Monthly Archives: December 2015

News

E. Coli outbreak

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News is spreading about Chipotle’s new health situation. The popular food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill has recently been linked to reported cases of E. Coli (Escherichia Coli). E. Coli is a bacteria that generally lives in the lower intestines of humans and animals and is not harmful. However, some strains of E. Coli, in this case Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 A.K.A. “STEC 026”, can cause an intestinal infection. Symptoms of an intestinal infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. More severe cases have had reported symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, dehydration and sometimes kidney failure. Younger children, older adults, and pregnant women have increased risks of developing complications. E. Coli can be caused by improperly treated food or water, however properly treating food and water, along with good hygiene immensely decrease the risks of getting an intestinal infection.

So far there have been 52 reported cases of E Coli linked to Chipotle. These 52 reported cases are spread out over 9 states. 1 person reported having been infected by STEC 026 in Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. There have been 2 reported cases in Minnesota. California and Ohio both experienced 3 reported cases. In Oregon there have been 13 reported cases. Washington has had the most reported cases with 26. Out of the 52 reported cases there have been zero deaths, however, 20 of the reported cases had to be hospitalized.

47 (90%) of the overall 52 cases, reported to have eaten at Chipotle within a week before they fell ill. Chipotle is working with public health officials to understand the distribution of the food items served at the locations where individuals who contracted STEC 026 ate.

For more information, please go to: http://www.CDC.gov

Local, School Life

Questioning SROs’ role in SPPS

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In a recent Pioneer Press article, it was stated that chair of Saint Paul Public School Board, Mary Doran had proposed the idea to remove student resource officers from all Saint Paul Public Schools. This proposal created controversy, especially in light of the recent events around SPPS. Just within the past 4 months of the 2015-16 school year, SPPS has faced many dangerous incidents. This includes;

  • A loaded handgun found at Harding High School
  • An officer punched in the face breaking up a fight at Harding High School
  • An outbreak of fights with 10+ students involved at Como Park High School
  • A student at Central High School tasered for refusing to leave class
  • And the most recent event, a staff member hospitalized after trying to break up a fight at Central High School

With the occurrence of these events, many people believe that removing all student resource officers (SROs) would only make schools a more dangerous place to learn. The SRO budget is currently $854,000 to pay for nine resource officers within the district. This money is from the school district budget provided by education funding from the government. Although removing these officers would save money and help with budget cuts, many people believe that their presence within the schools is essential. The removal could elevate the situation and make our schools more dangerous without strong reinforcement present at all times.

One reason Ms. Doran supposedly questioned the presence of SROs in our schools is because earlier this year, an officer at Spring Valley High in South Carolina assaulted a student. Since then there has been much talk about the benefits and disadvantages SROs bring to schools around America.

After contacting Ms. Doran, she claims that the reporter simply misinterpreted her proposal, and that she just meant to start a conversation between students about their opinions of their school officers. She also claims that she does not wish to remove all SROs, and in fact she firmly believes their presence in schools is much needed in light of these recent events.

In the Pioneer Press article, the reporter said, “Evidently, you have some doubts as to whether SROs are a strictly positive presence in St. Paul schools“, but Mrs. Doran claims that nothing she said lead to that conclusion. She also claims these were false assumptions with no evidence. In summary, she believes that officers are important for the safety of students and teachers within the school, and they will not be removed.

Travel/Food

Holiday recipes

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Holiday Recipes

Here are some delicious, easy recipes for this holiday season!

Homemade Cheesy Potatoes

3 pounds Russet Potatoes, peeled

4 tablespoons Butter, divided

1/2 cup Yellow Onion, diced small

1 clove Garlic, minced

2-1/2 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour

1/2 cup Low-Sodium Chicken Broth

1/2 cup Whole Milk

1 cup Sour Cream

3 Green Onions, sliced

3/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper

1 cup grated Sharp Colby Cheese

Directions:

  1. Peel a pound of potatoes
  2. Slice the potatoes into planks, then strips and dice into cubes. Add the potatoes into a pot of cold water, bring to a boil and cook for 8 minutes. Remove and drain the potatoes and set into a sink. Let the potatoes cool.
  3. In a 10-inch skillet add three tablespoons of butter. Over medium-low melt the butter and then add in the diced onions. Cook until just softened and add in the minced garlic. Cook for one minute.
  4. Add small amount of four in the flour and stir, cooking for 2-3 minutes. While stirring, pour in the 1/2 cup of broth and 1/2 cup of whole milk. Continue to stir until thick, about 5-8 minutes.
  5. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cup of cold sour cream.
  6. In a large bowl add in the cooled potatoes, onion and sour cream mixture, green onions, salt, pepper and grated Colby cheese. Stir to combine and pour in the prepared pan.
  7. Bake at 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until bubbly and lightly golden. Let cool for 20-25 minutes before serving.

Green Bean casserole:

  1. 1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup  
  2. 1/2 cup  milk
  3. 1 teaspoon  soy sauce
  4. 1 dash  black pepper
  5. 4 cups cooked cut green beans
  6. 1 1/3 cups french fried Onions

Directions:

  1. Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, beans and 2/3 cup onions in a bowl.
  2. Pour into a casserole dish.
  3. Bake at 350°F. for 25 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbling. Stir casserole and sprinkle with the remaining french fried onions.
  4. Bake for another 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.

Chocolate Chip Cookies:

  1. 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  2. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  3. 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  4. 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  5. 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
  6. 1 teaspoon salt
  7. 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  8. 2 large eggs
  9. 2 cups semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a small bowl whisk together the flour and baking soda and set aside.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed.
  4. Add in the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  5. Drop tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
  6. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes.
  8. Let cool completely.

Eggnog:

  1. 4 cups milk
  2. 5 whole cloves
  3. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  4. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  5. 12 egg yolks

Directions:

  1. Combine milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon in a saucepan and heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes. Slowly bring milk mixture to a boil.
  2. In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk together until fluffy.
  3. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring for 3 minutes, or until the mixture is thick.
  4. Do not allow mixture to boil. Strain to remove cloves, and let cool for about an hour.
  5. Stir in, cream, 2 teaspoon vanilla, and nutmeg. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

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Advice/How To

Foodies for thought

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Sometimes gift giving to foodies can be difficult, but with this gift guide you and a family member can team up and give the best gifts of the holiday season.

Many coffee lovers know how tiring the same old flavors of boring plain coffee can get, and how it’s hard to replicate a drink from their favorite coffee shop. The Keurig system takes little pods and turns them into hot fresh cups of coffee. There are many different companies who have teamed up with Keurig, such as Starbucks, to bring to you the flavor of their coffee to your own home. The machine itself can run a little pricey but it is worth it when you don’t feel like going out for a cup of coffee. http://www.keurig.com/Brewers/Home/Keurig®-2-0-K550-Brewing-System/p/keurig-2-0-k550-brewing-system

Juicing your food is something that has recently become very popular. Most juicers don’t do your fruits and vegetables justice. The Nutri Bullet RX actually keeps all of the precious fibers that make the fruits and veggies healthy. This makes your juice just as healthy as eating your food in a solid form. Juicers can be very expensive though, for instance if you want the Nutri Bullet RX, but the cheaper the make, the less expensive. https://www.nutribulletrx.com

Going out and buying soda for a party can be pretty pricey at the checkout. The Sodastream uses water and flavor pods and creates soda that tastes exactly like the name brand. Water is something that almost everyone has and it is an ample resource. The flavor pods are costly but it is a convenient way to always have soda on hand. https://www.sodastreamusa.com/play-starter-kit-p591.aspx

Sandwiches are the classic snack whenever you really need a quick bite to eat. Paninis are something that you used to only be able to get at specialty restaurants, but with a panini press you can finally make them yourself! These can run pretty pricy if you want one that tells you when your sandwich is done, but the cheaper models will also get the job done. http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-GR-1-Griddler-Panini-Sandwich/dp/B000CPZXGO

Using a full size blender can be a hassle when you have little counter space, especially when you’re trying to make lots of sweets for special occasions. This is why a simple hand blender will make any baking job much easier. http://www.qvc.com/KitchenAid-Two-Speed-Hand-Blender.product.K301210.html?sc=K301210-Targeted&cm_sp=VIEWPOSITION-_-3-_-K301210&catentryImage=http://images.qvc.com/is/image/k/10/k301210.001?$uslarge$

Editorials/Student Voice, News

Banning of books

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A committee consisting of parents and staff members in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district voted to keep the book Just One Day on the shelves of school libraries. The book is centered around a young female character named Allyson and her plans to travel Europe following her graduation. She then meets a young man during her trip, which leads to “ a day of risk and romance, and 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life.”

The content of the book was brought into question after an 11-year-old girl checked the book out from the Rosemount Middle School library. The girl’s parents did not agree with the substance of the book, as it contains some areas with crude language and adult sexual content.

This decision raises questions about what kinds of books should be put into school libraries, and determining whether or not these books are “appropriate” for young people to read. Does there need to be some kind of rating system for literature like there is for movies? Or should we leave it up to the parents to determine what their children should be reading?

From my own experiences in high school, it was inevitable that I would run into a piece of literature that contained adult themes, especially in the IB program. So, shielding young readers from these types of  books can potentially hurt their preparation for further reading as well as limit their knowledge and understanding of the things that go on in the world around them. Who’s to say that these kids won’t be more compelled to get their hands on a book once it gets banned? Ultimately, parents should have confidence and trust in their children to determine what reading material is appropriate for them.

Entertainment

Travel

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Wondering where to travel over break? There are lots of fun places that you and your family can go. The four places I picked to write about in this article are places that could be fun for the whole family. The reason why I focused on family friendly destinations was that I wanted to find vacations that would appeal to more than one age group.

The four places I ended up picking were: the Bahamas, Hawaii, Long Beach, CA, and London.

I looked at air plane tickets for these four destinations. There is a range of prices starting at $385 all the the way up to $2167. Specifically:

Bahamas-$466-$631

Hawaii-$871-$1021

California – Long Beach -$385-$520

London-$1404-$2167

You could have a grate time at any of these places. There are lots of fun thing to do wherever you go.

For example, in the Bahamas you can swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Encounters and lay on the beach or go shopping at the Bahamas Craft shop or go site seeing.

In Hawaii there are so many thing to do. You can go for a hike at Maunawili Falls Trail, or go shopping at the Premium Outlet Mall. You could also spend your time hanging out on the beach, or you could swim with dolphins at Dolphin Quest, or you could check out the animals at the Honolulu Zoo.

In Long Beach, CA  you can lay on the beach or go to Point Vicente. Another place to go is the Aquarium of the Pacific. One last place you could go is The Pike, which is a touristy international bazaar.

In London you can go see the London Eye or go see Buckingham Palace. Big Ben or the London Zoo are also great places to visit.

All of these places would be cool to visit and explore.

Movies/TV/Theaters

Krampus movie review

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The movie Krampus was inspired by an old legend that started to become popular again, a few decades ago, about an evil demon who some say is almost as old as St. Nicholas. Krampus has his own holiday on December 5th, that is celebrated in some European countries where teenage guys make homemade Krampus costumes, and run around the streets chasing people.

The movie Krampus was directed by Michael Dougher. The movie is about a dysfunctional family drama that causes young Max (played by Emjay Anthony) to lose hope in the Christmas spirit and accidentally summon Krampus. Krampus then goes off tormenting the family, teaching Max a lesson, and making the audience remember about the Christmas spirit.

I would give this movie an overall 9 out of 10 star rating because the acting was really good, and the story was entertaining. Towards the end, the story line is not the clearest, especially if you go to the bathroom, so you do need to pay a lot of attention.

Anyway, this movie is a great choice for people that like horror and comedy.

Entertainment

Gifts for under $15

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For Her

The Maybelline eyeshadow palettes are great stocking stuffers for daughters or mothers who enjoy makeup and experimenting with their look ($9.98 at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, and maybelline.com).

The Burt’s Bees Tips and toes kit is a reasonably priced set with hand creams, a foot cream, and a lip moisturizer. Perfect for a woman who likes natural healthy products to improve her skin. ($10.39 at Walgreens, $12.99 at Target and Macy’s)

Scarves are a great accessory for women to put the final touches on their outfit of the day. With many different kinds of scarves there are plenty of options. Depending on what type of material or style the scarf is the prices will vary however some good stores with scarves under or around $15 are Target, Charlotte Russe, and Forever 21.

For the Kids

Hasbro® Classic Jenga Game is a classic entertaining game perfect for younger kids and families ($7.89 at Target, Walmart and amazon.com).

Wubble X Floating Bubble Ball – Blue (Target Sale Price: $7.99)

Gift Cards are great alternatives if you need to buy a gift for someone and have no idea what to specifically get them. There are gift cards for basically anything, so if you know any hobbies or interests of the person you are getting a gift for this is a great option. (You can go directly to the store for the gift card or else Target, Walgreens, Walmart, and Gas stations have a good general selection).

For Him

Socks are a great present that everyone enjoys receiving. These socks are both stylish, comfortable, and the quality is great. Nike Matchfit Crew Soccer Socks (variety of colors) (Target Sale Price: $14.00)

Calvin Klein Men Body Mist. With a variety of high-end body sprays, he can smell great all season long for a low price! (Men’s Euphoria by Calvin Klein Body Spray, Men’s Eternity Aqua by Calvin Klein Body Spray, Men’s Obsession by Calvin Klein Body Spray) (Target Sale Price: $13.19)

Merona Men’s Bifold Wallet ( black and brown) This gift is affordable, quick to buy and present that will be used on a daily basis! (Target Sale Price: $9.10) 

Basketball, Scoreboard/Schedule

Boys basketball

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The Highland Park Scots boys basketball team got off to a good start, winning their first game against Hill-Murray 78-71. The win came in front of a nice crowd, which included many returning alumni. The boys were able to get off to a hot start, and led the game early. The Scots were led by Senior Mike Cornelious who set the tone early, and led the team in scoring. Hill-Murray was able to close in on the lead however, and the Pilots pulled in within 2 points at the half, where the score was 34-32.

The second half opened up similarly to the first half, and the scots were able to once again add to their lead. From the bench you could hear Coach Deperry calling plays and rallying his players together, which only added more chemistry and teamwork for the Scots. Hill-Murray was able to keep it close until the end, but the Scots prevailed, with some clutch shooting from Junior Amitri Collins. The boys were able to come away with an impressive win over their out of conference foe, with a final score of 78-71.

Editorials/Student Voice, School Life

Tardy Policy

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Highland Park Senior High has started to enforce a tardy policy as of November 16, the start of the second quarter. The policy says that if a student is late to school or to class three times in a week, the school will call the student’s house and report to parents of their child’s late arrival. Seems pretty reasonable. Except for the fact that it’s construction season here in St. Paul, which will soon be followed by Minnesota’s notorious snowy season. Many students get to school via parents, friends, or public transportation, therefore taking logistics out of the students’ hands.

I recently posted a poll on Twitter proposing a “three minute window” policy instead of the current tardy policy. The three minute window policy would eliminate students being penalized for being a few minutes late to first hour, coffee in hand or not, as long as they made it to class within the first three minutes. Class would still begin at 7:30 AM.

102 Highland Park students took part in the Twitter poll, and 84% agreed with the three minute window policy, instead of the current policy.

Highland Park’s principal, Dr. Winston Tucker, has communicated with a student via email regarding concerns felt throughout the school. That student, Senior Misha Prasolov, conducted a separate Twitter poll asking for student feedback about the current tardy policy. “Some days I have to take public bussing, which does not arrive until 7:32, meaning that I would have to be tardy. There is no way for me to avoid this on these days so the policy is pretty unfair to me. Especially since I am only two minutes late,” was a sample comment collected from that poll. 

Dr. Tucker said that being late to work, for example, would not be acceptedTucker.JPG by an employer and you would get fired. Though this is true, I’m quite sure we won’t be expected to complete twenty pages of reading, four pages of notes, a lab, and at least three homework assignments in a week by an employer (seeing how all of the above is the unfortunate reality of high schoolers today). The “real” work world reality is simply not the same “real” reality of a high school student.

Another reality we all face are unexpected barriers that may occur in our regular commute to school. Barriers may include: Metro Transit running late, excessive snow blocking driveways, ice covering the windows of cars and/or streets, or unexpected traffic. One senior at Highland Park said, “Tardiness during first hour shouldn’t exist. Transportation can fluctuate frequently. After first period, any time later than one minute should be considered tardy unless there is a pass.”

A Highland junior said it is very hard for them to get up in the morning, “Especially after working and homework and other out of school activities which makes me miss the bus and therefore be tardy to my first hour. My intention is not to be tardy.” 

To take a look at other comments made go to:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-GVgk9S-u3aAepgNMq1l8vC_UjOVyEZJTRmfUiDGbSw/edit#gid=1497682940&vpid=A2