Like Donald Trump? Move to Citadel

by Evan Deane

            What with the recent political debates preceding the 2016 presidential elections, Donald Trump in particular has been getting bashed constantly. However, it recently came to my attention that those supporting Trump may soon have the perfect place to do so.

            Introducing Citadel – a concept for a new city to be built in Idaho that feels strikingly like some sort of “Trumptopia”. Citadel is described on its official website as “a developing community of Patriots in the mountains of Idaho who believe in Jefferson's Rightful Liberty and have chosen to live amongst one another, who have sworn their Lives, their Fortunes and their Sacred Honor to defend one another and Liberty”.

            But Citadel stands for much more than what you get at first glance. A quick tour throughout their website reveals much more about this city. The creators behind Citadel want to purchase between 2,000 - 3,000 acres of land to house its range of 3,500 - 7,000 families. Surrounding this giant land mass are two separate walls protecting the town’s inhabitants. Within the stone walls is a dirt path reserved for those dedicated to tourism.

            There are several similarities between the Citadel and any other normal town, but there are also some distinct differences. For example, within the Citadel there are several neighborhoods. There’s also a farmers market, museum, several schools, and a town center. However, enclosing these neighborhoods are additional walls within the town. The outer wall of the town has towers scattered throughout. And finally, one of the stranger inclusions is a firearms factory to produce, well, firearms.

Now taken out of context, a firearms factory may not seem totally obscure, but it seems a bit more strange when you look into the Citadel Patriot Agreement. The second article states “Every able-bodied Patriot aged 13 and older governed by this Agreement shall annually demonstrate proficiency with the rifle of his/her choice by hitting a man-sized steel target at 100 yards with open sights at the Citadel range. Each Resident shall have 10 shots and must hit the target at least 7 times”. And if that is not extreme enough, the eighth article states “All Patriots, who are of age and are not legally restricted from bearing firearms, shall agree to remain armed with a loaded sidearm whenever visiting the Citadel Town Center. Firearm shall be on-the-person and under the control of the Resident, not merely stored in a vehicle”.

So it is clear that the town has a very extreme and downright hyperbolic view on gun laws. Whether or not this fantasy will come to fruition is unknown at this point. Those proposing the new concept for a living-space have already purchased some land, but they will need more money to acquire the space for all they had planned. Whether or not they get the funds will depend on those who are interested. It costs $208 dollars to apply for residence in the Citadel. If it sounds right for you, why not give it a shot?

A Review of Madam Secretary

by Ryan Johnston
If you are at all interested in government, or any government shows such as House of Cards or Scandal, Madam Secretary is for you.

Madam Secretary is a fictional show that follows a former CIA Analyst named Elizabeth McCord. After quitting her job at the CIA and becoming a college professor, she gets a call from the President requesting that she become the new Secretary of State, after the former one was killed in a plane crash. Elizabeth McCord was recognized because the former CIA Director became the President, and decided to nominate her after observing her CIA experience.

While the show focuses on mostly the Secretary’s job, it also focuses on her personal life as well. She is a mother with three kids and a loving husband who is a religious scholar. During the course of the show, there is a lot of conspiracy and intense situations that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. One example of a conspiracy that occurs through the plotline of the story is the killing of former Secretary of State.

Currently, season 1 of Madam Secretary can be watched on Netflix, however the second season is not yet available on Netflix. Currently, season 2 of Madam Secretary is streaming on CBS every Sunday night at 9pm. The season finale will be taking place this Sunday, and it is bound to be a great one. If you plan on binge watching, season 2 can be purchased on the iTunes Store or the Google Play Store for streaming.

For those who are fans of the show West Wing or House of Cards, I assure that you will be a fan of this show. The plot is very similar to House of Cards in that Madam Secretary becomes the Secretary of State, and then perhaps may even get the bid to become President of the United States. Secretary McCord becoming President was foreshadowed in the first episode of season 2, where Airforce One was compromised and the President was declared missing. According to the presidential line of succession, Secretary McCord had to take over for the POTUS.

Another clue foreshadowing that she would become President, is that the incumbent President mentions that her ratings as temporary President were far higher than his, and that she may be the real candidate for the presidency, and not him.

Overall, this show is full of twists and turns that anyone would expect when watching a show about high-level government officials. Tune in on Netflix or on Sundays at 8:00 on CBS!

Positive Vibes Only

13 Things That Will Make Your Day Brighter

1. Puppies

Cute little fluff balls that are always there to cheer you up after a rough day. Even just looking at pictures of puppies can brighten your day. Who wouldn't love to cuddle with a puppy?

2. Funny Vines

To remind you that although your day may be bad, at least no one (hopefully) didn't check it on camera. But these funny and silly vines always find a way to make us laugh.

Watch this:

https://twitter.com/CommonWhiteGrls/status/669659836972408832

3. Mozzarella Sticks

Go to Friendly's, go to Uno's, go to Applebees' and get some mozzarella sticks. The ooey goodness of the cheese meets the deep fried wrapping. Enough said. Look at this beauty.

Photo by Meaghan Angers via mini mozz at Friendly's 

4. Jamming to Happy Music

Even though you might be having a bad day, spice up your day by listening to happy tunes that keep will get the good vibes going. Sing it out loud in your car as your drive down the street to spread the good vibes.

SUGGESTED SONGS:

You Need Me I Don’t Need You - Ed Sheeran

We Can’t Stop - Miley Cyrus

New Romantics - Taylor Swift

Better Than Words - One Direction

Cake By the Ocean - DNCE

Sorry - Justin Bieber

5. Jamming to Sad Music

Let's face it, sometimes you just need a good cry. You need to go listen to sad music that relates to your life and realize that you are not alone and can make it through it.

SUGGESTED SONGS:

Gravity - Sara Bareilles

All Too Well - Taylor Swift

All I Want - Kodaline

If I Could Fly - One Direction

Even My Dad Does Sometimes - Ed Sheeran

6. This scene from the Office

Even if you don't watch the Office, this scene is definitely going to make you laugh. This ridiculous scene is a definitely hilarious and will make you cry laughing, guaranteed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmb1tqYqyII

7. Chicken Fingers and French Fries

Chicken fingers and fries are always a treat. Just go after what makes you happy and eat all of it. In this particular case, go eat some good old simple and delicious chicken fingers and fries. Maybe even go for the dinosaur shape and have some fun with them.

One of my favorite chicken fingers - Disney World
Photo by Meaghan Angers

8. Treat Yo Self

Treat yo self. Go to the mall and get your shop on. Go to the expensive section of Forever 21 and treat your self to a new interesting outfit. Or go to the Disney store and buy yourself that plush toy of Arlo from The Good Dinosaur that you’ve been wanting. Or, hey, go to the food court and eat a couple slices of pizza and grab a milkshake from Johnny Rockets. Just treat yo self.

9. Dance Party

Everybody dance now. What better way to release some stress than to shake it off! Dancing is (not scientifically) proven to make you happier. It’s good for the soul and a good way to get the body moving.

10. Stefan from SNL

One of the most memorable characters from Saturday Night Live. His interesting commentaries about life and ridiculous, but hilarious sayings are always able to make you burst out laughing. Stefan's crazy suggestions are enough to create laughter for anybody's day.

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-stefon-on-christmas/n12981

11. Smell of Chocolate Chip Cookies

I mean is there anything better than the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies?

12. Positive Vibes Only 

You can’t dwell on the negatives of life. You need to find the positives and if something isn’t a positive force you need to make it positive or just get rid of it. You need to let the things that make you unhappy (unfortunately you can’t let go of school) , but you have to accept the fact that your happiness comes first.

13. Christmas Time

THE BEST WAY TO SPREAD CHRISTMAS CHEER IS SINGING LOUD FOR ALL TO HEAR. Sing a Christmas carol or two or eight. Blast "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and sing it from the rooftops. Decorate your Christmas tree. Drink some hot chocolate. Donate to charity because there is no better feeling than spreading the love.

Bring on the Powder Puff Girls

by Margarita Forbes

The first things that come to mind when you think of fall are football games, the pep rally and the homecoming dance.  But something else to get excited about is the annual Powder Puff game!  Going to events like the Powder Puff game to help give support back to Woburn High, is another way to show your Tanner Pride. 

For those who don’t know what the Powder Puff game is, it’s a single football game that happens every fall, meant for those upperclassmen girls who don’t mind getting down and dirty. The only requirement for girls who sign up is that they show up for the two or three practices and, of course, play in the game.  Teams are separated by juniors and seniors, who are coached by upperclassmen football players, and are monitored by teachers refereeing the 1 hour game. Many girls find this game to be a great tradition to look forward to.  Junior Mckenna Canty shared her thoughts on the tradition.

“I think that the Powder Puff game is a great way for juniors and seniors to come together and learn to work with one another.  It’s a great way to show spirit and unity among the classes,” mentioned Canty. 

However, many high schools no longer have this event around, but many find that keeping the annual tradition of the game at Woburn High is something different, out of the ordinary, and a great way to advocate enthusiasm for school spirit.

Although it is all about the girls learning to work together, in the past years it seems as if the senior girls almost always win the battle, no matter how hard the juniors seem to try.

Senior Jojo Mandra, who took part in the Powder Puff game as a junior stated, “Due to the amount of knowledge and more experience that the senior girls have, compared to the junior girls’ each year, I think that seniors are always bound to win.  Seniors just have the advantage of knowing what to expect and knowing what plays work out the best,” said Mandra.

The event is run and coordinated by The Student Council, but participants play a large role in keeping the tradition going. 

“The Student Council runs the event, organizes it, promotes it, chooses who should be involved to help during the game, and chooses captains for the teams when the time comes.  But a lot of the organizing and planning is actually done by the junior and senior girls who play in the Powder Puff game themselves.  For instance, almost all of the players taking part in the game are recruited by captains, or by other girls,” stated Adviser and history teacher Kimberly Vogel.

Even though the Powder Puff game is exclusive to only upperclassman girls, there are other ways to be involved in the game besides playing in it.  Students can volunteer at food stands, selling concessions like hot chocolate to people watching the game, or students may be able to sell tickets at the door or accept donations from people in the crowd. 
Another way that students in the school can help the event is even by just spreading the word about when the Powder Puff game will be and at what time!  All of this help is beneficial, especially if you are looking for a way to get some community service hours.

Since these are the last days of high school for the fellow junior and senior girls, it is a great way to have a final time to be united. Members of Student Council and the players can use all the help they can get to make this night for the upperclassmen girls a spectacular one, so join them on Tuesday, December 1!

Defining a true diva: a tribute to Mariah

by Laura Zakrewski

Many a diva has come and gone, but one has stood the test of time.  The name’s Carey.  Mariah Carey, and feel free to wear it out.  She loves to see her name in lights because, well, she’s a diva and that’s her right.  However, loyal fans of Ms. Carey’s don’t mind it at all.  She’s just the right amount of sassy mixed with a hint of sweet…or should I say Honey? 

Her career began before all of us youngsters taking classes here at Woburn High were even a thought, way back in the year 1990.  Her first hit song "Vision of Love" catapulted Mariah Carey to the top of the Billboard Charts.  The accompanying music video is often described by music critics as “simple and very focused on the power of her vocal ability.” 

At the 33^rd annual Grammy Awards, Mariah won Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.  This gave her the proper platform to let out her inner diva.  The exposure that she was getting for her debut album, self-titled Mariah Carey, created a high demand for her second studio album. 

Still, many people felt that she was nothing more than a passing pop star and that she would fade after the success of songs such as "Vision of Love", "Someday" and "Love Takes Time".  Luckily, Mariah showed the haters just how wrong they were.   

Her album Emotions came out in 1991, successfully producing a few hit songs and highlighting the impressive whistle register that Carey is known for.  At this time in Mariah’s career, she was having difficulties with her record label and lawsuits were filed all over the place.  However, this tumultuous behind-the-scenes action never surfaced in her songs, as they still came out better than ever. 

       

In 1992, Mariah Carey was set to perform on MTV unplugged, which was a television show where artists performed stripped down versions of their hit songs.  However, Carey wanted to go for the unexpected and decided to sing a cover version of Hero, a song originally by the Jackson 5.  This turned out to be a smash hit, and to date remains one of Mariah’s most popular songs. 

        

This success continued with her album Music Box, which became one of the best-selling albums of all time.  She followed this up with a small, yet successful concert tour of North America.  After only three years on the music scene, Mariah had officially earned the title of diva.    

        

We mustn’t forget about the merriest song of them all.  Mariah Carey’s contribution to Christmas has been named a “holiday standard” by Rolling Stone Magazine.  "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is a modern take on the holidays that gets people, young and old, in a celebratory, festive mood.

        

After the 1990s ended, Carey kept the 2000s real with songs such as "Obsessed" and "We Belong Together."  Her songs have reached the ears of many listeners.  To date, Mariah Carey has had eighteen songs hit number one, and countless other songs make the charts. 

Now, it’s not to say that Mariah is perfect.  Her personal life has been hectic at times, with a couple of failed marriages, an emotional breakdown circa 2001, and a failed foray into film with Glitter.  Her vocals aren’t what they used to be, but that’s what happens after years of wear and tear on the vocal chords. 

It is safe to say that Mariah Carey is not just a diva, but the diva.  Her contributions to pop and R & B are immense and her influence on modern music can be felt even today in 2015.         

         

                   

                                                                   Mariah Carey's Hits:

                                                                                                                                               Honey

                                                                                                                                                                            Dreamlover                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        One Sweet Day

                                                                                                                     Emotions

6                                                                                                                                                                        Mine Again

                                                                                                                                                                               Butterfly

8                                                                                                                                                                            Circles

                                                                                                                                                                   Vision of Love

                                                                                                         Don’t Forget About Us

                                                                                                          We Belong Together

                                                                                                           Always Be My Baby

                                                                                                                  Without You

                                                                                                                         Hero

                                                                                                                Touch My Body

                                                                                                                        Bye Bye

I'                                                                                                                  I’ll Be There

                                                                                                                                                                             Shake It Off

                                                                                                                      Obsessed

                                                                                                                 It’s Like That

What do students do after graduating High School? The answer to this varies greatly across the globe, however, in America it is rather uniform. 65.9% of graduating High School students in the US will go into college the following year. Massachusetts even goes above the national average with a 73.2%. Even going around Woburn Memorial High School, the answer seems quite uniform, as many plan on “going to a 4 year college”.

Over the last decade college costs have increased noticeably; Private Nonprofit Four-Year College tuitions have doubled. Even with most students planning to go to college, the question that comes into mind is affordability. Can students, in our current economic recession pay for college? Is it even in their best interest to go to college, to put the burden of student loans onto the dawn of their adult life? Is college today worth the cost?

“Yes, it’s only a small part of your life, you can pay it back” said Douglas Huynh

But how small is it? How much do you pay back? Given Massachusetts’s 73.2% of students going on to college, many would probably agree with Douglas’s statement. Patrick Hurley agreed, considered the rising costs of college versus the educational value.

“College is still worth the cost,” stated Hurley.

Contrary to Douglas’s and Patrick’s statements, Senior James Rankin disagreed. 

“No…. You could teach yourself for a lot less,” argued Rankin.

What is a lot less? What is the cost? Each college is different both in its education features and in its costs. Nonetheless seniors gave broad estimates for what they expected to pay for college in four years.

“$200,000” mentioned Douglass given a broad estimate. 

“min $150,000, max $250,000,” said James Rankin – who said he would “probably” go to college despite believing it costs more than its worth.

$200,000 dollars, simply put, is a significant amount, an amount high enough to buy a small home or a luxury car (or two). However, acquiring this amount of money for tuition, fees, or other educational expenses is far from impossible. Student loans exist for the purpose of allowing students to go to college and pay the bill later. The difficulty, however, is how to pay back the money; how long it takes to be fully rid of debt.

“20 years” responded Douglass Huynh in a more serious tone.

20 years is a significant amount of time and it’s not far from the truth, on average it takes 21 years to pay off student loans (Bidwell). After the 21 years the debt is finally paid off, however not everyone would regard 21 years as “a small part of your life.” That being said, if college allows you to get a well-paying job then college may indeed be only a “small part” of your life.

“$80,000 - $90,000” said Douglass Huynh giving a range for what he expects to be paid per year when he enters his field of choice, biomedical engineering.

Is college worth its cost? Is the cost of college grown to be too staggering or outpaced its worth? For some the answer may very well be yes, yes that college has become so expensive that it is beyond its value. Yet, $90,000, even $80,000 a year is undeniably enough for a comfortable life. Perhaps college is no longer a continuation of high school, no longer definite stepping stone, but rather a choice, a choice to invest for the future or a choice to avoid and get a head start in the adult world.

Works Cited

Bidwell, Allie. "Student Loan Expectations: Myth vs. Reality." US News. U.S.News & World Report, n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.

"College Participation Rates: College-Going Rates of High School Graduates - Directly from High School." HigherEdInfo.org: College-Going Rates of High School Graduates. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.

"Highest Paying Associate Degrees by Salary Potential." Highest Paying Associate Degrees. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.

"How Much You Need To Work To Cover Tuition in 1978 vs. 2014." Attn:. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.

Norris, Floyd. "Fewer U.S. Graduates Opt for College After High School." The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 Apr. 2014. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.

"Tuition and Fees and Room and Board over Time." - Trends in Higher Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.

Weissmann, Jordan. "53% of Recent College Grads Are Jobless or Underemployed—How?" The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 23 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.

Weissmann, Jordan. "How Bad Is the Job Market for the College Class of 2014?" N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.

What do you think of when you hear "twin"?

by Krysten Lyle

My brother, Chris, and I as adorable kids.

What do you think of when you hear twin? Most likely you think the common stereotypes: twins act alike, dress alike, are practically the same person, and have twin telepathy.

As a girl with a twin brother I can tell you most of those aren't true. Sure it's cute to match your twin when you're a little kid and it's fun to confuse people when you are identical, but as my fellow twin and I grow up all that gets pretty annoying. Of course the first few times when people ask you if you're identical after you explain in detail that your twin is of a different gender, as in a fraternal twin, you answer nicely. After you get asked that question almost every time you mention your twin your response is a sigh and you walk away. Can you really blame us? 

Aside from the difficulty of explaining identical and fraternal, twins have other myths to disclaim.  Sophomore James Burke explained  his views on being a twin.

"My life as a twin is fun," he says "[Kevin and I] are really close. Even though we yell at each other all the time, he does everything for me and I do everything for him." He also feels that twin telepathy is a myth. "...It doesn't exist. I never experienced it before and neither has any other twin I know," said Burke.

What about the whole sharing everything deal? Most kids would probably be annoyed and jealous to share their birthday with someone, especially when younger twin who always gets "Happy Birthday" sung to last. Honestly, it's not that bad. No, my brother and I don't share a room, but we share teachers, a birthday, and a whole bunch of other things, but it's not that bad. After almost 16 years you're used to it. Isabelle Claude, a sophomore, agrees.

"When it comes to you being a twin you basically share everything. Teachers, coaches, a birthday. Some people just know me as Nelson's twin sister or know Nelson as Isabelle's twin brother," stated Claude. "It can get annoying, my whole life I've gotten half of something, it's like getting one shoe instead of a pair!" 

What if we had been identical twins? If I had an identical twin I would have to apologize to everyone.  I know how I am and if there were two of me, oh my! Never mind the jealousy! Claude speculated on life with an identical twin.

"...She would be my best friend, but I feel like I would get envious over the little things and I wouldn't want to be in competition my whole life," mentioned Claude.

I 100% understand especially since my twin is my only sibling and wouldn't know how to handle a sister.

All this talk about a twin and I haven't introduced you to mine yet.  My partner in crime is Christopher Lyle, born one hour before me December 29. After asking several times and being avoided,  he finally explained what it was like to be a twin.

"Being a twin is like having another sibling, we just have a strong bond.  The whole telepathy thing doesn't exist we are just so close we know what we're thinking and we finish each other's sentences for the same reason," Lyle replied.

I wouldn't change being a twin for the world.

He and I both know that we are always there for each other. I really wouldn't know what my life would be like without him.

Our parents shared their thoughts about my brother and I being very close twins.

"Twin telepathy, I never experience it myself, but seeing my twins experiencing something like it, it makes you wonder.  When we found out we were going to have twins we were excited to experience a whole new way of raising children. Since we never found out the genders until birth, once we found out it was a boy and girl, knowing I might not have children again due to a high risk pregnancy, we were excited to know we were going to have one of each,” my mother, Marie Lyle explained.

Despite the couple hours of labor, one natural birth, one c-section, almost dying several times, and my dad almost having to make a decision between the love of his life and his newly born children who were also dying, my mother firmly stated, "I wouldn't change it for anything... not in a million years." Seeing the way her eyes lit up over the memories was really a sight to see.

Having a twin is normal for me. Sure it's a cool thing to mention about you, but really, we are just like everyone else. Yet, I wouldn't change it for the world. 

Straight Outta Compton a hit with Generation Xers and Millennials alike

by George Rosatone

Straight Outta Compton is one of the most popular docu-dramas to date. A large portion of the audience involves middle-aged men and women trying to capture a feeling of nostalgia from hearing the classic, controversial music of N.W.A. However, even though the movie is rated R, many of the seats in the theatres were taken up by teenagers and young adults as well.

The reason behind the Millennial following is that in the 90s, N.W.A started a new trend in music that still carries on to this day. N.W.A, with Dr. Dre’s mixing and production skills, as well as Ice Cube’s gritty, violent lyrics and Eazy-E’s rhythm, were among the first to write rap music about real, controversial events. With songs like “Straight Outta Compton”, and “F--- Tha Police”, they spoke out about the racism, poverty, and gang-related issues many African Americans had to face in downtown L.A.

This once unique style has continues to stay fresh and enjoyable through the decades, as the young people of this generation still listen to rap groups like D12, or even solo artists, like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, or Eminem. The fact seems to stay though, as many of these new listeners all understand that N.W.A. are legends in the music industry. Even now, N.W.A’s albums still sell relatively well, especially in light of the new movie.

 A few students at WMHS even went to go see the film and most if not all seemed to enjoy it.

“My favorite part was when the gang member got onto the school bus and pointed the gun at the troublemakers. This scene shows that gang members in Compton were not afraid to get up close and personal in public,” said sophomore Luke Abreu.

Sophomore Jonah Barnes-Guzman “when the group [N.W.A.] had live performances” most. This style of scene occurred quite a few times during the film, showing a dramatized version of an N.W.A. concert.

Similarly, sophomore Taylor Lages said “my favorite part of the whole movie was the use of the music in the background of most scenes.”

The use of music was phenomenal, as the movie provided nearly every track off of the Straight Outta Compton album, as well as related titles such as "Boyz in the Hood" by Eazy-E. The music not only makes for great background music, but also displays the progression of N.W.A. as artists over the years.

Overall, the movie was a huge success, among teenagers and 80s kids alike. The legendary tracks from N.W.A. appeal to almost all audiences of the rap genre, and the group’s music is still amongst some of the most popular to this day. The nearly two and a half hour long movie had definitely met the standards that the group’s music set.