The Dumb Ox - Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh

Aquinas Academy’s Official Student Newspaper
Misgiving, or Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving. Everyone has
dressed up in buckled hats and feathers for reenactments, and has heard
the tale of the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock a million times. Everyone knows the story so well that it is
almost boring... However, the average
American would be shocked to know
how much of this well known story is
a misconception.
Even the name,
―Thanksgiving,‖ is a misnomer.
Originally, ―thanksgivings‖ were
religious days of fasting and prayer to
thank God. These events occurred
many times a year. Our ―first Thanksgiving‖ was not a ―thanksgiving‖ in the historical sense
of the word, but rather a three day harvest festival of
games, dancing, and feasting, all of which were unacceptable during religious ―thanksgivings.‖ It was more
similar to the harvest festivals of Europe than the original
Puritan ―thanksgivings.‖
The image of monochromatically clothed pilgrims and scantily clad Indians must also be revised. The
black, white, and gray clothing of the pilgrims was reserved for Sunday; their daily clothing was actually quite
colorful. They wore no buckles on their shoes, hats, or
belts as these were both very expensive and not in fashion at the time. A simple leather cord did the trick. By
this point in the season, the Indians would have abandoned their thin summer wear and donned warmer clothing in anticipation of the chilly New England weather.
The meal itself has also been changed dramatically throughout the ages. Many of our staples dishes,
such as potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie were
absent from the first Thanksgiving. The meal consisted
not only of fowl and venison, but also of fish, lobster,
and clams. The Pilgrims were, after all, located in the
Massachusetts Bay. Many vegetables, squashes, pumpPage 1
By: Elena Liguori, Junior
NOVEMBER 2014
kins, and nuts supplemented
the feast. Thanksgiving, however, was
not a ―sit down‖ kind of meal. The
emphasis was on the festivities and
games more than the meal, so food was
left out to be taken at will. Also, if
your mom ever comments on your
poor manners while eating your
Thanksgiving dinner, you can tell her
that you are just being historically
accurate. After all, the Pilgrim’s had
no forks—only spoons and their hands!
The popularity of the first
Thanksgiving did not surge until the
early 1800’s, when a lost account resurfaced and was reprinted in a newspaper. From there, it gained popularity and began to be
celebrated. Until that time, the original Thanksgiving of
1621 had been a one-time event. In 1863, President
Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving to be a national holiday.
The date of Thanksgiving has been a controversial issue since, bouncing between Thursdays in November, although the Pilgrims most likely celebrated
their Thanksgiving in late September. After retailers
implored President Franklin Roosevelt to move Thanksgiving up a week in order to provide the shoppers with
more days to Christmas shop, he ended up changing the
date for Thanksgiving twice in three years, resulting in
half the states following his date and the other half following the traditional date. Texas, ever bigger than life,
celebrated both. To ensure unity, Congress officially
declared Thanksgiving to be the fourth Thursday in November.
2
(Thanksgiving)
Food For Thought
2
Sports
4-5
Black Friday Frenzy 6
Ana’s Mailbox and
Clare’s Corner
Upcoming
Events!
November 26-28:
Thanksgiving break!!!
December 5:
Team Day Service Event
December 8:
Many of our Thanksgiving traditions actually
began in the 20th century. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day No School-Immaculate
Conception
Parade, originally called the Macy’s Christmas Parade,
because it initiated the Christmas season, began in 1924
with animals from the Central Park Zoo.
Continued on page 11
9
(Thanksgiving) Food For Thought
In contrast, Thanksgiving staples
cluster sample, asking 80 hungry students
dining on venison and shellfish, most fami-
before they made their way into the lunch-
lies celebrate with turkey and mashed pota-
room what their favorite food was. The re-
toes, which are today regarded as a neces-
sults are as follows:
eaten at Thanksgiving, with the exception of
were not as fortunate.
―asparagus‖, which had only one vote, fol-
is regarded as a typical Thanksgiving meal,
it is essential to acquire, once and for all,
what the most delicious food served on our
national holiday is. A field agent was sent
ing not only as a nation, but as a family. The
same core tradition has been passed down
for three centuries, although the meals have
greatly evolved. The pilgrims that shared the
first Thanksgiving had far fewer food options – it is believed they dined on venison,
duck, goose, onions, beans, lettuce, spinach,
cabbage, carrots, turnips, and peas when
available. Shellfish, which were abundant
along the coast, made up a large part of the
meal. Unfortunately, potatoes were only
grown in South America during this time
period, but fret not, the Pilgrims did find
another source of starch: corn.
Page 2
All of these foods are commonly
of time as a Thanksgiving food, but turnips
With all of these changes in what
country, America has celebrated Thanksgiv-
into the general public and ran a statistical
have changed from then to today. Instead of
sity. Fortunately, corn has withstood the test
Throughout the history of our fine
By: Jacob Scioscia, Senior
lowed by the next least popular option ,
which was having a distaste for Thanksgiving food in general. It is clear that for Aquinas students Thanksgiving favorites are
mashed potatoes and stuffing, which to-
Extra! Extra!
Where There’s A Will, There’s a Way
Excitement and anticipation hang in Megastoi in joy. As a reward, all teams
By: Mary Rose Flynn, Junior
school, stated: ―As expected, there are some
the air as the new high school building nears
enjoyed a dress-down day, along with
things we need to modify to meet the town-
completion. Only a few obstacles remain
the option to chew gum, on Friday,
ship code.‖
before high school students can officially
November 14.
move into their new location. Although one
The next phase of the transition
During this period of transition, it is
key for all who are involved (faculty and
of these obstacles, the transition of furniture
process requires adult help, particularly in
students) to maintain an unwavering spirit of
to the new building, was taken care, a few
placing shelves, many from Penn Hills, into
gratitude. The new classroom building,
tasks still await completion.
the new building. After this, the communica- which is a great blessing, has only been made
On October 31st, classes were
tion systems (phones and intercom), and the
possible through generous donations of both
security system need to become fully opera-
time and money. Even though there have
some students found enough energy within
tional in order for the last step: the process
been obstacles along the way, the Mross-
themselves to engage in quick games of soc-
of transferring offices to their new location
McGonigle building will be well worth the
cer and basketball. Once everyone had re-
and readjusting the students’ schedules,
wait. The wise words of St. Paul are perfectly
turned, Mrs. Mitros announced the winners
can begin.
applicable here, ―In everything give thanks:
shortened to 30-35 minutes so all eight periods could occur before lunch. At 1 o’clock,
middle and high school students, clad in team
shirts, gathered in the Rhodora to participate
in the ―Movers and Shakers‖ All Saints’ Day
competition, where the faculty challenged
students to participate in a spirit of service
and generosity, as the saints would have
done. Within the competition, each team was
assigned a different task, such as moving
furniture from the old school into the new
building, replacing the current high school
desks with new furniture from a storage
room, or simply cleaning and drying furniture in the rain.
At the end of the day, prizes were
awarded to teams exemplifying virtue. After
an hour and a half of labor, tired students
trumped back to the gym. Miraculously,
of the ―competition in virtue‖: Beltastoi
Of course, the entire transition
placed first in obedience, Kratastoi in indus-
depends on Hampton Township giving its
triousness, Aristoi in perseverance, and
approval for occupancy. Mrs. Mitros, head of
for this is the will of God.‖
Page 3
We Are the Champions
By: Jillian Kaercher, Junior
Aquinas’ efforts, Winchester scored
3 more goals to end the game at 5-0.
Winchester Thurston went on to win
the WPIAL playoffs. As Ana
Wilhelm put it, ― Although they may
have lost to Winchester Thurston, I
hope they still feel like winners—
because they are.‖
Despite the loss, the boys
had the best soccer season in Aquinas history. They had an overall
The Aquinas Academy Boys’ Soc- week.
record of 9-8-1, and scored a total of 57
cer Team are champions. For the second year
goals—six more than the highest previous
On October 20th, a bus full of stuin a row, the boys arrived to the WPIAL
record at Aquinas. Chris Miller said, ―Our
dent fans, along with Mrs. Mitros and Mr.
playoffs, each player strong and ready for
Flynn, made the trek to South Fayette for the team is a real tight knit group. I think that
battle. They were seated third in their secgreatly attributed to our success. Practicing
game. Hannah Canil commented, ―It was
tion, after Riverview and Vincentian, respec- amazing how many fans actually showed up. fundamentals and seemingly simple things
tively. Scheduled to play the number one
Aquinas is not known for their fan base, but was more important than you would believe.
team, Winchester Thurston, Aquinas had a
However, at the end of the season we came
a lot of kids were able to make it and show
tough game ahead of them. The boys went
up short. But, we still had fun getting there.‖
their support for the team.‖ After the game
entered the game with an optimistic outlook began, it seemed to be an even match beDespite the sudden end to their playoff
and were hopeful for a win. ―We lost to
tween the schools until Winchester scored 2 hopes, the boys were able to bring together
Winchester 4-1 early in the season, but we
goals. The boys played hard, but ended half not only their team, but the school as well,
really improved since then as a team‖, Senior time at a deficit of 2-0. The fans rallied for a proving just who the true champions really
and Captain Chris Miller said earlier that
are.
comeback in the second half, but despite
Nothing But Net
Last year, the
Aquinas Academy girls’
basketball team experienced an unbelievable
amount of success. They
were undefeated in their
section, and for the second
year in a row, won the
SWCAC (Southwestern
Catholic Athletic Conference) Championship. This
was a climactic moment in
the school’s history, for it is not often that
Aquinas’ sports teams win championships,
let alone two years in a row.
Page 4
In 2013,
four out of the five
starters were seniors,
along with the next
four subs. Now that
the seniors have
graduated, this creates
a sizable gap in the
current team. Consequently, It would
seem that 2014 would
be a rebuilding season
for the girls’ team, but the girls themselves
think otherwise. Starter and current Junior,
Hannah Canil, comments on the matter,
By: Paul Adams, Junior
saying ―I fully expect to win the SWCAC
girls championship, go undefeated, and be
even better than last year. What we lack
experience, we make up in intensity and
effort.‖ Hannah was one of the team’s high
scorers as a Sophomore, and will continue
to excel throughout her high school experience.
This basketball season, she plans
on pushing the team to be better, as well as
building up team spirit. They have been
extremely dedicated thus far, and will continue their hard working tradition. As a
school, we can expect great things from this
year’s girls’ basketball team.
Mike and Mike’s
FANZONE
By: Michael Lind, Senior
Biggest Injury Disappointment:
Mr. Unreliable:
Calvin Johnson, WR
Eli Manning, QB
Biggest Injury Disappointment:
At the beginning of the season,
Megatron owners were ecstatic. It appeared
that Johnson had a huge season ahead of him,
totaling 19 catches for 329 yards and 2
touchdowns in only the first 3 weeks. During the second half of the Lions-Packers
game in Detroit, Johnson suffered a right
ankle injury. X-rays came back negative,
which was a relief to many fantasy players.
However, when Johnson limped off the field
against the Buffalo Bills, fantasy owners
assumed the worst.
New York Giant fans, along with
fantasy owners of Eli Manning have an intensely polarized relationship with their quarterback. The fans want nothing more than to
turn back time to the days when their team
was a Super Bowl contender, with Eli at the
helm. Eli Manning is a top 3 quarterback…
when it comes to turning the ball over. His
11 interceptions rank him 3rd in the league
behind Jay Cutler and Blake Bortles.
C.J. Spiller, RB
This was supposed to be Spiller’s
year. It is his fifth season in the league, and
he is a dual threat back coming out of the
backfield (meaning he can run and catch).
With Fred Jackson’s career coming to a
close, Spiller become the premier back for
the Bills. He was coming off of a career low
in carries due to an injury plagued season,
but he, along with the whole city of Buffalo,
were looking for a reincarnation of his 2012Eli’s performances cover an enor2013 seasons; where he amassed 2,821 total
mously broad spectrum. He can go from
Calvin Johnson ended up only miss- looking like an elite quarterback one week, to yards and 10 touchdowns. But once again
ing 3 weeks of action; but from weeks 4-11,
an absolute novice the next. Fantasy owners injury has been the downfall of his short career. This year, a broken collarbone has sidehe was held to 25 fantasy points. Having to
never know what they will get out of Manbench a top 5 pick is enough to bring any
ning. He could throw for 300 yards, 4 touch- lined Spiller, but he hopes to rejoin the team
fantasy owner to the brink of tears. Even
downs, and score 32 points (week 4), or pos- as the Bills make their final push for the
though Calvin Johnson owners suffered a
sibly throw for 280 yard, 5 interceptions, and postseason.
major loss, those with Golden Tate in their
be held to 5 fantasy points (week 11).
lineup were able to take advantage of the
Mr. Unreliable:
superstar’s injury. Tate produced consecutive
21 point weeks against the Saints and Atlanta. By: Michael Tappe, Senior
Phillip Rivers, QB
Rookie Sensation:
Rookie Sensation:
Mike Evans, WR
Sammy Watkins, WR
Michael Evans was selected by the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 17th pick of
the draft. He had a stagnant start to the season
with the Bucs, and didn’t seem to be a
consistent option at WR. He seemed to have
trouble developing chemistry with Mike
Glennon and Josh McCown, Tampa’s two
QBs. However, something must have clicked
in week 9 against Cleveland, when Evans
scored 24 fantasy points.
This first round pick out of Clemson has been nothing but fantastic. He has
added the spark the Bills desperately needed
for their franchise and for their city. A tall,
athletic receiver, with exceptional hands and
Olympic speed, he is heading towards a fantastic career.
Mike Evan’s stats look like they did
during his college years. The 6’ 5‖ wide
receiver has an incredible 21 catches for 458
yards and 5 touchdowns in weeks 9, 10, and
11. As of week 12, Evans is owned in 86%
leagues. He is a huge asset to have heading
into fantasy playoffs as a second WR, or
flex option.
Sammy has accumulated 5 touchdowns and over 640 yards receiving as a
rookie. The sky is the limit for Watkins.
Look for him to finish this year strong with a
competitive Bills team and move into consideration for one of the premier wide outs in
the game.
Phillip Rivers started his 2014 campaign as one the hottest QBs in league.
Throughout his first six games, he threw for
1,756 yards (which is 292 yards per game)
and 15 touchdowns to 2 interceptions. Since
week 6, his numbers have been modest, but
nothing like the first third of his season. In
the 4 games since, he has thrown for 788
yards (a measly 197 yards per game) and an
awful 6 touchdowns to 6 interceptions.
As a result, the San Diego Chargers
have paid the price, sitting at 6-4 and third
place in the AFC West. Do not look for Rivers to be in this slump forever, though. He
has proven himself to be one of the most
consistent and highly efficient QBs in the
league, which is why on most fantasy teams
he is still the number 1 Quarterback.
Page 5
Black Friday Frenzy
In the past, Black Friday used to be pegged as
the official start of the holiday shopping season. Now
that sales on Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday are abundant, Black Friday has morphed into a catch-all phrase
for every sale’s event remotely close to Turkey Day.
This two week period of sales has a schedule
that fluctuates yearly. This year, ―Thanksgiving Sales‖
start on the Monday before the holiday, ―Black Friday‖
sales begin on Thursday, and ―Cyber Monday‖ mark-offs
begin on Saturday and last throughout the week. This
ironic schedule, if followed carefully, can yield discounted presents to put under the Christmas tree.
According to DealNews.com, the prime markdowns fall under the Thanksgiving Sales. Entertainment
and electronic categories, including cameras, iPads, appliances, and more, appear to have the most substantial
discounts during this time. However, traditional Black
Friday sales (which begin on Thanksgiving) offer the
best sales on iPhones, laptops, and home-and-garden
items, while Cyber Monday has the most enticing sales
on clothing and beauty products.
For the dedicated shopper, the most sensible
plan of attack would be to shop in small increments
throughout the two-week period of Black Friday, rather
than trying to cram all of the bargain hunting into one
Page 6
By: Christian Bender, Junior
night. However, if quickness is a priority, the shopper
should comb the aisles during the Thanksgiving Sales.
Another hurdle concerning Black Friday is
whether or not to shop online. Only 25% of Americans
plan to shop online on Cyber Monday, according to
BankRate.com, while 28% will shop in-store on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. However, Black Friday online
sales have been steadily growing—from 26% of the total
Black Friday sales in 2006 to 40% of those sales last
year. Clearly, Thanksgiving sales—both online and instore—are quickly becoming America’s favorites. Target, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, and a myriad of other stores offer
both online and in-store sales. The earnest shopper
should peruse both local stores and their websites during
the Thanksgiving season.
Black Friday is, undeniably, a season all of it’s
own. Comprised of multiple sales events, as well as
online sales, Black Friday has expanded into a phenomenon that transcends the Thanksgiving holiday. The materialism which this sales frenzy inspires, however, is not
appreciated by all. In fact, there is a counter movement
afoot in America to keep the ―sacredness‖ of Thanksgiving Day itself - and to boycott shopping altogether on the
revered holiday.
'Twas on a Midsummer's Night...
By: Rachel Mendoza, Senior
Amidst the anticipation of the new building and the excitement about the upcoming Thanksgiving break, there was another
special event on the Aquinas calendar. The high school play! In
years past, this event took place in the spring, but has recently been
moved to the fall, trading places with the middle school, who now
performs their play in the spring.
supplying the sets and props. Science teacher Mr. Peter Heisler was
our technician, who does everything from setting up the microphones and lights to putting the actual stage together. Without their
help, this play could not happen.
This year, Aquinas is performing A Midsummer Night's
Dream, written by the bard himself: William Shakespeare. Mr. Michael Flynn, a fantastic director with a theater background, is clocking in countless hours of work with the cast in order to ensure a
stellar performance come opening night. As many already know,
this is not Mr. Flynn’s first time being involved with the Aquinas
play. The high school Co-Director, teacher, and Aquinas parent is a
directing veteran—tirelessly taking on directing the annual middle
and high school plays.
more Sophia Kartsonas as Helena, and Senior Richard Meland as
Demetrius. The fairy crew was headed by the fairy king Oberon,
played by Junior Christian Bender, and fairy queen Titania, played
by Senior Rachel Mendoza. Mischievous sprite Puck was brought to
life by Senior Theresa Boyd, and the lovable Bottom, a craftsman,
was played by Senior John McKeating.
A Midsummer Night's Dream was one of Shakespeare's
romantic comedies, revolving around four Athenian lovers who,
along with an ensemble of mischievous fairies and a bumbling
The Aquinas Academy play tradition began way back in
2003, when this year's class of 2015 was in kindergarten. Mrs. Deb- group of craftsmen, spend a midsummer's night in the woods outside
Athens in ancient Greece. Through manipulation, magic, and misorah Mendoza, mother of Rachel and John-Peter Mendoza, was
passionate about acting, so she, along with Mr. Bill DeTillo, under- haps, hilarity and confusion ensues, such that none of the characters
are quite sure of what really happened and what was simply a
took the direction of some of the very first Aquinas plays. Peter
Pan, Oliver, Charlie Brown, and Wiley and the Hairy Man were all dream, hence the title.
performed on stage in the old cafeteria, which is now the present
The group of lovers was portrayed by Junior Mary Rose
day high school.
Flynn as Hermia, Sophomore Michael Henry as Lysander, Sopho-
The gym, along with the adjoining cafeteria, were utilized
for the production once the stage was taken out of storage and
pieced together once again for the performance. The play took place
Mrs. Peg Boyd and Mrs. Mary Kay Tappe, also both Aqui- on Friday, November 21st, and Saturday, November 22nd. With
nas parents, always graciously volunteer to help out with costumes, such a loyal and talented cast and crew, A Midsummer Night's
Dream was an unforgettable production.
while dedicated art teacher Mr. Brady Buchanan takes care of
Page 7
Why Net Neutrality Isn’t A Neutral Issue
The internet, as we know it, is in
danger. Recently, ―Net Neutrality‖ has become an important issue, entering into the
popular consciousness through social media
activism and an official Presidential Address
regarding the issue. It even managed to take
up the first half of John Oliver’s ―Last Week
Tonight‖. The trouble remains that the majority of Americans are rather unaware of the
importance of Net Neutrality, and the implications its absence would have on the current
state of the internet.
Until now, the internet has worked
on the principle that all legal data is treated
equally, transferred at equal speeds, regardless of the content and where it came from.
This principle is what allowed a small website, called Facebook, designed by a Harvard
sophomore, to have the highest ever Technology IPO. In essence, Net Neutrality is what
allows the internet to be free, open, and a
level playing field, providing fledgling companies the same chances to succeed as established corporations.
Currently, Net Neutrality is being
threatened by some of the largest and most
powerful corporations in America: our Internet Service Providers. These powerhouses,
including Comcast, Verizon, Time Warner
Cable, and AT&T, seek to restructure the
internet, and regulate the speed of data transfers. The internet currently runs on a one tier
system: all data is treated equally. In the proposed two tier system, ISP’s would charge
tech companies fees to send information to
consumers more quickly. For example, Spotify might pay a premium to allow customers
to stream music more reliably, at a price
which smaller streaming companies would
not be able to afford. This two tier system
would confine all but the biggest companies
to an ―internet slow lane‖.
Recently in the news were the negotiations between Netflix and Comcast.
Do You See What I See?
In 1789, a chemist named John Dalton published the first scientific paper on color blindness, titled ―Extraordinary Facts Relating to
the Vision of Colours‖. This was in reaction to his recent discovery
that he too suffered from this condition. Therefore the disorder came
to be called Daltonism, although today this term only refers to a
specific form of color blindness, deuteranopia.
Inherited color blindness comes in three forms: Monocromacy,
Dichromacy, and Anomalous Trichromacy. Monocromacy is complete color blindess, when the person affected can only perceive the
world in black and white. Monocromacy is split into two subdivisions. Rod Monocromacy, which is a very rare disability caused by
an absence or lack of functional retinal cones, is often associated
with poor vision and light sensitivity. However, Cone Monocromacy, which is caused by a lack of two or three cone pigments, usually allows for fairly normal vision.
Dichromacy is a form of color blindness in which one of the
color mechanisms is defective or non existent. Depending on which
color mechanism is affected, the sufferer will fall into the category
of either Protanopia, Deuteranopia, or Tritanopia. Protanopia is the
absence of red retinal photoreceptors. In this condition, purples cannot be differentiated from blues, red looks black, and orange appears
to be yellow. The second category, Deuteranopia, affects red and
green discernment. It occurs when the green retinal photoreceptors
are absent. Tritanopia, the rarest form of Dichromacy, occurs when
Page 8
By: Richard Meland, Senior
Comcast demanded that Netflix pay interconnection fees, and throttled download speeds
of Netflix content until the two companies
settled. Comcast has a history of throttling
content, going back to 2007, when it began to
interfere with Bittorrent traffic on its network. Critics have pointed out the amount of
political power that companies such as Comcast have. Comcast spent an estimated 18
million dollars lobbying this past year, second most only to defense contractor Northrop
Grumman. Even the Chairman of the Federal
Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler,
is sympathetic to these companies; before he
was appointed Chairman, Wheeler was a top
lobbyist for cable and wireless companies.
President Obama’s official statement in support of Net Neutrality lends hope
that the integrity of the internet will remain
intact. Supporters of Net Neutrality hope that
the FCC will reclassify broadband as a Title
II service under the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which would protect the open access to the internet and prevent fast lanes.
By: Theresa Boyd, Senior
blue retinal photoreceptors are absent. In this category, purples seem
to be red, yellows and oranges look pink, and blues resemble green.
Both Protanopia and Deuteranopia are sex linked, and therefore
predominantly affect males, whilst Tritanopia is related to Chromosome Seven.
The final form of color blindness, known as Anomalous
Trichromacy, is the most common form of color blindness and refers
to impairment rather than loss of color discernment. It occurs when a
color pigment has altered spectral sensitivity. Trichromacy too,
comes in three types. Protanomaly is marked by poor green and red
discrimination. It is present in about one percent of males. Protanomaly is due to altered spectral sensitivity in the red receptors.
Deuteranomaly creates poor red-green discernment as well, although
it is caused by altered spectral sensitivity in the green receptors.
Deuteranomaly is the most common form of Anomalous Trichromacy and affects five percent of males of European descent.
Tritanomaly, the final type, affects pink-red, blue-yellow, and
green discrimination, and is the most rare kind of Anomalous
Trichromacy.
Although many people today may consider color vision deficiency as a disability, some scientists believe that it was actually an
advantage in hunter-gatherer times because it allowed one the ability
to see through camouflage, and identify predators and prey alike. So
if you can’t see red, it might actually be an evolutionary advantage.
ANA’S MAILBOX
By: Ana Wilhelm, Senior
Dear Ana's Mailbox,
My parents are very strict when it comes to academics, but I feel much more passionate about art. I struggle to
keep my grades up without abandoning my personal projects. I aspire to go to art school one day, but I know that my parents would not be happy about that. How do I show my parents that when it comes to my future, all I can picture is art?
-Wilting Warhol
Dear Wilting Warhol,
While you may not appreciate your parents' firmness when it comes to school, please know that
they are only trying to help you. Although academics may not be at the top of your list in terms of importance, having a solid education is a necessary foundation on which many careers need to be built. Since art is
what you are truly passionate about, you need to prove to your parents that you have looked thoughtfully at
every possible future for yourself based off of what they want, and what you want. Stomping your foot and
demanding that you go to art school will not show your parents that you are mature enough to make such life
-altering decisions.
Perhaps starting off small, like asking to take some extra art classes or getting a job that pertains to art in some way, will
show them that art is a dream that you are not willing to give up. As for your goal of one day attending art school, having a list of a
few more "traditional" schools that you have
learned about, and could see yourself
possibly applying to, on hand to show
your parents would prove to them that
you have taken their advice into
consideration, and have not completely
written off their suggestions. Your
parents' main desire is for you to be
happy, so if you show them that you
have looked into every other viable
option and have still come to the
conclusion that art is the only thing
that will make you happy, I have
a feeling that they will support you
unconditionally.
Good luck!
-Ana
Pumpkin Cheesecake Squares
Follow these simple directions to make 20 bars. These pumpkin squares are a great dessert
for after Thanksgiving dinner or with coffee in the morning.
Filling:
Topping
FILLING:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 packages (8 oz) cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 package (8 oz) fat-free cream cheese
1/4 cup reduced-fat butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
2 eggs, lightly beaten
D i re c t i o n s :
I n a s m a l l b o w l , c o m b i n e c r a c k e r c r u m b s a n d s u g a r ; s t i r i n b u t t e r. P r e s s
o n t o t h e b o t t o m o f a 1 3 - i n . x 9 - i n . b a k i n g d i s h c o a t e d w i t h c o o k i n g s p r a y.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
I n a l a rg e b o w l , b e a t c r e a m c h e e s e s a n d s u g a r u n t i l s m o o t h . B e a t i n t h e
p u m p k i n , f l o u r, p i e s p i c e a n d v a n i l l a . A d d e g g s ; b e a t o n l o w s p e e d j u s t
until combined. Pour over crust.
Bake at 325° for 35-45 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a
w i r e r a c k f o r 1 h o u r. C o v e r a n d r e f r i g e r a t e f o r 8 h o u r s o r o v e r n i g h t .
Cut cheesecake into 20 bars
Page 9
Album Review:
By: Maggie Rothfus, Junior
Taylor Swift 1989
Does the Taylor Swift you thought
you knew no longer exist? In her fifth studio
album, Swift has brought a new style to her
music and has finally acknowledged that she is
a pop artist. But it isn’t just country-inspired
pop like her fourth album Red; 1989 is strong
synth-pop. Swift uses this sound to show her
love for her newly embraced genre and tweaked
personality.
ships. However, she does flaunt
past relationships elsewhere in
the album.
The long-awaited
Harry Styles-inspired ballads
each have their strengths and
weaknesses. The standout track
would have to be ―Style,‖ one
of the two tracks that actually
Jumping onto the vintage bandwagon, has a speck of 80’s pop music,
Taylor Swift has incorporated all things from
the other being ―Out of the
the 1980’s, which means Polaroid's, bright neon Woods.‖ The latter has excolors, and 80’s synth-pop ―inspired‖ music,
tremely subpar lyrics, the worst
into 1989. All of the album art includes Polarone being ―You took a Polaroid
oid's of Swift, while the titles of tracks are
of us/Then discovered/The rest
written in a bright neon sign styled font. While of the world was black and
this aspect of the album is impressively lame
white/But we were in screamand ―hipster,‖ the music itself makes a good
ing color.‖ Unfortunately, the
effort to amend the album’s dismal physical
cringe-inducing lyrics are not
appearance.
salvaged by a good melody or
In the foreword for 1989, Swift com- rhythm. The 80’s-sounding
instruments do not mix well
ments on the change she has undergone in the
with the tempo of the song, which
past few years; this change is described in the
is too slow and awkward to be liked.
album’s opening track, ―Welcome to New
York.‖ Not only is it heavily electronic and
However, there is a slow track that
synthesized, the song’s well-described love for has a good appeal: ―Wildest Dreams.‖ Swift
city-life shows Swift’s transition from a small- was obviously heavily inspired by Lana Del
town country girl to a city woman. As a city
Rey while writing the song, not only in the set
woman, Swift has become bolder, shown
up of the song’s sound, but even the selfmainly through the sense of humor used in her destructive lyrics. It is concerned with image
songs.
and physical pleasures that easily influenced
The second track, ―Blank Space‖, was girls of any age should not be exposed to.
written with a charming irony, showing that
Swift is completely aware of the public’s opinion: she is the pop star who uses guys for record
sales. In this song, she runs with that image,
saying, ―Got a long list of ex-lovers/They’ll tell
you I’m insane/But I’ve got a blank space baby/
And I’ll write your name.‖
While Swift is just pushing her feelings into her songs, they can influence many
girls in the wrong way. Fortunately, this problem only applies to a few songs: ―Wildest
Dreams,‖ ―How You Get the Girl,‖ and ―This
Love.‖ The latter two tracks describe how to get
by in a relationship by avoiding problems and
She again acknowledges how people only looking at the good times. On the other
view her in 1989’s first single, ―Shake It Off,‖ . hand, the last track, ―Clean,‖ has a fine message
In these two tracks, Swift flaunts her independ- that tells of how Swift got over a past boyfriend, and how, even though she sometimes
ent and unshakeable attitude, not her relation-
Page 10
misses him, she feels better about life and clean
without him.
The entirety of this album boils down
to one final question: has Taylor Swift changed
as a person, or has it been just her genre? While
she may have become more humorous and ―pop
-y,‖ she is still that love ballad girl that has
always been there; though it is still interesting
to see her music gain more variety because of
the genre change.
As a whole, the album 1989 is decent,
but is certainly a step-down from her previous,
more wholesome albums. It has great potential,
but its contradictory messages and themes damage its overall quality. Before you dive iTunes
gift card first into Taylor Swift’s new album,
take the time to listen to her songs before actually buying them. After all, it is better to have
listened and hated than to have spent and
loathed.
It must have been a hard day in Philosophy class:
"Can I get a drink?" -John McKeating
"Bless you."-Miss DePauw
After Mrs. Hudac mistakenly gave away Coby's lunch:
"At the end of the day, your mother doesn't love you."-Mrs. Mitros
During a discussion on the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner":
"Hope can't die."-Sophia Fardo
"It can when it's shot with an arrow."-Coby Hudac
Mr. Flynn, while blocking a scene in A Midsummer Night's Dream, cautioned:
"Big Dom Hite, I don't want to see your butt!"
Misgiving, or Thanksgiving?-continued from pg. 1
Helium balloons first appeared in 1947. First televised in
1947, the parade now boasts 4.4 million viewers. In 1934, the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears played the first Thanksgiving Day
national football game. The Lions have played every year since
except for a brief break during World War II.
What started as the harvest celebration of a few families a
long way from home, has evolved into a national affair. During the
Thanksgiving season, approximately 280 million turkeys are sold.
Minnesota is the top turkey-producer in the country, whilst California is the biggest consumer.
A little known Thanksgiving fact is that what makes
people tired after eating a big Thanksgiving meal is not the tryptophan in the turkey, but the body’s reaction to the sheer quantity of
ingested food. The body directs the blood away from the nervous
system and into the digestive system, which slows down mental
processes.
Besides the emphasis on the food, Thanksgiving is a celebration of family. Families from across the town and from across the
nation gather to share a meal and thank God for his bountiful gifts,
just as the Pilgrims did so long ago.
Page 11
The Dumb Ox Staff
Edi
Editors
Theresa Boyd
Please send articles, ideas, corrections, or Snips
and Quips to: dumboxnews@gmail.com
Ana Wilhelm
Publisher
Clare Mortenson
Writing Staff
Paul Adams
Christian Bender
Mary Rose Flynn
Jillian Kaercher
Aquinas Academy
2308 West Hardies Road
Gibsonia, PA 15044
Elena Liguori
Michael Lind
Jonathan Lynch
John McKeating
Richard Meland
Rachel Mendoza
Chris Miller
Maggie Rothfus
Jacob Scioscia
Michael Tappe
Ray Urbash
DisAlthough The Dumb Ox is the official student newspaper of
Aquinas Academy, the views expressed by the staff of this
newspaper and the published
editorials may not reflect the views held by the Aquinas Academy Board of Directors, Administration, Staff or any other facet
of the Academy.