“It’s exciting, fun, and you don’t wanna miss it!” said Marieta Hawkins, Senior.

Some of the activities include things like cosplay contests, drawing panels, and shows where you can watch anime and Youtube. For those who enjoy the theater there are skits you can watch in rooms that have been set aside. For those who wish to meet the famous there are also popular artists and voice actors from animes that are more then happy to sign something for you.

“ I got really excited when I heard that one of my favorite voice actors was coming this year to A-kon!” said Victoria Porter, Sophmore.

For those who wish to collect things related to anime there is a show room for artwork and collectable items such as posters and dolls. This show room is the only part of A-kon you must pay to get into. If you buy tickets online today they cost about $45 for a full weekend pass. If you wait to purchase your passes at the door they are substantially more expensive.

“It is best to order your passes online before the con.” said Tabitha O’Dell.

For those who wish to know more about the convention there is a link below to gather more information for yourselves about the specific people and activities that are appear this year. Tickets are on sale now and the convention is June 1 through June 3 and rooms at the hotels are being booked fast.

“It is the biggest and longest con in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex.” said Aaron Stephens, Freshman.

The teams did extremely well, coming back with first, second, and fourth places in various events. Cassie Hayes got fourth in ready writing; Kendall Burks got first in spelling; Lydia Hantsche got second in spelling; the team of Burks, Hantsche, and Lisette Rodriguez got first place team in spelling.

“It was intense,” said Hantsche. “ We came across a problem because we had only two people in our group and we needed three.” At the very last minute Lisette Rodriguez volunteered giving them three people. They did an outstanding job coming back with first place.

Congratulations on their success and for representing Waxahachie at the meet.

A year later, man kind is still alive making preachers of doom hide from the world because of the embarrassment. Foretelling the future is something humans are incapable of doing, that’s just our nature. We don’t have the power or capacity of doing so. Now, many “incredible” people are standing by to watch yet another date predicting the end of the world. The date is December, 21, 2012.

The date 12/21/2012 came about from the Mayan calendar. Scientist have depicted the Mayan calendar and for some odd reason it happens to  stop in that particular date leaving behind many questions and stirring up theories about why this came to be.  Hollywood producers, of course, have been opportunistic about the situation. Directors have produced movies such as 2012, in which terrifying scenes of world destruction and panicked human beings strive for survival.

The topic about 2012 can turn into a heated discussion. Everyone has a different opinion about the situation. Last year, Harold Camping’s prediction about May 21 turned out to be an epic fiasco. Camping is an example of how no human being has the potential of determining when Armageddon will be. That is a lesson learned, indeed.

Regardless of the opinions, many people around the world look forward to 2012. It’s a brand new year, there are many things to look forward and accomplish. Long live this year.

La Dispute.

This somewhat unknown band is a perfect combination of harsh music, coffee shop-style lyrics and disconcerting honesty. Their debut album brings us a new anger, a new hurt and a new love. Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair is one of the best albums ever, if not THE best.

The album begins with a 1-minute introduction into the awaiting mystery. “Such Small Hands” is the perfect introduction that stops much too soon, leaving us practically begging us for me.

As “Such Small Hands” fades out, “Said The King To The River” comes in stronger, heavier. This song tells us a story about leaving a place where love once existed. Strong bass lines bring the melody and rhythm together with the drums and the guitar’s experimental sounds make it a story worth listening to.

“New Storms For Older Lovers” starts soft with the sound of wind chimes. Jordan Dreyer’s vocals tell of the revenge he will have on the kidnapper of his loved one. This song has a slightly heavier beat than the rest of the album, more demanding than pleading.

With no remorse, La Dispute jumps into “Damaged Goods” at a hundred miles per hour. The guitar intro is a speeding car down a highway and this song is just a passenger in the car. Dreyer’s vocals are driving and screaming in an anguish that is unheard of. As the speeding car that is this song begins to slow, the vocals don’t let up, still telling us of a love that has been found but still lays unable to obtain.

A soft intro into “Fall Down, Never Get Back Up Again” brings the power of Dreyer’s vocals to the front of the scene. After the first verse, speaking of a storm on the beach, Chad Sterenberg and Kevin Whittemore’s guitar skills truly began to show. A soft but difficult riff is played out and leads us on the journey that is the tempest on the beach.

“Bury Your Flame” is one of the stronger songs on the album, not so much angry but resolute to fail. The lyrics address doubt and the loss of what will never return.

“Last Blues For Bloody Knuckles” is incredibly soft compared to what we’re used to from the rest of the album. The guitar intro is soft but willful and after the first verse, the rhythms really show off their style, proving, once again that La Dispute is a force to be reckoned with.

“The Castle Builders” is the groove of the album. Very funky bass lines and guitar melodies accent the lyrics and screams in a way that is unsurpassed.

“Andria,” a song reminiscent of old coffee shops where you’d snap your fingers instead of clapping, is one of the best of the 13-track album. After a soft introduction the tempo picks up and drags the urgency of Jordan Dreyer’s words with it.

“Then Again, Maybe You Were Right” is a powerhouse that brings us crashing through violent waves, dragging us under and then back up again in a rush of air. At the end of the song we are left feeling almost exhausted.

“Sad Prayers For Guilty Bodies” is a song of murder. This shows the anguish of two lovers that have murdered so as to begin a life together, but resort to suicide as the guilt tears them apart from themselves.

“The Last Continent,” the second to last song on the album, is, perhaps, the softest on the album. 11-minutes and change, this song is a more than a song; it is a window into the life of Jordan Dreyer. His honesty catches us off guard and proves that there is power in bearing one’s soul.

“Nobody, Not Even The Rain” brings back the same beat from Such Small Hands and is just as short but with a more positive outlook on life and the future.

All in all, this album takes us on many journeys but leaves us with a small emptiness and a reluctance to leave what we have learned from it.

La Dispute is a band to watch.

*****

* * * *

The team competed against 20 other schools at the meet, including state powers Highland Park and Richardson JJ Pearce. Twenty two swimmers for Waxahachie qualified to swim at Regionals in 21 different events. The rules at the Region championships were that the top 16 teams in preliminary competition on Friday qualified to swim in finals on Saturday. All 6 of the relay teams qualified for finals on Saturday and 7 individuals advanced.

Qualifying in individual events for finals were Captain Justin Miller in the 50 and 100 free, Chase Dorsett in the 200 individual medley and 100 free, Daniel Erickson in the 100 backstroke, Mary Sessions in the 500 free, Emily Rutan in the 50 free and 100 breaststroke, and Hailey David and Anna Jendrzey in the 100 backstroke.

Justin Miller was the lone top 8 finisher individually. However, several relays were in the top 8 in finals. The girl’s 200 medley relay of David, Rutan, Sessions, and Esther Tamayo finished in 8th place. The girl’s 200 free relay of David, Rutan, Jendrzey and Tamayo came in 8th as well.

The boy’s 200 Medley Relay of Miller, Patrick Lawrence, Blake Wright, and Dorsett took 5th. The same group placed 8th in the 200 free relay. Other swimmers competing in the finals on Saturday in the relays were Scott Wyatt and Clay Mullens.

Also swimming for WHS were Trent Pope, Dusty Wade, John Woolard, Jessica Buie, Cheyenne Rundgren and Autumn Menen.

The girl’s team finished in 11th place overall and the boy’s team finished in 9th place.

Head Coach, Tamara Pruitt, was pleased with the effort. “I was very proud of the performance of our team at the Regional meet. Going up against state championship teams such as Highland Park, Cleburne and Rockwall can be very intimidating, but our kids stepped up and represented our program at a high level.”

There are many differences between the two top tablets that will steer you one way or another. While the iPad offers memory capacities ranging from 16GB-64GB, the Fire only offers a tablet with 8GB. Secondly, the iPad offers a front and rear camera allowing for video calling and picture taking, while the Kindle Fire has no camera at all. The iPad may have been the first to offer a touch screen table, but the Fire provides a touch screen even more sensitive than its competitor. The Fire’s touch screen may be more sensitive, but it’s a smaller touch screen than the iPad. Lastly, and probably one of the most important features of the tablets, is the price. When it comes to buying an iPad, you definitely pay for what you get. With prices starting from $499 and ranging all the way up to $830, you will definitely be coming out of pocket for one of these, however the Kindle Fire price is only a small payment of $200. With all the other factors in mind this may be the deciding factor that steers you one way or another.