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The Worthington ALC Insider
Volume 4, Issue 6 October 27, 2006
It’s Official: Worthington no longer Turkey Capital of the World! By Raul Avila On October 14, round two of the Great Gobbler Gallop turkey race was held in Cuero, Texas. Ruby Begonia kept the gold in Texas after posting a time of 54 seconds. Paycheck of Worthington followed with 1 minute and 47 seconds. Ruby also won round one of the turkey race held on Turkey Day in Worthington. Ruby Begonia of Texas was given the Traveling Trophy of Tumultuous Triumph, and Paycheck was awarded the Circulating Cup of Consummate Commiseration. That means that for the next year, Cuero, and not Worthington, is the official Turkey Capital of the World. The Worthington team blamed their loss on the weather, saying that they trained their turkey at 60 degrees and it was like 85 down in Texas. But The Insider has uncovered information pointing to another reason for Paycheck’s loss. (Continued )	Ruby Begonia won both the Worthington and Cuero rounds of the Great Gobbler Gallop The Insider discovered that Paycheck’s loss could have been due to the fact that Ruby is a twenty-first century turkey whereas Paycheck is stuck in like1999. What do we mean by that? Simple – Ruby Begonia is a modern turkey who has her own page on myspace.com. She also has a documentary film of her training schedule and all that she does in Texas. This documentary recently played at the Alamo Open Night Film Festival in Austin, Texas. It was eventually “gonged” by the film festival’s judges, despite the fact that the crowd was chanting “Go, Ruby, go!” You can actually watch Ruby’s video by clicking here…. Perhaps Paycheck needs to get his own webpage and documentary film made so he is a “high speed” turkey when the Great Gobbler Gallop of 2007 rolls around… Click here to watch the 2006 Great Gobbler Gallop on Youtube.com

The ALC Insider October 27, 2006 page 2

My trip to Guatemala By Juan Perez I was born in Florida, but when I was eight months old my mom and I moved to Guatemala were I lived until I was eleven years old. In June I traveled by myself from the Minneapolis Airport to the Guatemala City Airport. The airports were a little different. The Minneapolis airport was very large, but the Guatemala City airport was small like the Sioux Falls airport. I heard many different languages in the Guatemala City airport. People from all over the world visit Guatemala. Before I left the airport I exchanged my American money for Quetzales, Guatemalan money. The first night my grandpa, uncle, and I stayed in the Tikal Hotel in Guatemala City. The hotel cost 350 Quetzales ($55.00) for three rooms. I found that some things in Guatemala are cheaper than in the U.S. Like the hotels, restaurants, and cars. (Continued à)

Waiting for a plane in Guatemala City, Guatemala A Toyota Yaris is $11,050 in the U.S., and in Guatemala the same car is $3,000 U.S. dollars. You cannot take the car out of the country. All cars are cheaper. When I was in Guatemala I stayed with my grandparents. My grandma is 83 years old and my grandpa is 86 years old. My grandma cooks very well. She knows how to make a lot of different dishes. My grandpa is old, but he likes to work as a farmer. He grows corn and raises animals. My grandparents’ house is pretty. My grandma has a big garden with flowers and vegetables. While I was there I visited many relatives’ families. I visited cousins, uncles, aunts and friends. They invited me to a lot of parties. I went to a quincianeras, several birthdays, a wedding, and a program at my uncle’s college. They took me to a lot of places. We visited Tikal, Hot Springs, the beach, a museum, a zoo, the Pacific, and the north and south of Guatemala. We also visit Mexico were I have family too. My family lives on the border of Mexico. On August 28 I came back to USA. The only bad part of my trip was saying good bye to my family.

The ALC Insider October 27, 2006 page 3

My favorite part about Halloween… My favorite part of Halloween is when you get to see all the different kinds of costumes. I also like when I get to put make-up on my little brothers and make them look really weird! And I also like that we get bags of candy. Joan V. My favorite part of Halloween is all the Halloween parties. On Halloween night there is always fun stuff to do. Oh yeah my birthday is in October. Jose S. My favorite part of Halloween is taking my son, nieces, and nephews trick-or-treating. I love to get them ready in their Halloween costumes. Tammy J. My favorite part of Halloween is the costume. I like it when you can be anybody you want. You don’t have to worry about being seen either. It’s tight when you can do stuff without anybody knowing who you are. David M. (Continued à) Animations by animationlibrary.com

My favorite part of Halloween is candy. I love candy woot woot! I also love to dress in costumes. I’m going to be a Chinese dancer this year. Another thing I love about Halloween are haunted houses. Jimmy D. I don’t celebrate Halloween because I think it is bad. My religion thinks Halloween is a celebration for the devil. In my church we just have a little party for kids. We bring pizza and candy for kids and play a lot of games, but no costumes. Juan P. My favorite part of Halloween is the tricks. Then pinning it on someone you don’t like. No one ever knows it was you because there are a hundred kids running around with masks on, they never know which one did it. David D. My favorite part of Halloween is seeing all the kids running around having fun. I also like seeing the different and creative kinds of costumes people come up with. Jackie G. My favorite part of Halloween is when you get free candy. Just seeing all those little kids running around with bags full of candy, makes it tempting to take it. Tobby R.

The Insider October 27, 2006 Page 4

Halloween origins and offshoots… By Priscila Garcia Halloween originated in Ireland during the days of the Celts. They lived 2,000 years ago and they celebrated their new year on November 1. That day marked the end of summer and the harvest, and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was associated with human death. The Celts believed that on the night before the New Year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead would return to earth. There is also a Christian tradition that has roots that are very similar. All Soul's Day, November 2, is a Roman Catholic day of remembrance for friends and loved ones who have passed away. This originated with the ancient Pagan Festival of the Dead. Pagans believed that on this day the dead would return for a meal with the family. (Continued à)

In Mexico they celebrate November 2 as El dia de los muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This is a day to commemorate dead loved one who, it is believed, return to their earthly homes on Halloween. The English celebrate Guy Fawkes Day which on the evening of November 5. On this day, bonfires are lit around England. The celebration has little or nothing to do with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Guy Fawkes Day festivities are designated to commemorate the execution of a Notorious English traitor. English kids go around carrying an effigy or a “guy” and ask for “a penny for a guy.” The money they collect they are able to keep for themselves. Here in the United States, of course, we collect candy on Halloween. If kids don’t get their treat, they are supposed to play a trick on those who don’t pay up with candy… Animations by animationlibrary.com

The ALC Insider October 27, 2006 page 5

Day of the Dead A Mexican Tradition By Samantha Loza El Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican celebration when people remember departed relatives and prepare special foods in honor of them. On this day, streets near the Mexican cemeteries are filled with tissue-paper decorations, flowers, candy calaveras (skeletons and skulls), and parades. It is believed in Mexico that the spirits of the dead visit their families on October 31 and leave on November 2. From mid-October to early November, marketplaces throughout Mexico are filled with items for the Dia de los Muertos. These include skeletons and toys associated with death. All of these items are used for the buyer's ofrenda de muertos (offering to the dead). At home, family members use the purchases to build an altar in honor of deceased relatives. The alter is decorated it with papel picado (tissue paper), candles, flowers, photographs of the deceased relative, and even a selection of his or her favorite foods and beverages. The spirits of the dead are expected to pay a holiday visit home. It is thought that they should be provided with a comfortable rest and adequate food and drink for the journey. Very often a wash basin and towel are provided so that the visitors might freshen up before their meal. The offering may even include a pack of cigarettes for the after-dinner enjoyment of former smokers! (Continued à)

Art by Manny Garcia A selection of toys and special sweets is always included for deceased children. The smell of burning incense fills the air and the light of many candles helps the departed find their way. On the Day of the Dead, family members gather at cemeteries for gravesite reunions. These reunions are generally more festive than somber. Some people bring along picnic baskets stuffed with food and bottles of tequila for toasting departed loved ones. Sometimes a mariachi band is even brought along to lead a heartfelt sing-along. The Day of the Dead is a holiday that tends to be a subject of curiosity for foreign visitors. It is a rare mix of pre-Hispanic and Roman Catholic traditions that perfectly illustrates the blending of pre-Hispanic and Spanish cultures that is so much of a part of Mexico today. Similar Day of the Dead rituals are witnessed in towns and villages throughout Mexico. Each locality has its own unique twists on the traditions and these fascinate curious travelers.

The ALC Insider October 27, 2006 page 6

By Sing Phady

Aries (March 21-April 19) Wake up and smell the pumpkin. Today is your lucky day. Go out and show your face, you’ll get a lot of candy

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Watch out for what you want to wear, because someone close to you might have the same costume.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Don’t eat whatever you see… It might kill you.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Getting fat is a good thing now-a-days, so go out there and eat a lot of candy

Leo (July 23-Aug 22) Bad luck is headed your way, so watch out for black cats!!!

Virgo (Aug 23-Sept 22) Halloween is coming, so look your best.

Libra (Sep 23- Oct 22) A lot of candy is coming your way, so open up your candy bag.

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21) Just walk out of the house, because it’s a special night – Halloween!!!!

Sagittarius (Nov 22- Dec 21) Being ugly is wonderful, so embrace it… After all, it’s HALLOWEEN!!!!

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19) Compliments about your face will never come unless you get plastic surgery.

Aquarius (Jan 20- Feb 18) You find yourself very handy at times. But today just leave others to handle all that stuff.

Pisces (Feb 19-March 20) Bad luck is coming your way. A lot of your friends are going to back-stab you!

This Week’s Separated-at-Birth

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