The Insider is an ALC student publication.  The articles reflect the opinions of students and

do not necessarily reflect the views of either the ALC or of Independent School District 518.

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The Worthington ALC

Insider

Volume 4, Issue 18                   April 13, 2007

 

ALC Students Participate in Nation Food Shelter week.

 

By Jose Lugo and Jesse Ibarra

 

     We were informed by Mr. Knapp a few weeks back that it was National Food Shelter week.  Our teacher Mrs. Lowe came up with an idea to help the Manna Food Pantry which is a food shelter located right across the street at the Presbyterian Church. 

 

(Continued à)

 

Bags of food collected at the ALC were given to the Manna From Heaven food pantry

 

Jose and Jesse collected nearly 50 pounds of food for the local food shelf

 

     Together we made and handed out 64 brown paper bags to all the staff and students who attend at the ALC.  We also gave a presentation to ALC classes to persuade everyone why they should donate nonperishable food items to the shelter. 

 

     In order to help promote donations, we gave everyone who donated food a certificate for a free ice cream cone.  They were given their ice cream at the end-of-quarter awards ceremony last Thursday (when Mr. Knapp got his haircut).  We ended up collecting 48 pounds worth of food!

 

    The food we collected will be matched pound-for-pound by another shelter in the Twin Cities.  We want to thank everyone again for helping us out.

 

 


 

The ALC Insider                          April 13, 2007                             page 2

 

Will Friday the 13th mark the end of the world?

 

By Nery Perez

 

      Friday the 13th is supposed to be a very unlucky day. This is according to some fool who makes all this stuff up.  But something unlucky might happen on Friday the 13th.  It will just be 22 years from now on Friday April 13th, 2029. 

 

    On April the 13th, 2029 the good peoples of the world will see a bright light in the sky.  The light is going to be brighter then any star out there. The light will also appear to move across the sky faster then a jet, that’s fast.

 

   So can anybody guess what it is? Okay, it’s going to be an asteroid named, “2004 MN4.”  Who the heck names these things.  I think “Nery the Butt kickin’ Space Rock,” would be a way better name.  Anyway, the asteroid was discovered on Christmas Eve 2004. Scientists originally thought the asteroid had a 60-1 chance of colliding with earth.  It seems like it is closer on some laps than others.

(Continued à)

 

Intersection of  Earth and asteroid orbits

 

Asteriod 2004 MN4 will have a close encounter with Earth on Friday the 13th of  2029

 

    Scientists say that 2004MN4 will also cross the Earth’s orbit in the year 2013 and on 2021. But on both cases it won’t be that close.  It will be like nine million miles away.  That is hardly a close call.  The truly close encounter will be in April Friday 13th in the year 2029.

 

    But don’t cry.  It’s not going to hit the Earth so don’t sweat it, okay. NASA says the asteroid will miss earth by 18,600 miles. But remember that in asteroid language that is pretty darn close.   Some of our satellites are floating about 22,000 miles.  If that darn space rock knocks out my cell phone or television I am going to be angry.

 

     The NASA research center says that the asteroid will come around the sun again in 2035. Will it hit us? No one knows, because when the asteroid almost hits us in 2029 the gravity is going to bounce the asteroid 28 degrees off its present course, so it’s impossible to say where the asteroid will go.  Until then, go out and rent Deep Impact and watch out for black cats    

Click here to read more…

 

Where 2004 MN4 ends up is anybody’s guess

 


 

The ALC Insider                          April 13, 2007                             page 3

From our archives…

Do you suffer from

Paraskevidekatriaphobia?

 

    Do you or anyone you know suffer from Paraskevidekatriaphobia?  Do you even know what Paraskevidekatriaphobia is?  Then this article is for you.

 

     Paraskevidekatriaphobia is a mental disorder characterized by a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the Thirteenth.  Those who suffer from this disorder are acutely superstitious people who often lock themselves in their homes whenever the thirteenth day of the month falls on a Friday.

 

     Most of us laugh at those who would carry a fear to such extremes.  Yet there may actually be something to this idea of Paraskevidekatriaphobia.  According to a 1993 article in the British Medical Journal entitled “Is Friday the Thirteenth Bad for your Health”, driving on Friday the Thirteenth might not be a good idea.

 

    Incredibly, the authors of the article found that while fewer people actually drive on Friday the Thirteenth, the rate of hospital admissions rates due to accidents are significantly higher than on “normal” Fridays.  So maybe Friday the Thirteenths really are unlucky.

     Then again, it’s possible that the Paraskevidekatriaphobics who stay home on Friday the Thirteenths are actually the careful, safe drivers, while those who don’t believe in the superstition and drive anyway are the careless drivers.

 

     One thing we do know:  If you suffer from Paraskevidekatriaphobia, then you’re sitting at home on this Friday the Thirteenth and not present in school to read this article.  Unless you’re home reading it on the internet.  If that’s the case, your computer probably just got infected with a terrible virus and will explode any minute.  Happy Friday the Thirteenth!

 

 


 

The ALC Insider                          April 13, 2007                             page 4

Animationlibrary.com
    

 

It’s Friday the 13th

Are you prepared???

By Eddie Martinez

 

   Interesting facts about the urban legend, Friday the 13th.

 

·           The number of hospital admissions due to automobile accidents on Friday the 13th, are higher than on regular Fridays.

·           Some ball players believe it is bad luck to play a game on a Friday.

·           Threats of computer viruses run higher on Friday the 13th often scaring many users.

·           Many hospitals, hotels, office complexes, etc. have no Room 13.

·           An elevator company says that at least 90% of skyscrapers (and many big hotels) have no 13th floor.

·           Universal Studios in California does not have a studio lot 13.

·           Many airlines, sports arenas and auditoriums eliminate a seat or row 13.

·           It is said that if 13 people sit together on a dinner table, all will die within a year.

·           Fidel Castro was born on Friday August 13, 1926.

·           Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were born on Friday June 13, 1986.

·           Tupac Shakur died on Friday September 13, 1996.

 

April 13th

This day in History

 

1743 Thomas Jefferson is born.

 

1796 1st elephant to set foot in North America since the demise of the Ice Age mammoth arrives in US from India.

 

1860 1st Pony Express rider reaches Sacramento, CA, with a sack of mail.

 

1861 After 34 hours of bombardment, Union Troops at Fort Sumter surrender to Confederates marking the beginning of the Civil War.

 

1865 Wild West outlaw Butch Cassidy is born.

 

1883 Alfred Packer is convicted of cannibalism after eating his comrades with whom he was trapped in a blizzard.

 

1918 Electrical fire kills 38 mental patients at Oklahoma State Mental Hospital. The film House on Haunted Hill was based on this event.

 

1943 President Franklin Roosevelt dedicates Jefferson Memorial on Jefferson’s 200th birthday.

 

1963 Pete Rose triples for his 1st base hit in the major leagues.

 

1970 Apollo 13 announces "Houston, we've got a problem!" after an oxygen tank explodes en route to Moon.

 

1979 Longest doubles ping-pong match ever played ends after 101 hours.

 

1984 Pete Rose becomes 1st National League player to get 4,000 hits in a career.

 


 

The ALC Insider                          April 13, 2007                             page 5

 

Interview with Mr. Knapp

 

By Paul Martinez

 

     We All know Mr.Knapp as a caring, loveable guy, always there for you and greeting you in the morning.  He is always happy to see you. But are you ever there for him? Do you appreciate Mr.Knapp?

 

     In order to get to know Mr. Knapp better, I decided to ask him some questions and write this article.

 

Q:  Where were you born Mr.Knapp?

A:   Lincoln Nebraska

 

Q: You have any kids?

A:  Yes, four Kids. Three boys & one girl

 

Q: Any Brothers and Sisters?

A: Yes, two older sisters.

 

Q: Your favorite color?

A:  Blue

 

Q:  Why blue?

A: Because my girlfriend said I look good in blue. ( Who could argue with that right?)

 

Q: What’s your Dream Car?

A: 58 Corvette in Silver & Blue

 

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?

A: Read, write, watch TV, and think of Virgina

 

Q: Why did you want to become a principal?

A: Because I like working through problems. I enjoy working with the kids, and helping them succeed. I also love the million bucks they pay me.

(Continued à)

 

 

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

A: No I’m good

 

     I think he is a one-of-a-kind guy who deserves more credit then he actually gets. I have a nick name for Mr. Knapp “The Problem Solver,” because he is always there for me when I need him, and always helping me solve my problems with my grades, attendance, and a lot of other stuff.

 

      I just wanted to say Thanks for all the help.  I appreciate it!! 

 

Mr. Knapp’s unlucky day…

 

     Friday the 13th might be unlucky for some people, but Friday the 30th was unlucky for Mr. Knapp.  On that day, he lost a bet with the students of the ALC and got his head shaved by Nery Perez as a result.  Watch the video at the bottom of this website or click on the little pictures above to see Mr. Knapp’s haircut…

 


 

The ALC Insider                   April 13, 2007                          page 6

Friday the 13th

Horoscopes

By Tasha B.

 

Aries- (March 21- April 19)

Black cats are going to attack you. Watch your back because they will cross your path at any risk.

 

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Don’t walk under any ladders.  The ladder will try to eat you if you do.

 

Gemini (May 21- June 20)

Today, if you break a mirror, you will have 50 years of bad luck instead of seven.

 

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Stay home and be very, very afraid. Hide under your covers and don’t come out till Saturday.

 

Leo (July 23 – Aug 22)

Your day will be terrible.  You will trip over anything and everything.  My advice is to sit down and don’t move.

 

Virgo (August 23 –September 22)

Your chance of getting into a car accident will increase by 52%.  My advice is to stay away from anything with wheels.

 

Libra (Sep 23- Oct 22)

You will have a chance to sit down with twelve other people.  Don’t or you’re all going to die within the year.

 

Scorpio (Oct 23- Nov 21)

Don’t sneeze to your left or you’ll end up sneezing all day long.

 

Sagittarius (Nov 22- Dec 21)

You better find wood and fast or this day will be really unlucky for you.

 

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19)

You will end up spilling salt and that’s a lot of bad luck. Just remember to counteract it by throwing a pinch over your left shoulder.

 

Aquarius (Jan 20- Feb 18)

Since it’s a Friday you might feel like you want to go shopping.  Just remember not to put your new shoes on the table.

 

Pisces (Feb 19-March 20)

Today will be the most miserable day of your life.  If I were you I’d get some wood, a rabbit’s foot, and turn clockwise seven times.

 

 

 

 

 

Separated

at Birth

 

 

 

 

           Click Arrow below twice to view Mr. Knapp’s haircut video

 

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