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Interview by Kat Franklin Rossivew’s wrestling team of 2019 has the best lineup so far: not only do we have state champions, we have an opportunity for a dual championship. Mr. Martinez, as well as a couple of the players, were available for questioning. What are your goals for the team this year? Mr. Martinez: "Make the state tournament. The girls have a unique opportunity to win a state dual title and the individual state title. For the boys we want to repeat as district champions and qualify for state dual tournament." Do you think you’ll reach them? Mr. Martinez: "Absolutely, we expect to." What have you accomplished so far? Mr. Martinez: "We are the number one seed (position in a tournament bracket) for the district." Are there new wrestlers, and are they good at it? Mr. Martinez: "Yes, they’re acclimating to the wrestling." Do your wrestlers practice often? Mr. Martinez: "Every day, we put in a lot of work." How did your team develop in the off season? Mr. Martinez: "We lift and train in the off season." Do you have anything you would like Rossview to know about the wrestling team? Mr. Martinez: "It is a life changing sport." How should Rossview students participate to help out the team? Mr. Martinez: "Wrestlers spend a lot of time, energy, and effort to achieve their goals. School support will help them attain success. To overcome adversity it takes determination, commitment, perseverance and discipline." First time wrestlers: Justina Chongnee How is wrestling so far? Justina: "It’s great. It’s keeping me in shape and you get to meet new people on the team." What were you expecting and how did the actual sport live up to that? Justina: "I was expecting a lot of running and conditioning ... It’s exactly how I thought it would be, except that the conditioning was even more than I thought." Is it a challenge? Justina: "Yes. You have to be in shape, it takes a lot of movement and a lot of work." Would you recommend it to other students? Justina: "Yes. It’s a fun sport to do and once you get into it, you find out it’s really interesting." Current Wrestlers: Cameron Clark and Paul Pierson How is wrestling so far? Paul: "We’ve had a great season so far, and as regionals and state come closer, the pressure’s building. Every win counts." What were you expecting and how did the actual sport live up to that? Cameron: "I expected it to easy but it’s actually a lot of work." Is it a challenge? Paul: "Yes, practices are tough, but it’s ultimately rewarding. And although you do lose sometimes, you have to keep going and win your next one. Every match is a chance for improvement." Would you recommend it to other students? Cameron: "Yes, it’s hard but in the end it’s worth it." Experienced Wrestler: Emma Walker How long have you been wrestling? Emma: "Since late ninth grade year." What do you consider your greatest accomplishment in the sport? Emma: "I won national title in Oklahoma, I was state champion last year. I won third at state two years ago. I was two time All-American. I was defeated last year, and so far undefeated this year." How do you think Rossview will do this year? Emma: "There is hurt players right now, but I think we will do great if we do not give up." Is the training harder or easier than when you began? Emma: "It is easier because I am in shape now and I know what is going to come from it." Outstanding Seniors:
Mary Kim Frankie Rivera Best Citizens: Macy Rippy Matthew Bowman Danforth: Kyelia Maxwell Ryan Martin School Leadership: Tiffany Min Bren Glenn January 14th is National Dress Up Your Pet Day. Here are a few RHS pets looking fabulous! Inuit Culture and the Northern Lights
By Ashton Jenks What is Inuit culture? It is a complex, and often stereotyped culture, located in the northern hemisphere. Also, there are two kinds of Inuits. The first type of Inuit have mythology that is more similar to the Vikings but still live in the arctic circle, such as places like Finland, Norway, Iceland,and Greenland. These are the people that are more often referred to as Eskimo.The second type, which is formerly known as “Inuit people” based on the language they speak, even though there are differences between tribes: some are located in Siberia, others in Russia’s Arctic Circle, Alaska, and the top half of Canada. The Alaskan Indigenous groups were the last to be touched by colonists, while the Canadians pushed their indigenous population into reservations. Inuits in Russia haven’t been bothered much. Although these people span over what seems to be half the globe, if looked at from above they actually aren’t too far apart. Those in Alaska and Canada are believed to be of Asian descent and to have crossed over the no longer existing Bering Strait. They all share the same values of family, open mindedness, and cultural elements like pescaterian diets, heavy clothing styles, Igloos in the winter and leather huts in the summer, a shared language, and the religious belief of Animism and the Spirit World. Essentially, the Inuits believe that every animal has a soul and that all souls belong to one large energy force. Whenever the men go out hunting, they must make proper amends to the creatures they kill, otherwise the overlord of a species (careful to not call this a god) will alert all of the other animals of the species that this hunter is not deserving of their life. If they are proper in their treatment of their kill, the animals will know it is okay to be killed by them. Some examples of these animal overlords are Sedna, the girl who controls all animals under the sea, Narook, the lead soul of polar bears, and the Caribou Mother. The evil spirits of the arctic realm are called Mahaha and can cause all kinds of trouble as they cannot naturally inhabit humans, which makes them upset, although they may possess them. The Angakoks of every tribe were the only ones who were said to be able to control these spirits. Things like amulets, are used for this. Amulets can also signal being one with an animal kind and using the power from say, arctic foxes to aid a person in their endeavors. A common theme in their stories is that animal have souls, may have a human passing form, and sometimes decide to marry a human. In one story, a man marries a fox women, but she leaves after he insults her musky fox smell, reinforcing the idea that divorce and gender roles were not as clearly defined as other cultures. The Science Behind the Northern Lights! Now, let’s define what exactly the Northern Lights are in terms of Science. Their scientific name is the Aurora Borealis. Aurora means “the dawn” in Greek and Borealis comes from the Greek god of the north wind, Boreais. This beautiful phenomenon, despite the myths and legends produced by their observers, is actually a collision of highly charged ions in the atmosphere that are typically repelled by the earth's magnetism, but since they are so close to the poles, the action is skewed. A yellow light is caused by low altitude oxygen and a red light is caused by oxygen reacting at a higher altitude. The most famous color, however, is the blue/green/purple hue, which is caused by a collision of Nitrogen Ions. Now, let's see what our friends up north thought about them. Tying it all Together: Myths about the Northern Lights! The Cree Inuit’s, who live near the Quebec area, believed that the lights were the souls of departed loved ones trying to communicate with them. In the most northern tribes, they believed the lights were dead spirits mostly of children who were playing with the skull of a walrus like a ball. On the tiny island of Nivuk, near Alaska, they believed the opposite. That it was a herd of dead walruses playing with a human skull! Another Alaskan myth is that the lights were the torches of those who were trying to find the path to a better home for souls. In some places, they were believed to be the souls of the animals they had killed, such as salmon, deer, and walruses. In the most northern village of Alaska, Point Barrow, the Inuits believe that the lights are a symbol of evil and carry knives around during that time for protection. In the Northern United States, the Mandan people, not quite Inuit, believed that they were the fires of dwarves cooking walrus fat or even the fat of their human enemies. In Iceland, it was believed that the lights would relieve pain in Childbirth, as long as the mother didn’t look at them. If she did look, the child would be born cross eyed. In Greenland they believed that the lights represented the souls of stillborn children. The Finnish have two myths. One is the story of a fox trailing fire across the sky, as reflected in their word for the lights, “revontulet,” which literally translates to “Firefox.” The other belief is that the phenomenon is caused by the spume that comes from the blowhole on a whale's back. The Swedish believe the myth to be a good omen towards fishermen, and those who believed in Norse Mythology thought that the lights were a reflection of the shields of Valkyrie, female warriors who escorted those valiant in battle to Valhalla. Another Norse idea was that the lights were the “Bifrost Bridge,” which was considered the rainbow pathway to gain access to Asgard, the realm of the Goads (gods) and guarded by Bifrost. Other Myths about the Lights In Southern Europe, the lights were uncommon and viewed as a bad omen. It is said that red northern lights appear over England just before the French Revolution started and before a Gallic uprising. In China, the lights were viewed as being a battle between the gods and dragons. In Japan, they were viewed as good omen to childbirth, meaning that the child would be intelligent and beautiful. Conclusion In short, the Aurora Borealis is as popular a topic in mythology all around the world as the flood and its many versions. Being informed as to what other cultures believe or have believed is essential to better understanding the world and its origins. The Inuit people may not have influenced us much yet, but they impact the lives of Americans in Alaska, our counterparts in Canada, and those working in Arctic research stations to send you all those cute photos of Polar bears! (Narook in disguise). I hope you have enjoyed this educational lesson on Inuit beliefs and all of the fun ideas about the northern lights. I’m going to leave you with a wholesome fun fact: you can tell the difference between a male and female Parka because female’s will have a larger hood in order to properly cover their baby when they carry it on their backs! Isn’t that cute? Sources: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/alaska-admitted-into-union https://www.windows2universe.org/earth/polar/inuit_culture.html https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/never-alone-video-game-help-preserve-inuit-culture https://www.nps.gov/articles/world-war-ii-in-alaska.htm https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/inuit-myth-and-legend https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vitus-Bering http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Inuit https://www.theaurorazone.com/about-the-aurora/aurora-legends http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/inu/tte/index.htm http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/ict/2learn/jwfech/linksfirstnations/clarke/inuitfood.htm https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/TheFoxWoman-Eskimo.html http://www.native-languages.org/inuit-legends.htm https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/inuit-myth-and-legend Interview by Marlena Jones
What subject do you teach? “I teach chemistry and I also teach freshman focus.” Where did you work before RHS? “Actually, I graduated last December from ATC and then I was a substitute at the school system here from January to May.” Why did you decide to become a teacher? “I found out a couple years ago that I wanted to teach at some capacity, and I like helping people, you know, reach their potential, and figure out their life goals. It’s important.” Why did you choose Rossview? “I was looking for a positions in Chemistry or something I was good at, and this was the only school that had an available position. I do like [it here], even though CHS is my alma mater. I have grown to love the atmosphere that Rossview has here." What do you enjoy doing in your free time? “In my free time I like to play the piano, I like to watch netflix series, and sleep when possible." What’s your favorite thing about teaching here so far? “My favorite thing about teaching here is really just getting to know my kids and getting those personal relationships kind of like, in the class, and then getting to know them outside of just academics." “Falling Behind”
By Jenna Barney If you are Helios, then I am Mercury You are my light, I revolve around you You burn my skin with your fiery kisses Kisses that you refuse to give Your love is like gravity, and I'm feeling heavy No matter how much you wound me I stay by your side in unwavering loyalty As if love can heal the pain you've inflicted You're a blazing fire And I'm melting under your gaze I live a life of eternal sunburn Forever scorched and tortured by affection Your touch is a disease, a perilous poison You leave me to die, alone in the dust But somehow I always find a cure It's just barely enough to keep me alive I hiss through my wounds and my endless bleeding I feel like I'm dying, but your love keeps me alive I pick myself up and stitch my heart back together And I convince myself that I'm okay Finally you stop with your sick, twisted games And the cold, hard truth weighs me down like lead I lose my footing, and I'm falling hard And when I hit the ground, I'm permanently broken This time, my resources are limited And I'm no longer able to fix my broken bones I continue walking, but my scars distract me They laugh in my face, following and haunting me Maybe one day I'll be able to pick myself up But for now, I am damaged, and I speak to no one I'm alone in this world, with only a rose to accompany me And as night falls, it stares me in the face And I wonder if I can bring myself to love again.  International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
By Siera Millard Photo by unique2brilliance Imagine a world in which you are trapped completely. You are chained, either physically or metaphorically, and the chains that bind you leave bloody indentations on your skin and on your mind. You have no feasible way to get out of the situation and no one to help you. This is the world of slavery. Centuries and centuries before the adoption of slavery by American colonies, which is often what is associated with, tribes in Africa and the Middle East traded slaves or took them as war conquests. It was a common practice that would spread to the Americas by Spanish explorers in their enslavement of Native Americans and later in the African slave trade that would labor on plantations. Not until 1865 was slavery made illegal in the Constitution of the United States, and not until 1949 did the United Nations adopt the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Person and Exploitation and of the Prostitution of Others, an international agreement by the UN to prohibit slavery. December 2nd marks the day that the UN passed the adoption of this convention - the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. This was passed in 1949...only sixty-nine years ago. This is a short second in consideration of the span of the history of the world. Slavery today comes in many forms; its supposed complete abolition in 1949 does not mean that it does not exist, and does not mean that it is something we can forget. Slavery includes human and sex trafficking, forced labor, child labor, forced marriage, and other acts that threaten to make a person do something or do not allow them the freedom to leave the situation. A few mind-boggling statistics from the United Nations:
Sources https://unique2brilliance.com/important-days/international-day-for-the-abolition-of-slavery/ http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryabolitionday/ https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/trafficinpersons.aspx http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryabolitionday/background.shtml Winter Holidays Around the World
By Sarah Lange Celebrated on December 25th, Christmas is an annual holiday honoring the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, in accordance with Christian religions. Although the holiday itself remains the same from country to country, the methods of commemorating the occasion vary, with each country often establishing their own distinct traditions. Observing how other parts of the world practice Christmas can not only help realize what we have in common, but it can also celebrate the differences that make every part of the world unique. In Germany, the main focus of the Christmas celebration is Advent, which is observed on the 24 days of December. The Advent calendar, featuring 24 small boxes, each filled with a small gift, and the fir trees, which are decorated in houses and towns, are all part of what makes Christmas in Germany special. Your Christmas night might end with the sounds of carolers singing “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night) or “O Tannenbaum.” (O Christmas Tree) Continuing into Europe, Italy celebrates Christmas with visual depictions of “presepe,” or the nativity scene. These scenes are often featured around town, in homes, or in classrooms, and they utilize items found commonly in the country, such as pine cones painted gold, colored construction paper, and small candles. To wish your family and friends “Merry Christmas,” you would simply say ‘Buon Natale.’ If you were to take a trip to Ghana, your Christmas celebrations would be centered around the cocoa harvest, which begins in early December. Late on Christmas Eve, you can hear the sound of drums, dancing, and ethnic music coming down the streets as parades march by to celebrate the coming day. The night would end with fireworks and a celebratory dinner, stew or okra soup, porridge and meats, rice and a yam paste called 'fufu'. In China, less than one percent of the population is Christian, so awareness about the holiday is very limited; as a result, Christmas decorations are often only seen in the busier cities, such as Beijing or Shanghai. According to tradition, 'Shen Dan Lao Ren' (Santa Claus) comes to deliver presents to some families. Ironically, plastic Christmas trees are rarely set up in China, despite the fact that China is the #1 manufacturer of holiday decor in the world. Many Christmas traditions in Brazil are similar to those in America or Europe, including their fondness for Santa Claus (called “Papa Noel” in Brazil) and the games they play around the holidays, such as “amigo secreto,” which is similar to the popular game in America called “Secret Santa.” The majority of Brazil is Catholic, therefore Christmas Day usually begins around 2 am to attend Midnight Mass. After returning home, they sleep until the morning, when they open presents and eat their favorite foods. Their meals often consist of multiple types of meat, including pork, ham, steak, or chicken, paired with salads, types of rice, and fruits. Although all age groups can enjoy Christmastime, Brazilian adults particularly look forward to December, when they get paid two month’s wages, affectionately referred to as their “13th salary.” Since it is summertime during Christmas, Australia celebrates the holiday differently than many other countries in the West. Celebrations in Australia include caroling to local neighbors, which has become such a popular celebration that it turned into a national event; in each State capital city there is a “Carols by Candlelight” service, featuring Australia’s most popular bands and singers, including the Wiggles, Anthony Warlow, Colin Gery, and numerous others. These events also function as charity fundraisers, which is a great way for the public to give back around the holidays. Instead of Santa’s reindeer, children are raised hearing stories of Santa’s “six white boomers” (kangaroos). Compared to other Christmas celebrations, India’s is much smaller due to the small amount of Christians. The majority of the population is Hindu, however, approximately 1% (25 million) people are Christian. Midnight mass, followed by a feast at home of curries and flowers is how many families prefer to spend their Christmases. Following the heavy meal, people will give and receive gifts from loved ones and then walk the town, which is typically decorated with candles and Poinsettia flowers in honor of the Mass. And last but not least, America. In America, everyone celebrates the holiday with their own personal traditions; for example, some families like to go caroling, whereas others may watch animated Christmas classics, such as A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and A Miracle on 34th street (1945), or Hallmark movies, typically featuring a feel-good story about a couple who finds love during December. Both of these types of movies are watched with the intention of bringing the perfect amount of nostalgia and happiness to your life. These personal traditions are often blended with elements of religious observations and modern family practices, typically featuring regional elements from where you originated from or currently live. For the majority of Americans, shopping is a symbolic focus during the Christmas season. Gifts are typically purchased for all members of the family and additional friends, teachers, or co-workers, resulting in the noteworthy economic significance of gift-giving. All differences aside, there are many unique cultures that blend traditional and religious aspects to form their own Christmas celebrations; further, while none are the exact same, all are important in their own way and deserve to be celebrated. 2018-2019 Boys Basketball Season
Basketball season is upon us! Buy your season passes and your tickets to support our hawks. Here are a few words from Coach Jackson about his team. 1. Describe your team in three words. Physical, Senior-led, Shooters 2. What are you most looking forward to this season? Seeing if the boys can make the most of their opportunity to be the best they can be this season. These seniors have been waiting their turn to shine on the court. 3. How did your team develop in the off season? We had a great summer going 8-2 vs schools from all around the south. 4. What motivates you to work harder? I just love watching our guys improve every day on and off the court. 5. What is one goal you have for this season? To finish in the top 4 in the district, to advance to the regional tournament, and win at least one game to advance in the region.  One of the BEST Things About Winter
By Siera Millard Photo by bronxebridges Buzz. Buzz. The alarm you set on your phone the night before is going off in your ear. You hear the dreaded sound through your dream of defeating seven ninjas single-handedly and turn off the noise with an angry smack of your hand. You groan as you remember that huge test you didn’t study for in bio and start to drag yourself out of your warm, soft bed, right as your mom walks in and tells you that school is cancelled. You run to the window and see a world of swirling white. Snow day! As students at Rossview, we know quite a lot about snow days. I mean, we’ve had them enough in past years to be experts. As experts, we need to hone our skills on how to spend the perfect, most exciting snow day ever! Here are some things to do on those frigid days that mean no school:
Whatever you do on snow days, stay safe and be cautious...but also have fun! Sources https://www.bronxbridges.org/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=339961&id=0 An Introvert’s Guide to Surviving the Holidays
By: Ashton Jenks The holiday season is often very uplifting and the highlight of some people’s year. There are parties to attend, families to visit, and gifts to buy on black friday…….which in short is the introvert’s nightmare. Forced small talk, overly loud music, and pressure to perform are all extreme stressors for the average introvert, not to mention navigating the crazy world of politics that often comes up at family gatherings. However, the season can be enjoyable for an introvert as well, if you take proper precautions. So, here’s the introvert’s guide to surviving the holidays with your sanity intact! 1. Limit the number of things you agree to do. While this one may seem obvious, it’s easy to forget about. You may feel like you need to agree to go to every party or dinner, but learn to say no. Pick and choose the parties you decide to attend. Typically, you should choose ones that have people invited that you feel the most comfortable with. Also, smaller gatherings are easier to function at. 2. Make sure you bring some kind of escape to gatherings or outings. Whether it's a fully charged phone, or a good book, make sure you always have some way to calm yourself down before rejoining the mix. 3. Find the pets at a party! Almost everyone has a dog or cat, so spend some time socializing with a furry friend. It’s much less stressful. 4.Try to avoid group conversations. Try simply to talking to one person before you get into a group conversation. 5. Whenever you feel stressed about being asked questions, flip it around on the other person. Ask them some questions. If you’re in control of the conversation, you may feel a bit less awkward. 6. Memorize a list of holiday jokes to insert whenever the conversation lulls. It's pretty unchallenging and will score you easy social points! Bringing up holiday movies works well also. 7. Locate the restroom! If you ever just feel overwhelmed, this is the perfect place to take a break. Just say you have to go tinkle and no one will bother you. 8. Learn how to cook! This way, you can spend time in the kitchen instead of out mingling. And besides, then you’ll always have great cookies and might even get some compliments! 9. Take frequent steps outside. It will be nice and cold outside, which will refresh and reset your senses. 10. Make sure to block out more time for cleansing activities.Things like taking a warm bath, power reading a book, or watching a cute christmas movie are important things to make sure you have time to decompress. 11. When you do go to an event, set a time limit for yourself. Who knows, if you get to your appointed time and have relaxed enough, you might want to stay longer. If not, you can always politely slip out. 12. Most Importantly, make sure to tell your family about your needs. Let them know that you aren’t trying to be rude or anything, you just need your space. And. . .that’s one for every day of christmas! So, I hope this helped with all of the anxiety introverts feel near the holiday season! And these are good for all year actually. Happy Holidays! The Grinch-2018 Movie Review
Written By: Ashton Jenks The trend recently has been to remake old movies. We’ve seen Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book; but The Grinch is one of the first Christmas remakes, aside from all of the remakes of A Christmas Carol. The movie starred Benedict Cumberbatch (yes, that’s his real name) and Rashida Jones. It was produced by Universal Studios. It had a wonderful animation style. Boldly, this movie attempted to delve deeper into the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who’s backstory, along with adding some humor. Overall, this movie accomplished its goal, despite giving the Grinch a predictable backstory and Cindy Lou a very heartwarming storyline. As far as the humor of it goes, most of the funniest moments were premiered in the previews, which didn’t leave many other humorous moments to take the audience by surprise. Like most remakes, the movie felt a bit like a money scheme. However, this one was meticulously made and well cast, so it was worth it. Recommended for die hard Grinch fans and Christmas enthusiasts. This movie was a fine interlude to the holiday season. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Movie Review
Written by: Ashton Jenks This long anticipated movie has been previewing in theatres for over a year and it’s finally come out. Staring is the actress Mackenzie Foy. The film is based off of the famous ballet, but with a twist! Unfortunately, the movie was a bit uninspired. One of it’s strong suits was its graceful cinematography. The wardrobe chosen for the characters was exquisite, and was a true tribute to costume design. The sets were straight from Narnia and inspired a Christmas feeling! The dancers featured reminded everyone of the true spirit of the film. However…the plot of the story was not as clever as fans had hoped. The villain of the movie was a common archetype in film of the past ten years and viewers felt zero emotional connection to the characters. Overall, the movie was a feat of cinematography, but it lacked an in-depth plot. It’s a fantastic movie to get you into the holiday spirit and a good movie for children. Christmas Gift Ideas
Sarah Lange *We are not responsible for any review comments. Christmas, iconically dubbed the “most wonderful time of the year,” can quickly turn sour when you run into the annual dilemma: what gifts to buy the important people in your life. Maintaining the delicate balance between showing how much you care, while not breaking the bank, can be difficult, especially when you have to consider what your gift recipients actually want. For the environmentalist: $14.99 Pocket Vertical Garden Hanging Planter Not only will you feel good about giving this eco-friendly planter made of recycled materials, but your recipient will also enjoy the elegant design that instantly livens any area. For the chef: $27.99 Four-Blade Spiralizer A staple for any kitchen chef ranging from ameatur to professional, this spiralizer is the perfect addition to a kitchen connaisseur set of tools. This finely-crafted piece of machinery utilizes vegetables as noodles, providing countless vegetarian meals and an extra source of daily vitamins. For the music lover: $19.99 Horn iPhone Speaker Dock This dock plugs into your phone and immediately heightens the sound of the music you love, functioning artistically as a retro statement piece in any room of the house, and practically as a way to enjoy music at greater volumes. For the artist: $27.99 3D Printer Pen If sketching on paper has lost its outdated allure, then this hi-tech pen might be just what you need to make Christmas special. With five colors included, any design is possible and imagination is endless. For the bookworm: $29.50 Folding Book Lamp Have you ever stayed up late, huddled under blankets with a book in one hand and a flashlight in another? This lamp is the gift you never knew you needed. Gone are the days where you had to stop reading as soon as the lights were off; with this cleverly designed lamp, you’ll have plenty of reading light to finish off that next chapter (or five). For the athlete: $17.99 Bluetooth Earbuds If you’ve ever tried to work out with earbuds in, you know the age-old problems associated with it: earbuds disconnecting from your phone, or slipping out of your ears, hardly audible either way over the din of those around you. These earbuds are different, and therefore would be a great present to the athletes in your life. Not only are they noise-cancelling, allowing you to focus more on your intended purpose, but they are also waterproof (so sweat doesn’t get in the way of getting stronger) and bluetooth only (so your earbuds are guaranteed to stay in your ears, where they belong).  The Holiday Season - It’s not just Christmas!
By Siera Millard Photo by Deep Sea News As a member of a particular religion, or of no religion, we are prone to the possibility of overlooking other religious holidays in December. In a world filled with diverse groups of people, we must first be aware of one another and the intermingling traditions that make the world a great big melting pot. Buddhism - Bodhi Day celebrates the Buddha’s “passing into final nirvana.” Siddhartha Gautama, who would later become the Buddha, left his rich life to seek “peace of mind.” He sat under a fig tree, now called a Bodhi tree, and became enlightened during his meditation; thereafter Gautama was known as the Buddha, an important figure in Buddhism. The word Bodhi translates to “enlightened” or “awakened” in English. The date varies in different regions, but it is celebrated on December 8th in Japan after the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in the 1800s. The holiday is celebrated with extended meditation type practices. Catholicism - Christmas is perhaps one of the most well known holidays in the world. Today, December 25th has become a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and for people everywhere to come together and celebrate as a family. Traditions include decorating houses and trees with Christmas lights, telling the tale of Santa Claus, exchanging gifts on Christmas Day, caroling, and going to mass at Christian churches. Hinduism - December 18th marks the creation date of the Bhagavad Gita, the most important writings in the Hindu religion. It celebrates the figure Lord Krishna who taught his philosophies to prince Arjuna, explaining the importance of Karma and Dharma. Karma means that every action precipitates an equal reaction that can be either positive or negative. Dharma, according to the Hindu scriptures, is living a righteous life such as the Gita. The holiday is celebrated by the reading and study of the Bhagavad Gita. Judaism - Centuries ago, in the 2nd century BCE, the Holy Land of Jerusalem was claimed by the Syrian-Greeks who demanded that the people to adopt their religious and cultural norms. In retaliation, Judah the Maccabee led an army that defeated and drove the Greeks out of Jerusalem. The Jews reclaimed the Holy Land and the Holy Temple. In lighting the temple’s menorah, the seven branched candle, only a single container of oil was left that lasted for eight days. Afterward, the holiday of Chanukah (pronounced kha-nu-kah) was created. In honor of this occasion, a menorah is lit inside of houses and synagogues, and special prayers are recited.  Fantastic Movies and Where to Find Them
By Siera Millard Picture by fantasticbeasts.net **WARNING: May Contain Spoilers** For many fans of the Harry Potter universe, the new Fantastic Beasts movies are a subject for doubt, as any spin-off series will inspire. However, JK Rowling has yet to fail us. This new series is one that does not disappoint. It’s graphics, plot, and exceedingly talented actors already have many obsessed - Potterheads or not. The newest film, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, was released November 16th and Its success must be taken from two perspectives: the Potterhead and the average viewer. From that of a Potterhead: the movie is magnificently magical, but does not quite measure up to that of the original Harry Potter universe. In a franchise as overwhelming popular and consumingly brilliant as this universe is, any deviation from the original magic will never equal - if only due to a sense of loyalty. Nevertheless, fans can enjoy this movie for what it is - a look at the stories briefly presented in the original series, and a new set of characters to love. Throughout the movie, viewers are delighted by hidden gems and connections that only fans will take heed of. A negative of this aspect is that these gems seem to be thrown in for the mere purpose of including them. Nicholas Flamel makes his debut, the Philosopher’s Stone kept casually in one of his cabinets; the Lestrange family name appears in a new light; and a much younger Dumbledore catches the audience by surprise, a different yet no less enthralling character. With the addition of new things that have never been seen before, and a new look at what has always been, Crimes of Grindelwald could have been a disaster for many fans. However, Rowling writes and David Yates (director of the last four Harry Potter movies) directs a fantastic film. Jude Law plays Dumbledore with all the dignity and confidence of a professor we are used to, and actor Eddie Redmayne continues to cultivate love in Newt Scamander, a character only briefly mentioned in the books. Without prior knowledge of the wizarding world, these things will remain just another element to the film. To the Potterhead, they give the film an element of surprise and the feeling that you are in on a secret, noticing snippets that the average view does not. From that of the average viewer: from the soundtrack that you do not have to be a Potterhead to love to the believably crafted computer graphics, this movie has the potential to be the obsession of a new fandom. Johnny Depp, a well-known and loved actor, plays Grindelwald with an impeccable accent and all the wickedness of a dark wizard. Ezra Miller, surrounded by an aura of both innocence and near-cruel misunderstanding, began as the subject of the series, but has become less so in comparison to Grindelwald, the namesake of the new movie. Not only this, but the fantastic beasts of the movie have become another element that distinguishes the wizarding world, instead of a focus of the plot. This varying shift of main focus to main focus is one aspect that could have been improved. In all honesty, the series could have ended with the first movie and this extension is clearly just that - an unexpected continuance with no definite structure as to what it is mainly about. Regardless, Crimes of Grindelwald is filled with the magic of the wizarding world and newness of a series that will draw a new audience of watchers. Ending on a devastatingly suspenseful cliffhanger, it promises to continue the compelling new story of the Potter universe in films to come. If you are looking for a fantastic movie, look no farther than Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald at your local theater. Sources https://deadline.com/2018/11/fantastic-beasts-the-crimes-of-grindelwald-weekend-box-office-opening-widows-viola-davis-green-book-1202503142/ https://www.fantasticbeasts.net/ Photo by Abbie Painter "This is the Grand Prismatic Spring located in Yellowstone National Park."  |
