Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2011)
h 2011 ' / '■> V ■ ' , « < x;> fW ra ■- " t w t jo ~7^ •'.' V ; : ;■ •; P.% m * | - a f » '~;v; s s ä « e « .................... ..............Ml Énn.......... ■ !"■■• . . . ..... . imi .............. - - , - , W - . . l . Conserving gas proves that choices can be both financially and environmentally friendly J ack L ammers _______________ Temperatures climb as summer approaches and, unfortunately, so do gas prices. Some analysts predict six dollars per gallon by this summer; others say even more. There is no need to be alarmed, just open up your mind to some alternatives to driving. If you absolutely cannot take your foot off of the gas pedal, there are other ways to save. In Portland, we are lucky enough to have access to an expansive public transportation system. With buses heading to and from the city throughout the day, this is a great alternative to driving and reduces emissions while increasing the livability factor. Another great method of transportation aside from buses is the MAX Light Rail. Anything from Portland Timbers' games Photo by Laurel Massaro The 35 TriMet bus operates in West Linn and the Portland Metro area for the service of commuters. With one of the most expansive public transportation systems in the United States, TriMet provides a viable and financially friendly alternative in the wake of soaring gas prices. to shopping in downtown Portland can be achieved without the stress of inner city driving or the time and expense of trying to find a place to park. If you plan on travelling locally, picking up a bicycle could be a good option, benefitting both the environment and your happiness quotients. Especially with sunnier days coming our way, as Oregonians, we need the vitamin D wherever we can get it. Now let's say you decide that you have to drive somewhere. If that's the Eco-friendly alternatives grow, grant opportunity for change J ack L ammers Implementing a green lifestyle may seem to be an overwhelming task, and if you try to do everything, it may be. However, with some simple changes slow ly added to our daily lives, we can develop healthy vote with their dollars. 2) Walk, carpool, ride the bus or even bike to school. Utilizing these alternatives on a consistent basis, or even a few times a week can allow for more socializing, less emissions and uncompro mised convenience. 3) Turn off the water while ances. Although cleaner energy is becoming more common, no energy should be wasted. When you're not using lights or appliances/ electronics, just turn them off. Using natural light is a great alternative. 5) Volunteer. Enjoy natu ral beauty and strive to pre serve it. Find organiza tions or local parks where you live to participate in environmental clean up and awareness. One example is SOLV (Stop Oregon Litter and Van dalism). If that doesn't work out, start your own clean-up. 6) Hand-wash dishes or only run a fully load ed dishwasher. Most people don't realize it, but dishw ashers use considerable amounts of water to wash dishes. Photo by Jack Lammers Ideally, it’s best not to u^e dishwasher at ail- “ You J * 0' use ^co- friendly dishwashing detergent and only run the washer when it is brushing teeth. Do not let completely full. If it's not that water run, that wastes full or if you can, choose water. Just a couple of min to wash dishes in the sink utes of running water per day instead, of course, with adds up. One helpful tool is eco-friendly dishwashing a shower timer to keep your liquid. These soaps differ water usage to a minimum. because they are made 4) Turn off lights and ap- from organic base oils, are pliances/electronics when biodegradable and often not in use. People who aren't avoid testing on animals. environmentally conscious don't usually think about continued on page 12 turning off lights and appli- Seniors Chris Kingsborough and Taylor Rose carpool to lunch instead of driving separately. Carpooling is one alternative which, according to Colorado Pollution Prevention, can prevent about 2,376,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released each year per 100 people. habits to consistently ben efit our environment. 1) Ask or shop for green products. For future back- to-school shopping, clothes shopping or anything else, there are usually environ mentally friendly alterna tives. With the demand for these products on the rise, prices are becoming more and more reasonable, and this allows the consumer to 5B case, try grouping trips together, planning them out in a way that saves you gas and time in the long run. Some in-car tricks to increase fuel economy, include lightening the amount of weight you carry in your car. An extra 100 pounds increases fuel consumption by 1 to 2 percent. Fill up your tank when it is still half full. When the fuel tank is low, the engine is more likely to receive a less steady amount of gas and can make the engine less efficient. Slowing down, using cruise control, and accelerating smoothly all add to fuel economy by making the engine work less. Conversely, speeding can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent. Try using the air conditioner and heater sparingly because it can cause the engine to work harder. However at higher speeds, air conditioning is shown to allow for better gas mileage than rolling down the windows. We have to make better choices for ourselves and our planet. We are all granted the freedom of choice from the purchases we make to the engines we rev. Conserving gas provides benefits whether through saving money or improving the quality of the environment. Beat finals stress by creating a study plan and sticking to it A lison F ieldhouse It's finally that time of year where school is almost over. The possibilities for summer fun are endless, but it’s hard to focus on them when there's something else calling for immedi do study. The trick is to start as soon as you can (as makes sense). 2. Review materials. In many classes, you've made notes or study guides for other tests. Review these to keep the information fresh Photo by Alex Houston Garrett Harmon, sophomore, studies in the library as he begins preparation for finals in chemistry and Advanced Algebra. Finals can seem daunting, but creating a study plan and sticking to it can relieve stress; the trick is to start earlier rather than later. ate attention: finals. These dreaded tests are what stand between you and the relaxation of summer break. It may feel overwhelming to have so many tests at the end of the school year, but here are a few tips that will help. 1. Create a study plan for each class. These don't need to be the most compre hensive plans you’ve ever made, but set aside time for each class and write it in your planner or use another scheduling aid that will help to ensure that you actually in your head. Spread out review over several nights to avoid cramming right before the test. 3. Go over old tests. Seeing what mistakes you made (if any) and figuring out how to correct them is a good way to test if you know the material or not. Also, it shows you facts or details that the teacher thought were important to know. continued on page 8