7.08 seconds is the world record for solving a Rubik's Cube. Why is this little toy cube puzzle with six colors on it initially so enticing to everyone, only to quickly be thrown aside in frustration? Why is it always assumed that people who can solve a Rubik's Cube are geniuses? All they are doing is following a bunch of algorithms (sequences of moves) that come in the package with the puzzle. Still, even though it may seem like cheating to follow the algorithms they are hard to learn, so solving the puzzle is still pretty difficult. I can solve the 3x3x3 cube in about ninety seconds. It took me a very long time to get there, but it was very satisfying. If you have a long car ride coming up, bring a Rubik's Cube with you and repeat the algorithms over and over until they become easy. Who knows, maybe by the time you step out of the car everyone will think you are a genius.
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The ability to take a regular piece of paper and turn it into an extravagant work of art without using paints, pencils or charcoal is an easy way to wow friends.
Paper folding, also know as origami, can trace its origins as early as the sixth century in Japan. One of the most recognizable figures is a swan. Here is how to make one:
1. Take a square piece of paper. For beginners, the bigger the square, the better. Lay the side you want showing face down on a hard, flat surface.
2. Fold the paper in half like a card. Unfold, and fold in the other direction. The creases should look like a plus sign. Fold the paper diagonally both ways. The creases now should look like an asterisk. Lay the paper flat and unfolded on the table.
Whether you're trick-or-treating, handing out candy, or going to a party, Halloween is the time of the year where you can look absolutely ridiculous and still have everyone comment on your outfit. Here are a few tips on getting a unique, inexpensive costume this year.
Go as something completely the opposite of you. For example, Tall people can try safety pinning a soft shoe at the knee of any regular outfit, so when they kneel, they look really short. Try finding your opposite using your looks, interests, or hobbies.
How to have the most incredible summer:
1. Try a new water sport. There are plenty of places where you can rent a kayak. You could also try water skiing or jet skiing.
2. Have a summer solstice party. It's the longest day of the year, and a great excuse for a get-together. Get some fun going with water guns or simple party games, such as charades or Apples to Apples.
3. Take a day to merely relax. Wake up late, and lounge in your pajamas for the day. Also, indulge your inner child. Catch lightning bugs, make a sand castle or just sit in the shade and talk.
4. If you're going off to college, make sure you have everything ready. Get psyched for college by visiting campus again, going for a summer orientation or grabbing some of your college's apparel. Just going back to school? That's OK, you have more time to figure out your plans.
-- By AMANDA KNUDSON. Red Lion Senior High School
Many teens are hunting for jobs this summer. With the sluggish economy, finding one might not be easy. Here are a few simple tips for landing some summer work:
1. Apply early - Don't wait until the end of school to apply. By that time, many jobs have been secured, and the rest are slim pickings.
2. Apply to many places - Limiting yourself to working for just one company is just that -- limiting . It can decrease your chances of finding a position.
3. Be enthusiastic - In an interview do not be bland and act like the only reason you want the job is to appease your parents. Be excited about the prospect of getting a job.
4. Be willing to work during the last month of school - Offering to work right away shows you are excited to work and want to get started early.
5. Be willing to work your way up - Realize you are not going to land the perfect job. You might start out with few hours or doing undesirable work, but if you stick with the job, it might get better.
6. Tap into your connections - Talk to your parents or your friend's parents to see if they know of any available jobs. If they do, then it will be easier for you to land the job, because they already know and like you.
Israeli Defense Force Reserve Major Elliot Chodoff, a Middle East scholar and military strategist, spoke at the York Jewish Community Center in January about the Gaza conflict. Here are a few major facts he stressed that are essential to understanding Israel's position, especially in light of the recent media bias against Israel.
Sometimes I feel this way...
I could wile away the hours
Confer them with the flowers
Consult them with the brain
And my head I'd be scratching while my bolts were busy hatching
If I only had a brain
I'd unravel every riddle
For any individual
In trouble or in pain
With the thoughts you'd be thinkin' you could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain
Oh I could tell you why the ocean's near the shore
I could think of things I never thought before
And then I'd sit and think some more
I would not be just a nothin'
My head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain
I would dance and be merry
Life would be an ingudarry
If I only had a brain
Gosh it would be awful pleasin' to reason out the reason
For things I can't explain
Then perhaps I'll deserve ya
And be even worthy of ya
If I only had a brain
We've all seen the show, but how many of us wonder if our friends are secretly conspiring to get Stacy and Clinton to set us straight? A few basic guidelines can get people wishing they had your style.
1. When in doubt, be modest.
These are not the streets of Las Vegas. If your grandparents would be ashamed of your outfit, don't wear it! I once saw a girl wearing a T-shirt with "modest is hottest" written on the front. She was right!
2. Dress to your size.
Girls who are size seven should never try to squeeze into a size three. Clothes are meant to be comfortable, not unbearable. Always dress to your size. And remember: Designers always, unfortunately, cut their clothes differently, so a size 10 in one store might fit like a six in another. If it feels too tight, it ain't right!
3. Dress to the occasion.
In other words, never wear jeans to a black-tie occasion. I once saw a girl wearing 5-inch stilettos and a satin party dress to a fair. Yes, a fair -- as in crowded and messy, with people wearing jeans and T-shirts to feed the cows. Needless to say, she looked ridiculous.
4. Dress your age.
Basically, pigtails and Winnie the Pooh have no place on girls older than 10; however, I see so many teens and adults dressed like Pippi Longstocking. On the other hand, I am not condoning young girls wearing fishnets and stilettos. Inappropriate dress, whether too young or too old, will never be tolerated in a professional office setting.
5. Dress nicely!
When in doubt, skip the T-shirt and sweats. A nice outfit goes a long way in showing you respect yourself, which in turn encourages other to respect you.
Everyone needs a bit of motivation when prepping for these busy holidays days ahead:
1. Make a wish list
Nothing can promote holiday spirit or provoke your parents more than an endless list of goodies that have the potential to wind up under your tree.
2. Go shopping
Indulge in the spirit of giving; think of others as you cruise through the crowded stores, seeking out the perfect gift for that special someone. Plus, the overdone, erratic store decorations are likely to inspire a holiday mood.
3. Decorate your own house
Use that crazy store décor to motivate the interior designer inside you; throw itchy tinsel, sparkly lights, and scratchy garland like it's nobody's business. You're guaranteed to feel that holiday spirit.
4. Listen to holiday music
There's nothing like a few spirited carols to spark a holiday sing-a-long. Explore iTunes for everlasting classics such as "Grandma Got Run-over by a Reindeer."
5. Go ice skating
You can't beat a cold seat!
Sometimes I wish the sun could just shine a little bit longer. If there was only more time in a day - but there isn't.
This month, I trade makeup for a mustache and a comb for a cowboy hat. Yes, that's right - I'm playing Mercutio, a man, in Susquehannock's fall production of "Romeo and Juliet," a classic drama with a post-Civil War twist. Now, I don't just get to study the tongue-twisting poetry of Shakespeare, I gender swap as well. Becoming a man isn't as simple as dressing the part, though.
As the election draws closer, many people are torn between the presidential candidates.
If you find yourself debating in your head (but Obama's black! But McCain picked a woman!), then never fear. These simple steps should leave you feeling confident about your vote.
Even if none of the above is true, and you are dead-set against one party or the other, I urge you to keep reading - you might change your mind.
By ANNIE SWADE
How to keep new school year resolutions for success:
1. Stay organized. Jot down all assignments and important dates in a day-to-day planner.
2. Study with a buddy. Find a dependable classmate in every class for missed notes or help with assignments.
3. Use your resources. Take extra time to use all available resources, such as teachers, peers, tutors and librarians.
4. Don't procrastinate. Waiting until the last minute only adds more stress.
5. Remember to relax. Take deep breaths when under pressure. Always keep in mind that high school is supposed to be the best time of your life.
Taking the SAT for the first time is pretty surreal. It has always been that foreboding milestone in the future that's going to arrive at some point, but it's hard to believe that it will actually come.
Then junior year rolls around before students know it, and they end up saying, "Oh, shoot. Now I actually have to take this thing."
Here are some tips on how to work through the SATs calmly and effectively.
When your first bike ride turns into your first bike crash, the “practice makes perfect” remedy is readily available. If your test grades are less than satisfying, you can resort to the “try, try again” philosophy.
Unfortunately some situations aren’t as forgiving of your lack of experience or knowledge. Once you cast a ballot in an election, not only your vote, but also your opinion is sealed. (Sorry, but there are only recounts, not re-votes.) Opinions can change over time, but for that particular election, your views are locked in.
With a scenario that influential to your life, the permanency of casting a vote should inspire caution. Nevertheless, many people are rash with forming their opinions, and therefore rash with their votes.
How to have an anti-Valentine's Day:
Joel, the lovelorn character from the movie "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," has a few words to say about February 14: "Valentine's Day...is a holiday invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap."
Sometimes politics can seem far too complicated or advanced for a
teenager to know or care about. There are laws with Roman subscripts that reach
into the hundreds, complex policies, and a variety of different candidates and
viewpoints. It can be mystifying, but politics affect everyone. Even if you
can't vote, you can certainly get involved!
When we first moved into our house, I badgered my mom about when my room was going to get painted. She decided out of the blue that I was going to paint my room. This how-to can help teens with home-decorating and independent-living skills in the future.
There are a few essential things you need:
- a Myspace account
- a Facebook account
- a Gaia account
- Friends whom you've met from all over the world through these sites (but that fact remains that you don't really know them)
"Same old, same old," we find ourselves saying as we head in for another
year of high school.
School for some of us, however, will be missing a friendly face or two - or many. If you have an older friend who graduated and is headed for employment, college, or the military, you're probably already missing them and marking the calendar with dates they're coming home.
Not to worry, there's still time to give them a grade A send-off before they leave.
In the beginning, man could detect the coming of summer by rising temperatures and lengthening days.
Fast forward to the present, and Ferris wheels and cotton candy signify the season. However, the fun does not last. Carnivals are like desert mirages: They come and go, leaving a colorful memory amidst a dreary landscape. So you have to make the most out of the festival's short life span.
The fibonacci sequence is a not-so-complex set of numbers that one can learn in some level of higher math. This sequence is most commonly used to create a spiral using squares (consult with your math book if you want more information). The set of numbers was, for a long time, only seen in math classes. However, the Fibonacci Sequence is making its move into modern poetry in a new poetic form called "the fib".
Most people, who don't delve into the different aspects of poetry, have no idea about any of the different sequences and types of poetry that someone can write. Many of these people make a rhyming story and call it a day, but let's snap up those poetic skills! Everyone knows about the haiku and the limerick, but one should really challenge their poetic skills by learning about the sestina and how to write one. It's time for you to enhance your poetic skills and call yourself a poet.
Supplies:
Elastic band (For the amount of elastic needed, measure your waist and subtract approximately 1½ inches from your waist measurement)
Two yards fabric (preferably cotton)
Thread that matches fabric
Sewing machine
Chalk
Pins
Scissors
The worst feeling in the world (besides falling down packed bleachers) is that "night-before-the-first-day-of-school dread." It's that feeling you get when you realize that you forgot everything you learned the previous school year, and you know that you have just wasted three months of precious summer at the pool, with the occasional trip to the movies. This year, when Aug. 31 rolls around, head back to school knowing that you made the most of your summer, while still having a good time.
1. Take a bike ride or go for a run - Even taking ten minutes for an exercise break gives you a taste of the fresh air without damaging your homework routine.
2. Set your soundtrack to “Summer” - Breaking out the mellow, warm-weather songs may cause daydreaming, but doing so will get you to remember how nice relaxation can be.
3. Mix a smoothie - The refreshing taste of the tropics mixed with the heat outside is sure to momentarily relieve the stress of finals.
4. Do your homework outside - It may not be the most fun exciting way to spend your time, but at least the sun will brighten those math problems.
5. Make incentives - Try creating a plan incorporating the dregs of schoolwork with fun activities. Study for an hour or two, then treat yourself to an ice cream or a game of soccer.
6. Schedule something in advance - Making fun plans with friends for the weekend provides something to look forward to during the week.
7. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to take a break - If you feel yourself losing concentration with a few weeks left, set aside a “no-working” night to rejuvenate. It’s hard to return to the idea of school once you’ve lost the motivation, so make sure to leave some time for yourself; you don’t want to use your class time to dream about what you wish you were actually doing.
Have you ever wanted to get new music but didn't feel like going to the music store? Thanks to the Internet, there are many easy ways to find and download new music quickly and easily. Here are some places to start.
I love cake! Ice cream, the band, cake with flowers on it, cake with "You're Over the Hill" written on it, wedding cake, funeral cake (!?!), baby shower cake, and the saying "That's a cakewalk."
HOWEVER
My mom wanted me to take a break from people this weekend.
As I said in my meet the staff post two months ago, this salad is as good as ice cream.
It seems as if , more and more, it is becoming taboo for a person to have actual feelings towards certain things, and life in general. People generally tend to hide their feelings from public, and this apathy invades into the personal life. Perhaps people in society are losing their touch on what it means to be sad, happy, and content. Here are some steps to, once again, get in touch with yourself and the world around you.
Nowadays, I find myself going over to a friend's house to watch a movie
when I'm bored. I say, let's spice things up a bit. Do something a little more
creative. Show them magic tricks. Make punch. Just get off that couch!
These brownies are amazing. The recipe isn't easy...it just takes a while and includes a lot of ingredients...BUT STILL!
I love them. So if you ever get the chance to make brownies, Palm Beach is the way to go.
