Four types of people you see on Tumblr  by Amy Yarbrough

           

            When one goes on the popular website Tumblr, one would notice that there are some…interesting people on there, but not necessarily in a bad way. The strange thing is that there is more than one type of these interesting folk. There is:

 

#1 The Fangirl/boy.

            Probably the most common on Tumblr. They seem to have a knack for coming up with fascinating terms…(Warning: if you come across a fangirl having “FEELSSS”, run away! Don’t question it! Just. Run.) There are other types of fangirls/boys though. There’s the gif maker, the artist, and the quiet, seemingly “normal” blogger. The gif makers are behind all of moving pictures that take forever to load on your computer. It seems that they make gifs of everything. That guy sneezed? GIF! That girl blinked? GIF! These are very gifted people… The artists either draw funny comics that make you giggle, or they are amazingly talented artists that waste their talent on pictures of, um…er…stuff that makes some people uncomfortable… 

And then there’s the seemingly normal person who never posts anything but follows the funny people anyway. I don’t have much to say about them because they don’t, you know, POST anything… 

 But what this section of Tumblr lacks in proper grammar, they make up for in charm and hilarity. They are very enjoyable to read. They can often be found highjacking hipster posts with fandom references. 

 

That brings us to:

 

#2 The Hipsters.

            The hipsters of Tumblr have something that we don’t have, and should really strive for: Somewhat inspirational quotes next to a picture of someone staring at nothing! Seriously, does anyone actually know where those quotes come from? There's never actually a name next to the quote! So they’re either just made up on the spot by said hipster, or the quotes are just so underground that even the hipsters don’t know who they’re quoting. In case you haven’t noticed, being a hipster is very “in” right now. They are often seen drinking coffee, and doing hipster things on their Mac computers…There have been so many hipsters nowadays that if you actually like something unusual, other people will accuse you of being a hipster! And there are so many of them, that it’s probably more unusual to NOT be a hipster. 

 Next are:

#3 The Artists.

            These artists aren’t the ones mentioned before. These artists draw seemingly normal stuff… Except the seemingly normal stuff is drawn so that it looks beautiful and makes your drawings look like dirt! They can make anything look amazing! But not all the artists are great! Some of them draw stuff so bad it makes you cringe…But you’re still jealous because even then, they draw better than you! 

 

Speaking of. Here is our last Tumblr user:

 

#4 You.

            Obviously you are either intrigued, obsessed with, or mildly entertained by Tumblr if you are reading this. You might be a Fangirl/boy, or a hipster, or an artist. Or perhaps you are one of the Tumblr types I didn’t mention. There are so many dark corners of Tumblr, that I just didn’t see the point in attempting to list them all. Either way, something would have gotten left out! Tumblr is a big website, and not everyone is the same. These are only my opinions on a website I don’t know very much about, so I hope I didn’t offend anyone. Please do not take offense to this, because it would not be worth it.

Remembrance of "Gone with the Wind" by Cara Haley

          Gone with the Wind is a classical historical novel written by Margaret Mitchell. Published in 1936, this novel earned a National Book Award by American Bestsellers Association less than a year later. No sooner than two years following in 1939, Gone with the Wind was marvelously filmed into a two part movie. This film was awarded with ten Academy Awards, which included praise for its golden staring cast, featuring leading actress Vivien Leigh, who elegantly portrayed Scarlet O'Hara, and awarding Best Director, the honorable Victor Fleming. This film was masterly pieced and neatly illustrated most of the emotions that were in the book. Unlike the majority of movies made, this film kept many of the details that were in the book and didn't slaughter its grand potential. In my own opinion, I think that is what made it contain such excellence.
         Reading the book was much of an enjoyment. Its almost a thousand pages filled with an admirable story that begun during the time of the American Civil War. It opened up in Tara, Georgia, where southern star belle, Scarlet O'Hara, lived with wealth on a splendorous plantation, gaining anything she pleased. Always with everything at leisure, Scarlet O'Hara comes to a grave displeasure when Ashley Wilkes (who is played by Leslie Howard), her one true love, marries Melanie Hamilton (who is played by Olivia de Havilland). Out of jealousy and seeking favor in Ashley's eyes, Scarlet marries another and flounders in riches. But all is short lived, for the men went off to war, including Scarlet's newly wedded husband, Charles Hamilton (played by Rand Brooks) who happens to be Melanie's brother. Left behind in the company of Melanie Hamilton Wilkes, Scarlet is apathetic, wearing black to mourn for her hardly loved dead husband. Scarlet though finds herself in a situation with devious Rhett Butler (played by Clark Gable), who happened to overhear her love declaration to Ashley Wilkes earlier and is now taunting for her love. Without a realization of the feelings felt towards her, Scarlet only seeks for herself.
         Scarlet's life continues with a diverting plot, one which shows a full insight on the selfishness left crowded inside her heart, one that in fact, blinds any awareness towards life's integrity. With only the determination to gain wealth once more, Scarlet pretentiously deceives and uses anyone  with a heavy purse in her sight, including Rhett Butler and Frank Kennedy, who was her elder sister's beau. Heartlessly detached, Scarlet marries Frank Kennedy after a failure plea with Rhett Butler. Only with the lust for money, Scarlet pursues a business in milling, hoping to gain endless wealth. Going on like she once did before, Scarlet is obstinate and will not heed to others. Thereafter, she endures another dreadful incident which ends with her second husband, who went out seeking justice, killed.  Thoughtlessly driven, Scarlet immediately accepts Rhett Butler's offer of marriage and off they go living an effulgent lifestyle. In that marriage, Scarlet only loves money and her feelings for Ashley Wilkes are still the same, leaving Rhett dancing around those emotions. Their lives precedes with more difficulties and arguments, leaving Scarlet behind in actual misery.
        Later on, heartbreak returns after their beloved daughter falls in an accident on her horse and dies at an early age. Only by the comfort of Melanie Wilkes, the couple's souls resist crumbling, especially Rhett's. But short lived, Melanie's life ends when she is unable to carry another child. Scarlet then finally realizes with those last moments with Melanie that she doesn't truly despise her and will instead, miss her dearly. With one of her last breathes, Mrs Wilkes encourages Scarlet to fight for her marriage with Rhett for he does love her deeply. Pondering those words, Scarlet realizes that Rhett does care for her. Leaving that scene, Scarlet has a discussion with Ashley Wilkes, finally seeing that he loves Melanie, not her. It was never really her that he loved. Never with an affirmation did Mr. Wilkes tell Scarlet that he loved her more than a sister. Realizing that she only created those fake affections form Ashley to feel loved, Scarlet rushes off to her home where she confronts Rhett about his love for her. But soon understands that love can fade and that Rhett's, whose endured years of neglect, was buried with their daughter. No more heartaches needed, Rhett departs, not regarding Scarlet's last pleas. It was finally time for that broken individual to say no to anymore breaking of the soul. Ending with the hopes of tomorrow, Scarlet  is alone with only her forlorn self, seeing wholly now that she cares for something other than riches.
         This left the audience with wonder and knowledge about how things in life do fade into the fog. Both the movie and the book successfully captured the enthralling story. However, a few minor details didn't go unnoticed without them drifting apart from one another. The idea of Scarlet donating her wedding band at the charity bazaar first for the war like it was in the book changed in the movie, making Melanie give up her ring generously and Scarlet following for audible praise.  Another thing was that Scarlet bore only one child, which was with Mr. Rhett Butler, unlike in the book, she had two children with her previous husbands. I thought that those two children's existences really indicated Rhett's adoration and toleration for children. Also the fact that Rhett Butler had a son living in New Orleans was unknown to most people and was only mentioned once in the book. The book did have more detail about Rhett's previous life in Charleston that couldn't fit in the movie. Although the slight difference in detail between the movie and the book, I admire both works. The film itself was golden. Vivien Leigh, who played Scarlet O'Hara, matched the haughty attitude with her facial expressions, especially her famous eyebrow raise, flawlessly capturing the contemptuous look of her character. Both of these works of fiction are magnificent and are highly advice to both watch and read in order to grasp fully the rare art piece created in this era.

The Nobel Peace Prize or Popularity Contest? by Mikayla Halsell

            Established in 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize is annually given to someone who in the previous year “shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”. (www.nobelprize.org) However, somewhere down the line, the true meaning was lost and now it seems to be more of a popularity contest than an actual award for peace. Sure, there were several winners who were quite notable, such as Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr. But let’s not forget some of the most undeserved winners of the Nobel Peace Prize: former president Jimmy Carter in 2002, former vice president Al Gore in 2007, and last but not least, President Barack H. Obama in 2009. Not only were these men comically inapt for the prize, but they won merely by their popularity and likability (even though I still find that hard to believe) since none of the men above displayed any criteria that should have earned them their nominations in the first place.

            But however far-fetched those previous winners were, yet another nominee rivals the absurdity formerly displayed. Russia’s own Vladimir Putin has claimed his spot on the record-breaking list of nominations including 278 other candidates. Of all the other nominations who were inapt for the prize, I think Vladimir Putin takes first place for being the most absurd and preposterous candidate yet. That being said, there were a few others who rival him, such as previous nominees Adolf Hitler (1939), Josef Stalin (1948), and Fidel Castro (2001). So you can be the judge of whether or not Putin rises above that lovely trio.

            But looking at the current nominations for 2014, I’m dumbfounded that Putin even made the list. I mean, if criteria for winning the Nobel Peace Prize include gassing your own people, passing anti-gay “propaganda” laws, wrestling bears with your shirt off, and recently invading another county, such as, oh, I don’t know…Ukraine, then by all means, let’s hand over the Peace Prize and $1.2 million in cash! But if we’re still going by the original definition of a Peace Prize winner, then please, stop nominating ridiculous candidates.

            Vladimir Putin, however, is not the only notorious candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize this year. Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency member who leaked important classified government documents, found his way on the list. In addition, Chelsea Manning, a former American soldier who also leaked numerous classified documents concerning operations in the Middle East, was nominated as well. However, Manning is still in prison for her crime as she is finishing up her 35 years sentence in jail. So obviously, she is a prime candidate next to Vladimir Putin.

            Despite the farcical nominees previously listed, there are two others that have been reported to be on the list: Pope Francis, and Pakistani Malala Yousafzai, a teenage girl who was shot by the Taliban for promoting girl’s rights for education.  These two individuals seem to be the only nominations that actually make sense. Admittedly, I don’t know who the other 273 candidates are. But the fact remains that Vladimir Putin, Edward Snowden, and Chelsea Manning are in the running for the prize. Though the Nobel Peace Prize originated with honorable intentions as a chance to award people who were truly making a difference and creating peace around them, the prize has evolved into the celebrity contest of the year and is now nothing more than a joke. 

SAC Day Incognito Expands to Include HAAC Day

The SAC Day student-run newspaper, the Incognito, will expand to include news and information about HAAC Day as well as SAC Day, beginning with the March edition. The March edition will go on sale at SAC Day on March 24, and at HAAC Day on March 26. The traditional, World-Famous (or not) April Fool's edition will follow shortly thereafter, on March 31 and on April 2, respectively. Each paper is $.25.

The SAC Day Journalism class, which also produces the HCCH yearbook each year, has been publishing the SAC Day Incognito for the past nine years. This year's editor-in-chief is Senior Mikayla Halsell. Other staff members include Cara Haley, Sydney Quanz, Timothy Warren, and Amy Yarbrough.

The Inspiration of a Humble Heart by Cara Haley

             There are many great empowering individuals who thrive for a change and create a revival for the future. Their legacy lives on for years and years to come. Many have made a deep affect in history, such as Martin Luther King Jr, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Teresa. I am personally, as a young woman, imbued by Mother Teresa and her ongoing caring characteristic. She lived an exceedingly humble life, one which she fully devoted to the better of others. She spread love where there have been little shown. Claiming a goal, she went all over the world, proving with humility that there was still some good in humanity. Living with love, she displayed a certain bright light we all have in us. Seeking first salvation, Mother Teresa saw the importance in life. In her book, Total Surrender, she spoke of the calling of the future and the power of the present, as well as our presence itself. When we lack confidence in ourselves, our presence loses its power. Mother Teresa believed that everyone has a certain ability; all we need is to embrace it. Once we accept who we are, we can then lead others with a compatible assurance.
           What I admire most about Mother Teresa is that she found joy in the simplest things of life. When she gave up certain pleasures in life to instead live like an orphan, joy remained in her heart. Seeing joy in every little detail in life, she truly lived. The words of hers that remain with me the most is: "Joy is love, the normal result of a heart burning with love." Love was what she looked for when things were failing hopelessly. Never doubting, she stayed firm in her beliefs, finding lasting peace that settled in her heart. Like all humans, she had her own thoughtful opinions, and in her works, they were expressed with an amendable acceptance. I truly find pleasure inside when I read about how she opened her heart up to everyone, no matter the culture separation. She loved others, no matter the divining differences. I look up to that type of courage, for it takes a certain degree of strength to love another. She loved like she always been loved. Mother Teresa encourages us all to allow love to not  only be the flame in our hearts, but to be the fire that consumes the selfishness that lies there. Imagine if we took Mother's Teresa's example and loved without one narcissistic cause.  I believe with that bountiful love, one with no boundaries, the world will be changed once more for the better. With a refreshed heart, one with humility and much compassion, we truly can live life with a new beginning.

Three Hilarious Books To Read over Spring Break-By Sydney Quanz

      It's no secret that nothing kills the desire to read quicker than the slow, depressing pressure of schoolwork. Luckily, Spring break is right around the corner, and that seven day gap of schools bliss leaves room for precious reading time. For the student who are hoping for the perfect book to read this  March, I have compiled a list of the funniest, most laugh inducing book's to provide some stress free reading during break!

1. The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride is the ultimate book, in my opinion. It has a princess, pirates, an evil king, giants and Spaniard all in one book.  Many people have seen the movie, which is also quite excellent, but there is a certain charm in the novel that the screen just could not capture. The Princess Bride is the story of one of the most beautiful women in the world, Buttercup, who finds love in the last place she suspected.  The best part of the book, however, is the author’s commentary. William Goldman takes on a character in his own book, the story of an author who desperately want to make a connection with his son He does so by bringing out the book his father used to read him, but soon discovers that his father left out most of the book’s boring parts. The Princess Bride is therefore, the “abridged version” of the original, and is littered with the hilarious commentary of Goldman as he leaves out the more ridiculous passages of the story.

2. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is also known more commonly for its movie than for the hilarious literary feat accomplished by Douglas Adam’s. This follows the story of Arthur, a common earthling who is dealing with his earthling problems, when his new friend, Ford Prefect, sweeps him up into an intergalactic journey. As they travel across the galaxy they meet new alien friends, including a two-headed President, a depressed robot and a runaway earthling. The Heart of Gold, their ship, travels in a way that causes the most improbable things to happen to our travelers, which cause us to discover some alarming truths about the universe, and stumble across some incredibly random occurrences. What makes this book so charming is that it is incredibly bizarre in every way imaginable, often causing the reader to reread the same paragraph several times over to confirm that a sperm whale did indeed just pop into existence in the middle of space and yes, dolphins are equally as intelligent as humans. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is filled to the brim with British wit and startling plot points that will keep anyone occupied.

3. Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Rick Riordan is not my favorite author, but his first series is golden. It is filled with unexpected twisted and loveable characters. However, my favorite part of his series is the hilarity that comes from his excellent phrasing and unexpected circumstance. His novels don’t take themselves too seriously, but instead put age-old monsters and myths into modern day times, displaying for the reader situations like the fates trying to drive a taxi, and three demi-gods making friends with a hell-hound. For those who haven't already enjoyed this journey, this series is a must read.

What I Do In My Spare Time by Emily Cote

So...just this past year, I've become...I guess you could say...a little bit of a Youtube watcher. Most of you probably don't know that about me, because it's not something I advertise, but it's something I enjoy doing in my spare time. Instead of watching tv, I keep up with their new videos. And JacksGap was the first channel I started watching last fall. There are quite a few different channels I watch but they're my favorite. They're pretty great and let's just face it...adorable. I don't care what logic you drag it through, they're adorable and they have British accents. Let that sink in.
Anyway, last Monday they posted a new video and I thought it was super fun and now I want to turn my bedroom into a ball pit. Take a look and enjoy.

Salted Pretzel Caramel Brownies...SAY WHAT by Grace Barbettini

Salted. Pretzel. And Caramel. In a BROWNIE. Oh my lanta. Yes, you heard me alright.

I'll just cut to the chase and give you the recipe. Yuuuumm-o.

Here you go - Click ME!

Beauty in the Ugly by Grace Barbettini

     Emily Cote's post this morning inspired me. Like her, I too had set an alarm in hopes of getting lots of things accomplished by noontime, only to find myself waking up at noon instead.

     Feeling a bit frustrated, I also went on Facebook to check in on my friends lives, and see if I could find anything chipper that would change my not so happy mood. That's when I came across her post on the Quirk. I'm so glad I took the time to read it, because it sparked something inside of me. 

     In "Weeping for the Kids" Marilyn said something that really hit me - "There is Beauty all around us..." and I think this is something that we overlook a lot of the time. Sure, everyone knows that the Eiffel Tower is beautiful, that the beach is a gorgeous place to be, and that if you have flowers planted in your front yard, it is a pretty thing. But that is not what I am talking about.  A quote by Marcel Proust popped into my head as I'm writing this - "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." We get so caught up in our everyday lives that common things become so dull and mundane, that we need something so grandeur and strikingly beautiful to catch our eyes. Why not be thrilled with the ordinary? If you choose to see things in a different light, with new eyes that haven't been dulled by the thinking of our society, you may be surprised at what is around you. I encourage you to take the time and walk around your neighborhood, or local park. Get up close to the grass, notice all of the life that is going on around you. The delicate way an ant picks up a crumb, the gentle drops of water from a leaf after rainfall, or even the way rust peels off of an old can. 

     Children are perfect examples. When you're a little kid, almost everything excites you. Even if it's not the typical thing to get excited about. Why do we have to grow out of that incredible awe over everything? I say we don't. Yes, we become used to certain things, but why not step back and start with fresh eyes, becoming unused to everything all over again.

     I encourage you to go out today and look for the beauty that is around you. Not the typical beauty, but the kind that gets overlooked. Find something beautiful in the ugly. And once you have found it, ponder awhile. Whenever I find something beautiful, it always stirs up thoughts of thankfulness. I saw another quote one day and it said "Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions." and I absolutely love that. Even if you don't fee like thanking God for simple things in your life, once you start, you begin to see how fortunate you are, and by the end, I always feel so happy.

Go out there today and find something beautiful.

Go out there today and give thanks for the everyday things.   

     Go out there today and be awed by the ordinary.

Weeping For The Kids by Marilyn Gardner: Shared by Emily Cote

This morning I rolled out of bed later than I had anticipated, and already felt irritated with myself for not setting an alarm. Then I looked around my room to see that it looks like a hurricane just blew in. To be honest, I wasn't all that chipper when I woke up, underneath it all is the fact that my last day of high school is next week, and I have to say goodbye to people, and it's scaring me. I've been on the verge of tears for a good part of the week. Then I got on Facebook to check the everyday things that might make me laugh or sometimes just more frustrated than I was before. But then I saw that my Dad's cousin (I call her Aunt but that's another story.) had posted in her blog, and that always interests me, because she's so full of wisdom and I love her perspective on life. When I read this post in particular, I was amazed at God's incredible faithfulness to us, even when things look like they're going all wrong. A look at my generation and how sad it is that the majority of them are rejecting God. But he never leaves us. Even in times of great suffering. If you have a few minutes in your day, please take a look at it. It made me thankful today.

http://communicatingacrossboundariesblog.com/2013/05/02/weeping-for-the-kids/