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By Natalie Feinblum

    Do you like dirt, mud and sweat?  Are you ready to gear up, eat dirt or win the race?  Then dirt biking could be for you.  The exhilaration, heart pumping, stomach jumping, and blood rushing are all parts of the world- known sport called Motocross, also known as MX.
   Some say that motocross is a dangerous sport made only for guys.  But in this day and age girls lap guys and win.  MX racing in not just for the guys. MX riders Jordan Flores and Brandon Kirk agreed, “girls are always allowed to come ride [with us]. We can even help [them] work on [their] skills.”
     Motocross racing ranges from the world series to a pleasurable ride in the woods.  It is  your choice. Dirt biking is a tough sport.  Competitive riders have to build up their endurance and strength to compete.  However, one prefers a cruise through the woods ,he or she still needs strength and endurance. 
   One of the biggest companies that produces dirt biking gear, and the favorite for most QHS riders, is Thor, over Fox.   “Most wannabees wear Fox.  Real riders wear Thor.” says QHS rider Jordan Flores. While most riders at QHS disagree on riding gear, many agree on the types of dirt bikes they ride, which include mostly 2strokes like Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki.  Of course, these are only a few types of bikes. There are also favorite brands for one’s bike parts. For tires-Dunlop, exhaust pipes-Pro circuit, and for Engine supplies on your bike-V force Reeds just to name a few.
   As exciting and freedom filled as dirt biking may sound and look there are rules.  There are many different ways to race in the widely known world of competition. These are some of the rules for MX racing: 1) Riders have to have the right parts on their bike. There are rules for what a racer bike can have to be able to compete in the race. 2) riders have to have certain permits to ride in certain areas. 3)The riders must have the right registration forms for their bike. 4) The number of the riders on the bike cannot be the same number as on someone else’s bike. 5) When riding on track, riders cannot cut across the track to win the race. 6) Riders must have raced the exact amount of laps and time required to win the race. It all depends on time and how many laps are required.
   There has been all this information on competition dirt biking and none on recreational riding. As fun and enjoyable as the riding in the woods might sound, it might not be that way for long. It is known that the forest service is offering rewards for locations of  well known trails used by dirt bike and quad riders.

    Of course there are secret trails that are relatively unknown. There are other places to ride, such as Border Town, the Punch Bowl and Sand Mountain.
   Dirt biking is an extreme sport known for its speed and extremely risky maneuvers.  It’s not just for the guys; girls ride too, even in competition. So if you like the perils of danger and the excitement of speed, this sport may be for you.

Violence in Videogames


By Cody Eliason

     From the very first arcade videogames released in 1971, to the cutting edge super realistic graphics of today’s games, videogames have entertained people of all ages. The gaming industry is a multi-billion dollar business with billions of players around the world. 
   As with any product, the creators of games attempt to make their creation as popular as possible.   Developers often attempt to make a game that places the player in control of a certain character and have an entire world of choices at the player’s fingertips. Some go for more violent themes such as First Person Shooters or “Hack and Slash” game play.  As games become more and more realistic, people begin to question if the actions depicted in videogames affect the player themselves. 
   There are several myths that constantly float around about videogames. One of the more common myths, according to the American Psychological Association, is that there are, “…no studies linking violent video game play to serious aggression.” The fact is, studies have shown that high levels of violent video game exposure have been linked to delinquency, fighting at school and some violent criminal behavior. 
   Another common myth is that, “unrealistic video game violence is completely safe for adolescents and older youths.”  In fact, that cartoonish and fantasy violence is often perceived incorrectly by parents and public policy makers as safe even for children. Experimental studies with college students have consistently found increased aggression after exposure to clearly unrealistic and fantasy violent video games. Indeed, at least one recent study found significant increases in aggression by college students after playing E-rated (suitable for everyone) violent video games, says Craig A. Anderson, a psychologist and researcher in the effects of violent media on America’s youth.

If someone is thinking about purchasing a videogame, but is concerned about the content of the game, he or she can always look for the rating by the ESRB located on the front of the package and also in more detail on the back.  The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory body for the interactive entertainment software industry established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association.  ESRB independently applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles adopted by the computer and video game industry.  ESRB assigns over 1,000 ratings per year and more than 550 publishers have submitted products to the ESRB for ratings since 1994. 
   Many questions are left unanswered and are still being researched to this day.  Gaming has become an everyday part of life for millions of people.  It is up to the person or the parents of the person playing the game to decide for himself or herself if he or she wants to play or not.