by Olivia Underwood
Lately it seems as though the only movies being released are remakes and sequels. But are these sequels any good or should you skip these new releases of old stories?
The 1982 Disney released the cult classic science fiction film Tron to critic acclaim. Tron slowly because a fan favorite because of its advanced (at the time) use of graphics and live action and so it made some sense that now, over 20 years later, Disney would attempt to capitalize on this fan base with the sequel Tron: Legacy.
Tron: Legacy follows Sam Flynn’s quest to find his father after his father’s pager activates 25 years after his disappearance. Sam finds his father’s hidden lab in the back of an arcade and is sucked into “the Grid” a cyber world in which users and programmers battle for control. Sam’s father has been trapped in the Grid and hiding from his own creation Clu, a program seeking to create the perfect world. Sam attempts to help his father escape but when Clu steals Sam’s father’s info disc that can unlock the portal to the real world it’s a race against the machine to make it to the portal before it closes.
This movie was visually entertaining and had a good soundtrack (if you like techno, which I do) but the plot and acting didn’t leave any lasting impressions. The original Tron was popular partly because the technology was so revolutionary and that simply isn’t true anymore. Today’s audiences are too used to advance special effects and graphics for that to carry a movie. All in all, this movie is fine if you’re stuck at home with a virus but not a favorites.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Rebecca Black: A Viral Sensation
by Kayla Foushee
The day of the week is Friday, what is the first thing that popped into your head? “It’s Friday, Friday, getting down on Friday.” Yes, Rebecca Black’s notorious “Friday” video. It’s time to shed some light on her overnight stardom.
Rebecca Black was born June 21, 1997. According to wikipedia.com she gained widespread fame over the negative comments on her 2011 “Firday” video. This song was dubbed “the worst song ever.” By April 12, 2011 the video had over 1.9 million dis-likes and 250,000 likes. This song was released on iTunes for sale. It is estimated to have generated $40,000 from the first week of sales.
This song is showing up on top 100 charts all over the world. Rebecca Black is currently working without a record deal but is soon going to release a new album.
This goes to show that is you know the right people you can become a star. Rebecca Black was virtually a nobody. But with the help of $4,000 and a little mom “power,” she became an internet sensation.
In our country it doesn’t take much to be a star. Our funny video, one internet screw up, and you’ve landed you self a seat on every late night sticom you can think of. Even though she is famous for now it doesn’t mean it’s going to last for very long. So bash Rebecca Black all you want, but she’s still more famous than you are.
“It’s Friday, Friday, getting down on Friday. Everybody’s looking forward to the weekend.”
The day of the week is Friday, what is the first thing that popped into your head? “It’s Friday, Friday, getting down on Friday.” Yes, Rebecca Black’s notorious “Friday” video. It’s time to shed some light on her overnight stardom.
Rebecca Black was born June 21, 1997. According to wikipedia.com she gained widespread fame over the negative comments on her 2011 “Firday” video. This song was dubbed “the worst song ever.” By April 12, 2011 the video had over 1.9 million dis-likes and 250,000 likes. This song was released on iTunes for sale. It is estimated to have generated $40,000 from the first week of sales.
This song is showing up on top 100 charts all over the world. Rebecca Black is currently working without a record deal but is soon going to release a new album.
This goes to show that is you know the right people you can become a star. Rebecca Black was virtually a nobody. But with the help of $4,000 and a little mom “power,” she became an internet sensation.
In our country it doesn’t take much to be a star. Our funny video, one internet screw up, and you’ve landed you self a seat on every late night sticom you can think of. Even though she is famous for now it doesn’t mean it’s going to last for very long. So bash Rebecca Black all you want, but she’s still more famous than you are.
“It’s Friday, Friday, getting down on Friday. Everybody’s looking forward to the weekend.”
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Vote Yes 2 PCHS and give Paris some color
by Kayla Foushee
Say yes to the new PCHS! That’s what all the talk’s about! I want a new locker room! I want a new band room! Ooh how about a new gym! Everyone is talking about the new and improved PCHS.
Take a walk through the halls Paris Cooperative High School. It’s bleak and old, broken down but still up. It’s like watching a movie in black in white. Our school had no hope until Illinois State offered to pay up to 65% of a new school building for Paris Cooperative High School! Thus the color movies were invented.
This proposal from Illinois State is like a new flat screen TV while our old high school was the boxy dinosaur. It’s hard to imagine an amazing high tech, contemporary high school in Paris. But with the help of our town passing the vote it’s a dream that can become a reality.
This amazing opportunity we’ve been given is a once in a life time thing! Our high school is 102 years old. “I would vote yes because it’s a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of!” Said Tisha Brinkley. It would cost $10 to $12 million dollars to keep our school in running order just for the next few years. All those repairs eventually start to add up. Don’t you think it’s time for a new school?
According to yes2pchs.com, the only difficult part is the vote. In order for the state of Illinois to supply 65% of the money, the yes 2 pchs has to get more than 50% vote yes from district 4 and district 95. If the necessary votes are not received the money will go to build a school in a different community.
Citizens of Paris, Illinois! This is your call to action! When this vote comes around on April 5th vote yes! Don’t make your children be the only kids to watch life in black and white!
Say yes to the new PCHS! That’s what all the talk’s about! I want a new locker room! I want a new band room! Ooh how about a new gym! Everyone is talking about the new and improved PCHS.
Take a walk through the halls Paris Cooperative High School. It’s bleak and old, broken down but still up. It’s like watching a movie in black in white. Our school had no hope until Illinois State offered to pay up to 65% of a new school building for Paris Cooperative High School! Thus the color movies were invented.
This proposal from Illinois State is like a new flat screen TV while our old high school was the boxy dinosaur. It’s hard to imagine an amazing high tech, contemporary high school in Paris. But with the help of our town passing the vote it’s a dream that can become a reality.
This amazing opportunity we’ve been given is a once in a life time thing! Our high school is 102 years old. “I would vote yes because it’s a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of!” Said Tisha Brinkley. It would cost $10 to $12 million dollars to keep our school in running order just for the next few years. All those repairs eventually start to add up. Don’t you think it’s time for a new school?
According to yes2pchs.com, the only difficult part is the vote. In order for the state of Illinois to supply 65% of the money, the yes 2 pchs has to get more than 50% vote yes from district 4 and district 95. If the necessary votes are not received the money will go to build a school in a different community.
Citizens of Paris, Illinois! This is your call to action! When this vote comes around on April 5th vote yes! Don’t make your children be the only kids to watch life in black and white!
Dear John: Review of a Romance Novel
by Valerie Lau
Nicholas Sparks, the internationally-bestselling Christian-romance author that wrote many of the books you see in movies, is the author of the highly popular book, Dear John.
Dear John begins with telling the background of John Tyree, a rebel that joins the army because he thinks that’s what is best for him. On his leave, John travels back to his hometown Wilmington, North Carolina, to see his Dad. There he meets Savannah Curtis. After only 2 weeks of being with her, he falls into a kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for him while he finishes his tour of duty. They promise to marry each other when John finishes the army. 9/11 changes everything. John feels it’s his duty to his country to continue serving and he signs up for 2 more years. This takes a hard toll on their relationship. Can they survive? Read the book to find out.
Dear John is one of my favorite books. It’s completely well written and really easy to read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes romance or war stories.
Nicholas Sparks, the internationally-bestselling Christian-romance author that wrote many of the books you see in movies, is the author of the highly popular book, Dear John.
Dear John begins with telling the background of John Tyree, a rebel that joins the army because he thinks that’s what is best for him. On his leave, John travels back to his hometown Wilmington, North Carolina, to see his Dad. There he meets Savannah Curtis. After only 2 weeks of being with her, he falls into a kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for him while he finishes his tour of duty. They promise to marry each other when John finishes the army. 9/11 changes everything. John feels it’s his duty to his country to continue serving and he signs up for 2 more years. This takes a hard toll on their relationship. Can they survive? Read the book to find out.
Dear John is one of my favorite books. It’s completely well written and really easy to read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes romance or war stories.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Texting: A Dilemma During School
by Valerie Lau
Most people wonder why kids text during class. They ask, why can’t they just keep their phones off? For some people they can. Some people don’t text during class because they think it’s wrong, but some people do for their own reasons. I asked two different people if they think texting is a good or a bad thing.
When asked if she thought texting during class was okay, freshman Renna Throneburg, said, “Yes, because you might need your phone for emergencies.” This reason has been a debate for many years. Some parents do think it’s okay for students to have their phones on during class because their parents may need to get a hold of them for various reasons such as, family emergencies, doctor’s appointments, etc. Some people disagree with this though because they think kids won’t use their phones for just that reason. They want phones off during class because they think they’ll use them to text friends or cheat on tests, homework, or quizzes.
Some teachers even think that having phones on during class is okay because then students can use them to look up things on the internet.
Britan Abernathy agrees with the people who think students should have their phones off during class. She says, “No, students shouldn’t have their phones on because it’s distracting and students don’t learn as well.” I agree with her statement. Students can easily be distracted with cell phones. They can be focused on answering texts so much that they fall behind.
So is texting during class okay? Mrs. Keys says, “Texting is okay as long as it’s your parents and I know about it.” Do you thinks it’s okay? It’s really up to you to decide.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Teen Pop Stars: Normal Teens or Gods?
by Blade Hall
Why does this nation obsess over teen pop stars? All they are are normal teenagers with a lot of make-up and auto tune. Teens and tweens alike go crazy for teen pop sensations such as Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, and Miley Cyrus.
What’s even weirder is that most of these stars have no singing talent. They lip-sync or auto tune most, if not all, of their songs. Another weird thing is that these stars, with the exception of Justin Bieber, began on Disney or Nickelodeon. They shoot a music video and BAM! they’re the next big thing in pop culture.
When asked why they thought people, particularly teen and tween girls, obsess over teen pop stars such as Justin Bieber and get “Bieber Fever,” a junior, Sabrina Cooley, replied “the girls find him attractive and he does have an alright voice.” Oh, really now? On the other hand, another junior here at PCHS, Eli Wiley, said “I think that lately in music and pop culture there has been no 'TRUE' talent and any guy that tween girls think is 'cute' can step onto a stage and lip-sync through a microphone…any tween girl is going to love them.” And when asked about why pop stars such as Justin Bieber are viewed as more of a god than a teenager, he quickly replied, “[Justin Bieber] is the face that’s always put on a screen or stage and they idolize what they see.”
So, do these pop stars have talent or do they just have the looks and the connections to get them into a studio and on stage where the auto-tune and lip-syncing comes in? Maybe some actually do have true talent, but so far, we haven’t seen any yet.
Why does this nation obsess over teen pop stars? All they are are normal teenagers with a lot of make-up and auto tune. Teens and tweens alike go crazy for teen pop sensations such as Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, and Miley Cyrus.
What’s even weirder is that most of these stars have no singing talent. They lip-sync or auto tune most, if not all, of their songs. Another weird thing is that these stars, with the exception of Justin Bieber, began on Disney or Nickelodeon. They shoot a music video and BAM! they’re the next big thing in pop culture.
When asked why they thought people, particularly teen and tween girls, obsess over teen pop stars such as Justin Bieber and get “Bieber Fever,” a junior, Sabrina Cooley, replied “the girls find him attractive and he does have an alright voice.” Oh, really now? On the other hand, another junior here at PCHS, Eli Wiley, said “I think that lately in music and pop culture there has been no 'TRUE' talent and any guy that tween girls think is 'cute' can step onto a stage and lip-sync through a microphone…any tween girl is going to love them.” And when asked about why pop stars such as Justin Bieber are viewed as more of a god than a teenager, he quickly replied, “[Justin Bieber] is the face that’s always put on a screen or stage and they idolize what they see.”
So, do these pop stars have talent or do they just have the looks and the connections to get them into a studio and on stage where the auto-tune and lip-syncing comes in? Maybe some actually do have true talent, but so far, we haven’t seen any yet.
Childhood books leave lasting impression
by Olivia Underwood
“So many things are possible just as long as you don't know they're impossible.” Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth is full of fun and wise advice such as this. As a young child I heard this book from my father as he read out loud this imaginative, funny, wonderful story. The humor of Juster’s world influenced me as I grew and each time I read it I find something new to love. Remembering my favorite childhood book made me wonder what kind of stories and books had influenced my friends as children. Did they still remember them? Did they still love them? How important is what we read to our children?
“When I was younger my parents read me Possum Came a Knockin’, Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? And The Hungry Caterpillar,” remembers Erica Sheeran, a junior at PCHS. “They made me happy and put me to sleep.”
The stories we read to our children can have huge effects on their lives. Erica says, “They made me a reader.”
We have to be aware of what we are reading to our kids, it’s just as important as what they’re watching. But that does not mean we should stop the time together, the words we read aren’t the only thing that children hear. They also hear the love it takes to sit down and spend time with them, and their imaginations flourish under that love.
“Of course I’ll read to my kids!” Erica says. “It makes them think.”
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