What is a group chat? Akshat Iyer

Group chats. A conglomeration of many different personalities in one tiny screen. People think that it is a problem for a person to be on it for too long, and they might be right. Why would staring at a screen be good for anyone? However, we aren't just staring at a screen with mindless communications. We aren't hurting our eyes for fun. We are learning. We are getting to know people. And a group chat is a way to get to know many people at the same time. It isn't just some small useless screen. It is a form of bonding. Some people don't understand the need for this type of technology. It can be used in a multitude of ways, far more than is realized. Emotions can be passed. Problems can be passed, and solutions can be found. People can be helped out, not only academically, but mentally and emotionally as well. However, the group chat can have its downsides when the memberships fall into the wrong hands.

A group chat that starts becoming a cesspool of negativity and toxicity is not good for anyone. It isn't good for the people who just want to have a good time. It is not good for the people who want to be helped, academically, mentally, or emotionally. In fact, a toxic group chat can be mentally detrimental to a person, causing what happens in the cyberbullying movies they show us at school. Problems. Problems that can have a permanent impact on a person's perception about themselves, which can cause some very negative outcomes.

All in all, group chats are an experience that is unique with every instance that exists. They can either be an outlet for positivity, or a cesspool of negativity. Whatever it is depends on who are in it. Group chats truly depend on the beholders.

We have some positive vibes from our group chat, this was totally not staged, don't worry about it!.

Types of Friends By Nick Furnari

          Some friends come and go, and some last for a lifetime; either way, they all have distinct personalities that make them who they are. This past unit we were given the task to write an essay, either definition, example, or classification. For this post I will write a brief classification article on 6 types on friends based on Friends the TV show. (inspired by Kyle Sutton's Types of People (in terms of Office characters).

Type of Friend: Ross

A Ross is someone intelligent, but lacks most common sense. He loves to inform others on history and science often through long rambling stories. A Ross typically has a high ego with a strong sense of competition. Nevertheless, although he might have a fast brain, he doesn't have the brawn. Ross acts like a dork and is a push-over that's regularly joked with. A Ross is simultaneously really good and really bad at dating, and is terrible at flirting. He has a sturdy moral compass and will fight for what he wants. A Ross is successful and works hard for his accomplishments. He has a good sense of humor and likes to goof around but also can be very sophisticated. Deep down, a Ross is very considerate and cares a lot about the well being of his friends and family.

Type of Friend: Monica

A Monica is the friend that always wants to be in charge. She needs everything to go her way to be satisfied. A Monica is a very meticulous worker and even if you try to help, you are just getting in her way. Don't get me wrong, Monica is also a very sweet and light hearted person except when it comes to competition. A Monica always has to win. She always strives for perfection and never falls short for trying. She is so passionate and puts so much effort into everything, you know you can count on her. She will sacrifice her own happiness for her friends and is mostly underappreciated for all her work whether it be her perfect cooking, or constant hosting. She is super organised and by the book, but enjoys the little moments in life, spending time with friends and making the most out of everyday. 

Type of Friend: Chandler

The king of sarcasm. A Chandler is a quick witted fellow that always gets a laugh. Whether as a defense mechanism or out of pure humor, jokes, puns, and sarcastic comments flow through him like water. He obviously has a great sense of humor and although it might sting to be the butt of one of his jokes, you can't deny his charm and creativity. A Chandler is silly and fun around his friends but can be serious about his work and his relationship. He helps out his friends and lightens up the mood. Although sometimes he gets too goofy, he is a lovable jokester that everyone wants to be around. Although it seems like he is just a book of jokes, once you get to know a Chandler he is really nice, and down to earth. He doesn't search for competition or a challenge, he is the one that's laid back just watching the game. 

Type of Friend: Rachel

A Rachel is the friend that doesn't know exactly how her life is going to go, and she is okay with that. She still has goals and aspirations, but will often live life as it goes, one day at a time not thinking too far into the future. She can be fun, and sweet, but could also be nasty, and a brat, spreading gossip all the time. A Rachel is often moody, and needs alone time every once in awhile, but also likes to be comforted by her friends. She is a sensitive person but strong willed at heart. She will work hard if she truly wants to improve. She is a beautiful person inside and out, and also constantly finds herself in a relationship. A Rachel doesn't search for competition and if she finds herself in one, she might not be the best to have on your side, but nevertheless, she will try her best. In all, a Rachel can be a little nasty or annoying, but is truly a sweet, kind, and wonderful girl to be friends with.

Type of Friend: Joey

A Joey is the lovable dummy. He is cool, charismatic, and always a little slow to the party. Although his intelligence is not on his side, he has the brawn to hold his own. He loves sports and is always up for a game. He could be very funny, either intentionally, or not. He is childish and fun to be around. A Joey is usually calm and takes life slow, typically not working 8 hour shifts everyday. Although Joey doesn't have much common sense, he has good looks and is irresistible to those who find him attractive. He is a true lady's man, great at flirting and always having a good time. Overall, a Joey is comforting to be around with a smile that's wildly contagious.

Type of Friend: Phoebe

A Phoebe is very strange, but in a good way. She is ditsy, goofy, and fun. A Phoebe is very spiritual and in tune with nature and animals. She is always happy and excited to whatever comes her way. A Phoebe is also not the sharpest tool in the shed, although she sometimes thinks she is. She is creative, and artsy but also has a serious side to her. She can be very persistent to get what she wants, and will not take no for an answer. She often uses this side of her to help her friends that could be too shy or polite to get what they want. Overall, a Phoebe is mysterious, interesting, and an odd but funny person who you always want on your side.

         

Writing Prompts

by Liam Rust

I really enjoyed the prompts we did on the last day before break, so I decided to expand on one of them, or at least the general idea of it.

Something from a person in North Dakota that would make someone living in California jealous.

A picture of the Badlands from North Dakota, similar to where this takes place.

She opened the door, and the cold, crisp breeze flew through her hair. The sun peeks just over the horizon. The road lay ahead of her, and she started along it, not going anywhere in particular.

The nice thing about North Dakota is that there's almost no one around. You can go for miles in any direction before you see a sign of life. This gave her room to think.

She walked for a long, long time, just thinking. Nothing to distract her except for the beautiful mountains and the wind when it got too cold. Her hoodie gave her a warm hug, keeping her cozy in the chill. She wasn't thinking of anything in particular. It was a trance state, like when you're trying to sleep, when you ponder everything. And it was nice.

She got home and opened the door. Her family was awake by then, and they were all gathered in the living room, eating and talking and laughing. The fireplace radiates warmth, but most of it is from the hearts in the room. North Dakota appears harsh, barren, and cold, but really, it's calm, loving, and warm.

As a little bonus, here's a little definition essay for "school."

Sparta High School, where we go.

School is a place to learn, but to a student, there's a lot more. It's where you see your friends. It's why you have to get up at the ungodly hour of 6:00 AM. It's a stressful place on days when you have tests and deadlines. It's a relaxing and fun place when you don't, and when you can have fun with friends or in class doing activities. It's what most students' lives revolve around. And though it's stressful in the moment, when I look back on things most of the time, I tend to have a good feeling about it.

Modern Day Hero: Shirin Ebadi by Ula Bitinaitis

Modern Day Hero: Shirin Ebadi by Ula Bitinaitis

Shirin Ebadi is a powerful women's rights, political freedom and human rights activist who is commonly known for two core things; firstly, she's won a Nobel Peace Prize, and secondly, she was the first female judge ever appointed in Iran.

Born on June 21st, 1947, Ebadi grew up in northwestern Iran in a city named Hamedan. Despite justices only being male at the time, she pursued a career in law in hopes to become one. However, in the midst of her flourishing career, the Islamic Revolution occurred in 1979. Under this new regime, rights and freedoms were restricted moreso than seen before; thus, Ebadi's position as a female judge was put at stake. As women were forbade from positions of power, she stepped down from her job. But as the repression and hidden mutiny grew between the people of Iran, Ebadi strived to focus on human rights law.

Ebadi managed to do a miriad of things in hopes of combatting this inequitable system, including purposely taking on court cases involving the human rights of Iran's inhabitants, particularly those of women and children. The repressive and patriarchal policies soon fell hard as she continued to win cases after cases. Soon, she esablished the Association for the Support of Children's Rights in Iran, and was a founding member of the Defenders of Human Rights Center in the city of Tehran. She didn't reside just in the middle east, though; she traveled the world spreading the call for protections of human rights and the necessities of them. Similar to the Anglo-Saxons, she persevered in times of seemingly ultimate defeat; rising up to grab chances when the possibilities are slim, she defied the norms of the new regime and, quite literally, acted as a valiant symbol; one of the definitions of heroism.


Picture and information sourced from http://www.infinitefire.org/bio/luminary/shirin-ebadi/

The Grapes of Wrath-- A Book Review by Emma Cerra

       For the book comparison assignment, I read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. To summarize it, the book is about a struggling farming family from Oklahoma's Dust Bowl, who, during the Great Depression, traveled to California in hopes of a better future and stable jobs. Tom Joad, who recently had gotten out of prison (for beating a man to death with a shovel), is the main character, and while he does a number of illegal things like attacking a policeman, they are deemed morally just.
      Steinbeck uses simple words and doesn't tend to drag on sentences describing something, but rather he's to the point about everything in his novel; he doesn't use 'fluff'. Which made sense to me since he wrote the whole book over a span of around one hundred and fifty days! Besides his style of writing, the only thing that might be a little difficult to comprehend are the accents that they have. Steinbeck literally writes how they'd sound. That was a little frustrating to read...
      On the grounds of how entertaining the book was, I'd say not very. It's more thought-provoking. Steinbeck properly portrayed an event in American history that affected millions of people across the country. In this book, he managed to capture all of the people whose lives had been devastated by what was happening in the country and their flight to find work and comfortable living.
    With all of this in mind, Steinbeck does include some graphic scenes (as you probably would've guessed when I mentioned Tom Joad beat someone to death with a shovel). There are scenes of a stillborn baby, of a man getting hit in the head with an axe... those scenes are somewhat few and far between, but still there nonetheless.
    For me, the book was a bit boring but I appreciated Steinbeck's portrayal of the hardships those people went through. I don't think I'd recommend it to a friend unless they're looking for a thoughtful book. I'd give it a 3.5/5.

The Oedipus Complex By Noah Fischer

Where do you even begin with this one?

Presented by Sigmund Freud, the Oedipus Complex theorized that all children go through a stage in their early childhood where they develop an attraction to their parent of the opposite sex and feel jealous toward the other for taking them away. This was named after Oedipus the King, who killed his father and married and had kids with his mother (the name seems slightly rude considering when he found out what he did, he was so disgusted he gouged his eyes out). As any normal person would, my first reaction to this was: that's disgusting, how could anyone ever think this up, and that still holds true, but Freud also theorized that memory of this was long repressed and forgotten by the time you would be able to look back on it. 

Now comes the question; is there any truth to this theory? Luckily this has been widely disproven, and many flaws in Freud's theory have been pointed out. In 1924 and 1943 studies (I know, outdated and times have changed but it was all I could find) girls were found to be jealous of the superior male status, rather than the relationship between the other parent. Another 1929 study found that father-son relationships tended to be good even when the father was seen as the mother's lover. Freud also only studied one child when trying to prove this, and the study was extremely biased, the child's father (who was conducting the research) was a big believer in Freud's work. A 2000 study also provides support that what seems to be attraction, could just be an attachment complex.

It's actually quite disturbing to think that you were ever attracted to your parents, which is why I think this not be as researched as it could be. It's just an awkward topic, so I'm glad that this has pretty much been disproven.   

New Years Eve Interview with Sarah Riley, Olivia Giralt, and Rebecca Nigro by Chloe Maher

At the beginning of the school year we did interviews with our classmates, so I opted this month to do New Years Eve Interviews with Sarah Riley, Becca Nigro, and Olivia Giralt, three tenth graders at Sparta High School.

What was an unexpected happy thing that happened this past year?

Olivia said this year she was especially happy about visiting California where she saw Yosemite and visited "adventurous" San Francisco, which she loved.

Becca and Sarah both said they were both thrilled to see the new Broadway musical Mean Girls this year. Sarah was surprised with tickets this month as an early Christmas gift. Whereas Becca was given tickets for her sixteenth birthday in October along with her sister.

Best Movie of the Past Year?

Olivia and Becca both agreed that Crazy Rich Asians, starring Henry Goulding and Constance Wu, was the best movie of 2018. Olivia said she enjoyed it because it was tear evoking, diverse, and just an all around good movie. Becca simply said she liked it because it was a really good romantic comedy, with a variety of unique characters.

Sarah, when questioned, thought about it for a bit, before ultimately declaring she loved Incredibles 2, the long awaited Disney sequel to the Incredibles.

What are three words you'd use to describe this past year?

Becca said her year was, "fun, cool, and cold."

Olivia said hers was, "thrilling, challenging, and forgettable."

Sarah described hers as, "interesting, good, and exciting."

Why would you choose those three words?

Becca said she'd describe her year this way because it was "fun, cool, and snowed in April this year."

Sarah chose those three words because she, "learned a lot of different things this year in multiple aspects in a positive way and there were lots of surprises."

What was your single biggest time waster this year? 

While scrolling through Instagram, Olivia stated, " I tend to use social media too much."

Becca said she spent, "way too much," time on youtube.

Sarah's biggest time waster was also youtube. However in the New Year, she says she plans to watch less.

What are your New Years Resolutions?

Becca's 2018 Resolution is to come up with a 2019 resolution, "by the time the ball drops."

Sarah says that in the New Year she'd like to do better in school.

Olivia, like Sarah, would also like to do better in school. However, she also wants to keep her room organized so she can stay focused.

Do you think you'll go through with your resolutions?

Becca said, "definitely not."

Olivia and Sarah both said they hope to, and knowing them they definitely will.

Becca, Olivia, and Sarah all requested not to be photographed due to impending awkwardness.

Here's a picture of Becca's super festive New Years Scrunchie!

And here are Olivia's New Years supplies!

Thanks for reading! I hope everyone has a great New Years!

Unit 1 Voice Challenge by Liv Przydzial

Unit 1 Voice Challenge

by Liv Przydzial

In Unit 1, our class discussed how to dissect and analyze an author's structure and diction. One of the key topics we learned about was voice, and we did several exercises aimed at helping us develop our very own voices as young authors. In my December blog post, I just wanted to play around with different voices portrayed through my writing to challenge myself a bit, as exhibited below:

Example 1

Everyone was looking at me. I mean, how could they not? With my perfect bod, sparkling dress, long curled hair (each curl with the perfect level of bounce, of course), and manicured nails, it's visibly hard for people to take their eyes off of me. I was stunning. As amazing and gorgeous I looked, my science project was even cooler. Not only was my volcano oozing with lava at the perfect consistency, but it was also bubbling! As soon as they turned the lights out, everyone's socks would be knocked off by how the lava glows in the dark. I know, I'd be speechless too. God, I should be in college already! They should've engraved my name into the first place trophy for this year's science fair as soon as they saw my name on the sign-up sheet.

In this first example, the reader can experience the cocky, matter-of-fact nature of the character through the first person point of view. Through questions such as, 'I mean how could they not?', and statements such as, 'God, I should be in college already!', the author's voice clearly conveys the character's cocky nature.

Example 2: 

September 21, 2067: 

I can't write much. No time. 

It's been 5 years.
I don't know how we haven't died yet. By we, I mean me and my sister. 
Every1 else - long dead.
Food's running out. Window's cracked. Water's tainted.
We'll only last a month or so, if even. 

But Shaya's started coughing. 

September 25, 2067:

Shaya's dead.
No water. No food.

I'll be dead by morning.

This example consists of two dark, gloomy diary entries. The choppy sentences create a more dramatic aura by being very to-the-point. Through the use of short phrases, the reader gets the idea that the character was in a rush, and gains an understanding of the dire nature of the situation. The character who wrote these entries clearly takes a very realistic, down-to-earth view on her circumstances, as conveyed when she made a prediction for how long she and Shaya would last and in the second entry with the statement, "I'll be dead by morning.' She doesn't make any hopeful remarks but rather just accepts her situation, as can be seen by how she stopped writing after making the conclusion that she would be dead by morning.

In the Spirit of Freedom By: Mikayla Flanz

To say what you believe. To do what you want. Be who you want, learn what you want, love who you want. To live as you choose.

In the short stories by playwright, Sophocles, Oedipus the King and Antigone the concepts in the overarching theme of individual freedom was stripped from the underlying characters, where every time they acted on something or made a decision they faced devastating consequences. While in the real world this stands true, the idea of individual freedom can also open up a world of  positive possibilities that do NOT end with your entire family dead, forcing yourself blind, or discovering you had children with your wife/ mother. 

Although defined as a natural born right in certain regions of the world, the term freedom is an umbrella topic. Of which, depending on who, what, or where the situation is taking place it dramatically varies. Despite the will of movements designed to break down the wall that divides those of freedom and imprisonment, whether that be institutional or personal, it exists as clear as day. 

I am only a teenager. So for me and most, if not all of my classmates individual freedom can be seen as a foreign term to us. Between parental restrictions and spending over eight hours in school each day there is little that we can control for the next two years until we turn eighteen. Once that anticipated day comes we can travel where we want without hesitation, see who we want without the judging eyes of guardians, pretty much do as we please (within legal boundaries). Yet until that day of glorious freedom, I, along with any other typical sixteen year old will speak when spoken to, complete my homework, and return home at curfew because those are my boundaries to my individual freedom.

Definition of New Years

by, Jenna Bargfrede

As the new year approaches around the corner one may begin to ask what does New Years mean? As a young girl I constantly wondered about the holiday. It always seemed trifling. What was the use of celebrating a thing that always comes? Birthdays will eventually end with a death. Christmas was a season of giving. Thanksgiving was there to show gratitude. Every holiday had some kind of purpose, but what was the purpose of celebrating the death of a year and the birth of a new one? After much thought I realized that there was a lot more meaning to the holiday than just the changing from one year to another. It means watching the ball drop, because no matter how stupid, how anticlimactic it is you always watch it. It means those family parties where you eat junk food/appetizers and watch a game or too. It means hanging out with friends, because they were there for you the entire year. It means new resolutions that will probably die in the first to weeks, but you try anyway because its a fresh slate and how can you pass that opportunity up. It means maturing. It means gathering the will to try again, to seize the opportunities that are given to you. It means the passing of time, moving on, change.

New Years celebrates life and how it continues indisputably. It celebrates the end of one year, the end of old, and transitions into the bright prospect of the new that is filled with opportunities. It celebrates your time on earth, because how else do we recognize a person's time on earth than by their years. New Years means many things, and I've begun to realize just why we celebrate it. So from the very bottom of my heart-- for perhaps the first time-- HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Destiny vs. Fate By Becca Lefkowitz

In today's society, there are two major perspectives between fate and destiny. One being is that if something is meant to happen it will.
For example, in Oedipus the King, his fate had been predetermined since birth, and he lacked individual freedom of choice. Oedipus took multiple precautions to avoid his fate. Which was that he would kill his father and end up marrying his mother. This caused him to leave his home to protect whom he thought were his parents. This didn't matter because he ultimately married his mother, while at the same time taking the life of his father. No matter how hard Oedipus tried, he couldn't avoid his destiny that he had been given.
The second perspective is that one's decisions throughout their lifetime, will alter and change the path they follow.
In "The Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick, John Anderton's system revealed that he would be responsible for committing murder on another human being. This puzzled Anderton because he had no intention on doing so. Anderton had individual freedom of choice where he could decide to either pay the consequences of killing Leopold Kaplan, or not follow through meaning his system had failed, making his program unsuccessful. After weighing these actions, Anderton decided to murder Kaplan so that his system is deemed successful and can keep his job, rather than suffer a future where his life work has been a waste. By doing this Anderton's destiny came true only because he was able to choose how he wanted to continue with his life.

Personally, I agree with both of these view points. I think that it depends upon the situation one person is in. For instance, in relationships I strongly believe that it is important not to force things and just let it happen because it takes two, and if you continue to persist being with someone it will not end well. On the other hand, I feel that when it comes to sports, activities, and school, one must work hard to obtain what they want. As well as the choices will have an impact on their life.

Two totally different perspectives, but I don't think that one is more correct than the other, it all depends upon the obstacle one is faced with.

Unlikely Friendships By: Jenna Blandina

At the beginning of this school year, our English class read an article about a young adult and an elderly lady who became friends  playing words with friends, and one day met in person. After reading this, we discussed how there can be unlikely friendships as shown in this article with the 22 year old boy and the 81 year old woman. Reading this article made me think about unlikely friendships in my own life, and I thought of one that is special to me. 
   
Whenever I can, I attend SCARC bowling on Saturday mornings every week. There, I volunteer to help adults with disabilities to bowl, and put a smile on their face. Through SCARC bowling, I have made 2 special friendships that I would consider to be unlikely. 

First, is my friend Katie. She is such a sweet heart, and loves when I attend bowling on Saturdays. She especially loves taking selfies on snap chat using the crazy filters! Even though she is probably 20 years older than me, we have a great friendship and I enjoy seeing her when I can to brighten her day. 

Lastly, is my friend David. David is THE nicest person I have ever met. Not only is he an amazing person on the inside and out, he is an amazing bowler where he gets at least 6 strikes per game. Whenever I see him, he always asks about my family and school, and always tells me he cares about me. I will always cherish this friendship with David, and I hope everyone was as kind as he is. He also teaches me to be kind to others no matter the circumstance, and I wish everyone had the opportunity to meet him.

In life, I think everyone has an unlikely friend whether they realize it or not. They make life more exciting like Katie and David, and I wish everyone could meet these two amazing people.  


Here's me and David when I ran into him at the fireworks on the 4th of July 

The article I read

Types of People (in terms of Office characters)- Kyle Sutton

Types of people based on office characters- Kyle Sutton
As you meet people in your life many of them will fall into 8 very specific categories. These categories can be seen perfectly through different characters in The Office.  After I watched the show I have noticed repeating qualities of characters seen in people I see and talk to every day.

The Jim. The Jim is very sociable and very smooth. He is a master of pranks and inside jokes. He's the kind of guy you should be worried is going to steal your girl. Jim serves as a voice of reason in craziness when he isn't right in the middle of it. Jim is a very genuine person you would like to hang out with and befriend. He does however have a severe inability to take anything seriously. If you say something extreme or stupid he can and will end up using it against you.
Summing quote: "God this is so sad, this is the smallest amount of power I've seen go to someone's head"
Gets along with: Pam and Stanley
Clashes with: Dwight, Michael

The Michael. The Michael is someone that on the surface seems like a funny and genuine person. However, the closer you get to them, the less you laugh and the more you get annoyed. Michael strives to have power but struggles keeping and exerting his authority and clashes with anyone who tries to take it from him. He is the kind of person that thinks he is everyone's best friend and social boundaries don't apply to him. He has a humongous ego, he sees himself as a modern day day Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln and Jesus. He is however, the king of misquotes and making you laugh (but never on purpose.)
Famous misquotes: "How the turn tables" "As Abraham Lincoln said, if you are a racist I will attack you with the north" "'You miss 100% of the shots you don't take, Wayne Gretzky'-Michael Scott" "Fool me once strike one, Fool me twice... strike three"
Summing quote: "Would I rather be feared or loved? Both, I want people to fear how much they love me"
Gets along with: Jim, Pam, Dwight
Clashes with: Toby

The Creed. A Creed is more than an airhead. Living completely in their own world, Creeds have a very mysterious aura. Oftentimes with a colorful past, a Creed's life seems interesting to say the least. While generally a nimrod, Creeds have a very specific skill set. This can be from chess, to acronym making, to finding the difference between two pictures. A Creed is possibly the funniest person you know but never makes you laugh on purpose. Generally, Creeds have no idea what is going on around them, if you ask them about something that happened they'll give you a general story but with a little bit of flare.
Summing quote: Creed: "Hey Jim I want to set you up with my daughter." Jim: "I am engaged to Pam" Creed: "I thought you were gay."
Gets along with: Everyone
Clashes with: Everyone

The Stanley. This person no matter what the issue is never has any sense of urgency. The classic sign of a Stanley is there lack of need to be a part of the group that many others have. A Stanley rarely loses their temper unless you try to control them. This is when they may blow their lid. Another quality of a Stanley is an innate love for food, whether it be what drives them or how they reward themselves. Stanley's are also generally irritable and grumpy, and like to be left alone.
Summing quote: I wake up every morning in a bed that's too small, drive my daughter to a school that's too expensive, and then I go to word to a job for which I get paid to little. But on pretzel day? Well, I like pretzel day."
Gets along with: Other Stanleys
Clashes with: Michael, Dwight, and Andy  

The Andy. If you had to sum up Andy in one word it would be vanilla. Very afraid to be impolite to someone Andy is quite the pushover. He is however very persistent with nicknames. When it comes to romance, an Andy is lost, they have a hard time picking up social cues and are it most ways weird. Andy's were often rich growing up and have several odd hobbies that they are very passionate about. An Andy is not a go getter, they generally like to have things come to them and this is generally their downfall. Many times, an Andy will try to be cool but just can't end up pulling it off. A self proclaimed genius in many fields, Andy is often clueless. NOTE: Any one that thinks they are a Jim, is actually an Andy.
Summing quote:"Andy Bernard does not lose contests, he wins them, or quits because they were unfair."
Gets along with: Jim
Clashes with: Dwight

The Toby. The Toby is similar to an Andy in many ways, but they are honestly a little more pathetic. A Toby is a classic buzzkill. They have the uncontrollable ability to shut down any fun having, and are the self appointed judge, jury and executioner of determining how appropriate your clothes are. The Toby is somebody that you don't want to hang around with, unless you are trying to make yourself look more outgoing by comparison, because then by all means he is your guy. The final characteristic of a Toby is they are willing to sacrifice everything for a woman, whether it be priesthood or a lifestyle.
Summing quote: "If I had a gun with two bullets and I was in a room with Hitler, Bin Laden, and Toby, I would shoot Toby twice."- Someone talking about Toby
Gets Along with: No one, except other Tobys
Clashes with: Michael

The Pam. A Pam is a total guy magnet, as well as a master of inside jokes. Pam can bring the life into the room and is really someone that everyone wants to be around. She has great aspirations in life, and in the moment she acts like she wants more than anything else, just before she finds something else to put her faith in. Pams are very in touch with their emotional side artistic side, and even though they are a great person, they don't always know when they are in a relationship where they aren't treated well and should leave.
Summing quote: "I hate the idea that someone out there hates me. I don't even thing Al Qaeda hates me. I think they just haven't gotten to know me.
Gets Along with: Jim, Micheal, Dwight
Clashes with: No one, or so she thinks

The Dwight. I don't really know where to begin with this one. A Dwight is really out there. Oftentimes with a childhood off the beaten track, Dwights bring their odd traditions and habits developed in their childhood everywhere they go. This can make them come off as weird, but when you get to know them they are very sweet. However, they would never want you to find this side of them, they try to come off as harsh, superior, and "better than you." By means of doing this, they will latch on to any power that they can have. They do however care for others in their own way, they take the safety of their colleagues very seriously and uniquely. While they are annoying at the surface, the more you get to know them the more you begin to like them.
Summing quote: "I come from a long line of fighters. My maternal grandfather was the toughest guy I ever knew. World War II veteran, killed twenty men, and spent the rest of the war in an Allied prison camp. My father battled blood pressure and obesity all his life. Different kind of fight."
Gets along with: Pam, Michael
Clashes with: Inferiors

My Dogs, Heroes Journey By Garrett Neuschatz

 The Heroes Journey can be seen everywhere in books, movies and real life throughout time, new and old. But can it be applied to my dog? This is Dax and the pond he rules over. He is a true hero and a great dog, but it wasn't always this way. Lets look at the steps he took to reach the heroic status he now possess!

Dax's Kingdom

Dax 

Call to Adventure- The humans tell Dax of an evil bird called a "Heron" that has been ravaging the peaceful Fish Kingdom and attacking its citizens.

The Evil Heron

Refusal of Call- Dax felt tired and unmotivated. Maybe he would deal with it later, instead he would rather sleep.

Crossing the First Threshold- After his nap Dax decided he would go outside to mess around, but the humans wouldn't open the door to let him back in. From this point he knew he had to defeat the evil heron and complete his quest.

Supernatural Aid- All of a sudden the great Elder Swan called out to him from the pond. He said "Dax the Fish Kingdom is in great peril. Its up to you to vanquish the terrible bird. Luckily I know of a way; A mighty bark will scare off the fiend." Dax thanked the swan and continued to the pond.

The Elder Swan

Road of Trials- Dax didn't reach the Fish Kingdom without any troubles. He got distracted sniffing a mysterious smell. He ran after a squirrel but to no avail didn't catch it. For a while he forgot about his mission and just rolled around on the ground

Temptation- He had almost arrived at his destination when he saw a particularly nice looking tennis ball. Despite his urge to put his mouth on it he decided it was likely a trap and continued on.

The Ultimate Boon- Dax finally laid eyes on the bird menace and with all his strength he let out the greatest bark he could muster. The heron flew off in fear as he had been foiled.

Freedom to Live- The humans thanked Dax as he returned to the house a champion. He was the hero of all and had been named ruler of the Fish Kingdom. Dax was now free to do whatever dog stuff he desired!

Responding to a Prompt By Liv Canova

On the day before Winter break, we responded to prompts and I really liked one of my responses. So I'll be using that for this month's blog post because I have no other original ideas.

The prompt: Use a line from your favorite song as the first line of whatever you're writing

Foreword: I don't know if this is my favorite song (called Lets Be Still), but it's really nice and if you want to listen to it, here's a Youtube link-- https://youtu.be/n74SOgFaOmk

Just for a moment, let's be still. The stars in the sky will watch over us while we lay in the field. Let's remember this second because life is fleeting and nights don't last forever. Let's be still, standing on the stage and singing while the lights blind me and my dress is too long. Let's be still, holding on to 1 hour until my mom picks me up and I need to leave my milkshake and my friends and the sweet potato fries I stole from another table. Let's be still, sitting on my bed with my friend and watching Legally Blonde before we have to go and perform. Let's be still, as one half of the dining hall jumps up and down and grabs the huge silver cup while the other half holds back tears. Let's be still, sneaking out of a party and walking around the block with someone else, while its cold but we don't care.
Let's be still because nights don't last a lifetime.

Interview with Jimmy Apostolico Jr. by Vincent Apostolico

           I had the honorary privilege in interviewing Jimmy Apostolico Jr. and I learned a lot of interesting things about him. The thing Jimmy likes the most about himself is how he likes to laugh a lot as he is around funny people very frequently. He has two brothers, Tommy and myself, and he spends a lot of time with them playing golf and video games. Between the two, he said that I was the more annoying brother as I talk way to much which is a very true statement that I support. He also has a dog named Maximus who is a carrion terrier that gets so hyper when he sees any other animals or new people. The funniest memory that Jimmy could recall in my interview was when his dog would be on a long leash in his backyard and Max would see the neighbor's dog next door. When Max saw the neighbor's dog, he would try to run after it not knowing the leash was attached to his collar and he would be yanked back in the air once the leash was fully extended and Max would always end up flat on his back. Jimmy loves a lot of certain foods but he said that pizza and steak would be his favorite food if he had to choose. He said that at any restaurant he goes to, he will literally have either pizza or steak every time. He is currently attending college at the University of Saint Peter's in Jersey City and he is also on their golf team. According to him, the hardest thing about college is socializing as you are in a place with thousands of people around you that you have no clue who they are. Jimmy has one roommate who is also on the golf team and he is from Puerto Rico. He finds his roommate very interesting as he has never been able to interact with a foreigner and that he loves to listen to Latino music, which is a type of music Jimmy never really listens to. Jimmy didn't really like high school as he found it very hard balancing all of his schoolwork while playing on the golf team at Sparta High School. He didn't like how he barely had any free time after school and how he would have tests every single week. He always felt like assignments would always pile up one after another. Jimmy's favorite teacher in high school was Mr. Brennan because he found his class very interesting and not boring. He also loved Mr. Brennan's sense of humor as he would always find himself laughing in his class.
              The earliest memory Jimmy has of being a golfer is golfing with his Dad at Lake Mohawk Golf Club, which was his first home golf course. Jimmy's Dad is his role model as he taught him so many life lessons to become the man he is today. He doesn't think that he would able to accomplish what he has without the help of his Dad. In golf, Jimmy looks up to Rickie Fowler as his role model because Rickie has a calm demeanor and Jimmy loves to be calm all the time on the golf course. Rickie is also a small guy compared to the other golfers on tour and Jimmy is also a small golfer. He loves that Rickie is an amazing golfer that doesn't let his height stand in his way of his success. According to Jimmy, Quinn Van Es is one of his best friends that he loves as he is a very funny guy and is easy to talk to. Quinn has been one of Jimmy's best friends since pre-school and he has loved that they have maintained their friendship for so many years. The greatest accomplishment Jimmy has experienced is winning the 45th NJSGA Boys Match Play Golf Championship where all the junior golfers in New Jersey, ages 15 through 11, compete against each other. He admires this win as he thinks it was very cool to win a match play tournament and to be called a state champion. The dream job that Jimmy would like to pursue is being an accountant as he would like to interact with a lot of people and he would be performing a lot of math which is his favorite subject in school. One of the most interesting things I found out about Jimmy was that if he could be one famous person in the world, it would be Justin Timberlake as he is a very talented person that has had the amazing opportunity to be in many great movies and write many hit songs that everyone has listened to. Jimmy and I had a great time during our interview and I hope you all learned a new thing or two about him.

Are We Destined to Be Something?

For this unit, we read Antigone and Oedipus the King, by Sophocles. The main topic for both these Greek dramas are indisputable destinies and taking charge of fate. After reading these stories, I've started to think if all of us have a destiny and/or fate or if humankind has a destiny. Are our lives planned ahead of our birth? If so, by who? Are we able to change it? I'd hope that's not the case, having a superior something knowing what is there to come in my life. It probably sounds crazy, I know, but think of it. From the very beginning of the universe, The Big Bang, every impossible circumstance happened for that specific event to be possible. The asteroid that separated a floating rock to become the Earth and the Moon. What if the asteroid that killed off the dinosaurs missed? There wouldn't be us. If it weren't for these tiny things to happen billions and millions of years ago, we wouldn't be here. Everything happens for a reason. Every action has a reaction and that reaction can cause something else. Maybe our fate is predetermined. Or maybe it's all a big coincidence. Whatever it is, I don't think we have the power of taking charge of what happens to us. Unfortunately, only fate can determine that (at least in my mind). Even thinking about this hurts my brain. Ouch.

The Accidents of Heros by Veronika Waltner

             Even when heroes are at their best, accidents can happen.  This does not make them any less  of heroes. Especially when the accidents were genuinely unpredictable. An example of this took place this Christmas. It was a good Christmas day and we had already gotten though the gifts and were moving onto the stockings. We started off with the stocking for our two dogs Psyche and Odin. My mom sat down at the chair that she almost always gives them food in and they were excited as they had just gotten a bunch of rope toys. The stocking had some more toys and cookies for them both.  All was well until Odin began showing his teeth.  Just as my mom got out the words "He's making an ugly face," Odin growled at Psyche again. She, being a stubborn husky, growled right back at him and they got into a barking, snarling fight. While this wasn't good, it wasn't horrible as they were not biting down and normally don't hurt each other doing this. It had been many months since this had happened and we were more relaxed.  Unfortunately this time Odin managed to clip both my mom and Psyche with his tooth. After doing our best to care for Psyche we decided that there wasn't much we could do without a vet.  Despite our best attempts to shave the fur in the area so we could cover it with something, nothing would stick to her fuzzy head.

         After doing some searching my mom found a vet that was taking emergencies, despite the holiday.  We put Psyche in the back of the Jeep and headed out to the vet. After waiting in the lobby, we took her into the vet's office.  He looked at the injury, sedated her, and put in three stitches. Then he injected the reversal agent for the sedative. As she was beginning to regain consciousnesses we noticed something was off. Her eyes were really dilated and she was not reacting to her surroundings. The doctor informed us that Psyche is fine and was just coming off of the sedative and should be up in about 20 minutes. Sadly this did not happen. She kept twitching, crying, and looking at things that were not there. It turns out that she did not react well to the Ketamine that was given with the sedative to relax her. She was actively hallucinating.  The doctor informed us that he couldn't do anything and that it just needed to wear off.  Luckily after two hours on the floor of the lobby, it did wear off.  Although an unfortunate accident occurred, the vet is still our hero who helped take care of Psyche's wound. She is fine now and after a few days will have her stitches out. She's up to her usual playfulness though, so one stitch has popped out already and we need to be careful. I am still thankful towards that vet for helping us take care of an important member of our family.  Now if only we had someone to save us from the unexpected vet bill.

An Interview With A Girl By Nick Murray

Recently, I interviewed a girl. To keep this person's privacy, I will refer to her as Lorry. Normal conversations with everyday people are very short and only go surface deep. However, during our interview, I got to know who the real Lorry was, and see her perspective on things, and life.

Lorry feels that her greatest hardship is dealing with the constant fighting between her parents, as they fight over the most minute things, which drives her crazy. Soon after the fighting, her parents divorced when she was only five. At the time she thought that it was only her mother that started the fights, and the arguments, but looking back at it now, she says, she really doesn't know whose fault it really was, if any. Lorry lives with her mom, and she explained that she really didn't miss her dad all that much, and is happy that she gets to live with her mom and do not see her dad regularly.

Lorry and her mom share an astonishing story when it comes to their blood relationship. Her mom had an egg donor, meaning that some other women who Lorry does not know, is technically blood-related to her. Her mom could not ovulate and therefore in order to conceive a child Lorry's mom needed an egg donor. So, technically she is not blood-related to her mom. However, Lorry does not think it hinders their relationship whatsoever. But, Lorry wonders what she would look like if she had the same DNA as her mom.

Lorry has had amazing memories and horrific ones. Her most treasured memory was when she was celebrating Christmas at her grandmother's house. She felt extremely close to all of her relatives, where as now she feels distant from most of them. She says she misses those times when everyone got along, exchanged gifts, and was happy. On the flip side, Lorry's worst memory was when her parents were divorcing, and her mom would be constantly arguing with her father and throwing the dog gates she had at her husband. Lorry felt at that time in her life, it was extremely hostile and was "the worst experience of my life", especially due to her being so young; only five years old.

I asked her a question, that was first taken as disturbing, yet in the end, made Lorry really think. The question was, "If a family member died, who would most affect you?". This, in Lorry's opinion, was easy, because she knew her mom would be the obvious choice as they have shared so much of their lives together and that Lorry wouldn't know what to do without her. However, when I asked the question, "If a family member died, who would least affect you?" she was immediately stumped. After almost 4 minutes of thinking, she decided her sister would least affect her. Lorry's explanation was that she almost never sees her sister, and even though she wants to be close with her, it just doesn't work out.

The last topic we discussed, was siblings. Lorry and her brother, let's say Max have an odd relationship. Max and Lorry are twins and have been in the same grade all of their lives until one year Max was moved up to the grade above Lorry. Lorry feels that she has to live up to her mother's expectations because she often compares the two together. Lorry says that a fear of hers is disappointing her mother. With all of the stress school puts on a student, combined with the competitive environment Lorry suffers from, amounts to a lot of hardships. However, Lorry knows that her mother just wants the best for her kids because due to their financial positions, scharlarships are a necessity.

Street Wear in 2018 - Marguerite Bysshe

We live in a world where 15 year olds will pay $500 for a white tee shirt. Sad, I know. A year ago, I may have agreed with the majority in that paying that much for a piece of clothing is ridiculous and overpriced. However, in the past year I've gained an uncanny appreciation for high fashion brands in all their glory. To be honest, I still don't celebrate those who pay ridiculous prices and don't even have a steady job, but I definitely understand the brands and the stories behind their fashion a lot better.

One of the most well known high fashion brands is Gucci. Gucci was founded in 1921 in Italy and was originally inspired by the horse racing style. A brand for the 1% since the start, every piece was extravagant and every stitch was perfect. Even today, their styles are very avant garde. Models on the runway continue to push boundaries and amaze audiences. Unlike a lot of other high fashion brands such as Yves Saint Laurent Maison Margiela, Gucci is known for being extremely colorful and vibrant. Prints on prints is a common design. Their signature icon is a snake, a simple "GG", and a red and green stripe. If you see anyone wearing any of the above, its probably Gucci or fake Gucci.

Today, much of the top 1% still strives to own some of the more intricate pieces, but more commonly, young fashion enthusiasts spend their money on signature items such as the Gucci belt, shoes, or wallet. Belts start at $280 and can get up to over $1,000. Sneakers, slides, and heels are all more expensive and less common.

(courtesy of gucci.com)

One of my personal favorite brands is Comme des Garcons. It is actually a Japanese company that was founded in 1973 and translates to "like French boys". Their clothing is less expensive (for the most part) and targeted towards all ages. Comme's most popular collection is called Play and features fun, young looking items with lots of red hearts on black and white. Like a lot of Japanese brands, Comme is very experimental. However, they also do a lot of collabs with other brands such as Nike and Supreme to produce limited pieces that can go for over $1,000. They definitely have a clothing line that focuses more on shirts and shoes more than anything else. Some of their most popular items are their Converse high top with the classic red heart and their box logo Supreme collab shirt. If it has a red heart or a split Nike logo, it's probably Comme.


(commedesgarcons.com)


When people think of Prada, they usually think of handbags and sunglasses. However, this Italian brand is so much more than a purse company. Their clothing items are practical and made for everyone. Both their women's and men's collections are incredibly diverse and include something for everyone. Celebrities often wear Prada to events, with their large collection of gowns and jewelry. A lot of their bags feature a triangle logo. While many of their clothes are traditional looking and inspired by current high fashion looks, most of their shoes are very futuristic looking. Both their men's shoes and their heels are often black with a pop of color like red or blue.


(www.prada.com)


The time has come to talk about one of my favorite brands, Gosha Rubchinskiy. It was founded by a Russian photographer and designer from Moscow in 1984. Gosha is pretty athletic looking and soccer inspired and they have collaborated with brands such as Adidas and Fila in the past. Most of their pieces feature bold Russian writing and very modern designs. One of the biggest factors that I love is that almost all of their clothing is gender neutral. Plus, they have different branches off the main brand such as "Rassvet", which features some staple designs on different silhouettes and is usually cheaper than some of the main Gosha pieces. Because it isn't one of the mainstream high end brands, only someone who truly knows street wear styles can spot someone in Gosha.


(www.doverstreetmarket.com)

There are so many other high fashion street wear brands out there that it's impossible to talk about all of them. As sports such as soccer and skateboarding continue to develop, so will these well known brands, since so many of them are dependent on what young boys living in cities around the world are interested in. So many of these brands that have previously been known for their expensive bags and shoes are moving towards marketing towards the younger generation, especially high school and college age boys in Europe and fashion hubs such as Los Angeles and New York City. Some other popular brands include Balenciaga, Supreme, Yves Saint Laurent, and Louis Vuitton. Every company has a unique set of styles and signature pieces. Hopefully this brief summary of some of the most popular street wear brands right now will help educate you on what's really in style and will hopefully allow you to spot some of these brands on the streets.