Under the Lines of Lines

Tia Carter

            “Born under Venus look for a…..” said by Charlotte Pickles in the Rugrats Movie. This is not the first of hidden messages or metaphors that are put in children’s movies, but the question is did you notice them as a kid or did they just fly over your head.

            In many movies this is called “Adult Humor” because let’s face it an hour and a half of watching babies mispronounce words, talking cars, bugs, and toys, and a worrisome father looking for his son. After awhile an adult needs to have a break from the G-rated and maybe enter into the world of PG-13. In some peoples mind it’s “destroying the mind of kids” but in most cases kids don’t even understand the meaning and if you ask me they don’t even realize that it’s going on. But let’s see if you recognize any of these controversial quotes and actions in some of the most popular kid’s movies brought to you by http://pixar.wikia.com/Adult_Humor:

Toy Story

v  When Bo Peep says to Woody, "Whadda ya say I get someone else to watch the sheep tonight?” she might be referring to having sex.

A Bug’s Life

v  During the circus scene, one of the Fly Brothers says to Francis (thinking he's a girl), "Hey, cutie! Wanna pollinate with a real bug?” He may be talking about sex.

v  After the mosquito drinks his "Bloody Mary - O+", he gets drunk.

v  After finding out that the "warriors" are circus bugs, Flik organizes a "meeting" with them. When Princess Atta questions it, Flik states that it's "strictly BYOB". BYOB is an acronym for "Bring Your Own Booze," while "booze" is a slang term for alcoholic drinks.

Toy Story 2

v  After Jessie springs into action to help Buster out of Andy's room in an emergency, Buzz's love-struck reaction causes his wings to go spring erect. This is suggestive of Buzz having been turned on by the new woman in his life.

 

Monster’s Inc.

v  When the Yeti offers Mike and Sulley some yellow snow cones, Mike looks at it funny. Yellow snow is typically known for having been urinated on. The Yeti recovers him from the awkward pause by saying that it's lemon.

            Finding Nemo

v  Gurgle: Don't you people realize we are swimming in our own...

           Peach: Shh! Here he comes!

v  While not exactly humorous, it should be noted that the group that Bruce is running for other sharks operates in a very similar manner to Alcoholics Anonymous, an organization that tries to help alcoholics recover from their addiction to alcohol.

v  The decorative volcano inside the fish tank is named Mt. Wannahawkaloogie. "Hawking a loogie" is actually a slang term for throwing a spitball.

The Incredibles

v  When Syndrome discovers that Mr. Incredible married Elastigirl and had kids, he rudely remarks that they "got busy."

Cars

v  When everybody notices that Lightning was missing after Mack arrives in California, Mack asks, "Did I forget to wipe my mud flaps?" which means he forgot to wipe his poop.

v  Relating the story of Doc Hudson's past, Lightning states that he won three Piston Cups. Startled at what he misheard, Mater exclaims, "He did what in his cup?!” thinking that Lightning said he urinated in his cup.

Some people feel that these comments or actions in these movies destroy or ruin the mind of a child, but in reality when you are young you just enjoy the movie as it is in it’s purity. And as you get older and possible discover the underlining meaning of some of the parts in movies once again you get to enjoy them but you may laugh a little harder because now you understand them.

Addicted to the Internet

Nikki LaMountain

The new year of 2013 will be bringing about many changes for the world. New technologies will be unveiled, history will be made, and addiction to the internet will be classified as a mental disorder. Over the years, humans all over the world have been sucked more and more into the world of the internet. It’s easy to see why. Sites such as Google make learning new information just a few clicks away. While social media platforms like Facebook ad Twitter make talking to others easy and accessible from anywhere. And as new technologies and advances are made, our love affair with the internet will only get stronger.

            China, Taiwan and South Korea have all already classified internet addiction as a mental disorder, while approximately 4.6% of Germans are classified as addicted to the internet, which is equal to the number of pot addicts in the country. And in 2013 America will be adding it to its fifth addition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It has been proven receiving something such as a retweet or a “like” on a blog post or status results in the release of dopamine in the brain, which is also what happens while taking illegal substances, which is what makes it so addicting. There re many other side effects to having an internet addiction, which is why it has been classified as a mental disorder.

            Internet addicts have 10 to 20% smaller brain areas that are responsible for speech, memory, motor control, emotion and sensory. People that use the internet significantly more also have “fundamentally altered” prefrontal cortexes, which controls conflicting thoughts such as the difference between good and bad, working toward a defined goal, and resisting urges. Within the past ten years as technology and internet have become bigger parts of everyday life, the average attention span has decreased from 12 seconds to 8. While the average amount of time spent on the computer has risen from 3.43 hours a day to seven.

            Many treatments have been created and recommended for those diagnosed with internet addiction. The number one treatment recommended for those with a strong addiction is complete abstinence from the internet and only use the computer when it is needed for legitimate purposes. Also, engage in more off-line activities, which will improve social relationships and increase motivation.

Traditions on a Whole New Level

Written by: Katie Brown

With Christmas talk in the air, everyone is settling in for winter and all the traditions that come with it. Cookies are baked in the oven, and evergreens keep the houses smelling fresh. Families gather together for times of love and sharing, and hot chocolate is made to keep everyone’s belly delightfully warm. However, not everyone follows the traditional standards of the holiday season. No, some take it to a whole new level.

            Over on Apple Blossom Lane, a street nearing Lisha Kill Middle School, residents take decorating in a different sense. Now most people string a few lights up and lay out a snowman and a few reindeer to bring in the holiday fun, but not on Apple Blossom. The owners of houses hang up at least triple what any normal holiday lover does.  On the roof, in the yard, lights going from the house to the trees. Some lights blink, others change colors, and some lights even create a moving picture. There’s so much going on that it may look even chaotic at first.

            For the resedent Jean Connelly, the sight was very unexpected after moving onto the street three years ago. “As soon as Thanksgiving is over, everyone on the street is out hanging up their lights, and they stay up right on ‘til New Years,” said Connelly. She enjoys the lights every year, though she does have some complaints when it comes to some of her neighbor’s decorating style. Particularly the ones who hang up palm tree shaped lights. “I just don’t understand it. It’s Christmas, not summer,” she said, talking about the lawn that featured Santa’s day at the beach, including palm trees, flamingos, and dolphins, with Santa taking in some sun on a lawn chair.

            Connelly’s only other complaint about the grand light shows was the traffic that it caused. Many people take a ride in their cars and just cruise down the road, looking at all the lights like many would at the holiday lights featured in Washington Park. It really causes a hassle for those who live on the street when it comes to leaving and returning home, but it’s still and enjoyable tradition for everyone on Apple Blossom Lane.

Bad Habits, Not so Bad

Written by: Katie Brown

From childhood to adulthood, everyone warns you about getting rid of your bad habits. Your parents get angry at you for them, and your peers look down on you for them. They call these habits rude and unhealthy and criticize those who continue with them. However, contrary to belief, not all bad habits are so bad after all. Some of such habits that are commonly heard of include eating chocolate, getting angry, and drinking coffee.

            Everyone enjoys a nice big chunk of chocolate, but almost everyone says it’s bad for you. Many claim that it leads to obesity, heart disease, and other bodily harm. But, when eaten in moderation, chocolate is good for you. Harvard studies actually suggest that eating 2 ounces of chocolate, preferably dark chocolate, will cut your artery-clogging LDL cholesterol by 14 percent. This prevents dangerous blood clots by up to 36 percent and improves blood flow. This is caused by antioxidants in the cocoa that dial down inflammation, relax arteries, plus help control your liver’s cholesterol output. Chocolate also can help in preventing the growth of cancerous cells, thus increasing your lifespan.

            Everyone says it’s not good to get angry. Since childhood, you’ve been told to be calm, and take a deep breath. But, in actuality, losing your temper every once in a while is a good thing. "Anger is actually a good emotion that's often misunderstood or irrationally used," says Mary Lamia, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Kentfield, CA.  It keeps you from bottling up emotions until they spill over. Getting angry helps to relieve stress and can also help reduce the risk of heart attacks.

It is common belief that drinking coffee is bad for the health because of all of the caffeine it contains. This is false. Caffeine helps shuttle blood sugar into muscle and brain cells, cutting your risk of pre-diabetes by as much as half. Coffee can help regulate mood, and has shown that women who drank 2 to 3 cups a day had a 15 percent lower risk of depression. Coffee is also a rich source of antioxidants and other healthy compounds that may help protect against cancer. Many also dislike coffee habits because it’s thought that coffee is a dehydrator. Well, according to University of Nebraska researchers, you absorb just as much water from eight ounces of coffee or tea as you do from eight ounces of water.
            So, not all bad habits are that bad for you. Some may have good side effects for your body and mind. If you look behind the common knowledge of people, then you may find that you can enjoy your habits, even if only in moderation, without feeling guilty about it.

That was Awkward

Written by: Christine To

We’ve all had our awkward moments, right? Do you get embarrassed? Do you laugh it off? No one really knows how to deal with these unfortunate mishaps. Well, I can help you through these awkward encounters in your life. Here are some common scenarios that could happen to you in the hallways of Colonie High. I’ll help you prepare yourself for your next painstaking awkward moment.

1. Sudden Loss of Hearing
   By that, I mean, your friend said something to you and you didn’t hear them. And not only did you not hear them the first time, you didn’t hear the eight times they’ve repeated themselves either. So after saying “WHAT?!” about a billion times, it gets awkkkwaarrddd… You have to just pretend you heard them. They appropriate fake response here would be; acting interested, nodding and saying “Oh, I know, right,” “Yeah, sure,” or “I don’t know.” After responding, change the subject right away, so they don’t continue to ask you questions about said topic.
2. The Awkward Wave
   In the crowded hallways of Colonie, there are plenty of half asleep zombie students. You’re so excited to see your friend so you flash a huge smile and wave but she’s completely oblivious to her surroundings. So what do you do? Everyone just saw you wave at her and boom—you got shot down. Here’s what you do, you wave all the way down the hallway. Don’t you dare stop, wave at everyone who sees you. Don’t be concerned about looking strange, everyone will think “wow, that person is so friendly.” Problem solved, my friend.
3. Saying Goodbye But Not Parting Ways
   Has this ever happened to you? You give a long, meaningful farewell and as you turn to leave, you and your friend go in the same direction. Then you laugh awkwardly start a new conversation. Here’s how to avoid this event, run. Full speed ahead, just sprint away and do not look back. Your friend will be slightly confused, but it’s alright, you’ve made a clean getaway.
   These are three common awkward situations to occur here at school and how to avoid them. So next time you’re waving someone and they don’t wave back? It’s alright, don’t get embarrassed, just continue to wave at everyone, and the awkward moment is avoided with success.

Fashion 2013

Written by: Carly Dugan

 

"Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” These are the words of Coco Chanel arguably one of the most well-known and astounding fashion designers the industry has ever seen.
            In my opinion those words couldn’t be truer. Of course everyone knows that the fashion industry is always at least two seasons ahead of what the actual season is, so there are always plenty of trends popping up and fading away. So even though the trends may fade for some, an individual’s personal style is how they wear the clothes, express themselves. I am a believer that trends should not define your personal style, but merely add and enhance your overall look. It’s fun to try new trends while mixing in pieces that are “you”. That’s the fun and unique thing about fashion; you can always express who you truly are through the clothes you wear!
            As the year is coming to an end, it is time to reflect on the year and set goals for oneself for the upcoming year (even if they only last that first week). So let’s take a look at the trends of 2012, and a sneak peek of what to expect to see in 2013.
            Starting off with the beginning of the year, the early months were filled with cut-outs on dresses, cut out shoulders on shirts, to even cut outs on the back of blazers and jackets! Mesh cut-outs in particular made an appearance along with sheer fabrics, including sheer lace. Metallic pieces (which yes are okay to mix together) and asymmetrical pieces set 2012 on the right foot.
            As spring blossomed, so did the idea of prints. Graphic, floral, and tribal prints especially on dresses, trousers, and blazers were all showing up. Tangerine along with neon and pastels were incorporated in these printed pieces. One piece I believe is a staple in any girl’s wardrobe, and one of my favorites, is a collared blouse. They are so easy to dress up with a fitted skirt, blazer, and heels. Or go for a more edgy perspective with a leather jacket and printed pants. Either way, collared blouses were definitely popular, especially Peter Pan collared blouses. Another great thing about collared blouses is that they can be simple, embellished, metallic, or printed, so almost everyone can find a collared piece they adore.
            Summer is not all about short shorts and tank tops ladies! Though some fun shorts that were a hit, were printed shorts varying from lace to tribal. Dip-dye everything (hair, shorts, and shirts) gave a cool summer vibe with bright and neon colors and pastels returning from spring. Maxi and mini dresses were great for summer depending on the occasion and weather, along with “high-low” dresses and skirts. If you consider yourself any bit indie rocker with vintage band t-shirts, fringed bags, leather shorts, acid wash jackets, oversized floppy hats, or feathers, then summer of 2012 was right up your alley! Crop tops and bralets were fun pieces, which summer is all about.
            Fall is personally my favorite season for clothes because it is fun (and comfortably efficient) to layer and mix and match various pieces. Baroque and geometric prints flooded the runway along with the beautiful autumnal color, burgundy. Pea coats, riding boots, and scarves are all classic pieces for fall. Color block still remained a hit for riding boots mixing leather, neutral colors, and suede. Cap toe shoes, combat boots, lace up boots, loafers, and sneaker wedges were all fall trends; and what girl doesn’t love shoes?! Studs (yet another of my favorites) were everywhere this fall, from shoes, jewelry, bags, jackets, to collars of shirts. They are a fun way to add some edge to an outfit. Embellishments on sweaters and cardigans were popular along with printed leggings, for the bolder individuals.
            Some may wonder what’s next. What will the trends be for 2013? Here are some ideas of what to look out for. Black and white pieces, leather dresses and skirts, short suits, bold stripes, statement sunglasses, sporty dresses, Asian and menswear inspired pieces, and the continuation of cut outs and embellishments, are just to name a few! I don’t know about anyone else but I’m super excited about the idea of statement sunglasses and black and white pieces which are classic paired with a red lip.
            Trends go from the runways of Chanel, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Michael Kors, Alexander Wang, Ralph Lauren (I could go on and on), to the affordable and just as stylish stores such as H&M, Forever 21, Aldo, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Urban Outfitters. This proves that no matter what your budget, you can always follow the trends. Expressing your own unique fashion tastes is one trend that will never go out of style. 

Holiday Relationships

by Danielle Stazio

As soon as December hits, relationships seem to double throughout Colonie High. Is this just a coincidence? Students feel that if they are single, or do not have a “significant other,” they must run out and find them before the holidays begin. Usually, these relationships end up coming to a fall out, because they were never real to begin with. Maybe it’s the holiday music, the desire to exchange gifts, or the jealousy of love between characters Jack Campbell and Kate Reynolds in Romance movies such as The Family Man, but three in every four students at Colonie High say they wish to be in a relationship with another around this time.

When asked about her love life this holiday season, Nicole Cunningham, senior at Colonie High School, said she is glad she has the opportunity to spend it with her boyfriend, Nick Gentile. Melissa McGee, another senior at a Colonie High school, admits to sharing a pretend relationship with her best friend, Nick Marcella, who neither has a girlfriend at this time. They plan to exchange gifts with each other, just for the fun of it. When asked if this “relationship” will continue into January, Melissa replied with, “No, we’re just really good friends. We have no one to exchange gifts with, so we figured we might as well!” Many teenage girls feel the same way as Melissa. They all want a boyfriend to spend the holidays with, but in reality it is phony and a phase which only lasts a couple months. The proper relationship should have real feelings between each other, not created just because there is all of a sudden snow on the ground and Christmas music in the malls.

Syria:History Repeating?

             In the Past two weeks a wave of violence has stormed through the 140 square miles that is the Gaza Strip. With a population just over 1.5 million people it remains one of the most violent regions in the world. Conflict continues to batter the city as Palestinian militants and IDF (Israeli defense force) soldiers trade rockets across the thin borders.

              The recent escalation in Gaza is derived from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to establish 3,000 new homes in an illegal settlement that is on contested land. Despite Israel’s infamous iron dome defense system Palestinian insurgents were able to launch numerous rocket strikes, determined to be above 150 rockets in the month of November alone. However Israel usually responded swiftly to attacks sending air strikes of their own into the city of Gaza striking militants with ease. Members of the UN had exclaimed that the recent surge of violence in Gaza would make it hard to grant President Abbas of Palestine a non member observer state membership with the United Nations that he has been seeking for the past two years, but it did not affect the decision, as it was granted. All and all the United Nations as well as Amnesty International’s first priority is civilian safety and right now that priority is not being met on either side of the fight.  UN members called for an immediate cease fire two weeks ago as a requirement for Palestine to be recognized as an observer state. With Abbas`s compliance they were granted a historical membership for which many political analysts believe will change nothing on the ground. Also recently Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that despite the US as well as the UK advising them not to build the 3,000 new houses on contested land, he will indeed build them. This could very well prove to be the start of a falling, once prosperous friendship between the United States and Israel. Israel’s defiance will prove to be a test for the United Nations as well as a further test for Amnesty International in trying to control the human rights blunder that has developed in Palestine as well as much of the Middle East. Although this week President Abbas of Palestine declared that for the first time ever, he would create a defense ministry in Gaza to fight the illegal actions of Israel.

 The conflict in the past year between the two countries has taken a toll on neighboring regions (primarily Egypt). Egypt has shown growing frustration with both sides in the past year as they are often times caught up in the crossfire between the two sides. Many had believed that once the current president of Egypt Mohamed Morsy was elected the regime would firmly back the need for a legitimate Palestinian state since he ran with under the Muslim Brotherhood party. However Morsy has been more than fair regarding the situation, to the relief of many Western countries. Many humanitarian workers believe that Morsy could be a vital tool for creating peace in the region. The escalation has also been attributed to recent violence in Jordan between Christians and Muslims.

Get Hot By:Melissa Mcgee

                During this time of the year, students, especially seniors, grow more stressed than usual. With college application due and college essays to be written, people need a way to get this stuff off their minds. There’s only one way to do it: Hot Yoga.

                  Hot yoga is practiced in a 90 degree room. This not only burns more calories by increasing the bodies heart rate, it helps your body release toxins and calms your mind. The instructors start off relaxing your mind by telling you to release all anxiety you have. They remind you that the things that are bothering you in life do not affect your yoga practice.

                  The Hot Yoga Spot is located in Stuyvesant Plaza . They have genres and levels of hot yoga for all different types of people. There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. For people who aren’t in to traditional yoga, there are classes such as hot hip hop yoga, hot core flow, and other classes that mainly focus on strength.

                  Many people doubt that yoga truly relives stress, and believe that it is mainly all in your head.  Ms. Beckmann, a foreign language teacher at Colonie High School, thinks otherwise. “I definitely think it relieves stress,” said Ms. Beckman, “It’s not only physical, the meditation aspect is proven to relieve stress.” Ms. Beckmann instructs yoga classes at Best Fitness. She is currently working on her two hundred hour yoga certification.

                  Yoga is not only for women.  “Quite a few guys come in because their tight from working out. I had one student that was told of yoga by their psychiatrist. I see all types of people.” Yoga teaches people to remain calm, and to keep a steady breathe. This helps all types of athletes, whether you’re a ballerina or a football player. Yoga does not discriminate against anybody.

                  The love for Hot yoga is growing rapidly through the capital region. New Hot yoga gyms are popping up all over. In order to truly understand the meaning of yoga, you must put your anxieties of it aside and book a class.

Students Intimidated by Track Runners By:Alicia Bousa

In Colonie High School, it seems students are intimidated by the boys and girls Track and Field team. Most do not want to participate on the team because they feel they will not be good enough. It may not be the easiest sport, but anyone can participate.

                  The Colonie Track and Field team has always had high standards. They have had state champions and even national champions. That is why most feel so intimidated. There are also many people on the team who are not state or national champions. But they still run. They run to better themselves and just to have fun. 

“I don’t understand why so many people are intimidated,” said Mikeisha Kelly, a sophomore sprinter. “Our whole team is a family, no matter who you are.”

                  According to the student athletes, they do not judge anyone. They all help each other achieve their own goals. They cheer each other on through tough workouts and cheer each other on at meets as well. Students should not feel intimidated by the track team. Yes, they have great runners, but people who just like to run for fun can join as well. Not everyone has to be competitive.

                  “Our team has different ability levels,” said Coach Ferrari. “We give each athlete the same amount of attention.”

                  According to the coaches, no one is left behind. They do not give the ‘better’ athletes more attention. Everyone runs the exact same workout at the exact same time. The runners may be given different goal times to hit, based on their ability, but for the most part, they are always together.

Track and Field is not a sport you have to try out for. Once you sign up, you automatically make the team. It is one of the only sports where there is no limitation on how many athletes participate. You can join just to run for fun or you can join to compete.

Not So Traditional Traditions

by Emily Green

                The Holiday’s are a time of celebration and tradition for people everywhere.  There are the usual Christmas expectations that every Christmas celebrator is expected to fulfill. For instance, there is the Christmas tree. This tradition of bringing a tree into one’s home, stringing it with bright, colorful lights and loading it with ornaments is widely practiced. Also, singing Christmas carols and sharing a meal with family is a common Christmas Day activity.  Although there are many followers of these holiday traditions, some people have gone outside the norm and found unique ways to enjoy Christmas.

                Since Christmas Eve is the big build up to Christmas morning, the excitement brings many families together. Colonie senior, Mike McKay, explained that Christmas Eve was spent in the movie theaters. Like many other people, it became a tradition for his entire family to go out to a Christmas Eve movie.  Also, it is a common practice for people to snuggle next to a warm fire and watch It’s a Wonderful Life, the renowned Christmas movie. But for senior Jaclyn Welch, Christmas Eve is celebrated with her family’s own tradition. They put on a talent show for each other.  This family wide competition is held each year and each person is given a chance to out shine another, but in a friendly way. It features acts such as Jaclyn’s aunt and uncle doing a synchronized dance.  Also, she has performed as an expert hula-hooper ever since she was young.  This is the kind of unique tradition that makes the holiday even more special to a family. 

My family is another example of hosting odd Christmas Eve traditions. Every year my father comes home with two giant boxes. Each box contains about 75 rolls of toilet paper. This serves two purposes; we are supplied with toilet paper for a cheap price for a really long time, and we get to play with a whole lot of toilet paper. Toilet paper activities include stacking them in doorways and then smashing trough them, or simply chucking them at your cousin. Also if you are lucky enough, you are allowed to open some and completely wrap one of your unwilling family members in toilet paper. It is definitely a different Christmas Eve activity, but for us it is the best part of the night.

Christmas Day holds a whole new array of traditions. Many which seem to take place during the opening of gifts. Senior Ally Ferral said that she opens her stocking after her presents, which is out of order in most people’s eyes. Another example is senior Sam Smith who said he has to open his cat’s and dog’s presents first.  It’s funny because when he told me this in a crowd of people, almost everyone, including myself, chimed in and said that they did that too.  Apparently pet owners are on the same page that their pets deserve the first presents of Christmas morning.

Another Christmas Day custom that can be changed is the meal. Some people have adopted the tradition of going out for a late night Denny’s meal, while others stay home to cook. They prepare uncommon meals such as chili, turkey, or fried chicken.  In my family, fried meatballs are the best food of the day. However, Melissa McGee of Colonie takes the show with her family’s tradition of eating crab legs on Christmas Day.

Despite the shared ideas of Christmas celebrations, many people have come out with their own unique traditions. These traditions are what make the holidays more personal and more treasured to them.