November News.indd - Parkway C-2

Volume 33, Issue 3 November 20, 2008
the treaty
parkway south high school
801 Hanna Rd, Manchester, MO 63021
‘THE NEW DAWN OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP’
Obama, Nixon win, local issues decided
Grant Trower
News writer
Features pg
pg. 2
* Amnesty
International
* Club Grateful
Opinions pg. 4-5
* Phiten
Necklaces
* Body Image
Sports pg. 8-9
* Girls Tennis
Team
* Super Fan
O
n Nov. 4 Democrat Senator
Barack Obama was elected the
44th President of the United
States of America.
Obama’s election marks the first
time an African American will serve
as Commander In Chief.
Sophomore Gajan Mathivanan
said the election was exciting and
interesting to watch.
“It was an election that was worth
while to stay up and watch, but after
witnessing Obama break 300 electoral
votes, the election was clearly over.
Obama was victorious and history has
been made,” said Mathivanan.
Obama won the election with
63.1 million total votes, which was
53 percent. Republican Senator John
McCain’s garnered 57.6 million votes,
or 46 percent of the vote. Obama won
28 states which gave him 349 electoral
votes to McCain’s 163. Obama won
the female vote, and the youth vote
from ages 18-29.
The results were conclusive this
year favoring Barack Obama. There
was no need for a recount like the
2000 election. After Obama was
declared the winner, he spoke in front
of more than 100,000 people along
with millions more from around the
globe.
Obama made his victory speech
on the night of the election in Chicago,
Illinois. He said there are many tasks
to come.
“This is our chance to answer
that call. This is our moment. This is
our time: to put our people back to
work and open doors of opportunity
for our kids; to restore prosperity and
promote the cause of peace; to reclaim
the American dream and reaffirm that
fundamental truth that out of many,
we are one; that while we breath; we
hope; and we are met with cynicism
and doubt and those who tell us
we can’t, we will respond with that
timeless creed that sums up the spirit
of a people, Yes we can,” Obama said.
Obama ran on a platform of
change. Among other statements, he
promised to cut taxes on the middle
class, and pull troops out of Iraq.
“I think that Obama will last as
president because he has connected
with many middle class people,
and his plan will help stabilize the
economy,” said Mathivanan.
In his victory speech Obama
acknowledged those who did not vote
for him.
“And to those Americans whose
support I have yet to earn, I may not
have won your vote tonight, but I hear
your voices, I need your help, and I
will be your President too,” he said.
Besides the presidential election,
voters in Missouri decided the
governor’s race, as well as voting on
many local propositions.
The governor’s race was between
Republican Congressman Kenny
Hulshof and Democrat Attorney
General Jay Nixon. Nixon won the
race with 58 percent of Missouri votes.
Nixon replaces Republican Matt Blunt,
turning over the Governor’s Mansion
to the Democratic Party. In his victory
Entertainment
pg. 11
* Relient K
* 101.1 FM
Station
Centerspread pg. 6-7
Backpage pg. 12
Casting Her Ballot:
A Parkway South student votes
in the Kids Voting program on Election Day. Sen. Obama won
the South Kid’s Vote. Photo by Nikki Groves.
Number 44:
PresidentElect Barack Obama on Election Night in Chicago, Illinois
(AP).
speech in St. Louis, Nixon said he has
three main priorities for his time as
governor of Missouri.
“I will fight to turn our economy
around, fix our broken health care
system and make college more
affordable for middle-class families,”
said Nixon.
A controversial proposition
decided this November was
Proposition A which passed. Prop
A eliminates Missouri’s’ $500 loss
limit at Casinos. Under current law a
portion of casino revenues go toward
education, so the theory is without a
loss limit casinos will generate more
revenue, thus giving schools more
revenue.
History teacher Barb Ryan said
she voted against Prop. A.
“I don’t like the idea of Proposition
A, because families from our schools
will lose most of their money with no
spending limits,” she said.
Another proposition which passed
involves the Parkway School District.
Prop S was a no-tax levy bond issue
that will give the District $87 million
for infrastructure improvements.
South High improvements will
include revamping the North Parking
Lot, science classrooms, fine arts
department, and improvements to
technology school-wide. In addition,
all other Parkway School buildings
will receive improvements from this
money.
Principal Gary Mazzola said he
was pleased that Proposition S passed.
“Thanks to the tax payers, we
appreciate your support. We will be
able to do some fantastic things with
the money,” Mazzola said.
2
Features
November 20, 2008
Fighting for a cause and helping mankind
Meghan Scanlon
Features Writer
T
his year Amnesty International,
a human rights group at South,
is working to raise money and
awareness about the genocide in
Darfur.
Nicole Daniels, English teacher, is
the teacher sponsor for the club, which
is part of a nationwide organization.
Daniels said the Amnesty chapter at
South was started about five years
ago.
“It was
created by a
South graduate,
Mariam
[Nawas], and
her friends
when they were
sophomores.
She got it
started all on
her own,”
said Daniels.
“Originally
Dr. [Gretchen]
Fleming was
the teacher who
did it, and I sort
of took over
after a year or
so.”
Daniels said she had been
involved with Amnesty International
before it came to the school. Since she
supports the program, she was excited
when it finally got started at South.
“The best part of being involved
with Amnesty is being able to help
people around the world achieve
freedom and improving human
rights,” Daniels said. “It also exposes
kids to what’s happening around the
world--stuff they can help with.”
Celia McManus, senior, is
one of the people who joined the
organization for that reason. She and
Bailey Wallace, junior, are the club’s
officers.
“Amnesty shows people that not
everybody has what we do,” said
McManus. “I am very lucky to be an
American, who isn’t threatened or in
poverty, and I want to share that. I
want the rest of the world to have the
same freedom I do.”
According to Daniels, the club’s
meetings, which take place every
other week, are usually attended by 25
to 40 people. Ryan Zerillo, sophomore,
is one of the members.
“Last meeting we discussed a trip
to the regional Amnesty conference,
since it’s going to be in St. Louis this
year,” said Zerillo. “We also talked
about having a night this semester
where we would show stuff like
Invisible Children documentaries and
have raffles and games and try to raise
money. It’s going to be fun!”
According to Daniels, Amnesty
raised more than $1,200 for its causes
last year through various fundraising.
“We always have a Krispy Kreme
fund raiser at school, and out of
school we’ve done a McAllister’s
Night where a percent of all of the
bills go to our cause,” said McManus.
“Last year we made a CD too. I don’t
think we’re doing another one, but last
year’s is still on
sale!”
Brad
Tucker,
sophomore,
bought one of
the CD’s last
year.
“I don’t
really know
that much
about Amnesty
International,
but I’ve heard
the money
goes to a good
cause, so it felt
like a good
way to spend
my $10,” said
Tucker.
Daniels said the majority of the
money from this year’s fundraising
is going to Sudan, where the Darfur
genocide is going on, but they donate
to other causes as well.
“Darfur was our cause two years
ago, and since we felt like the problem
hasn’t been getting better, we decided
to revisit it this year,” said Daniels.
“I think students have heard about
the genocide there, but they probably
don’t know much, so it is Amnesty’s
job to educate them on what is
happening.”
According to www.
genocideindarfur.net, the conflict
began when two opposition groups
from the Darfur region of Sudan, who
claim the government oppresses nonArabs, launched an uprising in 2003.
In response, Sudan’s government has
financed Arab militant groups, which
are committing genocide against
innocent civilians in Darfur. 400,000
have been killed. Daniels said there
has not been a cease fire agreement
that all parties have agreed to so far.
Taylor Maxwell, junior, joined
Amnesty International this year.
“I think it’s a cool organization
and I wanted to try and make
a difference in the world,” said
Maxwell.
Maxwell said the group is already
working to help people this year.
“I am very lucky to
be an American, who
isn’t threatened or in
poverty, and I want
to share that. I want
the rest of the world
to have the same
freedom I do,” said
McManus.
Helping Protect Human Rights: Amnesty International representatives (l-r) Morgan Reno, Doug Cassavar,
Celia McManus, Taylor Maxwell, and Casie Gish show
off the banner for the Homecoming parade. Photo Courtesy
Alynn McManus.
“We wrote letters at one meeting
and sent them to Sudan about freeing
hostages who are held unjustly,” said
Maxwell. “Petitioning a problem in the
world felt like we were actually doing
something worthwhile. Most clubs
don’t make you feel like that.”
According to a sheet given to
Amnesty members, roughly 150
Darfuri people were forcefully arrested
in the Sudanese capital, and are being
held without charge. They are at risk
of torture. Appeals for them to be
either charged fairly or released, and
treated humanely, will be sent to the
Sudanese government officials.
“If you have any interest at all in
these causes, just come to a meeting,
even if you don’t know that much
about it,” said McManus. “It’s never
too late to join us and it only takes
one person to start a whole cause!”
November 20, 2008
3
Features
Anne Erehart: makes learning math fun
Kelsey Stoskopf
Features Writer
T
here are many new teachers
to South this year, but one in
particular is math teacher Anne
Erehart.
Erehart is currently subbing
in place of Anne Doll, who is on
pregnancy leave. She will continue to
sub until Doll is able to return.
However, this is not her first
teaching job. Before having kids,
Erehart was a full time math teacher
in Indiana. When she moved to
Missouri she didn’t take on another
full time teaching job. She has been a
youth leader at the First Evangelical
Free Church for awhile and last year
she subbed at Kirkwood as a math
teacher. Along with teaching, Erehart
enjoys reading, working outside, and
spending time with her family.
“I was very panicked when I first
found out I would be subbing for
Mrs. Doll, because I found out only
a week before school started,” said
Erehart. “Although I was panicked to
get everything together on time, I was
also very excited.”
Erehart teaches three classes:
Algebra 2/Trig., Algebra 1A, and
Algebra 1B. She said she likes teaching
her students and tries many ways to
keep them involved in class.
“Since classes are an hour and a
half long, I like to keep them fun and
try to vary the activities so students
don’t get too bored,” said Erehart. “To
keep them interested I like to involve
How do you do this again?: Anne Erehart spends
Academic Lab in the Commons helping her students understand mathematical concepts. Photo by Chelsea Scott.
them in activities instead of me just
lecturing the whole time. I think it is
also important to help kids to make
learning math fun.”
She said it is hard to keep kids
excited about math so she tries and
liven it up with telling jokes and
making them laugh.
“She always adds jokes to her
teachings and she is always happy,
this makes it more interesting,” said
Victoria Young, sophomore.
There are many students who
think highly of Erehart.
“I love Erehart. She has a very
energetic personality, which makes
her class fun,” said Elana Caratachea,
junior.
Another student that thinks fondly
of Erehart is junior Grace Baker.
“I see her more as a friend than a
teacher,” said Baker. “She is someone
I know I can always go to with
anything.”
Erehart has three kids, two
daughters and a son. Payne is seven,
Ellie is 13 and Kaiti is 15 and a
sophomore at South.
“Most kids would hate having
their mom or dad teach at the school
they go to, but I like having her here,”
said Kaiti Erehart. “I don’t really see
her too much, so it doesn’t really
bother me. She also helps me with
any homework I may need help in,
especially math.”
Students not only like Erehart’s
personality, but they also enjoy her
teaching style and the fact that she is
able to give one on one attention too.
“I think Mrs. Erehart is a really
good teacher,” said Young. “She is
really nice and she helps me whenever
I need it. I go in for ac lab every day
and she gives me the help I need.”
Erehart said she loves working
with teens.
“They are the best age group
to work with, in my opinion,” said
Erehart.
This is the first time Mrs. Erehart
has been a full time teacher at South.
“I love teaching and everything
that comes with it,” said Erehart. “I
like the interactions with the high
school students and I love the new
friendships I have with many of the
teachers.”
After the semester is over Doll will
return, which means Erehart will be
done with her subbing job.
“I’m going to miss my students
and the entire faculty here at South,
very much when Mrs. Doll comes
back,” said Erehart.
Deadheads unite for South’s Club Grateful
Josh Smith
News Writer
I
f you like tie-dye, arts and crafts,
helping people, and music, then
Club Grateful may be for you.
This fall there is a new after-school
club for students to get involved in.
The group is called Club Grateful. It
meets twice a month on Thursday
afternoons immediately following
school and it is open to any student
who would like to be involved. It is
lead by art teacher Carrie Finnestead
and is attended by a variety of
students, from freshmen to seniors.
Currently, the club has about 15 to 25
members.
The name of the club comes
from the Grateful Dead, an American
rock band that formed in 1965, and
inspired a popular cult following, the
members of which became known as
“deadheads.” The band’s concerts
became known for their docile and
accepting crowd, who promoted
peace and good-will.
Finnestead, Parkway South’s
very own “deadhead,” started Club
Grateful with the purpose of sharing
some of the values of peace and goodwill that she learned while following
the band.
“It’s the interconnectedness of [the
followers of the band] that I really
loved. In this club I want to give
people a taste of what the best parts
of that were. Everyone was tolerant,
connected, and accepting. That’s what
I really want,” said Finnestead. “The
club started as a bunch of kids who
wanted to do a tie-dye club. They
called it ‘Tie-dye Friday.’ I thought
that was boring, so I started to think
about how I could talk about the cool
things I learned while following the
Grateful Dead, including stuff about
environmentalism, service and charity
work, veggie cooking, and some arts
and crafts.”
Sean Cahill, senior, is the club’s
co-founder.
“The club is for the whole crowd
of people who love art and music,
and it brings them together. We learn
how to tie-dye, make bookmarks, do
crafts and stuff, socialize, and listen
to music. It’s a good way to relieve
stress at the end of the day, and it’s
something to look forward to after a
day of math and science and school
classes. It’s just a community of
people who all appreciate each other,”
Cahill said.
Although fun is a big part of Club
Grateful, it is not its only purpose.
The club will participate in service
projects and fund-raisers for nonprofit organizations. For example,
the club participated in a canned food
drive in October. The club will also
make crafts to sell at the school craft
fair.
“The idea is that it is a charitable
service club. That is the whole reason
I decided to start this club. It costs
money to do all the crafts that we
do, so we sell them, and half goes to
the club and the other half goes to
charities. We will make stuff for the
December craft fair and we will have
a winter charity. In the spring we are
thinking about holding and all-school
tie-dye for charity,” said Finnestead.
The charitable purpose of the club
is known to other students.
“It sounds like fun and it helps
Tie-Dye not just for hippies: Tyler Fuson, junior, and Brandy Clough, freshman, prepare to tie-dye.
the community,” said senior Danielle
Hennessey.
Teachers have also recognized
the value of a school group like Club
Grateful.
“I think it’s a great way for kids to
get involved. They are putting their
time to good use, talking about tiedye, and peace, and love. They are
trying to find solutions to the world’s
problems, instead of contributing to
them. I’m grateful we have this club!”
said Robb Bock, marketing teacher.
The club is open to any student
who would like to participate, but real
participation is necessary.
“This club is for the kids who
typically wouldn’t join a club.
Anybody can join, they just have to
do the service work before they can
take stuff they make home,” said
Finnestead.
In this way, the club encourages
the students involved to actually
participate in community service
instead of just showing up one week
to tie-dye a shirt, because the purpose
of the club is not just to have fun
and socialize, but to do that while
impacting the community in a positive
way.
“I think it’s really cool that they’re
helping needy people,” Grace Baker,
junior, said. “It’s a creative way for
a group of students to come together
for a common goal. I would go to the
club to help people, and who doesn’t
like tie-dye!”
4
Opinions
November 20, 2008
Teens strive to squeeze into perfection
Leslie Applelbaum
Opinions Writer
ody Image. What does it mean and how does
it affect who we are?
In high school your body image can make
you or break you. The skinny girls with the lady
lumps and the tall boys with muscles are typically
thought of as “hot” by the opposite sex. People diet
and workout to strive for that hot body but that
doesn’t improve who we are as human beings.
Everyone has things about their body that they
don’t like. Whether you want a flatter stomach,
tighter butt, or more muscular arms, body image
can affect your self esteem. People let how they
look on the outside influence how they feel on the
inside.
Flipping through magazines you see perfect
body after perfect body. Those people devote their
lives to body image. Looking perfect is a profession
for them and if they lose their toned body, they lose
their job. Some people don’t realize that pictures
in magazines have been airbrushed to perfection.
Even models have flaws, but magazines try to cover
them up and emphasize unrealistic perfection.
Runway models look like toothpicks and
can make a lot of average girls think that they’re
fat. Not every girl is made to be a size zero, and
that’s not a bad things. People are supposed to be
different shapes and sizes and that is what makes us
B
individuals.
The fight for a “perfect” body can be a
dangerous road. It can lead to illnesses and
painful surgeries. Eating disorders can be caused
by body image problems and I blame the press.
Magazines and movies are filled with stick skinny
girls and leave the ordinary girl feeling insecure. In
Hollywood, body image problems can even lead to
plastic surgery. The show Dr. 90210 shows just how
normal having your body revamped can be. People
are going in for liposuction or augmentations all the
time. Whether it’s a fight against aging or gaining
weight, these people are willing to invest thousands
of dollars into improving their body.
Skinny models may be perfect on the outside,
but what’s going on inside is very different. An
average model is 5’8” to 5’10” and weighs 110
pounds to 125 pounds. A girl who is 5’10” and
weighs 125 has a BMI of 17.9. A BMI of18.5 and
under is considered underweight which makes
these model’s sizes unhealthy. Someone at that
height needs to be at least 130 pounds to be in
the healthy weight zone. Being underweight can
increase your chances of osteoporosis and the
effectiveness of your immune systems may suffer.
Also, women who are underweight may face
problems with infertility. Females have to have
enough fat to be able to support a growing baby.
MTV has a new show coming out that shows
how much girls have to sacrifice to obtain the
runway look. ‘Model Maker’ will take regular girls
and transform them into real models. The girls who
are interviewed for the show have to be willing to
shed at least 30 pounds. MTV posted on their site,
“MTV is looking for girls willing to shed the pounds
(30-80 lbs), become a model, and win $100,000!”
This show will only encourage unhealthy habits for
teenage girls who also feel the need to shed pounds.
This year ‘America’s Next Top Model’ winner
redefined the definition of model. Whitney Thomas
won as the first plus sized model. She is a size 14
and is drop dead gorgeous. She works the runway
and she doesn’t have to starve herself for it. Upon
winning the show, she did a shoot for Seventeen
Magazine in which she sported a bikini. She is
living proof that a girl can be beautiful and not a
size 2.
Is being five pounds lighter going to make you
a better person? Are tight abs going to make you
more comfortable with yourself? Being happy
with yourself should be because of the kind of
person you are, but America seems to have lost
track of that. The media is giving people unreal
expectations for how they should look. Being
healthy should be a priority in everyone’s life, but
having a “perfect” body is not going to ensure you
happiness.
National Holidays are worth the effort
Let’s honor lost lives with new holidays
Mary Elgin
Opinions Writer
A
lthough the United States
celebrates many significant
national holidays, there are
a few days that have been vastly
overlooked.
National holidays, such as
Independence Day, Memorial Day,
and Labor Day, are a big part of
American culture. They give us the
chance to celebrate our history and
freedom. It’s a time to rejoice in our
prosperity and accomplishments.
And let’s face it; most of them give
many people a day off from work or
school. However, it’s difficult to pass
a day as a national holiday; each state
legalizes them through the legislative
process or by executive order. The last
national holiday to be accepted was
Martin Luther King Day in 1986.
There is also another major
downside. A few national holidays,
like Columbus Day, are unneeded and
wasteful while days like Sept. 11 and
Dec. 7 are not nationally recognized as
holidays.
As every American knows, Sept.
11, 2001 was the day 19 terrorists
hijacked four American passenger
planes. Two collided into each of
the World Trade Center towers, one
smashed into the Pentagon, and the
last crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.
In just a few short hours, Osama
bin Laden’s terrorists managed to
extinguish more than 2,800 innocent
lives. The attacks destroyed our sense
of security, threw us into chaos, and
triggered the extended worldwide
“War On Terrorism.”
Dec. 7, 1941 was also along the
Adviser
Gavin Brady
Editor in Chief
News Editor
Features Editor
Opinions Editor
Sports Editor
Ent. Editor
Backpage Editor
Centerspread Editor
Brian Kenney
Curtis Kalin
Morgan Simpson
Chelsea Scott and Taylor Cross
Brian Kenney
Kyle Alexander
Nicole DeClue
Jamie Miller
News Writers
Features Writers
Opinions Writers
Sports Writers
Ent. Writers
same lines as Sept. 11. The 1941
Japanese attack of the U. S. Navy base
in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was just as
horrifying and alarming. The base
was destructed and more than 2,400
souls were lost. Just as Sept. 11 caused
the beginning of the war in Iraq, Dec.
7 caused the Americans to enter the
Allies’ side in World War II.
So why aren’t these two days
being recognized as national holidays?
Isn’t it only fitting that a few of the
darkest days in U. S. history become
commemorated for all those poor
citizens who laid down their lives
for the greater good? No, we choose
not to. Instead, we waste space in
our calendars coming up with other
holidays like Columbus Day. Ok,
here’s the truth: Columbus wasn’t
the first one to discover America.
I don’t care how many times your
Katie Baerveldt, Josh Smith, Grant Trower
Amy Crosby, Meghan Scanlon, Kelsey Stoskopf, Brandon White
Leslie Appelbaum, Mary Elgin, Dan Meyer, Usman Khan
Brandon Cochrell, Taylor Howe, Mark Regan Mike Marcanik, Darniane Rose
Lori Amos, Megan Caratachea, Alan Taylor, Bailey Wallace
The Treaty will strive to serve as a public forum of Parkway South by reflecting the views, interests and concerns of the student body. The Treaty
is produced by newspaper classes at Parkway South at 801 Hanna Road, Manchester, Missouri. Phone (314)415-9788. Student editors are responsible for the magizine’s content. Undesignated edirorials reflect the opinion of the edirotal board and are written by the opinions editor. Signed editorials reflect the personal opinion of the writer only. Letters are welcome and encouraged, but should be limited to 300 words due to size constraints.
kindergarten teacher told you the “In
1492...” rhyme, it just isn’t true. He
wasn’t even expecting or planning
on landing in America. Columbus
only came here by pure accident – he
got lost. So again, why should we
celebrate the day this man arrived
here? It just doesn’t make any sense
whatsoever.
Sept. 11 and Dec. 7 are dates
in our country’s history that really
deserve our undying attention.
They were horrible experiences and
memories for Americans, but none of
us can change what has happened in
the past. So if we can’t change these
days, then the only thing we can do
is make them national holidays so
that future generations will learn of
the victims’ love for their country and
their ultimate sacrifice.
Furthermore, all school should be
canceled on those days. What is a
national holiday if you can’t take the
time to appreciate and honor it? They
might as well not even exist if there
was still school on national holidays.
People need time to show their
respect.
And why are they only barely
mentioned? We have a moment
of silence on Sept. 11 and a small
mention on Dec. 7, but other than that
it’s just a normal day. No one says
anything about it at all for the rest of
the day. We should do so much more.
It’s the least we can do for our country.
Holidays like Sept. 11 and Dec.
7 should be national holidays. They
are important dates in our story as
a country and they need to be more
than just merely remembered. They
should be honored by every citizen
in our country, but the people of this
country need to take action. This
is a need, not a want. Our country
shouldn’t ever forget and what better
way to sustain our remembrance than
to make those days become national
holidays?
5
Opinions
November 20, 2008
Phiten products are popular with athletes
Are they a placebo or not?
Dan Meyer
Opinions Writer
he hot item in sports right now is Phiten
products, but do they work? I think the
Phiten products do work, but not for the
reasons that the Phiten company wants you to think.
Phiten products were developed in Japan. They
were developed by Yoshihiro Hirata in 1982. Phiten
comes from the Greek letter phi, which symbolizes a
perfect balance in the natural world. Their products
are made of titanium. The company first became
popular with Japanese athletes. They then became
popular in the U.S. and are worn by many athletes
including former Cy Young winner Brandon Webb,
pro golfer Sergio Garcia, and USA Olympic softball
pitcher Jennie Finch. According to Phiten.com,
these products help promote relaxation, enhance
circulation, and reduce stress. The company makes
necklaces, bracelets, wrist bands, patches, and
many more products. They became fashionable in
Major League Baseball when the Boston Red Sox
wore them during their 2004 World Series win.
Now more than 200 Major League Baseball players
wear them. Even non athletes have worn them for
their many benefits. A person can buy one of their
products at sports stores including Sports Authority
and at their web site.
Some of the critics of Phiten products can not
see how a necklace, bracelet, wrist band, or patch
can help someone improve headaches, stress, etc.
It is hard to believe that something as simple as a
necklace can help improve all that. All they do is sit
around your neck. How can that help with some of
life’s worst problems?
The reason that people have had success with
Phiten’s products is because if a person thinks that
a product will work, it will work. This is known as
the placebo effect.
Of course, there is a possibility that these
products do in fact work and help with the stuff
they are supposed to help with. In a 2005 article
in the New York Times, Scott Miller, the marketing
representative for Phiten, said “This product
stabilizes the flow of electricity if you are tired or
stressed.”
I assume that many scientists have tested
Phiten products and if they were frauds, they would
expose them. Phiten products just seem too good to
be real.
Products are as good as the consumer makes
them to be. When somebody goes to a restaurant
and says “This is the best steak I ever had” it
might not be, but it is the opinion of the consumer.
Another person might go and hate the steak, and
that is their opinion. I just think that is the whole
idea of Phiten’s products. I say bravo to the owners
of the Phiten Company for making such a popular
product. I even have one and I can admit that it has
reduced my stress level.
The placebo effect has worked for many years
and it has worked again with the invention of
Phiten products. It honestly is just too good to
be true. Different people have different opinions
on a lot of different topics. These products could
work, but the main reason that the product has
been so successful is because of the assumption
that if somebody wears their product, they will
become successful at their goal. Also a lot of people
probably wear them because other people around
them wear them. Sometimes that is the best way to
sell products.
Why would somebody waste $25 on a necklace
that they don’t think will work? The company has
done a good job of exposing the weaknesses of our
human need. With so many athletes wearing Phiten
products, our human need wants to know if it will
work. If an athlete like Brandon Webb wears it and
endorses it, then will it work for me? No matter if
the product works, the Phiten Company should be
congratulated for making such a popular product
that so many people wear all over the world. I
might be a sucker, but I still wear my Phiten
necklace every day.
Chris Ferlis, senior
Lauren Brandon, sophomore
Mylleck Gentry, junior
T
Your 15 minutes
Q: What is the first thing that comes to
your mind when you think of Australia?
A: Crocodile Dundee
Q: What is your favorite time of day?
A: 8:00 at night when everything is
done and I get to watch Adult Swim
Q: What three foods would you feast on?
A: Mac and Cheese, Batman fruit
snacks, and Sun chips
Q:What is the most exotic food you have
ever eaten?
A: Shark
A: Cowboy Bebop
Q: What is / was your favorite stuffed
animal?
A: Vlasis Park
Q: What would you title your
autobiography?
Q: What is your favorite cartoon movie?
Q: If somebody carved a statue of you,
what park would you want it to be in?
Q:What is the worst movie you have ever
seen?
A: A seal... named Seal.
A: Mess-ups in the LIfe of Lauren
Brandon
Q: What is your favorite time of day?
A: Spirited Killer, because it was the
worst martial arts movie I’ve ever seen A: Whenever it gets dark.
Q: What color doesn’t look good on you?
and a huge disappointment.
A: Yellow
Q: What do you consider the worst
household chore?
A: Raking leaves
Q: What is / was your favorite stuffed
animal?
Q: What is your favorite cartoon movie?
A: Space Jam
Q: What is your favorite dish at a
Chinese Restaurant?
A: A ninja bear from my grandma
A: Sweet and Sour Pork
A: The Fearless Ferlis
A: Cleaning the toilets
Q: What would you title your
autobiography?
Q: What do you consider the worst
household chore?
Q: What is your favorite dish at a
Chinese Restaurant?
A: I get a combination plate with an
egg roll, hot braised chicken, and
some fried rice.
Q: What do you consider the worst
household chore?
A: Mopping and sweeping. It’s so
easy, but I just can’t stand it.
Q: If somebody carved a statue of you,
what park would you want it to be in?
A: Fairground Park
Q: What is your favorite time of day?
A: When school lets out.
Q: What would you title your
autobiography?
A: The Leik
Q: What three foods would you feast on?
A: Chicken, spaghetti, and fish
Q: What is your favorite cartoon movie?
A: The Boondocks
Q: What is the first thing that comes to
your mind when you think of Australia?
A: Kangaroos
6
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8
Sports
November 20, 2008
Richardson leads a successful girls’ tennis team
Taylor Howe
Sports writer
S
outh’s tennis team ended a winning season
with a tough loss to Lafeyette in the
sectional rounds.
This year, the Parkway South girls’ tennis
team, coached by Nick Tanurchis and Ryan
Grice, had a winning season by going 12-4 in
the regular season. They have also continued
on to win their district with a key three matchwinning streak for the third consecutive year.
Some accomplishments achieved by the team
included a big win against 4-1 Eureka on Sept.
3, with a convincing 6 to 1 win. In addition, the
girls went out and took it to Holt High School
with an outstanding 7-0 shutout victory.
Junior Carley Morrison, varsity player, was
excited about the bashing of Eureka.
“Beating Eureka that bad was a big thrill.
They are always tough, and this year
we came out strong and took it to ‘em,” said
Morrison.
The Patriots started out strong with an
opening win against Oakville; however, they
suffered a minor setback against MICDS. The
next five games continued in this sea saw
fashion, with a win shortly followed by a loss,
until South took on Holt, Parkway North,
Lindbergh, and Nerinx Hall. After these four
consecutive wins, the girls were sitting pretty
with a 7-3 record.
“I knew we had to break out of this win
loss streak if we were going to have any kind of
successful season. Thankfully, we picked a good
time to do it, and won four games in a row,” said
junior Julie Stratmann.
With this four match winning streak in mind, the
girls were beginning to prepare for their district matches.
“If we didn’t pick it up at the end, we had no chance
in districts. I think all the girls felt the urgency, and
picked up their game,” said senior varsity player Lisa
McCarthy.
It was because of this, that the team was successful
in winning their district, and moving on to sectionals.
Unfortunately, the girls were routed by rival Lafeyette
High School. It was a close match that had Lafeyette
players nervous. While the match had a high level of
intensity, and the girls from South put up a tough fight,
it was not quite enough to overcome the Lancers. The
girls suffered a 5-4 loss in the game to put them in the
top eight in the state. However, senior Laura Richardson
continued her impressive season at the state tournament
in Springfield. Richardson finished second in the
tournament, the highest a Parkway South girl’s tennis
player has ever finished.
“Obviously I would have liked to win,” said
Richardson, “but it is a huge honor to know that no other
girl in South’s history has done what I did.”
This year, the Parkway South tennis team has seen
a surge in new coming players. In past years, there
has never been more than 50 girls that come out for the
team. This year, there were a total of 70 girls that were
interested in the Parkway South Tennis Team. A new
member of the team this year, junior Danielle Kuske
explains why she wanted to join the team.
“I wanted to join because I was looking to keep in
shape with a fall sport, and tennis has always interested
me. I also knew a lot of people on the team, who had
said it was a lot of fun, so I decided to give it a try,” said
Kuske.
Obviously this new interest in tennis was shared
among the other 70 girls that came out for the team, and
because of this, South was able to put together a very
competitive team. Tanurchis feels that the turn out is
also due in large part to his teaching position at
Hanna Woods elementary.
“We had our largest number ever tryout - 70
players! We also had nearly 20 players who used
to attend Hanna Woods where I teach P.E. and
Health. So it’s really special to see these kids
grow up that I’ve known since Kindergarten!”
said Coach Tanurchis.
There are times when a whole lot of people
go out for a team and it is not necessarily the
best possible scenario. When there are too many
people, it is difficult to practice and give specific
attention to each member of the team. However,
senior leader Laura Richardson said the mix
of veterans and rookies worked out well, and
everyone was able to help each other to get better.
“I know that I did my best to work with the
new girls on the team as much as I worked on my
game. Helping others figure out how to play the
game right reinforces what I need to work on in
my personal game.” said Richardson.
With the help of senior leadership and hard
work the team was able to improve throughout
the year.
“Since we have a lot of new girls on the team,
we might not have the experience and talent level
of the other schools, but it is obvious that we
work hard and everyone on the team gives there
all and that’s what separates us from every school
in the area. No team can compare to us in those
areas,” said Richardson.
With the success of this season, and the
miraculous turn out, there will be a lot of build
up to the girl’s 2009 season. “We had a good run
this year,” said senior Stephanie Sandler, “and we
look to work hard in the off season to improve
our game so we can be even better next year.”
Boys’ soccer team’s season comes to an end
Michael Marcanik
Sports writer
T
o describe the boys varsity
soccer team, head coach
Al Trost used one word:
determined.
Trost’s Patriots finished with
a record of 8-14 this season. They
started the season on a roll, winning
six of their first nine games. After a
2-1 loss to Marquette on September
23, South began to cool down, losing
nine of 12 games.
“The loss to Marquette was very
tough,” said Trost. “It was a game
where we played very hard and
forced the game into a tie, and we
ended up losing on penalty kicks,
which is a really tough way to lose.”
South went on to lose the next
game to Parkway West, also on
penalty kicks.
“Those were two games that
were hard to take,” said Trost. “We
played well enough to win, and
those were games against teams in
our district.”
According to Trost, the most
significant victories came against
Rockwood Summit and Jefferson
City.
“In the game against Rockwood
Summit, we were down 2-0 and we
came back from behind to win 3-2,”
said Trost. “Beating Jefferson City
was big because they always have a
good team that gives us trouble.”
Goalie Stephen Turner described
the team to be very capable of
Looking for an opening:
Junior forward Chris Costello
dribbles the ball against Marquette. Photo by Danny Cohen.
success. He said he likes what he sees
on offense.
“We move the ball very well,” said
Turner. “We have a lot of good forwards
on offense.”
South was one of the top scoring
teams in the Suburban West. Their 43
total goals are the second most in the
area.
“I think our offense will be very
good next season as well,” said Turner.
Trost said one thing his team needs
to improve on is making the transition
from offense to defense.
“We were a bit slow in making
that transition,” said Trost. “And as a
result, the opposing team had a better
opportunity to score.”
Teammates Ryan Lund and
Ryan DeBolt said they agreed that
communication on the field is something
which needs improvement.
“Communication and chemistry was
a bit of a problem for us this year,” said
Lund, “both on and off the field.”
Turner won this week’s “Athlete on
the Week” award. He said directing the
defense is important to him.
“As a goaltender, I need to direct the
defense,” said Turner. “I need to make
sure we’re all on the same page.”
Trost said the leadership on the team
comes mainly from the seniors on the
team. The four seniors on the team are
Blake Spencer, Lund, DeBolt, and Ben
Hoener.
“As seniors, we just wanted to set an
example for the new faces to the team,”
said Hoener, a forward. “And I think
everybody on the team showed some
leadership.”
Lund said the seniors take certain
responsibilities from leading the team in
warm-ups to making sure their teammates
stay out of trouble.
“Our job was just to keep things
positive,” said DeBolt.
Forwards Hoener and Spencer
were two players who stood out
to Trost as players who have very
high potential.
“They are both outstanding
offensive players,” said Trost.
Spencer finished the season
second in the area in scoring.
Spencer’s 14 goals and seven
assists gave him 35 total points.
Hoener is second in the area with
nine assists.
“Coach Trost has had a great
impact on me as a player,” said
Spencer. “He knows the game
very well and has put a good
sense of his game in my mind as I
take the field.”
Lund, a midfielder, expanded
on Trost’s ability as a coach.
“He gives a lot of insight
because he knows so much about
the game,” said Lund. “He
understands how we are playing,
and he will adjust our on-field
approach based on how we are
playing.”
Spencer believes that this
season was a good one to go out
on.
“I would have liked to have
been a little more successful this
year, but it was a lot of fun,” said
Spencer. “And I know we will
have a good team next year with
the good underclassmen we had
this year. It will be fun to come
back and watch some games next
year.”
November 20, 2008
9
Sports
South’s Superfans back and ready for another season
Patriot Posse Power
Brandon Cochrell
Sports writer
T
he South Superfan Club is
back and better than ever this
year.
Students are coming out in full
force and are looking to surpass
the fans we had last year at our
sporting events.
“I think we should make our
superfans into an official school
sponsored club,” said senior
Kristin Schnur. “There’s a lot of
benefit to the players when there
are a lot of students at the games
cheering them on.”
South has different t-shirts
every year to commemorate the
events the fans go to, and they
were these shirts at the events.
“I don’t mind spending $ 20 to
buy a t-shirt. It’s really fun to be a
fan,” said junior Sarah Riley.
Last year’s motto was called
the “Patriot Posse,” which helped
contribute to the success of the
boys’ basketball team.
“Basketball is my favorite
South sport because we always
win, and we have really good players,”
said junior Liz Shiao.
The boys basketball team was very
successful last year, with a school record
of 27-3, which led to the arrival of the
Superfan. Students arrive at the games
early to watch their team warm-up and
cheered them on during their magical
run. The Superfans make all of their
own chants and use them in the game to
encourage their team.
The Superfan club this year has the
task of extending the tradition to the
underclassmen.
“I think they will get the hang of it
sooner or later and they will have a lot of
fun,” said senior Taylore Johnson.
The Superfans’ goal this year is to
become bigger and go to as many sporting
games as they can. They are going to make
a better effort to go to baseball, hockey,
and basketball game to show there teams
support.
“I really like when the fans get into
the game. It helps us play that much better
individually and as a team,” said senior
Scott Somerfield.
The South fans have also been
rewarded for there outstanding efforts and
enthusiasm at our local school sporting
events.
South’s fans’ effort at sporting events
Supefans:
Ben Hoener, senior, drives to the basket in
front of the Superfans.
hasn’t gone unnoticed by others outside
of the school. Last year, the St. Louis
Coaches Association acknowledged the
Parkway South fans as the best in the
area, receiving a very prestigious award
for there good sportsmanship at the
basketball games.
“They’re the best fans you can ask for.
They’re amazing,” Mitch Stevens, boy’s
basketball coach.
As the competition increased, the need
for more fans arises. The super fan club is
not organized by the school, only amongst
the students. If the super fan club was
sponsored by a teacher or administrator it
could help them outreach from sporting
events into the community. The Superfans
hopefully will increase over time and the
freshman and sophomores will have to
continue the tradition.
“I think the reason we
gravitate to basketball more
than football is because there are
more home games and I think it’s
very exciting,” said junior Kate
Spitznagle.
The fans have been more
visible at the basketball games.
The basketball team is the only
sport that has the loyal followers
of the Superfans when they go on
the road. The Superfans are sure
to out number crowds once again
this year. And hopefully more
awards are in the future for these
great fans.
“We’re ready for more. Go
south!” said junior Tara Lewis.
10
Relient K delivers at The Pageant
Entertainment
November 20 , 2008
Local band Ludo opens the show
Bailey Wallace
Entertainment Writer
E
ven though I was pressed up
against a fat, sweaty drunk man
for the majority of the show, this
was still one of the best concerts I have
ever been to.
With House of Heroes, This
Providence and Ludo opening for
Relient K on Oct. 30, there was no way
that this could’ve ended badly. The
energy from the crowd could easily
be picked up by the bands, which
were having a blast on stage.
The tickets to get in were $18 plus
the $2 minor surcharge. If one wanted
to get a T-shirt, the average price was
$20 and $35 for a hoodie. CD’s are sold
anywhere from $4-$15.
House of Heroes, which opened the
show, is a Christian rock band from
Columbus, Ohio. Formed in 2002,
House of Heroes has toured with other
Christian bands such as Relient K,
Family Force 5 and The Fold. Although
House of Heroes was only one of four
bands playing, their performance
was not memorable enough to even
remember the chorus of one of
their songs. Their songs all blended
together and the only thing I really
remember about their performance
was that I took pictures of some of the
people and some of the members of
the band were cute.
The next band lined up was This
Providence. This Providence was formed
in 2001 in Seattle, Washington. Since
then, the band has toured with other
bands such as Cute is What We Aim
For, All Time Low, Daphne Loves Derby
and Paramore. Dan Young, the lead
singer, was very energetic during
the whole performance, dancing
and playing with the other band
members. Young even went so far
as to go into the audience, allowing
the screaming girl fans to touch him.
The crowd responded very well to
This Providence, dancing and singing
along to their songs. The songs, which
everyone in the bands helps to write,
are touching and memorable. One
thing I really liked about their songs
is not all of them sounded alike. Some
of their songs sounded similar, but
This Providence:
then you would get a song like “Sand
in Your Shoes,” which was just Young
with an acoustic guitar and have it
still sound amazing. “Sand in Your
Shoes,” a song Young wrote about
his first love, was beautifully written
and was playing in my head for the
rest of the night. This Providence’s
performance was fun and really got
the crowd pumped for the rest of the
show and the final two bands that
performed.
Next up was hometown hero,
Ludo. Ludo was formed in St. Louis in
2003. This was the third time I’ve seen
Ludo and Ludo is one of my favorite
bands but this wasn’t the best show
I’ve seen them do. Sure Ludo is really
obscure but dressing up as gorillas
with Andrew Volpe, the lead singer,
as a banana is going a little overboard.
The crowd was also a little obnoxious
during Ludo’s performance. Not only
did I get separated from my group,
but I had to link arms with random
strangers so that I wouldn’t get
dragged into the mosh pit that was
right behind me. One thing I did like
was Ludo’s cover of the Ghostbusters
Theme Song. The whole crowd went
nuts when they began playing it.
Members of House of Heroes and This
Providence even came out to sing and
dance on stage with Ludo. Because this
was the third time I’ve seen them, I’ve
grown used to their antics and their
consistency of playing “Good Will
Hunting By Myself” at the end of their
performance. However, that did not
happen at this particular show. But
all in all, I think Ludo did a good job
getting the crowd ready for Relient K.
And for all the people who have never
seen Ludo live before, I think this was
a good way for them to see Ludo at
their craziest, so that when they tone
it down for other shows, they’ll have a
better experience.
But like I said in the beginning,
this was probably one of the best
shows I’ve seen in a really long time.
This Providence totally made up for
House of Heroes and Ludo, but Relient K
topped them all. I would recommend
anyone to at least listen to one of their
studio albums.
Dan Young, lead singer of This
Providence a band based out of Seattle, Washington, sings
“Wolf in Sheeps Clothing,” as the second opening act to Relient K. Photo courtesy of Bailey Wallace.
Megan Caratachea
Entertainment Writer
T
he Chuck Taylors of the mom beside
me pressed at the heels of a twentysomething brunette sporting a
Relient K T-shirt in front her. She edged
forward, already having managed to come
from being four rows from the stage to an
impressive two. As I shifted my weight in
order to let her and her daughter get just a
little bit closer to the front row, the middle
aged mom asked me if it was my first time
at a Relient K show. She proudly admitted
that it was her (and her middle school
daughter’s) third time seeing the band.
Four bands, 270 minutes, a jam
packed Pageant full of enthused
screaming fans and smiling faces, and
playing a 16 song set list, including
oldies for the long time fans as well
as some songs to get everyone excited
about their newest album, The Bird
and the Bee Sides, and an impressive
twelve-minute encore of “Deathbed”
off of Five Score and Seven Years Ago.
Thiessen took breaks between a
few songs and was able to reflect a
humbled and genuine personality
with explanations of songs and their
meanings, as well as comments on
how “great” the crowd was. Then
there was the outbreak of the “Happy
Birthday” song among the audience,
commencing at Thiessen’s request.
After looking over at a proud young
gentleman holding high a cheerful
Guess who: Entertainment writer Bailey Wallace met up
with Jon Schneck and Matt Hoopes, members of Relient K,
before the concert while eating dinner in The Delmar Loop.
Courtesy of Bailey Wallace.
all for a humble $18.
Relient K ascended the stage with
all members dressed in black and
red, lead singer and front man Matt
Thiessen wearing a cape over his all
black button up and slacks, looking
very Count Dracula. The attire was
appropriate for the Uncle Fest Tour.
After the band thanked the crowd
for being “so kind,” the intro riff for
“I Need You” from Relient K’s fifth
album, Five Score and Seven Years Ago
buzzed with every bit of distortion a
power chord deserves. Surprisingly
annunciated for the amount of space
between the stage left, three-foot tall
speaker and the first few rows of
the crowd, was the hum of the base
line and rhythm guitar. The crowd
could hear every word and those that
might have been drowned out by
the blast of the music were hard to
decipher considering that the listeners
surrounding me screamed every word
to every song in unison. Boasting
a crowd like that, it wasn’t hard to
see that this show had been greatly
anticipated.
Nearly everyone in attendance
seemed to have been there to see
Relient K, though the Uncle Fest Tour
piloted four bands: House of Heroes,
This Providence, and Ludo. Oct 18, a
Thursday night –a school night at that,
and the pageant general admission
section was crammed full of school
aged kids. And Relient K’s fans didn’t
seem disappointed, with the band
and large (at least large enough to get
the band’s attention) announcement,
Thiessen asked it to be lifted a little
higher so he could see the poster,
reading in bold black letters: “She
said ‘yes’.” Thiessen congratulated
the young man (named “Mr. Cox”)
who admitted he’d just proposed to
his fiancé after the band played “Best
Thing.” The prompting of the “Happy
Birthday” song came when Thiessen
declared that “a Mr. and Mrs. Cox was
just born.”
A marriage proposal, a hearty
encore, and a cover of the “Addams
Family Theme Song,” –Relient K
made sure that their set was uniquely
their own at the Pageant.
Main attraction:
Matt Thiessen, lead singer of
Relient K a band started in
Ohio, plays piano during their
set. Photo courtesy of Bailey
Wallace.
November 20, 2008
11
Entertainment
Local radio station changes its direction
Nicole DeClue
Managing Editor
B
onneville St. Louis radio group announced
today the Hot AC station, which programs
artists such as Fergie, Nickelback, Rihanna,
Pink, Beyonce, Daughtry, and Black Eyed Peas, will
switch to a sports talk format Jan. 1,” according to
stltoday.com.
According to stltoday.com, the sports talk
will feature a mixture of local on-air talent, new
talent, and big names from ESPN Radio. Stltoday.
com also released a statement saying “Bonneville’s
St. Louis vice president John Kijowski said: “Our
parent company, Bonneville International, invested
millions of dollars in June of 2008 to increase our
signal to a full 100,000 watts, making it one of the
strongest FM signals in our market.”
Currently the station is playing Christmas
music until Jan. 1. Senior Kelsey McGovern laughs
at the thought of them playing Christmas music so
early.
“I think it’s silly, because it’s only November.
They’re probably playing it for the same reason
stores are selling Christmas decorations already,”
said McGovern.
Freshman Tyler Thompson agrees with
McGovern that it is definitely too early to be playing
Christmas music.
“It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but they
probably have nothing better to play,” said
Thompson.
However, sophomore Lindsey Jackson is so
used to Christmas music playing at her house that
isn’t even phased by 101.1 playing Christmas music
so early.
“I think it’s interesting because Christmas at my
house is 365 days a year since my dad is Santa,” said
Jackson.
Freshman Derek Ware thinks they started
playing Christmas music early to get people into the
Holiday Spirit, like they do every year.
“They thought their station would get more
attention and they wanted people to get in the mood
for Christmas,” said Ware.
It turns out Ware was right. According to
stltoday.com, this move comes as Movin’ 101.1 is
said to be the highest-rated Movin’ format in the
country, and will leverage the opportunity to deliver
sports programming to “the fans of one of the
greatest sports cities in the U.S.” The station also
feels that moving to a Sports Talk format on 101.1
will give them confidence that they can maximize
sports programming to its full potential in our city.
McGovern was shocked to hear that 101.1 was
switching to a full time sports talk station after New
Years.
“Are you serious? When I listen to the radio I
like listening to 101.1,” said McGovern.
Junior Stephanie Landes feels that the switch
from music station to sports talk station is limiting
her options of music to listen too.
“I don’t like it because I would rather listen to
music than talk shows. There are so many other
sports stations already,” said Landes.
Ware thinks the station’s ratings will go
down because they will lose some of their biggest
listeners.
“Their ratings will go down because they are
known for playing popular music and talk shows
only interview certain people,” said Ware.
Oscar worthy?
Alan Taylor
Entertainment Writer
2
008 brought to the public
many Oscar-caliber films for
our enjoyment. Sweeney Todd:
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street gave
Johnny Depp one of his greatest films
to date, with one fantastic musical
score, Juno brought the laughs while
telling a very unique and exquisite
story, and No Country for Old Men
single handedly resurrected a dead
genre to create an epic masterpiece.
With the 81st Oscars slowly
approaching, the field is wide open
for the nominees. However, there
are some questionable contenders
getting thrown into the mix of the
Oscar hopefuls, but could these films
possibly get Best Picture?
When you think of Oscar hopefuls
for 2009, the first movie to come to
mind, for mostly everyone, will be The
Dark Knight. The tremendous action
and fantastic acting had fan boys,
and movie critics clamoring for some
Oscar love. Most everyone agreed
that Heath Ledgers portrayal as the
psychotic Joker sent shivers down
Hollywood’s spine, as he gave us one
of his greatest performances of his
career.
With all praise, come setbacks.
No other super hero movie has
ever been nominated for acting or
directing Oscars, never the less, for
Best Picture. The Dark Knight is also a
summer blockbuster. Most summer
blockbusters, like Pirates of the
Caribbean and Transformers have been
nominated for other Oscars, but the
nominations have only been for visual
effects or sound editing, never for Best
Picture. And although Heath Ledger
did a fantastic job playing the Joker,
the rest of the cast, including Maggie
Gyllenhaal and Christian Bale, gave
us performances, which are solid, but
not worth nominating.
Walt Disney/Pixar’s robotic
masterpiece WALL·E captivated
audiences with fantastic, and
almost scary visuals of the future.
The romance between the two
robots (WALL·E and EVE) had
moviegoers emotionally connect
to the unbelievable story. Pixar
Animation Studios also delivered on
the incredible visual showcase, like
Pixar’s other films.
The only downside for WALL·E not
to get an Oscar, is that it’s an animated
movie. Only one other animated film
has been nominated for Best Picture,
1991’s Beauty and the Beast, which
lost to The Silence of the Lambs. Ever
since Best Animated Picture was
introduced, no other animated film
has ever been in consideration.
There are many other films
which will be released before Oscar
time that could get nominated.
Clint Eastwood’s Changeling, staring
Angelina Jolie, is about a mother who
had lost her dear son. But when the
LAPD deliver her a child, Jolie realizes
that the boy they delivered doesn’t
resemble her son. The Curious Case
of Benjamin Button, staring Brad Pitt
and Cate Blanchett, is about Benjamin
Button, a man who was born old, and
ages backwards, and his crazy life
and the love that he will find. Finally,
Defiance tells of a group of Jewish
rebels (including Daniel Craig), who
escape from Nazi-occupied Poland
to join the Russian resistance, to help
protect their loved ones.
There are different options for this
year’s Academy Awards. The Dark
Knight seems to be the favorite, while,
like Little Miss Sunshine and Juno,
WALL·E could be the “black sheep”
of the nominees. There are still four
more months left before the big show,
and nothing is set in stone. What will
happen on February 22nd? We’ll just
have to wait.
Landes think that playing Christmas music so
early was a strategy to get people used to the idea
of the station not being a popular music station
anymore, but a talk station.
“They probably started playing Christmas
music early to make people stop listening to it
gradually before it becomes a sports talk station,”
said Landes.
McGovern doesn’t think the station’s ratings will
decrease, but the people who listen to it will change.
“I don’t think it will decrease. I think the
population that listens to the station will change,”
said McGovern.
Starting next year Movin’ 101.1 will be no more
as the station switches formats to sports talk. It
looks like radio’s WMVN Movin’ 101 is moving on
according to stltoday.com.
Moving on:
Previously 101.1 The
River, Movin’ 101 will officially be off the
air making way for sports talk format
starting Jan. 1. Photo courtesy of google
12
Backpage
November 20, 2008
Moliere Impromptu
Students perform in the fall play
Solo!
Senior Kevin Shabel gives a soliloquy. Photo by Danny Cohen.
Acting!
Seniors Kevin Shabel and Liz
Calloni focus on an intense scene at a rehearsal. Photo by Danny Cohen.
Shining Star!
Senior Kevin Shabel performs one of his many scenes as the star of the play.
Photo by Danny Cohen.
636-825-0090
[email protected]
Action!
Junior Mitch Lieschuh plays
an actor who is portraying a pompous playwright. Photo by Danny Cohen.