InFlight Dec 2010 issue

f in light

AU B U R N R I V E R S I D E S T U D E N T

VOICE

December 14, 2010 VOLUME 16 ISSUE #3

“It’s just what I wanted!”

New Call of Duty doesn’t disappoint. See page 10

OPINION

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12/14/09

Is coffee a religion? Pick up a book, get an IQ JORDAN GREEN Guest Reporter Coffee, the world’s favorite drink, and mine as well. But how much do you really know about coffee? More than 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year worldwide. That’s a lot of coffee.

Coffee is very important to the everyday lives of many people and is a huge part of the world economy. Coffee also has many health benefits as well.

Fifty percent of Americans over 18 years old drink coffee daily, according to e-imports.com. I’m not sure how the other fifty percent function. Coffee is a necessity to human performance. That makes coffee the world’s most popular drink, for different reasons. The number one reason is because it tastes so amazing. Most women drink coffee because it helps them relax and men because it helps them get the job done according to e-imports. I personally drink coffee for the unique taste and it helps me focus on schoolwork.

Principal Dave Halford is a coffee drinker although he is “not supposed to but still does.”

Science teacher Philip Myka is an avid coffee drinker who takes his coffee black and says it is “more of a comfort than anything.” He even offers coffee to students “if they’re coffee drinkers” and believes it is a performance enhancer both in athletics and schoolwork.

Coffee is the world’s second most valuable commodity behind oil, and I’m not sure why. Coffee in my hand is much more important than gas in my car. It earns an estimated 60 billion dollars each year with less than ten percent getting back to the coffee farmers, according to pbs.org. One third of the world’s coffee is grown in Brazil but oddly the US is the top consumer.

Americans love their coffee. An excellent example of this is the fact that there are 424 Starbucks coffee shops in Seattle, according to yahoo.com. They could easily fit another hundred.

Coffee can also help reduce the risk of type two diabetes and some cancers. How is this possible? According to WebMD coffee contains minerals magnesium and chromi-

in flight

Editor-In-Chief Shayla McGinness Business Manager Brianne Kopp Cover Photo by Brianne Kopp Adviser Patrick Swenson

Staff Reporters Cheri Broch Jaymes Fleury Lisa Gray Brianne Kopp Guest Reporters Charles Casady Jordan Green Kayla Seamster Kyle Stocker

um which help the body use the hormone insulin. With type two diabetes the body loses the ability to use insulin effectively.

The fact that coffee can help prevent diabetes makes it even that much better, so, coffee works miracles. Type two diabetes also makes heart disease and stroke more likely so coffee not only helps prevent type two diabetes; it also helps prevent heart disease and stroke according to WebMD.

KAYLA SEAMSTER Guest Reporter Being a lover of literature, it’s hard for me to consider the fact that some people in this world are not readers. Long before there were televisions and computers, people would spend hours reading books and travel to lands far away — in their minds.

The sad part of this is, over time people have lost their skill and passion to read.

Today there are more exciting and thrilling options besides books. This is a shame because reading can offer so much to people.

“I have better things to do,” sophomore Keaton Dalphrey said. “Why would I waste my time reading? That’s just stupid.”

Hearing someone says this makes my skin crawl. Reading is of such great importance. Study after study it is proven that children and teenagers who love reading have comparatively higher IQ’s. They are more creative and do better in school.

Reading enriches your thoughts, and enhances your knowledge.

It not only helps with your vocabulary, mental development, and language skills, it can introduce a whole new world to you.

“You can become part of a crime scene, or find yourself falling in love with charac-

Photo Courtesy www.flickr.com Creative Commons License

Coffee not only tastes good, it can perform amazing feats of modern science as well.

What about the old myth that coffee will stunt your growth? This is false, according to kidshealth.org. One or two cups daily as a child are not harmful but more than that can be risky because of the high dosage of caffeine. Coffee itself, however, will not stunt your growth. So if you are a child, drink decaf coffee.

Coffee is the world’s number one drink for a reason. It tastes amazing, and it can perform miracles and save lives. So my question is, why would you not drink coffee? Those who do not drink coffee, you’re missing out on a remarkable experience.

Coffee is the nectar of the gods.

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ters,” sophomore Marissa Brookhart said.

“It’s like a mini movie in your head.”

What would have happened if no one had read the sonnets and stories of Shakespeare? Romeo and Juliet would have never been able to touch the hearts of millions of people over the years. Edgar Allen Poe would have never penned “The Raven” and it would have been quoted “nevermore.”

It’s hard to imagine a world without these great classics.

So is reading important? Absolutely!

Without reading, nobody would be able to use their imaginations to travel to different destinations. Books are needed to escape the day to day struggle and fight pirates and zombies. Books are the ticket to a freedom not found in the regular world. Without reading there would be nothing to the imagination.

When I asked kids why they didn’t read they responded with “It’s not my cup of tea,” or “There isn’t enough time in the day.” When I asked where we would be without books they simply shrugged their shoulders.

It doesn’t matter what you read, how read it or why you read it, read something and you will gain knowledge. Plain and simple. Never read anything, let your mind stagnate and die and soon enough you will be drooling in front of the TV watching reruns of “The World’s Dummest Dummies” and realize that not much separates you from them.

So I beg of you, to please pick up a book. Endless possibilities come with reading; whether you want to solve a mystery, go in the mind of serial killer, or watch a love story unroll, anyone, anywhere can find something they enjoy reading.

PHOTO BY CHARLES CASADY

Both students and teachers can jump into a good book.

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Greetings from Newspaper

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OPINION

12/14/10

Christmas music is BUNK

How long should we believe in Santa?

JAYMES FLEURY Staff Reporter

CHERI BROCH Staff Reporter

Before the day of Halloween, stores have been covered in the reds and greens of Christmas. It goes from seeing rows of latex masks and costumes to lights and snow globes within a week. Though this is slightly aggravating and it seems Christmas takes a dump on all the other holidays in the surrounding seasons, it steps into a territory no other holiday does: our music.

As soon as November is close to over, the floodgates are released and all you can hear are the chimes of bells and gospel choral. The same songs over and over again on every single station of the radio! They’re drilled into our eardrums so much that you find yourself humming them absent-mindedly.

Don’t take me as a “Scrooge,” I love the holidays and at one point; it’s music too. But what about the group of people who love to listen to the radio, yet don’t celebrate Christmas? Or the ones who want to listen to their favorite talk shows without hearing “Jingle Bells” every commercial break? Maybe it’s just me, but we already buy hundreds of dollars worth of gifts; why must we worship this hallmark holiday within our music?

In our early school years we would all dress up and get on the elementary school stage and sing. Like little robots, we would belt out every Christmas song imaginable. Even if your religion wasn’t Christianity, you were

still forced to sing about baby Jesus and a magic reindeer.

One year, I realized how ridiculous this actually was and I complained to the music director about it. Though it’s hard to hold up a good argument while dressed as a reindeer, I was still determined to get my point across. She simply replied, “It’s just a tradition.”

But that got me thinking, what about all the other religions? They have music too, right? Why don’t we sing those?

Christmas has become such a large holiday, it seems to have absorbed all the other holidays — their traditions and their music. One of the most prominent aspects of holidays is their music.

Some of it is fun, some comical, some traditional.

But if you’re a different religion than Christianity, you shouldn’t have to sing Christmas music. For that matter, religious songs shouldn’t be allowed at schools at all.

There’s the whole separation of church and state thing, which makes that totally illegal. But you know, “it’s a tradition.”

On the endless list of things about Christmas “music” that annoys me is celebrities. Famous people are called up by big corporations to sing overplayed Christmas songs.

As if these songs will become any better if a celebrity sings them. Not only that, but the number of people follow them like sheep and fall in love with these songs that smother the airwaves.

So I’m sorry if you’re the world’s biggest Christmas music fan, but these are the simple truths. I understand that it’s a time for cheer and merry music, but please, keep it at home.

Paychecks check out for the holidays SHAYLA MCGINNESS Editor-In-Chief Here comes the presents, here comes the long bills, right down Christmas’s lane. This melody should ring a jolly little bell, but even though Christmas is supposed to be filled with cheer and holiday spirit it tends to really be filled with lots of bills and stress over what to buy, whom to buy it for, and how the heck you’re going to pay off these ridiculous bills when Valentine’s Day and birthdays are right around the corner. Don’t worry because I am here to help you through this holiday season with hopefully a fuller wallet without the feeling of being a Scrooge.

Gifts, snow, and no school are the main things kids think about when December rolls around, but the crumbling economy unfortunately makes it difficult to find the perfect present at a reasonable price. So, lack of moola or excessive amount of stinginess forces you to pick one or two people to get nice presents for and skimp out on the rest.

A nice gift doesn’t always have to be expensive, it just requires a bit of creativity and dedication. For example, last year my best friend and I exchanged boxes full miscellaneous items. Including a box of various flavors of tea, a

pack of zebra printed travel-sized tissues, and cute frilly little make-up bags. All in all it cost about $15; there are a plethora of options to put into the box too. Anything relatively small and fun will do; it’s almost like a stocking stuffer. Another idea is to bake someone a little treat like brownies or cookies, you could decorate them and give them a little note saying how much they are appreciated or whatever words of kindness are preferred.

Instead of wandering blind about what to buy, asking the person or persons to keep the price to a specific range would also be helpful. This year Newspaper is going to do a secret Santa; the price range is under five dollars. It’s a competition, and the main point is to find the funniest, cheapest gag gift ever.

If you’re artistically inclined then using whichever skills you have would probably the best route for a Christmas present: painting, drawing, or writing poetry would be really heartfelt and sweet. I’m positive that most would say it’s better when someone takes the time out of their day to actually make something instead of going to the store and buying mass produced material. Now there isn’t anything wrong with buying stuff at the store for Christmas but making a gift can be much more satisfying.

Santa, the jolly old fellow with rosy cheeks and snow white beard who spreads joy around the world by leaving presents under the Christmas tree. Everybody believes in him at one point, but how long should you keep doing so?

What could be the consequences of believing in this figment of the imagination? Well, believing that a large man in a bright red Christmas suit is sliding down your chimney could make you seem like a slight imbecile. I mean, think about it: how could one, rather overweight, man get down every chimney of every house? What if you don’t even have a chimney? Does he come right through the front door? Another thing, isn’t it slightly disturbing that a stranger is coming into your home, leaving things for your children under the tree and eating your food? Also, with the amount of cookies and milk Santa’s given, wouldn’t he become ill...?

Santa’s use is purely for the media. What’s better than buying cookies made for specifically Santa? What’s cuter than a dog food bag with a puppy sporting a Santa cap? The media milks the Santa phenomena for all it can. Musicians bring out new singles just for the Christmas season, card companies create new styles just for Christmas, the list goes on and on.

So, it begs the question: how believable is Santa really?

Stories told to us before bedtime every night, songs played on the radio, television shows only shown during the winter season — all leading us to believe in this fairytale.

After a while though you have to think to yourself “how is this even possible?” Scientifically, its impossible to get all around the world, to every single house, in one night. While eating cookies. And drinking milk. And sliding down chimneys. And checking his list twice. I mean really, guys, is it that hard to realize that Santa — well...doesn’t exist?

When young you believe in a lot of silly things: tooth fairy, Easter Bunny, leprechauns, elves — but there comes a point when you have to face up to reality and stop believing in myths and folklore. Who am I to say when that time should be, but it should be before adulthood. You don’t want to be that odd duck in the room who still believes that a fat man in a bright red suit slides down your chimney and gives you presents. If you are, then you’ll be sadly disappointed to find no presents, nor coal, under your brightly decorated tree.

All right, so basically I’ll say what everybody is thinking — our parents lied to us. For years our parents made us believe in a mythical creature that brings us gifts during the night. What the heck? I do purpose we seek revenge.

Guilt. It’s the best way to get things from our parents, and we all know it. Comment nonchalantly about how you got teased for believing in Santa when you were young. I mean who knows, you may find a few more presents under that tree for you.

Here is the ending to my little story. When you’re young and naive, it’s okay to believe in miracles like an old man sliding down your chimney giving you presents.

However, you have to face reality eventually. You have to take that slap in the face that you’ve been lied to and realize that your parents buy you those presents, not some cheery old man. Next time you see a present signed “From Santa” think about it for a second.

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OPINION

12/14/10

This year: all year’s resolutions CHERI BROCH Staff Reporter About 45 percent of American adults make one or more resolutions. They promise themselves that they’ll do this or that, quit this habit or start that hobby, but few ever succeed in doing so. The turn of the year is always an important milestone and a deciding day for avid procrastinators. Some people don’t even make it past the first week of the year, keeping these “resolutions,” but the determined few keep them all the way through. Most make it past the second week (71 percent), but as soon as half the year has gone by only 46 percent have kept their promises.

Of course the most popular one is the “I will stick to my diet and lose ___ pounds this year.” In a strong second place is “I will quit smoking.” Millions of people wait for one of the biggest countdowns of the year just to say I will. While some do succeed, they didn’t need an entire year to start.

Pay attention to the word some, because we’re human, and we make promises we don’t keep. We make mistakes, we do things wrong, we lie, we cheat, etc. That’s why we have, why we need, resolutions. But we can do that at any time. What justifiable reason is there to wait that long to do something about your life.You can change your

mistakes whenever, wherever, you want.

You can chose to change whatever you want. There’s no limit to what you can change. To what you can really do when you decide to take that change and make the resolve to do something. It can be anything.

It doesn’t have to be “save the world” or “find the cure to cancer.” It can be something as little as smiling every day, or saying something nice to someone once a day.

It can be that you’ll be more honest with yourself, or someone else.

Honestly, it can be anything. Big or small. Even if someone else thinks it’s stupid or shallow or whatever, if it matters to you then do it.

Don’t limit yourself, don’t let other people limit you, do what you want. Change what you want. Be who you want. It’s all up to you.

If someone takes the time and finds the dedication to change part of them, then why should

they wait for the year to end? What makes that last day of the year so different from any other day? Is there some magical feeling that overwhelms their being making it possible for them set a goal and actually want to reach it? A year consists of 365 days in which you can decide to change something or do something about your life. Why do you have to wait until that three hundred and sixty-fifth day to do so?

Slow and steady wins the race, but in the race of life you can’t always be slow. Life’s always moving, shaking, breaking, building, and you can’t just sit around waiting for each year to end. Every single day counts in the big scheme of things, and you can’t

spend your whole life waiting around. It’s a fact that humans don’t live forever; we die.

And do you want to die waiting to change anything until that last day of the year when everybody else does? I’d think not.

Yes, resolutions are great. Setting a goal to better yourself, or something about your life, is a great thing. However, taking a whole year to evaluate yourself and THEN deciding what to do about it is a bit ridiculous. Procrastination much? You can make the choice to change your life at any time. No unwritten law exists that says you have to wait to make a resolution until the final day of the year. It can be some random day in the middle of August when you make the choice to change, not the final day of the year.

I mean, yes, you learn a lot when looking back at the end of each year, but you learn a lot every day. Every day is another chance to make your life better. People, you’ve only got one life to live and you wait a whole year to decide to take it into your hands? I mean really, come on, guys. That’s just sad. We’re mature enough not to follow what everybody else does. We’re a new generation, so let’s start a new tradition where resolutions can happen anytime. Not just when the year comes to a close.

Appreciate the little things Gift cards potentially useful, BRIANNE KOPP Staff Reporter Appreciation. It’s something we could all do a little more of. We take so many things for granted, and what’s worse, is half the time we don’t even realize it. Whether walking the halls, dealing with our parents, or going over a list of all the things we just couldn’t life without — it’s all taken for granted.

Take, for instance, our “necessities.” Or rather, I should say what we consider to be our necessities. Our cell phones, hair products, or maybe shoes. Maybe it’s the coffee we pick up on our way to school or the car we drive. Yes, all of these things have become to someone of our generation a “need.”

However, take away the cell phones, could we still live? Absolutely. So that eliminates one. How about hair products?

Do we really need them to live? Of course not. Perhaps our hair would go flat, or our image slightly tampered, but again, all would be okay and life would go on. This comes true with all the things listed. And in more detail, all falls true just the same with iPods, designer jeans, Monsters, etc.

Yet we consider our life to be over if our phone breaks or we don’t have the newest pair of Rockin Revivals. And just one word sums it up: pathetic.

Appreciation has become something so far from our vocabulary, and more so our

but mostly just useless

actions. We collectively take advantage of everything we have and bypass the fact that we only have a few true necessities.

Granted, a majority of us have all of the needs to live, but what if we didn’t? When walking down Seattle, there are a few things that could be noticed. Perhaps the tall buildings, or the livelihood of the atmosphere, but maybe, paying a tad bit more attention to detail, you notice all the men and women dressed in rags, parched, holding signs. Some read: “Need money, anything helps” or the occasional “family kidnapped by ninjas need money for karate lessons.” Regardless of the actual words, they fall under the same category.

Imagine if that was you. If you couldn’t even grasp the desire of a cell phone because your mind is frantically worrying how and when your next meal will be. Or the thought of a warm jacket is at the top of your Christmas list rather than any designer jeans. This is a reality to so many people.

I’m not saying live your life unindustrialized, just be aware of everything you have and take into consideration all that someone may not have. Take advantage of what you can do to give back even if by a simple thank you. Don’t become so self absorbed and superficial that you forget about everyone else. Sometimes it’s just one person doing something small that makes a huge different. Anyone can make that difference. Act in appreciation.

JAYMES FLEURY Staff Reporter We all remember our heart-felt gifts from last Christmas. The best gifts come first to mind while you use them almost daily.

Then there are those gifts that you haven’t used since last Christmas. Those little plastic cards in your wallet, with the bright logos and dollar signs. Yes, I’m talking about the dreaded gift card. What if these were actual dollar bills!

Take a look in your wallet and see how much spending money that would be. Because I seriously can’t remember a time I spent fifty bucks at a Blockbuster. But gift cards are sometimes the best kind of gift you can get for someone. As long as you know one of their favorite stores, you can get them a card and let them go crazy.

America loves gift cards. Ninety-one billion dollars worth of them were purchased in 2008. Along with those cards, only 10 percent of them weren’t used. Yet some companies that same year couldn’t accept the purchased gift cards due to bankruptcies.

About 100 million dollars worth of cards, rendered useless. So that’s a lot of potentially wasted money, possibly the money spent on that card.

A little known fact about these gift cards is that some expire. They slowly decrease

in their original value, so spend fast! Sometimes they become completely useless and some just gradually lessen in dollar amounts.

So be careful when you buy one! You may have just completely wasted 25 dollars.

Some companies that were heavily affected by the economic drop completely stopped producing their gift cards because they were too expensive to purchase.

There are a ton of different kinds of gift cards out there. Other than the more popular plastic brand, there are the paper gift “certificates.” Not as flashy but obviously more economic. Not all gift cards are designated for one specific store either. Many companies such as “Visa” produce gift cards acceptable anywhere that takes that kind of card. Meaning you don’t have to take cash everywhere with you, unless you are at a store that won’t take a certain companies card. Theses cards however, do not dcrease in value.

Gift cards are pretty unpredictable.

They have their dollar amount printed in bold lettering, but you have no idea how much is left on it. How embarrassing would it be to waiting in line just to not be able to buy your item? Having to go back and fumble around in your wallet to find cash, or even another untrustworthy card? There you are holding up the entire line, when all you had to do was pay with real money!

12/14/10

NEWS

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Sandland, Viscom Holiday Concerts receive CTE award JAYMES FLEURY Staff Reporter

Get ready for Riverside’s annual holiday concerts! The Choir program performed their concert on December 9.

Our Orchestra will not be left out and on Wednesday December 15 they will be performing at 7:00 p.m. in the main gym.

The theme is obviously Christmas and the holidays. All choirs and orchestra will perform tomorrow, making for a concert of epic proportions.

But that’s not all: Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Choir will all perform a song together for one amazing finale.

Christmas music fans should see and hear this concert. It’s a great way to see fellow students show off their talents.

KYLE STOCKER Guest Reporter

“The students in her program are involved in many community and building activities,” Medina said. “She has been On November 22, CTE teacher Frank involved in a variety of different profesMedina presented Viscom teacher Gina Sand- sional and student leadership activities at land with her first ever WASTS CTE program Riverside.”

Sandland actually won this award over award. She had been recognized for teaching a month ago, and she didn’t even know it. the best 2010-2011 CTE Program.

The WASTS [Washington association for She was going to go to the WASTS Fall conSkilled and Technical Sciences] is an edu- ference this year two weeks ago, where the award would be given cational organization to her, but she couldn’t designed for preparing make it. So Medina students for specific presented it to her on industry classes such as Monday during the PLC electronics and Viscom. meeting.

The WASTS board meets “It was a nice surtogether every year to prise,” Sandland said. nominate teachers they “It’s always nice to think deserve recognibe recognized by your tion for their efforts. peers, because they Medina, the past know how hard you president of WASTS, work.” and currently a teacher Sandland was here, explained why grateful for the award, he thought Sandland PHOTO BY KYLE STOCKER but she said, “I don’t deserved this award. Viscom teacher Gina Sandland feel like I need recog“As a teacher,” he said, nition. I come to work “she strives for student success in her CTE program. She works hard to make her class every day and I do my job. I’m not really a one that instills industry standards and gives limelight person, if that makes sense.”

Medina added that “a lot of people students opportunities to shine.”

Every year, she receives letters from work very hard in the district, and are very students thanking her for opportunities she professional. But when somebody works as helped make happen as well as letters from consistently and as effectively as Sandland, the community members such as Auburn and makes such a big impact in the district, Mayor Pete Lewis, Auburn Parks and Arts and then it definitely deserves recognition. I have Recreation thank her and her students for known her for 14 years and it is an honor and a privilege working with her.” jobs well done.

Stay up-to-date.

Read. Reflect.

Respond. www.arhsinflight.com

PHOTOS BY CHARLES CASADY

Band and orchestra prepare for the holiday concert on Wednesday.

Ravens run cold-blooded LISA GRAY Staff Reporter

since the school was built in 1995. “Riverside was built on a low bid, and that included the heating system,” Principal Dave Halford said.

“Not exactly the best decision made.”

Since new machines where put in over the summer, the older machines are adjusting to not handling so much.

“The heating is a continual problem,” Vice Principal Frank Ramirez said. “But the district is aware of the problem.”

Air conditioners and heating systems take turns blasting air into Riverside’s classrooms, hallways and offices throughout the school day. Depending how far away the classroom is from the new machines put in over the summer makes the air coming out of the vents colder or warmer.

It has already been freezing outside and in November when the snow fell, students tried to escape from the cold by entering the school, but the AC on full blast didn’t help anything.

During the summer new machines were put into the school to help control the temperature of the classes, offices and hallways.

“Personally, I don’t really think that it is that cold in the school,” sophomore Phil Couture said.

But not all students are the same.

When cheerleaders have to spend the day in cheerleading outfits, it can get chilly.

“It is especially cold in certain classrooms,” junior Rebecca Forsyth said. “Sometimes it’s like an ice PHOTO BY LISA GRAY box.”

The difference in temperature Custodian Charles Walker adjusts the heating unit. The across the school has been a problem school’s temperature continues to cause problems.

FEATURE

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12/14/10

How others celebrate their winter holidays JAYMES FLEURY Staff Reporter Think of different ways to celebrate during the Christmas season. People celebrate during this season in so many different ways, when some don’t. A few of the main holidays are: the Christian tradition of Christmas, the Jewish tradition of Hanukkah, and Africa’s Kwanzaa.

Many religions celebrate this time of year. Some are focused on the natural changing of the seasons, the birth of a person, and the life that comes after the death of winter. All have their own beautiful ideas and traditions.

The most commonly known winter holiday is the Christian Christmas. Though the traditions vary from country to country, the general idea is that baby Jesus was born on this day (December 25th). So every Christmas families and friends exchange gifts and eat a large feast. Many people go to church on this day to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus.

Some even sing Christmas carols at church or even around their own town. Christmas is widely spread through the globe. It is celebrated in nearly every country, but some traditions are extremely more colorful. In the Netherlands and Germany it’s called St. Nikolaus Tag (St. Nicholas Day) while in Mexico, it’s called Las Posadas. Sweden’s

cooperative economics, purpose, creativity Hannukah, people who celebrate Kwanzaa Christmas is called St. Lucia’s Day. One country that celebrates Christmas and faith. Kwanzaa is celebrated through light a Kinara. The Kinara is a seven candle, with probably the most enthusasim is Ger- December 26th to the first of January. During candle holder. One candle is lit every day to many. In Germany, almost every town is this holiday people share food and decorate represent that day’s principle. On December covered in holiday garb and Christmas cheer. their houses with colorful art. Somewhat like 31st celebrators have a huge feast, mainly consisting of African dishes.

Every shop is dedicated to A slightly older holiday is Hanukselling Christmas ornaments, kah. This Jewish holiday was created toys, candy and food. Their to commemorate the rededication of traditions are even more the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The personal. Someone in the Jewish religious tradition has eight town is dressed as either days of Hanukkah, and each day evthe Weinachtsman (Christeryone receives a present. The first mas man) or the Christkind ceremony of Hanukkah is the lighting (Christ child). Each deliver of the Menorah, which is basically a candy or small toys to the large candle holder with nine candles. children of town in the shoes During this ceremony each candle is they leave out. That’s just lit, then as the days pass by a candle about half of their tradiis blown out. All are blown out one tions. at a time, usually an hour after dark Another popular holiof that day, except the ninth one or day is Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa, the Shamash. Before each candle is deriving from East Africa, lit, Jewish people bless the candles. used to celebrate the new Hanukkah is celebrated all throughout harvest. In America, it has world within the Jewish religion. changed to celebrating the With all these religions and holiAfrican culture. The seven days all around the world, we should days of Kwanzaa are each learn to accept and relate to them. dedicated to the seven So remember the differences around principles of Kwanzaa. The the world and the holidays different seven principals are; unity, people celebrate. self-determination, collecMany countries around the world celebrate the holiday season differently. tive work and responsibility,

Club Bulletin Board D&D They gather on Wednesday, in portable 913 with their adviser Tom Earl. They’re here to roll the dice, not to gamble, but for their lives. Students meet to convey their imaginative ideas and bring them to life. They share stories and laughs while still getting their epic quests done.

This is Dungeons and Dragons Club. The game D&D has been around for quite a while now, and it has taken the world by storm. If you’re new to the game, it’s basically like writing down your ideas and brining them to life through your character. They meet at the end of school until 4:30, so if you want to go let your imagination go crazy, head to D&D Club!

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY Want to make a difference in your community?

Then National Honor Society is for you. They meet the first Thursday of every month before school at 7:45 and after school at 2:40. They perform community service to better the community and themselves. A requirement to join includes having a 3.2 GPA or higher, and to stay in this club, 20 hours of community service is required. National Honor Society looks great on a college application and can teach lessons that cannot be learned anywhere else, and you will meet new people throughout the year.

Sound good to you? Contact senior Lauren Mendez or adviser Sue Neu for more information.

HARRY POTTER CLUB

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Harry Potter, the book and movie phenomena that’s hit the charts on a global scale, is now an up-and-coming club. Now on the final movie, it’s no surprise that a club has been formed in its name: “The Harry Potter Club.”

Meeting two Wednesdays every month in room 802 with advisers Rigley and Barden, these students bask in this fantasy world. All different kinds of people come to these meetings, all brought together by their love of Harry Potter.

Zealous? Nah. Just a mutual liking and understanding of Harry Potter. Anybody can join.

Freshman, senior, boy, girl. As long as you’re into Harry Potter and attend the meetings on said Wednesdays, from 2:35 to 3:30.

ULTIMATE FRISBEE CLUB Does running around, smashing into people and leaping after a disk in mid air sound tantalizing? Then Ultimate Frisbe sounds just about perfect. Unfortunately, Ultimate is not a club just quite yet. It will officially be in the spring with adviser Terry Johnson.

For now though, team captain Jaymes Fleury and other regulars still play every Tuesday and Thursday between 2:45 to 4:30. They meet in the art for everyone to arrive, then proceed to Roegner Park.

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FEATURE

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LISA GRAY Staff Reporter

J

unior Marcia Hernandez has a story to tell. Hernandez considers herself to be pretty rude at times, but if she doesn’t know the person then she is blunt. But her mom describes her as witty and fun loving. She coaches gymnastics at Olympic Middle School after school with junior Abigail Stockton.

Marcia has not started looking at colleges yet but she would like to go out of state and become an Ob/ Gyn. “I love the idea of working with pregnant women,” Hernandez said. “I know Ob/Gyns do more than just that but that would be the part that appeals to me most.

When someone finds out the sex of their baby, that look they have and their excitement is pretty awesome to me.”

Since she was seven Hernandez has also wanted to be a lawyer. “I may not always do the right thing, but helping to put the ones who are dangerous away or help the good guy out is pretty awesome too,” she said. “It’s like helping to make the world safer for maybe my niece or someday my own kids.”

Marcia has a lot of things in her future that she wants to accomplish and can’t wait to do in her life time.

Marcia’s favorite classes this semester are her sign language class, orchestra and global issues. But overall she likes history and typing classes.

“I think a creative writing class would be fun to take, too,” Hernandez said.

In Marcia’s free time she likes to hang out with her boyfriend junior Tim Pachano and her friends.

“Tim and I will go places or just hang out. Some-

times I’ll go with his family, we’ll go ride quads or shoot his dad’s gun,” Hernandez said.

Marcia has a passion for music; it’s always on in her car and when she is getting ready for school she is blasting old school music; it’s her favorite.

“I thought all the time of making a career of out my music,” Hernandez said. “I love playing my cello and I’d love to play in college or professionally someday.

Going to work every day doing something you love is something everyone wants but honestly I don’t know if I have the attention span to play my cello at a college or professional level. I get easily side tracked.”

Marcia wants to make the lacrosse team at Mountainview. She currently isn’t playing any sports but she has played basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, track, wrestling, fastpitch, and football with friends.

“I want to make the lacrosse team in the spring, and I can’t wait to graduate,” Hernandez said. “I also want to travel and experience all I possibly can. I want to go to Italy and sky dive, I want to get married and have a family.”

Marcia’s friends, family and her boyfriend are all really important to her. Her friends sometimes understand her better.

“They’re the ones who make me laugh and forget any issues I might be having at the time,” Hernandez said. “There’s a different connection with them than my family.”

Marcia has a lot to look forward to in high school, her music and her career.

PHOTO BY CHARLES CASADY

Community service for everyone CHERI BROCH Staff Reporter

PHOTO BY CHERI BROCH An awesome student picks up unwanted litter around the school

During this season of cheer it’s good to give back a bit.

“Its our community, let’s invest,” said Kelly Jensen, Key Club adviser.

So many people are in a place in their lives where they need some help, and you’d be amazed by the little acts of kindness that can make their day. So much can be done to help the needy: Auburn Food Bank, Auburn Youth Recovery, and the YMCA. With so many people in need due to the economy and other reasons as well, taking a little time out of the day to go help at a soup kitchen can really mean a lot. The people who pass through there, that may be their only hot meal.

It may not seem like that a big deal, serving people some food and smiling at them, but who knows? That may be the last thing they ever see. It may be the thing that makes them take a step in the right direction. Doing such a little act to help the less fortunate can really impact not only your life but theirs too.

Everybody sees trash. It’s everywhere. All over the streets, in people’s yards, in parking lots, and highways.

Why not take a moment and bend down to pick up a piece of trash? No big deal right? That piece of trash just picked up by a good Samaritan could save that bird you see flying overhead every day. Maybe picking up that piece of paper on the ground won’t save the world but it may save more than you think. Little things matter.

Donating isn’t all about having money. Maybe it’s do-

nating a book you read once to a library in need, or a jacket you wore twice during the summer to a shelter. Maybe on a rainy day when going through clothes you haven’t seen since sixth grade, give them to Goodwill. Someone who really needs clothes could use them. What’s the point in wasting what could be of use to someone, somewhere?

There is still a war going on overseas. Soldiers are still fighting for our freedom. They all want to be home for Christmas too. They miss their families too. You don’t have to know them, but sometimes sweet words from a stranger can give someone the courage to push on.

Organizations out there dedicate themselves to sending cards, letters, notes, etc to soldiers overseas. Imagine living in a tent with ten other men, always on edge, wondering if you’re going to live through the night. A simple card with a few words saying people still care can make that world a lot less frightening. You don’t have to be a poet, or even a writer to make someone smile. Just a moment of your time, some paper, and a pen.

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s r e f f u t S g n i Stock Books Gum Candy Make-Up Cheap Gadget Singing Stuffed Animals Slinkys Nail Polish Socks

Pez Accessories Hair Products Razors Hygiene Products CDs Cocktail Rings Chocolate Oranges

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Gift

Ideas

Ladies

Gents

Perfume Candies Lindor Chocolates Mittens Scarves Jewelry Gift cards (both)

Cologne Video Games Movies Headphones Music (both) Nice Wallets Watches

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Staff Christmas Traditions CHERI BROCH Staff Reporter

The Broch family has had a long time tradition of going to the east coast every year to visit the family on my mom’s side. This involves getting six people onto a plane before noon, having suitcases full of gifts, and braving the New Jersey snow.

The Broch family also participates in the common tradition of decorating the tree as a family. Everybody has an ornament to put on that has symbolizes something in their life, whether it be a ballerina, running shoes, a drum set, or just some random inside joke — everybody has something. When we aren’t setting up ornaments we’re doing our well choreographed dance routine to a mini Santa singing “Jingle Bells.” By “we” I mean myself and my red-headed younger sibling of thirteen years.

Videos of this have never ended up on YouTube for the dignity of not only myself, but my family would no longer be in existence. One of the traditions that we do pride ourselves on is opening all of our presents together under the tree. We do it in order from youngest to oldest, considering the older siblings can hold on longer, and go one by one. Opening the presents that the parental units dictate should be opened first, leading up to the “screamer” gift. Everybody gets a “screamer” gift, which is the one thing you REALLY want. Sometimes, depending on price and convincing ability, it’ll be the only present or combined with birthday money. So, there you have it, some Broch traditions — aren’t you just dying to try them?

JAYMES FLEURY Staff Reporter The Fleury/Lampman family traditions are bountiful.

We start with the traditional greeting when family arrives.

Soon our house is filled with what seems and sounds like a starving village. The children are endlessly searching for the legendary stuffing. The stuffing at our household is so delicious that the cook (Mom) hides it so it won’t be eaten before dinner. And yes, it has been found. The dish has been hid on the roof, in the attic, up a tree and only god knows where else. Once the feast begins, we don’t know where to begin. Every year the cooks (Mom, sisters, grandparents, etc.) create a feast fit for kings. Then the yelling across the tables begins. Jokes, news, stories and all sorts of memories are exchanged by the family members. Occasionally there is the silence of everyone eating and forgetting to talk because of the amazing food. Once the food has been consumed and people are so tired they can barely stand, we sit and talk some more. Then things get really crazy. It’s a mad dash to get the mountain of dishes done. Then we have occasional war. It’s a war of good fun and BIG mess. It’s the “once in a blue moon, Food Fight!” Potatoes and mash are on the walls, yams are splattered against the window and the three-yearold is having the time of his life. Then of course there’s the clean up. Everyone’s favorite part. And that’s the average Christmas day at the Fleury/Lampman house.

SHAYLA MCGINNESS Editor-In-Chief McGinness family tradition decrees that it’s not really Christmas unless a real tree is in the living room decorated. Every year, my parents and I walk down our street to the Christmas tree farm. We grab a saw and walk the field to find the “one.” Usually, it’s wet and muddy, and by the time we’re finished, sap and pin needles cover us from head to toe. The reward is definitely worth it though because a real tree simply looks better to us. In the weeks leading up to Christmas day, my family a couple nights a week watch all of the old Christmas movie classics. Also, my sister and I used to watch The Grinch every night until Christmas. The night we decorate our tree, my mother puts the little porcelain village on the book shelf, throws fake snow over it, and plugs it in. The sight is just heavenly. Another tradition my parents have is putting the presents underneath the tree weeks in advance. I’ve come to the conclusion that they love to taunt my sister and me. As a good daughter though, never have I shook or peeked at my presents. The most important and special tradition we have though happens on Christmas Eve. Every Christmas Eve, my mom lets my sister and I open only one present each, and every year the present is pajamas. It may seem lame but there just isn’t anything better than sleeping in a new pair of jammies. As everyone is opening up their gifts my mom pulls out the dreaded camera and takes pictures. The pictures are generally awful since we just jump out of bed, no hair brushing no showering. We usually laugh about how bad we look after we shower. When the day after Christmas rolls around, we pack up the decorations and haul the tree out of the house. Jealous yet?

LISA GRAY Staff Reporter A few weeks before Christmas my dad and I get our fourfoot plastic Christmas tree out from the garage, and we buy boxes and boxes of candy canes and decorate the living room for the upcoming holiday. On my dad’s side of the family we all come together either at my grandma’s and grandpa’s cabin and exchange gifts and have a lot of yummy food. We also usually play some sort of outside sport activity. At my mom’s we always have a family dinner, exchange gifts and we usually watch a Christmas movie, usually How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the 2000 version). Also on my mom’s side of the family we go to church for Christmas mass. On Christmas day I always wake up to a roaring fire in the fire place. Once everyone is up we open presents and exchange hugs as gratitude. After playing with our gifts for many hours we all go in the kitchen and pitch in to make a delicious Christmas dinner. We always end the day with steaming hot cocoa and peppermint candy canes going over the highlights of the day. If we happen to have a white Christmas then we always make snowmen and go to the park and slide down slides. The next day is full of shopping and mall food. When we get home all of the Christmas decorations go back in their boxes and into the rafters in the garage.

A&E

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Yummies in the tummies...

Try these holiday goodies

Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes Ingredients:

• • • • • • • • • • •

Peppermint Brownie Pie Ingredients:

• •

2 Tbsp. butter 8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 3/4 cup butter 3 eggs 3 egg yolks 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour Powdered sugar Fresh raspberries Fresh mint leaves

• • • • • • •

1/2 cup butter or margarine 3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped Pastry for 9-inch single crust pie 3 eggs, lightly beaten 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup mint-flavored semisweet chocolate pieces Whipped cream

Directions:

Directions:

1.)

1.) For filling: In a heavy small saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring frequently. Let cool for 20 minutes.

2.)

In a small saucepan, combine chocolate and 3/4 cup butter. Cook while stiring over low heat. Keep heating until chocolate melts. Remove pan from heat; set aside.

2.) Meanwhile, prepare and roll out pastry. Line a 9-inch pie plate with pastry; trim and crimp edge.

3.) In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, egg yolks, granulated sugar and vanilla with an electric

3.) In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, sugar, flour and vanilla. Stir in the chocolate

Using 2 tablespoons butter, grease six 8 to 10 ounce ramekins, soufflé dishes or custard cups. Place ramekins in a 15x10x1 inch baking pan; set aside

mixer on high speed for 8 to 10 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Fold one-third of the chocolate mixture into egg mixture. Fold remaining chocolate mixture and flour into egg mixture. Spoon about 2/3 cup batter into each prepared ramekin, dividing evenly

4.)

Bake in a 425 degree F oven about 12 minutes or until cake edges feel firm. Cool in ramekins on a wire rack for 2 to 3 minutes. Using a knife, loosen cake from sides of ramekins.

Invert onto dessert plates. Sift with powdered sugar and serve with fresh raspberries and mint leaves. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.

mixture and chocolate pieces. Pour into pastry-lined pie plate.

4.) Bake pie in a 350 degree F oven about 55 minutes or until filling is evenly

puffed and edges of filling are slightly cracked. Cool on wire rack (center will sink slightly as pie cools). Serve with whipped cream. Makes 10 servings

Black Ops in the crosshairs JORDAN GREEN Guest Reporter I get home with my newly purchased copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops. I sprint through my front door into my kitchen. I get my chips, my Mountain Dew, and I’m ready to game.

Call of Duty is a multimillion dollar game title making more than 55 million dollars worldwide. The highly anticipated release of the new Call of Duty: Black Ops lives up to its reputation, with an amazing campaign that will leave players on the edge of their couches and a multiplayer that does not disappoint. And the best part?

Nazi Zombies is back!

The campaign has many twists and turns and could easily be made into a movie. The plot of the campaign stars the player, Alex Mason, a CIA agent that performed many Black Ops missions. Mason has been captured and brainwashed in Russian correctional facility Vorkuta. After the brainwashing all Mason can see is numbers.

The main focus of the story revolves around him being interrogated to find out what the numbers mean and what he knows.

The campaign follows Mason through all his experiences and memories of his career as a soldier and CIA agent. It is much like a

psychological thriller and has many twists and turns. It is by far the best first-person shooter campaign I have ever played and would highly recommend it.

The multiplayer is a different story. It is the same as every other Call of Duty multiplayer.

A couple new things here and there but it is mostly the same as Treyarch’s last game, Modern Warfare. The only big difference is the multiplayer is based off a new scoring system called CoD points which act like a Call of Duty currency. They can be used to purchase guns and perks as well as gambling.

Now instead of acquiring all the weapons while progressing through the levels, the weapons can be bought.

The best part is when someone is talking smack. Go into a wager match and put CoD points on the line to prove who the better player is. It is a great new feature that allows players to capitalize on their earn-

ings. Other than that the only difference is a couple new guns, new attachments, and new maps. Overall the multiplayer is very fun, as the others are, but quickly becomes boring unless playing with friends for fun, rather than leveling up. The multiplayer is

just more of the same; it’s not a bad thing, but it could be better.

In my opinion the best part of the game is the return of the much anticipated Nazi Zombies. In Nazi Zombies the player and up to three friends fight off rounds of zombie hordes and try and survive as long as possible. Besides two new maps and the addition of modern guns, it is exactly the same, which is why it is so fun. The Nazi Zombies of Call of Duty 5 was a huge hit and was very fun. Now it’s back and better than ever. Round after round it never gets boring.

It is highly addictive and never gets old. Nazi Zombies is my favorite part of Black Ops. The new addition to the Call of Duty series definitely lives up to the hype. If any of the previous games were not satisfying, this one is no exception. But to all Call of Duty fans, get a copy today.

PHOTO COURTESY FLICKR.COM CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE

Call of Duty: Black Ops lives up to the hype of new, high quality graphics.

UPCOMING COURSES

Auburn Riverside High School ..........................

Jan 25, 2011 to Mar 15, 2011 Tu/Th 3:30pm - 5:30pm Feb 23, 2011 to Apr 20, 2011 M/W 3:30pm - 5:30pm Mar 17, 2011 to May 12, 2011 Tu/Th 3:30pm - 5:30pm

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SPORTS

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Off the field, onto the court BRIANNE KOPP Staff Reporter From the stands you may hear “Bad Grad” repeated over and over. The meaning behind it? To support and spike up senior Cameron Grad.

Participation, cooperation and love for the game? Assets to a teammate, but encouraging, positive, and genuine? Assets to captain Cameron Grad.

Participating in all three sport’s seasons, Grad shows dedication beyond the norm to his athletics.

First picking up basketball in 1st grade, Grad focused on constantly striving to get better. He looks up to his sister as a role model and goes to her for the support needed to play his best. Grad continues to do so and is constantly looking to her for guidance.

With a strive to out-ball his sister, Grad’s determination doesn’t come short. Having started the past two years, Grad’s position and level of importance on the team as a guard/forward is clear.

Aside from basketball, Grad also gets the job done running the field. Participating in football since 7th grade, Grad picked up a knack for wide receiver and linebacker. Averaging nine tackles per game, and voted team captain two years in a row, Grad proved his

level of commitment to the team.

Commitment and determination he never lacks, and this continues as the discussion centers on his off season. Grad focuses on staying in shape.

Living an active lifestyle, he keeps busy with conditioning, running and participating in football, basketball, and baseball. As for the muscle needed to excel in these sports? Weightlifting with senior co-lifters John Hakala and Taylor Maples gets the job done.

Although most of Grad’s life is surrounded by sports, he makes time for school, family and friends. When not focusing on sports, he fills his free time by hanging out, messing around, and catching up on the most recent Gray’s Anatomy.

Yes, the tough exterior of Grad is only a facade, and can easily be mistaken, however, when having Grad in class or listening to him simply open his mouth. You’ll see the true blonde in him. Grad is one to easily mistake things or more often take everything too literal. Grad easily gets his classmates laughing, whether at him or with him; it takes him too long to catch on.

With that said, it’s no wonder the love and support “Bad Grad” gets when out

PHOTO COURTESY CAMERON GRAD

“Bad Grad” made the switch from varsity football to varsity basketball

in front of his crowd.

While constantly doing his best in every sport he plays, Grad’s desire is to hopefully continue sports throughout college.

“I plan to play college football next year, hopefully at a D2 school,” said Grad.

He’s currently been in contact with a few colleges and is hoping for the best.

Still, Grad has a season of baseball and the rest of the basketball season to make the most of his Raven career. He wants to have a fun and competitive last season in these sports, as he has already achieved with football. Combined with Grad’s efforts and the whole team’s, they went on to have one of the most successful football seasons in Raven history.

For those looking to succeed in any sport you play, take the example of Grad. Hard work, determination, and a little skill never let Senior Cameron Grad you down.

MORE SPORTS AT OUR WEBSITE! WWW.ARHSINFLIGHT.COM