The surprising benefits of dancing

 

 

By: Autumn Hill

 

 

 

           Dancing can be magical and transforming. It can breathe new life into a tired soul, make a spirit soar, unleash locked-away creativity and unite generations and cultures. But, is dancing healthy for you? What could be the benefits of dancing?

For generations, dancing has been a favorite when it comes to exercise and it can be fun for all ages. Dancing allows people of all ages, shapes and sizes to stay fit, in a variety of ways. Dance has a wide range of physical and mental benefits. Dancing can lead to improved flexibility of joints and muscles, increased motor strength, and endurance. Increased motor strength is a result of an increase in muscle mass from the physical demands of dancing. The increase in muscle mass results in an elevation of metabolism, since muscle tissue is more metabolically active than other tissue. Dance therapy is even being used to help treat depression.

           A Stanford University study states that dancing benefits your brain, noting that, “Dancing integrates several brain functions at once — kinesthetic, rational, musical, and emotional — further increasing your neural connectivity.”  Do all kinds of dancing lead to increased mental acuity though?  No, not all forms of dancing will produce the same benefit, especially if they only work on style, or merely retrace the same memorized paths.  Making as many split-second decisions as possible is the key to maintaining our cognitive abilities. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine even found that dancing is linked to a lower rate of dementia.

So, dancing can strengthen the heart, enhance physical confidence, improve your social outlook and strengthen the body muscles. On top of that, dancing is not only healthy for you, but can be a lot of fun. "Dancing is a lot of fun, and I like performing," says Jim Maxwell from the television show Dancing with the Stars.

In addition to the mind-boosting increase in blood flow to the brain that you get during any form of physical activity, researchers suspect that memorizing dance steps and staying in sync with the rhythm of the music promotes the growth of new neurons and activates connections between existing ones. So, when is YOUR next dance lesson?



The imminent end of NASCAR

By: Peter Lewis

(Writer’s Note- This article will not debate whether or not NASCAR, National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing, is a sport, rather, it will examine the problems it faces, how it got to there, and its future.)

 

If you haven’t heard, the NASCAR season came to an end with driver Jimmie Johnson winning his sixth title in eight years.  It may be hard to remember, but at the turn of the millennium NASCAR was one of the fastest growing “sports” in the America and becoming very popular outside the South, where it originated.  As Forbes magazine reported from 1998 to 2005, NASCAR had substantially higher television ratings than the NFL.  Since 2006, though, they’ve seen a decline, but since 2010, they’ve seen a dramatic fall.  Attendance has also dropped dramatically since 2009, around twenty percent, reports YahooSports.

So what happened to NASCAR, exactly?  Clearly, it wasn’t a fad. Since the 1980s interest in NASCAR was growing and it reached unimaginable popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s.  So, most viewers were content with nothing but left turns and southern venues and drivers every Sunday afternoon.  For many, this era of NASCAR fans were witness to drivers with different personalities, rivalries, close and dangerous racing and death defying that became appealing entertainment.  It also managed to feel like every week was different and never really got to predictable, which caused attention and popularity to sky rocket in the early 2000s. 

NASCAR’S problems probably did begin, however, when it got popular.  NASCAR was primarily a Southern business, but as the rest of the U.S. gained interest in the company, NASCAR decided to move out of the South and expand to states it never dared going to, such as California, Texas, and Arizona .  This expanded its presence around the country, but at a cost to its identity in some regards.  Yet, this wasn’t its biggest problem; the fan base did grow and the Southern audience remained, but as time moved on it became a much more glaring problem.  As its popularity fell in those states far from the South, the attendance and viewership went down. 

            NASCAR’S second problem was how it put money ahead of product.  As NASCAR grew, so did the teams, but the problem was money.  Just putting a car on a track for practice costs a team a lot of money, so sponsorship was needed more than ever.  With this, NASCAR obviously got greedy and became too concerned with getting new sponsorships and having networks broadcasting their events.  This stigma also fell on the teams and drivers, personalities became blander as drivers went from daredevils to walking talking billboards, rivalries became rarer, and those that occurred were shot down by NASCAR for safety reasons.  The racing became too conservative and started becoming three and half hours of follow the leader, compared to cars always passing and making daring moves, which kept fans on the edge of their seats.

            Yet, none of this could compare to NASCAR’s final and ultimate failure, The Chase for the Cup.  The debate of NASCAR being a sport had still been a topic of discussion even at its peak.  NASCAR was convinced it was a sport, and, to prove it, they invented their own playoff, The Chase.  The Chase is a concept where 12 drivers attempt to stay in the top 12 standings for the first 26 races of the season.  The top 12 are the only drivers for the last ten races who can win the championship.  This system is simply laughable; no other racing company does this, not even NASCAR’S other series.  For example during a cross country race, everyone has a shot at winning.  What if suddenly they’re all stopped and the first ten runners are the only ones who can win and then race the final miles starting at the same time, completely disregarding the first place runner’s lead?  The other runners can still run, but can’t win.  This is simply the most idiotic system ever put in place, but in NASCAR’S mind they had a good reason.  Their reason was that the old points system made it too easy to win the championship, which meant the final three or four races of the year had the lowest rating, even though this point system had occurred throughout the years and its popularity continued growing with it. NASCAR was still convinced it would not be beneficial to their future.  Those occurrences of a driver running away with the championship were fairly uncommon, however, and the ratings didn’t take a dramatic fall as NASCAR had to believe.  What did make the ratings collapse was the Chase itself.  Since its debut in 2004, when ratings were at their peak and more than doubled the NFL’s ratings, the interest in NASCAR declined rapidly when people became aware of its short comings and how it did away with competition.  While it initially added some tension to the final races of the season, the problems listed above and the Chase began NASCAR’S downfall.  Racing became conservative and most were racing to make the playoff group.  When the Chase began, it made it simply too easy to win.  After ten of these abominations to racing, Jimmie Johnson has won six.  Does this mean he’s one of the greatest drivers ever like Petty and Earnhardt who won seven in the old system?  Well in the old system this is what the season would have looked like if the Chase hadn’t existed from 2004 to 2012:

From Bleacher Report:

2004: Chase 2inner- Kurt Bush by 8

2004: Old system winner- Jeff Gordon by 47

2005: Chase winner- Tony Stewart by 35

2005: Old system winner- Tony Stewart by 215

2006: Chase winner- Jimmie Johnson by 56

2006: Old system winner- Jimmie Johnson by 4

2007: Chase winner- Jimmie Johnson by 77

2007: Old system winner- Jeff Gordon by 353

2008: Chase winner- Jimmie Johnson by 69

2008: Old system winner- Carl Edwards by 16

2009: Chase winner- Jimmie Johnson by 141

2009: Old system winner- Jimmie Johnson by 66

2010: Chase winner- Jimmie Johnson by 39

2010: Old system winner- Kevin Harvick by 285

2011: Chase winner- Tony Stewart by tie breaker over Carl Edwards

2011: Old system winner- Carl Edwards by 7

2012: Chase winner- Brad Keselowski by 39

2012: Old system winner- Brad Keselowski by 19

 

Now, yes, as Bleacher Report states, this doesn’t take into account that drivers could have handled the final races differently and momentum could have changed as well.  However, from this it’s easy to see the Chase is not the best system in any way.

Since its introduction, the Chase has ruined NASCAR.  All the hard work since the 1950s to bring it to the mainstream was ruined.  Is it fair to say this? With the evidence above, yes. When people found out the Chase was not efficient in crowning a true championship (after Johnson won his fourth in a row after 2009), the ratings and attendance shot down fast.  NASCAR has been oblivious to their problems and their solutions to try to attract viewers and fans back have failed.  ESPN and TNT opted out of their television deals with NASCAR weeks ago, showing its glory days are long gone and the end is truly coming.  Can they do anything to regain their lost glory?  At this moment it doesn’t look likely in any way, the damage has been done and the former fans have found other sources of Sunday entertainment, NFL ratings increased dramatically since the Chase was introduced.  The safe bet for race fans at this point, look into Indy Car or F1, because NASCAR will most likely be gone within the next decade.  It’s unfortunate, but they brought this upon themselves by becoming greedy and not attempting to give fans the best product possible.      



Romantic movies in America



 

By: Autumn Hill

 

            Romantic movies have been around since the invention of movies, and romance has always been an audience favorite. According to amctv.com, “Whether it’s about a long distance relationship or a stranger who walks into the protagonist’s life, anyone can relate to romance.”

Sleepless in Seattle is a modern classic romance and a perfect example of a long distance romance between two people who fall in love with one another. Though they haven’t met, they relate to each other’s struggles. A Walk to Remember portrays a different type of relationship, where the protagonists are totally different from one another yet they fall in love.

Romantic movies have been favored for a very long time. According to imbd.com, one of the top movie websites, romantic movies are exciting because of what the protagonist(s) goes through in the process of trying to get through struggles in life. Whether their love interest(s) gets in the way or disappears for a while, they keep you interested in the story. The website adds, “In the celluloid world of romantic comedies, shy but decent men get the girl, arguments set up sweet reconciliations, and couples separated by tragedy are always reunited through improbable coincidence.”

Romantic comedies normally don’t exactly mirror similar relationships in real life. Maybe that’s why most women love a good romantic movie. Romantic movies are easy to get lost in, because they often portray men who don’t give up too easily on the girl they are with. In the end, romantic movies may make us cry, smile, and sit there with our hopes high for the girl or boy trying to pursue the person of his or her dreams. Romantic movies have always been favored for that reason.

Bring or buy?

By: Brad Tripp

It’s 11:45a.m and the bell rings.  Students from what seems like nowhere appear, their eyes wide, mouths watering, and all they want is food. They grab a cafeteria tray and the food is now within inches of their fingers. The food is then paid for and consumed. What did they just buy? How healthy was it? Is the American lunch program good or bad? Here’s a look:

 

History:

In 1946, the 79^th U.S Congress started to look more closely at the things public schools needed, like equipment and food to feed the students. According to the United States’ Department of Agriculture, this is when President Harry Truman put into effect the National School Lunch Program. The take off of this program was slow, but it was eventually authorized by Congress and any equipment, food or space needed would be provided to feed the students (if the school hadn’t the funds for it). In some cases, this is still in effect, but requires pay back.

Nutrition:

How good is the food being served to the students today? According to the Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education, “all food brought in for the school lunch program must meet all federal requirements in order to be served in schools.” The most current dietary guidelines for Americans instruct that the food served in schools includes no more than 30% of our dietary fats be saturated and 10% unsaturated fats and no more than 30% of your daily protein, vitamin C, vitamin A, protein, calcium and calories.

Changes:

As time has moved on, what changes have we seen in the lunch programs? These changes include better nutrition and meal size in school lunches. However, many think the proportions aren’t big enough. Why is this? Michelle Obama has worked to put in place guidelines for school lunches nationwide, which will try to save money and still provide proper nutrition. Included with this, schools were only to serve diet sodas. This is because it helps to limit fats and sugar and, hopefully, aid in combatting childhood obesity.  Some schools are just ignoring this program, claiming that it is unworkable. According to newsmax.com, some schools are beginning to lose money trying to meet the new guidelines, so they’re resorting back to the old means of feeding the students.

Bring or Buy?:

So, should lunches be brought or bought? This depends if the person is getting the nutrition and fullness they desire. For instance, it’s better to bring for more food, nutrition and control over what is consumed. However, this may not be the most cost effective means of lunch. The average price of a school lunch ranges from free to $3.00 a day. It can be tough to spend less than that if you’re bringing your own food.

 

 Some lunches may not look so good, but they do meet standards of the federal government. Whether you prefer this or making your own lunch, it’s your decision.



The problem(s) with processed food

By: Brad Tripp

Lying on the couch, you get bored, which makes you a bit hungry. Instead of preparing a nice lunch, you decide to order some fries and munch on them until dinner. The fries go down your throat and then to your stomach. What happens next? Well, the food is further digested and then circulated through the blood. Depending on what you just ate, this can lead to clogged arteries and, eventually, death. This is one of the main problems with fatty, fast and fried food.

When you sit down at the dinner table, what do you see? Food loaded with fats and salts, straight out of a box, or a meal of balanced nutrition that wasn’t unfrozen 20 minutes ago? To many people, food should be fast and easy, but in the long run is that making us faster or slowing us down and harming us to near fatal consequences?

According to jonbarron.org, a site that examines the impact of fast food, on average, (between 2007 and 2010), 10% of American overall meal intake was fast food. What, exactly, is fast food? This is food from any restaurant that fries food to make it fast for a quick meal and often on the go. How bad is this for you? The little bit of extra fat and calories can add quite a few pounds after a while, which can lead to diabetes, clogged arties or even death when eaten regularly.

Alright, now picture yourself walking down the aisle of a market. What are the main things you see in your cart? Do you see more fruits and vegetables, or out of the box, processed goods? According to market place.org, over 70% of Americans’ annual food intake is “processed,” or factory made food. Is this good for us? No. The flavors may be delicious, but, according to marketplace.org, in all of our pre-made food there is in excess of over 5000 different additives added. All of these additives have various (mostly negative) impacts on our health. Believe it or not, not all ingredients have to be revealed to the FDA (Federal Department of Agriculture), so next time you take a bite of a cookie from the store, think of what might have been added to make it that good. 

When you eat, think about where it comes from. From a fryer to a conveyor belt, you never know exactly what is in that burger or processed snack. Single ingredient, non- processed, food choices (fruits, vegetables, etc.) are not only simple and quick, but typically much healthier than processed snacks. With each bite, it never hurts to wonder, is this really helping or harming me?



Top five road trips to take with friends

By: Peter Lewis

Since the automobile became widely commercially available to the American public, the American love for the automobile began and it has been going strong ever since.  As the automobile became popular, so did traveling the roads and highways being created.  With all this, many have become interested in road trips for the exploration, freedom, bonding, and the adventure.  Luckily, the US has some very good road trips for you and your friends to see the country like you’ve most likely never seen before.  Keep in mind, road trips take serious planning and commitment, but are some of the greatest experiences in the end.  Listed are the five top road trips in the US that a group can take together.

 

5. The Great River Road

 

This famous route is not technically a single road, rather a collection of roads and highways that you can choose to travel along the Mississippi River, starting from either the Gulf of Mexico or Lake Itasca in Minnesota.  Covering the ten states that boarder the river, the total mileage you could chose to travel can be anywhere from 1,300 to 2,500 miles.  You will go directly through the major US cities such as St. Louis, Memphis, Baton Rouge, and Minneapolis, as well as numerous cultural areas, hills, and the Mississippi River Basin.   Though a lot of industry exists on the route, the other views are well worth an extened drive.  Those who have traveled the numerous possible routes say this is the best way to live Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” and is one of the greatest driving experiences possible.

 

4.  Appalachian Trail

 

While the Appalachian Trail is primarily known as a great hiking destination, it also isn’t a surprisingly great road trip to take if hiking is your strong suit.  This route is primarily a two lane road that from Georgia to Maine and has 2,168 miles to view and explore.  The Appalachian Trail’s strongest selling point is its views, plus cutting through numerous national and state parks along the way gives many reasons to have a longer trip and not drive as much and take in the surroundings.  While the route can easily get you to New York City, Washington DC, and Philadelphia to explore, it’s advised by many to stick to the route to get the full experience and save time; however, if you have the time and desire this route may be perfect for a group.

 

3.  Pacific Coast Highway

 

When many think of the Pacific Coast, their minds often wonder to visions of palm tree beaches, surfing, unimaginable beach life, and California. This, however, doesn’t even come close to what this area has to offer and the Pacific Coast Highway proves it.  Only traveling through three states, California, Oregon, and Washington with its famous routes totaling an impressive 1,150 miles. For sites seers, this route offers mountain slopes and rises, beaches, wilderness, and parkland that can allow you to participate in numerous outdoor activities, all along the route.  If you’re into seeing cities, the Pacific Coast Highway will allow you to drive directly into Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, with all their surrounding areas at your disposal.  With the west coast, the weather is usually great year round, but this is a prime summer trip for any group.

 

2. Atlantic Coast Highway

 

Like the Pacific Coast Highway, The Atlantic Coast Highway travels the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to New York as its set route; but, if you want, you can easily continue up to Maine to get the full experience.  Not taking the infamous I-95, but the two lane country roads that make this route possible, the mileage will clock in around 2,000 miles or more, depending on what you wish to do on this true adventure.  Starting in Key West, the route will take you to some of the US’ most iconic cities like, Miami, West Palm Beach, Daytona, Savannah, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach, Ocean City, Atlantic City, and New York City.  This route will easily have something to offer everyone, from historic sites, culture, or things to do. 

 

1.  Route 66       

 

  Without a doubt the undisputed king of the American road trips, Route 66 is the road trip everyone with a passion for road trips need to take.  This route of classic Americana travels from Chicago to Los Angeles, passes through eight states, and goes for over 2000 miles.  Traveling through major US cities, small town America, the plains, the desert, and the California hills, this route is the best way to see some of the best days of the US’ history.  Over eighty percent of the original road still exists and many original diners and motels on the route still survive to this day and continue to thrive, so the authenticity is still there, which gives the route its iconic identity.

Seckman High School hosts Seventh Annual Heroes' Breakfast

By: Janice House

Seckman High School and Seckman Middle School came together on Monday, November 11, 2013, to honor the heroes of the community with a Veteran’s Day Breakfast.  The guests included veterans, policemen, firemen, EMTs, spouses, and friends.  Students, staff, and community volunteers worked together to make the ceremony a huge success.  Boy Scout Troop 744 presented and retired the colors.  Girl Scout Troop 3533 said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang God Bless America.  Various classes, clubs, and organizations at Seckman High, Seckman Middle, and Seckman Elementary schools helped to create posters, thank you notes, and many other decorations for the table settings.  The gym and hallway were decorated in patriotic colors.

            The ceremony included a breakfast, as well as musical selections from the SHS and SMS choirs and bands.  Three guest speakers, Mr. Richard Simpson, Mr. Walter Crawford from the World Bird Sanctuary, and Mr. Al Cochren from Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, spoke to the guests.   All heroes that attended the ceremony were recognized with a hero certificate, medal of honor, and a thank you card.  The heroes’ spouses were also recognized during the ceremony in honor of their support.  “Taps” was played by Garrett Thomas, an SHS student, and guests watched a video played by the SMS student body to say thank you for what our heroes have done and do every day in our country.  The ceremony concluded with a walk of honor led by the color guard through the SHS gym, which was filled with 2000 students waving flags and cheering as the heroes walked through.  Through the combined efforts of Seckman High School, Seckman Middle School, and members in the community, the Seventh Annual Heroes’ Breakfast proudly recognized the men and women who serve(d) our country.

Too much TV violence?





By: Brad Tripp

 

The television has been around since the 1920s. It wasn’t until the thirties and forties that it became popular within our society. As time has gone on, money and popular television shows have become part of a growing industry that feeds the public’s desire for entertainment.

The television industry in the United States made over $35 billion last year, and that number continues to rise. With money also comes greed, which typically includes the desire to make more money.  This cycle created the desire to produce anything to make a quick buck. What will make that fast money? It’s not always quality and/or wholesome television.

According to the American Psychology Association (APA), a 1985 mandate required television shows to inform (warn) people of the potential violence in televised programs. The information provided was that the violence caused children to become less sensitive to pain and others, along with making them act more fearful and aggressive to the world around them.  Children who watch a lot of aggressive movies or shows tend to act out or recreate the scenes of that said program, according to the APA.

A study by Dr. George Gerbner shows that an average television show today contains about 20 violent acts each hour and that children who watch a lot more of it tend to feel the world around them is more dangerous than it actually is.  In that same study, 100 preschool children were observed after watching television with violent cartoons in them and some without.  The study showed those children who watched the violent cartoons were more likely to act or lash out and other students. 

According to thinkquest.org, in 73% of all crimes committed, from theft to murder, the person who committed them was subjected to violence through cartoons and programs on television. As of last year (2012), it was recorded that in 43% of all cartoons a person committed a crime.

Not all television is evil or violent.  There are good programs that can help and keep children and adults entertained. Mainly, it’s all about paying attention and viewing programs that are good to your everyday life and preventing bad things from happening. All in all, television violence is a part of what we’re entertained by, just use with caution. 

What weather will this winter bring?

 

 

By: Peter Lewis

 

 

 

Mid October this year saw unusually cold weather and some dreary days of rain. With Daylight Saving Time pushing the clocks back an hour, we were not just reminded of the approaching holidays, but that winter was close at hand.  Most people wonder what each winter will bring; in this case, snow, and how much will fall. The past three years were very different than what  typically occurs. The 2010-2011 school year had a massive fourteen snow days throughout a winter that became an unbelievable nuisance.  The 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years, however, saw a reasonable amount of less than five snow days in each year. The question now becomes, what does the 2013-2014 winter hold for the Fox C-6 District? 

Many sources have been studying the weather patterns and have made their predictions for what is in store from now until the end of winter.  The most notable of these, The Farmer’s Almanac, which is usually a very reliable source, predicts the Midwest will have colder temperatures than usual, with the coldest periods from late December to late January.  While the Almanac was very accurate in predicting rain and cold to start out November, its prediction of flurries fell flat in our area, but was very accurate up north in Iowa.  Its next predicted time frame for snow is late December, mid- January, and throughout February; as for how much snow could fall, the Almanac suggests Jefferson County will receive above normal snowfall in this time period.  Throughout the United States’ history, the Almanac has been very reliable and surprisingly accurate at times; from this we can say five snow days may be a lock at this point.  However, the Almanac isn’t the only source making predictions. There are others that offer even bigger predictions for the fast approaching winter. 

The National Weather Service and NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,  have agreed with the Almanac, saying we should expect below or normal temperatures and possible above normal precipitation.  Live Weather’s Meteorologist, Rob Guarino, says computer models predict El Nino, a reoccurring weather event, will come to the St. Louis area and that has the possibility of causing temperatures being slightly below normal, more rain than snow most times, but an increased chance of winter storms.  February has a chance to have a storm dump eight inches of snow and this winter could produce more ice than normal.  Like the Almanac, Live Weather agrees that February will be the snowiest month this year.  The Weather Centre has predicted this winter will put the St. Louis area on the border of above normal and high threat of a blizzard forming, as well as frigid temperature predictions, above normal precipitation, and snowy weather likely to occur. This is based on multiple studies, past history, and the current weather occurrences going on now and from the past few months. 

From what others in the field are saying, this coming winter looks promising if you like snow days.  However, always be aware that snow days are no longer built in to the Fox C-6 schedule, so it’s alright to hope for some, but not too much, if you want to get out of school before June.



Ways to stop bullying

 

 

By: Autumn Hill

 

Children learn how to express emotions primarily through social interaction in their families and at school. So, families and schools must foster an environment that teaches children that nobody has the right to hurt another person. Kindness, acceptance, and appreciation for others must be taught and modeled in the early years. Witnessing positive examples of handling conflict and anger help children deal with those emotions on their own. For example, if they are ever confronted by a bully.

Bullies are everywhere, unfortunately. Sometimes they are hidden or out in the open, but they are everywhere. Many people don’t know how to react in situations with bullies. They’re unsure whether they should defend the person being bullied or not, maybe they are also scared of the bully or maybe they feel like they won’t be accepted by everyone else if defending the one being bullied. What would you do if you saw someone being bullied? Here are some ways to prevent bullies from bullying:

 

1.      Confront the Bully. According to stopbullying.gov, you should try talking it out. If you are being bullied or your friend is being bullied, then maybe talking will calm the bully down and help him or her realize that they don’t need to fight with the victim.

2.      Defend the victim. A friend being bullied needs someone beside them to help them work it out. Be cautious, however; the bully may try to gang up on you. Be calm, fighting back only makes them angry.

3.      Ignore the Bully. If you are being bullied by someone, then try ignoring the bully. Let him or her know that what she is doing isn’t bothering you.

4.      Stop and Think. Think about what you say to the bully. Just because they may be saying hurtful stuff doesn’t mean you should.

5.      Be kind. Some say that the best way to stop the bully in action is to smother them with kindness and show them that what they are doing isn’t bothering you.

6.      Talk to an adult. Sometimes you can get into situations where you will need help from an adult. The best way to go about bullying situations that you can’t stop yourself is to ask a parent or guardian, or perhaps just someone you trust, to help you.

7.      Don’t fight back. The bully may be threatening to fight with you. If this happens, you should never fight back. Ignoring the bully is a good way to avoid trouble with the bully.

8.      Have confidence. Community-matters.org says that loving yourself is crucial when it comes to overcoming bullying. Loving yourself will prevent you from being a bully and help you stand up for yourself if you feel you are being bullied. It will force you to remove yourself from negative situations in which you might be bullied. It will help you overcome and cope with any bullying you might have faced -- or will face.

9.      Don’t be the bully. Many bullies might not consider themselves bullies. But remember: every unkind word, every condescending statement is a form of bullying. And so is just standing by while others are bullied.

           

"Parents often feel helpless and don't know where to begin to help their child cope," says Dr. Meline Kevorkian. Bullies are everywhere and not everyone knows the right way to handle them. There are many ways to stop the bullying, but every situation is different. If you feel that you are being bullied, assess the situation and determine what action (or inaction) might work best for you.  



Is St. Louis really a dangerous city?

 

 

By: Peter Lewis

 

 

 

Since 2000, the city of St. Louis has gotten progressively “worse” from a crime standpoint and has developed easily one of the worst reputations in the country.  The city reached a low point last year when Forbes rated it as the second most violent city in America, behind Detroit and ahead of Oakland.  However, some lists differ; US News rated St. Louis number one, neighborhoodscout.com rated St. Louis number eight, and buisnessinsider.com rated the city at number seven.  Obviously, from these rankings St. Louis is still among the top in the country, but many other lists differ significantly. Some rate St. Louis in the top five, where others go as low as the twenties, which begs the question, “How bad is St. Louis?”  

Well, isn’t as easy as you would guess.  Many lists (that decide how “bad” a city is) have very different criteria, which can cause confusion as to where exactly St. Louis ranks.  Some lists only go by violent crimes and some combine both violent crime and property crime.  Also, another problem is the area looked at in particular.  When many hear of St. Louis, they most likely think about the metro area, but not the surrounding areas, like St. Louis County.  Yet, many lists include not only the metro area of a city, but its surrounding areas as well.  East St. Louis, which is on the Illinois side of the river and has a large percent of the crime that the city of St. Louis has been known to have, is ranked with St. Louis on some lists, which adds to the amount of crime reported.  While it may seem like the city is violent, there are a lot of misconceptions.

For starters, the city of St. Louis is a county all to itself, with St. Louis County surrounding it.  The St. Louis City itself is pretty typical when it comes to crime; it does have its rough areas, but, for the most part, is one of the better metro areas in the United States.  While crime may be present in the neighborhoods, the downtown area, with Busch Stadium, The Arch Grounds, and Keener Plaza are relatively safe.  Of all US metro areas, St. Louis would be ranked between the safest and the middle.  As nation.time.com reported, in 2012, St. Louis City crime fell 12.4% in all overall crime, with murder and theft decreasing in the city itself.  Compared to other metropolitan areas in America, St. Louis City did very well in 2012, as other cities saw increases in crime.  St. Louis County has seen decreases since its peak in 2006 as well, showing the region is improving for the better.

Don’t get me wrong, St. Louis has problems, but they’re not as bad as its reputation may suggest. Many organizations and people have come out even to dismiss these lists, such as The American Society of Criminology statement in 2011, which said, “Such rankings are invalid, damaging and irresponsible. City crime rankings make no one safer, but they can harm the cities they tarnish and divert attention from the individual and community characteristics that elevate crime in all cities.” Co-editor of CQ Press, Scott Morgan, in 2006 dismissed not only his publication’s list, but other lists on crime evaluation saying, “I am stunned if there is a criminologist out there who would support this.” 

As CQ Press reported, the city of St. Louis has the nineteenth most populated metro area in the US, but the city on its own would have the ninety-first ranking, far from even being considered a bad city.  Even with that the city’s reputation is better than expected.  The lists that say a city is dangerous or not have a glaring problem: the lists put violent and property crime together, so a city with high property crime but low violent crime can still be high on the list, as in the case of St. Louis City.  Now, don’t get me wrong, crime is crime, but the stigma that these rankings would classify a city as a place where your personal safety and life could be on the line is completely unreasonable. 

Most people reading this have been to St. Louis City numerous times, even at night. Have you ever felt like your life was at risk? A Gallup poll reported that 74% of St. Louisans felt safe while walking the street at night, making St. Louis the fourteenth city on the list out of the fifty most populous cities in the country.  Making a better case for St. Louis, it seems some lists create boundaries to even things out.  For example, Chicago’s area is clearly defined and is much worse than St. Louis could ever be, but St. Louis County is added to St. Louis City to make the creators of the lists lives easier so they don’t have to do much work. From all this, it’s easy to see St. Louis City has problems like any other city in the world. However, it’s far from being a city where your life is on the line constantly.



Simple ways to save the planet

 

By: Autumn Hill

 

                        Did you know that your everyday life could be hurting the planet? It’s not always as simple as littering; there are many ways that you could be polluting the planet, but it’s not always obvious when you’re doing so. Here are some things to consider:

 

1.      Littering – Littering is a big problem for a lot of people. Sometimes we litter without thinking of it hurting the planet. Take time to throw away your trash the right way in a trash can.

2.      Using the stairs – Using the stairs instead of the elevator actually does help the planet. Using the elevator wastes energy.

3.      Drink tap water instead of bottled – According to 50waystohelp.com, 90% of the time bottled water isn’t recycled. Tap water isn’t as wasteful as the bottled water. When you finish the bottled water, what do you do? Throw it away, or perhaps leave it somewhere as litter.

4.      Cars – When possible, don’t use vehicles, such as automobiles. Go by foot or by bicycle, if and when possible. That leads to less emissions and waste.

5.      Don’t use screensavers – Did you know that screensavers waste energy? According to Ifad.org, screensavers on your computer do not save energy; believe it or not, they only waste energy from the colors being used. This is a great reason for us shutting down computers.

6.      Replace fridge – Replace refrigerators that are more than eight years old, Refrigerators that are eight years or older waste more energy than new refrigerators would normally waste.

7.      Use mugs – Plastic cups do not save energy in the end; mugs are safer. Mugs are easier and less wasteful when it comes to energy and holding something. Most plastic eventually gets pitched, while mugs tend to be used for much longer.

8.      Meat – Eat less meat. Vegetables help the environment more, for a number of reasons. Health benefits come into play while eating vegetables, according to mayoclinic.com

 

                        There are many ways to help the planet. We can all contribute if we take time out of our day to do a few of these simple actions.



Have a budget friendly and safe Halloween

By: Brad Tripp

Ever find yourself broke on Halloween? Got a creeper across the street?  Well, here are some tips for a safe and budget friendly Halloween:

Candy

You may ask, “Where I can get my candy the cheapest and are there any problems with it?” Also, you may wonder, “Can I use old holiday candy?” In some cases, this may be okay, but it’s best to throw all that old candy away. This is because sometimes candy sits on the shelf even longer than the time you had it. The best thing to do when it comes to buying candy is to buy in bulk. Why is this? This is because not only is it cheaper, but it helps when you’re handing it out. Not only does it keep the children happy, but that leftover candy can be used for future instances with your own children. The cheapest local place to get candy is probably Dollar Tree; this is because everything is a dollar.

Costumes

One of the first things you think about when it comes to Halloween is the costume. The next thing you may think, with a thin pocket book, is, “Where can I get a quality yet budget friendly costume?”  The best places to go are department stores, such as Family Dollar or Wal-Mart. When you go to a Halloween store like Spirit Halloween, they tend to raise the prices. For example, a baby costume at Spirit Halloween can cost upwards of $30, whereas, at Family Dollar all small children’s costumes are $10 each.  Also, the best thing to do is try to shop online; it tends to be cheaper and/ or can help to compare prices. The best place for most costumes all in one place is probably Amazon.com/costumes. Not only are they all there, they tend to be cheaper due to possible free shipping and overstock. If you don’t care for Amazon, try Googling your favorite clothing/department store and seeing what the store has in stock for Halloween.

Build your own

What are some ideas to build your own costume and is it really cheaper? In most instances, it’s cheaper to build your own costume. For example, for a last minute costume, you can be a selfie. Yes, you read that right, you can be a selfie. This cost little to no money ($25, tops) and consists of things that you may have around the house. A selfie is probably the simplest costume ever. It literally consists of cardboard, markers and scissors, plus a little bit of time. Simply cut out a hole for your head at the top, plus 2 holes for your hands out of a large piece of square cardboard, then decorate the front to look like whatever phone you want. Pop your head and hands out and you’re a selfie!

What to watch for and why

Is trick or treating dangerous? This Halloween, you may wonder what you can do to have a safer and more delicious holiday. When trick or treating, try carrying around hand sanitizer. Why? Its best to keep away those germy hands those recent kids before may have had. Another thing to do is to have you candy x-rayed. Not only is it kind of cool, but it can help to prevent you or your children from the possible dangers that lie within the candy.  Most hospitals on Halloween are open to free x-rays for candy. Have a fun and delicious holiday!

World Series bound

 

 

 

By: Peter Lewis

 

 

 

The 2012 Cardinals season ended after failing to capitalize on a three to one lead in the 2012 NLCS against the eventual World Series champions San Francisco Giants.  In those last three games the Cardinals were shockingly outscored twenty to one and finished the year on a very sour note by failing to continue their success from the 2011 World Series season.   With this, the off-season began and Pitcher Kyle Loshe left the team as did Lance Berkman, Skip Schumacher, and hitting coach and Cardinal legend, Mark McGwire.  Other than the signing of Ty Wigginton, the Cardinals were very quiet during the off-season, which both shocked and worried many.  Above all though, there were many unanswered questions, such as: would the young pitching be able to handle the pros, who would be starting, could Adam Wainwright get back to his former glory after his Tommy John surgery, and who would step up and lead the team to the playoffs?  To make matters more troubling, on February 22, Chris Carpenter was lost for the season with numbness in his right shoulder, arm, and neck; just days before the season started, on March 22, both Rafael Frucal and Jason Motte were lost for the season.  With the season approaching, some doubt started to creep in, although, with good players returning, there was faith to be had.   

The first month of the regular season ended with a reasonable record of 15-11; though the bullpen struggled, the Cards looked to be in fair shape.  However, May showed that the Cardinals were still a top tier National League team, as they finished with a 35-18 record.  The bats and rotation improved, but the bullpen still had issues closing out games.  At the All-Star Break, the Cardinals posted a record of 57-36 and looked to be a solid team.  However, their division rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds, would provide the biggest obstacle for the remainder of the season.

The remainder of July and into September showed the NL Central become a race between the Pirates and Cardinals, with the Reds close behind, but never quite able to catch either team.  In this time frame the Cardinals and Pirates faced each other fourteen times; it didn’t start out well though.  A five game series with the Pirates in Pittsburgh to close out July saw the Cards lose the series four games to one, but they made up for it by finishing six games to three and secure the NL Central Pennant and tied for the best record in MLB, 97-56, with the Boston Red Sox.

The first obstacle on the road to the World Series was, unsurprisingly, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who made their first playoff in twenty-one years.  Game one saw a Cardinal blowout win of nine to one, where game two was a complete reversal, as the Pirates blew out the Cardinals seven to one.  The Pirates then took game three, but above all odds, the Cardinals won games four and five and advanced to the NLCS.

In the NLCS, the Cardinals faced the resurgent Dodgers, who had made a complete turn around after the All-Star Break.  Game one and two went to the Cardinals, who looked to have all the momentum in the NLCS.  Though the Dodgers awakened and went on to take games three and five.  However, it was too little too late, as game six went to the Cardinals and their ticket to their nineteenth World Series was earned.  A rematch of the 2004 Series against the Boston Red Sox is scheduled to begin Wednesday, October 23, 2013.

What we learned from this year is that the Cardinals roster looks to be capable of winning for the next couple of years.  The starting rotation is at its best as is the batting, but the bullpen still has some work needed to insure wins in the future.  Adam Wainwright is back to top form, Matt Carpenter is the obvious lead off choice, and the young talent will indeed take the team places.  Although a short stop is needed and some players’ futures are questionable, the team showed this season that it is a top contender in MLB.





Gender based classrooms: what they do, do they work?

By: Autumn Hill

          Do boys and girls learn differently? Would being in a single sex classroom be less distracting than a “regular” classroom? What about the instructors in the gender-based classrooms? You may have heard that same gender classrooms can be easier for students, they can learn quicker and easier that way.

Indeed, studies have shown that same-gender classrooms increase students’ motivation, and students tend to become distracted by the opposite sex very easily. In an article on ascd.org, Jamie Smalls states, “Offering single-gender classes is an effective response to school-level data that shows achievement gaps between males and females, where students are not achieving at expected levels, or as a way to engage parents by offering a choice.”

            However, not everyone agrees with this. Tolerance.org, a discussion based website for gender-based classrooms, says, “There is no reliable evidence that segregating students by sex improves learning by either sex.” Diverse Learning Today, a group that looks at gender specific classrooms, states, “Recognizing diversity in the classroom is important. Excluding gender from that recognition limits the options educators can consider. Looking at gender differences and single-gender options as teaching tools can allow educators to better meet the needs of all students.”

Public schools can be more stressful for some (students), for a variety of reasons. Would the same thing happen in single gender classrooms? Some would say that the same gender classes causes students to be more loud, or chatty. Teens tend to engage more rather than focus more when they are with the opposite sex. Many private schools subscribe to the philosophy that single gender classrooms will make students more comfortable and less stressed.  

Perhaps single-gender classrooms are a good idea for some students, but not all. What about when they go out into the world and are put with the opposite gender, however? The Education Development Center asks, “Do boys and girls need different things to get a good education? They well may, because although girls and boys are more similar than they are different, our society treats them as if they are separate species.” If we were put in the same gender classrooms, then we wouldn’t know much about being with the opposite sex, making it difficult going into the real world. Bottom line, more research is needed before we switch to gender based classrooms across the nation.

The government shutdown

By: Brad Tripp

            So, how about that government shutdown? The world panics. What will we do? Does this mean there is no authority? What will happen to everyone’s money? Have we been saving all this time for nothing? These are all questions you may be worried about. Here is how the government shutdown will impact some major areas of American lives:

 

Money

            The government shutdown does not affect your income unless you are on welfare. According to the Arizona Capital Times, the state of Arizona is not allowing welfare after the shutdown. Although they are not currently allowing welfare, when the crisis is all said and done, Arizona will reimburse money to all those on welfare. All other states seem to be paying welfare though. Additionally, according to abc.com, it may be a great time to buy stocks.

Tours and monuments:

            As you know by now, all the monuments and national parks are closed. Why is this? The monuments and parks are closed due to lack of funding towards maintenance and security of those areas.  However, things such as state parks and fairs will continue to be open due to their funding coming from state taxes, not our national taxes. 

 

Law Enforcement:

You may think that since there is no government, there are no police.  This isn’t the case at all.  This is because law enforcement is state tax funded, plus they use funds from tickets and fines, along with towing auctions and police related events.

 

The main question you’re probably asking is if and when this will ever end. There is a glimmer of hope. According to csmonitor.com, there will be a decision made on a small increase in the debt limit so that the government can re-open and end the shutdown. The government shutdown, in a nutshell, touches everyone, but most of us won’t be majorly impacted.