CAN YOU NOT?: MOsqUe CONTrOversY

What’s Happening Here and There October 8, 2010
CAN YOU NOT?: Mosque Controversy
by Nate Nichols
EDITORIAL:
Can you not infringe on the rights all people
have to construct a place of worship? As you may have guessed,
the topic of this column is the controversy surrounding
the construction of a Muslim mosque and community
center two blocks
from ground zero, in
New York City. The
staggering intolerance
surrounding this story
is appalling. Many
have asserted that the
construction of such a
center is defamatory to
the people who were
killed in the September
11th attacks. I can
empathize with this viewpoint to a degree. However, this begs
the question written on a pro mosque demonstrators sign:
“How many blocks must they go for their freedom?” To those
who say this site is too close, I ask, what is the appropriate
distance for a mosque to be constructed?
By this same pattern of reasoning it could be said that
all mosques are an affront to the victims of September 11th,
meaning another mosque should never be built. Anyone who
has any semblance of understanding of the true principles
America was founded on would know this to be an egregious
violation of the First
Amendment. I believe
that the families of victims
do deserve to be treated
with sensitivity in this
matter. It is also important
to note that many families
of 9/11 victims support
the construction of the
mosque. They have formed
an organization called
New York Neighbors For
American Values. It is important to think about what message
is being sent to the millions of peaceful Muslims the world over.
These people are being punished for the actions of an isolated
minority of their religion. The second largest terrorist attack
in US history is the Oklahoma City Bombing, committed by
Continued on pg. 10
Silly Bandz
cause a bonding conversation between strangers or cause a
heated fight between friends. Some people, who shall remain
nameless, even resort to taking them from children (you
know who you are).
My personal experience with Silly Bandz was a very tumultuous
Continued on pg. 10
by Olivia Perry
Arm Farms. Zany Bandz. Crazy Bands. Silly Bandz. Any way
you spin it, these rubber bands shaped like animals, clothes,
shapes, etc. are taking this great country by storm. They can
• Can You Not? • Silly Bandz • Eat, See, Do
• Hear, Cook, Read
1
1
2
3
• Chilean Summer
• I Give Up.
• Activities • My Summer 4
4
5
6
• Interviews
• Advice Corner
• College
• Continued from 1 7
8
9
10
• Halloween Costumes11
• Lucky Stiff Review 11
• Around Campus
11
• Calendar
12
WORDS OF WISDOM
EAT THIS
America’s
Taco Shop
by Kelly Montoya
America’s Taco Shop, located in
Phoenix, is definitely every Mexican
food lover’s heaven. It’s inexpensive,
quick and a great place to hang out
with friends and eat a yummy meal.
The Taco Shop’s specialty is, well,
tacos. Don’t worry though, fellow
bean lovers. You will fall heels over
head for ATS’s bean and cheese
burrito cooked fresh in a twelve inch
tortilla and melted in the fluffiest way
possible. Or, let’s say you’re feeling
less fluffy and a little spicier. Then
maybe you could try their signature
Vampiro, which, unfortunately, is
NOT a vampire taco. You’ll have to
settle for a grilled tortilla, cheese,
guacamole, carne asada, lettuce and
onions with their amazing homemade
salsa. Couple this with their fresh
horchata or Mexican Coca Cola
and you might feel “Muy Caliente”
as you sit beneath a red umbrella at
an oversized wooden picnic table
big enough for you and the whole
math club. Let’s be for real though.
America’s taco Shop is super yum and
you’ll leave wishing you hadn’t eaten
so much but deciding to settle on the
feeling because you literally just had
the most epic burrito or vampire taco
in Phoenix. Check out the Shop!
“Never pick a fight with an ugly person, they’ve
got nothing to lose” - Robin Williams
SEE THIS
Frogs
by Benjamin Diego
“Suppose nature gave a war and
everybody came: the snakes, the
birds, the lizards and frogs,” prompts
a deep, and menacing voice in the
trailer for Frogs. “And suppose that
the polluters, the species on Earth
called man, were the enemy in
that war.” Frogs, a horror B-movie
from 1972, attempted to forewarn
of such a war­—a war between
man and beast, human and frog.
No, the film did not unabashedly
bring to light the deteriorating
relationship between humans and
everglade creatures. Nor did it
prompt delegates from mankind
and creature-kind alike to unite
and hold a secret peace summit in
Florida in the early ‘70s. However,
Frogs did show a lot of affluent
Southerners being brutally croaked
(pun intended) by frogs, birds,
snakes, and, yes, even butterflies, all
desperate to exact revenge on their
human counterparts for polluting
their home and disregarding the
creatures of the forest. Keep in mind
that Frogs is not a good movie. In
fact, it’s terrible. However, the sheer
preposterousness and doltishness of
Frogs makes it a delight to watch; I’ve
seen it several times. So remember:
the next time that you’re curled
up on your couch, eating buttery
popcorn, having a B-movie cinema
classics party at your house, or are
in desperate need of some low-brow
watching material, consider Frogs.
You’ll have a froggin’ good time if
you do.
- 2 -
DO THIS
Pumpkin Festival
by Annelisa Leinbach
Halloween is fast approaching – the
hour when our nation’s youth bedeck
themselves in a vast array of bizarre
garb and scurry through the twilight
streets like ravenous cartoon characters,
seeking to engorge themselves with
candy. It is a time when jack-o-lanterns
glow like thousands of moons in the
crisp autumn night. Do you dream of
carving mere pumpkins into elaborate
confections of ghostly glory? Does
the thought of pumpkin pies and
cornucopias of cheery orange vegetable
globes bring you great joy? Then
visit the Desert Botanical Gardens’
Pumpkin Festival, where you can find
a Great Pumpkin of your own. Take a
hayride to the pumpkin patch, where
you can hand-select one of the many
plump, perfect pumpkins. The general
fantastical quality of everything
associated with pumpkins will fill
you with Halloween cheer. With an
amusing name like “pumpkin”, how
can you go wrong? The festival also
features a hay bale maze and a petting
zoo. It runs from October 21 - 24
and costs $5-$15. Before it’s too late,
secure your own pumpkin, and, thus,
your very happiness!
WORDS OF WISDOM
HEAR THIS
Discovery
Album: LP (Bonus)
Artist:
by Olivia Perry
“Girls/All around the world/ Tellin’
me that everything I’ve done’s my
fault/And it’s possible they’re right”.
Those are the first words Vampire
Weekend’s Ezra Koenig smoothly
croons in track 7 of the electronically
mind blowing LP. It sounds odd
that a man is singing from the view
point of a teenage girl, but Discovery
isn’t really your grandpa’s techno.
Maybe I shouldn’t use the term
techno, with visions of light shows
and neon spandex racing through
your head, but really, neon spandex
is what you should be wearing when
dancing to the synth sounds of this
talented duo. Rostam Batmanglij of
Vampire Weekend and Wes Miles
of Ra Ra Riot work hand in hand,
fusing their unique sounds into a
crazy blast of magical sparkle dust the
courses through your veins. Songs like
“Carby” (quoted above), “I Wanna
Be Your Boyfriend,” and their cover
of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,”
show a different, more feminine side
than usually heard by fans of Vampire
Weekend and Ra Ra Riot. Rostam
uses his musical genius, which got him
into Columbia University, and song
writing skills while Wes brings Ra
Ra Riot’s sensitive and quirky nature
to come up with this interesting
and modern music. They both have
dreamy and quiet voices that make
you want to sway side-to-side, but
also dance to the fun beats. Devoted
Vampire Weekend or Ra Ra Riot fans
and music buffs alike need to check
this album out!
All generalizations are bad. -R.H. Grenier
COOK THIS
Mediterranean
Mac-n-Cheese
by Sara Feeney
Ingredients
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus more for baking dish
• 1 can diced tomatoes, with juice
• 1/2 cup basil, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 8 ounces penne pasta
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 4-ounces of shredded mozzarella
• 6 ounces feta, crumbled
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Set a
large pot of salted water to boil and
butter an 8-inch square baking dish.
In a small bowl, combine tomatoes,
basil and oregano.
2. Cook pasta 2 minutes less than
package instructions; drain pasta
and return to pot. Meanwhile, melt
butter in a medium saucepan over
medium heat. Add garlic; cook
until fragrant, 1 minute. Add flour
and cook, stirring constantly, 1
minute. Whisk in milk and bring
to a boil. Reduce heat to mediumlow; simmer, whisking constantly,
until sauce thickens, 3 minutes.
Remove from heat; whisk in the
mozzarella and 2 ounces feta. Stir
in tomato mixture. Season with
salt and pepper. Pour mixture over
pasta; stir to combine.
3. Pour pasta mixture into dish and
top with remaining feta (4 oz). Bake
until sauce is bubbling and cheese
begins to brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
-3-
READ THIS
Jesus Land
by Whitney Bergstrom
Jesus Land is a memoir written by
Julia Scheeres, a New York Times
best-selling author and journalist for
many popular magazines. In her book,
Julia describes her onerous childhood
and what it was like to grow up with
an adopted brother of a mistreated
race in rural Indiana, a state still
recovering from the racism epidemic
of the mid-west. Unbeknownst to
Julia and David, her brother, the
difference in their skin color would
soon test the integrity of their tight
knit relationship and would threaten
to ostracize them from the rural social
circle; Julia is white and David is black.
David and Julia were raised in a strict
church background where the elders
preached the word of God with an
iron fist, and this intimidating passion
only increased as they traveled deeper
into the country beyond the urban
barrier which once was a shelter from
ignorant scrutiny and condescension.
When Julia and David were sixteen,
they were sent to a religious reform
school in the Dominican Republic
known as Escuela Caribe, where
any measure of discipline is used to
extract repentance from the students.
Through the horrific challenges Julia
was forced to undergo, I found myself
in a moment of gratitude; I appreciated
Julia, who bravely subjected herself
to political and social sensitivity to
affect change, but I was thankful for
the absence of such memories in my
life. I highly recommend this book!
WORDS OF WISDOM
“The secret of creativity is knowing how
to hide your sources” - Albert Einstein
A Chilean Summer
by Natalie Klett
Smooth white glaciers form the backdrop. Studs of jagged
grey mountains pierce the foggy sky, and chilly, wet winds
ripple through the verdant tundra. Where are we? Chile.
Who knew such an exotic place lay literally under our feet?
The south of Chile’s climate has commonly been referred
to as comparable to Alaska
and Norway, which is not
surprising, being as they are
both near an opposing pole
of the earth.
As a way of relevance as well,
Chile began celebrating
it’s bicentennial (200 years
of
independence
from
Spain) Saturday, the 18th
of September. The festivities
will most likely last well
throughout
the
year,
spreading from the capital,
Santiago. As this long,
narrow country rumbles
with pride (and the fifty plus active volcanoes along its
spine) nothing could be cooler this summer. Or for them,
winter.
Obviously being on the opposite end of the globe would
result in some drastic changes from our own side of life, as
the world below the equator has the opposite seasons from
I GIVE UP.
by Eric Colonna
Aldous Huxley once proposed that “A man may be a
pessimistic determinist before lunch and an optimistic
believer in the will’s freedom after it” to which I respond:
I have eaten lunch Aldous. I have gorged myself time
and time again with mind to shed my cynicism. Today
a glutton I am, yet, alas, a facetious glutton I remain. No
amount of “gourmandery” can alter the facts. They are
as follows: Throughout the duration of my sophomore
year at ASA I had devoted a significant portion of time to
the construction of “eco-friendly” articles with virtually
no grammatical standard for a mass audience of possibly
three readers. With each amateurish sentence I scribed,
our own. So it really is winter in summer, or cold summer
there, hot here.
Chile Harbors the Andes mountain range, (still growing),
and the arid desert Atacama in the north, along with
forests and river valleys. The diversity of Chile truly is the
land for the adventurer. But
most of all, what strikes the
winner, is the sheer opposing
weather in the southern half
compared to Arizona’s own.
Previously pointed out, the
wet and cold rules with an
aggressive force, snowing
literally on the parades.
Anyway,
when
the
temperatures
rise
to
unbearable tones here and
the meaning of tan goes
from gold to charred, one
can’t help but wonder if any
even slightly cool place still
exists in the world, or such thing as winter. So rest assured!
If you just happened to have the means to get down there,
below the waistband of the world, you could just find
yourself partying for independence with the rest of the
Chileans, in snow.
with each disheartening fact I drew from research, came
the partial realization of a single truth -- it was all in vain.
No single compost heap, no biodegradable printer paper,
no cellular phone made primarily from foliage can undo
what man kind has done to its planetary vessel. Until
the very moment in which humans launch together into
revolutionary environmentally beneficial action as unified
radicals, we have only to look forward to the bitter failure
of our race. Only after the potent fear of what is to come
finally settles within our dense, collective cranium, only
after we fathom the desperate reality of our situation
will the security of our future take precedence over the
banal happenings of our day to day lives. Until that day,
nothing will change but the weather. Call me a pessimist
for I shan’t lunch it away . In short, I give up. Run and tell
that.
- 4-
CONTEMPLATIVE
PONDERATION
Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?
FALL FUN
Compiled by Ben Diego
15% discount for ASA students with ID
- 5 -
About 85% of women are responsible for cooking the
family dinner, and 84% wish they didn’t have to.
FUN FACT
MY SUMMER
By Daniela Wertheimer
Over the summer I was privileged enough to have traveled all around two continents. By the end of the summer, my family
and I were completely tired but lucky to have experienced so much and enjoyed a multitude of unique cultures in Peru
and throughout Europe. Peru is not a new experience for me, however. I have traveled to Peru seven times to visit family
and see some aspects of Peru’s history and society. My mom’s family all live in Peru, so most of our trips to Peru are spent
in people’s homes or just around the capital of the country, Lima. Lima is a foggy coastal city famed for its colossal surf,
up-and-coming cuisine, and newly successful economy. My family and I began our first day by going to a new high-end
restaurant called Pescados Captiales (a play on words because in Spanish, the Seven Deadly Sins are “Pecados Capitales”)
and ate some of Peru’s most delicious seafood. Some other things we did during our most recent Peruvian voyage were go
to the mall with our cousins and their friends, toured Lima’s China Town (and had Peruvian-Chinese food, appropriately
named “Chifa”), and became immersed in the affectionate culture of Peruvians. Though we mainly stuck around Lima
during this vacation, our trip before was one that was particularly memorable. We went to the ancient city of Cuzco and
climbed the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. Many people consider Machu Picchu a sacred and majestic place where
the Incans once rooted their dynasty and laid the stones of modern civilization. Before Spanish conquests, the Incans
dominated the Andean area and brought about changes in farming, politics, and tool making. Being able to walk around
the same sites that these ancient people built helped me to identify with my Peruvian roots and even my roots as a human.
The contrast of cultures in modern Peru and rural, ancient Peru was fascinating for me as a visitor who had never seen
rural Peru. I was able to understand the country in the two lights and am now able to articulate to possible travelers to
Peru that it is a diverse country that is worth visiting—both the city and the historical landmarks.
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Payment Method: Cash or check
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Send ad or any questions to
[email protected]
- 6 -
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DID YOU KNOW?
The human eye blinks an average of 4,200,000 times a year.
Q: If you were stranded on a desert island,
what three things would you take with you?
Seniors 5th Graders
Liz
would take a solar-powered
fridge, portable DVD player (with the
Harry Potter Box Set included), and
a Costco value-pack of cough drops.
Merrick, refusing to stand idly
by, would take an airplane to get off
of the island, an iPod, and a phone.
Olivia would take Dr. Pepper, her
Makenna would take
iTouch (with all Law and Order SVU, The
Office, and It’s Always Sunny... episodes,
plus music, and her yellow sunglasses.
a car, a boat, and her favorite
stuffed animal, Sunflower.
Kelly
would take her dogs, Poncho
and Roxy, Extremely Loud and Incredibly
Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, and
her iPod, loaded with tunes.
MANCINTERVIEW
By Katie Sample
If you could bring only 3
things with you to a desert
island, what would you
bring?
M: "Miss Yamada."
K: "No people. That's cute,
though."
M: "Oh... Well, then, my
concert guitar, my iPod, my
headphones - wait, can the iPod and
headphones count as one item?"
K: "Sure, knock yourself out."
M: "Phew! OK, then after those I guess the last thing
would be the Bible."
K: "Cool, thanks! If you could have only 3 songs on the
iPod, what would they be? No hour-long pieces, by the
way."
M: "'Aww, even if it's one piece of music? Fine... "Across the
Universe" by the Beatles off the Let It Be: Naked album.
Gracie would take a
Rodesian Ridgeback dog, and,
of course, food and water.
Also, "Chaccone" by Bach. And [long pause for thought]
"Let Down" by Radiohead."
K: "So, Mr. Mancini, what are the best and worst things
about your job at ASA?"
M: "The best thing is building relationships with the
students. The worst is definitely the grading."
K: "That's a relief to hear. Care to share a few catchphrases
with us?"
M: "You know what else is (insert student's complaint
here)? Your grade." AND "Whoa, Nelly Furtados!" "
K: "Very impressive, very dignified. Got any hidden
talents?"
M: "You know what? I do! I like to replace words in songs
to parody them. [To the tune of "Wake Me Up When
September Ends] Wake me up when this nightmare ends!
[To the tune of "21 Guns"] One, two, three, four chords!
That's all they know..."
K: "I see that Green Day's obviously a big favorite of yours.
Any other confessions?"
M: "I miss playing the electric guitar."
K: "Ooh, juicy! Well, thank you for your time!"
M: "You're welcome. Sit down, it's time to start class."
- 7 -
“Why pay a dollar for a bookmark? Why not use the
dollar for a bookmark?” - Steven Spielberg
QUOTIDIAN
QUOTATION
GRANDMA
“ADVICE CORNER” Continued
ANNE SERR’S
ADVICE
CORNER
Q:
I like watching movies with friends. But
sometimes the friend starts laughing her
head off, and I don’t find the movie that
funny! How do I kill this awkwardness?
—Awkward in Algebra
A:
Oh, you poor dear. It’s a rough world out
there, what with all the kids having such
different senses o’ humor. But don’t worry, if
she’s not glaring at you for not laughing, you’ll probably be
able to get away with just sitting and smiling whenever she
starts yuckin’ away at the silly flick. But if she’s the type that
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repeats a bad joke thinking that the reason you didn’t laugh
is that you didn’t hear it to begin with, you’re treading
some dangerous waters. I’ve been there, sweetheart, and
the waters run deep. Never fear, I have some plans of attack
for you! First off: unless you’re really good at it, DON’T
fake laughter! An easier alternative to pull off is this; smile
to indicate that you’re amused, but then roll your eyes at
yourself as though the fact that it took you so long to get
the joke is distracting you. It doesn’t take an Oscar-winner
to make that number convincing. Finally, and this is my
preferred strategy, feign deafness until she gets tired of
repeating the lame joke.
Q:
I’m a picky eater, and I feel like at least
once a month I’m served food I just can’t
stand. It’s usually prepared by either family
or friends’ family. What do I do to deal with it so I don’t
seem rude? I feel bad just sulking at it!
—Picky in P.E.
A:
Believe me, honey, I was just like you in
my younger days. Because of this, I’ve got a
couple of tricks up my sleeve that you might
find to be a help. Firstly, if you get the notion ahead of
time that something will be served that you can’t stomach,
don’t allow your host to serve it to you. Tell them that
you already ate. Simple as that! But, if that turns out to
be impractical because it would be clear as day that you
were lying, there are a few more options. Claiming you’ve
got an allergy is highly effective, but only provided that
this host or chef doesn’t already know you well enough to
smell a rat. Something else you could try is pretty obvious;
eat everything else available in the way o’ side dishes, and
then it will be more buyable that you’re not being rude
by not eating the offensive vittles, and are in fact just full.
Whatever you do, DON’T say you love the disgusting
food just to be polite, because you will find yourself
drowning in more of it. If you are asked your opinion
on it, use phrases like, “Wow, I’m not used to this sort of
thing,” “How exotic!” or “What a pleasing presentation.”
If all else fails, keep a beverage nearby to help you power
through the grub.
- 8 -
YUST YOKING
What time is it when it is time to go to the dentist?
Tooth hurty.
You Should Know:
“COLLEGE” Continued
COLLEGE
IS NOT AN
ENIGMA
By Sami Hopkins
Regardless of your age, college is likely a familiar subject
whether you are beginning the process of choosing a future
school, or are simply used to hearing others discuss it.
Despite what one may hear, every student should make
the conscious decision to begin thinking about college
at an age they feel is appropriate, though it is a definite
thing to keep in mind at any time. Some may experience
added pressure from their parents regarding the college
process but choosing the school that best suits you should
be personal, although receiving help from others is can be
quite beneficial. For certain students, beginning this process
may start with setting grade goals or joining honors classes
(if accessible), while others may begin by discussing future
options with an experienced adult. Wherever you are in the
complicated process of preparing for college, aim for the
highest you can attain but always remember not to limit
yourself. For those of us who are a little further along in
our high school career, getting involved in extracurricular
activities is an obvious necessity. It is common for students
to become involved in several but participate without much
personal interest. However surprising it may be, colleges
will most likely prefer to see a student who may only
have a few extra-curriculars, but is actively and involved
and passionate; your extra-curriculars should reflect your
interests and who you are. Do not by any means assume that
procrastination will have the same effects on your school
options as getting involved early. It is absolutely important
to demonstrate versatility and most of all, self-awareness,
however, not knowing exactly what you want out of your
college experience is alright, but it is extremely beneficial to
know and feel comfortable with yourself. Seriously consider
options. If the opportunity is available, take leadership
roles and find something that positively sets you apart
from other students. When actually applying, it is best to
look for schools that specifically fit your personality; this
means reviewing the colleges’ location, size, student body,
professors, etc. If you find that smaller environments with
a great deal of interaction between students and teachers
is helpful to your learning, then perhaps liberal arts rather
than a large college or university, is for you. It is often the
mistake of applicants to attempt to alter their personality to
fit a school rather than finding a college that naturally suits
your personality and learning style. If you find that some
outside assistance would be beneficial to your situation
or you are still confused regarding the college processes,
consult a college counselor, attend college fairs, and visit
possibly schools. College should not be an enigma! Though
it may be stressful, remind yourself that it is simply another
step in your education, and hard work preparing for college
could result in a successful future education.
- 9 -
October 31
Tempe Town Lake Park
visit
www.walknowforautismspeaks.org
IS THAT A CHALLENGE?
You haven’t really been on vacation until you’ve
been attacked by a flock of rabid seagulls...
“SILLY BANDZ” Continued from pg. 1
hate/hate relationship at first. I was known for belting “I
HATE Silly Bandz” several times a day. I would glare at them,
murmur under my breath about how stupid they were, and
whenever my friends would pull them off of their wrists and
flaunt them, I would roll my eyes. What is the point of these
things? Why are they so popular? I would hear stuff such
as supposedly Hopi Elementary School was having issues
with fights over these things, causing the administration to
create the rule of a maximum of three Silly Bandz per person.
Rumors like these make this trend an explosion on the level
of..I don’t know, Skittles!
This summer, though, when I stayed with my family in
Chicago, my views changed. My cousin, Alec, a boy with a
sweet disposition and an even sweeter smile loved Silly Bandz.
One day, a friend, again who shall remain nameless, broke his
beloved apple Silly Band. “That...that was my favorite Silly
Band” he said shocked, seconds after it snapped, anxiously
laughing, but actually crying. The friend promised to buy him
more Silly Bandz, and when we went to Six Flags in Illinois,
they got him a pack of dinosaur bands. I fell in love. I had to
have that purple brontosaurus. I swore to only keep that one,
but when my sweet little cousin offered me a glow in the dark
unicorn and sparkly dragon, I had to take them. So see, you
can still keep your dignity with awesome Bandz, and they can
be sentimental pieces of plastic jewelry that reminds you of
family.
Enough about me, I decided to take an opinions poll to hear
from the people. I messaged random students to get their
opinion on these little rubber doodads, and the results were
a little surprising. Obviously, only 14 % were against them.
“Silly bands are the stupidest thing since unsliced bread,”
claims Kacy Hill, ’12, just one of the somewhat few who feel
strongly against the Silly Band craze. A result of 33% love
the rubber animals. “I like silly bandz because they glow in
the dark, they are really cool shapes, and they make me feel
like I’m a little kid again,” Shea Perry, ’13, writes. Surprisingly
though, a whole 53% of students said they didn’t care. “I really
don’t care,” Jacob Winkelman, ’13, bluntly states.
I must admit, I was surprised. I felt like Silly Bandz affect
everyone in some way. The friends who are embarrassed of
their infatuated comrade, the little kid who begs their parent
to buy them more, the parents and grandparents who slave all
day at work just to buy their children their dream Silly Band.
But you know what, I realize it’s just another fad, like snap
bands in the 90‘s. NeoPet’s in the early Millennium. This will
just be our contribution to I Love the 2010’s.
“CAN YOU NOT?” Continued from pg. 1
CAFÉ NIG
T!
OCT 8TH 7-H
9
P
$7 OR $5 WIT M
H2
CANS OF FO
OD
ACADECA &
JAZZ BAND
É
CAF
Timothy McVeigh, a Christian. Two Christian churches sit
less than 100 feet from the sight of this atrocity. Why is it that
only certain religions are held accountable for the actions of
their radical members? I question whether the construction
of a Christian church in the same location would fall victim
to the same unfair public criticism. This seems ironic; Daisy
Kahn, executive director of the Muslim center, pointed out,
“10% of the victims were Muslim.” Is this site less sacred
to these victims? The right to construct a place of worship
is an inalienable right granted to all Americans under the
Constitution. Furthermore, I believe that it would represent
a positive symbol of tolerance, a bridge built between the
Muslim world and the United States. Allowing the mosque
to be built would disarm Islamic extremists and their message
of violence. To leave a question or comment, email QuePasa at
[email protected].
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ISN’T IT TRUE?
A gentleman is a man who can play the accordion
but doesn’t. -Author Unknown
Halloween Costumes
Olivia Perry
If you’re like me, indecisive and still somewhat of a child at
heart, you are faced with an important question: What am
I going to be for Halloween!? Well, I am here to assist you.
See, it helps being at ASA, with an obscure mindset that is a
common denominator among all of us. We, as in us artists, are
creative by nature, making for the best Halloween assemblies
around. So, what do we need first to figure out our little dilemma? Well,
you first have to come up with a list of themes, characters, and
so on that you know you will commit to. Some examples could
be: a baby seal, grapes, a bag of tortilla chips, and an explosion.
They all sound a little ridiculous, like “Olivia, why are you just
naming random things?” but children, these have all been done
before. With simple household materials and trips to Target,
these and costumes like them are completely possible!
First of all, the baby seal costume, pretty much the best thing
since the classic witch was invented. I admit, it was me who
pulled off this little, adorable idea that my friend
suggested, and it was so easy. In order to look like
the little furry creature, I incorporated seal colors,
white and gray, with a Fruit of the Loom white
shirt, a Target brand white jacket, gray sweatpants
and a furry white hat. I mean really? I know, it sounds
like I just rolled out of bed, but this is where the
creative part comes in. Baby seals are not only cute, but a cause. With a great
global understanding and good, clear sense of
humor, it was easy for me to tell people what I was
exactly, without saying what I was exactly. “Don’t
club me, or I’ll cry...” I wrote on my shirt in black
sharpie. This was a good idea, as confirmed when I
went trick or treating, with the sad faces and extra
candy I got (and yes, I was trick-or-treating at 16.
It’s cool, don’t worry). The moral of the seal story
is with a little bit of creativity, some face paint,
and $30 worth of clothing goes a long way (and it
doesn’t hurt that I still wear this stuff to this date).
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Now for the grapes, tortilla
chips, and explosion. These
are all clever ideas that can be executed
through household items that, surprisingly
enough, are probably in everyone’s house. Now, I
am not exactly sure how Kincaid Rabb, ’12 (grapes), Hannah
Getzen,’09 (tortilla chips) and Angela Lufkin, ’11 (explosion)
constructed their costumes, but I will give you my own take
on them. With the grapes, really, all you need is one color. Purple or
green. Wear a shirt and pants in those colors, monochromatic
here, people. No mix and match or you’ll be mistaken for
Barney. You can go for that, but not in this article. After
you’ve chosen your hue, then get a million balloons in that
color and just stick them to yourself. Go crazy! Just go nuts
until satisfied and grapey! Then there’s the tortilla chips.
This is a fun one, because you can really wear whatever
you went. Then, get a tortilla bag, rip it till its flat
and glue some chips to the inside. Wrap it around
yourself and somehow stick it to your shirt. Add a
sombrero, chili pepper necklace, and you are good!
Last but not least, is the explosion. I advise wearing
all black and then sticking an elaborate sign saying
“BOOM!” or “BAM!” or something like that, and go
“PATCHOOOOOOOOO” randomly throughout the
day, for full effect.
I hope I could help, really I do. But one thing, I want
you little artists to promise: Don’t copy! I used
these as examples, but to get your creative juices
flowing! I don’t want to see seals or grapes or chips or
explosions, but black and white photos or couches or
Holden Caulfield or anything! I want my last year at
ASA to be so epic that I'll hate all Halloweens after,
and its up to YOU! I hope you have a safe holiday
and I can’t wait to see the greatness to come out of
this!
WISE WORDS
“Now that it’s all over, what did you really do
yesterday that’s worth mentioning?” - Coleman Cox
LUCKY STIFF: Drop Dead Funny
By Sara Feeney
Honestly, I really only went to see “Lucky Stiff ” because my
friends were in it. However, during the course of the comedy
I found myself doubling over in laughter too many times
to count. So, if you decided not to see it, your loss. It was
fantastic.
A recap: A plain shoe salesman’s mysterious uncle dies, leaving
him six million dollars, provided he fulfills his uncle’s last
request and takes the body to Monte Carlo for a week. If he
fails the money goes to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn,
so their female representative is trying to catch our hero
deviating from the specific instructions. Unbeknownst to
either, the uncle’s mistress and her brother are also after the
money, which the mistress embezzled from her husband and
must retrieve. And there’s a friendly Italian man who just keeps
popping up...
Complete with bizarre plot twists, hilarious characters, and
entertaining musical numbers, this is musical comedy at its best.
The musical numbers and choreography were very polished
and professional. And of course, it was just plain funny.
All of the actors were wonderful, but I think two deserve
special mention. First is Yinka Shonaike, who played Rita la
Porta, the girlfriend of the dead uncle. The second is the actor
playing the dead body, Colin Bird. Both of them brought a lot
to the play, Yinka with her hilarious attitude and accent and
Colin with his impressive acrobatics.
Congratulations to all of the people who were involved. Their
hard work paid off. On the whole, a great experience.
Calendar
STUGO NEWSPAPER STAFF
Editor-in-Chief : Ben Diego
October 8
October 13
October 15 - 18
October 20
October 22
Café Night
PSAT
Fall Break
Early Release
Faculty Talent Show
October 29
Middle School Social
October 30
HS Dance
Assistant Editor: Nate Nichols
Newspaper Staff: Annelisa Leinbach, Eric Colonna,
Emily Piña, Whitney Bergstrom, Olivia Perry, Katie
Sample, Sara Feeney, Sami Hopkins, Kelly Montoya,
Natalie Klett, & Daniela Wertheimer
- 12 -
Other Contributors: None yet but we’d love to have you!