Girl football player sits out game after foe threatens forfeit

Like the rest of her Southampton (Va.) Academy teammates, Mina Johnson was supposed to be getting ready for a junior varsity football game on Thursday night against Lasker (N.C.) Northeast Academy. The 5-foot-2, 170-pound defensive stalwart may have been the first girl to play football for the academy, but when she got on the field, she was just one of the guys.

As the Tidewater News reported, Johnson recorded four sacks in a recent game against Rocky Mount, and was gaining a reputation in the league as a standout junior varsity player. It all seemed to be going right for the eighth-grader -- until she suddenly decided to sit out her team's most recent game against Northeast.

Why? It wasn't due to injury. Rather, Johnson decided not to play in the game after the opposition threatened to forfeit if Johnson was allowed to play. Apparently, Northeast had a problem with its boys playing football against a girl. So instead of making a fuss about the whole situation, Johnson sat on the sidelines for her team's 60-0 victory.

"There is nothing in the rule books for junior varsity football in North Carolina or Virginia that says a girl can't play," the teen's mother, Mona Johnson, told the Tidewater News. "No one is breaking any rules by allowing her to play."

Northeast isn't the only upcoming opponent considering a forfeit if Johnson doesn't sit out. Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Christian Academy is also reportedly considering a forfeit as well; the two schools are scheduled to play a game on Oct. 27.

The fact that Word of God may follow Northeast's lead isn't a coincidence. As the Tidewater News noted, both schools have something in common: They play in the same athletic association.

Regardless of what Word of God decides to do, the move to force Johnson to sit out and miss playing a game is beyond wrong. While Northeast's athletic association may say one thing, the school could have looked past the rule and played the junior varsity game anyway.

Not to discount JV football, but teams' records don't mean a thing at the end of the season. Most players are just happy to be on the field, playing the game they love. That was certainly true of Mina Johnson, who enjoyed playing for the love of the game, and the chance to play with her teammates.

Student learns dark side of instant fame

HONG KONG — Few personal journeys can shed as much light on the age we live in as the one traveled by Jonathan Mak in the past week.

Mr. Mak, a university student in Hong Kong, went from being an unknown, aspiring graphic designer to an Internet sensation after an image he produced spread rapidly across digital platforms following the death of Steven P. Jobs, the co-founder of Apple.

Mr. Mak’s design of a silhouetted profile of Mr. Jobs in the Apple company logo was shared across the Web and reported by news media. The actor Ashton Kutcher posted the design on his Twitter account.

And then, nearly as fast, Mr. Mak found himself being vilified.

With a speed fitting for the technological age that Mr. Jobs helped usher in, Mr. Mak became the subject of derisive Internet postings and negative news media reports. His design, it turned out, closely matched one produced earlier this year by Chris Thornley, a British graphic artist.

“It’s been a very overwhelming experience,” Mr. Mak, 19, said by telephone between classes at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design. “I still attend classes and lessons as usual. But as far as following my assignments, it’s been difficult.”

Mr. Mak said he had developed his design in late August — a white Apple logo on a black background, with a black silhouette of Mr. Jobs indented in the apple — as a tribute to Mr. Jobs after he stepped down as chief executive of Apple.

Mr. Mak said he had searched across the Internet both for inspiration and to ensure he was not copying another design. He said his searches had not uncovered Mr. Thornley’s design.

He then posted the tweaked Apple logo on his blog . Mr. Mak also asked the public to alert him if they spotted similarities between his work and others.

The design lay quietly on his blog for weeks until Mr. Jobs’s death on Oct. 5.

“Overnight, my Web site went from getting 80 responses to tens of thousands,” he said. “At first I was very happy.”

But by the weekend, Mr. Mak said, people began informing him how similar his design was to Mr. Thornley’s, which featured a black Apple logo on a white background, with a white silhouette of Mr. Jobs at a slightly different angle.

Mr. Mak said he had received notification Sunday night from Mr. Thornley’s wife, Julia, about the similarities of the two designs.

In the world of graphic design, similarities between images are quite common, said Juliette Cezzar, director of the communication design program at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City. But Mr. Mak’s case shows how easy it has become to unearth similar images or outright copies.

“If we were living in a different age, it would take weeks, maybe months to discover copies,” Ms. Cezzar said. “Now it can take 24 hours. That is a good thing.”

In a statement released to the news media, Mr. Thornley said he had followed the controversy while receiving treatment for a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He said he had first developed his design in May “because I wanted to celebrate the fact that someone who had cancer was still working, still driving forward and still thinking positively about the future.”

Mr. Thornley, a 40-year-old living in Darwen, England, acknowledged the dangers the digital age presented to creativity.

“The Internet can be a double-edged sword,” he said. “You need to use the Internet in order to promote yourself, but in order to do this you are making yourself vulnerable to these situations.”

Mr. Thornley said he hoped to speak with Mr. Mak soon about the two designs.

“J. Mak has been as honest as he can about the situation, I think,” he said. “It is important to have the debate about this, and J. Mak has to be credited for opening up the debate and not hiding from it.”

Such an environment “is really stressful for designers,” said Ms. Cezzar. “You don’t want to be called out in front of the world and called a copier.”

For his part, Mr. Mak said the past week had provided a lesson he could apply as a graphic designer.

“It really taught me to be very careful about what I say and do,” Mr. Mak said. “With all the negative publicity I received in Hong Kong, it taught me to be very careful. At the same time, I need to stay true to my sense of aesthetics.”

America's Most Iconic Drives

Automobile ads love to show shiny vehicles cruising open highways under blue skies, with mountains and beaches nearby. But when was the last time you took a drive like that? For most of us, our cars are merely workhorses to haul us around town.

Still, it’s easy to break out of the rut. Magnificent roads are never far—routes that slice through forests, dance along the coastlines, and thread through mountain passes. They’re scenic drives, yes, but they’re also classically American. And once you find the right route, it’s easy to rediscover the exuberant freedom of the open road.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia to North Carolina

For most of its 469-mile route, the Blue Ridge Parkway alternates between grand panoramas and up-close looks at lush forests and meadows. That’s no surprise considering that it runs atop the Appalachian Mountains between Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains of far western North Carolina. The parkway is a leisurely cruise rather than a roller coaster, with one exception—its most breathtaking section, the Linn Cove Viaduct, which skims the treetops as it winds around the parkway’s highest peak.

Where to Stop: Grandfather Mountain. Rising high above Linn Cove, this 5,837-foot peak offers great views and the famous “Mile High Swinging Bridge.”

Going-to-the-Sun Road, 
Montana

Built in the Roaring 1920s to tempt drivers to explore the national parks, Going-to-the-Sun Road is a breathtaking 50-mile drive across Montana’s Glacier National Park. Rising up between a pair of deep-blue alpine lakes, the road was cleverly crafted to show off the best vistas with the least negative impact on the park’s fragile environment. It’s closed every winter by snows, which can reach up to 80 feet in depth.

Where to Stop: Logan Pass. After cutting across the sheer escarpment of the Garden Wall, the road reaches its literal and figurative high point atop 6,646-foot Logan Pass, where herds of wild mountain goats can be seen trampling across wildflower meadows.

Hill Country Highways, Texas

At roughly the geographical center of the Lone Star state, the sparsely populated Hill Country region mixes sagebrush plateaus with deep canyons and fast-flowing rivers. And just outside the idyllic hamlet of Utopia, a series of winding roads—Highways 335, 336, and 337—offer an intense taste of the rugged topography. Climbing up and down canyons and twisting along angular rock walls, these roads offer an adrenaline blast for anyone brave enough to open up the throttle.

Where to Stop: The Lone Star Motorcycle Museum outside Vanderpool has dozens of vintage motorcycles, plus a good diner, the Ace Café.

Columbia River Scenic Highway,Oregon

This road is a concrete realization of the idea that highways can sometimes improve on the work of Mother Nature. Designed and constructed back in the early days of the automobile, the route winds past a series of lovely waterfalls while taking in the best sights of the Columbia Gorge, east of Portland.

Where to Stop: Vista House. Standing on a stony cliff top, 700 feet above the Columbia River, Vista House is a historic rest stop that doubles as a memorial to Oregon Trail pioneers.

Kancamagus National Scenic Byway,New Hampshire

New England has many miles of great drives, but nothing beats “The Kanc”—a 26.5-mile drive along Route 112, between the towns of Conway and Lincoln. Often rated as the best fall color drive in the U.S., this road is a commerce-free climb past colonial farmhouses, scenic covered bridges, and miles of hardwood and evergreen forest.

Where to Stop: Sabbaday Falls. Just east of the crest, and a quick 15-minute stroll south of the highway, the splashing cascades have been a popular picnic spot since frontier times.

Bayou Cruise, Louisiana

West of New Orleans, the low-lying lands of the lower Mississippi River are known for languid country lanes winding past lazy bayous. Garlands of moody Spanish moss dangle from mighty oaks and cypress trees, while alligators and herons splash about in the swampy lagoons. The best road to drive is Highway 31, which winds along Bayou Teche from New Iberia to Breaux Bridge.

Where to Stop: Breaux Bridge. Get your Cajun fix at the self-proclaimed crawfish capital of the world. On Saturday mornings, head to the Café des Amis for the music-filled Zydeco Breakfast.

Route 66, Illinois to California

Yes, it’s so famous it’s a cliché, but this 2,000-mile cruise has justifiably become a part of the American fabric. For sheer driving pleasure, the best stretch has to be the mountainous run west from the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River, climbing up from a desert plateau and twisting past the old gold mines of the Black Mountains.

Where to Stop: Cool Springs Station, Kingman, AZ. With its stone arches and small museum, this restored rest station makes for a great stop along this historic route.

Great River Road, Minnesota toLouisiana

You might expect small-town charm driving alongside the Mississippi River. You might not expect the rugged “Driftless Region” on the road’s more northern stretches—an area that escaped being flattened by glaciers during the last Ice Age. Enjoy roller-coaster hills and steep canyons in Iowa, from Dubuque to the prehistoric Effigy Mounds.

Where to Stop: Galena, IL—one of the Great River Road’s greatest small towns.

Highway 12, Utah

Running between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Park, Highway 12 was a challenging four-wheel-drive track as recently as 1985, when the last stretch around Boulder Mountain was finally tamed by pavement. Alongside the road, the iron-tinged rust of sedimentary sandstone cliffs stands out against a forest of deep green junipers, lending a gentle softness to what is otherwise a harsh setting.

Where to Stop: Hell’s Backbone Grill, which has its own organic farm.

Tioga Pass Scenic Byway, California

Head east on Highway 120—downhill—for maximum exposure to the canyon’s vertical drop-offs. But the enduring highlights are at either end of the road: the high country of Yosemite National Park in the west, and down east, the unworldly “tufa” sculptures lining the shores of magnificent Mono Lake.

Where to Stop: At the foot of the pass, overlooking Mono Lake, a local gas station has become nationally famous for its restaurant, the Whoa Nellie Deli, where fish tacos and great steaks share the menu with pizzas and Angus beef burgers.

10 Fantastic Towns for Fall

Fall is a time to slow down and enjoy the scenery, and small towns know a thing or two about embracing a slower pace of life. To help you make the most of the season, we've scoured the country to find 10 towns that deliver exceptional fall foliage.

Our top picks might have all weighed in with populations under 10,000, but all offer big reasons to visit.

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

During autumn in Jim Thorpe, a trip down memory lane is framed by brightly colored leaves. The historic town, tucked into a steep valley in the Poconos, offers wonderfully preserved buildings that house tea rooms, art galleries, and an old opera house popular on the Vaudeville circuit. Fall foliage weekends complete with arts, crafts, music, and kids' activities run throughout October, and this time of year also brings guided ghost walks to town.

Time it Right: October is prime time for both foliage and fall activities. This year, the projected peak of color is around October 12, but Alicia Quinn at the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau notes, "if history repeats itself, this will get pushed back until mid-month, and usually lasts about two weeks."

Sedona, Arizona

There's nothing understated about Sedona, about two hours north of Phoenix in the high desert of Central Arizona. Vibrant red mesas and blushing sandstone cliffs offer some of the country's most spectacular scenery, especially at sunrise and sunset. During fall, the color show takes it up a notch. In town you can browse art galleries—or get your energy balanced by one of the many healers and spiritual guides that call Sedona home—before heading out for some leaf peeping.

Time it Right: Ellen Bilbrey of Arizona State Parks says that fall foliage colors will likely start to appear in mid-October this year, but warns, "We never know the actual peak time until the weather starts to drop to temperatures of 45 degrees at night."

Stockholm, Wisconsin

The village of Stockholm, on the banks of the Mississippi River about 70 miles from Minneapolis, offers dozens of delightful ways to savor fall. Vast swaths of fall foliage adorn the landscape around the town, the local pie company bakes up fall in many flavors, and at the Maiden Rock Winery and Cidery, you can drink the season too, with wines made from apples and berries. And if that's not enough, you can tool around town on free blue bikes available for visitors or take advantage of some of the best boutique and antique shopping in the state.

Time it Right: This year, TravelWisconsin's fall color report predicts peak fall color in mid-October.

Woodstock, Vermont

In Woodstock the most wonderful time of the year comes early. With fall foliage that's nothing short of spectacular, the town and surrounding countryside put on a color show that draws visitors from around the world. Weekend events include harvest suppers, the Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair, and the nearby Antique Show. Before you head out of town in search of the brightest reds and oranges of autumn, spend some time roaming the quaint downtown or exploringVermont's rural heritage at the nearby Billings Farm & Museum.

Time it Right: The leaves have already started to change in Woodstock. Rain and wind dependant, peak season should fall between October 1 and October 10 to 15.

Jasper, Arkansas

Each fall, the tiny Ozark mountain town of Jasper beckons visitors with the promise of vivid fall colors and Southern hospitality. Start the warm fall days with a big breakfast at a local cafe or by people-watching in the downtown square before heading out for some serious leaf peeping, wildlife spotting, and scenic drives.

Time it Right: The best time to see the fall colors near Jasper is usually between October 15 and November 15. You can stay up to Sdate on fall foliage around the state by checking the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism website.

Hood River, Oregon

Colorful fall foliage and abundant harvests. That's what you'll get in and around Hood River, a town nestled in the Columbia River Gorge next to the Cascade Mountain Range. Plan your stay for the first weekend of any month and you'll get to enjoy First Friday, when art galleries, shops, and restaurants downtown put on an evening of new art exhibits, wine tastings, and free music between 6 and 9 p.m. October brings many fall festivities, including the Hood River Valley Harvest Fest and the Heirloom Apple Celebration.

Time it Right: Because summer has lingered this year, peak foliage likely won't arrive until early- to mid-October.

Stockbridge, Massachusetts

The small town of Stockbridge in the Berkshires has some pretty high praise to its name. Norman Rockwell called it "the best of America, the best of New England." In fall, surrounded by some of the country's most dazzling displays of fall foliage, it truly earns its high marks. The town and its environs aren't just rich in fall color; area attractions include the MASS MoCA, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Colonial-era Mission House, the frontier re-creation Bidwell House Museum, and The Mount, Edith Wharton's Estate and Gardens.

Time it Right: Berkshire Leaf Chief Lauren Stevens says that while the leaves begin to turn before the official start of fall on September 23, they "typically reach their crescendo in October."

Fayetteville, West Virginia

Small-town appeal comes in many packages, and Fayetteville prefers its charm funky and cool rather than just quaint. In town, little restaurants serve up local microbrews and local specialties (check out the grape pizza at Pies & Pints). Just outside town, the New River Gorge offers some of the best fall foliage in the state. It's also a focal point for adventure seekers: Whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, and BASE jumping are popular activities. In fact, October 15 is New River Gorge Bridge Day, when thousands come together to celebrate fall and watch some serious BASE jumping (think tall bridge and parachutes).

Time it Right: Fayetteville usually sees peak color in late October. The West Virginia Division of Forestry publishes a weekly update on the latest fall foliage around the state.

Munising, Michigan

Gorgeous fall foliage has good company in the Upper Peninsula town of Munising. With dramatic sandstone cliffs rising above Lake Superior and 17 local waterfalls, the stage for beauty is already set by the time the dramatic reds, oranges, and yellows of autumn take hold of the forests. Take a stroll downtown, admire the work of local artists, and feast on fresh fish from the lake or sink your teeth into pasties, the local specialty.

Time it Right: Peak colors in the area occur from late September to mid-October. You can check out the latest fall colors on ExploreMunising.com.

Julian, California

Julian offers fall colors where you'd least expect them: in Southern California, about an hour from San Diego. This former gold-rush town in the Cuyamaca Mountains still shines bright each autumn. The town is also known for its apple season and draws leaf peepers looking for a side of apple pie and cider donuts. The Julian Apple Days Festival occurs the first weekend in October this year.

Time it Right: September and October see the changing of the leaves, and promise plenty of apple