THE PAPERLESS PRESS
September 6, 2020
The Weekly Digest
Issue #9
Index-
Article- The Spirit of Sportsmanship:How not to be a sore loser
Cover Story- Weird but COOL: The world’s coolest animals, who look as unusual as they are!
Article- Books FTW! (for the win)
(NEW)The Last Shot:Your weekly sports roundup
AND, OUR USUAL QUOTA OF HAPPINESS
Happiness quotient from around the world
Entertainment quotient for the week
Art for our sake:
From the literary world
Before you go
A note to our readers
TOP STORIES
The Spirit of Sportsmanship:How to not be a sore loser
By Agastya Rao
Everyone remembers John McEnroe, the great tennis player- better known for his fiery temper. Now the one thing Mr. McEnroe forgot, was the spirit of sportsmanship. In his quest for winning, he probably thought yelling would get him points. I won’t deny that my brother and I have had more than our share of fights over who has won, and yelled, “you are such a cheat”, much to our parents’ annoyance. Which is probably why, after the 100th such fight, they sat us down and spoke to us about “the spirit of sportsmanship”. I will admit, we didn’t quite care for the lecture then, but now that I look back, it makes sense.
I know what you are thinking… Why on Earth am I writing an article about the spirit of sportsmanship? Why is it even important? Well… let me explain. The spirit of sportsmanship is easily the most important thing to remember when playing a sport (Yes, EVEN more important than winning). It defines how much of a sportsman you are. Now let's take a deep dive into what the spirit of sportsmanship truly is-
Agastya Rao’s Guide to the spirit of sportsmanship-
1.Humility-
When playing a sport, don’t ever let your ego get the best of you. If you won the match you were playing that day, don’t let it go to your head. You may have won that day, but your opponent may get the better of you next time. As much as we would love for you to celebrate your victories- be humble, don’t gloat, and be sure to thank your opponent for the game. Some of the best sports persons ever were also humble about their achievements.
Example of a humble athlete- Rahul Dravid
2. Be courteous-
Why do we play sports? We play for the love of the game(s). Your opponent is not your enemy or your nemesis - they are people who also love the game and that is why they are playing against you. Always shake hands with your opponent, and like I said before- and if they win, congratulate them and thank them. If you win- say thank you, and shake their hand. If they fall down or get hurt- help them out. It shows good courtesy, manners and etiquette . Shaking your opponent’s hand is both courteous and shows how much you respect your opponent.
Example of courtesy -The London Marathon in 2017- when a runner by the name of Mathew Rees helped David Wyeth finish the marathon- when he almost fainted very close to the finish line. Matthew Rees decided to stop and help his opponent.
3. Temper trouble-
Sometimes, we get a bit too engrossed in the game, and we end up taking it too seriously. This leads to us getting angry if we lose a point, or lose the game. That is
why it is important that we stay positive and give it our best shot. Our anger is our biggest enemy. So always remember… it is just a game and there is no reason to waste your time blowing your head off at your opponent(s). Remember to give the game your best shot and always remember to focus, because when you get angry, you lose all that focus. So always remember to take a deep breath and count to 10- it is better than losing your cool.
Example of athletes with temper trouble- John McEnroe and Mike Tyson
4. Play against yourself first-
We should always compete with ourselves rather than with our opponents. Ok… now you must be thinking that if I have gone off my rocker saying this, but when you look deeper you shall understand the logic behind it. Let me explain- When you are playing against yourself- you are striving to improve and do better than the previous time you played. The more you play ‘against’ yourself, the more you will understand your mistakes.This will lead to- your success (not necessarily a win, your success may just be your improvement), because you will have identified all your mistakes and be the best version of yourself.
5. Why are we playing the game?
Last but not the least, this is the one question that you should ask yourself before you start playing a sport- “Why am I playing the game”? Always remember why you are playing the game- because you love it. Remember the etiquette of the game, the thrill, the exercise, the fun and what you learn from it. If you remember that you love the game, and the reason you are playing the game and working hard to improve- I assure you my friends- you will never falter.
Here at The Paperless Press, we remain positive and hope that this article helps instill and spread the spirit of sportsmanship :)
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Cover Story
Weird but COOL: The world’s coolest animals, who look as unusual as they are!
By Abhimayu Rao
The world is full of unusual animals - seek and ye shall find. Today, The Paperless Press brings to you… Some of the most outrageously hilarious animals the world has to offer, sprinkled with pop culture, TPP style:
Mata Mata- This animal is a freshwater turtle. Mata Mata is mind-blowing in more ways than one. Firstly, evolution may not have helped its appearance, but the Mata Mata is the world’s foremost snorkeler. Its Pinocchio nose helps it breath in water, sticking out of water like a snorkel, letting it swim, uninterrupted. Secondly, It looks EXACTLY like Sy Snootles from Star Wars, famous lead singer in the Max Rebo Band. See the resemblance?
<-(clockwise from top left:Rastapopoulos, Proboscis Monkey, Mata Mata, Sy Snootles)
Proboscis Monkey- Oh My! How many long noses will we see today? Some (multiple) people haven’t been honest. The proboscis monkey has a very unusual nose, which looks a lot like a certain Tintin-ian antagonist… you guessed it! Rastapopoulos! The nose is actually an echo chamber, creating a fearsome call. Not only that, but the proboscis monkey has webbed feet and hands, which allow it to outswim its most fearsome predator, the dreaded CROCODILE which is a great swimmer! Kudos to the great crime lord frog foot!
The Blobfish- No, dear reader, I haven’t made this one up. Voted the world’s ugliest
animal multiple times, and the mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation society, the Blobfish looks, and I am now quoting Marvel’s Rocket Raccoon, “Like melted Ice Cream!” Interestingly, they have no bones or teeth! They wander along the seafloor, and consume any animals in their way! Coming to think of it, don’t you see a resemblance to Donald Trump?
The Axolotl- This little creature is the wolverine of the animal X-Men. This little tyke that looks like a fish, is actually anything but. A freak of nature, the Axolotl is a salamander, stuck in its larval stage forever. Interesting huh? It has a regenerative healing factor that lets it grow back not only its limbs, but also its spinal cord and parts of its brain! Talk about childhood invincibility!
Thorn Bug- Thorn bugs look exactly as they sound. They are like a yellow sun drawn
on yellow paper, hidden in plain sight. Alright, I’ll get to the point (get it? Point?). Thorn bugs have a structure on their back that looks like a thorn. So all they have to do is sit on a plant’s stem, and pretend to be a thorn. Thank you evolution is their motto! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
The Toothless Skinless Shark- This may not be a species, but this shark is a Weird but COOL animal. This shark was born without teeth or skin, and has yet survived for a
long time. Imagine a writer surviving without a pen, a runner without shoes, and now… a shark without teeth. Scientists have seen a shark like this before, but those ones don’t survive for very long, as they cannot eat much. This shark, however, was found with no less than 14 creatures in its stomach! Imagine! The main assumption is that the shark survived by swallowing its prey whole!
Deep Sea Anglerfish- This fish looks like the stuff of nightmares, but I assure you, it’s very real. The Deep Sea Anglerfish is really ‘the fishy with the lamp’! The anglerfish has a little lamp on its head, which is a light in the darkness of the murky depths it lurks in. The anglerfish resides in a part of the ocean where there is next to no light, and It attracts its prey with the light acting like a lure. “It seems the fish has become the fisherman” Right?
Katydid- Hello? Katy who? Katy did what?? Just kidding. They look much more normal than they sound. Don’t worry, katydids are not some alien invasion parasites. On the contrary, they are actually bush crickets that have a great disguise. They look like leaves! This is insurance that ensures that predators “Leave” them alone!
Kaikaia Gaga- I am not out of pop culture references yet! The Kaikaia Gaga was recently discovered, and has been named after the pop star Lady Gaga, who is known for her eccentric performances and over the top fashion sense. The bug is orange, with hints of purple, and has a pair of horns on its head. A treehopper, this one has two horns on its head, a very unusual bug. I would say, its fashion sense is Gaga!
Our world is full of Weird but COOL animals! We at The Paperless Press have barely scratched the surface! If you have some animals you would like to share, or would like to see more Weird but COOL animals, please contact us @ paperlesspress9@gmail.com
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Books: Number 1!
By Mihir Rao
The problem is, watching the screen really hurts your eyes and causes eye strain! With the lockdown happening and us having to attend work/school hours a day on the screen, I think we would not want any additional eye strain.
Books, on the other hand, are a nice way to relax and they do not give you any strain on your eyes (you gotta read in good light, that’s all). Books, I like to say, are the instrument of imagination. Books give you the words, and leave the rest to you. I don't think you can get that, from a Youtube video!
Harry Potter, for example, could just be another set of words, but it isn’t. It is a book, and it is one of the best of all time! Imagine the magic and the spells of Harry Potter! You can't get that from a movie!
Why do you think they say the books were better?
Why do you think teachers do not recommend watching a movie for homework?
Because books,
Are,
better.
But, I was just talking about one series.
Let me talk about some others.
Do you remember the Percy Jackson series? Some would call it a masterpiece! And I am sure all avid Rick Riordan fans would say that the movies made on Percy Jackson were ‘rubbish’, to say it lightly ;)Riordan fans would say that the movies made on Percy Jackson were ‘rubbish’, to say it lightly ;)
Or should I take a more recent example?
The famous Artemis Fowl book series, which recently got made into a movie, was not rated well. Getting a 9% rating on rotten tomatoes and a 4/10 rating from IMDb, you cannot deny that the books were better.
And now, in contemporary times, the time has come to ask the question:
Have books gone out of style?
Well, do you see teachers giving out watching movies instead of reading books as homework?
Is the phrase you hear the most, “The movies were better than the books”?
NO. Books haven’t gone out of style.
Why?
Even after more than 1000 years of being around, why have books not gone out of style?
Why am I writing this article about books?
Because, the answer is as simple as 3 words.
Books
Are
better.
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HAPPINESS QUOTIENT FROM AROUND THE WORLD
-When the New York Philharmonic Society was not allowed to open its concert hall, they took to the streets and played their music on the streets of Brooklyn. It was music to our ears (Pun intended!)
-Amazon tribes took part in a drone operating course with the WWF. The drones will help track illegal activities taking place in the forest’s and put an end to them. One more step towards forest conservation!
-Manchester United football star Marcus Rashford has started a campaign to end child poverty in the UK. He helped stop the British Government from stopping free meal vouchers for students from low income families. Everyone lends a helping hand :)
-Kaavan, known as the world’s loneliest elephant, was released from the Marghazar Zoo, and has been released into the wild! He had gathered a lot of support for his cause, including the world famous singer Cher, had been kept in a miniscule enclosure, but now, he is free to roam in the wild. Yay!
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The US Open (Tennis)-
Men’s Singles-
-India’s Sumit Nagal won the first round of The US Open, became the first Indian to win a US Open match in 7 years! He lost to Dominic Thiem in round 2.
-Andy Murray beat Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round of The US Open, but lost to Felix Auger Aliassime in the second round.
- Novak Djokovic has entered the round of 16 in men’s singles division and will be facing Pablo Carreño Busta for a berth in the quarter finals.
-Rohan Bopanna (India) and Denis Shapalov(Canada) have entered the Quarterfinals of the Men’s Doubles. We remain hopeful for their win :)
Women’s Singles-
-Naomi Osaka entered the Round of 16 in the women’s singles division and will be facing Anett Kontaveit for a spot in the Qinals.Finals .
Serena Williams entered the Round Of 16 and will be facing Maria Sakkari for a spot in the Quarter Finals.
NBA
Memphis Grizzlies’s Ja Morant won the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Milwaukee Bucks’s Giannis Antetokounmpo won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
The NBA playoffs have begun. The LA Lakers will be going up against the Houston Rockets in the Semifinals for the NBA championship. Other teams facing off against each other will be-
Miami Heat Vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Boston Celtics Vs. Toronto Raptors
LA Clippers Vs. Denver Nuggets
India’s Princepal Singh is to play in the NBA G League. He is the first Indian to sign a professional contract in the NBA.
Formula 1-
-Lewis Hamilton took the pole position in the Italian GP. He is currently at the number 1 position in F1.
Football-
Robert Lewandowski has been named the German Football Player of The Year. He helped German Football Club- Bayern Munich win the Champions League. The Bundesliga and the German Cup.He finished as the top scorer in all three tournaments. He is also the captain of the Polish National Team. Fans have no boundaries!
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Entertainment quotient for the week:
A.Amazon Prime Video:
Malgudi Days
B.Disney+/Hotstar:
Black Panther
C. Netflix
The Unlisted
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Did you know?
By Mihir Rao
As American pencil makers wanted everyone to know that they had chinese graphite in their pencils, they made a special way to tell everyone. In China, the colour yellow is associated with royalty and respect. So, American pencil makers colored their pencils yellow to show everyone their ‘regal’ association with China.
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Art for our sake
By Sudha Aggarwal,13
The Toolbox
A3 Cartridge Sheet
Mixed Medium- Poster Paints and Ink on Paper
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From The Literary World:
Looking for Books? See how we rank this week’s top book-
By Agastya and Abhimanyu Rao
Gangsta Granny by David Walliams:
Everyone loves their Granny, but this Granny takes being a granny to the next level because… she is an international jewel thief! Her grandson Ben hates going there until he finds out she is a jewel thief.Together they hatch a plan to steal the Crown Jewels ,an audacious task. Sadly,this task was not easy:with a nosy neighbour and the police not far behind this book is entertaining to readers of all ages.Rating(Universal). This book is a necessary part of childhood, because David Walliams is just too cool; and this book is a must have in your reading arsenal. 9+
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Visit these pages to see some of our other endeavors!
Visit A Dogs Daily Antics to laugh your heart out with crazy captioned dog photos!
Visit TheChinappaChanel to see some quirky but nice videos that will make you roll with laughter
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Please tell us what else you would like us to write about. Please send us your articles, thoughts, jokes, photographs - paperlesspress9@gmail.com.
A Note To Our Readers:
We thank our readers for supporting us these past months. We truly hope you enjoyed this digest and we hope this put a smile on your face. Here at The Paperless Press, we strive to provide free,fun and positive news. We would be very happy to receive your feedback and receive guest submission from our readers. We hope that you spread the word and enjoy reading our digests.
-Team Paperless Press
We hope this issue brightened up your day!
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