Phoenix Madness!!!

If you like smooth indie beats and songs that range from care free to extreme sobriety then Phoenix is the band for you. With songs like “Lisztomania” that describe an insatiable need to be outdoors having fun or songs like “Everything is Everything" that convey a sense of cool melancholy, Phoenix can easily fit whatever mood you're in. Phoenix is a French indie-band based out of Versailles that began their debut in France in 2000 with their release of their first album titled "United". United's most popular songs are "If I ever feel better" and "Too young". This album sets up the overall distinguishing characteristics of the band which is a relaxed mix of lighthearted beats with dark undertones.

So what does the music actually sound like????

One of the really interesting things about this band is that even though they are a French band, they sing in English! In any song you can easily hear (if not feel) the thumping bass and the instrumental interludes that will carry you away to a world that Phoenix has created. The synthesizer adds to the sometimes fast and sometimes slow backbeat creating a sort of musical rollercoaster for the listener. In other words this band isn't boring! Thomas Mars (the lead singer) has a voice that immediatly lets the listener know that they are indeed listening to Phoenix. His voice is right in that sweet spot between too high and too low. The songs on every album seemingly flow into one another composing an endless symphony of wistful rhythms.

My favorite song has to be "Lisztomania"...wait maybe "If I ever feel better"...or "Everything is Everything"...or "Fences"! I can't really pick a favortie song because I love so many of their songs. I'm not one of those crazy die hard fans or anything but they do speak to almost any mood I'm in. Sometimes after a long day, I can go home, turn on my ipod, and crank up the Phoenix tunes and the rest of the world melts away. The stress of my AP classes is replaced with calmness as soon as I put in my headphones and the indie beats fill my head. Don't you love it when music can do that?

I would recommend this band to anyone who likes alternative and indie music or music that just makes you feel good!

Love and Rockets,

Cheyenne

the girl name April, but was born in March

As a rising senior at Henry W. Grady High School, April McFadden has many interesting things that go on her life. McFadden has three siblings, one is an older half brother, whose name is Terance and is twenty 20 years old. Another on of her siblings is a half sister named Jo’Nay who id also 20 years old. And last, she has a sister named Summer. McFadden also has pet in her house. She has a dog, whose name is lucky, and a cat named symbols, and its 9 years old.

While talking to McFadden she also mention that if she could travel anywhere in the world she would like to go to Australia. And while being in Australia she would most defiantly wear UGG boots. And she would also like to travel to South America; she does not have a specific country, because she wants to travel all around it.

Something that is very interesting that I learned from McFadden is that she was not born in April; she was actually born in March. And one of her favorite things to do is think. She rather think than do something else.

McFadden is also a big fan of food. She loves to eat any type of food, but her favorite is bread. She also mentions that currently she is in love with hamburgers.

When it comes to sports McFadden is a team player herself. She plays lacrosse, and is part of the cross-country team. Although when it comes to watching sports, she is a lover of men’s basketball, but her favorite has to be professional basketball, and all other sports in general.

At the end I also asked McFadden if she had a nice time in Rockstar Journalism camp, and her answer was yes. She said, “ My favorite part was that everybody is really nice and different.”

love, silvia

Reflection of the Week...

This week at Journalism camp has been one of the greatest experiences of my life! I have truly learned so much from the teachers as well as the students who also attended the camp. Every person that I met had a different story about themselves, which made it so interesting to meet everyone! As far as journalism goes, I feel like I have improved my writing skills so much! Being so involved in journalism for so many hours a day every day of the week has really helped me get an idea of what being in a journalism career is actually like! There are so many things that I have learned that I am going to take back with me to my school's newspaper staff. Now I know that there is definitely a lot of work that my staff can improve on as a whole. What will I always remember? The people! Everyone here has impacted me in one way or another as a journalist. In general, this experience has been great. I have learned so much and I am so happy that I signed up for this. I definitely feel as if I have improved as a journalist.

Profile: Malikah Thompson

Malikah Thompson sighed and stared half-interestedly at the ceiling as she attempted to remember the hundreds of things she aspired to be as a child. “Definitely a photographer… a professional singer…” she said, recalling childhood days when anything seemed possible. “Oh, and Savion Glover made me want to be a tap dancer for awhile!”

Thompson’s previous enthusiasm about life has translated to huge dreams as a 16-year-old today. Though she said in a recent interview that her favorite things to do are “sleeping and eating,” her list of life and career goals is just as lengthy as it was ten years ago. She describes her dreams of traveling the world with the U.N. or a major publication with extreme zest; she is fond of foreign languages, especially French, and is ecstatic to see how this interest will benefit her halfway around the globe.

Though she has always held on to big dreams, life has not always been so bright and promising for Thompson. When asked about her childhood in Athens, Stone Mountain, and Virginia, she refused to say much more than, “It was decent. It had issues.” These mysterious statements allude to rocky times that perhaps influenced her current attitude toward people in general. “Real” people are the only ones she can stand – she refuses to put up with liars and stuck-up attitudes and typically surrounds herself with loyal people that maintain goals as magnificent as hers.

In the same fashion, she admires a down-to-earth acceptance that allows her to dress almost primarily for comfort. She adores girly boots and skirts but at the end of the day finds that she is still holding on to the same adoration of relaxed items that she has “worn forever.” Maybe this is why she adamantly insults cold winter months; extra layers simply mean more to fuss over.

Thompson gives off the impression that she could talk about her future forever. She says that she is most inspired when imagining her graduation day-the day the majority of her family failed to reach. Though it is clear that Thompson will indeed one day walk the stage to receive her diploma, the possibilities that will arise after seem endless.

Cheyenne Cheathem: Personal Profile

Cheyenne Cheathem: Personal Profile
By Marisa Meyerowitz

Cheyenne Cheathem is a high spirited 16 year old whose laughs and smiles are contagious to those around her. “People say I have a sunny personality,” said Cheathem, “One of them [my strengths] would have to be that I am a people person.”

Cheathem was born in Bethesda, Maryland but now lives in Austell, Georgia where she enjoys dancing and writing poetry and short stories in her spare time. As a teenager that attends Kennesaw Mountain High School, Cheathem’s favorite subjects are English and science. School is very important to her, as she takes many AP classes in the subjects that are of interest.

Cheathem is at the Georgia Journalism Academy this week because of her large interest in journalism as a career. Cheathem would like to intern for CNN Center as a way to gain experience in the field, especially because she lives very close to Atlanta, a city in which one of CNN’s headquarters is located. Although working at CNN would be a great experience, Cheathem’s ideal job is to one day be the host of her very own talk show.

Other than being a people person, Cheathem has many other strengths, such as writing, working with computers and giving good advice. “ I can give really good advice when you’re sad,” according to Cheathem, “I also give a lot of relationship advice.” As far as the computers go, Cheathem giggled when she stated that she was a female who was really good with fixing technical and operational computer malfunctions.

When it came to her weaknesses, Cheathem was not afraid to be blunt about the instances that she can work on in her life. “I’m easily distracted,” she admitted, “I bite off more than I can chew.” Because Cheathem is member of a math, science and robotics magnet program in school, she takes many hard classes that “kick her butt.”

As for her favorites, colors change day to day. “Today it’s red,” Cheathem stated on June 10. Her favorite food is “pizza all the way,” and her favorite movie is “Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” Although Cheathem does not really watch television, if she had to pick one show it would be “Glee,” and her favorite college sports team? University of Georgia Bulldogs!

When it comes down to her family, Cheathem’s mother is her role model because “She has done a lot. She was in the military for 22 years, and she is a very strong person.” Because of this, Cheathem hopes to be as strong as her mother has been. After all, one of the Cheathem’s largest scares is “the idea of not being able to make the most out of life.”

With this outlook, Cheathem is sure to live life to its fullest. Although she is an only child, she is a strong individual who knows what she wants. So watch out; you may just happen to turn on the TV in a few years and see the newest talk show airing with Cheyenne Cheathem as its host!

It's the Final Countdown!

OMG camp is over! It's been a tough week, but i had so much fun. I met friends that I'll probably talk to forever. Ms. Mary Jessica Hammes was an amazing teacher and the gal pals were awesome.

To Lisa Your vocabulary and word choice is going to make me carry a dictionary everywhere now.

To Kate I love your style.

To Cheyenne We've had countless laughs together.

To Marisa Good luck, with your leadership, your newspaper will do well this year.

To Ke'Ana Your such a sweetheart ILY.

To Malikah To our laughs and boys.

To Sylvia You are a Super Happy Fun Person.

I learned that I shouldn't take on too many stories if I want to write great ones. I also learned that I'm pretty good at writing leads. My newly acquired editing skills and new words that I got from Lisa. I will always remember the friends I made.

I will miss everyone...and this camp. "Girl Power" is "Spectacular".

The Essence of Sylvia

All giggles and smiles, Sylvia Rodriguez sits in her chair spinning slightly. The 16-year-old El Salvador native will be entering her senior year at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens this fall.

Rodriguez, a member of her school’s swim and varsity soccer teams, enjoys making jewelry in her spare time.

“In the summer, I make a lot of stuff I don’t wear,” she said with a laugh.

She recently got beads from South America and likes to make jewelry because she can determine the size and colors herself. As well as jewelry-making Rodriguez loves shopping, dressing up and swimming.

“I love swimming, I could swim all day,” she said.

Rodriguez, with a smile to match her cheerful personality, spent half of her life in El Salvador and the other half in Georgia.

“The food’s different. Pupusas are really good,” said Rodriguez about the stuffed tortillas with beans and cheese.

Rodriguez describes her perfect day as warm but not to warm where you’re sweating with a lunch and ending the day with a walk in the park to watch the sunset. In the future she sees herself in a dentist office and hopefully married in ten years. This is much different from her childhood aspirations.

“I wanted to be a teacher, ”she said. “I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher.”

Her best friend is Ecuadorian and was born in New York, she’s sad that she’s in Chile because she can’t see her but when they are together they like to act silly and have fun.

Sylvia enjoys being happy and rides her bike in her free time.

“I’m always laughing, smiling—I can’t stop,” she said.