Tablet PCs Debut at Nade - Summer School

Time Warp Dance
Styling your Uniform
Legally
Woodstock in L.A.
Page 3
Page 4
Page 7
Chaminade College Preparatory
Diagnosing the
Problems of the
Health Care System
Page 9
August/September 2009
Tablet PCs Debut at Nade
Jillian Olivas ‘11
Staff Writer
Chaminade successfully started the 2009-2010
school year with an emphasis
on technology, as the incoming freshman and sophomores
began to utilize their new
tablet PCs.
The Tablet PC
Program is one of the ways
Chaminade is integrating
technology into the classes.
So far, the program has been
mostly a success. In addition
to the tablets, most teachers
have implemented Blackboard
Academic Suite. Blackboard
allows for information such as
assignments, handouts, links,
and discussion board threads
for all of a student’s classes to
be found in one, central location.
Alexa Datuin ’12
enjoys the tablet system. She
says, “They makes class easier because you get to follow
along with what your teacher
is teaching. It also forces you
to pay attention because the
teachers have the ability to
keep track of what you are
doing.”
“The new system
is being integrated in classes such
as history, chemistry, literature,
computer applications, and others.”
Teachers can grant or
revoke internet privileges during class as well as access the
screen of any student in the
class.
“They make class
easier because
you get to follow
along with what
your teacher is
teaching.”
Sophomore Emily
Vitar states that adapting to
the tablet was easier than
expected. “It is actually pretty
simple. I learned in a couple
of days.”
The new system is being integrated in classes such
as history, chemistry, literature, computer applications,
and others. In classes that
contain juniors and seniors,
the tablets are either not used
or are used only by freshmen
and sophomores while juniors
and seniors complete their
work on paper.
According to Chaminade’s website, the goal for
the first year is to use the tablets in approximately 20% of
the class period,.The site also
claims that approximately
80% of the year’s books are
available on the tablet PCs,
in the form of eBooks. Some
features of ebooks include
annotation and highlighting
directly on the screen. eBooks
are slowly replacing the textbooks at Chaminade.
One advantage for
buying eBooks is their severely reduced price. Buying the
books through Varsity Books
and having them emailed
allows the prices to be significantly less expensive than
printed textbooks. Buying a
new geography textbook from
Varsity costs $98.58, but the
eBook only costs $18.55.
Freshman Michael
Pollock ’13 says the convenience of carrying one item
is the primary factor. “I like
taking notes and highlighting
on the tablet. It is also easy to
communicate with the teachers and teach the class.”
However, the tablets
come with their difficulties.
Datuin says that
she prefers textbooks to the
eBooks. “The eBooks are
difficult because you have to
do a lot to get to one page.
Sometimes they don’t work
properly or upload when you
need them to.”
She also cites the
“dead zones,” locations on
campus where the computers
do not obtain internet signals,
as a hassle.
Overall, the freshman
and sophomore students at
Chaminade enjoy using their
tablets and see them as an aid
to their education.
As the faculty members and students become
better acquainted with the
use and possibilities of the
tablet PCs, the integration of
technology in the classroom
will prepare students for the
increasingly technological
world around them.
Swimsuits stir
Controversy
Page 11
Vo l u m e 5 7 I s s u e 1
The World According
to Oscar Gracey
Oscar Gracey ‘10
Staff Writer
As the tans fade and
highlights go dark, it’s time
to officially say goodbye to
summer. Fall is the beginning
of a new season, and now we
find ourselves anticipating the
drama of a brand new school
year, but not before bidding
farewell to our summer favorites.
My personal summer
obsession was Big Brother,
the cheesiest, yet most addicting, reality show I have
ever seen. Unfortunately for
me, the only people that seem
to watch it are middle-aged
women in the Midwest. If you
happened to catch an episode
this summer, then you have
potential to be my new BFF.
If not, catch it next summer
and get back to me. Fall also
marks the end of Miley Cyrus’
Disney image. Bid farewell to
sweet, peachy princess Miley,
because now she means business. Dressed like a Pussycat
Doll during the Teen Choice
Awards, Miley was seen by
millions of innocent tweens
entering the stage by trailer,
and dancing provocatively
atop an ice cream cart. It
looks like that nose piercing
may have brought out the
wild, seductive side of Miss
Cyrus! In my eyes, Miley can
do no wrong, and if “Party in
the U.S.A” is not constantly
being played on your iPod
then you are not human.
See OSCAR, page 6
Members of Chaminade’s Dance Team
performed a thrilling tribute to the late pop
king, Michael Jackson, at the fall sports
rally.
Trip Diary: Iran
Shayan Ghiaee ‘11
Copy Editor
The trip diary is a recurring piece in the Talon that
features student narratives
of their travels to their
families’ native countries.
To be the son of immigrants is to live a life a part
of a colorful culture. Growing
up, I have always encountered
facets of my culture through
my parents, relatives, and
family friends. However, the
thing that I enjoy the most
about my ethnicity is the fact
that I have the opportunity to
visit the land of my parents:
Iran. The last time I traveled
to Iran was the summer of
2009.
The first part of the
trip is an 11 hour plane ride,
followed by 4-6 hours of
waiting in a European airport
for the connecting flight,
and ending with another 7
hour flight to the capital city,
Tehran. The fun begins as
soon as I step out of the plane,
proceed through customs, and
receive my baggage. As soon
as I walk through the security
checkpoint, I see my entire
family waiting for me with
hugs and kisses.
This is the same with all
of the other families that are
awaiting the arrival of their
loved ones, because
See Trip Diary, page 5
2
Aug/ Sept
2009| Talon
Editor-in-Chief Welcomes the
New School Year
Neeraj Chandra ‘10
Editor-in-Chief
Hello Chaminadians! As I take up my pen (or
my hand to the keyboard),
the new school year is well
underway. Although my body
seems to disagree at 6:15 in
the morning, summer is over,
and the annual school rush
has begun. Parking lots are
full, lockers are taken, and the
students are well rested. In addition, I know that the school
year has truly begun when I
find myself driving to Chamiande twice in a single day.
But school also
means homework, and I know
that afternoons can no longer
be spent watching Entourage
re-runs or hunting crawfish.
Even though I ought to be a
skilled veteran of the education system, I must admit that
the beginning of school always catches me by surprise.
As a member of procrastinators anonymous, I can tell you
that it is tempting to rely on
time to solve your problems,
but it never will. I tried this
approach with my summer
reading homework, and from
experience I caution against
such a mindset. If you do fall
into this abyss, however, you
are in luck, because school
has indeed begun and bi-daily
deadlines necessitate discipline even from the strongest
of procrastinators (and you
thought I would offer real advice!). Well, as compensation
for my deception, I can offer
the following commentary:
To the Seniors, we
have really started the year
with a bang! From sweeping the Fall Sports Rally to
our amazing senior t-shirts,
we have set the bar high. I
am truly impressed with our
enthusiasm and vivacity, and
I’m sure others are too.
To the Juniors, you
are half way through high
school! You now have a parking lot named after you, and
now you can officially claim
the title of upperclassmen.
The upcoming testing season
will be rigorous and strenuous, but know that dedication
and hard work tend to pay off.
To the Sophomores,
you are no longer the smallest
people on campus. Enjoy your
position as the first class with
Tablet PCs, and continue to
work hard and find success.
Unfortunately, you are the
only class on campus without
anything named after you, so
make it your goal to consecrate your class into Chaminade history.
And finally, to the
Freshmen, welcome to the
Chaminade community.
Although many of you hail
from a familiar school in
Chatsworth, the high school
experience is truly different,
so enjoy every moment of it.
It will pass before you even
know it, as I have discovered.
Try to learn the rules, though,
and do follow this one word
of advice: do not hang out in
freshmen hall. Really.
Until next time!
The Chaminade
Talon
Cheers!
--Neeraj Chandra
Editorial Staff
Editor in Chief
Neeraj Chandra
Managing Editor
Stephen Stewart
Art Director
Lori Li
Copy Editor
Shayan Ghiaee
Section Editors
The Talon is now online! Check us
out on the Chaminade Home Page.
News Katelyn Rogers
Features Maddie Sensibile
Arts & Entertainment
Elizabeth Kahn
Opinions Josh Meisel
Sports Jomar Sevilla
Ask the Eagle Expert
Ask the Eagle Expert!
Greetings students,
I am the Eagle Expert. I am
your local man of wisdom
and guidance, a guide, if you
will. Call me what you will, I
am here for you. My job is to
answer your questions. Feel
free to ask me anything within
reason. There are some things
that just can’t be answered by
just anybody. But then again,
I’m not just anybody. I could
list all of my qualifications,
but I don’t feel like writing
five whole pages. Likewise,
I’m sure you don’t feel like
reading five whole pages so
let’s skip to what’s really
important. Think of this as
an advice column. Questions
about life can often be tough
and my answer won’t always
be the best, so don’t take my
answer to heart per se, but
think of it as advice from a
friend. Now, other questions
like “what is your perfect
Sunday?” I can answer that
easily and you can take my
word for it. I don’t, however,
respond to inappropriate
questions or any question
that might hurt somebody. I
do answer factual questions.
But you don’t really need
me for those what with your
high speed internet and cel-
lular phones. You can even
ask my opinion on things. If
you’re question is too private,
however, think first before
you send it because it will be
posted in the following issue
of The Talon. So basically
that’s it. I invite you to try
this new portion of The Talon
out. Send in your questions to
chaminadetalon@yahoo.com
and be prepared to see an answer by next issue. Well that’s
all for this issue, I can guarantee you a lot more interesting
stuff by next issue. Until next
time!
Contributing Writers/
Artists
Photos from LINK
Sameer Suri ‘12
Chris Stewart ‘12
Chanel Lake ‘11
Kyle Fukuto ‘11
Warren Sayles ‘11
Kristin Mahler ’11
Taylor Andrykowski ‘11
Grace Sornow ‘11
Jillian Olivas ‘11
Patrick Villar ‘10
Oscar Gracey ’10
Rebecca Vessal ‘10
Kenzo Capilitan ‘10
Annalisa Silberkleit ‘10
Brennan Loftus ‘10
Joe Melendrez Faculty
Moderator
Ms. Amy Ross
Sincerely,
The Eagle Expert
The Talon is produced through
the efforts of an extra-curricular
club. The publication is designed
on Adobe InDesign CS# and
Adobe Illustrator and then printed
on newsprint on a web printer. The
Talon will also be found online
from the Chaminade home page.
The mission of the Talon is to
strive to report balanced news
and diverse perspectives from
the Chaminade community and
the world at large and to promote
education and spirituality in the
Marinist tradition.
Please email chaminadetalon@
yahoo.com for more information.
All photos courtesy of Ms. Labelle
3
Aug/Sept
2009| Talon
Time Warp Dance
Katelyn Rogers ‘10
News Editor
The Back to School
Dance and barbeque took
place on Friday August 28th
in the Bob Hope Center.
Before the dance officially
began, there were many different activities to partake in.
For instance there were giant
picture booths so everyone
could cram in and strike a
pose at their leisure; Facebook
can now be seen littered with
hilarious old time pictures
courtesy of these photo
booths. Student Council
also rented a massive Twister
board in bounce form. Many
students got very competitive
with the games and a spectator crowd could always be
seen encircling the bounce.
In accordance to the Time
Warp theme, students dressed
in every decade possible and
often matched their friend’s
outfits. It was not uncommon
to see neon leggings and side
pony tails every which way
you looked. The music that
the DJ played was mostly
considered older since they
were trying to fully capture
the theme. Student Council
started off the dance by giving
out neon glow sticks, which
could be seen broken on the
floor and on peoples clothing throughout the rest of the
night giving the dance a psychedelic feeling. Senior Jenna
Callaway ’10 explained that
“she was very impressed with
how student council put on
the dance. It was really fun.”
The freshmen were especially
excited because this was there
first high school dance. Overall, it was a perfect way to
begin the semester by getting
reacquainted with friends we
hadn’t seen all summer and
just hanging out. We were
able to forget about all the
work that was ahead of us and
just live in the moment.
Russian Freighter
Disappearance
Mysterious disappearance of ship
casts doubt on Russian government.
Katelyn Rogers ‘10
News Editor
The “Arctic Sea”
Russian freighter officially
disappeared on July 28th
with a relatively small crew
of fifteen. Three weeks after
this initial date, the ship was
found off the coast of Africa
at Cape Verde which had been
intended for Algiers. The
ship had a Maltese flag but
was owned by Finland. When
the ship was found, it was
searched thoroughly and there
did not appear to be an armed
guard on it to detain the crew.
Their story was that a group
of alleged police officers
came on and tied them up,
only to speed away in boats.
With the pirate encounter
over, the ship apparently went
through the English Channel
as planned and got cut off
from all contact around Portu-
“It was speculated
that the ship actually
carried many S-300
missiles.”
gal and went silent. A ransom
was even demanded.
The intrigue in this
case is that only cargo on
the freighter was 1.8 million dollars of lumber. That
would not have been enough
for pirates to hijack the ship
based on what was being carried. One theory is that the
ship was actually grounds for
an arms trafficking system
and had a secret cargo. It was
speculated that the ship actually carried many S-300 missiles. What thickens the plot
is that throughout the entire
time that Russia claimed that
the ship was missing, it was
actually being monitored by
the government. Why would
a government be monitoring
every move of a ship that they
told the world was lost if it
only carried 1.8 million dollars of wood? The stories do
not add up. There have been
a few arrests by the supposed
hijackers, but they have all
pleaded innocent.
Kim Jung-il’s Response to
Kim Dae-Jung’s Death
Chris Stewart ‘12
Staff Writer
On the eighteenth of
August one of the greatest
Korean leaders of all time
died. President Kim DaeJung died of multiple organ
dysfunction syndromes at one
o’clock in the afternoon at a
national hospital in South Korea. Kim Dae-Jung is South
Korea’s first non-military,
democratically elected president. One of Kim Dae-Jung’s
greatest achievements is winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
He won the prize for his
North Korean political policy.
Fittingly, he named this policy
“the sunshine policy” because
it opened up humanitarian
aid to North Koreans. This
policy also brought active
negotiations, cooperation, and
stability amongst the two nations. South Korea has funded
a shared rail road and a tourist
zone in Northern Korea. Even
though North Korea refuses
to cease Nuclear Armament,
militarization of the demilitarized zone, and have the
leader visit South Korea, the
peace and stability brought by
Kim Dae-Jung’s policy was
definitely in everyone’s best
interest. Although Kim DaeJung was a great man, his
death has made national headlines because of his Northern
counterpart. Upon hearing
of Kim Dae-Jung’s death, the
saber rattling leader of North
Korea, Kim Jung Ill, sent his
condolences to South Korea.
Unfortunately the condo-
lences are little more than a
political gesture and do not
imply any peace talks, or that
any proliferation will ensue.
However, Kim Jung-il sent
his condolences to a man who
helped him cement his grip on
North Korea. Kim Dae-Jung
provided North Korea with
additional money for their
army, and food to feed their
people with his charity programs. He gave them global
recognition and stopped the
South’s talk about invading
and unifying Korea. Kim
Jung-il owes Kim Dae-Jung
a great deal, even though his
condolence might be a political gesture.
‘Soupnazi’ Indicted for Theft
kathleen Auwarter
Staff Writer
‘10
If a member of your
family or someone close to
you recently had their credit
card information stolen, the
likely culprit was master
hacker Albert Gonzalez, 28,
who was indicted on August
17, 2009 for the theft of
approximately 130 million
credit card numbers, possibly
making Gonzalez’s work the
largest theft in retail store history.
Mr. Gonzalez, who is
already under arrest, agreed
to plead guilty to 19 counts in
Massachusetts and this would
also resolve charges pending
in federal court in New York.
Gonzalez, however, also
faces charges in New Jersey.
Operating under the Internet
names “Segvec,” “Soupnazi”
and “J4guar,” Gonzalez, from
2006 to 2008, stole both credit
and debit card numbers from
Heartland Payment Systems,
7-Eleven, two unnamed national retailers and Hannaford
Brothers, resulting in identity
theft and millions of dollars in
fraudulent business deals.
Gonzalez had
already been indicted twice in
2008 for the alleged steal-
ing of credit and debit card
information from OfficeMax,
TJ Maxx, Boston Market,
Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, Forever 21, DSW and
Dave & Buster's. According
to the prosecution, Gonzalez
and other hackers would pick
a company to hack in to by
looking at the Fortune 500 list
then visiting that company’s
retail stores and observing
their payment facilities for
both strengths and weaknesses.
After Gonzalez’s
arrest in New Jersey in 2003
for working as the administrator of Shadowcrew.com,
a website in which hackers
swapped credit and debit card
numbers, Gonzalez became
a government informant for
Operation Firewall –which
resulted in the arrest of 28
hackers, although the federal
government has claimed that
Gonzalez tipped off a few of
the hackers, allowing them to
evade arrest.
With the successful
completion of his duties as
a government informant, Gonzalez moved to Miami, Florida, changed his nickname to
“Segvec” and started a new
ring of hackers under Operation Get Rich or Die Tryin’.
Gonzalez paired up with a
couple of Russian programmers that installed malware
on company software, thereby
allowing hackers the access to
credit and debit card information.
The hackers installed
programming into company
computers that would access
the credit and debit information as it was processed into
the computer, in kind of a
“real-time basis.” Instant
messaging was used to advise
each other how to avoid detection. Programmed malware was put into corporate
systems that would avoid detection by anti-virus programs
and it would delete any files
that could possibly detect the
presence of the hackers.
Gonzalez faces 15 to
25 years in prison for datatheft. Gonzalez agreed to turn
over approximately $1.7 million dollars in U.S. currency,
a condo in Miami, a 2006
BMW automobile, computers and related equipment
that was used in his hacking
efforts, a Glock 27 firearm, a
cell phone, a Tiffany diamond
ring and three Rolex watches.
Gonzalez was scheduled to
go to trial Sept. 14 in federal
court in Central Islip, N.Y.,
before U.S. District Judge
Sandra Feuerstein.
4
Aug/Sept
2009| Talon
Want to Dress Up Your Uniform? Legally?
Maddie Sensibile ‘11
Features Editor
The school year is just starting, and you’re afraid of
getting in trouble, but you feel
like you have no way to make
your uniform creative, but
guess what? You can! There
are easy ways to add a kick to
your polo and pants.
First things first, start
with the top of your uniform,
the polo shirt. It may be hot
for a little while longer, but
it is beginning to cool down.
Before you pull out your
sweaters, think about accessories to your polo. If you’re
a girl, wear a long pendant
necklace, it makes your shirt
look more exciting. When
fall rolls around, do the same
thing with a sweater! You can
wear a sweater, v-neck ones
look great with the polo, in
either white, gray, navy, or
orange, basically any of the
school colors. Want to stand
out for a day or two? Try an
orange sweater! They’re not
too hard to find, and it is fun
to make a statement. Sweaters are a bit more preppy, and
they make you look sharp, girl
or guy.
As for the shorts and
pants, there isn’t much you
can do there unfortunately.
Make sure your uniform
bottoms are in the dress code
though! But girls, to chan-
nel your inner Blair Waldorf,
wear a navy blue pleated skirt
“Lately,
Vans
and Converse have
been making
some exciting
new styles, as
well as other
streetwear
companies
like ALIFE and
the Hundreds.”
with a sweater and headband.
It is the perfect combination!
Shoes are a main part
of the uniform, because it is
the one part of the outfit that
you get to have some freedom
with. If you like sneakers, go
for bright ones, you can do
no wrong with bright shoes,
if anything, you’ll stand out.
Lately, Vans and Converse
have been making some
exciting new styles, as well
as other streetwear companies
like ALIFE and the Hundreds,
both for guys. Girls, once
again, if you’re going for that
Gossip Girl look, wear cute
flats with your uniform. Try
some with cool embellishments, like studs or even a
metallic flat.
For fall and winter,
boots with tights are adorable
with a pleated skirt. Whether
it be Uggs or Doc Martens,
boots are a great pick for your
uniform on the colder days.
You can wear tights in navy,
black, and white only, and
remember, no leggings. If
you don’t want to be too wild,
but want still want something
exciting to wear, bring a
cool backpack to school, or a
fashionable book bag. Remember, there may be limits
to what you wear, but don’t
feel afraid to add some flare to
the uniform!
Elli: An Affordable New
Spot at the Mall
An Original Poem: “Mr.
Mayor”
Chanel Lake ‘11
Staff Writer
Sameer Suri ‘12
Staff Writer
With fall fast approaching and Homecoming around the corner, there
is a new store that will suit
all your needs. Elli at Westfield Topanga Plaza is a very
trendy yet affordable store,
with a variety of looks to
choose from. The styles range
from machine bleached jeans,
yoga pants, and maxi dresses
to all occasion dresses and
rompers.
The store’s owner,
Tami, has had a keen eye for
fashion ever since she was a
little girl. Establishing close
ties to her store as well as her
customers, she operates as the
buyer, paying close attention
to the desires of the customer
and the season’s latest trends.
Elli’s affordability, unmatched
customer service, and chic
clothes make this store a must
for all occasions.
Hey Mr Mayor!
We hear you love your brand
new crown
But say Mr Mayor
We’ve had some bad new
news from town
Okay Mr Mayor
We know you need to have
your kicks
But Mr Mayor there’s stuff
you’ve got to fix
Please Mr Mayor
I’d really love an autograph
Say “cheese” Mr Mayor!
This truly has been such a
laugh
But Jeez Mr Mayor
Although I loved the photo-op
It’s getting harder to hear you
from the top
Oooh Mr Mayor!
You put on such a splendid
show
For you Mr Mayor
We’re glad to give you all our
dough
But do Mr Mayor
Just tell us why you need the
cash
Cause Mr Mayor we're just
about to crash
Though Mr Mayor
You said it's all to help the
poor
(We know Mr Mayor)
But still it's hard to be quite
sure
Hello Mr Mayor?
It's floating further out of
range Oh Mr Mayor you said you'd
make a change
Hey Mr Mayor!
You're still our one and only
love
And say Mr Mayor
You are a present from above
Today Mr Mayor
We're all enthralled by what
you say
But don't you spend too much
time on holiday!
5
Aug/Sept
2009| Talon
Trip Diary: Iran
CONTINUED from page 1
the Persian culture places
much emphasis on familial
love and relationships. After
we leave the airport, there
is always a fight over whose
house we should go to first,
but because my grandmother
is the eldest member of the
family, she always wins and
we spend most of our time at
her house in the northern part
of Tehran.
While I am there, every single
day is different from the next,
and there is never a day that
I can say to myself, “Geeez,
I’m bored!” My entire family
files into my grandmother’s
house every single day to
spend time with us. During
these “get-togethers,” there
is an abundance of food,
prepared by my grandmother
and there is always music and
dancing. After some time
spent talking and laughing
and dancing, it is time to have
a meal.
Eating in a Persian household
is probably one of the most
peculiar experiences of my
life. Countless conversations
are going on at once, and
soon the volume of the room
gradually increases to the
point when it is all out chaos.
They are not yelling out of anger, but because everyone gets
so into what they are talking
about.
Then, there is the feast itself,
which is an extravagant array
of colors, smells, and flavors;
something that always happens at the dinner table is
that food suddenly appears
on your plate, even if you say
no, as others spoon more and
more food onto your dish.
In the opinion of many food
critics, Middle Eastern cuisine
is among the best in the entire
world, and I know that this is
true. The food I have smelled
and tasted at Iran I have not
anywhere else in the world;
all of the spices and tastes
make one feel as if he or she
has died and gone to Heaven.
Iran’s history has spanned
for over 2,500 years, and I
find these 2,500 years very
interesting. While we are
there, we also go to many
historical landmarks, such as
the different imperial palaces
of Persia, Persepolis, and
ancient mosques. Personally, I do not have a favorite,
but in my opinion, the most
extravagant of the historical
landmarks would be the ruins
of Persepolis on the outskirts
of the city of Shiraz. Besides
showing me historical landmarks and traveling to other
What’s In and What’s Out for
Fall ‘09
Maddie Sensibile ‘11
Features Editor
IN -Tough elements mixed
with feminine looks, like a
floral dress.
-Guys, wear a bright graphic t-shirt
-Everybody, try wearing
a vintage looking bright
watch, like a Timex80 one,
G-shock, or even a Swatch.
-For girls and guys, 90s
hip hop looks are in, prints,
brights, everything.
cities around the country, my
cousins also take me to one of
the countless malls that have
been recently built.
Like all vacations, however,
this one must come to an end.
It is very sad for me to leave
my Iranian family behind,
but I must and I always look
forward to the next visit.
What we see here in America
on the news is not the whole
truth about Iran. Sure, there
may be a group of people who
have created a bad reputation for Iran, but they are not
the majority. I have been to
the country many times and I
have seen the real truth. The
real truth is that the people of
Iran are no different than the
people of America: people
who are looking to enjoy
themselves while still upholding the cultural value of
family. There is a common
misconception that the people
of Iran live like ancient village people that hate America.
Although the Iranian people
don’t love American politicians, they love the American
culture and its people, and
Iran is one of the most technologically advanced countries
in the Middle East. I just
hope that everyone will also
see the truth.
Being of Iranian descent, I
believe I have the best of two
worlds: I have the values,
traditions, and culture of Iran
and the opportunities and
culture of America. I am an
Iranian-American.
We welcome any individual
who would like to contribute
to Trip Diaries.
How Well Do You Know
Chaminade?
Shayan Ghiaee ‘11
Copy Editor
OUT
-Head to toe menswear
looks
-Drab life less v-neck tees
-Store your watches with
fabric bands, and girls,
put away all of those skinny bangles, wear something with a bit of bulk on
your wrists.
-Head to toe baggy looks
are out, don’t wear your
pants around your ankles!
ACROSS
1 One of the husband/wife teams at Chaminade
3 The newest building on campus
4 A football-coaching biologist
6 A place for students to eat, dance, or sometimes do both
8 Rosary rapper and teacher
10 A hangout for underclassmen during lunch (Hint: Named after a specific class that is never there)
11 Male founder of the Marianists
13 Moderator of the Talon
14 This hall is where most of the freshman lockers are
15 A last name shared by 3 teachers
16 Need uniforms or food during a game? Come here!
DOWN
1 A coach who recently returned to Chaminade
2 E Pluribus Unum (“one out of many”)
3 Can be seen riding waves in Malibu
5 Don’t j-walk to get here
7 The only student hangout on campus with sofas
9 Have a science question? This man can answer in seven languages.
12 Unlike her name’s meaning, the spelling is short
6
Aug/ Sept
2009| Talon
artwork by
The World According to...
Oscar Gracey
CONTINUED from pg. 1
Scandal, gossip, and fame…
Welcome back Upper East
Siders! The biggest and most
important event this fall is
the return of Gossip Girl, and
this season promises to be its
best yet. With our favorite
socialites college-bound, they
are destined to bring back
the drama we have all come
to love. They may have been
gone for the summer, but
scandal never takes a vacation. Serena, Blair, Chuck,
and Nate were up to some
wild partying. Of course,
Serena has a reputation for
being one of New York’s
most infamous teens, and this
time is no different.
Over the summer,
it seems she has been doing
whatever, she wants, including getting “friendly” with
soccer studs and famous
actors, making her a celebrity
back home. Will fame and
infamy be Serena’s downfall,
and will Blair be there to pick
up the pieces? Something
tells me she’ll be too busy
working out her relationship
with Chuck, since this season
they are finally putting their
egos aside and becoming
a couple. With Blair and
Chuck, however, we can always expect the unexpected.
This includes a kiss Chuck
shares with a male counterpart. Only Gossip Girl knows
how Blair will handle that
one!
Since the beginning
of school may already be
bringing you down, here are
a few more things to look
forward to that will make life
worth living. If you are like
me and are a fan of hot mess
reality television, be sure
to watch The Hills when it
returns September 29th. This
season will be drastically
different from the rest since
the spotlight has shifted from
goody-goody Lauren Conrad
to troublemaker Kristin Cavallari. You may remember
Kristin from Laguna Beach,
and lucky for us she hasn’t
changed much. I’m depending on her to flip out on the
whole cast since I hate them
all, and from the looks of
things I do not think she will
disappoint. Make me proud,
Miss Cavallari!
Now some of you
may think you are too good
for trashy television, and may
want to spend your free time
with a classy and charming
comedy. If this may be you,
then I suggest you tune into
Fox’s new comedy Glee. The
pilot, which aired over summer, raked in rave reviews
and created a lot of buzz surrounding the show. It follows
one dedicated high school
Spanish teacher, doing his
best to make the drab Glee
club a success. Problem is,
the club’s members consist of
six social outcasts struggling
with the everyday popularity hierarchy of high school.
Some of the show’s songs,
such as covers of “Rehab”
and “Don’t Stop Believin’”,
have been for sale on iTunes,
and each has a spot on the
most purchased list, which
says a lot about the talent Glee boasts. Become a
“Gleek” like me, and catch
Glee September 9th on Fox.
The start of a new
season may be a challenge,
but stick with me and you
can make it through in one
piece. Until next time…
artwork by
Rebecca Vessal ‘10
Teacher Playlist
Elizabeth Kahn ‘11
Arts & Entertaintment Editor
Meet Mr. Davy. He
is the new Math Analysis and
Honors Algebra II teacher. His
students say he is “super cool
and really nice”, so don’t be
afraid to come to X block for
help. You can catch him on the
field while he helps coach the
Varsity Football team in defense.
Coach Davy’s Playlist:
1. “The Climb” – Miley Cyrus
2. “I’m on a Boat” - The Lonely
Island
3. “Killing in the Name” - Rage
against the Machine
4. “Amazing” - Kanye West
5. “Apologize” -One Republic
Meet Mr. Wolfson. As
many of you know, Mr. Wolfson
is the Boys Basketball coach
and a literature teacher. Before
basketball season begins, you
can find him in the teacher’s
lounge chilling or in the weight
room pumping some iron.
Coach Wolfson’s Playlist:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
artwork by
Kenzo Capilitan ‘10
Kristin Mahler ‘11
“Best I’d Ever Had”- Drake
“Tiny Dancer” – Elton John
“Ice Ice Baby” – Vanilla Ice
“Good Life”- Kanye West
“What Hurts the Most”
-Rascal Flats
7
Aug/Sept
2009| Talon
FYF Fest Brings Woodstock Vibe to L.A.
Kyle Fukuto ‘11
Contributing Writer
On September 5,
2009 FYF Festival took
place in Downtown Los
Angeles’s LA Historic
Park. Dubbed “Hipster
Woodstock” by the promoters themselves, this event
supported the National
Parks, which will face a
decrease in funding next
year due to recent budget
cuts. Hyped bands No
Age, Wavves, Times New
Viking, Woods, F* Up,
Mika Miko, and many
more performed at this
event. In fact, many of the
band members themselves
were wandering around the
festival, and working their
bands merchandise tables,
giving this festival a very
down-to-earth vibe.
The audience that FYF
brings in every year is one
of the most diverse crowds
one can ever witness,
hosting a mix of brightly
clothed vegan hipsters,
along with ageing adults
trying to catch the next
huge band. Fortunately,
all of these people had one
thing in common: respect
for the rest of the audience
members. Normally, a
festival like this would feel
pretentious, full of unruly
people accusing others of
being indie-rock posers.
However, everyone at this
festival was friendly and
just intent on having a good
time.
The first band to
perform, Woods, set the
tone for this organic and
carefree day. Woods, who
had many technical prob-
Concert/Event
Update
‘11
Contributing Writer
kristin mahler
Concerts:
September 21 – Cocorosie @ Henry Fonda
September 24 – Beastie Boys @ Hollywood Bowl
September 25 – Sonic Youth @ Fox Theater Pomona
September 30 – Datarock @ El Rey
September 30 – Souls of Mischief @ Troubadour
October 1 – The Horrors @ El Rey
October 1 – Paramore @ Hollywood Palladium
October 1, 6, 7 – Pearl Jam @ Gibson Amhitheatre
October 3 & 4 – Manimal Festival @ Pappy & Harriet’s (High Desert)
October 4 – Miike Snow @ Echo
October 4 – Kylie Minogue @ Hollywood Bowl
October 5 – School of Seven Bells, Warpaint @ Troubadour
October 6, 7 – Ingrid Michaelson @ Troubadour
October 9 – Michael Franti & Spearhead @ The Wiltern
October 9 – Metronomy w/ Destructo @ The Roxy
October 10 – Jason Mraz, Brett Dennen @ Hollywood Bowl
October 13 - 15 – Bob Dylan @ Hollywood Palladium
October 14 – Passion Pit @ Henry Fonda Theater
October 14 – Moby @ The Wiltern
October 14 – Junior Boys @ El Rey
October 17 – Manchester Orchestra @ Hollywood Palladium
October 26 – Peaches @ Glass House
October 27 – Sunset Rubdown @ Troubadour
October 28 – Regina Spektor @ Greek Theater
Events:
September 12 - October 24 – Andy Warhol Portraits Gallery
@ Greenfield Sacks Gallery
September 9 – October 4 – L.A. Country Fair @ Fairplex
October 11 – Rose Bowl Flea Market @ Pasadena
lems, overcame this with an
extremely transcendental
and mellow set. Wavves
followed, playing to an
eager and attentive audience. Wavves, known
for their unusually rough
sound, played through their
songs cleaner than they do
on record.
Photo by Josh Meisel.
Atlanta natives, Carbonas,
rock out during their halfhour, aftertoon timeslot.
This went over well with
the audience, who gazed
in awe at this noise-pop
band’s incredibly catchy
music. Sadly, one of the
main headlining artists,
Dan Deacon, was forced
to cancel due to illness.
This was met with much
jeering from the audience,
which Times New Viking
had to face. The boredom
of the crowd reflected on
Times New Viking’s set,
which sadly left much to be
desired.
With an experimental film playing behind
them, along with pulsating strobe lights, No Age
blasted through their songs
with a fervor unmatched
by any band that had been
seen that day. As the intro
to the song “Teen Creeps”
played, the audience tossed
their beverages into the
air in celebration of No
Age’s incredible music. At
the end of their last song
members from all the other
bands joined No Age on
stage, running through
a ramshackle version of
“Eraser”, fully embodying
the community based ethos
that the festival represents.
Photo by Josh Meisel
Drummer, Adam Elliot,of
Times New Viking, who is
also the only male member
of the Ohio based band, sings
back up during their set.
Drez Up
Stereo
Joe Melendrez
Contributing Writer
Jewish Rap star
Matisyahu’s new album
“Light” is more than music!
In fact it’s a next level sound
that not only bumps, but
praises God at the same time.
Matis’s hip hop/ reggae style
provides catchy choruses
with spiritually stimulating
lyrics, not to mention the
audio production is nothing short of phenomenal.
His debut track “One Day”
conveys messages of unity,
peace, and the hope that one
day our future will be better.
Straight up... your heart,
ears, and life will be better if
you download this incredible
album. Get LIGHT!! You
won’t be disappointed!!
artwork by
Kenzo Capilitan ‘10
Fall New Music
Elizabeth Kahn ‘11
Arts and Entertainment Editor
1. Muse- The Resistance
2. Pearl Jam- Backspacer
3. Alice in Chains- Black Gives Way to Blue
4. Weezer- Raditude
Photo by Sophie Rybalov.
5. Foo Fighters- Greatest Hits
8
Aug/ Sept
2009| Talon
10 Bands You Should Already Know...
Kyle Fukuto ‘11
Staff Writer
1.
Pavement- Considered the quintessential
indie band of the mid 1990s,
Pavement’s knack for clever
wordplay and beautiful
melody will satisfy even the
most skeptical. (“Range Life”,
“Harness You’re Hopes”,
“Zurich Is Stained”, “Gold
Soundz”, “Shady Lane”, “Spit
on a Stranger”)
2.
The Velvet Underground- It’s safe to say every
band that even considers
themselves “alternative” or
“indie”, is a disciple of the
Velvet Underground. The
Velvet Underground broke
down the many barriers that
early rock’n’roll presented.
As Brian Eno famously quoted “while only a few heard
their music, the few who did
probably started a band.”
(“Sweet Jane”, “Heroin”,
“Sunday Morning”, “White
Light/White Heat”, “I’m Set
Free”, “Jesus”, “I’m Waiting
for the Main”)
3.
Belle and SebastianRock music in the early 90s
was dominated by many loud
and self indulgent acts. Belle
and Sebastian was, and still is,
a breath of fresh air, with their
own craft of indie-pop. Beautiful lyrics sung by a beautiful
voice. (“If You’re Feeling Sinister”, “Get Me Away From
Here I’m Dyeing”, “Fox in
the Snow”, “The Boy with the
Arab Strap”)
4.
Sonic Youth- A band
with the ability to push guitars
to their limits, Sonic Youth
pushed the boundaries of just
what an electric guitar could
do. Forerunners of the movement known as noise-rock,
and avant-punk. (“Teen Age
Riot”, “Star Power”, “The
Wonder”, “Catholic Block”,
“Schizophrenia”)
5.
The Smiths- Emerging from the grimy streets of
Manchester, this foursome
created the most creative
and interesting music of the
1980s. Centered around Morrissey’s humorously clever
lyrics and Johnny Marr’s
shimmering guitar, the Smiths
influenced a whole league of
people who went on to form
the indie rock movement.
(“Frankly Mr. Shankly”,
“Reel Around the Fountain”,
“This Charming Man”,
“There is a Light that Never
Goes Out”, “Pretty Girls
Make Graves”)
6.
Public Image Ltd.
(PiL)- One of the most challenging bands of the last 30
years. PiL, Johhny Rotten’s
second band after the legend-
ary Sex Pistols, challenged
the whole fundamentals of
the punk movement. Disgusted on what punk, and
more broadly, rock music had
become, PiL started a nonconformist movement known
as post-punk which effectively shook the whole foundation
of popular music. (“Religion”,
“Public Image, Chant”, “Religion II”, “Poptones”)
7.
The Stone RosesWithout singer Ian Brown’s
contagious vocals, John
Squire’s virtuosity on guitar,
and one of the most powerfully rhythmic rhythm sections
around, the brit-pop movement (which includes bands
such as Oasis, Blur, and Pulp)
may have never happened. (“I
Want to Be Adored, Waterfall”, “Bye Bye Badman”, “I
Am the Resurrection”, “Elizabeth My Dear”)
8.
The Wire- Just imag-
ine the Ramones but weirder
more off-kilter and way
more fun. (“Ex-Lion Tamer”,
“12XU”, “Practice Makes
Perfect”)
9.
Television - The
most sonically powerful and
downright breathtaking punk
band. New Wave before
Devo owned a synthesizer,
and punk before Johnny Rotten started screeching. (“Marquee Moon”, “See No Evil”,
“Guiding Light”)
10.
Neutral Milk Hotel One of the most overlooked
and under appreciated 1990s
lo fi bands. Coming from the
lo-fi scene of the Elephant 6
Recording Company, Neutral
Milk Hotel released one of
the most beautiful, awkward,
and yet uplifting records of all
time. (In The Aeroplane Over
the Sea (the entire album)
Editor’s Mixtape
10 Bands You Should Get to
Know...
Elizabeth Kahn ‘11
“Not A Robot, But A Ghost” - Andrew Bird
Kyle Fukuto ‘11
Staff Writer
“The Sweets” - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
1.
No Age - An LA based band hailing from the experimental venue the Smell. Not your
typical punk band, as they successfully merge experimental tendencies with their punk roots.
(“Teen Creeps”, “Everybody’s Down”, “Here is My Home”, “Eraser”)
2.
Grizzly Bear - This Brooklyn-based quartet is one of the first indie bands of the millennium to crack the top ten on the Billboard Charts, and for good reason. Their incredible harmonies will consume you for days.(“Knife”, “Two Weeks, Waterfall”, “Deep Blue Sea”)
3.
Dan Deacon- A hugely hyped Maryland Hipster specializing in hypnotic electronic
grooves. (“Crystal Cat”, “Ohio”, “Of the Mountains”)
4.
Deerhunter- Influenced by early Kompakt singles, this New York outfit, headed by a
man, by the name of Bradford Cox, successfully created strangely beautiful ambient punk music
with a style unseen in many years. (“Agoraphobia”, “Never Stops”, “Little Kids”, “White Ink”)
5.
Wavves- A self proclaimed “project” by a native San Diego punk. One of the most
unique sounds through the use of extreme distortion on everything from the vocals to the drums.
But it’s so catchy! (“Wavves”, “So Bored”, “No Hope Kids”, “Summer Goths”, “To the Dregs”)
6.
Woods - Part of the new wave of lo-fi artists singer Jeremy Earl’s falsetto compliments
the bands freak-folk roots. (“To Clean”, “Military Madness”, “Rain On”)
7.
Fleet Foxes - The harmonies of this band will blow anyone’s mind away. If you are not
impressed with these folk lords the first time you hear them, give them another chance for them
to work their magic on you. (“Ragged wood”, “Heard Them Stirring”, “Your Protector”, “Blue
Ridge Mountains”)
8.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart- This charming twee pop group’s blend of shoe-gaze
and early indie pop is one of the most interesting and accessible sounds of today. (“Young Adult
Friction”, “Ramona”, “Kurt Cobain’s Cardigan”)
9.
Mika Miko - This all-girl punk band’s refreshingly simple sound can be compared to a
young Patti Smith. (“I Got a Lot (New, New, New)”, “Blue’s Not Speed”, “Wild Bore”)
10.
Times New Viking- Storming in from Columbus, Ohio, Times New Viking have successfully blended noise pop with lo-fi sensibilities. (“Thing with a Hook”, “Drop-Out”, “Teenage Lust!”)
art by
“Heroine” - Blonde Redhead
“Split Needles” - The Shins
“Pale Horses” - Moby
“Time is Running Out” - Muse
“Do It Again” - Steely Dan
“Liztomania” - Phoenix
“Mirando” (Yacht Remix) - Ratatat
“Rock That Body” - Black Eyed Peas
“Imma Be” - Black Eyed Peas
Grace Surnow ‘11
9
Aug/Sept
2009| Talon
Tips for Maximizing Your Summer
Josh Meisel ‘11
Opinions Editor
For high school students,
summer should be a time of
fun, growth, and opportunity.
During the three long months
between June and September,
some kids take extra classes
or intern rather than getting
jobs at the mall. For those of
you who want to do something more with your time
next summer, here are some
suggestions:
Valuable summer experiences
include taking a couple of
extra courses at a local community college or art classes
at art colleges and centers.
“Interning is one of
the best ways to be
productive”
College of the Canyons,
Pierce, L.A., and Santa
Monica colleges are all local
Junior Colleges that offer
standard College Prep and AP
summer courses for those that
want to bulk up their college
applications.
Art Centers and Universities
like Otis, Fashion Institute of
Design and Merchandising
(FIDM), and the Pasadena Art
Center all offer fascinating
courses that will make your
application stand out. Product, environmental, and car
design are some of the more
unusual courses taught by
professors who have years of
experience in their respective
areas. You can plan part or all
of your summer around the
course/s of your choice.
Interning is one of the best
ways to be productive by
learning useful business skills
as well as an opportunity for
networking with potential
future employers. You won’t
get paid, but if you are bright,
enthusiastic, and hardworking you can have lots of fun
and learn a great deal about
the profession that you are
considering for your future.
Brainstorming and send-
ing out emails, letters, and
resumes early to your favorite
companies won’t necessarily ensure you a position,
but it’s a good place to start
your search for an internship.
Choose 3 to 5 of your favorite companies that are within
reasonable driving distance
of where you live, and start
approaching them no later
than Spring Break. If you are
lucky, you might be offered a
position.
Don’t forget to build in a
week or two during the summer to relax and recharge;
down time is important, too!
Diagnosing the Problems of the Health Care
System
Sameer Suri ‘12
Staff Writer
By now most Democrats and an increasing
number of Republicans have
recognized that the existing
health care system simply
does not work. The greed of
the big insurance executives
has turned this vital part of
American infrastructure into
such a money vacuum that,
according to the late Senator Ted Kennedy, it would
“drive the average American
family bankrupt” if one of its
members had a major medical
condition. Reform is not only
inevitable, it is necessary. But
are we going about it in the
right way?
Once a strong and
seemingly workable bill, the
ideas for health care reform
have been filtered through an
excess of political maneuvering and legislation to the extent that what exists now is a
clump of random ideas. And
each of these ideas seems to
have been fashioned by each
major political party – Democrats and Republicans alike
– so that it only appeases the
voting base of their particular
party and will ensure said
party’s dominance in Congress.
A completely government-run health care system
exists and works, both in
Canada and Great Britain, but
with the situation the way it
is in America the shift would
cast too many people into the
streets. Consider it logically:
though the leaders of the
insurance conglomerates have
caused tremendous waste
and damage, the companies
themselves still support
millions of jobs for brokers,
The reform that President Obama has proposed is
one that offers the option to
purchase insurance from the
government, in addition to the
existing companies, saying
“If you like your doctor, you
For example, small
businesses employ approximately 60 % of American
citizens. If the owners of
the individual business had
to provide premium health
care for the vast number of
Artwork By Annalisa Silberkleit ‘10
employees, and the like. With
these companies put totally
out of business by the government, all of these jobs would
be terminated, and the people
who work for these companies would find themselves
unemployed, which is not the
most desirable situation with
the economy already so poor.
As a result, what needs to
happen is that the insurance
company leaders are regulated
and tightly controlled, as opposed to all of the companies
being dissolved.
will be able to keep your doctor.” With this new system,
the insurance companies
can still compete in an open
market (in much the same
way that private and public
schools co-exist). This is a
solid, workable, and equalitypromoting plan, but we need
to be careful that the reform
that ensues does not ride on
the backs of specific groups
of citizens at the expense of
others, since the goal is to
provide universally accessible
medical treatment.
employees, they would suffer
a tremendous financial blow.
The products would have to
be priced higher, which would
have a negative impact on
sales, and more employees
would have to be laid off.
This is exactly what happened
with the U.S. automobile
industry with companies such
as G.M. – their health care
insurance costs (among other
costs) were so exorbitant that
their cars became more expensive than the competitors’
and caused a loss of sales,
resulting in the vast number
of lay-offs we all know about.
The expense of health care,
therefore, needs to be equally
divided by percentage of
income.
We also need a
multi-pronged health care
reform, which moves from the
economic standpoint to the judicial standpoint, namely tort
reform. Since punitive damage in malpractice cases cause
multi-million dollar payouts,
and lawyers receive 40 % of
the payout, there is more motivation for a lawyer to urge
clients to sue, even if that may
not be advisable. And with
the hospitals and drug companies losing so much money
with these payouts, they
will have to price their items
higher. (Many people have
maintained that an answer
would be to obliterate private
pharmaceutical companies
altogether, but for the reasons
outlined above that would put
millions out of work).
The effectiveness of
President Obama’s plan, as
aforementioned, is already
proving many of his initial
naysayers wrong. All he has
to do is keep these additional
things in mind, incorporate
them into his plan, push the
bill through Congress, and
then maybe we might have a
system that actually works.
10
Aug/ Sept
2009| Talon
Top Ten Biggest Sport Events: Summer of 2009
win over the Reds, but thousands of fans celebrat8. Serena Wil- 6. Records tum- ers’
clearly the night belonged ing in the Coliseum and
liams Loses Cool ble at swimming
World Champi- 4. Caster Seme- 2. Y.E. Yang up10. LA Clippers in U.S. Open
nya’s Gender sets Tiger in the
Take Blake Grif- In the Semi-Finals of the onships
Controversy
PGA Tour
Jomar Sevilla ‘10
Sports Editor
fin with 1st pick
In NBA Draft
U.S. Open, Serena Williams, the favorite to win
the tournament, has trouble
containing Kim Clijsters.
A franchise with historic bad Near the end of the match
luck broke precedent early in when called for a foot fault,
the summer by winning the top Williams maliciously belottery pick in the NBA Draft. rates the linewoman. Her
After a disastrous season, Clip- unsportsmanlike
conduct
perNation gained some hope cost her a penalty point, the
after the organization select- match, a league fine, and a
ed Oklahoma standout Blake possible suspension.
Longstanding records once
considered untouchable fell
at an alarming rate in this
year’s swimming Championships to many unlikely
and unknown swimmers.
Undoubtedly this is a result
of the full body swimsuits
that reduce water friction
to enhance performance.
These swimsuits have been
banned from 2010 onward,
but FINA still must decide
what to do with all the records set using the technol-
to their best player. In the 2009 World Championship, unknown South African runner Caster Semenya wins the women’s 800
meters. After this victory,
questions were raised about
her gender forcing the IAAF
to investigate her sex which
caused the intriguing story
to take on a life of its own
in the media. The IAAF’s
reason for the gender test is
to ensure that her condition
would give her no unfair ad-
through the streets.
In perhaps the most stunning finish in golf history,
unknown Y.E. Yang comes
back from a deficit in the
final round to win the 2009
PGA Championship. Yang,
a South Korean golfer,
astonishingly beat Tiger
Woods--golf’s
premier
player. Yang’s surprise win
invigorates the Asian com-
The Los Angeles Lakers
redeem their previous season collapse by defeating
the Orlando Magic in the
Finals early in the summer
of 2009. Their win marks
the team’s 15th Championship, Kobe Bryant’s first
Finals MVP, and Phil Jackson’s 10th title. After some
doubts over finances, the
victory parade occurs with
himself the fastest man ever
recorded by improving his
Olympic Beijing times and
setting new world records
in the 100m and 200m. The
charismatic 23 year old Jamaican with the fitting last
name continually breaks his
world records as his form
continues to improve. His
next event to conquer will
be the long jump.
7. Michael Vick
1. Usain Bolt
Returns to NFL
Fastest Man
with the Eagles 5. Manny RamirEver
9. Juan Martin del 3.
LA
Lakers
ez Wows fans
Potro Dethrones After spending the last year on Bobblehead Claim 15th Title munity. and a half in jail, disgraced
At this year’s World ChamRoger Federer
Night
superstar Michael Vick is
vantage.
pionships, Usain Bolt proved
Griffin who was ranked by all
analysists as the top player and
as a likely future NBA star.
Near the end of the summer,
Argentinean Juan Martin del
Potro overcome five time
defending champion Roger
Federer to win the 2009 U.S.
Open. This marks del Potro’s
first major title and he is first
player to defeat both men’s
premier players Rafael Nadal
and Federer in the same tournament.
reinstated into the National
Football League. In 2007,
Vick, the former Atlanta
Falcon quarterback, was
charged with operating an
extensive dog fighting crime
ring. With his complete cooperation, he has been reinstated into the NFL and
signed with the Philadelphia
Eagles.
ogy.
On the day that the LA
Dodgers give away Manny
Ramirez bobbleheads, Allstar hitter Ramirez was not
expected to play. However,
with bases loaded, Ramirez
is given one try at bat and
responds by hitting the first
pitch into his own fan section Mannywood. The grand
slam solidifies the Dodg-
Full Body Swimsuits Stir Controversy in the
World of Swimming
Stephen Stewart ‘10
Managing Editor
In the 2008 summer
Olympics, Michael Phelps
took eight gold medals, breaking several world records
along the way. He was not
the only one, as last year, an
unprecedented 108 world
records were broken. Previously, about 22 records were
broken during an Olympic
year and 5 during any normal
year. But it is not the swimmers who are improving, but
the technology.
Last year, Speedo
released a new bathing suit
called the LZR Racer. This
was a revolution in swimsuit
technology, as it was made
of fabric that reduced drag
and repelled water. The suit
lowers the swimmers racing
time by around 2 percent and
it was originally endorsed by
the Federation Internationale De Natation Amateur, or
FINA, the international committee that monitors water
sports.
found that swimmers who did
not wear the new suits were
not able to compete at the
level of the other swimmers.
During the 2008
Olympics, 94 percent of all
the swimmers who won gold
medals wore the new suit.
The effect of the suits on the
Olympic Games was so pro-
“But it is not the
swimmers who
are improving, but
the technology”
The new swimsuits
met new restrictions after the
2008 European Short Course
Championships. Worries that
swimmers were no longer
solely relying on skill but
mainly technology led to
restrictions on the new suits
by FINA, under the statement
that “FINA wishes to recall
the main and core principle
that swimming is a sport essentially based on the physical
performance of the athlete.”
It wasn’t until a race
in Italy during July that the
controversy was really stirred.
In the 200 meter freestyle,
Michael Phelps lost to the
relatively unknown German,
Paul Biedermann. Although
Phelps had beat Biedermann
in the same race during the
The Olympics, Biedermann
had a newer version of LZR
Racer. This technological
advantage allowed for him
to beat Phelps and set a new
world record.
Hundreds of records
have fallen over the past year,
and FINA is taking action
against this. FINA recently
reversed its ruling and the
LZR Racer and other aerodynamic wetsuits will be banned
starting in the year 2010. For
the remainder of the year,
the full body length swimsuit
will remain in use. It will be
interesting to see if swimmers
will ever be able to break the
records set with the suits by
just skill, not technology.
11
Aug/Sept
2009| Talon
Laker Dynasty Ready to Defend Throne
Patrick Villar ‘10
Staff Writer
Let’s get ready to
rumble! Another season of
exciting basketball is around
the corner as teams train for
next year’s coveted NBA title.
After a physically and mentally exhausting season, the Los
Angeles Lakers reclaimed the
title of NBA champions last
summer from their green with
envy rivals- the Boston Celtics. This marked the Laker
dynasty’s 15th championship
win as well as Phil Jackson’s
10th title, making him the
most championship winning
coach in NBA history. Kobe
Bryant also received the title
of Finals MVP for his legendary skill, leadership, and
determination.
Despite the success of
the Laker team, keeping the
throne will be no easy task
this season. NBA teams have
raced to acquire members,
each hoping to become the
strongest team. This summer,
the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic,
and San Antionio Spurs made
big trades, eager to create the
best combination of threats
before next season. Shaquille “the Diesel” O’Neal,
renowned 7’1” center, was
traded from the Phoenix
Suns to the Cavaliers to play
alongside league MVP Lebron
James; Rasheed Wallace, a
powerful power foward/ center with championship experience, signed with the Celtics;
Vince Carter, an experienced
All Star and Olympic Gold
Medalist, joined Orlando;
and Richard Jefferson, a high
scoring forward, was traded to
the Spurs.
In addition, although
finding a championship combination of agility and youth,
the Los Angeles Lakers lost
one of their key players- forward Trevor Ariza. Last year,
Ariza’s scoring and steals
played a crucial role in their
journey to NBA champion-
ship. After his negotiations
as a free agent soured with
the Lakers, Ariza accepted
a contract with the Houston
Rockets.
However, despite the
loss of the beloved forward,
the Lakers quickly acquired
the lean, mean Ron Artest.
Known for his physicality and
wild personality, Ron Artest
brings a new facet to the team
needed for physical teams
like the Denver Nuggets and
Boston Celtics. The acquisition of Artest was well-liked
by Phil Jackson who admires
the player’s skill and determination. Critics suggest that
Artest may act as an unstable
personality in Jackson’s team.
Next season, Laker fans will
definitely see a different
team. Artest brings expertise
in shooting and more importantly defense as noted by his
2004 title NBA-Defensive
Player of the Year. In addition, Artest is a childhood
friend of versatile forward
Lamar Odom.
With the acquisition
of Artest, Laker fans will not
have to worry about the Lakers falling asleep in defense.
Despite his quirky personality,
Artest brings a new heat to
the team, making the Lakers
one of the favorites to win
next year’s title. Helping
renew the strengths of the
roster are Lamar Odom and
Shannon Brown, who became
free agents this summer but
signed new contracts with the
Lakers. With a dream team
of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol,
Lamar Odom, Ron Artest, and
a youthful bench with agile
ability like Shannon Brown,
the Lakers are a threat to all
NBA teams. Stay tuned fans,
the first game of the preseason
is on October 27th against the
Los Angeles Clippers.
October 15 is DIG PINK night!
Next month our girls’ volleyball team
will face Notre Dame in the Cage (gym).
The whole school is invited to come and
encouraged to wear pink to support breast
cancer awareness. There will be pink Cage
shirts, possible news coverage, and hopefully celebrity sightings. Don’t miss out
on an awesome time and support our girls.
LA Dodgers and Angels Set Sights on Playoffs
Warren Sayles ’11
Staff Writer
With playoffs just
around the corner both the
Dodgers and the Angels look
to make some noise in the
post season. Aside from last
year’s pennant appearance
by the Dodgers, neither team
has enjoyed success in the
playoffs for some time. The
Dodgers got a glimpse of
success when they advanced
to the pennant last year but
failed to bring home a World
Series title. On the other
hand, the Angles defeated
the Giants in 2002 to win the
World Series yet they have
failed to do anything more
since then. The Angels seem
to always lose to the Red Sox
in the first round, and the
Dodgers have trouble winning on the road. However,
this year it seems possible for
both the teams to be able to
advance far into the playoffs.
With a balance of good pitching and fierce hitting both the
Dodgers and the Angels have
a chance at a World Series
title. After jumping out to a
great start this year the Dodgers quickly gained the best
record in Major League Baseball. The ferocious pitching
of Jonathan Broxton and Chad
Billingsly made it tough for
teams such as the division
rival Giants and the vigorous
Rockies to even score runs
“With a balance of good pitching
and fierce hitting both the Dodgers
and the Angels have a chance at a
World Series title” on the Dodgers. Hitters such
as Manny Ramirez, Andre
Ethier, and James Loney gave
the Dodgers a reputation for
tearing up pitchers. However,
the suspension of Manny
Ramirez for fifty games due
to a steroid related incident
crippled the teams hitting
because it took away their
main source of power. Right
fielder Andre Ethier stepped
into the role of power hitter as
he has hit 27 home runs so far
this season. With the reintroduction of Manny to the
line up and a new knuckleball
pitcher Charlie Haegar, the
Dodgers expected to maintain
the success they have enjoyed
all year. However, the team
went on a losing streak in late
August at the same time the
Colorado Rockies went on a
winning streak. This decreased the Dodgers lead over
the NL West to only 3 games
over the Rockies. However,
the Dodgers began to regain
their composure at the same
time the Rockies began to
lose. Now, at the beginning
of September the Dodgers are
looking forward to taking on
the playoffs.
The Angels spent
another year dominating in
the AL West. Pitchers John
Lackey and Jared Weaver
helped propel the Angels over
Oakland, Seattle, and Texas
to lead the division. Hitters
Vladimir Guerrero, Tori Hunter, and Chone Figgins made
the Angels one of the best
teams in baseball. This year
the Angels crushed the American League rival Yankees and
made them a likely candidate
for a pennant or a World
Series title. However, the
injuries of Vladimir Guerrero
and Tori Hunter allowed the
Texas Rangers to creep up in
the division and decrease the
Angels buffer zone. As September rolls in the Angels are
in full health with all of their
starting line up batting over
.300, which means that they
get a hit 3 out of 10 ten times
which is good for this late in
the season. The addition of
pitcher Scott Kazmir, who has
a tremendous record against
both the Yankees and the Red
Sox, will help out the Angels
tremendously in the bullpen.
As the team nears the playoffs
they look to defy the common
prediction and slip past the
Red Sox and Yankees into the
World Series. Although the year
has been going well for both
teams, stiff competition awaits
them in the post season. The
Dodgers will have to face the
St. Louis Cardinals who are
lead by the power hitting first
baseman Albert Pujols.
For the Angels, the
league leading Yankees and
the power hitting Red Sox
look to add another World Series to their repertoire. As the
playoffs inch closer all eyes in
Los Angeles are facing these
two teams as they look to tack
on another World Series.
Welcome Back, Chaminade Students!
Photos Courtesy of Ms. LaBelle and Student
Council Historians