The future of social networking
We all have in some way used technology for the betterment of our lives in one way or another. For some, it’s become a habit to log on to Facebook to check out what their friends or family have been up to. Where as some simply log on to help get a quick message across. Both are participating in what we call, The Future of Social Networking.
Place like Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, and even news networks like CNN all do the same thing, connect users to eachother in a new and interesting way that will keep as many users as possible. Social networking sites bring a sense of almost being right next to eachother, a false sense of reality.
“I use Myspace and Facebook usually about once a day, if not more, says Sophomore Billy Longstreet. I can usually count on the fact that if I need something, I can talk to someone about it through texting or by e-mailing them. It also helps that I can get on both of them during school with my i-Pod.”
Girls Lacrosse Goes to State
This weekend the girls’ lacrosse team will be heading to the state tournament. The tournament will be held at Mound Westonka High School at Haddorf Field. Their first game is on Friday, May 29th at 8 p.m. Buffalo’s first team to play is St. Paul. If Buffalo wins that game, they will play Saturday at 7 p.m. either against Becker, Farmington or Duluth. Anyone is welcome to come, children will be four dollars and adults will be six. Considering on how well the team does, will determine what time the games on Saturday and Sunday will be on. Buffalo is currently ranked 4th in Minnesota.
The Make Up Game
Wednesday, May 27th, the Buffalo Girl’s Varsity Lacrosse team annihilated St. Paul 21-0. This was St. Paul’s first year playing; they had great sportsmanship and played fair. Only one referee showed up to this game, and though he did his job well, he still missed a few major calls on both sides. The defeat came fast.
“Girls, it’s twenty-one to zero and we’ve run out of numbers on the flipper,” said Coach Andrea Lund. “Just take your time and pass it around a little.”
This was a good practice game for Buffalo, it allowed the players to switch up their positions and try new strategies.
One new strategy the girls were able to try was the box. The box is set up with two homes [offense] down behind the opposing team’s net. The attack wings run the ball down towards the net and pass to one of the homes behind the net, who then passes to the other home behind the net, while another attack wing cuts in and scores.
Buffalo will be playing this team again on Friday, May 29th, to start off the state tournament.
Yearbook Distribution
By: Mike Pyka and Nikki Cantin
It’s that time of year again; yearbooks will be unveiled and distributed on Friday the 29. If you haven’t ordered one already, they cost $65 and are in very short supply. This year’s publication includes several sections including sports, activities, academics, students, and staff.
While the yearbook staff wouldn’t share too many details, we managed to get a few hints at what is to come. There are some key differences between this year’s and last year’s book
“The involvement of a theme, the inclusion of more content per page, more people involved, a spring supplement, and extra pages for sale are all differences” said yearbook supervisor Ryan McCallum.
The yearbook staff seemed to harbor the excitement of a child on Christmas Eve, even though they will be the ones giving instead of receiving.
While the freshmen are getting their first yearbook the seniors will be receiving their last. The seniors will probably treasure this book more then previous ones, as it is their last chance to have pictures and memories of high school.
Party!
Next Year’s Senior Student Council and Class Cabinet Representatives Selected
While the seniors are preparing to graduate and clear out of the high school, juniors are making plans for their final year at BHS. The 2010 senior class cabinet and student council representatives have been selected for next year. Juniors Jake Letsinger, Bobby Person, Brielle Colebank, and Sam Mailhot will be members of the senior class cabinet. Juniors AJ Cane, Francie Varner, Luke Hein, Lizzy Lundebrek, and Ashley Anderson have all been selected to be members of the senior student council.
“It’s crazy that we’re going to be seniors next year,” said Varner. “Next year I think student council will be a lot more serious for me because we’ll be the leaders of the school and we’ll need to set good examples for the underclassmen.”
You do not need to have previous experience with student council or class cabinet to join. For Junior AJ Kane, this is the case.
“I wasn’t in student council last year,” said Kane. “I heard from friends that it was fun, so I decided to try it. I like being a leader and making decisions. Plus it’ll look good on my college applications.”
There are still a few spots open for student council and class cabinet. If you’re interested please see Mr. Ronken in C-202.
Boys’ Swimming and Nordic Ski kept in 2009-2010
After months of debating and frustration, Buffalo’s School Board has decided to keep Nordic Ski and Boys’ Swimming in the 2009-2010 school year. The decision was made on May 26 at the school board meeting, after Nordic Ski Head Coach Jill Hanson presented the board a $10,000 check to cover activity fees. Many swimmers and parents also attended the meeting along with Boys’ Swim Coach Ryan Renstrand, and presented their check as well.
The decision is a huge success for swimmers and skiiers, but presents many of the same challenges in future years. Because the school board only approved Boys’ Swim and Nordic Ski to be offered in the 2009-2010 school year, swimmers and skiiers will find themselves in a similar situation to self fund next year.
“I’m happy we get a chance to show who we are and what we can do again next year,” said Sophomore Swimmer Will Elliott. “We want to swim so we’ll do what it takes to be able to.”
Change is in sight for BHS in 2009-2010 school year
The 2009-2010 school year quickly approaches, so does a whole new set of rules. The rules that Buffalo High School students have had to follow in past years, have all been lenient, and flexible. But next year, students are in for a big change.
With the constant use of cell phones among the students, teachers often feel disrespected. If a student got their cell phone taken away this year, it wasn’t a big deal. Teachers either placed the captured device safely in their desk till the end of the day, or sometimes even just until the end of class. And other teachers would simply ask students to put their phones away, or even just ignore the fact that their students where texting in the first place. Nobody had the right to look through the phones, because of the rights of the student that it belonged to.
However, next year will not be the same. If a student gets their phone taken away during school, it will be given to an administrator, who has the right to search the phone completely due to the high levels of text bullying and what is now being called “sexting”, where students send disturbing pictures, and text messages to each other. The student will no longer be able to wait till the end of the day to go and receive their phone, or get it at the end of class. The students parents will actually have to come into school and get their child’s phone for them.
“I think that they administrators shouldn’t be able to search through our phones,” Stated Junior Paul Rankin. “If its my phone that my parents got for me, then they shouldn’t be able to invade my privacy with out my permission. Texting is not a crime, i should have to go through all of the. Give me a warning and I’ll put it away, its as simple as that.”
It’s a new school year, with new rules. Some students are thankful for the change, and others are outraged. What will be next for change in the 2009-2010 school year…
“Closing Time”
“Closing time, time for you to go out, go out into the world.” The seniors were greeted with the annual count down sign last week, marking the end of the school year and of high school for the class of 2009. As the final ten days began many are struggling to stay ahead in classes.
“I don’t even care to show up anymore, I don’t want to be here I just want to do what I want because we have nothing left to do, it doesn’t matter anymore. I think we should be able to get out two weeks early like a lot of the other schools,” said Senior Katie Aase.
With weather in the 90′s this poses a huge problem, not only do the students want out but many of the teachers are struggling to keep control during these last few days. The administration have been doing their best to keep students in school and motivate them to finish strong. Tuesday of this week an assembly was held for Seniors asking them to show leadership during these last two weeks of school. With that in mind teachers and students are doing their best to finish the year with a bang. For the class of 2009 the end is near.
Downloading Music Illegally
It starts in November 2003, The Pirate Bay is created. During the span of five years, there were many flips and turns that they went through. People were suing, the police raided the site and detained three men, and other stuff like being charged with copyrighting. But what file sharing site isn’t?
“It’s just so much easier getting music from a file sharing source because who is going to spend a dollar on a three minute song,” said a Junior, “If it’s just one song I will buy it, but if I am doing more than that, it just adds up to be too much.”
January 2nd, 2009, The Pirate Bay trial begins. Charging four Pirate Bay staff of helping people break copyright laws by just creating the Pirate Bay site.
April 17th, 2009, all four of the Pirate Bay staff members are convicted and sentenced to one year in jail and a fine of 3.6 million dollars. Even though the creators are going to jail and have a huge fine, they are still convinced, without a doubt, that the site will be up and running until they no longer want any part in it anymore. And with the help of 22 million users a month, there is no way that it can be shut down permanently.
“I download music off of The Pirate Bay, but if I download a song that I really like, I go the the band’s web site and donate 10 or 20 bucks,” said a Senior, “or however the amount of which I think that they deserve.”
With these millions of people downloading music, only a few hundred are arrested and fined each year. First time offenders are charged a maximum of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Society doesn’t seem to care about the consequences or the penalties for just downloading their favorite songs.
“Around 95 percent of all music is downloaded without payment to artists or producers,” John Kennedy, chairman and chief executive of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry in his 2009 Digital Music Report said.
With all the producers and singer/songwriters in the world who get their music ripped off are losing too much money. They spend their own time and money to make something where the age group that they are trying to present it to will like and enjoy it. And we either don’t care or just take it from torrent sites just because it’s easier.
“I don’t feel bad when I just download one song every other week, but when I have a list I just buy a iTunes gift card,” said a Freshman. “I feel really bad when I think about what I’m taking and how hard the artist(s) and the producer(s) worked on their music.”
What is society willing to give up? Thousands of dollars? Years away from family and friends due to jail time? For just $0.99 on iTunes or risk getting it online for free illegally. The risk of getting caught is very slim, but what if you were the one out of the millions who gets caught?