The military trend is expected to be one of the most popular trends for 2012. In the 1980’s, the military trend was considerably popular because of celebrities such as Michael Jackson. Recently, this trend has been seen on many people such as Rihanna and Drew Barrymore. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wore a military number by Alexander McQueen in London.

A trend from 2011 that’s carrying over to 2012 is color blocking. Color blocking is a trend that puts multiple solid colors next to each other. Colored blocking can be used in dresses, jeans, and even shoes. Not only is color blocking going to
be popular, but solid colored items as well. Shirts, dresses, and shoes are some of the few items that will be popular in solid colors.

Tribal prints are also going to be particularly popular this year. Tribal print tops and shoes are the trendiest. Tribal print nails are also going to be in style. The trend will become more popular in the spring with brighter colors and patterns.

Lace dresses were popular in the fall of 2011, and are about to pick up in popularity in the spring. Lace dresses are particularly popular when they have quarter length sleeves. They can also be form-fitting or flowing in the skirt. Because the patterns can be busy, pair them with nude colored heels or flats and you’ll be good for a great day or night look.

As far as beauty goes for trends of 2012, pin straight hair will be seen on the red carpet. Some beauty guru’s may refer to this look as “Cher Hair” after the artist Cher, who is often seen with this look. The look was also popularized in the 1970’s and women would usually part their hair down the middle of their head. In modern days, woman such as Selena Gomez, Mila Kunis, and Jennifer Hudson have worn this on the red carpet.

2012 trends are simple and easy to follow. The important thing to remember is that you add your own personal touch to what you choose to wear. These trends are much easier to pull off and find than to follow through with a New Year’s
resolution. Moreover, have fun with your fashion this year, and don’t be afraid to step outside of the box.

My family means everything to me. I would say my family is pretty close. I live with my mom and dad, brother, and two sisters. My sisters’ are 20 and 18 and I love them very much. My little brother is 11 and he is wild. He gets on my nerves sometimes but I love him, too. My mom and dad are very good to all of us and they do everything in their power for us to have a good life. I don’t know what I’d do without my family, and I’m very blessed to have them.

I love sports! In middle school, I played basketball, volleyball and softball. I enjoyed playing all of them and being a part of those teams. Softball is definitely my favorite sport, though. I play competitively most of the year and enjoy it so much. Sometimes, it’s a hassle to do school and travel sports while keeping up with my academics. But for the most part, I think I balance them pretty well.

I don’t love school but I don’t hate it either. I take all advanced classes, including one AP course. I try to apply myself and do all my work to my best ability because I know it will pay off in the long run. I definitely plan to attend college so I can get a job I look forward to going to every day. I have no clue what I want to do or be, but for now I just work hard in school and try to stay focused.

My friends are my life. Without them I’d go crazy. They are my support and I know I can always turn to them when I need help or are struggling with something. Not all my friends have the same interests or likes as me but I think that kinda balances us out and brings us closer. I couldn’t ask for better friends and I hope we stick together as we grow up.

The boys on the Junior Varsity basketball team for the 2011-2012 season are Logan Chandler, John Hall, Deonte Banks, Gus Whitt, Eddie Waller, Andrew Morgan, Darius Carter, Bilal Marlowe, Jared Steigerwald, and Bradley Anderson. Usually the JV team is overlooked, but this year the JV squad is proving to everyone how good they really are.

Almost all of the players on the team started playing basketball when they were young.

“I started playing in the womb,” said current member of the team Bilal Marlowe.

Some of the boys picked up the game from seeing older family members playing and some watched college teams and professional teams. When the players see someone that is better than them, they try harder then they’ve ever imagined and it pays off in the end.

During team bonding the players joke around, listen to music, pump each other up, and learn more about each other. This helps them with their energy before the games.

“After the game I feel accomplished, but the job’s not done,” said another player, Andrew Morgan.

Before games, the Junior Varsity eats as a team, jokes as a team, and prepares for the game as a team. On the court they perform as a team.

On Friday, January 13, the team played against Eastern View High School. They were tied at half time and took control of the game after that. They refused to give up and finished the game with a score of 48-40.

The team had a lot of scorers with Bradley Anderson being the top scorer for the night, with 14 points. Darius Carter had the most rebounds for the Friday game. Bilal Marlowe took the crown by being player of the week for his leadership and hard work.

“After the Eastern View game, I thanked the lord,” said player John Hall.

The boys JV team have more games to play, and Spotsylvania High School fans can’t wait to see what they will do for the rest of this season.

It takes a very committed person to actually get up off the couch and do something with their free time. Most people sit around, sleep, eat, stay on the computer, and watch television instead of getting into action.  Here’s an idea, get up and go fishing!

            “Whenever the weather is warm, and I know the fish will be biting, I go fishing during any free time I have.” said Johnny Virgil.

            “Depending on the kind of fishing you want to do, the places you fish, and the conditions in which your fishing, all make up what you’re looking for, if you’re looking for the right fishing rod to suit you. I use Pflueger every time I go out and fish, but also a good cheap brand of fishing poles is Zebco.” said Everly Burkhardt.

            The type of fishing rod you need can only be determined if you know the conditions, kind of fishing, and the places you’re going to be using the fishing rod. There are many types of fishing rods to use during freshwater fishing; carbon fiber, fiber glass, ultra-light, and telescopic rods are just a few good examples. Like mentioned earlier, it all just depends on your kind of fishing.

            “I have never bought a fishing licenses and I never even knew you needed one, I have always fished on my land, in my pond or at my nanny’s, other than that I get permission and if I ever need to, I will get a licenses, but I’m pretty sure I won’t need one.” Aj Furrow.

To fish on your own land, or a place you have received permission to fish on, you do not need a fishing license. In many cases you do need your fishing license and in order to purchase a fishing license you have to be at least 16 years of age.

            Lakes, ponds, creeks, streams and even state parks in Spotsylvania are good places to visit if you want to go freshwater fishing. You just have to find the right spot, the right weather conditions, and the right time and you will find the fish you have been looking for.

It’s not just the location or type of pole being used that makes your trip worth it, bait is also a necessity. Good freshwater natural fishing baits include worms, leeches, minnows, crayfish, crickets and grasshoppers. Freshwater bottom-feeders like catfish and carp are also attracted to cut fishing baits (cut-up bait fish) and prepared baits called dough balls. You may also use fishing lures which, at first, can be overwhelming but part of the excitement is finding the best kind. Many companies have lots of different colors, shapes and sizes but most lures are priced about the same.

Buddy Pullen stated, “I enjoy fishing, and I really don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t fish, but I’m glad I live in Spotsylvania county cause, I don’t think I have to ever worry about not being able to fish.”

If you ever need something to do, when you’re just sitting around, and bored, get up of the couch, and get hooked!

            “I have never had as much enjoyment with anything besides hunting. Hunting is like a sport to me, and I just can’t get enough of playing it. I would never stop hunting even if I have to.” said Troy Sacra.

            Hunting has recently become more of a competition than a fun sport. As a result of this “need to win” attitude, hunters are more inclined to surpass the number of deer they are permitted to kill. Luckily, it is a requirement for any licensed hunter to “tag” every deer he or she kills so that it is easy to tell who is exceeding their limit and who is abiding by the rules.

If you are 16 years old or younger you may hunt without a hunting license only if you are accompanied by someone 18 years or older with a valid hunting license. Licenses may be purchased as young as age 12 and the cost varies depending on the location of your purchase. However, it is not required for a hunter to obtain a license if he is hunting on his own property.

 “I learned to hunt from my brother, and I have loved from the very first day started. Like my brother I hunt as much as I can, and it’s so fun. Whenever I get the chance I’m going to kill a buck bigger than my brothers, and I can’t wait.” said Devin Carter.

          When hunting, you also have to understand the laws and regulations that need to be followed, and if they’re not followed, hunting may be dangerous.

            In the store where you purchase your hunting license, there will be a hunting safety book that tells you everything you need to know before you go hunting If you find that some of the information is unclear, there is a phone number in the book or you can talk to a game warden and they will clarify it for you. Just remember to pay careful attention to everything you do while hunting, it may be dangerous if you’re not paying attention, but also remember to lay one down!

                The film is based on three comic books published in the 1940s: The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn, and Red Rackham’s Treasure. It was made by Steven Spielberg (E.T., Jurassic Park trilogy, Jaws) and Peter Jackson (the Lord of the Rings, King Kong) and featured popular cast members like Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Nick Frost, and Simon Pegg. It used the same technology as James Cameron’s Avatar and every object looks photorealistic even though it is animation.

                The film follows the plots of the three books faithfully, but with only a couple of changes in order to support the plot. The film starts out slow to help introduce the protagonist, Tintin, and his white fox terrier Snowy. At an outdoor market, he buys a model of a 17^th century ship called the Unicorn. Unbeknownst to him, there is a parchment inside the mast of the model that will lead to the treasure and the main antagonist, Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine tries to get one way or another.

                After a successful kidnapping attempt, the middle of the film takes place on a freighter, and this is where Tintin meets Captain Haddock. Captain Haddock is an alcoholic and his ancestor was the captain of the Unicorn. Together, they battle the crew and other dangers to find the treasure of the Unicorn. The climax takes place in a lot of foreign places from Europe to the deserts of Morocco.

                As I have said previously, the plot of the movie is faithful to the books that the movie is based on. The only problem I have is that I wish they introduced the character of Professor Calculus. The professor was introduced in Red Rackham’s Treasure and played a very important role to the plot and humor of the trip.

               The cast was another good thing about The Adventures of Tintin. There was a wide range of actors from Jamie Bell to Casino Royale actor Daniel Craig. In conclusion, I think The Adventures of Tintin is a wonderful action adventure/comedy film for all families to enjoy and I can’t wait until the next sequel comes out.

I enjoy playing sports, especially soccer. I am a goalkeeper, and many people are shocked when they find that out knowing that I am generally a quiet, keep-to-myself kind of person.

Being in advanced classes, I am still an A/B student who always completes their work and enjoys going to school. I dedicate a lot of my time to my school work with studying every night and completing all my homework. Many consider me a well rounded person.

I have received numerous awards for academics, sports, art, as well as just being an overall good person. The award that I am most proud of is my Daughters of the American Revolution award (DAR). Only one person out of their entire school has the honor to receive this award. I was also given the honor of being the former Vice President for NJHS at Post Oak Middle.

I also enjoy serving my community. My mom works with the special needs children at Smith Station Elementary, and in the summer when she works the summer school program, I go with her and help with the special needs children in the class. I have also currently volunteered my time to help coach my younger brothers’ basketball team.

Many people think I’m weird because my favorite music artist is Elvis Presley, but I enjoy all the oldies music. I don’t like the modern day rap and hip hop stuff. Also, my favorite TV show is I Love Lucy, but I like the Golden Girls just as much because my favorite actress/comedian is Betty White. I know I don’t sound like you typical teenager, but surprisingly I do like to watch Jersey Shore.

I do have plans for my future. After I graduate high school, I plan to continue my education in college, and then becoming a Special Investigations Officer for the United States Air Force. Once I retire from the Air Force I eventually want to become a politician and run for governor or even a senator then work my way up to run for president.

I’m very outgoing, chill and I give everyone the same amount of respect as long as I’m receiving the same back from you. I love to hang with my friends and I’m constantly cracking jokes. I am very distinct and I’m not one to try and fit in with the “crowd.”

I feel that life is about taking care of one’s responsibilities and making something of yourself, but you also need to enjoy yourself and have fun in the process of making things happen and I’m doing just that. It’s very important to be responsible and take care of what needs to be done, but don’t lose yourself when trying to do that. One of my strong beliefs is that nothing in this world is handed to you. If you want something, you’ve got to work for it and anything short of being the best you can be is unacceptable. I want to succeed at everything I do.

When I graduate I plan on attending college in Richmond at VCU, and I will be earning my associate’s degree in Applied Science in Nursing. My biggest goal is to graduate from college and go work at a children’s hospital to help children with cancer.

My family members are my biggest supporters in my life. Family is really important to me and I don’t know where I’d be without them. They’ve taught me so much and the wisdom that they share with me is something I can pass on to someone else someday.

I plan on moving to New York City one day! I want to shop and just have fun. I’ve lived in the country for about 16 years now. I think it’s time to see something new. I love to travel and so far I’ve been to Nassau (Bahamas), New York City, Florida, Louisiana and Walt Disney’s private island reserved for Disney cruise ships.

My first story ever was published on to the Knight Times website in December. I think seeing my story on there made me more confident and it made me want to keep writing more stories for the website. At the end of the day I always remember… love live life, proceed, progress.

Being new to high school is difficult. You have to make new friends, do more homework and handle a lot more responsibility. My hobbies are cheerleading, hanging out with friends and family, church and going shopping. I’m a very outgoing girl and easy to get along with.

One of the things I love to do is write. I think it’s a way to express your feelings towards someone or even a way to entertain. I have no journalistic background or writing besides school, but I’m very fond of it which is why I took journalism. My mom loves to write and in fact she wants to write a book, so I think I might get some of that from her. I was even thinking about becoming an author when I get older, but I still have a little while to think about it.

The reason I took journalism is because I love to write. To be honest, I thought it would be pretty easy at  first but turns out it’s not at all. Writing as if you were writing in the newspaper is definitely a challenge compared to if you were just writing a plane ol’ story. I do like writing as a reporter, but if I was to become a writer when I get older it wouldn’t be in this field of writing. I do love reading all the story’s in the newspapers though, it keeps me caught up in current events.

When I grow up I’ve really wanted to get accepted into the air force academy. I want to graduate college there and then become an officer in the air force. It is very hard to get accepted in the academy. The academy is in Colorado, so it’s out of state and you need to have the grades. I want to get into the air force because I have family that was in it and just all the stuff and stories I’ve seen and heard about it is so interesting to me. I’m not quite sure what exactly I want to be in the air force, I just know definitely not a pilot because that would be scary!

I love being with my family and friends. I love going on adventures, vacations or just hanging out at home with them. I have my best friends over all the time because they’re basically my family. Any time I can get to spend quality time with my family I will take it because nobody is promised tomorrow.