Central High School - Wakitan Yearbook (St Joseph, MO)

Page 16 text:

One-in-a-Million An Affair Of the H eart Music is a major part of high school life. Many popular songs went through. the minds of students each day. Sometimes these songs became an inspiration to journey to the world of fairy tales Once upon a time in a big country full of little pink houses, there lived a sharp-dressed man named Bert. He drove a little red corvette that always stalled in the middle of the road. Bert was so tired of this nonsense that he became delerlous and wanted to shout at the devil. One day, while he was burnini down the house, he met a china girl. Her name was Billie Jean and she was a pretty young thing! Bert knew that it must be love, so he got down on his knees and pleaded, Gimme all your lovin' . Why me? she asked. Because I'm in the mood! he replied. Well, one thing led to another and they were married in 1999 on the Rock of Ages. Bert wanted Billie Jean to be the happiest woman in the world, so he said, Tell me what you want. I wanna new drug! she screamed. Bert was shocked. Say it isn't so! he retorted. His wife was a maniac. All he could do was play guitar and that's all. He loved her with his heart and soul but he was too shy to do the Curly Shuffle. He finally got up the courage to say, Let's dance, baby, until the walls come crumbling down. I'm dancing with myself, she said coldly. Since theirs was a modern love, it could take all of these rapid changes. Faithfully, they tried to make things work but Bert was quickly becoming the owner of a lonely heart. He put another big log on the fire and Billie Jean said she was hot. Suddenly, someone banged their head on the door. Who's behind the door? they asked. Seeing that it was Major Tom, they let him in. He had been traveling undercover all night long. 'What is that wrapped around you finger? Billie Jean asked. I don't know but it cuts like a knife! he told her. Bert could take it no longer. He gave his wife his photograph and said. Every breath you take makes me want to bark at the moon! With that he went to see the King of Pain, who could always help. Seeing that he was distraught the king told him, Life is just a thriller, so return to your wife and send her my love. Bert knew the king was not foolin' so he returned to his wife and lived happily ever after. 12 Six Receive National Honor One of the most important things in a person's life? A good education. For many students a good college education is one of the most important things in their life. Federal aid cuts in the education system, however, have restrained many students and they have turned to scholarships, grants, and loans for help. Two Central students received high honor and recognition by making the semi-finals in the PSATlNMSQ Test, taken during their junior year. Seniors Jeff Woods and Tracy Turner were notified early in the school year that they were semi-finalists. They were then in the running, along with 15,000 others, for a National Merit Scholarship. Many colleges began sending scholarship offers and literature to them because of their high scores. Tracy exclaimed, ttl'm getting mail from ovet 300 colleges and universities, scholarship offers, and lots of publicity! Students are encouraged to take the exam when they are juniors, for experience if nothing eise. Becky Kurz, Shelly Ogi, Leslie Siefers, and Austin Wilson received honorable mention for their efforts on the test as well. mark Sont on n dkns hAany there and even sder broui Geo: book hypo The the i nunu wnue 1984 book ness dkxa ebct cont the subj politi wou! This retur the r ten l the Ii love nov-

Page 15 text:

' is anut and s or nany wned yday :il. pon- nenu tsto re of Hped inted an; than Pant the iught ntrak s dhes earin YAC gave iNhO thew iuary ment Mned nenu prog- uncil, their Have you ever thought you needed something to add a little pizazz to your life? Many times this little bit of pizazz takes a little bit of cash. Many students obtained their iiPizazz Cash through part ' time jobs. A number of students were asked about their experience with and feelings about part-time jobs. About 5070 of the students asked were employed at least part time. The majority replied that the . reason they thought it was neces- sary to have a job was because they needed money for entertain- ment, transportation, L college, and other things that they were saving for. Jobs take up much time, however, when asked if their job reflected on their school life, almost everyone said no. Students with jobs must set their priorities and learn to balance their time well in order to keep up their grades and maintain a social life. The fast-food business is in the greatest demand of part-time help. Many Central students were employed at such eating establish- ments as McDonalds, Burger King, Rax, and Taco Bell. Other means of employment available for students could be found at gas stations, grocery stores, and many shops at East Hills. During the summer months, students are able to take on more hours. Life- guarding and other ttsunshine jobs were popular, while some preferred working in nice cool offices. Whatever the job may be, it is a big aspect of growing up and becoming part of the functions in the community. Issues 1. YAC decorations brighten the iunchroom on Halloween. 2. Joanna Ruhnke enjoys her lunch in a pleasant cafeteria atmosphere. 3. Filling out a charge slip during Montgomery Ward's Christmas rush is Christy Caddell. 4. Barb Punzo takes a customer's order at Burger King. 5. At the Frog Hop gas station, Kent Allen cleans a customers windshield. II

Page 17 text:

101' rere Nith Ierit gan and heir 'lim ges ers, ' to are ting Dgi, son for all. ISSUES 1984: Fact or , Fallacy? The turning of 1983 to 1984 marked many new beginnings. Some seniors graduated and went on to college; people started new diets or decided to quit smoking. Many new friends were made; there were new job opportunities; and everyone set goals that were eventually accomplished. For science fiction buffs, the new year brought with it the speculation of George OrwelPs book 1984. The book, written in 1948, was a hypothetical look into the future. The year 1984 was chosen as the title simply by reversing the numbers of the year in which it was written. In Orwell's vision, the world in 1984 would be a world without books, history, or true conscious- ness. All people would be ruled by dictators, dehumanized by electronic surveillance, and in a permanent state of war. There would be three totalitarian states controlling four fifths of the globe; the remaining fifth would be the subject of endless dispute. In the totalitarian states, 85 per cent of the people, the proles , would live in poverty and play no part in politics. The other 15 per cent, members of the all-powerful party, would be compiled of the wealthy. This wealth would be given in return for which they would accept the rigid control of an omnipresent, invisible government with no writ- ten laws: Big Brother. Thi's tale follows a portion of the life of Winslow Smith, translator of Oldspeak to Newspeak ithe obscure language of idealistsy at the Ministry of Truth. He falls in love with Julia, who operates a novel-writing machine in the fiction department. Winslow tries to rebel, - but is defeated, imprisoned, and tortured. The first Orwellian prediction in 1984 that may be compared to actual society in 1984, is the division of the world into three superpowers whose regimes are all variations of socialism. The triumph of totalitarianism has not been universal, however, the prediction of the world being in a permanent state of war is somewhat true. The superstates of 1984 con- trol their rigid 'form of government through doublethink, tithe power of holding two contradictory beliefs simultaneously, and accepting both of them. Doublethink is the language of fanatics, stating that ttwar is peace, ignorance is strength. In our world, doublethink is practiced by ideologists every- where; the alteration of the past is common in politics, although it' is crucial in countries, such as the U.S.S.R. Another dramatic device in 1984, which stripped citizens of their rights to privacy, is the telescreen, which transmits and receives at the same time, watching its viewers as they watch it. Today, telescreens exist only on paper, not because they are an impossible idea, but because they would be quite expensive to develop. The modern state, however, has other means of surveillance. Electric eyes watch many public places, the wire tapping of telephones prohibits confidentiality in some situations; espionage is also a flourishing industry. Spying paraphernalia ranges from space satellites to cameras that photograph in the dark and microphones that can pick up a distant whisper. The computer is an amazing development in today's society, but is nonetheless the device that is most closely identified with 1984, even though Orwell does not even mention these instruments in his book. Technology inspires ap- prehension, perhaps, on the su- spicion that new developments will be used to reinforce the power of bureaucrats and politicians, of the police and the military, or any other authoritative group. OrwelPs novel has instigated many of these feelings of fear. George Orwell, or Eric Arthur Blair before his writing career, served in the Spanish Civil War fighting against fascism in the 1930's and was shot in the throat rendering him briefly speechless. He became frustrated by the English leftist press. tlThis kind of thing is frightening to me because it gives me the feeling that the very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world. Lies will pass into history, he once stated. Almost everything he wrote was against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism, 1984 sold over 10 million copies in 65 printings. Although the book was not a completely accur- ate prediction, it leaves something to ponder and possibly anticipate. In view of the novel, Walter Cronkite once said, 1984 may not arrive on time, but thereis always 1985. 1. National Merit Scholars: First Row: Shelly Ogi, Tracy Turner isemi-finaiisty; Second Row: Becky Kurz, Leslie Sifers, and Austin Wilson. Jeff Woods isemi-finalisty not pictured. 13 a l l. 5 i t ; i wexxwmnwmuamamtmaewwsmmuma. i