Archive for January, 2010.
Your blood pumps furiously through your veins five minutes before third period ends. Your handwriting reaches incomprehensibility more with every word you write. The bell rings and you write the last word of an essay that was assigned by your fifth period teacher last Monday.
Procrastination is a terrorist that we ourselves allow into our homes. We give it food and drink, we treat it as a guest, and we make a bed for it that is never far from our own.
If we realize that procrastination brings us nothing but tribulations, why do we allow it? Why do we permit the existence of such a disgusting monster to inhabit our lives?
The truth is, we love procrastination. It is a luxury we have come to want and need in our lives. It is a wall we lean on that has overcome us and engulfed us. Indeed, when we let go and give procrastination control over our lives, we become part of this horrid wall.
So, like any other addiction, when we want to let go of procrastination, when we want to come out of the wall, we can’t. We’re stuck watching others live their lives, ignoring the wall. We’re stuck watching the wall trick a few others into helping it grow. We’re simply stuck.
So we do we do? Is it the end? Are we destined to spend the rest of our lives suffering as helpless victims of procrastination?
Only you can take the first step in ridding yourself of this horror. No one can help you. No one can save you from the thorns of procrastination. Only you can.
You can’t take the time procrastination stole from you back. But you can prevent it from taking any more of your time. Time is precious and it is the worst thing anything can steal from you. So destroy that monster, for you are the only one who can give it life. Remind yourself that you gave procrastination its power and you can take it away.
Remember, when banishing this evil fiend, don’t procrastinate. You’d only be giving it strength.
- Rayssa Gomes
Mark McGwire’s admission to steroid use throughout his career did not come as a shock. Suspicion has surrounded the once single-season home run king this past decade. However despite numerous reports and accusations, McGwire repeatedly denied having ever used performance-enhancing drugs even swearing under oath before congress in 2005. With “Big Mac” reentering the game as the Cardinals hitting coach this year it seems appropriate that he come clean about his use of steroids and I commend him for doing so. However, in his statement to the Associated Press on Jan 11, McGwire argued that he used the drugs solely to recover from injuries, that they did not enhance his abilities on the field at all. Come On! There is no one on the face of the earth who could be gullible or naïve enough to believe that a decade of steroid use contributed nothing to a 70 home run record-breaking season (at the time) in 1998. The most important thing to do for all those who cheated during this period is be honest so that we can all achieve closure and move on from what will always be remembered as a dark time for baseball. But don’t give us half-truths or deny the intent of your actions. In the end even if he admits to having used drugs he’s still lying to us and to himself if he honestly believes that steroids gave him no advantage over the competition for all those years. In the end, his reputation will never be the same anyway so he might as well be entirely truthful and say “I used these drugs at a time when everyone else was, I fell into the same trap because I didn’t want to fall behind in the level of competition.” Either way no player from this era is ever going to be looked upon the same way we look at Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron or any other true hall of fame players; because they not only tainted themselves, but an entire generation of Major League Baseball. Mark McGwire needs to set the standard once and for all so that we may all finally be able to move on.
They say be careful what you wish for and now I know why, the current weather in Miami is getting a bit out of control, and my laundry basket increases with all the layers of clothes that I am forced to use.
I can understand why we were all happy at first, we could finally use our cute winter clothes and boots that were buried inside our closets. My first reaction of the cold wind on my face was a smile, and I cuddled my self with my sweat pants tucked into my boots and a big jacket that warmed my arms. Yet after a time, you start missing the bathing suits, shorts and flip flops that represents the common Miami fashion. During this month the temperature has been as low as 33 degrees and my big jacket and sweat pants just don’t do the job anymore. My attempts to be warm do not longer happen because no matter what I wear I’m still freezing.
I touch the window each morning before going to school in hope that my past wish has been taken back, and that Miami has gone back to becoming “the sunshine state.”
By: Jessica Adam
As much as we might hate to admit, American Idol wouldn’t be where it is today without the snippy remarks of its judge, Simon Cowell. So I feel safe in saying that Cowell will be missed by many if he decides to leave American Idol after his five year contract ends with Fox in 2010.
The British bombshell, as I like to call him, has been a judge on the hit show since its premiere in 2002. Now, eight years later, he is the creator and producer of Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor. This leaves little room for his work in America and since his other two shows are in Britain it only makes since to drop American Idol right?
The answer varies throughout the public. Some feel that he is betraying America after it gave him his start on television, I on the other hand believe that maybe Simon Cowell is beyond American Idol now and should move on to bigger and better things. There’s no need to be held back when you have a great opportunity to be even more successful. Yes, I do think he has some obligation to America but wasn’t that fulfilled after judging eight seasons of the show? Besides, I think American Idol is getting a little old and needs to retire sometime soon or find something new to entice viewers. If not, I predict American Idol will be loosing popularity especially if Cowell decides to leave.
So what now? What is the future of American Idol without one of its star judges? Only time will tell if the show will continue to be a success or die out. Needless to say American Idol had its rein for almost a decade, maybe its time to past the torch and move to the next big thing.
In the infamous words of Simon Cowell this could be an “absolutely dreadful!” end to American Idol.
Staff Writer: Ariana Rogers
What does it take to be really considered a friend, best friend, boyfriend or girlfriend; it’s easier said then done. Each category can be defined differently based on what each person thinks it takes to become one but before you start considering who goes under what, think twice. The friends, best friends, girlfriend or boyfriend you had in elementary, junior high and high school are probably not the same ones that you have now. It’s upsetting sometimes when memories come to you and you just can’t understand what happened. The problem is that we easy label people in each category without actually knowing the person completely and wanting the happiness of that person sincerely. It’s hard to actually to achieve one or the other that’s why our life circles change as we age. The best thing that can be done before considering who goes where is to see how open, comfortable, willing, trustworthy, loving, forgiving, and forgetful that person can be to you.
The older you get the more you realize that all those piñatas and petting zoos in your past, should just stay in your past. I turned 16 today, and I woke up feeling just like I do every other day, tired. So yes, 16 years ago on this day, I was in a hospital crying and being steralized, joy to the world. And after the extragavent fiestas I have had, I just realized that I’ll want for my birthday is for the day just to be like every other. Sure, I enjoy being spoiled by my parents and getting material things, but I should be getting these things ever single day.
So thats pretty much it, thanks for all the wishes by the way.
By Laura Herrera Editor-in-Chief
Florida’s unemployment rate is 11%, I am a minor for a few more months and companies are still cutting back. These are not the best conditions to find a job, but with little savings and the cost of college just around the corner, I decided to stretch and look for work. Phase one of Operation GraduateCollegeWithNoDebt is officially in action.
Everyone will eventually reach this point and with some promising offers ahead of me here are some tips to help your job search out.
1) Do not cross out any opportunity
With unemployment the way it is you can’t afford to be picky and take chances. Apply anywhere you can. Don’t be afraid to break a sweat and do some good old-fashion work. Suck it up and apply to Publix, Winne Dixie, Boston Market, anywhere (my list has over 15 different companies).
2) STRETCH
Obviously don’t say you can work mornings on school days, but fill in as many time slots as you can. Employers can be very flexible but you have to be to.
3) For some cash in between look for the unconventional
You can find extra money in a lot of places. Here are a few tips besides looking for change in your car (thought that is not half bad)
- Sell old gold jewelry at a local jewelry shop.
-Start selling used books, CDs, DVDs, video games, etc. on Amazon.com
-Create accounts and “lenses” on site like Squidoo.com.(check out site for more info).
