The Best of The Worthington ALC Insider
Volume 2, Issue 1 September 2, 2004
Journalism class teaches life lessons By Patty V. Journalism is a class offered at the ALC. The class has an online newspaper that the class puts together. Class members are responsible for choosing the stories that are written for the newspaper We work like a real newspaper does. We have deadlines to meet and stories to print. Working like a real newspaper helps us learn about responsibilities. Our teacher is Mr. Z. The class is kind of small but we all work together to achieve our goal. Our newspaper has a variety of things in it. Our stories are to inform people of things they should know and of things that they should learn about our community. We try to give them stories that will help them in some way. Some of the stories that I have written range from Christmas shopping to the flu virus. (Cont. à)	One of our goals to is to try to change the image of the school. Most people think that students a t the ALC are just troublemakers, but that is not the truth. With this newspaper we can show them that we can be responsible. We work every day to try to help the community with our newspaper. Our class gives us a chance to be responsible and to express ourselves. It gives us a say in what we want and what we think is important

ALC Insider September 4, 2004 Page 2

Those awful Canadians By Eddie Torres President Bush made a proposal that has pleased many Hispanics in the United States. Bush wants to give amnesty to undocumented aliens who have been living and working in this country. The usual crowd is up in arms about Bush’s proposal. You know who I mean… the folks who are always griping about “those damn Mexicans.” Forget for a moment that the oldest two cities in the United States – Saint Augustine, Florida and Santa Fe, New Mexico, were originally Spanish-speaking settlements. Forget also that fully one fourth of the present-day United States once belonged to Mexico. Forget all of that. I happen to be one of “those damn Mexican.” But when you look at me, you can at least tell that I am one. It’s that other group of immigrants I’m concerned about. Who am I talking about? Why, those awful Canadians, of course. When you look at them, you can’t even tell they’re Canadian. They walk among us. Game Show host Alex Trebec, actors Mike Myers and Michael J. Fox, T.V. newsman Peter Jennings, former Vikings coach Bud Grant. They are all Canadians, but can you tell by looking at them? And how about those Canadian teachers in our schools who à

teach kids to spell color colour, and center centre? Did you know that Canada has become the second largest country in the world? Or that 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the United States – the largest undefended border in the world? When Saddam Hussein amassed his forces along his southern border, the result was the surprise invasion of Kuwait. Are the Canadians planning to invade us? Everyone in the United Sates enjoys Mexican and Asian food. Nearly all popular music has its roots in Africa. Hispanic, Asian and African immigrants have made big contributions to American culture. But what about the Canadians? Ever hear of “Canadian Food”? What, like putting mayonnaise on French fries? Even Canadian bacon is plain, ordinary ham. Everyone knows that! Ever hear of Canadian music? Like Anne Murray? Get real! Let’s get off the case of “those damn Mexicans” and start focusing on the real immigration threat, those awful Canadians to the north. Perhaps we should invade them. After all, as a Canadian would say, the best defence is a good offence.

ALC Insider September 4, 2004 Page 3
SEX! By Justin Alm Now that I have every one’s attention I’m going to tell you about my favorite activity outside of school. It just so happens that my favorite activity is bowling. The reason bowling is my favorite activity is simple… I’m the best. Ask anyone. Perhaps they probably won’t admit this, but that is just because they are jealous. I’m so good that I get to train in New Zealand and then fly to Sydney, Australia for a nine game tournament and if I place high enough in that I might get a chance for a tournament that pays $250,000 for first place. I also get to go to the Pepsi Tournament in Pipestone, but that is small stuff because they let any bum in that tournament. I have around 13 or 14 trophies just for league in this town and over 20 to 30 badges. I also have a pin coming for 200 games. My average at the moment is only 151 but it’s been a slow year. It should be around 165-170.	I just got a new ball this year and I had to adjust from full-finger to finger-tip. It gives a lot more control and movement (hook, or spin) and also better pin action. The bad part was that I was throwing 22-25 mph and I had to slow down to 15-17mph. That was the hardest part. I’ve been bowling in league for about 9 years and out of league for even longer. I don’t want to get anyone nervous or anything, but if there is anyone in this town who wants to take me on, go for it. You’re going to lose. Just incase you didn’t catch on that this entire essay is about me and my bowling and how great I am, I’ll repeat myself. I’m the best. If you don’t believe me all you have to do is go the bowling ally and ask Gary or Radar
Animation by CNCWeb

ALC Insider September 4, 2004 Page 4

The Importance of wearing a Safety Belt By: Angel Spillman We have a vaccine for the leading cause of death for Americans ages 2 through 33 - safety belts said Dr. Jeffrey Runge, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Between 1995 and 2002, 12,178 people died in car accidents as a result of not wearing their seat belts. There are 30 states in the United States were police cannot issue a ticket to you for not wearing your seat belt and in those states the death rates are higher. I believe that every state should have a seat belt law that makes it possible for a cop to give you a ticket for not wearing one. A car comes equipped with lights already installed, because you have to use them. A car also comes with brakes, turning signals, and mirrors, because you have to use them. Do people miss the fact that their car also came equipped with seat belts for a reason? Wearing your seat belt is choosing between life and death every time you get into a car, but why so many people choose to die rather then take the five seconds it takes to put on their belt, I will never come to understand. I always hear the saying, “It could never happen to me” or “Those kinds of things happen to other people,” but some day it could happen to you. It doesn’t matter if you think you’re the safest driver on the street, the person in back of you or in front of you could make one wrong move and you could be the one to die. (Continued à)

Worthington lost four young girls as a result of a car accident and I saw all the people who cried at school and at their funerals. None of them were wearing their seat belts. During that week, we had a Lyceum at the High School on how important is is to always buckle up no matter what the situation. No one is to say how much a seat belt could have actually helped someone who has died in a car accident, but maybe if they had been wearing it they would have another chance. An estimated 95,000 people are saved each year due to the usage of seat belts, so be one of the smart people and think when you get into a car. That seat belt is there for a reason. Think about your family and friends, and how much you love them. There is no reason why you don’t have time to buckle up. I’m sure people would rather have you show up late then not show up at all. And I know for a fact that I would never want the burden of letting one of my friend’s die in my car because they didn’t wear their seat belt

ALC Insider September 4, 2004 Page 5

War on terrorism Are we really in a war, or chips on a board game? The real question… By Angela Ruiz January 27, 2004, three American soldiers and two CNN reporters were killed by a roadside bomb in Euphrates valley in the town of Khaldiya, west of Iraqi capital. They were sent by the UN to study the Iraqi elections. Their deaths bring the death tell to 243 since President Bush declared a end to major combat May 1^st. According to a CNN report, at least 517 American soldiers have died since March 2003.That estimate dose not include the CNN reporters or any casualties. It makes a person wonder how many people have really risked their lives and died for what? Our freedom? Or was it for the freedom of people who don’t even like us?

In reality, Iraq had little to do with that terrorist attack. The president said that he was going to capture Bin Laden and make him pay for what he did, so why did he capture Saddam Hussein? Every day when I watch the news I see 5 killed, 3 killed… Someone continues to die everyday. It seems to me that our country should stop sending young men and woman to die in Iraq. Soon enough, no one will want to fight for our county. Where will President Bush Find himself then? When the U.S invaded Iraq, many people supported the war, but only from confusion of emotion. The country was still grieving for attacks on America and was vulnerable to any attempts to help change the world for the better. So when the president proposed helping a country in need of independence and destroying a horrible leader, the people felt as if the U.S was finally getting it’s revenge for what happened on 9/11.

The Insider September 4, 2004 Page 6

Thomas Crapper – A name to remember By Zara Nasers In the year 1904 – exactly 100 years ago – Thomas Crapper finished doing his business. And what was Thomas’s business, you might ask? He was the proud founder of the Crapper Co., manufacturer of the “silent valveless water waste preventer”, more commonly known as the toilet. Although Mr. Crapper did not invent the toilet, one of his employees, a Mr. Albert Giblin, did. In the year 1898, Giblin’s device was given patent number Crapper Co. advertisement

Thomas Crapper 4990 by the British government. The toilet continued to be manufactured by Crapper’s company until he retired a century ago in 1904. After that, the Crapper Co. continued to operate under different ownership. American soldiers who passed through England during World War I utilized Crapper’s device when doing their business. Most were farm boys who had never seen a flush toilet before. The soldiers called this device “the crapper” because the Crapper Co. name was printed prominently on the side. When they returned to America, they brought with them their nickname for the toilet. While this may sound like a crazy myth or some sort of urban legend, the facts surrounding Thomas Crapper are true. We just thought you’d like to know…

ALC Insider September 4, 2004 Page 7

EARTHQUAKE!! By Sirjio BlueArm On Thursday November 20, 2003, a small rumble was felt in a rural part of South Dakota. An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.5 on the Richter Scale was found to have hit seventeen miles southeast of Wessington. As earthquakes go, that is a small one, but how often do you hear of earthquakes in this part of the country? This one was felt 30 miles away by people in Huron, South Dakota. This earthquake was recorded as having occurred at 7:09 Central Standard Time. Its depth was determined to be five kilometers, or three miles. It was considered to be a minor quake. ALC Dean of Students Paul Langseth refused to give students the day off on Friday following the quake. “I’m not closing school for a 3.5 quake,” said Langseth. “Some of these kids’ car stereos hit 4.3 on the Richter Scale and they’re driving them to school. I think they’re just looking for excuses.” However, several of the students stayed home anyway, claiming they needed the extra time to recuperate from this tragic event. Others reluctantly came to school. “I didn’t want to come,” said ALC student Dez Briski, “But Mr. Langseth forced me to.” Dez’s attorney, Weldon Swindoll of the law firm Dewey Cheetham & Howe, declined to comment on the matter, saying only that he was “investigating.” Commenting on the situation with Ms. Briski, Dean of Students Langseth said,

“She is smart enough to know attendance affects her grades. I gave her some choices, and she chose wisely.” Langseth further speculated on Briski’s reluctance to come to school. “I think she had a hair appointment set up, and she didn’t want to reschedule it.” Dez Briski before November 20th Dez Briski after November 20th

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