Tongue twisters, or trabalenguas, are an excellent way to improve your Spanish pronunciation and speed! Here are a few to try:
To Practice ‘m’ Sounds
Mi mamá me mima mucho.
(My mom spoils me a lot.)
To Practice ‘b’ Sounds
El bebé bebe bebidas con burbujas.
(The baby drinks beverages with bubbles.)
To Practice ‘p and c’ Sounds
Pepe Pecas pica papas con un pico, con un pico pica papas Pepe Pecas.
(Joe Freckles chops potatoes with a pick, with a pick Joe Freckles chops potatoes.)
To Practice ‘rr’ Sounds
Erre con erre guitarra, erre con erre barril. Rápido corren los carros, cargados de azúcar del ferrocarril.
(R and r guitar, r and r barrel. The carts roll along quickly, laden with sugar from the train.)
To Practice ‘cua and cue’ Sounds
Cuando cuentes cuentos, cuenta cuantos cuentos cuentas cuando cuentes cuentos.
(When you tell stories, say how many stories you tell when you tell stories.)
Super Challenge!
El volcán de Parangaricutirimícuaro se quiere desparangaricutiriguarízar, y él que lo desparangaricutiricuarízare será un buen desparangaricutirimízador.
(The volcano of Parangaricutirimicuaro wants to “desparangaricutiriguarize” and whoever “desparangaricutiriguarizes” it will be a good “desparangaricutiriguarizer.”)
Say these as often as possible, and you’ll be speaking Spanish fast in no time!
The Australia wildfires are like nothing we have seen before. More than 12 million acres have burned up due to this tragedy. The fires have been centered around New South Wales and Victoria, but millions more acres have burned in other parts of the country. A found cause of most of the fires is due to climate change. Though Australian fires are normal and recurring every year, these fires continuously grow larger and larger, burning things down in their path because of the hotter, drier air, climate change has brought. The fire has impacted Australia negatively and devastatingly, killing at least twenty nine people, destroying over 2,900 homes, and leaving hundreds of millions of animals perished, starving, or dehydrated in burning conditions. Smoke created from the fires blanket over cities like Melbourne and Sydney, giving them ash polluted air. The prolonged exposure of bushfire smoke to millions of people has raised fears of health effects that could last for years. Scientists believe that climate change will continue to bring longer, more intense fires if we do not do anything to make a bigger impact on protecting the Earth.
As you were walking to the park, you saw seven men with seven wives each, who were carrying seven sacks each, which held seven cats each. The cats weighed exactly seven pounds each, and they had exactly seven kittens each, who weighed exactly seven ounces each. How many things, both living and inactive, were going to the park? (Hint: The answer is in the first sentence)
John’s mother had three children. One was named April, one was named May. What was the third child’s name? (Hint: The answer is in the first sentence)
It’s so fragile even just saying its name can break it. What is it? (Hint: Be quiet and think)
It’s been around for millions of years but is never more than a month old. What is it? (Hint: It spins and it’s huge)
Three doctors said Bill was their brother. Bill said he had no brothers. Who was lying? (Hint: List all of Bill’s possible family members)
Name three consecutive days without using the words Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. (Hint: The first one starts with a Y, and the next two start with a T)
When you’re not up for it, music as a concept can be a pretty daunting task. It’s formed as math and works like a science. Every brain processes it in a different way. It takes all sorts of forms for all sorts of people.
There are some professionals who spend way too much time thinking about this stuff and have devoted their lives to deciphering the building blocks that make music tick. The truth of the matter is, if it were an easy-to-define concept, we wouldn’t be wasting all this time trying to figure it out. However, in the chance that you find yourself willing to look into the theory of music, and are interested enough to learn about the pieces so that you might be able to use them yourself, consider this article to be an Introduction course from someone who took those musical puzzle pieces and put them together in the weirdest way possible.
All music theory stems from the most basic unit of good-vibe sound: the notes. They’re the letters that form words and the numbers that form equations. You can walk over to a piano or pick up a guitar, and with a little help from the internet, you can locate any note ranging A through G. Between these notes, there’s also sharps and flats, which are like the half-step between two full notes. These can get confusing if you don’t know where they stem from, but the long and short of it is that some frequencies get to be letters and some get to be letters with a hashtag (that’s a sharp) or some other symbol (a flat), so we could easily find them all on a piano (hence the black keys; those are your sharps and flats. They’re arranged unevenly so every note might be easily located).
The words these note letters form are called chords, and like words, they get progressively more complicated, and you make them by adding letter after letter until it sounds correct. The chord C Major is the simplest one you’ll ever be taught. If the C is the one of the chord, think of the E note as a three, and the G note as a five. One with three with five equals… a C Major Chord!
Music Theory is all about analyzing chords. We look into which ones a composer will use, the order they use them, how they arrange them, and the effect they have musically. You could keep adding thirds onto that C Major, for example. Say you throw in a Bflat. This would be the seven of the chord. One plus three plus five plus seven equals C Major 7! Add the nine, C Major 9! Etc., etc., etc.
Different variations of which numbers you put together lead to some very weird chords, just like there’s weird words– for every jentacular there’s an A#susdim11/C. Not all of them sound very good on their own, but in theory, anything can sound poignant with the right execution.
Is any of this starting to make any sense? If you’d like to take a step further on your Music Theory journey, this playlist is a pretty good place to start. Hope I’ve put my brain into yours a little, and good luck makin’ them musics!
The Angora Rabbit is one of the oldest types of domestic rabbit. It is bred for its long furry coat. They originally come from Ankara, Turkey. Their lifespan is an average of 7-12 years or more. They usually weigh about 2.0–3.5 kg (4.4–7.7 lbs.). Their coat colors are white or colored, natural or dyed.
2. Terror Birds
Terror Birds may be extinct, but they are still interesting. Terror Birds, also known as Phorusrhacids, were alive during the Cenozoic era. They lived in South America. Their height ranged from 2-3 ft. tall, but the largest species found were 10 ft. tall. They had a wide range of interesting colors, including white, red, and green.
3. The Dumbo Octopus
The Dumbo Octopus, unlike the Terror Bird, is still alive. The Dumbo Octopus is a rare bottom-of-the-ocean find. Their scientific name is Grimpoteuthis. Now, why are they on the list? They are quite cute, despite being able to swallow their prey whole. But they won’t harm humans. The largest one found was only 20 cm. So us humans are safe. The octopus swims with its fin-like ear. It was named the Dumbo octopus, because it resembles “Dumbo”from the 1941 Disney Film.
4. Kakapo
The Kakapo is the world’s largest parrot. It evolved into a large peaceful bird because of the lack of mammalian predators. Kakapos can live up to 95 years old, and its scientific name is the strigops habroptilus. They are found in New Zealand. They are critically endangered with less than 200 left in the world. When Europeans arrived, they brought along cats and dogs; that learned the Kakapos’ scents. Poor Kakapos.
5. Olm
The Olm looks like it could be a snake or giant worm with arms and legs. They can live up to 100 years old. This blind salamander has a great sense of hearing and smelling. They have pale human-like skin and can go up to ten years without food. They can be found in the Limestone Caves of Southern Europe. Many fisherman now believe in sea monsters, after catching this creature.
6. Flying Squid
The Flying Squid? I thought it was Flying Fish. It turns out there is also a Flying Squid. The Flying Squid’s scientific name is Todarodes pacificus. Female lying Squid can lay up to 4,000 eggs at a time. The squid prefer to be in colder water and can be found in water less than 25 degrees Celsius. They can glide up to 11.3 meters per second, and can remain airborne for up to three seconds and cover 30 meters upward. We can no longer consider squid to be just a creature of the sea, but now the air as well.
7. Mandarinfish
The Mandarinfsh is considered one of the most beautiful creatures, but beware: they cause trouble. Mandarinfish use poison and a foul, disgusting stench to keep predators away. They are covered in tiny spines that inject poison in to anyone or anything that tries to eat it or touch it. The Mandarinfish produces two secretary cells in its epidermis. One cell produces a thick slimy mucus coating that protects it from the dangers, and the other produces toxins to protect it from predators. Not only is the toxin-mucus coating dangerous, but it is even worse for the predator. Reportedly, they smell disgusting.
8. Bactrian Camel The Bactrian camel is more popularly known as the camel with two humps. There are thought to be more than a million Bactrian camels domesticated worldwide. Bactrian Camels are often used by people to carry or pull heavy loads or groups of people. Their scientific name is the Camelus bactrianus, and they can live up to 50. Like the single humped camel, they store fat which can be converted into water and energy. They can run up to 40 mph (64 km/h). They are currently endangered with less than 1,000 in the wild parts of China and Mongolia. They can weigh between 1322 lbs and 1800 lbs (600 kg – 800 kg). Even with their thick fur, in the summer they are able to keep cool because their coat sheds off.
Manipulation is probably something everyone has experience with. Individuals who use guilt, pressure or other methods to take advantage of people to seize power. Manipulators will make you doubt yourself and use you to benefit themselves. It seems simple, but people like this are surprisingly hard to spot, or, if you do spot them, hard to acknowledge. Part of a manipulator’s power relies on their deception of their victim, using tactics to make themselves seem innocent.
That’s why, the first step to recognizing manipulation is awareness. If you find a person exploiting your weakness, convincing you to do something you don’t want to do, and repeating the cycle, you should identify it as a problem. You, in this scenario, do not have to be alone, you can regroup and can talk to friends or family to receive a second perspective. It’s important to remember that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and if someone isn’t treating you as such, that is not your fault. You shouldn’t blame yourself, and make sure to remember that you are not the problem here.
Some traits that manipulators have that can help you identify them are:
One main one that we found in our research(as stated before) is that they will often use your weaknesses against you.
They will often say one thing then another.
They will make you feel guilty for something that wasn’t your fault.
They will hardly ever take responsibility for their mistakes or actions.
They almost always play the victim.
There are many other traits but from our research this seems to be the main signs/ traits.
After recognizing a manipulator, a solution would be to distance yourself. This distancing can be physical, as actively trying to avoid them, or emotional, as in realizing and reiterating their behavior is irrational and you deserve to be treated with respect. A more specific example, however, is using time to your advantage. A majority of manipulators expect and pressure you to respond to them right away, thus keeping a hold on your attention and time. Slowly, they up the stakes, expecting you to bend to their every request. This is why that just not responding or giving a noncommittal answer to a manipulator will help you distance yourself. They will often try to get you to depend on them as much as they can to gain power and control you.
Or, you can say simply say no, too. Sometimes it’s hard to do so, or it feels rude, so you feel guilty. Communication is important, however, and part of that is knowing how to say no, kindly but firmly. Again, the most important point of this article, is that you deserve to be treated with respect. You shouldn’t let someone guilt you into doing something that you don’t want to do.
In conclusion, remember that you have rights and that you should be respected and treated kindly. This goes the other way too though, because you need to treat others (even people you don’t like) with the same respect and kindness you deserve. Thank you for reading our article and we hope it helps!
Some politicians have come out against President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of troops out of Syria. However, if you weren’t a political analyst understanding the reason for the backlash would be difficult. Here’s why recent events are causing so much turmoil.
On October 6th the White House announced the U.S. would withdraw troops from a region of northern Syria that borders Turkey. At that time Turkey had incurred into Syria, fighting against those it considers terrorist. One of the groups are the Kurdish fighters who have been allies of the U.S. against fighting ISIS. The US partnership with the Kurds in Syria began during the Obama administration but under Trump the fighters were armed.
The Kurds are an ethnic group located in Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Armenia. The Kurds are without a homeland because of the Western powers who drew the region’s map after World War I and the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. The Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 established a Turkush state but it omitted a Kurdish nation-state and the population was divided across several different countries.
The Kurds continue to face repression and violence and have struggled to maintain their identities. In Syria they are denied basic rights and citizenship and face severe discrimination. Thought Syria’s President, Bashar al-Assad, supported the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Turkey in the 1980s and 1990s, it was mostly to disrupt Turkey.
Turkey has had a long history with the Kurds living there. For decades the PKK in Turkey have been trying to establish their own independent Kurdish state at the border. In 1984 the PKK waged an armed war against the Turkish state, a conflict that has killed 40,000 people.
In the Turkish perspective, if there was a Kurdish run state at their border it would be an existential threat to their government and they want to completely eliminate the Kurds.
This is why the U.S. withdrawing troops from Syria is so problematic. When the U.S. leaves Syria the Kurds will be facing an attack, and Turkey has already invaded Syria. Hundred have been killed and wounded and 130,000 people have been displaced out of Northern Syria.
Though President Trump continues to insist that the Kurds are no danger, “The Kurds are much safer right now. But the Kurds know how to fight — and, as I said, they’re not angels. They’re not angels.” That is simply not the case. At the moment the Kurds are facing total annihilation by Turkey, and their closest allies, the United States, has abandoned them.
And this will not only affect the Kurds. The U.S. has lost its anti-ISIS ally. Making it harder to defeat ISIS in future years.
Works Cited
Kirby, Jen. “9 Questions about Turkey, Syria, and the Kurds You Were Too Embarrassed to
Homecoming is an incredible event which happens each year. This year was a massive success with music, concessions, and dancing. The entire event was done by the hard work of student council who planned, set up, and took down homecoming. When you first walked in you would get your ID checked and (hopefully) would buy some concessions. After that, you could get your picture taken by Ethan Semler or listen to Sam Wurdemann play music on the piano in the room to the right, or you could go out into the great hall and do some dancing. Overall, homecoming 2019 was a massive success of fun and enjoyment for all who came.
New Years is a time to have fun and spend time with friends and family. It’s a time to recap on the year and set goals for the following one. There are many classic traditions for New Year’s, but there are other fun activities you can do as well. Here are some joyful things to do with your friends and family on New Year’s Eve.
1. Have a Bake-off
Get together with all of your friends. Pick your favorite recipes and create some magic in the kitchen.
2. Share Your New Year’s Resolution
This classic tradition is a great way to start off the new year. 2020 is the time for a fresh start.
3. Have a Sleepover
What better way to celebrate the New Year’s than to countdown with all of your friends while doing fun activities and sharing your deepest secrets. How cool is it to pull an all-nighter on the last day of the year!
4. Play Party Games
Have hours full of laughter while playing simple, easy minute to win it games. Enjoying games of pictionary, charades, cup stacking, and many more with people you love can be the best way to end 2019.
5. Movie Marathon
Binge watching your favorite shows and movies can be the most relaxing thing ever. Sit down with buttered popcorn and watch all of the classics.
New Year’s Eve is a great time to hang out with friends and family! I hope you liked these five ways to enjoy New Year’s Eve. It is that time of year again when everybody is waiting for a new start, so cheers to 2020!
Academic Triathlon is a fun activity which encourages boys and girls from 5th to 8th grade to use their intelligence and creativity. You will meet at schools around the district and participate in a few activities. Normally, each meet has around seven teams. There are three parts to Academic Triathlon, which include two Face-Offs, three Mind Sprints, and one P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box. The Face- Offs include one Written Face-Off and one Oral Face-Off. You can think of them as quizzes. Mind Sprints are fast activities that are 8 minutes each, and they make you think quickly. P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box is the longest one, which takes around 1 hour to complete. All teams have 40 minutes to prepare a skit, only using materials in the box given to them. They normally include milk jugs, straws, plates, and other random things. One time, they even included an Airhead as a prop. Then, the teams perform in front of a few judges, and each skit normally takes around 5 minutes. There is a penalty for going 15 seconds above the time limit, and then every 15 seconds after that. Each offense deducts three points from your overall P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box score.
The most recent meet was on Friday, January 6th. It was at Bailey Elementary and was around 3 to 4 hours long. There were seven teams competing, and since there were seven teams, the top three teams were awarded ribbons. This meet was a Round Robin 2, so it had no effect on your chances of getting into the state meet. One of our MSA teams, the Nerds won 1st place for this meet. The next meet is on Friday, February 7th, so, if you can make time to cheer our teams on, feel free to! P.A.R.T.Y. in a Box skit performances and the award presenting are open to the public, but most of the time, only close friends and family come to watch.
