For all the Green Day lovers out there, Broadway’s got a show for you.
Green Day’s most popular album, American Idiot, is on now Broadway. With a plot line based off of the songs on the album, the show is “invigorating, moving and thrilling” according to The New York Times.
The musical follows young Johnny as he is pressured into a life of drug addiction by the drug pusher St. Jimmy. Green Day’s very own front man, Billie Joe Armstrong, joins the cast as St. Jimmy himself.
An image from 'American Idiot.' Photo from today.msnbc.msn.com
Johnny is portrayed as a rebel more likely to love than to fight, but he can’t resist the temptation of the bad influence, St. Jimmy. As St. Jimmy leads Johnny into his life of drugs, sex, and rock ‘n’ roll, Johnny’s friends also become a focus of the show. Tunny, played by Stark Sands, joins the Army after his move with Johnny to the city, Will, played by Michael Esper, must stay home to be with his pregnant girlfriend (Jeanna de Waal), and then there is the girl Johnny has his eyes on.
Armstrong and his band Green Day wrote all of the songs for the show and Armstrong wrote the book with the director, Michael Mayer.
The show received outstanding reviews from many critics including The Toronto Star which said that “American Idiot” is “the first great musical of the 21st century.”
Rolling Stone called it “a global knockout. Blows your mind while it blows the roof off. ”
Penn Manor students, however, have mixed reviews about the musical.
Zoe Hower, a junior, thinks “it looks stupid. I don’t like musicals.”
Another student said it sounds dumb.
Some students think it’s a great idea to make the album into a musical. Trina Martin and Haleyy Smith, both sophomores, would go see it.
“I love the whole album,” said Martin.
“Green Day? I love them,” said Smith.
“American Idiot” will be at the St. James Theater, 246 West 44th Street, Manhattan with Billie Joe Armstrong performing as St. Jimmy.
Style and fashion are like a competition nowadays. Who has the newest sneakers, who wore what’s best and why she wore that shirt with those pants.
Penn Manor has a lot of different styles of fashion. There’s the skater boy look, the urban look and many more.
There are also many other subgroups such as, emo, scene, classy, goth, stoner, hicks, jocks, preppy, nerds and gleeks.
Honeysuckle pink is a new "in" color for spring 2011. Photo courtesy of Refinery29
Danielle Brooks, a junior at Penn Manor, describes her style as urban. Sometimes she can look preppy and get dressed up, but that doesn’t happen often.
“I don’t have anyone to impress.” she said.
Brooks then goes on about the style in the school and gives her honest opinion on it.
“There are some ugly, raggedy styles in this school,” she said while shaking her head.
Breezy Rivera has a similar view.
When she sees someone dressed outrageous, “Eww” sometimes comes out of her mouth.
Fashion changes up every so often. There’s always a new brand coming out or a different way to wear something.
“Doubt it. Button ups is what I do.” said Rivera.
Audriana Dalton said she started to become more interested in fashion and her appearance in the ninth grade while she lived in California.
Audriana Dalton wears an urban/classy style- fashion at Penn Manor. Photo by Iris Santana
“School in California ain’t no joke.” said Dalton.
Every season there are new “in” colors and new clothing, mainly recycled from the eighties and nineties.
Most girls are starting to bring the baggy, over the shoulder shirts back, netted, colorful stockings, nerd glasses and bold makeup.
Most people usually wear whatever is in stores and in style during that season.
The new spring colors of 2011 are, honeysuckle, coral rose, peapod, beeswax, silver peony, russet, regatta, blue curacao, lavender and silver cloud.
The top ten trends for this spring, according to Teen Vogue are:
1. Graphic patterns
2. Boat totes
3. The long skirt
4. Cool cover- ups
5. Color blocking
6. Turbans
7. Boyish flats
8. Marc by Marc Jacobs
9. White jeans
10. Punk
Fashion is everywhere, in many different forms. A lot of people use the same “in” styles of the season, some people just tend to put their own unique twist to it.
Compensating college athletes is becoming more and more popular every year. Players receive cash, gifts, etc. from schools and agents. This gets the players in major trouble with the NCAA, but what’s wrong with paying them?
Simply because it is deemed ‘immoral’ to pay athletes that are in college is the reason most of the “amateur player” rules are enacted. But why shouldn’t they be paid? College athletics is a full-time job for these students. They must attend classes like any other student, yet they must go out and compete in sports that make the university’s millions in merchandise, advertising and publicity.
These athletes do get scholarships to go to school for free or at a nice discount, but what does a scholarship do if the player doesn’t graduate? Where is the value in that? Graduation rates among football bowl subdivision (FBS) players is 69 percent while mens basketball is 66 percent. African-American athletes graduation rate is even lower at 60 percent. Which, by the way, is roughly on par with Shaquille O’Neal’s free-throw percentage.
More and more athletes are leaving school early to take a chance at playing in the pros. Maybe it’s because of the restrictions on paying athletes while they are in college.
There were 60 selected players in the NBA draft in 2010, 37 of them were underclassmen including 11 freshman. Eight of the top 15 picks in the 2010 NFL draft consisted of underclassmen. Athletes are leaving school early, realizing that the same talent they bring to a college arena can make them money faster in a pro arena. Some elect to just simply go overseas to play for a few years instead of attending college because they will be paid.
Kemba Walker, a junior at the University of Connecticut, is the star of the basketball team. His UCONN Huskies made an improbable run in the Big East tournament, winning five games in five days to win the tournament. Kemba scored 130 points (26.5 ppg) and played 180 minutes in those five days.
UCONN players did all of this while keeping up with every facet of their school work just like every other student, but they were also making tons of money for the schools and conference. The aggregate cost to attend the Big East tournament was $934, according to estimates by Forbes magazine. That’s a lot of money being brought in for the school but the players don’t get any of it, even though they were the main attraction of this tournament. Why don’t they deserve anything for all the work they do to win?
When these players do receive compensation, they must do so illegally. Boosters and agents continue to contact and pay to persuade these players to go to a certain school or sign with an agency. When these players are caught taking money from these people, they are in big trouble with the NCAA. They can be suspended for games or simply suspended from participating anymore. If they are suspended from participating, then what is keeping schools from taking their scholarships as well?
Student athletes feel the stress and pressure to make money for themselves, like any other student. Yet many are unable to hold down a job because of school and sports. So why not give these athletes some money, like an allowance, for what they do?
At the end of every month students could receive money ($1000-$2000) for what they do for the school. Or to be fair to all the student athletes, give them all $500 dollars a month. Then at the end of each month give the players more money, or a small percent of the revenue they created for the school. That way, the school gives out an equal amount, and then some for how much money the sport brings to the school.
These “allowances” would give them money for gas, food and entertainment. It would also eliminate the practices of paying college athletes that are currently deemed illegal.
Rebecca Black, only 13 years old, is now competing with Justin Beiber and other young, popular artists. On Feb 11, her music video “Friday” went viral on Youtube, taking few days for her to receive thousands of views. Now the video is up to 40 million hits and counting.
“Her voice is terrible,” said Amber Ayala.
Hope Martin watching the new Rebecca Black video "Friday". Photo by Chelsea Miller
A company called Ark Music Factory was the one who published the music video. The company announced they didn’t even auto-tune Rebecca’s voice; they believed her to be amazing as is.
“She is famous because people love to make fun of her,” Kelly Hoover said.
Black’s song “Friday” is now available for download. Her song reached 39 on the top 100 on iTunes. She even beat her crush, Justin Beiber. “Friday” has been downloaded millions of times while her Youtube video gets more then a million hits a day.
“She is not good enough, the most suckiest song ever,” said Courtney Jacobs, a Penn Manor music department student.
Good Morning American interviewed Black about her astonishing popularity. She admitted her “Beiber Fever”, and even looked at the camera stating that she would want to do a duet with him. She has also been on MTV and other popular talk shows.
Since the video was uploaded to Youtube, cyberbullying directed at Black has gotten out of hand. Some people commented the video, saying things about how horrible her voice is, that she’s worse then Bieber, how stupid she is, she needs to die and other inappropriate comments. Some people went so far as to make parodies out of “Friday,” making fun of the lyrics and Black herself. Black said she was upset about these comments and admitted to crying at first, but said she is over the attacks and just wants to forget about them.
Comments about the video "Friday". Photo by Chelsea Miller
In the past few days, an internet rumor went around about Black commiting suicide, but she is still alive and belting out her song.
“[‘Friday’] is repetitive, annoying, and lacks musical talent,” said junior Selena Hasircoglu.
Black is currently planning on a new song. On MTV’s 10 on Top, she announced that “if you don’t like ‘Friday’ then you wont like my next song.”
Some people say she is only famous because how horrible she is. Decide for yourself by clicking the link below to the official music video.
At Penn Manor High School, the students are wearing spring clothing even though it is still winter. The temperatures are ranging from a chilly 30s to a pleasant 60s. The students’ winter clothing has been put away in anticipation of the warmth.
And we’re all still waiting.
“When it’s hot out it seems cold, but when it starts to warm up in winter, it seems really warm,” said gym teacher Billie Jo Atkins.
Students are excited that the snow has at least melted, except for a last winter blast of snow on April Fools Day, and are wearing less and less clothing as it warms up.
Students wear summer clothing even before spring. Photo by Katie Breneman
“Suns out, guns out,” said one student wearing an Easter egg-blue polo with khaki shorts.
“I’m getting sick of wearing jeans and need a wardrobe change,” said senior Devin Yecker, in a flowing spring skirt.
“The warm weather makes me excited and brings spring fever,” said senior Jenna Santaniello, wearing a short red v-neck shirt.
Students and teachers at Penn Manor High School said that being outside in 45 degrees to 75 degrees in the winter in spring attire is acceptable.
“I wear shorts and t-shirts because it’s comfortable. Even if I’m cold, at least I’m comfortable,” said senior Danielle Landis wearing athletic attire.
Spring fever continues to burn through frigid temperatures at Penn Manor High School.
In our fast-paced society, time is an important variable, but when you need to know what time it is do you look at the strip of leather your wrist or do you check the mini computer in your pocket?
To call a business do you flip through the yellow pages or get online and instantly find the company’s number on their website? When making the call do use your cell phone or does your home still have a land line?
When driving in unfamiliar territory, do you pull over off to the side of the road and trace the turns you made on the wrinkled map between your seat and center console or do you program your trusty GPS to guide you to the desired location?
When doing research for your history project do you scan the library shelves or type a question into your favorite search-engine?
Technology is changing, therefore changing the way we live our daily lives: our wrists are bare, we use our ears rather than our eyes when driving and more time is spent typing than sifting through pages.
So far in our lifetime, we are witnessing the demise of the watch, the map, the phone book, the VHS and books with paper pages.
Natasha Fletcher, senior, explains that she owns a watch that she doesn’t wear.
Watch. Photo Credit qualityvintagetimepieces.com
“I have one that was my dad’s old one, but the battery doesn’t work on it,” said Fletcher. “It’s vintage. I want to wear it, but it doesn’t tell time. It’s kind of pointless.”
She explained that she thinks people wear them nowadays for fashion rather than for their actual purpose.
“Recently I’ve seen a lot of girls wearing them, like the flashy, big ones,” said Fletcher. “Everyone looks at the digital clocks. I think its fashion.”
Fletcher also added that she would use her cell phone over a watch anyway.
“It’s easier, less thinking, which sounds terrible,” said Fletcher.
The use of maps has changed as well. Instead of using the old, trusty tool of a road atlas, travelers are switching to Global Positioning Systems.
Symon Porteous, Business Development Manager of Lovell Johns Group of Companies, a mapping company, explained that, “Lovell Johns started producing maps over 40 years ago,” and that the demand for paper maps has changed because of competing technologies.
GPS. Photo Credit dvice.com
“Electronic images and then computer-based digital delivery of mapping has changed the way people view maps,” said Porteous.
Porteous said he thinks that the GPS popularity is, “Both a good and bad thing. Good because it has raised awareness of mapping in general public users’ minds and this helps us (Lovell Johns) sell our services. Bad because it has particularly eroded sales of road atlases which we have traditionally helped produce.”
Erick Dutchess, a teacher at Penn Manor, owns a GPS but has used a form of a paper map as well.
“I have used trip-ticks. They’re created by AAA. They would give you a paper map and highlight the roads,” said Dutchess.
“I use a GPS for long trips. I find their ability to not have me plan anything is awesome.”
It appears as though technology is providing an easy way of solving everyday problems. The same goes with cell phones. We see everyone using them, and teens are notorious for constantly texting. How much do they depend on them over other tools or technologies?
Elena Hart, senior, said her family got rid of their land-line phone about a year ago.
“(I am reliant) to stay in communication with people because if you’re not in communication with people, what is there? You’re solitary,” Hart said.
“I don’t text when I’m sleeping or at lacrosse practice,” said senior Olivia Hertzler.
iPhone. Photo Credit mclibrary.duke.edu
Hertzler also said that without her phone,”I would probably be more focused and study more and feel naked.”
“I text. I call. I take pictures. I email. I schedule. I live,” said senior Stef Friedman. “Our generation is too dependent on their cell phones.”
With new popular technologies taking place of the old, will the dinosaur technology disappear?
The DVD has taken the place of the VHS tape and the iPod instead of the CD. Will the next generations recognize the tools we depend on now?
What will be the next to go? What will be the next to come?
Now that Apple has released the iPhone 4 to Verizon, expanding its carriers past its original AT&T solitary carrier, AT&T may have to find new ways to compete with Verizon, the largest cellular carrier in the U.S.
Among AT&T and Verizon, there are many other cellular phone carriers in the US. Sprint, T-Mobile, and Metro PCS are also some major cell service providers in the nation.
Apple's iPhone 4, now available on Verizon & AT&T
When the Apple released the iPhone four years ago, they signed a exclusive deal with AT&T. The contract was for the iPhone to be offered with AT&T for five years. What happened to that exclusivity contract?
Before the release of the iPhone on Verizon, subscribers only stuck with AT&T because of the iPhone. Now, people are hoping that the call quality and signal availability will be better because of Verizon’s large cellular network.
“I am happy with AT&T. I have not had any reception issues with my iPhone,” said English teacher Gregg McGough.
“The AT&T iPhone has the best network already,” Chris Penn, a freshman said.
With the iPhone now available on the two major carriers, will the iPhone also be released on Sprint and other networks? Is there an public appeal for the iPhone on other carriers?
“I have AT&T, so I wouldn’t care,” said freshman Cody Fox.
“I already have my iPhone on T-Mobile,” explained freshman Andrew Lobos.
Apparently, the iPhone would be a winner on other carriers at Penn Manor.
If the rumored “cheaper” iPhone was released on other carriers, it could bring more even users to Apple’s mobile device sales.
As of March 2011, Apple has sold over 100 million iPhones since 2007.
“Yes, I would buy the iPhone if it was T-Mobile because it is awesome,” said Ben Thomas, 15.
YouTube, one of the most famous video sharing sites is going to soon be turning to the professionals.
Google, the owner of YouTube, recently acquired Next New Networks. Next New Networks is a company that not only helps distribute new video creator’s media, they also create some of their own programming.
YouTube and Next New Networks Merger
According to the NYTimes, Next New Networks already has two million views per month.
Besides being user and subscriber driven, YouTube will also create it’s own original content. This will give YouTube a shot at more competition with big web video services such as Hulu and Netflix.
Already, Next New Networks is part of the online-video community with some shows such as Barely Political, Indy Mogul, and Fast Lane Daily.
Next New Networks videos have also been on YouTube’s Most Watched Videos list of 2010.
The partnership between YouTube and Next New Networks will introduce more communications and meetings between video producers and the streaming companies. Video producers can be part of YouTube Partner Grants and receive revenue for their professionally created content.
The YouTube Partner Grants program also allows for producers to access tools to make their viewers enjoy their channels and videos better.
Sniffles and sneezes will be heard throughout the school as allergy season plagues many at Penn Manor.
Spring is not the most pleasant time of year for allergy sufferers, but there are easy ways to find relief and bear through the harsh first months of Spring.
It's hard for seasonal allergy sufferers to enjoy the beauty of nature. Photo courtesy allergyasthma.wordpress.com
School nurses evaluate students’ symptoms and have general information that they can share with someone who has allergies.
“The student needs to be prepared – bring lots of tissues, drink lots of fluids, and take medications at home if their physician has recommended that they do so,” said Penn Manor school nurse Anne Butterfield.
“We can notify a parent and ask that medication be brought in to help control severe symptoms,” she added.
April and May are the height of the tree pollen season, and May and June are the height of the grass pollens.
Allergy season provokes a lot of uncomfortableness to its victims. The overall quality of life is affected for sufferers with the most severe cases as the simplest activities become hard and annoying tasks to bare.
Sleeping can become a pain during the peak allergy period as well as sports activities since athletes are outside for an extended period of time and are overexposed to the allergens.
As beautiful Spring plants bloom, the misery for allergy sufferers blooms as well. Photo courtesy decideforyourself.wordpress.com
Symptoms of seasonal allergies include congestion, sneezing, rhinorrhea (runny nose) and itchy, watery eyes. It is important to distinguish the difference between the common cold and seasonal allergies as many of the symptoms are similar.
To alleviate symptoms, sufferers can take control of environmental systems. Windows should be kept closed, laundry should not be hung outside and showers should be taken every evening so that allergens trapped in hair are thoroughly rinsed out.
Complications of allergies include sinusitis, asthma , conjunctivitis (inflammation of the membrane lining the eyelids) and otitis (inflammation of the ear).
In the coming months, when students and faculty at Penn Manor appear to be groggy and teachers seem to go through a box of tissues in half-a-day, it will be evident that allergy season has struck, but it’s reassuring to know that it will all soon be over.
Penn Manor high school is in quarantine from the deadly disease called senioritis. Senioritis is a crippling disease that effects most to all seniors in high school. Is there any way to stopping this disease?
Penn Manor High School
Mark Curtin another senior at Penn Manor says, “Symptoms of senioritis include overall fatigue, cramps, violent mood swings, low grades, skipping school, lack of focus and wishing to be graduated already.”
Vaughn Stetler a senior at Penn Manor stated, “There is only one cure and that’s to graduate.”
Holly Mancinelli a senior that has A’s and B’s and seems to be the least infected but still has the disease. Mancinelli says, “Everyone has it, its just who wants to do a little bit more but not much.”
Senioritis is a good thing for most teens waiting to get out of one environment to another. In some cases, Erick Dutchess, a teacher at Penn Manor said, “It shows which kids don’t want to be in school.”
Patrick Jones a senior taking the same class as Curtin said, “I have to get work done in AP calc A/B. I would be dead if my teacher found out that I wasn’t trying. If I didn’t have AP calc, I would rather stay home and play Rockband and sleep.”
“Senioritis is here every year, but this year seems to be the worst,” said Dutchess. “The students are not doing as well as they should.”
Senioritis affects 1:1 students at Penn Manor. Some say they lack the urge, while others profess, “Who cares I am going to college.”
