President's Day By: Katie Naour

President’s Day- more commonly known as the third Monday in February where we don’t have school. President’s Day was started by the federal government in honor of George Washington, at that time it was called “Washington’s Birthday”. Originally, President’s Day would fall on February 22nd, George Washington’s birthday, but after the 1971 Uniform Holiday Act, it was moved to always fall on a Monday in an attempt to give workers another 3-day weekend. The law was proposed by a senator, Robert McClory, from Illinois. Although the government still refers to this day as “Washington’s Birthday” most of the country now uses this day as a way to honor all of our presidents. So think about all of our great leaders next time you’re relaxing on your President’s Day off.

The Ultimate Test: Valentine’s Day Couple’s Trivia

By: Rachael Seidl

In the ultimate battle of romantic competition, over both the Bachelorette and the Dating Game, I asked Mr. Huberman questions about Mrs. Huberman, without allowing him to consult her on the answers. Let’s see how much he really knows!

Question: Favorite color?

Mr. Huberman's response: Green.

Mrs. Huberman’s answer: Green.

Question: If she won the lottery, what is the first thing she would buy?

Mr. Huberman's response: A Starbucks.

Mrs. Huberman’s answer: A trip somewhere.

Question: What was the name of her first pet?

Mr. Huberman's response: Tiger.

Mrs. Huberman’s answer: Tiger.

Question: If she could be born in a different decade, which would she choose?

Mr. Huberman's response: 20’s.

Mrs. Huberman’s answer: 50’s.

Question: What street did she grow up one?

Mr. Huberman's response: Mallard.

Mrs. Huberman’s answer: Bryn Mawr.

Question: Has she ever had braces?

Mr. Huberman's response: No.

Mrs. Huberman’s answer: No.

Question: What is her go-to phrase?

Mr. Huberman's response: Do you understand what I mean?

Mrs. Huberman’s answer: Everybody, everybody, everybody.

Question: What is her secret dream?

Mr. Huberman's response: To own a hundred cats.

Mrs. Huberman’s answer: To live in Paris.

Question: What is the number one played song on her Ipod?

Mr. Huberman's response: “Someone Like You” by Adele.

Mrs. Huberman’s answer: “Our Deliverance” by the Indigo Girls.

Question: What is her least favorite form of transportation?

Mr. Huberman's response: Airplane.

Mrs. Huberman’s answer: Bus.

The Mystery of TEC Revealed... Kind of

by Emily Swanson

TEC, which stands for Teens Encounter Christ, is a mystery to anyone who has never been through the weekend-long retreat. Those who have gone through the experience aren’t meant to share what goes on to those who haven’t been through it yet. However, there are a few things that can be shared.

TEC is a long weekend full of faith, friends, and of course, food! People ranging from ages sixteen through twenty-two spend three days locked inside CCHS. They pass the time by listening to talks by other teens who have experienced it before, making new friends from different schools in Bloomington-Normal, and eating their body weight in the mounds of delicious food. (We can thank God that there’s no food judgement at TEC!)

The boys’ next weekend is on June 27-29. The girls’ next weekend is February 14-16. You can find more information on TEC at their website: http://www.bntec.org/. Don’t anticipate, participate!

American History

By: Rachael Seidl

The following is an excerpt from Mike Wallace’s interview of Morgan Freeman on CBS’ 60 Minutes:

Wallace: Black History Month you find...

Freeman: Ridiculous.

Wallace: Why?

Freeman: You’re going to regulate my history to a month?

Wallace: Oh, come on.

Freeman: What do you do with yours? Which month is White History Month?

Wallace: Well, I’m Jewish.

Freeman: Okay. Which month is Jewish History Month?

Wallace: There isn’t one.

Freeman: Oh, oh. Why not? Do you want one?

Wallace: No.

Freeman: Right. I don’t either. I don’t want a Black History Month. Black history is American history.

However honorable our intentions are with Black History Month, Morgan Freeman brings up an interestingly negative opinion on their effect. Black History Month has always been a month for respect; it is dedicated to the remembrance of important people and events in the history of African Americans. Though the ultimate goal of Black History Month is to establish respect and honor, does it really only establish a boundary line? Tickle your brain with thought-- can honor be negative?

According to Freeman, yes. The history of African Americans should not be limited to one month. However you have to take into account our need, as human beings, to hold knowledge of our past, both right and wrong. George Santayana stated it most eloquently with the famous quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” He is absolutely right. We need to learn from our mistakes. Black History Month is a great way to spread awareness and to promote interest and knowledge of the hardships African American people have faced throughout history, especially in the United States.

Freeman still brings about a valid argument, but his wording is misleading. He places the negative side of Black History Month not on the goal, but the name. Finding Black History Month to be a misnomer, you cannot limit the history of a race to one month. However you can focus one month on the history of our country, and in that one month recognize our mistakes in order to better our future. Racism grows with obsession. Black history is American history.

The Winter Blues By: Shannon Lewis

With the many frozen and frigid days the winter season brings, the days can seem lengthy and boring. We all seem to have a lack of motivation and low energy, but having a little creativity can help you survive the cold winter days and get you through those “winter blues.” Here are a few ideas to help keep you and your friends motivated and entertained this winter season:

• go ice skating
• try out new holiday recipes
• learn to knit
• knit a scarf
• have a movie marathon
• go sledding
• make hot chocolate
• make snow cones out of real snow
• build a snowman
• get a group of friends together to play games
• stay fit and hit the gym
• get ahead on service hours

These are just some of the endless ideas for you to do this winter to keep you from getting the “winter blues.” Make this winter season a productive one and get out there to keep yourself motivated. Be sure to bring your friends along with you to make the activities even more fun!

What a crazy game!

One of the greatest Sunday of of all time in my opinion is the Super Bowl. On February 1st 2015 the Seattle Seahawks will play the New England Patriots.  According to Fox Sports The Super Bowl is one of the most watched event in the United States. 1 in 4 people watch the Super Bowl. Whether you are a football fan or not you will most likely be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday February 1st. When surveyed by people to see what they would do to go to the Super Bowl, 23% would skip a vacation, 21% would skip work, 20% to skip a wedding of a relative, 19% to skip a funeral, and 15% would miss the birth of a child. The big game is always fun to watch especially all of the commercials. In fact one 30 second commercial cost around $4,500,000 to be aired during the Super Bowl.

Weird things happen on Super Bowl Sunday, like 8 million pounds of guacamole is consumed. 14,500 tons of chips are eaten. 4.3 million pounds of pretzels will be served.  If you like chicken wings you are not alone because $1,250,000,000 are spent on chicken wings. The big day is the second highest day of food consumption after Thanksgiving. The average number at a Super Bowl party is 17 people.  The winner of the game obviously receives the Lombardi trophy, which weighs seven pounds and is twenty one inches tall, it is worth around $25,000 dollars.