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Athletes of the Month by: Taylor Montooth
Kyle Shea-Cross Country
Drew Rice –Football
Heather Stewart-Cheerleading
Hanna King- Volleyball
Breanna Bailey-Soccer
Cross Country
For cross country Athlete off the month would be Kyle Shea. He has worked very hard over the summer and has shown great senior leadership by attending all the practices and haven a great attitude everyday at practice. He is always asking how he can get better and what can he do to make him better. - MR CLARY
What Motivates You?
Kyle- My dad motivated me to be a runner because he said I would be good at it. He kept telling me to join and I did and I liked it.
Why Cross Country than any other sport?
Kyle-well I started track after Justin couch and my dad wanted me to come and run. When started I liked it a lot. So I got into cross country and I fell in love with running.
What is your Biggest Goal in cross country for the Future?
Kyle- Well I am not planning on Running for collage unless it’s a full ride scholarship this year I want to take my plan to state
Football
In Football Drew Rice Has shown Great leadership Works harder then anyone on the team to better himself he enjoys having fun still staying focused at the right times. – MR.HORNSBY
What motivates you in football?
Drew-well setting goals and trying to accomplish them.
Why Football then any other sport?
Drew- Because in football you can hit and it gets rid of a lot of stress and the sport has so much emotion.
What is your biggest goal for football in the future?
Drew- to be one off the best and go on to college and succeed.
Cheerleading
Heather Stewart has been great at organizing different things for the squad. Last year she organized senior gifts and over the summer she made and effort to help the new girls feel involved by getting together to practice. She always there to answer questions for the new girls. she also leads by example she is always at practice, on time, dressed and ready to go with no distractions she is easy to get along with and is usually found joking around with someone. Heather is a hard worker and very dedicated to cheerleading she has cheered all four years of high school. – WOLF
What motivates you?
Heather- my motivation in cheerleading comes from my school spirit. I’m also motivated by my amazing coaches ;)
IS cheerleading your favorite sport?
Heather- well football is definitely my favorite sport in general. I love watching and cheering for football.
What is your biggest goal?
Heather- unfortunately with this being my senior year, this will also be my last year cheerleading. I plan on going to the u of Louisville for pre-med. so um right now; my biggest goal is to have a fun senior year of cheerleading.
Volleyball
She currently has 15 ACES (6th in the Region), 104 Assists (2nd in the region) 23 kills (16th in the region) Named to Ludlow classic all-tournament team. She’s an excellent student a hard worker and a tremendous athlete.- SCHMIDT
What motivates you in volleyball?
Hannah-I don’t really know. I play volleyball to have fun and to win of course.
IS volleyball your favorite sport or do you have more than one?
Hannah- well I think volleyball and basketball the same pretty much.
What is your biggest goal for volleyball in the future or are you planning something else? Hannah – I’m not real sure what I would like to do after high school yet, but I think it would be fun to play a sport in collage.
Soccer
Breeann Bailey has been selected as the soccer athlete of the month. She was picked to be captain by her peers and has already made four goals in her first two games.
What motivates you?
Breeann- My parents and my favorite soccer player Mia Hamm!
Is Soccer your favorite sport? Why?
Breanne- yes soccer is my favorite sport because I have been playing since the age of two and my family has been playing for decades!
What is your biggest goal?
Breeann- my biggest goal is to play professional soccer for team u.s.a woman’s league.
Teacher of the Month: Mr.Wright
Bby: Madi Merritt
What year did you graduate LHS?
2004.
What made you want to teach here?
I went through peer tutoring when I was in high school, and I always thought it would be great to come back and help out the school that helped me out so greatly.
Who was your favorite teacher when you were a student? Who is your favorite teacher that is still here?
My favorite teacher was Mrs. Schultz.
My favorite teacher that’s still here is
Mrs. Hodge.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Anything involving sports.
What is your favorite sport?
Football/track.
Favorite band?
Ben Folds Five, and Say Anything.
What is you favorite restaurant?
Riverfront Pizza.
There hoagies + wings are awesome.
What is your favorite season?
Fall, I like when the leaves fall, and its football season.
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Flying.
What Cell Phone Service is Best? by: Wayne Hamlin
We all hate it when we are on our phones, and all of a sudden the call is dropped. And it’s never a good time, it always happens when you make a joke about someone and just before you get to say just kidding. So then they think you called them something and actually meant it. I’ going to offer what advice I can, which is what cell phone companies have the best coverage in the greater Cincinnati area. If I don’t cover your company I apologize in advance, T-mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint will be those looked at (A table has been included at the bottom of the article for a quick reference)
T-mobile seems to have a lot of dead zones north of Cincinnati and in a lot of buildings actually in Cincinnati. Outdoors around the city is the place where service is the highest; it looks to be the same around Louisville as well. So talking outdoors on your phone might make the difference in whether or not you can make the call and how many bars of service your phone has. All together there are a total of 37 that’s quite a few more dead zones than AT&T’s, Verizon’s, or Sprint’s dead zones and the average amounts of bars for the T-mobile users are 2.
AT&T has less dead zones (21) in the area than T-mobile (37), a lot less. It has a few less dead zones that Verizon as well (26). It also tops T-mobile’s, Verizon’s, and Sprint’s average bar rating in the area (2bars) with 3 bars. As far as places to avoid going if you are wanting to text or call, most coverage problems seem to occur outdoors in random places with no real trend to them, so my advice is to make your call while indoors to avoid possibly losing service.
Verizon has 26 dead zones in this area, less than T-mobile but not as low as AT&T or Sprint. It also it has an average service bar rating of 2 in and around Cincinnati. Also I noticed on the coverage map that Verizon has a lot more areas with only one bar of service, those aren’t technically dead zones, but anyone with a cell phone knows that one bar might as well be. All of the dead zones and 1 bar zones seemed to happen when people were outside, so staying inside on your phone is more than likely your best bet.
Sprint has the least dead zones out of the companies listed in this article, it has 17. It has an average of 2 service bars in the greater Cincinnati area. As has been common with most of the other cell phone companies, most Sprint dead zones are outside. So I advise people using Sprint to use their phone indoors if you are really afraid of not having any service, with only 17 dead zones in the area its not a huge deal though. Service for this company seems to look a lot bleaker in the Louisville area however.
To anyone who came across this article looking to compare cell phone services in the greater Cincinnati area, my top recommendation would be Sprint simply because of their significantly less amount of dead zones. My second choice would be AT&T, which may be preferred because of the higher average service bar rating. In third place Verizon simply because it has less dead zones than T-Mobile. T-Mobile’s service coverage area is by far the worst with its 37 dead zones.
SPRINT |
AT&T |
VERIZON |
T-MOBILE |
17 Dead Zones |
21 Dead Zones |
26 Dead Zones |
37 Dead Zones |
Average bars: 2 |
Average bars: 3 |
Average bars: 2 |
Average bars:2 |
(My rating of service reliability starts with the most reliable company on the left getting worse as you move to the right)
http://www.signalmap.com/us?lng=-84.5510477&carrier=&lat=39.0871143&zoom=11
Ten tips to a greener earth
The earth is in rough shape, and as dominant life forms it’s our duty to make sure it doesn’t get much worse. Making a few small changes can really make a difference to the whole world, so I’m giving you 10 ways your can do your part for the world.
Tip #1: Your hot water heater has a thermostat that is often kept at temperatures that are much hotter than is required to keep the water hot. About 140 degrees Fahrenheit is an appropriate temperature for your water heater. This helps because less energy is being used to keep your water hot, so less fossil fuels are needed to create the energy and less pollution is given off. It may not seem like it would have a great effect on the earth being just one water heater, but if everyone adjusted their water heater thermostat it would surely help.
Tip#2: Plant trees anywhere you can. Trees use co2 to live and give off oxygen, and co2 in the atmosphere is a main contributor to global warming. Global warming is causing the slow melting of the polar ice caps, which is a major concern for every living thing on earth. Do your part to save our earth and plant a tree in your yard.
Tip#3: Power down game systems and computers when they are not in use, and turn off the lights. This tip has been around for ages, and for a good reason. Electricity is made in factories mainly by the use of fossil fuels. As in the water heater tip, less electricity means less fossil fuels and less pollution.
Tip#4: Take a cloth bag when you go shopping, plastic and paper bags end up as waste. By taking a cloth bag you are reducing the number of shopping bags in land fills which pollute our earth. The more people you can get in on this one the better it will be.
Tip#5: Donate your old clothes. It takes energy to power the factories that make clothes, so by donating your old clothes you are reducing the need for factories to create more, even if it is only on a small scale. Also it helps because clothes are a necessity and people will always be able to use them. Places like Goodwill and the Salvation Army would be good candidates for a place to donate them to.
Tip#6: Walk to places that are near your home. Anytime you can avoid driving you are helping keep the carbon dioxide levels down, and they are a key issue in the global warming issue the world is facing. For example instead of driving your car 3 blocks to school make time to leave a little earlier and walk instead.
Tip#7: Recycle materials whenever possible. Most paper, plastic, and some metallic everyday items are recyclable. Recycling items helps save our earths natural resources and keep the planet from being totally covered in waste. Also try to only buy items that you know are recyclable, if you have the option take it.
Tip #8: Weatherize your house. If you insulate the cracks under doors and windows you will significantly lower the amount of energy that you use. The reason is that quite a bit of cool air can escape from under a door in summer and quite a bit of warm air can escape in the winter. Besides helping our planet, you will also be helping your wallet.
Tip9#: See about getting solar panels installed on your home. This may seem costly, but eventually with what you save on your electric bills the panels will pay for themselves. Again this goes back to using less energy to help reduce fossil fuel use.
Tip# 10: Use energy saving light bulbs in your home. This is another tip that can help the globe and your wallet. Energy saving light bulbs use far less energy and actually pay for them selves on the first electric bill you get, so there isn’t actually a reason not to get them.
Now that you know at least 10 ways to help make our earth a greener place, get out there and do your part for the planet (and save some money in the process).
Sources for tips: http://www.panda.org/how_you_can_help/greenliving/at_home/
http://greenliving.suite101.com/article.cfm/understanding_green_living
http://www.practicalenvironmentalist.com/21-practical-ways-to-help-the-environment
Tattoos By Madi
Tattoos have all different meanings, art, color, shapes, sizes, and stories. Yeah they’re rad and what not, but there is a lot of risks and responsibilities that go along with them. Unlike the drawings you or your friends draw on each other, these don’t wash off over night. . .or ever.
So here are some things to consider before getting one.
What do I want? The way I see it is our bodies are like a blank canvas, it’s another way to express oneself in artwork. There are so many different ideas, I think that tattoos with a lot of thought and/or meaning behind them make them so much better. although it is a smart choice to take the time to think of what you want instead of rushing to get one because you think there
Will I still want to see this on me when I’m older? A lot of younger adults think it’s a sweet idea to get tattoos of pointless things. EX: Yeah tinker bell is cute, and you might be feeling whoever band’s music it is until you get older and regret getting it. Why waste money, and go through pain on something you could end up hating years down the road. This older lady comes in my work all the time, and has a tattoo of a fairy on a shroom. It’s a cover up for a crappy tat she got before. I think the mushrooms cool but she tells me all the time that she hates it.
Where do I want it at? Everybody has different desired areas where they want it at and there are a lot of options. So choose carefully. do you want to have a decent job when i'm older? If you answered yes, I highly suggest not getting them anywhere visible. Ex: wrist, arms, neck, ears, and face. You don’t want to have to wear uncomfortable clothing all year long just to cover them up. If you plain on working at Supervalu, Papa Johns, McDonalds an all those other great places to work ha them go right ahead. Yes there are some exceptions where nicer paying jobs do allow tattoos, but good luck finding one.
Where to get my tat? In a shop? Personally I think tattoo shops are way too expensive, but I guess that’s the price of getting almost a 99.9% safe and decent tattoo. They have licenses and are certified to do their job. There is always going to be a chance that something could go wrong. It just depends if you are allergic to the material, or your body won’t take the ink properly. This is the Best choice, way safer, more clean and sterile, and most likely have a better out come. Yes they can be very costly, but totally worth it.
Out of a shop? If you decide to get inked out of shop, remember you took matters into your own hands. Which means what happens, happens. Its risky and can be very dangerous. The best that could happen is you get what you want, how you want it, and save tons of money. Ex: my tat on my back cost me $30, at a shop they would have charged me $150. Worse case scenario you spend money on a crappy piece that didn’t turn out how you wanted it to, and will be there forever and maybe get blood diseases like: hepatitis C, hepatitis B, tetanus, tuberculosis, and HIV, that will stay forever too. Definitely not worth it. So I don’t advise getting one like that unless you know what you’re getting into.
So to wrap it up. Take time to think about it, be patient, be picky, and be smart about it.
The Addiction Generation
By Mandy Brockmeier
Every generation has its addiction. Something we crave, want, can’t go without. The need pulses through our veins, whispers lovingly in our consciences, tempts us to give in to our self proclaimed idols and regretfully, we do just this, promising that it’s the final goodbye. Our generation has been enslaved by a craving so powerful that everyone knows its name, The Energy Drink.
As time progresses the world gains speed and we are transformed into human pinball machines. We are flung about in a fast forward position that leaves us drained, confused and longing for a well needed break. In such a fast paced, busy body world, we search through the dark for assistance and stumble upon the energy drink. And like an ancient curse mistakenly released, it has consumed and enslaved our unsuspecting world.
Energy drinks give us a boost that allows us to work harder, longer and with more concentration throughout the day. They allow us to keep pace with the world and in some cases tell it to eat our dust. They are the answer to our tired, burnt out; desperate prayers and we worship their existence through our jumpstarted hearts and pounding footsteps. They gift us with a well needed rush, but what do they take in return?
What happens when we pray to our rush instilling Gods and fall prey to their wrath? What do we sacrifice for their power? What we sacrifice to our sugary, caffeine ridden Gods is our health and mentality. (Not too much to ask.) Energy drinks high in certain ingredients, such as caffeine, carry many risks. In return for our worship and devotion, energy drinks gift us with the following risks: energy drinks have been known to instill nervousness, insomnia, heart palpitations, tremors, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, chest pain, and various neurological symptoms.
The consequences of this unconditional religion are increased in people with poor health and when taken in great amounts can lead to dangers such as caffeine overdose. And in mixing with previously existing conditions, energy drinks can have disastrous effects on the human body. A momentary possession of energy has its side effects in other ways as well. When taken by the sugar ridden spirits personalities can become altered. You become jittery, tap your hands and feet, get over excited, find yourself in lapses of confusion and become irritable. The rush overcomes your senses and judgment and reality deems you as something other than what you are, a Jekyll and Hyde monster.
Following the slightly spiritual uplifting provided by our God-like potions is a terrible crash and burn aftermath. Energy drinks only provide this power for a few hours before abandoning their sense heightening effects and this is due to the high levels of caffeine and sugar. The gods have used you to promote their cause and toss you aside to continue their domination. Tired and fearing the approaching day, you pray for a boost and reach for another energy drink. It is a fatal mistake on your part. You are now addicted to a substance known as caffeine and suffer from a dependency which could cause a decline in your health and mental status.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has allowed these idols to be marketed but has not yet conducted major research of long term effects. Energy drinks have just recently come to power in the last few years and the consumer of this faith must face an important decision, to pray and fall prey to potential harm or to replace the energy drink with a healthier, potentially safer addiction. Should an energy drink label really contain our epitaph?
Energy drinks are not the gods we make them out to be. They are not the solution to keeping up in our fast paced world and offer only harm in the long run. The extreme amounts of sugar and caffeine mix to create our demise and the brief boost we crave is not enough to suffer the aftermath of exhaustion. The loving embrace they offer is extended with rose thorn arms and to continue embracing them is to continue a slow descent. There is only one way to keep pace with our lifestyles, and that is to slow down before we burn out.
Popular Energy Drink Facts
Beverage |
Amount of Sugar |
Amount of Caffeine |
Guarana |
Taurine |
Mountain Dew (12 ounces) |
47g |
55mg |
none |
none |
Tea (green) 8 ounces |
0g |
25mg |
none |
none |
Red Bull (8ounces) |
27g |
80mg |
none |
yes |
Rock Star (16 ounces) |
62g |
151mg |
yes |
yes |
Monster (16 ounces) |
54g |
160mg |
yes |
yes |
5 Hour Energy (2 ounces) |
None |
138mg |
none |
yes |
Coffee |
None until added |
80-135mg |
none |
none |
Full Throttle (16 ounces) |
58g |
144mg |
yes |
yes |
Teacher Of the Month- Mr. Hebel
Madi Merritt
How long have you been working here?
5 years.
If you weren’t already a teacher, what would your dream job be?
A rock star!
What’s your favorite band ever?
The Cure, Robert smith is amazing.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love boating, camping, and fishing.
Favorite TV show & Character?
Family guy-Chris
Worst pet peeve?
People who eat mayonnaise, and wear it on their lips.
Favorite restaurant?
Gourmet chili. There Breakfast Special
[[3-eggs, toast, and bacon]]
If you could travel back in time, and watch an event, what would it be?
1969 Woodstock!
Just to see all the different acts like The Who, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and Janis Joplin.
Did you enjoy your summer?
Absolutely!
But it went by way to fast.
The Almighty IPod
By Mandy Brockmeier
Music. The driving force of the universe. It soothes the tortured soul, calms the savage beast and lulls us into daily life with a sweet caress of the eardrum. It is the universal drug floating through space like candid daydreams just waiting to befriend and encourage our minds. It is a wild and untamed thing that enraptures us with tones and melodies that possess our bodies and speak to us in drumbeat symphonies. This bodiless sedation has danced through the ages and in a final silken twirl has finally been captured as our personal song bird. The cage that houses such a beauteous element? The IPod.
From records to tape cassettes, to cd players and finally the mp3, our captured elixir of soul and sound has evolved to the modern day IPod and has birthed an obsession in its wake. IPods have fought valiantly against an array of contending mp3s, sending each in a retreating crawl against their vain superiority. Apple has morphed sleek and seducing designs with a quality performance machine to create the perfect cage for our song birds. Furthermore, the IPod has introduced new features to feed our media driven appetites such as, video, photo, and game capabilities.
The IPod is the new “must have” of our addiction generation and this miracle cure to silence comes in many flavors to bring our musical tastes to submission. As our personal tunes lifeline through head phones, and sweet melodies chase our demons away, the IPod is enrapt with a golden splendor and will forever be praised. Until the next generation of technological contenders arises to meet and defeat the highly set expectations Apple has branded unto the song bird obsessed world. Who knows what will arise from the ashes…………..
PRODUCT |
SONG CAPACITY |
VIDEO CAPACITY |
SPACE |
BATTERY LIFE |
COLOR |
PRICE |
CHARGE TIME |
IPod Shuffle |
2gb up to 500 songs |
N/A |
2gb and 4gb |
10 hours |
White, black, blue, green, pink |
2gb $59 |
3 hours |
Exclusive IPod Shuffle |
4gb up to 1000 songs |
N/A |
4gb |
10 hours |
Stainless steel |
$99 |
3 hours |
IPod Nano |
8gb up to 2000 songs |
8gb up to 8 hours |
8gb and 16gb |
Audio up to 24 hours |
White, black, purple, blue, green, orange, pink. Exclusive colors: yellow and red |
8gb $149 |
3 hours |
IPod Classic |
40,000 songs |
200 hours |
160gb |
Audio up to 36 hours |
White and black |
160gb $249 |
4 hours |
IPod Touch 8gb |
1750 songs |
10 hours |
8gb |
Audio up to 30 hours |
white |
8gb $199 |
4 hours |
IPod Touch 32 and 64gb |
32gb up to 7000 songs |
32gb up to 40 hours; |
32gb and 64gb |
Audio up to 30 hours |
white |
32gb $299 |
4 hours |
These are some of the many musical flavors Apple has designed for us to consume in splendorous experience. There are other mp3 players out there in the shadows also popularized but not quite idolized as the IPod has grown to be. Depending on the amount of storage you want or the budget you are restricted to, the chart above can use its magical organizational skills to help you in your decision. Not exactly up to date with our fast paced society? Or are you just clueless when it comes to any type of technology whatsoever? Welcome to my world. Here are some links to sites that may answer your deepest, darkest technical questions….
http://www.topicpoint.com/ipod_help/index.html
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/help/
http://www.macworld.com/
Teen Driving
By- Madi Merritt
I just recently got my temps last August. I went to a mandatory driving class at Simon Kenton High last week so I can get my licenses when I’m suppose to. I really didn’t want to go, but im kinda glad that I did now. It was really boring , an I didn’t care to much for the fact it was like being in school for an extra 4 hours, but I did learned a lot. Cars are not toys, I know this first hand from all the bad luck that I’v had with them, being inside and out.
In 1995 Kentucky was number 1 in the U.S. for the most accidents an fatalities, since then we have improved, but we are still in the top 10.
Facts:
- A teenager is killed in a car crash on the average of every 64 minutes.
- A teenager is injured in a car crash every 55 seconds.
- 85% of crashes by 16-year-olds are attributed to driver error.
- More than 50% of fatal crashes involving teens occur between 3 p.m.and midnight and 54% occur on weekends.
- Studies show there is no relationship between a teen’s report card and driving behavior.
- In a 2007 teen driving study, 64% of teen drivers said they speed, and 62% admitted to using a cell phone while driving and 33% said they don’t regularly wear seat belts.
- Teen drivers are four times more likely to crash than older drivers.
- Crash risk has been proven to be significantly higher during the first year that teenagers are eligible to drive.
- Car crashes are far and away the leading cause of death among teens.
Distracted driving is deadly driving, you could take yours eyes off the road for one second, and that one second could be your last. Yes, I think driving is a privilege, and when you do drive your full attention should be on the road at all times not only to save your life, but others as well.
Animal rights
By- Madi Merritt
Did you know that in 2007 over 1,880 animal cruelty cases were reported. Imagine how many weren’t reported, and how many there are now…
Hundreds of innocent pets and companions are being mistreated every year. Having a pet is a huge responsibility. They require a lot of the same things we do, food, water, shelter, and love. Some people are so anxious to get a pet, they don’t even think about the things that come along with having one. Pets want to spend a lot of time an get a lot of attention from their owners, as well as they always need to be fed, some need to be trained, cleaned up after, groomed, and get there shots an check ups regularly, and don’t forget they can live for quite some time too.
Their cute and cuddliness seem to distract people from thinking realistically about the situation. Everybody thinks puppies and kittens are adorable and fun, but what about when they grow up? Will you still like it, can you afford having it, will you still spend time with it? Ruining furniture, breaking stuff, using the floor as a bathroom, and costing you lots of money is something to expect. Some people lose their interest and care, and some cant handle the responsibility, or afford having a pet. You would think that if the owner couldn’t have it anymore he/she would try to find it another home. Sadly that doesn’t always happen though . . . getting dropped off somewhere strange, or abandoned when their owners move, left alone with nothing seems to be happening alot.
I especially don’t understand why people would even bother having an animal if their just going to keep it chained up outside of the house 24/7, and not even acknowledge or care that its so skinny from not being fed you can see bones sticking out. I hate when I see people with like a thousand pets they don’t even take care of. Some people think that spaying and neutering is cruel, but whats really cruel is not doing it and having more animals then you can handle. Not saying names but I know someone who is LOADED with cats. My heart goes out to them really its so sad, their covered in flees, they got puse coming out of their eyes, the litter box is ridiculous, an they eat out of nasty food bowls. Those poor cats are very unhealthy an its all because the owner didn’t get them fixed. What started as 2 cats is now 20, that aren’t being properly taken care of and are suffering from some ones ignorance.
Not all but a lot of breeders use there animals specifically for making a profit, they don’t care about the animals well being, they just want the money. Over-breeding females cause serious health problems for not only them but there babies, and can also result in the babies being deformed or the mother possibly dying. Sometimes they hoard way more animals then they even know what to do with, stuffing as many as they can possibly cram into a small cage. Animals can’t speak for themselves, but we can. There are so many things we can do to help. If you know someone who is abusing animals please don’t ignore it, report it.
Wrapped in Debt Inspired Bows
By Mandy Brockmeier
Bells entertain the breeze, snowflakes romance the chill in the air and ice masquerades the plain texture of life leaving the world glowing in wide-eyed wonder. Snowmen spring into spirited existence and dance with the imagination of easily delighted children in their simple meaningfully meaningless rituals that holiday commands of them. Hot chocolate overtakes the senses and melts away anxieties and doubts leaving only joy and peace to infest once chaotic minds. Christmas is love, Christmas is magic, Christmas is everything good. Until Santa creeps back up the chimney having left magnificent awe inspiring presents wrapped in worry and decorated with debt inspired bows.
Christmas is the time of year where worries and burdens should be laid to rest. One day of happiness, reunited family and newly realized values shouldn’t come with an enormous price tag. Love shouldn’t need a fancy bow or expensive gift to be known. You just can’t buy emotion, especially with our current economy. Some suggestions and solutions I have stumbled across while searching the words of advice radiating blogs and the Almighty Google are as followed.
- Shop online for discounts and bargains. Some online sites offer substantial discounts on many gifts that may catch your eye and save your budget from expanding to terrifying proportions. There are also special items that don’t reach stores and this opens your options helping you make just the right purchase. Here are some websites that may interest you on your gifting adventures.
http://www.google.com/products
http://www.overstock.com/
http://www.wholesalemart.com/Wholesale-Backpacks-s/231.htm
- Start saving money now. Putting aside even a few dollars a week can help your christmas budget grow into something you can be proud of. A little sacrifice here and there will add up to that warm fuzzy feeling that giving can leave you with. And isn’t that more important than spending your money on a new cd or video game? When you can give to others and make them feel special? A little spare change adds up over time and the sooner you start saving, the larger your budget grows.
- Be creative. Make your own gift. It can be something like coupons for free babysitting, not complaining about chores, washing the cat, etc. Or it can be something personalized like a scrapbook that will forever keep your memories entombed between timeless pages. Or even something as simple as a personalized card. Something unique will surely be remembered over the normal christmas storm of everyday things and will show that you value the time you spend with that person.
- When all else fails, bake something, request an I.O.U. , or bring to life the true spirit of christmas. Sweets are universal. They signify caring and warmth and bring back childhood memories to re experience and converse about. They inspire sharing and making memories and just give off an enjoyable feeling. When everything else fails request an I.O.U. Promise to make it up in the future or promise an amazing gift next holiday or next year. But be sure to follow through.
And lastly, Christmas isn’t about expensive gifts, who spends the most money or who has the most money spent on them, it’s about getting together with people you care about ( or who annoy you to impossible extents) and sharing stories over vast amounts of food and airs of something magical. It’s about connecting and showing emotion, trading love and hate and just having fun with the people you are close to. Materials can never replace that feeling and money can never buy it. There is only one word to describe that strange, joy instilling feeling that wipes away worry and burdens just for one day, and that is Christmas.
The Game of Life
By Mandy Brockmeier
The spinner twirls in a hi-speed chase of chance as the future teasingly evades the present in a spending of an anticipated breath. Cards are randomly jumbled, mixed and matched until fate enlivens the hand to spell out its destiny. Pieces advance turn by turn in a silent competitive run of Tortoise and Hare proportions and faces contort with the possession of unbridled happiness and vengeful defeat as the board neatly commands them to live out their decisions.
Life is a game and randomness is the driving force. It requires no consequences on ill fated decisions and no commitment to the role placed upon you. It is a temporary facade that mocks the complexity of the real thing. Real life is not a game. Real decisions have real consequence and choices aren’t limited to a handful they are limitless and can engulf you in their massive existence. Commitment isn’t based on the roll of dice and enslavement of spaces it is based on your decisions. And decisions are everything.
High school is a card we are all dealt. We all are put in the situation of facing social and academic challenges and share the shackles of a twelve year mentoring. High school is the essential building block to a future and we are students to the ways of life before we are thrust into the untamed grasp of it. We get second chances and the path is laid out for us in yellow brick road expectancy. But life is another entity entirely. There are no restarts and there are no definite rules of survival. Life is consequence come to reap its effect. It is a type of free floating suspension that requires you to make your own decisions and accept the fact that every decision can be transfigured into a mistake to bear. Life is a tangled web of possibilities and each strand has its own cosmic effect that reverberates in the direction you take. So the question remains to leach upon your mind. What will you make of your life?
When High School disappears with football team memories sinking in the mud and cheerleader spotlights fading to dark, a rain of adventure descends upon us and inspires us to start anew. There are many options to consider when puzzling out your future and planning out your dreams.
One such option is college. College is the right choice for you if you wish to further your education and embark on a career path. It can open your mind to new things and can help you in the job market. A High School diploma just doesn’t cut it nowadays. A step further with college can increase your chances and improve your resume to make you stand out amongst other prospective applicants. The downside to opening this chapter in your life is the cost. College can be very expensive but cost should not be a deterrent to education. If you have high grades you can of course earn scholarships and if grades aren’t your highlight then student loans, government grants, work study programs and other such things exist to aide you in your progress.
Another option is to attend a trade school where you learn hands on skills such as carpentry, masonry, plumbing and other such things. You go into work as an apprentice and after passing a test are certified at your trade. You can use that to be hired under a company or can eventually open up your own business. But every business faces both the glamour of success and the threat of defeat. So this option may not apply to those afraid of taking risks.
You can also choose to be a public service official such as a paramedic, postal worker, or a police officer. Some positions in this field require college and these jobs entail working with people and being able to handle social and stressful situations.
Other options include going into the military. They will pay your way through college but require you to serve a limited time under their forces. Some cons to this are the time spent away from friends and family, the danger that follows this decision and the commitment that is sewn into uniform. If violence and death aren’t worth the benefits of education and travel then the military is something to steer clear of.
One last option is to go straight to work after graduating high school. This is an option to consider if you need time to save money for school or to figure out what to do with your life. If it offers no advancement then you should plan to move on with your life. Life is about growing and exploring and if you get stuck in a dead end job then life’s greatest joys and wonders can be denied to you.
Though the challenges and choices are great, you will have to pick your own way. Dice commitments are no longer in play and the cards you are given do not determine your final decision or the course of your life. Life is something to be celebrated not hated and make sure your choices are what you truly want because redo’s and second chances are rare to impossible in today’s life.
New Years' Resolutions -By Madi Merritt
In the beginning of every year, its common for most of us to set some sort of goal for ourselves to achieve or accomplish before the year ends. Whether it’s to loss weight, graduate, quit smoking, buy a car, use your money more wisely, get a promotion, or to be a better person. You could also look at it as an opportunity to start off completely fresh with a new slate, and attitude. Maybe last year wasn’t so great, but why dwell on it? Its already done an over with, so why not proceed to go forward with life an take what it has to offer. It’s the perfect opportunity to revaluate and think about how you want your year to be. Not everybody sticks with there goal, depending on how busy, hectic, and stressful life is, maybe they lost interest or are just lazy. Regardless here are 7 ways to stick to ANY goal:
1. Make it non-negotiable.
Don't talk yourself out of doing it.
2. Make it actionable.
Have a specific goal you want to do, and a make a plan to reach it. Ex: go to sleep 30 minutes earlier so you can wake up and exercise in the morning.
3. Set a deadline.
Mark it on your calendar, what your wanting to accomplish by such an such a date, and how much improvement you’ve made.
4. Schedule it in.
Write workouts or other healthy actions in your planner and treat them like appointments.
5. Find solutions for your usual excuses.
Write down your most common reasons for not doing something, and brainstorm strategies to deal with them.
6. Do it daily.
The more something is part of your everyday life, the less you'll have to think about it.
7. Change your focus.
Look at what you've accomplished as opposed to what you still have to do. Pat yourself on the back!