Jon McLaughlin Music Review

Jon McLaughlin, a talented pianist and signer has released a new single titled "Beating My Heart." This song has a pop feel but is nicely accompanied with drums, piano, and guitar.

Over the past few years, Jon McLaughlin has become an accomplished singer and song writer. He had an Oscar-nominated hit called "So Close" which he sang in the Disney Move, Enchanted. His debut album Indiana gained 420,000 fans when featured as the Download of the Week. Along with topping the charts, McLaughlin went on tour with artists such as Sara Bareilles, Paolo Nutini, Kelly Clarkson, and One Republic. He is now working on his sophomore album OK Now. He is exploring different sounds and comparing his sound to Coldplay and Billy Joel. Jon McLaughlin writes his songs based on things he went through such as his high school experience, or things that he sees going on like the relationship between singer Amy Winehouse and her husband Blake.

McLaughlin's new single shows that has great range vocally. It also demonstrates his skill as a pianist. His lyrics discuss how Jon is not sure about a lot going on in life, except his love for a woman. He may attract a female following due to his good looks. I would give McLaughlin an 8 out of 10. He demonstrates a great amount of talent and is sure to have a promising future.

In the News

[The following information was provided by the RHAM Honors Global Studies class]



Karzai Discusses Possible Taliban Peace Talks in Afghanistan


Summary: From 1995-2002, the Taliban, an extremist Islamic regime has ruled Afghanistan under harsh pressure. While they ruled, Afghanistan's economic and political stability plummeted and the people suffered greatly. But now, Hamid Karzai's brother claims to have met with former Taliban seniors as a first step towards peace talks. If the Taliban do finally agree to join peace talks, it will be a great relief to the people and the government. However, it still will not be easy to satisfy all of their requirements or incorporate all the extremist groups in the nation.
Analysis: In 2001, the Taliban caused Afghanistan to fall apart. Now, the president is beginning to discuss peace between the people of Afghanistan and the Taliban. This will allow the country to rebuild and once again become stable. Rebuilding the nation requires much work from not only the people but also their alliances. This peace treaty will mean hope for Afghanistan and begin to build again. If the Taliban is at peace, there won't be any reason for Afghanistan to fall apart again. In this situation, the best move for Afghanistan to make is to negotiate with the Taliban and focus on realism rather than idealism. With the Taliban on their side, Afghanistan will be on a road to recovery.


[detailed background information on this topic is available in a text document at: http://www.rhamhs.reg8.k12.ct.us/Departments/Technology%20Education/Website/Afghanistan.txt ]

RHAM Girls Soccer Senior Night

On Monday night, the RHAM girls varsity soccer team held their annual Senior Night. This is to honor the seniors in their last home game of the regular season. The events started with the game against Plainville. The field was decorate with balloons and posters put up by the underclassmen to show their appreciation for their seniors. RHAM was victorious with a score of 3 to 2. Olivia Rivosa scored the first goal of the game and her second of the season. Ashley Russo and Ashley Schwer scored the two following goals.

After the game the team along with the coaches honored all of the seniors with flowers and gifts. The team sported tie dye shirts with "I love our seniors" for the underclassmen and "I survived RHAM girls soccer," for the seniors. The seniors being honored were captains Alyce Jovanelly, Amanda Smith, and Kathryn Turlo as well as Katie Keurian, Lizz Dandeneau, Mariah Barrows, and Micaela Connelly. This presentation was followed by a cookout where all the players and their families could enjoy a meal together and reflect on the season. The team has their final game against Rocky Hill on Wednesday to end the regular season. Their first state tournament game is on November 4th. The Sachems are now 8-6-1 (w-l-t).

Andover Fire

An allied effort consisting of fire personnel from Andover, Columbia, North Coventry, South Coventry, Lebanon and Hebron helped put out a blaze in Andover on Sunday night. The call of the incident was received at about 7 pm, reporting a house fire at 69 Burnap Brook, Andover. The fire was extinguished succesfully, leaving the home damaged and no injuries.

Source: http://www.courant.com/

Homecoming Dance

The annual Homecoming Dance was held at RHAM on Saturday, October 24th. "The money from the Homecoming Dance goes to the senior class funds,"said Mr. Tom. Mueller, vice-principal at RHAM High School. There were about 600 tickets sold for the Homecoming Dance. The homecoming dance was hosted by RHAM's senior class but the Homecoming court was run by the RHAM cheerleaders. "I think this year's homecoming dance was a huge success! The kids had a lot of fun and there were no incidents," Mr. Mueller stated.

Senior Study- New TV for fishbowl

Many seniors might be upset about having senior study in the fishbowl because there has not been a television in that room in the past. That will change as of today, October 28, 2008. There is a working television with cable just like the tv in the original senior study spot. There is something new about this television that is taking place and will soon be taking place in the other tv's in the school. This new tv in the fishbowl has a program called the v-chip. The v-chip allows the administration to more closely control what channels can be aired on the tv.

Fable II Game Review

From Lionhead Studios comes the amazing sequel to the original Fable brought to you on the Xbox 360 console. Set 500 years after the events of the first Fable, released August 1, 2004, Fable II, released October 21, 2008, is everything Fable was and much MUCH more. The Fable series is part of the gaming genre of RPG (role-playing game) where the player takes control of the central main character and leads him through a story line. Fable 2 is set in the land of Albion where the heroes of old have passed from the everyday to myth and legend. The main character, known only as Hero, sets out on a journey to avenge the childhood murder of his sister. The first main difference I noticed when I started playing Fable II was the ability to chose whether the hero would be a boy or a girl. The graphics are based around the same idea as the first game.
Fable II's story line is a one of a kind experience where everything your character does has its own effect on the land around you. Good deeds are rewarded with cheers from towns folk and a happy Albion while the evil deeds will be greeted with fear and darkness. The revolutionary fighting system and leveling system the game uses is very nice. The first Fable game was released with many promises made by the publisher that were left unfilled. Fable II is the fulfillment of those promises and more. 9 out of 10 and worth getting.