I Put the S in Spine

A spine should be straight, however, that is not the case for mine. Around 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with scoliosis. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine, and it occurs most often in adolescent girls. The spine can curve into these three shapes: the letter C, the letter C backwards, and the letter S (two curves). Idiopathic scoliosis, is the most common form of scoliosis, occurring in approximately 2% of the population. It is not caused by activity such as exercise or sports, nor is it caused by one's sleeping position or posture. The cause of scoliosis, in most cases, is unknown.

Generally, the curvature of the spine does not cause pain, but ever since I was diagnosed, my knees have popped out of place many times. Scoliosis is detected through a physical examination, and if the doctor believes you have scoliosis, you will be asked to get an x-ray and go for additional examination. My scoliosis was first indicated by the Adam's Forward Bend Test, in which you bend from the waist as if you were going to touch your toes. Some physical signs of scoliosis are: one shoulder appears to be higher than the other, one side of the rib cage is higher than the other, one hip is more prominent than the other, the waist is uneven, and the body tilts to one side. The physical appearance of my back has become worse within the last 2 years. I always wear loose clothing because my scoliosis is quite clear if I don't, and I can never find a comfortable way to sleep or sit because of the uneven feeling in my back. Although my spine does not actually hurt, the look of it causes a feeling of pain.

There is no cure for scoliosis, but there are treatments based on two factors: how much more the patient will grow and the degree of their curve. A treatment option is observation in which a physician will measure the curve of your spine on a regular schedule. Another treatment option is wearing a back brace. Typically, a brace is not used for adolescents who are already or almost mature. The brace does not straighten the curve. It prevents the curve from growing, and once the brace is taken off, there is a small chance that the curve will progress. The last option is surgery, in which hooks and screws are applied to the spine to anchor rods. These rods are used to hold the spine while bone is fused, and once the bone is fused, it holds the spine in place. Recently, I have been feeling pain in my upper back, so I went to get another x-ray. I will be seeing a spine specialist soon to talk about getting surgery, and I will be going to physical therapy to strengthen my knees. With future surgery and the support of my doctor, family and friends, I know I will get through this and my spine will be stronger than ever.

                      

Sadie Hawkins Dance

School dances are a big part of your high school experience. One that is approaching us is the Sadie Hawkins dance. Sadie Hawkins is a less formal dance held by a middle school, high school or college. Usually, male students invite females to school dances, and pay for their ticket and dinner. This dance is different from others because female students get to invite male students, and pay for their date. This dance allows a woman to take the initiative in inviting the man of her choice to escort her. Even if you don't like to dance, an event like this will create everlasting memories that you will look back on in the future. High school doesn't last forever! Junior and senior year will pass by in a flash, so you should enjoy these experiences while you can.

The Sadie Hawkins dance is named after a comic strip, Li'l Abner, created by cartoonist Al Capp. The character, Sadie Hawkins, was waiting for suitors to go out with her. When she reached 35 years old, her father was worried that she would live by herself for the rest of her life. Desperate to find love for his daughter, he gathered all of the unmarried men of Dogpatch and declared it "Sadie Hawkins Day." She got to chase the bachelors, and marry the men she caught. The town spinsters decided to make Sadie Hawkins Day a yearly event because it was such a good idea. If a woman caught a bachelor and dragged him across the finish line before sundown, he had to marry her. At our school, it is unnecessary to drag the boy we would like to take, to the dance. Accepting whether they say yes or no would be appropriate, and I would much rather go on a date that wasn't forced. 

This concept was created for women, allowing them to choose a date to the dance instead of waiting for a man to ask her. The first known Sadie Hawkins dance was held on November 15, 1938. Within a year similar events have followed, and by 1952, the event was celebrated at around 40,000 venues. A popular style of dance was "speed dancing" which is similar to speed dating. The DJ picks two people to start dancing and periodically, he will shout "snowball." This signals dancers to find new partners, and half of the people asking will be girls asking boys. This dance is used to get the dancing started, and people chosen cannot refuse to dance, thus growing the "snowball" on the dance floor. 

Ladies, this is your time to show men who's boss, so don't be afraid to ask a guy to the dance. Ask the guy you've been crushing on in a class of yours before someone else does! And don't forget to have fun! 

I Can't, I Have Rehearsal.

Singing is one talent that practically everyone possesses, however some are more skilled than others. Singing has always been my thing. Whether I was at home or at school, I would always be singing. I do not have a professional vocal coach nor do I aspire to be a singer in the future, but I have been apart of a choir in almost every year of elementary and middle school simply because I enjoy it. As high school was approaching, my choir teacher in middle school recommended that I continue singing in high school. Unsure of whether to take history or choir in the 9th grade, I made a last-minute decision to join Women's Chorale, and it was one that I do not regret!

There are three choral ensembles at Mira Mesa High School: Concert Choir, Women's Chorale, and Madrigals. Concert Choir is a course for students that are starting out with singing or have little experience. This ensemble is open to anyone, and the only requirement is an interest in singing! Women's Chorale, the ensemble I was in, is an advanced group made up of young women. To be in Women's Chorale, you must be recommended by a middle school teacher or audition to be in it. Lastly, Madrigals is the top vocal group at our school, generally consisting of 10th-12th graders that audition. I feel so thankful to have been given the opportunity to sing with so many talented girls. Choir last year was a great experience, and all of us girls really felt like one big family.

Singing all of these years has taught me many things, and has given me the opportunity to do what I love. I have learned many skills such as how to read music, and how to be an individual amongst a group of people. Performing by myself and with a group in front of many people has helped build my confidence and self-esteem. I was always nervous when I had to sing in front of the 50 people in my class, but once I would start singing, the nerves would go away. Even performing as a group can be scary because we always want to put on the best performance possible for the audience. Singing has given me the opportunity to sing the national anthem at a Padres Game. Seeing my face on a jumbotron was pretty cool! In the 8th grade, my choir was given the chance to compete in San Francisco against other schools. That was an amazing experience, as it was my first far-away trip from my family. From that trip, I received an email to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City! I didn't go, but I was glad to be offered that opportunity to share my talent.

Currently, I am not in a choir due to scheduling, but I have joined the Natural Harmonies club through audition at our school. Modeled after the TV show Glee, the club started last year by a group of Madrigal students. It is a club where students can engage in the arts, even if they can't fit it in their schedule. You can openly express yourself through singing and dancing, and you can make new friends. The club currently consists of about 15 members, and we would like more to join this semester! We rehearse every Tuesdays and Fridays during lunch in room 403. We welcome new members, so if you are interested, please come and try it out! See you there!

Here's a picture of Women's Chorale last year:

You Got it Dude!

Full House was one of my favorite shows to watch as I was growing up, in fact, I was named after Mary-Kate Olsen who plays the role of Michelle Tanner on the show! For those of you who have never seen the show, Full House is an American sitcom on ABC and is set in San Francisco, California. The show follows a father, Danny Tanner, who enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters: DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle. Over time, the three men along with the children become closer to one another in the San Francisco home.

The first episode aired on September 22, 1987 and the last aired on May 23, 1995. The show aired a total of 8 seasons and 192 episodes. The series was created and produced by Jeff Franklin, along with Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett. Jeff Franklin has written many other shows, but is best known for the TV series Full House. While the show's first season was not as successful because it was a new series, the show quickly gained popularity during its second season. The show remained in the top 25, however, ABC announced that the show would be canceled after eight seasons. With the increasing costs of producing the show, it was cut after running for eight years. The final episode of the series was watched by 24.3 million viewers and was ranked at number 7 for a week!

Although the show is no longer releasing new episodes, there is no reason to be sad. The beloved '90s sitcom is not completely gone as it appears on Nick at Nite with reruns. Are you getting tired of seeing the same episode about five times or enough to recite the whole script back to your television screen? Be prepared because the popular series may be returning to your TV. It is rumored that Warner Bros, Television is considering a series reboot with some of the original cast. The show may be in production for a Full House revival series that will follow the adult lives of Stephanie, DJ and Kimmy. Be sure to stay tuned!

Here are a few fun facts that you may not have known about the show:

-The show was originally going to be called House of Comics, following three comedians who lived together.

-Although it was set in San Francisco, only one of the episodes was actually taped there. It is actually taped in Los Angeles, with an exception of a few episodes.

-The Full House set was later used to tape Friends (another one of my favorite shows).

-Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen appear together on screen 4 times in the show.

Here's the cast before, and some of the cast recently:

History of Gingerbread

Christmas is soon approaching us, and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than with some sweet treats? For many families, decorating a gingerbread house is a tradition. The term gingerbread meaning 'preserved ginger' was not used in desserts until the 15th century. Now, gingerbread is used to describe the familiar treats made with ginger, honey, and molasses. Whether shaped like a house or people, these edible figures bring joy to many throughout the holidays.

Ginger root was first cultivated in China, and it was used as a medical treatment. Then, ginger spread to Europe through the Silk Road. In Europe, it was a spice known to disguise the taste of preserved meats. Even today we use ginger as remedies when we are sick, and we include ginger in our foods to add flavor. According to Rhonda Massingham Hart, the first known recipe for these cookies came from Greece around 2400 BC. The hard cookies were a must-have at Medieval fairs in England, France, Holland and Germany. As the seasons changed, the shape of the gingerbread changed. Queen Elizabeth I is credited with the idea of decorating the cookies after she had different ones made to resemble dignitaries visiting her court. The most common decoration at the time was a gold leaf.

Gingerbread houses are popular Christmas decorations covered in candy and icing, usually built by children. These edible houses originated in Germany during the 16th century. Decorating these houses became popular when the Brothers Grimm wrote the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel. The story follows two main characters as they come across a house made entirely of treats deep in the forest. After the story was published, German bakers started to bake houses out of gingerbread. These decorative and edible houses became very popular during the Christmas time for many children.

In 2013, a group of people in Bryan, Texas broke the Guinness World Record for the largest gingerbread house. The house was 2,520 square feet and had an estimated value of 35.8 million calories. The ingredients for the house included 2,925 pounds of brown sugar, 1,800 pounds of butter, 7,200 eggs and 7,200 pounds of flour. Visitors were allowed to meet Santa Claus at the house in exchange for a donation to St. Joseph's Hospital. The house brought Christmas cheer to both it's visitors and everyone at the hospital.

http://www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/history-gingerbread/

Line Up for the iPhone 6

Most of us have an iPhone, and most of us can't wait to get our hands on the next one that is released. The first generation iPhone was released on June 29, 2007. As the years have gone by, the Apple company has come up with new generations of the iPhone, each said to be better than the previous one. Recently, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus were released, and the Apple store has been packed with people of all ages that want to get the new phone. Many people ordered the phone ahead of time, and finally picked up the phone after waiting in long lines. Pre-orders for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus set a new record for the Apple company. With the high demands for the latest phones, over four million customers ordered the new iPhone in the first 24 hours! How come customers want to ditch their iPhone 5's to have the iPhone 6?

Well, not only is the iPhone 6 bigger but it also has some new features. First off, the design of the phone is innovative and quite pristine. The glass is curved, and there are no distinct edges. The bond of the metal and glass were made to feel smooth like a continuous surface. The screen of the iPhone 6 is 4.7 inches and the iPhone 6 Plus is 5.5 inches. Being the largest of the iPhones, it is also the thinnest of them all. This meant condensing chips and making batteries thinner. The new swipe gestures make it easier to navigate with only one hand. When you simply double tap the Home button, the screen shifts down closer to your thumb. This feature as well as the buttons were redesigned to make the phone even easier to use with only one hand available.

It's not just a bigger display, it's a better display. With the new Retina HD display, customers are able to view brilliant colors and contrasts at wider angle views. The iPhone 6 has a resolution of 1334 x 750 and the iPhone 6 Plus has a resolution of 1920 x 1080. People can view photos and videos clearer with this improved feature. The same camera that can take high-quality photos can also record amazing videos. New features were added such as the slo-mo and time-lapse options to make capturing a video more fun. The new face detection and exposure control makes the pictures just as incredible as the memories made behind them.

From the improved features to the sleek design, the iPhone 6 is what everyone is talking about. In a few years, I think everyone will be lining up for the iPhone 10 with an even huger screen. Next thing you know, iPhones will be invisible! It seems like nowadays, companies try to make the smallest improvements to a phone each year just to compete with other companies. Some people desperately need the latest phone to show off to others, while other people buy the new phone because their current one isn't working as well anymore. No matter what phone you have, you should be thankful that you have one.

Haunted Houses: Terror or Torture?

A haunted house is used to scare those who dare to enter. In the most extreme haunted houses, guests come out of the house traumatized and full of fear, while some are too scared to make it through the entire house. Both children and adults pay money to experience horrific scenes like the ones in a horror movie. The actors have to be scary, and the scenes have to look realistic and disgusting in order to give guests the full experience. It is an actor's job to scare guests in a variety of fun and thrilling ways, but are they going too far?

The special effects, animatronics, and interactive actors make the McKamey Manor in San Diego unique. McKamey films his guests as they go through the house designed to last up to eight hours. There is no way to leave the haunted house while it is running, unless there is a medical emergency. One of its extreme moments occur on a morgue table where the actors place live spiders on guests as they watch the fear on their faces. I'd be pretty terrified! McKamey does not ask for money from his guests, instead he asks for a dog food donation. He says he does it "for the love of the haunt," which is what his guests will receive. 

Terror Behind the Walls is a haunted house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Last year, they included a more intense option where actors are allowed to touch guests, and individuals are singled out. A guest would be pulled into a jail cell and confronted by scary inmates threatening to shave their hair off. Actors jump out at the guests and brush against them, but never inappropriately. The actors may also stop guests in their path or chase them around with chainsaws to give them a more intimate startle. 

In the Knott's Scary Farm in California, the actors are hands-on. In certain scenes, the guests must interact with the actors while walking through in order to go further into the course. In past years, guests have been trapped inside cages, and simulated "rat poop" was sprinkled on them. Guests were also forced to eat bugs and receive shocks by touching water pouring water out of electrical sockets. The haunted house's goal is to put guests in very uncomfortable situations that are supposed to be fun. Guests should walk away not only scared, but also entertained. 

Haunted houses will leave some guests shaking, crying or wanting more. Actors like to get in guests' faces, scream at them, and get up close and personal. It's not for everyone, but it's for those who are looking for a good scare. In certain haunted houses, actors are allowed to play with your hair, and touch your hands and arms. The whole point of the haunted house is to scare the guests no matter what age they are. Do you think this interactive approach of touching people is pushing the limits or is it used simply to instill fright? The guests may choose to enter, but only the bravest make it out to the end to share their experience. 

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2014/10/10/most-extreme-haunted-houses/