The Epistle Volume 38, Issue 4
Staff
Editors-in-Chief Dylan Gibson Kyle Grace Mills Assistant Editor Danielle Williamson Staff Reporters Hannah Fruh Patrick Schulte Kourtney Wadkins Contributing Writer Bren McMaken Journalism Adviser Dr. Laurie Shorter
EDITORIALS
SPREAD
FEATURES
Shrieking on the SheiKra By Danielle Williamson In early January, a group of amusement park tycoons met together in a dingy alley under a streetlight in a shady area of Tampa. They were joined by Mother Nature, draped in a long trench coat and sinister intentions. The goal of the party? To plot against the sophomore class of St. Paul’s, who, come the third, were due to embark on a journey of epic proportions via bus to Florida’s metal jungles. Late to the meeting was Mr.Golden Corral, who apologized and promised to make his own contribution come the morning of the 4th, when the unsuspecting teenagers would arrive at his restaurant. After further negotiating, the group held up their right hands and pledged to uphold their parts (a handshake idea was quickly ditched when Mother Nature noticed the grease on Mr. Golden Corral’s hands). The deal had been sealed. Twenty-three hours later, a crowd of 10th graders and several chaperones boarded two buses in the parking lot of St. Paul’s Episcopal School. The students shouted over seatbacks and whispered in pairs, abuzz with excitement. Pillows and blankets were scattered arbitrarily about, brought by passengers with
the first obstacle was overcome. Busch Gardens greeted the adventurers with a cold breeze and 30 degree weather. Not to be off put by Mother Nature’s trap, the valiant sophomores stormed through the front gates, making a beeline for the SheiKra. They were stopped, however, by a plain-clad employee who calmly explained to them that it was too cold to run the SheiKra. The students panicked. If they came back without riding the SheiKra, Mr. Wilson would never let them forget it! He would say they had chickened out and gotten ice cream! With Mr. Wilson’s expectations looming overhead, the sophomores trudged off, vowing to return. more than an hour or two’s worth of But sun shined through the gloom as sleep. When the buses rambled to a the students learned to take pleasure stop in front of the Golden Corral, in the other attractions. The animals the students poured out, certain that were delightful, and other roller the seemingly eternal night had met coasters proved to be just as thrilling. its doom. Inside, Mr. Golden Corral Though amusement park tycoon #1 chuckled. attempted to intervene in this pursuit of fun by employing the use of “techThe students, however, were nical difficulties” and “short delays” not to be fooled by the manager’s to prevent numerous roller coasters ploy. They proceeded with caution from operating at sporadic times, the with warnings from upperclassmen echoing in their heads. Daring sopho- majority of students were still able to mores tried the buffet, only to discov- ride the SheiKra (and live to tell Mr. Wilson about it). er that it wasn’t terrible. Mr. Golden Corral had foiled his own plan! Thus, Continued on pg. 3 little intention of sleeping. But as the night wore on and eyelids drooped, many found themselves begging for rest. The later the hour, the more bizarre the postures were assumed by the fatigued in search of comfort. Little would find
Shameless recruitment
by Kyle Grace Mills I begin this article with a note of desperation: As of next year, we have only one journalism veteran returning to the staff of The Epistle. The Epistle needs writers of all shapes and sizes, of all varying degrees of ability. The skills you will gain from this experience will be invaluable to you for years to come. Perhaps you have never been drawn to writing; it just was never your St. Paul’s Episcopal School “thing.” But oftentimes I have found 161 Dogwood Lane that the perfect subject (i.e., not an Mobile, AL 36608 English essay or research paper) can Phone: (251) 342-6700 inspire anyone to write. Fax: (251) 342-1844 Perhaps I could trace my obEmail: session with writing back to the third Lshorter@stpaulsmobile.net grade and when I received the AlWebsite: phasmart tablet (that heavy, blocky www.stpaulsmobile.net thing that even type writers made fun of for being outdated). When I wasn’t signing the “Oops Book” and The Epistle is published by the journalism students of St. getting into trouble, I was hunching my shoulders over that thing writing Paul’s Episcopal School. masterpieces. My first book was ten The opinions and views expressed in this paper do not pages long and focused on teenagers who thought and acted like third necessarily represent those graders (weird, right?). And yes, of our administration, the adviser or all members of The there were trolls. By the fifth grade, my tablet had died of old age. More Epistle staff. likely, it committed suicide over all
SPORTS
February 2012
the misspellings and grammatical errors (see Dylan Gibson’s suicide note). No matter; I was officially hooked. In middle school, I took part in the Saints Outlook, the more youthful and immature version of The Epistle. Ironically enough, Dylan and I were the editors of that newspaper as well. Although both Dylan and I agree that our time in middle school should be erased from history, our obsession with journalism began there with that small publication. I also got a seductive taste of power as editor and vowed that one day I would rule high school with The Epistle! I’m kidding of course (that’s what Dylan was thinking). Whether it was fictitious or journalistic, I couldn’t stop writing. I was a straight up logophile (it’s like a pedophile, but for words). Alas, I cannot expect everyone to share my freakish tendencies. But think on it. If you have ever enjoyed a single word in The Epistle, think of how special it would be to be a part of that. It’s hard, rewarding work. And you’re
going to be constantly surrounded by individuals that not only write differently than you, but think differently. For example, my brain has been filled with the most randomly wonderful facts from Patrick Schulte (I could name them all but then you would be distracted from the whole of this article). I was also unaware that Dylan is completely unable to bake cookies, but can deep fry Ritz crackers into sinful goodness (does that qualify as an act of redemption?). I’ve learned that sophomores have their redeeming qualities, like being beautiful (i.e. Danielle Williamson). And I can’t describe how grateful I am for Hannah Fruh, who introduced me into delicious Swedish culture. Passion often guides writers in The Epistle. It is not our writing talent or ability that drives us forward, but our deep fascination with our story and our intense need to spread the word. Please consider joining The Epistle, where you can develop your interests and passions through writing.
2 Editorial Letter from the editor by Kyle Grace Mills
I must open my letter with congratulations to Danielle Williamson, our new assistant editor of The Epistle. Danielle, the youngest cub in our wolf pack, has been selected to be the future editor-in-chief of The Epistle. So as Dylan and I slip further and further into senioritis, we plan on using Danielle as our robot (only she has feelings occasionally… and those fade eventually) to do the nasty grunt work involved in churning out a superior Epistle. If the paper vastly improves over the next four months it is not because of Danielle, it is because Dylan and I so wisely chose Danielle as our fabulous assistant. So, she’s not awesome because of her own merits. She’s awesome because we decided she was awesome. All self-glorification aside, we are proud to present Danielle Williamson as assistant editor to The Epistle. See Danielle for any typos or complaints. In this edition of The Epistle, Hannah Fruh takes on the sticky-sweet holiday Valentine’s Day. In a romantic exposé, Hannah gets the scoop on one of St. Paul’s most enduring love stories: Missy and Jody Powell. Patrick explores the social media’s effects on politics. Dylan Gibson reminisces on his younger days as a middle school student (before he read 1984 and became a socialist).
I myself take on a tricky subject: the future of The Epistle. In our new serial column, The Epistle staff would like to entreat you to consider selecting Journalism next year as your elective course. With only a staff of five, we have managed to produce a newspaper to be proud of. We ask you, no, challenge you, to attempt to do the same. In this column, our staff writers will explain why they love writing and how The Epistle has helped them hone their gift and explore their passion. By our last edition, we hope that we will have communicated what an excellent opportunity The Epistle offers young writers. Without further ado, I hope you enjoy our latest edition of The Epistle.
Letter from the editor by Dylan Gibson I sit here on a Tuesday night in mid-January grinding out this letter and self-medicating with my fourth cup of green tea. Everyone else in the house is asleep and the coffee machine is too loud, so I’ve resigned myself to mindlessly pounding back what may well be the most effeminate and ineffective caffeinated substance on the face of the earth. Perhaps it’s an acquired taste. I doubt it. We have a beautiful selection of articles lined up for you in this February’s edition of The Epistle. Fellow editor Kyle Grace Mills is out to enlighten the masses with an overview of great literary, historic, and cinematic romances. Meanwhile, our editorin-the-wings, Danielle Williamson, offers some insight into stress at St. Paul’s and just how it looks on paper. Patrick Schulte has prepared an interview with Chelsea Hubbard and Carter Albrecht, both of whom will be travelling to Japan in the not-too-distant future. Hannah Fruh has undertaken a rather ambitious interview in which she chronicles the love story of St. Paul’s choral program directors Jody and Missy Powell. We also welcome a new writer to our ranks this February. Kourtney Wadkins’s debut in The Epistle comes in the form of an intriguing overview of holidays which slip under the radar during the Valen-
tine’s Day mania. In the endgame of World War II, Japanese forces were driven to kamikaze aerial tactics due in part to the island nation’s lack of suitable fuel. Planes were forced to run on tree sap; cheap, effective, and a wonderful way to ensure that a flight will be one-way whether the pilot likes it or not - kind of like writing at 1am with green tea in hand, if you’ll entertain that stretch of an analogy. Happy Valentine’s Day. Enjoy this copy of The Epistle with your significant other. If you don’t have a significant other, pretend this copy of The Epistle is your significant other. It takes some of the sting off. Cheers.
Social media and political races by Patrick Schulte
Four years ago a senator used social media to help catapult him to the presidency. Now his contenders have wised up. The 2012 GOP candidates now have Twitter accounts, Facebook pages, and websites all meant to spread their messages and recruit new supporters. Newt Gingrich has by far the largest Ron Paul! He has nearly 250,000 Twitter folnumber of Twitter followers at about 1.4 millowers on two accounts, about 676,000 Facelion. Gingrich uses Twitter as a way to routine- book likes, and amazingly, nearly 35.6 million ly deliver messages to supporters, although a Youtube channel views. Ron Paul’s Twitter and few more personal posts exist. However, aides Facebook accounts have some quirk to them, and reports say that maybe only eight percent with links to articles, photos, and even classic of his followers are actually people and the rest “politician with baby” shots. His Facebook fans are fake accounts designed to inflate his appar- are some of the most active with the highest ent popularity and online influence. Gingrich’s turnaround of online support, and frequently Facebook page has received about 224,000 discuss ideas and send messages. Compared to likes. His Klout score is 78. The Klout score is Gingrich, Paul has gone further and adapted to something new: a standard way of measuring social media better. His Klout score is 75, howonline influence by number of followers and ever, showing that more “followers” doesn’t how much buzz a person creates, on a 1 to 100 equal more influence. scale. Gingrich’s Youtube channel has had 6.3 Rick Santorum shot up in polls just million views. However, Newt has had probdays before the Iowa caucus. This is reflected lems with his website. Looking up NewtGinby his online numbers, some of the lowest of grich.com does not take one to his personal site the front runners – 52,800 Twitter followers, – that is Newt.org. NewtGingrich.com takes 42,147 Facebook likes, 43,326 Youtube chanone to several sites that are meant to showcase nel views, and a Klout score of 70. His aggressome of the businesses that gave money to the sive tone has helped rally the social conservaformer Speaker. His numbers might seem imtives in the Republican party to Santorum as pressive until one looks at… the new ‘Not Mitt’ candidate. Speaking of…
Mitt Romney has been the steady man of the race, never really falling but never really rising. His numbers showcase his long term stagnation: he has around 220,000 Twitter followers, a whopping 1.3 million Facebook likes, and a Klout score of 78. Romney’s online posts are almost entirely about his campaign. With Romney, it can be hard to tell if he is leading or not, online and in real life. He has the most Facebook likes and the same Klout score as Newt Gingrich, but he has no official YouTube channel. Ron Paul may not be leading in the polls, but he appears to have found the best way to use social media. More people have viewed his Youtube or follow his Twitter stream than any other candidate. Newt Gingrich dazzled many, and his moment in the limelight shows in his numbers: six million Youtube views and more Twitter followers than Mitt Romney. Rick Santorum’s recent rise has yet to be reflected online. He also learned the hard way that the dangers of the Internet can hurt one’s image. Mitt Romney has the undeniable online support, leading in Facebook likes and trailing Ron Paul’s Twitter followers closely. The GOP on the whole has worked its way into social media. A new revolution in campaigning has been born. image courtesy of www.talkingpointsmemo.com
Editorial 3
Shrieking on the SheiKra, cont’d from page 1 by Danielle Williamson
After another two hours in the bus, the students were given the long awaited roommate assignments and (the girls) rushed upstairs to primp for the night’s dinner at Medieval Times (the males meandered upstairs and lounged around). The knights performed to expectations, and every guest found the meal... interesting. The next day began with breakfast at the Hard Rock Café, where Mrs. Jones got a trivia question right. Her ever-present supporters cheered, secretly hoping that if they clapped loud enough, she wouldn’t make them do that lab notebook due the next week (their hopes would later be dashed). Bellies full, the students proceeded to Universal with hopes of riding the Red Rocket and experiencing the largest loop in the world. But Mother Nature was up to her usual tricks, and rendered the weather too cold to run the coaster. Tycoon #2 pitched in by refusing to run the roller coaster later in the day for intermittent periods because of a malfunction in the music (this news was received with much anger on the part of the students). An abundance of shows and The Mummy kept the students occupied, however, and fun once again triumphed over the sinister coalition. Dinner at Planet Hollywood and Disney Quest entertained the students at night, and the hotel, as always, provided a restful
night on sheets so clean that, according to a sign in the elevator, one could “sleep naked” (this sign was the source of many sophomoric jokes throughout the trip). With the next day came Islands of Adventure and the highly anticipated Harry Potter World. Wannabe wizards and muggles alike crowded the streets of “Hogsmeade,” pouring out their pockets and parents’ money to pay for trinkets and butter beer. High in a secret tower of the Hogwarts replica, tycoon #3 slept (he’d had a little too much butter beer the night before) as fun prevailed, void of interruption. The Hulk, Dueling Dragons, and various simulators all ran smoothly, providing an unceasing source of adrenaline for the students. This adrenaline met its match that night, however, as the sophomores found their seats in Universal’s theater and silenced their “personal fax machines” in preparation for the Blue Man Group. Students gasped and laughed as performance progressed. In addition to gasping and laughing, Holly Friedlander shook: she was chosen to be brought on stage as part of the performance. Said Holly (for the entire theater to hear, immediately after leaving the stage): “That was so scary!” Joey Ferguson was also incorporated into the show, and Julia Logan and Olivia Scarcliff shared time in the spot-light for being “late arrivals.” As the morning of the fourth day
dawned, students shuffled out of the hotel for the final time, dragging suitcases and munching on hotel breakfasts. They would make one more stop on their trip home: Sea World. At this point in the trip, the coalition had disbanded entirely as a new predator snuck in— exhaustion. Sleep deprivation began to take its toll as the students tried to steal a few minutes rest on the drive to Sea World. Upon arrival, however, fatigue retreated as the Kraken and Manta jolted the students awake. Shamuu brought two reactions: “This is amazing!” and “Why did I sit in the splash zone?” At 2:15, the students gathered together in their groups one more time and boarded the buses. Sleep took many prisoner, only releasing them upon arrival at the Tallahassee mall, known across the country as being home to the slowest Tropical Smoothie in operation. The weary but brave soldiers weathered the terrible service, however, and mounted the buses for a final hurrah. Arriving home at 11, the half-dead teens stumbled into parents and siblings cars, mumbling incoherently about their trip. The battle had been long, the obstacles intimidating, and the thrills many. But at the end of the day? Fun had won. image courtesy of Andie Goodwin
Cry me a river, St. Valentine by Dylan Gibson
In submitting article topics for our February edition of The Epistle, I can recall feeling that perhaps my standard pompous political fare was a bit too “gloom-and-doom.” It’s spring-time, after all, and therefore a good time to put the grandiose rhetoric out to thaw. It’s also the second semester of senior year, and perhaps time to give up the ghost and allow a kinder and gentler Dylan Gibson to take center-stage. I tried. I really did. For a solid halfhour, through wailing and gnashing of teeth, I hunched over this keyboard and tried to knock out something suitably sticky-sweet for Valentine’s Day; the literary equivalent of those chalky little candy hearts with the cute little phrases on the front. Maybe I’d throw in a few emoticons for good measure. Then it occurred to me: there’s a reason this sort of thing is so difficult. The whole Valentine’s Day gig is a ruse. Some folk would argue that it’s a bourgeois ritual meant to preserve the concentration of wealth in society’s upper strata and oppress the proletariat. Those folk mostly populate our insane asylums and the remote regions of the Pacific Northwest, where they live on a steady diet of Marxist literature and squirrel meat. Give it some consideration, though. Sure, one can argue that Christmas has become “over-commercialized.” But what we see with Valentine’s Day is a holiday that not only com mercializes a central tenet of human behavior but consequently de-sanctifies it and shamelessly juices it for profit. The degradation we’ve seen with Valentine’s Day appears all too similar to that of its Mobilian kissing cousin, Mardi Gras.
The incentive for companies to commercialize the holiday into oblivion outranks the cultural significance of the holiday itself. Although holidays such as Christmas and Halloween have no doubt seen their fair share of commercialization in recent years, both have roots which run too deep for corporate money to truly damage. Christmas and Halloween can both trace their way back to
pre-Christian rites in the form of Pagan festivals like Saturnalia, the ancient Roman winter celebration, and Samhain, the Celtic harvest festival. The modern products of these festivals remain so steeped in tradition that they are capable of maintaining an identity outside of the market’s white noise. Minor or regional holidays such as Valentine’s Day, it seems, lack that cultural polestar. It isn’t so much that Valentine’s Day is wanting in history – the Feast of Saint Valentine was at one time celebrated on February 14 by the Roman Catholic Church in honor of the eponymous Roman martyr. The mythology that held up Valentine’s Day, though, waned
on account of its sheer inaccessibility to those unfamiliar with the Catholic Church’s veneration of saints. Consequently, the celebration of romantic love which had at one time been merely a footnote on the feast day was left as the sole remnant. Without the religious significance of Christ’s birth or the mystical Pagan undercurrent of mortality which respectively form the cruxes of Christmas and Halloween, Valentine’s Day has become the holiday equivalent of a dying star. It emits grandiose bursts of standard holiday nostalgia and even maintains the illusion that it still possesses a coherent narrative – Valentine’s Day had no association with romance until the High Middle Ages, when a European fascination with courtly love placed it quite arbitrarily into the holiday’s lexicon. It isn’t that I’m arguing we need to put the “Saint Valentine back in Valentine’s Day” in the same way televangelists insist that we put the “Christ back in Christmas.” It should by all means be celebrated shamelessly. But it should also stand as a testament to the importance of maintaining the mythologies that surround our holidays whether they are of recent origin or reaching back to the age of antiquity. Without a story, holidays become empty celebrations. Likewise, a society without stories soon finds itself left with a culture vacuum such as the one we find ourselves in today. I hate to bring you down like that, though. Happy Valentine’s Day, kids.
image courtesy of www..cambanamoms.com
4 Spread The greatest couples
by Kyle Grace Mills Four lovers in literature As a young reader, I would refuse to open a book that did not promise me romance. This romance did not have to be forbidden or difficult or passionate (although that helped). But there had to be love or it wasn’t worth my time. I wish I could say that as I matured my standards had changed. Regretfully, I still maintain that the best books contain a tortured, beaten, and tested romance, a strong lead male (preferably handsome), a willful lead female (preferably gorgeous). 1. Rhett and Scarlett from Gone with the Wind: There was nothing particularly likable about Scarlett O’Hara, the spoiled, yet beautiful protagonist of Gone with the Wind. She was rotten to the core, a woman only a scoundrel could love. Cue the rakish Rhett Butler. Even though Scarlett manages to ruin everything in the end, we still remember their short- but passionate-marriage. 2. Katherine and Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights: We suffer as our protagonists suffer in this tale of thwarted love. Admittedly, Heathcliff and Kathy might have been the two most evil people to ever be attracted to each other. And yet we still feel heartbroken when Kathy forsakes Heathcliff for another man. On her death bed, Kathy admits her eternal love for Heathcliff… and then proceeds to haunt him for the rest of the novel. With this ending, Charlotte Bronte created both a bonechilling and heart-warming love affair. 3. Lara and Yuri from Doctor Zhivago: Who knew that in one of the coldest places in the world a fiery romance would combust? In the chaos of the Russian Revolution, two people, the poet-turned-Doctor Yuri and the lovely Lara, come together. Their story opened up the eyes of the world to the horrors of the Russian Revolution and the Soviet Union’s brutality. And yet, despite everything, their love endures and grows, undaunted. 4. Henry Randolph Ash and Christabel Lamotte from Possession: Two graduate students discover a secret romance that existed between two well-known poets, Henry Randolph Ash and Christabel Lamotte. The two students themselves kindle a relationship on their journey through history. However, it is Henry’s and Christabel’s romance and the trail of love letters they leave behind that remain
Neglected holidays
by Kourtney Wadkins What do you think of when you see February on the calendar? Most likely, you think about Valentine’s Day. Visions of pink and red hearts, boxes of chocolate and starcrossed lovers pop into your head. This is the cliché way that the marketing companies have trained us to view the month of February. But, contrary to popular belief, there are other holidays in the month that is so dominated by Valentine’s Day. I’m going to make you just a little more familiar with them. First, February doesn’t just contain simple holidays. It is also Black History Month, Great American Pie Month, and National Children’s Dental Health Month to name a few. While most schools recognize Black History Month, few know that February also celebrates excellent American pies and the necessity of good dental hygiene for children.February isn’t
with the reader. Four lovers in film Romance in movies is not always appreciated by guys. As that girl sits next to them in the movie theater, staring up at Hugh Grant, they wonder, “Why can’t my boyfriend be more like HIM?” It can only be compared to your boyfriend taking you to the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Not only are you not interested but now you are holding yourself to impossible standards. 1. Satine and Christian from Moulin Rouge: Okay, it’s a musical. So? This film perfectly captures the manic frivolity and somber ache that accompanies true love—and sometimes that requires breaking into song. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor play starcrossed lovers in this so-tragic-you-can-hearyour-heart-breaking-over-the-singing movie. And Ewan McGregor’s voice? Why can’t my boyfriend sing like HIM? 2. Kate Soffel and Ed Biddle from Mrs. Soffel: She was the prison warden’s wife; he was the young and beautiful convicted murderer. As a budding friendship develops between the two, Mrs. Soffel (Diane Keaton) decides to aid Ed (Mel Gibson) and his brother’s escape from prison. In a fateful decision, Kate chooses to leave her life and family behind to follow Ed on a run from the law. Why can’t my boyfriend look like MEL GIBSON? 3. Kitty and Walter from The Painted Veil: An adulterous wife and her vengeful husband move to a cholera-infected area of China. Okay, so maybe it doesn’t scream romance. This couple has had a rough time at marriage, and they seem past the point of reconciling or forgiving one another. Yet, the journey these two people take to understand each other again is epically romantic. It is an unconventional and surprisingly sweet love story. Why can’t my boyfriend be understanding like HIM? 4. Uncas and Alice from The Last of the Mohicans: While Madeleine Stowe and Daniel Day-Lewis make a decidedly beautiful couple, it is Uncas and Alice’s romance that is often times remembered. The two hardly speak to one another, and at most they only exchange a few meaningful glances. But their love transcends the spoken word. In fact, you may not realize until the ending the extent of the feelings they had for one another. And at
just a superficial month. It is also a month that teaches us important lessons. This month is filled with interesting holidays like Kite Flying Day on February 8, which encourages the activity of kite flying, probably not the smartest thing seeing that it’s still in the winter. Boy Scout Day, also on February 8, celebrates the birthday of the original Boy Scout Troop. February 20 is Love Your Pet Day- just don’t give your dog chocolate. February 26 is National Pistachio Day. Tell a Fairy Tale Day, which falls on February 26 as well, is a day for everyone to exercise their imaginations and tell a story. Many important people were born in February. Abraham Lincoln was born on the 12th, and George Washington was born on the 22nd. Fittingly, President’s Day is February 20. Groundhog’s Day is the 2nd. This month also
the moment you realize it, you will be crying. Four lovers in history 1. Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais: She was six years his senior, and he was an up-and-coming General in France. Most people remember the lavish presents and love letters Napoleon bestowed upon Josephine in his infatuation. A number of affairs (committed by both Josephine and Napoleon) weakened their marriage. Paradoxically, after Napoleon divorced Josephine their love affair matured into a genuine romance. Hence forth, Napoleon pined from afar, admitting his only love would ever be Josephine. His dying words were “France, the army, Josephine.” 2. Queen Victoria and Albert: Sure, they were cousins. But a hundred years ago this was socially acceptable and respectably romantic. One of the most, uh, fruitful royal marriages in history (nine children in twenty years) was also one of the happiest. After Albert’s sudden death of typhoid in 1861, Victoria remained in mourning (and in black) for the last thirty years of her reign as queen. Today, over a hundred years later, their romance is still commemorated in the Victoria and Albert Museum. 3. Edward Windsor and Wallis Simpson: Edward Windsor would forsake the crown of England for the right to marry the fashionable Wallis Simpson. A woman twice divorced, and a party animal at that, she would never be accepted as the queen of England. Yet, Edward “found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.” 4. Abigail and John Adams: It’s not always rewarding, marrying a great man. These great men are constantly called off to “great” things, such as represent a young nation as a European ambassador and later as a president. But behind every great man is a woman of admirable fortitude. Not always is this great man John Adams, and this woman of admirable fortitude Abigail Adams, but that’s why their special. Separated constantly by wars and duty, the voluminous love letters exchanged between the two historical figures shock many historians to this day with their warmth and affection.
is perfect for holidays that require you to kick back, relax, and sometimes help out others. Examples of these types of holidays are National Organ Donor Day on the 14th, No Brainer Day on the 27th and Public Sleeping Day on the 28th. Many people don’t give February the amount of credit that it truly deserves. All in all, this month is very diverse. Some hate this month just because they think that it’s all about Valentine’s Day. Those people probably didn’t know that they could celebrate Singles Awareness Day the day after Valentine’s. So if Valentine’s Day just isn’t your style, then there is a massive range of holidays that can take its place in your heart, or lack thereof. Oh! And don’t forget, 2012 is a leap year, so enjoy your extra day on the 29th!
Spread 5
Missy and Jody: a love story
by Hannah Fruh “Drop dead!” was the first thing that he said to her; this is surprising considering this couple has been married for almost twenty-six years. If you have ever set foot on St. Paul’s, then you have met Mr. and Mrs. Powell. The relationship they have is different from many spouses working at St. Paul’s. Not only do they both work at St. Paul’s, they work together. Music brought them together and has kept them working together daily. This is a story of a choral director and a piano accompanist. The Epistle: How and where did you meet? Mrs. P: We met while attending University of Southern Mississippi. Being in the School of Music, everybody knew everybody! E: What was your first impression of each other? And what caught your eye--or rather, ear? Did you meet through music? Mrs. P.: We had a class together, and I walked in and he was standing in the room. I said, “Hello, Jody Powell,” because EVERYONE knew who Jody Powell was. He said, “Drop dead!” Next class meeting, I didn’t acknowledge his presence. He voiced the initial greeting and I quickly said, “DROP DEAD!” I really hated his frat-rat, vocal-diva, king-of-thehill GUTS! Next thing you know, he’s in my circle of friends. Then I became his accompanist; and the rest is history. Mr. P: My first impression of Missy was that “she was just mean”. Then I realized that she was incredibly talented and was the best accompanist around. I cherish the times that we have had together. She is a very special person. E: What was the most romantic vacation you have ever gone on together? What where your favorite activities? Mr. P.: We took a Carnival cruise for
Modern day “fairytale” romances by Hannah Fruh
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Mr. Powell would like to tell Mrs. Powell that “Even though I don’t always show it, I love you with all of my heart!! Happy Valentine’s Day” our 20th Anniversary. We ate well, saw some shows on board, and relaxed. The water-slide was fun! E: Where was your honeymoon? Mrs. P.: We went to Silver Springs, Disney World, Kennedy Space Center and St. Petersburg. E: How did he propose to you? Mrs. P.: I was having a little get-together at my home in Mississippi for New Years, and Jody drove from Mobile to be there. We exchanged Christmas gifts and he gave me a hot pink sweatshirt and a lime green rain jacket. At midnight, he pulled me outside, knelt down on one knee, opened up the most beautiful diamond ring in the world-to me, anyway- and asked me to marry him. My family and friends were standing at the window peeking through the curtains because they KNEW! It was one of the few times I have ever been surprised! Oh, and of course, I said yes! E: When and where did you get married?
For hours--five to be exact--they sat and stared. Thousands of people woke up at four in the morning to catch a glimpse of a fairytale wedding. They had to catch every detail, every guest, and every ridiculous hat. The world tuned in to the royal wedding and witnessed a real-life fairytale. The processional route to the abbey had about a million people crowding on the sidelines waiting to see Kate Middleton pass by. Kate went from a commoner to royalty. This is a true Cinderella story. Every girl wants to marry a prince, and Kate proves that one needs not be high in rank to marry into royalty. As many waited to see the wedding processional start they surveyed the people invited to the wedding. Some were surprised to see Elton John, the Beckhams, Joss Stone and Kanye West there. Kate’s car pulled up to the church. As the bells from the Westminster Abbey rang, Kate walked into the church and revealed her wedding dress. There had been speculation as to which dress she would choose. The beautiful ivory satin-laced gown was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. Kate Middleton chose a classy laced dress that resembled another princess bride--Grace Kelly. She became Princess Grace of Monaco after marrying Ranier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956. She had a story similar to Kate’s in that she was, however fabulous, a commoner who married into royalty. The gowns look very similar with long trains and were high-waisted and full-skirted.
After the ceremony, Kate and William went out on the historic balcony of Buckingham palace and shared a kiss. The 500,000 people gath-
ered outside cheered as planes of the Royal Air Force flew overhead honoring the couple. This story definitely ranks high for famous romance of 2011. A romance surprisingly contrasting to this one made an impression in 2011. Not too long ago this story ravaged the celebrity magazine gossip and it seemed for months it was slammed on every magazine cover. Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries’ failed marriage stole the spotlight. Every “news source” had a different spin on the relationship. The fact is, though, that after all the money spent on the over the top wedding, the marriage ended after seventy-two days. Maybe it was a scheme to make money and create more fame.
Mrs. P.: We were married March 8, 1986 at Spring Hill Baptist Church here in Mobile. (It will be 26 years in March!) E: Did you know he was going to propose to you? /Did you know, Mr. Powell that she would say yes? Mrs. P.: No, it was a surprise. Mr. P.: I thought she would probably say yes. After I spent all of that money on the ring…she better have said yes! E: Do you have a song? Mr. P.: Jazz Gloria! By Natalie Sleeth is our favorite. E: How did it end up that you both began working at St. Paul’s? Mr. P.: Mrs. Powell had been playing for the choirs for years. After I realized that the football team had about 11 coaches for 80 players, I thought it only fair that we could have two for 250 singers. E: What are the challenges of being together constantly? What are the benefits? Mrs. P.: We have worked together for 10 years now and, while we have had a few “moments,” it has really been enjoyable. The only draw-back, in my opinion, is that we don’t have much to talk about when we get home because we both know how each other’s day was! There have been many benefits in working together. The most rewarding, however, was being with my two boys throughout their high school career and actually being their teacher. The down-side of that, however, was trying NOT to be “Mom” and just being Mrs. Powell. E: How long have you worked at SPS? Mrs. P.: Ten years. E: How do you see yourself ten years from now? Mr. P.: Probably much more gray than now, and hopefully still at St. Paul’s.
Perhaps they wanted to create drama by giving up so quickly. No matter what their motivations were they got more coverage out of the breakup then they did the marriage! That shows our society today. Seventy-two days before this disaster, news reports were titled, “Kim’s Fairytale Wedding”. While stations filmed her wedding planning craziness she said, “I want the most glamorous wedding you’ve ever imagined.” And that’s what she got. She probably never imagined that marriage would be hard. She was just trying to recreate a romantic fairytale. Maybe after seventy-two days she realized that life hadn’t changed into a glamorous fairytale after all. The big difference with the two romances is a reality check. When Kate got engaged she knew that marriage would have tough times, especially since she will be the queen someday. She had different expectations; she wasn’t trying to achieve an unrealistic romance. Kim left the marriage when she realized she wasn’t in love with Kris after all. Recently an article on Kim and Kris was released and titled, “A Fairytale Divorce.” Although this romance was a mistake, Kate and William give us hope that true, mature love is possible. Although true love won’t be perfect we at least know that it’s possible when our expectations are right. image courtesy of twitter.com
6 Features Order of Myths: A review
by Patrick Schulte In 2007 Margaret Brown returned to her hometown of Mobile to make an independent film about Mardi Gras. Her focus was to be the segregation of Mardi Gras in Mobile. There are two Mardi Gras courts in Mobile, chosen by two organizations. One is the all-white Mobile Carnival Association, and the other the all-black Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association. The film is titled The Order of Myths, after the oldest parading Mardi Gras society in America. The film has no narration. Yet the images and interviewees speak volumes more than any narrator could ever hope to achieve. One of the best examples occurs when the king and queen of each court attended the other association’s coronation and ball – alone in a sea of friendly and gracious members of the other race. After seeing them in their normal settings throughout the film, they seem out of place. Margaret Brown knew exactly how to
use film to capture her intended focus. Multiple times in the film one can see the glaring contrasts between the members of the MCA and MAMGA, a view of the classic “haves” and “have-nots”. The two queens are vastly different. The white queen, Helen Meaher, is from an old and well-to-do family. The black queen is an elementary schoolteacher whose ancestors
by Hannah Fruh Schwimmer had bad luck lately with paying the bills because his optometry career never took off. After two divorces he began hanging in the slums and gambling away his money. He began to associate with the North Side Irish Gang members- a gang well known in the twenties for selling alcohol illegally. He created stories of his own “bootlegging” to impress his gang friends. Schwimmer, or Doc, never participated in selling the alcohol. When his good friend George “Bugs” Moran, leader of the North Side Irish gang, informed him of an alcohol pickup at the S-M-C Cartage Company, Schwimmer wanted to join in for the thrill. This was what he had been waiting for. Adrenaline pumping, “Doc” walked into the building on February 14, 1929 along with six North Side gang members. “Bugs” was supposed to be there by 10:30, but he was running late. The men waited inside the warehouse. The six gang members were Johnny May (an auto mechanic), Frank and Pete Gusenberg, James Clark, Adam Heyer, and Al Weinshank. Johnny May had been working on a car when they arrived. He tied up his dog to the bumper and waited for the business to begin. They were waiting for a truck loaded with whiskey. The men were ready for the usual routine when
unbeknownst to them, a cop car pulled up outside. “Bugs” was just about to pull up to the warehouse when he noticed the car. He quickly ducked and sped away from the scene. The three police men and the two men in the back of the cop car felt very clever. They were actually Al Capone’s hit men from the South Side Italian gang. They had a great plan to defeat the North Side gang. Three policemen came into the warehouse at that time and Schwimmer quickly realized his bad decision of rubbing shoulders with the gang. The cops ordered them to line up against the back wall of the garage. The men obeyed and waited for further orders. Instead two other men left the cop car and entered the garage through the back. They were armed with machine guns. Immediately Schwimmer and his friends were showered with bullets. The two men and the fake cops, from the South Side Italians gang, murdered the seven men lined against the wall without even checking for their target--“Bugs”. Al Capone had ordered “bugs” to be murdered but they had just missed him. After leaving the warehouse empty of life--except for Frank who was on the verge of death and May’s yelping dog--the three “cops” pretended to take the two other hit men into custody. The South Side Italian gang hit
men walked outside with their hands raised and entered the fake police car with the fake cops. Neighbors heard some commotion along with a barking dog. They came to the scene to find a haunting surprise. By the time the police arrived, Frank, who had been pelted with twenty-two bullets, was still holding on. The police tried to get information from him but he remained silent. He died a shortly after arriving at a hospital. This was the gang war climax. The nation learned of the notoriety of Capone and other gangs. Al Capone was at the head of this war. In order to make more money on selling alcohol he eliminated his rivals. Moran was his biggest rival because the North Side Irish gang was on the rise. After this blood bath the gang fell apart. Capone probably didn’t foresee a large number of deaths. Capone was much more careful after this event because he was the most probable suspect. However, he was never tried for the murders. In 1931, he was actually sentenced eleven years for tax evasion! This was the downfall of the largest criminal of the twenties and thirties. This massacre brought attention to the problem with gangs in Chicago and the need for change. This day became known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.
nies like this and make beautiful landscape portraits and sculptures. Some become neo-fascist political pundits (looking at you, Glenn.) Proust wrote a series of massive books chronicling how hidden chapters of his life had flashed before his eyes as he bit into that madeleine. I suppose I never knew what would provoke someone to write a full-fledged memoir on such a spur of the moment until just a month or so ago. I stumbled onto an ancient artifact in the newsroom of The Epistle and the ocean swell of history drew me into the riptides of time and headlong into the Proustian ramblings you now behold. Kyle Grace had unearthed it from godknows-where earlier that day. It was a relic from those murky primeval eons which precede recorded history, when the earth’s surface was still molten and life as we know it was in the birthing
stages. You may have guessed by now. Some scientists believe that it predated the Cambrian period, even. It was eighth grade for the Class of 2012. This proverbial Madeleine was a copy of the Saints Outlook, our short-lived middle school newspaper. And as graduation draws nigh for those of us in the senior class, perhaps a glimpse back in time can provide some perspective on this minor chapter of our lives. Dig up those old awkward yearbook pictures, grab onto your self-esteem and hold on for dear life. I must first note that Kyle Grace and I were the editors of the Saints Outlook as well. I believe the old aphorism goes something like this: “Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.” Their loss. Continued on pg. 7
St. Valentine’s Day Massacre
were brought to what is now Africatown on the last slave ship to ever bring slaves into America. The ship was grounded and set alight to hide the “evidence”, which escaped. The land they settled on happened to belong to the man who brought them over on a bet, last name Meaher. The cinematography in The Order of Myths is very well done. It never distracts, never interferes, only improves. The unedited opinions and scenes from parades showcase exactly how all of Mobile feels about Mardi Gras. The title takes on a deeper meaning after watching this film. It seems to imply that Mardi Gras in Mobile is divided by a curtain woven from tradition and beliefs. The two sides respect each other, but do not cross the curtain. This film is an excellent, poignant look at the legacy of segregation. image courtesy of www.impawards.com
Reminiscing on the Dark Ages by Dylan Gibson
Despite what the title of this article might suggest, I have never cracked one of Marcel Proust’s gargantuan tomes. He was a Frenchman, for one. If we Americans are known for being the intellectually challenged cowboys of the world, the French are universally renowned for being the pretentious little snots that never got over their mommy issues (which certainly applies to Marcel). He was also a writer from that bygone age when simply cramming as much as you possibly could into two thousand pages of print was in vogue. It’s decidedly not my thing (read: covering my butt here). Proust’s multi-volume reminiscence on a bygone life in A Remembrance of Things Past was brought on by a flood of memories that overwhelmed him upon tasting a madeleine (a pastry, not a person). Some artists have epipha-
Features 7 Reminiscing on the Dark Ages, cont’d. from page 6
In this bygone era, it would appear that Kyle Grace was not yet out to assassinate me and consolidate power. Then again, this was also a time when yours truly was a budding writer and not yet a raging ego with access to a word processor. The letters from the editors were strangely void of the black humor that seems to fester on every word these days. Reading them aloud, one could feel a strange serenity in the sound of the words, as though the surface was strangely void of that simmering misanthropy that usually leaves a bit of oil sheen on top. As I pushed past the editorial page, the demons lunged out from the woodwork. Exclamation points and emoticons abounded. We all partook in it shamelessly. Surely Dante has reserved a new ring in the inferno for us all where Mr. Courie can remind us of these crimes against humanity and allow us to wallow in the boundless shame for all eternity. Perhaps that pudgy little conniving fellow – with whom I share a name – would deserve it. Just look at that smug little bugger, right there next to my letter from the editor. He is cold
and calculated. He feels no shame, he feels no remorse. He’s in eighth grade and probably still making “your mom” jokes at every given opportunity. At least we still have something in common. Indeed, young Gibson. We are not so different, you and I. Of course, the back page full of “senior” quotes was perhaps the most damning, if not unintentionally hilarious, of the evidence piled against the Class of 2012. Our resident gangster and proponent of “thug lyfe,” Mr. Matthew Jacobs, channels his inner 50 Cent: “Get rich or die tryin’.” One quote is openly attributed to MySpace – at least the girl was
honest. Most of the standard “dream as if you’ll live forever” quotes are misattributed to either Gandhi or Martin Luther King. Perhaps we could have attributed “get rich or die tryin’” to St. Thomas Aquinas just for the sake of consistency. Not that it would have made this page any more painful to read. I can vividly recall Ms. Finlen warning me that “you’ll have to look back on this one” as I submitted my Bob Marley quote. Thank you, Ms. Finlen, for not printing that one. And so I throw the paper back onto its unassuming roost atop the printer. I lie back in the chair and fall into a deep contemplative state, mulling over this time capsule that seems to so completely capture middle school in all of its pimply glory. Perhaps I could sell it on eBay. Perhaps I could burn it as fire fodder. Perhaps I could lunge at it and drive Excalibur deep into that fleshy mass of misspelled words and pre-teen angst, driving the black blood from its veins. I began to unsheathe my longsword but thought better of it. I’m an adult. I threw it on the ground.
Words with Mrs. Jones
by Danielle Williamson Every day, St. Paul’s students file into classrooms, open their books, and engage in the time-honored tradition of learning. They chatter with friends, throwing in the occasional giggle or two (masculine chuckles for the boys). Everything seems serene: a harmonious balance of academia, arts, and social rituals. But this balance is only skin-deep. Below the surface, troubled waters surge. The students are whisked about, playing fools to a hazardous addiction that threatens their very way of life. As they slowly sink further down, peers begin to notice the trademark symptoms: reluctance to make eye contact, fidgeting hands, reclusive behavior, and an increased dependence on handheld devices to communicate. They are victims of Words With Friends. Perhaps the danger of this app lies in its supposed innocence. Free, legal, and easily accessible, the game attracts participants like old ladies attract cats. Based off of Scrabble, a player begins a game with a friend via a wireless connection. After submitting a word composed from any combination of seven random letters, the player awaits the opponent’s response. Play continues until all letters have run out. Players justify increasing amounts of time spent on the game by claiming “it has words- it must be educational!” But this scholarly flirtation soon evolves into obsession as players break down over unreachable triple word scores (known as “triple derps”) and an excess of vowels (“a, e, i, o, ow”). The cycle is cruel, unbreakable, and headed by the evil mastermind--Mrs. Jones. A seasoned veteran of the “system,” Mrs. Jones torches opponents on a regular basis. Like other Texans, she is a firm believer in the mantra “go big or go home”. Mrs. Jones is cold and calculating: a machine at work. She took time out of wording (it’s become a verb) to sit down with The Epistle and discuss the method to her madness.
Epistle: When did you begin playing Words with Friends? Mrs. Jones: A couple of years ago. E: How did you hear about the game? J: A friend told me about it. She won’t play me anymore because I beat her. E: Has any student ever beat you? J: Yes, I’m sure. E: How many times? J: Not many. E: Do you enjoy crushing the spirits of students who challenge you to a game? J: Absolutely. E: Who do you consider to be the best student you play? J: I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate me. E: Do you cheat? Because at this point, it seems highly likely. J: No, that would be unsporting! E: Then what’s your strategy? J: Look for the spaces that give you extra points and try to use them. E: Do you eat triple word scores for breakfast? J: (Laughs) No.
E: Do you read the dictionary for fun? J: No, that does not sound like fun. E: Are you still in possession of your soul, or did you sell it to the devil in exchange for Words prowess? J: My talent is God given. I do not need to sell my soul. E: Do you have connections with the Great Letter Distributer in the sky? Like, say, bribery? J: I have a direct connection with him... but I do not bribe. E: Some say you play Words with Friends to relieve stress after a particularly trying day with your E block Honors Chemistry class. Is this true? J: Absolutely. E: What’s your highest word score? J: 132. E: How many games do you have going? J: 9. E: Do you know the definition of half the words you play? J: More than half. But most of the time I just try letter combinations to see if they work. E: How often do you play? J: Every day. E: Would you consider Words with Friends your vice? J: Yes. E: Do you consider Words with Friends chemically equivalent to oxygen? J: No, I need oxygen. Words with Friends is just for fun. E: Any last tips for the struggling Wordsmith? J: Read more--you’ll improve your vocabulary. Anyone who wishes to challenge Mrs. Jones can look her up on Words with Friends by searching “gailjones.” Disclaimer: The Epistle is not responsible for any resulting loss of self-esteem brought about by this challenge.
Sports 8 Sports, scholarships, and stress by Danielle Williamson Stress. It’s a dirty little six letter word that high school students are all too familiar with. The struggle to maintain a balance between social life, academia, and extracurriculars consumes many, often at the expense of sleep and nutrition. In addition, the ever-growing pressure to live up to college admission standards only grows as a student progresses through high school. Things pile on top of each other, one after another until students feel smothered and overwhelmed by Stress. A survey of 373 St. Paul’s students suggests that athletes might feel this burden more than their non athletic counterparts. On average, athletes reported higher stress levels than non athletes (6.99 as opposed to 6.13, as measured on a scale of 1-10). When broken down into in-season and out-of-season, in-season athletes responded with an average of 7.13 and out-of-season with an average of 6.42. This data suggests that active participation in sports (in the St. Paul’s population) leads to perceived elevated stress levels. In addition, it also revealed startling information about the number of athletes in the St. Paul’s community: as of January 2012, 62% were actively participating in sports, 15% were out of season athletes, and a mere 23% did not participate in sports at all. In all, more than three-quarters of the student body participates in athletics. These results are interesting, given that numerous studies have repeatedly the benefits of exercise for mental health. First and
Avg. stress representforemost, exercise has been shown to ed by dotted line Stress at St. Paul’s reduce stress levels. When you exercise, the brain releases increased amounts of endorphins and serotonin. These “peppy peptides” (a type of neurotransmitters) boost moods and decrease feelings of depression and anxiety. Recent research even suggests that exercise could boost production of brain cells. However, exercise, like any good thing, can be overdone. After a certain point, neurogenesis (the production of brain cells) levels out, and stress levels inccccccWith the price of college being raised crease. This is especially true in high intensity by the year (up 100% from 1990), for many athletes, such as those competing for scholarof specialized atheletes, scholarships are the ships. Though the total percentages of athletes only visible path to college. Thus, a successful with mental health problems corresponds fairly future is seen as being dependent on a successevenly with that of the public, some mental ful sports career. This, understandably, raises health disorders appear more frequently in stress levels considerably, leading to an inathletes than the general population. Eating creased risk of developing the aforementioned disorders are especially frequent among femental health disorders. When an injury male runners, appearing in 14% of a sample blocks the yellow brick road to the pot of gold, of French athletes, as opposed to 4.2% of the stress can turn to depression, characterized by general population. Males who participated in feelings of hopelessness and, in extreme cases, combat sports (wrestling, etc.) also showed a resulting in suicide. higher rate of eating disorders at 7%. Perfectionism dominates. Those who With ever-increasing pressure to “get compete at a high level feel stress to maintain ahead of the game,” parents are placing their competitive, while those who fail to meet such children in intensive training programs at high standards feel pressure to reach such stanyounger ages. Placement in such programs dards. imbeds the compulsive need to excel in chil St. Paul’s students are fortunate enough dren at a crucial developmental time in their that few resort to the aforementioned emotionlives, predisposing the children toward expeal excesses. Many students stress stems from riencing higher levels of stress later on in life. time management issues, and the resulting lack Emphasis on one sport discourages children of sleep. Though some may turn to yoga and from exploring other options and is condoned meditation for relief from such pressures, a by the American Academy of Pediatrics. But recent study conducted by Scientific American in a world where child prodigies are constantly Mind showed the most effective methods of featured in web clips and on TV, such specialstress management fell under the category of ization is becoming the norm. In return, those stress prevention: tasks such as making “to-do” who desire to explore a sport later in life are lists, planning out ones day, and setting realisreluctant to because of fears of failure, inadtic goals. These small steps, trivial as they may equacy, and an inability to compete with such seem, can help alleviate suffocating circumspecialized players. stances as one gradually becomes Unstressed.
Clash of the titans: Super Bowl XLVI by Bren McMaken
Super Bowl XLVI pits the resurgent New York Giants against the dominant New England Patriots. When these two teams met earlier this year, the matchup bore an eerie similarity to their previous meeting: Super Bowl XLII. Both times, New England lost after reality-defying 4th quarter comebacks by Eli Manning and the Giants. In previous matchups, New York was never given a chance to defeat the Patriots. This year, things are different. The Giants boast the best pass rush in the NFL. Sackmasters Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora, intend to get after Tom Brady (a strong contender for this year’s MVP) and wreak havoc on the Patriots’ offensive line. As good as the Giants’ defense has been, the Patriots’ offense has been even better this season. Tom Brady, arguably one of the
greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, became just the 3rd player ever to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season. With a plethora of big-name targets such as Wes Welker, Rob Gronkoswki, and Aaron Hernandez, New England may have one of the league’s greatest passing offenses. With a productive running game to compliment their passing game, this offense has been firing on all cylinders. This year’s matchup could very well rest on the shoulders of Eli Manning once again. The Patriots defense, their secondary in
particular, has been suspect for much of the season. But in recent weeks, they’ve been able to shut down opposing offenses when the game was on the line. Eli made short work of the Patriots’ secondary in the closing minutes of the game, but a midseason game is very different from the Super Bowl. After having been called upon multiple times to bring this team back from the edges of defeat on the greatest of stages, Eli has proven himself worthy of this challenge. My prediction: As great as New York has been in recent weeks, the battle-tested Tom Brady will lead his team to victory. Patriots 28, Giants 24. image courtesy of www.tweeting.com