the snoop on gossip
college life hacks
dallas jackson: MMA
ways of the wolf
PULSEIn This Issue february 2015
february fun facts 6 DALLAS JACKSON: MMA 8 THE SNOOP ON GOSSIP 10 BABY NAMES 11 BLACKHAT MOVIE REVIEW 12 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 13 16 FASHION OVER THE YEARS 14 SPRING FASHION 16 COLLEGE LIFE HACKS 17 ANIMAL ABUSE 18 BAD BEAUTY HABITS 19 CROSSWORD 21 CALENDAR OF EVENTS: 17 MARCH 22 4
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BEHIND THE SCENES
Letter From the Editors:
It is hard to remember there once was a time when we were not surrounded by technology. There once was a time that when you wanted to talk to someone, you would have to find them and talk face-to-face. There once was a time when “flirting” was poking fun at the other, now reduced to a simple “like” on social media. There once was a time when if you didn’t know something, you had to go find it in a book or use your home computer. Now, the whole internet is available at the touch of a finger. If you don’t know something, you can just “Google” it. We think for hours about the perfect tweet, only to delete it when no one favorites or retweets it. You can spend thirty minutes trying to find the perfect selfie angle, only to delete all the pictures and abandon it. We place our value in the amount of likes we get on our Instagram posts. Pictures used to be used to capture moments, and now pictures are used to fabricate moments. We spend more time looking down than enjoying what’s right in front of us. Studies show that Americans spend, on average, 450 minutes a day looking at screens (even more at our school, where we are in front of computers all day). That’s 7.5 hours, or about 30% of your day, spent looking at your phone, television, computer, or tablet. The truth is technology is taking things away from us. It’s taking away our social skills. We no longer have to be nervous about talking to our crush, when you can just DM or message them on Facebook. It’s taking away our ability to read people. We no longer get the face-to-face interaction and the ability to see the other person’s immediate reaction, body language, or tone of voice. Texts and messages can be often misread and lead to further arguments. It’s taking away our patience. Why would you have to wait until you get home to see the newest music video from your favorite artist? Why would you have to wait until you get back to school to hear the latest news from your friends when you can just text them? Why would you wait until the movie comes out on DVD when you can just watch it illegally on the internet? We propose that you put the screen down. Take the time to think about what you’re seeing, hearing, feeling, and thinking. Don’t be numb to what’s around you, but relish in the moment. Instead of burying your face in your phone after school, get together with your friends and go make memories. Don’t miss out on everything around you because you’re too preoccupied with social media and technology. As they say, “your High School years are some of the best years of your life.”
Lead Editor: Ann Temple
Graphic Editor: Megan Strayer
Photographer:
Chancler McClelland
Writers:
Courtney Bullis Taylor Chambers Wyatt Cooper Aisha Eby Matt Gilderson Alley Grant Misti Higginbotham Hannah Phalen Paige Pritchard Aaron Sampson Ann Temple Lauren Weathers Cindy Wenk Danielle Whitworth Abby Williams Stone Woodward
Sponsors:
Mr. Matt Locke Mr. Bob Lynch
-Megan & Ann 5
aisha eby
february fun facts The birthstone for February is Amethyst. Throughout history, the gemstone has been associated with many myths, legends, religions, and numerous cultures. English regalia used it in the middle ages to symbolize royalty. Amethyst is purple quartz, a beautiful blend of violet and red that can found in every corner of the earth. Historically, the finest amethyst stone was found in Russia and was placed in much European jewelry. Today, Brazil is the primary source of this gemstone; it can be found in other places as well.
of African Americans in U.S. history. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also dedicate this month to Black History Month.
Birthday. He was the 16th president of the United States. He had many successes in his lifetime, including bringing about the emancipation of slaves.
Valentine’s Day celebrated on February 14th; on this day many people exchange cards, candy, gifts or flowers with their special On February 6, 1933, Amendment “valentine.” People ask why this 20 to the United States was proclaimed which moved the Inaugura- day is considered a Holiday, the day of romance we call Valentine’s tion Day to January 20th. Day is named for a Christian martyr In February of 1910, the Boy and dates back to the 5th century. Scouts of America was incorporatIt has origins in the Roman holiday ed. The Boy Scouts of American Lupercalia. Two zodiac signs for February are (BSA) allows young youth to build character, and trains in responsibil- George Washington’s Birthday is Aquarius (January 20 - February on February 22, 1732 Washington ity. 18) and Pisces (February 19 was born in Westmoreland County, March 20).The month February has In 1953 Queen Elizabeth 11 was Virginia. He was the first to become 29 days in leap years. Other years crowned. Queen Elizabeth II was president of the United States of the month has 28 days. In February born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra America; he was also the leader the Viola (plant) and the Primrose Mary on April 21, 1926, in London. of the Continental Army during the are the birth flowers. She married Philip Mountbatten, American Revolution. Duke of Edinburgh in 1947, beBlack History Month is celebrated came queen on February 6, 1952, in Canada and United States. It starts on February 1st and ends on and was crowned on June 2, 1953. the 28th. Others know it as Nation- During her 60 years on the thrown al African American History Month; she has tried to make the British it is a celebration of achievements monarchy more modern and sensitive to the public. by black Americans. This time is used for recognizing the main role February 12 is Abraham Lincoln’s
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lauren weathers & paige pritchard
dallas jackson: MMA
Sometimes it takes a while to be able to complete a goal. Time, practice, patience, hard work and dedication are the things you need to accomplish your dreams. Dallas Jackson knows this first hand due to his past three years of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Dallas began doing MMA three years ago. “One night I was watching TV and it came on, so I thought it’d be really cool for me to try it and see how good I was. I tried it and realized that I was good, so I began doing it regularly.” He sometimes uses it as his stress reliever. To train for matches, Dallas will begin by running at least a mile or two; after he gets done running, him and the others will spar for a little bit. Sparring is just another word for practice fighting; you don’t actually hit to hurt each other, you just go through the moves for practice. After they get done sparring, they’ll learn a new move, then practice it by using reps of 50. After that, they just spar more. For only being in MMA around three years, Dallas has already accomplished
so much. Last May, he made it to the World Championships for Jiu Jitsu, and placed second. “There was a tournament right before we went to the World Championship. I had five fights in one day and I had to win every single one to get first place. For the first fight, I got into the cage with the guy and I was pretty nervous because if I didn’t make this, I wouldn’t go to the World championships. I ended up winning in the first minute in every round. No one ever got on top of me or hip tossed me, and I did really well that way. That’s how I knew I would do really well in the World Championships. The World Championships were in Long Beach, California. It was my first time ever going and I was so happy, but also nervous because it was my first out-of-state tournament; it was my biggest one yet. The nerves weren’t actually setting in until I was actually there. The building was a giant glass pyramid, and it was the biggest place I have ever seen in my life. I fought on the bottom floor and the top floor was all the concessions and other related stuff. There were a lot of famous people that were there; I got to meet some of
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them, like Anderson Silva. That’s when the nerves really kicked in. I remember going down and they make you sit in a bull pin until you fight. You’re waiting for your name to get called. I remember sitting there and I was so hungry because I had to cut weight for the tournament. You get to see who’s in your bracket, and one kid in my bracket was really huge and it scared me pretty bad. Everyone was from a different country and there were a lot of languages going on at once, but I couldn’t understand any of it. The only fight I lost that day was the final fight. “The final fight was pretty crazy. I remember walking onto the mats and I freaked out because there were at least a thousand people at the tournament. It was pretty scary. The guy I fought never submitted me, and it was going really well until half way; I lost all my conditioning and the guy really took advantage of that. After a good fight, the opponent was ahead by five points. It could have been easy to catch up. It was a really close fight, and I was pretty disappointed.”
When asked about his very first MMA fight, Dallas explains that he hasn’t always been as good as he used to be. “I got out onto the mat and I was very, very nervous because it was my first fight and I didn’t know how it was going to be. I looked at the kid I was going against and it made me nervous because he was experienced, and I wasn’t. The match was ready to start and the ref called out ‘go’ and the kid beat me right away. After that fight I didn’t want to lose again or deal with the feelings that came with the loss. So, I tried for a long time to get myself better prepared.” In order to get better, Dallas went back to the gym and trained for another four months, and he went to another tournament and beat everyone. He noticed that whatever he was doing was working, so he just kept doing it.
get as good as quickly, but he wants to Dallas used to also be in wrestling. Betry. He is currently fighting at the Bran- tween Jiu Jitsu and wrestling, the rule son Fight Club. difference was too much for him. He couldn’t do what he did in Jiu Jitsu in Dallas has plans to go back to the World wrestling. Championship this year. He’s planning on training every single day as hard as Another thing that Dallas uses as a fun he possibly can. He got moved up in way to keep in shape is Parkour. He ranking, so he will be going against all says parkour is a hobby that he got into new people, and it will be more difficult with his friends as a pass time. They are this year. known to go out of their way to a place like Sky Zone, or just do some stuff at Not only is Dallas into their church; wherever they are they MMA, but he also has find a way to practice. You can see the plans to start cage video he and his friends just recently fighting. He can’t get posted to Facebook of all the cool things into the cage until they’ve been working on. They even inhe’s 18, but as soon cluded a fails portion of the video which as he’s old enough is comical. Dallas can do a wide variety he’ll be in the cage. of things including: front flip, back flip, “Being punched and side flip, Ariel flip, corkscrew, round off kicked isn’t that bad. to back flip, back flip 360 and land facWell, not as bad as ing the same way. you’d think.” Cage fighting is something he’s want- For only doing these things for three ed to do since he was 13. years, he’s accomplished a lot; Dallas works hard at what he does and it realAnother dream Dallas has is becom- ly pays off. He spends most of his free ing a UFC fighter. He believes that it is time doing things to get better, along something that would be cool and very with training. Dallas sets an example impressive, if he actually made it that that if you work hard enough and keep far. at it, you can get whatever you want accomplished.
dallas plans to go back to the world championships this year
He’s trained with a lot of MMA fighters and he had an ex UFC coach. He used to train with UFC fighters, but there are no gyms around here like that; he won’t
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courtney bullis
the snoop on gossip There are two sides to every story, but this is often forgotten when it comes to gossip and rumors. It’s out of our control. When it’s in the air and you feel that all the eye attention is on you, you know it isn’t positive and you can’t do much about it. There is no reason to shut down aggressively. Instead, shut it down wisely. It’s important to remember when you’re explaining your side of the story to keep it constant. Pick a story and stick to it! It can also help if it isn’t a long, overwhelming explanation. Think of a short and simple response that will end the conversation, when brought up, ASAP. For example; if someone brings up something they heard, try sticking to something like: “That’s untrue and actually really upsets me that they would say that.” Or, if it’s something that is true that you don’t want floating around, simply ask for your privacy and remind those who are talking about it that it is your business. Remember to be subtle and calm. Don’t explode, overreact, or blow anything out of proportion. As hard as it may be, confronting the source can be one of the best things you can do. Without letting your anger boil to the surface, try confronting where the rumor started. If at all possible, it can be more affective to do so in private. Avoid the internet where trails
can be made, that way the conversation is only between the gossiper and you. Stay relaxed during the confrontation. Many people fail to realize that sometimes the reason these rumors are started is because some people thrive off the situation and, as horrible as it sounds, the pain it causes people. Get straight to the point. If the rumor is false, explain or denounce their behavior, and if it is true, let them know you would appreciate them respecting your privacy. Revise your vocab and avoid cursing, because like I said, they may want you to be angry. They may like the adrenaline of an argument, and if the conversation turns into a swear battle it’s not going to fix anything. It’s only going to give them more to talk about. Lastly, don’t stoop to their level. Don’t throw threats and don’t give signals of threatening them; you’ll just leave trails and you might even get yourself into trouble. Avoid feeding the rumor. In some cases it’s tempting, when we are falsely accused of something, to just jump to conclusions and I’m sure we have all seen it before. Sometimes we think “well if people are going to say I did, or I am, then I’m going to,” which is a horrible way to handle the situation. Steer clear of anything that may cause the situation to rise, or for any more “evidence” to arise.
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Make sure you are careful when picking out the people you trust. People who gossip and spread rumors like to get inside information. Although sometimes rumors are completely made up, sometimes they are not, and this is even more satisfying for whoever is trying to intentionally damage someone else. It’s very important to make sure you aren’t talking personal with just anyone. Remember that your trust should be earned, not given and taken away if broken because that will only turn around to burn you. In other words; don’t speak freely about personal subjects. If there is something you absolutely want to talk about and you do happen to have quite a few people you believe are trustworthy, keep the number of people you talk to, to a minimum; the less people who know, the lower your chances are that the story will be retold or twisted. There is nothing worse than having a rumor going around while everyone has heard a different story, and often times this causes the different stories to intertwine into one huge mess. And remember, the term “best friend” doesn’t always mean trustworthy. Be careful to make sure if you are telling someone anything personal about yourself, that you are telling them because you trust them and not because you do “everything together.”
abby williams
Baby Names Obviously, over the years, common names of people have changed drastically. It seems that names like Barbara, Ben, Bob, Lucy, and Pam are becoming less popular. It has become a popular trend for people to give their children names that are unique and different. Many celebrities have been taking part in this trend. For example, famous couples like Jay Z and Beyoncé named their daughter Blue Ivy, and Kim Kardashian and Kanye West named their daughter North West. Some people think these names are ridiculous and embarrassing, but you would be pretty surprised at how many common, everyday people are jumping on the bandwagon and starting to follow this trend. For now, the most common names in America have remained pretty “normal,” but it may not be for long. The definition of “normal” is constantly changing. It’s possible that fifty years ago, names like Emma, Aiden, Zoe, and Logan seemed pretty wild and not normal at all, and now they are on the list of 2014’s most common baby names! According to babycenter.com, these are the most common baby names of 2014:
Gender is a huge factor. Although gender specific names are becoming less popular, they still exist. Obviously there are names like Taylor, Sam, Dakota, Riley, Hayden, etc. that could be used for both boys and girls, but there are also names such as Maria, Makayla, Jeffery, and Jacob that are usually only used for a specific gender. It’s recently become more common to mix up gender specific names and it relates back to wanting to be unique and different. Meaning and background may also be another factor that comes into play when choosing a name for a child. Some parents research the meaning of names and choose one based on that. Many of these meanings come from old languages. For example, the name Aaron comes from Hebrew and means “enlightened”. The name Paisley is Irish and means “teardrop.”
gions, names are very different. With the United States being one of the most diverse countries in the world, there is quite a mix of names here. Many Christians like to name their children after people in the Bible. So in Christian families, names like Luke, Joseph, Abel, and Mary are pretty common. In Hispanic families, names like Camila, Gabriella, Diego, and Jose are pretty common. So it’s very possible that your family’s location and background will probably have a huge influence on the names of the members within your family.
Like mentioned before, there is a recent trend that is all about having a unique and different name. Pronunciation is important too. Names like La-a (pronounced LA – DASH – UH) actually exist! Also, people have named their kids Yolo, which is an acronym for a popular saying “you only live once.” It’s definitely not just celebrities that have these wild baby name ideas. Fifteen Location usually plays a huge years from now will these names be role on what names are popular. With considered “normal” within our society? different cultures, languages, and reli- Or is it just a trend that will soon fade?
Girls: Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Ava, Isabella, Mia, Zoe, Lily, Emily, and Madelyn Boys: Jackson, Aiden, Liam, Noah, Mason, Ethan. Caden, Jacob, Lucas, and Logan Choosing a name for a child is a very important and huge decision. Whatever name you pick is the name that your child is going to have to live with for the rest of their life. It’s kind of like getting a tattoo. You should like it, and be ready to have it stick around for forever. Many important factors can come into play when choosing a child’s name.
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wyatt cooper
blackhat movie review the Korean restaurant in California. After waiting for hours, Hathaway notices a camera has been following his movements in the restaurant. He quickly finds the restaurant’s computer and is able to communicate with the person watching him. While trying to track the hacker’s location, Hathaway is disconnected and is about to leave the restaurant when three men enter. The men assault Hathaway and Lein, beat them to a pulp, and after which Hathaway and Lein escape back to the safe house.
Our world is interconnected through technology. Everything about you including your bank information, personal information, and even secret information is accessible through almost any computer or cell phone with the right means and knowledge. Some Americans believe the next 9-11 will be a cyber-attack and it could very well be. In Blackhat, this fear becomes reality. Blackhat is a crime-thriller directed by Michael Mann, executive producer of the eighties TV show Miami vice, and director of Collateral. The movie stars Chris Hemsworth (who played Thor, and starred in Snow White and the Huntsman) as Nicholas Hathaway, a convicted hacker serving thirteen years in prison. The movie starts off at a nuclear plant in Hong Kong. We are shown the inside of the plant’s network and a hacker implanting information into the system. After a virus is uploaded the reactor has a meltdown killing several and injuring many more. We are left wondering why someone would do this as we meet Captain Chen Dawai, an officer in China’s cyber warfare unit tasked with finding the hacker who committed the attack. Not long after the attack, the Mercantile Trade Exchange in Chicago gets hacked, causing
stocks to hit the ceiling. The Chinese and the FBI determine that the hacker used a RAT, or a Remote Access Tool to break into both targets; only the code was a more aggressive algorithm. Chen enlists his sister Lein, a computer engineer to help with the coding. This proves worthless even with the help of the FBI. Ultimately Chen asks for Hathaway, the original architect of the RAT, to be released from prison to help with the search. Tensions are already high between the FBI and China, but eventually some favors are called in and Hathaway is released with a catch. If he fails, he goes back to prison; if he succeeds he will be given his sentence. To make sure he doesn’t try to run, a U.S Marshal is assigned to babysit Hathaway. The extent of the investigation moves rather slow as the hacker has set up well and planned ahead. After review of the Trade Exchange’s security, it is determined that the hacker got in by using a former employee who is later found dead in his room. Hathaway finds his computer and his emails. A meeting that the former employee was supposed to attend is still in play. Hathaway and Lein go to
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Later on, the team is able to track the hacker’s network back to a house in China. When the team arrives on sight, it is learned that the house belongs to a Lebanese man and Chinese police have been watching him for a while. A SWAT team is called and the house assaulted. After the house is cleared, a hatch leading to a tunnel under ground is found and the SWAT team begins to clear it, but is ambushed by the Lebanese man and a team of armed men. A huge gunfight ensues, killing many of the SWAT guys. The bad guys eventually escape onto a boat heading out to sea. After the failed assault, the team discovers three trade accounts that dumped their stocks at the right time for the most payout and were in sequence. The total made is seventy-four million dollars and all of it ended up in one account. The money is then tracked to a casino in Jakarta, Indonesia. I leave you with Hathaway and the team preparing to move on to Jakarta. The move is well written as expected. Michael Mann has had decades to perfect his art of film and it shows in Blackhat. The story is original and keeps you thinking. While the ending is a bit disappointing, I won’t ruin it for anybody. There is that shaky camera effect throughout the movie, so if you get sick by jerky or swaying motions while watching T.V, be warned. Overall the film is solid with its plot. Although the bad guys are not very well explained and their motives aren’t completely clear, this had me scratching my head at the end. If you want to learn just how “secure” our world is, and how the movie ends, don’t miss this year’s ultimate crime movie: Blackhat.
aaron sampson
black history month Black history month is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans, and a time for recognizing the central role of Black Americans in U.S. history. The celebration came to be from “Negro History Week” created by the scholar Carter G. Woodson. “Negro History Week” began a half century after the thirteenth amendment abolished slavery in the united states. In September of 1915 Carter Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH); an organization that celebrated the history of black Americans. The Group decided to have national Negro week the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In the years since, Negro History week has evolved into Black history Month. Some of the Black figures in history are Frederick Douglass, who is well known in black history for fighting for the abolishment of slavery in the United States. Born a slave and separated from his mother at an early age, Frederick became a leader of the abolitionist movement. He stood as a counter example to slaveholders’ arguments that slaves lacked the intelligence to function as an independent American citizen. Many northerners also found it hard to believe that such a smart man could have been a slave. Douglass wrote several autobiographies during his life, and he was a firm believer in the equality of all people. Douglass famously said, “I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.”
Another person that is important to African American History would be Harriet Tubman, who was an abolitionist, humanitarian and a union spy. Harriet Tubman was born into slavery and escaped in 1849. Tubman had to travel by night and she guided herself using the North Star. After her escape, she helped rescue approximately seventy slave families by using the Underground Railroad. When the civil war broke out, Tubman saw a union victory as a step to the abolition of slavery. Tubman served as a nurse in Port Royal, preparing remedies from local plants and aiding soldiers suffering from dysentery. Later on in her life, Harriet Tubman fought for women’s suffrage. A white woman asked her if she thought women should have the right to vote and her answer was “I suffered enough to believe it.” Tubman worked alongside Susan B. Anthony and Emily Howland. Harriet Tubman died in 1913 due to pneumonia.
hotels while traveling. President Franklin Roosevelt never invited him to the white house after winning 4 gold medals. Owens remarked saying that “Hitler didn’t snub me; it was FDR who snubbed me.” Owens, a cigarette smoker for 35 years, died in 1980 of lung cancer. One of the events that sparked the start of the civil rights era was the death of Emmett Till. Emmett Till was an African American Teenager who was murdered in Mississippi at the age of 14 for flirting with a white woman. Till was from Chicago visiting family in Money, Mississippi when he spoke to Carolyn Bryant, the married proprietor of a small grocery store. Several nights later, the woman’s husband kidnapped Till and took him away to a barn; they beat him and gouged out one of his eyes before shooting him through the head and disposing of his body. They tied a 70 pound cotton gin around his neck with barbed wire and threw his body in a lake. His body was discovered three days later. Till’s body was returned to Chicago where his mother insisted on a public funeral with an open casket to expose his bloated, mutilated body. Tens of thousands of people attended his funeral and pictures of his body were published in magazines. In 1955, the killers were acquitted of Till’s kidnapping and murder. Protected by double jeopardy, the killers admitted to killing Emmett Till.
Another person that is important to the history of African Americans is Jesse Owens. Born in 1913, Jesse Owens was an American track and field athlete and fourtime Olympic gold medalist. In 1936, Owens arrived in Berlin, Germany to compete in the summer Olympics. Adolf Hitler was using the games to show the world that the Aryan race was superior to everyone; Owens countered that theory by winning four gold medals. Owens was allowed to travel with and stay in the same All these people and events are celebrathotels in Germany as whites, while at the ed so that we can see how far we have same time blacks in many parts of the come from the 1800’s up to now in 2015. united states had to stay in segregated
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courtney bullis
fashion over the years shoulders. There were even clothes made for women who did not naturally have an hour glass shape to help them achieve the look.
The 1890’s began the Gibson Girl. The feminine ideal beauty took place in the 19th and early 20th century and lasted for a 20 year span mostly in the United States and Canada. The Gibson Girl image had combined features of earlier American images of beauty. Somewhere between the “fragile lady” and the “voluptuous woman” the Gibson Girl look was formed. From the fragile portion, features like slender lines and a sense of responsibility and from the voluptuous woman, large hips and bust. A Gibson girl was thought to be tall and slender but to also have and exaggerated, s-curved torso.
Now, we move into the 1950’s; the curves era. This is the time in which most of us think of Marilyn Monroe as a symbol. Although the “bigger the better” look came and weight gaining tablets were hitting the shelves, this era of fashion is thought to be
was said to make girls look younger and boyish. Stars of the silent screen define the flapper look. By the 1940’s the “feminine” look had returned, but along with it came shoulder pads and jewelry on jewelry. A-line knee length skirts and high waist tops was “the look.” It was the everyday shape for women ranging from dresses to suits. Yes, even pants had a similar shape. I the 1940’s women were focused on the hourglass figure, tiny waists, and broad
The 1920’s then began the flapper girl. A flapper girl has svelte legs because of the daring hemlines that had begun to come into fashion. Flappers were considered a “new breed” of young women. During these times women wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, and wore excessive makeup. Because of the appearance included short hair, flattened chests, and straight waists, the Flapper style
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timeless. It was a time in which people were beginning to feel a little more freedom when it came to dress. There wasn’t a specific look. It was a time of elegance and individual beauty. In the 1960’s there were a number of diverse trends and this was the decade that broke many fashion traditions. This is the time of go-go boots and box clothing. Hairstyles
varied in style and length and false eyelashes were a big deal during this time. It was a world full of mixed and mismatching patterns and highlighter colors. This time also led to bellbottom jeans and tie-dye.
By the time the 80’s rolled around, it was all about creativity. Velour and velvet were huge and block shapes were everywhere. Sunglasses, bangles, and hood earrings were essentials; teased hair, and loud makeup was a big deal as well. This The 70’s pin up followed style was of course more popular shortly after. Polyester was the thing within the younger crowds but was still in the 1970’s, and bright colors were a major part in this decade. still very much in. Men and women both were wearing platform shoes and fitted clothing, and eventually most women were wearing low cut pants 2000’s. In the later 90’s, fashion started taking cues from disco fashion like leather pants, crop tops, and metallic clothing.
with high cut boots. This was considered, and still is called, a “fun” era. People describe it as taking the 60’s style and exaggerating it. The biggest trends of this time included butterfly collars, bellbottoms, patterned clothing, sideburns, tennis banners, and even chest hair.
Now we move into our younger crowds and early childhood decade, the 90’s. This was a time when the industry was being dominated by supermodels. The early 90’s was still very similar to the style of the 80’s, and began to adapt and change more toward the
But as the years rolled by into the 2000’s, style began to takes the form of what we now know as style. Today style is described to be more intendant, and ranges more by where you are from instead of what time it actually is. The further into the 2000’s, the more style becomes as what seems regular. Fall colors are huge, fitted jeans, and hair buns, but it seems to be more of a generation of individuality.
“style ranges more by where you are from instead of what time period it actually is”
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Fashion is constantly changing, and most times it occurs about every ten years. Who knows what is heading our way in 2020.
Cindy Wenk
spring fashion
Spring is just around the corner, which means it’s almost time to change your wardrobe for the slightly warmer months. Stores are already making room for their spring stock. Things like ripped jeans, t shirt dresses, ankle booties, and distressed clothes are in this spring. Some 2014 fashion trends are still a wardrobe necessity; crop tops being one of the best examples of that. The best fashion advising quote to go by is “black is the new black.” Because what goes good with black? Black does. You can match anything with distressed black skinny jeans and a black leather jacket. With that, throw on a black and white striped shirt (because everyone should have at least one in their closet, how can you live without?) and a pair of black booties and you’re good to go. Another essential this season is the t-shirt dress. There are so many different varieties of this. You can pair them with anything. If it’s a cold day, layer it. If it’s a warm day, dress it simply with a pair of converse. You can never go wrong with a basic pair of converse. My favorite thing to see with the t-shirt dress is flannels. You can wear it over the dress or tie it around your waist. And because there are so many different types of t-shirt dresses, you can almost match any pair of shoes with one. Something I’ve seen a lot of this year is gingham. This is a patterned design
typically checked in white and black. The gridlock pattern has a lot of history and has resurfaced itself in fashion recently. Gingham has been made on many different types of clothing; things like dresses to jumpsuits, t-shirts and skirts, and everything in between.
3. And last but certainly not least: leather. This comes in all forms, jackets and pants being the top two. Leather is here to stay. Fashion Icons
One of many fashion icons is Alexa Chung, as always. Her style has many followers all around the world on her blogs, like Pinterest, dedicated to her own brand with a vintage and grunge style. Another fashion icon of 2015 is Kendall and Kylie Jenner. The two sisters have created their own clothing line sold exclusively in Pacsun stores. The style of this line is bohemian-chic featuring ethnic prints, spicy tones, and vibrant embroideries. The two girls have their own style, though. Kendall’s ranging from chic, casual, and bohemian. Since becoming a model, Kendall has been wearing a higher fashion The Top Three wardrobe as well. Kylie, the younger of the two sisters, tends to wear a lot of 1. The crop top: We can’t stop and midriff-baring tees and ripped jeans, her won’t stop wearing them, there are so clothes being more of a punk rock and many different styles of these and they 90’s style. go with everything. Everyone’s closet should be stocked with these. Some recommended stores for stocking up on your spring wardrobe are 2. Next, the spring and summer collec- Brandy Melville, Topshop, Forever 21, tions of 2015 are full of sneakers, some and Pacsun (where Kendall and Kylie’s say heels are dead and sneakers are newest line of clothing will be coming the new best thing. They are said to be out soon)! the go-to shoe this season. Denim jackets have made a comeback. The designers from Rag & Bone, Marcus Wainright and David Neville, had been “trying to push the jean jacket for years” and put one in their collection, but hardly anyone bought it. Now it is back and the duo are still designing the basic denim. Some people even argue that the trend never went away. These jackets are seen on the backs of girls who have been shopping at Celine and Givenchy. They are wearing them over designer silk and layering them with everything.
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jordan ratliff
college life hacks As many people know, college is an exciting experience. Graduating high school is a closed chapter and going to college is an opening chapter; it’s a fresh start! On the flip side, college can be a scary thing. It is a new atmosphere, new population, and new living situations. Seniors of 2015 and even students still attending high school; here are a few life hacks when going off to college or even life hacks you can use at home or the work place! As we all know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. On the other hand, not all human beings are Chef Gordon Ramsey. For all of the individuals who should stay out of the kitchen, no worries! A safe, easy breakfast can be cooked in the microwave consisting of eggs in a coffee mug. When having a more complex breakfast not in a coffee mug, dishes are such a hassle when life gets in the way. When you are too lazy to do dishes, just use a tortilla as a plate or bowl! But what is breakfast without a good cup of Joe? But what if it costs too much to buy a coffee maker? Guess it is a good thing that there is a hack for that! All that is needed is a disposable cup, coffee mug, coffee filter, coffee, some rubber bands, and hot water. Fit the coffee filter over the disposable cup and wrap rubber bands around the outside to hold the coffee filter in place. Place the coffee over the coffee filter and pour the water over the coffee!
to all people. This means a fridge is a necessity to all people. Fridge space can be taken up so quickly. If you have a ton of bottles or cans, you can use a binder clip to keep the bottles or cans in a neat pyramid shape which provides space to store other things. Just like food, clothes are a must have. If you have a ton of clothes, small closets are always such a hassle. You can conserve space by hanging multiple shirts on one hanger. When one shirt is on a hanger, move the second shirt (on a separate hanger) through the inside of the original shirt. You can then place the second hanger on the original hanger, and repeat as many times as you can/ want. If you are fortunate enough to have a dresser with a closet, fold your shirts and stack them vertically rather than horizontally.
marshmallows, or other small treats can be very rewarding! When listening to prerecorded lectures, listen to the lecture at twice the speed to save time but make sure it’s understandable. When listening to these lectures, take notes using different colors of pens. This enhances visual memory. The beginning years of college are the most crucial when building a grade point average (GPA). Students should make sure to get a jump start on building their GPA before the classes become harder. College can be a land of thieves. It is recommended that students invest in a laptop lock. This way, your laptop is safe and less likely to be stolen! All students know the struggle of having something stolen. The most common stolen item is a writing utensil. A way to keep people from stealing your blue pens is to switch the ink cartridges from blue to the red pen. This keeps people from stealing the unwanted red pen. The most irritating thing to be stolen is money. Use a Visa gift card online to get free premium trials on websites so nothing can be traced back to your credit card.
When decorating a dorm room or any room in general, use washi tape to hang pictures or posters. The washi tape prevents paint from coming off the walls and it gives the item a good look! To keep the dorm room smelling fresh, tape a dryer sheet over an air conditioner! Another important thing to keep clean is the keyboard on a laptop. Take a sticky note, using the sticky side, to run through the cracks of the keyboard College can be an exciting, but to pick up small particles in between the yet scary experience. Hopefully some ridges of the keyboard. of these hacks can help out some col Studying for hours can be a lege bound students along with some dreadful thought. However, to make high school students, too. These hacks studying a little more interesting and can be used in the dorm room or your The living space in some dorms belly-filling, place a snack at different room at home! All students should use is very limited. There are a couple hacks stopping points for when you reach that these hacks to conserve time, space, to conserve space. Food is a necessity point. Gummy bears, gummy worms, and effort!
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taylor chambers
animal abuse Domestic violence is a growing problem in society. It destroys lives and tears relationships apart. Many times, domestic violence causes much more than emotional pain; it causes severe physical damage to the victims. Domestic violence not only threatens the lives of the people involved, it also threatens the animals that can’t escape the situation. There is a distinct link between all domestic violence cases. Often times, all people and animals are harmed in one way or another when living in a household where domestic violence is present. People who harm others will almost always harm animals, and if they harm animals, they will often hurt humans as well. It is a vicious cycle that most likely will never end unless the victim chooses to take themselves, their family, and animals away. Animals are often beaten when the perpetrator has nobody else to harass. The wrongdoer can also be abusive to these animals even when the intended victim is present out of sheer spite. They aim to hurt and manipulate others, and they often do that by hurting the animals those people love. Half of the victims of domestic abuse stay in the situation out of fear for their animals. They believe that they can protect animals in their homes.
inflict that abuse on animals. Household animals are the most prominent victims in this situation, but strays are not in the clear. If a child who was abused sees a stray animal, they are likely to try to catch it, and hurt it. Here are some statistics: -Animal abuse is often the first visible sign a family is in trouble. -Many victims entering shelters report that their abuser has hurt, killed, or threatened family animals. About a third report their children have harmed animals. -Victims often admit an animal is being abused before they admit their own suffering. -Animal cruelty investigations frequently unravel chronic domestic abuse. There are legal remedies that can help to improve the ability of domestic violence shelters to manage the protection of humans and animals. Some shelters are offered where victims of abuse can reside with their pets while they attempt to get back on their feet. Laws are in place that put the custody of pets directly into legal protection. These are called protection orders, and they allow judges to help human victims, while keeping animals safe at the same time. Establishing ownership of animals can be difficult and often requires legal assistance; the protection orders also help allow time to get all legal situations settled.
There are more homes with animals than children, but in cases of domestic violence with children, experts are also identifying a link between children that have been abused, and their actions Most domestic violence cases towards animals. Thirty two percent of are only prosecuted at the misdemeanwomen in shelters report that their child or level. This is sad because the perpehas hurt or killed one of their animals. When children are abused, they in turn trators will almost always abuse again.
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Felony penalties for animal cruelty allow prosecutors to better prosecute offenders. Techniques are also being used by training veterinarians to use the latest advances in forensics to provide expert testimony in cases of domestic violence against animals. That training can also help to achieve a conviction. Some states have addressed animal abuse committed in the presence of children. This approach can help to redefine the legal definition of domestic violence to include animal cruelty; this new interpretation can help to prevent offenders from abusing again. Oregon is a state that makes animal abuse a felony if committed in the presence of a minor child. Under this decree, prior domestic violence convictions against a human victim can help to trigger the felony conviction. Cross-reporting is a huge benefit to prosecutors. This requires law enforcement and social agencies to report abuse and assist in the investigations. In some states, animal protection and animal cruelty agencies are also required to report suspected domestic and child abuse. The situation is the same for child protective agencies. They are required to report suspected animal cruelty and abuse. These laws of course, can never be enforced perfectly. Nobody can make anyone report abuse of any kind, and just because there are mandatory laws in place does not mean people will follow them. These laws can however, inspire individuals to do the right thing, and doing the right thing can mean all the difference to all living beings suffering from domestic violence and abuse.
cindy wenk
bad beauty habits
All girls know of a few bad beauty habits they have. It might have even been their 2015 New Year resolution to stop these dirty habits, but in all reality, how long will you keep up with your resolution? Three days? A week, or maybe a month? These habits need to be broken; they will help you feel cleaner and more refreshed. It only takes 27 days to make or break a habit.
how you know they need to be washed. It wouldn’t hurt to wash them at least once a week. Leaving them unwashed means you’re leaving makeup from yesterday and last week on them and putting it on your face every time you reuse your brush. You’re really just painting a week’s worth of dirt on your face. Some consequences of using dirty makeup brushes are break outs; it collects bacteria and dust, can cause skin irritation, One of the most common habits is and many more harmful things. This is sleeping with makeup on. This can a serious bad beauty habit that needs cause serious problems for your skin to be broken. and even your eyelashes. You may be exhausted by the end of the day but Not only is using dirty old makeup losing ten minutes of sleep to wash brushes a bad thing, using old makeyour face won’t hurt. Sometimes only up is also something that should not be the thought of splashing some water on done. Mascara should be replaced evyour face can be exhausting so you sit ery three to six months because using in bed and wipe your makeup off with your old mascara may contain bacteria makeup wipes, and if you don’t get the which can lead to irritations and infecright kind, these can be bad for your tions. skin too. Another bad habit you may have is nail Waiting too long between haircuts is biting, and a lot of people do this so another thing most people tend to do. don’t think you’re alone. Some people Sometimes it’s not something you really do this when they’re bored, anxious, or think about. Another thing a lot of peo- stressed, and they don’t realize they are ple do that can be bad for their hair is because it has become such a bad habusing too much heat on it without pro- it. But biting your fingernails has both tecting it. There are so many different physical and emotional consequences. kinds of heat protectants that should be It leaves your nails and cuticles red and used to keep your hair looking healthy. sore, they area of skin around the nail may even bleed and become infected. Never washing makeup brushes; this Nail biting can also cause harm to your is something that can be very bad for teeth. your skin. How do you know when your brushes need washed though? If the Snacking at bedtime is something that bristles are sticking together from old everyone does, and the unburned calomakeup sitting on them too long, that’s ries can turn into extra pounds and puffy
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morning after eyes, which is not something anyone wants. Eating healthy snacks before bed may help you sleep but this can cause numerous problems. Studies prove that eating too many fatty foods and caffeine one to three hours before sleep will lead to weight gain. To avoid this, eat well balanced meals and snacks during the day. Another bad eating habit is skipping breakfast. This is bad because breakfast is the most important meal; not eating breakfast means you’re skipping your energy boost for the beginning of your day. Eating breakfast also starts your metabolism and helps it work faster, causing you to burn more calories rather than gain some. Last but not least is stress. This is one of the worst bad beauty habits and can really take a toll on your health. Stressing can lead to over eating, which can cause weight gain. Another thing stress may cause is nail biting. Try to avoid things or people that cause stress in your life; they are only harmful to your own health. When feeling stressed, try taking a walk or working out; not only will this help fight the stress, it can help get rid of any weight you’re trying to lose. Avoiding these bad habits will make you feel cleaner and healthier at the end of the day. Don’t be lazy when it comes to taking care of yourself, one of the best things you can do is make sure you feel confident in your everyday life.
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crossword
across:
Down:
4) the top boy baby name in 2014. 7) style popular in the 1920’s 8) birthstone for February 9) the system used by Tubman to help free
1) something that can lead to weight gain,
nervous ticks, and is harmful to your health. 2) fabric that was popular in the 1980’s slaves 3) this requires law enforcement to work 11) the name of the character in Blackhat who alongside social agencies to report abuse created the RAT 5) state where MMA World Championships 12) a patterned design checked in black and are held white 6) top girl baby name in 2014
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calendar of events
Monday
March 2015 tuesday
wednesday
9
10
11
16
17
18
2
3
4
Project graduation @ HS commons - 6:30 pm
spr ing
23
24
Baseball @ forsyth - 7pm
Baseball @ forsyth - 7pm
30
31
boys tennis @ Spfd Catholic - boys golf @ point royale - 3 pm 4 pm boys tennis @ ledgestone - 4 pm track @ Logan-rogersville - 4 pm baseball (Fresh) @ cassville 4:30 pm
25
thursday 5
friday
saturday
13
14
6
7
Scholar bowl @ home - 5 pm
12 19 26
20
NO SCHOOL
bre ak 27
boys golf @ ledgestone - 9 am cheer awards @ Hs boys tennis @ republic - 4 pm multi-pupose classroom track @ home - 4pm 6 pm Scholar Bowl @ Branson - 5 pm baseball @ forsyth - 7 pm
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