HSPVA Black History Production 2014

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VOL 5 ISSUE 6
*TheHighSchoolforthePerformingandVisualArtsNewspaper
Dreamgirls
HSPVA Black History Production 2014
Introduction by Graeme Campbell; Reflections by Saqqara Campbell
Black History has been observed
at HSPVA since the 1970’s, dating back
to HSPVA’s original campus. Unlike the
giant, musical Black History productions
produced recently, HSPVA’s first Black
History shows were informative collections of poetry, spoken word, and song
about African-American heritage. In the
past, with the help of a playwright, original
plays were written and modern, popular
songs were placed in. Although our traditions have changed, HSPVA still puts on
a great Black History show every year.*
outgoing and loud as I may be, I have the
most debilitating nerves when it comes
to performing. When it was announced
that the Black History Production was going to be Dreamgirls, I knew I wanted to
play the role that Beyonce (the queen,
#Yonce) played in the movie, no matter
what. However, the fact that I would be
singing in front of hundreds of people had
yet to sink in. I can honestly say that without each and every one of my cast mates,
I would not have been able to overcome
my badly-timed sickness or my nerves. I
speak for the cast when I say that Dream
Saqqara Campbell, a real-life girls helped us figure out who we are and,
and theatrical Dreamgirl, shares her ex- more importantly, who we want to be.
perience as Deena Jones in HSPVA’s I fear that some people have truly
Dreamgirls:
forgotten the importance of Black History. The production provides an oppor
I am a senior vocalist at HSPVA tunity for people from every ethnicity to
and, until now, I have successfully avoid- participate in a show that represents the
ed performing in front of large crowds by rich culture of not only African Ameriany means necessary. Now that may cans but of all Americans. Dreamgirls,
sound odd since this is the High Raisin, Purlie, Smokey Joe’s Café -- all
School for the Performing share the theme of people trying to acand Visual Arts, but as complish a goal and fulfill a dream. And
each year that is what we set out to do.
Rachel McPherson said something during Dreamgirls’ closing circle Sunday
afternoon that really stuck with me. She
said that the reason she has worked on
Black History all four years here is to
honor someone very close to her. The
time and commitment that everyone involved in this process has dedicated to
the show has shown the professionalism
and profundity of each individual at HSPVA. In my constant state of full-fledged
senioritis, I have to say that Black History
relieved me of my symptoms and made
me, once again, truly value HSPVA and
how lucky I am to be here.
*Black History’s history provided by PVA’s
own walking encyclopedia, Ms. Bonner
Photo by Samuel Herrera
Where Is Everybody?
HSPVA Needs More Support From Its Students
By Fernando Grimaldo
After recently attending the Harp and Handbells concert in
the Recital Hall, I looked around to see the size of the audience.
This being my first time, I wanted to get a feel for the room: whether
it would be loud or really quiet. Although the audience was sizeable,
only 2/3 of the Recital Hall was full (Kelli Restivo and I being the
only students in the audience). Wondering about why this audience
was not more full sparked a plethora of thoughts concerning other
concerts and performances at our school.
During spotlights for the All-School Musical and Black History Production, the student body packs into the
Denney even if we exceed the maximum occupancy. The student body
is enough to fill the Denney, so why aren’t our
performance audiences
always full? This is not
to suggest that everyone
should go to each performance; however, I find
the lack of students at
performances alarming.
When I sit down for a mariachi or piano concert, I
find myself amazed every time at the passion
that the students bring
to the performance. The
next day I try to start conversations with friends
regarding these concerts
but, almost all of them either did not know, did not attempt to go, or
forgot. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t go to all the shows, and I understand that people have other obligations. But if students don’t go
and support other art areas, then why should anyone else?
We don’t have sports. We don’t have P.E. We don’t have an
official mascot. These things (or lack thereof) have characterized
our school ever since its conception. Alumni from HSPVA remember their experiences here through stories of school spirit, community, family, and love. Will we be able to say the same? Since my
time here at HSPVA, I have seen the declining HSPVA spirit. The
things that once defined us are quietly fading. Our spirit is no longer
that of a hardworking, passionate, and grateful student. Not only
has this affected our work ethic but also our attitudes toward other
students and our presence at their performances.
I consider myself lucky to be here. When searching for colleges, I get nervous. What school will I attend? Will I like the people?
Will I be able to make new friends? What if I don’t like the people?
What if I don’t like the theatre department? What if I am not able to
perform my art in college? These questions worry me because at
PVA, I am able to come
to school every day,
not worry about people
judging me, and be able
to act or sing or, on occasion, dance for half
the day. I will be sad to
leave. Something that I
would like to impart on
the school before I leave
is a renewed sense of
school spirit. I know I am
not alone in this pursuit.
Happening Chairs Jonathan Maislin and Chandler Dean have strived
to get better acts for the
Happening by providing
variety. At the Back-toBack-to-School Happening, it seemed like no
matter what happened,
nothing could excite the
audience. As a performer, I felt discouraged to perform.
Now to stop the rant. In the end I can’t be a shining star of
school spirit, nor am I the person to be that star. But I will try my
hardest to support other art areas. I will try even harder to attend
their shows. I will try hard to smile in the hallways. At first this was
an article about the lack of student attendance at school performances, but it has quickly evolved in meaning. I now challenge
each and every one of you to go to a show outside of your department before school is over. Let’s see what our school has to offer.
Like, Seriously?
Teens Need to Stop the Uptalk
By Olivia Cardenas
For the past few years, an alarming
trend has been emerging in teenage girls
and their role models. Everywhere you look
in the media, you will see young, successful
women acting and speaking in a way that
makes them sound less intelligent than they
actually are. Kim Kardashian, for example,
says every sentence as if it is a question,
completely disregarding whether what she
is saying is actually a comment, exclamation, or sentence fragment. So, there may
actually be a distinct reason behind why Kim
Kardashian speaks the way she does??? A
high-pitched tone at the end of a statement
to make it sound as if a question is being
asked is called uptalk??? If you’ve spent
any time in front of a television or talking to
females you know this vocal trend is on the
rise???
Uptalk has become prevalent among
females today. Young women are bombarded via music and television by “successful”
females who speak with uptalk. It is human
nature to be influenced by the people we
hear and see around us. However, many individuals do not understand the implications
of this rising vocal trend or even recognize
uptalk when it appears in daily conversation.
Uptalk is a subconscious choice for
most. Pop culture has taught young girls
that coming across as ditzy and unsure of
themselves is appealing. Confident and
self-assured women are often mistakenly
perceived as overbearing and confrontational in both the media and in daily life.
Thus, women use uptalk to mirror society’s
expectations of an appealing female.
The College of William and Mary conducted a study entitled “Gender in Jeopardy” that monitored the use of uptalk among
women and men throughout the course of
a Jeopardy game. As men won, their use
of uptalk decreased. As women continued to get more and
more questions
correct, their
use of uptalk
increased.
Men know
that it is
socially
acceptable
for them to
come across
as confident
and
powerful. Most women
have a vague understanding that the opposite is true for them.
Our society is less comfortable with female
power and success. As a result, women
use uptalk to mask their confidence and
Love Thy Selfie
Selfies. We love them; we hate them;
we mock them; we praise them. What is
it about them that merits such a mixed response? As much as people and the media
try to trivialize selfies as vain and tacky, they
persist. Everywhere I turn (electronically, at
least) there are hi-definition, up-close and
personal pictures of people at their finest.
Some are amusing -- hysterical even -- but
the ones that I think about are the selfies
that show someone you see everyday in the
hallway in all his possible glory. So one day,
I figured: “I’m not terrible looking, so why not
explore all the hullabaloo?”. I whipped out
my phone and turned on the camera, flipping it to the ‘selfie mode’.
It took only three seconds to determine that I was completely unsatisfied. I
could see every flaw on my face, and superficial things that didn’t seem to matter in
the grand scheme of things were inevitably
showcased in the photo that was supposed
to be effortless. I fidgeted and fussed as I
tried to figure out what to do with my mouth
and eyebrows. I tried to find the perfect angle, the perfect lighting, and the best possible conditions to present myself. Yet, I was
looking for all the same things that hid what
I didn’t want the world to notice: acne scars,
dark eyes, and scrunchy smiley-face. Ultimately, I was defeated.
For a while I never shared any of the
selfies I took; I figured that they didn’t do
me justice. It took me a while to warm up to
the idea that everything about my face was
exposed. Eventually, I became more and
more comfortable and was no longer embarrassed or ashamed at my very private
(and feeble) attempts to do something the
rest of the population partakes in daily.
As silly as I felt when I extended my
arm and made faces to a camera, it helped
me realize something: selfies are under-appreciated and may prove to be of more value than just an excuse to harbor an arsenal
of compliments. Although selfies reinforce
vanity in our society to a certain degree, they
also allowed me to get used to myself. Our
faces are on display everyday, yet when immortalized by a photo, our faces are much
more daunting. There are so many more dimensions than just the look of your face, but
when that’s all an image portrays, it is hard
to not want the photo to be the best possible
representation of you.
Eventually, I got over my irrational
fear and disapproval of selfies (although
borderline obnoxious selfies do exist kids;
don’t forget that). What I’m trying to get at is
that selfies force you to take a good look at
yourself and make you reevaluate how you
are perceived. What’s more is that selfies
are an opportunity for you to see yourself
the way others see you. At the end of the
day, everyone loves selfies because of the
people in them, who look the way they do
everyday and are totally okay knowing that
that’s what the rest of the world sees. #selfieswag
intelligence.
A rise in uptalk does not just mean
everyone is forced to endure an annoying
speech pattern and a few more seasons of
The Kardashians. It reveals that society is
not as receptive of female success. If you’re
confident about something you are saying, it
shouldn’t be asked as a question. It is time
for people to accept female power, but this
is only possible if women speak intelligently
and confidently.
By Renée Piper
A Tale of Two States
The Differences Between California and Texas
By Kyle Legacion
Hello PVA! If you’ve seen me around school, then I’m sure you are aware of my new kid status. What you might not know is that
I am actually a new Texan as well. I was born and raised in the golden state of California, so moving to Houston, Texas was a bit of a
culture shock. But after my five month mark, I thought I’d compile a list of the differences I’ve noticed between eternally sunny Cali and
good ol’ Texas.
California:
Dialect:
`
Texas:
Dialect:
Coming from the San Francisco Bay Area, words such as
‘hella’ and ‘sus’ were common in my vocabulary. And while
hella sees some use here in Houston, hecka is nowhere to
be heard. A once oft used word, hecka can no longer be uttered by me without receiving odd looks and mocking words
from others. And that’s, as my people would say, hecka sus.
Back in California before the big move, all my friends would joke, and
I would laugh along with them. But the rumors were true. Y’all can’t
seem to stop using y’all in y’all’s conversations because it seems that
y’all really like the word y’all but I can’t seem to understand why y’all
like to use the word y’all so much. I, however, still stand by my pledge
to never say that word seriously.
Climate:
Climate:
I come from Northern California, the land of earthquakes and
temperate weather. I’m used to walking outside and feeling
a light breeze as I bask in the glorious 72 degree sunlight,
pretty much year round.
Here in Houston, however, there’s humidity and thunder and lightning
and blazing heat and flooding and sadness. And as seen in these
past few winter months, icy enough weather to warrant school shutting
down. (#neverforget)
State Pride:
State Pride:
The most state pride you’ll see out of a Californian is usually
the clichéd “Cali Girl insert-sun-emoji” in a girl’s Instagram
bio. And while we love our Golden Gate Bridge and grizzly
bear embroidered flag, we don’t come close to the rootin’
tootin’ Texans.
Fast Food Joints:
Arguably the hardest thing about leaving California for me
was giving up my beloved In-N-Out. And while there are
a few here in Texas, the only way for me to get a delicious
double double with some animal style fries and a milkshake
is to make the three hour drive to Austin.
I’m not sure if you guys know, but Texas is one of the only states with
a state pledge. I learned that the hard way, unfortunately, after I stood
awkwardly silent on the first day of school while everyone else recited
it from heart. Additionally, the Texas flag is everywhere; if I had a dollar for every time I saw something related to that flag, I would have a
lot of dollars.
Fast Food Joints:
The absence of In-N-Out, however, has been decently filled with
Whataburger. When I first visited Houston, the orange and white
striped W seemed foreign to me. I soon learned to love that W, however, and all the honey butter chicken biscuits that would come from it.
And there you have it – just a few of the many differences I’ve noticed between my world and yours. And while the occasional bout
of homesickness may strike me, the quirky perks and people I’ve grown to love and my time here in Houston make me forget all about
that. And who knows, with the rodeo coming to town soon, I could be made into a real Texan yet.
Time After Time
Repetitive Radio and Its Repercussions
By Natalia Kian
Houston’s radio stations are experiencing
a problem.
According to a recent observational
study done by myself, they have forgotten
how to be radio stations. Maybe their broadcast signals are still transmitting waves across
the city, but that’s about all they’re doing.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m sitting in
the car on the way home from school trying to unwind
after a long red day of Stickney and Ballard and just life
in general, I like to turn on the radio. And when I turn on
the radio, I do so in hopes of hearing a wide variety of
songs that are engaging enough to distract me from the
homework I am invariably headed home to do.
This I cannot do if the first song I hear is the
same one I heard when I last turned on the radio.
And when I turned on the radio the time before
that. And the time before that.
So despite the immense selection of
tracks made available by today’s technological advancements in music, radio stations of all different
denominations are beginning to take on a special type
of redundancy that can only be classified in the
category of “Everyday Things That are Annoying Enough That They Shouldn’t Be But
Are Nevertheless Everyday.” And for this
reason I ask “Why?”
Why, when The Neighbourhood has fourteen
other songs to their up-and-coming name, are we
repeating “Sweater Weather” enough to make me wish
it wasn’t cold anymore, so fewer people would have an
excuse to request it? Why is Lorde beginning to make
me want to usurp her throne? Why do I want to “Let
Her Go” less every time that song plays? And why,
when stations realize how repetitive they’re being, are
some of them actually choosing to replay songs that
were over-played four years ago in hopes that,
perhaps, we had blanked out the memory of
them? “Since U Been Gone”? Let it stay gone,
96.5.
I’m actually asking you guys. Sorry if you read
this article expecting answers. One can only hope
that Houston’s radio stations figure it out before I
call timber on those towers.
Rocket-ing Toward Success
By John Koozin
I understand that most PVA students could not
care less about sports. More of us are interested in
the adorable yet sophisticated Puppy Bowl than the
Super Bowl.
However, if you wanna change that (or even
if you don’t), you should check out the Rockets this
season. The Rockets have dominated so far in the
tough Western Conference. One of our killin’ players,
James Harden, has some insane skills on the court
and around his face (his beard is the meaning of attraction). We also have the dreamy and talented Chandler
Eyes to the Skies
Parsons (ask Sherah Shipman about him..or any girl
(or guy) really..) and the former Los Angeles Laker,
Dwight Howard. Now take it from a guy who used
to not dig sports very much. I have truly enjoyed
watching the Rockets play, and I am now inspired to
pursue my lifelong goal of joining the NBA! Ha. Just
kidding. But really, I am now interested in working
out more and enjoying local and national sports. So,
check out the schedule and watch a game! You won’t
regret it, and most importantly you will gain a whole new
perspective. Fear the Beard!
10 High Rise Developments Around Houston
By Graeme Campbell
Over the past couple years, the crashing sounds of buildings being demolished have been common to any observant Houstonian.
Each day, another list of buildings to be demolished is released on Swamplot.com, a Houston real estate blog. Many of these lots are
being cleared to build new high-rise structures. In fact there have not been so many high-rise and mid-rise structures under construction
in Houston since the oil booming 1980s. The housing market is white hot in Houston with prices and sales volume surpassing pre-Great
Recession levels. The housing inventory is at an all-time low and sellers are often closing deals above the asking price for their properties. These strong home sales, both in town and in the many suburbs in Greater Houston, paired with a massive number of new “luxury”
apartment units have created an equally great need for new office space in the region. The concern of many who lived through Houston’s
1980s boom is that the bubble will surely burst as it did back then. However, economists insist that at least for the next several years
the growth will continue at full force. The Houston Metropolitan area is projected to grow from 6.1 million people today to up to 10 million
people by 2035. How our city, with few regulations and even fewer zoning laws, will handle the infrastructure demands and transportation
challenges presented by so many more people will determine whether Houston truly becomes one of the next great international cities.
With that in mind, here are 10 projects in the works around town. Keep your eyes to the skies.
1. SkyHouse Houston/
SkyHouse River Oaks
An Atlanta-based developer
is in the final stages of building SkyHouse Houston, a
24-story concrete and glass
apartment tower on Metro’s
Red Line in downtown. As
soon as that project completes, an almost identical
25-story sibling called SkyHouse River Oaks will be built next to the
Target on San Felipe near the Galleria.
2. Chelsea Montrose
A Dallas developer is planning this 20-story apartment tower on Chelsea
Boulevard behind the Chelsea Market shopping center on Montrose at US 59
that many PVA students will recognize as
home to Main Street Theatre.
3. Chevron’s Third Tower
One of Houston’s oil giants,
Chevron, has tentative
plans to build a 50-story
tower adjacent to the two
formerly-Enron towers that
already occupy downtown.
If built, this tower would
bring thousands of jobs to
town and provide a radical
change to our iconic skyline.
4. Marriot Marquis Hotel
This 30-story hotel is planned for what is
now a surface parking lot across from Discovery Green and the George R. Brown
Convention Center. It will have more than
1000 guest rooms with a
grand ballroom, shops, and
bars at street level. The hotel’s biggest selling point is
the lazy river in the shape
of Texas. The tower should
be finished in time for Houston’s Super Bowl LI in 2017.
5. Weslayan
and
West Alabama
PM Realty group is developing this 35-story residential tower currently under
construction between Greenway Plaza and Highland
Village. This will become
one of the tallest residential buildings in the city.
6. Ashby Highrise
This project on Ashby and
Bissonnet will likely be a 23-story residential tower right in the center of the wealthy
Southampton/Boulevard Oaks neighborhood. Neighbors
have created “Stop
Ashby Highrise” bumper stickers and yard
signs and have spent
years in court fighting the development,
even winning monetary damages for the homeowners directly
bordering the project. It remains to be seen,
however, whether the tower will be built.
7. 3400 Montrose
The building on the corner of Montrose
and Hawthorne across from our beloved-
Disco Kroger that once
housed Scott Gertner’s
Sky Bar will be demolished and replaced
with this 30-story apartment tower developed
by Hanover.
8. Helix Tower
This
42
story tower
is in the
development stage and would be located on what is now an empty lot
at Jackson and Hermann Drive
across from Hermann Park. It
would neighbor the 35-story
Parklane that was built in 1983
during Houston’s
last
real
estate
boom.
9. Apache Corporation
Headquarters
This 34-story office tower
in BLVD Place north of
the
Galleria is being called
“Project
Alpha”.
10. 609 Main
On what’s currently a surface parking lot downtown
on Main and Texas, Hines is
considering a 41-story office
tower similar to this concept
rendering they released last
year.
This list does not even come close to covering all the projects being developed across the city. In fact, just south of The Woodlands, ExxonMobil is building a new corporate campus with 20 high-rise buildings that will house 10,000 employees each workday. In
addition, the campus will be joined by an entirely new town called Springwoods Village in the forest along the to-be-built extension of the
Grand Parkway 99 from 290 to I-45.
Highway to Health
By Katia Krupa
Skimming down the New Year’s resolution page in the last
issue of our wonderful paper*, I noticed the many aspirations of our
student body to change their lifestyles of sugary goodness and lethargy to measured calories and exercise. Why is it that by the third
week of the semester, so many have already broken their resolutions for instant hunger gratification?
It’s simple: we are PVA. Between our mythical sports team
and ironically online PE course, it is no wonder students (with the
exception of dancers and the more
active theatre kids) are feeling sluggish from microwavable, dehydrated
noodles and from movement limited
to walking through hallways and lifting art materials. Some may not
have the motivation to get up and go
outside, but others do seek out ways
to get active outside of school. But
who has the time and money for that?
While jogging alone on the streets last year, wishing someone would have my back on the empty pavements of Houston, I
pondered PVA’s dilemma. What could I do to motivate our school?
Let’s talk about the mere exposure effect. When a person comes
in close proximity to another, there is an increased chance that the
two strangers will become friends. So I applied this to the situation. By exposing PVA to a novel idea and new club, which I have
dubbed Energize Club, PVA students now have the choice to be
healthy. Here’s the motivation:
1) Exercise is the #1 underused antidepressant. Our angsty,
teen-filled school’s overall mood could be elevated by the release of
endorphins associated with a mere 30 minutes of movement. I always feel happier and less melodramatic after a run. The club runs
most Saturday mornings at Memorial Park.
2) Body image. Everything in moderation is good, as my
dad always says. It’s not vain if you want to be the best you you can
be. So the club exchanges recipes, tips, and sometimes snacks
every other club meeting on Fridays in Mrs. Worley’s room.
3) It’s just really fun. So far we have done a color run,
potlucks, a Zumba class that raised
$340 for the Philippines, and we’re
already planning more fun events.
Stay tuned if you want to join.
4) You finally get to say that you
accomplished a New Year’s resolution. ‘Nuff said.
Though the club began with a
slow start, membership trickled in,
and people have said that their greatest motivation for joining was
to get healthy with friends. Misery loves company. Really, misery
needs company. And at least this misery leads to less pimples and
a lot more energy to get things done.
When I graduate, the club may or may not live on. I hope that
by the mere exposure effect, I have at least introduced the possibility of PVA students expanding their talents beyond the arts. There
are even whispers of the new school having a recreational area
or track (not that I’ll be there to enjoy it…). The year is young. The
minds are fresh. And if you have the urge to move or eat healthier,
the Energize Club will be here for you in room 132.
Foreign Exchange
The Importance of Listening to Foreign Music
By Andrea Popova
The United States has the biggest music industry in the
world. Songs produced on American soil are played in countries
across the globe. When my parents were growing up in
Bulgaria, they kept up with all the American hits (e.g.
“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin and “Back in
the Saddle” by Aerosmith). American music captivated them despite the language barrier. On
the other hand, most American teens during the
Zeppelin years probably had no idea that Bulgaria made music. We Americans have some
incredible songs produced on our own soil, but
I think that this can make it easy for us to disregard the rest of the global music industry.
Did you know that Japan has the second
largest music industry? But can you name three
Japanese songs? We value our country for its diversity and opportunities, and yet we often ignore
the many cultures of our nation’s immigrants. Right
now, there are songs being produced in Berlin, Dubai,
Sofia, Rome, and Moscow. It’s important that we seek out
and value these different expressions of the same art form. Sometimes being unable to understand lyrics to a song helps us hear the
melody and rhythm more acutely.
Recently, I downloaded the app Songza for the purpose of
listening to new forms of music. There are hundreds of stations to
choose from, but there are a few that I have been gravitating
towards: the foreign music stations. French hip hop is
my new jam. It’s expressive and passionate, and the
language is so heavy and beautiful. So, I challenge
you to listen to a new foreign song every day. I’ll
leave a list below of some favorites, but hopefully
you can soon find your own. And then the next
time you meet a cute French guy or girl on a bus
ride to Strasbourg, you can bond over your love
of the band Hocus Pocus and fall madly in love.
Or something like that.
1. Georges Brassens - “Les Copains d’Abord”
2. Carlos “Potato” Valdez - “Ya Yo E”
3. Hocus Pocus - “Comment on Faisait Avant?”
4. Polina Gagarin - “Performance is Over”
5. Sakura Kiss - “Chieko Kawabe”
6. El Chaval de La Bachata- “Lo Que Me Pidas”
7. Machito & His Afro-Cuban Orchestra - “Dale Jamon”
8. Olafur Arnalds - “Brotsjor”
9. Ragheb Alama - “Yighib”
Ethan Can, Too!
Distraction
Subtraction
How Netflix Is Ruining Your GPA
By Sam Linda
You get home after a long rehearsal, take a quick nap, check
Facebook, and then make a choice that could alter the rest of your
night and very likely, the next day. Should I do the piles of homework
that are due tomorrow? Or should I relax and watch JUST ONE episode of my favorite murder mystery series on Netflix? While you
know that doing your homework now will benefit you in the long run,
that Netflix show is too tempting to resist. Cringing, you open your
computer, click on the link to Netflix, and press the dreaded play
button on the show that will bring you 50 minutes of shelter from
your homework. And of course, after
watching that heart-pounding episode,
there is no way you can stop there; the
season finale is only one episode away!
By the time you finish, it’s 11pm and
you haven’t started your homework.
What now? After checking Facebook
again you finally start your homework,
work on it for an hour or two, decide you’re tired and go to sleep
with an alarm set for 4:30 to finish the rest of your work. While this
approach works for some people, I am one of those who has to get
their homework done the night before and go to bed at a reasonable hour for me to be able to function the next day. But, like any
good teenager, I suffer from the fact that I always seem to find a
distraction from doing my homework. After doing some research,
I found numerous methods for cutting out distractions, but one in
particular actually seemed to be effective. The first step is to limit
outside distractions: shut the door, ignore texts, and maybe even
turn your phone on airplane mode if you want to go crazy. Now
once this is done, you’ll probably still find a way to distract yourself,
which is understandable. Not to worry; there is still hope. These
distractions can usually be separated into several forms:
Pending Tasks: “I have to remember to get a Valentines Day gift
for myself on the way home.”
Creative Sidetracks: “Wow, Napoleon was so short! I wonder if
there are other short successful people out there… I’ll look it up!”
Flights of Escape: “This work is so boring. I’d love to be watching
Netflix right now.”
Emotional Issues: i.e. an argument
with your parents or sibling.
Once you diagnose the distraction, record the thought:
Pending Tasks: The activity you need
to remember.
Creative Sidetracks: That idea you may want to pursue later.
Flights of Escape: The reward for finishing now: your motivation.
Emotional Issues: The next step needed in dealing with the matter
at hand.
You can assign these tasks to a later date once written down.
That way, you won’t have to worry about them for the time being.
So, while Netflix is entertaining, and may seem more worthwhile
than your homework, it will not, unfortunately, get you into college.
Information provided by: http://www.keyorganization.com/interrupting-yourself.php
What I Miss Most About PVA
By Palmer Mills (Dance Class of 2013) and JayTee Barbour (Vocal Class of 2013)
It’s easy to get caught up in the creative angst of an arts school. It’s almost too easy to pick apart every little quirk from the rats
that dance along to music in the practice rooms to the jokes of our online “physical education”. By senior year you’ve become so jaded
and antsy you sometimes forget that as much as HSPVA may feel (and look) like a prison for those final months, there really is a certain
kind of magic that lives there. And so, as we’ve matured in this first semester of college life here in New Orleans (just kidding, we’re still
disasters), we have discovered there’s a lot to miss about PVA.
-Skipping class to wander the halls with jazz kids
-Not being able to focus during tests because of the theater kids
screaming
-The halls that doubled as practice rooms
-Mr. Sanders’ perfectly amusing comments (we love you Sandman)
-Eating in the parking lot
-The battle royal that was getting to the front of the school store line
-Constantly being surrounded by passionate, talented people
-Everyone knowing your business all the time (JK be so glad this
changes in college)
-Getting to wander around an art gallery to pass time
-Playing hide and seek with Mr. Trout, even when he didn’t realize it
-Having Mrs. Stovey as the on-call therapist of PVA
-Getting to dance around the halls with no one judging you
-Starting off your day with getting to laugh at the awkward humor of
the morning announcements
-The ubiquitous refusal of the senior class to say the pledge
(whatchu got U.S. government?)
-Awkwardly seeing your
teachers at Dirk’s after
school
-Ms. Bonner’s overzealous explanation of the
tritone, and the face that
accompanied it
But on a side note college rocks, and we’re really glad we graduated.
In Defense of Sophomores
By Jeremy Maislin
I am here today to discuss a stereotype that is 100 percent false: “Sophomore year is by far the easiest year”. Now,
you may be thinking “I bet some dumb and
lazy sophomore wrote this article”, but that
couldn’t be further from the truth… sort of.
First of all, every class has changed since
last year; this is a fact. You cannot debate
this. One time I received a 99 because I
sneezed when I was supposed to be paying attention during a lesson outside. Scary
stuff folks. On top of that, I have to deal with
a foreign language. How am I supposed to
remember that “El Preterito es Single Past
Action” when the song we sing at the beginning and end of every class only repeats
that fact four times? Now of course all of this
would seem pathetic if I was surrounded by
foreign exchange students that have mastered multiple languages in a way that I can’t
accomplish with even one, but clearly that is
not the case.
I also have three hours of an art
area. Every day. Regular schools have PE
and regular people classes… but I have an
art area. Every day. For three hours. My art
area also involves such rigorous curriculum
as jogging around the school not once…
BUT TWICE before Dance Class. And having to count between the numbers one and
34… I still haven’t mastered the art of that
task. It’s that hard folks.
And I have a study lab. Study lab is
so treacherous that I have not had time to
beat my high score on Doodle Jump. I plead
the fifth. It
is just so
hard to time
manage at
H S P VA …
especially
if you are a
“struggling”
sophomore.
Okay… maybe
you were right.
Sophomore year is
easy...
unless
you take Bingham.
paperviews*
*in case you care what we think
The Lego Movie
By John Guttman
Gone with the
Wind, Casablanca, The
Lego Movie — all of the
aforementioned cinema
classics share many obvious similarities. Iconic
acting, ingenious production, and flawless direction
guide each and bring the
audience into the world
of the movie. However,
where The Lego Movie
differs from the others is in
its message. I know simply
from the title (because I’ve
never seen it) that Gone
with the Wind is the heartbreaking story of a boy losing a balloon to the strong,
unforeseen current of the
wind and his search for a new one. I also know, without having seen
it, that Casablanca is the touching story of a Spanish immigrant’s
visit to our nation’s capital and the subsequent amazement and personal pride he experiences upon seeing the White House. Nothing
to see there. But The Lego Movie is rooted in and offers so much
more. People of all ages, ethnicities, colors, and creeds can gain so
much from it. Without revealing any spoilers and saying something
like “The Legos aren’t actually alive, nor were they when you played
with them”, I’ll attempt to briefly summarize the movie in the hope
that you will immediately go see it for yourself after reading this. The
Lego Movie follows the life of Emmet Brickowski, a boring, plain, unoriginal, down-on-his-luck construction worker who finds out amidst
the trials and tribulations of his pointless life that he has a special
purpose. Eventually, this plot angle is pursued, and Emmet goes on
the journey of a lifetime. Joining him on his adventure is an ensemble cast of Lego pieces including B-ill-d Ferrell, Morter Freeman,
and Liam Piece-n. If you’re thinking something along the lines of
“I’m a mature adult; there’s no way I’m paying to see a childish, animated movie”, just know that the actors/Legos are hilarious, and the
movie is directed by the same people who did 21 Jump Street. Now
Paperview Ratings
(Oscar Edition)
Seth Macfarlane
nowhere to be
found
Frozen wins Best
Animated Picture!
down to the
message. The
Lego Movie is
so deep, in
Best Sound Mixing
so many rewinner gives 10 minute
spects, that
acceptance speech
people
will
have
different interpreJackass: Bad Grandpa
tations of it. If
you’re a fan
wins Best Makeup Design
of
building
and creating
Jackass: Bad Grandpa
things, then
wins Best Motion Picture
your
attraction to the
movie is obvious; however, snobby, “sophisticated” moviegoers will find that The
Lego Movie materializes, through the literal materialization of Lego
pieces, the inner motivation to rise above societal
norms and restrictions, pursue one’s dreams,
and maximize the potential of one’s character.
Don’t worry; the message comes across as less
cliché because of the talking Legos. But enough
of that. I’m not suggesting that The Lego Movie is the greatest movie of all time. I’m not
even suggesting that it’s the best adaptation
of Legos to entertainment (The Lego Star
Wars video game series was great). But at
the very least, it’s an entertaining movie
that I actually enjoyed more than American Hustle. Sure, you can argue that
the movie is simply a creative marketing
plea to buy more Legos. Although you would
certainly be correct, I say that if the message
of the movie has taught me anything, it’s that
creative ambition is essential to the human/
Lego spirit. If that means I want to build more
Legos now, then Lego! (pronounced “let’s go”)
The Lights From the Chemical Plant
By Charles Anderson
Robert Ellis, a Houstonian-turned-Nashvillian guitarist, has
been around for quite a while. However, he has been on the rise
over the past several years. From performing modest live shows
at Fitzgerald’s open-mic Wednesdays to being the opening act on
bills for artists such as Paul Simon, Ellis is in a position that rests
right outside of the limelight. Enter The Lights From The Chemical
Plant. With one self released EP and an LP already under his belt,
Robert’s newest work avoids the sophomore slump by taking a
surprising turn away from the stripped
down, folk-laden escapades of his last
album, Photographs. The scope here
is much grander, as the title suggests.
The arrangement sounds more like a
rock band than a country group, giving
Ellis much more dynamic potential. He
opens with “TV Song,” a fun, uptempo
track with a straightforward beat and
melody with some lines that will be
sure to draw a smile; then, it launches
into the title track, a sprawling, thunderous, and melancholic journey through
the abandoned countryside, lamenting
the impermanence of the things we
hold dear. “I thought they’d always be
there, until one day they were gone,”
he says. “Bottle of Wine” slows it down
to a ballad that is backed by a clanky
piano, a hammy saxophone solo, and
some very touching lyrics. The whole
thing comes off as a little too corny and gimmicky to be truly effective, though.
While there is still a lot of Ellis’s guitar work here, the finger
picking that characterized his last album has faded into the background. The focus is now on big ideas and effectual songwriting
rather than the intricacies of individual performance. However, he
showcases his virtuosity on tracks such as “Pride” and “Houston,”
which both blatantly reveal influence from jazz and progressive
rock- a welcome, out-of-left-field surprise that shows how well
versed Ellis is in comparison to many of his contemporaries. Towards the middle of the album is a Paul Simon cover of “Still Crazy
After All These Years,” which captures the essence of Simon’s
original performance while also doing it justice with a crazy guitar
solo. The album closer, “Tour Song,” is more akin to Ellis’s earlier
works with its quirky lyrics and focus
on finger picking. The lyrics painfully hit
home for anyone familiar with tearing
away from family to develop and tour as
a musician. “Tour Song” ends the album
on a nostalgic note, acting as a good
bookend to Ellis’s career thus far.
As I listened to the songs, I
realized that it would be very difficult to
define the overall feel of the album (I do
not like pigeonholing musicians into their
genres anyway). It is not quite country,
but it isn’t quite anything else either. Ellis
borrows from so many sources for this
release that it becomes admirable that
he is able to keep his core identity relatively intact. The works here are all very
solid, and in turn, slow burning. You are
not likely to wear out any of the songs
before the others. You might even get
some tunes stuck in your head. However, this album is one that I can always remove myself from when
I step away from it, likely due to the lyrics, which come off pretty
hackneyed after a while. Still, it is a unique album with fantastic
clarity and production, and a well realized vision. He has divorced
his more folksy roots, but have no fear; he is on a journey that may
lead him somewhere music has never been before.
2014 Oscar Predictions
By Jacob Seferian
The Oscars remain one of the few major industry awards
that are still considered prestigious (I’m sorry, but it’s true). While
you might have your own qualms with who was selected as a nominee, I think we can all agree that everyone nominated for an Academy Award possesses a singular talent. Now, before I give you my
opinions (because that is what these predictions are: opinions, and
therefore they are neither right nor wrong, but rather a reflection
of my personal preferences), I ask that you not berate me during
passing period because my views on what is good art are not akin
to yours. ART IS SUBJECTIVE. Let’s adhere to the bumper sticker
that we so proudly display on our motor vehicles: tolerance.
THE FORMAT OF THESE PREDICTIONS:
Prediction: Who I believe will win the coveted, anatomically ambiguous, golden human.
Opinion: Who I, personally (in my not-so humble opinion), believe is
the most deserving of the award.
Reasoning: The justification for my opinion.
BEST PICTURE:
Prediction: 12 Years a Slave
Opinion: Her
Reasoning: While I think 12 Years a Slave worked on several levels
(especially visually, the whipping scene forces us to take a stark
look at the brutality of slavery without hiding behind artsy direction
and clever angles), as a whole the film left myself and the three others I was with unsatisfied. On the other hand, Her was the kind of
movie that even after the credits rolled, I had to just sit in the dark
and think. Now that’s cinema!
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Prediction: Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club
Opinion: Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club
Reasoning: I am probably one of the few film geeks in the world
who doesn’t give actors performance points for transforming their
bodies for a role. I feel as though that is merely conducive to the
preparation process. McConaughey’s loss of a reported 50 lbs. for
his role as an AIDS-stricken cowboy is not why I hope he wins the
Oscar; it is for his subtle, funny, and ultimately heartbreaking performance. It’s the kind of performance that leaves us wondering why
Matt hasn’t been doing work of this caliber all along.
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Prediction: Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine
Opinion: Amy Adams for American Hustle
Reasoning: Let me begin by saying that Cate Blanchett is one of
my favorite actresses of all time. She was, as usual, brilliant in Blue
Jasmine. However, she and every other Best Actress nominee have
already won an Oscar. Amy Adams, despite being nominated four
others times, has not. Despite having some of the stiffest competition imaginable (Judi Dench and The Streep – I mean, COME ON!),
she held her own against these other acting giants, and dare I say
it: out-acted them. Her performance as a dissatisfied girl-next-door
turned con artist requires her to juggle two personalities at once,
and Adams is more than up to the task. She turns in a performance
of remarkable layers and depth… and she looks plain hot doing so.
(Can we talk about those low cut dresses? I’m may not be into girls,
but even I felt something!)
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Prediction: Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club
Opinion: Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club
Reasoning: Jared Leto also boasts impressive weight loss (30 lbs.)
for his role as Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club. His role as a sassy
transgender woman with AIDS could have easily been stereotyped
by a lesser actor succumbing to a caricature. But Leto clearly loves
and respects this character too much to let that happen. The result
is one of the most powerful performances this year (of any year, really). When Rayon leaves the screen, a part of you leaves with him.
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Prediction: Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years a Slave
Opinion: Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years a Slave
Reasoning: Now, I love J-Law just as much as you do, but Lupita Nyong’o’s heart wrenching performance as Patsy in 12 Years a
Slave is on an entirely different level, and is everything good acting
should be and more. Nyong’o had perhaps the most challenging
role of the year. Luckily for us, she was up to the challenge. She
delivers the kind of fearless performance that will go down in history, and will be marveled at and dissected by generations of actors
(including myself) to come.
BEST DIRECTOR:
Prediction: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Opinion: Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity
Reasoning: I know this is terrible, but in spite of seeing so many
movies this year, I didn’t see Gravity. That being said, I am (perhaps
unjustly) selecting Alfonso Cuarón as my pick for Best Director out
of sheer respect for what he managed to do with his film. Nothing
like Gravity has ever been done before, and for that, I believe he
deserves the Academy Award… even if Libby Jasper deemed the
movie, “Only okay.”
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Prediction: Spike Jonze for Her
Opinion: Spike Jonze for Her
Reasoning: If this category is awarding originality, Her takes the
cake. The film (which Spike Jonze also directed) takes place in the
near future, and tells the story of a man who falls in love with an
artificial-intelligence system (think Siri, except less repetitive and
with Scarlett Johansson’s voice). A premise that is uncomfortably
prevalent in these technology-crazed times. Jonze’s script is not
only extremely funny, but remarkably tender as well. I found myself
tearing up more than once during this movie due to Jonze’s (sometimes painfully) honest words. With the help of skilled actors (especially Johansson, whose voice is so emotive that her presence
is palpable in the theater), these words raise vital questions about
human connection and love. Her is the most thought-provoking,
brave, and beautiful film of the year.
SNUBS (who should’ve been nominated):
Inside Llewyn Davis (BEST PICTURE)
The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (BEST PICTURE) – Just kidding.
I wish.
The Spectacular Now (BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
Spike Jonze (BEST DIRECTOR for Her)
Oscar Isaac (BEST ACTOR for Inside Llewyn Davis)
Joaquin Phoenix (BEST ACTOR for Her)
Emma Thompson (BEST ACTRESS for Saving Mr. Banks)
Brie Larson (BEST ACTRESS for Short Term 12)
Scarlett Johansson (BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS for Her)
An Analysis of the 2014 Best Picture Nominees
As gathered by Jacob Seferian
AMERICAN HUSTLE:
“Very disgusting, I don’t like this one.”
“See, disgusting talk!” (referring to swearing)
“I don’t want to see it, it’s too much disgusting stuff in there.”
DALLAS BUYERS CLUB:
“Oh, cowboy!”
“AIDS, that’s the reason he losing lots of
pounds right?”
Would you see it? “Nah.”
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS:
“Captain Phil, oh yeah, I love this guy. He is a
very good actor.”
“I like this movie because I like this actor. Always the action is very well.”
12 YEARS A SLAVE:
“This is a good movie, but it’s very sad. I’m
very upset.”
“The white people abused by the power they
had. Look they do for money, everything involving money.”
HER:
“Ew, having a relationship with the computer
and doing all kinds of stuff. It’s disgusting.”
“Too many people are acting like this because
they’re very lonesome.”
WOLF OF WALL STREET:
“Oh, I LOVE this guy!”
“It’s like Venezuela… Hugo Chavez.”
“This guy lose a lot of pounds in this movie.”
GRAVITY:
“Oh my goodness, oh my gosh, ahhh!”
“Oh my gosh, Sandra Bullock in there!”
“You believe this? There’s Clooney, too. I
love Clooney.”
PHILOMENA:
“Philomena is Spanish. It’s a more disgusting
name than you will ever know.”
“This movie makes me very
upset.”
NEBRASKA:
“This movie is good but
it’s too much old people
together.”
FINAL VERDICT
“I would give the best movie
to the Philomena.”
“The best actor was the guy
who has AIDS.”
“Oh, I love John Clooney, too, in Gravity.”
Irrelevant
History
Pleurocoelus, the Texas State Dinosaur
Named Texas State Dinosaur in 1997
By 7th Grade Adam Elkhadem (c. 2009 C.E.)
Texas,
unlike
other
states, doesn’t have a state fossil. We have something better!
The Plearocoelus! In this paper
you will learn about this massive and awesome beast and
give reason to my belief that the
Plearocoelus is the best state
symbol. So read on fellow Texan, and you’ll soon understand
just how cool the Plearocoelus really is.
The Plearocoelus
was a large
Sauropod,
the most famous being
the Brontosaurus, a dinosaur that
lived during
the late Jurassic period and early
Cretaceous
period nearly
110
million
years ago. It
resided on the
lower coastal
plains,
bordering a shallow sea that
once
existed.
For
a long time
Plearocoelus was considered
the largest of the dinosaurs,
but as time wore on, bigger dinosaurs were discovered. Like
Texas, it was huge, weighing up
to 45 tons. Nobody really knows
where or who discovered the
first Plearocoelus bones, but
many have been found in Dinosaur Valley State Park, near
Glen Rose, Texas
I think the Plearocoelus, out of all state
symbols, best represents Texas be-
cause in almost every way it is
like Texas. It is huge, and like
Texas, was once the biggest of
its kind until newer, bigger dinosaurs (or states) came into view.
It also is hard to beat, much like
Texas and Texans alike. Even
the T-Rex was inferior to this majestic beast -- in size, lifespan,
the whole ball of wax. Like the
T-Rex, even some of the
toughest people
can’t move a
strong Texan.
And the Plearocoelus
is a Texan -- the biggest Texan
there is -- and almost the biggest dinosaur!
As you can see, this almost unknown relative
of the Brachiosaurus
(Plearocoelus is just
one of the many
Sauropods) is
really more
interesti n g
than people
think. If you are
one of the many
people who do not think that it
is interesting and probably do
not have an interest in Sauropods at all, reading this paper
will teach you more about them
than most people know. Plus,
even if you are not interested,
you must always remember that
any knowledge is good, from
dates in history to science and
physics. Learning is something
that everyone should enjoy,
and you just learned about the
Plearocoelus, the Texas state
dinosaur! So go tell your friends,
family, and anybody else, and
remember, knowledge is the
key to happiness. Goodbye, and keep learning!
Are Outcasts
Where Culture
Begins?
By Mikayla Smolensky
I don’t like Lorde. I didn’t
when only .03% of the population knew who she was, and I
ESPECIALLY don’t now with
her tickets at the average
price of $60 per person. With
“We don’t care, we are driving Cadillacs in our dreams…”
shoved down my throat everytime I sit next to some semiwannabe-hipster or “white girl”
(I am not using that term definitively, I am referring to the
culture). But I do feel REALLY
bad for her. No, I don’t feel bad
for her because she won some
tendentious award (that, in my
opinion, is only coarsening our
prideful independent culture)
like a Grammy. I feel bad for
her because she is like “us”- an
outcast. She wore dirty black
converse and used to have a
total of three friends (I don’t
know about you, but it already
feels like I’m describing myself).
She was “misunderstood”, shut
down because she wanted to
do something unreachable (to
at least her community). She
was that girl who was bullied
by the “popular” girls because
she liked tattoos and piercings.
She is one of the girls that despises “white girl culture”. And
the ironic part -- the part that
makes me feel bad for her -- is
that those kids who made fun
of and ostracized her are her
fanbase.
You’re probably wondering what I mean by
“white girl culture”.
It can be described
many ways, but I
define it as: middle
to upper class white
girls (into their late
twenties) who are
constantly spoiled,
drink a lot of starbucks, wear designer stuff, and are
overly
obsessed
with their superficial
appearances, material possessions,
and
Instagram.
Don’t forget that
they listen to whatever is on the radio
-- no matter the lyrics --, most likely
don’t indulge in any
type of independent
culture, and take only what is
in front of them (THE MAINSTREAM).
So yeah, the “white girl
culture” that Lorde has tried so
hard to avoid has become her
fanbase. Lorde wanted someone to admire her witty lyrics,
but instead she gets screaming girls who don’t do anything
beyond the superficial. Same
thing with Lady Gaga and
Amy Winehouse -- all outcasts
turned into stars. Just now the
girls that laughed at them love
and admire them?
I think this really says
something about our culture.
It is a sequence of events -a never-ending cycle. We all
came to HSPVA to be in the
bubble of acceptance and
avoid being the outcast. At
normal high schools, kids get
bullied, can’t put up with the
superficial, and find solace in
their art. They’re the outcasts.
And outcasts are creating the
culture, art, music, movies, and
becoming famous. Once that
fame happens, most other outcasts “move on” and the “white
girl culture” is left indulging and
obsessing in those outcasts.
Just, as they listen to the outcast’s song, they still make fun
of the outcasts at school. The
mainstream thrives off the outcast, but the mainstream created the outcast. If that isn’t irony,
then I don’t know what is.
Top 10 Austinisms of All Time
Collected By John Guttman
Over the course of my high school career, I have had the unique pleasure and displeasure to know Austin Thomas. Famous for his monotonous and oftentimes inaudible voice, Austin has never been short on
witticisms and astute observations about life, being, and time. Below are the ten greatest Austinisms of
all time (though, of course, hundreds more exist and are likely spawning from Austin’s imagination).
10. “Ornithology- the study of zoos.”
9. “I never learned my seasons.”
8. “There’s only like one person left from the
Civil War.”
7. “Is Istanbul like a city in Lord of the Rings?”
6. “I’m kind of discouraged from seeing Django
because of that movie with the lizard.”
5. “I liked Zero Dark Thirty, but didn’t we actually hang Osama Bin Laden?”
4. “Is Lincoln true?” I said “Duh,” he replied with, “So he really fought vampires?”
3. “When I was in first grade, I didn’t understand how my name worked.
A-U- Austin?...”
2. “I went to Souper Salad once as a kid, and my parents made me eat broccoli. I just stored it in my mouth then threw it up once I got outside. I hate broccoli.”
1. “Wait. When is 9/11?”
All You Need to Know To Survive the DPS
By Elizabeth Sandoval
18 and Older
You are still required to sit through an approved
Texas Driver’s Education course; however, there is
no time constraint before you can take the test. You
can take the written exam at your driving school or
at the DPS office. **
START HERE
Are you a citizen or legal resident
(DACA student) of the United States?
In Texas and most states within the
US, only these individuals can apply
for a driver’s license.
How Old Are You?
15 - 18
Seek an approved Driver’s Education
course. You must complete at least 32
hours of classroom instruction. After that,
you must take a written exam at either your
course or at the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). **
Taking the Written Test - The applicant needs a score of 70 or better to pass the written test. If you attend a driving school, you will probably take it there. If you dont take the test at your school/course, then you need to take it at the DPS office. It is multiple choice and taken
on a computer. If you take the written test at the DPS, you will take the vision test the same day.
Taking the Vision Test - This test is after the written test. Be prepared to look through a small screen to test your vision. It is not like the
traditional elementary school vision test; however, it is nothing to worry about. The DPS just needs to make sure you can see correctly.
So you Passed the Written and Vision Tests - Now you receive a learner’s permit.
You must drive with a passenger who has a valid Texas DL and is at least 21.
Age 18 - You get a learner’s permit
and are now eligible to apply for a
full license when you feel ready.
Age 16 - You get a learner’s permit and
are now eligible to apply for a provisional
license that expires when you turn 18.
18 and Older - Don’t worry about the requirements for the
teens younger than 18. You can take the driving test when you
feel ready. After you have the full license, you do not have special restrictions unless indicated on the back of your license.
Restrictions are marked as letters.
Sporks
By: Fernando Grimaldo
Age 15 - You get a learner’s permit
and are now eligible to apply for a
hardship license (MRDL)
Younger than 18 - The requirements before you receive a provisional
driver’s license are as follows:
1. Carry a valid learner’s permit or a MRDL for a minimum of 6 months before obtaining the provisional license. You must log at least 20 driving hours with 10 of those at night.
2. After obtaining the provisional license, you cannot:
a. Drive with more than 1 passenger under the age of
21 who isn’t a family member.
b. Drive between 12 and 5 AM unless necessary for work, school, or a medical emergency.
c. Drive with a cell phone or any mobile device. This rule can only be broken in the case of an emegency.
WHERE
DID THE
SPORKS
GO?!?!?
!?!?!?!
Horoscopes
By Jacob Seferian
Aries: Didn’t get FPSF tickets in time? No worries. You might find one on a metro bus.
Taurus: Don’t get back together with your ex; eat a second honeybun instead.
Gemini: You will find a surprise in your locker this month.
Cancer: Form a band called Smells Like Teen Grammar Scholars and Ms. Ballard will give you an ‘A’ on your research paper.
Leo: The lunar patterns indicate that this is the month you’ll overcome your greatest fear.
Virgo: You’ll trade bodies with your mom sometime this month, Freaky Friday style.
Libra: Sorry. You are temporarily color blind this month. Don’t ask how or why; the stars answer to no man.
Scorpio: Lauryn Hill is coming to FPSF. You’ve been blessed enough this month.
Sagittarius: The answer you seek is in the Fitzgerald’s bathroom, second stall from the door.
Capricorn: Stay away from foam fingers. There’s a little Miley in you this month.
Aquarius: Don’t whistle this month or else Liam Neeson will look for you… he will find you… and he will kill you.
Pisces: The “I woke up like dis” joke will never get old. Beyoncé puns are always in. You’re flawless.
What Fashion Style Are You?
By Katinka Barragan
1. What is your favorite store?
A. Free People
B. Zara
C. Forever 21
D. GAP
E. Whole Earth Provisions
F. Retropolis
2. If you could pick your favorite
artist (or someone similar), who
would it be?
A. Sufjan Stevens
B. Francoise Hardy
C. Lana del Rey
D. Michael Bublé
E. Zac Brown Band
F. Austra
3. What kind of colors do you
tend to wear?
A. Bright colors
B. Dark colors
C. Pastel
D. Solid Neutrals
E. Light colors
F. Depends on your mood
4. You’re running late; what do
you throw on?
A. Patterned pants
B. Leather jacket
C. A comfy sweater
D. Jeans
E. Basketball shorts
F. Doc. Martens
5. What is your dream vacation
spot?
A. Barcelona
B. Paris
C. Los Angeles
D. San Francisco
E. Aspen
F. New York
6. What do you do for fun on the
weekends?
A. Take pictures
B. Hang out at coffee shops
C. Shopping
D. Relax at home
E. Play sports with friends
F. Go to concerts
7. What’s your favorite TV show?
A. That 70’s Show
B. America’s Next Top Model
C. Gossip Girl
D. Grey’s Anatomy
E. Man vs. Wild
F. Twin Peaks
Mostly A’s: Bohemian
You like expressing your free spirited and
comfortable attitude with the way you dress
and tend to wear bright colors that make
you happy and in turn make everyone else
happy. You probably have an individualistic
and creative lifestyle and often daydream
about being somewhere else.
Mostly B’s: Chic
You’ve tried to wear bright colors before
but you tend to change back into something dark five minutes before you have
to be somewhere. You like black but that
doesn’t mean you’re Goth; you just like
that it reflects your sophisticated personality and dark soul.
Mostly E’s: Outdoorsy
Mostly C’s: Preppy
You like looking put together and
classy. You’re locker is probably
the envy of your friends because
of how clean and organized it is.
You’ve probably owned a blazer
or a pair of Sperry Topsiders at
one point in your life. You have
a kind personality along with a
sweet smile, but be careful and
don’t let the prepsters from Gossip Girl influence your lovable attitude.
paper
Staff
Mostly D’s: Casual
You like dressing well, but you
tend to wear comfortable and
simple clothing. Don’t be stuck
wearing the same five outfits in
a row like you do every week. If
style isn’t your thing, then keep
doing what you do, but if you DO
care, I dare you to try something
different. It’s the second semester after all; change can be fun.
You’re the person at PVA some
people don’t understand. What
are sports? Do people actually
do this for fun? Being outdoorsy
takes a lot of forms. You can be
a tree hugger, a skater, a hiker,
or a soccer player. These people tend to ignore fashion and
stay with what’s comfortable.
Although you’re misunderstood,
you are probably one of the
healthier people at school and
have a fun and exciting personality.
Mostly F’s: Artisic
You’re the creative funky type
who’s dyed their hair at one point
or wishes to do so in the future.
You know all the cool hotspots
and like going to stores people
haven’t heard of, but if you were
to choose a store, it would either
be Urban Outfitters or American
Apparel.
Absentee Editor-in-Chief: Chandler Dean
Managing Editors: Zoie Brown, Graeme Campbell,
Ian Estes, and John Guttman
Artistic Directors: Zoie Brown and Ian Estes
Senior Contributers: Charles Anderson, Katinka Barragan, Kevon Bradford,
Adam Elkhadem, Fernando Grimaldo, John Koozin, Katia Krupa, Renée Piper,
Andrea Popova, Elizabeth Sandoval, Jacob Seferian
Contributing Writers: Olivia Cardenas, Natalia Kian, Kyle Legacion, Sam Linda,
Jeremy Maislin, Mikayla Smolensky
Alumni Contributors: JayTee Barbour, Palmer Mills
Faculty Contributor: Maria Stovey
The “Thinker”: Austin Thomas
For an online archive and other paper*-related skylarking, visit hspvapaper.com!