By: Ashten Elliott
In 1995 the original Jumanji came to theatres the movie’s plot revolved around a magical board game which caused the jungle in which the game took place to come to life. The movie is based on a children’s book of the same name. The movie was released to meh reviews as though it was enjoyable to watch it had a bland story and poor use of characters. Years later in 2017, the Jumanji series returned with Jumanji welcome to the jungle. The plot of this movie was the same as the original however the board game is replaced with a video game. This movie got more favorable reviews as the set pieces remained but this time with a more streamlined story resulting in a more rounded experience. I enjoyed Welcome to the Jungle as it was funny with a great cast and wonderful world. This isn’t the end of the series either as Jumanji the next level the sequel to welcome to the jungle is coming out this December 14th so that’s good. Of course with the concept of a board game that brings its players into its world, there has to be a physical game to go along with it and there is. The board game is just called Jumanji and is very similar to the one in the movie. The game is played in a really nice wooden box and is a basic roll the dice and have something happen type of game. The game can be played with up to four players and the goal is to get to the center of the board before everyone else. Every time someone lands on a blank space you draw a card and roll dice to escape the card’s trap each person has to roll the corresponding symbol or you lose a life and the card is placed on the board if this happens eight times then everyone loses. If you land on a rhino space the rhino goes in front of your piece and you can choose to go back one space or go back the number rolled until someone else lands on a rhino space. If you land on the 5 or 8 space you have to roll one of those numbers to go forward and if you land in the jungle space you go through a lot of trap cards. Overall the game is pretty fun simple but fun my biggest complaint would probably be the dice used to escape traps as they just have stickers on them so they fall off easily other than that the game is pretty fun.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Year Round Schooling- The Pros and Cons
By: Tess Lampe
It wasn’t until about 1970 when the concept of year-round schooling began to become a reality. From that year on, you would assume that year-round school schedules would become more popular because by now it’s been around for approximately 50 years. However, that is on the contrary of the reality with today’s schools. Only about four percent of schools in the United States run on year-round school schedules, which leaves plenty of room for criticisms to be made.
Year-round school schedules make the amount of days students go to school more drawn out instead of waking most of it in one or two chunks of a given year. Usually, traditional school systems have students and teachers go to school for 180 days, giving them small breaks in between and a large summer break. However, with year-round schedules, students and staff attend school for only about six to nine weeks which are separated by two to four week breaks. This means that school is in session for about two months and there is a break that lasts about a month, depending on how long the school decides on for certain breaks. Since 1970, many people have attended and worked in schools that run on this type of schedule. Consequently, many pros and cons have been discovered about this nontraditional and new schedule.
Many people who believe that year-round schooling is a good schedule and may be better than normal schedules often say that this type of schedule decreases the amount of long disruption in the school year. Additionally, many also say that because there isn’t a large break in the middle of the year that students can remember the information they were taught prior to the break more easily. Mary Brown, a woman who teaches at a year-round school, stated that her students did not seem to face any disruption, “Our schedule offers the kids a break from school right when they need it. They didn’t have the bored, glazed-over look of kids who had been at school for weeks on end with no break in sight.” To further this argument, a teacher at Indianola school said, “When you get a three week break in the fall and a three week break in March, it’s absolutely rejuvenating.”
On the other hand, many believe that not only do year-round schools cause disturbances and stress upon the students, but they interfere with sports, summer jobs, and family vacations. Patricia McCracken, who attended a year-round school, said, “It was really hard to get involved in the work because as soon as you geared up, you had to gear back down.” In addition, Tenney School said, “It’s difficult to build a strong team when you’re taking a three-week break in the middle of every semester - and games and competitions will still take place during the break, since most districts are still on a standard schedule.” Families often find childcare like babysitters or daycares to look after their children while the adults go to work. Tenney School continued to say how a year-round school schedule can make that quite difficult, “Instead of simply knowing that it will be necessary to do something different over the summer, it’s necessary to find quality childcare every few weeks.”
Year-round schooling has proven many of the points made previously, pros and cons. However, it is evident that a very small percentage of schools in the United States use year-round school schedules because it is something very different from the traditional, normal, and familiarized schedule of 180 days with a summer break. Many more schools will most likely continue to adapt to this schedule, but it is unlikely that all ever will. The schedule itself definitely has its pros and cons, but schools themselves get to choose what seems right for them and their community of people.
https://www.tenneyschool.com/advantages-disadvantages-year-round-school/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qzA5-InPFkcgA2Wsfet1b6R9IygzWFIS-qwLdVilh7g/edit
https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/school-involvement/pros-and-cons-year-round-schools.html
Year-round school schedules make the amount of days students go to school more drawn out instead of waking most of it in one or two chunks of a given year. Usually, traditional school systems have students and teachers go to school for 180 days, giving them small breaks in between and a large summer break. However, with year-round schedules, students and staff attend school for only about six to nine weeks which are separated by two to four week breaks. This means that school is in session for about two months and there is a break that lasts about a month, depending on how long the school decides on for certain breaks. Since 1970, many people have attended and worked in schools that run on this type of schedule. Consequently, many pros and cons have been discovered about this nontraditional and new schedule.
Many people who believe that year-round schooling is a good schedule and may be better than normal schedules often say that this type of schedule decreases the amount of long disruption in the school year. Additionally, many also say that because there isn’t a large break in the middle of the year that students can remember the information they were taught prior to the break more easily. Mary Brown, a woman who teaches at a year-round school, stated that her students did not seem to face any disruption, “Our schedule offers the kids a break from school right when they need it. They didn’t have the bored, glazed-over look of kids who had been at school for weeks on end with no break in sight.” To further this argument, a teacher at Indianola school said, “When you get a three week break in the fall and a three week break in March, it’s absolutely rejuvenating.”
On the other hand, many believe that not only do year-round schools cause disturbances and stress upon the students, but they interfere with sports, summer jobs, and family vacations. Patricia McCracken, who attended a year-round school, said, “It was really hard to get involved in the work because as soon as you geared up, you had to gear back down.” In addition, Tenney School said, “It’s difficult to build a strong team when you’re taking a three-week break in the middle of every semester - and games and competitions will still take place during the break, since most districts are still on a standard schedule.” Families often find childcare like babysitters or daycares to look after their children while the adults go to work. Tenney School continued to say how a year-round school schedule can make that quite difficult, “Instead of simply knowing that it will be necessary to do something different over the summer, it’s necessary to find quality childcare every few weeks.”
Year-round schooling has proven many of the points made previously, pros and cons. However, it is evident that a very small percentage of schools in the United States use year-round school schedules because it is something very different from the traditional, normal, and familiarized schedule of 180 days with a summer break. Many more schools will most likely continue to adapt to this schedule, but it is unlikely that all ever will. The schedule itself definitely has its pros and cons, but schools themselves get to choose what seems right for them and their community of people.
https://www.tenneyschool.com/advantages-disadvantages-year-round-school/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qzA5-InPFkcgA2Wsfet1b6R9IygzWFIS-qwLdVilh7g/edit
https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/school-involvement/pros-and-cons-year-round-schools.html
Types of Homework
By: Grace Litterer
Well, let’s continue this school-based blog series with a page of me complaining about homework. Now, this may come as a shock to you, or it may not. Either way, you should know, there are many different types of homework. There’s good; there’s bad; there’s confusing. Lucky for you, you get a detailed list of all of them right here.
Let’s start off with PIE Homework, as in Easy-As-Pie. Now, in my experience, this homework is English homework. This is different for everyone, but generally, for me, English is the easiest. PIE Homework is time-consuming, yet you can do it while watching Netflix, or listening to music. PIE Homework is the homework that you do first. You know that you can get it done, and you don’t have to stress about it. PIE Homework gives you the best feeling in the world, understanding. It’s a good day in student-life when you understand an assignment and can avoid that mental breakdown that has been building for a week.
The next type of homework is Not Well-Explained Homework, the NWE homework. Now, I was going to try to find a fun little name for this type of homework, but per the fact that this type of homework makes me overwhelmingly angry, I can’t think about it for too long. NWE homework is homework that often gets assigned in many classes. Students often respond to this type of homework in three ways. The first, and my own personal response, is to spend hours on it. They do all of their research, find all they can about the topic, anything to help them get an ounce of understanding about what they have to turn in the next day. After an hour and a half, the situation can get pretty ugly. The second is to do the assignment out of spite. The general thought process is “If he thinks he can just get away with giving us homework and not explaining it, he deserves to get crappy, half-done answers.” At this point in time, you may be wondering, just go ask that teacher a question about it. Now the only answer I can give to that is when? There is so much that is expected of students that it’s hard to find time to do anything. The final way students respond is to flat out not do it. I am proud to say that I have never done this. However, I can’t even explain the temptation that this provides every student. For every NWE assignment, there is a student that considers taking a zero for mental health reasons.
Well, let’s continue this school-based blog series with a page of me complaining about homework. Now, this may come as a shock to you, or it may not. Either way, you should know, there are many different types of homework. There’s good; there’s bad; there’s confusing. Lucky for you, you get a detailed list of all of them right here.
Let’s start off with PIE Homework, as in Easy-As-Pie. Now, in my experience, this homework is English homework. This is different for everyone, but generally, for me, English is the easiest. PIE Homework is time-consuming, yet you can do it while watching Netflix, or listening to music. PIE Homework is the homework that you do first. You know that you can get it done, and you don’t have to stress about it. PIE Homework gives you the best feeling in the world, understanding. It’s a good day in student-life when you understand an assignment and can avoid that mental breakdown that has been building for a week.
The next type of homework is Not Well-Explained Homework, the NWE homework. Now, I was going to try to find a fun little name for this type of homework, but per the fact that this type of homework makes me overwhelmingly angry, I can’t think about it for too long. NWE homework is homework that often gets assigned in many classes. Students often respond to this type of homework in three ways. The first, and my own personal response, is to spend hours on it. They do all of their research, find all they can about the topic, anything to help them get an ounce of understanding about what they have to turn in the next day. After an hour and a half, the situation can get pretty ugly. The second is to do the assignment out of spite. The general thought process is “If he thinks he can just get away with giving us homework and not explaining it, he deserves to get crappy, half-done answers.” At this point in time, you may be wondering, just go ask that teacher a question about it. Now the only answer I can give to that is when? There is so much that is expected of students that it’s hard to find time to do anything. The final way students respond is to flat out not do it. I am proud to say that I have never done this. However, I can’t even explain the temptation that this provides every student. For every NWE assignment, there is a student that considers taking a zero for mental health reasons.
As you’ve probably guessed, I have quite a bit more to say about the different types of homework. Maybe I will make a part two. Who knows? But for now, I will leave it at the fact that all students, or at least all students middle school age and older, know that there are different types of homework assignments. Stay tuned for next time when you get the second half of the exclusive Types of Homework list.
Illmatic by Nas Review
By: Cole Negen
The year is 1994. Some of the best Hip-Hop music, albums that will stand the test of time, are being made in this year. Notorious B.I.G’s Ready to Die, Outkast’s debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, and of course, Nas’s Illmatic. This was Nas’s debut after appearing on multiple tracks as a feature throughout the early 90’s, as well as having his own single “Halftime” in 1992. Growing up in the projects of Queensbridge in New York City, Nas had a lot of connections to people within the industry. Illmatic production wise was in great hands, as Nas had contributions from DJ Premier, Large Professor, Q-Tip, Pete Rock, L.E.S. and executive produced by MC Serch. So Nas had a lot of backing behind him heading into this debut. The production all throughout the album layers smooth soul and jazz samples over heavy percussion and bass. The loops used through the instrumentals aren’t that unique or exquisite, but are smooth and paint a perfect backdrop for Nas to rap over. Whether it is an aggressive track laced with jazz loops to add a beautiful contrast, like on NY State of Mind, or just a misty and smooth instrumental for Nas to paint a picture with, like on One Love, every track’s production is spot on. But the main focus of this record, and the reason it is so important even still today, is Nas’s rapping. Nas uses these simple and smooth instrumentals to tell stories of living in the projects, as well as his run-ins with gang violence and drug dealing. Nas’s words come off as poetic, painting the perfect picture of what he is trying to portray.
On NY State of Mind, Nas raps for about 2 ½ minutes straight on his first verse, as well as on his second verse to really eat up and fill its 4 ½ minute run time. He tells grim tales of drug dealing in Queensbridge. On the third track, Life’s a B****, Nas and his feature artist AZ talk about how they know they are destined to die one day, but also how they want to live for tomorrow, leaving the track off with a hopeful tone to contrast the depressing title and point of view. The World is Yours is another upbeat track, where Nas talks about how the world is his, but also that the world is yours, being the listener. Nas also talks about his place in the rap game as well as his projected takeover. The track uses bright piano keys and a golden hook, providing the background for Nas’s upbeat message. On Halftime, Nas flexes his poetic muscles, once again talking about his place in the rap game, this time a bit more aggressively. On Memory Lane (Sittin in the Park), Nas takes a very nostalgic tone. The bright piano and background vocals really set the tone, while Nas talks about his upbringing as well as the people in his life, some who have been lost to gang violence. One Love is one of the more creative concepts on the record, as Nas’s verses act as a letter to a friend of his who is in jail. Nas writes to him talking about what is happening in Queensbridge, with smooth Xylophone setting sort of a gloomy yet hopeful tone. Q-Tip provides a simple but sticky hook to tie it all up beautifully. One Time for Your Mind is one of the weaker spots on the album, not that it is bad, it actually is quite good. But when put up against all the other tracks in the tracklist, it proves to be the blandest and most uneventful. Represent is a cold-blooded ballad, where Nas goes hard spitting about gang violence and his upbringing once again. On this track however, Nas comes across as braggadocious and in your face. He sounds like a hungry 18 year old kid trying to make a statement. The hook is also the best on the record, with members of his group of friends yelling “Represent! Represent!” adding to the in-your-face attitude Nas delivers on this track. The production includes some icy bells, driving drums that keep the song moving at an urgent pace. Wrapping the whole thing up is one of my personal favorites, It Ain’t Hard to Tell. Nas once again shows off his poetry skills, by illustrating beautiful pictures and using figurative language, which comes off as hungry and clean. Behind him, the instrumental uses a great saxophone and soul sample, providing once again a misty and cold atmosphere.
Illmatic doesn’t stand out by it’s uniqueness, or it’s game-changing style or really by its themes. What it stands out in, and why it is so influential, is that Nas took this sound, this style, this genre, and did it better than anyone else, period. It isn’t lengthy, just 10 tracks. The production and delivery is simple, nothing expensive or new. But Nas just had a hunger and a drive to really make it in the rap game. He set out to make a project that was not only good music, but was a surreal experience. He wanted to use his talents to make something that would expand your mind, and that’s exactly what he delivered. The album, plain and simple, is just Nas doing Hip-Hop better than anyone else has ever done it, or probably will ever do it. In a time when Hip-Hop was in its early years, Nas delivered an album so textbook, but at the same time clicked on all cylinders, to the point where it is hard to imagine someone out-doing it. It isn’t for everyone but if you like Hip-Hop or want to get in to Hip-Hop, there isn’t anywhere better to start than this.
The year is 1994. Some of the best Hip-Hop music, albums that will stand the test of time, are being made in this year. Notorious B.I.G’s Ready to Die, Outkast’s debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, and of course, Nas’s Illmatic. This was Nas’s debut after appearing on multiple tracks as a feature throughout the early 90’s, as well as having his own single “Halftime” in 1992. Growing up in the projects of Queensbridge in New York City, Nas had a lot of connections to people within the industry. Illmatic production wise was in great hands, as Nas had contributions from DJ Premier, Large Professor, Q-Tip, Pete Rock, L.E.S. and executive produced by MC Serch. So Nas had a lot of backing behind him heading into this debut. The production all throughout the album layers smooth soul and jazz samples over heavy percussion and bass. The loops used through the instrumentals aren’t that unique or exquisite, but are smooth and paint a perfect backdrop for Nas to rap over. Whether it is an aggressive track laced with jazz loops to add a beautiful contrast, like on NY State of Mind, or just a misty and smooth instrumental for Nas to paint a picture with, like on One Love, every track’s production is spot on. But the main focus of this record, and the reason it is so important even still today, is Nas’s rapping. Nas uses these simple and smooth instrumentals to tell stories of living in the projects, as well as his run-ins with gang violence and drug dealing. Nas’s words come off as poetic, painting the perfect picture of what he is trying to portray.
On NY State of Mind, Nas raps for about 2 ½ minutes straight on his first verse, as well as on his second verse to really eat up and fill its 4 ½ minute run time. He tells grim tales of drug dealing in Queensbridge. On the third track, Life’s a B****, Nas and his feature artist AZ talk about how they know they are destined to die one day, but also how they want to live for tomorrow, leaving the track off with a hopeful tone to contrast the depressing title and point of view. The World is Yours is another upbeat track, where Nas talks about how the world is his, but also that the world is yours, being the listener. Nas also talks about his place in the rap game as well as his projected takeover. The track uses bright piano keys and a golden hook, providing the background for Nas’s upbeat message. On Halftime, Nas flexes his poetic muscles, once again talking about his place in the rap game, this time a bit more aggressively. On Memory Lane (Sittin in the Park), Nas takes a very nostalgic tone. The bright piano and background vocals really set the tone, while Nas talks about his upbringing as well as the people in his life, some who have been lost to gang violence. One Love is one of the more creative concepts on the record, as Nas’s verses act as a letter to a friend of his who is in jail. Nas writes to him talking about what is happening in Queensbridge, with smooth Xylophone setting sort of a gloomy yet hopeful tone. Q-Tip provides a simple but sticky hook to tie it all up beautifully. One Time for Your Mind is one of the weaker spots on the album, not that it is bad, it actually is quite good. But when put up against all the other tracks in the tracklist, it proves to be the blandest and most uneventful. Represent is a cold-blooded ballad, where Nas goes hard spitting about gang violence and his upbringing once again. On this track however, Nas comes across as braggadocious and in your face. He sounds like a hungry 18 year old kid trying to make a statement. The hook is also the best on the record, with members of his group of friends yelling “Represent! Represent!” adding to the in-your-face attitude Nas delivers on this track. The production includes some icy bells, driving drums that keep the song moving at an urgent pace. Wrapping the whole thing up is one of my personal favorites, It Ain’t Hard to Tell. Nas once again shows off his poetry skills, by illustrating beautiful pictures and using figurative language, which comes off as hungry and clean. Behind him, the instrumental uses a great saxophone and soul sample, providing once again a misty and cold atmosphere.
Illmatic doesn’t stand out by it’s uniqueness, or it’s game-changing style or really by its themes. What it stands out in, and why it is so influential, is that Nas took this sound, this style, this genre, and did it better than anyone else, period. It isn’t lengthy, just 10 tracks. The production and delivery is simple, nothing expensive or new. But Nas just had a hunger and a drive to really make it in the rap game. He set out to make a project that was not only good music, but was a surreal experience. He wanted to use his talents to make something that would expand your mind, and that’s exactly what he delivered. The album, plain and simple, is just Nas doing Hip-Hop better than anyone else has ever done it, or probably will ever do it. In a time when Hip-Hop was in its early years, Nas delivered an album so textbook, but at the same time clicked on all cylinders, to the point where it is hard to imagine someone out-doing it. It isn’t for everyone but if you like Hip-Hop or want to get in to Hip-Hop, there isn’t anywhere better to start than this.
Yosemite
By: Katie Stirling
Vacations have always been something that I enjoy and look forward to. I love traveling and seeing new things. Experiencing something different is full of new and exciting things.
Last July, my family went to California. We flew from Des Moines to San Fransico. The first night we stayed in a hotel in the city. Big cities are absolutely nothing like Clarksville. There are so many more buildings, lights, people, businesses, restaurants, etc.
After the first night, we headed for Yosemite National Park. There was a huge difference in the scenery. In Yosemite, everywhere you look are trees, mountains, rocks, streams, animals, snow, and much more. The amount of walking and hiking we did in these eight days is crazy. We saw several, several miles of incredible, natural beauty.
One of my favorite things we did was hiking the Mist Trail. This consisted of walking right next to Vernal Fall, a 317-foot waterfall. There were very long, steep steps you had to climb in order to do this, and got soaking wet in the process. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. We literally walked through a rainbow while hiking this trail.
Another cool thing we did was visit Mariposa Grove. This is a place filled with giant Sequoia trees. These trees are wider and taller than imaginable. One of the most noticeable ones there is the Grizzly Giant. It is 209 feet tall and has a circumference of 96 feet at its base. This is almost as tall as the Statue of Liberty.
We also rafted the Merced River, visited the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, saw the Pacific Ocean, and walked along the shore in San Francisco. We ate at so many great restaurants and bought lots of things in several gift shops. This vacation was definitely one that I won’t ever forget, and I’m so thankful I got to experience it.
Vacations have always been something that I enjoy and look forward to. I love traveling and seeing new things. Experiencing something different is full of new and exciting things.
Last July, my family went to California. We flew from Des Moines to San Fransico. The first night we stayed in a hotel in the city. Big cities are absolutely nothing like Clarksville. There are so many more buildings, lights, people, businesses, restaurants, etc.
After the first night, we headed for Yosemite National Park. There was a huge difference in the scenery. In Yosemite, everywhere you look are trees, mountains, rocks, streams, animals, snow, and much more. The amount of walking and hiking we did in these eight days is crazy. We saw several, several miles of incredible, natural beauty.
One of my favorite things we did was hiking the Mist Trail. This consisted of walking right next to Vernal Fall, a 317-foot waterfall. There were very long, steep steps you had to climb in order to do this, and got soaking wet in the process. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. We literally walked through a rainbow while hiking this trail.
Another cool thing we did was visit Mariposa Grove. This is a place filled with giant Sequoia trees. These trees are wider and taller than imaginable. One of the most noticeable ones there is the Grizzly Giant. It is 209 feet tall and has a circumference of 96 feet at its base. This is almost as tall as the Statue of Liberty.
We also rafted the Merced River, visited the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, saw the Pacific Ocean, and walked along the shore in San Francisco. We ate at so many great restaurants and bought lots of things in several gift shops. This vacation was definitely one that I won’t ever forget, and I’m so thankful I got to experience it.
Getting a Job
By: Kori Wedeking
Interviews can make or break you when trying to get a job. They can be a huge dealbreaker. According to The Undercover Recruiter, there are several tips to have the perfect interview. These tips could be the reason for you getting a job.
The first tip is to study the company. Not many people think to look into what the company is, what they do, and any current issues going on with the company. The interviewer could possibly ask questions about the company, so it is wise to read up on it before you get in there. Doing this proves to the interviewer that you know what you are talking about and are willing to put in effort for the job you are applying for.
The second tip is to know your resume. There could be several questions based on your resume that the interviewer could ask. Knowing your resume will create credibility that the resume is true. If you can speak intelligently about your past positions, the interviewer will be impressed and you have a better chance of success.
Making eye contact is another huge tip. Eye contact seems like something easy to do, but it can be more challenging than it sounds. Eye contact shows confidence and high self-esteem. These are two qualities that all employers want in their employees. It is important to maintain eye contact while you speak and listen.
The fourth tip is body language. Like eye contact, body language can display confidence and high self-esteem. Some simple body language tips are to sit straight up and stick your chest out a little. These are very easy things to do that will definitely put you on the right path to success. Along with this, having good posture and body language could possibly make you stick out to the interviewer more than other candidates.
The final tip is to follow up quickly. After an interview, you should send a thank-you note to the interview. A handwritten note is best, but an email would also be fine. Decisions on who will receive a job position can be made quickly, so the faster you send a thank you the better.
These are just some of the many tips that will help you have a great interview. These tips will not guarantee that you get the job, but they do put you on the right path. A big part of interviews is to be yourself and act natural. So, the next time you are preparing for an interview, keep these tips in mind.
Interviews can make or break you when trying to get a job. They can be a huge dealbreaker. According to The Undercover Recruiter, there are several tips to have the perfect interview. These tips could be the reason for you getting a job.
The first tip is to study the company. Not many people think to look into what the company is, what they do, and any current issues going on with the company. The interviewer could possibly ask questions about the company, so it is wise to read up on it before you get in there. Doing this proves to the interviewer that you know what you are talking about and are willing to put in effort for the job you are applying for.
The second tip is to know your resume. There could be several questions based on your resume that the interviewer could ask. Knowing your resume will create credibility that the resume is true. If you can speak intelligently about your past positions, the interviewer will be impressed and you have a better chance of success.
Making eye contact is another huge tip. Eye contact seems like something easy to do, but it can be more challenging than it sounds. Eye contact shows confidence and high self-esteem. These are two qualities that all employers want in their employees. It is important to maintain eye contact while you speak and listen.
The fourth tip is body language. Like eye contact, body language can display confidence and high self-esteem. Some simple body language tips are to sit straight up and stick your chest out a little. These are very easy things to do that will definitely put you on the right path to success. Along with this, having good posture and body language could possibly make you stick out to the interviewer more than other candidates.
The final tip is to follow up quickly. After an interview, you should send a thank-you note to the interview. A handwritten note is best, but an email would also be fine. Decisions on who will receive a job position can be made quickly, so the faster you send a thank you the better.
These are just some of the many tips that will help you have a great interview. These tips will not guarantee that you get the job, but they do put you on the right path. A big part of interviews is to be yourself and act natural. So, the next time you are preparing for an interview, keep these tips in mind.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Professional Athletes Get Paid Too Much
By: Kori Wedeking
Professional athletes make a ridiculous amount of money. Clayton Kershaw, a baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, got paid $30 million in one year. Phil Mickelson, a golfer, got paid $50.8 million in one year. Kobe Bryant, a basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, made $25 million in one year. Cristiano Ronaldo, a Madrid Soccer player, made $79 million in just one year. These numbers are crazy to think about and might be too high.
Professional athletes put a lot of time and effort into playing sports. They spend countless hours each day trying to improve. They put their body’s through a lot of hard workouts. They go on certain diets that probably are not the most appetizing. They have to have a good, tough mentality every day. They have to sacrifice a ton, including spending a lot of time away from their families, friends, and home. Despite all this, should professional athletes be making millions of dollars each year?
I do not think that professional athletes should make quite this much money. There are people in the military, policemen, firemen, and plenty of other hardworking people that get paid far too little. The average salary of someone in the military who is sacrificing their life for their country is only $20,000 to $30,000. This is a microscopic amount of money compared to the millions of dollars made by professional athletes. People are risking their lives and do not make as much as people playing a game. There are even surgeons who have years and years of college and internships who still do not make nearly as much as professional athletes. Along with this, there are millions of people with cancer, autism, down syndrome, and many other diseases and disorders. I think that some of the money used to pay professional could be given to charities to find cures and help those struggling to pay hospital bills.
Even though professional athletes do work very hard, I do not think that they deserve quite as much money as they are earning. If the amount of money professional athletes made per year was reduced, there would be extra money to be spent. That money could be used to raise the salaries of important, low paying jobs. That money could be used to help find cures for diseases. That money could help people struggling to keep up with hospital bills. There are thousands of beneficial ways that the extra money from professional athletes could be used, so maybe it is time that we consider reducing professional athletes’ salaries to do so.
Professional athletes make a ridiculous amount of money. Clayton Kershaw, a baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, got paid $30 million in one year. Phil Mickelson, a golfer, got paid $50.8 million in one year. Kobe Bryant, a basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, made $25 million in one year. Cristiano Ronaldo, a Madrid Soccer player, made $79 million in just one year. These numbers are crazy to think about and might be too high.
Professional athletes put a lot of time and effort into playing sports. They spend countless hours each day trying to improve. They put their body’s through a lot of hard workouts. They go on certain diets that probably are not the most appetizing. They have to have a good, tough mentality every day. They have to sacrifice a ton, including spending a lot of time away from their families, friends, and home. Despite all this, should professional athletes be making millions of dollars each year?
I do not think that professional athletes should make quite this much money. There are people in the military, policemen, firemen, and plenty of other hardworking people that get paid far too little. The average salary of someone in the military who is sacrificing their life for their country is only $20,000 to $30,000. This is a microscopic amount of money compared to the millions of dollars made by professional athletes. People are risking their lives and do not make as much as people playing a game. There are even surgeons who have years and years of college and internships who still do not make nearly as much as professional athletes. Along with this, there are millions of people with cancer, autism, down syndrome, and many other diseases and disorders. I think that some of the money used to pay professional could be given to charities to find cures and help those struggling to pay hospital bills.
Even though professional athletes do work very hard, I do not think that they deserve quite as much money as they are earning. If the amount of money professional athletes made per year was reduced, there would be extra money to be spent. That money could be used to raise the salaries of important, low paying jobs. That money could be used to help find cures for diseases. That money could help people struggling to keep up with hospital bills. There are thousands of beneficial ways that the extra money from professional athletes could be used, so maybe it is time that we consider reducing professional athletes’ salaries to do so.
Chicago Trip
By: Katie Stirling
Every other year the members of the band and vocal groups take a trip to Chicago, Illinois. A lot of the students enjoy this and look forward to it.
Every student has to pay the same amount of money to go. We have a couple different fundraisers to help raise this money. A few include selling butter braids in the fall and selling cheesecake in the spring. This helps many students out in getting enough money for the trip. There are a lot of people in the school and the community who love to get butter braids or cheesecake.
We go to Chicago around the end of April. We take a charter bus there and back. We spend two days and one night there. We all stay in a hotel.
We do many fun activities while we are there. One of the main things we do is go to a Cubs game at Wrigley field. This is always a favorite that students like, especially the Cubs fans. Sometimes it gets very cold at the game, so we always make sure we pack a lot of warm clothes.
Another thing we do is eat at Gino’s pizza. This is a very cool restaurant that mostly everyone enjoys. The pizza is delicious here. We also visit the Navy Pier which is a 3,300 foot long pier that runs along Lake Michigan. There is a ferris wheel that people can ride and there’s several different attractions. People have different options on places to eat also.
We usually go to a play in Chicago while we are there. A couple years ago, we went to see Cinderella. It was very interesting and entertaining, and they made it a lot like the actual story.
Another thing we visited was Cloud Gate. This is another thing that I thought was really cool.
Overall, the Chicago trip is very fun and I’m glad we get to go on it. A lot of students enjoy this too, and I hope we continue to do it.
Every other year the members of the band and vocal groups take a trip to Chicago, Illinois. A lot of the students enjoy this and look forward to it.
Every student has to pay the same amount of money to go. We have a couple different fundraisers to help raise this money. A few include selling butter braids in the fall and selling cheesecake in the spring. This helps many students out in getting enough money for the trip. There are a lot of people in the school and the community who love to get butter braids or cheesecake.
We go to Chicago around the end of April. We take a charter bus there and back. We spend two days and one night there. We all stay in a hotel.
We do many fun activities while we are there. One of the main things we do is go to a Cubs game at Wrigley field. This is always a favorite that students like, especially the Cubs fans. Sometimes it gets very cold at the game, so we always make sure we pack a lot of warm clothes.
Another thing we do is eat at Gino’s pizza. This is a very cool restaurant that mostly everyone enjoys. The pizza is delicious here. We also visit the Navy Pier which is a 3,300 foot long pier that runs along Lake Michigan. There is a ferris wheel that people can ride and there’s several different attractions. People have different options on places to eat also.
We usually go to a play in Chicago while we are there. A couple years ago, we went to see Cinderella. It was very interesting and entertaining, and they made it a lot like the actual story.
Another thing we visited was Cloud Gate. This is another thing that I thought was really cool.
Overall, the Chicago trip is very fun and I’m glad we get to go on it. A lot of students enjoy this too, and I hope we continue to do it.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a Masterpiece
By: Cole Negen
Red Dead Redemption 2 came out October 26, 2018. It was highly anticipated by players everywhere and blew those expectations out of the water. Starting with the story, Red Dead Redemption 2 acts as a prelude to the events of Red Dead Redemption. It follows the Van der Linde gang, a group of bandits in 1890s. You play as Arthur Morgan, a bank robber and bandit who joined the gang as a young boy and was raised by Dutch Van der Linde and Hosea Matthews. As Arthur, you run around doing missions and easter eggs and slowly progress the story along. Throughout the story, you make interactions with the other gang members (of which there are 21). Each member brings something unique in terms of personality and attitude, some you love, some you hate. While the gang runs around, robbing banks, homes, and trains, they are tracked by the Pinkerton Detective Agency. The Van der Linde gang is one of the few remaining groups from the Wild West era, which is seemingly dying throughout the game, as large cities can be found in some places while total western villages can be found other places. All of this mixes in for a heart-wrenching conclusion that you have to play to play for yourself to find out.
The game has a plethora of missions to do around an extremely large map. The entire playing area once unlocked could take you up to 30 minutes to walk from one side to the other… on a horse! The game also includes easter eggs and side missions that range from historical, to weird, to even a bit mystical. You can become a bounty hunter and make money hunting criminals. You can get your fortune told by wandering gypsys, or you can go hunt legendary animals.
The game also has a ton of customization features to play around with, making everyone’s experience truly unique. You can customize weapons, clothing, horses, and Arthur’s facial hair.
Red Dead Redemption is a total immersion into a world of criminals and killers, but also into a world of family and loyalty. The game doesn’t take long to grab your interest and will have you wanting to play more and more of it as if you were binge watching a series on Netflix. The game has something everyone can truly appreciate about it and I would very, very, very, very strongly recommend this game to just about anyone.
Red Dead Redemption 2 came out October 26, 2018. It was highly anticipated by players everywhere and blew those expectations out of the water. Starting with the story, Red Dead Redemption 2 acts as a prelude to the events of Red Dead Redemption. It follows the Van der Linde gang, a group of bandits in 1890s. You play as Arthur Morgan, a bank robber and bandit who joined the gang as a young boy and was raised by Dutch Van der Linde and Hosea Matthews. As Arthur, you run around doing missions and easter eggs and slowly progress the story along. Throughout the story, you make interactions with the other gang members (of which there are 21). Each member brings something unique in terms of personality and attitude, some you love, some you hate. While the gang runs around, robbing banks, homes, and trains, they are tracked by the Pinkerton Detective Agency. The Van der Linde gang is one of the few remaining groups from the Wild West era, which is seemingly dying throughout the game, as large cities can be found in some places while total western villages can be found other places. All of this mixes in for a heart-wrenching conclusion that you have to play to play for yourself to find out.
The game has a plethora of missions to do around an extremely large map. The entire playing area once unlocked could take you up to 30 minutes to walk from one side to the other… on a horse! The game also includes easter eggs and side missions that range from historical, to weird, to even a bit mystical. You can become a bounty hunter and make money hunting criminals. You can get your fortune told by wandering gypsys, or you can go hunt legendary animals.
The game also has a ton of customization features to play around with, making everyone’s experience truly unique. You can customize weapons, clothing, horses, and Arthur’s facial hair.
Red Dead Redemption is a total immersion into a world of criminals and killers, but also into a world of family and loyalty. The game doesn’t take long to grab your interest and will have you wanting to play more and more of it as if you were binge watching a series on Netflix. The game has something everyone can truly appreciate about it and I would very, very, very, very strongly recommend this game to just about anyone.
Why We Need to Read
By: Ainsley Lovrien
Reading is something that some may rather enjoy, but most people don’t. Scientists say that reading is actually good for you and it helps your mind. Today, scientific studies have shown that reading makes you smarter. For example, reading a novel increases blood flow and connectivity in the brain.
Reading can introduce you to new ideas and can help you solve problems. Your analytical thinking stimulates from reading. Like, figuring out a mystery in a book series before the characters figure it out. Reading helps you solve problems, detect patterns, and assimilate new information as if you were living in the character’s shoes.
Reading can help you become a better writer for classes, newspaper articles, and papers. When you read, your body tends to absorb the good writing techniques and vocabulary in the story. When you write, you may copy those techniques that got your attention. Reading also enhances your spelling and vocabulary. As you read, you find new words to converse with and use them to your advantage.
Reading strengthens your convictions and world-view. When you read a book with concurring world-view, it reinforces your convictions. If you read a book with opposing world-view, it broadens your perspective and causes you to examine your beliefs and your search for truth. Reading some books with this concept, you may view characters differently and realize how real, beautiful, and personal they are.
Reading challenges your imagination. As you are reading, you put yourselves in the character’s shoes. Your brain may go beyond words on the page, imagining details such as, appearances, emotions, and surroundings.
Reading is something that some may rather enjoy, but most people don’t. Scientists say that reading is actually good for you and it helps your mind. Today, scientific studies have shown that reading makes you smarter. For example, reading a novel increases blood flow and connectivity in the brain.
Reading can introduce you to new ideas and can help you solve problems. Your analytical thinking stimulates from reading. Like, figuring out a mystery in a book series before the characters figure it out. Reading helps you solve problems, detect patterns, and assimilate new information as if you were living in the character’s shoes.
Reading can help you become a better writer for classes, newspaper articles, and papers. When you read, your body tends to absorb the good writing techniques and vocabulary in the story. When you write, you may copy those techniques that got your attention. Reading also enhances your spelling and vocabulary. As you read, you find new words to converse with and use them to your advantage.
Reading strengthens your convictions and world-view. When you read a book with concurring world-view, it reinforces your convictions. If you read a book with opposing world-view, it broadens your perspective and causes you to examine your beliefs and your search for truth. Reading some books with this concept, you may view characters differently and realize how real, beautiful, and personal they are.
Reading challenges your imagination. As you are reading, you put yourselves in the character’s shoes. Your brain may go beyond words on the page, imagining details such as, appearances, emotions, and surroundings.
Conclusion
By: Grace Litterer
This is it. The conclusion to an epic series, or at least what I would like to think is an epic series. Due to the fact that I am not a senior, I can’t tell you about life as a senior. I could make some stuff up about how it is the most stressful year, how it’s weird that all of your older friends are gone, and about how you have to start filling out scholarships and preparing for college, which is all true. However, I have yet to experience that for myself. I can’t speak from personal experience, as much as I would like to. Instead, I would like to conclude my series that I have made.
First, we started out with 7th grade. Just like all of the middle school years, 7th-grade year is a rough year. They are new to the high school/middle school scene, and you can certainly tell. Hallway walking problems and annoying 8th-grader define everyone’s 7th-grade year.
Next, came 8th grade. Eighth-grade year is, of course, defined by pesky 7th graders and lectures about leadership. No one said 8th-grade year is the best year, but it is better than 7th grade.
Up next is freshman year. Yet again, you are at the bottom of the barrel. Such a high last year, top of the middle school is followed by such a low this year. Freshman year is a fun time in everyone’s life. It’s the year that is defined by firsts, first homecoming dance, first year of high school sports, and first year of high school classes. You can’t say that freshman year isn’t memorable.
As I’ve said before, sophomore year isn’t all that interesting. It has its highs, and it has its lows. You get your license, which is fun, but you also get another, harder year of classes. But hey, at least your not a freshman.
Finally, you’ve got your junior year. I will try to keep it short, even though I’ve got quite a bit to say. Junior year is a lot of tests. Junior year is getting the “prepare for your future speech”. It’s a “Wow, I only have one more year,”-attitude. It’s a lot, but it’s part of the high school experience.
This is it. The conclusion to an epic series, or at least what I would like to think is an epic series. Due to the fact that I am not a senior, I can’t tell you about life as a senior. I could make some stuff up about how it is the most stressful year, how it’s weird that all of your older friends are gone, and about how you have to start filling out scholarships and preparing for college, which is all true. However, I have yet to experience that for myself. I can’t speak from personal experience, as much as I would like to. Instead, I would like to conclude my series that I have made.
First, we started out with 7th grade. Just like all of the middle school years, 7th-grade year is a rough year. They are new to the high school/middle school scene, and you can certainly tell. Hallway walking problems and annoying 8th-grader define everyone’s 7th-grade year.
Next, came 8th grade. Eighth-grade year is, of course, defined by pesky 7th graders and lectures about leadership. No one said 8th-grade year is the best year, but it is better than 7th grade.
Up next is freshman year. Yet again, you are at the bottom of the barrel. Such a high last year, top of the middle school is followed by such a low this year. Freshman year is a fun time in everyone’s life. It’s the year that is defined by firsts, first homecoming dance, first year of high school sports, and first year of high school classes. You can’t say that freshman year isn’t memorable.
As I’ve said before, sophomore year isn’t all that interesting. It has its highs, and it has its lows. You get your license, which is fun, but you also get another, harder year of classes. But hey, at least your not a freshman.
Finally, you’ve got your junior year. I will try to keep it short, even though I’ve got quite a bit to say. Junior year is a lot of tests. Junior year is getting the “prepare for your future speech”. It’s a “Wow, I only have one more year,”-attitude. It’s a lot, but it’s part of the high school experience.
Mental Disorders and Their Presentation Within The 13%
By: Tess Lampe
13%
That’s the percentage of people out of the global population suffer from any type of mental illness, as stated in a previously published blog about mental health. The definition of mental illness or mental health disorder is something that includes many mental health conditions that affect your mood, thinking, and behavior. There is a such thing as a mental health concern, but that concern becomes a mental illness when the continuation of symptoms are present, which may result in stress and could interfere with one’s functioning ability. The exact cause of mental illness is not known for certain, but as mentioned in the past, research has shown that biology, psychology, environmental related matters, or a combination of those factors are all great contributors to certain conditions.
Biological factors that can often lead to mental illness include abnormal functioning of nerve cell circuits or pathways, defects/injury in certain parts of the brain, genetics (heredity), infections, prenatal damage, substance use, poor nutrition, and exposure to toxins. Psychological factors can include severe psychological trauma such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, early loss (losing a parent for example), neglect of failing to be cared for, or poor ability to relate to others. Finally, environmental factors that contribute to mental illness often include death or divorce, bad family life, low self-esteem, anxiety, anger, loneliness, change in job or school, social or cultural expectations, and substance abuse by the person in question or by a loved one.
There are many mental illnesses out there and each one is different for each individual who suffers from one. The following are the most well known mental disorders: depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia), and schizophrenia. Other well known illnesses include alcohol and drug use disorders, multiple personality disorder, dementia, and others. Each one of these mental health conditions have their own symptoms that characterize them and treatments that work for each one, although many of the treatments used are shared with similar conditions. Because it is quite hard for those without a mental illness to understand the topic, the following information given is given to give a better sense of understanding.
Depression is a disorder that negatively affects your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Because the condition can be anywhere from mild to severe, the intensity of the depressive disorder varies and presents itself differently for each individual with the condition. Typically, symptoms must last at least two weeks for a diagnosis to be made when it comes to depression. Proved in a study, about one in six people experience depression, those of which are usually those in their teens or mid-20s. Depression is often confused with grief or general sadness, but they definitely have their differences. It is quite common for feelings of sadness to present themselves when certain situations call for it, like losing a loved one. In grief, self-esteem is often stable and sad thoughts are linked with positive memories or thoughts. However, grief or the loss of a loved one can lead to a sort of depression for some. When depression and grief co-exist or “work together,” the grief feelings can be more intense and long-lasting. Despite this, grief and depression are different. Symptoms of depression include the following: feeling sad or having a saddened mood, loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy, changes in appetite (weight loss or weight gain), trouble sleeping or getting too much sleep, purposeless activity (pacing or fidgeting), slowed movements and speech, feeling of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, thoughts of death or suicide, excessive crying, hunger or fatigue (tiredness/loss of energy), repeatedly turning to the same thoughts, and much more. As stated before, these symptoms can vary in frequency and intensity based on the individual experiencing them. Therefore, certain treatments are meant to be used for certain people, even though many of them have proved effective on most. Those treatments include medication, psychotherapy (talk therapy or problem solving therapy), and electroconvulsive therapy, which is only used on those who have not responded well to other treatments. The purpose of it is to give the patient a brief electrical stimulation to the brain while under anesthesia. A small percentage of people actually have to use this though because about 80-90% of those with any depression level respond well to previous and general treatments. Additionally, coping is different for each person. Healthy coping mechanisms for this illness can include regular exercise, being on a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol, doing enjoyable things, etc.
When it comes to anxiety disorders, they are usually within people who have suffered the symptoms for at least six months, causing it to interfere with their daily life. Feeling anxious is very normal because it is the body’s natural way of dealing with stress. This type of anxiety come every once in a while and does not interfere with one’s day-to-day life or activities. On the other hand, anxiety disorders cause one to feel fear, apprehension, worry, etc. almost all of the time. It can stop someone from doing things they enjoy, and in severe cases, can stop one from completing simple tasks like leaving the house, crossing the street, or even getting into an elevator. It can also affect anyone at almost any age. Further, a study showed that women are more likely to be diagnosed with it than men. There are many different anxiety disorders, which are the following: panic disorder - repetition of panic attacks at unsuspected times, causing fear of the next. Phobia - extreme fear of an object, situation, or activity. Social anxiety disorder - intense fear of being judged by others in social situations. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - repetition of irrational or unreasonable thoughts that lead to specific repeated behaviors. Separation anxiety disorder - fear of being away from home or loved ones. Illness anxiety disorder - anxiety relating to one’s health. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - anxiety and fear following a traumatic event. Generalized anxiety disorder - ongoing, uncontrollable worry that often interferes with daily activities and interactions. With these many anxiety disorders comes many symptoms, most of them common throughout all anxiety. These many symptoms include increased heart rate, quick breathing, restlessness or not being able to relax, trouble concentrating, difficulty with sleep, racing or unwanted thoughts, lack of energy or too much energy, worrying and fear, nausea, trembling, overthinking, thinking of the worst case scenario, fear of making the wrong decision, etc. Anxiety attacks are also common, which is when one experiences an overwhelming or large amount of fear, apprehension, or worry. The main treatment used for anxiety is medication. Coping mechanisms and other effective treatments include sleep, meditation, being active, avoiding alcohol & caffeine, and not smoking.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes shifts in mood, energy, activity, and the ability to do daily things. As with anxiety, there are a few disorders that fall under the umbrella term “bipolar,” those being bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, cyclothymic disorder (cyclothymia), and any other disorder closely related to bipolar that may be unspecified. In summary, bipolar I disorder is characterized by manic or elevated and excited mood episodes that last about seven days. Depressive episodes usually last around two weeks. These episodes often get so intense that the person would need immediate hospital care. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by a pattern of manic episodes that are not nearly as intense, but happen more frequently. Cyclothymia is characterized by many periods of manic and depressive episodes that usually last at least 1-2 years. Other disorders would be those that don’t necessarily match the previously stated disorders. General symptoms of these disorders can include intense emotion, changes in sleep and activity levels, and other unusual behaviors. This is called a mood episode, which often includes mania and depressive states. Symptoms of manic episodes often include feeling “high,” “up,” or very happy, having a lot of energy, increased activity levels, feeling jumpy, trouble sleeping, talking very fast, feeling irritable or easily annoyed/angered, wanting to do a lot at once, and doing risky things. Symptoms of depressive episodes include feeling sad or empty, having little energy, decreased activity levels, trouble sleeping or getting too much sleep, feeling like you can’t enjoy anything, trouble concentrating, forgetting things, eating too much or too little, feeling slow and tired, and thoughts of death or suicide. Those with bipolar disorder are more likely to seek out help in one of these depressive episodes. A mood episode can include both depressive and manic episodes, which can lead to further problems seeing that they are completely opposing behaviors. Similarly, hypomania, a milder version of mania, often leads a person to feel very good, productive, and as if nothing is wrong. Many of these symptoms can also lead to or include psychosis, which is characterized by hallucinations, delusions (a belief of something despite being opposed by rational argument), etc. Medication and psychotherapy is a commonly used, effective treatment for bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, it is a lifelong illness that often comes back to a person over time. Because the disorder presents itself differently in each person, the symptoms can be long-lasting, slightly lingering, and some people can have no mood shifts at all.
As with bipolar disorder, there are three major and specific eating disorders, those being anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. These are characterized by disturbances or negative changes in one’s eating behaviors and thoughts/emotions relating to those behaviors. They also make one become completely occupied with food and weight. Eating disorders may affect many people, those mainly being women of ages 12-35. Those with anorexia and bulimia tend to be perfectionistic and have low self-esteem, which causes them to be very critical of their own bodies. They often “feel fat,” think that they are overweight, and because of this, some even cause themselves life-threatening starvation. This intense fear of gaining weight is very serious. Anorexia nervosa is usually diagnosed to those who have 15% less than the healthy weight expected for their height. The symptoms of anorexia include limiting one’s self to the food they eat, fear of being “fat,” problems with body image, and denial of having a low body weight. Those with anorexia nervosa also refuse to eat frequently, exercise a lot, and force themselves to vomit or use laxatives to lose weight. Over time, the following symptoms become the result of this: stop of menstrual periods, osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), brittle hair & nails, dry & yellowish skin, mild anemia (iron deficiency & lack of red blood cells), muscles wasting away, constipation, low blood pressure, slow breathing, slow pulse, low body temperature, and depression. These symptoms almost always lead to serious health problems, so the first step when it comes to treatment begins with regaining weight to a healthy level. Along with many other mental disorders, psychotherapy is a common treatment used that helps with the emotional problems that accompany a mental illness.
On the other hand, bulimia nervosa can present itself in those of any weight. Those with bulimia nervosa binge eat frequently. This means that they can eat a lot of food in a short amount of time, sometimes even eating so quickly that they don’t taste the food. These binges usually end when someone interrupts, the person in question falls asleep, or their stomach aches from being stretched. When binging, those with bulimia feel out of control. Afterwards, the pain and fear of weight gain contributes to why those with bulimia nervosa force themselves to throw up or use laxatives. This behavior can be repeated several times a week, and in severe cases, several times a day. Because people usually hide their binges well and they are not usually incredibly thin, it is not easy to notice that one has the disorder. The symptoms that can be noticed are inflamed & sore throat, glands in the neck and jaw become swollen, cheeks become puffy, teeth enamel is weakened, constant vomiting, possible kidney problems, severe dehydration from purging, and more. It can lead to fatal results as well, including gastric ruptures (intestine rupture or burst) or cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). The first step to treating bulimia nervosa is to break the cycle of binging-purging. Psychotherapy and certain medications are also used with bulimia as well as anorexia.
Binge-eating disorder is much like bulimia in a sense. It is characterized by several episodes of binge eating where one consumes a large amount of food in a short period of time, making them feel out of control. However, those with binge-eating disorder do not try to rid the food of their body afterwards like many with bulimia do. Binging happens much over time and can lead to serious conditions like obesity, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and cardiovascular (heart) diseases. Symptoms that accompany binge-eating disorder may be frequent overeating during a certain period of time, loss of control while eating, eating quicker than normal, eating until feeling uncomfortably or painfully full, eating a large quantity of food when one isn’t hungry, eating alone because of embarrassment one may feel by how much they are eating, feeling disgusted with oneself, feeling depressed or guilty after eating, feeling distressed (anxiety or pain), etc. Much like bulimia, the treatment often beings with breaking the binging cycle. Psychotherapy, general medical care, and specific medicines are a few common and useful treatments to follow. All of these treatments are used to rebuild one’s physical and emotional well-being and their healthy eating habits.
Additionally, Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, trouble thinking, low motivation, and more. Further, it is a chronic (long-lasting, long-term, and sometimes incurable) brain disorder. It is also the lowest-affecting mental disorder, only affecting less than one percent of the U.S. population and about 0.3% of the global population, which is about 20 million people. Although some treatments can decrease the effects of symptoms that come with schizophrenia, it is an incurable and lifelong disorder. Contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia is not characterized by having a split personality or multiple personalities (which is actually called dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder), nor are they dangerous, violent, and they don’t live in hospitals. Additionally, research shows that those with schizophrenia die younger than the general population due to high rates of medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes. The disorder also brings about episodes of being unable to see the difference between what is real and what is not. Frequency and duration often vary, but severe symptoms tend to decrease as time moves on in one’s life. However, by not following treatments & medical care, abusing substances, and experiencing stressful situations can sometimes increase the frequency of intense symptoms. These symptoms can be very different and belong to separate categories. Positive psychotic symptoms: hallucinations, hearing voices, paranoid delusions, exaggerated perceptions (the ability to become aware through the senses), beliefs, and behaviors. Negative symptoms: loss of the ability to put plans into action, speak, express or show emotion, or find enjoyment. Disorganization symptoms: confused and unstable thinking and speech, trouble with logical thinking, bizarre (strange or unusual) behavior, and unusual or abnormal movements. Impaired cognition: trouble with paying attention, troubled concentration, memory, and low educational performance. These symptoms usually present themselves in late teens or early adulthood. Treatments, though there is no cure, include meditation, psychotherapy, and other stress-reducing activities. Antipsychotic meditations are also effective as a treatment.
In conclusion, mental health is not at all to be taken lightly. Despite the stigma and shame that is often placed around it, that does not mean that having a mental illness is something to feel guilty for. Treating those with mental illnesses well and with care is important, just like it is for everyone else. If you have one or multiple mental disorders, the research and experience shows that living with it can be hard at times. This is why as many people as possible should try to help those suffering. Most of these disorders can be clinically diagnosed and can be treated with many types of therapy, most commonly psychotherapy. Seeking therapy is a great thing, so if you or someone you know is suffering, make sure to reach out in some way. Any more information that you may want to know can be provided by various reliable sources.
(Sources Below):
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20369243
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CARWXF_enUS810&ei=vGyeXYSWEsL8tAWJ2Y2AAg&q=disassociative+identity+disorder&oq=disassociative+identity+disorder&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i10l10.333119.344034..344149...8.0..0.171.4949.0j38......0....1..gws-wiz.....6..0i362i308i154i357j0i67j0j0i131j0i273.-ZA1atLSeaE&ved=0ahUKEwiE5LD1qZDlAhVCPq0KHYlsAyAQ4dUDCAs&uact=5&safe=active&ssui=on
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders
https://www.google.com/search?q=manic&rlz=1CARWXF_enUS810&oq=manic&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j0j69i60j69i61l2j69i60.1081j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml#targetText=Bipolar%20disorder%2C%20also%20known%20as,%2C%20energy%2C%20and%20activity%20levels.
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CARWXF_enUS810&ei=YQCeXZHTC4Ge-gT3oYTIDQ&q=anxiety+symptoms&oq=anxiety+symptoms&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l10.130893.136236..136370...4.1..0.133.1694.7j9......0....1..gws-wiz.....6..0i71j0i362i308i154i357j0i67j0i131.nbOJUQz23KI&ved=0ahUKEwjRh6zKwo_lAhUBj54KHfcQAdkQ4dUDCAs&uact=5&safe=active&ssui=on
https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety#disorders
https://www.google.com/search?q=symptoms+of+depression&rlz=1CARWXF_enUS810&oq=symptoms+of+depression&aqs=chrome.0.0l6.2921j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-causes-mental-illness#1
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20360803#targetText=It's%20normal%20to%20feel%20anxious,sign%20of%20generalized%20anxiety%20disorder.
The History of Mario Kart
By Morgan Jacobs
Mario Kart is a popular game that has recently come back into the news with Nintendo’s release of mobile version of the game. The game was made by Nintendo as a spin off from it’s trademark Super Mario series as a go karting styled racing game. The first release of this game came out in 1992 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and was made for one to two players.
The game only had eight different drivers including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong Jr., Koopa, Troopa, and Toad. The characters could also throw items at each other as a way to sabotage the other drivers. These items included the oil can ( used to spread on the course and make other karts slide ), bananas ( used to throw on the course to then make other drivers slide. This feature was only used by Donkey Kong Jr. since he was the only player that was a gorilla.), green and red shells ( used to throw at other opponents to make the driver spin out of control. The only difference between the two shells is that green shells went where you threw them and red shells homed in on other players ) and lightning. ( used to shake everyone on the course out of control. ) The lightning was added to the game as a way for a potential upset for the players and as a way for players in last to try and make a come back.
While the developers were making the first game, they had in mind that the game would be based off of serious racing karts and so they went to check out go karts. They did this to have a feel for how go karts worked and how it moved. Today there are many different versions of the game. Excluding the many different arcade versions and including the new mobile version of the game, there is only 9 different versions of the game released. These games span over many different consoles and are all unique in their own ways. As a result, many people over the 26 years of go karting with Mario and his friends have grown very fond of the game.
Mario Kart is a popular game that has recently come back into the news with Nintendo’s release of mobile version of the game. The game was made by Nintendo as a spin off from it’s trademark Super Mario series as a go karting styled racing game. The first release of this game came out in 1992 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and was made for one to two players.
The game only had eight different drivers including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong Jr., Koopa, Troopa, and Toad. The characters could also throw items at each other as a way to sabotage the other drivers. These items included the oil can ( used to spread on the course and make other karts slide ), bananas ( used to throw on the course to then make other drivers slide. This feature was only used by Donkey Kong Jr. since he was the only player that was a gorilla.), green and red shells ( used to throw at other opponents to make the driver spin out of control. The only difference between the two shells is that green shells went where you threw them and red shells homed in on other players ) and lightning. ( used to shake everyone on the course out of control. ) The lightning was added to the game as a way for a potential upset for the players and as a way for players in last to try and make a come back.
While the developers were making the first game, they had in mind that the game would be based off of serious racing karts and so they went to check out go karts. They did this to have a feel for how go karts worked and how it moved. Today there are many different versions of the game. Excluding the many different arcade versions and including the new mobile version of the game, there is only 9 different versions of the game released. These games span over many different consoles and are all unique in their own ways. As a result, many people over the 26 years of go karting with Mario and his friends have grown very fond of the game.
Oregon Trail
By: Ashten Elliott
In the mid-1800s thousands of people began their journey on the 2000 mile long path across the country known as the Oregon trail many would die on this trail on their way to find their fortunes out west so in 1971 Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger created a videogame about it. Originally the game was produced in 1974 the Minnesota educational computing consortium. The game was designed to teach kids about the historical event in game form. The game has been remade many times over the years and has been on everything from the macintosh to the Wii, within ten years of its release the game had made ten million dollars and made up one-third of Mecc’s annual revenue. The game involves you getting through random events and planning ahead in order to reach Oregon without everyone in your party dying, the game can be really nice about this or absolutely brutal ending you run in a matter of minutes. So with a game this popular and this luck-based, it stands to reason that there would be a card game based on it, I present to you Oregon Trail the card game. In 2016 Pressman toys took the classic game and made a version for those who prefer their games in card form. The game comes with three types of cards, Trail cards that build the trail and allow you to continue along it, supply cards that are randomly dealt cards that allow you to fix calamities that will kill you if not resolved. The game begins once every player has been dealt five trail cards and supply cards based on how many people are playing. The first player places a trail card that begins the game, unlike most other games this game is about working together not working against each other so when that first card causes a calamity everyone can use supply cards to resolve the problem. Almost every trail card will cause a calamity most can be fixed while a certain amount of cards will cause instant death to that player, the other trail cards require the roll of a dice to determine if you cross a river or loose supplies and or die in the water. The cycle of playing trail cards and resolving calamities continues until you reach your destination where that cycle repeats seven more times until the end of the game. The game sounds very tedious but can actually be really fun to play with friends thanks to its gameplay leaning heavily towards luck, so you could be just hanging out one second when suddenly you die of dysentery. Overall the game is fun if you have a few friends to play with, so if you’re in the market for a game to play with friends or maybe you really wanted a card game of the Oregon trail this game is the one for you.
In the mid-1800s thousands of people began their journey on the 2000 mile long path across the country known as the Oregon trail many would die on this trail on their way to find their fortunes out west so in 1971 Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger created a videogame about it. Originally the game was produced in 1974 the Minnesota educational computing consortium. The game was designed to teach kids about the historical event in game form. The game has been remade many times over the years and has been on everything from the macintosh to the Wii, within ten years of its release the game had made ten million dollars and made up one-third of Mecc’s annual revenue. The game involves you getting through random events and planning ahead in order to reach Oregon without everyone in your party dying, the game can be really nice about this or absolutely brutal ending you run in a matter of minutes. So with a game this popular and this luck-based, it stands to reason that there would be a card game based on it, I present to you Oregon Trail the card game. In 2016 Pressman toys took the classic game and made a version for those who prefer their games in card form. The game comes with three types of cards, Trail cards that build the trail and allow you to continue along it, supply cards that are randomly dealt cards that allow you to fix calamities that will kill you if not resolved. The game begins once every player has been dealt five trail cards and supply cards based on how many people are playing. The first player places a trail card that begins the game, unlike most other games this game is about working together not working against each other so when that first card causes a calamity everyone can use supply cards to resolve the problem. Almost every trail card will cause a calamity most can be fixed while a certain amount of cards will cause instant death to that player, the other trail cards require the roll of a dice to determine if you cross a river or loose supplies and or die in the water. The cycle of playing trail cards and resolving calamities continues until you reach your destination where that cycle repeats seven more times until the end of the game. The game sounds very tedious but can actually be really fun to play with friends thanks to its gameplay leaning heavily towards luck, so you could be just hanging out one second when suddenly you die of dysentery. Overall the game is fun if you have a few friends to play with, so if you’re in the market for a game to play with friends or maybe you really wanted a card game of the Oregon trail this game is the one for you.
Monday, October 7, 2019
Effects of Social Media
By Kori Wedeking
Social media may seem like something fun to occupy your time, but in reality, it negatively affects our mental health without us even realizing. Social media can bring down your self-esteem, ruin human connection, affect memories, disturb sleep schedules, and cause mental health issues. Social media is ruining our lives without us even knowing it.
Our self-esteem can be brought down due to social media. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others while we spend time on social media. After being on social media, people often feel bad about themselves. We are constantly believing that we are not pretty enough, do not have the perfect relationship, do not get invited to all the cool parties, and do not have the perfect life. Without social media, it would be easier for people to be happy and content with what they have. Instead, we constantly want more out of ourselves, the people around us, and our lives because of what social media portrays.
Social media can hurt our human connections. Today, people are glued to their phones and tend to look at social media very often. We become familiar with people and paint a certain picture of people based on their social media accounts. This is not necessarily a good thing. Not all social media pages accurately display what a person is truly like, so you might get the wrong ideas about people. Human connections can be hurt because of what we see on social media.
Memories about specific days, events, and people can be changed due to social media. People often look back at pictures on social media. These pictures may not accurately represent events and can alter your memories about what actually happened. Along with this, some people do not take the time to enjoy events because they are so worried about taking the perfect picture for their social media pages. If social media did not have a huge role, people would be able to enjoy events and be able to remember it exactly as it was.
Social media can get in the way of sleep. Many people catch themselves staying up too late on their phones scrolling through social media. Sleep is extremely important, especially for teens, and social media should not get in the way of that. Along with this, the light from your phone can make it very difficult for people to fall asleep. It is recommended that you do not go on your phone or any other technology device at least forty minutes before going to bed. Social media is not worth depriving yourself of sleep.
Finally, your mental health can decline due to social media. Social media has been proven to cause unhappiness and can lead to the development of mental health issues. It is common for social media to make people feel sad, anxious, or depressed. There are plenty of people who decide to quit using social media because of these reasons, and they are much happier once they do.
Social media seems like a harmless way to pass time, but in reality, it is not. Social media harms your self-esteem, human connections, memories, sleep, and mental health. If social media is getting in the way of your happiness, then you should definitely consider cutting it from your life.
Social media may seem like something fun to occupy your time, but in reality, it negatively affects our mental health without us even realizing. Social media can bring down your self-esteem, ruin human connection, affect memories, disturb sleep schedules, and cause mental health issues. Social media is ruining our lives without us even knowing it.
Our self-esteem can be brought down due to social media. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others while we spend time on social media. After being on social media, people often feel bad about themselves. We are constantly believing that we are not pretty enough, do not have the perfect relationship, do not get invited to all the cool parties, and do not have the perfect life. Without social media, it would be easier for people to be happy and content with what they have. Instead, we constantly want more out of ourselves, the people around us, and our lives because of what social media portrays.
Social media can hurt our human connections. Today, people are glued to their phones and tend to look at social media very often. We become familiar with people and paint a certain picture of people based on their social media accounts. This is not necessarily a good thing. Not all social media pages accurately display what a person is truly like, so you might get the wrong ideas about people. Human connections can be hurt because of what we see on social media.
Memories about specific days, events, and people can be changed due to social media. People often look back at pictures on social media. These pictures may not accurately represent events and can alter your memories about what actually happened. Along with this, some people do not take the time to enjoy events because they are so worried about taking the perfect picture for their social media pages. If social media did not have a huge role, people would be able to enjoy events and be able to remember it exactly as it was.
Social media can get in the way of sleep. Many people catch themselves staying up too late on their phones scrolling through social media. Sleep is extremely important, especially for teens, and social media should not get in the way of that. Along with this, the light from your phone can make it very difficult for people to fall asleep. It is recommended that you do not go on your phone or any other technology device at least forty minutes before going to bed. Social media is not worth depriving yourself of sleep.
Finally, your mental health can decline due to social media. Social media has been proven to cause unhappiness and can lead to the development of mental health issues. It is common for social media to make people feel sad, anxious, or depressed. There are plenty of people who decide to quit using social media because of these reasons, and they are much happier once they do.
Social media seems like a harmless way to pass time, but in reality, it is not. Social media harms your self-esteem, human connections, memories, sleep, and mental health. If social media is getting in the way of your happiness, then you should definitely consider cutting it from your life.
Prom Plans
By Katie Stirling
Every year the junior class is in charge of planning prom. Each class tries their best to make their prom as fun as possible. It can be difficult to find the right venues and places for after prom. You have to keep many things in mind. These include money, location, gas, transportation, catering, DJ, decorations, etc.
This year we are planning to have our prom in Des Moines. We found a very nice venue called Rollins Mansion. It is within our price range and they have their own caterers. It is also pre-decorated, so we don’t have to worry about buying and setting up our own decorations. It fits our interests well.
One thing some people didn’t like from last year was how small the dance floor was. This year that won’t be a problem. Although it’s not a huge part of the venue, it is something that will be improved. There will be plenty of room everywhere. Our prom venue committee is going to travel to Des Moines on October 9th to tour the Rollins Mansion.
Our after prom is also located in Des Moines. It is called the Great Escape. It has several different activities that students will be able to participate in. A few of the main activities are bowling, laser tag, an arcade, and virtual reality. Students could start their own bowling game and play each other. They could create teams and play laser tag. They could experience different virtual realities, or they could play different arcade games.
As you can see, students will have plenty of options to have fun during after prom. We are hoping to make this prom one that everyone will enjoy. We still have some more planning to do, but it is coming together pretty well.
Every year the junior class is in charge of planning prom. Each class tries their best to make their prom as fun as possible. It can be difficult to find the right venues and places for after prom. You have to keep many things in mind. These include money, location, gas, transportation, catering, DJ, decorations, etc.
This year we are planning to have our prom in Des Moines. We found a very nice venue called Rollins Mansion. It is within our price range and they have their own caterers. It is also pre-decorated, so we don’t have to worry about buying and setting up our own decorations. It fits our interests well.
One thing some people didn’t like from last year was how small the dance floor was. This year that won’t be a problem. Although it’s not a huge part of the venue, it is something that will be improved. There will be plenty of room everywhere. Our prom venue committee is going to travel to Des Moines on October 9th to tour the Rollins Mansion.
Our after prom is also located in Des Moines. It is called the Great Escape. It has several different activities that students will be able to participate in. A few of the main activities are bowling, laser tag, an arcade, and virtual reality. Students could start their own bowling game and play each other. They could create teams and play laser tag. They could experience different virtual realities, or they could play different arcade games.
As you can see, students will have plenty of options to have fun during after prom. We are hoping to make this prom one that everyone will enjoy. We still have some more planning to do, but it is coming together pretty well.
The Carson King Debacle
By Cole Negen
It’s been all the talk in the state of Iowa for a couple of weeks now. If you follow any Iowa sports pages on social media, or really if you have talked to anyone who is an Iowa State or Iowa football fan, you’ve probably already heard about the Carson King situation. But, if you haven’t, here’s a rundown. ISU football fan Carson King appears on College Gameday on ESPN for the Cy-Hawk rivalry game, holding up a sign in the background asking for donations to his Venmo account so he can buy beer. It is a harmless sign, and as is the case with all signs held up on College Gameday, it was just intended to be a joke. However, this joke actually did rake in donations from around the nation, totaling upward of 1 million dollars. Now, King had the option here to take the money and run, after all it is now his money and he can do with it as he pleases. But King decided to do a good deed and donate all the money (minus enough to buy one case of Busch) to the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital. It became a national headline, as both Busch and Venmo made matching donations to go along with Carson’s donation. Everything is fine and dandy and everyone is happy, which is where most people would expect the story to end. But that brings us to our first example. A profile of King by Aaron Calvin went on the Des Moines Register. The profile included at the end a mention of some racist tweets King made when he was 16.
First off, I'd like to give my thoughts on the tweets. I couldn’t find the tweets on any news outlets and when I checked Twitter they were deleted. The 2 tweets were described as “comparing black mothers to gorillas” and “making light of black people killed in the Holocaust”. Again, I couldn’t read the tweets for myself but let’s put it into context. A 16 year old kid watched a program on Comedy Central, heard a joke that he thought was really funny, and then, being the edgy high schooler he probably was, tweeted the jokes out hoping to cause a bit of a stir to those who read it. The tweets are insensitive, but ultimately harmless. Carson has since deleted the tweets and expressed his remorse over his actions. He handled the situation well: he deleted the tweets, he explained his position while still admitting he was at fault, and he apologized. Any reasonable person would see that and move on, just as King is doing himself.
Second, I want to look at the Des Moines Register article. The article was written by Aaron Calvin and was a profile of Carson King. Its intent was to just learn a little more about a guy doing a lot of good, and ultimately making the most of his 15 minutes of fame. The article was mostly praise, talking about how the original College Gameday sign came into fruition, detailing how the sign got him to this point, and detailing a little backstory of King’s community and how he got washed into the Cy-Hawk rivalry that everyone in Iowa does. At the end of the article, Calvin mentions the tweets. It talks again how King is remorseful and actually thanked the Register for bringing them up. Upon reading the article, mentioning the tweets seemed a little out of place. It really does not fit the tone of the rest of the article at all. Upon release of the article, the tweets were exposed to the public. In response, Busch dropped all connections with King. Obviously a company does not want to associate itself with a racist, but that really is far from what King is. If King had known that he would be in this position 10 years ago, I’m sure he would’ve never made the tweets. Like I said before, all this was was a teenager trying to be funny, this isn’t a mission statement from a KKK supporter. So outrage ensued, and most Iowans seemed to rush to the support of King. In response the Des Moines Register fired Aaron Calvin. In an interview, Calvin said that his discovery of the tweets was apart of regular background checks on all people who they right profiles on. In other words, Calvin was just doing his job. He asked his editor if he should include the tweets in the article and says he got the green light. Calvin probably could have just left the tweets out of the article. He made King aware of the tweets, and they were deleted. The thing about it, though, is that nobody really cares. Nobody reading the article is interested in what King does in his free time, what he tweets, what his favorite color is, any of that. Including the tweets in the article could only have gone bad. My life, and most everyone’s lives, are not affected by what some random football fan tweeted when he was 16. Even if King was an open racist, does it really affect anyone? The donations still would have been made towards a good cause and people would quickly forget who Carson King ever was. Calvin could have just left the tweets out of the profile, because they don’t really have anything to do with what King is doing, nor are they a reflection of him as a person.
So, what’s the takeaway? You can’t blame Busch, as they have a brand to protect (despite the fact that they are disassociating themselves with someone because of something they said in their adolescence). King should have never made the tweets, that’s obvious, a first grader could have told you that. But King handled everything just about as well as you can and is still remaining very professional about it. Aaron Calvin could have very easily have left the tweets out of his article, and then we wouldn’t have had this useless unnecessary controversy. But really, Calvin was just doing his job, and you can’t put all the blame on his shoulders for doing his job. The Des Moines Register seems to be the most culpable. They set a guideline for their writers to follow, and when bad weather rolled around they fired the man who was just following procedures. They could’ve been the ones to tell Calvin to leave the tweets out of the article, and they are the ones who could’ve taken responsibility about the situation. All in all, the Carson King debacle was one of the most unnecessary and uncalled for controversies we will probably see this year.
“Desmoineregister.com.” Desmoineregister.com, Des Moines Register, www.desmoinesregister.com/story/entertainment/2019/10/02/carson-king-raises-3-million-thanks-local-busch-light-distributors/3846700002/.
It’s been all the talk in the state of Iowa for a couple of weeks now. If you follow any Iowa sports pages on social media, or really if you have talked to anyone who is an Iowa State or Iowa football fan, you’ve probably already heard about the Carson King situation. But, if you haven’t, here’s a rundown. ISU football fan Carson King appears on College Gameday on ESPN for the Cy-Hawk rivalry game, holding up a sign in the background asking for donations to his Venmo account so he can buy beer. It is a harmless sign, and as is the case with all signs held up on College Gameday, it was just intended to be a joke. However, this joke actually did rake in donations from around the nation, totaling upward of 1 million dollars. Now, King had the option here to take the money and run, after all it is now his money and he can do with it as he pleases. But King decided to do a good deed and donate all the money (minus enough to buy one case of Busch) to the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital. It became a national headline, as both Busch and Venmo made matching donations to go along with Carson’s donation. Everything is fine and dandy and everyone is happy, which is where most people would expect the story to end. But that brings us to our first example. A profile of King by Aaron Calvin went on the Des Moines Register. The profile included at the end a mention of some racist tweets King made when he was 16.
First off, I'd like to give my thoughts on the tweets. I couldn’t find the tweets on any news outlets and when I checked Twitter they were deleted. The 2 tweets were described as “comparing black mothers to gorillas” and “making light of black people killed in the Holocaust”. Again, I couldn’t read the tweets for myself but let’s put it into context. A 16 year old kid watched a program on Comedy Central, heard a joke that he thought was really funny, and then, being the edgy high schooler he probably was, tweeted the jokes out hoping to cause a bit of a stir to those who read it. The tweets are insensitive, but ultimately harmless. Carson has since deleted the tweets and expressed his remorse over his actions. He handled the situation well: he deleted the tweets, he explained his position while still admitting he was at fault, and he apologized. Any reasonable person would see that and move on, just as King is doing himself.
Second, I want to look at the Des Moines Register article. The article was written by Aaron Calvin and was a profile of Carson King. Its intent was to just learn a little more about a guy doing a lot of good, and ultimately making the most of his 15 minutes of fame. The article was mostly praise, talking about how the original College Gameday sign came into fruition, detailing how the sign got him to this point, and detailing a little backstory of King’s community and how he got washed into the Cy-Hawk rivalry that everyone in Iowa does. At the end of the article, Calvin mentions the tweets. It talks again how King is remorseful and actually thanked the Register for bringing them up. Upon reading the article, mentioning the tweets seemed a little out of place. It really does not fit the tone of the rest of the article at all. Upon release of the article, the tweets were exposed to the public. In response, Busch dropped all connections with King. Obviously a company does not want to associate itself with a racist, but that really is far from what King is. If King had known that he would be in this position 10 years ago, I’m sure he would’ve never made the tweets. Like I said before, all this was was a teenager trying to be funny, this isn’t a mission statement from a KKK supporter. So outrage ensued, and most Iowans seemed to rush to the support of King. In response the Des Moines Register fired Aaron Calvin. In an interview, Calvin said that his discovery of the tweets was apart of regular background checks on all people who they right profiles on. In other words, Calvin was just doing his job. He asked his editor if he should include the tweets in the article and says he got the green light. Calvin probably could have just left the tweets out of the article. He made King aware of the tweets, and they were deleted. The thing about it, though, is that nobody really cares. Nobody reading the article is interested in what King does in his free time, what he tweets, what his favorite color is, any of that. Including the tweets in the article could only have gone bad. My life, and most everyone’s lives, are not affected by what some random football fan tweeted when he was 16. Even if King was an open racist, does it really affect anyone? The donations still would have been made towards a good cause and people would quickly forget who Carson King ever was. Calvin could have just left the tweets out of the profile, because they don’t really have anything to do with what King is doing, nor are they a reflection of him as a person.
So, what’s the takeaway? You can’t blame Busch, as they have a brand to protect (despite the fact that they are disassociating themselves with someone because of something they said in their adolescence). King should have never made the tweets, that’s obvious, a first grader could have told you that. But King handled everything just about as well as you can and is still remaining very professional about it. Aaron Calvin could have very easily have left the tweets out of his article, and then we wouldn’t have had this useless unnecessary controversy. But really, Calvin was just doing his job, and you can’t put all the blame on his shoulders for doing his job. The Des Moines Register seems to be the most culpable. They set a guideline for their writers to follow, and when bad weather rolled around they fired the man who was just following procedures. They could’ve been the ones to tell Calvin to leave the tweets out of the article, and they are the ones who could’ve taken responsibility about the situation. All in all, the Carson King debacle was one of the most unnecessary and uncalled for controversies we will probably see this year.
“Desmoineregister.com.” Desmoineregister.com, Des Moines Register, www.desmoinesregister.com/story/entertainment/2019/10/02/carson-king-raises-3-million-thanks-local-busch-light-distributors/3846700002/.
Why Do We Yawn?
By Ainsley Lovrien
People yawn throughout the day even when you think about yawning. Animals even yawn. Yawning is one of the most contagious, uncontrollable actions our bodies do. There are many theories why people yawn.
One theory is that yawning helps your body bring in oxygen. But this theory has been debunked. The most scientific theory about why we yawn is brain temperature regulation. Study in Physiology and Behavior looked at the yawning habits of about 100 people found that yawning occurs less during the winter. The brain’s temperature gets too far outside of the normal temperature, inhaling air can help cool it down. If you’re tired, your brain is slowing down, causing its temperature to drop. If you are bored, your brain isn’t feeling stimulated and starts to slow down causing the temperature to drop. If you see someone else yawning, when you are in the same room as them, you are exposed to the same temperature. You also might find yourself yawning if you get migraines. During migraine, your blood clots in your brain. Since yawning cools down your brain, it also brings down the blood clots. Another reason may be yawning is an act to wake your body up. The motion helps stretch the lungs and it’s tissues, and it allows the body to flex its joints and muscles. It may also force blood towards your face and brain to increase alertness.
People yawn throughout the day even when you think about yawning. Animals even yawn. Yawning is one of the most contagious, uncontrollable actions our bodies do. There are many theories why people yawn.
One theory is that yawning helps your body bring in oxygen. But this theory has been debunked. The most scientific theory about why we yawn is brain temperature regulation. Study in Physiology and Behavior looked at the yawning habits of about 100 people found that yawning occurs less during the winter. The brain’s temperature gets too far outside of the normal temperature, inhaling air can help cool it down. If you’re tired, your brain is slowing down, causing its temperature to drop. If you are bored, your brain isn’t feeling stimulated and starts to slow down causing the temperature to drop. If you see someone else yawning, when you are in the same room as them, you are exposed to the same temperature. You also might find yourself yawning if you get migraines. During migraine, your blood clots in your brain. Since yawning cools down your brain, it also brings down the blood clots. Another reason may be yawning is an act to wake your body up. The motion helps stretch the lungs and it’s tissues, and it allows the body to flex its joints and muscles. It may also force blood towards your face and brain to increase alertness.
There are ways to stop yawning. One way is to breathe deeper. Your body may need more oxygen if you are yawning all the time. Exercise is another way, stimulating your brain can help you stop yawning. Cooling yourself down is the last way. Taking a walk outside in a cooler temperature can help you stop yawning as well.
Life as a Junior
By Grace Litterer
It’s time. The one I’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. Junior year has arrived. There’s a lot to say about junior year, much of which is just me, venting about how my year has gone so far, but it holds true. The overall theme of junior has turned out to be: stress. Now, you don’t have to tell me that many of the high school years have turned out to be stressful. I get that. However, this has turned out to be the most stressful by far.
There’s a lot I could say about my classes, my classmates, etc., but the absolute first thing that I must talk about is prom. Prom has turned out to be the most time-consuming, stressful event that I have ever participated in. At this point, you must be wondering: how could prom be stressful, it isn’t even until the spring. In this, you are correct. However, the junior class gets to partake in a special kind of torment: planning. Yes, as someone who has been told to participate in more things and, simultaneously, someone who avoids all sports where you have to run, I sign up for many of the clubs and committees that are offered. This includes, but is not limited to, prom. Junior year is marked by prom venue meetings, after prom meetings, fundraising, venue tours, theme meetings, and more fundraising. It’s not hard work, but it is something that is exclusive to the junior class.
Another fun little perk of junior year is testing. Now, everyone has regular school testing: MAPS, Iowa Assessments, Semester tests, and your everyday class exams and quizzes. However, junior year includes all of this and more. It’s like a fun infomercial. “You get all of this, plus three more for free. Yes, you heard it right folks, you’ve got your pSATs, your ACTs, your SATs, and your COMPASS tests, all for free.” That is, of course, the little cherry on top of your stressful, junior year sundae.
As you’ve probably already guessed, I could go on and on about junior year, the classes, the teachers, the fundraising, etc., but I will save from the sort of rant, right now. Just know that if you ever come across a stressed junior with, and not to exaggerate, 35 homework assignments due, 10 papers to write, and 24 meetings to go to, it’s best if you buy them some ice cream. They probably need some consolation, especially before they start babbling about volunteer hours and college credits. Of course, you don’t want to hear about that now. That’s a story for another time.
It’s time. The one I’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. Junior year has arrived. There’s a lot to say about junior year, much of which is just me, venting about how my year has gone so far, but it holds true. The overall theme of junior has turned out to be: stress. Now, you don’t have to tell me that many of the high school years have turned out to be stressful. I get that. However, this has turned out to be the most stressful by far.
There’s a lot I could say about my classes, my classmates, etc., but the absolute first thing that I must talk about is prom. Prom has turned out to be the most time-consuming, stressful event that I have ever participated in. At this point, you must be wondering: how could prom be stressful, it isn’t even until the spring. In this, you are correct. However, the junior class gets to partake in a special kind of torment: planning. Yes, as someone who has been told to participate in more things and, simultaneously, someone who avoids all sports where you have to run, I sign up for many of the clubs and committees that are offered. This includes, but is not limited to, prom. Junior year is marked by prom venue meetings, after prom meetings, fundraising, venue tours, theme meetings, and more fundraising. It’s not hard work, but it is something that is exclusive to the junior class.
Another fun little perk of junior year is testing. Now, everyone has regular school testing: MAPS, Iowa Assessments, Semester tests, and your everyday class exams and quizzes. However, junior year includes all of this and more. It’s like a fun infomercial. “You get all of this, plus three more for free. Yes, you heard it right folks, you’ve got your pSATs, your ACTs, your SATs, and your COMPASS tests, all for free.” That is, of course, the little cherry on top of your stressful, junior year sundae.
As you’ve probably already guessed, I could go on and on about junior year, the classes, the teachers, the fundraising, etc., but I will save from the sort of rant, right now. Just know that if you ever come across a stressed junior with, and not to exaggerate, 35 homework assignments due, 10 papers to write, and 24 meetings to go to, it’s best if you buy them some ice cream. They probably need some consolation, especially before they start babbling about volunteer hours and college credits. Of course, you don’t want to hear about that now. That’s a story for another time.
Mental Health- The Topic We Should All Be Talking About
By Tess Lampe
WARNING: MENTIONS OF SUICIDE
A study held in 2017 showed that about 13% of the global population (12.6% males & 13.3% females), which at the time was 970 million people, suffer from a mental disorder. More specifically, about 44 million people living in America have some type of mental disorder.
Mental health consists of three major categories: emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Contributors to mental health issues and illnesses can be biological, can come from life experiences, or family history (which often relates to genes or shared behaviors.) Some mental health disorders include clinical depression, anxiety, bipolar, dementia, schizophrenia, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), autism, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These are only a few conditions out of the 200+ mental disorders existing. From the 970 million people in the world who suffer from a mental illness, the United States shares about 17.34% of those people. Australia has 18.38%, Russia with 11.74%, Iran with 17.73%, and so on. Continuing with this data from the 2017 study, anxiety disorder makes up about 3.76% of the affected population, depression with 3.44%, alcohol and drug use disorders with 1.4% and 0.94%, bipolar with 0.6%, schizophrenia with 0.25%, and eating disorders with 0.21%. Even though these percentages seem small, 3.4% of the population is about 264 million people.
As many other important topics, the subject matter of mental health has an awareness month. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Much of the reason for this month is to aid in the fight against the stigma or shame surrounding mental illness, to give support to those suffering with mental issues, and to educate those with and without mental health problems. Movements and organizations like Why Care? and NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) help to do exactly what Mental Health Awareness Month is for. Why Care? Holds the main purpose to help those suffering and to present them with ways of recovery and treatment. NAMI is a large organization that does the same thing. They raise awareness for the mentally ill, they support those who suffer from it, and they educate on how to help and cope.
As mentioned previously, many things can contribute to having a mental health disorder. Therefore, many things can affect those living with them, which can lead to very unfortunate events. In 2018, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. with about 44,965 deaths per year. It is the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 15-24. Suicide is known to be most common amongst those who misuse alcohol or drugs (which can be or contribute to a mental health condition) and those who are associated with other mental health disorders like severe depression and anxiety. Further, according to healthline.com, “Almost 500,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for self-inflicted injuries.
Over the past 20 years, is has been found that the suicide rate has increased more than 30%, some states in the U.S. even reaching as high as a 58% increase. The American Association for Suicidology concluded from their estimations that someone attempts suicide every 28 seconds. It was also found in 2015 that girls attempted suicide at about two times the rate of boys. Further, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc. teenagers were and still are at risk that makes them five times more likely to attempt suicide than those who are heterosexual and or cisgender. The transgender suicide rate is about nine times higher than the population as a whole. Things that contribute to this include having an unaccepting family, having extremely low self-esteem and self-worth, rejection from society & friends, and not having full access to trans-specific healthcare.
However, American Indian and Alaskan Natives are at the highest suicide rate of about 32 out of every 100,000 men and 10 out of every 100,000 women. This is unfortunately because of the rural areas they tend to live in not having available health care that is accessible to them. Social stigma is often added onto that struggle as well. Additionally, “Men are more likely to face stigma when discussing their mental health, and thus are less likely to seek out support when struggling.” This is exactly why about every 40 out of 100,000 men have died via suicide, which is compared to 9/100,000 women. This statistic further shows that for every female suicide, there are about 3.4 male deaths.
There are many symptoms that accompany certain mental illnesses in adults, young adults, and adolescents. Some of those symptoms are as follows: withdrawal from society, long depressive state, substance use, suicidal thoughts, strong feelings of anger or sadness, changes in eating or sleeping habits, having “extreme highs and lows,” hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t actually there), delusions (a strange belief or thoughts of an altered reality), struggling with coping mechanisms, strong fear, self-harm, negative/pessimistic mood, loss of interest and enjoyment, always tired, feeling of uselessness/guilt, low self-esteem, doubtful, struggling to move on with work, school, socializing, and much more.
Because anxiety is a very known mental disorder, symptoms of it include some of those previously stated and the following: apprehension, extreme worry, difficulty concentrating, fidgeting, headaches, dizziness, sweating, discomfort, overthinking of small situations, low-zero energy, intense nervousness, tension, etc.
Healthy ways to cope with many mental disorders one may have include acknowledging and accepting your feelings and disorder(s), learning to control/handle intense emotion and behavior, seeking support from friends and family, going to a therapist, talking to a counselor, and taking time for yourself. There are always many more coping mechanisms, so if you are struggling, make sure to reach out to others or even yourself in a healthy way.
Those who live without mental disorders can do many things for those who do as well. You can actively support and check in on your friends and family, you can participate in activities that help those with mental illness, be calm and patient when in conversation with someone with a mental health issue, listen to them, express genuine concern towards them and their interests, and keep in mind that certain people can’t “just be happy” or “stop being so negative.” To gain more information on how you can be of help, go to nami.org.
“Sometimes the worst place you can be is in your own head.” However, “Health does not come from medicine. Most of the time, it comes from peace of mind, peace in the heart, peace in the soul. It comes from laughter and love.”
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
https://www.healthyplace.com/insight/quotes/quotes-on-mental-health-and-mental-illness
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/NAMI-FaithNet/Tips-For-How-to-Help-a-Person-with-Mental-Illness
https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health
https://www.mhanational.org/recognizing-warning-signs
https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health
https://www.nami.org/mentalhealthmonth
https://www.healthline.com/health/leading-causes-of-death#suicide
https://www.crisistextline.org/blog/change-the-stats
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Why-Care
WARNING: MENTIONS OF SUICIDE
A study held in 2017 showed that about 13% of the global population (12.6% males & 13.3% females), which at the time was 970 million people, suffer from a mental disorder. More specifically, about 44 million people living in America have some type of mental disorder.
Mental health consists of three major categories: emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Contributors to mental health issues and illnesses can be biological, can come from life experiences, or family history (which often relates to genes or shared behaviors.) Some mental health disorders include clinical depression, anxiety, bipolar, dementia, schizophrenia, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), autism, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These are only a few conditions out of the 200+ mental disorders existing. From the 970 million people in the world who suffer from a mental illness, the United States shares about 17.34% of those people. Australia has 18.38%, Russia with 11.74%, Iran with 17.73%, and so on. Continuing with this data from the 2017 study, anxiety disorder makes up about 3.76% of the affected population, depression with 3.44%, alcohol and drug use disorders with 1.4% and 0.94%, bipolar with 0.6%, schizophrenia with 0.25%, and eating disorders with 0.21%. Even though these percentages seem small, 3.4% of the population is about 264 million people.
As many other important topics, the subject matter of mental health has an awareness month. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Much of the reason for this month is to aid in the fight against the stigma or shame surrounding mental illness, to give support to those suffering with mental issues, and to educate those with and without mental health problems. Movements and organizations like Why Care? and NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) help to do exactly what Mental Health Awareness Month is for. Why Care? Holds the main purpose to help those suffering and to present them with ways of recovery and treatment. NAMI is a large organization that does the same thing. They raise awareness for the mentally ill, they support those who suffer from it, and they educate on how to help and cope.
As mentioned previously, many things can contribute to having a mental health disorder. Therefore, many things can affect those living with them, which can lead to very unfortunate events. In 2018, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. with about 44,965 deaths per year. It is the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 15-24. Suicide is known to be most common amongst those who misuse alcohol or drugs (which can be or contribute to a mental health condition) and those who are associated with other mental health disorders like severe depression and anxiety. Further, according to healthline.com, “Almost 500,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for self-inflicted injuries.
Over the past 20 years, is has been found that the suicide rate has increased more than 30%, some states in the U.S. even reaching as high as a 58% increase. The American Association for Suicidology concluded from their estimations that someone attempts suicide every 28 seconds. It was also found in 2015 that girls attempted suicide at about two times the rate of boys. Further, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc. teenagers were and still are at risk that makes them five times more likely to attempt suicide than those who are heterosexual and or cisgender. The transgender suicide rate is about nine times higher than the population as a whole. Things that contribute to this include having an unaccepting family, having extremely low self-esteem and self-worth, rejection from society & friends, and not having full access to trans-specific healthcare.
However, American Indian and Alaskan Natives are at the highest suicide rate of about 32 out of every 100,000 men and 10 out of every 100,000 women. This is unfortunately because of the rural areas they tend to live in not having available health care that is accessible to them. Social stigma is often added onto that struggle as well. Additionally, “Men are more likely to face stigma when discussing their mental health, and thus are less likely to seek out support when struggling.” This is exactly why about every 40 out of 100,000 men have died via suicide, which is compared to 9/100,000 women. This statistic further shows that for every female suicide, there are about 3.4 male deaths.
There are many symptoms that accompany certain mental illnesses in adults, young adults, and adolescents. Some of those symptoms are as follows: withdrawal from society, long depressive state, substance use, suicidal thoughts, strong feelings of anger or sadness, changes in eating or sleeping habits, having “extreme highs and lows,” hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t actually there), delusions (a strange belief or thoughts of an altered reality), struggling with coping mechanisms, strong fear, self-harm, negative/pessimistic mood, loss of interest and enjoyment, always tired, feeling of uselessness/guilt, low self-esteem, doubtful, struggling to move on with work, school, socializing, and much more.
Because anxiety is a very known mental disorder, symptoms of it include some of those previously stated and the following: apprehension, extreme worry, difficulty concentrating, fidgeting, headaches, dizziness, sweating, discomfort, overthinking of small situations, low-zero energy, intense nervousness, tension, etc.
Healthy ways to cope with many mental disorders one may have include acknowledging and accepting your feelings and disorder(s), learning to control/handle intense emotion and behavior, seeking support from friends and family, going to a therapist, talking to a counselor, and taking time for yourself. There are always many more coping mechanisms, so if you are struggling, make sure to reach out to others or even yourself in a healthy way.
Those who live without mental disorders can do many things for those who do as well. You can actively support and check in on your friends and family, you can participate in activities that help those with mental illness, be calm and patient when in conversation with someone with a mental health issue, listen to them, express genuine concern towards them and their interests, and keep in mind that certain people can’t “just be happy” or “stop being so negative.” To gain more information on how you can be of help, go to nami.org.
“Sometimes the worst place you can be is in your own head.” However, “Health does not come from medicine. Most of the time, it comes from peace of mind, peace in the heart, peace in the soul. It comes from laughter and love.”
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
https://www.healthyplace.com/insight/quotes/quotes-on-mental-health-and-mental-illness
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/NAMI-FaithNet/Tips-For-How-to-Help-a-Person-with-Mental-Illness
https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health
https://www.mhanational.org/recognizing-warning-signs
https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health
https://www.nami.org/mentalhealthmonth
https://www.healthline.com/health/leading-causes-of-death#suicide
https://www.crisistextline.org/blog/change-the-stats
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Why-Care
National Bullying Prevention Month
By Morgan Jacobs
Please be aware that this article might not be suitable for everyone due to the topic that is going to be discussed. If you or someone you know is being bullied, please call the Stop Bullying Now Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. There is also a live help chat you can go to at https://www.stompoutbullying.org. Both resources are always there to use twenty four / seven.
October marks the beginning of the National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying can be defined in many ways. For example, it can be defined as “to be noisily domineering; tending to browbeat others.” Another way to word this definition is by saying, bullying is noisy and bossy people who belittle others by using hurtful words. This is not always the case when it comes to bullying.
Bullying can be categorized into one of four different categories. To start there is physical bullying. Physical bullying includes, but not limited to kicking, hitting, pushing, shoving, punching, damaging of property, etc. Verbal bullying is also one form of bullying. Verbal bullying includes name calling, teasing, verbal abuse, rude remarks, insults, and more. Social bullying can be hard to recognize and is usually carried out behind someone’s back. Social bullying includes lying and spreading rumors, rude gestures and looks, playing jokes to humiliate and/or embarrass, mimicking, socially excluding, and/or damaging someone’s social reputation and/or acceptance. Lastly, there is cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is done by using social media, etc. to send abusive or hurtful messages, pictures, and/or videos, deliberately excluding others online, spreading rumors and/or gossip, imitating others online, and/or using others log - in without consent.
Some signs that might show that someone is being bullied are explainable injuries, lost or destroyed personal items, frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick, faking illness, changes in eating habits, difficulty sleeping, frequent nightmares, declining grades, lost interest in school work, not wanting to go to school, sudden loss of friends, avoidance of social situations, decreased self esteem, feeling of helplessness, and/or self destructive behaviors like harming themselves, talking about suicide, etc.
In 2005, the federal government began to collect data on school bullying. During this time, about 28% of students reported being or were currently being bullied. Since 2005, the National Center for Educational Statistics has reported more than one out of every five (20.8%) students reported being bullied in 2016. “Of those students who reported being bullied, 13% were made fun of, called names, or insulted; 12% were the subject of rumors; 5% were pushed, shoved, tripped, or spit on; and 5% were excluded from activities on purpose.” Female students also report being bullied at school more compared to male students (23% to 19%) with male students reporting being physically bullied more than female students (6% to 4%).
On the seventh of October, an organization called stomp out bullying is having a wear blue day to promote putting an end to bullying. If you or someone you know is being bullied, please call the Stop Bullying Now Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. There is also a live help chat you can go to at https://www.stompoutbullying.org. Both resources are always there to use twenty four / seven.
Sources
“Bullying - Dictionary Definition.” Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/bullying.
“Types Of Bullying: National Centre Against Bullying.” NCAB, https://www.ncab.org.au/bullying-advice/bullying-for-parents/types-of-bullying/.
https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2017/2017064.pdf
“Bullying Statistics.” Bullying Statistics - National Bullying Prevention Center, https://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/stats.asp.
“STOMP Out Bullying.” STOMP Out Bullying, https://www.stompoutbullying.org/.
“Warning Signs for Bullying.” StopBullying.gov, https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/warning-signs/index.html.
Solutions, Madison Web. “Who To Call.” Cybersmile, https://www.cybersmile.org/advice-help/category/who-to-call.
Please be aware that this article might not be suitable for everyone due to the topic that is going to be discussed. If you or someone you know is being bullied, please call the Stop Bullying Now Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. There is also a live help chat you can go to at https://www.stompoutbullying.org. Both resources are always there to use twenty four / seven.
October marks the beginning of the National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying can be defined in many ways. For example, it can be defined as “to be noisily domineering; tending to browbeat others.” Another way to word this definition is by saying, bullying is noisy and bossy people who belittle others by using hurtful words. This is not always the case when it comes to bullying.
Bullying can be categorized into one of four different categories. To start there is physical bullying. Physical bullying includes, but not limited to kicking, hitting, pushing, shoving, punching, damaging of property, etc. Verbal bullying is also one form of bullying. Verbal bullying includes name calling, teasing, verbal abuse, rude remarks, insults, and more. Social bullying can be hard to recognize and is usually carried out behind someone’s back. Social bullying includes lying and spreading rumors, rude gestures and looks, playing jokes to humiliate and/or embarrass, mimicking, socially excluding, and/or damaging someone’s social reputation and/or acceptance. Lastly, there is cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is done by using social media, etc. to send abusive or hurtful messages, pictures, and/or videos, deliberately excluding others online, spreading rumors and/or gossip, imitating others online, and/or using others log - in without consent.
Some signs that might show that someone is being bullied are explainable injuries, lost or destroyed personal items, frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick, faking illness, changes in eating habits, difficulty sleeping, frequent nightmares, declining grades, lost interest in school work, not wanting to go to school, sudden loss of friends, avoidance of social situations, decreased self esteem, feeling of helplessness, and/or self destructive behaviors like harming themselves, talking about suicide, etc.
In 2005, the federal government began to collect data on school bullying. During this time, about 28% of students reported being or were currently being bullied. Since 2005, the National Center for Educational Statistics has reported more than one out of every five (20.8%) students reported being bullied in 2016. “Of those students who reported being bullied, 13% were made fun of, called names, or insulted; 12% were the subject of rumors; 5% were pushed, shoved, tripped, or spit on; and 5% were excluded from activities on purpose.” Female students also report being bullied at school more compared to male students (23% to 19%) with male students reporting being physically bullied more than female students (6% to 4%).
On the seventh of October, an organization called stomp out bullying is having a wear blue day to promote putting an end to bullying. If you or someone you know is being bullied, please call the Stop Bullying Now Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. There is also a live help chat you can go to at https://www.stompoutbullying.org. Both resources are always there to use twenty four / seven.
Sources
“Bullying - Dictionary Definition.” Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/bullying.
“Types Of Bullying: National Centre Against Bullying.” NCAB, https://www.ncab.org.au/bullying-advice/bullying-for-parents/types-of-bullying/.
https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2017/2017064.pdf
“Bullying Statistics.” Bullying Statistics - National Bullying Prevention Center, https://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/stats.asp.
“STOMP Out Bullying.” STOMP Out Bullying, https://www.stompoutbullying.org/.
“Warning Signs for Bullying.” StopBullying.gov, https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/warning-signs/index.html.
Solutions, Madison Web. “Who To Call.” Cybersmile, https://www.cybersmile.org/advice-help/category/who-to-call.
Video Games and Card Games
By Ashten Elliott
Video games and board/card games are two of my favorite things and in a lot of ways are very similar, they are both forms of entertainment in which you control what happens while competing with other people or AI’s. So when I learned that they made a card game that looks like a classic SNES era game in which you play the boss of a dungeon and work to take out adventurers before they can get to you I knew I had to play it. The game itself is a card game with four types of cards, dungeon cards let you add more traps and monsters to your dungeon in order to kill the heroes who are the second card type every turn you draw three of them and if you have the treasure they are looking for they will enter your dungeon if you kill them you take their soul (you need ten to win) and if they get to you you take damage (take three and you lose). The other cards include the spell cards which allow you to affect your opponent’s dungeon, the final card type is the boss cards which you draw at the start of the game in order to see which boss you are and what abilities you have. Your dungeon can be built with up to five dungeon cards that can then be traded in order to build advanced rooms which are better than the normal trap and monster rooms. Once your dungeon is full you can use your boss's ability which does a different thing depending on what boss you have for instance a free advanced room or spell card. Overall the game is really fun and if you have more than two players it becomes more strategic and fun the series doesn’t look like it’ll stop soon as it already has six games in the series with three being expansions and one being a true sequel with the other being a spinoff. So if you’re tired of fighting bosses and you want to become one this is the game for you.
Video games and board/card games are two of my favorite things and in a lot of ways are very similar, they are both forms of entertainment in which you control what happens while competing with other people or AI’s. So when I learned that they made a card game that looks like a classic SNES era game in which you play the boss of a dungeon and work to take out adventurers before they can get to you I knew I had to play it. The game itself is a card game with four types of cards, dungeon cards let you add more traps and monsters to your dungeon in order to kill the heroes who are the second card type every turn you draw three of them and if you have the treasure they are looking for they will enter your dungeon if you kill them you take their soul (you need ten to win) and if they get to you you take damage (take three and you lose). The other cards include the spell cards which allow you to affect your opponent’s dungeon, the final card type is the boss cards which you draw at the start of the game in order to see which boss you are and what abilities you have. Your dungeon can be built with up to five dungeon cards that can then be traded in order to build advanced rooms which are better than the normal trap and monster rooms. Once your dungeon is full you can use your boss's ability which does a different thing depending on what boss you have for instance a free advanced room or spell card. Overall the game is really fun and if you have more than two players it becomes more strategic and fun the series doesn’t look like it’ll stop soon as it already has six games in the series with three being expansions and one being a true sequel with the other being a spinoff. So if you’re tired of fighting bosses and you want to become one this is the game for you.
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