(R, PSN)
*It's funny, because a few weeks after I wrote this, the show went off the air. Oh well.
I haven’t watched Cartoon Network (CN) since I was about ten years old. It was always full of mindless cartoons and ultimately, I was ready to move on. So when I heard about the new TV show, Unnatural History, I wasn’t too sure, but I thought I would give it a try.
Not only did I like the live-action show (no, it’s not a cartoon), I fell in love.
Unnatural History is the story of Henry Griffin, played by actor Kevin G. Shmidt, a teenager who has traveled the world with his anthropologist parents, learning and studying the ways of different cultures.
But now Henry has been sent to live with his uncle and cousin in Washington D.C to attend a high school in the National Museum Complex (NMC) in the hopes that he would stay out of the trouble he always seems to be getting into.
Henry’s cousin Jasper Bartlett (played by Jordan Gavaris), is the tech-savvy part of the group who often serves as bait in many of the adventures that Henry and his friends encounter.
Finally, his fellow student Maggie Winnock (played by Italia Ricci), smart and obsessive, completes the group. Her photographic memory helps the group solve mysteries and ultimately, add unknown facts to history, often proving theories and myths to be truthful.
Unnatural History is the perfect mix of National Treasure, Night at the Museum, and even a little of The Da Vinci Code. This show has a great mix of adventure and mystery while incorporating accurate historical facts.
And if you really wanted to, the basic story line of a group of friends solving mysteries can be compared to our childhood favorite Scooby-Doo.
The makers of Unnatural History have managed to educate viewers without the boring regurgitation of dry facts that teenagers would not care about otherwise, such as George Washington’s overdue library book and the use of the enigma machine in World War II.
The personalities of the characters blend perfectly together and the setting of D.C. and the NMC provide the perfect backdrop to the danger and mystery that surrounds the historical objects and artifacts. A sense of danger and the unknown is present in every episode, and I find myself wanting to know the truth as much as Henry, Jasper, and Maggie.
Viewers and critics have fallen in love with the plotline, the quirky personalities of the characters, and the adventurous, awe-inspiring history that inevitably works its way into more than just last Tuesday’s episode.
The show may be subject to CN’s background of mindless cartoons – many of you may have given up on the channel, pushing Unnatural History into the shadows. But those of you who are like I used to be, cynical of Cartoon Network’s content, you should give this show a chance. I guarantee you will walk away satisfied, and you may even find that you now a little bit about the next subject in your US History class.
Unnatural History usually airs Tuesday nights at 9:00 pm on Cartoon Network. But if you miss Tuesday’s episode because you’re caught up in homework, CN replays the latest episode Sunday nights at 9:00 pm.
Monday, June 6, 2011
An apple a day: The healthy side of fast food
(O/SI, PSN)
When I was in elementary school, I ate school lunch every day. Mondays were pizza days, and the rest of the week cycled through chalupas, breadsticks, egg rolls, mac & cheese, and even “Thanksgiving dinner.” School lunch was definitely not my favorite, but nevertheless I ate it every day for five years.
Back in elementary school, we didn’t have the luxury of being able to leave campus and go to the surrounding restaurants for lunch. We were lucky if we got to eat lunch in the classroom instead of the cafeteria. Now in high school, many may leave campus and go to places such as Chipotle, Subway, and even Noodles and Company.
But with the luxury of fast food, it’s easy to get carried away with the options – if you eat Burger King every day for one week you could gain at least five pounds. We don’t want to live in our own version of “Super Size Me.” It’s okay to treat yourself to something that’s not quite that healthy, but you should go for healthier options throughout the week if you are planning to eat out more than once.
Here are some of the healthier options at favorite fast food restaurants, according to the authors of the “Eat this, not That” (ETNT) books.
Chipotle:
Fight it: Generally, the barbacoa and crispy steak meat are the unhealthiest, especially when paired with a tortilla that is 290 calories alone. If you cannot resist these savory meats, it is best to get them as a bowl with all of your favorite fixings, such as rice and salsa.
Bite it: The chicken is the healthiest of the Chipotle meat. The chicken burrito bowl received an A+ from the ETNT authors. All of the fixings such as cheese, lettuce, salsa, etc, with the exception of the tortillas, are all generally healthy as well, and make burrito bowls even tastier.
Burger King:
Fight it: Burger King’s signature Whoppers and their Steakhouse XT collection are all soaked in unhealthy oils and grease, and the mounds of mayo that they put on each sandwich do not help matters. The Double Whopper sandwich with cheese and mayo packs 1010 calories alone; with large French fries at 580 calories, and a large Coke at 390 calories, it is definitely a heart attack waiting to happen, no matter how old you are.
Bite it: The regular hamburger and the Whopper Jr. without mayo are your best bets when it comes to hamburgers at Burger King. If you’re looking for chicken, Burger King’s chicken tenders and chicken fries are good choices, and if you’re really feeling healthy, the fresh apple fries and low-cal caramel sauce are a good choice for a side. Any of these paired with water or a zero-calorie drink will make for a healthy and satisfying lunch out.
Noodles & Company:
Fight it: Noodles and Company is generally a healthy choice for lunch. Most of the pasta dishes have a calorie count less than 1000 calories. However, calorie-packed dishes such as the Wisconsin Mac & Cheese with 900 calories, and spicy tomato dishes such as the Penne Rosa with 810 calories still add up in the end.
Bite it: The best choices that the Noodles & Company website (www.noodles.com) offers are the Bangkok Curry noodles and the Pad Thai. As far as trios go, pairing any of these healthy choices with a tossed green salad are both tasty and satisfying.
Anthony’s Pizza:
Fight it: The popular NY pizza place mimic offers huge slices of pizza larger than your plate and dripping with grease – yet we can’t stop eating it. According to www.anthonyspizzaandpasta.com, their doughy crust, with 220 calories alone, is just the first on a list of calorie-induced dishes, including one serving of Chicken Parmesan (1100 cal.) and, as far as appetizers, the Meatball Sliders (1400 cal.).
Bite it: One slice of cheese pizza at Anthony’s is a whopping 425 calories. So if you are craving the NY-style pizza order one with lots of veggies, these will not add any unwanted calories or grease. The salads are also among the healthiest, but go light on the dressing – a salad isn’t healthy if you add globs of creamy dressing.
For evaluations of more restaurants and fast food joints, or nutritional information, visit eatthis.menshealth.com or any of the restaurants’ websites for details.
When I was in elementary school, I ate school lunch every day. Mondays were pizza days, and the rest of the week cycled through chalupas, breadsticks, egg rolls, mac & cheese, and even “Thanksgiving dinner.” School lunch was definitely not my favorite, but nevertheless I ate it every day for five years.
Back in elementary school, we didn’t have the luxury of being able to leave campus and go to the surrounding restaurants for lunch. We were lucky if we got to eat lunch in the classroom instead of the cafeteria. Now in high school, many may leave campus and go to places such as Chipotle, Subway, and even Noodles and Company.
But with the luxury of fast food, it’s easy to get carried away with the options – if you eat Burger King every day for one week you could gain at least five pounds. We don’t want to live in our own version of “Super Size Me.” It’s okay to treat yourself to something that’s not quite that healthy, but you should go for healthier options throughout the week if you are planning to eat out more than once.
Here are some of the healthier options at favorite fast food restaurants, according to the authors of the “Eat this, not That” (ETNT) books.
Chipotle:
Fight it: Generally, the barbacoa and crispy steak meat are the unhealthiest, especially when paired with a tortilla that is 290 calories alone. If you cannot resist these savory meats, it is best to get them as a bowl with all of your favorite fixings, such as rice and salsa.
Bite it: The chicken is the healthiest of the Chipotle meat. The chicken burrito bowl received an A+ from the ETNT authors. All of the fixings such as cheese, lettuce, salsa, etc, with the exception of the tortillas, are all generally healthy as well, and make burrito bowls even tastier.
Burger King:
Fight it: Burger King’s signature Whoppers and their Steakhouse XT collection are all soaked in unhealthy oils and grease, and the mounds of mayo that they put on each sandwich do not help matters. The Double Whopper sandwich with cheese and mayo packs 1010 calories alone; with large French fries at 580 calories, and a large Coke at 390 calories, it is definitely a heart attack waiting to happen, no matter how old you are.
Bite it: The regular hamburger and the Whopper Jr. without mayo are your best bets when it comes to hamburgers at Burger King. If you’re looking for chicken, Burger King’s chicken tenders and chicken fries are good choices, and if you’re really feeling healthy, the fresh apple fries and low-cal caramel sauce are a good choice for a side. Any of these paired with water or a zero-calorie drink will make for a healthy and satisfying lunch out.
Noodles & Company:
Fight it: Noodles and Company is generally a healthy choice for lunch. Most of the pasta dishes have a calorie count less than 1000 calories. However, calorie-packed dishes such as the Wisconsin Mac & Cheese with 900 calories, and spicy tomato dishes such as the Penne Rosa with 810 calories still add up in the end.
Bite it: The best choices that the Noodles & Company website (www.noodles.com) offers are the Bangkok Curry noodles and the Pad Thai. As far as trios go, pairing any of these healthy choices with a tossed green salad are both tasty and satisfying.
Anthony’s Pizza:
Fight it: The popular NY pizza place mimic offers huge slices of pizza larger than your plate and dripping with grease – yet we can’t stop eating it. According to www.anthonyspizzaandpasta.com, their doughy crust, with 220 calories alone, is just the first on a list of calorie-induced dishes, including one serving of Chicken Parmesan (1100 cal.) and, as far as appetizers, the Meatball Sliders (1400 cal.).
Bite it: One slice of cheese pizza at Anthony’s is a whopping 425 calories. So if you are craving the NY-style pizza order one with lots of veggies, these will not add any unwanted calories or grease. The salads are also among the healthiest, but go light on the dressing – a salad isn’t healthy if you add globs of creamy dressing.
For evaluations of more restaurants and fast food joints, or nutritional information, visit eatthis.menshealth.com or any of the restaurants’ websites for details.
EHS helps victims of domestic violence
(N, PSN)
Being slapped in the face so hard it leaves a hand print, being punched so hard you have a black eye for a week, or being shoved to the ground so hard your head bleeds; this relationship abuse is happening in every age group, every race, every gender, every religion, everywhere, and the cycle is never ending. How could someone who loves you so much physically, emotionally or even sexually hurt you?
This is the reality for millions of adults and teenagers across the nation – they are trapped in a living, breathing nightmare, and there is almost no way out.
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Eaglecrest provides policies to help victims of domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior used by the abuser to gain or maintain control over the victim,” states the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence website (www.ccadv.org). CCADV is committed to strengthening the help available to victims and promoting change within the community.
Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Kerri Zylstra, in an interview via email, said there are many different forms of abuse: “Emotional abuse is name calling, bullying or embarrassing you on purpose and keeping you away from family and friends. Physical abuse is when a partner is pinched, hit, shoved or kicked. Sexual abuse is forcing a partner to engage in [a sexual] act when the other partner does not or cannot consent.”
“One in four adolescents is abused in some way or form each year,” Zylstra said. “A teen that sees these warning signs [needs] to get out of the relationship as soon as possible. The behaviors may not seem like a big deal, but as time goes on they only intensify and get worse.”
On average three women are killed by a current or former partner, and one in six women are victims of sexual assault. But domestic violence isn’t just a woman’s trouble; men are victims of relationship abuse as well. This means that on average, at least one of your close friends, man or woman has been or will go through some sort of abuse.
“[If one of my friends was involved in an abusive relationship], I would tell an adult here at school or a counselor so they could get help,” said junior Samantha Cripe. Many students agree that if they knew of someone who was a victim of abuse, they would tell an adult at school. And they are right; school officials know the best way to help teenagers with relationship problems and safety concerns.
If you think you may be a victim of domestic violence, then you need to know that there is help available for you. School counselors are always available to talk if you feel that you are in danger and will help you deal with getting out of that relationship; you can also see the School Resource Officer (SRO), Amanda Cruz, or any other police in the community.
However, each case is situation specific. When a student is being abused, there are certain steps that the school must take in order to ensure safety within the school.
“First, we talk to the parents of the victim and the parents of the perptrater. Then we tell the SRO about the situation. We then have to educate both parties about what is right and what is wrong,” said School Psychologist Eric Zimmerman.
“The ultimate goal is to keep people safe, and we need to do whatever it takes to make sure that students are safe,” Zimmerman said.
If you would like to raise awareness in your community, visit the Love is Respect website at www.loveisrespect.org for event ideas that you can organize and run through school, such as starting a Dating Abuse Awareness club or using the internet to spread the word and inspire change.
Being slapped in the face so hard it leaves a hand print, being punched so hard you have a black eye for a week, or being shoved to the ground so hard your head bleeds; this relationship abuse is happening in every age group, every race, every gender, every religion, everywhere, and the cycle is never ending. How could someone who loves you so much physically, emotionally or even sexually hurt you?
This is the reality for millions of adults and teenagers across the nation – they are trapped in a living, breathing nightmare, and there is almost no way out.
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Eaglecrest provides policies to help victims of domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior used by the abuser to gain or maintain control over the victim,” states the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence website (www.ccadv.org). CCADV is committed to strengthening the help available to victims and promoting change within the community.
Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Kerri Zylstra, in an interview via email, said there are many different forms of abuse: “Emotional abuse is name calling, bullying or embarrassing you on purpose and keeping you away from family and friends. Physical abuse is when a partner is pinched, hit, shoved or kicked. Sexual abuse is forcing a partner to engage in [a sexual] act when the other partner does not or cannot consent.”
“One in four adolescents is abused in some way or form each year,” Zylstra said. “A teen that sees these warning signs [needs] to get out of the relationship as soon as possible. The behaviors may not seem like a big deal, but as time goes on they only intensify and get worse.”
On average three women are killed by a current or former partner, and one in six women are victims of sexual assault. But domestic violence isn’t just a woman’s trouble; men are victims of relationship abuse as well. This means that on average, at least one of your close friends, man or woman has been or will go through some sort of abuse.
“[If one of my friends was involved in an abusive relationship], I would tell an adult here at school or a counselor so they could get help,” said junior Samantha Cripe. Many students agree that if they knew of someone who was a victim of abuse, they would tell an adult at school. And they are right; school officials know the best way to help teenagers with relationship problems and safety concerns.
If you think you may be a victim of domestic violence, then you need to know that there is help available for you. School counselors are always available to talk if you feel that you are in danger and will help you deal with getting out of that relationship; you can also see the School Resource Officer (SRO), Amanda Cruz, or any other police in the community.
However, each case is situation specific. When a student is being abused, there are certain steps that the school must take in order to ensure safety within the school.
“First, we talk to the parents of the victim and the parents of the perptrater. Then we tell the SRO about the situation. We then have to educate both parties about what is right and what is wrong,” said School Psychologist Eric Zimmerman.
“The ultimate goal is to keep people safe, and we need to do whatever it takes to make sure that students are safe,” Zimmerman said.
If you would like to raise awareness in your community, visit the Love is Respect website at www.loveisrespect.org for event ideas that you can organize and run through school, such as starting a Dating Abuse Awareness club or using the internet to spread the word and inspire change.
FAD ALERT: Silly Bandz
(SI, PSN)
A fish, a palm tree, a baseball, a microphone and even Spiderman decorate the wrists of various students all across the nation. They are all the colors of the rainbow and the website features the phrase: “Collect ‘em, Trade ‘em, Wear ‘em.” They are silly Bandz, the newest and most popular fashion accessory today.
Silly Bandz can entertain during long waits or seemingly never-ending lectures. They can describe your personality: sophomore Leila Malsam owns a soccer ball shaped Silly Band to show her passion for the sport. Or they can just serve as a bracelet, a colorful addition to any outfit.
Senior Karie Powell Breaks down the obsession over the simple bands to try and explain it to me: “First you think they’re dumb, and then someone gives you one and since you didn’t have to pay for it you’ll wear it. Then you start to like it because it looks trendy and you can take it off and play with the shapes whenever you want [or] when you’re bored. They aren’t necessary but they are fun,” she said.
Okay, so they are momentary cures for boredom, but are Silly Bandz just another fad, like Pokémon or Spandex?
“They could be just another fad,” said junior Kaela Martins. “That’s the way it is with teenagers, something’s in one minute and it’s out the next.”
A fish, a palm tree, a baseball, a microphone and even Spiderman decorate the wrists of various students all across the nation. They are all the colors of the rainbow and the website features the phrase: “Collect ‘em, Trade ‘em, Wear ‘em.” They are silly Bandz, the newest and most popular fashion accessory today.
Silly Bandz can entertain during long waits or seemingly never-ending lectures. They can describe your personality: sophomore Leila Malsam owns a soccer ball shaped Silly Band to show her passion for the sport. Or they can just serve as a bracelet, a colorful addition to any outfit.
Senior Karie Powell Breaks down the obsession over the simple bands to try and explain it to me: “First you think they’re dumb, and then someone gives you one and since you didn’t have to pay for it you’ll wear it. Then you start to like it because it looks trendy and you can take it off and play with the shapes whenever you want [or] when you’re bored. They aren’t necessary but they are fun,” she said.
Okay, so they are momentary cures for boredom, but are Silly Bandz just another fad, like Pokémon or Spandex?
“They could be just another fad,” said junior Kaela Martins. “That’s the way it is with teenagers, something’s in one minute and it’s out the next.”
An apple a day: Insight into insomnia
(O/SI, PSN)
*This year I started writing a health column. :)*
Many nights I lie awake in my bed, staring up at my popcorn ceiling, just waiting to fall asleep. Sometimes I am thinking about everything that I have to do tomorrow or of absolutely nothing at all. I lie awake into the silent hours of the night sometimes until 2:00 in the morning. That means that, having to wake up at 5:00 am, I have only gotten three hours of sleep and I still need to endure eight hours of school.
Let’s just say, insomnia is not very fun. Coming out of lazy summer days full of sleep until noon and nap-time at 1:00, students are still trying to get into the habit of waking up at the crack of dawn and going through an eight-hour school day without falling asleep during a lecture.
But whether it is from stress or just not being able to fall asleep, the hours that go into lying awake are crucial to a student. According to www.insomnia911.com, between 10 and 20% of Americans suffer from insomnia, and about 56% of Americans have had symptoms of insomnia at least a few nights per week or more. Research has shown that teenagers may make up a large part of that percentage, with all of our homework, activities, and especially essays for colleges and scholarships – who has time to sleep? According to WebMD (www.webmd.com), teenagers need to get at least 8 ½ hours of sleep; here are some common tips from WebMD that could help those of us get to sleep faster so we can stop staring at the popcorn ceiling.
Clear your mind before bed: Stress about the test in physics or that ACT you’ll have to take on Saturday, can affect your sleep habits. Take some time before bed to unwind. Read a book, listen to some music or even watch TV; the time can be as short as ten minutes but can help you fall asleep and sleep more deeply.
Log off of Facebook: Distractions such as TV or your cell phone by the side of your bed can provide distractions that keep you awake for hours on end. Turning off your cell phone, logging off of the computer and turning off the Late Show will create a quiet and soothing atmosphere that will help you fall asleep faster.
Make Spot sleep in his own bed: Pets can be another distraction that keeps you awake at night. Even after you’ve fallen asleep, Fluffy’s movements or Fido’s begging to be let out can keep you awake for hours and cause you to have problems falling asleep again.
Create your ideal environment: Whether you use earplugs, a fan or a special pillow, creating the ideal sleeping conditions for you personally will be more comfortable for you and you will fall asleep more easily and sleep more deeply.
Napping can affect more than your grades: When you nap during the day (sleeping in class counts), you use up some of the sleepiness that would make you sleep more deeply at night. If you do feel the need to nap, keep it to 15-20 minutes maximum when you get home from school (this can actually rejuvenate you and could help you stay awake to do homework or study).
Order a Tall coffee instead of a Venti: Caffeine can stay in your body longer than you want it to – the effects can go as long as eight hours before wearing out – and can keep going into the night when you should be sleeping. A small cup of coffee before first period is okay, but if you cut out caffeine at least four to six hours before bedtime, you will fall asleep easier.
Go on a run and eat your veggies: Regular exercise can wear you down, which will help you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply throughout the night. If you exercise in the morning the cardio can energize you for the rest of the day as well. Try not to go to bed hungry and avoid large meals before bed; being hungry or too full can keep you awake throughout the night. If you eat just before bed, try dairy products, fruit or nuts – these all promote sleep within the body.
*This year I started writing a health column. :)*
Many nights I lie awake in my bed, staring up at my popcorn ceiling, just waiting to fall asleep. Sometimes I am thinking about everything that I have to do tomorrow or of absolutely nothing at all. I lie awake into the silent hours of the night sometimes until 2:00 in the morning. That means that, having to wake up at 5:00 am, I have only gotten three hours of sleep and I still need to endure eight hours of school.
Let’s just say, insomnia is not very fun. Coming out of lazy summer days full of sleep until noon and nap-time at 1:00, students are still trying to get into the habit of waking up at the crack of dawn and going through an eight-hour school day without falling asleep during a lecture.
But whether it is from stress or just not being able to fall asleep, the hours that go into lying awake are crucial to a student. According to www.insomnia911.com, between 10 and 20% of Americans suffer from insomnia, and about 56% of Americans have had symptoms of insomnia at least a few nights per week or more. Research has shown that teenagers may make up a large part of that percentage, with all of our homework, activities, and especially essays for colleges and scholarships – who has time to sleep? According to WebMD (www.webmd.com), teenagers need to get at least 8 ½ hours of sleep; here are some common tips from WebMD that could help those of us get to sleep faster so we can stop staring at the popcorn ceiling.
Clear your mind before bed: Stress about the test in physics or that ACT you’ll have to take on Saturday, can affect your sleep habits. Take some time before bed to unwind. Read a book, listen to some music or even watch TV; the time can be as short as ten minutes but can help you fall asleep and sleep more deeply.
Log off of Facebook: Distractions such as TV or your cell phone by the side of your bed can provide distractions that keep you awake for hours on end. Turning off your cell phone, logging off of the computer and turning off the Late Show will create a quiet and soothing atmosphere that will help you fall asleep faster.
Make Spot sleep in his own bed: Pets can be another distraction that keeps you awake at night. Even after you’ve fallen asleep, Fluffy’s movements or Fido’s begging to be let out can keep you awake for hours and cause you to have problems falling asleep again.
Create your ideal environment: Whether you use earplugs, a fan or a special pillow, creating the ideal sleeping conditions for you personally will be more comfortable for you and you will fall asleep more easily and sleep more deeply.
Napping can affect more than your grades: When you nap during the day (sleeping in class counts), you use up some of the sleepiness that would make you sleep more deeply at night. If you do feel the need to nap, keep it to 15-20 minutes maximum when you get home from school (this can actually rejuvenate you and could help you stay awake to do homework or study).
Order a Tall coffee instead of a Venti: Caffeine can stay in your body longer than you want it to – the effects can go as long as eight hours before wearing out – and can keep going into the night when you should be sleeping. A small cup of coffee before first period is okay, but if you cut out caffeine at least four to six hours before bedtime, you will fall asleep easier.
Go on a run and eat your veggies: Regular exercise can wear you down, which will help you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply throughout the night. If you exercise in the morning the cardio can energize you for the rest of the day as well. Try not to go to bed hungry and avoid large meals before bed; being hungry or too full can keep you awake throughout the night. If you eat just before bed, try dairy products, fruit or nuts – these all promote sleep within the body.
EHS steps up the technology; teachers get new computers and monitors
(N,PSN)
The new projectors mounted to the ceilings and the laptops sitting next to the now obsolete Mac monitors are the first in a long line of Guaranteed and Viable Technology (GVT) advancements to come.
As the current Mac servers die out, they will be replaced with new PC servers. This will, in turn, reduce the cost of technology over time and save the school money for other departments that need it, according to Barry Sterling, Institutional Technology coordinator.
“The district is taking on the responsibility of refurbishing all of the schools [with newer technology] for future students,” Sterling said.
One of the technological advances that the school has made is to provide all of the teachers with new M & A Companion Touch 10. This computer is a fully equipped laptop, with new software, which doubles as a “tablet.” The computer display spins and folds back on itself, allowing teachers to pick up the computer as if they were carrying a book and write on it, or move from slide to slide on presentations. It has a six-cell battery, which allows up to seven hours of life, and 2G of memory with a 160G hard drive for storage.
All teachers received their laptops on Friday, Sept. 24. Teachers who are new to Eaglecrest, however, received their laptops before school started and say that they have been very useful so far. “The Netbook has been incredibly useful,” English teacher, Paul Kemp said via email interview. “It’s extremely lightweight and portable, so it can be carried from a classroom to a PLT meeting to any other location. It also incorporates a document camera, which allows me to project student work onto the screen – that’s a great feature.”
One of the goals for these laptops is to provide a universal tool for the teachers, which will help teachers bridge the gap between work and home.
Teachers are still exploring uses for these new tablets, but are still incorporating them into their classrooms.
“I use it every day for multiple purposes in my classrooms. It has so many capabilities though and I have not taken advantage of several of them thus far,” English teacher Sarah Hancock said.
Media productions specialist Helen McCreesh feels that the new technology is long overdue. “We live in an electronic age and we have to meet those needs,” she said.
Some students question the district’s decision to improve teachers’ tools. “To be honest, I think this is a choice that isn’t particularly smart, or in the best interest of the entire school. With budget cuts and all, shouldn’t the money we have be used for something that would benefit us as a whole?” sophomore Jamie Griffin said.
The district plans to make the teacher’s Mac computers available to students, which in turn provides more computers available for students to work on during the day.
Senior Laura Brewer, however, feels that this is a positive advancement in the schools. “I think that it’s a good thing that teachers are getting new laptops because it will allow them to work on some things from school without having to switch computers or transfer information. Also, because they are all new, the teachers will have the latest of everything which will make it easier for students that have the latest version of something to turn things in electronically without the hassle of compatibility.”
The next step with the new technology is wireless connection with the newly mounted projectors that were put in every room over the summer.
Before with the Macs, teachers needed an adapter is no longer needed, which also contributes to the portability of the tablets.
The new projectors mounted to the ceilings and the laptops sitting next to the now obsolete Mac monitors are the first in a long line of Guaranteed and Viable Technology (GVT) advancements to come.
As the current Mac servers die out, they will be replaced with new PC servers. This will, in turn, reduce the cost of technology over time and save the school money for other departments that need it, according to Barry Sterling, Institutional Technology coordinator.
“The district is taking on the responsibility of refurbishing all of the schools [with newer technology] for future students,” Sterling said.
One of the technological advances that the school has made is to provide all of the teachers with new M & A Companion Touch 10. This computer is a fully equipped laptop, with new software, which doubles as a “tablet.” The computer display spins and folds back on itself, allowing teachers to pick up the computer as if they were carrying a book and write on it, or move from slide to slide on presentations. It has a six-cell battery, which allows up to seven hours of life, and 2G of memory with a 160G hard drive for storage.
All teachers received their laptops on Friday, Sept. 24. Teachers who are new to Eaglecrest, however, received their laptops before school started and say that they have been very useful so far. “The Netbook has been incredibly useful,” English teacher, Paul Kemp said via email interview. “It’s extremely lightweight and portable, so it can be carried from a classroom to a PLT meeting to any other location. It also incorporates a document camera, which allows me to project student work onto the screen – that’s a great feature.”
One of the goals for these laptops is to provide a universal tool for the teachers, which will help teachers bridge the gap between work and home.
Teachers are still exploring uses for these new tablets, but are still incorporating them into their classrooms.
“I use it every day for multiple purposes in my classrooms. It has so many capabilities though and I have not taken advantage of several of them thus far,” English teacher Sarah Hancock said.
Media productions specialist Helen McCreesh feels that the new technology is long overdue. “We live in an electronic age and we have to meet those needs,” she said.
Some students question the district’s decision to improve teachers’ tools. “To be honest, I think this is a choice that isn’t particularly smart, or in the best interest of the entire school. With budget cuts and all, shouldn’t the money we have be used for something that would benefit us as a whole?” sophomore Jamie Griffin said.
The district plans to make the teacher’s Mac computers available to students, which in turn provides more computers available for students to work on during the day.
Senior Laura Brewer, however, feels that this is a positive advancement in the schools. “I think that it’s a good thing that teachers are getting new laptops because it will allow them to work on some things from school without having to switch computers or transfer information. Also, because they are all new, the teachers will have the latest of everything which will make it easier for students that have the latest version of something to turn things in electronically without the hassle of compatibility.”
The next step with the new technology is wireless connection with the newly mounted projectors that were put in every room over the summer.
Before with the Macs, teachers needed an adapter is no longer needed, which also contributes to the portability of the tablets.
Friday, October 29, 2010
New Year, New Paper
So, this is senior year and my second year on the Eagle Quill staff.
Just a little update: This year I am Co-Editor of the Opinions Section with one of my good friends Tiffany Brookover. The paper has gotten off to a rocky start, but I'm confident we will pick up, the second issue went somewhat better than the first.
I will put the stories from the first and second issue up probably this Sunday (Happy Halloween everyone!)
I am still writing things other than the stuff for the paper and if they have some credit (or if I just really like what I wrote ;), I will put it up.
Thanks and keep reading!
Just a little update: This year I am Co-Editor of the Opinions Section with one of my good friends Tiffany Brookover. The paper has gotten off to a rocky start, but I'm confident we will pick up, the second issue went somewhat better than the first.
I will put the stories from the first and second issue up probably this Sunday (Happy Halloween everyone!)
I am still writing things other than the stuff for the paper and if they have some credit (or if I just really like what I wrote ;), I will put it up.
Thanks and keep reading!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Pursuing artistic path
(SI, PSN)In the middle of the steady efficiency of the Photography 2 class, senior Ashley Wood picks up a purple colored pencil to practice hand-coloring one of her latest photos. It is one of the many techniques that she has learned in her eight art classes. But she's not stopping there.
So far, Wood has taken: Sculpture, Design, Ceramics 1 and 2, Drawing and Painting 1 and 2, and Photography 1 and 2. Design, ceramics and photography are among her favorite mediums. "Each one has opened up another art form," Wood said.
Although Wood has experienced many different mediums and techniques, she enjoys colored pencils, oil painting and design. "With such vivd colored pencils, I can draw whatever [I am thinking]. It frees my mind."
Her inspiration comes from her Nana. "[One] influence on me is my Nana, she is amazing at art and she has helped me with a lot of it," Wood said. "My Nana is mainly a painter and she likes to do a lot of sewing and quilting. She likes to make purses and crafty things. My Nana and I are very close; she is one of my favorite people in the world, [and] she is always there for me."
With such an extensive art background, it is no wonder that Wood has been accepted to the Rocky Mountain Institute of Art and Design (RMCAD), one of the highest accredited art and design schools in the region.
"The Rocky Mountain Instiute of Art and Design selectively admits students who have a desire to explore new possibilities, work hard to realize their personal best and who are eager to produce original, innovative work," states the RMCAD websssite, http://www.rmcad.edu/. It also states that, althougha variety of criteria are used to make admissions decisions, evidence of a student's passion and potential as an artist or designer, are the most important factors.
Wood said that she is looking forward to attending RCAD because, "the teachers are outgoing, the schedules are flexible and I am going to be able to express myself through art there."
RMCAD offers degrees in: Animation, Art Education, Fine Arts, Game Art, Graphic Design and Interactinve Media, Illustration, and Interior Design. Through RMCAD, Wood hopes to pursue a career as a designer while also working with photography on the side.
Wood, along with her Nana, is excited about RMCAD and what she will be able to accomplish there. Wood said, on ehr feelings about art: "Art is beautiful and can be expressed in many ways. Art is the values of life and it only takes and imaginative mind to create wonders."
Wood, along with her Nana, is excited about RMCAD and what she will be able to accomplish there. Wood said, on ehr feelings about art: "Art is beautiful and can be expressed in many ways. Art is the values of life and it only takes and imaginative mind to create wonders."
Students fight with silence
(O, PSN)
"There are always rude comments made. I had someone tell my best friend that she shouldn't go to prom with me because he was afraid of everyone thinking she was gay too," junior Kyrie Larsen, who is an open lesbian and student at Eaglecrest, said. "My friend since seventh grade told me that we couldn't hug anymore because she was worried that people would think lower of her."
For Kyrie, and millions of other middle and high school students, this is the case. A sense of bullying has escalated from physical mockery to personal, physical and even sexual attacks on sexuality and lifestyle.
We've al heard the speeches , taken the classes, seen the movies and TV shows that had then made us fear middle school; bullying has been a part of each and every one of our lives. Since first grade, we were told that bullying one another is wrong and that when we see it happening, we need to stop it.
Just because motive has changed doesn't mean that bullying has become permissible; bullying is still wrong and we need to take a stand.
On April 16, approximately 7,500 middle and high school students across the nation did just that. Participating in the National GLSEN Day of Silence, they "spoke out" for those who have been bullied or are afraid of expressing themselves because of their sexuality.
The Day of Silence was put on by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which is focused on creating safe learning environments for LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) students. GLSEN reports annually on school climate for LGBT students; the 2007 national School Climate Survey reported: "9 our of 10 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school."
The survey also found that 30 percent of respondents report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. That is a startling number of students mission out on their education because they fear what might happen in a place where safety is supposed to be top priority.
For Kyrie, however, she is proud of who she is. "Being an openly flamboyant teenage lesbian is quite an exhilarating high school experience." In a narrative Larsen wrote for her English class, which is published on her blog at www.cronicalsofme.blogspot.com, she said, "If given the choice, I would never have been in the closet for any amount of time."
Yet, for many students struggling with their sexuality, the threat is still prominent. Many of their "scare speeches" include the cases of Matthew Shepard and Larry King, two students who were harassed and killed due to discrimination against their sexual orientation.
The time to step in and speak out for all of those forced into silence out of fear for their safety at school, is now. Whether you are straight, gay, bisexual, travsgender, or questioning, no one should be forced to hide who they truly are.
The Gay/Straight Alliance at Eaglecrest is in the process of organizing an LGBT Day of Silence for Eaglecrest exclusively.
We as a student body need to realize that we are all different. each student believes something different, loves something, or someone different, and unless we realize this now, students will have a rude awakening in the world ouside of high school, where there are four times as many people who believe different things than we do.
It's time to make peace with people we see every day before we lose ourselves trying to change every single person who is different from ourselves in beliefs, as well as lifestyles. If we don't, Kyrie and thousands of other LGBT students will be harassed, bullied and isolated from high school. It's time to take a stand and "speak out" for those who have been forced into silence by the cruel hand of fear.
"There are always rude comments made. I had someone tell my best friend that she shouldn't go to prom with me because he was afraid of everyone thinking she was gay too," junior Kyrie Larsen, who is an open lesbian and student at Eaglecrest, said. "My friend since seventh grade told me that we couldn't hug anymore because she was worried that people would think lower of her."
For Kyrie, and millions of other middle and high school students, this is the case. A sense of bullying has escalated from physical mockery to personal, physical and even sexual attacks on sexuality and lifestyle.
We've al heard the speeches , taken the classes, seen the movies and TV shows that had then made us fear middle school; bullying has been a part of each and every one of our lives. Since first grade, we were told that bullying one another is wrong and that when we see it happening, we need to stop it.
Just because motive has changed doesn't mean that bullying has become permissible; bullying is still wrong and we need to take a stand.
On April 16, approximately 7,500 middle and high school students across the nation did just that. Participating in the National GLSEN Day of Silence, they "spoke out" for those who have been bullied or are afraid of expressing themselves because of their sexuality.
The Day of Silence was put on by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which is focused on creating safe learning environments for LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) students. GLSEN reports annually on school climate for LGBT students; the 2007 national School Climate Survey reported: "9 our of 10 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school."
The survey also found that 30 percent of respondents report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. That is a startling number of students mission out on their education because they fear what might happen in a place where safety is supposed to be top priority.
For Kyrie, however, she is proud of who she is. "Being an openly flamboyant teenage lesbian is quite an exhilarating high school experience." In a narrative Larsen wrote for her English class, which is published on her blog at www.cronicalsofme.blogspot.com, she said, "If given the choice, I would never have been in the closet for any amount of time."
Yet, for many students struggling with their sexuality, the threat is still prominent. Many of their "scare speeches" include the cases of Matthew Shepard and Larry King, two students who were harassed and killed due to discrimination against their sexual orientation.
The time to step in and speak out for all of those forced into silence out of fear for their safety at school, is now. Whether you are straight, gay, bisexual, travsgender, or questioning, no one should be forced to hide who they truly are.
The Gay/Straight Alliance at Eaglecrest is in the process of organizing an LGBT Day of Silence for Eaglecrest exclusively.
We as a student body need to realize that we are all different. each student believes something different, loves something, or someone different, and unless we realize this now, students will have a rude awakening in the world ouside of high school, where there are four times as many people who believe different things than we do.
It's time to make peace with people we see every day before we lose ourselves trying to change every single person who is different from ourselves in beliefs, as well as lifestyles. If we don't, Kyrie and thousands of other LGBT students will be harassed, bullied and isolated from high school. It's time to take a stand and "speak out" for those who have been forced into silence by the cruel hand of fear.
Facebook deemed useful for protests
(O, PSN)
You log on to Facebook. There's a new notification awaiting you in a red number on the tool bar above the page. You click on the tab, and find that one of your friends has referred you to a page they think you would like. You click, and join.
This was the process for millions of members who joined Kameron Martinez's Facebook group.
Martinez, who is currently a freshman at the Metropolitan State College of Denver, created a group on Facebook to help generate excitement about hiscause. Martinez was an a quest: to couonter-protest the Westboro Babtist Church (commonly known for their extreme hatred of gays and lesbians) as they traveled through the Denver Metro area, preaching their beliefs.
Martinez created the group one night, and woke up the next morning to 50 members- 50 members soon grew into 300, which soon grew into more that 4,500 passionate protestors, ready to show Westboro how they felt about their ideals.
Martinez and the rest of the protestors, who came together on Facebook, met the church at each of their 15 sites to counter-protest. The church was outnumbered in supporters at every site.
Facebook was an essential tool in the organization and effectiveness of this protest.
"It was a beautiful thing to raise awareness and support. Before the group was started, most of the current members did not even know what WBC was," Martinez said. "I am glad they are now informed and that so many of them became passionate about counter-protesting and took the initiative to really get involved and take information from the group."
Although many feel that society has become too dependent on technology, the advancement of it cannot only make our lives easier, but more effective in make a difference.
Facebook is a networking site, which means that, no matter what the cause, those seeking to raise awareness have the capapbility to reach numerous people who feel the same way- Facebook is a worldwide phenomenon.
"Facebook was extremely affective when it came to these counter-protests," Martinez said. "Most of the people at the counter-protests were there because they or someone they knew was part of the Facebook group I created."
Most importantly, Facebook helps create a place where like-minded people can "gather" to talk about beliefs, raise points of view and, ultimately, make an impact. Because of the freedom Facebook offers to its users, people who want to raise awareness about their cause can describe, update and preach about their group. They can inform people of the opposing viewpoint (Westboro), organize events to take online discussions out on events to take online discussions out and into society (counter-protests) and make an impact in their society.
"I don't like to say that I made a difference over the past three days, I like to say that we made a difference. Colorado really came together and supported diversity, peace and acceptance," Martinez said.
And it all couldn't have happened with Facebook or the technology that we have today.
You log on to Facebook. There's a new notification awaiting you in a red number on the tool bar above the page. You click on the tab, and find that one of your friends has referred you to a page they think you would like. You click, and join.
This was the process for millions of members who joined Kameron Martinez's Facebook group.
Martinez, who is currently a freshman at the Metropolitan State College of Denver, created a group on Facebook to help generate excitement about hiscause. Martinez was an a quest: to couonter-protest the Westboro Babtist Church (commonly known for their extreme hatred of gays and lesbians) as they traveled through the Denver Metro area, preaching their beliefs.
Martinez created the group one night, and woke up the next morning to 50 members- 50 members soon grew into 300, which soon grew into more that 4,500 passionate protestors, ready to show Westboro how they felt about their ideals.
Martinez and the rest of the protestors, who came together on Facebook, met the church at each of their 15 sites to counter-protest. The church was outnumbered in supporters at every site.
Facebook was an essential tool in the organization and effectiveness of this protest.
"It was a beautiful thing to raise awareness and support. Before the group was started, most of the current members did not even know what WBC was," Martinez said. "I am glad they are now informed and that so many of them became passionate about counter-protesting and took the initiative to really get involved and take information from the group."
Although many feel that society has become too dependent on technology, the advancement of it cannot only make our lives easier, but more effective in make a difference.
Facebook is a networking site, which means that, no matter what the cause, those seeking to raise awareness have the capapbility to reach numerous people who feel the same way- Facebook is a worldwide phenomenon.
"Facebook was extremely affective when it came to these counter-protests," Martinez said. "Most of the people at the counter-protests were there because they or someone they knew was part of the Facebook group I created."
Most importantly, Facebook helps create a place where like-minded people can "gather" to talk about beliefs, raise points of view and, ultimately, make an impact. Because of the freedom Facebook offers to its users, people who want to raise awareness about their cause can describe, update and preach about their group. They can inform people of the opposing viewpoint (Westboro), organize events to take online discussions out on events to take online discussions out and into society (counter-protests) and make an impact in their society.
"I don't like to say that I made a difference over the past three days, I like to say that we made a difference. Colorado really came together and supported diversity, peace and acceptance," Martinez said.
And it all couldn't have happened with Facebook or the technology that we have today.
Arizona dust storms contaminate rain, dirt covers neighborhoods
(N, PSN)April showers are supposed to be refreshing and a sure sign of spring. However, the past few showers we've had, have been contaminated with dirt that then sticks to car windows, mailboxes and even flower petals.
Many may unjustly blame the volcano that eruped in Iceland, as reports of unsettled ash keep rolling in. However, experts say that it is unlikely that the dust traveled that great of a distance because winnd patterns prove that the dust would've likely gone out of the rain clouds.
According to University of Colorado Geology Professor Jason Neff, in an interview with 9News, "The winds roll across the desert, and the dust gets picked up and sort of surfs along right behind that storm. When it rains, or snows, then that dust falls out of the atmosphere on to you windshield."
Experts have also reported that there are more benefits to these mud showers, than there are downfalls.
The dust in the rain is good for our lawns. Colorado's richest soils originate from dust, and tis dust actually fertilizes our soil. With gardening season coming up soon, the lawns and rich soils will be ready for cultivation.The muddy precipitation is also helping clean the air we breathe everyday.
According to Deputy Director of the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division, Mike Silverstein, in an interview for CBS 4 News, "The rain acts as a cleansing of the atmosphere, so that's a good thing."
According to Deputy Director of the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division, Mike Silverstein, in an interview for CBS 4 News, "The rain acts as a cleansing of the atmosphere, so that's a good thing."
However, there are some cons to this "dirt rain."
The dirt is not good for your car. Many have been worried about the coating of dust, contaminating and damaging the paint and windows. Whether you go to a car wash, or wash it yourself, it is best to get your car clean as soon as possible after one of these mud showers.
Neff advises that to clean off your car, it is best not to scrub the car because some of the soil particles are abrasive and they can scratch off the paint on your car. Instead, he advises that you take a hose to the car, or go through the automatic car wash.
Experts say that these dirt rain showers usually happen only two or three times a year. So, if you wake up to another brown windshield or mud-coated car, remember to wash it off as soon as possible to avoid any scratches, chips or erosion.Pictures taken for fresman varsity spotlight
Freshman Jamie Griffin's father has been her main coach so far, but she is looking forward to improving her game with the help of coach Ron Paolucci and assistant coach Bonnie Zadigan. Griffin played in Varsity's first game at Lone Tree Golf Course, where she scored 91."It was intimidating, but it was a good experience," Griffin said. At the last Varsity tournament, held at Spring Hill Golf Course, Griffin scored an 84, where par, the number of shots that you should score, is 64. Griffin is looking forward to playing in more tournaments, as well as improving her game and strategies.
Small winter guard steps up to compete
(S, PSN)
"5 and 6, and 5,6,7,8," the flutter of flags sounds in the gym as everyone counts out their twists, twirls and throws. The small team of eight practiced their routine to the music of Lady Gaga that plays from a small radio on the far side of their half of the gym. The mat lies on the floor along with the other flags they may use today. They practice the first eight counts, and then they practice them again. As they continue, one girl attempts a throw of a flag. she barely retrieves it. There is a squeal and a jump, as she celebrates her first catch. This is Winter Guard.
Winter Guard is a dance team that performs with the marching bband in the fall season, but is on their own in the winter. The equipment: flags of all different colors made up of "the pole, silk and crutch-tips." The music: "Imagine" by John Lennon a
nd sung by Avril Lavign. The space: half of the East Gym. The task: perfect the routine."[Winter Guard] is a lot of hours and technique work," junior Esther Shufutinsky said. "It is a lot of ballet, dance, unison and staying on count."
Winter Guard is made up of eight members, one of who, Peggy Holm, is in eighth grade at Thunder Ridge Middle School. "I came to watch my sister and fell into the team," Holm, sophomore Ashleigh Holm's younger sister, said.
For some, the attraction is the routines, for others it is the music, but for junior Liz Goranson, it was the combination of both that drew her to Guard. "The moment I picked up a flag, I fell in love," Goranson said. "I was able to combine my love of music and dance, and it gave me a feeling of acc
omplishment. It's the best feeling in the world."The team says it is upsetting and frustrating having such a small guard, but with encouragment from Director Devin Stevens and Assistant Director Seth Dean, they are confident that they have the potential to advance in their class. As a team, Winter Guard said, "Even though we have a small guard we can still be awesome."
The Guard's current routine uses three flags and is performed to the song "Imagine." "[With this routine], we are trying to convey a sense of peace around the world," said Shufutinsky.
They performed this routine Saturday, Mach 27 at the Finals competition.
Despite taking seventh out of seven teams at Finals, Winter Guard is determined to make it to the top level of this trying sport, and they are confident that all of their late-night practices, determination, and passion will help them on their way.
And that one completed catch was just the beginning.
Sophomore captain leads young girls' varsity soccer team
(S, PSN)
It's not just strapping on those pads and cleats every February, and heading on to the field at game time. It's not just lying around through the winter, and coming out to win every game, without doing a single push up or lap around the thir floor during bad weather. Girls' soccer is a year-round commitment.
"[Soccer] isn't just a one-season sport,"coach Greg Watts said. "Girls are dedicated outside of school as well." Watts is coaching the varsity team and thinks they have the potential to go as far as the play-offs with a current standing of 5-2 and 1.
This is the team's first year with multiple freshmen on varsity; there are six freshmen on the roster, of which two are starting players.
"That is where the talent was," Watts said. "It is a young team, and we're trying to build for the future."
There are, however, some disadvantages to having such a young team. Freshmen do not have as much experience at the high school level of competition as some of the juniors and seniors.
"Experience makes a big difference," Watts said. "However, they have nothing to lose."
The team is also yount in terms of leadership. The captain, sophomore Melissa Westhoff, is already being looked at by division-1 colleges.
"She is very committed," Watts said. "She's not scared to get in people's faces, and she performs in the classroom as well as the field."
Having a young team has not caused any problems so far.
"At the beginning of the season, the expectations of the girls were clearly laid out and they have done well in keeping up," Watts said.
It's not just strapping on those pads and cleats every February, and heading on to the field at game time. It's not just lying around through the winter, and coming out to win every game, without doing a single push up or lap around the thir floor during bad weather. Girls' soccer is a year-round commitment.
"[Soccer] isn't just a one-season sport,"coach Greg Watts said. "Girls are dedicated outside of school as well." Watts is coaching the varsity team and thinks they have the potential to go as far as the play-offs with a current standing of 5-2 and 1.
This is the team's first year with multiple freshmen on varsity; there are six freshmen on the roster, of which two are starting players.
"That is where the talent was," Watts said. "It is a young team, and we're trying to build for the future."
There are, however, some disadvantages to having such a young team. Freshmen do not have as much experience at the high school level of competition as some of the juniors and seniors.
"Experience makes a big difference," Watts said. "However, they have nothing to lose."
The team is also yount in terms of leadership. The captain, sophomore Melissa Westhoff, is already being looked at by division-1 colleges.
"She is very committed," Watts said. "She's not scared to get in people's faces, and she performs in the classroom as well as the field."
Having a young team has not caused any problems so far.
"At the beginning of the season, the expectations of the girls were clearly laid out and they have done well in keeping up," Watts said.
"Old Magic" bewitches readers
(R, PSN)
"Harry Potter," "Bewitched" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch;" witches and witchcraft have become very prominent in today's pop culture as a part of our imagination, Halloween, and our dreams of making things happen exactly the way we want them to.
And the newest addition to this influx in our obsession with magic is Old Magic by Marianne Curley. It is the story of a girl, Kate, with extraordinary powers to feel the emotions and thoughts of anyone around her. Shee meets her match in Jarrod, a new comer, with extremely bad luck and his own hidden talents. When Jarrod's power spirals out of control one day in science class, their relationship soon escalates to jealousy, dangerous adventures, medieval battles and romance.
However, is there any truth to it?
Wicca is an earth or nature based religion that deals with the elements (earth, air, water, fire and spirit), and channeling positive energy into everything you do. Wicca also deals with all of the things we see in these modern interpretations: chanting, spells, being known as witches and the Craft.
"I researched... [the] history of witches, their current lifestyle and religion; spells, including creating and casting," Curley said about the research she conducted for Old Magic.
A normal Wiccan ritual includes: chanting, meditation, praying, candles and, depending on the type of ritual, herbs and other tools for spells.
There are some striking resemblances between Wiccan and the book Old Magic.
Curley writes about cleansing spells, which Kate actually performs on Jarrod to rid him of a curse that is haunting his family. In Wicca, when practicing with tools such as amulets or other materials, you must cleanse them to rid them of any past energy. The two rituals are very different; however, they were both designed to rid the objects of any negative energy, or curses in Jarrod's case.
Also, later in the story, when Kate's grandmother Jillian is performing a spell on them, she casts a circle that is marked by one hundred candles. As Kate and Jarrod enter the circle, they may only enter through a certain part of the circle. This is the case in most Wiccan rituals. A circle is cast to create a confine of healing energy until it is released. According to religioustolerance.org, candles are usually placed around the circumference of the circle and are usually oriented to the four cardinal directions. People who must enter or leave the circle during rigual must enter or exit through a specified passage or break in the circle in order to not disturb the energy in the circle.
However, there is a point in the book where religious rituals end and fantastic imaginings begin. In the beginning, when Jarrod's powers spin out of control, his emotions control the weather around him, which we all know would be cool, is ultimately pure fantasy. Also at the climax of the novel, we see an element of time travel through magic, which also adds that element of fantasy.
"It's important to know the difference between fiction and non-fiction, and I believe most people do," Curley said of Old Magic. "It's a made-up story meant to feed the imaginations of readers, to entertain and give people time out from their everyday lives and everyday problems."
Old Magic has just the right amound of reality and fantasy to balance out the story of Kate and Jarrod. The book has all of the appeal of Harry Potter fantasy, the almost-Twilight-style romance, the medieval, "magical" history, and the ultimate journey through the darkest of times to self awareness and discovery.
"Harry Potter," "Bewitched" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch;" witches and witchcraft have become very prominent in today's pop culture as a part of our imagination, Halloween, and our dreams of making things happen exactly the way we want them to.
And the newest addition to this influx in our obsession with magic is Old Magic by Marianne Curley. It is the story of a girl, Kate, with extraordinary powers to feel the emotions and thoughts of anyone around her. Shee meets her match in Jarrod, a new comer, with extremely bad luck and his own hidden talents. When Jarrod's power spirals out of control one day in science class, their relationship soon escalates to jealousy, dangerous adventures, medieval battles and romance.
However, is there any truth to it?
Wicca is an earth or nature based religion that deals with the elements (earth, air, water, fire and spirit), and channeling positive energy into everything you do. Wicca also deals with all of the things we see in these modern interpretations: chanting, spells, being known as witches and the Craft.
"I researched... [the] history of witches, their current lifestyle and religion; spells, including creating and casting," Curley said about the research she conducted for Old Magic.
A normal Wiccan ritual includes: chanting, meditation, praying, candles and, depending on the type of ritual, herbs and other tools for spells.
There are some striking resemblances between Wiccan and the book Old Magic.
Curley writes about cleansing spells, which Kate actually performs on Jarrod to rid him of a curse that is haunting his family. In Wicca, when practicing with tools such as amulets or other materials, you must cleanse them to rid them of any past energy. The two rituals are very different; however, they were both designed to rid the objects of any negative energy, or curses in Jarrod's case.
Also, later in the story, when Kate's grandmother Jillian is performing a spell on them, she casts a circle that is marked by one hundred candles. As Kate and Jarrod enter the circle, they may only enter through a certain part of the circle. This is the case in most Wiccan rituals. A circle is cast to create a confine of healing energy until it is released. According to religioustolerance.org, candles are usually placed around the circumference of the circle and are usually oriented to the four cardinal directions. People who must enter or leave the circle during rigual must enter or exit through a specified passage or break in the circle in order to not disturb the energy in the circle.
However, there is a point in the book where religious rituals end and fantastic imaginings begin. In the beginning, when Jarrod's powers spin out of control, his emotions control the weather around him, which we all know would be cool, is ultimately pure fantasy. Also at the climax of the novel, we see an element of time travel through magic, which also adds that element of fantasy.
"It's important to know the difference between fiction and non-fiction, and I believe most people do," Curley said of Old Magic. "It's a made-up story meant to feed the imaginations of readers, to entertain and give people time out from their everyday lives and everyday problems."
Old Magic has just the right amound of reality and fantasy to balance out the story of Kate and Jarrod. The book has all of the appeal of Harry Potter fantasy, the almost-Twilight-style romance, the medieval, "magical" history, and the ultimate journey through the darkest of times to self awareness and discovery.
Education should not be subject to sexual orientation
(O, PSN)
"Glossing over our differences on essential matters, and pretending that crucial issues are irrelevant, is not tolerance," said the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School on his blog (fatherbillsblog.com).
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School recently disallowed a child from readmitting to the school because his/her parents are lesbians.
The Archdiocese was quoted as saying that the parents' sexual preference went against the school's beliefs and teachings.
However, is it right to discriminate against a child due to his or her parents' lifestyle? Religious discrimination against LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) members has been going on for centuries, sometimes escalating to a point of violence and killing. Now, this prejudice has come to a point of hurting people who are close to them.
Sacred Heart needs to realize that the child who is trying to attend the school and follow the Catholic faith, is almost entirely separate from his or her parents and he/she himself is not violating the rules.
And as if open discrimination against LGBTs wasn't enough, depriving a child because of what his/her parents believe, is crossing the line.
I agree that if a religion teaches that something is "wrong," then let people believe that. However, when it comes to the point of deprivation of something as crucial as education, that is when religion needs to take a rest on its preaching.
Granted, as stated on the parish's blog, "If a child of gay parents comes to our school, and we teach that gay marriage is against the will of God, then the child will think that we are saying their parents are bad."
However, why wouldn't the school jump at the chance to teach a child who lives in this kind of environment? It is a chance for the church to "turn him the right way," "teach him the will of God..." help him see the light.
Yes, the parents probably knew the feel Catholic doctrine sends toward gay couples. however, that teaching should not diminish the desire to follow a certain faith. Yes, maybe he/she will be taught that the way his parents live is "wrong," and yes, maybe he/she will grow up in the mindset that homosexuality is "wrong." But, isn't it better that the child is exposed to different views and ideas?
We, as a collective American people, complain about the close-mindedness of the people around us. Yet, when an opportunity such as this arises, an opportunity for a child living in the midst of contradictions to experience both sides of the story, we shun it. This unique situation has provided us with an opportunity to raise an open-minded person- a person who is Catholic, but accepts the things that his faith cannot. And as they continue to grow and learn about the world, they will then see that, it may be against the will of God, but if their parents are happy, and they are not hurting anyone, then maybe, it is okay.
Maybe mommy loving mommy isn't the end of the world.
As the parish said, "Glossing over differences... is not tolerance." However, realizing that there are different people in the world, who lead different lifestyles, and believe different things, is.
"Glossing over our differences on essential matters, and pretending that crucial issues are irrelevant, is not tolerance," said the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School on his blog (fatherbillsblog.com).
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School recently disallowed a child from readmitting to the school because his/her parents are lesbians.
The Archdiocese was quoted as saying that the parents' sexual preference went against the school's beliefs and teachings.
However, is it right to discriminate against a child due to his or her parents' lifestyle? Religious discrimination against LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) members has been going on for centuries, sometimes escalating to a point of violence and killing. Now, this prejudice has come to a point of hurting people who are close to them.
Sacred Heart needs to realize that the child who is trying to attend the school and follow the Catholic faith, is almost entirely separate from his or her parents and he/she himself is not violating the rules.
And as if open discrimination against LGBTs wasn't enough, depriving a child because of what his/her parents believe, is crossing the line.
I agree that if a religion teaches that something is "wrong," then let people believe that. However, when it comes to the point of deprivation of something as crucial as education, that is when religion needs to take a rest on its preaching.
Granted, as stated on the parish's blog, "If a child of gay parents comes to our school, and we teach that gay marriage is against the will of God, then the child will think that we are saying their parents are bad."
However, why wouldn't the school jump at the chance to teach a child who lives in this kind of environment? It is a chance for the church to "turn him the right way," "teach him the will of God..." help him see the light.
Yes, the parents probably knew the feel Catholic doctrine sends toward gay couples. however, that teaching should not diminish the desire to follow a certain faith. Yes, maybe he/she will be taught that the way his parents live is "wrong," and yes, maybe he/she will grow up in the mindset that homosexuality is "wrong." But, isn't it better that the child is exposed to different views and ideas?
We, as a collective American people, complain about the close-mindedness of the people around us. Yet, when an opportunity such as this arises, an opportunity for a child living in the midst of contradictions to experience both sides of the story, we shun it. This unique situation has provided us with an opportunity to raise an open-minded person- a person who is Catholic, but accepts the things that his faith cannot. And as they continue to grow and learn about the world, they will then see that, it may be against the will of God, but if their parents are happy, and they are not hurting anyone, then maybe, it is okay.
Maybe mommy loving mommy isn't the end of the world.
As the parish said, "Glossing over differences... is not tolerance." However, realizing that there are different people in the world, who lead different lifestyles, and believe different things, is.
Juniors opt for early graduation
(N, PSN)
You stand, holding your breath, along with all of the others. Clad in cap and gown, they announce the graduating class of 2010, and you walk out into the cavernous auditorium. Some juniors will be joining senionr for the big day: graduation.
A few juniors have considered classes, requirements and futures to get to this moment, and will be walking out into that auditorium to graduate early.
Nathan Wright is one such junior.
"I have decided to graduate early because I want to pursue my dream of becoming an English teacher in Holland, and graduating early will allow me to adapt to the culture and language of Holland," Wright said.
Students may decide to graduate for a variety of reasons, whether it's due to programs, such as cosmetology, schools such as the Center of Technical Education, or family reasons.
However, it may be harder to get into college if you choose the early-grad path.
"Ultimately colleges want to see that you've finished your four years of high school, and unless you have some extenuating circumstances, you have to consider what will be beneficial to you in the end," said counselor Jennifer Johnson, who also works in the College and Careers Center.
For some the decision to graduate early comes easy and those students go on to college and jobs as usual; the only difference is that they are younger, and they are achieving what they set out to do.
This was the case for Wright. "I was a freshman at the time so it seemed so cliche to graduate in four years, when it can really be done in three," Wright said.
For those who graduate early, there is no doubt that they will miss out on all of the fun of senior year.
"[Those who graduate early] miss out on the social aspect of senior year, because everything fun happens second sememster," Johnson said.
According to Johnson, students may also struggle later when they enter college; they may struggle with a college-level math course, because they missed that year of math in high school. Students, depending on how early they plan, may also miss out on a college due to requirements that they didn't get before they left high school.
Students have to consider the social, academic and personal aspects, as well as if they are prepared to live on their own and ready to accept all of the responsibilities of the real world. If you are considering early graduation, first ask yourself this: are you ready for college and all of the responsibility that comes with being on your own, a whole year earlier?
You should also talk to parents, counselors, teachers and the College and Careers Center for advice. Before you made any decisions about early graduation, get advice and make a plan for the future you want to see yourself in; whether you want to work, go into the military, or go to college, options are out there.
"After graduation, I plan to get my teaching degree in English as well as my masters... and move to Zwijnrecht, South Holland," Wright said.
Basically, when you think about that cap, gown and auditorium in your distant, or near, future, it all comes down to one question: are you ready for life after high school?
You stand, holding your breath, along with all of the others. Clad in cap and gown, they announce the graduating class of 2010, and you walk out into the cavernous auditorium. Some juniors will be joining senionr for the big day: graduation.
A few juniors have considered classes, requirements and futures to get to this moment, and will be walking out into that auditorium to graduate early.
Nathan Wright is one such junior.
"I have decided to graduate early because I want to pursue my dream of becoming an English teacher in Holland, and graduating early will allow me to adapt to the culture and language of Holland," Wright said.
Students may decide to graduate for a variety of reasons, whether it's due to programs, such as cosmetology, schools such as the Center of Technical Education, or family reasons.
However, it may be harder to get into college if you choose the early-grad path.
"Ultimately colleges want to see that you've finished your four years of high school, and unless you have some extenuating circumstances, you have to consider what will be beneficial to you in the end," said counselor Jennifer Johnson, who also works in the College and Careers Center.
For some the decision to graduate early comes easy and those students go on to college and jobs as usual; the only difference is that they are younger, and they are achieving what they set out to do.
This was the case for Wright. "I was a freshman at the time so it seemed so cliche to graduate in four years, when it can really be done in three," Wright said.
For those who graduate early, there is no doubt that they will miss out on all of the fun of senior year.
"[Those who graduate early] miss out on the social aspect of senior year, because everything fun happens second sememster," Johnson said.
According to Johnson, students may also struggle later when they enter college; they may struggle with a college-level math course, because they missed that year of math in high school. Students, depending on how early they plan, may also miss out on a college due to requirements that they didn't get before they left high school.
Students have to consider the social, academic and personal aspects, as well as if they are prepared to live on their own and ready to accept all of the responsibilities of the real world. If you are considering early graduation, first ask yourself this: are you ready for college and all of the responsibility that comes with being on your own, a whole year earlier?
You should also talk to parents, counselors, teachers and the College and Careers Center for advice. Before you made any decisions about early graduation, get advice and make a plan for the future you want to see yourself in; whether you want to work, go into the military, or go to college, options are out there.
"After graduation, I plan to get my teaching degree in English as well as my masters... and move to Zwijnrecht, South Holland," Wright said.
Basically, when you think about that cap, gown and auditorium in your distant, or near, future, it all comes down to one question: are you ready for life after high school?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Diversity in Eaglecrest
(SI, PSN)
A brave little African American girl marched her way through crowds of angry and distraught white parents who shouted despicable things at her on November 14, 1960. Guarded by U.S. Marshalls, her head held high, this six year old walked through it all on her way to her first day of school. Ruby Bridges was one of the first African American students to be integrated in to a “white” school. Diversity in schools was put into motion that November 14th.
Today, there is no longer just black and white. There is African American, Caucasian, Hispanic, Indian, Iraqi, Asian, and so much more. High school has become its own melting pot, and Eaglecrest is certainly no exception.
“There’s so much diversity at Eaglecrest, it gets rid of racial issues for me and I can just hang out with people,” junior Rebecca Richardson said.
In the 2008-2009 school year, there was 0.6 percent Native American students, 7.9 percent Asian American students, 19 percent African American students, 13.4 percent Hispanic American students, and 59.2 percent Caucasian students that made up Eaglecrest, with the exception of many other different cultures and races that contribute to its student body.
However, today, diversity is all about the way you define yourself.
Senior Gurpreet Kaur, who defines herself as Indian, said, “We have a lot of different cultures and races at Eaglecrest and I think it helps the students because it teaches us about many cultures and gives us a preview of the real world.”
The majority of students feel that Eaglecrest does not have any racial problems or apparent division between races. Prejudice is not the problem; however, stereotyping may be. Everyone has been subject to stereotyping whether it was dependent on race or not. Despite her complete acceptance, Kaur said, “People should realize that not all Indians speak with thick accents. I don’t think I do.”
Junior Heidi Kim, who defines herself as Asian, said, “All Asian languages do not sound the same, and just because we’re Asian doesn’t mean we’re good at school.” Kim also stated, “The Koreans here are from SOUTH Korea and not North, so we’re not going to bomb you.”
Kim, who came to the United States from Korea, didn’t have as hard of a time as Ruby did, but it was frightening at the same; “I saw white people everywhere,” Kim said. “I had a lot of trouble understanding and my eyes kept wandering. I remember keeping my head down as low as possible. It’s scary to think of transferring schools, especially when you’re new to the language itself.”
Despite division and stereotyping, only good things can come from having a school as diverse as Eaglecrest. “Without the amount of diversity [at EHS], our students wouldn’t feel as comfortable,” junior Taylor Brown said. And, let’s face it, if students aren’t comfortable, they’re not going to excel as well as they could.
Things have definitely improved since the time of Ruby Bridges, we’ve mixed more cultures into our melting pot, and with this, Eaglecrest has nowhere to go but up.
A brave little African American girl marched her way through crowds of angry and distraught white parents who shouted despicable things at her on November 14, 1960. Guarded by U.S. Marshalls, her head held high, this six year old walked through it all on her way to her first day of school. Ruby Bridges was one of the first African American students to be integrated in to a “white” school. Diversity in schools was put into motion that November 14th.
Today, there is no longer just black and white. There is African American, Caucasian, Hispanic, Indian, Iraqi, Asian, and so much more. High school has become its own melting pot, and Eaglecrest is certainly no exception.
“There’s so much diversity at Eaglecrest, it gets rid of racial issues for me and I can just hang out with people,” junior Rebecca Richardson said.
In the 2008-2009 school year, there was 0.6 percent Native American students, 7.9 percent Asian American students, 19 percent African American students, 13.4 percent Hispanic American students, and 59.2 percent Caucasian students that made up Eaglecrest, with the exception of many other different cultures and races that contribute to its student body.
However, today, diversity is all about the way you define yourself.
Senior Gurpreet Kaur, who defines herself as Indian, said, “We have a lot of different cultures and races at Eaglecrest and I think it helps the students because it teaches us about many cultures and gives us a preview of the real world.”
The majority of students feel that Eaglecrest does not have any racial problems or apparent division between races. Prejudice is not the problem; however, stereotyping may be. Everyone has been subject to stereotyping whether it was dependent on race or not. Despite her complete acceptance, Kaur said, “People should realize that not all Indians speak with thick accents. I don’t think I do.”
Junior Heidi Kim, who defines herself as Asian, said, “All Asian languages do not sound the same, and just because we’re Asian doesn’t mean we’re good at school.” Kim also stated, “The Koreans here are from SOUTH Korea and not North, so we’re not going to bomb you.”
Kim, who came to the United States from Korea, didn’t have as hard of a time as Ruby did, but it was frightening at the same; “I saw white people everywhere,” Kim said. “I had a lot of trouble understanding and my eyes kept wandering. I remember keeping my head down as low as possible. It’s scary to think of transferring schools, especially when you’re new to the language itself.”
Despite division and stereotyping, only good things can come from having a school as diverse as Eaglecrest. “Without the amount of diversity [at EHS], our students wouldn’t feel as comfortable,” junior Taylor Brown said. And, let’s face it, if students aren’t comfortable, they’re not going to excel as well as they could.
Things have definitely improved since the time of Ruby Bridges, we’ve mixed more cultures into our melting pot, and with this, Eaglecrest has nowhere to go but up.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Impulse
(R, PSN)
What: Impulse, by Ellen Hopkins
Price: $9.99
Where to find it: Barnes & Noble
Why you’ll like it: A story of finding yourself and moving forward from tragedy
Everyone has their secrets, whether they are in your family, your friend circle, or your mind. There are secrets that we would go to the grave with, and for some, that grave is approaching fast; some secrets are enough to drive people to do the unthinkable, like commit suicide and end whatever pain they feel, whatever demons they can no longer stand.
The New York Times bestseller, “Impulse”, by Ellen Hopkins, though a very thick volume, is an amazing book that almost anyone can relate to.
“Impulse” is the amazing story of Connor, Tony, and Vanessa. Connor, the All- American boy whose life is seemingly perfect, struggles with familial problems and a forbidden love affair that causes him to turn to gun and bullet. Tony, whose life took a nasty turn at the early age of eight, has struggled with everything from drugs to sex while also living with the hard reality of being gay and living on the streets. And then there is Vanessa, a girl who has inherited her mother’s bipolarity and manic- depression. While her father is away fighting in Afghanistan, the mood swings become so intense that she turns to a dangerous escape.
In the middle of their attempts, fate intervenes and brings all of them to Aspen Springs, a rehabilitation and therapy center for kids with similar problems.
Hopkins takes the reader through each of their journeys to recovery as each character tells their story. The book is written entirely in poetry form and switches points of view every couple of pages.
The unusual form does not diminish Hopkins’s beautiful writing as she tries, and succeeds, in explaining the unexplainable to every kind of person.
Hopkins does an excellent job of capturing the ugly side of what teens go through, exploring drug and sex addictions, self- mutilation, and many other problems that modern society faces every day.
“Impulse” is definitely a page- turner that keeps readers on the edges of their seats and I recommend this book for anyone who likes a story of falling down, getting back up, brushing yourself off, and succeeding.
What: Impulse, by Ellen Hopkins
Price: $9.99
Where to find it: Barnes & Noble
Why you’ll like it: A story of finding yourself and moving forward from tragedy
Everyone has their secrets, whether they are in your family, your friend circle, or your mind. There are secrets that we would go to the grave with, and for some, that grave is approaching fast; some secrets are enough to drive people to do the unthinkable, like commit suicide and end whatever pain they feel, whatever demons they can no longer stand.
The New York Times bestseller, “Impulse”, by Ellen Hopkins, though a very thick volume, is an amazing book that almost anyone can relate to.
“Impulse” is the amazing story of Connor, Tony, and Vanessa. Connor, the All- American boy whose life is seemingly perfect, struggles with familial problems and a forbidden love affair that causes him to turn to gun and bullet. Tony, whose life took a nasty turn at the early age of eight, has struggled with everything from drugs to sex while also living with the hard reality of being gay and living on the streets. And then there is Vanessa, a girl who has inherited her mother’s bipolarity and manic- depression. While her father is away fighting in Afghanistan, the mood swings become so intense that she turns to a dangerous escape.
In the middle of their attempts, fate intervenes and brings all of them to Aspen Springs, a rehabilitation and therapy center for kids with similar problems.
Hopkins takes the reader through each of their journeys to recovery as each character tells their story. The book is written entirely in poetry form and switches points of view every couple of pages.
The unusual form does not diminish Hopkins’s beautiful writing as she tries, and succeeds, in explaining the unexplainable to every kind of person.
Hopkins does an excellent job of capturing the ugly side of what teens go through, exploring drug and sex addictions, self- mutilation, and many other problems that modern society faces every day.
“Impulse” is definitely a page- turner that keeps readers on the edges of their seats and I recommend this book for anyone who likes a story of falling down, getting back up, brushing yourself off, and succeeding.
Driving to School
(O, PSN)
One would never have thought that the drive to school would be as dangerous as it actually is. Parents, teachers, and even bus drivers are speeding their way to school, rushing to get to where they are going as fast as possible. However, is it really worth it?
The thing about parents is that they are always rushing to get somewhere, whether they’re rushing to work, to catch a movie, or to an appointment. And those habits have automatically transferred to those situations where it is entirely unnecessary. Parents are usually driving their kids to school at around 6:30 a.m., and school starts at 7:20 a.m. Do they seriously not know when school starts? These parents are acting as if the grace period of 50 minutes, is actually five.
One incident that happened to me on my way to school particularly demonstrates the accelerated nature of parent routine. I was going 40 mph on Hampden, enjoying the conversation on the radio as usual. I was approaching a light up ahead that had just turned green. A car with a driving father and his teenage daughter had been tailing me the entire way. The father sped up, and was preparing to pass me as he moved into the right-turn-only lane on my right. We came to the intersection and, ignoring all of the signals that said he must turn right, flew through the intersection and into another right-turn-only lane. He then forced his way into a small section between me and another car. Congratulations, you just gained about fifteen feet, and I was right behind you the entire rest of the way to school.
I am not sure how many traffic laws he broke, or if his picture was taken in the process, but parents should definitely not be driving as recklessly as they are. Parents are driving their kids who are approaching driving age to school, and they should not be administering this kind of behavior in front of future drivers. They may throw in the usual line of “do as I say, and not as I do,” but that alone will not stop kids from mimicking their parents driving, or from contracting the similar behavior of racing to get where they are going.
Why are drivers rushing so early in the morning? You would think that people would be slightly tired and want to take it easy as they make their way to a place where they, no doubt, do not want to be; however, this is not what is happening. The mental race rages on.
Understandably, there are incidents when students need to be to school earlier because of a parent’s work, or a late start, but that does not mean that it is worth putting people in danger. These are high school students; they are capable of catching a bus, whether it’s a school or public bus, and carpooling can be arranged.
As if this dangerous, imaginary race weren’t enough to make you fear going out on the road, so many of these reckless drivers are attempting various activities while disobeying speed limits. Whether it’s talking on the phone, applying make-up, or eating breakfast on the go, multitasking is playing a major role in increasing danger on the road.
People are trying to accomplish so many things at once that they are not taking time to enjoy simple pleasures, and instead making it more dangerous for the people around them. The American people need to slow down; they need to take a minute and take in the phone call, enjoy the muffin and coffee, talk to the kids they have in the car, and, of course, enjoy driving.
There is no race. Getting somewhere 30 seconds earlier is not worth your life, much less your passengers’ or other drivers’ lives.
One would never have thought that the drive to school would be as dangerous as it actually is. Parents, teachers, and even bus drivers are speeding their way to school, rushing to get to where they are going as fast as possible. However, is it really worth it?
The thing about parents is that they are always rushing to get somewhere, whether they’re rushing to work, to catch a movie, or to an appointment. And those habits have automatically transferred to those situations where it is entirely unnecessary. Parents are usually driving their kids to school at around 6:30 a.m., and school starts at 7:20 a.m. Do they seriously not know when school starts? These parents are acting as if the grace period of 50 minutes, is actually five.
One incident that happened to me on my way to school particularly demonstrates the accelerated nature of parent routine. I was going 40 mph on Hampden, enjoying the conversation on the radio as usual. I was approaching a light up ahead that had just turned green. A car with a driving father and his teenage daughter had been tailing me the entire way. The father sped up, and was preparing to pass me as he moved into the right-turn-only lane on my right. We came to the intersection and, ignoring all of the signals that said he must turn right, flew through the intersection and into another right-turn-only lane. He then forced his way into a small section between me and another car. Congratulations, you just gained about fifteen feet, and I was right behind you the entire rest of the way to school.
I am not sure how many traffic laws he broke, or if his picture was taken in the process, but parents should definitely not be driving as recklessly as they are. Parents are driving their kids who are approaching driving age to school, and they should not be administering this kind of behavior in front of future drivers. They may throw in the usual line of “do as I say, and not as I do,” but that alone will not stop kids from mimicking their parents driving, or from contracting the similar behavior of racing to get where they are going.
Why are drivers rushing so early in the morning? You would think that people would be slightly tired and want to take it easy as they make their way to a place where they, no doubt, do not want to be; however, this is not what is happening. The mental race rages on.
Understandably, there are incidents when students need to be to school earlier because of a parent’s work, or a late start, but that does not mean that it is worth putting people in danger. These are high school students; they are capable of catching a bus, whether it’s a school or public bus, and carpooling can be arranged.
As if this dangerous, imaginary race weren’t enough to make you fear going out on the road, so many of these reckless drivers are attempting various activities while disobeying speed limits. Whether it’s talking on the phone, applying make-up, or eating breakfast on the go, multitasking is playing a major role in increasing danger on the road.
People are trying to accomplish so many things at once that they are not taking time to enjoy simple pleasures, and instead making it more dangerous for the people around them. The American people need to slow down; they need to take a minute and take in the phone call, enjoy the muffin and coffee, talk to the kids they have in the car, and, of course, enjoy driving.
There is no race. Getting somewhere 30 seconds earlier is not worth your life, much less your passengers’ or other drivers’ lives.
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