Assembly Brings Out Wild Side - Bishop O`Connell High School

The Visor
Bishop O’Connell High School
Volume 51 Issue 4
Assembly Brings Out Wild Side
Lulu Moore
Staff Writer
O’Connell! Are you ready to
get “Wild for the Cure?” The Superdance
Assembly on Friday the 13th kicked
off the month-long anticipation of
Superdance 2009. Two years ago we
got our “License to Cure.” Last year,
we “Turned Up the Cure.” This year, on
March 14, we are going “Wild for the
Cure.”
Throughout the assembly,
various videos depicting former
O’Connell alumni along with some
awesome dancing provided lots of
entertainment and laughs, and kept
students entertained.
“The dancing video was
amazing!” said Junior Marley Garner.
Guest speakers included
Rich Mattingly, Danny Bessette, the
O’Donnells, and 10-year-old Allison,
the youngest speaker, who took some
time off from All Saints.
Each one of them shared
their personal observations about the
incredible challenge of living with
Cystic Fibrosis, and how it affects
people’s everyday lives. Musical acts
followed from Juniors Virginia Gates,
Erin Conner, Natalie Pettit, Danny
1
day until
Casino Night
15
days until
SUPERDANCE
28
days until
4th quarter
Brennon, Rose Sieve, and Valerie
Zetts. Their performances got students
clapping along. A thrilling performance
O’Connell’s favorite weather man,
Bob Ryan, hosted the couples’ game,
reformatted this year for best friends.
from Seniors Ricky Tanis, Billy Roche,
Laura Indigaro, John Joe Rother,
Betty Olaya and Ryan Nichols further
inspired students with their dancing
prowess.
In the last student act, Matt
Coit, Zach Tessier, and Steve Haynes
showed the school that they can hold
their own next to the Royalettes.
“We fight because they
fought,” exclaimed Mrs. Jorns, of the
O’Donnell family, who summarized the
purpose of Superdance at the assembly.
The death of Brenda O’Donnell inspired
Maura O’Donnell and Monsignor
James McMurtrie to organize the first
Superdance in 1976. It is important to
remember why O’Connell students have
been dancing for thirty four years.
Cystic Fibrosis affects about
30,000 people across the United
States. The three-million dollars
Bishop O’Connell has raised over the
past thirty-four years has contributed
to research that has changed the life
expectancy for CF patients from the
teens to the thirties.
Rich Mattingly informed
O’Connell of a recently-discovered trial
drug that helps decrease the symptoms
of Cystic Fibrosis, a giant step towards
ultimately finding a cure.
“The week before the dance
will be ‘Superdance Spirit Week,’ loaded
with tons of fun!” said Executive Board
Secretary Margaret Montavon.
If you have any questions about
Superdance, or would like to become
more involved, simply ask at the registration table in the cafeteria.
With Superdance only a mere
14 days away, students around the
school are preparing themselves to go
“Wild for the Cure.” Why is Junior John
Duffy excited about Superdance?
“The free t-shirts.”
What about Senior Yousef
Qumseya?
“Dancing with girls and my
homies!”
and Taylor Hayes-Leak?
“I’m all about the dancing, and finding a cure.”
After Dancing for a Cure, Walk for Hope
Marley Gamer
Staff Writer
Saturday April 4th from 8 am
to 10 am, the Interact Club and Helping
Hands Club are sponsoring the Walk of
Hope, a 5 K walk that will raise much
needed money for the children at the
Good Samaritan Orphanage in Kenya.
Anyone interested in participating is strongly encouraged to join in
the effort. The registration fee for the
walk is $10 a person.
The fundraiser is the first of its
kind and club members are spreading
their enthusiasm and excitement through
flyers posted around the school, as well
as getting the word out to local news
organizations. Christian service hours
for this school year will be awarded to
all participants.
“We want to give the orphans
hope for future dreams and give them a
strong Catholic education,” said sophomore Andrea Portillo.
The Interact Club is also asking for help from any parents willing
to donate their time to help organize
the walk.
The Good Samaritan Orphanage is a Catholic boarding school in
Kenya for children who have lost both
their parents to AIDS.
This has been an important
project at O’Connell for several years,
but the difficult economy has contrib-
uted to a decline in the contributions
needed to feed the children and continue
their education.
The Walk of Hope is designed
to help pay for the school’s 2nd trimester.
Through the donations the children are
able to receive clothing, medical assis-
tance, and food.
The school offers a brighter future for these orphans, not only benefitting them directly, but also the future of
Kenya, as several of the graduates have
gone on to medical school.
What’s Inside:
Learn about senior Molly Courtney’s EMC experience.
Get one writer’s take on the Michael Phelps scandal.
Diet soda: worth the risk?
Visor February 2009
Campus Outlook
Page 2
Behaving Badly, In Spotlight
If you have been watching your
televisions at all in the past month or
so, you have definitely learned of some
interesting stories going on in the world of
sports.
If you watched the Super Bowl,
as most people probably did, you saw
Steelers #92, James Harrison, make an
interception and run all 100 yards of the
field to score a touchdown at the end of
the first half. However, later on in the
game, you also saw him punch a member
of the Cardinals not once but twice,
drawing a personal foul.
The next morning, if you flipped
the news, you probably saw a shocking
photo of Michael Phelps smoking
marijuana from a bong. T
his photo may have given some
people flashbacks to four years ago when
a then 19- year- old Phelps was arrested
for drunk driving. Although the American
hero of last summer has apologized for
his behavior on both counts, it has still
shocked many adults, as well as children
all over the country.
These two public figures, as well
as countless movie stars, athletes, and
musicians, do truly have an impact on
today’s kids.
Reflecting on these bad behaviors
makes many stop and wonder, “Are these
really the type of people that I should be
looking up to?”
But many kids continue to do so.
Some look at these individuals
and think, “Since they are doing it, it must
be okay.”
And that’s the problem; it’s
not. Even though some may not realize
it, people they admire or just see in the
public eye really influence them. Kids
see the success of these figures and are
willing to overlook their bad behavior, and
perhaps even accept it.
But if you take a closer look at
these people, even if they are basically
good, it’s vital that we as teenagers realize
that these behaviors are wrong, despite
how much we may look up to or adore
them. We need to realize that things such
as smoking, drunk driving, or violence
really are not things that we should mimic
or be influenced by in our daily lives. We
need to be able to do what is right, no
matter what.
And though that is hard,
sometimes due to peer pressure, we really
need to be able to overcome it and “be
your own person.”
We as teenagers should take a
hard look at the people we admire, and
think about not only the choices that they
have made, but the choices that we make
as well.
We should realize that some of
the activities they take part in just aren’t
ones we should follow. And because we
are young, we can really change the next
generation and show that wrong behavior
is wrong, regardless of the status of the
perpetrator.
NEWSFLASH: Congress Does Business As Usual
So I knew that I wanted to write
about the stimulus bill, but when I first sat
down to do it, I literally could not think
of a single thing to say about it. Well—
that’s not totally true. I could think of a
thousand non-specific things, but there
was nothing there to tie it all together.
Instead of blaming that on
my own lack of clarity or purpose in
thought, I decided to blame it on the
bill itself. The current bill—which has
already passed through the House and the
Senate—encompasses a little less than
1600 pages. Mind you, that’s 1600 pages
of legal-speak (“language”) so confusing
that Nancy Pelosi can’t even describe
it. And, as we all know, interpretation is
everything.
Anyhoo, to say that the 1600
page “Stimulus” Bill is “pork-free” is a
little preposterous, even though President
Obama claims this is the case. That’s
probably because the earmark-free
porkulus bill is an earmark itself. You
can’t earmark an earmark, can you? No,
you can’t say that the bill is pork-free- not
when Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY)
said this: “And let me say this to all of the
chattering class that so much focuses on
those little, tiny, yes, porky amendments;
the American people really don’t care.”
Gee, the American people don’t
care, do they? In the wise words of Amy
Poehler: “Really? Really, Chuck Schumer,
really?”
Let’s put this into perspective,
shall we? Okay, say a guy comes up to
you. You’re standing in the middle of the
street—God knows why—and you’ve got
your wallet hanging out there. Say you
have a lot of money in that wallet. Say,
$787 billion.
So the guy takes your wallet and
your money and does the following: He
gives some of that money to a guy down
the street who lost his job, and then he
gives some to himself for having to travel
down the street to give money to the
guy who lost his job. Also, there is this
business in town that isn’t doing so well,
so he’s going to give a huge chunk of
your money to the CEOs of that company.
Simultaneously, he’s going to demand
that the workers at that CEO’s company
be paid more, forcing the CEO to lay off
more workers. Then the guy will take
more of your money and give it to the
workers who were subsequently laid off.
You following me here?
Next, the CEOs of that company
that’s now running on your money will
buy expensive jets and throw week-long
parties at the House of Blues in Chicago
featuring stars like Sheryl Crow and the
band Chicago. That will cost a couple of
million dollars of your own money, but
don’t worry—you’re not invited to these
parties.
Spotlight On:
Alejandra Buitrago
Staff Writer
Molly Courtney, a 17- yearold senior, has an unconventional after
-school activity. She’s an Emergency
Medical Technician (EMT). While many
teenagers spend their weekends hanging
out with friends, Molly, whenever needed,
finds herself dealing with emergencies and
critical situations.
Q: How and when did becoming an
EMT “spark” your interest?
A: Well, it was at the end of sophomore
year; and I’d always wanted to get into the
medical field so I thought that becoming
an EMT would really open that up for me.
Right now I’m in fire school, so I’m not
yet as experienced in firefighting.
Finally, the guy hands you
back your wallet and says the following:
“Because I am so generous, and because
you really really need a hand, I’m going
to give you $400 right now, $800 if you’re
married, and then I’m going to give you
$13 a week until next year, when I will
give you $8 a week. I’m going to call this
a ‘benefit.’”
Newsflash: When someone steals
your wallet and then gives you back a
little bit of your money, I don’t call that
a benefit. I call that stealing most of your
money.
This is what’s happening, people.
Wake up. The government claims to be
transparent. They claim it’s not “politics
as usual,” but we know. We’re better than
that.
It’s time to take a stand. To
remind the government that it works for
us—not the other way around. We can’t sit
here and let Congress say one thing and
do another: Hassle the CEOs for making
so much money and then demand to get
paid more themselves (they just got a
$4,000 pay increase—bringing them to
$169, 300 a year—and they will receive
another increase this year without any
legislation to block it).
Tell Obama he can keep the
change. We don’t want it.
The Visor
Bishop O’Connell High School
6600 Little Falls Road
Arlington, VA
Published monthly, the student
newspaper of Bishop Denis J. O’Connell
High School is a public forum with
its student editorial board making all
decisions about its content, under the
guidance of its faculty advisor.
Opinions in the paper are not
necessarily those of the staff, nor should
any opinion expressed in this public
forum be construed as the opinion or
the policy of Bishop O’Connell High
School, unless so attributed.
Editors-In-Chief
Moey Fox
Taylor Brogan
Editorials
Sports
Taylor Brogan
Mark Moran
Moey Fox
Minh Vuong
Entertainment
Campus News
Graphics
Jeremy Azuran
Spread
Style
Taylor Brogan
Katie Grady
Moey Fox
Caroline Monek
Jamitress Bowden
Staff Writers:
Mark Azar, Tyler Bergeron, Kathleen
Bettencourt, Jamitress Bowden, Maria
Buitrago, Christy Buranaamorn, David
Castro, Natalie Cocozza, Marley Garner,
Maggie Goetzman, Joanna Harkins, Daniel Herbert, Grace Hollis, Alexis Johnson,
Clair Jones, Matthew Kelley, Maggie
Luning, Sandra Malone, Hayley Milon,
Lulu Moore, Caitlin Patterson, Rachel
Potts, Amy Shepard, Kara Sims, Devon
Spencer
Faculty Moderator
Dan Culler
Molly Courtney
Q: Where do you volunteer?
A: I volunteer at Ashburn Volunteer Fire –
Rescue. Mostly I run calls on the ambulance or I respond to the fire engine alert.
Q: Have you ever been in the position to
save somebody’s life?
A: It’s definitely a team effort; I can’t
really say that I was personally in charge,
though.
Q: Have you ever been legitimately
scared when putting out a fire?
A: No, not really. When you’re on a call,
you’re anxious; but in a good way. I’ve
put out small fires, but not a real house
fire yet.
Q: Which of the two do you see yourself
pursuing? firefighting or medicine?
A: I am interested in emergency medicine
because I want to be a flight nurse on a
MedEvac [Medical Evacuation] copter.
Q: How time-consuming is it?
A: It’s basically a full time job; it’s at least
30 hours a week.
Q: What words of encouragement do
you have for your fellow students who
may be interested in these career paths?
A: For those interested in being a firefighter or EMT, you really have to have a
passion for helping others and you have to
be confident; it doesn’t really help going
into a fire scared.
Molly Courtney, Senior, shows
off her super-cool firefighting
skills.
Visor February 2009
Campus News
Page 3
Service Savvy Keyettes Do Their Part
Sandra Malone
Staff Writer
The Bishop O’Connell Keyettes
are a service organization dedicated to
serving the school and the community.
Under the guidance of Mrs. Susan Graif
and Mrs. Susan Koranek, the Keyettes
assist at various school events such as
Open House, Opera Night, and Parent
Conferences.
The most enjoyable part about
being a moderator, according to Mrs.
Koranek is that, “It’s a good way for
great students to connect with other
people outside of the classroom.”
Both Mrs. Koranek and Mrs.
Graif contribute countless hours to
Keyettes, in addition to their teaching
duties.
Not many people realize how
much the DJO Keyettes actually do for
our school.
During their lunch periods, many
Keyettes complete tasks in school offices,
such as the Advancement Office and
Guidance Office. If you’ve noticed any
of the ubiquitous, All-night Grad Party
posters throughout the school, you may
also know that the Keyettes created them.
Other recent Keyette projects
include volunteering to help at the Foreign
Language Honor Society Induction,
Admitted Students Night, National
Honor Society Induction, Festival of the
Arts, and the Band Concert and Chorus
Concert.
Not only do the Keyettes
dedicate their time during and outside of
school, they enjoy every minute of it.
“Keyettes allow us to serve our
community and have fun with our friends
at the same time,” observed Junior and
Keyette Joanna Harkins.
Joanna participated in Opera
Night, assists in the Advancement and
Guidance Offices, and has created colorful
and informative posters for the All-night
Grad Party. The
Keyettes also aided in the Diocesan
Institute, supporting the Catholic School
Community.
Many Keyettes are also
independently active in their
communities. Junior Christy
Buranaamorn volunteers at INOVA
Fairfax Hospital.
Junior Keyette Marley Garner,
who also does hospital work, added
“Volunteer work makes a strong
impression that other people need help;
it makes it easier to think outside of
myself.”
Marley volunteers at INOVA
Alexandria Hospital as a candy striper.
She has been working there for 3 years
now, and reports for work every Saturday.
Such sacrifice of personal time
shows the true character and selflessness
of the Bishop O’Connell Keyettes.
The Keyettes accept new
members each year, so any girl interested
should attend the annual meeting in
the spring and sign up. Keyettes is an
excellent opportunity for those who wish
to grow in their faith and serve their
school.
Pro-Life Assembly Presents the
“Real Deal” vs. the “Imitation”
Natalie Cocozza
Staff Writer
Fashion is the New Club
Christy Buranaamorn
Staff Writer
The Fashion &Design Club
For the first time ever, Bishop
O’Connell has its own Fashion and
Design Club. There are two main goals of
this club: First, to create a forum for ideas
involving different styles and fashions.
Everyone has their own personal style that
makes them unique. And the Fashion and
Design Club will offers a forum for all
types of people with various cultures and
personalities to come together and express
their views on today’s fashion.
The second, and more important,
is to have fun! The Fashion and Design
Club officers and moderator have created
a lively and enjoyable atmosphere which
welcomes everyone and encourages
all its members to share their special
perspectives.
The club discusses topics
about the fashion world, as well as the
fundamentals of interior design. Not only
can a person create art through clothing
choices, but also through the choices that
create the atmosphere of a room.
The Fashion and Design Club
meets monthly and sponsors many
activities. One of the most recent
involved the art of tie-dying, a thoroughly
enjoyable experience for all who
participated.
The Fashion and Design Club is
showcasing Bishop O’Connell’s very first
Spring Fashion Show. The theme of the
show is Prom 2009. Local stores such as
Forever 21, Jessica McClintock, Caché,
and Leila Rowe will be loaning their
evening wear and stylish accessories for
this event. The Spring Fashion Show will
be open house and will be a part of the
upcoming Festival of the Art which will
be held Saturday, April 25, 2009.
When asked about why she started the
Fashion and Design Club, the sponsor
of the show Ms. Zitron said, “A lot of
students have approached me about how
you can get more involved with fashion
and design, and I wanted to create a group
that could come together with others with
a common interest to pursue fashion and
interior design after high school as well as
get experience here through activities such
as the fashion show.”
This year’s Spring Fashion
Show will be a huge event, therefore it
is essential for all DJO students to get
involved. This show is in need of students
both front and behind the scenes such
as models, lighting, and music. Ask Ms.
Zitron if you want to participate in the
Spring Fashion Show.
The Bishop O’Connell student
body filed into the auditorium on January
21, expecting a slide show as in previous
years depicting what an actual abortion
entails, and were instead greeted by a
pretty frank discussion about sex. This
got the attention of the students fast. The
speaker, Chris Stefanick spoke about
real love verses imitation love and all the
frightening things
the media does not
reveal about STD’s.
“He did a
great job discussing
a touchy subject,”
observed Father
Hudgins.
So who
is Chris Stefanick,
other than the father
of five kids? He
is a speaker in a
group formed by
Karl Keating called
Catholic Answers.
Keating formed
Catholic Answers
in 1979 after having
a stroke of insight
when he found an
erroneous flier about
the Catholic Church
on his car. He decided that he needed to
create a group that would help give people
the right answers about the Church and
its beliefs. He wrote many informative
articles and also answered people’s
submitted questions regarding the Church.
The group also sponsors a magazine,
called The Rock, that has been published
since 1990.
“Catholic Answers” is also
connected with an organization that is
familiar to O’Connell students: The Pure
Love Club. It is based in San Diego,
California, and was created by Jason
Evert, who has spoken to O’Connell
in previous years. He has written nine
books, including popular titles such as If
You Really Loved Me and Pure Love.
Senior Katie Gargulio is the one
to see with questions about The Pure Love
Club. She has been a part of it since the
eighth grade when she started going to
meetings with her senior brother Joe and
his girlfriend.
Katie
defined the Pure
Love Club as a
group of people
that encourages
its members “to
hold ourselves
accountable for
saving sex until
marriage, to
protect our hearts
and minds…not
only preventing
missteps
but always
strengthening
the current
relationships we
have with others
by keeping our
Lord, Jesus Christ,
at the center of all
of our relationships.”
When asked how Katie felt
about Chris’s talk she exclaimed, “He
was awesome, even if his microphone
was a little bit too loud! I honestly think
what he had to say got through to a lot
of people. Although it was a Pro-Life
assembly he really drew the parallel
between protecting the unborn and having
healthy relationships to prevent unwanted
pregnancies; because the bottom line is
that if everyone were to save sex for a just
and ordained marriage, there would be a
lot fewer abortions in this world.”
Visor February 2009
Campus News
Page 4
Godspell Cast Casts Spell on Audience
Devon Spencer
Staff Writer
Moey Fox
Editor-In-Chief
This winter, DJO Drama
decided to take on another musical,
Godspell. Performed on the weekend of
February 20-22, it was unlike any other
DJO productions in recent memory.
This musical was composed of
a much smaller cast of 25, with senior
Carlo Williams playing the white tuxedoclad Jesus and senior Matt Brady playing
the darkly dressed Judas/John the Baptist.
The smaller cast allowed each
member of the drama department to
showcase their musical and dramatic
skills.
Other than Williams and Brady,
the other actors sang under their own
names and were all dressed in red.
They acted out the parables and various
stories of the Bible in a less conventional
and expected way. In addition, the
cast involved the audience on several
occasions.
the stage as an endearing flirt. In her
rendition of “Turn Back Oh Man,” she
Junior Catherine Callahan’s
performance of “Day by Day,” one of
highlighted the performers and unified the
musical numbers.
As the second act came to an
end, culminating in Jesus’ crucifixion
and resurrection, there were few dry eyes
in the audience. Williams’ and Brady’s
convincing performances permeated the
auditorium. Their portrayal of one of the
most important stories in the Catholic
faith moved everyone who saw it—they
literally brought it to life.
glided through the audience, surprising
some of the audience as she danced and
sang her way up and down the aisles.
Senior Katlyn Clinton lit up
the most famous Godspell songs, was
powerful and moving. Senior Maddie
Arthur’s wonderful singing voice was
another high point in the show. Senior
Margaret Montavon’s choreography
Even though Godspell was
prepared in a shorter amount of time
than usual, the dancing and singing was
extremely well-orchestrated. Although the
props and stage were fairly minimal, the
tall scaffolding on which the actors stood
and danced added to the dynamic of the
performance. The projector screen on the
back of the stage showed biblical images
which inspired the overall mood of the
musical. The scaffolding and projector
ironically provided a very professional
feel to the performance.
In a time when all too many
seem to forget their faith, Godspell was
the perfect reminder that Jesus is always
there for us.
Classmates Welcome French Exchange Students
Sandra Malone
Staff Writer
For the past week, twelve students
from the Jean XIII school in France have
been staying with generous O’Connell
families and accompanying students to
school. They came to America not only
to improve their English, but also to learn
about American culture.
Bishop O’Connell has done this
exchange with the Jean XIII school for
three years now, with alternating hosts.
Last year American students stayed with
French families for a week, only about an
hour distant from Paris.
French students have good reason
to be curious about the American school
system. High school in France is much
different from high school in America.
French “lycéens” (high-schoolers), are
divided into three grades, not four.
In their final year, they are divided
into three sections: literature, economics,
and science, depending on which career
field they wish to pursue (like a major).
This decides the classes they take their final
year. At the end of their third year, French
students must take the BAC, a rigorous
and intimidating exam which basically
determines the course of their lives.
Also, the everyday schooling and
grading systems are significantly different.
While Americans are graded on a scale of
100, French students are graded on a scale
of one to twenty.
Those students who receive 17-20
are considered exceptional and those who
receive anything above the average 10 are
considered good. French students go to
school from 8 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., have an
hour and a half to eat lunch, have a fifteenminute break, do not change classrooms,
and do not have every class every day.
They are required to take two languages
(not just one) and enjoy less than an hour
of homework a night.
The French students visiting
O’Connell enjoyed a rich itinerary,
including trips to Washington D.C., New
York City, a Mardi Gras party, and various
other excursions prepared by their hosts.
They were very pleased with the welcoming
attitude and general warmth of the teachers
and students.
Victoire Huyghues Despointes,
hosted by Jamitress Bowden, commented,
“All the people have been very kind. I have
liked everything about O’Connell.”
One French student, Tiphanie
Fornage, serves as an example of
how American and French youth are
not completely different. She enjoys
photography and shopping at Hollister,
Abercrombie & Fitch, and Tiffany &Co.
Her favorite subject is English
and she loves Starbucks, rap music, and
parties. She wants to have a career either
in communications or publicity and will go
into the economic section next year (she is
in her second year).
Although these students came to
learn about our culture and way of life, they
have left us with something too. They have
made it evident that, despite cultural and
language boundaries, it is entirely possible
for people from diverse backgrounds and
cultures separate backgrounds to come
together and become close friends.
Even though Tiphanie and
Victoire may speak French and go to a
different school, they are still similar to
their American counterparts.
This serves as an important lesson
that its our humanity that binds us: not our
ethnicities, languages or cultures.
Visor February 2009
Health
Page 5
Good Nutrition Starts Now
Cait Patterson
Staff Writer
Being nutrition-conscious is
always good, but is often difficult to follow
its demands. A teenager has even more of a
struggle. But having good nutrition habits
as a teenager improves an individual’s
chance of becoming a healthier adult. Of
course, eating “junk food” every once in
a while will not determine if a person has
excellent or horrific nutrition, but having
unhealthy habits is something that will
affect an individual later in life.
Energy drinks, such as Red Bull,
Monster, etc., can stimulate instant energy,
but they can also bring great harm to the
body. Drinks like these contain high
amounts of caffeine, the equivalent to
drinking about 4 cokes, which has shown to
improve endurance in some areas, but has
also contributed to increased or abnormal
heart rate, increased blood pressure,
lightheadedness, anxiety, and jitters. The
WCAC strongly discourages athletes from
consuming energy drinks. On page 52 the
accident and first aid section of the school
hand book states that energy drinks are not
The Scary Truth
About Diet Soda
Sandra Malone
Staff Writer
Millions of people today pat
themselves on the back with the complacent
statement of, “I’m healthy. I drink diet
soda.” Diet soda, while it may not contain
calories, does contain a dangerous
chemical sweetener called aspartame.
Aspartame has been blamed for hundreds
of illnesses, including arthritis, birth
defects, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, lupus,
multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. With all
these health risks, why would someone put
something so toxic into their body in the
first place?
Aspartame was invented by
a chemist named G.D. Searle in 1973.
Searle decided that an ingredient that
allowed people to drink mass quantities
of soda without gaining weight could be a
goldmine. When it was first introduced to
the FDA, it was denied, and subsequently
denied seven more times. Although many
FDA scientists declared Searle’s testing
methods inconclusive and manipulated,
aspartame was finally approved for use in
dried goods in 1974.
In 1977, the FDA filed a
lawsuit against Searle for knowingly
misrepresenting and concealing facts
about aspartame in safety tests. However,
Searle was never prosecuted because the
leading attorney in the suit against him
was offered a high-paying job by the law
firm representing Searle, causing him to
resign as a U.S. attorney and withdraw
from the case. He accepted the job with
Searle’s firm and all investigations were
dropped. Further circumstances presented
themselves in 1980, when the Public Board
of Inquiry determined that aspartame
should be approved. Arthur Hull Hayes,
the FDA commissioner, approved it for
beverages in 1983 (despite the fact that
the National Soft Drink Administration
urged the FDA to delay the approval until
further testing were done.) The same year,
Hayes was dismissed for accepting bribes,
and went to join Searle’s law firm. After
this, the FDA decided to prosecute Searle,
but the two leading attorneys in the case
decided not to prosecute and went to
join Searle’s firm. Thus, aspartame was
legalized through false laboratory reports
and bribed attorneys.
Aspartame is dangerous because
it contains methyl alcohol. When methyl
alcohol enters a person’s body, it becomes
formaldehyde, a toxic and carcinogenic
chemical that is used in laboratories as
a disinfectant or a preservative. It is not
intended to be ingested into a person’s
body. This could explain the ninety-two
side effects associated with aspartame
consumption.
This information should not be
taken the wrong way. Because aspartame
is about 180 times sweeter than sugar,
very little of it is used in diet sodas (which
explains why diet soda has no calories).
Thus, a person will not develop lupus
disease from drinking one diet coke.
However, if aspartame is consumed over a
long period of time, it can pose a threat to a
person’s health.
It is also understood that some
people, such as diabetics, cannot drink
regular soda because of the high sugar
content. But regular soda is not healthy
either. A two-liter bottle of regular coke
contains 216 grams of sugar! Thus, one
should consider more natural options such
as fruit juice. Of course, the best thing to
drink is water.
permitted on school property and will be
confiscated by faculty and/ or staff if they
are found.
Sports drinks are a much better
choice, because they replace the electrolytes
lost in sweat and provide the appropriate
“carbs” to fuel working muscles. Other
ways to obtain more energy are to hydrate
continuously and use sports drinks before,
during, and after workouts; to eat every 2-4
hours by having three meals and two-three
snacks a day, and also to get eight hours of
sleep every night.
Mrs. Majoreck, Chef Garth and
the cafeteria staff have been working hard
to supply O’Connell students with their
nutritional needs. They sell more salads,
made fresh daily, that come in either a
small or larger size. Chef Garth also makes
all meals from scratch every day. The
cafeteria always offers 1% milk, vitamin
water, Snapple, and Arizona Tea which
provide healthier choices than soda. A milk
vending machine will soon be installed to
provide dairy products such as smoothies
and milkshakes.
Mrs.
Majoreck
encourages
students to read the advertisements in the
cafeteria. The system “Color Your Plate
Healthy” displays the menu for the week
and also shows the nutritional value of
each item with color-coded diagrams. This
technique is used to make students more
aware of the nutritional value of an entrée.
Another good habit is staying
active. Adolescents are encouraged to
exercise for 30-60 minutes a day. Mr.
Tilson’s advice for fulfilling that hour of
activity is to “find something you like.”
With spring sports try-outs on the horizon,
there is always a way to stay active. Most
communities offer sports leagues as well.
Nutrition is very important to
help secure one’s health in later years.
Small changes can improve an individual’s
nutrition, such as taking smaller portion
sizes or exercising more frequently. The
nutritional choices a person makes now
will have an effect on his/her future; and
honestly: who really wants to be known as
the “fat” one at their high school reunion?
Tea vs. Coffee
Which Do You Prefer?
Marley Gamer
Staff Writer
In the early morning hours as
everyone grudgingly gets ready for school,
they probably grab an “on-the-go” cup of
either coffee or tea.
The tow favorites are easy and
instant energizers after a long night of
homework. The choice of which of the two
works best can be a dilemma.
Sugary and sweet or light and
herby? Either comes in a variety of flavors,
to suit every taste imagineable.
Tea is refreshing, and possesses
soothing properties. When preparing for an
exam it can calm nerves.
Because it contains fluorine, it
also provides a little dental care so by
choosing tea you can perform a somewhat
abbreviated version of brushing before you
fly out the door.
In addition, the abundance of
anti-oxidants in tea help fight off attacks
on the immune system.
“Tea tastes lighter and is really
good for you, especially with the antioxidants. Plus it tastes delicious!” said
junior Lulu Moore.
Whip cream, caramel, chocolate
syrup…Is your mouth watering yet?
The options are endless, according
to junior Matt Allen.
“I like coffee because there are
a million different ways to prepare it. In
tea you can only add so many different
ingredients to customize it. And besides:
coffee really wakes me up better.”
The toppings have helped make
coffee one of the most popular drinks in
the world.
And besides its popularity, coffee
also boasts a few health benefits, as studies
have shown that it can relieve some of the
symptoms of Parkinson’s disease as well as
Alzheimer’s.
Visor February 2009
Sports
Page 6
Girls’ Basketball: Rising to the Top!
Mark Azar
Staff Writer
O’Connell
Varsity
Boys
Basketball has always enjoyed a high profile
throughout the country, which occasionally
makes it harder for other sports to shine.
This year, another O’Connell team that is
sometimes overshadowed has managed to
capture the attention of many, due to its
great success. The Varsity Girls Basketball
team has displayed its excellence and
competitiveness by posting a 15-13 record
in a highly competitive conference.
Led by Head Coach Jimmy Brown,
the credit for the team’s success depends
on every single person, from the players
to the assistants and even the managers.
This year’s squad depends upon Seniors
Kelly Horvath, Meg Lagos, Kate Culhane,
and Mieke Coppes; Juniors Sarah Jones,
Shannon Tumelty, Colleen Bannigan, and
Erin McDonough; Sophomore Meghan
Gadell; and Freshman Nicole Carty.
When asked what he thinks of
this year’s team, Coach Brown observes,
“They’re a great group, the best group of
girls I’ve ever had. I’m very proud of them
and it’s good to see them finally succeed.
You know, we’ve had some rough years
but loyalty has been very important.”
After having their fair share
of struggles over the past years, one of
the main themes this year has been that
“Things Change” from one year to another;
their philosophy has always been to create
a mindset that will help them achieve
victory.
This year’s team has posted some
big victories as they went on to defeat
Bishop Ireton twice, as well as earning
victories over St. Mary’s Ryken, Flint Hill,
and Trinity. One might ask what makes
The 2008-2009 Varsity Lady Knights Led by the Browns
this team different from previous years?
The team has been starting 5 guards, which
opens up the whole floor since everyone
can shoot from the outside. This means that
the opposing team’s Center and the Power
Forward have to come out and chase them
around the perimeter, thus opening up the
driving lanes.
The commitment to excellence
on the team has also been great this season
as only one girl has missed practice all
year. This shows the girls’ dedication to
winning and to their teammates. The
results are obvious in their high level of
play. Experience has also played a big
role this season as 5 players have been
on the Varsity team for the past 3 years,
and already faced the big name schools.
Playing them is nothing more than routine
now.
One of the team’s biggest strength
has been its ability to shoot the three ball.
O’Connell is leading the entire area in
three pointers currently at 192. They rely
so heavily on their outside shooting that
they call them the “Bolts of Lightning,”
and as long as they make around 11 threes
a game they believe they can compete with
anyone in the country.
The WCAC has always been a
competitive league, described by Coach
Brown as the “best high school league in
the country, hands down.” This team has
been able to achieve many milestones along
the course of the season, including a league
all-time record with 13 three pointers made
against Ryken.
“It is really all about making shots
with this team; and as long as they do then
they’re very hard to beat.”
Though it is easy to become
distracted by success, it is more important
to finish the season strong, as the final
games of the season are all conference
games. It is important to keep getting
better. Expectations are high for this season
as Coach Brown and the girls expect to
reach lofty goals. The State Championship
as well as the WCAC Championship are
both on their “to do” list as they plan to
maneuver their way to victory. The Lady
Knights have shown they are a force to be
reckoned with by challenging the mighty
Holy Cross team and forcing a tough game.
Unfortunately they lost by 8.
Individual efforts have also played
a large factor as each player has her own role
and contributes to the team in a different
way. Meg Lagos is an assassin from beyond
the arch, as evidenced by her team-leading
52 threes. Sarah Jones is the leading scorer
at 14 points per game, Shannon Tumelty is
the team’s best defender, and Kate Culhane
is considered “the facilitator and the person
that brings everyone on the floor together,”
as described by Coach Brown. Individual
success has also been rewarded as Kelly
Horvath was recently named the Z-Burger
player of the week by DC Sports Fan.
Coach Brown has been very
pleased with the team, and after Monday’s
practice he praised and stressed the fact
that every one of the girls stayed for 20
minutes after practice just talking and
shooting around in the gym. The players
are good friends as well as teammates and
enjoy each other’s company on and off
the court, which helps them to play well
together. This team is a great example
of how the little things make a difference
and practice truly does make perfect. This
team overcame many struggles and Lady
Knights’ fans are excited to see them
succeed as they cruise toward the WCAC
playoffs, hoping to raise the trophy at the
end of the tournament.
ESPN Shines National Spotlight on Boys
Basketball Program and Fans
Haley Milon
Staff Writer
O’Connell
gained
national
exposure on February 17th, when the
Kight’s men were handed a tough loss, 6553, by the DeMatha Stags in a game aired
on ESPNU.
O’Connell led throughout the
first quarter, but this was unfortunately
not televised because the earlier game ran
late.
“DeMatha is a really good team,”
said senior Devin Cole. “There were a lot
of things that we had to be aware of.”
The guys play with a really fast
tempo,” said head coach Joe Wooten. “We
are constantly moving, and at any given
point the guys are each doing something
productive.”
This tactic was shown throughout
the course of the game. When a player
wasn’t looking for a drive to the hoop, he
was looking for an opportunity to work
the ball to the outside. The Stags sensed
the Knights’ intention of moving the ball
to the hoop from the first tip, and reacted
by putting a lot of pressure on the Knights’
offense.
The usual stand-out players were
counted on to make an impact with good
shots. Kendall Marshall notched 14 points,
causing the fans to burst into their “U N
C” cheer. ESPN commentators discussed
Marshall throughout the game, as Marshall
Photos By Sarah Wilbur
happens to be the youngest recruit in UNC
Basketball history.
But Deatha was quick to the
boards and sent several defensive rebounds
down the court quickly with their fast break
game. The Knights did all they could to get
back and set up their tight man defense.
Cole was always quick to get back, and
he blocked several lay-up attempts by the
Stags.
The fight over rebounds was
physical, intense, and very exciting for the
fans.
“We knew the Stags wanted to
win,” said Marshall; “but we played with a
lot of energy and determination.”
Regardless of the final score,
O’Connell put on a fabulous display on
and off the court for the fortunate ESPN
U viewers. The student section took up an
entire side of the gym, filling it with cheers
led by the seniors, who had painted their
faces and arms white.
It was also senior night for the
basketball team, the cheerleading squad,
and the pep band. Devin Cole, David
Eismeier and Jordan Burgess were honored
for their years of commitment just before
tip-off.
The entire O’Connell community
was obviously proud of the team’s effort
on national television, as evidenced by
their enthusiastic support throughout the
tight contest.
Visor February 2009
Sports
Page 7
O’Connells’ Champions
Maggie Luning
Staff Writer
The best word to describe
O’Connell’s boy’s wrestling team this
year is simply one word: Champions.
On January 31st, at Bishop Ireton High
School, the team achieved ed one of their
biggest goals this season, as well as many
previous ones: winning the WCACs,
emerging on top of eight other conference
high schools, including Paul VI, Good
Counsel, and McNamara. O’Connell not
only attained the prestigious title, but by
4.5 points ended DeMatha’s sequence of
twenty-three straight WCAC titles. The
team not only achieved the title, but also
won every one of their sixteen individual
matches. The team placed first in both the
St. Stephen’s Invitational Tournament and
in the Sterling Lions’ Club Invitational
Tournament. This season was also made very
special with the retirement of an admired
coach, Coach Carpenter, after twenty-nine
years of coaching wrestling at O’Connell. Senior Nam Dunbar commented
on the season as a whole, “I’m really
proud of the whole team, being able to
work together and come out with a tremendous season.”
The team also boasted eleven
starting senior wrestlers. Senior Jonathan
Carpenter commented, “The fact that we
won the WCACs, and ended DeMatha’s
streak is awesome; but that we being able
to do it with ten fellow seniors made the
experience a rare and special time for us
all.” The team concluded Coach Carpenter’s stellar career with a prestigious 10th
place finish at the National Prep Championship Tournament on February 20th and
21st at Lehigh University in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania.
Coach Carpenter’s final season with Oconnell’s Wrestlers
Coach Carpenter Retiring After 28 Years
Alexis Johnson
Staff Writer
Bill Carpenter, respected and beloved by all O’Connell’s faithful, has announced his retirement after 28 years as
head coach of O’Connell’s varsity wrestling team. He also shared his great abilities and enthusiasm on the football field
as an assistant coach for 22 years; but the
wrestling has always held a special place in
Coach Carpenter’s heart.
As a freshman and sophomore
biology teacher, his teaching and guidance
skills easily transferred to his coaching
success. His basic philosophy?
“Every kid has different motivations. They work differently; every kid has
his own formula for success. Some kids do
well when you yell; it drives them to do
better. But others don’t like the yelling ap-
proach. You have to know your kids, and
tailor what you say and how you teach to
their style.”
His favorite part of coaching is
the relationships he’s built with the kids
over the years, the opportunity to make
those connections through his work. After
28 years, he recalls countless good memories, and unforgettable times. Throughout
everything, the losses and challenges as
well as the victories and accolades, he expresses no regrets.
His current favorite moment, not
surprisingly, is the most recent: the WCAC
tournament victory over rival DeMatha.
After years of challenging competition,
often coming up “just short,” O’Connell
finally defeated the talent-laden DeMatha
squad.
Coach Carpenter observes, “After
losing so many times, beating our longtime rival was the best thing I could’ve
asked for.”
He said that preparing for the
WCAC was the same as preparing for any
match. They squad had to work very hard,
and give it their best shot.
“That’s all you can do, added
Carpenter.
With this championship newly in
hand, many wonder why Coach Carpenter
has chosen this time to step down.
“I’m not retiring all together, I’ll
always love wrestling but I think it’s time
for someone else to fill the position that
I’ve held for all these years. There are a
lot of things I want to do, things I didn’t
have time for because of my commitment
to caching.”
Mr. Carpenter says he’ll use this
newfound time to pursue another interest:
traveling.
After 28 years as one of
O’Connell’s finest coaches, Coach Carpenter says. “I appreciate the e-mails from
people, saying nothing but good things. I’ll
miss coaching, but I’ll still do whatever I
can to help the program.”
Mr. Carpenter will be greatly
missed; his contributions to O’Connell
sports will never be forgotten. But if his
athletes feel they miss him too much, they
can always find him at the end of the miscellaneous hallway, teaching those lucky
enough to have his and experience and expertise as their biology instructor.
Mr. Carpenter’s final words on his
retirement? “Always go out on top.”
DC Sports Fan “Player of the Week”
Kathleen Bettencourt
Staff Writer
Kelly Horvath has been on the
varsity girl’s basketball team since her
sophomore year and now serves as one of
the leading seniors on the team. This 5’5”
power-house point guard has helped lead
the team to its many victories so far this
season. DC Sports Fan recently named
her “Player of the Week” for the week of
1/25/09- 2/1/09. In that week she scored
71 points, had 38 rebounds, and logged
13 assists. She had an especially outstanding performance in the team’s victory over
Archbishop Carroll, where she scored 27
points, had 13 rebounds, and provided 5
assists.
Horvath has been playing basketball for about ten years. Off the court,
she is extremely modest about her athletic
performance; she’s not one to brag about
herself or her accomplishments.
After hearing that DC Sports Fan
named her “Player of the Week,” she responded, “I was shocked; I wasn’t expecting to win an award like that. But I owe
Kelly Horvath directs the offense from the court.
it all to my teammates because I couldn’t
have received the award without their
help.”
Her excellent attitude and good
sportsmanship make her an even stronger
player and team leader. Her teammates are
united in their praise of her, on and off the
court.
Junior teammate Shannon Tumelty commented, “Kelly or as we call her,
Boulder, is a great team leader and she relates really well to all of our teammates.”
Another junior on the team, Sarah Jones, added, “Kelly is my inspiration,
she’s awesome!”
Horvath’s life doesn’t just revolve
around basketball. She is a very charismatic and active member of O’Connell’s
student body, serving as President of the
Spirit Club, winning the Senior Superlative for “Most School Spirited,” and also
playing on the varsity girl’s lacrosse team.
She can always be found at other sports’
events, decked out in O’Connell colors,
face painted, and cheering on her fellow
Knights. Even though sports occupy a lot
of her time she is still able to tackle three
AP classes and balance her active social
life.
When asked if she would like
to continue playing basketball in college,
she replied, “Definitely; but I’m not sure
if I want to try out for the varsity team or
play club. I don’t want to give the sport
up.” Kelly plans to attend the University
of Colorado in Boulder starting in the fall
of 2009.
Visor February 2009
Style
Thrify Spending
Page 8
A Unique Shopping Experience; A One of a Kind Store
Caroline Monek
Style Editor
Katie Grady
Style Editor
Finding stylish and reasonably priced clothes can be
difficult and frustrating. With
many people finding themselves running low on cash,
shopping trips that used to
be fun and carefree have become stressful. For those who
can relate to this aggravation,
thrift store shopping may be
the answer to what you’re
looking for. Not only do thrift
stores carry merchandise at
extremely low prices, but can
also boast designer brands and
high fashion products.
For fashionistas who
like to have their own individual style, Unique could be just
the right store for you. Located
a mere ten to fifteen minutes
from O’Connell, Unique is a
convenient and one-of-a-kind
place to shop. Unique is the
largest thrift store in the area,
containing over thirty two aisles
of donated clothing, shoes, appliances, and much more. Another advantage to shopping
at Unique is the weekly price
reductions on all merchandise
found in the store. Each Monday, everything in the entire
store is marked down, with a
25% discount!
Some people may not
have the eye or time for thrift
stores, and will only shop there
for particular occasions, such
as Spirit Week. Unique is definitely the perfect spot to find a
crazy and festive wacky-tacky
day outfit. Unique offers various outfits embellished with
bright colors and distinctive
and memorable designs.
The store is open Monday through Saturday from
10am to 8pm, and on Sundays
from 11am to 6pm. Go check
out this up and coming place
and find yourself an awesome
outfit for a cheap price!
Brand Names
Found at Unique:
Unique is a growing chain of stores that offers donated
clothing items from around the local area. This particular
store is located in Falls Church.
Visor February 2009
Entertainment
Shopaholic a Hit
Alejandra Buitrago
Staff Writer
Ever since she could pick out her
own outfits, Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla
Fisher, Wedding Crashers) has had only
one true love: SHOPPING! But growing up
on the other side of the Hudson, fun- loving
Rebecca was raised on a tight budget and
bereft of the glamorous fashions which she
desired so much. As she grows up, Rebecca
only knows to spend frivolously without
taking into account her outrageous debt;
and living in luxurious New York doesn’t
make it easier for her. To add to these
difficulties she loses her job at a gardening
magazine, giving her absolutely no way
to pay off her debt of $16,000. She has
always dreamt of working at the fashion
staple Alette Magazine, but ironically lands
a position as an advice columnist for Smart
Savings, a financial magazine.
On her way to the supposed job
interview Alette, she passes one of the many
shop windows on Fifth Avenue and spots
a $125 green velvet scarf which she must
have in order to make a great impression.
Although she’s aware that her debt is
increasing daily, she sees this scarf as an
investment for her future career. It turns
out she’s short 35 dollars and quickly runs
to make change at a hot dog stand where
she unknowingly meets Luke Brandon
(Hugh Dancy, Ella Enchanted), her future
boss and editor. While writing a column
for Smart Savings as The Girl in the Green
Scarf, Rebecca writes an article that relates
finance to shopping. This catapults her
career from a menial financial journalist
into a savings guru, but all the while, she
is being hunted down by her bank manager
for the huge debt she cannot pay.
As she works with Luke she
finds that he is much more than a boss;
he is someone with compassion and pride
in his work who doesn’t seem to get the
credit he deserves. She then learns of a
deeper secret: Luke is rich, but prefers to
lead a typically middle-class life. Rebecca
falls madly in love with him, but another
ambitious girl also has set her eyes on him.
Finally, her debts catch up to her in a fairly
embarrassing and public way, forcing her
to tell the truth about her own financial
situation to all those whom she formerly
advised on money problems. Many of the
predicaments Rebecca puts herself into
could have been avoided if it were not for
her naïveté and “little white lies.”
Based on the first two of the series
by best-selling author, Sophie Kinsella,
Confessions of a Shopaholic, originally set
in London, was moved to New York City
for the film version. Rebecca’s sincerity and
her humanity make her a truly endearing
character, who learns from all the personal
chaos that “little white lies” can only lead
to disaster.
Overall, Confessions was a great
movie, though the books more adequately
explain Rebecca Bloomwood’s love of
shopping.
Her economic situation is
particularly relevant today, as so many are
guilty of spending so much more than they
make. The movie provides a light look at
materialism, and it’s a great “chick flick” to
enjoy with your friends. Now in theaters, it
also features John Cusack, John Goodman,
and John Lithgow. Confessions of a
Shopaholic will dazzle young audiences
everywhere.
The
Uninvited
Too
Inviting?
A Museum Not to be Missed
Joanna Harkins
Staff Writer
For the past 35 years the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden has
been providing metro area residents with
the best of modern and contemporary art.
Located on the National Mall and within
walking distance of the L’Enfant Plaza
metro station, it is the perfect place to
spend a Sunday afternoon.
The museum includes everything
from sculptures by Auguste Rodin to “Marilyn Monroe Lips” by Andy Warhol. There
are works of art of many mediums: paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures and
even short films. The Hirshhorn is a place
for people who are just learning about
modern and contemporary art and experts
alike. There is something for everyone.
The Hirshhorn has always been a
Page 9
leader in promoting interest in modern art.
The actual building, which was designed
by architect Gordon Bunshaft, was the subject of controversy when it was first built.
The building itself is a piece of art. Today,
the museum continues its tradition of new
and fresh art. Two of the most recent exhibitions include “Black Box,” by artist Ori
Gersht, which explores the relationship
between nature and humans; and “Strange
Bodies,” a series of figurative works from
the Hirshhorn’s collection.
There is more to do at the museum than simply look at art. The Hirshhorn hosts multiple events each month to
involve its patrons in art. Impressed by a
certain work of art or collection? You can
meet the artist, listen to a lecture, and ask
questions at one of the Hirshhorn’s “Meet
the Artist” events. There are also “Gallery
Talks” every Friday about the various col-
lections and exhibitions. The Hirshhorn
also has a returning program called “ArtLab for Teens” which is a workshop in
which teens contemplate, discuss, and create art. Lastly, there are the “After Hours”
events which include speeches from various artists, music, visual presentations and
curator-lead tours.
If you aren’t in the mood to go
inside the museum you can always grab a
hotdog from a nearby vendor and enjoy the
outside sculpture garden. The impressive
collection includes works by artists like
Auguste Rodin, Alexander Calder, David
Smith and Dan Graham.
So next time you find yourself bored and
wanting to do something new and exciting,
consider visiting the Hirshhorn for an education in modern art. For more information about exhibits and events visit http://
hirshhorn.si.edu/.
This piece of artwork called “Pomegranate” from the new “Black Box”
exhibit by Ori Gersht, can be found in the Hirshhorn Museum.
Lulu Moore
Staff Writer
For those who hate scary movies,
“The Uninvited” is here. For many who
like a little suspense, but can’t handle the
shocking and terrifying scenes that define
the horror movie, this is the perfect balance.
Previews for “The Uninvited”
make it seem like a really scary, “clench
the edge of your seat” movie. The film’s
several creepy, eerie scenes are balanced
by unexpectedly comedic scenes, which
lift viewers’ spirits enough to get through
the movie without wanting to cry.
The main plot of the movie involves two sisters, Anna and Alex (Emily
Browning and Arielle Kebbel), “freaking
out” because they think that their father’s
new girlfriend, who was also a nurse to
their late mother, is actually an obsessive,
psycho killer using a fake name to cover up
her past. Anna returns home after spending
time in the hospital, following the tragic
death of her mother, also named Anna.
She discovers that her father’s recovery
has been a lot easier because his deceased
wife’s former nurse, Rachel (Elizabeth
Banks), has been keeping him company.
Anna is visited by her mother’s
ghost who warns her that Rachel was the
one behind the tragic fire that killed her. After that, Anna and Alex do some snooping
and realize that daddy’s new girlfriend is
not who she says she is. When their father
refuses to listen, the girls take matters into
their own hands and end up fighting for
their lives.
The movie’s surprise ending is far
from predictable and makes what seemed
to be an average scary movie, a fascinating psychological thriller. Without the mediocre acting and just-decent action scenes,
the film would be more worth your while.
Visor February 2009
Entertainment
Page 10
Remixes/Remakes: Better Than Originals?
Devon Spencer
Staff Writer and Music Aficionado
“Sweet Apologize (Discotech Mash Up)”One Republic Featuring Timbaland
So catchy, you can so easily
picture yourself grooving in a club to
this excellent creation. It mixes One
Republic’s “Apologize” with the classic
Eurhythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (are Made
of This).” It is so incredibly upbeat and
“groovilicious.” The mix of an 80’s song
with a modern one becomes pure genius.
“
Baby, I’m Yours”- The Arctic Monkeys
(originally by Barbara Lewis, 1960’s)
This slow-dance love song is
adorable and traditional, causing the
listener to have a desire to slow dance
with his/her sweetheart. Although the
vocals are different (Barbara to the
Monkey’s lead singer, Alex Turner), the
tune and overall lightness or instruments
remain the same.
“Across the Universe”- Rufus Wainwright
(originally by The Beatles)
The gentle and calming tempo
stays the same in this spectacular cover
of the super-classic and super-acclaimed
song. Singer/songwriter Wainwright stays
true to his slow, dramatic, and almost
operatic vocals that so many have fallen
in love with. At the same time modernizes
it in a very classy and professional way.
“Live Your Life”- Rihanna and T.I.
(recreation of “Dragostea din tei,” by
Norwegian O-Zone)
The Norwegian track is better
known as “Numa Numa,” or “Miyah
hee.” Chances are you don’t speak
Norwegian, so here is a basic translation:
calling someone, or “beeping them,”
and the other not picking up. The singer
also admires the other’s eyes, comparing
them to the works of the oh-so-famous
artist, Picasso. “Hello my love; it’s me,
your happiness,” are the sweetest lyrics,
in translation of course. Such a great and
unique dance tune!
“Seven Nation Army”- Kate Nash
(originally by the White Stripes)
Charming singer/songwriter
Nash will knock your socks off with this
adorable cover song. She stays true to the
glum Stripes’ tone, but reforms it with
her girly vocals. It’s a different take on a
super epic song that has been covered by
many, including the Flaming Lips.
“Paper Planes DFA Remix”- M.I.A.
Surely you have all heard this
incredible song, from either Pineapple
Express or Slumdog Millionaire. It came
out in early 2008, but she later remixed it
for the Slumdog soundtrack. Even though
the original is great, it can be slightly
overbearing, with the gun and “ker-ching”
sound effects. This version omits most of
those extras, producing a more fluid and
cool sound.
“Use Your Love”- Katy Perry (originally
by The Outfield)
When I heard the remake, I
couldn’t recall who’d performed the
original; I just knew it wasn’t her. This
version is totally different and pop-ified,
but catchy nonetheless. The emphasis
on guitars is appreciated, which keeps
a rock-esque ambience, rather than
her typical synthesized stuff. Perry’s
signature voice is so distinguishable, that
this is a modern sound to something that
was once an oldies’ tune.
“Love Song”- Death Cab for Cutie
(originally by The Cure)
A classically loved-soaked song
as this couldn’t be covered by anyone
other than Death Cab. They do a perfect
job staying true to the sad and somber
tone of the super-renowned song. They
also toss in a lovely piano solo. Front man
Ben Gibbard sings it just how it should be
sung.
“Flowers and Football Tops”- Glasvegas
Glasgow (Scotland) -based
Glasvegas put out the most unique and
interesting music in the indie music
scene. This beautifully tragic song about
love and loss has an end that is bound to
interest any listener. In the final minute of
this five-minute song, singer James Allan
begins to sing the lullaby “you are my
sunshine, my only sunshine,” but not in a
cliché-ridden or obnoxious way. He keeps
his tone and sound, but adds a little hope
to the not-so-cheerful beginning.
“Umbrella”- All Time Low, also the Plain
White T’s (originally by Rihanna)
Both covers are extremely
different, considering All Time Low’s
upbeat, “emo” sound, verses the Plain
White T’s more soft and acoustic beat.
Both are great, depending on the tempo
that you prefer. Either way, both are
totally different than the hip-hop original
by Rihanna. For more covers of this
song, check out Linkin Park, McFly,
Switchfoot, My Chemical Romance’s
Gerad Way, and Mandy Moore. There’s a
version for any music taste, but if you’re
an “everything” fan, you can check them
out on YouTube.
More
Suggestions
from
Devon
“Time After Time”- Quietdrive (originally
by Cyndi Lauper)
“Working Class Hero”- Green Day
(originally by John Lennon)
“Mrs. Robinson” The Lemonheads
(originally by Simon & Garfunkel)
“Freest Man CSS Remix”- Tilly & the
Wall
Taylor Swift Fans: Listen Up!
Natalie Cocozza
Staff Writer
Of
all
the
recognizable names in the
music world today, Taylor
Swift is definitely one that is
universally known.
Girls obsess over
her lyrics and catchy songseven boys admit to liking her
sound. Her first performance
for the public was at the age
of 11 when she sang ‘The
Star Spangled Banner’ at a
Philadelphia 76ers’ game.
Swift went on to
become a star at age 16 in
2006 when she released her
first self-titled CD. In the
summer of 2006 her single
“Tim McGraw” became
well-known and her career
skyrocketed from there.
She
received
a
Grammy nomination for ‘Best
New Artist’ and has gone on
to release her popular second
album in November 2008
called Fearless.
The hectic craze
surrounding the recent news of
a contest among high schools
has been a testament to her
overwhelming
popularity
across the country. The first prize of this
contest? A Taylor Swift concert at the
winning school. Posters are covering the
walls of many high schools, urging students
to vote.
One cannot even log onto
Facebook without being bombarded
with notifications and group invitations
regarding the contest.
When asked what provoked her
to start a Facebook group,
the administrator for our
very own “Taylor Swift
at O’Connell!” Suzanne
Fonzi, said, “Actually it
was my friend’s idea and
she started the group; but
we just thought that it
would be a great way to
make people more aware
of the contest and to raise
enthusiasm amongst the
O’Connell student body.”
So how does one vote?
If you have Verizon, use
your wonderful cellular
device to text ‘TS’ to 3401.
If you do not have
Verizon, that is no excuse
not to vote because you can
go to taylorswiftconcerts.
com and watch the video
and hit “vote.”
You can do both as much
as one-hundred times, so
your homework can wait
until later: VOTE!!!!
You have until March
23 to make this magical
dream a reality for Bishop
O’Connell.
It’s all on
YOU.