December 2010

THE CHIEF DAILY PROPHET

A special section of the wizarding world’s most popular newspaper. p8-9

SPORTS GIRLS SOCCER TEAM WINS STATES p16 NEWS CYBER CAFETERIA OPENS p2 EDITORIAL COMMUNICATION OVERLOAD p5

DECEMBER 2010

Massapequa High School

Vol. LIX - ISSUE 2

mhsthechief@yahoo.com

Flags fly for freedom in Field of Honor

BY LYNN HOROWITZ BUSINESS MANAGER

As the sun rose and the wind blew, about fifty students and Kiwanis Club members raced to put up 220 American flags in front of Massapequa High School to get out of the cold.

These flags were all sponsored, bought by citizens and businesses alike, to create a Field of Honor across the front lawn of Massapequa High School.

Berner Middle School has a similar field of honor with 120 flags, erected on the same day at the same time as the one at the high school. The Key Club at MHS and the Builders Club at Berner worked to sell flags in honor of veterans, both alive and deceased, to help celebrate Veterans Day on November 11. Most flags are dedicated to a veteran, as seen on the yellow tag hanging from the bottom of the flag. Some tags are left blank, simply dedicated to veterans in general.

“Our Key Club put so much hard work into the field of honor. We either spent our time trying to find people or businesses to donate a flag or actually put the flags up,” Key Club Vice President Brianna Dara said. “It was cold that day, I was there and it wasn’t the easiest task to do but it was a success. I am very proud of the Massapequa Key Club for their hard work and how the field came out so beautiful.”

As the morning of November 6 progressed and more flags were set up

by Key Club members, with the help of MHS hockey team members in conjunction with Kiwanis members, the public began to truly see how patriotic MHS students are and how beautiful the front

lawn of a high school can become.

“It was an honor to set up the flags in memory of our veterans,” Lisa Knoph, president of the Key Club, said.

“And don’t the flags look beautiful as you drive down Merrick Road!”

Other students agree about the new

Altadonna, and Joseph Pinto. It was a short ceremony, simply dedicating the field to the veterans. A local Massapequa Boy Scout troop, Troop 5, acted as the color guard.

“It’s a great tribute,” Superintendent Charles Sulc said, “to those who

ALLIE GIORDANO // THE CHIEF

Some of the flags flying in front of MHS in honor of Veterans Day look the school and feel it gives a nice visual effect, as well as symbolizing the spirit of MHS. “I think that they are a good way to remember what our veterans did for the country. Each flag sort of symbolizes each veteran,” senior, Molly Peck said, “and they look really cool when they all blow in the wind.”

The set up was followed by a dedication ceremony the following day, Sunday, November 7, simultaneously at MHS and Berner. The ceremony at the high school consisted of a series of speakers talking about the importance of Veterans Day, led by Bill Van Wagner from Kiwanis. Local politicians also attended, such as Peter Schmitt, James

have served and are no longer with us, those who have served and are with us, and those who still serve.”

This is Massapequa’s first annual field of honor, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. The Kiwanis Club approached the district over the summer about the Field of Honor, asking if the district would like to support its veterans.

Other schools, such as Amityville High School, have had a field of honor every year for many years, but Massapequa has just jumped on the bandwagon this year.

The flags were removed from the fields on December 4, but their influence on the community will remain long after.

apequa’s income, but Adcock said that “most money comes from state aid.”

Massapequa currently faces low state aid grants because it does not fit the categories that would make it eligible for larger sums. Four factors determine the percentage of NYS aid received: the number of non-English speaking students that reside in an area; the number of students who qualify for free and reduced-priced lunches; property value; and income wealth.

“Long Island does not fit these parameters,” Adcock said.

The issue becomes more localized when Massapequa’s qualities are considered in accordance with these factors.

Massapequa’s limited diversity eliminates it from the first category: the census of 2000 determined Massapequa’s population to be 97.4 percent white, an amount that does not exhibit a necessity for state aid.

As for supplied lunches, only 7.3 percent of the residents in Massapequa were below the poverty line – a figure that, according to the aforementioned census, is almost half of the national average of 14.3 percent. Only two per-

cent of Berner Middle School students received free or reduced lunch in 2009 according to schooldigger.com. These values further eliminate Massapequa’s need for state aid.

Property value and income wealth continue this trend; Massapequa’s estimated household income in 2008 was $110,859, as compared to that of New York – a significantly lower value of $56,033. The estimated median house or condo value of Massapequa was $557,119 in 2008, while that of the entire New York state was $318,900, according to city-data.com.

“A fair share of state aid is not driven to its districts,” Mr. Adcock said of Massapequa.

And, when examining the larger picture, it is important to note that Long Island educates 17 percent of New York citizens according to the Massapequa Patch, an online newspaper. Before cuts to state aid, Nassau and Suffolk counties combined received only 13 to 14 percent of monetary increases.

When this is coupled with the fact that LI pays the second highest median real estate taxes in the nation, an imbalance becomes clear.

Education takes a hit with state aid loss

BY NOELLE WITT & TOM STRONGGRINSELL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & MANAGING EDITOR

Change is a constant in government. With Albany’s shifting political tone after the midterm elections, updated policies are likely to emerge that will affect Massapequa School District.

Newly-elected Governor Andrew Cuomo has plans to reduce state aid across the board in New York, an act that would ultimately impact Massapequa taxpayers.

Cuomo has also suggested a two percent school tax cap, a proposal that could potentially damage school districts across Long Island according to Deputy Superintendent Alan Adcock.

“A tax cap would have a profound impact on educational programs,” Adcock said. “What programs, I don’t know, but the effects would be widereaching.”

Adcock explained that a percentage of the district’s revenue comes from its lease of the Hawthorne School to the Nassau County Police Academy and of the Carman Road School to Nassau BOCES. Interest deposits and revenue from taxes also contribute to Mass-

One View...

BY STEVE SOHMER CONTRIBUTOR

I was fortunate enough to celebrate Veterans Day on November 11 at Albert Klestinec Park with locals, government officials and veterans, of course. I stood there in awe of how many veterans came from right here, Massapequa. Veterans who fought in Vietnam, Korea and even a 98year-old soldier from WWII showed up in honor of all of those who have served.

Commander Jack Hipp of the American Legion Post 1066 began the ceremony with a heartfelt speech. He said that Veterans Day commemorates the day that the armistice in WWI took effect. “It was the war to end all wars…unfortunately the people of this world have not learned to live in peace.” Commander Hipp’s words touched everyone in the crowd.

I grabbed my pen and asked some of the dignitaries what Verterans Day means to them. Councilman Joe Pinto responded, “[Veterans Day] is the day to give thanks to those who gave up a lot and allowed me to be there for the birth of my children. We can’t begin to give enough thanks.”

For Assemblyman Saladino, “[Veterans Day] is the day we show recognition and give thanks, respect, and honor to those who served.”

Finally Senator Charles Fuschillo looked me straight in the eye and said, “The right to be able to wake up under a blanket of freedom, while other people wake up in fear.”

I thanked them and walked over to some of the veterans who participated in the ceremony and thanked them as well for defending my rights and the rights of others. I said my final good-byes and prepared to leave Klestinec Park.

As I was leaving, I looked around and realized something. No matter our opinions of the war itself, we should always honor those who fight and continue to put their lives on the line for us.

A one percent midyear aid cut is possible in January according to Adcock, who estimated this decrease to be approximately $250,000 for the Massapequa School District. This sum is difficult to ignore, for educational programs would need to be altered or eliminated.

“If we knew that would happen,” Adcock said, “we would look for fund balance, or savings the district could put aside to lower the burden. But we cannot do that year after year.”

Though the problem could therefore be temporarily alleviated, the longterm impact of Cuomo’s desired tax cap and the cut in New York state aid would threaten the district’s welfare.

NEWS

DECEMBER 2010

THE CHIEF 2

Cyber Cafeteria officially opens to serve students and staff

BY TOM STRONG-GRINSELL MANAGING EDITOR

As the holidays and the winter months approach, it is about time MHS unveils its brand new, state-of-the-art cafeteria facility.

Students, staff, and administration have been eagerly awaiting the completion of this multimillion dollar project.

The project’s construction began last June and has proved to be a major undertaking both monetarily and chronologically. The original completion date of September 7 was pushed back an additional two months in order

of celebration. Additionally, the entire Board of Education unanimously approved the final product and commented the final product’s appeal.

“The cafeteria came out absolutely beautifully and I hope people take advantage of the provided accommodations available to students,” said former MHS principal Dr. James Grossane.

The result is astonishing, though it may face criticism from students. The space is modern but inviting and boasts plenty of space on both sides.

The cafeteria also features six flat panel TVs, comfortable furniture, and

students eagerly awaiting their lunch.

Fortunately, the computer section is quieter and less crowded – a benefit for students who wish to complete assignments.

An updated lunch menu is also available being updated as time progress according to Dr. Williams. Sushi and a latte machine are just two new additions to the lunch menu in addition to the deli lunch and regular school lunch already available. The breakfast program available in previous years is also making a comeback to encourage students to use the space in the morning.

cafeteria portion has the ability to be locked for a safety precaution.

Prices are a dispute between staff and students alike, some comment that the prices haven’t changed though some differ saying that there has been a significant increase. One teacher reported paying over nine dollars for a sandwich, french fries and a beverage.

Speculation that the project will not be effectively used is justified and yet will be put to the test as the year progresses.

On a recent rainy day the cafeteria staff reported that it served almost 300

The serving area of the updated cafeteria at its opening ceromony.

The computer area of the Cyber Caferteria with multiple computers, new chairs, and idividual seating areas with desks attached to do work while students wait.

to add the finishing touches.

The final cost of this project, which was projected to be approximately $2.1 million, came in at $1,993,269.97 according to the Massapequa Patch, an online newspaper.

The plans have been developing for quite some time. The Chief first reported plans for renovation in October 2007, but the original completion date was slated for the winter of that school year.

The Board of Education meeting on November 18 marked the official opening of the cafeteria, as the impromptu gathering turned into a night

Deputy Superintendent Alan Adcock said that this facility is, to his knowledge, the only cyber-cafeteria on Long Island and quite possibly the best high school lunch facility.

“The new cafeteria is an amazing opportunity to have such great accommodations at the student’s disposal. I am going to need the students’ input on how to improve upon the project,” said MHS principal Dr. Barbara Williams.

The space does not only function for students, however; there are two separate meeting spaces for use after school hours that will be beneficial to the community and faculty. The cyber-

PAIGE SNIDER // THE CHIEF

computers accessible to students after they eat – a previously unavailable commodity “The cyber cafeteria is a great idea for open access,” MHS social studies teacher Mr. Ryan said. “I like this idea.

It brings more unity and safety to the building.”

The cafeteria can become crammed by the food area, however, for many students must wait on the busy line.

The use of the new serving facility is unbalanced; the cafeteria has two serving stations,both being utilized but there is only one checkout station, causing the other area to become occupied by

What people are saying:

lunches, while on other days approximately 175-200 lunches were served – a number only slightly higher than that of the original cafeteria. On the rainy day, however, the amount of meals served was significantly higher. However, many have noticed an increase in usership by seniors on their out periods.

All in all, the true success of the cyber-cafeteria will not be measured by its immediate usage but by a progression through time as more students learn the commodities the new cafeteria has to offer.

“The Panini I ordered was way better than I had expected. It was of restaurant quality. The cafeteria itself is wonderful and has a great design.”

-- Pat Regan “The food is good, but Berner and Ames had more to choose from. I would come back though.”

-- Heather Sweeney

“The cafeteria is awesome, stupendous, very popular, and out of this world.”

-- Matt Scafidi “It’s cool that you can eat lunch and then use the computers, unlike the library. And there are rolling chairs!”

-- Erin Brussel “It was poor allocation of resources that could have gone Board of Education President Mrs. Perrino to improving education and getting us up to par with and MHS Principal Dr. Williams cut the ribbon PAIGE SNIDER // THE CHIEF opening night schools like Syosset or Jericho.”

Students enjoy the new chairs, and desks in the computer area.

-- Christine Apicella

NEWS

DECEMBER 2010

New movie shot in town

BY ADAM DAVI STAFF WRITER

A major film was shot in the village of Massapequa Park near Woody’s Bar this past October. For those of you who took notice of the commotion, the movie, titled Young Adults, stars Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt.

The film was directed by Academy Award-nominated director Jason Reit-

LaSusa was lucky enough to receive a small role in the movie. “Reitman, Theron, and Oswalt were all very congenial and friendly. They finished a day early, and they also planned on filming in a bar in Westchester for a little while,” LaSusa said of the cast and crew.

LaSusa has decided to have an event at Woody’s to watch the film upon

ADAM DAVI // THE CHIEF

Woody’s Bar, located on Park Boulevard, was the scene of a recent Hollywood movie. man and written by Academy Awardwinner Diablo Cody. This director and writer pair previously collaborated on Juno, which was nominated for 4 Academy Awards, with Diablo Cody winning the award for Best Original Screenplay.

The film occurs in the fictional town of Mercury, Minnesota according to Lou LaSusa, manager of Woody’s Bar. After narrowing it down to 15 possible locations, the company chose Woody’s to film the movie. However, some changes were needed. “They had to make the place look worse,” LaSusa said.

its release. “I’m probably going to have a big party here in the bar. I think the distributing company will give me a copy, so I’ll invite everybody and we’ll all watch it together,” he said.

The film is expected to be released in theaters around November 2011, just in time for next year’s Oscar season.

With a star-studded cast and a crew that is very familiar with the Academy Awards, Young Adults is sure to garner much critical praise and notoriety upon its release.

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

What is the mass of fluorine? Who is the author of Moby Dick? Where did the fist pump originate? These are the kinds of questions asked on The Challenge, a game show in which high school students participate. Each team is from a different school and is comprised of four people and one alternate.

The questions given on The Challenge span various subjects from pop culture to literature to science and everything in between. These questions are then answered by the students to see which team can get the most points and thus win the game.

The show airs on MSG Varsity, a channel owned by Cablevision. Massapequa was fortunate enough to be chosen to participate this year.

The Massapequa team is made up of senior Erin Geier and juniors Nick Barbieri, Tyler Novet, and Dylan Spiro, with junior Bryan Somaiah as the alternate. They faced Hicksville during the first round of the competition; the episode aired on December 5. MHS got off to a rough start as Hicksville got the first four questions in a row, three of which were steals after Massapequa got them wrong. However, after the “Atoms” and “Music from Musicals” categories, MHS was on a roll and began to dominate the game.

Holiday spirit on Park Blvd.

BY NICOLE FIENE STAFF WRITER

“It’s Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas” was a reality for the residents of Massapequa and Massapequa Park on Saturday, November 27.

The Christmas Tree Lighting was held in the village of Massapequa Park, and as always, was a great start to the holiday season.

Once again, the ceremony was a community effort. Members of the Massapequa High School kick line and cheerleading team performed, and Broadcast Journalism students, senior Rob Duffy and juniors Jenna Fratello and Tom Strong-Grinsell, helped with hosting the ceremony.

The Knights of Columbus provided their annual free hot chocolate amidst the storefront windows, decorated with holiday scenes by the MHS Art Club.

Massapequa resident and MHS alumnus Victoria Broadhurst sang the Star Spangled Banner before the lightings as MHS ASL students signed the

lyrics.

Local pediatricians Dr. Fred Kalenscher and Dr. Tom Giannattassio lit the menorah and the Christmas

Photo by: Ed Cox

ASL students perform the Star Spangled Banner alongside Victoria Broadhurst. tree alongside local officials as Mayor Altadonna led the countdown.

Afterwards, MHS’s kick line performed to “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” continuing the holiday cheer.

As usual, the ceremony was the official start of the holiday season for our community; the only thing missing was the snow.

Photo by: Ed Cox

Success on The Challenge

BY KARAN CHHATPAR

THE CHIEF 3

As the game progressed, MHS maintained its lead over Hicksville and ultimately came out victorious. The final score of the game was Massapequa with 255 and Hicksville with 225.

Senior and team captain Erin Geier said, “Being that most of us had never been on TV before, we were pretty nervous at first, but after we gained a substantial lead through pop culture and literature questions, we got progressively more confident. We all had different areas of expertise, and I’m proud of our team’s ability to work together. I’m hoping we can win again when we return to The Challenge later this year.”

People who are well rounded in school may enjoy watching The Challenge and might want to consider trying out for the team next year. The Challenge airs new episodes Sunday through Friday at 5:30 PM on MSG Varsity, and repeats air Saturdays and Sundays at 6:30 and 9:30 PM on News 12.

Massapequa last participated in The Challenge two years ago and advanced to the second round but lost.

Now that MHS has won the first round this year, it will advance to the second round, which will be filmed and air at a later date. Hopefully, they will be victorious and bring home a win for Massapequa.

The cheerleaders make a giant Christmas tree formation topped with a star in their performance at the annual tree lighting ceremony.

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DECEMBER 2010

OP/ED

THE CHIEF 4

Point

American protection takes precedence over expression of sexuality

BY KELLY SMESTAD STAFF WRITER

The law “Don’t Ast Don’t Tell”, otherwise known as DADT, is a law that does not allow openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons to serve in the military.

Think about it: This law prohibits openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual people from serving. The government will not ask them what their sexuality is, and if they do not mention or admit to it, they can serve.

The law, passed in 1993, has remained in effect until President Obama stated, “I will end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’,” according to Service members Legal Defense Network.

The House of Representatives adopted an amendment that will repeal the law sometime in 2011. However, as if military personnel do not have enough to worry about, imagine if they are heterosexual and having to stress about whether their openly homosexual roommate is interested in them? That would add extreme tension to their already stressful situation. These men and women serving in the military share quarters and showers and live with each other 24/7. Put yourself in that situation.

Not only would you be putting your life at risk, having military commands being

shouted at you, but also, wondering in the back of your mind, when you settle in for what little down time you receive, if your roommate is interested in you.

How uncomfortable is that?

Source: getreligion.org

Additionally, the Center for Military Readiness, Section 654 of the Constitution, states that “Military life is fundamentally different from civilian life in that- 1. The extraordinary

responsibilities of the armed forces, the unique conditions of military service, and the critical role of unit cohesion, require that the military community, while subject to civilian control, exist as a specialized society; and 2. The military society is characterized by its own laws, rules, customs, and traditions, including numerous restrictions on personal behavior that would not be acceptable in civilian society.”

This proves that the military is not like a regular civilian community.

They have very strict rules and restrictions to make the military as effective as possible. Our military is one of the best out there; intimidating, strong, and powerful. Why change that now? This method has worked for years, and they have done their job of protecting the United States, which is the most important thing. If we try experimenting and mixing things up now, it may lead to a collapse of the military we worked so hard to build up. Change may not always be the best route to choose.

On January 27, 2010, President Obama stated that he was going to “finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are.”

This is not so. First and foremost,

President Obama has barely touched this issue since then. Second, Obama was misinformed.

Sure, gays can serve their country; all they have to do is sign up and not outwardly promote their sexuality.

The Department of Defense researched the matter in 1998 and concluded that most of the people who were discharged for homosexuality were discharged because they blatantly admitted that they were homosexual in their statements. Additionally, most of the people who were discharged were junior personnel, and the cases involving career service people were very low.

That being said, people overanalyze the situation. All this law was meant to do was to keep the peace and harmony throughout the military, and sometimes, in order to do so, compromises must be made.

Lastly, as President Obama said, gays can certainly serve the country they love. Why shouldn’t they be able to? All they have to do is be uniform with their fellow soldiers, leading to a united and effective military. Then, they can truly protect the land of the free.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: prejudice or protection?

Counterpoint

Individual freedom not to be limited by prejudiced policies

BY NICK BARBIERI CHIEF COPY EDITOR

What ever happened to human rights? What ever happened to freedom?

What ever happened to justice and legal equality?

Don’t ask, don’t tell – commonly referred to as DADT – is an act of legislation Congress passed that prohibits anyone who is openly gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, or pansexual to take part in the military. The law explicitly states than no one who “engages in, attempts to engage in, has a propensity to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual acts” can partake in military service. Plainly stated, anyone who is gay cannot be in the military.

How does this make sense? How is this justifiable? One can easily make the argument that no where in the United States Constitution, does it state that all people, regardless of sexual orientation, must be allowed to serve in the military.

However, that does not mean that this act is morally sound, and it does not mean that this act should continue.

Isn’t it said that “all men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence, the very document that began the transition into becoming the United States of America? Prejudice based on sexual orientation has become the racism of this century. In the twentieth century, there was a successful civil rights movement for legal equality for African Americans, for they were unfairly denied many Constitutional rights.

On the contrary, LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights have not been attained in America. There

are LGBT restrictions on every aspect of life, not just in regards to their acceptance into the armed forces. For example, same-sex marriage is only permitted in five states in the U.S., which is hardly fair or morally sound.

MSNBC has reported that over 13,000 troops have been discharged since the first enforcement of the DADT act in 1993. Those 13,000 troops could

the enforcement of the DADT policy as more court cases fighting against the policy arise. However, as these appeals work their way through the system up to the Supreme Court, the desire to prohibit DADT weakens; ultimately, the Supreme Court has opted to allow the ban of openly gay participants in the military.

Although the Supreme Court has

Prejudice based on sexual orientation has become the racisim of this century. very well have had a huge impact in the wars in which we have fought, and although these may be lives saved from the destruction of war, this has not helped us win in the slightest. In fact, it is much more likely that it has slowed down our progress, and may lead to us coming closer to losing war.

Back in January, in Barack Obama’s first State of the Union address, he stated, “This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are.” Although the country has yet to see this repeal happen, it is comforting to know that President Obama is aware of the issue and knows that DADT must be repealed; hopefully, he is able to make it happen sooner rather than later, considering he made that address almost a year ago.

Recently, federal appeals courts have been granting requests that prohibit

recently made this ruling, court cases that call for DADT to be repealed are bound to continue surfacing. Therefore, federal appellate courts will continue to make the plea for DADT to be repealed, and eventually the Supreme Court is bound to repeal this legislation. Why can’t this process just be shortened and this act be repealed now?

The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell act is a cruel legislation that promotes prejudice and homophobia in society. How is society supposed to move beyond the stereotypical images of homosexuals if there are laws that prohibit them from leading the lives they wish to live? It is time for a true leader to emerge in the LGBT community, and that leader must lead the road to equality.

Celebrity activists such as Lady Gaga and Kathy Griffin have spoken at rallies for the repeal of DADT. With their influence, hopefully the general public can see that this act is morally

unsound and that it is cruel to allow DADT to remain in place. The general public supporting the repeal of this act would be an extremely helpful step to having the federal government see that DADT is unconstitutional.

If an openly gay person wants to participate in the military, who is to say that he or she cannot? Having members of the LGBT community participate in the military would only help our nation, and if any military member has a problem with that, he or she must accept it. To not do so would be prejudicial and blatantly homophobic, and there is no argument that can say otherwise.

Women had to fight to get their place in the military, but they eventually succeeded. It is now time for openly gay people to endure this fight and come out victorious.

Furthermore, if and when this gets repealed, it should leave the door open for more LGBT rights to be granted, such as same sex marriage. Homophobia needs to end, and it needs to end now; the federal government needs to do its part it in accomplishing this by repealing this unconstitutional law.

Source: cleveland.com

OP/ED

DECEMBER 2010

THE CHIEF 5

Editorial

Technology overdose leads to lack of social skills

The phrase “in today’s world of advanced technology,” has become a cliché. We hear it constantly, we say it constantly, and we have iPads on our laps to prove it. What we don’t understand is what the battered phrase means.

We’ve gone from iPods to iPhones to iPads. We don’t question it; we just accept it. That’s why society has failed to see its effect on virtually everyone, technology abuser or not.

Information goes from private to public within seconds. Of course, newsmongers have the pleasure of obtaining the latest breaking news and updates within seconds of its release, just by refreshing their homepages.

Think about it: how many times have you logged on to Facebook only to find something that happened ten minutes ago plaguing your newsfeed?

Many believe this is just a godgiven gift to our generation, and in some ways, it is. The convenience

As technology reproduces faster than humans, it’s as if our species is becoming socially awkward robots that lack respect for privacy.

Recently, Julian Assange, founder of the controversial website WikiLeaks, has fallen into the trap of the uncensored web.

The site, known for its ‘leaking’ of official documents, released a quarter of a million unauthorized documents from the State Department in late November. Rep. Peter King, who calls the Swedish website a “foreign terrorist organization,” believes Assange should be prosecuted by the United States as a spy, according to Newsday.

Moreover, abused and rapid communication has triggered the minds of public figures and even the Obama administration to step in.

Brad O’Leary, author of the new book Shut Up, America!, said when he appeared as a guest on the Fox News

– regardless of how minor or major – could be prevented.

At a conference in Shanghai, President Obama addressed China’s leaders and suggested that the unmonitored current of information is serving the wrong purpose. “There are times where I wish information didn’t flow so freely because then I wouldn’t have to listen to people criticizing me all the time,” stated Obama.

The president speaks a universal truth. The bipartisan bill, also known as the Protecting Cyber-Space Act, would defend the United States and its private companies from the accumulating threats of cyber-attacks, meaning that connections to the web could be limited or completely shut

down for up to 30 days, according to the Daily Beast.

The proposed bill may be misunderstood as limiting freedom of speech; however, the prevention of a global meltdown due to false or simply dangerous information is more important than a status update.

GOT AN OPINION? Send it to The Chief mhsthechief@yahoo.com

As technology reproduces faster than humans, it’s as if our species is becoming socially awkward robots that lack respect for privacy. of clicking a button and having the world at your fingertips is ordinary.

The convenience of sending a text to ten different people at the same time in a matter of seconds is ordinary. The convenience of looking down at your lap to watch a movie or play a card game is ordinary. However, none of these conveniences involve people.

Traditional, conventional, dayto-day interaction is rapidly being replaced as humans hide behind the confines of their screens – be it a television, a computer, an iPad, etc.

The Chief Editorial Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Noelle Witt ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jenna Fratello MANAGING EDITORS Tyler Novet Tom Strong-Grinsell BUSINESS MANAGER Lynn Horowitz CHIEF COPY EDITOR Nick Barbieri CHIEF PHOTO EDITOR Paige Snider GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lauren Reisig SPORTS EDITORS Jason Celaru Rob Duffy COPY EDITOR Eileen Liebler EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Karan Chhatpar ADVISER Elyn Coyle

Channel segment Fox and Friends that the administration has a plan to “give the president complete control of the internet,” so that he could censor or shut it down in times of an emergency.

Despite the assumptions that this would be limiting freedom of speech, how nice would it be to come home and not have an untruthful rumor exposed on Twitter, Facebook, and dozens of other social networking sites? With the censoring of the internet, the leak of invalid information and false data

As if first dates weren’t awkward enough already...

The six offenders of cell phone etiquette

BY NOELLE WITT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

There is something so personal about cell phones… perhaps it is the quick scroll through a contact list without the nuisance of memorizing numbers, or the ability to assign a picture to each of these contacts (because it is easy to forget what friends look like). This personable nature extends to all users – save, of course, the top six offenders of cell phone etiquette; these individuals fail to recognize the appropriate time to take advantage of such intimacy.

1. The Distracted Friend You just told your friend that your beloved dog died, to which she responded, “Yeah,” with a slight glance up to acknowledge the fact that you have spoken. To carry out a conversation in person while a friend texts and gives an occasional grunt to show agreement with you is even more pleasant. And, in case you did not feel as if your friend enjoyed your company enough already, you see she updated her Facebook status instructing people to “text it.”

2. The Mealtime Texter Mom makes a nice dinner for the family, but her daughter is afraid her boyfriend will think she is ignoring him if she does not answer his “LOL” text. She moves her thumbs at lightning speed as she holds her phone under the table and attempts to converse without her parents noticing.

3. The Earpiece Mumbler It is not at all an embarrassment to ask, “What?” as a man stands next to you and speaks, and it is not an embarrassment to question your sanity after a lack of response. After a double take, however, the man’s ear bud hearing device is apparent and conversation is unnecessary.

4. The Frantic Shopper A baby on one hip, a toddler grabbing a coupon from each free dispenser as his mother pushes the cart down the grocery isle, a flip through a weekly sales flyer: a typical shopper. Add a cell phone call that angers the parent and every employee will have his hands full with cleanup from the cart’s clumsy path.

5. The Concert Interrupter ‘Twas the night of the holiday concert and all through the auditorium, not a creature was stirring… (if there were a word that rhymed with auditorium it would be used). Suddenly, the Verizon Default Tone reverberates through the room as the owner of the cell phone frantically searches through his or her pocket or purse to power down the phone; to have it distractedly ring twice would be a recipe for social disownment. The offender is left abashed and receives the occasional death stare from parents who are appalled at him or her for ruining their pride and joy’s display of talent.

6. The Public Yapper You attempt to catch up on life with your family as you ride the train to New York City when your ears are suddenly flooded with the much too audible voice of a man discussing his toe fungus.

You’re left with details of his medical appointment and a strong desire to walk the remaining 20 miles.

Hopefully you weren’t texting while you read this article.

OP/ED

DECEMBER 2010

THE CHIEF 6

Poor journalism: Hosts of The View walk off set

BY JENNA FRATELLO

ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The name of the ABC morning talk show The View hasn’t been too accurate recently. Changing the name of the show to One View would be more appropriate.

On October 14, two of the show’s hosts, Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg, furiously stomped off the set during a live filming, which left the other hosts, Sherri Shepherd, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and Barbara Walters, stunned. This could only mean one thing: Fox News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly, host of The O’Reilly Factor, was the guest.

The feud unraveled when the hosts began to discuss the plans for the “Ground Zero Mosque” and Islamic Cultural Center in lower Manhattan, which is to be located two blocks away from Ground Zero. O’Reilly claimed that the mosque is an example of the “widening gulf between the president and patriots,” saying that developers had the right to create it. Of course, O’Reilly wouldn’t finish without using the most sensitive truth to make a point.

“A lot of the 9/11 families, who

I know—say, ‘Look, we don’t want that,’ ” bringing an applause from the audience.

As the discussion turned heated, Behar began to rudely interrupt O’Reilly, when he then shushed her and stated, “Hold it, hold it. Listen to me, because you’ll learn.”

O’Reilly continued by citing a poll in which he claimed that 70 percent of Americans do not want the mosque built in its proposed location, “because it’s inappropriate,” he stated, according to New York Post.

O’Reilly’s statement was nothing but unpleasant for self-proclaimed liberals, Behar and Goldberg. “I’m outraged by that statement,” responded Behar after hearing the news.

“You’re outraged by Muslims killing us on 9/11?” snapped O’Reilly, clearly intimidating the two hosts with what they believed “demeaned Muslims,” according to the Post.

Goldberg, eager to defend her cohost, also began to interrupt O’Reilly as she attempted to explain the difference between extremists and an entire religious group. When O’Reilly beat

them at their own game, interrupting them just as much as they interrupted him, Behar and Goldberg hit an alltime low of unprofessionalism as Behar shouted “I can’t sit here,” in which she and Goldberg imprudently left the stage.

Shocked and confused, Barbara Walters, struggling to gain control of the group, expressed her disapproval immediately.

“I want to say something to all of you. You have just seen what should not happen. We should be able to have discussions without washing our hands and screaming and walking off stage.

I love my colleagues, but that should not have happened,” stated a frazzled Walters.

Moments later, Behar and Goldberg returned to the set after O’Reilly publicly apologized for upsetting “anyone who felt I was demeaning Muslims,” he stated.

The immaturity on Behar and Goldberg’s behalves has shown an exceedingly large amount of pettiness and irrationalism. Two grown women should be able to sit down and have a

civilized discussion regardless of how minor or major a controversial topic may be.

Most importantly, two grown women should be able show respect for whomever they are conversing with. Rather, foolishly storming off the set when in the presence of one of television’s most successful broadcast journalists was anything but being respectful, which is clearly something that both Behar and Goldberg have yet to learn.

Though O’Reilly is notorious for his unabashed, outlandish arguments, the fact that he, their guest, had to apologize to them is disturbing. If anyone should have been apologizing, it should have been the narrow-minded co-hosts on the show, Behar and Goldberg. After all, the entire purpose of the show is to expose numerous views and perspectives on some of the most comical and serious issues in America, not just one. Clearly, Behar and Goldberg forgot the objective of their job.

democrat or republican. We too allow the party to stand before the issue.

Although we are given the right to have a voice in government, we are squandering that right, by merely voting for the candidate that is registered to the same party. We may agree with that person on an issue, like foreign policy, but what about abortion, the economy, and healthcare? These “representatives” may only represent one of the issues for you. It is a package deal; to get the box of one cereal in the store, we buy the

BY JOE ZAPPA

larity going into the Obama presidency, but two years later major networking polls show over 60 percent of Americans do not trust the current government to fix the economy, and according to Fox News 53 percent of voters this election trust Republicans with the economy, while only 43 percent trust Democrats.

This statistic turned out to be defining on this Election Day, in which the Republican Party gained 63 seats in the House of Representatives and six in the Senate.

These numbers were significant – the largest gain in House seats by one party since the 1940s, and the gain in senate seats was well over the average of 3.5 for a minority party in a midterm election. With these gains, Republicans have taken the majority in the House of 435 members and diminished the Democrats in the Senate from eighteen seats to six.

In the immediate aftermath of the election, on November 3 President Obama held a news conference to set the course for the next two years of his presidency. After an election which critics unanimously declared a “repudiation of the Obama agenda,” it was obvious that the chief of state needs to listen to the American people, and he needs to work with the numerous new Republican members of Congress, or he will surely be voted out in 2012.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani said, “We will find out tomorrow if the president is an ideologue or a pragmatist. If he’s an ideologue, he’s finished. If he’s a pragmatist, he can resurrect himself.”

Mayor Giuliani means that Obama must objectively examine the failure of his policies thus far and work with Republicans to right those failures.

If President Obama chooses instead to stick to his very liberal tendencies, the people will continue to reject him, and he and Democrats in Congress will lose the next major election in 2012.

Partisanship in Congress

BY LAUREN REISIG GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Breaking News: after the results of the elections on November 2, the Republicans now hold the majority in the House of Representatives.

That is the news line on everyone’s TV. As Republicans cheer and Democrats weep, the country is left to deal with the pieces on its own. This great nation is torn between the elephant and the donkey, the red and the blue; we are forgetting, however, that we are red,

But how can we expect one man to accomplish anything when 535 are bickering in Congress? white, and blue. We are too focused on what political party we are in, instead of what needs to be done. The issues are side-lined so that the parties can play, so that Democrats can beat Republicans and vice-versa.

President Obama is losing popularity each day as he fails to accomplish his promises. According to the New York Times, Obama is losing the support of the youth, and the independents that carried him into the oval office, because they are beginning to lose faith in “Yes we can.” But how can we expect one man to accomplish anything, when 535 are bickering in Congress? There is an incessant filibuster just to keep either party from gaining the slightest advantage over the simplest of issues.

Nothing can be accomplished without a compromise, without give and take, without a desire to actually make a change. Our congressional representatives refuse to cross party lines and solve an issue; they would rather let the issue sit and fester, while the people they represent are drowning.

Voters are not free of blame, however. This same partisanship trickles down to us as we cast our ballot. We too are not willing to concede anything to the other side. We too vote either

package of all three, although we don’t like the other two. By simply voting for our own team, we are forfeiting parts of our own voice in government.

These political parties are tearing this nation apart, in and out of Congress.

Though as Americans we treasure the right to agree or disagree, we are currently focusing on just the disagreeing, and if we want anything to be accomplished, we are going to need to throw some agreeing, –or at least compromising – in there too.

Republicans’ resurrection STAFF WRITER

After the 2008 election, political analysts of both parties pronounced the Republican Party dead. Time magazine’s May 2009 issue had an elephant, the symbol for the Republican Party, on its cover with the title: Endangered Species. But now, after a statistically historical election, it seems as though the Republican Party has been recalled to life.

For two years, President Barack Obama and the dominantly Democratic Congress have been growing increasingly unpopular. The policies of the Obama Administration and Congress have been based on heavy spending, the ramifications of which have been extremely unpopular with the American people as demonstrated by the results of the election. The unemployment rate of each state has increased by an average of 3.96 percent since Obama took office according to Fox News polls. Increased spending is rarely well received during an economic recession, and so it was not by the constituents of these out-of-touch economic gamblers.

The Democratic party had an unprecedented amount of steam and popu-

Source: MCT Campus

DECEMBER 2010

THE CHIEF 7 ADVERTISEMENT

THE CHIEF 8 DECEMBER 2010

DEATHLY HALLOW

Source: moviebase.net

Harry has his dance with Hermione in the tent that they are living in. In this one moment of tranquility, all seems right with the world, and Harry and Hermione can momentarily forget their problems. Scenes like this show Kolves’ development as a writer, as he is finally able to add material that is not written in the novel successfully.

In regards to the novel, Kloves created a script that is the most accurate portrayal of its source since Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. He leaves out only a conversation here and there and an

On November 19, 2010, millions of people hoarded cinemas across the world to see Harry Potter and his companions embark on the beginning of the end of their journey; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 had hit theaters. With this film’s release, the Potter franchise comes closer to a close, and fans everywhere had high expectations.

These expectations were certainly matched, as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 did not disappoint in the slightest. In fact, it is quite possibly the best film in the series to date. With a combination of the best acting the series has seen thus far, the most accurate script since the second film, and an excellent tone provided by director David Yates, Deathly Hallows succeeds on nearly all levels.

Primarily, the acting in this movie exhibits the best performances that Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson have provided for the franchise thus far. Their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, respectively, have developed and matured, as have the actors. This new level of maturity is most likely the reason behind the deeper connection the audience is able to feel with the characters. Despite the fantasy world that Harry and his friends live in, the viewer is able to understand the perspectives of all the characters and their emotions.

What helped with this is the script penned by Steve Kloves, who has also been behind the previous six films of the series. Kloves went

beyond the novel by giving further depth to Ron’s emotions during the film, truly showing his viewpoint on Harry and Hermione’s friendship. Likewise, he gave Harry and Hermione a deeper friendship; for example, when Ron abandons them,

BY NICK BARBIERI

MANAGING EDITOR

BY TYLER NOVET Since the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in June of 1997, the books and the movie series have grown in popularity to the point where terms like “crucio,” “alohamora,” and “avada kedavra” have become household names, and the name Severus Snape has the same depressing sound as Ebenezer Scrooge.

The seven-book series and eight movies (the last one to be released this coming July) have not only raised their author, J.K. Rowling, out of poverty, but lifted an entire generation off its feet and into the air on a broomstick.

The books have sold over 400 million copies, and have been translated into 67 different languages. The four most recent novels have consecutively broken the record for the fastest selling book in the world. They beat the Bible.

Each of the films has been a top-rank box office hit.

Of course, the coming of such a magical phenomenon could not go by without leaving a lasting impression on our generation.

It seems Harry Potter fans are divided into two distinct groups: the book-readers and the movie-watchers.

Book-readers are the know-it-alls; they can recite the characters’ class schedules from first year on, name at least

15 different spells and explain their uses, and give a tour of Hogwarts better than any prefect or head boy. Movie watchers know what the movies tell you, which – while they do not provide the same kind of detail or wonder as the books – get across the same important messages that make Harry Potter special.

The book-readers often criticize movie watchers because they are missing out on some of the details that they believe to be necessary, but the seventh chapter – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – being broken into two segments, gives Hollywood the opportunity to incorporate every crucial detail that concludes the masterpiece In the novels Harry’s arch enemy is Voldemort. To most fans, however, Harry’s main competitor is Edward Cullen.

Since the emergence of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga, a debate more controversial than pirates versus ninjas, came wizards versus vampires. Both have similar themes – love, death, fear, friendship – and both include rather unorthodox paranormal creatures; both are criticized for being too “story-book-like,” where everything ends according to expection.

The book rivalry has taken form in the film medium as well. Everywhere you go, girls are fighting over who’s

hotter: Rupert Grint or Robert Pattinson, Tom Felton or Taylor Lautner.

Another criticism Harry takes is from parents who believe that the books promote – dare I say – witchcraft, specifically the kind that classical Christian Scripture forbids and similar to the crimes that once caused hundreds of people to be hanged in Puritan civilizations like Salem.

Crazy may be the only word to describe these allegations. To say that Harry Potter supports the kind of witchcraft that is forbidden by the Holy Scripture is equivalent to claiming that if a woman weighs the same as a duck, she’s a witch. It just doesn’t make sense.

Despite its competitors and criticisms, the point remains that Harry Potter is an integral part of our society.

J.K. Rowling has always maintained that her main theme in the series is death.

After all, since the beginning of his life, death has haunted Harry; when he was only one year old, Voldemort killed his parents, leaving him orphaned under the care of his muggle relatives, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon.

Harry grows up knowing nothing of the world of magic until his eleventh birthday when he is invited to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, Harry makes a new life, new friends, learns to control and amplify

POTTER CHANGED THE WORLD

CHIEF COPY EDITOR

his abilities, and discovers the truth behind Voldemort and his parents.

Harry is subject to drastic change at a young age and must face challenges that range from defeating a fully grown cave troll, to winning the Tri-Wizard Tournament, to fighting off a hundred dementors at once (even if he did have another Harry Potter to help him for that one).

However, Harry’s single most important quality – according to the great Albus Dumbledore – that helps him get through every adventure is his love. Harry never believes that his life is more valuable than anyone else’s; he always fights to protect others, without spite or hate.

Harry teaches us the value of acceptance, kindness, and loyalty, as he rejects the common social ideas that wizards are any better than muggles or centaurs or giants or any other kind of creature. Harry teaches us how to deal with rapid and unfortunate change; after all, how is moving from a muggle school to Hogwarts all that different from having to change schools because your dad’s job changed locations. Though most people don’t think about it, Harry Potter provides some of the most valuable lessons in our lives.

Hagrid and Harry zipping around on Hagrid’s flying motorcycle, avoiding Death Eaters just one action-packed sequence from the new film.

s and protecting Harry in

Photo provided by Jeremy Krebs

Students in costume for the midnight show.

and were relieved to be out of harm’s way, or so they thought. Once they realized they were trapped, Yates cut away all sound – score and all.

The dramatic intensity this caused is indescribable, and the cinematography that followed during the chase sequence was visually stunning.

Thus, it is impossible to imagine a better turnout for the penultimate Potter film. Not only did the movie itself impress, but the revenue it made was astounding as well. It currently holds the third-highest midnight gross of all time, making $24 million from midnight showings alone, and has the highest IMAX midnight gross of all time, making $1.4 million on IMAX screens. Over its opening weekend, it made $125 million – the biggest opening for the franchise – and the sixth-biggest opening of all time domestically.

Based on these numbers, the final chapter in the Potter series will most likely break even more records.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is a Potter film like no other. It manages to stay as accurate to the source material as possible and yet it creates acceptable new scenes. While doing this, an ominous tone is mastered with highly appropriate interruptions of comic relief.

Furthermore, Yates shows his mastery in filmmaking during the chase scene, and Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson improve their acting abilities sceneby-scene. Anyone that has enjoyed Harry Potter at some point in time must go out and see this movie, for it is the perfect way to garner new fans just in time for the final film, which will be released on July 15, 2011.

’S For a few magical hours, people who had never so much as spoken before were united by their common love of a story about the boy wizard with a lightning scar. But what makes Potter premieres unique, is the hive of activity that surrounds them. Fans not content to merely sit and wait lit up the theater hours in advance with wizard duels and choruses of their favorite Wizard Rock songs. It was an amazing night for fans of the series, but one that came with a bittersweet reminder of its approaching conclusion.

As they milled around outside the theater, whether they were Gryffindors or Slytherins, the fans’ expectations for the movie labeled as ‘The Motion Picture Event of a Generation’ were astronomically high. Deathly Hallows did not disappoint.

The theater was, for the most

part, completely silent, as though in awe of the picture in front of them. For fans that grew up with this series, daring to speak while Harry confronts the final stages of his journey would have been sacrilege. As Harry’s epic journey approaches its climax, the audience begins to feel the tragic costs of the war, and when the movie reached its stirring conclusion there was not a dry eye in the theater.

For those who have called Harry’s journey their own over the last decade, you already know your chance to fully experience Deathly Hallows Part 1 has passed. But when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 hits theaters in July, there will be one last chance to bust out your wizard robes and take out your magic wand before we finally bid the Harry Potter series goodbye.

YO W H E N T H E CLOCK STRUCK 12 U R FA V O R IT E P A R T ?

e “M gh y an th fav P e l or o oy ite rr al pa ty rt S Je of of op re fri th h “T m en e m o he ey ds o m hi vi o bu sc K

BY JEREMEY KREBS P a r t 1 p r e - miered on November e t f ene re p.” wa re STAFF WRITER ee w b sh –4 19. la h s ow /5 e For millions of witches and It was their second to last chance pa re S K al st ev ng H e lo a n wizards across America, it was to celebrate a se- ries that has been a a of rr i fH r “T in s lo y a or he G a time to break out the robes part of their lives for the last 12 years. rry ss nd – th be ro fo R 5 ’s and draw their wands For Potter fans, it was not just about e a st s r H o /5 fri ss n u c e s a aw ro en J nd for the next to last being the first to see the movie; it was rry fig ta sw es rs. e i un ht r a A n time, when Harry about enjoying those hours leading om f nd be s en i fo e fi ter the or t H to Potter and the up to the movie itself.

La er re gh tak mo – 4 hi m R u v t i s io on Deathly Starting with the release of the th ng ie .5 ho “M re ne l at o ha /5 u e . n f Hallows last three books of the series, the Harry s ” y av le f f s ea ft ro go sta e It fav Ce t s m m t Potter phenomenon became very much ,f th w or t e s t to rs eb or a i i ay he be th s g te p nabout those long midnight waits, and eg m e d re ar J in gr th e, in t u a g o e i with the end in sight, Potter fans are n o t w , ‘ un s w ffe to f t ni in as w d, ce as re s he o g ho t ne mourning the end of it all. in of n e cr a’ he w w also t ch e D mo r – th ed .” go it he p ar a vi 4

I was fortunate enough to e ib m n he ac nie e w .5 od h th l o H n te l y have gone to the midnight showvi ed om rs R as t /5 an e s do eb w e . T ad he st d e n ing of Deathly Hallows Part ec ig na h cl s a e th ven an au eb H di l a e fi iff eve rs 1, where I was surrounded d s ed nd gh e a n ad ar ei Ic .” I t/c ct Po r t c y by a sea of Massapequa tru ou sh ha as tte ol s lid alo ed se e rs ld ly Students donning n e i ng sh a t sc ach sce ’t ow n si ea en o ne h Hogwarts robes. el an de r e f ed . p

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Source: guardian.co.uk

M

WS A SUCCESS

unessential character or two – such as Tonks’ parents and the conversation Harry has with Viktor Krum at Bill and Fleur’s wedding. However, the things he has left out hardly make an impact on the plot, and it is not as if Kloves dropped an entire plotline as he has done in previous films – for example, his complete exclusion of Fenrir Greyback’s attack on Bill or Bill’s relationship with Fleur in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

To those critics and viewers who felt that the film was rushed or left out many details, just imagine if the entire novel had to fit into two and a half hours, instead of just the first half. By having two parts for the adaption of the seventh novel, Kloves’ accuracy has increased, and as previously stated, he improved the events that he added to the movie.

As far as David Yates’ direction is concerned, he once again has done a superb job and proved exactly why he is the best director the Potter franchise has seen. Yates creates an ominous tone for the film, and his use of darker sets and images reflects the darkness that the characters face.

However, he ensures that the film is not completely somber and depressing by providing timely comic relief, which is much appreciated by audience members and almost always results in uproarious laughter.

Additionally, Yates created an absolutely fantastic scene in which Harry, Ron, and Hermione are caught by the Snatchers and must run through the forest and attempt to escape from them. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just escaped peril as they arrived in the woods where the Snatchers were

W

DECEMBER 2010 THE CHIEF 9

DECEMBER 2010

DECEMBER 2010

ENTERTAINMENT

THE CHIEF 10

Muse: A unique English rock band that ‘will not conform’

BY BRIDGID BERGIN STAFF WRITER

Matthew Bellamy, Christopher Wolstenholme, and Dominic Howard graced the stage of Nassau Coliseum on October 23. The three from Teignmouth, Devon comprise the epic English rock band Muse.

Muse brings a unique sound to today’s mainstream music world that seems to be dominated by auto-tune, mindless pop stars who do not write their own music, and musicians who do not provide a good live performance.

Muse incorporates many music flavors, including alternative rock, indie rock, and electronica – an overall progressive sound. The band can be recognized from its featured hit “Super Massive Black Hole” that was in the movie Twilight and “Neutron Star Collision,” which was on the Eclipse soundtrack.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Matthew Bellamy has an impressive voice range that provides an amazing tone in all of Muse’s songs. Bassist Dominic Howard and drummer Christopher Wolstenholme collaborate with Bellamy to produce amazing music that

provides people with something they can connect to.

Muse played at Nassau Coliseum on its Resistance Tour with the band Metric as the opening act. Once they were done the audience had to wait a

Source: flickr.com

English rock band Muse impressed audiences with special effects during its Resistance Tour at Nassau Coliseum little bit in order for Muse to set up. As the lights dimmed and the three columns on the stage lit up with a special effect of white figures walking up stairs, the audience went crazy.

All of a sudden, the white figures started to fall one by one by the stairs they were walking upon and then the

Not just for hipsters

BY NICK BARBIERI CHIEF COPY EDITOR

“I’ve got these habits that I cannot break.”

And so begins Neon Trees’ freshman album, “Habits.”

The song “Sins of My Youth” is the first song on the album, and the title of the album is derived from the lyrics of this song. Possibly the best song on the album, it describes the effect that one’s experiences during youth have on one’s life. Anyone that listens to this song can learn a valuable lesson about life, and that is just one of the many reasons why Neon Trees has risen to stardom.

Originating in Utah, this four-piece ensemble, consisting of Tyler Glenn on lead vocals and keyboards, Chris Allen on guitars, Branden Campbell on bass, and Elaine Bradley on vocals and drums, first began releasing EP’s in 2006. However, these EP’s were all self-released and garnered very little attention, that is until Mercury Records spied the band

Source: absolutepunk.net

and signed them.

On March 16, 2010, Neon Trees released their debut album, “Habits,” on Mercury Records. Although not instantly a huge commercial success, the band did gain some publicity by performing on shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Furthermore, the band decided on “Animal” to be the album’s lead single, releasing it on July 15; that is when Neon Trees’ fame skyrocketed.

whole venue went black. About ten seconds later, red lights projected outward and the drapes on the columns were dropped to reveal Matt, Chris and Dom, each on their own column elevated for everyone in the audience to see.

Dominating radio airwaves, “Animal” proved to be a huge hit with listeners. While Neon Trees is definitely a band that attracts a large “hipster” crowd, many of whom knew the band prior to being on the radio, Neon Trees is a unique band, for mainstream listeners instantly fell in love with “Animal.”

Ultimately, this led to “Habits” peaking at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #1 on the Billboard Alternative Rock chart.

As their popularity continued to rise, the band released “1983” as their second single on September 28. This song is nestled in nostalgia, and is all about going back to the past and living in a happier time. Listeners can easily relate to this, and this caused Neon Trees to continue their popularity trend.

Most recently, “Habits” rose to #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart during the week of November 20, proving that listeners are still finding Neon Trees and getting hooked.

Essentially, Neon Trees is a band that anyone can listen to. The most indie hipster out there could easily fall in love with them, as could the most mainstream radio-listener. Perhaps, the best song on their debut, and one that will most likely be the most overlooked, is “Helpless,” which was released as a bonus track on the iTunes deluxe edition of the CD. The lyrics in this song describe relationship struggles that many people in this day and age feel; in the “forever alone” ideology era that we live in, this song resonates wonderfully.

Thus, don’t miss out on a chance to listen to Neon Trees. Their sound is magnificent, their lyrics are relevant, and everything about them is simply amazing. Go out and buy their debut CD “Habits,” or download the deluxe version on iTunes today.

They opened with their hit single “Uprising.” The sound quality they projected along with the visual effects – Matt’s silver suit, the light show, images projected on the columns, light projected from the guitar – were surreal and astounding. The whole audience sang along and screamed. The scene was

deafening but incredible nonetheless.

Unfortunately, during the second song “New Born,” the sound system totally blew out in the middle of an epic guitar solo – yes, Muse actually broke its own sound system, though the band members continued to play until they realized that it wasn’t working. The audience was completely baffled yet amazed and began to cheer. Once the sound system was hooked up again, Matt picked up where he left off: the guitar solo. It was truly remarkable.

The technical mix-up did not hinder their phenomenal performance; it just made the concert even more memorable.

Throughout the concert, there was a lot of head bobbing, screaming, and singing. However, the performance of “Knights of Cydonia” was the best.

Opening with a harmonica solo, the song grew into a lively, rambunctious rock song. The final performance had lights flashing and smoke bursting from the stage for the last chords.

Many say that Muse is one of the top ten bands to see live and that is no exaggeration – it’s the truth.

COD: Black Ops release

BY KARAN CHHATPAR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Care package delivered! Of course the new Call of Duty: Black Ops has delivered as well. Grossing over $360 million on its opening day, it has blown its predecessor, Modern Warfare 2, out of the water. Its ability to make Xbox Live multiplayer rather than single

Source: wareground.com

player has been a great addition to its stunning, and life-like graphics, swift responses, challenges and awards.

“I really enjoy it and the gameplay is unbelievable. This game will just keep getting better and better with every update,” senior Ken Daniels said.

Recently, a poll from Yahoo.com indicated that among all voters, 64 percent of people believed Call of Duty has the best shooter franchise ever made, in relation to the 22 percent of Halo and the mere 4 percent of Medal of Honor. The addition of care packages, and creepy towns with scattered mannequins and the disablement of opponents’ abilities during online play, add to Black Ops’ effect on its players. Its online features also transcend the limits of Call of Duty’s past games with these renovations.

“The online play can keep you

going for hours at a time. With new technology like remote controlled cars that have explosives attached to them, Black Ops gives the player something no other Call of Duty game has ever given before,” junior Kevin Gross said.

As one of Call of Duty’s popular features, online play has captured the attention of players the most, Although the campaign is excellent, most players go straight for the online play, because who wouldn’t enjoy playing against a real person instead of a CPU? With kill streak awards, ranks, contracts, and challenges, online play offers more than an entire campaign mode’s worth of things to unlock.

“I thought Black Ops was an amazing game with a story that definitely didn’t disappoint,” senior Nishant Singh said. “The online play is stupefying.”

Black Ops includes a new feature known as COD Points, the game’s currency. These points are earned by ranking up, doing certain challenges, or signing and completing contracts.

These contracts cost points to buy, but completing them allows the buyer to make a heavy profit. Rather than having all weapons available to the average player, it takes time, effort, and skill to get points that are needed to buy these weapons. Points can also be used to customize one’s weapons.

“This game is definitely worth the money. I don’t think anyone will be disappointed with Black Ops. I know I wasn’t,” sophomore Eddie Markiewicz said.

This game is definitely worth trying out both for those who want to see some experience with what everybody is referring to as Black Ops, and for the veterans who want to get back into the fray, but on a whole new battlefield across different countries.

DECEMBER 2010

ENTERTAINMENT

THE CHIEF 11

Facebook comes to theaters in The Social Network

BY JENNA FRATELLO

ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Facebook has found another way to plague our generation.

On October 1, The Social Network opened at number one, and has since grossed over $180 million worldwide.

The film, based on the college life of Mark Zuckerberg and the conception of his company, Facebook, has been compared to F. Scott’s Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, according to Andrew O’Hehir of Salon Magazine, who describes the attempted documentary as a “pessimistic, modern-dress reworking,” of the classic.

Directed by David Fincher, the film’s cinematography is impeccable as Fincher delivers the intellect of modernday filmmaking. Aaron Sorkin, most notable for his 1992 work of A Few Good Men, adapted his contemporary screenplay from Ben Mezrich’s 2009 nonfiction novel, The Accidental Billionaires.

The revolution of a dorm-room birthed idea into an international em-

pire played out dramatically on the big screen; perhaps, more dramatically than it played out in reality, according to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, whose portrayal in the film is more of an egomaniacal manipulator than a genius.

“I just wished that nobody would make a movie about me while I was still alive,” stated Zuckerberg, according to CNET News.

The tension of the film centers on the outward success and the inner malfunction of Zuckerberg, who is injured by his anhedonic self-consciousness, donning him the inability to rollick in his creation.

David Denby of the New Yorker reviewed Zuckerberg as “a symbolic man of the age, a supremely functional piece of dysfunction,” who “leaves behind his friends as well as his intellectual inferiors.”

Denby is correct. The Social Network is a raw exploitation of the world of hackers, algorithms, misogyny, and betrayal.

Rather, the film has become just as viral as the website itself. Described as a “millennial story,” by the New York Times, it is the derivative of the twenty-

Source: thefilmstage.com

first century and how the technological era has become a fast-paced melting pot

consumed with constant communication and a lack of privacy.

The paradox of the film is its simplistic drama. Its themes are exposed through topics that many audiences would likely find to be a bore; however, Sorkin scripts meritocracy, lawsuit, and entrepreneurial malfeasance into a cultural axiom on the screen.

Performances by Jesse Eisenberg, who depicts Zuckerberg, and Andrew Garfield, who portrays sympathetic CFO of Facebook, Eduardo Saverin, epitomize the archetypal vies between the good and the bad of our generation.

Combined with Justin Timberlake’s performance as the original Napster founder, Sean Parker, the cast brings a coming-of-age edge to the screen.

On December 2, the National Board of Review named it Best Film of the year. The New York-based association also deemed David Fincher as Best Director, Jesse Eisenberg as Best Actor, and Aaron Sorkin as Best Adapted Screen Play. In other words, it’s worth the press of a “like” button.

From Facebook to King George: The best films of 2010

BY NICK BARBIERI CHIEF COPY EDITOR

It’s that time of year again – Golden Globe nominations are ready to be announced, which means that the same goes for the Critics Choice Awards and the Academy Awards. So the question remains: which movies have a shot at taking home awards this year?

The film that is leading the pack is undoubtedly The Social Network, the movie about how Facebook was founded. Directed to perfection by David Fincher, written impeccably by Aaron Sorkin, and performed brilliantly by a true ensemble that includes Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield, this movie can do no wrong. It has a 100 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from the “top critics,” and has an average score of 95 on Metacritic. This level of critical approval is seen as nearly universally flawless and is sure to make an impact come awards season. The script is witty yet dramatic, powerful, surprising, and everything that a movie should be. Sorkin’s genius is definitely a prime factor as to why the film has been received so well. Thus, this is the film that should win Best Picture from every film association out there.

The indie film The King’s Speech is also garnering enormous praise. The film centers on King George VI, who has to lead England into war but suffers from a speech impediment. Its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival received a standing ovation, and the film went on to win the People’s Choice Award at that same festival. Place that initial praise atop what appears to be exceptional performances from Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter in addition to the critical praise that the film is already getting, and it is clear that this will be The Social Network’s biggest competition.

Another indie film, The Kids Are All Right, was a breakout hit at the Sundance Film Festival this past year, and went on to achieve a 94 percent

approval rating from “top critics” on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as an average score of 86 from critics on Metacritic.

The original script, written by Stuart Blumberg and Lisa Cholodenko, is sure to pick up awards, for the film provided a refreshing tale of a same-sex couple that has children who inquire about their birth father. A simple premise, but it is taken to extraordinary heights that are beyond appropriate for this day and age.

them think like no movie has previously done. Why does it make people think so much? Because Christopher Nolan leaves the movie with a cliffhanger ending and does not answer whether Leonardo DiCaprio’s character is dreaming or in reality during the movie. To say that this movie makes one question his or her own reality is just like saying that the Harry Potter series makes one question the existence of wizards.

Source: blogspot.com

Colin Firth plays King Geroge VI in the award winning Indie film The Kings Speech Annette Benning’s performance should win her a Best Actress trophy from all film associations, and one can only hope that the script gets some love as well.

While this may come as a surprise to some, Toy Story 3 is sure to be nominated for Best Picture at the CCAs and the Oscars, though it may miss out on a Golden Globe nomination. This film has received a positive review from essentially every critic out there and is the highest grossing animated film in history. It is in store for a Best Picture nomination, for its sheer brilliance has captivated audiences and critics. While it is highly likely to lose, a nomination is as good as anything (well, except winning).

Now, there is a film that has (unjustifiably) captivated audiences to no end – Inception. American audiences absolutely adore this film because it supposedly captivates their brain and makes

People like this movie for preposterous reasons; Inception is good because the script is original and inventive, the special effects are spellbinding, and it has a large ensemble cast that can act well. Plus, Nolan is a fine director and a master behind the camera. For these reasons, he may win Best Director, and the film is likely to be nominated for Best Picture, but it certainly should not win that award.

Rather, the Leonardo DiCaprio film that should get nominated for Best Picture and should earn DiCaprio an acting nomination is Shutter Island, a Martin Scorsese-directed psychological thriller. This film is absolutely mindboggling and has an ending twist that one does not see coming. DiCaprio plays his part faultlessly, but what stands against this film is that it premiered in February, over a year before the Academy Awards will actually air. This not

to say that Shutter Island getting nominated is impossible; for example, The Silence of the Lambs was released on February 14 of its year, similar to this predicament. Silence went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars, in addition to awards including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay – a rare feat for sure, but obviously not an impossible one. Paramount Pictures is campaigning for Shutter Island to get its nomination, so hopefully it is successful.

Ethan and Joel Cohen, most famous for the Academy Award-winning film No Country for Old Men, which took home the Best Picture trophy back in 2007, have helmed yet another western film – True Grit. To be released on Christmas, this film is already garnering positive critical buzz and is expected to be a frontrunner come awards season, possibly following in No Country’s footsteps to win Best Picture.

In addition, there is Danny Boyle’s indie sensation 127 Hours, a gutwrenching film starring James Franco.

This film tells the true story of Aron Ralston, the man who was forced to amputate his arm when he got stuck between rocks while mountain climbing.

Audiences have been captivated by this film, as well as slightly disgusted at the graphic amputation scene. This proves the film’s power and that is sure to have an impact with voters, however.

Of course, there will be plenty other contenders, including Ben Affleck-directed The Town, indie sensation Never Let Me Go, and Hilary Swank-starrer Conviction, but they don’t have as good of a chance at taking home major awards as the aforementioned films.

Which films will emerge on top as awards season really gets going? We can only wait and see as nominations are announced and award ceremonies take place. The Golden Globes will air Sunday, January 16 on NBC; the Critics Choice awards will air Friday, January 14 on VH1; the Academy Awards will air Sunday, February 27 on ABC.

FEATURES

DECEMBER 2010

THE CHIEF 12

MHS drama club to showcase classic thriller Dracula

BY JENNA FRATELLO

ASSISSTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The annual MHS fall production has taken a new bite this year.

On Friday, December 10, the classic rendition of Dracula, directed by Ms. Chiarenza and Ms. Calcagni, took the stage in the Baldwin Auditorium as vampires that weren’t Edward Cullen put on a bloody good performance.

Co-director Ms. Chiarenza said, “The students have poured each and every ounce of their time into fundraising, the International Thespian Society, and their characters.”

The cast, which contained people from grades nine through twelve, worked diligently for the past two months. This tremendously worked in their benefit as the curtain rose.

“This production showcases the unbelievable talents at MHS,” codirector Ms. Calcagni said. “We have harnessed students, freshman to seniors, to expose each of their talents.”

With the recent popularity of blood-sucking pop culture, this classic thriller, written and adapted John Mattera and based on the novel by Bram Stoker, pleased even the most vampireweary viewer.

“It was topsy-turvy and awesome. I wouldn’t have changed a thing about it,” said Jacky Bernhard, who played the role of vampire-hunter and Dracula’s arch-enemy, Van Helsing.

Typically a strong male lead, the role was altered to reflect a female persona.

Bernhard’s rendition of the character lost not an ounce of vigor in the translation.

STAFF WRITER

were amazing. I hope we can do a show as great as this one in the future.”

PAIGE SNIDER// THE CHIEF

Study like a scholar, scholar

The high school senior college frenzy has begun. Seniors are commonly seen sprinting from class to class in search of corrected essays. Others are observed tearfully begging their teachers to write last-minute recommendation letters. Perhaps more generally seen is the overall sentiment of edginess among college hopefuls.

In an attempt to mitigate the pressures felt during the college application season some diligent students have created the Society of AP Scholars.

Now boasting around 60 members, the Society of AP Scholars is one of the fasting growing clubs at MHS. Although the term “scholar” may evoke images of shrewd Greek philosophers deep in meaningful thought, the MHS scholar is typically a college-bound, slightly college-obsessed student. The club serves multiple purposes, according to societyofapscholars.com. First, the club was designed as a mentoring program.

Once a senior is accepted into college, he or she can serve as a mentor for ju-

Heneveld made her notable MHS debut as the leading young lady.

“I think everyone did a great job,” said Michael Savidge, who continuously made the audience laugh with his role as the butler. “The crew and cast

Above left: Dracula (Jagger Kuglar) takes a bite into Lucy Westenra (Nicole Heneveld) in a dramatic scene.

Above right: Van Helsing (Jacky Bernhard) tries to get information from Renfield (Breeze McCarthy) about Dracula’s whereabouts.

Dr. Seward (Zach Urban) and Professor Van Helsing (Jacky Bernhard)

BY DAN PAPA

Other key roles were played by Jagger Kugler (Dracula), Zach Urban (Dr. Seward), Nicole Heneveld (Lucy), and Chloe Durkin (Mina).

Kugler’s dynamic presence personified the leading man, while Urban’s comic relief complemented the intensity of the drama. Durkin’s impressive portrayal of a regular woman turned vampire seductress was entrancing, and

niors and sophomores just beginning the college process.

Accepted seniors can provide other students with information as to which colleges they were accepted and the SAT scores and GPA this school accepts.

Additionally, the club is reaching out to MHS alumni. Alumni, according to club president and MHS senior Nick Latorre, are an underrated resource during the college application process.

Alumni experienced the application process in its entirety and thus are capable of providing invaluable information to college hopefuls.

“We are looking to have an Alumni Fair in the beginning of January, but we’re still working out who we are going to ask to come. We’re hoping it will be a successful event,” Lynn Horowitz, Vice President of the Society, said.

Another aspect of the club is essay corrections. The club seeks to assist students in perfecting their essays through the club’s new student-made website, societyofapscholars.com, in order to erase the hassles of turnover time un-

Dracula’s brides taunt Johnathan Harker(Joesph Mogavero)

certainty. Perhaps most importantly, the Society is dedicated to getting students to interact with colleges. Club advisor and MHS science teacher Dr. Hesleitner plans for the club to host weekend college fairs with elite universities. Additionally, there has been talk of online chat with college admissions officers.

If you feel that your standards

meet those of the Society, and you want an edge in the college admissions process, then feel free to come down to the next meeting. Be sure to bring $5 to maintain the cost of the website.

With college admissions near for many students, remember to recall the words of that Old Spice guy, and “study like a scholar, scholar.”

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DECEMBER 2010

FEATURES

THE CHIEF 13

NHS Blood Drive

Cabaret Night

Chiefs Challenge

Red Watch Band

BY EILEEN LIEBLER

November has passed without a sign of Cabaret Night at MHS. There have been no flyers or announcements that usually fill the school and inform students of the annual event that allows students to showcase their musical and theatrical talent.

In the past, each November Cabaret Night is held on a Saturday night in the upper gym. This year is the first time that this event did not occur during this month – a confusion to many students.

According to MHS music teacher Ms. Dempsey, one of the organizers of the event, there were not enough acts to make a show. Too many activities were also planned for the same night for which Cabaret Night was scheduled.A Another conflict involved in running this event was the use of the upper gym; school athletes also use this space, so the advisors needed a date between seasons to run the show so that Cabaret Night did not conflict with any of the sports teams that may occupy it.

“I am not disappointed about the date being changed, I just hope Cabaret Night happens,” junior Bridget Jordan said.

Ms. Dempsey is currently trying to secure a date for the event, so students looking forward to attending Cabaret Night this year will be able to do so.

Here’s hoping that Cabaret Night comes sooner rather than later.

Kindness is the word to spread around this year at MHS. The Chiefs Challenge club is on a mission to encourage kindness, respect, and civility in the students at MHS. Club members wish to tell other students how a smile or a helping hand can start a “chain reaction.” H.O.P.E is the Chiefs Challenge club motto that stands for Helping Other People Everyday.

The club’s newest project is the act of kindness tree. MHS senior Stephen Reisig drew a tree that will be put up in the school.

“Anyone who gets an act of kindness gets a hand of hope put on the tree,” Ms. Waters, the club advisor, said.

Anyone can catch a person performing a random act of kindness, and then submit a form to the General Office describing the act. When this happens, a card is sent home to your parents to notify them of your good deed. Every Friday two names are randomly selected and the winners receive “hands of hope” and gift certificates to the Bagel Café The Chiefs Challenge is still welcoming new members; the announcements and the school website post information about upcoming meetings for interested students.

With any luck, this will inspire kindness in all students in MHS, to provide for a more productive learning environment.

The Red Watch Band has come to MHS. The Red Watch Band is a new program run by Ms. Waters. This club teaches high school students to be aware of the dangers and repercussions of toxic drinking and gives students the knowledge and skills through the club to prevent deaths occurring due to alcohol abuse. The students in the Red Watch Band are also on a mission to promote kindness, compassion and respect to other students.

Members undergo three-hour sessions for both CPR training and alcohol education, teaching them the signs to look for in an alcohol-related emergency.

Ms. Waters, the club advisor, said the main purpose of the members going through this training is to, “assist kids with immediate medical attention.”

This program gives accurate information to all students to know when, where, and how to get help in alcoholrelated emergencies.

Ms. Waters summed it up when she said, “it is a life saving program.”

The Red Watch Band will help bring awareness to MHS students, and prevent any alcohol-related emergencies from occurring.

If students are interested in joining the cause, they can see Mrs. Waters in the Pupil Personnel office.

COPY EDITOR

One blood donation can save up to three lives.

This year the National Honor Society held its annual blood drive on Monday, November 8. Ms. Lind, one of the advisors of the club and a Math teacher at MHS, set a goal to raise at least double of last year’s donations.

“Last year we had 60 donations, a lot of people were turned away because they didn’t weigh enough or they didn’t get their permission slip signed,” said Ms. Lind.

Jaclyn Loney, a senior at MHS, said that the experience of donating blood can be a little nerve-racking. It was her first time donating, but overall, it was a good and well-worth it experience.

“I think it is an easy thing to do and you save a life,” she said, “and you do something important that’s not for yourself, but for someone else.”

This year there were around 80 donations to the Blood Drive, making the event an overall success.

“It was a lot better than last year and we were very happy and grateful for all the people that dontated because they made a big difference,” National Honor Society treasurer Brittany Vella said.

The annual drive will hopefully have an increase in donors next year.

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DECEMBER 2010

FEATURES/SPORTS

THE CHIEF 14

National Geographic spans the land in Great Migrations

BY ASHLEY ADLER STAFF WRITER

Blotting out patches of land and sky, animals all over the world gather on an expedition, realizing the most prominent prospect: movement. What compels Earth’s most fascinating and diverse creatures to trek across all sorts of treacherous terrain? Survival; textbooks will define this as Darwin’s theory, survival of the fittest, that the organisms able to survive are those that carry forth the burdens of the next generation. But when do we really witness this quintessential will to survive, even through the most dangerous of all journeys? The Great Migrations.

National Geographic has traveled all over the world, collecting information about all sorts of animals who make annual migrations for breeding food, water, and even for changes in scenery.

The crew spanned the globe from Africa to Asia, Mexico to Canada, tracking, studying and recording the behaviors and reasons for which animals move.

They created a short series airing every Sunday night at 8pm, narrated by the prestigious Massapequa High School graduate Alec Baldwin, and providing viewers with information about several different species occupying land, sea, or air.

Some will survive by sheer luck, others by experience. Some will perish.

Here in the wild, it is imperative that each decision be the right choice.

Any threat will take advantage of even the slightest hesitation. The paths may change due to climatic fluctuations, but exponential human growth continuously poses a threat to most wildlife.

In a place such as the Great Rift Valley in Africa, herds of over one mil-

lion wildebeest will traverse a loop to seek the rain their species so desperately need. To cover even longer distances, the monarch butterflies will trail an annual path that no other animal could hope to endure purely to ensure the survival of their young. Each journey harbors all sorts of risks; risks that these species are willing to take to survive.

Water: the essence of life. Christmas Island crabs placed strategically in the Indian Ocean live in water; it is their home, their sanctuary to thrive, but mainly to breathe. Yet when the annual monsoons arrive, these crabs are able to live on the island itself, as the humidity carries moisture in the air to fill their lungs.

They use this time to breed, but the females must lay their eggs in the ocean.

With the male crabs boldly migrating ahead of the pack, the crabs make a five mile journey back to the sea, taking about a month to complete. But their voyage isn’t always easy -- or safe. The yellow crazy ants, an invasive species brought to the island by cargo ships seem to be only a swarming population of busy workers. As the crabs approach, these ants spray a toxic, blinding chemical into the crabs’ eyes, leaving them defenseless. Perhaps this is why the males travel ahead of the females -- to clear a safe path for the newborns.

Although some lives have been lost, the crabs arrive at their destination. They are awarded with over one hundred thousand sparkling, little eggs, awaiting new life.

Winter is a chillingly harsh season for the monarch butterfly. Clumping together for warmth, the butterflies wait out the long winter, until the spring awakens their sense of animation.

NFL playoff predictions

BY RAY BICOCCHI STAFF WRITER

In the NFL today, certain teams in each conference are projected to make it deep into the playoffs and possibly the Superbowl.

Source: dyimg.com

Phildelphia Eagles’ quarterback, Michael Vick running downfield with the ball.

The two top teams for the AFC Championship could be the New York Jets against the Pittsburgh Steelers if both teams have a successful season.

The Jets have proven themselves this year and are ruling the division of the AFC East. Although they have lost two straight, including a 42 point loss to the Patriots on December 6, franchise quarterback Mark Sanchez is spreading

the ball around and is still aiming for an AFC Championship.

The Steelers, led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, have also started out on a successful foot. Roethlisberger has rebounded after being suspended for numerous games in the beginning of the season by leading the team to a new record and making the playoffs look possible. If both the Jets and the Steelers make it to the top, this year’s matchup would be an exciting one.

The NFC this year has had some good teams, but not nearly as many as the AFC. The Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles look like the two teams that will make it the NFC Championship. The Atlanta Falcons are having a terrific year with key players such as Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White. Although their division is very close with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints, the Falcons will most likely come through and make it to the NFC Championship.

The Philadelphia Eagles are loaded with young talent such as DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and LeSean McCoy. They also have strong veterans like Michael Vick, who is having one of his best seasons. They blew out the Redskins in Week 10 and could possibly make it to the NFC Championship game.

These beautiful insects are especially known for their migrations; an amazing feat from Mexico to southern Canada pulled towards the magnetic north across an entire continent in four months.

A marathon runner couldn’t com-

Source: wordpress.com

pete with this delicate monarch, beating their wings over two thousand six hundred miles to give birth to the next generation, and signaling the end of their lives. But from sticky larvae, to chubby caterpillars, to nestled cocoons, the babies emerge as brilliantly orange, spotted butterflies ready to spread their wings and glisten under the radiant sunshine. Their beauty is absolutely striking as they dance among the trees, bounce along a couple of milkweeds and swirl through the air -- journey completed, and venture back to their home in Mexico.

Where there is rain, there is life.

With twisted, knotted stomachs from hunger, the wildebeests in Africa seek water, knowing that where this is water, food is sure to follow.

Water isn’t the only thing flooding the plains; hormones do as well.

Males will flaunt their strength and physical wellness to demonstrate their gene fitness. The wildebeest frequently encounter hazards on their journey, for example, the river crossing. Crocodiles lurk and thrash in the water, awaiting and attacking any prey to enter the reservoir.

The young and inexperienced can only hope for survival, but it is necessary for the newborns to learn the dangers of life. Those who are taken under are left, but they ensure the survival of the rest of the herd. Mothers are caught in a moral tug of war, where the maternal instinct comes in contact with the desire to survive, standing helplessly when a calf meets its fate at the jaws of another species just trying to fulfill a hunger all its own. Luck and wit seem to be the only factors that save the herd from meeting that same fate, but the wildebeest will not go down without a fight, earning them their place in the Serengeti.

All the strife, peril and hardships of the wild limit not all, but some creatures that test their strength against the threat.

But all these dangers are countered with joy, wonder, and amazement that all animals have to offer. With a wide range of abilities, diverse instincts, and sometimes peculiar behaviors, animals all over the world learn to live in sync with the environments they inhabit.

The endurance to survive makes nature an absolute marvel and to capture these moments is to capture life in full form. All that is left – all that will ever be left – is to prevail.

Source: newyorkdailynews.com

Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets quarterback, celebrating a successful drive.

The Jets have a good shot at and wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

The Superbowl therefore leads to defeating the Steelers and making it to the Superbowl because of the great the New York Jets vs. the Philadelphia players they picked up last offseason, Eagles. The Eagles will come out vicincluding LaDainian Tomlinson, Santo- torious in this matchup because they nio Holmes, Jason Taylor and Antonio have depth in their lineup with a great backup QB, a few great wide receivers, Cromartie.

Additionally, the Eagles could de- and a strong defensive part including feat the Falcons due to the fact that the Asante Samuel and Trent Cole. Have Eagles are an overall better team with fun watching the Superbowl. pure speed in quarterback Michael Vick

DECEMBER 2010

SPORTS

THE CHIEF 15

LI Championship slips away Chiefs win AA Counties

BY JASON CELARU SPORTS EDITOR

Most Massapequa teams have earned success through their respective seasons this year. The Field Hockey team is no exception to this amazing statistic; their record set the tone of this past season.

The Field Hockey team has led its conference with 10 wins and only four losses, setting them in first place.

Overall, they also lead in first place with a record of 12 wins and five losses.

At the semifinals for the Nassau Class A championships, the Massapequa Field Hockey Team defeated

Massapequa’s only goal in the second half. With Jackie Harrison’s three saves, Massapequa defeated New Hyde Park by one goal with a score of 1-0. After winning the Class A finals, Massapequa was prepared to face Ward Melville in the Class A Long Island Championship on November 14.

Sunday November 14, Massapequa faced off with Ward Melville at C.W. Post. Melville, with a record of 18 wins and only one loss seemed to be a challenging opponent. Even though Massapequa succeeded in making it far in the series, this team defeated them.

Kelsey O’Brien scored Massapequa’s

Photo provided by Kelsey O’Brien

Laura Waldren, Taylor Hein, Katie Cooney, Kelsey O’Brien holding up their award.

East Meadow with a score of three goals to none. East Meadow was in fifth place with only six wins and eight losses. Kristin Yevoli scored 2 goals and Kelsey O’Brien scored one as well. All three goals were scored in the second half, with goalie Jackie Harrison only needing to make one save. Massapequa pushed through to the finals against New Hyde Park at Aldephi on November 7.

During the November 7 game, the Class A finals, Nicole Scicutella scored

goal in the second half, while Ward Melville scored five throughout the game.

The Massapequa Field Hockey Team has still succeeded throughout this season. Winning the Class A finals and finishing in first place during their season are great achievements that deserve acknowledgment. As most of the players are looking forward to the next season, this past year has shown the team’s capabilities and has set the pace for next year.

BY JASON CELARU

of 12:52.9; Timmy Callahan finished with a time of 13:34, two places behind Andrew.

Their next meet, which continued their undefeated record, was held on October 4, competing against Farmingdale and Plainview JFK. During a race, Callahan finished first with a time of 17:20, while Valenski finished in second with a time of 17:32. The Massapequa team took the top eight places during this race. After defeating Farmingdale, 66 points, and Plainview JFK, 89 points, the Chiefs looked towards October 13 for their next meet.

At the October 13 meet, Massapequa came away with the win once again. Now competing with Oceanside, MacArthur, and Baldwin, Massapequa once again managed to set the lowest score to win the meet. Andrew Valenski finished first with a time of 16:32, bringing Massapequa to victory. Massapequa had a score of 21 while Oceanside had 43 points; MacArthur had 89 and Baldwin finished with a total score of 111.

The team thus has a leading record of three wins and no losses in the Division 1A Conference I. The effort of the entire team has been shown in the results of the victorious meets and the successful season.

Running for a strong finish SPORTS EDITOR

The Boys Cross Country team has shown its efforts throughout the season while grasping a leading record, much like other Massapequa teams.

The boys’ undefeated record of three wins placed them in the leading position. In Cross Country, the team with the lowest score is the victor. In the three meets and the invitational that the team participated in, the team proved their strength.

At an invitational that took place in at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, Massapequa runner Andrew Valenski set a school record race time by finishing in second place with a time of 15:49.6. This September 25 invitational started the season brightly for this runner.

At the League I Triangular meet, at Bethpage State Park on September 29, 25 out of 35 runners achieved a personal best time. At this meet, Massapequa competed with Port Washington and Herricks. Port Washington had a score of 40 with Herricks finishing with 76 points. Massapequa gained the victory by finishing with a total of 28 points. Andrew Valenski set another school record in the 4k race with a time

BY MATT HIRSCH STAFF WRITER

On November 3, the boys’ Varsity soccer team competed in the Nassau County Quarterfinals at John J. Burns Park. The Chiefs, led by Coach Stanley, looked to advance their quest to the finals, but the Vikings of Port Washington stood in their way. In the end, the Chiefs successfully won the game with a score of 2-0.

The lights shined brightly on stars Brian Bartichek and Dakota Barnathan, who scored the only two goals of the match. Bartichek, a forward sporting number 12, broke the 0-0 tie at the very start of the second half after a quick tapin at the net. The game was still a nail biter, however, as one goal separated the two teams.

With three minutes left in regulation, Dakota Barnathan sprinted to the net after a quick throw-in and gave Massapequa a little insurance point, extending Massapequa’s lead to two goals.

The Massapequa Chiefs showed no lack of chemistry or team unity. In fact, most of the players dyed their hair blue or gold to show their spirit.

“It was more of team camaraderie,” said Assistant Coach Wing. “It was something to bring the team together.”

Massapequa’s next victory took place at Hofstra University on November 6. In this semi-final matchup against Great Neck South, forward Brian Bartichek scored another late game goal which was eventually recognized as the only goal of the game.

The final team that stood in the way of The Chiefs’ County Championship was none other than the Dalers.

This heated game was held at Dowling University on November 10. Not only did this game involve two rival teams, but no goals were scored in regulation or in overtime! During penalty kicks,

Chiefs’ goalie Sean Brailey made three incredible saves in addition to the nine saves he had in regulation.

“The key factor was definitely the defense,” said Bartichek. “We weren’t getting opportunities and they were keeping us in the game.” The Chiefs won the game and claimed their spot as the best team in Nassau County.

Despite all this success, Massapequa fell short of winning the AA LI Championship on November 14. After a tough game at Dowling University,

Source: dyimg.com

Nick Fetzer showing off his skills by going for header.

they lost to Brentwood by a score of 5-3. Chris Balzano, Tyler Gannon and Liam Callahan each had a goal but it wouldn’t be enough to match Brentwood’s explosive offense. Although they suffered a disappointing end to a great season; Massapequa will never forget this remarkable team.

Andrew Valenski takes it all

BY ROB DUFFY SPORTS EDITOR

On November 13, Andrew Valenski represented Massapequa at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s New York State Championship in Pauling, New York.

Valenski, a senior at Massapequa High School, participated in the Boys AA 5,000 meter race with representatives from schools located from Brockport to Port Washington. According to milesplit.us, there were 108 runners in total, and Valenski finished in tenth place with a finish time of 16 minutes and 22 seconds, less than 30 seconds off from the first-place time.

Only a week later, Valenski took part in the New York State Federation Cross Country Championships in Wappingers Falls, which was also a 5,000 meter race. Valenski finished with a time nearly identical to his previous race, finishing in 16 minutes and 23.8 seconds. He ended in seventeenth place out of 250 runners.

Andrew Valenski also proves his strengths in the meets that he participates in with his teammates from Massapequa. Out of the meets that they had so far, Valenski set a school record on September 25 by finishing second with

Photo by Lors Photography

a time of15:49.6. He also set a record on September 25.

Valenski has been a staple for the MHS track team the past few years and hopes to continue his success through the winter and spring track seasons.

“Hopefully I can get All-State in [winter and spring] track also,” Valenski said. As long as he keeps up his skill level, he should have no problem achieving that goal.

THE CHIEF 16

DECEMBER 2010

Girls soccer takes on states

Girls volleyball spikes again

BY JASON CELARU

BY ALLIE GIORDANO

The Massapequa Girls Varsity Soccer Team has set high standards for next season with their accomplishments this past season.

The team went undefeated with 12 straight wins throughout the entire season in their own conference, with had 19 wins in total and a tie overall.

Farmingdale, one of the team’s rivals, finished just behind Massapequa with eight wins, two losses, and two ties.

On November 5, the Chiefs faced off against Farmingdale, starting the push towards the state championships.

They defeated Farmingdale in the Class AA semifinal game with two goals to none. Jamie Strumwasser scored quickly after 15 minutes into the game, followed by Amanda Reverberi who also scored a goal.

EmmaLee Meyer shutout Farmingdale with 11 saves, lifting Massapequa to the Class AA finals against Oceanside on Wednesday, November 10 where they triumphed with a score of 2-0.

EmmaLee Meyer had 4 saves, with both goals being scored by Rosie DiMartino in the first half, and an assist

by Taylor Kugler. This victory pushed the Chiefs forward to win the Nassau Class AA finals.

The team, already showing great potential for states, improved their chances by winning the game against Smithtown East on November 13 for the Long Island Class AA title at Dowling with a close score of two to one.

The explosive offenses lead Massapequa to score two goals in the first half by Jackie DiMartino and Amanda Reverberi.

The Massapequa Chiefs girls’ varsity volleyball team has swept the title of Nassau County Champs for the eleventh time in a row, defeating the Long Beach Marines.

Family, friends, and fans filled the stands at C.W Post, cheering on the Chiefs as they won all three sets; the scores were 25-12, 25-18, and 25-14.

The Chiefs dominated the first set; however, they struggled early in the second set, falling behind to Long Beach 12-8.

In time, the girls pulled it together and quickly gained some key points and won the second set. The Chiefs really showed their strength and teamwork in the third set when they quickly a 10-4 lead and finished it up with an outstanding victory.

After the game, team captain Sam Berna said, “I knew going into the game it was going to be hard, they’re a good team but we knew what we had to do and we came and dominated. We played really well and as a team I definitely think we played the best we have all season.”

STAFF WRITER

SPORTS EDITOR

Photo provided by Shannon Garrity

Victoria Lander, Shannon Garrity, Jamie Strumwasser, Stephanie Nelle, Amanda Reverberi rejoices after victory The Class AA state semifinals at SUNY Cortland, proved their abilities once again, and the Chiefs won the game with two goals.

Meyer had 5 saves, while Brooke Palmer and Taylor Kugler each scored a goal, assisted by Taylor Elliot and Anna Seneta assisted these goals.

By defeating Baldwinsville on November 19, the team reached the Class AA state finals, where they competed with Webster Thomas.

On November 20, they overpowered Webster-Thomas with a score of 2-0. Meyer had 6 saves, and a goal was scored in each half of the game. Erica Modena and Taylor Kugler scored the goals, putting Massapequa in the lead claiming the Class AA state finals.

The Girls now have the chance to play in the Class AA Girls soccer championship at Tompkins-Cortland on December 4, giving them another chance to succeed in their already successful season.

“When we won Counties, I felt awesome. It was an amazing feeling and we are so ready for Long Islands on Saturday,” said Kristen Marchisotto.

The Chiefs then advanced to the Long Island Championships at C.W Post against Lindenhurst. Once again, the stands were filled with enthusiastic supporters. The Chiefs lost the first two sets, with scores of 25-21 and 27-25. In the third set, the Chiefs won 25-20, and again in the fourth set the score became extremely close; at one point it was tied 24-24. Throughout this extremely close set, the Chiefs gave it all they could and kept trying until ultimately, the winning points were scored by Lindenhurst.

“I just don’t want it to end, this has been another amazing season” said Sam Berna.

With that said, the Chiefs were undefeated the entire season until the very end. Not only was excellent volleyball played by all the girls, but let’s not forget about the outstanding coaching done by the coach, CarolAnn Habeeb-Kiel, as well as the assistant coach, Diana Parillo.

ALLIE GIORDANO//THE CHIEF

The girls volleyball team huddling together, forming strategy, and boosting moral for the coming game.

Boys volleyball looks with hope toward next season would turn out to be final game of their season, DelGiudice admitted that they were nervous for the game but eventually loosened up and decided to have some fun. But on an interesting note, this was also a time of reflection upon the season as well.

“I’m not going to lie; we were pretty nervous going into the game.

But after losing the first two games of the match, we realized that this was going to be our last with the seniors. We decided, let’s go out there and have fun together one last time,” an emotional

BY TOM HERER STAFF WRITER

With their hearts on their sleeves, the Massapequa Chiefs Boys Volleyball team played admirably against Half Hollow Hills in the Long Island Championship at Longwood Senior High School on November 13. Although the boys came up short, they hold their heads high with another successful year under their belt and look forward to next year.

Sophomore setter Dong Shin gave us insight as to what he and his teammates are feeling at the moment. “This was a great season for us even though we lost in the Long Island Championship.

We still won counties and repeating was a great accomplishment for us.”

The boys are down, but never out.

They knew with the new opportunityfilled season that they could reach the Long Island Championships, not to mention the County Championships again.

“Winning Counties again was pretty awesome this year against Plainview.

I also got to fill my brother’s shoes,” said sophomore libero Frankie DelGiudice. DelGiudice was on varsity last year alongside his brother, Vinny, who graduated last year after defeating Port

Obviously this been a tough time for the guys on the team. The seniors played an integral part of this team’s success, but it is now time to look past this great season, look onto the next, and set their expectations.

Junior Christian Smith, one of the team captains, said, “We have many people returning for next year, so I’m hoping for states next year.” The confidence oozing from Smith could motivate anyone.

And what is there not to be confident about? Christian and his fellow

This was not just a team, but a tightly knit group of young men that you could call a family.

Photo provided by Christian Smith

Christian Smith spiking the ball down around a defender.

Washington in Counties last season.

This has been a common theme from all the players on the volleyball team. The boys are ecstatic that they won counties, but they also know that there is room for improvement after a 3-0 defeat from Half Hollow Hills – albeit by a narrow margin each game.

Going into the third and what

DelGiudice revealed.

This was not just a team, but a tightly knit group of young men that you could call a family. The younger guys on the team are quite saddened to see the seniors go.

“The guys on this team are like family to me. I love them to death and it’s extremely sad to see them go,” said sophomore Steve “Dubya” Woessner, who played outstandingly this season as middle hitter for the team. He had many timely kills during the Long Island Championships.

‘super smash bro’ Chris Husmann will be returning for their fourth year on varsity next year. They are likely to be joined by many of young men already on the team to maintain team chemistry that will be critical in their success.

For now, all the guys can do is wait until next year. The loss will only bring more fire to their desire to win. Massapequa Chiefs Boys volleyball will be a force that should not be taken lightly.