talon - Brentwood Academy

Ta l o n
15
November 2005
Leading the Littles
by Libby Ford
“D
on’t let anyone look down on you because
you are young, but set an example for the
believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith,
and in purity” 1 Timothy 4:12.
The upperclassmen have had a wonderful opportunity
to live out this verse through the Big Brother / Big Sister
program. As juniors and seniors, we had the amazing
opportunity to be a light for new sixth and seventh grade
students. Many have chosen to take up this challenge. In
fact, so many have stepped up that some of the students
have two high school mentors!
Through several opportunities for fellowship,
including a kickoff with food and games, new student
orientation, and an early morning breakfast, the high
schoolers have been able to hang out with their little
brothers and sisters on several occasions. “For some, the
breakfast was the highlight of their day because they saw
that someone truly cared for them,” says a BA teacher/
coach, Hunt Atkins. But it doesn’t stop there. Many high
schoolers spend time with their little brother or sister
outside school. For me, hanging out with my little sister
is always a blast, whether we are at a game or painting
picture frames. The time together is priceless. I get to
Kelly Barksdale informs little sister, Kate McGregor, about all the cute
middle school boys.
hear how things are really going, not just the casual, “I’m
fine.” We get to experience life together, talking about
struggles and joys, desires and fears. It is during this
time that we can connect and show each other the love
of Christ.
Not only are the upperclassmen setting an example,
but the middle schoolers also have the chance to change
the life of their big brothers and sisters. Time after time
the upperclassmen have been amazed by an act of faith
or selflessness by a middle school student. For the high
TALON
Liam Hoover Day
Danny Maloney shows senior Brandan Wright how to lace up his kicks.
schoolers, seeing the way that they persevere through
struggles is a message of hope and a reminder of God’s
faithfulness. Though the middle school has gone through
a tough time this year, our little brothers and sisters
continue to display a deep-seated joy. My little sister is
always there to bring me back to reality when I let the
pressures of life drag me down.
The Big Brother/Big Sister program is a fabulous
opportunity for high schoolers and middle schoolers
to connect and learn together. Through this remarkable
program, I have seen God work in many ways, creating
relationships that change the lives of both individuals.
Believe it or not, most seniors still remember their own
big brothers and sisters and the impact the older students
had on their lives. God is doing so much more with this
program than could have ever been expected. The seniors
are not merely showing the middle schoolers the ropes,
but they are following Christ’s example of discipleship.
“The ultimate hope is that the little brothers and sisters
are compelled to give back when they grow because
somebody showed them a better way to walk, not just
how to get to first block,” commented Hunt Atkins.
Through the guidance of Coach Hunt, the program is
growing as God continues to do amazing things, bringing
joy into the lives of all those involved.
October 5th, 2005
Ta l o n
Brentwood Academy
TA L O N
1
November 2005
Assistant Editors
Member of the Tennessee High School
Press Association
Layout and Design Editor
Katrina Adlerz
Tyler Thomason
Staff Writers
Jeff Adams
Morgan Arnold
Chad Boring
Sarah Burlason
Allison Dove
Jessika Doyel
Kymberly Doyel
Libby Ford
Courtney Gilliam
Jeff Olson
Mary Helen Wilson
Sponsor
Barry Robbins
The Talon Brain Trust mounts the goal post in search of missing
layout editor. Where could he be? (See page 2)
14
November 2005
by Sarah Burlason and Ben Neese
The Talon is a quarterly publication
produced by students at Brentwood
Academy.
Anita Mathews
Emily Ralls
Ta l o n
Sticky Times in Stickybearville
First Quarter 2005-2006
Volume 36 Issue 1
Editor-in-Chief
Ben Neese
Comments and suggestions are welcome
[email protected]
Brentwood Academy is a co-educational,
independent, college preparatory school
dedicated to nurturing and challenging the
whole person—body, mind, and spirit—to
the glory of God.
Born into Heaven
On September 14, Liam Hoover said goodbye to the
world he served so well. Those of you who never had the
privilege of meeting this fine young man have probably
heard about his passion for life. Liam was diagnosed with
brain cancer before he came to BA in 2004. He knew it
wouldn’t be easy, but his desire to come here outweighed
his fears. He became a beloved member of the BA family,
and representatives from our school even got the chance
to take part in his memorial service. After his passing, on
the Wednesday of Homecoming week, the middle school
honored his courage and positive attitude by wearing
Liam’s signature bandanas to school. (See front cover.)
Liam’s parents were guests of honor, and they expressed
their appreciation for BA and what an impact the school
had on their son.
If you want to show your appreciation for Liam,
come out to the Hoover Run for Hope on Saturday,
November 19. This race/walk is in honor of Liam, and all
contributions go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
For more details, see www.hooverrunforhope.com.
A
s the menacing storm clouds rolled overhead
in a desperate attempt to block out all sunlight,
a band of warriors marched across their
battlefield, ready for the great fight of their lives. Their
feet were their weapons. Their ammunition: bouncy
checkered spheres. As adrenaline pumped through
the veins of every player, the Brentwood Academy
girls soccer team prepared themselves for one of their
toughest opponents of the season: The Harpeth Hall
Honeybears.
So far, the season had been rocky. Having lost seven
senior starters, the team had to work hard to pick up
the extra slack, but they were not without excellent
leadership. Coach Randy Johnson had done his best to
prepare the girls through vigorous conditioning and
challenging pre-season games. The team, having made it
to the state tournament for the first time in
BA history last year, was eager to
reclaim their dominance of
the field, but this would
not come without
sweat, pain, and
determination.
But the girls
cared more
a b o u t
victory
than
the
soreness of
their legs.
All
of
their training
had
brought
them to this point,
ready to destroy
the Honeybears. But
in a tragic turn of events,
starting forward Lara Langworthy
suffered a knee injury, and was unable to play
in this colossal competition. Down one key player, the
Lady Eagles were going to need more than just luck to
beat out Harpeth Hall.
The game was a nail-biter. As possession of the ball
transferred from one team to the other, and then back
again, the fans were sent on an emotional roller coaster.
With two minutes left, the scoreboard still read 0-0. Then,
in an offensive onslaught, the Honeybears scored a
controversial goal off an apparent foul. If the Eagles were
fired up before, they were now infernos of competitive
drive.
Then the captains issued a fierce battle cry and the
girls forgot all about doubt and uncertainty and they
charged down the field, knocking Honeybears
Above: Jordan Caden practices her Rockette kick.
Left: The sophomore soccer sorority takes time to
relax when they’re not busy dominating the
field.
down left and right. With only
seconds left on the clock
#4 Brittany Barry crossed
the ball perfectly in front
of Harpeth Hall’s goal.
The fans held their breath
as #6 Ashley Rydberg,
abandoning all ideas of
self-preservation, leapt off
the ground and slammed the
ball with her head. As Ashley
crashed to the grassy ground, the
ball sailed passed the goalie and hit
the sweet net behind.
The crowd erupted in a roar of applause.
Although the game ended in a tie, the Eagles were
proud to have faced such a squad and showed them what
it means to be a team. The Lady Eagles might not have all
the fancy things that the Honey Bears do, but they have a
drive and a passion which Harpeth Hall cannot touch.
Ta l o n
13
November 2005
Ta l o n
2
November 2005
Who Are Those Guys?
Brentwood Academy: Under Attack?
by Jeff Olson and Jessika Doyel
byMorgan Arnold
F
or 35 years it has been a BA Friday morning
tradition to show our support for our beloved
football team. But usually, as we filed into the
gymnasium, there was a feeling of emptiness permeating
the student body. Somewhere between the screaming
football players and the energetic cheeerleading
squad, there was a gaping hole in all of our hearts,
one that could only be filled by ten musical heroes.
With an overwhelming response of nearly four pep
band hopefuls, the outlook for the pep band started
out rather bleakly. But, after convincing a few more
musicians to give it a shot, there was a strenuous
audition that involved unspeakably difficult trials
(and a tiny bit of bribery). Finally the ten elites were
selected. They knew the challenges they would face and
have since proven their ability to rise to each occasion.
Every Friday in their dashing red and blue shirts, they
put on a performance that an anonymous former band
student calls, “pretty good.” With popped polo collars,
these musicians roam the halls of BA with instruments
permanently attached to their sides. Seniors Ben “The
Spazz” Neese, Marty “Lady’s Man” Ross, and Tripp “I’ll
never be caught without plaid pants” Girdler represent
the superior senior class quite well, not only leading the
pep band under Mr. Nygren, but also aiding Senior Spirit
Stick Domination as they wreak havoc on their brass
saxophones.
So next time you pass one of the “Tenacious Ten” in the
hall, don’t just dismiss him as another well-dressed band
kid. Think about the dark days, the times when we had
to walk into a pep rally listening to Vanilla Ice; be sure to
tell him/her how much we appreciate what they do. The
football players couldn’t “Hit ‘em in da mouf” without
their support. These, my friends, are the everyday heroes.
Eagles Servin’ It Up
by Courtney Gilliam
T
he Brentwood Academy volleyball team once again
started off the season with a killer serve.
Under the leadership of senior cocaptains Jana Boozer and Sam Little, this
elite group of girls has smashed their
competition (as well as volleyballs)
everywhere.
I highly doubt that any of you
actually care about the team’s record. In
fact, I’d bet that most of you don’t even
know how the game is played. It requires
physical skill and quick thinking. If you don’t
play volleyball, at least allow me to introduce you to
some key terms that you may hear at a match.
Kill – No, it’s not what you’re thinking. A kill is simply an
extremely hard hit to the opposite team that cannot be played
(Jana Boozer’s specialty).
Punk – A special type of serve where the ball looks as if it
will not make it over the net, but it does, barely scraping over
the top. This causes the other team to fall flat on their faces and
the Eagles to yell, “You got PUNK’D!”
A-Pipe-D – Back-row hitters. These are
the three positions called when a player
in the back row wants to hit the ball.
The positions are A (left side), Pipe
(middle), and D (right side.)
“Push ____! (fill in a number)”
– A common encouragement during
a game. Usually yelled as “push
two!” when the BA Eagles are at 23 and
need to score two more points to win the
game.
Dig – Giving all you can to save a ball before
it touches the ground. A good dig is usually an extremely
good pass to the setter, but sometimes results in a bruise or
two on the digger.
So now that have a taste of a volleyball player’s vocabulary,
you can come to their games next season, hear them yell, and
actually know what they’re talking about. Who knows? You
might actually become an avid fan of this intense sport.
A
re you ready to rumble? Well, even if you aren’t,
be prepared. In the monotonous silence of an
insanely hard test, the floor begins to shake
underneath you. The roaring of helicopters is heard
overhead. Finally, a loud explosion booms in your ears.
You may think Brentwood Academy is under attack.
Well, that is somewhat true: the attack of the construction
workers.
Daily, the seniors, juniors, and some sophomores
get the pleasure of walking all around the BA campus
in order to get from the parking lot to the school. While
on this journey up the hill, I have often wondered about
what goes on behind those metal fences. Will there one
day be more than just an enormous pile of dirt? Are the
workers always taking a break? Will they really
finish by next school year? With apprehension, and
a touch of enthusiasm, I decided to find out.
Sensing my doubt in this phenomenal project,
John Armor, the general contractor, quickly
informed me that within the next few weeks we will
begin to see the foundation of the athletic building,
even though Brentwood Academy is not yet sure if
it wants to build a second story. This floor would
include a visitor locker room, a wrestling room,
an aerobics room, coaches’ offices, and additional
classrooms.
As of now, the construction of the Fine Arts
Building and Field House is still on schedule. Both
are scheduled to be finished by the middle of June
to the end of July 2006. The work on this project will
Above: A cloud of dust consumes the backyard of Brentwood Academy. Below: “It’s
a bird! It’s a plane. It’s Tony!” Our other layout editor wasn’t ditching us for a Talon be sporadic, but it is well on its way to being another
free fun; he was just overhead, getting an arial shot of the construction.
incredible addition to Brentwood Academy.
With
anywhere
from
twenty-two to two-hundred
workers operating daily on
our buildings, Armor assures
us that he will safely and
diligently get the work done.
So next time you think the
school is under fire or you
feel your feet begin to fall
off from such a long journey
up to the high school, look
across that fence and imagine
those two L337* buildings
that Brentwood Academy will
soon be blessed with.
*L337 : a slang word created
by computer gamers and adopted
by Brentwood Academy students
Ta l o n
3
November 2005
Ta l o n
12
November 2005
BA Football: Truly a Team Sport
Victory at Last
by Chad Boring
by an Uncommonly Unbiased and Open-Minded Senior
F
or years, coaches across the country have given
their teams the same speech about football being a
team sport and everyone having to participate for
the team to be successful. That speech is a reality for the
2005 football team at Brentwood Academy. For years,
Coach Flatt has fielded successful teams that were led by
one particularly strong class; however, this year’s team
has players of all ages making significant contributions.
For example, much publicized eighth-grader
Ishmael Lewis, a starter on the defensive line, is a
major reason for the Eagle’s defensive success this
Senior Tremayne Townsewnd shows his mad speed as he breaks away from
the dumbfounded defense.
The defense attacks the ball like Eagles on an unsuspecting mouse.
year. Junior Matt Brown had nothing but praise for
his fellow defensive lineman: “Ishmael has responded
very well to all the pressure and responsibility that has
been placed on him by the coaching staff. He already
is mature beyond his years, and it will be scary to see
how dominant he can be once he grows into his body
and actually plays against people his own age.”
Equally impressive have been the contributions
from the unusually strong freshman and sophomore
classes. According to Chris Besch, a junior, “The
underclassmen have really stepped up this year. We
had some holes on defense and special teams after last
season, but the freshmen and sophomores have risen to
the occasion and filled those holes admirably.” While
the underclassmen have performed well this season, it
is even more exciting to think of the talented team the
Eagles will be able to field in the next few years.
Perhaps the strength of the Brentwood Academy
football team is the talent possessed by a pair of
junior running backs, Tyree Ford and Ryan White. In
addition to these talented individuals, the junior class
has contributed in all positions, fielding exceptional
athletes on both sides of the ball.
Finally, the Eagles would not be in their current
position if not for the courageous
leadership of the senior class. The
seniors have guided this team through
the highs and the lows; they were able
to keep the team grounded after exciting
victories, as well as keep spirits high
after disappointing losses. Not only have
the seniors led the team to an impressive
record, but they have also prepared the
underclassmen to be excellent leaders in
the years to come.
Without a doubt the most impressive
moment for the Eagles at press time was
the exciting 38 to 35 win over McCallie.
With the clock ticking, Philip Masters
sealed the victory with a clutch field
goal. No one can say how the season
will turn out for the Eagles, but it is safe
to say that the final outcome will be a
total team effort.
A
t last, a great battle has been won. The seniors to be exempt from an exam, even in the face of Captain
have finally received the sole right to exam Senior Slide, he should be rewarded for his incredible
exemptions, a privilege of which they have determination. During the fourth quarter, they could
long been bereft. As everyone knows and agrees, the get away with turning in old shoes for homework, but
seniors are best at everything. They dominated the fall if an exceptional student can keep his grade up in the
retreat competition; they win the spirit stick every week face of such apathy, he should be granted the small
(even if the
break
from
cheerleaders
s t u d y i n g
do feel sorry for
(and maybe a
the poor stinky
congratulatory
little juniors);
sticker
as
and they will
well!).
once
again
T h i r d l y,
steam roll the
and
most
“competition”
important,
in this year’s
exams are fun!
Powder Puff
I mean, who
football game.
wouldn’t want
It is a proven
to take one? The
fact that seniors
possibilities for
are the best, so
enjoyment are
it is only logical
simply endless.
that
they
The teachers
alone should
always
give
receive exam
you
those
exemptions.
little color by
But if more
number sheets
The seniors express their glee that their younger friends will still be able to take final exams and thus grow
proof
is intellectually.
on which you
needed, then please read on.
get to make designs and your grade is based on how
First of all, the seniors have been taking exams pretty it looks when you are done. They ask you all
ever since they were knee-high to a duck. If you start kinds of questions about math, English, or history,
counting in the sixth grade, that comes to roughly 65 but all they are actually looking for is some quality
brain-frying trials of knowledge, counting midterms artwork. Even music would suffice. So, really, all you
this year. True, there were one or two rare cases of have to do is write down a good song somewhere on
exemptions, but these privileged few liked learning the test, and a 100% is practically yours. It doesn’t hurt
so much that they usually decided to take the exams to hum a little bit during the exam too (guaranteed
anyway. So, it is safe to say that the seniors have had bonus points!).
quite enough practice and are thoroughly prepared
So basically seniors are awesome, and they alone
for college. The younger students, however, simply deserve the marvelous privilege of escaping final
need more exams so that they can be successful later exams. So when you’re stuck in a room taking a boring
in life (you see, I just want what is best for my young test about stuff you don’t really even care about, think
friends). But as for the seniors, why not give them one about those special upperclassmen who are outside
little break after seven years of study madness?
enjoying the beautiful spring weather and living life
Second, if a senior can maintain a high enough grade to the fullest.
B
Ta l o n
11
November 2005
Ta l o n
4
November 2005
Finals, Here We Come
Engulfed
by Anita Mathews
by Jeff Adams
rentwood Academy has undergone some drastic counting down the days until Christmas Break), only to
changes since we last shuffled through these realize that a number grade does not carry as much weight
hallowed halls. There has been the typical change as it used to. Sure, colleges will see one student’s ninety
of faculty, and now occasional explosions and jackhammer percent and another’s ninety-nine percent as equal A’s.
cacophony fill
However, our
the air. And who
school doesn’t
could
ignore
recognize the
the
trendy
higher scorer as
new
clothing
it should.
line at the BA
Raising
Bookstore? Lost,
the issue of
perhaps, amid
motivation,
these exciting
m a n y
developments
students have
is the trifling
consciously
matter
of
lowered their
final
exam
standards
exemptions.
without
a
For
those
tangible reward
u n a w a r e ,
in sight. Of
getting
out
course, the true
of finals has
scholar
finds
become
a No, Laguna Beach hasn’t been cancelled; this is just underclassmen reacting to the new exemption policy.
the
greatest
privilege for seniors only. Not that seniors couldn’t do reward in learning itself, but even he would find himself
with a few more prerogatives, but it’s fair to say that hard- more resolute in his studies at the thought of an extra
working underclassmen deserve the freedom to zone out week of vacation as the school year ends. It is, after all, a
a little during those long review days in May. In any case, hard thing to resist.
this decision is raising a few questioning eyebrows.
So what’s the opposition? Some argue that BA
The best way to address the issue is to get back to students could do with plenty of test-taking practice, but
the basics. What’s the whole idea behind exemptions intense mid-terms and all those standardized tests take
anyway? According to the Handbook, Brentwood care of that.
Academy’s grading system “seeks to emphasize learning
Students certainly don’t object. If you talk to any
for the sake of learning rather than to make a particular devoted underclassman about the new policy, you
grade,” yet acknowledges that “grades…do provide one should expect a fiery response. And though twelfthmeasure of academic progress.” Because exemptions are graders pride themselves on their seniority, surely they
based on certain grade requirements, they also go hand- wouldn’t mind sharing this particular privilege with
in-hand with learning the topics covered during the year. younger students. After all, the orginal policy allowed
Why must a student prove on a final exam what’s already all students to be exempt, the only difference being that
been demonstrated consistently through nine months of underclassmen had a higher average grade to meet. Why
tests and quizzes? According to the old exemption policy, change it?
he didn’t have to.
That may be the unanswerable question. For now,
In this new year, as our brains come out of summer we’re just thankful for adjustments made to the twohibernation, some people have started to see good grades a-day schedule from last year, and come May, we’ll be
rolling in (others, however, are occupied enough simply poised and ready with No. 2 pencils in hand.
L
ooking back, it’s very hard to believe that
there was a time between August 28
and the present when the people
of New Orleans were relieved and
Mississippi appeared to be the hardest
hit by Hurricane Katrina. It was not until
later on, when the levees broke and filled
the bowl that is the city of New Orleans
with fifteen feet of water, that the real
problems began and overshadowed the
rest of the disaster. Tragically, the news
was full of unbelievable horror stories
of loss and death and pleas to help reunite
separated families. However, there was also joy
and relief coming from people who were now simply
thankful to have their whole family accounted for.
Although we may try to say, “It’s a long way from
here,” and pretend this disaster has not really happened to
real people, many of the staff members and students have
family displaced by Katrina, and Brentwood Academy
has already opened its doors to several students from the
hardest-hit areas. All I can say in the wake of this tragedy
on the Gulf Coast is that these people
need our help. Among the ways that
we are already reaching out as a
community are donating money,
nonperishable food items, and
other important goods such
as diapers, bedding, and soap.
There are opportunities to give
time as well, by loading trucks
to send to affected areas. BA is
doing a great job so far. Keep it
up! It is estimated that the damages
may exceed 200 billion dollars, and
although fifteen dollars may not be a high
percentage of what is needed, it is going to make a big
difference to somebody somewhere. In addition, there will
be a Winterim trip to Mississippi to help in the clean-up
effort. Most of all, these people need prayer and support
whenever we can give it. I sincerely hope that this disaster
will continue to bring out the helping spirit as it has done
already and help us keep our own lives in perspective.
Star Search the BA Way
by Emily Ralls
O
n October 6, BA students and faculty got a sense of
what it would be like if American Idol, Soul Train,
and Saturday Night Live were combined into one
out-of-control live show, and I’m not talking about Coach
Harris’s Modern History class. No, my friends, this is the
real deal: the BA Talent Show.
The performers mounted the stage with poise and
entertained us with style. Among the crowd favorites
were Rachel Rogers and Logan Allen, who dazzled us
with their vocal stylings; Jeremy “Eat your heart out,
Chris Martin” McBee; Jascha Heifetz apprentice, Austin
Stevens; and the always-amazing Luke Schuyler/Preston
Walls duo, straight off their first tour with Megadeth.
But the winners of this extravaganza were Libby Ford
and Brandy Moore, who won the judges over with their
version of the snappy, up-tempo Lindsay Lohan song
“Ultimate.” They split a gift certificate to Borders and
shared the sheer glory of the grand prize.
This was not Brandy’s only act, though. In the tradition
of “The Soul of BA,” she and the rest of a troupe of dance
divas who call themselves “Da Girls” wowed the crowd
with their moves.
Emcees Coach David Peden and senior Rob Silverii
had the audience rolling in the aisles with their humor
and prese ntation (Peden’s rendition of Chris Farley’s
“Matt Foley” was a huge hit.).
Although FOX Broadcasting Company hasn’t drawn
up the contracts yet, rumor has it that Ryan Seacrest
may take Rob Silverii’s place next year, so sign up early
ladies!
Ta l o n
November 2005
Ta l o n
10
November 2005
Zombie Love
The Luckiest Hero There Ever Was
by Kymberly Doyel
by Ben Neese
U
pon leaving a showing of The Corpse Bride,
I overheard a family discussing the movie.
“Mommy,” the little boy asked, “What was
your favorite part?” The woman looked him in the eye
for a moment, and then said, “Eeeugh.” Eeeugh indeed.
I went into this movie expecting to relive the
magic of The Nightmare Before Christmas, a movie
which I absolutely adored. What I saw instead was a
disappointment. While the movie is gorgeous to look at
(read: pure eye candy) the plot is somewhat...lacking.
Well, lacking is an understatement, as the entire premise
of this movie revolves around this question: “Will the
Johnny Depp look-alike hook up with the live chick or
the dead one?”
Our protagonist is the waif-like Viktor. Shy, jittery,
and a bit of a wuss, he is engaged to marry the secretlypenniless Victoria. (Viktor and Victoria. A match made
in alliteration.) Unfortunately, he can’t remember his
vows because he’s forgetful, stupid, or both. He goes
off into the woods, where he conveniently remembers
what he’s supposed to say, and unwittingly proposes
to a dead girl. From there they embark upon a magical
T
5
journey involving dueling pianos, a man whom I have
nicknamed “plot point,” and an excess of butterflies.
The characters may be forgettable, but let’s
not forget the fact that they sing. In retrospect, I
admit I was foolish not to expect this, as this is what
happened in The Nightmare Before Christmas. But as
they say, hindsight is 20/20, and now I have heard
some of the jolliest songs about death ever made.
However, this is not to say that this movie was
without merit. The sets and puppets were absolutely
gorgeous, the fabric wrinkled realistically, the special
effects blended nicely, and the contrast between
the living world and the dead one was pretty cool.
Also, the piano-playing scenes (there are two)
were done very well and added some enjoyable
moments. Sometimes I actually laughed out loud, but
sadly these occurrences were few and far between.
Unless you are a hard-core Depp/Burton fan, this
movie might be a little boring. It’s not incredible, but
it’s not bad. Either way, this makes for a nice little
Halloweenesque movie that you can turn your brain off
for and just enjoy the pretty sights. – Rating: 3 out of 5
The Art Palette
hroughout the ages, art has gotten weirder and
weirder. What started out as primitive cave
sketches of crazy little animals eating people
has evolved into a contest to see who can create the
strangest objects.
Scottish artist Andrew Slybearer has taken this
competition to a whole new level. Last week he was
officially recognized as “The Weirdest Guy on the Face
of the Planet” for his creation of Animansmotusism, an
art form in which the artist covers animals in paint
and lets them run around on a blank canvas.
Although animal cruelty activists have expressed
concern, Slybearer maintains that the creatures rather
enjoy the process and receive “tasty treats” after each
painting. Be sure to be on the lookout for this new and
exciting –ism, which has already begun to reshape the
world of “boring” art.
It has been said that in her modeling days,
Emily Ralls served as the inspiration for a
famous painting by a German artist. If you can
name the piece, please submit your answer to
[email protected]. The first correct
response will receive a $10 gift certificate to
Moe’s (courtesy of Alex Boyd -- prolleh!).
T
he Roman Empire was vast and powerful,
stretching across modern day Europe and into
parts of Africa and Asia. It is no secret that the
Roman legions were so successful in their conquering
because they possessed a secret weapon which was said
to give the soldiers the strength of several lions. They
called this weapon “Charmus Luckimus,” and
the warriors ingested it before every
battle. They received a drive so
powerful that none could
hope to stand in their
way.
Well, thanks to
the Romans, we
can still enjoy
this heartening
and rather tasty
snack. Of course,
today we know it
as Lucky Charms,
the
sugar-packed
breakfast
substitute.
This cereal has inspired
young and old alike ever since
Lucky, the crazy little leprechaun,
came along with his pot of gold to endorse
the product. This journalist recently conducted a phone
interview with Lucky the Leprechaun, in an attempt to
discover the source of his inspiration. The interview
went as follows:
Talon: “Good afternoon, Mr. Lucky. I am a
writer for a school newspaper and I was hoping to
catch a few moments of your time today to ask you
some questions. Would that be all right?”
Lucky: “That would be quite terrific, yes. Yes,
quite terrific, I say.”
Talon: “Great. Thank you very much. My first
question would have to be, how did you become
interested in endorsing this cereal?”
Lucky: “Well, one day, I think, I was digging
up me pot of gold, you see, and I happened to spot…”
Several awkward seconds pass.
Talon: “…Yes, Mr. Lucky?”
Lucky: “…zap…”
Talon: “Mr. Lucky, are you there?”
Lucky: “Terrific, yes. Wildly out of control, I
say. Pot of gold...”
Talon: “Excuse me?”
Lucky: “Absolutely mind-boggling. Watermelon
festivals…”
At this point I began to hear strange noises
coming across the phone. There was
a loud chomp followed by
the unmistakable sounds
of noisy chewing. It
sounded as though
somebody
was
attempting to eat
the telephone.
Talon:
“Mr.
Luck…?”
Lucky: “WABABA-BABAWABOO!”
Talon:
“Mr.
Lucky, are you okay?”
At this point Lucky
completely broke down and
began screaming gibberish at the top
of his lungs. I vaguely heard him attempt to
make some strange animals sounds as well. I decided
to hang up. It was probably best to leave Lucky the
Leprechaun to his own devices. I suppose it gets very
stressful having to protect one’s Lucky Charms from
obnoxious little children every day of the week.
Regardless of the mascot’s peculiar personality,
Lucky Charms remains as tasty as ever. General Mills
has even come out with Chocolate Lucky Charms,
which is pretty much the same as regular Lucky
Charms, except for the little wheaties are a darker
brown. Nevertheless, the grand cereal remains as
controversial as ever, always making us question our
ways. Eat the marshmallows with the brown stuff, or
save them for a last minute sugar overload? The choice
is yours. But always remember Lucky, the psychotic
little leprechaun, who gave his all so that we could
enjoy the magic of Lucky Charms every day of the
week.
Ta l o n
9
November 2005
Ta l o n
6
November 2005
An Uphill Battle
The Reign of the Half-Blood Prince
by Allison Dove
by Mary Helen Wilson
Q
ueasy stomachs approach the
the teams placed seventh. Alyssa
starting line, anticipate the
Mankin,
crowned
individual
gun, and surge toward pain.
champion, was added to the
The Brentwood Academy Eagles fly past
course’s fastest-times list. Angela
competition as they fight against the
Fister was also named to this
hills. There’s a daring dash to the finish,
record list, placing third overall.
followed by an exhausted collapse.
Clay Adams placed third and Eric
Welcome, my friends, to the
Schmidt placed seventh for the
grueling sport of cross-country.
boys. At region the Eagles once
Despite
losing
several
key Ross Robinson, Clay Adams, and Eric Schmidt
again showed their true colors,
runners, both teams looked to the show their opponents how it’s done.
with the boys placing first and the
new season with strong returners and new faces. girls coming in second.
The season got off to a solid start at the Harper
Both teams were up against hard competition but,
Jamboree (named after our very own Charlie Harper): undaunted, faced opposition fiercely, from cross country
both boys and girls placed an unyielding first. Again at camp in August to State in November. Whether achieving
Pre-Season Midstate (held in Smyrna), the girls and boys victory in a close race or enduring a tough workout, they
both placed first. In Chattanooga (UTC Invitational), have given their all to keep their dynasties alive.
Be Silent, Be Still
by Libby Ford
T
he fall retreat was full of football, chess, fellowship,
and class competitions. The seniors pulled ahead
in the competition by winning
the tug-of-war and sealed the
victory with their late
night dodgeball win,
once again asserting
their superiority.
However, sports
were not the only
entertainment; love
was in the air. Those
of us on the retreat were
privileged enough to see the
beginning of what promised to be
a beautiful relationship. Yes, Alex Boyd wrestled with
choosing from three beautiful bachelorettes during “The
Dating Game” and settled on number two, Miss Emily
Ralls, as his honored escort to Moe’s.
And we mustn’t forget the most important camp
pastime: a campfire under the stars. But in spite of all
this, we still managed to keep up with the college football
scores.
The most memorable part of the weekend, however,
did not consist of athletics, board games, or campfires.
The time spent listening to our speaker is what
really changed lives. He was unlike any other
we have ever had; he was absolutely divine.
For this retreat, we invited God to come and
speak to each of us individually. We spent time
in God’s creation reflecting on Him and listening
earnestly for His voice. We truly focused our
attention on intimacy with the Almighty. In response
to God’s goodness, we had a time of worship led by the
student praise band as well as a testimony from Mr. David
Burden. The hours spent meditating on God and His glory
brought individuals closer to Him and helped each of us
learn what God’s voice sounds like without the distracting
sounds of everyday life. God met us each where we were,
and we will never be the same.
“J
uly 17th, 2005: I lose contact with the human
race.” It was the slogan of more than a few
fanatics this summer as they anticipated one
of the largest book releases in literary history. What
book could possibly be popular enough that there was
a midnight release, and nationwide celebration?
Well, what book other than Harry Potter and the
Half-Blood
Prince
sells millions of copies
in just the first week
it was released? The
phenomenon that is
Harry Potter remains as
popular (and sometimes
controversial) as ever.
Google the wor ds
“Harry Potter” and
you’ll come up with
about 47,500,000 results.
What is it about the
book series that makes
even the biggest closet
Harry Potter fan come
out for a midnight
release party and inspire
more kids to read than
anything else written
in recent times? Some
like the plot; others just
want to see if the end is
any different than most
plot lines. But there’s no
denying that most people
are instantly addicted to
this series of books about
a kid who finds out he’s
a wizard. And it’s not just for the little kids anymore—
the latest of the movies has received a PG-13 rating, and
the last two books end with the deaths of much-beloved
characters (though I won’t say whom).
All that said, it’s pointless to add that I, like a lot more
people than are willing to admit, stood in line on the
morning of July 17th to buy the highly anticipated novel.
I finished it about six hours later. Perhaps it was the fast-
pace at which I was reading it, or the death of nope, not
going to say who died, but the latest installment left me
disappointed. Confused, I hopped online to see others’
opinions and was met with the comfort (or discomfort)
that many others were disappointed as well, though
most thought it was the best book yet.
The plot is a good one, I’ll admit that, but Half-Blood
Prince was missing a
lot the information I
wanted to know, and
the subplots were not
nearly as surprising as I
had hoped. Connections
between
this
book
and the previous five
struck me as rather
stretched. There were
very few times in which
Harry was wrong—a
frustrating thing, because
it gives one the feeling
of knowing everything
before
it
happens.
Others have expressed
the opinion that it was
somewhat lacking in
depth because, as Ms.
Rowling explained, this
is more like part one
of a two-part massive
last book, rather than a
separate entity.
The book did have its
great moments, however.
I particularly remember
an amusing passage
about the infamous Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes joke
shop that left me laughing throughout the rest of the
chapter (which is saying something, considering it got
steadily darker from there).
Disappointed or not, there are very few who would
drop the series one book away from its finish, and I am
not one of them. For an interesting plot, Half-Blood
Prince receives 3 ½ stars out of 5.
Ta l o n
7
November 2005
Ta l o n
8
November 2005
A Night with the Stars
Homecoming 2005
Sophmore Sara Norby cannot contain her joy upon receiving a glow
stick.
As Bo Knox and Kourtney Kirkpatrick look on, Aly Holland tries to use her
eccentric get-up to receive a discouted lunch from Mr.Chym
Sherriff David Vanderpool, a vision
straight from the Wild West, whips
his Greek class into shape.
Danielle
Mueller,
crowned 2005
Homecoming
Queen, receives loving
congratulations from her
father.
With a crumpet in hand, Joseph
Storey sports the debonair look
of a British cabbie.
The Brentwood Academy cheerleaders hold the fans’ attention as an encore to the
presentation of Homecomg Court during halftime.
Brittany Tucker, freshmen Homecoming Court representative, calms
her father as he escorts her off the field.
Pedro meets
Doctor Evil in
Asher Austin’s
ensemble.
“As you wish”: Ben Neese and
Angela Fister as Wesley and
Buttercup from Princess Bride:
Drew McElheanney dodges a Koopa as Mario from the classic Nintendo video game.