Month: January 2020

The French Strikes: Swarming with History

BY PAULA AKAKPO
STAFF WRITER 

During the most tumultuous year for the United States—problems with Iran, an election year, and a presidential impeachment—France is dealing with its own conflict, a protest that is brimming with history. 

Reforms on the Pensions plans are causing the tension. In the last few years there were 42 pension plans; however, now President Macron is going to replace it with a single pension plan. The problem with this is that every pension plan existed to be tailored to the needs of different careers. 

Each pension plan had different retirement ages. Now there will only be one: 62 years old. Historically, this is very similar to the 1789 Revolution that caused people to storm the Bastille because of economic inequality and how out of touch their leaders were. 

This elimination has caused many to strike on Parisian streets. Starting from late December until now, the Protestors have been on the streets causing problems for Parisian commuters. Train services have been reduced and have cut off Paris from the rest of the province. This has caused loss of millions of euros for subway companies. By January, support of the protest has decreased. The protest may be dying down, but one thing that isn’t is the political waters that President Macron is riding on. 

At the moment, many citizens feel the same as people did during the 1789 revolution. Many believe that President Macron is out of touch and does not care about their interests. One protestor, Sebastien Preauda, said, “There’s Macron’s vision: He’s always about making profits, but we’re not here to make money. We’re here to provide a service to the public. And those people [—President Macron’s government—]they come from the world of finance. We’re fighting just to say, ‘We’ve worked all our lives, and now we have the right to rest.’” At the moment President Macron is seen as a banker, not the rebellious reformer he was viewed as during the campaign. 

The French government is still pushing against the protestors, even going as far as threatening them with arrest. However, the Protestors will not back down against the inequality—one that they have been fighting for since the start of their republic. 

SOURCES:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/world/europe/france-strikes-pensions.html

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-protests-pensions-explainer/explainer-whats-at-stake-in-macrons-reform-of-frances-cherished-pensions-idUSKBN1Y31GO

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/world/europe/france-strike-macron.html

IMAGE SOURCE: Benoit Tessier/Reuters 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/24/world/europe/france-yellow-vest-protest.html

Little Women: A Review

BY LAUREN PAULSON
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

**Warning: this review contains spoilers!**

With a hurried and anticipatory air, Jo March hurries out of an apartment and off to the Weekly Volcano Press, a different and surprising beginning to the seventh movie with the same title, Little Women. Instead of being greeted by the smiling faces of all the March sisters on Christmas morning as many audience members expected, the new film defies the idea of chronological timing and instead begins toward the end of the story. In a portrayal different than all of the previous movie adaptations of Little Women, this new film jumps around to different times and years in almost every scene to keep the story engaging and help audiences connect the interplay of parts of the story throughout time.

Debuting in the United States on December 25th (Christmas Day), 2019, the new Little Women movie is yet another retelling of the classic book written by Louisa May Alcott, a full twenty-five years after the last (1994) version was released. Many famous actors and actresses star in this film adaptation written and directed by Greta Gerwig, which was nominated six times at the Academy Awards and has impressively high reviews on top sites like Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. The adventurous and endearing March sisters were played by Saoirse Ronan (Jo), Emma Watson (Meg), Eliza Scanlen (Beth), and Florence Pugh (Amy); other well-known faces in the film include Laura Dern (Marmee) and Meryl Streep (Aunt March). 

Although it did not break any box-office records or make a stellar amount of gross income, Little Women has had an overwhelmingly positive response, and for good reason. The movie is a unique take on a classic story that is memorable and moving. As previously mentioned, the film begins towards the end of the story before flashing forward to the original beginning scene; throughout the rest of the movie flashbacks and forward jumps in time keep the pace fast and enticing. For newer audience members who have not watched earlier versions of the movie or read Little Women, this type of plotline might be confusing, but for long-time fans of the classic novel, the added twist keeps the story fresh and exciting.

With a slightly longer run time and different emphases, the new movie focuses on the main characters (the four March sisters and Laurie) and is able to develop their characters in a much more in-depth way than previous films have done. There is also more emphasis on the adult lives of each of the sisters, even after Jo moves away; in addition to the main focus on Jo, there is a deeper look into the lives of Meg, Beth, and Amy. In a scene not found in the book, Meg’s marriage to and life with John Brooke is focused on. Viewers get a closer look at Meg and her humanness: how she loves her husband and two children but is tired of being poor and being pitied by neighbors and “friends.”

Beth’s story is such a heartbreaking one, and I felt the movie did her justice by growing her character and giving the audience a window into her strong relationship with Jo. Although she has a very timid and shy personality, the new movie successfully establishes and advances her character into one of courage and selflessness. In fact, Beth cares so much about the Marches’ poor neighbors that she goes without her sisters to help with their sick children. It is this selfless act that leads to her sickness and eventual death, making it all the more tragic. I cried three times while watching the movie because of the poignant way Beth’s death and the family’s reaction to it is portrayed. The film was effective in provoking the audience to deeper questions about life, grief, and love.

Amy is usually disliked by readers and viewers because of her childish and selfish ways, but I thought the new movie did a wonderful job of showing her as a grown and mature woman who is able to think for herself and care about others. Audiences are able to see a little more of the rivalry between Jo and Amy, which leads to Amy’s real, human feelings of jealousy and unworthiness. The scene where Amy tells Laurie that she won’t marry him because she’s tired of being second-place to Jo is one of my favorites because it portrays how Amy has felt living in her sister’s shadow for so long. These scenes and others give viewers more of a look at the lives of all the March sisters, which I believe is a great addition to the story.

Besides the possible confusion from the way the movie jumps around, the only complaint I had was the age of the actress who played Amy. I thought there should have been a younger actress to play Amy as a young girl because she is supposed to be the youngest March sister, but she looks older than all the other actresses. Florence Pugh is a very talented actress who did a great job playing the character, but it was hard to imagine her as young because of how much she looks like an adult. This minor issue did not detract much from the movie as a whole, however. Overall, the film was entertaining, emotional, and deep, and I would recommend it to any audience. In my opinion, Little Women was a cinematic success.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Women_(2019_film)#Release

Image source:

https://tomandlorenzo.com/2019/10/little-women-character-posters-revealed-movie-preview-posters/

All About Hanukkah

BY LYNNE INOUYE AND SYDNEY WESCHCKE

STAFF WRITERS

Hanukkah, or the alternate spelling Chanukah, is a Jewish holiday celebrating the Maccbees’s victory over the Greek army and them restoring the menorah, or the lamp, of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The holiday, meaning “dedication”, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, with it normally being in late November or December. During the holiday, you light one candle per night in a special menorah, or candelabra. Saying thanks to God in the form of a special blessing, singing a hymn, and lighting the eight candles with a shammash (a ninth candle) is traditional. Families also give and exchange gifts every night and play games. 

Continue reading “All About Hanukkah” →

Winter Break Activities

BY ALAINA INOUYE AND BELLA TRINKO

STAFF WRITERS

  Break Activities Ideas

 Are you sitting at home with nothing to do? Well, here are things to do over break!

1) Watch Movies!

Watching movies is a great way to pass the time and spend time with family and friends. Here are some ideas:

  • Home Alone
  • Elf
  • Harry Potter
  • Titanic
  • Mama Mia 
  • La La Land 
  • Frozen 2
  • Star Wars 

2) Drawing

Drawing is a great pastime if you want some alone time. You only need a pencil and some paper to have a great time. If you want  to be extra you can color it. 

3) Cooking/Baking

If you enjoy cooking,winter break is a great time to enjoy this pastime. Here are some ideas on what to cook/bake:

  •  Cookies
  • Cupcakes
  • Banana Bread
  • Soup
  • Tacos

4) Youtube

Youtube offers a variety of different videos and is very entertaining. You can enjoy many different types of videos for free!

5) Listening To Your Favorite Songs

Listening to music is super entertaining if you enjoy the music you listen to. Whatever your style, it can be really fun to listen to music.

6) Reading

Reading is a great way to pass time! Here are some great options:

  • Percy Jackson series 
  • Harry Potter series 
  • Keepers of the Lost Cities series
  • Little Women
  • Narnia 

I hope these ideas will save you from boredom. Now go enjoy your break from school!  

Cinnamon Muffin Fall Recipe

BY PRANU VEDERE

STAFF WRITER

Fall is all about staying warm and comfy with your friends and family. Warm up on a crisp autumn day with this delicious recipe. This is a recipe for cinnamon muffins that everyone loves. These are easy to make, and you don’t need a whole lot of experience to bake them. This recipe makes 12 muffins; you should definitely give them a try.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups of all purpose flour
  • ⅔ cup of granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons of cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg 
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • ½ cup of buttermilk
  • 6 tablespoons of melted, unsalted butter
  • Cupcake liners
  • Muffin pan

Instructions

  1. First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Second, add all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt into a large bowl
  3. Add the ground cinnamon and the ground nutmeg into the same bowl.
  4. Use a spoon to stir the dry ingredients, so they are well combined.
  5. Add one egg into a medium sized bowl. Then, use a fork to lightly whisk the egg.
  6. Add the vanilla extract into the bowl.
  7. Next, add the buttermilk. When you add the buttermilk, it should be about room temperature.
  8. Add the butter into the mixture as well. This butter shouldn’t be burning hot when added to the bowl, it should be a little cooler.
  9. Use a spoon to mix the wet ingredients together.
  10. Now, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
  11. Use a rubber spatula to mix everything together. It is very important not to overmix your batter so be very gentle and slow when doing this. 
  12. Line your muffin pan with cupcake liners.
  13. Then, fill each muffin liner ¾ way with the batter.
  14. Finally, bake these muffins in the preheated oven for about 13 minutes. 
  15. After they are done baking, take them out to cool before you try them.

These cinnamon muffins are so much fun to make around this time of year! Share the muffins and the recipe with your friends and family. These also make a great dessert for Thanksgiving. I hope you try these out and enjoy the final result.

4 Popular Fruits Around the World

BY PARIBHASHA KAFLE

STAFF WRITER

Acai Berries 

Acai berries grow on palm trees in the Amazon forest of South America. Many people say that this berry tastes like a cross between blackberries or raspberries with a tint of dark chocolate. 

Dragon fruit 

Dragon Fruit is a very popular fruit originally from South America and Central America. This fruit has a sweet taste like a kiwi. It also has little black seeds similar to kiwi and has a similar texture. 

Lychee

This is a fruit very popular in China. The Chinese eat this fruit very often. It has a horny, red, outer shell which you will find a white, grape-like fruit inside. This fruit has a texture similar to a grape, and a large seed inside. It tastes sweet and bitter.

Image Link: https://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/articles/health_tools/berries_and_their_health_benefits_slideshow/493ss_thinkstock_rf_bowl_of_fresh_bluberries_on_wooden_table.jpg

Mr. Leonhardi – A New Math Teacher

BY MAYA CRANDALL

COMMUNICATIONS EDITOR IN-TRAINING

The 2019 school year introduced not only new students, but new teachers as well! Mr. Leonhardi, formerly a middle school math teacher at Mounds View School District, is one of the new additions and teaches Algebra II and Pre-Calculus. This year, he is most looking forward to “getting to know students and [understanding] how students learn best.” Mr. Leonhardi decided to become a math teacher after learning from a college professor who guided him towards a math education profession. 

“[I love] learning how students think and talk about math and learning about what is important to students besides math,” Mr. Leonhardi says. “Students are kind and helpful to one another!”

When not teaching, Mr. Leonhardi can be found going on bike rides, watching sports, or playing board games. Let’s make him feel welcome! We already know Mr. Leonhardi was a good choice for a new math teacher. 

Image Link: https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/sites/edtechmagazine.com.k12/files/styles/cdw_hero/public/articles/EdTech/201708/9george_math.jpg?itok=2HKdsRtP

BREXIT: The Never-Ending Conflict

BY PAULA AKAKPO

STAFF WRITER

Amidst Prime Minister Boris Johnson trying to suspend parliament in the United Kingdom for three weeks, there are new revelations that the prime minister may have broken the law. 

BREXIT means the British exit is the United Kingdom’s attempt to leave the European Union. The European Union (E.U.) is a union between twenty-eight European countries which allow free trade and movement within the countries. 

The U.K. has been trying to leave the E.U. for the past three years since the referendum vote. The referendum vote, or public vote, was held on June 23, 2016; about 52%-48% of people voted to leave the E.U. out of a 72% turnout. One main reason people wanted to leave the E.U. was because of the increase in immigration. Some felt that immigrants were “stealing” their jobs, and others felt that there was a total shift in culture. People were speaking languages other than English. The idea that a surge of immigrants is the cause for the new competition in the workforce is incorrect and highly misleading, causing some to call for a second vote, but nothing came of it. 

Former Prime Minister Theresa May tried twice to pass a deal in parliament, but they were both  voted down. This led up to her resignation, which she says is for a new perspective. 

According to Theresa May, “I know there is a desire for a new approach – and new leadership – in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations — and I won’t stand in the way of that.” 

Now the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has inherited the issue. He has said that the U.K. will leave the E.U. even if there is no deal on October 31st. 

Part of the reason parliament continues to reject the deals is because of the backstop. At the moment, there are no border posts or physical barriers at the Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland border; backstop would allow this to continue. However, the backstop would only continue if the U.K. did not find better border checks. Many conservatives opposed this because the U.K. could be trapped in backstop for years, forcing the country to be stuck in the E.U.’s customs union. 

This led to Prime Minister Boris Johnson trying to suspend parliament from September 10th to October 14th, which he says was to prepare for a new Queen’s speech, which takes place every year. But his opponents have stated that he tried to suspend parliament to limit the debate on a no deal. Speaker of the House John Bercow has said, “Shutting down Parliament would be an offense against the democratic process and the rights of Parliamentarians as the people’s elected representatives.”

The U.K. Supreme Court ruled that Boris Johnson’s suspension of parliament was unlawful because it prevented parliament to carry out its constitutional functions, so parliament is now in session. 

Though it is hard to believe that BREXIT could have an impact on U.S. economy, some economists have said otherwise.

 “American investment in companies in the U.K. is huge. Similarly, British investment in America is huge,” says Kai Ryssdal on The Market Place. “Some people say that Brexit, however it happens, could affect up to 2 million jobs — British and American. It’s hard to say how many of which, but that’s a lot of jobs. Global downturns affect us all. Brexit is part of that.” 

As BREXIT continues with no deal in sight, it will be interesting to see how the conflict will end on October 31st. 

Sources (with MLA):

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/09/uk/boris-johnson-prorogation-explainer-gbr-intl/index.html

Picheta, Rob. “Why Was the UK Parliament Suspended and What Does It Mean for Brexit?” CNN, Cable News Network, 10 Sept. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/09/uk/boris-johnson-prorogation-explainer-gbr-intl/index.html.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887

“Brexit: All You Need to Know about the UK Leaving the EU.” BBC News, BBC, 3 Oct. 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887.

https://www.marketplace.org/2019/08/29/your-brexit-questions-answered/

Image Link: https://www.dw.com/image/47902166_303.jpg

Middle Schooler Stereotypes

BY ZACHARY BARNABY
STAFF WRITER

Six Sixlet Stereotypes

  1. You’re short.
  2. You forget your assignments. 
  3. You won’t stop playing snake.
  4. You’re scared of eighth graders. 
  5. You’re constantly late.
  6. You complain about your homework.

Seven Signs You’re a Sevie

  1. You think you’re way better than sixlets.
  2. You try desperately to be popular.
  3. You get into a lot of drama. 
  4. You wear jeans with holes in them. 
  5. Sixlets hate you. 
  6. You call sixlets “small child”.
  7. You complain about your homework.

Eight Examples of Eightheopians 

  1. You think you rule Building A. 
  2. You don’t care about anything.
  3. You’re fake.
  4. You have seventeen crushes.
  5. You think sixth and seventh graders are obnoxious.
  6. You’re very gullible.
  7. You think you’re a high schooler.
  8. You complain about your homework.

Yearbook Class

BY AALA RASHID

STAFF WRITER

This year, 2019-2020 school year, Math and Science Academy announced a new Yearbook Class run by Ms. Nordstrom! Yearbook is not new to MSA as it has always been a club. However, with not many members attending, MSA decided to add it as a class to increase the interest. So far, it has been a success! With over twenty members helping out with the yearbook, it is without a doubt going to turn out amazing!

Everyday the yearbook members are assigned different pages to work on. They earn a point for the day if they use their work time carefully. The yearbook members work together to create the grade pages, front cover, and club pages. The MSA yearbook is designed online. This year the class was introduced to a brand-new app, so even though the editors have been in yearbook for three years, it is also new to them. 

There are four yearbook editors that meet together on Thursday mornings to go over the yearbook. Usually they talk about the next week and what the yearbook members need to do to stay on track. 

If anyone is interested in yearbook, make sure to keep an eye out to add it to your schedule next year! This is a great way to be a part of MSA! 

Image Link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/asset.treering.com/wp-content/uploads/20171019185743/yearbook-design-ideas-portrait-pages-garrett-675×525.jpg

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