Lone Star Dispatch Final

Front Page: Schedule change
     Next year there is a possibility of having the schedule for all AISD high schools changing dramatically. All Mondays and Wednesdays will be A days, and all Tuesdays and Thursdays will be B days, and the Fridays will alternate between A -B. There are many different pros and cons regarding the change, and plenty of students and teachers on either side for the change.
      There were pictures from election day, as well as a picture depicting the difference in this years schedule and the new proposed schedule.

Student Life: Summer
     Summer is finally here. Many students and teachers alike are going to be going on vacation this summer. Some will also be working to make some extra money, or working with kids.
     There is a graphic depicting arrows pointing all over the world, a picture of a sign outside the performing area for the choir in Disneyland, and some information on graduation statistics.

News: Weismantel
     AISD announced its annual 'Classified Staff member of the year award'. This years winner was AP Nick Weismantel of Bowie. He has had the position for 4 years after being a spanish teacher.
     There is a picture of the color guard performing, as well as a sideline quote from the front page story.

Sports: Baseball
     The Bowie baseball team has done very well this year. They were able to go to the playoffs and go 3 deep. However they lost to Oak Ridge 4-0.
    There is a picture of Kyle Gray pitching for baseball and Cat Munoz playing goalie in lacrosse.

Entertainment: Avengers
     In the new edition to the Avengers movies, Age of Ultron adds a plethora of new characters. The movie takes you into the backstories of characters like Black Widow, Thor and Hawk Eye. Overall cheesy and violent, but still a must see.
     There is the ACL lineup which I am excited about, adds for Thundercloud and and Orthodontics office, a movie ticket with ratings on Age of Ultron, as well as a picture of the Silver Stars performing.

Commentary: Teen Fun
     Kids generally enjoy elementary school. What happened to enjoying school? Now in high school, kids dread going to school, and we look for every way to make it more enjoyable.
     There is the editorial policy, a picture of a kid getting crushed by books, and a picture of houses with  an X on it.


1. The most powerful graphic was the ACL Lineup because its something everybody is excited about and can relate to.
2. The weakest was the one with the houses. I didn't get that at all.
3. I have no clue whatsoever.

Free Write 2

This kid came out of the restroom with toilet paper trailing behind him. He continue walking across the hall. Slowly heads started to turn towards the kid. He continued walking. Kids kept laughing, snickering, and pointing. By now everyone's attention was on this kid, teachers, students, AP's and janitors alike. This is when that girl got up and began to walk the other way. The kid kept strutting up and down the hall, everyone too afraid to go  up and let him know what was happening. The girl snuck around the corner to the other hall where the kid was just now making his way to. The girl joined in in laughing and pointing with all the other students, blending in. The kid gave the girl a sideways smirk, which she returned with a discrete smile. As he turned her corner, she continued the other end of the hall. When all kids and adults were back looking down towards the kid, the girl slipped into the office. Closing the door quietly behind her and locking it, she carefully stepped towards the adjacent corridor. Peering around the corridor, seeing nobody, she closed that door and locked it as well. Sitting down at the computer now, she logged in using a lunch lades password she obtained from befriending her from the first day of school. She got into the school cameras and saw the kid walking around, but then quickly stopped by an AP. He quickly reached around his butt, and expressed surprise. When the AP had left, the kid looked right to a camera and nodded. The girl now had work to do. She logged into the  database. Then entered and search code hand made by herself. Now a button appeared that was not there before. As she hovered over it, the door unlocked and the principal came in. She clicked the button, and nothing could be heard in that office other than the principal screaming at the girl. Out side however, you could students gasping in awe, popping noises, and confusion. The kid, casually standing outside in the halls, videotaping as thousands of balloons fell from the ceiling all over the school.

Illustator

For examples of art to be seen at art shows.

For ACL

For Gun Control

Inforgraph

https://infogr.am/app/#/edit/762d1504-d9a2-49f4-9f9d-e971e630bf50

CE 6.2

1. 9 people were killed, 18 were injured, 25-70 people were detained for questioning, during the biker shootout in Waco this weekend.
2. Tax Cut, Budget, Abortion, Gun Bills, and Border Security.
3. The rain through ought this past week really affected everyone in Austin as well as everyone in the state.
4. People use smart phones to video call and view the house through that with the agent.
5. The limit is because of a 1997 effort to help Amtrak one day be independent.


     The Boston marathon bombings were a terrible tragedy, so I can see why people would be concerned with Tsarnaev becoming a martyr when he is put to death. We would want to prevent all possibilities of repetition. However I don't think is is as much of an issue as we think.
     First of all, he won't be put to death for years, or even decades due to legal action (appeals and what not), so I think he will be long forgotten. The bombing itself will never be forgotten, but in years time, people will need to google his name to remember who he is.
     Also, there is no connection between him and the Islamic State, other than their religion. Other American mosques around the country have openly condemned the bombings, and that they hope others will join them. Overall, I think we have little to worry about in the issue of martyrdom.

"Captain Phillips" to Make Waves in Your Home

     Captain Phillips. The movie that has received great views across the country, and that found it's way into everyone's home after it's release in theatres. After having recently watched it, I see why it was such a hit. Captain Phillips is a thrilling movie, through constant tension between the epic battle of filthy Somali pirates and noble American seamen, based on the "true" story (why I say "true" I will get too later) of the real Maersk Alabama.

     Set in the oceans around the horn of Africa, Captain Phillips (played by Tom Hanks), is leading the containership, the Maersk Alabama towards Kenya, when they are suddenly attacked by Somali pirates. Though not uncommon in those waters, the crew is still taken by surprise as it takes place in the midst of a security drill. Captain Phillips keeps a cool head as he and Shane Murphy (played by Michael Chernus), the first officer, order the entire crew down to the engine room to hide from the pirates. When the pirates board, lead by one named Muse (played by Barkhad Abdi), followed by Najee (played by Faysal Ahmed) are extremely violent and loud towards the crew.

     The film is very character driven by Captain Phillips and Muse, who's acting was and is still praised for their incredible performance. I would like to continue to praise Barkhad for his portrayal of Muse, who played very well as a desperate, yet incredibly confident leading pirate. Tom Hanks was good as well, I just couldn't seem to get past his AWFUL accent. It was very cliche. Along with his incredibly corny accent, Phillips' crew is portrayed as a bunch of lazy coffee saturated, slackers.

     This leads me into the controversy on the actual truth of the movie. There has been much of an uproar from the majority of the actual cast from the real life event. They all have said that Phillips is very inaccurately portrayed in the movie. That in real life HE was the slacker, and that it was Murphy who ordered the security drills. Some also went to the extent of saying it was Phillips' fault that they were attacked, due to multiple dismissal of piracy warnings, advising all ships to be at least 600 mi. off the coast. The crew claims that during the attack, they were approx. 250 mi. off the coast.

     This movie was overall an exceptional film. Looking past the alleged discrepancies in the character roles, as well as Tom Hanks accent, it was a very enjoyable film. Every second of the film made me lean close towards the screen. This movie is for all ages, and teaches people to always stay away from pirates. I give this movie a 10/10 rating.

Movie Prep

1. Captain Phillips, Chief Engineer Mike Perry, and the main Pirate.
2. It seems like they wouldn't name the movie Captain Phillips. It seems everybody except the one getting all the attention is speaking out against the fact that he is such a hero in the movie. I would expect that they would get numerous warnings of pirates in the area, and to stay away from that coast. Then Cptn. Phillips would ignore those, requests in turn. I understand how they cut out one of the unsuccessful pirate attempts, to cut down on time. If they did have it though I think that it would be cool and it would add suspense.
I would think that they would give more credit to Mike Perry, because he's the one that locked everyone in the  engine room. He's the one who ultimately saved everybody. I would expect them to have a super dramatic scene where the snipers kill all the pirates in the lifeboat. That would be my favorite scene.
3. Because it was very dramatic and it's where the pirates didn't win.
4. To hold the crew for ransom and make money.

1. Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Faysal Ahmed, Catherine Keener, Max Martini
2. 4 stars or more
3. Paul Greengrass
4. Dana Brunetti, Scott Rudin, Michael De Luca
5. BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
6. $55 million
7. Everybody loved it
8. It seemed that everybody loved it other than the crew members