indian ink december 2011

INDIAN INK
Manhasset Secondary School
Volume IV
December 2011
Issue:I I
Contact: [email protected]
FOOD! In the High School Library?
By: Griffin Hyde
In a recent interview with Mr. Ed Vasta (High School Librarian), we discussed the new open container policy that the library
implemented on December 12th.
I started the discussion by asking him, ―What changes have
been made in the new open container policy?‖ His response essentially said that the former policy was that no food or drink was allowed in the library. Now, in an effort to make the library a more
comfortable and casual environment, the library will have a food
cart at the entrance from 7:30 to 8:08 every morning. It will sell coffee, tea, hot chocolate, bagels, and other breakfast items. After 8:08,
nothing without a lid or a cap will be allowed in the library.
Mr. Vasta explained the library’s motivation for changing
the policy, was to prepare the students for ―the real world.‖ In a recent visit to Hofstra University, the faculty observed the atmosphere
in the library and decided that as a college-prep school it would be
best to simulate that. This idea of a more relaxed environment is
also similar to the policy of Barnes and Noble. It is also similar to the way many students do their work at home, with a snack and obviously in a
less strict environment.
Responding to a question about the students, Mr. Vasta smiled and said that he certainly hoped that the students will be happy with the new
policy. He added that believe it or not, the happiness of the student body does matter to the faculty.
Mr. Vasta ended the discussion by saying that this change is indeed part of a multi-phase policy and more changes will be coming to the
library.
Whatever happens, I think that this was a great decision and it will make the library a much more enjoyable place. ■
FBLA Visits The 911 Memorial
By: Nicole Koskovolis
built for it. To honor of the North and South
towers, two huge waterfalls were constructed.
The noise of the waterfalls fill the air, making it
a surreal experience. Around the waterfalls are
the names of every man, woman, and child
killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001 and
February 26, 1993. The names were organized
according to who each person worked with.
Relatives of the deceased could put in requests
for their loved one's name to be put next to that
of a friend. Mrs. Spampinato was able to create
a rubbing of the name of her deceased husband.
As she etched the name, all 12 students stood in
On Tuesday, December 13th members complete silence to pay their respect to him.
of the FBLA club visited the 9/11 Memorial.
Twelve members of the club were accompanied by Mrs. Stampler, the club advisor,
and chaperones Mrs. Baranello and Mrs.
Spampinato.
Because of ongoing construction,
the Memorial is surrounded by fencing.
Visitors are required to have tickets which
can be obtained online at http://
www.911memorial.org/visitor-passe.
Visitors must pass through multiple levels
of security. The Memorial itself is beautiful, occupying approximately half of the
16-acre site. It is still a work in progress.
There are three buildings being built; one
of them the Freedom Tower which will be
taller than the Empire State Building. It
even has a beautiful reflecting pool being
Hundreds of oak trees outline where the
towers once stood, but one particular tree stood
out. It was a pear tree; the only tree salvaged
from the World Trade Center. It was nursed
back to health several times and today stands
tall. The tree represents the terrible things that
happened on 9/11, the slow and steady recovery
of not just Ground Zero, but in every American's heart and symbolizes the city and country's resilience. ■
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PAGE 2
School News
Exploratory Interact Club Meeting
By: Elise Simon
On November 10th at 7:30 AM there was
an exploratory meeting of the Interact Club to
open up talk about making it a permanent club at
Manhasset High School. Juniors Jillian Goldberg and Rosemarie Alcamo led the meeting,
emphasizing the club’s motto, ―Service above
self." Interact is Rotary Club on the high school
level. Manhasset High School had such a club
about 40 years ago, and there are local schools
that still host this club. Syosset High School's
Interact Club has over 200 members; last year
they raised $42,000 to pay for heart surgery for
five Salvadoran kids who otherwise would have
died in a matter of years. There are two basic
requirements of club members: they must participate in one community based project and one
internationally based project. This club is designed to unite all the clubs in our school. For
more information check out this link: http://
www.rotary.org/ridocuments/en_pdf/600en.pdf,
or contact Jillian Goldberg or Rosemarie Alcamo.■
Senator Martins Visits the Student Senate
By: Nicole Kiprilov
Senator Jack Martins represents the Seventh District of
New York. In the past, Senator
Martins has reduced state
spending by two percent and
eliminated a ten billion dollar
deficit. He has helped many
businesses flourish, and has
efficiently cut school spending. Senator Martins also supports programs that create jobs
all throughout the state. He has
done a lot to support the prevention of child abuse. In addition to working towards the
success of our state, Senator
Martins also travels around
New York, speaking to teenagers in high schools about his
goals and inspirations. We
were very interested in what
he had to say about his career.
Students asked him what motiOn November 15, members of the Man- vated him to pursue a career in politics. He rehasset Student Senate had a magnificent en- plied that he had disagreed with the views and
counter with a very successful politician. State ideas of a politician, and had decided to run
against him in a state election. He didn’t like
what had become of New York, so he decided
to step up and do something about it. He also
talked about the relationship between his political and personal views, and how sometimes, one
must sacrifice his/her personal views for the
welfare of the people. He talked about hydraulic
fracturing and how education should be affected
by the state government, not the federal government. Senator Martins talked about his life, the
development of his career, and the amazing people he has worked with so far. I think that the
discussion we were able to have with this senator was simply amazing. There aren’t many students who are interested in politics and making
a difference in the government, so the more we
are exposed to what’s really going on and what
the politicians themselves have to say about it,
the greater the number of students who will develop an interest. We are the future of America,
and being able to get a perspective and point of
view from a politician at this age is valuable for
our future. I think that a lot of students were encouraged by his visit, and I hope that we can all
take something away from it! ■
Our New Additions
By William Delaney and Jack Wesson
Mr. Qu previously taught at Herricks High School. He now teaches 9H and 11R
math at Manhasset. At the age of 5 he moved from a village in China where there was
no running water and no electricity.
Ms. Mellace previously taught in Valley Stream. She now teaches Italian to students in grades 8, 9 and 10. In her spare time, she likes music and loves to cook.
Mr. Riley has taught in the Sachem School District in Suffolk County. He currently teaches American History to grades 7, 8, and 11. He spent most of last summer in
Africa on a safari and even swam with whale sharks in the Indian Ocean.
Ms. Kouris has taught in Levittown. She now teaches Spanish to grades 8
through 11. She has traveled extensively, all over the world and is certified to teach both
Spanish and French. She lived in Greece until she was 17 years old.
Ms. Fish has her first public school teaching job here at Manhasset, conducting
the Middle School orchestra. She decided that she wanted to be an orchestra teacher
while working for the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. She is so excited to be here.
Source: Manhasset.K12.ny.us
Ms. Kavner has her first full-time, public school teaching job here at Manhasset, teaching 10th grade Living Environment and 11th grade
Chemistry. Previously she worked at chemistry and marine biology laboratories and has a 13 foot snake for a pet. ■
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School News
The Green Club at Manhasset High School
By Tara Cotumaccio
The Green Club is one of the school’s most
prominent and active organizations. Since September, the club has already raised $685 for the
charity the Girl Effect. The charity provides
healthcare, education, and support to teenage
girls who live poverty-stricken areas of the
world. They would have a chance to empower
themselves and the world around them, instead
of being forced into marriage and pregnancy.
In September, while many were settling into the
daily routine of school, the Green Club already
found their niche. Members were able to raise
money by providing coffee and baked goods
during the school’s Open House. The club also
partnered with CASA (Coalition Against Substance Abuse) and participated in the annual
Pharmaceutical Take-Back Event. The event
was created to provide members of the community a way to dispose of their pharmaceuticals
safely. Otherwise, the drugs could have contaminated bodies of water precious to aquatic
life. In total, 330 pounds of pharmaceuticals
were collected! The Green Club provided pamphlets about environmental stability and healthful living to those who participated in this
event. The club also tied red ribbons around
trees of the school to advocate drug awareness.
Since November, the Green Club has created
and sponsored monthly movie nights. It gives a
chance for students to become more aware of
the environment, while providing a time for
them to bond. The first movie, called Food Inc.,
was about how big businesses are overpowering
the food industries. Animals are abused and
slaughtered in large factories, some without
seeing the light of day, instead of being provided with a healthy, nurturing environment.
The Slow Foods of Huntington, along with Chi-
potle, sponsored the event. The former is committed to create a world where ―people can eat
food good for them, good for the people who
grow it, and good for the planet.‖ Chipotle
grows their crops in farms that benefit locally,
and treats their animals with the proper care
they deserve. In December, the club featured
WALL-E. The movie shed light on the future of
a waste-covered Earth. For Thanksgiving, the
club raised money by creating hand-turkey messages attached to baked goods. Coming up, the
Green Club may volunteer at a soup kitchen and
provide gifts to those in need during the holidays. If you want to support the Girl Effect, you
can purchase a $20 T-shirt that promotes our
club. Meetings are on Fridays at 3:15; new
members are always welcome! ■
By: Griffin Hyde
The 1680 Club meets bi-weekly on Tuesday mornings at 7:20 AM in room 261. The purpose of the club is to educate all Manhasset students
about:
 American and International history
 Current events
 Politics, and
Other relevant events, past or present.
Get involved in engrossing debates and discussions; learn about the topic, how to voice your own opinion, how to respectfully disagree with
the opinions of others, and how to apply these skills on a larger scale, as our Senators and Representatives do in Congress.
Our advisor Mr. Gilroy, oversees the meetings and stimulates discussion using personal opinion, knowledge, photos, and other memorabilia.
Sometimes Mr. Shoeing might even stop by and share his personal opinion on the subject of conversation. ■
Editors
Michael Domanico
Jonathan Masci
Section Heads
Entertainment – Viv Liu
Editorials – Max Hu
Technology – Bradley Spilka and Jack Wesson
Politics & News - Nicole Kiprilov
Poetry – Juliet Paterek
Health—Laura Eng
Travel – Kathleen Eng
Writing Staff
Isabella Calpakis
Mikey Christofer
Cale Clinton
Tara Cotumaccio
William Delaney
Michael Domanico
Emma Dong
Kathleen Eng
Laura Eng
Robert Godfried
Maxwell Hu
Griffin Hyde
Nicole Kiprilov
Emma Klainberg
Nicole Koskovolis
Viv Liu
Jonathan Masci
Katherine Nevitt
Juliet Paterek
Carter Paterson
Adam Prinzo
Ryan Ross
Elise Simon
Bradley Spilka
Stephen Tranchina
Jack Wesson
Art Contributor
Alexandra Wysota
Advisor
Linda Stampler
GREETINGS FROM INDIAN INK
Source: http://holidays.mrdonn.org
Source: www.letsfun143.blogspot.com
PAGE 4
THE IND IAN IN K
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Sports
JV Football: The Best is Yet to Come
By: Cale Clinton
Source: Manhasset Booster Club
As the thermometer begins to drop and
winter comes upon us, we here at INDIAN INK
like to reflect on the highlights from the previous season. One sport near and dear to my heart
is JV Football. This was the first time that the
new 9th grade high school class had ever had
the opportunity to play football with the
―veteran‖ 10th graders. Our season consisting of
an 8 game schedule against Lawrence, Syosset,
Bethpage, Valley Stream, Floral Park, South
Side, Herricks, and Great Neck North, started
long before school started, while most students
were still enjoying the last few precious weeks
of summer.
As the team went through its rigorous
preseason practice sessions, we all prepared for
our opener against Lawrence. The previous
year, the Manhasset team won a nail biter
against Lawrence 7-6, the number one rated
team in the division. Preparing for the worst,
the team came out fired up and ended up exceeding everyone’s expectations in an impressive 23-6 victory, marked by two defensive
touchdowns. After another huge win against
Syosset, the Indians were 2-0 going into its
third and most challenging game of the season:
Bethpage. Known for its football prowess,
Bethpage is widely considered to be our hardest
and most physically challenging game of the
season. Bethpage scored on its opening drive,
and for the remainder of the game the score
stayed 6-0 Bethpage in a classic defensive battle. Throughout the entire game, the score remained 6-0 Bethpage. On a final drive with 30
seconds left, Bethpage put the game away on a
dive over the goal line at the 1, securing the 14-
0 victory. Disappointed by the loss, head coach
Tom ―Campi‖ Campolettano went home that
night, and, in his own words, ―looked at himself
in the mirror, and blasted himself up and
down.‖ After the rough loss, Campi returned to
practice the following day and pushed the team
to run faster, hit harder, and sweat more than
any practice all season.
Our chance to redeem ourselves came
the following week at Valley Stream. Valley
Stream came out of the locker room that day
foaming at the mouth. The previous season,
Manhasset had ended its undefeated season,
and they hadn’t forgotten about it since. At the
end of the first quarter, the score was 21-6 Valley Stream. With a motivational speech by
sophomore Bryan Herbert and a reworking at
defense by assistant coach Steve Sair, the team
looked eager to get back on the field. Quarterback Tom Duran put the team on his back for
the rest of the game, passing for over 300 yards
(which included a 97 yard touchdown off a
screen to freshman running back Tramont
Smith). Successful defensive stops by sophomores Bryan Herbert, Ryan Miller, and Henry
Griffith helped Manhasset lock in the astonishing win. The stunning win seemed to take its
toll, however.
In the following game, on the road
against Floral Park, the teams frustrations
mounted. As the game wound down, long after the sun had set, the Indians suffered three
injuries in a last minute losing effort, largely
because it had become too dark to see. Two
potential game winning touchdown passes were
mishandled in the final two minutes of the
game, one drop resulting in a concussion to
Tramont Smith. With the loss of some of our
key players, the end of the season became far
more challenging. After a loss to South Side at
home and a subsequent forfeit by Great Neck
North, our 3-3 season was on the line. We
went into our final game against an undefeated
Herricks’ team. The game got ugly early with
two quick touchdowns in the first quarter by
Herricks. The Indians had battled out of holes
the entire season, so our mindset remained confident. With a superb running attack led by
James Farrell and great some great defensive
stops by sophomores Bryan Young and Luke
Hedberg, it seemed that we could pull out one
last win and go home happy. With a persistent
offensive attack by the opposing team, however, we lost the game by a single touchdown.
We walked onto the bus that afternoon, heads
hung low, helmets in hand, and sobered by the
fact that the JV football season was over. We
ended it with a losing record, 500 if you count
the forfeit. On the final day of football when it
was time to turn in our equipment, Coach
Campi showed up in all black. When asked
why he did this, Campi responded, ―Our season’s dead and this is its’ funeral.‖ However,
coach Campi was optimistic about the future.
The team had showed signs of brilliance. With
a promising 8th grade moving up next year and
the 9th grader with one more year of experience
under its belts, next year’s season should be a
good one. I don’t know about you, but I can’t
wait for fall to come around again. ■
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THE IND IAN IN K
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Sports
The Manhasset Boys Cross Country Season
By: Stephen Tranchina and Carter Paterson
This year the Boy’s Cross Country
Team had another greatly successful year led
by captains Charlie Morris and Stephen Bourguet. From the start of pre-season the team had
high goals for both the team as a whole and for
each individual runner. The team started its
season with the Wheatley Invitational which
provided a fun way to kick off the season.
Next the team moved on to its first conference
meet against Southside and Great Neck North
at Bethpage State Park. The meet was an easy
victory for the team. The second invitational of
the year was Warwick Wave Mania, a couple
hours away in upstate New York. Despite the
challenging and muddy conditions of the
course, many team members managed to run
great times and earn personal medals.
Throughout the rest of the season the team con-
tinued to easily win its conference meets, defeating teams such as Glen Cove, Bethpage,
Lawrence, Sewhanaka, Plainedge, West Hempstead, Lynbrook, Floral Park, Hewlett, Valley
Stream South, and Division. Its closest match
up was against Hewlett, but as usual the team
finished victorious which gave the team its
fourth consecutive undefeated season.
In addition to the Wheatley Invitational
and Warwick Wave Mania, the cross country
team also ran at the St. Anthony’s Invitational
at Sunken Meadow State Park, the Manhattan
College Invitational at Van Cortland Park in the
Bronx, the Nassau Coaches Meet at Bethpage
State Park and the Teddy Roosevelt/Clint
Miller Invitational at Bethpage State Park. The
team picked up two more plaques at the Freshman/Sophomore County Championships at
Bethpage State Park. The freshman team
placed third and the sophomore team placed
second.
After the Freshman/Sophomore
County Championships, the team moved on to
the Conference III Championships. They fulfilled its goal of winning the conference title
and qualifying for the county championship.
At the Section VIII Championships the team
fell slightly short of its goal when they placed
second in its county class. Despite the loss, the
team managed to send two runners to the state
meet; Stephen Bourguet and Charlie Morris.
Both ran impressive races at the meet. Stephen
Bourguet finished 11th overall which earned
him All-State Honors. He also qualified for the
federation meet where he earned All-Federation
Honors. The team looks forward to an even
more successful season next year. ■
Soccer At MHS
By: Emma Dong
The Manhasset High Girl’s soccer teams had a successful season this fall. The varsity team consisted of three
freshmen, nine sophomores, six juniors and four seniors. The
team was coached by Coach McGrory and assisted by Coach
Keen. The varsity team's talented members consisted of Natalie DeBono, an All-County athlete, Ali McNamara and Jacklyn D'Alleva , All-Class athletes, Natalie Stefan, an AllConference athlete and Charlotte Avallone, the Senior Scholar
Athlete.
The junior varsity team which consisted of twentyseven skilled athletes had a successful season with Coach
Giardino. Coach Giardino was honored to coach the team
through highs and lows. He stated that the team started
roughly when a few girls left the team; however, the juniors
on the team acted as role models for the younger girls. He
later said that the team showed its resiliency as the season
went on through losses and injuries. The team improved
throughout the season proving its talents by going from having
Wantagh beat them 5-1 to tying to them 1-1 later in the season. The team truly put its passion into the game and Coach G
stated "the girls walked off the field that day knowing that
they played as hard as they could." He recognized the teams
compassion and team spirit by showing sympathy towards the West Hempstead team who had a tragic encounter earlier in the season. He noted
that the other coach came up to him and said, "Thank you coach, your team is a class act." ■
Varsity Boys Swim Team
By: Robert Godfried an Maxwell Hu
The Manhasset Varsity Boys swim team is extremely excited about its
upcoming season and are currently seated second in its conference. The boys
are hoping to have a strong season in which they finish conference champions.
Coach Matt McGrain expressed much optimism when questioned about the
boy’s upcoming season. ―This is the strongest team I’ve had in a long time,‖ he
said, ―and I think we have a good shot at becoming conference champions!‖
Matt McGrain began coaching at Manhasset 18 years ago and has been the
coach of both the boys and girls swim teams ever since. Assistant coach Robert
Lark also expressed much enthusiasm for the upcoming season, his 14th at Manhasset. The team has been fortunate enough to have found pool time immediately after school at SUNY Old Westbury for the second year in a row. The
team is hoping that having a consistent and convenient practice time will enable
more students to fit swimming into its busy schedules. The Manhasset Swim
Team has its first meet against Jericho on December 13th at 5:00pm and although they are a conference above them, they hope to swim well against them.
Its first meet against another team in our conference (Sewanhaka) will be scheduled during the upcoming weeks. ■
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THE IND IAN IN K
PAGE 6
Health & Wellness
Fiction vs. Reality- The Truth about Drugs and Alcohol
By: Laura Eng
Manhasset CASA stands for ―Manhasset Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse‖. It
is a private non-profit organization that was established in 2001 and works with Manhasset
and Nassau County to reduce the illegal and underage consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and
other drugs among today’s youth. Manhasset
CASA also works to educate the youth about
the risks of using drugs and alcohol.
The truth about the body. There are
billions of nerve cells that make up the human
brain. These nerve cells control what a person
can feel, think, or do. Dopamine, gives the
body a ―feel-good‖ sensation. Drugs, which fill
the body with that ―feel good sensation‖, causes
the dopamine level to drop drastically when the
the user stops taking the drugs. Feelings of depression may occur as a result when the dopamine levels drop from imbalance. In teenagers,
these symptoms can be especially dangerous.
Teenagers have a stronger impulse to seek this
―feel-good‖ pleasure and have a weaker ability
to fully understand the potential consequences.
Since teenagers’ bodies are still developing, the
body’s natural return to a balanced state can be
affected by drugs that damage the brain.
Smoking. Why do it if it’s bad for
you? Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant
and a sedative to the central nervous system.
When people smoke, the nicotine is immediately absorbed by the body. Whether it’s by
tobacco smoke, chewing tobacco, or smokeless
tobacco, the hazards are extremely deadly. Tar
in cigarettes can increase the possibility of the
users getting lung cancer, emphysema, bronchial disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.
Teenagers smoke for various reasons including
peer pressure, sheer relief, or simply pure addiction. It’s important that teenagers understand
the deadly consequences when they smoke, in
order to encourage them to lead healthier lives.
The statistics about drinking. Statistics
provided by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration) stated
that 40% of kids have tried alcohol by the time
they reach eighth grade. Children who are underage when they drink alcohol are more likely
to use drugs. More than 67% of kids under the
age of 15 who start drinking will use illegal
drugs. Underage drinking increases the chance
that children will make bad decisions or involve
themselves in risky behavior. Statistics also
show that more than 4 in 10 people who begin
drinking before 15 become dependent on alcohol. Also, children who use alcohol have lower
academic performance compared to nondrinkers. The scarier risks include liver disease,
heart disease, sleep disorders, depression, and
even stroke.
There are many teenagers who have
tried alcohol. Whether it was at a party or with
friends, teenagers should keep in mind that they
are damaging their developing minds. Studies
show that heavy-drinking can cause debilitating
conditions. For minimal drinking, impairment,
blackouts and memory lapses can occur.
During the week of October 15-23 of
this year, Manhasset CASA and SCA worked
together against youth substance abuse in the
annual Red Ribbon Week. These are applaudable efforts by CASA and the SCA to make kids
aware of the risks of doing drugs and alcohol.
On October 15th, Manhasset CASA held
their 2nd annual Pharmaceutical Take-back
Event in collaboration with the Town of North
Hempstead, Nassau County Police, Manhasset
Public Schools, Manhasset SCA and the Manhasset High School Green Club. During this
very successful event, the Green Club was able
to help collect 330 pounds of pharmaceuticals.
The SADD club held a ―Tag It‖ contest
to decorate the Above the Influence logo to see
how students could express that they’re above
the influence of drugs and alcohol. These logos
may be seen by the Middle School main office.
Overall, CASA has been extremely active in informing today’s youth about the risks
of alcohol and drugs. To all the teens reading
this: take the time to read the pamphlets that offer facts about this issue. It’s important to realize and understand the risks, because it’s our
futures that are on the line. Our decisions now
affect what happens to us later on, and could in
fact alter our entire lives.
For more information on Manhasset
CASA,
please
visit
http://
www.manhassetcasa.org/. To learn more about
the risks of underage drinking please visit http://
www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov/knowrisks.aspx. To learn more about the risks of
drug
use
please
visit
http://
www.theantidrug.com/. ■
The Flu Shot: A Risk or a Benefit?
By: Laura Eng
Flu season is here, and it’s time to start thinking about flu shots. The flu shot
is an inactivated vaccine, which means that the virus is dead. The vaccine is given
intramuscular. Each year, the type of flu that the vaccine will fight changes. For 2011
-2012, the flu vaccine will protect against influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2),
and influenza B virus. The vaccines are determined depending on their frequency
from the previous year.
There has been a great debate over the flu shot risks. Debate has circled
mostly over the risks of the shot and the possibility of contracting the flu from the
shot. Risk of receiving serious harm or death is low. Also it’s improbable that one
can contract the flu from the shot since the viruses are inactivated. However, severe
allergic reactions can occur as a result of the shot. The three seasonal influenza viruses in the vaccine are grown in eggs, therefore people who have an allergic reaction
to eggs may not take the vaccine.
The flu shot however is not a guarantee that one will be completely protected
from the virus. In the cases where those who received the vaccine contracted the flu,
there are several explanations. Sometimes a person can be exposed to the virus after
receiving the shot. It takes time for the vaccine to begin to protect, so the defense is
inexistent for a small period of time in the beginning. Also, it’s important to remember that the influenza shot only covers the three most common viruses from the previous year. There is always a possibility that some people may contract flu viruses that
weren’t included in the vaccine.
For more information on the flu vaccine, please visit http://www.flu.gov/. ■
Source: University of Iowa
THE IND IAN IN K
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Health & Wellness
USDA Replaces Food Pyramid With New Plate Icon
By: Laura Eng
More than two-thirds of adults
in the United States are obese. In
fact, there has been a huge increase
over the past twenty years. Last year,
there wasn’t a single state with less
than 20% of obesity. The danger in
these increasing numbers is evident,
as the number of diabetics has been
on the rise as well.
In an effort to battle childhood
obesity in the United States, Obama
has created a national campaign
called ―Let’s Move‖. ―Let’s Move‖
promotes healthier eating and physical exercise. In June, first lady Michelle Obama and Surgeon General
Dr. Regina Benjamin released the
new plate icon, called MyPlate. The
new icon will replace the well-known
Food Pyramid. MyPlate was designed in the hopes to remind Americans the importance of healthy eating
in correct proportions.
The new icon is much simpler in appearance, but helps serve as a quick reminder
of the recommended diet. MyPlate is divided
into four colored quarters; red for fruits, orange
while the other half should be filled
with equally proportional whole
grains and lean protein. A cup of
dairy, preferably low-fat, such as
skim milk is also suggested as a supplement to the meal.
The idea to redesign the Food Pyramid is commendable. MyPlate clarifies nutritional information by placing the food groups on a familiar
plate versus a vague pyramid. A notable change in the new icon is that
grains have taken a less prominent
place in the suggested diet. However, grains are still strongly represented through fruits and starchy
vegetables, also known as the refined
carbohydrates. By placing a stronger
emphasis on fruits and vegetables,
carbohydrates will still be prevalent,
but so will vitamins, fiber, and iron.
To learn more about this new
i con, M yP l at e, pleas e vi s i t
for grains, green for vegetables, purple for pro- www.Choosemyplate.gov. ■
tein, and a separate blue section for dairy.
What is this means is that one half of your plate
should be filled with fruits and vegetables,
Holiday Eating- The Healthy Way
By: Laura Eng
Eating over the holidays doesn’t have to necessarily be unhealthy. Follow these healthy guidelines
to have a great holiday meal.
The main key is to have smaller portions of
food. While shopping for holiday supplies, if you use
disposable plates, try to buy smaller sized dinner
plates. Or if you prefer to use real plates, try to use
the smallest dinner plates you have. The smaller sized
plates will discourage guests from eating as much as
they would with bigger plates.
Before the holiday dinner starts, make sure
you don’t start with an empty stomach. Try eating
some healthy vegetable sticks, nuts, or fruit. Having a
slightly full stomach will help you ration out how
much to eat during the dinner.
Also make sure to watch out for high calorie
drinks such as egg nog or sugary drinks and soda.
Sparkling water, diet soda, and seltzer mixed with a
little cranberry juice are some great low calorie alternatives.
During the holiday dinner, carefully select
your calories. For the appetizers, watch out on overSource: http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/marieantoinette/index.html
eating chips and dip. It’s fine to have a couple of
chips, but save room for the rest of the dinner! The
real dinner will fill you up so much better. If you know that a favorite dessert is coming up later, eat less of the food that you don’t care as much
for during the meal. Therefore you can have your cake and eat it too!
Recommended foods to eat more of during the holidays include: turkey and chicken breast, plain potatoes, tossed salad, steamed vegetables, fruit, and whole grains. Foods that are recommended to eat less of include: beef prime rib, stuffing, fried foods, gravy, candy, cake, and pie.
If your classic holiday meals consist of unhealthy fat and calories, try modifying some ingredients for healthier options. Fat free milk, yogurt, and sour cream are terrific substitutes for whole- fat ingredients. If you plan on switching regular margarine or butter for light or diet versions, be aware of this important tip: fat substitutes have a higher water content and can change a baked good’s texture. To fix this, experiment
before the holidays and try reducing some of the liquid that’s added to the recipe to keep the texture about the same.
Remember, the most important tip is to ration out your food at a slow pace. However eating healthy doesn’t mean that you have to starve
yourself. If you manage to follow all of these tips by the end of the day, sneak a rainbow cookie! Happy Holidays! ■
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PAGE 8
Science & Technology
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus
By: Maxwell Hu
With the upcoming Android phone, the Galaxy Nexus , there will be high expectations.
Shipping with the new Android operating system, the Ice Cream Sandwich, the new phone
by Google and Samsung will have to compete
with the already released iPhone 4S, their primary competitor. The iPhone 4S, which
shipped on October 14th, already has a solid
foundation of customers, while the new Android phone must inevitably outperform the
iPhone. While the iPhone is no doubt a solid
phone, the new Nexus is a serious competitor to
the iPhone for sales. Both phones have the
same processor, meaning they should run at
approximately the same speeds, same wifi capabilities and similar memory capacities. This
is about where the similarities end, as both
phones express their own benefits and creativity. The Galaxy Nexus features a 4.65 inch
screen, a 1280x720 display, and a Super
AMOLED display. The iPhone has a 3.5 inch
screen, a 960x640 display, and weighs slightly
more and is slightly thicker than the new Android phone. Although it may seem that the
Galaxy Nexus will have a sharper image due to
the greater amount of pixels, the iPhone has a
greater pixel density, meaning it has a clearer
and sharper display. Even though the new Android phone has the advantage in the technical
department, the iPhone is still one of the best
looking, if not the best looking phones on the
market, which plays a huge role in marketing,
just because of the fact that it is a nice looking
phone. The 4S and the iOS 5 came with an 8megapixel camera, Siri, iMessage, Notifications, and many new improvements that build
upon the already solid phone boasting the largest and most comprehensive app store in the
market. The new Ice Cream Sandwich operating system by Google brings similar improvements including multitasking, face recognition,
voice control (similar to Siri), and more updates. Doubtless, the two phones will be in direct competition, due to its similarities with the
iPhone, and Google and Samsung must price
the Galaxy Nexus accordingly. That said, the
new Samsung Galaxy Nexus will be solid new
Android phone and will reinvigorate the ongoing rivalry between Google and Apple. ■
Source: Samsung
iCloud Innovation…Don’t Tell That to Motorola!
By: Bradley Spilka
Www.apple.com
The release of the new iPhone 4S coincided with the release of a new Apple software
called iCloud. Similar to the windows cloud,
the iCloud enables users to sync emails, contacts, music and videos onto iTunes on different
computers. The iCloud eliminates the constant
hassle of resyncing your iPod or iPhone onto
different computers, which distorts your library.
The new program automatically
downloads anything new onto your computer
when you open iTunes with no syncing needed.
This new programming has been met with critical praise, but events took a turn for the worse
when Motorola became involved. They have
sued Apple for 2.7 billion US Dollars for stealing their ideas. Motorola claims that they had
pioneered a system that could sync emails to
multiple devices. As with most cases in a modern day courthouse, I believe the two sides may
reach a settlement if Motorola can prove they
invented and patented their technology cor-
rectly. However, if Motorola fully wins these
2.7 billion dollars, many economic repercussions will occur. Apple’s stock will drop significantly and the sales of the iPhone 4S will
decrease. The company will have lost the faith
of their investors and many of their other innovations may be put to question. People will not
want to buy from a company that has lied to
them and produced software that could be considered plagiaristic. Finally, this lawsuit, if
won by Motorola, will severely hinder the promotion of the iPhone 5. Ever since the success
of its predecessors, the iPhone 4 and 4S, rumors
have circulated about the inevitable fifth release
from the iPhone franchise. If the lawsuit puts a
dent in Apple’s financial state and credibility,
the iPhone 5 may disappear and put the franchise in jeopardy. For the sake of Apple’s future prospects, it would be better off to settle
with Motorola then wage a possibly detrimental
war. ■
Apps for the iPhone - Siri – Where Are You?
By: Adam Prinzo
Siri, the self -proclaimed "humble virtual assistant," has arrived. Apple’s newly-named Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook showed off Apple’s
latest invention. Siri attempts to answer any question from ―What time is
it?‖ to ―Who is Steve Jobs?‖ and she will answer you with answers from
―I am sorry I don’t know, would you like me to do a web search?‖ to
―Steve Jobs was the Co-Founder and CEO of Apple, Inc.‖ Siri can also
set times and places in your calendar, remind you about something using
the ―Reminders‖ app, send text messages and iMessages, dictate emails
and many other things. Siri is going to be a big help while driving because you can ask Siri for directions and is perfectly legal as long as you
don't pick up your iPhone. ■
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PAGE 9
Science &Technology
NASA: Spinoffs
By Isabella Calpakis
Everyone knows about NASA (National
Aeronautics and Space Administration), some
more than others, but are we really appreciative
of their contribution to our everyday lives?
Throughout the years, NASA has made several
lasting impressions on society, and since budget
cuts are affecting even this ingenious institution,
NASA deserves recognition. NASA’s funding
will be cut down by almost $240 million due to
a new federal spending bill. This year, NASA
will be able to cut funding on the canceled Constellation project, which was prohibited last year
under the 2010 budget.
Although the funding cut is a
hefty amount, NASA will still be able to complete projects under the current budget. NASA
scheduled the new Mars Rover to launch on November 26th, 2011, at 10:02 a.m. The mission
is to asses past and present Martian habitability.
The new rover Curiosity, weighing in at one
ton, boasts ten science instruments on board.
Although some of these concepts may
seem foreign to most that are not scientists,
NASA has contributed to society most of what
we consider normal, such as bar code scanners
at the grocery store check-out line. The technologies initially created for aeronautics but
eventually used to benefit others are denoted
―spinoffs‖ by NASA. Over the years, NASA
has become responsible for thousands of familiar spinoffs. Some include the TV satellite dish,
smoke detectors, ski boots with the similar design of a space suit, joystick controllers, and
invisible braces. Not many are aware of how
advanced society is because of these spinoffs.
All of these materials were initially suited for
NASA expeditions, but they were conformed to
fit into our everyday lives. So the next time you
buckle your feet into ski boots or check-out at
the grocery store line at King Kullen, thank
NASA. ■
Apps for iPad - Facebook For iPad
By: Adam Prinzo
Facebook for iPad is finally available for the
iPad using the full iPad screen. And no, this isn'
the iPhone's similar Facebook app. This new
app's home screen shows you your recent newsfeed; flipping the iPoad on its side will reveal a
chat sidebar showing you all your online
friends. The iPad app acts much like Facebook
on a computer. The photos section has been
completely redesigned showing "Your Photos,"
"Friends Photos," "Mobile Uploads," and others
in little "photo packets." Facebook has also re-
leased an update to their
iPhone app as a complement.
the two apps have similar designs and similar functions.
Facebook for iPad is available
as a free update or download
for the original iPad and iPad 2
form the App Store. The Facebook for iPhone
update is available free of charge from the App
Store. ■
Carrier IQ: Is Someone Looking Over Your Shoulder?
By Jonathan Masci
On November 12th, an Android developer from Connecticut named Trevor Eckhart
published a post on his website alleging that diagnostic software running on many iPhones,
BlackBerrys, and Android devices collects and
transmits private personal information. He also
released confidential, copyrighted training
manuals produced by the software's manufacturer.
The company behind the software, Carrier IQ, Inc., describes itself as ―the leading provider of mobile services intelligence solutions‖
and says that the purpose of its software is to
allow wireless companies to see problems with
their devices as they happen and fix these issues. It does not try to conceal the omnipresence
of its software, garnishing its homepage with a
continuously climbing ticker of ―handsets currently deployed‖ that reads approximately 141
million.
The problem, say Eckhart and privacy
activists, is that Carrier IQ does not collect only
data about dropped calls and crashing apps.
Eckhart has released a video in which he connects his own Android phone to his computer to
display the output of the information the software transmits back to wireless providers. The
video shows the program records a code specific
to every button on the phone, which could essentially allow the recipient of such information
to know the user's every keystroke. The video
also demonstrates that when the phone receives
a text message, the software records the plain
text of the message. Eckhart claims the software
can also provide location information.
According to officials in the Federal
Communications Commission and the Justice
Department, if Eckhart's charges are true, Carrier IQ may be in violation of multiple federal
laws, including the Federal Wiretap Act and the
Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
Carrier IQ has categorically denied Eckhart's allegations. In a promotional video, CEO
Larry Lenhart assures consumers that ―[the software] is not recording keystrokes or providing
tracking tools.‖ He goes on to say, ―Our technology is your advocate.‖ Four days after Eckhart's initial post, the company sent a cease and
desist letter accusing him of copyright infringement for posting training manuals for their software and saying that the company believes his
charges are ―without substance, untrue, and...
damaging to our reputation and the reputation of
our customers.‖ Despite this letter, Eckhart has
refused to remove the training materials and accusatory comments from his website or to post a
statement written by the company.
In marketing materials for ―IQ Insight
Experience Manager,‖ one of its five similar
and equally mysteriously-named products, Car-
rier IQ seems to admit, or at least to imply, that
its software is capable of collecting and indeed
does collect private user information. In a bullet
list titled ―Features,‖ the company includes
―Capture a vast array of experience data including screen transitions, button presses, service
interactions, and anomalies,‖ as well as ―View
application and device feature usage, such as
camera, music, messaging, browser and TV.‖
However, in a statement, the company
asserted that while the software may report usage statistics, it does not access message content: ―For example, we understand whether an
SMS was sent accurately, but do not record or
transmit the content of the SMS.‖
A consultant working for an electronic
security company announced that, according to
his tests and knowledge of Carrier IQ software,
it does not record keystrokes or message content
and shows no malicious intent. However, like
many, he is calling for openness on the issue
from Carrier IQ and wireless companies.
It is difficult to tell what will become of
this controversy. There is evidence to both support and condemn Carrier IQ. Although Trevor
Eckhart should not have published confidential,
copyrighted material and probably will face a
lawsuit over it, millions of mobile users may be
grateful to him if he has indeed uncovered an
alarming intrusion of privacy.■
THE IND IAN IN K
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Science & Technology
New Planet Discovered!
By: Nicole Kiprilov
On December 5, 2011,
NASA’s Kepler exploration program
announced its discovery of a new
planet called Kepler-22b. The planet
was discovered on the third day of
the Kepler science operations in
2009. Kepler-22b’s characteristics
are amazingly similar to those of
Earth, so now the big question is,
―Will this new planet be able to support human life?‖ I believe that this
planet is already inhabited, but many
are saying that it is waiting for us.
The temperature of the planet’s surface is about seventy-two degrees
Fahrenheit, which means that the
climate is perfect for human life. Kepler 22-b
has a complete solar system, and it rotates
around a yellow star. The yellow star is a bit
smaller and cooler than the Sun (it is 25% less
luminous), and it darkens once every 290 days,
which is close to our year. The amount of light
that hits the surface of the planet is therefore
very similar to the amount of light that comes
from the sun. Kepler-22b and its home star are
actually 15% closer to each other than the Earth
and the sun. Scientists have discovered that
there is liquid water on the surface of the
planet, since it is only seventy-two degrees. So
far, there are no obstacles to the presence of life
on the planet. Kepler-22b is about two and a
half times as large as Earth. Scientists have predicted that there is a substantial amount of
vegetation, due to the appropriate temperature
and the existence of liquid water. The only
problem is that Kepler-22b is 600 light years
away from Earth, which means that it
would take 23 million years to get
there with the rockets we have today.
One light year is about six trillion
miles. So far this year, Kepler has discovered 28 confirmed planets, and
2,326 candidate planets. This planet is
the first planet that is confirmed to be
in a ―habitable zone.‖ The discovery
"is a major milestone on the road to
finding Earth's twin," said Douglas
Hudgins, Kepler program scientist at
NASA Headquarters in Washington. It
is absolutely amazing how advanced
humanity has become. I can only
imagine what kind of discoveries we
will be making in a few years. There is still
much more to be discovered about this amazing
planet, such as the texture of the surface, but
what NASA has done so far is simply incredible. Scientists are planning to measure its density and mass this summer, and search for any
signs of metabolism, so that we can get closer
to finding out if there is, in fact, life on the
planet.■
Holiday Delights
Rainbow—Tri Color Cookies
Ingredients
 2 sticks butter, softened
 1 cup sugar
 4 large eggs, room temperature
 1 cup sifted flour
 3 teaspoons pure almond extract
 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
 food coloring, green, yellow and pink
Filling
 1 jar seedless raspberry spread
Topping
 1 (12-ounce) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Method
This recipe is cooked in three separate layers and then assembled. The bottom layer is green, the middle layer is yellow, and the top layer is
pink.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Use air-foam pan approximately 15x10x1 lined with parchment paper.
Cream together butter and sugar. Blend in eggs one at a time.
Add flour gradually, blending well.
Add extract, orange zest, and several drops of green food coloring. Blend.
Bake for approximately 15 minutes. Let cool on rack and carefully flip cake out of pan onto flat tray or into larger pan. Carefully remove the
parchment paper and spread jam across entire surface, not too thick.
6. Repeat cooking directions for next layer using yellow food coloring. After cooling, flip this layer on top of first layer, press, and spread with
jam. Repeat last layer using pink food coloring.
7. In a double boiler, melt chocolate chips with oil. Spread evenly over top layer with a spatula. Let cool.
8. Refrigerate until ready to cut. Before cutting, bring back to room temperature and using a sharp knife cut into 2-inch by 1-inch cookies, discarding edges that are uneven.
TIP: Cookies also freeze well. Freeze uncut and bring to room temperature before slicing.
Yield: Approximately 70 - 75 cookies
PAGE 11
THE IND IAN IN K
IS SUE II
Holiday Delights
Chocolate Caramel Brownies
Ingredients
14 ounces caramels
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 (18.25 ounce) package German chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup evaporated milk
3/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
2 cups milk chocolate chips
Directions
1. Peel caramels and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup evaporated milk.
Heat and stir until all caramels are melted.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
3. In a large mixing bowl, mix together cake mix, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, melted but- Perfect balance between the richness of the chocolate and the silky
ter, and chopped pecans. Place 1/2 of the batter in prepared baking pan.
texture of the caramel.
4. Bake for 8 minutes.
5. Place the remaining batter into the fridge. Remove brownies from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Drizzle caramel sauce over chocolate chips. Remove brownie mix from refrigerator. Using a teaspoon, make small balls with the batter and smash flat. Very carefully, place on
top of the caramel sauce until the top is completely covered.
6. Bake for an additional 20 minutes. Remove and let cool.
Chocolate Chip Biscotti
Ingredients
 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
 1 cup sugar
 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
 1 cup chocolate chips
 4 tablespoons cold butter
 1/4 teaspoon salt
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 2 eggs, lightly beaten
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a food processor, combine sugar, flour, baking powder and salt, process for a
few seconds.
3. Add butter and vanilla, process until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
4. Add chocolate chips and eggs and pulse until dough is evenly moistened.
5. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces, press onto pans as logs.
6. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove from oven and cut into diagonal 1" slices.
7. Turn slices on sides and return to oven for 5-10 minutes.
8. Let cool.
Chocolate Crackled Cookies
Ingredients
 1 ¼ cups firmly packed light brown sugar
 1 cup vegetable shortening
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 2 large eggs
 2 cups flour
 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
 ½ teaspoon salt
 ¼ teaspoon baking soda
 2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
 1/3 cup sugar
 ½ cup powdered sugar
Directions
1. Beat brown sugar, shortening and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
2. Beat in eggs.
3. Stir together flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda in small bowl.
4. Gradually add to shortening mixture, beating just until blended.
5. Stir in chocolate chips.
6. Cover and chill 2 hours.
7. Heat oven to 375°F.
8. Form dough into 1 ¼ inch balls.
9. Roll in sugar, then in powdered sugar, to coat completely.
10. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet.
11. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are set.
12. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet.
13. Remove cookies to wire rack to cool completely.
14. Makes 3 dozen.
Source for images: http://whatscookingamerica.net
PAGE 12
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THE IND IAN IN K
Thoughts
An Almost-Year Without Facebook and Living to Tell the Tale
By: Katherine Nevitt
October 30th would have marked a full
year that I’d lived without Facebook. Emphasis
on the lived. I’m alive. But what did I subsist
off of, if not impersonal happy birthday wall
posts from people who would have otherwise
forgotten that I exist? Demoting myself to the
equivalent of a plebeian, in the high school hierarchy of the cyber-web, how did I survive
socially? Or, better yet—what did I do with all
of that free time? And so here is where my
story begins.
The Saturday before Halloween, 2010, I
sat at my desktop, playing the Facebook
equivalent of the ultimate castigator of procrastination, the ―Wikipedia Game‖, a makeshift
diversion of sorts. But, instead of jumping from
hyperlink to hyperlink in an effort to make it to
Jesus’ page, I was going from profile to profile,
to the ultimate, agita-inducing realization that I
would not be going out that night and that
sporting my already obsolete costume of
choice, (Sasha Fierce—robotic hand and all)
would be put off to a later date of never.
We’ve all been there. No, not waiting, leotard
in hand, to dress as Beyonce’s alter ego, but
rather being left out. It’s a necessary part of
teenage experience. What isn’t, is letting the
photo albums from last night inundating your
newsfeed, utterly consume not only your time
but also you yourself. So, I (somewhat rashly,
I will admit) deactivated my Facebook. I wasn’t going to torture myself—plus I could now
be more productive than ever. Weeks went by,
and symptoms of withdrawal began to surface.
All I had to do was type in my password, and
I’d be up and running. The only problem? I
couldn’t remember my password. Forgot Your
Password? Facebook would send it to my
email! The only problem? I’d forgotten the
password to that email. Any further attempts at
recovery were rendered useless, and my Face-
book…was gone.
Twenty-two. That’s how many times
my sister looked at her phone over the course
of our hour-long dinner together. The amount
of times I checked my phone? Zero, because I
didn’t bring it. I’m notorious for delayed responses. Text me and on a good day I’ll get
back to you within 4 hours, otherwise, 2-8 business days, standard shipping. Grouping the cell
phone, and namely the texting that comes with
it, with Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and other
social medias—have we finally reached the
point where we are so engrossed in our cybersocial lives, that it takes away from our real-life
social lives? It’s a tragic irony, that we spend
so much time on these social interfaces, assumingly to enhance the physical, real-world aspect
of our social lives, that we end up missing out
on the very aspect that we’re trying to enhance.
Analogous to starving in your own kitchen,
stocked with a lifetime’s worth of food. Not to
get all Ferris Bueller, but if you don’t stop to
look around once in a while, you might just
miss it… that it being life, not a BBM message.
So I spent my junior year about as close
to being Amish as would allow me to still use
electric plumbing. I read until I was nauseous, I
wrote until I felt like I had Carpel Tunnel. I
went to museums, I practiced my flute, I even
talked to my parents. I did crosswords, I did
Sudoku, I finished the New York Times, front to
back everyday. I refused to partake in any
―leisure‖ activity even remotely related to technology. No ―Xbox‖, (really Nintendo64, because that’s the most recent game console I
own) no TV, no computer other than to type of
homework. I learned and experienced and
lived. There was being taught in school, and
then there was teaching myself, through books
and exhibits and just listening to people and
conversations. I absorbed, I immersed myself,
but I almost drowned. I was becoming a recluse—on the verge of achieving the same end
that someone living the other extreme, of too
much social media and technology would have
reached. My friendships remained strong, and I
was happy and free from ―distraction‖. I never
had to worry about being ―out-of-the-loop‖,
because without a Facebook, there wasn’t even
a loop for me to be out of.
**Spoiler alert** I currently have a
Facebook. Contradictory, I know, but I probably should have prefaced this with my intent in
writing this. I’m not preaching or trying to push
some puritanical, self-denying life-style, because even I realized that completely isolating
myself from social media was a bit extreme and
unrealistic. I wanted to keep in touch with my
friends who went off to college, and yeah, post
mindless videos of dancing cats and what not
on my friends’ walls. So, September of this
year I started from scratch, made a new Facebook, and learned that moderation is key. What
I didn’t realize, or was too stubborn to realize
was that if I’d had a Facebook last year, or kept
up with Modern Family, I still would have
learned and grown and experienced. Technology and social media doesn’t necessarily detract from our intellect, but it certainly has the
potential to. Moderation is key. Being productive is
important,
but
―vegging out‖ once
in a while is just as
important. I check
my Facebook in the
morning and before
I go to bed, not after every sentence I write. It takes discipline,
but I’d rather have Facebook two times a day
than no times a day. ■
SAT Scandal
By: Maxwell Hu
The recent SAT test-taking scandals on Long Island have shed light on the
competitive nature of college entrance exams and the extent to which people will go
to improve their chances of being accepted into the college of their choice. Students should consider colleges within or around their own academic
levels or abilities and should conform to their own willingness to excel. By cheating on standardized tests, the arrested students would have jeopardized the chances of their fellow honest peers of getting into their choice colleges. After being caught, the futures of these students have been irreparably damaged – all just to enter the college of their choice. To think that some students may have paid upwards of over three thousand dollars to
have the test taken for them is appalling. The scandal also reflects the pressure in today’s high schools for students to get into respected colleges,
which should not be a contest of who can get into the better college but rather entering a college that suits the student the best. ■
The Music Man
By: Robert Godfried and Emma Klainberg
This year the Manhasset High School
musical production was the Music Man. The
play was an interesting combination of laughs,
wonderful acting and music, sung by the many
actors with an accompaniment from the pit orchestra. The play succeeded in being both entertaining, and generally fun to watch. All the
acting was phenomenal, especially those of the
leads Brad Harmeyer (the Music Man) and Delaney Parker (the music teacher.) The sets were
beautifully done and it was obvious that much
time was spent building them. All the scenes
ran smoothly into one another and the set crew
did a wonderful job of moving in and out sets
and props. All the songs were well rehearsed
and skillfully sung. The costumes were also
amazingly realistic and sometimes ridiculous
(like that of the Pick-A-Little-Ladies.) It is obvious that the Theater department (under the direction of Mr. Fessler) has put a lot of time and
effort into the production of the Music Man and
it has paid off, creating an exciting and wellperformed show!
Those who have participated in the musical (cast, crew, teachers, and parents) each put
forth a genuine effort and contribute to the
show, but what people need to recognize is the
necessity of backstage crew. The sets and costumes you may have seen on stage are all created and built by Manhasset students, under the
direction of Manhasset alumnus Mike Rinaldi,
Mr. Hueglin, and additional parent volunteers.
Then there’s the ―running crew‖, who move sets
on and offstage swiftly and professionally.
Without these dedicated crew members, Manhasset Theater would not be possible.
Thank you so much to all who came out
and supported the theater program!■
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Op-ed
Fracking
By: Mikey Christofer
Hydraulic Fracturing, or fracking for
short, is the process in which millions of gallons
of highly pressurized fluid are pumped down
into the bedrock of the earth, thus causing a
fracture in the rock. But why would anyone
want to cause fractures in rock miles and miles
into the earth? The reason is natural gas. Natural
gas is primarily made up of methane, and it is
trapped within deep rock formations. Fracking
allows this gas to be released from the rock,
making it able to be extracted from the ground.
Basically, we are pumping mass amounts of water into the Earth, and in return, we are getting
high amounts of natural gas that produce an economic surplus, create jobs for workers that
might be otherwise unemployed, and also help
to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. Sounds
too good to be true, right? This is what large
natural gas companies want us to think. The reality of fracking is actually quite cruel. Instead
of pumping highly pressurized water into the
ground, most companies send tons upon tons of
sand and silt into the ground, combined with the
chemical equivalent of a Long Island Ice Tea.
They use these chemical additives to further the
efficiency of the fracking, or in other words, increase the amount of natural gas they extract,
thus increasing their profit. If this was not bad
enough, companies are also not required to inform residents of the areas in which they are
drilling about what chemicals they are pumping
into the ground, which seems to contradict the
Safe Water Drinking Act. In fact, fracking has
been ruled exempt from the heavy regulation
that was the product of this act, due to intense
lobbying in Congress by the natural gas companies. These companies, as well as a study conducted by the EPA in 2004, insist that the process of fracking poses little to no threat on underground drinking water. However, there have
been an increasing amount of complaints from
residents that say they have become sick from
drinking their own water, some even complaining that the level of chemicals in their drinking
water has caused it to become flammable. Many
independent studies have confirmed what these
residents are saying, and the EPA has declared
that they will "investigate" these claims. However, the risks that come with fracking are not
just risks but inevitabilities. These include the
contamination of underground water, pollutants
in the air, and the mishandling of the waste byproduct that accompanies fracking. We as a society must decide if these immense negatives, as
well as the environmental degradation, are
enough to outweigh the positives that fracking
brings, which is essentially just money. My
opinion is that fracking should be banned in the
United States, as it has been in Australia, France
and South Africa. However, fracking continues
to go on to this day, and if not stopped, the consequences for us and our children will be enormous. ■
Is TXT SPK Hurting the Literacy of Students? LOL
By: Ryan Ross
Texting is a phenomenon that is here to
stay! As noted by Drouin, according to the 2008
Neilson report, there has been a 450% increase
in the use of text messages in the United States
over the last two years. Many if not most of
these messages have been sent by students. Although many alarmists have felt that texting
challenges the literacy of students and is detrimental to their education prowess, most studies
have not shown this to be true. These studies
have revealed that students who text have improved reading, spelling, and writing skills.
Thus texting has had a positive effect on students.
I do a lot of texting as do most of my
friends. My father, my friend’s parents, and
some of my teachers feel that we spend much
too much time texting. They also worry that it
teaches us to use short phrases, erodes grammar
and spelling, and keeps us away from our studies. Clearly, this is not true!
Texting has helped me with my reading
skills. Reading skills are defined as the ability to
recognize written or printed words and understanding their meaning. An article in the British
Daily Mail reported on a study at Coventry University that showed an increased ability of texting children aged eight to twelve to recognize
rhymes and syllables. Drouin’s study of college
students at a midsize Midwestern university endorsed that while texting helped with their overall reading skills, it was detrimental to their
reading accuracy. This ultimately led to their
lower literacy scores. Huang discussing David
Crystal’s ―Texting: the Gr8 Db8‖ points out that
texting students scored higher on reading and
vocabulary tests. Baggott discusses that text
messaging puts a greater and earlier emphasis
on reading and starts students reading more because it has become a social activity. Cheng
reported on a study from the British Journal of
Experimental Psychology which concluded that
children who texted had a better grasp of reading and vocabulary than those who did not text.
Therefore, it is clear to me that texting only
helps your ability to read!
Texting has made me a better speller.
Spelling skills are defined as the ability to form
letters into words according to accepted usages.
Heussner reported that in children age 8-12 the
use of text messaging helped to drive spelling
development. She added that texters who
spelled well while texting also spelled well academically. The Drouin study, as referred to earlier, also concluded that students who texted
were more skillful spellers that those who did
not text. Overall his study showed little significant differences between misspelling and text
messaging. Huang has noted that the better students were able to text message, the better they
were able to spell. Thus, I know my spelling
has only improved because of my texting!
Texting has aided me in writing more
clearly and concisely. Writing skills are defined
as the ability to write lucidly, coherently, and
grammatically. In a ten year study conducted
by the British Academy, texting was shown to
help children as young as the age of five in recognizing rhymes and word patterns. As cited
previously, Huang also discusses that students
who text messaged developed better writing
skills. O’Connor states that text messaging students were more comfortable with writing and
that this made them better writers. They were
also better able to revise and edit their work. He
also felt that students who texted did have some
difficulties in deciding when textese should and
should not be used in writing. Baggott pointed
out that texting has put a new emphasis on the
importance of writing by making it into a social
activity. I text better therefore I write better!
In the final analysis, texting has clearly
helped the literacy of students according to all
of the studies done by Drouin, Huang, Cheng,
Crystal, Heussner, O’Connor, and Baggott.
Although many felt that the use of textese
would hurt reading, spelling and writing skills,
for the most part studies have shown this not to
be true. Students who text have been shown to
develop these skills earlier and better with the
added social incentive of needing to be able to
read, write, and spell in order to communicate
with their peers. However, students have had
some difficulties in understanding the appropriate language for the appropriate setting. When
textese enters the world of formal writing, problems ensue. Even though it is apparent that for
now the effects of texting are more beneficial
than detrimental, further better controlled studies will be needed to follow the long term effects of text messaging and its effects on student
literacy.
The numbers of text messages are increasing exponentially. In 2008, as reported by
Huang, 2.3 billion text messages were sent
worldwide. This is an increase of 20% from
2007 and an almost 150% increase from 2000.
Many, if not most of these texts were sent by
students. Therefore texting is here to stay, so
deal with it! In the words of David Cryer in
―Txtng: the G8t Db8‖ as told by Huang,
―texting is hardly as deviant as people think and
it actually makes young people better communicators, not worse‖. He also points out that people who fear that the idiosyncratic elements of
textese will harm the English language should
learn from Shakespeare who often broke rules
of syntax and invented many new words. No
one seems to be blaming him for harming student literacy! Text messaging by students of all
ages therefore should be encouraged! Thus as
O’Connor has noted, it becomes important for
teachers to endorse texting in the curriculum in
early grade levels and to instruct students on
what is appropriate to text and when it is appropriate to use textese. Teachers who encourage
text messaging may even enhance studentteacher relationships. Hence, I can answer the
issue of text messaging as follows: Is txt spk
hurting the literacy of students? LOL ■
THE IND IAN IN K
PAGE 14
IS SUE II
Travel
Are We There Yet? : Travel Tips on Curing Car Sickness
By Kathleen Eng
We’ve all been there. After hours in the
car your stomach begins to turn, nausea kicks
in, and the last place you want to be is sitting in
that moving car. Motion sickness is caused by a
mismatch of signals between parts of your body.
In this case, your inner ears can sense you are
moving, yet your eyes are focused on the car
interior and do not sense it moving. I have experienced this countless times, as my family frequently takes a dreaded 15 hour drive down to
our summer house in Hilton Head, South Carolina. I always end up being the one
t
o
complain and feel that
queasiness, even at the beginning of
the trip. For that reason I
have
found a couple of easy
tricks
that do not require any
medication, but help ease
this
discomfort and allow
me to last the remainder of the drive.
Look outside.
Because
motion sickness is caused by the conflict between your inner ears and eyes, looking outside
will allow the eyes to see that the vehicle is
moving. When you read a book or play a video
game, your eyes are concentrated on a fixed object while your inner ears believe you are moving, causing that conflict between the two parts.
Open the Window. When you begin to
feel that dizziness, opening a window will allow
fresh air to enter the enclosed car and will set
you at ease. The fresh air will cure any queasiness from potent smells trapped in the car such
as strong-smelling snacks or food.
Find the right foods for the stomach.
Eating the right food before and during a car
ride can be tricky. A common mistake is that
people don’t eat at all, thinking that food will
upset the stomach. You should never skip eating because hunger on its own can cause great
discomfort as well as make your stomach vulnerable to anything unpleasant. However, you
should also not overeat or snack on anything
spicy, greasy, fried, dairy-based, or hard to di-
gest, such as french fries, as this will upset the
stomach. Instead, eat frequent but light snacks
about every two hours that are relatively bland
and carb-based like a cracker, bread, granola
bars, and pasta, as strong smells on their own
will cause dizziness. Fruits and vegetables are
also great choices to consume.
Keep hydrated. Water can be the ultimate cure to almost anything. When one feels
lightheaded it is usually due to dehydration.
Therefore, always have a bottle of water by your
side and drink frequently – not just when you
are thirsty.
Slow down breathing. A study of 46
people was conducted and it was found that
when people took slow, deep breaths, they felt
fewer symptoms than those who breathed normally or at a rapid pace. When one breathes
quickly or shallowly, the symptoms only become worse as it causes anxiety and light headedness. ■
Disney Cruises for Teens?
By Kathleen Eng
Your first thought when you hear the
word ―Disney‖ is probably something along the
lines of ―I’m too old for Disney.‖ Okay yes, I
may be a little biased to everything Disney because I’ve been visiting Disney World every
year since I was four. But with my peers and I
getting older, I can see their thinking. Disney as
a whole seems so oriented towards toddlers and
youth that the focus towards teens is miniscule.
However, with the arrival of their newest ship,
the Disney Dream, I can proudly say that all of
those stereotypes have been refuted.
own
video
games with a
personal
screen. For
those
who
like to party,
The Disney Dream seems to be the Holy
Grail of ships. Much larger than its two sister
ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder, this ship boasts 14 decks, 1,250 staterooms,
as well as the capacity to hold 4,000 passengers.
The biggest ―wow‖ factor on this ship for teens,
children, and adults alike is the first water
coaster ever at sea – The AquaDuck. The
coaster makes exciting twists and plunges as it
encompasses the boat, providing a bird’s eye
view of the ship and the waves below. This a multicolored disco floor and a DJ are set up
thrilling ride is sure to be a hit with teens as for dance competitions and karaoke contests.
On a ship at sea Internet access is limited, so to
well as the rest of the family.
allow teens to stay connected with their friends
Aboard the Disney Dream is the newly on land, they can surf the Web and use the latest
revamped teens-only lounge, the Vibe. Its computer technology to edit fun videos of their
trendy feel, high tech features, and modern dé- cruise experience. As if that weren’t enough,
cor invite teens 14 – 17 to relax, hang out, and Disney once again topped itself by creating an
make new friends with fellow cruisers. To en- outdoor deck right outside of the Vibe, exclusure that only teens are allowed in, a swipe of sively for teens. Teens can sunbathe on the
the ―Key to the World‖ card opens the doors mod chairs, jump in the pools, or relax in the
and allows access to the lounge. In addition to hot tubs. In addition to these water activities,
the relaxing area there is a bar (Smoothies and teens can verse each other in ping-pong, foossodas only!), a DJ/dance area, as well as a multi ball, and board games reserved only for teens.
-screen video wall and media room. The 103
Cruises are meant for relaxation and seinch LCD screen encourages teens to relax and
watch a movie or take part in intense video renity. Many cruise lines neglect these factors
game challenges with each other. For ultimate when deciding what features teens can enjoy.
comfort, the lounge is decorated with individual Aboard the Disney Dream however, a teensnooks in which teens can recline and play their only spa called the ―Chill Spa‖ has been created
for ages 13 to 17. This proves
to be the ideal retreat for teens
hoping to relax on their vacation.
Teens can take part in facials,
massages, manicures, and pedicures with a scheduled appointment. Some of these treatments
include a surfer’s scrub to exfoliate, a hot chocolate wrap to soothe
the body, as well as an acne attack
facial in order to cure those pesky blemishes
that so often affect teens.
I’ve taken five Disney Cruises and can
honestly say they were magical experiences that
my family and I will never forget. With ports
of call in Alaska, the Pacific Coast, Canada,
New England, Hawaii and the Mexican Riviera,
there is sure to be a perfect vacation for your
family. For added convenience, Disney Cruises
will begin boarding from a port in New York in
2012 and will sail to the Bahamas as well as
Port Canaveral, Florida, which will give easy
access to Disney World. So next time your
family wants to plan the ultimate retreat full of
serenity and laughs, be sure to consider Disney
Cruises, as there is truly something magical for
everyone. ■
Picture Source:www.disneycruise.disney.go.com
IS SUE II
THE IND IAN IN K
PAGE 15
Poetry
My Mother
What is life?
By: Juliet Paterek
By: Juliet Paterek
People see butterflies as beautiful insects whirling around in the daylight sky,
But not me.
I see them as planes of eternity and fractions of my mother.
People see butterflies around them bringing warmth and serenity,
But not me.
I see my mother watching over me, and encouraging
me.
People see butterflies of black and orange, orange and black,
But not me.
I only see one color, my mother.
Time
By: Juliet Paterek
Time is a passing word,
It comes, and goes,
But time is so precious,
To all of us.
Don’t look at yesterday,
Because you’re looking at the past,
Don’t look at the future,
Because it’s very vast.
Live in the moment,
Live it like it’s the only thing that exists.
But the season of the heart,
Shall always persist.
Don’t let small frustration,
Bring one down,
Life is too short,
Before one can turn it around.
Life is a mystery,
The meaning of life for each one may vary,
So rejoice and celebrate,
But be sure not to tarry.
Life is the unknown,
Be prepared for what it may bring,
For the pendulum is in constant undulation,
We don’t know how it may swing.
A Quest for Power
By: Juliet Paterek
Screaming on the screen in a sequin gallery.
Leaning on the poses of rosettes, garments, and harlequin torments.
You’re sensing the story of a former glory,
Where the centuries of memories are fidgeting the dreams of teens.
They’ve got knickknacks, ice-cream, and icepacks to prove,
That they were the ones who ruled the fools.
That they weren’t the ones who merely breathed in cool.
A heart full of youth drowning at once in a silver pool.
You’re watching the spectators gasp at these windowsill-souls,
And pre-trilogies.
Un-guilty selves, of you and me
…Mere bystanders
Of ―tween‖ queens.
Screaming in a sequin bloodshed eulogy.
Life is a puzzle,
Glue it.
Life is a challenge,
Meet it.
Life is a gift,
Open it.
Life is a mystery,
Solve it.
Life is a game,
Play it.
Life is a song,
Sing it.
Life is food,
Eat it.
Life is an adventure,
Take it.
Life is love,
Kiss it.
Life is a pact,
Fulfill it.
Life is a struggle,
Fight it.
Life is a goal,
Achieve it.
Life is a roller coaster,
Ride it.
Life is a journey,
Complete it.
Life is melancholy,
Sympathize it.
Life is a book,
Read it.
Life is a dream,
Believe it.
Life is wish,
Live it.
Life is…
What you make it.
Hourglass
By: Carter Paterson
IS SUE II
THE IND IAN IN K
PAGE 16
World News
Super?
By: Nicole Kiprilov
Many people are currently talking about
the failure of the ―Super Committee‖ created by
Congress to reduce the deficit, but what exactly
is it and what does its failure really mean for our
economy? The Super Committee is a joint select
committee that was created on August 12 by the
Budget Control Act of 2011. It is comprised of
twelve members of Congress (six from the Senate, six from the House of Representatives),
who are evenly divided into Democrats and Republicans. The Budget Control Act increased
the debt ceiling by $400 million in August. The
federal government has to make about $917 billion in spending cuts over the course of ten
years, so that government revenues rise in 2012,
as predicted. The Super Committee’s purpose is
to come up with a decent plan to cut spending in
the best way possible. Its job was to decide what
to do about tax reforms, military spending cuts,
and entitlement programs. The members were
also obligated to make a decision about where
to cut the $1.2 trillion, depending on what they
think will not harm the welfare of the people.
Their proposals were supposed to be issued by
November 23, so that Congress could vote. If
they failed to meet the deadline, automatic cuts
would be made as a result. On November 21,
the Super Committee issued a statement stating
that it had failed to reach an agreement. Of
course, the most important issue on the mind of
the government was who was to blame. John
Boehner blamed President Barack Obama,
while President Obama blamed the Republicans.
Obviously, that is not important. What’s important is that the Standard & Poor’s rating agency
downgraded the U.S.’s credit rating from AAA
to AA + in August because it believed that the
government was not doing its job in ensuring
―effectiveness, stability, and predictability in
American policymaking.‖ It also stated that it
was ―pessimistic‖ about our future and the capacity of our Congress. I think that the Super
Committee was created in order to look like the
United States is taking responsibility so that
credit rating agencies like Moody’s and Fitch
will not downgrade the U.S. credit scores in the
future. First of all, this Committee is not helping
the economy, because the effort is not effective.
It hardly addresses the problem seriously. How
could the American people be sure that what
these twelve members of Congress would present would be worthwhile? Are these twelve
people representing the interests of Americans
in terms of what to cut? There is nothing reliable that indicates that they are the ones capable
of making the best decisions. Just the idea that
these twelve random members of Congress were
chosen to secretively come up with a plan that
would have most likely been unchallenged is
absurd. If the subcommittee had succeeded in
devising a plan, it would have gone into effect
in 2013, when we may have a new president. If
the new Congress did not approve of the plan, it
could easily discard it. Basically, it does not
really matter that the committee failed. In addition, its cuts would not have touched most entitlements, which are currently the biggest economic problem. Republicans do not want to
raise taxes and Democrats do not want to cut
entitlements- there is complete chaos in the government, and this Super Committee is just contributing to it. My suggestion is simple: the government should stop experimenting and creating
ineffective groups that waste a lot of time and
money. Instead, it should take a serious approach on these issues, so that our economy can
finally get back on track. ■
When you get down to the bottom of it, Greece brought this
upon itself. Greece made a mistake by joining an international
currency. Normally, when a
country has a lot of debt and is
in a recession, they can devalue
their currency making it very
cheap. This helps because more
countries want to buy from that
devalued country because their
goods are so inexpensive. This
increases the country’s exports
and therefore helps their economy. However, because the
Euro is not only Greek, it would
be detrimental to other economies in the Euro to
devalue, therefore Greece cannot devalue on its
own.
Let’s take a closer look at why Greece
is in a recession. One reason is because before
Greece used the Euro, they had the Drachma
which was very weak against other currencies.
Therefore, people from other countries would
go on vacation to Greece because it was so
cheap to exchange their currency for the
Drachma. But once Greece joined the stronger
Euro, it became much more expensive to travel
there so their tourism industry slowed down and
Greece lost money. Aside from that, another
major reason it is in a recession is because the
Europeans failed to realize that it is impractical
to have groups of people united economically if
there are not standards for issues like retirement
and entitlement programs. Greeks retire at 61
years old as opposed to around 65 years for fellow EU member Germany. This has added to
the recession because, like here in the US, the
Greek government gives a form of social security to all its retired citizens. Social security is
money that workers pay the government in their
working days, so that the government will pay
for them when they retire. This is fine for times
of economic surplus when there is more than
enough money flow. But now that money is getting tight, Greece is having trouble paying for
all the entitlement programs for its citizens so
early on (due to their early retirement age), and
the Greek government is running out of money.
This has caused Greece to be bailed out – twice.
And these problems are not exclusively Greek.
Other countries in the EU that are going through
a recession right now made some of the exact
same mistakes.
As the economies of these weaker countries get worse and worse, stronger countries are
more and more worried about lending them
money. This is because as the economy gets
worse, there is a diminishing likelihood that
they will actually be able to pay off their debts
and countries do not want to lend money if they
are not guaranteed getting this money back.
Therefore, weak economies are not lent any
money so they are stuck in a recession. The only
way out of this is to raise the interest rates on
bonds to attract buyers. This was most accurately demonstrated in Italy few weeks ago
when bonds that would be paid off in less than a
year sold with interest rates higher than 6%
(which is very high for such a short period of
time).
The only way for the EU to recover and
avoid another currency crisis is for them to create a new treaty for the European Union as a
whole. This should include a more powerful
government and the right for that government to
regulate things like entitlement programs across
the board and set a standard for things like work
hours and retirement age. All the problems the
Eurozone faces can be solved, but that takes
time and cooperation by all the countries participating. It will not be easy, but the EU is one of
the world’s largest economies. Unless the EU
makes drastic and bold changes in 2012, the
very existence of the Euro is in jeopardy. ■
The Euro Crisis
By: William Delaney
First let me give some clarification; the
European Union is a union of twenty-seven
countries, (Austria, Belgium ,Bulgaria, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom), all part of a group of European countries
united economically. Seventeen of those twenty
-seven countries comprise the Euro zone, which
has adopted the actual currency known as the
euro. Among the countries that have adopted the
Euro are Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Ireland,
Portugal and Greece.
The Euro Crisis is a problem the EU is
currently facing. This problem is largely attributed to the bailouts it has given to countries like
Portugal, Ireland, and Greece. The leaders in
Brussels, which is the capital of both Belgium
and the EU, are worried that they will not have
enough money to bail out a large economy such
as Spain or Italy, so they are forcing Greece,
Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Ireland to undergo
major austerity measures. Austerity measures
are programs that the government implements to
make cutbacks to lower the country’s debt.
IS SUE II
THE IND IAN IN K
PAGE 17
Arts & Entertainment
A Very Gaga Thanksgiving
By: Michael Domanico
Lady Gaga might not be the most conventional choice for a primetime ABC Thanksgiving special. After all, this is the woman
whose last television special, ―Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square
Garden‖ on HBO, was a profanity-laced and
edgy concert special. How could the world's
most famous provocateur tone down her shtick
for such a family-friendly affair?
The answer: Meet Gaga's family, some students
from her elementary school alma matter, and
(celebrity?) chef Art Smith! Throw Tony Bennett and Katie Couric in for good measure, and
Gaga has herself a Thanksgiving special.
If the ingredients listed sound like a bit
of a mess on paper, I can assure you that they do
not make much more sense on television either
due to the lack of any continuity throughout the
special.
Gaga kicked things off with a duet, singing ―The Lady Is A Tramp‖ with Tony Bennett,
whose recent relevance has made him the Betty
White of octogenarian jazz crooners. The performance was rather conservative for Gaga. Her
outfit was elegant rather than over-the-top, and
she and Tony sang while the duo's family and
friends ate some traditional Thanksgiving meals
at nearby tables.
―Gaga, what should we put into this
spot? We have 90 minutes to fill, you know.‖
―Oh, I'll just sing something else on the piano.
Don't worry about it.‖ I cannot be completely
positive that this exchange took place, but ―A
Very Gaga Thanksgiving‖ is pretty strong evidence that this conversation did in fact happen
between a producer and Gaga. Throughout the
night, the performances would come and go
rather arbitrarily in low-key settings. There was
no cross-dressing, no Elton John cameo, no use
of fake blood; in other words, none of the things
we've come to expect from Gaga's live performances were present. Even her dancers, who
Source: http://www.buddytv.com
By: Emma Klainberg
Glee is a musical, soap opera aimed at
teens and is full of sometimes cheesy, sometimes heartbreaking drama. Although the show
itself is entertaining, there are many subtopics to
the already-present drama which bring recognition to controversial issues that exist in typical
high schools today.
For example, one of the most obvious
topics is homosexuality. Think about how many
characters on the show can relate: there’s the
loveable, stereotypically gay Kurt Hummel who
sadly only made a few appearances, were
dressed to the nines as they danced between tables, nearly elbowing the seated guests, who
often seemed torn between paying attention to
the live performances and eating their dinners.
If the dinners were prepared by in-house chef
Art Smith, I wouldn't be surprised if many of
the guests left with upset stomachs.
Gaga and Smith decided to give a Food
Network-style cooking tutorial. For those looking for a recipe that won't make Anthony Bourdain think twice, ―A Very Gaga Thanksgiving‖
was not very helpful. A cheese and salami waffle was served up, as it was inspired by one of
Grandma Gaga's old recipes. Cheese and salami
are two ingredients I would generally avoid putting into a waffle, but Smith and Gaga seemed
to enjoy their creation so much that they ate the
frankenwaffle with some fried turkey on top of
it. Not having tried it, I cannot say with absolute
certainty that this mixture of waffle, salami, and
cheese does not taste good. However, for those
of us who eat with our eyes, I can safely say that
we would not be eating what the chef was cooking. However, seeing Gaga try to cook while
wearing avant-garde fashion saved this segment
from being completely unnecessary.
Source: carltonjordan.com
gook that should have been more present in this
Thanksgiving special. Gaga giving thanks is exponentially more entertaining than listening to
Art Smith talk about his latest waffle disaster or
a quiet performance of Gaga's latest single,
―Marry The Night.‖ Instead of randomly throwing in songs here and there, ―A Very Gaga
Thanksgiving‖ would have been better if it focused on the woman at the center of it all rather
than the ―fun stuff.‖ As much as I love seeing
Gaga perform live, seeing a performance of
―The Edge of Glory‖ is far less interesting than
hearing Gaga talk about what her grandparents
mean to her. (The passing of her grandfather last
year is what inspired Gaga to write ―The Edge
of Glory.‖)
Going back to her roots, Gaga paid a
visit to her alma matter, Sacred Heart Catholic
School in Manhattan. Watching the pop star do
arts and crafts with some very lucky third and
fourth graders was a poignant touch, revealing a
more maternal side to the woman who travels
During the emotional Couric intervia egg and helps poison men who are all wrong
viewer, the former headmaster of Sacred Heart
for Beyoncé on a daily basis. More poignant
Catholic School popped in for a surprise visit.
When the former headmaster embraced Gaga,
moments came when Katie Couric interviewed she naturally called her ―Stefani.‖ If Gaga wants
Gaga at the elementary school. Seeing the pop to continue making holiday specials, I recomstar get teary-eyed talking about her parents be- mend that she veer more into Stefani Gering able to fulfill their dreams because of the manotta if she's aiming to make them truly
new opportunities their daughter has opened up memorable. ■
for them was the type of sentimental gobbled
wants to fit in, but at the same time stand out for
his fashion sense, more often mingling with the
other girl members of the glee club than the
male members and always competes with Rachel Berry, the drama queen; there’s Blaine
Anderson, the confident and cool role model/
boyfriend to Kurt who encourages individuality
and is a very talented performer himself; there’s
Santana, the popular school cheerleader, who
reveals that she has feelings for her best friend
Brittany but is absolutely ashamed when this
knowledge becomes public; there’s Brittany,
who is confused about her feelings (but then
again is confused about everything else as well);
and there’s the ex-school bully, Dave Karofsky,
who bullied Kurt because he was ashamed of
his own homosexuality. The show covers both
the positive and negative views of homosexuality in a relatable way. It definitely should be
considered a win for the writers of Glee for exposing viewers to a lifestyle which they before
may have not considered or accepted.
Disabilities play a significant show in
the show as well. Looking at Becky, Sue Sylvester’s sidekick and partner in crime, as well as
a student living with Down Syndrome, you can
see clearly the effects of the syndrome. That’s
not to say that it is necessarily being looked
down upon, but rather the scenes including
Becky teach viewers about Down syndrome. In
fact, an interview posted about a year ago
showed the actress, Lauren Potter, (a real
woman living with the syndrome) speaking
about it and how it has affected her life. What
about Artie, the sweet handicapped student who
desperately wants to get out of his wheelchair
and dance? He is a representation of the hope
that lives in all of us.
While some people consider Glee to be
just another television show that melts the
brains of viewers through incessant and unnecessary drama, it truly has the opposite effect. It
is important to spread awareness of issues that
exist in society today, and Glee does just that.
If you do not watch Glee, I recommend
that you check it out and watch it. If you already
watch Glee, make sure to take a moment to realize the importance of the events that occur in the
show. ■
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THE IND IAN IN K
PAGE 18
Arts & Entertainment
Long Island Restaurant Week
By: Viv Liu
The annual sumptuous restaurant week
has come and gone, with dozens of Zagat rated
and five star restaurants participating by offering $24.96 three course dinners for everyone.
Each restaurant offered its own unique menu.
For one week in fall, at the tail end of harvest
season, and for one week in spring, following
winter hibernation, Long Island dining is available for bargain prices.
came from the successful New York Restaurant
Week that runs annually in Manhattan every
January and is modeled after the Hamptons Restaurant Week.
I was able to dine in two restaurants during this restaurant week. One was Bistro Citron
in Roslyn and the other was Garden City’s Rein.
I thought that Bistro Citron was amazSource: http://whatscookingamerica.net
In addition to Long Island’s beautiful
beaches, lovely historic villages, vineyards and
shopping, it is well known for its dining scene.
Some of the finest cuisine on the East Coast is
available in this region, less than an hour from
New York City. The inspiration for this event
other restaurants to shame with amazing beignets, or in layman's term, donuts.
Rein, located in a Garden City hotel,
also had an ineffable menu. Its chocolate
mousse was outstanding. The restaurant had a
nice roomy and formal setting. I strongly urge
anyone to try this restaurant out.
Restaurant week is a steal and you
should keep your eyes open for the next one!
Many Zagat rated restaurants participated, including Laverne of Great Neck, Peppercorns
Restaurant & Catering, West East Bistro, Philippe Chow, Sole Italian Eatery, and Brasserie
Cassis. The next one is in the spring, so do not
ing, and a price like that left everyone incredu- forget to take advantage of these bargain prices
lous. For the main course I had the duck. It was at absolutely amazing restaurants. ■
fabulous and the redolent flavors were so good.
Like any other French restaurant, its dessert put
Ridgeline Ski Trips
By: Viv Liu
As many of you know, there is a wonderful ski shop
right next to Buttercooky Bakery in town. Not only does this
shop offer ski rentals and ski jackets but they also offer day
trips to some of the area’s best ski slopes. Some are Stratton,
Windham, Mount Snow, Okemo, and Bromley. They offer round trip bus rides with the lift ticket included in the price. Not only do you get to
enjoy awesome ski rides but you can go with a group of friends. When the same rider books 3 trips at the same time they save 25 dollars on their
third destination.
It is a wonderful way to spend time on the slopes with your friends. You have to be 15 years or older to go and you must complete a bus
trip waiver. The first trip is on Sunday, December 18th, up to Stratton. Hurry up, gather your friends, and skis and get ready for your trip! To get
more details go onto http://www.ridgelineski.com/ski_home.html or you can go into the store and just ask! ■
Healthy Eating
By: Laura Eng
Palindrome Puzzle
By: Nicole Kiprilov
PAGE 19
THE IND IAN IN K
IS SUE II
School News
Created by:
Alexandra
Wysota
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THE IND IAN IN K
PAGE 20
Fun Stuff
SUDOKU
WINTER FUN FACTS
1. We have all heard that no two snowflakes are alike. Did
you know a scientist took 400,000 to prove it?
2. The record for the most snow angels at one time was set
in Ontario Canada in 2004 when a couple of schools
joined to create 15,851 snow angels.
3. The wind chill factor measures heat loss from exposed
skin.
4. All snowflakes have 6 sides.
5. It does not have to be 32(degrees Fahrenheit) outside to
snow.
6. Average snowflakes fall at 3.1mph
7. Billions of snowflakes fall during a storm, even a small
storm.
8. Hot water freezes faster than cold water.
9. The "winter blues" were first diagnosed in 1984. And
have recently been named seasonal affective disorder or
S.A.D.
10. The largest snowflake recorded in the Guinness World
Book of Records fell in Montana and was 15 wide.
11. Ten inches of snow melts down to one inch of water.
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