By Gianna Lafond
Staff Writer Movies about middle school create false prejudices for kids going into middle school and unrealistic expectations for kids in middle school. Movies about middle school stereotype kids, teachers, schools, and make middle school seem terrible. Some examples of this include Jessica Darling’s it List, and Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life. But movies aren’t the only thing that are affecting middle schoolers TV shows do the same as movies. Some TV shows that do this are, Girl meets world, and Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide. For example Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life, is about an eighth grader who loves to draw, but when Rafe (the main character) gets kicked out of two schools in one year he has to go to Hills Village middle school which is known for stifling creativity. So when the principal finds Rafe’s drawing notebook he puts it into a bucket of acid, which by the rules is a safety hazard. Rafe sets out to break all the rules in the student handbook. This movie portrays middle school as a place where they try to stop creativity which is most often the opposite in middle school. “This is the kind of movie that will have cautious parents face-palming and shaking there head,” wrote one reviewer named Adam R. Holz. One reiviewer called cdub said, “So, if you want to teach your kids that all rules are bad, and you don't mind homeschooling them when they follow suit and get expelled, then this is the movie for you. Why isn't there a button I can press for horrible messages and horrible role models?” This reviewer though a bit over dramatic is right, often movies about middle school tell kids to break the rules, or show the basic storyline of how the popular jock guy falls for the “ugly” unpopular girl once she turns popular, and “pretty”. Both these types of storylines are toxic to kids. One teaches them to break the rules, and the other teaches kids that being popular and pretty and liked by the popular jock is what matters. Both these types of story are toxic to kids in middle school or going into middle school. But not all types of middle school movies and TV shows are hurtful some just provide entertainment for stressed out middle schoolers. Image by ferrantiscakery.com By Patrick Dakin
Staff Writer In the Fall of this year, LJH school’s theater production was set to be the Lorax. Unfortunately the director, Ms. Jackson, had to stop the show to take care of her son. Our savior, Mr. Schnipper, has provided a new play and brought a new directing style to the school. Max is going to give the layout on him. “Mr Schnipper is a new director and I talked to Ms. Gretencort and she said that his resume was pretty awesome he even worked with some celebrities on TV”. When the reporter asked Max what the play was called he said it was “Show and Spell” but the thing that most people want to know is what it’s about. So that’s what Max was asked. “It's basically about these kids learning about the words with their parents and families before, during, and after the bee”. The play is actually much deeper than that. Our reporter went and saw some of their practices and collected that there’s a cheerleader with some personal issues and the daughter of a famous person who is a little obsessed about personal image. In order to get more detail on the show without giving it all away, Max was asked to elaborate on his character. “I am Mr. Lichtensteinberger so I guess I am the father of the really uh smart kid who I guess is a little full of himself.. And I also have a wife." Max was then asked to give detail on his family. “Mrs. Lichtensteinberger is Kalista Mirandas and my son is Dash (Dash is his name in real life) whose name is David (in the play)” So, is the show worth seeing? “The Acting is… working to be being better than middle school quality and the people I'm working with are nice,” explained Max. Not only that but, another member of the press, Patrick Dakin, is part of the stage crew which will join the production in a week or 2. Which also brings up the question of when the play comes out “I think in about three weeks, 4 weeks” according to Max. So go watch Max’s son David (hopefully) win the spelling bee at Show and Spell. Photo by rollingstone.com By Tatum Newkirk
Staff Writer Taylor Swift, a 10 time grammy singer/songwriter has recently appeared on an Apple Music ad, where she has fallen face first on a treadmill rapping to Drake's most new and popular song, “Jumpman”. People who have seen the ad don't know what to do but to just laugh. Apple music is a new program on the music app of the iPhones. The music program is used to listen to different selections as an music organizer with categories of running, dancing, studying, partying, and more! They come out with ads to show the world how apple music works and how exciting it is to use while working out or just hanging out with friends. Swift was asked through Apple Music if she were to sponsor and promote the company through a funny yet interesting ad. “Early Friday morning, Taylor Swift woke up and tweeted out an ad for Apple Music, in which she raps along to Drake and Future’s “Jumpman” while running.That in itself is pure comedy, but make sure to watch to the 47- second mark when Swift wipes out,” explains Huffington Post. To sum up what happened in the ad, this is USA Today's perspective on it. “Taylor gets on a treadmill (her internal monologue: "I hate cardio"), cues up a playlist and starts rapping her heart out to the Drake and Future song. Except she doesn't get too far before fist-pumping too vigorously and, tragically, wiping out on her face.” Again, Swift was acting as if she had hated cardio and how boring it was until she finds the running category of music on Apple Music and she starts enjoying rapping and running to Jumpman. But ending up enjoying the music a little too much, she goes flying off the treadmill. This ad has obviously shown that Swift has moved on from the dispute last summer she had with Apple Music. She had wrote an open letter to the company blasting them for plans not to pay artists whose music was streamed during users’ free three-month trial of the service. Apple eventually relented and changed their stance only hours later, after she had threatened to boycott the service. Swift had then decided to release her newly created album 1989 on Apple Music. She says, “Thank you, Apple, for the change of heart.” Fans and people all around the world can now enjoy the piece of Taylor Swift and Apple Music and finally enjoy the cooperativeness of each other, with the hilarious ad of apple music brought to people by Taylor Swift. Photo by genius.com By Austin Malsbury
Staff Writer Black Hippy crew is a group consisting of ScHoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock and Ab-Soul. Each member is known for their own work, including ScHoolboy Q’s “Oxymoron”, Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly”, Jay Rock’s ‘90059” and Ab-Soul’s “These Days”. There has been much talk about a Black Hippy crew album. The CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment says that there will be a Black Hippy crew album releasing. If there is a Black Hippy crew album releasing, it wouldn’t be anytime soon with every member of touring, making their own music and Jay Rock recovering from a motorcycle accident. “Everybody’s just working,” Rock told MTV News. “Everybody is focused on their individual thing. When we do come together to make records, it’s easy because we’ve had that chemistry since day one.” Most of the members said there wouldn’t be an album releasing. Jay Rock said there would be no Black Hippy crew album, however the TDE CEO Anthony “Top Dawg Tiffith said that there would be a Black Hippy crew album being released. In an interview, Jay Rock said "Ain't no Black Hippy Album coming," he says, smiling. "I'm tired of y'all keep asking me about Black Hippy. For real, everybody's working right now. It's up to the fans. It's up to y'all. Y'all make the decisions. When the time right, you might get a Black Hippy album." The big question on every Black Hippy Crew fan’s mind is “will there be an album being released?” Even though there is no full album, there are however songs for the fans, like ‘Say Wassup” and ‘Vice City”. Even though there won’t be such an album releasing soon, Jay Rock says that hopefully one day there will be an album. Image by cnn.com By Kelin Humbert
Staff Writer March 21st marked the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars, airing on ABC at 8 o’clock. Dancing with the stars started in 2005. Each season starts with 12 pros and 12 celebrities. A team consists of a professional dancer and a celebrity star (Wikipedia). Dancing with the Stars rotates with the Bachelor airing opposite seasons of each other. “The dance community suddenly came alive with programs like 'So You Think You Can Dance,' 'America's Best Dance Crew' and 'Dancing With The Stars,'” explains Carrie Ann Inaba. In total 248 celebrities have appeared on the 22 seasons of dancing with the Stars. In past seasons, celebrities consisted of Olympic athletes, professional singers, tv phenomenons, NFL players, and veterans of war. “I was kind of reflecting on my life and certain experiences, and you know, when I'm teaching and coaching my partners on 'Dancing With the Stars,' I sort of use those stories and anecdotes to help them sort of overcome certain fears,” says Derek Hough, a dance pro on the show. Dancing with the Stars is meant for people to go outside of their comfort zones and try new things. During this experience people learn more about themselves that they might never have found out before. This season includes actors, NFL players, UFC fighters, models, and singers. The contestants are going into their fourth week, which is a fan favorite. The next week theme is “Disney Week” which is a time for the contestants to bring out their inner child. Students wanting to experience this dancing wonder should tune in to ABC on Monday at 8pm. Image by youtube.com By Emma Honberger
Staff Writer Director Rian Johnson is starting the filming of Star Wars episode 8 in London. Star Wars has been a phenomenon since May 25, 1977. People have been attached to Star Wars ever since then. The viewers cheer to see the old actors and actresses on the big screen today. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford have been in four Star Wars movies out of the seven total movies. There have been four different directors for all of the Star Wars movies. George Lucas directed episodes 1-4. J.J. Abrams directed Star Wars episode 7. Now that Rian Johnson is directing, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Lupita Nyong'o, Adam Driver, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Gwendoline Christie will be back. ”What we've seen of Rey, she looks like she can handle her stuff. So most of the comments I get are from parents who say how wonderful it is that their little girls can see this character,” Ridley said about her Star Wars character. She really made her character stand out for young girls. ”Your life goes on, and then your life goes on plus 'Star Wars.' It's just been an incredible time,” Ridley said after the movie had finished being made. Ridley clearly had an amazing time filming. ”It's always great to play a character that goes against the grain. Finn defies what people think when they think of stormtroopers,” said Boyega. Boyega loved playing Finn in Star Wars. Driver, who plays Kylo Ren, talked about how he trained for his fight scene at Juilliard, where he went to school. Johnson is directing Star Wars 8 right now so that he can get it finished by December 15, 2017. Viewers who wish to go see Star Wars Episode 8 will have to wait until the 15th of December. That date is really close to when Star Wars the Force Awakens came out. The Force Awakens came out on December 18th. This movie series is something that once a viewer watches once, they will want to watch it over and over again. Elated viewers can’t wait for Star Wars Episode 8 to come out in theaters December 15, 2017. image by news.iheart.com By Kayleigh Franca
Staff Writer The iHeartRadio Music Awards aired on April 3rd, 2016 and was hosted by Jason Derulo. The program was televised by TBS, TNT, and truTV. iHeartRadio is a music app that lets listeners access a library of 20 million songs and 800,000 artists for free.It's also easy to use. It contains music for any mood and any genre. Genres include: pop, country, hip-hop, R&B, alternative, rock, talk, news, sports, and comedy (iHeartRadio). According to CNET, it’s “the best streaming app”. iHeartRadio also has music awards. The music awards started in 2014. It was held on Thursday, May 1st. Rihanna took the most awards home, winning four awards and having eight nominations. The second show was on March 29, 2015. Taylor Swift took home the most awards, earning three. Sam Smith and Iggy Azelea had the most nominations, having five. The most recent was the 3rd iHeartRadio Music Awards. It was on April 3rd. Taylor Swift won most awards, four. Taylor swift and the Weeknd had the most nominations, seven. Other winners were Justin Bieber for male artist of the year, U2 for the innovator award, Maroon t for the best group/duo of the year, Skrillex & Diplo with Justin Bieber’s song “Where Are Ü Now” for song of the year, Fetty Wap for new artist, Calvin Harris for dance artist of the year, Selena Gomez for triple threat, and so many more (iHeartRadio). Justin Bieber’s fans, Beliebers, won best fan army. “We did it. This is for Justin. Also, we do this for him, and I just wanna say thanks, Justin, for everything you have done for us,” said Ashley from Chicago. “The iHeartRadio Music Awards was great because it had great artists perform and it was a good way to get introduced to new artists,” said Carli, a 14 year old who attended the awards. Overall, the music awards went great. The iHeartRadio Music Awards 2016 was extremely successful for multiple artists. Fans can’t wait for the next years! Image by batman-news.com By Greg Czar
Staff Writer Ben Affleck was the last choice for a lot of people to be Batman. A lot of people were hating on him and saying he would terrible. When Batman vs Superman came out, Affleck's Batman was perfect. It shocked people all around the world and changed people's mind on Ben Affleck’s Batman. When Affleck was cast for Batman vs Superman he had to train very hard to be the best Batman he could be. Affleck trained extra hard to be fit for this movie so he could look like the original Batman. He not only trained non-stop but he took it to the next level by conveying the brutal routine that Bruce Wayne goes through to be the Batman. Afflecks Batman was a genius. He is a brilliant strategist, Ben Affleck's Batman is constantly outsmarting his enemy and is always two step ahead of them. During fight scenes from the movie Batman could always predict what was coming next and he knew how to defeat his foes. He shows real detective skills like the original Batman from the comics. He uses the batcomputer in the batcave to track down his enemy and destroy them. He also uses his detective skills to do research to figure out his foes' weaknesses. Ben Affleck was overall a good batman and the fans agree. Xander Houck says “ Yes I liked him...a lot!” Another fan, Griffin Beard, said “Batffleck did a great job”. Affleck has changed Batman's image in a positive way and made the fans happy. Image courtesy of nytimes.com By Emma Sewell
Staff Writer One of the most controversial toys to this day is getting a HUGE makeover. That’s right, we’re talking about Barbie. Mattel has been spending years fighting Barbie’s unrealistic proportions of an impossibly tall, thin and curvaceous woman as they try to bring the brand back in order to fit modern expectations. “This is about drawing a wider demographic that has turned away from Barbie back to Barbie.” said Jim Silver, the editor of TTPM, a toy reviewer site. For the most part, it looks like it’s working. Along with the Hello Barbie, Mattel is updating their once popular doll brand to appeal to more girls, giving the new Barbies more variety. They are currently available to order on Barbie.com and will start hitting major retailers such as Target and Toys ‘R’ Us on March 1st. Can adding new hairstyles, skin tones, and body types really help Mattel back to the top along with Lego, Disney, Hasbro, and other famous brands? "Kids are just bombarded with images that are really just not true to nature," Evelyn Mazzocco, senior vice president and global general manager of Barbie says. "It can potentially damage your self-esteem or limit your world view." Mazzocco adds that it's important for young boys to understand women's bodies come in all shapes and sizes because "they grow up expecting girls' bodies to look a certain way." Mr. Dickson has been pushing Mattel’s marketing campaign more towards Barbie’s career ambitions than her body image. It’s inspiring to see Mattel take steps towards a better company. It seems like years since Barbie has tried new looks. Of course, why haven’t we seen Ken try something new then? Kimberly Culmone, VP of Barbie design, says Ken's body has already had some minor changes over the years, including a beard-growing Shaving Fun Ken phase. "We're looking at ethnic diversity for Ken dolls, and potentially (his) body," Culmone said on the phone. "This is a time at Mattel where we're very open to rapid change." I’m glad that this brand will be better represented in the future. Hopefully, Barbie, Ken, and all of their friends will once again become popular. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.org By Summer Mickey
Staff Writer Last year, on December 25, the movie Concussion, an American biographical sports medical drama film, was released. The movie was directed and written by Peter Landesman and the starring cast includes: Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, Stephen Moyer as Dr. Ron Hamilton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Prema Mutiso, Alec Baldwin as Dr. Julian Bailes, Eddie Marsan as Dr. Steven DeKosky, and Luke Wilson as Roger Goodell. “If you think about it, Concussion has a killer comic cast, and it's probably why this manly melodrama narrowly escapes Landesman's heavy hand. The cast curls the edge of tragedy just enough to let us feel the human condition in all its screwed up wonder,” says Katherine Monk from Ex-Press.com. The plot of this story takes you through the tragedies of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and the rollercoaster that the first doctor to discover it, Dr. Bennet Omalu, goes through in hopes to spread the word about this traumatic head disease usually found in athletes with a history of repetitive head injuries. “Works very well, first drawing us into Omalu's pursuit of understanding ... and then into his fight to get the NFL to recognize his research and stop covering up the dangers of professional football.” Says James Kendrick from the Q Network Film Desk. It all starts out in 2002, when a former Pittsburgh Steelers player, Mike Webster was found dead in his pickup truck because of severe brain damage. Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist with the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania coroner's office, took on the challenge of finding out the reason of his death. Omalu inferred that the reason of the severe brain damage was because of several blows to the head in football, which led to CTE. Although, over the next few years, Omalu discovers that three other dead former NFL players, Terry Long, Justin Strzelczyk and Andre Waters, had deadly symptoms very similar to the one he was researching. Dr. Omalu persuades a NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, to show his findings to a committee on player safety in the NFL. However, the NFL does not take him and his research seriously, and they don't even allow him to be in the room for the presentation, forcing Dr. Julian Bailes to give it for him. Afterwards, Omalu is put to considerable pressure to back down from his efforts on the CTE case. Then, soon after, Omalu's wife, Prema, suffers a miscarriage after being stalked in their dream home outside of Pittsburgh. The Omalu’s are forced to leave Pittsburgh and move into Lodi, California, where Omalu takes a job with the San Joaquin County coroner's office. Omalu is vindicated when former NFL Players Association executive Dave Duerson commits suicide from growing cognitive problems. Fortunately, Omalu is then allowed to address an NFLPA conference on concussions and CTE issues, and then the NFL is forced to take more action on concussion and brain injuries. Lastly, Omalu is offered a job as chief medical examiner for the District of Columbia, but decides to turn it down in order to continue working with autopsies. |
LJHSLakeridge Junior High School is an award- winning academic institution located in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Archives
October 2018
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