The Changing Face of Journalism

Today in class we talked about Twitter and how it is used for micro-journalism. Each of you was asked to look at Twitter and how it could be used in journalism. What is one use you can see for Twitter? Who are some of the famous tweeters? What could you use as a tweet name>

My personal name is MizPhipp here: http://twitter.com/MizPhipp (it updates my Facebook and is truly social media).
I tweet for the newspaper here: http://twitter.com/TimberwolfTimes
I use it to tell my sophomores their assignments here: http://twitter.com/TimpPhippEng10

Twitter uses only 140 characters, so it sends as a SMS (text). It caught on in Europe as text messaging and news. It's news driven. It is definitely news and journalistic. We'll use it to track news and look at its minute/hourly/daily news functions and how well it follows big news stories. Hopefully you will see its news capability and how well it can be used as a journalistic tool as we finish out this year.

Monster Bash

By Megan Laubershimer 

    Want to plan a frightfully fun Halloween party but have no idea how?  10 easy steps are all it takes to transform a draining night of handing out candy to mini trick-or-treaters into a wickedly good celebration that even the dead, or the undead, will want to boogie.

    Step one Create a theme.  It will liven up a dead party and brew up some fun.  Themes come in all shapes and sizes from a witches' night full of magic, broomsticks and even a few black cats to a fancy dinner party where someone just might turn up dead.  Whatever the theme may be, make sure everything else centers around it.

    Step two Find a "boo-tastic" setting.  The setting is like the frosting to an almost delicious cake; it sets the mood of an already spooky theme.  Settings like Dracula's lair where everything is dark, old and just a little chilling or maybe just a picnic in a graveyard will spice up the party.

    Step three Choose the perfect bone-chilling music.  Music is what gets the blood pounding and the adrenaline running, a practice every horror movie uses, so crank up the scary music and do the monster mash to the zombie music of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson.

    Step four Mouth-watering food can both excite and terrify when it comes to Halloween treats.  Some advice: first impressions are almost always wrong, so even if it's called toe jam soup or fungus surprise, try it.

     Junior Alex Travis's favorite ghostly treat is kitty litter cake. "It's made of that confetti cake mix with tootsie rolls and cake crumbs.  Then you make the frosting grayish."  Sounds deliciously spooky.

    Step five What's a Halloween party without costumes?  Whether the costumes fit the theme, like a prom night revisited or maybe a '50s flashback with poodle skirts and leather jackets, or they're crazier than a giant sumo wrestler blow-up suit, costumes are tradition.

    Step six If it is going to be a costume party, why not throw in a little competition?  Awards make a great ending to the night, and a best costume prize would be hauntingly festive.  Just be sure the winner really is wearing a costume.

    Step seven There's the setting, music and food, but a party's not complete without decorations.  Anything black, orange or green will give the party some festivity, but try adding a splash of red to create a more haunting atmosphere.  Streamers, black lights, glow-in-the-dark accessories and especially carved pumpkins will bring some spooky cheer into the celebration.

    Step eight Games will bring out the inner witch in all the party guests, especially if there are prizes for the winner.  Pin the tail on the werewolf and bobbing for apples are classics but may seem like dead and boring games, so try playing Ghosts in the Graveyard or Name that Scary Movie.  

    Step nine People are an important part of planning.  A party can't be a party without guests.  Decide if the party calls for a small group of ghastly guests, or take the more common route and host the bash of the year.

    Step ten Cost determines everything.  Be prepared to pay anywhere from $50-$200 depending on what kind of party it turns out to be.  Use coupons, shop at the dollar store and make home-made food and decorations.

    Remember, Halloween is a time for thrills, chills, a few good screams, and especially a little boogie to the "Monster Mash".

Trick-or-Treating Tips!

By Camlyn Giddins
 Of course Halloween is a day of fun, candy, costumes, and scares. For some, however, trick or treating doesn't only include sweets and aimless wandering. Trick or treating requires strategy.

There are places to go, places to avoid, times to go out and not to go out.

    Senior Kathy Calero says, "Up at Skyline they give a lot [of candy]." She also adds that the best time to go is, "Earlier. If you go too late, then everything is gone. Go when the sun goes down." Senior Jacob Burgess says Mapleton is a good place to candy hunt and agrees with Kathy as far as time goes, but also advises, "Don't be the person that goes out at four o clock though."

    Senior Katrina Brocco says the best place to go is Cambera Heights. "There's this one house that's really, really big and they're the cheapest. They give out tootsie rolls. But some houses give out king size candy bars." She prefers to go out later."Going earlier is fun, but being later is the best because that's when all the good candy's out because they save the best for last."

    Junior Ale Cano goes by Target and junior Alana Smith likes Eagle Mountain. Junior Royce Berube suggests, "Palisade on the other side of the golf course."

    The neighborhood east of Timpanogos is said to be a good location. Junior Robin Omer shares that, "Sebastian gives out DVDs. He's the guy that has all the Christmas lights up."

    If you're thinking about giving up on trick or treating, try these places out first and see what you get. As Katrina says, "Trick or treating is the best, You're never too old to go trick or treating."

Drama, Drama, Drama

By Megan Laubersheimer

    Shakespeare once wrote, "All the world's a stage," and it's no different at Timpanogos High School; well, at least for the students who have the courage to venture into the world of Ms. Broberg's theatre. 

    It's not always easy, with preparation taking anywhere form eight to ten weeks and rehearsals almost every day of the week, but it's always worthwhile.  The actor feels the exileration as he stops onto the stage, and the audience feels the excitement like an electric current as the lights dim and the show begins.
    This year, the theatre department has a full schedule lined up, starting with Play On, a comedy about a community theater messily putting a play together.  This is not your ordinary play. It's composed of two casts where each student plays two nights with completely different casts.  With six performances starting on October 23rd, the Production's Company will busily perform the night away.

    The next play up is Aida, the story of two star-crossed lovers navigating their way through war, opression, secrets, and slavery.  With killer music and an all-school cast, Aida is sure to be a hit among the students.  It opens November 19th with five performances including a matinee and evening show on Saturday.

    The one act plays are in April.  Seniors direct plays that other students perform, and it's open to any student with a flare for acting.

    After that is the Evening of Irving Berlin music in May.  It serves as the Production's Company's composer review.  For those who don't know Berlin, he composed several shows including White Christmas, and is known as Mr. Broadway.

    Finally, the Production's Company will perform The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) under a guest director.  The play is a gut-bursting, hysterical production full of street theatre and clowing around.  It's sure to be the funniest show of the year.  You'll be in tears, of joy, by the time the curtain falls.

    Whatever production is playing in the theatre, it's sure to be unique and outstanding.  After all, they are called plays, so be sure to join the performers for a year of entertainment.  Theatre is not complete without an audience, so come help the theatre make some magic. 

Candy, costumes and creepy crawlies.

By Abby Clyde

    Halloween has always been a favorite holiday for many teens. Who wouldn't want to run around dressed as your favorite cartoon character collecting free candy? Another question is: how many Timpanogos students actually participate in Halloween festivities? When asked if she was planning on going trick-or-treating, sophomore Lisa Raymond replied, "Nope, my parents think that I'm old enough that it'll be rude if I ask for free candy." 

    Junior Robyn Omer had a similar response, "Probably not. I might take my nephews trick-or-treating, but after that I'm going to Halloween parties and stuff."

    On the other hand, sophomore Michael Thurman responded with, "Yeah, of course. All day!"

    More often than not though, most of our students turned out to be planning huge Halloween bashes, or attending family gatherings. Interestingly enough, out of the ones who are going on the hunt for sugary treats, more guys than girls were looking forward to it.  Either way, parties, candy, or both, Halloween is always a fun holiday that everyone can enjoy.

Serving Up State

By Whitney Stone


Girls tennis has had a great season this year with only two losses, and they are very likely to all make it to state. 

Coach Suzy Hansgen says, "We have done really well so far this year and are tied for 2nd with Mountain View." 

We have an awesome tennis team here at Timpanogos High with great players and amazing team spirit. Seniors Shayla Gibb and Hayley Edgington say, "Our strength as a team is definitely supporting each other, we stay and watch each other's matches and cheer everyone on, even when they may be losing." 

Hansgen also says, "Their strength is that they are a team, they cheer and hope for each other with great excitement." Junior Kristen Hanson says, "Suzy is a great coach. She is very fun, but knows how to work us." Hansgen replies, "I love being a coach to these girls, but they definitely know how to keep me on my toes." 

It's looking great for girls T-wolf tennis as they climb their way to state supporting each other, knowing they have a great shot at taking state.

Volleyball Battlefield

By Camlyn Giddins

    One ball and one net; it doesn't seem too complicated or exciting, but volleyball somehow manages to break that assumption. "I love the intensity of the game," says senior Mandy Merrill. More than that, senior Melanie Weitzeil says she gets a kick out of, "The adrenaline rush. Just all the pressure and once you swing your arm, all this power, all this adrenaline goes through you. It's crazy."

    With practices almost every day at 2:30 and coaches like Lisa Mangalei, Amber Johnson, and Melissa Nielsen to back them up, these athletes will surprise you with how hard they play. 

    "I mainly think 'I wanna smack the ball and kill it.' You know, Block big." says Melanie. For these girls, not only is it enjoyable to play together, but it's also a huge stress relief.

    Coach Lisa Mangalei teaches the players one phrase: "One point at a time." Junior Sharissa Neilsen explains, "Every point is a new game because it's a battle." 

    Be sure to catch the sophomore team, junior varsity and these varsity team members at their next home game against Orem High on Oct. 13th.