MOVIES

Rory O’Shea Was Here

Also known as “Inside I’m Dancing,” this movie has won awards from this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival over the much critically acclaimed, “Herordquo; and “The Motorcycle Diaries.rdquo; Rory moves into the Carrigmore Residential Home for the Disabled and makes a large impact on the home by convincing the other residents to live outside the confines of the home. The biggest impact is upon a young man named Michael, with nearly unintelligible speech, who Rory happens to understand. In theatres February 4th!

MUSIC

The Music-Welcome to the North

I first heard of The Music when I picked up MTV’s “Handpicked Volume 2.” They had a song called “Take the Long Road and Walk It.” I thought they were high-energy and the lead singer had a striking resemblance to one of my cousins. That aside, though, The Music is a great band. You can catch them now on their new CD, “Welcome to the North.” The new single is called “Breakin’” In stores now!

BOOKS

The Running Man by Stephen King

In the tenth grade, we did a literature unit on futuristic books. Here is one of my favorites: In a dystopia, capitalism and TV game shows have gone haywire. The rich and the poor have become so segregated that they each have their own currencies. Ben Richards’s 18-month-old baby girl is suffering from something that could quite possible be pneumonia. In a last-ditch effort to earn some money, he decides to enter himself in one of the sick game shows like the accurately named Swim the Crocodiles. Then, he comes upon The Running Man. The subject of the show is out-smarting the headhunters to live in the lap of luxury. If you fail, you die. No one has survived the show in six years.

Hobby of the Month

In my high school, you are allowed to choose the sport you’d like to play for your gym class. When you are a freshman, they automatically assign you a sport. My first semester, I was assigned volleyball. At first, I didn’t like it at all because I sucked. I couldn’t bump, I couldn’t set, but I could serve. My teammates hated me and I hated gym.

Now, in my senior year, I’m in Advanced Volleyball. Goes to show what a little stick-to-it-ness will do for you. I am an excellent bumper, a good setter, and the best underhand server in the gym. I’m even working on my spike.

My best friend, Channa Smith, is a volleyball freak. It’s all he ever talks about; he’s on the boy’s volleyball team and our gym teacher’s pet (who is also the volleyball coach). He’s the best player in the gym and I’m not just saying that because he’s my best friend. He’s told me that he just loves the feeling of a spike and the ball in his hand.

Playing a sport not only keeps you in shape, but teaches you skills such as teamwork, responsibility, and respect. It happens that volleyball is my sport, but it could be basketball, soccer, swimming (another one of my favorite things), cricket or fencing. Being active is very important in today’s society, so get out there and play!