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39.6 million people claim to have Irish heritage, The Day of the Irish 127 million people will celebrate the holiday. That By: Thomas Grady is 7 times greater than Ireland’s population!

March is a month full of holidays, but one that In Ireland, on the other hand, they did see St. stands out is St. Patrick’s Day. Every March 17th, Patrick’s Day as a religious holiday. In the 1970’s all of America celebrates their Irish heritage. the government would close the pubs in Ireland Though not a national holiday, many people take so they could get the people to go to church and off from work and studies to embrace the Irish pray for St. Patrick. But since the mid-90’s the spirit. The day of St. Pat’s isn’t really a celebra- government made it a joyous holiday, giving it a tion in Ireland, it’s more of a solemn affair. multi day festival in the capital of Dublin. They have festivals, dances, and a parade. Not only Ireland’s patron saint is recognized in America does this happen in Dublin, it happens all around because of Irish immigrants who made March Ireland. Careful because in the first paragraph, March 2017 17th a religious holiday. The man for whom St. you state that it is serious in Ireland. Patrick’s Day is named was born into an aris- In closing, when you see March 17th coming up tocratic family in Roman Britain around the end in the calendar, grab your leprechaun hat, lucky of the fourth century. As a teenager, he was clover, a green shirt, and embrace your Irish on kidnapped by Irish pirates and taken to Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day. where he was held as a slave for a number of years. He eventually escaped the island, only to Pi Day return later as a missionary and convert part of By: Katherina Contreras the population to Christianity. Centuries after his death, which some sources cite as March 17, Pi Day is coming around the corner on March 461, although the exact date is unknown, Patrick 14th. The day was created in relation to the ac- became the patron saint of Ireland, and March tual number of Pi, 3.14. The actual significance 17th became a holy day of obligation for the na- of Pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its tion’s Catholics. diameter. Pi is an infinite number but it is always used the same and will remain the same. Only 39 As children, we were taught that St. Patrick digits past the decimal point is enough to calcu- drove snakes out of Ireland and into the sea, late the spherical volume of the entire universe and that’s why he is celebrated. In fact, there but we only use 3.14 on a daily basis in math. Pi were actually no snakes on the Emerald Isle. He was determined by the idea that the width around is celebrated for converting many Irish men to a circle was a bit more than 3 times. The symbol catholicism and not driving imaginary snakes into that we still used today is a Greek letter and was the ocean. given by William Jones in 1706.

Today, we Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s The first time that Pi Day was celebrated was Day in many ways. Many people wear green to in 1988 when a San Franciscan physicist, Larry symbolize Ireland or the shamrock, many people Shaw, decided to eat fruit pies on that day. Pi carry (or try to find) “lucky” four leaf clovers, and Day was officially made a national holiday by the many legal-aged citizens will consume a ton of House of Representatives in 2009. The date that alcohol. On average, 13 million pints of Guinness had the most significance was March 14th, 2015 will be consumed. In Chicago, the city will dye the (3/14/15) at 9:26:53 because it was the most ac- Chicago River green in celebration. Even though curate day that corresponded with pi. The Rocket Review Raritan High School’s Official Newspaper

If you were to round pi to the first 5 digits neat thing to watch (at least coming from the then that would have been March 14th, 2016 people of Alaska). (3/14/16). An interesting fact is that Massachu- setts Institute of Technology (MIT) is known to As a testament to how taxing this race can be send application letters on Pi Day. to the dogs, sled dogs in the race eat on average When everyone was younger, Pi day was the 10-12 thousand calories a day. It is almost com- best day in math class. It was an excuse to eat monplace now for dogs to die while racing and different pies and enjoy the day. Students would over the years there have been many tragedies volunteer bringing in their favorite pies that during the race. It is considered quite the ac- ranged from chocolate creme to even cookie complishment to even finish, let alone place first. pies. The last time most people celebrated Pi day In fact, they give out as more of an honor than a was most likely in 6th grade math class. Pi day joke, a red lantern to the last place finisher. They March 2017 isn’t widely celebrated in middle or high school. like to give it to the person because even though Pi is still used widely in math classes throughout they finished last, it is still a feat to finish at all. At high school but nothing is really done. Pi day 10 a.m. on March 4 the race will commence, so should be celebrated more often because we are be ready for this exciting and daring event! so dependent on Pi for solving equations every- time we’re in math class.

Daylight Savings Time The Iditarod Sled Race: 2017 By: Caitlynn Hunter By: James Borg Daylight Savings; he event when your mental Beginning in the 1880’s, the Iditarod sled race clock gets knocked off whack because we have is the most iconic sled race in all the world. he to set our clocks 1 hour forward. In the spring and race is over 1,000 miles long, and starts in down- fall, people do Daylight Savings, the time when town Anchorage. Obviously, this race takes place we set our clocks one hour ahead in the spring in the 49th state of America; Alaska. Specially and an hour back in the fall. Why do we use bred Siberian Huskies and other dogs meant for Daylight Savings? To use more sunlight. When cold climates are usually used to pull the sled, everyone is always in lights in their homes, Day- and years of hard work are put in by their trainers light Savings is used so people get out more and to make them the best they can possibly be for get at least an hour of sunlight. Using Daylight performance in the race. Savings reduces the amount of energy needed for artificial lighting during the evening hours. Did Last Year, Dallas Seavey of Alaska took home you know that less than 40% of the countries in first prize and is hoping to win again this year. the world use DST. The light difference is most From all over the world contestants are coming noticeable is with the countries that are near the to compete. Some of the countries include the poles of the earth. Daylight Savings begins on Czech Republic, France, Norway, Hungary, and March 12th and ends on November 5th in 2017. more. If you’d like to track the race they have a Canada was the first country ever to use Daylight GPS tracker on their official website, or you can Savings Time but Germany started the trend to try to contact your TV provider for information. turn your clocks one hour ahead. If you want to track it online however, there is a subscription fee as well. Usually the race takes a span from 9-15 days to complete, and is a very The Rocket Review Raritan High School’s Official Newspaper

Kemp, and Spencer Wattenberg as Victor von It’s Alive! It’s Alive! It’s Alive!!! Frankenstein/ The Hermit, along with a great en- By: Alexandra Varga semble to bring life to the stage. Vocals are per- fected by Mr. Dan Neff, alongside the wonderful Each year, Raritan High School presents a pit conducted by Mr. Ray Lahaye. The wonderful spring musical along with their fall play. In the sets are being built by Mr. Kyle Santopadre and past three years, our musicals have been Beauty choreography is provided by the amazing Ms. and the Beast, Shrek: the Musical, and A Funny Ashley Seidel. The show will run on March 30th, Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. This 31st, and April 1st at 7pm, including a matinee year, the musical is a dark comedy known as at 2pm on Saturday. Tickets are $10 for general Young Frankenstein. This Mel Brooks musical is admission and $6 for students/seniors. Be sure to March 2017 based on the 1974 movie starring Gene Wilder come out for a freakishly good time! and Marty Feldman. The musical opened on March 2017 Broadway on November 8th, 2007, and ran for Madness is Upon Us 30 previews and 484 performances. The show By: Thomas Grady starred actors such as Roger Bart (Doctor Fred- erick Frankenstein), Megan Mullally (Elizabeth When we see March coming up on the calendar, Benning), Christopher Fitzgerald (Igor), Sutton some of us think of St. Patrick’s Day; others think Foster (Inga), and Andrea Martin (Frau Blucher), green. Sports fans think of two things; Spring along with many other amazing artists. Training and March Madness. March Madness is a NCAA Basketball tournament held every year to Young Frankenstein is the story of a young determine who will be the champion. Most years, neurosurgeon who inherits a castle from his you could see a distinct winner for the men’s and deceased grandfather. His grandfather is the women’s teams, but this year it’s a bit different. famous Doctor Victor von Frankenstein, maker of monsters. In the castle, he meets his odd assis- For the men, this year has been filled with losses tant, Igor, along with the bubbly Inga and the un- and heartbreaks, comebacks and buzzer beaters. settling housekeeper Frau Blucher. Together, they This year for the men basketball side has been plan to carry on the Frankenstein legacy with a one to remember. Most years, you could deter- few interesting interruptions along the way. Angry mine who would win it all prior to the bracket. mobs, scientific genius and plenty of big surprises This year, it’s tough to decide. At the moment, await for Frankenstein and his entourage. Some Gonzaga is the only unbeaten team standing, memorable songs from the musical include “Join with the reigning champions, Villanova, in 2nd the Family Business”, “Transylvania Mania” and place with only two losses. Many big name pow- “Puttin On the Ritz”, which was in the film as well. erhouses, such as Kansas, Baylor, and UCLA all The production is “ scientifically proven, mon- have 3 tough losses, but are still in the Top 10. strously good entertainment”. Duke and Kentucky aren’t even in the Top 10 and have 5 losses each. Every year by far, there has At Raritan High School, Ms. Melanie Taylor always been a Cinderella story. This year, I pre- presents a production of hilarity and talent. The dict that Maryland will have one of those story- cast includes Aidan Smith as Frederick Franken- book finishes. I feel as if they could go pretty far, stein, Elizabeth Powers as Inga, Joseph Fiore as but may be knocked out from the tourney in Elite Igor, Christine DiNapoli as Frau Blucher, Alexan- 8 stage. The team that might take home the tro- dra Varga as Elizabeth Benning, Thomas Mills phy in my personal opinion, will be Kansas. The as the Monster, Matthew Hagberg as Inspector Jayhawks have made long strides in the bracket The Rocket Review Raritan High School’s Official Newspaper

and it’ll only be certain amount of time before Last year there were activities that selected they win one. students could participate in such as jello eating, scooter racing, knock out, and tug-of-war. Not Now to the women. It is pretty clear, that the to mention there was cornhole, musical chairs, UCONN women are the team to this year a hoola-hooping contest and much more. This and the prior 4 years. Compared to their male year there are new events that have been added counterparts, the women have won 4 champion- including a relay and hungry-hungry hippos. ships in a row, while the men won it all in 2014 Everyone was cheering for their peers and en- and haven’t been to the ‘ship since. Picking couraging them to do their best. School spirit was up their 100th straight win not to long ago, the through the roof and as a freshmen I had never women are now focused to cut the nets one more experienced such unity. Even when our peers time. Don’t get me wrong, those Huskies will lost, we still motivated and congratulated them.

have some tough battles. Their now rival, Notre There was not a dull moment especially with the March 2017 Dame, will try and halt the excellency of Geno music that got everyone going! Auriemma and his UCONN women. Both teams have met in the Final Four and the Elite 8 for the This year should be even better because we past 4 years. Notre Dame has tried, but failed to have a new group of students that will be joining conquer the beast, that is the UCONN Huskies. A us for this event! The entire school year consists team to watch out for is the Maryland Terrapins. of doing work and hardly getting a break. Clash They have been on a complete tear lately, and is the one day students get to be encouraged have no sign of stopping. for participating in silly, yet fun activities. Like all Both tournaments this year will be spectacular to competitions, there are some people who can get watch. It’ll be nail biter till the finish for the men’s carried away and get very competitive. It’s impor- side. The women’s on the other hand, may al- tant to be a good sport and to be supportive no ready have their victor. Nonetheless, this will be matter if you win or lose.We do have a new prin- a March Madness to remember, and everyone cipal, so this will be his first clash of the classes should tune in. with the Raritan High School. It’s important we show him what being a rocket is all about! This includes showing your rocket pride and being a pal to all your peers. If we want this Clash of the Classes event to continue for future incoming students, By: Alissa Maldonado we need to make sure we treat others the way we would want to be treated. Although it is inevitable It’s that time of year again! For those freshmen for each class to get competitive, we still have to that don’t know what Clash of the Classes is, know our limits! Clash of the Classes is so much you’re in for a real treat! Personally, as a sopho- more enjoyable when everyone is supportive of more my first time experiencing this event was each other and are not only trying to represent last year and I enjoyed every minute of it. The en- their class, but having fun while doing it. Now the tire school was so hyped and each class was so real question is, who will win clash this year?! supportive of those representing them. This year, we will welcome back this awesome event on Fri- day, March 24th. Now last year the juniors came in first place, followed by the seniors in second, freshmen in third and sophomores in 4th place. The Rocket Review Raritan High School’s Official Newspaper

one when he leaves and the Beast says he can’t Tale as Old as Time take it and says he must die. After pleading, the By: Katherina Contreras merchant gets to leave but has promised him or one of his daughters to return to the palace. The From songs like “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty merchant brings back everything his children and the Beast”, the classic Disney film Beauty originally asked for. and the Beast is an iconic movie, including Prin- cess Belle. With the new rendition of the original Beauty takes responsibility for what happened tale, the story is retold through a live new movie so she goes to Beast’s castle. Beast names her coming out on March 17th. Belle can be seen as the mistress of the castle and treats her like he’s many people’s favorite Disney princess; myself her servant. Every night that they are together included, but do you know the original tale? Many Beast asks Beauty to marry him and refuses people know that it takes place in France on every time. She says no because she loves him

March 2017 the countryside but there’s so much more to the like a friend. Talk about friendzoned. She has

original tale. Not only that, but you’ll be able to a dream one day about a prince and when she March 2017 see where the original story ends and the Disney wakes up she believes that the Beast is holding elements begin to take hold. him captive. She explores the palace but doesn’t find the prince. She lives at the palace for months The author of La Belle et la Bête was a french before becoming very homesick and pleading to novelist by the name of Gabrielle-Suzanne Bar- Beast to go home. She’s allowed to go for one bot de Villeneuve. The story was published as week and takes a magical ring that can take her a part of The Young American and Marine Tales back to the palace and a mirror where she can in 1740. The original version was then abridged see what beast is doing in the palace. Her sisters in 1756 so that it would be able to be put into a are envious of everything she has and how she’s children’s book. The abridged version is the most living in luxury so they make a plan for her to common story that has been retold throughout break her promise to stay for a week. They plead time. The original tale goes that a wealthy wid- for her to stay a day longer and even fake cry owed merchant lives in a mansion with his 3 sons to convince her even more. She stays but feels and 3 daughters. Everyone of his children are guilty and uses her mirror to see Beast and sees vain and selfish except one, Beauty. She is kind, that Beast is lying half dead. She uses the ring to likes to read, and has a pure heart. Because of get back to the palace and cries over the Beast her siblings’ negative characteristics, they treat while saying she loves him. The tears that him Beauty like a servant rather than sister. immediately turn him into the handsome prince that was in Beauty’s dream. Beast explains that a One day the merchant loses all his wealth when fairy put a curse on him when the fairy was re- and the family is forced to live in a small house. fused to be let into the palace.The only way that Eventually, the merchant hears that one of his the curse would be broken was if he found true trade ships has come back and he asks his chil- love. They then get married and live happily ever dren what they want him to bring back as gifts. All after. his children say extravagant gifts that they want while Beauty wants a rose because none of them The new movie that is coming out on March 17th grow in their part of the country. The merchant is supposed to follow the original disney film that goes only to find that the cargo was taken to pay came out in 1991. Disney has recently been on a off his debts. On his way back home, he gets kick of remaking old movie classics and making lost in a forest during a storm and finds a palace. them live action films. Beauty and the Beast is He’s allowed to stay and is given food and drink. sure to grab your attention with their fresh, new As he’s leaving the next day, he sees a garden cast and the computer generated imagery that filled with the roses that Beauty wanted. He takes will bring a new light to the classic tale. The Rocket Review Raritan High School’s Official Newspaper

Host or volunteer in an animal event. You will National Puppy Day be giving others a chance to donate and give love By: Caitlynn Hunter to their animals and you might even get more people knowing of the cause that they didn’t even Puppies, the creatures that make your heart know of. melt as soon as you make contact with them. Whether it’s a small Pomeranian or a German This day revolves around your furry best friend, Shepard, dogs have been stealing mankind’s so spend some time with your pooch to show hearts for a millenia. Do you know on Thursday, your love and affection. March 23rd there is a day to just celebrate those loveable little tykes? It’s called National Puppy Day. National Puppy Day is also used to promote The First Tweet and Twitter adopting a fuzzy little furball. The creator of this By: James Borg day is named Colleen Paige. This holiday started March 2017 on Twitter in 2014-2015 and went so world wide On the 21st of March, 11 years ago, the first that it was made into a holiday. Colleen made tweet was ever made on twitter. It was a simple this day along with National Dog/Mutt Day and little thing, an elegant beginning to one of the National Cat Day to promote adoption and to biggest social networks of the day. The tweet was celebrate the love that these lovable animals by Jack Dorsey and it stated, “just setting up my give to their family. In the US approximately 7.9 twttr” and that was what started it all. In short little million animals enter animal shelters all around statements, twitter has captured the attention of the US. hey were abandoned, someone couldn’t millions today. Currently as of right now, the stock take care of them, left for dead or other reasons, price stays in the 15.70 range for the massive 3. 9 million of 7.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million media outlet and usually stays on the upside. of the 7.9 are cats. Each year approximately 1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats are put down. A recent report says that there are 319 million That’s outrageous! How do you celebrate Nation- average users, to put that into light the population al Puppy Day?Here are a few things that would of the entire United States is 318 million. On av- really help the cause: erage, 6,000 tweets are tweeted every second on any subject matter. This network has served as a Looking for a new puppy for your loved one? platform for celebrities, youtubers, politicians, am- Or even just for yourself? Adopt an animal from bassadors, and more. It has become a source for a shelter like the ASPCA or Associated Humane people to find current news quickly and efficiently Societies. If you go to a shelter, you might just be in the modern day, on any type of subject of their a hero to one or more pets as you choose to save interest. Some famous people who use twitter their life and adopt them. Plus as a benefit, pets include Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Justin from shelters are a lot less than an animal from a Bieber, Ellen Degeneres, and the list just goes on breeder. and on.

Donate! Even the littlest things help. Whether This place has been a battleground for many you’re donating old dog toys,dog food, or even different controversial topics as well as great donation money to your nearest shelter, every- feats were shared via twitter. Controversial topics thing helps. You’ll know that you’re doing good in recent history on twitter involved the Presiden- and can feel good about it. tial Election, when their were “twitter wars” be- tween Republican and Democratic candidates The Rocket Review Raritan High School’s Official Newspaper

and officials. Cool and great feats broadcasted After creating a successful flavor of soft drink, include things like in 2012 when the Curiosity the company decided the expand their selection landed on Mars and was tweeting out live up- into even more wonderful choices. Brand names dates. such as , , , , Vitamin Water, and Fuze Tea are all Twitter, even though it is a very simple idea, owned and sold by the Coca Cola Company. is one of the most used and influential networks Most of these brands offer diet and caffeine free of the day. It functions as a net for all interac- options as well. Along with all of the regular fla- tions between people, good and also bad. It is vors to these drinks, there are also fun and inter- a source for media, place to interact, a place to esting flavors to soft drinks. Some popular flavors organize, and has been a huge step up in human include cherry, vanilla, raspberry, and lime, while communication and influence. So on March 21st, some “interesting” flavors include Blak Coke (a please take the time to remember that simple first

March 2017 coffee infused coke), Green Tea Coke and Or-

little tweet that started it all. March 2017 ange Coke. Sprite is often mixed with a wide vari- ety of flavors, anything from cherry to peach. The No One Can Stop Me When I Taste the company released an invention called the Coke Feeling Freestyle Machine, in order to help their custom- ers taste all of their selections. These machines By: Alexandra Varga have 130 flavors, which is ironic considering the Can’t beat the feeling! Life tastes good! Open company has been around for around 130 years. happiness! Taste the Feeling! Over the years, Machines can be found anywhere from Universal many slogans have been used to describe the Studios theme parks to your local Burger King. refreshing feeling of one drink: Coca Cola. This company has been going strong for 130 years, in- The Coca Cola Company originated in the troduced on May 8, 1886. John Pemberton origi- United States (more specifically Atlanta, Geor- nally created the drink as a patent medicine, but gia), and has since expanded to plenty of other it bloomed in the soft-drink market after business- countries. The company has buildings in Austra- man Asa Griggs Candler bought the company in lia, South Africa, Japan and many other exciting March of 1889. The drink’s name refers to two of venues. Each of these wonderful places makes its original ingredients, which were kola nuts (a their own Coca Cola products as well as the source of caffeine) and coca leaves. The formula typical drinks. Some products from other parts of for the perfect Coca Cola is secret, although the world include Watermelon from China, many people have tried valiantly to unlock the Apple from Mexico and Beverly from Italy. secret. Starting off as a small company, The Coca Coke products are sold in over 200 countries Cola Company took plenty of years to become worldwide, with consumers downing more than the immense size that it is today. They developed 1.8 billion company beverage servings each day. their own bottle design (the signature glass bottle As shown by these amazing statistics, The Coca in a specific contour) and plenty of partnerships Cola Company will continue to thrive for years with various companies such as The Walt Disney and years to come. Always and Only Coca-Cola! Company, Southwest airlines, UNICEF and the World Wildlife Foundation.

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years ago, ancient Etruscans believed chickens Lucky Charms! and other fowl could predict the future. When the By: Alissa Maldonado chicken was eaten they would take the sacred collarbone and wish upon it. The breaking of the When I think of St. Patrick’s Day, for some wishbone is a modern version of this ancient reason I immediately think of good luck charms! practice. If a ladybug lands on you, it is consid- Some people have “good luck charms” whether ered to be very lucky because it is a gardener’s it be a jersey to help an athlete win a game or “best friend.” The number seven is believed to necklace that always makes you feel like you’re be lucky for many reasons such as there being 7 going to pass a test! Now when we’re talking colors in the rainbow, 7 stages of life, and even 7 about the Irish they have a rather lengthy list of days in a week. good luck charms. These Irish good luck charms range from green little leprechauns to four leaf All in all, good luck charms have been around clovers. For the Irish, these good luck charms for awhile and still continue to carry strong be- March 2017 are based off superstition. The horseshoe, four liefs. The term “luck of the Irish,” meant the peo- leaf clover, rainbows, a rabbit’s foot, pennies, the ple of Ireland had extreme good fortune. Many wishbone, ladybugs and the number seven are superstitions stemmed from Ireland and more all good luck symbols. than just the Irish believe it today. The myths and tales are believed by a wide variety of people. St. Centuries ago, the horseshoe became an Patrick’s Day is a day in which people can reflect important talisman that represented good for- on the good luck charms they have. Not only that, tune. In ancient days, it was believed that the but the good luck charms that have been passed horseshoe was powerful enough to ward off evil down from generation to generation. spirits. The horseshoe was crafted with the lucky elements of iron and fire and if hung in the door- way of a house with the ends facing upward, it No One More Seussier than the Seussi- would create a symbolic holder of happiness and est of Them All good fortune. The four leaf clover was believed to By: Isaiah Mercado provide magical power if carried, according to the ancient Druids. Legend has it that each leaf of the “You have brains in your head. four-leaf clover represents one element of luck: wealth, health, love and fame. Irish legend has You have feet in your shoes. it that a leprechaun uses the rainbow as a way to mark his hidden pot of gold. Big dreamers are You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” sometimes accused of “chasing rainbows.” There are days dedicated to so many iconic This is because the ideas seem unrealistic or figures; people such as political and social celeb- impractical. rities. We celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth- day, George Washington’s birthday, and so many Rabbits have been symbols of springtime and other occasions that relate to icons in observance fertility, hence why some people carry around a of their many feats and accomplishments. In fact, rabbit’s foot to increase their chances of fertility. these deeds range from leadership to influence; Some people think that if you see a penny lying across its very own rainbow of possible qualities. on the ground with the head side up, you should Most of these deeds have transformed mankind pick it up, as it will bring good luck. Over 2400 in generous and beneficial circumstances. The Rocket Review Raritan High School’s Official Newspaper

feats with nothing but the use of a few similar We even celebrate those who change the minds words and highly creative artwork. of the most important; children. They are the building blocks to the future, what will influence With Seuss’s birthday arriving so early in the world as it is meant to forever be. And who March, it’s only right to pay honor to the doctor better to teach kids some of the most simple mor- who impacted the hungry minds of so many kids als and fables with the help of a colorful, original from the 1950’s to present day 2017. For your world and a few little rhymes than Dr. Seuss many efforts in rhyming against the world. For himself. impressing the nation with stories that taught chil- dren about discipline, trying new things, experi- Every one of us has come across our personal encing life, and even learning to accept others as Seuss favorite, mine being Green Eggs and Ham equal individuals as well. And for this, we thank specifically. All students my age can remember you Dr. Seuss. March 2017 a time when we’d sit on the colorful kindergarten March 2017 carpet and listen to our teacher read some of the “Think left and think right, greatest fables told in generations. We’d learn morals and life lessons that would help us pros- And think low and think high. per and achieve many great things. And in the meantime, we’d eat green food-colored eggs at http://www.thestripedhat.com/images/seusshat. 9:30 AM while listening to the same story embed- sm.png Oh, the thinks you can think up… if only ded into our brains. you try!” •Theodore Seuss Geisel, 1904 - 1991 “I do not like Green Eggs and Ham! I do not like them, Sam I Am!”

Seuss introduced millions of children to the many joys of reading and the magic of wordplay. His key to doing so was his child-like spirit; the kin of youth that still burned in his soul like an eternally blue fire. His books also endured due to how easy and fun it was (and still is) to remember and read aloud his many quotes. However, while his stories are engaging, it’s not just the words that lure in his readers- it’s the artwork at most.

Seuss started off as an illustrator, putting to- gether art in black-and-white tones. His imagery always depicted a feeling of movement. You just couldn’t wait to turn to the next page, especially with the use of your own imagination against the clever white space left for readers to fill with their own mind. Due to this incredible influence, March 2nd, the day of his birthday, was labelled by the National Education Association as “National Read Across America Day” to comply to Geisel’s many The Rocket Review Raritan High School’s Official Newspaper

Leprechauns; the Next Elf on the Shelf? leave, everything will be fine. Come on, man…” if By: Isaiah Mercado there really was a robber in my house, I was just sure of getting him out with whatever he wanted to steal. It’s 2:30 in the morning after an incredibly long day. There was nothing to steal in my house anyway. I was While I try to sleep, my dreams haunt me with remi- broke with no food in the fridge and the oldest TV in niscent visions of my childhood; long summer beach history sitting above the coffee table in the tiny space I days, afternoons spent inside with toys, and waiting called a living room. for Christmas day by day. For some odd reason, the Christmas part of my dreams stuck with me for most I stood there, waiting. No sound or anything. For a of the night. They consisted of some sort of inception brief moment, I contemplated just going back to sleep. in which I’d wake up in the middle of the witching hour But there was a reason why I woke up to this. Why I to face sounds of tiny footsteps passing my bedroom had the dream in the first place. There was something door. I always suspected these footsteps to be Elves else in my house, and I was hellbent on finding it. on the Shelf, running rampant to help their creator de- liver the toys underneath our tree ASAP. It was always My curiosity took me to the kitchen, where the a cute thought, only because with adulthood came the slightest sound of rustling could be heard. Of course, March 2017 realization that these footsteps were originally from to my surprise, the fridge door was open. And some- my very own parents. thing was munching at old food on the top shelf. I tiptoed to the door, and peeked over. It was at this exact moment I had an epiphany. What if those pitter patters from the past actually were Now, sometimes we have those moments where from elves? From some kind of magical being? Could we can’t even believe what we’re seeing at that exact they truly exist? Of course, I considered the impos- point in time. I swear that I couldn’t even believe sibility of elves just like any normal human would. what I was seeing at this exact point in time. There, But… there was just something about those footsteps. on the top shelf, digging into my old birthday cake, Like a vision. An experience, instead of some measly was a small humanoid figure in a green bowler cap memory. As if this instance had happened yesterday. and green suit. Around his waist was a large black Or better yet, this very own night. belt, and his shoes were black as well. A small clover popped out of his hat like a flower. And of course, And as if on cue, to my surprise I saw the tiny shad- this immediately gave away what this thing inside my ows of feet run right past my bedroom door. Except, fridge was. this was my apartment. In Chicago. And not the house I grew up in in Denver. I immediately pulled myself out A leprechaun. from the sheets to investigate this strange presence in my house. After opening the door, I looked down both There was a leprechaun digging into my birthday cake sides of my hallway. Nothing. No little person dressed in my fridge at 3 AM in the morning. in a sharp pointy hat. No elves scurrying around in the middle of March. Thank god he turned around and screamed, causing me to scream as well. The shouting jolted me up in But then again, I could have sworn I saw those my bed in a cold sweat. It was a dream, just like the shadows. No, I know I saw them. There was no doubt five other dreams that had occurred in my head so in my mind that there was something else inside of my strangely that night. In order to get back to catching house other than me and my dog. “ some zzz’s, I shrugged the situation off and laid my head back into my pillow. “Hello?” I shouted down the hall. No answer. Creeping back into my room, I grabbed the nearest self-defense I told myself to ignore the pair of beady eyes star- weapon I could utilize if someone really did decide to ing at me from my bedside table. If I wanted to get to break into my apartment. work on time the next morning, I was gunna’ have to focus on sleep instead of the mysterious little green “Listen, I don’t need any trouble. If you’re there just man with a pot of gold gripped against his chest. The come out. I won’t call the cops. I just wanna’ go back creature was probably just another figment of my half- to sleep. It’s been a super long day. If you can just asleep disposition anyway.