My Lincoln Drive Dilemma

Two years ago the Chestnut Hill community was foreign to me. I wouldn't have been able to give you directions from my school, Penn Charter, to Germantown Avenue. Today, I can easily navigate my way around the area as I frequently visit friends in Chestnut Hill, have dinner on Germantown Avenue, and intern at the Chestnut Hill Local. Now that the Lincoln Drive southbound is closing, however, my commute back over the river to get home will be much more difficult, and my visits to the Chestnut Hill community will not be nearly as frequent.

With $20.2 million dollars from the federal government, contractor Buckley & Co. will replace four bridges in the area over the next 16 months. Two bridges over Kelly Drive (the project is already underway), the Lincoln Drive bridge over Ridge Avenue and worst of all, the bridge that connects Lincoln Drive to southbound City Avenue. Drivers going south on Lincoln Drive will be forced down the Ridge Avenue exit and have three choices as they approach the new traffic light. A left turn to City Avenue and 76, straight to Kelly Drive, or right down Ridge Avenue.

CNN Tumbles in Ratings

Does anyone really want to read this?" This question is printed on a poster that hangs on the wall of my school newspaper's office--the answer to this question should be "yes" before we print an edition of our newspaper. This is the same question that popped up in my head after reading a TIME magazine article about CNN's recent free-fall in ratings. After reading the article, I gathered CNN was the victim here: It puts out the most honest news and in return gets the lowest number of viewers. Yet, I shouldn't feel bad for CNN. The question it never answered is: "does anyone really want to watch this?"

In journalism, whether it's an article in The Local or a large news network like FOX News, this question needs to be answered to some extent. I understand that CNN is trying to be middle-of-the-road and honest, but it left behind one thing: a viable audience. I'll admit it's a sad thing that we as Americans cannot sit through an hour newscast without changing the channel to a more opinionated, less fact-based program to get our news. At the same time, I'm one of the many who abandoned CNN.

Get Him to the Greek: The Review

If you're a fan of outrageous humor or anything said in an English accent, you'll love Get Him to the Greek. The film follows Aaron Greenberg, played by Jonah Hill, as he attempts to provide a breakthrough for up-and-coming record company Pinnacle Records. He pitches the idea of a blowout come-back concert for has-been rock star Aldous Snow (Russel Brand) at the Greek Theater in L.A. and is immediately sent on assignment to hand deliver the rock star from his home in London to the theater for the grand opening of a $100 million tour.

Though Aaron's boss, Sergio Roma, played brilliantly by Sean Combs (P.Diddy), instructs Aaron to give the rock star all the flattery he can muster to ensure a smooth journey to the Greek Theater,  Snow can detect bullshit from a mile away. The rock star is also in the midst of a crisis--his girlfriend, pop star Jackie Q, has just left him, and he continues to take criticism for his epically offensive and ridiculous album, African Child, labeled by critics as "the worst thing to happen to Africa since Apartheid." Snow is fragile and in need of some flattery, but simultaneously intolerant of false character in his search for meaning in his life, not to mention he's not inclined to follow orders from anyone, which makes Aaron's task nearly impossible.

Reckless Teen Driving

Cruising southbound on Wissahickon Avenue, windows down, bellowing lyrics to the Chili Peppers’ “Dani California,” I was racing against the clock to get home before my 11 p.m. curfew. Two minutes before I’d be officially driving illegally and only two blocks from my house, the screeching of brakes and the high-frequency shrieks of frightened teenage girls shattered my aura. I had just been in a car accident. 

I pulled into the bike lane and jumped out of the car to confront the other driver. My arms shook while they slammed the door behind me – my brain wasn’t processing anything yet.

“Are you alright?” The driver asked mechanically while peering down at a text message I could only assume she had been crafting when she pulled out in front of me without looking. At the intersection where the accident took place, cars traveling north or south had the right of way and no stop sign while the east or westbound cars had to wait until they could safely continue straight or turn. By the time I saw her car pull out, about four feet in front of me, we were headed for a pretty extreme collision.

The College Decision

The fall of senior year is an exciting time: it’s the last year of high school, the first year of independence. But before you can enjoy the change, there’s the college selection process. For most people, the process is one of the most stressful, anxiety-ridden times in their lives; some kids claim it to be the first time they have ever dealt with real stress. The process is nail biting; it determines not only where you will go to college but how your life will change. I went into the college process not totally ignorant but also not totally ready. I think there are definitely some things you should know beforehand. I’m not talking about going on college tours or even scheduling interviews; that’s information any college counselor will give you. I think all kids need some mental preparation before sending off their applications and crossing their fingers. You need to have a good philosophy.

CHASS--CHA and Springside Combine

As you probably already know, Chestnut Hill Academy and The Springside School are combining their institutions fully by 2012. Beginning in the 2012-2013 school year, the Upper Schools of both schools will be combined into one large independent schools, mixed with boys and girls.

Previously, freshmen and sophomores at both schools took only single sex classes with the exceptions of languages and arts/music. Juniors and Seniors took combined classes with students from Springside and CHA. Starting in the fall of 2012 Freshman through Senior years will all include students from both of the schools and the Upper School will be fully by integrated by then.

Twilight: What's the Big Deal?

If you want to make certain girls angry, mention the fact that you don’t like Twilight. There are girls out there who will fight you to the death because you criticized their beloved vampire movie. But the next time you decide to bring out the ammo against these Twilight lovers, it may serve you well to know why Twilight means so much to them.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t really understand the obsession with Bella Swan and her dashing vampire prince, Edward Cullen. However, the truth behind this story may have you waving a white flag the next time you see an Edward Cullen poster on a locker.

Have you ever read a book or seen a movie that, without a doubt, really interested you? I have, and I can tell you it’s one of those unbelievable feelings. You pick up a book and by the time you finish it, you’re begging for it not to end. The characters have become part of your life, and it’s hard to stop thinking about what happens next. If it’s a movie you loved maybe you buy the soundtrack. If it’s a book, perhaps you go out and buy the sequel. In the end you have found a story that speaks to you with characters you can relate to in your life. That is what Twilight does for some people, especially teenage girls.