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If you love math and want to do nothing else, Mathcounts is for you. Mathcounts is a program where you do complex math and compete against other schools. But even people who love math can admit that two hours twice a week, with a whole lot of homework, is too much. It has its upsides, the great instructors and the food that you get every practice, and the competition is very fun to go to. You get to miss school and do a little math, but still get to hang out with your friends.

But it's just too much math. Maybe if the program was a month-long, but no, it's five. If you have already had a very long day, too bad, math for two hours. It’s just too much. It’s like hiking up a mountain, and when you get to the top, you realize that you're only halfway. And if you fall behind, that's too bad, you get left in the dust.

I can see if you are good at math already, how you can like mathcounts. But if not by even a little bit, you just get dropped right in. You can get nothing done because the teachers don’t explain most of the math that you are doing. The teachers assume that you know all this complex math that you were never taught. A lot of people join so they can learn that math, but then are told that they have to already know it. I’m talking about formulas for geometry and algebra. And without them you're lost. I think that there is too much negative to outweigh the positive. I only did mathcounts because my parents made me.

That is my opinion. I think you will agree if you try it.

No offence Matt

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“Lonesome Dove” is, by far, the best book I’ve ever read. This epic, spread from Texas through Montana in the late 1800s, depicts the end of the western era, and the development of previously wild lands once controlled by nomadic owners. The book takes its sweet time developing characters, letting the entire premise be set [sweet time]  before any of the characters move more than a mile from their stretch of the Rio Grande. It is also a “buddy book”, considering the two main characters, Woodrow Call, an emotionless and hypercompetent veteran, and Augustus McCrae, an emotional, sarcastic, argumentative charmer, are, and have always been, inseparable, even with their constant arguments. They are both retired captains in the Texas rangers, once charged with protecting the border from Indian attacks. They decide to drive a herd of cattle to Montana, where the grass is said to be long and the water plentiful, along with their “gang” made up of Ranger veterans, young souls and old friends. [The book is almost entirely about their journey from Texas to Montana, with no shortage of adventures.expand] The book has two prequels and one sequel, with those books being almost, but not quite, as good as “Lonesome Dove”.

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Outer Banks is an exceptional series that surprised me and quickly became my favorite show. It has a captivating plot, outstanding characters, and stunning backgrounds of sunny North Carolina. The show is full of adventure, and the quest to find John B's lost father. It features them searching for legendary treasures and many hidden things about each character. This keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Once you watch the first episode, you will be hooked forever.

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Manchester City: The Fall From The Throne

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Manchester City: The Fall From The Throne

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Manchester City: The Fall From The Throne

3-4 defeat against Celtic, 2-3 defeat against AC Milan, 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth, and 4-1 defeat against Sporting CP—all of these terrible results and more caused them to be eliminated from the UEFA Champions League and to be in fourth place in the English Premier League. Man City (short for Manchester City) 's having results like these from a team stacked with world-class players worth millions of dollars is hard to wrap your head around. The question here is how?, how has a team that previously won the FA Cup, the Champions League, the Premier League, and the Club World Cup lost nine of thirteen games in the first few weeks of the EPL? Well, here are some of the reasons that I think made Man City fall so far down from their throne.

The Defence

For the previous season, Man City’s defense has been penetrated from several different positions on the pitch (soccer field) and in several different ways. When an air-ball is sent to the box where the opposing team’s tall, and very powerful striker is located, Man City's defense puts as much effort into stopping them as a bad students puts into doing their homework. Man City pays over 621,140,000 per season for their defenders who are disorganized and have conceded more than 37 goals this season. On the coaches' side, there has been no noticeable effort to solve this issue. I'm sure that they tried, but clearly, they have failed so far. "I blame [myself]. It's not to say, 'Oh how nice is Pep' - it's the truth. I lead that group of players and I could not lift them. This is the reality,” said Joseph ‘Pep’ Guardiola, Manchester City’s manager at an interview.

The Forwards

Man City has some of the very best forwards in all of Europe. On the wings they have Grealish, Doku, Silva, and Foden. At the very top of the field they have 51 million dollar Erling Haaland. Back in the day, Manchester City would create scoring opportunities by retaining possession of the ball and making plays by combining passes and runs with the rest of the forwards. Now the majority of their goals have come mostly from individual players ans solo plays. Whether its a winger dribbling across the edge of the box and shooting or a header of a corner kick. Their striker, Haaland has also decaided from his prime and has been ineffective and imprecise. Whether this is the managers and couches fault or the players fault, I do not know. My guess is that it is mostly a combination of both.

Conclusion

The conclusion here is that Manchester City have decaided in their performance, and if they want to continue being one of the top European teams, they need to make changes and improve, desperately. Thank you for reading!

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A Journey Through Glacier Park

From the beautiful green moss on the trees to the giant mountains, the Glacier Avalanche Lake hike is a family friendly stroll where the views stay with you wherever you go. You get to see different streams and rivers as you walk along the old boulders of the park. It has been a favorite for many since 1910. It’s a 4.6 mile hike where you get to see and hear some of the native birds and mushrooms of Glacier. There is an on site campground where you can explore other astounding spots around the park.

The hike starts out with fresh water flowing down from the boulders and mighty old trees that kiss the sky. As you walk down the trail it goes from this beautiful bright walk into a darker scolded canape of old growth trees. Once the hike is done you get this breathtaking view with a lake clear like glass. You can swim and fish to all your delight and have a splendid picnic by the lake. All and All the Glacier National Park is a beautiful place with rich history and a must see on your adventure list.

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Nailed It!: A show that really hits home

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Nailed It!: A show that really hits home

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Picture this… Me, a pretty normal 10 year old girl, just chilling on the couch, scrolling on Netflix, looking for something halfway decent to watch. Then I saw a show cover that looked pretty OK, but little did I know what I was about to get into. I clicked play… and my journey began.

I was greeted with a peppy, joyful voice. “Welcome to Nailed It!” As the show opens to an old fashion looking set with three medium size kitchens in each corner, I see Nicole Byer sitting on…well… it's practically a throne, wearing the most sparkly dress you would ever see. “Let’s meet the judges,” a guy named Jacques Torres came out and gave the camera a big smile. If you don’t know who Jacques Torres is, well, first of all you’ve been living under a rock, and second, he is a pastry chef, and happens to make all the outrageous desserts on Nailed it! And when I say outrageous, I’m talking about 3D shark cakes sitting on a rice crispy treat beach kind of outrageous.

The basis for the show is that terrible bakers (and I mean terrible), come on and attempt to bake super crazy desserts, for a prize of 10,000 dollars. Which —- as you could imagine —- is always hilarious to watch. Whether it's someone messing up a basic cookie, to a judge spitting the dessert across the room, Nailed it! will never fail to leave you with a smile.

The show has been pumping out seasons since 2018, each one better than the last. After seven seasons of pure comedy, Nailed it! has hung up its hat. That doesn't mean that you can’t binge this series on Netflix over and over again. Trust me… after just one episode of this show, you will want to. So if you're looking for a good laugh, just go to Netflix, and turn on Nailed it!...Nailed it.

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No fifty-year-old should ever fight a twenty-seven-year-old. The whole fight went the way the fighting community thought it would, with a twenty-seven-year-old dancing around a fifty-year-old man. It was the worst fight I have ever seen, and I have watched middle school boys do MMA. It reminded me of a lion fighting a mouse. I don’t know which weirdo approved. A fight Where the corpse of Iron Mike Tyson fights a guy who used to be on Disney Channel.

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The District 4: The king of Everyday Carry Bags

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The District 4: The king of Everyday Carry Bags

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Are you in the market for the perfect everyday pack for an affordable price?

Well, I might have the bag for you.

Mystery Ranch has consistently been making casual bags and packs for the outdoors, but there's one clear winner in their collection: the District 4

Mystery Ranch’s ‘District 4’ bag has surprised me with its impressive array of features that enhance the overall experience of the pack itself. Starting with the outside, it has a great outer pocket with a built-in key ring and the ability to pop out like an accordion to comfortably contain your phone or other items you might need on speed dial.

Flipping it around reveals a padded mesh pocket that can easily contain paper and other thin objects without sacrificing the bag's comfort.

Opening the bag will reveal a smattering of organizational options built into the pack. Vibrant high-visibility orange coats the inside of the bag to aid you in that second when you need to find a specific item. In addition to all of the great features included in the District 4, it's insanely comfortable to wear.

From its easy access pockets to its impressive organizational aid, I find myself constantly recommending the District 4 to everyone.

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I tend to not like many video games because a lot of times they are too stressful. I have been playing Animal Crossing for as long as I can remember. During Covid I was stuck inside doing nothing, when I saw an ad for a new animal crossing. I begged my parents for weeks and finally I got it on my Nintendo.

Animal Crossing New Horizons is a calming game that is not stressful but is also incredibly addicting. You get villagers in the start but they can be changed. There are over 400 to choose from. All the villagers are different animals. They live on your island and keep you company. You get a house which you can upgrade and decorate along with a store, clothing store, a museum, resident services, airport, and a campsite. You can also customize your avatar and collect and make clothes.

Animal Crossing has many fun things about it but one of my favorite is the Happy Home Paradise expansion pack. Happy Home Paradise is where your character can take a break from working and building their island to go to work. But unlike a lot work it is really fun! It allows you to get on a plane and fly to another island. There you can talk to villagers who want vacation homes. They give you a basic theme for their home then you have full creative freedom. There are over 1,400 items for you to decorate the homes with. I have made over 100 vacation homes in Animal Crossing. For every home you decorate you get 20,000 poki which is the currency the work island. Although the currency on your normal island are bells.

If I were to say one negative thing Animal Crossing it would be the price. Its pretty expensive but in my opinion its totally worth it. I’ve spent so much time on Animal Crossing but there is still stuff to do. There is always something to keep you busy. Overall Animal Crossing New Horizons is a fun and easy game to play.

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The sun falls on the chapel windows as I stood on a wooden box, singing "Let it be” by the Beatles. I heard three names called out for the solo and one of them was mine.

PAC(Performing Arts Camps)is overall the best summer camp theater intensive, including: classes about singing, dancing, and acting. PAC also has a canteen where you can buy ice cream on a hot day, or cool off in the lake with your new friends during the lakefront. Oh, and cabin clean up, where you decorate your cabin with anything you can find and have a nine-year-old judge it (and yes we had a unicorn), and winning with celebrating with an ice cream party in the basement of your cabin. Making friends with your cabin mates–or not–and spending all your time with amazing people.

I remember wondering why my friend was lying on the floor and calling it “floortime” until I tried lying on the floor myself. PAC can change your life by just meeting people and clicking like puzzle pieces. Around 40-60 kids ranging from 8th grade to seniors in high school. This camp is for all ages, even after you graduate, you can come back to be a counselor.

Even though theater might not be your cup of tea, I call all theater kids or theater kids in training. Come to this amazing overnight, all-inclusive, lake-side, theater camp intensive.

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Only Murders In The Building: A Killer Show

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Only Murders In The Building: A Killer Show

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From the cross generation friendship, to the sarcastic, humorous journey to try and find a murderer, the three investigators sure know how to make someone press ”Next Episode.”

After a long day, the best feeling is having a good show to watch. Sitting down, wondering “Who did it?” and picking up clues the characters might have left behind is part of what makes this series such an intriguing one. No one can rock a scarf like Oliver, a coat like Mabel, or an impressively bland outfit like Charles. They might have taken a few wrong turns, but the trio ends up where they need to be.

The first season debuts, and people have a few laughs. The second season comes out, and people are in shock. The twists and turns in ten episodes leaves people in shambles. The hints, dropped like little cookie crumbs throughout the show, makes people double, triple, and quadruple check what they have learned. From The Pickle Diner, to the mysterious Arconia apartment building, clues get cracked, and murders are solved.

Every episode leaves you wanting more. Although you aren’t a killer, you need one thing. A juicy, mysterious murder.

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The Fall Guy— A Guy Who Really Likes To Fall

The movie The Fall Guy is a marvel to movie fans and lovers. It shows what can happen when you work as a stunt double and the risks that come with the job. The movie opening up to the protagonist played by Ryan Gosling. Falling while trying to shoot a scene in a movie. After he wakes up in the hospital the movie director breaks the news that he can't continue as a stunt double due to his severe injuries

After he is forced to quit his job he ends up as a valet driver, as he is driving a customer an old coworker meets him and calls him the fall guy. After that interaction with one of his old coworkers, he is approached by a movie director and is offered to be the stunt double in a movie called Mettlestorme. He refuses to be the stunt doable until he hears that Jodie is directing the film. Once he arrives at the set he is asked to do a stunt but he is afraid to fail in front of Jodie. After Colt, the main character fakes his death. Jodie and Colt reunite to prove that he did not murder, the stuntman Henry. After he finds his dead body in a bathtub while he is attending a mushroom-induced rave, he finds the body his co-workers are attending at a party celebrating Jodie's movie. Please he does not attend the party, instead he is being chased by men in a semi-truck. After he finds clues the murderer is hiding. After he finds the mansions the killer is hiding in he has an epic battle. After he runs to a boat at a dock he has an epic boat chaise faking his death again by exploring the boat he was riding, making the people who were chasing the ship away.

In conclusion, I think the fall guy is a masterpiece in the eyes of action movie lovers. Remember to stay hydrated. I know you don't want to be a dried-up raisin, you want to be a juicy plum Scrumdiddlyumptious grape.

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A New Type of Flavor, A New Way to Savor

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A New Type of Flavor, A New Way to Savor

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The chef with buff veiny forearms and a Naruto headband cracks multiple golden eggs onto the grill. It sizzles as he pours fresh cooked steaming rice over them. Taking his spatula he jabs at the sweet smelling foods until they are a mixed golden brown. He pours the rich smelling food onto my plate, along with a small white bowl.

He then reaches over to his left and snatches up a tender red steak and two burnt brown colored lobster. Putting down a little bit of butter and oil he slaps down the tender meat as it hisses in the hot glowing liquids. Its fat oozes out of all sides. My mouth waters as I gawk at the juice filled lobster jumping around in the sweet liquids.

After ten minutes of hot liquids dancing around and broccoli being thrown in all directions except in our mouths. Dinner is ready.

I tear into my food like a hungry lion. The flavors explode in my mouth. Both sweet and savory. Looking around at my family and friends and even strangers at the table with us, I realize just how great Kobe's Steakhouse really is.

With its fast and furious chefs tossing eggs and knives around like baby toys to the laughing and joking of everybody there the atmosphere is stimulating. Whether celebrating a birthday party or just having a nice night out. The people are all there to have a good time and eat some great food. Kobe's steak house never disappoints.

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La La Land Will Leave You Singing All The Way Home

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La La Land Will Leave You Singing All The Way Home

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La La Land is a classic romantic musical with phenomenal music and a jazzy theme. It draws you in the millisecond the opening sequence begins with a traffic jam on a LA highway. The Angelinos are singing “Another Day of Sun,” and the costumes are blazed with primary colors. It’s an exhilarating ramble of a movie, ardent and full of passion. Sebastian and Mia are drawn together by what they love. But as success grows in their lives, they decide to take different paths to fulfill their dreams in loss of their relationship. An unexpected twist at the end like this draws in the audience to Mia and Sebastian’s perspective, relating to the sacrifices for success instead of a “happily ever after” story line. “There’s something to be said for having even unrealistic dreams,” the director said. “Even if the dreams don’t come true - that, to me, is what’s beautiful about Los Angeles. It’s full of these people who have moved there to chase their dreams. I don’t like the idea the viewer can kind of sit there and go, ‘make me like this person.’”The director aimed to make a film even musical skeptics would love. I, personally, am a musical skeptic, and La La Land struck me away. It changed my perspective and appreciation for movies

like this. La La Land is like a ray of sunshine, reminding you of a sweet summer day.

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Lights dim, curtains open, a woman living life as well as she can stands before the audience’s watching eyes, and starts to sing. Her beautiful voice hits the air with so much emotion as she starts to whisk together sugar, butter, and flour, making the audience fall in love with the musical Waitress.

Who would know when the production of Waitress hit Broadway's story-filled stage in 2016, it would make its way to the small town of Missoula, Montana, years later. This beautiful pie filled world fantastically hits Missoula's MCTs stage in February of 2025. This production has such an impact, it sends me home thinking about it even days later, hungry for more of this pie filled world.