Four tires, three mirrors, two pedals, one wheel…and a small red sticker that screams to the world “I’m an inexperienced driver!”
A law recently passed in New Jersey will require teenage drivers under 21 to buy a $4, red decal to put on their license plate by May 1, and an initial fine of $100 will be given to any youth seen without one.
The goal is to allow police to be able to easily find young drivers who are breaking restrictions on their junior license or learner’s permit.
“Things like a curfew, making sure they’re not having too many passengers in the car, they’re complying with the ban on hand held and hands free cell phones and so forth,” said Pam Fischer, director of New Jersey’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety according to KYW1060 news radio.
Will Pennsylvania be next to require teen drivers to have red decal 'identifiers'? Photo from nj.com
But how would students at Penn Manor feel if a similar law came to Pennsylvania?
“It wouldn’t be bad because then the people who tailgate you wouldn’t,” said Kristina Simon.
“I wouldn’t take offense to it. It’s only temporary,” said James Servansky.
“I personally don’t like it because people could make assumptions about your driving skills,” said Amy Feeser.
“On the other hand, it isn’t a bad idea in the sense that you’re making other drivers aware you are new to the road, so they should be wary,” said Feeser.
According to car-accidents.com, 5,000 teens ages 16 to 20 die each year because of car accidents and 400,000 from ages 16-20 will be seriously injured.
Will this law help save lives?
“Identifiers save lives because teens are more likely to drive safely and stay compliant with the law if they know their cars are easily identified,” said New Jersey State Attorney General Paula Dow, according to northjersey.com.
As driving laws such as this continue to get firmer on youth drivers, officials believe it’s worth it.
Some critics say that after seeing, ‘The Last Song”, the title is exactly what they hope from Miley Cyrus.
Nicholas Spark’s, ‘The Last Song’ is a story about a rebellious teenage girl, Ronnie, (Miley Cyrus) who returns to her Dad’s house in the summer, the man whom she hasn’t talked to since her parent’s divorce. While there, Ronnie experiences romance, betrayal and tragedy.
Read on for a male and female perspective of the movie.
Lindsey Ostrum (LO): The plot of the movie was good for a ‘chick-flick’ kind of movie, but the actors they chose didn’t fit the characters.
Mike Nitroy (MN): It wasn’t so much the actors, but the screenplay. The movie seemed to spend too much time on Ronnie and her boyfriend then what the movie should really be about, reconnecting with her and her father.
The Last Song doesn't carry a tune with either gender. Photo from wikipedia.com
LO: The fact that Cyrus was playing a rebellious character didn’t fit either. She’s too known as a preteen comedy actress to take on a role that different. Her acting ability isn’t so good that she knows how to portray different roles.
MN: Just having Cyrus in the movie probably drove as many people away as it brought in. She’s more believable in the second half of the movie when she takes the role of the caring daughter.
LO: The chemistry between Cyrus and her on screen boyfriend, Will (Liam Hemsworth), was believable because they are dating in real life. It just wasn’t the chemistry that the two characters in the story should have. The parts they were trying to play seemed too different than their actual personalities.
MN: The chemistry was fine for a clichéd Nicholas Sparks movie that when it comes down to it, only had one unexpected event.
LO: It was really sad though. It brought out emotion and it wasn’t a bland ‘all about love’, romance movie.
MN: The fact that about two-thirds of the theater audience was sniffing through the movie confirms the sadness. There weren’t any tears from these eyes though. The best part of the movie was the soundtrack that ranged through multiple genres.
LO: The idea of the story was overall well done.
MN: It was medium-rare.
LO: They just picked two wrong actors for two good parts.
MN: Waiting to rent it on DVD is probably better than sitting in a cold theater around 30 people without tissues.
You’ve heard of them, you see commercials about them, and if you’re a button mashing monster you know exactly what I’m talking about: video games.
Many students at Penn Manor play video games, as do students all over the globe; but what are the most played and most fun-tastic games according to the students at Penn Manor?
In a recent survey given out to 122 students during A, B and C lunch the number one game is “Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2,”with 48.4% of the votes! Following Modern Warfare 2 is Halo 3, which had 27.9% of the votes, and Madden 10 with 10.6% of the student body votes.
However, these are only the top three games others that were mentioned during the survey. Other games such as Grand Theft Auto 4, Call of Duty 4, Gears of war 2, Fallout 3, World of Warcraft, Left for Dead 2, Oblivion and Bioshock 2 were also included in the student survey.
“Graphics and realism is (sic) what makes Modern Warfare 2 so great,” said junior Zach Ackerman.
Mw2 and Madden 10 are in the top 3 most favorable games in Penn Manor. Photo by Gabby Myers
Modern Warfare 2 (Mw2) is a first-person shooter game, meaning that it’s played as if the player is actually in the game. Mw2 is the sequel to Call of Duty 4 (COD4). The plot is set in the year 2012, 5 years after the ending of COD4, which “took place” in 2007.
Some students disagreed with Ackerman and preferred Halo 3 over Modern Warfare 2.
“I think it’s (Halo 3) better because the game is more balanced,” said Sophomore Logan White. “I only play Modern Warfare 2 because my friends play it, and yeah that’s mostly it.”
Halo 3 is also a first person shooter game. It’s the sequel to Halo 2. The events in Halo 3 take place 2 weeks after the events in Halo 2, on the date of November 17, 2552.The premise of the game is humans vs. the Covenant, an alien force terrorizing the human population.
“The things that were wrong in Modern Warfare 2 are better in Halo 3,” said Matt Nauman.
Madden 10 is a football game that originally came from Austalia but was released into the US on August 14, 2009.
” There’s so much detail put into the players and it really captures that art of the game, overall it’s pretty realistic,” said Senior Ralph Feltman.
Russian, Japanese, and Chinese are residing in Penn Manor classrooms, not in actual students but in their book bags.
Penn Manor hosts many students who are engaged in dual enrollment language courses with various colleges in Pennsylvania, Leigh University and Seton Hill, for example.
These language courses consist of Chinese I and II, Japanese I and II, Russian I and IV, and Arabic. A Hindi class will begin in the fall of the 2011 school year.
“It is like learning two languages because you have to learn the pronunciation and the character that goes with it,” said Logan White, a Chinese II student.
Since the college professors that teach these classes can’t make their way to Penn Manor everyday, the students take the class on a webcam where they can interact with other students and their professor.
Students use language textbooks as they study online.They can also use the laptops as an instant messaging system so they can practice the different letters or characters that apply to the language they are being taught. It is like a miniature whiteboard.Learning these foreign languages is not simple. In these classes, the students have to learn to speak, write, and read the language which could be a reason as to why it is so difficult.
“It is very hard, one of the hardest things I’ve seen students do,” said Sallie Bookman, facilitator of high school gifted and monitor of the program.
Chinese, Japanese and Arabic use characters (figures that represent words) that are unrecognizable to English speaking individuals. Students believe this is why it is so hard to learn these languages.
“Trying to differentiate all the characters is really difficult,” said Jacob Schick, a Chinese I student.
Eighteen students are currently involved in these language programs far greater numbers than in the past.
The program is growing but why is it? What makes students want to take these ridiculously hard college classes?
“Students take these classes because sometimes their families are of the same ethnicity as the language they take,” said Bookman. “Also it looks great on a college application.”
Last week, Principal Phillip Gale decided students won’t have to make up snow days this year, returning to us our days off.
April fools!
Watch your backs Penn Manor, April Fools Day is approaching and you never know who’s going to get you.
“Last year someone put a lunch tray in my back pack and I didn’t even realize it until I got home,” said sophomore Junior Suarez. “I still I have it too. That’s a souvenir right there.”
Junior Emmy Hess said “In sixth grade my teacher put a fake rat in my pencil box. I freaked.”
But not all people go all out on their jokes.
“I tell my kids that some project’s due that day but nothing big. They wouldn’t fall for it.” said English teacher Holly Astheimer.
Sophomore Brendan Kincade said “The only thing that’s happened is my mom told me I had off school.”
Kristina Simon talks abut her feelings for April Fools Day Photo by Lindsey Ostrum
“[April Fools Day is] kind of stupid and kind of fun,” said Kristina Simon. “You get to pick on people but its a pointless holiday ’cause it doesn’t mean anything.”
So if it really is pointless, why did the holiday start?
In the 1500s the calendar changed. Those who forgot to change their calendars and celebrated New Years on April first, which was the New Year in the previous calendar, were called April Fools.
This holiday has been around for a long time, but people still aren’t remembering it.
“I didn’t even know April was that close,” said Amber Schwebel. “But I guess I could try to get someone.”
“I completely forgot about it,” said Suarez, “but I so will [trick someone] now that I know.”
So, whether you plan on tricking somebody or not, be on your guard Thursday April first.
Ten years of bowling with the waxed lanes and the sounds of the pins falling, has finally paid off.
Penn Manor bowler Coty Johnson is off to nationals to compete against the best of the best from across the United States. Fifty bowlers (one from each state) will compete in Indianapolis.
The road last traveled was not an easy feat, to say the least, for Johnson.
Johnson has been bowling since second grade and hasn’t looked back since.
“It was just for the fun of it,” said Johnson, “and then it got competitive.”
In order to compete at states you have to be at least twelfth seed or better. Johnson barely pulled off being in the tournament in the twelfth spot.
“It was a shock, I was emotional. I was packed and ready to leave,” said Johnson.
State Bowling Champion Coty Johnson Photo by Cody Erb
In the first round of states, Johnson beat the fifth seed. From there, he beat the fourth, third and second seed in the competition.
In the final round of the tournament, Johnson had to face an already two-time state champion. The odds were stacked against him but there was nothing to do from there but bowl the best he could and hope it would all pay off.
It did.
The final score of the game was Johnson-222 to the first seed’s score, Antonio Palangio, of 165.
“It’s a thrill, really exciting to be the best in Pennsylvania.” said Johnson
Now with a state championship under his belt, along with four 300(perfect) games, a 832-3 game-high series and more than 30 trophies, Johnson is on his walk to fame.
Johnson plans to continue to bowl in college for West Chester University. He earned a $5200 scholarship from the PIAA youth bowling.
“I plan to go to West Chester University and bowl for them while trying to get a degree in sports med,” said Johnson.
Penn Manor’s bowling team captain is now on his way to nationals to bring back a new title.
Every student does it. Crazy Taxi. Curveball. Bubble Shooter.
It’s a game of cat and mouse. Can kids get away with playing games secretly on their computer in class while they are supposed to be doing school work? Can teachers outsmart their crafty pupils and force them off these sites?
Every day is the same battle.
Kate Harrold looks out for a teacher as she plays the Helicopter game.
With the luxury of using a computer in some classes, right away, teachers attempt at giving some sort of intimidating caution with this rare school-day privilege.
“I better not catch you on any game sites,” or, “Make sure you are doing your work!”
A lot of students silently scoff at these typical warnings and jump on their favorite, accessible gaming site as soon as their computer screens are out of the peripheral vision of their instructor.
Sam McCreary, a junior at Penn Manor, says, “I pull up two tabs with one tab having the site I’m supposed to be on, and the other having the game site. When my teacher comes by my computer, I just click out of the game tab.”
This double tab strategy seems to be used by many, but not stealthily enough to fool most teachers.
Social studies teacher, Lara Paparo says, “I’ll ask if I can see something quick [when kids have two tabs up on their computer], and I’ll click on their game site tab and bust them just like that.”
“It’s definitely a cat and mouse game,” says English teacher, Melissa Frerichs. “Kids will minimize their game site quickly when you approach their [computer] screen, and pull it back up when you walk away.”
Whether it’s Gold Miner, Helicopter, Tetris, or Penn Manor’s classic, Bubble Shooter, kids love the mischievous thrill of playing these hard-to-find games on Penn Manor’s limited web access that they wouldn’t normally play at home during their leisure time.
Bubble shooter may be the most popular "underground" game for Penn Manor students who are blocked from most game sites at school.
“It’s an accomplished feeling when you click out of your game when the teacher walks by you and you don’t get caught,” confessed Penn Manor senior Steven Resch.
Because the web access is so restricted, kids go as far as bringing in flash drives that have their favorite games on it.
Sophomore, Joey Jackson, who was a user of this “beat the system” strategy says, “It’s more fun [to play games] because it’s better than what you’re actually supposed to be doing.”
Jackson’s flash drive unfortunately became a victim of his washing machine, halting this subversive arcading tactic.
Senior, Aaron Frederick, who has had his fair share of times getting caught playing games by teachers says, “I usually just get on ESPN Arcade until I find another site that hasn’t been blocked yet.”
Just recently, www.grygry2.com (kids – don’t bother trying) which had arguably been Penn Manor’s default arcade sanctuary, was blocked.
Uproar in Penn Manor’s underground world of online gaming began when this site went down.
Senior, Kenneth Tomaszefski says, “Grygry2 was the sun that started my morning in my class.” Tomaszefski was an active user of grygry2 along with many of his friends.
“When grygry2 went down, my heart went down with it,” says Tomaszefski.
Head of technology in the district, Charlie Reisinger was tracked down during this secret time of despair for many of Penn Manor’s gamers.
Reisinger ended the popular notion of there being some guy sitting behind a desk watching every site students visit and stopping any distracting or inappropriate sites from being viewed.
“A computer called the 8E6 is a sort of filter that looks [at everything that flows through the districts online web], and compares each site to the districts block list,” says Reisinger. “The computer gets smarter with every site that it blocks and recognizes any future sites that are similar with prior blocked sites,” says Reisinger.
Teachers and students are doubtful the 8E6 will win this battle of man versus machine, it won’t stop kids from trying to quench their thirst for danger and having fun doing it.
Welcome to another edition of PM Nation. This week we will not only have our weekly debate column, but also for the first time PM Nation will be coming to you from PMTV studios in video. This column’s topic will talk about the problems with professional sports.
PM Nation
Cody Straub: People including me love professional sports because of the competition between the best athletes on the playing field. What happens off the field is the problem with professional sports. The amount of money handed out to the players is ridiculous. The passion in professional sports is not anywhere near the passion in college sports because of one reason, money.
Taylor Groff: There are too many things nowadays wrong about professional sports. The thing that angers me the most is how deceiving these athletes are. There are too many kids in the world seeing elite athletes making great plays on the field and terrible decisions off the field. They are portrayed as the most heroic people in the world at times, but have bad judgment and disappoint many.
Taylor Groff Co-editor for PM Nation
CS: I agree it is disappointing to see these pro athletes make bad decisions, but overpaying the players hurts us more. Ticket prices have risen over the years to go watch a ball game because the teams have to pay their players millions of dollars.
TG: I agree a lot of players are playing for money and not the love of the games. You know what would really make me happy next year in the NBA?
CS: What?
TG: With Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade, I would like them to take pay cuts to play for teams with NBA final potential, instead of playing for a terrible team and making more money.
CS: I have an idea that would bring passion back to professional sports. Instead of guaranteeing players millions of dollars when they sign a contract, make the contract completely performance-based. The only way players should make a lot of money is if they perform on the field, and stay out of trouble off the field. This would bring back the passion in the college games back to professional games.
Cody Straub Co-Editor of PM Nation
TG: I love it.
CS: WOW! First thing we have ever agreed on. I guess there is a first time for everything.
TG: Tune in later this week for our first PM Nation video which will focus on the Final Four and the QB crisis in Philadelphia.
What do you fear most? Is it dying? Is it heights? Well, according to faceyourfearstoday.com, the number one fear is snakes and surprisingly, public speaking comes in close at number 2.
Penn Manor’s very own Jennifer Drumm wouldn’t know anything about that, though. She placed first in Extemporaneous Public Speaking, which is a competition that consists of 11 participants from all over the region.
Jennifer Drumm won first place in Extemporaneous Public Speaking. Photo By Alex Flurry.
Contestants are given half an hour to prepare a speech about one of three topics pulled from a hat. The speech is timed and must be 4-6 minutes long. After presenting it to the committee, the judges ask questions relating to the topic.
Drumm’s topic was how H1N1, or the swine flu, affected the animal population.
Drumm couldn’t believe that the fear of public speaking topped the fear of death.
“When I was a freshman I was terrified [of public speaking],” Drumm said, “I’d never raise my hand in class, but now I love it.”
It may seem like Drumm is pretty fearless, but it turns out that she has one weakness.
“Snakes. I don’t like snakes at all.”
Amber Williams placed third in senior prepared public speaking, while Margaret Drumm and Katrina Reff placed fourth and fifth place respectively. They will both move onto the regional competition.
