The

Bolt September 2014

Emi Yasuda

In the work culture of the modern world, sleep

can easily be regarded as a futile process.

When time is limited, and work is boundless,

taking an eight-hour break seems entirely

illogical. In the words of Russian-American

novelist Vladimir Nabokov,

“Sleep is the most moronic fraternity in the

world, with the heaviest dues and the crudest

rituals.”

While regarding sleep as an unyielding enemy

seems like a logical path, this essential

biological process is much more than a

ritualistic burden. Before deciding that

purposeful sleep deprivation is the way to go,

you may want to consider its health and social

consequences. Lack of sleep sure does a lot

more than make you drowsy the next day or

late for class.s

For starters, low sleep can significantly

reduce your stress threshold. In a study

conducted earlier this year, a team of seven

researchers found that sleep deprived

individuals have higher levels of stress

compared to those who get a full night’s sleep.

Participants in the study were kept three days

overnight and were given activities in the

daytime such as delivering a speech in front of

a three-member panel and completing

complicated arithmetic. The researchers

ascertained from their results stress-related

consequences for night (cont. on page 3)

Elizabeth Hong

On August 9th

, just before noon, Michael Brown, a recent high

school graduate, entered Ferguson Market and Liquor with his

friend, Dorian Johnson. Minutes later, the two encountered

police officer Darren Wilson who, at the time, didn’t know that

Brown was suspected of robbing cigarettes from the liquor store.

The exact details of the altercation are still unclear as witnesses

and the Ferguson police have provided conflicting accounts.

Within just three minutes, Brown, (cont. on page 2)

More inside…

“September” – Delwen McLeod

The holidays you never knew existed (pg 3)

“The SeaWorld Dilemma” – Meghan Jacinto

More on the ongoing debate about wild animals kept in

captivity (pg 5)

“Why Aren’t You Happy” – Toby Ngo

A story (pg 6)

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The Edison Charger Newspaper

Ferguson and its Aftermath

(Hong, page 1) an unarmed black teenager, was

sprawled on the ground, dead from six gunshots

fired by Wilson. Brown’s friend, Johnson, has

stated that they were ordered onto the sidewalk

when the struggle occurred. He, along with other

witnesses, claimed that Brown was shot on his

knees while surrendering; however, the police

have alleged Brown tried to take Wilson’s gun

and Wilson merely practiced self-defense.

The tragic conflict has ignited

demonstrations in Ferguson against police

brutality and racial profiling. In Ferguson, a small

community where 67% of the 21,000 residents are

black and 95% of the police force is white, racial

divides are palpable. Many of the Missouri

suburb’s black residents cannot even count the

many times they’ve been stopped by police. The

death of 18-year-old Michael Brown has riled a

city that bears the weight of a history of racism

and injustice.

The waves of peaceful demonstrations and

rioters have been difficult to subside. Protestors

continue to be angered by the facts: Brown’s body

was left in the street for four hours and Wilson’s

name was withheld from the public for many

days. Perhaps, the most infuriating spark of the

tensions has been the unrestrained display of force

on the town. St. Louis County police officers,

SWAT teams, Missouri State Highway Patrol,

and the National Guard have suppressed protestors with

tear gas, LRAD, rubber bullets, and have even

threatened citizens at gunpoint. Photos and videos

documenting the militarized scenes are unnerving;

police officers parade across Ferguson equipped with

300m guns and snipers on top of armed vehicles.

Police brutality stemming from racial targeting

is prevalent not only in the case of Michael Brown but

also across America’s history. The death of Michael

Brown and the aftermath of it draw parallels to the

Civil Rights Movement, the 1992 Rodney King riots in

Los Angeles, and the recent death of Eric Garner, an

African American who died from a chokehold used by

a NYPD officer. These are all deeply tied to the

nation’s black-white divide and bring up questions on

police policies and social issues.

The question that then remains is: How many

Michael Browns are killed by police? The truth is, there

is no answer. Many police departments fail to even

keep track of violent encounters between police and

civilians. The story of Michael Brown is not an

uncommon narrative. In just the first three months of

2012 alone, police and security personnel killed 18

unarmed African Americans, including Travyon

Martin. The outpourings of grief and anger in response

to Michael Brown’s death signify a hopeful message

from this tragedy. We are becoming more aware of and

more sensitive to injustice. ⧫

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Delwen McLeod

September is one of the busiest times of the year. In

the ninth month, students and teachers across the

northern hemisphere head back to school. However,

September is not only back-to-school time. It is a time

to celebrate a plethora of exciting events and holidays.

In fact, by the end of this article, you may find

yourself embracing your inner pianist and discovering

an inner passion for blueberry popsicles.

Thousands of different awareness months and

holidays take place throughout the year. Out of them

all, those in September just might be the most quirky.

We have spent the past months raising awareness for illnesses, encouraging acceptance and celebrating

history. While September is a great time to do all these things, it is also Fall Hat Month. Not only do hats provide

SPF protection, but they also are a great way to show school spirit. Toss aside your straw sunhats and khaki visors. In

September, hat-fanatics alike show off their style in knit beanies and felted caps. Adults, kids, and teens come

together across the nation come together to show off their headgear in style (just not in class).

While you are busy toting a new lid, you may also want to try your hand at piano. As an unknown person

once said, "Pianos are such noble instruments - they're either upright or grand." These words ring true, for despite

being a 319-year-old invention, pianos are still one of the world’s most popular instruments, used for classical, jazz,

and even pop music. This versatile instrument is played by over twenty-one million people (cont. on page 4)

(Yasuda, page 1) owls including poor judgment, anxiety, in addition to lowered social acuity. Does this sound

familiar?

However, the consequences of sleep deprivation can extend far beyond a stressful day at school. Multiple

studies have suggested a correlation between mental illness and sleep loss. Before mental conditions are diagnosed,

subjects often have pre-existing sleep disorders. At Harvard Medical School, researchers noted a connection

between depression and poor sleep. When you get less sleep, your levels of serotonin decrease. Serotonin impacts

your mood, and an imbalance in your levels can lead to anxiety, depression, and even anger.

Getting a good night’s rest is even more essential for athletes. From experience, you’ll know that rest will

make you more active and alert. However, this is just one of sleep’s many benefits. Sleep gives your body time to

restore. Without this time, muscle injuries or any trauma caused by working out or playing a game will take longer

to heal. Researchers studying the Stanford University basketball team, found that after several months of increased

sleep, players’ speeds increased by 5% and their free throw accuracy increased by 9%! Now imagine what you

could do with a few more hours of shuteye! Ace every test, get a hole in one. Why even the SAT would be child's

play…

Sleep, however, is not only important for athletes. Unsurprisingly, your academic performance also suffers

from poor sleep habits. These pitfalls go far beyond falling asleep in class. The time you spend sleeping is essential

to process the information you learned during the day. Without enough sleep, you are likely to forget what you

studied, or have been too tired to study in the first place!

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(McLeod, page 3) worldwide. That is why September is

Piano Month! During September, pianists and music

lovers come together to share their love of this amazing

instrument. How can you celebrate? Listen to some

piano tunes like Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” or brush

up on your piano skills with virtualpiano.net.

Is piano not your forte? Well, Ahoy Chargers,

you’re in luck! Find your eye patches and get out your

treasure maps because September nineteenth is

International Talk like a Pirate Day (ITLAPD). This

parodic holiday was created in 1995 by John Baur and

Mark Summers. While originally the day was an inside

joke between the two friends, ITLAPD soon spread in

popularity with the help of award winning humor

columnist Dave Barry. Today, thousands of people

choose to find Polly a cracker and embrace parody

pirate culture. For some tips and tricks on improving

your pirate lingo, visit talklikeapirate.com.

Is all this talk about pirates making you hungry?

Probably not, but perhaps this will! In 1905, a young

boy named Frank Epperson left a fruity drink with a

stirring stick on his porch. Upon awakening the next

morning, Frank discovered a delicious frozen treat. He

called it the “epsicle.” Eighteen years later, it became

the “popsicle.” Since its invention in 1905, the Popsicle

has grown increasingly in popularity. In fact, September 2nd

is National Blueberry Popsicle Day. Folks

nationwide purchase or make their own blueberry popsicles to honor the invention of this delicious frozen treat.

Don’t worry, even if National Blueberry Popsicle Day has passed, you will still be able to celebrate National

Grape Popsicle Day on May 27th

!

Are you planning on procrastinating on your Popsicle celebrations? Are your three favorite phrases “I’ll

do it later,” “I’ll finish it tomorrow,” and “I’ll do it at lunch”? Many people across the nation consider

procrastination a lifestyle, but as Mark Twain said, “Never put off until tomorrow, what you can do today.”

September 6th

is Fight Procrastination Day. On this day, anti-procrastinators and procrastinators alike come

together to get things done. Try making a personal schedule or follow Nike’s advice and “Just Do It”!

From pirates to popsicles, this September will most certainly be a month to remember! Who knows, by

October, you could be the next model of The Panama Hat Company, the captain of a pirate ship, or even a

concert pianist! ⧫

Although your schedule may be busier than New York's Penn Station, remember that it’s still important to

prioritize your health. While cutting down sleep may seem like a good option in the short term, the long term

health consequences can be detrimental. But, if you are truly unsure about changing your habits, I’d recommend

just sleeping on it. ⧫

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accidents in the water. However, SeaWorld says what

their whales do in captivity will help promote the growth

of killer whales in their natural habitat. SeaWorld is

persistent in saying that the trainers are fully aware of

the very high risk of training with these larger animals.

SeaWorld also did not make a comment on PETA’s

stock purchase plan, but said in a statement, “We are

proud of our world-class standards of care. We’re also

proud of our work rescuing wild animals in need,

rehabilitating them and returning them to the wild. These

are real and tangible efforts that are making a difference.

We wish the same could be said for PETA’s efforts and

use of their funds.”

As usual, there are two sides to this important

issue. Continued research and education on the Sea

World dilemma will one day lead to positive changes for

other wild creatures living in captivity for their

protection – and our enjoyment. ⧫

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The SSeeaaWWoorrlldd Dilemma Meghan Jacinto

The struggle to release orcas from captivity is an

ongoing concern. Recently, PETA has been

purchasing SeaWorld stock in the hopes of ending

killer whale captivity for good. By investing in more

stock, PETA aims to gain control over the well-

known animal park in order to relocate the animals to

larger coastal sanctuaries. Due to their large size,

PETA estimates that it takes a killer whale at least

1,500 loops around a tank just to equal the distance it

would swim in the wild. After the documentary

Blackfish, more individuals have become aware of

some of the issues orcas have in captivity, such as

attacking (and at times killing) trainers due to

Why Aren’t You Happy? A Vignette

By Toby Ngo

You are a Homo sapien —a member of a species existing alongside 8.7 million others

on earth. A species is a group of living organisms that are closely related and can produce fertile

offspring.

There are roughly 7 billion Homo sapiens on planet Earth. With eleven other planets,

Earth orbits its closest energy spewing star. This star is called the Sun, and it is just one of the

300 billion stars that belong to the Milky Way galaxy. There are more than 54 galaxies in the

Local Group and that group comprises an exceedingly small portion of the Virgo Supercluster

such that the supercluster is “very approximately” 7,000 times larger than the Local Group.

There are so many superclusters that we can’t count them all.

As Homo sapiens, we ask questions all the time. When will the universe stop

expanding? Why are we here? Are ideas, information, and other non-concrete things worth

dying for?

I remember sitting down at an elementary school assembly alongside forty other

classmates. The speaker was talking about space exploration, reporting to us for a reason that I

cannot recall, the United States’ most recent triumphs. He also told us that we’d likely have

accomplished colonizing the moon around 2016 or 2020.

It’s at this point I feel I should interrupt to tell you that I’m not fabricating this story. If I

was reading an article like this, one of my first thoughts would be, “you made this up,” or

something of that sort. I didn’t.

Either way, he gave all the teachers coupons at the end of the assembly for 90% off at a

moon hotel planned for construction. Most of the teachers seemed enthralled with the idea of

going off and staying on the moon for a short while, mentally filing away their domestic lives.

Maybe then they could finally be freed from the ennui of upper middle class living, escaping

instead into lunar opulence.

My teacher though, when we got back to our classroom, admitted to something similar

happening to her about thirty years ago. Another speaker had given her a ticket for a free week

in a consumer spacecraft scheduled to be orbiting the earth sometime in August of 2000. And of

course she still had the coupon and the whole ‘consumer spacecraft orbiting the earth’ wasn’t

actualized. She was amused by that and so were we.

The point is that if there is something which makes you happy to dream about —

however unrealistic — you ought to try and achieve it. ⧫

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Letter from the Editor

Your alarm clock has lost its coat of dust. The ice cream truck’s horn

is no longer your wristwatch. The biggest decision you have to make is not

between ice cream and a Popsicle. Yes, fellow Chargers, summer is over,

but welcome back to the beginning of another great year. If you were

like many and spent these past months working, taking courses, or

prepping for the SAT then perhaps your “summer” is just beginning!

Whichever group you fall into, welcome back from the Bolt staff! We’d like

to give an especially warm welcome to all of you who are new to Edison

this year. While we all dread waking up at the crack of dawn and

performing a juggling act between academics and extracurriculars, the

start of the school year also brings a great opportunity to set new goals,

make new friends, and explore new things!

What better time than now to introduce to you Edison’s student-run

newspaper, the Bolt. What is the Bolt? It is not a metal fastener for your

carpentry projects. It is not an Olympian who can run faster than the wind,

nor is it a movie starring Miley Cyrus. It's your school newspaper.

We publish one issue every month, with topics ranging from politics,

to science, to school fashion! There are (almost) no restrictions on what

you can write. We encourage our writers to try out new styles, and be

creative. The Bolt is a great place for you to grow as a writer, and share

with the student body. Don’t be afraid if you don’t think your writing is up

to par. You don’t need to be the next Hemingway! Anyone at the Bolt will

be happy to help you out.

There will be lots of exciting opportunities for writers this year to have

their work showcased on a national level. The Bolt has now become a

member of the National Scholastic Press Organization. This gives Bolt

writers an exclusive opportunity to enter articles in national contests!

Categories include Story of the year, Cartoon of the year, Photo of the

year, and more!

Even if English isn’t your forte, be sure to check out our booth at club

rush! In addition, keep listening to the announcements or visit our

Facebook page for information on the next meeting. Who knows, the next

issue of the Bolt could feature an article written by YOU!

Best,

Emi Yasuda

Editor-in-Chief

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Movie Pick of the Month

Wish I Was Here (2014)

Director: Zack Braff

The movie follows the story of Aidan Bloom, who is

an actor, father, and husband. At 35, Aidan is still

trying to find his identity. When his father can no

longer help pay for his children’s private

education, Aidan decides to home school them

instead. While educating them about his life, he

discovers more about himself.

Starring: Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, Joey King, Jim

Parsons

Comedic Drama

Book Pick of the Month

Humans of New York

By Brandon Stanton

Brandon Stanton, a photographer in New York City,

wanted to create a photographic census of the

people in the city. He captured people and their

stories and began posting it on his blog “Humans of

New York.” The blog has grown and is supported by

millions of followers all over the social media. His

book, “Humans of New York”, is based off his blog

and shows exclusive portraits and a collection of

stories of the fascinating people of New York City.

The Bolt Executive Staff 2014-2015

Emi Yasuda Editor-in-Chief

Meghan Jacinto Secretary

Ryan Smith Financial Representative

Brett Austin Site Coordinator

Leslie Young Layout Manager

Song Picks of the Month

“Hello Goodbye” – The Beatles

“1901” – Phoenix

“Stolen Dance”- Milky Chance

“Apartment”- Young the Giant

Want to write about what interests you?

Join The Bolt! Meetings are Tuesdays in Room 129

Be sure to check out the Bolt website at

ehsboltnewspaper.wordpress.com

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Sketch feature: Leslie Young

Digital Art