E-Readers versus Paper Books (guest post by Joel Keefer)

E-Readers vs. Paper Books

            Since the invention of the printing press in 1450, paper has established dominance over the written word. Anything worth remembering was typed or scrawled across dead tree matter. Then, the internet. The technology boom of the twenty-first century. Handheld e-readers are now all the rage. Why kill trees? Use Earth’s stronger, long-lasting materials instead. Of course, there are those who still cling to the old ways, destroying forests with their intellect and thirst for knowledge. I imagine when it comes down to it, there are two types of people: The E-Readers and the Tree-Readers.

            The E-Readers love information. They thrive on it. Nothing excites an E-Reader quite so much as a click of a button revealing the dictionary definition of some obscure three-syllable word previously unknown to all but the scribes of old. They can carry within their e-readers the weight of hundreds of books, yet hold a meek slab of metal and glass weighing ounces. The      E-Readers love to walk into a Starbucks and log on to the complimentary wifi on their Apple product and peruse the internet for vintage-style clothing before settling down to read little-known literary masterpieces such as The Great Gatsby, Anthem, or The New York Times. The E-Readers have the power to highlight, add notes, and underline in their books without lifting a single writing utensil to sully the book itself. How marvelous!

            Then, on the other hand, we have the Tree-Readers. These crude beasts lounge in ignorant bliss, unaware of their true despondency. They are unable to accept change and cling to their tree-flesh like a babe to its mother. They claim to love their books so much that they insist upon dirtying the pages with pieces of themselves. They leave coffee stains on page 43, so that there is a perpetual comforting stink of a steaming mug on a rainy day lingering behind the warm smell of the book itself. The Tree-Readers also break the spines of their ungrateful dead trees, and with them the hopes of all those suffering from OCD. They think themselves superior and leave in the margins messages for those who come after: trivial comments about an obscure motif, the author’s style, or “hahaha love the humor!” or a snarky quip at a minor character, or a tear stain. The Tree-Readers earmark pages and clutter the lines of Kant and Hemingway with their own personal insights. They underline those words they do not know, such as “superciliousness,” but are too sloth to search for in that larger, eponymous pile of dead tree droppings. Why struggle with Webster when you can have the whole of the internet at your fingertips? How absurd!

            The E-Readers value such things as cleanliness and facts. They obsessively wipe the grimy finger-paint of life left over on their screens to better see the pure white pages glinting at them behind the glass enclosure. They google “theme of lord of the flies” just to be sure they read Golding well enough. The E-Readers adore the sheen of the screen, the unflinching facts wikipedia provides them on the author’s illicit affairs, the clean feeling of reaching 100% completion of their intangible book. They adore when a passerby comments on the fabulous technology enveloped in their e-reader. They cringe monthly when a new and improved specimen is released, sending their beloved model of e-reader into the abyss of antiquity. How upsetting.

            The Tree-Readers value different things. They value the glimmers of inspiration found in the phrases, the raw emotions leaking from the print, the warm grainy feel of a page turned. They don’t mind so much when someone comments on the state of disrepair their book lies in; instead they laugh and say blabber something about “well-loved” before returning to the seas of imagination they were sailing moments before. The Tree-Readers value insight and ask others what they thought of that part when the main guy said that one thing but they really meant the other and you know? They discuss and discourse and understand their book in some misshapen form, rather than a straight line with SparkNotes attached at the end. How illogical!

            The Tree-Readers and the E-Readers balance each other. The Tree-Readers are an endangered species, loping about, unaware that they are in danger. The E-Readers come to the rescue with shiny new things, lab-proven proven to help the situation. The two meet, attempt to change the other, and then part ways, sure that their opposite will adjust their ways so as to adapt to the future. They both earn their merits and are awarded their medals for valour extraordinaire.

Between the two groups, however, there is no reconciliation. They silently grapple in a battle of the mind, each intent upon victory, neither sure what victory entails.

            With the world becoming so confrontational, I have decided to carry with me at all times both an e-reader and a paper book in order to eschew obfuscation as to my stance on the aforementioned issue. How clever!

Victory versus Defeat (guest post by Nick Prather)

Victory vs. Defeat

It is inevitable that in every competition, there will be a winner and a loser. If there is not a winner and a loser, you are probably not in a competition. 

If you have ever stood on a sideline at the end of a game, you know that there is a monumental difference between the two teams.

The first thing that you may notice is the difference in the two teams’ body language.

The winning team usually has their arms raised, much like Usain Bolt after winning a race or Tom Brady after winning the super bowl.

Also, you may notice that the winners have smiles on their faces, love and affection for their teammates, and a sense of pride.

If you were to look on the losing side, you would see a completely different story. Negative body language and negative facial expressions can be seen with ease. 

The losing teams’ players usually have their heads down, a defeated look on their eyes, and a dropped jaw in disbelief.          

 These images are prime examples of the negative body language that can be seen on the losing

sidelines. When comparing the two images with Brady, it is clear which side he is on in both situations. The image on the right depicts two Baltimore Raven players with a shocked look on their face.

The immediate differences between winners and losers are clear. But if the stakes are higher than a super bowl, like let’s say, war, the winner can change the course of history.

Major victories in the United States’ history that immediately come to mind are the revolution and the civil war.

Think about what could have happened if the colonists had not won the Revolutionary War. Would there be a United States? Would all Americans be British?

The Civil War resulted in the same kind of historical impact. Had the north not won, would slavery still be legal? Would there still be a Confederate States of America?

The point is that winning or losing can alter the way we live and life as we know it.

The same effect can be seen on a smaller scale. For example, Joe Flacco recently took his team to the Super Bowl and won. This was the final year on his contract, meaning that he would need to sign a new contract. He and the Ravens organization agreed to a six year, $120 million contract. That means he will receive $20 million a year (a gigantic step up from his $6.76 million rookie contract). The idea is that winning the super bowl suddenly made Joe Flacco worth almost $14 million more than before he was a super bowl champ.

Although victory and defeat can be so different, either result can have a strange effect on people. I will explain myself through two perfect examples.

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. The coaches told him that he was too short, and that he was not good enough to play. Despite this setback, Jordan decided to prove the coaches wrong. He went on to be drafted in the NBA. He was drafted in 1984. He didn’t get his first taste of sweet, sweet victory until 1991. He led the Chicago Bulls to an NBA championship. I would like to believe that he loved the feeling of winning so much that he was determined never to feel the pain of defeat. The next two seasons the Bulls won NBA championships. Then, after a try at baseball, Jordan returned to the NBA and led his team to three more championships in the 96’, 97’, and 98’ seasons.

The moral of the story is that after Michael Jordan had lost (being cut from his high school team); he fought hard to be the best. He went on to win a total of six championships, and never lost in the NBA finals.

The other example is LeBron James. Drafted in 2003, James had little success in Cleveland. He led his team to the NBA finals in 2007, but came up short. After several disappointing team performances, James decided to “take his talents to South Beach.” He would team up with another one of the NBA’s all-stars Dwayne Wade. In 2011, the two all-stars led their team to the finals. LeBron once more felt the anguish of losing in the championship series. Finally, in 2012, The Heat, led by LeBron, won an NBA title. So after many heart wrenching defeats, James felt the pure elation that came along with winning.

 Seen here after victory was in sight, LeBron James celebrates on the sidelines of the 2012 NBA finals.

 The differences between victory and defeat are apparent: the body language, the facial expressions, and the historical effect. But both victory and defeat can breed motivation to improve, and ultimately become victorious.

UK vs. US

is there really a compettion? Is the US even in the race? the answer: NO!

many a day i sit in my terrible highschool class rooms counting the seconds of boredom i have left in a class that is teaching me absolutly nothing.
Meanwhile........
there is a girl living in london or whatever who is the same age as me, probly has the same intrests and wants to do the same things as me.

the only difference is that shes going to have the neccesary tools to do what she wants while in america i am stuck doing what adults think is best. im not saying that adults dont have there fair share of experiances that could contribute to aiding me in my future but theres adifference between helping me and telling me.

 The biggest problem with america is that we are over parented, over taught, and overcoached.

we dont get any time as the next generation to decide what we want to do, its already decided for us. sure we can choose which college to go to, but do we really even get achoice of if we even want to go to college? Once again the answer is: NO. we have to go to college if we want to be sucessful. we have to work out or play sports. we have to be perfect or we are told that we are going to fail. what kind of encouremnet is that? except in rare occasions, we are threatened in to our decisions and we dont even realize it.

Meanwhile in london this other girl can pick which classes she wants to take based on what she actually likes there are no requirements to take physics or chemesrty or gym. she takes what she wants. also she has more freedom. if she doesnt want to do a sport because shes bad, she doesnt have to work her but off to get better, instead shes told find somthing youre good at. if shes unsure if she wants to go to "university" as they call it she gets a gap year.

a gap year is one entire year that every student gets after they graduate highschool. a year to decide. a year to be stupid. a year to travel. a year to do absolutly nothing, and inlike in america because every student does it she wont be behind the race to suceed in college or go when every one is younger than her. sound nice?
 Now, im not saying that you cant suceed in america, you can, its just faster paced and it doesnt really give you a chance to stop and enjoy your youth because you lost it some night when you were up til three in the morning trying to finish a assignement that cant be late if you want agood grade, which you do because if you dont, thats going to lower your overall grade, and then your GPA, and then lower the money you get from college. its a vicous world we live in that doesnt offer slip ups so were are taught "dont slip."

Also in England the drinking age is 18. Nuff said.

in england your treated like an adult when you really are an adult.

doesnt anyone else find it wrong that at 18 you can vote but cant have a sip of youre mom's wine in a restraunt. SO WRONG. its like hey congradulations youre offically an adult! you can vote! but if you inhale a drop of your MOM'S maragrita your in trouble, make good choices!

also in England they dont give you a pill for every ailment you have.
in merica its..
Got heartburn? take a pill
depressed? take a pill
to happy? take a pill
to mad? take a pill
to unemotional? take a pill
cant focus? take a pill
cant not focus? take a pill

i digress...

did you wonder why we have so much illness? its cause we take to much pills in gest the wrong things and are way to worried about germs.

England does have illness and alot of the same things, but we americans say go big or go home.
WE HAVE THE MOST ILLNESSS. WE AHVE THE FATTEST PEOPLE. WE HAVE THE MOST HEAVILY MEDICATED PEOPLE! WE. ARE. NUMBER. ONE........but in all of the wrong chaergories.

ask us about our economy, our healthcare, our education. see my point?

i honestly dont understand why we faught so hard to get rid of the british. honestly we would have been better of if we stayed with them. 
im not saying americas bad, weve had our moments of sucess but in my opinion. the UK is better.

To an Inconstant One

This is one of my favorite poems by Sir Robert Ayton called To an Inconstant One.

I loved thee once; I'll love no more--
Thine be the grief as is the blame;
Thou art not what thou wast before,
What reason I should be the same?
He that can love unloved again,
Hath better store of love than brain:
God send me love my debts to pay,
While unthrifts fool their love away!

Nothing could have my love o'erthrown
If thou hadst still continued mine;
Yea, if thou hadst remain'd thy own,
I might perchance have yet been thine.
But thou thy freedom didst recall
That it thou might elsewhere enthral:
And then how could I but disdain
A captive's captive to remain?

When new desires had conquer'd thee
And changed the object of thy will,
It had been lethargy in me,
Not constancy, to love thee still.
Yea, it had been a sin to go
And prostitute affection so:
Since we are taught no prayers to say
To such as must to others pray.

Yet do thou glory in thy choice--
Thy choice of his good fortune boast;
I'll neither grieve nor yet rejoice
To see him gain what I have lost:
The height of my disdain shall be
To laugh at him, to blush for thee;
To love thee still, but go no more
A-begging at a beggar's door.

Keep Calm and Write On

Careers in Writing

Most students despise writing in High School. I'd like to let you in on a little secret however...

THAT'S NOT WRITING!!!

Now, it is writing in the fact that you are typing words. Yes. But it's not really writing.

Writing should always come from the heart. Writing a bland research paper on a couple poems or a summer reading book does not count. Not even close.

Real writing, expressive writing, should be written because you enjoy writing it.

Writing comes in many different forms. **Spoiler Alert** Writing is more than just books and English papers.

 Blogging, for instance is a sort of online journal. Catharsis in writing form. Many people find it very enjoyable to have a blog and write about their everyday life, attracting fans and followers.

Another great writing opportunity is a screenwriter. Ever thought your everyday daydreams and fantasized comebacks could make you money? Believe it or not, your favorite tv shows and sitcoms are made not by the actors, but by writers. It is writing and the English language that has you buckling over with laughter or sobbing with emotion.

Bottom line, writing doesn't always have to be painstaking. Real writing can be a fun and healthy way to relieve stress. Also, not procrastinating does help in making it seem more enjoyable.

I challenge you to take twenty minutes, thats 1/1440th of your day, and try a little bit of creative writing. See how you like it.

Write On my fellow students, Keep Calm and Write On

Procrastination

Procrastination is not merely a choice, it is a condition. As I pondered many topics to blog about, nothing came to mind until now, at 11:50, because I am a procrastinator. Being a procrastinator means you cannot simply do an assignment before it is due, there is not enough drive in your mind to do it. That pressure to get it done is what supplies that drive to do well; without it, the task simply cannot be accomplished. If you are not sure if you have the condition of procrastination, here are a few common symptoms: struggling to get tasks done days or hours before they are due, waiting until math class the bell before to do your science homework, starting your homework at night and not being able to focus so it's done in the morning before school. If this has been you in many situations, you probably understand what I am talking about. Another prime example of procrastination is me, right now, for instance. I could have gotten this done in class today, or at 7 when i got home, but eh, I took a nap. Then, I ate some cheesecake while still wondering what to blog about. After eating, I took a hot shower. Finally I realized what I was doing and I was of course procrastinating. Procrastinating is not necessarily a bad thing, some people can only work hard under pressure. It is understood that others feel pressure with the thought that something is due in the future and they feel the need to get it done as soon as possible, but they just merely have a different mindset and different needs for working conditions. This is when I am comforable completing tasks as when any other procrastinator would be comfortable, at midnight the night the assignment is due. Again, it is not a choice for procrastinators to complete tasks at the last second, it is necessary.

Fallen

Through the fog He strode,
Covered in ash
and the cloak of a rose
with blissful innocence
And ignorance,
Incomparable to even God's thoughtless grace.

Confidence,
and Happiness
became His senses,
His soul,
His being,
as He floated towards His unheeded angel on the porch of a farm house.
He stares
as His love,
His life,
Was crying, holding what was the helmet of a protector,
Awaiting His return home.

But,
Grief
and Reality
soon enveloped Him.
 And as hollow tears hit the earth beneath Him,
He knew
that He had Fallen
For His love.
For His life.
He smiled in sadness
because he knew
that it was worth it.
 
This is a tribute to all the fallen soldiers that have given their lives for their families, homes, and country.

A Diva Muffin by Any Other Name

What's in a name? Well, everything. It's our identity from the moment we are born. Some names are planned far in advance and sort of destined, while other names are improvised for whatever reason ("Oh, that's not a girl!"). The point is that our names remain with us all our lives and, even in the most indirect manner, determine who we are. Some names just don't fit a person, so (s)he may go by his/her middle name instead. And sometimes, albeit rarely, a name chosen for a child is so extremely odd and the spelling of said name is so unfathomably uncommon that it may never be pronounced or spelled correctly by anyone, not even the child's own relatives. I've heard that this can happen, but I cannot imagine the repercussions this could have on such a poor soul.

But I digress. Thought should always be given when deciding on a name for a child. It's not ideal to live with a "creative" name, and identity crises are certainly not cool.

For fun, I've compiled a list of odd, but real celebrity baby names, courtesy of Infoplease.com:

• Banjo Patrick
• Moxie CrimeFighter
• Diva Muffin
• Moon Unit
• Apple
• Audio Science
• Spec Wildhorse

Sure, Moxie CrimeFighter may grow up to be a well-adjusted, productive member of society, but there's always the off chance of a mental breakdown. It's also best to avoid naming your child after his father when you're not sure who his father is. (No, that actually happens. I saw it on Maury.)

I'd like to end this with a pun, but I can't think of one. That's all I got.

It'll all be over soon

High school is extremely stressful for some students. Every year, when we are all caught up in tests, quizzes, and homework, our english teachers throw us this whole new assignment that takes it to a whole new level however. The research paper. The two words no one ever wants to hear. They're intricate, specific, and time consuming, and make everyone's lives so much harder.

There are things that can be done to help relieve the stress though. Teachers have numerous worksheets with helpful information, as well as links and afterschool help. The papers don't need to be life or death anymore. The link included here contains helpful tips for students taking on the reseach challenge, and there are also links on the school website. So don't stress anymore. Take your time, follow the links, and breathe easy. It'll all be over soon.




http://www.brighthubeducation.com/high-school-english-lessons/32672-teaching-students-how-to-write-a-research-paper/

http://share.milfordschools.org/secondary.htm

Galenet:
PASSWORD- milf28230

Snow Day

      There is nothing quite like hearing the words "snow day". These two words can bring a tidal wave of happiness and relief to students. The bliss of waking up whenever one pleases on a day that isn't Saturday or Sunday is one of the best ways to start a day. Now, in my personal opinion, if you aren't out playing in the snow or sledding you aren't spending your snow day right. Since snow days seem to be so rare in Milford, Ohio, taking advantage of the ground being completely covered in snow is a must. Luckily there are several good sledding locations around Milford and the chances of seeing other students enjoying their day off is extremely high. After spending hours outside and bearing with the stinging cold against bare skin of one's face, the warmth of blankets and hot chocolate is the perfect remedy to get the blood flowing again. Just add a good movie and a few friends can complete the whole day.

Benjamin Dobrowolski: The Pyramid of Greatness

Integrity

Responsibility

Self-Reliance

Honor

Courage

Honesty

Risk

Failure

Speck Theory

Natural Rights

Expectations

Status Quo

Enemies

Friends

Family

America

Confidence

Time

Rest

Money

Goals

Principles

Death/Taxes

Leadership

Exercise

Direct

Opinions

Government

Persistence

Welfare Avoidance

Sweat

Throughness

Handshakes

Baseball

Protein

Dreams

Metaphor

Education

India

Libertarianism

Art

Social Networking

Negotiation

Pizza

Effort

Manual Labor

Honest Toil

Innovation

Change

Integrity- Without it, you are worth nothing.

Responsibility- The Buck Stops Here.

Self-Reliance- Be a man, work hard, and stand on your own two feet.

Honor- If you need it defined, you don't have it.

Courage- Foundation of living life how it should.

Honesty- When in doubt, be frank.

Risk- Embrace it or live life with regret.

Failure- Don't be content with it, overcome it.

Speck Theory- You are not important in the scale of life.

Natural Rights- Life, liberty, property.

Expectations- Worry only about your own.

Status Quo- Rise above it or be mediocre.

Enemies- Energy takers. Avoid them.

Friends- People who have had their loyalty to you tested. 1-3 is sufficent.

Family- The unit of one's life.

America- The exception, not the rule in history.

Confidence- You just gotta believe.

Time- Be efficent.

Rest- Work hard, play hard, sleep…well.

Money- Be a tightwad. It helps in the long run.

Goals- Walk the Walk. Set goals and achieve them.

Principles- State them, act upon them.

Death/Taxes- The only things you are owed.

Leadership- Only say something if necessary; lead by example.

Exercise- Go out of doors. Get the blood flowing.

Direct- Sometimes it doesn't pay to be diplomatic.

Opinions- I'm entitled to one. So are you.

Government- Should be limited.

Persistance- Stop at nothing and Press On

Welfare Aviodance- Enough Said.

Sweat- Champions love to.

Throughness- It's all about the details.

Handshakes- Firm. No dead fish.

Baseball- America's Pastime.

Protein- Meat should suffice.

Dreams- What makes life tolerable.

Metaphor- Complicated way of saying a simple thing. Avoid them.

Education- Get one; does nothing to improve one's character.

India- People here will do your job with more education for a 1/4 of the price. Remember that.

Libertarianism- Self-Reliance + Liberty

Art- Unecessary

Social Networking- Nobody cares what you think. Stop wasting your time.

Negotiation- Speak softly and carry a big stick.

Pizza- Brings 'the people' together

Effort- To be a winner, all you have to give is all you have.

Manual Labor- Bake in the sun, get dirty, and work hard. There's something liberating about it.

Honest Toil- Rather fail through honest means than succeed through backhanded, corrupt ways.

Innovation- You can do better, we as a people can do better.

Change- Ride the wave of change, or get swept up in it. Only change for the better. The following is a guide to live your life. -Benjamin Dobrowolski