Tunkhannock Area High School
The
January/February 2017
Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania
Prowler
Volume XIV, Issue XXX
Trump’s Inauguration
Welcoming the new President of the United States
By MADDY NESTOR
Though the numbers of people
attending the inauguration in person varies
from 500,000 people to 1.5 million, on
January 20th of 2016, millions of people
watched as President-Elect Donald J.
Trump was inaugurated. The ceremony
was held in Washington D.C. at the West
front of the U.S. Capitol Building and was
followed by an inaugural parade to the
White House.
The ceremony started off at 9:30am
with musical guests including Toby Keith,
3 Doors Down, The Piano Guys, Lee
Greenwood (who had performed at many
inaugurations in the past), DJ RaviDrums,
The Frontmen of Country, and Military
and local high school bands. Then, at
11:30am, the opening remarks began.
Finally, at 12:00pm, Donald J. Trump was
sworn into office by the Supreme Court’s
Chief Justice John Roberts.
Within his inaugural address Trump
stated, “We, the citizens of America,
are now joined in a great national effort
to rebuild our country and to restore its
promise for all of our people. Together, we
will determine the course of America and
the world for years to come. We will face
challenges. We will confront hardships.
But we will get the job done… We are
one nation -- and their pain is our pain.
Their dreams are our dreams; and their
success will be our success. We share one
heart, one home, and one glorious destiny.
The oath of office I take today is an oath
of allegiance to all Americans. For many
decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry
at the expense of American industry;
subsidized the armies of other countries
while allowing for the very sad depletion Students watch the historic inauguration.
of our military; we’ve defended other
has fallen into disrepair and decay.”
nation’s borders while refusing to defend
The inaugural parade took place when
our own; and spent trillions of dollars
the ceremony was finished and started at
overseas while America’s infrastructure
the steps of the capitol, traveling down
The Benefits of Music
A look into Marywood Sr. Wind Band Celebration
By CATHERINE TREXLER
Tunkhannock music students pose for a group photo before their concert.
“Music is the medicine of the mind,”
according to American soldier John A.
Logan, and in many ways, music really
is. Through extensive research, scientists
have been able to recognize many positive
impacts that listening or playing music has
on humans.
By playing music, studies have
shown that children who undergo music
training enhance the natural ability to
develop language skills. The Children’s
Music Workshop states that, “Recent
studies have clearly indicated that musical
training physically develops the part of the
left side of the brain known to be involved
with processing language, and can actually
wire the brain’s circuits in specific ways.
Linking familiar songs to new information
can also help imprint information on
young minds.” The thought that music can
help “imprint information” on the brain
can be supported by a study by E. Glenn
Schellenberg at the University of Toronto
at Mississauga. This study found that six
year olds that partook in weekly piano or
voice lessons had a small increase in their
IQ, testing an average of three IQ points
higher than those that did not receive
musical instruction. Being musically
active is also proven to make your brain
work harder, have better spatial-temporal
skills and result in improved test scores.
However, you don’t have to be a
musician to receive some of the perks of
song. Simply by listening to music one
can experience an increase in workout
endurance by focusing on the music
instead of the burn, a faster post workout
recovery, a reduction of stress, anxiety
and pain, a boost of happiness, enhanced
memory, better sleep and less road rage.
Music also helps Alzheimer’s patients
remember. Dr. Mosqueda, a director of
Geriatrics at the University of California
at Irvine School of Medicine, explains that
since music touches so many areas of the
brain, it stimulates pathways that may still
be healthy which allows dementia patients
to remember their identity and even
specific memories from their past.
cont’d p 10
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
Pennsylvania Avenue, and then to the
White House.
Sources: CNN, InauguralSenate.gov,
nytimesa
FBLA and Skills USA
Students compete at regionals
By CATHERINE TREXLER
Students studying business, vocational Cabinet Making; Quentin Roberts,
and industrial arts competed in the FBLA Customer Service; Zach Partington,
and Skills USA regional competitions at
Related Technical Math; Rachel
the end of 2016.
Fernandez, Technical Computer
The Future Business Leaders of
Applications; and Paul DeMarco, Chris
America regional conference was held
Franko, Tony Mastroianni, Alex Robinson
December 22 at Keystone College saw
and Balin Shrivastava, Quiz Bowl.
fifty-one students from Tunkhannock
In second place were Hunter Mingus,
participate alongside students from ten
Electric Technology; Matt Christofferson,
other schools. At the conference members Employment Application; Chris Ritz,
competed in their events and attended
Firefighting; Hailey Farr, Graphic
workshops.
Communication; Jacob Roberts, Job
First place finishers were Chris
Interview; and Jordan Smith, Power
Jaskulski, Accounting II; Balin
Equipment Technology.
Shrivastava, Business Communication;
Coming in third place were Paige
Quentin Roberts, Client Service; Rani
Mokychic, Advertising Design; Eddie
Shrivastava, Intro to Business; Conner
Pietrowski, Architectural Drafting;
Huslander, Bryce Steel and Damon
Christian Corker, Information Technology
Williams, Management Decision Making; Service; and Dakota DeCresenza,
and Catherine Trexler, Public Speaking II. Electronic Technology.
Those placing second were Jacob
The medalists from both competitions
Roberts, Accounting II; Chris Franko,
will advance to their respective State
Business Law; Sean Harder, Insurance
Conferences held at the Hershey Lodge in
and Risk Management; and Tony
April.
Mastroianni, Alex Robinson and Stuart
Sherman, Marketing.
In third place were Zach Partington,
Accounting II; Bradley Martin, Computer
Problem Solving; Michael Romano,
Economics; and Evan Sackman, Intro to
Information Technology.
The Skills USA competition took
place on November 30, December 7, and
December 16 at Johnson College, Wilkes
Barre Area CTC and Luzerne County
Community College. Twenty-seven
vocational and industrial arts students
FBLA members that competed in the
competed with nineteen medaling.
regional conference.
Placing first were Conner Jenkins,
2 THE PROWLER
Tunkhannock Area
High School
135 Tiger Drive
Tu n k h a n n o c k , PA
18657
(570)836-3111
Chief Editors:
Jessica DeRemer
Olivia Heise
Assistant Editors:
Bailee Jones
Emma Rushworth
Advisor:
Mrs. Staci Wiernusz
Staff Reporters:
Angelique Antenucci
Jazmine Appel
Kieran Bedford
Ireland Clark
Dinah DiMeolo
Emma Douthett
Neil Eaton
Brendon Ely
Hailey Farr
Makayla Fritsch
Megan Hayward
Logan Kandrovy
Madison Nestor
Taylor Psolka
Nicholas Reposa
Quentin Roberts
Amanda Roxby
Catherine Trexler
Editorial
VOLUME XIV ISSUE XXX
Letter from The Editor
New semester, new experiences
By JESSICA DEREMER
You’ve survived the first semester of the 2016-2017 school year. Congrats! With a new
semester comes new classes and plenty of new experiences. It is a time to make new friends
and do something that you’ve never done before. Don’t get lazy just yet though. Grades are still
important though, so do your best and impress all your new teachers and classmates. This edition
of the Prowler is filled with a wide array of articles ranging from Valentine’s Day to Virtual reality
gaming.
The Prowler staff is working hard on this edition’s articles to make sure that you are getting the best content possible. Speaking
of holidays, Valentine’s Day is coming up and is a time to show someone how much you love them. Whether it be a boyfriend
or girlfriend or just your best friend, spend this month showing someone how much you care. Also this month, the Faith Club is
having a clothing drive for Interfaith, so put your used clothes in the box in the front lobby to donate to a great cause. Thank you to
those who participated in the AHT Club’s “No Name Calling Week”. It was a great event and a great cause to support.
Ask Beverly
Xoxo, your girl Bev
Dear Beverly, my friend of many years
has been annoying me a lot recently,
which has never happened between
our friendship before now. I think what
bothers me the most is that I am an
honor student who really strives to do
my best, but my friend on the other hand
does not really try very hard in their
classes. Then they try to blame their
failure on the teacher when really it is
their fault because they just talk and go
on their phone during the class.
Dear “Slacker”, you just need to worry
about yourself and your grades in order
for you to have a successful future. IF
it gets to a point of annoying where you
cannot handle it anymore, I would just
distance yourself from the drama and
problems without losing her all together.
If she notices that you have distanced
yourself from them and asks you about
it, and then I would explain to her how
you feel about the situation and try
to work things out. “As we grow up,
we realize it becomes less important
to have a ton of friends, and more
important to have real ones”- Ziad K.
Abdelnour.
Dear Beverly, with the new semester
starting and previous semester grades
and finals submitted, I discovered
that I really did not do so well on my
finals even though I studied a couple
days before. I just do not understand
what went wrong once I got that test
in my hands. Any advice or tips on
how I can better prepare myself for
tests and exams and how to keep
things organized, so I can do better on
this semester’s finals?
Dear “Test taker”, while you may
feel that you prepared yourself enough
by just studying a few days before
the final, try studying a week or so
before, as long as you know when
you will be taking the final. Also, try
making flashcards or “little studying
games” for yourself to help you
remember things while having a little
bit of fun. Stay organized by keeping
great, clean notes and everything in a
binder or folder in some sort of order
for easy access when preparing for
tests or finals.
Dear Beverly, why is the sky blue?
Dear “Curious George”, blue light
is scattered across Earth’s atmosphere
in all directions by tiny molecules
of air. Blue light is diffused more
than other colors because it travels
in smaller, shorter waves through the
light prism, therefore that is why the
sky appears as blue most of the time
to our eyes.
Processor Up-war
All puns intended.
By BRENDON ELY
Have you ever wondered what makes that hunk of metal in your hand work the way it does, connecting you to the world at
the press of a virtual button? Well it’s called a CPU or Central Processing Unit, the brain of at least 80% of “technology”. There
are two major companies: Intel and AMD, the “up-war” has ryzen due to AMD bringing some new CPUs to the market called
Ryzen. “What does this mean for me?” is commonly asked by many people. There are 3 key points that make this something
big.
Smart, low cost, and incredible performance is what AMD aims for with their new lineup. There isn’t much information on
Ryzen because most of it is being kept a secret by AMD, but so far tests have shown that the new processor will be marginally
faster than what Intel has to offer. Smart, no not like smartphone smart (actually they are dumb) but Ryzen is really smart, with
over 100 sensors inside the processor it can monitor and adjust with pin-point accuracy down to the millivolt and milliwatt. This
will result in lower electric bills, and much better performance.
It’s no secret that owning a computer is a serious investment, but AMD is trying to reduce the investment by directly selling
the components at much lower prices than what Intel is currently offering. This, in time, will definitely reduce the cost of full
systems, which could also mean that more people will become connected. The incredible performance of these CPUs makes
upgrading to them worthwhile since the price is so low. Ryzen has been tested with the Intel i7-6900k and performed 10% better
which means that Intel will be forced to compete against AMD and lower their prices. The year 2017 is going to be the year of
change when it comes to computers and their hardware, Ryzen will become available to those who wanted good performance
but didn’t have the money. Computers are about to get a whole lot better.
Deleting Social Media
Pros and cons of deleting it all
By TAYLOR PSOLKA
I recently deleted both my Facebook
and Instagram. To this point I believe this
to be a great decision. There are many pros
as well as cons to this. Some pros are you
don’t have to deal with or see drama, a
tough subject to deal with. Also you can
have time to clear your mind. My mind
started to clear up within a week, I don’t
think that I would ever consider getting
social media again. I thought that I would
miss it, but I don’t at all. I don’t plan on
putting time into these apps again. If I
need information or news, I can use online
my situation there is television and even
school news and word of mouth for local
news sources or even television.
events.
For some social media can be stressful
Another con of immersing yourself
to them. For example, I would read
in social media is the chance of some
all the information and sometimes be
stranger becoming enamored of you and
overwhelmed. Others may find this
contacting/stalking you. This is definitely
abundance of information beneficial to
a thing. Recently a woman posted she
them. For example, my aunt likes to sell
was “On my way” on Facebook and was
her crocheting on Facebook; it’s a great
found wedged in her own car between
way to advertise. It all depends on who
the front and back seats – dead – days
you are, and what you prefer.
later. Do people really want to know
Some cons of deleting social media
EVERYTHING about each other? Also, is
are you may lose track of close friends
it really EVERYTHING getting posted?
and family. But in my case I have a cell
Hardly.
phone, and can call or text them just as
Ultimately it is up to the individual
easily. Another con is losing track of
whether they wish to put it all out there or
events around the area, but once again in play it a little closer to the cuff.
Editorial
VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XXX
THE PROWLER 3
Bath Bomb Brands and Prices Compared
Because who doesn’t love a good bath bomb?
By LOGAN KANDROVY
For the last couple years, LUSH bath
bombs have been all over social media
and romanticized by teens and adults
everywhere. Rightfully so, because
winding down before sleeping in a hot
tub of beautifully scented colored water
is the definition of relaxing. The problem
is, bath bombs can be rather pricey from
name brands like LUSH. The average
price for a name brand bath bomb can
range from around five dollars, to ten,
which is a pretty expensive price for a nice
bath.
Another thing that is starting to become
popular is aroma therapy. Aroma therapy
is the use of natural essential oils to
increase physical and psychological well
being. There are blends of oils as well as
individual oils. There’s the well known
classics like lavender, eucalyptus, tea
tree, and lemon but there are also some
not so popular ones that are really out
there like Ylang Ylang (pronounced lAng
lAng). The uses of these oils are endless.
Some help calm you down, or reduce
stress. While others are supposed to be
helpful for weight loss, cramps, or even
better sleep. These are just a few uses.
Aroma therapy is done in a number of
different ways including but not limited to
diffusers (I highly recommend), applying
to wrists, neck, or temples, sprays, warm
compresses, and yes, baths. Essential oils
can be used in baths by either putting a
few drops in, or an organic essential oil
bath bomb. But these are hard to find, and
can be rather expensive to purchase online.
An alternative resides in Clarks Summit,
that is not only more natural, but also
cheaper. Tucked inside a hidden store,
called Pure Suds it sells not only bath
bombs, but other natural soaps and
ingredients. Every single soap and bath
bomb in there is homemade by the owner
and staff, and the bath bombs are made
fresh every morning. There’s a small area
in the back called “The Bath Bar” where
customers pick and bag their choice of
bath bombs individually. This sounds
lovely, but is it better than LUSH? I
ordered a bath bomb from LUSH and
bought one from Pure Suds. I rated each
one in packaging, scent, color, and overall
rating out of ten.
The Pure Suds bath bombs were tested
first. The packaging was nice because it
was a zip lock bag not only good because
of the easy access, but you could clearly
see the product. I gave it a 5 because it
wasn’t great when it came to aesthetics,
but still convenient. The first Pure Suds
bath bomb was called “Wisteria Ivory
Tower”. It was a pale blue color, with
some pink Himalayan salt in the center.
It smelled lovely to say the least. It was
flowery and relaxing all in one. I rated
the scent an 8. However, while it smelled
great the color was definitely lacking.
Cookie Taste Test
Can we actually find the best recipe ever?
By DINAH DIMEOLO
the others. Average Rate: 7/10
The TAHS Journalism class has
consumed quite their share of baked goods
by numerous culinary skilled students this
year. I happen to be one of those weird,
food inclined people and like to make
cookies just about any time i can get,
(and my class has had to deal with that.)
It would only be fair to myself, if I held a
real live cookie taste test just to finally see
what I can make the best. In this article,
I will be preparing and baking 3 batches
of cookies from 3 different recipes. The
dependent variable will be that I am only
making chocolate chip cookies. This test
will be determined by the opinions and
taste buds of my fellow classmates.
COOKIE OPINIONS #1- The first recipe
was a chocolate cookie with peppermint
topping. The majority of people who
tested these liked them, but not as much as
COOKIE OPINIONS #2- The second
batch was a classic chocolate chip cookie,
which of course went over well with
everyone. In all honesty, who doesn’t love
chocolate chip cookies? Average Rate:
9/10
COOKIE OPINIONS #3- Last but not
least I decided to make a “healthy”
chocolate chip cookie. These unlike the
classic recipe contained no refined sugar,
flour or butter; but instead maple syrup,
almond flour and coconut oil. Average
Rate: 8/10
Conclusion- I found that the majority
of people chose the classic chocolate
chip cookies rather than the chocolate
or almond flour chip cookies. Although,
the healthy alternative came in as a close
second. No day is a bad day if you get to
taste test cookies!
Illuminati Conspiracies
I have my eye on you
By AMANDA ROXBY
The Illuminati has been taking over social media for years. People won’t stop talking
about it, and that makes theorists curious. The Illuminati is becoming more open and
known to average people.
The Illuminati supposedly has two of the most famous people as their leaders Beyoncé and Jay Z. Jay Z. Known to include goat heads and satanic references in his
songs, Jay Z has addressed rumors about the Illuminati in his song “Free Mason”.
Beyoncé is one of the most famous females in the world right now, so of course the
Illuminati would want her on their side. She is believed to have been cloned. Someone
caught a video of her “glitching” at a basketball game.
The Illuminati has also been known for causing the deaths of former members. For
example, Michael Jackson was supposedly killed by the Illuminati. Jackson was allegedly a member of the all-knowing group, but then suddenly started speaking out against
them just weeks before his death. John F. Kennedy had a very similar situation. He is
said to have previously worked with the group but then started to resist. It’s said that
the Illuminati arranged his assassination. Tupac is believed to have sold his soul to the
Illuminati in return for success. Once he became successful, he died.
Celebrities have fallen to the hand of the Illuminati, but what’s next?
I was disappointed that instead of the
bright blue I was expecting, I got white
foam with a light blue tint, earning 4 out
of 10. No picture is included due to the
fact that it looked like light tinted water.
Overall I gave it 6.5/10 because the smell
was lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed the
bath all together, but the lack of fizzing
and colors was disappointing. I would
definitely buy from Pure Suds again.
Next I tested the LUSH bath bomb.
The box it came in was pretty nice,
displaying the company name, but when
I opened it, I was slightly disappointed
in the packaging. It was a tight plastic
covering that wouldn’t be so bad except
for the difficulty in opening it. It earned a
solid 3. The bath bomb I ordered was “The
Experimenter”. Unlike the typical sphere
bath bomb, this was almost diamond
shaped. It had many colors around it. The
scent was sweet and almost like candy.
It was just as good as the Pure Suds but
a different kind of good. The Pure Suds
was natural and earthy smelling while the
LUSH was almost artificial. I gave the
LUSH an 8 because I really enjoyed the
scent, but I think this will definitely vary
for other people based on their likes and
dislikes. When I placed the LUSH bomb
into the water I was shocked by how
quickly the water was swarmed with color.
The Experimenter just keep fizzing and
fizzing longer than what I had expected.
The colors were very aesthetically
pleasing and earned 9 out of 10, as well as
an 8 out of 10 overall.
The thing is this is all in my opinion
and my moods at the time of use.
Sometimes I’m into more of an earthier
smell and other times I love the smell of
candy surrounding me. This fluctuates
with my mood as I assume it does for most
people. I love LUSH and Pure Suds and
definitely recommend them to everyone.
But if you don’t want to order online and
save some money, Pure Suds is the way
to go.
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
2017 Predictions
Anything is better than 2016, right?
By BAILEE JONES
After the trauma of 2016 that seemed like a never-ending roller coaster, 2017 can’t
be much worse, can it? Well, here are some predictions of what 2017 may hold.
1. The first prediction is by Nostradamus, a 16th century French philosopher who
predicted many historical events including 9/11, the rise of Hitler and Donald Trump’s
presidential victory. Nostradamus predicts for 2017 that the USA will become
increasingly ungovernable and incompetent to take care of the world.
2. The second prediction comes from twins who predicted the Boston bombing and the
death of many actors last year, along with 9/11. “Psychic Twins” predict that Trump will
face a major national security crisis in the first few months, along with cyber-attacks that
the U.S. will not be prepared for.
3. The next few predictions also come from the Psychic Twins, in which they predict
ISIS terror attacks intensifying in Europe and other countries, especially France,
Germany, Great Britain, and Turkey. They also predict an increase in mass shootings
and school shootings across the U.S. and in other countries. The twins went as far as
to list American states in highest danger, including New York City, Florida, Texas,
California, Ohio and many more.
4. As for celebrity predictions, it is predicted that Justin Bieber will go into rehab and
potentially take on a dramatic movie role. Also, Blac Chyna and Rob will have a TV
wedding. There is also prediction regarding a drug related death within musicians, a
male singer/performer to be more exact.
5. To finish off, it is also predicted that Kim and Kanye will get a divorce. Trump
will get impeached and fall out of the public eye. Russia will continue to hack U.S.
infrastructure and tensions will rise. Adele will sweep the Grammy’s, and Harry Styles
will release solo music. Taylor Swift will also release new music, but will fall back
to her country roots. And finally, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth’s marriage will
happen, although it may not last long.
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
“Proof” that the Illuminati are pervasive throughout America?
4 THE PROWLER
Valentine’s Day
A Twisted Love Story
Animal Movies
There was once a couple in the 90’s
that went on a large killing spree. They
were nicknamed, “The Ken and Barbie
Killers” because they looked like Ken and
Barbie. The real names of the killers were
Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.
Paul grew up in an abusive
environment and was a constant target for
his stepfather. His mother eventually left
and Paul was left to his stepfather. Paul’s
stepfather was a well-known peeping tom
and pedophile. Paul grew up and adopted
his stepfather’s habits and had sexually
assaulted over 19 women by the time he
met Karla. Paul went to college soon after
in Toronto, Canada.
Karla Homolka grew up in a good
home with good grades and a loving
family. The couple met in a restaurant in
1987. Paul was 23 and Karla was only 17.
They hit it off. Karla was enticed by how
Paul treated women. However, Karla’s
family didn’t know about Paul’s abusive
ways and accepted him into the family.
Why do we keep putting animals as
the stars of movies? This isn’t to say that a
movie about animals is a bad thing, I think
everyone can agree that animals are great.
However, there seems to be an excess of
movies that would be completely normal
with humans, but for seemingly no reason,
the characters are replaced by animals.
For example, Sing is a movie that
would have no real difference if the
characters were humans. Some movies,
like Zootopia, use animals as a metaphor
for real world problems, but if a movie
isn’t going to do that, then what’s the
point?
A sick love story that ended in murder
Soon after, Paul became interested in
By IRELAND CLARK
Karla’s younger sister, Tammy. Paul told
Karla and she was okay with it. She would
even help Paul peep into Tammy’s room
while she was changing.
On December 23, 1990 Karla and
Paul came up with a plan to drug and
rape Tammy. When she had passed out,
they both raped her. Tammy woke up and
choked to death on her own vomit. When
the police arrived, the couple lied and
said that Tammy was into drinking and
partying.
Before they married, they found
another victim named Leslie Mahaffy.
They kidnapped her and raped her for
hours and filmed the whole process. They
eventually killed her and dismembered her
body and threw it into a lake.
Finally, in 1993 Paul Bernardo was
convicted for murder and sentenced to
life in prison. Karla only spent 12 years
in prison before she was released in
2005. She has since remarried and has
3 children. Paul still remains in jail and
Karla roams free.
PROWLER STAFF PHOTOS
Do you Celebrate
Valentine’s
XOXO
XO XOXO
XO
XOXO
Day?
XO XO
X
Will you be my valentine?
By MEGAN HAYWARD
Whether you hate it or love it,
Valentine’s Day still comes around every
year on February 14th, and it is very
popular among couples. But, why do we
celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day actually originated
in Ancient Rome from their festival of
Lupercalia, a Roman fertility celebration
which was originally held on February
15th. Every year Lupercalia started with a
dog and goat being led to the altar, their
foreheads were then touched with a blood
covered knife and then the blood was
wiped off with wool that had been dipped
in milk. The ritual then called for two men
to laugh.
After the traditional meal had taken
place, they cut leather straps from the
skin of the sacrificial animals and then the
men ran in two bands around the Palatine
hill. Blows from the leather straps to
any woman was supposed to render that
woman fertile.
However, this ancient pagan festival
was not the complete origin. In year
OXO
278 A.D St. Valentine was executed on
February 14th. This would be because
around that time, in Rome, Emperor
Claudius II was in charge. He outlawed
marriage and proposal for all young
men, thinking this would make better
soldiers. But, Valentine saw the injustice
of the decree and continued marrying
young couples in secret. Upon Emperor
Claudius’s discovering this, they threw
Valentine in jail and he was later executed.
Some say that since the day mingles with
the pagan festival, it became Valentine’s
Day. Valentine was named a saint after his
death.
Rumor also has it that while St.
Valentine was in jail he had become
friends with the jailer’s daughter. After his
death he had left a note for her that read
“From your Valentine” which is where
the phrase “Will you be my Valentine?”
originated from as well.
Sources of information: History.com and
Britannica.com
VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XXX
Fun for the whole family
By NEIL EATON
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
A movie such as A Dog’s Purpose has
to use animals, because they wouldn’t
really be able to get their point across with
just humans. So what is the answer to the
original question? Psychological studies
say that animals can easily appeal to kids
and adults from all ages, which allows
everybody to relate to the characters.
This may seem like a copout answer,
but it’s better than just assuming that
moviemakers are pandering to the least
common denominator.
Over-Commercialization
of Valentine’s Day?
A wonderful romantic day to some, a rather materialistic
holiday to others
By EMMA DOUTHETT
Valentine’s Day, a holiday both loved
and hated by the public. While there are
definitely upsides to the romantic holiday,
many fear it is over-commercialized in
today’s society. Many companies benefit
from the buzz like card companies, flower
shops, and the makers of stuffed animals
being a part of them. Although it may
seem like a dream for teens and young
adults, a survey from CNN shows that
a large number of adult women do not
like the materialism of the holiday. Many
people polled said that they did not like
the stereotypes of the flowers, the red and
pink hearts, the candy, and especially the
pressure it puts on couples.
Valentine’s Day can put an enormous
amount of pressure on couples, who feel
as if they must go out and buy extravagant gifts, and treat their partners to
fancy dinners. Couples who have been
together for a long time may be wondering whether it is time to break out the ring
or not. Valentine’s Day can be even more
stressful if you do not have a lot of money
because of the pressures put on by both
advertisements and society to buy flowers,
chocolates, stuffed animals with hearts on
them, fancy meals, and all of that. If the
romantic holiday does not go exactly as
planned, it may end in fights or a breakup. It is like the boss fight of the romantic
world, something that needs to be planned
out, and before it happens, you must be
sure you have enough in your inventory.
But enough video game metaphors.
It is a great idea, but a bad holiday. Valentine’s Day is simply not celebrated properly. It shouldn’t be a day of stress, and of
cheesy gifts your partner ends up hiding
in their closet or throwing away. It should
be a day of relaxation, if anything. A day
where all that’s required is to spend the
whole day with the person you love. You
could go out to eat at a fancy restaurant, or
stay at home, getting takeout and watching movies in your pajamas. Instead of
big companies telling you how you should
spend Valentine’s day, just see what your
partner wants to do. Because more often
than not, they might agree with you about
the toxic culture of the holiday. Relax,
and take it how you would any other date
night. As long as you treat them with love
and respect, it doesn’t matter if there’s a
dozen roses on the counter. It should be a
day of love, and for that, you don’t need to
pull out your wallet.
Coolest Tech
A topic that is definitely too big to fit in one article.
By BRENDON ELY
Technology, a pit of space with an
almost endless supply of gadgets that span
anywhere between a smart travel bag to
a 3d printing pen and much more. This
list from lifehack.org is exactly, without a
doubt, going to happen. Wearable tech, is a
thing, and almost everyone knows about it,
but it still has a long way to go. Ironically,
wareable.com says that the first truly
wearable computer was in 1961, and it
was a shoe with a timer. Now why would
anyone want a shoe with a timer, well the
answer is Edward O. Thorpe and Claude
Shannon. Two mathematicians that wanted
to cheat at roulette.
But there are more interesting wearable
electronics like earbuds that measure heart
rate, contacts that can measure blood
sugar and more crazy but awesome ideas.
Smart houses are another thing that will
definitely happen. Nest, a programmable
self-learning sensor-driven smart
thermostat with smoke detectors that can
help people save energy and lives in smart
ways.
Remember that scene in Stars
Wars: Episode IV A New Hope when
princess Leia was being projected from
R2D2 telling Obi-Wan Kenobi to help
her? That’s insanely close to actually
happening. Screenless displays are like a
projector with a 3d image in the middle of
a room. This technology has apparently
come a long way and is going even further
in a couple years, so that scene is about to
become a reality.
Graphene, the one thing that could turn
this article into a book by itself, is simply
a single thin layer of pure carbon. This
super thin layer is 100 times stronger than
steel and weighs nowhere near as much.
It can give us much faster Internet, insane
batteries, and clean the Earth. Graphene is
going to be the next industrial revolution
on a massive scale.
VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XXX
Entertainment
Weird Foods
Kennedy
and
Lincoln
Twenty unsettling similarities between John F. Kennedy and
THE PROWLER 5
Bet you didn’t know goat eyes are a delicacy.
By JAZMINE APPEL
Abraham Lincoln.
By MAKAYLA FRITSCH
1.Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. John F. Kennedy was elected to
Congress in 1946.
2.Lincoln was elected president in 1860. Kennedy was elected president in 1960.
3.Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln.
4.Lincoln’s name has 7 letters as does Kennedy’s.
5.After Lincoln’s assassination, he was succeeded by vice-president Johnson. After
Kennedy’s assassination, he was succeeded by vice-president Johnson.
6.Andrew Johnson was born in 1808 and Lyndon Johnson was born in 1908.
7.Lincoln and Kennedy were both shot on a Friday.
8.Lincoln was shot in a theater named Ford. Kennedy was shot in a car named Ford
which was also named Lincoln.
9.Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran to a warehouse. Kennedy was shot
from a warehouse and his assassin ran to a theater.
10.Lincoln’s assassin had a three word name, John Wilkes Booth. Kennedy’s assassin
also had a three word name, Lee Harvey Oswald.
11.Both assassins’ name’s had 15 letters.
12.John Wilkes Booth was born in 1839. Lee Harvey Oswald was born in 1939.
13.After being shot, both presidents didn’t die immediately.
14.Lincoln and Kennedy both died in places beginning with the initials P and H. Lincoln
died in Peterson’s House and Kennedy died in Parkland Hospital.
15.Both assassins were shot and killed in police custody before going to trial.
16.Days before he was killed, Lincoln told his wife and friends about a dream he had of
being shot by an assassin. Hours before Kennedy told his wife and friends it would be
easy for an assassin to shoot him from a crowd.
17.Kennedy’s funeral was modeled on Lincoln’s funeral.
18.Both loved literature and could recite poetry by heart.
19.Lincoln had two sons named Robert and Edward. Kennedy-two brothers named
Robert and Edward.
20.The photographer running alongside Kennedy’s car was a salesman of Lincoln cars.
Some foods around the world seem
more like something given as punishment,
not a scrumptious meal. But no matter
how odd, everyone has their own taste,
right? Haggis, a dish served in Scotland
made of sheep heart, liver, onions, and
oatmeal seasoned with salt and pepper.
Knash is a common food in the Middle
East which is a dish made of stewed head
and feet of a cow. Jing Leed is served in
Japan and is literally a big pile of fried
grasshoppers seasoned with salt, pepper,
and chili powder, and then it is fried.
Think that’s weird? Wait until you hear
about Wasp Crackers, just like chocolate
chip cookies except instead of chocolate
chips, you’re consuming dead wasps. This
dish is common in Japan.
Hopefully you don’t have
arachnophobia, because in Cambodia
Fried Spider is a common delicacy. Often
times it is marinated first with sugar and
salt, and later fried with garlic. If eating
spiders isn’t enough insect in your diet,
try visiting Korea and tasting Beondegi,
which is boiled silkworm. It is often sold
by street vendors and is very common.
Sago Delight served in Southeast Asia is
a dish of grubs either raw, boiled, or fried
The bubbly taste.
By TAYLOR PSOLKA
These shows will bring back nostalgic memories.
By ANGELIQUE ANTENUCCI
Healthy “Soda”
The market for soda exists because
many people are not very fond of normal
water (of course there do exist those who
can take the tasteless drink). Soda gets
a bad rap due to added sugars and empty
calories. And yet, where can one get that
carbonated thrill in the throat and avoid
these pitfalls? There is an alternate drink
that quenches the thirst for carbonation.
Clear, a naturally flavored sparkling
beverage with other natural flavors has
zero sugars, caffeine, calories, and sodium,
therefore it’s healthier for you than soda.
Another brand enjoyed by many is
Sparkling Poland Springs Brand. On the
bottle the description states, “Great-tasting
spring water + Delicious fruit flavors +
Invigorating bubbles.” Now while Clear
is more flavorful with less bubbles, the
Sparkling Poland Springs Brand has less
flavor and more bubbles. For so many it’s
not so much the flavor craved in soda, it’s
the bubbles. So depending on the level of
carbonation craved, that would determine
the purchaser’s preference.
At Wal-Mart Clear costs sixty-eight
cents for a 33.8 fluid ounce bottle. The
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
Sparkling Poland Spring Brand can also
be purchased at Wal-Mart, either by a six
pack of 16.9 fluid ounce bottles for $2.98
or an individual 33.8 fluid ounce for a low
cost as well.
These “healthy sodas” come in large
variety of flavors. For example, Clear
has strawberry, blueberry, key lime, and
several others. The orange cream and
raspberry are quite popular. The Sparkling
Poland Springs Brand consists of seven
main flavors, including original, lemon,
orange, lime, raspberry lime, and black
cherry.
This is a great alternative for soda
if anyone is looking to drop soda from
their diet. Erasing the empty calories
and unwanted sugar is always a positive
thing. Finding flavors and brands that are
delicious is simply icing on the cake (but
much better for you than actual icing!).
Best Movies of 2016
movie will tug on your heart strings.
The next movie is Moonlight directed
by Barry Jenkins. This movie tells the
story of a young boy who grows up in
a harsh environment, feeling like an
outcast and misunderstood. This movie
is incredibly intimate with the audience
and tells the story in an emotional and
beautiful way. The movie examines what
it’s like to be a young person, growing
up in a world that doesn’t understand
you or makes you feel like an outcast.
Moonlight connects with the viewers
who can understand the main character’s
feelings and how harsh his environment
is. Moonlight is a gorgeous movie about
finding a place in the world with great
acting and great storytelling.
and often seasoned and served alongside
Jing Leed. In Africa, eating boiled Stink
Bugs is not uncommon.
The next time you have sushi, consider
the following: in Japan Cherry Blossom
Meat is raw horse meat typically served
along with sushi. If your favorite
Spongebob character is Patrick, here’s
some news for you. In China, Starfish
is a popular snack that must be cracked
open before consumption. Another super
weird food is called Balut. Served in the
Philippines, this dish is a duck embryo
that is boiled alive and although sounds
very cruel is also very common and
usually served with a nice cold beer. Even
here in the United States there are some
interesting plates. For example, Koolickles
are pickles mixed with kool-aid and sugar
and originates in Mississippi. So there are
tons of weird foods all over the world, but
you never know what you might like.
Source:hostelworld.com
Best Toons of Childhood
Pokémon
This cartoon has seemingly been
around since the end of time, and
continues to make an impact on our lives
today. It follows the life of Ash Ketchum,
who is an aspiring Pokémon-trainer.
Accompanied by his friends and Pokémon,
they travel around the land trying to fulfill
their dreams. After this show was released,
many movies, soundtracks, manga, and
even a very popular trading card game
were created, allowing this show to remain
a part of our lives.
Tom and Jerry
This lovable television show involves
two adversaries, Tom, the cat, and
Jerry, the mouse, who cause murder and
mayhem on each other every episode.
Scooby-Doo
Featured on Cartoon Network, this
show continues to intrude our lives in the
form of newer versions. Each episode
features the members of Mystery, Inc.
- Fred, Velma, Daphne, and Shaggy,
who is always accompanied by his dog
Scooby. Each episode they encounter a
new monster or supernatural creature, and
What were the greatest films of 2016?
By IRELAND CLARK
beautiful scenes and amazing acting. This
While 2016 was a crappy year, some of
the best movies of this century came out
in 2016. These movies have won awards,
acclaimed by critics, and loved by fans.
These are the best movies of 2016.
The first movie is Martin Scorsese’s
Silence. The movie stars Andrew Garfield,
Adam Driver, and Liam Neeson. The
movie is about two priests who travel to
Japan in search of a fellow priest who has
denounced the Christian faith in public.
This movie is a hard watch, that makes
you empathize with the characters and
makes you question your own faith. This
is a powerful movie about how the spirit
and faith of a person is tested and how
far they will go to keep believing. Silence
is a beautiful movie that is filmed with
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
A typical Google search for haggis.
PROWLER STAFF PHOTOS
together, they look for clues and suspects
until they realize the monster was just a
person in disguise.
SpongeBob SquarePants
This series revolves around SpongeBob
SquarePants, an optimistic and very
energetic sea sponge. He lives in a
pineapple under the sea, and works as a
fry cook at the Krusty Krab. He owns a
pet pink snail, Gary, and his best friend
Patrick Star, a pink friendly starfish, lives
just next door.
Courage the Cowardly Dog
This cartoon follows the life of an
easily frightened dog Courage. He was
abandoned as a pup and lives in the madeup town of Nowhere, Kansas with couple
Muriel and Eustace Bagge. Muriel is
the sweet and loving wife that is always
kind to Courage, while Eustace is the
polar opposite and is always grouchy
and selfish. In each episode, this family
constantly runs into all different kinds of
dangerous creatures, and Courage is the
one that fends for them, even though he is
a coward.
School
6 THE PROWLER
VOLUME XIV ISSUE XXX
Organize Time Management Pop Punk’s Not Dead
Staying on top of things.
By JAZMINE APPEL
Many people struggle with procrastination and become overwhelmed with
things to be completed on a daily basis,
especially students. Many try different
ways to stay on top of things but struggle
to follow these ideas. The most important
thing to do first is recognize which tasks
you must complete on a given day.
Secondly, it’s a good idea to order your
tasks by time. For example, if you have
basketball practice right after school and
homework to do as well, be sure to eat
dinner, shower, and do your homework as
quickly as possible to reduce stress.
After realizing what you have to do, get
it done without procrastination. This seems
more straightforward than it actually is,
but if you set your mind to doing it as
quickly as possible, you have more free
time to yourself once finished.
Although your phone may be tempting,
only take a few minutes between tasks so
you’re able to finish in a timely fashion.
A help if your memory is not great is
to keep a planner, note things to do. Also,
do everything as best you can so you
don’t feel guilty because you didn’t work
sufficiently. For example, if you have
homework in every class, a softball game,
and have to shower and eat still, it’s best
to do your homework to the best of your
ability so everything after that is easier for
you.
Focus on getting things done. As soon
as you start getting on top of everything,
shorter times of completion time will
occur. Just focus on doing everything
you have to do without become lazy or
distracted.
TAHS Hidden Talents
No longer unnoticed accomplishments
By HAILEY FARR
While our local paper recognizes
Tunkhannock’s student athletes more
regularly, The Prowler wanted to put a
twist on things and recognize the many
other talents of Tunkhannock students.
The hallways of Tunkhannock Area High
School are jam-packed with students
whose talents go largely unrecognized.
The first student to be featured is senior
artist, Rachel Caudell. Rachel has won
“Best of Grade” for all years she entered
Rossetti Art Show (7th through 11th),
fourteen first place ribbons, one third place
ribbon, and won Best of Show for three
consecutive years (9th grade to 11th grade).
Just recently this year, she entered
artwork into the Scholastic Art Awards and
found out a couple of weeks ago that she
won four gold keys (first place), one silver
key (second place), and two honorable
mentions (third place) for the regional part
of the competition. Gold key awards allow
those pieces to move onto nationals for
further judging.
Rachel started taking art seriously
PROWLER STAFF PHOTOS
around 6th/7th grade. She then started
Paintings
by
Rachel
Caudell.
studying at Sue Hand’s art studio a little
before sixth grade. That was because her
impressionism. Impressionism gives
mother, Deborah Caudell, had heard of
spots of color that come together to create
her from a friend and thought it would
a rather textured image that I enjoy.
be a great opportunity for her to hone her
Minimalism provides an image with as
skills since she already loved art and had
little information as possible, creating a
a natural talent for it. The more skilled
simplistic, yet meaningful image. At the
Rachel got, the more she saw her own
opposite end of the spectrum lies realism,
potential and truly saw that art could
what I mostly create in my own artwork.
become something serious for herself in
the future. Overall, Rachel’s thoughts were With realism I create photorealistic pieces
meant to perfectly replicate what I see.
confirmed when she entered the Rossetti
My favorite thing to draw or paint would
Art Show and won Best of Grade along
probably be things dealing with nature.
with two first place ribbons and one third.
I love the natural world and some of my
When asked who inspired her, Rachel
best memories come from me playing
says, “No one truly inspired me to do art,
with my dad in the woods as a child. It’s
as I’ve been doing it since I was little, but
very enjoyable for me to replicate some
if I had to point out someone who really
of these emotions in pieces that depict
helped and inspired me along my journey
a beautiful forest. The shapes of natural
I would have to say it was Sue Hand.
things are also rather enjoyable to draw.
Sue is the wonderful woman that I have
They are usually filled with soft curves
been taking art lessons from since about
rather than harsh, strict lines that are found
sixth grade. My art skills have developed
ENORMOUSLY because of her teachings in cities and most of civilization. A lot of
the shapes and colors that can be found
and I definitely would not be the artist I
in nature are very beautiful to me, and
am today without her. Not only is she a
provide wonderful subjects to draw or
skilled teacher, but she is a person with a
paint,” said talented senior artist about her
charming and bubbly personality that you
cannot help but love. If anyone were to ask different favorite art types.
For Rachel’s breathtaking art pieces
me where they should go for art lessons,
and
her astonishing artistic ability,
I would automatically recommend Sue
and
awards, this is why she is the first
Hand at Sue Hand’s Imagery in Dallas.”
Tunkhannock
Area High School student
“Both impressionism and realism tell
featured
in
“TAHS
Hidden Talents”. Who
a story without all of the details provided
will
be
next?
Will
it
be you?
for you, minimalism much more so than
This genre’s alive and well.
By ANGELIQUE ANTENUCCI
It seems like just yesterday the pop
punk age was in its prime, with bands like
Blink-182, The All-American Rejects, and
New Found Glory taking over the tide.
However, this genre of music continues to
impact the lives of many with the help of
Warped Tour, the longest running music
festival in the US that travels around
the country every year with a variety of
groups. Here are some bands that prove
pop punk isn’t dead.
Neck Deep
This Welsh band originating from
Wrexham is one of the new top influencing
pop punk bands of this time period, their
music sounding like a combination of
Green Day, New Found Glory, and The
Wonder Years.
Knuckle Puck
Originating from Chicago, this band
brings in deeper messages and a sense of
emotionalism to pop punk that is usually
not seen much in this genre. Their most
recent album, Copacetic, has been ranked
one of the top-selling albums of 2015.
State Champs
Formed in 2010 in Albany, New
York, this American pop punk band has
been awarded many times in the past
few years. Just two years ago, they were
ranked number 4 in Alternative Press’s
“10 Essential Records of 2015” list. Their
album If I’m Lucky was nominated for
Best Music Video, and overall the band
won Best Breakthrough Band at the 2016
Alternative Press Music Awards.
Souorce:Citynova.com
The Benefits of Journal
Writing
By OLIVIA HEISE
Recently, we reached that time of
the year where New Year’s resolutions
came rolling in along with the sudden
motivation to fulfill the goals set for
themselves. A common resolution that
many people set is to become more
organized. Upon hearing this, most
might think of a neatly arranged work
space or forming a new way of tackling
responsibilities, which are forms of
organizing. But what about organizing
your thoughts?
Journal writing comes with a
therapeutic release for thoughts and
emotions. Any thought that you don’t
feel comfortable verbalizing to anyone
can be written down and kept to yourself,
which is rather comforting. As many
people may be aware of, social media has
become a modern outlet to express one’s
own thoughts and issues. Journals are
an excellent substitute for this. Believe
me, your older self will thank you for
choosing to keep personal information to
yourself rather than making it accessible
to the entire world. If you’re having toxic
thoughts that you feel are negatively
effecting you by bottling them up, writing
them down may help with managing them.
When addressing your thoughts by putting
them into words, you’re allowing yourself
to better understand what exactly it is that
A typical journal.
you’re feeling.
A resolution of mine was to write a
journal entry every day this new year, and
so far I can say with absolute honesty that
it has been beneficial to me. It has allowed
me to exercise my creativity, relieve stress,
organize my responsibilities, and have a
way to track my patterns of thoughts.
However, even though so many others
and myself use journal writing for the
purpose of releasing and overseeing
emotions, there are other reasons why
keeping a journal can be a positive
activity. A journal is your life written
down, and by starting one when you’re
young, you’re giving yourself a way to
reminisce on your youth when you’re
older. It would be an object of sentiment
for you and your family.
Whatever personalized approach you
may choose for journaling, you’ll profit
from it in the long run. Happy writing!
Ag Mechanics Results
By STEVE TRAVER
On January 27 the Ag
Mechanics Competition
took place here at TAHS.
After the results were
calculated it was evident
that Tunkhannock students
did very well in the
competition this year. Small Engines:
The team of Stephen Grow
and Jordan Smith placed 1st
PHOTO COURTESY SAM LACEY
in the senior division
and 1st overall with Stephen receiving the
highest overall score! The team of Robert and 2nd overall. Phillips and Robert Stanski placed 1st in
Congratulations to these outstanding
the junior division and 4th overall.
gentlemen for their accomplishments!
Ag Mechanics:
A special thank you goes out to Lori
Bishop and Ben Townsley for the use of
The team of Tommy Traver, Hunter
Vandorick, and Logan Hegedty placed 1st their areas in which to host portions of the
in the junior division and 3rd overall. The competition.
team of Alan Grow, Chris Ritz and Connor
Jenkins placed 2nd in the senior division
Human Interest
VOLUME XIV ISSUE XXX
Child Adoption
who adopt, especially those who have
extended family or other kids, give a child
an abundance of blessings while they gain
Things to keep in mind when taking in your own child
a blessing of their own.
By OLIVIA HEISE
When it’s narrowed down, there
A child brought into a family can be
are three possible ways to adopt in
a blessing, for both the parents and the
Pennsylvania: private adoption, adoption
kid. Anyone who adopts now has an
agencies, and Children and Youth. Private
opportunity to create a lifelong bond that
adoption is when you become acquainted
can’t be made with anyone else. There
with someone who is about to have a child
are many factors to consider upon going
and wants to give them up for adoption,
through the process of child adoption.
and organize the adoption privately
Some stigmas of adoption for you and
between the adoptive parent(s) and
The Heise siblings - family through & through!
your child to be aware of and address are
biological parent(s).
that adoption does not make a family any
able to have kids of their own, but what
Adoption agencies charge a fee
less natural and strongly bound. Blood
about those who choose to adopt despite
anywhere between 10-50,000 dollars,
relation isn’t equivalent to family, and
there being other options available? A
depending on where the baby is coming
adopted children are still valued family
common reason for this is that people
from. Agencies organize the entire
members. Second, adoption isn’t only
want to have children all while bettering
process, and most often the biological
for infertile parents or those in same-sex
the lives of someone. Adopted children
parents don’t meet the adoptive parents.
relationships. Anyone can adopt.
have opportunities that they might
Although, sometimes the adoptive parents
Of course, there are those who have
have otherwise missed out on, such as
are involved in the prenatal process, such
no choice but to adopt due to not being
permanency and stability. Also, couples
as going to ultrasounds with the biological
THE PROWLER 7
mother.
Children and Youth is a government
agency that investigates child abuse and
neglect, and when they can’t rehabilitate
the family for the child to go home to,
the child has to be put up for adoption.
They talk to potential parents and review
profiles (which need to be done for any
adoption agency), background checks,
criminal records, financial ability,
suitable housing, etc. After everything is
considered, they pick an interested parent
and place the child in the home. No matter
what adoption process you use there are a
lot of legal papers to be dealt with.
I cannot stress enough how much of a
blessing adoption is. Without it, I wouldn’t
have my brother and sister to grow up
and make memories with. That’s why
I’m addressing this topic. Adoption has
had a wonderful impact on my family,
and it continues to make an abundance of
families all over the globe happy as well.
Effects of Caffeine on the Body
The positives and negatives of your daily cup of joe.
By EMMA DOUTHETT
Caffeine. It is a drug many people use
every day, found naturally in coffee or tea,
or when using energy drinks or powders.
It’s used to keep students awake late in the
night when cramming for finals, or finishing a project due the next morning. Adults
use it to give them a boost in the morning,
and lately, sugary, flavored coffees are
becoming all the rage for teenagers. But
what are the effects of this substance on
the body? Caffeine has both positive and
negative effects, ranging from increased
memory, to indigestion.
A cup of coffee in the morning can
have some pretty good effects on your
day. Caffeine can stimulate hair growth
on balding men and women when using
a caffeinated shampoo, which really does
exist, or adding liquid caffeine to a normal
shampoo. Meanwhile, caffeine from coffee
can increase memory in both students and
adults, and helps increase memory in those
with Alzheimer’s. In a large study, caffeine was proved to reduce kidney stones.
Caffeine can also help reduce the effects
of asthma, helping to open up airways and
help those with asthma breathe easier.
For those who exercise, caffeine can
be a good choice. It has been proven to
increase stamina during exercise, and
some studies state that it increases muscle
activity during strength training. One
study, done by the The Journal of Applied
Physiology, even found that it increases
the level of enjoyment from exercise. After
exercise, caffeine can reduce muscle pain
by nearly fifty percent, so don’t forget to
drink your coffee after practice or going to
the gym.
Although caffeine has many benefits,
there can be some bad effects from drinking it. Caffeine consumption can raise
blood pressure, especially in those who
already have high blood pressure, and people who don’t normally consume caffeine,
whether it comes in the form of coffee, tea,
or energy drink. With caffeinated beverages becoming a fad for teenagers, studies
have been done on adolescents, showing
that caffeine can increase the risk of heart
attacks in young adults. Consuming caffeine near bedtime can mimic signs of insomnia, keeping you up even if you don’t
want to be awake. Caffeine can also cause
indigestion when consumed on an empty
stomach, so don’t drink your coffee before
breakfast. Overuse of caffeine can cause
headaches and occasionally migraines.
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
People clamor for a cup of Joe.
PHOTO COURTESY PLEASANTON.K12
Caffeine overdose can be a scary thing.
Although not as common as one might
think, with the availability of caffeine, an
overdose of it can start off with jitters and
an increased heartbeat, and can lead up all
the way to cardiac arrest and death. The
symptoms of a caffeine overdose are: restlessness, increased heartbeat, nausea, anxiety, heart palpitations, insomnia, sweating,
dizziness, vomiting, and lastly, cardiac arrest. If caught in the earlier symptoms and
further caffeine intake is halted, you will
recover. How much caffeine is too much?
Well 250-500 mg of caffeine can start
to produce the mild symptoms, which is
about 2-6 cups of coffee at once, depending on the strength of the coffee and your
tolerance to it. While caffeine overdose
may be a scary thing, as long as you
drink in moderation, you shouldn’t have
to worry about it. So keep drinking your
daily cup of joe, except now you know the
benefits and downsides to it.
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
News
8 THE PROWLER
Planned Parenthood
VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XXX
The planned defunding
By BAILEE JONES
In the last few weeks Speaker of
the House, Paul Ryan, announced that
Republican congressional leaders are
working to defund federal funding for
Planned Parenthood. Republicans have
tried for years to zero out funding because
the group provides abortion services,
which comprise only 3% of offered
services. Planned Parenthood offers many
other services besides abortions including
birth control, STI tests, and cancer
screenings. With a Trump presidency
happening, could defunding Planned
Parenthood really happen? It will take
time to see what comes about from the
efforts and possible legislation. One thing
that is known for sure - defunding Planned
Parenthood would have consequences.
Planned Parenthood is funded through
federal grant contracts along with
donations from different foundations and
reimbursements from Medicaid and the
Title X Family Planning Program that was
enacted under President Nixon in 1970
as part of the Public Health Service Act.
Title X, the only federal grant program
dedicated solely to providing individuals
with family planning and related
preventive health services, is designed
to prioritize the needs of low income
families or uninsured people who might
not otherwise have access to these health
care services.
Title X’s main purpose is to promote
positive birth outcomes and healthy
families by allowing individuals to decide
the amount of spacing between children.
Title X has had a huge impact on the
world of reproductive health care. In 2012,
President Obama listed in his proposed
budget that Title X provides grants to a
network of over 4,500 clinics that serve
over 5 million individuals annually.
Defunding Planned Parenthood
basically tells low income individuals that
they’re on their own. Research published
in Health Affairs shows that Planned
Parenthood is the only option to some
people. Also, the research highlighted that
the accessibility of a Planned Parenthood
branch and its simplicity are what makes
all the difference to people.
The study also debunked the popular
point among Republicans in Congress,
who say that defunding the organization
won’t harm patients because the money
could be shifted to the country’s other
community health centers. This would not
be possible considering the funding for the
centers would come from private donors,
and as of right now with federal funding,
they still don’t have enough funds. With an
estimated 1,200 community health centers
across the United States, it is highly
doubted that they would be able to pick
up the slack of the millions of men and
woman in need of contraceptives and other
health services.
Take Texas, for example, the state’s
sustained campaign against Planned
Parenthood and other family planning
clinics appears to have led to an increase
in births among low-income women who
lost access to affordable and effective birth
control.
Research says that the findings may
offer a sneak peek into what might happen
if other states cut funding to Planned
Parenthood. Arkansas, Alabama, New
Hampshire, North Carolina, and Utah
enacted policies to keep public funds
out of Planned Parenthood, and Ohio is
expected to follow suit.
The first blow to Planned Parenthood
Interesting Marketing
How to sell a product
By NEIL EATON
We can shop almost anywhere.
In order to sell a product, businesses
have to make their product well known,
they have to commercialize it so that
people will think about it, and want it. This
has been done for as long as people have
sold stuff, and businesses are always trying
to think of better and more compelling
advertisements. So this begs the question,
what are some of the most compelling
advertisements?
First up is “Eddie the Terrible” by
Humane Society Silicon Valley. They
decided that instead of showing sad and
abused animals, they did a blog post about
a Chihuahua named Eddie, who is a tiny
dog who constantly causes trouble. This
story got picked up by many news articles
and became a mini viral sensation.
Next is “Build your own GLA”
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
came in 2011 from Texas and the
lawmakers to cut family-planning grants
by 66% across the state, resulting in 82
family-planning clinics closing. Texas
even went as far as ditching their federally
funded Medicaid program to set up the
state-funded Texas Women’s Health
Program, which could legally withhold
funds from any clinic affiliated with an
abortion provider, whereas they were
not allowed to put that restriction on
Medicaid.
If what is happening in Texas could be
the future for the rest of the country and
the defunding of Planned Parenthood does
take place, it could lead to more problems
than anticipated. Since other family
planning clinics wouldn’t be able to handle
the load of new patients that could result
in an increase in births, more late cancer
diagnoses, and more families falling below
the poverty line. This may not seem that
bad, but it could also result into more
children going into the adoption process
and rising deaths due to unsafe abortions.
The rate of deaths before safe and
legal abortions was a staggering 26.5%.
It has since lowered considerably, but if
abortions were harder or not able to be
accessed at all, could the rate skyrocket
back? Since most women and men
wouldn’t be able to afford the costs of
annual cancer screenings and the costs of
other health services without help of the
federally funded organization of Planned
Parenthood, disastrous consequences
could follow.
All statistics and facts were provided by
thinkprocess.com
The Ripple Effect of
Substance Abuse
“Addiction isn’t a spectator sport; eventually the whole family
gets to play.”
By LOGAN KANDROVY
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
by Mercedes-Benz. They created an
Instagram account that allowed you to
customize your own 2015 GLA-class
vehicle. The idea behind this campaign
was to catch their fans where they already
would be: on social media.
Finally, is “Crowd Mics Video
Recording” The basis for this campaign
was to show everybody how much money
it takes to actually get effective video,
which turns out to be not that expensive.
The creators gave examples from their life
where a Crowd Mic would have avoided
awkward scenarios, to show how helpful
the product could be.
Overall, the Internet has been good for
marketing, and the cool ways businesses
have started advertising has inspired more
companies to be creative.
Source: entrepreneur.com
When most people talk about
addiction, they mainly talk about the
addict and how that person ruined his/her
life. Maybe this is a tactic used solely for
the purpose of scaring kids into making the
right decisions, but still not enough light
is shed onto the struggle that faces their
families. Because the addict is a sibling,
parent, or even a close friend, it becomes a
problem for that person as well. Substance
abuse in the family can many times
lead to divorce, a bout with depression,
increased violence and hostility between
family members, financial instability, and
according to centeronaddiction.org, a need
for control in relationships.
Families instantly want to help, and
are extremely worried, as they should be.
That’s what families do, try to fix things
they have no control over out of love and
worry. They will try to push the addict
into help and rehabilitation, but while the
addict indeed needs help, they might not
want it. This pressure will upset the addict,
and this refusal of help will upset the loved
ones. When it comes to addiction, there is
no winning, only a best case scenario. The
ultimate goal for addicts and their families
is stable recovery. Physically from the
drugs, and emotionally from the endured
trauma that it has caused both the addict
and the family. This is the best possible
outcome.
While you may have rolled your eyes
during the DARE program and every
other speaker the school system threw our
way, the road to recovery from addiction
is incredibly difficult and sadly, there are
many who never recover. Much like the
‘80s health class, students are encouraged
to abstain. Because the easiest way to beat
addiction is to never become addicted
in the first place. Following the lead of
Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign,
schools are trying to keep students from
picking it up in the first place.
The reason behind this is
understandable. 570,000 people a year
die from substance abuse. That’s 570,000
tragedies. Every. Single. Year. 570,000
families mourn the death of their fathers,
mothers, sisters, brothers, and friends.
570,000 people is enough to fill Beaver
Stadium five times. Drug use should not be
some popular thing that is romanticized in
movies, TV shows, and trendy music. It is
not beautiful and it is not poetic, especially
to the people who are or have lived it, or
to the families that are left to clean up the
pieces. Drugs don’t just kill your body
and your future, they also kill the sense of
peace your family has.
VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XXX
NEWS
Groundhog’s Day Origin
More winter
By MEGAN HAYWARD
The above drawing states the date!
We all know the date, February 2nd,
the day that they bring out Punxsutawney
Phil underneath those tall stadium lights
to see his shadow. And, of course, we
can predict the outcome every year; 6
more weeks of winter. But, there’s one
thing that hasn’t been well known about
this tradition. Where did it actually come
from?
Groundhog Day developed from an
ancient folklore that actually originated
in America as a separate form of the
tradition. Groundhog Day actually has
THE PROWLER 9
Fidget Cube
Anxiety Relief
By KIERAN BEDFORD
The Fidget Cube, a product created by Matthew and Mark McLachlan working with
their company, Antsy Labs, was released in December and is now in backorder until
February. This is because of 154,926 backers of this invention are still getting their
products. These backers raised $6,465,690.
The six sides of this device are all known to help with fidgeters. One side has five
buttons with three that click and two that are silent. Another side will help gamers fidget
during any situation with a joystick resembling a console controller.
People who find flicking light switches satisfying will enjoy that side with a similar
function to a light switch minus the annoying strobe. The fourth side, not that the sides
are numbered, has three gears that spin within the cube and a metal ball that spins with
a clicking secret. The next side will help the meditators with a breathing break. It has a
soft side with a finger indentation. The last side has a circle that spins around as a wheel
and will help fast fidgeters.
This product is perfect for the fidgeters of all paces and types and is recommended
by many professionals from therapists to doctors. All this information was found on
fastcompany.com.
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
roots tied into a Christian ceremony where
they used candles to predict how long the
winter would be. However, Germans had
a very similar tradition to the one that we
currently have today, using an animal to
also predict how long the winter would
be. Instead of using a groundhog, they
used hedgehogs. But when Germans came
and settled in America, they changed their
tradition to groundhogs. America adopted
their tradition and it became a national
holiday from there.
Source of information: History.com
New Year’s Resolutions
PHOTO COURTESY COOLMATERIAL.COM
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
Most popular ways to make your new year great
By DINAH DIMEOLO
A view from a place near you - right here in northeast PA!
Many people follow the “New Year,
New Me” mantra when it comes down
to the first days of January. Some people
want to lose weight, some want to start
a new lifestyle, or simply choose to live
a happier life. Although others often
find themselves whirling in the winds
of everybody else’s business that they
forget about themselves and never change
anything. Here you can find 5 unique
ways to get a new fresh start on the new
for at least 20 minutes a day whether it’s
sitting on a porch drinking a cup of coffee,
or taking a hike in the woods. You won’t
regret it.
Resolution 3- Be kinder. Watch what you
say to people and think before you say
it. Your mind is very powerful and if you
become more conscious of what you put
out there, you may find yourself much
happier this new year.
Resolution 4- Save more money. Try to
year, and stray away from the average
resolutions of most people’s choosing.
Resolution 1- Get to the gym. Such a
cliché resolution but so difficult for people
to keep up with. Gym memberships
skyrocket in the new year, and yet
plummet by the time February rolls
around. Keep with it, people.
Resolution 2- Spend more time outdoors.
Fresh air is an instant stress reliever, and
yet many people lack it. Try to get outside
start a way of saving money by putting
spare change in a jar, or resisting the urge
to go shopping every weekend. When you
save your money you’ll get a feeling of
accomplishment.
Resolution 5- Cut the stress. Forget about
all the tiny unimportant things that only
wreak havoc. Worrying about minor things
in life only drives you crazy. Make your
best effort to disregard the inconsequential
things.
10 THE PROWLER
Al Qaeda vs ISIS
News
What is the difference between ISIS and Al Qaeda?
By MADDY NESTOR
ISIS and Al Qaeda are both
Islamic terrorist groups that
dominate the Middle East. Both
groups are responsible for killing
over 100 thousand civilians as well
as injuring millions of civilians.
Car bombings, mass shootings,
improvised explosions, and suicide
bombings caused by these two
groups assist them in being the
two most feared groups in the 21st
century.
Al Qaeda was formed in 1991 by
Osama bin Laden, and became very
prevalent to American lives after
the terrorist attacks that occurred
on September 11th of 2001, taking
over 3,000 lives. The group’s
ideology was founded under the
circumstances of the decline in
socialism and communism, and
was mainly influenced by the
ideologies from Sayyid Qutb (an
Egyptian theoretician) of the Salafi
Stream of Islam. Sayyid Qutb felt
that the greatest threat to Islam was
Western culture. Bin Laden felt the
same way, and sensed that the only
way to stop Western culture from
violating the honor of Muslims,
humiliating them, and taking land,
was to create a war against the
West.
Al Qaeda is one of the only
terrorist groups that has a clear
line between the action groups,
and the core leadership. This
separation makes it easier for the
group to function without a home
country or base that has training
camps and headquarters. The
group’s detachment created cells of
activists, each cell having different
forms of activity. These activists,
as well as their followers, are
ready to die for their cause if it is
demanded.
ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq
and Syria), known for their extreme
terror acts, such as killing dozens
of people at a time, carrying out
public executions, crucifixions,
and many other horrific acts, was
created in 1999 by Jordanian
Islamist, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi,
and branched off of Al Qaeda
PHOTO COURTSEY CNN.COM
because they were considered too
extreme. Unlike Al Qaeda, whose
money comes solely from ransoms
during kidnappings, ISIS generates
money from oil and also ransoms
during kidnappings. Also, ISIS has
home bases located throughout Iraq
and Syria, while Al Qaeda has no
set home base.
In 2014, ISIS controlled over
34,000 square miles of land in
Syria and Iraq. The Pentagon
announced in April of 2015 that
ISIS has lost approximately a
quarter of that land. The United
Nations reported that the group has
roughly 3,500 men, women, and
children held hostage as slaves.
A large majority of the slaves are
women and children from the
Yazidi community.
VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XXX
Suicide in
the South
12 year old commits suicide
during livestream.
By MAKAYLA FRITSCH
On December 30, 2016 Katelyn
Nichole Davis, a 12 year old Georgia girl,
killed herself in a 40 minute livestream.
She was found outside her home at 6 p.m.
and declared dead at the Polk Medical
Center’s emergency room. Police
continue to investigate the case and The
Polk County Police Department have
acquired a search warrant of Katelyn’s
phone.
The video of her suicide was spread all
across social media in a matter of days.
Five days prior to her death, she posted
a note to Instagram that said, “Reblog in
memory of those who have committed
suicide.” Her family attempted to remove
the video that spread across Facebook,
but it took police a matter of two weeks to
remove it.
During the video she said she had been
physically and sexually assaulted by a
family member.
Source: www.dreamindemon.com
Sources: CNN, CBSnews, trendingfacts,
encyclopaedia
The Universal Library
Does this count as plagiarism?
By QUENTIN ROBERTS
“The Library of Babel” is a short story
by Argentine author and librarian Jorge
Luis Borges. This library contained books
consisting of 410 pages with every single
possible letter combination that could
exist. The arrangement of the galleries
is always the same: 20 bookshelves, five
to each side, line four of the hexagon’s
six side. Each bookshelf holds 32 books
identical in format; each book contains
four hundred ten pages; each page, forty
lines; each line, approximately eighty
black letters. This is how Borges described
the structure of this infinitesimal library.
This inspired Jonathan Basile to
create a program that took every possible
character, 1,312,000, to be exact, and
used them to create books structured just
like Borges’ novel. Now if this doesn’t
blow your mind or you simply don’t
understand what I’m talking about let
me put it into simple terms. With this
program, everything that has ever been
said, will be said, or can be said, has
been documented somewhere in the
library of Babel. You can search any
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
phrase up to 3200 characters and it is
located somewhere within the library.
This is how many characters can fit on
one page. To put any doubts to rest, it
would simply be impossible to fake this
library. The sheer number of requests
that the library receives would take up
far too much storage to contain. This
very article, as I type, change and edit,
is within the library. Up until the last
sentence this article is located in book
title “sqtbhcrilxyogjwwkbv” on page 225.
The exact wall it is located on has a name
that is far too large to place within this
editorial.
This website also has a picture
generator that runs off the same algorithm
as the library. Random colored pixels
changing position to create every possible
picture within the “universal slideshow.”
Take this example. Every single slide
of every movie is shown somewhere in
the slide show, but with you as the main
character. Visit the site yourself at https://
libraryofbabel.info/ and see what you can
find.
PHOTO COURTESY MOWRY CUSTOM PHOTO
The Benefits of Music
cont’d from page 1...
Our school is very fortunate to have
the music program that we do because
there are many districts across the country
that are defunding their art programs,
even though studies have shown that
music and all art forms are beneficial.
Students involved in the band and chorus
at Tunkhannock realize that their music
classes are something to be thankful for
and many individuals often take advantage
of festivals such as the Marywood Sr.
Wind Band Celebration.
The Marywood Sr. Wind Band
Celebration, held January 20 and 21 of
2017, was an opportunity for musicians
from tenth through twelfth grade to be
a part of another band for the weekend.
Starting the morning of Friday the 20th,
students auditioned and were placed
into one of three different bands that
would perform in a concert the following
evening. The students then practiced long
and hard for the next two days to learn
brand new music, but they also got the
opportunity to meet musicians from all
around northeastern Pennsylvania and be
under the direction of a new conductor.
The Tunkhannock students that
participated in the festival were Jordana
Bach, Hunter Bowman, Mike Casey, Justin
Cooper, Brock Darling, Jess Kaneski,
Maddie Kohl, Elaine Lance, Alyssa
Nichols, Isabella Race, Ashley Rusinko,
Naeomie Strohl, Catherine Trexler and
John VanHouten.
Sources:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/
music-arts/the-benefits-of-musiceducation/
http://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/
top-10-benefits-listening-music/
NEWS
VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XXX
THE PROWLER 11
Celebrity Deaths in 2016
These people couldn’t even survive 2016
By AMANDA ROXBY
2016 will forever be the year that
important people died. Countless numbers
of our favorite singers, actors, and authors
have passed. Included with them are also
astronauts, athletes, political figures and
survivors – dead.
-David Bowie: Musician for six decades.
Age: 69
Born: January 8, 1947
Died: January 10, 2016
-Alan Rickman: Actor most famous for
his role as Severus Snape in Harry Potter.
Age: 69
Born: February 21, 1946
Died: January 14, 2016
-Edgar Mitchell: Apollo 14 astronaut,
sixth man on the moon.
Age: 85
Born: September 17, 1930
Died: February 4, 2016
-Antonin Scalia: Member of the supreme
court.
Age: 79
Born: March 11, 1936
Died: February 13, 2016
-Harper Lee: Author of “To Kill a
Mockingbird”.
Age: 89
Born: April 28, 1926
Died: February 19,2016
-Nancy Reagan: First Lady to Ronald
Reagan.
Age: 94
Born: July 6, 1921
Died; March 6, 2016
-Doris Roberts: Mother on “Everybody
Loves Raymond”.
Age: 90
Born: November 4,1925
Died: April 17, 2016
-Prince: Musician with hits including
“Purple Rain” and “Let’s Go Crazy”.
Age: 57
Born: June 7, 1958
Died: April 21, 2016
-Muhammed Ali: Boxing legend
Age: 74
Born: January 7, 1942
Died: June 3, 2016
-Christina Grimmie: Singer- songwriter
Age: 22
Born: March 12, 1994
Died: June 10, 2016
-Elie Wiesel: Holocaust survivor and
author of “Night”.
Age: 87
Born: September 30, 1928
Died: July 2, 2016
-Gene Wilder: Actor most famous for his
role in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate
Factory”.
Age: 83
Born: June 11, 1933
Died: August 28, 2016
-José Fernández: Miami Marlins pitcher,
won the National League’s Rookie of the
Year award in 2013
Age: 24
Born: July 31, 1992
Died: September 25, 2016
PHOTO COURTESY CARRIEFISHERDESIGNAND DEVELOPMENT.COM
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
-Arnold Palmer: Golf king
Age: 87
Born: September 10, 1929
Died: September 25, 2016
-Florence Henderson: Broadway star
that eventually became the mom on the
television show “The Brady Bunch”.
Age: 82
Born: February 14, 1934
Died: November 24, 2016
-Fidel Castro: Cuban dictator
Age: 90
Born: August 13, 1926
Died: November 25, 2016
-George Michael: Part of the hit duo
Wham! also went on to have a solo career.
Age: 53
Born: June 25, 1963
Died: December 25, 2016
-Carrie Fisher: Actress most famous for
her role as Princess Leia in “Star Wars”.
Age: 60
Born: October 21, 1956
Died: December 27, 2016
-Debbie Reynolds: Actress and singer
who rose to fame with her role in “Singin’
in the Rain”.
Age: 84
Born: April 1, 1932
Died: December 28, 2016
Source: nbcnews.com
Virtual Reality-the next step What if Humans went
Extinct?
in Gaming?
Technology advances. Are gamers ready?
By JESSICA DEREMER
Zombies or Disease
By KIERAN BEDFORD
The Gaming industry has come a long
way since the days of Pac Man and Mario.
With technology rapidly changing and
expanding every day, the gaming industry
has to find new and creative ways to keep
up. Virtual reality is the industry’s way of
“keeping up with the times” so to speak.
Virtual Reality is where you strap on a
headset, grab some controllers and feel
like you’re actually in the game.
Although Virtual Reality gaming feels
like a modern idea, it is anything but.
Back in 1995, Nintendo had their hand
at virtual reality with The Virtual Boy. It
was a bold move for the company, but had
many flaws. Some people said that it made
them feel sick and was discontinued a year
later. Although it didn’t do as well as the
company hoped, the 3D elements were
incorporated into the very popular 3DS
console.
Today however, virtual reality has been
improved and now we have many Virtual
Reality headsets. These include The HTC
Vive, the Playstation VR which connects
to a PS4 and the Oculus Rift. All of these
provide 3D virtual gaming at a whole
new level. Virtual Reality is a big for the
video gaming industry. Many developers
are working towards developing new
and exciting games designed specifically
for the virtual reality headsets. There are
already games out for the headsets though,
including one of the most interesting and
unique games, Job Simulator. In this game,
you can take on the role of an Office
Worker, Chef, Mechanic, and Store Clerk.
Why go to your real job when you can just
simulate it, right?
Whether it is a world-ending disease or
the zombie apocalypse… humans are gone
- no one is left. What would happen on
earth if this scenario were to unfold?
If humans went extinct what would
happen? First of all technology would
be irrelevant. Nothing would be working
within a few years. Eventually everything
would shut down, including electricity.
Our beloved tiny pets would go extinct
as well because they have adapted to be
with humans, while bigger dogs and cats
would start hunting together in packs and
prowl the lands. All animals would be wild
or they would be living in our homes or
what’s left of them.
Our houses, buildings, bridges, and
structures will eventually erode and fall
apart. They will be broken down without
the human care that is needed. Everything
we know would be demolished through
some sort of natural means.
With the whole Minecraft faze
exploding the video game scene right
now, it’s no surprise that one of the most
popular games of all time would get a
Virtual Reality release. What’s better
than building virtual blocky worlds on
your computer? Experiencing it in Virtual
Reality. There are also many other games
out there that simulate everyday events
and some that even simulate climbing
Mount Everest.
So, is Virtual Reality the next step in
gaming? Well yeah. As the world changes
new things are developed everyday that
make even the most mundane of tasks, like
going to a job, a little more engaging and
exciting. You can expect Virtual Reality
games to develop for years to come.
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
A timeline might look like this:
“Several hours: Lights around the world
begin to shut off
3 days: Most subway systems will be
flooded
10 days: Pets locked indoors will die of
starvation
1 month: Cooling waters will evaporate in
nuclear power generators, contaminating
the planet with radiation
1 year: Thousands of satellites will fall to
the earth
25 years: Desert cities like Dubai and Las
Vegas will be covered in sand
300 years: Metal construction such as the
Eiffel Tower will begin to collapse
300 years: Whales and large sea animals
will grow in population and thrive
500 years: Modern cities will be
completely overgrown by vegetation
10,000 years: The only evidence that
humans existed will be stone construction”
Source: www.good.is/articles/the-earthafter-were-gone
PHOTO COURTESY THEATLANTIC.COM
12 THE PROWLER
NEWS/sports
PIAA History
History of the PIAA
By NICK REPOSA
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic
Association (PIAA) has served the state
of PA for about the last one hundred years
providing athletic opportunities to students
across the Keystone State. Made up of
1,000 plus schools, PIAA consists of all
kinds of schools from private and public
schools to charter schools from junior
high all the way to the varsity level. This
non-profit organization has been able to
help students escape their troubles and
problems as they allow them to forget
about their evils through sports. PIAA
also provides student-athletes from any
background the liberty to show their
athletic talents for free and the chance to
earn themselves college scholarships.
According to piaa.org, the Pennsylvania
Interscholastic Athletic Association
began on September 29th, 1913 in the
city of Pittsburgh. Formed by a group of
principals who decided that establishment
of high school sports would eliminate
abuse and introduce the importance
of good sportsmanship, the non-profit
organization supports sixteen competitive
sports competitions for both girls and
boys. Sport options do vary by gender
occasionally.
Today PIAA is run by a board of
directors which is made up of sixteen
representatives from districts around the
state and leaders of organizations such
as Pennsylvania’s Coaches Association
(PCA) and the Pennsylvania Department
of Education (PDE). This selected
group meets about five to six times a
year in Mechanicsburg, PA where they
discuss rule changes and problems that
representatives have in the organization.
PIAA districts are broken up into twelve
VOLUME XIV, ISSUE XXX
Winter Sports
By NICK REPOSA
Winter sport teams are over half
way through their seasons and they are
groups all across the state. Schools inside
off to a good start. So far athletes from
the boundaries make up each district
Tunkhannock have been acknowledged
which are then split into divisions. Almost for the excellent play as Mitchell
every sport in each school will stay and
Fowler (Swimming), Tommy Traver
compete in their own district unless one’s
(Wrestling), Sam Rice (Wrestling), Tyler
district doesn’t possess enough teams
Faux (Basketball), Megan Heyward
or large enough schools to compete.
(Swimming), David Gavek (Wrestling),
Schools are broken up into different
and many more have been nominated for
classes ranging from A all the way up to
the WC Examiner’s Athlete of the Week.
AAAAAA(6A) based off population of
To add the success Tunkhannock sports
each gender. Higher populated schools like have accumulated 22-25 win-loss record.
Scranton High School and Hazleton Area
Sports such as swimming and diving,
are grouped into AAAAAA while smaller wrestling, and girls’ and boys’ basketball
populated schools like Susquehanna Area
have seen a success in their own ways.
and Forest City Regional are put in single
Tiger wrestlers picked up where
A. If wondering what Tunkhannock was,
they left off from the historic season
they are in the middle of the classifications ago. Tunkhannock is now alone in first
sitting in the AAAA class for girls and
place and are undefeated in conference
boy’s athletics. These classes mostly come matches as they picked a big conference
in effect when district playoffs come
win against Coughlin after defeating the
around for a sport as schools will compete Crusaders 40-29. This comes just days
against teams of their same class in the
after they pulled off one of their biggest
battle of winning a state championship.
victories of the year beating Hazleton
State championship sites have varied
34-30, who won the Wyoming Valley
over the years for all sports as PIAA
Conference Tournament about a month
looks to give student-athletes the best
before hand. The wrestlers had a good
facilities for the biggest event of the year.
showing at the New Oxford Invitational
They try their best to give high school
Tournament as they finished towards the
athletes the experience of a life time as
top of the pack coming in eighth place.
the fields and courts are the best of the
Tunkhannock’s success has been led
best. For the most part Hershey has been
by the outstanding sophomore Tommy
the biggest contributor when it comes to
Traver as he is having a stellar season with
these big games as they host nine different three tournament championships under
championship events throughout the year. his belt contributing to his twenty-three
Sports such as football, cross country, and wins with seventeen of them coming from
wrestling call Hershey their championship pins, leading the team in both categories.
destination. Other sports such as baseball, Junior Sam Rice is close behind Traver
softball, swimming and diving, and field
with nineteen wins with fifteen pins and
hockey are played at different places such freshman David Evans is third in win
as Lewisburg, York, and State College.
totals with eighteen. The Tigers next task
is against Abington Heights on February
15th at Abington.
Despite the slow start, the Lady Tigers
basketball team has found success lately.
Tunkhannock lost five of their first seven
games as the season was looking pretty
bleak. But as of late, the lady tigers have
pulled it back together and have picked
up three crucial conference wins with
two coming against GAR and one against
Wyoming Seminary in which ended on
a buzzer beater by Sam Generotti. The
girls’ offense is led by sophomores Abby
Ritz and Rebecca Avery scoring about
ten points each per game. Tunkhannock,
as of now, are in line to make into the
district playoffs as they are in eighth place
in AAAA with their 5-13 record. The
lady Tigers look to pick up a win at Holy
Redeemer on February 6th.
Boys’ basketball has already passed
their last season win total as they have
gotten off to a hot start. Tunkhannock
possess a 10-7 record vs their record 2-12
season a year ago. The boys have picked
up big wins against Delaware Valley
and very talented Wyoming Seminary.
Regardless of the tough losses against rival
Dallas and state ranked Hazelton, they’re
still in line to find themselves a district
playoff spot. Sophomore, Tyler Faux,
leads the offense as he is currently leading
the team with 12 points per game with
38 three pointers as junior Sean Harder
isn’t too far behind averaging 10 points
per game. The tigers don’t have an easy
road ahead as they are due to play four
or less loss teams the rest of the season.
Their next test is against the Trojans of
Nanticoke, home, for their senior night on
February 14th.
Make sure to come out support our
local winter sport teams as they attempt to
make their final pushes towards districts
and states. Listen and look for Tiger
sports results on the morning news and
newspapers. (Records and schedule dates
are as of February 6th, 2017.)
Best Budget PCs of 2016/2017
A look at the best PC’s on the market
By JESSICA DEREMER
PCs or “Personal Computers” are
virtually necessary these days. Whether
it be for business or recreational use
computers are a staple of any human’s life.
The question is, what is the best PC on the
market? With there being so many brands
these days including. Dell and Toshiba
it is always a hassle when buying a new
computer to decide which computer to
buy. You don’t want to pay high prices for
a computer that doesn’t meet your needs.
There are affordable options that will
satisfy your technological desires.
According to CNET.com, one of the
most unique and affordable PCs on the
market is the Intel Compute Stick. This
small USB computer plugs into your
television’s USB port and essentially
turns any USB capable television into a
computer monitor. With 32GB of storage
and 128MB of High Definition graphics,
this interesting PC can be bought on
Amazon for $149.95.
One of Amazon’s top rated PCs is the
Acer Aspire TC. This sleek and modern
PC has HD graphics, 1 HDMI port,
Windows 10 Home pre-installed and is
bluetooth compatible. This computer is
currently priced for $399.99.
Another one of Amazon’s top rated PCs
is the Dell Inspiron 24 3000 series. This
PC is a little pricier at $599.99 but for
this price you get a 24’ full HD display
monitor and a 500GB Hard Drive, a
wireless keyboard and mouse. This PC
was given 4 and ½ star review out of five
by users on the site.
So if you are in the market for a new
computer, these are some affordable
options that you can choose from to decide
which is the best new PC for you.
Sydney Faux and Kelly Barber dominate the court.
Tyler Faux eludes the competition.
Mary Zeunen, Olivia Carichner, Allie Davis, Lizzie Tague, Isabelle
Barth, Spencer Roote, Alizah Carey, Faith Turner, Rylee Bartron,
Ashley Wertman, Shirah Coolbaugh, Ashleigh Miroslaw, Mari
Bachman, Zoey Haldeman
Josh Beeman prepares to
keep his opponent down,
preferably for a pin.
PROWLER STAFF PHOTO
Daniel Shannon cuts
through the water.
Sara Fetter and Anna Moffitt
PHOTOS COURTESY MOWRY CUSTOM PHOTO