Rescues in Nairobi, Kenya

After a building collapsed on April 30,  a woman was rescued and rushed to the hospital. A building collapsed on April 30, due to its poor foundation and conditions. Many apartment buildings are built poorly and barely pass building inspections in order to cut costs. When it first collapsed, at least 77 people and some rabbits were still inside. A baby was recovered unharmed 3 days ago, but the woman rescued today was trapped for a total of 6 days without food or water. She was rushed to the hospital and is only weak and dehydrated. Rescue workers report that at least 70 people still missing.

Written by Keira Zirkle

Poem of the Week

The moment when, after many years

of hard work and a long voyage

you stand in the centre of your room,

house, half-acre, square mile, island, country,

knowing at last how you got there,

and say, I own this,

is the same moment when the trees unloose

their soft arms from around you,

the birds take back their language,

the cliffs fissure and collapse,

the air moves back from you like a wave

and you can't breathe.

No, they whisper. You own nothing.

You were a visitor, time after time

climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming.

We never belonged to you.

You never found us.

It was always the other way round.

~ Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian poet and essayist. She has written 15 anthologies and at least 6 novels throughout her life. She is also a social and environmental activist that uses her novels to write about the social injustices towards women and people of color. She has won six literary awards and was “inducted to the Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2001.” She invented the LongPen, a device that “...allows a person to remotely write in ink anywhere in the world via tablet PC and the internet. It also allows for an audio and video conversation between the endpoints, such as a fan and author, while a book is being signed.” She currently speaks at various universities throughout the United States and Canada.   

Poem of the Week

By: Keira Zirkle

The Colossus by Sylvia Plath

The Colossus
Related Poem Content Details
BY SYLVIA PLATH

I shall never get you put together entirely,

Pieced, glued, and properly jointed.

Mule-bray, pig-grunt and bawdy cackles

Proceed from your great lips.

It’s worse than a barnyard.

Perhaps you consider yourself an oracle,

Mouthpiece of the dead, or of some god or other.

Thirty years now I have labored

To dredge the silt from your throat.

I am none the wiser.

Scaling little ladders with glue pots and pails of lysol

I crawl like an ant in mourning

Over the weedy acres of your brow

To mend the immense skull plates and clear

The bald, white tumuli of your eyes.

A blue sky out of the Oresteia

Arches above us. O father, all by yourself

You are pithy and historical as the Roman Forum.

I open my lunch on a hill of black cypress.

Your fluted bones and acanthine hair are littered

In their old anarchy to the horizon-line.

It would take more than a lightning-stroke

To create such a ruin.

Nights, I squat in the cornucopia

Of your left ear, out of the wind,

Counting the red stars and those of plum-color.

The sun rises under the pillar of your tongue.

My hours are married to shadow.

No longer do I listen for the scrape of a keel

On the blank stones of the landing.

Sylvia Plath published this poem originally in 1957. This poem was part of an anthology, Colossus and Other Poems, that was published in 1960. Sylvia Plath wrote this poem in memory of her 80 year old father who had died. Many analysis of this poem was made to understand what she was saying about her father, or the possibility that she was talking her rights of a woman climbing the colossus of society.


By Keira Zirkle

Tragic Bombing in Syria

On April 28, a little past noon, a bomb killed at least twenty people. An air strike hit a hospital in Aleppo, Syria. The Syrian government released the air strike but it did not hit its target, but hit the hospital. Several of the dead were hospital nurses and doctors, while at least 150 people were wounded. Rescue teams are still trying to clear up the debris and collect bodies. This was one of the last places in Aleppo that had not been touched by fighting. Accusations have been sent Russia’s way because of their recent heavy presence in Syrian airspace. News on this bombing and several others are updated continuously on CNN and Arab News.

Written by Keira Zirkle

The Wonders of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an essential in any girl’s life, boys can use it too but I wouldnt know why other than for food? Anyways, most people will use coconut oil as a healthy alternative to the fatty and sodium consumed products to add to food. I have found many other helpful uses for coconut oil. These applications may not be useful to everyone, but these slight changes have helped my life tremendously.

1. For Soft and Beautiful Hair - My hair is breaking-brushes thick, tight-as-a-poodle’s curly, and why-do-I-even-bother frizzy. One solution that I have been able to use is coconut oil. Before I go to bed, I apply copious amounts to my long, dry, and big hair. I don’t use a comb to spread it, but rather just run my fingers through my hair until the oil is spread out. Then I wrap my hair in a bun and go to bed. The next morning in the shower, I wash my hair and conditioner it like normal. I comb my hair after the shower and watch as the frizz is contained and the curls are gorgeous ALL DAY! Now, different people have different hair. Because of the way my hair is so obnoxious, I only apply coconut oil once a week. For your hair, research if coconut oil is good for it and how much and how often you should apply it.
2. Soft Skin - Coconut oil on your legs and arms (if you do that) after a shave is great for your skin. The natural qualities of the oil is great for your skin. To avoid the greasy hands and grease marks on my phone, I apply it at night before bed.
3. Yummy Stir Fry - Using coconut oil as the cooking oil for stir fry is a healthy and yummy alternative to other oils.

Written by Keira Zirkle

Poem of the Week

Poem of the Week

By: Keira Zirkle

The Current Isolation Related Poem Content Details

BY CAMILLE RANKINE

In the half-light, I am most

at home, my shadow

as company.

When I feel hot, I push a button

to make it stop. I mean this stain on my mind

I can’t get out. How human

I seem. Like modern man,

I traffic in extinction. I have a gift.

Like an animal, I sustain.

A flock of birds

when touched, I scatter. I won’t approach

until the back is turned.

My heart betrays. I confess: I am afraid.

How selfish of me.

When there’s no one here, I halve

the distance between

our bodies infinitesimally.

In this long passageway, I pose

against the wallpaper, dig

my heels in, catch the light.

In my vision, the back door opens

on a garden that is always

in bloom. The dogs

are chained so they can’t attack like I know

they want to. In the next yard

over, honeybees swarm

and their sound is huge.

Camille Rankine is a poet and essayist that works on several poet committees. Her poetry has been featured in O: The Oprah Magazine in 2011 and other magazines. She published her own anthology, Incorrect Merciful Impulses, earlier this year. Camille currently “serves on the Executive Committee of VIDA: Women in Literary Arts and the Board of Trustees of The Poetry Project, and co-chairs the Brooklyn Book Festival Poetry Committee. She is a visiting professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst's MFA for Poets and Writers, and lives in New York City.”

Easy Smoothie

As the days get warmer, my food gets cooler. Smoothies are a great way to do that. I'm not into complicated smoothies with veggies, honey, and yogurt though. This simple smoothie is one my favorites, because it tastes great and it's so easy to make.

Prep Time - 5 minTotal

Ingredients
- I large Orange, peeled
- I Banana, peeled
- 1/2 cup Frozen Pineapple
- 1/2 cup Almond Milk

Instructions
Combine all ingredients into your blender. The frozen pineapple (or whatever frozen ingredient you go with) should be the last one added.
Blend on high until completely smooth, about one minute.
Pour into a glass and enjoy.

Written by Keira Zirkle

Updating the Currency to Match the Times

It has been announced by the Treasury Secretary that Andrew Johnson, the face on the $20 bill will be replaced by Harriet Tubman. The Treasury announced at the end of last year the plan to change the $10 bill from Alexander Hamilton to a different face, preferably a prominent woman's face. This was met with opposition. Treasury workers listened to the opposition and have instead decided to change the $20 bill instead. The bill has President Jackson’s face. He was not a widely known President, and his only memorable acts were crimes against Native Americans. Today, the Treasury announced that Alexander Hamilton, the Father of the American financial system, would remain on the $10 bill. The change to Harriet Tubman will occur before the end of 2020.

Written by Keira Zirkle

Top 10 Memories - Keria

1. Giving Ashworth a Pie in the face - If anyone went to the Fall Festival in October, they remember the few minutes that available to pie the principal in the face. It was satisfying and hilarious.
2. Volleyball Banquet - After every sport season, the team has a banquet for awards to be handed out. Since it was my last volleyball season, it was memorable and slightly tear-jerking. Also the food was fantastic because the team went to Dino’s Pizza.
3. My Birthday Party - My birthday is right on January 1st, so while only a few friends came to the party a week later, it was still fun. The triple dog dare to fit through my house’s doggy door was accomplished by both my 6’9” friend and another boy. I think the funniest part about it was watching them both try to fit their shoulders through the rectangle.
4. Making a small snowman - When it snowed during the weekend with Valentine’s Day, instead of eat chocolate and watch movies with Jasmine, we went outside. Since there was not even a full inch of snow, we made a small snowman and froze because of a snowball fight.
5. Swimming with Seniors - During my Senior Vacation, a lot of the seniors and I went to the resort pool. We hooked up some music on Jasmine’s speaker and had fun wrestling and talking, and a lot of dancing.
6. Relaxing in the Hot Tub - Also during senior vacation, there was a hot tub where we all relaxed in the bubbles and heat.
7. Catfish Marathon - During the senior vacation, there were times where several seniors and I had to wait for everyone to get ready before we went anywhere. The TV would go on and the show Catfish would be watched by half of the class. Gasps and side comments are now hilarious in retrospect.
8. Hayashi - One night, the seniors all went to Hayashi for dinner. We had a dinner made with the fire grill and a hilarious chef show us his tricks and laugh at amazement.
9. The True Test of Resolve - After Hayashi, all the seniors except Josh Lewis and Casey Vick stayed up until 6:30/7:00 AM. That night was a struggle to keep myself awake and other people awake too. Lesson learned: never do an all nighter if you have nothing to do but watch TV and talk.
10. Easter dinner - My family has major feasts for Thanksgiving and Easter. At each feast, friends are welcome as well as family. Good friends stay for games after the dinner, which in itself is a feat since I love to sleep after eating. Playing Egyptian Ratscrew (card game) and Spoons with 6 other people is hilarious and terrifying.

Poem of the Week

Toy Boat

BY OCEAN VUONG

For Tamir Rice

yellow plastic

black sea

eye-shaped shard

on a darkened map

no shores now

to arrive — or

depart

no wind but

this waiting which

moves you

as if the seconds

could be entered

& never left

toy boat — oarless

each wave

a green lamp

outlasted

toy boat

toy leaf dropped

from a toy tree

waiting

waiting

as if the sp-

arrows

thinning above you

are not

already pierced

by their own names

Ocean Vuong wrote this poem in honor of Tamir Rice, the 12 year old who was murdered by a police officer.

Written by Keira Zirkle

How Many Days Until Summer?

Believe me when I say, I REALLY want summer. I want to be out of school. I want to be sleeping in, to be enjoying the sun and heat and enjoying no homework or any due dates. There are 43 days left until summer. The days where students are physically in classrooms (supposedly learning) = 27 with 3 days of Exams. There are 6 more chapels total with 5 life-groups. Summer is almost here everyone.Thank God

Written by Keira Zirkle

Marvel Universe VS DC Universe

Which comic universe is better? With all the superhero movies that have come on the screen over the past four years, it’s hands-down. Marvel Universe. Marvel Universe has released 13 movies since 2008 that include the Iron Man trilogy, both Thor movies, both Captain America movies, the Avengers movies, The Incredible Hulk, Punisher:War Zone, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Antman. Other superhero movies like Deadpool and the X-Men movies have been influenced by Marvel Universe comics and may have been helped by comic producers employed by Marvel, but they were produced by either Columbia Pictures or 20th Century Fox. All of the movies listed above except Punisher: War Zone have gained more than $100 million dollars in gross. The highest grossing film for Marvel was The Avengers at $623,357,910. DC universe has not been that successful. DC Universe Studios coupled with Warner Bros. and other producers have released 8 movies since 2008. The movies are the Dark Knight, Watchmen, The Losers, Jonah Hex, The Green Lantern, The Dark Knight Rises, Man of Steel, and the recent Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. Jonah Hex and The Losers both grossed less than $50 million, while the other six topped above $100 million. The highest grossing film was the Dark Knight at $533,345,358. In gross value (and in all honesty entertainment value as well), the absolute winner is Marvel Universe. In the next four years Marvel Universe is expecting to drop another 13 movies, while DC Universe is expecting to drop 9. The future will tell if Marvel will continue to be the ultimate winner at making great comic movies.

Written by Keira Zirkle

Terror Attacks in Brussels

ISIS has always classified as a terrorist group since their origins. The group has accomplished their goal of striking fear in hearts by their latest attack in Brussels, Belgium. Three different explosions, each attacking a highly populated public transportation despot, went off  on March 22nd The bombs took a total of 30 lives including one of the bombers. The last count for injured was 230 people. The latest news reported three possible suspects, one deceased and the other two uncaptured.

The international airport in Brussels had two explosions occurring at 8 am. An hour later, another struck at the Maelbeek subway station. At the time of the attacks, authorities warned Brussels’ citizens to remain indoors; currently, people are allowed to leave their homes but are warned to do so out of necessity. Because of the attacks, Europe and the United States have increased security at international airports. The country has declared a state of mourning for three days for this loss of life. Many countries are on edge because of the recent attack, causing what ISIS wants, fear and caution to disrupt daily habits.

Written by Keira Zirkle

Upgrade Your Mac n' Cheese

When your family finally comes through the door at 8:30 PM with no dinner anywhere to be seen, it’s go time for quick and slightly ok in the healthiness department. When your stomach starts eating your insides, your standard of food quality goes way down. One quick meal that I made recently actually impressed my Mom (I think she was just happy to have food like me). I made the easiest meal ever, mac n’ cheese, but I happened to upgrade it slightly.

Tools and Ingredients:

• stove
• wooden spoon or any serving spoon
• pot with lid
• strainer (if you don't have one, dont worry about it)
• water
• kraft mac n’ cheese or velveeta mac n’ cheese
• steamed vegetables bag or frozen veggies
• milk (optional)
• basil (optional)
• salt (optional)

To make this slightly healthy, okish meal, start by setting the stove on high with the pot filled with amount of water needed by the mac n’ cheese box. Let the water boil, not completely but right at the point where there are tiny bubbles at the bottom of the pot and steam is rising. Put the macaroni in the water to cook it. While you are boiling your noodles, follow the directions on the steamed vegetables bag and stick it in the microwave, if you only have a frozen bag of veggies, don't worry. Take a large bowl, like huge, pour in veggies and add enough water to cover the top most veggie, don't drown them. You can always tell when noodles are done cooking when you stir the macaroni after a good time of boiling. If the spoon feels like it’s moving through water with sand in it, it’s smooth going like normal water but you know for a fact something is in there, then you’re golden. Turn the stove down to the lowest setting and strain your noodles. If you don't have a strainer, use your arm muscles and use the pot lid to stop the noodles from falling out as you tip the pot to the side. Place the noodles back into the pot. Add in the box cheese (if using kraft powder, add milk to make it creamier, don't add milk if using velveeta). By this time, your veggies should be done. Add them to the mac n’ cheese. Now comes the creativity, normally steamed veggies have no flavor aside from the vegetable flavor, so I add basil and the tiniest bit of salt to the entire mix to add flavoring. Mix well until the cheese and seasoning is on everything evenly. Enjoy your 15 minute-made meal!

Written by Keira Zirkle