Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Books or Movies First?


Which do you prefer, to read the book and then see the movie or see the movie and then read the book? Personally, I’m a bit backwards, I prefer to see the movie and then read the book. I like this way because movies based on books give me a detailed plot summary of the story. If I enjoy the movie, chances are I will enjoy the book. (Except for with Les Misérables, as much as I enjoyed that movie, that book has like 1,000 pages! Truthfully, I just can’t see myself reading that.) However, I saw the movie Life of Pi before I had finished the book, and I think only after I knew where the story was going could I really enjoy the journey.  Ultimately, I ended up liking that book a lot more than I thought I would. Also, with The Perks of Being a Wallflower, I saw that movie before I read the book, and I adore them both. Overall, I feel the reason I like this is that being able to see the characters before I really know much about them makes me care more about their stories than when I know everything about them right away. In other news, I am very excited for the new Gatsby movie, and I actually read that book first, thanks Ms. DeBlasio :)

 

Gatsby Trailer Link:


P.S. Yes Gatsby, I do think it’s too much.

--Emmy

Public Speaking

For some people, just the name of this post would make their heart race and their hands get sweaty. For others, including me, public speaking is a nice opportunity for an easy A. However, no matter how you feel, you have to do it. So just take a deep breath, try to calm down, and prepare, prepare, prepare.

As any Boy Scout could tell you, you should always be prepared. Fortunately, you have a lot of different options for how to prepare. If your project is about a book or a specific topic, read the book or research the topic. You'll be a lot less nervous if you don't have to make stuff up on the spot. Next, organize your thoughts. Note cards are usually a good and permitted method that you can use in your speech. Remember to think about your introduction and conclusion, not just the actual content. I usually find an outline most helpful for that, since you can divide it up in advance. If you need to make a visual aid, only put your main points on there so you don't get reprimanded for reading directly off of it. The same should go for your note cards. You can use a little more detail on there, but you shouldn't just read through them. Know your topic well enough that you can elaborate on the ideas you've written.

The next step of preparation is practice. Practice articulating the material, and make sure it fits in any time constraints. Make sure you know the order of your points so you don't accidentally skip around and have to go back. If it makes you feel better, practice it in front of your family or friends. The only way to get more comfortable with public speaking is to do it a lot.

Once you're prepared, you might still be scared. That's understandable but unnecessary. You know what you're going to say and you know how you'll say it, and if you try to stay confident you'll be great. Plant yourself, look your audience in the eyes, and jump right in. Feel fabulous and you'll be fabulous.

~Jamie

Thursday, April 25, 2013

How to Say No


In one of my favorite movies, 27 Dresses, James Marsden’s character attempts to teach Katherine Heigl’s how to say no. Although his efforts are futile, this moment in the film proves to be pretty funny. Katherine Heigl’s inability to say no to people reminds me of a certain blog post. One that I was talked into writing by a certain sophomore in the sixth period writing center. This experience in writing this blog post, that I’m sure no one will particularly care about, really made me realize something about myself: I really can’t say no. Of course, in obvious situations where someone asks if they can have a piece of my chocolate or other sweet and delectable dessert, I have no problem shutting them down with a sweet, and delicate “HECK TO THE NO!” In other cases, however, I am not as sweet or delicate. Cases such as when the lady working the Panera cash register asks me if I want to buy a cookie -  “Uh, duh” - or in more pressing matters, when the lady working the cash register at Orange Leaf asks me if I want to buy a points card. Usually in these situations, I stutter awkwardly until I finally cave and mutter a low and barely audible “yes.” Sometimes, however, I am blessed with the ability to say “no”, but then strickenly burdened with infinite guilt, like today when I was asked if I wanted to be an organ donor. I said no, but I feel really bad about it, because what if I die today and someone needs a heart, or some other organ that my dead body doesn’t need. What then? I mean, I plan to be cremated anyway, so why not give my organs to someone in need? Of course this fear of being an organ donor came from Susan at Drive With Pride, who expressed her deep fear of being an organ donor on her license because she’s a motorcyclist who is afraid that because doctors believe motorcyclists to be committing suicide while riding their motorcycles they’ll just quit trying to save her and then be blessed with organs for everyone. Of course I don’t ride a motorcycle, so I don’t know what I’m so afraid of. But, I digress. Something about saying no just sucks. Besides, if I would’ve said no to that certain sophomore in the sixth period writing center, this blog would be lacking this beautiful post, wouldn’t it?

-Jalana Phillips.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013


Appropriate Handshake Techniques
                While the art of handshaking is not as elusive as, say, the art of being a ninja, it has been practiced at least as long. Ancient knights used handshakes as a show of peace. Extending hands, palm empty, showed that they concealed no weapons, and gripping each other’s hands was a way to test each their strength. Although you’re not likely to cross paths with an ancient knight on your way to a coffee shop, handshakes are still important. They can be used to seal a deal, greet someone formally, or conduct the age-old contest of strength. So, here are some of the basics:
  1. The Standard Shake: Both parties extend right hands perpendicular to the ground and form fingers into a mitten shape. Clasp mittens and shake one to three times.
  2. The Overachiever: This is the same as the first one, but with a lot more shaking. If your partner tries to remove their hand, tighten your grip and keep shaking.
  3. The Limp Fish: One of the parties has been properly trained in the art of the standard shake, but the other needs to go back to school. This person will approach the clasp slowly, and then let their partner do all the shaking as they hang on for the ride. You may want to obtain some hand sanitizer after this one, because his or her hand will inevitably be clammy.
  4. The Lumberjack: Users of this handshake may be insecure in their own strength, so they have to prove it to every unfortunate soul that comes in contact with them. Warning: if he or she pauses to crack their knuckles before shaking your hand, politely revert to number five.
  5. The Fist Bump: Popularized by germaphobes such as Howie Mandel, this is not technically a hand shake, but I still thought I’d include it in the list. Both parties form a fist and “bump” each other. Explosion noises are optional.
Now you know! 
~Jennifer Brown

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

What If??
  • What if only one planet in the entire universe can have life on it at a time, and right now that planet is Earth. When life on Earth dies out, a new planet will adopt life.
  • What if life is just a video game, or a dream, and we are the puppets.
  • What if when we make animal noises, such as "meow", we are actually speaking in the language of the animal but instead of coherent sentences, we are just saying random words.
  • What if hot is cold, and cold is actually hot.
  • What if our pets own us, and we don't own our pets.
  • What if the things we see are not what everybody else sees. For example, the green that I see may look to you like the blue that I see, but we both agree that it is green.
  • What if we live life in slow motion, but time actually goes super fast.
  • What if when people talk, no sounds come out and we are just reading people's minds.
  • What if everything that happens is magic, and we are just so used to it that we deem magic as reality.
  • WHAT IF

Monday, April 22, 2013

Earth Day? What's That?

Earth Day was started in 1969 at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco, so it is a relatively new holiday.  But what is the purpose of the seemingly uneventful holiday?  Could it be another Hallmark holiday? Imagine receiving a card from your grandmother in the mail wishing you a "Happy Earth Day" with a picture of an anthropomorphized, smiling Earth on it.  Surely Hallmark isn't making much money off of this holiday.  So what is the significance to Earth Day if there is no celebration?  Well maybe holidays doesn't require a celebration, but bring about awareness.  According to wikipedia (the most reliable source on the web), Earth Day was created to support environmental protection.  In fact, it's a bigger deal than one might expect.  It is celebrated by 192 countries around the world.  The thought of 192 countries coming together in the desire to protect the Earth that we share is remarkable if you think about it.  Even if Earth Day seems insignificant, the basis behind it is just the opposite.  If nothing else, respect the Earth and respect the one day that we celebrate it in unity.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Webster's Dream
Hot sheets$
Cold nights$
Green linens$

Sulfide bubbling hot dog
do not eat.

Seriously!$
Some poetry coming at you from Joe Hansma.Senior year is supposed to be a time of happy lasts and growing up but for some they can't help but cause drama.  With 20 days of school left in my high school career I cannot help but notice the amount of drama that is going around.  It's prom and graduation and AP tests and everyhting else in between but we are never going to see each other again.  I don't understand it and probably never will.  With school coming to an end I am happy to be done and ready for college.  OSU is going to be so awesome next yaer and I can't wait to never have to have a hall pass again.  I won't have a class before nine and won't have to clean my room because my mo won't be there to say anything.  I have nothing left to say now so I'm signing off!

Yours Truly,
Margaret Gearhart

Senior year is

Social Networking

The social media is generally a negative thing. With an increased popularity in the recent years, it turned from an interesting, new concept to a consuming portion of many young and old people's lives. Many of the not-so-appealing qualities are recognized by those who use these sites daily, as well as those who stay strong and refuse to jump on the social networking band wagon, yet millions of people log on daily, wasting time that some cannot afford.
Specific reasons the social media is bad:
  • It causes drama.
  • It endorses cyber-bullying and harassment.
  • Lowers self-esteem. While you're sitting home on the computer, you see lovely pictures and posts of people having a good time. Or, people can be a little too honest.
  • Leads to isolation (in some cases, or every once in a while)
  • It wastes time that could be spent doing schoolwork.
  • No one cares about your updates, statuses, "tweets", etc.
    • Even if they do, they shouldn't:
      • If they were there, they were there. I'm sure they do not need to be reminded. 
      • If they weren't there, it's none of their business. 
      • If they need to know, you can/will tell them yourself. 
      • If they want to know, they can ask you themselves.
      • If it's about them, tell it to their face. Simple as that.
  • Possible/current colleges and employers can acquire access to your pages. Bad news for those with some...interesting posts. There is no privacy and teenagers especially are not careful about what they post!
  • Decreases the need for face-to-face contact, reducing social skills.
  • Makes interactions with friends, family, co-workers, whoever less personal, less sentimental.
  • Social networking is ADDICTIVE!
While Facebook, Twitter, tumblr., Instagram, or whatever are helpful with connecting with old friends and family, making new friends, or keeping in touch with "friends", your friends should already know how to contact you. There are many positives that have came out of this new age, such as business opportunities, spread of awareness on topics, and blossoming new love and friendships, I truly believe the negatives outweigh the positives of Social Networking.

Think twice about what you post. Resist the urge to get on the internet.

Julia B.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013


So I have been looking at the posts before mine, and listening to the people around me and realized life is mostly about preparing yourself. I remember all the teachers in Jr. High preparing us for high school, and then all of high school preparing us for college, and then college will prepare us for life. There is always something to get ready for. As of right now, college is a huge topic even for us juniors (though I’m sure it is a lot more stressful for seniors). Our classes are based on what college will be like, our jobs revolve around how to get into college, and even some of our after school activities are chosen because they look good to colleges. Sometimes it seems like we just can’t just focus on the present. I know that seems a little dramatic, but it’s true. We may be living in the present, but the future is pretty much looming over us where ever we go. This is really taxing because it never stops; there will always be a future. We will always be preparing for another day. And I know we should definitely be thinking about the consequences of our actions, but since we don’t know how everything will turn out, we should also enjoy the moment.

With that said, enjoy today because you can’t always count on tomorrow.

~Emily S.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

I Wonder What Kobe Bryant Collects....

        As a new teacher this year, I've found myself answering all sorts of questions.  Undoubtedly, the two most popular ones are:

1) Did you really take a charge from Kobe Bryant?
2) Why do you collect typewriters?

        Here's my best attempt at #2, lovingly typed on my 1931 Royal Model P....


    


Writer's Block and How to Deal With It
By: Kelly Shelton


                                

Writer's block is a pain that every student and writer comes across when writing their research paper or creating the next classic novel.  I always get stuck in the worst possible parts of my paper like the conclusion or those super stellar attention getters and I've always wanted to find a quick way to get me back to writing. So, I decided to research some methods online and from other teachers for helping with writer's block and put them on here to be a caring person because God knows I will probably come back and read these methods myself on the next paper. So here you go world.  Let's be friends and get through this together.

  1. The Claus Method: Write down your ideas on a separate sheet of paper and just follow your train of thought.  Don't worry about flow just write down your ideas as they come to you and go with it.  Once you feel you have written a sufficient amount of information that could be used in your paper, cut up the sentences and place them where you think they should go in order of your paper.  It may be a little tedious but it will get you somewhere in the end.
  2. The Muscle Method: This method encompasses a couple different ones that I found.  This includes stretching and just getting away from your paper for a bit.  Stretch your arms and back then get down to business.  This refocuses your mind in a clear way to be more apt to write.  If this still doesn't work, go get a snack or walk around.  Save it and come back to it later when your mind is fresher and more ready to get your sweet writing skills on.
  3. Talk About It: Sometimes it helps to go see a teacher and have them read it or have a friend read it as well.  Other people could give you a nudge into what you might want to write down next.  They might just have to point out another angle to consider and your thoughts will start coming faster than you can write them down.
  4. Revisit:  Another method is to revisit the mental or written outline that you have for your paper.  Seeing where you want to go next can refresh your mind into how you want to make your paper flow.  The breakdown of it can give your mind a step by step way of trucking through your block.
Well these are just a few methods and I'm sure there are other specific methods like drinking tea or playing with your cat or someone else's cat or petting a baby bunny that could work just as well (THE BUNNY!!!). But those are more specific to the person so I just gave you the ones that the all-knowing internet talked about the most and that I've personally found helpful so enjoy it, live long and prosper and all that jazz.
... Bye!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

College Decisions



College Decisions

By Jessica Mertens


    Senior year is by far one of the most stressful years of your life. You are expected to make decisions about your future career and acknowledge the responsibility you will be taking on. Although high school can prepare you for college in many ways, it may not help you decide on a career. Even if you decide to enter college as an undecided major, as many choose to do, the choice still preoccupies your thoughts. As a senior who has gone through most of her senior year already, here are some things that I have learned.
  1. When you are applying to colleges, apply to places that you want to go because you actually like the atmosphere or education ect. Don't let others decide for you. You will make new friends and your family should always support you no matter where you are.
  2. Think carefully about what you enjoy doing. This may help you decide on a future career and even help you select your future college.
  3. Apply for FASFA and any other scholarships as much as you can. Any money that you can get for college only helps you in the long run. Especially those who cannot afford college. I hear so many people complain that they can't live on campus at school because they are too expensive and they don't want to take loans. Of course, that's a personal choice. But when you really want to do something and loans can help and be paid off in the future, I think you should take advantage of every opportunity you have.
  4. ENJOY YOUR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL! It's the last time you will be with everyone. Everyone is anxious to move on to the next chapter of your life, but you still need to stop and "smell the roses".  Take advantage of your opportunities and maybe even try something new! Enjoy the time you have with your friends and make the most out of your experiences. Don't stress so much that you can't have fun. Everything will work out the way that it is supposed too! 

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Prison


                       
     At 7:15, the bars lock shut. The guards make sure all of the prisoners are in their cells. Prisoners may only leave their cells when the alarm rings.
      Each prisoner is faced with a 4 year sentence for an unknown crime. Prisoners who fail to meet good behavior in 4 years are sentenced to more years in prison.
     At 10:20, the alarm sounds for the first level prisoners to eat lunch. If riots break out, the warden will send some prisoners to isolation while giving others a speech about respect. A strict dress code is implemented.
        Illegal substances like food are not permitted in the prisoners’ cells because they jeopardize the safety of other prisoners. Smuggling the illegal contraband is subject to severe punishment. Only the guards have permission to such privileges.               
      At 2:05, the final alarm sounds. Prisoners are under the illusion that the rest of the time is their own. However, the guards assign special recreations to keep prisoners busy and out of trouble. The nightly recreation is long and tedious. Once completed, prisoners have no more “free time” and must go to bed immediately.
You know… Just a typical day at high school.

-Megan Y

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Seniors (Cayla Martin)

For 4 years we have been surrounded by the same familiar faces, some that we love and some, well not so much. Although my brain is screaming "I'm so excited to be done with high school and move on," I am starting to look around the crowded halls of Milford High School and realize that soon I won't be coming back here. I won't be seeing most of these people again. This bittersweet realization is opening my eyes to the changes that I'm about to experience in my life. All of us are heading out into a big world, one we've never really explored before. For the past 18 years, I'm sure most of us have thought at some point "I can't wait to get out of here. I can't wait to be on my own." But now that it's really happening, it's a little scary. We're about to encounter countless new faces that we've never seen before. It's finally time for the seniors to move on and figure out exactly what the future has in store for them.

College is an exciting concept. Have you ever thought about how different it will be? We don't need a hall pass to go to the bathroom anymore. We don't need a note from mommy to get out of class early. No assigned seats, no attendance records (in most cases). No curfew! We finally get to be independent adults...weird, right? Soon we will have responsibilities that a lot of us have never had before. This is the crucial time that we will find out who we really are but also how hard it can be to live on our own.  Most of us are moving to a campus somewhere; we are about to have a new home. All new friends, new teachers, new classes, a roommate. And most importantly, our parents won't be sleeping down the hall from us. So many changes are happening that it's almost hard to believe that this will be happening in the matter of months.

The future is bright my friends, it is what you make of it. So do me a favor...make it count! Have fun and enjoy all of the opportunities college has to offer. It's time to start making our dreams become a reality.