Author: raining17

News or Not?

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Photo Credit: http://www.boonepickens.com

I often find myself on Yahoo! News, whether it’s to find information for a news quiz, or just to laugh at the ridiculous articles I find. What I see on there really makes me question the relevancy of the website.

Although there are current pending issues like Ebola, and controversies like the Ferguson case, Yahoo! News still chooses to broadcast articles like, “Ohio family recovers missing Sasquatch statue” or “In Wisconsin, Black Friday shoppers come for beer.” Although that Sasquatch statue may be very near and dear to the Spence family, I am unclear as to how this makes national news.

On the other hand, Black Friday is an event created specifically for shopping deals, so why shouldn’t people of Milwaukee, Wisconsin get their beer? People spend hours in line for a toaster, or the newest shoes, so why not stand in line for something that at least holds a food value?

However, I don’t see why this makes national news either. Why is 800 people waiting outside their local brewery a bigger deal than thousands of people waiting outside their nearest Apple store for the newest iPhone? And why is a town and their beer relevant to the rest of the world?

Lastly, however concerning “Austria fire explodes in wood stove”  might be to the people whose stove exploded, and maybe the manufacturers, this issue doesn’t seem more, or even equally as important as Ebola.

Granted, Yahoo! News keeps producing interesting articles, but I feel like they might be grasping at straws here.

Food for Thought

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All those controversies about what’s in your McDonald’s Big Mac or chicken nuggets are disturbing, sure, but it’s just as disturbing to have other’s unwanted opinions shoved in your face.

Super Size Me, for example, is a grotesque documentary following a man while he eats nothing but McDonald’s for a month. This proves a significant point, and is absolutely worth paying attention to.

However, for people who can’t afford healthier food than McDonald’s, hearing the fatal effect of their only food source is beyond depressing.

Wealthier members of society are parading around, throwing around argument after argument about how harmful McDonald’s is, yet providing no solution for those who have no choice but to consume it.

I agree that McDonald’s is unhealthy, and shouldn’t be eaten, if given other options. However, for those who have no other choice, I think that it is wrong to tell them what they’re doing wrong and provide no help. That is just as unhealthy.

Photo Credit: pbs.twimg.com

 

No Chill

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Although I knew California was hot, by choosing to go to school here I didn’t think I signed up for a 75 degree November.

Already insanely hot during the summer months, I was looking forward to it cooling down leading up to the holidays. Oh, how wrong I was.

As of right now, the high for this week is 77 degrees. In November! I don’t mind this weather, it’s actually very nice. But, it’s comforting in a spring sense. Not for leading into Thanksgiving!

At home, the high for this week is a warm 50 degrees and raining. Although I’m sure it’s miserable to live in 24/7, it sounds wonderful to spend at least a day in!

Photo Credit: wyckoffcomfort.com

I love shorts as much as the next person, but coming from the cold weather, I look forward to the temperature where it’s appropriate to wear sweaters.

When it’s cold out, mother nature creates a true wintery feeling, which is amazing to spend time in.

Trudging Along

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However enjoyable Ojai Valley School is, by the time a break rolls around, I am more than ready for some time off. The longest stretch is from the start of school to Thanksgiving break, and with that break in a week, I’ve almost made it through.

At the beginning of the year, I’m filled with motivation, and I’m sure that I’ll make it through the year easily. However, at this time of the year, I’m dragging along, barely getting my work done.

It’s not just me though, which is why a break is much-needed. Teachers have been piling on the work lately, so students are overwhelmed, and aren’t doing as well. Luckily, if we make it through this last week, we will have reached the reward.

Although Thanksgiving break is only a week, it will be rejuvenating. I’m grateful that I get to go home and see my friends, as well as sleep in my own bed. Short and sweet, and I’m looking forward to it.

Photo Credit: http://www.harriswholehealth.com

 

Trust

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Although trust is a common trait, it’s a highly valued one. Whether it’s trusting yourself to someone, or telling a secret to a friend, it’s important that the recipient honors the trust.

Betrayal is common – more so than should be socially acceptable. Rumors are always being spread, sometimes for attention, and sometimes for fun. If one doesn’t feel good about themself, they’ll spread rumors or tell lies to put someone down, and therefore feel better, or higher up.

Photo Credit: ncbusinesslitigationreport.com

On the other hand, if someone is bored, they might feel inclined to start spreading rumors, or just gossip, simply for the sake of entertainment. Others might feed off of drama, and continue to spread rumors, and as a result, fake, hurtful information is being spread around.

None of this is beneficial, and dishonesty only ends poorly. If information is trusted in one’s hands, the secret should be kept, and neither rumors or lies should be started or spread.

A Mission

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I’m running, on a mission. I was told that I had until midnight to figure everything out, and I scramble to collect every clue I can find.

Scavenging for money, I throw it all in a suitcase, get my sister, and run. We have the supplies, and I’ll return the money later, I promise.

We suddenly find ourselves in an elevator, going deep underground in an unknown building. We are in spy headquarters, and I am a double agent. I have to find out who I’m pretending to work for, and what they want from me.

I find myself going on adventures and expeditions; I am in places I don’t recollect traveling to. From walking through city streets to exploring exotic jungles, I drag my suitcase behind me and hope for the best.

My sister is close behind me, and together we keep an eye out for them. We don’t know who we’re looking for, but we look out nonetheless.

We walk for what seems like hours, days, and without talking we focus intently. The suitcase seems to drag behind me  – carrying the weight of distress and lies.

Finally back at the headquarters, we are told what we are looking for. About to find out, we are suddenly moved back home, where we return the money. It didn’t get used anyway, it was for protection, and to appear legitimate.

We shed our jackets, take off our glasses, and sit down. We reflect on the mission, for it was unfinished, and needs to be accomplished.

Photo Credit: http://www.jazzhostels.com

School Dances and Ghostly Trances

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At OVS, Halloween is celebrated in a unique way. Although boarders don’t necessarily go trick or treating, through the Halloween dance and spirit days, festive spirit is present.

Photo Credit: staticflickr.com

Day students are able to go home and celebrate Halloween in a more standard way, whereas boarding students get to spend their time at school. At the dance, people dress up and show off their costumes. On the day of Halloween, costumes can be worn to school.

On the other hand, boarders spend Halloween night in the dorms. That can be fun, spending the night binging on scary movies and eating a ton of candy. However, there’s something special about being outside on Halloween night, with spine-tingling stories being told and that spooky feeling in the air.

It’s not really explainable, but all those stories about witches and goblins, haunted houses and the curses that come along with them – it all seems so real on October 31st. Maybe it’s just me, but on that one night, the air seems like it’s buzzing with ghostly presences, just waiting to be discovered.

Drowning

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“Swim deeper,” they said. “You’ll be able to breathe.”

I’m drowning – the water is swirling over my head, pushing me down and shortening my breaths. I’m told that I’m doing fine, but in reality I’m plummeting.

I’ve been told that this is normal, that everyone should be able to breathe when pushed underwater. However, I know that something’s off.

Maybe I can learn to live while drowning, and pretend that it’s as easy for me as it is for everyone else. But there is a solution, and it’s the realization that I’m ten feet under that helps me to get there.

When underwater, it’s easy to pretend that I’m above, and to fake it until I truly do well. I can either learn to live under the surface, or swim to the top. It is on the surface that I can succeed.

“Swim back up,” they say, “You can make it.”

Photo Credit: http://www.c2.staticflickr.com

An Abundance of Autumn

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However it is celebrated, autumn is a season to rejoice – the weather becomes colder and Halloween is just around the corner.

Although some don’t love the cold, to most it means oversized sweaters, and relaxing in the fresh air. California’s hot weather is nice for a while, but by the time fall rolls around, many are grateful for the change.

The smell of leaves changing is an important aspect of autumn – it embodies the season perfectly. Here, there aren’t enough trees to jump into leaf piles, but it’s nice nonetheless.

By the time fall comes along, Halloween is in the near future, and is already highly anticipated. Whether that means preparing a costume, or just enjoying all the spirit, Halloween is an exciting Holiday.

Not only is autumn important on its own, but it is the gateway into the winter holidays, which leads to an abundance of spirit. As a whole, fall is a wonderful season, filled with many great features.

Photo Credit: http://www.get-frenched.com

Underwear For Sale

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Nowadays, Americans are so materialistic that they’ll go to great measures to own anything once belonging to someone famous.

For example, many girls between ages 10-16 would go crazy over Harry Styles’ used tissue. To be in possession of an item that he once touched, no matter what it is, would be honorable to them.

Currently, Queen Victoria‘s bloomers are being sold for nearly $10,000. Although appealing to a different audience, it is ridiculous nonetheless. Granted, they did belong to a past queen, but to pay thousands to own a pair of underwear seems absurd.

Photo Credit: http://www.express.co.uk

These bloomers are not the only item of Queen Victoria’s from the 1890’s that were sold – her stockings went for about $2,000.

Besides the fact that she was the queen, a selling point for these articles is their size – she wore them at an older age, after having eaten lots.

Society is so focused on materials, and “brand names”. This scores someone a pair of ancient royal panties, so really, there’s no problem.