Ebola Leaves the US

Taylor Selbst, Brooke Black, & Katie Steele

Staff Writer

After many long weeks of hysteria, the Ebola virus has finally left the United States once the CDC and many corporations worked together to figure out the most preventative course of action. Only two imported cases, including one death, and two locally acquired cases in health care workers have been reported in the United States. Everybody has been taking precautions to stop the spread of the fatal virus. Any contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids will transfer the virus to another person. Even after patients with Ebola die, they still carry the live disease. Doctors deal with this problem by burning the deceased’s bodies so that the disease dies and will not continue to be contagious.

The first person who was diagnosed with Ebola in the United States was Thomas Eric Duncan. He was held at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, where he was admitted Sept. 28 and kept in isolation. He died on October 8,2014. Martin Salia, in Nebraska, was the latest patient to die from Ebola in the United States. At first friends and family thought he had malaria or typhoid since he had originally tested negative for the virus.Three days after having tested negative, he tested positive; false positives are possible the first days of symptoms when the virus has not become strong. When he arrived in Nebraska for the first time on November 15th, he was already critically ill and there was not much that the hospital could do for him. He had already developed kidney and respiratory failure and had to be placed on dialysis and a ventilator. He had even received plasma from a former Ebola patient that survived the deadly virus. Doctors gave him every possible option to try to save his life but they could not stop the disease from killing him on November 17th, 2014.

A huge issue with Ebola is that doctors, nurses, and caretakers often contract the disease as a result of close contact with their patients. For example, Dr. Craig Spencer had contracted the virus while caring for patients in Guinea, where over 1100 people have died as a result of the disease and about 1000 more are currently diagnosed with it. Spencer was being treated in New York’s Bellevue Hospital but was released on November 11 after having been diagnosed as virus-free.

As big a scare as Ebola disease has been in the United States, it is gone now, and Americans don’t have to be as worried about Ebola and making sure there isn’t another huge outbreak. It was almost four months that Ebola was in the United States, and this caused many heartbreaks to many families. The United States is doing everything it can to prevent another attack of Ebola. Hopefully, we can not only stop the spread in the United States but in all African countries as well.

Most Recent Ebola Patient in US Dies

Cailin Loesch

Staff Writer

Dr. Martin Salia, the most recent American to test positive for Ebola, died Monday. Salia has become the second person to die of the virus on US soil.

Nebraska Medical Center's Rosanna Morris, who treated Salia since he returned to the States after treating patients in Sierra Leone, spoke highly of the late doctor.

According to CNN, Morris stated at a news conference in Omaha that "It was an absolute honor to care for Dr. Salia.”

Morris says that the case was one that touched her personally, speaking of the time she spent with Salia’s anguished wife.

Though Ebola has been proven treatable if caught early and fought vigorously, chances of survival are greatly diminished if treatment is delayed, as seen in Salia’s case.

According to doctors at Nebraska Medical Center, Salia was already in “extremely critical” condition when he arrived at the facility on Saturday; By then, his kidneys and respiratory system were already failing.

Nebraska health officials said that Salia might have been sicker than the patients previously cured in the United States, which limited his chance of survival. Dr. Phil Smith, director of the hospital’s biocontainment unit, described it as an "hour-by-hour situation".

A statement released by The White House offered condolences to the Salia family. "Dr. Salia dedicated his life to saving others. He viewed this vocation as his calling, telling his fellow United Methodist Church members that he pursued medicine not because he wanted to, but because he firmly believed it was God's will for him," the statement read, according to CNN.

"Dr. Salia's passing is another reminder of the human toll of this disease and of the continued imperative to tackle this epidemic on the frontlines, where Dr. Salia was engaged in his calling."

Ebola Outbreak

Hannah Mui

Staff Writer

The 2014 Ebola outbreak has become the largest Ebola outbreak to ever occur. Originating in Guinea, the outbreak has now spread to other countries in West Africa such as Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. As of Nov, 4, there has been a total of 13,268 cases of Ebola, but only 8,168 laboratory confirmed cases according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Death tolls are continuing to rise, surpassing 4,960 because of the inability to treat patients in West Africa.

 Ebola is a rare and deadly virus that causes bleeding inside and outside the body. As the virus spreads through the body, it damages your immune system and internal organs. Eventually, Ebola causes the amount of blood-clotting cells to drop, which results in uncontrollable bleeding.There is a period of time between the infection of the patient and the time that they finally experience symptoms. It can be spread from person to person by skin contact and bodily fluids. Ebola cannot be spread through air, water, or food.

 Countries in Africa that are experiencing an active outbreak have been screening all passengers on planes for Ebola. Although many West African countries are screening passengers to ensure Ebola does not spread further, the examiner may not be able to catch passengers who have recently been infected. During the short incubation time that infected patients they are able to get on planes and spread it by visiting countries.

 Patrick Sawyer, a 40-year-old lawyer, was infected with the virus while working in Liberia. Sawyer and one other aid worker were brought to the U.S. for treatment. Sawyer was in Liberia caring for his sick sister who had Ebola, although he did not know at the time. He is one of the first Americans to contract the virus.

 Currently there are no vaccines for Ebola that have been put through human trials. Some treatments have been tested on animals and been proven effective. American aid worker, Rick Sacra, 51, has recently been released from three weeks of isolation at the Nebraska Medical Center. There Sacra received an experimental drug called TKM-Ebola and two blood transfusions from another American aid worker that survived the disease. Doctors believe that the blood transfusions will help infected patients fight off the disease.The best thing for someone to do who is experiencing symptoms of Ebola is to see a doctor immediately.

 Recently the CDC has confirmed the first case of Ebola in the United States. Thomas Eric Duncan had traveled to Liberia and arrived back in the U.S. on Sept, 20. The CDC Director, Thomas Frieden, addressed the public about the individual with the virus. Duncan began to experience symptoms a few days after his arrival back in the U.S. When Duncan first visited the hospital, he was sent home under the belief he only had a mild fever. A few days later he was admitted into the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

 After those few days of experiencing the beginning of symptoms, Duncan came into contact with dozens of people. Duncan’s family including his wife, child, and two nephews have been kept in their apartment where Duncan was ill. CDC officials are working on identifying people that came in contact with Duncan, So far, the virus has been contained to the Duncan family.

  Recently, Craig Spencer, a 33 year-old doctor, has survived Ebola. Days after returning from Guinea Spencer was diagnosed with Ebola. After 3 weeks of quarantine and hospitalization, Spencer is declared Ebola free. Currently there are no U.S. hospitals are treating Ebola patients.

Our Top 6 Local Holiday Attractions

Lexi Anderson

Savannah Herring

Claire Dougherty

Staff Writers

 Winter, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Snow is falling, the air is crisp, and hot chocolate fills everyone’s cup. With winter, comes sights and spectacles that can be enjoyed by all. These are our top 6!   

1. Rockefeller Center

Located in New York City, NY,  Rockefeller Center holds the place of the famous ice skating rink and the iconic lightning of the huge Christmas tree. The tree will be lit on Dec. 3, between West 48th and West 51st St. and Fifth and Sixth Ave, and can be viewed until Jan. 7. Rockefeller Center  

2. Radio City

Also located in New York City, NY, Radio City  Music Hall is home to the famous Rockettes. The Rockettes put on a splendid show, and each year there’s a different story that is shown showcasing the beauty of Christmas. This family friendly show is sure to put a smile on your face and put you in the Holiday spirit. The show goes on throughout the whole Holiday season (Nov 20-Dec 31)

3. Shady Brook Farm Lightshow

The Shady Brook Farm offers a magical drive through holiday lights of different designs, colors, and figures. You can enjoy the display while in the comfort of your car or in the open wagon, if the weather permits. The light show opens on Nov. 22, 2014 and can be viewed 7 days a week from 5-10 pm until Jan. 4, 2015. Carloads are priced depending on the day, and size. Come out and see the grand holiday lights in a fun atmosphere that everyone can enjoy.

4. Peddler’s Village

Peddler’s Village is a popular, and local place, great to celebrate the holiday season. There are many stores, and restaurants that sell classic holiday drinks and snacks. During the holiday season, almost every tree is lit up with dazzling lights that are sure to bring cheer to anyone. Some trees even have giant snowflakes hanging from their branches. Next time you’re near Peddler’s, stop by, it’ll definitely brighten your mood.

5. Longwood Garden Christmas

The holiday season flies high in Kennett Square PA, with A Longwood Christmas show. The show is held from November 27 to January 11 where you can experience an outdoor/indoor garden winter wonderland. Halls are decorated up and down with christmas decor, from owls in delicate bird houses to an 18 foot tall rotating christmas tree, and more than half a million lights illuminate the gardens, making it a must see this holiday season.

6. Pennsylvania Ballet

George Balanchine’s ballet The Nutcracker, is an iconic figure to the holidays. The Pennsylvania Ballet is presenting the amazing show from December 6 to December 31. The classical dance performance is accompanied by a live orchestra playing the music. The classical story is one that most know and love, that ring’s true to be a beautiful show.

Holidays Are Prime Time for Fun Couple Activities

Ben Muzekari

Staff Writer

 This season, treat yourself and your significant other to some special and memorable holiday traditions.

  Go see the Nutcracker-a Christmas-themed ballet which will warm your hearts. It will get you in the spirit of Christmas and make for fun conversation with your loved one once you’ve seen it. You’ll be entertained by the beautiful music written by the famous Tchaikovsky and the vibrant scenery and costumes. Prime locations to see the Nutcracker in the area include Philadelphia and Princeton.

 Take in the light show-Visit Newtown, PA for this spectacular display of lights. Drive through this long path of glowing lights including scenes from the Twelve Days of Christmas, famous t.v. characters, ships, animals and a variety of others. After your fun journey, treat yourselves to a cup of hot cocoa.

  Make a gingerbread house--Buy a kit for you and your loved one and build a house together. Have fun decorating but try not to eat all the tempting candy! You can purchase one of these at your local grocery store.

 Bake cookies! Visit the grocery store with your other half and purchase Pillsbury cookie dough, icing and holiday sprinkles. Roll out the dough at home, get out the cookie cutters and follow the Pillsbury baking instructions. Enjoy your treats together with a cup of hot cocoa. Get out the board games and enjoy yourselves by the fire.

Christmas movie marathon: Watch classics including Elf, Polar Express, The Night Before Christmas, Home Alone, It’s a Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas and many more.

Students Set Goals for Marking Period Two

Madison Walsh

Staff Writer

New beginnings come about all the time. The most recent that New Hope-Solebury students  have faced is the start of a new marking period. When being asked how they felt the first marking period has gone, a wide assortment of responses were collected.

 Jane Doe (whose name is protected for privacy purposes) commented, “I would say [the first marking period] was very stressful, but overall I think I did good.”

 Kate Doe, for one, discussed how she was proud of her performance. “At times [the first marking period] was really hard. There were nights when I wouldn’t sleep because of all the work, but I would power through the agony and stress of it. I’m glad I did, because it made me into a better student than I was before. When I look back on my grades, I know it was from hard work and dedication,” she reported.

 John Doe for one had a different approach. He stated, “I feel like I did okay. I did relatively well, but I feel like I’ve done better in years past. This could be because I’m a senior, but I’d still like to improve upon that in the second marking period.”

 Other than reviewing their in-school performance from the past two months, they also began to dream big and set some goals for the second marking period.

 Jane Doe, after contemplating her performance said, “A goal I definitely have set for myself for the next marking period would be to stop procrastinating so much.”

 Agreeing with Jane, John Doe  stated, “I would like to get my GPA back up to where it used to be.”

 Overall, everyone seems to be looking for improvement to grow as students, whether it be in the classroom or outside of it.  

 To wrap up the first marking period as a whole one can conclude that the first marking period helped the student body gain helpful insight on each individual class’s curriculum. With the chance to find each person’s strengths and weaknesses, it can be agreed upon that this introduction to the 2014-2015 school year is one that will inspire students to be the best they can be going into the second marking period

A report on the end of the first marking period

Madison Walsh

Staff Writer

New beginnings come about all the time. The most recent that New Hope-Solebury students  have faced is the start of a new marking period. When being asked how they felt the first marking period has gone, a wide assortment of responses were collected.

 Jane Doe (whose name is protected for privacy purposes) commented, “I would say [the first marking period] was very stressful, but overall I think I did good.”

 Kate Doe, for one, discussed how she was proud of her performance. “At times [the first marking period] was really hard. There were nights when I wouldn’t sleep because of all the work, but I would power through the agony and stress of it. I’m glad I did, because it made me into a better student than I was before. When I look back on my grades, I know it was from hard work and dedication,” she reported.

 John Doe for one had a different approach. He stated, “I feel like I did okay. I did relatively well, but I feel like I’ve done better in years past. This could be because I’m a senior, but I’d still like to improve upon that in the second marking period.”

 Other than reviewing their in-school performance from the past two months, they also began to dream big and set some goals for the second marking period.

 Jane Doe, after contemplating her performance said, “A goal I definitely have set for myself for the next marking period would be to stop procrastinating so much.”

 Agreeing with Jane, John Doe  stated, “I would like to get my GPA back up to where it used to be.”

 Overall, everyone seems to be looking for improvement to grow as students, whether it be in the classroom or outside of it.  

 To wrap up the first marking period as a whole one can conclude that the first marking period helped the student body gain helpful insight on each individual class’s curriculum. With the chance to find each person’s strengths and weaknesses, it can be agreed upon that this introduction to the 2014-2015 school year is one that will inspire students to be the best they can be going into the second marking period.

Halloween 2014

SAT Scores Becoming an Option

Mariah McGlone

Staff Writers

The big clock sitting directly in front of you on the SmartBoard provides no escape from the all-knowing truth; you have twenty-five minutes to complete sections ranging from 25-40 multiple choice questions. You are being tested on your critical reading, writing, or math skills. The first one is writing where you are told to respond to a prompt, formulate your thoughts on it, and write them down in a structured fashion that meets all of CollegeBoard's requirements. This is why standardized testing splits down the middle for people. You can either easily stare a time limit right in the face or you let it consume you and your cognition. For me, it was the way I felt as though my scores would define my intelligence. I allowed for the finite amount of time I knew I had for each set of questions to determine the quality of my responses.

However, people like me would be pleased to know that colleges are beginning to look at SAT scores less. Temple University in Philadelphia is among these schools. It may even be a leader in the movement with its announcement of the Temple Option, which is an admissions path for students whom showcase auspicious potential in academics but do not test well. This goes into effect for applicants of fall 2015. They have the option to apply without sending in their SAT scores. This makes Temple the first public research university to do so in the Northeast.

Wanna Know Where to Go?

Gabrielle Lehotay and Toni Suler

Staff Writers

With application deadlines closing in, many students are feeling the pressure to find the colleges they want to apply to and send in their applications. With thousands and thousands of universities and liberal arts colleges to pick from, making that final decision can be a stressful and unpleasant experience for anyone. US News released their rankings of the best universities and liberal arts colleges, listing essentials like tuition, location, setting and student body size. The lists, which rank over one hundred schools in each category then proceed to provide readers with an even larger list of unranked schools, which is a massive help to any student feeling the stress of college applications.

As always, the top three universities of the nation are Princeton, ranked number one, Harvard as number two , and Yale coming in as number three. Columbia University had the highest tuition of the top 10 list at over $51,000, while the cheapest of the top 10 was Princeton coming in a little over $41,000. There was tie for fourth between Colombian University, Stanford university, and University of Chicago.  The last four on the top 10 list were Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and California Institute of Technology.

US News also published their top Liberal Arts colleges. There were ties between 5th and 8th. Fifth place was between Bowdoin College and Pomona College, and eighth place was between the Carleton College, Claremont Mckenna College and Haverford College. Number one was WIlliams College and number two was Ambers College with Swarthmore College coming in third. Wellesley College had the lowest tuition at $45,000 dollars, and the most expensive tuition was at Amherst with the highest at over $48,000.

With college in the minds of many students at New Hope, these lists can be helpful in providing information on where each of the schools they are considering stand. As many important future decisions are made it is critical to see where your favorite school is ranked compared to other universities and colleges in these rankings. The favorites at New Hope are Penn State, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Drexel University, and New York University, and these can all be found on these lists. With this helpful tip in mind, college hunting might just be a little easier for the students here at New Hope Solebury.

Volleyball Tournament is a Highlight of Fall Fest

Spencer Tinkel

Staff Writer

On October 17th, during the first ever Fall Fest, New Hope-Solebury High School had its first ever outside Volleyball Tournament.

 As leaves fell, emotions were high as teams battled it out against each other in angst to claim the title “volleyball champions”. Even though the tournament was held outside, standard volleyball rules were still applied. No touching the net, no carries, and team rotations/substitutions were mandated. As it seems to be with every competitive high school event, teams complained and moaned about skeptical officiating.

 “Every team was out there to compete and win, so yeah, opinions about rulings were expressed. Every point matters in volleyball. With that being said, I do not think the complaining took away from the game itself,” a well-spoken Matt Mazza had to say about the officiating.

 This aside, all of the games were competitive, and this is really all that can be asked for a school event. All eight teams felt they had a chance to win the whole thing, even in an single elimination format.

 Matt Mazza had to add that in a single elimination format, “anything can happen. One bad game means elimination. It’s scary. You have to stay focused and play well the whole time.”

 Matt Mazza’s teams did just that, as New Hope Fitness (team name) took home the crown.

 “It was not easy, and just to reiterate what Matt Mazza said during the whole tournament, staying focused was our main goal,” Nina Coughlin had to say about the experience.

 The prize? Four free car washes from Four Seasons in Logan Square.

 “I honestly was not in it for the volleyball. Once I heard that free car washes were at stake, I trained hard for the tournament in order to take home a free car wash,” an exuberant Matt Steele had to say.

 Needless to say, Steele’s car glimmered in the Senior Parking Lot that next Monday.

Homecoming Week Features New Ideas with Traditional New Hope Spirit

Katie Tangradi, Lauren Mangano, and Katie Steele

Staff Writers

 

The 2014 homecoming (hoco) week was full of new events and great participation from the New Hope-Solebury students this year.

 Although students had the Monday of homecoming week off, (thanks to Columbus for founding the greatest country in the world), the rest of the week was full of spirit. Tuesday brought friends together on “we go together day,” where students wore costume-like apparel that somehow matched with a friend. Wednesday was full of comfy and cozy students on pajama day. Thursday looked like a Vineyard Vines advertisement on preppy day. And finally, Friday pumped up the school spirit the most on Blue and Gold Day. Then, during eighth period on Friday, the school had the pep rally, outside for a change, where each sports team was represented,followed with delicious ice cream sandwiches for everyone.

 The excitement did not end at 2:30, though. Friday night had the crowd wearing their New Hope-Solebury apparel to support the football team. At half time the crowd was quite entertained with the announcement of the 2014 homecoming court. Additionally, throughout the game, seniors amped up the crowd by throwing flour in the air and covering the student section in a white cloud.

 Overall, Homecoming Week 2014 was a major success, full of new ideas and lots of spirit.

Middle School Learns the Importance of Farming

Heather Borochaner

Staff Writer  

  Representatives from the Delaware college, the Doylestown Food Co-op, and the Rolling Harvest Food Recovery spoke with New Hope-Solebury eighth grade students seeking some extra credit on the evening of Oct. 17, displaying the documentary Ingredients from a projector onto the outside of the New Hope-Solebury Middle School building. They provided information about American farmers, their struggles, and the benefits of eating fresh, raw foods without any chemical “bonuses.” The event was hosted by middle school English teacher Mrs. Jaeger with appearances by Mrs. O’Donnell and Mrs. Hamill. Students and parents laid out blankets or chairs for the occasion, and some just sat in the grass. After the movie, a small panel was held where the guests from their organizations answered any questions students, teachers, or parents had. Fresh fruits were offered as snacks, along with some great apple cider for drinking.

  One of the main points Ingredients made was the benefits of eating locally. This would ensure that the food you’re eating isn’t months old by the time it reaches your mouth. One middle schooler asked the question, “if everyone ate locally, would there be enough for everyone in the area?” The answer was no, only because so much land is used for housing and shops that there simply isn’t enough land to use for farming. However, a solution to this would be using lawns as gardens to provide fresh food. 

  Although the night was chilly and blankets and sweaters were definitely needed to sit through the movie and interview, not to mention the lone bat that spent a good fifteen minutes terrorizing unsuspecting middle schoolers, it was an enjoyable and knowledgeable experience about healthy foods and how to access them. The documentary Ingredients is a highly recommended watch for anyone interested in health and nutrition. 

BMW 20 Years- 3-Series- 10 Best List

Addison Hartmann

Staff Writer

BMW 20 years 3-series ten best list

The car manufacturer BMW advertises itself as building one thing: “The Ultimate Driving Machine.” Given the remarkable run of the BMW--the BMW 3 series has won 10 best cars of the year for 20 years straight by Car and Driver--it may just be true. The 3 series has been included in the top ten list because it is “known around the world for its sporty looks superior handling and powerful engines, the 3 Series” Car and Driver magazine says.

The 3 series is known to be a sports sedan that is capable of driving the family around but also is luxurious and safe. The 3 series is also very popular because it is a decently priced car for what is included in the base model of the car. Although the 3 series isn't the ideal BMW but many consumers like how comfortable it rides and the power it has for the price. The ideal BMW with the same body style as the 335i would be the M3. The 3 series that is the closest to an M3 is the 335i. Some BMW drivers would rather buy the 335i because the mpgs are better than the M3’s mpgs, but who cares about that when you have all of that power. The 3 series averages around 25 mpg and the M3 averages around 17 mpgs.

Although the 335i isn’t as fast as the M3,  many consumers like how the 335i handles on the same lines as an M3, it has power and takes turns without a problem. Both the 335i and the M3 can be driven as daily drivers although some enthusiasts wouldn't want to drive an M3 everyday, instead some consumers might like to keep it for a weekend drive. What makes a good daily driver is when the car is comfortable and fuel efficient. Although the M3 is comfortable, it struggles when trying to be fuel efficient. BMW has sold around 500,214 3 series in 2013. Many consumers also like how safe and reliable the 3 series is. BMW has sold many cars and this is what they are most proud of, the sales of the car show how popular it is.

Homecoming Week Closes with a Memorable Night

Victoria Siano & Claudia Kolinchak

Staff Writers & Publishers

  On Saturday, October 18th, New Hope-Solebury High School students dressed up for a masquerade themed night to remember. Homecoming 2014 was a great success and the perfect way to kick off a great school year! Student DJs got the crowd dancing and singing. The loud music and energy in the air was enough to get students excited. For ten dollars, students could go to this three hour dance, have access to free food, and could walk out to the beautifully decorated courtyard at anytime.

  This year’s homecoming court nominees were announced at the friday night homecoming football game, and the winners were announced Saturday night at the dance, located in the middle school gym. These winners were widely congratulated by their peers, who voted them into the court. Emily Madara and Dylan Smith won freshman Lord and Lady. The sophomore winners for Duke and Duchess were Katie Steele and Andrew Wheelan. For Junior Prince and Princess, Maddie Pitel and Abbiel Zuniga won. Olivia Knable and Avery Jones were crowned Queen and King. After the winners were announced, the nominees danced to a slow song in the middle of the gym.

  The students came dressed in formal attire. Girls wore dresses and high heels or flats, though most took their shoes off. The guys showed up in collared shirts and dress pants. Everyone spent time to look their best for that night, and it definitely payed off.

  Homecoming, and the week leading up to it, were a fun, spirited  way to start off the year. The credit for a great night goes to the DJs, chaperones, and everyone who attended the dance with a positive attitude.

Psychological Warfare Analysis of ISIS

Summer Robert
Staff Writer

Since the beheading of British aid worker David Haines and American journalists James Foley and Stephen Sotloff, was posted and available for streaming cameraman , Raad Muhammad Al- Azzawi was taken captive by ISIS. On Sept.  7, Al- Azzawi  along with 20 other residents of Al- Samara were taken hostage, for not agreeing to be employed by the terrorist organization. Even more recently, a French tourist on a hiking trip in Algeria was also captured by the newly identified british “executioner”, known as Jihadi John (recently speculated to be Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary). This a-typical behavior of beheading random victims may be an early sign of ISIS becoming more ruthless and less objective.  

While the intent of the beheading and kidnapping is clear, to stop the resistance the West has shown towards the creation of the Islamic State in Sunni areas of Iraq and Syria using fear mongering, Jeff Jacoby, blogger on the Boston Globe asks why beheading? 

The brutal technique used to gain the attention of the public by ISIS, was used by Al- Qaeda to butcher Daniel Pearl, Nick Berg, and construction contractors Jack Hensley and Eugene Armstrong (all of the victims mentioned were Americans). This seems parallel to Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi background in Al-Qaeda before establishing the splinter group ISIS. 

Shashank Joshi, a senior researcher at  Royal United Services Institute in London, speculates the horrific beheadings are used as a weapon of psychological warfare.

Asymmetrical warfare is when the military forces of one side of a conflict are larger than the other, forcing the “underdog” of the war to use unconventional methods to compete. This tactic is used in Israel, where Palestinians (the minority) use strategies based on terror to combat the Israelis’ superior, organised war machine. The Palestinians were armed with homemade rockets, while the US supplied the Israelis with F- 16 fighter jets, DIME bombs, helicopters, etc. Similar to Palestinians’ tactic, during the early 60’s the Viet Cong practiced “guerilla tactics,” such as using punji sticks (a booby trap stake made from wood or bamboo) and cutting off the hands of war prisoners along the Ho Chi MInh Trail.  Both asymmetrical warfare and guerrilla tactics would be appropriate to describe the atrocities performed by ISIS, but there is a silver lining. ISIS must feel outmatched by the United States to defy such human decency. Only the feeling of inferiority would inspire such drastic measures.   

Remembering Joan Rivers

Savannah Herring and Claire Dougherty

Staff Writers

  After a fifty plus year career in Hollywood, Joan Rivers passed away in The New York medical clinic of Manhattan while receiving a surgery on her vocal cords at the age of 81.

  Born in Brooklyn in 1933,  Joan Molinsky, or Rivers, was destined for greatness. Her ability to make anybody laugh, her trademark raspy voice, and her lack of concern over other's opinions, got her to the top, and fast. She pursued her interest for performing at Barnard College but soon after graduation she abandoned this dream for a more practical career, as a buyer for a chain store.

  After her divorce from her first husband, she returned to performing. She was determined to find success, starred on a small television show only to find that acting was not a good fit for her. Instead, she switched to comedy. Years of struggling as a comedian and performer in coffeehouses and comedy clubs led her to her big break. In 1965, she was booked for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and was “an instant hit.” She later claimed that Carson was, "The man who handed me my career.”

  Later in the sixties she settled into her own show known as, That Show or The Joan Rivers Show, which aired on FOX network. She continued to appear on talk shows and soon enough Joan Rivers became a household name. By 1983, Rivers had two best-selling books and a Grammy Award-nominated comedy album.

  This period of time was also when Rivers faced many setbacks, such as the cancellation of her show and the death of her producer and second husband of 22 years, Edgar Rosenberg, who committed suicide in 1987. Determined to rebuild her life and career, she moved back to New York and launched her own daytime talk show. She later won an Emmy Award, and a Tony for her television success. She then became the host of E! News and established herself as an entertainment critic or analyst. Rivers continued to flourish as she hosted new shows and wrote more books about her life and career.

  Throughout her entire life, no matter what profession she was pursuing, whether it was acting, show hosting, or stand up comedy, she always managed to be the star with her unique and edgy comedy. Although her sense of humor isn’t always favored by all audiences, everybody can admit, she was talented. She will always be remembered has a true pioneer for women in the entertainment world. She had the determination to prove herself, and has left a lasting mark on the world.

"Joan Rivers has died. What a sad ending to a brilliant and tragi-comic life; one of the bravest and funniest of all." -- Bette Midler

How to Choose the Right College

Nicholas Damarodis

Editor in Chief

 Right now can be a difficult time of the year for seniors. Trying to manage school-work, after-school activities, and other commitments adds up fast, so adding the college selection process onto everything else can seem daunting. Rather than stressing over finding the right school, use these tips to ease your navigation:

1. Location, Location, Location: Figure out how far you want to go for school, and try to set a proximity from your house when looking at schools. Don’t just think of states or wide areas, but see how many hours (by plane, car, or whatever transportation you will use) it will take to get to your destination. Having a rough idea of how far you will go will help slim your choices down quickly.
2. Check to see if the school offers your major: Even better, use search engines and college finders online to only see schools that offer the majors you want. You would be surprised how many schools do not offer certain majors. Also, some schools are better known for certain majors over others.
3. ALWAYS check the dorms: If you are particular about a certain type of living style, check to see what type of living options the school offers. Larger schools tend to have a wide variety of living arrangements, but smaller schools may have fewer options. Also, make sure you are looking at freshmen dorms. Many schools love to profile their renovated and newly built dorms, but those are usually for upperclassmen.
4. Look at the size of the school: Schools can be small, with only a few hundred students, to as large as tens of thousands of students. Seriously consider how small or large a place you feel comfortable living in. It may sound great to leave your small town for a large college, but you may feel left out. Conversely, going to a smaller school may mean fewer options for sports, academics, and other activities.
5. Financial aid: The sooner you learn about financial aid, the better. Every school has different types of aid programs and scholarships. Some expensive Ivy League and liberal arts programs may look impossible to afford, but many have great scholarship programs. This is an important piece of the college equation to keep in mind, but know that most schools will not present a financial package to you until you have been accepted.
6. Once you find your top places, visit them: Visiting the school is the best way to discover the true environment of it. Try to think of your most important questions before you get there, and don’t be afraid to ask them if the guide does not go over something you wanted to hear about. Take a few minutes to walk around by yourself too. See if you are comfortable at the school and can picture yourself being a part of it.

 Although it may seem impossible to get through all these steps, many of them come down to simple preference. There is no right or wrong in this process. It is all up to you and what you want. Make sure to reach out to friends, families, and teachers if you need some more ideas, but know that it is your path and your decisions. Good luck finding the right place for you!

Tips for Finding the Right College

Nicholas Damarodis

Editor-in-chief

Right now  can be a difficult time of year for seniors. Trying to manage school work, after school activities, and other commitments adds up fast, so adding the college selection process onto everything else can seem daunting. Rather than stressing over finding the right school, use these tips to ease your navigation:

1. Location, Location, Location: Figure out how far you want to go for school, and try to set a proximity from your house when looking at schools. Don’t just think of states or wide areas, but see how many hours (by plane, car, or whatever transportation you will use) it will take to get to your destination. Having a rough idea of how far you will go will help slim your choices down quickly.
2. Check to see if the school offers your major: Even better, use search engines and college finders online to only see schools that offer the majors you want. You would be surprised how many schools do not offer certain majors. Also, some schools are better known for certain majors over others.
3. ALWAYS check the dorms: If you are particular about a certain type of living style, check to see what type of living options the school offers. Larger schools tend to have a wide variety of living arrangements, but smaller schools may have fewer options. Also, make sure you are looking at freshmen dorms. Many schools love to profile their renovated and newly built dorms, but those are usually for upperclassmen.
4. Look at the size of the school: Schools can be small, with only a few hundred students, to as large as tens of thousands of students. Seriously consider how small or large a place you feel comfortable living in. It may sound great to leave your small town for a large college, but you may feel left out. Conversely, going to a smaller school may mean fewer options for sports, academics, and other activities.
5. Financial aid: The sooner you learn about financial aid, the better. Every school has different types of aid programs and scholarships. Some expensive Ivy League and liberal arts programs may look impossible to afford, but many have great scholarship programs. This is an important piece of the college equation to keep in mind, but know that most schools will not present a financial package to you until you have been accepted.
6. Once you find your top places, visit them: Visiting the school is the best way to discover the true environment of it. Try to think of your most important questions before you get there, and don’t be afraid to ask them if the guide does not go over something you wanted to hear about. Take a few minutes to walk around by yourself too. See if you are comfortable at the school and can picture yourself being a part of it.

Although it may seem impossible to get through all these steps, many of them come down to simple preference. There is no right or wrong in this process. It is all up to you and what you want. Make sure to reach out to friends, families, and teachers if you need some more ideas, but know that it is your path and your decisions. Good luck finding the right place for you!