december news layout is done! - Jersey Shore Area School District

The Paw Print
Volume 1 Issue 4
December 2007
Jersey Shore Area
Senior High School
701 Cemetery St.
Jersey Shore PA 17740
DID YOU KNOW…
•
Americans buy 37.
1 Million real trees
per year
•
Black Friday is
not the busiest
shopping day of the
year, the two busiest days are the
Friday and Saturday before Xmas
•
2008 is the Chinese
Year of the Rat
•
2008 is the 100th
New Years Ball in
Times Square
Relay For Life Kicks Off!
tion in the American Can- Relay For Life.
cer Society division of
Relay For
Life
is
a
part
of the
What is
ACS, whose mission
Relay For Life?
is to raise funds and
The Rehope to fight and
lay For Life stuultimately find a cure
dent Kickoff was
for cancer. Each
held in the auditoyear the Jersey
rium during
Shore High School
homeroom on
hosts a Relay For
December 6 to
Life event at the
Kickoff Leaders hold Relay Sign
start off another
Track and Field area.
year of student participaContinued on Page 2
By Macey McBryan and
Stephanie Fleming
JS Cheerleaders at
May’s Day Parade
WHAT’S
BARKING ?
Holocaust
4
LANfest
3
Weird Dreams
9
2008 Movies
12
Powderpuff
Debate
18
Guitar Hero III
Review
22
By Kaylyn Yost
Spreading warmth
Mrs. Machmer’s class continued
its tradition of collecting items to
keep the less fortunate warm this
winter. Every year people bring in
gloves, hats, socks, slippers, etc.
to be donated to the Love Center
for children this winter.
Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade.
What exactly Maybe you sit with
do you think when
your family and
you think Thanksgiv- watch these every
ing? Turkey, family, year, but maybe you
pie… What about
didn’t know that two
parades? Sure eve- of your fellow high
rybody has seen
school students were
them. The Macy’s
a part of the PhilaThanksgiving Day
delphia Parade this
Parade, and the
year! Amanda
Continued on Page 16
Page 2
NEWS
Scholastic Scrimmage
By Stephanie Fleming
It’s like Jeopardy, but not.
Five Jersey Shore students, with advisor Mr.
Jeffrey Klugh, attended Scholastic Scrimmage, an academic quiz-bowl competition, on November 7 at Penn
State. The four competitors were Ben Sechrist, Brandon Gardner, Robert Watson and Noah Hibbler with an
alternate, Melissa Gunter.
To qualify, students had to take sample questions and the top five scores won. Ben Sechrist scored
the highest, making him the captain of the Jersey Shore
team.
“It was fun,” said Mr. Klugh. “I think it was good
exposure for the students to go, but we didn’t have
enough time to prepare. Jersey Shore was selected to
go because a team cancelled, and they asked for us to
fill in at the last minute.”
The competition is split into three rounds.
Round One is a test of general knowledge,
which includes history, geography, math, English, etc.
The team that buzzes in first gets to answer the question.
Round Two is dubbed the “Lightning Round.” A
team would get ten questions to answer and only the
team selected could answer, then the other team would
get a turn.
Round Three is a time open round of questions
Brandon Gardner, Robert Watson, Mr. Klugh,
Ben Sechrist, Noah Hibbler, and Melissa Gunter
basically like Round One.
This year was Jersey Shore’s first year in the competition, and although Jersey Shore lost against the first
school, it’s a foot in the door for next year.
“It was a really good experience, and with more time
and preparation, we’ll do a lot better,” said Mr. Klugh.
The competition was aired on WPSU on November
17, but viewers could only watch with satellite. The winner
of the competition will be announced in April after all the
teams have had a chance to compete.
Relay For Life Kicks Off! (Cont. from front page)
join Relay For Life and to provide information about how to start a team, join a team, and have a good time with games,
prizes and cake.
The Kickoff was organized by Mrs. Deborah Muthler, the Relay For Life advisor at Jersey Shore, and the student
leaders, Alison Henry (12), Stephanie Fleming (12), Kalen Barnes (11), and Loryn Haas (11). Guest speakers were Lindsay Martin, who has participated in Jersey Shore Relay for numerous years and is a graduate of Lock Haven University,
Chris Lunden of LHU, and Chris Tague of LHU.
Everyone has their own reason for joining Relay. Martin said that she participates in Relay because “my dad is a
thirteen-year cancer survivor.”
Henry said, “Cancer affected my life when my mom’s friend died of cancer, and my friend had cancer last year. I
Relay for the people touched by cancer."
Anyone can be on a team, either one that you and your friends create, or you can join an already existing team.
Even if you don’t want to participate at the 24-hour event, you can still donate money to the cause.
If there are any questions, ask Mrs. Muthler or one of the student participants.
The Kickoff slogan was, "Everybody has the potential to get cancer, and everyone has the potential to cure it.”
NEWS
Toys for Tots:
A Good Cause
By Kirsten Morse
Every year at Christmastime we open our gifts
and are ecstatic to see we got the cell phone we
wanted, laptop we needed, or maybe even a car, which
was a complete surprise.
As hard as it may be to imagine, there are many
children that don’t get to experience the awesome feeling of getting a present or being with family on a holiday.
How many of us actually stop to think about them
through our joyous day? If you think there’s nothing to
do to help, think again.
“Toys for Tots” is set up specifically for those
children in need. There are drop-off boxes at most department stores, and even some fast food restaurants.
Newly bought items are required, and the tags are to be
attached. Also, you are not to wrap the gift before dropping them off. So, next time that you’re shopping, pick
up something small and put it in the drop-off box. Think
of how happy that child will be to know that someone is
thinking about them on the holidays.
→ Drop-off boxes can be found around
Williamsport and Jersey Shore in places like
Charlie Brown’s and the Dollar General
Page 3
Moose Awareness
By Kirsten Morse
On November 9-10, five senior girls attended the
International Moose Awareness Conference in Chambersburg, Pa.
The point of the conference was to teach high
school students about drug awareness in ways that can be
presented to elementary school children. Daisy Dingman,
Kassie Johnston, Allison Cuebas, Jenna Smithgall, and
Kirsten Morse were lucky enough to represent Jersey Shore.
The Moose Awareness Conference consisted of four different stations set up for the high school students to rotate
through.
The girls were all shocked when they got to the
school officer station and found out that most schools across
the state have cops hired to stay in the school. The officer
told them some of the things that he encounters every day,
and what the reason was for him to be hired. There was an
EMT who reviewed how to perform CPR, and what to do in
case of an emergency.
The most interesting and educating station was
about teen drug abuse. The station taught them about different drugs and the complications that they can cause. They
had multiple pictures about what the drugs do to your body,
and what the consequences are. In the Internet Safety station, the girls learned about MySpace and what information
should be withheld from your webpage.
With the information that was learned from the conference, three different presentations are to be put together
to present to elementary school children. Pictures are to be
taken during the presentation, and a report of what you did
is to be turned in to the Moose Lodge. The top presentation
is then picked, and the winner gets an all-expense paid, four
-day, three-night trip to Tampa, Fla.
LANfest: Local Area Network Festivals
By Rachel Rippey
Do you feel out of place because your passion is gaming?
Our school hosts LANfests (Local Area Network Festivals) where you play video games and hang out with friends
the whole night. It usually runs from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. There are games for computers, PlayStation2, Xbox 360, and Wii.
Usually many students show up, even former students that have graduated, who only have to pay a few extra dollars.
Energy drinks, soda, and pizza are usually there. LANfests aren’t too expensive (Cont. on pg. 4)
Page 4
NEWS
lANfest (Cont. from pg. 3)
but it depends on who is running it. If you bring your
own game system you get a discount.
Clayton Slaugenwhite said his favorite
game to play at LANfest is “Guitar Hero.” He likes
going to play games, hanging out with friends and
his girlfriend.
Jake Martin said, “I go to play games and
chill.” He also said his favorite game to play there is
any type of shooting game … as long as things blow
up and people are dying.
There are a wide variety of games to
choose from at the LANfest. If you’re a gamer and
you like energy drinks, pizza, and playing video
games with your friends, you should attend at least
one LANfest.
Holocaust Museum Trip
By Shana Rhine
FBLA: Gifts for Teens
By Sveta Hinamin
Do you enjoy Christmas vacations, spending time with your family, opening presents and having a Christmas tree? Have you ever wondered
what other teens do for Christmas, teens whose
families can’t afford presents? This December,
FBLA asked people to contribute money or donate
items, for the teens’ families who can’t afford presents.
“This is FBLA’s fifth year helping teens,”
said Mrs. Oden, who is FBLA advisor. FBLA asked
teachers and students to contribute items for these
teens. Every year there’s a Christmas party at Lycoming Children and Youth, which gives these gifts
to orphanages and other organizations which then
give the gifts to teens whose families can’t afford
presents.
The collection started November 28 and
ran through December 14. Items collected included
CD’s, DVD’s, sports equipment, makeup, games,
candles, gift certificates, etc. “The Lycoming Children and Youth appreciate people’s dedication and
effort for donating gifts,” Mrs. Oden said.
Each year, the Brotherhood of Lycoming County sponsors
a trip for seven students from each Lycoming School District to go
the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. This year, a group of
freshmen took the very sobering visit to the museum.
The point of the museum is to show the horrors of the
Holocaust that, while thoroughly talked about, cannot be imagined
to the fullest extent without evidence. The museum contains over
900 artifacts and four theaters that include historic film footage and
eyewitness testimonies. The exhibition has three sections, “Nazi
Assault,” “Final Solution,” and “Last Chapter.” The museum also
hosts special exhibits such as “Remember the Children: Daniel’s
Story,” which explains the events of the Holocaust in a way children can understand, and “Nazi Olympics,” which shows the racist
-laced Olympics of Hitler’s rule.
To respect the families of those who died, pictures are not
allowed to be taken in the museum. Many of the exhibitions include personal accounts and testimonies as feature pieces.
The students that went to the museum were Jeremy Bubb,
Jordon Stover, Cody Shrick, Sara Fisher, Sarah Eck, Susan Barrows, and Melissa Bass.
“It had a profound impact on them,” said Mrs. Brunguard,
who chaperoned the trip, “It was very sobering.”
The students also toured the Arlington National Cemetery,
where many famous war heroes and other historical figures are
buried, as well as took a bus tour of the streets of Washington
D.C.
NEWS
Page 5
December Students of the Month
Nathan A. Steinbacher
The Jersey Shore Lions’ Club Citizen of the Month for December is Nathan Andrew Steinbacher son of Dan and Nancy Steinbacher of Jersey Shore.
Nathan’s activities include; Varsity Basketball Statistician for
1 year and for 4 years FBLA and Basketball.
Outside school, Nathan is an active member of the congregation at Immaculate Conception Church, volunteering his time to help
at church picnics. He also assists in the set up for the Grace Lutheran annual block party. He works at the YMCA and volunteers
there as a youth basketball coach. Nathan works as a janitor at Norcen Industries and as a laborer at Steinbacher Orchards. In addition,
he spent two summers as a member of the summer swim team.
Nathan was selected to participate in Free Enterprise Week
at Lycoming College this past summer. He is a graduate of Youth
Leadership Lycoming and was nominated for inclusion in Who’s Who
Among American High School Students. A participant in the Region 7
FBLA Competition, Nathan placed first and qualified for state-level
competition.
Nathan A. Steinbacher
Malori R. Richards
Malori R. Richards
The Business and Professional Women’s Club Girl of the
Month for December is Malori Ruth Richards, daughter of Kevin and
Colette Richards of Jersey Shore.
Malori’s activities include; National Honor Society, Bible Club,
Bullpups Helping Hands for 2 years, FBLA and School Musical/Play
for 3 years, and for 4 years Soccer, Track and Field, Chorus, and Relay for Life.
Malori has served Bullpups Helping Hands as secretary, the
chorus as librarian, and National Honor Society as treasurer. Outside
school she is active in her church youth group and serves as acolyte.
She participates in the church choir as well. She is a youth representative for the Ad Council and volunteers her time at the Williamsport
campus of Susquehanna Health Systems. In addition, Malori holds a
position with Bilo Market.
Malori is a three–year varsity letter winner in both soccer and
track and field. She was selected as the most improved freshman
soccer player for JV soccer and MVP of the JV team as a senior. She
had previously been selected student of the month as a freshman.
Malori’s interests include hunting, reading, playing guitar, and
attending youth group activities. She plans to attend York College of
Pennsylvania to major in nursing. She plans to follow her degree with
a master’s degree to become a nurse anesthetist.
Page 6
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE
What’s Happening In Guidance?
This calendar is only a general guide and will not apply to all colleges. Consult application materials, admission offices,
and institution Web sites for the specific requirements and deadlines for each of your colleges.
Freshman Year: An exciting time; with a new
school, new friends, and challenging new classes. The
phrase "college preparation" may bring to mind images of
campus visits, college applications and the SAT®. But
these days, college prep involves much more, and it starts
earlier than junior year.
Winter:
●Review progress in each key subject area.
●Get informed about college costs. Explore your
family's options for financing your college education and learn how financial aid works.
Sophomore Year: Tenth grade is the time to update plans
for high school courses and activities that you began planning your freshman year.
Winter:
●Talk to your counselor and teachers about taking
college entrance exams
●Wrap up college applications before winter break.
●Take SAT tests. Make sure your scores are sent
to each one of your colleges.
●Early Decision and Early Application responses
arrive this month.
●The SAT and SAT II are administered on the first
Saturday of the month.
●The ACT is administered during the second
week.
●At the end of this month, you may pick up copies
of the CSS PROFILE and the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as other vari
ous forms from your guidance counselor. Many
colleges have their own financial aid applications
that you must complete as well as the FAFSA.
●Check the dates and procedures for state gov
ernment student aid programs with your counselor.
●Learn about college costs and how financial
aid works.
●Talk to your parents about financing college.
●Visit colleges while they're in session.
Best Scholarship Search Sites
●Think about volunteering at an organization.
General Site: www.fastweb.com
Junior Year:
December:
General Information: www.collegeboard.com
●SAT/NMSQT scores will be returned this month.
●Register for the SAT given in the spring.
Senior Year:
December: (Continued in next column)
Financial Aid: www.fafsa.ed.gov
►Check the high school guidance website
under current scholarships for information
on specific scholarships.
Page 7
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE
Writing Your College Essay
-Tips for seniors from guidanceMany colleges require an essay or "personal statement" from their applicants. This is an important part of the
application process, which should not be overlooked or
taken lightly. A good essay will separate you from other applicants and demonstrate your ability to organize your
thoughts in a meaningful manner. When writing your essay
keep these tips in mind:
1. Always read directions carefully.
2. Always write clearly, concisely, and succinctly.
Quantity is not quality.
3. Always write your essay early in advance. Allow
yourself plenty of time to edit, revise, and rewrite.
4. Always focus on an aspect of yourself that will
highlight your best qualities. You may want to write
about some of your triumphs, strengths, or goals.
5. Always speak positively. Negativity tends to turn
people off.
Choosing a Topic: The essay question may be direct and
ask you to choose something about yourself to discuss, or
it may be indirect and require you to write about something
such as an event, book, or quotation.
Here is what colleges look for:
- Your Preferences
- Your Values
- Your Thought Process
Think About Topics:
The topic you select for your essay can also reveal
much about who you are.
Some of the best essays, the memorable and unusual ones, are about very similar, just more focused topics. Essays about your family, football team, trip to France,
parents' divorce, or twin can be effective as long as they're
focused and specific.
6. Always have someone proofread your work.
The Financial Aid Search
With the high cost of post-secondary education,
many students and their parents rely heavily on receiving
some type of financial assistance. Paying for postsecondary education is often a challenging task for students. There is, however, a variety of financial aid available. Here are various types of financial aid and guidelines
for applying.
1. Scholarships: A scholarship is money that is awarded
that does not have to be paid back. Scholarships can
come from the State, the college you're planning to attend,
or from private sources (organizations, businesses, and
clubs).
2. Grants: A grant is money given by the state, federal government, and/or the college you're planning to attend that
does not have to be paid back. State and federal grants are
awarded on the basis of financial need.
3. Loans: A loan is money borrowed by the students/parents
that must be paid back. These loans are made by banks,
and on subsidized loans the federal government pays interest on while the student is in school. Repayment on a federal loan begins six months after school is completed.
-The award of a scholarship is usually based on academic 4. Work Study: Work study is a program where money is
achievement measured by grade point average, class rank, earned by students while working in college. These jobs are
and/or SAT scores. Other scholarships can also be based established through the college.
on financial need, athletic ability, music ability, etc.
(How to apply for financial aid on pg. 8)
Page 8
NEWS FROM GUIDANCE
How to Apply for
Financial Aid
1. Check for scholarships available on the guidance web
page and posted outside the guidance office.
2. Check to see if your particular college requires the
CSS PROFILE form. This must be filed early and
can be found in the guidance office. If you do not complete this form and your college requests it, you will
not be eligible for financial aid at that particular college.
3. January 2nd pick up your financial aid applications
Volunteer Opportunities
Ask Yourself:
→ How much time do I have to commit?
→ Do I want an ongoing, regularly-scheduled assignment, a short-term assignment, or a one-time assignment?
→ Am I willing to participate in a training course or do I
want to start my volunteer work immediately?
→ Which talents or skills do I offer?
→ What don't I want to do as a volunteer?
→ Do I want to work alone or with a group?
- FAFSA
-CSS Profile
- Individual college financial aid forms
●If in doubt, check with the college's financial aid office.
Do not delay with this process. There are hundreds of
thousands of students applying for financial aid each year
and the process is lengthy.
How to Get Involved: Tips for getting started:
→ Look around your community and in the phone book
to see what programs are there. Call and ask if they
need help.
→ Contact your local United Way, cultural arts association, student organization, or another association
that can point you in the right direction.
→ Ask your library, church or synagogue, and/or community colleges if they sponsor any volunteer
groups.
→ Check out the following organizations to learn more
about causes and to find volunteer opportunities
near you.
● www.learnandserve.org
● www.servenet.org
● www. Networkforgood.org
●www. Idealist.org
● www.volunteermatch.org
● www.dosomething.org
● www.jsh.org
● www.forum4future.org
● www.shscares.org/volunteers
● www.leadershiplycoming.org
Page 9
Features
Holiday dedications:
Whom Would You Meet Under The Mistletoe?
Mrs. Pond wants to see Mrs. Zimmerman under the mistletoe
this Christmas!
By Chelsea Moore
and Dylan Arblaster
Brendon Benis would kill to meet Abe’s Mom under the mistletoe.
Ruthie Moon would love to see Luke Holcomb under the mistletoe.
Jake Martin wants to meet Mrs. Boncal beneath the mistletoe.
Abe Williams would like to meet Chelsea Moore beneath the
mistletoe.
Leslie Cuebas would love to see Ethan Robbins under the mistletoe.
Mrs. Kaufman wants to meet The Bulldog Mascot underneath
the mistletoe.
Katie Sprague wants to meet Skyler Wool, Caleb Clark, and
Morgan Sheddy under the mistletoe.
Rachel Delaney would love to meet JT Pennycoff beneath the
mistletoe.
Tierney Clark wants to see Mr. Harvey under the mistletoe.
Kathleen Casale would like to see Rachel Delaney under the
mistletoe.
Shana Rhine would die to see Megan Frank and Dylan Arblaster’s tie & Mark from RENT under the mistletoe.
Continued on Pg. 15
What is your weirdest dream?
By Marlena Schuster
When asked, “What is your weirdest dream?” most guys get the sly/arrogant smile on
their face and nod, replying with “Now, I probably shouldn’t tell you that”. Aside from ‘those’
dreams, most dreams that people remember are the ones of them falling, being chased, or
being attacked. I personally remember my reoccurring dream as a kid when I was walking
along the edge of our property and a whole jungle full of animals chased me into my house
and turned into slime like Capri Suns and slid under the doors to get me. These are the
dreams we’re talking about.
“It was like Nightmare on
Elm St. the way I was running through the house, but
there was goo on the ground
so I couldn’t run fast. I was
trying to run away from a
monster that had a sledge
hammer, but he caught me
and hit my legs with it. When
I woke up, my legs were all
cramped
Corey Schilling
“I used to have a bunk bed
as a kid (top bunk), and I
had a dream I was falling out
of a tree. I ended up waking
up before I hit the ground,
but I woke up on
the floor.”
Mr. Hess
“I had a dream I was falling
off a building backwards
because someone threw a
penny off the side.”
Collin Jarrells
“I had a dream I was playing baseball with Ian Berry,
and he was on my team. All
of a sudden he attacked
me and I ended up beating
him up.”
Ian Eisenhauer
“I was attacked by
women. Weird.”
Ryan Charles
Page 10
Features
WWW.
WEBSITES
PROM SONGS
1. My Wish- Rascal Flatts
1. Myspace.com
WWW.
2. Yahoo.com
2. Here(in your arms)- Hellogoodbye
3. My Love- Justin Timberlake Featuring T.I
4. Chasing Cars-Snow Patrol
Soft tailoring
Space odyssey (Metallics)
MONEY MAKERS
7. Walk it out- Unk
8. This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an
Arms Race-Fall Out Boy
~ Hal Borland
5. My Girl- Temptations
6. Far Away- Nickelback
9. Tu Amor- RBD
10. Ever the Same- Rob Thomas
“Don't cry because it's
over. Smile because it
happened.”~Dr.Seuss
“People say that
you're going the
wrong way when
it's simply a way
of your own.”
3. msn.com
WWW.
4. aol.com
5. pogo.com
WWW.
6. facebook.com
WWW.
7. amazon.com
8. craigslist.com
WWW.
9. go.com
WWW.
10. youtube.com
WWW.
“Year’s end is neither an
end nor a beginning but
a going on with all the
wisdom that experience
can instill in us.”
FASION TRENDS
Mini dresses
Prints
1. Oprah Winfrey
Neon
2. Tiger Woods
Accessories
3. Madonna
4. Rolling Stones
5. Brad Pitt
~ Angelina Jolie “Keep a good heart. That's the
most important thing in life.
It's not how much money you
make or what you can acquire.
The art of it is to keep a good
heart." ~Joni Mitchell
6. Johnny Depp
7. Elton John
8. Tom Cruise
9. Jay-Z
ACTORS
MUSIC JAMS
1. Beyonce, Irreplaceable
2. Nelly Furtado, Say It Right:
10. Steven Spielberg
1. Leonardo DiCaprio
The Departed
2. Forest Whitaker
The Last King of Scotland
3. Clive Owen
Children of Men
4. Aaron Eckhart
Thank You for Smoking
5. Matt Damon
The Departed
6. Sacha Baron Cohen Borat
3. Akon, Don't Matter:
7. Ryan Gosling
Half Nelson
4. T-Pain w/Yung Joc, Buy U a Drank
8. James McAvoy
The Last King of Scotland
5. Lloyd w/Lil' Wayne, You
9. Daniel Craig
Casino Royale
10. Hugo Weaving
V for Vendetta
Features
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”~Margaret
Fuller
“The more that you read, the more things
you will know. The more that you learn,
the more places you'll go.” ~Dr. Suess
“The worth of a book is
to be measured by what
you can carry away
from it.” ~James Bryce
NOTABLE BOOKS
Stone Cold-Baldacci, David
The Innocent Man -Grisham, John
Page 11
REALITY SHOW STARS
Jillian Michaels (#10)
Show(s): The Biggest Loser
Coral Smith (#9)
Show(s): The Real World, Real
World/Road Rules Challenge, Battle of
the Reality TV Stars, Camp Reality
Adrianne Curry (#8)
Show(s): America's Next Top Model,
The Surreal Life, My Fair Brady
Heather West (#7)
Show(s): Hell's Kitchen
Double Cross-Patterson, James
A Thousand Splendid Suns- Hosseini,
Khaled
Windsor (#6)
Show(s): Flavor of Love, Flavor of
Love Girls: Charm School
Clapton– Clapton, Eric
Confessor: Chainfire Triloly, Part 3- Goodkind,
Terry
Eat, Pray, Love- Gilbert, Elizabeth
Janice Dickinson (#5)
Show(s): America's Next Top Model, The Surreal
Life, The Janice Dickinson Project
The Pillars of the Earth- Follett , Ken
I Am America (And So Can You!) Colbert, Stephen
An Inconvenient Book—Beck, Glenn
If there's a book you really want to read
but it hasn't been written yet, then you
must write it. ~Toni Morrison
Kelly Wiglesworth (#4)
Show(s): Survivor
Janelle Pierzina (#3)
Show(s): Big Brother 6, Big
Brother All-Stars
Beth Chapman (#2)
Show(s): Dog the Bounty Hunter
Jackie Warner (#1...The WINNER!)
Show(s): Workout
The man who does not read good books has no
advantage over the man who can't read them.
~Mark Twain
Page 12
Features
Movies to Look Forward to in ’08
By Shana Rhine
“Looking for Alaska”: based on the book written by John Green; about a boy at a boarding school that falls in and out of love with a reckless girl
named Alaska. Release Date: Unknown.
Reason to watch: It’s a tear-jerker, seriously. The end will getcha’.
“The Time Traveler’s Wife”: based on the best-selling book written by Audrey Niffenegger; story revolves around Henry, a man who time-travels involuntarily throughout his life, and his wife Claire. Release Date: Unknown.
Reason to watch: Rachel McAdams co-stars as Claire, and you know she’s going to rock that role.
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”: the movie adaptation of the sixth Harry Potter book; Harry must figure out his plan to kill Voldemort and save
the wizarding world. Release Date: November 21.
Reason to watch: It’s Harry Potter. Duh. Even though you know it’s going to be nothing like the book, you’re still powerless to it. Give in.
“Confessions of Georgia Nicolson: Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging”: based on the British
series written by Louise Rennison; a teenage girl attempts vainly to find herself a boyfriend. Release Date: Unknown for the U.S.
Reason to watch: If the movie is even half as funny as the book, you will laugh yourself to
death.
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”: the sequel to the best-selling book-turned-movie by C.S.
Lewis; the Pevensie siblings return to Narnia to help fight off an evil king. Release Date: May 16.
Reason to watch: If you loved the first one, why not tune in for the second?
“Sex and the City: The Movie”: based on the hit television show; we’re not really sure what this one’s
about, but, well, sex. Probably. And the city. Release Date: May 30.
Reason to watch: The original cast from the television show stars in the movie as well.
“Get Smart”: based on a 1960’s television show; an Austin Powers/Johnny English type spy-comedy
movie.
Reason to watch: Steve Carell. ‘Nuff said.
“Superhero!”: A spoof of super heroes films from Batman Begins to Fantastic Four. Release Date:
March 28.
Reason to watch: Maybe Flash Gordon will be there. In silver underwear…
“Mamma Mia”: A musical told using hit songs from the ‘70s group ABBA. Release Date: July 18.
Reason to watch: Remember A*Teens? You know you loved “Dancing Queen.”
“Where the Wild Things Are”: based on the popular children’s book by Maurice Sendak; a little boy creates an imaginary world full of wild creatures
who crown him as their ruler. Release Date: October 3.
Reason to watch: You probably loved this book when you were a kid. Plus, Paul Dano from “Little Miss Sunshine” is going to be in it! Hotness? Yes, yes.
“Madagascar 2: The Crate Escape”: the sequel to the blockbuster hit; the troupe of estranged zoo-animals land in Africa, where Alex the lion meets
his family. Release Date: November 7.
Reason to watch: Those “I like to move it, move it” lemurs were hilarious.
“Meet the Spartans”: A spoof of the historical movie “300”. Release Date: February 1.
Reason to watch: They’re spoofing Ugly Betty and Sanjaya. Seriously.
“Case 39”: A social worker fights to save a child from her abusive parents, only to discover that the situation may be more dangerous than she ever
expected. Release Date: August 22.
Reason to watch: Aren’t little girls always scary? Sounds pretty horror-rifick.
Features
Page 13
Movies to Look Forward to in ’08
“Coraline”: Based on the international best-seller written by Neil Gaiman; A girl unlocks a door in her new house, opening a world of parallel reality
that vaguely—and eerily—mimics her own. Release Date: Unknown.
Reason to watch: It’s animated, but it’ll probably still be just as creepy as the book was.
“Daybreakers”: In the year 2017, a plague has turned almost the entire human race into vampires. Meanwhile, surviving scientists try to find a way to
bring the human race back to dominance. Release Date: Unknown.
Reason to watch: It’s vampires. Seriously, when are vampires not creepy? If you liked “I Am Legend,” you’ll probably want to check this
out.
“The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test”: Based on the book written by Tom Wolfe; A gang of hippies use a road trip to the World’s Fair in New York to turn
those they meet onto the mind-expanding “wonders” of LSD. Release Date: Unknown.
Reason to watch: The book is actually based on the road trip of the author of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, Ken Kesey. Plus, isn’t
the title enough to make you want to watch?
“Jurassic Park IV”: A continuation of the popular dinosaur-related series. Release Date: Unknown.
Reason to watch: If you enjoyed the last three movies with the premise of dinosaurs running around and eating people, you’ll probably like
this one too.
“The Ring 3”: The third in the series of popular Japanese-inspired horror films; revolves around the events occurring before the original “The Ring.”
Release Date: Unknown.
Reason to watch: That Samara is one screwed up chick. Don’t you want to see how she got that way?
“The Smurfs”: Based on the popular television show of the 80s; rumored to be one of a trilogy. Release Date: Unknown.
Reason to watch: You know you loved the Smurfs. Admit it.
“The Dark Knight”: A sequel to “Batman”; Batman takes on The Joker, whose previous bank-robbing spree turns more deadly. Release Date: July 18.
Reason to watch: Besides being about a superhero, the cast list is pretty impressive, including Christian Bale [“Batman Begins”], Heath
Ledger [“Brokeback Mountain”, “10 Things I Hate About You”], Maggie Gyllenhaal [“Donnie Darko”, “World Trade Center”], Gary Oldman [“Harry Potter”, “Hannibal”], Morgan Freeman [“Evan Almighty” “War of the Worlds”], Anthony Michael Hall [“The Breakfast Club”,
“Freddy Got Fingered”], and many others.
“Be Kind Rewind”: A man’s brain becomes magnetized, and he unintentionally destroys every tape in his friend’s video store. In order to satisfy his
customers, the two begin to remake all of the store’s films themselves. Release Date: January 25.
Reason to watch: How the heck does someone’s brain become magnetized? I want to watch it just to find that out.
“27 Dresses”: A woman named Jane has been a bridesmaid 27 times, and has to wrestle with the idea of standing by her sister’s side as she marries
the man that Jane loves. Release Date: January 11.
Reason to watch: Katherine Heigl and James Marsden star. It’s also by the director of “The Devil Wears Prada”, which rocked hardcore.
“Semi-Pro”: A basketball-based comedy, where a team tries to make it to the NBA. Release Date: February 29.
Reason to watch: Will Ferrell stars. Yep.
“The Bell Jar”: based on the popular novel by Silvia Plath; A journalist tries to make a name for herself in New York, but spirals into depression and
makes several attempts to take her own life. Release Date: Unknown.
Reason to watch: Julie Stiles stars, and if you’ve ever wondered how “electroshock therapy” was administered--here’s your chance to find
out.
“Horton Hears a Who”: A Dr. Seuss-based movie about an elephant that is trying to protect a community that his neighbors don’t believe exists. Release Date: March 14.
Reason to watch: Its all-star line-up includes Jim Carrey [“Bruce Almighty”, “The Mask”], Steve Carell [“40 Year Old Virgin”, “Little Miss
Sunshine”], Seth Rogen [“Superbad”, “Knocked Up”] , Jonah Hill [“Accepted”, “Superbad”], Dane Cook, and Jaime Pressly.
Continued on page 15
Page 14
Features
By Lily O’Shaughnessy
You’re sitting in homeroom waiting for the announcements to finish, and for the secretary’s voice to come over the
speakers, “Teachers, please turn your television to channel 44 for the Bulldog news.” You immediately sit up in your seat,
anticipating the moment something really funny happens on the Bulldog news; some specific line that you and your friends
will repeat forever.
Due to undisclosed reasons, Bulldog News has been postponed until further notice. The PawPrint interviewed Jeffrey Dincher to see what the man behind the news has to say about creating one
of the best praised items in the Jersey Shore Area High School.
Why did you decide to start working with video cameras and the Bulldog News?
I bought my first video camera back in 2004, after working all summer
long for cheap employees, to make memories for me and my friends.
How does the Bulldog News tie
into your life and out-of-school
hobbies?
What is the
worst thing you’ve ever caught on
film?
I spend a majority of
my time working on
Bulldog, when I’m not
with friends, since I do
so much editing. I often
find myself staying up
till 3 in the morning to
finalize packages.
Brandon Vartenisian
filmed me breaking my
arm, then I filmed Austin Holcomb breaking
his in the same day,
actually. It’s on YouTube, titled “Crash
Since you’re good with cameras,
do your friends rely on you for
good footage of their snowboarding skills?
How many years have you been on the Bulldog staff? How
(Laughs) Yeah, they do long have you been the ringleader?
a lot. It’s mostly like,
“Jeff you have a video
I’ve been on the Bulldog team for two years,
camera. You know
since that’s the maximum amount you’re alwhat to do.”
lowed, and I have been the “leader” for two
years as well.
Do you plan on a future career
with digital video production?
Where do you plan to further your
interest?
Yeah, I really want to.
I would like to go to
Penn State for filming,
but I have potential for
ASU. (Arizona State
University)
F E ATU RES
PAGE 15
Holiday Dedications
Continued from page 9
Angela Snyder wants to meet Marc Bergerstock beneath the mistletoe.
Diana Banks wants to kiss Dylan Arblaster underneath the mistletoe.
Emilie Titus would like to kiss Mitch Potter beneath the mistletoe.
Seth Bowman wants to have non-alcoholic spritzers with Dylan Arblaster and Angela Snyder under the mistletoe.
Emily Oberle wants to meet Kels Ungard under the mistletoe.
Chelsea Moore wants
to meet Curtis Eckard beneath the mistletoe.
Marlene Shulster would meet Caleb Clark under the mistletoe any day!
Dylan Arblaster would like to meet Jessie Bower under the mistletoe.
Trevor Rosato would like to meet Mrs. Claus under the mistletoe tonight.
Chris Eck would like to meet Autumn Shirey under the mistletoe
Kylie Starr wants to meet her Boo beneath the mistletoe.
Movies coming in ’08
Chris Moore would die to meet Mrs. Gasperine’s Grinch under the mistletoe.
Continued from page 13
Mr. Good would love to meet Mr. Franklin beneath the mistletoe.
Lyssa Deuel wants to meet her boy Joshua Higgins under the mistletoe.
Chris Fravel would like Mrs. Kaufman under the mistletoe.
Logan Welshans is looking to meet David Becker beneath the mistletoe.
Chad Guiswhite would like to meet Mrs. Yaudis under the mistletoe.
Taryn Fioretti wants to meet Mr. Orndorf underneath the mistletoe.
Christy Johnson can’t wait to see her boyfriend Caleb Ireland under the mistletoe.
Kyle Ulsamer would like nothing better than to see Meghan Myers under the
mistletoe.
Alisabeth Defonzo-Hess would like to see Jimmy Hyland beneath the mistletoe.
Curtis Eckard will bring his iPod with him under the mistletoe.
Josh Bengen would like to meet Mrs. Thomas under the mistletoe immediately.
Luke Brady wants Mrs. Smalley with him under the mistletoe.
Amanda Hanrahan will meet Aric Guiswite under the mistletoe.
Devin Rachael would like to meet Mrs. Rae Bierly beneath the mistletoe.
Maxine Hager would love to meet Chrissy Lauer under the mistletoe.
Chrissy Lauer would love to meet Maxine Hager under the mistletoe.
“The Lovely Bones”: Based on the book by
Alice Sebold; A 14-year old girl is murdered and tells the story of how the
search for her body is changing the
people that had been around her. Release Date: Unknown.
Reason to watch: The movie is
directed by Peter Jackson
[Lord of the Rings trilogy], so
that means it’ll probably be
full of awesome.
“It’s Kind of a Funny Story”: Based on the
book by Ned Vizzini, which was inspired by his own life. A teenager decides that he wants to commit suicide,
but has a sudden surge of hope and
calls a suicide hotline. He is admitted
to a psych ward, where he learns to
once again love life. Release Date:
Unknown.
Reason to watch: Although it has
sensitive topics, the book also
has a lighter, funnier tone.
The movie most likely will
make you laugh as well as
cry. Some of the mental patients are cuh-raaazy.
Page 16
S P OR T S
Winter sports preview: Teams looking good
Our Bulldogs former coach Tony
Owens stepped down and Shawn
Weaver was appointed to the new head
coaching position. Our top returnees
include Ty Kaunoff, Joe Leffredo, Zach
Cummings, Kyle
Stabley and Zach
Ulmer.
our Bulldogs. Our top returnees are Jon
Boob, JT Pennycoff, Derik Smith, Nate
Steinbacher, Andy Welsh, Seth Moyer,
Jake Cox, Tyler Thomas, Fred Rogers,
Zach Potter, and Kyle Miller.
And finally last, but
not least our boys
and girls swimming
Our girls basketteam. Lou Anne
Gasperine is our
ball team is back
returning head
after a 2006-2007
coach.The boys
season in which
team is coming off
they finished 14By Evan Bletz
a 6-6-2 record in
11. Harvey BarnThe cold weather is upon us, but that
2006-2007. The
hart is the Ladyisn’t going to stop our Bulldogs and our dog’s returning head coach. Our top
girls team is coming off a 8-5-1 record
Ladydogs from having great seasons. returnees include April Champion, April in 2006-2007. Our top girl returnees
Our winter sports include Wrestling,
include Sam Kennelley, Jenna Brooks,
Gallagher, Megan Stevenson, Sarah
Swimming, Boy’s Basketball, and Girl’s Griggs, Tanya Siford, Julia Stevenson, Danielle McPherson, Charlie Robinson,
Basketball.
Maddie Thompson, and Brook Koch.
and Courtney Weaver.
Our top boy returnees include Brett
Our wrestling team is coming off a
Our boys basketball team is coming off Ulsamer, Clay Thompson, Josh Ben2006-2007 season in which they fina 16-10 in the 2006-2007. Darrin
gen, and Ian Eisenhauer.
ished 12-7 and were the District 4
Bischof is our returning head coach of
Class AAA tournament champions.
Thanksgiving Day Parade
Continued from page 1
Shadel and Miranda White were picked to attend the parade
this summer at the UCA Pine Forrest Cheerleading Camp,
for their outstanding cheerleading skills. The girls had to
perform an “extreme routine” which included dancing, a
cheer and their best jump. Out of a camp of about 300 girls,
the two from Jersey Shore Area Senior High School were
honored to be among those going to Philadelphia.
They performed the dance they had learned for the
cameras, and then performed a finale at the end of the parade. Amanda said she was kind of bummed being away for
the holiday.
“It was okay, because I was with friends and it was
a lot of fun,” she said. Amanda’s favorite part was the experience as a whole, the dance party they had for the cheerleaders and being able walk beside Hip Hop superstar Sean
Kingston. Miranda agreed with Amanda that meeting him
was very cool and that the dance party was definitely her
favorite part. Both girls liked meeting new people and having
the experience of a lifetime.
Amanda and Miranda were sent a DVD in the mail
with a dance that they had to learn for the parade. The girls
arrived in Philly on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The
night they got there, they got settled in and immediately
started practicing with the other members of the squad who
represented other high schools from across the country. For
“It was hard work, but it was worth it, and a lot of
the next two days they prepared for their performance, and
fun,” said Miranda. Overall it was a worthwhile experience
finally on Thursday all of their hard work over the past few
for everyone. Congratulations to both girls for their accommonths paid off.
plishments!
Sports
Page 17
Student athletes of the month
Jenna Brooks
Derek Smith
By Megan Frank
By Stephanie Smith
Jenna Brooks, a senior, has been named the
Female Athlete of the Month for December.
The male athlete for the month of December is
Derek Smith. Derek participates in football, basketball, and
baseball for our school. He has received various awards
such as the Sun Gazette all-star starting lineup and second
all team conference for baseball, and the Holiday Classic all
tournament team for basketball.
Jenna has participated in swimming for 15 years,
and track for six years. When asked why she chose to
participate in these sports, she stated, “My mom put me
in swimming when I was younger and I never stopped.”
She also said, “I joined track in middle school
and I liked it, so I continued doing it.”
Jenna has had a variety of achievements in the
sports she participates in. In April of 2007, she went to
nationals for swimming. She also went to states the past
two years, and was named the Sun-Gazette Girl Swimmer of the Year in 2006 and 2007. For track, Jenna went
to states in both the javelin and the shot-put.
Out of school, Jenna participates in co-ed softball in Antes Fort during the summer. She also gives her
time to help with swim lessons, be a lifeguard, and to be
an age group captain for the YMCA swim team.
When asked if she was planning on participating
in sports in college she stated, “Yes, I plan on swimming
in college.” She stated she would be attending Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
He currently does not know what college he plans
on attending but plans on going for athletic training and playing baseball for the school.
“My parents put me in it (baseball) when I was
three” said Derek.
Derek’s idols include his parents and Mitch Potter.
He likes participating as a volunteer coach and referee for
the YMCA and the Little League. His favorite sports teams
include the New York Yankees, the Dallas Cowboys, the
Duke Blue Devils, Penn State Nittany Lions, and the Philadelphia 76er’s.
Derek’s last words for freshman that want to join in
sports are:
“Work hard, have fun, and enjoy it while it lasts because it’s gone in a blink of an eye. P.S don’t do pot or
drugs,” he said.
Page 18
OPINIONS
Seniors Know How to Revolt
By Morgan Sheddy and brought up years ago. That same week, the senior girls
Katie Sprague
had gotten together to create a sweatshirt idea. We decided on “Seniors know how to score” and we just
needed it to be approved by the administration. Senior
Class President Katie Sanso went to discuss the idea
Seniors know
how to score… TOUCH- with the administrative team. However, Mrs. Thomas felt
DOWNS, that is. But will that the slogan was a sexual slang and, therefore, inapthey get to? Will there be propriate for school. In no way was the slogan intended
to be perverted. As an alternative, the seniors opted to
a powder-puff game? Or is it banned forever?
add the word “touchdowns” at the bottom in order to preThere has been much controversy surrounding vent it from sounding in any way inappropriate. But that
the 2007 Junior vs. Senior Powder-Puff game. Jerseys or was not enough; they still refused the slogan, and even
tie-dye? Orange or lime green? Game or no game?
refused to discuss the matter any further.
Originally, Powder-Puff was scheduled to be November
“Mrs. Thomas did not even take the time to con20. However, on Friday, November 9, the entire high
sider
the
matter or talk it over. Instead, she acted in
school received an automated telephone call from princihaste and cancelled the game all together, claiming that
pal Mary Thomas stating that the game had been canceled due to liability issues. Right away, the senior class it was over liability issues,” Sanso said.
girls were in an uproar. Text messages, IMs, phone calls,
The senior girls wouldn’t back down. A petition
and personal visits circulated immediately discussing the was passed around at the playoff game gaining hundreds
problem at hand.
of signatures, not only from students, but parents and
But why bring up the issue of liability this year? teachers as well. The situation escalated when the adWhat was different from previous years? You would think ministration still refused to discuss the matter further. It
that if the reason was truly liability, it would have been
Continued on page 19
VS.
Get Better Things to Waste Your Time On
By: Megan Frank
heard throughout the hallways “At powder-puff I’m gonna
hit so-in-so in the face,” or “I can’t wait for powder-puff to
see so-in-so get knocked out on the field.” If you don’t
How far would you want powder-puff canceled, don’t walk around saying
go for a pair of sweatpants things like this. It will get back to administration and the
and a sweatshirt with a so- game will be cancelled.
called catchy slogan on it?
As for ordering clothes, it’d probably be a good
Every year, Jersey Shore idea to make sure that the game is set and ready to go
Senior High puts on their annual seniors vs. juniors pow- before you start flipping out about what colors your
der-puff game. This year things did not run so smoothly. sweatpants and sweatshirts will be. Also, if you plan on
The game, scheduled for November 20th, was
canceled early in the month of November due to liability
issues. I personally see no harm in this. Obviously it’s
putting some catchy slogan on them don’t play dumb and
pick something perverted and pretend you “had no idea.”
Please, how old are we?
Continued on page 19
OPINIONS
Page 19
Seniors Know
Continued from pg. 18
was no longer about Powder-Puff – it was a matter of respect and being heard.
The idea of sit-in was brought up in order to get the
attention of students and faculty alike. On Tuesday, November 13, all supporting students were to report to the senior
hallway at 8:10 a.m., sit-down, and refuse to attend class
until the administrators agreed to talk to us. Granted, some
kids that participated were unaware of the real reason the
sit-in was occurring. They were just following the crowd. Ultimately, the crowd moved from the senior hallway to the
lobby by the gym.
the game
was rescheduled
for December 17.
However,
the class
meetings
fail to scroll
on the TV
in the
morning on
Students during the sit-in in the upper E-wing hallway.
Club Days.
The question of whether or not we are getting sweats still
remains in the air.
At this point, the superintendent, the principals, and
the police were all present. Had this gone too far? Police
were threatening to not only hand out fines to any student
who did not immediately report to their first period class, but
Was it necessary for both sides to take such drastic
escort them out off the premises in handcuffs . Katie Sanso, measures? The game did not need to be cancelled over a
however, was allowed to go to the office to discuss the issue sweatshirt, yet the whole school did not need to rebel over
with Superintendent Mr. Emery and administrative officials such a seemingly small issue.
as opposed to Mrs. Thomas alone. After much discussion,
Get Better Things
Continued from pg. 18
You want the game back and administration just will not talk
to you about it? Okay, so they’ve made up their mind and
they don’t want to hear anymore about it. That’s the end of
it. You don’t have to disrupt the entire morning just so you
can play a little game of flag football. The sit-in on November 13th, although was a success, was way out of hand.
Senior and Junior girls want powder-puff back but they
planned to get everyone from the school in the 3rd floor of
the e-wing. This makes no sense at all considering this sit-in
was on the complete opposite side of the building. Yes, the
sit-in was moved to the gym lobby, which still makes no
sense really. I had gym first period the morning of the sit-in
and I couldn’t get into the gym because of the mass of not
only seniors and juniors, but freshman and sophomores
piled outside of the gym. Why were you there? You wanted
powder-puff back? Right, you wanted out of class. You had
no idea what was going on.
I’m not going to lie and say I’m not amazed that
everyone got what they wanted but I am both shocked at the
way the students in this building acted and completely and
utterly surprised that the school board gave in like they did. I
have never taken part in powder-puff and never planned to. I
didn’t sign the petition and I did not take part in the sit-in. I
felt that the students in the sit-in should of been given fines,
detentions, or ISS because if you actually look at what they
did; they were skipping class. If I skipped homeroom and
first period on any other day I’d be handed a detention or
ISS.
Okay, you got what you wanted? Congratulations,
because this will probably be last one we ever have.
What color are your sweatpants? Make sure you
have your cute little nickname on the back. Wear it with
pride because you know that the seniors always win, because obviously they are capable of scoring… TOUCHDOWNS.
Page 20
OPINIONS
Black Friday Madness
By Trevor Rosato
the pattern of other years, parents were out getting their
kids the latest in gaming, clothes, and all those happy
goodies to toss under the tree.
It’s the day after Thanksgiving; you’re tired of eating
turkey, and you’re in the
mood to shop. Well, so are
thousands of other people!
Black Friday shopping this year, though not as bad as past
years, was still hectic and full of the usual rush. Just how
exactly would I know what happened on Black Friday?
Black Friday always has those who do a little business-like thinking and buy the sharply discounted items,
and then later sell them online for the average price. So
why such the big rush? The day after Thanksgiving happens to be the opening of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Is Black Friday really the busiest day of the
shopping season? Truth is not always; usually Black Friday falls somewhere around fifth or tenth place. The busiI was there…for eight and a half hours. That’s right est day of shopping actually falls on the Saturday before
Christmas. So if you missed Black Friday and have some
readers, eight hours spent at Lycoming Mall on Friday,
starting at 8:00 a.m., and finally drawing to a close at 4:30 crazy need to be in a shopping frenzy, grab your wallet,
pile into the car, and head to the nearest mall on the Saturp.m.
day before Christmas to get the full Black Friday experiThis year’s top hit list was, of course, Guitar Hero ence…again.
III: Legends of Rock. Another big hit this year that caused
fights among costumers was the Xbox 360: Elite. Following
Jimmy’s Movie Review: Fred Claus
By James Smith
Santa Claus makes
his way all across the globe
the night before Christmas.
Single handedly, he delivers
presents to all the little good
boys and girls in a mere 24
hours. Good Old Saint Nick
is simply an amazing man, but his older brother Fred
(Vince Vaughn) seems to think otherwise. Fred Claus
grew up playing second fiddle to his younger brother.
Growing up with Santa Claus (Paul Giamatti) obviously
would be a hard task, since young Santa Claus always
donated his personal belongings to charity and other
places. No matter what good deeds Fred would do, his
younger brother would manage to out-shine his older
brother. The story then takes place in the present, and
Fred Claus is a slightly bitter man. Fred lives with the constant reminder that his brother is the better person, and
because of this, Fred despises Christmas. Fred is like a
cross between
Scrooge and the Grinch. Fred spends most of his
time trying to make a profit from “get rich quick schemes.”
Fred eventually gets the idea of opening a casino in Chicago, but there is one slight problem. He needs about
$50,000 dollars to start up his casino, and he turns to his
younger brother to get a loan. Fred has to go to the North
Pole to work for the 50 grand. Spending time with your
family over the holidays can make any person a little crazy,
and Fred has to spend time with his judgmental parents,
and of course, Santa. But that is not the only problem,
Santa’s elves are way behind their “toy quota”, and they
are also under scrutiny from the efficiency agent Clyde
(Kevin Spacey), who is attempting to shut down Santa’s
operation. Fred Claus has a unique plot that gives an interesting take on growing up with Santa.
The plot of the movie does a nice job of making it
interesting enough for adults, while still maintaining a plot
Continued on page 21
OPINIONS
Page 21
Lily’s Movie Review: Awake
By: Lily O’Shaughnessy
Imagine, laying
in an operating room,
being prepped for a serious, yet life-changing,
operation. The Anesthesiologist comes along,
and pumps the “drug”
into your system. Unfortunately, every year, over 20,000
patients go under the knife, but 700 of these patients do not
receive enough anesthetic to put them fully under. This phenomenon is known as Anesthesia Awareness.
reveal their affair to his mother, she feels betrayed, because
she’s somewhat psychotic, and does not want to accept the
fact that her son is to be
taken away from her. Did
I mention his doctor has
four, count them, four
malpractice suits against
him?
Although I don’t
want to spoil this movie
for you, but there are a lot
of twist and turns that no
one would have ever suspected, but by the end of
the movie you leave saying to yourself, “I knew it!”
(Unless you read the
Synopsis ahead of time,
and already knew about
it, like me.)
I highly suggest this movie for the plot twist. It is
truly an amazing movie, though you may think differently.
There are times where it seems the plot drags on with no
end, but by the end you will be completely engrossed in this
film.
Awake is the story of a twenty-two year old Clay
Beresford (Hayden Christensen), a charming and businesssavvy heir to a New York fortune generated by his father,
who passed away when Clay was young. This movie is fairly
“boring” until the part where he actually goes to the hospital,
and you learn about his unfortunate condition, although it is
just a set up to the rest of the movie. You would have never
guessed he had a weakening heart, and has been on a
transplant list since he was little. But due to plot twists that
you wouldn’t have thought about, Clay had been “bumped”
up on the transplant list.
After deciding to finally undergo this transplant, Dr. My rating: 4/5 stars. Over all it was very, very good. I don’t
Jack Harper (Terrence Howard) encourages Clay to marry even know. :]
his secret fiancé Sam Lockwood (Jessica Alba) who is the
Beresford’s personal assistant. When Clay finally decides to
Review: Fred Claus
Continued from pg. 20
that children can comprehend. With most movies aimed at children, the jokes and gags can seem a little juvenile. However Fred
Claus does a superb job of making the movie humorous for kids
as well as adults. One small issue is that whenever a character
makes a silly or zany movement, it is followed by a stupid cartoon
noise. The cartoon noise reminds you of something you would
hear from America’s Funniest Home Videos or some other animated show. This may seem nit-picky, but the action on screen is
humorous, so why did the editors feel the need to put an obnoxious cartoony sound that takes away from the comedy of the
movie? Also, the movie does fit the “mold” for all other Christmas
movies. What I mean by this is the movie starts with a “Scrooge
or a Grinch”, but by the end of the movie the characters find the
true meaning of Christmas. It is understandable why they choose
this for the movie, since it is after-all aimed at small children, but
many adults may feel slightly jaded from the clichéd ending.
However these are small complaints to a movie that is superb
overall. If you have to babysit a bunch of kids, then you could
take them to a film that you both would enjoy. This Christmas,
don’t say Bah Humbug to an enjoyable movie.
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Page 22
OPINIONS
Video Game Reviews
Mass Effects
By Jimmy Smith
one another. Some alien races went as far as to form a “council.”
The council is comprised of alien races that are considered to be
“key players” in galactic politics. The council acts almost like the
Holiday 2007 is
United Nations, and Humanity wants to join the council. The
perhaps the biggest time
council races feel that humanity is to belligerent and ill-equipped
for video games in the past to join the council. However the council does grant humanity the
10 years. Sony, Nintendo, ability to surrender one of their best warriors, to become an elite
and Microsoft all released Specter. The Specters are an elite task force of the council, and
major titles to capitalize on they are for the most part above the law. The council asks Com“the holiday rush.” Obvimander Sheppard to join the Specters, and the future of humanity
ously Microsoft’s heavy
and all the other races hang in the balance. In the game, you
hitters are Bioshock, Halo control Commander Sheppard. One of the best features about
3, and Mass Effect. So how does Mass Effect compare to Micro- Mass Effect is the in-depth character customization. Commander
soft’s other triple A titles? To put it simply, Mass Effect is a game Sheppard can be either gender, and can look however you decide
that 10 years from now people will still be talking about it. Mass
to create him/her. But that’s not all; you can also choose the charEffect may be one title in a very “crowded” holiday lineup, but this acter’s background and service record. In-game characters will
is one title that should not be missed.
actually respond differently to your character based solely on the
background that you chose. The character customization is topThe story of Mass Effect is perhaps the greatest story
notch, but the best thing in Mass Effect is the conversations.
ever told in a video game. The game takes place in 2183, and the
human race has discovered that they are not alone in the uniWe’ve all played games where we want nothing more
verse. Space exploration was made possible by the discovery of than to skip though the cut-scenes (cut-scenes are times in a
Mass Relays, which are “teleporters” that can transport a ship to game where you can’t control the character, so it is basically like
far off galaxies in the blink of an eye. The origins of the Mass Re- watching a movie). Make no mistake, Mass
lays are unknown, but other alien civilizations have utilized the
Continued on page 23
equipment. This caused a many of the aliens to form alliance with
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
By Steph Fleming
and Jimmy Smith
However, GH III includes a new Co-op Career
Mode, Multiplayer Battle Modes, Career Boss Battles, and
updated graphics.
So, you think you got
Many critics point out the game is not different overskill? The newest installment
all from previous installments, more specifically that the
of the Guitar Hero games,
game is without any new game play options. However, the
Guitar Hero III: Legends of
newly added battle mode in multiplayer and career add lonRock, was officially put on
gevity to a title that you’re sure to play in the long hours of
shelves in November 2007.
Guitar Hero III is the fourth game overall, and has a the night in multiple jam sessions. Battle modes may not be
lot of new additions and game play options. The basics are revolutionary, but they are nice touch to an already steadfast
the same; the player hits notes on a guitar controller to cor- (rock-solid) established title.
respond with the notes of a song shown on the screen.
Continued on page 23
OPINIONS
Page 23
Mass Effects (continued from page 22)
Effect has a ton of cut-scenes, but they are well written
and you can actually control Sheppard’s response. You can
choose to be a nice guy who will bend over backwards to help out
a civilian in need, or you can be a ruthless renegade who would
rather lie, cheat, and steal to get the job done. Depending on how
you chose to interact with other characters in the game, you could
possibly earn Paragon or Renegade points. To explain this simply, just think Paragon as good or the “light side”, whereas Renegade is bad or the “dark side of the force.” The ending of the
game actually depends on what choice you made throughout the
game. Some of today’s video games are criticized for having plot
development as an afterthought, but the makers of Mass Effect
obviously put a lot of thought into the story, and believe me-- it
shows. Mass Effect sets the bar for story- telling in not only video
games, but also for all other types of media.
Obviously the story is mesmerizing, but the game-play
and graphics also never fail to impress. Mass Effect is one of the
best looking Xbox-360 games, even though it occasionally has its
glitches. The glitches in Mass Effect are not enough to ruin the
experience, but sometimes you will watch a character do something really abnormal or strange. However the glitches in Mass
Effect are on the same level with most RPGs (role-playing games)
like The Elder Scrolls Four: Oblivion or other large games. The
glitches that occur in Mass Effect include the occasional framerate slowdown or the occasional clipping issue. Like I previously
stated, if you played through games like Oblivion or BioShock,
then these glitches will not seem new to you, and you will never
feel that they detract from the amazing experience you get from
playing Mass Effect.
Mass Effect’s game play is nothing revolutionary. It
seems to incorporate the tactical-shooter aspects of Ghost Recon, but it also incorporates Biotics, which are like Force
Continued on page 24
Guitar Hero III (continued from page 22)
Steph’s Review: 4.5 Out of 5 Stars
After playing several of the Guitar Hero titles, I am impressed with GH III. Most remakes of games, movies, etc. turn
out to be repetitious and inane; like you’re playing the same game
under a different title. GH III blows the competition out of the waoutPreviously mentioned career mode has not changed ter with amazing game play and
standing audio and video quality.
It
drastically from previous titles. The graphics in the game are was so worth the 80 bucks. Rock
on!
by no means stellar, but why would you need shiny graphics
when you’re more focused on the fret board?
On the audio side of things, GH III managed to get Jimmy’s Review: 4 Out of 5 Stars
good covers on some hard to find master tracks. If you have
played any of the other Guitar Hero titles, you’ll recognize
Guitar Hero III is much like comfort food…only you won’t
the Red Octane’s emphasis on making the audio quality as
get
fat
from
playing this game. GH III offers nothing new to an
amazing as seen live.
Chances are that you have played the Guitar Hero
games before, and nothing in GH III will overly shock or surprise you. This may sound like a scathing criticism but that is
one of the reasons GH III is such a great game; just like
AC/DC, the makers of Guitar Hero found their sound and
they’re stickin’ to it.
already great franchise, and I personally don’t blame them for
seeing the need to “re-invent the wheel.” If you enjoyed the previous Guitar Hero titles then chances are you will like this game. If
you are on the fence about getting this game, then you should
perhaps look at Rock Band, which promises to let you live out
your rock and roll fantasies by forming a band with all of your buddies. Remember, most things need more cow-bell, but GH III is
not one of them.
Page 24
OPINIONS
Kylie’s Music Review: A Stained Glass Romance
By Kylie Starr
Every Time I Die, Atreyu, Hatebreed, Bleeding Through, Job
for a Cowboy, and Norma Jean. The energy put into their
“Brad Pitt, Two Four Let- stage presence is extraordinary. With their trademark
ter Words I Don’t Mind,” thumbs up in the air, you may see lead singer Scott Cowan
is a song written by the
up on stage with green skimpy short-shorts and cowboy
five piece band, A
boots…but as said by him, that is only done at the Ritz in
Stained Glass Romance. Muncy.
The song shows off
drummer Alex Tragedy’s
ASGR released their first recording in 2003, The
fascination with Brad Pitt’s “good looks”. I had the chance to Most Hated Ep, on Four Leaf Recordings. Songs like “Hurts
hang out with these guys before and after their show at the Worse with a Spoon,” and “Sixty-Six Bound Malibu,” proRitz with some good friends. This metalcore/hardcore band duced a solid stepping stone for their fan base. The Rofrom Charlotte, North Carolina has been touring for the past mance Revival, ASGR’s most recent 2006 album, shows
their ability to write uncompromising lyrics and concrete hartwo years across the United States, gaining fans and well
deserved respect for their amazing breakdowns. Their mu- monies. This album shows how the band has grown and
sic is sure to create movement on the dance floor, whether it improved as a group. The Romance
is two-stepping or intense warfare in the pit.
A Stained Glass Romance has shared the stage
with bands such as Underoath, Between the Buried and Me,
Continued on page 25
Mass Effects
(continued from page 23)
Powers from Star Wars. The great thing about Mass Effect is you
can determine how the game will play. For example, at the beginning of the game you can select a “class.” The class simply gives
certain skills to the player. You can choose to play through as a
soldier, utilizing squad commands and relying on your gun to do
the talking. Or you could choose an engineer who can hack enemy robots and other synthetics. If you choose a Biotic specialist,
then you could use powers such as throw and lift to inflict damage
on the multitude of enemies in the game. Obviously, the more
enemies you kill, or more activities you perform, you gain XP. XP
is experience points, and you can use them to upgrade your character into a war machine. This process is often referred to as
“leveling up”, and it has been the staple for RPGs for years. You
can choose what skills you want to focus on, or you can simply
choose to “auto-level”. Auto-Leveling simply chooses what skills
and tactics you use in combat, and it will distribute the XP based
on your tendencies. The great thing about Mass Effect is its user
friendliness; you can choose to get involved and upgrade your
character to a war machine that you desire, or you can leave the
computer choose for you. Mass Effect’s game play is not revolutionary, but it is well polished and simply a blast to play.
On the audio side of things, Mass Effect is amazing. The
sound effects and gunshots all sound remarkably well, but the
best example of Mass Effect’s great audio is the voice acting. The
voice acting in Mass Effect is so superb and involved that sometimes you will forget that you are playing a game, since the characters seem and sound so real. The musical score is also good.
The musical score in the game is almost like “techno”. When I say
techno, don’t panic; it is not that stuff that you here blaring at a
“rave”. The music in Mass Effect fits the futuristic setting of the
game, and incorporates techno that does not make your ears
bleed. That has got to be an industry first.
To sum it up, Mass Effect is an amazing game. Mass
Effect simply sets the bar very high for any new RPG, or any
game for that matter. Mass Effect manages to do what few video
games can; when you stop playing Mass Effect, you are still thinking about the characters and the plot. Throughout Mass Effect,
you are tasked with making choices that will affect the ending of
the game. These choices are always hard to make, since there is
no clear-cut right choice. However the only wrong choice you can
make is deciding to not get Mass Effect. If you own an Xbox-360,
you owe it to yourself to pick up Mass Effect. Mass Effect easily
scores a perfect five out of five score.
OPINIONS
Page 25
Review: A Stained Glass Romance
(continued from page 24)
Revival and the past years touring has made ASGR’s
awareness of their existence magnify significantly.
Although their line-up has switched up, the music
has stayed heavy and cut-throat, just like what they are
known for. The two original members are lead vocalist,
Scott Cowan, and guitarist, Justin Campbell. Three of the
newest members are drummer, Alex “Tragedy” Kalaidjian,
bassist, Brian Leebrick, and Josh Taddeo on guitar.
Keep an eye out for ASGR on their upcoming
Christmas tour. These guys are laid back and chill guys to
talk and hangout with, not to mention make incredible
music.
ASGR has
their music
posted on
sites such
as
PureVolume
and
MySpace. A
Stained
Glass Romance, the band from the dirty south, will without doubt get
you off your feet and up on the dance floor with two thumbs
Lily’s Music Review: Foo Fighters
By: Lily O’Shaughnessy
band and was replaced by Franz Stahl. He too left after having “creative differences” with Grohl.
If you don’t know who
Dave Grohl is, then I
don’t know what to tell
you other than I suggest
you do a large background check. Dave
Grohl first started out in the “little” band known as Nirvana,
playing drums. He played with Nirvana for four years, until
Kurt Cobain’s untimely death in 1994. And if you’re a fan of
Tenacious D, then I’m sure you’ve seen “Tenacious D and
The Pick of Destiny,” in which Dave Grohl happens to
play/voice the Devil. Yeah, I didn’t believe it either. I had to
go back to “Beezleboss,” and re-watch that whole scene,
until I could tell it was him. But this isn’t just about Dave
Grohl (as much as I would like it to be about him), it’s about
the Foo Fighters.
Entering the studio for a second time, but without a
guitarist, took its toll on the
band. Chris Shiflett was
hired to play as a touring
guitarist, but eventually
joined the band as a fulltime member towards the
band’s fourth album.
Seven years later,
the Foo Fighters have created three of their most
known records, “One by
One,” “In Your Honor,” and
the most recent, “Echoes,
Silence, Patience and Grace.”
The newest record holds
the hit single, “Pretender.”
Forming in 1995, Foo Fighters first came upon the
music industry during the post-grunge era in Seattle, Washington. Their first album, “The Colour and the Shape,” was
recorded a year later, when conflict erupted between Grohl
and drummer, William Goldsmith. The famous singles that
were released of this album was, “My Hero,” and “Monkey
Wrench.” Later that year, guitarist Pat Smear also left the
Though having gone through many members, Foo
Fighters have never failed to “bring the thunder” and continued to create amazing albums, with just as amazing hits. I
suggest just getting every Foo Fighters’ CD ever made, well
… only from “One-by-One” and on.
Page 26
OPINIONS
MySpace: A Threat to Kids?
By: Mariah Sortman
The normal
view in any teen’s home
is seeing them surrounded by friends with
a controller in their
hands or their fingers
moving ceaselessly over a keyboard. Kids today spend
most of their time on MySpace or Facebook. This has parents today worried to the point they forbid their child to have
a MySpace. Some parents have also blocked the forbidden
website. But is the Internet really the culprit? Or is lack of
education the true reason for the parent’s fear?
cannot voice what I feel. It is easier for me to write what I
feel than talk about something the English language cannot
describe easily. And setting bulletins is easy because you
can copy and paste and it is sent to all your friends at once
in five minutes at most. Would you choose five minutes or
calling/writing all your friends? I pick bulletins. MySpace is
no threat to me because I would only add my friends I already have; I have no need making more friends. I don’t
spend one day with a total stranger which is what you are
basically
doing when you add a total stranger. That person
The main worry with parents and MySpace is their
child will be harassed by a stranger or worse. They say no can view your entire profile when you click that Approve
without thinking that MySpace may be a good thing for their button.
child. They don’t think to educate their child about Internet
MySpace is just as safe as sending your child to
safety. If the parents would educate their child, the parents school. If you worry about strangers, school has just as
would have no reason to fear for their child’s “safety”.
many and your kid can talk to that person face-to-face.
MySpace’s motto is “a place for friends” for a reason. A normal child adds only people they know. If all children would do that, the parents wouldn’t have to worry
about harassment. MySpace is a safe haven if the child
uses it properly.
MySpace is safe with education and a listening ear. Your
child can find relief and some fun on MySpace.
Teens today have their hobbies and releases.
MySpace is one of them. Yet you say no to your kid having
one. Isn’t it time you listen to your kids instead of controlling
MySpace is a blessing for some kids. I hate talking them?
to people, even my friends at times, because I
What was the HIGHLIGHT of your year?
“Bomb threats.”
-Ben Lorson (12)
“The waiting period before we
go out to court before basketball.”
“They kept the
chicken patties at
lunch.”
- Megan Stevenson (12)
- Jes Williams (11)
“Starting fresh and ridding myself of past relationships.”
- Emily Sweely (12)
OPINIONS
Staff
Editors in Chief: Steph Fleming & Steph Smith
News Editor: Megan Frank
Features Editor: Candi Chopick
Sports Editor: Evan Bletz
Opinion Editor: Shana Rhine
Photo Editor: Katie Sprague
Advanced Staff Reporters: Dylan Arblaster, Lesli
Cuebas, Sveta Hinaman, Macey McBryan, Chelsea
Moore, Kirsten Morse, Lily O’Shaughnessy, Trevor
Pool, Rachel Rippey, Trevor Rosato, Marlena
Schuster, Morgan Sheddy, James Smith, Mariah
Sortman, Kylie Starr, Skyler Wool, Kaylyn Yost
Introduction Staff: Eric Budd, Emily Cook, Samantha
Englert, Taryn Fioretti, Courtney Kaelin, William
Miller, Ashley Perchinski, Jack Stewart, Ashley
Weaver, Cassandra Weymouth, Alexander Hines.
Production Staff: Nathan Baer, Jessica Burkhart,
Clarence Dishong, Kayla Enders, Jordan Fischer,
Anna Jodon, Nathan Koon, Ronald Marshall, Patrick
McRoberts, Mason Nichols, Anna Rogers, James
Shoemaker, Nicholas Stabley, Larry Tompkins,
Robert Weaver, Kelli Ochoa
Page 27
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and/or offering solutions to problems are encouraged.
By: Shana Rhine
Happy Holidays from the 2007-08 Paw Print Staff