The pros and cons of Texas - Connor Reynolds

The pros and cons of the Texas

(in my opinion)

Pro: Warm Weather

    This is the single most important reason why I like the south because in summer it’s hot, and in the winter it tends to stay nice outside. I completely hate the cold so Texas is the place I want to live.

Con: Sea Food

    I’m not a big fan of sea food or any fish related food. This is the worst part of Texas for me. However, they also have a lot of places to eat barbeque to help me replace the sea food.

Pro: Spencer

    My brother lives in Texas so if I lived there I would have someone near me that I could talk to, hangout and with and know.

Con: Soda or Coke not POP!

    The problem here is Texans don’t use the word “pop”, which  means I would have to reteach myself to say “soda”.

Pro: LSU

My favorite college team, LSU, is located in the neighboring state and I could go to their sport events easily.

Con: The word “y’all”

    There are certain words I dislike and then there are words like “y’all” that I just completely hate. If I moved to Texas I would have to get used to and deal with people saying “y’all” instead “you all” or “everyone”.

Pro: A Variety of Choices

    Texas is bigger and has more cities than Kansas. I plan to move to a city in Texas which would provide me with more places to eat and more interesting activities. However, I could just to move to Kansas City or Wichita and still get the city experience, but I like their saying, “Everything’s bigger in Texas.”

Con: Far from Family

    This is a pretty big con because I would be far away from all my family except my brother and traveling home for holidays would be long and tedious.

A Happy Medium

The only thing in Texas that I dislike (but also kind of like) is the southern accent. In one way I think it sounds cool, but it’s also rather difficult to understand and sometimes bugs me.

Tech, Tech and more Tech - Isaac Sprague

Every year gadgets, vehicles, 3D printers and robots get an extreme makeover. Every year I look at all the new gadgets and discuss them with my friends. Some of the best technologies are definitely worth noting. Below is a brief synopsis of my favorite electronic innovations of 2014.

1. 3D Printing

3D printing was at the heart of technology in 2014. We are printing more objects with a printer than ever before and coming up different materials with which to print. The greatest part of 3D printing is that scientists are now able to able to print prosthetic arms, legs, ears, and even hearts. This is a major benefit for people looking for donors. Once hospitals start using 3D printers to print out organs there will no longer be a need for organ donors.

2. Vehicles and Transportation

There has been a lot of talk about autonomous cars in the near future. In 2014, we have seen and heard about cars stopping themselves and even driving for us. However, it is hard to see this as a reality for the average consumer. For the rich though, cars from Audi and Mercedes Benz may be available by 2017. The most notable of the two is the Mercedes Benz, F015 Luxury in Motion. It has the ability to brake whenever it sees eminent danger. For instance, journalists were given the chance to drive these cars at the Consumer Electronic Show, CES 2015. The journalists were actually asked to try and wreck the car. The journalists tried to wreck the cars by hitting a wall but the car automatically braked and prevented the impact from happening.

3. Robots

Robots have become more advanced in the past year than a person would like. Scientists have been suggesting that a few jobs can be easily taken over by robots in the next 20 years such as jobs in the transportation industry. The main concern about robots in any industry is all they have to do is be a fraction better than humans, and they will be bought by companies around the world because a robot is both cheaper and doesn’t need worker’s benefits. Unemployment numbers will increase.

4. Gadgets

At the end of 2014 many tech companies have developed virtual reality technology. One of the most well-known VR headsets is the Oculus Rift. At the beginning of 2014 it seemed like the Oculus Rift was the only VR headset but now we have Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR, Sony Project Morpheus, Carl Zeiss, and the Avegant Glyph. Each of these VR headsets creates a simulation you cannot obtain unless you go to a theme park like Epcot. There may be many benefits of VR gear, but they may encourage a lot of people to be absorbed in a world that isn’t real.

Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp (CLYC) - Janae Champlin

One year ago this month I received a letter from Prairie Land Electric Co. which included an application for the 2014 Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp. I had to take a test and complete an interview at the cooperative’s base in Newton, Kansas. A few days later they called to inform me that I had won a trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I didn't know what to expect from the camp or who I was going to meet, but now that I look back on the experience, I realize it has completely altered my my life in the best way possible.

At the Camp there were people from Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, and a lucky guy from Utah. There were 98 students including 6 ambassadors. Ambassadors are the kids that attended camp the previous summer and were elected by the campers to return. This one week of camp was the highlight of my summer. If I had the time to write a book about this my experience I would. Unfortunately this is a blog so I’ll give my best synopsis of what it was like. Enjoy!

July 12

Saturday morning I left my house to meet the Kansas/Oklahoma bus. When I stepped on I was greeted by Nick and Lara, two of the ambassadors. Each camper recieved a name badge, snack bag, sweatshirt, and a number (except for Kevin, he got two numbers). Basically it was a way to make sure everyone was on the bus by saying their number in order. It was a bit awkward at first, but as the day went on the more talkative we became. Of course it was nearly impossible to learn everyone's name on the first day. Chandler, one of the campers, had no problem with this challenge. Some got a nickname from him, such as Madison Square Gardens or Lizzy the Lizard but at the end of the night he knew all of  41 campers.

July 13

After a night’s stay in Denver, Colorado we began our long journey to the Glen Eden Resort. Once we arrived we met the rest of the campers and got settled into our cabins. Since this was partially meant to teach students about  the organization and operation of a cooperative, we formed our own. We were each put into one of ten small groups and elected a Board of Directors and a General Manager. Then we signed up for committees such as dance, cabin, canteen, games, etc. At the end of the evening we had free time to go swimming and meet other campers.  

July 14

    Each day at camp was always packed with tons of adventure. It required early mornings but once everyone had some coffee and bacon, we were all set. The day started with a legislative simulation and speakers from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Touchstone Energy. Then we traveled to Steamboat Springs and toured Fish Creek Falls. We got the chance to view a beautiful waterfall and put our feet in the river. For the rest of the afternoon the campers walked downtown steamboat to buy souvenirs and check out the candy shop. When we returned to the Glen we watched a high voltage display where cooperative linemen blew up different foods and taught us about powerline safety. To end the night we had some free time which turned into a Bring Your Own Bacon (BYOB) party.

July 15

    Anticipation began early as we prepared for the white water rafting trip down the Colorado River. Once we reached our destination each of us put on a life jacket and hopped into the nearest raft. As we started our 11- mile journey in the refreshing water, the battles began. Each raft was full of ammo such as gallon buckets and water guns to attack other boats. It didn't matter how loudly campers screamed, they all got soaked. We finished the night with a dance. Campers two-stepped, wobbled, and did other forms of shaking on the floor to favorite songs.

July 16

    We started the morning with 2015 ambassador speeches and preliminary voting. Next we watched a presentation on avian protection and listened to speakers talk about leadership and motivation. The big excitement of the day was the barbecue, volleyball tournament, and talent show. During this time campers competed in their small groups for the volleyball victory (congrats group 7).   We also managed to pile 30 campers into one very small hot tub to beat the record of the previous year. To wrap up the night, there was a talent show. Many gifted teenagers performed. It’s safe to say the Arthur’s true calling is to play the kazoo and Tamara will someday win American Idol.

   

July 17

    This was a bittersweet day for all of the campers. We had another full day to look forward to but sadly it was our last. We loaded the buses and departed for Craig Power Plant and the Trapper Mines. After the tours we freshened up for the banquet. Before we had dinner all of the campers took a gondola to Mt. Werner. Many photos were taken of small groups, new friends, and the camp gingers. After dinner ambassador candidates gave speeches and we headed back to the Glen. The night was finished with the ambassador ceremony and one last dance.

July 18

    This was the most dreadful morning of camp. We were all taking our time packing our bags and cleaning the cabins because no one was ready to say goodbye. Campers slowly made their way to the vans and buses to load their bags. Every hug got harder to give and the thought that some of us might never see each other again was unimaginable. As the Kansas/Oklahoma bus departed from the resort for the last time many campers’ eyes (including mine) were full of tears. There were several stops along the way where campers got off the bus to return home; each stop was worse than the last. We had only known each other a week, but we lived a lifetime in it.

When the bus reached Salina my parents were anxiously waiting for me. I said my goodbyes and got in the car to go home. When my parents asked what I thought of camp,  I managed to sob three words. “It was great.”

Nail Polish Struggles - Mallory Thompson

Nail Polish Struggles

By Mallory Thompson

    I have loads of nail polish. I have had to switch nail polish cases four times until I now have a big enough case to keep them all in. Sometimes I do my nails at my friend Nicole's house. When I do, I take all my nail polish over in my giant bag, and it’s so heavy it digs into my arm. It is really awkward. I am panting when I get there even though it's only a block away from my house.  

    But the real struggle of nail polish is I can't do any cool designs on my own nails. When I go to the store sometimes I just have to buy a bottle of nail polish. All those colors...you can never have too many. (Or maybe you can if they start drying out before you use them, like mine.) I have so much nail polish, but the only things I can do on my own nails is paint them a solid color, french tips, or water marble. Sure water marble is cool, but I only have so much time. If you try to do anything remotely cool, it takes forever. It will take at least an hour. You also have to have time to let them dry. You just have to sit there and do nothing. Who has time for that? Mostly I just paint them one color or have Nicole do my nails with tiny designs that seem impossible. One time she did little penguins on my nails. She can do anything on nails; I’m convinced. To be able to do nails, you have to have a gift. I do not have that gift, but I am lucky I have a friend who does.

The Truth About Adoption - Allison Redmond

The Truth About Adoption

By: Allison Redmond

On December 23, 2008, my family gained a huge addition. We adopted Christian, Diego, and Noah, and our lives changed drastically. The past few years have definitely been a rollercoaster. In fact, I probably have too many stories to tell about the past few years. Unfortunately, the past years have not been all simple and easy. It has been rough, and that’s a side of adoption you don’t always hear about.

When my brothers moved in with us, I went from being the youngest and almost the only kid living at home, to basically the oldest.  This was because one of my two siblings was in college and the other was about to graduate high school. Not only that, but my number of siblings more than doubled.The sudden addition of three young boys cost me a lot of personal space. I remember numerous times when I went into my room just to find one of them rummaging through my stuff. It also required a huge attitude adjustment on my part. Switching from the baby of the family to the middle child seemed almost impossible, but I survived.

Since my brothers are Hispanic, it is evident that I do not look like them. Whenever I introduce them to someone, I always get confused look.  People assume that because we look different, there is no way we can come from the same family. Their look of confusion is always followed by my long explanation of how they are adopted, and a short explanation of my life since 2008.

However, not everything about the boys has been negative. The past years have brought so many wonderful and hilarious memories into my life from long road trips with Christian and Noah, countless rap battles with Diego, and much more. They also have taught me a lot about patience. Overall, the adoption of Christian, Diego, and Noah has really changed my life for the better.

I’m not going to lie, the past seven years have been difficult. However, most things in life worth having require hard work. I do not know how my parents do it sometimes. They are pretty much super heroes. Dealing with the boys’ previous life situation has been challenge, but they work through it with them. Even though there have been many obstacles, the adoption was completely worth it. I honestly do not even remember what life was like before my brothers were a part of my family. They are as much my siblings as my older brother and sister are.

Holiday Hangover - Julie Gross

Holiday Hangover

By Julie Gross

    It’s that time of year again! January. The holiday high is over and now it’s back to the same, old, boring life. Literally nothing is happening and we have to go back to work and school with pale faces and dark circles under our eyes.

     It wouldn’t be so bad if there weren’t so many huge holidays packed into 3 months. Four holidays in three months? Who planned this?!?! From October to December, the world revolves around holidays. In September, Walmart has already put out their entire collection of Halloween candy, and if you are like me you visit the candy aisle each time you go grocery shopping and gain ten pounds before Halloween even gets here. Then in the beginning of October, Thanksgiving decorations and food get put out in the stores, taunting you a month before you actually get to eat it. Then after Halloween, its all about Christmas. Apparently we are all supposed to plan Christmas two months in advance and have a perfect minute by minute itinerary planned for guests. After two months of Christmas decorations, shopping, and relatives, it’s time for it to be over. Then, after the holiday rush is over you want it to be back because you realize it’s the best break  from real life.

     Holidays are an excuse to go shopping, eat all the food and candy you want without being called fat, and there are breaks. Breaks everywhere! Fall break, Thanksgiving break, and Christmas break, and no work on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. It’s the laziest time of year!

    However, now it’s January. We are all  tired, broke, and irritable. We realize that the next holiday isn’t until Valentine’s Day and for most of us it’s just depressing. So really the next happy holiday is Easter which is three months away. For now, we’ll wait. The wait will be long, boring, and full of complaints, but when September rolls around, the rush will begin all over again.

Frozen - Zoe Walsh

Frozen

by Zoe Walsh

As the temperatures drop throughout Kansas, many people might be feeling like they are freezing to death. Freezing to death might be more than just a figure of speech with these extremely low temperatures. When temperatures dip, frostbite and other health risks are a real concern. According to LiveScience.com, death strikes even before the body freezes.

Our bodies have two built-in mechanisms to protect us from the cold. One is shivering and the other is called vasoconstriction. Vasoconstriction happens when your body tries to insulate itself by moving blood away from the skin and outer extremities. The blood will flow towards your core. This is why many people who die of hypothermia are found naked. When the blood leaves the limbs they experience a burning sensation, and at the same time the blood leaves the brain, so the victim, who isn’t thinking straight, thinks they are hot and they take their clothes off. This makes them freeze to death faster.

To circulate warm blood to the heart and the brain, heart and respiratory rates increase. “Cold turns deadly once your heart rate is elevated enough to activate ventricular fibrillation — an extremely advanced and severe heart complication,” Dr. Komaroff, a Harvard Medical School professor of medicine and editor in chief of the Harvard Health Letter, told weather.com. “With ventricular fibrillation, the heart muscle looks like a bag of worms; it’s wriggling around, not circulating blood through the body or brain,” he explained. “If that goes on for more than four minutes, the brain dies. That’s sudden death.” That’s why in winter weather people with signs of heart disease can die when they suddenly exert themselves (such as while shoveling snow).

Frostnip, frostbite, trench foot, chilblains, eye pain, vision changes, and hypothermia can also be the result of frigid temperatures. Exposure to extreme cold can be dangerous to people's health and even cause. Stay warm!!