January 2010 - Abington School District

abington.k12.pa.us
January 2010
Vol. LXXXIX, Issue 3
The Abingtonian
Abington Senior High School, Abington, PA 19001
January 2010
Swiss ban building of
Muslim minarets
By Zach Baum
Don’t step on Cecil
By Krista Grande
As I walked into Vamp fest on Thursday, December 3rd, I was anxiously awaiting to see the world premier of, Don’t Step on Cecil. While I heard that this new miniseries had comedy, drama, and action, in the back of my mind, I had thoughts that it
was going to be just another primitive school-produced movie. Once the lights
dimmed, the crowd started to settle, and the screen slowly rolled down, my “typical
school movie” stereotype was quickly stomped on. The special effects, outstanding
acting, and suspenseful plot line made me believe that I was sitting in a movie
theater, watching a professionally made film.
The show goes through five days of the week before and including a school
election. Intimidating the rest of her classmates, your typical popular mean girl,
Becca Node, played by Esther Katro, is the only candidate running for class president, in favor of installing a girly pink dress code. She is soon challenged by her one
foot tall opponent, Cecil, played by Jake Rasmussen, who opposes the dress code.
With the majority of the school supporting Cecil, the devious Becca Node tries to
find ways to get ahead of her opponent, using deceitful propaganda, and some well
thought out cheating tactics. Cecil starts his campaign by handing out flyers and pins, while Becca
calls for reinforcements when her dream of being
school president and enforcing dress codes seems
like it is becoming less and less likely. The next day,
Cecil and Becca show their political ads on the announcements. Cecil goes for short and sweet while
Becca decides to show her fellow classmates false information about Cecil to further her along in her campaign. Election day is finally here and Karl has just
found Anton cheating for Becca. Anton tells Karl to
keep it a secret, and he will split the money Becca is
paying him between the two of them. The previous
president announces the votes declaring Becca the
winner, but Karl cannot watch Becca cheat and win.
He accuses Anton of cheating for her. This leads Cecil
and Becca to answer a tiebreaker question, which Cecil
answers correctly. He succeeds in becoming class
president, until the unexpected ending, where poor,
little Cecil is squished by the previous president, ultimately handing Becca Node the victory.
Grog Productions has truly outdone themselves
with this brilliant mini-series. The cast made this series
stand tall among the rest of its works, and the feedback from the audience was uplifting. For those of
you that have not seen the series yet, you can watch it
on www.grogmovies.com.
In a move that seemed to confirm growing anti-Islamic fears in Western Europe, Switzerland voted to ban the building of new minarets within its country.
Minarets are the towers on top of Mosques, the Muslim places of worship.
According to the New York Times, the law was passed after receiving a 57% approval rating from participating voters in Swiss cantons (states). The ban is largely
a symbolic one; there are 150 mosques in Switzerland, and only four have minarets.
Two more had been planned to be built in the future.
The ban did not come out of nowhere though. It began when a Turkish cultural association wanted to build a six-meter minaret atop its mosque’s roof. It was
met with opposition from locals who protested its construction and tried to appeal it,
but with no success. In 2006, the Swiss People’s Party began a campaign to ban the
building of any
new minarets. At
first, the movement was not
taken seriously
s i n c e
Switzerland’s
constitution allows freedom of
religion. But in
2009, the legal
experts argued
that it could be
allowed under a
zoning law that
prohibited the
construction of
buildings that do
not match their
surroundings. While the Swiss Federal Council still opposed the ban, they had to
sign it into law when it was met with majority approval.
Muslim leaders have been trying to keep out of the spotlight in an attempt to
avoid internationalizing the issue, especially to Muslim countries in the Middle
East. However, the message sent to Muslims who live in Switzerland is clear; their
mere presence and religion are not welcome. The real question is whether they ever
will be.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Fox “News”
Facebook Dangers
Wanna Tiffin
Cobra Starship
Ghosts Hockey
pg. 2
pg. 5
pg. 6
pg. 7
pg. 8
abington.k12.pa.us
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The Abingtonian
January 2010
E d i t o r i a l s
Abington: First in the alphabet, not in attitude
By Lydia Baxter
Abington School District is deemed as the best because we are first in the alphabet, academics, and athletics. However, I have observed numerous problems within
the walls of Abington Senior High that evidence the fact that many students are falling short as members of the school community.
1. School spirit in the high school is low, especially within the senior class. When seniors were asked to participate in the class skit, a mere 50 students showed up
at practice. That is less than 1/12th of the senior class. It’s understandable that the pep rally was hours before Thanksgiving break, but seniors should be proud of their
school! WE ARE THE CLASS OF 2010! Show your pride, strut your stuff and wear your class t-shirt! Next time the opportunity appears, be proud and celebrate your class!
2. It IS possible to postpone your post-2:35 hours of watching TV, playing Halo, or going on Facebook in order to join one of the numerous after-school clubs
Abington has to offer. Yes, I understand that after spending almost seven hours in the building, you want to break free. On the other hand, wouldn’t you rather meet new
people, have fun, learn a new skill, or help others? Whether you join a community service club like buildOn, or challenge yourself by playing Ultimate Frisbee in the spring,
do something extra at school. When students storm out of school like herds of buffalo once the bell rings, you would think that nothing goes on after school, but that is
not true! There is something for everyone, so come out and participate!
3. One thing I learned at hippie camp was to “leave the place in better shape than when you found it.” Cleaning up after ourselves is one of the first things we learn
when we are little, in addition to how to say “no” and “thank you.” So please, be smarter than your 5-year-old cousin, and throw away your trash in the cafeteria.
In 2001, the amount of waste the average American produced per 1 year: 1 ton
Cost of one 20 oz. Snapple bottle: $1.50
Number of recycling bins in the cafeteria: at least 6
Distance from the trashcan to the recycling bin: less than 3 feet
Calories you will burn by recycling your glass and plastic: 2
Saving our planet: priceless
4. I don’t know how many times I have heard that Sally broke up with Johnny because he ate her french fries when they went out to McDonalds. Rumors and gossip
fill the halls of ASHS every day, and I can bet that 90% of it is false. No, what’s-his-name didn’t steal that! And that girl over there didn’t do that over the weekend! Be a
considerate person and do not spread false stories about others - it can only lead to anger and hurt.
5. November 25th, 2009 Abington Senior High School was the site of multiple fights. School is supposed to be a place where students can learn in a safe environment
and not be afraid of being physically threatened or harmed. I know that many people are cynical about the concept of “conflict resolution” that we learn in Health class,
but clear communication and compromise are the keys to healthy relationships. I know that people may be embarrassed to talk about their feelings or do not know ways
to deal with their anger, but violence is never the answer. Talk to a friend, teacher or guidance counselor. You are not alone—there are almost 2,000 other teenagers around
you. Don’t worry! There are many other options available. Before you have to experience negative consequences, think about future implications.
Fox “News”
By Maddie Bates
In today’s 24-hour news cycle, the focus of American journalism is seemingly shifting from quality stories to opinionated mush. Is it
still the media’s responsibility to provide the public with an unbiased report of current events? If so, they are failing miserably. News
anchors seem to find it nearly impossible to leave their opinions out of the broadcasts, and the American public is bombarded every second
by both the right and left. Yet, reporters who belt out opinions that are not only blatantly biased, but also ridiculously hilarious. Fox News has
not only one of the highest percentages of opinion-based news stories, but also the highest number of hilarity-inducing anchors. Some of
the comments made by Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, and Glenn Beck have literally made me almost puke with laughter. Being the benevolent person that I am, I would like to share some of those moments with you.
Our trip down Fox Memory Lane begins with a quick stop at what has been creatively deemed the “No Spin Zone.” This is a place
where only the cold, hard, American facts are told. This is a place where I gape in awe of Bill O’Reilly’s remarkable ability to make even
the most unbiased news story sound like one of his personal diary entries. A hypothetical example: “Dear Diary/America, today Barack
Obama admitted he is a Socialist and hates our beloved nation. In other news, Sarah Palin may have just found the cure to cancer- stay
tuned for more. Love, Bill.” In the face of O’Reilly’s zealous support for any argument he makes, no matter how ludicrous, one must step
back and appreciate the man’s knack for making the ranting of a mad man sound cohesive and sensible. When Fox News Chief Political
Correspondent Carl Cameron told O’Reilly some of the shockingly stupid comments Palin allegedly said during the campaign (leaked by
McCain aides post-Obama victory), O’Reilly expertly brushed the mountain of dirt off his shoulder and automatically defended Palin.
Cameron told O’Reilly that Palin, according to the aides, could not figure out whether or not Africa was a country or continent and
did not know the countries in North America, and her blunders raised “a whole host of questions that caused serious problems about her
knowledge ability.” I would like to first address the fact that Cameron’s previous statement makes absolutely no sense. It is fortunate that
O’Reilly is extraordinarily skilled at deciphering conservative gibberish. O’Reilly responded with a scathing analysis of the lack of intellectual curiosity present in the former vice presidential candidate (just kidding!), “Ok, so her knowledge in geography, and history, and current
events was kind of weak, but you know, people can be tutored.” Uh….excuse me? I would really rather not have a woman, who needs to
be tutored on whether or not Africa is a continent, a heartbeat away from being leader of the free world, especially when the heartbeat is
that of a 73-year-old war veteran. O’Reilly would be giddy with rage if Joe Biden had made breathtakingly ignorant mistakes like these.
Would he have said, “Don’t worry, my Democrat friends and comrades! We can just hire him a tutor and everything will turn out fine,”?
I think not.
Stories like these are more common than toupees over at Fox News, and people are noticing. In 2005, PRC’s Project for Excellence
in Journalism performed a study of cable news shows and their coverage of the Iraq War. The results showed that Fox’s coverage of the
war was almost entirely positive, and a shocking 73% of their stories conveyed those opinions. Compared to 2% of reports containing
opinion at CNN, Fox’s results were dismal at best. Bill O’Reilly was quoted as saying Fox “leans slightly to the right” in regards to the war,
which seems like the understatement of the year after hearing those stats. Fox News used their prime cable TV slots to tell the public 73%
of the time that everything was fine in Iraq, instead of giving them the real news and letting them form an opinion of their own.
Fox did exactly this with Hannity & Colmes, a show that aired on Fox until January 2009, when Hannity left in order to pursue bigger
and better things with his own show. Hannity & Colmes was meant to provide both liberal and conservative views on political issues of the
times. However, most agreed that the show bore an eerie resemblance to a Yankees game; it was evident from the start that one team had
bought a victory. Fox edited the show to give Hannity more air time and portray his liberal opponents as weak.
Bristling at any mention or accusation of bias, Fox cocoons itself in catchy slogans like “We report, you decide” and “Fair and
balanced.” Based on a little thing I like to call reality, a more appropriate catchphrase for Fox News might be “We report, you obey.”
abington.k12.pa.us
January 2010
The Abingtonian
3
Point / Counterpoint
Break me off a piece of that Increasing competition
LONG SCHOOL YEAR! calls for extended year
By Lydia Baxter
As the first semester comes to a close, students anxiously prepare for midterms and organize their schedules, fraught with extreme stress. Meanwhile, school
districts across the country suffer from the economic recession, and struggle to
keep a balanced budget. If the minimum number of mandatory school days was
lowered from the required 180 days, districts would have a greater chance of avoiding bankruptcy, student performance would improve, and the community would
benefit as a result.
Teenagers are busier than ever with after-school or weekend jobs, school
assignments, extra-curricular activities, and college preparation. In addition, high
school students spend an average of three to four hours per night on homework! High school students’ increasingly busy schedules give them little to
no time to relax. This is not healthy for the minds and bodies of young
adults. According to Dr. PJ Kennedy of the University of Wisconsin, depression and suicide attempts increase during stressful academic times,
such as midterms or finals. He adds, “Breaks between semesters usually
help keep these issues in check.”
If schools were required to schedule 175 days of classes—only five
days less than the current provisions—the student body would focus more
on their studies, have more time to sleep each night, and would have overall
improved mental health.. Students with more concentration, rest, and stamina
will achieve more academically as well.
Obviously students would never oppose the idea of a shorter school
year, but what about adults? Administrators aim to provide the best education possible for students, while simultaneously having to please taxpayers. If the district were to raise taxes to improve funding for the school
system, students would not care, but taxpaying citizens would. An easy
solution to maintaining fiscal stability lies in an abbreviated school year.
Parents and adults alike can agree that laying off educators, cutting educational programs, and charging for textbooks are detrimental alterations to
the educational system.
California schools that suffer from severe economic difficulties are
considering shortening the academic year by five days, which will save the
state 1.1 billion dollars. The shorter school year will save districts from
having to resort to the aforementioned money-saving measures. Also, terminating teachers does not save as much money, as proven by the Los
Angeles Unified School District. The California district considered laying
off 2,300 instructors in an attempt to close a $400 million deficit in next year’s
budget. It is apparent, though, that cutting five days from the school year is
preferred to cutting educators.
Many opponents of a condensed school year argue that student
performance directly corresponds to the amount of time spent in the classroom.
They cite that other countries—including most of the top achievers on international
tests—have longer schools years than America. Theoretically, this added time give
foreign students a competitive edge over American students. Yet the Associated
Press reports that, “Kids in the U.S. spend more hours in school than do kids in the
Asian countries that persistently outscore the U.S. on math and science tests. That
is despite the fact that Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong have longer school years
than the U.S. does.” Thus, it can be proven that student performance relies on the
quality of—not amount of—instruction.
As a result, Abington School District should seriously consider reducing the
school year in an effort to improve student wellness, increase student achievement,
and maintain fiscal stability. After all, Audrey Hepburn stated it flawlessly when she
said: “A quality education has the power to transform societies in a single
generation…and give them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to reach their full
potential.”
By Paul Tershakovec
To compete in a 21st century job market, the United States needs to extend the
school year. When the U.S. was still a fledgling nation, the nation’s economy was
based on agriculture. As a result, many children had to assist their families in
working the fields during times of planting and harvest. To accommodate those
needs, the United States adopted a school year based on the agrarian calendar.
Although the United States’ economy is no longer based on agriculture, the school
year is still based on this calendar.
The agrarian calendar includes a core of schooling time from September to
June. Consequently, U.S. students do not attend school from June to September and
thus spend less time in
school than students in
other countries like
South Korea and Japan.
In fact, among industrialized nations, the U.S.
school year is one of the
shortest. Because of
the longer school years
in other nations, U.S.
students have lower
proficiency levels in
various subjects than
students from nations
with extended school
years.
To boost United
States’ student proficiency levels, the
United States should
adopt a longer school
year with a shorter summer vacation. By
changing the school
year in this way, U.S.
students will spend
more time in classrooms
acquiring new information. Further, by shortening summer vacation,
students will be able to
retain much more knowledge from the previous year and less time will be wasted
reviewing previously-covered material.
With less time spent on review, a greater number of students will be able to
become proficient in core subjects. In a study done by the American Institutes of
Research, U.S. student proficiency by state in mathematics ranges from 14% to 51%.
By comparison, in the same study, Singapore’s student proficiency level in mathematics was 73% and South Korea’s proficiency level in mathematics was 65%.
Longer school years in these countries may account for this considerable difference.
Today, students in the United States are competing for jobs with graduates
from nations with longer school years, particularly in the fields of engineering and
the sciences. Because these fields require proficiency in both math and science, the
United States must increase its students’ proficiency in these subjects in order to
compete with nations such as South Korea and Singapore. If the United States
lengthens its school year, student proficiency will increase and our students will be
more prepared to compete for jobs on a global scale.
abington.k12.pa.us
The Abingtonian
4
January 2010
Editorials/Features
Brand New is never old
By Kelsey Hughes
There are few lyricists who I appreciate and who inspire me more than Jesse Lacey, the front man and
main writer for the American alternative band, Brand New. Over the course of the band’s history, he developed
a diverse, fluid, and very clever way of arranging words to form utterly relatable messages. Said messages can
be interpreted to mean so many different things simply based on who happens to be hearing them.
Lacey first left the very early stages of a band now called Taking Back Sunday due to creative differences,
and since 2000, when the band got together, Brand New has released four albums. Upon listening to each of
these albums in chronological order, beginning with the first (Your Favourite Weapon) and ending with the
newest (Daisy), one can observe how greatly the band matured. Each deals with the trials and tribulations of
different stages of life. Your Favourite Weapon can largely be seen as a pop-punk anthem for teens - dealing
with topics such as relationships, feeling like a failure, and just hanging out at night with your friends. Their
second release, Déjà Entendu (which is French for “already heard,” and is meant as an attack on bands that
continuously make the same pop-punk album) demonstrates sophistication. It makes the leap from teenage
clich•s to much more serious topics with sadder tones, such as a family member with cancer and sexual
pressures from a young man’s perspective.
Until about two weeks ago, Déjà Entendu was my favorite Brand New album. However, this fact was
before I heard The Devil and God are Raging Inside of Me, the band’s third release. The album is marked by
Lacey’s questioning of life, goodness, and religion. In particular, some songs that stand out are “Limousine,”
which describes the true story of fatal car crash from the perspective of the driver and the 7 year-old victim;
“You Won’t Know,” and my personal favorite, “Jesus Christ.” All three have religious references, giving
insight to the ideologies Lacey seems to grapple with. The ingenuous lyricism, innovative musicianship,
intensity, passion, and cleverly repetitious themes are probably what motivated AP Magazine to refer to this
band as Òthe American Radiohead,” which
is something I would consider a great honor.
As of September, Brand New released
their most recent CD, Daisy. To an outsider, especially with this CD, it might be difficult to understand
how all four albums are even by the same band, specifically upon first listen, but that is what makes it so
easy to love Brand New. They cover a wide variety of topics with honesty, sensitivity, and intelligence bringing a fresh idea each time they record. They are one of an increasingly diminishing group of bands
that continues to push the boundaries and release stunning albums every time.
By Nikki Hess
Word Link
Sound good? Go listen to:
“Jude Law and A Semester Abroad” (Your Favorite Weapon)
“Ok I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don’t” (Déjà Entendu)
“Vices” (Daisy)
Global warming:
What took so long to go green?
Hey word puzzle-lovers! Frustrated by Sudoku?
Here’s a new labyrinth of letters to discover. You play
by creating a link of compound words from the first
word all the way to the last. The first and second words
link to make a compound word, like in the example:
Guitar and string connect to make guitar string. String
links with band to make string band; then band and
camp link to form band camp. Some of the words even
have letters filled in to help you out.
By Carly Hughes
W
WO
O RR D
D LL II N
NK
K
BIRTHDAY
__F_
_A___T
__S_
__O_E_
___
____N_E
BEAM
W
WO
O RR D
D LL II N
NK
K
Global warming is a major problem in our modern world. “Going Green” seems to be on everyone’s
minds, and this environmental movement has evolved into the newest fashionable trend. People are
finally beginning to change their wasteful ways now that the effects of global warming are becoming
more evident. This is not how it should have been - people should have cared about the planet sixty
years ago.
Now a whole gaggle of problems are arising related to things such as energy, rising sea levels, and
the depletion of fresh water. Animals have been
suffering for decades by shrinking in populations, with species completely disappearing
from the earth. The question is, can all these
major problems be fixed before humans completely destroy the earth? The initial effects of
our destructive ways have been evident for a
long time, and now that a major threat to the
human race has emerged, we take notice. All of
these worries plaguing us today could have
been avoided if only people were proactive
about helping the earth.
As a planet, all 6.9 billon of us need to go
green for the correct reasons and stick with the
idea. A group of friends can clean up a park and
help set up a recycling program in their town.
People can carpool to work or school to help
save gas and reduce carbon emissions. You can
switch to all recycled products or biodegradable products. Helping the environment is as
easy as recycling old schoolwork papers. If all
the people on earth make an effort, then our
earth’s environment can hold out.
abington.k12.pa.us
The Abingtonian
January 2010
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One great tapestry
By Esther Katro
Superman, Batman, and Spiderman are what many people think of when the
word hero is brought up. As children we usually referred to heroes as “god-like,”
possessing supernatural powers that distinguished them from the mere mortals. As
we grow older, we come to terms with the fact that, while Superman makes for an
entertaining movie, he is certainly not real. So what makes a real life hero?
On thanksgiving night, “CNN Heroes” premiered, taking a bold step to name
an ordinary person, “Hero of the Year.” The top ten CNN Heroes, chosen by a blueribbon panel from an initial pool of more than 9,000 viewer nominations, were each
honored with a documentary tribute and introduced by a celebrity presenter. Efren
Peñaflorida, who started a “pushcart classroom” in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership, was named the 2009
CNN Hero of the Year.While this hero could not lift a two ton bus, he has lifted the
deprived spirits of many hopeless children in the Philippines. He is an ordinary man,
with a grand vision.
It started as one man, one dream, and a heart yearning to help others. Upon
receiving his award, Peñaflorida inspired everyone in the Kodak Theater that night
by announcing, “You are the change that you dream, as I am the change that I dream,
and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be.” We all live in an
imperfect world, and therefore we need to become each other’s heroes, serving and
guiding one another. Everyone has the opportunity to be a hero, by taking on the
ambition to help those around them.
“Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of
different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry,” inspired Peñaflorida
upon accepting the honor. We are all one great tapestry, threaded together to slowly
weave the world into a better place through the actions that we perform on a daily
basis.
Did you know:
Holiday edition
By: Charlotte Alter and Victoria Ulmer
· Saint Nicholas was not associated with Santa Claus until an Episcopalian poet wrote the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” in 1882. He was
previously known as the protector of sailors and children.
· Alabama was the first state to declare Christmas a national holiday is
1836; Oklahoma was the last.
· The first postage stamp in honor of Christmas was printed in 1937
from Austria.
· Santa actually has 31 hours to deliver gifts due to the time zones. He
would have to deliver 832 gifts per second.
· Hanukkah means “light” in Hebrew.
· There are 17 different ways to correctly spell Hanukkah.
· Kwanzaa means “fresh fruit” in Swahili because it symbolizes the
African harvest festival.
· Kwanzaa was originally started in California by a black studies professor. It is non-religious, but rather, it focuses on family and social values of
African Americans.
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I Am Sasha Gaga
By Sienna Vance
Yes, it is true: R&B star Beyoncé
and pop icon Lady Gaga have teamed
up on two songs that are attracting the
attention of fans around the country.
Beyoncé recently remixed her song
“Video Phone,” which was on her previous album I Am Sasha Fierce. This
remixed song is featured on Beyoncé’s
deluxe edition of I Am Sasha Fierce,
and it accompanies vocals from Ms.
Gaga. The music video for “Video
Phone” has already received a fair
amount of acclaim; it is a hot topic on
the MSN search engine Bing, and it has
gathered hits on YouTube as well.
These two divas have definitely won
the attention of numerous fans, and collaborating has only contributed to
more success. In addition to “Video Phone,” Lady Gaga has released a new
song featuring Beyoncé called, “Telephone.” “Telephone” can be categorized as more of a pop song than “Video Phone,” but it can still appeal to the
R&B crowd because of Beyoncé’s strong and soulful vocals. “Telephone”
is available on Lady Gaga’s new CD, The Fame Monster.
Both of these talented singers have proven that different musical
genres can mix to make songs that people love. When two talented artists
come together to make a song, it maximizes the creativity and leads to endless possibilities of song styles. Who knows? Maybe these songs will be
on the Top 100 charts this month.
The dangers of Facebook
By Jasmine Teich
“Facebook- An online network open to college students at certain universities. Students make up their own profiles, which include a picture, name, birth date,
interests, and classes. They can then search for other students at their university or
another university that has the Facebook. One can add people they know or random
people as their ‘friends.’ Good for: 1.) Procrastinating and 2.) Stalking.”
The above is a definition of Facebook from urbandictionary.com. Notice the
definition says, “Open to college students,” yet all high school students (and many
of their mothers) have one. Having a Facebook may seem great – it makes it simple
to keep in contact with past and present friends. However, there are many negative
consequences to having a Facebook. Facebook has become such a public website
that underage kids and idiotic adults post exactly what they are doing every second
of the day, no matter how banal, private, or illegal those activities may be. On
another note, have you ever paid attention to how much time people spend on
Facebook? This website is just another example of technology that sucks young
people in and wastes hours of their time. Students should use that time to go out and
do something productive. With my deepest consideration for not just the students
at Abington, but for all users of Facebook, I suggest you use caution when posting
something on Facebook. Or just delete your account – I did and it is one less stress
in my life. Plus, having a Facebook shows your conformity to the man!
A case of vampire fever
By Tamara Hass
It seems that vampires have awakened once again, this time as a growing hit in many movie and TV productions. Whether it is due to the Twilight saga or the common
adoration humans feel towards bloodsucking monsters, both are good questions to ponder. The lives of vampires have always provided us with a well-liked genre, from
the famous Dracula to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but recent events seem to have escalated this vamp-craze to a newer and more dramatic level. New Moon, a film about the
relationship between a human and a sparkling vampire, was able to bring in a whopping $256 million through ticket sales alone. It was in the box office’s number one spot
for three consecutive weeks, and it is still going strong in its present number two spot. Not to be forgotten, the two upcoming sequels are sure to be a hit! Many other
writers besides Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight series, seem to have been inspired. A new show, Vampire Diaries, deals with the attraction between two
teenagers, and the danger one of the teenager’s brothers poses. Also, movies including The Vampire’s Assistant and Transylmania take a comic view on telling the story
of vampires. Word on the street is that Brad Pitt will even be getting in on some of this new action. The story he will play centers around Dracula as a young prince. After
he takes on this role, he will be known as, “Vlad the Impaler,” the man behind the Dracula myth. For everyone who likes to sit back and enjoy his or her imagination spread
from vampire to vampire, the movies are the place to be. Who knows what is next? Maybe the once-loved leprechauns will sparkle as well, and everyone will give them gold.
Hopefully, leprechauns and vampires do not join together, because then we would be in real trouble.
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Wanna Tiffin*?
By Paul Tershakovec
In the sea of Chinese take-out restaurants that reside in most of suburban America, it is difficult to come by
an Indian restaurant. The newly opened Tiffin in Elkins Park, part of a micro-chain of restaurants, is one of the
only Indian restaurants in the area and is truly exceptional. The waiting line for a table, which extends out the
door of the restaurant, provides clear evidence that the food served at Tiffin is worth the wait.
After we were seated, we opened our menus and skimmed through them. Although the menu was rather
short, each dish seemed to be even more mouthwatering than the last, so any choice would have been satisfying.
Finally, our decisions were made: to start, we ordered Vegetable Samosa and Onion Bhaji. To follow these
appetizers, we ordered Tandoori Vegetables, Masaledar Lamb Chops, Baingan Bharta, Chicken Tika Masala,
Chicken Korma and various naans (traditional Indian bread).
Our impatient wait was rewarded when we received our Vegetable Samosa and Onion Bhaji. Biting into the
Vegetable Samosa, a golden brown, crispy pastry filled with mashed potatoes and peas, I was amazed by the
smooth mellow flavor of this Indian comfort food. Upon finishing the samosa, we moved on to the Onion Bhaji.
This fried concoction consisted of a mix of grated onions, potatoes and spinach all in a bite-sized patty, making
it a perfect finish to our first course.
For entrées, I started with the Masaledar Lamb Chops. The lamb chops were marinated overnight, so that
when they were baked, they developed a crunchy outer layer with a bit of a spicy flare. Next, I moved on to the
Tandoori Vegetables. Like the lamb chops, the Tandoori vegetables had a spicy kick, which accompanied the
delectable fresh taste of the grilled peppers, carrots and onions in the dish. When I finished the vegetables, I
covered my plate in a thin layer of jasmine rice, which comes with each entrée. I proceeded to spoon a bit of the
Chicken Tika Masala, Baingan Bharta and Chicken Korma separately onto the rice, and then started with the
Baingan Bharta. A rich brown blend of smoked eggplant sauteed with tomatoes, onions and various Indian
spices, this dish offered the same spice as the lamb chops and Tandoori Vegetables. I then moved on to the
Chicken Korma. With the first bite, this dish’s sweet creamy cashew sauce cooled my mouth, filling it with a
smooth, curry-laced flavor. The following dish that I sampled, Chicken Tika Masala, was an entrée of chicken
cubes in tomato gravy that offered a flavor like Chicken Korma, but with an added tangy tomato taste. Finishing
with my superb dinner, I wiped my plate clean with a large piece of Naan, quite full and satisfied.
Tiffin offers incredible Indian food in an extremely convenient location, perfect to be enjoyed with any
company. To eat at this superb restaurant, go to:
8080 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA
215-635-9205
www.Tiffin.com (to order online)
or visit Tiffin’s other locations:
710 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
215-922-1297
7105 Emlen Street
Philadelphia, PA
215-242-3656
50 East Wynnewood Road
Wynnewood, PA
610-642-3344
*Tiffin: (verb) to eat lunch or light meal (British informal)
2010 YEARBOOK
How to pay for your order:
· Online at https://yearbookordercenter.com/?jobnumber=13507
· by phone at 1-866-287-3096
· Or mail your check to the Herff Jones order center at
Yearbook Order Center
PO Box 29
Edwardsville, KS 66113-9029.
***If mailing please put job # 13507 on the memo line of check
Deadline for Payment January 18th, 2010
Twilight shines
(*SPOILER ALERT*)
By Hadley Rosenbaum and Vikki Ulmer
Ever since the first film hit the theaters, Twilight
fans around the world have been eagerly awaiting the
release of the second installment of the Twilight saga:
New Moon. As dedicated Twilight fans ourselves, we
wasted no time and saw it on its premiere night, Thursday, November 20th. Even hours before the midnight
premiere, Twilight fans had already taken over the theaters. The highly anticipated film did not dissapoint.
Despite the positive feedback from the fans, however,
the critics had their own opinions. Most reporters commented on Kristen and Rob’s shared tendency to appear overly depressed and well, dead. It seems that
being dead is all Bella Swan desires until Edward’s return.
Even though we are fans, we do recognize the
negatives projected by Bella’s dependence on Edward.
She spends a dark night in the forest, wakes up every
night screaming, and sits around feeling empty for
months after the vampire’s departure. It is only until
her old friend Jacob Black comes back into her life and
helps Bella reestablish herself little by little that she
finally resorts back to a fairly normal life. Jacob never
did anything wrong, and he only tried to help Bella by
being the best friend he could be. Sure, at times he got
a little harsh, but he is a werewolf after all. Jacob and
Bella’s relationship twists and turns while Bella is trying to find herself again. Edward’s defense, in contrast,
is that he only left because it was for Bella’s own good.
Regardless, Edward did leave, which makes it tough for
Bella to trust him not to do the same thing again. In the
end, the audience is won over by the reunion of Bella
and Edward, while simultaneously wishing for a love
as passionate as theirs. The last scene is almost painful
to watch for Jacob fans because it shows Bella choosing Edward over Jacob. Whether you are on Team Edward or Team Jacob, we think most fans will agree on
the overall success of New Moon. Be on the lookout
for previews of Eclipse, the third installment, which
comes out this summer!
abington.k12.pa.us
January 2010
F
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The Abingtonian
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A passion for fashion:
BB Dakota
By Melanie Highbloom
The Starship has landed
By Ana Cvetkovic
The house lights went down and the voice of Rivers Cuomo (Weezer’s
frontman) echoed through the Electric Factory. “If I could tour with any band dead
or alive right now, it would be Cobra Starship. I dig their attitude. They don’t take
themselves too seriously. They’re there to have a party, put on a good show.” Cobra
Starship started off every show on the OP Tour.Even after the sudden rise to fame
that came with the release of the hypnotically catchy “Good Girls Go Bad,” the band
has been nothing but humble.
On November 21st, Cobra Starship came to Philly, and I had the chance of a
lifetime. Through Cobra’s fan club, I had a meet-n-greet with the band before the
concert. Members Gabe Saporta (the über-cool vocalist), Alex Suarez (the bassist
with culinary talents), Ryland Blackington (the hilarious guitarist), Nate Navarro
(the soft-spoken drummer), and Vicky Asher (the keytarist and only female member
of the band) were all really sweet in person. I smiled like a lunatic as I hugged each
one and waited for my album to be signed, and I somehow even managed to make
some small talk. When Cobra Starship finally came on stage, Gabe tore into “The
City Is At War.” As Rivers mentioned in the interview, the Cobras are there to have
a party; a Cobra Starship concert is one in which you are surrounded by so many
people that you can barely move, yet you still manage to dance your heart out. Other
notable songs included “Smile For the Paparazzi” and “Wet Hot American Summer”
– one of my favorites off of Hot Mess, the band’s third album. The set ended with a
bang as the crowd chanted along with each lyric in “Good Girls Go Bad.” Gabe and
Vicky brought an indescribable energy to the song – an energy that could only be
experienced live.
BB Dakota is a hot, up-and-coming line right off the streets of Laguna Beach,
California. It specializes in amazing jackets, tops, and sweaters in hip styles with a
vintage feel. BB Dakota has French sensibility mixed with an eclectic style that
instantly draws one to her clothes. Gloria Brandes, the founding designer, comes up
with the most creative names for each
style and piece she produces. I love
the charcoal gray rolled sleeve blazer
titled “Set the World A-Blaze-er,” as well
as her gray cashmere trench coat, which
she gave the name “The Grey Area
Trench!” She calls her black Harem
swing pants “So You Think You Can
Pants” and her lemon yellow pea coat
“When Life Gives You Lemons Coat.”
For this season, Brandes also designed
some adorable lace miniskirts, a completely sequined, silver tee-shirt, and a
fabulous faux-fur vest. Her style is so unique and fun that it makes me just want to
run out and buy everything! Her price point is fair for the quality of the clothes she
designs and the fit is amazing. This is definitely a great line to invest your wardrobe
in because BB Dakota is filled
with timeless pieces that you will
wear forever!
If you have any fashion
questions, please do not
hesitate to email me at
FashionistaMBH@aol.com!
Don’t forget to check out my
blog at
APassionForFashionPhilly.Blogspot.Com
Enjoy, XOXO Melanie
Teacher feature: Mr. Wiley
By Siobhan Kirk
Mr. Wiley has been teaching physics at Abington Senior High for the past nine years, and I was recently able to sit down with him. Well, I actually had to chase
him around the classroom to be able to interview the man behind “The Wiley Show.”
Q: What was “The Wiley” like in high school?
A: I have always been a nerd; I really cared about my grades. I just really loved my high school and was very happy to be a part of it and receive an
education and do well.
Q: What was your inspiration to become a physics teacher?
A: Well, my high school physics teacher was the one who got me interested in physics. But my love of interaction with others really made me want to be a
teacher.
Q: What do you especially like about physics?
A: I can see it outside of a book; it’s more than just an equation. You can see physics in a sport or a car. You can witness it in real life.
Q: Have you ever failed a physics test?
A: Oh yeah.
Q: What is the best part of being a teacher?
A: The kids.
Q: How have your experiences been at Abington?
A: I’ve had some really good opportunities - coaching and activities, service learning, interacting with other teachers, and I’ve been able to meet some
really cool students.
Q: Have you had any weird experiences working here?
A: One year, some of my kids jotted down some of my “Wiley jokes” and “Wileyisms” and showed it to me the last day of school. It was about 5 pages.
Q: Where do all the “Wiley jokes” come from? How do they usually go over?
A: Life. They work sometimes better than others. Some days 50 percent of my jokes will work well - other days less.
Q: Any final advice for physics/upcoming physics students?
A: Physics doesn’t ask you to learn new things, it asks you to take things you already have a basic understanding of and apply it to a new situation or
scenario. It’s a new style of learning. You don’t only need to know equations, but you need to know when to apply them. You have to try it for yourself then ask
questions if you’re stuck or can’t do it.
abington.k12.pa.us
The Abingtonian
8
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January 2010
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Ghosts crucify Lancers:
A fan’s perspective
By Ben Salus
Thanksgiving is a holiday that requires friendship and unity, and it represents
a day to give thanks for all the righteous things in a person’s life. The Abington
Ghosts Hockey Team gave its students something to be very thankful for: an impressive victory over arch-rival Bishop McDevitt High School.
On the eve of Thanksgiving, the Ghosts stuffed the stomachs of the fans with
a fulfilling victory over the Bishop McDevitt Lancers 10-1. Needless to say, the
hockey team put on quite a performance. Jimmy McKee was the star of the night,
whose hat trick gave the fans some antics to cheer about. Keith Richardson started
the night off with a goal, and was ejected, all within the first few minutes. Other
players, such as Ryan “Cake Eater” Waddell and Andrew McGowan created excitement on the Abington bench due to their fantastic playing, swift stick handling, and
total domination of the Lancers. Tyler “Score a Goal” Moll got in on the fun with four
goals, celebrating in unison with the hundreds of Ghost fans by performing with
push-ups. Thomas “Soul Train” Kain protected our net, and allowed only one score
in 8 shots on the goal. Brian “Showtime” Stutz got the crowd riled up with his celebration after a goal, reminiscent of the Keanu Reeves movie, “The Replacements,” taking the McDevitt goalie’s helmet and placing it gently at center ice as a symbol of
Abington pride. Displaying a sense of togetherness, the Abington fans were intensely excited throughout the game; they used air horns and chants to show their
support for the Ghosts hockey team. In total, 32 penalties were given out to the
players on both teams.
With the crowd supporting them, our Ghosts’ game was won with attitude and
style, and the game proved why the Abington Ghosts Hockey Team is not a team to
be taken lightly when next year’s season rolls around.
Published by:
Abington Senior High School
Abington, Pennsylvania
ABINGTONIAN
2009-2010
Editors-in-Chief: Nikki Hess & Robbie Rozansky
News Editor: Esther Katro
Editorial Editor: Maeve McDermott
Features Editor: Allie Baurer
Sports Editor: Chris Gerhardt
Photographers/Cartoonists: Ian Baum
Writers:
Krista Grande, Zach Baum, Lydia Baxter, Maddie Bates, Paul
Tershakovec, Kelsey Hughes, Carly Hughes, Esther Katro, Sienna
Vance, Charlotte Alter, Victoria Ulmer, Jasmine Teich, Tamara
Hass, Hadley Rosenbaum, Ana Kvetkovic, Melanie Highbloom,
Siobhan Kirk, Rob Wells, Ben Salus
Advisors:
Mr. A. Saylor, Mr. R. Wrigley
Administration:
Dr. J. Fecher, Mr. R. McCuen, Ms. D. Heaven, Mr. E. Johnson
The Answer is back
By Rob Wells
Allen Iverson, nicknamed “The Answer,” was the hot topic in Philadelphia
during June of 1996. When the 76ers drafted him first overall in the 1996 NBA Draft,
he took the sport and city by storm. During his first stint in Philadelphia, which
lasted from 1996-2006, Iverson lit up scoreboards almost every night, earning himself a Rookie of the Year Award and two MVPs. Beloved by all in Philadelphia, he
played his heart out and gave it his all every night but left in 2006 when he knew the
76ers couldn’t win a championship. He played for three teams in the span of 20062009: Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies. Even though the
76ers were a young and talented team, they hit rock bottom after Iverson left in
2006. Ever since then, Philly fans have been questioning how far the team can get
without the face of the franchise leading them.
The Philly question has been answered. Three years since Iverson split ties
with the Sixers, he has returned. After a one month retirement from the game, on
December 7th 2009, Allen Iverson returned to an NBA court wearing a 76ers jersey.
Critics questioned the aging superstar: “Can he still compete with the young guys?
Is he going to be selfish or a team player?” some asked. These questions arose
because of his recent playing on the Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies; Iverson was
not content coming off the bench and his age began to show. A few days before
rejoining the 76ers, Iverson held an emotional press conference where he expressed
his love for the 76ers and the City of Brotherly Love, asking the fans for a chance
to prove himself.
In Iverson’s first game back, he started at point guard against the Denver
Nuggets. Although the 76ers rank second worst in the league in terms of attendance, the arena was sold out, full of Philly fans that could not wait to see Iverson
play again. Iverson played a great game for someone who had been gone for a
month, adding 11 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds in 38 minutes of work. Even
though the 76ers lost, Iverson has given the team and the city hope. There is no
doubt among Philadelphia sports fans that “The Answer” is back.
Hope you had a
wonderful holiday
break, and welcome
to the new year!