THE
BLAZER FLUSHING HIGH SCHOOL’S INDEPENDENT VOICE
VOLUME 64 ISSUE 3 FEB COVER.indd 1
FEBRUARY 2015 2/12/2015 1:20:40 PM
Contents Leelah’s Legacy
10. 11. 12. 14. 15. 16. 17. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 25. 26. 27. 28. 30. 31.
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e apologize to Hannah Gossel for stating that she is a freshman. She is, infact, a sophomore. Also, Ms. Byrski would like a clarification on her name.
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Editor-in-Chief Copy Editor Advertising Manager News Editor Features Editor Sports Editor Opinions Editor People Editor Arts/Entertainment Editor Photography Editor Business Operations Information Editor Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor Contributor Advisor
Safety from the snow PC Gaming Winter Blahs The United Socialist States of America Just A Thought Crossfire Feminism Where are they now? Classic V. Contemperary views on education Mr. Karwat; The new king in town A Deep, Conflicted Writer Catfished! Weird History; Comic Strip Q&A The Most Common Disorder You’ve Never Heard Of Games Birdman; American Sniper Toy Story 4 How not to do satire American Beauty/American Psycho Review; Under the Never Sky Review Feel free to contact The Blazer Lacrosse? Lacrosse. any member of Flushing High School The Blazer if you Should College Athletes Be Paid? 5039 Deland Road
Corrections
2.
Crissy Mendoza Phoenix Prevett Andrew Roth Ben Wright Tori Young James Napier Chloe Peter Jeff Betz Ethan Dupuis Kaylee Cornell Malyq Catron Myles Siglin Kay Kostoff Izzy Dubbin Maddison Nelson Amber Patterson Andie Boulton Emily Beutler Hannah Miners Courtni Jones Emily Peterson Carol Rishmawi Jay Emory Brea Hickey Joe Dakki Brad Zedo David McGregor
Contact us
4. 5. 6. 8. 9.
Staff
have questions or Flushing, MI 48433 comments. We are (810) 591- 3826 located in room david.mcgregor@flush100 during 5th ingschools.org hour. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Names will be withheld on request, but unsigned letters will not be printed. Letters may be edited for spelling and obscenities.
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
CONTENTS 2/25/2015 10:01:29 AM
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Blazer editorial policy
he Blazer strives to achieve the highest standards of journalism. It is our goal to inform, to persuade, and to entertain our readers and to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas. We will provide balanced and fair reporting of topics of interest to our readers and commnity. Libel, invasion of privacy and disruption of the educational process will be avoided. The Blazer will not disparage any individual or group and will seek to treat all people fairly. The Staff Editorial is the opinion of the Editorial Board of The Blazer. It is not necessarily the opinion of the faculty, administration or student body of Flushing High School or Flushing Community Schools. The Blazer is proudly affiliated with the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) and Quill and Scroll, the International Honorary Society for High School Journalists.
Cover picture
Photo taken by Haylie Ryan
Swimmers from schools throughout the area competed on January 17th for the annual Genesee County Meet at Fenton High School. Pictured above, second from the front, James Napier prepares to swim the 100-meter breaststroke final. Our team placed 2nd among 11 other teams, their best finish in years.
CONTENTS Letter from the Editor New.indd 1
I
Letter from the editor
f you are one of the lucky people who can say that they can talk to their family about events and problems going on in your life, joke around with them, and have family dinners regularly, be grateful for that. Please. I know it’s preached all over all the time that you should never take your family for granted but you don’t quite understand what it means until you realize how little other people have. There are many people out there, even in our own school that would do so much to have that to go home to every day. The Mendoza family dynamic isn’t one that is common in many households. I live with my aunt and uncle. They were kind enough to raise my older brother, Bryan, and me when our mom passed away 12 years ago. Their kids are all grown and living in Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado with kids of their own. We aren’t the closest family but when we all get together it’s nonstop laughter…and eating. My aunt and uncle are great people. As I have mentioned, they took in my brother and me without a second thought. I’m sure over the years we’ve done things to make them second guess themselves but nonetheless, here I am. They both work so hard in different ways to give me a good life and mold me into a good person. She is always the voice of reason and, as she is always reminding me, is always right. My uncle is a doctor. Enough said, right? He is awake in the morning when I am and comes home when I’m getting ready for bed. I can never repay them for everything they have done for me. When I think of where I fit in with my family, I don’t quite know where I belong. About two years ago now, my family was all together for Christmas and decided we wanted to get some group pictures taken. We didn’t know when the next time we would all be together so we wanted to take advantage of the situation. The photographer was placing everyone in their rightful spots, kids next to their parents and everyone centered around my aunt and uncle; the heads of the family. I was the very last one to get put in the frame. The worker asked me, “Now who do you belong with?” That one question hit me like a brick wall. I didn’t know. It took me a few seconds to regain my composure until I finally muttered something about spacing and slid into an empty spot. Most teenagers love the thought of being left home alone for a long period of time. Yes, it’s a nice change of pace, but let me tell you, it gets real old real fast. To be able to walk through the door and be greeted by someone other than your dog. To have dinner at the table surrounded by loved ones and laughter instead of some empty chairs and silence. Those are the things you start to crave around the second week. Around the one month mark, the silence really starts to get to you. You find that you truly miss the people who are supposed to love you unconditionally. Please don’t take your families for granted. Go home today and sit down for an hour or two and just talk with your mom. Ask your dad about his high school days. Go outside and play something, anything, with your brother. You’ll find that you wish you had when you can’t.
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
3.
2/25/2015 10:01:21 AM
acy
g Leelah’s Le Written
ett
rev P x i n e o h by: P
Days before the turn of the new year, Leelah Alcorn — a self-identifying female transgender teen — took her own life.
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t 17 years old, Leelah Alcorn prepared a suicide note in the queue of her personal tumblr blog where she explained her innermost feelings and described her struggle after coming out to her family. In her last letter, she wrote that she “felt like a girl trapped in a boy’s body” and has felt that way ever since she was 4. She suffered internally nearly her entire childhood, not knowing that there was a word for how she felt or that a boy could even become a girl; as she stated in her note. She goes on to speak about how she learned what transgenderism was in her early teens, and how ecstatic she was to finally understand who she was. Leelah accounts that upon telling her mother, there was a very harsh and negative reaction. Her parents pulled her from school and generally isolated her from a social life, and also put her through conversion therapy. She states that she didn’t receive the aid she needed in her struggle with depression, as her therapists all expressed very outright Christian beliefs and were biased against her choice to pursue the life she was intended to. In her last testament, Leelah expressed that she felt she would never be truly happy. She believed that she wouldn’t ever be able to have a successful transition, and that she would never be happy with how she looked or sounded. As heart wrenching as it is, Leelah truly believed that there was nothing for her. A direct excerpt from her letter states: “There’s no winning. There’s no way out. I’m sad enough already, I don’t need my life to get any worse.
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. . . It gets worse. Each day I get worse.” Leelah’s closing statement included her wish to donate the entirety of her legal property, as well as every cent in her bank account, to trans civil rights movements and support groups. She wanted her death to mean something, and it surely did. Almost immediately after her passing had been reported and her letter was posted, multiple social media platforms were bursting with supporters of Leelah and all who suffer the same struggle she did. Many brought attention to the fact that her parents, her school, and the local news stations continuously misgendered her, as well as referred to her as Joshua even though she openly identified as Leelah and as the Alcorn’s daughter. Devoted to Leelah, an online petition known as “Leelah’s Law” has been enacted to ban transgender conversion therapy and has 328,000+ supporters so far with just over 171,000 more supporters needed to have this petition sent to President Barack Obama. Leelah was one of the 30 to 40 percent of LGBTQ youth to attempt or commit suicide. All too often when a teen expresses their sexuality, parents aren’t accepting of it and even resort to abuse, neglect, abandonment or try to force heterosexuality upon their child. If anyone is struggling with coming out or feels lost, talk to someone. Know that no matter who you love, your life matters. The number for the national LGBTQ youth hotline is 1-800246-7743 and is a toll-free number.
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
NEWS
2/24/2015 12:45:47 PM
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Safety From the Snow By: Maddison Nelson
chool administrators, and other officials are influenced when making the decision of having a snow day or powering through Michigan’s wicked weather. The school is allowed to have six snow days before having to extend the school year. This six day policy can cloud one’s judgment. Of course no one, and I mean no one, wants the school year to go longer into summer break. Not canceling school for bad weather could be the answer, but it shouldn’t be. When the decision is made to have school, even with horrible road conditions, it is dangerous to everyone. There are many new and young drivers that drive to school everyday, of course being careful is the best thing to do, but sometimes it’s not enough. Even experienced drivers have a hard time with these tretorus Michigan roads. Just a few weeks ago on February the 4th, a Flushing school bus went into a ditch by the corner of Amelia Road. Karla Marion told NBC25 news, “Our kids were put at risk. There is no way a bus should have been down here, our streets have not been plowed.” Calling a snow day with the appropriate conditions is crucial to student’s safety during below freezing temperatures and horrible roads.
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2/18/2015 1:13:08 PM
Console Gaming is a Joke By Myles Siglin Or,
F
Why you should sell yours now.
rom Sega vs. Nintendo and Atari vs. Colecovision, the debate on the best video game system has gone on for nearly half a century. Today, with the Xbox One, Playstation 4, and Wii U, you have more options than ever before. One choice often escapes the mind of those who are looking for the best platform. PC gaming is the overall cheaper, more open, and objectively superior platform. To begin, the overall cost of PC gaming is lower. At the start, an average entry level PC is about $600 including the cost of Windows, at around $100. If you forgo the operating system (OS)and use a free one like the various versions of Linux, you will be looking at an overall price of about $500, using components like the newest Intel processors and AMD graphics cards. Scan the QR code for a listing of the parts. These components can outperform the “new” consoles for only a slightly higher price. This increase quickly becomes irrelevant when you take into account the discounts available for games on the platform. Great games, like Team Fortress 2 and League of Legends, are completely free. In addition, many times during the year, the major distributors, like Steam, Good Old Games (GOG), and Humble Bundle engage in giant sales, with discounts of up to 90% on major titles and releases. Couple this with the fact that the average PC game, on release, is about $10 cheaper, and the lack of a paid subscription for online services, and you have saved yourself some serious cash over the consoles. In addition, the platform is much more open to user customization. You can use any manner of input devices, from the standard keyboard and mouse to the console controllers to advanced flightsticks for flying game. The chips and bytes that make up the PC are upgradeable as well. You can change your computer’s parts to get better performance and graphical capability whenever you want to, not the console corporations. Also more open is the software, or programs and applications, that you can use. Operating systems, like Windows, allow the
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user experience you want. Similarly, you can modify your games to make the game experience you want. From adding new content and graphical improvements to adding multiplayer support in a years old game in the case of Just Cause 2, you can get exactly what you want. Nearly all PC games ever released can be played on a modern computer. Similarly, there are not only more games, but better exclusive games to the PC platform, like the ever fun Civilization and the innovative survival game DayZ. A jewel among the crown of PC gaming is the groundbreaking Star Citizen. Arguably the most beautiful game in recent years, it has a budget of over $69 million, incredible for an independent title without the support of a major studio. Finally, gaming on a PC leads to overall higher frame rates and graphical quality. Entry level gaming computers, like the build suggested in this article, are able to run games in a better way than the “next-gen” consoles. One of the most popular titles for the Xbox One was Titanfall, a futuristic shooter with giant robots. It was praised on Metacritic with a score of 86. Many consider it a reason to purchase an Xbox One, a foolish choice considering that it is also available on PC. On the Xbox version, it runs at 792p, which is less than full HD, at an average of 57 fps. On PC, it can easily achieve 1080p, true HD, at 60 fps, considered the standard for modern gaming. The modding community has also improved the quality of older games. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, among one of the most immersive and beautiful games of all time, has been modified to near perfection, with some calling it better than real life. Also amazing is the conversion of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowwind into the Skyrim game engine, allowing the enjoyment of that game with the graphics and benefits of a newer base. All in all, you can’t go wrong with PC gaming.
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
OPINIONS
2/24/2015 1:10:00 PM
These images are from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, with the top representing a heavily modded game playable on the listed build, and the bottom represents the PC version running at settings similar to the console versions.
Courtesy of Andy Todd
Courtesy of PikeCZek
This image is an in game screenshot of Star Citizen, playable in the highest resolution currently possible, 5K.
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FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
7.
2/24/2015 1:10:02 PM
Monotony Plagues Mid-Michigan Age 15 Ailment Blahs
t ible Ailments; Acute stress disorder, sleep depriva- Heigh tion,deh tion, PMS CadreTreatments; Medydra h este Healt Sugg ication, therapy, plenty of
fluids
Peter, Chloe
From the Desk of Dr. WebMD n ptoms; Irrita 24-Hour Clinic RegistratioSym bility, fatigue, decreased performance ht eig W in abil ities Name Chloe Marie Peter Poss
r all, everyone’s caught uld go to school. It’s contagious afte sho I if w kno ’t don I ill. l fee y to drag I Comments; don’t want to get out of bed onl we s day se tho , ling fee the w r, but there is no it, even the teachers. We all kno It’s halfway through the school yea ks. des our on in aga ep asle H, fall ourselves to school and ating against Ben Wright in APUS deb ts, cer con tra hes orc for ge sta k pedestrian. I end in sight. Rushing around bac miracle of life is now unbearably ful uti bea the , Yes e. tin rou e om even writing this has bec d-Michiam a victim of the blahs. t wait it out here in drab, dark Mi jus lly ica typ I so hs bla the for e There is no known cur itself routine; it sets ona. The boredom afflicting me is cel Bar or , Rio l, nbu Ista of poping gan when I’m dream idays, and continues to plague the hol the for es sid sub efly bri , ber n, and wait in during the early days of Novem us simply bundle up, hunker dow of st Mo x. ino equ ing spr the il l. ulation of the Midwest unt frozenness that is Michigan’s soi ked pac d har the m fro e erg em ss to of brainfor the first hopeful shoots of gra is has led me an intense session Th y). ilit itab (irr ng eri suff s thi by mance). Thus, I’ve But I’m tired of and annoyed lded no results (decreased perfor yie ly ate tun for un ich wh es, edi storming possible rem knowledge; Google more vitamin D. consulted the worldwide pillar of c Currents, a site that suggested thi opa tur Na to me led ngs eri My digital wand n from sunlight, more vitamin D ski the by ed orb abs is it e aus n” bec m with the Nicknamed “the sunshine vitami system. There is just one proble ne mu im my and ns, ctio fun honestly, I’m tired will improve mood, cognitive s of vitamin D include dairy, but rce sou her Ot ne. shi sun of k lac sunshine vitamin, the of warm milk. takes called enough (fatigue) without a glass Oddly Said, is entering in a sweeps led cal te bsi we a by rd wa for put s Another solution, such goodies are tempting, minor er oth and s um alb tar gui ic ust aco Vegas). And Bloggy Giveaway. While offers of tion.com suggested a trip to Las Na oys odb Go es, lin e sam the t website looked aren’t allowed to enter (along monotony? More to the point, tha for e cur a lly rea ise and rch me are hopes of unneeded and pulling out sort of Nigerian prince-ish. packing away my winter clothes ed pos pro es Tim rg sbu tty Ge of Beth Baker of the but is it really practical this time far, s thu ers oth the n tha n tio ges ”, I don’t my spring wardrobe. A better sug the chills. And a “spring wardrobe of e cas a n tha hs bla the of e cas a have a “wardrobe” year? I mean, I’d rather have ng but it seems most people just wro I’m if me ct rre Co . ans me t even know what tha hniques. nd varying slightly in layering tec rou r yea ar we y the s the clo advice. Rachel of consisting I turned to fellow classmates for r) eve e tim t firs the r (fo me ed After Google fail olved in winter activities like sled inv g tin get ted ges sug and son sea te last year on Hennike claims winter is her favori after colliding with a snowmobile ry wa am but , try ld cou I g. tin ding, snowboarding, and ska ak a ski outing. le, achieving nothing. That may spe circ a in n itte wr ly ess ntl poi e hav I Persephone, It seems that in this piece to seasonal monotony. Maybe, like edy rem no is re the s hap per I hs, to the nature of the bla k, and in the dull for all eternity. dar the in d, col the in r yea h eac of iance of I am doomed to spend a portion ber the majesty of the sky, the rad em rem and e ctiv spe per my r alte suppose all there is to do is greenery. the sun, and the vividness of the
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FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
OPINIONS 2/26/2015 3:41:40 PM
The (W)Right Report: T he Un ite d S o c i a l ist St ate s of Ame r i c a
By: Ben Wright
Please Note: This is a made up story with a political message attacking President, or Supreme Leader, Obama’s policies. The views within this piece are not shared by The Blazer. fter years of being called a Communist by his More evidence of his communist ideas is harshest critics, President Obama has become a the passage of Obamacare. Government mandate full-blown Communist dictator. He has taken complete healthcare, either buy or get fined. Universal Healthcare control of the government, even renaming our country is a communist idea implemented by the Soviet Union the United Socialist States of America. The Blazer in 1918 that was brought here to America in 2010 and asked for a response from Supreme Leader about why the main force behind it was Barack Obama. When he decided to take over the the American people voted for government and become a Obama in 2008, he was a symbol dictator. Unfortunately, we for hope and change during haven’t been able to contact our a dark time in America. He’s Red House Correspondent, as eliminated the American peoples he has not been answering his hope, and brought the change of phone nor emails. However, government crowning himself the government run news Supreme Leader of the United station, MSNBC, has received Socialist States of America. All a direct message from the we can do now is pray, which Supreme Leader and have is now being sanctioned, and learned that Supreme Leader hope one day America will once Obama has vowed to sanction again change, but that time will Photo from www.PatriotStatesmen.com religion, press, and free speech. He hopefully be for the better. has also vowed to burn the United States Constitution, Supreme Leader Obama has turned our and write the “Let’s-Not-Offend-Anyone, Make-Sure- country upside down, destroying American culture, Climate-Change-is-Writtengovernment, and families in-72-point-font,-bolded, with the implementation of and-italicized-puns-instead his signature healthcare law, of-guns-and-Obamacare-or the Affordable Care Act or Die” Constitution. Obamacare. Instead of families There was evidence wondering what movie they’ll supporting the claim of see Friday night, they’re now Supreme Leader Obama being wondering if they’ll have a Communist from when he food on their table. Supreme ran for President in 2008. He Leader Obama’s policies that had connections with many American haters, including were supposed to bring change to America have taken his own pastor, and when he was a child many of his change from American’s pockets. mentors were on the Communist watch list. President When Supreme Leader Obama decides to retire, Obama announced many executive actions, completely Vice President and fellow Marxist, Hillary Clinton will ignoring the directly elected Congress pleads not too. take over. She has already vowed to increase taxes to Actions he took included allowing Democratic voting pay for a divorce lawyer and she feels 70% of every illegal immigrants from Mexico and South America to taxpayer’s income isn’t giving their fair share for all the become citizens, and making sure America is protected hard work she does. from climate change.
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Opinions
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FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
9.
2/25/2015 10:13:44 AM
Just a Th ought
nd a y e n s i D On y c a r c o m e D
by Chloe Peter Dear Flushing, A preface for my masculine readers; there are some things nearly all first-world females have in common, not good things, but that’s how society and genetics have shaped us. 1) a near constant craving for chocolate. 2) a permanent lack of satisfaction with one’s hair. 3),The hardest for you XYs to understand*, a soft spot for that elite, long haired, singing, sisterhood; Disney Princesses. That’s why it is a crime for Disney to have set such a dismal standard for today’s girls and tomorrow’s women. If we only look skin deep, the Disney Princesses appear to be a diverse group, representing Caucasians, African Americans, East Asians, Native Americans, Middle Easterners, and Merpeople. They come from various classes and cultures. I can see the admirable traits young girls could learn from the Princess franchise; staying true to one’s self, strength in the face of hardship, and a devotion to small woodland critters. But, by now, you know that we at The Blazer strive to look further into everything, and in that spirit, here is the homogenous truth surrounding Disney’s leading ladies. Disney’s commercial royalty shares several, less than ideal traits, that don’t seem to fit into the modern world. No, I’m not talking about the fact that they seem to only have a sense of identity after meeting a strong-jawed boy who they then rush to marry. No, not the fact that they willingly submit to wearing cumbersome skirts and corsets (judging by their unrealistic willowliness). No, I don’t care about the slew of historical inaccuracies, such as Mulan’s lack of bound feet. Not even the disturbing pattern that most of the queens of cartoons come from broken families unwilling to move on from previous losses (i.e. the myriad of stepmoms not welcomed warmly by said princesses) or accept their daughter’s choices, notably Cinderella’s choice to attend the ball. Honestly, all of those faults seem petty when a heavier issue dominates
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Disney and delays progress; the title “Princess” itself. Has it occurred to you, beloved Flushing, that every single Disney Princess is either born into royalty, marries into royalty, or is a model citizen under an absolute monarchy? How outdated! Today, there are only eight total monarchies: Bahrain, Brunei, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, the United Arab Emirates, and the Vatican, according to Wikipedia. That is just 8 out of about 196 officially recognized nations. The amount of countries in the world is hard to determine, with borders frequently shifting and some governments not acknowledging each other, but one thing is certain; a micro minority of royals in the world who actually rule. Is that the example we want to set for the women of the future, that the only way to get power is to be born to it or marry someone who was? Isn’t America the land where people rose up against a monarchy and set the bar for a world where people are born equal and can achieve anything so long as they have a vision and the willingness to work hard to make that vision a reality? I suppose these were the ideals the Land of the Free was founded on, but it has since become the Land of Girls Aspiring to be a Princess, an empty title proving you have nothing to show for your life save for birth or marriage .That, sweet readers, is why I propose a line of Disney Judges and Disney Congresswomen, leading to of Disney Presidents. Come on Flushing, show your daughters that they can be powerful women without a crown and change the world through the power of democracy! All my love, Chloe *Ben Wright, upon editing this, confessed to a childhood fondness of Cinderella and then our very own Mr. McGregor admitted to enjoying Beauty and the Beast. Apologies for any gender-related stereotypes.
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
OPINIONS
2/12/2015 1:13:56 PM
CROSSFIRE
Can True Love be Found in High School
Personally, I feel that you cannot find true love in high school, at least not anymore. What I mean by that is, yes your grandparents might be married for over 35 years and while they may have found each other in high school; they also Love grew up in a different time than us. They lived in a time where if someis hard thing was broken you would fix it, not just throw it away. This into excluded relationships too. But now we live in a time where dating has become more of a plain, yet a hobby than actually trying to find “the one”. Kayla Kostoff said “I think that you can’t great feeling. find true love in high school because how do you know who you want to spend Some adults around the rest for your life if you’re still a naive teenager.” While most students will today’s teens call it say that you can find true love in high school, this could be coming from “puppy love,” but if we are people currently in a relationship and who are thinking about what they able to feel love when we are feel now. But will this relationship last? This is the question at hand, older, why can’t we feel it now? and high school sweethearts that get married while still teenagers Some teens may rush into relationonly have a 54% chance of having their marriage last at least ships, or get into relationships just for 10 years. High school couples that wait until at least the fun, and I believe those relationships ruin age of 25 to get married have a 10 year success rate the opinions people may have towards high of 78%, according to http://brandongaille.com/20school relationships. Besides the few couples that high-school-sweethearts-marriage-statistics/. are together just for the sake of being together there are I feel that these statistics prove that while other couples who really love their significant other. To be you think you have found your true love loved is a magnificent thing, and can make a big difference in while in high school, the love will be the way you act in life. I think when you are in love, you’ll know it more likely end than last. Anybecause it is an unforgettable feeling and makes you a happier person. way, even the people polled by Another thing; even if you find love in high school, but the relationship The Blazer who said true does not last a lifetime, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t true love. If you really love love is possible in high a person it means you are willing to do anything to make them happy, and if a school, conceded relationship is in the way of that, then you have to let go. Loving somebody might that it is very not always be simple, but the memories will never change. I do believe you have to find unlikely. somebody mature enough to accomplish this but in my opinion finding true love in high school is not impossible. I know of people who shared this feeling with Yes one another from high school until they both went to a better place and I think it is an amazing thing. Hannah Miners
No by Jeff Betz
No
Yes
• 33% of students agree • One student said true love is “not likely because of the small pool of people” • “We are too immature as humans to know what love is” a pessimist explained • Some blamed supposed teen love on “hormones and uncertainty”
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• 67% of students agree • “Lots of people marry their high school sweethearts” a student pointed out • One student exclaimed “Yes, have you seen the kid in my trig class?!” • Most students decided it “depends on the person”
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
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2/12/2015 1:17:53 PM
Yes all women
By Andie Boulton
“Instead of shaming girls for their bodies, teach boys that girls are not sexual objects.” -unknown
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t’s been decades since the Women’s Rights Movement and women are still not thought of as equal. There has been an uproar about feminism, violence against women, and discrimination by people all over the world including, everyday people, celebrities, and students. The movement of Yes All Women started after a man killed and injured several people because he believed girls didn’t like him so they had to be punished. And this is not the first case of this happening. There has been several situations where women are threatened for rejecting a guy or even just because they’re wearing revealing clothing. In general, females are more in danger of sexual assault than men. Rape culture is a big part of today’s society. According to Marshall University, examples of this are blaming the victim, trivializing sexual assault, sexually explicit jokes, assuming only promiscuous women get raped, tolerance of sexual harassment, teaching women to avoid getting raped instead of teaching men not to rape, and much more. Not only do girls have to deal with people cat-calling or attacking them as they walk down the road, they’re even being discriminated against in school because of their clothes. It may sound extreme, but many people feel that having control of attire in high school perpetuates rape culture. Some schools have banned leggings, skinny jeans, and other tight fitting clothing because it “distracted” others. When it gets warm outside and there is no air conditioning, who would want to be fully covered up? And stores make it almost impossible to find shorts or shirts that meet dress code standards. It’s sad that girls at a young age are being taught by schools that they should feel guilty for what guys do or think of them just because of what they wear. On Tumblr, pictures have surfaced of what looks like flyers being hung around high schools rebelling against dress code. One reads, “I don’t think my shoulder, bra strap, belly-button, legs, or back are going to distract any male students or faculty. This dress code is telling girls to cover up so they don’t
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distract males because “boys will be boys”. We should stop teaching women to change so they don’t have to fear men, and start teaching men to respect women. This is simply perpetuating rape culture.” Another one says, “Leave girls alone for dressing comfortably for the weather. In the winter we wear sweaters. In the summer we wear tank tops. Why is this such a radical concept?” Not only are high school girls discriminated against, but women in the work force are as well. In some workplaces, women are forced to wear makeup, their hair a certain way or dress provocatively in the hopes to gain more business. In some cases they can’t even wear open toed shoes. This feminist movement is for the equality of both sexes. Violence and discrimination is from the idea that women are less than men. It is not fair that girls and women are more than often treated as second hand citizens. Women have been looked at as objects for too long and now is the best time to change that. Once more people around the world realize that this is a real problem, the hate will come to an end.
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
OPINIONS 2/25/2015 10:10:45 AM
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2/17/2015 1:25:30 PM
FHS Alumni: Where are they now? Bryan Mendoza By: Jeff Betz Bryan Mendoza is a proud graduate of Flushing’s class of 2012, and currently working as a dye designer for the Big 3 (Chrysler, GM, and Ford). A dye designer is utilizes CAD software to design and engineer dyes for the Big 3. While attending FHS, Bryan was involved with the CAD classes for three years. This class is the reason he went into the field of CAD and engineering because he really liked the class and had fun doing it. He did not mind doing the work, which led him to believe this would be a good field for him to pursue. CAD was also very beneficial for him working towards his career, as it taught him exactly what he needed in his career field. It was especially helpful because not many other schools have classes like this therefore he had more experience than most people trying to get into the same field.
Bryan is currently enrolled at Mott Community College. He is taking a CAD (Computer Aided Design) program offered at Mott, and some teachers at Mott have helped a great deal as they have many years of experience they have been able to share with the students. Bryan is currently working on his Associates degree in CAD.
The one piece of advice Bryan wishes he had known his freshman year is, “What days the best lunches are served so I could have planned accordingly when to bring my own food.” Bryan also had some extra comments and “Enjoy every day! It When asked what classes were advice in saying, “Participate hard for him while attending FHS he goes by faster than in sports, stay in school, enreplied with “All of them, I slept a lot joy every day. It goes by faster in English.” His favorite teacher while you think!” -Bryan Mendoza than you think, and do not at FHS was, “Mrs. Byrski because she wait until the last second to sang to us while we were in class.” He do assignments.” was also involved in sports during his time at High School, he played golf his freshman and sophomore years, tennis his junior year, and was on the swim and dive team all four years of his high school career. Diving was his favorite sport he did. He got a varsity letter every year he was on the team. In fact during his senior year he was named the very last Big 9 division champ from Flushing Schools. This was because the year after Flushing Schools became part of the Metro League. Bryan is currently the swim coach for the Flushing/Swartz Creek dive team, both girls and boys.
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February 2015 the BLAZER
PEOPLE
2/18/2015 12:55:57 PM
Classic V. Contemperary views on education. By: Jeff Betz & Ethan Heyworth
Education has changed throughout history. While once we were being tought that living things spontaneoulsy generated, now we are learning about cancer cells and how scinetists help to fight diseases. Mr. Gac and Mr. Nelson come from diferent generations, and were tought different things in school. Now with both men being teachers, education continues to change. Mr. Gac, who is in his first year of teahcing, and Mr. Nelson with 46 years of teaching under his belt, both had something to say about their views on education today. When each teacher was asked Mr. Gac informed us that, “It’s (technology) what inspired them to become a not really much of an improvement from when I was in teacher, Mr. Gac was school, the only real difference is you guys very quick and excited “The students really have iPads.” while Mr. Nelson said, “To have to say he loved learning define who you are.” access to technology in the classroom and I -Mr. Nelson and he felt it was one of think people need to get with the times and the very few, if not the only, profession out realize that everyone uses it.” there that encourages you to find your own way and We asked both teachers how teaching has to connect with younger people and your colleagues. changed since they were in school and they said this, Meanwhile, Mr. Nelson said “I was always inspired by Mr. Gac said, “I was taught in a much more my high school teachers and college professors, it was nurturing way, while you guys are generally taught in a just a natural progression.” more punitive way.” Mr. Nelson had some advice for newer teachers Mr. Nelson said, “Teaching hasn’t really saying “Every teacher must be persistent and have lots changed much, but the technology to help the teacher of patience with today’s youth.” has improved greatly. Back when I was in school the Mr. Gac was very honest and humble when teachers had to use an overhead, opposed to the projecasked what he can learn from the older teachers and tors we have now, as the overheads were far inferior to said, “Inside the classroom I’ve learned a lot about our current classroom projectors.” instruction and classroom management. Outside the Both teachers seemed very excited for The Blazer to be classroom, I have learned about what it takes to connect back at FHS and had some comments, to the community and how to handle extra responsibili- Mr. Gac, who was not at FHS during The Blazties, also how to help and connect with the students and er’s previous life time, seemed very excited when saying still have more to learn in this area.” “Yes, I feel it’s beneficial to both the school and the Mr. Nelson, when asked what he likes most community.” Mr. Nelson, who was around during the about being a teacher, said “The students really define Blazer’s prime was pumped when saying, “Yes, absolutewho you are. If your students are successful in your ly, I love written print and I remember how successful it class, then that means you must be a good teacher, if was before the class was shut down.” your students come back to visit you even though they are not in you class any more or have graduated, then “I get to come to a job I you must have been some kind of role model to them or love, and spend the day they liked as both a teacher and a person.” with students with different Mr. Gac replied to the same question with “I get interests and work with to come to a job I love, and spend the day with students staff I like.” with different interests and work with staff I like.” -Mr. Gac Both teachers had thoughts about technology in the classroom, and how it has changed since they were in school. Pictures Courtesy of Kaylee Cornell
PEOPLE
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Febuary 2015 the BLAZER
15. 2/24/2015 12:58:18 PM
Teacher Profile
By: Courtni Jones
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n May 18, 1970, Matt Karwat was born. Mr. Karwat grew up in Bridgeport, Michigan and graduated from Bridgeport High School. After, he attended Delta College for pre-engineering and he received his associate degree in science. Following that, he attended MSU and studied mechanical engineering, and lastly he attended SVSU and majored in math & chemistry and received his bachelor degree in science. What inspired him to become a teacher was the fact that he had bad math teachers while growing up. “I always loved math and science. Plus, I had bad math teachers, so I thought I could teach kids the right way and make it more enjoyable and fun.” Mr. Karwat has been teaching at FHS for 14 years. He really enjoys coming to work because he loves the interaction with the students. The most awarding part of his job is teaching his students something new and they get
it. He likes to call it the “A-Ha” moment. The most challenging thing for Mr. Karwat as a teacher is balancing his family life and the time consuming tasks of his job, like grading papers. In all of Flushing High School’s years, this was the first time they ever hosted a teacher homecoming court. It was no surprise that Mr. Karwat won king. W h e n a s k e d how he felt when he was nominated, he stated, “I knew a lot of kids liked me and that confirmed it.” His direct response to when he won was, “Mr. King isn’t the only king here now. There’s a new king in town.” Mr. Karwat is just a wonderful human being. Anyone that knows him can tell you that. He puts so much effort into making students feel like their teachers actually care about them. Mr. Karwat concluded with the one thing he knew for sure, “Your time is going to end, so enjoy it while you have it. I don’t think enough people do that.”
“...There’s a new king in town.”
Family & Pets
Fun Facts
• Wife, Marci, of 16 years. • 19 year old son, Matthew. • 15 year old daughter, Hannah. • 12 year old daughter, Brooklin. • 6 year old son, Brayden. • 1 dog named Archie and 2 cats named Oreo & Mittens.
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Favorites
Music Country. Food Beef & Cheddar sandwich from Arby’s. Ice Cream Caramel Nut Cluster. Color Blue, because it makes his eyes pop. Activities Hunting & Fishing.
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
PEOPLE
2/24/2015 12:46:30 PM
Sylvia Plath: A Deep, Conflicted, Writer. By: Maddison Nelson
“And when at last you find someone to whom you feel you can pour out your soul, you stop in shock at the words you utter— they are so rusty, so ugly, so meaningless and feeble from being kept in the small cramped dark inside you so long.” - S.Plath
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ppressed. Damaged. Sad. Broken. These are just a few of the words that have been used to describe some of the most well-known writers. Many people believe that being sad and broken down is what made several well-known writers great, like Edgar Allan Poe, Ezra Pound, and Ernest Hemingway. Sylvia Plath is one of those great writers. Plath was born on October 27th, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts. She was a normal child with a normal childhood, until her dad died when she was only seven years old. Her father’s death triggered something in her that caused her to start writing disturbing poems. Her first odd poem was entitled Daddy, which she wrote soon after her father passed away. During college, Plath became depressed, her poetry and writings reflected her feelings. With one unsuccessful suicide attempt, she made it through college. In 1956 she married a poet by the name of Ted Hughes, and four years later she gave birth to her first child. In that same year, 1960, her first collection of poems were published, entitled The Colossus. Sylvia had another publication in 1963, a novel about a young women’s struggle through a mental break down. This novel is entitled The Bell Jar, which is a reflection of herself. Plath was dealing with a case of deep depression caused by her husband leaving her for another women in 1962. During a harsh winter in 1963, on February 11th, Plath wrote a note to her neighbor downstairs with instructions to call her doctor. Plath made sure the children had food and were comfortable, she then went into the kitchen and began to seal it off with tape and towels. After successfully sealing the kitchen she tuned on the gas from her stove, and then proceeded to shove her head in as far as she could. She was successful with her attempt of suicide. Despite her death, yet another collection of Plath’s poems was published two years after her passing. This collection of poems is titled Ariel.
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Catfished! By: Tori Young
When you hear the term “Catfish”, you probably think of the creepy looking creature that has the nerve to call itself a fish. But for the victims of it, it has an entirely different meaning. Catfishing is defined as “to lure (someone) into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona”. Put in English, being tricked into an online relationship. Sometimes this is as simple as you finding out your three month online “boyfriend” is really a 30 year old man who lives at his mother’s. But sometimes this is much more severe. There have been instances of people who go to meet their said “catfisher”, and don’t return. Social media in today’s time is very dangerous, and as teenagers we should know how to protect ourselves on the internet. I am sure you have heard it all before. You know, the whole “What you put online stays online” bit from your concerned parents. But they aren’t joking. It is documented, and saved. Forever. Employers can pull it up, your school can pull it up. No matter how many times you it the delete button, it never goes away. Everyone has gotten a strange friend request on Facebook once or twice. The ones that are people from a different country? Anther bit of advice, never ever accept a friend request from someone you
do not know personally. Not only are most of them hackers, but they can also be dangerous,. I know that is a bit extreme, but it can happen. People can send requests on anything. Skype, Instagram, Facebook, twitter. Every social media site can put you at risk. While Facebook and other forms of internet converse are a threat, the most common catfisher site known is Omegle. Some people will probably have no idea what I am talking about. Omegle is an online chat site where you can talk to anyone anywhere anonymously. Not only have people been catfished on there, but there has been worse. Death threats, sexual slander have all been thrown around. According to an anonymous call for help on yahoo answers, here was an instance of a 13 year old girl who refused to meet a guy and he threatened to kill her. He also said that he was tracking her. This website is intended for older people who want someone to chat with, and NOT for people below the age of 18. This isn’t to scare you, but to inform. No, you probably won’t be catfished. But you should know what to do if you are going to use the internet. Be careful what you post, don’t talk to strangers. Know what’s appropriate, and what’s not. Stay safe, and beware of the Catfish!
Statistics of Online Stalking Age of Victim Under 18 2% 18-30 38% 31-40 30% 41-50 19% 51-60 8% 60+ 3%
Drawing By: Tori Young
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FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
19. 2/24/2015 12:40:24 PM
A
Weird History with Myles Siglin Or, Abraham Lincoln and the Grave Emancipator
tragedy rocked our nation in April of 1865. terfeiting, a field in which Kennally was heavily inAs the Civil War was wrapping up, President volved. Swegles notified the authorities, who lay in Abraham Lincoln was assassinatwait while the caper went on. Their ed by John Wilkes Booth. He was getaway man, William Nealy, was mourned throughout the nation also an informant. As they reached and world. However, in 1876, a huthe tomb, according to Thomas J. morous escapade began. A team led Craughwell of the US News, no one by counterfeiter “Big Jim” Kennally, as described by Bob Frost at Histoon the team had ability to pick a ryaccess.com, planned to steal Linlock. They used a large file to saw coln’s body and hold it for ransom through the locks, but even then money and the release of a fellow they could not lift the lead-lined criminal. Frost goes on to detail coffin. At that time, an agent’s pistol the process of grave robbing. It was misfired alerting the crooks. They quite common post-Civil War, as escaped to Chicago, where they medicine was focusing on anatomy by studying cadavers. Roger were soon apprehended. To preNorton of rogerjnorton.com, devent further thievery, Abe, and latscribes the scene. On Election Day, er, Mary Todd, were buried in the November 7th, the gang traveled Courtesy of Project Gutenberg, basement of the tomb. Finally, in to Oak Ridge Cemetery to start the Francis Fisher Browne 1901, the casket was installed in a heist. Among the team was Lewis Swegles, a double agent for the Secret Service, who steel cage and buried under tons of concrete. There at that time, were charged only with fighting coun- remain his remains.
$5 Facts
Image: Original Artwork by Emily Peterson
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FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
• The first $5 bill was released in 1914, but it did not feature the Lincoln Memorial, as it was not built until 1922. • “In God We Trust” was added in 1964, as was “Legal Tender For All Debts Public and Private.” • The watermark is a 5, rather than Lincoln’s face, like other, larger denomination bills, so it is harder to convert into those higher value bills. Source: eHow
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2/12/2015 1:15:23 PM
“Can birds find love?”
“If you could go anywhere, where would you go?” -Izzy Dubbin
-Tori Young
“What is your favorite video game?” ~Snake Eater~
“What would a Rhino security guard look like?”
-Izzy Dubbin
-Kayla Kostoff
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FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
21. 2/12/2015 1:18:53 PM
The Most Common Disorder You’ve Never Heard Of By: Kay Kostoff It’s astonishing how many people can make references to something when they have no idea what it even is. Every day I hear references to a video game that I have played or a movie that I have seen, but upon further inquiry, the person have never played or seen it. But this doesn’t just stick to pop culture references. I hear many people talk about their “horrible” lives by saying that they want to take their own life, and I hear many people describing perfectionism and labeling it OCD. A rather common phrase, usually involving ripping out their own hair, also fits into this category. Trichotillomania, or TTM for short, is an ob- hair follicles could be damaged beyond repair, resulting sessive compulsive disorder in which a person pulls in permanent bald spots. out hair from their scalp, eyebrow, eyelashes, legs, This disorder is very similar to nail biting and arms, or any other parts of their body that has hair. skin picking, as you may be able to see, and can be solved In some cases, the person will consume the hair, and in similar ways. For many, will power is that can cause blockage of the intestines all they need to stop pulling, but in and organ failure, but that is known other cases, they may have to as trichophagia. Although it is turn to cognitive behaviora rather unknown disorder, al therapy, hypnotherapy several people suffer from or even improving their it, but are either ashamed or dietary habits. A way to uninformed to seek help. help repair the damaged Research has shown hair follicles would be to that pulling starts between ages shave the affected area and nine and thirteen, but has been allow it to grow back naturally. documented to start as early as age Trichotilomania is a very comone. This disorder can be classified as an obsesmon disorder, and can affect very common people with sive compulsive disoder due to the fact that most peovery common lives. Although by its self, it is a rather ple don’t realize when they are pulling, and find great harmless disorder, it is still a disorder and makes life pleasure after pulling out their hair. Because they don’t for those affected that much worse. If you or someboalways realize when they are pulling or simply lack the sy you know who suffers from TTM, please visit www. will power to stop pulling, TTM often results in bald trichotillomaniamichigan.com to find more ways to spots, puffy eyes and raw or irritated skin. If hair pullget help. Spread the word, and help someone in need. ing becomes a habitual action, it is possible that the
*Trichotillomania id diagnosed twice as often in adult women as in adult men *Subconcience pulling occurs in about 3/4 of people diagnosed *TTM is diagnosed in all age groups, but occurs most often between ages nine and thirteen *According to the Office of Rare Diseases of the National Institute of Health, TTM is considered a rare disease which means it affects less than 200,000 Americans.
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Word Scramble: Video Games 1.)SMG: knaes aeert _________ 2.)ohal hrcea _________ 3.)ltamro tbcmoa __________ 4.)pusre hsams osrb. __________ 5.) pmkonoe _________ 6.)atinss rwo __________ 7.)bfale _________ 8.)rtpola __________ 9.)het ltsa fo su _________ 10.)tilnse lhil _________
Start
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2/26/2015 3:34:07 PM
2014 Forest Hills Drive Album Review
8/10
J
ermaine Cole, 30-year-old producer-turned-rapper, released his third solo album on December 9th, 2014 to much anticipation. 2014 Forest Hills Drive was arguably the biggest rap release of the year, and satisfied millions of die-hard Cole fans after waiting over a year without any singles or features. J. Cole has always been a well-respected artist with personal connections to the community and meaningful, thought-provoking lyrics. This humble and down-toEarth lifestyle continues into his recent project. The album opens up with direct stories of J. Cole’s life in his home address of 2014, Forest Hills Drive in Fayetteville, NC. “Wet Dreamz,” and “03’ Adolescence,” offer relatable accounts of growing up in today’s world. “A Tale of 2 Citiez,” highlights the contrasting lifestyles of affluence and poverty and uses the old “put yourself in others’ shoes,” idea to help open our minds up. Cole has never failed in using hardhitting lyrics to really make you feel the music. “Fire Squad,” and “G.O.M.D.” are two of the more poppy tracks where Cole has added the typical cocky rapper approach to his repertoire. The first being a rant about music and its fans today and the second being a catchy beat for him to boast on. The next song, my personal favorite, “No Role Modelz,” uses one of Cole’s best beats to bring together all of his positive musical traits.
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One of the last songs on the album, “Love Yourz,” is used to suggest the idea that the desire for material wealth doesn’t supply happiness, being content with the amount you already have does. The song is a perfect example of Cole’s connection to his listeners, one of them claiming the song helped save him from committing suicide. Although J. Cole’s best qualities have always been his storytelling lyrics on top of slower, simpler beats, this is where most criticism against him stems from. Fans of hip-hop and rap will call Cole boring, saying his lyrics are too simple, and he lacks the snappy, boastful one liners that his rivals are hailed for. In 2014 FHD, Cole successfully adds snippets of this loud rapper aura of confidence around him while still maintaining his original style and not falling into the mainstream and demands of critics. J. Coles newest album does a good job including the advice critics have harshly suggested to him in the past, all while maintaining what he does best. Jermaine makes music to relate to his fans, and make you truly feel something. 2014 Forest Hills Drive has a perfect combination of songs to bump to in the car with friends, and those that give you chills as you lay in your bed at night alone. By: James Napier
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
A&E 2/24/2015 1:17:02 PM
Blazer Movie Extra What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
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Copyright © Fox All Rights Reserved
9 / 10
Critic Review from Metacritic:
88
lazing its way through the Golden Globes, on its way to the Oscars, Birdman has freshened the well-seasoned minds of movie goers across the world. What truly makes it a stick in the mud is not its undeniably brilliant ensemble cast, nor its clever and humorous tone, but the oddly charming cinematic style that has mad the film so popular. You see, it is edited as to make it seem it’s all in one take. So even though it takes place over several days, the two hour film never cuts. It’s an interesting dynamic that has captivated perhaps a smaller audience than other blockbusters, but entices them none the less. In this tragic comedy, we watch a struggling actor on his quest to revitalize himself in the public’s eye after playing the iconic superhero “Birdman”, with a Broadway production. He is plagued with difficult cohorts and a troubled family life, or lack thereof. The subtle comedy could be compared to films such as American Beauty or American Hustle. The unique screenplay worked well, it forced me to pay closer attention to the film. Otherwise I would have been more lost than a Transformers fan watching Inception. Aside from the interesting cinematography, and engaging screenplay, the film offers a host of stars that believably, and effectively play their parts. The lead, Michael Keaton, is expected to be a top contender for the Oscar, and I expect Emma Stone will be giving contenders a run for their money. Also, a notable performance is that of Edward Norton, who essentially plays a spoof of himself. Norton is a notoriously difficult actor to work with, as is his character. I would highly recommend Birdman to those viewers pursuing a more mentally stimulating experience. By: Ethan Dupuis
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© 2014 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved
8 / 10
Critic Review from Metacritic:
A&E Ethan Dupuis-AmericanSniper-A&E.indd 1
72
I Wasn’t Ready To Come Home
ursting onto the scene in a patriotic blast, American Sniper is much more than a Republican paradise, it is a thoughtful look at the struggles of soldiers, their lack of family life, and the increasingly evident issue of PTSD. Although it isn’t the greatest film Clint Eastwood ever made, it is relevant and moving. Even so, it has caused tension over the true character of Chris Kyle, and has been thrust into a pool of controversy. Many claim it is a war propaganda film, even though it is anything but. It is one of the most deliberately anti-violence films that I have had the pleasure or viewing. It showcases how these traumatic events affect people, and the horrors inflicted on both sides. Chris Kyle is credited with over 160 confirmed kills, granting him the title of The Deadliest Sniper in U.S. History. We follow his story from Seal training to his struggle in returning home. I will not deny, he was a flawed man, but aren’t we all? Calling a man who saved American solders a hero is no far stretch for me, not to mention his actions in helping recovering marines stateside. Eastwood’s direction lent a nice touch of simple truths, while moving the audience to silence. All made better by Bradly Coopers performance, which rivals that of his own in Silver Linings Playbook. This film will be remembered alongside The Hurt Locker, and leaves less meaningful modern war films like Lone Survivor in the dust.
Disclaimer: Reviews are subject to opinionated views, and by no means represent all staff member’s opinions, even if they should. Read at your own risk. Your mileage may vary.
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
By: Ethan Dupuis
25. 2/12/2015 12:56:01 PM
Image courtesy of Pixar
T
o many people’s dismay, and many more’s excitement, Pixar announced that a fourth Toy Story film would be released. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing can be looked at as an opinion, but there are several facts to back up one of those options, and far less to do the same for the other. Pixar has a reputation for not doing sequels, though this idea has started to fade as we see them releasing more and more of them. Some of the movies getting sequels are their worst scoring films, too. Cars, for example. Pixar’s lowest scoring film on Rotten Tomatoes before the release of Cars was a 92%. Once Cars came out, it got rated at a 74%. So naturally, they made a sequel. How did that one do, you ask? Only a 39%. Not good. Now, they’re making it a trilogy. So, why would they do that? Theme parks. Disneyland got an entire area themed after Cars, costing over $1 Billion to build, and they have to keep it relevant with new generations. Toy Story films actually hold three different records within Pixar; one for each film. Toy Story was the first movie that Pixar released. After the release of their second film, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2 became Pixar’s first ever sequel. Finally, Toy Story 3 was the first animated film in the world, not just Pixar, to cross the $1 billion mark.
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Now that you know the statistics of the announcement, what story will the film actually tell? Only a handful of people truly know, but that doesn’t stop fans from creating their own ideas. Most people assume that the movie will begin just moments after Toy Story 3 ended, but one fan decided to take a different route. I have cut the majority of his plot ideas out due to space limitations, but I left in as much as I could. This takes place about a decade after the events of Toy Story 3. We see blackness with a bar of light in the middle on the screen before hearing snippets of a conversation that the toys hear while sitting in a box. “Once I heard, I just knew you had to have these.” “That’s so sweet, but what about…” “Oh she’s 13 now. She doesn’t really play with them anymore.” “I’m sure Andy will be thrilled” “When’s the baby due?” If you want to find out what happens next, scan the QR code below, or just go to http://hope. ly/1B1YeQ8 in your web browser of choice.
FEBRUARY 2015 The BLAZER
A&E
2/12/2015 1:22:25 PM
Blazer Movie Extra I
Side Notes: Regardless of the controversial theme, The Interview seemingly failed on all cylinders. Its jokes were overdone and far to drawn out, and the chuckle worthy one liners were few and far between. Having no cleverness about it, unlike classic satires like Doctor Strangelove, or The Great Dictator, the film simply fails to distinguish itself from a typical and forgettable comedy.
4/10
Critic Reviews from Metacritic
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A Non-Review Article By Ethan Dupuis
How Not To Do Satire
n a society of political correctness, few dare to make a statement about what is wrong in the world. Those who do are labeled as crazy or stupid. Some of them are. And then, there is Hollywood. Just in on it to make a buck, they have produced The Interview. The film revolves around a talk show host, who was recruited by the CIA to assassinate Kim Jong Un in an interview his producer had secured. The film received much backlash from peace groups, worried Americans, and North Korea itself. But in essence, the film is no more than a prolonged Kim Jong Un joke. What could have been, even should have been, a politically based satire, that could have enacted action against the crimes against humanity North Korea inflicts upon its own citizens, became a series of penis jokes, and sexual innuendos. It’s depressing that people are so upset over this film of all things, seeing as it doesn’t have a stroke of intelligence about it. However, The Interview hasn’t just angered possibly the most dangerous dictatorship on the planet, but has sparked a few nerves here at home. Many are frustrated with Sony, because they made the decision not to release the film. With rage, patriots stormed the Internet, claiming that their rights had been tampered with. Even many actors and directors spoke of their disappointment, Jimmy Kimmel tweeted “Sony is a disgrace. Sickening”. After a week of corrosion, Sony fell to public demand. On Christmas day, they released the film on the Internet. So far they have made over $15 million, just over the Internet. Even if the companies decide to negotiate with terrorists, the citizens of the United States never will. As heartwarming as this sentiment is, many look past this as a simple case of Americans getting cheated out of a joke. Perhaps for some this is true, but for the intellectual community, the general consensus is that this was a crisis for the freedom of expression. When we get to the grit of it, The Interview is a satire, regardless of its quality, satires expose wrongdoings in a humorous, and an understandable manner. No one can deny the devilish shroud that surrounds North Korea, and perhaps it was time we brought its attention to the people. However when Pyongyang demanded that the critical material was taken down, and it was, it created a dangerous precedent. This could have lead to future critiques being removed because they were offensive, eventually creating a mangled and deformed 1st amendment. While it is debatable if The Interview succeeded in promoting justice, its release is purely symbolic. Maybe what the people need is not just another conventional comedy that gives you a couple laughs and then you forget about it, but a funny through truthfulness satire that, unbeknownst to the viewers, gets them thinking about pressing political issues. Perhaps it could forge a more politically and socially conscious society.
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
27. 2/18/2015 1:22:14 PM
By Emily Peterson
A
merican Beauty/American Psycho was released on January 20th and is the sixth studio album released by Fall Out Boy. It was produced in only three weeks, after releasing their hit single “Centuries”. This album features throwback sampling, including a sample from “The Munsters” theme song and an excerpt from “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega. It combines modern pop music with a taste of punk rock. Below, I have given a rating for each song on the album. Track List: •Irresistible 4/5 •American Beauty/American Psycho 3.5/5 •Centuries 2.5/5 •The Kids Aren’t Alright 5/5 •Uma Thurman 5/5 •Jet Pack Blues 2.5/5 •Novocaine 5/5 •Fourth of July 5/5 •Favorite Record 5/5 •Immortals 4/5 •Twin Skeleton’s (Hotel Room in NYC) 4.5/5 Final verdict: 4.5/5
By Mrs. Canterbury
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ynopsis: In a dystopian landscape with a divided people, with “dwellers” kept under a safe, technology-laden dome and “outsiders” living in the wild and dangerous wasteland, Aria and Perry should never have met. But when Aria’s mother goes missing, and she’s eventually banished from the only life she’s ever known, Perry becomes her only chance of survival. So, what did I think? If you liked The Hunger Games and Divergent, this is a must read. I tore through the book and couldn’t get my hands on the sequel fast enough! The story is told through a dual-perspective; Aria and
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Overall, this album is very well made and it’s obvious that a lot of love and care was poured into making it. However, I found it was lacking from Fall Out Boy’s earlier albums. Bands change consistently to keep up with the times and what the kids are into, and that’s what Fall Out Boy did with this album. The lyrics are quality as always, however, I feel they’re not as poetic as they used to be. You used to be able to listen to a Fall Out Boy song, look up the lyrics and go “what on EARTH?!” because they made no sense! Yet, somehow you could relate to it. It feels like the lyrics have been warped from this unique and poetic theme, to just any other lyrics you’d hear on the radio. Another thing that makes me feel indifferent in this album is the lack of instruments, and more use of electronically produced sounds. There’s only a few songs where you can actually hear a guitar riff. The best way I could describe Fall Out Boy’s music from their first album, even to now, is the kind of band you listen to when you feel the whole world is against you. I can tell you I’ve been through some hard times in my life, and Fall Out Boy has lifted me back onto my feet every time. Despite my negative views on this album, it is very well produced and a great album. I highly recommend you pick it up.
Perry both narrate. Through this type of storytelling, Rossi creates two exciting and believable worlds. The world-building is beautiful and well done! The first exists under an enormous dome, and science has dominated their way of living. Everything here is done with a purpose. Children are manufactured scientifically–no one’s an accident. Everyone is beautiful. Life is safe and orderly. The second world takes place outside the dome. Earth has become a wasteland of violent storms where food is scarce and people can be dangerous. The best part about the story to me is the believability of the characters. When Aria is banished from Reverie, she is terrified. Her terror is evident and her behavior is realistic. She’s not a damsel in distress, but she’s not a Katniss Everdeen with a bow either! Perry is angry at what has happened to his family, and his hatred of dome-dwellers extends to Aria. He demands a lot from her in return for his help. Their relationship develops out of necessity in a genuine way. The book is exciting and the story line is unexpected. The world is wild and the characters are realistic. Go read it!
FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
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Lacrosse?
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acrosse is a challenging sport. It is played on a field with two goals, one at each end, a lacrosse stick for each player, and lacrosse goggles. There are twelve girls on the field, including the goalie, from each team. The players must wear a pair of lacrosse goggles over their eyes, a mouth guard, the appropriate jersey, and cleats. Each girl is also equipped with a stick. The lacrosse stick is a metal, sometimes plastic, pole called a “shaft,” at the end of the shaft is the “head.” The head is plastic with netting in the middle in order to catch the ball. The ball is a small rubber sphere that hurts like heck when getting hit in the face with, trust me, I know. Lacrosse is played almost like hockey, the concept is the same, which is to score more goals than the other team using offense and defense players to win. The attack, also known as offense, wants to score goals, the goalie wants to stop the other team from scoring, and the defense wants to help the goalie out by stopping the other team’s offense, blah, blah, blah, you all already know this.
Many don’t know this, but Flushing High School has a girl’s lacrosse team, a pretty good one actually. Our lacrosse team plays and practices on the lacrosse field behind Central Elementary. Being a part of the lacrosse team is wonderful, after a long day at school it feels amazing to take it all out on the field. Lacrosse is a spring sport, which means tryouts are coming up very soon. I hope to see you there! “Playing lacrosse has given me so many opportunities that I am very grateful for. I can’t imagine having experienced high school without this sport.” -Zoe Hutchison “We are group of girls that work hard to be the best players we can be, but also the best teamates we can be. We are a family who wants to see each other succeed.” -Alexys Wainio
“I enjoy playing lacrosse, and I love being apart of a team full of amazing girls.” -Corey Blair
2014 Flushing Varsity Lacrossse
Lacrosse.
“I think it’s a great sport to get involved with, and it’s another way of getting to know people. Lacrosse is an easy sport to learn, new players have picked it up pretty fast.” -Kenzie MacWebb
By: Maddison Nelson
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FEBRUARY 2015 the BLAZER
SPORTS
2/17/2015 1:03:54 PM
The sports industry is a valuable one across the world, especially in the United States. College athletics, from March Madness tournament games to New Years Day bowl games, have always been one of our favorite means of entertainment. Athletics at the University of Alabama brought in over $120 million dollars in 2008; none of which went towards the athletes that helped bring it in. But, in February of 2014, Northwestern University football players won a case with the National Labor Relations Board to consider them employees and give them the right to unionize. People across the nation recognize this action as the first step towards all college athletes becoming, essentially, professionals. To some, it seems logical that the athletes would receive at least a portion of the amount of money they help their school make. To others, college athletes being paid would forever change the foundation of sports, and bring to question the reason why we even go to college. Any amount of money spent towards athletics could be invested in the education of students.
So, do you think college athletes should be paid for playing? Yes
First, there is no question that college is expensive. Students have to pay for room and board, books and supplies, food, etc. How do students pay their way through college with all these costs? According to The Huffington Post, nearly 4 out of 5 college students are working a part-time job averaging 19 hours a week on top of studying for their degrees. However, for college athletes, a job can be even harder to fit in. We can only imagine the hours athletes at the next level have to put in to stay at that level. Throw in tournaments and away competitions during the school week and you are left in the middle of a chaotic schedule trying to hold on to your sport, your grades, an earning to survive off of, and your sanity. Second, have you ever went to a game and saw jerseys/souvenirs with names or faces of the players on them? Major sports would not be able to stand without the large amount of merchandise with their players on it. Jerseys and video games can depict specific college athletes without any issue of distributing the profit to the ones who deserve it. It only seems right that the players get atleast a portion of the money that others are making off of their fame. NFL running back, Adrian Peterson, once said “I feel like as much money as universities make, I feel that some of that money should be given down to the players.” I think everyone can agree, college athletes deserve payment for their performance.
No
Keep in mind some key points. Football and men’s basketball are the only money-making sports in college. Others such as lacrosse, wrestling, tennis, and even baseball and soccer don’t bring in a big crowd. How would someone decide where the money for college athlete salaries go? One passion should not be valued at a higher price compared to another one. Secondly, college athletes are already given quite a valuable benefit, scholarships. They can be valued up to $250,000 over four years. On top of education, colleges also provide the players with expert coaching and medical care. Athletes are already costing colleges a great deal of money, requiring that they pay them salaries too would be absurd. Thirdly and most importantly, paying the athletes will give the impression that the sport is more important than learning. After growing up idolizing famous players with million-dollar contracts and endorsement deals, its not surprising that football and basketball players are asking for payment. We need to keep it clear that college and school is for learning, not playing sports and especially not being paid for playing. Using a school’s money to pay the athletes who wear its colors would be discouraging and unfair to the students who are there to learn and set up their careers. Athletes should be content with the situation they find themselves in and agree that the money can be spent in more beneficial ways.
Written by: Lindsey Coenen, Morgan Keeler, and James Napier
SPORTS
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