Amazing Week!

So I realized that I never did that last blog post. And so, that is what I shall do. Better late than never right?

The week at Grady was absolutely amazing! I must admit that I was really nervous that everyone at camp would have a ton of experience or be unfriendly, or the teachers would expect us to have a ton of background knowledge. This was my first real experience with journalism, though I have played around with the thought in my head for a few years (ever since I discovered that I legitimately enjoyed writing). For a very long time I thought that news writing was the only kind of journalism and this discouraged any future discover in the field. I knew that news writing probably would not be the most enjoyable for me. And now I find feature writing and realize that it is truly the perfect fit for someone like me. I think writing and reading the reviews and profiles made me realize this. The articles weren't just cut and dry. They told a story, and in the end, that's all I really want to do.

I truly did learn more than I imagined last week. I finally know something about journalism and I have 2 articles, a music review, and a profile to prove it!

Lastly, I just want to say thank you to all of you guys, my fellow Grady Gleeks, and of course our amazing teacher Mary Jessica! You guys made camp better than it possibly could have been. It was awesome to meet you and I really hope we can keep up with this blog to stay in touch! I'd love to hear from you guys. And if you have a blog and posted the url somewhere on this blog, I'll be stalking you via that :]. My blog is www.dailyraz.blogspot.com and I should be adding a post about the week at Grady quite soon! Hope you check it out and let me know what you think :]

You guys are amazing (I know I've probably used that word way too many times in this one post, but there really isn't a better adjective!) and thanks again for everything! :]

So proud of you all!

I usually don't post to the blog after camp ends (which I think it's safe to say has happened - I just left the awards ceremony), but Jordan mentioned that some of you might want to keep the blog going in some way. That's totally fine with me! I'd love for you all to stay in touch with each other. PLEASE keep writing in some way - for your newspapers or magazines or websites, or your own blogs, or this blog, or poetry in a notebook, or short stories or novels, whatever! You are all so talented, and I mean that!

Review

“She's just an American riding dream/ And she's got a rainbow syrup in her heart that she bleeds/ She don't care if your papers or love is a law/ She's a free soul burning roads with a flag in her bra,” sings Lady Gaga in her song “Highway Unicorn (Road To Love)” on her new album “Born This Way.” The tenth track on the album, “Highway Unicorn (Road To Love)” describes Lady Gaga and her journey, and, in fact, the entire album seems to embody a little less of Lady Gaga and a little more of Stefani Germanotta, or maybe, the two are just becoming one.

When “Born This Way” was released on May 23, Little Monsters everywhere rejoiced as they immersed themselves in the soul-bearing and honest lyrics and the artistic and imaginative music of their mother monster. The CD begins with “Marry The Night,” a party track that professes Lady Gaga’s love for her hometown of New York City. Each song on the CD is in someway very personal to Lady Gaga; through every song, listeners discover the magnitude of Lady Gaga’s faith, the way she feels about her road to success and how passionate Lady Gaga really is about feminism, equality and reforming the social structure. For example, the seventh track on the album, “Scheiße,” is all about women having the power within themselves to not have to ask for permission to act the way that they want to. “The Queen,” the 15^th track on the special edition of the album, and “The Edge of Glory,” the 14^th track on the album, also express Lady Gaga’s messages of conquering fears and “being unafraid to be great.” Almost every song on the album speak about Lady Gaga’s religion, but Lady Gaga’s songs “Judas” and “Black Jesus † Amen Fashion” specifically mention her Christian faith and love for JESUS. In “Judas,” Lady Gaga sings, “Jesus is my virtue,” and in “Black Jesus † Amen Fashion,” Lady Gaga sings, “JESUS is the new black,” and then proceeds to sing about wearing and professing her love and willingness to serve GOD everyday. Lady Gaga also makes another bold profession about her religion in the 13^th track, “Yoü and I.”

“There's only three men that Ima serve my whole life/ It's my daddy and Nebraska and Jesus Christ.”

Lady Gaga often tells of her father and her love for him in her lyrics. She also mentions both her parents in the sixth track, “Hair.”

“Whenever I'm dressed cool, my parents put up a fight.

(Uh huh, uh huh)

And if I'm hot shot, mom will cut my hair at night.

(Uh huh, uh huh)

In the morning, I'm short of my identity.

(Uh huh, uh huh)

I scream mom and dad why can't I be who I wanna be?”

“Hair” delivers the message of being unafraid to be oneself, along with the second track, “Born This Way,” which, in addition, calls for equality for all.

Lady Gaga’s “Born This Album” also displays a new musicality and elevated artistry in Lady Gaga’s music. Lady Gaga explores a new futuristic sound in songs like “Judas,” “Bloody Mary” and “Government Hooker,” then contrasts that sound by including songs with a 1980s sound, like “The Edge of Glory” and “Hair.” Lady Gaga also collaborated with Brian May, the writer of “We Will Rock You” by Queen, on the music for “Yoü and I.”

With this personal CD and Lady Gaga’s improved artistry and talent, Lady Gaga can expect a few Grammy’s and more this upcoming awards season; however, no awards could ever match the supports from her little monsters.

Book Review: Never Let Me Go

Kazuo Ishiguro’s science-fiction novel Never Let Me Go (2005) follows the poignant lives of three main characters Kathy, Ruth and Tommy. The story is told in the eyes of Kathy H. who mainly focuses on her relationship with Ruth and Tommy. She draws the audience in by teasing that she worked as a “carer” for 11 years and that she gives assistant to patients called “donors”. The eerie wording of this first page lets the readers know that Kathy’s job is uncommon and the way that she simply pushes the topic off for later hints that it is significant. From there the audience is taken on a recount of the melancholy lives of the students of Hailsham boarding school.
Hailsham is praised for being the best boarding school, and the kids who attended have been taught that they are privileged to be attending such an institution. Women known as the “guardians” have placed this since of high self esteem in them. These “guardians” can only be compared to as teachers. However once again there is a feeling of something unusual about the “guardians” whom scare the students into staying on campus, have the students screened weekly by a doctor, and stay curiously distant from the children. The most bizarre behavior from the “guardians” is their strong emphasis on the children’s art skills, which is hinted as an outlet for self expression. The students feel that their art is extremely important and have a desire to have their art collected by a woman known only as “Madame”, who puts them into what the students have titled the “Gallery”.
Throughout Kathy’s retelling of her childhood in Hailsham the readers learn that the students are really clones and have been physically prepared to donate their organs to sickly people, and that the “guardians” have pampered their childhoods with ideas that they weren’t much different from everyone else. It is a grim and touching story that accurately parallels the flight of all people during their adolescent years. By centering on cloning, Ishiguro is able tell the social life of most children, with their broken friendships, jealousy, rivalry, and hope, in a more remarkable way. The Hailsham kids have been disconnected from the real world, and like most children, have concocted rumors, trends, and inside jokes in order to keep themselves connected. Ishiguro perfectly takes us on a journey with Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth, and lets us understand every element about their intricate personalities. We have an understanding of Kathy’s ability to construe situations, her naiveté, and even her sensitivity to rejection and her hunger to be loved. Readers also feel connected to Tommy, the once young boy with an awful temper who had been shunned from group games and conversations that grew up into a thoughtful man, there is a sense of heroism in Tommy. Finally there is Ruth, the character that readers may initially hate, do to her manipulative and bossy ways, but soon pity when we learn about her longing to fit in, her sensitive personality, and most importantly her hope for a real life.
Hope, is what really the story became to be about. Hailsham was initially created to give the clones some hope or some idea that they were still people. The art projects had such strong emphasis so that the guardians could have some hope to continue their projects. Hope is what fueled Ruth, Tommy, and Kathy’s adventures in the story, and finally it is what ended it all. The lack of hope is what ultimately ended their adventure and what the story is about. Ishiguro produces a beautiful story about the struggles of life through the eyes of clones that aren’t considered people at all. It’s a beautiful story about self-identity and having something to live for.

Summer I Turned Pretty

The book of the summer

By: Crystal Hermond

Kennesaw Mountain High School

The moment I stepped into Barnes & Noble, I was on a mission. Straight ahead was the customer service counter which I quickly forged my way to.

“Excuse me; do you happen to have the book The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han?” I asked with a hint of desperation in my voice.

The lady slowly looked up from her book, smiled and said “Let me check.” After what seemed like forever she finally gave me the thumbs up the store had it in stock and kindly showed me to where it was. The second I had the paperback book in my hands a huge grin couldn’t help but plaster itself on my face.

As an avid reader, I choose at least two books to read over the summer. Last summer was the Twilight series but this time The Summer I Turned Pretty made it on my exclusive list. I heard nothing but great reviews so I was both excited and curious to see what all the hype was about- it’s safe to say the book didn’t disappoint.

“I will never look at you in the same way ever again. I’ll never be that girl again. The girl who comes running back every time you push her away, the girl who loves you anyway.” This is a quote nicely summarizing the whole plot of the book. Every year Belly, her mom and brother travel down to their beach house which they share with Belly mom’s best friend and her two boys Jeremiah and Conrad. Belly has always had a burning love for Conrad, who is three years older than her, but that summer everything changes. The instant she stepped out of her mom’s van Jeremiah and Conrad eyes’ are locked on none other than Belly. This is the summer she turns pretty.

This book isn’t the typical sappy love story where at the end everything is sunshine and rainbows. No, this book has many different layers which slowly begin to unfold once you venture deeper into the book. Even when you may feel as if you know what to expect, the unexpected inevitably happens. The Summer I Turned Pretty doesn’t only depict Jeremiah, Conrad, and Belly’s relationship but also acts as a bildungsroman novel focusing on the growth and maturity of Belly through her many mishaps and triumphs.

If you want a book to read tanning by the pool or whenever you’re cooped up in the bedroom, this will have you turning the pages frantically to get to the very end. If you liked The Summer I Turned Pretty then you’ll also enjoy It’s Not Summer Without You, and We’ll Always Have Summer which are the next books in the series and is a continuation of the complicated relationship between Belly Jeremiah and Conrad.  

CocoRosie and Grey Oceans

What happens when one mixes blues with hip hop and children’s toy sounds? CocoRosie is what happens. This musical duo, comprised of sisters Sierra and Bianca Casady, takes music to an entirely different level. They’re known for their beautiful piano and harp melodies, along with their half-rap half-opera vocal style. In their most recent album, Grey Oceans, the Casadys take CocoRosie to another level.

It’s apparent this album has had more money and more time put into it than previous albums. The instrumentals are absolutely fabulous, like the horn piece in the song “Lemonade.” In the track “Smokey Taboo,” the Casadys portray an almost transcendtal feel, which contrasts with the normal synth-folk style of their songs. The lyrics also seem to hit the listener powerfully.“I get depressed in fancy hotel rooms, undressed, with nothing to flaunt but my loneliness,” immediately makes people ponder after listening to the phrase.

Bianca Cassady’s raspy and unique voice gives the songs more emotion and depth. Her voice is a portrayel of the hardships she and her sister have faced. The biggest tragedy the two girls’ share with their fans is the death of their younger brother. He is the theme to many of their songs, even including his baby crib on stage when performing. The Cassady sisters let their fans temporarily come inside their own little world through their music.

Grey Oceans has been their most successful album yet, with musicOHM giving it four out of five stars. They create their music for their own enjoyment, not for the enjoyment of their audience. This is why their sound is truly original.

"The Help"

I'm so sad that the week is already over! I have learned so much in these past few days, and I am truly grateful for this awesome experience. Hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the summer, and I will miss you all! 


_________________________________________________________________________

In this world, there are millions of books to read, some fantastic, and some not so fantastic. I’ve enjoyed a countless number of novels over the past years, but some works inspire me more than others. Specifically, “The Help,” by: Kathryn Stockett, a masterpiece placing its readers in the 1960’s. Not only is this book set in the past, but it also tells a story of history: a fight for civil rights. 

Every chapter of this novel is from the perspective of a different character, enabling the audience to see inside the minds of various personalities. The diversity of opinions makes for a wonderful tale full of struggle against inequality and struggle against doing what is right.

Skeeter, a 22-year-old blonde woman, returns home after graduating from college. She and her two best friends, Elizabeth and Hilly, have weekly meetings to have lunch and discuss elite events. The help, specifically a maid called Aibileen, has to serve these women and listen to their complaints about the integration of blacks and whites. Hilly specifically treats the black women as lower class in comparison to herself although she is truly the one who is “lower class.” Hilly is one of the most aggravating antagonists I’ve ever read about. She thinks the “help” should have separate bathrooms, separate food to eat, and separate places to eat. Skeeter later becomes infatuated with curiosity regarding how these maids feel serving snobby white women such as Hilly. Once Hilly learns of this obsession that Skeeter has, the two women end their friendship, and Skeeter befriends the maid Aibileen and other friends of Aibileen’s. Skeeter interviews all of these women and attempts to publish a novel from their point of view as “the help.” Skeeter is successful and a whole stream of dramatic events plays out.

This novel has a variety of twists, a lot of romance, and a lot of drama. To those who have never read it, I highly recommend it. Stockett does a fantastic job of creating a story that represents the past so well. The readers truly feel the emotions of the characters, and it truly is an overwhelming feeling. I hope Stockett writes more! 

Looking at my schedule for today truly was bittersweet seeing that this is the last day of camp! I can't wait to bring back to my staff the things I have learned this week. I have learned to write with my own personal style along with getting my message across clearly and precisely. I also have learned how to apply the rules of AP Style to my pieces. I had never heard of AP Style before I came to came to camp! I am so thankful to have that book to help me prepare for college level writing.

I was surprised that feature stories range on such a broad level. I was expecting for us to be assigned stories that were short and specific, but we got to have so much freedom. I loved getting to write about what I care about, volunteering, and I love that I could write close to 700 words!

The most difficult thing about camp for me was co-writing my articles. I have never done a co-written piece, so it took me a while to adjust. My partner was amazing, but it was still hard for me to hold back on my personal style and divide the work load evenly. I loved getting to co-write though, because I know that I will face this challenge again and need to be prepared.

The most fun I had this week was exploring downtown Athens! Having lunch at the local Grill was great, and the shopping was amazing. The shops I stepped into ranged from vintage consignment to high-end dresses, and I came away with two pairs of patterned shorts. It was a hit! The experience wouldn't have been the same though without the friends that I have made. Walking the sidewalks with Kierstin, Carrie, and Courtney with all of us pointing to the fashion, laughing and striding was an experience that made a memory that I will always hold.

The most valuable lesson this camp has taught me is that I need to face unknown experiences with confidence and trust. The nerves weren't worth it. I have made such good friends and have learned to be a better writer. This week has been incredible, and I am truly thankful for my experience.

“Water for Elephants”

“Water for Elephants” Movie Review

By: Carly Kanwisher

George Walton Comprehensive High School

“I don't know if I picked that circus. But something told me that circus picked me.” -Jacob Jankowski

Movie remakes rarely live up to the integrity of their book counterparts. However the opposite is true for “Water for Elephants”. Directed by Francis Lawrence, starring Reese Witherspoon (as Marlena) and Robert Pattinson (as Jacob Jankowski), the film truly brings the book to life, while at the same time creating a story that people who haven’t read the book can still understand and enjoy.

The plot is set in the US during the1930’s in the heat of the Great Depression. A man named Jacob Jankowski leaves town after his parent’s tragic deaths. A Cornell vet student, he finds work in a traveling circus as a large animal vet and begins a journey filled with vivid characters, villains, friends, and love.

As Jacob’s love interest, Marlena is portrayed as a beautiful orphan that left a life of poverty for a wealthy but abusive husband. Witherspoon does a great job of channeling Marlena’s conflicted feelings for her husband and the young hired help.

In turn, Pattinson completely shifts from his well known “Twilight” persona and adapts one that is much older and more sophisticated teenage counterpart. The relationship between Witherspoon and Pattinson is commanding; it pulls the audience though their rollercoaster journey.

While Pattinson and Witherspoon’s acting is outstanding, the supporting roles are what really make the film. Walter (Mark Povinelli), Camel (Jim Norton), and finally Tai’s performance as Rosie the elephant, all help to create a quirky family that views can’t help but love and sympathize with.

Bye Guys :(

I had a lot of fun this week! This was a great experience and I would love to come back next year. I learned a lot about journalism in general, but specifically how to write a good feature story and how to interview people (two things that I've never done before). I'm glad I came and now I want to be on my school's newspaper staff for sure. UGA is a really good school, and I'm really thinking about coming here now. I, and almost everyone else, have been running on little sleep this week but it went by pretty fast. I've met some new people, and learned a lot! I don't regret it all :)

"The Way It Was"

By Sara Dada

"Oh just give something, something to believe in” concludes the chorus of the rock group Parachute’s first hit single, “Something to Believe In,” off of their sophomore album “The Way It Was,” produced by John Fields. And they sure do give every fan something to believe in. The heart wrenching lyrics and the soul splitting melodies of each instrument, including very lengthy saxophone solos, make every listener feel a range of emotion after just one song.

The University of Virginia graduates made their way to fame with the quintessential love song “She Is Love” from their debut album, “Losing Sleep,” two years ago. And in that time, the “blue-eyed soul, pop, alternative rock” group has matured beyond their ages. The majority of the tracks on the album are still about love, but they elicit emotions in a much different way. Lead vocalist, guitarist, pianist and songwriter, Will Anderson, takes writing to a whole new level by giving in to his creative side and using stories made up in his head as the basis for many of the new songs.

The former album was the band’s first dip into the pool that is the music industry. Their first few strokes were tentative, but kept them afloat. Now, with more experience and confidence, “The Way It Was” is a dive back in to the turbulent waters. Even the first track, “White Dress,” is a loud and energetic tune that makes anyone want to dance around in his or her room.

Though they have grown, in skill and fan base, the group does not forget their beginnings. They are the same people, playing the same instruments, but in a way that sets them apart from this auto-tuned world we are living in. On their website, Anderson describes their sound as “real music played by real musicians on real instruments.

“The Way It Was” is a very retrospective album filled with nine tracks of love, discovery, heartbreak, growing up and even delinquents on the run (“You keep the car, I’ll get the cash, we’ll take the money and run”). In just two years, the heartthrobs of Parachute have developed into more talented and popular musicians who can appeal to people of all ages from any backgrounds. Just imagine where they’ll be in another two years.

A Coffee Shop With A New Definition of Care, Jittery Joe’s

A Coffee Shop With A New Definition of Care, Jittery Joe’s

There is something unique about the little Athens, Ga., founded Jittery Joe’s coffee shop. Customers can sense the care and respect the staff has for the art of brewing coffee. Jittery Joe’s conducts a process called micro roasting. Although it seems that only chemistry majors could understand this process, Jittery Joe’s simply explains that this is there way to provide the best of the best coffee. The company only purchases the top 1 percent of coffee in the world, and then each bag is individually inspected to make sure that the beans meet the size, shape, and quality requirements. That is a lot of love for each coffee bean that Starbucks can’t stand up to!

Jittery Joe’s may be based in Athens, but its coffee is adopted from across the globe from 18 different countries ranging from Kenya to Guatemala. Although the oversea transfer of the best beans seems like a huge process, Jittery Joe’s makes sure to break up their orders into small batches to insure quality and care.

I experienced my first trip to Jittery Joe’s on my way to class on the University of Georgia campus. The relaxing smell of the fresh ground coffee beans first caught my attention, so I decided to give it a try, betraying my devout relationship to Starbucks.

I chatted with the barista and filled him in on the fact that it was my first time at a Jittery Joe’s. He welcomed me with a smile, and I could tell that he appreciated me stopping by. I went on to explain the drink that I wanted. I needed something cold, due to the 95-degree Athens, Ga., sunshine, something that would wake me up for my lecture, and anything with a hint of mocha or mint. He immediately suggested a mint Frosty Joe. After hearing that it was his favorite blend, I spent my four dollars and took my first Jittery Joe’s sip.

It was delicious. The ice was perfectly blended, and the dollop of whipped cream on top gave a little touch of sweetness. The mint flavor was apparent, but definitely not overpowering. The coffee tasted rich, and the mint added the perfect touch of freshness. I was very pleased with this drink, and the welcoming personality and helpfulness of the barista made the experience even more rewarding.

Whether stopping by the UGA campus location or meeting a friend to rekindle a relationship at one of the local stores, the atmosphere of Jittery Joe’s remains the same. Each location brings a sense of warmth and is inviting to any person, from the musicians to write lyrics while sipping espresso to the kids who enjoy hot chocolate on a winter afternoon.

After cheating on your coffee shop that you had a long and wonderful relationship with, there will be no guilt felt. Jittery Joe’s will bring the satisfaction and taste that every coffee addict needs to make it through the seasons.

The Proposal

The Proposal is a quirky, yet amusing, love story between a high-maintenance book editor, Margaret Tate, and her diligent, and often unappreciated assistant, Andrew Paxton. When this movie first came out in theaters, I had no interest in going to watch it. However, I did decide to watch it one day while I was searching through movie channels on my TV. Because of the title, I knew the movie had to do something with love and/or marriage so I convinced myself that it wouldn’t be a waste of my time.

My self-instinct turned out to be correct, as this movie was very entertaining. It was enchanting to watch Margaret and Andrew’s predictable, yet cute transition through love and hate. At the beginning of the movie, they aren’t too fond of each other, but as you keep watching, you see them go from pretending to be in love into actually falling so unexpectedly that they were late to even realize it.

Margaret used to take Andrew for granted, and then desperately needed him to help her from being deported to Canada. With that plot, this movie taught you to appreciate everyone who helps you out in any way of form, because you never know when you might need him or her. What comes around goes around, and once Andrew realized that he was the only one that could, and would, save her, he quickly took advantage of that.

I loved the fact that this movie wasn’t just a “love story.” It had a comical side to it, which made it more fun to watch. You get a laugh here and there but you also get the occasional “awww” because of their desirability of one another, which they attempted to hide until the very end.

All throughout the movie, you watch step by step how all the little things put together could make you appreciate and possibly love someone that you never ever thought you would. I thought this movie was a good watch, and is definitely a movie I would watch again when I get the chance.

What can I say about Grady Glee...?

What can I not say?! 

Hey y'all! I have had an incredible experience this week which I will never forget! I am so sad about leaving Grady Glee. I have seriously had an amazing time this week, and I've decided that I want to come back next year! I have also learned a lot this week that I can bring back to my school. I'm looking forward to writing more articles during the school year with the knowledge that I've gotten here. I've learned a lot about AP style writing, and now I have a nice book to bring back to my classroom whenever I need it for writing an article. What surprised me about writing features stories this week is that I've been doing them wrong the whole time! I need to start doing interviews for quotes to put into my article. I've learned some ways to really capture a readers attention and make them want to continue reading. The most difficult thing about writing an article for me is the deadlines. Yes, when I have hours to work on an article, I can produce a good piece to put in a paper. But when I feel stressed about a deadline, I get too stressed to write a good article. I need to begin making a schedule or something to plan when I'm going to work on my articles. The most fun thing about writing the article was going downtown and interviewing! Elizabeth and I had a good time working with people to make outfits for the pictures that go with the article and interviewing people about the fashion and their opinions on the fashion. I took away SO many lessons from camp. I have learned that if I really put my effort into something, I can do really well at it. I can take these lessons back to school to help my paper become successful. If you want to take a look at the recent papers we've put out, here's the link: http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/13232083113944567/site/default.asp


I have had a great time getting to know everyone this week, especially my friends from lunch! I'll miss you guys so much! I will miss always staring at those hot football players and wanting to get a picture with them! We should totally go see a game together or something! Pajama party tonight on floor 2! It's going to be fun!


I also want to thank all of the counselors and people that work at the camp, especially Mary Jessica! She has taught me more in a week than I have learned in half of a year in journalism. Wow!


I hope to see all of you next year and that you have a fantastic summer! 


~Maggie Kelley

Nothing Lasts Forever 21

By Savannah Perry
Lakeside High School

Walking into a Forever 21 fashion store is like walking into the jungle: clothes are sprawled out all over the floor, young women are fighting over a cute and trendy dress, helpless dads are standing in all corners trying to dodge outfits that go whizzing by them, all while the employees just stand around waiting to get off work so that they can attend their best friend’s party. It’s a madhouse, to say the least. But that's not even the worst part.

Every time a girl steps foot in Forever 21, she expects to find a lot of new and inexpensive clothes (which, granted, most of the time she does). But guaranteed it took her a good hour or more to find those four or five articles of clothing. She had to sift and sift and sift until she couldn’t sift any longer. There’s just so much merchandise that it’s hard to tell the difference between what’s good and what’s bad. Not mention that after all that searching for the cutest clothes out there, a sweat starts to break out and knees become wobbly and that’s when the customers know it’s time to leave, even if they’re empty handed.

Another thing: once the clothes have been diligently searched for and finally purchased and all ready to wear, they fall apart the very next day! They’re very cheaply made. Forever 21 knows that young girls without a lot of money will go there and stock up with a bundle of clothes, failing to even ponder the thought of why the clothes are such a bargain. Let’s face it, teenage girls aren’t the smartest things out there, but they really have to have enough sense to know that the things they buy at Forever 21 are going to fall apart very soon.

But no matter how much bashing can possibly be done about this store, there’s no denying the fact that it continues to be one of the most popular places to shop amongst teenagers. There’s obviously something to it, so it’s up to the reader to decide for his or herself. Its name fits its status; it will live on forever.

Au Revoir

Since I am very new to the whole journalistic writing process this week has taught me a lot of how to format my article and the writing style to use in approaching an assignment. When I go back to school this camp will have definitely supplied me with the confidence to continue writing and publish my works in the newspaper. The thing that surprised me the most is that there are sooo many different types of articles you can write and I never thought I would like feature this much. I was also surprised how easily it came to me. The most difficult part for me was making the article sound interesting. In news articles you report what is happening and it is very straight forward but with feature you are reporting any given thing while making them interested in reading what you have to say. My favorite part was either going to the gallery to view Salvador Dali's works and making awkward interviews or just the simple things like seeing what socks Mary Jessica would wear everyday! From this camp I have learned that doing work in the summer is not always a bummer (not trying to rhyme). I loved coming to camp this year and I loved meeting everyone!!! I hope everyone has an amazing time for the rest of SUMMER!! Facebook Me!! Christina Tonti!

Here is my article on Ben & Jerry's!
Do you know Ben & Jerry?
By Christina Tonti

Boston Cream Pie, Dulce Delish, Milk and Cookies, Strawberry Cheese Cake, Americone Dreams—Desserts? No! Ben and Jerry’s!

This brand originated at the Pennsylvania State University’s campus creamery in 1978 and is still manufactured in Burlington, Vermont. The pair, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, after taking a correspondence course on ice cream, decided to open their own store in a renovated gas station. Since, they have expanded globally to many nations and have over 330 stores!

This store is an exciting brand that has also tried to help its community in many ways. They have given millions to charity funds and continue to brighten the lives of many who visit their locations.

Ben and Jerry’s ice cream attracts customers through their friendly design and vibrant colors, although, this is more than an ordinary ice cream store. Their eccentric flavors range from classic vanilla to extremes like Chubby Hubby and Imagine Whirled Peace. Each selection contains a blast flavors to fit anyone’s taste buds.

For example the flavor Caramel Hat Trick contains caramel ice cream with swirls of caramel and fudge covered caramel chunks all in one scoop!

While many are familiar with Ben and Jerry’s through their grocery stores, ordering in the store is a whole different adventure. If you order a single scoop on a cone, they load it up as if you had just ordered a triple scoop!

One of their hundreds of stores is located in the quaint Athens, GA, a college town bordering UGA. This store attracts many college students, some so much it might cause them there freshmen fifteen! Upon visiting, it is vital that you go try a flavor and then take a walk around town, convincing yourself you are burning off the calories.

As you can conclude, Ben and Jerry’s is not the healthiest place but it is definitely worth a visit and a guilty snack.

My Marlow's Burger

Back at home in the dull town of Johns Creek, Georgia, my favorite meal awaits me in a small restaurant called Marlow's Tavern. It's nothing fancy, just a cheeseburger and french fries. That makes me sound like the typical stereotype of an American consumer, right? Well, in my defense, Marlow's doesn't serve your average burger.

When the waiter arrives at the table carrying a plate spilled over with french fries and a massive, steaming cheeseburger, it's already obvious that all other burgers are about to be shunned in comparison. It's exactly that which is the worst part of a Marlow's cheeseburger; you will never be satisfied with another one the same way ever again. Every monstrous bite (each one is since the burger is huge all around) is perfectly cooked, seasoned, and juicy. Then, if you find that you're ready take a break, a scrumptious mountain of crunchy (but not too crunchy!) french fries are waiting for you. Just be warned that the waiter may come back to ask how the meal is. More than likely you're response will sound something like, "Mmmhmm mmm!" Trust me, you're mouth will be far too stuffed with deliciousness to speak the entire time you're seated.

If you ever go to Marlow's Tavern and decide to try their cheeseburger, I advise you not to go hungry, but famished. Even though the burger and portion of fries are both massive, the taste of both will keep you eating until you're full to the point of bursting. I also suggest that before going you accept the fact that Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Steak & Shake, Johnny Rocket's, and any other burger specialty restaurants will mean nothing to you any longer. The best part? Marlow's is cheaper than all of those places anyway! Even if it wasn't, though, the meal would still be just as worthwhile.

my review of the hangover 2

So you made the worlds highest grossing comedy in the history of film, and now, its time to make a sequel, what do you do? Make the exact same movie, again of course. This felt like the mentality of whoever wrote the screenplay for hangover 2. This is not essentially a bad thing, just something you should expect upon entering the theater. If your looking for a fresh plot, you'll be disappointed, if fresh jokes and a new location will suffice, you'll enjoy The Hangover 2. It really all depends on your expectations, this is not blazing any new territory in film, nor is it exceeding the quality of its predecessor, but it does succeed in being hilarious and never fails to shock the viewers with plot twists that are truly unexpected. Honestly, i was just happy to leave the theater without the overwhelming feeling that hollywood just dipped into my wallet, stole my money, spit in my lemon water and told me its sprite.

:'(

Before I say anything else, I have to get this out....THIS WEEK HAS BEEN AWESOME AND I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE :( Skating, bowling, going downtown, playing volleyball, and just hanging around in the lobby (or kitchen ;) ) has been so much fun. I've learned a lot about what it means to be a journalist and I feel more confident that feature writing is definitely what I want to pursue! Even though interviewing was challenging, I'm glad I got some more experience with it. Plus, Jordan and I made it fun ;). Another difficult task was perfecting the Harry Potter article in just three days but I felt very accomplished afterwards so it was all worth it. Torrie and I have so much AP style information to bring back to our Speculator staff and I can't wait to use everything I've learned this week to improve my feature writing skills. Thank you Mary Jessica for being a wonderful teacher and I'm going to miss everybody! Keep in touch :D

And let's party tonight! Can't wait to see everyone lookin' fancy ;)