December 2005. The Patriot Ledger. Page 10
Myspace is your space
By Chelsea Amaral Myspace.com has swept the nation with its “amazing” way to connect people with similar interests and hobbies. It is not difficult to sign up because all you do is go on the homepage, click on sign up, fill out a short personal information sheet and then begin. Myspace allows all online users to create a website that expresses their individual qualities, as well as the ability to contact old and new friends. Many relationships as well as friendships have been formed since the breakout of Myspace earlier last year. Just a normal college kid started it all and then eventually more people became interested and now nearly everyone has it. Senior Kasey Crocker said, “I love Myspace; it just makes things a lot easier and I get to keep in touch with a lot of old friends.” Yes, my space does have its ups but, it also has its downs. I personally do not have a Myspace and do not plan to get one because of the simple fact that I think it just portrays how fake people really are. I have noticed that Myspace users try to put their most “eye-catching” picture on their homepage to attract strangers or get people to notice them. This was created to show people’s true selves and not the fake person they expose on their Myspaces. People’s false impression of one another is also not always a good thing because, there are those creeps out there who will say they are seventeen but are secretly forty-five. Senior Ginny Key said, “I
Opinion Top 10 Holiday Stores
1. Barnes and Nobles 2. Christmas Tree Shop 3. Radio Shack 4. Sports Authority 5. Macy’s 6. Claire’s 7. Pleasant Surprise 8. Walmart 9. EB Games 10. Filenes
*All results were derived from a survey of Journalism I and II Students ** The stores are in no particular order
have heard cases where people have become overly obsessed with other Myspace users, and I am just not interested in that kind of stuff.” Not all people who have Myspace are losers, but why would people want attention so badly that they will put their most appealing picture up to get noticed? There are the Myspace users that really do have it to keep in touch with old friends, and the others are just so desperate to find new friends. This piece may come off as strong, but to me, Myspace is a misused, misconstrued, waste-of-time website. People spend hours upon hours fixing and trying to look their best hoping to receive praise. Therefore, it is pretty pointless.
My take on parking
By Justin Pimentel Ever get the feeling that people are fishing for excuses to be indignant? Don’t answer that question, it’s rhetorical…and if you already did, people are already staring at you, for you are talking to a newspaper. But it’s true (the indignant part). If you were to walk up to the average, amiable, hardworking student and asked them to tell you something about the school, you would probably elicit a response like, “They don’t turn on the heat until March,” or, “It’s sooo crowded, how can I learn in a class of 22?” or my personal favorite, “I’m a senior and I lost my parking spot!”…the HUMANITY! Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t like toting a parka around the school to keep a decent core temperature, and classes are a little crammed, but parking? Grow up! I lost my spot too, and yes I have to agonize through the extra five minute walk up the one way. People recently sported shirts protesting the loss of spots, including phrases such as, “What does this school do for me?” and the like. Now most of these people are nice, agreeable, generally cool people. But to suggest that this school does nothing for anyone is a little (no offense) ungrateful. What does this school do for you? Well, it ain’t perfect (faaaaar from it) but let’s run down some other options, just in this state… Durfee High (Fall River): Ample parking…but that’s probably due to the over 50% dropout rate. Try calculating Portsmouth graduates some time. Hope High (Providence): Oh, you can park anywhere…but leaving will be quite a task, considering your slashed tires. And oh yes, they have lost their accreditation, which I’m sure colleges look favorably on. Not that college is for everyone, and it shouldn’t be pushed on people, but for people that are considering it, Portsmouth is rated about third in the state among public schools. East Providence: Something tells me it’s tough to learn when the school locks down (two weeks ago as when a stabbing suspect tore through the school). But hey, I’ll bet they don’t make their seniors walk five extra minutes to school. It’s probably a less frequented lot, considering fewer parents in EP can afford cars in the first place, at least for high school kids. Again, many of the complainers are good people, even friends of mine. And I’m not some self-righteous tool, criticizing everyone for not being as grateful as me. I don’t appreciate nearly enough of what I have, and the things that I do appreciate, I often neglect. …But come on, parking spaces? With all its shortcomings and faults, the school does do something for us. Walking five extra minutes to get to it won’t kill anyone.
Comic courtesy of Maddie DeLeone
Woobie brings fond memories
By Alyssa Cardone Everyone has that childhood friend he or she will remember forever. For me, it’s “Woobie,” my baby blanket, or sheepskin that has seen me through everything. All the fights with my parents, the deaths in my family and, most recently, my high school problems have been made easier because I always knew that waiting patiently in my bed, ready to comfort me, was Woobie. It is a great consoler and listener and never interrupts or talks back like humans have a tendency to do. These qualities have made Woobie an everyday necessity. I do not need it to sleep — I just prefer it. When I go to sleep upset I simply wrap Woobie around my arm and I feel safe. Although I have only just begun leaving Woobie at home for sleepovers, it still accompanies me on all my family vacations. My aunts and uncles get a good laugh when they see me trudging down the stairs in my pajamas every morning with my Woobie in tow. All my cousins were given a Woobie as babies, but, as one of the oldest cousins, I believe it may appear odd that I am probably the one most attached to my Woobie. As Woobie has deteriorated and ripped, I have kept the pieces. Any offer to get me a new one is automatically refused. Even though it has accidental scribbles on the back, along with a long, horizontal tear that has created a tail for it, I still will never part with it. Every year on my birthday, my dad asks me if this will be the year we retire my security blanket. Every time I swear to him that next year will be the year. Of course, when he asks next year, rather than hand it over I will buy myself one more year of peaceful sleep. My friends have all met Woobie and instead of laughing, they accept it because it is part of me, of my life. When I was little, I just found Woobie soft, but now it represents so much more. Woobie is my protector and guardian angel. It will keep me calm and relaxed. The soft fleece on one side and smooth hide on the other creates the perfect balance for me, allowing me to breathe easier when I touch it. These deep, calming breaths will eventually enable me to regain control and make rational decisions or drift of to sleep. I do not plan on bringing Woobie to college with me. It must stay at home and watch over my room, but maybe a piece that has been accidentally torn off years ago might magically slip into my bag when no one is looking.
If you have something to say, submit a letter to the editor and give it to Mrs. Meyer in A-4. All letters must be signed.