The Nerd Clusters

The Nerd Clusters May 31st. Volume 1. Issue 1.

Table of Contents

PAGE DESIGN BY//CHANDLER MYERS

3) What To Do Over the Summer

We’ve got you covered on how to spend the 3 months before school starts up again!

4) What’s Your Summer Fashion?

Everyone’s style changes when the sun comes out. See some of West High’s looks!

5) 100 Things to Do in High School

There are just some things you have to do before graduating.

6) Watch What You Say

Verbal abuse is common. But what about the things you say that aren’t meant to hurt people?

7-9) COVER STORY: WEIGHTLESS Everyone is different. Everyone is beauiful.

10) The Love Truth?

Look at two West High relationships and see what they have to say about love!

11) What’s Eating You?

Need some advice? Or just curious about what’s bugging other people?

12-13) What’s Hot in High School?

What books, tv shows, movies, bands, and more are most loved by West High students?

14-15) We Got Opinions Editorials and opinions. We speak out minds.

16. AvengersRelationship Quiz

Girls, what Avenger do you match with? Guys, what Avenger are you in a relationship? Find out here!

Name: Chandler Myers ‘15 Position: Writer, Designer, Photographer, Copy Editor 02 CONTENS

Name: Kaitlyn McCurdy ‘14 Position: Editor in Chief, Design Editor

HERE, YOU’LL FIND SCROLLING FACTS ABOUT YOUR LOVELY EDITORS HERE AT THE NERD CLUSTERS.

Name: Payton Knight ‘13 Position: Photographer

PAGE DESIGN BY//KAITLYN MCCURDY

What To Do This Summer!

As much as high schoolers love summer, it sometimes means chilling at home, doing absolutely nothing. That is absolutely no way to spend your break from school, so we have some options that you might consider to spend your summer time. Jobs, places, and miscellaneuous things to do are listed!

PHOTO BY// KAITLYN MCCURDY

PHOTO BY// KAITLYN MCCURDY

Where?: Dairy Queen Pros: “For sure the workers. They are so kind and their sense of humor is the best. I also like how relaxed everything is. Paul and Yolly are so lenient on the rules and it’s nice how understanding they are,” says Kayla Culjat, a young worker at the Dairy Queen in North Liberty. Also, you can’t forget that break means free ice cream! Seriously, how is that not a pro?

Cons: “The rude customers. They are so frustrating, especially when it’s not your fault,” says Culjat.

Keep in mind Dairy Queen will be extremely busy come June.

Requirements: Must be at least 16 years old

--------------------------

- - - - - - 1.- JOBS - - - - - - - - - - - - -3. -OTHER ---

Where?: Coralville Aquatic Center Pros: “I would say free shaved ice,” says Morgan McDowell ’14, who works at the Aquatic Center during the summer months.

Cons: “[The] biggest con is that it gets really hot during the summer...” said McDowell. Obviously, it is an outside job, so you might not be covered from the sun. Be prepared, especially by drinking water to stay cool! Sun screen might be good to invest in, as well, just in case. The free shaved ice would come in handy, too, for cooling down. If you do not handle heat very well, this may not be for you.

Requirements: Varies depending on position, so make sure to check!

----------------COMPILED BY// KAITLYN MCCURDY

2. PLACES NEAR HOME

PHOTO BY// PAYTON KNIGHT

PHOTO BY// KAITLYN MCCURDY

Where?: Blue Moose Pros: Blue moose offers all kinds of music to enjoy, and a wonderful place to hang with your friends. If you’re a crazy fan, you get to see your favorite bands and even talk to them/get signatures!

Ususally only costs between ten and twenty dollars.

Cons: It is a small room and can get really hot in the summer, so make sure you dress lightly.

It will be even hotter when the place is packed with people, so staying cool in any way possible is a must. Any show past ten o’clock at night only permits people that are nineteen or older.

Where?: Coralville Reservoir Pros: There’s a beach that is roped off for swimming. The sand is amazing, and totally fun to walk on.You can go boating and do all the fun activities involving boats.You can see tons of fish. And the best part? If you get thirsty, there is a vending machine.

Cons: It is NOT a pool. Meaning, the water is not treated, so do not go if that freaks you out. If you are scared of aquatic life, this is not the place for you, either.

COMPILED BY// CHANDLER MYERS

1.Volunteer at the animal shelter or a soup kitchen.

2. Play childhood games, like Sorry, Monopoly, or others.

3. Go to an amusement park.

4. Go to a music festival or concert.

5. Go night swimming.

6.Learn a new skill - juggling, new musical instrument, etc.

7.Overnight movie marathon with friends!

8. Go crazy on the sidewalks with chalk.

9. Visit a college.

10. Go through your stuff and get rid of what you want - give it to Good Will or have a garage sale!

11. Make smores and go camping.

12. Go on a hike.

13. Try to do something different every day over the summer.

14. Make a music video to your own song, or make a parody of a song.

15. Create a photo journal for summer.

16. Go through your old MySpace.

17. Look at a picture of you as a kid, take a new picture with the same pose and see how much you’ve changed.

18. Call up an old childhood friend.

19. Go to an outside party.

20. Have a summer romance.

21. Watch Greese and then act it out with all your friends.

22. Redo your room.

23. Drive a quad.

24. Go into a crowded elevator and say “I bet you’re wondering why I gathered you here.”

25. Go to a store, ask the clerk what year it is and when he answers, say “IT WORKED!” and run out.

26. Go coning, planking, etc.

27. Make a baked good.

28. Make a smoothie.

29. Have a lemonade stand.

30. Make a short film.

31. Finger paint.

32. Dress differently than you normally would.

33. Have a dance party.

34. Stay out all night.

35. Have a water fight.

COMPILED BY// CHANDLER MYERS, PAYTON KNIGHT, AND KAITLYN MCCURDY

KAITLYN WORKS AT DAIRY QUEEN. SHE HAS FOR ABOUT A MONTH.

03 FEATURE

PAGE DESIGN BY//CHANDLER MYERS

LEFT: Averi Bryant ‘14 has her average outfit for the day that is comfy (hence the slippers) but also interesting in style.

BELOW: Julia Truszkowski ‘14 has her summery dress to get ready for the upcoming season. “I wear whatever I like, whatever I feel like,” said Truszkowski.

PHOTOS BY// CHANDLER MYERS

ABOVE: Becca Anson ‘14 shares her interesting and gothic-esque style. With her Batman shoes, she is ready for anything!

BELOW: Ian Berndt ‘14 has his basic outfit for the day with a gray shirt and skinny jeans, something causual for everyday.

What’s Your SUMMER FASHION?

COMPILED BY// CHANDLER MYERS

RIGHT: Tyrek Allen ‘15 in his gray cardigan and blue skinny jeans shares his unique style of classy but yet casual outfit. “I’d call my style awesome-ness hipsterish sheek,” said Allen.

04 PROFILE

CHANDLER LIKES TO PARTY.

BELOW: Lucas Brenneman ‘12 shares his more prepatory look with Hollister and skinny jeans! “It”s my white boy swag,” said Brenneman.

PAGE DESIGN BY//PAYTON KNIGHT

High School Bucket List (51 things to do)

COMPILED BY// CHANDLER MYERS, PAYTON KNIGHT, AND KAITLYN MCCURDY

Make a YouTube video with your friends. Post it to your Facebook for more views.

Go to a concert on a school night. (Not a school related one.)

Come to school dressed as your favourite Superhero.

Watch an entire TV series.

Go to Wilton’s Candy Kitchen.

Watch an old horror movie. Come to school dressed in footie pajamas.

Talk with an accent for one day.

Change all the computer desktops in the library to something similar.

Make Buy a hobo a sandwich. Tell a teacher they’re hot.

Come to school Paint Address your teacher a fake wearing under- your as “your honor.” ticket wear over your and face Leave strange pants. put it Have a food fight! for a messages in a random person’s on a day. locker. friend’s Blast Sing to a random person at school.

HAVE A HUGGING CONTEST. car.

Come to school with Go on a scavenger hunt in the school. Go out to eat at three music in the morning with a in the your shoes and shirt Write yourself a letter, and after you on backwards and say library. graduate high school or college, read it. bunch of friends.

Leave a message in the opposite sex’s bathroom.

Come to school with a towel cape on.

it’s opposites day.

Go to the mall on Start Black Friday at a two in the club. morning.

In class, start a song and wait for people to join in.

Take a road trip Bury a time capsule. Go through the day telling ranbefore senior year.Join a club dom people pick you wouldn’t up lines.

Participate in Sing normally join.

a talent show karaoke. or theater production. Make a shirt that says “life” on it and give people lemons.

Talk in 3rd person for the entire day.

Give Make a code that Dance See a G-rated movie your only you and your in the in theaters. favorite friends know and middle of Camp out for teacher text or write the hall. a card. concert tickets. letters in it. a language Pretend you are Get walkie talkies and Get involved in a protest Learn not taught in talk in them throughout a tourist for a (one that you believe in!) school the day. day.

Make a fort and sleep in it with all your friends.

Get a pen pal.

Start a journal with your friends. Write down anything you think is important or extremely memorable.

Welcome a new kid to West.

Show them around. Be nice!

At the end of senior year, make a collage of memories from high school.

Take it with you to college to remember every fun thing in high school that sticks out to you right now.

PAYTON HAS DIED HER HAIR NINETEEN TIMES.

05 FEATURE

WATCH YOUR WORDS

PAGE DESIGN BY//KAITLYN MCCURDY

Those “innocent” words you say to your friends could do more harm than good.

BY KAITLYN MCCURDY kaitlynemccurdy@gmail.com

what’s the

MEANEST thing a friend has said to you OR

the meanest

thing YOU

have said to someone?

COMPILED BY// KAITLYN MCCURDY

06 FEATURE

“

I HAVE THIS REALLY

CLOSE FRIEND,

AND SHE DOESN’T KNOW THAT SHE DOES THIS BUT,

WHEN SHE STARTED TO HANGOUT WITH THESE

CERTAIN KINDS OF FRIENDS, THEY’D ALWAYS MAKE FUN OF PEOPLE...

“

D

uring the bad times, teenagers rely on their friends.

For comfort, reassurance, or just someone to vent to. But what happens when your friends are not helping the situation at all?

In fact, they could be making it worse. All they have to do is say the wrong thing.

However, they do not mean to hurt you. Their innocent comments are just that to them - innocent. No matter how insensitive you see the comment, they are most likely fully unaware of the effect their words have on you. They may not even be aware of the situation you are going through, so they really do not have any idea how it may hurt you.

Everyone knows about verbal abuse in the literal sense. The outright act of calling people names, making fun of them, or being just plain rude. However, unknowing verbal abuse is much harder to pick up on. By referencing a “worse” situation they are going through, belittling your situation, making subtle comments like “Man, you look terrible today,

did you get enough sleep?” or making observational comments that are meant to be compliments (but really aren’t), your friend could be hurting you with no intentions to.

Let’s be honest: we all make

- CAT REBELSKEY ’12

rude comments from time to time. We’re all human, we’re bound to upset someone. It’s when we do it over and over again without it being brought up that a real situation can occur.

So, how should this be dealt with? Honesty. Bring it up. Make it known. Communication is important in any type of relationship. Just by bringing it up, you could resolve all your problems. If “Once I was talking to a friend about how it would be really awful to be adopted...she was adopted.”

Kami Marcussen ‘15

KAITLYN’S FAVORITE ANIMAL IS THE PENGUIN.

you do confront your friend about it, remember they don’t mean to be insensitive, therefore, be kind, calm, and understanding when talking to them. Do not make them feel worse than they probably will after they realize what they have done. Snarky, sarcastic comebacks are always handy, as well, as long as you are not being rude. For example, if someone tells you that you do not look very good today, say “Thank you, I did not realize,” or something along those lines. Do not fight fire with fire.

Insensitive comments on top of a bad situation do nothing but make the sitatuon worse.If you’re scared you could make a comment that could hurt someone, think before you speak.Yes, that’s easier said than done, but in the long run, it may help your relationships with your friends. Just think through the implications your words could make. And if you ever make an insensitive comment, own up to it. Apologize.

That alone is enough to right your wrong.

ART BY// ERIN COOK

Michael Clement ‘15

“...they made a sexuality comment behind someone else’s back and they kept talking about how gay he was and how bad he is.”

“People have said ‘You run fast for how short your legs are!’”

Sofia Mendoza ‘15

PAGE DESIGN BY//PAYTON KNIGHT

PHOTO BY//PAYTON KNIGHT

Weightless

BY CHANDLER MYERS chandlermadison03@gmail.com

F

at. Twig. Obese. Anorexic.

Large. Small. This is more attractive than that, that is not cute, she is too big. A main issue in society today is you can never be just YOUR size.You have to be the “correct” weight to fit in, to not be called anorexic or obese.

You have to be a “normal” weight, because if you are not, you are going to be harassed about it for the rest of your life. The real question is: When is it going to stop? When is everyone going to realize that beauty or personality is not defined by how big your waist is or how small your pants are?

Maybe the guy who is on the bigger side eats his feelings because no one was nice to him in elementary school.

Maybe the really skinny girl is afraid to eat because her dad calls her fat? The problem with assuming someone’s life based on their weight is that you never 08 COVER

know what is going on with that person, so why can’t everyone understand who we are is plainly who WE ARE? Teenagers today are especially conscious about our body image. Why wouldn’t we be? We’re constantly judged for our weight, our peers look down on us if we aren’t the “right” size, and clothing stores seem to target at a specific weight.

Society today is unbelievably judgemental because when you are growing up, it teaches you that being different or being larger is “bad.” In pop culture, larger people are shown as being lazy, sloppy, dirty, annoying, stupid, and other negative things, whereas smaller people are portrayed as beautiful, friendly, and intelligent. See the problem?

Before you judge someone on their weight you might have to ask what IS normal? What is the “correct” weight?

The truth is, there is NO correct,

CHANDLER IS NOT A MORMON.

normal weight. Everyone’s body is different, and genetics play a huge role in an individual’s body type. So why must we strive for something that does not exist?

The thing everyone needs to understand is we are all beautiful. It doesn’t matter if you are a size 10 or a size 1, it doesn’t matter if you are the scrawniest bud in the group, it just doesn’t MATTER. The best answer to ending weight discrimination? Love yourself. Love your body.You are you, and you are perfect the way you are.

No one else is like you, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. By loving yourself fully, you turn off the haters who are judging you so they can feel better about themselves.

Be friends with who you want to be, be what you want to be, look like what you want to look like because in the scheme of this world, we are timepieces, and it is just too short to worry

about who your friends don’t like and what society deems as “normal.” We can’t spend life caring about other people think about us. What truly matters? What we think of ourselves. So love yourself. And remember: we are all wonderful, we are all worth it, and we are ALL weightless.

WWW.WSSPAPER.COM

Log on to watch “Weightless,” a video about positive self- . image.

PHOTO BY//CHANDLER MYERS

Meet Hannah Lidral ‘14

Have you ever been made fun of because of your weight?

“Yes, I have been made fun of for my weight/ appearance. starting around 5th grade and it still happens.... I used to fight back against the bullies.”

How so?

“I poisoned twinkies with mayonaise and hot sauce and offered them to the girls who were being mean to me in 5th grade, but then some other kid ate them and ended up throwing up.

So that kind [of] taught me violence is not the answer/ revenge isn’t what matters.”

What matters then?

What matters is finding ways to feel confident in who you are and the beauty that God gave you. Maybe it’s not the same beauty as others have, but it’s beauty all the same. For me, I’ve looked in all wrong places for acceptance and love, but through all that I have found love and respect for myself. I am beautiful, and I’m comforable with who I am and my appearance.

What other people say is just their opinion, and often people who say [negative] things feel insecure about themselves.”

PHOTO BY//CHANDLER MYERS

Meet Sid Singh ‘15

Have you ever been made fun of because of your weight or height?

“Yes, height.”

How so?

“People call me short everyday.”

Has you you been affected negatively because of this?

“No. I’ve learned to ignore it so it doesn’t really affect me much.”

And advice you’d give other s that have been bullied because of the way they look?

“Advice: Just move on, bro.You’ll get taller [laughs].

DID YOU KNOW?

- Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness

- Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders receive treatment - 95% of people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25

Source: South Carolina Department of Mental Health PAYTON KNOWS CHANDLER DOES NOT PARTY.

09 COVER

The Love Truth?

PAGE DESIGN BY//PAYTON KNIGHT

COMPILED BY// CHANDLER MYERS AND PAYTON KNIGHT

NeverShoutNever said it, (well., sang it) best when asking, “What is Love?” The Nerd Clusters decded to track down a few West High couples and question them about what they think love is and how they use it in their relationships.So, without further ado, The Love Truth. be this big show all the time. We both love HIS: each other for who we really are, we don’t Who?: Chase Briddle ‘13 have to hide ourselves at all.

Date survey was filled: 05/17/12 Q: What does love mean to you?

A: It means caring about a person with HERS: all your heart, willing to do anything to Who?: Alyssa Hancock ‘14 make them happy, and loving who they Date survey was filled: 05/17/12 really are.

Q: What does love mean to you?

Q: What is the best thing about your A: Never wanting to be without someone. relationship?

Always putting their needs before yours.

A: How we are such good friends. We can Q: What is the best thing about your just hang out and enjoy each others comrelationship? pany without needing to be all romantic A: We can be serious and still be able to every second. joke around, [smiles] I talk to him about Q: What is the worst thing? anything.

A: Being very jealous sometimes and not Q: What is the worst? being able to see each other every second A: I guess I get jealous pretty easy. of the day.

Q: What is something you wish you could Q: What is the longest relationship you’ve improve about your relationship? Why? been in?

A: Being able to talk more, about anything A: 6 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days and everything.

Q: What do you do in this relationship Q: What is the longest relationship you’ve that makes it much better? been in?

A: We enjoy the little things. We both love A: 6 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days the little things we do, it doesn’t have to PHOTO BY// CHANDLER MYERS

HIS:

Who?: Sam Asher ’14 Q: What does love mean to you?

A: Someone who is there for you, when others can’t be.

Q: What is the longest relationship you have been in?

A: This one, fourteen months.

Q: Best thing about your relationship?

A: She’s very understanding.

Q: Worst thing?

A: Not enough time together.

Q: What would you do to improve this relationship?

A: Anything I can.

PHOTO BY// KAITLYN MCCURDY

10 PROFILE

KAITLYN’S FAVORITE STORE IS FOREVER 21 AND SHE LOVES STARBUCKS.

HERS:

Who?: Tiffany Danger ’14 Q: What does love mean to you?

A: Love is being able to trust someone even if you’re not with them.

Q: What is the longest relationship you have been in?

A: Well, he’s my longest relationship (Fourteen months).

Q: Favorite thing about your relationship?

A: Best is being with him.

Q: Worst thing?

A: Worst is being stuck away from him.

Q: What scares you the most about relationships?

A: Fear about [the] end of the relationship. [Also] it is knowing that I won’t ever get to be around him in the same way.

PAGE DESIGN BY//CHANDLER MYERS

Chandler Myers ’15

What’s Eating You? If your significant other cheats on you when you two were together, does that give you the right to cheat?

Favorite Quote: “I became insane with long intervals of horrible sanity.” -Edgar Allan Poe Favorite Superhero: Spiderman (because I am him).

Favorite Dessert: Cookies & Brownies, and absolutely anything that deals with sugar, besides fondue. No one likes fondue....

I would say in all honestness, definitely not. I think if they would cheat on you, you shouldn’t be in that relationship. Because what if you two are dating but continually cheat on each other? You can’t have a happy-loving relationship that way. You need trust.If that person cheats on you, they will likely do it again, so why should they be with you in the first place? Just know that everyone deserves a happy relationship and that cheating in NOT appropriate in any relationship, and cheating to get back at your significant other is NOT going to make you any happier. #YOLO - You only love once.

; Kaitlyn McCurdy ’14

I have this friend who has changed dramatically, she is doing things that aren’t things that she would normally do. She doesn’t act like the person she was when I first became friends with her, do I stay friends with her? What should I do?

Favorite Quote: “Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living and above all those who live without love.” -J.K. Rowling Favorite Superhero: Iron Man (because he is B.A.).

Favorite Dessert: At the moment, chocolate chip ice cream. Next week it will be the confetti cake or ice cream cake. I don’t know, I can’t decide with sugar.

If you are sincerely concerned for your friend’s safety, there is nothing wrong with confronting your friend.

Be upfront and honest. If that doesn’t help, you can always contact her parents if you believe the situation is seriously out of control.Your friend could be going through an extremely tough time and she may just need a friend. However, if she’s doing what she’s doing just for attention or popularity, don’t feel bad about distancing yourself from her.

Payton Myers ’13 Why can’t guys and girls ever be friends without someone thinking they’re dating? My friend and I have been best friends since we were young, and everyone thinks we are dating. I don’t like him like that but no one believes me!

Favorite Quote: “All morons hate when you call them morons.” -J.D. Salinger Favorite Superhero: Batman (I AM BATMAN).

Favorite Dessert: Uhh, I don’t know.

Cookies. I don’t know, I just thought that would be fun to tell you. I don’t care, dessert is dessert, it is delicious either way.

I don’t think society will ever quite understand why guys can’t just be friends with girls or vice versa. I assume that the problem with us is that our generation is so dang sexually active. But take this society, BOYS AND GIRLS CAN JUST BE FRIENDS! My advice? If someone assumes more, just ignore it. I’m friends with mostly guys, not because I’m sexually active or physically attracted but because girls ANNOY me. If you’re a guy or a girl and would rather hang out with the opposite sex, embrace it! If you say you’re just friends, you’re just friends. Society need not know more.

CHANDLER’S BEST FRIEND IS JORDAN ROSSEN.

11

ADVICE

what’s

PAGE DESIGN BY//KAITLYN MCCURDY

HOT in high

Hunger

Games

Harry P

otter

Step Brothers

school?

*This survey polled 111 students from West High, grades 9 through 12. Only the most common answers are given!

COMPILED BY// KAITLYN MCCURDY GRAPHICS BY// KAITLYN MCCURDY SOME CLIP ART USED WITH PERMISSION FROM ICLIPART.COM

iPod

ts Spor r Cente

10:32 PM

1. Lil Wayne 2. Wiz Khalifa 3. One Direction

ng Big Ba Theory

s me Ga r ge un er ye e H Pott the R Th y 1. arr er in 2. H atch 3. C

12 FEATURE

PAYTON HAS A CAT NAMED NEMO. AND THEY ARE “DATING.”

Jersey Shore

Hanging out with

1. Channing Tatum 2. Will Ferrel 3. Will Smith

SCHEELS

friends

SOCCER

1. Sandra Bullock 2. Megan Fox 3. Angelina Jolie

WAL-MART

forever21

KAITLYN FINALLY FINISHED AP EUROPEAN HISTORY.

13 FEATURE

We Got Opinions

PAGE DESIGN BY//KAITLYN MCCURDY

When We Were Young When we were kids; pot meant something you put your plants in, and sex meant gender. Lately, thirteen and fourteen year olds are exclaiming about how much sex and drugs (and weed, since everyone gets so angry when others classify it as a drug).So, the bigger question isn’t why they’re doing it, or when it became cooler than barbie dolls and video games, it’s; where did it all go wrong and when did everyone decide THIS was cool?

Back when we were thirteen and awkward, the estimated year being 2008, www.Guttmacher.org found that there were ‘sixty-eight pregnancies out of one-thousand women between the ages of fifteen and nineteen.’ That rate was a record low and a decline of 42 percent from the peak in 1990.

Since 2009, teen pot usage has been on the rise. According to the

University of Michigan, in 2009, 12 percent of eighth graders, 27 percent of tenth graders, and one-third of twelfth graders were doing pot.

Since then the rate for each grade has increased.

The New York Times reported that about 11,000 people die due to drunk driving.

At the tender age of 13, we figure kids would be worrying about the impending doom of high school, and friend drama. Or, at least, that’s what we worried about. 5 is the new 7, 10 is the new 13, 14 is the new 17, and 18 is the new 22. What happened to enjoying life? What happened to being young? Here we are, worrying about about how fast we are already growing up, with cars and bills and jobs and now insurance. And here are these young kids, just throwing their youth away.

Supposedly, since kids are seeing all the adults do adult-like things, that’s what causing them to try to grow up.

However, we also blame the media.

Shows like Teen Mom, Skins, and sometimes, even Glee glorify things like teen pregnancy, drugs, alcohol, and sex. And they are all shows geared to younger generations. Watching shows like that could cause young kids to think they need to do it, too.

Where are the parents in this? We can’t help but wonder if they are totally oblivious to what’s going on, or if they just purposefully avoid the situation at hand. It’s the parents who should be monitoring their younger kids, and we question whether they are actually paying attention now-adays.

Hi Kids. HELLO KIDS. Wake up and smell your mother’s perfume and realize YOU’RE STILL A KID, please.

Are kids growing up too fast in the modern world?

3-0

The NC board voted that, yes, kids are growing up WAY too fast.

2012

EDITORIAL BOARD Chandler Myers Payton “Batman” Knight Kaitlyn McCurdy

Ring Around the Bubonic Plague..? which brings us back to all of us ‘falling down.’ Ring Around the Rosie was actually written about the Black Death and the Great Plague. Let’s look at it bit by bit;

BY PAYTON KNIGHT

paytonm0904@gmail.com Good ol’ nursery rhymes; Jack and Jill, Three Blind Mice, The London Bridge, and Ring Around the Rosie (Rosy? Rosey?...I don’t know.) Just a few examples of songs you’d sing during your elementary school days.

BUT! There are alternative meanings to this; ‘fetch a pail of water,’ or ‘we all fall down’ business. Now you may be asking, “Payton! What do you mean by this crazy talk! Alternative meanings to a pretty straight forward message?

You’re insane!” Ah, I am, but seriously, there are. Some of these tunes date back to the 1700’s, which is when Europe was facing serious health issues, 14 OPINION

“Ring around the rosie.” -The first sign of the plague, a red mark.

“A pocket full of posies” -Refers to the herb that people usually carried to ward off the plague.

“Ashes, ashes.” -The words said in funeral mass, “Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust.”

“We all fall down!” -We’re all dead.

The plague didn’t care about your age or social standard.You got it, you got it.

Now, of course not all of the nursery rhymes are like that, but if you take a look at ‘There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe.’ Some people speculate over whether or not this meant that she starved her children, and beat them.

CHANDLER’S NEW BEST FRIEND IS FRANK WEIRICH.

Obviously, I can’t make the decision for what you readers think, so you’re on your own. “Jack and Jill” talks about two kids going to “fetch a pail of water.” We all know how the story ends, Jack falls down and “broke his crown” and Jill came “tumbling after.” I mean, come on. I searched meanings, the nursery rhyme means that he fell down and hit his head. That would leave a serious concussion, especially if your sister came tumbling down after you.

Apparently the REAL meaning behind Jack and Jill is about Louis the VII and Marie Antoinette. Louis ‘lost his crown’ when he came tumbling down (being beheaded), and Marie Antoinette came down after, because she was also beheaded. Have you convinced yet? No? There are plenty more.

“Rockabye-Baby” is a rhyme about a child put into a ‘cradle’ on a tree branch. Now, I’m not exactly sure on why these insane parents put their kid in such a dangerous position but they did. As you continue on they basically say that the wind is going to ‘rock’ the

cradle and eventually the cradle will fall.Yeah, so... a baby falling from a tree branch? That can’t possibly be what we read in kindergarten. OHOH! It is.

Feel pretty bad now, huh?

There’s obviously more I could point out and talk about, but here’s where I’m getting at, when you’re young, you’re naive, you’re oblivious to the things around you. The nursery rhymes that you’ll pass onto your children in the far and distant future are most likely going to be the ones you sang down on the playground during recess. Whether or not you knew about the alternative means before this, or are just finding out that your childhood is a lie, you know now. And you may or may not choose to pass these onto your kids, obviously it’s your choice. But, chances are they’re going to find out one way or another, just like you, I mean “we all fall down” sometime., right?

Crazy Fangirls

BY KAITLYN MCCURDY

kaitlynemccurdy@gmail.com Some teenage girls and their love for male musicians really scare me, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. If that can be a nice comment.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a fan of a lot of bands and musicians. And I will admit that, yes, I do like to watch interviews with them, read about them in magazines, talk about them with friends, etcetera. I am a teenage girl, after all, and I’ve surrounded myself with a group of friends who don’t judge me for my weirdness. In fact, some of them join me in my obsessing.

I’m fully aware of the hot guy artists right now, especially Justin Bieber and

One Direction. I’m also fully aware that Bieber and two of the members of One Direction are in relationships.

And that’s where the scare factor comes in.

The amount of time teenage girls spend investigating the boys’ relationship statuses is outrageous. I mean, really, you’ve never met the poor guy and you’re planning your marriage?

Sure, I’ll admit, seeing candids of Bieber and Selena makes me smile because they really are adorable, but I’ve never in my life threatened her for dating him. And that was a huge thing when they first confirmed their relationship. Death threats. In October 2011, Selena received a death threat that caused the LAPD’s Threat Management Unit to investigate the case. She ended up getting a restraining order. That’s just ridiculous. Is it really necessary? You really want to waste your time sending death threats to a person you’ve never met and who has done absolutely nothing to hurt you besides date “the love of your life?” Okay then.

I have the utmost respect for the majority of One Direction fans. Well, at least the fans that are not in love with Harry Styles. Because, really, his fans are just as bad as Bieber’s with their death threats to girls that he is not even dating. Styles has even been urged to stay single by the band’s management. Nice one, girls, let’s take away small form of “normal” he has in his life. But the fans of the actually taken boys, Louis and Liam, are totally cool with the boys’ girlfriends, and that’s absolutely refreshing. They wave at the girls rather than yell at them. Which is awesome, because who wants to be yelled at by a group of people you do not even know?

While yes, the fans are a little odd in other ways, it’s nice knowing they are mature enough to deal with them being in relationships. Which is funny, since most of their fans are younger teens, just like Bieber’s. How strange.

Maybe it’s because One Direction is British, and being British just seems to come with awesomeness.

It’s just astonishing how invested

teenage girls are into relationships of people they haven’t met. And if they have met them, it was for a fleeting couple of seconds, maybe minutes, and I highly doubt it was a ridiculously memorable meeting, sorry girls.

So, please, teenage girls, think before you act. These boys may not even know your name, yet you are dictating their life for them. And their girlfriends or just girls they have been connected to? They are humans. They have feelings. They do not like hate just as much as you do not. If you have nothing nice to say, do not say it at all. And don’t call yourself a fan if you can’t respect the decisions of your “future husband.” Thank you.

LMFAO, Stupid and I Know It

BY CHANDLER MYERS

chandlermadison03@gmail.com

I’ve noticed that generations of kids are getting “smarter” and more “mature” considering the things they see/hear/talk about. I say this in the most sarcastic tone, of course because I cannot stress enough how immature young kids act. Though, the case and point I’d like to make is... why? Why are kids so hell-bent on acting like they are 47? Why do they say things and do things that are beyond their age groups? In my younger years I knew nothing about sex, orientation, or even dared say those “naughty” words.

More importantly why are 25 year old

television actors/ internet sensations/ role models acting like they are children? They talk about things that are so blatantly immature and so awful, that you shouldn’t be able to call it “music” or “t.v” because they are basically nonsense about topics that aren’t appropriate to ANY audience.

The underlying cause (in my personal opinion) is the media. Music, Internet, and TV Reality Shows subjects the audience to watch/hear/talk about things that aren’t really appropriate for any age group. Musical lyrics have no value anymore and create an insufficient vocabulary to the younger audience. Television shows like Jersey Shore idolize drinking, drugs, and partying. The Internet is an open road into the world of porn, horrible language, and the lifelong adventure of drama, so why is everyone using these technological advances to spread the word about sex, foul language, and the “party” life?

Now, don’t misquote me. I love Facebook, television, and my share of

music but when you’re talking about All I am saying is people need to drinking and partying and you show learn how to be modest and enjoy the that that is how you should LIVE your younger years because soon you can LIFE (#YOLO), that isn’t good for say those non-seven-year-old words young children to watch and live like. while paying your bills. Until then...

Or what about the people mature My Barbies are for sale.... enought to understand what is going on? I can probably guess the majority don’t appreciate it. Lastly, what about the artists of today who are vocalizing that they are “sexy and you know it”?

Not only is that ridiulous because I have no idea what he/she looks like, it also adds no morality or value towards my life. The audience is YOUNG or worse they are OLDER, therefore who really cares how sexy you are?

I sure as hell don’t.

Just a couple of weeks ago, my boyfriend’s younger brother was sharing his infamous obsession with LMFAO, Blue- Bad music in this generation and was quoting lyrics. He was SEVEN Red- Good music. and let me tell you the words he was quoting weren’t for seven year olds, let alone me. (-Insert nightmares here-) At age seven, I was playing with Barbies and enjoying playing outside.

PAYTON’S NEW BEST FRIEND IS LUSHIA ANSON.

15 OPINION

AVENGER RELATIONSHIP

PAGE DESIGN BY// CHANDLER MYERS

COMPILED BY// CHANDLER MYERS

The Rules: 3 Letters (A, B, and C). At the end of the test, use the key to see if you have mostly 1’s, 2’s, or 3’s. Whichever one is the most will tell you who is your “Avenger.”

GIRLS: The test indicates your “Avenger match.”

BOYS: The test shows what “Avenger” YOU are.

1. What characteristic is most important in a relationship:

A. Experiencing everything you can in the shortest amount of time

B. Intellectual and stimulating conversations

C. Building a successful future 2. How would you prefer your first date:

A. Doing cartwheels and handstands in the moonlight

B. Jet set to a secluded island

C. An exclusive VIP club/party 3. What food most appeals to you:

A. Most expensive dish on the menu

B. Something new everyday

C. Favorite home cooked meal 4. Favorite genres of movies:

A. There are better things to do than watch movies!

B. Science Fiction or Comedy

C. Romance or Mystery/Suspense

ART BY//ERIN COOK

Favorite superhero and why?

Alyssa Hancock ‘14 “The Hulk because I think he is very funny and he makes me very happy inside to look at his face.”

5. What type of friend is the best type of friend:

A. Loyal and Fearless

B. An adventurous risk-taker

C. Interesting and Successful 6. What type of occupation is the most fullfilling:

A. Creating

B. Saving lives

C. Anything that holds my interest for the moment

Caleb Teager ‘15 “I would have to say definitely Batman because he is B.A. and does everything without super powers.”

7. What best describes the perfect outlook on life:

A. Freedom

B. Optimism

C. Security 8. What motto is most significant:

A. “Necessity is the mother of invention”

B. “Carpe Diem” (Seize the day)

C. “Fight for what’s right” KEY Question 1: a-3, b-1, c-2 Question 2: a-1, b-2, c-3 Question 3: a-2, b-3, c-1 Question 4: a-3, b-2, c-1 Question 5: a-1, b-3, c-2 Question 6: a-2, b-1, c-3 Question 7: a-3, b-1, c-2 Question 8: a-2, b-3, c-1

Mr. Jespersen “Spiderman because I always liked him.

Caroline Found was always fond of Spiderman and I have that connection to her.”

MOSTLY 1’s MOSTLY 2’s MOSTLY 3’s CAPTAIN AMERICA IRON MAN THOR

Isaiah Johnson ‘15 “Batman, because he has a lot of money.”

You want a sacrificial and meaningful relationship that

You want a financially secure relationship and also be taken

You want a FUN relatioship with parties and no

is loving and romantic.

care of without the worry.

hassle. What’s the rush?