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-- HOLIDAYS --
Celebrating May 1st in Germany
By Katie Grosser in
MESCHEDE, Calle, Germany
–
Every country has its fill of
national holidays. Some come and go and only make
themselves noticeable by granting a day off from school
and work. Others, however, have much more appeal.
In
Germany, May 1st is
one of those special days.
May 1st is
traditionally known as “Day of Work” – similar to Labor Day in
the United States. It first became a national holiday in 1933
under the Nazi Regime and the Allied Control Council decided to
allow the defeated Germans to keep this national holiday after
the World War II.
The evening
before, April 30, is traditionally called “Walpurgisnacht.”
In many cities,
towns and villages across Germany, there are private and public
“Tanz in den Mai” – “Dance into May” celebrations.
These nights of
dancing, singing and drinking have only little to do with the
original festivities. In the past, these involved fires to drive
away “bad ghosts” and it was the custom that lovers joined hands
and jumped over the fires together, something that is no longer
done today. Read more
Fun and Games
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-- NEWS --
Watching one of the last space shuttle
launches
By Jason Soltys in
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida, U.S.A.
– “TEN! NINE! EIGHT! SEVEN! SIX! FIVE! FOUR! THREE! TWO! ONE!”
counted the Mission Control announcer, as I watched the
countdown clock at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
It was a blazing hot and sunny day
with the temperature close to 90 degrees, and I was there for
the final launch of space shuttle Atlantis.
Minutes before, I was sitting on the
bleachers, finishing my pulled pork and baked beans lunch,
waiting to watch Atlantis, also known as Space Transport System
#132, the 132nd United States Space Shuttle, blast off.
The shuttle sat 3.9 miles away across the bay.
Read whole story
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No one marches alone in Band Geeks!
CHESTER, Connecticut, U.S.A. – The new
musical Band Geeks! is a remarkable combination
of humor, romance and valuable life lessons about
believing in yourself.
Read whole story
Band Geeks!
hits home
By Celeste Kurz in
CHESTER, Connecticut, U.S.A. – Self-proclaimed band geeks Kevin
and Nancy Cornell attended opening night of the Goodspeed
Musicals tribute to high school marching band.
The couple, who live in East Granby, Conn., said the concept of
Band Geeks! spoke to them.
They met in band at West Springfield High School in
Massachusetts, the couple said, when he accidently hit her cast
with his trumpet case as he passed by her in the French horn
section.
Read whole story
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-- NEWS --
Canadian hockey star gets goals
By Mehran Shamit in TORONTO, Canada
– Hayley Wickenheiser understands
the importance of goals – and not just the kind she whacks pucks into.
If she weren’t one of the world’s best female hockey
players, she’d be working toward another ambitious goal: Becoming
a doctor.
“If I wasn’t involved in hockey, I would be in
medical school,” Wickenheiser said in a telephone interview after leading the
Canadian women’s hockey team win Olympic gold this year.
Wickenheiser has made quite a name for herself in
her chosen profession.
At the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, Wickenheiser
served as captain of the Canadian women’s hockey team.
“Being in Canada with all the other athletes made it
a very unique experience,” she said.
Read whole story
Gold medal coach advises hard work, tough
skin
By Jenna Potter in
MANOTICK, Ontario, Canada
– After the Canadian
women’s hockey team beat their American rivals to win gold at
the 2010 Winter Olympics, Canada erupted with celebration.
At the heart of it was
Coach Melody Davidson, who took time after the victory to talk
with Youth Journalism International about the long road to
Vancouver.
Read whole story
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Join
Youth Journalism International and get a real
education
Young writers, photographers,
cartoonists and other journalists are encouraged to join YJI now
and add your name to the high-achieving teens
across the globe who belong. It is free to participate. Please see
youthjournalism.org
for more information. Click on the "Students" link.
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