Set Clocks Ahead One The Tusker Tribune Hour This Weekend! The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Issue Number 23 http://somersschools.org/domain/995 Winter 2017 “Uranium” (Chapter 8) A NaNoWriMo Story By Nitin Seshadri too." it replied. Then it hit Andrew. The nurses Tusker Tribune Staff Writer were aliens, this thing was an alien, and they Editor’s Note: Somers Middle School were eating humans for food. And the thing he Eighth Graders have been writing novels was chewing on...it was most likely human meat! during the school year for the NaNoWriMo Andrew was disgusted and scared to death at program. The name is short for National Novel the same time. Writing Month. Nitin Seshadri, a Tusker "So, you found out our secret? Tribune Staffer, will be presenting his That we have been eating you Earth- NaNoWriMo entry chapter by chapter in lings for food?" the creature asked. the Tusker Tribune. Chapter 8 of his nov- "Yes," Andrew stuttered. el, “Uranium”, appears today. "Don't worry, kid, we won't eat Andrew woke up in a pitch-black you," it laughed. "That's for the Canni- room on a cold, hard surface. He was bals. We're the good guys. The Woks." probably lying down on a table or a bed, Andrew chuckled. What a funny because he could tell he was elevated name! he thought. from the linoleum-like floor. "Since we try not to kill sentient This was surely not the hospital beings, we only eat the meat of dead hu- room where he went to bed in last after- mans and animals. That joke scared you noon after eating lunch. Andrew could good. By the way, this is ham, not hu- hear the faint hum and whine of a mo- man meat"—the Wok smacked his tor. He tried to get up, but he was held lips—"A delicacy on our home planet back by some rough straps that went across his but surprisingly abundant here. Anyway, back to arms and legs and burned his skin. Where was the topic. You will be safe with us. You see, that he? "hospital" where we rescued you and your— Just then, blinding white lights turned what’s the word?— twin sister from was a Can- on. Andrew tried to shield his eyes, but the nibal camp. They must have imprisoned you lights were so bright, he could see them through there because they didn't want you to become his eyelids. Thankfully, the lights turned off. suspicious," the alien explained. A door creaked open. A weird, green blobby crea- "Why do they want to eat us?" ture emerged from the door. It looked like a gi- "On our home planet, there is this specific ant hunk of Jello. It walked over to the table breed of—what’s a good word to explain?—goat." where Andrew was lying and craned its long, Andrew laughed. "Goat? Why would they flabby neck down in an effort to make eye con- come here just for a goat?" tact with Andrew. It seemed to be chewing on "I know, right? The Cannibals have a some kind of ham or chicken leg, its teeth mak- more primitive digestive system than ours. So ing contact with the bone on every bite. they can only eat the goat. From my spies, I have "You, human, what is your name?" it learned that human meat tastes exactly like al- hissed. "Oh yeah, just because it’s the standard ien goat. The goats ran out on our home planet, in alien communication, I’m going to say we so those Cannibals—that’s why they got their come in peace. The usual deal and stuff. So tell name—decided to travel to other planets to try me who you are now. Please." to find species that tasted as good as their pre- "Andrew..." Andrew said. cious goat. I swear, those cannibals Humans are "Well, well. You Earthlings are very in- the first ones they have found." teresting specimens. And you are very tasty, Continued on page 2 Page 2 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Tech Talk: The Nintendo Switch By Nick Cirillo Gamepad and several Wiimotes or 3DS Tusker Tribune Staff consoles as controllers. Writer 3. The Switch will have a higher reso- Last Friday, March 3rd, the lution then the Wii U, and will have newest innovation in gaming tech- much better battery life. nology was released: The Nintendo 4. Speaking of battery, while the Wii U Switch. Following the commercial uses a proprietary (company-exclusive) failure of the Wii U, the Switch is charging stand while the Switch uses a new and different from the old con- universal USB-C cable, which is used in sole, having a key feature never many smartphones and tablets today. before seen in a console: The ability 5. The Wii U, which did not do well, lacked to play any game, anytime, anywhere, or on games from outside Nintendo - The Switch your TV. Here are the key features of the Switch has over 100 planned games confirmed in- as compared to the Wii U: cluding 60+ indie games from other develop- 1. The Switch can play any compatible game on ers. your TV, or, on the go, by removing the con- 6. The Switch will feature games like Skyrim: sole from the dock. The Wii U can only play Special Edition and a new Call of Duty, and portable games within a few feet of the main successors to Wii U games, like Mario Kart 8: unit and TV. Deluxe, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the 2. The Switch can connect with up to 8 other Wild, and Splatoon 2. Switch consoles, with 2 Joy-Con control- Continued on page 3 lers each while the Wii U could support one could with his blobby hands. Uranium "Bonus points for trying the army salute. Anyways, where is Andrea?" Continued from page 1 "Oh, your sister?" the alien said. "How did you get spies in there?" "Andrea!" he hollered. "Your brother has "We look exactly finally woken up!" like those goddamn Canni- Andrea walked in. bals," the alien said. "Just "Andrew?" she said. There was a that we can eat almost an- big purple lump where she had ything except grass and hit her head on the wall the day we are slightly more before. The alien released the opaque. And we are a restraint straps that Andrew slightly different shade of was bound by to the table, and green. Lucky for us, the Andrew got up and give Andrea Cannibals are way too a friendly slap on the back. dumb to notice the differ- "Ouch!" she said. "Well, ence, so we can infiltrate whatever. We're back together them easily. All we need to again. So where's Derek?" she do is to find a way to kill them off so that they asked. don’t eat you humans up." Everyone looked at each other expecting "Yeah, I get the deal. So, really. Where to find an answer. am I?" "You didn't rescue him?" Andrea asked to "You're on a spaceship orbiting Earth. My the alien. baby, the Laccolith. Safe from any Cannibals, "We couldn't. Time was running out. It thank you." was almost daytime. However, we were able to "So you’re the captain?" implant some knowledge in his brain that told "Yes. Captain Paul Wok at your service." him when and how to escape. He should be at a The Wok made an army salute as best as he safe distance from the Cannibals by now. I hope." Page 3 The Tusker Tribune The Student Newspaper of Somers Middle School Love’s Incomparability By Jaewon Yeo And your annoying siblings the same. Tusker Tribune Staff Writer Your faithful dogs or to your silent cats, Love, Or maybe to your talkative birds or to a gerbil or Flowing as a river, greatly as a water, hamster. Powerful as thunder, bright Love, like lightning, The thing that keeps people in a tight Pure as snow, beautiful as bond, diamond, Whether they are the best of friends, Mysterious as night, happy as Or the worst of enemies, day. They are close to you, Love, No matter how many. Expressed in many ways, Love, Words that show kindness Something one could not express, Music that show hope A great force built in everyone, Actions that show care. To humans and animals alike. Love, Love, Radiating like the sun, Different emotion than others, To some or to many. One that is different to everyone in the world. Maybe in the secure walls at home, It is something that all living animals have, Or in school where friends are No matter what way it is, Outside where the sun shines, Or how it is shown, Or where ever there is dark. Or to who it is shown to, Love, Love, Shown to people who care, Something with no limits. Your loving mother and father Switch SPORTS UPDATE Continued from page 2 The Wii U has ended production, and no new games are being By Eli Yates released, so look to the Tusker Tribune Staff Writer Switch for rumored It took almost 19 seasons for games like a new Poké- Dirk Nowitzki to join the 30,000 mon, maybe a new Su- point club. On Tuesday night, the Dallas per Smash Bros., and Mavericks were playing the Los Angeles possible ports from com- Lakers. Going into the game, Dirk was 20 petitors Xbox and points shy.