MARCH 12, 2015 VOLUME VI, ISSUE III
CONTENTS COPYRIGHT 2015
GOOD TIMES FREE
next funny cat video. Those distractions are deadly for reading, writing, and concentration,” Peterson stated, “When I’m working seriously on a writing project, I simply have to disable my Internet for hours at a time.” Let’s move onto printed books, the objects that we’ve cradled in the midst of emotions. Printed books can be easily repaired, compared to paying a technician for a broken iPad. Also, people who read printed books gain more comprehension and memorization, according to procon.org. “I also still love the smell of books. I’ll often find myself opening one to the middle just to smell those pages. I have all of the original mass-market paperbacks of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, and they’re old and mildewy and falling apart—and they smell amazing,” said Peterson, “They smell like an old world that’s long gone, but we still have this one sensory connection to it.”
The Royal Rumble: Printed Books vs. E-books Ana Sotomayor In these modern times, we have electricity and gigabytes of memory at our fingertips. One of the outcomes of mankind’s progression is the creation of e-books. People have grasped onto electronic books as if the Kindle or iPad was their lover on the verge of death. The benefits and drawbacks of printed books and electronic books vary depending on who you ask. The humans on this globe all have their own say on the fight between printed books and electronic books. “The advent of the electronic book has also brought with
Oculus Rift: Virtual Reality Bends the World of Gaming Joon Kim The Xbox One and the Wii U can only be played at home. The 3DS and the Gameboy are useful, but have limitations. But, there is a new system that solves everything. The Oculus Rift is a goggle-like system that requires you to use your motion to play. Now moms don’t have to chew their kids out for not exercising. They will be happily surprised when their kids get moving, quickly fighting zombies in the Oculus Rift. “The idea behind the Oculus Rift was born when a group of people and the mastermind, Palmer Lucky, were thinking about how virtual reality could turn the world upside-down,” says Austin Stewart, an assistant professor of art and visual culture at Iowa State University. Stewart works with the Oculus Rift as a way to improve the lives of chickens.
it the possibility of innovative new ways to present novels and nonfiction,” Robert Peterson, a writer, graphic designer and voice-over talent, said via email. E-books help students learn thematerial quicker. Their tablets can hold hundreds of books so people don’t have to carry all of the weight. The purchase of a book electronically is cheaper than most printed books, procon.org claims. Although that seems great, there’s always something beneath the surface. The risk of having health problems, the cost of purchasing a tablet, and the distraction of outside influences such as your best friend liking one of your pictures on Instagram. “It’s so, so easy to fall into an Internet rabbit hole— clicking from one link to the next, always looking for the
The final product, the Oculus Rift, was made in 2012. The concept of the Oculus Rift is simple. It is a portable piece of technology that plays video games. But, it doesn’t end there. There will also be a 360-degree treadmill. This means that it will be more interactive through walking. This can also be a great source of exercise because they immerse a player in a full 3D environment, which they will explore by walking or running. “The Chicken-Computer Interface [I use] is a giant input device that uses a yoga ball as a track ball,” says Stewart. “You use it to move around in the VR world. It took a 3 months of planning and prototyping. This is very similar to the treadmill that everyday users will have. Though, the technology is still not perfect because it can give motion sickness,” says Stewart. Despite the problems, it can still bend the world of gaming and the world itself. Stewart says, “I hope that the project inspires others to consider innovative solutions to all types of problems. I also hope that it inspires others to think about the larger impact of the things they invent.” Joon Kim is a journalist at 826LA. He goes to Third Street Elementary School and he likes to play Nintendo games, Minecraft, and Terraria. Joon’s favorite thing to do at 826LA is asking wacky questions for Ask A Kid.
Printed books are not all fine and dandy though. Do you recall those old school days when they’d assign you all those heavy books to take home? Yeah, they made you feel like a turtle. Compared to a kindle, which weighs about 8 ounces, printed books are a heavy burden. Printed books also strip us of our precious trees. Printed books on one side, have reigned as world heavyweight champion for hundreds of years. Now there’s electronic books on the other side of the ring, a newcomer with quick reflexes, ready for a rumble. After all the chaotic swings and illegal moves, is there a winner? Ana Sotomayor is a fourteen year old lover of cats. She was born in Peru and lives with her mother and sister. She likes coming to the Journalism workshop because she loves to write and incorporate a little pizazz.
The Future of Houses Gem Galicinao In today’s society, technology has propelled us far. We should be on the Moon again, we are not. Technology in houses is changing the way we live. From commanding your house to turning the lights on/off with the sound of your voice. Or viewing security cameras on your cell phone through a safe and encrypted connection. The home automation business is growing at an astronomical rate with an estimated growth of about $44 billion by 2017 according to GSMA. Let’s back up to the beginning of home automation. It started in 1898 when the first remote was invented by Nikola Tesla and presented at New York’s Madison Square Garden, according to PBS.com. The remote control was controlling a boat. This is the same technology that was introduced into the T.V. remote in the early 1950’s. When do tutors and students at 826LA think the majority of houses will be fully automated in the future? The data that I gathered suggests that many of the houses will be fully automated in 20-plus years, and no one believes that it will come in the next five years.
GOODTIMES
VOLUME IV, ISSUE III
CYBERBULLYING: A BAD THING TO DO Monica Lee Cyberbullying, in my opinion, is a horrible situation. It is a horrible situation because it is an anonymous person saying rude things to you online. No one likes to be bullied, so why do it? Is it to make the bully themselves feel better? Who is responsible to fix this mess? Is it the principle of the school or is it your parents who should help? There are many cyberbullying cases where the principle has been dragged into it. For example in The New York Times, the principle of Benjamin Franklin Middle School, has been involved in a cyberbullying case. A sixth grade boy sent inappropriate texts to a sixth grade girl. The girl’s parents were mad and afraid, so they showed the texts to the principle of the school. Although the parents wanted immediate action, the principle couldn’t discipline the boy since it was outside of school grounds.
You Are Being Watched Kaylin Lopez We know that police officers have had many incidents with citizens, but according to the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Police Commission, Richard Tefank, “What police officers do day-in and day-out, they do right. The LAPD will buy 7,000 cameras for officers. The camera brand is Taser and the model is AXON which costs approximately $400.00. The battery life for the cameras that will be purchased by the LAPD is approximately 16 hours,” said Tefank. These cameras will be bought with 1.6 million dollars raised from private sources and from donations made to the Los Angeles Police Foundation. Rialto, California has been trying out these cameras for years. “The camera is very light, comfortable and does not get in the way of an officer’s movement,” said Richard in an email to 826LA. The camera is not very big considering the fact it can even be worn on an officer’s glasses, but can also be worn on their chest or shoulder. The cameras will be able to record both video and audio of both the officer and citizen. There are two different sides when it comes to the citizens’ opinion. Some agree with them because they believe the cameras will protect them and they will have more of an opinion on bad/good police behavior. Some disagree because they are concerned with their privacy. “Officers wearing body cameras could extend that public eye into living rooms or bedrooms, if a call should require them to enter a private home,” according to the LA Times. People question when it is the appropriate time to turn on the camera if it is a sensitive case, like an assault or a private home situation.
Polaroid Cameras: The History of the Instant Camera Christina Lee Edwin H. Land created the Polaroid Land camera in 1926. He was motivated to invent this instant camera because of his daughter, Jennifer Land. In 1943, the Lands took a vacation. When Jennifer didn’t see her photo, she asked her dad, “Why can’t I see my photo?” These words inspired Edwin to create an camera that allows the photo to come out on a paper instantly once it was taken. In 1948 the new camera became available to the public. This camera was very popular and 14 million were sold in 1978. One of the most popular cameras was the black and white Swinger. This polaroid only cost $20. People liked the changing technology world. Some popular changes were the one hour color film process-
“Such videos can sometimes capture people at the worst moments of their lives,” American Civil Liberties Union senior policy analyst Jay Stanley said. “You don’t want to see those videos uploaded to the Internet for titillation and gawking,” he said, according to the LA Times article. People can be caught on video unexpectedly at a bad moment. However, Tefank thinks people should not worry because the cameras can be turned off in certain circumstances. “Most citizens are okay with the cameras as long as privacy is respected. In the event a child or a victim of a sexual assault is contacted by an officer that the appropriate policy guidelines be adhered to in those circumstances,” he said in an interview email. The Police Foundation recently conducted an experiment with the body cameras. Wearing cameras was associated with dramatic reductions in use-of-force and complaints against officers, said Chief Tony Farrar on the Foundation website. “The findings suggest more than a 50% reduction in the total number of incidents of use-of-force compared to control-conditions, and nearly ten times more citizens’ complaints in the 12-months prior to the experiment,” the experiment concluded. These cameras will be very helpful with having evidence in a non-witnessed case. For example, the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. It was debated because there were so many different versions of what had happened. If the officers would have had cameras, there may not have been confusion. Kaylin Lopez attends Bancroft Middle School and is 14 years old. She likes journalism because her writing and typing gets the chance to improve. Journalism is the only after-school program she actually enjoys. ing, single-use cameras from competitors, videotape camcorders, and digital cameras. Sales of the polaroid dropped. In addition, there was a legal fight over the invention and polaroids were not allowed to be made in 2007 and the film stopped being sold in 2009. An artist and business man, Florian Kaps in Amsterdam, began a project in bringing the film back and made owners of the old Polaroid Camera happy. “The project is more than a business plan; it’s a fight against the idea that everything has to die when it doesn’t create turnover,” said Mr Kaps in the Independent News website. Christina Lee is 11 years old and goes to Eagle Rock Elementary. She likes to build forts and buy useless junk.
Even though principles can’t do much about cyberbullying, they could give a lecture about it at their schools. The principles should tell their students that what they post online could affect other people. They could even make anti- bullying clubs. When making announcements, principles could remind the students to be kind to one another. Parents could also help if their child has been cyberbullied. Parents could notify the social media people. They could send their child to the guidance counselor. Parents shouldn’t delete social media apps or take away their child’s electronics because it won’t stop the bullying. Overall parents shouldn’t let their child be stressed over all the hate. Cyberbullying will never stop. Even though cyberbullying will never stop, we should try to stop it as best as we can. Haters got to hate and potatoes got to potate, so be a potato!!!! Monica Lee is thirteen years old. She attends Eagle Rock Jr./Sr. High. She wants a cool British or Australian accent, she wants to say, “Hip Hip Hooray!” in a British accent, and “Oh Crookey!” in an Australian accent. She goes to journalism to improve her writing.
IPhone 6: The Good & Bad Chloe Kim There is a lot to consider when deciding between buying the iPhone 6 and the 6+. The iPhone 6 is smaller than the iPhone 6+. The iPhone 6 is 6.9 mm thick with a 4.7inch screen, according to Apple.com. The iPhone 6+ is 7.1mm thick with a 5.5-inch screen. My interviewee, 826LA tutor Cat gave her dislikes and likes about her iPhone 6. Me: Why did you buy the iPhone 6 instead of the 6+? Cat: I bought the iPhone 6 instead because the iPhone 6+ is more expensive and it wouldn’t fit in my pocket. Me: What do you like about the iPhone 6? Cat: What I like about the iPhone 6 is that it loads faster than other iPhones and I like the size of it because it has bigger keyboards to type. Me: What do you dislike about your iPhone 6? Cat: What I dislike about the iPhone 6 is that its battery runs out faster because it has more space and you tend to use it more. Another thing I dislike about it is that it is easy to drop because it is so light, so I know that you need a phone case. My name is Chloe Kim. My hobby is to play with my besties. I go to Third Street Elementary School.
GOODTIMES
VOLUME IV, ISSUE III specialties is Mars exploration. Our next Mars mission is called Insight and will launch in 2016 and land on Mars in 2017. It is a lander. We have another rover planned for launch in 2020.
Curiosity Mars Rover Rachael Kim The CURIOSITY Mars Space Rover has made the eye balls big on those happy NASA workers and their loving fans. NASA sent a rover named “Curiosity” to Mars that landed on August 5, 2012. They were so happy about this miracle that will help scientists all over the world discover Mars’s mysteries. JPL or Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a government agency that specializes in making rockets. JPL was involved in helping CURIOSITY travel to Mars. NASA.gov stated, “its mission: to see if Mars ever could have supported small life forms called microbes...and if humans could survive there someday!” It means that CURIOSITY’s mission is to find if any life forms are living there and if anyone can be to live there. When I interviewed my science teacher, Mrs. Choi from Third Street Elementary School, she responded, “The Curiosity is a great way for scientists to find what Mars contains and what ability it has to answer the questions of many people. Curiosity also will help us discover the past, present, and future about the mysterious planet. It will be a huge success if the rover can see if life is habitable or not.” So far, the CURIOSITY Rover has found many
interesting objects and rock samples. According to Clapway.com, “In that time, [the rover] has already made several significant discoveries – for example, the presence of essential elements to sustain life. Clay minerals with little salt that suggests that water was once present on Mars, as well as the discovery of an ancient stream or lakebed.” To get ready for the four-year adventure on Mars, NASA had to equip the rover with all the materials that the rover will probably face. The rover also had to be equipped with many tools that will help it collect samples of materials. NASA.gov reports, “its features include a Geology lab, rocker-bogie suspension, rock-vaporizing laser and lots of cameras.” With all these tools to help it get all of the materials, the rover was ready for take off.
Q&A: Melissa Soriano, Senior Software Engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory How was the Mars Curiosity Rover made? Curiosity was designed and built at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where I work. A team of scientists and engineers worked on the design over several years. Curiosity follows in the foot steps of our other Mars rovers at JPL: Sojourner, Spirit and Opportunity. With each rover we have learned more and continued to develop our skills and technology. Each NASA center specializes in certain areas and at JPL, one of of our
ASK A KID Featuring Ana Martinez-Lozano and Kaylin Lopez Kaylin Lopez Q: How much does LA weigh? A: LA weighs enough to have all these great people living in it. Q: Sometimes I have a hard time stopping crying even if I really want to stop. Any advice on how to get calm? A: If you own any pets talk to them, they won’t answer back but they are the best listeners. If don’t own any pets, talk to a friend you trust and are very close to. Q: What is your favorite era in time to visit and why? A: My favorite era in time is when dinosaurs existed because if a friend ever bugs me too much I would have a dinosaur eat them. Q: Has everything already been said? A: New people with great new things to say are born everyday. There is so much to be heard and said.
Ana Martinez-Lozano Q: Is youth wasted on the young? A: Yes it is wasted on the young because most kids are getting obese because all they do is play with electronics, eat chips, drink gatorade, get fat and become more obese. Q: Do you like technology in education? A: Sometimes because all kids do is stare at a screen and learn nothing or go on another website and pretend they are learning. Q: How can I stay shape (being healthy and look like I’ve been exercising) while playing video games of minecraft? A: You should stand up and walk in place meanwhile you play. If you start to sweat then that is awesome. Q: I bought lots of expensive games on my mom’s phone. She doesn’t know yet! What should I do? A: Read my sign and run!
What tools is the Curiosity Rover equipped with? Curiosity has several instruments. Mastcam is a camera on the rover’s mast (Mastcam is like the rovers eyes and its mast is its neck) that can take color photos and high definition video. We use the Mastcam photos to help us decide where to drive next and to study the Martian landscape and soil. Mastcam can also take panoramic photos. Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) is like a magnifying glass that a geologist would use to study individual rocks or the soil. Curiosity has an arm and MAHLI is at the end of this arm, so Curiosity can close-up photos. ChemCam uses a laser to vaporize a small amount of rock and then analyzes this vapor to determine what the rock is made of. The most complex instrument that Curiosity carries is Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM). Curiosity has a drill on the end of its arm that can be used to drill into rock and take a sample. The samples are placed inside SAM, which can then analyze the samples to see what elements and compounds they contain. How did the Rover get from Earth to Mars? The distance between the Earth and Mars changes depending on where each planet is in its orbit. Every two years the planets are closest and we have an opportunity to get to Mars in eight months. Curiosity was launched during one of these opportunities. At the Jet Propulsion Laboratory we also specialize in interplanetary navigation. After Curiosity launched, our navigation team used our system of antennas to track Curiosity’s path. A few course adjustments were made throughout Curiosity’s journey to keep her on track. What has the Rover found? Curiosity has found sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, and carbon, all key ingredients for life. Curiosity found evidence of an ancient streambed, this is evidence that Mars had rivers of liquid water in the past. Curiosity has also been looking for methane but hasn’t found any yet. Curiosity is looking for methane because on Earth, living organisms produce methane. Rachael Kim is in 4th grade, is 9 years old, and goes to Third Street Elementary School.
Police Drones Andres Mah-Candelaria Drones are small flying machines that people use for surveillance. Each drone has a camera and a controller that has a screen to show where the drone is. Each done has 25 minutes before the battery dies. They were first used overseas and now they are used in America too. Police use the drones to look for criminals or finding hostages.The first drones that came to LA came from Seattle on May 30, 2012. They were worth $82,000. The LAPD hasn’t used the drones yet due to public controversy. One critic is Rick Anderson and he said, “ Drones are legitimately being used by police agencies and others to aid public safety but that also opens the door to misuse, spying, and unauthorized eavesdropping.” Police officers argue that drones reduce their risk of injury. Drones are quicker and they won’t be seen as easily as an officer on the ground. The controversy continues in LA as it did in Seattle. People think that the drones will invade privacy because as a drone flies, it can see the person on camera and they aren’t aware. Andres is a student at 826LA and he enjoys journalism because he learns and writes at the same time. He is 10 years old and goes to Eagle Rock Elementary school.
GOODTIMES
VOLUME IV, ISSUE III
Computers Ally Song How do computers work? They’re more complicated than you might think. Did you know computers speak their own language? It’s called Binary and it’s made out of 0s and 1s. For example, “A” is 01100001. “Computers never lie, they don’t believe in a computer god, and they don’t have emotions. They look only at what they know is true and produce an answer following the rules you’ve programmed in.” James Bruce, a computer blogger.
The World That Makes the World Natalie Sanchez Have you ever wondered about the world? Maybe about what it was like living in the land of the dinosaur, in the time of Jurassic. Have you? Or like the dream Dorothy had with the Tinman, the Lion, and the Scarecrow. In that short time I have magically taken you there, just by telling you about them, even though it was just in our imagination. Yet some people find a way to actually make that happen. They do that with special effects. Special effects became possible in 1885 all because of a man named Alfred Clarke. He was very smart. As he was reenacting the death of Mary, Queen of Scots. He instructed the actor to step on the block in Mary’s costume. As the executioner brought the axe above his head, Clarke stopped the camera, had all the actors freeze, and had the actor who was playing Mary step off of the set. He placed a Mary dummy in place of the actor, restarted to film, and allowed the executioner to bring down the axe, severing the dummy’s head. Such techniques were used for years.
industry today. The most common effects that Charlie uses are light wrapping to blend the foreground elements with the background elements and also using levels to do quick color adjustments. He uses Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator and Cinema 4D to do these effects. Charlie explained the craziest project he had ever worked was for Sketchers. “We did a full day of shooting for a commercial that takes place at night. Every shot was shot during the day and we took everything to a hyper real night scene. It involved roto (cutting out frame by frame) and every person running and the shoes to glow each part individually. It was very time consuming and complex compositing to add lights to the buildings and reflections.”
Natalie Sanchez is a 13 year old girl. She attends Thomas Starr King Middle School. She likes Journalism because she gets to write and meet new people.
Android Is Better Than Apple
passwords, and your own voice. Android can save your credit card on the phone.
Android is better than Apple in my opinion, because Android has more security, you can put widgets on the home screen, and it has a bigger screen. Most people like Apple because they think it doesn’t freeze and loads pretty quickly. Androids load faster than Apple and since that happens, batteries runs out or Android catches a lot of wifi. In my case, Android is better. “Apple is convenient and easy to use. Apple is love, Apple is life,” said Edward Song, age 12. Apple phones may be smaller, but sometimes it is useful. In some places, a lot of people see Android and Apple. They are both popular for their screen. Apple is a good phone for little kids because the Apple phones are small like their hands. I like Android better because it is bigger and I can see more clearly. Paul Stamatiou wrote a lot about why Android is better. He says that in Android, you can put your widgets on the home screen. It is faster to look at the dates and get reminded. Android is cool because the volume is louder and the screen is bigger. Also, Android is more secure; there is protections for unlocking the phone such as face lock, pins, patterns,
“There are so many ways in which computers have helped people, but I think the most important...is that it breaks down borders,” Bruce says. With computers being so popular, people can get information, play games, talk to each other, type things, and learn certain kinds of skills. In the past we didn’t have computers. Some people think this will make us lonely, but there’s a lot more we can do now! We can talk to people in other states as if they were right next to us. With computers, anything is possible! Hello my name is Ally Song and I am a student at 826LA. I am 9 years old. I go to Wonderland Elementary School.
Special effects have come a long way since they were first used. Popular movies like Forrest Gump, Back to the Future, Avatar, and Star Wars would not have been the same without special effects. So every time you see a movie keep your eyes open for special effects, they could be anywhere!
In commercials and movies today they use new special effects combined with older techniques and effects. An 826LA journalist interviewed a man named Charlie and got exclusive information on what is trending in the
Amy Ma
He also told me that laptops and tablets are the most popular computers right now. He said Apple is the most popular brand if you include iPhone (which is just a mini computer, really). The next most popular is Windows. The computers are the Lenovo and HP. Parts of the computer are the power cable, network cable, sound, monitor, and lots of USB peripherals, which are things you can plug in to use on the computer.
Jared, a 826LA tutor, said “Android works with computer and saves a lot of information.” I, Amy, took a survey to people in 826LA. Many people like Apple and less people like Android. A lot of Apple lovers have Apple phones. Android phones have the least votes because sometimes Android is slow for them. A lot of people like Android, but they have to have Apple. In my survey, six people like Android and 18 people like Apple. Only one person doesn’t know what they like. Four people have Android, and 14 people have Apple. Five people don’t have any electronic devices. Amy Ma is 10 years old, is in 4th grade, and goes to Hancock Park Elementary.
FLASHBACK: Cheating the System Ivan Paz Xbox is a console that offers services to people, such as free games, Hulu, Netflix, and other entertainment services. The Xbox was created for entertainment, but many services must be paid for before you can use them. To do that, you must purchase a membership. Why do we have to buy the membership when we can get these services for free elsewhere? Xbox Live Gold Membership gives access to services, but is it worth the annual membership fee? The Gold Membership offers online gaming access and gives you the privilege of buying entertainment that you may already pay for. With the Gold Membership you have to pay double so you can have access to the apps that are already included with the basic account. Other competitive devices include the same apps, and more, which you can use for free. Should Xbox Live really make us pay for what other devices give for free? People have found ways to get Xbox Live for free by typing in codes found in other countries or embedded in games. While this sometimes breaks their Xbox agreements, people are tired of paying for services. Xbox should listen to the complaints of their customers and change before the customers switch to another console. Microsoft, the company that makes Xbox, is trying to make a profit off of entertainment services and doesn’t offer any benefit to its customers.
GOODTIMES
VOLUME III, ISSUE I
Mobile Games Ellie Yoo Ever since mobile phones started having games, people have been playing them. They have been very popular since they came out. I interviewed Carter Dotson, video game journalist, and he told me these are the top four most popular ones: Crossy Road, Threes, Clash of Clans, and Candy Crush of Saga.
Top 10 games of 2014 Garland Church I chose to do this article because I like video games. This list is the top 10 games of 2014. I decided on these games by picking some of the games I played in 2014 and looking at game ratings websites and talking to different gamers. I also talked to Ken Barnes, Editor of Pure Xbox about his favorite games of 2014. Ken’s favorite games: 1.Titanfall 2.The Last of Us Remastered 3.Sunset Overdrive 4.Forza Horizon 5.Rayman Legends. Ken told me when he’s reviewing games he looks for a fun game overall. “A game can look beautiful and sound great, but if it doesn’t play very well then it loses some points,” he said. “ I also try to think about the value for money that people would get from the game.” What I look for in a game is a story line and if the game doesn’t get boring even after you beat it. Ken said he agrees. “If a game is excellent but only lasts for an hour, then it gets less points than a game that is excellent and lasts for ten hours, for example.” he said. Garland’s Top 10 games of 2014 1.Destiny 2.Assassin Creed Unity 3.Call of Duty:Advanced Warfare 4.Titanfall 5.Forza Horizon 2 6.NBA 2k15 7.Madden 15 8. Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 9.Minecraft Xbox One Edition 10. Fifa 15 Garland Church is a student in the 7th grade at Paul Revere Middle School.
Communication: How it’s Bringing Us Down Arrianna Mah-Candelaria People around the world are slowly getting more and more detached from the real world, their surroundings, and the people close to them. The primary cause? Texting. Teenagers, children, adults, everyone is getting more and more attached to their cell phones. Texting is “all the rage” now and people spend more of their day on their phones than communicating with people around them. The cell phone has taken over our lives and ability to have real and normal conversations with one another. A professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was quoted stating that she interviewed teens ages 15 to 21 and many said that they want to learn how to start and continue a conversation, but they’re too scared and would rather keep texting. “Communication is being lost,” Natania, a tutor at 826LA, told the Good Times. “I communicate with friends who are farther away more than friends close by,” she said.
One of the the most popular games is Threes. It takes less than 30 seconds to learn, which means it is easy. It was one of Apple’s 2014 Games of the Year. Threes is a simple math-based puzzler with “a gorgeous design and catchy music”. You can even chat with your friends too! Threes came out on February 6, 2014 and costs $1.99. Another popular mobile game is Crossy Road. The game came out later in the year. There are many different characters that you might like. Each character has a special talent in the game. For example, one of the character is called, “Hipster Whale”. It takes pictures while you’re playing in the game. After that is Clash of Clans. In Clash of Clans, you
Cyber Bullying Interview Ana Martinez-Lozano This reporter interviewed high school student Maria S. about cyberbullying. Q: Have you ever been cyber bullied by another person in your life? A: Yes, I have actually been bullied by multiple people, from 8th grade to the beginning of my freshman year. Q: How old were you when this happened? A: Well the physical bullying began when I was 13. However cyber bullying began when I was 14. Q: What’s the worst case of cyber bullying in your school? A: The worst case of cyber bullying would have to be the constant comments from the same few people. You try to ignore them by not going on social media but your closest friends are there too just trying to put a stop to it. The name calling and being put down in so many verbal ways was very brutal. Q: How much of a problem is cyber bullying around
This is a huge example of how texting and social media are affecting the way we socialize and interact. “I actually have friends now [because of texting],” said Carolyn, a tutor at 826LA. How will this generation and the generations to come survive if we don’t really communication with each other? Children are scared of talking to one another and afraid of the emotions that come with it. Many boys and girls would prefer to ask out their crush through texts because if they are rejected then the emotions won’t be as harsh. But that is what makes us human. Communication is what makes us who we are. Without those emotions, how are we supposed to love and feel pain? How are we going to recognize these feelings if we forget what they are? It’s like the world would rather become emotionless
build up a base and fight with other players. You can also upgrade your base and then fight against other people that are playing. This game was made and published on August 2, 2012. Finally, there is Candy Crush of Saga. The release date was on April 12, 2012. The game got a Kid’s Choice Award and was made popular by advertisements. The game can be for kids too. These are just a few of the mobile games available, but there are a lot more. What’s your favorite mobile game? Hi, My name is Ellie Yoo. I go to Wonderland Ave Elementary School. I have no siblings. I learn journalism at 826LA and am in 3rd grade. My favorite hobbies are to read and write.
you? A: Now that I am 16 it isn’t a problem for me. Yet, I see it going on to other people everyday. I see how cruel it is what people are saying without thinking what if that was them? Q: Which do you think is worst, regular bullying or cyber bullying? Why? A: I believe neither one or the other is worst. You have regular bullying, the name calling in class, spilling milk on you, the people you considered friends are start rumors, and make people look at you much different. In comparison, cyber bullying does not stop the moment you leave school, it follows you home. Through social media people bully you, and even if you try to ignore it, if it isn’t deleted or block, it will always be there. You can get away from it but somehow it comes back to you. They each are as terrible and hurt people emotional.
robots. Texting has its pros and cons, but communication is slowly degrading and without it, our society will perish. Arianna is a 8th grader at Eagle Rock Junior Senior High School.
GOODTIMES
VOLUME IV, ISSUE III
History of Youtube Allie Kim Youtube was made by three not-so famous PayPal ex-employees in 2005. The people who created Youtube are Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. They developed the idea for Youtube as they “reported when they experienced difficulties in sharing their own videos of a dinner party,” said Nabil Sarhan. Youtube was developed only in two years. Youtube is owned by Google. “Due to its great popularity, Youtube was bought by the people who own Google for $1.65 billion.”
Xbox One Versus PS4 Yamilka Martinez-Lozano We are going to tell you about the Xbox One versus the Playstation 4. The first thing we are going to tell you is that they have less in common than you think, according to Sam Loveridge, a writer for TrustedReviews.com. They have different prices, different controllers, and different ways of getting updates. Some GameStop stores aren’t allowed to answer questions about which is better. Here are some differences between the Xbox One and the PS4. The first difference is that the Xbox is updated each month, for example in March and then again in April. The PS4 is different because you get random updates. For example, if you’re playing a game and it says updates are downloading, that’s random. The next difference is that the Xbox One focuses more on games, movies, Netflix, browsing the internet, research, and many more things. But the PS4 focuses mainly on the games. You cannot text your friends with the Xbox, but with the PS4 you can. They’re both good for games, but the Xbox is better if you want to
Minecraft Multiplies the Fun Eddie Song Minecraft is an indie Sandbox game that developed over the years with numerous updates each month. This game has grown with the help of modifications and the multiplayer option. Many people such as Dr. Walton Volt and The TeacherGaming team have made modifications to the game and sold them. There’s a lot people can learn from Minecraft. For example, its a great platform for practicing new skills with other people. “So you learned about colonial times in the classroom?” said Mikael Uusi-Mäkelä, a learning developer at TeacherGaming. “Why not explore a colonial town in Minecraft and build your own house and then show it off to others or take roles and act out a scene from a story set in that time? Or if you learned about volumes in math, maybe you can demonstrate your learning by building a house with a specific volume and shape?” “Many teachers see students getting really excited about Minecraft and they would love their students to be as enthusiastic about the things they learn in class,” said Mr.Uusi-Mäkelä. “They already practice many important skills in the game like collaboration, communication, and architecture. So why not combine the two? The version of the game we create (MinecraftEdu) gives teachers tools to easily set up servers in the classroom and give assignments to the students. They can also fly, be invisible and freeze the unruly students! What teacher wouldn’t want that?!”
do more. Here we will tell you about their weights and sizes. The first thing is that the Xbox weighs more than the PS4, it’s bigger and the controller is bigger. With the PS4, if you don’t have too much room, you won’t fill up the whole space. If you have a small space the Xbox might fill it up. Now we are going to tell you more about the controllers. The Xbox controller is harder to control because you have a lot of buttons. The PS4 controller is easier because you have less buttons in a bigger space. The Xbox costs $299.99. The PS4 costs a lot more. The results of the survey: more people like the Xbox One than the PS4 and some don’t like either of them. Nine people want the Xbox, six people like the PS4, and seven people don’t like either. Yamilka Martinez-Lozano is 9 years old. She goes to Clifford Street School of Math and Technology. Her favorite thing about Journalism is that she gets to write and use technology.
Dr. Walter Voit, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UT Dallas thinks that Minecraft is so popular because it lets people do what they want. “Minecraft is a sandbox game that for one of the first times in a game, did not hold people’s hands and tell them programmatically exactly what to do,” he said. “It allowed people to explore a vast world and be creative. It also embraced the [modification] community.” Mr. Uusi-Mäkelä agrees but wishes the game were better looking. “I’m part of a generation that grew up with constantly updating graphics,” he said. “That said, resource packs and shaders go a long way and with the thousands of mods out there. There’s always something new to try. Best thing? Multiplayer! There’s nothing like exploring a new world side-by-side with a friend.” Edward Song is a 7th grader at Walter Reed Middle School. He is a senior writer at 826LA. His hobbies are watching YouTube and writing because it keeps things off of his mind.
Youtube is the third most visited website after Google and Facebook. At Youtube, 100 hours of video are uploaded every minute. More than 6 billion hours of videos are watched every month. If Youtube divides the number of hours watched by people on earth, Youtube can see that almost one hour of videos are watched a month by every person. The most popular video on Youtube so far is “PSYGANGNAM STYLE,” because it was the video that was seen by more than 2.2 billion people. You do not even need to have a Youtube channel to be able to add a comment! One thing that I love about Youtube is I could watch any video I want. I like that because if you want to watch Good Mythical Morning (for example) it appears right away unless your internet is currently frozen. Allie Kim goes to Third Street Elementary School.
Editorial: The Most Confusing Everyday Technology Zach King The Most Confusing Technology come from the biggest companies in North America and even the other five continents in the world. 826ers in Echo Park uses a lot of technology, but they don’t understand it! An informal survey revealed that: Computers are the most confusing everyday technology. Of the ten people surveyed, 40% listed computers as their most confusing technology. 20% said video games, while one person said plumbing. (Hopefully that person wasn’t Mario the plumber.) Technology is man made, but control over it is not! The smartest people know about less than the smallest data computers! Microsoft, being the top technology company in North America, has built onto this theory. Bill Gates, former CEO of Microsoft, has built the smartest computer program in the world. This Piece of Technology has been keep safe for years as one of the biggest artifact in history of USA! (Unverified) I am Zach King. I am 8. I go to Citizens Of The World Hollywood Charter School and I am a Basketball Star.I like Journalism for it’s writing and pics and creativity!
The Good Times is written by the students of the 826LA in Echo Park Journalism workshop.
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