Fall Trends

Hypatia Fitzsimons

     ‘Tis the seasons of sweaters, leggings, and UGG® boots.  Fall is the time of year everyone waits for because it’s the perfect season. The outdoors are beautiful with the trees changing colors and being able to crunch the fallen leaves while scampering around in a pair of warm, fuzzy boots.
     These days, it doesn’t seem like it’s fall unless everything is pumpkin spice flavored. Without pumpkin spice, there is no fall and without fall, there is no pumpkin spice. During fall, I don’t think there is any way to avoid the basic flavoring. Anywhere and everywhere, there is a display for something related to it, but I think it is getting a little out of hand. Who needs pumpkin spice Oreos?
     Along with pumpkin spice food and drinks, there are also pumpkin spice candles, lotions, and perfumes; there are thousands of scents other than the beloved pumpkin spice. Everywhere you go, there will be the smell of fall. The best thing is when people drench themselves in any type of fall scent. I fully believe during this time of year, Bath and Body Works have the biggest profit, because the smells are very lovely and make me happy.
      Starting September thirty-first, you can find me in Bath and Body Works where I'll be getting my hands on everything fall scented. Having the smell of pumpkins, cinnamon, vanilla, etc. just enhances the season immensely and makes me feel better about life. Also, it’s nice to have pumpkin spice latte in the mornings because they are delicious and give me motivation to get up since the cold makes me want to stay in my warm bed all day.

Sweater Weather

   Victory Obielodan

     The leaves turn from green to orange-tipped gold. One falls from the branch and flutters through the air to land itself on a sweater clad shoulder. It latches onto the pink cable knit sweater until it is blown off by the wind. It continues past the cup of coffee, the dark blue jeans, the riding boots. Finally, it reaches the ground where it joins many others, leaving a satisfying crunch when the slightest pressure is applied. Further up, there are smiles in response to the sound. Fall is here. Autumn is my favorite season (spring is a close second). Autumn has unique characteristics that no other season can match. One of my favorites would be the leaves. Firstly, the fact that a season can make dying look beautiful is amazing; there is a variety of color, plus they’re all warm tones. Everything about fall is practically perfect: the colors, the weather--not too cold, not too warm--, the holidays, and also daylight savings time ends so there’s an extra hour of sleep. What’s better than autumn’s characteristics is what can be done in fall. We can bring out our sweaters, boots, and scarves after the scalding heat of summer. Everything is so much cozier in fall without the temperature having to reach zero; in winter things are cozy as well, when we’re not outside getting frostbite. Pumpkin carvings and other fall decorations can be made. There’s so much to do in fall that the list could go on. However, there is a downside to autumn: school. The school year begins in summer and we endure it throughout fall, with usually a consecutive four-day break. Nevertheless, school isn’t forever, autumn will always be here...unless global warming ends it. So, let’s enjoy autumn while we can.

Guest Opinion: You’re Literally Speaking Incorrectly

by Jake Klein

There is an epidemic that has plagued our nation. People all across America have been speaking incorrectly. They have been using the word “literally” incorrectly or unnecessarily in their everyday speaking. The incorrect use of this word is like a social trend: it came out of nowhere, and now it seems everyone is doing it.

I am what most would call a grammar Nazi. Because of this, I’m going to give you a quick crash course on how to use this word correctly so that many years from now you won’t say to your college English professor, “I literally did my homework last night.”

“Literally” can be used in three different ways. The first is in translations of foreign languages. With translations, literally means ‘word-for-word’. For example, someone may ask, “How do you say ‘My name is’ in French?” To which you could reply, “Je m’appelle, which literally translates to ‘I call myself,’ but basically means ‘My name is’.”

The second use is with exaggeration. You may say to your friend, “I called you a thousand times last night! Why didn’t you answer?” Now, you most likely did not call him 1,000 times, but you were exaggerating. However, if you actually did call him one thousand times, you could say, “I literally called you a thousand times last night!” 

The third use of the word is with commonly said expressions. For example, “raining cats and dogs” is an expression meaning it is raining a lot. But if for some strange reason, cats and dogs are falling from the sky, you could correctly say, “It’s literally raining cats and dogs!” A more realistic example is the expression “it blew me away,” meaning it was very impressive or surprising. “The scientist’s project blew me away!” If the scientist’s project was demonstrating a giant fan that physically pushed you across the room, you could humorously say, “The scientist’s project literally blew me away!”

Here are some words/phrases that can be used instead of the word literally: seriously, honestly, honest to goodness, totally, not-even-kidding, and really. 

So what did we learn today? The word “literally” can be used only

1. When explaining a translation word-for-word.
2. When the rest of your 100% honest sentence may be taken as exaggeration (called you a thousand times), or as an expression (blew me away).
3. When using a differentiating between a common expression like figures of speech and real situations 

So many people today are using this word incorrectly that the correct definition and use of the word, sadly, is dying. Sound smart, be smart, speak correctly, and the world will be a better place, literally. 

Want more info on the correct use of the English language? Watch Weird Al Yankovic’s “Word Crimes,” a parody of “Blurred Lines,” on YouTube.

Guest Opinion: There's No Code for Sexualization

by Akeeya Sylvester

Imagine this: your five-year-old daughter was sent home because her skirt rode up a little too high. You say it’s no big deal, but is it? What is this teaching her?

A five-year-old little girl should be worried about what color crayon she wants to use, not worrying about “trusted” teachers and older men goggling at her skirt and tights. The problem with the dress code that has been drilled into a girl’s head from a young age is that it’s teaching girls that they should be viewed as sexual beings. Look at it like this: a young boy can take off his shirt and run around without the worry of an older woman wanting to sexually harass him. A young girl will wear a shirt that exposes her shoulders, and instantly, adults are drilling in her head that “flaunting” around a body like that will attract predators.

Why are we putting all this pressure on the girls? It’d be simple to drill it into a young boy’s head that touching any girl without consent is inappropriate, so we could prevent events like rape and sexual harassment from happening. “Let boys be boys” is no excuse; a boy is taught the way he acts by people he looks up to and by never being taught what he’s doing is wrong. Instead schools and media focus in on body parts on girls, like showing bit of stomach, shoulders, or thighs. Simple body parts that could easily have no meaning are given a reputation to be viewed as sexual. It does not have to be that way.

For example, at the age of 12, I was sent to the office because my shirt was cut “too low.” I was pulled out of class to go to the office and hear a lecture about my body, concerning the way it was covered. Who reported it? An adult.  

When young children are put in a classroom, they pay attention to the teacher. Some students may doodle and some may talk when they’re not supposed to, but I have never in my life known students in middle school or younger pay attention to the way their classmate’s collar bones show. At that age most young girls are not even fully developed, yet they’re still being sexualized for something they don’t have yet. Young boys may be curious, but something as innocent as shoulders showing should not drive their imagination wild. It shouldn’t for adults either.

A child or teen with a pair of shorts that fit above mid-thigh or a top that has spaghetti straps/no straps most likely walked out of the house with her parent or guardian viewing what she chose to wear. A school is meant to be a learning environment and should have adults capable enough to not view girls as sexual objects and instead as human beings. If a boy can wear a muscle tee with his entire side being shown, a girl should be able to show her shoulders in her favorite dress, for example. Unless there is a very vivid view of a girl’s privates I don’t believe they should be distracted from learning to be told they could be distracting others. Isn’t the school the one distracting the student? The amount of time a girl spends calling home, changing, or sitting in the school’s office is taking away from her time to be learning in class.

If we put a stop to sexualizing young girls and start teaching young boys the word “no,” then girls could grow up feeling safer and more confident in their skin. I believe our next generation could start a revolution for girls and their children’s future education system. So the next time you look at a young girl and only pay attention to her so called “revealing” shorts, remember in that moment of time you are sexualizing a minor for legs that could easily be viewed as we view boys’.

From the Desk of the Editor: Referendum Edition

by Saafia Masoom
 

Platteville School District's referendum will fund updates in all our buildings.

    On the day of the Newtown shooting, we walked to our last classes of the day with heavy hearts. We’d just had an assembly to discuss the horrific tragedy, and I’ll never forget the grief that I saw in one particular teacher’s eyes as he told us how brokenhearted he was to know that his kids might not be safe at school.

    There are a lot of reasons to care about the district’s referendum on April 7th, and this is one of them. You can’t put a price on safety in Platteville Schools.

    If this “Blueprint for the Future” doesn’t pass, we’ll deny the next classes to walk PHS’s halls safety, but also the chance to have top-notch science labs. We’re telling the kids at Westview and the middle school that it doesn’t matter that they’re crowded and going to school every day in buildings that are falling apart. It really doesn’t matter that they have gym class in the same space they eat lunch.

    There are a lot of reasons people may say no on April 7th, but I’m asking you to look past the “I won’t even be here, so why should I care?” Let’s look beyond the politics, the volleyball controversies, and the even simple costs that are worth it at the end of the day. (Taxes are not going up with this plan. They’re simply not decreasing like they were supposed to when the 1996 referendum was paid off.) What we’re doing here is defining the direction our district will head in for the next 20 years.

    It’s a common occurrence to hear during passing time that our school “sucks” or is “so lame.” Maybe we can do something about that. We have the capability.

    So rather than harping about consequences, let’s talk possibilities. As mentioned before, the science labs are a major component of the renovations funded by the referendum. Biology teacher Ms. Kroncke has said she’ll be able to do more labs with her classes, and Mr. Heer will do the same with his physics classes, something he can’t even think of without any lab space now. I’ve even heard one former PHS student note that the science education we get now feels somewhat incomplete because of the current state of the facilities.

     If you’re still not convinced this is the best option, frame it this way: building on Westview and moving 1st and 4th grade there sounds a lot better than addressing capacity issues by moving 7th, 8th, or even pre-K to the high school. When considering operating costs, re-opening OE Gray isn’t a logical choice, either.

    For our future students, teachers, and community members, it’s time to show our Hillmen Pride. This referendum is worth it.

    Sure, a lot of us don’t even know what a referendum is. And why should we? Most people in this school can’t vote. It’s fourth quarter; we could care less.

    But I’ll ask you this: Will you ask your friends, your parents, your neighbors, your grandma’s hairdresser’s son’s dog’s friend’s owner’s sister’s uncle to vote yes? Are you willing to take just a minute to fight apathy because you can?

Bizarre Diet Fads: Problem or the New Norm?

by Allie Serres

    Dieting is no longer just for people trying to lose weight or to get into shape, It has become an american fad. Diets have been gaining popularity since the 1980s, and are now a common thing we see in everyday life. The old way of dieting was just eating healthier, and maybe cutting out carbs, fats and/or sugars, but now there are so many more ways to diet.

    There are many safe ways to diet and stay healthy, such as the paleo diet. This is at times known as the “caveman’s diet” because of the guidelines one must adhere to in order to follow this diet. People who choose to follow the paleo diet only eat foods that come directly from the earth, meaning no processed foods allowed. This type of diet is good in that you can nourish your body with healthy choices without getting all the fat and excess sugars along the way.

    Of course there are also some ways of dieting that can be very harmful to the body, such as the cotton ball diet. In this diet, people eat cotton balls before a meal so that they won’t be able to eat as much. Cotton balls are not really made of cotton. They are a polyester and chemical blend, so basically what a common T-shirt is made out of. Cotton balls have little to no nutritional value and do not digest easily, which has the potential to cause malnutrition or even to damage digestive tracts. Some healthier alternatives for this diet would be to eat sugar free jello, or drink more water in order to feel fuller and eat less.

    As long a dieting is done in the correct way, it isn’t a bad thing. It can help people lose weight or just simply feel better about themselves because they are eating healthier. However, eating healthier doesn’t have to mean dieting. Simply choosing a healthy choice instead of a sugary or fatty one can go a long way. This is not to say that dieting is bad. Dieting can be a great choice as long as it is done in moderation. Another factor that needs to be taken into consideration is safe choices. Research needs to be done on the choice diet to ensure that it is being done correctly, and that it won’t be harmful to the body.

   

Nostalgic Kingsman: The Secret Service Impresses

by Matt Schaefer

    Nothing brings more joy to this critic’s face than watching a movie that makes me feel like a little kid. When I sat down in the theater to see Kingsman: The Secret Service, I was immediately reminded of the old days, playing imaginary games in my backyard and on the playground, wanting desperately to be a spy when I grew up. And as glamorous as Kingsman makes the profession look, I certainly remember why.

    The tale of Kingsman is a classically simple one: big bad guy with a plan for global attack, a small agency discovers the plot, and the new recruit that takes on the threat. Taron Egerton plays Eggsy, the son of a deceased Kingsman who is recruited by “Galahad,” played by Colin Firth. These are just two of the exceptional performances in this film, which also includes Samuel L. Jackson as the film’s villain, Michael Caine as the head of the Kingsman, and Mark Strong as “Merlin.”

    The movie is chock-full of spectacular action, accompanied with innovative and tight camera work. Never before have I seen action look quite this slick and intense, and the use of “Freebird” during the church brawl is on par with the 2Pac scene in Django Unchained in terms of awesome absurdity. Backing the action is a tight and hilarious script, pairing the espionage of James Bond with the over-the-top comic bookiness of Batman.

    If you’re looking to treat yourself to an exciting action film or enjoy the exciting and somewhat silly nature of the old 007 films, Kingsman: The Secret Service earns a high recommendation from this critic. You’ll laugh, you’ll wince, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole time. Plus, it may just rekindle your childhood fancy.

From the Desk of the Editor--January

by Adam Roberts

This is my first and last editorial, and it marks the end of my time at The Voice. I’ve learned so much in the one and a half years I’ve been on staff, especially this past semester as I’ve served as an editor for the paper.  It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s taught me so much.  I’ve become a better writer and interviewer, and I’ve learned a little about management, deadlines and solving problems.  I’ve also learned some things about myself (i.e. I am a huge perfectionist).  

Most of all, although it is often stressful and seemingly fruitless as I can probably count on my fingers the number of people that will read this column to the end (including you, Mom), there is still something incredibly rewarding about publishing a newspaper.  Providing an outlet for students to reach out to the school is a great opportunity, and I’m so grateful that our administration has provided this for me.  

This being my last opportunity to use this medium, I have one final message to the PHS student body: stay informed.  I can’t tell you how frustrated I get when a student can literally write an essay about Kimye’s wedding or Super Bowl strategies but can’t even name the Speaker of the House.  

Things that affect all of our lives are covered in news media every day.  And no, this isn’t a plug for the school newspaper.  As much as I hate to admit it, The Voice isn’t the best source for all of your information.  However, keeping up with the latest news is even easier than just picking up a copy; worldwide news is just a click or swipe away.  

So please, PHS, don’t be the apathetic teenager anyone older than 25 assumes you are.  Read things that are longer than 140 characters, see pictures that aren’t taken from a front-facing smartphone camera, be aware of decisions and events that shape  our lives, and please, for the love of everything that is good, stop listening to TaySwift.  Seriously, she is a talentless music industry lemming.  Peace out. *drops mic*

Back in Black: The Woman in Black 2

by Matt Schaefer

What better way to wrap up the holiday season than reviewing a horror movie? And more specifically, a sequel to a horror movie I never thought would get a sequel. The Woman in Black was released in 2013 to good reviews and moderate success, mainly getting a lot of publicity for being Daniel Radcliffe’s first major non-Harry Potter role. It was a tight and atmospheric ghost story that had me shivering in my seat. So, did The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death live up to its predecessor or did it take a place next to the many other bland and routine horror sequels?

In war torn London, two school teachers take a group of orphaned children out of the city to keep them from harm. A doctor brings them to the countryside town of Crythin Gifford in the abandoned Drablow house. However, things take a dark turn when one of the school teachers, played by Phoebe Fox, is plagued by nightmares of her tragic past and one of the children, played by Oaklee Pendergast, seems to gain a connection with the house’s previous owner. Has “she” returned for another reign of terror? (Spoiler alert: yes.)

Once again, horror champions Hammer Entertainment deliver a gothic ghost story, shot with spooky forestry and one seriously creepy haunted house. The atmosphere is thick and drenched with gloom, ever prevalent in the dark subject matter. Suspense is a key factor of the film, which seldom goes for gore.

However, the film is too reliant on jump-scares and always left me feeling cheated when I was startled by something harmless. They even throw in the same stupid crow gag from the first film! And, that’s the biggest problem I have with this movie: it feels stale. Yes, the movie is suspenseful and even scary, but it follows a lot of the same routine its predecessor did, banking on the hope that you’ll find it scary because you found the first one scary. Add in a plot that has quite a few glaring holes (that also has the audacity to add the horror trope of a kid with a blank stare and a bowl haircut) and an ending “chair-jumper” that’s so insultingly tacked on, and you have all the makings of a bland horror sequel.

So, if you’re looking for a good horror movie of this generation to treat yourself to, I’d recommend sticking with the first film. If you have seen the first one, I’d say check this one out for curiosity’s sake. However, on its own right, I honestly can’t recommend The Woman in Black 2. There’s just better ghost stories to be told.

The Home Stretch: Beth Gardiner's Message to Seniors Who Applied to College

by Beth Gardiner

“What are you plans after high school?” Do you know what you want to do with your life yet?” How many people got asked this countless times over the holiday break? For many seniors, this question can be exciting as they share the next step in their journey, but for others it can be frustrating, terrifying, and dreadful. What if you don’t know right now what your life will look like once you cross the stage and receive your diploma? Find reassurance that it is okay right now.

Many seniors planning on going to a four year college have their applications turned in and are waiting to hear back or in the middle of tough decisions. Follow your heart, seniors. 

The college application process is over for most and everyone is focused on scholarships. The local scholarships are due at the end of January and financial aid has just become available for many colleges. If you have any questions about scholarships, be sure to stop in the guidance office.

Even if you haven’t decided exactly where you want to go next year (and remember, it is totally fine!), it is important to remember housing contracts. Many universities have these available, and students can be reimbursed if they change their mind. The earlier you do it the most likely you will get your preferences and can room with someone of your choice.

Most importantly, find reassurance that you are not alone in the senior journey. Two seniors shared with The Voice where they are at. Ashley Budden (‘15) has applied to five colleges. She knows she is accepted to three of them, and is waiting to hear back from the last two to make her decision. She admits the college choice is stressful, as many others are saying. 

Makayla Wodarz (‘15), on the other hand, decided in the middle of December that she will be attending Winona State University next year. Wodarz says she is “very excited” to attend school there. She already has her housing done and knows the campus will be a great fit for her. While both of these girls are at different points in their journey, they both are doing great and have amazing futures ahead of them. 

With the last finals seniors will take as high school students approaching, one thing remains: the last semester at PHS for the class of 2015. Make every moment count to learn from some of the best teachers, make memories, and enjoy being with the people you’ve spent the last twelve years with. The next chapter of your story hasn’t started yet, so finish this one strong.

Extracurricular Overload: One Staffer Gives Her Take

by Claire McMannes

Basketball, forensics, French Club, choir, and FFA. All of these extracurricular activities have given you something to do besides staring blankly at your homework, hoping it does itself. 

Yes, student activities are encouraged and look good on a college application, but what happens when they start to conflict with one another? After school activities can range from three hours or more, depending on what you are in, leaving some students stressed and not having enough time to complete their assignments due the following day.

Platteville high school student Erin Bowden (‘16) tells how exactly school and its activities affect students' stress levels.

Bowden says, "School affected the sport I played because I wasn't able to attend all of practices, leaving me behind. One practice, we learned some plays, and I wasn't there to learn them. We couldn't use those plays in the next game because I didn't know them."  School activities, while usually flexible when it comes to education, can leave students feeling somewhat stressed and cause conflict with the rest of the team if you are learning plays like Bowden was in basketball.

With extracurriculars and school work competing for students’ attention, it’s no wonder they’ve started to feel like they’re over-stretching. Recently Bowden brought to light a conflict between the April 17th state forensics date and a conference softball game. (Note that April 17th is later the same week music students will return from their Nashville trip.) This is the typical schedule for a highly involved student at PHS who finds sports taking over the scene. Bowden expresses her frustration, “I didn't offer not going to forensics or seeing if there was an alternative performance time because the [non-athletics] extracurricular activities always move aside. I think it is about time for that to change.”

The administration dealt with another double-booked event last month with a boys’ swim meet being scheduled on the same night that an orchestra concert was planned months in advance. Communication solved the issue with the athletes/musicians being able to catch their events at an earlier time before heading over to the concert.

Come to school early in the morning and you’ll see a lot of the same students working diligently to meet with forensics coaches, meeting for Key Club or Mock Trial, and rehearsing with extracurricular music groups like Blue Notes and Jazz Band. With all that’s going on in the non-athletic activity world, is it possible that students are being pressed for time even more in the mornings?

What’s an involved student to do besides make compromises? Madelyn White (‘15) says, “When I was in musical, balancing swimming with it could get kind of frustrating because it was a lot of running around. But since I had a ‘small-part’ in the play it worked out okay. If there’s ever a time where you really want to do something like musical and a sport just choose a smaller part or try to compromise and talk to your coach or director about it. They try to help you out as much as they can.”

If you ever feel over stressed and over worked just remember the key is to take out the things you can go without. By doing so you will become far less stressed and maybe even find something that peaks your interest more or just have more time to work on your assignments and focus solely on school.

Too Cool for This: Winter Fashion Tips

by Pauline Justal

Just because the temperature dropped doesn't mean you have to let your fashion game drop, too. There are so many wearable and warm winter fashion trends that you can be comfy and look great in, from knee-high boots to statement coats—to settle for an un-cute outfit this season.

    How can you look hot when it’s cold outside?  A comfy, cozy sweater with jeans or leggings looks great while colorful scarves and hats give your outfit a trendy and classy look.

    Scarf capes are the new arrivals this winter. Apart from them, high heels have made a significant stay this season. Shapes took an altogether more top-heavy feel with oversize coats, capes, and furs. To contrast the too-heavy feel leggings, tights and delicate footwear complete many looks.

    “The colour palette is divided in two very contrasting camps: autumnal hues and pastels, which in a way represent the mood of the collections: on the one side experimental and unusual, and on the other coherent, safe and ever so commercial. The colour of the season is once again red, red like the flame that burns with the passion of those involved in the fashion industry, those who love it and loathe it in equal measure,” says Valentina Zannoni, editor-in-chief of the style magazine Swide. So, don’t think you don’t have to try because it is winter and it’s too cold for fashion to matter. We are in high school. Everything matters.

Black Friday Overload: What is This Madness?

by Kyle McWilliams

Since the mid 1960’s, people have declared the Friday after Thanksgiving to be the start to the Christmas shopping season. It was not until around 1980 that stores started to mark down prices on merchandise. In the early 2000’s stores started to open up earlier than usual, typically around 6:00am. In some instances stores opened up as early as 4:00am Friday. “Black Friday” has been the busiest shopping day every year since 2005. Starting in 2011, bigger corporations (Walmart,Target, Best Buy, etc.) have been opening up at 8:00pm Thursday night, turning Thanksgiving day into “Grey Thursday.”

This year I had the chance to head out to the local Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Cabelas on Thursday night around 4:00pm. Driving up to the parking lot at Wal-Mart, I could tell there were no spots left open. Because of this, I had to park along a curb at the side of the parking lot. As I went in, there were no carts left and a few baskets. I headed over to the most popular Black Friday deals at the Wal-Mart in Platteville: the movies and video games. I asked an employee from the Platteville Walmart if he could describe Black Friday for me, he responded with few words. “I can’t really describe it other than hectic or chaotic.”

Even though I was almost two hours early, people were camped in front of the boxes full of movies and video games priced from $2 to $10. As drew closer to 6:00 when the boxes would be opened, there were people standing shoulder to shoulder, ready to dive in and grab the movie or game they wished to have. The time came to open the boxes, the people dove right in and starting throwing movies up, down, left, right, and behind them. Luckily no one was hurt at the Platteville Wal-Mart, no fights broke out, and it looked as if people had just won the Hunger Games when they departed the store. I also had the experience to do a little online shopping too. The item I wanted was 50% off, but only for 12 hours. Luckily I was able to get what I wanted within an hour, because after I ordered it wasn’t long before the item was sold out from the company. 

Some were not as fortunate to get home safely from Black Friday shopping. One instance in Tustin, CA caused three individuals to start brawling in the middle of a Kohl’s. Another shopper was hit by a car departing a Wal-Mart in Pennsylvania. The man who hit the walking shopper was 72 years of age and he told the police,”The accelerator had stuck.” The shopper was taken to the hospital with broken bones and internal injuries, though the police reported that the injuries were not life threatening. 

Although we give thanks for a very American reason the day before, America isn't the only country that has Black Friday deals.  A women in the UK was injured when fights broke out and a falling TV hit her, making her fall down. She suffered from only a broken wrist and minor cuts and bruises. 

Even though I didn’t see any stunning action while Black Friday shopping, I’ll leave you with this: first, if you have never been a part of the insanity that is Black Friday shopping, try it next year. And second, if you do go shopping for a “hot” item, may the odds ever be in your favor.

Recap: Summer of the Sequels

by Matt Schaefer

     There’s no better time for audiences around the world to lay siege upon their local cinemas than during the summer, and Summer 2014 has been a good time for good ol’ American popcorn flicks. Guardians of the Galaxy annihilated the box office, grossing nearly $300 million after barely a month’s release, with Transformers: Age of Extinction and Maleficent trailing close behind. But, this summer has also been a breeding ground for sequels or remakes, such as Godzilla and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. And, among the list of anticipated sequels were The Expendables 3 and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.

     Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is inspired by Frank Miller’s dark and gritty comic series and a sequel to 2005’s Sin City. A Dame to Kill For is co-directed by Miller and Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids, From Dusk till Dawn) and recaptures the same intense and stylistic nature of its predecessor. The cast is fantastic, which includes Jessica Alba, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Mickey Rourke, all giving truly memorable performances. Using an episodic format of storytelling with two segments inspired by Miller’s comics, the two stories written for the film are bland and uninspired and leave you feeling the film was trying too hard to be as brilliant as its predecessor.

    The Expendables 3 continues the franchise’s tale of classic violence and adventure. The action is tight and intense and is not overly wimped down by a PG-13 rating. The cast is just as entertaining as always with newcomers Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, and Harrison Ford being welcome additions. Mel Gibson’s antagonist is wonderfully evil, even if the film substitutes its storytelling for action. No, you’re not going to find an Oscar-worthy screenplay in Expendables 3, but you are going to get what you expect: big guys with big guns.

     So, for you action fans and blockbuster attendees out there, this summer was probably a good one, and this critic highly recommend giving The Expendables 3 a view. However, if you’re a fan of the Sin City comics or the original movie, it’s hard to say if A Dame to Kill For will live up to your expectations.

Supporting Your School

by Carla Hoppe

  One word describes Platteville High School’s fall sports season: Wow! There are several reasons why Platteville teams had such great seasons: hard work, dedication, great coaches, and amazing people to be around. There’s a long list of great accomplishments from this fall, including boy’s soccer winning our conference, girl’s swimming having a state qualifier, football going to state, fall play getting to sectionals, girl’s cross country qualifying eighth at sectionals, and boy’s cross country placing sixth overall at state. These are all AMAZING accomplishments, and we should be proud of all of these groups.

  But what if there weren’t any fans at these events, or any support for these participants? Would they have gotten as far as they did? As Psychology Today puts it, on an article related to school pride and its effects on a school, “School spirit appears to be a surprisingly powerful phenomenon.”

  Let’s pose another question: What if the crowds that came to the football games toward the end of the season came to every event at our school? Now, as football is the American pastime, the crowd of supporters that came to the state game would realistically not show up at all of the events in our school, but the encouragement could be just as strong.  

  All of the send-offs, encouragements, announcements, signs, and support from Platteville community and schools contribute to the success of our activities. Every single one of the events previously listed made it to their goals because of a member of our school or community supporting them.

  Be an athlete, a competitor, or a supporter. There are so many activities to choose from! At the very least, let’s gain more respect for all school events and more knowledge of each event. Platteville is an amazing community with countless opportunities and records of success, so  become a part of that success.

Keeps Me Logged In: How Technology's Physical Warmth Brushes Your Thigh and Creates Lust, Not Love

be E.J. Kruser

  Social Media is part of all of our lives, whether we like to admit that we still have a Facebook account, which stopped being cool two years ago, or not. Just kidding, it was never cool. But do you know what is cool? High test scores and extracurricular activities! Straight A report cards! A clean and healthy colon! Scholarships to Ivy Leagues and student loans under 30 Gs! Do you feel me, PHS? Or, is it necessary for me to punctuate the end of each sentence with “#Realtalk” for everyone to understand that, by typing these individual characters on my keyboard, I’m really saying words? #Thatsunnecessary

  The point is this: social networking negatively affects our productivity. In the United States alone, 12,207,423,487 collective hours are spent browsing on a social network every day. I use the word “spent” and not “wasted” because I am not some all-seeing omnipotent being, and therefore cannot know for certain whether you took two-and-a-half hours to arrange your silos in Farmville or were reconnecting with your estranged, long-lost cousin via instant message. I’m fairly certain, however, that the time you spent on YouTube did not help you get any further in understanding your essay assignment on transcendentalism. According to sources, the GPA of college students that regularly use Facebook is a full point lower than peers who resist the urge to check the “Keep me logged in” button. Today’s youth need some sort of outlet for all their creativity and desire to share their own subjectiveness regarding such subjects as what I ate for lunch and collections of low-resolution pictures of my cat, but more importantly, they need to develop their brain regions. Developing and stimulating are two very different things. Social networks are good for the latter. It only makes sense that young adults in America are drawn to social networking sites, because it’s all they know.

  Our generation grew up in correspondence with the ever-evolving world of technology. It’s always been there, and it just looks so darn attractive! Recalling my 8th grade health class, this is known as lust, and not love. Paul thinks he’s in love with Susie because she’s the only one whose hair holds that alluring aroma that he can never quite put his finger on. It’s conditioner. There are a thousand other females who use the exact same Herbal Essences product. Unfortunately, Paul hasn’t come within close enough proximity to 999 of these lovely ladies to adopt the same feelings he has for Susie. This same principle applies to the world of social media. Because we haven’t encountered anything quite like Tumblr in our real lives, we feel like this must be the one and most amazing way to share photos and videos with your friends. Well, maybe it is, or maybe the face-to-face interaction that occurs when indulging in the old-fashioned way of photo sharing (showing your friends physical Polaroid photographs) offers a much greater form of satisfaction on a far deeper, more personal level. If you never strive to obtain the next best thing, you will never know it. If you don’t thrive in school because you are preoccupied with status updates and Imgur albums, how will you ever make it to the Big Apple, where your would-be soul mate Fernando awaits to share wisdom and the greatest cat pictures ever taken with you? You won’t. But you need to. Not for yourself, but for everyone else whose lives you are affecting by blowing up news feeds and photo-bombing friends’ selfies. Log off the interweb and start taking steps towards your real-life goals. Be all that you can be. Do it. Do it for Fernando.

Party In The U.S.A.

   

An Assessment of Miley Cyrus's Performance at the VMAs

by E.J. Kruser

  Miley Cyrus. Adorable child star gone ratchet or an inspiration to all of us? For those of you who don’t care enough to stay in the Hollywood social media loop, first of all, good for you, and second, OMG I can’t believe you haven’t been watching and waiting for stars to make embarrassing mistakes so you can talk about that instead of worrying about your own insecurities and cosmetic flaws! By the way, you-know-who, yes, we did notice your fake tan, and no, it’s not as unnaturally preposterous as Snooki from the Jersey Shore. Congrats! While we’re doling out kudos, let’s mention our appreciation for the unveiling of Miley Cyrus’s newest music video for her new hit single “Wrecking Ball.” Congratulations, Miley! It takes a lot of courage to release such a depthless erotic video onto the world-wide web, especially proceeding the backlash and insatiable buzz following the controversial VMA performance with Robin Thicke and giant teddy bear strippers.

   For those of you who haven’t viewed the viral video of Ms. Cyrus twerking, gyrating, and sexualizing inanimate objects, I cannot, in good conscience, recommend doing so, as all of my previously fond recollections of the young sensation carrying on with her goofily innocent antics and switching between outfits so her date wouldn’t find out that she’s actually Hannah Montana have been tainted and voided of all value in my memory for life. R.I.P. My fond memories. R.I.P American morality and decency.

“It’s nice that Miley’s comfortable with herself.” Tweets esteemed funnyman Judd Apatow.

  While it is nice that the singer/songwriter/actor has found her confidence, the performance was less than pleasant for the majority of Americans viewing it. One Youtube video alone has over 3 million views with a 4:1 ratio of thumbs down to thumbs up. It would appear America disapproves. But who is America to judge? Consider this scenario: a teenage boy has a “crush” on a girl in his school, but he lacks the confidence to ask her out because of his low social status in the community and high score of 82,690 in Minecraft, which is getting higher daily. One day, the boy decides to put himself out there and ask his crush out on a date to The Olive Garden on Dodge Street in Dubuque, now offering the Never Ending Pasta Bowl™ for just $9.99! The young lady turns him down and is disgusted with the video game habits he takes so much pride in. Miley Cyrus is that poor, acne-ridden boy. She put herself out there and was shot down on a much larger scale. Surely he was devastated and lived a depressing hermit lifestyle until his final lonely days. Surely America feels compassion for this poor soul, but why then does America react with such animosity to a person like Miley in a near parallel situation? Ms. Cyrus doesn’t let it get to her.

"They're overthinking it … You're thinking about it more than I thought about it when I did it. Like, I didn't even think about it 'cause that's just me." Ms. Cyrus is quoted in an interview following the media’s uproar over her VMA performance of “We Can’t Stop”/”Blurred Lines.”

  Perhaps, we should praise Miley’s spirit rather than ridiculing her risque attire and unnecessarily sexualized social media. Miley is a strong, brave young woman who is able to admit fault. "I have so many...issues," Cyrus tells a reporter while discussing the public’s reaction to her performance. "I don't have a normal life … I take a hiatus every now and again, but I'm not good at that." We need to look deep within our hearts and find some empathy for this filthy-rich 20-year-old pop sensation. She’s just trying to find herself and having fun doing it. The moral of the story is this: Open judgement is cruel and stymieing. We need to be unafraid of this inevitable judgement, as Ms. Cyrus exemplifies, and just do whatever we want for our own personal pleasure. Over the weekend, this reporter put this philosophy into action. I put my hands up; they were playing my song. The butterflies flew away. I said, “Hey! It’s a party in the USA!” And you all know what that means. Freedom. And do you know what that means? E’r’body gettin’ ther’ twerk on without regret and criticism. Because this is America. And our parties compete with each other to form a more perfect union.