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.

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.”

Skinny Jeans: In Style or Just Plain "Gay"?

by Blade Hall

Skinny jeans seem to be the controversial topic of teen boys. Are they cool and in-style or just "homosexual" like some people say? I’ve asked people around the school and was shocked to hear that people have mixed emotions about this subject.

“Guys should be able to wear skinny jeans if they want to and not have a second thought that people are going to call them gay.” says Hannah King; a junior here at PCHS. When asked if she thought a guy was homosexual for wearing them, she quickly exclaimed, “Heck no!”

On the opposite side of this topic, when Shane Mason, a freshman here at PCHS, was asked the same question, he said “I think it’s kind of weird. I see a lot of girls wearing skinny jeans and then all of a sudden guys start wearing them, and it just freaks me out.” He described them as being a little on the “fruity” side but not a direct indicator of homosexuality.

Why do some people jump to conclusions that “Oh, he’s wearing skinny jeans, he must be gay!” Why can’t a guy wear skinny jeans and not get questioned about his sexuality every five minutes? It seems like there’s a growing number of males wearing skinny jeans and even with more people wearing them, some people don’t want to say that you can be straight and also wear skinny jeans. There’s a little thing called freedom of expression and maybe these guys are wearing them because they’re a new trend or just because they think they’re comfortable.

The goal is to break down the stereotype that only homosexual guys wear skinny jeans. There are a lot of teens that get made fun of just because they wear tight pants. It’s ludicrous that people can’t wear what they want because they think they’ll get made fun of. Just think about these things before you label someone as "gay" for wearing skinny jeans because who knows? You may just as easily be called a name or stereotype for wearing something you like or having your hair a certain length. So, don’t judge people on the way they look. Get to know people before you stereotype them with a certain group.

Valentine's Day: The Holiday of Love

by Kayla Foushee

Nothing says “I love you” like a box of assorted chocolates! Valentine’s Day is the holiday where you can let the romance fly. There’s no limit to what you can do. Your sweetheart will expect chocolates even if she is on a diet. Calories do not count on Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is a great way to show someone you love how much you really about them.

According to associatedcontent.com it’s expected that on February 14, 2011 the Valentine’s industry will collect more than $17 billion dollars. Our televisions are bombarded with commercials for jewelry, perfume, candy, and flowers. Red hearts and cupids are everywhere. Women have always been considered to be more romantic than men. The unexpected thing is that men tend to spend twice as much money as women do on Valentine’s Day.

Florists look at Valentine’s Day with mixed emotions. They know they will be collecting millions of dollars. However, the long hours and customer demands can be stressful. Many people generally men, wait until the lat minute to try to purchase flowers and gifts. Therefore, the florists can charge much higher prices for basic bouquets.

Valentine’s Day is also a great way to strengthen relationships. People can examine what their relationship is all about. “What does a relationship mean to you?” I asked two couples that very question. “A relationship is being able to tell each other things no one knows,” said Kerry Johnson. Natalie McMullen, one half of the other couple said, “The key thing is to have fun and enjoy life, and keep each other close.” Another question I asked was “What are three things needed in a relationship that help make it last longer?” “Through things you need our humor, trust, and friendship,” Said Kerry Johnson. The second couple said, “Things that are important to me is my life and the one I love, and living everyday like it’s my last.”

Valentine’s Day is a romantic holiday but also it can help you define your relationship. It allows the couple to see if they have the same idea of what their relationship means. Some people judge love based on how much money is spend and for some it is the thought that counts. One thing is certain: Valentine’s Day is all about love. Hey, and don’t forget to check out the Valentine’s from PCHS students on our homepage: PCHSTigerTales.blogspot.com