Stop Online Shopping

Meryl Callaway

Staff Writer

As Christmas is looming nearer, everybody is rushing to find the perfect gift for the special people in their lives. They are scurrying to shopping malls and lurking through the dark corners of the internet, desperately searching for inspiration, but is online or in-store shopping better? 

  In my opinion, good, old-fashioned, in-store shopping is better. When you go shopping in a store it is an experience. You walk in and you can physically see what you may buy. You can feel the quality of fabric, see the fit of the clothing in person, and find unlikely inspiration in a simple, obsolete item.

  When shopping online, you are stuck in a desolate wasteland. A desolate wasteland that is perfectly curated to fit your exact search history. Why? Major companies are collecting and analyzing data on you. This data then follows you as you travel through the internet. The same products constantly plague your screen because you made one search and prices keep fluctuating based on the amount of interest you show in the product. It is also creepy. When you go shopping in a store, you do not have to deal with the annoying advertisements, there is only one set price, and nobody is monitoring the items that you are interested in.

  This wasteland also makes it impossible to find what you are looking for, impossible to see what you are looking at, and impossible to complete a transaction in a timely fashion. This is incredibly frustrating. Between website crashes, slow internet connection, and the website blatantly not working, it feels like you are pulling teeth. You also have to be very talented in the art of super sleuthing, operating covert missions just to find the dimensions of a candlestick.

Call me antiquated, but shopping is all about experience and shopping in a physical store provides the most pleasant shopping experience. 

Amenities at National Parks will Ruin the Experience

Ryan Viehweger

Staff Writers

 Trail running through the woods, mountain biking, sightseeing, hiking, and kayaking are activities that consume the time that people spend at national parks.  Getting children off their phones and growing relationships with nature is crucial for satisfaction in life.  “People who have a deeper response when viewing beauty in nature have better well-being” according to Dr. Miles Richardson.  When people feel more connected to nature, it brings out positive emotions and reduces stress levels.  A trickling creek, pine aroma, and noisy cicadas are the aspects of nature which inspire people to contemplate the real meaning of life and their aspirations.

  Many families look forward to escaping their modern routines and going for family vacations at national parks.  These preserved American wilderness sites serve as great destinations for improving a connection with nature.  For generations, people have taken their families out camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and more at these places, forcing them to leave stress behind.  However, government officials are looking for “a way to improve overall camping experiences,” said Derrick Crandall, vice chairman of the Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee. 

  NBC News Contributors Phil Helsel and Sam Brock reported that in order to ‘improve’ the national parks, “the Trump administration [suggests] that food trucks, Wi-Fi and Amazon deliveries should be allowed in campgrounds at national parks” to improve the camping experience.  In addition to the added perks, they recommend “privatizing the operation of campgrounds, including adding running water, tent and cabin rentals.”  These proposals have not been finalized and are facing fierce criticism from many campers.

  A passionate camper exclaimed on NBC news that “we don’t need food trucks, we don’t need Wi-Fi, and we don’t need more garbage and people dropping hot dog wrappers.”  

  National parks are a place for leaving screens and fast paced life behind and are not the place for Amazon deliveries and Wi-Fi.  Many children already spend a gigantean amount of time on devices and thus face isolation from nature.  National parks are the only place where the youth can disconnect and enjoy life fully.  Adding privatization will make these areas like towns, ruining the aspect of isolation that draws people there in the first place.  When planning to go to a national park, it is essential to take the surroundings in fully, unimpeded by smartphone distractions. 

  While the government officials’ passion for improving national parks is essential for them to continue, turning them into shopping center, luxury glamping sites would backfire immensely.  Unfortunately, efforts for Internet connectivity have begun in Yellowstone Park through building “five microwave antenna stations, several backcountry repeater stations, a dozen wireless antennae spaced throughout the park, and hundreds of wireless transceivers fixed to buildings. The system would blanket Canyon Village, Grant Village, Lake, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Old Faithful.”  A lack of vocal opposition from Americans has resulted in the development of the national parks.

         Becoming isolated from nature on video games, families try to get kids back outside.  National Parks are some of the few remaining areas where the youth can find a connection with nature, without the interruptions from technology.  Rather than cooped up in a tent trying to find resource gems on Minecraft, children should be out exploring and finding the actual gems that make the world great. 

Apple Aims For Comfort With The New AirPods Pro

AJ Oakes & Mike Janora

Staff Writers

On Oct. 30, Apple launched the brand new AirPods Pro. Apple made headlines in 2016 with the launch of the original AirPods for $160, but the new AirPods Pro are expected to cost about $100 more. What makes these worth $250 are their major improvements from the original AirPods. The first major improvement is that they are fully waterproof and sweatproof, making them great for working out and using them on the go. Athletes on hot days experienced trouble with the standard AirPods in the past, but the AirPods Pro will not be affected by these harsh conditions.. No other earbuds hold up well against sweat and water. 

  Another perk is that they have a customizable, specially-designed fit which makes them comfortable in your ear. Instead of one-size-fits-all buds, these AirPods come with three different silicone extensions, small, medium, and large, to attach to the actual device. This is key for a comfortable fit. People are picky when they’re paying a good amount of money for a product, as they expect the most bank for their buck. With the AirPods Pro, consumers will get what they desire. 

  One of the biggest perks for the AirPods Pro, according to CNET, are the active noise-cancelation and transparency modes. The active noise-cancelling mode has been the number one most wanted upgrade to the AirPods by consumers. “They're the first Apple headphones to offer active noise cancellation, which electronically counteracts exterior noise like the hum of a jet engine.” says CNET. Coupled with transparency mode, a setting that allows listeners to also hear background noise while using the device, AirPods Pro exceeds consumers’ expectations.  As stated earlier, these new features are options, meaning you can turn all these modes on and off. 

  The last of the upgrades, but certainly not least, is the Adaptive EQ mode. This mode is unique to AirPods Pro. Apple says the feature “automatically tunes music to the shape of your ears for a rich, consistent listening experience” that offers “superior sound quality.” This is a huge leap forward for earbud users because they can now listen to the best quality sound with comfort.

New iPhone 11; Worth the Switch?

Jackson Cane
Staff Writer

Consistently releasing more further advanced features on their smartphones, Apple has yet again struck consumers with their new iPhone 11. With a distinct new look from the outside, the camera is only the first new piece this phone has to offer.
  The iPhone 11 being first announced this past September, and now out from releasing Sept. 20, comes in three different models: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The iPhone’s new basic model isn’t just an added digit to the X. For its new price margin, it packs a punch. Starting at only $699 with 64GB of storage and six different colors; black, white, purple, green, yellow, and product red. The iPhone 11 introduces an upgrade regarding photography, speed, and battery. Dual cameras, a new night mode for better low-light performance, and ultra wide angle lens. With Apples A13 Bionic Processor, it makes the 11 one of the fastest phones to date along with a battery life of over 11 hours, being above average amongst all smartphones.
  The iPhone 11 Pro (starting at $999) or the Pro Max (starting at $1099), comes in four colors, features Triple 12MP Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras with Night mode, battery life four - five hours longer than the iPhone XS, and up to 512GB of storage.
  Comparing the iPhone X to the 11, or the XS and XR to the 11 Pro, the choice is easy. Right now these new phones have the most affordable price, fastest processor, and newest upgrades that no smartphone competes with.

Baseball vs Lacrosse: Which is more of a sport?

John Devaney
Staff Writer

One of the biggest debates in our school this year, which kids sometimes bring up at lunch, is a sports debate. The question is simple: Which is more of a sport, baseball or lacrosse?
     Usually what happens is the baseball players take their side and the lacrosse players take the other. The argument usually just goes off the rails, with both sides asking: “How many hours do you play?” and “Do you even have to practice for your sport?” Anyone who does not play either sport pretty much has no say in the argument, unfortunately, so they tend to just try and keep the table as civilized as possible, which never seems to work. So, with all the drama circulating around this debate, we might as well break the argument down and understand both sides.
     First, we must define what a sport is. Everyone has a different definition, some even consider Esports and golf sports even though they involve almost no physical struggle. The easiest way to settle this is by just taking the dictionary definition: “An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.'' This would at least cancel out Esports, but still both lacrosse and baseball match the definition.
     So, what are the arguments for either side? Lacrosse usually brings up how baseball players can just “sit in the outfield and do nothing the whole game,” and baseball players wisely comeback with a universally acknowledged truth: “There is nothing harder to do in sports than hit a 90 mph fastball with a stick.” And the argument just goes back and forth. But in conclusion, it is important to keep an open mind for the opposing side, and consider which sport matches the definition more accurately.

Dissecting my disappointment with the finale of Games of Thrones

Cooper Hendricks

Staff Writer

(Warning! This article contains Game of Thrones spoilers!)

Game of Thrones was a legendary show and was full of violence, magic, dragons, and twists and turns that made the world of fantasy seem much closer to home. Its final episode which aired on Sunday, May 19.

    Now, granted, I haven’t watched every episode of the series, but I’ve learned about as much as I could have about George R.R. Martin’s vast world. Having learned as much as I possibly can about his writing style and way that he does things in his stories, and the ending to the show made absolutely no sense.

      I strongly disliked the story decisions by the writers D.B Weiss and David Benioff in this season because it was more of just finishing off characters rather than giving them worthwhile endings to their story arcs.

     Even some of the actors, Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) and Kit Harrington (Jon Snow) have expressed their unhappiness with the final season. They openly criticized it, albeit jokingly, but they expressed their criticism nonetheless. Not only the actors, but over a million people signed an online petition demanding that HBO remake the final season.

    First off, the most glaring and undeniably questionable choice in the series is Bran Stark. They made Bran, the Three-Eyed Raven, the character who has almost one line per episode, the King of the “6 Kingdoms” because of course, the North is now it’s own free land. Bran is an extremely powerful magic user. He can warg, which is the ability to move one’s consciousness to an animal, as well as see images of the future and see the past in clear unfractured visions. To be fair, Bran is extremely intelligent and would have served a more useful position on the Small Council in King’s Landing. Him being the King of the seven kingdoms is just lazy and makes little to no sense.

    Then, of course, comes the death of Daenerys Targaryen. I’ve loved Dany’s story, mainly because of the fact that it took place in Essos instead of Westeros. (Essos being the other major land continent in Game of Thrones.) Dany always had this powerful figure to her, she stood for freedom from the millennia-old Slavers in southeastern Essos. But for some great reason, they decided that her character should now burn residents of King’s landing to nothing more than piles of ash and bone. All because her friend Missandei was killed by Cersei. So, of course, everyone’s new favorite Targaryen, Jon Snow is told by several people to kill Dany. Which makes sense, but what doesn’t is Dany’s instantaneous change from “Breaker of Chains” to crazed dragon lady. She’s lost much more before the final battle at King's Landing. Her former husband Khal Drogo died, most of her close followers were killed early on. I just don’t think that the deaths of Jorah and Missandei really pushed her over the edge to insanity. Dany’s storyline was just disappointing in the end.

Spotify vs. Apple Part 2: Spotify streams most of our tunes

By Kennedy Fisher

Staff Writer

Whether you're listening through Airpods or classic headphones everyone streams music. I wanted to see how New Hope students streamed theirs. I sent out a poll with options such as Apple music, Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, YouTube, iTunes, the radio and a space to share other venues (which got a response of Clash Royale, which I had never heard of).

     I was shocked to see that so many people choose Spotify over the clearly better option, Apple Music! Apple Music really just hits different. People can try to change my mind all they want but ultimately we all know Apple Music is superior to Spotify. They cost the same but unlike Spotify which didn't have Beyoncé's Lemonade album that came out in 2016 until 2018, you get new music right when it comes out. Another problem with Spotify, SoundCloud and Amazon Music is that they tend to have missing songs, albums, and artists in their catalogs where Apple music is careful to have all the favorites.  This basically comes down to numbers. Apple Music has over 45 million songs in its catalogue compared to Spotify’s 30 million+ song catalog.

   So if you want ALL your favorites songs when they come out you guys need to get rid of whatever app you're using and get on Apple Music.

Spotify vs. Apple Music Part 1

By: Gretchen Newman

and Meghan Miller

Staff Writers

One of the biggest debates now a days is which music app do individuals use more. Do you think that Apple music is better or Spotify music? Both apps are $9.99 a month. Some positives on having Spotify music is it comes with Hulu. It also is cheaper to do a family plan when having Spotify. On the other hand, with not having a family plan, only one person can be on Spotify at a time.  

     Up to six people can access the services using a personal account for each family member. Apple Music members can also share iTunes purchases in addition to catalog content. Apple Music does, however, require all family members to use the same credit card for App Store purchases. This is a downfall if your family would argue about who is paying.

   A review on macrumors.com stated “I tried Apple Music a couple of times, but it doesn't even come close to Spotify in my opinion. Spotify has far better-curated playlists. They are great at finding music I prefer. I usually listen to a ton of Indie. Too much corporate stuff pushed by Apple Music and all the "New" stuff they display are same old stuff. When I go to Spotify my "Discover Weekly" playlist is filled with good stuff and hidden gems. I have yet to see Apple make a decent playlist towards my tastes.”

     If you're just looking for a free music streaming app and you don't mind ads than Spotify limited version would be highly recommended. Over the years of 2015 and 2018, Spotify has 100 million subscribers while Apple Music is only 40 million. Overall, Spotify gives more of an option.

We reflect on the best day of the school year from years past: please bring back Field Day

John Devaney and Garrett Hoffman
Staff Writers

Field Day. The day we all used to think of for the last few months of school. It was almost as if the whole school year led up to that one day, like Heaven on Earth.
    We would get on the bus for school, the smell of sunscreen in the air as the weather would always be perfect that day. Not a schoolbag in sight, only drawstring day packs with lunch and a water. The thoughts of schoolwork and agonizing tests were left behind at home because today was different. The buses would enter the drop off line. The other kids staring out the windows at the bouncy houses inflating, like castles divulging from the ground.
    Homeroom would pass by quickly, smiles on everyone’s faces as they were smothered with colors and bandanas. Then the teacher would announce it was time to go, and like a river the kids would flood out of the room and right to the door to the activities. 
Eventually though, those days ended. Children became teenagers and parents and teachers thought enough was enough. “They can’t have too much fun” they told each other in agreement. (OK, maybe that last sentence didn’t really happen, but doesn’t it feel like it did sometimes?) And with that, there was no longer any fun in high school, just notes and busy work, leading up to more notes and more busy work.
    Which is why we need to bring it back. We all know the last few weeks of school are pretty much a waste of time since we are pretty much done with standardized tests and CBA exams. So, why don’t we just have at least one day of fun? We would have all the students and teachers come together and connect after a stressful year, putting all their differences aside. It would bring back childhood memories and make new memories at the same time. We don’t need all of the fancy things that the little kids have like bouncy houses and slides, obviously those would not work for us now that we are taller and heavier.
    All the students want are just a few backyard games. Maybe some cornhole, four square, and ladder toss. Just a little something to wrap up the year and bring everyone back together before moving on to summer.

Why Victoria's Secret sales figures are lower than ever

Lauren Adler

Staff Writer

The well known and adored brand Victoria's Secret has been dominating the fashion world for decades and its annual televised fantasy show brings in millions and millions of views and sales each year.

     The show was first put on in 1995, with no broadcast and only a live audience. It was a very typical fashion show and the exact opposite of the exquisite performance type show it has evolved into today.

     This all changed for the brand in 2001, when the show aired for the first time on channel ABC and reached over 12.4 million viewers, something unheard of at the time for a fashion show.

     After that exposure, the company continued to market this fantasy show every year and not only gain more viewers but more sales.

     With the success of previous years, this company seemed to have a bright future, but their recent sales and views on their once beloved show are now saying otherwise. In 2018, the companies sales went from a whopping $120 million in previous years, to only $14.2 million, leading to over 100 stores being closed across the country. As for the show, in 2018 the total worldwide view count was only 3.2 million and now the question on everyone's mind is “Why?”

     A huge theory on why the sales are plummeting so fast for Victoria’s Secret is that their luxury brand is no longer desired by the new generations. Victoria’s Secret has been infamously known for creating undergarments that aren't the most comfortable, but now we’ve seen from other companies that you can be beautiful and comfortable all at the same time. A big well-loved endorser of this idea is the company Arie, who is praised for not only their comfort but for their representation of all women. People are done with the perfect facade companies like Victoria’s Secret use to market their brand, and would rather instead see women who look more like them. So to a certain degree, the plummet in sales could be a political statement, or maybe it’s because they dropped they're well-beloved swim line in 2016, which they’re now making an attempt to bring back in order to increase sales. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds for this once cherished brand.

Top movies of the ‘18-’19 school year

Lila Datz and Rylie Hepp

Staff Writers

This school year was full of great films that generated huge amounts of buzz and took over the internet when they hit theatres. Crazy Rich Asians was a must-see movie during the beginning of the 2018 school year after making it to theatres in late summer. The romantic comedy was an exciting watch that gave insight into the lives of Singapore's elite, while also giving viewers the love story they wanted to see. Almost all the reviews of Crazy Rich Asians were outstanding, which is a tough feat to accomplish. Next to see theatres was the film, A Star Is Born. This movie had fans obsessed with everything about it, and even had some students singing the soundtrack in the hallway. This drama/love story tugged at the heartstrings and guaranteed that you would run out of tissues by the time the film was over. The next big hit in the theatre was the film, Bohemian Rhapsody.

    The Netflix original film, Birdbox, definitely started the year off with a bang. The internet raved about the thrilling plot and had everyone sharing accounts so they were able to watch. This edge of your seat film blew up the internet with jokes and reviews that set the bar quite high for the rest of movies that were being released in 2019. Lastly, is the film that fans of the Marvel Universe had been waiting forever. Avengers Endgame blew away all the superhero fanatics in a comedic and thrilling way. The collection of every avenger coming together to defeat the one and only Thanos sums up the end to many stories in a bittersweet manner while still making any viewer laugh. This action film may dethrone the movie, Avatar, in the world’s highest grossing films of all time.

    Last, but certainly not least, Bohemian Rhapsody leaves everyone crying while simultaneously listening to some of the best rock n’ roll songs you will ever come across. This portrayal of the British band Queen shows the growth of the band throughout the years while highlighting The lead singer, Freddy Mercury’s, ups and downs. The soundtrack to this movie gives feelings of nostalgia, excitement, and heartbreak to viewers of all ages. Although some critics say that the true, gritty life of these rockstars is washed over, however, this concept makes the film a plot that all families and friends can watch.

Which Do You Prefer… Spotify or Apple Music?

Gretchen Newman and Meghan Miller

One of the biggest debates now a days is which music app do individuals use more. Do you think that Apple music is better or Spotify music? Both apps are $9.99 a month. Some positives on having spotify music is it comes with hulu. It also is cheaper to do a family plan when having Spotify. On the other hand, with not having a family plan, only one person can be on spotify at a time. 
     Up to six people can access the services using a personal account for each family member. Apple Music members can also share iTunes purchases in addition to catalog content. Apple Music does, however, require all family members to use the same credit card for App Store purchases. This is a downfall if your family would argue about who is paying.
     A review on macrumor.com stated “I tried Apple Music a couple of times, but it doesn't even come close to Spotify in my opinion. Spotify has far better-curated playlists. They are great at finding music I prefer. I usually listen to a ton of Indie. Too much corporate stuff pushed by Apple Music and all the "New" stuff they display are same old stuff. When I go to Spotify my "Discover Weekly" playlist is filled with good stuff and hidden gems. I have yet to see Apple make a decent playlist towards my tastes.”
     If you're just looking for a free music streaming app and you don't mind ads than Spotify limited version would be highly recommended. Over the years of 2015 and 2018, Spotify has 83 millions subscribers while Apple Music is only 40 million. Overall, Spotify gives more of an option

Jaden Karlsrud: What I learned about making a 1950s-era video project

Jaden Karlsrud

Guest Contributor

In Mr. Gonsiewski’s 20th Century America class, we were assigned to make a video project depicting a version of a show from the 1950s or about the 1950s. My groupmates and I decided that we would use the show M*A*S*H for our video. Through the creation of this video project I learned about many elements of the 1950s that I did not know before. Making this video project taught me about the Space Race and Sputnik specifically. I learned why this satellite was sent up and how it was significant. I learned about the civil rights movement, and how in the 50s African Americans were first let into the army. In the early 50s around the time of the Korean war the president decided to finally let African Americans join the US army. I also learned about the duck-and-cover drills also from the era. In the event of an atom bomb being detonated you would duck and cover at the sight of the bright light. I learned about all of these topics during the creation of our video project for Mr. G.

Jaden's video project can be seen below.

The Great Bucks County Pretzel-Off: Who makes the best commercially available soft pretzels?

Joey Tebben

Editor

Rachael Callaway and Felix Timmons

Staff Writers

    Soft pretzels originated in Germany, but since the late 18th century, the Philadelphia area has been the soft pretzel capital of the world. We are spoiled with many fantastic pretzels but we have never really thought about which one is truly the best… UNTIL NOW!

    After the great success of The Great Holiday Nog-Off, the Lion’s Tale taste testers have returned to taste some solid food: soft pretzels. Felix Timmons returns for his second taste test and Rachael “The Pretzel Renegade” Callaway substitutes for Colin Keyes who was on leave to attend the birth of his pumpkin son (not on vacation).

    We selected pretzels from 5 businesses in our area (that could be driven to on one Prius tank): Auntie Anne’s, Jim’s, Philly Pretzel Factory, SuperPretzel, and Nog-Off champion Wawa. Pretzels were tasted blind and ranked by the two reviewers. The pretzel ranked first received 5 points, second received 4 points, and so on. The scores from the two tasters were added together to determine the greatest soft pretzel available for purchase in our area. Here’s the final rankings. For an all-access viewing experience of the tasting process, see the video review below.

5. Philly Pretzel Factory (Felix: 1, Renegade: 1, Total: 2/10)

Possibly the most popular soft pretzel choice in our area, Philly Pretzel Factory came into the taste test as an early favorite. The staff at the Lahaska PPF was enthused when I informed them that they’d be partaking in a taste test for our humble newspaper and provided us with a free cup of mint cookie dip, but they’re sadly at the bottom of the pile after our taste test. The pretzel was still very good, but Felix and the Renegade both put PPF’s pretzel in 5th place.

 4. Jim’s (Felix: 3, Renegade: 2, Total: 5/10)

Local chain Jim’s Soft Pretzels was the underdog coming into the taste test. It was the only place that would only take cash and its pretzels came in an unassuming white paper bag, so expectations were not high coming into the taste test. Felix and the Renegade also liked this pretzel, but with Felix putting it 3rd and the Renegade 4th, it was no match for the best of the best.

3. Wawa (Felix: 2, Renegade: 4, Total: 6/10)

Great Holiday Nog-Off Champion Wawa returned to The Lion’s Tale Taste Tests to defend its crown in a whole ‘nother food medium: pretzels. As was the case with every pretzel in the taste test, it was very good, but it wasn’t good enough for Wawa to defend its title. If the only place you can get a pretzel in your area is a Wawa, it’s still a good choice, but it’s far from the best.

2. SuperPretzel (Felix: 5, Renegade: 3, Total: 8/10)

If Jim’s Pretzels was an underdog in this taste test, SuperPretzel was… an even bigger underdog (there’s not a more creative way of saying that). While the SuperPretzel’s wimpy appearance left a lot to be desired, it was surprisingly delicious. The Renegade only put it in 3rd but Felix put it at the top of his list. The pretzel that came straight out of the frozen section at Giant was the Cinderella story of the taste test, destroying favorites like PPF and Jim’s and taste test champion Wawa to take a shocking second place.

1. Auntie Anne’s (Felix: 4, Renegade: 5, Total: 9/10)

I didn’t know if it was going to be worth it to drive all the way to the Willow Grove Mall for two pretzels. After making it to the mall, navigating through the labyrinth known as Primark, and contemplating what led to the death of the classic American shopping mall, I was beckoned by the beaming blue and yellow pretzel atop the food court’s Auntie Anne’s. Tragedy struck when the cashier informed me that they were OUT OF SALT. A pretzel store ran out of salt! Defeated, I walked through the dark, lonely halls of a weekday mall hoping to find a different fifth pretzel for the taste test. After about five minutes, I started to lose hope, but it all instantly came back when I found a smaller Auntie Anne’s kiosk on a bridge on the second floor. I then finally acquired my two salted pretzels. If this epic saga concluded with even an average performance in the taste test I would’ve been extremely disappointed, but Auntie Anne’s absolutely delivered. Its fantastic buttery, chewy, salty pretzel was at the top of the Renegade’s list and finished second on Felix’s. By one point, Auntie Anne’s is the champion of the Great Bucks County Pretzel-Off!

Desk chair despair is pervasive

Michael Lehman and Charles Bray
Staff Writers

For the students at New Hope-Solebury High School, the most annoying thing that every student experiences might not be the homework, projects, or even tests. The most annoying thing of all is the desks with the silver bar which lies next to the right leg.
  When sitting in one of these desks, you can feel trapped. There is no room to move around, and at times, you may forget that it is even there and try to get out of your seat from the right side, then you realize the bar is there and you have to turn your body and go out the left side. Those are just some minor problems that the desk causes compared to this one: when you are sitting in a group where all four desks are together in a square, the two desks on the back side of the square have the silver bar trapping them from leaving. The silver bar is on the right side restricting you from leaving and the other person is on your left which leaves you no room to squeeze through. At this point the only option is to slide your desk to the right until you have enough room to get up and leave through the left side without the other person getting in the way. Although this problem has been going on for decades, there may be a solution to this epidemic.
  There are two types of desks in New Hope Solebury High School. The annoying desk with the silver bar on the right side of the leg, and the normal desk that has the chair connected to the desk by two silver rods running from the bar of the chair and continues under the chair and back up until it reaches the front of the desk. This type of desk is the ideal desk that all other desks should strive to become. There is no restriction from leaving on the right or left side of the desk. There is a pencil holder which the annoying desk does not offer. You can even stretch your back out on the ideal desk. By pushing forward on the front of the desk and leaning back in your chair, the desk gets pushed forward and chair goes back as a result of the desk and chair being connected. The outcome of this is the perfect back stretch which you cannot get with the annoying desk.
  For all the hard work that the students of New Hope Solebury High School produce on a daily basis, all students deserve the highest quality desks available. With the annoying desks gone, and the ideal desk being the only desk in the school, grades and attendance will skyrocket due to the new comfort of the school.  It may even be very positive for the students.

Why school should start later

Marina Skuban and Amy Tao

Staff Writers

Recently, there has been much discussion about school start times and students not getting enough sleep, especially for middle school and high school. New research shows that starting school later is beneficial for students’ health, safety, and school performance.

    Middle and high schools should start no earlier than 8:30 am, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the leading professional society dedicated to the promotion of sleep health. However, 93% of high schools in the U.S start before 8:30, including our own. As children mature, they experience a delayed circadian rhythm, causing later sleep onset and later morning awakening. Most teenagers cannot fall asleep before 11:00 pm. Adolescents need 8-10 hours of sleep every night for optimal well-being, so a teenager who falls asleep at that time should sleep until 7:00 am, at the least. Schools should recognize these biological shifts and start high schools and middle schools later while starting elementary schools earlier.

    70% of students do not get adequate sleep, resulting in many consequences. Many teenagers do not get enough sleep due to late nights dedicated to school work and early mornings to get to class on time. Students who don’t get enough sleep are at risk of being overweight, suffering depression, and performing poorly in school. Not getting enough sleep can also put you at risk for other medical issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and permanent cognitive issues.  Young drivers also have a higher accident risk when sleep deprived, so later start times is crucial for safety.

    In order for students to perform to their best ability, they need a good night’s sleep. In order for this to happen, school start times have to change.