Issue #6 - Plainfield Public Schools

Layout Editor: Brittney Deloge
Plainfield
Public
Schools
Issue #6
April 2011
The Panther Advocate
Cow Patty Bingo was held on
Saturday, March 26, at
Plainfield High School
Inside this issue:
Teacher Interviews
3
Student Interviews
4-6
PHS Music News
8-9
Health News
13
Movie Review
14
Student Commentaries
7-15
Our School Needs
16
Special points of interest:
Mike Desjardins and Cow 76 taking a stroll.
Mysterious cow suited man,
Aka: Fran Gagnon
$3,500 was raised for the
PHS music department
Creeper Qualifications
Page 2
Wondrous Wonders of Mrs. Salo
Ms. Howard having a ball.
Page 3
So You Think You Can Dance
Page 12
Cholesterol Extravaganza
Page 13
Sydney Meyers, granddaughter of winner
Dan Williams, with Mike Desjardins and
Cow 76 of Desjardins Farms
Our School Needs Charlie Sheen?
Mr. Stevenson getting work done.
Page 16
Photographs by: Colleen Horta
Page 2
Creeping Creepers are Creepy
Article and photographs by: Nathan Boutin
It’s that guy, you know that dude with the long, dark hair, the stooped shoulders, the
gravelly voice, peering around the corner. You see him walking down the hallway one afternoon
and immediately think: “Man, what a creeper.”
Over the past few years, in Plainfield and other communities alike, there has been a
leap in vocabulary. As of late, the word creeper has become prevalent in the English language.
Creeper, obviously meaning someone is genuinely creepy, seems to be the new thing to say. But
where did this sudden surge of creepers come from, and what exactly does creeper really mean?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, creeper was originally used to describe a
child who could not yet fully walk. So, creeping would be the act of an infant stumbling along
his or her or way. This definition evolved into someone who moves quietly, or proceeds in a
If you want to be a creeper, suppressed, upset manner. This etymology furthered in the United States, with the term “brothel
you should…
creeper”, or one who frequently attends the houses of prostitutes. Currently, the term creeper has
 Give random back massages the meaning of “a shady individual.” According to an urban dictionary, a creeper is a person
who does creepy things, like stare at you while you sleep.
 Walk awkwardly close to
So, has this generation of people just become creepy, or is the word creeper just a fad?
people
Honestly, it’s a little of both. Recent media coverage of creepy individuals, namely internet
 Sniff people’s necks
 Google map someone's house stalkers, sex offenders and the like, has sparked an overuse of the word creeper. Every time you
see a picture on the news of a criminal, unshaven and leery, the first thing that comes to mind is:
 Stare/smile at someone for
“He’s such a creeper.” And who’s to blame? These kinds of people are very creepy indeed, and
no reason
deserve the title.
 Grow a half-mustache
The meaning of creeping is extended to any forward act that makes a person uneasy. If
 Cock your eyebrows
you smile just a little too long, it’s creepy. If you look at someone the wrong way, it’s creepy. If
 Get someone’s number off of
you randomly give someone a back massage, it’s creepier than Charlie Sheen in his CBS interFacebook and text them nonview. But yes, those creepers are creepy… Just watch your back—you don’t want to get creeped
stop
on.
 Look in peoples’ windows
 Wear sunglasses when it’s
Plainfield Creepers
not sunny
(with cake)
 Unbutton your shirt halfway/
show off hairy chest
 Stroke your facial hair while
staring at someone
 Slowly comb your hair in
public
 Tell your teachers they look
like your ex– boyfriend or
girlfriend.
 Be a guy named “George”
 Say “I love you” to people.
 Take pictures of people when
they don't realize it.
 Drive a windowless van
 Stalk girls on Craigslist.
 Breathe heavily
 Hang out at playgrounds
 Sleep in a basement
When I think of creepers,
I think of the “Bed
Intruder Song.”
-Rose Labrie
Page 3
Don’t Throw That Sass in the Trash, Recycle!
Interview by: Brittney Deloge
Photographs by Brittney Deloge and Emily Campagna
Wondrous wonders await you when you enter Mrs. Salo’s classroom. With a magical cupboard filled with chocolaty treats and sugary splendors, and a teacher filled
with enthusiasm, encouragement, and love, it is utterly impossible not to leave completely satisfied. It is a delight to have the chance to sit down and interrogate this
woman with a heart of gold.
What is your favorite pie?
I’m not a pie person. I don’t like crust and I think it’s because I have a hang-up on
fat. That’s not to say that I don’t eat fatty foods.
Do you have any pets?
No, I have fish out in the pond; I would like to keep my house clean all the time
but I don't want to clean it all the time.
Mrs. Salo endorsing whole grains and high fiber.
What’s your favorite dish to
make with students?
I like making yeast breads because it is very hands on, smells wonderful and is well
received.
How long have you been a teacher here? Have you taught anywhere else?
Thirteen years, and middle school for a year.
Most memorable moment here at Plainfield High School?
I don’t have one, I am inundated with memoirs.
What inspired you to create faculty lunches?
It gives my students a whole lot of cooking experience because it brings in more
money. We use a lot of nuts, chocolate, cheese and peanut butter, which are costly.
What kind of tasty treats do you keep inside of the Magic Cupboard? Why did
Mrs. Salo and her fabulous advanced foods class:
you create it?
Robin Gunn, Wayne Hargrove, Emily Campagna,
Advanced foods students do chocolate molds because it’s an employable skill and
Robert Labrie, Kathleen Lamotte, Amanda Flyte,
Michael Muzliakovich, Kyle Milliron, Melinda Parker, is used to fundraise their field trip.
Are you married, any children?
Erin Attella, Michael Thibodeau, Jennifer Arpin,
Yes, married 30 years, two daughters,, and (in a high-pitched giddy voice) one
Zachary Savage, Conor Boisse, and Ashleigh Daigle.
beautiful little grandchild.
What do you do in your spare time?
(While clapping at each syllable) I sew, sew, sew! Except during growing season:I garden
and have flowers everywhere.
What was your first job?
My very first job in high school was the gift shop called The Christmas Barn.
What is your biggest pet peeve about your job?
Kids who think I’m running a soup kitchen, drives me up a tree. Something for nothing ?!
How do you keep your bodacious bod up while being a foods teacher?
My job is not Weight Watchers friendly. I maintain it because I try to. I have to keep my
mouth shut.
Why do you insist on offering me cakes and cookies everyday when you know that I
The beautiful Mrs. Salo and myself, with Kyle
am trying to lose my bacon?
Milliron chillin’ in the background.
You make it so your reward is to eat it.
Why are you such a super, fun-filled lady?
Well, thank you for saying that. Life is good so we should be happy. People shouldn’t go around blaming people. If you’re not happy
with it, fix it.
Any last words my dear lady friend?
Stay B-E-E-E AUTIFUL!
Page 4
Changing the Game
Interview and Photographs by: Zachary Nadeau
Recently, I had the honor to interview
the new up-and-coming rapper of Plainfield High: Young Change. I was excited
to meet the self-made superstar, in all
his glory. As I prepared for the interview
I couldn’t help but think how lucky I am,
and what a special occasion this would
be: I actually get to meet Young Change.
As I walked to his classroom I was shaking like a leaf; I felt like I was about to
meet Eminem or Charlie Sheen. I had to
get his autograph…
What do you want people to know
about you
Well, umm… that I like rap, I know I’m
not great. I like dissing people that make
fun of me.
What made you want to start rapping?
I got sick of people making fun of me.
When did you start rapping?
When I was fourteen, but I started getting better this year.
If you could have one wish, what would it be?
Snap one finger: anyone I don’t like disappears, snap two fingers: two
stacks of $100, and get famous.
How did you think of the name “Young Change”?
I always have change on me.
Did you ever think that your videos would get over 1,000 views on
YouTube?
No, but it was my New Year’s Resolution
How far do you think your rapping career will go?
I don’t know, wherever it takes me. If I get lucky.
What do you think of the haters on YouTube that leave negative
comments on
your videos?
They can _____ themselves. They’re hating because haters like to
hate.
What do you think of the edited version of “Mr. Unstoppable”?
The person who did it must have a grudge on me. They just can’t do it
to my face.
What do you plan on doing after high school, if your rapping career doesn’t work out?
Lay low, wait, then start going for masonry or landscaping, or work at
Frito-Lay
Do you think it is offensive that people throw change at you?
No, it makes me money. I turn the change into paper.
How much money did you collect in change so far?
Two hundred-fifty-seven dollars
Everyone is wondering: what is your full name?
Kyle Anthony Cordova
What is your greatest fear?
I don’t know… being poor.
What is your favorite after school snack?
Brownies.
What is a typical day in the life of Young Change?
Wake up, Watch TV, go to my hang outs (H.O. 1-5), practice
rapping.
Do you consider yourself a sensation?
Some people like me, some don’t.
Who or what has had the greatest impact on your life?]
If you’re my boy I look up to you.
Can you give me a quick freestyle to end this interview?
You’re a geek
If I get a chance I’ll knock everybody off their feet
Make change everyday of the week
My fist is boney, and you’re a phony that likes to ride the
pony
Haters just hatin cause I get the money.
Now I’ll throw you up to the mountains
When the haters fall head first I think it’s funny
Now I’m gonna go talk to that fine honey.
Page 5
Pound For Pound
Interview and Photographs by: Brandon Wisniewski
Lately, there has been a lot of controversy involving Young Change and other local rap artists. I have known Tramaine Coppedge
for several years now and I enjoy listening to his music. Tramaine otherwise known as Tre-pound is a young versatile rap artist
who enjoys writing his own lyrics and recording songs. I wanted to interview Tre-pound and show everyone who he really is and
why he enjoys rapping so much. I hope this will help students at Plainfield High School realize how intelligent Tre-pound really is,
and to show who Tre-pound is as a person and an artist.
What made you first start rapping and producing music?
To tell the truth, I had no motivation in any activity I participated in. Lack of friends
and family finally made me say I want to be famous and prove everyone wrong.
How far do you think you will make it rapping?
As far as God leads me.
How do you feel about all of the haters that think you won’t make it?
They don't want me to make it because they hate me, but when I make it they will
hate me even more.
Which rap artists influence you the most and why?
I will honestly have to say Cory Guns, Papoose, and Drake because of the fact that
they write for other people and they are severely versatile.
Do you write your own lyrics?
Yes Sir!
How often do you write your own lyrics and what do you usually write about?
Once a day, mostly it’s about my mood or feelings.
When you become famous will you be best friends with Charlie Sheen?
I will have to say no.
How good are you at free-styling?
Excellent about eighty percent of the time.
When you battle does everything just flow right off the tongue, do you usually win?
Normally it’s natural for me to be good at battling, majority of the time I win.
Would you ever battle Young Change?
Did you seriously just ask me that? Why would you ask that?
What do you usually do in your free time besides rap?
Chill with the fam and play basketball.
How did you come up with the name Tre-pound?
My big brother gave me it because he thought I was a special weapon.
Have you played at any shows before, if so where?
El-N-Gee Club in New London.
What new material are you working on? Do you plan on putting out a new mix tape?
Yes I do, my new material is mainly focusing on versatility and punch lines.
What are your plans after high school?
To go on tour and get rich off this music.
Why do you make people laugh so much?
I guess I am just a funny guy.
Do you think you’re the best rapper in the school?
I will not put anyone down, but I do say I am one of the best because of the fact that I have been
doing it so long and my experience level is continuously rising.
Do you think you are a better rapper or basketball player?
Better rapper, that is my number one talent.
What do you like about P.H.S.?
I like the atmosphere and I like the fact that there is less trouble, less drama, less violence, and it is
better than the place I came from.
Freestyle off the top!
It’s your boy Tre-pound, I am back running the town
I be on the grind, like Tony Hawks Underground
I’m trying to get a lambo, tired of riding my bicycle
I’m known to spit hot, yet I’m cool like an icicle.
Page 6
Suffering for One More Year
Interview and Photographs by: Steven Tucker
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it is Nick Perry the super senior. You can see him from a mile away.
He towers over most of the kids in the school. Some know him as an awesome drummer in the
school band. Does he live his life a righteous way? Who really knows Nick Perry? I went to find
out the truth about him.
“Only Chuck
Norris, but that’s
more of a
healthy respect.”
How does it feel to be a super senior?
How does it feel to be kicked in the pelvis?
If you could go back in time, what would you change?
Being a super senior.
What person in history would you most like to meet?
Henry David Thoreau.
What motivates you to come back next year?
The ladies.
What will be your state of mind when you see your friends graduate without you?
Wow, this smells atrocious!
What shows do you watch?
Mostly science fiction. Like “Stargate” and “Dr. Who.”
What was your favorite game to play as a child?
I always like the Megaman series.
How many hours do you play video games a day? Which ones?
Too many ha ha, I play “Call of Duty Black Ops” and “Halo Reach.”
Do you like to sing while you are taking a shower? If so what do you sing?
Occasionally. Anything but Bob Dylan, he smells atrocious.
What instrument do you play in the school band? Why did you pick it?
I play drums because you hit stuff.
Do you want to start your own band? If so what would it be called and what will you sing?
Yes I do. I have no idea what we would be called but we would play hard rock, or something awesome like that.
What kind of music do you listen to?
All forms of rock and metal. Rap is for losers.
What one thing are you most proud of?
My musical abilities.
What's your favorite color? Why?
Depends on what object the color is on , but a safe bet is green.
If you knew today was your last day on Earth, how would you spend it and why
I would make as many people happy as I could.
What do you do in your spare time?
Practice band stuff and play X-Box.
Do you have pet peeves?
Yes, my biggest one is people who complain about
stuff that doesn’t matter, aka, teenage drama.
Are you afraid of anything?
Only Chuck Norris, but that’s more of a healthy respect.
Which is your favorite comic book character?
What do you like about him/her?
Batman or Daredevil: they rule.
If you were to write an ad on yourself what would
your slogan be?
Don’t be that kid!
Page 7
The German School System
Translation by: Marco Kotwasinski
This is a translation
from Marco’s German
school system article
from the previous issue
So, go and
visit Europe!
I was so excited to get to know my new family!
When I finally awoke on that Monday, my anticipation
for school was great. Riding again on the school bus was
http://www.bing.com
different, because I was able to use my bike before. I
also noticed that the school was pretty far away. But then
when I saw the magnificence of the school and noticed that the school actually looks like the
schools in American movies. The excitement was nearly unbearable.
Next, I was introduced to my counselor. My school didn’t have anything like that, so
many different bureaus. We just had two secretaries, two vice principals, our principal and some
trust teachers. We don’t have a cafeteria, but we had something called a bistro. You could buy
something to eat or drink for less money. In this year, there will be a Mensa finished, where you
can go to in breaks. The German school system is different in many ways from the American. First
of all school starts at 7:50 a.m., not like here at 7:30 a.m.. There are no school busses, you have to
go to a bus station. Or you can just take your bike. The school wasn’t very far away from where I
lived, and thanks to many sidewalks it’s safer. The school is like two minutes away from the core
of the city. So you can go and run errands faster. Everyday you have six to seven classes and 13 to
12 classes every week. You can also participate in workgroups after school. You have a 15 minutes
break after the first two hours, and after the next two you have 25 min. The end of the school day is
at 1:10 p.m., and most of the older students go into the city or home.
If you take the bus, they will then set you down in town- or village stations, you have to
walk the rest of the way. Some of the classes that are mandatory to take every year are English,
German, math, sport and religion (if you are 15 years old you can choose if you want to participate). You will go to that school from 5th to 10th grade. From 7th grade you also have to choose an
extra elective course, like advanced chemistry, physics, biology or French. French is mandatory
for one year, but you have to have good grades in German and English to choose French. Older
students have to take a month off from school to work they have to find a job for working experience. Grades are handled different, because we don’t have credits, but six different numbers, one
through six. A one is an A+, a six is an F.
From first to fourth grade your grades will decide what school you are allowed to go next.
I visited the Alexander-Lebenstein-Realschule. Next would’ve been the Gymnasium (No, it’s not
the gym) and last is the Hauptschule. You have
to attend school 10 years, which is a law. Next,
you can attend two more years and go to the
Gymnasium, which will look better on your job
application. Of course there is much more to
report about our schools, so, go visit Europe if
you are interested (and not scared)!
thegazebobook.com
Schools in Europe are very different.
Page 8
I Wish You’d Come in from the Rain and Fly Me to the Moon
Article by: Colleen Horta
Photographs by: Cassie Guerin
On Saturday, March 5th, the 43rd Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival was in full-swing. This was also Plainfield High School’s second year of sending our chamber choir to Boston for the festival. Our day started around 6:00a.m.,
and didn’t end until after 10:00 p.m that night. The best part was that the entire day
was completely centered on jazz music.
6:15 a.m.: I wake up, late of course, rush around getting ready, and gather my
chamber dress. I’m feeling a little sick, so I’m hoping that it’s just nerves and that
I’ll feel better.
7:00: Heading out to the car, I realize that I had forgotten my garment bag in my
room. Today is going to be one of those days.
7:30: The bus ride starts. Surprisingly enough, everyone got to the school on time.
Let the two-hour bus ride commence!
9:15: We have just arrived at the Hynes Convention Center, the host-place for the festival. However, we had gotten lost outside of
Boston. Thankfully, we got back on track quickly, after passing homeless people asking for food. (This was the time when everyone
was eating breakfast. We felt bad.)
9:30: Due to the fact that we weren’t given a space to store our stuff, we had to share an area with Griswold. However, Mr. Stevenson wanted us all to change into our dresses now, because we wouldn’t have time to change later. We all rush to find empty stalls,
and now have to wear these dresses until after 3 this afternoon. Fun stuff :P
10:00: Since we had time to burn, we all went to Prudential Hall to grab an early lunch.
However, Chinese, sushi, and soup were our only options since it was still early. Most of
us chose Chinese food.
**From 10 until 2, we were able to break up into groups and watch different vocal and
band performances**
3:00p.m.: We gather to warm up. I could feel the anticipation rising as the group waited
outside our audjudication room. This was only our second year participating, and we definitely have improved since last year. Now we just have to prove it.
3:25: This was the official start time for our performance. We sang three songs: “Fly Me
to the Moon” featuring Michaela DeBenedictis, as well as myself, singing scat solos;
“Come in from the Rain” featuring Chelsea Merritt as a soloist and; “I Wish” ( The Stevie
Wonder hit), featuring Chris Kennawi vocally performing the bass line. We performed to
the best of our abilities, and seemed to really impress the judges. Chelsea even won the
“Judge’s Choice” Award. As a senior, I knew that I’d be able to walk away from this festival without any regrets, because we did awesome!
**From 4 to 6, we were allowed to continue watching groups, eat dinner, and meet back
up for the awards ceremony**
6:20: It seemed like the awards ceremony took forever to start, but once it did…it took even longer to actually get to the annoucements of who placed. However, beforehand, there were four individual student awards; basically, the best of the best in each division. The last award, the “Superior Musicianship” Award, the most honorable award, was also given to Chelsea Merritt! Plainfield’s
name will finally be recognized within the music world, which is almost as important, if not moreso, as actually placing in the competition.
7:10: The award ceremony was almost over. They just had to announce the places of
each division, and thankfully ours was called first. “Third place goes to Bacon High
School!” I could feel my friends’ excitement rise as the schools were being called.
“Second place goes to Booker High School!” An awkward silence filled the room for
a brief second, because Booker has won the competition for the last seven years, and
now fell to second place. It seemed almost too good to be true. “First place goes to Pllymoth High School!” A second silence quickly fell, but that was only among our
group. We knew we weren’t in the top three, but we weren’t sure of where exactly we
fell. I honestly didn’t care; I knew we did an amazing job, and that we, as seniors, are
building a great program for the future chamber choirs who go to Berklee.
7:30: We start on the trek back to the bus, and after we get situated, Mr. Stevenson
told us how we ranked. We placed 5th, and only five points away from getting honorable mention. For our second year, that is incredible.
Page 9
Coasting Through Music With the Coast Guard
Article by: Cassie Guerin
http://www.google.com/images
This year, the music department received a new addition to the
faculty: band teacher, Mrs. Kacey Howard. Along with Mrs. Howard, we
received the help from many professional musicians from the United States
Coast Guard Band. Mrs. Howard’s husband, Mr. Chris Howard, helps with
the clarinets, Mr. Adam Williamson works with the saxophones, Mr. Ben
Griffin works with the brass, Ms. Amanda Baker, who was a former coastguard band member, works with the flutes, and Mr. Steve Petersen (a.k.a.
Scuba Steve) works with the percussion. Many students in both concert and
symphonic band have been taking private lessons during and after school
by these professional musicians. Although they get paid for the lessons they
give afterschool, these musicians voluntarily come and work with us during
their day off of work. As an example of their dedication, Mr. Howard and
Steve came to our winter concert then left and took a red-eye train to Washington D.C. to play at the president’s tree-lighting ceremony early the next
morning. Along with working with our in-school ensembles, Steve and Mr.
Howard were also active members of our marching band with Mr. Mariano
and Mrs. Howard.
As a member of the drumline in our marching band, I can say that
working with Steve is something to look forward to. He makes you want to
work because while you are improving your skills as a percussionist you
have a smile on your face and are constantly having fun. Also, I had the
pleasure of working with Mr. Howard on occasion as our marching band’s
woodwind captain. Much like Steve, his passion for music shows through
in his teaching and you can’t help but enjoy working with him. Although I
haven’t had direct experience with the other Coast Guard musicians, I have
heard that they all share the enthusiasm that makes everyone they work
with enjoy music even more. This is Mr. Howard’s response when asked
how he feels about working with the PHS music department: “Working
with the music students here at PHS has been exceptionally rewarding.
Both of my parents and my brother are teachers, so education is something
I’ve spent my life around and always wanted to be a part of. Helping Kacey
and watching this music department grow is offering me experiences I
could never have just performing for a living.”
April 7th, 8th, and 9th– All State Music Festival
-Cassie Guerin, Carter Jackson, Chelsea Merritt, Taylor Perry, and Patrick Slattery
May 5th, 6th, and 7th– City of Angels
-Showtimes: 5th and 6th : 7:00 p.m. May 7th: 2 p.m. and 7p.m.
May 20th, 21st, and 22nd- Music Department Trip and Competition in Hershey Park
June 3rd– Music Banquet and Tri-M Induction
www.uscg.mil/band/img/Portraits/
Upcoming Events for the Music Department
Page 10
Brain Drain: The Black Ops Way
Commentary and Photographs by: Marco Kotwasinski
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/
en/0/02/CoD_Black_Ops_cover.png
“Call of Duty” is one of the most popular newly released video games. Since 2010, many gamers
joined playing the game online, all over the world. Most of them play together after school or on
weekends. That usually takes at least half of your day, time that would’ve been spent better on outdoor activities. Also a lot of underaged kids joined playing, which I think is totally wrong. They
shouldn’t be able to have such an easy access to war– and killing.
You are in an interrogation room and are bombarded with questions, you also have
flashbacks. These flashbacks take place during the Cold War in the 1960s. Most of them are
between the years 1961 and 1968. That is just the start of ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops.” Furthermore there is an online mode, you may then play with anyone in the world who is also connected, too. The campaign starts with a flashback. The weapons are designed from that time,
just like all the tanks, airplanes, etc. The graphics are really amazing, the concept is just like all
the previous games. However good that may sound, I am concerned about all the kids who are
on the way of thinking that is a real good game. They have an easy access if there is an older
sibling in the house or a friend that owns the game. I mean, parents don’t check on their kids,
and it may have a bad influence. Even if underaged kids don’t show any sign of being more
violent, the content in that game is still not supposed to be neither viewed nor played, what
would the age restriction be for then? Should we all really not care for the sake of people who
might be upset with it? Or is it time to just not care anymore? What we should do is to try and
prevent anything bad from happening, when students get ideas for killing, or get violent
thoughts. It will affect you one way or another, but if you are just not old enough, it may be
time to stop playing. I went around and asked some people about their opinion for this game.
“I don’t think that
blood and violence
are good for
Mrs. Collins: “I guess
adults can play it, but I
don’t think it’s appropriate
for young children.”
Crystal Sweeney: “I don’t
think that blood and violence are good for underaged children”.
Jared McWilliams: “A tactical exhibition of skill and
wits through graphic simulation of the military warfare,
zombies all time favorite
pasttime.”
underaged children.”
http://www.usmagazine.com
Eneriko Ferraj: “I think it’s
amazing.”
Charlie Sheen: “They can't really ruffle
this assassin's feathers.”
Page 11
I Saw His Film, Now I’m a Belieber
Moviesdx.com
Review by: Danielle Willard
As my eyes scanned the list of movies playing at Lisbon Landing’s Cinema 12, I wasn’t very impressed. Between another
“Big Momma” movie, and the horrible acting of “The Roommate”, there wasn’t a single film that seemed watch-worthy on a Saturday night. I then spotted something that stood out to me, “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never 3D”. At first I was hesitant, but after some
convincing from my best friend Emily, I knew it was right. We walked into the theater and sat all the
way in the back row. We were accompanied by an old couple eating popcorn, and other than them,
the theater was empty. I put on my big, black, bulky 3D glasses and prayed for the best. As I heard his
hit song “Baby” start playing faintly, I dug into my bag and pulled out a cup of chocolate pudding and
started eating it with my tongue. I sat back, relaxed, and hoped to enjoy the show.
The film started with a 3D live performance of Justin Bieber singing “Baby.” As he reached
out to his fans his hand came out through the screen, creating a freakishly personal experience. I put
down my pudding and leaned forward in my seat. The film then cut off and began playing a
slideshow of childhood photographs of him and his mother in their old home in Canada. His grandparents, mom, R&B star Usher, Snoop Dogg, and Justin’s manager were all interviewed about the
child star. His childhood friends Chaz and Ryan got some personal time to hang out with Justin during his tour. The personal sections of the movie showed what a kind, down to earth guy Justin really
is.
However, the other portion of the movie was live performances on his Never Say Never tour,
counting down the day ‘til he played live at Madison Square Garden. He sang songs such as “One
Less Lonely Girl”, “One Time”, and “You Smile.” To my surprise, Justin Bieber actually sings while
performing live. The film portrayed the struggles that Justin faces being a teenage boy and travelling
the world, whether it be losing his voice, or missing his friends.
The film closed with him performing the song “Never Say Never” live at a sold out show at Madison Square Garden. When
the film ended, I realized that I was a Belieber. His boyish charm and humble attitude make him such a magnetic person. The Justin
Bieber movie was a good film which made me appreciate him and the hard work he does. As I excited the theater I could not stop
Have You Stumbled Upon Stumbleupon?
Article By: Colleen Horta
Has anyone else been dissappointed with the lack of media entertainment? It
seems that websites are being designed for younger kids and Facebook is just becoming
a spam-fest, with more bugs floating around than a garbage dumb. Also, television
shows seem to be jumping the shark faster than ever (or Charlie
Sheen’s interviews are being played on repeat). Basically, we
need something new. We need something that will distract us
from the same mundane routine we follow day after day. Well,
the search is over, because the website www.stumbleupon.com
is becoming popular as more and more discover its wonders.
For those who remember www.bored.com, this is a modern-day
version (A version that doesn’t leave you in a bigger slum of
www.stumbleupon.com
boredom than before you went to the site in the first place). All
you have to do is create a user account (free of charge :D) and
A picture that I stumbled upon.
then pick topics that interest you. Some to choose from are: photography, humor, technology, art, music, puzzles, and the list goes on and on. Once you’ve chosen some topics, you can click on the ‘stumbleupon’ logo,
and then you are brought to a site of interest. Most of these sites are ones that you can’t usually find by a simple Google search. Because let’s face it; what fun would it be if when you stumbled, it just brought you to the most popular sites? You’d lose your interest
in it a lot quicker, in my opinion. You can also install the Stumbleupon toolbar on every Windows web browser (Apple has yet to
work on a toolbar for Safari and Linux) which allows you the excitement of stumbling without having to go to the website. Finally,
the Stumbleupon app is available for the iPod Touch, the iPhone, and the iPad. Never again be afraid of not being able to stumble,
regardless of where you are!
According to “WindMill Networking”, a social media strategy website, they believe that Stumbleupon “Helps you discover
the best of the web in less time, and helps you find interesting people to follow.” It’s a search-engine of fun, and allows people to be
discovered. Yay fun!
This site definitely brought its a-game, and is an awesome way to pass the time, and learn things you didn’t know. So get
out there and start stumbling!
Dance is a Sport, Dancers are Athletes
Commentary by: Cassie Guerin
Photographs by: Colleen Horta
http://culturemap.com
Page 12
During this past season of “So You Think You Can Dance”, Gatorade announced that they were officially recognizing dance as a sport.
Immediately following that, Lauren Froderman, the season seven winner,
was named as Gatorade’s first dance athlete. There has been a controversy
over whether dance should be considered a sport or not. As someone who
has been dancing for 15 years, I believe that it is a sport. The official definition of a sport is an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess
and often of a competitive nature. Dance is an athletic activity that can only
be executed well if you have the skill and physical prowess to do it. It takes
years of training to be at the level of regional and national competition just
Lauren Froderman
like in any other sport.
Regional Competitions 2010
Dance traces its origins back throughout history, preceding even
the earliest major civilizations. No other sport can claim such an extensive history. Athletes that compete on the reality show “Dancing With the Stars” have stated that dance is harder than their sports.
The control and technique, as well as physical ability and flexibility, needed to dance far exceeds the
sheer brute force needed in some sports. Jason Taylor, star National Football League defensive player, appeared on the show. This was his point of view on dance
from ESPN.com: “I'll be up at 7:30 and go lift. Then I'll head
over to the dance studio and I'll dance from 11 to 2. Then I'll eat
lunch for an hour and then come back and dance another three
hours. I'll dance six hours a day. It's a different training for a
minute-and-a-half or two-minute dance. In football you train to
play 10 second plays for 60 minutes. But there's no better way
right now for me to get in shape and burn fat than what I'm doing. I've got more lean muscle than I've had in probably 10
Kayla Charlwood
years. I'm seeing my abs again.” While their dances are less
than two minutes long, most competition dances are at least two and a half to three minutes
long.
I have danced at Danceworks Dance Centre in Moosup for all 15 years of my dance
career. An average “season” for us lasts as long as the school year. We start in September, train
National Competitions 2010
for competitions in April and May, give our recital in June, then go to national competitions in
July. That is an 11-month season, while other sport
seasons last about four months. On top of having the stamina to do steps for the three minute
dance, you must also perform it with emotion. No one wants to watch someone dance if they
aren’t truly performing it. Most dances you have to keep a smile on your face while inside
you feel your lungs burning and every muscle in your body is begging for a rest. In dance,
you can’t get benched if you’re injured, you just work through it. My sophomore year I
sprained my back rehearsing my Cha-Cha dance in “Hand
Jive” for “Grease”,, yet finished the dance. I went to the doctor,
got a back brace, took some pain killers and competed at regional competitions that Saturday. In between dances I held
Cassie Guerin
back tears while I collapsed on the dressing room floor trying
to catch my breath to go back out on stage and do another dance.
With any other sport you concentrate on executing
your own role in your team’s play. In dance, you have to
concentrate on the steps, doing them on the right counts,
staying with the music, doing the moves together with the
other people dancing with you, looking uniform, and smiling while putting everything you’ve got out there on the
floor. So, if you still don’t think dance should be considered
a sport why not go to a studio and try out a class? You’ll be
surprised at how hard it really is!
Cassie Guerin, Tiffani Nordgren, Yvonne
Cassie Guerin
Laporte, and Kayla Charlwood.
Page 13
Eat Your Heart Out, Literally!
Commentary by: Brandon Wisniewski
Fast food restaurants are constantly competing to produce the tastiest meals, snacks, and delicious treats that help the average person curve his or her appetite. Yet, many wonder how healthy is this food? Of course after “Super Size Me” many eyes were
opened to the truth about what you consume when you eat fast food. Even though nutritional facts are supplied at many fast food
restaurants, people still don't know what they are consuming. Some people don't understand how much they are consuming, while
others just ignore how much they are eating. People have been claiming that the food is not unhealthy, yet the average person should
only take in 2000-2500 calories a day. When it comes to the amount of calories that are in the small portions that the restaurants
provide you with, it is entirely unhealthy. Most average people, like Charlie Sheen, enjoy their fast food, but is it really worth eating
in the end?
BK Quad Stacker
Calories: 930
KFC Double Down
Calories: 540
Domino’s Bread Bowl Pasta
Calories:670
McDonalds Angus Bacon &Cheese
Calories: 790
KFC Famous Bowl
Calories: 700
Taco Bells Nachos BellGrande
Calories: 770
Pizza Hut P’Zone
Calories: 630
Wendy’s Baconater Triple
Calories: 1330
McDonalds Big Breakfast
with Hotcakes
Calories: 1090
Information taken from:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-03-24/the-40-deadliest-fast-food-meals/
Page 14
Embrace the Suck
Review by: Amanda Flyte
thecinemasource.com
hitfix.com
“I’m just warning you, the theatre is crowded and you might not be able to sit together,”
the lady who handed me my tickets said. I frowned. Leaving Crystal Sweeney and Marco
Kotwasinski to wait for Kyle Roughan and Brittney Deloge, I went into theatre five to look
for seats. The feat was impossible. I stood staring at everyone in the theatre, waiting for
Kyle, Marco, Brittney and Crystal. They walked and pointed me towards the only open
seats, the dreaded seats, the very first row.
Everyone knows the tale of “Beauty and the Beast.” Personally, it is my absolute
favorite Disney movie. As I craned my neck to looked up at the screen I felt a bubble of
excitement. The first scene pleased all of the girls in the theatre, Alex Pettyfer working out.
It’s your classic story, Kyle Kingsford is a jerk, almost as bad as Charlie Sheen, running for
president of the school’s Green Committee, his motto is “Embrace the Suck”, meaning,
embrace the ugly people. Being the hot, rich guy he wins. The class witch, Kendra, isn’t
pleased with this, and Kyle invites her to the dance that the committee is holding. She
agrees to go to give him a second chance but at the dance, he publically humiliates her.
That’s when she curses him and turns him into the beast.
In “Beauty and the Beast”, the Beast had until
the last petal fell off the rose to find somebody to love
him. In “Beastly”, Kendra’s spell tattoos a tree on his
left wrist. In autumn the leaves fall, in December the tree
has Christmas lights, and in the spring the leaves return
and the flowers bud. Kyle has until the spring flowers bloom to find somebody to love him for
who he is: “as aggressively unattractive on the outside as he is on the inside.” The spell spreads
tattoos over his entire body, which look like branches of the tree. On top of those he has red scars,
some of which had silver in them. His right eyebrow says “embrace”, the left says “suck.”
Kyle’s father, a big time news anchor, is so repulsed by Kyle’s appearance that he buys a
secluded house which he shuts Kyle up in . He sends their maid, Zola, who is working to save up
enough money to bring her family to America from Jamaica. After a few months of Kyle missing
school, his father hires a personal tutor, Will. Will is blind and therefore cannot see what Kyle
looks like. Will is played by Neil Patrick Harris and is very witty and comical.
True to the tale of “Beauty and the Beast”, Kyle has a year to find his true love. One
night, while taking a walk, he sees Lindy, vice-president of the Green Committee, played by
Vanessa Hudgens. Before he became beastly, Kyle had met her and couldn’t stop thinking about
her, so, he follows her home. He sees her father get into a fight with the landlord, Lindy is pushed
www.onlinemovieshut.com
down some stairs and is knocked out. As Kyle is
carrying Lindy into the apartment building he
hears a gunshot. He rushes back outside to find Lindy’s father holding the gun, one
of the landlords is not standing. The other landlord shouts “Your daughter for my
brother!” and disappears. Kyle leaps at his chance. He tells Lindy’s father that he
can keep Lindy safe, that nobody will find Lindy at Kyle’s house. He agrees. Lindy
is moved into Kyle’s house and she is not happy about it, so, Kyle builds her a
greenhouse. He gets her to open up and they become friends. Kyle knows that he is
in love with Lindy but he doesn’t know if she loves him. Of course, since this is a
movie, you don’t find out until the very end, when the flowers are blooming.
My group had mixed feelings about the movie. Brittney thought it was super cheesy, I thought it was super good. I mean a hot guy and a “Beauty and the
Beast” theme, what could get better then that? But going deeper then just a hot guy, I
still love it. Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens did a great job, and I don’t even like
Vanessa Hudgens! Neil Patrick Harris is in a category all of his own. He was brilliant and hysterical and by far my favorite character of the movie! Marco thinks that
“Beastly” is an absolute girl movie. “It is a nice romance, but it is center around
Alex Pettyfer.”
Page 15
Illuminating the Illuminati
Article by: Jeremy Mack
illuminati-news.com
changingfaceoftime.com
Today, if you go on a popular search engine and look for information on the Illuminati, you will
find many results. Out of the thirty-three million entries found, when searching through Yahoo, only a
small percentage of the research was written by notable scholars. The majority of documents were written poorly and were not cited properly. This being so, it was hard to separate the truth from the various
fabricated nonsense that is posted on the internet. A great example of an online author that tries to push
fiction into the minds of the public is David Icke. Icke posts that the Illuminati are shape-shifting reptilian humanoids from the star system Draco. This is clearly unrealistic.
The truth about the Order of the Illuminati is that they were a group founded by Adam Weishaupt on May 1, 1776. Adam Weishaupt was a professor of Canon Law at the University of Ingolstadt
(in Bavaria, Germany). He created this organization to focus on the worldwide attack of religion and
monarchy; a structure that he hoped would eventually rule the world.
Weishaupt planned for the order to maintain a public image of a charitable and philanthropic
organization. It was this image that drew the attention of so many German educators and protestant clergymen to enter the Order. When new members were initially accepted into the order, they were told that
the main goal would be to practice the purest form of Christianity and to make all of mankind one happy,
prosperous family.
Novices in the order that were prepared for a deeper commitment into the Order were allowed
to advance to the rank of Illuminatus Minor, where they were told that the only obstruction to the Order’s goal of universal happiness was the power being held by the religious and governmental institutions of the world. According the leader of these institutions monarchs and clergymen—had either to be
brought under the control of the Order or destroyed. If such a prospect frightened the new Illuminatus
Minor, he was kept inactive at this level until his ethical concepts were altered.
Once the new Illuminatus Minor was proved loyal to the order, they could go up in rank again
and reach the level of Illuminatus Major. Once at this state, members were told the true objective of the
Order which was to rule the world, and the complete destruction of all existing governments and religions. Then the newly promoted member of the order would have to take an oath which bound his every
thought and action, to his fate, to the administration of his superiors in the order.
Weishaupt did not trust each member’s loyalty though, and set up an elaborate spy network so
that all the members would be constantly checking on the loyalty of one another. The secret police of the
Order killed anyone who tried to inform the authorities about the conspiracy. This band was known as
the “Insinuating Brethren” and had as its insignia an all-seeing eye.
The Illuminati was brought to public eye and made illegal around 1785, when a courier sent
from Frankfort to Paris was killed unexpectedly during a storm. His dead body held incriminating paperwork about the Order and specific members of the Order. The Elector publicly outlawed the Order and
closed many of the freemasonic lodges known to be under the Illuminatis control. After this time period
there was no new information discovered about the Order. It is not impossible to say that they do exist
today, but there is also no direct evidence.
http://www.google.com/images
Information taken from:
“The New American” article by William
McIlhany entitled “A Primer on the Illu-
Our School Needs
Commentary by: Cynthia McIntosh
Photograph by: Brandon Wisniewski
I was in my Journalism II class about a week ago and we were reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. We looked outside the window and
realized that the flag outside was all ripped up and torn. Someone shouted that we needed a better flag, so then we started saying
everything that we think our school needs...
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Our school needs a rap studio.
Our school needs more smart boards.
Our school needs a dance team.
Our school needs a live mascot.
Our school needs coffee in the morning.
Our school needs better pep rallies.
Our school needs to salt the walkways when its icy.
Our school needs less teachers with beards.
Our school needs Vitamin Water vending machines.
Our school needs a Cotton Candy Machine.
Our school needs a student lounge with Rice Krispies
Treats vending machines.
Our school needs Jolly Ranchers.
Our school needs less perfume.
Our school needs no agendas.
Our school needs Charlie Sheen.
Our school needs a better
American flag.
Our school needs less creepers.
Our school needs more fun.
Our school needs common sense.
Our school needs escalators.
Our school needs to recycle.
Our school needs a swimming pool.
Our school needs fire poles.
Our school needs blood transfusions.
Our school needs a lacrosse team.
Our school needs a Quidditch team.
Our school needs a statue of Steven Tucker.
Our school needs more color on school walls.
Our school needs more field trips.
Our school needs better heat control.
Our school needs larger locker rooms.
Our school needs parking lot freedom.
Our school needs more money to do things.
Our school needs solar panels.
Our school needs better dress codes.
Our school needs more school spirit.
Our school needs more foreign exchange students.
Our school needs hat days.
Our school needs cool high tech hand dryers.
Our school needs dances that people want to go to.
Our school needs sport trainers.
So basically, we all decided that our school needs everything. Even the people that we asked said we needed
some pretty significant things to go into our school.
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Our school needs
cleaner bathrooms.
Our school needs
bigger lockers.
Our school needs disco
balls in all classrooms.
Our school needs
ceiling lighting to be the
same color.
Our school needs more inhttp://www.buycheap4u.n
school concerts.
Our school needs less teen
pregnancies.
Our school needs better fundraisers.
Our school needs more Apple computers for art rooms.
Our school needs color cartridges.
Our school needs more instruments.
Our school needs a bigger band room.
Our school needs a trampoline.
Our school needs more school supplies.
Our school needs better text books and novels.
Our school needs more space everywhere.
Our school needs a beefed up network.
Our school needs personal computers.
Our school needs a vegetable garden in the front
Our school needs a wind turbine.
Our school needs a bigger gym.
Our school needs more storage space for art.
Our school needs more pottery wheels.
Our school needs class pets.
Our school needs a petting zoo.
Our school needs to close the doors in the morning
so we don’t get cold.