Tips for Finals Week

The end of the school year is approaching quickly, and that also means finals are coming up. Instead of worrying about passing your tests, take the time to study effectively. This will lead you towards the path of success and straight A’s.

1. Distribute your study time. If you are planning on saving all of your studying for the night before the test, don’t. Psychology studies have shown that this method of studying is ineffective. The best method of studying is distributed practice. Spreading out your study time over multiple days for short periods of time is much more effective.
2. Turn off all of your social media accounts. Although it is important to take breaks from your studying, using that time to go on your social media is not the best option. Frequently switching your train of thought between studying and going on social media can lead to scattered learning. Turning social media off for a week may be unrealistic for some students but the reward of positive test scores is worth it.
3. Stay active. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain. Restricting blood flow for an extended period of time can lead to a tired mind. Even if you can’t fit a full work out in the week of finals, go for a short walk or do some crunches or push-ups.

These tips will help you increase your success on your finals. Good luck to all students on their tests!

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By Madison Fisher

Unabashed: A Review of Lena Dunham's Not That Kind of Girl

Lena Dunham’s “Not That Kind of Girl: A young woman tells you what she’s “learned”” is a #1 New York Times bestseller and collection of essays and short stories. This novel consists of personal anecdotes and lists bound together by her witty and raw writing style. As a writer, producer and actress, Dunham has a unique perspective on Hollywood and uses her observant disposition to draw many conclusions about relationships, work and herself. This coming-of-age novel is truly an unbridled overview of her experience as a woman. Her wild and sometimes crass approach to her life experiences are what make this novel truly original. After finishing the book, filtering through many book reviews, blog posts and articles, and listening to word-of-mouth, I came to the following three conclusions.

1. This is a self-exposing memoir, and with that comes a lot of tenacity. Dunham confidently and unabashedly recounts many explicit and at time cringe-worthy personal moments of her life, and with that comes a lot of discrepancy. Whether you agree with her perspective or not is up to you, but I believe her audacity is something of awe for there are few novels that dare to delve into some of the subjects she boldly depicts. Take each chapter with a grain of salt. Maybe her 10-page chapter consisting purely of her food diary isn't for you, but maybe her essay on death is.
   
2. Dunham’s recounts are just that. Her recounts and experiences. It is not an everyman perspective on life. This novel is one woman’s perspective. She does not serve as an overall representative of females, New Yorkers, writers, producers or girlfriends.
   
3. This novel is subversive literature. It goes against most typical writing styles and steers away from anything ‘normal’ or ‘basic’, therefore the reader must approach this novel as such.
   Unfortunately as a seventeen year old teenager, I only have so much life experience, perspective and exposure. To read other perspectives, read the book and form an opinion for yourself please follow the following links:

Reviews/Blogs:
• http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/30/not-that-kind-of-girl-lena-dunham-review-
memoir

• http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/12/books/review/lena-dunham-memoir-not-that-kind-of-girl-
  review.html
  
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/review-not-that-kind-of-girl-by-lena-
  dunham/2014/09/24/4e482c04-42c0-11e4-b437-1a7368204804_story.html
  Purchase the book:
  • http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-that-kind-of-girl-lena-dunham/1118048829?
  ean=9780812985177 
  
  
  
  
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  By Sarah Wozniak

New Captain America Crushes the Box Office

Marvel Cinematic Universe came out with the third installment in the Captain America movie series. This movie was widely anticipated around the world. It was released on May 6th, and box office sales totaled at 179,139,142 on opening weekend alone. 

The plot follows Captain America (Chris Evans) as political tensions rise between him and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.). The cast includes many classic members of the Avengers including Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olson), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), and others. New to the Avenger's cast were Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), and Spider-Man (Tom Holland). The addition of Ant-Man and Spider-Man to the films added a new sense of quirky humor while the Black Panther helped deepen the plot.

Overall, the plot was entertaining and kept the audience engaged. The movie does not just revolve around action, and instead follows characters' personal dilemmas and thoughts throughout the film. As always, Marvel adds a touch of humor to make the dark spots in the movie a little lighter. The movie would be recommended to action movie fans, especially those who are familiar with other Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies.

Check out the video below for three reasons why you should see the newest Captain America film!

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By Cece Ostergren

Up-and-Coming App Takes Take-out to a Whole New Level

Have you ever dreamed of an app where food could be delivered to you for a low extra fee? What if you could get groceries or some Glam Doll Donuts, maybe pick up some cat food with just the push of a few buttons? As random as these requests may seem, the new, up-and-coming company Postmates can cater to any of your random requests. From PetSmart to Smashburger to Urban Outfitters, you can have almost anything delivered to you within the hour for a miniscule toll.

The company, founded in 2011, initially had food orders making up 99% of their deliveries. While food is their top reason for delivery, other goods such as retail, health, and beauty products account for 20% of Postmate’s current deliveries. The 2016 goal for the company is to grow as a whole by 20%. Future plans also entail expanding their reach from 40 to 100 markets and increasing deliveries from 1 million per month to 10 million per month.

Current market conditions are in their favor as this up and coming company seeks to become a staple app such as Uber for consumers.

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By Madison Gagnon

Minnetonka High School opens their spring musical Pippin

Minnetonka High School proudly opened their spring musical Pippin this weekend. The story follows a young prince named Pippin who is fresh out of school and looking for his purpose in life. The musical involves war, meticulous plots, love, and magic. Pippin has captivating music composed by the same man who composed the famous production, Wicked.

While the newest rendition of Pippin was set in a circus, Minnetonka High School took a unique spin on it. Leading Player, who acts as a narrator of the story, is originally played by one person and is the ring leader of the circus. They divided the part up into two separate parts and instead they act as the directors of the show. They constantly stop the show and break the fourth wall, meaning they talk directly to the audience. This creates a very interactive experience and constantly keeps the audience engaged with the story.

Along with being captivated by the story, Pippin is the kind of show that affects every audience member. Whether you’re a high school student who doesn’t know their purpose or a parent that is reminded of the simple joys, everyone is bound to feel something. 

There are still two more weekends of shows left of Pippin with a show every Friday and Saturday night. Don’t miss you chance and buy your tickets to see Pippin! 

Call the Minnetonka box office at 952-401-5898 or visit www.minnetonkatheatre.com to purchase tickets.

Catch a sneak preview of the show below!

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By Elle Keseley

What's happening at MHS?

Pippin

Girls Lacrosse