Underwater Bombs Affect the Sealife

In the waters off of Vieques, an island in Puerto Rico, scientists have done experiments to conclude hundreds of bombs are covering the seafloor, and polluting toxins and affecting the marine life. These bombs were left from the U.S. Navy who had been training there for 6 decades. "We know that these munitions are leaking cancer-causing materials and endangering sea life" said marine ecologist James Porter.

When he did research on the ocean creatures, he found sea urchins, dust worms and coral near the bomb debris that contained carcinogenic materials. "in some cases 100,000 times more than what is considered safe for commercially edible seafood." The Navy spent $350 million to attempt to clean up the waste but only cleaned close to the shoreline. One of the reasons it has been so hard to clean up the bombs is because there is no way to know exactly where the bombs were released. They have also been corroded by the saltwater over the many years. "Toxic elements such as TNT, mustard gas and the chemical weapon Lewisite also can be hard to detect in large bodies of water."

James Barton invented a device that can pick up unexploded bombs from the seafloor and brings them in a basket to the surface. His idea is called the Ordinance Removal System.

Hopefully with new technology and new ideas we will be able to clean up these waters.



Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/02/26/undersea.munitions.cleanup/index.html

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras ended this week on Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent begins: Ash Wednesday. This fun filled holiday's origins are not completely known. It can be traced as far back as medieval Europe. One theory is that it was celebrated as a series of carnival days held in Roman Catholic countries between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday.

New Orleans is the Mardi Gras capitol in the United States. Its traditions were brought there by the French in March 1699 when French explorers celebrated the holiday along the banks of the Mississippi River. New Orleans introduced the holiday to the rest of America.

The Mardi Gras festivities last for the full week before Lent begins. The celebration is the last big hoorah of food and drink before the restrictions of Lent. The people fill the streets with parades, floats, dancing, masks (such as the ones in the above picture), and colorful beaded necklaces. The official colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold, representing justice, faith and power.

Next year, Mardi Gras will begin on February 10th.

Picture Source: http://www.graffixgirlz.com/mardigras/MARDI-GRAS-MASKS.jpg

RHAM High School's New Website

As many students have noticed, RHAM High School and Middle School have a new website. The Board of Education thought it necessary to update and create a new website. They wanted one that was easier for the parents, students, and teachers to navigate through.

Mrs. Mund, the Superintendent's secretary, and a company called School Center worked together to create this new site. School Center provided the shell of the website, and Mrs. Mund filled out the shell with the information necessary. Mrs. Mund has been working on the website for about three month, and it is an ongoing task due to updates that need to be made.

Please post comments about how you feel about the new website. Do you think that it is easier to navigate?

Here is the link: www.rhamhs.reg8.k12.ct.us/education/school/school.php?sectionid=1

Pictures of War Casualties to be Permitted

The BBC reports that the U.S. Department of Defense has lifted a ban on public distribution of photos of the caskets of U.S. war dead. Publishing such photos has been forbidden since 1991. Photos will, however, only be released with permission of the families of the dead.

Proponents of lifting the ban are concerned that it prevented the public from seeing the death toll of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, said, "The decision regarding media coverage of the dignified transfer process at Dover [Air Force Base] should be made by those most directly affected, on an individual basis, by the families of the fallen... We ought not presume to make that decision in their place."

RHAM Students Visit Spain

Source: http://suzuki.888j.net/spain/image_spain/map_spain.jpg

On February 12, 2009, some RHAM students went to Spain to learn about its many cultures, and visit their cities. The students visited 5 cities: Sivilla, Toileto, Madrid, Barcelona, and Cordona. When Michelle B. was interviewed, she summed up the trip in four words, "IT WAS THE BEST!"

The Flight was 7 hours long, from Boston to Amsterdam. Then from Amsterdam to Spain, another 2 hours. The students visited museums, and other landmarks in the cities. They stayed in nothing but 3 star hotels, and Michelle described their tour guide as, "AWESOME!" While shopping and visiting the cities, two people lost their cameras, and one person lost everything including their cellphone, passport, and their wallet. They had to go to the American Embassy to get a new passport the day before they left. "The trip was a blast, we visited 5 cities, and we visited many museums, and stores. I would love to go back someday," said Michelle.

A Heavy Case of The Flu - Music Review

The local music scene in Connecticut has been getting larger and larger and many bands are beginning to be recognized by record labels. Flu, a local metal/punk band from Manchester, Connecticut formed in 1998, was recently signed with Sling Slang records in 2003 which is a small Independent Recording Company based in Southington CT. Though the band was signed by Sling Slang records, they are technically signed to Ten Foot Reach Records which is a small division off of Sling Slang. The three piece set includes guitarist and vocalist Michael Anderson, Aron Uzanas on bass and accompanying vocals and Matthew Peterson on drums and vocals. The band released their first CD "Remedy" in January of 2003 and have been recording ever since. This time around, the album is entitled "For Love And Brother" and includes hit songs such as "With Purpose", "The Sleepless" and "By Way of Trains".

The group brings forth an honest feel with trusting lyrics and heavy guitar riffs. Do not mistake these guys for an amateur out of high school band. Their sound is different because it incorporates both a punk rock feel as well as delivering poetic and diverse lyrics. Flu has performed with bands like Surviving Kenny, This Hostile Existence, Left to Fall and many others. This music is for people who enjoy fast paced, meaningful music with a hint of bitterness. Flu recorded their latest album with Aliehn Productions and their cd release date is February 29, 2009. The CD signing will be in Lithuanian Hall at 7:00 pm in Manchester Connecticut.

If anyone is interesting in finding out more about this creative trio log on to http://www.myspace.com/ and type in "Flu - For Love and Brother" into the search box under music. This band is not to dissapoint!

The Academy Awards

On Sunday night, Hollywood went abuzz as all the stars came out for the prestigious ceremony for the 81st Academy Awards Ceremony. Though all nominees are worthy of recognition, only a few took home gold.

-Best Motion Picture of the Year: Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Christian Colson

-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Sean Penn for Milk (2008/I)

-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008)

-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008)

-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

-Best Achievement in Directing: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: Dustin Lance Black for Milk (2008/I)

-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: Simon Beaufoy for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

-Best Achievement in Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

-Best Achievement in Editing: Chris Dickens for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

-Best Achievement in Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

-Best Achievement in Costume Design: Michael O'Connor for The Duchess (2008)

-Best Achievement in Makeup: Greg Cannom for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score: A.R. Rahman for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

-Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song: A.R. Rahman, Sampooran Singh Gulzar("Jai Ho") for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

-Best Achievement in Sound: Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

-Best Achievement in Sound Editing: Richard King for The Dark Knight (2008)

-Best Achievement in Visual Effects: Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

-Best Animated Feature Film of the Year: WALL·E (2008): Andrew Stanton

-Best Foreign Language Film of the Year: Okuribito (2008)(Japan)

-Best Documentary, Features: Man on Wire (2008): James Marsh, Simon Chinn

-Best Documentary, Short Subjects: Smile Pinki (2008): Megan Mylan

-Best Short Film, Animated: Maison en petits cubes, La (2008): Kunio Katô

-Best Short Film, Live Action: Spielzeugland (2007): Jochen Alexander Freydank

For more information, please visit http://www.imdb.com/

State Radio Finishes Tour Strong

Last Saturday, the Cambridge-based rock/reggae band State Radio played the last show of their winter tour at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, RI. Front man Chad Stokes Urmston, formerly of Dispatch, said several times throughout the night that he was glad to be back near his hometown to finish the tour. His enthusiasm shone through on stage as State Radio delivered a very energetic and heartfelt performance. A mixture of reggae and ska influenced rock was delivered to the audience, something that has come to be expected at any State Radio show.

In addition to their own music, State Radio had several musical guests join them on stage throughout the show. Prominent among these was Spencer Swain, violinist for the band ZOX, and Liam Gallagher, lead singer from Oasis. They also played a cover of the song Baker Street with their sound engineer Adam "Apple Jack" Jackson on saxophone.

As ever, the energetic music was laced with socially conscious lyrics. In fact, before playing Camilo, arguably their most well-known song, Urmston urged the crowd to think about the service men and and women risking their lives abroad for the United States.

All in all, it was an excellent show and well worth attending. I would encourage anyone interested in reggae or roots rock to check out State Radio and, if possible, attend one of their shows.

Picture courtesy of www.pgkblog.com

RHAM Pep Rally

During 7th period today, RHAM High School held a pep rally to get the student body familiar with the many athletes within the school. Boys and girls indoor track, basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, cheerleading, dance, swimming, hockey, and UNIFIED teams were all introduced. Also, the dance team, the cheerleading squad, and the gymnastics team all gave preformances in front of the crowd. The rally was finished with an event known only as "The Mummification". Four members of each class raced to wrap a teacher from head to toe in toilet paper. Finally, after a hilarious two minutes, the senior class finished wrapping Mr. Law before any of the other classes.

The Pep Rally was a success overall and a great time for all those who attended.

Breaking News: Plane Crash in Buffalo

Late last night, a Continental airlines plane crashed into a house just outisde of Buffalo, New York. All forty nine people were killed in the crash, including all passengers, crew members, and one person inside the house. Four people were injured at the crash site as well. Those injured included the mother and daughter residing in the house at the time of the crash, and two firefighters. Luckily, all four suffered only minor injuries and have all been released from the hospital already. The plane hit the house directly, and both were completely destroyed upon impact. The plane was en route to Buffalo airport from Newark, New Jersey. Continental Airlines have named the cause of the crash to weather conditions. This has been the first fatal plane crash since August, 2006. Our hearts and prayers go out to all those involved in this tragic incident.



Source: http://www.cnn.com/

UPDATE: Australian Wildfire Suspect Arrested

Australian police have suspected for some time that some of the terrible wildfires in the region were set deliberately. Today, they arrested a man and charged him with starting a fire near Churchill that claimed at least 21 lives. He is in protective custody and his identity is not being released for fear of public retribution. He is also being charged with posessing child pornography.

The official death count for the fires as a whole has not changed since last posting, but more than 1,800 homes have been destroyed and five thousand more people have fled from burned or fire-threatened regions.

Source: www.msnbc.com

History Of Valentines Day

Valentines Day, celebrated on February 14, is a day of showing people how much you care about them. It is usually expressed with chocolates, cards, and fancy gifts.

The history behind this day is not entirely clear. Some believe this day comes from a bishop in the Roman Empire named Valentine around 270 A.D. It was said that Valentine was arranging secret marriages to soldiers and was put in jail to be executed. Others say he fell in love with his jailkeeper's daughter and wrote her a letter signed "from your Valentine". The bishop became known as "Saint Valentine" and his story spread to Europe and France.

Valentines Day has many symbols to show its romantic value. The most common ones are roses, hearts, and poems/songs. In Roman Mythology, Cupid with his bow and arrow, was the son of Venus, goddess of love. His arrows could make any person fall in love.

Valentines Day is more than just a commercial holiday, it is a day of love and romance. Though its origins are not clearly defined, we will continue to celebrate our loved ones every February 14.

Rham Track Team Going to States Tournament

After a successful season full of hard work and determined runners, the RHAM Indoor Track team of the 2008-2009 season has qualified for some events in the states tournament.


The States tournament brought runners such as Jordan Hasset, Nick Del Rosso, Ryan Keeney, Lauren White, Katie Wulftangem, Stephanie Eldridge, and many other Rham runners.

RHAM hopes to come home with awards and trophies and after the meet Thursday the 12th, you should find some of the runners and ask how they did. If you did end up going to the meet in New Haven, thanks for supporting the Sachems during this event, every fan helps.

A man holds family hostage after getting mad at a Wii game

On Sunday, a 46 year old New Britain man named Edgar Montalvo, was arrested for holding his own family hostage and then threatening to burn the house down. When Edgar asked his son to deal with the families dogs, he became very angry because his son didn't pause the Nintendo Wii game fast enough for Edgar. Edgar also proceeded to smash the Wii system and then throw it at the front door. After destroying the system, he then proceeded to also use a club-type weapon to hold the family members inside the house. Edgar is charged with disorderly conduct, second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree threatening, third-degree assault, two counts of second-degree unlawful restraint and risk of injury to a minor.



Source:

<http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Man-has-Wii-Fit-Holds-Family-Hostage.html>

February Vacation Calls For Interesting Plans

February vacation is nearing and many people are excited just to stay home and relax with not much work to be done. Yet while others are staying home enjoying some down time, there are a few RHAM students who are traveling across seas and spending their vacation doing many interesting activities. For many, the trips to France and Spain will last a duration of vacation and students will explore all parts of the country. For Spain, they will be visiting Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla and other small cities. The French students will see the sights of Paris, Avignon and Nice (pronounced "Niece"). One student is even taking a trip with her Greater Hartford Academy class to Germany during vacation and exclaims that she is very excited.


Traveling is only one of the activities on the list of things that vacation will bring. Some are going to visit colleges such as UMass and Amherst and exploring the educational field while others will be traveling throughout New England with retreats to Vermont and Massachusetts to spend time with friends and family or to enjoy skiing and snowboarding at the slopes. One other intriguing thing happening is a concert on the 21st at Lupo's Cafe in Massachusetts which will hold a concert for the politically influenced band State Radio. A group of students from RHAM will be attending and it is sure to be a great show. As for everyone at RHAM it is hoped that all of the students and faculty have a fun safe and good vacation.

The RHAM Girls Basketball Team Loses to Northwest Catholic

The RHAM girls basketball team lost to Northwest Catholic on Monday night. The game was played away and the final score was 41-54. The lady Sachems are now 3-11.

RHAM Boys Basketball Team Loses to Northwest Catholic

The RHAM boys basketball team lost to Northwest Catholic at home on Tuesday night. The final score was 54-70. The Sachems are now 6-9.

Australian Wildfires Claim Nearly 200

image: Agence France Presse via BBC News

The bushfires that have been sweeping the Australian state of Victoria over the weekend have claimed over 180 lives, according to the latest estimates. This number is likely to go up as rescue workers find more bodies amid the rubble of burned-out communities. In addition to the dead, over five hundred have been injured and thousands displaced. The fires have destroyed over 900,000 acres, or 1400 square miles. The cost in property loss is unknown, but likely to be very high. To see eyewitness accounts and pictures of the devastation, visit the BBC at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/asia_pacific/2009/australia_fires/default.stm.

CNN quotes Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as saying, "The seventh of February will become etched in our national memory as a day of disaster, of death and of mourning." The Salvation Army has raised over one million dollars in aid for refugees from the flames.

Sources: BBC, AFP, CNN

How Black History Month Came To Be

Black History Month has been being celebrated by Americans since 1926 when it was first known as "Negro History Week." Even though blacks have been around for a very long time it was not until about the 20Th century that they were respected in the history books. The "creator" of black history month was a man named Dr. Carter G. Woodson. While Woodson was studying as a doctor, he turned out to be very disturbed when he realized that the history books completely ignored the black population, and when they did gain their spot in the books, they were only referred to when talking about "inferior social position." Woodson wrote black Americans into history and also established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915, which is now referred to as the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History. Then in 1916, he founded the very much respected Journal of Negro History. Finally, in 1926, Woodson launched the first Negro History Week to bring awareness to the contributions of black people throughout American History. Woodson made this week the second week in February, and the reason behind this is because during that week are the birthdays of two very important men that influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Not only that but February was also the month when the 15Th amendment was passed in 1870; the first black US senator, Hiram R. Revels, took office (1870); and in 1909 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded.

Source: <www.infoplease.com/spot/blmintro1.html> and <http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html>






Black History Month is now a very big subject around the world. It is publicised on television and it reminds us of all of the important people in our past such as Martin Luther King, and how he opened so many doors with his 96 theses on the church doors. Even though you may not celebrate it as much as others, you should still respect it, equality is a big word, and it can change everything.

Update: Digital TV Transition Delayed

After further discussion, the House of Representatives has approved a plan to delay the shutoff of analog TV broadcasts. The prior deadline, February 17, has been moved to June 12. If you want to know more about digital TV and what you may need to do to prepare for the change, visit http://www.dtv.gov/.

Naming Cows Produces More Milk

A recent scientific study in England tested the idea that naming a cow will help to make it produce more milk. Catherine Douglas and Peter Rowlinson at Newcastle University conducted the study and came to the conclusion that the more attention given to the cow, such as giving it a name, will help produce a chemical in the brain that will make the cow more comfortable around humans. This will cause the cow to become less stressed and will create the hormone needed to make the milk. The test results showed that the milk amount gathered could increase by more than 68 gallons annually, normally cows produce an average of 2,000 gallons annually. Jon Bansen of Oregon believes in this method and says "if you have your cows named and the people who are working with them understand the cows and their behavior patterns better, they're going to get more milk out of them." Other farmers also believe that having a better relationship between the farmer and the cow will lead to fewer injuries while milking the cow.

source: www.usatoday.com

Litchfield boarding school closed until Feb. 11th

Forman Boarding School in Litchfield CT is being closed until Febuary 11th due to a major wave of the flu. The kids at Forman began getting sick during the week of Januray 31st and it hasn't stopped spreading. Blood tests were taken from various amounts of kids attending the school and the samples were taken to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. There, doctors examined them and discovered that the illness was a very contagious form of the flu that was also resistent to this season's flu vaccines. The school was supposed to open back up this week but the health department and the school's administration decided it would be best to have it remain closed. Students who hadn't been diagnosed yet with the illness and were still on campus were expected to leave by Wednesday night and public transportation was not provided. The dean of the school didn't want any possible exposure to occur, so he arranged other rides for them.

Source: <http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Second-Wave-of-Flu-Keeps-School-Closed.html>

Spain Trip at RHAM

On February 12, 2009 some students from RHAM will be flying to Spain for 9 days to explore and learn about its many wonders. Students will be visiting 3 major cities, Barcelona, Seville and Madrid. The first three days will be spent in Barcelona sightseeing. They will be visiting Parc Guell which is a garden complex with beautiful architectural structures that was built in 1990 and Casa Mila, a building designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, and was built for an extremely wealthy couple returning from America. Next the group will be taking an overnight train to Seville and will be visiting a local high school, taking a Flamenco dance lesson, and hunting for evidence of ancient Moorish civilization. The last two and a half days will be spent in Madrid where there will be a recreation of the Spanish Civil War, going to the Prado Museum, and the Reina Sofia Museum. The group is sure to have fun learning and experiencing the Spanish culture hands on.

Supreme Court Justice Undergoes Surgery

Last Saturday, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Banes Ginsberg had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in her pancreas. She underwent the surgery at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. After the surgery, doctors thought that the operation went well and they were "cautiously optimistic" about her condition, according to cnn.com.

Ginsberg had a colorectal cancer operated on in June of 1999. During that stay in the hospital, she continued to do legal work from her bed and never missed a single day on the Supreme Court Bench. Although she certainly has not enjoyed these experiences, Ginsberg said that they have given her a new perspective on life, "...there is nothing like a cancer bout to make one relish the joys of being alive. It is as though a special, zestful spice seasons my work and days. Each thing I do comes with a heightened appreciation that I am able to do it."

Chinese Drought

China is now going through a time that Chinas drought relief office calls "an event rarely seen in history." The drought happening in China is affecting many crops and may even continue affecting many farms until later summer. Many people are suffering from lack of water; and although China is doing a lot to try and help themselves, that may be hard because there is currently no rain in the forecast for about 10 days at the least. The country of China has experienced many droughts and floods in the past but there has recently been a very big increase in these intense weather conditions.

source: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7871964.stm>

Recap: Two Weeks of a New President

After two weeks of the new term, it's time for our first check-in on our Commander in Chief.

President Obama hit the ground running with an executive order calling for the closing of the naval detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, an executive order making Presidential records available to the public, and a pay freeze for all White House senior staff to save on operating costs in light of the economy, all within two days of the inauguration. Since then, he has approved legislation providing health insurance to children of low-income families, created a task force to restore the stability of the middle class, called for relief to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, imposed limits on compensation for executives in companies that will receive bailout money, and fought for an updated economic stimulus package.

However, even in the early days of his term, the President cannot avoid controversy. Tom Daschle, the President's appointee to Secretary of Health and Human Services, withdrew his nomination on Tuesday amid outcry over his unpaid taxes. Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury, had a similar problem, but was confirmed by the Senate. Obama's previous nominee for Treasury Secretary, Gov. Bill Richardson, withdrew his nomination on January 4th ecause of an investigation into his conduct.

Still, Obama and his administration have handled the transition into office fairly smoothly, with the majority of cabinet positions filled and the business of government continuing to function well. As part of a commitment to clear communications with the public, the White House is now posting all executive orders and presidential memoranda on its website, along with a blog of government affairs and a weekly video address, all of which can be accessed at http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/.

Elective Courses

There has been rumor at RHAM that there will be a cut in the elective courses offered. Yet it is still undecided which courses or even if there is a need to cut any courses. It all depends on the Arbitrators' decision regarding the teacher contracts and salaries. The decision is supposed to be made by February 23rd. This decision will allow the administration to draft a budget that they will then present to the Board of Ed.

There are two different types of budgets that the Board will be choosing from. There is a continuation budget, meaning that the school will continue on with what they are doing, and with the same budget that they currently have. This will be cause for the cutting of elective courses due to the growing class sizes in the school. There is also the 2 and a half percent increase budget. This would allow the school to hire new teachers to be able to teach all of the now offered elective courses.

Once the Board agrees with the budget proposal they present it to the three towns, Andover, Marlborough, and Hebron, and the towns will vote. If it gets denied then the budget will go for revision and go for another vote, this will continue until a budget is agreed upon by all of the towns.

This year RHAM is having its students select courses earlier so that they can figure out the demand for teachers for elective courses. Also Mr. Leslie is takng the number of students and figuring out the number of core classes, such as English or math for underclassmen, that are needed so that they are not overflowing with students. If a budget passes that allows the school to have enough money to hire the teachers that are necessary then there will be no cuts in the elective courses. Yet if the budget does not allow the school to hire new teachers, then the school will start to have to cut elective courses in the departments that are short of teachers.

The way that the administration is going to decide to cut courses is not strictly based on the number of students signed up. The other major factor that will be a part in the decisions is value of the class to the students as well as their future. If it is a class that a student could find elsewhere, such as online, or that is very similar to another course offered then it might be one of the first to be cut.

Keep looking for updates on this subject as the story develops.

Hoobastank Music Review

The band Hoobastank, formed by 3 high school friends in 1994, has been attaining fame and success rather rapidly over the past 14 years. The band is made up of the vocalist/song writer, Doug Robb, Dan Estrin on guitar, and Chris Hesse on drums. The band is most famous for their song The Reason which was a chart topping hit. They have already come out with two CD's. Their self-titled album along with "The Reason."

Hoobastank has now released their newest album "For(n)ever." The first single to be released of the album is titled My Turn. The song has an alternative feel as does the rest of their album. The lyrics are inspirational and speak of getting the recognition that people deserve. It talks about the struggles people go through in order to achieve their goals saying things like "I'm sick and tired of payin' my dues, Play the game till the end then I lose, So can somebody tell me, When's it gonna be my turn." The lyrics relate to everyday people which makes the song easy to connect with.

The band is proud to say that a lot of hard work went into creating this album. They admitted it took a bit longer to create a set of tracks they were satisfied with but were happy with the end result. Overall, everyone should be happy with the end result. Their new single and the album are well made and enjoyable. I give My Turn a 5 out of 5.

Spanish Teacher Visits Peru

The Spanish culture has always been intriguing to Americans and is so much more diverse than some that it brings a sense of wonder to people. Interestingly enough, one of the world language teachers here at RHAM, Senora Rametta, visited three cities in Peru last week. A teacher convention by NETC is a company that organizes student trips. Once invited, she could not refuse. The journey began on Thursday, January 22 with the group's first visit in the capital city now, Lima.

Lima, Peru has a lot of historical information and is a busy metropolis which attracts tourists looking for something different in the entertainment world. The indingenous people were the first to inhabit Lima. Two Pre-Incan pyramids are called Huasca Pucllana built in 200 A.D and Huallamanca built in 200 B.C. Other attractions the teachers visited were the Plaza de Amas and the Cathedral in Lima which date back to the17th century. The museums were quite impressive as the way they were contructed was much different to that of the American decor. The Library in the Monasterio de San Francisco had spiral staircases and the books dating back to the days of the conquistadores were not as closely taken care of. In Lima, although not a very interesting landscape, the people and entertainment establishments are what make it worth visiting.

Another famous city visited was Cuzco, the archeological capital where present and past come together. Senora explained that Cuzco was very beautiful and showed more character than Lima at times. She took great interest in the interlocking stones they assembled which created a moument called Sacsayhuaman, an indian name. The group found it interesting that The Incas believed in an earth mother called Pachamama and she was fed by pouring your beverage onto the ground. Oddly enough, a special delicacy consists of roasted guinea pig which Senora even tried. The school that the group visited was Bernardo Tambohuacso and when they arrived, the girls and boys were in two separate lines on opposite sides leading to the entrance of the school and warmly welcomed the group. Before the trip, Senora Rametta had students from her Spanish classes contribute by placing school related items in a box for children in Peru to use at school.

Peru is famous for its llama population and AwanaKancha is the place where they are raised. Senora Rametta took pictures of a newborn Al Paca and how the people in Cuzco rely on llamas for their textiles. It's an interesting city and has an earthly feel that Lima does not present.

The last major place the group was shown was Machu Piccu. Machu Picchu meaning "old mountain" is an attractive tourist destination. Discovered in 1911, approximately 1000 people used to live in this city hidden between the mountains. It is not solely Machu Piccu; the other young mountain is named Huayna Piccu. Senora Rametta explored the city and saw the temple of the sun which is a round tower that shows the outstanding stonework done. The fog is gorgeous coming in from between the two mountains and Machu Picchu has its own irrigation system. It is said that more women inhabited the area than men. It was a sublime feeling as Senora walked through Machu Picchu.

Peru certainly has many incredible features and things to offer. Senora said she would definitely go back and that it was an experience she will always remember.

Middle School Evacuated

Windsor Locks Middle School was evacuated today after a science teacher smelled a foul odor in a science room used for lab experiments.

Because of the snowy weather, the students of the middle school were already let out early. According to Courant.com, "Superintendent of Schools Gregory W. Little said about a dozen faculty and staff were evacuated."

The science teacher who first smelled the odor later discovered a broken bottle in a cabinet. But, this bottle was not normally used by students, and officials tried to find out what exactly was in the bottle.

At first, the Windsor Locks fire department responded to the scene, but the State Department of Environmental Protection took over later.

Blood, Sweat, and Glory: "The Wrestler" Review

"I'm a broken down piece of meat, and I deserve to be alone. I just don't want you to hate me." Acclaimed director Darron Aronofsky delivers yet again with what could be called the greatest movie of the decade. "The Wrestler" is amazingly powerful film that tells the story of aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson. The Ram was considered one of the greatest of all time, famous for his classic match with The Ayatollah in the 1980's. Now well into his forties, Randy begins to struggle with life, knowing that he cannot wrestle forever. Now well past his golden age, Randy barely gets work wrestling for little independent wrestling companies and signing autographs.

When his health begins to go, Randy finally starts to reconcile with his life outside the squared circle. He begins to mend to his troubled relationship with his estranged daughter, he falls in love with a stripper, and starts working full time at a grocery store. For a moment, Randy is happy. His life is finally starting to mend, until the roar of the crowd and the glory of leaping off the top rope tempt him back into the ring for one finally shot at super stardom. Overall, this was without a doubt one of the best movies I have ever had the privelege of viewing. Randy Robinson is played by Mickey Rourke, Hollywood's official badboy. Never before has a character and his actor had such a parallel storyline. Mickey's acting career has always been held back by his bad attitude and drug problems. In "The Wrestler", Mickey Rourke puts on the performance of a lifetime, and much like The Ram, may have finally got his shot to be back on top. Randy Robinson is without a doubt one of the most unique and conflicting characters to ever grace the silver screen. You can love him, and you can hate him at the same time. Mickey Rourke can make you laugh, and he can just as easily make you cry. He can make you cheer for The Ram just as if you were there in the crowd, watching him leap from the top rope onto his fallen opponent.

The story is one that has never before been told, and is one that gives the audience a look at the stories of the guys people pay to watch tear each other apart. The film has already taken home two Golden Globe wins, and one nomination. Mickey Rourke won Best Actor in a Motion Picture while Bruce Springsteen won Best Original Song. Rourke's co-star Marisa Tomei was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture. Rourke and Tomei also have their hopes up for taking home Academy Awards at this years ceremony. Overall, "The Wrestler" is absolutely a must see. It is such a crime that this film has not been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. This film is without a doubt a 9.5 out of 10. Follow one of the most moving stories of all time and witness the ressurection of Mickey Rourke and Randy "The Ram" Robinson.



For more information, http://www.imdb.com/

EARLY DISMISSAL

RHAM High School and Middle School will dismiss early today at 12:15 due to the weather. Lunch will not be served. All after-school activities are cancelled.

Superbowl: Steelers Take Victory Over Cardinals: Reactions.

As many know, the Superbowl was played yesterday night, Sunday February 1, with the Pittsburg Steelers taking on the Arizona Cardinals. Many were in favor of the Steelers to take the victory and they did in a close match up. Both teams displayed tremendous effort and sportsmanship. What were people's inital reactions to the superbowl? Here are some responses from last nights championship:





Q. What was your favourite part of the superbowl?



A"I loved seeing the Steelers win over the Cardinals!"

"When that defensemen number 92? Yea, when he ran 100 yards after an intercepted pass to gain the touchdown...that was amazing!"

"Bruce Springsteen had so much energy, I loved the halftime show"

"The commercials make the game."

"Springsteen put on a great halftime show!"

"Some of the players were getting in small fights and I thought that was intense man"



Q.What was your least favourite part about the superbowl?



"I mean, the commercials definitely could have been better, they were not that great."

"I just thought it was boring"

"I have learned that if you watch the last quarter of the game, you see the whole game, it's not exciting anymore, but I was rooting for the Cardinals"

"The commercials were not very creative. Only a few were funny, I look forward to seeing those!





Whether you were rooting for the Steelers or the Cardinals, both teams played very well and showed a sense of true competiton. From the instant replays to the half time show to the commercials, the Superbowl was definitely a great game and both teams played to the fullest.

Pebbles Found in Chili; Recall Started

According to Reuters, Windsor Food Co. Ltd. in Oklahoma is recalling 676,000 pounds of frozen chili products on the grounds that pebbles have been found in several 5 and 20 pound bags of their "Chili with Beans". The recall was announced on Friday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture after sixteen consumers found "foreign objects" in their food. Four of these people reported injuries. This contamination was found by joint commission of U.S.D.A. and Justice Department officials investigating branches of the company Peanut Corp of America, whose peanut butter caused the recent salmonella scare. According to the commission, the pebbled chili was produced between November 8th and January 13th and was distributed to various food service and limited retail establishments.

(Image courtesy of www.brian.borups.org)

BASEBALL UMPIRE CLINIC

If any one in the RHAM area is interested in umpireing rec. baseball games in Hebron, Andover, and Marlborough then please join us at the high school next Tuesday the 10th, in the lecture hall room 115. All are welcome. For first timers it will cost $35. This fee includes a rule book and indicator as well as an embroidered patch and certificate at the completion of the course. Returning umpires will need $10.

Classes run from 7:00pm to 9:00pm every Tuesday and Thursday starting the 10th through the middle of April. Umpires from the class are recognized in the towns of Hebron, Andover, Marlborough, Salem, Bozrah, East Hampton, Coventry, Lebanon and Bolton. For more information call Chris Cowles in Hebron 228-0466 or Scott Billings in Marlborough 295-1452.