News

Many students participate in annual blood drive

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Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood, and on Nov. 6 the high school hosted their annual blood drive.

The high school holds a blood drive because the large number of students donating one pint of blood can save up to three lives.

“So think about the difference we can make in this world. Together we can change the world one life at a time,” committee leader of the blood drive senior Tori Price said.

Student council started setting the date with the American Red Cross over the summer but began planning this event about a month ago.

“The hardest part of a blood drive is to really just get people involved. Most people are too afraid to donate which is hard because it lessens the number of participants we have,” Price said.

Before signing up there are age, height and weight requirements along with being healthy. Students are asked to stay hydrated the morning before giving blood.

The whole process takes around an hour but one is only giving blood for eight to ten minutes.

This morning before the blood drive, student council spent it setting up tables and chairs in the lower gym.

After students give blood, student council provides bagels, fruit, crackers and water to show their appreciation towards their participation.

The blood drive had 101 participants this year and hopes that number keeps growing for future drives.

Junior Gabriella Kingston said, “I believe the blood drive is a great way for the students to volunteer and give back to the community.”

Reviews

Music Review: “Wiped Out!” by The Neighbourhood

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Following their first album, “I Love You,” released in 2013, a California-based band, The Neighbourhood, debuted their sophomore album, “Wiped Out!” on Oct. 30 and has proven to long-time listeners, such as myself, they are willing to continue experimenting with different genres and sounds.

“I Love You” is a combination of the two EPs, “Thank You” and “I’m Sorry,” which were created in 2012 along with various songs not affiliated with either one of the EPs. Each individual song possessed an alternative, very soft rock sound while giving off an extremely relaxing feeling.

After that, the band completed two other projects. One being a three-song EP, “The Love Collection,” which stuck with the initial alternative sound along with introducing an unexplainable calmness in their music I have heard in other music from artists originating on the west coast.

The second project is a mixtape, “#000000 & #FFFFFF,” which possesses a completely different sound compared to their other work. Underground rappers from California are featured along with mainly hip-hop beats and various raps from lead singer Jesse Rutherford.

I can hear each individual style they have ever used in “Wiped Out!” along with the emphasis on beachy sounds and the introduction of upbeat music, which walks a fine line between the alternative and pop genres. On almost every track, you can hear waves crashing or seagulls squawking in the background. There are also longer guitar instrumentals from guitarists Zach Abels and Jeremy Freedman audible.

Personally, I believe the various challenges in musical style is what sets this album apart from the rest and why I enjoy it so much. Each track, from the acoustic sounds in “Baby Came Home 2 / Valentine” to the heavy bass in the intro of “Ferrari,” is organized almost perfectly as a song flows smoothly into the next one.

Lyrically, Rutherford has stayed the same in regards to writing lyrics all listeners can connect to at some level in their lives; however, he has also added depth in a few of their songs that really make me sit and think about the message he is trying to convey.

Rarely will I stumble across an album by a band I really like and enjoy every single song, but I find myself able to connect every track to something I am currently going through or have gone through at some point of my life.

From the lyrics, “We need to fly ourselves before someone else tells us how,” in the track “Prey” to “I don’t want to let you down, so promise you won’t let me drown,” in title track “Wiped Out!” I can find a piece of me hidden in the words, and I love that.

Overall, “Wiped Out!” still possesses the same relaxing and chill vibe I have heard and fell in love with throughout their career, but the new more quickly paced beats I really enjoy as well. Rutherford and the rest of the band have continued to prove they are able to experiment well with almost any type of music, and I cannot wait to hear what they will try next on their next album or project.

You can listen to the album here.

Editorials

Ideas of Halloween excitement vary amongst teenagers

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By Alyssa Kuntz

Halloween is a very popular time of year, but with kids and teens growing older many noticed they seem to become less festive, and they do not partake in the same activities as they used to.

Halloween is a time of year where kids usually go trick or treating. While trick or treating, kids dress up in any costume and walk around their neighborhood with friends or family. When they reach a house they all say “trick or treat” and then the neighbor gives them a piece of candy.

However, now, as children get older around ages 13, 14 or 15, they decide that they are too old to go trick or treating anymore. This is the case for many teens across the country.

“I stopped going trick or treating about two or three years ago,” sophomore Hassan Badat said.

On the other hand, some students still like to go trick or treating.

“This year I was a strawberry,” senior Audrey White said.

These students love receiving candy and hanging out with their friends as they trick or treat around many local developments. Trick or treating will never get old for them, and they always feel that there is no set age to quit such a fun festivity.

“I did not go trick or treating this year, but what I loved most about going in previous years, was hanging out with my friends,” sophomore Logan Winters said.

In today’s society, there has been a new attraction becoming very popular amongst teens: haunted houses. Instead of going trick or treating, many kids go to haunted houses where they seek the adrenaline rush and the thrill of being scared.

Another thing teens do instead of going trick or treating is just going to a party. The students may just go to someone’s house to hangout, or they might dress up in a costume and go to someone’s house for a halloween-themed party.

As trick or treating becomes less popular among older adolescents, it can either be a fun time out with friends, or cherished memories of the past. However, as everyone grows older, they still find different ways to celebrate this spooky holiday most Americans seem to love.

News

New operating system gives mixed messages to Apple users

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Avid iPhone users and tech-oriented fans were rapidly up-to-date with the newest Apple Software update, iOS 9.1, while other iPhone customers disregarded the update notification as a waste of time and disastrous to their current operating system.

On Oct. 12, Apple came out with their renovated iOS 9.1 beta 5 software with the hopes of introducing many creative features and solutions to problems within the previously released updates. Without success, Apple was quick to cover up the issues with the next update, but even this did not help very much.

According to forbes.com, “Apple released iOS 9.1 Beta 5. iOS 9.1 will be the first major iOS 9 update and is tasked with addressing the bevy of bugs missed by iOS 9.0.1 and iOS 9.0.2 – both of which were dedicated bug fixes but did nothing other than paper over the cracks.”

Although new updates can sometimes go the wrong way, as did iOS 9.0.2 with issues with battery life, iMessages, touchscreen and many more, the main purpose of appealing features and apps still remains apparent.

For many texters, the latest update with the addition of more emojis has many pumped and some confused. Those who have not done the update see a box with an alien face or a question mark in place of the emjoi that is not existing on their phones. Others, who did the update as soon as possible, were astonished to finally find all of the recent silly-faced, yellow characters available.

According to emojipedia.org, there are 184 more emojis to choose from including a unicorn, a robot, a burrito and a plethora of flags from various countries.

Apple advertises the newest update as, “iOS 9 is full of enhancements you’ll appreciate every day. Your apps become more essential. New multitasking features on iPad make you even more productive. Siri can do more than ever, and new proactive suggestions help you get things done before you ask. And improvements at the foundation of the operating system enhance performance, battery life, and security. The more you do with iOS 9, the more you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.”

Even though their advertisement may seem impressive, many are still experiencing trouble, even with iOS 9.1; many realize it is time to solve these problems personally and not wait for another possibly ineffective update.

As there are problems within every major update, iOS 9 does come with some imperfections yet still has pleased many customers. This update many still be a worthwhile update, especially with the ability to finally put a unicorn and even a tornado into a text message.

Visit gottabemobile.com for help with the newest iOS 9 update.

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