By Drew Murphy

Happy Holidays! The U.S. government gave thousands of employees what amounts to a lump of coal in their stockings by partially shutting down at midnight Dec. 21. In a normal year, Congress approves a spending budget for each agency of the government for the following year by Sept. 30. This year, Congressional leaders and the President could not agree on a new budget because the President wants $5 billion included to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border; many in Congress oppose the wall. The shutdown is partial because 75 percent of government funding was already approved for the budget year that started on October 1, 2018. Agencies previously approved for funding include Labor, Energy, Defense, Health and Human Services, Education and Veterans Affairs. Some of the agencies affected by the partial shutdown are Homeland Security, Justice, IRS and other Department of Treasury offices. There have been 22 federal government shutdowns in the United States in the past 40 years, including three in the last year alone.

What is a shutdown? A shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass or the President fails to sign legislation to fund the federal government’s operations. In a shutdown, an agency no longer has the money to operate and must stop those activities that are not deemed essential. Many employees of the federal government are then furloughed, which means they are forced to take a leave of absence without pay. It is usually temporary, and once legislation is passed to fund the government, those employees can go back to work. More than 380,000 federal employees face unpaid time off in the current shutdown. This includes almost all of NASA, portions of the Commerce Department, Transportation Department, Treasury Department, Housing and Urban Development and Forest and National Park Service. Congress could pass legislation to pay these workers for any pay missed as a result of furloughs.

Other employees, referred to as “excepted,” have to continue to work without pay because their jobs involve the safety of people’s lives or the protection of property.  More than 420,000 federal employees, including workers from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other law enforcement, must work through the shutdown. These workers are not likely to receive any compensation until it ends, and legislation will need to be passed to pay them retroactively. 

Are we at Hanover High School affected by this shutdown? For the most part, we’re not, unless you have a parent or relative that has to work for no pay or is forced to take time off. The National Parks are open, but garbage and waste is beginning to pile up. The Smithsonian Museums and the National Zoo are among the museums and monuments closed; I’m sure the current Hanover 8th graders are glad their field trip to Washington D.C. isn’t happening this month. Additionally, new homebuyers may not get loans they were applying for, delaying the purchase and sale of homes currently on the market in Hanover. If you were planning on keeping tabs on NASA missions and discoveries, you’ll have to wait. Employees that run NASA TV have been furloughed.  Additionally, if you were going to buy the next hot initial public stock offering, you’re out of luck as the Securities and Exchange Commission employees are also furloughed.

Hopefully, the President and Congress will do their job in the New Year and come to a compromise so that all agencies and employees can resume their normal operations.

Featured picture from cbsnews.com

By Caris Mann

2018 may have come and gone already, but the people who have influenced us are  here to stay. The past year brought out many leaders in our American culture who have made an outstanding mark in our lives. Here are my picks for the 10 most influential people of 2018:

 

10. Jordan Peele

    

An actor, writer and producer, Peele showcased his skills as a first-time director. His movie, “Get Out,” was a huge hit, the story of the horrors that a young African-American man discovers at the home of his girlfriends’ parents. Not only is the movie famous for its scares, it also brought to light issues of racism that African Americans deal with every day. In the very beginning of the movie, for example, Chris and his girlfriend, Rose, are driving and accidentally hit a deer. The police officer asks for the driver’s license of Chris, but not Rose. Also throughout the movie, Rose’s parents make comments about Chris and Rose’s interracial relationship. Peele has received praise not only for the great horror story, but for the morals behind the film.

 

9. Eminem

The American rapper made his way back  to the top of the music charts with the August release of his album “Kamikaze.” The album was controversial for his usage of a homophobic slur and several disses aimed at other artists. Nevertheless, the album earned the number one spot on the Billboard 200. “Kamikaze” became the number one bestselling hip hop album of 2018 and was certified platinum in December.

 

8. Oprah Winfrey

The media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer and philanthropist made headlines a year ago with her speech at the Golden Globe Awards. As she received the Cecil B. DeMille award, given to someone who has made an impact on the world of entertainment, she discussed the #MeToo movement and race. She made an astounding impact on many people and remained in the media for weeks. People even encouraged her to run for president! (But Oprah being Oprah, she turned down the offer). She has been in the news more recently for the promotion of The Sun Does Shine, a book by a wrongly convicted death row inmate. 

 

7. Beyonce

The American singer-songwriter has been an activist for black women for many years, but she took it to new levels with her Coachella act. Her act paid homage to women, heritage, culture, strength, and humanity. CNN even says that Coachella will never be the same again! Throughout her act, Beyonce paused to give lessons on politics and black culture. Fans were left in awe of her act, which forever rocked the world of Coachella.

6. Chadwick Boseman

The actor, director, and producer is best known for his role as Marvel’s  T’challa, the star of “Black Panther.” Set in the fictional African country Wakanda, King T’challa protects his people from Erik Killmonger, his cousin who hates everything that Wakanda stands for. The film was not only well-received because of its plot but for its diversity. The film features a diverse cast that celebrates black pride. It even gives a nod to female empowerment with women warriors known as Dora Milaje. The movie was incredibly well-received and is up for the Golden Globe award for best motion picture. There is even talk of a sequel, which will most likely premiere in February 2021.

 

5. Pope Francis

Elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis is one of the most influential because he has questioned traditional catholic views on homosexuality and atheism. Pope Francis has actually worked very closely with LGBTQ advocates and has chosen bishops who are vocal supporters of the community. He has encouraged parents to be more understanding of children who come out to them. 

 

4. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

American actress Meghan Markle made headlines when she married Prince Harry on May 19. In addition to her stunning wedding, she’s made news for her support of women’s rights. At the young age of 11, Markle became an advocate for women’s rights. She was watching a television commercial that said “Women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans.” The commercial depicted women in the kitchen and Meghan believed that wasn’t morally correct. She wrote to the soap company, who changed it to “People all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans.” She is an incredible role model for young women and encourages women to stand up for themselves. 

 

3. Kendrick Lamar

An American rapper, songwriter, and poet, Lamar earned four Grammys for best rap album, best rap song, best rap performance, and best rapper and singer collaboration. He also became the first rapper to win a Pulitzer Prize. His latest album, “DAMN,” earned Billboard music awards for best rap album, best rap artist, best Billboard 200 album, best streaming songs artist, best streaming song, and best rap artist.

 

2. Michael B. Jordan

Along with Chadwick Boseman, Jordan starred in the film “Black Panther.” He played the antagonist of the film Erik Killmonger, earning lots of his praise for his role’s nuanced take on race relations. In the movie, Wakanda had been run a certain way for generations. The Wakandans had refused to help the outside world and kept themselves hidden. Killmonger completely disagreed with this view and fought for what is morally correct for everyone. 

 

1. Donald Glover

Donald Glover, otherwise known as Childish Gambino, is the most influential person of 2018. Glover is and American actor, comedian, writer, producer, director, rapper, songwriter, and DJ.In May of 2018, he dropped a track entitled “This is America,” whose lyrics and video highlighted perception of black culture and the violence against African Americans. His TV show, “Atlanta” challenges black stereotypes. He is a very influential voice in the debate over racism in America, and his work breaks many race barriers. 

 

Featured picture from nationallearning.com.au

By Chris Acampora

Whether you liked 2018 or not, you have to agree that there was a lot to laugh about. Videos, pictures and memes that went viral captured our attention and provided much of the humor. Here’s a look at the funniest things on the Internet and social media in 2018:

Selfie Kid

People always find something to make fun of about the Super Bowl halftime show, and 2018 was no different. Way back in February, a Scituate native was dubbed “Selfie Kid” for his pic with halftime performer Justin Timberlake — and the shot of him looking at his phone immediately after. It was extremely awkward to watch, and inspired countless memes trying to answer the question: what was he looking at on his phone?

Tide Pod Challenge

Everyone knows the joke, but where did it even come from? The exact origin is hard to find, but the whole Tide Pod Challenge controversy started after memes surfaced referring to the colorful detergent pods as “forbidden fruit” and making jokes about eating the toxic product. The joke took off mostly because of its absurd nature, eventually turning into the mock “Tide Pod Challenge.” Adults were up in arms, thinking it was a real trend that put young children in danger. No, nobody ever intended for anyone to actually eat Tide Pods. Making it even worse, many people made food items with the pattern of a Pod. The joke did point out, however, that packing hazardous laundry detergent to look like candy can be very dangerous.

Walmart Yodeling Kid

 This video of a kid yodeling in the middle of an Illinois Walmart raised more questions than answers. Why is a kid singing (“yodeling”) in the middle of a Walmart? Why are people gathering to watch? Why is someone filming? What song is he singing? The video eventually spurred a remix (that was surprisingly good) which kept “yodeling kid” on people’s minds for quite a while. The boy was Illinois native mason Ramsey, and the song, Hank Williams’ Lovesick Blues,  saw a rise in popularity on streaming services. People liked the boy so much that Walmart even invited him back to perform, and he even got a record deal– releasing his own song a few months later.

The Circle Game

It seemed everyone wanted to trick you into looking at their fingers in a circle on their leg; if you did, they’d get to punch you on the shoulder. The trick was apparently a thing in the 1980s, and had come back. Now with the Internet and computers, though, people were able to sneak the symbol into more places than on their leg. Photos circulated with hidden circles in the sneakiest of places, turning them into puzzles. We’re definitely sure this trend caused a lot of sore shoulders around the world and at HHS.

Presidential Alerts

Back in October, the government sent out the first test of its nationwide emergency alert system. It was a strange occurrence to have almost all smartphones across the country go off at the same time. Despite being called a “Presidential Alert,”  the messages don’t come from President Trump. This, however, didn’t stop people from turning it into a meme, humorously creating what they thought would be alerts  important enough to send to the entire country. 

Yanny or Laurel?

A reincarnation of “the dress” that people couldn’t tell was white and gold (the correct answer) or black and blue, this audio clip  rocked the Internet. When someone heard it on a vocabulary website, they shared it and started one of the most divisive arguments of 2018. Hysteria ensued as people picked sides and tried to figure out how the audio clip could appear to be playing different words for different people. Many people questioned what was wrong with their hearing or what was going on with the world. In the end it was determined that some people’s brains would just process the clip one way or the other. Listening to the word with an altered pitch allowed everyone to hear both sides of the word, which was originally meant to be laurel. Phew, world crisis averted!

***

Of course there were plenty of other funny things that happened in 2018, but it would take an encyclopedia to record them all. Hopefully someday there will be historians dedicated to these viral videos, trends and memes so we don’t have to explain them to our kids. The year had a lot of funny moments, and we’re hopeful that will be true for 2019 as well. Remember to try to not take yourself so seriously this year; there will be plenty to laugh about.

 

 

Featured picture from optinmonster.com

By Lexi Rynning

There were so many wonderful things that happened in 2018 and the students of Hanover High School were eager to share their fondest memories. For me, it was in May when my friends and I finally figured out to get the jukebox in my friend’s basement working. We had such a fun night playing around and discovering new songs that we had never heard before.

From beautiful vacations, new additions to the family, and fun with their friends, here is what students recalled as the highlights of the past year:

Juli C: Boston with Tim S.

Meghan C: Seeing Mamma Mia 2

Ainsley K: Driving around Scituate with friends and playing games

Alyssa M: Going to a Boston Bruins game and seeing them win 

Jill P: Team dinner for Volleyball, when Callie A. broke a lamp

Brenna F: Getting our second dog, Bauer, in May

Caleigh M: Vacation to Europe with family

Bella M: New Year’s Eve

Hope B: A trip to Boston for a friend’s birthday

Meg D: Meg C getting on the wrong train and waving from the back window

Lauren C: Meg D locking her keys in her car on senior day and having to call AAA

Caroline Z: Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea when visiting the Amalfi coast

Tim S: June 22, the last day of school, when we had the whole summer ahead of us

Beth M: Band Camp

Jake Ma: Getting a new puppy

Katie D: Going to Maine with friends

Sam H:  Going to New York with two best friends

Abby C: Going to the 5 Seconds of Summer concert with her best friends

Linnea S: Going to California

Emily T: Beating Pembroke in a volleyball match

Rachel A: Summer

Hailey M: Going to California

Eileen B: Visiting Maine with her family

Brooke M: Softball season

Alexa C: Driving around with friends and listening to music

Sawliha K: Marshfield Fair with best friends and driving around in a convertible

Julia D: New Hampshire with friends

Brendan H: Going to Ireland with family

Caleb P: Hanging out with new friends and making a Varsity soccer goal.

Hope T: Becoming friends with new classmates

Sophie P: Going to a beach on the Cape with friends for a day

Azalea M: Meeting her new boyfriend

Bridget M: Summer

James S: New Hampshire over the summer

Sarah G: Vacation to Germany

Cory W: Fourth of July in the vineyard

Alex B: Tubing with friends over the summer

Sammy S: Vacation in Aruba

Paige L: Going to the beach in Rhode Island with a friend 

Alex M:Hanging out with friends and his girlfriend

Rory J: Climbing Mt. Rainier in Washington with her sister

Ellie H: Getting her license and going to a Drake concert

Nick P: January 1 and spending time with his friends

Abi L: Going to Greece

Lily L: Going to the Cape over the summer

John S: The debut of his play “A Day in the Garden”

Una D: Band Camp

Hannah M: Going to senior prom

Jack R: Attending a Patriots game

Lauren B: Tailgating party with cousins in Alabama

Charlie C: Playing knee hockey with friends

Carter Z: The song Bottoms Up 

Lily H: Going skiing with friends

Meghan M: The graduation of her two sisters, including one in Alabama

Featured picture from Huffingtonpost.com

By Tim Sullivan

As Hanover High School prepared for the long-awaited holiday break, Student Council tried to bring some holiday cheer into the building with fun dress up days to give everyone a final push! Since Christmas was on a Tuesday this year, we had a full week before we were released for the break. Five whole days. This was the first year in a long time where Student Council had to come up with five different spirit days. This year, the themes were:

Monday: Holiday Accessory Day

Tuesday: Christmas in July (Hawaiian Theme)

Wednesday: Winter Wonderland (All White)

Thursday: Ugly Sweater Day

Friday: Christmas Pajama Day

Everyone seemed to get into the spirit, especially when it came to the chance to wear pajamas to school. Hope everyone had a wonderful break!

It’s that time of the year again! Time to buy gifts for just about everyone you know! This can seem like a pretty overwhelming task— especially if you’ve left it to the last minute—but don’t worry, there’s still time. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. (If you celebrate Hanukkah,  tuck this list away until next year)

1. Think obscure If your gift could be given to any person in the room and be fine, you probably bought a basic gift. The most thoughtful (and best) gifts are the ones that are oddly specific or obscure. Spend some time understanding the person’s interests and hobbies, and if they give you an idea, research it so you actually understand what it is. You’ll feel like you gave a better gift because of it. eBay, Amazon, and more specialized websites like Woot! are your friend here (just don’t get scammed)! With these kinds of gifts, it’s best you buy early since shipping from smaller sellers or companies can take longer than from bigger ones. Bonus points if your gift is discontinued, rare, or retro. If it comes in colors, make sure to get the recipient’s favorite (you should know what that is). Try to mix your interests and hobbies with theirs. If you’re good at buying clothes and they like movies, get a t-shirt, hat, or sweatshirt related to their favorite film. Use something you’re knowledgeable about to get them something they’ll like.

2. Quality over quantity The best gifts come in small packages. You might not have believed that as a kid, but believe it now! You might worry a small gift might look like you didn’t try, but if it’s a really good gift, the size won’t matter. Always go for the smaller, but nicer gift. On that note too, if you have to decide between giving one  expensive gift or multiple smaller gifts, always go for the more expensive one. The recipient will appreciate getting something really nice rather than just more things.

3. Buy holiday items the year BEFORE Gifts to yourself totally count as gifts. If you want to buy a holiday item, hold off until right after Christmas. They’ll most likely be discounted and save you some  money, which you can spend on another gift for yourself! Next year when you open these purchases, you’ll forget you even bought them— a surprise gift to yourself!

4. Plan ahead The holiday season is only a few weeks of the year, but the year is 52 weeks – make them count. If you see something in February, buy it. If you see something in August, still buy it. The point: buy things when you see them, or write down the idea. You can find some of the best deals during ordinary times of the year. Doing this will take the pressure off during December, and you’ll buy better gifts when you’re not panicking.

5. Wrapping is everything  A fancy wrapping job can make the best gift look better, so spend some time on this step. Is it a strange shape? Should you put it in a gift bag? Absolutely not! Bags should be avoided at all costs. Everything can be wrapped, and having gifts wrapped makes them much more fun to open! You can look up online how to wrap just about anything, and at the same time keep that obscure craft channel on YouTube alive — a win win! Gifts likes clothes can always be boxed, but most clothing stores don’t give free boxes anymore so keep whatever you get— they’re rare! Something oversized or really just impossible to wrap? Put a comically undersized bow on it. Problem solved!

6. Out of time? Ok, do you need a gift within the next week? The next day? If you have enough time, buy the gift online. Never pay for shipping unless you have to, though. Some stores let you chose slower shipping to get it free, but if you don’t have time for that just get in the car and go. Use the store’s website to find where the gift is in stock locally. If you’re really in dire need of a gift, don’t wander the mall, check out the gift ideas below. Still don’t see anything? Then gift cards are fine. Make sure it’s from a store you know the recipient will like (otherwise play it safe with cash). Remember to get something small, too, like their favorite candy or a small joke gift so there’s still something to open.

Best Gift Ideas 2018

• A Bluetooth speaker
• A wireless charger
• An ornament related to something they like
• Their favorite candy
• A gift card to one of their favorite stores
• A shirt with something they like (band, sport, place)
• Something with their name on it (bonus points if their name isn’t common!)
• Something related to an inside joke
• An outing or activity you can do together

Buying the best gift doesn’t mean spending the most money! Now that you have these tips, everyone will want you in Secret Santa exchanges. You’ll encourage people to get more thoughtful gifts, and hopefully make the return lines in January a little shorter!

 

Staff writers Juli Cocomazzi and Tim Sullivan asked some of their classmates to describe in a few words what they were thankful for this year. They got some pretty interesting responses! Read below.

Hope Thurston is thankful for everything! She’s getting a car really soon and is thankful that she won’t be paying for it. She has a really good relationship with her mom and her hair is really thick and healthy, she loves it.

Paige McKee is thankful for her good health and her friendships.

Alex Brennan is thankful for his friends and family, along with his house.

Peyton Curvels is thankful for her family and her good health.

Davis Dunphy is thankful for backwards, upside down visors, and that we won the Cold War.

Meghan Collett is thankful for just about everything in her life.

Jenna Healy is super thankful! She’s thankful for her friends and family, her health, and Thanksgiving dinner.

Jules Dunderdale is thankful for her supportive family and for the troops! Join her brand new Students for Soldiers club if you feel the same way; she would be extra thankful for your support!

Braden Glynn is thankful for his family and friends.

Rori Jenkins is wicked thankful for her dog and her cat.

Lauren Cockey is thankful for all the wonderful teachers at Hanover High School.

Channing Miller is thankful for the Thanksgiving break and all the food that comes with Thanksgiving!

Lexi Rynning is thankful for her friends and family, and especially her dog.

Bella Craft is thankful for her amazing mom and her dog, Fifi.

Erin Halpin is thankful for her friends and family.  

Ben Lee is thankful for his bestie, Aria Sweeney.  

Mikayla Chabot is thankful for her dog, her friends and her family.

Caleigh McCloskey is thankful for her two beautiful dogs and wonderful teachers.

Kayla Mullane is super thankful for Student Council and her friends and family.

Sophie Picard is thankful for the great responses to the tasty baking treats she sells at HHS.

Anthony Pierotti is thankful for Hilliard’s Chocolate.

Olivia Reddish is thankful for RunKeeper, the exercise app, and for her gym power walks with her besties.

Alex Stacy is thankful for “Thank U, Next.”

Emily Tuzik is thankful for her awesome volleyball team.

Dom Cerone is thankful for Mrs. Martin. “She’s my favorite teacher because she always says hi to me in the halls.”

Ellie Hardman is thankful for the opportunities she’s been given her whole life.