You’re in a hurry to get somewhere and you get stuck behind a slow driver. Does this drive you nuts? This seems to happen to me a lot. It is one of my biggest pet peeves. But there isn’t really anything you can do about it besides be mad.
There are four main types of drivers: the slowpoke drivers, the slow and casual speed limit drivers, the fast and typical drivers, and the tailgaters and speed demon drivers.
Along with the tailgaters and speed demons, the slowpokes create a serious problem. There are many kinds of slowpokes. These include those that drive slow because they are too scared to go faster because they are afraid of hitting someone. (These are generally senior citizens.) There are also the slowpokes that drive slow because they don’t know where they are going. Nobody wants slowpokes on the road. They create serious traffic problems and can sometimes even double someone’s traveling time.
Other slow drivers include those that don’t like to speed because they are afraid of getting caught. They generally don’t create a serious problem but, if you are in a hurry, they can be very annoying. They keep the people from behind them from driving at the speed they want, or at the very least, the speed limit.
Faster drivers are typically the safest drivers on the road. They usually drive about 5 mph over the speed limit and rarely have people follow them closely. Fast drivers tend to be focused on the road and not the people or things in it and are alert to what’s going on. They will slow down before it’s too late and only create problems when they become aggressive and start tailgating or cutting people off.
The true tailgaters are definitely the most dangerous. They are a danger to themselves and the drivers in front of them. If anything sudden happens, there is a 95 percent chance they will ram into them.
The speed demons are a totally different story. They are generally not a problem if they know what they are doing and know when they can go fast and when they need to slow down. However, if they don’t know what they are doing, they can be a serious danger to everyone around.
I realize that any driver can be a danger, but it seems to me that all drivers could try to be more considerate. Cops could also crack down a little harder on those who risk the safety of other people on the road. Even though there is no real solution that will make everyone happy, I know what would make me happy... if you slowpokes would speed up and get out of my way!
The Constitution of Logan High School is nestled in the L-Book after the policies and before the calendar. It states the rules establishing various elected and appointed offices. I discovered the constitution two years ago as a freshman while rummaging through the L-Book's leaflets; it caught my attention and made me eager to participate in student government. Looking back at my expectations, I think the student government should more actively incorporate the constitution. Having served one year as a freshman class officer and two years as an appointed officer, I have always wondered whether we kept this little tradition in our book alive, and if not, why it's even there.
Our constitution includes a preamble and four articles. Article one presents facts about the school such as its motto, emblem and colors (strong arm, brave heart, clear mind; pine tree; crimson and gold, respectively). Article 2 describes in detail the SBO election process and various other processes, noting the method of the Australian Ballot system and the duties of officers, including the student senate, spirit squad, and Amphion and Grizzly editors of publication.
Section eight establishes a House of Representatives, composed of one representative from each homeroom (third hour) class. The representatives help during drives, but the House has not been very effective, as they are elected each new trimester. Next year's semester schedule may give an easier time for making the House as active a part of student government as possible.
Article two, Section nine, Clause four states that “the Student Senate shall meet, outside of school time, on the second Thursday of every month unless otherwise announced by the Executive Council. Additional Senate meetings may be called by the Student Body President.” Senate meetings now occur only in times of need: school dance announcements, Thanksgiving and Sub for Santa drives, and fund raisers for the families of students who passed away or suffered a loss.
More regular meetings may serve their purpose. The constitution allows elected student senators to propose bills to the senate, after a majority vote by the faculty and then the administration to approve the bill or reject it for revision. If all members of the administration and the board of education approve the bill, it becomes a school policy. Article four allows for amendments to the constitution. There have been no new bills since three years ago, when then-Student Body President Scott O'Dell made revisions.
Disagreement and confusion during the development of the proposed schedule change and new attendance policy, for example, show the advantage of student officers taking an opportunity to discuss concerns and voice opinions with regards to new challenges which are constantly building at Logan High. Some students have spoken out about taking an active part in these changes, but we should consider putting these ideas into effect through the constitution, which we preside over already. The responsibility of proposing bills puts the burden on our shoulders to think about what could be better and enact purposeful legislation which will benefit the student body.
Incoming officers should work toward continually developing new ways to foster a better system by implementing bills and enforcing the House of Representatives. The student senate this year, the SBOs especially, dedicate so much time and energy into making activities symbols of our school pride. Despite this, I wish the incoming student government in the coming years would focus on other causes as well, simply in the spirit of improving our lives here and becoming better citizens. And for those still wondering, like myself, it helps to remember the origins of the traditions which make we us who we are today. We should not only keep our constitution but also pry closer. It might, in the future, expose the little part of us hiding, shining from the depths of history.
Being a writer for our school paper gave me the perfect opportunity to try to talk to that one girl I’ve always wanted to get to know better. Feeling suave and ready to roll, I gave her a line that would sound plausible, yet smooth, to see if things could work. “Um, excuse me, I’m writing an article for The Grizzly about the finer things in life, and I was wondering if I could interview you…” The reply came back, “What about, March Madness?” Product failed. Heart crushed. Just as always.
Really, what is the point of a pick-up line? Has one ever worked? Ever since that fateful day a caveman first asked that cute cavewoman next door, “Did you just fart? ‘Cause you blow me away!” women have been running in terror from that random guy coming up and using some lame statement to try and start a conversation. Just think of that time an ugly young man told the princess, “I may look like a frog now, but when kissed I turn into a prince. Wanna give it a try?” As time keeps moving on, the legends keep growing while the lines, like everything else, have evolved, allowing, “You’re just like a Visa. You’re everywhere I want to be,” to come up. And still they never succeed, causing poor young males like myself to keep trying and trying…
The beauty I find in pick-up lines is their diversity. One can either talk himself up (Do you have a needle and thread? ‘Cause I’m ripped!), or sound rather humble (I’m like Altoids, small, white, and curiously strong). They can range from love at first sight (When I saw you I passed out cold. So, I’m going to need your name and number for insurance purposes) to stalker-esque (You must be tired, because you’ve been running through my dreams all night). Since so many men have searched for that perfect statement for so long, there really is one for just about anybody in any situation, although that special one is still oh so very elusive.
So keep working on making yourself smooth, Logan High. I do realize that there are so many of you out there who just have “the touch”, who don’t need to say such stupid things to get a laugh or to make it in with your chosen princess. Those of you who can smile and wink and have love walk over. But the rest of us will have to keep trying to find ways to make moves while not appearing to be making them. The battle over pickup lines will continue unceasingly until casual conversation can occur without stupid introductions. Keep saying them, just don’t actually believe they’ll work.
Oh, and by the way, have any of you ladies out there read the latest health report? It says you need to increase your daily intake of Vitamin Me;).”
