Cash for Clunkers
Breanna Smith, Sports Editor
9/22/09
How would you like to trade your junk in for a new ride? The U.S. Government passed legislation which provided vouchers valued at $3,500-$4,500 for a car that meets or exceeds higher MPG standards. Car Allowance Rebate (CARS), also known as Cash for Clunkers, promises that you could trade in your old clunker for a brand new car with up to $4,500 taken off the original price. Sounds like a great idea right? A multitude of people thought it was and quickly took advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Within the first few weeks the original $1 billion allowance was exhausted. The money was supposed to last until around October and it started July 24, 2009. Unexpectedly, it ended on Aug. 24, 2009, only one month later. Well I say unexpectedly, but really no one anticipated it to last very long.
The goal of Cash for Clunkers was to boost the auto industry and get rid of cars that were polluting the environment. These are excellent aspirations, but were they well implemented? Many agree it was at least partly a failure with all the complicated paperwork and lack of funds. However, not many know that the Transportation Department officials only had thirty days to get the program up and running. Therefore, gaps in planning and mistakes are understandable.
However, the philosophy behind this program is shaky and actually hurting the lower class and the teens who are looking for used cars. Because most people cannot afford to buy a new car, the real clunkers are still out there polluting the air. Instead of taking the engine, destroying it and scrapping the parts, let’s sell the trade ins with lower MPG’s to lower income familes so then the real clunkers will be gone.
Instead of solving a problem the government has just created a bigger one. By destroying the older cars’ parts they have added more waste. Wasn’t the purpose of Cash for Clunkers to help the environment? Many car dealers are worried that the government will not be able to pay them back; this is another huge problem. When you compare the pros and cons, the cons heavily outweigh the pros.
The government needs to stop trying to fix everyone’s problems because this usually only leads to more problems. A prime example was this sorry attempt. Cash for Clunkers is no longer in existence, however, and we can only hope that maybe the government learned their lesson this time.
Club Clip
Diana Horn, Staff Writer
9/23/09
Many students at Upson-Lee are involved in some type of club. I think it is a great way to be involved in the school and even the community. Being in a club takes commitment, and attendance is praised. It is only right to have a set schedule to encourage this. In past years, different combinations of schedules have been tried, and one happened to work itself into being used again this year.
The new club schedule this year seems as though it will be less hectic than previous years. Some may remember clubs being all day, alternating from group A to B to C, while others might remember clubs happening before or after school. Both of these schedules had their faults, whether it be no one showing up for a club or a student not finishing a class assignment. I know these type of things can cause me stress, and I’m sure others feel the same.
VMAs Rock New York
Chase Carson, Staff Writer
9/18/09
The MTV Video Music Awards aired on television Sunday, September 13, and the show was not for the faint of heart.
Numerous appearances by celebrities made the VMAs a memorable night; however, the drama, fashions, and performances took the awards show to an entirely new level.
As far as fashion goes, many celebs hit it out of the park, although not everyone was so lucky. Celebs such as Kristin Cavallari, Beyonce, Pink, Lady Gaga, Shakira, Taylor Lautner, Kara DioGuardi, Leighton Meester, Alicia Keys, and Alexa Chung killed with their stellar styles, while Kanye West and his snake-skinned escort made enough of an impression to land them on our worst dressed list. Also on the chopping block are celebs like Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port, Cassie, Nicky Hilton, Solange Knowles, and Keri Hilson.
Regardless of the egregious fashion faux pas, nothing could amount to the astounding travesty that is Kanye West. West, who was not happy with the results of an award, stole the microphone from Taylor Swift to announce that he thought Beyonce should have taken the prize, leaving a torn Swift speechless on the stage.
Chrystie Pitts, attendance officer, described West’s act to be, “Immature, disrespectful, and hideous.”
Marvette Wilkerson, junior, said, “It was rude and disrespectful, and I think he should apologize.”
Despite the negative hype of the situation, Standley Wornum, sophomore, disagreed with the public, and said, “I thought it was kind of cool, but I wish he wouldn’t have done it ‘cause now he looks kind of stupid.”
To bring the show back to a positive level, performances were made by stars like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, Muse, Taylor Swift, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and Pink.
Despite the mild set-backs, the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards were an utter success that offered a touch of drama, a little fashion, a lot of music, and were topped off with a dash of that MTV magic that we have all come to know and love.
Spirit Week
Breanna Smith, Sports Editor
11/09/09
I can’t imagine UL not having spirit week. Can you? The week of Homecoming would be so boring. Spirit week is a tradition at UL and a very fun one that I enjoy. Students dress up to show their school spirit while also having a good laugh. This year, UL started off with Pajama Day, definitely a student body favorite. Tuesday was Tacky Day, this day is only for the brave at heart, and some people went all out. With layers and layers of clothes, since when did Tacky Day become layering day? The following day was Twin Day which was one of my least favorite days. While it’s a cute idea, it prevents people from showing there own personality. Thursday was Western Day, so students slapped on their cowboy hats and slipped on those boots. This day was different, but turned out well with quite a bit of participation. The final day was Spirit Day, and most everyone dressed all out on this day, as they should. When you dress up you show school spirit and a fun attitude. Please, do not think you are too cool to dress-up, because you’re not. So go crazy and have fun!
True Life: Dateless
Carly Snidemiller, Feature Editor
4/6/10
Upon entering your junior year, there is not much to look forward to. You’ve still got another year of school ahead, and you have to deal with those immature underclassmen. However, you do get the priviledge of attending prom, alone or with a date.
Finding yourself dateless a month before prom can put a damper on your self-confidence. But with a few steps from the dateless pro, A.K.A. me, you’ll get through this rough patch, puddle of mud, fiasco, whatever you would like to call it, and may even come out with a date. Here are a few lessons I learned with the game of datehunting.
1. ASK A FRIEND-Hey- they know you best. Trust your information, dignity, and reputation with them, and maybe you’ll get lucky with a decent “friend-of-a-friend”.
2.E-HARMONY.COM- Desperate times call for desperate measures.
3. DO NOT TAKE YOUR DAD- Although the offer was sincere and sweet, he just feels sorry for you. I mean, what 45-year old man wants to attend a bump and grind fest?
4.JOIN A GROUP OF LONERS- It’ll take the focus off of you, and you’ll get to soak up each other’s loneliness, well only you won’t be entirely lonely.
Well, after trying all these, I was fortunate enough to find a date for prom. If you end up dateless, don’t feel ashamed, let down, or embarrassed, because it won’t get you a date!
Cookie Caper
Diana Horn, Staff Writer
4/6/10
Imagine sinking your teeth into a delicious Girl Scout cookie, maybe a thin mint or peanut butter patty. The savory taste washes through your entire mouth, and your taste buds have no choice but to surrender to this sweet romance. You reach into the cookie box for another cookie when the horror strikes you. There are no more left.
If you are one of those people who thinks the Girl Scout cookie box empties too quickly, you are not alone. Many agree that for such a big taste, and price, these cookies come in small packages.
I think that since Girl Scout cookies come only once a year, they should come in bigger boxes so people can enjoy them more. Also, people will feel more fulfilled from a single box instead of having to buy too many small boxes which cost $3.50 each. If the boxes were bigger and the price was smaller more cookies would be sold because more people wouldn’t feel like they were burning a hole in their pocket. The Girl Scouts would also benefit from this for they could win the prizes they want and could go on more trips with their troop.
As you can see, making cookie boxes bigger could benefit everyone. More Girl Scouts could go to camp, and we the people will not have to dread the last cookie creeping up on us too quickly. When you do get to the last cookie, however, be sure to eat it slowly. Start at the edges and eat to the center, for the best part is there. You want to let the cookie crumble slowly so you may have a lasting taste that you only wish could last until next year.
