Beyond the Bench Press

By Andrew Freund

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

        When I started working out in the gym, I'd go straight to the bench press to lift weights. However, over time I saw slow progression in strength and appearance. I had to find more lifts to work my chest and allow it to grow. Once I found and learned more lifts, I saw results. I use those learned and researched lifts today to teach members at the YMCA in the correct forms and lifts to work.

     “It’s consistency. Stay with it. You must do this day in, and out. It becomes a lifestyle,” said Jay Cutler, a prominent bodybuilder. 

While upper body lifts take over Cutler’s life at the gym, we find that many other people are also going to the gym to work their upper body. Exercisers are excited to get to the bench press and hit out a couple sets. But there's is a lot more to bodybuilding than that.

Many new lifters come into the gym not knowing where to start, so they just go to the bench. However, to gain the best muscle, a variety of lifts is the best way. There are many different lifts that help work out your upper body, including push-ups, incline's, dips and even flyes.  

The first workout I want to talk about is doing push-ups. Push-ups are an exercise in which a person lies facing the floor and, keeping their back straight, raises his or her body by pressing down on the hands. Push-ups are a great workout to use when you don’t have any weights or a gym because you can do them anywhere. Also, push-ups are a great way to build muscle for a new lifter. Several muscle groups in the chest, arms, shoulder's, triceps, back and neck work simultaneously during a push-up. Even though it is a basic strength exercise, it is a good workout. 

Nerd Fitness provided these helpful steps, and has more in detail: https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/proper-push-up

The next lift I want to introduce to you are dips. Dips are another great lift to put into your upper body workout routine. To get yourself into the starting position, hold your body at arm’s length above the bars. While breathing in, lower yourself slowly with your torso leaning forward around 30 degrees or so and your elbows out slightly until you feel a slight stretch in the chest. 

Dips work the pecs while stretching helping the flexibility of the shoulder. They involve your own body weight. This is a way to build your chest while warming up your shoulders at the same time. This lift is best early in your workout. 

Stronglifts gave great information about dips, and has further information in detail: https://stronglifts.com/dips/#gref

The next lift is the incline dumbbell press. This more advanced lift involves weights. To get started, set an adjustable bench to an incline of 30 to 45 degrees. Lie on your back on the bench and hold a pair of dumbbells directly above your shoulders with your arms fully extended, then lower both dumbbells to the sides of your chest. That’s on rep. 

This lift works for the same muscle groups as a flat bench would. It's great if you’re on your own and can't find a spot. If you can’t get the weight up, you can move your arms to the side and drop it.  However, spotters should be mandatory for all weighted lifts to ensure safety. The incline puts more of a workout on your upper chest than a flat bench would, giving you another lift to add to your workout. 

BodyBuilding is a great site to look more into dumbbell bench pressing: https://stronglifts.com/dips/#gref

The last lift we are going to talk about flyes. Flyes are something I don’t see a lot in the gym, but they are a very valuable lift. Lie down on a flat bench with a dumbbell on each hand resting on top of your thighs. Then use your thighs to help raise the dumbbells. Lift the dumbbells one at a time so you can hold them in front of you at shoulder width with the palms of your hands facing each other. With a slight bend on your elbows in order to prevent stress at the biceps, lower your arms out at both sides in a wide arc until you feel a stretch on your chest.

Flyes isolate your chest and give a good stretch. They are an awesome exercise even for growth. They break down a lot of fibers when done properly. Flyes are a motion that can be awkward at the start and take some getting used to. Most gyms have a fly machine that also can be used.

Coachmag provided these helpful steps: http://www.coachmag.co.uk/dumbbell-exercises/6709/how-to-do-the-chest-building-dumbbell-flye

All these lifts are great to help build the upper body. There are many more lifts that can also be thrown into a workout depending on what you are looking to do. These lifts all work the chest and shoulders. The bench is not a bad lift at all. I just feel people need to branch out and focus on other lifts to build strength and flexibility in the muscles. 

Once the exercises begin to be too easy, it is important to increase the intensity in order to see results. You can do this through several methods. First, you can change how you’re doing the lift by alternating the weights. If it has dumbbells or if it is a body lift, you can hold every rep for five seconds. Second, you can raise the weight you are using in the lift. If you are doing a body lift, you can put weight on your back or waist. Lastly, you can work one arm at a time. 

There are many more upper body lifts, but these are a few I wanted to share with you. I hope this helped you out or got you wanting to learn more about upper body workouts and lifts. Try these lifts out and let me know if you enjoyed them. If I can do it, you can do it also!

Music Runs in These Families

By Cameron McIntosh

Motlow Buzz Contributing writer

Some families are lucky to have one famous musician in them. My family was one of them. My grandfather, Lonnie McIntosh, was a hit artist. I can remember singing with him early in my life before he passed. He has inspired me to look at other musical families.

My Grandfather Lonnie McIntosh with Stevie Ray Vaughan

Sometimes a family may have two or more successful musicians pursuing careers at the same time. Some musicians even pass on their musical talents down the family line. In this case, music in fact runs in the family.

            Most people today know musical legend Sir Paul McCartney. He achieved world-renowned success in the 1960s as a singer and song-writer for the British rock band The Beatles. He also found success as a solo artist. He has more than 3,000 copyrights to his name. He has written and performed many hits over the course of the second half of the 20th century and the early 21st century. His contribution to music was so great in fact that he was knighted for it in 1997 by the Queen of England. He is one of the most recognizable faces in music. 
            For more info visit

https://www.celebfamily.com/entertainment/sir-paul-mccartney-family.html.

            What most people don’t know is that Paul McCartney has a son named James McCartney. Although not yet as successful, the apple does not fall far from the tree. He has been performing since the 1990s. He first started playing in the ‘90s on some of his father's solo albums. He mostly provided background music and percussion.

He also co-wrote the songs “Spinning On An Axis" and "Back In The Sunshine Again" on his father's solo album "Driving Rain." He released his first solo album in 2010. It was titled "Available Light." His second album titled "Close at Hand” was released in 2011. His most recent album "Me" was released in 2016.
In a 2012 BBC article, James McCartney praised his father for his positive influence and for the help he has received in trying to make his own legacy. James has said that his father encourages him to pursue a career in music and roots for his success. James McCartney hopes to be as successful as his father's band one day but knows that that he still has a long way to go. 

Visit https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-17547939 for more info.

            Britney Spears was a hit artist in the late 1990s on through the 2000s. She has released several chart-topping hits in the United States and internationally. Spears has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. She turned into a pop icon during the turn of the 21st century. She is listed as the record holder by Guinness World Records for having the "best-selling album by a teenage solo artist" for her debut album ”Baby One More Time,” which sold more than 13 million copies in the United States. She is credited for paving the way for the pop music that plays on the radio today.

            Jamie Lynne Spears is the younger sister of Britney Spears. Most people know her from the Nickelodeon teen drama "Zoey 101," where she plays the main character Zoey. She started out as a child actress by playing as her older sister's character "Lucy" in “Total Britney Live." She joined Nickelodeon in 2002 as an extra in "All That." She left the network when it was revealed that she was pregnant at 16 years of age with her daughter Maddie.

Jamie began her music career after moving to Nashville. Instead of following her sister by singing pop music, she decided to get into country. 
You can learn more at the following websites: https://www.biography.com/people/jamie-lynn-spears-262390; 

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/see-britney-spears-surprise-sister-jamie-lynn-at-the-opry-20160316; and 

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/5819624/jamie-lynn-spears-exclusive-qa-there-is-no-rivalry-with-britney.

            She started in 2011 with a small concert at the Rutledge in Nashville, playing a set of songs she wrote herself. In 2013, she released her own first single titled "How Could I Want More." The single hit number 29 on the Billboard’s Hot 100 Country Songs Chart. Her first EP "The Journey," was released in 2014.

In 2016, she performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. She also released her second single "Sleepover" later that same year.

It is early in her career, so it is too soon to tell if she will enjoy the same success as her older sister, but that will in no way discount her talent as a musician. 
For more information, visit https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/nov/21/britney-spears-jamie-lynn-spears-country-album.

            Bob Marley was a legendary Jamaican-born reggae performer. He is one of the best-selling artists of all time. His record "Exodus" has sold more than 75 million copies worldwide. Marley also performed with other family members, including his brothers who were part of his background band in the 1970s. Tragically, he was diagnosed with Acral Lentiginous Melanoma (a form of cancer) in 1977 and passed away in 1981 at the prime age of 36.

No one can deny his influence on the reggae genre and music in general. His music also made him a global symbol inspiring a global phenomenon in certain merchandising. He put Jamaica on the musical map and paved the way for other Jamaican performers, including his son Damien Marley. 
You can learn more about him at https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/deadly-profitable-the-13-highest-earning-dead-celebrities/article21112085.

            His son Damien Marley has done well in continuing his father's legacy. Damien has had some hits of his own. He started performing at the age of 13 when he formed his own band called The Shepherds. His first album titled “Mr. Marley” was a collaborative effort between him and his older brother Stephen. Damien’s "Halfway Tree" received praise for its combining of dance and hip-hop styles. The record won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.

Even with the Grammy, it did not translate into much commercial success. Damien did not receive huge commercial success until the release of the album "Welcome to Jamrock" in 2005. This album won him another Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance, and also peeked at number seven on the Billboard Top 200 album. With that he accomplished one thing that his father did not, winning a Grammy Award. 
You can go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/varun-soni/bob-marleys-spiritual-leg_b_453614.html and https://www.biography.com/people/damian-marley-297416 for more information.

            Musical talent runs in my family as well. My grandfather, Lonnie McIntosh, had been playing in clubs since the 1950s before his first hit "Memphis" in 1962. His stage name was shortened to Lonnie Mack. He went on to become one of the most influential artists in early blues-rock music. The "whammy bar" is nicknamed after his song "Wham."

My Grandpa Lonnie and Me

His 1958 Gibson Flying V guitar is iconic. His musical career started in the 1950s and lasted until the early 2000s. His brother Bill McIntosh also played alongside him in the original band.

            All these artists have other family members that are in music. They might not be as famous, but there is no denying the talent they have. For these artists, musical talent does in fact run in the family.

                                                      

Art as a Movement

By JaJuan Isaacs
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

Growing up a visual artist, I learned to appreciate different forms of creativity that form what we call art today. I have made it my mission to inform the readers of this blog site of various and creative art forms that have impacted my life and interested me in general.

Art can be portrayed in many different ways. Many artists are visual and use forms such as paint, sculpture or drawing. Other visual artists such as photographers and videographers use cameras to capture live-action moments. Art is something opinion-based determined by the artist.
          When people hear the word art, they instantly think of paintbrushes and pencils, and they forget to include the clothing designers, make-up artists, musicians, poets, chefs and anything else that is considered an art form. The reality is, literally anything can be art, and as humans, it is our job to appreciate and respect different cultures of art around the world. I am making it my mission to introduce the readers to a new way of thinking and better appreciation of art. With that being said, here are a few artists who have impacted my life.

These are some of the artists that have inspired me. Of all artists, they have managed to be more than different from every person who call themselves artists. Their ideas are original and have helped inspire me to express my creativity through various forms of art.

Pablo Picasso was a Spanish artist known for his various styles of art including cubism, surrealism and expressionism. Over the course of his life, Picasso managed to produce an estimated 50,000 artworks including paintings, sculptures, drawings, rugs, ceramics and tapestries. Many of his paintings can be found in museums across the globe. 

When I was introduced to his art, I instantly thought to myself, “What is this and why do the faces look like that?” The way he constructed the faces would sometimes have an eye where the nose is supposed to be and the nose in place of the eye, forcing me to ask the question, “Why?”. Well, the simple answer is that’s just what he liked to do, and in doing that he was able to build a plethora of unique masterpieces. 
Picasso was an artist that has helped to influence many artists like myself. His work is extraordinary in a variety of aspects and helps upcoming artists strive to be different. Learn more about Picasso at https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pablo-Picasso

 Hype Williams is a film and video director known for directing many music videos throughout the 1990s and for a few movies such as “Belly.” In his videos, he more goes in-depth with greater detail than the common director. He differs from other video artists using unique angles, colors, sound, and even how he adds effects to skin tones.

One of the most iconic music videos he directed is “California Love” by Dr. Dre and Tupac. The video begins with actor and comedian Chris Tucker breaking the ice into the future-based video. Dr. Dre plays a cyborg and the other actors in the video, as well as Tupac, are revolutionaries. This was different from many of the typical rap/Hip-Hop videos because of his use of science-fiction. Many rappers look at science-fiction as “wack” or “lame” because it isn’t gangster or thuggish. Williams took advantage of his creativity, striving to be different and not a basic videographer. 
          Check this out: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hype-williams-mn0001380160 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wBTdfAkqGU

          Williams has continued to direct music videos. A recent video he directed is “Finna Get Loose” by Puff Daddy and The Family featuring Pharell. The video has an ’80s vibe because of the instrumental and clothes worn, and Williams could not have done a better job directing. The video took off, especially with the help of rapper and producer Pharell Williams, who is also known for bringing an artistic flavor in his videos. 
          Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8Z9fUXNVoI

This mural, by artist Shelley Miller, is made of sugar and frosting decorations, and it looks like it could be made of everything but something you would eat. Art is something that comes from the creative mind, and it amazes me that people have brought it upon themselves to use food as their base for projects. This mural could have easily been painted or even created with fibers or metals, but Miller decided to use food simply because, “Why not?” Miller’s media for art just goes to prove that art can come from anything, and anyone can be an artist as long as they have passion for what they are doing. 
You can view her art at http://magazine.art21.org/2010/09/13/how-sweet-it-is-shelley-miller/sugar_day1/

 Over a recent weekend, I personally saw art from many different standpoints. University School of Nashville, a private school in the city, held an event called the Artcletic. While being there, I spoke with many different artists and heard how they go through the processes of creating their media. There were painters, pencil artists, soda can art, and many more to name.

 Of all the artists I spoke with, the most interesting was a man named Spears McAllester. He is a photographer who uses a special printer to print life-like images on aluminum. He had pictures of trees, rooms and nature that looked like the photos were jumping out of the frames. His process of editing is using Photoshop to edit and develop the images and sell them for $800. 
You can find some of his work at https://photographybyspears.com/f221685686

 Art is not only a wonderful hobby, but if good enough, can be a stable source of income.

          As I stated earlier, art comes in many shapes and forms. The creativity of people continues to change the world of art each and every day, and if continued, will bring in more art forms in the future.

Taylor Swift Shakes Indianapolis

By Georgie Allen
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved attending concerts. The first show I ever saw was Brooks & Dunn at the Houston rodeo when I was 5 years old. From then on, I was hooked.

Over the years I have seen some amazing shows: One direction, Foreigner, Taylor Swift (five times) and many, many more. Nothing else comes close to the rush I get when I’m at a show. In the course of my life, I have seen about 36 shows. From personally driving to carpooling, from hotel booking to sleeping in cars, I’ve done it all.

I consider myself a veteran concert attendee, and I’d love to share my reviews and advice to all of you. I’ll let you know the dos and don’ts of concert etiquette and which shows are and aren’t worth attending. Stay tuned to see if my first review hits a high note with you!

Are you ready for it? Because I sure wasn't. On Sept. 15, 2018, Taylor Swift brought her Reputation Stadium tour to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Swift broke the stadium's attendance record, beating out acts like U2 and One Direction. In a note of gratitude posted on Instagram, the pop star said her fans broke the concert attendance record at the 67,000-plus capacity. Check out Billboard’s article on her record-breaking night here: Taylor Swift Breaks Indianapolis Attendance Record

With openers Charli XCX and Camila Cabello, Swift put on a heck of a show. She opened with "...Ready for it?" and serenaded the crowd with hits like "Look What You Made Me Do,” "Blank Space” and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." With astonishing effects such as fireworks, fire and flying through the crowd in a lit-up cage, Swift totally enraptured the Indianapolis crowd. Swift also gave each of her fans a free gift: A plastic bracelet that changed colors with the songs of the show.

During the middle of the show, Swift ran down the middle of the stadium floor through a barricade, touching hands with fans. Swift took her time and tried to reach everyone before jumping up on B stage and surprising fans with a performance of "Forever and Always" from her "Fearless" album that came out back in 2008.

Though there were no special guests at the Indianapolis show, there were quite a few celebrities, including John Green, Kelsea Ballerini, and Bailey Madison.

Swift clearly does not care what anyone thinks of her anymore. She shed her good girl persona for a sexy bad girl-esque performance. Fans don snakeskin attire and Swift sells snake accessories at her shows, has a giant cobra prop during the concert, and has even named herself, "Mother of snakes." She completely embraces her snake persona that was meant to tear her down. See Billboard’s article explaining Swift’s serpent history here: “Why Do People Call Taylor Swift A Snake?”

Reputation has agreeably been Swift's most exciting chapter so far. Swift is set to be grossing $9 million (yes million!) a show, and now has the title of highest-grossing U.S. tour of a female artist. According to Billboard, after only 27 shows, Swift has raked in more than $200 million.  Take a look at Rolling Stone’s article on Swift’s record-breaking stadium tour here: Taylor Swift Breaks Her Own Record for Highest-Grossing U.S. Tour by a Woman

Maybe it is a good thing that the "old Taylor is dead" as Swift says. 
Swift seems truly happier on this tour, and she seems to be acting like her true self. After she waved her final goodbyes to the Indianapolis crowd and blew the fans one last kiss, she walked off stage. The lights went out and one single quote appeared on the screen: "And in the death of her reputation, she felt truly alive."

Reputation Tour Indianapolis Set List: Swift kicked off Act One with “…Ready For It,” “Gorgeous,” and “I Did Something Bad.” Next was Act Two with “Look What You Made Me Do,” “End Game,” and “King of My Heart.” Following was Act Three with “Delicate,” “Shake It Off,” and “Dancing With Our Hands Tied.”

Swift went through an unbelievable six acts! This show was truly unforgettable and without a doubt one of the best nights of my life!

The Best Albums of 2018 So Far

     By Amari Young

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

                                

                The year is yet to be over, and new music is still dropping. The time we live in is an era led by playlists. Whether you have Apple Music and listen to their curated playlists, or let YouTube’s discovery be your guide, the idea of listening through an entire album in one sitting becomes more unusual by the hour. Having the availability of thousands of great songs available at your fingertips, sitting through anything that’s not up to par can feel like a mistake. Over the last few months, there have been a substantial amount of records that have made an impact to the culture.

                  This article will focus on the top artists, best new albums, and the music industry. It will also dive more into detail explaining my top five best albums of 2018 so far. Topics will include technology, deal making, and general industry trends. If this interests you, this is the first category to check out to stay on top of what’s happening. It features critics for artists’ albums, also counting down the best songs from the track.

                  In his latest attempt, the late rapper Mac Miller dropped his highly anticipated fifth studio album “Swimming” on Aug. 3, 2018. In September, he passed away from an apparent drug overdose, but the music he created lives on. The death of Mac affected everyone who has been touched by his music. After a high-profile breakup with Ariana Grande, he slipped into this black hole. He lost a muse, relationship and a collaborator.  

                  In 2016, his effort with “The Divine Feminine” was closely recorded with Grande. It was represented as a love letter to the woman he’d do anything for.  He went from “you and me against the world” to just “me against the world.” As much as Mac tried to persuade himself that it was almost as good, on his warm but wounded fifth album, “Swimming”, he knew it wasn’t. It takes a certain type of artist to be as vulnerable and authentic as Mac Miller was on this album. For more information about his album click here http://www.macmillerswebsite.com/ 

                    “Whatever head space produced ‘Swimming’, it captures this perfectly” according to Chase McMullen at Metacritic.com. On Swimming, he made frequent references to keeping his head above water…or not. “Got my head underwater, but I ain’t in the shower, and I ain’t getting baptized.” It was clearer why the self-described “chill dude” became a prominent existence on the top 10 of Billboard’s albums chart despite never landing a major radio hit.

                   The Weeknd struck a few nerves releasing “My Dear Melancholy,” his first since 2016’s overly slick “Starboy,” which had moments that were guided by a stronger vision. “My Dear Melancholy” was slight with a collection of six songs. Wearing his emotions on his sleeve is what the Canadian singer does best, and without a doubt he came to a jumping-off point for uncovering a more profound texture in his sound. For more information about his album click here https://open.spotify.com/album/3N88bRVAwQrtKqSV0UgU69

                  “My Dear Melancholy surprisingly provides the clearest, most engaging example yet of the Weeknd's angst. It's the sound of a man kneeling at love's altar still in search of an elusive healing,” Reported Rolling Stone Magazine. With lyrics like “You ain’t steady, you look ready to take it all the way, if you let me take you down on me,” you can tell he’s passionate for his desires but at the same time lonely. It’s no surprise that this album is in my top list.

                      Drake’s fifth studio album “Scorpion” debuted at the top of the charts with his heavy hitter single “God’s Plan.” Although it received mixed reviews from many critics, it is still a contender in my best albums of 2018 so far. Aside from being a Drake fan, many of its 25 tracks are built around standard-issue Drake themes. Mostly the themes consist of heartbreak, hardships, revenge and his newfound feelings towards his son.  Click here for more information https://drakeofficial.com/ 

        Scorpion invites us to pretend that becoming a dad hasn’t been one of Drake’s foremost concerns for the last decade. He makes the disclosure for the first time on the stunning “Emotionless,” cruising along an instantly familiar Mariah Carey sample: “I wasn’t hidin’ my kid from the world, I was hidin’ the world from my kid.” This album is about losing and coming to the realization that missteps do happen in life and how you must push forward to become the best you can be. For his truthfulness, I commend Drake.

                   “Astroworld,” the latest project from Houston native rapper Travis Scott, dominated on first -week streams, which comes as no surprise. This album is by far his most collective his sound has been. Each song flows well together. This is one of those albums that you can listen to without skipping a beat. “Astroworld” comes nearly two years after his previous attempt Birds in “Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight,” which is also another critical acclaim piece of material. He writes, “Sins controllin’ me, yeah Angels, halos over me, I need blessings and my peace.”

                      It’s obvious to point out that he was struggling with his inner demons and dealing with reality during the process of the album.  To hear more of this album click https://www.amazon.com/ASTROWORLD-Travis-Scott/dp/B07FZ99HXL 

                        Pop singer Ariana Grande’s fifth studio album “Sweetener” was met with critical acclaim, being named best album on multiple lists, including mine.  What makes this album more special than any other project she put out is that she had a lot to deal with over the past year: from the bombing in Manchester last year, to the death of her ex Mac Miller, to an abrupt ending of an engagement.

                  Other than the fact that she is a brave woman, her talent comes undefeated. She starts the album singing the lyrics, “When raindrops fell from the sky, the day you left me, an angel cried.” It sets the tone of the rest of the album, especially since the first track is only 30 seconds. It’s a brilliant masterpiece. For more about her album, visit https://www.arianagrande.com/ 

                     In this industry, we play a large role by constantly combing through daily data, more specifically the digital side. This includes information on streaming music vitals, including the latest on subscriber counts, royalties, and Wall Street valuations. LayLowRecords is based in the United States, and our audience is largely U.S.-based. We also cover worldwide happenings, including international artists and albums.  And since the web is global, so by default, the music industry is as well.

                  For more information, check out www.pitchfork.com.  LayLowRecords discusses our thoughts and insights about how we feel towards new music and upcoming artists. So, we ask you this simple question. What is one of your favorite albums of 2018 so far? 

                                                              

                                                                               

How to Spot a Grizzly Bear

By Elizabeth Overcast

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

On a misty, late afternoon in June of 2018, I had my first experience with a grizzly bear.

No one tells you what to expect when you see one in person. I was shocked to find out that, yes, grizzly bears are very large, but not as large as some may think. They naturally stand a little shorter than the average human, but standing upright, it is easy to see what all of the hype is about. It is a humbling, almost enlightening, experience to see a grizzly up close, and I had the amazing chance to do so.

            Grizzly bears are magnificent and beautiful animals that are a pleasure to watch. On account of the National Parks Service of the United States government, the protection of grizzly bears has provided the chance for people to see these beautiful animals up close.

            However, grizzlies are dangerous animals, and they should be respected in their territory. There are not many horror stories surrounding grizzly bear attacks, given that grizzlies do not attack often. But nearly every grizzly bear attack is fatal and should be taken seriously.

According to a news article by Sidney Sullivan, from the year 2000 to current time, there have been 48 fatal bear attacks in North America. Twenty-seven occurred in the United States and the remaining nineteen occurred in Canada. Surprisingly, 25 of these attacks were committed by black bears, a usually docile species of bear.

An article written by Todd Orr vividly describes a thankfully, non-fatal grizzly bear attack from a mother protecting her cubs. He writes, “The force of each bite was like a sledgehammer with teeth.” In this article, the writer describes how he used some safety tactics when attacked. These safety tactics saved his life. He goes on further to talk about how he protected vital organs and his neck. His story is another reminder to be especially cautious when in bear country.

            With the right precautions taken, it is easy to enjoy these wonderful creatures in their natural habitat. The first and foremost important thing to remember is safety. To safely be near a grizzly bear or in its territory, knowing as much information about grizzlies is vital. While grizzly bears do not think of humans as a food source, a grizzly’s first instinct is to protect itself. On account of this, grizzlies typically live secluded lives.

Grizzlies live in densely forested areas, traveling to meadows and plains in search of food. Trails of national parks sometimes overlap these regions, making hiking on them a gamble. The primary cause of most attacks is surprising the grizzly bears. Surprising a grizzly protecting its food, its young, or simply walking upon a grizzly in a threatening manner is enough to provoke an attack. If you are walking trails in a national park, or hiking up the slope of a mountain, remember to make as much noise as possible. It is not in a bear’s nature to want to attack.

            If a bear hears noise, it will leave the area. In the off chance of an encounter with a grizzly, it is important to not run. Running will provoke an attack and, let’s face it, it is impossible to outrun a bear. Instead of running, try to move slowly out of the area, avoiding eye contact. A bear will perceive arm waving and speaking softly as a nonthreatening behavior. If a bear charges, prepare to use bear repellent spray. Bear repellent can be purchased at most hunting outlets or can be purchased at shops in national parks. Rangers can teach tourists how to use the bear repellent effectively.

            If in the event that a bear does attack, you are advised to curl into a ball, making no noise and being as still as possible. As stated before, bears are generally docile animals and will not attack if the correct steps are taken.

            Having safety as a priority, it is easy to enjoy witnessing a grizzly in its natural habitat. Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park are popular parks to see grizzly bears and where I, personally, had my first experience with grizzly bears. After a long day of sight-seeing, I had completely given up on spotting a bear. On the way out of Glacier, we noticed a large crowd of people standing in the road, with a ranger’s car nearby. My first thought was that someone had been hurt, until I saw the bear crossing the road. It is advised to be at least five bus lengths away from a grizzly bear when watching one, as not to scare it. Seeing the bear in its natural habitat reminded me of the beautiful, natural wonders this world has to offer.

            There are many places in national parks that offer the chance to see bears in the wild. Some popular places in the Northwest region of the United States include meadows in Yellowstone (especially Belcher Meadows Trails) and sloped mountains in Glacier (Logan Pass at the top of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is where I saw my first bear).

Here, a list of more popular places is provided:

Things to do in Yellowstone 

Where to See Bears in Alaska

Where to go Bear Watching in Canada

Crafting a Campfire Story

By Jeremy Broadwater

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            I can still remember as a young child sitting around the campfire listening to my grandfather and dad telling stories. I can still hear the crackling of the fire wood, the smell of it as it burned. My dad and my grandfather were the storytellers. They would often start every gathering by positioning the firewood and igniting a fire symbolizing the power and light to bring truth.  

We recently celebrated Halloween and generally, if you are like me, you are enjoying nightly gatherings watching horror movies or listening to scary and eerie stories about ghosts, goblins, vampires, and all things that go bump in the night. I have always enjoyed all things of the unknown, whether it is horrifying or some crazy supernatural occurrence that has left my mind boggled.

I remember as a very young child hearing the stories about my family’s history of hauntings and the crazy tales of other beings following them from the old country eons ago. This has always fascinated me to a great degree growing up. I have used horror movies and horror books as sources of influence and fuel to create and tell my own stories. I share them with friends to scare them out of their minds.

           Creating and telling your campfire story takes a lot of skill and imagination. Over time it will become easier and easier to frighten or to wow your listeners. If you can remember your dreams, mainly nightmares, it can help you to spin a great story.

Andrew Blackman, a staff writer for The Wall Street Journal, wrote that keeping a “dream” journal can help you create a good story for your campfire gathering. You will be able to recall the dreams on demand after writing them down. If you want to learn more about this, visit Blackman’s at https://writetodone.com/author/andrew/.

Develop a rich vocabulary to vividly describe what the person in a tale is sensing, his/her surroundings, and what missions the hero of your story must accomplish. Vocabulary usage is challenging but essential. I struggle with it. I find it useful to discover new words in the dictionary or a thesaurus. Finding synonyms or antonyms for those words helps me to add depth.

Reading is another way to build your vocabulary. It’s also important to learn from the storytellers of old. Study how they write, including their verbs, modifiers and sentence structures. I found this site to be very helpful: https://wordcounter.net/blog/2014/01/22/1027_25-ways-to-improve-your-writing-vocabulary.html

            Is it stormy or foggy? Create an appropriate atmosphere in your storytelling that mirrors the one you are experiencing in real time. Edger Allan Poe had true-to-life descriptive tales that captured the imagination of thousands, bringing shivers down their spins. You could feel the chill and dampness of the pit in Poe’s chilling tale “Pit and the Pendulum.” You could almost smell the scents of various aromas the characters smelled.

Algernon Blackwood’s tale “Wendigo” makes us feel the night’s bitter, cold air as the campfire’s heat keeps us warm. We hear sticks crack under the feet of something unknown and the sweetened scents of decay from a strange something wondering out in the darkness. We can't see it, but it can see us. We become terrified as we imagine a sleeping Defago experiencing discomfort as when the wendigo lurks just outside of Defago’s and Simson’s tent. Our hearts skip beats as Defago runs outside the tent after hearing the menacing voice of the Wendigo, and it’s there, just beyond the open flaps of the tent.

            What is the nature of your story? Every story needs a moral so that the listeners can learn and take away something valuable. Every story needs a character who takes risks. Only by the grace of God can the character survive till the end. Your story should show the character’s bravery, especially to younger listeners. The hero faces terrors and troubles that would seem be his end, but by some unknown power he never gives up. Like all of us, he might doubt himself. The names of the character need to fit what they symbolize. If you want more information about this, visit https://thewritelife.com/6-creative-ways-to-name-your-fictional-characters/

            Your body movement should also be part of the story. Get into it and act it out as much as you can without being too distracting and goofy. Your facial features should change constantly with the ebb and flow of the story. With body language, you need to figure out the right body postures and the right time to jump scare your audience. It is all in perfect timing. Think of it as a musical piece with everything having its place.

Michael Roth’s research paper titled “The Role of Gestures in Storytelling” explains this very well. His research shows how young children use gestures without any verbal communication present. Body language is a big part of any kind of storytelling. Native Americans use a lot of gestures and dances within their stories.

            When my dad told a story, he would ask us to gather around a fire he built. Neighbors would be invited to join us. He would tell tales about hunting trips that he took with his father and brother. He described the noises and sights in the woods. He also talked about how scared he was as a young boy camping out in the woods and hearing all the night sounds closing in on him. One tale he told was about a screech-owl.

He told his story in casual fashion while sitting in a wooden lawn chair with listeners gathering around him. He would sit upright like a king before his people with his hands on his knees and his head looking forward at us. My dad explained how a screech-owl had scared him witless as a child. Somewhere outside the tent was a monster coming to devour him. My dad signaled with his hands in hypnotizing movements, distorting his face like he was afraid. At the end of his story, he made a silhouette of an owl on the tree above us.  At just the right moment while everybody was staring at the shadow, he would scream and scare us all.  

Like my dad, I have written a campfire story for friends and family called “The Scarecrow Man.” The story is about a working college man named Ted who loves Halloween and enjoys decorating. One of his favorite decorations is a scarecrow he nails to a tree that stands 6 feet, 6 inches tall. The man is awakened by strange noises outside of his bedroom, where the scarecrow stands. When he investigates, he believes he see the scarecrow moving. He quickly comes to the conclusion that he is hallucinating due to exhaustion from lack of sleep. The following evening, however, Ted is faced with a terror beyond imagination. What terror does Ted face? To find out, visit my blog at https://storytellingaroundthecampfire.blogspot.com/. I hope you enjoy it.