The Observer Weekly Cloverleaf Inside and Out October 13, 2011 Fun Can Be Achieved Through Select Savings By Haley Demeter With the weather cooling down and less activities to do outside, high school students are looking for things to do for fun. But going out all the time in the colder months can be costly. In order to pay for all of those bowling, dinner, and movie theater nights on the horizon, we need to spend and save our money more wisely. “It’s important to be more cautious with spending money because the prices of everything are going up,” Cloverleaf junior Andy Luce says. When out shopping, it’s a good idea to buy generic items if they’re really similar to the things you want. Also, you should always consider whether you need the item or if it’s Selling items on Ebay and saving the money for your entertainment is one way to go. just something you’d like to have. Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons Many people make the mistake of buying so-hot-right-now items that also helps to avoid fast food, and Another great way to make cash is are only a fad for about a month. It even workout at home. Gyms can be by selling things on Ebay. You’d be helps to make a list so you don’t expensive,” said Cloverleaf junior surprised how much you can get for overspend. Nathan Smith. that old G.I. Joe action figure or Another thing to think about when To avoid spending money on non- those holographic Pokémon cards. going out is food. At many places, important things (like that Shake Ask your family and friends if you food and drinks can be extremely Weight you got at Walmart as a joke can sell some of their things for 10 pricey. If you’re going ice skating, last year), it’s smart to get a check- percent of the profit. You may need maybe you could eat beforehand to ing account. If the money isn’t burn- to have someone show you how to avoid unnecessary spending on a $4 ing a hole in your pockets, you tend list items for sale first. soft pretzel. to spend less. When it’s on a card or “You can make a decent amount of “I save money by making Friday we have to take the money out of the money mowing lawns and asking my day to go out with friends,” jun- bank, it gives us more time to realize people if you can work any odd ior Tyler Mayfield recalls. “You that maybe we don’t need the item. jobs,” says junior Zac Buchan. save a lot of money when you wait If you don’t have much money to Of course, the most efficient way to for a certain day.” spend (maybe your summer job sav- make money is by having a part-time Often we assume going out is a bet- ings went out the window at the Wiz job. Many fast-food restaurants are ter idea than staying in. That’s not Khalifa concert), there are many hiring minors right now. always the case. ways to make more moolah. Starting at this very moment, you “Staying in saves me a lot of A pretty easy way to make money should try to spend and save money money. Instead of going to the mov- is babysitting. Hanging flyers that more wisely. The price of everyday ies, I’ll rent a movie with friends. It advertise your great abilities as a life can be as scary as a jack-o- babysitter helps. lantern, so we need to be prepared. Volume 5, Issue 14 2 Features 13 Nights of Halloween Should Bring Holiday Spirit By Brittany Piper “I absolutely love Hocus Pocus; I Bewitched ABC Family Premiere As Halloween is right around the want to be the little black cat for (6:30 p.m.) corner, the air becomes filled with Halloween and I want Brittany to be Tuesday 25- The Haunted Mansion shrieks and thrills, and best of all, the little girl, and Joe to be the big (8 p.m.) 13 Nights of Halloween starts on brother,” stated senior Madison Wednesday 26- Disney/Pixar’s ABC Family. Cerny. Monsters Inc (7 p.m.) Starting on Wednesday, Oct. 19 The first Friday on Oct. 21 will Thursday 27- Scooby-Doo through Monday, Oct. 31, ABC feature Beetlejuice. It will be start- (9 p.m.) Family will start off the season with ing at 8 p.m., so if you don’t have Friday 28- The Addams Family a Pretty Little Liar marathon, fol- many plans for Friday night, sit (7 p.m.) lowed by the Pretty Little Liar Hal- down and cuddle up with a blanket Saturday 29- Hocus Pocus loween Special at 7 p.m.. and watch the very original TV (8 p.m.) “I never really watched the season, movie Beetlejuice. Sunday 30- Van Helsing (8 p.m.) but I think the girls are really good As the nights continue on, the Monday 31- Casper (7 p.m.) looking and I wouldn’t mind watch- movies will keep playing, “I love the 13 Nights of Hallow- ing it just to see the girls,” stated Saturday 22- The Addams Family een; my favorite movie is definitely junior Nate Sandford. (8 p.m.) The Haunted Mansion. I love all the On Thursday, Oct. 20, Hocus Po- Sunday 23- Coraline Network Tele- suspense,” stated junior Kalie Cold. cus will be starting at 8 p.m., and vision Premiere (8 p.m.) If you enjoy Halloween movies, will catch the attention of many Monday 24- Melissa & Joey make sure to turn in every night to viewers. Halloween episode (6 p.m.) ABC Family. Speak Now World Tour By Tricia Rice Speak Now World Tour-Live and Swift is their superstar…her songs If the opportunity to experience will be available in stores starting are taut, tuneful narratives.” Taylor Swift’s unforgettably heart- Nov. 21, the day before her tour After this year, Taylor will have lifting Speak Now World Tour was wraps in the U.S. put on over 98 shows in 17 coun- handed to you, wouldn’t you take This will be Big Machine Re- tries, spanning 3 continents. She it? cord’s first release of live music also has recently announced that There’s no doubt that most Taylor from Taylor. The CD/DVD will be she will be extending her tour into Swift fans would snag the opportu- sure to give fans the complete Tay- 2012. nity in a heartbeat. So, to all you lor Swift Speak Now concert ex- Swift’s Speak Now album is the “Swifties”…you’re in luck. perience, showcasing performances #1-selling album of the year. As if On her way onto the stage for one from all 17 songs of the show. It that doesn’t stand on its own, she is of her recent shows, Taylor an- will also include exclusive behind- also the reigning ACM Entertainer nounced that she would be releas- the-scenes footage. of the Year, and is now currently ing a CD/DVD set of her Speak Taylor has awed her fans around nominated for the CMA Enter- Now concert. the world this year with her Broad- tainer of the Year. “I just wanted to tell you guys that way-inspired extravaganza, known For fans who weren’t able to land in November, I have a CD/DVD as the Speak Now World Tour; and tickets for the Speak Now World coming out of the Speak Now critics aren’t arguing. Tour, as well as for everybody who Tour,” Taylor shared seconds be- “Speak Now went off, as did is ready to watch the show again fore walking on stage. “I’m very every number, with clockwork pro- and again…(and again), the Speak excited about it; I can’t wait for fessionalism and thousands of Now World Tour-Live set will be you guys to see it!” voices singing along to every line,” the best seat in the house! The CD/DVD will be called The wrote The New York Times. “Ms.

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Advisor The Weekly Observer CJ Martin Shelby Dearth Mr. John Carmigiano Features 3

Quiz & Looking Back on the Years Quotes By Marisa Romanchik these past school years. You think about It’s the last year for seniors and the one friends that moved away and how you What are you thing some of us do is look back. We got to be the person you are today. look back not only at our high school Elementary school was just not always doing over the years, but also our elementary school about learning new things, but it was 3-day break? years. We all remember having recess also a place of sharing. We’d all have and being able to just have fun without one day to bring in something that is having any worries. special to us. As a little kid, we have these big “In first grade, I brought my hamster dreams on what we want to be in life, for Show and Tell. I had put it in the ball such as becoming the President of the and have it run around the classroom,” United States, a doctor, a professional senior Anna Maddamma stated. “After, athlete, or even a celebrity. But when it we had to go to music and we didn’t comes down to senior year, we have to close the door. Mrs. Martin ended up figure out what we want to be, realisti- chasing my hamster around the school cally. because it got out.” Trista Klein (9): In elementary school, we learned our Now in high school, we may not always “Going to ABC’s, how to write, share, and all the have the same friends from kindergarten Halloweekends at simple basic knowledge we need to and first grade, but sometimes that is not Cedar Point.” know for the future. But the one thing always the case. Some friends do not kids will never forget is our memories; have a choice, but they move. Those are the times we spent with each other dur- the kids we sometimes forget but the ing the good and the bad experiences. memories of them still stick. “In third grade, sitting in class, a kid “In third grade, our class stuffed Sean came up to the teacher and said he didn’t Srnka in a trash can,” mentioned Kierstin feel good. He ended up throwing up like Jenkins. little fruit cup things and puked all over For seniors, this is our last year being at the floor,” said senior Joe Romanoff. what we call home. There are many Chelsey Oglesby (9): “Then about 30 seconds later Kristen things to look back on, but learning from “Going to a bonfire.” Kilzer came running in. Everyone was our mistakes, growing up and apart from like ‘No!’ and she slipped and slid like a people, shape us to who we are today. slip and slide under the teacher’s desk. Try to not have regrets and don’t hold She started to cry and everyone felt sick back on life. Embrace your thoughts and after that,” Romanoff had added. make your dreams become reality. But Certain memories are funny, but to oth- just remember, if you look back, make ers, they would really rather forget them. sure it’s a good view. Being a senior, you often reflect back on

Zach Beadnell (12): “Duck hunting.”

Jose Medina (12): “Going to a haunted house.”

October 13, 2011 4 Features Gaming Update: Ico Stands Out By Jackson Keller As part of the recently released Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collec- tion, Ico has the daunting task of sharing a disc with Shadow of the Colossus, one of the greatest games of all time. Despite the inevitable comparisons to its counterpart, Ico manages to stand out as a memorable gaming experience. Ico is about a horned boy named Ico who is locked away in a castle as a human sacrifice. Ico manages to escape his cursed fate and meets a fragile young girl named Yorda. Ico frees Yorda from her prison, and they work together to escape the haunting halls of the castle. The highlight of Ico is the relation- Ico frees Yorda from her prison and then they team up. ship between the two main charac- Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons ters. The story is told almost entirely without words. Ico and Yorda do not die unless he falls from a great are always satisfying to solve. They speak the same language, so they height. It would seem at first that make you think, but never frustrate never talk. Their relationship is de- combat is a simplistic affair of sim- you with their difficulty. Basically, if veloped entirely through the visuals ply hitting the square button until the a solution to a puzzle would work in and gameplay. shadow monsters die. the real world, it will work in Ico. While escort missions in video However, the depth comes in when Like Shadow of the Colossus, this games tend to be the absolute low they first snatch Yorda. The mon- game was originally released on the points of the experience, Yorda man- sters may not be able to kill Ico, but PS2. However, unlike Shadow, Ico ages to remain endearing for a few they can knock him down for a few really shows its age. The art design reasons. First, you never have to rely seconds while they snatch Yorda. If is aesthetically pleasing, but awk- on her sometimes glitchy AI if you the monsters drag Yorda into dark ward animations and clipping do not want to, because you can pits it is game over, so your job is to through walls often occurs, breaking guide her movements directly by make sure she stays safe. Being re- the immersion at times. The camera grabbing her hand. Not only does sponsible for the life of another is fixed in one position, meaning that this make gameplay flow better, it raises the intensity in a way shooting making some of the trickier jumps develops the relationship between Russians in Call of Duty could never can get frustrating. the two without a single word. match. The frustration is not helped by the Secondly, Yorda is so helpless it is Most of the game revolves around game’s awkward controls. The phys- impossible to not care for her. Her solving puzzles. In games like The ics simply feel wrong, like the char- pale skin and awkward movements Legend of Zelda, the puzzles turn acters have no weight. The controls signify that she has been trapped in into glorified scavenger hunts, with work once you get used to them, but her cage for a long time. She clearly the player scrambling around the the first hour or two will be an exer- will not survive without Ico’s help, dungeon looking for the bombs to cise in patience. so the player ends up feeling respon- blow up the wall with. In Ico the Despite its flaws, Ico remains a re- sible for her. I felt nervous every puzzles are all environmental. markable experience. There truly is time she was out of my sight, wor- Throughout the course of the game nothing else like it on the market. ried that the monsters that populate you only gain one new weapon. The The characters are great and the puz- the castle would try to snatch her puzzles all revolve around climbing zles provide a brainier experience away. around on the castle walls and clear- that most games simply do not pro- The combat system emphasizes ing a safe path for Yorda to get vide anymore. It shows its age at Yorda’s fragility. Ico himself cannot through. times, but is definitely worth playing The puzzles never feel forced and overall.

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