Blake on Lake

          Ever since I was little I remember playing lots of sports. In fact, I probably played every sport (Football, Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, Swimming, etc). My favorite of these sports was never the same as it changed depending on the season. In the fall, my favorite was soccer, and in the spring it was baseball. My dad was a big reason that I got into all these sports. In fact, I probably would've played close to none of them due to how laid back my mom is. They are complete opposites; my dad, the passionate “coach mentality,” while my mom, the caring, “mother bear” looking out for her cubs. My dad has always been passionate about sports and wanted to share his love for sports with me my whole life. Starting at six years old I first started playing baseball on the Rosedale rec team. From there I played travel/club ball and later for the Middle School "A" Team. I was so excited to make the team and see all my hard work over the years pay off. The countless...

            In Gulliver's Travels by Jonathon Swift, he uses many satirical methods to criticize topics of 18th  century English society and some of these topics even apply to today's society. However, I believe that Swift’s greatest satirical effect comes when he mocks the dumb reasons for which conflict occurs and how war in general is stupid.       When Gulliver, the protagonist, first travels to Laputa, he learns about the two opposing parties— Lilliputians and Blefuscu—and their different belief in how eggs should be cracked (right side up or right side down). It goes to the extent of the two parties fighting over this egg-streme crisis. Sorry, I had to. Anyways, Swift's objective when writing about the Lilliputians vs the Blefuscu is to show the reader that people’s reasons for conflict are often stupid and how war can be bad.       Another example of Swift satirizing these skirmishes is when Gulliv...

       Jonathan Swift, a satirical writer and commentator of the late 17th century, would have a lot to say if he was alive today. Maybe he would talk about the opposing republican and democratic parties who are separated by basically nothing. Maybe he would talk about modern day abortion laws and the inhumane acts that people commit upon their unborn babies. Maybe he would talk about how people in Congress gain their positions even if they are not fit for the job. Whichever he chooses to discuss, it would be through his famous satirical style where he criticizes the issue through sarcasm and humor. Out of all the issues Swift may talk about, how people gain their positions in Congress seems the most probable. Due to his description of Liliputians, fantastical characters in his novel Gulliver’s Travels, gaining their rank in government by rope dancing, it is most evident that he already takes a critical stance on an issue similar to Congress elections. Swift, for his...

     Recently, Wander Franco was shown on Twitter/X to have had relations with a 14 year old girl. This immediately sparked controversy between Rays fans and pretty much everyone else. Rays fans first chose to defend him saying that he was being framed and the people posting it were spreading fake news. However, as more evidence came to light they got quiet.       I think that the author of this post meant to criticize Wander Franco for his perverted actions while knowing that if the events turned out to be false they would be heavily attacked.       As a result of the Wander Franco post, he was revealed to be a perverted person and was demoted to the minors ultimately proving that the authors actions did in fact pay off. 

By Blake Shumate      Dancing is an artform that is underappreciated. I was recently prompted with a "would you rather" question; to choose between singing whenever I hear music or dancing whenever I hear music. I immediately thought the obvious answer, dancing!       However, after a short conversation with a friend, who will remain anonymous, I realized it is not that simple for everyone. Personally, I love to dance and would never be embarrassed to get sturdy real quick or bust out a move. Conversely, Mr. Anonymous says, "singing is the obvious choice, what if you were at a funeral would you start dancing?" Now, although that is a good point, what if you were white and a song was playing a specific lyric that you can't say?       Finally, I take away from this question that whether you choose to dance or sing, both have their advantages and disadvantages and it is up you to decide whether you are a Dancing King or a Howling Wolf....