February 2017
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
The Rocket Review Raritan High School’s Official Newspaper Edison Patents the Phonograph The Day the Music Died By: James Borg By Tom Grady On February 19th, 1878, Thomas Edison got the You may have heard of the song “American Pie” patent for the world’s cheapest and most efficient which was released in 1971. It is about how 3 recording device for the time. t was the Edison music icons died in a horrific plane crash on Phonograph and it will be celebrating it’s 139th February 3, 1959. The three were Buddy Holly, birthday this year. This was possibly one of the Ritchie Valens, and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Rich- most pivotal devices in recording history, being ardson. 2 of the 3 men may not ring a bell to able to (when being mass produced) play 2 min- some of us, but Ritchie Valens is someone we’ve ute cylinder records with music and short stories. all heard of. One of his most famous songs was The coolest part I find about this is that it was “La Bamba,” which made him an instant icon. all produced in New Jersey, right out of Orange County. In fact, the laboratory is still there today On the night of February 3, 1953, Ritchie Valens’ 2017 February, and you can still visit (but obviously it is now a band was at one of the “Winter Dance Party” con- museum). certs in Clear Lake, Iowa. The place was rock- ing and jumping and everyone had a great time. To make you realize how influential this was, I’ll When the partying had finally come to a close, tell you some of its influential power. To put it into the band and Ritchie drove to the nearest airport perspective, by WWI there were companies mass to meet up with J.P. and Buddy Holly. Normally producing this all over, with between venues, all three men and their bands would ride cold, uncomfortable tour buses that Edison’s factory on the top of the market. Soldiers sometimes affected the performers with cases in trenches even played the music in the trenches of flu and even frostbite. This time, Buddy Holly if they had a Phonograph with them (while it was chartered a plane to ride to their next venue. A more of a luxury). They had a little entertainment band member of Ritchie Valens’, Waylon Jen- and it brought a whole new air to the world of nings, exchanged his seat on the plane for J.P. singing. Now you didn’t have to have live music because J.P. had the flu. Another band member or a band, because in the comfort of your own of Valens’, Tommy Allsup, also had a seat on the home you could have music. For the price for plane, but lost a coin toss to Ritchie and gave up $20 to $25 you could have an Edison Standard his seat. That was only coin toss Ritchie had won Phonograph back in the day. This device was a in his life. true picture of America and manufacturing, so it is Many fans of the three men call this day “The very important that it is remembered. Day the Music Died” because of the loss of the music music icons. Ritchie was only 18. The next Thomas Edison started with a little dream and time you listen to “American Pie” by Don McLean ingenuity, and became the image of the inventor and when he says “The day the music died” now for his time. Next to the lightbulb, the phonograph you know what he means. is another great invention by him, and shaped the future to come. It allowed for communication, sharing of cultures, and careers to start. People seeing this invention now may not be impressed, but it provide the groundwork for many recording devices. So happy 139th to the phonograph. The Rocket Review Raritan High School’s Official Newspaper The Moon, a supernatural force, looming over To The Tears That Drop From The Moon Mother Earth like a guardian to the night sky. She By: Isaiah Mercado too wishes she could lead a life of ever-so chang- ing fate. To never be alone in the dark recesses There is a silence to the night air in Modesto, of the universe. To have friends that she could California. People sleep in their homes, some relate to, other than the planet she constantly remain out with friends. Partying. Socializing. Ex- orbits around. The earth has no conscience. It’s periencing the nightlife for what it truly has to of- conscience relies on the organisms that thrive on fer. These people radiate electricity into the wind, its lands and in its waters. And how is the Moon, stimulating it to the very core. There is a smell of a large rock in the night sky, supposed to relate incoming rain in the sky, mixed with the smell of to such tiny things. Things that have graced her busy city streets and the faintest scent of adrena- presence for eons behind and eons to come. line. One could most definitely say the after hours were teeming with the essence of adventurous She was once visited by the people of Earth. men and women. Of the burning desire to explore The experience warmed the soul burning inside the darkest and most inner fantasies of the hu- of her, as so it did continuously every time she man psyche. was visited. However, eventually her neighbors 2017 February, ceased to come. They were bored of the Moon, In between each bustling street corner, there and wanted to travel further in hopes of coloniz- is either a bar or some sort of family-run busi- ing the very solar system they thrived under. ness. Coffee shops remain open till the witching hour. Restaurants are already closed, as the last A raindrop falls onto the dry pavement of meal hour has already passed. Clothing stores Modesto, California. The Moon, exasperated by are also closed by now, as no one has the audac- her loneliness, lets loose her trail of tears. They ity to want to buy clothes at 1:30 in the morning. fall from the west to the east, clouding any vision Instead, all bars are open. Some cafes remain into space from the heavy breath of her wailing. open as well, only because there’s always that The moon is melancholy, and overwhelmed by one person that enjoys that midnight cup of cof- the existential crisis of isolation. fee to wake them up on the way to their night shift or on their way to the next party of their lifetime. But the Moon is never alone. The bars are what we must truly focus on A twinkle brightens past the clouds that she has during this story. In every bar, there are loads created. Dusk becomes dawn, and her friend the of young adults and adults in general try to find Sun comes out to shine. A smile spreads across that specific fix to their stressful lives. A form of Moon’s face. For she is never alone in this uni- release. Whether it’d be social or physical. They verse. In fact, none of us are ever alone. all have their purpose. Their very fixation as to why they live and breathe in this world. An ever- The moon now sits in the daytime sky, still visible so-changing weave of fate running through their to humans near and far. Instead of brooding, she DNA like strings on puppets. However, despite glows. their purposes, they must all end the day in some way, shape, or form. She glows with radiance. For the people she protects, and for the friends she has made for the Whether that’d be going home, leaving the many years she has existed. bars for another experience, or just flat out sleep- ing. But there is a familiar force watching these events take place. Watching each human being No one is ever alone. lead their lives into a state of unconsciousness every night. Yearning for that feeling of adven- ture. The burning desire to fulfill her very own hopes and dreams. The Rocket Review Raritan High School’s Official Newspaper receive the most up-to-date strategies and treat- National Wear Red Day ments tailored to a woman’s individual risk. Tool- By: Caitlynn Hunter kits, pocket versions of guidelines for woman and special reports, and continuing medical education National Wear Red Day, is a day committed to to give healthcare providers the tools to ensure wearing red for Women’s Heart Disease and that women are being treated according to guide- Strokes. 500,000 women die from Cardiovascular lines are just a few things they do. disease each year! The American Heart Associa- tion created this day to empower women to take charge of their heart health. This year National Wear Red Day is on Friday, February 3, 2017. What does Groundhog Day mean? By: Dylan Latorre Go Red For Women hopes to inspire the aware- ness of women and heart disease and motivates Groundhog Day is on February 2nd and is an people to take action to save more lives. This important day to many. Groundhog Day is a action harnesses energy, passion and power that tradition that has gone on since the early 1800’s. February, 2017 February, women can use to band together and wipe out 2017 February, heart disease together. This movement challeng- It was accepted in as a holiday in 1987.