The Nebraskan Winter Wonderland

By Jasmine Simpson

Whether you’re a long time resident or a newbie, you’re likely to have the same thoughts about North Platte: It’s very plain out here. After all, what is there to see besides the vast expanse of sand hills and the plains? Not much, that’s for sure. However, as most of you have recently noticed, the right amount of snow can change everything. For North Plattians, this quiet and boring little world transforms into magical landscapes that stretch for miles. As a fellow resident, I felt it my duty to capture for you a glimpse of our winter wonderland. Enjoy!

Pros and Cons of Christmas in North Platte

By: Jasmine Simpson

When people visit here for the holidays, the residents of North Platte hear same comments every year. First, visitors remark on the beautiful deer walking everywhere and then they comment on the wonderful snowy weather. Little do they know, however, just how aggravating the winter holiday can really be in a town like this. Here are some pros and cons to every Christmas season in North Platte:

Pros:

v  There is lovely Christmas music playing in every public building and residence.

v  Wal-Mart provides one with the perfect back-up plan.

v  There is a wide variety of places selling hot chocolate.

v  When it snows, everything looks like a winter wonderland.

v  The deer love to come out around the holidays.

v  One can usually hope for a white Christmas morning.

 

Cons:

v  People quickly get depressed hearing ‘The Christmas Shoes’ repeatedly playing across town.

v  It seems like everybody remembers Christmas when its two days in advance.

v  The only place selling a decent cup of hot chocolate is McDonald’s.

v  Underneath every layer of snow comes a deadly sheet of ice.

v  One always has to be extra cautious of deer bolting into traffic and getting hit.

v  Snow on Christmas day can never be predicted here. Never.

Without Thinking

By Jasmine Simpson

A dull ache to fabled thoughts

Over and over they repeat

Slow, steady, soft

Like a beating heart

Slipping away to drown out the world

The departed cannot return

Bare, absent, gone

Like forgotten dreams

From whence they came we will not know

To wherever they travel we will not see

It is not a world for us

Ruin, decay, chaos

Like a cold nightmare

In brighter worlds we will remain

Though these thoughts abandon

In the wake of generations our light will come

We have a way in the glory of day

Top Ten Mindblowing Series for your Reading List

By Jasmine Simpson

It’s November and the semester is almost over. Are you bored out of your mind yet? Sure, you think you’ve got life made with your Netflix and Hulu accounts, but did you realize most fall shows are nearing their mid-season finales? That’s right, you’ll be stuck at home real soon with nothing save Thanksgiving leftovers and loitering relatives. Scared yet? You should be. 

To save you from the temporary tragedy of parting with your beloved shows (and from the daunting outcome of Thanksgiving), here’s a list of worthy book series willing to sedate your depression for you:

1.       The Stormlight Archive: Brandon Sanderson
2.       Seven Realms: Cinda Williams Chima
3.       Dune: Frank Herbert
4.       Wheel of Time: Robert Jordan
5.       Mistborn: Brandon Sanderson
6.       Pendragon: D.J. Machale
7.       Sea of Shadows: Kelley Armstrong
8.       Partials: Dan Wells
9.       Ender’s Game: Orson Scott Card
10.   The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings: J.R.R. Tolkien