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Musselburgh Grammar School, 86 Inveresk Road, Musselburgh, East Lothian, EH21 7BA. T.0131 665 4278, F.0131 653 2152 E. musselburghgrammar@elcschools.org.uk B. http://edubuzz.org/blogs/mgsmag www.mgsonline.org.uk
INTRODUCTIONS Cover
AUTHOR Robyn Bonnar Team MAG Joanna Jenkins
CLASS 6M2 C8 6M1
PAGE 0 1 2
Ellie Hart The Angsty Rants Kieran Sim
S2 S6 S6
3 5 6
All Departments Bethany Tindall Team MAG
1C2 C8
9 10 11
Eilidh Henderson
2M1
12
Campaigning – Arms Trade Treaty: Mind The Gaps You‟re Just As Bad As Them
Team MAG
C8
14
Melanie Lucas
3M3
15
Child Soldiers
Cary Mercer
3G1
16
Do we all have freedom of speech?
Euan Fraser
3C1
17
All Children Have A Right To An Education
Vicky Knox
3M3
18
Democracy : East Lothian
SYP Candidates
S5
19
1G3
21 22 26
C8 1G3 3M1
30 31 32
C8
34
Morgan King Gar Hunter
2G3 S6
35 36
Carolyn Nisbet
S5
38
Lisa Burnside Team MAG Robyn Grant Kirsty Ballard & Emily Atkinson
S6 C8 S6 S6
41 43 44 45
Contents Editorial LOVE Teenage Romance Valentine‟s Day – The Singles‟ Edition Reflections Of Nature In An Increasingly Unnatural World EXCELLENCE Revision Classes Pink Ladies Musselburgh Amnesty Group HUMAN RIGHTS The Girl Who Never Gave In
LITERATURE Review : Beautiful Dead : Jonus The Last Witch World Book Day COMEDY Overheard Terrible Jokes Yootspeak FILM
A.N. Onymous Janna Smith Librarians
Glenn Anderson
Film Review – Lincoln MUSIC 10 Good Songs To Listen To In March Top Albums Of 2012 ART Anime TEEN TIME Star Interview - Songstresses Top Ten Food Recipe – Women‟s Day Lemon Cake Wee Puzzle Pages
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JAN-MAR
http://edubuzz.org/blogs/mgsmag
EDITORIAL Love. Who knew that a four letter could have so many meanings? There‟s family love – the kind you have to feel even when your brother or sister eats your last piece of chocolate and you want to strangle them with some creative object like a scarf or their hair or a cat. There‟s platonic love – the kind you feel for your best friend whom you occasionally have mate dates with and get all bromantic and mushy. There‟s romantic love – the kind you feel for your boyfriend or girlfriend or partner or whatever the hell else you want to call it where you get all disgusting and secrete hormones and emotions everywhere. Then, however, there‟s forbidden love. The kind of love that can tear you apart or cause you ridicule or, in extreme cases, get you arrested. A man in the Ivory Coast (that‟s in Africa if you‟re geographically challenged) was arrested and thrown in jail for a year for being gay. Do you want to know how they knew he was gay? Of course you do, my facts are flawless. Anyway, the police knew he was gay because he went into a bar and ordered a Bailey‟s Irish cream. Confused yet? GOOD. He was the „stereotypically‟ gay man and was therefore prosecuted for it. Now, you may be thinking that it‟s only because there are certain countries that are not as advanced socially as we are. Right? Wrong. There is a superintendent in Georgia, USA who wants the right to expel any student in the state of Georgia who just so happens to be gay. Not as extreme as jail time I‟ll give him that but expulsion? Really though? Now I‟m not going to sit here and rant for a full page – although I could and it would be majestic and you would all hate me for it but whatever – but facts are facts. We all sit in our little bubbles of twitter and facebook and tumblr and tesco, with no disregard for the love and compassion of other human beings. I‟m not going to ask you to go out and join a campaign. I‟m not going to ask you to make a sensationally long blog post about it. All I‟m going to ask of 2
you is to be more aware. Tell your mum you love her every once in a while; maybe don‟t punch your brother when he annoys you during dinner; give you cat a cuddle before she wanders off to lick her bits in full view of the entire family. But most importantly? Love yourself. Yeah, that‟s right. I‟m Musselburgh‟s answer to Gok Wan – if you feel good, you look good, (plus I make kick ass Chinese food, no word of a lie). Any who‟s, let‟s not get off topic. Where was I? Oh yeah – LUUURVE. It‟s all around us, it‟s got my love on top and, to quote Natasha Bedingfield, I love you, I love you, I love you. Love is a human right. It‟s unconditional. You can‟t choose who you fall in love with, who you‟re attracted to. It just happens. So, embrace it – or someone ;). Words to describe people we should all use more often; 1.
Lovely 2. Enchanting 3. Delightful 4. Sumptuous 5. Elegant 6. Exquisite 7. Radiant 8. Sensational 9. Breath-taking 10. Inspiring By
Joanna Jenkins, 6M1
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Teenage Romance : Love?
LOVE
More and more teenagers these days are claiming they are in love, this may seem like love to them but some may say that young people can’t truly love a person as much as an adult.
Did you know? 2 out of 5 people end up marrying their high school sweetheart A lot of teenagers nowadays meet on social networking sites Some teenagers claim to be in love with someone even though they have no emotional feelings for them whatsoever In some cases age does matter! Some people get pressured into ‘dating’ as they think it looks cool True love is when you can have an argument and still be happy together no matter what Love can be true even if you’re gay, bisexual or straight and words shouldn’t hurt you. Love is … By Ellie Hart
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LOVE
Valentine’s Day – The Singles’ Edition.
We’re like coffee – smooth yet bitter. Things we hate about Valentine’s Day: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
You‟re alone every day of the year – Valentine‟s Day makes you realise that you‟re more alone than you are (ps nobody cares either). Tumblr crashes – everyone is alone and they blog as they cry into their cats. Your boyfriend is a pillock every other day of the year – why expect him to change now? Your girlfriend doesn‟t want underwear for Valentine‟s Day – stop buying it. Movies change your expectations – i.e New Girl (not a movie but did you see that kiss???) or any movie featuring Ryan Gosling. PDA everywhere – NOBODY WANTS TO SEE YOU SUCKING FACE. Red is not everyone‟s colour – you look like a bull fighter. Money does not equal love – it costs a lot to buy someone‟s affection. PRESENTS – ROSES DIE AND TEDDY BEARS MAKE ME SAD. Indifference is fatal – if you don‟t care about Valentine‟s you‟re basically dumped. Your mum and dad make more sex jokes than usual – ew.
Things we like about Valentine’s Day: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Girls are easy. Boys are easy. Onsies. FOOD. If you‟re actually in a couple then life is GREAT. If you‟re single you get to mock everyone about their relationships. Comfort eating for the win. We don‟t actually like it. It‟s sad. Can we stop? Seriously. By The
Angsty Rants 5
LOVE
REFLECTIONS OF NATURE IN AN INCREASINGLY UNNATURAL WORLD
How many hours have I spent, alone or with my dog for company, wandering across Newhailes estate in a perpetual daydream? I am almost ashamed to say that it may be equal to if not more than the amount of time I have spent working, or at least thinking, in my school career. It is the only fragment of unspoiled countryside that is within comfortable distance for me to walk to, and the only place I know where any sort of effective reflection is possible. Perhaps this is why it is so consistently busy, I cannot be alone in my longing for peace; especially in a place where nature is controlled and regulated enough for it to be safe and pleasant. This space, without car parks and streetlights, provides a sort of primal freedom you cannot reach within towns and cities. It is possible to imagine men and women first setting foot on this ground, unchanged and unspoiled since then, and you can still feel a connection with a land that is far older than anything else you can touch, and the sky above it older still, bordered by trees rather than tower flats. I 6
believe there is rarely a man who passes through the gates of Newhailes that does not dream of venturing further afield, of actually setting foot upon the distant hills, rather than tracing the outlines of them with their fingers. It appears to be modernity in the broadest sense that stops such journeys from taking place. The modern attitude of this country frowns upon such behaviour, from personal experience I know that a dog is a necessary companion for peace whilst walking across fields or through woods, it gives an aim, a purpose to my wondering. If I were to leave the dog at home my journey alters significantly, I am avoided by most and seemingly feared by some. Why, they surely think, would a teenager want to wonder through a field all day? On the rare sunny days that Scotland is blessed with, when it is warm and bright enough to sit and close my eyes and hear nothing but the wind and the panting of my dog, roving around for sticks and whatever else his nose meets along the way, I carve my own path into the centre of the field, where I can bask in peace and without crowded judgement. I often have to hide, or at least avoid crossing paths with others in case people think me odd, which in turn makes me appear significantly more odd. There is a definite social unacceptability to roving across and lying in empty spaces aimlessly and alone, to do so regularly would at the very best provide the tag of eccentric. I am not plotting to do anything wrong, and I would of course rather have a conversation with a person than with a mossy rock, but people still seem uncomfortable and wary of those who do ramble unaccompanied. This is perhaps because, in general, the modern schedule of most does not allow such jaunts, jobs and children and wine and weekends and restaurants and cinemas and cars and shopping leaves little room for romantic ambles. Exhaustion drives me to the foot of my bed, rather than the peak of my landscape. It is likely 7
the same for most, regardless of how much they dream, or in my case read, about it. Those who do have time for it are a rare breed, and one that is fading as time passes. Reading Thomas Hardy for the first time I am presented with a populous that is amongst nature, albeit sometimes in unhappiness, but a part of it nonetheless. Tess Durbeyfield suffered rape, the loss of a child and murdered its father before running away with her estranged husband, and still she revelled and lived within nature until the very end. In this day and age, Tom Hardy is an actor, paid to drink protein shakes and punch smaller men in the face for the entertainment of millions. There are grown men in my home town that would weep if their trainers were to get damp in the rain. I am always surprised to hear that 90% of Britain is defined as a „rural areaâ€&#x;, and yet the majority of people I know have seen no more of it than what passes by their car window as they journey from one city to another, myself included. Without much experience beyond the boundaries of Newhailes, It was with some amount of joy that I stumbled upon the poetry of Blake and in turn his fellow Romantic poets. They opened up the possibilities of writing to me; nature and my relationship with it could provide endless lines of subject topic, even if I am a few centuries too late for others to be interested in it. If I do not have the bravery or the time to be rambling across glens physically (I donâ€&#x;t), I could at least do so within my own head, and mark the journeys down in ink rather than footprints. By Kieran Sim, S6
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REVISION CLASSES
Excellence STANDARD GRADE
Geography Study Support, Mondays after school in D7. History Tuesdays after school in C7 starting 17th January. Maths - Tuesdays either during lunch with Ms McCloud or after school with Mrs Lyall
HIGHER Modern Studies Revision on Tuesdays 4pm to 5 pm in D1. Art and Design Int 1 2 & Higher unit completion class S4 5 & 6 in D9 each Monday 3.55 - 4.55 with Mrs Main.
Excellence
ADDED EXTRAS MGS Chess Club in B32 every Wednesday lunchtime.
Scripture Union in B1 every Thursday lunchtime.
Latin in B13 every Monday afterschool.
Musselburgh Amnesty Group in C8 every Tuesday lunchtime.
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EXCELLENCE
PINK LADIES
When: Thursdays (4pm - 5pm) Where: MGS Dance Studio Who: S1 Girls What: A range of sports activities including: Fitness Fun, Dance, Boxing, Badminton, Dancing, Swimming/Aqua Fun, Gymnastics, Outdoor Games and Girls’ Choice. Why: There is 27 sessions in total, if you manage to turn up to at least 70% (that’s 19 sessions) then the girls remaining will get to choose where to go on a day trip. For the last 3 years, the S1 girls have been choosing M&D'S Theme Park in Glasgow, hopefully this year it might be somewhere different, but that is soon to come. So far, the sessions have been great fun and new friends have been made. by Bethany Tindall 1C2 10
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RIGHTS
THE GIRL WHO NEVER GAVE IN
Malala Yousafzai was born on the 12th of July in 1997 although at that time nobody knew how amazing and brave she would be as she grew up. Today millions of people all around the world know her and the incredible things she has done. Malala was just a regular girl in the crowd until 2008 when she started speaking out about educational rights. At the start of 2009 she was given the opportunity to write a blog for the BBC when her father was asked by a Pakistan BBC reporter if there were any women at his school willing to talk about what life was like being ruled by the Taliban. A girl named Aisha stepped forward but her parents stopped her for fear of what the Taliban might do so Malala then took her place although she was four years younger than the original girl. On the 3rd of January that year her first blog was published. Meanwhile in Mingora, the Taliban had said that no girls were to go to school after the 15th of January in 2009. After the ban took place, Taliban continued to destroy schools and on the 19th of January Malala wrote in her blog "Five more schools have been destroyed, one of them was near my house. I am quite surprised, because these schools were closed so why did they also need to be destroyed?" While the Taliban continued to bomb and destroy schools and areas around them Malala realised it was taking a large toll on her brothers. One day she walked out to find her brother digging a hole and when her father asked what he was doing he replied “I’m digging a grave” and following that, when they were on a bus and it hit a pothole waking her 10 year-old brother he asked “Was it a bomb blast”. On the 21st of February Malala finally got what she wanted when the ban on girl’s education was lifted and she returned to school. Malala began participating in the Institute for War and Peace Reporting's "Open Minds" project in December 2009, which brought journalism training and discussions of current affairs to 42 schools in Pakistan. In October 2011, Desmond Tutu announced Malala's 12
nomination for the International Children's Peace Prize and she became a celebrity in Pakistan. Malala’s life changed forever on the 9th of October last year when a Taliban gunman shot her on her way home from school. The masked gunman shouted "Which one of you is Malala? Speak up, otherwise I will shoot you all". After being identified Malala was then shot with one bullet which went through her head, neck and then embedded itself in her shoulder. She was airlifted to a military hospital in Peshawar where doctors had to operate when a swelling developed in the left portion of her brain. Malala was then moved through various hospitals and received other operations. She was moved to the United Kingdom for special treatment on the 15th of October. Within a few days doctors were saying that although Malala was not out of the woods yet, they were all very optimistic that she would get better. Since then Malala has been released from hospital and has become known for the amazing courage she has shown for something she believes in. Songs have been dedicated to her, a biographical movie is being made about her and I am sure that she will continue to do amazing things for the cause that she strongly believes in and has fought for. She is an incredible role model and a truly fabulous young woman. She showed no fear when she stepped out from the crowd and made her intentions for the future clear. She put her life on the line when she spoke out about her beliefs and has shown the Taliban that she will not back down. Malala is a force to be reckoned with and a truly wonderful young woman. by
Eilidh Henderson, 2M1 Editors Note : Malala Yousafzai has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize - let's hear it for peaceful protest. 13
RIGHTS
ARMS TRADE TREATY:MIND THE GAPS
IN BRIEF… Amnesty International has been campaigning for an international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) for many years and think the laws that control how arms are traded between countries are not strong enough, meaning that arms can get into the hands of people who use them to commit human rights abuses. A strong international Arms Trade Treaty would help to control how arms are bought and sold and stop them getting into the hands of the wrong people, such as child soldiers or dictators. World leaders will be meeting again at the United Nations in March to discuss the draft text of the treaty and to keep up the pressure on the UK Government to argue for the best possible treaty at this meeting – a treaty that will save lives there are two quick things we can do: 1. Send an action postcard to your MP or 2. Send a tweet to your MP WHAT IS A STRONG ARMS TRADE TREATY? To be effective and really save lives, a treaty needs to be strong and cover all aspects of the trade in arms - from import and export, to how arms are transported and right down to how the individual parts used to manufacture weapons are traded. We believe that it is essential that the Arms Trade Treaty: Protects human rights Is comprehensive Contains strong enforcement mechanisms Enters into force TAKE ACTION 1. Send a postcard to your MP We have action cards to send to Fiona O‟Donnell MP ahead of the March conference available in C8. 2. Send a tweet to your MP Below are some suggested messages you can tweet: @fionaodonnell Loopholes need closing for a strong #ArmsTreaty that protects human rights. Back the campaign: www.amnesty.org.uk/ATT @fionaodonnell Loopholes need closing for a strong #ArmsTreaty that protects human rights. Tell UK Gov to be strong: www.amnesty.org.uk/ATT Please Note: You can send postcards or tweet your MP right up until the end of the conference on 28th March. 14
RIGHTS
YOU‟RE JUST AS BAD AS THEM He is lying strapped to a bed. In the corner is the lethal drug that will kill him, the „trained‟ worker will administers the lethal dose.
They puncture his skin with the needle. He falls unconscious. His breathing stops, and finally his heart.
The death penalty is one of man‟s worst inventions. First used in the eighteenth century, it is thought to deter criminals from crime. This has not worked.
There is no evidence to prove the death penalty really deters criminals. Many people believe this is right. I believe two wrongs, don‟t make a right. The death penalty goes against our most important human right – the right to live. BY Melanie Lucas, 3M3 15
CHILD SOLDIERS
RIGHTS
There are an estimated three hundred thousand child soldiers around the world. Every year the number grows as more children are recruited for use in their military in active combat. Most child soldiers are boys, very few are girls. Children are used in wars in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Congo, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Burma. Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was a rebel army that fought a failed eleven-year war in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002. Often after the RUF attacked a village they abduct the surviving children. The children sometimes saw their parents slaughtered and are then removed to special camps. Those children who escape often joined the Kamajors a civilian militia composed of local hunters of the Mende ethnic group who formed in the earlier part of the civil war, who give children shelter and food. Captive In the RUF camps in Sierra Leone, the scared children are usually trained for two to three months. The children are told they will be killed if they disobey orders or try to escape. The children often have to undergo a brutal initiation and have to kill or maim those who have attempted to flee. Combat The development of lighter weapons such as the AK47 means that boys as young as eight can be armed. The smallest boys are placed closest to the enemy. In war, they are said to be fearless. Children are often less demanding soldiers than adults. They are cheaper to keep as they eat less and are easier to manipulate. Both sides believe the unpredictability of small children makes them better fighters. Some are sent into battle high on drugs to give them courage. Cease This should be stopped in all countries as young children should have a good childhood and learn like all the other kids in every other county. All children should be equal and have the same rights as every other child on the planet. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights indeed says Everyone is free and we should all be treated in the same way. By Cary Mercer, 3G1 16
Do we all have freedom of speech?
RIGHTS
We have freedom of speech in Great Britain. Unlike other countries such as Cuba, China, and some African countries and Korea. In Britain we have a free press. This means journalists can write their views without being worried that they will get arrested or put in jail, or even worse. British Journalists can criticize the Government, or the Queen. Newspapers can, and we can, open discussions and put their view point forward, radio stations can put their view point forward on any topic, from religion to abortion, TV is also the same with current affair programs discussing many different issues, and often they invite guests with different viewpoints so the is an exciting discussion However, in other countries thing are much different for example in China in 1989 there was the Tiananmen Square protest. Lots of students gathered in the square to protest about the government, unfortunately the government took a disliking to this and ordered the army to start shooting at the students in the square. The number of people dead is still unclear because the Chinese government still doesn‟t share the information people guess it could be anywhere from 100 to 3,000. In Eritrea, radio stations are censored. They do not have the power to say what they want, the programs are all checked by the government to make sure nothing bad against the government is said, they only say what the government tells them to say, the government keeps telling radio stations what to say people really don‟t know what‟s happening, especially if they don‟t have any other way of getting news. Eritrea and Cuba have the largest prisons for journalists in the world so there is no freedom of speech there. In my opinion, every country should have freedom of speech. This is important because if governments control the press radio and TV people have no idea what is happening in the world, and are afraid to speak out and basically just do as they are told. This is violation of their Human Rights and leads to insularity and xenophobia. By
Euan Fraser, 3C1 17
All Children Have A Right To An Education
Rights
Every human in every country of the world is entitled to have their human rights. These cannot be taken away from you but this rule can cause havoc in some countries. Every child has the right to an education which develops their personality, talents and abilities to the full. Primary education must be free for all children. This report is about all the children in Africa and how they don’t get their right to a free education. Due to the lack of education about disease in the continent millions are infected with life threatening illnesses. Some of these diseases include tuberculosis, Ebola, malaria and of course the most well known sickness the AIDS virus. From a very young age Africans are disadvantaged when it comes to being educated. More than 100 million children do not get this right, the majority being mostly girls. Only 56% of African children attend school and only about a third of that number actually finish grade school. For the fortunate children who are able to attend a school life is much harder than any American student would know. Schools have very little equipment and having a chalkboard is said to be privileged and most schools do not have desks just cold, dirty floors for their students to sit on. Space is another big problem as schools are very overpopulated. Some are so much that the students cannot spread their books out. In many cases teachers are forced to teach hundreds of students do to the lack of educators. Students are taught in the boiling heat and bitter cold because their schools have no heat or air conditioning. The schools are barely standing because they are made from recycled parts of ships, buildings and in some cases they are built from packed mud bricks. The Centre for Universal Education created the new Africa Learning Barometer which said that out of 128 million school-aged children, 17 million will never attend school. Even worse than this is the fact that another 37 million African children will learn so little while in they are in school that they will not be much better off than those kids who never attend school. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela. I think this is a very inspiring quote and it applies muchly to the children in Africa. Hopefully this can happen some day. Open your eyes and think if it was your children, would you want a life like that for them full of poverty? No child deserves this and it needs too change. You can help this happen.
By Vicky Knox, 3M3 We are all born free The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures 18
RIGHTS
DEMOCRACY : EASTOTHIAN
Three MSYP places are available for the East Lothian constituency. Voting opened on the 4th of March and will run through to the 15th. Elections are now open across Scotland. If your area is running online elections you can log onto the system at www.syp.org.uk/elections. Hereâ€&#x;s who you might vote for, their full manifesto is available at the website. Brendan Sleigh Hi I'm Brendan Sleigh and live in the town of Musselburgh situated in East Lothian. I became interested in the SYP because of the lack of ways to become involved in sport. I think it's important that all young people have a chance to do sport and that's what I hope to give if elected. I also have a passion for politics and that was another major reason for becoming invoked in SYP.
Eilidh McSporran I want to be a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament because I want to improve the way in which today's youth society lives and behaves. I believe that as young people we have a great deal to offer the nation, but that along with the rights of a citizen we have responsibilities, amongst which the responsibility to behave well and set a good example is uppermost.
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Maya Allan I believe that teenagers in Scotland fall under a lot of negative stereotyping. I want to become a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament so I personally can have a chance to change this negative image and show that young people have a lot to offer. I plan to use twitter and social media sites as a positive force to promote good things going on in East Lothian.
Rhiordan Langan-Fortune 'In the past year I've worked hard to represent East Lothian as an MSYP. I have spoken several times in the Scottish Parliament and for the first time East Lothian's youth had a direct representative on HM Government's frontbench when I delivered a speech in the House of Commons. 4 months after becoming an MSYP I was elected Culture and Media Committee Convenor. My main aim has been to establish and strengthen links with decision makers and have thus worked closely with East Lothian's MP and MSP as well as a whole host of other politicians, voluntary organisations and companies such as Young Scot'
What does a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) do? First up, all of our MSYPs are volunteers, so no hefty salaries - instead MSYPs can look forward to lots of hard work representing the views of young people in their area and in return, they'll get support, training and some amazing opportunities. 20
Books
BEAUTIFUL DEAD: JONAS BY EDEN MAGUIRE - REVIEW 'I can't wait until I can read the rest in the series!'
This book is a book which you get really into and can't put down because you are so desperate to find out what happens! There are four books in the beautiful dead series. In all four books it is Darina's job to help the beautiful dead with what they're not happy with! You are meant to see ghosts because they aren't satisfied in some way. This book is about that and it is Darina's job is to help Jonas Jonson find out what he wants to know so he can rest in peace. What Jonas needs help with is trying to find out how he died because he can't remember and neither can his girlfriend. I was really eager to find out what happened but I found the ending very disappointing because it was kind of obvious. I find it really annoying when books are predictable - every now and then the novel would lead you off track but it always came back to the same guy - you just needed to know if he was who you thought he was! I thought this book was really enjoyable and I would definitely read it again! If I where to rate this book I would rate it 4 and a half stars because of the ending - if the ending was a bit better I would rate it 5. 21
Imaginative Writing
THE LAST WITCH
Maria was quite normal for a 14 year old girl. She was tall and bright with dark frizzy hair and her own horse called Flash. Flash was a stunning jet black horse with a shining white stripe down the centre of his forehead. He was 10 years old and completely bombproof- wouldn’t flinch an inch. Well, before the incident.
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Maria usually rode to school and had discovered a new, quicker route in between some unused old crop fields. She got herself very confuse because all the other times she’d looked around there, there was just dead corn. The next day, she took her morning ride to school through there and discovered an old tree ahead. She tried to ride past it like with any other tree, but she felt a weird, tingling sensation around her. Flash must of felt it too, and, for a cool, calm, collected horse he reacted badly. He reared and bucked on the spot and rolled his eyes around in his sockets then finally bolted, throwing Maria off in the process. He gave her an alerting look before galloping away. Maria suddenly felt held to the ground. The sense was exceedingly uncomfortable and she tried to get up but the weight held heavily on her shoulders. She looked around in shock just in time to see the tree form a face in front of her. The ground shook as a tree hollow began to form like a mouth, some branch stumps as a nose and two eyebrows and lastly, two wicked knots as eyes. The tree slowly turned to Maria and it screamed at her. She finally managed to heave herself off the ground and run away to school howling while the tree was still screaming at her. Maria researched the fields in the library and found out a myth about a pathway that mysteriously opens when it’s hungry. Maria browsed some more and then found an old blog that gave more detail of the myth. That the last supposed witch was hung there. Everyone at the hanging all had gruesome deaths, like falling of rocky, spiky cliffs or being burnt alive and, when Maria searched the blog writer’s name, she too had also died in a horrific way. Maria only knew that she was next. Flash had run away without a trace, so her mother had said to her on the phone so Maria had to walk home alone. She went through the park, which is normally 23
busy, but there was no one in sight and all was dark, gloomy and quiet. A playground swing began to creek and rock. Maria’s instinct immediately told her to run for her life. She ran and ran as fast as she could with tears streaming down her cheeks. Her house was deep in the countryside and was a good few miles away. She soon grew tired. Her legs were slowing and she fell to her knees in exhaustion as she panted like an excitable dog. Almost unnoticeably at first, a cold hand rested on her shoulder and she shook with fear. Would the next thing she see be her fate? After a long, unbearable pause, she unwillingly turned round slowly and instantly saw a bright, searing light. Visions of everyone and everything she loved quickly appeared and, though she tried, she could not turn away from the torture of what she could see. The noises of crying and yearning with agony were filling her ears as she watched the depressing pictures in front of her. Her parents and friends were there, screeching their lungs out as their minds were twisted and confused by a dark source- black magic. Of course, Maria had never seen or thought about black magic but anyone could recognise that this was it and it was tearing Maria’s heart apart. Finally, she saw a picture of her beloved horse, Flash, transforming into the ugliest creature ever to see. Flash gave a last pain filled whinny before his head fully shaped into a face full of anger and hatred. Maria yelled for help but even though she knew there was no one to help her. The ghastly vision crept grimly towards her and she began to see more of the ugly details on the thing. Its skin was mouldy green and cracking and warty. Its face was the same but far more evil and grotesque. Its mouth only had a few blood stained teeth left and saliva was dripping everywhere. Its eyes were just holes in the skull and the hair was just a few dirty, tangled strands. It smelt like hells worst smell and, now she 24
thought about it, it looked like a dead, rotten, wandering carcase. Maria screamed with all the energy she had left as the thing used its claw like nails to tear her flesh from her bones. Maria urged one last yelp before falling lifelessly to the ground before the Last Witch. Maria’s parents and everyone she knew had simply forgotten about her and Flash, like they had never even heard of a bright teenage daughter with a pet black horse. Though, sometimes in their dreams, they saw the face like thing of the creature staring at them, chanting the word ‘forget’ at them in a gurgling, croaky voice. That is the everlasting effects of black magic. The curse of the witch still goes on, and there’s nothing any person can do about it. By Janna Smith, 1G3
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Books
WORLD BOOK DAY
Background World Book Day was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe. World Book Day is a partnership of publishers, booksellers and interested parties who work together to promote books and reading for the personal enrichment and enjoyment of all. A main aim of World Book Day in the UK and Ireland is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own where school children are entitled to receive a World Book Day £1 Book Token (or equivalent €1.50 Book Token in Ireland). The Book Token is available from our Library and can be exchanged for one of eight specially published World Book Day £1 Books, or is redeemable against any book or audio book of their choice costing £2.99 or more at a participating bookshop or book club. Design a Bookmark Competition The winning design will be made into a bookmark and distributed to thousands of bookshops nationwide participate this year by designing the front of a book-themed bookmark. All entries should be produced on A4 paper, portrait format (h 160mm x w 42mm) and submitted through a teacher. World Book Day at MGS Our wonderful librarians planned a display in the library around the opening lines of books and asked staff for their favourite opening line to a book , Seniors ran round on the day and took some photographs of contributors with their book!
“The blow was such a stunner it was thirteen years before I could get back on my feet again.” Papillon by Henri Charriere Mr O‟Connor
“It was the day my Grandmother exploded” Crow Road by Iain Banks Mr Thomson & Ms Steele 26
“As above, so below, As within, so without.” The Secret by Rhonda Byrne Ms Dudgeon
“At the age of fifteen my grandmother became the concubine of a warlord general, the police chief of a tenuos national government of China. The year was 1924 and China was in chaos.” Wild Swans by Jung Chang Ms Anderson
“The great, grey beast February had eaten Harvey Swick alive.” Thief of Always by Clive Barker Mr Dalrymple
“Call me Ishmael” Moby Dick by Herman Melville Mr Cunningham
“When the lights went off the accompanist kissed her.” Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
“last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Ms MacDougall 27
“First the colours. Then the humans. That’s usually how I see things. Or at least, how I try. HERE IS A SMALL FACT You are going to die.” The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Ms Cavers
“He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish.” The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway Ms Bonnar
“Evelyn was an insomniac so when they said she died in her sleep, you have to question that.” Pontoon by Garrison Keillor Ms Sweetnam
“There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.” The Voyage of The Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis Ms Roddy
“I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. That is, my feet are in it; the rest of me is on the draining board, which I have padded with our dog’s blanket and the tea-cosy.” I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith Ms Steele 28
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” 1984 by George Orwell Mr Summers
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The Bible Mr Mainds
“Mother died to-day. Or maybe, yesterday; I can’t be sure,” L‟Etranger (The Outsider/Stranger) by Albert Camus Mr Bain
“The sea was quiet at first light on the morning their world fell apart.” A Walk Across the Sun by Corban Addison Ms Forster
“As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.” The Metamorphisis by Frank Kafka Gary Hunter
“I first met Dean not long after my wife and I split up.” On the Road by Jack Kerouac 29
OVERHEARD
COMEDY “Sir, can I see your chicken?” “Life‟s too short to listen to a sign!” “Gary: Tank Commander is a disgrace to comedy.” “That b******n was my life.” “My mum says that I‟m not trusted to play scrabble.” “Her husband is a man.” “Did they have a government in the 1900s?” “20th century is now.” “I‟ve lost my last milk tooth, does that mean I‟m a man.” “Tell me if this smells like chloroform.” “My map is broken.” “Are anchovies a fish because I always thought they were a
vegetable?”
"Oh are they going to have a football match to decide who is going to take over the Euro ?" „I‟m never drinking this juice again, it makes my teeth cough.‟ „Why doesn‟t your skin fit your face?‟ „Twenty-three is the best age to get married because you know the person FOREVER by then.‟ „Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough‟.
Tell your girlfriend she looks pretty, even if she looks like a
truck. 30
COMEDY
TERRIBLE JOKES
Yo mama is so ugly that when she went to a beautician it took 12 hours... to get a quote! Yo mama is so ugly that she looked out the window and got arrested for mooning. Yo mama is so ugly that people go as her for Halloween. Yo mama is so ugly that she looks like she's been in a tumble dryer filled with rocks. Yo mama is so ugly that she makes blind children cry. Yo mama is so ugly that she climbed the ugly ladder and didn't miss a step. Yo mama is so ugly that the last time I saw something that looked like her, I pinned a tail on it. Yo mama is so ugly that her birth certificate contained an apology letter from the condom factory. Yo mama is so ugly that that your father takes her to work with him so that he doesn't have to kiss her goodbye. Yo mama is so ugly that she tried to take a bath and the water jumped out! Yo mama is so ugly that people hang her picture in their cars so their radios don't get stolen. 31
COMEDY
YOuthSPEAK
YOLO – You only live once Skive – to skip school / class Simmer – calm down / relax Spitting teeth – talking rubbish / porkie pies Leave me or – Leave me some of that usually in food or drinks or cigarettes for bad kids. beast - an adjective to describe something that's really cool. book - cool. The first option given in predictive text when trying to type c-o-o-l. fo sho - "urban" version of yes, for sure, certainly. hangin - ugly, most likely with an unattractive body and bad dress sense to boot. howling - ugly. munter - ugly. An alternate to minger, rents - parents. (Suggested by reader Eric, London) rinsed - overused, used up, all gone. "That song was rinsed, I don't like it anymore." (Suggested by reader Angharad, Brixton) roll with - hang out with. shabby - cool, smart, "da bomb". As in "that's a well shabby suit." sick - interesting, cool, never seen before. The more sick something is, the better. This usage originated with skaters and snowboarders. skeen - I see. Also seen. slap up - to beat up. Hence the happy slapping craze in which feral youths attack passers-by and film it on their mobiles.
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LINCOLN
FILM
2012, US, 150 min, 12A Directed by: Steven Spielberg Cast: Daniel DayLewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn Spielberg's epic focuses on the final four months of the titular President's life and the political fight to secure the constitutional abolition of slavery. The film largely eschews the sentimentality that is considered a Spielberg trademark, resulting in a film as absorbing and unassuming as the central character.
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Music
10 GOOD SONGS TO LISTEN TO IN MARCH.
1. Drinking From the Bottle - Calvin Harris ft. Tinie Tempah 2. Bruno Mars - Locked Out Of Heaven 3. Olly Murs - Trouble Maker 4. Girl on Fire - Alicia Keys ft. Nicki & Will.i.am Scream & Shout 6. Sweet Nothing - Calvin Harris Ft. Florence Welsh 7. James Arthur - Impossible 8. One Direction - Kiss you 9. Conor Maynard - Animal 10. Emile Sande - Clown By Morgan King, 2G3 Agree? Disagree? Letâ€&#x;s have your opinion at
http://edubuzz.org/blogs/mgsmag 34
MUSIC TOP ALBUMS OF 2012 1. Frank Ocean- Channel Orange This reminds me of a vision I once had that depicted the birth of Jesus Christ; the most visionary R&B album of the 21st century and possibly even further back. Ocean exposes R.Kelly for the out-dated chauvinist that he is and will surely go on to even greater things. However, there is only one pathway grander than Channel Orange. That is, conquer the popular world and cause hundreds of years of worship, happiness and war until science comes up with a new theory of evolution. 2. Tame Impala- Lonerism Though it reeks of influence from 60’s psychedelic rock, it feels surprisingly modern. Kevin Parker’s electronic structural format is one of the reasons for this. Not only is this an intelligent album, it’s extremely addictive. 3. Kendrick Lamar- Good Kid m.a.a.d City As a white middle class suburbanite, I know a lot about rap music, and this is one of the best in years. THIS IS GOOD WRAPPING. 4. Grimes- Visions Live, Claire Boucher makes mistakes. She forgets her own lyrics, misses her opening and her equipment has a tendency to break (or be stolen as it was at a gig on her UK tour). Her album feels similarly fragmented, but that only adds to its brilliance. Her hypnotic sound will mesmerize you into listening to it on repeat everywhere; from a party surrounded by people looking suspiciously delirious, to crying alone in bed. 5. Beach House- Bloom Simpler lyrics and a slight adjustment of their sound, this album somehow manages to feel greater and bolder in every way. Each individual song could be released as a single but when listened to from start to finish the album title couldn’t feel more suited to this body of work, flourishing into something almost otherworldly.
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6. Julia Holter- Ekstasis An unusual success; this album brought Holter to the forefront of independent music through the delicate balance of her vocals and haunting keyboard she employs. Simple melodies at first glance, dig deeper and these are precise narratives of someone asking much more than the conventional questions they appear to be. 7. Chromatics- Kill For Love Boosted by the recent fashionable film Drive, in which artist Johnny Jewel contributed to on the soundtrack, he uses the same theme as the film: love leading to fatality, and maintains it for 17 tracks of pure 80’s orientated driving bliss. Learn to drive, buy this album and pretend to be Ryan Gosling. 8. Andy Stott- Luxury Problems Experimentalist Stott’s tense and at times claustrophobic debut full length works because of its extreme attention to detail. Its dub techno influences are still apparent as ever, enhanced by the use of female vocals, making for an album that doesn’t redefine the genre but heighten its magnitude and scope. 9. How To Dress Well- Love Remains Tom Krell’s experimental R&B project delved deeper into the musicians struggle with depression and alcoholism, using his own distorted take on the genre to create something that broke the barriers of his lo-fi beginnings. Highlight ‘Set It Right’ concludes in grand turmoil, baring Krell’s inner anguish at the pain of loneliness. This genuine album is one that stays with you and only improves with every listen. 10. Purity Ring- Shrines Electric pop duo Corin Roddick and Megan James fused confectionery vocals and crystalized synthesizers to create their own blend of futuristic pop that sounded like everything should in 2012: utterly accessible but impossible to pin down, like James Franco. By Gary Hunter, Head Boy 36
ART
ANIME
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ART
ANIME It’s all in the eyes
Now that we‟ve got your characters face sorted out, it‟s time for me to give you some super simple tips on eyes! Tip 1 Generally, eye size is used to determine age in a character. Young people normally have larger eyes, whereas older people have more narrow eyes. Of course, you should choose whatever style of eye would best suit your character but trust me, narrow don‟t always work well on children. Tip 2 Eyes are perfect for displaying emotion! The most simple yet striking way is the decreasing of the iris and the pupil to show shock or anger. You can easily change or intensify emotion with the use of the wonderful eyebrows! Also remember shaky lines for the iris and no light circles in the eyes are very effective! 38
Tip 3 Find a certain style of eye; that way you can make them your trademark. The easiest way to do this is to look at various eye designs and work from them, making your own style. I recommend Vampire Knight, the eyes in that look awesome! You know what else looks awesome? Eye patches. Eye patches look super boss. Eyes see what you did there! Apart from their use in bad puns, eyes can be the aspect that can make or break a character. But remember, your eyes donâ€&#x;t have to be complex to look good and stand out. Sometimes even the simplest of designs can make an impression, so donâ€&#x;t get too worked up over them! Happy drawing! ~ By Carolyn Nisbet, S5 39
STAR INTERVIEW
Songstresses
Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre became a host of the best local talent for one night only back in October 2012, featuring Musselburgh Grammar School’s Ellen Brown and Rebecca Traynor. Both girls did incredibly well to make it to the live final and did Musselburgh and the school proud with Rebecca being the eventual, and deserving, winner. Ellen Brown, first year, was the youngest competitor performing at the final and sang ‘In the Arms of the Angels’ by Sarah McLachlan. We spoke to Ellen about her time as a finalist in EGT, her inspiration and her hopes for the future. How did you feel about making it to the EGT final? I was happy and proud of myself for making it to the final. Who is your biggest inspiration and why? My biggest inspiration is Adele because she is a really good singer and puts a lot of emotion into her songs and performances. What are your hopes for the future? I hope to be either a music teacher or a professional singer. What do you enjoy most about singing and performing? I enjoy being able to express emotion in what I do. Fourth year student, Rebecca Traynor, performs at various competitions around the country, amazing people with her huge voice, and she obviously impressed the EGT judges with her rendition of Katherine Jenkins’ ‘Bring Me to Life’. It was a case of second time lucky for Rebecca who finished a credible second in 2011’s competition. Rebecca then went on to win Musselburgh’s Young Musician of the Year on the 31st of January. Members of the school MAG did a quick interview with Edinburgh’s Got Talent Winner 2012, Rebecca Traynor. 40
STAR INTERVIEW
When did you first gain an interest in opera? I’ve always had an interest in opera since I was little as I always watched the opera on TV with my Dad. Do you hope to have a career in music? I hope to make a good future out of being a singer as it's nearly everyone’s dream to be gifted but to show others your gift and be paid for it is outstanding. Did you expect to win this year considering you had finished second the year before? I didn't actually think I was going to win it at all. It was a big surprise for me and my family! Who is your biggest musical inspiration and why? Sarah Brightman. She has the voice of an angel and is just so talented When did you first gain an interest in opera? I’ve always had an interest in opera since I was little as I always watched the opera on TV with my Dad. Do you hope to have a career in music? I hope to make a good future out of being a singer as it's nearly everyone’s dream to be gifted but to show others your gift and be paid for it is outstanding. Both of these girls are hugely talented and I would definitely keep an eye on these future stars! Thank you to both Ellen and Rebecca for their time in answering my questions. By Lisa Burnside
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TOP TEN
Win a Fairtrade EGG! To help promote Fairtrade in Musselburgh Grammar School and give someone a very yummy treat we are giving away a Fairtrade Chocolate Easter! You can be sure that these choccy treats guarantees disadvantaged producers in the developing world a better deal. To win our amazing Fairtrade Egg all you have to do is create a TOP TEN list for our next edition. Weâ€&#x;ve had Top 10 tips on surviving MGS, Top 10 Gadgets of 2012, etc. So make it original! Deadline for entries is 22nd March 2013. Please send your answers to jbonnar@musselburghgrammar. elcschool.org,uk, or drop them in to MAG headquarters in C8. 42
FOOD
WOMEN‟S DAY LEMON DRIZZLE CAKE
Ingredients 225g Margarine 225g caster sugar 225g self-raising flour 4 large eggs 2 level tsp baking powder 1tbsp milk Finely grated zest of one large lemon For the drizzle: 100g granulated sugar Juice of one large lemon For the filling: 250g mascarpone 125g lemon curd Method 1. Set your oven to 180°C/360°F/Gas Mark 4. 2. Grease two 8 inch sandwich tins, then line the base of each with greaseproof paper. To save time, fold a large piece of greaseproof paper in half, draw around a tin, grab scissors and cut around the outline. 3. We are using the easy peasy all in one method; Simply measure the Stork, sugar, flour, eggs, baking powder, milk and lemon zest into your awaiting mixing bowl. When all of the cake ingredients are within the safety of your bowl, whisk until you have created a smooth mixture. 4. Divide the suitably smooth mixture equally between your pre-prepared tins and level out. Place the tins straight into the warmth of the oven. The cakes should take between 25 and 30 minutes to cook, but check after 20 minutes. Don't open the oven door any earlier as this is another way to get a sunken cake. The sponges are ready once they are springy to the touch and the edges are coming away from the tins. 5. Leave the cakes to cool in the tins whilst you get on with making the zingy lemon drizzle. First of all, juice your lemon into a small bowl. Try warming the lemon in the microwave for a few seconds first; this helps to get as much juice out as possible. Tip the granulated sugar into the bowl to join the lemon juice and give it a good stir. Next you can spoon this delicious mixture over the two cakes (which are still sitting patiently in their tins) and leave to cool completely.
6. Once the cakes are finally cold you can extract them from the tins. Now all that is left to do is make the simple filling. Fold the lemon curd into the mascarpone. The joy of using mascarpone is that it is already at a beautifully thick spreading consistency - no whisking required! Sandwich the two cakes together with the ever so tasty lemony filling, then stand back to admire your work. Not for too long though – dive in, cut yourself a large slice and congratulate yourself on a job well done. ENJOY! 43
WEE PUZZLE PAGES
SPRING QUIZ
1. Which imagery is most associated with the spring season? a) Blazing sun b) Snow c) Foliage d) Blossoms e) None of these 2. The first day of spring is technically called ________. a) Spring solstice b) Spring equinox c) Either A or B 3. Spring months vary according to climate and geographic location. In North America , spring season starts in which calendar month. a) January b) March c) May d) July e) September 4. In many cultures, spring symbolizes ________. a) Rebirth b) Life c) Death d) Love e) All of these 5. Spring is the season of flowers. The Japanese celebrate the arrival of spring by hosting mass viewings of which flower. a) Peach blossoms b) Tulips c) Sunflowers d) Carnations e) Cherry blossoms 6. According to folk legends, certain groundhogs can predict whether or not spring will arrive early in that year. How do they make their predictions? a) Look for their shadows b) Judge the thickness of the snow c) Find a mate 7. In the U.S., schools allow their students to take a short break or vacation for spring. What is the typical length of Spring Break? a) 3 days b) One week c) Two weeks d) 15 days e) One month 8. The start of spring coincides with the postseason of which U.S. organized sport. 44
a) American football b) Baseball c) Basketball d) College football e) College basketball 9. The term "equinox" is defined as ________. a) When the sun is furthest from the equator b) When day and night are equal in length c) When Earth's two poles meet 10. In the Persian calendar, the first day of spring (or New Year Day) is called ________. a) Sizdah Bedar b) Nowruz c) Ashura d) Khordad e) None of these 11. Which playful bird is often seen as symbolizing the arrival of the spring season? a) Cuckoo b) Jaybird c) Robin d) Swallow e) Sparrow 12. True or False. On the seasonal calendar, spring immediately precedes autumn. 1. Completed entries to C8 by 22nd March for a chance to win a CHOCOLATE EGG! Name : ______________________________________ Class : _____________________________________ Q for the Spring Edition of the MAG___________________________________________________________
A: ______________________________________________________________________________________
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WEE PUZZLE PAGE
SPRING CROSSWORD
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WEE PUZZLE PAGE
SPRING WORDSEARCH
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