The Mariner Compass

By NAHOA JETTE

Alaska residents rejoice! It’s October and for us elite U.S. citizens, and it’s time to collect our reward in the form of a $900 check! Yes, the 2013 Permanent Fund Dividend has been announced at $900 this year, which is a $22 increase from last, but still not near the entrancing $2,069 from five years ago. But who’s complaining? An extra $900 will always be welcomed with smiles and open wallets. The majority of everyone who signed up to receive the PFD this year can expect it to replenish their bank accounts on Oct. 3.

PFD

The PFD represents many things to people. It can take the form of paid bills, a new wii, or possibly contribute to a certain college fund. We residents of Alaska appreciate the generosity of this glorious state, but although we appreciate the extra cash every year, not many understand it. For those that have the desire to know exactly how Alaska can dish out so much cheddar, the official PFD website, which contains all the information needed to unlocking the knowledge of the PFD.

How Will You Spend Your PFD?

If a parent takes his or her child’s PFD from them it’s most likely for a good reason, but for those fortunate people who do get to keep the money: what are you going to spend it on? A student at Homer High replied, “I don’t know yet.” Unsatisfied with this answer they were asked what they wanted to spend it on, and in response, “Clothes probably.” Indeed, new clothes are always enticing to a teenager.

Another Homer High student was asked what students should spend their PFD’s on, and they replied: “Well I think they should spend it on the things they would need like sports and other stuff like that.” They later went on to say that students should be smart with their money, and use it to give back to the community.

Pick.Click.Give.

The fact that Alaska has found a way to give back to its residents is pretty neat, and the other 99 percent of the country should be jealous that we get to not only live in this great state, but we also get paid for it. As checks go out and deposits are made, appreciate the gift and share it with others that may not be as fortunate. If interested in donating a small portion of this year’s PFD to charities check out Pick.Click.Give.

By ANNIE WORSFOLD

Every couple of months, it seems there is one YouTube video that nobody can stop talking about. The viral masterpiece is shared on every social networking website, is conversed about amongst every group of friends, and usually has a fantastically hilarious and catchy musical number that can’t seem to leave the brain. This year, we’re introduced to “The Fox.”

The video, which was released September 3, was originally created by Norwegian comedy TV hosts Ylvis to gain more publicity, and therefore promote their show. Needless to say, they’ve achieved the desired results. According to BBC Newsbeat, the video has over 32 million views, and has been shared over 71,000 times through various social networking websites. The song has appeared in the top 100 iTunes charts of at least 18 countries around the world. It has peaked at number one in Norway, number six in Finland, and nine in Estonia.

The video’s success is being compared to that of Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” which earned a Guinness World Record for being the most ‘liked’ song ever.

Why is this video so popular? A Homer teen gives some insight on that question.

Logan Reveil, a Senior at Homer High, saw the video after having it recommended to him by a friend. “I liked it,” he responded, “It was really funny.” When asked about the meaning of the video he goes in depth as to what it might mean. “The video could be a reflection of societal rejection due to misunderstandings of a certain group of people. We don’t know what the fox says, so it’s like we don’t understand it. But at the end… the fox does talk. And he sounds just like a human.” Does “The Fox” appeal to certain groups of people more or less? “I think it definitely attracts more young people,” Logan says.

Whether the video has some deep hidden meaning or is just a couple of guys dancing around in fox costumes may never be fully disclosed, but however it is interpreted, the evidence that this video is fairly thoroughly enjoyed is undeniable. This is one for the history books.

By SAM DRAVES

HOMER, Alaska — Who is the first person you think of that works hard, is a true leader, and helps constantly in the community? Does Zoe Story come to mind? She works at the R.E.C. Room on Neilson Circle off of Ben Walters in Homer, and is a senior at HHS. The R.E.C. Room is a place for teens to hangout Monday through Thursday from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. and do homework, play games, eat snacks and much more.

“I come to work everyday, and it is such a warm, colorful place, it just automatically puts a smile on my face,” Zoe Story said.

Zoe Story encourages everyone to do the P.H. A. T. program (Promoting Health Among Teens). The program she teaches informs students about abstinence and safe sex. The state of Alaska funds this program with a grant used to pay for travel, food for students in the class, and even participation prizes.  According to Story, the R.E.C. Room loves the program because it looks at both safe sex and abstinence equally without favoring either side. Her dedication to helping teens in the community doesn’t stop at her work.

Everyone grows up and makes mistakes in the process, but Zoe Story believes there are ways to minimize them by giving people options they may have never thought about like reaching out to the community through a newspaper article called,” Become an ‘upstander’ and make a difference” which describes a way to help someone who may not be able to help him or herself.  The story she wrote discusses how a simple bystander can rescue an innocent person with no protection. It includes the messiness of trying to stand up to those people everyone loves and thinks of as “cool” or “popular” but still coming to someone’s aid when they truly need it. Zoe Story knows how to get messages out to the youth in the Homer area, not just by talking, but by showing.

Her writing for the teenage audience continues with her newest article, “Enough is enough.” In this she exposes the brutality of pressure on teenage girls via the media. Through all of this, Zoe Story asks for girls and women to take the “respect challenge” and stop torturing their bodies to strive for what women in popular magazines have. Furthermore, she pledged not to read magazines and watch TV shows that puts lots of pressure on teenagers through the respect challenge. This teen proves how a few words can go a long way, finding people that take note on these outreaches in the community.

All of the work Zoe Story does throughout the community, hasn’t gone unnoticed. She was nominated for the KTUU scholarship. The award is part of fund the future which encourages students to go to college and work hard for their life ahead.

“I was awarded $3,000 for it, but I was mostly rewarded with the honor, and the reminder that the work I am doing is getting out to the people and is making a difference.”

She goes on to say that this affected her greatly, since $3,000 can be of great value to any college student, and it encourages her to apply for other scholarships out there. Her hope is to attend college next fall, and go into the health and social work field.

“I didn’t know I was even nominated until I found out that I had won,” Zoe Story said.

Photo Source: Homer News

By GRIFFIN SHERO

On the rainy day of Aug. 29, 2013 at  Homer High School, I talked to an old cranky sea captain about his summer adventures in Cold Bay. The Captain’s name is Clayton Smith. Captain Smith has worked at the school for more than a decade and spends his summers as ship captain in the Bering Sea.

Captain Smith stated that this summer he had spent it all working out of False Pass, Alaska. His job was to go around to all the commercial fishing boats on the fishing grounds to collect and buy the fish that had been caught. Once he purchased the fish and they were loaded on his boat he took them back to the fish processing plant at False Pass to unload them so they could be processed for customers.

False Pass is at the very beginning of the Aleutian Islands, about 50 miles west of Cold Bay and 600 miles from Homer, Alaska. Captain Smith said, “My best memory of that was one night on the Bering Sea.  We had the most beautiful sunset I think I have ever seen.”

Captain Smith says, “coming home” is a true statement for all fishermen who spend week after week away from home and their loved ones each year.

Captain Smith said, “dealing with a deck hand” was the hardest part of fishing.

By: Megan Gee

Life

Goes

By

Faster

Than

You

Can

Say

Graduation!

By Gabriel Selbig

by Ryan N.

from cafeteria lunches.

to a trash can..

to the dumpster.

The trash is then transported to the Homer Landfill.

The Homer Landfill has been filling since 1978

There is over 100feet of trash buried into the ground.

 By Isabelle De Armoun

Pops Concert Rehersal

Texting Queen Award, Mariah!

Choir students are signing their names.

Robs' desk

Memory

By Akane Fujimura