Ask Dr. Smoove!
Dr. Smoove : Guest Writer
Dear Dr. Smoove,
I’ve been very confused about my relationship with my boyfriend lately. I used to call him to talk to him like twice a day and lately he never seems to be home. When I see him in the halls he smiles but acts like he is avoiding me. We haven’t talked for a couple of weeks. Is this how boyfriends always act? I’m kind of worried about our relationship, it seems to be dying. What should I do?
Sincerely, Lost and lonely in Logan
Dear Lost and Lonely,
This sounds like a conundrum both guys and girls alike have had to deal with. In your situation, I would say he is confused. Relationships, especially in high school, are very complicated. When problems occur (fights, distrust, etc), people react in different ways.
It seems too me your boyfriend is hiding from something awkward in your relationship. He might have a question that he is to afraid to ask, making him awkward whenever he sees or talks to you. I, too, have tried too run from a relationship that was experiencing problems, but I soon realized that ignoring the problem only makes it worse.
My advice to you is to talk to him. Don’t corner him, just naturally approach him about the problem. Try not to react the same way he is, it will make what he is thinking seem more plausible. Most importantly, if he is not willing to talk, there are always more fish in the sea.
However, if you really like this boy, remember that most problems can be solved by simply talking about it. Don’t be afraid to talk, because odds are he really likes you, but is worried or confused about something in your relationship. Who knows what is bothering him-it could be something at home or at school, completely separate from your relationship. Either way, talking about it is the best solution. Remember, simply ignoring a problem makes it more complicated. Unless you are cheating usually things of this nature work themselves out.
Best of luck for you, I hope thing work out for you.
The Colorful World of Clay Custer
Elaine T : Staff Writer
Clay Custer’s art is unlike any other in Cache Valley. His paintings are a swirl of texture and color, and the deeper meaning of the pieces is not always clear.
Custer, an art teacher at LHS, went to Savanna College of Art and Design. He focused on classical styles of art until one of his teachers saw his love for color and texture and inspired him to experiment with new styles.
Since then, Custer’s work has evolved tremendously. He feels that “the intent is clearer and the surfaces are more complex.”
Recently, Custer’s work was featured in the Alliance for the Varied Arts’ art exhibit. It was composed of large non-representational pieces that feature his love for the interaction of colors.
He composed the pieces without a specific meaning behind them. He is more concerned with communicating a sense of being to his audience.
“I do not want images to dictate to the viewer what to see,” said Custer. Instead he wants the viewers to discover what the painting makes them feel.
Harriett Kee, a senior and a student of Custer’s at LHS, who is very interested in the arts, describes the pieces as simply “your emotions.”
Custer will be leaving Logan after this year is finished, and he hopes that his four years of teaching will have an impact on his students as well as the community. He believes that out of everything that future generations will learn about us, art will be what really represents our culture.
As for his time left teaching, he hopes it will give him “a chance to stress how important the arts are.”
“I want them to understand how hard and difficult [art] is.” He also wants to teach them to be able to look at a painting and see hard work and self discipline.
Kee has taken Custer’s teachings to heart. “It’s not a kick-back class, it’s something that I take seriously. He stands for art. ”
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One Man's Trash, Another Man's Treasure Dumpster Diving. There is an art to it. Learn this art by reading this article. That's right. Read it. |
Lego Movie Some talented kids here at Logan High have done numerous lego animation movies. Short clips of movie to be available soon. |
Medieval Reenactment I ran out of time and so I didn't read this article...maybe Matt will give me a summary!
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Thrift shopping has reached a new dimension in Logan back alleyways. In fact this type of thrift shopping isn't shopping at all, and according to some it isn't stealing either. Dumpster diving is exactly what it sounds like--taking other people's trash and making it your treasure.
Many wonder what would drive someone to scrounge through trash.
According to Logan High alumnus Henry Easterling, a veteran dumpster diver,“Hunger is the most obvious justification.”
Despite the unclean nature of trash, dumpster divers manage to find food that is relatively fresh and separately wrapped. This is not to say that it is germ-free or sanitary. Paul Kang, a sophomore at Logan High, claims that dumpster diving “builds the immune system,” but this is based in speculation, not research.
Many people do not see dumpster diving in such a positive light. Leanne Jaskulsky, an English teacher at Logan High, is one of them.
“You can get sick,” warned Jaskulsky, “and you'll actually lose food in the long run by throwing up.”
Despite her opposition to dumpster diving for food, she did say, “I don't think there is anything wrong with getting stuff like clothes and furniture out of the trash. Once someone throws it away, they don't own it anymore.”
Unfortunately for those who frequent dumpsters, the law doesn't see the ownership issue this way. People caught sifting through certain dumpsters are subject to trespassing charges, and specific statutes in law prohibit taking items from recycling bins. The illegality of using people's waste is contested by dumpster divers as unfair.
“It's basically another form of recycling,” claims Easterling, who believes that dumpster diving is a way of countering an overly wasteful society.
Others believe that dumpster diving infringes on their privacy, citing the issue of identity theft often stemming from credit card information obtained in people's trash. In response to this, Easterling argues that dumpster diving takes place in commercial areas for goods that businesses throw out, and isn't a phenomenon that has reached people's personal trash cans.
Despite the legal and health risks, dumpster diving continues to exist as an alternative to purchasing goods. For some, the very thought of scrounging through trash is utterly repugnant, but for others, it is the way towards an efficient and thrifty future.
An epic car chase, a humorous short pirate film, and even an English project. Clifton and Jason Richards have put their talents to good use making various types of Lego animation films for at least three years.
The two brothers have been making videos for everything from class projects to movies just for fun.
Jason said that most of their ideas come from movies and books. The brothers both said that they just come up with an idea and go with it.
To make the movies, they first build their sets and set up their “actors.” After this they take a regular video camera and record just a single frame. After the frame is taken, everything gets moved for the next frame, and so on. Once every frame gets taken, they load it onto the computer and use I Movie H.D. to edit it. The frames get shortened as much as needed and then the movie is played all the way through to make sure it runs smoothly. Finally, they add music and effects and they are done.
The brothers said that the movies take anywhere from just a single afternoon to two or three days to make the longer ones. “It may take forever, but it’s a blast,” said Clifton.
Clifton and Jason are in the process of finishing an action-packed film. You can get a preview of this, and also other finished films on the Grizzly Newspaper page.(http://www.lhs.logan.k12.ut.us/grizzly)
Clifton and Jason have a huge amount of fun doing this, and they greatly encourage others to try. Jason said, “Take an idea, and have a lot of fun with it, and it will turn out really great. Just have patience with it.”
Broadsword fighting, building armor and talking the lingo of Medieval Europe. Clifton Richards, Jason Rutel and I have been doing Medieval Reenactment for upwards of four years.
We each have a different specialty when it comes to recreating the armor of the era. Clifton does more with leather working and provides leather for the other two.
“For those of us with a budget, the leather is a good alternative, but it still looks awesome,” he said. Clifton is excellent at and cutting and molding leather into whatever shape he needs.
I work more with sheet metal and cold forging. I take metal and cut and shape it to what I want. I have done a variety of projects so far, but my favorite would be the medieval helm that I built two years ago. It’s amazing to watch as you take an idea in your head, and use your hands and talents to make it come to life through the metal. I also sometimes join forces with Clifton, and we build some joint projects.
Jason does work in various other areas of armor. He is best at changing chainmaille armor into an art by making jewelry. Jason uses different sizes, types and colors of wire to create vivid pieces. In addition to this he also rolls all of his rings, a hard and time-consuming process used to create or “weave” a patch of chainmaille.
Jason took a more poetic tone when he spoke of what we do by saying, “We weave and bend the metal to fit our need. We swing our swords with blinding speed. To our dismay we have no steeds.”
Jason, Clifton and I all have one other thing in common. We all love to sword fight with wooden practice swords. We have spent many hours practicing by sparring with one another until recently when two of our swords were shattered in combat. Now we spend our time making armor and rapier fighting when we can.
Whether it is building leather or metal armor, making chainmaille or jewelry, or even taking it so far as to sword fight, we have taken something we enjoy and turned it into more than a hobby. We take fantasy a step further; we experience it for real, instead of just in books and movies.
