BREAKING NEWS! SOPHOMORE SADIE PHILLIPS GOES ON A LIFE CHANGING TRIP TO MEXICO
By Aleah B
During July of this year in the easternmost side of Cancun, Sadie and her family took a three week trip that changed her perspective on life. When asked why she said “ While I was there I felt like I was an entirely different person.” It was unlike anything she's ever experienced. The atmosphere of the people there was amazing and along with the weather and amazing sights, she said it made for the best trip she ever went on. Sources asked her what her favorite spot to enjoy Cancun and she replied with “The best part of Cancun was the beach, My dad saved someone from drowning while we were there, someone my age.” When talking she said that, that experience changed her. “I talked to the girl he rescued after, she told me that she’s wanted to surf for a while and started to do so earlier that week, she got swept up by the waves and struggled to stay afloat.” She went on by saying “It made me realize that if I was her, I probably would’ve died not being the person I wanted to be.” She later added; “It sounds dramatic but it's true” During this trip she realized that the life she wanted to live was full of adventure and experiences that would help her become a better person both literally and mentally , whether that would mean helping to save a person's life or taking dives down in coral reefs to relax and enjoy the beauty of mother nature. |
How do you control your narrative?
By Sheridan Tidwell
Oldest child, first generation, and ambitious.
Stephanie Tapia-Ibarra is a 16 year-old student at Champlin Park High School and she wants people to know that her drive for success is all from her. Born into an immigrant household, Stephanie grew up only speaking Spanish the first few years of her life, right up until she started kindergarten. “It was a struggle, and even now I still mix up and forget my words, even after a decade of knowing English.” She described this experience with a glimmer of joy in her face, as she continued, “I think the idea of being the first person in my family to go to college, especially being the first woman, is important to me to show how hard I’ve worked.” “Have you felt any external pressure from your family, or even society, to pursue higher education?” I ask. “No, I think that it has always just been one of my goals. It’s more of a hope or something they want me to do, but not in a way that feels like there’s pressure being put on me,” Stephanie laughed while responding. “I just want to prove to myself that I can do well and that I’ve earned the future I’m going to build for myself.” Today, Stephanie finds success and joy in reading and writing, as well as playing the violin. She was marked as the top 20% of readers in the country in her freshman year and started the creative writing club at CPHS. It’s clear that despite any challenges that come her way, Stephanie Tapia-Ibarra is here to carve her own path. |
This is the come up story of jaeden Udean
By Tashayla Jones / Jaeden Udean
Jaeden Udean was an 8th grade starter in basketball for Columbia Heights high school. He started playing basketball when he was younger for his elementary school when middle school started he went to Columbia academy. His 8th grade year he knew he wanted to continue playing basketball so one day he could go to the NBA. When the basketball season started for his middle school columbia academy he joined the basketball team. It was his first time on the team at his school so he knew he had to show up and show out after his first couple of games and practice. All eyes were on him at every single game.
When he showed the coaches what he can do they moved him up to the freshmen team as u can see in the picture he was celebrating a shot he made without someone taking the ball or someone blocking his shot.he always knew he would be a star one day. The beginning of 2023, he became more and more known for what he do eventually he would graduate from middle school and become a freshmen in high school and he will continue to attend to school at columbia heights high school as well as the basketball team except this year he would be on the varsity team for his high school and compete against students on the brooklyn center high school team and they would win their game. Now during the 2023-2024 season he would go against teams like St.Anthony and Alexandria. With him being one of the best basketball players on the team and in Minnesota he appeared on a Minnesota youtube channel based on future NBA stars that lived or live in minnesota. This is the link to watch Jaeden Udean play the sport he love’s https://www.youtube.com/@FreshCoastHoops/featured He encourages people and fellow students to continue to follow their dreams and don't let anyone tell them what they can or can’t do. |
the homeless in San Francisco need help getting sober but can't get it
By Ta’ Shayla
This reading is about how the homeless in San Francisco need help getting sober but can't get it .
A city in California known as san francisco has most people leaving the city and state because of drug usage on the streets. The people who have children have to announce that they are coming down the street with their kid so the drug users can put it away so the kids won't see but they don't put them away the users just look at the people and their kids and continue to do the drugs. A blogger comes to San francisco to share how the homeless are being treated and how there is no way to help them get off the streets and the drugs. When most people get asked if they want the help they say no because they like the feeling and they say it's fun to do. I know most of the people that are reading this are like how do they buy the drugs and why are they not being stopped. Well in san francisco if you steal anything at $950 and under then it's a misdemeanor so they can't go to jail for it and the police can do anything about it.So if a homeless person walks into the store with a big bag then just know they are going to grab and go and the sad part about it is they will not run out the store they will walk out because they know nothing will really happen. So with all of that being said and done people who take a trip to san francisco will not really know about getting robbed unless they do research. There is nothing you can do to stop the people from stealing or breaking into your car because the police take 10-15 minutes to answer and according to a video I watched one time it took 40 minutes for them to answer. Most people died at least more than 30 times from the drug fentanyl but in reality most sober people don't think it’s the homeless fault that they are how they are because the state gives them oil to take with cans but they use that as a drug too so really it’s no way to help at this point of time. Now let's get back to the stealing. Most of the stores are shutting down because they are not making as much money because people steal it and sell it to get money to buy drugs. In the first picture you can see the people looking like zombies walking down the street because they are half dead from all the drugs they do but most of them have family that can help them and random people who want to help them get sober and off the streets but they let the drugs take control of them and it gets to a point where they would just do it anywhere. Basically im saying the head of san francisco need to let the police help because they do want to but can't because they was told not to and it's sad because the homeless really get paid to do drugs because they all get $260 a month with a pack that has things that will help them do it. If I could help I would. |
From Tradition to Innovation
By Elena Schweitzer
In a world plagued by environmental crises and health concerns, the time has come to challenge outdated traditions and embrace a more sustainable way of living through vegetarianism and veganism. Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting these diets, many in our society continue to cling to outdated excuses rooted in tradition, laziness, and misconceptions.
Tradition is often cited as a reason for maintaining an omnivore diet. I find this to be a ridiculous excuse in a society that claims to be more liberal and open minded in 2024. The reality is that traditional diets evolve over time, and with the pressing need for sustainability, we must adapt our eating habits accordingly. In addition, meat consumption is often linked to masculinity which in our time period doesn’t make any sense honestly, since we have a very diverse range of foods that can provide the necessary nutrients for a healthy lifestyle. One common misconception is the belief that a vegetarian or vegan diet lacks sufficient protein. However, numerous plant-based sources offer ample protein, including legumes, tofu, tempeh, and quinoa. Furthermore, a balanced plant-based diet can provide all the essential nutrients needed for optimal health, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The environmental impact of meat consumption cannot be overstated. The livestock industry is a major contributor to deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. With the global population expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, we simply cannot sustain the current levels of meat production. Transitioning to plant-based diets is essential for mitigating climate change and preserving our planet for future generations. In addition to the environmental benefits, vegetarianism and veganism offer numerous health advantages. Research has shown that reducing meat consumption can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. Furthermore, plant-based diets are often more affordable, allowing individuals to save money on grocery bills while improving their overall health. It is so sad that we, me included as a vegetarian myself, are still seen as extremists by trying to improve our planet and to ensure a future to the next generations, while omnivore people who make fun of us, kill billions and billions of animals every year in most brutal way possible not even considering to transition to a more plant based diet for the simple fact that it isn’t completely socially accepted and for the TASTE. So as a conclusion I will ask a question, is taste really worth this huge amount of pollution and the death of billions of creatures? |
What is your favorite thing your mom makes?
By Brady Schornstein
My answer to that question is simple, the warm gooey apple cinnamon bread my mom bakes. There is no better feeling than the taste of this loaf in your mouth. It's a tasty confection that blends the cozy tastes of autumn. Every loaf has a soft crumb that melts in your mouth and the ideal amount of moisture and texture.
As you cut into the bread, big pieces of soft apple are strewn throughout, and the smell of cinnamon fills the room. The apples are perfectly cooked and offer a natural sweetness that combines well with the heated spices. With a hint of cinnamon adding a comforting warmth that is ideal for a cool morning or a lazy day, every bite is a flavor explosion. I guarantee you will adore it just as much whether you eat it straight or with a dab of butter. If you need something to turn your day or night around, get your hands on some of this masterpiece. |
Is Starbucks or Caribou better?
By Agartu and Isra
Starbucks and Caribou both have different qualities, but their differences can be a matter of personal preference. Starbucks is widely recognized for its global preference and wide range menu, and convenient locations. However, some argue that the uniqueness of the coffee experience is a big factor. On the other hand, caribou coffee is often loved for its coziness, and high quality coffee beans. Its locations compared to starbucks is a drawback for customers. Starbucks is known for it’s publicity on social media apps like tiktok, and instgram because you can make customizable drinks, and theres a much more variety. Caribou is more of a local cozy coffee shop and people from the older age tend to go there, and order a coffee and dine in. Publicity has a big impact on things now a day in society so we feel like the more of what you see the more influenced you would be to try something new and popular. The choice between starbucks and caribou is a personal preference , and is chosen based on how you think the customer service is, and taste of coffee.
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Home away from home
By Alyson Grinde
Its summer when I truly feel happy. My cabin has been my escape in many ways to just get out if the city and enjoy nature, whether it is water sports or taking our ATVs for a ride around our land. We spend many weeks up at our cabin with are family making memories that last forever.
One memory that will stick with me forever is making family dinners and gathering together at the dinner table and praying over our food for every meal. The love we share together when each person takes part of the meal to participate in a big group meal plan. My grandparents are the ones who gather all our family members and host these events, with that my grandpa has always been a wise person always tell use funny sayings. One thing that he has said to all of us grandkids. ¨out of all the people in the world, you are one of them”. He uses that to put in perspective of that we all matter and have a place in the world and event though it is supposed to be a joke I think there still is a deeper meaning that us kids can take out of it. Throughout my life I have also learned so much by our annual family trips to our cabin throughout my grandpas wise tales, and our constant need for adventures. |
From Minesota to the world: one girl’s journey
By Brooke Bergstrom
Have you ever wanted to travel the world or even just a few places? A girl from a small town in Minnesota is doing just that. Katie Vandorp looks like an average girl from a small town until you get to know her. She has been to 27 countries and is currently learning how to dog sled in Sweden.
Every country she has gone to she has learned a big part of their culture. While she is on these journeys, she writes a diary about what she did that day and draws a picture about something she did whether it’s seeing a mountain lion a few feet away or a really tall waterfall flowing into a little pond. Katie is a fun person to hang out with because from all of her adventures she has some great stories, for example when she kayaked from Lake Itasca all the way down the Mississippi River to the gulf, or when she walked from California to New York. Ever since Katie was a little girl, she would only dream about traveling the world. So when she was 16, she got a job and started saving up so she could go wherever she wanted. By the time she was 25 she had already gone to two countries not counting the United States and 10 states and graduated college. Katie is currently 30 years old and she has already accomplished more than anybody thought she would ever do. When Katie got back from her first big journey she said ’’I am going to do this till the day I die.” She has never gone a full year without going somewhere that may be a small trip to Spain or a big trip like going to the Amazon. |
IMy first car
By Connor O’Donoghue
I got my first car when i was 16 years old. Me and my grandparents went to a lot of different dealerships before we made a decision on my first car.
Some of the car’s that we saw, I really wanted. But they were a little out of the budget my grandpa had. I found this really nice Toyota camry. I thought that that was going to be my first car. But after talking to my grandpa, he convinced me that a car we had seen before the Camry was a better option. That car was a Buick lucerne. At first I wasn’t really all in on getting it, but after looking at the inside again I really liked it. Plus it had some things that the camry didn’t have. Like the heated seats and the stereo system. But the big game changer for me was that the Buick had a v8 engine. I like the feeling of driving a V8 way better than the camry. In the end up ended up getting the Buick Lucerne. I couldn’t be happier with the car. It has run great ever since I’ve had it. |
Cheap Skate, yay or nay?
By Ayla Kibitok
Want to go roller skating? Well Cheap Skate is one of the places you can go to do just that.
Cheap Skate is very affordable. Roller skates are $3.00 a person and roller blades are $4.00 a person. Since I'm not the best at roller skating, I went with roller skates. The roller skates were very comfortable and were very easy to skate in. When I went there, there were a bunch of little kids which was kind of annoying, but what do I expect right? I skated with my friends for a total of 3 hours which was plenty of time to have a fun time. I loved that they had little games on the skating floor too like, for example red light, green light which I was one of the people that won. Because I won, I was able to get a free cup of ice cream which was pretty good. The workers were also pretty nice to us, but seemed a little short tempered, but when there are a lot of 6 year olds running around everywhere I would be too, so it was understandable. All in all, I had a pretty great time with my friends and when I want to go roller skating that’s the place I'll go. |
Coronavirus isn’t the only thing thats spreading
By Kalida Sananikone
You see a pop up, a story headline saying an asian man got beat by a different race. Keep scrolling and you see that another asian man is being yelled at on a bus to move over.
Many know that the Coronavirus outbreak is sourced from Wuhan, China, and the outbreak is continuing to spread globally. However, not only is the COVID-19 spreading, but so is xenophobia. Xenophobia is the dislike of/or prejudice against people from other countries. Many asian people are being harassed just for their race. For example there is a story and a video to go along with it that has been spreading around on social media. In the video it shows a chinese man being harassed by a group of black men while he is collecting cans. He had gotten hit in the head as well as robbed. It is reported that during the situation the man was very confused since those around the neighborhood would even help him sometimes. Yet with the outbreak of the coronavirus, many have come to discriminate asians and assume that they all carry the Coronavirus. It is upsetting to say that this is not the only case where someone has been harmed because of the xenophobia that has spread. |
Skipping junior and senior year going straight to college
By Melissa Moua and Linda Moua
Ever want to be a part of Post Secondary Enrollment Option?
PSEO is a program that can save you a lot of money for college. This program is for juniors and seniors to earn college credits in high school but at a college level. Chee Vang, a 17-year-old that started from Champlin Park and worked his way up to North Hennepin Community College. Achieving this was a big goal for him but had many difficult paths also. His experiences at this program are going great for him and he recommends it to other students because you have a lot of free time. You’re really independent with the help of your high school. This program is mostly free. Even with just one trimester of PSEO, it saves you a lot of money for your future. Time management was difficult for him because he had many other things to do. A lot of college students can relate because he also work two jobs to pay for everything he wanted and needed. He has bills under his name like insurance and his cars. Self management was another thing that was difficult for him because sometimes he will forget to take care of himself mentally and physically. Three tips that he has for the upcoming PSEO students are to use your free time to study, don’t slack off, and try more online classes for the future. Everyone has different paths for their future and different ways of learning. PSEO is an open door for a large variety of students and a big opportunity. |
Video games makes kids more creative
By Alex Cienciwa, Jackson Milburn and Jacob Bergman
What do you think of when you think of video games? Some people may say that video games are bad for kids, but we think video games actually help kids become more creative and give them imagination. We believe this because in minecraft you have so many options for building stuff. Also it makes kids think for themselves and how to do something on their own.
According to studies done at Michigan State University, kids that play any type of video games are more creative than kids that don't and they also have greater creativity levels. It gets kids excited to use their imagination and helps them think more. We also believe video games help kids connect with other kids, since they can play together and they also have common interests because of these video games. |
Breeders need to be shut down
By Sydney Bodin
There are about 96 dogs alone in four paws and a tail. About 24 birds, and 5 cats. On the other hand there are about 22,000 animals in the humane society a year in Minnesota alone.
Most breeds at this specific facility are known to be emotional. An example is the dog shown above whose breed is a goldendoodle it’s friend that lived in the same crate was taken out and purchased. For 15 minutes I stood and watched the pup look out, barking, pacing and hoping for his friends return. This is cruel and insensitive, and there's no reason for it. Companies like four paws and a tail are cruel to the dogs in their facilities in a sense that they have exceeded the limit for dogs per crate or box, and they are cruel to all the dogs in the humane society who won't get the chance to be adopted because of the purebred dogs from breeder farms. |
Pizza Mondays and world dominance
By Tess Maltman
Welcome welcome, ladies and gentlemen, buckle your seatbelts, it’s time we talk about pizza.
In Elise Patton's world, pizza is heaven sent and a true savior for all. She claims, “chicken wing pizza is best on Mondays, because Mondays are sad, but pizza is for every day.” Elise’s past is deeply rooted in pizza, she loves cold pizza and eats it frequently; she’d eat it for every meal, every day of the year… if she could. This is exactly why Elise is also planning world dominance. She claims, “Pizza will make us all happy, and the sad people who don’t like Pizza will be sent to the moon.” Her first memory of pizza comes from when she was left at a Little Caesars at the age of five. She left the store without a single pizza in hand. It’s due time we get excited about pizza, frozen pizza, lukewarm pizza, blazing hot pizza, just all pizza. Remember that you, under Elise’s hands, will be allowed to eat pizza at all times. Elise believes there is no bad pizza in the world; she places all of her hope in it. “Eat pizza, pizza is good, all day, every day.”- Elise Patton- 2020 |
How to cure writer's block
By Sydney Bodin
First, we need to understand why we get writer’s block. Although no studies have been published, we can use what we know about the brain to draw somewhat of a conclusion.
Theconversation.com says, it could be related to language and the part of the brain words “sit” in. They also talked about a study done in 2005 where participants were given three words to create a story out of, they told one group of three to be “uncreative” and another group of three to be “creative”. As the scientists scanned their brains they saw in both groups the front of the brain being more active but in the group told to be uncreative they saw on their paper the participants making associations to unrelated topics. One way to cure writer's block is go outside. The brain is a natural device, and sometimes we see this device slow down, get tired and take a break. One way to recharge your brain would be to surround it with other natural things. Worldrake.com says any change in scenery will help. For me, I can make a personal connection to this as when I'm writing I like to go to Coon Rapids dam. Finding inspiration in birds chirping, or frogs hopping, or even cars honking and change in lighting. Another way to cure writer's block is writing down anything that comes to mind. Google Sites offers the idea of creating background stories for characters or catching up on current events. One last way to cure writer's block is get a journal book with prompts inside. Target sells a book with 400 writing prompts to get your mind rolling. |
Tik Tok Famous
By Adrianna Arvanitis
With everyone talking about the latest popular app tik tok people have been trying to get famous or put on the “for you page” which means a lot of people will see your video.
Tiktok is to make videos to songs or to anything. And if you're lucky yours will get put on the for you page and you will get famous for the video. That is just what happened to maple grove student Brooks Storm. The tiktok is of him acting like famou tik tok charlie damiloes butler. |
Are You Happy?
By Nneka Egbujor
Are you truly happy?
If you answered yes to that, then let me ask you this: how often do you smile a day? A happy or cheerful adult smiles 40 to 60 times a day, but the average adult smiles about 20 times a day. If you find that you’re not smiling nearly as much as you should, and you want to fix that then here’s what you should do. Find happiness in children! The average child smiles 400 times a day, which is why we tend to cherish them so much. It's also why we love to be around as often as we can. Another thing that you could try is being outdoors more often. It is scientifically proven that being surrounded by nature is good for you. Nature can help your mental health, and even your physical well being. It also can reduce blood pressure, and negative emotions like sadness and anger. Happiness is a huge and important part of our wellbeing. Without happiness it makes it hard for us to go on about our everyday lives. Yes, other emotions like anger, frustration, confusion, and sadness are an essential part of human life, but it is important that we are experiencing a good balance. Everybody should make happiness a priority in their life! |
Crying is an easy way to release stress
By Nneka Egbujor
In the U.S. it is estimated that at least 16 million adults have a depression episode a year.
But those statistics only reflect on those who are diagnosed with depression, and have seen someone for it. A lot of people just truly have no way to deal with their stress, so over time it just builds up and progresses. What can you do about this? One thing you can do is practice different coping strategies like humor. Humor is a perfect strategy, because when used it relaxers your whole body, boosts the immune system, and even triggers the release of endorphins. A lot of people regard humor as a way of “hiding”, or “masking”, your pain but in reality humor can be one of the best ways for someone to come to terms with what they are dealing with. Another way is relaxation and physical recreation, which both often overlap with each other. Doing an activity like yoga can help relax the body and the mind. It also counts as a physical activity, so it’ll keep you in shape too! When you don't have a way to cope, you tend to turn to unhealthy strategies like drugs, self-blame, and avoiding the topic. It is important that everyone develops a healthy coping strategy. |
What’s the buzz about Boston?
By Victoria Brinton
Boston is known for its colonial architecture, cultural diversity, and rich history, but does it live up to the hype?
Last month I had the privilege to visit Boston and I learned first hand what the city had to offer. Being my prospective home for the next four years, I had to be critical about key elements that make a welcoming city. One thing that stood out to me about Boston were its distinct neighborhoods. Beacon Hill offered quaint colonial architecture and small shops, while the waterfront offered a more urban ambiance. Another thing that stood out was the convenience of public transportation. The T-system in Boston allows you to get anywhere in the city very quickly and with little hassle. Additionally, Boston is known for its green space. Boston Commons is a 50 acre park that is centrally located and helps easy the crowded feeling often created in urban settings. Safety is also an important concern when in a city, however, Boston has a lower than average crime rate for areas of that population density. While it is always important to stay alert, Boston streets feel very safe. You’ll never be bored in Boston. Boston boasts numerous cafes and excellent restaurants. It is also home to various historical sites and museums. Boston readily showcases its rich history. Overall, Boston has something for everyone! I would highly recommend adding Boston to your bucket list. |
River Center Hmong New Year
By Linda Moua & Melissa Moua
RiverCenter Hmong New Year (RCHNY) happens once a year around November. This is a big celebration we wait for each year with our family and friends.
There is a variety of food and drinks such as Hmong sausage, Roasted Chicken, Papaya, Kapoon and Meatballs dipped with marinated sauce. We personally loved the papaya because you can ask them to make it how you’d want it. Sticky rice with roasted chicken and the side of homemade pepper was our all time favorite because of how they cooked it. The crunch of each bite you had with the pepper was the best. The refreshing fruit drinks that we tried were watermelon mint, cucumber, and passion fruit. We liked the watermelon mint the best because of the mint flavor leaves and liked the cucumber drink least. Vendors sold boba, soda, water, smoothie, and a variety of refreshing fruit drinks at RCHNY. The RCHNY had dance competitions, fashion shows, pageants, and singing performances to entertain the whole crowd for the two days Having family and friends that danced and sang made HNY different. The support everyone had for each other was something we looked forward to seeing at RCHNY. To enhance the other unique cultures that everyone was from, many people wore their own traditional clothes. Many people wore Hmong clothes to show the importance of the event. Everyone looks forward to the food and drinks, performances and seeing family and friends each year. I would love to bring it back. Overall, it was a great experience and we are looking forward to RCHNY 2021. |
5 study tips you need to know to succeed in finals
By Jack Mackeben
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Your adventure on the ocean is waiting
By Aleia Wilbur
Every year more than 20 million people go on the vacation of a lifetime. The other 6,980,000,000 or so people are really missing out. There are tons of different cruise lines sailing out of almost every country with ocean access, but one of the biggest cruise line sailing out of the United States is Royal Caribbean. They have 25 ships currently sailing and 5 more in the shipyards.
One of the newest class of ships, the oasis class, has all the thrills you need for a perfect vacation. The class consists of 4 ships: Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the seas, and Symphony of the seas. Each of these ships features 20 dining options which fall into one of two categories, complementary or specialty. The complimentary dining includes a selection of food from all over the world in a variety of settings. There are formal and informal dining with food ranging from salad/sandwich shops, specialty hot dogs, pizza, seafood, and food native to the ports that they stop at. Specialty food includes sushi, Johnny rockets, Starbucks, specialty pastas, and steaks. With all of these options there is certainly something for everyone. Another huge aspect of a cruise is entertainment onboard. The oasis class has many things to offer that have never been seen on a cruise ship. For kid, there is a zipline, multiple swimming pools, volleyball and basketball courts, an ice rink, a mini golf course, two rock climbing walls, a carousel, double flowriders, a 3D theater, and youth only zones. For adults there are casinos, multiple nightclubs, bars, lounges, a karaoke club, a comedy club, multiple lounges, and the solarium for sunbathing. The Harmony and Symphony of the seas both have something that the other two do not: they include many waterslides and the ultimate abyss dry slide which goes down ten decks in about 13 seconds. Onboard, recreational and entertainment activities are organized into seven themed areas called “neighborhoods”. If that wasn’t enough reason to start planning your cruise immediately, imaging the beautiful beaches at the ports should be. Florida is the home port to all of the oasis class ships. All offer both Eastern and Western caribbean cruises. Eastern Caribbean cruises include stops at Nassau (Bahamas), St.Thomas, St.Maarten, Puerto Rico, and Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean's private Island which, recently, received a 200 million dollar update and a larger dock that allows for this big class of ships to dock there) . Western Caribbean includes Honduras, Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, Jamaica, and Labadee (Royal Caribbean's private paradise in Haiti). All of these places have the white sand beaches, luscious greenery, and warm temperatures that you dream of. Now, the only thing left to do is to go to Royal Caribbean's website and book your cruise. |
Lil Peep and Xanax Epidemic
By Blake Bachand & Jonah Salzwedel
The rising young star Lil Peep was paving the road for all sorts of alternative rap artists until his tragic overdose of xanax. Peep died due to xanax laced with fentanyl, he overdosed just an hour before his performance in New Mexico.
Peep and many other artists have or have had addictions to drugs like xanax and other mood enhancers, but with a new drug called fentanyl known to be 10x more potent than heroin you risk dying when taking any opioids or street pills. Dealers use fentanyl to get users addicted and to come back but just touching a sand grain of fentanyl can be fatal. More awareness has come to popping pills after Peep’s death and the problem is slowly going away. #restinpeep |
The ultimate mall lovers road trip
By Taylor Kemp, Natalie Crandall & Bella Lundgren
Everyone dreams of the perfect road trip with the windows down and the music blasting; you and your friends discovering new places. The only thing that would make a road trip better is including a little shopping. You should consider taking a road trip to visit the five biggest malls in America.
Here’s a route you can take:
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10 easy ways to help protect the environment
By Viktoria Wiegelmann
Often times we tend to forget that the earth that we live on is the only one we have. It is very important to be aware of how valuable the resources that we have are. This list will try to give you some inspiration for little things you can change in your everyday life to help preserve the earth.
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Advice on how to survive high school
By Rachel Gudmundson, Kylie Xiong & Sa’nya Storks
Coming to high school from middle school can be very intimidating but here is some advice that can help any incoming freshman.
Focus on your schoolwork. That is probably the most vital piece of advice that anyone could offer, don’t get caught up in drama and little things, because those are not the things that will help you with your future. Also don’t worry of having the most friends or being popular, having a small circle of friends that you can trust is way better than having tons of people that interfere with your potential. And lastly, learn how to balance all of the parts of your life, like for example: relationships if that’s friendships, parents, or having a boyfriend or girlfriend, homework and studying, sports if you do them, your job, if you have them, and last but certainly not least having fun! You should be enjoying high school and making the most out of it, so be serious about your future, but don’t be serious about everything and your high school experience will be perhaps the best time of your life. |
10 fun facts about animals
By Alyssa Stommel
Below are 10 fun facts about different animals that you may not have known before.
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They were not lying
By Kaiyre Lewis
The hardest thing about junior year is you didn't believe anyone when they told you this year was going to be hard.
The workload is exhausting, classes are difficult, time management is hard, you have the ACT. This year counts the most. You are supposed to have it all figured out in the short time of only nine months. No one told you that though; they just said it was going to be ¨hard.¨ Well they definitely told you what is was going to be, but not how it is. It is stressful, it's a lot of work, there are some big assignments, and test count for everything this year. Studying is one of the best skills you will have to have your junior year of high school, trust me. This year is extremely difficult, but remember it's only temporary. The easiest part of junior year is realizing that you are almost done; it's like a really long Thursday. Friday is tomorrow and the week is almost up, you have all your work done and you are just preparing to relax. It's important to make sure all the work is done first though, then you can slide through senior year with some relaxing electives and enjoy what you have ahead of you. |
How to tie a tie
By Ben Litwin, Cyrus Carter & Will Hoffman
Many high schoolers do not know how to tie a tie, but here is a easy way to learn how for all of your formal needs.
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Choice day in physical education classes at CPHS
By Avery Donovan, Abby Gilk & Sydney Eckert
As we all know Choice Day is a favorite of PE students here at Champlin Park high school. On Wednesdays all physical education students get to choose what activity they participate in for that day. Choices consist of volleyball, basketball, pickle ball, and ping pong. Some outdoor activities are occasionally added, but depends on the weather. Some examples are tennis and football.
Alyssa Stommel (10) says “I think that there’s a great variety of activities that students can choose to do on Wednesdays. Great way to take mind of stress of being in school. Volleyball is my favorite activity.” Daniel muñoz (10) has a different perspective on physical education class, he says “Participating in class is doing the most.” Jade Costello (10) says “There should be more options of what to do on Choice Day so students don’t get bored.” Overall, getting a choice in PE class on Wednesdays leads to opportunities for students to participate in activities they are interested in. When a student finds something they are interested in, they are more likely to pursue that activity when they are older and become more active in their adult life. |
Xbox One VS Playstation 4
By Rodger Coppa & Kendall Shin
The Microsoft Xbox, and the Sony Playstation have been at war since the very beginning, with the original Xbox and the original Playstation. With drastic improvements to both, gamers are still fighting over which is better. With the most recent the Xbox One and the Playstation 4, gamers are leaning slightly towards the Playstation with 52% preferring it over the Xbox according to Gamespot.com
With games like ‘God of War’, ‘Crash Bandicoot’, and ‘Horizon: Zero Dawn’, some gamers just won't accept the Xbox into their lives. Whereas with games like ‘Halo 5 Guardians’, ‘Halo Wars 1 and 2’ Xbox players won't accept the Playstation into their lives. Sure, some might like both, but in the Gamespot.com survey Playstation 4 won by almost nothing over the Xbox One. |
X is the one
By Will Taye
On November 3, 2017, Apple release their newest model of the iphone which is the X model.
This model quickly became popular in its first week of release due to its innovation technology of using a face ID scanner software to unlock your phone quick and easy with the look of your face. This software was created by using TechDepth camera system with advanced technologies to accurately map the geometry of your face. The iphone X also includes a wireless mobile port called “Mophie” which is a small portable wireless charger, that will make it easier for the iphone user to charge their phone on the go at anytime. Another big topic on the new X model is its 12 megapixel camera that is compared to the quality of a Canon fl.2L camera. Reviews for this phone have been promising from critics and bloggers. Overall, the iphone X is surely a impressive form of technology that has a sophisticated design that makes it one of the best phones of our times. |
The truth about stress in school
By Annika Erickson & Hanna Lee
In the modern world, there are a lot of stressors for teens such as social media, families, their peers, but one of the biggest stressors is school.
Tests that are half of our grades, short essay deadlines, the pressure to get the best grades — those are just a few of the many reasons why school is so stressful. We surveyed 316 students here at Champlin Park High School. 69% of those kids, which is roughly every two in three students, report that they have some level of stress. Of that 69%, 64% say that their stress is above a five of a scale of one to ten. In 2014, there were 2,673 students at CPHS. Let’s say that the statistic is true throughout the school and throughout recent years. That means that in 2014, 1,844 students would be true, and 1,180 students had a stress level of five or above. 1,844 students. What can schools do to help them? First, lighten their workload. 57% of that 316 has two or more hours of homework at night, and overall 76% of students procrastinate their homework. If less homework was given in each class, students would be less likely to procrastinate. Also, instead of having a test in every hour, teachers should stagger their test dates so students don’t have an overload of studying to do. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that teens should sleep later, so schools should start later, too. That will help students get the eight hours of sleep that they need at night. There are many other solutions to help students reduce stress. So, when will schools decide to help them? |
The Fortnite movement
By Shane McIntosh
Chances are, if you are a teenager that dabbles in video games, you know about Fortnite. If you don’t know, Fortnite is a game created by Epic Games. The game features a free to play battle royale. There are either solo, duo, and squad options. Each game has 100 players and one consistent map, and you battle until there is only one person or team left.
The game’s beta came out on July 25; the game was received well in that millions of people started playing the game in the week after the launch. According to the most recent reports, there have been over 40 million downloads of the game. The game peaked at around two million players playing the game at once. Fortnite has also attracted heavy interest on streaming platforms. There are usually a couple thousand players streaming in English at any given time. Epic Games continues to update the game in order to better gameplay. From adding new items, to tweaking the way the game works, it seems that Fortnite will continue to be a prominent platform for entertainment for months, if not years, to come. |
Evolution of the fanny pack
By Shane McIntosh
The commonly well known fanny pack, popular among tourists in the past, may be on the verge of making a resurgence into the spotlight.
The deep roots dating back to their invention go back to Australia where a mother made a pouch she could wear across her body to hold multiple of her children in to free up her hands. She allegedly modelled the pack off of a kangaroos pouch. The five seconds of fame for the fanny pack really took off during the 1980’s. Then the pack fell out of popularity when in “Seinfeld”, Jerry said it looked, “...like a small animal was eating our belts.” During the recent years, fashion styles from past years like in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s have made a come back. The jogger pants, for example, have came back into a mainstay especially for the sweatpants of the day. Just like the joggers, dad shoes and fanny packs have slowly crept back into society. Many celebrities and fashionistas have appeared in public wearing the glorious fanny pack. Some include the Kardashians, Beyoncé, and Matthew McConaughey among others. Many brands are now selling fanny packs as part of their accessories offered. But, the brands to not use the “fanny pack” term instead using “utility pack” or “utility pouch” or “crossbody bag” or my personal favorite, the “chaos pouch.” With the everchanging world of fashion, you never know what will happen. Maybe the fanny pack will enter mainstream, everyday wear. Maybe it will continue to be unfavorable in popular culture. Only time will tell. |
PnB Rock is on the rise
By Ann Bui & Destiny Shanahan
You’ve probably heard of PnB Rock. Born as Rakim Hasheem Allen, Allen is a new up and coming R&B artist. His unique style and new sound brought him to fame very quickly.
He dropped his first mixtape in 2014 while he was incarcerated. Just one year later, Allen got signed to a record deal with Atlantic Records, and that same year he dropped a hit single called “On Fleek.” In June of 2016 PnB released another hit song titled “Selfish.” This song was a big success, reaching number 51 on the U.S Billboard Hot 100. Just 4 months later Rolling Stone added him to their list “10 New Artists You Need To Know.” On January 13, 2016, PnB Rock released his second album called “Going Thru The Motions” with the record labels Atlantic Records and Empire Distribution. The album debuted at 28 on the U.S Billboard 200 chart. Later that year, Allen was featured in “The Fate of The Furious” soundtrack. To further add to his success, XXL named PnB Rock as one of the ten XXL 2017 Freshman Class. Now that you know a little about this original artist, you should go check out his music and catch his concert in Minneapolis on February 15. He will be performing songs from his newest album “Catch these Vibes.” |
Chris Brown turning heads with a 'Heartbreak'
By Wilfred Taye
29-year-old Chris Brown is making a change in his life as he heads into his 30’s alongside his beautiful 3-year-old daughter, Royalty. Brown’s eighth studio album “Heartbreak On A Full Moon” has been turning heads in the media ever since its release on October 31, 2017. It sold 500,000 sales it’s first week, and three platinum plaque singles in the week of pre-release.
The album consists of 45 records with the bonus 12 from his Christmas edition. Brown’s tone is more vulnerable than ever in this album with personal records such as “Yellow Tape” and “Heartbreak On A Full Moon.” Other times the tone is more sensual and appealing such as in “Roses” and “Covered In You.”Altogether, the listener can understand the reason for the quick transitions of emotions in each track to be a message from Chris Brown to us, explaining his problems faced with women in his life. We get an inside look into the life of Chris Brown from a personal standpoint for once instead of reading it on Twitter or Instagram. I recommend giving this album a listen because it answers many of the questions asked about the artist and gives a look in his life now as a 29-year-old dad with more responsibilities. For new listeners who aren’t quite familiar with Chris Brown’s music, I say still give it a listen. It has references that many people can relate to life, such as relationships and love. |
Jukai, the 'Sea of Trees': number one spot for suicides in Japan
By Matt Hajicek & Hunter Bruno
Aokigahara Forest is a forest in Japan at the base of Mt. Fuji which is a busy tourist spot for a few reasons. The forest has grown upon hardened lava from the last eruption back in 864 CE which had also created many caves that are popular among visitors.
However, the forest holds a dark secret that is a very big problem that many want to stop; in 2011 the government recorded over 200 deaths in the forest, but more recent numbers are no longer publicized by the authorities to try to lower the association with the forest. There have been annual body searches that have been happening since 1970 by the police, volunteers, and journalists, as well as signs being put up urging those walking into the forest to reconsider their decision and to think about their life and family. The reason why there are so many suicides is that in Japan, mental illness is not perceived to be something that people should seek help for. They believe that by staying silent, the people will not have the stigma associated with mental illness, and therefore, get better. This is why talking about and treating mental illnesses is very important because if it is attached to a mindset of being weak or vulnerable, then it will always be associated with this stigma. |
Tesla’s revolution of energy
By Shane McIntosh
The power grid goes down and your neighbors are out of power, but you are still in the light because you have solar energy. With Tesla’s new Solar Roof, this is now a possibility.
Tesla’s Solar Roof looks identical to a traditional roof but provides enough energy to save you about $50 per month, and that’s after the cost of electricity traditionally and cost of roof are factored in. The Solar Roof’s counterpart, the Powerwall, is an energy reserve that allows up to an estimated seven or more days of 100% off the grid power, is powered by the Solar Roof. Tesla currently offers textured and smooth tiles. They look to offer Tuscan style and slate tiles later this year. So, no matter the style of your home, you can get a roof to match. On the Tesla website, they show a durability test of their Solar Roof compared to two other traditional roofs. They use a two inch hailstone that is travelling at 100 mph on impact. The traditional shingles and traditional Tuscan tiles crack apart and are destroyed, while the Tesla Solar Roof tile remains undamaged. This qualifies it for the highest (class 4) hail rating. This ensures that your home will stay protected while producing energy. The Tesla Solar Roof looks to be a positive investment and looks to revolutionize our homes to better our future |
How to survive on a deserted island
By Will Skinner
Imagine going out on the ocean for a boat ride with your friends. Suddenly you lose your balance and fall out of the boat, trying to swim back for help. As you watch the boat travel farther and farther away you realize your friends aren't coming back. Panicking for help you see a small island in the distance and swim to shore. Once you reach land you will have to know how to secure your own survival and plan on rescue.
Below are some beginning steps to follow for your survival. 1.) Find a drinkable source of water or even create clean water. 2.) Create a stable shelter such as a lean-to or tepee style out of branches and leafs. 3.) Build a fire for heat and to cook food you may find. 4.) Create a raft or rescue signal. 5.) Take care of your own safety and create first aid supplies out of plants and twine. 6.) Focus on your survival and most importantly stay calm. After taking these steps into action it will not only help but guarantee your survival if you ever become stranded on a deserted island. |
Will you catch 'These Vibes'?
By Jasmine Johnson
November 17 is the day to get your music on because on that day Pnb Rock is officially releasing his newest album titled “Catch These Vibes”. This will be Pnbs third album. His two other albums are RNB3 and GTTM: Goin Thru The Motions.
Pnb’s “Catch These Vibes” album is going to future hits like “Feelings” and “Scrub” and many more songs. The album is going to have 18 songs in total and it features artist such as: A Boogie, Lil Yachty, Wiz Khalifa, Ugly God and many more. Pnb Rock was discovered in 2014 from that year to our current year he has made many accomplishments like being in the XXL's 2017 freshmen class. XXL is a magazine that picks 10 artist every year who they think are the artists you should keep your eye on. I recently discovered Pnb last year with his album GTTM. That album has too many hits such as: “Plans,” “Selfish,” “Notice me,” “Misunderstood,” and “There she go.” With all those songs he made a masterpiece, so I myself am excited for this new album “Catch These Vibes.” In conclusion if you're wanting to hear some new music and you like Hip-Hop/ Rap you should check out “Catch These Vibes” and vibe with it because this album is going to be a hit and you're not going to want to miss out on these amazing tunes. |
Cool facts about the llama
By Bennett Otto
Facts courtesy of TripSavvy
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Best foundations for dark skin tones
By Blessed Thomas
It is very common that darker skin tones often have trouble finding the right foundation shades. It can be tough picking out the perfect match for their skin tone or having limited shade options available in cosmetics lines.
In an article by Sir John, a celebrity makeup artist listed top 10 foundations for dark skin stones. From what I’ve read, there aren’t many cosmetics lines that have darker skin foundations. I picked the top three foundations to talk about, hoping to help you and/or a friend into picking a great foundation at a reasonable price. 1- L’Oréal Paris True Match Super Blendable Makeup. This is an oil free liquid formula, it blends in easily. In order to have darker skin foundations options, you must order it online. It costs $8.99 and can be found at Ulta Beauty and drugstores. 2- NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation. After applying, you'll have a full coverage glow that looks natural. This product is made with Even Tune Technology which is intended to make diminish discoloration for even complexion. You can find this product at Sephora or Ulta Beauty for $48. 3- Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation. This awesome product absorbs oil for a naturally matte look. It is oil free and also hides pores really well. This product cost $7.99 and can be found at Ulta Beauty also at almost every drugstores. I hope reading this has help you get a concept of what to look for and where to begin in choosing the best foundation for your skin. For more foundation recommendation go to InStyle.com and search for Sir John. |
Different than other people
By Melanie Baker & Greta Bahe
Living a different type of life can be very challenging. Being diagnosed with diabetes at any age can change many lives dramatically.
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 and Type 2. Diabetes is a disease where an organ, the pancreas, doesn’t produce insulin in the body to break down sugar into energy. A person doesn’t get diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes by eating too much sugar like most people think, Type 1 diabetes is a genetic disease. You control or take care of Type 1 by manually giving yourself insulin through shots or an insulin pump. Type 2 is more related to someone’s diet. You can control this by taking pills daily. There is an easier way to give someone insulin. There are many different types of insulin pumps that allow someone to take insulin without doing shots every time they need it. You still have to test your blood sugar but you can type that into the pump, along with the number of carbs and it will calculate the amount of insulin someone needs automatically. It’s way easier to play sports and do other activities when you're on an insulin pump rather than doing shots. As a diabetic, you have to test your blood sugar everyday. You have to test your blood sugar every time you eat any kind of food. You also have to do insulin for the amount of carbs you are eating in your food. Diabetes is a lifelong disease that no one will never be able to get rid of, unless we find a cure. |
Who will win?
By Marisa Johnson
What if one day everything you looked up was controlled and seen by your phone company? Well, that might become a reality.
Chairman Pai wants to reverse net neutrality. Net neutrality is a legal framework that makes it so internet providers like Verizon, Comcast, and AT&T can’t favor or discriminate against any apps, services, or online content. It also enables and protects free speech. Without net neutrality, whatever phone company you have can block certain ads or websites they doesn’t like. This will also have a huge impact on LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, religious minorities, indigenous people whose only way of speaking out against discrimination and accessing other things is by using the internet. Also, the Trump administration wants to clamp down on dissent and is trying everything to do it, and if the law to reverse net neutrality WON, then they have succeeded. On December 14, the FCC will vote on whether to keep the law or make Pai’s dream a reality. So join the millions of others who have already spoken out, by emailing your members of Congress to not let Ajit Pai or the Trump administration win. |
New era, new food
By Nick Schlumpberger
A devastating game for the team, yet not for my taste buds. A 97-100 loss for the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Detroit Pistons came down to the last second.
I enjoyed this adrenaline rush with a plate of nachos from the Smoke House concession stand inside the newly renovated stadium. The nachos were a perfect blend of Tostitos chips and nacho cheese. They have jalapeños to top off the cheesy crunch, both the peppers and the cheese added spice. Ordering was very simple. I chose nachos and the only question I was asked was if I would like jalapeños. The staff was very nice to all customers and very generous with their food. The tray the nachos were served in was easy to sit with, although difficult to carry around due to how shallow it was. Given how the employees try to make the food quickly, it still looked very nice. In the corner of the tray was a spot to put cheese to dip chips in. The rest of the tray held chips drizzled in cheese, and topped with jalapeños. The appearance of the stadium is beautiful. The team added a lot of new technology to the stadium, everything from free Wi-Fi to a new jumbotron. There was also art which I was not expecting to see in a sports stadium, it is a huge metal basketball that is suspended over a “hoop” with glowing lights. The hoop is covered in glass and goes through the floor to look down into the lobby. I highly recommend going to the beautifully renovated “Target Center” to see (and taste) all these wonders for yourself. |
A great wonder in Australia
By Lindsey Carlson
It turns out that there's a pink lake on the western border of australia. It is very vibrant and mesmerizing. The lake is pink due to the high salinity level in the lake and the color of the bacteria living in the water that love the salt. The bacteria is not harmful to the body. Which is why this would be a great thing to put on your bucket list to visit.
Lake Spencer is 245 acres, 2.485 miles long and is located in Goldfields-Esperance of Western Australia. To go to lake spencer it is best to go during the winter time due to australia being below the equator our winter is their summer and the temperature ranges between 74 and 79 degrees on average. Flights to Esperance are a little $1,200. There are a lot of wild animals in Esperance and near Spencer lake such as kangaroos which can be dangerous if interacted with som be careful, but there are also a lot of cute and amazing animals such as koala bears, wombats, dingos, tasmanian devils and so much more. Australia is a great place with many sights to see and places to explore, one of the most mesmerizing things is spencer lake (the pink lake) so go on and get out there and explore. Because there's a lot to see. |
10 things to see in Duluth, Minnesota
By Sean La Valley
If you live in Minnesota then you might have heard of Duluth. Duluth has amazing sites to see and some of them are actually hidden gems in Duluth. Here is a top ten list of things to see in Duluth, Minnesota.
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10 cool facts about King Julien
By Bennett Otto
Facts courtesy of Mother Nature Walk |
The boring life of a sloth
By Bennett Otto
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What do YOUR dreams mean?
By Marisa Johnson
Being chased, kidnapped,or drowning. Anything can happen in your dreams.
Everyone dreams, even if you might not remember it, and we all dream different things that may actually have meaning to them. One of the most commonly reported dreams is being chased. It might mean that you're feeling threatened or that you aren’t addressing something that you should. Another dream you might have had would be falling. It might mean that you have anxieties about losing control, somehow failing after a success, or losing control. You might also dream of demons/monsters which might signify repressed emotions. Killing in your dreams might mean that you have hostility towards a certain person, it might also represent your desire to kill part of your personality. Also seeing a dead relative usually means that you probably just miss that person or it could mean that you have some sort of guilt about their death. Ever dream of you teeth falling out, missing, decaying, or crumbling. That might mean that you’re scared of being found unattractive, but it could also mean that you fear of losing power. Lastly you may dream about drowning or you being kidnapped. If you dream about drowning it might mean that you are being overwhelmed by something, and dreaming about you being kidnapped might symbolize your fear of being held against your will. These meanings are in no way 100% true because there is no way we can completely know if your dreams are connected to your dreams. Even though Scientists, psychologists, philosophers, and even theologians have studied dreams for millennia, and have had many different theories and interpretations of their meanings we are still not very close to knowing if dreams have any real meaning. |
Things to do on a Friday night
By Kaile Cosman
Don’t know what to do on a Friday?? Stop wasting your time laying around at home by yourself and try a few of these fun ideas.
The #1 go-to thing you could do is hang out with your friends. Chances are that your friends are bored, sitting at home by themselves too. Even better, you can do all of these activities with your friends. Want to stay in and have a lazy day? Have a lazy day! You could order pizza and have a movie night. You could bake something sweet such as cupcakes or cookies. The options of things you could do on a lazy day are endless. Feeling like you want to go out and do something? You could dress fancy and look cute and go out with a group of friends to a nice dinner. Going to the Mall of America is always fun as well. You don’t have to buy anything, you could even just walk around and look. There are many other options such as Glow-In-1 mini golf, going out to a movie, or even going out to something as simple as getting ice cream; it only varies depending on how much money you would like to spend. Consider some of these options and you’ll have yourself a fabulous Friday night. |
When you’re the shortest girl in the room
By Maddie Elizondo
The hardest thing about being a girl
By Holly Johnson
There are so many things that are very difficult about being a girl, but one of the hardest part about being a girl is the drama.
The drama will never ever stop. You could think you’re out of it, but you’re still sucked into it. Growing up with the mean girls always saying things about me has been a huge struggle for me for a long time. My parents keep saying “Awe honey it’ll get better”, THEY’RE WRONG. Throughout a girls’ life it’ll always have people trying to bring you down in some way, for boys and girls. However for girls it tends to be a lot worse. Girls are always competing for almost everything. If your clothes aren’t in style, your boyfriend isn’t cute, or if you don’t have a lot of friends, then you are just automatically not one of the cool girls. This isn’t how anyone should be treated. No one should be judged on what they have. Girls are cruel. Just focus on school. |
Clean your shoes. Just do it!
By Leah Jones
Keep your shoes more vibrant and they will last longer than ever.
Using these tips and tricks will keep your shoes clean and last longer.
Tips, tricks and photo via Nike.com |
Summer fishing
By Peter Claflin
Fishing in the summer is one my favorite outdoor activities. Throughout the summer, I've been down in southern MN and all the way out to Lake Michigan. During my adventures I have caught many different fish in many different spots all around the state. Here are a few examples of my fishing experiences.
Chaos in Las Vegas
By Keara Kelleher
On Sunday, October first, a three-day long country show was wrapping up when chaos was released.
Stephen Paddock, A 64-year-old, open fires from his hotel room onto thousands of people, killing at least 50 instantly and harming hundreds more. He was situated on the 32nd story of the Mandalay Bay, a close-by lodging, when he shot with his firearm, accepted to be an automatic rifle, although police have not released that information. The shooting is being called the deadliest in U.S. history, with 60 already dead, and many more facing serious health complications. How can that number of individuals be left dead because of one man? Issues around this shooting touch base with the reality that Paddock could buy enough ammunition, and a gun to take the lives of others so quickly. Joe Biden tweets "How long do we let gun violence tear families apart? Enough. Congress & the WH should act now to save lives. There is no excuse for inaction." The activity he is calling for has been held up for long enough. Since the primary vast shooting at Columbine high school people have been pleading for more gun laws. Although automatic weapons were banned in 1994, semi-automatic ones, which can be used as assault weapons, are still sold. Why? Because the NRA profits off each firearm they offer and sells the more expensive, dangerous weapons. Also, semi-automatic weapons can be manipulated into fully automatic weapons. With online tutorials and a few extra parts, Stephen Paddock was able to manipulate his gun to harm so many people so fast. Even though the NRA must conduct a background check for everyone who a gun is sold to, individuals who can buy firearms, can likewise unlawfully sell them, without requiring background checks. Individuals who can't get weapons legitimately can get them from private sellers, and those who should not be able to get them can. Private selling accounts for 40 percent of gun sales and an investigation conducted by the NYC police found that 64 percent of weapon purchasers would sell guns illegally for cash. Clearly, private weapon deals are not controlled. So what can we do to stop the sale of dangerous weapons? Call your senators. The easiest way to get something done is to let your senators and representatives know you want it done. They have a lot more political control than we do, so letting them know we want laws changed is beneficial. You can also donate to organizations trying to achieve higher gun regulations or get rid of them all together. The CSGV, or the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, accepts donations to “seek and secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement, and effective policy advocacy.” If we come together to stop the violence in our country, we will hopefully see positive changes, and save many people's lives. |
Top 10 places to visit in Minnesota
By Julia Ingram & Anna Kaltved
Planning on taking a family trip? Go to these places around Minnesota for some fun.
Mall of America- 520 stores to choose from, Nickelodeon Universe, and Sea Life aquarium. Valleyfair- over 50 rides and rollercoasters. Minnesota Zoo- over 110 animals to see. Julia’s personal favorite is the penguins. Minneapolis Sculpture Garden- Over 40 beautiful works of art. Canal Park in Duluth- Lots of fun places to shop and to eat. Fort Snelling- Historic landmark during the US-Dakota War in 1862, located in Minneapolis. Itasca State Park- Beginning of the Mississippi River. Minnehaha Falls- Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular park. Boundary Waters- Over a million acres of land and water to explore. World’s Largest Candy Store- More than 3,000 varieties of candy. |
Adopt. Don’t shop!
By Hannah Lysne
Three to four million healthy and adoptable dogs are euthanized every year, yet eight million dogs are purchased yearly from breeders or pet stores in America. As long as healthy dogs are dying in shelters, there is no such thing as a responsible breeder.
The popularity of purebred pups has led to more and more mutts being killed in the pound. However purebreds have their own problems as well. One of the largest problems with purebreds is the practice of inbreeding and negative inherited traits such as respiratory issues, hip dysplasia and skin infections. Mutts are often awarded for their hardiness and longevity due to their lower risk of genetic disease. This is because their mixed genetic makeup gives them a better chance of not receiving negative traits found in certain types of breeds. Midwest Animal Rescue & Services (M.A.R.S) is an organization that helps find forever homes for rescued animals in need. Many of the dogs coming to M.A.R.S were rescued from abusive homes or taken off the streets. Animal rescues like M.A.R.S need help through donations, fosters and volunteers so they can keep helping animals find their forever home. In 10 years, M.A.R.S has saved more than 14,000 lives meaning around 2000 families rescue their best friends each year from this local animal shelter. Working as a volunteer at M.A.R.S has meant spending my saturday nights at a vet office with upwards of 70 dogs being taken off a van, in to see a veterinarian, and then out the doors to meet their fosters and hopefully future adopters. M.A.R.S has a small but dedicated team, and we are looking for more volunteers to help save these precious pups. Here’s how you can help change lives: Interested in volunteering? Email: [email protected] Donations? ]Visit: http://www.midwestanimalrescue.org/info/donate Additional Contact Info: (763) 503-4990 |
Top 10 Minnesotan things
By Hannah Lysne
Ya know you're from Minnesota when…
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Dog days of summer
Will Skinner
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Most people know the common phrase, “Man's best friend” refers to the relationship between domestic dogs and their owners. I met my best friend last year and love him till this day. Below is a collection of photos over the summer of 2016 of my one year old golden doodle named Elwood.
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The negative effects humans have on animals
Marisa Johnson
A species of 3.35 inch – 6.30 inch tall mammals, were forced to live on islands in Southeast Asia instead of all over the world like they used to.
That animal is known as a Tarsier. Some things humans have done to the Tarsier to decrease their population size is by capturing them for exotic pet trade, which has led to the decrease of their population because many die within a few days of being caught due to either suitable sleeping sites or the lack of live food available. Also, the clearing of forest throughout much of their natural range and land clearance for livestock grazing has led to a decrease in population. Due to the fact that Tarsiers are very shy, they are being pushed into smaller areas because of the increasing human activity where they live, and they are also being hunted for food by the locals. Because of this, they are number six on the world’s most endangered primates list. Another animal that has been hurt because of the effects of things humans have done is the Amur leopard. The Amur leopard was poached so much for its beautiful spotted fur, that they are now on the critically endangered list. As of 2017, there are only a little over 60 left in the world. Just by these two animals, you can see what we are doing negatively to animals across the world. But, luckily many people are trying to stop the extinction of these creatures, such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) which is great because someday these creatures may be able to roam free without the worry of going extinct. |
How to catch a fish
By Adam Brenny
Some simple steps to get a big, fat, ferocious beast on the line.
Step 1 Find a lake, pond, or river that you know has fish in it. Step 2 Go to a bait store to buy live minnows, worms or leeches. Step 3 Use any kind of fishing rod, but an open reel rod will work the best. Step 4 Put the live bait on the hook of your fishing rod. Step 5 Leave about 1 foot of the line out of the rod then cast it 10-15 feet away. Step 6 Jig the reel when the line and the hook is in the water to simulate the bait as wounded to attract other fish. Step 7 Jerk hard so you set the hook in the fish’s mouth when the walleye attacks the bait then just reel in the fish. Step 8 If its a keeper, put the fish in the live well to keep it alive. If it’s too small or out of season just return the fish back to the water |
Our 5 best fish catches of summer 2017
By Jake VanderMeeden
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When you fish about two times every week, there are bound to be some big catches. Here are some of the best catches that I've been apart of from the summer of 2017.
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True harmony with fans and idols
By Asia Young
Are boy bands really just visually pleasing being made up of pretty boys with good vocals? How about with girl groups?
KPop, short for Korean Pop, is a genre of music that’s been growing out to the West slowly but surely. Only recently has KPop been quite popular with western culture. The one of top KPop groups in the industry is a boy band called Bangtan Boys, BTS for short. What makes them so popular is not only just their good looks and good vocals but the relationship they hold with their fan base, A.R.M.Y., their personalities, and their close friendship with each other. Each member’s journey to get this far in their career individually and together is heartfelt; going through tough times with their families, budgeting difficulties when they were newcomers, battling with themselves, their demons and their emotions, and other people talking down upon them. But through all of the bad times they’ve grown, bonded, and held each other up to get to the top. T.V. shows give their fans an insight of their personality and lives, they’re active online with videos and posts, and the interviews they do give the audience a sense of closeness to the boys. They’re not just good looking boys with good vocals; their fans know them on a much deeper level than just visually and vocally. They love their fans, nationally and internationally. Right now they’re on tour with sold out shows from the Americas to other Asian countries to Oceania. That shows how much their fans love them, and how much they love their fans. So if you want something new to listen to go ahead and check out BTS. |
CP students' embarrassing moments
By Carolina Lopez
“Once while I was practicing a dance routine in the gym, I wanted to do a backflip and show everyone. There were mats on the floor and I had no shoes on just socks, so when I did my black flip, I slipped and fell on my head. My nose started bleeding, I got a concussion, the ambulance came, and to this day people still think I broke my nose or got hit by car.” - ED (11)
“While in class, it was dead silence. Everyone was doing their own work, and I farted super loud. I turned around to see who noticed and everyone was looking at me so I decided to own it and say it was me.” - VS (11) “I was in a hurry to get to the house two office, so I started running. As I started running I fell super hard and slid across the floor all while the bell rang and everyone saw. I slid so hard I left a blue line across the floor from my jeans” - JM (11) “During a rehearsal for a musical at school, I heard a rip and it turned out it was my pants that ripped from behind.” -HL (11) |
The power to change your high school
By Yoshi Her
If you had the power to change one thing about high school, what would it be and why?
Devlyn Yang (11) wants to have the power to change the weekend to three days instead of two. He believes that once everyone gets into high school, it becomes more stressful. Everyone stresses about life and need more time to relieve it. He said that high schoolers have been working hard for 13-14 years of their lives in school. No time to spend with friends and family. When we all reach freshmen year, all of our brains are worn out and really need some rest throughout the school year. But we have no time because there is always so much things to do to stay on top of things for classes. Trinity Nguyen (11) wants to be able to choose whatever classes she want and choose which hour of the day the class goes into. She says that if it were to be possible, we all can have a working schedule around it. Because of electives falling between required classes. She prefers that she can change those electives and have all the required classes first and finish all the work before having to take electives. Wouldn't it be amazing to create your own school schedule and make it work with your personal life schedule? |
Five restaurants you need to know
By Jada Rood
Are you looking to switch things up with a new restaurant? Well, here are five restaurants in the Minneapolis area that you might consider making a trip to.
The first restaurant consists of an Italian cuisine. Punch Neapolitan Pizza (pictured top left) is a lunch and dinner based restaurant, good for families and dining on a budget. They’re opened everyday from 11 A.M. to 10 P.M. This restaurant is known for their “delicious pizza” and having great service as well as food in general, all for an affordable price. Second on the list is Al’s Breakfast (pictured top middle) where they serve breakfast and lunch. The menu consists of your typical breakfast foods as well as vegetarian and gluten free options. They are also good for dining on a budget and have 4 ½ star ratings for food and services. They’re open Mon-Sat from 6 A.M. to 1 P.M. and 9 A.M to 1 P.M. on Sundays. Cuzzy’s (pictured top right) is the next stop we will make on our cuisine trail. They’re an American Pub that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Good for large groups as well as dining on a budget. They serve chicken wings, burgers, salads and more! They open at 7 A.M. and close at 1 A.M. Mon-Friday and are open 8 A.M. to 1 A.M. on Saturdays, but are closed on Fridays. Prices range from $7-$12. With a 4 star rating. Now, variety is important. The next restaurant is of Mexican/ Latin cuisine. Maya Cuisine (pictured bottom left) is good for families and dining on a budget. With a 5 star food rating their prices range from $8-$9. They serve brunch, lunch and dinner. Open from 10 A.M. to 9 P.M. Sun-Thurs, 10 A.M to 10 P.M. on Fridays and 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. on Saturdays. To finish things off, Manny’s Tortas (bottom right). Manny’s Tortas is Mexican “fast food” restaurant. They serve lunch and dinner to families on a low budget. They’re open 10 A.M. to 8 P.M. Mon-Sat, and are open 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. on Sundays. You can take out or dine in. The choice is yours. So if you’re ever in the need for a new food choice or you just have nothing to do and wish to explore Minneapolis these are just a few places you might visit on your way through. |
Prom: Yay or nay?
By Michael Lano
So, prom season is finally here. Guys rent the finest tux they can, gals prepare to put on their best make up that their budget can buy, and you have to make a choice that will impact your life forever. Do I go to prom or not? It’s a question that puts everyone under stress that is only beaten out by the ACT or SAT. And for good reason, this is one of the most iconic parts of your high school career. And it can’t go to waste. If you can’t make the decision, here are three pros and three cons about going to prom which will hopefully make you come to a conclusion when the day finally comes. So without further ado, let's begin with the pros.
Pro #1: It happens once a year. To begin, one of the biggest reasons to go to prom is that it’s only going happen one time per school year so if you miss it, you are out of luck until next year. So if you want to make this year the most iconic of the four years you will spend as a high school student and have fun while doing so, stop delaying and just go to prom. Just like what many will tell you, the hardest part of anything is getting started. So when prom officially comes, GO GO GO! You will not regret a thing once you realize how much fun you had. Pro #2: You get out of the house for a bit. Secondly, one plus of prom is that it’s a great time killer when you simply have nothing better to do on that day. Say you just finished studying for that big exam, Snapchat is offline or just not active, or you just finished that series you’ve been streaming on Netflix, what is there to do now? If that is you, grab your wallet and get a ticket to prom. What else do you have to do when all of your “required” tasks are done? You can only sit at home for so long before you go nuts. If you just want to get out of the house for any reason, get your butt to prom. Pro #3: Social confidence is boosted. And to finish of the pros of prom, this event will grant you more access to people you may have never known. Think about it, this is an event that almost anyone and everyone will be attending. So if you want to make new friends while on the dance floor, get to prom and see what happens. This event is one of the most populus events in school history that might even beat out homecoming or a state tournament in major sports like football or basketball. So finding new friends will be exponentially easier here than any other event. So in conclusion, go to prom, get more friends in the process, feel happier in the end than the ones who don’t go. Now, we head into the cons of prom. While the pros seem promising enough for you to go to prom now, you might want to consider the darker side that prom is hiding behind the curtain consisting of punch, DJ, music, and the iconic slow dance. So be warned, this section might be more convincing than the pros for some people. So, let us begin our descent into the dark side of prom with three cons that prom is hiding from us all. Con #1: It is very time consuming. Starting of into the descent of prom’s dark side might be small but it’s serious business. It takes up a lot of time. While it might be awesome to wait for the slow dance with your partner by socializing with your buds, dancing to music, or other activities that prom will offer, that can get very tiring especially if you aren’t lucky enough to find seats in the prom area. And that sucks if you plan to stay for the whole night. So be prepared to be standing for a long time if you are planning to go for the whole night. Con #2: It is very expensive. While yes wearing a tux or dress may be iconic or may be “required” for prom, how much money did you have to put into it to even have the ability to wear it at all? According to Angie’s list, the average price to rent a tux is $196 which may not be all that bad but some cost around $400 to $500. Yikes! And dresses are not any better than the tuxes as they cost $100 to $400! If that does not scream serious cash killer, what does?! So if your job isn’t paying enough to buy even a ticket which is around $20 to $250 depending on the location of the event, just don't invest in prom and stay home, or use the money on something that won't kill of your paycheck. Con #3: It hinders other academic needs. And to end of the decent into prom’s dark side, dont froget that prom will hinder your academic needs. Assume that you have a big test coming up, you decide to go to prom, forget about the test you could have studied for, then the next day, you bomb the test. Then you start wishing you never went to prom. Or let's say you have a ton of homework you need to get done on prom day and it is due one day later. You go to prom, forget about the homework you were supposed to be doing, then the next day, you cannot submit any of it then you fail the class. So all in all, if you have academic needs you need to fulfil, just stay away from prom and just get it done. Your grades will thank you later. And that is three pros and three cons about prom you might want to consider before you invest in a tux, buy a ticket, or finally ask a girl out. Hopefully this article will help you come to a conclusion on the most iconic night in your high school career. But we want to hear from you. What are some pros and cons that you might give to somebody when it’s time for them to decide to go to prom? Let us know and who knows, it might be featured in the future. |
Grand Mac: The legendary burger
By Yoshi Her
Ever heard of the big mac? Can you imagine eating one twice the size?
McDonald's, one of the most popular fast food restaurants in the world, has created the Grand Mac. It is twice the size of the Big Mac. You just can’t hold it with one hand; you hold it with two. It’s so big; it has two juicy patties that weigh ⅓ of a pound each, twice as much lettuce, twice as much onions, and best of all, twice the amount of Big Mac’s special sauce. Can you imagine how satisfying it would be to fill your stomach with the Grand Mac? It’s here folks, at your local McDonald's, for only $4.89. |
Traditional Asian dances
By Tsimeng Khang
Iny Asian Dance Theater has 11 groups, and people are put upon the group based on your skills. Each year IADT have auditions to see who had improved, and if that person did then they’ll go up into a better team, unless they’re already in the top team.
Paqazi Xiong(11) had been dancing in IADT since 2009; her cousin recommended her to join and that ended up with her eight years in IADT and still ongoing, but this following year is going to be the last. She started out in different teams, but now she’s in Minnesota Sunshine (the top group in IADT). Dancing is a passion that she have because it’s another way to express herself, relieve stress, and meet new people. Also it is a team building sport, and sooner or later it’s going to feel like a family. There are many teams in IADT, but in the end, they are just a big family. The motivation that keeps her going is the competition and exercise. Her team consists of 12 people and the dances that they do are Chinese, Hmong, Thai, Bollywood, Dai, and Laotian. On a scale ranked 1-10 of recommendation, she chose 10 because of all the adventures and memories that she created with a new family. |
Teen pregnancy
By Kami Ashanti
Teen pregnancy is mainly between the ages of 15 to 19. Statistics have shown that most pregnant teens go off to “pregnant school”. Why don't they stay at public school ? Most teens usually go to to a pregnant school mostly because they are scared of being made fun of or the dangers that occur in public schools. In Minnesota, the rate of teen pregnancy has decreased, but it is still happening.
3 in 10 American teens will get pregnant before the age of 20. Many of the websites said that woman have to go to the bathroom a lot more so that's another factor the comes into play in going to alternative school. The majority of parents when they first find out that their teen is pregnant they feel shocked ashamed and that their kids life is over, but the important thing is that they should stay calm because they probably already feel bad and ashamed themselves. According to focus the family.com parents should still be supportive and focus on the positives. Teen pregnancy is not easy, but not as uncommon as you may think. If you or someone you know needs help or advice, get them help, stay positive and be supportive because teen pregnancy is tough and they need all the help they can get. |
A unique dance team
By Kami Ashanti & Luke Stroughton
The University of Minnesota dance team is beyond amazing and very competitive. It is a very hard team to get on. They are 18 time national champions, and 3 time world champions. They are that good. Minnesota is one of the most competitive states in the nation.
We minnesotans are known for having great dancers come out of Minnesota and great studios and dance teams. What's the difference between the two ? Well, for starters dancers will usually go to a dance studio before dance team, the main reason why is because parents like to put their kids in dance young, and with dance studio you can do that. With dance team you can not start it until you are in highschool or middle school age. Another fact about dance team is that if you do it through the school, the motto is student first athlete second. Dance studio is the opposite, from personal experience dancing at a studio in the past they don’t really care about the school aspect of it. Whether its dance team or dance studio or wherever dance takes place, the core of dance is the same and it has the same basics and it can bring people together. |
What it means to be Minnesotan
By Dylan Simonson & Bailey Szabla
1. It’s Pop, Not Soda
If you really call yourself a Minnesotan, you refer to a carbonated beverage as pop rather than soda. Us Minnesotans have adapted the term pop as a part of our culture. The look of utter confusion can be expressed on a Minnesotans face when asked, “What kind of soda would you like?”. We are Minnesotans, not New Yorkers. Miss, I will take a large pop to go, please. 2. Tator Tot Hotdish A Minnesotan knows that their grandmother makes this for holiday’s and special occasions. It is the native dish to our great state of Minnesota. What other than tator tot hotdish? They are not casseroles, they are hotdish’s. Grab a plate, load up that delicious mix of cream of mushroom soup, tator tots, vegetables and enjoy. 3. 45℉ is Shorts Weather Arriving in Minnesota in the snowy months, you will come across men and women of all ages enjoying their time outside in a half snow-covered yard wearing shorts. Don’t look too alarmed, you Texans, that’s just your typical Minnesotan. We have learned from birth to handle the drastic winters and the insanely hot summers. That makes 45℉ a perfect time for Uncle Frank to bring out the jean shorts. 4. Minnesota Nice We are labeled throughout the United States as a very kind-hearted state. Minnesota is the land of 10.000 lakes and 5.4 million friendly people. See, you other 49 states, that’s where you’re wrong. We are the land and definition of passive aggression. Yeah we might be friendly and all, but we are indirectly blunt to your face without you knowing it. “Jimmy, you’re a really good player and all, but I just think that you would be better off just to sit this one out, okay? Thanks kiddo.” translates to, “Jimmy, you’re god awful and you’re dragging this team down. So do us all a favor and don’t play. We’d like to win a few games this season.” 5. The Minnesota Goodbye The other 49 states do not truly understand what a Minnesota goodbye is until they step foot into a place where two Minnesotans must depart for the time being. In any other state, saying goodbye requires the process of waving goodbye and walking out the door. In Minnesota, there is more to that. Often times it requires saying goodbye and having your aunt Debra mention something to your mom about the rummage sale that her friend Diane went to last week. This is a conversation that will last between 20 - 30 minutes. Your goodbye will continue to last if your grandmother asks about how your grades are. Point being, there is no goodbye in Minnesota. You just continue your conversations that you forgot to mention at the dinner table. |
How to take care of naturally curly or coily hair
By Hannah Ibrahim
In today’s society, many more black women all over the world are starting to make the choice to wear their natural hair. However most of them don’t really know how to go “natural”. Here are some steps on how to take care of natural curly/ coily hair.
Wash your hair less: Curly/Coily hair tends to not get dirty as fast as people with finer hair. Washing your hair everyday will strip your hairs natural oils, which will lead to dry hair. Try washing your hair every three days, or even once a week. Doing a co wash in between each wash will help keep your hair clean and moisturized. Avoid using shampoos with sulfates as sulfates are a washing detergent that will dry the hair out. Use the right products: Curly/Coily hair is very dry. It is important to keep your hair ALWAYS moisturized. Always put an oil or a serum in your hair. Olive, coconut, and argan oil help lock in moisture to your hair. When buying hair products, always check which ingredients are included. Remember the more natural the product, the better. Avoid using heat tools: It may be tempting to run a hair straightener through your hair, but it can cause a lot of damage. Consistent heat use will cause your hair to lose certain proteins needed to maintain your hair pattern, causing your hair to be more limp and dry. Consistent heat use will cause split ends. Wear protective hair styles: Wearing your hair in tight styles like cornrows, bantu knots, etc.. are tight styles that will pull your hair and cause it to break. Try wearing a loose bun or ponytail or just leave your hair down. |
Food wastage in the United States
By Sara Xiong
Our world population is estimated to increase to 9.5 billion people around the world by 2050. A question that people have is “how are we supposed to produce enough food to feed everybody?”
According to the United Nations the answer is not to produce more but to waste less. About 40% of food gets wasted or lost each year in the United States: that’s 1.3 billion tons. The food that gets wasted generally ends up in a landfill, and about 97% of landfills are made of 33 million ton of food. A single restaurant each year wastes about 25,000 - 75,000 pounds of food. Food breaks down and produces methane which is 21% more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas.The quality of food in America is mainly processed and cheap. Many prefer the aesthetic quality of food. No one is going to want to take home food that has a little bruise, browning, oxidation or discoloration. If you look at how real fries and McDonalds fries look like after one week, you’ll see that the real fries will rot and McDonald's fries will not. Many would see that as a plus, but it is not. That just means that the food industry are using so much chemicals to make their food look appealing and can be indeed harmful to our body. France is the first country in the world to prohibit supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food by forcing them to donate it to charities and food banks. This will help million of people who can’t afford a meal to receive a free one. If the United States could start giving away food that is still good to eat, we would be able to feed an estimate of 318.9 million people. About more than 500,000 people are homeless and don’t have enough money to feed their family or themselves. The United States would be helping those in need if they take action to stop food wastage by donating it. |
Depression in high school
By Aimee Shute & Caden Nafstad
Depression is a very serious illness that is mostly common in the teenage years of someone’s life. Depression can be caused by bullying, problems at home, or just about anything that can cause sadness in your life. Just in case you were wondering what depression is exactly, it is the feeling of severe despondency and dejection.
Teens are more susceptible to being diagnosed with depression than adults. According to TeenHelp.com about 30% of depressed teens develop substance disorder and start relying on drugs to take away the pain they’ve been feeling. High school can a very big trigger to teens for depression. Homework, drama, and bullying would all be reasons for a teen to become depressed during school. About 20% of people will experience depression before they reach adulthood. Teen suicide is the third most cause of death in people of 10-24 years of age in the United States. More than 800,000 people worldwide commit suicide each year and more than 39,000 each year in the United States alone according to teenhelp.com. Suicide is evan an more important topic than depression, if you are having suicidal thoughts seek help immediately and let others help you through it. If you feel you need to you can always call 1-800-273-8255 a suicide prevention number. |
Four unique animals that make Minnesota’s wildlife extraordinary
By Caden Nafstad & Aimee Shute
Minnesota has a wide variety of biomes and climates, which enables a unique opportunity for many different habitats to exist in a compact area. These many habitats support a large biodiversity. Here are just a few of Minnesota’s interesting and signature animals.
Starting off with Minnesota’s most well-known turtle, the Western Painted Turtle, or Chrysemys picta bellii. This turtle gets its name from the vivid display of colors on its underside, which almost looks like it was painted on there. They are commonly found all over the state, and it’s a cool sight to see when you do happen to spot one. Gray Wolves are not as common as the Painted Turtle, but the excitement of the rare sighting makes up for it. The Gray Wolf, or “Timber Wolf,” is a large predator in the northern parts of Minnesota. Canis lupus lycaon is Minnesota’s biggest wild dog species, so be careful not to veer too close to one, because humans are no match for its ferocious jaw and teeth. The Common Loon. Gavia immer, Minnesota’s state bird, is a water fowl that can fly more than 75 mph, stay underwater for up to 5 minutes, and live for more than 30 years. These “Super-Birds” feed on common Minnesota fish and frogs. Minnesota’s largest wild animal, towering six and a half feet above the ground, 10 feet long, and weighing in at 1,000 pounds, the moose is our final animal. Alces alces has a receding and sparse habitat, residing only in the very Northeastern and Northwestern corners of the state. These beasts feed on browse plants such as aspen and many water plants. These are just a few of the many animals that make Minnesota’s biodiversity rich with variety. |
Plug your headphones in, CP!
By Lauryn Samuel
Are you looking for some music to listen to in the car or while just relaxing?
Artists LIl Uzi Vert and Kodak Black are fairly new to the music industry, but they still made the top 10 for Billboard music. The majority of their music became known fairly quickly. There is always new music coming out, but if you are looking for some hype music to listen to try typing in these songs to get a little pump to your day. (parental advisory warning)
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Fun facts About Minnesota
By Jonny Norberg
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The do’s and dont’s of McDonalds
By Josiah Strong & Ser'William Humphrey
I’m sure if you’re reading this you’ve been to McDonald’s before. Now with that being said you also have most likely been put into the predicament of not knowing what to order there. Here is the opinions of a couple of high school students on what to order and what not to order at McDonald’s.
To begin with, when asked when is the best time to eat Mcdonald’s Newton Obiri (11) says, “After school or like after work.” He also had this to say, “I wouldn’t eat it before I workout.” Now that you know the right times to eat this convenient food, you have to consider what to order when you get there. Aaron Meneme (10) tells us what he usually order and avoids on the menu, “I usually just get a Big Mac meal with a Fanta.” Next when asked what he doesn’t order he claims, “I would never order the Filet- O-Fish; it’s nasty to me.” Obiri also tells us that this sandwich would be a pass on his choice, and his experience with the fish sandwich was not a good one. Finally Aaron gives McDonald’s an overall grade of 7 out of 10 and Newton gives a grade of 8.5. McDonald’s may not be your first choice of restaurants to eat at, but if you do make sure to consider the items you choose to order can make or break your experience. |
Best 'Brownie In A Mug' recipe!
By Jane Maertens
We’ve all been there, you’re sitting at home just hanging out when you suddenly get the strongest craving for a chocolate dessert. The only problem with this is that there’s no way you’re going to spend time making a whole cake or going and buying something, That’s what a brownie in a mug is for.
Here is the recipe for the best brownie in a mug you will ever try. Things you’ll need: A microwavable safe mug 1 tablespoon butter 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons flour 1/4th teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tablespoons milk 1 dash salt Instructions: First you’re going to melt the butter in the mug, then add the flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Mix well, then add the milk and vanilla and mix well. You then can mix in any extra ingredient such as chocolate chips, peanuts, or whatever else you enjoy in a brownie. Microwave for 50-60 seconds (careful not to overcook). Serve and enjoy . Adding a scoop of ice cream on top is wonderful. |
Doggy behavior decoded
By Grace Marshalek
Just like humans, dogs react to different things differently as well as show their feeling in completely different ways. According to most experts however there are some normal behavior you can expect your dog to show.
Happy/satisfied - Muscles in his body are relaxed, tail and ears in their normal position and they might be panting in a regular beat or wagging their tail side to side or in a circle. In this state they are safe to pet and interact with. Alert- His muscles will tense and he’ll point with his nose the directions he is focused on. His tail will be rigid standing straight up or in it’s natural position, not wagging. His mouth with be shut, however he might growl towards whatever caught his attention. Excited- He will focus most of his weight on his hind legs, and he’ll look playfully alert. Which would mean his ears are perked up and his tail held high it might be waging. Barking is common with dogs when they are excited as well. Playful- He might be jerky or bouncy, or he could jump on you and start mouthing. Dogs have different playing styles and they all depend on the dog themselves. A common thing dog will do is call “play bow’ in which they will lower their front legs and wag their back end. Scared- When a dog is small he or she will try to make themselves smaller, they might hunch their back or tuck their tail between their legs. Also they might cower towards the ground and even whimper, or yawn in an exasperated manner. |
Live alone, die alone
By Jack Swanson
Few brands are influencing the culture like Vlone. The name has really gained a powerful status over the few years it's been around, and it's only getting bigger and more desirable.
Vlone was curated around 2011 and 2012 by A$ap Bari, a member of the artist group A$ap Mob. The brand is now represented by A$ap Bari, A$ap Rocky and Edison Chen. The label is based around the lifestyle of “kids that live alone and die alone”. The idea originates from the Orson Welles’ quote “We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.” The idea imposed is that Vlone is more of a lifestyle, or a feeling than just a clothing line. Anything from the brand will create high demand, everything sells out. Vlone pop up shops have appeared all around the world in places like Tokyo, Miami, Hong Kong, LA and NYC and have always succeeded to create large amounts of hype towards the clothing being released. In the recent years as the brand continues to grow collaborations have taken place with labels such as Off-white and Nike creating more attention and hype towards the brand than ever before. The collection with Nike included tees, pins and most importantly a Vlone inspired version of the well known silhouette, the Nike Air Force 1. The shoes had no problem gaining an immense following, shortly after release the shoes were reselling of upwards of $1000. Vlone is one of the most elusive yet sought after and admired streetwear brands I have seen. The message represented by the brand is one that is becoming a popular idea among many people. I don’t doubt that it will continue to grow even bigger in the coming years. |
Why Ford is for you
By Jada Rood
If you're driving or starting to drive, one thing you should have is a car. Now although as teenagers we’re usually not so interested in efficiency, our parents are.
Not only do they want us to be as safe as possible while driving, they don't want to spend so much money for one child to drive. In order to get the best of both worlds, safeness and price efficiency, you have to do a little research. Well, I have that part covered for you. There are several cars coming out that are better on the environment, use less energy or natural resources, but these cars usually are very pricey. The Ford on the other hand is both environmentally safe and for a price that will be easier on your pockets. Here are three facts on Fords that can make them better than other vehicles.
Even though you as a teenager may not remotely care about the cost and environment efficiency of the car you want, you can always show this article to one of your parents or both to give value to their decision on getting you a car. |