Student Completion

Date -3 A.M. Night Before

-Study Hall Day Of (oops)

-Sick Day Week Before

One Direction Infection An Epidemic Worth Catching

By: Shawna Newman

Column Page 6

January 2013

During Nebraska’s sub-zero winter months, it seems the only avail-

able activity aside from building immunity to hypothermia is to pick

up a case of the latest pandemic. Normal Ne-

braskans dread the common list of contagions,

influenza A, influenza B, bubonic plague, what-

ever the case may be. I, on the other hand, have

caught a much more severe disease. After a quick

trip to selfdiagnosis.com it appears that I’ve come

down with an incurable case of One Direction In-

fection.

Time out. For those not aware of who or what

One Direction is, I’ll provide a brief, well, briefing.

One Direction is a boy band, 4/5 British, 1/5 Irish.

It, of course, contains five males nothing short of

perfection, Zayn, Harry, Niall, Liam, and Louis. All

five auditioned on the X-factor and were thrown

together into a group by Simon Cowell, and thus

the birth of One Direction. Time in.

Believe it or not, being a Directioner (name of

One Direction fans) has its disadvantages. Crazy,

right? One Direction infection is exactly that, a disease.

Not only a disease, but an addiction, one that spreads rapidly. On mul-

tiple occasions I’ve been asked how it’s possible I’d never heard the

song “Thrift Shop.” That statement is usually accompanied with a

shocked and disgusted look. That particular look most commonly stays

in place while I explain that the only thing I’ve listened to for the last

month is One Direction’s new album.

Text messages from friends fill my phone, each issuing their irri

tation towards my One

Direction Pinterest board which now has

over 100 pins. All these little things mean nothing to me. That was

until my facebook profile became cluttered with vicious and hurtful

attacks directed at the group. “One Direction has

12 letters, so does Awfullllllll. Coincidence?

I think not.” That one caused tears.

Negatives aside, holding a deep and mod-

erately creepy love for this European boy band

phenomenon comes with a side of useful and

positive. If I ever find myself face to face with a

pack of ten-year-old girls, we’ll have no prob-

lem finding a conversation. When people ask

why I don’t have a boyfriend, instead of being

insulted and emotionally unprepared, I can an-

swer with, “Because I don’t need a boyfriend.

What I NEED is a backstage pass to meet my

husband.” Some may find it odd that I’ve fallen

truly, madly, and deeply in love with these

five random males, especially given the cir-

cumstance that I’m aware they do not, nor

will they ever have any knowledge of my ex-

istence. I find nothing wrong with it. I prefer to

view myself as a One Direction martyr, destined to a life of harassment

from my peers simply because I’ve become far too infatuated with a

hair flipping, skinny jean wearing, foreign musical group.

The torment is a small price to pay. When asked how I can even

tolerate One Direction without needing reconstructive ear surgery, I

don’t think of the song lyrics and the meaning they don’t have. I don’t

think of cheesy music videos strictly revolving around acting like a

child on a sugar high. No, for me, it’s all about the accents.

National History Day

Deadline Thursday, January 24th

This Week In History January 28th 1547-King Henry VIII (of England) died leaving the throne to his 9-year-old son, Edward VI January 29th 1995– The San Francisco 49ers became the first team in the NFL to claim five Super Bowl Titles January 30th 1969-The Beatles gave their last public performance (on a London recording studio rooftop) January 31st 1893– “Coca-Cola” trademark was first registered in the United States Patent Office February 1st 1919– First “Miss America” was crowned in New York City

Sports News Page 5

December 2012

Falcons Command the Sky Freeman racks up points, Johnson racks up injuries

By: Shawna Newman

The Johnson Brock girls lost to Freeman in

Falcon territory on December 7th, 47-17. The

game was their fifth in a nine day stretch.

“During this stretch we have had some unfor-

tunate injuries, and other circumstances to place

multiple stresses on us mentally and physically,”

head coach DeeAnn Richardson said.

The Falcons got off to a quick start, scoring

two points in a transition off the tip. Immedi-

ately J-B ran into turnover trouble when they

lost the ball their first two possessions up the

court. Halfway through the first quarter, junior

Nicole Carbajal was sidelined with an ankle

injury, leaving Johnson with two posts, and a

height disadvantage.

A scoreless 2nd quarter for the Eagles allowed

the Falcons a 19 point lead at the half. “We were

scared, nobody was there to play,” senior Syd-

ney Lavigne said. “We left our game faces in

Johnson.” Sydney got a hand on 6 rebounds during

the game, coming in second to junior Erin Boh-

ling’s 7. In the middle of the third, Sydney suf-

fered a possible MCL tear and was out for the re-

mainder of the game.

Johnson’s defensive switch from a man, to a 3-

2 zone held Freeman to making 17 of their 54 field

goal attempts. However; the Eagles struggled on

the offensive side where their 30 plus turnovers

compared to Freemans 6 resulted in low scoring.

“I think other teams are just more disciplined

than us,” junior Nicole Carbajal said, “We need to

be smarter with the ball.”

The five day break in store for the Eagles be-

fore they take on Tri County at home, will allow

for plenty of time to refocus on fundamentals.

“Hopefully this break will give us the needed time

to heal,” Coach Richardson said, “and begin to

work on fixing our weaknesses.”

Thursday, Janu-ary 3

At Falls City

Public

JV girls start at 4:15 p.m.

That Eagle Boy is..

Cody Kreifels

Johnson

Takes On Tri County Lady Eagles limit turnovers to soar

above Trojans

Girls JV: 22-11

Girls Varsity: 32-17

Lead Scorers: Tori Rowe-14 pts. Sydney LaVigne-8 Lead Rebounder: Erin Bohling-6 Reb. Lead Steals: Tori Rowe-5 Stls.

Column

Highway Hazard Knows Where Blame Lies

Page 7 November 2012

The only thing more horrifying than being irony’s poster

child, is realizing that unknowingly I deny it daily in a hypo-

critical fashion. I, the daughter of J-B’s driver’s education

teacher, constantly feel the need to criticize the occupants of

the 15 mile stretch of road I frequently travel; which would

be perfectly acceptable, if not for the fact that the greatest

risk of Highway 136 is me.

Take an easily distracted, recently turned 16

year old female, a mix CD that can only be de-

scribed as impossible to NOT dance to, and a

license to freedom. Alright, technically freedom

as defined by the state of Nebraska. Six in the

morning to midnight, with a maximum of one

passenger who is not a family member, but

more or less-freedom. Combine these concepts

behind the wheel of rusted out, accident prone,

Chevy S10, and we’ve got a lawsuit on our

hands.

“How stupid do you have to be to drive a

vehicle!?” I’ll yell at the driver of the blue Volvo speeding

past me driving 6 miles over the speed limit. Simultaneously

I switch off my blinker that has been flashing since my last

left turn, 10 miles ago. Do as I say, not as I do. I, along with

every other teenage driver on the road, have unrightfully

been dubbed as dangerously reckless. The culprits? Take a

seat, and prepare for this shocking revelation, because the

blame lies in over-protective parents.

Parents brag for hours on end about the advanced achieve-

ments their child so effortlessly accomplishes. Prestigious

certificates and awards decorate the walls of my home more

than paint; however, the second I jam the key into the igni-

tion, my mother develops some form of amnesia and seems

to think I have the common sense of a two year old taking a

quick joy ride down the freeway on my tricycle. Despite

flaunting my impressive array of vehicle lingo (consisting of

PRNDL, wiper thingies, hood popper, and the makeup mir-

ror), she still doubts my driving abilities.

I may not be the most skilled driver who

cruises into the DMV, and my road rage could

possibly be considered border-line harassment,

but really, come on, I passed drivers ed. Who

cares that it took around three tries, I walked

away with a learners permit.

“Now remember Shawna, when you’re

driving in Nebraska City, there will be stop

lights. If it’s red, you will have to stop,” she

calmly explains to me. Judging by her tone, she

might as well have said, why no Shawna, you

may not join the circus as the world’s most tattooed woman.

I thank her kindly for the newfound knowledge she’s just

bestowed upon me, and as I’m about out the door, I turn and

ask, “Wait, I drive on the left side of the road, right?”

President

Romney-136 Obama-106

Johnson-3 Terry-5

Senate

Fischer-83

Kerry-74

Legislature

Watermeier-83 Joy-34

Congress

Smith-79

Sullivan-39

Actual Results: Obama, Fischer, Watermeier, Smith