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.