THE FANDOM HIGHTIMES: SIXTEENTH ISSUE!

[mycanonhatesme]

PHOEBE SPEAKS:
As we get closer to the end of the term, and graduation, I've had to take time out and reflect on everything I've either learned here or experienced in this bizarre place called Fandom.

One of the things that I have realized is that some people take things way too seriously.

We're in high school, people. These are the times that you are supposed to balance business with pleasure, or take up a hobby like scrapbooking. You're only young once and while your schoolwork is important, sometimes you need to come up for air and breathe. Go out, make new friends, stop fights, become acquainted with the zombie armies --- okay, so that last one is very rare and probably only happens here in Fandom.

The point is, sometimes you can be too focused on the one thing that you completely miss out on life around you. Before you know it, it's your graduation day and you won't remember much about your high school experience except for how well you did on that final test.

Trust me, you're going to want to make more memories than that.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Forensics final that I need to study for.






Danger Defense
by Victor Borkowski

Over the past couple months, I've presented several techniques dealing with battles and other conflicts. However, this is the last article I'll be writing on the topic, so let's first take some time to recap what we've learned so far.

When in a battle with someone or something, the most important thing to remember is to control your fear. Fear is a powerful thing that can make you freeze up and make you easier to hurt. Once you're calm enough to even begin the battle, the second thing to do is observe. Figure out your opponent's intentions and exactly what harm he, she, or it poses to you. Then, use whatever weapons you have to help you survive the encounter, even if it's just the ability to think quickly. Anything that can give you an advantage can be considered a weapon, so use it well. Finally, use your environment to help you. Sometimes a rock to hide behind or an electric fence to throw someone into can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

So, that's it, right? You go in, fight, and try to win, right? Well, that's true, but there's one last thing to consider when in a conflict.

Part 5: Learning

It goes without saying that as beings we're always learning, always growing. We constantly discover what works in life and what doesn't, and that information is what pretty much makes our personalities. And just like in the rest of life, learning is important when defending yourself in a battle. Let's say that you've just beaten up someone who was trying to steal your backpack. Hopefully, during the fight you learned what the robber looked like, how he approached you, and what worked in the battle and what didn't. If you pay attention to details like this, it will help you with similar battles in the future. You'll be more aware of what techniques muggers use to try and rob you, such as waiting until you're alone at night, or even what the mugger looks like, so you can avoid him in the future.

Learning can also be used more immediately during a conflict. Many people follow a certain fighting pattern, and if you can pick it up it'll give you an advantage. If you notice that she likes to stay back and come in for quick punches, wait until you see her move, then be ready to counter. If you see that he likes to trip, keep your stance firm and be ready to hit low. By preparing for your opponent's moves, you remain several steps ahead, which can give you more free room to win the battle.

And with that said, that's the end of Danger Defense. I hope that this series was helpful to you, and that you feel more prepared for any future invasions that Fandom decides to throw at us.


PROFILE: DR. NATALIE LAMBERT
by Alanna Trebond

After recent events, most of the school has been to the clinic and probably noticed the new doctors around. Among the new staff this term is Doctor Natalie Lambert. Originally a medical examiner and now working as a general practitioner, Dr. Lambert is from Toronto, Canada. She came here to Fandom to "move on -- to concentrate on some research. Coming here to the clinic lets me do that while still doing something for the community." Though she has not had many patients at the time of our interview, Dr. Lambert was optimistic about living in Fandom, even with all its strangeness. In her spare time, Dr. Lambert is an old movie fan, in particular mysteries, horror stories, and romances.


STUDENT COUNCIL ROUNDUP
compiled by Peter Parker

- StuCo's next Game Night will be Risk, this Saturday at 6:00 PM in the third floor common room. And then in a couple of weeks, StuCo will hold a Poker Night.

- There was some more talk about college visits.

- In what is likely to be one of the most popular ideas ever, it was suggested that the dorms host a coffee bar in a different common room each day during Finals.

- Dates (as in boxes on the calendar, not significant others) for Prom and Graduation are going to be worked out soon. Will it be announced next week? Stay tuned! Same StuCo time! Same StuCo article!

- Alanna threw books at me. I deserved it for last week's article. So I will now selfishly take up some of our precious, precious space in this week's issue to apologize to her publically. I'm sorry, Alanna. Please stop throwing books at me now.

- And to welcome Professor Lyman back, we talked about what we did and did not do during his break from us. It may have led to snickering.






The mountie is hot.

We realized after press that we were remiss in reminding you last week, so this week, the column will begin and end with the reminders. Sorry Constable Fraser! and Xander. "I still don't understand how we could have forgotten that." "Me either."

In general campus gossip, it appears that John Crichton is well on the way to succeeding in his goal to drive a certain Journalism professor insane, if recent radio broadcasts are any indication. "It couldn't happen to more deserving person." Blair had a bit of an embarrassing experience on Friday. Honey? Next time - come to us for advice. The guys around here are much more likely to make things worse than they are to help. "*facepalm* Yeah, they'll just get you even more confused." In party news, there were celebrations for Jaye and Molly's birthdays. Hope you both had wonderful days, ladies.

In shipping news, we have confirmation that Parker and Jarod have finally made it official. Way to go, guys. Hopefully they'll be joining the ranks of adorable couples "Don't worry, we won't call you adorable, Parker" that include Cally & Anders, Phoebe & Bel, Veronica & Logan, and Angel & Callisto. Peter & Zero had their first date and Blair & Molly shared a kiss on Molly's birthday. "Glad he went with just the kiss." And a certain newspaper editor spent the night away from her dorm room on Saturday. [...It is only because of the basic guidelines of journalistic integrity that I am not erasing this. But know that I am flailing nonetheless. --Chloe]

Now, the moment you've all been waiting for. The official girlkissy nominations! You'll have until this Sunday at midnight to cast your vote for one of the eight pairs listed below. Next Wednesday we'll announce the winner in our column and next Friday we'll hold the ultimate Kissy Event in the dorm lobby after classes. Any winning pair that kisses will win a prize.

The nominees are:

Aeryn/Callisto
Aeryn/Jaye
Callisto/Jaye
Callisto/Parker
Cally/Kara
Kara/Parker
Rory/Angela
Veronica/Callisto

Everyone gets one vote, so choose wisely. [OOC: Keep an eye on Veronica's journal for a place to vote.]

In conclusion? The mountie is hot!


SENIORS! ONLY 4 WEEKS LEFT UNTIL GRADUATION!


Coffee Pin-Up




credits:
editor: Chloe Sullivan
words: Victor Borkowski, Phoebe Halliwell, Veronica Mars, Peter Parker, Alanna Trebond
pictures: Chloe Sullivan, The Magnificent Google
coffee pin-up: sandiego.tsfl.com

Comments

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John reads the paper. And blinks a few times when he comes to the girlkissy nominations. And then he starts daydreaming. And then he excuses himself.

[demonbelthazor]

Bel read the paper and grinned when he got to the girlkissy section. Fair was fair, after all.

He'll be in his bunk.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron reads the girlkissy nominations and gets a faraway look. He clears his throat and wonders why he really has to pick just one.

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angel was amused to note that his girlfriend got more nominations than he did in the whole kissy poll business.

[peter--parker.livejournal.com]

Peter Parker perused the paper. "Yay girlkissy," was his reaction.

[anole-x.livejournal.com]

Victor read about the girlkissy poll and his stomach turned a little. Girkissy, blech.

However, he'd probably vote anyway, and he had an idea of who he was going to vote for. He wasn't sure, though, if that made him feel better or worse.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip flipped through the paper and was quite disappointed to find that there was no "All of the above" option for girl-kissy.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

When Anders picks up the paper and gets to the girlkissy nominations, he oh-so-predictably goes red-faced and bug-eyed and has a spectacular coughing fit.

Because he's surprised to see Cally's name in there with Kara's.

Because he didn't have a thing to do with this.

Nope. Not a thing.

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

Cally reads the newspaper.

When she gets to the poll, she blushes.

...and contemplates making campaign posters.

[sensethevisions]

[[OOC: If she does, Phoebe will campaign for her. ;) Because, that idea is just too cute.]]

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Dude. Anders will pay Phoebe to campaign for her.]

[sensethevisions]

[[OOC: It's a deal. ;) ]]

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

As was his habit, Anakin skipped over the defense article and went straight for the gossip column.

Girlkissy poll?

Yeah, it was good to be back.

Anakin had a genuine smile on his face for the first time since he had gotten back.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory blinked at the paper.

"Me and Angela?"

She had a strong suspicion as to who had nominated them.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Only mildly annoyed by the gossip column now that there *was* something to gossip about, Parker went reading on to get to the coffee and then--

eeep.

So. Someone wanted bloodshed after their girlkissy? 'Cause that was the only outcome for *one* of those nominations, anyway.

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

Walter made a mental note to congratulate Victor on his newspaper series.

Then there was girlkissy, which made him smirk because it really did seem only fair after all the fuss about boykissy.