The Xbox One >:( a rant with Detox Pig

If you guys have heard about the next-gen consoles, you probably already know about the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. If you know about the Xbox One, then you know what I will say about it. Alright, enough talking, time for the rant.

For one, there is no ability to play games from the Xbox360. This is such a stupid idea. Just why? Really?!? All of my games from the Xbox360-and there are A LOT of games-I won't be able to play! Why? You ask. I have no clue. I spent hundreds of dollars on all of my games, and if I want to play them, I FREAKING CAN'T WITHOUT SWITCHING TO MY XBOX360!

With the Xbox One, used games: If you want to borrow a game from your friend, you have to pay a fee to play it. I don't know if the fee is full price, or maybe $10, but it still sucks. Say I want to play Gears of War 5, so I ask my friend if I could borrow it. He says yes, and I put it in my Xbox One. But I have to PAY A FREAKING FEE TO PLAY IT!!! I MIGHT AS WELL BUY THE GAME IF I HAVE TO PAY A FEE!!!

Call of Duty: Ghosts. 1: it's Call of Duty. 2: They say that the fish moving away when you get near is "amazing", yet Super Mario 64 (1996) had that already, and it came out in 1996! 3: They have added a dog to your squad, to help you out and an emotional link is supposed to form between you and your dog. What does that mean? THEY ARE GOING TO KILL IT!

Highlights from the reveal: "TV, TV, TV, TV, Television, TV, TV, TV, Television, TV, Television, TV," "Sports, Sports, Sports, Sports, Sports, TV, Sports, Television, Sports." "TV, Television, TV, TV, Halo TV series, TV, Television." "Call of Duty, Call of Duty, Call of Duty, Call of Duty, Call of Duty, Call of Duty." "Xbox, go home." I am not kidding, TV BASICALLY ALL THEY SAID!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO GAMES MICROSOFT?!?

Thanks for listening to my rant. Hopefully the Xbox One can turn it around and become awesome.

                                                                   -Detox Pig

Why MCAS is actually bad.

  So last week Detox Pig published a column about Why MCAS is Not That Bad. I happen to disagree with him. Why, you may ask?

 1. It takes away from way more fun stuff.
  The 4-6 days that you spend actually doing MCAS take away from fun activities you may be doing in all of your classes. The 30-45 days you spend preparing for MCAS waste even more time, and you don't actually get anything from it.

 2. They ask questions no one thinks about when they read.

  Picture your self reading a book, lets say the hunger games. You read when Prim is called, and Katniss takes her place. What do you do, read more, stop reading, tell your little brother what just happened and have him laugh at you because you are only that far into the book? How about " infer what writting technique the writer is using" ? That is what I find on many MCAS questions, or something like that. It's stuff you either wouldn't think about or don't want to think about.

 3. The passages that they choose aren't even good. At all.

 Whether you are reading about a stupid seagull or some weird toys, all of the passages are bad. Most of the time there is ONE good one, but then it is ruined by the dumb questions they ask. It HURTS, man. THE PASSAGES HURT!

 And that's what I think about MCAS! Please, talk about what you think in the comments, and if you'd like, you can check out my other posts! Crossbow out.

Top 5 worst candies (not meant to be offensive)

5: Tootsie rolls    

Because they are impossibly sticky 

4: Root beer barrels

Because they are artifical and they are really sticky

3: Black Licorice

The 3rd nastiest candy ever created 

2: Pay day

not everybody can eat peanuts

1: Red Twizzlers

The texture is rough  and it is dry and NASTY

Rants With Miles - The Dentist

I have some pretty strong opinions about things. And I can get into long, spirited arguments about them. This column is about me ranting about things, but you might feel otherwise. If you disagree or want to add to anything I say, simply leave a comment below.

I've always hated the dentist. When I was little, they told me I had five cavities even though I don't eat sweets! My braces were $6,000 on sale! I had to get two teeth extracted to make room in my mouth - for $150 a tooth! Basically, they want money, even though they're all rich already. One of the dentists is always trying to hint at how rich he is, saying things like "Cancel all my appointments, I have to go to my summer home in East Chop." (wherever Chop is)

And the dentists at the place I go to (which I probably shouldn't name) are really mean. They're always telling me I didn't brush well even though I brush fine. Once I got a dentist who, as I got into the chair, said "Oh, God" for no reason. There was a dentist who held open the door for me, but apparently I didn't take long enough to walk through so she just shoved it closed. And once, the dentist was doing a "ligature tie" on my braces. It was really hurting, and then she shook her head. She tried again, and shook her head again. Finally, the leader dentist person came and told her she was doing it wrong. Then the lead dentist did it right in five seconds. Once I was just sitting in the chair for 10 minutes because the dentists were gossiping.

Here's the anatomy of a typical dentist appointment: I get into the waiting room and open up a "National Geographic" magazine. However, I can't read it because of all the creepy little kids screaming as they throw toys around like monkeys. Finally, the dentist calls me in. I sit into the chair, and she does her typical rant about how I didn't brush well. Then she brushes my teeth. Then she puts on the fluoride. That stuff tastes terrible! And for the rest of the day, I always keep burping up fluoride, and I have to cringe up to get it back down.

So basically, dentists are overpriced, mean, and just bad overall. I don't like some woman with a cold (true story; she kept sniffling and coughing throughout the appointment) poking around in my mouth. I don't like creepy kids throwing toys everywhere while screaming as if they're dying in a fire. In short, I dread the dentist. A lot. And you should too.

A typical dentist.

Summer Reading List, Compiled by the RAUC Talk team

Here are some totally awesome books that I and the RAUC Talk club recommend to read over the summer. Some of these books are for younger children but are still the best books ever. Some of these books I don't agree with... Hunger Games... But anyways...

Harry Potter 1-7 By J.K. Rowling
Divergent By Veronica Roth
Incarceron By Catherine Fisher
Daughters of the Sea By Kathryn Lasky
The Hobbit By J.J.R Tolkien
Eragon By Christopher Paolini
True Meaning of Smekday By Adam Rex
Fablehaven By Brandon Mull
Between Shades of Gray By Ruta Sepetys
Holes By Louis Sachar  ( Movie also recommended)
Moon Over Manifest By Clare Vanderpool
Mother Daughter Book Club Series By Heather Vogel Freerick
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas By Jhon Boyne
The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Pains By Harvard Lampoon
I Funny By James Patterson
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist By Rachel Cohn
The Railway Children By Edith Nesbit
Candymakers By Wendy Mass
Mango Shaped Space By Wendy Mass
Twilight By Stephenie Meyer

Computer Programing

Have you ever wanted to do photo manipulation, special effects for movies, or 3D and 2D animations but didn't want to pay so much money for programs? Well I have a solution for you. Blender and Gimp are both free programs that allow you to do those things.

Blender



Blender is a 3D and 2D modeling program that allows you to make animated movies or special effects for movies. Very good quality effects way better than after effects and is totally free. It takes a while to learn but once you learn it you will be satisfied.

Gimp

Is a free photo manipulation program. It can do the same thing as photoshop. But it can also do painting.



Both of these programs work great and I use them all the time. I definitely recommend both programs.

Selfies

SELFIES SELFIES SELFIES... DOES ANYBODY CARE?!?!?!?!?!?!

Why MCAS is actually awesome.

Let's talk about MCAS, the annual state-wide test that all students in Massachusetts must take. Some people despise it, some people like it (not very many, but including me), and some people are indifferent. Hopefully I can convince you to like MCAS, here are some reasons why MCAS is actually awesome!

1. MCAS is very easy (for me at least, this may change for other people). MCAS does not require genius status, just some intelligence of some kind, which i'm sure everybody has.

2. There is no homework. If the teachers assigned homework on MCAS day, or the day before, something is wrong, complain and try to convince your teacher that sleeping and preparing is more important than homework.

3. You get gum, lots of free time, and sleep! Once you are done, you can do what you want, as long as you don't disturb the people still taking the test. If everyone is done, your teacher could take you outside, where you can play.

I hope you have been convinced that MCAS is actually awesome, and thanks for reading!

                                                                -Detox Pig

Albert Howard - Sleepover Part 1

This is actually a real word! Check out the Wikipedia page about it.

SPONGE BOB SQUAREPANTS

some people think that sponge bob is a stupid show but to the people that think that can tell the person who is sponge bobs voice and he will be like "yall just mad that i beez  making more money than you do so just keep being dumb with yo put downs yall thirsty people"

CANDY

Candy

sweet and sour 

Delicious and yummy

chocolate or sour patch

good or bad

white or brown 

chocolate

ON THE BRINK

ATTENTION PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEAR CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. AT THE RAUC MIDDLE SCHOOL ON 70 RINDGE AVE, THERE WILL BE AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL CALLED ON THE BRINK PRODUCED BY TALENTED KIDS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO IF YOU'RE AWESOME, GO TO IT. YOU'LL LAUGH, CRY, BUT OVERALL HAVE A SPECTACULAR TIME. I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING "OH, ANOTHER CRAPPY KID PLAY" BUT THIS IS TRULY AMAZING. AND IF YOU SAW LAST YEAR'S PLAY, YOU WOULD KNOW HOW GOOD THESE  MUSICALS ARE. SO SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             School lunch
                                    Is It Real?

People always want to know if the lunch is real? Well, before we say our opinion here are some quotes we took from you special guest stars. 

Tia: "It sucks because it has mystery meat and taste disgusting!!" 
Stacy: "School lunch is good sometimes but other times it's trash!"

two square

two square
some people like to try to put you down during
it but you get through it and get them out.
I tried to do some research but i couldn't
so i'll talk from memory. ummmm
it's kind of like ping pong but the paddles
are your hands and there are lines.
There is a bouncy ball and people try to get you out.
Even your friends get a little rude but you get over it.If
you go to RAUC or PEABODY you should know this
game and how fun it is.

School Lunch What is it REALLY?

School lunch is a mystery to me. It's supposed to be healthy and tasty but it's just about the opposite. Firstly, school lunch is supposed to keep kids from getting super fat and eating junk food. Well they are certainly keeping kids from getting fat, because the kids don't eat ANYTHING! That just makes kids bring in their own lunches that have junk food in them.
Kids from years past had it good. They got tater tots, french toast stick, jello, and seconds on pizza. The first
thing to go was jello and that was replaced by "fresh fruit" which is actually canned. Do they really think that we think that fruit is bleached and swimming in fruit tainted water. Tater tots and french toast were replaced by whole wheat pancakes and sweet potato fries. Seconds on pizza is non-existent because there are 80 kids per grade and the lunch ladies are really mean :(
Lastly, the lunch options have started becoming more weird they have burritos, and pizza with veggies on it which is gross. These things you have to stay away from because you never will know whats in it, maybe horse meat... yum

Down here I'm going to ask people what they think about the school lunch:

Stacy: Some lunches are good but some are really bad (barf sound)
Tia : School lunch sucks
Jon: It's awful
James: I don't eat it
Jaret: All of it is bad and tastes like diarreah
Nethanya: It's gross

Ms. Elguindy Interview

Ms. Elguindy Interview

By Mystery

Why do you like teaching theater?

"I like teaching theater because it's a chance to see how creative students can be, and it's fun."

What is your favorite play and why?

"Les Misarbles because it was the first I saw."

What is your favorite movie and why?

"Little Mermaid because I like the ocean."

What is your favorite T.V. show and why?

"30 Rock because Tina Fey is my inspiration."

What is your favorite aspect of theater and why?

"Being able to tell stories on stage because it can take stories and make them come to life."

Who is your favorite actor and why?

"Tina Fey because she is hilarious."

How to Improve Substitute Teachers

This is going to sound hypocritical (in fact, it is), but there's a certain feeling I get when there's a sub: I get excited because I know that a class full of doing absolutely nothing is ahead. It usually comes true; the sub tries to get us to work, but there's something about not having the regular teacher that makes kids crazy. People try to switch names, goof off, and say things like "You can't tell me to stop hanging from the ceiling, we're allowed to!" Okay, that last one was an exaggeration, but it's the sort of thing that happens. On the opposite end of the spectrum is subs that are so mean that kids do what they say, but don't have any fun. This is a list of things to improve subs:

1. Don't give us busywork.

Oftentimes, when a sub is present, the teacher gives us absolutely pointless work that its only purpose is to give us something to do. It's very boring, and we don't even get anything from doing it! So teachers, if you know you're going to be absent, at least give us actual work!

2. Don't follow the plan too closely.

I understand how subs want to follow the plan teachers gave them. However, it can be really annoying when there's a sub that follows the plan way too closely. For example, once the plan said to make us work on our projects. However, the plan didn't mention that the projects were on computers (obviously the teacher expected us to tell the sub that, which makes sense), so the sub said we weren't allowed to use them! What followed was a completely pointless class.

3. Be likable while still keeping control.

The examples I gave at the beginning are both extremes of subs. An ideal sub should be right in the middle. It's a hard feat to accomplish, I'll admit, but at least attempt to reach that substitute sweet-spot.

4. Get a helper.

Based on previous experience, it seems that when teachers select a student to guide and help the sub, things go by much easier. Preferably, this helper should have a loud voice. Just saying...

5. The textbook is no fun!

Enough said.

But this is only my opinion. If you want to debate or justify one of these five reasons or add another one, comment below!

A sub with a temper. Comic by JEFF DA EDITOR!

Sprite vs. Pink lemonade: Crossbow's opinion

  Me and Detox got into a debate over which is better; Fizzy drinks or Pink lemonade. For the sake of being specific, the fizzy drink I represent is Sprite. I have 3 reasons why Sprite is better. (Because last time I did 2 reasons not 3 and I got talked to about it :( ) So, without further ado, here we go!

REASON 1: SPRITE IS NOT PULPY

I know some people like pulp in their citrus drinks, but for the most part I do not. It just gets stuck on my teeth and makes me talk all weird. Plus, It makes it hard for me to swallow big gulps of it. With Sprite, you got none of that pulpy stuff. It makes it easier to swallow big gulps, and if there was pulp it would take away from the overall taste.

REASON 2: SPRITE HAS THAT FIZZY TASTE

Most drinks other than fruit juice and water has some fizz in it. ( NOTE: Before I get hate about this, that statement is based on my own experience) The fizz makes this kind of buzzy feeling in your mouth that adds to the taste and flavor. It also seems to help it go down the throat. It also makes your eyes water a bit, which feels kinda good.

REASON 3: IT'S NOT JUST DIFFERENT COLORED LEMONADE

So apparently, Pink lemonade is only lemonade but pink. It often (based on my experience) costs a bit more. For around the same price, you can Sprite which is lemon-lime  soda. You get a whole added flavor for the same price. Not only is that more for the same, it's better tasting too.

So, there you have it, my 3 reasons why Sprite is better than Pink lemonade. If you'd like, comment about my  reasons, why you like sprite, why you dislike, or just your thoughts about the debate in general. Also, check out my other article, Why Gangnam Style is overrated. It's one of the first posts on this blog. Crossbow Out.

Pink Lemonade vs. Sprite (Detox Pig's side)

This is the Pink Lemonade side of Sprite vs. Pink Lemonade. CrossbowPig and I are debating what is better, Pink Lemonade, or Sprite.

I personally think pink lemonade is better because I hate the taste of fizzy drinks. Pink lemonade, even though pink, is still lemonade, which is amazing. Pink lemonade has a refreshing taste to it when thirsty and hot, and has sugar to give you energy. Also, pink lemonade is not pulpy, like regular lemonade is, unless homemade, which most pink lemonade isn't (I don't mind pulp in lemonade, but i hate pulp in orange juice).  the last time I had Sprite, I hated it, and I couldn't taste the flavors over the intense fizzyness war that was raging on my tongue. I think that regular lemonade is a lot better, because it isn't pink, and it has a lot less sugar.. But besides me thinking Sprite isn't very good, I don't really see the point of pink lemonade. Pink lemonade is just lemonade, but pink and with more sugar. I don't have anything against Sprite itself, I just hate fizzy drinks, and Sprite happens to be the one that made me hate them

So that was my side of the debate. Tell us in the comments what you think is better!