The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

Volume 3, Issue 6 http://somersschools.org/domain/995 Winter 2017 New Year, New Resolutions!

By Allison Zattola and by running on the treadmill every day and eat- Skylher Reyes ing healthy. A girl named Dylan said her New Tusker Tribune Staff Year’s resolution is to try to control his obses- Writers sion with Zumiez (a specialty clothing store) Most people on New Year’s and to try to read more. She will keep it by make a promise called a New Year’s picking up a book everyday and shop less at resolution. People do this because they Zumiez. set a goal that they want to achieve for Another girl, Zoe, says her New Year’s the upcoming year. Resolution is to be nice to people. She is going to We asked a few students about their New keep this by not yelling or getting mad at people. Year’s resolution, what it is and how they are go- This shows that people want to get better ing to keep it. Daniel’s New Year’s Resolution is at things and that is a great way to start of the to stay fit and not get fat. He said he will keep it new year!!!! Ghost Rider A Roaring Review of a Flaming Film (Minor Spoilers Included)

By Sara Vala Many years later, Johnny’s ca- Tusker Tribune Staff Writer reer is flying off the charts. He is now a While this image may seem professional stunt-man, breaking creepy and the reviews are at a world records and risking his life every 26% Rotten Tomato Rating, this single jump. A few days later, the old has been by far, one of the best man returns, with a job for him. This movies I’ve ever seen. The drama, man still had Johnny’s soul, because thrill, and our good old friend Ni- he was no ordinary man; he was the colas Cage, made all of this possible. Well, I can’t devil. The devil’s son, Blackheart and three other keep you in suspense any longer. Here’s the sum- fallen angels are looking for a contract, The Con- mary……… tract of San Venganza, which will turn Earth into Johnny Blaze and his father, Barton Blaze, Hell. There is only one person who can stop them; have been doing motorcycle stunts ever since The Ghost Rider. And Johnny Blaze is next. Johnny was a young boy. But this isn’t Johnny’s The Ghost Rider is a normal human during dream. His dream is to leave the carnival and live the day, but at night, during the presence of evil, with his girlfriend, Roxanne Simpson. John- he’ll form. He turns into a flaming skeleton, and ny’s dreams go astray, because of his new discov- hunts down evil souls. He is resistant to gunfire, ery of his father’s declining health. One eerie and has weapons no human has ever had. night, a strange old man came to Johnny and Blaze learns to cope with this other side of made him a deal. He would cure his father of his him, as he is sent to hunt Blackheart down. In sickness, in exchange for Johnny ‘s soul. Just as return, Johnny gets his soul back. But, “With he told him, the next morning, Barton Blaze was Great power comes Great responsibility” (Ben as good as new, until a few hours later, a motorcy- Parker, Spider-man). cle stunt cost him his life. The grief was too much for poor Johnny, and he left the carnival. Continued on page 2 Page 2 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School

“Uranium” (Chapter 3) A NaNoWriMo Story

By Nitin Seshadri These people were artificially cooping them up un- Tusker Tribune Staff Writer derground. In addition, they had probably taken Andrew and Andrea away for something Editor’s Note: Somers Middle that wasn’t really a shower. Who knows School Eighth Graders have been what those people were doing to them? Tor- writing novels during the school yeasr turing? Killing? Eating? for the NaNoWriMo program. The Derek pressed the red "Call Nurse" name is short for National Novel button on the wall. After a few minutes, Writing Month. Nitin Seshadri, a the same nurse that had served him lunch Tusker Tribune Staffer, will be pre- walked in. senting his NaNoWriMo entry chapter "Uh...hi?" Derek said, feigning a by chapter in the Tursker Tribune. casual tone. Chapter 3 of his novel, “Uranium”, "How may I help you, human?" she appears today. said in a menacing, ominous tone. Derek The next morning, a nurse knew that she was hiding something. barged in with lunch—whole-wheat pasta and "Whoa. You don’t need to be so nasty. Calm bread that looked like a turd, complete with traces down." of mold. So much for a "healthy" breakfast, Derek "You"—she waved a finger at Derek—"you thought as he (somehow) eagerly shoveled it should know where those two irritating idiots An- down. He was hungry. Andrew and Andrea had drew and Andrea went. TELL ME NOW!" she been missing the entire day. And yesterday, they yelled. had went to sleep almost immediately after finish- "I don’t know!" Derek replied. ing their lunches. Their food could have been "Well, you will. After I eat you alive," the drugged, Derek thought. nurse said as she raised a knife to Derek’s chest. "Your two buddies are...um...in the shower, "Tell me or you will die." so I’ll just leave their lunches here. Okay?" the "Why should I? What kind of person would nurse said. eat another person alive?" "Yeah, sure." Derek replied. In the shower? "Well, I’m an alien. DEAL WITH IT! OR All day? A blatant lie. They weren’t even here when YOU WILL BECOME FOOD!" the alien said as it I woke up at 6:00! morphed into its native form. It looked like a While he was eating lunch, it hit him. The great big green blob of Jello. "So you expect me to nurses weren’t really nurses. Why were they call- ask you to ‘take me to your leader’? Fat chance. ing the people as Earthlings? If they called Derek, We are the leaders now! Humans will become our Andrew, and Andrea as Earthlings, who (or what) slaves!" even were they? This probably wasn’t a hospital— otherwise there would be many more people here. Continued on page 3

The plot and twists and the casting was Ghost Rider perfect, and I mean, perfect. My emotions were go- From page 1 ing up and down, and I know that in 3D, it would have been the best. Many critics found this movie to be “not This is all the time I have today, but tune very entertaining” and “The worst adaptation of a in next week, because I’ll give you guys more and Marvel Comics hero yet”, but as a Marvel fan my- more movie reviews. And if you watch any of these self, I’d say the Ghost Rider has made my top 5 movies, I guarantee that you’ll love it. (To find this favorite Marvel Heroes. movie, try HULU, only if you have a subscription, It’s amazing how well the CGI (Computer- Amazon Prime Instant Video, etc. or try recording Generated Imagery) worked to make the skull and it on your DVR). flames look real. (By the way, for those of you who P.S. If you liked it, DO NOT watch “Ghost don’t know the Rotten Tomato System, if a movie Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” A.K.A. Ghost Rider 2. gets a 60% rotten tomato rating or higher, it I saw it and most parts has nothing to do with the means that critics think it’s good. If it’s below, the past movie, although it was hilarious to see John- movie was bad.) ny go insane. Page 3 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer By Rick Riordan By Nick Cirillo summons a mythical sword out of the river, to find Tusker Tribune Staff Writer it does absolutely nothing. So, to save You know Thor. You know Loki. Boston, he attacks Surt. From the Avengers, right? But you don't And he dies. Now, if it weren't really know Norse mythology… on the back of the book, that would be The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan is pretty surprising. But, Samirah al- the first book in the ongoing Magnus Chase se- Abbas, a guardian known as a Valkyrie, ries. brings his soul to the Norse warrior af- Magnus Chase, a homeless kid living off of terlife known as Valhalla. falafel and sleeping on benches, only has two And to stop Surt, Magnus must friends he can really trust, the fashioned-"sensed" team up with Samirah, Hearth, and Blitz and the deaf Hearth. And he certainly Blitzen (who are actually a dwarf and an elf) to doesn't realize that they aren't who they appear to find the Sword of Summer, and stop Surt from re- be. leasing a dangerous evil that haunts Magnus' But when Magnus is approached by his past. cousin Annabeth and his uncle Frederick, he is The funny, blink-and-you'll-miss-it action of brought into a dangerous world—or rather, nine Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer will worlds—full of danger. And when a fire demon keep you on edge until you are done, and ready to known as Surt attacks Boston, Magnus somehow buy the next book…

Uranium (Chapter 3) in its outstretched arm. Derek, scared for his life, From page 2 unlocked the phone and placed a call to a random number. The ra- "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT! We will nev- diation from the phone brought er, ever become your slaves." down the alien instantly. It bel- "Too bad," the nurse said as she held lowed something in an alien lan- up a device that looked like a propane canis- guage. It was probably calling for ter with a nozzle. Flames shot from the noz- help, but its voice was too feeble zle as if they were going to grill something. now to be heard outside this room. "The moment this thing touches you, you will die. "Noooooooooooooo! You will pay for this!" SO TELL ME NOW!" the alien screamed in agony. The blob collapsed on "Why should I tell you? You were the one to the floor with a disgusting noise similar to responsible for this. You turned off the phones be- someone sitting on a whoopee cushion. So they cause it is harmful to your species. You wanted to were aliens. And they died in the presence of cell civilize Earth and eat us as food. That won’t hap- phone radiation. But where did they come from? pen. Never." Derek screamed at the nurse. Derek What exactly were they? Where was everyone else? picked up the phone. What was their mission? Where was Andrew? This "Should I unlock this?" made Derek’s head spin. He had just killed an al- "Don’t." The nurse stayed firm, but there ien. was a hint of fear in her—its—voice. It began to Derek somehow found the strength to yank morph into a big green blob complete with eyes the Aboveground door lock open. Then the felt and arms. It began to advance towards Derek at something stab him and the world went black. threatening speed, wielding the propane fire gun

The Tusker Tribune Staff The Tusker Tribune is published online and is featured weekly on the Somers Middle School Website. It is Nitin Seshadri entirely student-written by 6th, 7th and 8th grade Eli Yates students from Nick Cirillo Somers Middle School Allison Zattola 250 Route 202 Skylher Reyes Somers, NY, USA. Casey Bolotin Any SMS student is eligible to write stories. If inter- Ashley Cambareri ested, please e-mail Advisor Dean Pappas at Sara Vala DPappas Jesse Heller @somersschools.org Page 4 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Ode to Homework Blossoming Brightness

By Casey Bolotin By Ashley Cambareri Tusker Tribune Staff Writer Tusker Tribune Staff Writer Do your homework! Winter is the time of year “Ugh.” When carolers sing for all to hear. “Not fun.” “Too much.” Snow falls and there it lay; “I can’t do it.” in hope that children will soon come and play. “It’s hard.” “I’m A fire in the fireplace burning busy.” bright; “No.” spreads heat through the “Later.” house all day and night. “You can’t Winter break is in full swing; make why not go out caroling? me.” “I’ll do it. Probably. Maybe. Never Slowly winter speeds by; mind.” the bright white snow begins to die “No thanks.” You know, if you would stop complain- Spring is coming and winter is coming to an end; ing, you’d be done by now! When will it be winter again?

Arrgh! One User’s Frustration with Microsoft

By Xander than $200. I actually have no Pedersen problem with the Surface Tusker Tribune tablets. They’re not the best Staff Writer but at the same time they’re Have you not terrible. ever thought that the Mi- On the other hand crosoft office product are though, the Microsoft phones just terrible? are terrible. I wouldn't even First of all, One- be surprised if you told me, Note. It's all over the “Xander, Microsoft made a place! Literally, if you phone?” They did and it per- want, you can have One- formed terribly. I am telling Note on your computer, the truth. I'm not just saying phone, tablet and watch! this to make my point strong- Who actually loves OneNote so much they have to er. Go on to Amazon right now and look up have every where they go? “Microsoft phone”. It actually exists! It is basically Also, I’m constantly finding glitches and it's everything I said in one package. It is cheaply so slow. Maybe it's my fault for using an iPad but made, slow, it glitches and it breaks quite easily. if you are going to advertise that your services are The point of this article is simple—can we on Apple products, at least make them half way just get iPads? It would be so much better. It has decent. none of the problems of the Microsoft products and Let’s move on to your products. Most of my Apple does not look though all of your files. gripes with Microsoft devices are from tablets not Microsoft even admits that they are able to made by Microsoft but just run Microsoft operating look though the files of computers and other devic- systems. Most of them break way to easily or look es operating on Wifi. terrible. Just look at our school’s tablets. To play All in all I believe that Microsoft products devil’s advocate, these tablets follow the rule of are cheaply made and Microsoft does not need to you get what you pay for because they cost less know what I’m doing. Page 5 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School It’s Playoff Time in the NFL!

By Jesse Heller and the Seahawks defense is just too good. Even Tusker Tribune Staff Writer though the lions have some offensive weapons, in The 2016-2017 NFL playoffs are just the end it won’t be enough to pull through with a about ready to start. This Saturday starts victory. Jesse’s Pick: Seahawks. the first round of the playoffs and 8 teams On Sunday afternoon at 1:05, the 6th are squaring off in a win or go home seeded Miami Dolphins battle with situation. the 3rd seeded Pittsburgh Steelers The first game is at 4:35 on Saturday up in Pittsburgh. The Steelers start- where the number 5th seeded Oak- ed the season at 4-5 but now have 7 land Raiders travel to Houston to straight wins coming into this play the 4th seeded Texans. These matchup and they have scored 24 points or more in are among two of the worst teams in each of those games. If you were the playoffs as they both don’t have reliable quar- lucky enough to watch the Steel- terbacks. The Raiders had one of the best offenses ers play on Christmas day against in the league until star quarterback the Baltimore Ravens, you could Derek Carr injured his leg and is see the fight in that team. The now out for the season. The Texans Dolphins are a very fine team but finished first for least yards allowed I don’t think they have enough to pull an upset. in the NFL. If the Texans could Jesse’s Pick: Steelers. spark a run, they will have home The final game of the wild card round is field advantage as Super Bowl 51 is held in Hou- at 4:40 when the 4th seeded Green Bay ston. Jesse’s pick: Texans. Packers host the 5th seeded New York The second game of the wild card round Giants. The Packers started the season starts at 8:15 Saturday night and 4-6 but have 6 consecutive wins and now the 6 seeded Detroit Lions take on are the NFC North divi- the 3rd seeded Seattle Seahawks in sion champions. The Seattle. The Lions are coming off a Packers have one of the best offenses tough loss at home against the in the league but the Giants also Green Bay Packers in have a great defense. The Giants week 17. If the Lions defense is a little banged up and had pulled away with a home field advantage is a huge factor victory, the Packers and them would in the playoffs. I think the Packers offensive is too be in reverse situations. Playing in good for the Giants to handle. Jesse’s Pick: Pack- Seattle is one of the toughest stadiums ers. to play in because of the “12th man”

SPORTS UPDATE by Eli Yates

On December 31, New Year's Eve, Ala- ing the Seattle Seahawks, the 3rd seed, at (10-5- bama played Washington in the Chick-Fil-A 1). Peach Bowl (final four for the national college The matchups for the AFC wild card in- football championship). Alabama, which was pro- clude the 5th see Oakland Raiders (12-4-0) play- jected to win, won 24-7. The other 2 teams that ing the 4th seed Houston Texans (9-7-0). The oth- were also in the final four that also played in the er matchup is 6th seeded Miami Dolphins (10-6-0) PlayStation Fiesta Bowl were Ohio State and playing the 3rd seeded Pittsburg Steelers (11-5- Clemson. Clemson was projected to win and they 0). The teams that get a 1st round bye in the NFC won 31-0. are the top-seeded Dallas Cowboys (13-3-0). The other team in the NFC that gets a first round bye The NFL Playoffs are here. This week the is the 2nd seeded Atlanta Falcons (11-5-0). NFL playoffs start and the wild card matchups The teams that get a 1st round bye in the for the NFC are the NY Giants, the 5th seed, at AFC are the top-seeded New England Patriots (11-5-0) playing the Green Bay Packers, the 4th (14-2-0) and the second seeded Kansas City seed, at (10-6-0). The next matchup for the NFC Chiefs (12-4-0). is the Detroit Lions, the 6th seed, at (9-7-0) play-