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A new planet may be able to hold human lifeforms by ANNIE WANG Staff Writer New planets are not usually found very often, especially ones that might be habitable. A new planet called Gliese 581d is located on the outer part of the Habitable Zone or “Goldilocks zone”. It was discovered in 2010 and was announced that it may be habitable for all kinds of life. The “Goldilocks zone” refers to Earth-like planets that are a certain distance from a star and have the right conditions to maintain life. The name comes from the story “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, where Goldilocks always chooses the item that is “just right”. Different types of liquids could be sustained inside of the environment. Furthermore, the atmosphere keeps the planet warm enough to help everything remain stable. The search is being carried out both from telescopes on the ground and from space. The US Space Kepler Telescopes, launched in 2009, should release its data this year about the planet. From the data gathered, scientists have determined that the planet is Neptune-sized. NASA is hoping that their telescope will give them more information on the planet. “With future generations of telescopes we could search for life directly on the planet,” says Robin Wordsworth, Institute Pierre Simon Laplace. New telescopes are being created for the purpose of finding life on Gliese 581d. Scientists are hoping for the best, and that there might be some bacteria to prove that organisms can thrive. Still, while some scientists believe that the planet may be real, it might not be able to support humans. French researchers have run computer simulations, concluding that the planet is likely to contain large amounts of carbon dioxide. They theorize that the planet can only hold water and a huge downpour of rain. They also say that its denser air and dim red light from its host star would be toxic to humans and create a murky environment to live in. Moreover, the existence of the planet is still being questioned by skeptics. Gliese 581d’s predecessor, Gliese 581c, was discovered in 2007. Later in the discovery, researchers realized that the planet is too close to its star, and the temperature would be very hazardous. After almost giving up hope for a habitable planet, researchers discovered Gliese 581 d. Since scientists discovered complications with the first planet, some assume that there will be some kind of problem with Gliese 581d. Some researchers hope that this planet will lead to the discovery of other habitable planets; others think that there must be something wrong with Gliese 581d. Either way, all are waiting for the information from the telescopes that could make or break their theories. #AnnieWang #NASA #newplanet #science

New show “X Factor” misses the mark by a mile by EMILY FODOR Editor-in-chief Simon Cowell’s show “X Factor” debuted in America on September 21 at 8 pm on FOX 5 without a bang.    With judges including Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, L.A. Reid, Cowell, and guest judge Cheryl Cole, you would think that this show would be out of the park, but unfortunately, it didn’t even make it to the outfield. The new singing competition disappointed my expectations.  While being extremely similar to “America’s Got Talent”, “American Idol”, and “The Voice”, it fell way below par.  The auditions were in front of a studio audience and I, as a viewer, had seen it all before. The host, who is English along with Cowell and Cole, was Steve Jones.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but who is this humorless stranger?  While only announcing contestants and narrating the episode, he lacked charisma and likability compared to America’s sweetheart, Ryan Seacrest. The show won’t make it to a second season.  Despite the fact that I am judging this show after only seeing an episode or two, it will be difficult to redeem at this point. Sophomore Taylor Evanchik says, “I skipped the show because it appeared to be like every other singing competition on TV and I’ve seen it all before.” The prize, contrary to other miniscule shows, includes a $5 million record contract and a Pepsi commercial airing during the next Super Bowl.  In addition to that bombshell, the show has a record-setting low age limit of 12 years old and up.  “X Factor” claims they will be dividing the finalists into groups titled “boys”, “girls”, and “groups” in the future of the show. “I watched the first 15 minutes with my family and I was dying of boredom,” says sophomore Conner Parke. “I tried to give it a chance, but it wasn’t capturing my attention enough.” Unfortunately, I’ve also already written off this snooze-fest considering it was brutal to even survive the two hour premiere.  Dear Simon, maybe England liked this “phenomenon”, but America doesn’t think it has any factors that are exemplary, let alone the “X factor”. #EmilyFodor #xfactor

by MARIELLEN NOEL Staff Writer Physical Education teacher Ms. Eileen Kelley’s freshman 4A gym class of 2010-2011 celebrated their achievement of being prepared every class of the school year on June 15, 2011. “We noticed first marking period that the first four weeks had gone by and no one was unprepared yet,” says Ms. Kelley. “I mentioned to the kids to keep it up, so we negotiated what was in it for them. Once I told them that I’d bake for them, they kept it going.” At the end of each marking period, the class received baked goods from Ms. Kelley and, on the last full A-day of the school year, they celebrated with a party. “I never thought of being prepared every day,” says freshman Krissy Lassiter. “I just was and I think it was the same for everyone else.” The class squealed and cheered as Ms. Kelley told them what was on the menu for them. The menu of homemade baked goods included cinnamon rolls, cream puffs and “death by chocolate” cake served with a choice of water or milk. “Ms. Kelley is a great cook,” says freshman Evan Kane. Principal Robert Goodall, Athletics Director Damon Placenti, and the Health and Physical Education Coordinator Greg Beyer visited the class during the party. All three made speeches about how amazing it is that a class never had a student that was unprepared. When they asked what happened if someone forgot shoes or shorts, they were shocked when the class told them that they would borrow from a friend or the lost and found. Mr. Goodall encouraged the class to continue their historic streak during the following school year. Freshman James Burbank says, “It’s not that hard to get changed each day, so it’s not that hard of a goal to set.” This class made MTHS history their first year at the school. They have set the standard high for both themselves and the students in years to follow. Who are they? Nicolette Alongi, Jareth Antona, James Burbank, Freddie Burton, Alexis Caccio, Joey Davino, Aaron Fawzy, Lucia Fernandez, Alexa Foxall, Justin Gaffrey, Hartej Gill, Vincent Grassi, Allison Harrigan, Zachary Higgins, Jerica Huang, Evan Kane, Krissy Lassiter, Sylvia Mei, Anchalee Pagsanjan, Megan Romanczuk, Taylor Smith, Shondelle Tillman, Alexis Todaro, Richie Toth, Kyle Volkman #freshmen #gym #MariellenNoel

The sports world’s weirdest traditions by MATT GORDON Staff Writer The sports world has always been a way to start traditions within a family, whether it is watching the big game at home with your family every week or going to a game with your friends once a year. It has also come up with traditions of its own, slightly more complicated and deeper than your average family traditions. Each sport has its own unique tradition that can never be repeated, at least to the same extent. Here are some of the wackiest and most popular traditions in sports today. Indianapolis 500: Watching cars turn left for four hours may not seem very exciting for you, but this sport is still deeply ingrained in many traditions. One tradition stands out from the crowd and is the tasty treat of the winner: drinking a huge jug of milk after winning the Indianapolis 500. Just watching the dairy drink run down the winner’s ecstatic face is a tradition in and of itself. Started in 1933 by Louis Meyer, this tradition stands alone as one of the oldest in sports. Hockey: The city of Detroit has always been known for its cars and insane dedication to their many sports teams. One tradition in this city has remained constant throughout the city’s possibly most popular sport and team: the Red Wings. Every playoff season, the hockey team’s fans show their insane dedication by throwing octopi onto the ice before the action gets started. This tradition was first started in 1952 during the Stanley Cup playoffs as the eight-legged cephalopod symbolized the eight wins it took to win the cup back then. Baseball: America’s oldest sport is full of many traditions, but none of them are as prestigious as the seventh-inning stretch, found in every single game of professional baseball to this day. This tradition is said to be started by either Brother Jasper or former President Howard Taft. In 1882, Brother Jasper, former Manhattan College baseball coach, is said to have made the spectators stand up and stretch, hoping to gain a cheerful emotion from the crowd to will a win in his team. It is disputed, however, that in 1910, President Taft rose to stretch his back in the seventh-inning of a Washington Senators game. Upon seeing their leader stand up to stretch, the spectators also rose and created a new tradition. Football: In Green Bay, football is their life and the beloved Packers are in a mix of traditions, being the first Super Bowl winners. The Lambeau Leap is a common tradition displayed during games. As a Packers player scores a key touchdown, players will often leap into the stands at the back of the end zone and be held up by the nearby spectators and patted on the back by others as a congratulatory gesture. This leap was popularized by Packers Safety LeRoy Butler after he jumped into the stands after a fumble recovery in 1993. College Basketball: If you have ever watched a College Basketball Championship game, you know about the cutting down of the nets afterward by the winning team. Ever since North Carolina State head coach Everett Case cut down the net for a souvenir after a Southern Conference Championship win in 1947, teams that win their respective conferences and even the National Championship have cut down the nets and kept them with their trophy. #Football #MattGordon #sports #basketball #racing #topten #baseball #hockey

People of all different sizes throughout the world struggle with the dilemma of changing for the wrong reasons by SAKINA HUSSAIN Section Editor People all over the world are constantly part of the struggle that is self-image. Everyday we are faced with a new list of standards that have to do with race, sexuality, and most commonly, weight. Obesity is an epidemic in America, and a number of different programs and campaigns are going all out in order to decrease the number of obese people in the United States First Lady Michelle Obama herself is leading a national public awareness campaign called “Let’s Move.” According to ABC news, the purpose of the campaign is to eliminate childhood obesity by helping parents make better food choices, offer better food in schools, and encourage children to exercise more.  The intentions behind programs such as “Let’s Move” are almost always good, but that does not necessarily mean that the results will be just as good. The problem with these programs is the stigma that they induce. Although the point is to help overweight people pursue a healthy lifestyle, the message that is sent is more along the lines of “We love you, but right now, you’re just not good enough.” Undoubtedly, people will argue that this is not what is really being said, and anyone making that inference should be more sensible. However, when a person is bullied and criticized constantly about his/her weight, it almost becomes instinct to take the negative meaning behind all weight-concerning comments. Of course, there are a certain number of people who will understand that the intentions behind these programs and comments concerning their weight are for their own good, but the people who are unable to see anything but the negativity behind said programs have to be taken into consideration. There are several factors that lead to obesity and even more factors that have to do with the difficulty of overcoming it. All of this needs to be considered when trying to come up with a horde of weight-loss programs that are mostly good for increasing stigma among already insecure obesity “victims.” The first thing that people need to understand is that even if a person is overweight, they can still be healthy. If that is the case with someone, then the best thing to do is to leave them be. Pressuring someone else to lose weight for the sole purpose of looking better will increase insecurity and will send the wrong message. If, however, someone is overweight to the extent that it is affecting his/her health, then a loved one can and should encourage him/her to pursue a healthier lifestyle. Even in this situation, though, it has to be emphasized that the person in question is aiming toward becoming healthier because that is top concern. Here is when problems begin to arise. Being overweight tends to begin at a younger age, therefore leading to the person being ridiculed and criticized by peers and even some cold-hearted and ignorant adults throughout all his/her life. So, when trying to help this person become healthier, even if the point of improving his/her health is clearly emphasized, said person will most likely feel insecure about the fact that he/she is being forced to change. Acceptance is something all people strive for, and the perfect body image, in today’s society, is a large part of receiving that acceptance we all so badly want. Even when someone manages to be accepted, there is still the question of being loved. When people are being told, “Sure, you’re fat, but I accept you,” they will begin to fear if acceptance is interchangeable with love and loyalty. The sad truth is that these people most likely are led to believe that the two are, in fact, not interchangeable. Sure, their friends will say that they accept their weight, but then, they will stop talking to them. Not only are there endless programs dedicated to controlling children’s weight, but there are also several programs dedicated to anti-bullying that completely ignore weight discrimination. In fact, the only state that outlaws weight discrimination is Michigan. This is most likely because people probably feel that if they ward against weight discrimination, then it might be interpreted that they are saying, God forbid, that being fat is okay and that fat or overweight people should not be punished. Now it only makes sense to say that if people believe that being told to lose weight equates to not being good enough, those people are insane. However, if it is possible that being told to stop bullying innocents in the form of overweight people could lead to the belief that being overweight is completely fine, which it is, then people will do nothing about weight-related bullying so as not to send the wrong message. The sad part is that this is not even exaggerated. The bottom line is that being fat, overweight, obese, or whatever you want to call it is not a bad thing. There is a difference between being fat and being unhealthy, and it is time people learn the difference. People can absolutely be large and beautiful, and it is time people learn how to accept that. It is time that people start paying attention, stop being ignorant, and start accepting each person for who he/she is. #obesity #PresidentObama #SakinaHussain

The debate about cell phones and cancer is reignited by ANDREW DINICOLA Staff Writer The connection between cell phones and cancer has been disputed ever since cell phones became popular. Most scientists argue that there isn’t enough evidence to bring up the argument that extensive cell phone use can cause cancer. However, the debate of this undying topic was brought up at a panel for the World Health Organization, the first big health organization to hold this discussion. The myth that cell phones can cause cancer originated when there was a discovery that they give off a weak form of energy called non-ionizing radiation. Upon this discovery, an uncountable number of tests were performed to see if this radiation could be harmful to humans. The results were that the radiation was linked to three different types of very rare tumors that are very highly unlikely to be developed just from cell phone use. In 2010, a study was conducted in 13 different countries to see if cell phone use affected certain individuals, and if that there was a higher risk of brain tumors. The International Journal of Epidemiology stated that there is no bond between cell phones and brain tumors, but those who did use cell phones excessively had a 40 percent higher chance of being diagnosed with the brain tumor glioma. In this day and age, nearly every pre-teen or teenager has a phone by the age of 12 or 13 in the United States. Since most of the U.S. adults have a cell phone for business or just for recreational use, there is no question that majority of the population uses their cell phone excessively and that there is a small, but increased risk for brain tumors to develop. So what course of action should be taken to warn those of excessive cell phone use? Nothing, in fact, the bond between the two isn’t even confirmed yet because scientists are still arguing all the time that the radiation emitted from the cell phones is too weak to cause any damage, and is unrelated to brain tumors. However, another reasonable course of action is to use a Bluetooth headset. Bluetooth uses a wireless communication system so that it too possibly gives off the same radiation as cell phones do. Scientists have not studied these headsets like they have cell phones, and therefore information about Bluetooth being related to cancer is inconclusive. Certain people are always going to make a fuss about cell phones causing cancerous tumors, and there are always going to be investigations about the same topic because it will always come up in society. Though there is no true evidence to suggest that there is a direct link between cell phones and cancer, those who are users should be cautious and not talk on the phone five hours a day. #cellphone #cancer #WHO #AndrewDinicola #study

New studies show that tough courses aren’t as great as they sound by KATHRYN OLIVA Staff Writer More and more students are signing up for difficult sounding courses.  According to the Department of Education, the number of high school graduates who have taken these classes has almost tripled in the past two decades. Even though students have signed up for advanced classes, they are not scoring any higher than students in standard classes on standardized tests and end-of-course exams.  The reason is because the class expectations do not fit the name. A recent federal study of 38,000 high school transcripts showed that the number of high school graduates taking advanced placement classes has risen from five percent in 1990 to 13 percent in 2009. According to researchers, schools label courses with impressive sounding names to fulfill parent interest in harder coursework for their children, and the courses make schools look good by offering these impressive classes. “I am in honors classes and have been since my freshman year.  When I read the description of my classes in the class selection book, they looked very challenging.  They are very difficult, but some of the descriptions made them sound basically impossible,” said sophomore Emily Moyes. In 2001, researchers at Michigan State University studied 13,000 eighth-grade students’ Timss, an international math and science exam, test scores.  They compared the school’s math courses with the textbooks used in these classes.  In about 15 percent of the cases, the textbook covered less than the course’s name suggested it would. Researchers said that course inflation is easier to recognize in math and science, but it is happening in subjects such as English and History as well. Disbelief about the actuality of the courses from parents and policy makers has led to the rapid growth of Advanced Placement courses.  These courses are the College Board’s program of college level courses for high school students.  Over the last 10 years, the number of Advanced Placement exams taken by students has jumped from 1.2 million in 2000 to 3.1 million in 2010. Hoping to encourage tougher classes beyond the traditional program, politicians and educators in many places have promoted the Advanced Placement program. Although the number of students taking these courses has risen, so has the failure rate on the AP exams.  The exams are graded on a one to five scale.  The percent of students earning low scores of a one or two rose to 42.5 percent in 2010 from 36.4 percent in 2000. #advancedplacement #collegeboard #KathrynOliva

Constantly bleaching and whitening your teeth has consequences by LEAUNDRA LANE Staff Writer Teeth whitening has become one of the newest trends in America but when performed excessively it is discovered to be unhealthy. According to an article on msn.com, a whitening treatment from the dentist costs about $300 and the procedure lasts 45 minutes. Patents can resort to home treatments which are less pricy but do not have the highest concentration of chemicals used to whiten teeth to the fullest. Therefore the process of achieving pearly white teeth takes more time and patience. Whitening toothpaste and whitening strips are commonly used by many to obtain a perfectly white smile. Unfortunately, whitening strips may slip out of place and irritate the gums resulting in discomfort. Sophomore Emily Ho says, “I used whitening strips over the summer but I stopped because they’re bad for your teeth but [they] I still keep your teeth white.” Excessive whitening leads to teeth sensitivity which may make it uncomfortable to eat, brush, or even speak. Experts say that people who go overboard by whitening products are weakening their enamel and may have dental issues in the future. Expert Golub-Evans explained to MSN that this is because teeth can only reach a maximum white color. Teeth cannot pass the particular amount of whiteness that nature intended. Although it is necessary to continue taking care of your teeth so that they can be healthy and strong for a long time, it is imperative that you do not over to it for risk of complications in the future. Ho frequently arrives to school with a naturally blinding and beautiful white smile.  Ho says, “I just floss and give my chompers a good ol’ brushing.” #teeth #whitening

Dog owners seem to be more active then non dog owners by KATHRYN OLIVA Staff Writer A recent study has shown that dog owners are usually more physically active then people who do not own dogs. A study by Michigan State University showed that owning a dog generally makes a person more active due to walking the dog daily or multiple times a week.  The study showed that owners have about 30 minutes of exercise per day, 5 days a week while only one-third of non dog owners could fit in that exercise. Michigan State researchers took the exercise routine of 5,900 Michigan residents, 2170 of whom were dog owners. Two thirds of dog owners took their dogs for regular walks, lasting at least 10 minutes.  Dog walking was highest amongst young adults: 18 – 20 years olds are twice as likely to walk their dogs as people of 65. Also, college graduates were more than twice as likely to walk their dogs over those who are less educated.  Younger dogs were more likely to be walked than older dogs and larger dogs were taken for longer walks than smaller dogs. “One of my family members walks my dog everyday.  It’s one of those workouts where you don’t even feel like you’re doing anything but eventually you see results from all of the walking you and your dog do,” said Sophomore Samantha Cicatello. Although most dog owners benefit from the exercise they get from walking their dogs, not all dog owners walk their dogs.  Forty percent of dog owners who said they do not walk their dogs said that they let their dogs run free in their yards, so the dog does not need to be walked.  Eleven percent said they hired dog walkers. “We don’t usually take our dog for a walk because we have a huge back yard with a fence so our dog just runs freely through it.  When he’s out in our back yard, he can stay out for as long as he wants and do whatever without us worrying about him,” said Sophomore Erin Allegro. Another study last year by the University of Missouri showed that dogs are better walking companions than humans.  Dog walkers show a much greater improvement in fitness than people who walk with other people. Since dogs are dependent on their owners, it is their owner’s job to take them for walks.  People who don’t have dogs do not have that responsibility.    Dogs can be the gateway becoming more active and living a healthier lifestyle. #dogs #exercise #KathrynOliva

Scientists have discovered that earbuds are damaging to the ears by BETHANY CHAN Staff Writer/ Layout Since the invention of the earbuds, audiologists have discovered that they have been damaging the hearing of music listeners for many years. Wendy Leopold, a writer for “Observer Online,” says that audiologists began cautioning lovers of loud music in the ‘80s about hearing loss due to the result of listening to their electronics. According to statistics, this kind of hearing loss is found more frequently in younger people or young adults who want to block out all other sounds, except for their music. Leopold says, “Not only are earbuds placed directly into the ear, they can boost the sound signal by as much as six to nine decibels.” The extended battery life and larger memory of music devices has encouraged people to listen to music for longer periods of time, increasing the possibility of hearing loss at a younger age. Dean Garstecki, a Northwestern audiologist and professor, advises people to use the 60 percent/60 minute rule. He recommends that music listeners should not listen to their music devices for more than about an hour everyday.  When they do listen to them, they should put the volume below 60 percent of the maximum volume. The usage of older style larger headphones that rest over the ear openings are highly suggested because they allow listeners to listen safely while blocking out other sounds.  Although these older styles may not be able to completely cancel all the noise, they are much safer than blasting music directly into one’s ears. However, there are noise-cancelling headphones that omit background noises.  Therefore, music lovers do not feel the need to escalate the volume to the point of permanently harming their hearing even more. Depending on people’s preferences and choices, they can either damage their hearing so they are almost deaf, or they can preserve their hearing and listen safely, even if it means using the biggest, weirdest looking headphones. #earbuds #music

Google releasing new brand of laptops featuring Google Chrome OS by ANTHONY PARADISO Staff Writer Millions of people have heard of the famed company Google, mostly through its huge search engine and web browser, Google Chrome. Now Google is taking the next step by releasing a new brand of laptop running Google’s own brand new operating system called Chrome OS. The new “Chromebooks” boot up in just eight seconds.  They will not use a hard drive but rather a cloud system, so that any saved data can be accessed from anywhere. Users can open all of their files from an entirely different computer that is also running Chrome OS. With the Google cloud, users will not have to worry about losing any personal information in case of a crash or virus. There will be no need to constantly back up information because it will be done automatically. Google states on their website that “Chromebooks are built and optimized for the web,” so many of the features will rely on Internet access. The Chromebook will come in two models, one that supports WiFi as well as 3G and one that only supports WiFi. Models with 3G will include 100 MB of free mobile data a month from Verizon Wireless. The laptops automatically update themselves without annoying pop-up prompts. All web apps also update automatically over time. All of the content on the Chromebook, including the OS itself, stays up to date. Chrome OS is based on the Google Chrome web browser, but will also contain some offline features like camera connectivity. Many web apps can even be accessed offline with HTML5. The operating system will also use Gmail, Google Maps and other Google software. The new laptops are receiving overall good comments. Freshman Kenneth Sandoval says, “As with any new operating system, it will be strange at first. The cloud and the laptops themselves look cool.” With so many other laptop brands and operating systems out on the market today including Windows 7, Mac OS X v10.6 and even Linux, Chrome OS may be difficult to sell. There is already a lot of competition between Microsoft and Apple, so Google joining the fray may not be a wise decision. However, Google believes it has a chance because Microsoft’s netbook sales have declined and there has not been a demand for Intel processors. The new Chromebooks will be available starting June 15. #google

Life changing foundation is built in Monroe by JULIA BACCHETTI Social Media Specialist If you had only a short amount of time left on Earth, what would your last wish be? This is the vital question that revolves around the growing enterprise of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Make-a-Wish strives to grant the desires of children ages two to 18 with a life-threatening medical conditions. The foundation was started in 1980, and since then has helped 250,000 children around the world. Make-a-Wish not only impacts the lives of the children they help, but their families and wish granters as well. As one of the most well-known charities in the world, Make-a-Wish is able to include famous sport icons, singers and actors. These celebrities   contribute to the foundation by granting wishes for selected children, and even giving donations. They take time out of their schedules to give back to the Make-a-Wish community every year. Make-a-Wish also has many sponsors that help them to “share the power of a wish.”     “The celebrities that help with this charity deserve a pat on the back,” says Freshman Danielle Pochopin ”They don’t have to go out of their way and do things like this, but they do.” Although at times it may seem that the famous names of past wish granters like Miley Cyrus and Michel Jordon steal the spotlight from the helpful volunteers, this is far from true. The Make-a-Wish volunteers are ordinary people who give their time to any family in need of it. Some volunteers have been in situations where their family members have had conditions such as leukemia, and can relate to everything they are going through. The volunteers are there for the family every step of the way.    The New Jersey chapter of Make-a-Wish was founded in 1983. The Make-a-Wish foundation of New Jersey has granted 473 wishes this past year alone, and now has 280 volunteers. Make-a-Wish welcomes other interested individuals looking to give back to their community.     The castle on Perrineville Road broke ground early this year.  “When I heard that the Make-a-Wish foundation was being built in our town, I was actually excited. Now I can volunteer for a charity I care about,” says freshman Keirstyn Moyle.   Construction for the 20,000 square foot building has been moving at a rapid pace. The Monroe Township Make-a-wish building is in honor of the parents of Joe Plumeri, CEO of Willis Group, the global insurance broker. Joe and his wife, Nancy, made a $2 million contribution to the foundation.    The Make-a-Wish foundation is important to every child, and every family member that has to endure this difficult journey. As long as the Make-a-Wish foundation continues, each child will have their last wish come true. #makeawish #monroe