Blog 5

In the style of Wandering Earl

There are many things that can occur when you bring your non-indian friends to an authentic indian chat house to try one of the spiciest snacks- Pani Puri

Pani Puri is a really simple concoction, with a fiery punch. It's basically a crispy, chip-like, shell filled with green water. The catch is that the reason the water is green is because of the copious amounts of green chillies added to the water. Yeah, it's that spicy.

Some really REALLY like it...
Some aren't so sure how to react...
Some critic the smudged silverware relentlessly...
Some feel excrutiating pain...

The cause of such vastly different reactions to the said treat can be explained by my very legally-aged, college-attending older brother,

"The burn you feel after downing just one shell resembles the same feeling felt when you down shots"

A simple explanation. But this burn stays, you'll feel it for the remainder of your stay at the restaurant, maybe even the day after...

But the question is: Are you able to handle the burn? Are you brave enough to withstand the heat?

I challenge you to see how many shells you can handle in one sitting without giving up. If you can handle up to 15, I officially welcome you into the brown community.

-Sachi Kamble

Blog #5

In the style of Becky Perlow, CNN
The ice cream, the homeless, and the Girl Scout

Last Friday was just another normal day for Brittney Sheena. She had just finished lacrosse practice and decided to make her daily trip to the local Marble Slab.

She walked into the parlor, decisions made, cash ready. She was in a particularly good mood that day after her various goals during practice. She felt like she deserved more than just the ordinary- an ice cream sundae.

Brittney sat in her usual seat by the window. She looked out the window at the sunset, as she did every time. This time, however, the scene had changed. Outside, sitting on the curb, was a particular man, wearing disheveled clothes and carrying a torn backpack. She observed him, the way he would stare at the same sunset.
Brittney, for some reason, felt rather uncomfortable and compulsive. She got up, threw away her trash, and walked out the door, heading toward her car. As she unlocked her car, she looked back at the man.

"I introduced myself," Sheena said. "I just felt like I could. There was a look in his eye."

Brittney and Roger walked inside and had a two hour conversation over ice cream. She learned that he had been a veteran from the Vietnam War. Roger had PTSD, a disorder derived from traumatic experiences.

University of Pennsylvania psychology professor Sandra McPherson, M.D. explained that Roger is actually a patient at the VA Center in Houston.

"Doctors were shocked when they heard Brittney got a word out of him," McPherson said. "Roger's PTSD has kept him silent the past 19 years. Something in Brittney triggered this releasing action."

Roger, who after that conversation, has since sought therapy for continual growth.

"I am working on it," Roger said. "And Brittney helped me crack it open. I thank her for that... and the ice cream."

Cari Bonilla
Staff Writer

Blog #5

Muse On Tour

Muse, a popular English rock band from Teignmouth, Devon formed in 1994, announced their 2013 North American Tour right after their appearance on Saturday Night Live in the beginning of the new year. They will be touring all throughout North America including California, Florida, Detroit, Chicago, Houston and Canada. The band consists of Mathew Bellamy (lead vocals, lead guitar, piano, keyboards, keytar), Christopher Wolstenhome (bass, vocals, keyboards, rythm guitar, harmonica) and Dominic Howard (drums, percussion, synthesisers, sampling).

Several students from Bellaire High School enjoyed the tour this spring break as it went around to Houston. They cheered and sang a long the whole time as they enjoyed the presence of Muse.

"I went to the concert in Houston and loved it. They are my all time favorite band," says Aidan Preece. "I can play up to thirty six of their songs on the drums."

Muse made break through after their almub release of Black Holes and Revelations in 2006. Now fans on the other side of the world can enjoy this music band during their 2013 tour.

Daniela Carlock
Writer

Blog #5

Here the player occupies the right third of the picture, with his bassoon taking the center of the image and keeping him and not the people in the background as the focus.

This euphonium player occupies the right third of the picture, with the music stand and other musician balancing it out.

The focus here is on the flutist's hands and flutes, the main things required for playing. The flutes  in the picture create leading lines. 

Blog #5

In the style of Chelsea Fagan, Thought Catalog writer.
http://thoughtcatalog.com/author/faganchelsea/

"5 Reasons to Keep Trying"

1. There's always something more.
You may reach a point in your life when nothing makes sense, when you think that you've tapped out everything good in the world, and there isn't anything left. But you haven't, and there's an infinite number of experiences, moments, people, that you have yet to feel, have, meet. Somewhere in all of the mess, you will find happiness. You will find a place where you belong, that's just for you, and this feeling you have right this moment will be forgotten.

2. You owe it to yourself.
Unless you've genuinely never tried before (and I'll hazard a guess that everyone, EVERYONE, has had a passion for something and tried to pursue it), you owe it to yourself to keep trying. The effort you put in matters, and whether it goes to waste is a choice that you have to make. Did you put years into learning a skill, building up trust, forging connections? If so, don't throw it away and regret it later. Force yourself to keep trying, unless you really believe that there's something better out there for you.

3. People believe in you.
You're not alone in this. There are people—family, friends, coworkers—who have put their faith in you. They've bragged about you to other people, or they've trusted you to help them with something, or they've supporting you all along on your journey. You're not just doing it all for yourself. Yes, succeeding in life or even just making it through the day is good for you, but other people have invested in you, too. Don't forget about them.

4. It's who we are.

I believe there's something in the human spirit that allows us to keep trying, often against all odds and despite the difficulties. I mean, what's the alternative? Not trying anymore, ever, is simply the absence of being. There's nothing beautiful in just existing in a state of nothingness. Fighting these daily trials and coming out ahead is what makes us human.

5. This feeling will pass.
It's the worst feeling in the world, I'll grant you that. Feeling like you're out of options or stuck somewhere you don't want to be—I get that it's terrible. But it will pass. Not every day is going to be a good day. You'll have days when you fail, days when everything goes wrong, days when things don't meet your expectations. That doesn't mean you won't have other days, when you're on top of the world, when everything and everyone is on your side, when you can't stop smiling because life is just good. Keep going for those days because they will happen for you, too.

BLOG 5/VISUALS

Blog 5

Natalie Dorman playing the guitar and singing during lunch. This is an action shot and there's not a lot of composition in this photo.

This is basically the same thing just from a different angle. This picture has a little more composition, but you can't see her face very well and it looks like there's a microphone growing out of her nose.

Blog #5

In the style of Katharine Shilcutt, writer for "Eating Our Words"

Houston has a least one of every nation wide popular burger joint in the United States. All but probably the most famous burger joint of all- In and Out Burger. This food spot is widely popular all around the west coast with locations all around the United States with at least one location in every major city. In fact, the only location in Texas is not even in Texas' largest city, Houston, but rather a more mediocre place, Dallas.

When one initially walks into an In and Out Burger for the first time they usually complain about the extremely small menu that they actually show on the wall. But what makes the menu special is that there is a SECRET MENU. 

This includes random variations of cheese fries to fries that are topped with thousand island dressing and grilled onions. But perhaps the most popular item on the menu is their "Animal Burger" that includes extra Thousand Island spread, mustard grilled patties, and extra pickles.

Perhaps the most famous feature of In and Out Burger is the freshness of their products as all the ingredients of everything they make (from the patties to the potatoes for fries) are shipped in new every morning for preparation. 

Nathan Hiransomboon
Bellaire TPP

Blog 5

Effective Time Manage Skills for High School Students

Set Your Priorities

The most important step in being able to manage your time efficiently is recognizing just exactly what your priorities are.  If you keep your priorities in mind, you'll have a better understanding of what it is you have to do to complete those priorities. As a student, your main concern is most likely be to get into a good college. While this is a rather broad topic, every one of your priorities should somehow lead to this goal.

Don't Procrastinate

While this may seem like a pretty obvious piece of advice, it's amazing how many students put off things to the last possible minute. Procrastinating and cramming will only lead to stress, lack of sleep and the inability to do your best work. If you spread your workload over a longer period, you'll be able to complete more tasks and more quality work. My current Pre-Calc teacher, Mr. Phillips, once told us something that really struck me; it doesn't matter how many hours we study, it matters how effectively we do. Would we rather study for 5 hours over a period of a week, or would we wait to the last minute and study 5 hours the night before the text?

Get your work done

Simply finishing your work on time is a great way to relieve stress and even free up some space for other activities. Not finishing your homework will not stop the flow of more work from all of your classes. Don't allow your work to pile up to a point that is simply too much for you to handle. Manage your homework efficiently. 

Laurence Zhang

Writer, TPP

Blog 5

New York Times writer Phillip Lopate has recently published a post in the "Draft" section of the Opinionator blog. The "Draft" section is devoted to writers to examine the art and craft of writing. He writes about his profession of an essayist and how it allows him to freely express his ideas through writing without feeling afraid to uphold expectations from others.

The art of writing is intricate. Words can flow like spilled ink, but it can also block like congealed blood. I like the freedom that writing gives me. Being an essayist has no expectations demanded to be met. Writing should not be forced; it should be done only for the sake of putting your thoughts down on paper. Instead of arguing one side of a debate to prove your rhetorical skills, it is also reasonable to support the validity of both sides. There is always an "if, and, or, but" to all questions. Joining in with all the other skeptical rejoinders, I contemplate and reflect on daily life, encountering stereotypical examples and new stories everyday. Age has made me wiser, to some extent.

Michelle Huang
Editor

Blog 5

Germaine Lussier's style is very distinct in his reviews, blending verbose descriptions of film techniques while throwing in cheeky one-liners and easy-going conversational points that include the reader. Everyone likes to "talk movies", so he blends an obvious, advanced opinion with everyday "popcorn chat".

Written in the style of Germaine Lussier (blogger for Slash Film Blog): "Warm Bodies" Review

Though this pun may be a bit on the nose, the "zombie" genre has recently been in some serious need of reanimating. The walking, groaning dead are everywhere, (call them the new vampires?) but have somehow stumbled into a rut. Maybe its the brains they've been eating, but the flesh-hungry species has suddenly become redundant and mundane. Does anyone have any fresh ideas for these born-again creatures to sink their teeth into? Luckily, "Warm Bodies"offers a cute, quirky meal to hold us over in the midst of our post-apocalyptic-obsessed media.
Written and directed by Jonathan Levine, "Warm Bodies" stars an amiable and easy-to-look-at Nicholas Hoult and cute, tough-cookie Teresa Palmer as star-crossed teeny-boppers R and Julie. What seems to be keeping these youngsters apart? R just happens to be dead. Even worse, Julie's father, the unsurprisingly intimidating John Malkovich, has made quite a name for himself leading the resistance in this dystopian future full of hungry undead creatures. When R rescues Julie from a gruesome end of brain devouring, this corpe's eyes suddenly fill with ooey-gooey puppy love, and the "Romeo and Juliet" story told "Walking Dead" style begins.
Levine seems to have a knack for successfully mashing together genres that would easily be scoffed at during pitch meetings with executives. He effectively pulled off a miraculous balancing act of combining cancer and comedy (what?) in last year's "50/50" starring Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogen, resulting in one of the most underrated film's of 2011. He managed to make us both laugh and cry in the carefully written "dramedy" due to a great script, great actors, and a great darkly comedic tone that new where its limits were. "Warm Bodies" shows that there is an undeniable likeability in his films, which allows the young director to succeed in his hip genre-mixing. As he tries his hand in swirling teen "rom-com" and "zombie-flick", Levine knows how to establish the perfect off-beat tones and lay the foundation of his films in his characters. The movie starts off strong with an insightful and funny inner monologue from R as he wanders through an airport, which Hoult delivers with a perfect combination of dead-pan comedy and teenage musing. His scenes with Palmer feel genuine and are sprinkled with just the right amount of unique humor that only a film involving a zombie falling in love with a human can own. To top things off, the movie contains a stellar retro soundtrack to infuse the film with the youthful, funky soul that gives it its legs for its target audience.
Where "Warm Bodies" seems to stumble is in its third act when the eccentric love story staggers into an awkward, adventurous conclusion. The action doesn't gel well with the rest of the unconventional romance that succeeds in its small moments and smartly-crafted idiosyncratic jokes focused on shedding light on the untold side of zombie love. However, the fact that "Warm Bodies" limps over the finish line does not take away from the flat-out fun to be had in the rest of the fresh, inventive tale. Nicholas Hoult is perfectly cast and happily carries most of this weight on his undead shoulders, and Levine shows to once again have steady direction in what could have been a tangled mess of genres-blending. At 98 minutes, the "zom-rom-com" is modest and cute, and isn't necessarily epically ground-breaking, but it's very comfortable in its own quirky skin and will breezily be enjoyed on Valentine's Day.

Molly Oretsky
Sports Writer
TPP Bellaire High School

Blog 5

Mimicking  Dr. Bradley C. Weinstein's (a blogger for chron.com) writing style:

While many people can't resist the delicious big macs, perfectly salty french fries, and yummy chicken nuggets of McDonald's, it is best to avoid eating from there as much as possible. Sadly with great taste comes even greater consequences. Fast food restaurants in general are typically unhealthy and risky, and McDonald's has been targeted as one of the worst fast food restaurants  for a long while now.

These are the top five reasons why you should avoid eating at McDonald's:

1. By eating there, you're going to take a massive content of fat, calories and salt by eating food like burgers and fries. 

2. The food is extremely greasy and the food is very high in calories and sodium. 

3. The food is usually processed and has no natural goodness in it. 

4. Consists of artificial flavors, and it's often made from sick animals making it very unsanitary. 

5. The salads are also not healthy because of the fatty dressing added on top of it. 

Lara Hattab 
Features Writer 
Bellaire High School 

Blog Five

(everything in this post is fictionalized- names have been changed)
In the style of CNN's Kevin Liptak

Debate coach Leonard Polognia brought 24 debate teams to Imangi High School in Dallas, Texas on Friday, saying that "this was the most promising group of kids we've had in a long time."

"Our debate team is at its best when we champion the creativity and work ethic of every debater," Polognia said in a video produced by the Texas Forensic Association.

The former policy debater, football player, and National Forensic League council member had previously advocated for drill-and-kill procedures, but stopped short last year when results dwindled. That was the position of many debate coaches in the region, including Indal coach Ricardo Demitrius.

During his term as National Forensic League's council member, Polognia avoided taking a strict stance for teaching debate, as is customary for most coaches.

"A few years ago, I would have never thought it possible to let my students do what they want," he said. "Now I realize the benefits of giving them their freedom- awards galore!"

Blog 5

In the style of Thought Catalog's Karen Noble

4 Sure Ways to Be Happy

1. Take an hour-long bubble bath. Wash all of that sadness away. You now smell like lilacs with a hint of lavender. You did good, and the rest of your day will be even better.

2. Binge on your favorite snacks. Come on, no one's watching. A strange comfort will come over you when you notice the cheese-stained fingernails or the salsa stains on your white button-down. No one will have to know about this. It's just you versus the queso.

3. Engage in free-hand writing. Look, it might seem like another homework assignment, but trust me, it's totally worth it. Afterwards, you'll feel light and fluffy as if all the troubles in the world escaped through your pen and onto paper. You have reached the ultimate state of acceptance with this half hour.

4. Listen to a band from your awkward middle school days. Once you realize you're singing along to Avril Lavigne's Sk8er Boi and Hilary Duff's Come Clean without the supervision of your cat's judging stare, your individualized heaven will be complete.

Be happy, be healthy. Cheerios.

Blog 5

The Houston Rodeo struck off with a hit on Feb. 25 with the well-known Toby Keith. Rounding in fans from all over Texas, the crowds go wild for the performers and the different cowboys and cowgirls competing in the infamous rodeo. Starting in 1932, the yearly event has grown in popularity and size, partly for the performers but also for the wild food they serve. Anyone can get anything they desire fried like a twinkie, an oreo, or even cookie dough. Also available is anything you could imagine on a stick. Pizza on a stick is a crowd favorite. The many carnival rides provide slow rides for the tamer type and wild rides for reckless people seeking a thrill. The only setback of the Houston Rodeo are the high prices for food and carnival tickets, but most people find the experience is worth it. The rodeo ended featured popular country artists like Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, and Tim McGraw, but also non-country artists like Bruno Mars, Pitbull, and Mary J. Blige. The biggest event occured Mar. 17 with the famous George Strait. Although the Rodeo is now over, there's always next year for anyone who's never been.

Katie Martin
Entertainment Editor
Bellaire High School
Bellaire, TX

blog 5 Victoria Petty

So I plucked my iPhone from my pocket, tapped the icon for the Google Translate app while travelling through Hong Kong, China, typed in “Where can I buy a boat ticket?” and hit Go. Chinese characters appeared, and the guy at the station nodded. I toggled to the Chinese keyboard, handed the phone to him, and watched as he tapped in Roman letters that magically became Chinese characters, and then a full-fledged English sentence: “You want to buy a ticket on board.”

Heading up the Yangtze on $50 a day was intimidating. In China, English speakers are rare at $20-a-night hotels, $2-a-plate restaurants and ferry ports. Signs and menus are indecipherable. And Mandarin is a tonal language – inflection is essential to meaning — so pronouncing sentences from phrasebooks is often impossible.

I’ve been watching Google’s translation tools improve over the years, but this trip would be a true test: could it really aid the trauma of arriving in a country where the average American is instantly regarded illiterate?

Blog 5

The NCAA tournament bracket was released yesterday and for the first time in 40 years, a Texas team will not be participating. University of Texas, Texas A&M, University of Houston, Baylor, Stephen F Austin, Texas Tech, and all other Texas schools missed the cut. Texas has always had someone to root for but this year all the teams under performed. Texas lost their star player Myck Kabongo, projected first round pick. After the loss of star point guard, the team loss all momentum and couldn't beat the big name teams. A&M struggled to replace Khris Middelton, and couldn't adjust to their new conference- the SEC. Baylor also lost players to the NBA, Perry Jones and Quincy Acy. Baylor was projected to e a high seed in the tournament, but Freshman center Isiah Austin couldn't lead the team. It is unfortunate was Senior point guard Pierre Jackson to not make the tournament in his final year. The second largest state will have no teams to play in the NCAA tournament while South Dakota will have at least one team.

Blog #5

(In style of NetizenBuzz)

           In South Korea, people can expect at least one suicide a day as a result of the strict school system. In their suicide letters left for their family, the victims often elaborate on the bullying they experienced in schools. The kids who are naturally smart can expect a relatively normal social life. The kids who study hard and get good grades are also left alone. The rest of the kids, the majority, are often left to the mercy of bullies. This cycle of bullying occurring where security cameras cannot reach, such as in bathrooms and hallway corners, will never end unless officials recognize that horrible activities are going on in their schools, regardless of the school's status in the country. The principles need to step up and take action. The bullies are taking victims' lives away and they should take responsibility. They shouldn't just receive a scolding. They need to receive serious consequences for causing a student to commit suicide. If left alone, they will only go on to torture other kids. Recently, a junior high school student jumped out of his residence building because of school bullying. His bullies beat him up in the restroom and even forced him to show his genitals in front of the entire classroom. In his letter, he points out holes in the entire system that need to be changed. For once, officials need to take notice of this horror and present serious punishments for bullies.

Manlin Yao

Staff editor

Blog 5

Two girl scout troops in Oregon were shammed into believing they had a huge corporate sale. This Sunday, hundreds of supporters came to Portland Girl Scout headquarters to buy the 6,000 boxes of cookies. 

The troops received a phone call ordering 6,000 boxes of girl scout cookies, $24,000. The girls were overjoyed with sale which they thought came from a local business. However when they called to receive their payment, the money never came. 

"I contacted the ... company and they said, 'We have no idea what's going on,'" scout mother Jennifer Reed said on "Good Morning America" 

The order was a hoax and the girls were left with 500 cases of cookies and no revenue for their summer camp and local homeless shelter they were donating. They were humiliated, but not hopeless. 

Their emergency sale brought great success to the troops. They were able to sell over half of their cookies and raised $12,000. 

"For every one person that has bad intentions, there are hundreds more with good intentions and good hearts that are here to help you," said Sarah Miller, director of communication for Girls Scouts of Oregon and Washington.

The troops plan to have another sale on March 23. 

Jackie Wertheimer 
Bellaire TPP
Entertainment Writer

Blog 5

This is in the style of Mark Mardell, America Editor for the BBC.

Many observers have called India's detainment of the Italian envoy as a precedent in diplomatic law.

It is this kind of behavior on the part of both India and Italy that endangers current diplomatic protocol. Both sides have now taken unprecedented steps in worsening relations.

The Indian public was outraged over the killing of two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala in Southern India in February 2012. The Italian government recalled the guilty marines to be tried at home.

In response, the Indian Supreme Court ruled to forbid Rome's envoy from leaving the country. India's Chief Justice Altamas Kabir issued a notice ambassador Daniele Mancini.

Observers have questioned the legality of India’s move. Diplomatic law is encoded under the Vienna Convention of 1961. India has defended its possibly illegal action by saying that Italy started the row by recalling the marines back home to be tried in an Italian court. Italy believes they have the right to do this since the killings occurred in international waters.

India’s move has implications on its relations with the whole European Union. Tensions between the world’s second and third most populous economies will be watched by the whole world. It remains to be seen if anything comes of the dispute.

Blog 5

This is a blog in the style of Jonathan Tilove, author of "First Reading" for the Austin American-Statesman. He uses humor and wit, saying cliches such as "Oh Snap!" and bits of cynicism.

"There you go again..." I thought when I saw freshman senator Ted Cruz (R - TX) angrily debating Dianne Feinstein (D - CA) on gun control.
That quote more readily applies to the 1984 presidential debate between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale, but I'm sure you can easily see my point. It was a case of the 14th most senior US senator up against, well, the 96th.

Ted Cruz comes from this very pro-gun state I'm proud to call my home, and I thank him for his representation. He was elected last November by people who are very pro-gun rights, as is he. He would like to get the agenda his people elected for passed. Going after and hammering a nearly 80 year old senator who's been in the Senate since 1992, is a former mayor of San Francisco, the author of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, and at the end of it all, the woman who discovered Harvey Milk's body, was a tough act. It's not easy to discredit a woman with those credentials, whether he disagrees with the Federal Assault Weapons Ban (and any attempt to reinstate it) or not. I commend him for standing up for his beliefs and representing the views of his people, but my stance is that agreement and compromise should be favored over infighting and harsh-toned debate. That does not just apply to Cruz and Feinstein.

Blog 5

Andy Borowitz is a blogger on the New Yorker responsible for the Borowitz Report, a special segment that focuses on social—and particularly political—satire. His blogs have a generally liberal tendency, although he does criticize Democrats as well. He draws caricatures of politicians’ reasoning to emphasize the ridiculousness of certain policies. In emulation of his style, which is snarky and irreverent, I’m commenting on the recent reversal of Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) on gay marriage. (I’m using slightly less sarcasm—wit, to some people—only because it sometimes becomes inappropriate for a high school journalism class.)

Republican Senator Rob Portman’s sudden reversal on gay marriage (from support of the Defense of Marriage Act to deciding that equality should exist for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation—and his specific epiphany that homosexual people did not choose their orientation) is a baby step in the right direction, although an underwhelming and accidental one. In his op-ed, in which he acknowledges much of the same arguments (14^th Amendment rights, common-sense social equality rhetoric, etc.) that others championing gay rights have long put forth, he notably makes no move to repudiate his past logic, which upheld the Defense of Marriage Act on the grounds that homosexuality was unnatural.

His son’s coming out seems to be not only a catalyst for his moving toward fundamental equality in policy but also the only real argument supporting his newfound position. He talks extensively about wanting his middle son to have all the same opportunities as his two other children. What about the fundamental right of every other person in the LGBTQ community to have the same rights as everyone else? Hypocrisy doesn’t seem to be absent from his reversal of position. Regardless, he does push LGBTQ rights forward, although only by happenstance.

Katherine Fang

Staff writer (Editor-in-chief)

Blog 5

Based on Writer: Sabrina Tavernise of the NY Times

The rate of stress related illnesses, which is very common here in the U.S., has risen dramatically in teens. Because teens are set with high expectations and an overwhelming combination of school, sports, and volunteering may hinder them, teens are suffering mentally and physically.

A study conducted in 2008 revealed that stress weakens the immune system and makes teens specifically susceptible to diseases. Teenagers juggle work, AP classes and other extracurricular activities, which can be “overbearing at times.”

Frequent sicknesses including colds, nausea, headaches, breakouts, cysts and viruses have arose in the past few years. When teens revealed these symptoms, it was evident that stress worsens any sickness and can consequently cause sicknesses.

A balance in work ethics and leaving time for one self is important. Mental clearing is vital towards one health. A study showed that pressure and a large workload leads to stress because a toxin is released and nerves become tightened. This can even cause death and shorter lives.

Stress varies with teenagers but generally a balance keeps one mentally and physically healthy.

Sara Nabhan

Writer

Bellaire High School 

Blog 5

I've always been interested in current events as well as entertainment. The blogs I follow tend to be short and informative, giving me my dose of news without taking up too much time. The blogger I chose to mimic is Stephen Prothero. He writes for a blog called "Belief" on CNN. His writing is very to the point and he writes it in a personal column kind of way. He likes to put his opinions and critic into his writing.


Every year, from February to March, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo takes place at the Reliant Park. The numerous concerts, featuring country and pop artists almost every evening, is a notable reason for students to attend the event.  And even though most occur on school nights, they find the time to put all else aside. Last week, I was forced to resell my Bruno Mars tickets on Stubhub due to conflicts in scheduling. I had my hopes set sky high. However disappointed I am, spring break brings me a whole week of opportunity to go to the rodeo. I honestly think the whole rodeo hype is understandable, I mean the fair is like no other. I've heard many opinions where people express their disbelief at its popularity, but I do not agree.


Tonya Chen
Staff Writer

Blog 5

 David Welch Pogue is a technology columnist for the New York Times. In addition to writing reviews and offering troubleshooting advice, he frequently introduces the latest developments in technology and their potential impact.

Apple and Google, the two big technological powerhouses, are now expanding into the realm of wearable computational devices. Apple is currently in the process of patenting an iWatch made from the flexible Willow glass designed by Corning’s, the glass technologies company that supplies the glass used in iPhones. Product details are not known yet, but the watch would most likely have many of the functions of a phone, tablet, or radio device as portrayed in many sci-fi movies. On the other hand, Google plans to debut its Google Glass by the end of the year. The ultra-sleek eyewear will enable users to access many features including voice calls, navigation, camera, and texting. However, as these imaginations of the sci-fi world slowly become reality, the dreary feeling that our latest phones and tablets have become obsolete starts to sink in as well.

Although technology tends to grow at pace that is hard to keep up with, there is no denying that the continued development and expansion of modern technology has allowed us to achieve some amazing feats that have significantly impacted our way of life.  Forty years ago, landing on the moon was a joke. A decade ago, instant communication via smartphone was nonexistent. Who knows what technology will enable us to do in the future?

Jason Weilee

Graphic Artist

Bellaire High School

Bellaire, TX

Blog 5

Fran Blinebury is a blogger for www.nba.com's Hang Time Blog. He regular blogs about the happenings in the NBA, and provides a fresh, satirical insight into his news of the basketball world. Emphasis on satire.

You certainly can't blame the brand name corporations for doing what they do. After all, they are just trying to provide for themselves and their families.

Yet, the craze over things name brand is sickening. We've all done it before. We've chosen our closets to be filled with the Nike swooshes or those Ralph Lauren horses. I applaud those who can restrain themselves from purchasing merchandise from the big names. For the rest of us, what is there to do? The consumerism in human beings is in our veins. It just can't be helped.

That being said, it is absurd how overhyped brand name clothing is. Advertisements run daily showing how their products are the "in" thing. It is a materialistic world we live in, and those with the materials are recognized as being "cool". People will fork over extra cash, sometimes ridiculous amounts, just to see that adidas or Nike logo on their gear. It has become understood that wearing such name brands will bring respect, while those who wear the off-brands are ridiculed.

The influence of name brand conglomerations is seen everywhere. Literally, everywhere you go, you will see someone wearing brand new clothing. Usually those looking flamboyant and stylish are the ones hooked hardest by the lure of brand names. After all, they have to match their new Jordans with the right Hollister shirt, right?

Zean Liao
Staff Writer

Blog 5

        A blog that I follow is a blog written by Sarah Zorn. She frequently reviews restaurants and she also talks about the best food in New York City like best hot chocolate or best beer dish.
        Among the numerous vendors that come to Bellaire during lunch, a certain few really stand out and are crowd pleasers. There are so many different vendors including Chick fil A, Popeye's, Taco Bell and many more. Out of all of the possibilities, the best is Raising Canes. Selling out within minutes, Raising Canes offers a lunch different from any home packed meal. There are a couple of stands selling Raising Canes throughout the school including near the Multipurpose Room and in the Science Wing. Three pieces of crispy chicken, crunchy french fries and a piece of toast makes up the perfect lunch for a hungry student. A never-ending line of students, hoping to buy Raising Canes, is almost always next to the stand. Selling out within minutes, the chicken is really filling even for a football player and has a unique, addicting taste. The french fries really complement the chicken and the toast ties it all together. Even though this may not be the healthiest option, it is something that is for everyone. Raising Cane's comes to Bellaire once a week on Fridays.

Jennifer Wang
Staff Writer

Blog 5

Fashion blogger Olivia Palermo writes daily with fashion updates and reviews for the new season. She depicts styles and trends, and she offers fashion and beauty advice to her readers. The following writing mimics Olivia Palermo's style of writing her blog:

As the white snow fades to bright, green leaves, coats and jeans fade to high waisted shorts and crop tops. Looking into the up and coming trends, patterned items will occupy stores this spring. From stripes to tribal, high waisted shorts will be at the top of your spring fashion wish list. If no trends in store match your personal style, try a Do It Yourself (DIY) project. Simply purchase a pair of low waisted, regular, or high waisted shorts, and purchase any simple dye or fabric. Dyeing, setting prints, and designing your own personal,individualized shorts for the spring and summer seasons will be both fun and very memorable. As you shop, you may also notice fading trends. Studs and studded tops and shorts will continue to be trending, but color blocking may fade soon. Also, the high low trend may decrease with newer trends appearing. Don't forget about fringe. Fringe swim suits will be the star in any summer fashion wardrobe.

Sophie Daily

TPP writer

Blog 5

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/

David Pogue, personal-tech columnist for The New York Times, has been writing a Thursday column since 2000.   He covers all areas including cell-phones, televisions, game consoles and tablets. I read this blog regularly because I have a passion for technology and its adoption across the world. I like to keep updated about new hardware and software that is released that involves products I am interested in using. I believe that technology is the future, so being able to follow its progression and innovation is a joy.

Playing sports is awesome. But when athletes stop playing for the love  of the game, but for evil competition, The whole point of playing is gone. You see athletes that used to be playing for fun, but now are playing for money and  gain.  I've always wondered how people can stop doing what they love in order to make more money. Really, happiness depends on personal opinion. If you derive happiness from money, go for gain. If you derive happiness from doing what you love, go for the appeal.  

Trouble is, as time goes on, if everyone begins to drop what they love in order to achieve a more "practical" opportunity, the world will be white and black with no in between. The catch is that we have to find a balance of practicality and passion. Because if everyone did  their passion, maybe ranging from reading to video games  the world would not be efficient and maintainable.  Society, as a whole, needs to distinguish between their passion and their practicality in order to find a best "fit" for their life. 

Johnnie Sinclair

Blog 5

Kirkland Schuessler

This image has a shallow depth of field, drawing the viewer's eye into the top section of the image. It also creates a definite subject, with the rest of the image out of focus.

Blog 5 Stephen Proler

Stephen Proler
4

Over the past couple of weeks I have been following the Sports Blog of the Man cave, so I am going to write how this blogger writes:


The end of last season was abruptly stopped by a disappointing World Series. With two teams not even supposed to make it far in the playoffs, fans were disappointed to see a boring championship. As the season begins, fans are hopeful for what is to come. All of the trades in the off season have succumbed to this, the beginning of baseball and opening day.

Blog 5

Fashion blogger, Danielle Berstein started her blog, weworewhat.com, to inspire her readers by showing them a taste of New York City fashion from a native New Yorker's point of view. Soon, her blog became more about her own personal style rather than the random, fashionable people she took photos of. She has been featured many publications including Teen Vogue and Elle magazines.

Sweat pants or jeans? A question every girl asks when she wakes up for school. How you dress is directly linked to how people perceive you, but after long study nights and waking up early, it is nearly impossible to not dress like a slob. How can you resist a pair of your favorite athletic shorts when the alternative is a pair of tight, restricting, skinny jeans?

On the downside to dressing for comfort, people immediately assume you have all the aspects of a slob, physically and mentally (there's a reason why you wear pant suits to job interviews). It's worse when you're in school because the majority of the people there only see you as a laid back mess in sweat pants. And because you spend all your time in school, few people get to witness your high heeled, attractive alter ego.

It's hard to find middle ground between comfort and fashion when you also have to abide by school dress code. It's easy to be comfortable in a pair of high waisted shorts, but it's even easier to get a violation from a teacher, or worse an AP. The most we can all do is hope hat after high school, it becomes easier to dress fashionably and comfortably.

Blog #5

Jasmin Vasquez

Olivia LaPadula playing the guitar in the courtyard.

Sara Espinosa listening to music before a game.

BLOG #5

Blog #5

Anna Ngo

Blog #5

This depicts a guitar leaning on top of its case. The white color contrasts with the black case. 

This unique depiction of sheet music gives it a new dimension. 

The guitar taken from this specific angle leads the audience's eyes towards the base of the guitar.  

Blog 5

As a sports writer and athlete, I am drawn to the life-changing plays, the injuries, the sweeping stats, and most importantly the accomplishments of well-known athletes around the world. The blogs I follow have anything and everything to do with the highlights of athletes around the world. This is a tribute to those sports' blogs and mimics the styles of this informative yet exciting writing. 

The team put the ball in the back of the net. It was significant not in that it won the game for the team, but that with the outcome of a tie it placed them as first in the district, seated high for playoffs.

On Friday, Jan. 22, junior Sarah Battles got the sole goal of the game against the Lamar Redskins, leading to a tie. Taking a free kick from about 40 yards out, she curved it in to the upper right corner, breaking the team’s losing streak to Lamar from year to year.

This mixed with the energy of all the fans led to the team’s holding up in effort and strength and not allowing Lamar to come back and win the game in the second half. The team was overjoyed that all their hard work led to this result against its major rivals.

What a significant outcome. 

Leslie Cundiff

Sports Writer

Three Penny Press

Blog 5

After following many entertainment blogs, I have grown accustomed to fashion updates.  Perhaps the world is too focused on fashion, but the blogs I follow emphasize this facade.  This is a fashion update on the students at our school to mimic entertainment blog fashion updates.

As the end of the school year approaches, students fashion choices seem to be winding down.  What once was a dress paired with fashionable accessories has become a t-shirt paired with leggings and tennis shoes.  What once was nicely straightened hair has become a messy pony tail.  What once was a pair of khakis is now a pair of basketball shorts.  What once was freshly done make up is now a clean face.  Students are spotted frequently sporting the "new look."

Why the sudden change of looks? Simple.  Students are tired of school and ready for summer.  The extra five minutes required to look cute in the morning are now spent sleeping.  Patience wears thin as exhaustion sets in due to beginning preparations for approaching AP exams.  Fashion is only expected to decline as exams grow nearer and summer becomes closer on the horizon.  Fashionable? No.  Comfortable? Yes.

Laure Cundiff
Staff Writer
Entertainment