By Chloe Russell

LifeAtStart.com Reporter

Halloween is over and Christmas is rolling in, which means pine needles all over your house and nagging about the bitter cold. There’s more to Christmas than egg nog and mistletoe. The biggest shopping days of the year come around just in time for shopping – Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Everyone hears about the stories of people trampling over one another and camping outside for days on end to snatch up the best of the best, which is why Black Friday is a chaotic mess for anyone who participates. Is getting up at four in the morning to stand in lines that seem to never move really worth it?  Yes it is.

The biggest deals of the year present themselves and all your shopping needs can be taken care of. It’s simply a one stop shop kind of day.

For people who have never shopped online, Cyber Monday can seem like a foreign language. It has the same idea as Black Friday, but instead of being out all day with your crazed mother you sit in your bed clicking away on your laptop. With the world in your hands who knows what kind if deals and steals you’ll come across.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are creeping up. Start getting ready now to get your shop on later.

Contact Chloe at: [email protected]

Semira Sawyer

LifeAtStart.com Reporter

That dreadful time of the year is here where it is sweater weather in the morning then after school it will be a beautiful day. Yes I’m talking about winter. Being born in the summer, winter is my least favorite season. I would rather be hot and  find a way to cool off than be freezing cold and have to pile on layers of clothes and end up looking like the Michelin Tire Man.

The wintertime is high maintenance. Just to go outside you have to make  many preparations  to get from point A to point B. For instance, you have to put layers of clothes on which include boots, gloves, a scarf, and hat. If the sun is shining outside on the snow you have to have on sunglasses because you will be blinded.

Not to mention you have to pay extra attention to your vehicle. You have to make sure you get your car washed daily so the salt doesn’t rust off the paint. Also you have to make sure you check your battery weekly and purchase antifreeze to put inside of your motorized vehicle.  Another preparation that is mandatory to be made is to check your tire pressure, if your tire pressure is too low you wont get good traction. With it being snow on the ground, ice comes with it. You can’t drive as fast as you normally would because you could loose control of your car and spin out.

If you are a home owner you also need to stock up on your salt, shovels, and snow blowers. It isn’t mandatory to shovel your walkway but it will benefit others. The USPS made it a rule that if your walkway isn’t shoveled they don’t have to deliver your mail. This is in the best interest of their employees so they don’t bust their head open  while delivering the mail. Also if you’re a student that has to walk to school and home owners may not be physically able to shovel their walkways such as , the elderly, the physically challenged, and the lazy – this forces students to walk in the street.

This is why winter is depressing, high maintenance, and my least favorite season.

Contact me at [email protected]

By Andrew Russell

LifeAtStart.com Reporter

City of God is about Rocket, a boy growing up in the slums just outside of Rio de Janeiro, and his childhood friend as they grow into teenagers and take different life paths, one becoming a photographer, and the other a drug lord.

This movie makes me sad for the modern American film industry, because we haven’t produced anything as good as this in years.

One key thing that makes this movie great is its ability to transcend genre and language barriers, as it’s a Brazilian movie and is in Portuguese. It does this by making the characters not only realistic, but you’re able to relate to them and feel for them as if they were real people.

The actors in City of God are great to say the least, from antagonists like Rocket, Lil’ Ze, and Benny, to minor characters who have smaller scenes and aren’t even given names. All of the actors in this movie are amateurs, or have never acted at all, and grew up in the real life City of God, but if anything, that adds to the realism of it all.

The directing in this movie is very unique, and is a perfect example of when its alright to use something other than steady camera work, making it feel like the people are being documented rather than them being actors. One of the opening shots of the movie is a perfect 360 degree shot of what seems to be a gang war, with Rocket in the middle, establishing the setting and the feeling of the movie in a matter of seconds. With this shot the movie easily pulls you in and prepares you for the next two hours.

While the fact that this movie is very realistic is great, it’s also scary at times. Some scenes you don’t want to believe what happened really happened. It can be a bit much for weaker audiences, and the thought that people are capable of certain things and carry themselves with certain mannerisms can be said to be border line disturbing in this movie. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not downsizing this movie for that, and it’s the reason the rating system for movies exists, but some scenes are hard to watch.

On a scale of one to ten, I’ll say this movie is superb, and if you can’t read, I recommend learning how so you can understand the subtitles when you watch this.

contact Andrew at: [email protected]

By HALLIE LANDIS
LifeAtStart.com Reporter

Girls who don’t typically dress to impress are sometimes labeled as tomboys. This label can be stereotypical though. Why should our comfort be judged?

Being a girl takes a lot of hard work. Some do enjoy putting an actual effort to look good everyday. Others, including me, just don’t care enough. Self esteem is the main indicator. The tightness of a girl’s clothing does not define her self confidence. Nowadays, girls are more comfortable wearing wardrobe pieces that are more compliant for guys.

Shoes are a girl’s best friend. What I have began noticing are construction boots, like Timberlands, being worn not just by guys anymore. Not everyone has just guy friends, so why can’t that apply to shoes as well?

One of the most popular pajama outfits a girl can wear is men’s boxer briefs and a big t-shirt. Comfort is one of the main keys to a good night’s sleep. When guys grow out of their clothes, why not put them into good use?

I, again, enjoy wearing big t-shirts even during the day. When there are no plans made forcing you to look more decent than you’d like, comfort is a go-to. Hoodies also provide just that.

If you want to take your comfort to another level, why not try cargo pants? Baggy pants such as these are convenient. They provide various pockets relieving the struggle of carrying around a bag or purse.

Let’s just face it, everyone cherishes a pair of sweatpants. All that matters is that you’re happy with yourself. Whether you’re a guy or a girl, dress however you feel. Fashion allows you to break down barriers, one stereotype at a time.

Contact Hallie at: [email protected]