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  1. Facebook Punishment?

    May 4, 2012 by cjohnson1

    Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook.com in 2004 in hopes of making the world open in a social way. The website is supposed to be fun, but apparently it can also be used as a punishment. Wednesday, April 25 an Ohio mother took action against her 13 year old daughter. After Ava Abbott was rude and acted out towards her mother in front of her friends, Denise Abbott looked to a social networking site for discipline. Abbott replaced her daughter’s profile picture with a picture of Ava with an “X” on her mouth. The picture stated “I don’t know how to keep my mouth shut. I am no longer allowed on Facebook or my phone. Please ask why. My mom says I have to answer everyone that asks.” There has been debate over whether or not Abbott’s actions were too much. Ava Abbott says though she does not understand why everyone is upset; she did learn her lesson after all.

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  2. Floating Movie Theatre

    May 3, 2012 by sculver

    There is a movie theatre floating on water in the middle of a lagoon? There is an actual area on water that is set for people to ride a speedboat out to the cinema and watch a movie. There is one, and only one in the private island of Yao Noi in Andaman Sea, Thailand. The Archipelago Cinema was built in a calm lagoon surrounded by tall rocks and plants. The Cinema was built with local fishermen’s rafts that were tied together with wooden frames and rubber straps to create blocks that were then covered with mosquito nets. The entire structure can be hauled around anywhere. The floating theater features a large screen that is hovering above the sea in front of the floating audience seating area. The movie screen is secured to the bottom of the bay and guests sit on floating rafts made to comfort sitting on water for hours without getting sea sick. The seating area for the audience is bean bags. The edge of the cinema has built in lights that glow green for a light source during dark for speedboats. Maybe the floating movie theatre is the start of many more to come.

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  3. Child Abuse Statistics

    April 26, 2012 by vcurtin

    Every ten seconds, there is a report about child abuse. According to childhelp.org, “Over 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States; however, those reports can include multiple children. In 2009, approximately 3.3 million child abuse reports and allegations were made involving an estimated 6 million children.” In 1998 only a couple of children died per day due to child abuse. By the year 2010, approximately five or more children died per day due to child abuse. Child abuse is not a small issue and is continuously increasing.

    Studies show that out of 100% of children 78.3% are neglected. Out of 100% of children, 10.8% suffer physical abuse, 7.6% experience sexual abuse, 7.6% undergo psychological maltreatment, 2.4% are neglected medical needs, and 9.6% go through other types of abuse. Around 80% of abused children die before reaching the age of four. Child abuse victims are at greater risk to have difficulties in the future.

    Around 80% of 21 year olds that were abused as children have at least one psychological disorder. The website childhelp.org also states, “14% of all men in prison in the USA were abused as children. 36% of all women in prison were abused as children. Children who experience child abuse and neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.”

    If preventing child abuse seems to be risky, the website www.helpguide.org suggests:

    • Preventing child abuse will not interfere with a family. The effects of child abuse are lifelong, affecting future relationships, self-esteem, and sadly putting even more children at risk of abuse as the cycle continues.
    • A home will not be broken up if there is a report of child abuse. The priority in child protective services is keeping children in the home. A child abuse report does not mean a child is automatically removed from the home – unless the child is clearly in danger. Support such as parenting classes, anger management or other resources may be offered first to parents if safe for the child.
    • Reports are anonymous.  Reporting is anonymous. In most states, names are not forced to be given when reporting child abuse. The child abuser cannot find out who made the report of child abuse.
    • Helping prevent child abuse will make a difference. If there is a gut feeling that something is wrong, it is better to be safe than sorry. Others may have noticed something as well, and a pattern can help identify child abuse that might have otherwise slipped through the cracks.

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  4. Cabaret Show

    April 25, 2012 by vcurtin

    “What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play. Life is a Cabaret, old chum. Come to Cabaret!” These are lyrics from the musical, Cabaret. South Valley is hosting Cabaret show! Cabaret Show will take place May 8 at 7:00pm in the South Valley Junior High commons. Tickets for students will be five dollars, and adults tickets will be seven dollars. A free dessert will be served with every ticket purchased; extra desserts will be one dollar each. Broadway music will be sung by students at South Valley Jr. High in the commons. Students share their hard work and commitment to the upcoming Cabaret Show.

    Mr. Holthus, director of Cabaret Show, shares, “The cab show is great venue for students to learn a different style of vocal music.  We learn how to sing in the Broadway/pop style, and the cheesecake and other sweets aren’t bad either.” Holthus shares that the practices can be a bit of a challenge. “Each soloist has to come in for two 30 minute lessons a week, and the large choir meets at 6:30 in the morning 2-3 times a week. Finding time to rehearse with everyone is always a challenge, and getting people to actually show up for lessons is sometimes more frustrating. I love the Cab show itself…some of the rehearsals are a little intense, but the end product is always amazing.” Holthus shares that the show is a treat for everyone. “It’s a great show with free food.  The music is upbeat and fun for the performers and the audience.”

     

    Eighth grade student, Eric White, says that he is excited to perform the rebuttal song of Taylor the Latte Boy. White says that he is going to be in an ensemble and a duet with a friend. He is not too excited, however, about the possibilities of wearing costumes for his duet, Sister Sister.

     

     

     

     

     

    Eighth grader, Brieann Wynn has a solo piece What I Did for Love from the musical, A Chorus Line. She will also be  performing a duet with ninth grader, Lauren Vaness. Wynn states that she cannot wait for the Cabaret Show!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Ninth grade student, Brooklyn White, shares that her favorite part about Cabaret Show is being able to perform. White will perform in the ensemble and perform her solo piece. White’s solo piece is from the musical Cabaret the song is called Maybe This Time sung by Liza Minnelli.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Ninth grader, Caitlin Myers, will be performing Christmas Lullaby and On My Own.  Myers shares that she is looking forward to performing and showing her talent to people that support fine arts. Myers said her least favorite part will be when the show ends.

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  5. Isn’t Poisned Water Yummy?

    April 25, 2012 by cjohnson1

    Tuesday, April 17 around 171 schoolgirls and female teachers were taken to a local hospital. The cause? Water poisoning. Most of the victims lost consciousness; others suffered dizziness and vomiting. About 25 girls returned to the hospital Wednesday morning after being released the night before. They complained of stomachaches, fevers, and vomiting. According to CNN.com, this act was the work of extreme activists who are against girls’ education, peace, and stability in Afghanistan.

    During the time of 1996-2001, when the Taliban ruled, young Afghan girls were forbidden to attend school or learn for that matter. Schools reopened after 2001 after the U.S. invasion. Abuse towards women is still common in Afghanistan, especially in conservative and traditional families where education for women is not allowed. This was not the first incident of water poisoning. In 2010 more than 100 students and teachers were poisoned through water. It is also reported that in the past, acid has been thrown in the faces of girls walking to school. In the end, doctors confirmed the poison of the school’s water, but they have no knowledge of the type of poison yet.

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  6. ‘The Casual Vacancy’ Occupies the World

    April 20, 2012 by rpeek

    It has been five years since the final Harry Potter book was released, let alone a novel by the wealthiest author in the world, but now, readers will be able to hit book stores in the fall of 2012 to purchase J.K. Rowling’s new novel.

    On April 12, 2012, Little, Brown Publishing Company and J.K. Rowling announced that Rowling’s first post-Potter book will be entitled The Casual Vacancy, and will be released September 27, 2012. The book will be printed as both an eBook and a print copy. The cover of Rowling’s latest work is yet to be released, but a summary was accompanied with the statements regarding Vacancy.

    Little, Brown reports:

    When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.

    Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

    Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.

    And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

    Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.

    Many fans have duly noted that the only character revealed has the name of Barry, which obviously rhymes with Harry, the star of Rowling’s popular series. Some fans also hold the opinion that the book will revolve around the murder of Barry Fairweather, considering Rowling’s editor for this book is a world-renowned editor, and that Rowling has been saying she will write an adult mystery novel; that she had been developing one for quite some time.

    Once again, The Casual Vacancy will be released September 27, 2012 from Little, Brown.

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  7. Teachers Then and Now

    April 19, 2012 by sculver

    South Valley Junior High teachers back in high school are both shocking or predictable results. Some were bookworms, slackers, rule followers, rebels, athletes, leaders, followers, or peppy; which teachers fall in which categories? A few South Valley Junior High teachers were interviewed on how they were as a student in high school and how they have changed since then.

    Mr. Baldwin- “At the beginning, I was consumed with friends and fun, but by the end of high school, I realized education was more important, and I need to get things together. I ended up being a 4.0 student. Now, I realize life goes on, and I’m going to make mistakes and that it’s not what you do wrong, it’s how you respond and try to fix those flaws. In high school, I was completely different. I was constantly worried about what I did, and how I would do something stupid again”

    Mrs. Sayers (on left)- “I was a good student. I got straight A’s in high school. Now I’m more relaxed and I’m slightly less of a perfectionist.”

    Dr. Raacsh- “I was really outgoing and involved in everything during high school. I loved being around people. Now I’m less involved in things and more involved in being with my family. I think I’m still pretty outgoing though.”

    Mrs. Deaver- “I was a good student, and I was always prepared for tests in high school. I also loved art. Family was important to me then, but I was very much involved with my friends. Now I’m more serious than I was in high school. I really haven’t changed much. Now I realize that family is the most important thing, and I still love art.”

    Mr. Scott- “I was an average student; I had C’s and D’s. I was too goofy in high school so I was constantly getting in trouble. I’m balder now. Emotionally, I’m still the same; I’m a “big kid”.”

    Ms. Hankes- “I was very committed to my studies. I took school very seriously. Now I’m not as self-absorbed. I’m much more open and compassionate. As I’ve gotten older, I am able to see that it’s not all about me; I’m able to see other perspectives.

    Mrs. Rolf- “I was a good student in high school. I was in National Honor’s Society. I was very involved in sports. Now I’m a little bit more responsible.”

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  8. Bully Movie

    April 17, 2012 by serskine

    On March 30, 2012, the documentary “Bully” was released in select theaters.  It opens everywhere April 13, 2012. “Bully” is a film that shows a cameraman going to real schools following the lives of kids who face bullying and harassment on a daily basis.  It is supposed to be direct, head-on, and show all types of bullying. The film’s goal is to realistically show parents, teachers, and students what bully victims go through on a daily basis and get those witnesses to stand up for the victims.

    The movie focuses on five families who have experienced bullying. 12-year old Alex, 14-year old Ja’Meya, and 16-year old Kelby talk about personal experiences they face every day as victims of bullying. David and Tina Long are the parents of 17-year old Tyler Long who hung himself after years of being bullied.  Kirk and Laura Smalley are the parents of an 11-year old, Ty, who also committed suicide after being bullied for so long.

    Even though the movie is supposed to help stop bullying, there is some controversy. The Motion Picture Association of America’s ratings board insisted that the movie should be rated “R” because of the nature of the film. Raising the rating to “R” may make it difficult for some students to see the film.  However, if left at “PG-13” the film may shock and upset parents because of the content.

    When asked about the rating change Charlotte Waters, ninth grade student, stated “I think ‘Bully’ should be rated PG-13.  If the movie is rated R many parents wouldn’t let kids see it.  Bullying is a big problem, and I believe kids need to see it to take note of that.”

    Ninth grade student Jordan Haferbier stated that she does not think the film will change bullying in schools.  She believes the film will not make people change their ways, because nobody does anything about it now.  When asked if she thinks the film will accurately display the amount of bullying in schools, Haferbier stated, “No.  I don’t think so because there is more bullying than people think behind the scenes.”

    After much debate between the MPAA and the Weinstein Company on the movie’s rating, it was finally pronounced to be Unrated. It is now completely up to a person’s own personal opinion.

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  9. Analyzing the New York Times Best-Seller List

    April 13, 2012 by rpeek

    APRIL 13, 2012–

    Perhaps the biggest enigma in publishing history is the entity that is the New York Times bestseller list. For decades the New York Times has published a list of the best-selling books per week. Until the Harry Potter books were released, the list was just…well, one list of books. Now, the list is split into the categories of hardcover and paperback fiction (children’s and adult’s), eBooks, and graphic novels. The list is basically ‘the list’ that authors thrive to be on when their books are published, and while many author’s believe it will be a difficult task, some also remain under the impression that fame will be easy to achieve with books. The truth about the list, though, is that spots on it seem to be reserved for series, books that are soon to be turned into films, and books that are by previous bestselling authors. For example, Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books have remained on the ‘Children’s Series’ list for 243 consecutive weeks, not to mention its intermittent appearances on the list. Riordan has subsequently published novels, books like the novels in the Kane Chronicles, or Percy Jackson’s sequel series, the Heroes of Olympus. The first Kane Chronicles book, The Red Pyramid, reserves the number two spot on ‘Children’s Paperbacks,’ and both The Kane Chronicles Survival Guide and Son of Neptune (the second book in Heroes of Olympus) sit on the ‘Children’s Chapter Books’ list.

    How, exactly, do books get on the coveted list that essentially determines whether or not one’s book is noticed in the publishing realm? The New York Times website provides an in-depth look at their ‘methodology’ for deciphering which tales to top the list. The excerpt reads, “Sales of both print books and e-books are reported confidentially to the New York Times. The Best Seller Lists are prepared by the News Surveys and Election Analysis Department of the New York Times. Royalty Share, a firm that provides accounting services to publishers, is assisting the New York Times in its corroboration of e-book sales.”

    Essentially what this little piece of information from the Times presents is the idea that the opening week of a book’s release, what is potentially the peak of its popularity, is the most important, at least to retailer executives, like those at the New York Times. The first week of a book’s public appearance is when all the promotion that publishers and their marketing teams implement (hopefully) pay off. Looking at the ‘Children’s Chapter Books’ section, as well as the ‘Children’s Series’ section, it is made quite plain that publishing companies like Scholastic, HarperCollins, Disney-Hyperion, and Knopf have the most successful publicity attempts. It truly reflects, too. Those publishing companies are responsible for Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, The Vampire Diaries, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, and the Inheritance Cycle, respectively. Popular publicity schemes include themed bookmarks, bookplates, Advanced Reader Copies (copies of the book sent in advance in order to receive early critical reception—I’ve received a multitude of these), and book displays at major chains, most prominently Barnes and Noble.

    In order to achieve a spot on its bestseller list, the book must prove itself to be incredibly successful not only at popular chains, but also at independent booksellers, department stores, grocery stores, and etc. The book could sell thousands of copies of at the author’s local B&N, but that would mean nothing to the people in charge of organizing the list. Having a position on the New York Times list ensures not only the current success it possesses, but also future success; success that could arrive with film adaptations, television adaptations, future sequels, etc. Many readers love to look over the list do decide what to read next, so if a book does not prove successful during its immediate release, it tends to fly over many people’s heads in the following years of its existence.

    Many rumors do exist, though, that the Times looks primarily at the underdogs of the bookselling agency, meaning the independent sellers or the department stores. It is stores like these that apparently appeal to the Times, and this could perhaps be because of the fact that these stores cannot promote the books in the ways that chains can, so the executives like to see how the books do on their own.

    The New York Times best-seller list can be found here.

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  10. Healthy Teenage Girl Dies at Jackson County’s Juvenile Center

    April 13, 2012 by sculver

    A 16 year old girl named Kathia Casseus died shortly after one in the afternoon on Saturday, February 25, 2012. The young lady was completely healthy when she died. Staff and faculty from Jackson County’s Juvenile Center noticed something wrong with her around 11:40 in the morning when she fell to the floor rolling side to side and saying she was unable to breath. The staff also said that she was hyperventilating and was “visible upset.” After falling to the floor because of her dramatic loss of breath, she was able to get up and tell some of the staff that she was dizzy, felt hot, and unable to walk. The staff noticed that Kathia had stopped yelling and became really quiet. One of the staff went into Kathia’s room to check on her. She was found unresponsive and not breathing. At that time, she called 911 and started performing CPR. Kathia was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital where she was pronounced dead. There were two different reports on this issue, one from the police and one from the actual juvenile center. According to the press release from Jackson County’s Juvenile Center, Kathia was checked on six times from the time she was moved to a smaller room to the time she was no longer breathing. According to the police report, Kathia was never checked on after she was moved to the smaller room. There was no indication that someone was keeping tabs on her. Kathia’s mother said that she had seen her daughter at court to discuss how long she was going to be put in the juvenile center on Wednesday and talked on the phone with her daughter Thursday and saw no indication that Kathia was feeling ill. Kathia’s death was very unexpected and a terrible loss for her family to go through.

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