IHSA Drama Competition 2011

On March 19, Westminster Christian School participated for the first time in the annual IHSA Drama and Group Interpretation Competition.

This year the students involved in Drama Club competed with the play "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest." In order to compete the play had to be one act and less than forty minutes long.

Drama Club began practicing at the beginning of the semester about two times a week. On Saturday after weeks of practice the group went to compete against six other teams. The competition was located at St. Charles North High School and started at 6:30 in the morning. Right at 6:30 the teams were each given fifteen minutes to unload their sets and props into a designated area in the backstage. Unlike many of the other schools, Westminster had a very minimal set and few props.

After unloading the cars, the team headed inside to a classroom where they had time to unwind and rehearse their lines. Westminster’s team was the third to go. So after catching a glimpse of the first two performances the cast got ready with hair and makeup.

With a half an hour before the performance the Drama Club was timed once more to set the stage and get some feeling for the size and timing. Once back in the green room the cast prepared themselves, and then the show began. The cast performed in the main auditorium in front of a few judges and anyone else who wanted to view the show.

After the performance the cast took down the stage and talked about what had just occurred. At the end of the day the Drama Clubs One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest placed fourth. Congratulations to the Drama Club on a job well done!

By Allie Sleeting

World-Wide Events Affect Local Gas Prices

As the tensions in the Middle East and Libya increase, American gas prices have also been increasing. This is mainly caused by the fact that the United States receives some of its oil supply from these areas.

"Gas prices will start to come down as soon as we've got this fiasco in Libya sorted out," assures Roger McKnight, a senior petroleum adviser with Oshawa, Ont.,-based En-Pro International.
If you’ve been paying attention these last couple of months, you may have noticed that the price of at-the-pump gasoline has risen to around $3.65 a gallon. This is about $0.50 more than it was at the beginning of January. Such a high price is actually quite unusual around this time of year. For those of us living in Illinois, just be glad our prices aren’t as high as California’s, which reach over $3.86 at the moment.
Anyone who owns a car is surely affected by this price increase, but as spring rolls around, there may be alternatives to driving. In order to save money, try riding a bike to your next destination. If the ride is short enough, you could even try walking or running.

By Brittany Booth

Japan’s Miracle Baby

On March 14, Japanese soldiers went door to door in Ishinomaki, pulling bodies from houses that had been flattened by the earthquake and tsunami. Suddenly, they heard a baby's cry and met a miracle.

Soldiers made their way to a pile of debris and carefully removed wood, shattered glass, and rock; there they saw a 4-month-old baby girl in a pink woolen bear suit. When the tsunami hit Japan on March 11, it swept the baby from her parents' arms. The parents thought that their daughter was dead.

Soldiers managed to bring the baby to her father, who looked like the happiest man in the world. How the baby girl survived drowning continues to remain a mystery.

"Her discovery has put a new energy into the search," a civil defense official told a local news crew. "We will listen, look and dig with even more diligence after this."

Another miracle rescue occurred in Iwate, as a 70 year old women insider her house was found. Even though the tidal wave swept her away with her house, she survived and was found on March 15, four days after the wave. Osaka fire department said that she is receiving treatment at a local hospital since she is suffering from hypothermia.

These miraculous rescue stories give hope to the Japanese, who are in a panic after the disaster occurred two weeks ago. Experts are saying that now is the time to start recovering from earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear radiation.

By Yoha Lee

Senioritis: And not only for the seniors

There are only two months left of school for seniors, and the senioritis has never been so bad.

Teachers have begun to notice the slack increasing and that motivation is going downhill. How are teachers supposed to keep the attention of the spacing minds of their students?

I mean, honestly, at this point for seniors we know where we’re going and we’ve been accepted. Literally, the only motivation that keeps us going is that we have to have a minimum of an 83 percent in our classes in order to not take finals. The end of the year is around the corner, and we’re just going through the long haul.

What can we, as students, do in the meantime to pass the time? Perhaps, sit back and enjoy this high school work, because, from what I’ve heard, college gets much tougher academically. 

Also, enjoy the sports you play now, because you may not get as much playing time in college as you have now.

But most of all enjoy your peers. The chance of having the student body together again is something that will most likely not happen. Your class is probably never going to be in the same place again. Even though we’re all dying for a different environment, one day you’ll look back and wish this whole experience would repeat itself.

By Anais Tabor

Libya

Over the weekend, the United States and Britain sent missiles to Libya in order to clear the airway so planes near the area could fly and land safely.

However, Obama says that he doesn’t want to get involved in the riots over there with the rebels. He claims that he won’t be sending any troops in that direction.

It doesn’t make sense that he would launch missiles over to Libya and expect the rebels to not retaliate. Libya probably does not have the resources or money to get back at us right now.  But who’s to say that they won’t try once they get their hands on supplies?

Whether or not he planned on getting too involved in their war, we’re risking it by sending our missiles there. It is not any of our business and the last thing the United States needs is to have tension in another country. Our country does not have the money for more conflicts, either.

Also, Obama stated that he feels bad for the civilians of Libya because they are being horribly mistreated by the rebels. Yes, that is very unfortunate; but it is not our fault that they cannot control their people and we have no right to be doing something about it.

Helping out the civilians is definitely a nice thing to do, but, at the same time, we should be putting our country and our citizens before others and now we might be getting ourselves into something that we should not be in.

By Kelly Beecher

Welcoming the First Day of Spring

The day many of us have been waiting for has finally arrived-- the first day of spring! The first day of spring brings the thoughts of Easter, Spring Break, warm weather, and the anticipation of summer vacation. 
          
As spring break inches closer, students are overwhelmed with homework and tests as the teachers do their best to try and not to give us homework over the long break.  Talk of vacations to Hawaii or Florida can be heard all throughout the school.  Everyone wants to escape from this cooler and rainy weather to warm, sunny weather. 
           
However, as the days go by the weather gets nicer.  Looking around you begin to see people in shorts and flip-flops, a sight that clearly displays the weather warming up.  After a long and snowy winter people of all ages are ready for the sun to shine bright and warm the earth.
           
With spring comes Easter.  Children of many ages become filled with excitement as Easter approaches, wondering what the Easter Bunny will bring them this year. Christians become filled with joy as they are reminded of the wonderful act of God-- sending his one and only son to die on the cross only to be risen again for all people. 
           
The anticipation of summer comes along with spring as well.  We are one season closer to being out of school and the seniors are closer to graduating.  People are excited for vacations, hanging with friends and for students, no homework.
          
The first day of spring brings many thoughts to our minds and keeps us all anticipating what is to come for next few months ahead.  Whether it is vacations, having long breaks off of school or celebrating Easter, people are all welcoming the season of spring.

By: Elizabeth Farwell

Gas Prices Continue to Rise
   
Each week, the price for gas increases. It is predicted to hit $4 within the next few weeks. The earthquake in Japan has nothing to do with it. High gas prices are being driven by anxiety over the ongoing instability in the Middle East and North Africa, where regimes are being threatened and toppled. The civil war in Libya and discontent with the Saudi Arabian monarchy are the main drivers for oil price volatility, which is the main culprit behind the price rising of gas. In Norway, however, the price for gas is $9.01. That's more than double the U.S.
   
The price increase has also affected businesses. “I’m trying to figure out ways to make up for that extra money I’m having to spend,” said John Turner, owner of the Fort Thomas-based Turner Lawn & Landscaping. “The last thing I want to do is raise my prices.”
   
There are seven basic reasons why it's possible that gas prices will hit $5: big oil needs expensive gas to survive, the OPEC, or Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, wants expensive oil, common supply problems, former big oil exec, John Hofmeister, along with green energy icon, T. Boone Pickens says so, a healthier economy, and continuing inflation.
 
Local small-time businesses, such as grocery stores, have had to mark up prices due to the gas rise. Nationwide, gas prices are approximately $2.80, and rising. But since Sunday, the price has gone up over 32 cents. Crude oil, which is priced in dollars, becomes cheaper for buyers using stronger currencies. That lifts oil prices, which trickle down to higher gasoline prices.

The USA's gasoline refineries are operating at a lower capacity as many undertake routine maintenance. As of the end of last month, the nation's refineries were operating at 83.1 percent capacity, the lowest rate of use since the end of March. Experts say that when the prices for gas will hit its all time high, the demand for it will have already ceased.
By: Becky Welc

Wills, Superlatives, and More

As students here at WCS begin the final quarter of this school year, the seniors are constantly being reminded of the short time they have left. A few weeks ago, each senior was handed an “end of the year” schedule. This included the dates for our ditch day, senior chapel, and graduation. On this sheet we were also asked to fill out specific information about ourselves such as our favorite Bible verse, what we plan to do in our future, and who we would like to give our senior blessing.
           
Last week, each senior was given another packet similar to the first. Unlike the first, however, this packet was interesting and fun to fill out. Something that almost every senior student looks forward to is filling out their “will.” These wills are simply lists of items, attributes, and other things that seniors wish to figuratively leave behind to certain non-seniors. These wills eventually appear in the yearbook for all to see.
           
The other section of this senior packet was filled with superlatives. In case you don’t know, superlative ultimately means the most or best of something. Thus, seniors were able to write down, and essentially vote on, who they think is the most likely to do/be something, or who has/is the best in some category. For example, one would vote on who they thought happened to be the funniest senior or who was perhaps the most likely to become president.
           
Be sure to pick up the yearbook when it comes out so you can see who was voted to be in each category. Some of them are quite funny as well. Also, for all you under-classmen, don’t forget to read the wills; you might’ve gotten something special.

By Brittany Booth

WCS baseball starts off with a win

ELGIN — Westminster Christian began its 2011 campaign the same way it finished last season: With a win.
The reigning Class 1A state champions combined timely hitting with solid pitching performances from junior standouts Ryan Perez and Kevin Elder and came away with a 7-1 non-conference victory against Genoa-Kingston on Friday.
Perez (1-0) started and tossed four shutout innings, alternating between his left and right hand every other batter. He struck out five, walked none and allowed one hit before giving way to Elder, who struck out eight and allowed one run on two hits in his three innings of work.
It was a promising start for the Warriors, who in addition to having an enlarged target on their backs after last year’s success also face the challenge of moving up to Class 2A for the first time thanks to an increase in enrollment.
“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, we’ve just got to come out and play our game just like we did last year,” Elder said. “We’re going to always play hard and try to come out with the victory.”
Added Perez: “We’ve got to work on some stuff, but overall we’re solid all around. Our pitching was good and our defense was good today. I personally seemed to have a lot more pop with my right hand, but both hands felt pretty good.”
It was a nip-and-tuck affair early as both teams managed only one base runner the first time through the batting order. Westminster’s offense finally came alive with two outs in the bottom of the third when Perez and Dylan Scully reached on back-to-back singles and came around to score on Elder’s two-run double.
The Warriors broke the game open in the fourth with five runs off Cogs starter Austin Lancaste. Will Woodhouse had an RBI sacrifice fly, Andrew Mason added an RBI single, Perez drove in a run with a groundout to third and Scully delivered a two-run single as Westminster batted around during the inning while pushing its lead to 7-0.
“I figured the second time through the lineup we would hit the ball,” Westminster coach Jeff Moeller said. “The first time around everyone was nervous and anxious, you know how that is. The second time around guys started seeing the ball real well.”
G-K’s only run came in the top of the sixth when Matt Rasmussen led off with a triple to straightaway center and scored two batters later on Matt Comparone’s RBI groundout.
It was the first taste of defeat for the Cogs (2-1), who were playing for the third day in a row. First-year G-K coach Josh Latimer thought his team was a little rattled after Westminster took the lead, and some shaky defense by the Cogs helped lead to the five-run fourth for the Warriors.
“When you’re playing a good team like the defending Class 1A state champions, if you give them an opportunity to put up a run it does a little bit to you mentally,” Latimer said. “It affected our kids. That’s something we’re going to continue to work on and continue to get better at, but it hurt us today.”
Lancaste (0-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out one before being lifted with no outs in the fifth.
Scully and junior transfer Tyler Greene both went 2-for-3 to lead Westminster at the plate.

-Courier News Erik Jacobson

The Perfect Prom Dress

Prom season is just around the corner and with that, girls scrambling to buy their dresses.

But, have you seen the prices on some of them! Last time I checked prom was more of a fun occasion with a “hot date” and friends, not a teenage disguised wedding day that would break the bank. With the economy plunge there is no denying that dresses will be even harder to afford. Not to mention how fast they get bought up.

So I guess the direction this is going, is that dress shopping for prom keeps getting increasingly stressful. The pressure of picking the perfect dress is another emotional strain that is thrown on us girls.

Sure, the guys have to get tuxedos and dress up, but when you think about how stressed girls already are, (except for calm ones who I am increasingly jealous of) the stress of prom and picking THE DRESS can almost start to play mind tricks on you.

I know a girl who went off the deep end because she had a white dress and her boyfriend said it looked like a wedding dress. White is too attached to saying vows, orange is ugly, yellow makes you look like lemon, blue is overdone--what is a girl to do!

No matter how many "Teen Vogue"s you read cover to cover, it still is nerve racking. So in my opinion, with the prom season approaching and dress shopping starting to go underway, I would say that it’s important to remember how girls feel and cut them some slack on dress selections.

By Taylor DePola

Detected Escalation in Natural Disasters

With a seemingly high rise in recent natural disasters, many wonder if the events are linked.

In just six months Christchurch, New Zealand has been hit by 2 earthquakes, Brisbane has been flooded, Japan has been hit by one of the biggest earthquakes in history, and as a result tsunamis could be on their way to various countries.
Reports have shown that the natural disasters are up from 120 in 1980 to more than 400 in 2007. According to the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) there were 385 disasters from 2000 to 2009 alone.CRED Director Debarati Guha-Sapir noted, “The number of events have gone up very, very dramatically.”

Although the increase is apparent, the reason and explanation remains bleak. Some have tried to point the growth to climate changes. "Have climate-related disasters increased? The answer is yes," Sapir said, adding, "But it is not clear that climate change itself is an important factor."

Sapir said that CRED lacked sufficient research to determine the role of global warming in the increase in climate-related natural disasters.Others have even questioned if the amount of natural disasters have increased, or if just the amount of reports has increased.Charles Mandeville, a volcanologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, believes the increase is not a result of the planet. He believes, rather, that the rise is the result of better monitoring and reporting of natural disasters.

Some Christians are linking the escalation of natural catastrophes to the end of times. Matthew 24:7 says, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places.”

The increase of natural disasters is perhaps undeniable, but the cause remains uncertain.

By Ellie Fink

X Factor

 Have you ever wanted to be recognized for your talent? Can you juggle? Can you hula-hoop and pick your nose with your tongue at the same time? Perhaps your talents aren't recognized all the time, but this is your opportunity to shine. Finally a talent show for all talents, not just singing and dancing has been produced by Simon Cowell. Sure he may be a bit on the tough and rude, but this is your chance Chicago! Registration for this wonderful opportunity is on April 26th while the actual auditions are the following day. There is no doubt in my mind that there will be massive lines outside the Sears Center building the night before. The anticipation of this event is high and people are already discussing what to do and how to present it. Registration opens up at 6 a.m. and I'm sure people will be registering even sooner than that. There are a few forms to fill out if you wish to try out, especially if under the age of eighteen seeing that you’re a minor.

Don't let fear conquer you on your quest for fame. Go, tryout, and make Chicago proud when you win! Good luck to all!

By Anais Tabor

Nuclear Power Plants

As we all know by now Japan has suffered a series of terrible disasters in the past week. Japan's nuclear crisis deepened dramatically Tuesday. As safety officials sought desperately to avert catastrophe the government said radioactive material leaking from reactors was enough to "impact human health" and the risk of more leaks was "very high." In a nationally televised statement Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that radiation has spread from four reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Fukushima province that was hit the hardest in Friday's 9.0 magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami. He urged anyone within 30 kilometers (19 miles) of the plant to stay indoors or risk getting radiation sickness. A cascade of three explosions at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex was set in motion when last Friday's earthquake and tsunami knocked out power, crippling the cooling systems needed to keep nuclear fuel from going into full meltdown.
The latest blast was early Tuesday in the plant's Unit 2 near a suppression pool which removes heat under a reactor vessel plant. Shigekazu Omukai, a spokesman for Japan's nuclear safety agency, said the nuclear core was not damaged but the bottom of the surrounding container may have been. Japanese officials had previously said radiation levels at the plant were within safe limits and international scientists said that while there were serious dangers, there was little risk of a catastrophe like Chernobyl in Ukraine where the reactor exploded and released a radiation cloud over much of Europe. Unlike the plant in Japan, the Chernobyl reactor was not housed in a sealed container to prevent the release of radiation. Let us all hope, but more importantly pray, for the people in Japan and that they will get through this terrible disaster.

Gregory T. Benson

Time to Get Out and Run

Now that the weather is getting warmer, many people can begin doing outdoor activities that they couldn’t do during the winter. Running outside is a major activity that many people were deprived of during the cold weather because of the ice and low temperatures. Some committed runners, however, didn’t think twice about going out for a jog, but a lot were certainly stuck at the gym on the treadmill.
               
Spring sports such as track and field, soccer, baseball, and softball are also starting up. The passionate athletes of these sports have been waiting so long for this season to come again. Getting outside, breathing fresh air, and a little bit of sunshine is all it takes for people to get over that Seasonal Affective Disorder caused by the dullness of winter. Bicyclists are also very excited about the warmer temperatures, since, bike riding in the ice and slush would not only be cold, but very dangerous.
              
Local parks will soon be crowded with energetic children anxious to play. The swings are my personal favorite part of going to the park. The playground just is not the same with snow covering it. Sure, sledding is a plus, but how can the average kid play lava monsters when he can’t even get off of the woodchips because there’s a foot and a half of frozen snow on the ground? It’s definitely not possible. It is also difficult to climb trees without traction. Ice makes it so easy for one to lose their grip of a branch and fall ten feet to the ground. These activities just can’t happen during the cold months, good thing its spring!

By Kelly Beecher

Disaster in Japan

"People feel safer just by buying Cup Noodles," said Tomonao Matsuo, spokesman for instant noodle maker Nissin Foods. Canned goods, batteries, bread and bottled water have vanished from store shelves in Japan after last week's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis that caused panic-buying.

The earthquake and tsunami that slammed Japan last Friday will likely be the most expensive disaster in history, replacing Hurricane Katrina. Even though Japan’s wealth and preparations for earthquakes saved many lives, nearly 3,400 were dead as of Tuesday morning, with nearly 7,000 more still missing and nearly a half-million in shelters due to both damage to their homes and the risks of meltdowns at nuclear reactors damaged by the disaster. The economic losses in Japan will be huge, with likely only a fraction of the losses covered by insurance.

Japan’s eastern coast got one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded, which caused a ferocious tsunami and dangerous levels of radiation leaking from a crippled nuclear plant. The magnitude of the offshore quake was 8.9 which then caused a 23 feet tsunami and was followed by more than 50 aftershocks for hours, many of them with a magnitude 6.0. Hours after Japan’s quake, a tsunami hit Hawaii and warnings spread across the Pacific, putting areas on alert as far away as South America, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast. The results across the Pacific were horrendous, in one northeastern coastal city, Sendai, for example, Police said 200 to 300 bodies were found, 88 were confirmed killed and at least 349 were missing. A large section of Kesennuma, a town of 70,000 people in Miyagi, burned furiously into the night with no apparent hope of the flames being extinguished. 
The nuclear plant is another big problem. Prime Minister Naoto Kan said radiation had spread from the four stricken reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant along Japan's northeastern coast. A lot of people had to leave town and are under a big fear about getting ill.

The earthquake was much more powerful than what the majority of people expected. Scientists said that earthquake and tsunami in Japan has actually moved the island closer to the United States and shifted the planet's axis. The earthquake occurred when the Pacific tectonic plate dove under the North American plate, which shifted Eastern Japan towards North America by about 13 feet. It also shifted the earth's axis by 6.5 inches, shortened the day by 1.6 microseconds, and sank Japan downward by about two feet.

After long economic recession, Japan was finally starting to get better. If Japan’s economy gets worse because of this earthquake, it is not only bad for the country, with the third largest economy market, but will also affect the whole entire world. Moreover, a lot of people are dying there. It is the very time when this country needs help from the world.

By Yoha Lee

GAGA

Lady Gaga has never ceases to amaze. Ever since she has been in the spotlight, she has been the topic of many conversations. She is a woman who’s outspoken for gay rights and someone who isn’t afraid of standing out; in fact she prides herself on it.

Gaga’s real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, and was born in New York City, which is where she possibly got all of her wild fashion craves. She is known for various “stunts” including her song, “Born This Way,” her meat costume, and an egg that she lived in for three days before showing up to the Grammy’s. 

Gaga has captured many fans by the heart strings and she was named number seven in the influential women on Forbes list. Gaga is known as a singer, dancer, record producer, and an activist. She uses her fame to get various messages across the board and uses her songs to reach out and touch the hearts of her listeners. A perfect example of her dedication to her passion is when she gave a speech at the National Equality March on October 11, 2009. She also donated sufficient funds to help Haiti relief funds following her Monster Ball tour in 2010.

Though we may not agree with things Gaga is so passionate about, we cannot deny that she holds heavy influence to her listeners and she is doing things that are benefiting different people in society without discrimination.

By Anais Tabot

World news recap

Col. Gaddafi of Libya and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela are two of the most powerful leaders in the world today. They have influenced each other in their viewpoints and politics, as well as in Gaddafi’s plan of action for Libya. Their relationship has been one to which close attention has been paid, especially during the past month of extreme violence in Libya.

Within weeks, Libya has gone from being a nation of relative peace and prosperity to a war-torn nation whose government ceases to protect and instead destroys. Gaddafi has been a tyrant to his nation, a power-hungry fiend who has fed on the lives of innocent protesters, fighting for the freedom they deserve. Yet throughout Gaddafi’s reign of terror, Chavez has given him his full support. He has even gone as far as to say, “Reports that Gaddafi bombed Tripoli and attacked civilians were lies hatched up by the media.”

According to Juan Forero, writer for NPR, “…He [Chavez] warned that the United States — 'the Empire,' as he calls it — was about to invade to seize Libya's oil. He took the stand with his alliance of small leftist countries, including Nicaragua and Cuba. 'We demand the United States respect the people of Libya,' Chavez said. 'No to the imperialist intervention of Libya. No to an imperialist war for oil.' Chavez also said Gaddafi would never turn and run — that he is going to stay and die fighting if he has to.”
 
The relationship built between Gaddafi and Chavez runs deep. According to Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington, D.C., “There's a common bond of anti-U.S. sentiment. There is this sense of standing up to the superpower, which is the United States, and that has created some sort of solidarity.”

It is apparent that both Gaddafi and Chavez intend to work together to further their cause, which, so far, has resulted in the death of thousands of civilian protesters. Hopefully, Chavez will withdraw his support of this tyrant and learn a lesson from the scorn Gaddafi has received from the rest of the world for his atrocious actions.

By: Anne Lehan

Chapel recap

This week in chapel, Mr. Engle spoke on Galatians 5:16-25. He began by expanding on the history of the book, then dove into his message by connecting the Old Testament to the New Testament.

During his message Mr. Engle brought up pointers a lot. The first pointer he brought up was that the Exodus from Egypt points to our world. As he continued to talk about our world and the unkindness that has been shown, he brought up the idea of bringing shalom. This shalom is a type of ultimate peace--not the type of peace that would occur in the Middle East, but a kind that would take place in the hearts of God’s people.

Mr. Engle also addressed the law, and how the law is a flashlight that pointed out the flaws of the Israelites’ and points out people’s flaws today. This law points to the need for Christ and the need to be redeemed.        

Another pointer that Mr. Engle addressed was the idea of God being in a tabernacle. In the Old Testament this was the place of God’s dwelling, but with Christ, those who now follow and believe in Him are His tabernacles. Because the Holy Spirit is dwelling in them, they should be able to produce the fruits of the Spirit that are mentioned in Galatians 5:16-25.

Mr. Engle left the chapel by asking a few simple questions: Are you producing the fruits of the spirit, and are you experiencing God's shalom?

By: Allie Sleeting

Shoes or Sandals?

Spring, a time of rain and blooming flowers, but also time for an important question, “to wear shoes, or sandals?” 

Personally, I think that shoes are not a necessity in the spring.  Your feet have been cooped up all winter in boots and gym shoes; it’s time to let them out.  Also it gives you a chance to wear some cute sandals.  Everyone loves sandals and I have been seeing a lot of cute ones this year in the stores.  I have seen strappy ones, beaded ones, and of course the classic flip-flop.  They are everywhere, and because it’s just the beginning of spring still at a very reasonable price. 

Most people I have asked have said that they prefer to wear sandals in the spring, and why wouldn’t you?  I remember when I was younger that every spring when I finally got to put on my first pair of flip-flops of the year, I felt free.  Being able to run around without my feet being confined in shoes was the best feeling ever, especially since I hated shoes with a fiery, burning passion. 

Even as a toddler if my mom tried to put shoes on me I would rip them off and chuck them across the room.  Now I tolerate shoes throughout the winter but when spring comes around I can’t wait to break out the flip-flops again.  Why wouldn’t you want to wear sandals or flip- flops?  They go with anything and they are comfortable as can be.  So the only thing I have to ask is “what do you prefer, shoes or sandals?"

By: Claire Kuda

The Bachelor Season Finale

March 14, 2011, saw the latest end to yet another season of the hit reality television show "The Bachelor."  This year’s bachelor, Brad Womack, came back yet again to find true love. In the season finale Brad was shown trying to debate within himself who his true love truly was. The two women it came down to were Chantel and Emily.

Chantel cried her way through the fifteenth season of "The Bachelor," and was the fun, exciting one out of the final two. And then there was Emily, the quiet, sensitive one who had a tragic past. Both girls told Brad that they were in love with him, but now it was Brad’s turn to see who he truly wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

After the girls met his family he had a heart to heart in which they all exclaimed how much they loved Emily, leading Brad to believe that Emily would be the one his family would choose for him. But in true Bachelor fashion that was a twist of fate. When Chantel had an extraordinary date in which the couple swam with sharks and had a romantic dinner, Emily’s date fell flat. While on the date Brad felt as if he was being attacked, and did not understand what was happening. At one point he left the room because he was suddenly overcome by the heat.

But, in the end nothing could stop their true love. After a teary good bye to Chantel, Brad put on a happy grin and proposed to Emily.

By: Allie Sleeting

The Lent Season

Lent is the season of soul-searching and repentance. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism.

Lent lasts for 40 days, which represents the 40 days that Jesus wandered in the wilderness fasting and being tempted by Satan. During Lent, some give up something that they may really like to do, or something they really enjoy and have often.  Examples of what people give up for Lent include video games, candy, pop, television, etc.

I asked a student how he felt about lent, and if he was giving anything up, he replied,  “I really enjoy the lent season because it provides me with a challenge like how Jesus was challenged.  Though what I am doing is not as hard, I will still do my best.  I am going to give up pop for the lent season.”  This is the mindset for most people who go through lent.  They want to challenge themselves in a way that they can try to glorify God. 

Ash Wednesday is the first day of lent.  The Sunday of the Passion or Palm Sunday begins the last week of Lent, known as Holy Week.  During this holiest time of the church year, the worship services relive the final week of our Lord's human life.  Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday, when Christians observe Christ's "Last Supper," the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and the command to serve one another in love.  Good Friday honors the imprisonment, trial, and death by crucifixion of Jesus.

Not everyone celebrates lent, but for those that do, it is a meaningful 40 days in which they celebrate Jesus’ life.

By: Andrew Mason

New Friends at ACSI

 ACSI was this past weekend, and as usual it was incredibly fun. 

The high school choir had 365 students singing in it.  There were so many people that we could barely fit on the stage.  We had a lot of time singing together, and we got to know the people around us.  At meal times we got to talk and hang out with each other and really got to bond with one another.  This year we got to be in another room during the concert to be able to talk and just hang out.  There was a group of people who started a game of ninja, the game where you get one move to try and slap someone elses hand to get them out.  There were people from a few of the schools playing including Jeffery Caliguire and I.  We had a ton of fun and also played the game big-booty. If you don’t know what this is, it is a game where each person has a number and one person is the “big-booty." You have to say the numbers or big-booty in beat with the clapping.  It was so fun and it was a great way to meet the people there.

 By: Claire Kuda

Demi Lovato Released from Rehab

Everyone, especially fans, were shocked to hear that Disney’s Demi Lovato checked herself into rehab this past late October, early November.  Reports said that she checked in for emotional and physical issues.  Recently, however, she was released and is now living at home after serving her 90 day treatment program.
          
Sources close to Lovato say that Demi is still unsure if she is going to go back to her hit Disney Channel show “Sonny With a Chance.”  Disney Channel is still waiting to hear Demi Lovato’s answer to this hotly debated question.
           
When she first checked herself into rehab, the public was confused to what the real reason was.  Well, one reason was because she had been suffering from emotional and physical problems for some time.  Previously, Demi Lovato had eating disorders, had problem with bullies when she was in school, and even struggled with cutting.  She also got in fight with “Camp Rock” dancer, Alex Welch, giving her a black eye.
           
For now, she is still having regular visits with doctors and is spending most of her time with family and her good friends.  She posted on Facebook how thankful she was for all her fans supporting her and giving her love and many prayers.
           
Demi Lovato has gone through a lot this past year, but after successfully getting help, she is heading in the right direction towards the life she once had.
By: Elizabeth Farwell

Guest blog entry

The Girl on a Swing

Does she walk to the school, because she doesn’t live far.

Or does she get a ride or drive her own car.

She comes around four,  when no one’s around.

She finds her favorite swing on the Westminster playground.

She arrives after pick-up, it’s always the same.

Everyone sees her, yet no one knows her name.

She slowly sways, with the wind in her hair.

Listening to her I-pod, without a care.

We see her from a distance, but we can’t describe her face.

Yet every dusk, this seems to be her usual place.

I want to approach her to see if she’s cool.

Yet I’m somewhat frightened, she may go to public school.

I always smile and wave, I don’t want to seem like a jerk.

However, she returns my greetings with only a smirk.

This awful feeling of dislike, I must mend.

I hope one day, we can become swinging friends.

She’s always alone and swings to the sky.

I hope she’s not lonely,  I ask myself, why.

No one has the courage to make conversation.

Making a new friend, could be an awesome sensation.

My questions are always unanswered, there’s things we don’t know.

Like why does she still come when the playground is covered in snow.

It‘s been over year, and we still don’t know a thing,

About the girl on a swing.

By Liz Meschewski and her father

Track

The track team has often been overlooked in the history of Westminster, but I believe that is about the change in light of our State appearance last year and because we are going to have around 40 runners for this year’s track season.

About a week ago it was in question if we were even going to have a coach this year, but to our delight Coach Cochran decided to put up with us for another year and coach the track team.

Track is a sport of not only physical toughness but mental as well. When you are nearing the end of your race and you need one last burst of physical exertion, you have to convince your body that it can and will endure the pain of going faster and hopefully in turn winning the race. If runners are neck and neck it usually comes down to which runner mentally wants the win the race more and not necessarily which runner has better physical fitness. This fact of mental toughness as well as physical toughness is why you cannot just simplify track to“running.”

Also one of the main deciding factors in determining who will win a race is essentially who can endure the most pain. The reason that you experience pain when you run is because lactic acid builds up in your muscle, causing you to feel pain. This “pain” is the main reason that people do not like running in general. One of my favorite quotes pertaining to track/cross country is from Tanya Rodgers – “Run until you can’t take another step – then keep running!”

This year I am sure will be a step in the right direction and since Coach Cochran is back it will be a much larger step than it otherwise would have been.

By Gregory T. Benson

A Universal Holiday

As a 4th grade girl, Valentine's Day was a big deal to me. Although I was not brave enough to give chocolate to a boy, the process of preparing the chocolate was still fun. As a child, I was able to go to stores full of candy, pick the perfect one, and think about the boy.

This meaningful day is celebrated worldwide in different forms. My American friend told me that Valentine's Day is when people show their cheesy love to others. In the United States, this day seemed to be a day of a major card and gift giving festival. Valentine's Day dinner and dance parties are organized all over the country. They include cards, fresh flowers, chocolates, and candies.

Canada also celebrates this day with much enthusiasm. Children in Canada exchange gifts with their friends and give fancy card to parents and teachers.

Across the ocean, Australians do the same thing, except men in Australia are more romantic and open about expressing their love than women. They buy more cards than women do.

In Europe, each country has unique way of celebrate. England's custom is the singing of special songs by children. These children are rewarded with gifts of candy, fruit or money.

The tradition in Denmark for Valentine's Day is for people to send white flowers called Snowdrops to their friends.

A custom known as "drawing for" occurs in France as unmarried individuals would go into houses facing each other and begin calling out across from one window to another, pairing off with the chosen partner.

East Asian countries such as Japan, China and Korea celebrate on two different dates. On Valentine's Day, women give their gifts to men. When "White Day" comes on March 14th, men give gifts to women. For those young people with no partner, these countries even have "Black Day," April 14th, when such people get together and eat food.

As technology developed, another interesting way of celebrating this holiday was added. These days, Valentine's Day greetings are sometimes exchanged through e-cards, and gifts can be sent through online shopping sites. 

Whatever you choose to do, Valentine's Day is still meaningful. On this day, people all around the world are able to show their love to one another to let those people know just how important they are.

By Yoha Lee

Diet Soda not much healthier than Soda

If you are trying to lose weight and have substituted regular soda with diet soda, it most likely won’t make much of a difference.

Studies show that drinking diet pop actually causes people to gain weight. There are many good substitutes for pop instead of diet pop such as tea. Tea is a good drink that is not carbonated and doesn’t have aspartame in it. It is also very versatile in flavors and there are many different types of it such as green, white, and black tea. Tea is even better if you add berries, lemons or sugar to add flavor. My personal favorite way to drink tea is sweetened and some of the best sweet tea is in the south at a place called McAlister’s.

Instead of using diet soda to lose weight try eating healthy food that will you give you the energy for exercising and doing fun activities. Through incorporating healthy eating habits into a healthy lifestyle it helps people to lose weight and keep it off, not just by a quick fix, like diet soda, but through a complete change in lifestyle.

By Ian Dutcher

Seniors' last quarter

With the third quarter coming to a close, seniors are all starting to think more about college and life after high school. Many have even already decided what college they are going to attend. In the midst of all this hectic decision making and college visiting, it is weird to really think about high school coming to a close since it has been a major part of many people's lives.

Westminster in general has been where many people have spent a large part of their life. The strangeness of leaving this school is really understood by the students who have attended Westminster since elementary school. And now, all of the seniors will move on to another step of their life outside of Westminster.

By Ben Stevenson

Musical happenings at ACSI

This past Friday on March 11th, choir and band students from WCS traveled to Olivet Nazarene University for a very important event. The students who went had been practicing all semester for ACSI, a music festival that involves a variety of Christian schools.
After 2nd period, Westminster students boarded three school buses for the 2-hour ride to the festival’s location. When everyone arrived they ate lunch, then the practice promptly began. High schoolers and middle schoolers in band and choir gathered in separate buildings and either sang or played their instruments for a period of four hours. As a choir student, specifically an alto 1, I would say that the practice was interesting. The instructor was fun and the music was beautiful. By the time the four hours were up, the whole choir had definitely improved.
           
That night, the students from WCS went to a nice hotel not too far away from Olivet. We spent the night there and had a good time. It was nice to have fun after a long day of singing and playing instruments. We were able to roam the building, go swimming, hang out in each other’s rooms, and play games.
           
The next morning we all got up around 8 o'clock and headed back to the school after breakfast. When everyone arrived the practice started again. I headed to the auditorium with others to sing for about an hour. We had rehearsal that day as well, which consisted of everyone finding their spots on stage and getting ready for the performance.
           
Finally, early that evening, the audience gathered and the performance began. I was not able to hear or see the other performances because I was backstage waiting, but when the choir sang their four songs, the sound was magnificent and moving.
           
Friday and Saturday were long and tiring days so everyone was pretty eager to go home. However, everyone had a great performance and ACSI was a success. I am sure that many people will look forward to going next year to have another great experience.

By Brittany Booth

Pranks

Everybody loves a good practical joke, whether they are a CEO of a big company or an elementary school kid that still poops his pants. The great thing about pranks is that they can happen anywhere, a school, a college, an office, or even at a church. If you are looking for some good prank ideas or just are looking for a good laugh, here are some of the best pranks.
Car Pong:
This prank involves a lot of ping pong balls and access to the car of the person that you are going to prank. Simply fill the front of the car with as many ping pong balls up to a little lower than the window, so that they can’t really see it and when they open their door making it a big surprise.
Quarter Crazy:
This prank is one that’s all about driving people crazy. Since nobody can resist a quarter, find a place were a lot of people will go such as a water fountain or in a stall, and glue a quarter to the floor preferably using glue that will be nearly impossible for someone to take off, but can be removed using a scraper.
Bell Songs:
This prank is courtesy of my dad when he was in college. If your college has bells that are set up electronically and you are good with computers try setting the sound of the bells to a song.

Spider Mania:
This prank is good if you have a friend who is either slightly afraid of spiders or deathly afraid. Buy a lot of fake spiders big or small, and put them in either somebody’s bed, car, backpack, or possibly food.
Creamtastic:
This prank is one of the most classic and affective pranks for sleepovers. All you have to do is get some shaving cream wait for the first person to fall asleep then put shaving cream on their hand, tickle their nose and let them do the rest.

by Ian Dutcher

Blood Drive

This year we had the blood drive, and I was able to give for the first time.  Sadly, I came extremely close to passing out.  I was fine the whole time I was waiting; I filled out my papers, I got my finger pricked so they could test it to make sure I could give blood.  Even while I was giving the blood I felt fine… that is, until the end.  When they removed the needle I started to feel faint.  My head started to spin and I lost all the color in my face.
After I drank some Gatorade I felt a little better, so they took me over to the waiting area and I ate some food and drank more water.  I felt almost completely fine after about twenty minutes and went to class.  I finished out "Understanding the Times" but I still felt a little faint so I really didn’t understand anything.  I went to English after and it was a very warm room, so I started to feel a little dizzy again.  We started on a writing prompt so it was quiet and I was very warm. Then, all of the sudden, I started feeling extremely light-headed and my vision started to fade.
Sarah Glasshagel was nice enough to walk me to the front desk, and then downstairs.  They took me back to the gym so that I could be watched by professionals in case I did end up passing out.  After about two or three more class periods I felt fine once again. 
Overall the experience was not bad. I just didn’t prepare for it the best that I could have.  But I am so glad that I was able to save up to three lives with the blood I gave.  I also got to finally know what my blood type is!  Of course, the pants and getting out of class were some nice perks too.  You should consider trying it nest year, giving blood is a simple, rewarding thing that you can do.  So why not?

By Claire Kuda

Ben's take on the Academy Awards

This year the Academy Awards were very highly anticipated, even more so than in years past, because they nominated 10 films for best film of the year once again. However, this year there were a lot more close races for all the different awards. This year the hosts were James Franco and Anne Hathaway, and it was not very entertaining to watch them because of the lack of chemistry they had together, unlike last year’s hosts Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin who worked very well together. But James Franco and Anne Hathaway did have a funny introductory video to the awards of course thanks to a funny cameo from Alec Baldwin.
 
When it got down the actual awards it was a pretty predictable night. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's nice to have a few upsets in there every once in a while. But there really weren't any. As expected, "Inception" won all of the sound-related awards and Christian Bale won best supporting actor and Melissa Leo won best supporting actress and "Social Network" won best original score. All of the awards up to this point had been the exact same winners as they were for the Golden Globes. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is nice to have a few upsets sprinkled in as well.

This is the way it went all the way through until it went to best director. Up until the night of the awards, almost everyone was saying that David Fincher, who did some incredible work in "The Social Network," was a sure win in that category. However, when the award was announced he was not the one who went up on the stage. Instead it was Tom Hooper, the director of an equally fantastic film, "The King's Speech." Many people may question the Academy's decision of Hooper over Fincher but that's what will happen when there is a year with so many close races, because Tom Hooper in no way didn't deserve the award. His film was a brilliant piece and he did a lot to make it happen.
The next two awards were pretty predictable with Natalie Portman talking the win for best female lead in "Black Swan." Of course, Colin Firth took best lead actor for his emotionally powerful performance in "The King's Speech."  Last but not least, the closest race of all, the best film of the year. Everyone has been saying back and forth that either "The King's Speech" or "The Social Network" deserved to win this award. As the reviewers suggested, the winner was "The King's Speech." With that, "The King's Speech" took the night with 4 big awards.
(On a side note, I don't know whose idea it was to have a bunch of kids sing "Over the Rainbow" for the finale, but it was an interesting decision to say the least.)

By Ben Stevenson

Cats Are Better Than Dogs….But Only This Once

Bill Watterson and Charles Schultz created two of the greatest comic strips in the history of newspapers.

Schultz pioneered the business with “The Peanuts,” while Watterson created the relatable world of “Calvin and Hobbes.” In both of the strips, there is an animal that is heavily personified. In Schultz’ strip, it's Snoopy and in Watterson’s strip, it’s Hobbes.

Snoopy is a beagle, and a character that is known worldwide. His face has appeared on everything from patches to bookends. Hobbes, on the other hand, is a little less known. He is a stuffed tiger that is brought to life by Calvin’s wild imagination and often ludicrous mind.

Snoopy is a great and dynamic character--don’t get me wrong--but he never speaks and is always pantomiming. Hobbes, on the other hand, can talk. So far, one point Hobbes. Another great thing about Hobbes is the role that he plays. Whenever others are around, Hobbes is pictured as a harmless stuffed tiger. However, when only Calvin is around, he becomes a fully personified tiger. Hobbes acts as Calvin’s conscience and often the voice of reason. This plays into the humor of the strip, as Calvin’s mind untamed is a terrible thing. Watterson played the two against each other for the better part of ten years, and sadly ended the strip one December 31st, 1995. He left a hole in the Sunday Paper’s Comics, which has not, and will not, ever be filled again.

By Tyler Greene

Famous Quotes From the Very Interesting Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen has been at the top of the media's headlines with his most recent fallout. Perhaps one of the ways he has most captured America's attention is through his inspiring quotes. Listed below are some of his most bizarre yet memorable sayings:

"I am on a drug. It's called Charlie Sheen."

"I don't have a tuxedo that fits anymore because my chest and my biceps are too big."

"I have a different constitution. I have a different brain; I have a different heart; I got tiger blood, man."

"I have defeated this earthworm with my words. Imagine what I would have done with my fire breathing fists."

"I'm sorry, man, but I've got magic. I've got poetry in my fingertips. Most of the time - and this includes naps - I'm an F-18, bro. And I will destroy you in the air. I will deploy my ordinance to the ground."

"I've got mad energy for days. That's what people can't get their minds around. They say, 'Oh, he's going to crash.' They try to apply all these common terms to a guy who is not common. I don't fit into their little box."

"It's not an act. I love it. It's totally original. People go, 'What's going on with this guy? Why does he sound so weird? What is going on in his brain. I don't know. Just one day I suddenly woke up with a new brain."

"The only thing I'm addicted to is winning. This bootleg cult, arrogantly referred to as Alcoholics Anonymous, reports a 5 percent success rate. My success rate is 100 percent."

"What they're not ready for is guys like you and I and Nails and all the other gnarly gnarlingtons in my life, that we are high priests, Vatican assassin warlocks. Boom. Print that, people. See where that goes."

"When friends asked me, Can we help? I'd say, Not unless you can alter time, speed up the harvest or teleport me off this rock. I used that line from Star Wars."

"You can't process me with a normal brain."

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/charlie_sheen_2.html#ixzz1G89N6SHm

By Ellie Fink

Fake Bake Law

Tanning beds have been a controversial issue that many Americans, both men and women, have struggled with. Some dermatologists say that the tanning beds can be useful, while others say that they are hazardous and we should avoid them at all costs.

Illinois just tried to pass a law that at age 16 even with parental consent you won’t be allowed to go to tanning beds, but it was shot down rather quickly. Our government decided that we already have enough laws barring things we do and that this law would just add onto a list. They ruled that with parental consent, tanning beds should be accessible for teenagers. Hopefully this issue will die down and not come up again. Does the government truly feel the need to regulate everything we do?

By Anais Tabor

Click vs. Cap

Now you might be wondering why I am debating which pen is better, a retractable (click) pen or a pen with a cap (cap). The reason I am discussing this topic is because we are at an impasse in our society in which we cannot decide which pen is better.

The pen with a click top has a lot going for it. For instance, multiple James Bond movies show Bond using a pen with a click top as an explosive device. Not only that, but when you are using a click pen you don’t have to fear losing the cap, because there is none. This then promotes good mental health because you do not have the constant stress in which you worry what would happen if you were to misplace your cap and in turn stain your shirt. You see, by not having a cap on your pen it allows the American public to have a stress free pen which contributes to more effective workers.

If you have a pen with a cap you are constantly trying to remind yourself to put the cap back on the pen. Seeing that most plastic products that we see in the United States are manufactured in China, this could well be a preemptive strike by the Chinese Government. By that I mean by China making pens with caps and shipping them over to American offices all over the United States, they are creating workers to become increasingly stressed. This ploy by China allows the Chinese work force to become more efficient and in time we will see the manifestation of Chinas full plan. Which we all know is world domination and enslavement.
P.S. – Beware of pens with caps…..

By Gregory T.  Benson

Fight for Freedom

What is going on in Africa? Just a few weeks ago Egypt’s uprising was a big topic in the news as the people succeeded in removing the dictator. Inspired by the neighboring country's move, Libya is now having a protest. These protests against the government and old culture are influencing both Africa and Middle East area, especially the countries with monarchies. Since those areas can affect global politics and the economy, the whole world is carefully watching them.
Only a few years ago, dictators were able to control media and information. They could block foreign news so that their citizens wouldn’t know about the outside world. However, with advanced technologies and social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter, dictators couldn't stop people from gaining access to the news. When Africans heard about what was going on in neighboring countries and how successful it was, uprisings grew like fire.
Libya, an oil-rich nation in North Africa, has been under the control of Muammar el-Qaddafi since he seized power in 1969. But, in February 2011, the unrest sweeping through much of the Arab world hit this country with protests beginning on February 15th. The Economist described the events as an "uprising that is trying to reclaim Libya from the world's longest-ruling autocrat."
On March 4th, Qaddafi's government widened its counterattack on its rebel opponents. The government began to wage fierce battles to gain control of the town of Zawiya, which is located only 30 miles west of the capital and is currently controlled by rebel troops. At least 35 people were reported dead, more than 100 wounded and 65 missing in Zawiya.  A witness told CNN, “Civilians were killed but we cannot say how many. We buried nine people so far" he added, "The attack was indescribable. Direct gunfire was opened on people." 
On the other side of the world, people are giving up their lives for freedom that we don't even realize that we have because we take it for granted.

By Yoha Lee

A Glimpse at Natalie Portman’s Career

Recent Oscar winner Natalie Portman has arguably reached the peak of her career thus far.

Portman entered the movie industry at the age of 11 after being discovered by an agent in a pizza parlor. Although encouraged to pursue a career in modeling, Natalie’s passion lay with acting.

She was featured in many live performances, but she made her powerful film debut in the movie "The Professional" (1994) (aka "Léon"). Natalie then won roles in such films as "Heat" (1995), "Beautiful Girls" (1996), and "Mars Attacks!" (1996).

In 1999 Portman’s fame breached a global level with the release of "Star Wars: Episode 1- The Phantom Menace." Natalie played Queen Amidala in the $431 million- grossing prequel.

She went on to star in "Anywhere But Here" and "Where the Heart Is" in 2000. Her role as Alice in "Closer" brought her first Oscar nomination in 2004. Her second nomination as Nina Sayers in "The Black Swan" named her this year’s Best Actress. 

On May 6, 2011, Portman will be appearing in "Thor" as Jane Foster.

By Ellie Fink

Frisbee + Golf = Awesome

A new combined sport called “frolf” is starting to become as famous as J-Biebs hair. The game, which is a combination of Frisbee and Golf, is extremely fun and seems to be popping up everywhere. You may be saying, well I know you’re saying, “Taylor, you said something about Justin Bieber, so tell me more about this ‘frolf.'”
Since the 90’s when Steady Ed Hardrick coined the term “disc golf” it has been a taboo sport that only seemed to gain more and more popularity. The game looks somewhat like this; I’ll try to give you a mental picture since this is a blog. So do not flee just yet when I tell you to use your imagination. Still with me?

Okay. Well the hole looks like a metal oval caged birdfeeder with chains that can lock in the disc. The disc is small and thick.
On to the rules, the rules are much along the lines of the basic rules of golf only molded to fit the different characteristics of the disc golf relationship. All in all from hearing about it from peers, reading about it online and of course You Tubing it, frolf seems like a very enjoyable sport, which explains why it’s become such a hit in the adolescent group today. I won’t make you read a lot more so you can go out and have a fun time playing this fun, popular game. 

By Taylor DePola

Overcoming Fate With Music

Can people avoid fate? And if they can, how can someone overcome their fate? Beethoven's symphony No.5 in C minor, Op. 67, has the nickname "Fate symphony" or "They symphony of destiny," because he told one of his students that the beginning of this symphony illustrates how "fate knocks at the door."

When he composed this piece, Beethoven was in his mid-thirties and was having a hard time. When he was about 28 years old, his hearing had been failing gradually, which gave him great pain and depression. In addition, the world at large was marked by the Napoleonic Wars in which Napoleon's troops occupied Vienna, where Beethoven lived.
When Mozart met Beethoven at 16 years old, he said, "One day he will give the world something to talk about." Indeed, Beethoven left this great music piece. Since first performed in Vienna in 1808, this symphony became one of the most popular compositions in classical music. It comprises four movements: Allegro con brio, Andante con moto, Scherzo, Allegro and Allegro. The first movement opens with the four-note motif, one of the most famous in western music. Throughout the symphony, this rhythmic motif is repeated and contributes to the overall unity of the music. 
The composer's secret sorrows, dreams, oppressions from outside, and enthusiasm are melted in this piece. According to the view of considering "fate" as its theme, a heroic life struggle is represented in the progression of emotions, from the famous opening in C minor to the triumphant C major coda of the last movement. It is a journey of knowing one's fate and dealing with it. To know how Beethoven handled his fate, you have to listen to this 30-minutes-long outstanding piece and see what it says to you. 

By Yoha Lee

A Westminster students journey in joining the US National Guard

I joined the Illinois Army National Guard last Thursday and Friday. It was a two-day process called MEPS that took place in Des Plaines.

On Thursday, my recruiter drove me to the MEPS site and I took the ASVAB, which is a test just to see how much general knowledge a person has. What you score on the ASVAB determines what job opportunities are available to you. After I took that test, I was transported to a hotel that the military paid for and I stayed there for the night.

The next morning, my roommate and I were awakened to a phone call at 0415 otherwise known as 4:15 in the morning. We gathered our things together and headed to the dining room for breakfast. After eating, a group of about 40 of us were transported back to the MEPS building by 0530 (5:30 am). There, we all had to go through a series of physicals. We had eye and ear exams along with, drug, pregnancy, and HIV tests.

Next, for those of us that still qualified, we had to sit down and choose a job and ship date for basic combat training. After several hours of waiting, we were finally sworn into our military branch of service and willingly signed an eight-year contract.

By Kelly Beecher

Talent Show

Last year our school started a new tradition: the talent show.

Last year’s talent show was a great success as students and teachers competed to win cash prizes.  The winner of the talent show last year was Frank Oliver, who gave an outstanding drum performance that wowed the crowd.  This year we are hoping to have the same enthusiasm behind the talent show and hopefully have the same amount of talented people sign up.

In the past there have been some acts in the talent show that were good and also some bad ones. One of my favorite acts featured in the talent show last year was Brian and Jesse’s rendering of "A Whole New World"  from the Disney movie "Aladdin." Although they did not actually sing, the lip sync was one of the funniest things I have ever seen.

You can also expect several musical acts, some funny acts such as the reenactment of SNL skits, choreographed dances, and many others. The talent show is an opportunity for people from all areas of the school to come together and show what they are made of. Not only that, but it allows students to sit back, relax and enjoy people and their various talents and quirky abilities. I am not one to offer good advice on performing in the talents show, but I will offer this. If you are performing in the talent show, try not to be the act that everyone is talking about because you are the act that went horribly wrong or was horrendously bad. All you need to do is think before you perform and not the other way around.

By Gregory T. Benson

Bocce Ball Blues

A bunch of us were at Sadies and played Bocce Ball this Thursday, but I’m sure not everybody knew exactly how to play it. Bocce is a ball-sport belonging to the Boules sport family. It is mostly played in Europe and in countries where there are Italian immigrants like North America and South America. This game most resembles bowling.
According to ehow.com, these are necessary things to play:
8 Bocce Balls (4 of one color, 4 of another)
A pallina or small ball
Measuring Tape
The rules for playing Bocce Ball are as follows:
Depict a flat surface to play on that is made up of gravel or grass. An official court size is 76 feet long and 10 feet wide.
Separate players into 2 teams. An ideal number of players on each team is 2-4.
Have a player from one team stand at the foul line which is about 10 feet away from the end line and throw the small-ball to the opposite end of the court.
Then the same player must throw a bocce ball and the goal is to try to get the bocce ball as close to the “pallina” or small-ball as possible without touching it.
Have players from the opposing team take turns throwing their balls until one of the balls stops closer to the pallina than the starting player's ball. If they fail to do so, the starting team tries to outdo its first attempt.
Let the starting players take their second turn if the opposing team gets closer to the pallina than the starting team without using all of their balls.
Continue in this fashion until all eight balls have been thrown. The team with the closest ball gets one point for each of its balls that are closer to the pallina than the other team's closest ball.
End the frame after all eight balls have been thrown and appropriate points have been awarded. The scoring team begins the next frame. If no team previously scored, the team that threw the pallina last begins the next frame.

By: Ashley Kivikoski

Healthy Snack Ideas

Snacking is often regarded as a bad behavior and restricted or eliminated from our diets. However, snacks can be an important part of your nutritious eating plan if the foods you choose are healthy and contribute to a well-balanced diet. Snacking is not just for children — adults need snacks as well. Healthy snacks provide extra energy for exercise and help sustain energy until you eat another meal. Choosing healthy snacks between meals can also prevent overeating by reducing hunger at mealtimes. Snacking can be good for you, but remember,  snack calories count in your total calories for the day. Make sure to pick healthy, low-calorie snacks and skip the junk food.  Here are a few options.
Papaya-Berry Yogurt Parfait
·  3 containers (5.3 ounces each) plain nonfat Greek yogurt
·  5 tablespoons honey
·  1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest, plus 1 tablespoon juice
·  1 piece fresh ginger (about 2 inches)
·  1 papaya (1 pound), peeled, halved lengthwise, seeds discarded, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
·  1 package (6 ounces) fresh blackberries
·  1 package (6 ounces) fresh raspberries
·  1/4 cup chopped fresh mint, plus sprigs for garnish
·  1/2 cup granola
ONLY 164 CALORIES!
Double Dark- Chocolate and Ginger Biscotti
·  1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
·  1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
·  1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
·  1/4 teaspoon salt
·  1 large egg, plus 1 large egg yolk
·  1/2 cup sugar
·  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
·  1/4 cup canola oil
·  1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
·  3 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped (1/2 cup)
·  1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
ONLY 84 CALORIES!

By: Beatrice Ponce

High School Basketball Player Dies After Winning Shot

In Fennville, Mich., Wes Leonard, a mere 16-year-old boy, fell to the floor of the gymnasium after scoring the winning basket for his team. One moment he was cheering; the next his enlarged heart was failing.
  

His basketball skills were legendary in his small town. Coaches had a hard time believing someone so young could be packed with so much talent. On occassion, his birth certificate had to be shown in order to let him play.
   
On Thursday evening of last week, Wes Leonard sent the ball through the hoop from close range with less than 30 seconds left in overtime. This final shot gave Fennville High a 57-55 victory over their rivalry, Bridgman High, along with a 20-0 regular season. Shortly after shaking hands with the opposing players and cheering for their victory, a team portrait was attempted to be put together. However, it was a failed attempt, because 6'2" player Leonard had collapsed to the ground.
   
CPR was performed by the paramedics on the way to nearby Holland Hospital just before they announced his death. Shortly after, an autopsy was done and determined that Leonard had died of cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart.
  
Medical examiners could not place an exact reason as to why this happened. Some said it was largely in part of Leonard's athletic career.
   
The wake for young Wes was yesterday afternoon. The funeral for him will be tomorrow at Christ Memorial Church in Holland.

By: Becky Welc
Photo courtesy of AP

And the Oscar goes to…

Well, it’s finally happened. The biggest and most anticipated Hollywood awards show of the year took place on Sunday. The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, was a much-awaited event. Unfortunately, as many people have said, the show this year was even less amusing than usual. It is usually expected that the Oscars will be filled with dull speeches and monotonous clapping each year, but as far as I’ve heard, most people are blaming the hosts for this show’s uninteresting effect. The young hosts, Anne Hathaway and James Franco, were expected to be quite funny; however, they failed to deliver.
           
Nevertheless, this night was still filled with great achievements by directors, actors, producers, and more. Christian Bale, a first-time nominee, won the award for Best Supporting Actor. Melissa Leo was named Best Supporting Actress. The Oscar for Best Actress was won by Natalie Portman, and Colin Firth won the title of Best Actor.
Also winning multiple awards, The Kings Speech took home the award for Best Picture.

By Brittany Booth

Do Vaccinations Cause Autism?

As several people know, there is a huge controversy surrounding the idea that vaccinations may cause autism.  Several parents have filed claims that, after having their child vaccinated, their child began having several symptoms of autism.  Some of the symptoms reported are severe language delay and repetitive movements.  Scientists say that there is no relation between vaccinations and autism.  However, several parents disagree.
               
Some parents traced back when their child began acting strangely to the time their child got a vaccine.  Many of the parents found that their child began acting strangely soon after they got the vaccination.  This was the case for several families. Parents are not the only ones that believe that vaccinations cause autism; several celebrities and even some doctors insist that vaccinations really do cause autism.
               
Several scientists, on the other hand, insist that there is no relation between the two.  Some studies even show that the number of amount of kids that were diagnosed with autism increased after not having vaccinations.  Scientists say that by not vaccinating your kids, you are exposing them to several serious illnesses.

Overall, scientists have run tests and confirmed that there is really no relation between vaccinations and autism.  However, numerous people will keep insisting that their kids, and other kids, got autism from a vaccination.

By: Elizabeth Farwell

Spring fever hits us all

You know all the things that make spring exciting-- summer being right around the corner, many things coming to an end in school, fresh rain,  Easter. There are so many things.
Spring fever is often caused by the tease of the warm weather, the approaching spring clothes on sale, the sweet smell of rain and the rapid talk of spring. Many of times I’ve heard this change in seasons can also be called “Fool's Weather” because the weather can never make up its mind. It doesn't know whether it wants to be warm or freezing cold outside. When all the snow starts to melt you see a lot of the flowers begin blooming. When you see flowers begin to bloom you know that the sun and rain will initiate. Then you realize it’s time to drag out all of your summer clothing. And before you know it spring has passed and summer is here.
Easter is one of my favorite things that occurs during the spring season. It’s always fun to wake up in the morning to find your Easter basket and dress up and go to church. It’s even better when you get to go to a relative’s house afterwards and celebrate.
Why is summer being around the corner exciting to all? School's out! Summer is a time to get a break from not only school but all the things that come with school. Many families go on vacation and spend a lot of time together. It’s your chance to hang out with friends and have not have to go home. If everyone could just hang in there, summer will be here very soon.
By: Ashley Kivikoski

School Holds Breath as Sadie Hawkin’s Approaches

            Sadie Hawkins is an event that students look forward to every year.  It switches up the usual tradition of guys asking the girls and has the girls thinking of ideas of how to ask the guys. Boys have been wondering if they are going to get asked, and the decision girls make of who and how to ask is sitting in the minds of every student. I got the chance to ask students how they are feeling about the night of Sadie Hawkins.
            Many students feel that this year’s Sadie Hawkins is repetitive.  Some would rather have something different each year.  However, they still expect to have a great time bowling and hanging with friends.
“I wish it was something else than bowling but since nothing can satisfy everybody I don't mind that much. But truth is, it's fun if you go with friends and hang out but boring part comes when you have to wait for a lane for bowling,” says sophomore Yong Un Kim.
            Other students feel like Sadie’s is going to be great no matter where it is at.  They always know that no matter where they are they will have a great time hanging and talking with their friends.
 “I’m feeling jittery, a little nauseous, and purple-y. But really if you need legit stuff I am excited and I think it will be a fun night of just hanging out with friends and having a good time,” says senior Emily Bickford.
            Overall, the school seems excited for a great night.  They know that no matter where they will be having Sadie Hawkin’s that they will have a great time being with friends.  I personally am very excited for Sadie’s.  Even though we are doing the same thing as last year, I know that this year will be just as fun.

By Elizabeth Farwell

Oscar Success and Failure

With record lows for viewers of the Oscars this past year, you may be wondering to yourself, what was the downfall of the production?  Perhaps it was the miserable hosting? Or the lack of fair game and opportunity of the awards themselves? But it sure wasn’t for the fashion.

The attire worn by the stars was memorable and tasteful, for the most part. Some stars were bland and safe, like Reese Witherspoon. Her black gown and white fold over on top was a bore. Though elegant, the dress wasn’t extravagant and it didn’t drop jaws. Reese’s hair didn’t help her out much either, a simple pony tail, nothing to gawk over.

Natalie Portman, with a baby bump, looked stunning. The color looked outstanding and her side curls showed her natural beauty.  Sandra Bullock, Halle Berry, and Jennifer Hudson all dropped jaws.

The dress most are stirred by is the light purple gown worn by Mila Kunis. Not overdone, but just enough detail to stop people in their tracks. Her accessories were just right and her hair complimented her plunging neckline.

Over all the fashion of the Oscars were a hit. That is, until you saw Christian Bale’s beard and Helena Bonham Carter's dress.

By Anais Tabor

Is It Truly a Barbie World?

When people think of toys for little girls, the stock company that comes to mind is always Barbie. Of course, people will always complain about the negative affect this toy has on women and how the image it portrays is unrealistic and can cause girls to get the idea that this is what they should strive to look like.

And of course, this article may of had more prevalence 10-20 years ago when kids still played with dolls because nowadays it seems that electronics have taken over life to such an extent that kids no longer have enough imagination to be bothered to pick up a toy. Today, kids are no longer enslaved to the use of their imagination. Now, thanks to technology, kids can never think on their own again. From phones which can do more and more with the passing of every day, to laptops, which are becoming even more accessible to everyone, and of course the quality of television programming has only spiked over the years.

Now kids can learn everything they need to know from their old pal T.V. Soon televisions will probably take the places of people that used to be considered authoritative in society such as teachers, parents and the elderly. Anyway, I have digressed.

Barbie’s--- who really cares anymore?

By Ben Stevenson