Coming of Spring by Joshua Liao

The Coming of Spring

                These past few days mark the beginning of warm weathered spring. The cold bitter winter has gone, and for the first time, the chirping of birds fills the night air. Nature awakens as bears come out of hibernation and flowers begin to show their brilliant colors. The weather turns warm as short sleeves and shorts are worn for the first time. It’s almost as if the whole world is beginning to awaken. The neighborhood kids come out to play and spring sports begin. Basketball hits is famous march madness stage and the 8 month baseball season gets underway. Spring has come for everyone to enjoy. For many, the warm pleasant weather makes it the best time of the year. Winter occasionally reminds us of its power by showing a few cold days here and there, but the liveliness of spring is always present. For teenagers, spring marks the beginning of the long awaited spring break and the countdown to the impending summer. Needless to say, it is always exciting when the spring season comes every year.  

Sparks by Harrison Chiu

Spark

By: Harrison Chiu

A spark

Bright, brilliant, blinding

Flutters upon the floor

Then it blossoms into

A flame

Wavering, warm, whispering

Swelling again

Fire, yes, fire

Flickering fringes about the flame

Chuckling merrily

Consuming more, more, more

Hungrily devouring,

Belly swollen in

An ugly, dark red

Voracious, devouring, inferno

A maelstrom of flame,

Flickering, ugly, burning

Before being extinguished,

Sparks fluttering to the floor

Miss Tellall questions for week of 3/9/15

3/12/15

It’s been a long time, but South Brunswick Public Library’s very own advice columnist- Miss Telall- is finally back! She has two new entries, and is once again, ready to tackle any problems which are thrown at her! If you’re having any difficulties, be sure to email her at MissTelallSBPL@gmail.com, and check the SBPL blog to see if your question has gotten a response. Remember, all entries are ANONYMOUS, as always!

Dear Miss Tellall, I really want to get ombre hair. I think it’ll look amazing on me, and my friends agree. However, my parents do not tolerate this idea- they are worried that I may not like the way my hair looks after the process, and demand to have it reverted back to normal. How do I convince them to let me get the hair I want? Sincerely,       Luscious Locks

Dear Luscious Locks,          Obviously, before you get your hair dyed, you want to do your research about it. Decide exactly which colors you’d like to dye your hair and figure out which products you’re going to use. Educate yourself about the dangers of hair dye, and follow the instructions on the bottle at all times! Alternatively, you could choose to go to the salon. Try selecting a natural color, even a lighter or darker shade of your natural hair color. For instance, if you have dark brown hair, you might want to consider dirty blonde as your dye color. If you really want to go for a “wild” look, consider for streaks in your desired color. Wait a while to get your whole hair dyed that color. To convince your parents, you’ve really got to know them. What makes them happy? It’s not just a matter of being responsible, go the whole nine yards. Do your chores without being reminded, help your siblings with their homework, and prioritize getting good grades. If you show your parents that you’re giving it your all and are a mature teenager, they will most likely not hesitate to give you the things you want. Finally, ask your parents if you can dye your hair. Tell them exactly what you are going to do to your hair, and why. Tell them the dye is not permanent, and will wash out little by little. If you want to completely change your hairstyle as well, tell them exactly how you’ll cut it. Remember, honesty is the best policy! Take responsibility, and acknowledge the fact that you are ready to do this, even if it doesn’t turn out the way you expected it. Bring up the fact that you’d rather learn your lesson and suffer the consequences than not dye your hair at all. Talk like an adult; don’t whine or raise your voice easily. Decide your persuasion techniques ahead of time. Additionally, you could offer to pay for the cost of the dyes or the trip to the salon. It shows your parents that you’re committed and responsible, and it helps your case that the money isn’t coming entirely out of their wallet. And that’s a wrap! Be sure to keep up with Miss Telall for more advice, and if you’re having an issue, share it with this columnist to receive the *perfect* solution. ~Miss Telall

Dear Miss Telall,         This is really getting on my nerves. I have been dealing with my overly attached boyfriend for three WEEKS. The constant messaging, calling, and jealously exclusive hang-outs distracts me from school, family, friends. It’s dragging me from all the things I care about- the messaging, I mean. I really like my boyfriend, but I don’t want to have to sacrifice all the other things that make me happy, just to assure him I still like him. Should I break up with him? How do I get out of this situation without losing a good friend?                                                                    Sincerely,                            High School Heart

Dear High School Heart,     In a relationship, each party should make sure they respect the other’s goals in life! Any relationship where a partner starts to pull you from other things you care about is not currently healthy. Talk to your boyfriend, and explain your stress. Make sure you deal with the situation without accusing him, or looking upon your time together as troublesome. If your boyfriend can’t respect your wish for a less restrictive relationship, than no one person is worth changing yourself entirely for. Just remember to highlight your care for one another- no love is lost if you have each other’s best interests at heart. Your goal when facing the issue together should be to coordinate times to have privately to yourselves, as well as to spend with friends and family. Maybe you should try to introduce him to your group of friends, so that the two of you can enjoy time in other peoples’ company together. On the other hand, you could attend some kinds of extracurriculars (we have a rather large selection at SBPL!) to spend with each other. Remember, overall, always remain true to what you want, and don’t give up your happiness for anyone else’s convenience.       Be sure to understand what each of you wants from this relationship- compromise is key!                                 ~ Miss Telall

Snow Facts & Fun by Rohith Kariveda

Snow: The good, the bad, the ugly

By now, the U.S has been hit with a plethora of snow storms. However, nothing has been record-book worthy this year. Or has it? These are a couple of surprising facts that might just change the way you think about snow:

Most deaths due to one snowstorm - about 400 people died in The Great Blizzard of 1888. “The Great Blizzard” wouldn’t be the best word to describe this storm -  “The Infamous Blizzard” would be more accurate.

Greatest recorded snowfall (in one day) - 5 feet 3 inches in Georgetown, Colorado. When the kids of this town stepped outside, they wouldn’t be able to build a snowman - they would have had to carve it!

Longest Snow Season - 232 days, in none other than Anchorage Alaska. Note to students: if you really hate school, then you might want to think about moving to Anchorage.

Snowiest U.S city - We have all heard numerous times about the insane amounts of snow that fell this winter in northern New York. Turns out that the 8 feet of snow that fell this year is below the average of the snowiest city in the U.S. Syracuse, New York, holds the record of the snowiest city with an average snowfall of 126.3 inches! So while 8 feet may be mind-boggling for us, people in Syracuse have had less snow than than they usually do.

Strangest Snow Storm - a snowstorm in February of 1899 hit the southernmost portion of the continental United States. States such as Louisiana and Florida, typical vacation spots, reached their now-standing record low temperatures : -19 and -2 degrees respectively!

and last but not least...

Worlds Largest Snowman: standing 122 feet, “Olympia”, in Bethel, Main, holds the record for the tallest snowman in the world. Its arms are 30 foot tall evergreen trees, and it needs a 100 foot long scarf to keep it warm. In order to built this goliath, the town had to borrow a 150 foot tall crane.

by: Rohith Kariveda

Is the Hunger Games DVD worth your money?

Is the Hunger Games DVD worth your money?

                The Hunger Games is probably the biggest movie series in America right now. Every release has been a box-office hit, highly anticipated and watched by viewers across the country. However, this last movie was an outrageous attempt by producers to eat the public’s money. With the trilogy about to finish, they decided to split the last story in half in order to make an extra $100 million dollars. For those who have read the book, they’ll realize that the final ending in Part 1 of the Mockingjay was something that Katniss was not aware of until it was over. Most the events that happened while the rebels infiltrated the Capitol’s prison was not described by the author, Suzanne Collins. It was all made up by the producers in order to have some kind of ending to the movie. But everyone who watched the Hunger Games now has to spend another $15 dollars just to watch part 2 of the movie, where the real climax of the Mockingjay occurs. Sure, the actors in the movie did a great job of acting, but there wasn’t really much action as the previous two movies contained. So when the DVD comes out this March, there isn’t much need to buy it. DVD’s are supposed to be for movies you will watch over and over again, wearing out the disc until it is unwatchable. This movie is a must watch, but only so you have enough background information on the plot to be able to fully understand the final movie in the Hunger Games. That is the one movie that all fans of the series- including me- is waiting to see.  

Joshua Liao

Lost Art by Joshua Liao

The Lost Art

                So many teens today don’t read anymore. In fact, you yourself probably don’t like to read. In the digital age that exists today, reading has become almost non-existent. Teens are more focused on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, where posts by their friends, celebrities, and acquaintances have become their reading. Gone are the days where reading was the main entertainment for kids. But all of that is fine. One doesn’t have to use reading as their object of entertainment. The problem comes with school. In school, there is a lot of reading involved and as the classes get harder and harder, the reading load for any subject becomes heavier. Kids are told to read classics and speeches in English. Many kids really do not actually read the works, because they cannot make it through the whole thing. Instead they simply Sparknote or Schmoop the information that they need to know.  In social studies, a massive amount of research is needed for the many papers. Without adequate reading skills, finding information from books in the library or online sources becomes much harder. It severely hinders the all-important paraphrasing skill and puts them at a higher risk for plagiarism. I propose that a quiet reading time be instilled in the elementary and even some middle schools to expose kids to more reading at a young age. They should be allowed to pick one book on a topic of their choice, and given a time where phones and all other electronics are taken away. Reading would be the only thing for them to do. Some kids still wouldn’t want to read, but that is OK. Reading is not for everyone. But it has gotten so non-existent to the point today that it needs to be instilled back into society. Even if a person does not like to read, they need to at least be adequate in that area. Not everything can be turned digital and into electronics. Some things will always be on paper.    

Joshua Liao

Uncertainty by Ananya Swaminathan

Uncertainty

She is seated in a comfortable chair,

Fidgeting with her nails and hair,

Trying to look more confident than she feels,

“I hope this interview goes better than the last one.”

Teenagers finally leave the long party,

Collapsing upon arriving home, burdened by work,

Haunted by tests they didn’t study for,

“Could I somehow magically keep up my grade?”

Some tell her to follow her heart and dreams.

Others want her to be practical and safe.

She struggles to decide between writer and doctor,

“What if I choose wrong and end up regretting?”

She has finally graduated high school.

When asked if the future and possibilities daunt her,

She draws herself up confidently and declares,

“I don’t know exactly where I’m headed, but it’s going to be great.”

~Ananya Swaminathan

Bridge by Ananya Swaminathan

Bridge

We built a bridge, a sturdy bridge,

One that carried us over roiling oceans and quiet lakes.

But as time went on, the bridge slowly weakened

And as I make this journey, part of it breaks away...

Time is running out, there’s no turning back.
It’s only a matter of time before the bridge collapses

But I have to see you one last time.

Only then can I let our bond break at last.

I am fighting now, fighting the wind and cold for you.

If only I knew you were doing the same

Then I could decide if this journey is in vain.

My hands and face are beginning to freeze.

Why did we neglect our connection for so long?

I wish I had known this would happen.

A fractured friendship only serves to destroy me.

How did we allow this to occur?

Running across the bridge, slipping on patches of ice,

Do you remember building this hand in hand?

Those summer days with the wind blowing hair in my face

And you laughingly pushing it out of my eyes.

I’m weak, struggling, barely able to move.

I can hear the ominous rumble of the bridge behind me.

The connection I tried so hard to salvage is dying.

I resign myself to fate. I did this to us...

A cold hand grasps mine and a voice cries out.

I look up, shocked. You made the journey, too.

You pull me to my feet, ready to run, ready to help me.

But there’s nothing to run from. The bridge is completely intact.

~Ananya Swaminathan

Skyscrapers by Harrison Chiu

Skyscrapers

By: Harrison Chiu

It’s such a beautiful day,

Really,

I can almost reach up

Touch the clouds,

Shape them into swirling designs,

And it’s one of those rare days,

Where the stars are visible,

Actually visible

Against the city lights

Dotted across the sky,

 Twinkling and winking

People below, who don’t know

Don’t care about me

Not of course,

That it matters

I can’t help but stretch my arms out

And take in a deep breath

The wind whips past my face,

And I step over the ledge into the