Facts about Mars

Article by Samantha Hicks

5/12/16

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and last of the terrestrial planets. Like the rest of the planets in the solar system, Mars is named after a mythological figure - the Roman god of war. In addition to its official name, Mars is sometimes called the Red Planet because of the brownish-red color of its surface. Mars is the second smallest planet in the solar system behind Mercury. Mars has yet to have astronauts land on it.

Adoption

Article by Brandon Comer

4/14/16

When you are adopted, your adopted family is your real family. In the United States, 1.8 million kids are adopted. That’s 2% of the kids in the United States. Your adopted family is also not your real family, and most adopted children would like to meet their real family. The fear of abandonment can mess a kid up, and this issue is more common than you might think.

The Delayed Entry for the Marine Corp

Article by Josh Fowler and KiAirah Sibley

3/18/16

 The delayed entry program is where seniors in high school can enlist in the marines their senior year and can be considered a poolee. While you’re in this program, you have to attend Saturday physical training. On the 3rd Saturday out of every month all the poolees have to meet at the main recruiting office for a pool function. During almost every pool function, the poolees have to run an IST (initial strength test). A perfect IST is 3 miles in 18 minutes or less, 100 crunches in 2 minutes, and 20 pull ups.

MEPS

Article by Josh Fowler and KiAirah Sibley

3/9/16

When enlisting into the marines, to swear in you go to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). You arrive at MEPS anywhere between 6:30 am to 7 am. While you are lined up in single file line at the front desk, they scan everyone’s fingers. Every time you enter a different area of the building you have to scan yourself in, and every time you leave the area you have to scan yourself out. After the scanning of your finger, you go and talk to whichever military branch you are going into. Then you go and take your ASVAB. Once you do that they send you to medical and then to do your pull ups and crunches. Then you basically just finish up paper work. Then you will go and swear in after all the paper work is finished.

MEPS

Article by Ashton Shaw

3/3/16

This past week I went to MEPS. MEPS stands for Military Entrance Processing Station. These guys are jerks. First, you go through a full body physical. It’s pretty awkward. Then you have a sight and hearing test. They then draw blood to test you for HIV. After that you are interrogated by the liaisons of your branch. These guys interrogated me for 2 and a half hours, trying to get me admit to stuff I didn’t do. They tell you they’re going to find out everything about you which they kind of can’t do. When they are done interrogating you, they send you back for finger prints for a federal background check and then you swear in.

ASMR

Article by Brian Thomason

2/7/16

Autonomous sensory meridian response or ASMR for short is a video that is commonly used for relaxation. ASMRs usually have acoustic triggers and someone whispering to induce the feeling of what most people say is an electrical current passing over your body. These feelings are also caused by listening to a repetitive sound, watching someone do a mundane task, or being given attention by someone. Most people use ASMR videos to relax or go to sleep at night, and the number of people that listen to the videos are growing since its introduction in 2007. There are those who also use ASMR as a meditation technique and to help keep their minds healthy.

CTE Brain Disease

Article by Brandon Comer

2/7/16

CTE or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease that occurs in people who suffer many blows to the brain. This also includes sub-concussive hits that don’t cause immediate damage or symptoms. This disease is found in many athletic groups such as football players, soccer players, and even in former boxers. The symptoms of CTE are dementia, memory loss, aggression, confusion, and also depression. This disease, in some cases, can go undetected for decades after the hit. CTE is found in 79% of all pro football players.

Groundhog Day

Article by Mckenzie Lester

2/5/16

Groundhog Day is a very important day. It lets you know if there will be a late winter, or an early spring. In Punxsutawney, there is a groundhog named Phil who comes out once a year on February 2 to see if he can see his shadow or not. If he does see his shadow, then we will have a longer winter, and if he doesn’t, we will have an early spring.

Prom

Article by Mattie Kessler and Laura Zande

1/30/16

The night that every high school girl dreams of, prom! All year, every girl plans who she wants to go with and the perfect dress. All year, dress shops advertise their sales wanting to get the most money come prom season.  Every girl wants to be the best dressed. Beauty shops rack in the money too. Guys and girls want their hair to look good. Girls get their hair, nails, and makeup done all for this one night, Prom!

German Shepherds

Article by Joshua Fowler

1/30/16

German shepherds are one of the best guard dogs you could have. These dogs are used in the military as military dogs. German shepherds have to go through tons of training before they are sent on missions. The thing about German shepherds is they are easy to teach, and they are very obedient.  German shepherds are considered medium to large dogs. Normally, the females are considered medium dogs and males are considered large, but not all males are large. Even though German shepherds are considered large dogs, they can be kept in apartments with ease. If you do keep a German shepherd as an apartment dog, you will need to take him out every day to get the daily exercise that they require. German shepherds are great dogs to have.

Going Without Sleep?

Article by Gilbert Harris and Edward Cox

1/30/16

What happens if you don’t sleep? Well we need about 8-10 hours of sleep to be refreshed. There are a lot of side effects if you don’t get enough sleep. One effect is that your skin will age faster and your body releases stress hormones which break down skin collagen. It can make your skin wrinkly or crack, and it won’t be smooth anymore. Without sleep, you will be forgetful and won’t remember much of what happens. It can also increase your risk of death by increasing your chance for cardiovascular

Sleep

Article by Gilbert Harris and Edward Cox

1/30/16

Why do we sleep?  Sleep gives our body a rest that allows it to prepare for the next day. Sleep also gives your brain a chance to sort things out. Scientists aren't exactly sure what kinds of organizing your brain does while you sleep, but they think that sleep might be the time when the brain sorts and stores information, replaces chemicals, and solves problems. Everyone loves sleep. What’s life without sleep? How would you function by never sleeping?

Phineas Gage

Article by Brandon Comer

1/30/16

Phineas Gage was an American railroad foreman in the 1800’s. Gage is remembered for living 12 years after having a large iron spike shot completely through his skull. This blow to his head damaged most of the left frontal lobe of his brain. This damage Gage suffered to his brain caused personality and behavioral changes. This case, often referred to as the “American Crowbar CASE,” inspired future psychologist to study how the brain is affected by damage.  

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Brandon Comer

1/17/16

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 and died on April 4, 1968. King was an American Baptist minister, activist, and the leader of the African American Civil rights movement. King organized and led many civil rights movements and protests. King and his followers used nonviolent civil disobedience to protest. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington.

Gummy Bears= Gainz

Article by Ashton Shaw and Ryan Lankford

1/13/16

Your body needs good carbs for fuel. As you exercise or lift weights, your body uses glycogen as a fuel source. Your body creates glycogen from glucose sugars. Glucose is a form of a “good” carbohydrate. Many sweets are filled with high fructose corn syrups, which cannot be turned into a fuel, and will only give you a short burst of energy. This short burst will end in a crash and cause you to feel sluggish and tired. Haribo Gummi Bears are one of the few sweets made with glucose. Glucose is made from wheat and corn sugars. After working out, your body needs to replenish the glycogen as soon as possible. Eating a hefty handful of these sweet treats will cause your body to refuel and recover faster. The glucose will also help spike insulin levels, which in turn promotes protein synthesis, which will help you make more gains. All in all, gummy bears are a good way to help you make all kinds of gainz.