Johnson makes his opinion clear

It is clear to everyone now that Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson does not want to have any part of the Cincinnati organization. In an interview with NFL Network’s Solomon Wilcots, Johnson was quoted saying, “I will take the criticism, I will stick by my guns, and I will not be there. I feel things need to be done to make this team better. I don't blame Marvin Lewis. I love him. You have never heard me say one bad thing about my coaches or teammates. I know it's not up to Coach Lewis. Whether I'm traded, or if we get better players, is not up to him. If it was up to Coach Lewis, then he would do it."

The current contract of Johnson is with the Bengals until the year 2011. The contract denies Johnson the right to go to any other team or sign any other contracts. The Bengals scheduled opening game is September 7th 2008 at Baltimore.

Inkheart

Kendall Jent

A novel beyond comparison. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke is the book to read after Harry Potter. Filled with inspiring characters, awesome scenery, and a plot worthy of the Nobel, Inkheart is a true classic.

The book starts off with Meggie, a teenage girl who abousetly adores reading. Raised by her father Mortimer (Mo) Meggie has grown up with only the books around her-that is until Mo recieves a surprise visit by an old friend. Dustfinger is a man marked with knife wounds who claims to be from Inkheart, a storybook in Mo's collection. After the visit where Mo denies something for Dustfinger both Meggie and Mo's lifes are thrust into peril.

The book takes you on a whirlwind adventure filled with secrets, depair, and a unique collection of books. I would seriously recommend reading Inkheart,because it's a fantasy that will never be forgotten, especially considering it's movie counterpart will appear in theaters January 2009.

I Am Legend

Nikole Picklesimer

I Am Legend is about a plague that kills almost all of humanity, leaving barely anyone alive. There are those who are immune, and those who have the deadly plague and morph into something completley different. Robert Neville is a scientist who lived through the devastating plague.

In his basement, Robert Neville works on his plan to find a cure. After coming close many times, it seems as if there is no hope for Neville. When he is saved by a woman and her son, she tries to prove to him that a more powerful source is what will save them. Will it? Watch and find out.

Actors in this movie include: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardon and Willow Smith.

Geekisms- Because Geek Is Chic

Geek Dancing

It's prom time.

The air's buzzing with talk of who's going with who, limo companies are washing their cars, restruants are overbooking, boys are working up the guts to ask for dates, and girls are all a twitter about what they'll be wearing.

Let's face it, any big schindig like this is just screaming for geekdom. I mean, if someone really wanted to throw a good party, they'd go vintage but not everybody outside the history buff ring would go for that so we must press on. Lots of highschoolers tend to take these things way too seriously (I heard one girl the other day near tears because a girl in her limo group was going to wear the same color dress she was and how DARE she try to ruin prom night for her! lol) but we, the geeks, typically don't care and are genuinlly there for the fun of it. We're the ones who if we do get a limo, we stick out heads out the windows and hoot and hollar, not caring about our hair one bit, or if we don't have a limo, we pile into a friend's car or make our parents drive us. We do the cabbage patch when everyone else is grinding eachother and do the Electric Slide while everyone else does that crappy Solja Boy thing or however you spell it. We drink our Pepsi through crazy straws and steal flowers from the tables.

However, when it comes to dress attire, we're styling in our own way.

Guys, you get bonus points if you dress like Doctor Who. That means a striped suit and Chucks. It's a classic look and the geek ladies love it, trust me. I don't get the whole thing about guys slicking their hair down to their skulls, geek guys look infinately better with a messy pompadour do or something of the like. Bonus points if you somehow manage to sneak a tuxedo T-shirt past the front door (though I doubt it'd escape your girlfriends).

Gals, the good news with us is that pretty much anything goes. Flapper dresses are making a comeback in the fashion world and many shorter dresses are borrowing the Tinkerbell style to create a cuter, more bubbly look. And if you really want to go retro, there's always princess dresses or Victorian gowns. Seriously, if I see someone at prom this year wearing an actual "gown", I will hug you. For reals.

Have an epic prom my geeklings!

Harry Potter Seven Turns to Eight

By S. Hof

Producers announced that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final installment of the Harry Potter epic, will actually be split into two seperate movies. It was decided that there was simply too many vital scenes in the final book that could not be left out when it was converted into a film, and for the sake of time, will be made in to two different parts.

"I think it's the only way you can do it, without cutting out a huge portion of the book," Radcliffe said. "There have been compartmentalized subplots in the other books that have made them easier to cut -- although those cuts were still to the horror of some fans -- but the seventh book doesn't really have any subplots. It's one driving, pounding story from the word go." (Source: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-potter13mar13,1,5626063.story)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I is scheduled to be released November of 2010, and Part II in May of 2011.

Songs and Sweets!!

The Norwood High School Silhouettes and the Girls Choral will be performing this Saturday night at 7:00. They will be doing a number of songs both together and seperately. They will be doing some songs from Harispray and some other ones. There will also be a collection of solos being performed. Come support your peers in the Middle School auditorium. It is five dollars admission!!

Are teenage girls becoming to violent?

Recently on March 30, 2008 eight teenagers lured another teenage girl by the name of Victoria Lindsy to a home in Tampa Florida and continued to violently beat her over and over while to men stood outside to be look outs. The girls filmed the whole beating and uploaded it on to youtube the popular video posting website hoping to become "famous" when it really cost them jail time. They basically gave the police all the evidence they needed to convict every single one of them. Victoria sufferes from a concussion, damsge to her left eye and left ear, as well as several bruises. After enduring the 35 minute beating they forced her into car and dropped her off at another location warning her if she made contact to the police the next beating would be worse. All eight involved were arrested and charged with felony battery and false inprisonment.

Nim's Island

I first thought this movie was strange because Nim's mother gets swallowed by a whale and is taken away. But as the movie went on, I thought it was vey interesting.

It's about this girl named Nim (Abigail Breslin) who lives on a secret island with her father. When her father is traped in the middle of the sea she has to do everything she can to protect her island and in the end she meets her favorite novlevist, Alex Rover (Jodie Foster).

I would recommend this movie to people who love adventure and mystery because you don't know what will happen to her father and she has to go to extremes to save her sland; even go into a volcano!

Indians cruise to first win of the season

By: Tyler Sluder

Last night, April 7, 2008, the Norwood Indians baseball team defeated the Mt. Healthy Owls in a final score of 12 to 2. The Indians were led by senior pitcher Adam Clark, who only gave up to runs in the six innings he pitched. Clark also had 14 strikeouts.

The Indians also hit the ball very well last night. Brett Brinkmeyer lead off the game with a double down the third base line. Two batters later, Adam Clark hit a double that scored Brinkmeyer. The inning continued after Clark stole third base and Jeff Tyree walked and stole second base. Following the walk Tyler Sluder had a base hit that scored Clark and Tyree.

The hitting did not end after the first inning. Clark added another hit and Chett Williams had two hits and a sacrifice bunt. Tyler Sickinger ended the game with a single to right field that brought home two Indians and clinched the win and put the ten run mercy run intact.

All Hail The Dork

S. Hof

Called this generation's The Catcher in the Rye, King Dork by Frank Portman is one of the most popular young adult novels today. In fact, it's so popular that comedian and actor Will Ferral has purchased the rights to the novel from Dr. Frank (from the Mr. T Experience) and plans to convert the book into a movie. Details have yet to be released, but the fil;m is expected to be released this year.

King Dork (also known as Chi-Mo, Sheepie, and of course, Tom Henderson) is a social misfit trying to make sense of several mysteries, not the least of which being that surrounding his father's death some years before. The entire story is sent rolling when Tom discovers his father's copy of the Salinger classic, The Catcher in the Rye, along with several other novels containing what, at first glance, appears nothing more than jibberish, but may in fact hold the key to his puzzle of a life.

The novel is an easy one to read, and is entertaining while interesting. Tom Henderson represents the vast majority of the student population of any high school one might come by, which is perhaps the secret to King Dork's instant success. If you happen to come by a copy, I recommend you sit down and read it.

Reds Conclude Series with Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies turn to ace Cole Hamels in hopes of ending a two-game losing streak to the Reds as the two teams play the last of four straight meetings this afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
After posting an 8-4 victory over the Reds on Friday, the Phillies dropped the next two tests of this series, including yesterday's 8-2 setback. Jeff Keppinger went 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored to lead an impressive offensive performance by Reds.
Ken Griffey Jr. gave the Reds an early lead with a two-run homer off Phillies starter Brett Myers in the first inning, the future Hall of Famer's first of the season and 594th of his career. Brandon Phillips added three hits to back an outstanding National League debut for Cincinnati pitcher Edinson Volquez.
Volquez, acquired from the Texas Rangers in a trade for troubled outfielder Josh Hamilton over the winter, allowed just one run and struck out a career- high eight batters over 5 1/3 innings in his first start of 2008.
Myers struggled on the hill for the Phillies, as the right-hander gave up both Griffey and Keppingers' homers and surrendered four runs on eight hits while lasting only five innings.

The Chronicles of Narnia-Prince Caspian

Movie Preview

Kendall Jent

If you are a book-to-movie lover then this movie is going to be your Friday night ticket. This movie is highly anticipated with the previews drawing in millions of people. The cast from the first Narnia movie are set to star in the sequel so our favorite characters are back inculding Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Lucy (Georgie Henley), Edmund (Skandar Keynes). Prince Caspian is played by Ben Barnes.

The movie is full of action, adventure, and suspense. In the book it is one year later for the Pensieve children but when they are pulled back to Narnia, they fine a thousand years have passed there. Then the children get caught in a battle between Old and New Narnia. At the end there is a major twist that will change the series forever.

The movie is coming out on June 5, 2008 and the highly anticpated flick is expected to break Harry Potter records.

The Rules of Survival

Book Review

By Nikole Picklesimer

The Rules of Survival, by Nancy Werlin is about three kids with a mentally and physically abusive mother. Matt, Callie, and Emmy are all children of Nikki, a very unstable, dangerous woman. She treats her kids like gold one minute, and then horribly the next. Matt and Callie lost all hope for them and their younger sister Emmy. That is, until they met Murdoch.

Murdoch is a very loving, caring man whom Matt and Callie watch save a little boy from his father. Soon after, a so called "miracle" happens. Their abusive mother starts to date Murdoch. Everything seems fine until Murdoch and Nikki's relationship comes to an end. Nikki seems to get worse with her temper once they break up, doing things that are anything but motherly. From then on, Matt and Callie try to somehow make things right and get Murdoch back in their life without their mother going crazy.

The Rules Of Survival is an interesting book that anyone would enjoy reading. Werlin makes the feelings of Matt and Callie seem so real, that teens can easily connect to how they feel. The Rules Of Survival is definitely an eye-opening book because it shows what can really happen in an abusive family.