Vol. 6 No. 3 (January 2016)

BLUEPRINTS GRANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL • GRANVILLE, OHIO • JANUARY 2016 • VOL. 6 ISSUE 3

Baby Boomers and Beyond How some ideas transcend generations

Inside: Wasteland enchants “Fall Out” fans Are candidates focused on the right issues?

Superfan meets his idol, Nicki Minaj Winter sports update Dance and baton: Are they sports? blueprintsonline.org

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Letter from the Editor

BLUEPRINTS STAFF editor in chief

What do you do on snow days?

Anna Minton

news editor

Grace Montgomery

sports editors

Kyle Zies and Cole Jaquith

opinion editor Carsten Savage

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hen you are in high school, setting yourself apart from others is an important concept. Too often as teenagers, we find ourselves sticking to the status quo, and shaping ourselves to fit someone else’s definition. Our high school years can be important years to look for identification: to find out who we are and where we fit in.

Recently, a marketing push has encouraged the separation from the post- millennial stereotypes. This push has encouraged our current generation to be defined as the “Founders,” a whole new generation, with a whole new destiny.

In early December, MTV declared that all children born after 1998 were part of a new generation separate from the millennials. While the millennials are known for disrupting society, MTV president Sean Atkins says that it is the Founders’ job to clean the mess up. According to research done by this television enterprise, the Founders generation is more “pragmatic and independent” than its predecessors.

The generation is more likely to focus on how they want to fix things, rather than leave the job to someone else. Ironically, this is exactly what the staff at BluePrints believes in. We want to focus not only reporting problems but also present ideas for solutions.

In this issue, Justin Thompson and Madeline Walker have interviewed people from various generations; the Baby Boomers, members of Generation X, Mille-

2 January 2016

nials, and Founders. It is our hope that you will start to explore the similarities and differences from the generations. We hope to ignite the desire for our peers to become the solution based, “fixing things” generations.

Jackson Evans and Alex Shcultz; two students who have set themselves apart from the status quo at GHS, will explain how they have established themselves as innovative and independent thinkers. You may find their stories a testament to individuals who have made a difference, and do not hesitate to put themselves out there for the world to see.

Daniel Brnjic and Thompson also wrote opinion peices on the current candidates for the presidential nomination, both Democrat and Republican. You’ll find a discussion of these strong minded men and women, with a speculation as to which one will become the future Commander-in-Chief.

Our publication team hopes that this issue will inform and inspire you. It is our ambition to present ideas and opportunities to you, set yourself apart and make a difference in the world around you.

entertainment editor

“I usually watch the movie ‘Ratatouille’”

Olivia Ebersole

features editor Justin Thompson

business manager Morgan Prachar

social media editor Madeline Walker

staff

Ashlyn Brockway Gillian McCracken Sophia Ehlers AnnDe Jo Cook Hunter Brown Daniel Brnjic

“I cuddle with my dog and watch Netflix and drink a cup of hot tea!”

adviser

Mrs. Amy Tolbert

online

blueprintsonline.org

“I, sadly, catch up on school work!”

follow us GHS BluePrints Anna Minton Editor-in-Chief

GHSBluePrints @granvilleblueprints

CONTENTS BLUEPRINTS • JANUARY 2016

OPINION 4 Staff Editorial 5 Are candidates focused on the right issues?

6 Dance and baton: Are they sports?

NEWS 8 Inside Granville

COVER

10 Baby Boomers and beyond: How some ideas transcend generations

SPORTS 12 Zies’ Pieces 13 Winter sports update 14 Student basketball games 15 Indoor lacrosse as winter sport

FEATURES 16 Bachelor and Bachelorette

ENTERTAINMENT 17 Makeup with Morgan 18 Five questions with local artist, Jax 19 Superfan meets his idol, Nicki Minaj 19 The wasteland enchants “Fallout” fans ON OUR COVER

Photo by Madline Walker Makeup with Morgan 17 Are candidates focused on the right issues? 5 Superfan meets his idol: Nicki Minaj 19 Winter sports update 13 Dance and baton: Are they sports? 6

BLUEPRINTS GRANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL • GRANVILLE, OHIO • JANUARY 2016 • VOL. 6 ISSUE 3

Baby Boomers and Beyond How some ideas transcend generations

Inside: 2015 Wrap -up Is Trump helping the presidential primaries?

Superfan meets his idol: Nicki Minaj Winter sports update Dance and Baton: is it a sport?

blueprintsonline.org

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Opinion

Too early to name the newest generation STAFF EDITORIAL e have been designated the “Founders,” the generation that is inheriting the Earth and its problems. Similar to the original Founders of the United States, the Americans who brought about the country’s independence from the United Kingdom and its Constitution and government, we “Founders” must establish independence from fossil fuels and create a new world primarily dependent on renewable resources. Therefore, our generation may think of older generations as tolerant subjects of imperious oil, coal and natural gas companies, while we must “rebel” against the companies and seek new sources of energy in the hopes of creating a bright future for the country.

The problem with our generation’s new title, however, is that it has been too quickly and easily granted. Every

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“Every generation should work hard to create its own respectable legacy.” generation should work hard to create its own respectable legacy. Those who lived during World War II, for example, strived to keep the world a benevolent place; they are designated the “Greatest Generation” in remembrance. If the world had called them this in the beginning of World War II in anticipation of their future deeds, the outcome of the war could have been much different; the generation of Americans might have suffered too much stress and felt burdened by too many responsibilities, and the country could have just stayed out of the war, determining that such “valuable” and “great” citizens should not be made to risk their lives in Europe and the Pacific. Instead, that generation fought, and although many of them felt like worthless numbers at the time, the country has remembered their remarkable willingness to sacrifice them-

4 January 2016

selves for the good of people everywhere.

Our generation should be made to prove itself, not drown in its own impossible expectations. Although our generation is supposed to and should fix the world’s latest climate issues, get rid of the United States’ debt and make the Earth cleaner, we may not do any of that. The students in our schools already resent mass transportation like buses, preferring to drive themselves or ride with their parents instead. The schools do not recycle; they cannot be role-models for their students if they do not recycle themselves, and so a new generation of citizens is learning to add to the landfills. We continue to buy over-packaged products despite environmentalists’ disapproval. Our support for GMO farms and their monocultures is still strong, and most people in our generation will continue to buy genetically modified foods at the grocery store throughout their lives. Even if our generation does drastically reduce its environmental impact, we will still have a huge challenge: helping both China and India create more environmental laws and develop a variety of renewable energy sources.

The generations before us have procrastinated, putting off environmental reform so that a generation in the future has to finally deal with it. We are that generation.

It is our duty to accept that we are the ones who must finally act; if we do not, we will guarantee that the Earth stays polluted for centuries. We need to invent more affordable solar panels, construct more wind turbines, help other countries enact stricter environmental regulations and drive electric cars. It does not matter that the price of gas is low, that other countries do not care about climate change and that renewable energy technology is too expensive.

We must make the technology obtainable for the masses and create and enforce new regulations. The world truly is counting on us; let us act first, and be called the “Founders” of a cleaner and more sustainable world after our work is done.

EDITORIAL POLICY BluePrints, Granville High School’s newsmagazine, is published by students in Journalism.

As a forum of student expression, the goal of Blueprints is to provide the high school students’ perspective on relevant issues concerning the school, the community and the world.

Editorial decisions are based on timeliness, relevance and appropriateness. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are not necessarily that of the entire staff, student body or school.

Letters to the editor will be published as space allows. Blueprints does accept advertisements; however, the staff reserves the right to withdraw ads.

Opinion

Are candidates focused one the right issues?

BY DANIEL BRNJIC (‘17) STAFF MEMBER s the Iowa caucus approaches, it becomes time to step back and look at the current state of the presidential election. For the average voter, this might be the best election ever because of the entertainment value of the Donald Trump memes on Instagram. In reality, though, this election is troubling because it looks more like a soap opera than a historic event.

Trump! Love him or hate him, you have to respect him. He is a man who has the personal funds to fund an entire campaign, and has only run a single television ad because every mainstream media outlet has plastered his face all over the web and TV. From Fox News to MSNBC, Trump has been the talk of the town since he announced his candidacy. Yes, he is a real candidate. He might sound like a blunt, ignorant man with a receding hair line, but he truly came to play. Reagan had little political experience when he ran as well; he was just a movie actor. In the end, Reagan may have been the strongest candidate the Republicans had in the past 70 years. Trump is real! Give him the respect the polls say he deserves.

Out of the fifteen other Republicans, there are only a few viable candidates who are worthy of acknowledgement. Cruz, Rubio and Christy are the only major players. Long time GOP favorite Jeb Bush’s popularity peaked about a year before he announced he was running. Still, the Republican debates have more than half of the field on the stage. With ten politicians bickering on stage, each candidate looks more like a first grader on the playground than a potential President of the United States of America. People do not care about Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Rand Paul or Carly Fiorina. If you do not know the names I just listed, you have proved my point. Major media outlets have spoken the name Monica Lewinsky more than the names of half the Republicans combined.

More than likely is that Hillary Clin“Each canton will be the Democratic nominee; didate looks unless her e-mail scandal magically more like a becomes a real scandal, she will be first grader representing the Democrats come fall. on the playAlthough Bernie Sanders is very appeal- ground than ing to every college student in America a potential who has yet to pay taxes, he belongs at President.”

Woodstock, not the campaign trail. The third Democrat, Martin O’Malley, is just using the election to prepare for his speaking tours when he retires from politics.

This no typical election; it is a soap opera that will not end until the general election. Until then, it will continue to be both dirty and full of nonsense. With Trump dropping more bombs a week than he vowed to drop on ISIS, it is nearly impossible to understand any candidate’s actual policy because every candidate has chosen to take his bait on both sides of the isle. This is really the kind of circus that makes political nerds miss the days of Romney vs. Obama, and yearn for days of John F. Kennedy vs. Richard Nixon. Those elections were battles of ideas, and not battles of slander and insults about issues that do not matter like e-mails, citizenship and wealth.

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PHOTO BY MORGAN PRACHAR

BY JUSTIN THOMPSON (‘17) FEATURES EDITOR aking a firm stance in politics has become a near death sentence. It’s much easier to climb the ladder when you blend in like a chameleon with the latest trends and ideas. America, however, is captivated by a man who refuses to blend in and instead chooses to stick out.

The curious case of Donald Trump began in last June when he announced his candidacy for the presidency. For the next six months, he blazed through the GOP, falling in and out of the top spot while making plenty of enemies and not quite as many friends.

“After delving After delving a little deeper into a little deeper his policies, though, Trump’s ideas into his polidon’t seem quite as preposterous. In cies, though, late October, he announced his plans Trump’s to reform a “corrupt” Veterans Affairs ideas don’t department that has been the subject seem quite as of numerous scandals. Helping vetpreposterous.” erans is one thing that all Americans should be able to agree on regardless of political affiliation. When faced with the subject of police brutality, Trump said, “Black lives matter, but we need a strong police presence.” A strong police force should be something that remains constant regardless of current events pertaining to racial issues. On the topic of gun control, Trump has said that gun-free zones are “target practice for sickos.” This stance is right in line with the ideals of his party and can hardly be called radical.

Whether you like Donald Trump or not, it’s hard not to respect a politician who can’t be bought and speaks exactly what he is thinking.

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Yes.

No.

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Opinion

Dance and baton leaping into the world of sports When people think of sports, football and baseball come to mind instead of dancing and twirling. Dance and baton are often seen as hobbies and arts, but many people refuse to call them sports. When looking at the definition of sport itself, though, both fall perfectly into it. Baton and dance are sports, and being the athlete of these sports can be difficult when people all around you tell you that what you have dedicated your life to is a “hobby.”

Baton

BY OLIVIA EBERSOLE(‘16) ENTERTAINMENT EDITIOR aton twirling has been a dying sport for the last few years. The sport seems to be hidden in the shadows among the glitter and rhinestones. As a twirler, I practice every day all year for at least an hour and a half, as this is a yearround sport. I have lessons every week for around three to four hours, and I run every night to keep my stamina up. I also stretch for 45 minutes a night. It’s not just the physical activity I put in, but the time. I have dedicated my life to this sport, putting my all in physically and emotionally.

Some may argue that the word “sport” should not mean anything and the only thing that matters is the activity itself.

I understand that completely, but there are times when people talk of twirling and will go out of their way to make sure they do not call it a sport.

People act like the word sport is sacred and can only be reserved for activities such as football and basketball. So no, it is not necesPHOTO COURTESY OF that bothers me sarily the word but the way people OLIVIA EBERSOLE treat my sport and the dedication I put into it. By refusing to call it a sport they degrade baton and me.

According to the definition of sport, baton can be included because it is a skill in which individuals and teams compete against each other for entertainment. I have heard many other arguments, however. People say there must be a point system. There is, in which there are multiple boxes where points are rewarded based on the competitors’ variety, speed and gracefulness, difficulty and much more. While some people admit that there are many reasons it could be a sport, they say it still is not because it is too subjective.

I understand where this is coming from; there is a judge who must decide which person is the most skilled. Still, many sports are subjective in which they have refs that decide the plays and penalties. In baton, there are set scores and set rules that must be followed where judges must decide what is wrong and right just as refs do in football and basketball. There will always be parts of sports that are subjective.

Another argument that I have heard is that in a sport, people must compete on a national or world level, which they do.

These are the main arguments in which I’ve heard along with the occasional sarcastic comment that there must be physical activity involved. Baton fits all definitions of sport, and the dedication and time I put into it leads me to believe I have every right to call it as it is, while still feeling proud no matter what people call it.

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Dance

MORGAN PRACHAR (‘17) BUSINESS MANAGER ost of our time is spent working on technique, stamina and working on dance outside of our normal classes in the studio. In the past ten years, I have spent a countless number of hours in the studio preparing for competitions and recitals. I was in competitions every weekend while growing up, and my weekdays were spent in the studio preparing and the weekends were spent traveling to and from competitions.

I currently spend about three hours in classes a week, which may not sound like it’s a lot, but nightly I spend about an hour to an hour and a half stretching and trying to improve my technique.

Dance transcends the world of hobbies and becomes a lifestyle.

What most people don’t realize is the amount of work that goes into a performance.

Barre, adagio, conditioning, PHOTO COURTESY OF MORGAN across the floor, center barre, petit allegro and that’s just naming a few. Dance is not a seasonal activity but is instead a year-round sport. We practice from September through July, preparing, competing throughout those months and completing the season with a recital.

According to the definition of sport, the activity must involve physical skill and be performed by an individual or a team for competition or entertainment. Looking through this list, it’s obvious that dance meets all of these requirements. Dance is a physical activity, can be performed as a team or as a solo dancer and the student can choose whether they want to be in competition or recital classes.

Players of other sports will often say, “You guys don’t run or lift, so it’s easier than any sport.” Dance isn’t as graceful as it looks, so it’s our job to make it look easy. If you were to see inside of a studio during class, you would often see us lifting our legs above our heads, holding our body weight on just our toes and, most of all, working hard for this lifestyle. Football players that dream of playing in the pros work hard to accomplish that, right? It’s the same way in dance; it becomes our lifestyle after a while and changes the way we accomplish our daily tasks.

Not only is dance a difficult sport, but there is also the competition, the different techniques that dancers use and the months of hard work that go into the two and a half minutes on stage. Dance

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Vietamese-inspired street food in downtown Granville Clmays Construction New homes, remodeling, Custom Cabintry

Christopher Mays, Owner Email: clmayscon@gmail.com 2111 Silver Street Granville, OH 43023 Phone: (740)403-8765 blueprintsonline.org

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News

Inside Granville Student drug tests may be coming next year

BY ASHLYN BROCKWAY ('17) STAFF MEMBER here are rumors going around about drug testing taking place next year. Mr Dust said he would like to start this process at the beginning of school next year, but he is just one opinion of many others who help decide the overall decision.

“We started talking about it last year, with the party bus last year during Prom and this year’s Homecoming, and this is what we are hoping to prevent," Durst said.

They haven’t quite planned everything that is going to happen, but they do know they are going to try very hard to make this an annual test.

“If you’re an athlete or involved in extracurricular activities you will be tested at the start of the year to establish what your base line is, then random testing from there,” Durst said. “It really depends if your name gets pulled out of the hat of people."

Not only will the students be drug tested if playing a sport, but it will also be common when applying for a student parking pass.

“If someone is driving to school under the influence it’s unsafe," Durst said.

Durst has also stated that if a student refuses to take the drug test it counts as an automatic negative, which means the student

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won’t be able to play in their extracurricular activities or sports.

Durst is also not sure how they are going to pay for the test and the company that they will hire. A lot of things still need to be talked about and decided if this will take place next year.

“We want to give stuStudents will report to Mr. Durst for dents an opportunity to say drug testing next year. PHOTO BY no to drugs because they ASHLYN BROCKWAY don’t want to fail the test and loose the season of whatever sport or activity they take part of," Durst said.

There are many key things Mr. Durst and others need to sort out before taking action on this, but as of right now they are going to try very hard to make this happen next year.

Schoology comments becoming a trend

BY ANNDE JO COOK (‘18) STAFF MEMBER veryone who goes to Granville uses Schoology. Recently, though, students have been using Schoology to voice their complaints.

Anytime Mr. Carpenter posts announcments, the comments come swarming in with plenty of students attacking his post.

Whether it is a grammar mistake, an update on what’s happening or just him telling students there is no late arrival, there are always a hand full of students that feel the need to comment.

It mostly started when Carpenter posted something telling the students that they were no longer allowed to play the well-liked sport called “death hack.” He said that people sitting in the courtyard were getting hit with the ball, and it was ruining the grass.

A lot of students said that the rule was unfair, and one person even said “unconstitutional.”

There were also a number of students who seemed pleased the game was banned and used sarcasm towards the people protesting the game being taken away.

A reacurring trend in the Schoology comments is complaining about days that are not late arrival.

“It is kids complaining about having to be at school on time, I would expect nothing less.” Carpenter said.

Once a student pushed it far, commenting, “Mr. Carpenter

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Mr. Durst’s laughter shows he is not taking the Schoology comments too seriously.PHOTO BY ANNDE JO COOK. seems like the kind of person to bring 13 items to the express lane.”

These Schoology comments have become a trend in Granville, and do not seem to be ending soon, a fact that does not seem to be worrying administrators.

“Haters are going to hate,” Mr. Durst said.

5th annual Feed the Dream Hope for new senior couches next year

Tents are set up in the parking lot of IGA on a cold, snowy day.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALAN MINTON.

BY GRACE MONTGOMERY (‘16) NEWS EDITOR or five years on Janurary 18, more commonly known as Martin Luther King, Jr Day, an organization called Feed the Dream works to honor the legacy in serving others left by MLK himself.

According to their website, onedayoneton.com, last year there were 2.1 tons of food collected and $6,037 collected in donations.

Their goal this year is to collect two tons of food and $7,500 in donations.

“Money is what the Food Pantry Network needs the most,” said Rob Cathcart, a member of the Feed the Dream committee.

“They have storage units to pick up the units, transfer them, store them and sometimes refrigerate them. So there is a lot of fossil fuels being used. With money it is easy operationally to buy what food they need when they need it.”

Feed the Dream started off with founder, Alan Minton, working with the King family.

“In his career he spent some time working at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, and he certainly grew and appreciated the value of Martin Luther King’s philosophies on life,” Cathcart commented. “One of these things was serving others and making a day of service.”

With the students and adults getting the day off, Minton wanted to make it a day on instead.

“He (Minton) decided to create an event in Granville that was everybody’s food drive, a community food drive,” Cathcart said.

“So really just making it a day to find some passion to serve.”

There are 11 one-hour slots from 9 a.m to 8 p.m for people to serve at Ross’ Granville Market by collecting donations and loading food onto the food pantry truck.

“There is also some shopping contests during the hour time slot if there are two different groups,” Cathcart said. “We give each group $5 and see how much they can buy that is both healthy and fulfilling.”

In prepartion for the day the committe has been focusing on distributing all forms of communication.

“In December, we got in contact with the Ross family to make sure they know the date and are prepared,” Cathcart said. “We distribute banners, yard signs, donation tags, school newsletters, press releases and interviews on radio and tv to get our logo out there.”

Feed the Dream is not focused on raising food or funding so much as the idea of serving others.

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The senior lounge gets a facelift with the new painting. PHOTO

BY GILLIAN MCCRACKEN.

BY GILLIAN MCCRACKEN (’17) STAFF MEMBER hroughout the years, the senior lounge has been used as an identity for the upperclassmen. It resemble a sort of power that only the seniors have over the other classes.

With these couches comes great responsibility, and although the seniors treat the couches with respect, the couches have become destroyed.

For the past few years the seniors have wanted new couches, due to the fact that all of the couches are torn up and ripped.

Many seniors had negative reviews of the couches.

“The couches are gross,” senior Austen Miller said. “I don’t like sitting on them and I think we should get new ones.”

After hearing students’ complaints, Mr. Durst said that they couches would be replaced in the near future.

“2016 is a great year for new couches,” principal Mr. Durst, commented. “Yes, the couches are in bad shape, and yes, we’re getting new ones. There is money given to us for the funding of the couches.”

During basketball games, younger children go into the senior lounge and jump around on the couches, which ultimately makes their appearance worse, and the quality of the couches to become poor, Durst said.

With a new year starting, the students and staff are hopeful that 2016 is the year for new couches. With rules and restrictions on how the couches should be treated, there are high hopes that the couches will be in good shape for a long time.

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Baby Boomers and Beyond How some ideas transcend generations

BY JUSTIN THOMPSON (‘17) FEATURE EDITIOR AND MADELINE WALKER (‘17) STAFF MEMBER

Pastor Steve Cramer and eighth grader Zander Finley demonstrate different pasttimes that define their respective generations. PHOTO BY MADELINE WALKER

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abriella Schnaidt, sophomore, was born in 1999 and represents an early year of The Founders generation. The Founders represent the generation born between 1998 and today. The Founders have grown up with advanced technology and it has become a staple of their everyday lives.

Schnaidt offers a Founder’s perspective on topics such as communication, politics and leadership. As a generation who has had access to mass media their entire lives, The Founders have watched discoveries, tragedies, and feats of progress unfold before their eyes on the world’s “digital stage.”

Schnaidt commented how people her age perceive world relations with a wider scope than that of their parents or grandparents.

“Today we are very globally minded and we usually think about what’s happening everywhere in the world, not just from an American perspective,” Schnaidt said.

Schnaidt says that her generation looks at the world differently that previous generations. “I think people my age tend to be more liberal in their way of thinking, whether it is the way we dress or the issues we talk about,” Schnaidt said Schnaidt’s youth and innocence is seen through her lack of willingness to commit to either side of the spectrum.

“I can’t decide if that’s a good thing, I guess I’m still trying to figure that out.”

In a world racked with political gridlock, conflict and war, the Founders are faced with the task of taking on the problems of the world.

“I think there will be a lot of conflict in our generation,” Schnaidt said. “Our generation is set in their beliefs because we feel well informed from the internet.

When someone makes up their mind, then anyone who opposes them is wrong.

That’s definitely true across all generations.”

Schnaidt would encourage teamwork

Overview of the Generations A quick look at the generations and the events that define them Generation X (1964-1982) 1948- US Military desegregated

1968- MLK and RFK assasinated

1955- Rosa Parks refused to sit in the back of the bus The Baby Boomers (1946-1964) 10 January 2016

1975- SNL premeires

1969- First Moon Landing and Woodstock

1976- Apple founded

among her peers, as they visit colleges and begin to think about the future.

“No one ever seems to want to compromise. We need ways to cooperate to be successful.”

Schnaidt is a perfect example of an ambitious dreamer that the Founders generation is known for. She has ideas, visions and isn’t afraid to dream big.

“In five years I’ll be a student in college,” Schnaidt said. “I’ll be learning, I either want to be an architect or a lawyer.

I like the idea that I could make a house a home for someone. I like the idea of being a lawyer because I believe in justice for all people.”

Schnaidt offers an important perspective of a young generation on the brink of their adulthood. It may be hard for young people to admit today but the dreams, plans, and talents of these “Founders” will shape the future of our planet.

Mr. Eric Minton, a middle school math teacher and basketball coach, represents the Millennial generation. Minton holds true to most millennial ideals, but also tends to venture into a more independent, baby-boomer viewpoint.

The millennials are characterized as being tech-savvy and forever connected to the digital world. Minton holds true to these characteristics.

“I feel like I know as much about technology as today’s students do.” So while it might have been easier for millennials to run circles around baby-boomers when it comes to technology, Founders find it much harder to use digital media against today’s millennials, considering they’ve seen it all before.

He credits his success today to his strong moral upbringing.

“I was fortunate enough to have parents who raised me with good values,” Minton said. With their fierce independence and do it yourself mentality, baby-boomers often prove to be good parents and, in Minton’s case they surely seem to have followed this trend.

However, as much of a millennial as Minton is, he also holds some baby-boomer ideals close to his heart. He stresses the value of hard work, he says that when the Founders begin to job search they might be in for a rude awakening.

“High school students today feel entitled,” Minton said. “Once they get into the real world they will have to realize that they must work much harder than they did before.”

Unlike many millennials, Minton is happy to say that he is content with his position at this point in his life. He says that “getting a teaching job at Granville is his biggest accomplishment to date.” He says that in five years he still wants to be teaching at Granville, but he still wants to see the world.

“I want to go back to Europe,” Minton said. “I’ve been to Italy, but I wouldn’t mind going back.”

Pastor Steve Cramer, from Centenary United Methodist Church, is part of the Baby Boomer generation. He was born in 1956 and shares many traditional values with people in his generation. They have lived through the invention of the modern computer, mobile telephones and social media.

As more generations are born, technology continues to improve and adapt.

The baby boomers have been here for all of it. These boomers offer an important perspective on the ever-evolving American

lifestyle. Steve comments on the focus of technology in the lives of young people.

“My generation had fewer distractions,” Cramer said. “We were focused more on interacting with others around us than our phones.”

When asked what role he plans to fill in five years, Steve hopes for more of the same.

“I hope to be a husband, a pastor, a father; it would be nice to a grandfather, a son, and a friend. I want to be a friend, maybe even a softball player.”

Cramer sympathizes with The Founders generation, claiming that they are much less sheltered than he was in high school.

“News today travels so fast.” Cramer said. “We now here about tragedies happening around the world in a matter of 20 minutes.”

However, Cramer preaches optimism and positivity in young people.

“They tell you that the world is this terrible place and it’s not,” Cramer said.

“Media magnifies bad news and not good news. There’s a lot of good news out there and a lot of good people.”

“There is a lot of good with technology and social media. It’s not all bad. Very few things in this world are all bad or all good. It’s about learning how to use them correctly.” Reflecting on the differences between Founders and Baby Boomers, Steve sends the message that some ideas transcend generations, with wide reaching meanings that affect us all.

“I think all people have a yearning inside of them, that their life will make a difference. That we will all have a purpose.”

Millenials (1983- 1997) 1985- Back to the Future opens

1989- Berlin Wall fell

2001- 9/11 attacks

2015- Paris shootings

2008- Obama elected Founders (1998- Presesnt) blueprintsonline.org

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Sports

Meltdown at Paul Brown As Ben Roethlisberger exited the game, beer cans and water bottles poured on the field. The tides quickly turned in the favor of the Bengals. A.J. McCarron tossed the go-ahead score to A.J. Green late in the fourth quarter and it seemed all but over for the Bengals. Not so fast. Roethlisberger trotted on to the field and was able to lead a game winning drive with the help of penalties from Vontaze Burfict and Adam “Pacman” Jones to set up Chris Boswell’s game-winning field goal. It was an ugly game. With fights and thug-like activity throughout the night, it was a disgrace to football and the NFL.

LeBron vs. Curry Throughout the historic career of LeBron James, NBA “experts” have debated his ability to that of the great Michael Jordan. However, there is someone closer to James than we think. Stephen Curry has been playing lights out for the past two seasons and has slingshot himself to NBA stardom. Personally, LeBron James is still the best, but it’s time for the ‘experts’ to enter Curry into the conversation.

Johansen for Jones It was no secret that Blue Jackets’ General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen was looking to deal center Ryan Johansen. It also was no secret that Nashville Predators’ General Manager David Poile was looking to acquire a first line center. Almost a match made in heaven appeared as it was announced the Jackets and Preds pulled off the blockbuster deal that sent the 2013 4th overall pick, defenseman Seth Jones, to Columbus in exchange for Johansen. A true hockey trade that saw no fluff or sparkles, it will be debated and watched closely for the next several years.

Zies' Pieces

BY KYLE ZIES

Thad Matta in the 'Ville As the boys’ basketball team took on Pickerington Central, you could look up into the bleachers to see a shiny object glistening in the gym lights. It was Thad Matta’s head. The Ohio State head basketball coach decended upon Granville to take in the game not for the Aces, no, no, but rather for the prized Pick Central freshman, Coleton Landis (6’7, 210lbs). Still, it was all good fun for the likes of the Granville faithful to snap a picture or two. No harm done.

NFL Notebook For the first time in NFL history all four road teams-- the Chiefs, Steelers, Seahawks, and Redskins-- won in the wild card round of the playoffs. In other news, the St. Louis Rams will pack up and head west to the bright lights of Los Angeles and rename to the Los Angeles Rams. NFL owners voted 30-2 in favor of the Rams returning to the Golden State with the option of the San Diego Chargers to join them. With a brand spanking new stadium being built for 2019, the Rams will have to find new grounds to play at for the near future.

Seniors vs. Faculty Game Surprise, surprise. Once again, the faculty led a whooping over the class of 2016 by a 27-13 final in just a ten-minute game. Mr. Durst, Mr. Angler and Mr. Minton led the way for the faculty as Angler used his 6’9 height to leave no room for competition by the seniors. Carrying a roster of 20 players, the seniors couldn’t find consistancy as players whined for playing time rather than enjoying the event. Coaches Peyton Ley and Alex Meurer could only shake their heads at the madness.

12 January 2016

Where have our manners gone?

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urn on SportsCenter.

Turn on any professionally televised game. Sports will vary and athletes will change but one thing remains a continuity. The lack of professionalism and maturity wreaks across our sports world. We all saw the final minutes of the AFC Wild Card matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. We all saw the shower of beer cans raining down on Ben Roethlisberger as he was taken off the field with injury.

Bad behavior is not just in the NFL, however. In the NBA we see unnecessary activity and quite frankly they all look foolish. It needs to end.

It has trickled down through collegiate sports as college athletes are treated as highly paid celebrities, rather than humble human beings and role models for kids to adore. It has made its way to high school sports. It has entered the minds of the impressionable children at the youth levels.

It’s sad and quite disappointing if you ask me. It’s all an unnecessary side show to the games we love.

Winter Sports Updates Boys' Basketball

BY HUNTER BROWN (‘16) STAFF MEMBER The boys’ basketball team has begun with a rocky start to their season. With a record of 6-9 thus far, the team looks to make a change and turn the season around. Seniors Jacob Alexander, Alex Meurer, Trent Tackett, Drew Dilger and Peyton Ley are dedicated to finishing their regular season successfully, and making a run at the playoffs.

WRESTLING

BY HUNTER BROWN (‘16) STAFF MEMBER The wrestlers have been working hard towards the end-of-theyear meets. Led by captains Caleb Chapdelaine, Caleb Browne, Alex Eckels and Luke Mendicino, the team has continuously had success at their meets.

Leadership is especially coming from Mendicino since he is currently undefeated. Many guys on the team are preparing themselves for the district meet coming up soon.

Indoor Track

BY KYLE ZIES (‘16) SPORTS EDITOR The school throws the term “indoor” in front of track to attract athletes attention and add a cozy adjective. However, the athletes still run in frigid temperatures.

Sophomore Brielle Bait stated that “It’s really interesting running in the negative degree temperatures.”

Bait also went on to say that the team has had their fair share of broken ankles due to the outdoor conditions. Despite the unbarrable conditions, though, the indoor team is thriving outdoors.

Everything is Coming Together

BY SOPHIA EHLERS (‘17) STAFF MEMBER he girls’ basketball team has gotten off to a slow but promising start. They are managing the transition of a completely new coaching staff for both JV and varsity.

Seniors Maggie Wolf and Journey Link have been guiding the freshman on varsity and the underclassmen players in the new system.

PHOTO BY SOPHIA EHLERS (‘17) “It has been an adjustwill be moving on to varsity next year. ment but we are all finally “The first part of the season was just starting to mesh together,” senior Maggie getting comfortable in the new system,” Wolf said.

Wolf said. “Hopefully during the second The Aces have a record of 3-6 about part of the season we will start seeing half way through their season. The JV has more wins. I know we can do it; we just a record of 6-2 and are continuing to imhave to perform.” prove and learn, as many of those players

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The Need For Speed

BY SOPHIA EHLERS (‘17) STAFF MEMBER he swimming team has had a phenomenal season so far and like all teams going into their seasons, they have new players and old players. While the experienced players continue to lead and guide the team, the new ones have been pulling their weight, too.

This year’s two new coaches, Kelly and Brian Doner, are bringing a lot of experience and knowledge to the table.

“The team has improved vastly since the start of the season,” junior Carolyn Mestamaker said. “The beginners on the team have all developed the techniques to be able to go from one wall to the next.”

The girls’ team faces a new challenge this year with being moved up to Division I. This adds a greater “need for speed” and all girls are trying their best to step up to the plate, or in their case the block.

“The experienced swimmers are getting

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PHOTO COURTESY OF AVERY BEDNARSKI closer and closer to their time goals, every day,” Mestamaker said.

“All in all, this year the team is as close as ever, friends and coaches,”senior Avery Bednarski commented.

They have placed as a team and or individually in every single meet they have competed in this season and will continue to grow and win as a team. blueprintsonline.org

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Sports

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Why have the dates For the Boys' basketball games Changed?

BY Ashlyn Brockway ('17)

Staff Member

Screenshots from maxpreps.com

14 January 2016

any students have wondered why the boys’varsity basketball games aren’t on the same days as previous seasons.

Last year, games were on Tuesday and Friday nights. A large number of students would consistently attend Friday night games since they weren’t burdened with homework assignments that were due the next day.

It used to be common to see the student section decked out in full camo, beach apparel, or ugly Christmas sweaters.

Since the dates for games are being changed, not as many students are showing up to support and cheer on the boys during their games.

“The LCL moved the dates for when the games will take place,” Athletic director Kevin Jarrett said. “When the basketball team changed leagues this year, the dates changed as well.”

According to Jarrett, the dates were also moved because of gender equality.

“The girls’ basketball team should be able to have the chance to play Friday night games as well,” said Jarrett.

With the boys’ basketball team playing on every Friday during previous seasons, the girls never had an opportu-

nity to have a large number of students go to their games.

Now that the boys and girls basketball teams are splitting the Friday night games, it gives each of the teams an equal chance to have a large number of students show up to their games and support.

“They wanted the girls’ team to be able to play of Fridays, but they didn’t want to give the girls and boys the same playing dates because it wouldn’t be fair to have the students choose which game to go to and which team to support,” Jarrett commented.

The solution to the problem is to simply have the boys and girls split the basketball game dates evenly throughout their seasons.

“You used to always know when games would be,” said junior Blythe Saxinger.

“A lot of people don’t know now, and the ones who do don’t want to go on weeknights because it takes away time from homework.”

Hopefully the changes make sense now and students are a little less confused and annoyed about the date changes. Regardless of whether it’s the boys’ or girls’ team students still have time to make it out to the remaining games this season and support their classmates.

PHOTO BY COLE JAQUITH

Students choose indoor lacrosse as their winter sport

BY COLE JAQUITH (‘16) SPORTS EDITOR very winter, lacrosse players gather at Stars Indoor Sports, a poorly lit and poorly insulated indoor athletic facility that hosts Columbus Lacrosse Club’s winter indoor league.

The turf is dirty, along with everything else, and there’s no space or time for a warm-up, but athletes still relish the chance to play lacrosse once a week on Wednesday nights.

CLC’s indoor league bears somewhat of a resemblance to box lacrosse, a version of the game that originated in Canada. Box lacrosse is played in a hockey rink where the ice surface has either been drained or covered with artificial turf. In box lacrosse, the goal is four feet by four feet instead of the standard six feet by six feet, and the goalie wears padding similar to that of a hockey goalie.

Like box lacrosse, the game is played in an enclosed area and consists of five players and one goalie. There are no long pole defenders in either box or indoor.

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Unlike box lacrosse, the goal is regulation size for field lacrosse and the goalie wears field lacrosse equipment.

In the indoor league, scores often reach the twenties and thirties.

“I’ve played both box and indoor,” said senior Alex James.“It’s easier to score in indoor since the goal is so much bigger than it is in box.”

Instead of having a traditional face-off after every goal, the ball is immediately rewarded to the team that has scored. This contributes to why the scores are so high.

“It’s a lot of running back and forth,” said senior Barrett Williams. “You don’t play that much defense because there are so many fast breaks.”

Indoor has no strategical value when compared to field lacrosse, but it forces players to learn how to operate in tight spaces.

“After playing indoor, it feels like theres so much more space on the field,” said Williams.

It’s difficult to gauge how a team will perform during the regular season by

watching them play indoor. It’s a completely different game, and teams are often missing players who participate in winter sports.

“It really just helps to keep you in shape,” said James. “It lets you keep a stick in your hands and you get to know some of the younger players a little better before the season starts.”

All in all, Columbus Lacrosse Club’s winter indoor league is something that should not be taken too seriously.

Although head coaches are not allowed to be on the bench during games, they are still able to attend and get an idea of what their players need to work on fundamentally. It’s true value is keeping a stick in player’s hands and bringing players together in the offseason.

blueprintsonline.org

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Features

Bachelor & Bachelorette

Catching up with two of Granville’s most eligible singles

BY JUSTIN THOMPSON (‘17) FEATURES EDITOR

What is your favorite 90’s jam?

Hope Cecrle: “Everybody (Backstreets Back)” by the Backstreet Boys.

Chris Armstrong: “Basketball” by Kurtis Blow.

What is your all time favorite movie?

Hope: “Clueless.”

Chris: “Project X.” Describe yourself in three words.

Hope: Funny, classy, outgoing.

Chris: Ladies man who rips his shirt off.

If someone wrote a biography about you what would it be called?

Hope: Hopeless, the Hope Cecrle Story.

Chris: The Tales of Chris Armstrong.

Unexpected song on your playlist?

Hope: Classical stuff like Mozart and Bach.

Chris: “Trap Queen” by Fetty Wap.

Chris Armstrong

Hope Cecerle

What college football do you support?

Hope: Penn State.

Chris: Ohio State.

“Margot Robbie” -Chris Volzke

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? Hope: Go out ice skating by myself.

Chris: Go out to eat with some of my teammates.

What is your best trait?

Hope: My smile.

Chris: My basketball ability, my monster crossover, and my big hands.

Who would play you in a movie made about your life?

Hope: Jennifer Lawrence.

Chris: Malcolm McFadden.

“Brandon Haley” -Thomas McGrath

Pick two celebrities to be your parents.

Hope: Johnny Depp and Tina Fey. Chris: Lebron James and his wife.

Who would be your dream celebrity date?

Hope: Chris Hemsworth.

Chris: Khloe Kardashian.

If I came over to your house for dinner, what would you make for me?

Hope: Chinese Stir Fry. Chris: I don’t know yet, probably spaghetti.

What would be your last meal?

Hope: Grilled pineapple.

Chris: Lasagna.

Do you believe in Bigfoot?

Hope: Yes! Chris: I believe in him a little bit.

16 January 2016

If you had to go on a Valentine’s date with anyone, who would it be?

“Channing Tatum” -Emma Petryk

Entertainment

Makeup with Morgan: A soft natural look

BY MORGAN PRACHAR (‘17) BUSINESS MANAGER akeup can be used to enhance your natural beauty, some looks can be glitzy and some simple. This look is very natural and an easy way to dress up a look. Most of the products used below can be found at the drugstore, as well as many you may own already. All together this took me about fifteen to twenty minutes to apply, making it a perfect look to use when getting ready for your daily task.

The first and most important step of any makeup application is beginning with a clean face. After I clean my face I prime it with a moisturizer, beginning with a moisturizer helps make the application smoother. My current favorite moisturizer is the Clean and Clear advantage acne control moisturizer, its oil free and although it contains acne fighting medication it keeps your skin looking refreshed, instead of drying it out like many cleansers do.

After my face is clean and primed I let my skin breathe and move onto my eyes. I begin priming my eyes with a white base, this helps keep your shadow in place, crease-less throughout the day and makes the colors appear more pigmented and brighter. The NYX jumbo eye pencil and the NYX eye shadow base both keep your eye shadow in place very well. I apply this all over my eyelids, and set it with

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either a white or nude shadow, or a small amount of my face powder.

For this look I used the Urban Decay Naked Basics pallet, this pallet contains six matte shadows that work great for this look. Any pallet with light browns, dark browns, and a little bit of shimmer will work wonderfully as well. I began with the shade naked 2, a cool toned light brown.

Using a fluffy blending brush I blended this shadow into my crease as a transition color. With any makeup look the key factor is blending, use windshield wiper motions evenly distributing the color across the crease.

After the first shadow is blended, I take the color faint, a darker brown focusing on the outer corner of my crease. To apply this color I first use a thin flat brush to lay the shadow where I prefer. I take this color from the outer corner to about the center of the crease, after the color is where I want it, I take my blending brush and blend this color out, trying to stay close to the crease as much as possible.On the outer corner I take a bit of the color down to the lash line which will be blended into the lighter color in the next step.

When the darker colors are all blended, the final color I apply is a light shimmer color to my lid. I used a very sparkly champagne color to contrast the darker colors on my eye.

Apply this under the crease and blend into the dark brown in the outer corner using a flat shadow brush. And of course, blend it out.

To finish off this look I winged my eyeliner and added my favorite mascara.

Whether you wing your liner or leave it simple it will still finish the look perfectly.

Complete the rest of your face makeup PHOTOS BY MORGAN as usual.

PRACHAR

Thank you to all the students, teachers and families who support local business. blueprintsonline.org

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Entertainment

5 questions with local artist, Jax

BY COLE JAQUITH (‘16) SPORTS EDITIOR

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ackson Evans, otherwise known as Jax, is a native of Granville. His work has been floating around on the Soundcloud’s of GHS students for the past couple of years. Now that he has finally returned to Granville, students are able to put a face to the music. Learn about Jax’s beginnings, inspirations, projects, and more.

metal and for some reason that’s really influenced me. Frank Sinatra has inspired me a lot as well as Bill Withers. One of my main inspirations was Stevie Wonder; he’s definitely a big one for me, just because of how amazing he is considering that he’s blind. He’s just an overall music genius and it’s insane to think about.

that timespan from then until leaving for Florida we just became really tight and we put out “Awol,” which we worked on for a while, and ever since then we’ve been making crazy stuff.

5.How does the music scene differ here

from the music scene in Tampa?

In Tampa, everyone is really strung up on more homegrown rap. There are You did a song with Hashu, a local multiple rappers coming out of Tampa, but artist from Olentangy. How did that come What got you interested in making music they all have the same flow, and they all about? and when did you start? have the same style, kinda like Mac Miller It’s thanks to you actually, I give all Since I was born my mom would play heavy, or Schoolboy Q. They’re all trying to do credit for this to you. We were sitting hard music around me non-stop, like Marilyn something that’s already been done. When in Dylan (Carson)’s basement and you Manson, so ever since I was four I’ve been singing non-stop and I’ve I was there, there were always been trying to be people that liked my a singer. That’s when I stuff for sure, but there realized I wanted to be were people that were a musician and everylike, “Well we like rap, thing else I wanted to so Jax is up next cause be became a side job in he’s the singer, so we’re case music didn’t work gonna like this kid’s out. When I was six years stuff before we like his.” old I got my first guitar.

That’s when I started Tampa is filled with a lot fully learning to play, more fake people, so I’d and not just guitar, other go to school and everyinstruments too. When I body would be talking turned fourteen I started about my music, but I’d posting music online. have triple the amount of That’s when I realized people talking about my that this is it, this is what music than people who I’m doing, and ever since actually clicked the like then it’s been crazy.

Jackson Evans shows his creativity through photos. PHOTO COURTESY OF button. They just follow Your first post on Sound-JOSH RUBIANO whoever is the biggest, Cloud was a cover. When and at the time I wasn’t the did you transition from covers to recording biggest, but here, there aren’t as many artwere like “Hey check out this kid,” and I your own original songs? ists coming out of Columbus. Ever since listened to him and thought it was dope.

My whole life I’ve been writing songs, and Hashu and I started working together, and I thought he was super famous and then no matter how bad they were I thought they people started seeing I was moving back a week later you came back and told me were dope, but the first thing I actually posted to Ohio, everyday I get some new kid was a cover. The second song I ever posted was that he lives in Lewis Center and I was asking me to be on something. People are like “Woah, that’s kinda crazy.” That was the first original I put out called “Delusional”, and it’s trash, like it’s awful compared to the much more willing to work together and all at the beginning of summer. Midway stuff I have out now, but at the time I thought collaborate. I’m not complaining about through the summer I thought, you know it was dope. I spent six months before I started that, I think it’s dope, it’s just Columbus what I’m just gonna email him and see posting covers, and during that time I was is much more of a music accepting city how it goes. I emailed him before I got in just making covers and mixes of originals. and it’s much more well rounded when the shower, right after I got out I get an So I can’t really say when I recorded my first it comes to music taste and style, rather email back, a follow on twitter, a favorite original, but “Delusional” was the first one I than Tampa where people just like one on one of my tweets, and a direct message ever released. It’s long gone though, gone in specific thing, and if it’s not that, it’s out. on twitter. It was Hashu and he said, “Go the archives, never to be seen again.

You can listen to Jax and follow him on check your email.” I check my email and Do you have any major musical influSoundCloud through this link: https:// he said, “Usually I don’t respond to these, ences? soundcloud.com/jax-22. You can also but I decided to keep yours in my inbox The Weeknd and Drake are big ones, follow him on Twitter @apollojax. Read and I listened to your music and I was then Travis Scott and Post Malone. Those more about Jax online at blueprintsonline. completely dumbfounded. Would you are just mainstream guys right now, but org. mind doing a colab for my album?” and as I was growing up I listened to a lot of I was like “Yeah for sure, let’s do it!” In

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18 January 2016

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Super fan meets his idol, Nicki Minaj

BY OLIVIA EBERSOLE (‘16) ENTERTAINMENT EDITIOR lex Schultz, senior, has become a well-known man in our school.

When people hear his name they ask, “Isn’t he the one who meet Nicki Minaj?”

Just this past summer Schultz went to a Nicki Minaj concert in Pittsburgh on August the 8th.

He started loving Nicki when he saw her 2014 VMA performance of “Anaconda” and the famous performance where she couldn’t get her dress zipped, of “Bang Bang.” He has loved her ever since. He even has pink “Anaconda” socks and a “What’s good?” shirt with her on it. Talk about a true fan.

Schultz met Nicki after the concert upon hearing rumors that she liked to meet fans after her shows. He walked around the building until he found the gate for a loading area where he saw other fans. Soon there were around forty people.

By midnight the security decided it was enough, and attempted to chase the fans

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away.

“For the next forty five minutes they chased us around the parking lot,” Schultz

said. “They had these little go carts with sirens on them and they were trying to herd us away.”

The fans would go the opposite direc-

tion they were being chased and even hide in porta potties to get away.

Around one am the tour buses started to come out, and just to make sure they would meet their favorite singer, the fans grouped around the bus to make sure it wouldn’t leave.

As soon as they saw Nicki through the window they screamed and surrounded the bus. Security had to force them to back away to let the door open. Nicki came out and talked to her fans for about fifteen minutes.

Schultz was ecstatic, “I don’t really remember what she said because I was in a trance.” Although he does remember she was very nice and sweet.

Overall Alex paid 190 dollars for this ticket and he was in the fourteenth row, but it was all worth it.

Of course, this experience is one to share and Schlutz loves to joke around with it. When one of his classmates was re-tweeted by Macklemore Schultz responded the next day with, “I’m sorry but did you meet him?”

The wasteland enchants “Fallout” fans

BY CARSTEN SAVAGE (’17) OPINION EDITIOR he greatly-anticipated open-world video game “Fallout 4” debuted in November, and fans everywhere have been enjoying Bethesda Game Studio’s latest success. After five years of waiting, “Fallout 4” provides unforgettable experiences that live up to expectations.

“Fallout 4” begins in a utopian American society. The player starts out living in Sanctuary, a suburb of Boston, moments before a nuclear blast wipes out the city.

After the player watches the news and learns of the nuclear blast, he or she must lead his or her family down into Vault 111, an asylum from the nuclear devastation above, to reemerge 210 years later into a broken world.

Ravaged Boston is as gorgeous as any nuclear wasteland could be. Somber for-

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ests of dead trees populate the Commonwealth territory, and mystical, modern and colorful towers advance into the Boston sky. Jagged pieces of highway rise over the countryside, connecting the futuristic factories to illustrate how the progressive but aggressively capitalistic society incited its own destruction. While much of the destruction is permanent, a myriad of locations remain intact, and the player can help beautify on a diminutive scale; building houses for survivors, building defenses to protect them from the hostile outdoors and providing them food and water.

In the Commonwealth, enemies roam the countryside and often start fighting each other, creating a sense of realism that makes the world feel alive. Mutant soldiers and dogs attack anyone they see, raiders attempt to pillage settlements and robots prowl the streets looking for humans. The most grotesque enemies in the game are ghouls, mutated humans who sprint and scramble and literally throw themselves at the player in hunger. As the player’s level increases, more enemies begin to diversify the world; mutant bears called Yao Guai look for prey, and giant reptiles called deathclaws attack every

settlement they can find.

The game’s fundamental components radiate excellence. Lock picking and pickpocketing, essentialities in Bethesda’s games, are as flawless and satisfyingly challenging as ever. The dialogue is all fully voice-acted, a major accomplishment for the studio, and the battle mechanics, settlement-building tools and bartering interface with traders are magnificent.

There are virtual realms inside the actual game; the player can use computers to read survivors’ electronic diaries and listen to holotapes, and the player even has a portable computer strapped to his or her arm.

“Fallout 4” is one of the most incredible games of the decade. The player can spend hours exploring this breathtaking world, and everyone will have a different experience as they progress throughout the game. While the game’s story is not its strongest point, Boston enchants the player with both its strangely beautiful forsakenness and its bountiful life. “Fallout 4” has undoubtedly satisfied lofty expectations; now, it is up to the modding community to make more content and extend the life of “Fallout 4” for years to come. blueprintsonline.org

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20 January 2016