the stories of the wooden blocks into Buddhist texts. Then, in the 19th century, Europe and the United Kingdom in particular decided to define “graphic design” from “fine art.” This is when graphic design began selling.
In the 1900’s we began using graphic design for propaganda techniques such as posters, logos, menus, clothing etc. etc. Now we use it for basically the same things, with the additions of web ads, road signs, billboards, and even the logo on your favorite sports team’s uniforms.
There are many types of graphic design, from visual arts to web page layout to typography, and the "old - fashioned" style of printmaking.
The visual arts part is what part of the graphic catches your eye and draws your attention. the Typography part could be any kind of text you have in the graphic and how it looks on the paper. Page layout is the part of graphic design that allows you to see what parts are goin to be too big for the graphic, what parts would look good where, and if some pieces need to be removed because they don't belong as well as you thought they would.
Printmaking is perhaps most important and should be your first step. It is the time when you gather all of your ideas and put them on paper before you go about messing with the computer programs. When you do the printmaking step it is important to remember that nothing can be perfect the first time and perfection is not achieved when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away.
Most occupations to look into when looking at graphic design as a career field are, graphic designer, art director, creative director, and at an entry level position, a production artist.
While computers are not required for this field, understanding of them and how you can make designs with them will definitely help you. If you make entire graphics with just CPU and web-based things, you then begin what is called computer graphics. Computer graphics allow you to enhance a normal, boring picture and turn it into something the human eye is going to see and think of as interesting.
The study of computer graphics is a sub-field of computer science and graphic design is in the field of visual arts. Technical and art colleges are recommended for anyone looking into this field of occupation and education.
Graphic design started a long time ago, back in the 4th and 7th centuries when they would carve wood blocks to make pictures. Then they started to reproduce the stories of the wooden blocks into Buddhist texts. Then, in the 19th century, Europe and the United Kingdom in particular decided to define “graphic design” from “fine art.” This is when graphic design began selling.
In the 1900’s we began using graphic design for propaganda techniques such as posters, logos, menus, clothing etc. etc. Now we use it for basically the same things, with the additions of web ads, road signs, billboards, and even the logo on your favorite sports team’s uniforms.
There are many types of graphic design, from visual arts to web page layout to typography, and the "old - fashioned" style of printmaking.
The visual arts part is what part of the graphic catches your eye and draws your attention. the Typography part could be any kind of text you have in the graphic and how it looks on the paper. Page layout is the part of graphic design that allows you to see what parts are goin to be too big for the graphic, what parts would look good where, and if some pieces need to be removed because they don't belong as well as you thought they would.
Printmaking is perhaps most important and should be your first step. It is the time when you gather all of your ideas and put them on paper before you go about messing with the computer programs. When you do the printmaking step it is important to remember that nothing can be perfect the first time and perfection is not achieved when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away.
Most occupations to look into when looking at graphic design as a career field are, graphic designer, art director, creative director, and at an entry level position, a production artist.
While computers are not required for this field, understanding of them and how you can make designs with them will definitely help you. If you make entire graphics with just CPU and web-based things, you then begin what is called computer graphics. Computer graphics allow you to enhance a normal, boring picture and turn it into something the human eye is going to see and think of as interesting.
The study of computer graphics is a sub-field of computer science and graphic design is in the field of visual arts. Technical and art colleges are recommended for anyone looking into this field of occupation and education.
History of Women's Basketball
by Callie C.
Pitt's 1924 Women's Basketball Team
In 1891 the game of basketball was invented by James Naismith of Springfield, Massachusetts. James was a Canadian physical educator. The first rules of basketball were devised in 1892. When it was first invented, basketball was played by dribbling a soccer ball. Points were earned by landing the ball in a peach basket.
Basketball has come a long way since 1891. Since then, many rules of basketball have changed, especially in women’s basketball. . For example, when women first started playing basketball the only body parts that could be exposed were fingers, necks, and heads.
In some of the first games of basketball no player could leave their zone and each basket was worth only one point. Also players could only hold the ball for three seconds and dribble only three times before passing. The arms or body could not be used to hold the basketball, only hands. If one team made three consecutive fouls, the other team got points. This is similar to how handball is played today.
In 1996, a rule was made that there could be no coaching during a game except for half-time. In 1971 the five player, full-court game was adopted and the 30-second shot clock was introduced. The first NCAA women’s national championship was played in 1981. The 3-point shot was also introduced in 1987.
Candace Parker is one of the best players in WNBA history. She was born April 19, 1986. Candace led the Tennessee Lady Volunteers to consecutive NCAA titles in 2007 and 2008. She also became the first woman to dunk in a NCAA game in 2006. Candace Parker won the Final Four MVP in both 2007 and 2008.She was picked No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2008 WNBA draft. In 2008 Candace set a record for points scored in a WNBA debut.
Basketball is also a big part of my life. I’ve been playing basketball since I was 4 years old. I have learned that as long as you play hard and give it your all, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose.
Basketball has come a long way since 1891. Since then, many rules of basketball have changed, especially in women’s basketball. . For example, when women first started playing basketball the only body parts that could be exposed were fingers, necks, and heads.
In some of the first games of basketball no player could leave their zone and each basket was worth only one point. Also players could only hold the ball for three seconds and dribble only three times before passing. The arms or body could not be used to hold the basketball, only hands. If one team made three consecutive fouls, the other team got points. This is similar to how handball is played today.
In 1996, a rule was made that there could be no coaching during a game except for half-time. In 1971 the five player, full-court game was adopted and the 30-second shot clock was introduced. The first NCAA women’s national championship was played in 1981. The 3-point shot was also introduced in 1987.
Candace Parker is one of the best players in WNBA history. She was born April 19, 1986. Candace led the Tennessee Lady Volunteers to consecutive NCAA titles in 2007 and 2008. She also became the first woman to dunk in a NCAA game in 2006. Candace Parker won the Final Four MVP in both 2007 and 2008.She was picked No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2008 WNBA draft. In 2008 Candace set a record for points scored in a WNBA debut.
Basketball is also a big part of my life. I’ve been playing basketball since I was 4 years old. I have learned that as long as you play hard and give it your all, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose.
Screamo and Hardcore Music
by Josh C.
There are many different genres of music, but my favorites are those with mad vocals and thrilling breakdowns like screamo and hardcore. Not everyone in the world thinks that these genres are the best but I like them and so I decided to tell you about the history of these genres.
Screamo is a genre of music which evolved from hardcore punk in the early 1990’s. The term “Screamo” was initially applied as a more aggressive offshoot of emo that developed in San Diego in 1991. In the early 2000’s, the genre name began to describe a different, slower and less harsh style that came from alternative rock. The second wave of screamo usually makes use of dual guitars and guitar solos unlike the first wave in screamo these bands usually compose ballads. The second wave is often defined as “mixing the literate, poetic lyrics and screaming vocals.
Hardcore is a subgenre of punk rock that came into existence in North America and the United Kingdom in the late 1970’s. The new sound was commonly thicker, heavier, and faster than the past punk rock. Earlier hardcore has a quick tempo with drums and vocals in time, when modern hardcore has drums and vocals that may not be in beat with the tempo. Hardcore bands also made hardcore dancing in the early 1980’s, they developed things like slam dancing and stage diving.
If you would like to hear some music from these genres, you can listen to, Alesana, August Burns Red, As I Lay Dying, Chiodos, Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, Escape The Fate, Bring Me The Horizon, From Fist To Last, Bullet For My Valentine, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Subseven, Sosin, and many more. These some of my favorite bands, I hope you enjoy them.
Screamo is a genre of music which evolved from hardcore punk in the early 1990’s. The term “Screamo” was initially applied as a more aggressive offshoot of emo that developed in San Diego in 1991. In the early 2000’s, the genre name began to describe a different, slower and less harsh style that came from alternative rock. The second wave of screamo usually makes use of dual guitars and guitar solos unlike the first wave in screamo these bands usually compose ballads. The second wave is often defined as “mixing the literate, poetic lyrics and screaming vocals.
Hardcore is a subgenre of punk rock that came into existence in North America and the United Kingdom in the late 1970’s. The new sound was commonly thicker, heavier, and faster than the past punk rock. Earlier hardcore has a quick tempo with drums and vocals in time, when modern hardcore has drums and vocals that may not be in beat with the tempo. Hardcore bands also made hardcore dancing in the early 1980’s, they developed things like slam dancing and stage diving.
If you would like to hear some music from these genres, you can listen to, Alesana, August Burns Red, As I Lay Dying, Chiodos, Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, Escape The Fate, Bring Me The Horizon, From Fist To Last, Bullet For My Valentine, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Subseven, Sosin, and many more. These some of my favorite bands, I hope you enjoy them.
Pat Summitt
by Gretchen M.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a basketball court named after you? Or be one of the most historic coaches in basketball history? Have you ever dreamed of accomplishing something so magnificent, something that seems impossible to do? One woman has changed that dream into her reality. Pat Summitt is one of the most historic coaches in basketball history. She has won eight national championships; she is the all time winningest coach in NCAA history, and she is one of only two colligate coaches with one thousand victories. This is just a brief description of her life and accomplishments.
Pat Head was born on June 14, 1952 in the town of Clarksville, Tennessee. Pat is the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols. Pat started her coaching career in 1974. She started out coaching for the Tennessee Lady Vols. She is the all time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history.
Pat attended college at the University of Tennessee, where she won All-American honors, playing under the coaching of UT’s first women’s basketball coach, Nadine Gearin. She has four siblings, three older brothers and one younger sister. She married R.B Summitt in 1980 and the two filed for divorce in 2007. She has one son named Ross Tyler Summitt.
In the 1974 through 1975 season, Pat became a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee and was named head coach of the Lady Vols basketball team who were 25-2 the previous season. Pat coached her first game December 7, 1974 against Mercer University. Unfortunately the Lady Vols lost 84 to 83. Since Pat has been coaching the Lady Vols are fourteen time SEC champions, thirteen time SEC tournament champions, and eight time NCAA champions.
Pat Summitt received great honors and rewards for her coaching skills. In 1999 Pat was inducted with the inaugural class to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2000, she joined Isaiah Thomas as inductees into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Pat is the only coach to have two courts used by the NCAA basketball teams named in her honor. The “Pat Head Summitt Court” located at the University of Tennessee-Martin and “The Summitt” located at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Pat also has two streets named after her, “Pat Head Summitt Street” and “Pat Head Summitt Avenue” located at University of Tennessee’s Knoxville and Martin campuses. Summitt was also the first coach in Division one NCAA basketball history to reach one thousand wins!
On May 22, 2006, the University of Tennessee president John Petersen and Women’s Athletic Director Joan Cronan awarded Pat a six year contract extension for her great coaching skills and also her love and passion for Women’s basketball. With this new agreement, Pat didn’t just get the glory of knowing she had six more years to coach at the University of Tennessee but it also elevated her annual total compensation package to $1.125 million in 2006 through 2007 and $1.5 million by the 2011 through 2012 basketball season.
I bet you’re thinking, with this contract extension and all the money that comes with it, what will Pat do with the money? Pat is a very generous person. In August 2008, Pat committed $600,000 to the University of Tennessee. The University of Tennessee split Pat’s donation between the Knoxville campus and the Martin campus.
On May 5, 2009 Pat had a goal of winning one thousand games. The Lady Vols team she was coaching now was nothing like the Lady Vols that brought Pat her seventh and eighth national championships in the two previous seasons. The new Lady Vols team was referred to as the “baby Lady Vols”. This was an inexperienced group that had Pat joking about if they were even up to the challenge of winning the seventeen games she needed to reach her goal of one thousand wins this season.
The one thousandth win came on the court named after Pat. All the fans in the arena stood on their feet clapping and cheering as the orange and white streamers fell from the ceiling. The baby Lady Vols had won the seventeen games Pat needed to reach her goal of one thousand wins for that season. After the game was over Pat gave Georgia coach Andy Landers a big hug on the sideline. Andy later said that it meant something to be the first to congratulate her on a remarkable accomplishment.
The Lady Vols were given T-shirts with “1000” on the front of them in orange. The University of Tennessee school officials gave Pat a bracelet, necklace, and painting as a gift for her historic win that day. The school officials later announced that Pat had signed a contract extension through 2014 earlier this week and earned a $200,000 bonus with this win.
Pat is not only the first to one thousand Division I victories, but she might be the only one for a long time. Pat is one heck of a coach and her one thousand victories are a historic moment in basketball history. She is a great coach as you can tell; I don’t think that she will retire from coaching anytime soon.
Pat Head was born on June 14, 1952 in the town of Clarksville, Tennessee. Pat is the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols. Pat started her coaching career in 1974. She started out coaching for the Tennessee Lady Vols. She is the all time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history.
Pat attended college at the University of Tennessee, where she won All-American honors, playing under the coaching of UT’s first women’s basketball coach, Nadine Gearin. She has four siblings, three older brothers and one younger sister. She married R.B Summitt in 1980 and the two filed for divorce in 2007. She has one son named Ross Tyler Summitt.
In the 1974 through 1975 season, Pat became a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee and was named head coach of the Lady Vols basketball team who were 25-2 the previous season. Pat coached her first game December 7, 1974 against Mercer University. Unfortunately the Lady Vols lost 84 to 83. Since Pat has been coaching the Lady Vols are fourteen time SEC champions, thirteen time SEC tournament champions, and eight time NCAA champions.
Pat Summitt received great honors and rewards for her coaching skills. In 1999 Pat was inducted with the inaugural class to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2000, she joined Isaiah Thomas as inductees into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Pat is the only coach to have two courts used by the NCAA basketball teams named in her honor. The “Pat Head Summitt Court” located at the University of Tennessee-Martin and “The Summitt” located at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Pat also has two streets named after her, “Pat Head Summitt Street” and “Pat Head Summitt Avenue” located at University of Tennessee’s Knoxville and Martin campuses. Summitt was also the first coach in Division one NCAA basketball history to reach one thousand wins!
On May 22, 2006, the University of Tennessee president John Petersen and Women’s Athletic Director Joan Cronan awarded Pat a six year contract extension for her great coaching skills and also her love and passion for Women’s basketball. With this new agreement, Pat didn’t just get the glory of knowing she had six more years to coach at the University of Tennessee but it also elevated her annual total compensation package to $1.125 million in 2006 through 2007 and $1.5 million by the 2011 through 2012 basketball season.
I bet you’re thinking, with this contract extension and all the money that comes with it, what will Pat do with the money? Pat is a very generous person. In August 2008, Pat committed $600,000 to the University of Tennessee. The University of Tennessee split Pat’s donation between the Knoxville campus and the Martin campus.
On May 5, 2009 Pat had a goal of winning one thousand games. The Lady Vols team she was coaching now was nothing like the Lady Vols that brought Pat her seventh and eighth national championships in the two previous seasons. The new Lady Vols team was referred to as the “baby Lady Vols”. This was an inexperienced group that had Pat joking about if they were even up to the challenge of winning the seventeen games she needed to reach her goal of one thousand wins this season.
The one thousandth win came on the court named after Pat. All the fans in the arena stood on their feet clapping and cheering as the orange and white streamers fell from the ceiling. The baby Lady Vols had won the seventeen games Pat needed to reach her goal of one thousand wins for that season. After the game was over Pat gave Georgia coach Andy Landers a big hug on the sideline. Andy later said that it meant something to be the first to congratulate her on a remarkable accomplishment.
The Lady Vols were given T-shirts with “1000” on the front of them in orange. The University of Tennessee school officials gave Pat a bracelet, necklace, and painting as a gift for her historic win that day. The school officials later announced that Pat had signed a contract extension through 2014 earlier this week and earned a $200,000 bonus with this win.
Pat is not only the first to one thousand Division I victories, but she might be the only one for a long time. Pat is one heck of a coach and her one thousand victories are a historic moment in basketball history. She is a great coach as you can tell; I don’t think that she will retire from coaching anytime soon.
Taking the Trail
by Matt V.
Hiking has been in the existence since Stone Ages. The first recorded trek was completed by a Roman Emperor from Hadrian to Etna.
Hiking is an outdoor activity. It is a common activity, so common in fact that there are several hiking organizations all over the world. There are many forms of hiking. A day hike refers to a hike that takes less than one day so that means you do not have to camp out. Another type is called bushwhacking. Bushwhacking refers to challenging walks through intense forest, scrub, and bushes, where farther advancement requires moving the plants out of the way. In severe cases of bushwhacking the undergrowth is so thick that a human passageway is made, a machete is crucial.
On a hike you should take a hiking pack. In that pack you should have a cell phone, first aid kit, insect repellent, flashlight, food, map and compass, a multi-tool such as a pocket knife, sunscreen and sunglasses, waterproof matches , water and a whistle. You should also have some extra clothing to wear if the clothes you have on get wet. I always take a poncho just in case it rains. The pack should weigh no more than 7.5lb.
You should always consider the weather possibilities especially while hiking in the mountains. Weather in the mountains can change from sun to rain in no time at all. So you should pack up clothes for any type of climate change possible. If there is a tornado watch or warning use your common sense and don’t go hiking.
While hiking, you should consider your safety as well. You should take a first aid kit with you every time you go hiking. And also try to take a cell phone if you have one. Just in case one of the people you are hiking with gets injured to the severity that he/she can’t walk. That way if you have a cell phone you could call a relative or the hospital to come and get the injured person that might have a possible chance of dying. Also, try not to disturb any wild life that might have potential to attack you.
Why do hikers like to hike? They love the outdoors, they love trail food and camp dinners, they love that they don’t have a time limit, they like to wonder what they will see next on the trail. Hikers love that they know they can survive without possessions, and they love the adventure, to know that each time they come back it will be different. I love hiking because I love to see all the nature, not the boring man made things that I get to see every time I go to Wal-Mart. I enjoy animals that I get to see every time I go hiking such as deer, squirrels and raccoons (if you hike at night.) But of course nothing is better than sharing experiences with my friends.
Hiking is my favorite thing to do when ever I get the chance. Hiking is the best way to see wonderful sights and get some fresh air. It is also good for your health. You can burn calories (unless you eat too much trail food.) I hope that by reading this you will more than consider going hiking.
Hiking is an outdoor activity. It is a common activity, so common in fact that there are several hiking organizations all over the world. There are many forms of hiking. A day hike refers to a hike that takes less than one day so that means you do not have to camp out. Another type is called bushwhacking. Bushwhacking refers to challenging walks through intense forest, scrub, and bushes, where farther advancement requires moving the plants out of the way. In severe cases of bushwhacking the undergrowth is so thick that a human passageway is made, a machete is crucial.
On a hike you should take a hiking pack. In that pack you should have a cell phone, first aid kit, insect repellent, flashlight, food, map and compass, a multi-tool such as a pocket knife, sunscreen and sunglasses, waterproof matches , water and a whistle. You should also have some extra clothing to wear if the clothes you have on get wet. I always take a poncho just in case it rains. The pack should weigh no more than 7.5lb.
You should always consider the weather possibilities especially while hiking in the mountains. Weather in the mountains can change from sun to rain in no time at all. So you should pack up clothes for any type of climate change possible. If there is a tornado watch or warning use your common sense and don’t go hiking.
While hiking, you should consider your safety as well. You should take a first aid kit with you every time you go hiking. And also try to take a cell phone if you have one. Just in case one of the people you are hiking with gets injured to the severity that he/she can’t walk. That way if you have a cell phone you could call a relative or the hospital to come and get the injured person that might have a possible chance of dying. Also, try not to disturb any wild life that might have potential to attack you.
Why do hikers like to hike? They love the outdoors, they love trail food and camp dinners, they love that they don’t have a time limit, they like to wonder what they will see next on the trail. Hikers love that they know they can survive without possessions, and they love the adventure, to know that each time they come back it will be different. I love hiking because I love to see all the nature, not the boring man made things that I get to see every time I go to Wal-Mart. I enjoy animals that I get to see every time I go hiking such as deer, squirrels and raccoons (if you hike at night.) But of course nothing is better than sharing experiences with my friends.
Hiking is my favorite thing to do when ever I get the chance. Hiking is the best way to see wonderful sights and get some fresh air. It is also good for your health. You can burn calories (unless you eat too much trail food.) I hope that by reading this you will more than consider going hiking.
X Box 360
by Baker W.
The Microsoft Company released the Xbox gaming system on November 15, 2001. The Xbox has evolved and now everyone has an Xbox 360 which was unveiled on May 12, 2005 on MTV. Today a good price for an Xbox would be around 200 dollars. The Xbox 360 with its many features, is a pretty sweet piece of technology. With the purchase of an Xbox live subscription and a router for the back of the console you can play with other players all over the world. You can also make an avatar which is a character that looks like you. You can chat with others using a head set or you can message them in text. Some people prefer a Play Station 3, but there have been many reports of those systems crashing and freezing up. Ever since I was young, I have preferred the Xbox systems. But there is a bad side to the Xbox, the batteries in the controller don’t last long at all and the new games are about 60 bucks so you might want to rent them first just to see if you like them.
I spoke to an Xbox 360 player, Brian Y. His favorite Xbox 360 games are Skate 2 and Rainbow 6 Vegas 2. He believes the Xbox has better graphics, and games than the Play Station 3. He has a white Xbox 360 and a black one. He loves first person shooting and skate boarding, games. He says he never leaves his room unless he’s skateboarding, He loves to play Xbox with his friends and his little brother. He claims he is “super awesome’’ at Xbox. So if you are planning to purchase an Xbox 360 over all it would be a good investment. Have fun and happy gaming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I spoke to an Xbox 360 player, Brian Y. His favorite Xbox 360 games are Skate 2 and Rainbow 6 Vegas 2. He believes the Xbox has better graphics, and games than the Play Station 3. He has a white Xbox 360 and a black one. He loves first person shooting and skate boarding, games. He says he never leaves his room unless he’s skateboarding, He loves to play Xbox with his friends and his little brother. He claims he is “super awesome’’ at Xbox. So if you are planning to purchase an Xbox 360 over all it would be a good investment. Have fun and happy gaming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Endangered Giraffes
by Jordan S.
Every one has heard of Giraffes, but did you know they’re slowly facing extinction? The number of giraffes in the world has decreased from 110,000 to only 3,000 in the past decade.
History of Giraffes
Giraffes have been around for hundreds of years. They were even brought to Rome in 46 B.C. Back then, people thought giraffes were a combination between a camel and a leopard and were known as “camel leopards” or camleopardaladis in Latin. Giraffes are, in fact, cousins to the camel. Giraffes are native to Africa but were wiped out of Egypt in 2600 B.C and out of southern Africa in the 20th century.
Silently Hunted
Giraffes are being hunted quietly by a few African tribes in mostly southern Africa. Why would someone want to kill these majestic animals? It’s not for their meat orskins or even as a trophy, it’s for their tails. Some African tribes believe Giraffe tails give you good luck.
Since there are already laws against the hunting and killing of giraffes, there isn’t much we can do but join organizations like S.A.P.G or Save and Protect Giraffes which advocates stopping the murder of giraffes. Rescue centers in Africa also need support.
Giraffe Manor
. Giraffe rescue centers are in Niger and at the African hotel famously known as “Giraffe Manor”, built in 1932 and owned by David Duncan. Giraffe Manor is an elegant hotel in Africa which is famous for its herd of giraffes. Imagine eating breakfast and then getting a surprise; the world’s tallest animal! That’s the sort of thing that happens at Giraffe Manor every day. The manor is an area of 140 acres covered in indigenous trees to make the giraffes feel at home.
History of Giraffes
Giraffes have been around for hundreds of years. They were even brought to Rome in 46 B.C. Back then, people thought giraffes were a combination between a camel and a leopard and were known as “camel leopards” or camleopardaladis in Latin. Giraffes are, in fact, cousins to the camel. Giraffes are native to Africa but were wiped out of Egypt in 2600 B.C and out of southern Africa in the 20th century.
Silently Hunted
Giraffes are being hunted quietly by a few African tribes in mostly southern Africa. Why would someone want to kill these majestic animals? It’s not for their meat orskins or even as a trophy, it’s for their tails. Some African tribes believe Giraffe tails give you good luck.
Since there are already laws against the hunting and killing of giraffes, there isn’t much we can do but join organizations like S.A.P.G or Save and Protect Giraffes which advocates stopping the murder of giraffes. Rescue centers in Africa also need support.
Giraffe Manor
. Giraffe rescue centers are in Niger and at the African hotel famously known as “Giraffe Manor”, built in 1932 and owned by David Duncan. Giraffe Manor is an elegant hotel in Africa which is famous for its herd of giraffes. Imagine eating breakfast and then getting a surprise; the world’s tallest animal! That’s the sort of thing that happens at Giraffe Manor every day. The manor is an area of 140 acres covered in indigenous trees to make the giraffes feel at home.
LaDainian Tomlinson
by Jarius B.
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson is a famous football player in the NFL. He plays for the San Diego Chargers, my favorite team. He was an exceptional running back in high school and in college, as he made his way into the NFL.
LaDainian Tomlinson, L.T. for short, is 5ft. 10in. He has been granted the Most Valuable player (MVP) award for the San Diego Chargers. Some people say he gets the MVP award for the whole NFL. My personal opinion is that he is the best player in the league because he has rushed for so many yards and scored so may touchdowns.
LaDainian was born in 1979 in Rosebud, Texas to Loreane and Oliver Tomlinson. At a younger age he would imitate his favorite football stars, Walter Peyton, Jim Brown, and Emmitt Smith. As a senior in high school, he led the NCAA in rushing yards. When he was a senior he was a finalist for the Heisman trophy.
L.T. has played for the San Diego Chargers for nine great years. During that time he has gotten 126 touchdowns, and 3,801yards. He is the starting running back and is an outstanding player. He chose the number he has (21) because it is in-between the numbers of his favorite running backs Walter Peyton (20), and Emmitt Smith (22).
LaDainian Tomlinson, L.T. for short, is 5ft. 10in. He has been granted the Most Valuable player (MVP) award for the San Diego Chargers. Some people say he gets the MVP award for the whole NFL. My personal opinion is that he is the best player in the league because he has rushed for so many yards and scored so may touchdowns.
LaDainian was born in 1979 in Rosebud, Texas to Loreane and Oliver Tomlinson. At a younger age he would imitate his favorite football stars, Walter Peyton, Jim Brown, and Emmitt Smith. As a senior in high school, he led the NCAA in rushing yards. When he was a senior he was a finalist for the Heisman trophy.
L.T. has played for the San Diego Chargers for nine great years. During that time he has gotten 126 touchdowns, and 3,801yards. He is the starting running back and is an outstanding player. He chose the number he has (21) because it is in-between the numbers of his favorite running backs Walter Peyton (20), and Emmitt Smith (22).
Crazy Cupcakes
by Julia G.
iPhone App Cupcakes
Cupcakes are many things. They can be called “mini cakes” or “party favors”. They can come in different flavors, designs, patterns in the frosting…but the cupcakes I will be telling you about today are some cupcakes you could have never dreamed about…
The History of Cupcakes:
Cupcakes evolved in the US in the 19th century, but no one can ever really figure out HOW the name cupcakes originated. Some think that it’s because they were originally baked in cups. Others think it’s because the ingredients used were measured out be the cup. The reason bakers like cupcakes is because baking small cupcakes saves time in the kitchen, compared to baking a cake. Some of the first ingredients used to make cupcakes were pretty simple: 1 cup of butter, 2 cups of sugar, 3 cups of flour, 4 eggs, 1 cup of milk, and 1 spoonful of soda. Muffin tins were very popular in the 20th century, so people started using them to make cupcakes!
Cupcake Contests
Did you ever know that there is a Cupcake Decorating Championship? I didn’t know about it either, until I searched for some crazy cupcakes, and found a picture of last years champion! Nick and Danielle Bilton created a dozen cupcakes made to look like the iphone apps, as seen in the picture above. That’s a pretty crazy assortment of cupcakes, and they look great too!
Get Creative
Some people might only use fancy cupcakes for parties or holidays, and that’s when decorators get their most creative ideas! As seen above, some decorators prefer to make their cupcake decorations “jump out” like the bunny cupcakes for Easter. Others like to just squirt the colored frosting on them to make ghostly cupcakes for Halloween.
Have you ever thought about video game cupcakes? You can see the newest and latest technology in cupcakes! The Pac Man game has been brought to life again, in cupcakes!! Wii characters and symbols have been made into delicious treats! My friend Jordan S. says that she LOVES cupcakes! “They are one of my favorite snacks. I have decorated some weird designs on cupcakes before and they turned out pretty good.” She says that her favorite combination of cupcakes is “chocolate frosting on sponge cake, with sprinkles!!” I agree with Jordan, cupcakes are one of my FAVORITE desserts!
The Great Outdoors - Hunting
by Jacob U.
Hunting goes back centuries to the ancient Greeks. Even though there are many people against this fabulous sport it is part of conservation and history.
Seasons and bag limits were created to keep animals from going instinct or endangered. In Kentucky you can only take two turkeys during the 2009 spring season. A person can only take one turkey per a day. These two turkeys must be male. A hunter may only take twelve squirrels during the 2009 fall hunting season. One hunter can only take six squirrels per day. The deer seasons are based off of zones depending on the counties. Zone ones modern gun season starts Nov.14 and ends the 29th. Zone two is the same. Zones three and four start Nov.14 and ends the 23rd. In zone 4 you can only take antlered deer. The three zones were created for conservation.
A hunter needs the right equipment to be successful on a hunt. A weapon is of course mandatory. For deer and coyotes you will need a rifle or a bow and arrow. For turkey, the only weapon that is legal is a shotgun, except during archery season for turkey. For squirrel and other small game, your best choices would be a shotgun or a .22 rifle. To hunt on somebody else’s land, you need an orange card and a hunting license. An orange card shows that you have passed the necessary hunter education courses. I got my orange card at Camp Currie. You can get a hunting license at a Wal-Mart. If you are hunting on your own land, then you don’t need these things. But this law is only in Kentucky as far as I know.
The spring season for turkey started April 18 and ended May 10. There is also a fall hunting season for turkey. There are actually two shot gun seasons. One of them is in October. It starts the 24th and ends the 30th. There is also one in December. It starts the 5th and ends the 11th. Turkey hunting is almost as popular as deer hunting. It is very fun, and a bit more of a challenge. Turkeys have very good eyesight, so they will see you if you move. So you must sit very still. It is almost impossible to stalk a turkey. First you must locate them with your call then you must get in front of them and cut them off.
It is the same with squirrel hunting. Squirrels are a bit easier to stalk than turkey, especially if they are cutting on nuts. But if they are up in a tree and see you, they will do two different things. If they think they have not been seen, they will get in the crook of a tree and hide. This makes it almost impossible to see them. If they think they have been seen, then they will get up against a tree and “bark” at you. By doing this they are trying to scare you off. Younger squirrels will do this more often than older ones.
Deer hunting is a bit different than squirrel and turkey hunting. For this sport you must sit and make no noise. Deer have great hearing and sense of smell. Serious hunters will wash their clothes in scent killer. They will also use scent killer soap, and right before hunting they will spray a scent killer mist onto themselves. Deer can’t see as good as turkey or squirrel but it is still important to stay still while hunting deer, especially if you are hunting out of a tree stand.
A coyote can hear and smell better than any deer. This is probably the most challenging animal you can hunt. Your best chance is to have a dead animal as bait and a dying rabbit call. You must sit still and be as camouflaged as possible, because the coyote will see you.
Water fowl and duck hunting is very fun and popular. Duck hunting is done in “cold miserable weather.” Ducks usually fly better when it is cold and cloudy. Your best chance at success is to be on or around some kind of pond or lake. Since it usually is cold, you will need a special type of dog to retrieve the ducks you shoot. A Labrador Retriever or Chesapeake Bay Retriever are probably the best choices. Just like coyote and turkey, you will need a call and plenty of camouflage for this hunt.
My most memorable hunt was when I went squirrel hunting on Martin Luther King’s day. It was really cold and snowing. The snow was good because it could hide my movement since it was also moving. So I got up real early, bundled up, got my shot gun and headed out. I followed my usual trails and didn’t see a thing. But when I got to the far end of our woods, I came up on three squirrels fighting. I got my gun ready and sneaked towards them. One of them saw me and stopped. It obviously didn’t think I had seen it because it just stopped and stared at me. But it was wrong. I pulled the trigger and next thing I know I am putting my first squirrel into my pouch. The others ran off but I still waited. Sure enough about ten minutes later, one of the others ran up the same tree. He saw me and stopped. I put my little bead on him, pulled the trigger and down he fell. I have been hunting squirrels for a long time, but that has been my most memorable hunt by far.
Do you think hunting sounds like fun? Well I have been hunting for as long as I can remember, and trust me it is fun. I hope that by reading this article you will take up this remarkable sport if you haven’t already. If you ever do start hunting then I defiantly recommend all kinds.
Seasons and bag limits were created to keep animals from going instinct or endangered. In Kentucky you can only take two turkeys during the 2009 spring season. A person can only take one turkey per a day. These two turkeys must be male. A hunter may only take twelve squirrels during the 2009 fall hunting season. One hunter can only take six squirrels per day. The deer seasons are based off of zones depending on the counties. Zone ones modern gun season starts Nov.14 and ends the 29th. Zone two is the same. Zones three and four start Nov.14 and ends the 23rd. In zone 4 you can only take antlered deer. The three zones were created for conservation.
A hunter needs the right equipment to be successful on a hunt. A weapon is of course mandatory. For deer and coyotes you will need a rifle or a bow and arrow. For turkey, the only weapon that is legal is a shotgun, except during archery season for turkey. For squirrel and other small game, your best choices would be a shotgun or a .22 rifle. To hunt on somebody else’s land, you need an orange card and a hunting license. An orange card shows that you have passed the necessary hunter education courses. I got my orange card at Camp Currie. You can get a hunting license at a Wal-Mart. If you are hunting on your own land, then you don’t need these things. But this law is only in Kentucky as far as I know.
The spring season for turkey started April 18 and ended May 10. There is also a fall hunting season for turkey. There are actually two shot gun seasons. One of them is in October. It starts the 24th and ends the 30th. There is also one in December. It starts the 5th and ends the 11th. Turkey hunting is almost as popular as deer hunting. It is very fun, and a bit more of a challenge. Turkeys have very good eyesight, so they will see you if you move. So you must sit very still. It is almost impossible to stalk a turkey. First you must locate them with your call then you must get in front of them and cut them off.
It is the same with squirrel hunting. Squirrels are a bit easier to stalk than turkey, especially if they are cutting on nuts. But if they are up in a tree and see you, they will do two different things. If they think they have not been seen, they will get in the crook of a tree and hide. This makes it almost impossible to see them. If they think they have been seen, then they will get up against a tree and “bark” at you. By doing this they are trying to scare you off. Younger squirrels will do this more often than older ones.
Deer hunting is a bit different than squirrel and turkey hunting. For this sport you must sit and make no noise. Deer have great hearing and sense of smell. Serious hunters will wash their clothes in scent killer. They will also use scent killer soap, and right before hunting they will spray a scent killer mist onto themselves. Deer can’t see as good as turkey or squirrel but it is still important to stay still while hunting deer, especially if you are hunting out of a tree stand.
A coyote can hear and smell better than any deer. This is probably the most challenging animal you can hunt. Your best chance is to have a dead animal as bait and a dying rabbit call. You must sit still and be as camouflaged as possible, because the coyote will see you.
Water fowl and duck hunting is very fun and popular. Duck hunting is done in “cold miserable weather.” Ducks usually fly better when it is cold and cloudy. Your best chance at success is to be on or around some kind of pond or lake. Since it usually is cold, you will need a special type of dog to retrieve the ducks you shoot. A Labrador Retriever or Chesapeake Bay Retriever are probably the best choices. Just like coyote and turkey, you will need a call and plenty of camouflage for this hunt.
My most memorable hunt was when I went squirrel hunting on Martin Luther King’s day. It was really cold and snowing. The snow was good because it could hide my movement since it was also moving. So I got up real early, bundled up, got my shot gun and headed out. I followed my usual trails and didn’t see a thing. But when I got to the far end of our woods, I came up on three squirrels fighting. I got my gun ready and sneaked towards them. One of them saw me and stopped. It obviously didn’t think I had seen it because it just stopped and stared at me. But it was wrong. I pulled the trigger and next thing I know I am putting my first squirrel into my pouch. The others ran off but I still waited. Sure enough about ten minutes later, one of the others ran up the same tree. He saw me and stopped. I put my little bead on him, pulled the trigger and down he fell. I have been hunting squirrels for a long time, but that has been my most memorable hunt by far.
Do you think hunting sounds like fun? Well I have been hunting for as long as I can remember, and trust me it is fun. I hope that by reading this article you will take up this remarkable sport if you haven’t already. If you ever do start hunting then I defiantly recommend all kinds.
After the Fact: The Civil War in Rwanda
by Mariah C.
Hutu Refugee/Casualty of War
The recovery hasn’t even begun. The country is still in a state of depression. Humanitarian aid has still not arrived. All these disasters of life remain in Rwanda since the horrific year of 1994.
Some of our world knew of this tragedy, some were oblivious. Some went on with their lives while Rwanda fought for theirs. The Rwandan Genocide was one of the most unethical battles of the world’s time.
According to legend, Tutsi cattle breeders started arriving in Rwanda around the 15th century. The Tutsis had a monarchy system that was headed by a king. Hutu farmers worked for the Tutsis in exchange for cattle and land. But gradually, the Tutsi started to enjoy fewer advantages over the Hutu.
On October 1, 1990 a rebel force made up mostly of ethnic Tutsis invaded Rwanda because they thought the government failed to solve problems of the 500,000 Rwandan refugees living around the world. This war carried on for almost two years until a cease-fire was signed July 12, 1992.
The minority Tutsis were targeted by the murders in the war. Some Hutu people also died because they were against the killings of the Tutsi people. This oppression was just a flame waiting for a match. Violence had been brewing for quite some time because some of the militia thought all the government’s problems were the Tutsis’ fault. But when President Habyarimana’s and the President of Burundi’s plane was shot down, the militia started their attack on the Tutsi population. Some could compare this to how Adolf Hitler targeted the Jewish population during the Holocaust.
Beginning April 6, 1994 and ending July 1994 over 1,500,000 people were killed, most of the deaths were carried out by the use of machetes and clubs. Genocide gangs called the Interahamwe performed most of the killings because of their so-called political dedication to Rwanda. The civil war in Rwanda was so horrific that some officials that supported the war helped to find suitable areas for the victims’ slaughter.
15 years after this warfare, there is still tension in the government system. There are trials waiting for those who participated in the genocide. In the reconciliation phase after the war, the total destruction added up to over a million people killed, two million fleeing, a million people displaced, and a government system in turmoil. It is not understood how Rwanda will come back from this damage because change comes slowly. The way Rwandans live is suspected to never go back to the way it was, but that is still to be determined because it is still only just 15 years after the fact.
Some of our world knew of this tragedy, some were oblivious. Some went on with their lives while Rwanda fought for theirs. The Rwandan Genocide was one of the most unethical battles of the world’s time.
According to legend, Tutsi cattle breeders started arriving in Rwanda around the 15th century. The Tutsis had a monarchy system that was headed by a king. Hutu farmers worked for the Tutsis in exchange for cattle and land. But gradually, the Tutsi started to enjoy fewer advantages over the Hutu.
On October 1, 1990 a rebel force made up mostly of ethnic Tutsis invaded Rwanda because they thought the government failed to solve problems of the 500,000 Rwandan refugees living around the world. This war carried on for almost two years until a cease-fire was signed July 12, 1992.
The minority Tutsis were targeted by the murders in the war. Some Hutu people also died because they were against the killings of the Tutsi people. This oppression was just a flame waiting for a match. Violence had been brewing for quite some time because some of the militia thought all the government’s problems were the Tutsis’ fault. But when President Habyarimana’s and the President of Burundi’s plane was shot down, the militia started their attack on the Tutsi population. Some could compare this to how Adolf Hitler targeted the Jewish population during the Holocaust.
Beginning April 6, 1994 and ending July 1994 over 1,500,000 people were killed, most of the deaths were carried out by the use of machetes and clubs. Genocide gangs called the Interahamwe performed most of the killings because of their so-called political dedication to Rwanda. The civil war in Rwanda was so horrific that some officials that supported the war helped to find suitable areas for the victims’ slaughter.
15 years after this warfare, there is still tension in the government system. There are trials waiting for those who participated in the genocide. In the reconciliation phase after the war, the total destruction added up to over a million people killed, two million fleeing, a million people displaced, and a government system in turmoil. It is not understood how Rwanda will come back from this damage because change comes slowly. The way Rwandans live is suspected to never go back to the way it was, but that is still to be determined because it is still only just 15 years after the fact.
Tennis: A Hard Sport
by Gabby W.
Tennis is said to be an easy sport to play but those who assume that would be wrong. Tennis is a complicated sport that takes two things that most people don’t have; spirit and all around toughness.
For people that want to play tennis, one of the most important things to do before playing is to find a good court. For example, the court must be designed for tennis and tennis only. The court should be at least 78 feet long “always”. Width for a singles match should be 27 feet; double matches must be at least 36 feet. The net on the court should always be three and a half feet in height.
The second most important thing about playing tennis should be your gear. The gear needed for tennis is shoes, which you are usually fitted for, socks that can be bought at any sporting goods store, tennis balls, and a racquet. The racquet is probably the most important piece of equipment needed to play. There are several criteria you should use when choosing a racquet. Always go to a good sporting store to get the racquet because there they can tell you which one is best for your hand. The racquet should also have one set of crisscrossing strings; your vibrator strings can only be placed on the outside of your crisscross strings. Anything with batteries isn’t accepted.
Finding the right gear is only half the battle. The next step is choosing attire. When playing a match, men usually wear a pair of loose shorts; women usually wear white skirts... Usually, men and woman wear polo shirts (any color). Never wear jewelry when playing a match. You also need socks that go above the ankle and tennis shoes made for tennis. Make sure the racquet is in your hand at all times, this makes more people want to play against you.
You can’t play tennis unless you know how to keep score. For example, before every serve you always announce the score starting with yours first. In a game of tennis, the score doesn’t count as 1-2-3; it’s tallied by 15-30-40-game. There are only four points in one game, so you play a series of games. When a player has the same score as you, it’s called a deuce. A deuce is only solved in one way; by continuing to serve until someone gets the next point. The player announces the score when this happens by saying “final point;” never “game point.”
Next you must learn how to “bat.” In tennis, bat is a term used to when taking the racquet and swinging it at the ball. This is not considered the hard part. (That would be hitting it in the correct direction and not getting it out of bounds in doing so or giving the other player the easy point.) Before hitting the ball, you should think which way you’re going to hit it, here are three easy steps. Watch the ball; find the weakest area, hit it in that angle. In tennis, always hit everything at an angle. It’s kind of like scooping ice cream; hold the racquet where it is on the side, in mid air. When the ball comes toward you, push your arm out and flick your wrist.
Now you have learned it all - what to wear, how to bat and score. There is only one thing left. You have to put your heart into it. The game will make you weak but soon after it tears you down; it builds you right back up. Oh when it does you are stronger, you’re faster, and you have more drive than ever. So good luck and have fun.
For people that want to play tennis, one of the most important things to do before playing is to find a good court. For example, the court must be designed for tennis and tennis only. The court should be at least 78 feet long “always”. Width for a singles match should be 27 feet; double matches must be at least 36 feet. The net on the court should always be three and a half feet in height.
The second most important thing about playing tennis should be your gear. The gear needed for tennis is shoes, which you are usually fitted for, socks that can be bought at any sporting goods store, tennis balls, and a racquet. The racquet is probably the most important piece of equipment needed to play. There are several criteria you should use when choosing a racquet. Always go to a good sporting store to get the racquet because there they can tell you which one is best for your hand. The racquet should also have one set of crisscrossing strings; your vibrator strings can only be placed on the outside of your crisscross strings. Anything with batteries isn’t accepted.
Finding the right gear is only half the battle. The next step is choosing attire. When playing a match, men usually wear a pair of loose shorts; women usually wear white skirts... Usually, men and woman wear polo shirts (any color). Never wear jewelry when playing a match. You also need socks that go above the ankle and tennis shoes made for tennis. Make sure the racquet is in your hand at all times, this makes more people want to play against you.
You can’t play tennis unless you know how to keep score. For example, before every serve you always announce the score starting with yours first. In a game of tennis, the score doesn’t count as 1-2-3; it’s tallied by 15-30-40-game. There are only four points in one game, so you play a series of games. When a player has the same score as you, it’s called a deuce. A deuce is only solved in one way; by continuing to serve until someone gets the next point. The player announces the score when this happens by saying “final point;” never “game point.”
Next you must learn how to “bat.” In tennis, bat is a term used to when taking the racquet and swinging it at the ball. This is not considered the hard part. (That would be hitting it in the correct direction and not getting it out of bounds in doing so or giving the other player the easy point.) Before hitting the ball, you should think which way you’re going to hit it, here are three easy steps. Watch the ball; find the weakest area, hit it in that angle. In tennis, always hit everything at an angle. It’s kind of like scooping ice cream; hold the racquet where it is on the side, in mid air. When the ball comes toward you, push your arm out and flick your wrist.
Now you have learned it all - what to wear, how to bat and score. There is only one thing left. You have to put your heart into it. The game will make you weak but soon after it tears you down; it builds you right back up. Oh when it does you are stronger, you’re faster, and you have more drive than ever. So good luck and have fun.
Battle of the Shoes: Converse vs Sperry
by Julia G.
Converse All Stars
Many students here at Moss Middle School, are exhibiting different styles in their clothing, hair, and shoes. Some of these fashions include two very popular shoe trends, Converse and Sperry. The battle of these two shoes must come to an end, and the question must be answered, “Which shoe rules them all?
About every time you go to work, school, shopping or anywhere, you are most likely to see someone wearing a pair of Converse shoes. They come in all different colors, styles and prices. The average price of a pair of Converse shoes is about $44.99 which seems kind of pricey to some. But, as my interviewee will say, she thinks chucks are worth it! Jordan Summerville was sitting quietly at the table in the library when I asked her, which shoe do you like best? “Converse,” she replied. “They are more comfortable compared to Sperry’s. My sister has a pair of Sperry’s and they are starting to fall apart.” Have you ever owned a pair of your own? “Yeah, I own a bunch. I have black, blue, pink, and some plaid ones. They come in lots of cool colors and styles.”
That’s true, Converse come in lots of styles, such as Converse Ox, Chuck Taylor, and All Star. They also can be either low, high, or extra high tops, depending on which you like best. Converse are good for running and sports such as basketball, (well it is the original basketball shoe). Chucks can also be worn by men, women, children and even babies! But enough about Converse, now let’s learn a bit more about Sperry’s.
Also known as “the American Original”, Sperry Topsider’s has been a favorite since 1935, when Paul Sperry invented them. These shoes are great for, well anything! Sperry shoes come in different styles, such as Sperry Topsiders, sandals, boat shoes and more! Besides the original, more natural looking shoe, Sperry also has a line of more colorful, preppy shoes. Now, Sperry shoes are usually around the price of $75.00, but they can be for men and women alike. Callie Cardwell, an 8th grader at Moss Middle School, says that she thinks Sperry’s are a lot better than Converse, because “they’re more comfortable and Sperry’s match every outfit!!” Callie’s right, Sperry’s can match anything you throw on, whether it’s sweats or jeans and a t-shirt. I also asked my friend Samra Nezirovic which one she likes best and she replied, “I like Sperry’s more then Converse. I think they look a lot better on people.”
Well everyone, now it’s up to you. Do you think Converse will win this battle, or maybe it’s Sperry who takes home the trophy? Do you have an interest in the “American Original” or the first ever basketball shoe winning? It’s all up to you to decide and answer the essential question, “Which shoe rules them all?”
Michael Myers
by Hayden T.
The greatest horror film character of all time… Michael Myers. I love the Halloween movies; I have seen every one of them except for H2. Michael Myers is what makes Halloween so scary and mysterious. I will never tire of the Halloween movies, especially the very first one. The director, John Carpenter, moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky with his family when he was young and he went to Western Kentucky University. Although Halloween was filmed in South Pasadena, California, he took places in Bowling Green and put them into the movie, such as Smith’s Grove Sanitarium.
The first movie (Halloween) was made in 1978 and was based on a little kid killing his older sister and being put into Smith Grove’s Sanitarium. Michael was only six years old when he killed his older sister, Judith, while she was in her room (it was very graphic), so imagine what all he could do when he is an adult. His sister was mean to him, more than any older sister should be mean to her little brother. He also had a younger sister, Laurie. He loved her more than anything, he had no reason to kill her, and she could not make him mad.
Michael was supposed to stay at the sanitarium till he died, but somehow fifteen years later he broke out and returned to his hometown, Haddonfield, Illinois, and stalks Laurie Strode, his little sister. The reason why her last name is Strode and not Myers is because she was given up for adoption as a baby. Dr. Loomis is the person who interviews Michael everyday while he was in the sanitarium. Dr. Loomis tries to warn everyone and prevent Michael from doing anything, but he can’t find Michael anywhere until the end of the movie.
The first place Michael goes to in Haddonfield, Illinois is to the cemetery. He goes to the cemetery to steal his mom’s tombstone. Next he goes to the elementary school where the kid that Laurie babysits, Tommy, goes to school. He sees Tommy with some bullies and follows him around. Next, that Laurie Strode and her friends, Annie and Lynda, are getting out of school and are walking home when he spots them. Before the actual day he goes killing everything that walks, he has to learn his prey.
On Halloween, Michael kills Annie first. He kills her when she comes back to the girl she was babysitting’s house from dropping her off at Tommy’s house. She gets in her car to meet up with Lynda and notices that the windows are all fogged up. Once she realizes that someone is in there, he jumps out from behind the driver’s seat and chokes her to death while stabbing her in the stomach. Next, he kills Lynda and her boyfriend. Lynda and her boyfriend, Bob, are at the Wallace’s place to fool around. Annie was supposed to join them but Michael killed her. After Lynda and Bob mess around, Bob goes downstairs to get a beer. While he is down there he gets attacked by Michael and gets pinned to a wall with a kitchen knife. Michael disguises himself as a ghost with a bed sheet with has glasses on to make Lynda think that it is Bob. Lynda calls Laurie while he is walking in the room. When Laurie picks up the phone, Michael chokes Lynda to death, but Laurie thinks Lynda is just playing a prank on her.
After Michael kills Laurie’s friends, he goes after her. She goes to the Wallace’s place to check on her friends. Laurie finds her friends dead and as she stands there, Michael comes out of the shadows and barely scrapes Laurie’s arm. She gets out of the house and starts running for Tommy’s house, but Tommy won’t wake up. So Laurie sits on the front porch banging on the door to get in while watching Michael come for her, and Tommy is taking his sweet time answering the door. They hide in the bathroom then Michael breaks in and tries to kill them, so Laurie sends the two little kids for help while Laurie deals with Michael. The little kids find Dr. Loomis while running in the streets yelling “help.” Laurie hides in the closet while waiting for the help the kids were finding. Michael breaks through the closet door, struggling to turn the light on, and while he is dealing with all of that, Laurie is sitting in the corner straightening out a wire clothes hanger. Michael sees her in the corner and reaches after her, when he does; Laurie pulls out the clothes hanger and stabs him in the eye. Michael falls down outside the closet door like someone dead, Laurie just steps over him and grieves about what all has happened. She doesn’t know it, but Michael slowly rises up and walks towards her (psh, like a clothes hanger could kill Michael Myers). She hears him when he is right behind her and she turns around as he begins to choke her. Dr. Loomis charges in the house and sees this happening, so he starts to shoot Michael. Before that, Laurie pulls off his mask to reveal who the “masked man” is for a split second. Next comes BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM, and BAM… Dr. Loomis unloads the clip on Michael Myers and Michael falls off of the balcony. When Dr. Loomis and Laurie look off of the balcony, they see just an imprint from where Michael had landed.
This movie is the best horror film of all time. No matter what you throw at Michael Myers, it doesn’t affect him any. Halloween was my favorite Halloween movie in the Halloween series. If you have never seen it, you are missing out, but if you had, I bet you don’t know it like I do.
The first movie (Halloween) was made in 1978 and was based on a little kid killing his older sister and being put into Smith Grove’s Sanitarium. Michael was only six years old when he killed his older sister, Judith, while she was in her room (it was very graphic), so imagine what all he could do when he is an adult. His sister was mean to him, more than any older sister should be mean to her little brother. He also had a younger sister, Laurie. He loved her more than anything, he had no reason to kill her, and she could not make him mad.
Michael was supposed to stay at the sanitarium till he died, but somehow fifteen years later he broke out and returned to his hometown, Haddonfield, Illinois, and stalks Laurie Strode, his little sister. The reason why her last name is Strode and not Myers is because she was given up for adoption as a baby. Dr. Loomis is the person who interviews Michael everyday while he was in the sanitarium. Dr. Loomis tries to warn everyone and prevent Michael from doing anything, but he can’t find Michael anywhere until the end of the movie.
The first place Michael goes to in Haddonfield, Illinois is to the cemetery. He goes to the cemetery to steal his mom’s tombstone. Next he goes to the elementary school where the kid that Laurie babysits, Tommy, goes to school. He sees Tommy with some bullies and follows him around. Next, that Laurie Strode and her friends, Annie and Lynda, are getting out of school and are walking home when he spots them. Before the actual day he goes killing everything that walks, he has to learn his prey.
On Halloween, Michael kills Annie first. He kills her when she comes back to the girl she was babysitting’s house from dropping her off at Tommy’s house. She gets in her car to meet up with Lynda and notices that the windows are all fogged up. Once she realizes that someone is in there, he jumps out from behind the driver’s seat and chokes her to death while stabbing her in the stomach. Next, he kills Lynda and her boyfriend. Lynda and her boyfriend, Bob, are at the Wallace’s place to fool around. Annie was supposed to join them but Michael killed her. After Lynda and Bob mess around, Bob goes downstairs to get a beer. While he is down there he gets attacked by Michael and gets pinned to a wall with a kitchen knife. Michael disguises himself as a ghost with a bed sheet with has glasses on to make Lynda think that it is Bob. Lynda calls Laurie while he is walking in the room. When Laurie picks up the phone, Michael chokes Lynda to death, but Laurie thinks Lynda is just playing a prank on her.
After Michael kills Laurie’s friends, he goes after her. She goes to the Wallace’s place to check on her friends. Laurie finds her friends dead and as she stands there, Michael comes out of the shadows and barely scrapes Laurie’s arm. She gets out of the house and starts running for Tommy’s house, but Tommy won’t wake up. So Laurie sits on the front porch banging on the door to get in while watching Michael come for her, and Tommy is taking his sweet time answering the door. They hide in the bathroom then Michael breaks in and tries to kill them, so Laurie sends the two little kids for help while Laurie deals with Michael. The little kids find Dr. Loomis while running in the streets yelling “help.” Laurie hides in the closet while waiting for the help the kids were finding. Michael breaks through the closet door, struggling to turn the light on, and while he is dealing with all of that, Laurie is sitting in the corner straightening out a wire clothes hanger. Michael sees her in the corner and reaches after her, when he does; Laurie pulls out the clothes hanger and stabs him in the eye. Michael falls down outside the closet door like someone dead, Laurie just steps over him and grieves about what all has happened. She doesn’t know it, but Michael slowly rises up and walks towards her (psh, like a clothes hanger could kill Michael Myers). She hears him when he is right behind her and she turns around as he begins to choke her. Dr. Loomis charges in the house and sees this happening, so he starts to shoot Michael. Before that, Laurie pulls off his mask to reveal who the “masked man” is for a split second. Next comes BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM, and BAM… Dr. Loomis unloads the clip on Michael Myers and Michael falls off of the balcony. When Dr. Loomis and Laurie look off of the balcony, they see just an imprint from where Michael had landed.
This movie is the best horror film of all time. No matter what you throw at Michael Myers, it doesn’t affect him any. Halloween was my favorite Halloween movie in the Halloween series. If you have never seen it, you are missing out, but if you had, I bet you don’t know it like I do.
History Has Been Made
by Summer C.
Barack Hussein Obama was born on August 4th, 1961 in Honolulu. Obama's parents, Barack Obama Sr., a black man from a poor village in Kenya, and Ann Dunham, a white woman whose parents grew up in Kansas, met at the University of Hawaii and married in Honolulu. After the marriage failed, a six-year-old Obama left Hawaii to spend four years in Indonesia with his mother and Indonesian stepfather, Lolo Soetoro. Over the years, Obama was upset about the divorce. In 1971, Obama's mother sent him back to Honolulu to stay with his maternal grandparents.
In 1995, Obama wrote a memoir titled Dreams From my Father. He wrote about growing up in Honolulu, with unique foods (poi and roast pig), and cultures. When Obama was younger, he lived downtown in apartments. With his grandparents, he attended the prestigious Punahou School and would drive to parties on the army bases. Classmates at Punahou describe Obama, known as Barry, as an upbeat, social person who played basketball and occasionally wore an African-style shirt. When Obama attended school he wrote in his memoirs about feeling like a misfit in his old fashioned clothes. He was one of the few black students at his school, along with a small group of blacks on the island. He remembered someone wanting to touch his hair and being asked whether his father ate people. He struggled with his racial identity and turned to marijuana to block the questions out.
Obama later attended Harvard University s where he earned a degree in law. Over the years Obama overcame everything. He moved away from his grandma’s when he was old enough. Obama married a woman named Michelle Obama, and together they have two little girls, Malia Ann born in 1998, and Natasha (also known as Sasha) born in 2001. Sasha is the youngest child to reside in the White House since John F. Kennedy Jr. arrived as an infant in 1961. Sasha is also the first White House resident born in the 21st century!
Last year Obama ran for president, and won the election! Almost all of America was happy. He is now the 44th president and also the first black president. Around election time lots of songs about Obama were made, like My President is Black and the song called, Obama.
In 1995, Obama wrote a memoir titled Dreams From my Father. He wrote about growing up in Honolulu, with unique foods (poi and roast pig), and cultures. When Obama was younger, he lived downtown in apartments. With his grandparents, he attended the prestigious Punahou School and would drive to parties on the army bases. Classmates at Punahou describe Obama, known as Barry, as an upbeat, social person who played basketball and occasionally wore an African-style shirt. When Obama attended school he wrote in his memoirs about feeling like a misfit in his old fashioned clothes. He was one of the few black students at his school, along with a small group of blacks on the island. He remembered someone wanting to touch his hair and being asked whether his father ate people. He struggled with his racial identity and turned to marijuana to block the questions out.
Obama later attended Harvard University s where he earned a degree in law. Over the years Obama overcame everything. He moved away from his grandma’s when he was old enough. Obama married a woman named Michelle Obama, and together they have two little girls, Malia Ann born in 1998, and Natasha (also known as Sasha) born in 2001. Sasha is the youngest child to reside in the White House since John F. Kennedy Jr. arrived as an infant in 1961. Sasha is also the first White House resident born in the 21st century!
Last year Obama ran for president, and won the election! Almost all of America was happy. He is now the 44th president and also the first black president. Around election time lots of songs about Obama were made, like My President is Black and the song called, Obama.
Basketball
by Jay E.
Do you like basketball? There a lot of things you need to know before playing basketball, the object of the game, rules and positions are important to understand.
The history of basketball is very fascinating! The person who invented basketball is no other than Dr. James Naismith. Basketball is an Olympic sport. Last year the U.S.A won gold in basketball. Basketball is not only played in America it is also played in many other countries, Such as China, Brazil, France and many more.
First, your team must try to score. To do this you must get the ball down the court and shoot the ball in the hoop to get points. Free throws are worth one point each and everything inside the three point line is worth two points. Any shot outside the three point line is worth three points. When you don’t have the ball, the object is to stop the other team from scoring or get the ball back. You should try to do all of this without fouling.
Next are the rules. The rules of basketball are thankfully, generally easy. Two teams of five players each try to score by shooting a ball through a hoop ten feet above the ground. The game is played on a court, and there is a hoop at each end. The court is divided into two main sections by the half-court line. If the offensive team gets the ball behind the half-court line, they have ten seconds to get the ball over the half-court line. If it doesn't, then the defense gets the ball. Once the offensive team gets the ball over the half-court line, it can no longer have possession of the ball in the area in back of the line. If it does, the defense gets the ball. Those are just some of the rules about basketball but there are many more.
To foul someone is to have illegal contact with another player. If you get fouled you get to shoot free throws. A total number of foul shots depend on how hard you are fouled. If you are fouled while shooting and still make the shot, you get the points and one. That means you still get to shoot one free throw.
There are several positions in basketball. Center- Centers are your tallest players. They play near the basket. They are the people that get most of the rebounds and put backs. Forwards- are your next tallest player. Sometimes plays under the basket or play out around the wings. Guard- These are normally your shortest players and they should be really good at dribbling fast and passing. They bringthe ball down the court and run the offense. The most important persons on the court are the referees. The referees are the people who call the fouls and make sure the game is played as fair and clean as possible. The coach is the person who teaches the players what to do while playing, like the plays and when to shoot. The coach also keeps the players heads up which is when the team thinks they’re beat the coach motivates them to not give up.
The history of basketball is very fascinating! The person who invented basketball is no other than Dr. James Naismith. Basketball is an Olympic sport. Last year the U.S.A won gold in basketball. Basketball is not only played in America it is also played in many other countries, Such as China, Brazil, France and many more.
First, your team must try to score. To do this you must get the ball down the court and shoot the ball in the hoop to get points. Free throws are worth one point each and everything inside the three point line is worth two points. Any shot outside the three point line is worth three points. When you don’t have the ball, the object is to stop the other team from scoring or get the ball back. You should try to do all of this without fouling.
Next are the rules. The rules of basketball are thankfully, generally easy. Two teams of five players each try to score by shooting a ball through a hoop ten feet above the ground. The game is played on a court, and there is a hoop at each end. The court is divided into two main sections by the half-court line. If the offensive team gets the ball behind the half-court line, they have ten seconds to get the ball over the half-court line. If it doesn't, then the defense gets the ball. Once the offensive team gets the ball over the half-court line, it can no longer have possession of the ball in the area in back of the line. If it does, the defense gets the ball. Those are just some of the rules about basketball but there are many more.
To foul someone is to have illegal contact with another player. If you get fouled you get to shoot free throws. A total number of foul shots depend on how hard you are fouled. If you are fouled while shooting and still make the shot, you get the points and one. That means you still get to shoot one free throw.
There are several positions in basketball. Center- Centers are your tallest players. They play near the basket. They are the people that get most of the rebounds and put backs. Forwards- are your next tallest player. Sometimes plays under the basket or play out around the wings. Guard- These are normally your shortest players and they should be really good at dribbling fast and passing. They bringthe ball down the court and run the offense. The most important persons on the court are the referees. The referees are the people who call the fouls and make sure the game is played as fair and clean as possible. The coach is the person who teaches the players what to do while playing, like the plays and when to shoot. The coach also keeps the players heads up which is when the team thinks they’re beat the coach motivates them to not give up.
Middle School Girls and Make-up
by Stephany G.
Have you ever seen a girl who’s in middle school wearing make-up? Well more then half of the girls in our school wear make-up. Even if it’s eye liner, mascara, or lip gloss, a lot of girls wear it. The question is why? Is it because they think they’re ugly or are they just so used to wearing it that when they take it off or don’t wear it for a day they look different?
In a recent survey the results were that most girls think they look weird without it. But of course if they never wore it in the first place then they wouldn’t be having those thoughts. Studies show that girls that wear make up are a lot more insecure with themselves; otherwise if they were confident in their looks then they wouldn’t need to put foreign products on their face.
The history of make-up comes from centuries ago. In the Egyptian times, natural resources like berries were used to help color the face, and they would use kohl on their eyes and chalk to impart a whiter complexion. Cheeks and lips were given a rosy glow made from fruit juices. Today when picking a make-up product, most people watch an advertisement on TV and read the name label at the store. Do they ever read the ingredients? Usually not, until they have an allergic reaction to the product. Did you know that foundation is made up of typically: Deionized Water, Tridecyl Neopentanoate, Sunflower Oil, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Sodium PCA, Glucose? The point is we are fooled by make-up companies for their label. Not that I’m against make-up because I too wear it. I only wear mascara and foundation to cover up my blemishes and to make my eye-lashes longer. Other girls wear make-up like they’re grown up. But make-up has certain limits. If you apply too much, you end up looking like a freak, with all that eye-liner and foundation. That is an example of the girls at this school, they look fake. When you add just enough to cover up the spots you dislike and put on a little eyeliner or mascara then you have added the right amount. Therefore when you apply a little it doesn’t cover what you want and you put it on for no reason. So, next time you’re putting make-up on, remember don’t put too much that’ll make you look older, or worst leave you looking like a plastic Barbie.
In a recent survey the results were that most girls think they look weird without it. But of course if they never wore it in the first place then they wouldn’t be having those thoughts. Studies show that girls that wear make up are a lot more insecure with themselves; otherwise if they were confident in their looks then they wouldn’t need to put foreign products on their face.
The history of make-up comes from centuries ago. In the Egyptian times, natural resources like berries were used to help color the face, and they would use kohl on their eyes and chalk to impart a whiter complexion. Cheeks and lips were given a rosy glow made from fruit juices. Today when picking a make-up product, most people watch an advertisement on TV and read the name label at the store. Do they ever read the ingredients? Usually not, until they have an allergic reaction to the product. Did you know that foundation is made up of typically: Deionized Water, Tridecyl Neopentanoate, Sunflower Oil, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Sodium PCA, Glucose? The point is we are fooled by make-up companies for their label. Not that I’m against make-up because I too wear it. I only wear mascara and foundation to cover up my blemishes and to make my eye-lashes longer. Other girls wear make-up like they’re grown up. But make-up has certain limits. If you apply too much, you end up looking like a freak, with all that eye-liner and foundation. That is an example of the girls at this school, they look fake. When you add just enough to cover up the spots you dislike and put on a little eyeliner or mascara then you have added the right amount. Therefore when you apply a little it doesn’t cover what you want and you put it on for no reason. So, next time you’re putting make-up on, remember don’t put too much that’ll make you look older, or worst leave you looking like a plastic Barbie.
Music, Friends and Cars
by Corbin P.
Music
First of all music is in everyone’s soul and heart. It is a peace of mind that is always with you. Sometimes it brings friends together and closer. They create a band or participate in musical curricular activities in school and enjoy the time they have together, but the point is still the same, music brings people together. When I am with friends I don’t remember a time OUT OF SCHOOLthat no music was on at all. I think everyone has to have the slightest background music on. I mean do YOU listen to music with your friends when you are together? I know several people who do. How can you live without music? Your own body is a band. Your heart is your drum, snapping fingers is a piano, the stomping of your feet can be another drum and the typing of fingers on any thing you can type on can be different. You don’t always have to have lyrics when you have music. The lyrics create themselves in your mind. But music never makes us alone, so you will always have a friend or someone with you.
Friends
Next, shall be friends. I love all my friends like family. Some of my friends like cars so we listen to music and go to car shows. If there is a certain type of car show in town, I will get my friends together and head out to Beach Bend Raceway and jam to some awesome music and hang with friends. When we are all together, our minds drift different places but, our conversations, usually involve three things: music, cars, and people. All of us sit together somewhere and talk, then someone says “Did you hear__ new song?” Or, “So have you seen this movie __?” And even, “Did you know that __ went to jail ‘cause __?!” It all comes together and links us in some way. Whether it’s for entertainment, recreation, or just to travel it brings us all together under one roof. A person without friends is probably lonely and sad. You need friends to support and help you through the tough times.
Cars
Cars bring people together. Not just because we ride on a bus or get to the place we are going quicker. But it can also be for a joy ride. Now, when I am older and my boyfriend or some friend wants to drive my MUSTANG GT, I’d say this, “I ain’t letting you drive. But if you’re lucky, you will be able to change the radio station. IF is the operative word.” Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my friends and all but when it comes to cars and music, it’s my way. Well, when I get older it’ll be, “My way or the bus way.” We could also learn about different cars from each other. I guess you could also express yourself by showing the types of accessories and what’s under your hood. You can have amps for expressing how much you love music, you have seat covers that are an expression of your unique style, and the revving of the engine of the car shows how much you love horsepower. Cars are also creative. You can show your flashy personality with chrome or show your favorite color with a black paint job, black rims, black roof, and black interior. This can also be a way to share and show your true individuality and style. Cars can truly be, “an outlet to express oneself.”
If there were no music, friends or cars the world would be like the color white; plain and dull, nothing there, all alone and isolated. So it would not seem right to live in a world with these three important assets to life. Friends, cars and music make life better. For cars bring entertainment and show one’s personality, music shows exhibits expression and self interests, and friends bring life and support, a back bone basically, in other words a foundation for a good life.
First of all music is in everyone’s soul and heart. It is a peace of mind that is always with you. Sometimes it brings friends together and closer. They create a band or participate in musical curricular activities in school and enjoy the time they have together, but the point is still the same, music brings people together. When I am with friends I don’t remember a time OUT OF SCHOOLthat no music was on at all. I think everyone has to have the slightest background music on. I mean do YOU listen to music with your friends when you are together? I know several people who do. How can you live without music? Your own body is a band. Your heart is your drum, snapping fingers is a piano, the stomping of your feet can be another drum and the typing of fingers on any thing you can type on can be different. You don’t always have to have lyrics when you have music. The lyrics create themselves in your mind. But music never makes us alone, so you will always have a friend or someone with you.
Friends
Next, shall be friends. I love all my friends like family. Some of my friends like cars so we listen to music and go to car shows. If there is a certain type of car show in town, I will get my friends together and head out to Beach Bend Raceway and jam to some awesome music and hang with friends. When we are all together, our minds drift different places but, our conversations, usually involve three things: music, cars, and people. All of us sit together somewhere and talk, then someone says “Did you hear__ new song?” Or, “So have you seen this movie __?” And even, “Did you know that __ went to jail ‘cause __?!” It all comes together and links us in some way. Whether it’s for entertainment, recreation, or just to travel it brings us all together under one roof. A person without friends is probably lonely and sad. You need friends to support and help you through the tough times.
Cars
Cars bring people together. Not just because we ride on a bus or get to the place we are going quicker. But it can also be for a joy ride. Now, when I am older and my boyfriend or some friend wants to drive my MUSTANG GT, I’d say this, “I ain’t letting you drive. But if you’re lucky, you will be able to change the radio station. IF is the operative word.” Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my friends and all but when it comes to cars and music, it’s my way. Well, when I get older it’ll be, “My way or the bus way.” We could also learn about different cars from each other. I guess you could also express yourself by showing the types of accessories and what’s under your hood. You can have amps for expressing how much you love music, you have seat covers that are an expression of your unique style, and the revving of the engine of the car shows how much you love horsepower. Cars are also creative. You can show your flashy personality with chrome or show your favorite color with a black paint job, black rims, black roof, and black interior. This can also be a way to share and show your true individuality and style. Cars can truly be, “an outlet to express oneself.”
If there were no music, friends or cars the world would be like the color white; plain and dull, nothing there, all alone and isolated. So it would not seem right to live in a world with these three important assets to life. Friends, cars and music make life better. For cars bring entertainment and show one’s personality, music shows exhibits expression and self interests, and friends bring life and support, a back bone basically, in other words a foundation for a good life.
Ice Cream
by Azra A.
Ice Cream can be dated back to the 4th century B.C. Emperor Nero from the Roman Empire and King Tang from Shang, China were the first to eat ice cream during early civilization. Ice Cream was most likely brought back from China to Europe. Over the years, more ice cream recipes were developed and were served to the French royal courts.
The first full scale ice cream shop was opened in New York in 1776. Ice cream parlors can be found in many parts of the world. In a parlor you can find various things such as wafers, cones, cone curls, toppings, and of course different ice cream flavors. Ice cream cones were most likely invented in the 19th century. When the first ice cream parlor was invented they would lick the ice cream out of a glass bowl. In an ice cream shop the customer would lick the ice cream out of a dish and return it to the vender and then he would wash it out and refill it for the next customer. This was not only a slow process but unsanitary as well.
Vanilla ice cream is the number one selling flavor, and chocolate syrup is the number one selling topping. July is the national month of ice cream; it is the time of year most ice creams are bought. The heaviest ice cream cake weighed into be 12,096 pounds. Ice cream cake is either ice cream and cake layered together or ice cream in the shape of cake. Ice cream cake is used in many different celebrations such as birthday’s weddings, and anniversaries.
California, Indiana, Ohio, Texas, and New York are the top five ice cream producing states. Two of the most popular ice cream manufactures are Blue Bunny and Baskin Robbins. Blue Bunny has over 500 different flavors with affordable rates. Baskin Robbins offers more than 1000 different flavors and 5,600 retail outlets over the world .Ice cream is one of the wealthiest industries at 11 billion dollars per year. Today five percent of people admit they share ice cream with their pets. No matter what your favorite flavor of ice cream or topping; ice cream is one of the most well known treats around the world for all age groups.
The first full scale ice cream shop was opened in New York in 1776. Ice cream parlors can be found in many parts of the world. In a parlor you can find various things such as wafers, cones, cone curls, toppings, and of course different ice cream flavors. Ice cream cones were most likely invented in the 19th century. When the first ice cream parlor was invented they would lick the ice cream out of a glass bowl. In an ice cream shop the customer would lick the ice cream out of a dish and return it to the vender and then he would wash it out and refill it for the next customer. This was not only a slow process but unsanitary as well.
Vanilla ice cream is the number one selling flavor, and chocolate syrup is the number one selling topping. July is the national month of ice cream; it is the time of year most ice creams are bought. The heaviest ice cream cake weighed into be 12,096 pounds. Ice cream cake is either ice cream and cake layered together or ice cream in the shape of cake. Ice cream cake is used in many different celebrations such as birthday’s weddings, and anniversaries.
California, Indiana, Ohio, Texas, and New York are the top five ice cream producing states. Two of the most popular ice cream manufactures are Blue Bunny and Baskin Robbins. Blue Bunny has over 500 different flavors with affordable rates. Baskin Robbins offers more than 1000 different flavors and 5,600 retail outlets over the world .Ice cream is one of the wealthiest industries at 11 billion dollars per year. Today five percent of people admit they share ice cream with their pets. No matter what your favorite flavor of ice cream or topping; ice cream is one of the most well known treats around the world for all age groups.
A Delicious Treat
by Arnela K.
The first cakes were very different from what we eat today. They were more bread-like and sweetened with honey, nuts, and also fruit. Cake is a form of food that is usually sweet and often baked. The ancient Egyptians were the first culture to show evidence of advanced baking skills. Cakes were first baked in Europe sometime in the mid 17th century. Cakes are made from various combinations of refined flour, some form of shortening, sweetening, eggs, milk, a leavening agent and flavoring.
The history of cakes goes a long way back. Among the remains found in Swiss lake villages were crude cakes made from roughly crushed gains, moistened, compacted and cooked on a hot stone. Cakes are most popular in almost all countries especially in Europe and places such as North America where European influence has been strong. One might even draw a line more tightly, English-speaking areas. As techniques for baking and leavening developed and eating patterns changed, what were originally regarded as forms of bread came to be seen as categories of cakes and named accordingly. Cake making continued to improve especially with the new ingredients such as chocolate and vanilla and eventually sugar that came to Europe with the discovery of the new world. The Egyptians discovery and skill at using natural yeast helped leaven those once flat cakes. Yeast raised cakes survived such as the Alsatian but new cakes got their lightness from beaten eggs.
The western tradition of cakes has been adopted on a small scale. For example, small sponge cakes are called kasutera in Japan... Cakes are often the dessert of choice for meals at ceremonial occasions, particularly weddings, anniversaries and birthdays. During World War II, sugar was rationed in the UK, so icing could not be made, and cakes were reduced in size.
Today, some varieties of cake are widely available in the form of cake mixes. A wedding cake is a traditional cake served to the guests at a wedding breakfast, or after a wedding. It is usually a large cake multi-layered or heavily decorated with icing. A birthday cake is also a traditional cake served to birthday celebrants and their guests. The birthday cake generally is adorned with candles that total the age of the celebrant. Today cakes are used for not only celebrating birthdays and weddings, but also for anniversaries and parties.
The history of cakes goes a long way back. Among the remains found in Swiss lake villages were crude cakes made from roughly crushed gains, moistened, compacted and cooked on a hot stone. Cakes are most popular in almost all countries especially in Europe and places such as North America where European influence has been strong. One might even draw a line more tightly, English-speaking areas. As techniques for baking and leavening developed and eating patterns changed, what were originally regarded as forms of bread came to be seen as categories of cakes and named accordingly. Cake making continued to improve especially with the new ingredients such as chocolate and vanilla and eventually sugar that came to Europe with the discovery of the new world. The Egyptians discovery and skill at using natural yeast helped leaven those once flat cakes. Yeast raised cakes survived such as the Alsatian but new cakes got their lightness from beaten eggs.
The western tradition of cakes has been adopted on a small scale. For example, small sponge cakes are called kasutera in Japan... Cakes are often the dessert of choice for meals at ceremonial occasions, particularly weddings, anniversaries and birthdays. During World War II, sugar was rationed in the UK, so icing could not be made, and cakes were reduced in size.
Today, some varieties of cake are widely available in the form of cake mixes. A wedding cake is a traditional cake served to the guests at a wedding breakfast, or after a wedding. It is usually a large cake multi-layered or heavily decorated with icing. A birthday cake is also a traditional cake served to birthday celebrants and their guests. The birthday cake generally is adorned with candles that total the age of the celebrant. Today cakes are used for not only celebrating birthdays and weddings, but also for anniversaries and parties.
Our Moon
by Amber L.
The moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite and is the fifth largest satellite in the solar system. The moon makes a complete orbit around the Earth every 27 days. The moon’s phases repeat themselves after 29 days. The gravity on the moon is about 17 percent of that of the Earth.
Layers of the Moon
The moon has five different layers. The inner most layer is the core which is the heart of the moon. The second inner most layer is the lower mantle of the moon, which is the asthenosphere, where all the moon quakes originate. Moon quakes are earthquakes, except on the moon. The third most inner layer is the upper mantle, the lithosphere, which is the most rigid layer. The layer that you would walk on if you went to the moon is the crust, also called the anorthosite crust, is the external envelope of the moon. Basalts of the Maria are the local covering of the moon.
Phases of the Moon
The sun illuminates exactly half of the moon, but the different angles we see it as; it appears to be lit in other ways. The moon’s phases repeat after 29 days and, in order, the moon has 8 different phases. The new moon is the first phase and it is not visible from Earth. The second phase is the waxing crescent. Only a thin sliver of the moon is present during this phase and it cannot be seen after midnight. The third phase is the First Quarter. This phase is most commonly called a half moon. The fourth phase is the waxing gibbous. During this phase, the moon is almost full and is illuminated on the right side of the moon. The full moon is the fifth moon phase. The moon is completely illuminated with light from the sun during this phase. The waning gibbous is next. In this part of the cycle, the moon is just over half way filled with light on the left side. The third quarter is the sixth phase of the moon. During this phase, the moon is half way illuminated. The next phase of the moon is a waning crescent. The moon takes the form of a crescent moon.
The Moon’s Atmosphere
It was previously thought that the moon and the moons of other planets didn’t have an atmosphere. Now it is believed, from new studies and measurements, that the moons are covered with a thin layer atmosphere. The atmosphere may come from outgassing or the release of gases such as radon, which comes from the moon’s interior. It also may come from particles becoming loose from other particles in space. These particles may then fly off into space or just migrate to other cooler parts of the moon and re-condense back into the ground. This may be a source of lunar water and might explain the abundance of helium on the moon.
The Moon’s Surface
The moon has two main types of surface, marias and highlands. Marias are seas on the moon. They are smooth, flat plains with few craters. These are the dark spots you see on the moon. Highlands are hilly and are covered with craters. These are the light spots you see on the moon. The Apollo astronauts were the ones who studied and labeled the surface of the moon.
Old Wives Tales
Some people believe that the full moon has to do with the percentages of crime, suicide, mental illness, disasters, accidents, birthrates, fertility, the weirdest one, werewolves!! Some people also buy stocks according to the full moon! Some people also think that full moons bring on seizures!!!
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Layers of the Moon
The moon has five different layers. The inner most layer is the core which is the heart of the moon. The second inner most layer is the lower mantle of the moon, which is the asthenosphere, where all the moon quakes originate. Moon quakes are earthquakes, except on the moon. The third most inner layer is the upper mantle, the lithosphere, which is the most rigid layer. The layer that you would walk on if you went to the moon is the crust, also called the anorthosite crust, is the external envelope of the moon. Basalts of the Maria are the local covering of the moon.
Phases of the Moon
The sun illuminates exactly half of the moon, but the different angles we see it as; it appears to be lit in other ways. The moon’s phases repeat after 29 days and, in order, the moon has 8 different phases. The new moon is the first phase and it is not visible from Earth. The second phase is the waxing crescent. Only a thin sliver of the moon is present during this phase and it cannot be seen after midnight. The third phase is the First Quarter. This phase is most commonly called a half moon. The fourth phase is the waxing gibbous. During this phase, the moon is almost full and is illuminated on the right side of the moon. The full moon is the fifth moon phase. The moon is completely illuminated with light from the sun during this phase. The waning gibbous is next. In this part of the cycle, the moon is just over half way filled with light on the left side. The third quarter is the sixth phase of the moon. During this phase, the moon is half way illuminated. The next phase of the moon is a waning crescent. The moon takes the form of a crescent moon.
The Moon’s Atmosphere
It was previously thought that the moon and the moons of other planets didn’t have an atmosphere. Now it is believed, from new studies and measurements, that the moons are covered with a thin layer atmosphere. The atmosphere may come from outgassing or the release of gases such as radon, which comes from the moon’s interior. It also may come from particles becoming loose from other particles in space. These particles may then fly off into space or just migrate to other cooler parts of the moon and re-condense back into the ground. This may be a source of lunar water and might explain the abundance of helium on the moon.
The Moon’s Surface
The moon has two main types of surface, marias and highlands. Marias are seas on the moon. They are smooth, flat plains with few craters. These are the dark spots you see on the moon. Highlands are hilly and are covered with craters. These are the light spots you see on the moon. The Apollo astronauts were the ones who studied and labeled the surface of the moon.
Old Wives Tales
Some people believe that the full moon has to do with the percentages of crime, suicide, mental illness, disasters, accidents, birthrates, fertility, the weirdest one, werewolves!! Some people also buy stocks according to the full moon! Some people also think that full moons bring on seizures!!!
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Corn Hole
by Zach H.
Corn hole is a great game but requires much skill. Corn hole is a game where you try to get points over your opponent or cancel their score. No one knows where corn hole came from but there are theories that a nineteenth century farmer, Jebediah McGillicuddy, created it in his barn to pass the time with his friends.
Object of the Game
The object of the game is to get to twenty one points before your opponent. The way you do this is to throw a bag filled with BB’s, sand or corn seeds. You get three points if the bag goes in the hole and one point if it goes on the board. The board is a slanted piece of wood and measures four feet and you have to be at least thirty three feet away from it while throwing. The game now is usually played outside on grass or at tournaments at bars.
Scoring
To score you must throw a bag and get it on the board or in the hole. You score points by the difference in points of yours and your opponent’s score. Just say that you got one bag in the hole and no bags on the board as your opponent however made two on the board and one in the hole. He would get two points because he had five points and you had only three, so the difference between them is two.
Canceling
Canceling is just like scoring, only you keep your opponent from scoring. You cancel by every point your opponent gets you get the same and neither you nor your opponent scores, so it’s a good thing. To explain it better, say you throw a bag and miss and your opponent gets on the board, then you get one on the board. There is no difference between the points scored, so no one gets points.
If you would like to get a corn hole game, build it yourself or buy pre-made ones online. A good site to buy them at is at www.biggamebords.com, the games cost from 100 - 200 dollars. I hope that you will enjoy corn hole as much as I do.
Object of the Game
The object of the game is to get to twenty one points before your opponent. The way you do this is to throw a bag filled with BB’s, sand or corn seeds. You get three points if the bag goes in the hole and one point if it goes on the board. The board is a slanted piece of wood and measures four feet and you have to be at least thirty three feet away from it while throwing. The game now is usually played outside on grass or at tournaments at bars.
Scoring
To score you must throw a bag and get it on the board or in the hole. You score points by the difference in points of yours and your opponent’s score. Just say that you got one bag in the hole and no bags on the board as your opponent however made two on the board and one in the hole. He would get two points because he had five points and you had only three, so the difference between them is two.
Canceling
Canceling is just like scoring, only you keep your opponent from scoring. You cancel by every point your opponent gets you get the same and neither you nor your opponent scores, so it’s a good thing. To explain it better, say you throw a bag and miss and your opponent gets on the board, then you get one on the board. There is no difference between the points scored, so no one gets points.
If you would like to get a corn hole game, build it yourself or buy pre-made ones online. A good site to buy them at is at www.biggamebords.com, the games cost from 100 - 200 dollars. I hope that you will enjoy corn hole as much as I do.
Sneaker Showdown
by Sydney D.
There are millions of different brands of shoes out there, such as the flip flop, the Sperry, and the all American sneaker, However, a big problem is choosing a favorite. All shoes have their ups and downs, so let’s look at each one.
The flip flop is usually worn in the summer time and comes in many different colors, shapes and textures and some can even have decorations!! Onn the down side, flip flops are not meant to keep your feet warm, so don’t try to get away with wearing them in the winter time.
Next is the all American Sperry, Sperry’s are usually a light or dark brown but can sometimes come in cool designs like plaid!!! As a plus Sperry’s match anything!!!! On the negative side though you don’t wear socks with Sperry’s and can sometimes get a bad blister OUCH!!
Next is a true classic, the sneaker. There are thousands of different types and brands of sneakers. Some popular brands are Sketchers, Puma, and Hardy .A good thing about sneakers is that they come in so many styles (and some even have lights attached). Sneakers are always comfy and essential to those who play sports. On the down side sneakers can sometimes fall apart in a heartbeat so take good care of them.
Finally the last contestant in the shoe showdown and my personal favorite, CONVERSE!!!!! Converse are great because they come in any color and style from plaid to polka dots and some even have designs on them!!! As a bonus, you can find them at almost any store. Like every shoe though the converse has flaws of its own. For example, have you ever gone out to buy shoes and when you finally found one you love it wasn’t in your size? Makes you mad right??? Well since so many people are buying Converse usually its first come first served.
Now you’ve heard the facts from me and it’s time to hear opinions from other people. When I asked a friend Haley W. what her favorite shoe was she immediately replied, “Converse.” I also asked another classmate Ariel .T her opinion. She had not one favorite, but two, which were Converse and Sperry’s. Now you’ve heard both facts and opinions and it all comes down to you. Which will win the shoe showdown once and for all. Which will you choose???
The flip flop is usually worn in the summer time and comes in many different colors, shapes and textures and some can even have decorations!! Onn the down side, flip flops are not meant to keep your feet warm, so don’t try to get away with wearing them in the winter time.
Next is the all American Sperry, Sperry’s are usually a light or dark brown but can sometimes come in cool designs like plaid!!! As a plus Sperry’s match anything!!!! On the negative side though you don’t wear socks with Sperry’s and can sometimes get a bad blister OUCH!!
Next is a true classic, the sneaker. There are thousands of different types and brands of sneakers. Some popular brands are Sketchers, Puma, and Hardy .A good thing about sneakers is that they come in so many styles (and some even have lights attached). Sneakers are always comfy and essential to those who play sports. On the down side sneakers can sometimes fall apart in a heartbeat so take good care of them.
Finally the last contestant in the shoe showdown and my personal favorite, CONVERSE!!!!! Converse are great because they come in any color and style from plaid to polka dots and some even have designs on them!!! As a bonus, you can find them at almost any store. Like every shoe though the converse has flaws of its own. For example, have you ever gone out to buy shoes and when you finally found one you love it wasn’t in your size? Makes you mad right??? Well since so many people are buying Converse usually its first come first served.
Now you’ve heard the facts from me and it’s time to hear opinions from other people. When I asked a friend Haley W. what her favorite shoe was she immediately replied, “Converse.” I also asked another classmate Ariel .T her opinion. She had not one favorite, but two, which were Converse and Sperry’s. Now you’ve heard both facts and opinions and it all comes down to you. Which will win the shoe showdown once and for all. Which will you choose???
The Facts About Red Heads
by Ariel T.
How many red heads do you know? Not many, right? Red heads aren’t very popular. Actually, there are only two percent natural red heads found in America. Why is this? Why are red heads less popular than other hair colors? What’s the difference? It’s all in the genes.
It all started in northern Europe. Greeks believed that after a red head died they would turn into a vampire. So to save themselves they would bury the red heads alive before they died. In some places such as Corsica if you pass a red head on the street you have to spit. People have also said red heads are princes, princesses or descendents of the lost city of Atlantis. There’s also the belief that red heads are alien-human hybrids. People think this because there are only few red heads around the world. Actually only four percent of the human population carries the red head gene.
Well, red heads aren’t vampires, mermaids, or alien-human breeds. Its just they have a recessive gene that just isn’t as common as others. The gene they carry is mutated. It’s a recessive gene so it needs two copies in order to have a red head. Everyone has the gene melanocortin 1 receptor but, the red head version is slightly different. So that’s why red hair is known as a “genetic mutation”. The population of red heads goes down because you need two carriers of the MC1R gene in order to have red hair and the gene is not very popular.
Have you ever noticed red heads have light, fair, skin too? It’s good because it lets more sunlight in which stimulates the production of vitamin D, which protects you from other diseases. But too much sun can destroy folic acid, a vitamin that is very important. It prevents cancer and birth defects. This is probably why the red head population has some problems in tropical hot places. The population is often hurt because red heads can get cancer faster than others because they loose folic acid because of their light skin.
So red heads aren’t vampires, mermaids, or alien-human hybrids they’re simply humans with a recessive gene. So before you believe those sayings and myths you should think and research first. It’s really interesting how genetics work.
Soccer
by Naida G.
Christiano Ronaldo
I love soccer. It is the main sport in Bosnia. It actually originated in England in 1863 but in ancient times soccer was also played. The first ever match was between Scotland and England in 1872. My friends and I are always playing behind our house; of course my team usually wins!
In soccer there are a lot of different positions on the field. Here are some positions: a goalkeeper or goalie’s job is to defend his team’s goaland he usually stays close to the goal. Fullbacks: Provide last line of defense before the goalie, and stop the opposition before a shot is taken. Some coaches assign a single defender, called a sweeper, who plays closest to his own goal behind the fullbacks. In soccer there are about eleven players on each team.
In some countries soccer is actually called futboll! I watch a lot of soccer with my family. The other day, we were watching this soccer game on TV and I loved how the whole team just really worked together to win the game.
My favorite player is Cristiano Ronaldo who plays’ for the team Real Madrid after he got traded from Manchester United in 2009. I watch him on the computer and on TV and he is really good. He is also awesome at free kicks which are what he is best at. I hope someday to play soccer with an international team, but for now I’m stuck playing with my little brother and my friends in my backyard until I’m discovered.
I hear a lot of people say that “soccer sucks”. Well they probably have never even played it. If they think its all about kicking a small ball into a big goal well they are WRONG!!!!!! Soccer is a hard sport, you have to train really hard and be focused. Sometimes I train by running laps or jogging and you have to know what to do on the field in order to win.
Soccer is not easy, just ask Cristiano Ronaldo or David Beckham. Soccer takes practice and hard work to maintain playing on a team. So before you judge a book by its cover try it and you may just happen to like it.
In soccer there are a lot of different positions on the field. Here are some positions: a goalkeeper or goalie’s job is to defend his team’s goaland he usually stays close to the goal. Fullbacks: Provide last line of defense before the goalie, and stop the opposition before a shot is taken. Some coaches assign a single defender, called a sweeper, who plays closest to his own goal behind the fullbacks. In soccer there are about eleven players on each team.
In some countries soccer is actually called futboll! I watch a lot of soccer with my family. The other day, we were watching this soccer game on TV and I loved how the whole team just really worked together to win the game.
My favorite player is Cristiano Ronaldo who plays’ for the team Real Madrid after he got traded from Manchester United in 2009. I watch him on the computer and on TV and he is really good. He is also awesome at free kicks which are what he is best at. I hope someday to play soccer with an international team, but for now I’m stuck playing with my little brother and my friends in my backyard until I’m discovered.
I hear a lot of people say that “soccer sucks”. Well they probably have never even played it. If they think its all about kicking a small ball into a big goal well they are WRONG!!!!!! Soccer is a hard sport, you have to train really hard and be focused. Sometimes I train by running laps or jogging and you have to know what to do on the field in order to win.
Soccer is not easy, just ask Cristiano Ronaldo or David Beckham. Soccer takes practice and hard work to maintain playing on a team. So before you judge a book by its cover try it and you may just happen to like it.
Jason Aldean
by Rejeana B.
Jason Aldean Williams was born on February 28, 1977. His hometown is Macon, Georgia. He is just an average country guy that loves hunting, fishing, and riding four wheelers in his spare time.
Jason’s parents, Barry and Debbie, divorced when he was three. Jason was raised by his mom in Macon, Georgia. During the summer Jason would go to Homestead, Florida and visit his dad. Sometimes before Jason’s father would go to work he would map out guitar chords to practice while he was at work. Jason would practice all day until his dad got home and when he got home they would play guitars together.
At the age of fourteen, Jason would watch the country music awards and picture him being up on that stage. Then with his mom’s help Jason performed John Anderson’s song, “Seminole Wind” and Tracey Lawrence’s song, “Sticks And Stones” at the VFW hall in Macon, Georgia. At the age of fifteen, Jason joined the “House Band” at the Macon, Georgia nightspot, Nashville South.
Jason has recorded three albums on the independent Broken Bow Records. They are labeled Jason Aldean, Relentless, and Wide Open. Jason’s number one hits include: Why, She’s Country, and Big Green Tractor. Jason also taped a live concert in Knoxville, Tennessee. This dvd will be released later in 2009.
Jason’s parents, Barry and Debbie, divorced when he was three. Jason was raised by his mom in Macon, Georgia. During the summer Jason would go to Homestead, Florida and visit his dad. Sometimes before Jason’s father would go to work he would map out guitar chords to practice while he was at work. Jason would practice all day until his dad got home and when he got home they would play guitars together.
At the age of fourteen, Jason would watch the country music awards and picture him being up on that stage. Then with his mom’s help Jason performed John Anderson’s song, “Seminole Wind” and Tracey Lawrence’s song, “Sticks And Stones” at the VFW hall in Macon, Georgia. At the age of fifteen, Jason joined the “House Band” at the Macon, Georgia nightspot, Nashville South.
Jason has recorded three albums on the independent Broken Bow Records. They are labeled Jason Aldean, Relentless, and Wide Open. Jason’s number one hits include: Why, She’s Country, and Big Green Tractor. Jason also taped a live concert in Knoxville, Tennessee. This dvd will be released later in 2009.
Extreme Sports
by Sydney D.
There are lots of regular everyday sports, but there are also cool extreme sports like water skiing, kite surfing, and parachuting.
Parachuting can be fun but it can also be quite nerve wracking, That’s why you must always be cautious when attempting it. Parachuting is when you go several thousand feet up into the air in a plane. You have a parachute strapped to your back and when you get high enough, you jump out. When you jump, you first assume a correct position. Lay as you would flat on your stomach with your hands and feet spread apart. After you fall for a minute or so the parachute pack will have a button or lever that when pulled will activate the parachute. Finally, most people that parachute have a certain landing spot set up like a massive pile of mattresses with a target. If you’re parachuting with no assistance, then your best bet would be a body of water or a soft smooth area of land.
Another extreme sport is kite surfing. Kite surfing is sometimes difficult to master but practice makes perfect. When kite surfing, you have a parachute like kite that you hold with a string and your feet are attached to something similar to a snowboard, so it’s like you’re snowboarding on water. Wind pulls the kite which pulls you along with it. On the way you can do awesome tricks like flips, toe touches and 360’s. And if you go under, don’t panic the waves will sometimes do that and you’ll pop right back up.
The last extreme sport is water skiing. Now this extreme sport may be the most difficult to master but always fun!! In water skiing your feet are strapped into a special type of water ski that has a rope that is attached to a motor boat that pulls you. The best thing about water skiing is THE AWESOME TRICKS!!! While being pulled along you can execute moves similar to kite surfing like flips or toe touches. One of the most important things to know is your limit. Which means don’t ever try anything dangerous while out on the water unless practiced first.
Now it’s time to get out and try these totally cool sports for real. There are many more exotic sports than the ones mentioned here. So get out there and find your EXTREME SPORT!!!
Parachuting can be fun but it can also be quite nerve wracking, That’s why you must always be cautious when attempting it. Parachuting is when you go several thousand feet up into the air in a plane. You have a parachute strapped to your back and when you get high enough, you jump out. When you jump, you first assume a correct position. Lay as you would flat on your stomach with your hands and feet spread apart. After you fall for a minute or so the parachute pack will have a button or lever that when pulled will activate the parachute. Finally, most people that parachute have a certain landing spot set up like a massive pile of mattresses with a target. If you’re parachuting with no assistance, then your best bet would be a body of water or a soft smooth area of land.
Another extreme sport is kite surfing. Kite surfing is sometimes difficult to master but practice makes perfect. When kite surfing, you have a parachute like kite that you hold with a string and your feet are attached to something similar to a snowboard, so it’s like you’re snowboarding on water. Wind pulls the kite which pulls you along with it. On the way you can do awesome tricks like flips, toe touches and 360’s. And if you go under, don’t panic the waves will sometimes do that and you’ll pop right back up.
The last extreme sport is water skiing. Now this extreme sport may be the most difficult to master but always fun!! In water skiing your feet are strapped into a special type of water ski that has a rope that is attached to a motor boat that pulls you. The best thing about water skiing is THE AWESOME TRICKS!!! While being pulled along you can execute moves similar to kite surfing like flips or toe touches. One of the most important things to know is your limit. Which means don’t ever try anything dangerous while out on the water unless practiced first.
Now it’s time to get out and try these totally cool sports for real. There are many more exotic sports than the ones mentioned here. So get out there and find your EXTREME SPORT!!!
Owl City
by Haylie W.
Owl City is one of the best bands the world has ever seen! Owl City is the name of a project formed in early 2007 consisting of one member, Adam Young. Adam started out making music in his parents' basement, which he claims is a result of his insomnia.
Among Young's influences are disco and European electronic music. 1980ssynthpop and New Wave music is also heard in Owl City's sound.
Owl City found early popularity through its own MySpace profile, which has received more than 6 million plays on tracks, such as "Hello Seattle". Adam is joined by Breanne Duren on several tracks; the most noted being "The Saltwater Room."
Relient KvocalistMatt Thiessen has also collaborated with Owl City on several tracks. Owl City's first two records were released while Adam was unsigned. In early 2009, music industry website "Crazed Hits" leaked that Owl City signed with the major label, Universal Republic.
Owl City is currently on tour with The Scene Aesthetic and Brooke Waggoner. In January-February of 2010 he will tour with contemporary synthopop singer Lights and Christian rock band Deas Vail.
The thing I love most about Owl City is the sound and how Adam’s voice mixes right in the electronic sound. But at the same time I feel bad because people will ask have you heard that new song “Fireflies” by Owl City but really it’s not new at all. In fact it was produced in 2007 on one of Owl City’s albums “Of June.” It’s just kind of sad how Adam is just now making his mark on the world.
Owl City currently has six cds out. His cds are (in order of year produced) “Of June,” “Maybe I’m Dreaming,” “Hot Air Balloon,” “Strawberry Avalanche,” “Fireflies,” and “Ocean Eyes.” Adam’s newest cd is Ocean Eyes.
“I’d like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly.
It's hard to say that I'd
Rather stay awake when I'm asleep,
Cause everything is never as it seems.
When I fall asleep.”
~OWL CITY
Among Young's influences are disco and European electronic music. 1980ssynthpop and New Wave music is also heard in Owl City's sound.
Owl City found early popularity through its own MySpace profile, which has received more than 6 million plays on tracks, such as "Hello Seattle". Adam is joined by Breanne Duren on several tracks; the most noted being "The Saltwater Room."
Relient KvocalistMatt Thiessen has also collaborated with Owl City on several tracks. Owl City's first two records were released while Adam was unsigned. In early 2009, music industry website "Crazed Hits" leaked that Owl City signed with the major label, Universal Republic.
Owl City is currently on tour with The Scene Aesthetic and Brooke Waggoner. In January-February of 2010 he will tour with contemporary synthopop singer Lights and Christian rock band Deas Vail.
The thing I love most about Owl City is the sound and how Adam’s voice mixes right in the electronic sound. But at the same time I feel bad because people will ask have you heard that new song “Fireflies” by Owl City but really it’s not new at all. In fact it was produced in 2007 on one of Owl City’s albums “Of June.” It’s just kind of sad how Adam is just now making his mark on the world.
Owl City currently has six cds out. His cds are (in order of year produced) “Of June,” “Maybe I’m Dreaming,” “Hot Air Balloon,” “Strawberry Avalanche,” “Fireflies,” and “Ocean Eyes.” Adam’s newest cd is Ocean Eyes.
“I’d like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly.
It's hard to say that I'd
Rather stay awake when I'm asleep,
Cause everything is never as it seems.
When I fall asleep.”
~OWL CITY
Starry Night
by Ariel L.
What is your favorite painting? Mine is Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. A lot of people say the painting is weird and ask me why I like it. I like it because it is like no other painting I have seen.
In this impressionist painting, the sky is full with stars and the moon is emphasized with swirly clouds. Even though it is exaggerated this is a scene that makes me feel comfortable and at ease. The swirls keep you involved in the painting, and other factors take hold. Below the hills at the horizon is a small town that was believed to be based on Saint-Remy, France. The houses create peaceful scenery. In the middle of the town is a church steeple. The steeple creates stability and a sense of size and seclusion.To the left of the painting there is a dark structure that helps with the sense of the size and seclusion of the town. The curving lines copy that of the sky and create depth in the painting. The structure could be anything from a mountain to a leafy bush.
This painting gives me hope. This helps because my grandpa was recently diagnosed with cancer. It helps me feel like he is going to be okay and survive this. I feel loved. Everyone needs to feel that. It makes me feel like I am never truly alone, even if there is no one beside me. Hey that’s just me.
In this impressionist painting, the sky is full with stars and the moon is emphasized with swirly clouds. Even though it is exaggerated this is a scene that makes me feel comfortable and at ease. The swirls keep you involved in the painting, and other factors take hold. Below the hills at the horizon is a small town that was believed to be based on Saint-Remy, France. The houses create peaceful scenery. In the middle of the town is a church steeple. The steeple creates stability and a sense of size and seclusion.To the left of the painting there is a dark structure that helps with the sense of the size and seclusion of the town. The curving lines copy that of the sky and create depth in the painting. The structure could be anything from a mountain to a leafy bush.
This painting gives me hope. This helps because my grandpa was recently diagnosed with cancer. It helps me feel like he is going to be okay and survive this. I feel loved. Everyone needs to feel that. It makes me feel like I am never truly alone, even if there is no one beside me. Hey that’s just me.
Chernobyl
by Brody Y.
The city of Chernobyl, Ukraine, is home to one of the worst industrial accidents in history. In April 1986, the number four nuclear reactor in the Chernobyl power plant had a nuclear meltdown, causing an explosion that was 30 to 40 times more radioactive and deadlier than an average atomic bomb. The event killed 30 people inside the number four reactor immediately. A nuclear meltdown is when the core of the reactor overheats to the point of melting or exploding. An undetermined number of people were killed in the surrounding city due to the radiation from the reactor also.
More than 10,000 people were evacuated from the city that day, but not all is well. Radiation intake into the inhabitant’s bodies caused deaths too, but that’s not the problem, the residents still feel the effects today. The offspring, due to heavy levels of radiation inside the bodies of the parents, have been mutated or deformed. The mystery of how it happened is probably never going to be solved. Was it just an accident, or one of the biggest disasters in the East?
In 1986, scientists were confused as radiation levels rocketed up into dangerously high levels across Eastern Europe. Even though the Chernobyl accident was in Ukraine, the radioactive material was spread across the world; even America received some radiation due to Chernobyl. Today, 23 percent of Ukraine is irradiated, which means radiation is high and unreachable without military fallout suits or hazmat radiation protection gear. A liquid solution is required to be drunk before coming within 90 kilometers of the Chernobyl area. The liquid solution prevents radiation from affecting your thyroid and other internal organs that you can’t live without. Even after 20 years, this place can be just as dangerous as the original disaster.
Some people say the area is haunted by the workers that were killed when the explosion happened. Many buildings are still there, just abandoned, everything still there, untouched from the day that happened. A 7.5 mile long cooling pond lies next to the reactor, with the Pripyat river close by. The cooling pond served as a way to cool the reactor when it overheated. After the explosion, most wildlife and vegetation died, but now life has made a comeback, with trees and wildlife springing back to life around 2007. Most vegetation and life are actually really healthy, despite the environment and radiation, but some trees have been reported to be twisted and mutated beyond normal trees. Animals are somehow unaffected by the radiation and continue to live as a healthy species. Have they built up a tolerance for the radioactivity? Scientists are puzzled by this fact, and are still researching it today.
The mystery of what happened at Chernobyl is a complicated one. Some say the reactor’s core was exposed. Others say that it overheated, causing the meltdown of the plant. Some people even thought it was a worker’s fault, saying that they did not have proper training when it came to the nuclear power operations. Chernobyl will always be a mystery, one of the many left in this world.
More than 10,000 people were evacuated from the city that day, but not all is well. Radiation intake into the inhabitant’s bodies caused deaths too, but that’s not the problem, the residents still feel the effects today. The offspring, due to heavy levels of radiation inside the bodies of the parents, have been mutated or deformed. The mystery of how it happened is probably never going to be solved. Was it just an accident, or one of the biggest disasters in the East?
In 1986, scientists were confused as radiation levels rocketed up into dangerously high levels across Eastern Europe. Even though the Chernobyl accident was in Ukraine, the radioactive material was spread across the world; even America received some radiation due to Chernobyl. Today, 23 percent of Ukraine is irradiated, which means radiation is high and unreachable without military fallout suits or hazmat radiation protection gear. A liquid solution is required to be drunk before coming within 90 kilometers of the Chernobyl area. The liquid solution prevents radiation from affecting your thyroid and other internal organs that you can’t live without. Even after 20 years, this place can be just as dangerous as the original disaster.
Some people say the area is haunted by the workers that were killed when the explosion happened. Many buildings are still there, just abandoned, everything still there, untouched from the day that happened. A 7.5 mile long cooling pond lies next to the reactor, with the Pripyat river close by. The cooling pond served as a way to cool the reactor when it overheated. After the explosion, most wildlife and vegetation died, but now life has made a comeback, with trees and wildlife springing back to life around 2007. Most vegetation and life are actually really healthy, despite the environment and radiation, but some trees have been reported to be twisted and mutated beyond normal trees. Animals are somehow unaffected by the radiation and continue to live as a healthy species. Have they built up a tolerance for the radioactivity? Scientists are puzzled by this fact, and are still researching it today.
The mystery of what happened at Chernobyl is a complicated one. Some say the reactor’s core was exposed. Others say that it overheated, causing the meltdown of the plant. Some people even thought it was a worker’s fault, saying that they did not have proper training when it came to the nuclear power operations. Chernobyl will always be a mystery, one of the many left in this world.
Li'l Wayne
by Jessica L.
Dwayne Michael Carter also known as Lil’Wayne was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on September 27, 1982. He was raised in Holly Grove. He has three children, one daughter, Reginae Carter, was born in 1999. Dwayne the third, was born October 22, 2008. Then Lennox Samuel Ari, was born September 9, 2009, and he is expecting his fourth child with singer Nivea.
Dwayne has always gone by his nickname, Lil’ Wayne. When he was 12, he played the part of the Tin Man in his middle school drama club’s production of the Wiz. At age 13, he dropped out of school to fully pursue a rap career. He also went solo. Three years later in 1997 at age 16, Lil’ Wayne recorded his firstsingle with the Hot Boys in 1997. He has five albums which have achieved gold or platinum status.
On July 22, 2007 Lil’ Wayne was arrested. Police officers said they caught Carter and another man smoking marijuana on the street. And that they found a 40-caliber pistol in Lil’Wayne’s possession. What makes him so popular is his songs. People say that he is the best rapper in the world! His top ten most popular songs are, Let It Rock, Ain’t Sayin Nothing (remix), Lollipop, A Milli, I Do What I Want To, American Dream Ft.Mike Tyson, Nothin On Me, Let The Beat Build, Don’t Touch Me, and Whip It.
Dwayne has always gone by his nickname, Lil’ Wayne. When he was 12, he played the part of the Tin Man in his middle school drama club’s production of the Wiz. At age 13, he dropped out of school to fully pursue a rap career. He also went solo. Three years later in 1997 at age 16, Lil’ Wayne recorded his firstsingle with the Hot Boys in 1997. He has five albums which have achieved gold or platinum status.
On July 22, 2007 Lil’ Wayne was arrested. Police officers said they caught Carter and another man smoking marijuana on the street. And that they found a 40-caliber pistol in Lil’Wayne’s possession. What makes him so popular is his songs. People say that he is the best rapper in the world! His top ten most popular songs are, Let It Rock, Ain’t Sayin Nothing (remix), Lollipop, A Milli, I Do What I Want To, American Dream Ft.Mike Tyson, Nothin On Me, Let The Beat Build, Don’t Touch Me, and Whip It.
Rascal Flatts
by Summer C.
The band Rascal Flatts, consists of Gary LeVox (lead vocals) born July 10, 1970;Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, keyboards, vocals)born April 26, 1971; Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, vocals) born September 13, 1975.This American country band was founded in Columbus Ohio. DeMarcus moved to Nashville in 1992 to find work as a musician. In 1997, he convinced his second cousin LeVox, also of Columbus, to come to Nashville to pursue a career as a singer.
Just the Beginning
The band started out with DeMarcus and LeVox in Nashville. DeMarcus met Joe Don Rooney, when they both got jobs in Chely Wright’s band. They became good friends and talked every once in a while. Meanwhile, DeMarcus and LeVox were gigging in a Nashville bar with a part-time guitarist. When their guitarist couldn't make it to a show one weekend, DeMarcus invited Rooney to sit in. After the the sit in, the band was happy with the sound that was produced, so they recorded some demos and signed with a Disney imprint Lyric Street.
“How It Began!”
In 2000, the guys came up with the name of Rascal Flatts. After a concert they asked that if the audience had any ideas about a name that could be used, to see them after the show. Well, after the show, a guy came up to them and said that he had a band in high school and they were called "Rascal Flatts". He said they could use that name if they wanted to. So they did.
“Praying For Daylight”
Their album “Melt” was released in 2001, and the debut single off the disc, "These Days," would become the group's first number one song. “Feels Like Today” was the third album to be released. One of their number one songs on the album was “Bless the Broken Roads.” In 2006 the band put out another successful album labeled “Me and My Gang.” They sold 722,000 copies earning 3.5 million in sales by the end of the year.
The First Time
The first time I heard Rascal Flatts perform was when I was ten. They sung “What Hurts the Most.” I loved them instantly, their voices are just so good. This year, they have come out with lots of new songs like “Summer Nights” and “Here Comes Goodbye.” The album that comes out this year will be their sixth album and it’s labeled.” Unstoppable” They have announced that it will be released on April 7th 2010. “It’s only the beginning of our recording,” says Rascal Flatts. They are going to bring out a new album every year and hopefully get all of them to the number one spot by the end of the year. I think they can do it, Rascal Flatts can do ANYTHING they want if the try hard enough.
Just the Beginning
The band started out with DeMarcus and LeVox in Nashville. DeMarcus met Joe Don Rooney, when they both got jobs in Chely Wright’s band. They became good friends and talked every once in a while. Meanwhile, DeMarcus and LeVox were gigging in a Nashville bar with a part-time guitarist. When their guitarist couldn't make it to a show one weekend, DeMarcus invited Rooney to sit in. After the the sit in, the band was happy with the sound that was produced, so they recorded some demos and signed with a Disney imprint Lyric Street.
“How It Began!”
In 2000, the guys came up with the name of Rascal Flatts. After a concert they asked that if the audience had any ideas about a name that could be used, to see them after the show. Well, after the show, a guy came up to them and said that he had a band in high school and they were called "Rascal Flatts". He said they could use that name if they wanted to. So they did.
“Praying For Daylight”
Their album “Melt” was released in 2001, and the debut single off the disc, "These Days," would become the group's first number one song. “Feels Like Today” was the third album to be released. One of their number one songs on the album was “Bless the Broken Roads.” In 2006 the band put out another successful album labeled “Me and My Gang.” They sold 722,000 copies earning 3.5 million in sales by the end of the year.
The First Time
The first time I heard Rascal Flatts perform was when I was ten. They sung “What Hurts the Most.” I loved them instantly, their voices are just so good. This year, they have come out with lots of new songs like “Summer Nights” and “Here Comes Goodbye.” The album that comes out this year will be their sixth album and it’s labeled.” Unstoppable” They have announced that it will be released on April 7th 2010. “It’s only the beginning of our recording,” says Rascal Flatts. They are going to bring out a new album every year and hopefully get all of them to the number one spot by the end of the year. I think they can do it, Rascal Flatts can do ANYTHING they want if the try hard enough.
Edgar Allan Poe
by Drew C.
Edgar Allan Poe is a beloved American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. In this article you will read about his tragic life and death. He was a talented, yet troubled man, but his writings will live on forever.
As A Young Man
He was born on January 19th, 1809. His dad left him and his mother when he was very young. His mother was an actress and died when he was two years old, almost three, of tuberculosis. He had a brother, (William Henry) and a sister (Rosalie), but after his mother passed, they all got separated. John and Frances Allan of Richmond Virginia took him in, even though he was never formally adopted. Mrs. Allan was a kind women and Edgar loved her. Mr. Allan was strict and always thought of Edgar as ungrateful. At the age of five Edgar could recite passages of English poetry. Later, one of his teachers in Richmond said, “While the other boys wrote mechanical verses, Poe wrote genuine poetry. The boy was a born poet.” In 1815 when Poe was only six years old, they traveled to England. There he attended a prestigious school in Chelsea, since John Allan was a very wealthy merchant. Poe learned of Latin and French. After five years in England, they returned to Virginia. In 1826 he attended the University of Virginia. Even though John Allan had plenty of money to go around, he only gave Edgar a third of what he needed for college. Poe was very stressed from school and he began to drink. Sooner or later, he was far in debt. He quit school in no less than a year. He was also engaged to Elmira Royster, but her parents broke off the engagement. In 1827, he had two books published, which sold poorly at his own expense.
It Only Just Begun
Edgar Allan Poe was out of luck. He had no money, and John Allan wasn’t the least bit of help. With no job skills, there was no way for Poe to make any money. So, with nowhere else to turn, he enlisted in the army. He was only eighteen. He did well in the army and attained the rank of a sergeant major. In 1829, Mrs. Allan died of tuberculosis just like his mother. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the end of the women he would lose to consumption (tuberculosis). After she died, Mr. Allan tried to be reasonable to Edgar and signed his application to West Point, (a military academy.) Before he left for West Point, he lived with his aunt, Mrs. Clemm. Also his younger cousin Virginia was living there. He didn’t last long in West Point because John Allan refused to send him any money.
Poe Finds Writing
In 1831, Poe moved to New York City. He had some of his poetry published there. He had submitted stories to every magazine and newspaper, yet they were all rejected. Poe was alone in the world, had no job, nor money. Finally, in 1835, Edgar got a job at a paper. It was the start of a respected critic and essayist. He tried to contact John Allan, but he never responded. John Allan died in 1837 and never mentioned Edgar in his will. He continued writing, and his poems were published in many magazines. He worked for many newspapers and magazines. With every magazine he joined, their sales increased.
Edgar Falls In Love
In 1836, Poe married his thirteen year old cousin, Virginia Clemm. Edgar was twenty six. His aunt, Maria, was a little skeptical at first, but she knew that he really loved her. And he seemed to have been an affectionate husband and son in law. Most people saw Poe as mean and frightening, but Virginia brought out the best in him. People would walk by and they would be reading in the garden, laughing. She made Edgar happy, and he made her happy. They were very much in love. Poe was at the peak of his career, writing stories such as, The Murders of Rue Morgue, and the Gold Bug. The Murders of Rue Morgue was the first mystery ever written and many people finally saw all that Poe had to offer. Probably his most famous poem, The Raven, was written in 1945. It gave him national publicity at once even though he sold it for only about 14 dollars. He became the editor of the Broadway Journal where he published many short stories and poems there.
His Final Days
In 1847, Virginia died of Tuberculosis. After she died, Poe started to struggle with drinking and drugs. He was devastated and alone once again. Seeking companionship he had an affair with a famous poet Sarah Helen Whitman. To Virginia he dedicated a poem called, Annabel Lee.
‘’But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.’’
-From Annabel Lee (1849)
He suffered from depression and a suicide attempt in 1848. In 1849, he was found delirious outside a bar in Baltimore. He died in the hospital on October 7th. His poems got more famous through his death than ever before. Although his life was tragically short and rough his poems and short stories will live on forever.
As A Young Man
He was born on January 19th, 1809. His dad left him and his mother when he was very young. His mother was an actress and died when he was two years old, almost three, of tuberculosis. He had a brother, (William Henry) and a sister (Rosalie), but after his mother passed, they all got separated. John and Frances Allan of Richmond Virginia took him in, even though he was never formally adopted. Mrs. Allan was a kind women and Edgar loved her. Mr. Allan was strict and always thought of Edgar as ungrateful. At the age of five Edgar could recite passages of English poetry. Later, one of his teachers in Richmond said, “While the other boys wrote mechanical verses, Poe wrote genuine poetry. The boy was a born poet.” In 1815 when Poe was only six years old, they traveled to England. There he attended a prestigious school in Chelsea, since John Allan was a very wealthy merchant. Poe learned of Latin and French. After five years in England, they returned to Virginia. In 1826 he attended the University of Virginia. Even though John Allan had plenty of money to go around, he only gave Edgar a third of what he needed for college. Poe was very stressed from school and he began to drink. Sooner or later, he was far in debt. He quit school in no less than a year. He was also engaged to Elmira Royster, but her parents broke off the engagement. In 1827, he had two books published, which sold poorly at his own expense.
It Only Just Begun
Edgar Allan Poe was out of luck. He had no money, and John Allan wasn’t the least bit of help. With no job skills, there was no way for Poe to make any money. So, with nowhere else to turn, he enlisted in the army. He was only eighteen. He did well in the army and attained the rank of a sergeant major. In 1829, Mrs. Allan died of tuberculosis just like his mother. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the end of the women he would lose to consumption (tuberculosis). After she died, Mr. Allan tried to be reasonable to Edgar and signed his application to West Point, (a military academy.) Before he left for West Point, he lived with his aunt, Mrs. Clemm. Also his younger cousin Virginia was living there. He didn’t last long in West Point because John Allan refused to send him any money.
Poe Finds Writing
In 1831, Poe moved to New York City. He had some of his poetry published there. He had submitted stories to every magazine and newspaper, yet they were all rejected. Poe was alone in the world, had no job, nor money. Finally, in 1835, Edgar got a job at a paper. It was the start of a respected critic and essayist. He tried to contact John Allan, but he never responded. John Allan died in 1837 and never mentioned Edgar in his will. He continued writing, and his poems were published in many magazines. He worked for many newspapers and magazines. With every magazine he joined, their sales increased.
Edgar Falls In Love
In 1836, Poe married his thirteen year old cousin, Virginia Clemm. Edgar was twenty six. His aunt, Maria, was a little skeptical at first, but she knew that he really loved her. And he seemed to have been an affectionate husband and son in law. Most people saw Poe as mean and frightening, but Virginia brought out the best in him. People would walk by and they would be reading in the garden, laughing. She made Edgar happy, and he made her happy. They were very much in love. Poe was at the peak of his career, writing stories such as, The Murders of Rue Morgue, and the Gold Bug. The Murders of Rue Morgue was the first mystery ever written and many people finally saw all that Poe had to offer. Probably his most famous poem, The Raven, was written in 1945. It gave him national publicity at once even though he sold it for only about 14 dollars. He became the editor of the Broadway Journal where he published many short stories and poems there.
His Final Days
In 1847, Virginia died of Tuberculosis. After she died, Poe started to struggle with drinking and drugs. He was devastated and alone once again. Seeking companionship he had an affair with a famous poet Sarah Helen Whitman. To Virginia he dedicated a poem called, Annabel Lee.
‘’But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.’’
-From Annabel Lee (1849)
He suffered from depression and a suicide attempt in 1848. In 1849, he was found delirious outside a bar in Baltimore. He died in the hospital on October 7th. His poems got more famous through his death than ever before. Although his life was tragically short and rough his poems and short stories will live on forever.
Secondhand Serenade
By Haylie W.
John Vesely, who it is said has the vocal range of an 80s hair band, and looks to rival Elvis, wandered through life, from band to band, finding that he could never settle with just one. Then in the summer of 2004, John decided to do it his own way and go solo.
To distinguish himself from the typical singer/songwriter, John adopts the name Secondhand Serenade - a name with far fewer limits than "John". The name Secondhand Serenade allows him to be free to do whatever he feels like, from a solo performance to ten musicians on stage at once.
Secondhand Serenade took off like John couldn't believe - the crowd at live shows and an ever increasing online presence (not least his MySpace page, with a massive 140,000+ friends) prompted him to release his debut album, “Awake.”
Perfectionist that he is, the studio was top of the range, and John produced the entire ten tracks himself. John not only organized the recording, but everything down to the performances and packaging. And all of this without any label backing.
All of this care and attention paid off, with album sales rocketing and single releases, such as “Maybe,” doing well on popular radio stations. A recording contract is now a possibility, but until that day, Secondhand Serenade will continue to independently prosper.
Secondhand Serenade has made two albums so far on his own one being “Twist In My Story” (already out in stores), and the other one being “Awake” (not in stores but you can pre order his cd). John is currently working on a new album, “Broken Hearts Heal.” All of Secondhand Serenade’s cds range from $13.00-$14.00 price wise.
Just this year, Secondhand Serenade has produced over 25 songs himself. In order to do this, John had to record each song at least five times!! This is because he is a one man band, so he has to play the drums, bass, guitar, and since he’s the singer, he also has to sing the lyrics and echoes. The only time Secondhand Serenade has anyone else in his one man band is on stage in concert.
Secondhand Serenade has a huge tour coming up! His concert will be starting, November 21st, 2009, in Ohio and ending in February 12th, 2009 in Nashville Tennessee. The thing I love about Secondhand Serenade is how much confidence and enthusiasm John has, and how he didn’t settle for bare minimum but went from band to band to see which one made him the happiest. I also love how he writes his songs based off of his life.
To distinguish himself from the typical singer/songwriter, John adopts the name Secondhand Serenade - a name with far fewer limits than "John". The name Secondhand Serenade allows him to be free to do whatever he feels like, from a solo performance to ten musicians on stage at once.
Secondhand Serenade took off like John couldn't believe - the crowd at live shows and an ever increasing online presence (not least his MySpace page, with a massive 140,000+ friends) prompted him to release his debut album, “Awake.”
Perfectionist that he is, the studio was top of the range, and John produced the entire ten tracks himself. John not only organized the recording, but everything down to the performances and packaging. And all of this without any label backing.
All of this care and attention paid off, with album sales rocketing and single releases, such as “Maybe,” doing well on popular radio stations. A recording contract is now a possibility, but until that day, Secondhand Serenade will continue to independently prosper.
Secondhand Serenade has made two albums so far on his own one being “Twist In My Story” (already out in stores), and the other one being “Awake” (not in stores but you can pre order his cd). John is currently working on a new album, “Broken Hearts Heal.” All of Secondhand Serenade’s cds range from $13.00-$14.00 price wise.
Just this year, Secondhand Serenade has produced over 25 songs himself. In order to do this, John had to record each song at least five times!! This is because he is a one man band, so he has to play the drums, bass, guitar, and since he’s the singer, he also has to sing the lyrics and echoes. The only time Secondhand Serenade has anyone else in his one man band is on stage in concert.
Secondhand Serenade has a huge tour coming up! His concert will be starting, November 21st, 2009, in Ohio and ending in February 12th, 2009 in Nashville Tennessee. The thing I love about Secondhand Serenade is how much confidence and enthusiasm John has, and how he didn’t settle for bare minimum but went from band to band to see which one made him the happiest. I also love how he writes his songs based off of his life.
Dove Hunting
by Zach H.
Dove hunting is a season every one loves. There are all sorts of gatherings for enjoying this season. When you dove hunt you need specific guns and shells. Also you have to wear proper attire.
Guns and Shells
In dove hunting, most people use guns with gauges twenty through twelve gauge and four tens. This is because gauges twenty through twelve shoot hundreds of pellets and they spread for a better chance of killing the bird. A gauge is the caliber of your gun. One thing I suggest to people is to take out the turkey choke; it kicks or forces you back harder than a regular choke. A choke is a thing that puts extra force on the shell to give it more power.
Proper Attire
Proper attire for dove hunting is, of course camouflage. With camouflage, you do not need to wear heavy clothing because the season is near the end of spring. You need to wear short sleeved shirts and pants. With this you should wear boots because there are holes in the ground and it could have rained the day before and you don’t want you tennis shoes to get all muddy, do you?
Helpful Hints
Things helpful needed to go dove hunting would be extra shells. You don’t want to run out. You might also need a blind (thin cloth that goes in front of the body) to hide yourself so you’re not seen by the doves. Take food and water just in case you get hungry or thirsty during the hunt. And remember to only kill fifteen, that’s the limit.
Thank you for reading this article, I hope you will use these methods and equipment if you want to be a successful dove hunter.
Guns and Shells
In dove hunting, most people use guns with gauges twenty through twelve gauge and four tens. This is because gauges twenty through twelve shoot hundreds of pellets and they spread for a better chance of killing the bird. A gauge is the caliber of your gun. One thing I suggest to people is to take out the turkey choke; it kicks or forces you back harder than a regular choke. A choke is a thing that puts extra force on the shell to give it more power.
Proper Attire
Proper attire for dove hunting is, of course camouflage. With camouflage, you do not need to wear heavy clothing because the season is near the end of spring. You need to wear short sleeved shirts and pants. With this you should wear boots because there are holes in the ground and it could have rained the day before and you don’t want you tennis shoes to get all muddy, do you?
Helpful Hints
Things helpful needed to go dove hunting would be extra shells. You don’t want to run out. You might also need a blind (thin cloth that goes in front of the body) to hide yourself so you’re not seen by the doves. Take food and water just in case you get hungry or thirsty during the hunt. And remember to only kill fifteen, that’s the limit.
Thank you for reading this article, I hope you will use these methods and equipment if you want to be a successful dove hunter.
Cheerleading as a Sport
by Ariel T.
How would you describe cheerleading? Do you think it’s easy? To you, cheerleading may just be a bunch of people shouting cheers for a game. To you, cheerleaders aren’t that important. To you, their job looks easy, and maybe you think that the players at the game are working harder than the cheerleaders. Well actually, cheerleaders work as hard as the players. To some that’s hard to believe.
While you might think cheering and jumping around is easy, you should try it for three hours while giving all your effort the entire time. At games, cheerleaders do a lot more than cheer, they move constantly, they shout and they have to stay happy. Cheerleaders can have up to 40 cheers to memorize and call at games. If they don’t remember them, they aren’t doing too well. Not only do they have to remember and call these cheers, but the moves have to be stiff, sharp and correct. For three hours they have to have full energy with a smile on their face. So maybe before you say cheerleading isn’t hard work, you should try these things for three hours first. “Cheerleading is a good sport and helps with school spirit”, says Ariel L, one of my classmates.
Cheerleaders don’t only cheer, they have competitions that require stunts and tumbling (gymnastics). In stunting, you have the bases, flyer, back spot, and front spot. Each of these jobs are hard and require a lot of practice. Bases hold the flyers in the air, there are two bases (main base and base). The main base is the base that will receive more weight when they do harder stunts. The other base simply helps in harder stunts. Back spots and front spots catch the flyer when she falls or cradles out of a stunt. Flyers, well they fly (they are held in the air). They have to lock out, stay stiff, no moving and can’t be scared to go up. So yes cheerleading is a sport especially in competitions. Most cheerleaders should have experience in gymnastics, because a competition requires gymnastics or they will not have a good routine. My friend Corbin P said, “Cheerleading is a sport due to all the lifting and muscle use.” She tried it once but, doesn’t want to go back.
Practice makes perfect, so cheerleaders have to practice with all their focus and determination for games and competitions. Football, soccer, basketball or any sport requires practice. You might think cheer practice isn’t as hard as other sports practices. Well in practice we stunt, we do pushups, sit ups, toe touches, hard stretches, gymnastics, and we practice cheers. We have certain exercises we do like leg lifts and stunt pushups. Stunt pushups is when bases hold the flyers in the air and they go up as far as they can with the flyer(extension), hold, then come back to their chest(press) then back up. If we drop the flyer, then that means we run a few laps, comeback and do it again. Naida, a former Moss Middle cheerleader said, “It was hard because of all the pushups and work outs we did.”
Mrs. T said, “Before reading this article I didn’t realize it took so much athletic ability and commitment to the sport.” My friend Amber l. said “Before reading this article, I thought cheerleading was an easy sport.” Cheerleading is a sport and a hard one too. We work just as hard as the players at games. Before you say anything about how easy you think our sport is, cheer, or stunt with us and you’ll see how challenging it really is.
While you might think cheering and jumping around is easy, you should try it for three hours while giving all your effort the entire time. At games, cheerleaders do a lot more than cheer, they move constantly, they shout and they have to stay happy. Cheerleaders can have up to 40 cheers to memorize and call at games. If they don’t remember them, they aren’t doing too well. Not only do they have to remember and call these cheers, but the moves have to be stiff, sharp and correct. For three hours they have to have full energy with a smile on their face. So maybe before you say cheerleading isn’t hard work, you should try these things for three hours first. “Cheerleading is a good sport and helps with school spirit”, says Ariel L, one of my classmates.
Cheerleaders don’t only cheer, they have competitions that require stunts and tumbling (gymnastics). In stunting, you have the bases, flyer, back spot, and front spot. Each of these jobs are hard and require a lot of practice. Bases hold the flyers in the air, there are two bases (main base and base). The main base is the base that will receive more weight when they do harder stunts. The other base simply helps in harder stunts. Back spots and front spots catch the flyer when she falls or cradles out of a stunt. Flyers, well they fly (they are held in the air). They have to lock out, stay stiff, no moving and can’t be scared to go up. So yes cheerleading is a sport especially in competitions. Most cheerleaders should have experience in gymnastics, because a competition requires gymnastics or they will not have a good routine. My friend Corbin P said, “Cheerleading is a sport due to all the lifting and muscle use.” She tried it once but, doesn’t want to go back.
Practice makes perfect, so cheerleaders have to practice with all their focus and determination for games and competitions. Football, soccer, basketball or any sport requires practice. You might think cheer practice isn’t as hard as other sports practices. Well in practice we stunt, we do pushups, sit ups, toe touches, hard stretches, gymnastics, and we practice cheers. We have certain exercises we do like leg lifts and stunt pushups. Stunt pushups is when bases hold the flyers in the air and they go up as far as they can with the flyer(extension), hold, then come back to their chest(press) then back up. If we drop the flyer, then that means we run a few laps, comeback and do it again. Naida, a former Moss Middle cheerleader said, “It was hard because of all the pushups and work outs we did.”
Mrs. T said, “Before reading this article I didn’t realize it took so much athletic ability and commitment to the sport.” My friend Amber l. said “Before reading this article, I thought cheerleading was an easy sport.” Cheerleading is a sport and a hard one too. We work just as hard as the players at games. Before you say anything about how easy you think our sport is, cheer, or stunt with us and you’ll see how challenging it really is.
Kenny Chesney
by Rejeana B.
Kenneth Arnold Chesney (Kenny Chesney) was born on March 26, 1968 in Knoxville, Tennessee at the St. Mary’s Hospital. Although Kenny Chesney was born in Knoxville, he was raised in Luttrell, Tennessee. He attended Gibbs High School.
Kenny Chesney was raised by his mother, father, and was raised with his younger sister. His mother, Karen, is a hair stylist. His dad, David, used to be an elementary school teacher. His younger sister is named Jennifer Chandler. During years of schooling, he became the receiver for the football team. Later in Kenny’s life, he graduated from East Tennessee State University, in Johnson Tennessee, with a degree in Advertising in 1986. The following Christmas, he received his first guitar. He had tried to learn to play when he was five but quit because it hurt his fingers.
Kenny then would go to the local places in Tennessee, around where he lived, (like Chucky’s Trading Post and Quarterback’s barbeque) and play tunes. He recorded his first album in 1989 at a classical recording studio in Bristol, Virginia. He would sell the albums in order to get money to buy new guitars. After working with music publishers, Chesney finally signed a contract in 1992 with BMI and Opryland music group. Kenny Chesney has had a career in country music since 1993. He has recorded thirteen albums. He also has produced thirty top ten singles. Kenny has received six CMA awards. He is also the fourth consecutive CMA entertainer of the year. Some of his more popular songs are Don’t Blink, Out Last Night, and I’m Alive (with Dave Matthews).
On May 9, 2005 Kenny Chesney married Renee Zellweger in a ceremony at the island of St. John. But on September 15, 2005 Chesney and Zellweger announced a divorce. Kenny Chesney has dated Miss Tennessee (twenty-four year old) Amy Colley. But they broke up on April 21, 2009.
Kenny Chesney was raised by his mother, father, and was raised with his younger sister. His mother, Karen, is a hair stylist. His dad, David, used to be an elementary school teacher. His younger sister is named Jennifer Chandler. During years of schooling, he became the receiver for the football team. Later in Kenny’s life, he graduated from East Tennessee State University, in Johnson Tennessee, with a degree in Advertising in 1986. The following Christmas, he received his first guitar. He had tried to learn to play when he was five but quit because it hurt his fingers.
Kenny then would go to the local places in Tennessee, around where he lived, (like Chucky’s Trading Post and Quarterback’s barbeque) and play tunes. He recorded his first album in 1989 at a classical recording studio in Bristol, Virginia. He would sell the albums in order to get money to buy new guitars. After working with music publishers, Chesney finally signed a contract in 1992 with BMI and Opryland music group. Kenny Chesney has had a career in country music since 1993. He has recorded thirteen albums. He also has produced thirty top ten singles. Kenny has received six CMA awards. He is also the fourth consecutive CMA entertainer of the year. Some of his more popular songs are Don’t Blink, Out Last Night, and I’m Alive (with Dave Matthews).
On May 9, 2005 Kenny Chesney married Renee Zellweger in a ceremony at the island of St. John. But on September 15, 2005 Chesney and Zellweger announced a divorce. Kenny Chesney has dated Miss Tennessee (twenty-four year old) Amy Colley. But they broke up on April 21, 2009.
How It All Got Started: The Trumpet
by Amber L.
Way back when, during the Romantic Period, the trumpet was used to signal, announce or proclaim something. It was used mostly in art and in literature. It is believed that the trumpet was used as a signaling device in Ancient Egypt, Greece and the Near East.
In the 14th- 15th centuries, the trumpet was referred to as the “natural trumpet” and it produced harmonic tones.
In the 16th century, the trumpet was used in military and courtly services. This is how the trumpet got started in the musical age. At first only the lower notes were used, then musicians began to use the higher pitches.
In the 17th- 18th centuries, the trumpet reached its highest point and the most famous of the musicians used the trumpet. Leopold, Mozart’s father, and Michael, Haydn’s brother, are just a few people that used the trumpet in their musical works. In the courts, the trumpet was used in the key of D or C. For military purposes, the trumpet was used in the key of Eb (E flat) or F. In 1814, valves were added to the trumpet so musicians could play the chromatic scale evenly.
In the 19th century, the trumpet finally became known as an orchestral instrument. In this time period, the trumpet was in the F key and had crooks to get to the lower notes. The trumpet has also under gone other changes such as the slide mechanism which has been attempted since the 1600’s. Later on, the crooks were replaced by valves. The size of the trumpet also has changed as has many other things. The different sizes included the Piccolo Trumpet and the Pocket Trumpet. The different sizes of the trumpet make the pitch either lower or higher. The smaller the instrument, the higher the pitch. The bigger the instrument, the lower the pitch. The trumpet was now louder and easier to play because of these improvements.
Some famous trumpet players were:Louis Armstrong,Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis,Adolf Herseth, Maurice Andre, Miles Davis,Arturo Sandoval , Maynard Fergusen.
In the 14th- 15th centuries, the trumpet was referred to as the “natural trumpet” and it produced harmonic tones.
In the 16th century, the trumpet was used in military and courtly services. This is how the trumpet got started in the musical age. At first only the lower notes were used, then musicians began to use the higher pitches.
In the 17th- 18th centuries, the trumpet reached its highest point and the most famous of the musicians used the trumpet. Leopold, Mozart’s father, and Michael, Haydn’s brother, are just a few people that used the trumpet in their musical works. In the courts, the trumpet was used in the key of D or C. For military purposes, the trumpet was used in the key of Eb (E flat) or F. In 1814, valves were added to the trumpet so musicians could play the chromatic scale evenly.
In the 19th century, the trumpet finally became known as an orchestral instrument. In this time period, the trumpet was in the F key and had crooks to get to the lower notes. The trumpet has also under gone other changes such as the slide mechanism which has been attempted since the 1600’s. Later on, the crooks were replaced by valves. The size of the trumpet also has changed as has many other things. The different sizes included the Piccolo Trumpet and the Pocket Trumpet. The different sizes of the trumpet make the pitch either lower or higher. The smaller the instrument, the higher the pitch. The bigger the instrument, the lower the pitch. The trumpet was now louder and easier to play because of these improvements.
Some famous trumpet players were:Louis Armstrong,Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis,Adolf Herseth, Maurice Andre, Miles Davis,Arturo Sandoval , Maynard Fergusen.
Rush of Metal!
by River B.
Metal is an important part of every day of music. Take one part Metal, (like Iron Maiden or Judas Priest) a cup of Prog, (like Rush or Dream Theater) some milk and you get a great day of awesome music. While both genres might try to take over each other, they bounce off of each other like the best.
Metal has been around for a long time, longer than many genres today. Metal got started with a band in the early Seventies known as Black Sabbath. Members John Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward changed music forever. Using dark and scary sounding music, they flooded the gates of Metal. Soon to follow were other Titans of Metal such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Metallica, Megadeth, Exodus and Anthrax. Even new bands know how to thunder like their forefathers. They include Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet 4 My Valentine, Children of Bodom, Mastodon, Testament, Tool, and Black Tide.
Progressive Rock however, got its start in the late Sixties. Two of the first big “Prog” acts were Yes and King Crimson. Prog distinguishes itself from other rock by not following common song structure and instead either make sections longer, or inserted interludes, heightening contrast between sections. Many Prog bands didn’t reach high popularity, but a good handful did including Yes, King Crimson, Queensryche, Kansas, Dream Theater, Tool, Jethro Tull, and of course Rush just to name a few.
I never pigeonhole myself, which is the same way Metal and Prog are. Metal is the winner in multiple genres such as Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Alternative Metal, Death Metal, Nu-Metal, Black Metal, Goth Metal, Doom Metal and my favorite, Thrash Metal. Even if it’s fighting a juggernaut, Prog can keep up with Metal, with genres such as Space Rock, Neo-Prog Rock, Symphonic Prog, KrautProg, Nu-Prog and Art Prog.
There was a point in time where both genres mixed peanut butter with chocolate, and its name was Progressive Metal. The greatest mix ever, combining the heavy guitar sound of Heavy Metal, with the weird time signatures of Prog, creating something entirely new. Prog Metal has some of the bigger names in Prog, such as Dream Theater, Queensryche, Tool, (If you’re asking yourself why I’m renaming previous bands, it’s because they’re all Prog Metal!) Fates Warning, Protest the Hero, Martyr, Gojira, Between the Buried and Me, Cacophony, Baroness and King’s X.
There is plenty more to talk about in the realms of Metal and Prog, but I would be talking all day about it! River B. here, signing off!
Metal has been around for a long time, longer than many genres today. Metal got started with a band in the early Seventies known as Black Sabbath. Members John Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward changed music forever. Using dark and scary sounding music, they flooded the gates of Metal. Soon to follow were other Titans of Metal such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Metallica, Megadeth, Exodus and Anthrax. Even new bands know how to thunder like their forefathers. They include Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet 4 My Valentine, Children of Bodom, Mastodon, Testament, Tool, and Black Tide.
Progressive Rock however, got its start in the late Sixties. Two of the first big “Prog” acts were Yes and King Crimson. Prog distinguishes itself from other rock by not following common song structure and instead either make sections longer, or inserted interludes, heightening contrast between sections. Many Prog bands didn’t reach high popularity, but a good handful did including Yes, King Crimson, Queensryche, Kansas, Dream Theater, Tool, Jethro Tull, and of course Rush just to name a few.
I never pigeonhole myself, which is the same way Metal and Prog are. Metal is the winner in multiple genres such as Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Alternative Metal, Death Metal, Nu-Metal, Black Metal, Goth Metal, Doom Metal and my favorite, Thrash Metal. Even if it’s fighting a juggernaut, Prog can keep up with Metal, with genres such as Space Rock, Neo-Prog Rock, Symphonic Prog, KrautProg, Nu-Prog and Art Prog.
There was a point in time where both genres mixed peanut butter with chocolate, and its name was Progressive Metal. The greatest mix ever, combining the heavy guitar sound of Heavy Metal, with the weird time signatures of Prog, creating something entirely new. Prog Metal has some of the bigger names in Prog, such as Dream Theater, Queensryche, Tool, (If you’re asking yourself why I’m renaming previous bands, it’s because they’re all Prog Metal!) Fates Warning, Protest the Hero, Martyr, Gojira, Between the Buried and Me, Cacophony, Baroness and King’s X.
There is plenty more to talk about in the realms of Metal and Prog, but I would be talking all day about it! River B. here, signing off!
Soccer, Soccer, Soccer
by Cristina M.
Do you like the game of soccer? Everybody loves soccer, right? Did you know that the earlier variations of soccer were played almost 3000 years ago? Did you also know that soccer was first developed in England in the 19th century?
Some of the most famous soccer players in the world today are Adriano Leite Ribeiro, Pablo Cesar Aimar, Roberto Baggio, Michael Ballack, Gabriel Batistuta, and more. Ronaldo Nazario de Lima was the FIFA World Cup Payer in 96, 97, and 02? Ronaldo has played in 97 international games. GO RONALDO!!!!!
The game of soccer has a few basic rules. A soccer game is 90 minutes long with two 45 minute halves. The team with the most goals scored wins the game. However, you can’t win a game without teamwork. Each team has 11 players on the field, 1 goalie, and 10 fielders. The positions are goal keeper, defenders, midfielders, and forwards or (offense).
One of the most important rules of soccer is the offside rule which prevents attacking players from gaining unfair advantage. For example, when a pass is made, there has to be two opposition players closer to the goal than the attacking player. If the attacking player is level with a defender, then he/she is still onside, so play continues. The referee has two assistances to help judge foul plays or offsides on both side of the field.
There are a few penalties in the game given for foul play. A player is given a yellow card if he/she has a series of fouls. If the penalty is made by the same player it can result into a “booking,” or red card and the player is asked to step off the field. A straight red card could be issued for serious foul play or denying a goal scoring opportunity.
Some of the most famous soccer players in the world today are Adriano Leite Ribeiro, Pablo Cesar Aimar, Roberto Baggio, Michael Ballack, Gabriel Batistuta, and more. Ronaldo Nazario de Lima was the FIFA World Cup Payer in 96, 97, and 02? Ronaldo has played in 97 international games. GO RONALDO!!!!!
The game of soccer has a few basic rules. A soccer game is 90 minutes long with two 45 minute halves. The team with the most goals scored wins the game. However, you can’t win a game without teamwork. Each team has 11 players on the field, 1 goalie, and 10 fielders. The positions are goal keeper, defenders, midfielders, and forwards or (offense).
One of the most important rules of soccer is the offside rule which prevents attacking players from gaining unfair advantage. For example, when a pass is made, there has to be two opposition players closer to the goal than the attacking player. If the attacking player is level with a defender, then he/she is still onside, so play continues. The referee has two assistances to help judge foul plays or offsides on both side of the field.
There are a few penalties in the game given for foul play. A player is given a yellow card if he/she has a series of fouls. If the penalty is made by the same player it can result into a “booking,” or red card and the player is asked to step off the field. A straight red card could be issued for serious foul play or denying a goal scoring opportunity.
Manga
by Destiny K.
Have you ever read a book backwards? If you read a manga, [maw-n-gaw] you have!.. A manga is a “Japanese comic that is read backwards”. Chinese,Korean, Japanese scripts/books are read from right to left. To make their publishing of mangas more authentic it, publishers print mangas in the "original" or Japanese version . Read on to find out some interesting facts about manga.
Unlike regular books, Manga is read from left to right ; while you start a manga at the back and read forward.. Japanese mangas have been around for almost eight hundred years. Mangas started in temples. Even though America has manga cartoons, many of them either came from Japan or were inspired by Japanese manga. The Power Puff Girls cartoon is really from Japan and was originally called Power Puff X.
My friend Moriah says, “I really like reading manga’s and the guys are so fine.” I agree. I read romance manga, so do my friends but we also read fantasy, school life, and action. We read pretty much anything that’s interesting. I’ve been reading manga since I was nine and now I’m twelve. I read my first manga on the internet but some of my friends read their first mangas in a library.
Manga is famous world wide. If you’re interested in reading manga on the internet, go to the following websites to read manga: One Manga, Manga Fox, Tokyo Pop, or Manga Hunt. Some manga are created into an anime. An anime is a “Japanese cartoon” which is inspired by a popular manga. Mangas are faster than animes because you can fit a lot of pictures and words into a chapter but you can only fit so much audio into the anime. If you’ve ever stayed up on a Saturday night and tuned into Cartoon Network from 11:00 – 4:30 then you’ve watched anime. Anime cartoons include Bleach, Code Gueass, Moribito Guardian of the Spirit, and Inuyasha.
Unlike regular books, Manga is read from left to right ; while you start a manga at the back and read forward.. Japanese mangas have been around for almost eight hundred years. Mangas started in temples. Even though America has manga cartoons, many of them either came from Japan or were inspired by Japanese manga. The Power Puff Girls cartoon is really from Japan and was originally called Power Puff X.
My friend Moriah says, “I really like reading manga’s and the guys are so fine.” I agree. I read romance manga, so do my friends but we also read fantasy, school life, and action. We read pretty much anything that’s interesting. I’ve been reading manga since I was nine and now I’m twelve. I read my first manga on the internet but some of my friends read their first mangas in a library.
Manga is famous world wide. If you’re interested in reading manga on the internet, go to the following websites to read manga: One Manga, Manga Fox, Tokyo Pop, or Manga Hunt. Some manga are created into an anime. An anime is a “Japanese cartoon” which is inspired by a popular manga. Mangas are faster than animes because you can fit a lot of pictures and words into a chapter but you can only fit so much audio into the anime. If you’ve ever stayed up on a Saturday night and tuned into Cartoon Network from 11:00 – 4:30 then you’ve watched anime. Anime cartoons include Bleach, Code Gueass, Moribito Guardian of the Spirit, and Inuyasha.
Football
by Dashiell H.
Football is a sport that is played on a grassy field, marked off into 100 yards. Most fans would say that football is a great game to watch. Players, too experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in games. To enjoy football, you must first learn a few rules.
Each team must have 11 players on the field. The teams make up the offensive side and defensive side of the ball. When a team controls the ball, it is called offense. The defense doesn’t control the ball but they have to try to stop the offense from scoring. The offense’s goal is to move the ball down to their end zone to score. A touchdown is worth six points and the point after kick is worth one point.
To begin the game, the referees call three people from each team to the center of the field. They decide if they want heads or tails. A coin is flipped and the team that called the correct side of the coin gets to choose whether they want to kick or receive the ball.
Some of the most important positions on the football field are: on offense, Wide receivers, Quarterback, Tailback, Fullback, Center, and Tight Ends. A Wide Receiver’s job is to catch the ball and try to score a touchdown. A Quarterback serves a big roll in football, he must make a huddle, (a big circle with eleven people on offense,) call the play and has to get the ball to the Tail Back or the Wide Receiver. A Quarterback either hands the ball off to the Fullback or Tailback or tries to throw it. A Center’s job is to snap the ball to the Quarterback and block the defense from tackling the ball carrier. A Tight End’s job is very similar to a Wide Receiver’s but they play on the line in a three point stance. They can block or catch the ball like a Receiver. The Fullback either runs the ball or blocks for the running back.
In order for the offense to move the ball up the field, they have four tries to get ten yards for a first down. A first down is the very beginning of a play and you must get one to move the ball towards the end zone. After the third down, the offense normally punts the ball to the other team and they become the offense and try to score. When a player catches a punt, the ball carrier tries to score facing the opposite way of the other team. After he is tackled, the offense comes onto the field, tries to score, and get first downs. Football is a contact sport and you must be physically fit and mentally fit to play well.
In football, sometimes teams mess up and they commit fouls so the referees throw a yellow flag. They do this to penalize the team that the flag was called on. An offensive penalty makes the offense lose yards and gives the defense a chance to stop them from getting a first down and\or scoring. A defensive penalty lets the offense gain yards for their mistakes and the offense can get an automatic first down or really close to it. This gives the offense less yards to have to score. There are normally five referees that monitor or make calls.
In 2007, I was in a close football game. It was the Falcons versus the Cowboys and the score was 23-19. I was on the Falcons playing Tailback with twenty seconds left in the game. We were on our own twenty yard line and needed eighty yards in twenty seconds to win the game. We called a play for me to the eight hole. The quarterback, Jay E., handed me the ball going to the right side. I ran as hard and fast as I could but only gained twenty yards. Luckily, I ran out of bounds to stop the clock or we would’ve lost the game, with twelve seconds left on the clock.
We only had one time out and we were on the thirty five yard line. Another play to me is what the quarter back said but this time it was an option run. “HIKE,”! yelled the quarterback. This time it was to the left side, but it was a quarterback keeper and the field was wide open for a run. Off we ran together with me blocking and nine seconds on the clock. A safety came across the field to tackle the Quarterback on the ten yard line near our end zone but before he got tackled, Jay pitched me the ball to score the winning touchdown.
The final score was 25-23 - Falcons win. We tried for an extra point but missed it by a hair. One second left on the clock was enough for the team to make a big come back. But instead, we kicked the ball out of bounds and the game was over. When we got on the sidelines, the coaches dumped ice cold water on me for making the winning touchdown. Game over and the other team was crying because they weren’t in the league any more because we were playing to go the championship game.
Each team must have 11 players on the field. The teams make up the offensive side and defensive side of the ball. When a team controls the ball, it is called offense. The defense doesn’t control the ball but they have to try to stop the offense from scoring. The offense’s goal is to move the ball down to their end zone to score. A touchdown is worth six points and the point after kick is worth one point.
To begin the game, the referees call three people from each team to the center of the field. They decide if they want heads or tails. A coin is flipped and the team that called the correct side of the coin gets to choose whether they want to kick or receive the ball.
Some of the most important positions on the football field are: on offense, Wide receivers, Quarterback, Tailback, Fullback, Center, and Tight Ends. A Wide Receiver’s job is to catch the ball and try to score a touchdown. A Quarterback serves a big roll in football, he must make a huddle, (a big circle with eleven people on offense,) call the play and has to get the ball to the Tail Back or the Wide Receiver. A Quarterback either hands the ball off to the Fullback or Tailback or tries to throw it. A Center’s job is to snap the ball to the Quarterback and block the defense from tackling the ball carrier. A Tight End’s job is very similar to a Wide Receiver’s but they play on the line in a three point stance. They can block or catch the ball like a Receiver. The Fullback either runs the ball or blocks for the running back.
In order for the offense to move the ball up the field, they have four tries to get ten yards for a first down. A first down is the very beginning of a play and you must get one to move the ball towards the end zone. After the third down, the offense normally punts the ball to the other team and they become the offense and try to score. When a player catches a punt, the ball carrier tries to score facing the opposite way of the other team. After he is tackled, the offense comes onto the field, tries to score, and get first downs. Football is a contact sport and you must be physically fit and mentally fit to play well.
In football, sometimes teams mess up and they commit fouls so the referees throw a yellow flag. They do this to penalize the team that the flag was called on. An offensive penalty makes the offense lose yards and gives the defense a chance to stop them from getting a first down and\or scoring. A defensive penalty lets the offense gain yards for their mistakes and the offense can get an automatic first down or really close to it. This gives the offense less yards to have to score. There are normally five referees that monitor or make calls.
In 2007, I was in a close football game. It was the Falcons versus the Cowboys and the score was 23-19. I was on the Falcons playing Tailback with twenty seconds left in the game. We were on our own twenty yard line and needed eighty yards in twenty seconds to win the game. We called a play for me to the eight hole. The quarterback, Jay E., handed me the ball going to the right side. I ran as hard and fast as I could but only gained twenty yards. Luckily, I ran out of bounds to stop the clock or we would’ve lost the game, with twelve seconds left on the clock.
We only had one time out and we were on the thirty five yard line. Another play to me is what the quarter back said but this time it was an option run. “HIKE,”! yelled the quarterback. This time it was to the left side, but it was a quarterback keeper and the field was wide open for a run. Off we ran together with me blocking and nine seconds on the clock. A safety came across the field to tackle the Quarterback on the ten yard line near our end zone but before he got tackled, Jay pitched me the ball to score the winning touchdown.
The final score was 25-23 - Falcons win. We tried for an extra point but missed it by a hair. One second left on the clock was enough for the team to make a big come back. But instead, we kicked the ball out of bounds and the game was over. When we got on the sidelines, the coaches dumped ice cold water on me for making the winning touchdown. Game over and the other team was crying because they weren’t in the league any more because we were playing to go the championship game.
The Saga of Yu-gi-oh
by Chaz B.
Yu-gi-oh
Yu-gi-oh is a TV show (and card game) where people summon monsters and have them battle. They also have spell and trap cards to make things easier for them and harder for their opponent. Yu-gi-oh is an anime cartoon based on the manga books. In the original show, Yugi Moto was the main character. The main goal in the original show was to get the pharaoh’s lost memory back. During the course of the show, there are many duels in which Yugi and his friends participate and usually win.
The first season was called “Duelist Kingdom” in which the main characters are introduced. Duelist Kingdom is a tournament which Yugi enters to get his grandpa’s soul back. The characters introduced at the start are: Yugi Muto, Joey Wheeler, Seto Kaiba, Tristan Taylor, and Tea Gardner. Later, more characters are introduced such as: Maximillian Pegusus, Rex Rapter, Weevil Underwood, Mokuba, and Solomon Muto.
In the next season the characters are trapped in a virtual reality world and must battle their way out. They finally win and get out. A person by the name of Duke Devlin challenges Yugi to a game of his creation called Dungeon Dice Monsters.
The third season “Battle City” starts when Kaiba hears of the Egyptian God Cards and starts a tournament to gain them. Marik Ishtar, Ishizu Ishtar, and people called the Rare Hunters enter the tournament as well. Near the end of the tournament everybody is transported to Noah’s Virtual World.
This storyline starts in the middle of Battle City when everyone is transported into a virtual world. There they meet Kaiba’s younger brother Noah and his father Gozaburo and must find a way out before the world explodes. Noah betrays his father and helps everyone out of the world as it explodes.
We come back to finish Battle City in Duel Tower and Yugi wins.
Marik is freed from his dark self and Yugi now possesses all three God cards. The season ends with flashbacks to Battle City and Noah’s Virtual World.
The next part happens when a group called Doma (not named in the English version) steals all of the Egyptian God Cards. They are going to use the cards to summon an ancient beast, Levaithan. Yugi, Joey, and Kaiba bond with three ancient dragons; Timaeus, Critias, and Hermos. They then take on Dartz evil henchmen and win. Yugi gets the God cards back and we move on to the next season.
Yugi and friends now enter a tournament hosted by Kaiba to get money to go home. A tournament entrant though, seeks to destroy Kaiba corp.
With God cards in hand, Yami Yugi tries to unlock his memories and gets transported to a world from 3000 years ago. He must battle his way out and must defeat an ancient god named Zorc Necrophades. He finally learns his lost name (Atem) and makes it out. In the end we learn that it was a giant role-playing game against Bakura.
Yugi must beat Atem in a duel so that he can be at rest. Atem will not go easily, and his friends don’t know who to root for. Yugi finally defeats Atem and the millennium items are destroyed.
The first season was called “Duelist Kingdom” in which the main characters are introduced. Duelist Kingdom is a tournament which Yugi enters to get his grandpa’s soul back. The characters introduced at the start are: Yugi Muto, Joey Wheeler, Seto Kaiba, Tristan Taylor, and Tea Gardner. Later, more characters are introduced such as: Maximillian Pegusus, Rex Rapter, Weevil Underwood, Mokuba, and Solomon Muto.
In the next season the characters are trapped in a virtual reality world and must battle their way out. They finally win and get out. A person by the name of Duke Devlin challenges Yugi to a game of his creation called Dungeon Dice Monsters.
The third season “Battle City” starts when Kaiba hears of the Egyptian God Cards and starts a tournament to gain them. Marik Ishtar, Ishizu Ishtar, and people called the Rare Hunters enter the tournament as well. Near the end of the tournament everybody is transported to Noah’s Virtual World.
This storyline starts in the middle of Battle City when everyone is transported into a virtual world. There they meet Kaiba’s younger brother Noah and his father Gozaburo and must find a way out before the world explodes. Noah betrays his father and helps everyone out of the world as it explodes.
We come back to finish Battle City in Duel Tower and Yugi wins.
Marik is freed from his dark self and Yugi now possesses all three God cards. The season ends with flashbacks to Battle City and Noah’s Virtual World.
The next part happens when a group called Doma (not named in the English version) steals all of the Egyptian God Cards. They are going to use the cards to summon an ancient beast, Levaithan. Yugi, Joey, and Kaiba bond with three ancient dragons; Timaeus, Critias, and Hermos. They then take on Dartz evil henchmen and win. Yugi gets the God cards back and we move on to the next season.
Yugi and friends now enter a tournament hosted by Kaiba to get money to go home. A tournament entrant though, seeks to destroy Kaiba corp.
With God cards in hand, Yami Yugi tries to unlock his memories and gets transported to a world from 3000 years ago. He must battle his way out and must defeat an ancient god named Zorc Necrophades. He finally learns his lost name (Atem) and makes it out. In the end we learn that it was a giant role-playing game against Bakura.
Yugi must beat Atem in a duel so that he can be at rest. Atem will not go easily, and his friends don’t know who to root for. Yugi finally defeats Atem and the millennium items are destroyed.
The Ultimate Volcano
by Jarius B.
About four miles under the gorgeous scenery of Yellow Stone Park in northwestern Wyoming, there is a 40 mile wide chamber of melted rock. That melted rock is forming into a super volcano, and when it blows it could kill us all. When it blows, all the ash and rock will cover most of the U.S.A. and parts of Africa and Asia.
This heat and pressure is what strengthens Yellow Stone’s geysers and hot springs. Yellowstone is one of the most fantastic places in the U.S.A., but it could be gone in a matter of years. Its beautiful scenery brings tourists from around the globe.
There is no precise definition for a super volcano. It is a phrase used for a volcano that has had a large erupted before. When one of these super volcanoes erupts, tons of material is shot up in the air and around the caldera. A caldera is a closed in feature at the peak of a volcano. At Yellowstone the caldera is so large it takes up most the park.
This super volcano at Yellow Stone has erupted once before around 650,000 years ago. Three thousand square miles around Yellowstone was hit by the pyroclastic blast. This all happened over 50,000 years ago and it should be all over now, right? WRONG! After all those years, Yellowstone is still active today!
If Yellow Stone was to “blow its top,” all of us would have to evacuate the U.S.A. by plane, boat, or anything to get away. We would have to evacuate fairly fast, because the rock and ash moves at an average of 200,300 miles/second. Those of us that don’t evacuate will be caught in the pyroclastic blast, and will be suffocated by the lack of oxygen and ash.
This heat and pressure is what strengthens Yellow Stone’s geysers and hot springs. Yellowstone is one of the most fantastic places in the U.S.A., but it could be gone in a matter of years. Its beautiful scenery brings tourists from around the globe.
There is no precise definition for a super volcano. It is a phrase used for a volcano that has had a large erupted before. When one of these super volcanoes erupts, tons of material is shot up in the air and around the caldera. A caldera is a closed in feature at the peak of a volcano. At Yellowstone the caldera is so large it takes up most the park.
This super volcano at Yellow Stone has erupted once before around 650,000 years ago. Three thousand square miles around Yellowstone was hit by the pyroclastic blast. This all happened over 50,000 years ago and it should be all over now, right? WRONG! After all those years, Yellowstone is still active today!
If Yellow Stone was to “blow its top,” all of us would have to evacuate the U.S.A. by plane, boat, or anything to get away. We would have to evacuate fairly fast, because the rock and ash moves at an average of 200,300 miles/second. Those of us that don’t evacuate will be caught in the pyroclastic blast, and will be suffocated by the lack of oxygen and ash.