HCHS Halloween Party 2011 Info
This year’s Halloween party will be held on October 31 from 1pm to 3pm at the Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000 E. 151st Street. HCHS Writers of the Round Table will be taking pictures of kids’ costumes, and our favorite costumes will be featured in the following week’s paper.
End of Park Days for 2011
Park days are over for this year, but they will resume again next spring. Watch for announcements about when and where.
HCHS member featured in American Girl Magazine
Delaney K. had her comment and photo published in the November/December 2011 issue of American Girl Magazine. Bring your copy of AG to a homeschool event, and maybe “Deeder” will autograph it for you!
Auto theft mystery still not resolved
According to HCHS member Dorian M., his family’s van was stolen this week. Though the van (which may or may not have contained some of Mr. M’s Christmas presents) was returned to its owners, the perpetrators have not been apprehended. “The police told us they would eventually catch the criminals, but I don’t really believe them.”
HCHS Drama Club performance approaches
This fall the HCHS Drama Club will be performing the play “Star Fever”. Watch future issues of the Writers of the Round Table for exact show dates and times.
Indianapolis Children’s Museum Haunted House now open
The theme of this year's haunted house is Vampire Vacation. It is pretty dark and scary, and people jump out to startle patrons. Parents use caution when taking young children - but the older kids are going to love it!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Ghosts and Gadgets
By Cameron Radtke
Hello, I’m Cameron. I’m a member of Indiana Ghost Trackers Kokomo Chapter. I am here to talk about some of the basics of ghost hunting.
Ghost hunting is the study of the paranormal. We start by doing a lot of research on the place we are going to investigate. We try to find out how many sightings have been reported, whether most of them are accurate or not, how safe the location is, and the history of the location.
During the investigation, we try to find and capture evidence of the paranormal by looking for energy readings, voices, video, pictures, and more. One thing we look for is EVP (Electronic voice phenomenon). It’s an unheard voice that is captured by recorder that could be a spirit trying to communicate with us. A class A EVP is a very clear voice. A class B is less clear.
Pictures are also a good way to tell if something is weird or not. A common mistake of photo evidence is orbs. The orb in the picture above is NOT a ghost. These photo orbs can be caused by reflections from dust, bugs, moisture, pollen, or other small particles in the air.
An EMF detector is used to try to find the electric current that a spirit supposedly gives off. The gauge on the device will spike when a current is near it. We can determine whether it’s paranormal or not by looking around us to see if there’s an outlet or another electronic device nearby. If there’s not, or we can get the device to spike on command, then we may have something.
If you’re interested in ghost hunting and you live in the state of Indiana, you can find out more by visiting www.Indianaghosts.org
Hello, I’m Cameron. I’m a member of Indiana Ghost Trackers Kokomo Chapter. I am here to talk about some of the basics of ghost hunting.
Ghost hunting is the study of the paranormal. We start by doing a lot of research on the place we are going to investigate. We try to find out how many sightings have been reported, whether most of them are accurate or not, how safe the location is, and the history of the location.
During the investigation, we try to find and capture evidence of the paranormal by looking for energy readings, voices, video, pictures, and more. One thing we look for is EVP (Electronic voice phenomenon). It’s an unheard voice that is captured by recorder that could be a spirit trying to communicate with us. A class A EVP is a very clear voice. A class B is less clear.
Pictures are also a good way to tell if something is weird or not. A common mistake of photo evidence is orbs. The orb in the picture above is NOT a ghost. These photo orbs can be caused by reflections from dust, bugs, moisture, pollen, or other small particles in the air.
An EMF detector is used to try to find the electric current that a spirit supposedly gives off. The gauge on the device will spike when a current is near it. We can determine whether it’s paranormal or not by looking around us to see if there’s an outlet or another electronic device nearby. If there’s not, or we can get the device to spike on command, then we may have something.
If you’re interested in ghost hunting and you live in the state of Indiana, you can find out more by visiting www.Indianaghosts.org
Poetry Pages - the Haiku
By Kate Marquam
In this column, each time I will cover a form of poetry. I will explain first the parameters of the form, then some of the history behind it. I will also provide famous poems in the chosen form as examples, and sometimes poems in that style that I have written. This week, I chose a very popular style of poetry; haiku. Pretty much everyone has heard of this form. It’s just a three-lined verse with a 5-7-5 syllable count, right? This is correct to a certain degree. However, there is much, much more to this form than you would think.
As the haiku is a Japanese poetry type, it seems reasonable to start by explaining the difference between English haiku and Japanese haiku. The 5-7-5 format was originally written for Japanese syllables, or kana. Comparing Japanese and English syllables is like comparing apples to oranges; they just aren’t the same thing. So you have to understand that unless you write and speak Japanese, you probably have only seen our English adaption. Of course, haiku originally written in Japanese can be translated into English, but you have to keep in mind that a certain amount will be lost in the translation. But don’t let this hold you back from enjoying a wonderful form.
The haiku form has changed through the ages- in fact, the name “haiku” wasn’t used until around the end of the 19th century! Japanese poetry during the 9th through 12th centuries was in a form called a tanka. The tanka has a syllable count of 5-7-5 in the first stanza and 7-7 in the second. Soon, people started playing a game called renga. Renga was played amongst large groups, and was especially popular with the monks. A person would start a poem by writing the first verse (5-7-5.) Then they would hand it over to the next person, who would then conclude their verse with the second stanza (7-7.) Then whoever was next in line would start a new verse (5-7-5.) And so, the cycle continued. HUGE renga chains in this form could be constructed. Well, people started leaving off the concluding stanza (7-7.) Sometimes they would write in chains, but many times they would write just a single verse. And thus, the 5-7-5 haiku was born.
A haiku doesn’t always have to be strictly 5-7-5, though that is the most common English translation. It just has to be under 17 syllables. Here is an example of a haiku written by Basho, one of the three fathers of the haiku form. Keep in mind that this has been translated from Japanese.
“The old pond;
A frog jumps in -
The sound of the water.”
A frog jumps in -
The sound of the water.”
It says a lot in just a few words, doesn’t it? I have written many haiku, here is one of my favorites.
“warmth slowly fading
as green leaves turn brown and crisp
fall is in the air”
as green leaves turn brown and crisp
fall is in the air”
As you can see, this one has the traditional 5-7-5 syllable count, but it doesn’t have to. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be divided into three lines! Here is an example by Basho where there are two lines instead of three.
“An elephant's eyes smile-
Mountain cherry blossoms.”
Mountain cherry blossoms.”
This has to be one of my favorite poems of his. There is so much meaning packed onto just two lines. You see, that’s the beauty of the haiku form; brevity. A true haiku master can leave you wondering what the true meaning of their poem is long after you are finished reading it. What do you think he meant by it?
I hope I have left you with a better understanding of the haiku form. We’ll be discussing another form next time.
Book Review: The Faerie Locket
By Danielle Hurley
The Faerie Locket is a very well written fantasy novel by Susan J. Morris. As a child, she told similar stories to her sister. The book is about a girl named Jade, who finds a special locket on her birthday and unlocks a magical world called Feywild. She is given the task of defeating an ice queen almost as soon as she steps into Feywild. Though she is mistaken for her sister, Vira, she is just as good for the job, if not better.
She encounters a lot of trouble, with different characters who are very unique and interesting. There are all kinds of magical things in Feywild.These things include the pixie’s little trick bag, the glaistig’s schools of secret fish, the dragon’s power to turn things to ice.
This is a good book, and if you take the time to read it, I believe (and hope) you will like it too.
The Faerie Locket is a very well written fantasy novel by Susan J. Morris. As a child, she told similar stories to her sister. The book is about a girl named Jade, who finds a special locket on her birthday and unlocks a magical world called Feywild. She is given the task of defeating an ice queen almost as soon as she steps into Feywild. Though she is mistaken for her sister, Vira, she is just as good for the job, if not better.
She encounters a lot of trouble, with different characters who are very unique and interesting. There are all kinds of magical things in Feywild.These things include the pixie’s little trick bag, the glaistig’s schools of secret fish, the dragon’s power to turn things to ice.
This is a good book, and if you take the time to read it, I believe (and hope) you will like it too.
Wild Cat Antics
by Danielle Hurley
I have four cats, but two are wild. Their names are Shere Khan and Queen Cleopatra. Shere Khan is a bengal and Queen Cleopatra is a Savanna. Bengals and savannas are exotic breeds of cats. They are a certain level of wildness depending on what F they are, for example Queen Cleopatra is an F3, which means she is three generations from an actual wild cat. A Savanna is a descendant of a Serval, and the Bengal is from an Asian leopard cat (alc). They have a ton of silly antics that I will post throughout the year, and hopefully you will enjoy them.
So first is Queen Cleopatra, she steals straws; she will walk right up and snag it. Sometimes you look at her and see her cleaning a paw or something innocent, and the second you look away she leaps up, grabs the straw, and takes off with it. Occasionally, she knocks the whole cup over in her attempts to get the glorious straws. She especially likes milkshake straws because they have sweet chocolate on the bottom.
And now for one of Shere Khan’s antics; hiding on top of the curtains. He will claw his way up the curtain then walk right on top to a certain space and nap away. Sometimes, he will poke his head out the side or let a paw dangle. It’s quite cute and funny to just walk in the dining room and look up and he’s peeking out at you.
I have four cats, but two are wild. Their names are Shere Khan and Queen Cleopatra. Shere Khan is a bengal and Queen Cleopatra is a Savanna. Bengals and savannas are exotic breeds of cats. They are a certain level of wildness depending on what F they are, for example Queen Cleopatra is an F3, which means she is three generations from an actual wild cat. A Savanna is a descendant of a Serval, and the Bengal is from an Asian leopard cat (alc). They have a ton of silly antics that I will post throughout the year, and hopefully you will enjoy them.
So first is Queen Cleopatra, she steals straws; she will walk right up and snag it. Sometimes you look at her and see her cleaning a paw or something innocent, and the second you look away she leaps up, grabs the straw, and takes off with it. Occasionally, she knocks the whole cup over in her attempts to get the glorious straws. She especially likes milkshake straws because they have sweet chocolate on the bottom.
And now for one of Shere Khan’s antics; hiding on top of the curtains. He will claw his way up the curtain then walk right on top to a certain space and nap away. Sometimes, he will poke his head out the side or let a paw dangle. It’s quite cute and funny to just walk in the dining room and look up and he’s peeking out at you.
Movie review: The Secret of Moonacre
by Danielle Hurley
The Secret of Moonacre is a wonderful, enchanting movie. The main character, Maria (played by Dakota Blue Richards), opens a magical book and discovers that she herself is the next moon princess, and she must find the special pearls before the next moon. She has help from a large black dog named Wrolf, and a rugged boy named Robin, who accompanies her on the journey. Maria’s father, a quiet man with a few very important secrets, warms up to her slowly throughout the movie.
She must bring the pearls back to the sea before the next moon, or else her family’s ancient curse will come true at full power. But some do not want the curse to die, so they attempt to kidnap her, trying to keep her away from the pearls. Greed fills the heart of her ancestor and her rival’s ancestor, and so starts the curse as told in the storybook. It plays out as time goes on.
I thought this was a very good movie and enjoyed it greatly. It had excellent actors and the screen quality was very nice. But there were a couple lines in the script I thought could have been different as well as a few cheesy spots. I think this movie is a little more for girls, but probably would be enjoyed by other crowds too. Parents, it has a little bit of violence; a dog gets shot but doesn’t die, and there is a little talk about killing the girl. Also in another scene it looks at first like she does die, but she doesn’t really. There is also some romance in it (just a few small kisses) so if your child is young or sensitive you may not want them to watch this. But overall I loved this movie and I hope you do too.
The Secret of Moonacre is a wonderful, enchanting movie. The main character, Maria (played by Dakota Blue Richards), opens a magical book and discovers that she herself is the next moon princess, and she must find the special pearls before the next moon. She has help from a large black dog named Wrolf, and a rugged boy named Robin, who accompanies her on the journey. Maria’s father, a quiet man with a few very important secrets, warms up to her slowly throughout the movie.
She must bring the pearls back to the sea before the next moon, or else her family’s ancient curse will come true at full power. But some do not want the curse to die, so they attempt to kidnap her, trying to keep her away from the pearls. Greed fills the heart of her ancestor and her rival’s ancestor, and so starts the curse as told in the storybook. It plays out as time goes on.
I thought this was a very good movie and enjoyed it greatly. It had excellent actors and the screen quality was very nice. But there were a couple lines in the script I thought could have been different as well as a few cheesy spots. I think this movie is a little more for girls, but probably would be enjoyed by other crowds too. Parents, it has a little bit of violence; a dog gets shot but doesn’t die, and there is a little talk about killing the girl. Also in another scene it looks at first like she does die, but she doesn’t really. There is also some romance in it (just a few small kisses) so if your child is young or sensitive you may not want them to watch this. But overall I loved this movie and I hope you do too.
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