Lights, Camera, Action
November 24, 2009
“I’m not really sure why I like making videos,” Jake Korell said. “It’s kind of like how I’m not really sure why I like oranges. I guess it’s because they taste good. But I don’t go around licking my camera or anything.” Read more
Being Openly Gay at Neuqua
October 30, 2009
From the very start of our existence as human beings, we have been plagued with the idea that the unknown is frightening, and therefore, terrible. We have been scared away from sailing oceans, switching religions, and setting new trends. That is, until one brave person, or group of people, decides to cross the barrier of their ordinary lives, and enter a territory entirely unfamiliar. Read more
Passing the Bathroon Pass Along
March 27, 2009
As many schools, Neuqua Valley High School uses a system of passes in order to make sure students are not ditching class or are not students of this school. Though not checked all the time, the uses of passes are enforced, such as going to the nurse’s office. Read more
Making the Move to Metea
March 4, 2009
A new school means a lot of new changes. With Metea Valley being nearly complete and to be opened at the start of the next school year a lot of changes are being implemented. The students and parents have voiced their opinions, but they are not the only ones being affected by the new school. Read more
Helpful Hints to Make Cupid’s Day Just Right
January 30, 2009
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. With only fourteen days left to prepare, guys and gals, it is time to get moving. Whether you have a special someone to share the day with or not, Valentine’s Day is a day of excitement and joy. The people that usually call Valentine’s Day a “Hallmark Holiday” not worthy of celebration are the same people who are sitting at home alone, watching television, begging for the day to come to its end. Just because a person is single does not mean that Valentine’s Day has suddenly become “Singles Awareness Day,” it just means that that person has more than one person to target with their friendliness. Friends, family, loved ones, and random strangers can all be touched by the happiness that is Valentine’s Day. The prerequisites are simple, but the rewards are huge and comforting.Everyone Likes Surprises
Whether they are willing to admit it or not, everyone likes to be surprised. The trick is reading the “surprisee.” There are three key steps in confidently and successfully completing the objective, a surprise. First off, do NOT tip the surprisee off, whatsoever, to your secret task. If that means telling absolutely no one, then do so; it will be worth it in the end. If that means involving their parents, their friends, and their younger siblings too, then do it. Go to extreme lengths to keep it a secret! Guys are generally less perceptive than girls, so keeping the surprise, well, a surprise, can be slightly easier when a girl is surprising a guy. Boys, do not be discouraged; girls generally show more gratitude for surprises than guys do. Surprising a girl just requires a special kind of integrity. However, do not let this fact cause you to slack in your stealth abilities. Secondly, prepare! Plan out every part of the surprise, including what would happen if the surprisee would discover part of the plan. Third, and most importantly, know the suprisee. Some suprisees would hate, absolutely hate, to be surprised in front of people. Others enjoy the attention. A simply “Happy Valentine’s Day” balloon left in the middle of someone’s room may be the best gift they have ever received in their life. The supriser must know the suprisee, otherwise, the surprise in question is left to be unstable and a possible flop, and after all the effort put forth to successfully complete the mission, that would truly suck.
The Real Definition of Love
There are a large number of people who feel squeamish when they hear the world “love.” But love is not a word that is supposed to cause the uprising of unpleasant feelings. In fact, it’s supposed to do just the opposite. Love does not mean crush or relationship or marriage or commitment or any of those words that are generally related to being in love. Above all things, love is caring about the well-being of another person; love is consideration, patience, understanding, and willingness to make someone feel better. Love is a universal term of endearment that has been construed over the years. To love someone is to care for them in ways that a brother cares about a sister or the way that friends care for one another. So this Valentine’s Day, if there is a friend out there that means the world to someone, make sure they know it. The gesture does not have to be big, a card or some candy, even a simple “Thank you for being there for me through it all” will do the trick. February 14th is a day of spreading joy and happiness, whether it means with a loved one, a friend, or someone who just needs a little lift in their day; it is a day for generosity to bloom and kindness to shine.
Mind trumps Money
It is so easy to get carried away in the quantity of what is bought than the quality. Well guess what. The person the gift is for will never know how much you spent, well unless you tell them. Point is, a perfectly worded 99-cent card is worth more than an impersonal five-dollar card any day. Ten dollars spent on a homemade cake trumps fifteen dollars on a store-bought cake. A single rose with a personal note presented with thought and love trumps a dozen roses given without a care. Gifts are supposed to be personal, well thought out, and meaningful. If that means that less money is involved, so be it. Never feel as though not enough money was spent. The real question to ask is, “Is this gift her?” or “Is this gift him?” If the answer is yes, then shopping/creating/picking/chaos is over, and relaxation can begin. However, if the answer is no, do not automatically reach into your wallet. Take a break to think about why the answer is no. How can the gift be made more personal? Maybe the answer is the presentation, which is usually the impersonal part. Maybe it is the actual gift. Instead of just giving flowers, ask what his or her favorite flower/color/scent is. Long story short, get to planning now because fourteen days is just enough time to concoct a brilliant gift plan mostly stress-free.
Take a look at who is in your life, who has been there for you through the worst of it, who has made you smile in times of need, and who deserves a bit of love on this upcoming Valentine’s Day. It is worth a bit of extra effort to say thank you in a meaningful and memorable way. Spread some love, happiness, and cheer this fourteenth of February and watch as it lightens up the lives of those closest to you.
By Mya Ervin, editor-in-chief
Black Friday in the Red
November 25, 2008
Black Friday is traditionally known as the day after Thanksgiving, and also retail industry’s name for the first official shopping day of the holiday season. Black Friday is also a day when many stores offer huge savings and deals to their shoppers. Last year, the weekend after Thanksgiving saw over 147 million shoppers. From those shoppers, about 14% were out and waiting in lines before 4 a.m. The Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora also set up early for the holiday shopping, starting holiday sales at midnight with the slogan “Midnight Madness.” Read more
Perks of Being a Wildcat
October 31, 2008
Everything is an argument. What these arguments are trying to persuade people of might not always be made clear from simple observation by the spectator, but by searching for a pure and simple purpose. Architecture, windows, colors, every detail in society, has the purpose to persuade. Neuqua Valley High School’s argument is a competition to be the best, the most prestigious educational system in the area. Everything about the school showcases its excellence. Read more
Hooked on Celeb Life
September 15, 2008
England has its royalty, Spain has soccer, and America’s most prized possessions are…Hollywood celebrities. There are the actors and musicians whose work and exciting lives deserve some attention, but then there are some celebrities who do not do much of anything. For instance, Paris Hilton’s primary job is to go to clubs and spend an unbelievable amount of money, yet she is considered an A-list celebrity. Millions of dollars are spent everyday by magazines to get that perfect picture of a celebrity doing a deed that could possibly make or break his or her reputation. Americans, of course, encourage the trend by buying the magazines packed with juicy gossip. Media moguls defend themselves, claiming that they are only responding to public demand. Sometimes it seems like a real-life soap opera; everyone seems to know who cheated with whom and who checked into rehab. It is odd that Americans are so quick to make fun of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, but they have no problem with coming home everyday exceedingly eager to watch the ever popular TMZ and discover the latest gossip. Read more
