IN THIS ISSUE

Homeschooling Teen Profile: Scott MacIntyre

College-Bound: California Lutheran University

NEW COLUMNIST! The World Around Us: Water for Sale, by Adrianna Kuzma

His Story, His World: by Aubrey

The Razor's Edge: by Madeleine

Your Fashion Signature: by MaryssaJoy

Laughter, Tears, and Our Teen Years, by McKennaugh

Stepping Stones: by Michaela

The Sports Report: by Caela

Bookshelf of a (Maybe) Teen Author: Princess Bellarina

Anime Review: by Xbolt

Game Review: by Josh

Joke of the Month: by Jon

Cartoon: "Know Brainz," by Savanna and Devin

Homeschooling High School: How Homeschoolers Use the iPad

Career-of-the-Month: Librarian

E-Mail Etiquette: Tip-of-the-Month

And much more!!!

College Bound 

Now is the time for high school juniors - especially if they dream of attending a highly selective college - to start thinking about taking the SAT and/or ACT. Besides good transcripts and letters of recommendation, entrance exams are an important part of the admission process. While some colleges have waived these tests as a requirement, many colleges and universities still rely heavily on SAT and ACT scores to help in admissions decisions. A typical applicant to a competitive college might boast section scores in the upper 20s for the ACT and above 600 for the SAT.  

  Read more by clicking

HERE 

Sponsored in part by

 

 

Sylvan SAT/ACT� Prep can help you prepare.  

Find a participating Sylvan below 

  or visit www.tutoring.sylvanlearning.com

to find a center near you.  

  

May is...

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

National Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month

Mental Health Month

Flower Month

National Bike Month

Physical Fitness & Sports Month

National Scrapbooking Month

Digital Evangelism Month

Historic Preservation Month

National Egg Month

National Hamburger Month

National Salad & Salsa Month

Older Americans Month

Cinco de Mayo, May 5

National Etiquette Week, May 7-11

Mother's Day, May 13  

International Museum Day, May 18

Armed Forces Day, May 19

Memorial Day, May 28

Click here for more May days:

SAT WORD OF THE MONTH

con�vic�tion [kuhn-VIK-shuhn] noun - 1. a fixed or firmly held belief or opinion.

See if you can find the word "conviction" used elsewhere in this issue!

Tell us about your favorite homeschool-friendly college, and we will feature it in an upcoming issue! [email protected]    

E-mail Etiquette Tip of the Month

Before you forward an e-mail that appears well intentioned with an incredible story that instructs you to "read and share" with everyone you know, first check http://Snopes.com to see if the story is even legit. 

Many of these type of chain letter e-mails are hoaxes made up to watch everyone online forward them around. I know, some folks have too much time on their hands!

Not vetting these e-mails before you forward them along can have you eating crow when everyone you e-mail is informed you just forwarded a hoax and didn't know better. 

If you don't know for a fact that the e-mail you are forwarding is accurate and specifically apropos to the person you are forwarding to - then just hit delete.

This E-mail Etiquette Tip is provided as a courtesy by: www.NetManners.com 

 "If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it." ~ Jonathan Winters

Learn more about  famous homeschoolers at www.FamousHomeschoolers.net

We want to hear from you! If you are involved with an amazing project, volunteer in your community, have a special interest that you're passionate about, possess a unique skill, talent or ability, or have accomplished something positive and extraordinary for a person your age or in your situation - be sure to tell us about it and we will feature you in our magazine!  

Contact: [email protected]   

Send your book reviews to: [email protected] 

Rescued

By Katie Bailey, 15

Standing alone in a dark, lightless room

Wondering where I have been.

How did I come to this dark lightless room

And when shall the darkness all end?

Standing there waiting, and watching in hope

For a sunbeam of light to break through.

Shining on me, 

So for once I may see,

Past the darkness that pierces me through.

Slumbering there, the dreams that I feel 

Are filled with a gloom so remote

I awake with great haste, 

And glance about me, 

But all is still dark as the deep, doomed, dark sea.

I close my eyes tight, and pray for release

From this room full of darkness and dread.

And just then I see, 

A beam shooting towards me, 

Lighting a life-line that before I could 

not see.

I grabbed at that line in complete desperation,

Holding on for dear life

And a strong, gentle hand,

Lifted me up, 

Up out of that dark lightless room.

I shall never return to that room full of filth,

As long as the life-line I seize,

But if I let go,

I shall drop, I shall fall

In-to that abyss for as long as I live.

I will seize the life-line,

And hold on forever.

I don't want to stumble, 

I don't want to fall,

I want to be faithful to my savior's dear call.

Exciting News!

We have a new Homeschooling Teen FAN PAGE on Facebook!

Here is the link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Homeschooling-Teen/119237994780935

Please join us and let's keep in touch!

The Old Man and His Wife

By Kayla Johnson, 15

It was a beautiful Wednesday afternoon in southern Arizona, and Mr. and Mrs. Walker were sitting on their small front porch in their old, wooden rocking chairs. There was a slight breeze and a fair amount of sunshine, which perfectly evened out to a cool, pleasant day for this old couple. Mrs. Walker was quietly tending to her sewing chores, and her husband sat motionless as he remained in deep thought with his hand on his head. Although they did not have anything exciting or entertaining that they were engaged in, this happy little couple was completely content with their peaceful afternoon.

As Mr. Walker sat there thinking, his wife's curiosity led her to ask him, "What thoughts could possibly absorb all of your attention this afternoon, Jed?"

As the old man looked in her direction with an uncertain expression on his wrinkled face, he shortly replied, "Oh, nothing of great importance. I was just admiring the beautiful red and pink flowers you recently planted in our garden over there."

"Why, are you sure that there isn't anything else you want to talk about? It seems as if something is troubling you," the wife responded in a questionable tone.

"Please, don't worry about me. I can assure you that there is nothing the matter," he replied positively.

From then on until the rest of the day, the wife did not dare to bother him any longer, but she still felt she knew him well enough to know that there was something on his mind. Regardless of her uncertain mood, the two of them went to bed shortly after a good meal of tomato soup and buttered bread.

The next morning, Jed was up bright and early to get a head start on the morning chores. Before he left for the kitchen, he took a good look around their bedroom as an idea sparked in his head. Secretly, he had been pondering on the subject of his wife's birthday which was in eight days, and he wanted more than anything to surprise her with a wonderful birthday present. The problem was that he did not know what kind of present he should prepare for her. However, that morning was the morning that he knew exactly what he would do. He would make her a beautiful oak-wood dresser from the trees in a field nearby. His wife's old dresser was practically falling apart, and it hardly had enough space for the things she wanted to keep in it. Quickly, he ate a small breakfast and headed for the shed. There he would find his metal tool box with everything he would need to build a beautiful dresser for his wife.

"Dear, what are you doing so early this morning?" the old wife asked as her suspicion built upon her questions from the day before.

"Mary, you needn't worry about a thing. I am just catching up on some business in the shed," he added hoping she would leave the conversation at that.

"Jed, I just don't understand. Why are you afraid to tell me what you have been up to?" she stated in a more demanding tone.

"Please dear, do not ask me anymore questions. You will find out what I am doing soon enough," the old man said as he concluded the short conversation.

After that, the old wife knew that she would just have to trust that Jed would soon reveal his secret to her. As she gave up her persistence, the tired wife continued on with her day.

Before saying another word, Jed finally made his way to the shed and picked up the old tool box. Sooner than he knew it, he was already gathering the wood he would need to build his wife a beautiful oak dresser. His wife never bothered to come out to the shed, but just in case she did, Jed locked the heavy doors to conceal his secret until the right time. During the whole rest of that long, tiring afternoon, Jed worked his hardest at sawing, carving and screwing until his hands were sore. Once the evening came to an end, he left his work and came inside for another meal.

"How was your day, Mary?" the old man said with a smile on his face.

"Oh, never better. I finished the house cleaning and completed my sewing projects before I started on dinner." she said as she tried her best to squeeze her long day into one brief sentence.

"Well, I'm sure glad to hear that," he continued, "and my day was a fine one as well."

"You sure seem to be happy," the suspicious wife pointed out, "It wouldn't have anything to do with that project you've been sweating over all day in the shed, would it?"

"We are not going to discuss any more of this matter as of tonight," he briefly stated with a serious look in his eyes.

The two finished up their dinner which was composed of cooked veggies and ham. Shortly later, the couple went to bed without another word said.

As the week went by, Jed worked harder than ever in the shed while his wife occasionally looked out the window in wonder of what he could be up to. She did not have the slightest clue of what he was doing. Of course, she was aware that her birthday was coming up, but her husband never did anything this great for such an occasion. After the first few days of questioning herself about the subject, she finally gave up. She did not even bother to ask her husband Jed any further questions.

The new oak dresser was coming together beautifully. Jed could not help but keep a large grin on his face once a day was completed. After much hard labor throughout the week, his masterpiece was finally completed, and his wife's birthday was the next day. Now he needed to think of the best way possible to surprise her with the wonderful gift. Soon enough, he had his thoughts all sorted out and an idea was planned.

The next morning, the old man was up bright and early at five-o'clock to prepare his surprise. The night before, Jed spoke with a friend down the street and asked him if he could help him carry the dresser into their bedroom. Sure enough, Jed's close, young friend Clark showed up in a quiet manner at their front porch at just the time they planned to meet. The two of them made a trip to the shed and came out with the dresser. They silently and gently carried it into the perfect place of their bedroom where they set it in front of the bed.

"Thanks so much for helping me out," Jed said in a grateful manner before his friend on the front porch.

"No problem. I know your wife will love what you made for her. Let me know how everything turns out," Clark said as he left the Walker's property.

Just about two hours later, the sun was creeping over the mountaintops and Jed's excited mood led him to pace back and forth until his wife would wake up. The old man had neatly placed some red and pink flowers on top of the dresser with their petals facing the bedside. He quietly waited in the front living room on his old chair until his wife would wake up to her surprise. He didn't want to be in the room when she woke up; rather, he decided that she could discover the surprise on her own which would make her astonishment even bigger.

As the window allowed sunlight to bathe the bedroom in golden color, the wife suddenly woke up with a pleasant expression on her face. Then she slowly turned her head to see if her husband was already up. Seeing that he was, she slowly moved out of bed when her eyes caught sight of the beautiful, wooded dresser standing before her eyes. In a speechless, amazed way, everything all of a sudden made sense to her like a puzzle being put together right before her eyes. This is what her sweet, thoughtful husband had been up to that whole time. With happiness running through her feeble body, she ran to find her husband sitting in the living room where he had waited for over two hours.

"It's so beautiful, Jed!" she said in an astounded approach. "Thank you so much! I don't know what to say or how to thank you."

"Happy birthday, dear Mary," Jed happily said as he embraced her with a hug and a tender kiss on her cheek. "I hope you like it."

"Oh, I love it! It is so beautiful. You are a very kind, thoughtful man," she concluded in the most grateful manner she knew how.

The two of them spent the rest of the day in each other's company as happy as two old married people could ever be. 

MOVIE QUOTE - Can you guess what movie this quote came from?

-I thought you were an optimist.
-You were wrong...I'm a realist.
-Ah, that's just another name for a quitter.
-You can call me what you like. Don't you get it? We failed.
-Failed? There are plenty of others willing to call you a failure. A fool. A loser. A hopeless souse. Don't you ever say it of yourself. You send out the wrong signal, that is what people pick up. Don't you understand? You care about something, you fight for it. You hit a wall, you push through it. There's something you need to know about failure... You can never let it defeat you. 

(Answer: The Adventures of Tintin)

/know brainz/

By Devin and Savannah Hicks

 Career-of-the-Month: Librarian  

Anime Reviews by Xbolt

Macross Frontier  

You can be a Homeschooling Teen reporter or columnist! Please send information about what you like to write about, the reason you want to take on the challenge of a monthly column, and an example of your work to: [email protected]

Game Review

Dear Esther

Dear Esther was originally created in 2007 by Dan Pinchbeck, a researcher at the University of Portsmouth (UK), as part of a project funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council to explore game play and storytelling. It was built in the Source engine and released in 2008 as a mod for Half Life 2. In 2009, professional game artist Robert Briscoe did a complete overhaul of the visuals and level design. In late 2010, Valve granted a license to make Dear Esther a completely independent game, and it was released on Valentine's Day 2012.

According to www.dear-esther.com, "Dear Esther quickly established itself as an award-winning, critically acclaimed experimental first-person game. It abandons all traditional game play, leaving only a rich world soaked in atmosphere, and an abstract, poetic story to explore." Well, Dear Esther was an interesting first try at an interactive literary creation but as a so-called "game" it was not that much fun to play. Nevertheless, it does show that the future of this genre has great potential.

Dear Esther creates an immersive atmosphere with beautiful imagery and haunting mood music. Exploring the deserted island and attempting to discover its secrets reminded me of Myst, but without the puzzles. At only two hours in length, it wasn't much of an adventure either. I basically just walked around and read writings on the rocks here and there - these included some biblical references, chemical symbols, and electronic diagrams. Interactive storytelling is definitely an intriguing concept, but they should expand the environment and incorporate some puzzles to make the game more engaging.

I would have liked to have met Esther, but she only appeared in flashbacks related by the narrator. The story that unfolds through his enigmatic monologue is dark and disturbing, and very sad. The character does not acknowledge God's goodness but instead falls into despair which was depressing. Everyone on earth owes God gratitude for life, so we should do our best to live this life that God has given us and fight to keep our spirits up. Dear Esther does just the opposite, it imparts a sense of hopelessness.

By the end of Dear Esther, I felt like I'd been tricked. All along I was anticipating some sort of resolution, but instead it left many unanswered questions. If you're looking to play a fun game, this isn't a good choice. If you're interested in game development, consider getting Dear Esther only if it goes on sale, just to imagine the possibilities. In spite of all its glowing reviews, I personally think this game is overrated. I had really expected more, especially after viewing the trailer which is more impressive in its own right than the game itself: http://youtu.be/D7VJ4lP-05A  

You can be a Homeschooling Teen reporter or columnist! Please send information about what you like to write about, the reason you want to take on the challenge of a monthly column, and an example of your work to: [email protected]

The Sports Report, by Caela

The Countdown to the 2012 Summer Olympics -

The 2012 Summer Olympics are in London, England; they start on July 27th. There will be 216 countries represented from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. The estimated 10,500  athletes will be competing in the following 26 sports: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Canoe Slalom, Canoe Sprint, Cycling-BMX, Cycling-Mountain Bike, Cycling- Road, Cycling- Track, Diving, Equestrian (Horse) Dressage, Equestrian Erecting, Equestrian Jumping, Fencing, Football (Soccer), Gymnastics-Artistic, Gymnastic-Rhythmic, Gymnastic-Trampoline, Handball, Field Hockey, Judo, Modern Pentathlon, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Synchronized Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, and Wrestling. In the next Summer Olympics there will be 27 sports because the Olympic committee is adding Golf to the Olympics. The 2016 Olympics are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There are less than 90 days to the Olympics. The American athletes to watch are Michael Phelps (Swimming), Natalie Coughlin (Swimming), Shawn Johnson (Gymnastics), and Nastia Liukin (Gymnastics).

The 76th Masters -

This year's Masters is one to remember for years to come. Going into the Masters the big stories were about Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Rory McIlroy. The stories were, can Tiger win his fifth Masters and 15th major of his career, can Phil tie Tiger and Golf Legend Arnold Palmer with 4 Master wins, and can Rory McIlroy redeem himself from last year's 80 in the final round to blow a 4 shot lead. None of these things happened in the Masters this year, but it was a great battle to the end between Louis Oosthuizen and Bubba Watson. Bubba Watson beat Louis Oosthuizen in a two hole playoff to win the Masters on Easter Sunday. I am going to follow these five men and whoever has the lead after each round, but first I want to tell you a little bit about Bubba. Gerry Lester Watson Jr. aka Bubba a nick name his father gave him after professional football player Bubba Smith. Bubba has a sister Melinda Watson Conner, his parents names are Gerry Lester Watson Sr. and Molly Marie Watson. Bubba is a Christian; he participates in the Players Daily Devotional. Bubba is married to Angie who has been diagnosed with an enlarged pituitary gland which makes her quite tall she stands at 6ft 4 in. She also is unable to conceive children, because of this they decided to adopt. That had to wait till the winter of 2011-12, because Bubba's father became ill and died on October 15th 2010 of throat cancer. On March 26th 2012 they adopted a one-month old baby boy named Caleb, one week after they tried to adopt an infant girl that fell through at the last moment. Bubba had three professional wins. Now he has four wins with a win at the Masters.

First Round: The first round lead was -5 which was held by Lee Westwood who shot a 67. Tiger Woods shot a 72 for even par tied for 29th, Phil Mickelson shot a 74 for a +2 over par tied for 40th, Rory McIlroy shot a 71 for a -1 under par tied for 11th, Louis Oosthuizen shot a -4 under par 68 tied for 2nd, and Bubba Watson shot a 69 a -3 under par tied for 3rd.

Second Round: Fred Couples shot a 67 for -5 to be the second round leader. Tiger Woods shot a 75 +3 over par for the round and the tournament, Phil Mickelson shot a 68 -4 under par for the day -2 under par for the tournament, Rory McIlroy shot a 69 -3 under par for the round -4 under for the tournament, Louis Oosthuizen shot a 72 for even par to stay at -4 under par for the tournament, and Bubba Watson shot a 71 for -1 under par for the round -4 under par for the tournament.

Third Round: Peter Henson shot a 65 -7 for the day -9 for the tournament and the third round lead. Tiger Woods shot a 72 even par to stay at +3 over par, Phil Mickelson shot a 66 for -6 under par for the round to go to -8 for the tournament, Rory McIlroy shot a 77 +5 over par for +1 over par for the tournament, Louis Oosthuizen shot a 69 -3 to go to -7 under par for the tournament, and Bubba Watson shoot a 70 -2 under par to go to -6 under par for the tournament.

Fourth Round: The final\fourth round Tiger Woods shot a 74 +2 over par to finish the Masters at +5 over par, Phil Mickelson shot a 72 even par to finish the Masters -8 under par, Rory McIlroy shot a 76 +4 over par to finish the Masters at  +5 over par. Louis Oosthuizen shot a 69 -3 under par to go to -10 tied for the lead, and Bubba Watson shot a 68 -4  to also go to -10 also tied for the lead and to send it to a playoff.

Sudden Death Playoff: Louis Oosthuizen and Bubba Watson replayed the 18th hole. They both made par to send it to the second playoff hole at the 10th. Off the tee Louis hit the ball left of the fairway and Bubba hit it to the right of the fairway. Louis's second shot missed the green, but Bubba's second shot was an incredible shot from the woods that landed about 10 feet from the hole. Louis three putted for a bogey, and Bubba two putted for par to win his first Major Championship and the 76th Masters.

Well a very big congratulations to Bubba Watson on his first Major and becoming a dad. God Bless.

The National Hockey League (NHL) Playoffs -

In the NHL there are two conferences with three divisions in each. The Eastern Conference has Atlantic, Northeast, and Southeast divisions. The Western Conference has Central, Northwest, and Pacific divisions. The top eight teams from each conference go to the playoffs. The top eight teams from the Eastern Conference are the (1) New York Rangers, (2) Boston Bruins, (3) Florida Panthers, (4) Pittsburgh Penguins, (5) Philadelphia Flyers, (6) New Jersey Devils, (7) Washington Capitals, and (8) Ottawa Senators. The top eight teams from the Western Conference are the (1) Vancouver Canucks, (2) St. Louis Blues, (3) Phoenix Coyotes, (4) Nashville Predators, (5) Detroit Red Wings, (6) Chicago Blackhawks, (7) San Jose Sharks, and (8) Los Angeles Kings. In the first round of the playoffs the (1) team plays the (8) team, the (2) team plays the (7) team, (3) team plays the (6) team, and the (4) team plays the (5) team.

First Round: Rangers V.S. Senators: The Rangers won game one 4-2 to lead the series 1-0. The Senators won game two 3-2 in overtime to tie the series. The Rangers won game three 1-0 to take the series lead at 2-1. The Senators won game four 3-2 in overtime to tie the series at 2-2. The Senators won game five 2-0 to lead the series 3-2. The Rangers won game six 3-2 of the series to tie the series and to force game seven. The Rangers won game seven 2-1 to knock out the Senators and win the series 4-3.

Bruins V.S. Capitals: The Bruins won game one in overtime 1-0 for the series lead at 1-0. The Capitals won game two in the second overtime at 2-1 to tie the series at 1-1. The Bruins won game three 4-3 to take a series lead at 2-1. The Capitals won game four 2-1 to again tie the series this time at 2-2. The Capitals won game five 4-3 to take the lead at 3-2. The Bruins won game six in overtime 4-3 to force a game seven and tie the series 3-3. The Capitals won in overtime 2-1 in game seven to win the series 4-3 over last year's Stanley Cup winner.

Panthers V.S. Devils: The Devils won game one 3-2 for a series lead 1-0. The Panthers won game two 4-2 to tie the series at 1-1. The Panthers won game three 4-3 to take the series lead at 2-1. The Devils won game four 4-0 to tie the series again at 2-2. The Panthers won game five 3-0 to take the lead at 3-2. The Devils won game six 3-2 to tie the series at 3-3 and force a game seven. The Devils won game seven in the second overtime 3-2 to knock out the Panthers and win series at 4-3.

Flyers V.S. Penguins: The Flyers came back from a 3 goal deficit to win in overtime 4-3 to lead the series 1-0. The Flyers won game two 8-5 to lead the series 2-0.  The Flyers won game three 8-4 to lead the series 3-0. The Penguins won game four 10-3 to make the series 3-1. The Penguins also won game five 2-1 to force a game six and make the series 3-2. Game six was won by the Flyers, they won 5-1 to win the series 4-2.

Canucks V.S. Kings: The Kings won game one 4-2 for the series lead 1-0. The Kings won game two as well at 4-2 to make the series 2-0. The Kings won game three 1-0 to take an even bigger lead at 3-0 for the series. The Canucks won game four 3-1 to keep the season alive and to make the series 3-1. The Kings won game five 2-1 in overtime to win the series 4-1.

Blues V.S Sharks: The Sharks won game one 3-2 in the second overtime to take the series lead 1-0. The Blues won game two 3-0 to tie the series 1-1. The Blues won game three 4-3 to take the series lead at 2-1. The Blues won game four 2-1 to make the series 3-1. The Blues won game five 3-1 to win the series 4-1.

Coyotes V.S. Blackhawks: The Coyotes won game one in overtime 3-2 to lead the series 1-0. The Blackhawks won game two in overtime 4-3 to tie the series 1-1. The Coyotes won game three in overtime 3-2 to make the series 2-1. The Coyotes won game four in overtime 3-2 to go 3-1 for the series. The Blackhawks won game five in overtime and they won 2-1, because the game went in to over time the Coyotes and Blackhawks tied the record for the most overtime games in a row in the playoffs. The last time this happened was in 1951 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadians. The Coyotes won game six, which did not go in to overtime, 4-0 to take the series 4-2.

Predators V.S. Red Wings: The Predators won game one 3-2 to lead the series 1-0.  The Red Wings won game two 3-2 to tie the series 1-1. The Predators won game three 3-2 to lead the series again 2-1. The Predators also won game four 3-1 to take a 3-1 series lead. The Predators won game five 2-1 to win the series 4-1.

So the Rangers will play the Capitals in second round. The Flyers will play the Devils in the second round. The Blues will play the Kings in the second round. The Coyotes will play the Predators in the second round. Good luck to the rest of the teams and may the best team win.

Opening week of Major League Baseball (MLB) -

Opening day of the MLB was April 4th. The first game of the season was between St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins formally known as the Florida Marlins. The Cardinals won 4-1 for their first win of the season. There have been 340 games from April 4th to April 30th. In the MLB there are two leagues the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). In both leagues there are three divisions East, Central, and West. Here are the standings for both leagues. In the AL East the Tampa Bay Rays are at the top with 13 wins and 7 losses, the AL Central the Cleveland Indians are at the top with 10 wins and 8 losses, and the AL West the Texas Rangers are at the top with 15 wins and 5 losses. In the NL East the Washington Nationals are at the top with 14 wins and 6 losses, the NL Central the St. Louis Cardinals are at the top with 13 wins and 7 losses, and the NL West the LA Dodgers are at the top with 14 wins and 6 losses. So that is where the MLB stands after its first month of the season. Enjoy the rest of the season.

Your Fashion Signature...             

And When You Should Sign

Dressing for (Your Name Here) Part 2: Women Only

"It gives you such a glow just to know you're wearing lipstick and heels!"-Bye Bye Birdie

Rectangle

Flattering Accessories

~Long strings of beads

~Add belts to outfits

Avoid

~ Bags that are dainty or frilly

~ Choker style necklaces

As for shoes, go for...

~Strappy stiletto heels

~Ballerina pumps

Avoid

~Avoid knee boots with no shape

~Loafers

As for jeans...

~ Larger back pockets that are spread far apart to make your bottom look fuller.

~If they have flaps on them even better

~Jeans with lighter fades on the thighs will help give them shape

~Jeans that are low-rise and that have a straight fit from the hip to the knee with a slight flare

Apple

"This shape looks best when wearing simple designs, rather than excessive flounces and gathers.  When looking for items to add to your wardrobe, always think simple style." -Shapeyourstyle.com

Flattering Accessories

~Have fun with big necklaces and dangly earrings

~Bags with a long shoulder strap

~Scarves can be an alternative to a necklace

Avoid

~Bulky bags that sit under your arm

~Chunky buckled belts

As for shoes, go for...

~Chunky wedges             

~Go for a bright colour!

Avoid

~Very pointy toes

~Square toe loafers

As for jeans, go for...

~Jeans that have a rise that is lower than your natural waist

~Look for jeans that have back pockets with flaps

~Lighter washes and/or jeans with fading

~ Boot-cut and flared legs  

Pear

"Use unusual or chunky jewelry to draw the eye upwards and stick to handbags that sit under the shoulder." -FashionWorld

Flattering Accessories

~Make a statement with a bold necklace and earrings

~Add color with a bright scarf

Avoid

~Low slung belts

~Long strap bags that rest at the thigh

As for shoes, go for...

~Shoes with a pointed toe

~A rounded toe shoe

~Peep toe shoes

Avoid

~Stiletto heels

As for jeans, go for...

~Flared or have a wide-leg jeans

~Straight legged jeans are also a good for a sleek slimmer look.

~Go for mid-rise dark jeans (the darker the better) and dark pants. 

Hourglass

Flattering Accessories

~Belts around the waist

Avoid

~Hip belts                                                           

~Huge jewelry

As for shoes, go for...

~Round toe shoes

~Peep toe high heels

Avoid

~Ankle boots with skirts

~Very pointy shoes

As for jeans, go for...

~cut with larger hips, and a smaller waist.

~ jeans that are slightly flared, or have a wide leg, this will balance out your hips

~Mid-rise jeans are the way to go...but

~low-rise jeans work great as well as long as they are not too low

Thank you for reading! I hope you all got something out of these "shape" articles! I know they helped me a lot! Even if you don't want to apply them every day, they are helpful rules when picking out a nice outfit. Next time I believe I'll be doing an article on men's style!

If you have any questions or comments please send them and your first name to [email protected] with the words "style blog" contained in the title so I'll know to read it. I may use these in the blog sometime so write me!

May 2012

Please share your story! If you are involved with an amazing project, volunteer in your community, have a special interest that you're passionate about, possess a unique skill, talent or ability, or have accomplished something positive and extraordinary for a person your age or in your situation - be sure to tell us about it and we will feature you in our magazine! Contact: [email protected] 

Homeschooling Teen Profile: Scott MacIntyre

Scott MacIntyre - the acclaimed singer, songwriter, pianist, and American Idol Season 8 finalist - has released his first book called By Faith, Not By Sight. In the inspirational book, Scott tells how he started playing the piano by ear at 3 years old, began composing music at age 5, started college when he was 14, and at age 23 become the first legally blind person to audition for American Idol.

Scott also talks about how he overcame his disability and how he never gave up, even when faced with overwhelming obstacles and serious health issues that threatened to take everything away. "It was a challenge having to compete on Idol without my sight, but I was just grateful to be on any stage, let alone the American Idol stage, after having almost lost my life."

Scott was homeschooled from kindergarten through high school, so Homeschooling Teen was a huge supporter of Scott during his season on American Idol. A brief look at Scott's resume will show that he is not the typical "Hollywood wannabe." To describe him as being incredibly gifted and talented is almost an understatement! Scott is a remarkable guy who accomplished more great things in his youth than most fully sighted people do in their whole lives!

Scott was born on June 22, 1985, in Redondo Beach, California, to Douglas and Carole MacIntyre. The family lived in Toronto, Canada, for four years and then moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. Scott has a younger brother, Todd (born 1988) and a younger sister, Katelyn (born 1991). Visually impaired since birth, Scott has only a two-percent field of vision, which is like viewing the world through a coffee straw. "Because of my lack of vision, I was drawn to sound," he told PEOPLE magazine.

Though classically trained since age 6, Scott has written and performed in genres spanning pop, rock, punk, jazz, and classical. In addition to piano, Scott learned to play the organ, guitar, bass and drums. Scott's other interests while growing up were performing in community theatre and musicals, hiking and skiing with a sighted guide, computer programming, and law. He participated in the YMCA "Youth in Government" program in elected positions as President of the Senate, Senate Majority Leader, and was honored to receive the "Outstanding First Year Senator" award at the Arizona State Capitol for excellence in debate.

As if that's not enough, Scott and his whole family traveled around the country as the MacIntyre Family Singers. Scott, his mother, and two siblings performed four-part harmonies in various styles ranging from acappella jazz and classical, to Southern gospel and Christian pop, as well as Broadway show tunes. During this time, Scott received many local and national awards for piano, composition, and vocal performance. He performed as guest soloist with several symphony orchestras and played at the Kennedy Center. Scott independently produced his first CD when he was 11 years old.

At age 14, Scott enrolled in Arizona State University's Barrett Honors College and Herberger College of the Arts. In 2005, he graduated summa cum laude from ASU at age 19 with a bachelor's degree in Piano Performance. He was nominated "Outstanding Graduate" by the College of Fine Arts, and was named by USA Today as one of the top twenty undergraduate seniors in the nation. The following year, Scott was invited to the White House by First Lady Laura Bush as one of three national Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) scholarship winners.

As a Marshall Scholar and Fulbright Scholar, Scott continued his studies in England where he obtained his masters degree in Performance from the Royal College of Music and Royal Holloway University of London in 2006. He was accepted to both Oxford and Cambridge for further graduate-level studies. However, Scott's world was rocked by a life-threatening illness that severely hampered his capacity to perform and travel. "I found out I had stage-four kidney failure, and pretty soon I was too sick to even play the piano in my own living room." After spending ten months undergoing dialysis, in August 2007 Scott received a kidney transplant. The kidney was donated by the wife of one of his piano professors at ASU.  

Scott's career took a dramatic but positive turn when in January 2009 he auditioned for the eighth season of American Idol in Phoenix, Arizona. "I lived and breathed classical music... but pop music was rapidly becoming my fantasy....Was it even plausible to think that I could take on a new musical identity and be successful at it?... my professors and classical piano peers... believed there was a clear fork in the musical road and you had to choose which path you were going to take. I believed I could do both." Scott was right; he gained many adoring fans during his time on American Idol, and finished in eighth place on April 8, 2009.

Scott continues to captivate listeners around the world, and enjoys bringing his music to all types of audiences. He has performed with many notable acts including Alice Cooper, Jason Mraz, and Queen to name a few, and has headlined concerts in Japan, Austria, England, Canada, and the United States. Scott's "Christmas Angel" song was one of the top holiday indie singles of 2010, and his "Heartstrings" CD debuted at #18 on the iTunes Pop Album Chart."I've poured my heart and soul into all 12 original songs," Scott told PEOPLE. "What you won't hear on my CD is an over-produced overly-sanitized sound. What you will hear are honest, believable songs delivered with solid conviction. I've stayed true to myself in every song."

While Scott performs professionally, he has also presented hundreds of charity concerts and donated performances for conventions, churches, and athletic events. Scott is also an in-demand inspirational keynote speaker, and has spoken before many different audiences including corporations, health care and education institutions, non-profits, and churches across North America and beyond. Scott was a special guest on Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power" show at the Crystal Cathedral in California. He has appeared on CNN, Headline News, FOX International, Global TV, Sky News Europe, TV Guide, TBN, and local news affiliates across the country. With his contagious spirit of optimism, Scott is an inspiration to all who hear his music and story.

Scott credits God for his success: "It was my dependence on him-and not in my own strength-that helped me progress toward my dreams." He also says that all of his awards and honors "validated Mom's hard work as much as they did mine. Throughout my life she had always been my primary teacher and advocate." The flexibility of homeschooling allowed him to practice for hours at the piano each day. He was able to progress at his own pace and fine tune his God-given abilities, while learning to work hard and with persistence in spite of his disability. According to HSLDA, "Scott can easily be considered a success by anyone's standards. But as a homeschooled graduate, Scott is a shining example of a young person who is taking the education and training given to him by his parents and using it to make a difference in the culture.... Scott stands out not just because of his incredible talent, but also due to his character and Christian testimony."

As for Scott's personality, he is kind-hearted, likeable, charismatic, has a great sense of humor, and is not the least bit arrogant. No wonder he moves audiences to laughter, tears, and standing ovations all over the world. On August 18, 2011, Scott married the love of his life, Christina Teich, who he calls "my beautiful soul mate." They met in a community theater production of The Music Man back in 2003. MacIntyre composed all of the music played at their wedding, and performed a special dedication to his bride during the ceremony. Now instead of Scott's mother accompanying him as his sighted guide, Christina will be traveling on the road with him. This spring and summer, Scott is performing in cities across the U.S. as part of the Women of Faith One Day tour.

Visit Scott's website at www.scottmacintyre.com and check out the video of him buying his own book at Walmart! He's also on Twitter @ScottDMacIntyre and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ScottMacOfficial

Laughter, Tears, and Our Teen Years

By McKennaugh Kelley, 15

We've all had someone be cruel to us. It's probably not too long ago that you felt angry and down because of what someone said, whether it was a good friend or the person that checked out your groceries. Although lots of times it's really no big deal, we let our whole day be ruined by some nasty comment-even if the actual comment only took up less than a minute!

As soon as someone bites our heads off or gives us a not-so-nice stare, we usually automatically think that they're a "horrible person." Ever heard of someone besides you having a bad day? Well, if you haven't, maybe you'd better start seeing that grumpy cashier lady in a different light!

Almost three years ago, when I was thirteen, my family went to a Natural Building Colloquium (where you learn how to build stuff naturally-like houses out of straw bales and cob)!!  We stayed a week. We had been to it before and Mom loved it, but this time, Tivon, who was just a baby then, was keeping my mom REALLY busy while she washed cloth diapers (organic, of course) in a bucket and hoped that they would dry next to our tent. My brothers and I, on the other hand, were having a blast being involved in a ton of muddy, clay-ey, sod-ish, projects!

Just about everyone there weren't Christians-including a friend of mine, Rachel. Rachel was a little bit younger than me, but she had a brother, Ivan, who was my age. Rachel was fun to hang out with and her two little siblings were real sweet, but Ivan was-well, horrid. He was the very picture of a bully. From the second I met him, I knew he was rotten to the core-at least that's how he seemed. He taunted us (me, Rachel, and our other friends) & yelled at us until it got to the point where we would dread it when we saw him coming.

However, I felt like God would want me to be nice to him, even though I knew he'd never return the favor. When my friends shouted insults back at him, (which he sure deserved), I didn't. Instead I told them, "Hey, let's not pick on anybody."

I know that I annoyed them, because they couldn't understand why I would be kind to Ivan-it's not like he was kind to us!

My friends, thought it was only fair-I mean, if he could taunt us, why couldn't we have our little jokes? They all laughed and drew a geeky picture of Ivan on a hunk of cardstock, wrote his name at the top of it so everyone knew it was supposed to be of him and left if out for everyone to see. Also, they snapped back at him, and when he was away, they (including his sister), gossiped about how awful he was.

I didn't take part in any of their jokes, though, because even if it didn't make a difference to Ivan, it made a difference to me-and I felt God was watching, too.

One day, we found a game of Monopoly in the kids' tent and tidied it up and started to play. After a while, Ivan stormed in and yelled at us for ruining the Monopoly game he was playing. While everyone else rolled their eyes and groaned, I struggled to apologize, even though I knew he shouldn't be treating us like this.

The week went on, I hardly even saw Ivan that much, but when I did, I'd say "Hi," or just not join in the teasing. And although I didn't realize, he was noticing.

I was the only kid there who couldn't swim (which is pretty embarrassing, if you're 13). But they had a (huge) pond there that I learned at. Something that really helped me learn, was Rachel's father's flippers. I loved them! For the first time, I went into water that was over my head (if you don't count floating in the "fishy device" when I was five). Everyday Rachel (Ivan's sister) would let me use the flippers, but she warned me that if Ivan ever came swimming with us, I couldn't have them, because he always used them. However, he hardly ever went swimming, & they didn't fit any of my friends (yeah, I have big feet) so I pretty much got them whenever I wanted. At last, Ivan finally came. I was disappointed, because I knew that I wouldn't get to use the flippers. He goofed around with them for a while, then took them off and walked around with them in his hand. Gathering up my courage and knowing that I was in for a certain, "No!" I walked up to him and said, "I can't swim very well, and Rachel's been letting me swim with those. Could I use them?"

To my disbelief, he handed them to me. "Sure," he said, "you're the nicest kid my age that I know-including me." And then he walked away.

From him, those words weren't to be taken lightly... and the words made me sad. I just showed a little more respect than everyone else by not picking on him and stuff and it made a difference to him. It just shows me how little kindness he was ever given. It's not like I did anything great for him, I just gave him a smile and said "Hi!"

I could have very well looked back on that week and remembered Ivan as a cruel, heartless boy. Instead, he's my favorite memory of the week, and whenever I think of him, I think of how easy it is to make a difference, no matter how small.

Perhaps next time you meet someone who has no kind words for you, you can have kind words for them. Even if no one else notices, God did. And you'll know that despite how much easier it could have been to follow everybody else, you tried to follow God.

Try it... today when someone gives you a hard time, give them a smile. It may not be as hard as you think.

Water For Sale, by Adrianna Kuzma

Water is essential for life. Everyone, not just for the rich, needs water to survive.  Three major companies from Europe have supplied water to countries suffering from a lack of public water structures: they are Suuez, Thames Water, and Vivend (Flow).  Supporters of privatizing water utilities claim success both in service quality and efficiency. 

Summarizing the benefits, a writer who has published a book for the free-market think tank called the CATO Institute, notes: "Superior competence, better incentives and better access to capital for investment have allowed private distributors to enhance both the quality of the water and the scope of its distribution" (Segerfeldt).  While the United Nations has verified limited improvements after privatization occurred in some countries, "the overall record is not encouraging" (qtd. In Evans).   The practice of giving water rights over to private control is one people come to regret. 

Business people, such as those at the CATO Institute, view water as a good economic commodity.  This is because water is a lucrative investment-- water is something that people will want forever.  The company's executives are saying that water is just like any other product they are trying to sell.  It is not.  To sell water to poor people is wrong. People are not variables that a company can manipulate. People need water to live, and water is a human right. Water is like air-something we all share-- because it is necessary not just to satisfy thirst but so people can bathe, and clean their dishes. [i]

From the perspective of the World Bank, private enterprise can solve the problem of the water crisis by applying pressures on countries to take action.  Using the availability of loans to force developing countries to build water infrastructure appears to be a great idea.  The country must provide water for the people, or they won't get a loan. They are told they will be cut off from water loans if they do not privatize their water utilities.   

PHOTO: Tanzania Mission to the Poor."A Woman Fetching Water From Unimproved Traditional Water Well."  16 July 2008.  Web. 25 Oct. 2011.   

Opponents counter that privatization results in increased costs.  They contend privatization benefits primarily those in the water industry, not the poor people who typically lack the means to pay.  Private companies must satisfy shareholders. There are two problems with this for-profit approach: the motive of the company and the increased cost to the water consumers. A company must make a profit. Because a company needs to make money with water, they will be reluctant to invest unless there is evident profit for shareholders. As a result, designs and later improvements in infrastructure will always depend on the ability of the people to pay for them.   A related problem is cost.  It costs more money to turn a water project over to private hands than if it were publicly funded. This is because companies need to pay their workers, supply materials, and provide the profit for shareholders. When public water utilities are built by a national government, they are not in it for profit, so the expense covers just workers and material costs. Instead of profiting shareholders from Europe, the country's government then controls the water as a "public trust" and operates as a local community service.

PHOTO: Dustin VanOverbeke. Water Privatization Conflicts.  The Blue-Gold Business.  AcademicWebPages Evergreen State College Web 26 Oct. 2011.  

Privatizing water resources results in decreased access to clean water. Contrary to the claims of the water industry, poor people have not benefited (Shah). [ii]  This is because poor people resort to unclean water sources to avoid the fees (Flow). A human health issue is that a human without water will become sick or die.  Bill Marsden, an investigative journalist, notes that the 2002 outbreak of cholera in South Africa has been linked to the privatization of water supplies there.

PHOTO: "Tanzania: Living Water Wells." Beautiful Feet Task Force. 14 Feb 2011.  

People cannot survive without clean water.   It is a common good, one to which people have an inalienable or God-given right. There is an equity issue as well.  Since water is part of the public good it belongs to everyone and the principal of the commons applies.[iii]  Water is part of our shared rights or "commons," not for any one company to make a profit.[iv]  It is morally wrong to treat it as a commodity or keep it from anyone (Velasquez). Because it is for the life on this planet, we must safeguard it.

Footnotes:

[i] Fredrik  Segerfeldt has likened water to food, arguing that we do not assume food is a right.  However, water is even more necessary to life than food.  People can withstand a shortage of food more readily than a shortage of clean water. A better comparison is to air, which is fundamentally necessary to sustain life.  It is perhaps only when substances like water can be controlled that they begin to be regarded as commodities to be purchased at a profit. What happens when a fire is burning? We put water on it.  We do not tell the owner to pay for the water that is taking out the fire.  It is the same when someone is thirsty. We give them a drink. But with privatization, people are expected to pay for the water that should naturally be a God-given right.

[ii] "'Making people pay the full cost of their water "was the direct cause of the cholera epidemic," David Hemson, a social scientist sent by the government to investigate the outbreak, said in an interview. 'There is no doubt about that.'" (Marsden).

[iii] An expert on issues of water use, Maude Barlow, founder of the Blue Planet Project,  has commented:  "Water must be declared to be something that belongs to all of us, which is not that it's a free-for-all, but that it must be equitably divided and shared - and only government can do that"  (Qtd. In Evans).

[iv] Robert F. Kennedy, an environmentalist and founder of the Waterkeeper Alliance, calls the privatization of water supply morally wrong. "It's intrinsically a government function. It has to remain in the hands of the government. The government has a responsibility to all the people, and that this is part of the commons.  And the law of the commons is that whether you're rich or poor, everybody has the right to the public trust asset.  Nobody has the right to use it in a way that will diminish or injure its use and enjoyment by others. (qtd. In Evans).

PHOTO: Abbe, Andre,  Guatemala: Women Carrying Water. "From water wars to bridges of cooperation: Exploring the peace-building potential of a shared resource."  Ten Stories the World Should Hear More About. the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Works Cited:

Evans, Tom."'Water justice' advocate: Don't privatize." Ottawa Riverkeeper  8 Jan. 2010  Web. 26 Oct. 2011.  http://ottawariverkeeper.ca/news/water_justice_advocate_don_t_privatize/CNN

Flow: For Love of Water.  Dir. Irena Salina  Perf.  Maude Barlow, Shelly Brime and Anthony Burgmans . Group Entertainment,  2008. Film.

Marsden, Bill. "Cholera and the Age of the Water Barons."  The Center for Public Integrity    3 Feb.  2003  Web.  25 Oct. 2011. http://projects.publicintegrity.org/water/report.aspx?aid=44

Segerfeldt, Fredrik.  "Private Water Saves Lives." Financial Times, 25 Aug.  2005 Web. 25 Oct. 2011. CATO Institute: Individual Liberty, Free Markets, and Peace. http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=4462

Shah, Anup. "Water and Development." Global Issues. May 27, 2006  Web 26 Oct. 2011. http://www.globalissues.org/article/601/water-and-development

Velasquez , Manuel, et. al. "The Common Good." Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Santa Clara University Web 25 Oct. 2011. http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/commongood.html

About the Author: Adrianna is a homeschooler from Indiana. She loves to sew and has made Regency ball gowns as well as fleece pet beds. She plays the cello, loves cats, and is passionate about caring for the planet. She recently produced a video on bottled water that won a national award.