November 20th: Quote of the Day

"I've heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, some come from behind. But I've brought a bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me."

-Dr. Seuss

Be prepared for what life throws at you. Don't let small things beat on you...beat them instead. Dr. Seuss always had many words of wisdom disguised in children's books. You may look funny, but I recommend picking up a Dr. Seuss book and looking for possible life lessons.

-Written by Ashley Burnette

When Will the Golden State Warriors Lose?

The Golden State Warriors have been on a tear. They are the currently the only undefeated NBA team left. Like most of their supporters, I firmly believe that they will win all the rest of their games in November. Their toughest game should be when they play the Los Angeles Clippers November 19th. The rest of the games in November the Warriors should easily win but you never know in the NBA.

The game I think they might lose in December is a rematch against the Toronto Raptors. They almost lost to them on November 17th. They won by the skin of their teeth because curry hit some clutch free throws to seal the game. They won 115-110 so I know the Toronto Raptors will be ready to get revenge and take the win whether the Golden State Warriors are undefeated or not. So either way, Golden State better come ready to win.

Written by Billy Coles

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Democratic Debate Summary

The November Democratic debate aired last Saturday the 14th, on CBS and included Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O’Malley. Some of the major points made by the debaters were:

1. One of the obvious major points was the terrorist attacks in Paris. All debaters made points on how they personally would handle the ISIS situation.  Sanders said that we as a country should “rid the planet of the barbaric organization  known as ISIS”, O’Malley said that “his heart went out to the people of Paris”, and Clinton mentioned that it’s important to remember that the election was “not just about choosing a president, but a commander in chief” as well.
2. Clinton actually made several comments about ISIS, saying that, despite President Obama’s statement, that ISIS has not been contained.
3. Sanders went after Clinton, saying "Why over her political career has Wall Street been a major, the major campaign contributor to Hillary Clinton? Maybe they're dumb and they don't know what they're going to get, but I don't think so,… I have never heard a candidate, never, who has received huge amounts of money from oil, from coal, from Wall Street from the military industrial complex, not one candidate -- 'Oh these, these campaign contributions will not influence me.' But why do they make millions of dollars of campaign contributions? They expect to get something, everybody knows that."
4. Clinton fired back, talking about her involvement in re-building the financial district after the 9/11 attacks.

Overall I think that the debates were very interesting. I would definitely consider watching more of the upcoming debates, both Democratic and Republican. Even if you can’t  vote,  they’re a great way to figure out your beliefs and who you think would do the best job at running this country.

Watched the debate? Comment your thoughts below!

Written by Madison Clayton

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Muslims Aren’t Out To Get You

     Why, in 2015, does where we come from and what we look like define us? It's no secret that the world is full of prejudice. We see examples of that prejudice throughout history; however, with the tragedy of 9/11 and the recent terrorist attacks on Paris, some people have become extremely prejudiced against Muslim people. The Islamic religion is a peaceful one. ISIS has claimed to practice the Islamic religion yet they attack mosques and kill innocent people.

     I've never personally met anyone who is Muslim, but I know that it’s wrong to blame a whole people group for the mistakes of some. We should be standing together at this time of crisis. Christian, Islam, Jewish, whatever religion you are, we are supposed to respect our differences even if we don't believe the same thing. When countries stand together we are stronger against our common enemy. Instead of turning against the muslim people and those who practice the islamic religions, we should be defending them from the undeserved slander they receive. They are not terrorists and they are not responsible for the actions of ISIS. The Islamic religion is not at fault.

Written by Jasmine Bonner

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Top 5 Cheap Travel Destinations

Almost everyone likes to travel. It’s a great way to spend vacation time, or just a great way to learn about new places. However, sometimes our wallets don’t exactly agree with our fantastic dreams. This doesn’t mean that travel is impossible. Here are five great travel destinations that will still let you have fun without completely breaking the bank.

1. Coney Island, NY -

While this amusement park is extremely famous, Coney Island’s price doesn’t take that into account.  Bring about $30-35 to have a good time at the park. The problem arises in the getting there, but there is a solution: take a bus.

2. Outer Banks, NC -

That’s right: the Outer Banks. This trip is only 2-2.5 hours from Hampton, so getting there by car is a great idea. The beaches are free to enjoy, everything is in walking distance, and the surrounding food and souvenirs are either cheap or reasonably priced. If visiting during September to October, there are definite pros. The weather is right at the 70-80s, and because it would be off season, the piggy bank will be very happy with you.

3. Charlottesville, VA -

One of Virginia's many historical gems, Charlottesville is filled with fun for the nerds and onlookers alike. Monticello is a little pricey at $20-25/ticket, but the ticket includes the house tour, a self tour of the slave tunnels and grounds. University of Virginia, the college that Thomas Jefferson founded, is free to roam around as long as you're respectful of the students attending there. In the actual town of Charlottesville, there is a huge shopping plaza to just window shop if you can't afford that cute jacket right then.

4. Washington, DC -

The capital of the U.S. is filled with attractions for everyone. Anyone can take a picture in front of the White House or go to the Smithsonian for free. Shawarma and other different foods are found in diverse restaurants all over the city. Outside strip malls, indoor malls, and entire streets dedicated to shopping can have people occupied for hours or days, depending on time limit and stamina.

5. Bradford, PA -

For nature lovers, the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania is gorgeous. Camping rates are great, less than $20 per night. During the day, anyone can fish, hunt, swim, or just walk through the woods. During the night, you can have a fire and enjoy the stars. Transportation may get dicey; if you drive, so watch the gas price. It will stereotypically climb the more north you get.

If you know of any travel spots, or just enjoyed the list, comment below.

Written by Keira Zirkle

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Picture of the Week

I took this picture the other day while I was on a walk with some friends. I used my Nikon D-50 to snap it, so the quality is really high. I focused the camera on the biggest bunch of the holly berries so the background would be blurred out. Holly is so beautiful and the lighting outside was absolutely perfect for this picture.

Photography is always something that helps me capture some of my favorite moments. I love being about to take pictures of beautiful plants like holly bushes. Walking around and taking creative pictures really helps me take my mind off things. This photo excites me and reminds me of Christmas which is just around the corner.

-Written by Emily Taylor

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Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

    

  I cannot tell a lie, I love shoes. Shoes can make or break an entire outfit. But it's become a serious addiction. I have at least 20 pairs of shoes and I only wear like 4 consistently. As a girl it’s an unspoken rule that you have to have at least two pair of heels. A nice pair of heels cost at least $30.  People always spend over $100 on Jordan’s. While those are some very nice shoes, buying two pairs could make you broke for months. I know personally can't afford to purchase five pairs of Jordans.

There is a solution to this problem. The answer lies: thrift shopping. Now just hear me out, I know it sounds like a corny-macklemore cliche but it really is the best option. You can buy up to six pairs of shoes for only $15-20 dollars. But remember,  there is such thing as too many shoes. Just because you CAN buy six pairs of shoes doesn't mean you NEED six pairs of shoes. All I am saying is to take the better deal. Here are three signs that you probably have a shoe addict

1. If you have more shoes than clothes to wear

2. If when you go back-to-school shopping you only end up buying shoes

3. If over the past year the majority of your purchases have been new pairs of shoes. (Basically if you're Zoe)  

So to wrap this up, shoes are great, but only in small quantities. DO NOT go overboard. Remember need and want are two different things.

Written by Jasmine Bonner

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Quote of the Day: November 19th

"Everyone wants happiness and no pain, but there's no rainbow without rain"

-Unknown

If life has you down, keep looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. If you're life is always perfect...you're lying. Everyone has ups and downs but don't think if you're in your "down" that you won't have ups. Life is crazy, and you never know what's going to happen but just keep looking up. There will be better days.

Written by Ashley Burnette

Book of the Month: “Mockingjay” by Suzanne Collins

   It’s no secret that Hunger Games has taken over the world, and there’s a good reason for it.  This series is one of my favorites, but I’ve specifically chosen the third book “Mockingjay” because its movie adaptation, “Mockingjay Part 2”, is premiering in theaters this Friday. Also it’s my favorite book of the entire Hunger Games series. I don’t want to give too much away about the plot in case you’re one of those people who see the movies without reading the books, but I can tell you that this is by far the craziest book of the series. With intense cliffhanger, imagery, and choices, Katniss must face not only her demons but herself and try to once again reign victorious.  If you’re planning on seeing the movie, I would recommend reading the book first. It’s not required to see the movie, but I would say that if you don’t, you’re missing out on one of the best endings of a trilogy YA novel. Overall, I’d rate this book 4/5, which is pretty good. Already read Mockingjay? Comment your love, hate, or Katniss/Peeta fan fics below!

Written by Madison Clayton

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App of the Week: This War of Mine

One of the best phone games ever, This War of Mine, takes place in the middle of a war, but instead of being a soldier, you're controlling a group of civilians trying to scavenge for materials to survive. During the day you're messing around at your base, trying to take care of wounded or sick survivors. You can also  use materials that you have found to craft weapons, medicine, trade-able goods, and useful appliances.

At night, you can choose to have one of your survivors head out to search nearby areas for materials, and have the rest of the group either sleep or keep watch for intruders. If you choose to have a survivor go search, then you will be able to control them and savage for yourself, but be warned: you may meet some unfriendly people. Normally this game is played on PC. I was really surprised when I saw it was an app, but it actually was great. I can’t believe how easy it is to play on the iPhone. Overall This War of Mine is a really good game and I would recommend it. But don’t just take my word for it. Head on over to the app store and check it out for yourself!

Written by Dustin Jones

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Quote of the Day: November 18th

"I like pie. Apple pie to be exact"

-Alexis Goode

This quote was courtesy of the amazing little Lexi, one of my favorite classmates. There's no true meaning behind this other than she really likes apple pie. A little comic relief never hurt anyone and I was tired of doing "inspirational quotes." Hope this made you smile!

-Written by Ashley Burnette

Rhonda Rousey VS. Herself

   Almost everyone saw that brutal fight between Rhonda Rousey and Holly Holms. Even though I cringed at Holms’ knockout of Rousey with a swift kick to the neck, I have very little sympathy for Rhonda at the moment. She should quit fighting and go into fortune telling. Rousey is the only person I know of that, as cocky as she, is predicted her own loss, and the exact way she would lose. Rousey stated "I feel like she's going to try and like, keep distance and keep far away from me and get me frustrated until a point I make a mistake and she can try and kick me in the head.

Unfortunately for Rhonda, she was right.Holms saw an opening, took it, and that was the last thing Rousey saw.  Wow, she is like Ali. Well only in the aspect that she made a prediction and it came true. Ali predicted which rounds he would win and Rousey predicted how she would lose. Maybe I should lighten the mood and say at least she’ll  grace the cover of UFC2, unless Holly Holmes gets it,  since she is in my eyes, "the best female fighter in the world".

I say this is a type of poetic justice for Rousey. You can't only have twelve fights your career and say you’re the greatest. As a Rousey fan, I hope that she takes time off, makes a game plan, and come back stronger than ever. Ronda next time predict how you will win so you can get your belt back, and so your fans, like myself, can stop hearing flack from the media!

Written by Josh Lewis

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Draft Kings and FanDuel Illegally Gambling?

Draft Kings is a top notch payment process for fantasy sports winnings of skill based gaming. Currently, forty nine of the fifty states allow skill based gaming. You can build your team in only minutes and watch your scores update live online. FanDuel is a web based fantasy sports game and the largest company as measured by money wagered in the daily fantasy sports industry. The model consist of traditional season long fantasy sports leagues being compressed into a daily,and occasionally weekly, games.

Draft Kings and FanDuel were ordered to stop accepting bets from New York residents. The reason why? The state of New York says that their games constituted illegal gambling under state law. Legal experts said that the action was likely to be repeated in other states where legislatures and investigators questioned whether the industry should inhibit directives that govern legalized gambling. The sports companies contended that their games are not gambling, because it involved the use of strategy and skill  to win and not just  luck. They were legally sanctioned by a federal law in 2006 that exempted fantasy sports prohibition against processing online financial wagering. The spotlight on these companies has grown since last week, when they were forced to react to questions about the integrity of their games after a data breach involving a DraftKings employee. The same employee won $350,000 in a FanDuel contest, leading to questions about whether he had used that information to game the system.The companies say he did not and that there was no wrongdoing. New York attorney general, Eric Shneiderman is one the many people who want to know more. He sent letters to both companies asking for employee information, including a list of those with access to insider data and how they control for potential fraud Both companies said they have already banned employees from playing on rival sites for money. What do you think? How FanDuel and Draft Kings bet too much? Or is the state just bluffin? Comment your thoughts below!

Written by Carlos Marrow

Quote of the Day: November 17th

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone."

-Unknown

Sometimes, in order to see what God has planned for you, you need to step out of what feels "comfortable" to you. For me, that happened recently. In Performing Arts (my Bible class) we are working on a Christmas play. Now I don't know what you know about me, but I do NOT act in front of people...or so I thought. I was “voluntold” to act during the play and I definitely wasn’t comfortable with it at first. Through several lessons and exercises, I’ve learned so much more about perfoming arts and have become much less nervous. However, I've also learned we all are nervous outside of our comfort zones. it’s not about how nervous you are, but rather how you work in spite of your nerves to accomplish something amazing.

Written by Ashley Burnette

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HCA Mission Movement

At Hampton Christian Academy, our school is based on an underlying principle of serving others. As we go into the time before winter break, we can look back and see how the school has already been putting that principle into practice. From collecting items for the Woman's Shelter, writing letters to hospitalized children and soldiers, tutoring children at the W.H. Thomas Community center, collecting Thanksgiving food items for the Breakthrough Center, and collecting shoe-boxes for Operation Christmas Child, the entire school has worked together in their cause to help and serve those in need. These outreach programs have received incredible amounts of participation. It's heartwarming to watch all students come together and serve our community.

Even if you weren’t directly involved in some of the outreaches just mentioned, there is always to opportunity to work on another project or fundraiser. Until Christmas break, students can help NYSUM team collect toys and candy, and wrap Christmas gifts. Not that great a present wrapper? You could also continue to help tutor the kids at W.H Thomas. Also, if you have any other ideas about service projects that we could do, feel free to comment! We’d love to help in any way we can!

Written by Keira Zirkle

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#MIZZOU

The University of Missouri was put on high alert after threatening posts were found on popular anonymous college social media site Yik Yak. These posts alluded to a possible anti-black motivated shooting or attack.

These threats were seen and shared by hundreds of students across the campus. They caused many students alarm. Fearing for their safety, many students had to make the choice whether or not to go to class on the day the threats were made. By not putting up a united front, the faculty only further perpetuated the problem. Professors debated on whether or not to take action with the police. Some professors said that the posts were jokes, while other professors took the posts more seriously. Many students tried not to come to class, and posted their professors’ responses on social media, noting an overall lack of sympathy for their unique predicaments.  In the end, no police action was taken about the threats, which turned out to be a big mistake.

A few days later, there were reports of white students in pick-up trucks en-circling black students and blocking them from leaving the campus parking lots. Along with trapping the black students in the lot, the students in the trucks also screamed out racial slurs and various threats. There were even reports of KKK member sightings, although this is still a rumor. Fortunately, no one was injured, although many left the parking lot shaken, and took to social media to tell their stories….

While under this oppression, the african american students of Mizzou made their story widespread, hoping that the nation would hear their plight. Many of the african american students and allies rallied together at this attack on their freedom. The taglin #Mizzou became a rallying cry for Historically Black colleges and universities as well as public, private, and state schools Across the nation, people pledged their support, and stated that they “stood with mizzou.”

Authorities have now found three of the alleged Yik Yak posters. All three posters are white, male, nineteen-year-olds, and two of the three are current students of the University of Missouri; their names are Hunter Park, Connor Stottlemyre, and Tyler Bradenberg. All three were charged with threats of terrorism. While these threats and displays of aggression were meant to silence a people group determined to maintain their freedom to education, it only succeeded in making them stronger than ever

Written by Zoe Jones

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Quote of the Day: November 19th

"Who says we have to grow up?"

-Walt Disney

People are going to try to rush us to start acting more  mature and responsible. While there’s nothing wrong with being these things, that doesn’t mean we have to give up everything interesting about ourselves in order to get there. Nothing says fun to some people like dragging kids back to earth. Sometimes we even do it to ourselves by worrying and stressing about things way ahead in the future. But we can’t forget, the time we have as kids is very limited.  We should enjoy our childhood while we have it. You have plenty of time to be "an adult" but only so much time as a kid. But also remember, all we have to do is get older. We don’t have to lose our kid like spirit on the way there.

Written by Ashley Burnette

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Rise of the Tomb Raider Review

Last week our favorite tomb raider, Laura Croft, arrived to the next gen consoles, and it looks amazing. This game is pretty much everything fans have been hoping for.  As the second reboot for the Laura Croft series, this rendition is so much better than its 2013 predecessor. Upon playing the game, it reminded me of The Last of Us , I don't know why I got that feeling, it just played out like a nice solid game. The way tomb raider looks is amazing, the textures and colors gave me a complete sense of immersion. My favorite thing to do in the game is to sneak up on enemies, and to take them out with the bow.  Overall, Rise of the Tomb Raider is a great game  and a 10/10 would recommend to others. While currently only available for XBox One and XBox 360, the game should be available for Playstation by the end of next year. Don't believe me? Get the game and see for yourself!

Written by Dustin Jones

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Full Moon

     This is a photo I snapped of the full moon about three weeks ago. I took it with an iPhone 6 through my telescope and edited it a little bit to enhance the photo. I tried taking it with my camera but i could not get it to focus through the telescope. Taking the actual picture was fairly difficult because the telescope kept moving and positioning the phone in the right place wasn't easy.

    Considering all I used to take this photo was an iPhone, I am very please with how nice the quality of this picture is. I love how you can see all the craters and details on the moon also. The next full moon is going to be on November 26th. If you have a telescope and like the moon I suggest checking it out because honestly, it looks absolutely amazing!

Written by Emily Taylor

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Bent But Never Broken

If you saw Paul George break his leg, you would have thought that his career was over. In contrast, he has come back stronger than ever.  With many 20 point performances, Paul George is looking new, improved, and better than ever. He is averaging 23.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists a game.  If he keeps putting up these big numbers,he is probably on his way to being an MVP candidate and leading the Pacers to the postseason.

I must admit I was anxious and wondering about George’s return. However, he is proving all the doubters wrong by single handedly keeping the Pacers playoff hopes alive. I'm going to even step down on a limb and say that Paul is playing like his idol Kobe Bryant. George is having a great bounce back season from his previous season of playing limited minutes and only averaging 8.8 points. I predict that George will lead the Pacers to the postseason for the eighth seed. Quote me on that,” the pacers will go to the playoffs 8th seed.”

I have no problem admitting that I’m biased. Paul George is one of my favorites, but he does have the stats and proof to back up my claim. I hope that Paul keeps doing what he is doing. Even though he probably won't make it far in the playoffs, this season is definitely a great stepping stone for the young guard out of Fresno State.

Written by Josh Lewis

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Fallout 4 Review

Last Thursday, the long anticipated Fallout 4 was released, so grab your pip boy and a bottle of Nuka cola and get ready.When you start the game, the first thing you do is customize your character. From what I've seen, you can make some pretty ugly looking characters. When Fallout 4 was first shown, some people attacked it for not having the best graphics and I definitely agree with that. For a next gen game it needs to look great! This game is definitely an improvement and the large world gives gamers great space to explore.  Fallout 4 has a vast wasteland that looks incredible, I feel as if I'm actually in a post apocalyptic world. From the dirt on the ground, to the beauty of the sky, fallout has some really sexy textures. My favorite thing about Fallout 4 is that almost everything is loot-able and I always have to grab everything that I can. Overall Fallout 4 is a great game, with a big open world for all players to explore. What do you think? Haven’t seen  the game yet? Play it and see for yourself!

Written by Dustin Jones

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