Dec. 14, 2012 by Lafayette High School

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Lafayette High School

17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011

COOL STORY,

BRO. The Bro Code is the de facto life rule book for bros, but what does it actually mean? See p. 8-9

Volume 44, No. 4 / Dec. 14, 2012 / lhsimage.com

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misc. / 02 Dec. 14, 2012

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[contents[ table OF

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS/ Senior Alan Lu plays violin during the Holdiay Showcase, put on every other year by the Music Department. “This year it was a Cabaret, which is a dinner theatre type thing, where all the different ensembles are showcased,” Michele Rodgers, choir teacher, said. The Holiday Showcase took place Dec. 6-7 at 6 p.m. in the Commons and was sold out both evenings. (Photo by Eddy Strode)

upcoming events

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Here are some important dates to plug into your calendar app or pencil into your planners.

Dec. 18-21/ Final Exams Dec. 22- Jan. 2/ Winter Break, No School Jan. 3/ Second Semester Begins Jan. 3-8/ Make-up Exams Jan. 7/ Late Start Day Jan. 9/ Curriculum Night in Commons, Library, Gyms, Theatre at 7 p.m. Jan. 11/ Winter Pep Assembly in Gym at 2:20 p.m.

End of the world and we know it

Finals cause stress, especially when students don’t know how to go about studying for them. Here is a step-by-step guide sure to lead you to the grade you need.

Photoofthe month

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Test your way to success

As the predicted date of the end of the world comes closer, students and teachers share their theories and plans for the potential apocalypse.

8/9 Cool story, bro

Senior Sam St. Clair, junior Rennie Pettinelli and freshman Drew Lisenbardt share their knowledge and discuss some different topics found within the Bro Code.

10/

Athletes to watch

Sophomore Garrett Steins and freshman Jenny Kohl make an impact at tryouts and hope to secure key spots on varsity basketball teams.

16/ As seen on TV

With reality television shows on the rise, many students are beginning to fit the profile of people featured on shows such as My Strange Addiction, Toddlers & Tiaras and Hoarding: Buried Alive.

image staff / policies Editors:

Grace Bueckendorf........... ..................Editor in Chief Paige Antolik............................................News Editor Gabby McDaris........Opinion/Entertainment Editor Katie Blackstone.................................Features Editor Dylan Corbet..... ...................................Sports Editor McKayla Treat............................................Webmaster Karre Wagner...................................Asst. Webmaster Kelly Carpenter ...............................Business Manager Rebecca Ferman..................... Social Media Director Veronica Knysh...........................................Cartoonist Mrs. Nancy Y. Smith, MJE ...............................Adviser

Staff:

Emily Altic, Avery Cantor, Arianna Demos, Eric Deter, Alex LaMar, Hannah Marshall and Emily Pascoe.

Information:

The Image is published 10 times a year by the Newspaper Production Class. Subscriptions are $30. Free issues are distributed on campus. The 2011-2012 Image received a rating of AllAmerican with five marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association. lhsimage.com received a rating of All-American with four marks of distinction. The 2011-2012 Image was awarded the George H. Gallup Award from Quill and Scroll.

Philosophy Statement:

The newspaper’s primary obligation is to inform its readers about events in the school and community and of issues of national or international importance which directly or indirectly affect the school population. The newspaper, while serving as a training ground for future journalists as part of the school curriculum, recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. Operating as a public forum, student editors will apply professional standards and ethics for decision making as they take on the responsibility for content and production of the newspaper.

Located in Room 137A at Lafayette High School, 17050 Clayton Rd., Wildwood, MO 63011. Our phone number is (636) 733-4118 and our e-mail address is smithnancy@rockwood.k12. mo.us or visit on the web at: www.lhsimage.com

Policies:

A complete explanation of the Rockwood School District Policies and Regulations concerning official student publications and the policies and procedures used by the Image staff can be found on the website www.lhsimage.com under the About Us tab.

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news / 03 Dec. 14, 2012

Student’s charity group, St. Louis Food Rescue, fights hunger in area through ‘Pumpkin Project’ the top side of things, and I don’t do much of the picking up and delivering food; I do manenior Nate Noss started his own charity, agement, communicating with our sponsors St. Louis Food Rescue (STLFR), when and donors and coordinating events like the he was only 15 years old. STLFR is a Pumpkin Project,” Noss said. nonprofit charity in which volunteers pick up STLFR’s main donors and sponsors include food from grocery stores and bakeries four Whole Foods, Costco, The Donut Palace and nights a week and bring the food to charitable Einstein’s. organizations. Four nights of the week, volunteers pick up Noss’ initial inspiration to launch STLFR food from these companies and bring them to came from his volunteer work at the Harvey charities such as the Salvation Army and the Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry when he was 11 New Life Homeless shelter in St. Charles. years old. STLFR delivers food a couple nights of By the time the week to he was 15, Noss the Salvavolunteered tion Army there for about in O’Fallon. 100 hours per The Salvation year until the Army feeds pantry got a 500 families a new manager month, which who decided it has increased was unhealthy from 100 famifor their clients lies within a to be eating year and a half. pastries. Sherrill Laird natenoss / 12 “There are 50 is one of the million Amerimanagers of cans in poverty, so you either pick unhealthy the Salvation Army. food or no food, and our parking lot couldn’t “The majority of our fruits and vegetables accommodate the amount of vehicles to deliver come from STLFR. The pantry could not funcall the food to the charities, so she started tion without the volunteers,” Laird said. pitching the food and I told myself ‘that’s not With all the hours Noss dedicates to STLFR, right,’” Noss said. it is difficult for him to finish his school work The food waste at Harvey Kornblum mosome nights. tivated Noss to ask stores for their perishable “You gotta do what you gotta do. Sometimes pastries and baked goods that were not sold at you have to get to bed at two or three in the the end of the day. morning, but that’s what happens. Hard work Noss said, “One store laughed at me and anpays off,” Noss said. other said no, but then a few stores said yes and Noss transferred from Whitfield High School Whole Foods said yes. Whole Foods is huge, so last year and he said STLFR is easier to manage it pretty much grew from there.” because he received much more homework After Whole Foods, Noss found several from Whitfield. more companies to get involved along with The extra time has allowed him to communilots of friends and friends’ friends to help with cate with new donors and volunteers and spend volunteering. more time on the From there, he used social media and techPumpkin Project. 198 Eureka Town nology to attract people, sponsors and donors. Several students from LHS have already Center Dr. When Noss turned 16, he went to the Hugh started volunteering with STLFR after hearing O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) program Noss’s story in school. Junior Taylor Cohen has and created the organization when he came been volunteering for four months. home. “I like volunteering and the idea of actually “HOBY is what gave me the motivation to volunteering and serving people. My favorite create a non-profit organization rather than part is definitely seeing the peoples’ reactions DINE IN OR CARSIDE TO GO. just collecting and delivering food. Now I’mEXPIRES on when we bring the food. They are always so M7616 11-30-2011.

Kelly Carpenter / business manager

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FEEDING THE HUNGRY/ Senior Nate Noss (center) and volunteers carry food collected from Whole Foods to the kitchen of the O’Fallon Salvation Army. Each weekend, St. Louis food rescue saves over 5,000 pounds of baked goods and dairy products that otherwise would have been thrown away. (Photo by Kelly Carpenter) happy to see us,” Cohen said.

Pumpkin Project/

In addition to picking up and delivering

food to charitable organizations, Noss and his management team organize a Pumpkin Project every year starting after Halloween. Various places donated their pumpkins, such as Rombach’s Pumpkin Patch, Sullivan Farms and Pin Oak Farms. This year they collected over 10,000 pumpkins. With the pumpkins, STLFR has baked the pumpkins into puree by cutting them in half and baking them for an hour in the oven. They baked the majority of their pumpkins at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school, which had about 200 ovens. However, the large amount of pumpkins created some difficulty. “Our problem was that we didn’t realize how many pumpkins there were, so first of all we didn’t get all the pumpkins into puree in 22 hours, which was our goal. Then when we finally got them all processed, we only had 10 percent of the buckets that we needed to hold the puree. Thankfully, Home Depot and Lowe’s

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donated around 150 buckets which was almost all of the buckets needed,” Noss said. With all of the puree, volunteers can make pumpkin bread to donate to the charities. Unfortunately, the cost of the ingredients to make all of the puree is very expensive. The eggs alone used to make the bread will cost around $8,000. “We have to be creative with what we want to do with the puree. Obviously, we can’t make it all into bread, but we have found recipes for items such as pumpkin butter and pumpkin leather which doesn’t require as much ingredients,” Noss said. Also, Noss said they will give the puree alone to charities to lessen the amount they have to make because a lot of homeless shelters enjoy making the pumpkin bread on their own. STLFR will start making all of their pumpkin food items in February. Noss said February is considered a “dead month” because donations are typically low after the holidays, and it’s a time when the charities need food the most. To find out more about STLFR and various volunteer oppurtunities, visit stlouisfoodrescue. org.

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Expiration Date: 12/31/12

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news / 04 Dec. 14, 2012 6. Switch it up

It seems easy to just sit down and read your notes, but unfortunately that method does not work for everyone. Switch it up. Use fun colored highlighters to memorize material or use dry erase markers and write on your bedroom window or a sliding glass door to practice vocab words or lists. Do not just sit there. Make it fun. If technology is more your thing, try www.quizlet. com. Quizlet offers you a variety of different ways to study including, games, flash cards, practice tests and many other helpful tools. Quizlet even has a handy app for your iPhone or iPod. Studying can get boring so help your brain stay focused and add a little fun into the mix.

1. Rockwood Final Exam policy

According to Rockwood policy, students may exempt one final per semester if they have an ‘A’ in the class. However, there are exceptions. Freshmen cannot exempt finals during first semester. During second semester seniors can exempt all exams in classes where they earn an ‘A’. First semester, students taking AP courses cannot exempt any first semester exams, but second semester they may exempt the final if they are earning a ‘B’. Advanced Language Arts Research/ Presentation (ALARP) 1 and 2 may exempt the final exam, but not the final presentation. Students in college-credit courses must also take exams. Check the Student Handbook for information.

est Your Way o Success Karre Wagner/assistant webmaster

Finals are approaching quickly, and it’s time to hunker down and hit the books. Here’s your step-by-step guide to studying.

5. Energize

Whatever you do, do not pull an allnighter. It might seem like it will help you out, but in the long run when it comes to test time that lack of sleep will definitely come back to haunt you. Eat foods packed with energy such as nuts and apples. The more energy you have the less sleepy you will feel and therefore your brain will be able to function more effectively.

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We have time in between each exam, with only two exams a day. Use the night before to study only for those two exams; don’t side track yourself with Thursdays exams on Tuesday. Make sure you know for sure which test is most important for you to get the best grade on and spend your time focusing on that exam versus a ‘less important’ exam. If you are really worried about a particular test do not wait until the last moment to start studying, spend a couple days prior to the exam looking over your notes and reviewing.

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4. Prioritize

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It is absolutely possible to study too much. You will not be able to study well if you are just cramming information into your brain; it will lead to stressing out. Break it up. Give your mind a chance to absorb the information you are studying before you cram more in. This doesn’t mean you need to take an hour long break, but stand up for 15 minutes to walk your dog, go eat dinner with your family, jump on the computer for a little bit, but always set time limits. Do not let yourself get carried away on the computer. Allow yourself 15-30 minutes in between study sessions. Taking breaks lets your mind absorb the presented information.

3. Test yourself

Do not spend valuable time reviewing material you are already sure about; that is not going to help you. Do not just read your notes, do not stare at the paper endlessly. Take the facts and write them on note cards. Have one side of the card be a question and the other the answer. Do it over and over again until you can answer them all. Being able to successfully complete your questions before test time will help boost your confidence and assure yourself that you are ready to go.

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“Probably Bread Co. because you can study with all of your friends, maybe you will meet up with someone there and you can study with them.” mattunderwood / 11

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“My bedroom with nobody around me and silence.” alexisrichie / 10

“In my room with my music because there it is quiet and I’m at peace.” shamarawilson / 12

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Taking a backseat to driving Students are deciding to wait until they are older to get their driver’s license as the rate of teenage driver’s has declined over the past 30 years. Hannah Marshall / reporter

or most teens, turning 16 is a pivotal point in their life. Within days, hours or even minutes of turning 16, teenagers usually rush to the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) to get their driver’s license, representing the start of freedom and independence. But, studies show that as the years go on, the number of teenage drivers is declining. The University of Michigan concluded in 1980, 8 out of every 10 teenagers had their driver’s license. In 2010, the number of teens holding a license dropped to 6 out of every 10. “If teenagers are waiting longer [to get their driver’s license], some of it has to do with the cost of insurance, the cost of cars and the economy, since it may make it a little harder for parents to help afford some of the expenses,” Driver Education teacher Allyn Workman said. A recent study by State Farm reported that 35 percent of teenagers are waiting to get their license because they do not own a car. If teens don’t have anything to drive, they don’t find the need to invest the time in getting a license.

State Farm also found that 33 percent of teenagers say they do not have time to practice driving, so they feel inexperienced. Teenagers have heavy course loads for school and can’t find the time to get behind the wheel to refine their driving skills. Workman said, “There are a lot of kids that aren’t quite ready to be in charge of a four, five thousand pound vehicle. They want a little more time and experience.” According to State Farm’s study, 62 percent of teenagers are delaying the process of getting a license because they have other ways to get around. Many teenagers have older siblings, parents and friends to drive them to where they need to go, so there is no immediate need for a license. “My dad drives me around and sometimes my friends drive me,” senior Rose Choi said. Choi does not have her license because her parents will not allow her yet, but she believes she will get her license before going to college next year. Holding off the process of getting a driver’s license gives some teenagers a financial advantage over some of their driving friends. “I don’t have to pay for insurance like some

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of my friends,” junior Ryan Caraway said. Caraway does not have a car and currently does not have a job, so he finds no reason to get a license right now. Caraway believes he will get his license before senior year. Research shows that waiting to get a license until you are older makes a driver more logical in their decisions. According to the article “Decision Making Improves with Age and Experience,” by Rick Nauert, the older a person and their mind becomes, the better they are at making logical decisions. “Psychologists designed a model requiring participants to evaluate each result in order to strategize the next choice, more like decisionmaking in the real world. Using this methodology, older decision makers clearly made better choices,” according to Nauert’s article. Although studies show better decisions are made by those who are older, it is completely up to each individual to determine when they are ready to drive. Workman said, “There are some [teenagers] that are certainly ready to drive, and there are others that should wait a little bit longer to get more experience.”

features / 05 Dec. 14, 2012

The University of Michigan took a look at the number of licensed teens in 1980 compared to 2010.

*In 1980, 44 percent of 16-year-olds had their license compared to 28 percent in 2010. *In 1980, 66 percent of 17-year-olds had their license compared to 45 percent in 2010. *In 1980, 75 percent of 18-year-olds had their license compared to 61 percent in 2010. *In 1980, 80 percent of 19-year-olds had their license compared to 70 percent in 2010.

Follow Student Publications on Twitter @ @LHSimage and @LHSLegend 2013

Attention

Seniors-Juniors Spring 2013 ACT/SAT Tutoring Call Dr. Jack Arnold 314-805-4561 Appointments Tuesday/Thursday Evenings Saturday/Sunday afternoons www.JackArnold.org

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to will cease “Lafayette top schools e be one of th tion, and in the na students this, because of y may lose u c fa and lt rivileges ep some of th held.” n o they ce 12 / johnhuber

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features / 07 Dec. 14, 2012

It’s the End of the World... And We Know It

Four LHS community members reveal their theories and plans for the Dec. 21 apocalypse Katie Blackstone / features editor

/ Alexis Lowenthal, 12

/ Brad Bouchert, 11

What’s your theory?

“There’s this theoretical planet [Planet X] that is going to re-enter the solar system, and when it does, it creates all these catastrophic natural disasters. So, in a way, I think that’s going to happen again and re-destroy the Earth.”

“I just believe that eventually the world will have to end and that some way the dead shall rise as it was said in the Bible. And all the dead will come up and attack the living.”

What evidence do you have that supports it?

“In the Bible, God spoke of the dead rising. I’ve heard some people say that it’s not going to be in that type of way but nobody knows truly what it is what it’s going to be like.”

“Because last time it came into our solar system was during the time of the great flood which actually did destroy the Earth.”

Will it happen on Dec. 21?

“No, it’ll happen later in the year, because Planet X takes about 7 months to enter our solar system. But everything’s going to start like January or so.”

What’s your survival plan?

“I don’t really have a plan, but I have supplies ready. My entire room is stocked with weapons and it’s full of food. I’m ready for anything to happen.”

When did you start researching and believe in the apocalypse? “When I first saw my first zombie movie. I was 12 years old when I started believing.”

“Build a fallout shelter. And stock up on supplies. It could be a whole bunch of disasters occurring, so it could be anything.”

Have any advice for people?

“Just be prepared for what could happen. There’s anything that could happen that you’re not really prepared for. Just get ready for it and don’t be surprised by it.”

“Get ready for anything, any kind of disaster.”

/ David Choate, Staff

/ Becca Moss, 12

What’s your theory?

“No, I just think we’re all going to die. And that we’re all going to blow up. Like, spontaneously combust.”

“A super earthquake will hit causing all volcanoes to erupt, thus all ice caps will melt and water will once again encompass the earth.”

What evidence do you have that supports it?

Will it happen on Dec. 21?

“The Mayan calendar and the movie [2012] that came out, and everything has been happening: all the tornadoes, Hurricane Sandy, stuff like that.”

“Dec. 22 is when all heck will break loose.”

Will it happen on Dec.21?

“Build a boat, get an ostrich and crocodile and sail the seas. The ostrich and crocodile will protect the boat from pirates who attempt to steal my boat, plus they will provide me and my family with food from their eggs.”

What’s your survival plan?

“Yeah. Well, I’m hoping that’ll happen in December. There’s a lot of things going on then, like finals, well, midway through finals. If I can just miss the last finals that’ll be great.”

When did you start researching and believe in the apocalypse?

What’s your survival plan?

“I don’t want to make an escape plan. I don’t want to be the only one left in the world or stuck with a bunch of crazies.”

When did you start researching and believe in the apocalypse?

“My mom always talked about something big happening in 2012 and I just figured something huge was going to happen.”

“It has been on my radar for the last few years. However, I first became fascinated with Mayan mythology around the age of 4. Since I can remember I was fascinated by calendars and when the calendar will end.”

Have any advice for people?

“Get a boat, people. Get a boat.”

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T [the]

COOL STORY,

BRO. Alex La Mar / reporter

asks

bros

ON FIGHTING

Q: What sort of music should guys never listen to?

Q: Is there any reason why guys like to confront someone instead of talking behind their backs? Or do guys gossip too?

Drew Linsenbardt: Opera. Sam St. Clair: Taylor Swift. Rennie Pettinelli: Hey, those are both okay. I’m gonna go with the whole genre of whatever Justin Bieber is and One Direction. SS: Yeah, no J Beebs, no One Directions. Pretty much anything put on the radio that girls dance to. DL: Korean Pop songs. RP: What, you don’t Gangnam Style? DL: Yeah, no, stay away from that stuff. RP: I have it on my iPod just to annoy people.

ON CRYING

= 15 students

SS: Don’t cry. RP: No, I remember last year, for lacrosse, we lost in the playoffs. A couple of teammates were crying because it was a close game, and we went through a lot that season. So, I think times like those are good. Or, like, death in the family. DL: I don’t know, that depends. SS: You only cry if you witness the death, not if you just like hear about it. DL: They’re in a better place now.

ON DATING Q: Say you had a sister about your age. Would you have any problem with one of your friends dating her, or would it be ok for you to date your friend’s sister? SS: You always have a problem with a guy dating your sister, and you never date your best bro’s sister, unless she’s a 9 or higher. DL: I’d agree with that. That’s almost like set in stone right there.

SS: It depends on the circumstances. DL: If it’s like a little sip, maybe. SS: Always waterfall. DL: You’re not gonna sit there with a milkshake and two straws… RP: I actually did that once. It was pretty funny, my girlfriend didn’t think I’d do it, and his girlfriend didn’t think he’d do it either. It was at our Homecoming dinner. I think there’s a picture of it on the internet.

Q: Why are bros obsessed with having possession of the TV remote?

YES *Survey of 150 LHS male students

SS: Guys just hit each other in the face. We both always see where we were wrong and where we were right. DL: You work it out a lot more than girls. RP: I’ve been punched in the face a couple times.

Q: When is crying okay for a bro?

Q: Is it ok for bros to share drinks?

Is it okay to say your friend’s girlfriend is “hot?”*

SS: Nah, we don’t really do that. RP: Unless you’re on a sports team and you really hate the kid. But you’re a team, so you need to make it look like you’re on a team. SS: You need to tell them if you have a problem. SS: Normally, guys all get along. DL: Guys usually just work it out. If there’s a problem we don’t just sit there and dramatize it. SS: It’s like the whole team aspect: if you’re on the wrestling team and you have a problem with somebody, you just go wrestle them.

Q: How do bros fight about stuff?

ON SHARING

Freshman Drew Linsenbardt

image

ON MUSIC

Emily Pascoe / reporter

uys have always followed a different lifestyle from that of their female counterparts. The set of guidelines that shape the male existence have come to be known more popularly as the “Bro Code.” The Image got together with three self-proclaimed “bros” from different grade levels. Senior Sam St. Clair, junior Rennie Pettinelli and freshman Drew Linsenbardt helped explain some of the complex inner-workings of the “Bro Code.”

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cover story / 9

Dec. 14, 2012

cover story / 8

RP: To be honest, I couldn’t care less what’s on the TV, I mean, unless it’s something stupid. SS: Girls always put something stupid on TV. DL: Or they just like flip through the channels from, like 1 to 100. They just keep going. RP: No, the worst is when they’re on the guide, when there’s the background with an awful TV show on and I’m like “Just change it!” DL: Just pick something and stay on it for a minute! SS: And girls always pass everything good. You’re like “that was Diehard… that was Karate Kid…” RP: I’m like, “I want to watch that,” but she’s like, “Well, let’s see what else is on!” and I’m like, “No… Just put me out of it.”

ON HYGIENE Q: What is proper etiquette as far as time taken fixing your hair in the mirror? RP: If you’re at school, you get like one hand swipe. If you’re at home, then it could be 30 seconds.

Q: Why does it take girls longer to get ready to go somewhere than guys? RP: Because we just don’t care. SS: Actually, statistically speaking, guys take like 13 percent more time getting ready in the morning. DL: I could agree with that. SS: If girls weren’t so picky, we wouldn’t spend so much time doing it. RP: It depends on whether I go to the bathroom or not. SS: That’s true. DL: That’s the main factor right there. RP: Yeah, that’s like a good 10 minutes.

ON CLOTHING Q: Is it okay for guys’ clothes to match? And what do you do if you see someone wearing the same clothes as you? SS: Ok. Well, you ask them to go hit on a girl, and when they strike out, you walk up in the same clothes and you’re like “sorry about that”…then you keep going… RP: I think it’s fine. And if you don’t know them, then it’s even better, because then you made a new friend. DL: You walk around and ask girls who wore it better.

Q: What do you think about bros and skinny jeans? RP: Guys should never wear them. Ever. SS: Never. They can strain certain appendages.

ON SPORTS Q: Okay, everyone enjoys playing sports, but what is it about watching sports that guys like so much? SS: I don’t. RP: I play lacrosse. So when I watch lacrosse I watch to see what they do so I can try to do that. If it’s not a sport I play, I just watch for the hits. DL: It’s fun to watch people get killed.

hellos for

bros

Senior Sam St. Clair and junior Rennie Pettinelli demonstrate the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ of saying hello as outlined in the Bro Code.

[the]

sports / 10 Dec. 14, 2012

[

Athletes to

[

watch

Arianna Demos/reporter

Kohl, Steins look to add talent to varsity basketball teams

ith two talented underclassmen joining varsity, the Lancer basketball program hopes to rebuild after losing several starting seniors. Freshman Jenny Kohl and sohpmore Garrett Steins are December’s athletes to watch.

Garrett Steins/

Securing a spot on varsity, sophomore Garrett Steins looks to be successful this season. Despite his young age, the 6’4” forward will serve as an asset to Lancer boys basketball. “It feels really good to be able to play up. The team has great chemistry and we all get along really well,” Steins said. Last year, Steins and the junior varsity team had an overall record of 23-2. In hopes of playing just as well on varsity, Steins has been training with the team during the off season in preparation for the tough competition ahead. Head Coach Scott Allen said, “Garrett’s a newcomer to varsity basketball so he will have his ups and downs this year like any first year player. He works hard and is extremely aggressive which will help our team which is what matters most.” During game play, Steins hopes to improve on shooting and executing free throws. If he is able to step up, make key rebounds and consistently play to his potential, the Lancers basketball team will be something special.

Jenny Kohl/

Eager to make plays in a varsity jersey, freshman Jenny Kohl is one to watch. During the fall season, Kohl also made an impact during softball tryouts that landed her a seat on varsity. The young athlete hopes to have even more success in basketball. “Playing on varsity is an exciting experience. Being able to play with and against the upperclassmen will help me improve,” Kohl said. During the off-season, Kohl participates in almost all other sports, leaving little time to train for basketball. When she does find time between academics and athletics, Kohl will practice shooting at Lifetime Fitness. “We are putting a lot of responsibility on her as a freshman, but she is doing a great job of handling the pressure. She is coachable and has a lot of potential,” Head Coach Jennifer Porter said. The 5’5” point guard looks to become a threat for the team with her outside shooting abilities. Kohl thrives off being able to compete at the top level, regardless of her age or height. “I am excited for what this season holds. I may be a little inexperienced, but being able to play on varsity softball earlier this year has really prepared me for the pressure,” Kohl said. Kohl has been an exceptional athlete so far for the Lancers and hopes to continue her success into track and field or lacrosse during the Spring.

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sports / 11 Dec. 14, 2012

Mueller, Scales working through rehab for comeback after serious injuries Dylan Corbet / sports editor

njuries in sports can range from simply getting the wind knocked out of you to ending your career entirely. No matter the extent of the injury, athletes hope to avoid them as much as possible. Junior Ryan Mueller and sophomore Cameron Scales are familiar varsity athletes who went down with injuries early in the year that have plagued them to this day. Mueller tore his ACL and medial meniscus just four games into the football season, sidelining him for the rest of the season, requiring surgery and putting his volleyball season in question. “Being healthy means everything, I haven’t ran since mid-September; I just want to get back to playing what I love,” Mueller said. Mueller is currently in physical rehab, working extremely hard to, hopefully, get cleared to play before the volleyball season ends in May. “Rehab is tough, but it is exciting to be moving forward toward coming back to full health,” Mueller said.

Having healthy knees means everything in volleyball and when asked how his injury would affect his performance. Mueller said, “Doing rehab correctly and taking things one thing at a time will allow me to hopefully be back to normal.” Tearing your ACL can affect you for the rest of your life, however Mueller remains optimistic. “Tearing my ACL taught me to cherish every minute that deals with my sports because they can easily be taken away and trust God to guide you through,” said Mueller. As for Scales, he only saw playing time for half a scrimmage before he went down in front of the horrified parents during Lafayette’s Fall Sports Night. “It was tough. Crying in pain and seeing the faces of my teammates hurt the most. I felt like I let them down a lot and I felt that I could have helped the team this year,” Scales said. Scales fractured his tibia and required screws to be inserted into his right knee for any hope of having

a healthy leg in the future. Scales spent the entire football season participating in rehab attempting to make a comeback for basketball season. “Rehab is awful, not only is it about getting the range of motion back in my knee, it’s also about regaining the strength in my leg,” Scales said. Scales has just recently been cleared to practice for basketball, but has some doubts regarding his performance. “It will decline my performance. It’s all about knowing my limitations for my knee. I like to play a fastpaced style of basketball, but that will have to wait for a little bit,” Scales said. Scales is working hard to catch up with the rest of the team with learning plays, getting back into basketball shape and preparing to play in his first varisty game. "I learned that you aren't invincible. Anything can happen at any given time. I know now to better prepare myself for sports and other physical activities,” he said.

BATTLING BACK / Junior Ryan Mueller and sophomore Cameron Scales show off their “battle scars,” sporting their protective knee braces. (Photo by Karre Wagner)

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[the]

opinions / 12 Dec. 14, 2012

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American two party system limits choices for [Staff Ed] Students need to become Opinions expressed on the editorial pages do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school administration. All editorials (unsigned) represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board. Signed, columns, blogs, editorial cartoons and reviews reflect the views of the author and not necessarily those of the Image Editorial Board.

involved in district decisions

If you ask a student what their main qualm about Lafayette is, you will most likely hear a grumble about inconsistent temperatures. But what should Lafayette students really be worried about? Most items that cause student frustration are based on decisions made by district administrators and the Board of Education. The majority of that work is done publicly and anyone has the opportunity to provide their input. And, such insignificant matters like classroom temperature is hardly important in a year with such turbulent changes on the horizon. And the saddest part is most students just don’t know, or care, about what is happening in Rockwood. Times are tough. Millions of dollars have been cut from the budget over the past five years and more cuts are very likely on the way. Depending on which way Picture Rockwood ends up, it could turn student’s lives around. Without additional funds from a tax increase and/or bond issue, the district will be cutting upwards of $10 million from the 2013-2014 budget. Much of that will come from increasing

class sizes and cutting staff. Courses could disappear and teachers could be cut, but none of this matters to the average student unless it inflates their grades, gets them better food or fixes the apparent cooling system debacle. Consider this: the district is considering replacing half days with late start days. This will cost an estimated $70,000 that could be used on new textbooks or maybe keeping a teacher or two, both which would be more beneficial to students. However, the academic implications hardly mean a thing when it means no more half day afternoons spent sipping lattes and talking gossip with their besties. As much as it is the district’s responsibility to take care of their students’ academics, it is the students’ responsibility to make sure they stay up to date on the district’s decisions that impact their potential for success. Early knowledge and involvement provide students with the ability to impact change, instead of moaning and groaning with angst after the fact, when nothing else can be done. Luckily, the mantra at the Dec. 6 Board of

Education meeting was, “Nothing is final.” So, do some research. Go to the Rockwood website and give your views on Picture Rockwood. Look at the proposal for Professional Development Days. Check out the proposed budget and cuts that would be made and then speak up. If there were any changes you find objectionable, it is absolutely your responsibility to voice your opinion. Over 250 Rockwood teachers and staff attended the Dec. 6 board meeting to hear the budget proposal. They care. Don’t you? Without students that are active in the community, and care about what is going on, the district is only as good as the input they get from others, and that doesn’t always serve the students’ best interests. Apathetic students do no harm to anyone but themselves. If you want your voice to be heard, speak. For more information visit www.rockwood.k12. mo.us/boardofeducation. Read the items there and contact a board member with your concerns and make plans to be at the Dec. 20 board meeting where agenda items will include the budget as well as proposed grading policies in the district.

The rise and fall of an American icon There have been many great American icons in history. Some of the greats include Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and even Lindsay Lohan. Usually when an icon is lost, people grieve not because they were close with the departed but because they realize they will no longer hear new music or see one of their movies. In my case, its the latter. This great icon created something better than any song or movie. They created an era. So this is a story about this great dynasty that sadly left us in November. I must inform you, this is a powerful story, so make sure you have a box of tissues ready. Dealing with a loss is always difficult for people. On Nov. 16 of this year this great icon was lost, which in turn left everyone feeling lost. They helped millions through the bad times and were a form of celebration during the good times. This family lived in Kansas City for a good majority of their time.

Money was great and life was great. Everyone knew their name and for good reason, they ruled the land of the free. Just like Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell have a feud, this family had a feud. Her name was Debbie and she was the new kid in town. Although Debbie’s ego was big, her stature was, for lack of a better word, little. The family took advantage of her one flaw by constantly teasing her about her size. Although Debbie and the family did not exactly coexist, they learned to keep to themselves. The family had to deal with many battles during their existence. People began to notice weight gain becoming a major problem throughout the world and since the families bakery was their biggest asset, people started placing the blame on them. Some customers were lost, but there seemed to be no immediate impact on the company. Money had never been a problem for the family but things took a turn for the worst

when they first declared bankruptcy in 2004. It’s hard to believe that a family could lose $1.1 billion dollars in one year, but times were tough. The family had to resort to firing their baker and some of their drivers in order to cut their losses. Kansas City just wasn’t cutting it any more for the family so they moved to Texas in 2009. Texas accepted their new residents with open arms and things starting looking up, but only for small amount of time. Rumors started spreading about the families finances three years later. The family was losing money, and fast. The bakers were becoming restless and the drivers felt the same. The unhappy workers decided to take matters into their own hands by going on strike. The troubles the family thought they had escaped eight years ago had come back to haunt them. An agreement could not be made between the family’s company and the workers.

Outside The Box Gabby McDaris, Opinions Editor These unions essentially destroyed the company and in turn the family. The Hostess family will forever be missed and never be forgotten. They were truly an American icon. All though they were not the traditional family American’s think of, they were still a family. A family of artificial baked goods and trans fats. Rest in peace Hostess.

[ the [

image asks

What was the most memorable event of 2012?

Nathan Brooks, 9

Skyfall. It had everything that a James Bond movie should have.

Kayla Eckhardt, 10

Hurricane Sandy. It wreaked havoc and shut down New York.

Courtney Geller, 11 The 2012 election. It really

impacted the future of the nation.

Shacquille Holley, 12

KONY 2012. Everyone was really proud of [America] and how they handled the situation.

Melissa Twombly, Staff

The Olympics. The whole world is watching and it’s a really big event!

[the]

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opinions / 13 Dec. 14, 2012

‘Honey Boo Boo’ holds deeper meaning Honey Boo Boo? Who’s that? For those of you with enough willpower to refrain from watching mind-numbing sit-coms about a never ending (and very addicting) saga of how he met their mother, shows about zombies out to kill all of human kind or reality shows about everyday life for a small, openly red neck family in the middle of the South, I applaud you. For the rest of you, although I admonish you for your distasteful use of time, I must concede that I am no better. Not knowing what I was getting myself into, I was invited to a movie night at my friend’s house. The main attraction? Meeting Alana and the gang. I was expecting a cute bubbly blonde girl from an unlikely background rising up and taking the pageant world by storm. What I got... well it was a surprise, to be sure. Pet pigs that turned out to be horrible mistakes, intense Bingo sessions where suspicions of cheating ran rampant and a little girl that had all of the unlikely background, and none of the pageant talent. But, what was most bizarre about watching the show wasn’t any of that. The most bizarre part was that I actually

[My Turn Now]

Gracefully Said

Grace Bueckendorf, Editor in Chief

liked it. June, when she wasn’t constantly sneezing or making her “Bingo face,” something between a sneer and a grimace, was maternal, but not in the typical fashion. Behind her disorganized household, opinionated loud mouth and unusual fashion choices, she truly loves her kids. Even my own mother, who says she used to hold good taste as a moral virtue, claims she sees the light in the murky waters of Honey Boo Boo. Maybe there is something to be learned from the sisters who, between grass fights and cheeseball-eating, truly stick up for

each other and are there when they need each other most. Although their lifestyle is a far fetch from the West County way of expensive cars, McMansions, trendy clothing and an indulgent lifestyle based on “good taste” and societal ideals, the Honey Boo Boo family seems to have it right. There was something charmingly tacky about a red neck family that, albeit dysfunctional, was endearingly close and sincerely loved one another, even if they had a particularly unusual way of showing it. And even Alana, behind all of the fly-swatting and sassy head-rolling, is a cute bubbly blonde girl ready to take on the world, even if pageants don’t seem to be working out. I think that is why, after staring blankly for a couple of seconds in disbelief after the first episode, I promptly turned to my friend and asked, “Can we watch another episode?” Knowingly, she smiled. “So you did like it. I told you” The draw of the show isn’t the cluttered home and the cluttered lives and the cluttered hands, but rather the strength of the family and the simplicity of the lifestyle. I know it’s trashy and mind-numbing. Even so, I might just tune in for another episode.

Death penalty is appropriate punishment in some cases Karre Wagner / assistant webmaster Life in prison could almost be seen as a privilege versus a penalty. Think about it. Those people in society who do the most unthinkable crimes shouldn’t be spared life. They made the decisions that they made and therefore should receive the consequences. For example, let’s say that a man murdered his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend; now assuming that there is plenty of evidence supporting that this man was indeed the one who raised the gun, isn’t it only fair that he should be sentenced to death as well? An eye for an eye. Life in prison supplies the inmates with food, cable, exercise equipment, and socialization; what more do they need? It isn’t a perfect life, but its better then facing the wrath of the crimes they committed. Now I’m not saying that every crime should

be punishable by death but in the state of Missouri only first degree murder will get you a sentence of death. That’s not enough. If someone raped your little sister or brother.... Don’t you think they deserve death? That person has now scared that young person for the rest of their lives. That one moment in time will now cause that person nightmares, money in counseling and in some severe cases they will even take their own life. Now do you think it’s fair that the person who did this to your younger brother or sister gets life in prison? Life without costs? You must look at it as if it were a member of your family who was the victim. I would be the first to tell you that my sister and I don’t always get along perfectly. However, if someone were to lay a hand on her, rape or murder her, I would be in the court room on that guy’s trial day screaming for them to get the death sentence after what they did to

my big sister. I understand fully that some people make mistakes and can truly turn their life’s around, but that is not always the case. If you hurt, torture, or kill you sentence someone to a life of pain. Therefore you should be sentenced to death for what you have inflicted on innocent people. Of course a trial should be executed and a good amount of evidence must be presented before taking a person’s life that could possibly be innocent. But it is not just to let a guilty person sit and rot in a cell while the victim or the victim’s family is out there in pain. It should not be allowed. There are people out there having to suffer each and every day because of someone else’s actions, and I believe plain and simple it is only fair that they pay the just consequences for those actions.

stars & gripes Stars To:

• The 18,000 canned food items collected. #yeswecanandyeswedid • An announced sequel to Boy Meets World (Girl Meets World). Disney Channel is finally doing something right. #welcomebackchildhood • Texting turning 20 years old. OMG, that seems 4ever ago. #lol • Cheer for Charity. #gooddancingforagreatcause • Lowest unemployment rates since 2008. #whistlewhileyouwork •2012. It’s been a good one, in general. #2013inthehouse

Gripes To:

• Students not knowing what is happening in the school district. #getaclue • The Hostess Company. Where are we supposed to get our end-of-theworld food now? #notthetwinkies • A proposal to have more late start days instead of any half days next year. #nomoremiddaytripstothemall • Lindsay Lohan getting arrested again. You’d think she’d just blame it on her twin from The Parent Trap. #mugshotnumbersix • Teachers being cut to balance the budget. #pleasedontgo • The Missouri weather. It’s just as reliable as the air conditioning at school. #hotncold • Radio stations switching over to Christmas music so early. It’s not the most wonderful time of the year when you’re studying for finals. #toosoon

[the]

entertainment / 14 Dec. 14, 2012

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shake_it_up Since the weather is getting colder, many people turn to hot chocolate and coffee to warm up, but who says they can’t enjoy their favorite ice cream as a holiday shake?

Gabby McDaris/ entertainment/ opinions editor

Emily Altic/ reporter

Katie Blackstone/ features editor

Alex LaMar/ reporter

Paige Antolik/ news editor

Oberweis Cinnamon/ B+

Steak n’ Shake Peppermint Chocolate Chip/ B

McDonald’s Egg Nog/ D

Culver’s Pumpkin Cheesecake/ F

Silky’s Reindeer Tracks/ A

This shake fulfilled its purpose of a cinnamon shake. Just like the first bite of the apple is the best, the first sip of a cinnamon shake is the best. Although I am not a cinnamon fan, this shake was still very good and the presentation made it even better.

My feelings toward this shake may have been biased because I could eat mint ice cream all day, but either way it was still good. My favorite part about the shake was the candy cane pieces that were mixed throughout. This shake met all requirements of a holiday shake.

I hate egg nog, and this shake made me hate it even more. It tasted like what my dogs tick medicine smells like. It was as though the plastic from the cup had leaked into the shake. It was gross, but at least it wasn’t expensive.

It was as though someone took an old pumpkin cheesecake and shoved it in a glass of ice-cream. The cheesecake taste was very overwhelming and the shake was not refreshing at all.

Out of all the shakes we tried this was my favorite. It had all of my favorite ingredients of a shake, unbaked cookies and candy cane pieces. The only downside of the shake was that candy cane pieces were the only mix ins that could fit through the straw. But, other than that, this shake was great.

This was a let down. It was expensive, and took a long time to make. I had high expectations for something delicious, but the cinnamon taste was so faint the shake wasn’t much different than an average vanilla milkshake. Overall it tasted good, but wasn’t worth the time or the money.

This shake was creamy, refreshing and had chunks of peppermint that melted on my tongue. The prices were low and the service was quick. My only complaint was the lack of chocolate, and the overkill of peppermint.

My first impression was that a shake that yellow had to be artificial, and I was right. The taste was a vanilla plastic blend. Overall, the shake was bearable if you tried to ignore the taste, and it was cheap, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a “romantic first date shake.”

Not being a fan of cheesecake or pumpkin, I wasn’t excited to try this shake. The smell of the cheesecake was so strong and sour that it gave me a headache. However, I gave it a chance, only to find that the pumpkin taste was too natural and earthy. I felt as if I swallowed a mouthful of pumpkin guts.

This shake was filled with cookie dough, chocolate bits and candy cane pieces. However, the cookie dough wouldn’t fit up the straw, so the only thing I got was shards of candy cane. After a while it started to feel like I was eating a candy cane, not drinking a milkshake.

Oberweis wins the best taste. Its name is not false advertising, for the strong smell of cinnamon hits you immediately. Though it’s so simple, the shake really wows with it’s great cinnamon flavor. The only fallback? It’s the most expensive of the group.

My high expectations for this one were generally met. It had the perfect, creamy thickness and the peppermint was nice and sweet. However, since it lacked on the chocolate part, it lost out on making an A. But with it’s cheap price and quick service, it’s a shake I’ll definitely be getting again.

The bar was raised high for this shake, but my expectations were shattered at first glance. The shake was a bright, artificial yellow, and tasted just like that. At first it’s extremely sweet, then left a dull aftertaste of nail polish remover. However, it was by far the cheapest of the four.

I was very disappointed in this shake. First of all, it was so thick that I spent a good minute trying to get it through the straw, and my reward for my efforts was far from satisfying. It tasted a lot more like cheesecake than pumpkin. I can assure you it’s a waste of money.

This shake took Steak n’ Shakes and made it better. It had the perfect peppermint blend and it added brownie bits and cookie dough to the mix. The only thing keeping this drink from 100 percent was that most of the food chunks were too big to fit in the straw.

By far my favorite one on the list. Excellent presentation, good texture, rich taste and one of those pretty little graham cracker straws sealed the deal. If I were not in the presence of company, I would have downed the whole thing in a second. This is the perfect holiday shake.

Though I enjoyed this shake, it doesn’t do much justice to its name. The chocolate went by almost completely undetected. About a minute after the first few sips, I had forgotten what we had ordered. For $3.50, I’d expect more of a lasting taste.

If you’re in the mood for a stomach ache, McDonald’s has your holiday fix. They call it an “Eggnog Milkshake,” but it would be more appropriately titled “The Christmas Car-bomb.” It had synthetic whipped cream and nylon palmer taste. On the bright side, it is the cheapest way to blow out your food processing organs.

Despite its sour aftertaste, I somewhat enjoyed this shake. I’ve always been a fan of pumpkin pie, and my West County heritage has accustomed me to enjoy cheesecake. It was rather thick, and the effort was not exactly worth it. Neither was the $4 we spent to get it.

This shake’s downfall is its attempt to be all-inclusive. From the first sip I was bombarded with fragments of brownie, cookie dough, peppermint and everything in between. Large chunks could not fit through the straw. Viscosity aside, it was still one of the best tasting on the list.

I was surprised at how nice the presentation was--the milkshake was in a large glass bowl. The cinnamon taste wasn’t overwhelming and was paired with vanilla ice cream for balance. It was more like cinnamon ice cream than a milk shake because of the consistency.

After my first sip, I noticed candy cane bits mixed into the shake, but it took me a while to notice the chocolate chips. While the peppermint flavor was good and minty, there wasn’t enough chocolate--an equal balance would have made it the perfect holiday shake.

The egg nog shake had a strong taste of egg nog. It reminded me of chemicals, or just an altered egg nog flavor. On the advertisement for the shake, the color of it was a whitish-creme, but in reality it was a bright, fake yellow.

The pumpkin had a spicy, strong taste. The cheesecake bits throughout the shake were sour. The whole flavor was just too much--it wasn’t as sweet as it should have been.

This shake was by far my favorite. It was a perfect blend of peppermint, chocolate brownie bits and cookie dough. No one flavor outdid the other. Overall, the sweetness of the candyflavored shake is a holiday must-buy.

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Picks of the Month

entertainment / 15 Dec. 14, 2012

Staff Writer Avery Cantor chooses the entertainment picks for the month of December.

Album/

TV Show/

App/

Movie/

After a two-and-a-half year break from recording, Yellowcard has produced three new albums under Hopeless Records in the past year— their newest being Southern Air. The album includes a variety of songs with upbeat tempos such as “Awakening” and “Always Summer,” in addition to slower ballads like “Ten” – all with relatable lyrics. Southern Air also includes a cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You”. All in all, the album is great and demonstrates Yellowcard’s transition back to their original sound.

ABC’s The Middle approaches its Season 4 finale this month. The show features working mom, Frankie Heck (Patricia Heaton), and her wacky family as they deal with everyday life situations in the fictional town of Orson, Indiana. The family is quirky (and at times dysfunctional) and full of hysterical, yet relatable characters. In the end however, the family generally makes good decisions and learns valuable life lessons. If you’re looking for a hilarious sitcom, tune in on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

If you have not heard of Snapchat, chances are you have been living under a rock. This app allows users to send a picture or a “snap” to friends or family via Smartphone. It is quicker than sending a picture message and also allows senders to control how long the recipient can view the message. Once the message is viewed and the timer runs out, the picture disappears forever. I recommend this free app to anyone who is looking for an alternative for texting, or hilarious “selfie battles” with friends.

With its incredible reviews and Box Office standings, Skyfall marks the 23rd film and the 50th anniversary of the James Bond series. Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond and Javier Bardem as antagonist, Raoul Silva, the movie will be sure to entertain any audience. The film begins with a classic chase scene and follows Bond as he attempts to retrieve a computer drive with a list of British agents against MI6. The movie is full of action and plot twists— definitely a must see!

Southern Air

The Middle

Snapchat

Skyfall

Avery Cantor / reporter McKayla Treat / webmaster

S H O W S

This show follows people with extreme hoarding problems. Then professionals are brought in to help the subject clean out his/her house and get to the root of the problem.

Toddlers & Tiaras

As Seen on TV

The

Hoarding: Buried Alive

entertainment / 16 Dec. 14, 2012

This show features children between ages 2-12 and their families as they prepare to compete in beauty pageants. It highlights the highs and lows associated with the pageant world

c . Toddlers

& Tiaras

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Junior Jalyn Henderson started com“It was really sad watching people cry when peting in pageants when she was 6 in they didn’t win,” Henderson said. Texas, the second largest pageant state Though Henderson never cried from losing, in the country. Entering pageants beshe did have one embarrassing moment which gan with the influence of her parents. nearly caused her to retire from pageants early “They said that I spoke really well in on. front of the audience and I was beauti“When I was 7, I fell on stage. I was walkful,” she said. ing up and boom. It was awful; I fell flat on my Her pageant career was very sucface,” Henderson said. cessful. Henderson placed second For the talent portion of the competition runner up at age 7, third runner up at Henderson performed oratory, which is a form age 8, and top 25 in her last pageant. of dramatic poetry interpretations. While she CROWNING GLORY / Junior Jalyn HenderUnfortunately, Henderson had to stop enjoyed performing, her favorite part was son competed in pageants when she was competing when she moved to Misdressing up. souri her sophomore year. “I loved getting my hair and makeup done. younger and shows off her trophies. Although Henderson does not beI had these pink capris and a little shirt. I had lieve Toddlers & Tiaras is an accurate flowers and my hair up and I looked so cute. portrayal of the pageant world, she did witness a lot of drama that The best thing was being on stage the first time because everyone goes along with competing. is looking at you and you feel pretty,” Henderson said.

My Strange Addiction An addiction on the rise is the clan of “bronies.” A brony is a fan of “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic,” however, he does not fall into the expected age range of viewers. They are generally males between the ages of 14 and 24. Junior Austin Garnett has been a brony since he stumbled upon pictures of My Little Pony on an image port site last year. “I saw it and decided that I might as well check it out. The show makes it good; the community makes it addicting. They produce an incredible amount of artwork, like music, animations and drawings,”

Garnett said. For some, watching the show might just be a hobby, but for Garnett it is an obsession. “I have about a dozen shirts, plus a hat and a bracelet both signed by the voice actress of Twilight Sparkle named Tara Strong. I also have two figurines sitting on my shelf. I’ve probably drained about almost $250 on My Little Pony merchandise,” Garnett said. Critics may wonder why someone would spend this much money and time on such a childlike addiction, but Garnett guarantees it’s worth it.

o HOLD YOUR HORSES/ Junior Austin Garnett displays just a portion of his vast collection of My Little Pony merchandise. Featured here is his prized possession - a hat signed by voice actress Tara Strong.

“There are so many good things about it. The characters are my favorite thing because they have so much range. They have depth to them— good and bad. [The show] has a lot of good moral lessons that can be used by anyone.” According to Garnett, many of the lessons are applicable in high school, such as accepting those who are different and learning to control oneself as opposed to trying to control others. “Join us! Obviously, some people won’t enjoy it because it’s a kids’ show but check out a couple episodes,” Garnett encouraged.

I Shouldn’t Be Alive Senior Ceci Eklund faced a near death experience when her appendix burst during language arts class last year. Eklund said, “My stomach hurt really badly. It was so painful. I felt like I was going to die.”

To read her full report of her near death experience, visit www.lhsimage.com

image My Strange Addiction

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This documentary series is about people and their bizarre compulsions or obsessions. The addictions range from eating non-food items to sleeping with a hairdryer and much more.

Hoarding: Buried Alive Junior Garrett Thompson is a hoarder of water bottles and saves all of them in his locker. His motivation? To stack the plastic bottles to the top. While most subjects on the TLC show are unintentional hoarders, Thompson intentionally saves water bottles, but it began accidentally. “About a month ago my friend [junior Lucas Garza] put two water bottles in my locker and I just kind of started adding to it,” he said. Now, his locker is about halfway full with an estimated 100 water bottles in the collection. Unlike most hoarders, Thompson does have a method to his madness in organizing the large number of water bottles. “We put all the Dasani water bottles at the bottom. At the top we put all the other brand ones; we call it the misfit shelf,” he said. To keep the bottles from falling out, Thompson and his friends also collect locker shelves that they turn on their side to act as a cage. He said the bottle pile is growing over their top shelf and they are currently in need of another one. Some may think that this would interfere with his school work, but Thompson says otherwise. “I don’t put anything in my locker so it doesn’t interfere. The only time I go to my locker is to put these [water bottles] in there,” Thompson said as he opened his backpack to display four newly acquired Dasani water bottles.

BOTTLE IT UP/ Juniors Garrett Thompson and Lucas Garza add water bottles to the collection in Thompson’s locker. Next, the two plan to fill up Garza’s locker as well.