Make the money rain

by Jen Yao

For teens, it is so easy to blow all your money for recreational and leisure purposes such as movie tickets, dresses for the nice weather, the newest Call of Duty: Ghost, a Versailles crepe from Appleseed, another cup of froyo, and the list continues. It is even easier to do so when you make your own money. If you study my bank account activities, it’s all credits to iTunes, Hollister, Kohl’s, Dunkin Donuts – you get the idea.

                However, when I made my final college decision and paid enrollment and room and board deposits, I realized that I really should have not spent so much money on stupid things. Therefore, I strongly advise all to wisely handle their money. Here are some ways I found helpful:      
A matter of necessity – If you ask yourself, “Do I really need it?” before buying something and you are completely honest in your response, you will find that the answer is no most of the time. 
To be or not to be – Also, ask yourself, “What will I do with it?” or “Is it going to serve a purpose in my possession?” The answer, sometimes, is nothing or no.
Copycat – Another good question to ponder is whether or not you already have something like it. If you do, you don’t need another one!

photo by Abby Gillis

           Winner in the market – Compare prices and see how much you are saving. Maybe you aren’t. You can wait until when that summer dress is pumped down to $20 instead of $60. Afraid that it won’t have your size or it’ll be sold out once it goes in clearance? You’ll find something better and cheaper in the future. No worries. I am a crazy deal scorer. I mean, it’s in my blood. There have been cases where I saved more than I spent. During such times, I feel absolutely invincible.

      Save the little helpers – Coupons and online codes for 30%, 50%, and 70% off? Save them and you’ll be able to save your money AND get a sick pair of kicks or a cute high-waisted skinny jeans.

Not only are this tips helpful in protecting your money, but there are other techniques as well that can shield your bank account from predators. After working as a bank teller for seven months, I picked up some important methods in protecting yourself.

1.       If you have online banking or an ATM/debit card, change your password every 3 to 6 months. If you forget, go to your branch and the customer service representative/branch manager can help you reset it.

2.       I understand laziness can get in the way, but it’s really important to check your account activities every now and then. Make sure you know what is coming through and for what reasons. The bank tellers and managers can always help you with that if you are unsure.

It hits me every now and again that I am 18 years old and am legally an adult. I am in charge of not only my life and education but also my money. It’s crucial to be smart with finances, because it is produced from your and/or your parents’ hard work and time. It’s a major part of taking care of yourself and growing up.

Woburn High comes together for the Lip Dub

by Ally Mann

On Wednesday April 16, 2014, Woburn Memorial High School created their very own Lip Dub. A Lip Dub, also known as a One Take, combines lip syncing and audio dubbing to create one cohesive music video. High schools from all around the world have started creating these high energy and school spirited videos. The tradition began in Woburn last year with the Class of 2013 singing the song “How Far We’ve Come,” by Matchbox 20.

The second annual Lip Dub portrays not only the Class of 2014 but the entire school. The Yearbook Staff thought that using all grades would create more depth and energy within the video. Of course the seniors were highlighted throughout by making them the actual “dubbers.”  The “dubbers” were the ones who got to lip-sync the lyrics to “Best Day of My Life,” by American Authors.

The Yearbook staff shows their Tanner Pride for the Lip Dub.

photo courtesy of Cat Gentile

For the seniors who were not chosen to sing lyrics, they were still able to be seen in the front row as the cameras went by. Teams, clubs and activities all got to stand in designated areas throughout Woburn Memorial High School supporting what they do. Wearing uniforms and holding signs, every team and unique club is featured in the video showing all that Woburn High has to offer. The video was shot two times and only took about an hour during sixth period. Students sported all the black and orange they could fit on their bodies and even through confetti as the cameras rushed through the halls.

Ending the video, the school all gathered in the gym. The camera featured the seniors one last time before coming together as one. Everyone began chanting “Let’s go Woburn!” as the camera was lifted by a fork lift over the crowd. The video is planned on being released during the seniors Yearbook Ceremony on May 21 and then published to YouTube. Hopefully you will all be able to catch a look at what the Class of 2014 and Yearbook staff has put so much time and energy into! 

WMHS students walk the yellow brick road

by Nicolette Manzi

Woburn High has put on yet another great musical this past weekend. Every spring the drama department at Woburn High works around the clock to put on a musical that will dazzle the audience. With the past two musicals being the Sound of Music and Annie, the directors decided to step out of their comfort zone and put on a musical filled with mystery and adventure. With Friday night nearly selling out and Saturday’s matinee being filled with little kids, the Wizard of Oz was without a doubt a success.

            One aspect of this year’s musical that was unique to year’s past was the evident use of special effects and detailed costumes. In order to portray the evil character of the wicked witch, a green light was flashed across the stage to illustrate her entrance. Strobe lights were even used in the haunted forest to highlight the disorientated state of the main characters. Even the twister was filled with loud music and of course the shaking of the house. The costumes of the main characters were also more detailed than years past, which was seen through the Lion’s flowing mane and the Tin Man’s painted face. Senior Dylan Scott has attended the musical for the past few years and agrees that this year’s performance was filled with much more effects and details than previous musicals.

            “I think this year the musical has a lot more special effects and sound effects that really added to the overall performance, from the different color lights to the snow. I also thought all of the costumes this year were really great too,” said Scott.

            This year’s production of the Wizard of Oz was also distinctive in the large cast involved and the different characters portrayed throughout the show. Going from the Dorothy’s home town of Kansas to the mysterious Munchkinland, to the joyous Land of Oz; the audience was truly taken on a journey. Through each scene the audience was met with a different character along the way as the four main characters made their way to Oz. One audience member, Ally Young, agreed that her favorite part of the musical was getting to meet all the different characters as they make their way to Oz.

            “My favorite part of the musical was the journey down the yellow brick road when Dorothy meets the scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion,” said Young.

            The behind the scenes, the musical was filled with learning how to accomplish many special effects and making detailed props for each scene. From the ruby red slippers to the snow in the poppy field, the cast worked non-stop to make sure everything was perfect. The countless dance practices with the jitterbugs to even training Toto, had the cast always working hard. Adrianna Manzi, who played the character of Dorothy comments on the challenging nature of this musical that made it much different then year’s past.

“This year’s musical was more challenging than years past because there were fewer musical numbers and more dialogue. The cast had to memorize so many lines while dealing with all the special effects happening on the stage, which made this musical difficult,” said Manzi

            The cast of the Wizard of Oz were extremely proud of their performance and what they got to accomplish in this year’s production. Music director, Brain Gilberite comments on the cast phenomenal job on this year’s musical and his hopes for future.

            As the cast has now put all their costumes away and will no longer be slaves to the wicked witch or a munchkin in the Land of Oz, the cast soon gets ready to begin their preparation for next year’s musical. With the bar set high for next year, the option for this next year is endless. So get ready for next year musical and be ready to for the drama department to awe you again. But in the meantime if you every get lost, just remember to follow the yellow brick road and know their truly is no place like home.

Evacuate the dance floor: the legend of junior prom 2014

by Emily Gill

Most high school students have extremely high expectations for prom. How else would they justify spending hundreds of dollars on their clothes, tickets and flowers? People want to get what they pay for, and more often than not when it comes to prom, they’re not disappointed. Despite this, proms rarely end up being the perfect, magical dream nights people want them to be.  This year’s WMHS junior prom was no exception.

Prom started off just as anyone would expect. Students started arriving at the Woburn Hilton at around 6:30 at night. After waiting to take their professional photos and mingling amongst themselves, everyone was let into the ballroom at 7:00. Students ate dinner and played a party game. By the time the dancing began, everything had gone according plan. Little did anyone know, all that was about to change.

At about ten o’clock, things took a turn for the unexpected. As the prom goers slow-danced in a cliché fashion to “Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls, trouble started brewing. Out of nowhere, the fire alarm began to go off. The flashing lights and sirens went unnoticed at first, but people eventually caught on. Woburn prom veteran DJ Dan kept his cool, cracking some jokes and insisting the whole thing was a false alarm. Another slow song was played to make up for the awkward moments students might’ve missed out on. Unfortunately, the uncomfortable swaying was interrupted yet again by DJ Dan, who told everyone to evacuate.

Imagine the chaos that ensued at this point. Barefoot girls in flimsy dresses rushed to find their purses and shoes. When all essential belongings were collected, the crowd poured out of the hotel lobby, into the cold and rainy night. Dates, by a hilarious presentation of either universal chivalry or the domino affect (you decide), quickly fumbled to give their shivering dates their jackets. Selfies were taken. Laughs were had. Then, after some awkward standing around, the okay was given to head back inside.

Thanks to some heroic firefighters, the selfless staff of the Woburn Hilton, and the best and brightest of Woburn High’s own faculty, everyone made it through the Great Prom Fire of 2014. The prom picked up again as if nothing had happened. DJ Dan, keeping it real as always, played “Fire Burning” by Sean Kingston. Students resumed dancing and having fun. There are several conspiracy theories as to why the alarm went off, the most realistic being smoke in the kitchen. Other more imaginative theories include people smoking in the bathroom and the teachers pulling the alarm to search peoples’ bags. What really happened? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? The world may never know. 

The Hunger Games take Woburn: Senior Assassins

by Megan Clark

Senior Kara Razzaboni salutes the fallen senior Mike DaCampo.
photo by Megan Clark

Have you ever heard of The Hunger Games?  Well, Monday marked the first day of the annual Senior Assassins game, which many people on Twitter are comparing to the infamous Hunger Games.  At the end of each day, the Senior Assassin Twitter page even tweets out pictures of the tributes who were killed that day.  Seniors are being extremely cautious about telling people what their plans are for the day and are trusting no one.

            For only $2, seniors could sign up to be in the game and all of the money collected during sign-ups will go to the winning assassin.  This year, 130 seniors signed up to be in the nerve-wracking games, leaving the winner with a $260 pot.  Senior and runner of the Senior Assassins game, Joe Filardo, has a few ideas on who will win the games altogether.

            “When the game first began, I had hopes for Andrew Murphy to win it all, but after what happened on Monday, I think either Brianne Starr or Matt Riccardi will take the winnings,” said Filardo.

            Riccardi and Starr both got their targets out of the game only hours after it started, marking them as the first two to complete the first round of the game.  Riccardi  “assassinated” his target, Cat Gentile, Monday morning while Gentile was walking to her car to go to school.  This marked Gentile as the first person in the games to be killed, and Gentile has mixed feelings about it.

            “Because I was the first one to be out, I am kind of upset that I didn’t get to play and I think it’s just slightly embarrassing,” said Gentile.  “Although I didn’t really get to play, I think it’s fun to watch everyone be so paranoid while I can actually relax.  I also enjoy being able to help everyone get their targets without having to worry about getting out.”

            Seniors are on high alert and are very cautious with whom they form alliances.  Many seniors can say that the biggest part of this whole game is to not trust anyone and plan your day out beforehand.  This game can get very intense at times, but Kara Razzaboni is one senior who believes that this game helps us have fun together and brings us together as a class.

            “I think that Assassins is a fun thing for our class to do.  I don’t really feel like it literally brings us together because we are all treating each other as the enemy, but I think it will bring us together when we tell stories down the road.  I think that it’s one thing that every class should do,” said Razzaboni.  “This game makes you very paranoid, though.  I personally am not very worried considering that not many people know where I live or where I spend my time outside of school and track.”

            Staying low on the radar and keeping your squirt gun with you at all times are some of the biggest things that seniors can do to stay alive in this game. 

Tonight at midnight marks the end of the first round, meaning that if you do not get your target out by midnight, you are disqualified from the game.  Also, you cannot shoot your target on school grounds between 6:30 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. or during practice for the school play or for a sports team.  There are many rules, regulations and exceptions in this game, so make sure to follow the Senior Assassins Twitter page, @WMHSassassins, for more information.  Remember, trust no one and may the odds be ever in your favor.

*Senior Assassins is not run or regulated by Woburn Memorial High School.

Captive in IranMaziar Bahari's memoir recounts his 118 days in Iran's Evin Prison. The movie, Rosewater, based on the memoir and directed by Jon Stewart will be released in 2014. photo by Abby Gillis

Editor's Note: Students in Journalism were asked to read Maziar Bahari's memoir, Then They Came for Me, a story of how the Newsweek journalist was arrested and held for 118 days in an Iranian prison for espionage. Students were then asked to write an article inspired by the memoir. One submission appears below.

 Maziar Bahari's memoir recounts his 118 days in Iran's Evin Prison. The movie, Rosewater, based on the memoir and directed by Jon Stewart will be released in 2014.
photo by Abby Gillis

by Kellie Herbert

Like Maziar Bahari, two women from Iran were sent to Evin prison for crimes against the Muslim god Allah. These women though were sent to the torture prison for spreading the word of Jesus and Christianity. Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh were captured and sent to Evin and kept there for 259 days.

            Both women are originally from Iran and grew up under Muslim faith but converted to Christianity as young women. Rostampour and Amirizadeh were part of a Christian group that preached Christianity to the people of Iran and handed out pamphlets and bibles. They started safe houses for prostitutes and ran an underground chapel.

            Iran was not happy with these women praising another god other than the Muslim Allah and especially not happy with them trying to evangelize Muslims. After the women’s houses were raided and their Christian possessions detained and they were both in custody they were charged with "apostasy", "propagation of the Christian faith" and "engaging in anti-government activities". These charges made the women eligible for long prison sentences and possibly death. Elam Ministries, an Iranian group that supports the growing Christian church in Iran tells BosNewsLife about the conditions Rostampour and Amirizadeh faced while in Evin which sounds a lot like Bahari went through during his time in Evin.

"They faced repeated interrogations, weeks in solitary confinement, and unhealthy prison conditions. Both became seriously sick during their imprisonment and did not receive the treatment they needed which greatly increased their suffering. Senior judges and officials also intimidated them," Elam Ministries told BosNewsLife.

Even though these women went through this torture they still managed to believe in their god. Rostampour and Amirizadeh were blunt and firm in their response to the judge who was overseeing their case.

“We love Jesus. We will not deny our faith,” professed Rostampour and Amirizadeh.

Both women believed that this ordeal was only a part of their god’s plan for them and did not doubt their god at all. Romstampour states this belief.

"I believe our arrest, imprisonment and subsequent release were in the timing and plan of God, and it was all for His glory. But the prayers of people encouraged and sustained us throughout this ordeal," said Rostampour.

These women are not the only ones to fight for their religion in Iran, at least prominent Christians have been killed in Iran since 1979, Elam Ministries estimates.

After their 259 day horrid experience the women fled Iran and took refuge in an unnamed country. They were received by joyful and relieved family and friends. The two women were met at the undisclosed airport by Sam and Lin Yeghnazar, founders of Elam Ministries. L. Yeghnazar describes the homecoming.

"It was very emotional when we first saw them," said Lin Yeghnazar. "Now, we want to see them rest and recover."

Happily away from Iran and able to spread their religion freely, the women are spreading their experience with many people. They have been on many news shows and have held many seminars. They also have written a book about their time Evin called Captive in Iran.  They still are in danger and fret for their lives. Bahari and these women are great examples of how to count your blessings every day.

Previewing the NBA playoffs

by Devin Cloherty           

With the NBA season coming to a close, the playoff push is heating up and the post season bracket is beginning to solidify.  The eastern and western conference teams are playing their hardest going down the stretch to try to earn their desired seeding.  In the eastern conference, second place Miami Heat are once again favored to win.  The Western conference, like recent years, is wide open due to all of the talent throughout the bracket. Let’s see how this year’s playoff picture is looking.

                First, let’s start off with the eastern conference standings.  Leading the pack are the Indiana Pacers, led by strong rebounding and consistent scoring.   The Pacers feature two of the league’s premier scoring big centers in Roy Hibbert and recent acquisition Andrew Bynum, as well as the breakout star Paul George.  With a strong supporting cast including Tyler Hansborough and Lance Stevenson, as well as a deep bench, the Pacers are poised to make a deep playoff run.

                The next few seeds show a major dropoff in talent following the second-seeded Heat.  The Heat, while not having the best regular season this year after a myriad of injuries and a barrage of close losses, have maintained a great record.  They’ve been an absolutely unstoppable force the last three years in the playoffs, steamrolling through whatever teams have stood in their way with their unfair trio of Lebron, Dywane Wade and Chris Bosh and a cast of sharp-shooters.  In third place sit the Toronto Raptors, about ten games behind the Heat.  The Raptors have shot up in the standings since last year, led by young up and comers Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.  Despite a decent starting line-up, lack of postseason and overall NBA experience will likely make them struggle.  Finishing off the bottom half is the fourth seeded Chicago Bulls, who’ve recently struggled and dropped in the standings.  Their former MVP-point guard Derrick Rose is injured for the third year in a row.  Second-tier big men Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer along with point guard D.J. Augustin have maintained an above average team in Rose’s absence.  The Bulls recent playoffs struggles are likely to resurface again this season.

                In the bottom half of the playoffs, the Brooklyn Nets lead the pack with strong rebound, the conference’s best point guard in Deron Williams, and shooting guard Joe Johnson.  This year’s recruitment of veterans Paul Peirce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry significantly aided the Nets’ chances to make a deep playoff run.  In the Western conference, the San Antonio Spurs are leading the pack once again.  The Spurs feature perhaps the league’s most experienced and championship tested trio in Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.  Since 2000, this squad of veterans has played in four NBA Finals and won three, in addition to being a perennial contender in the Western Conference.  It would be no surprise to see the Spurs in the finals again this year.

                Next in the standings is the Oklahoma City Thunder featuring the 3-time NBA scoring champion forward Kevin Durant.  Durant’s supporting cast is not too shabby either; the Thunder boast the league’s greatest scoring point guard in Russell Westbrook.  OKC also has solid defensive presence with guards Sefolosha and big men Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka.  The third seed in the Western Conference are the LA Clippers.  The Clippers have never been able to break out of the first round of the playoffs in recent years, despite having an explosive and high flying offense.  Chris Paul is universally recognized as the league’s premier Point Guard and Blake Griffin is unstoppable in the paint.  With the addition of swingmen Danny Granger and Jared Dudley and former NBA champion coach Doc Rivers, the Clippers might finally be ready to make a push for the Finals.  Rounding up the top half of the West are the Houston Rockets, my personal dark horse pick to win the west.   The Rockets gave the Thunder just about all they could handle last year in the first round of the playoffs, and have since developed greatly.  James Harden is a full blown NBA superstar, and the addition of the league’s best defensive center, Dwight Howard definitely didn’t hurt.  Houston has a legitimate chance at making a drive.

                  The bottom half of the bracket in the West is competitive as always.  The fifth seeded Portland Trail Blazers have been on a slide as of late, after starting off hot and in first place.  LaMarcus Alderidge and friends have been putting up impressive performances regardless.  Portland may struggle in the first round when matched up against Houston or the Clippers.  Next, in sixth place are the Golden State Warriors.  The Warriors could match up well with the LA Clippers, due to their strengths being in the same areas.  Guard Stephen Curry and Forward David Lee are both stars and could help Golden State out in the first round.  In seventh place sit the Memphis Grizzlies, who lost in the conference finals last year to the Spurs.  The Grizzlies have some strength in the big man department with 4-5 Zach Randolph and huge center Marc Gasol.  Despite strong defensive contributions from the backcourt and guards Mike Conley and Tony Allen, the Grizzlies offense is unimpressive and likely will fail them in this year’s postseason.  At the bottom of the bracket, the eighth seed is currently a tie between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns.  Though the Suns have been hot this year, the Mavs have been a staple in the Western Conference playoffs, and have a more real chance of qualifying.

                Now it’s time for the fun part; the picks.  Miami is too good not to win the eastern conference once again, and much to the dismay of many basketball fans, they’ll make their fourth straight appearance in the Finals.  To get out of the East, they’ll have to first get through the Brooklyn Nets in the conference finals.  In the West, the Spurs are my pick to represent their conference in the NBA Finals.  The Spurs will play the explosive Thunder in the conference finals.

                Finally, The Bull’s Eye’s prediction for the NBA Finals: Spurs over Heat in seven games.  It’ll be exciting to watch the postseason play out.  Happy watching NBA fans!

What’s your sign?

by Laura Zakrewski

What if it was possible to accurately know everything that was in store for the future?  That type of knowledge would bring with it an invincible power.  The world has not yet been able to construct a time machine to provide insight into the future, instead we have horoscopes, psychic readings and Farmer’s Almanacs to entertain us until that technology is invented.

            Horoscopes were considered an important science in ancient times and were used as a way to predict weather patterns, wars and natural disasters.  The whole system was based on the stars in the sky and their alignment with the sun or moon during the twelve months of the year.  Eventually, the Greeks adopted the trend and philosophers such as Sophocles and Aristotle began studying astrology. 

            Today, horoscopes are still regarded as a topic of interest and many people religiously keep up with astrology.  The signs of the zodiac are Aries, Sagittarius, Leo, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Libra, Aquarius, Gemini, Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo.  Your sign is determined by your birthday.  For instance, if you were born on May 10^th, then your sign is a Taurus. 

             Horoscopes are so popular that they are often featured in magazines and apps for your phone.  In magazines, horoscopes give a brief synopsis of the week ahead and some lucky numbers.  The horoscope could tell you what to watch out for in the upcoming week.  This entertainment section may also include celebrities who share your sign.  As far as apps go, there are so many free selections that you could make like Love Horoscopes and The Daily Horoscope to make yourself prepared for the next week.  Some people even keep up with these horoscopes daily and believe in everything they say. 

            Psychic readings are another form of fortune telling. These readings are available to anyone who has the money to pay to see a fortune teller, and it can be a very amusing experience.  In this attempt at seeing the future, you become more connected to the psychic because you are talking face to face.  Also, in this circumstance, you are able to ask more personal questions rather than focusing on the broad nature of a horoscope.  Therefore, whatever destiny that you are told during this reading seems more realistic than other methods of fortune telling. 

It is easy to see that Americans have recently become more obsessed with psychics and their abilities simply by looking at what they watch on television.  America’s Psychic Challenge is a reality television show that airs on Lifetime network.  In each episode, the contestants must compete against one another in challenges that only psychics could complete.  There are doubters who do not believe in the show and call it a fake, but it is obvious that it is a form of entertainment more than anything. 

Farmer’s Almanacs have been in publication in North America since 1818.  They are books that can foresee months into the future. These almanacs are well-known for their long range weather predictions and yearly advice.  With almost two hundred years using this method of seeing the future, their weather predictions have an 85 % accuracy rate.  Considering that today’s news stations have a hard time predicting weather a day in advance, this is a pretty impressive reputation. 

No matter which method you try and tell the future with, it’s clear that it is impossible to know every detail with absolute certainty.  One day, maybe it will be possible for scientists to create a time machine or some other form of fortune telling.  Until then, we can use these other ways of seeing the future in order to satisfy our desire to know what is next.                  

           

Work Cited:

"History of Astrology." American Federation of Astrologers. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.