Probably. But then there's that whole copyright/plagrism issue.

I'll post some more momentarily.

Ok, here's the full thing so far:

In Bari, Italy a principal, Ugo Castorina, was beaten at the Lombardi Middle School where he has worked for twenty-two years by three male relatives of the student, which included the father. Their anger was caused by the grades the middle schooler had received and a cellphone ban.
Those who assaulted Castorina punched and shoved him on Saturday, March 3, 2007. He was taken to the hospital and treated for mild injuries to his tissue. The police then accompanied him back to his school.It is unknown whether the three attackers will be punished or have charges held against them.
Regarding his horrific experience Castorina said to reporters, "Some people may not like it but standards must be set and rules must be respected if a school is to function.”
In mytown, there have been no extreme conflicts between administrators and parents; however the rules this year in the high school about electronic devices has caused some to complain. Allegedly because of the distraction electronic devices have become in the classroom, there are now new regulations regarding them. These rules were sent out in an e-mail to the teachers, who were asked to read them aloud to the students. The guidelines spelled out what would happen if the first, second, and third times a cellphone or other banned item was confiscated, eventually leading to students not being able to bring electronics to school.

wrote:...When a psychopath begins stalk her,...

I don't know if you've already caught this, but it should be "begins to stalk her" or "begins stalking her".

Otherwise, I quite liked it. I wrote for the school newspaper last year(and hopefully next year), and I did some book reviews. Not quite as good as these though.

Thank-you.

And thanks for pointing out that grammar error, I had not caught it.

Well done.
I'm sure something like that will apeal to any student body, being interesting and informative.
Oh, and last year I did a review on Bartimaeus. It was nicely accepted, and I believe quite a few people read them.

Here's the "final" rough draft:

In Bari, Italy a principal, Ugo Castorina, was beaten at the Lombardi Middle School where he has worked for twenty-two years by three male relatives of the student, which included the father. Their anger was caused by the grades the middle schooler had received and a cellphone ban.
Those who assaulted Castorina punched and shoved him on Saturday, March 3, 2007. He was taken to the hospital and treated for mild injuries to his tissue. The police then accompanied him back to his school. It is unknown whether the three attackers will be punished or have charges held against them.
Regarding his horrific experience Castorina said to reporters, "Some people may not like it but standards must be set and rules must be respected if a school is to function.”
In mytown, there have been no extreme conflicts between administrators and parents; however the rules this year in the high school about electronic devices has caused some to complain. Allegedly because of the distraction electronic devices have become in the classroom, there are now new regulations regarding them.
These rules were sent out in an e-mail to the teachers, who were asked to read them aloud to the students. Basically, students are not allowed to take out or use electronics during class hours. The guidelines spelled out what would happen the first, second, and third times a cellphone or other banned item was confiscated, eventually leading to the students who did not follow the procedures becoming restricted from the privilege of bring electronics to school.
A senior who does not wish to reveal her name said, “The new rules are pointless. Students should be allowed to have cellphones at school, especially for emergencies. Most teachers don't care whether the students have them or not. The rule can't truly be enforced by the administration, anyway and people who distract the class should be punished some other way, without the ban.”

That's wonderful. I wish I could do it. I'd like to read it, if you still have it around somewhere.

Great! Our school doesn't allow any electronic devices on grounds, but you can carry them in your locker and use them after school.
Nicely done.

Unfortunately, the school has the only copy, and I'm afraid they are going to keep it. The flash drive that I saved it on has long since vanished.

Thanks. I'll be back one day with my other articles.

That stinks. Are you a regular writer, or contributing one?

Ianna wrote: Are you a regular writer, or contributing one?

No, I don't usually do things like that, they just asked me to, and my Vocab./reading teacher suggested me, so I did. I want to be an author, though.
In a long time.

I do too. I don't known whether I want to be a reporter, reviewer, or author. So I guess I just want to write.

I revised the principal one, actually. I decided it was horrible.

I once had to write an article for the school magazine. The topic was happiness. I pepered it with Warhammer qoutes, Jewels like "Hope is but the first step on the road to disappointment" Haven't been asked to since.

Meh, people don't like counterpoints.

As for the article:
"...the student..."

What student? Would sound better if you started by giving out the facts: "In Bari, Italy, A school principal, Ugo Castorina issues a ban on cellphones..." Or something.

And "mild injuries to his tissue" sounds a bit wrong.

Which is why I revised it.

But thanks.

Ok, Revised Articles:

Disney's First Black Princess: (Not very intresting and why does it matter?)

Disney plans to retell yet another classic fairy tale,”The Frog Prince”, in the studio's cleverly titled movie, The Frog Princess. The movie will be in 2-D animation to fit with the other princess themed movies, like Cinderella and, like many Disney movies, will feature a musical format. One early song from the film is called “Down in New Orleans”.
The original fable, tells the story of a prince who has been turned into a frog and must have a spoiled princess break the spell by kissing him. The Disney version takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana during the 1920s Jazz age. The plot puts a female twist on the Grimm Brother's original tale as it follows Maddy, a nineteen year-old chambermaid and the first African-American Disney Princess.
Though no one has been cast as the voice of Maddy, or any of the other characters, auditions have been held. Allegedly, Alicia Keys has called Disney's studio chief, Dick Cook, in hopes of securing the role of the princess. It has also been stated that Jennifer Hudson and Anika Noni Rose also are competing for the part.
Apparently, this movie first originated from the suggestions of parents who wanted Disney to make another princess who wasn't Caucasian, like most of the princesses. The only official princesses who are not white are Pocahontas, Jasmine, and Mulan.
The film will be directed and written by Ron Clements and John Musker, the duo who worked together on The Little Mermaid, and they have now currently finished the script. The Randy Newman will work on the music for the film, with lyricist Glenn Slater.
Currently, The Frog Princess is tentatively slated to premiere in theaters in 2009, though no other details have been released.



Book Review:

Known for his gothic and twisty tales, Stephen King's latest novel, Lisey's Story, turns the tedious life of a middle-aged woman into a complicated and bloody adventure.
Two years after the death of the best-selling author Scott Landon, his widow, Lisey begins to clean out his cluttered study. As time passes, she begins to relive the thoroughly ignored memories from before and during her twenty-five year marriage. The further Lisey delves into the past, the more horrific and wondrous the story of Scott and his wife becomes, as she becomes suspended in her memories of their time spent together. When a psychopath begins to stalk her, the stakes are raised higher and higher for Lisey. Eventually, the reluctant Lisey is drug into another world that is conflictingly beautiful and poisonous, a place her husband visited frequently, indeed the realm that holds the answer to a long buried mystery.
As the pages are turned, Lisey's Story becomes more than a book; it becomes an experience that pulls the reader in deeper with each chapter. As time flies by, the characters and the person following their every move are hurtled into a story about the journey through sorrow and the seductive power of love. When the bittersweet conclusion is read, the reader is left with something more meaningful than a cheap suspense story. The significance of the odyssey that Scott and Lisey survives is simply enough to keep the reader pondering this story long after the novel has been closed and placed on its book shelf.


Oaklahoma:

Next month, the My Town community will be able to journey to the early American 1900s when the classic musical Oklahoma! is performed by the students of My Town High School.
Set in the territory of Oklahoma, the musical tells the story of the ranch hand, Curly and Laurey, the girl he is in love with; however, Laurey's astringent farmhand, Jud Fry, proclaims himself a rival against Curly and tries to tear the couple apart. Meanwhile, a young cowboy, Will Parker and Ali Hakim, the peddler, each try to win the heart of the indecisive Ado Annie Carnes.
Susie Lou, who plays the character of Laurey and sings memorable songs like “Many a New Day” and “People Say We’re in Love”, believes that a musical is quite different than a regular stage performance.
She said, “A musical involves combining singing, dancing, and acting. The performers tend to connect with the audience better because some people identify with the characters more easily through music than spoken words.”
Every Tuesday, along with an occasional Monday or Friday, the select group of cast members study their spoken lines with Ms. Mayflowerrocks. Those with lines in the play must have memorized their lines by March. Wednesdays and Thursdays are when the choreography for the dancing sequences and musical numbers are rehearsed. The music will be preformed by the high school’s band.
Koala Bear, a senior who portrays the sullen Jud, said, “A musical is different from a drama show or choir concert because it requires everyone to be skilled in dancing, singing, and acting. Preparations for the show began months in advance. It is an immense workload and as the date fast approaches rehearsals will certainly become more frantic and frenzied.”
Ms.Mayflowerrocks, the artistic director said, “Oklahoma will be great. It will be a fantastic show and will be one of the best this school has ever done. It has been a very positive experience and I’m honored to be part of it.”
Oklahoma’s opening night is May 10, and will run through May12. It will be performed in the new MTHS auditorium.



Women Propose to Me:

On Organo, one of the Bijagos Islands located in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, the marital traditions vary from those of the western hemisphere. According to Christine Henry, a researcher for France’s National Center for Scientific Research, the idea of women having overall authority over marriage is exclusive to this island. Organo’s ancient customs say that only women may propose to the men by offering them a plate of fish marinated in red palm oil. Once this is done, the selected man may not refuse without bringing dishonor upon his entire family. To accept, he must then eat the fish.
Before they are married, the bride-to-be then begins to build a home for them to live in after the wedding out of driftwood, blond grass, and pink mud. This project usually takes about four months or more to finish. Once the woman’s goal is accomplished the engaged couple move into the house and their marriage is legitimate.
Now, the modernization of the transport systems has enabled the men to leave the island and be exposed to other customs. Also, islanders have also been impacted by the Protestant church. Missionaries have taught girls that they should wait for men to approach them. Though some of the women plan to do so, others still believe in the deep-rooted customs of their ancestors.
Some of the older inhabitants of the island believe that since men have been proposing to women, divorce rates have increased, but there are no clear records to prove their theory.
“I can understand why women propose and why people expect them to have devotion,” said MY Town High School student, Alex Dude, “but I think men as well as women should be allowed to propose. Also, both genders should be allowed to say no.”
Even though a number of people have accepted the ideas of the foreign missionaries’ ideas about marriage, the island’s traditions are still ingrained within many of the youth of Organo.



Principal/Cellphone:


Ugo Castorina, principal of Lombardi Middle School in Bari, Italy was beaten by a pupil's father and two other male relatives. On March 3, 2007, the father was disgruntled over his child's grades and a new cellphone ban.
The violent attackers punched and shoved Castorina, he was taken to the hospital and treated for mild injuries. The police then accompanied him back to the school. Charges against the vandals were not available at this time.
Regarding his horrific experience Castorina said to reporters, "Some people may not like it, but standards must be set and rules must be respected if a school is to function.”
In My Town, restrictions on having cellphones within the class have caused some discussion amongst students and their parents.
Regarding the rules of cellphone usage, Mr. Principal said, “We’re one of the few schools in the state to allow cellphones at school. I have no problem with students using cellphones in the hallways or at lunch; however classroom time belongs to the teachers. Students should not use them during instruction, whether they pull out the phone to check the time or a text.”
Several times throughout the year, students have been reminded of the cellphone policy at school.
If a student’s phone is taken from them, it will be taken to the office. After the first offense, the student’s parent can come after school to pick it up, or a student can retrieve it after five school days. When a student commits a second offense, he/she will no longer be able to have the privilege to bring electronics to school. Furthermore, a conference between the student, the student’s parent, and Mr. Principal occurs where the principal informs the parent that if the cellphone is picked up a third time, the school keeps it until the very end of the year.
One senior said, “The new rules are pointless. Students should be allowed to have cellphones at school, especially for emergencies. The rule can't truly be enforced by the administration anyway, and people who distract the class should be punished some other way, without the ban.”
“If there is an emergency at school, then parents should call the office, and then the students will be notified immediately. Also, if a student need to call someone, phones are accessible through the school,” said Mr. Principal.
Instead of taking a leaf out of the irrational parent's book and violently making a point to the administration, complaints can be handled a number of peaceful ways. To voice a concern, a student or parent can visit Mr. Principal, or the Central Office where they can speak with a superintendent. By listening to the other side simple misunderstandings can be cleared up and prevent harsh feelings.




Global Warming:

Global warming, has always caused a number of scientists to believe the process could bring major changes to the earth, such as rising sea levels. Now, however, a new study done by the researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wyoming shows that more alarming consequences could occur.
The project was headed by John Williams, John Kutzbach, and Steve Jackson. Their findings, published in the Proceedings of the Nation Academy of Sciences, say that around the year 2100, extreme climate changes may occur worldwide. The study also shows that a possible outcome of global warming may be that some of the climates located on present day earth may vanish entirely and new currently unknown climates may develop.
To determine this, they used greenhouse gas emission scenarios and climate models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. They also used some models to translate carbon dioxide's emission rates into climate alteration.
In an interview, John Williams who is the primary author and University of Wisconsin Madison geographer said, “More carbon dioxide in the air means more risk if entirely new climates or climates disappearing.”
The conditions of many parts of the world would be changed, especially the tropics. The rain forests located in the Amazon and Indonesia would drastically change; however since the tropical areas' weather doe not shift greatly, slight temperature variations may have more of an affect on the species there than in other places in the world as they might have a harder time adapting.
Though the tropics and subtropics may be some of the domains most affected, other areas will change as well. The predictions also say that the southeast US, northwest Australia, Siberia, South Africia, and the Arabian Peninsula will be affected.
The University of Wyoming Professor, Steve Jackson was quoted as saying, “The rapid rate of change will be disruptive. Some changes may be beneficial in some places. For example, there could be more water available in some areas,” he says. “But many of the changes will be unpleasant and disruptive. Most ecosystems aren't geared to adapt to rapid changes of this magnitude.”
Though they have complied this data, the researchers are uncertain how global warming will actually affect the world. Even if the climates of ecosystems change vigorously, it is impossible to predict how the new climates will actually modify the lives of species living in the areas because this has never happened before.

Very nice. I noticed no grammar mistakes! ...My God... I sound like my Hell spawn English teacher.

All very interesting. I believe...I might have seen Oaklahoma...or been forced to watch it...can't remember, but nice job with it all! :D

Decent. No strange wordings and very to the point.

Marinated fishes and proposals?

Thanks to both of you.

Of course, the whole global warming thing has to be cut and revaped. Why?

Becuase my editor decided since we had already done a story on it, that'd be doubling up.

*Sigh*

Ah, well...
I'm never chosen to do newspaper articles.
Although I want to be the graphical designer for the yearbook...they won't let me... :(

That's too bad.

I have to rework my pages that I layed out.

Umm... just ingnore this completly... I need to get this to school, but they've blocked pretty much every site they can, and our email isn't working. But they havn't blocked this site :D So this is my horrible-im-falling-asleep-as-im-writing-it book report on the book i just read. <_< But it dosnt have to be good, it just has to prove i read the book =)

Banker to the poor –
Micro-lending and the battle against world poverty

Banker to the poor, written by Muhammad Yunus, is an autobiography. It is mainly about the Grameen Bank, which Yunus founded in order to lend small amounts of money to poor people, to help break their cycle of poverty.

Yunus was born in Chittagong, a city in Bangladesh. He was the Head of economics department at Chittagong University, which was very near the tiny village of Jobra. After attempting to help farmers from the village, Yunus realized that the farmers were quite well off, compared to others. It was those who were to poor to even own land who were in desperate need of help.

In 1976, he began to visit the poorest households in Jobra, and met Sufiya Begum. Sufiya was 21 years old, with three children, and made bamboo stools for a living. However, she couldn’t afford the cost of bamboo, which was, at the time, 22 cents. As a result, she had to borrow the bamboo from a trader, and at the end of the day, after making one stool, she had to sell it back to the trader in order to repay her loan. The trader bought them for below the market price, at 24 cents each, which meant that Sufiya had to feed her family and take care of her children with 2 cents a day.

Sufiya works in a form of bonded labor, where the trader pays her a price that is just barely enough to keep her alive. If she could get the 22 cents she needed to buy her own bamboo, then she could sell her stools at full market price. But she can’t borrow from a moneylender, because they charge far too much – 10% a week, or sometimes a day. And she can’t borrow from a bank either, because the banking systems are completely against woman, besides the fact that you need to fill out a form before you can use the bank. In a country where 75% of the population is illiterate, that is a serious roadblock for many.

In Jobra, Yunus found 42 women working in bonded labor, in similar conditions as Sufiya. The cost of buying raw goods for all the women was 27 dollars. 27 dollars is all that stood between these 42 families and a much better life.

At first, Yunus wanted to give these families the 27 dollars they needed. But that would have been far too simple – there were millions of other families who needed tiny amounts of money to lift themselves out of poverty. And so, Yunus began the Grameen bank (literally, Bank of the Villages) as an experiment. He introduced a system in order to make the bank easier for the poor, and especially women, to use, with things like weekly installments, no collateral, self-help groups and low interest rates. He also made sure that those borrowing were people who needed the money. He observed that poor people will always do their best to repay their loan, because it’s the only chance they have, and they can’t mess up. Because of this, 98% of the loans are re-paid.

Because of the success Grameen had in Jobra, Yunus decided to expand it. Over many years, Grameen Bank has expanded across all of Bangladesh, as well as into Africa, China, Saudi Arabia, the Caribbean, and the United States. It currently has 1,181 branches, works in 42, 127 villages, and has 2.6 million borrowers, of which 95% are women.

This book was great. It was a very a challenging read, something like an Economist-level book. I found many things confusing, because the author was talking about things I couldn’t understand. Some were about the banking system, which I’m not familiar with, and others were ideas that I couldn’t quite follow. It dragged on at some parts, but Mr. Yunus sounds like he is a very smart person. This book was a fascinating and truly inspiring story about how one person really can change the world. It doesn’t hurt that it was written remarkably well.

I would recommend this book to adult / advanced readers, because it is a difficult read, but is definitely worth reading, especially if social change is an important subject to the reader.

That's cool.

You guys do book reports? I haven't done one since third grade.

We were going to, but we did oral biography reports instead.

Nice job. I don't think anyone will doubt you read the book.