March 20 Beat by Blake Beat

Lots to learn when they intern; students pick up vital on-the-job training, p. C4-5

Fasdmen;rit uhnbroiutbnsrtnrtnsrtjsrtj rysrjrstjsfsr

Volume 11 Number 5

James Hubert Blake HS

300 Norwood Rd Silver Spring MD 20905

Students bid trip au revoir for now

Online http://www.blakebeat.net

March 20, 2009

Foreign language kids enjoy their two-week French connection x by Kirsten Petersen & Juliana Sesay Thirty-three Blake and Paint Branch students in upper level French classes returned Wednesday from a two-week trip to France, where they immersed themselves in French culture and language. The trip began with a packed three-day tour of Paris. Students visited famous landmarks such as Notre Dame, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Many students also admired the city’s historic chapels and cathedrals. “[If you go to France], definitely visit the churches,” says senior Beth Brown. “They’re really gorgeous and they all have their unique characteristics.” Students also explored the Latin Quarter, strolled down the Champs Elysées and enjoyed a panoramic view of the city from the top of L’Arc de Triomphe. “I’ll always remember the scenery,” says senior Tyler Mink. The group then traveled to Besançon where they spent ten days with their exchange students and families. Some families were bilingual, but in others only the French exchange student spoke English. Says sophomore Julia Maas, “I [anticipated] speaking a lot more French because in Besançon, they expect you to speak more French.” During their stay, students toured the town and hung out with their exchange students. The students spent a day at Lycée Claude Nicolas Ledoux, the high school that the exchange students attend in Besançon. Students begin class at 8am, have a two hour lunch period, and finish the day before 5pm. Wednesdays are always half days and some students have classes on Saturday. “It was different,” says Brown. “I was expecting the classes to be a lot more formal and strict.” American students took the opportunity to enjoy French cuisine. Says sophomore Leena Owen, “I like how there are a lot of different cafés [in Besançon] and how everything is so good.” Croissants and crepes, which are like very thin pancakes, were some of the most popular foods. For many students, an excursion to Switzerland was an added bonus. Participants photographed the snowy Swiss Alps and visited the Olympic Museum. Says Brown, “[This trip was] a wonderful opportunity [for me] and something that I feel very lucky to have taken part in.”

Students on the France trip in front of the Eiffel Tower. Top row from left: Madame Vandenplas, junior Mimi Boussouf, senior Kerry Irion, juniors Caitlin Mitchell, Trevor Skibine, senior Tyler Mink, juniors Nicole Michur, Kara Korab; second row from left:

sophomores Danny Lee, Delaney Cruickshank, junior Juliana Sesay, senior Beth Brown; bottom row from left: junior Kirsten Petersen, sophomore Julia Maas, junior Chris Callahan, sophomores Leena Owen, Ariel Schwartz. --photo by Kirsten Petersen

SAT jump is just the right bump for graduating class of 2009 by Christina deGraft-Johnson x & Andrew Padgett Compared to last year’s senior class, the class of 2009 has shown a dramatic upswing in both SAT participation and average test scores. The senior participation rate skyrocketed from 69.7% to 79.7% to be the fifth highest in the county and the average score went up 74 points from 1487 to 1561. Says principal Carole Goodman, “I was not surprised to see such a positive bump in the scores… This is a fabulous class with a lot of very high achieving and very hard working students.” Adds senior Beth Brown, “A lot of students started preparing in 10th grade with PSAT/SAT prep courses, and you can tell from their scores that

their proactivity paid off.” 2009’s higher participation and scores can be attributed to a number of resources available to students. With in- and out-of-school SAT prep courses, the Mock SAT, and the help of college counselor Kathy Moore, seniors were wellprepared for what many think to be high school’s scariest test. “Since getting into college is a lot more competitive these days,” adds senior Monica Johnson, “students are working extra hard to increase their scores and be at the top of their class.” Some students, however, still choose to take it only one time. Says senior Stephen Klingner, “I was decently happy enough with my score that when connected with all my other accomplishments I didn’t need to take

it again.” For the remaining 20.3% of the senior class, taking the SAT is not the end-all, be-all of a successful future. Says SAT Coordinator Moriah Martin, “Some students don’t take the SAT because they are going to the military and/or work—it is certainly acceptable for those students not to take the SAT. However, I advise students that if they are interested in college at all, they should at least take the mock tests to see which test [SAT or ACT] would fit them best.” Adds Mrs. Goodman, “Some years you get a nice bump up, and some years with comparable effort, the scores might go down. But right now, I am enjoying the positive trend and thank the class of 2009 for doing such a good job making us look good.”

IN THIS ISSUE: Curdts Crowned Mr. Blake p. A4-5

Comic Fans Not Joking Around p. C1

Snowboarding Sensations p. D5

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

No need for speed with increased police vigilance on roads

Students more aware of driving safety with uptick in moving violations x by Melissa Goldberg In an attempt to better enforce state speed limits, police officers in Montgomery County have significantly increased their use of speed guns on busy streets, resulting in a surge of students receiving tickets. While the increased police presence has created an influx of students receiving moving violations, many students appreciate

police officers’ effort. Says senior Natalie Engle, who received a moving violation while traveling 45 mph in a 30 mph speed limit, “I’ve seen some crazy drivers…If they were to get caught it would open their eyes to go slower. They might prevent an accident in the future.” Senior Hannah Coll, who received a speeding ticket in February, believes the increased use of speed guns is ineffective in

the long run. “The effect of speed guns is temporary,” says Coll. “People only slow down briefly to avoid getting caught. Once they have passed the speed trap, they accelerate significantly.” Even though their views regarding the advantages of speed guns differ, both Engle and Coll agree that the consequences resulting from their tickets have impacted their behavior. Says Engle, “The ticket has made me a better

driver. I don’t speed anymore and I do look out for police cars while on the road.” Adds senior Joanna Peth, who was stopped by police officers near the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Good Hope Road, “I was pretty freaked out for the first couple of days after, so I drove the speed limit. Even now, I’m still kind of paranoid.” Students caught speeding who have provisional licenses

must attend a driver’s improvement course in addition to paying the ticketed fine. Many students believe the consequences of getting into a serious accident should be enough to prevent drivers from speeding. Says senior Christine Conrad, “[Drivers] think they can get away with [speeding] until the day someone gets hurt. You can’t bring back someone’s life once you have taken it.”

Twenty grand is great: history teacher wins big on Jeopardy! x by Talia Chicherio Social studies teacher Kara Mohler won $23,199 on a Jeopardy! episode that aired Tuesday, March 3 and continued as the returning champion on the Wednesday, March 4 episode. Ms. Mohler got on the show by trying out online and then auditioning in person in Washington, DC. “I was ecstatic when I found out,” she says. “I’ve wanted to go on forever.” Ms. Mohler was on the It’s Academic team in high school, which for her was the greatest preparation for Jeopardy! “It gets you used to knowing things fast,” she says, which is key, because “most people know the answers to most of the questions; it’s just a matter of timing and luck.” She adds, “I’ve always loved history and I have a good memory, so that didn’t hurt either.” While on set, Ms. Mohler met many new people, including Alex Trebek, the show’s host. “The other contestants were all really nice,” she says. “You spend all day with these people, so it’s not the end

of the world if you lose.” The contestant coordinators—the people who pick the contestants—also stood out to her. “They try to make everyone feel like one big, happy family,” she says. However, being on set was also freezing, so she had to wear a jacket. She says, “The studio is smaller than I thought, but it’s very nicely decorated and the board is just as awesome looking in person, if not more so.” When she was in the game, one wrong answer was really disappointing for Ms. Mohler: she missed a Double Jeopardy question during her second episode about a Rudyard Kipling novel, because she had never read any of his books. She adds, “[It] could have won me the game.” At the start of the second episode, Ms. Mohler was nervous “because they put me up against the two fastest guys from rehearsal, but once the game got started it was fine.” And although she lost the second time, she was “relieved that I wouldn’t have to come home a loser, and extremely happy that I had won some money.”

Social studies teacher Kara Mohler smiles for the camera during her second night on

Jeopardy! after winning $23,199 the first night. --screenshot by Patrick Howe

Sophomore struggles with, overcomes benign tumor near her brain

Growth on pituitary gland being treated effectively by weekly medicine

x by Kelly Shih

Homework, friends, clothes, boys—all these normal teenage problems can be dwarfed by something the size of a nickel. Last October, when sophomore Katie Johnson* went in for a routine blood test, doctors discovered that she had a tumor on her pituitary gland, near the base of her brain. “Initially, I was very concerned,” says her mother, Mary Johnson.* “Being her mom, I was very upset and worried... There were a few weeks there that we weren’t sure what it was and what to do.” The pituitary gland, located under the brain’s hypothalamus, produces a hormone called prolactin, which is how doctors detected the problem. While a normal prolactin level is about 20, Johnson’s was at 333. She got an MRI and doctors

discovered the growth from looking at the scans. The tumor was disrupting her hormones, and if it continued growing, she could lose her eyesight. “At first it was weird because I didn’t feel like anything was wrong,” she says. “I guess normal teenagers worry about the clothes they’re going to wear. But other people have to worry about how they’re going to survive the next day.” Though the family and doctors considered surgery to remove the tumor, they decided to use medicine to regulate prolactin levels. Johnson still takes half a pill every Monday and Friday and the treatment seems to be working. In her most recent MRI, taken in late February, the growth had shrunk and Johnson’s endocrinologist believes she may be able to stop taking the medicine in a few years if her prolactin levels remain low.

“Once we started getting more and more information, then it started to get less scary,” says Mrs. Johnson. “It was pretty stressful, but…our pediatrician recommended two very, very good doctors.” One of those doctors was famed neurosurgeon Ben Carson, and Johnson was able to see one of his associates and even meet Dr. Carson at a book signing. The ordeal has been a learning experience for Johnson. “I learned that it could be a lot worse,” she says. “When I was in the hospital and I went to different doctors I could see people who…needed more help.” “I guess it was lucky that it wasn’t harmful and that I survived it,” she adds. “It was cool to see that [I could] overcome something like that.” *names in this article have been changed

Blockbusted: It’s a hard knock life for downtrodden DVD rental stores x by Hannah Mellman

President Obama’s administration has chosen SUVs over DVDs, and with no bailout in store for Blockbuster, slowly but surely America is losing its favorite place to rent movies. Blockbuster had been struggling to stay afloat in recent years, and has lately had to close many stores, including some of the Blake community’s closest locations in Plaza Del Mercado and White Oak. Says senior Emily Kamin, “The closing of Blockbuster took away my main source of entertainment.”

Netflix, Redbox prove tough competition for dying brand of movie lease companies The classic movie rental store has been downsizing to invest more money in their Total Access online program, which imitates rival movie rental company Netflix. Although Blockbuster’s Total Access offers many of the same features as Netflix, it has not caught on nearly as well with consumers. “It is way more convenient to sit at your computer and rent movies rather than driving to

Blockbuster and wasting gas,” says senior Netflix user Jake Lorber. Netflix customers order their movies on the internet, and return them in prepaid envelopes. They can pick from several rental and payment plans, and are not subject to late fees. Netflix also recently unveiled a program that allows customers to download movies straight to their television sets. Cable companies are also

getting in on the competition, making it so that customers don’t even have to leave the couch to see the movies they want. Comcast and Verizon both offer extensive movie channels, with movies appearing on TV almost as soon as they hit the stores. However, many spontaneous consumers who prefer not to deal with internet orders and costly cable plans have taken advantage of Redbox, a vending

machine-like business popping up at local grocery stores. “I pay one dollar to watch a movie and I drop it off the next day,” says senior Hannah Elie. “I don’t watch movies over and over in a week, so I don’t see a point in renting.” Even with all the alternatives luring ex-Blockbuster members, the absence of these local stores still leaves a void in many movie lovers’ lives. “It gave me a cheap, convenient way to spend time with family and friends,” says Kamin. “Now, I am cut off from classic movies and culture.”

The closing of Blockbuster took away my main source of entertainment. SENIOR EMILY KAMIN

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Students learn real business savvy in new school store

Entrepreneurship class sticks together, offers cheaper food selection x by Bronte Abell

headshot

Sponsored by business education teacher Fred Katz, the student-run school store will reopen by the end of March. “It’s an awesome experience for us to be handling a business,” says senior Kyle Matusek, CEO of the school store. “It takes a lot to organize the whole thing, and it has to be totally [student-run].” It is slated to be open next year as well. The school store will be run out of G184 before school and during lunch. Drinks and food will be available, priced lower than those offered in the vending machines. The students are also working to create a website to be able to operate online. Mr. Katz was contacted by the MCPS board of Junior Achievement, who wanted Blake to start a student-run business. The students started talking about the school’s economic situation, and “felt that they had

the business education to set up a school store,” says Mr. Katz. The previous school store was a good source of revenue for the athletics department. “I was sorry to see it go,” says principal Carole Goodman. Due to monetary problems resulting from the current recession, the school is going to have to cut things from the budget. The school store provides a conve-

Entrepreneurship II is only a semester-long course; the school store enables the class to stay together. The students are running the school store like a real business, issuing stocks and investing in the business. The school store is the Junior Achievement capstone project to complete the academy of business certification. “With Mr. Katz’s expertise and student enthusiasm, I think this will be a successful venture that I hope will support student needs,” says Mrs. Goodman. The difference from the previous school store, SENIOR KYLE MATUSEK which was discontinued to nient way to supplement the losses. make room for the financial office, is that this “I thought it was a brilliant idea,” says school store is completely student-ran, which Mrs. Goodman. The school store will give fulfills the Academy of Business capstone all proceeds to Mrs. Goodman to use as she experience. sees fit. The Entrepreneurship II students The students meet once weekly with started thinking about the school store during a board of Junior Achievement consultants. the first semester and requested to continue Mr. Katz adds, “It’s very well-organized... Entrepreneurship II for the second semester. and hopefully they’ll be very successful.”

It’s an awesome experience for us to be handling a business... it has to be totally [student-run].

Kyle Matusek

Blake parent, physics professor to join State Board of Education x by Melanie Spaid Sylvester J. Gates, Blake parent and co-sponsor of the Advanced Topical Fundamental Science Group, was nominated for appointment as a member of the Maryland State Board of Education. In addition to his work at Blake, Dr. Gates is the John S. Toll Professor of Physics at the University of Maryland, College Park. He hopes his work as a notable theoretical physicist will offer a unique

perspective to the Board of Education. Says Dr. Gates, “Perhaps this unusual configuration of experiences will allow me make connections and suggestions not seen by others.” Between being a father of two Blake students, a college professor and a fundamental member of the ATFSG, Dr. Gates has shown his strength in balancing several responsibilities at once. Says sophomore Delilah Gates, daughter of Dr. Gates, “He always juggles what he has to do so well that I think the

nomination will have little effect on how our family does things.” As a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Academy guest speaker, Dr. Gates has shown an interest in raising awareness about STEM education. Says Dr. Gates, “I am looking forward to learning about and understanding the challenges that the state’s K-12 systems faces in meeting the goals that Governor O’Malley has set with regard to STEM.”

Dr. Gates’s work with the Physics Department has had a significant impact on the students in ATFSG. Says Physics teacher Ryan Casavant, “Having him…allows our students to have direct contact with a physicists that is on the cutting edge of modern science.” This year Dr. Gates helped seniors James Parker and James Gonzalez publish a paper on Supersymmetry. Adds Mr. Casavant, “He works with some of the greatest minds of our time…He is a celebrity

for the work he has done on string theory and is extremely well known all over the world.” Mr. Gates will join two other Blake parents as Board of Education members. Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education member Nancy Navarro joined the board after being appointed October 2004. In January 2009, Phil Kauffman, Blake parent and husband of Child Development teacher Beth Kauffman, was elected to the MCPS Board of Education.

PAINTBALL and AirSoft too!

OUTDOOR ADVEN Since 1988

TURES

Play individually or bring friends

Beginners are our specialty! Retail Superstore in Arbutus: 410-737-0800 Birthday parties, bachelor parties, scenario games, tournaments or just regular open play Field information: 410-437-7492

www.OApaintball.com

March 20, 2009

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

The Blake Beat

Mr. Applestein takes bite out of college prep

Teacher plants seeds at fruitful workshop x by Sean McNamara & Isabela Barriga

AP Psychology teacher Eliot Applestein, who also works privately as a college consultant, says, “Everyone needs to take a deep breath and realize that one can be successful

Applying to colleges is one of the most stressful times of any high school career because of mounting pressure for good grades and test scores. Luckily, AP Psychology teacher Eliot Applestein is here to help. He offered a college admissions workshop March 11 called “Getting into the College of Your Choice” from 7 to 9pm. The workshop was held to help students and parents with the difficult process of finding the right college. Mr. Applestein says, “Everyone needs to take a deep breath and realize that one can be successful at a number of colleges.” Mr. Applestein is a college consultant who helps students navigate through the hassle of college applications. Most people look for aid through his website, www.bestfouryears.com. “Some people have wedding planners, some people go to birth classes,” says Mr. Applestein, “and some people need help in the transition of leaving home and going to college.” At the workshop, Mr. Applestein thoroughly described the process of college admissions. He listed the ten most important variables that colleges consider when viewing an application. “Colleges are businesses,” says Mr. Applestein. “They want a particular candidate for a reason.” Number one on the list was a high school curriculum that challenges the student. Over the past decade, the number of students taking AP courses has gone up 50 percent. Grades and SAT scores are not enough anymore—colleges now seek students who have a passionate involvement in extracurricular activities. Community service programs are also helpful. “I have a better idea of what I should look for in college,” says junior Becky Joiner. Another factor in being noticed by colleges is a good essay. A good essay is one that is personal; it does not have to be over the top. It can be something ordinary. “Let the college hear in your own words what makes you tick,” says Mr. Applestein. Recommendations from teachers and supervisors are also influential in college acceptance, but it may come at a number of colleges.” He offered a college admissions down to what makes a student stand out. “There are over workshop March 11 called “Getting into the College of 2,000 four-year colleges,” says Mr. Applestein, “and there Your Choice.” --photo by Arieyl Jones will be a college for you.”

Blocker, Senate on same page with once-in-a-lifetime opportunity x by Christine Lien SGA president senior Alex Blocker was selected to serve as a Senate page in Annapolis for the Maryland General Assembly and will complete his second and last week of service today. As a page, Blocker’s responsibilities include updating legislation books with information on new bills each morning before the Senators attend session. He also has to make sure the Senators have everything they need before session and has to check if everything is functioning properly. Says Blocker, “It was exciting to see how these legislators worked up close.” Pages attend sessions with the Senators and get them

coffee or tea if they ask for it. “Pages were there to make the [Senators’] job easier,” Blocker adds. If the Senators need more information on a bill during committee hearings, the pages have to go and find that information for them. February 16-20 was the first week Blocker worked in Annapolis. The first week serves as a practice week for pages. The second week that they are there, the work becomes busier. “State Senators like to procrastinate,” says Blocker, “[so] they leave all their work until the end of the session.” Pages receive special staff ID badges that grant them access to House and Senate buildings. “It made you feel important because you had access to the whole state capital,” says Blocker. The pages are expected to work for two hours

each day and are given some compensation. Nonetheless, “I definitely would have done it for free,” Blocker adds. He says, “There are a lot of details I noticed when I was sitting on the floor that you can’t see on TV…[like] all the unofficial meetings they have.” He also observed a strong rivalry between the two houses of the legislature. “Senators talk about how they are more elite than delegates and delegates talk about how they are more in touch with the common people.” Each week, there are a total of 18 pages from all over Maryland. Each county in Maryland has its own selection process. In Montgomery County, students can apply by filling out a questionnaire and answering a few short answer questions.

The Blake Beat

Alex

ran

Newsbeats Nee

ada

n n n The Race for a Dream 5k Run/3k Walk event will take place May 3. The race honors the memory of Alicia Betancourt, a Blake student who was killed in a car accident in 2004. The race also serves to promote teen driving safety. All funds raised at this year’s event will go toward the Blake After-Prom, a safe alcohol- and drug-free celebration at Dave and Buster’s. For more information, please visit http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/blakehs/PTSA/race.html. n n n Taking the lead at the very beginning of the game and never losing it, the It’s Academic team won its quarterfinal match February 21 against Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and Dominion High School with a score of 695-505-320, respectively. Seniors Hameed Khan and Alex Gran and junior captain Isaac Hirsch will play Bethesda Chevy-Chase and Rockville high schools in their semifinal match April 25 at 10 am. The game against

MAR

oble

rG unte

iagne

ba D Dieyna

Ram

atull

ah D

eme

Thomas Jefferson and Dominion will air April 11 at 10am on NBC-4.

portrayed by senior Neel Madan. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults.

n n n Juniors Dieynaba Diagne and Ramatullah Deme have been selected to receive the Howard Hughes Medical Institute/National Institutes of Health Student Internship for the 2009-2010 school year. Both students will participate in world-class laboratory research and by the end of their internship will receive four internship credits. This internship is a prestigious and unique opportunity for them to further their education.

n n n Blake Comedy Night, held on March 6, was a rousing success. Junior Uche Ogodi was named the Last Blake Comic Standing by the panel of judges. The other comics competing were senior Noah Ehrenberg and juniors Isaac Hirsch and Noel Salgado. Groups performing included the Blake Improv Troupe, the Blake Madrigals Group, and the University of Maryland Improv Group, Erasable Inc.

n n n The Acting Company class will be presenting John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt March 31 and April 2 at 7:30pm in the amphitheatre. Seniors Jessica Michek and Erin Washburn will play Sister Aloysius, and senior Isabel Smith-Bernstein and junior Hunter Goble will play Sister James. The character of Father Flynn will be

n n n The school is holding a poster competition with the hopes of promoting anti-smoking. Students must make posters that emphasize the positive effects of not using tobacco and the negative effects of smoking. Posters must be in by April 1, and winners will receive either $50, $75, or $100 gift certificates to Target.

BLAKE

March 20 Fashion X Show (auditorium), 7:30pm Varsity Baseball vs. Whitman, 3:30pm JV Baseball at Whitman, 3:30pm Varsity Softball vs. Whitman, 3:30pm JV Softball at Whitman, 3:30pm Boys’ Tennis vs. Kennedy, 3:30pm Boys’ Volleyball at Wootton, 7:00pm Coed Volleyball at Wootton, 5:15pm

March 21

March 20, 2009

Step Competition (auditorium), 2-6pm Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse vs. Damascus, 12:00pm JV Boys’ Lacrosse vs. Damascus, 10:00am Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse at Damascus, 12:00pm JV Girls’ Lacrosse at Damascus, 10:30am

CALENDAR March 23 Varsity Baseball at Wheaton, 3:30pm JV Baseball vs. Wheaton, 3:30pm Varsity Softball at Wheaton, 3:30pm JV Softball vs. Wheaton, 3:30pm Boys’ Tennis vs. Sherwood, 3:30pm Boys’ Volleyball vs. Richard Montgomery, 7:00pm Coed Volleyball vs. Richard Montgomery, 5:15pm

March 24 Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse at Gaithersburg, 7:00pm JV Boys’ Lacrosse at Gaithersburg, 5:15pm Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse vs. Gaithersburg, 7:00pm JV Girls’ Lacrosse vs. Gaithersburg, 5:30pm

March 25

Varsity Baseball vs. Sherwood, 7:00pm JV Baseball at Sherwood, 3:30pm Varsity Softball vs. Sherwood, 7:00pm JV Softball at Sherwood, 3:30pm Boys’ Tennis at Richard Montgomery, 3:30pm Outdoor Track and Field at Whitman, 3:30pm Boys’ Volleyball vs. Poolesville, 5:15pm Coed Volleyball vs. Poolesville, 3:30pm

March 20, 2009

The Blake Beat

Fallon on bad times: newest Late Night host leaving much to be desired p. B7

Section B

Blake Beat Opinion

March 20, 2009

April acceptance anxiety no longer plaguing pupils

Likely letters spell peace of mind for distressed senior x by Justin Pereira

Girls sans pants: only tights is not alright

Students lack desire to see junk hanging out of trunk x by Kelly Shih & Sacha Vega If it was called Sisterhood of the Traveling Leggings, no one would have seen that movie. Pants are not only magical but functional for covering up your donk... and other things. Once upon a time, a few size negative-five socialites lost their jeans at the club and decided leggings were a suitable substitute for everyday wear. Then this abomination trickled down to the mindless masses and here we are, stuck with your junk hanging out of your trunk. Leggings offer absolutely no support, so if you’re not toned to the tee, everyone can tell. And trust us, it’s only painful for those around you. You know that squirmy, I-feel-awkward- for -you feeling when

someone is making a fool of themselves on stage? That’s the same feeling we all get when your camel-toe has left the desert and joined Blake High School. There’s also the unappetizing opposite—when the leggings have been dragged down a little and awkwardly stretch every step you take up the stairs. Unless you’re Heidi Klum, no one unfortunate enough to be a few steps below you, with your derriere all up in their face, thinks it’s cute. So here is a good list of Things Leggings Don’t Match: t-shirts that don’t cover your butt, hoodies that don’t cover your butt, “dresses” that don’t cover your butt, North Face fleeces that don’t cover your butt. Get it? Just because tabloid regular Lindsay Lohan lacks can-coverage doesn’t mean that you should, too.

When you do decide to rock the trend, go for dresses or longer tunics on the top and, when in doubt, black, opaque leggings down below. Whatever magazine told you metallic leggings work was only referring to Lady Gaga or your Tin Man Halloween costume. And leather leggings belong on a pole. If you are, in any way, hanging out, bulging out, busting out, or muffin-topping out, please wear pants. Women did not fight for centuries to wear the same trousers as men only to relinquish the comfort and function of pants now. Do not think just because it’s the new look for the season that it’s for you. Find what flatters you — not that six-foot model on the pages of Vogue — because we all know fashion trends are fleeting.

By a show of hands, how many of you would rather not have to wait for an interminable period of time to hear back from the colleges you apply to? Keep it raised if you find the ceaseless waiting period borderline ridiculous. Don’t worry, the question was rhetorical. You can put your hand down now. I’m going to go ahead and assume, though, that most students feel that way. And why shouldn’t we? By the time April decisions come out, we’re hard-pressed to even remember applying back in November or December. All right, that’s an exaggeration. But it certainly would be nice to hear back a bit sooner from our top schools. This brings me to my soapbox position for today: admissions offices should increase the production of their latest phenomenon—likely letters. What are these mysterious pieces of college correspondence? Basically, an anticipative wink from the school hinting that “there’s no need to worry about getting in.” Now, different colleges have different ways of approaching these little diamonds in letter form. Likely letters range from completely straightforward (“We’re going to accept you.”) to a bit more cryptic and sneaky (“Save the following date. Oh by the way, that’s an accepted students’ weekend.”). The bottom line is that there’s no reason for schools not to send out likely letters. We deserve the overwhelming degree of relief that they bring, and even the colleges that are most heavily applied to have ample time to send them out. It’s just one of those good ideas, like democracy. The harshest criticism of these letters seems to be that their seemingly random deployment is unfair, and that the letters discourage the strong applicants that happen not to get them. Look, I agree—it shouldn’t be a crapshoot to figure out who’s going to receive likely letters; they should be sent to all deserving candidates. As for the colleges that haven’t even adopted the policy of sending likely letters at all: get with the program! They’re all the rage—and they help schools rope in the particularly strong applicants who will have lots of choices. Relieve stress for the students while giving schools a head start on recruiting stellar prospective pupils? Sounds like a win-win to me.

Real World comeback makes for millions of satisfied teen viewers

Revived TV series brings raw drama, entertainment to reality fanatics

x by Nick Foley

Never before have we had the chance to witness such beauty. A freshly-minted transsexual, a prickly gay guy, a closeted Mormon and a former lesbian have all united in Brooklyn to film the new season of The Real World. Thank you, Jesus. Then again, Jesus probably wouldn’t be ecstatic at the sight of a transsexual pole-dancing in the middle of a family restaurant. But however colorful they may be, these new faces are stirring

up reality television. Let’s start with the most complex character of all: Katelynn, who was born as a man. She underwent a sex change operation two months before filming started, so almost every episode revolves around her adjusting to her newfound womanliness. She agonizes over deciding when to come out to her roommates, who have already figured it out anyway. It’s… entertaining. Yet none of this is as mystifying as Sarah’s sexuality, which she claims has fluctuated

over the years, though she’s now settled on being “heterosexual.” After being molested by a man as a child, she became a lesbian. She is now dating a man, which, apparently, automatically makes her straight. Then there are the actual gays: JD, who is out, and Chet, who unfortunately hasn’t realized it yet. But I have. When he sat in a sailboat singing about how he thought Scott (the bodybuilder) was “cute,” he definitely signaled to America that he likes men, as much as he might try to

suppress it. Believe it or not, there are actually straight people on the show as well. It’s the Real World, not the Queer World. Ryan, an Iraq war veteran who seems to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (though he refuses to admit it), is one of the most inwardly troubled people in the house. The last three roommates are the most boring and least featured: Scott is just there for eye candy, Baya is hardly ever seen and Devyn’s story lines usually

revolve around her chasing men (even though she already has a fiancé and a boyfriend). She’s a hot mess, and no one really cares about her problems. Just in case you’re not already wrapped up in the roommates’ lives enough (which I’m obviously not), seven of them have Facebook profiles. You can stalk all of their drunk pictures, analyze their statuses and even see if they’ve corrected their sexual orientations (see Chet Cannon). God bless these people.

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Obama drama: harassing presidential preteens must end x by Kirsten Petersen Sasha and Malia Obama are quite possibly the most adorable first children ever. Pictures of them smiling, laughing, kissing (who are they kissing?) and even sleeping can be found all over the Internet from the various inauguration festivities. But when Inauguration Day ended, did the press put the camera to rest? No. And I can’t stand it. Sasha and Malia do not deserve to be pets of the paparazzi. Their father will always be criticized—he is the president, after all—but the children need not be. The country has always enjoyed seeing images of the first children in the newspaper, but with the advent of the Internet and television, pictures of these little girls may end up in the most inappropriate places. I am against the paparazzi in

general. Living off of snapshots, these celebrity hounds don’t care what a celeb is doing when they take a picture of them. The most embarrassing images are the most

these activities: wearing an unattractive bikini, smoking around children or sporting a mini skirt minus underwear. So what does all of this have

was found in the National Enquirer the day before Obama, then a presidential candidate, would air his 30-minute campaign advertisement. Malia allegedly said, “You’re

popular, and most of the time these photos are ones of celebrities doing everyday things: going to the beach, sitting on their porches or getting into cars. The paparazzi capture the unpleasant aspects of

to do with Sasha and Malia? These girls should not be subjected to this kind of negative press attention. Unfortunately, they already have been: the headline “OBAMA KID MAD AT DAD” (yes, in all caps)

going to be on all the TVs? Are you going to interupt my TV?!” Although the validity of these statements is unquestionable, they are clearly taken out of context. The paparazzi needed a

story, so they chose to expose an innocent girl and her pre-teenage angst to the public. The worst part of it all is that these tabloids make little preteen comments into front-cover stories. Right now it isn’t a big deal, but by the time President Obama is out of office, the girls will be in high school or just graduating from high school. I can already see the headlines: “MALIA GETS 1200 ON SAT, FREAKS OUT,” “Sasha Dumped!!!” or “Malia and Sasha’s Wild Ride Down Pennsylvania Avenue.” Their parents must decide whether they should shelter the girls from the public eye or allow them to be exposed to the cruelty of the press. The girls have done nothing to deserve the harassment of the press. Until a decision is made, the paparazzi will keep their camera lenses on the girls, armed and ready to capture the fatal snapshot.

Nonsensical glasses fashion trend mocks true wearers’ disabilities

These “four-eyes” can’t see empty frames through rose-colored lenses by Christina deGraft-Johnson x & Steven Sites Are you mocking us? Seriously, are you? We have been wearing glasses since before we could spell the word “glasses.” Do you think this is a joke? Because it’s neither funny nor cute. We wear glasses because we can’t see. (Side note: Steven is legally blind.) You wear them because they give you a nerdy look. If you want nerdy, take those glasses back to third grade where you will be called “four-

eyes.” Now, at what age did it become cool to wear glasses? Was it seven? Eight? Or was it about two months ago when Chet the Mormon decided to start an Orville Redenbacher craze? Either way, it’s ridiculous. These so-called “personality glasses” are meant to add to your personality. We’d like to know what personality you’re trying to achieve. We’re sorry to tell you, but they don’t hike up your IQ, so it can’t be that you’re trying to look smart. You just look dumb wearing something you don’t need.

If we started wearing diapers, would you? We are clearly so influential. Where are you getting these glasses? They don’t even have lenses. I could poke your eyes out. Not that we would, but still, it’s become a possibility now. But we will give you some credit. Oversized shades are okay—but once you walk inside and pop out the lenses, you look dumb. We’re sorry. That’s a lame form of Transitions, and we actually know what those are. Christina has the real things because, clearly, she’s not cool enough to just pop out her sunglass

lenses. Try waking up in the morning only to realize that your prescription glasses are nowhere to be found. They’re on the floor and you can’t find them because you actually need them. Now you don’t even have the luxury of looking through your God-given eyes to find your glasses. We are just sick of this, guys. It’s madness. This is almost as bad as wearing leggings instead of pants. It’s unacceptable, and, just like turtle-shell frames, this disaster of a fashion statement needs to end as soon as humanly possible.

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Arguments aren’t aces

Deluded UFO watchers out of this world

Legalization loses its cred

x by Isaac Hirsch

x by Luan Pham Most advocates for pot legalization will be able to produce at least 420 reasons why weed should be legalized. The truth is that most justifications won’t generate a buzz in legislation, and for good reason. Marijuana is actually good for your physical health. Although this argument is mere syllables away from being in good haiku form, inhaling the burning fumes from a plant will rarely be good for your health. This simple fact is usually overlooked by arguments that marijuana is less toxic than tobacco. Hitting yourself in the stomach hurts less than hitting yourself in the face, but would you want to hit yourself anyway? Marijuana eases pain. Marijuana may be beneficial to those suffering from chronic pain, but this demographic is scarce, and probably has access to medical marijuana already. The typical high school or college student that stands on street corners picketing this is probably just suffering from boredom. The War on Drugs is a waste of government resources. This is possibly the best gateway argument. Marijuana does in fact land upwards of 800,000 Americans in jail each year, costing around 50 billion dollars (annually). The truth is that people are generally in jail less for the actual crimes that they commit and more so for their disrespect of the law. Those Americans are there for breaking the law; smoking marijuana was collateral. To argue for those 800,000 Americans (and your potential self) is to argue for decriminalization, not legalization. Look at Barack Obama; he smoked marijuana and now he’s the president. Look at Lance Armstrong, he had testicular cancer and won the Tour De France seven consecutive years, but that does not mean that getting testicular cancer will guarantee your victory at the premier bicycle race in the world. Any statistician will say correlation does not imply causation. Simply put, doing a bong rip won’t earn you a Senate seat (you can only get those on eBay).

Graphic by: Brendan Lipton

Bright orange, the meteor streaked across the sky and was visible from a few states. Many residents of the Southwest looked up and wondered what the heck it was. But some didn’t; they knew exactly what it was. What was it? A UFO, of course. The latest in a whole slew of intergalactic visitors to Earth. Depending on who you listen to, they come in saucer-shaped ships, giant orbs or glowing balls of light—perhaps all three. And that’s the problem with “believers”: they really can’t make up their minds. First of all, the most recent claim is pretty much obligatory. There’s a large bright object in the sky? Must be a UFO. But it’s sort of disappointing that the other intelligent life forms in the Universe have expeditions to Earth that end in flaming crashes. These people come out of the woodwork every time any sort of celestial phenomenon occurs. That’s one thing that damages their credibility: the fact that, with little study, they are immediately convinced that it is an alien craft. Things get a little more ridiculous when people claim to have been abducted by aliens. If aliens came to Earth and wanted a human sample, why would they choose some housewife from Idaho? The argument for it goes that aliens want somebody no other human will believe. Point taken, but a more foolproof way for the aliens to do this would be to just kill or keep their test subjects. Also, these must be different aliens than the aliens who want everyone to know what they have to say. These aliens will come to earth with a message like, “Save your planet; it’s the only one you’ve got,” but they apparently choose some confused rancher who has been drinking as their herald. Gee, aliens, maybe you should learn something about credibility. What’s more, these messages don’t seem worth the interplanetary travel. “Save the planet?” Not “your galaxy is imploding, get the heck out of here?” The old UFO poster says it best: “I want to believe.” People may want to believe, but that doesn’t make them any less deluded.

Vlogging sensation sweeping nation: Nerdfighter movement on rise

Average looks, awesome acts: mild-mannered civilians decrease world suck x by Erin Washburn DFTBA. To the average citizen, this abbreviation looks like it could stand for a government organization or an obscene phrase. But to Nerdfighters, a growing minority, DFTBA means one thing: Don’t Forget To Be Awesome. What is a Nerdfighter, you ask? A Nerdfighter is a nerd who fights, a nerd who looks average on the outside but inside is made up completely of awesome, instead of bones and organs and stuff. Originally, the term referred to fans of acclaimed young adult novelist John Green (Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns) and his brother Hank Green, who began a video blogging, or “vlogging,” project two years ago. Since then, its definition has been expanded to include anyone and everyone. If you’re interested in becoming a Nerdfighter, you probably already are one. And, if you already are one, you are in noble company. Famous Nerdfighters include Isaac Newton, Nelson Mandela and all four Beatles.

What does a Nerdfighter do? First and foremost, a Nerdfighter is committed to the fight to decrease world suck. World suck comes in many forms, from the plight of the refugees in Darfur to the censorship of classic novels in public schools. As a Nerdfighter, you can do many things to decrease world suck. Many choose to subscribe to John and Hank’s

Hussein Obama anagrams to “Bush Mania…Cobra… Sake!” That alone is reason for election. Nerdfighters also engage in various secret projects, projects on which I cannot elaborate because they are, in fact, secret. However, I can say that many of the projects involve giving money to the Fund to Decrease World Suck, a bank account set up by the Brothers Green. The funds raised are donated to a variety of charities, which the Nerdfighters get to select. But being a Nerdfighter isn’t just about fundraising. It’s also about stimulating your own intellect. The Greens head a variety of book clubs, including a blurbing book club, for which Nerdfighters read the books of the month in order to come up with lolcat summaries. Hamlet’s lolcat blurb is “I’m in ur Denmarkz feelin ur Opheliaz, failin to make decisionz.” If you’re interested in the world of Nerdfighters, visit the Green brothers’ channel or the Nerdfighter website at http://nerdfighters.ning.com. We are fighting nerds. We’re no longer just using our words.

If you’re interested in becoming a Nerdfighter, you probably already are one. And, if you are, you’re in noble company. Famous Nerdfighters include Isaac Newton, Nelson Mandela and all four Beatles. YouTube channel (username: vlogbrothers) and watch their ongoing daily vlogs. These vlogs mix information with fun. You can check out John discussing the Georgia conflict with peanut butter on his face, or you can listen to Hank figuring out which presidential candidate to vote for based on how their names anagram. Incidentally, Barack

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Hollywood loses originality with adaptations of classics

New trend of second-hand plots shows lacks inspiration, bores viewers x by Merissa Dyer Hollywood’s newest trend is recycling, but not just for the environment. In LA, sex no longer sells—copying does. This year, as well as in years to come, expect to see a surge of “borrowed” material. This fall, the CW plans to launch two spin-offs: one from Melrose Place, the 90s primetime

soap opera, and another from the beloved Gossip Girl. And, infused with the Upper East Side fever, the network Bravo has taken it upon itself to search for a real-life Blair Waldorf and friends for a reality show inspired by the series. The movie industry is also taking advantage of this new era of used ideas. Several remakes of films, mostly from the 80s, such as The Crow, Nightmare on Elm

Street, and Arthur, are either in production or will be in the near future. Will Smith’s son Jaden plans to star in a senseless remake of the Karate Kid, which should immediately cue the groans. With four films in the franchise already, do we need a fifth? We’ve had enough of Mr. Miyagi and “wax on, wax off” to last us a few more decades. The issue surrounding re-

makes is their lack of quality. It seems there is no attempt by writers, producers and directors to one-up the original films. The result is a lackluster film that quickly ends up in the clearance bin at Wal-Mart. Although some second-hand plots, like 90210 , a remake of Beverly Hills, 90210, proved last fall that not all “inspired” adaptations turn out awful, most ideas for pilots or films are all lacking

originality. There is a necessity for the reemergence of novelty in Hollywood or else it will lose all of its artistic integrity. The nobodies who may single-handedly destroy film and television should heavily consider a lengthy MacBook session at Starbucks. If this fails, come 2010, there will be trailers for Superbad: Pt. 2 and Juno: Hamburger Telephone Strikes Back.

Increased cleanliness by students needed for messy, trashy hallways

x by Morgan Cali

Dodging people throwing chips, jumping over half-eaten sandwiches and leaping over seas of spilled soda in the hallways has gone on too long. The school’s hallways during lunch have become an obstacle course, and we need to put an end to it. When kids are five years old, they learn to pick up their toys when they are done playing, so it shouldn’t be a hard concept by the age of 14 to pick up your trash when you are done eating. It seems simple enough: you eat it, you throw it away. Unfortunately, this seems to be a difficult task for many students who prefer to eat next to their spilled drink and empty wrapper, hoping that someone will just kick it far enough that they won’t have to look at it anymore. As a result, our administration has taken to posting signs all over the school with pictures of trash left by students during lunch in an attempt to show how disgusting lunch scraps on the floor truly are. Teachers have also begun to kick students out of certain hallways because they leave such a mess. That is just embarrassing. Not being able to eat anywhere you want during an open lunch because you’re too messy is ridiculous. In addition, many clubs are focusing on cleaning up our school. The LEO club, National Honor Society and Club ROYAL have all attempted to address this problem. However, they have all been unsuccessful in improving the overall trash problem in our school because they are simply picking up their peers’ messes. In order to successfully clean up our school we all need to take responsibility for ourselves. If being kicked out of hallways and looking at pictures of leftover trash isn’t convincing enough, then maybe if building services stopped picking up after us students would start to take responsibility for their trash. Students need to stop being lazy and clean up after themselves before our school becomes a complete landfill.

Junior turned off by unnecessary administration cell phone craze Incessant warnings, Eubie TV announcement deemed unreasonable x by Suzanne Walls

Attention, Blake students! Be very cautious when pulling out cell phones. Administrators have made it very clear that they will immediately take your cell phone from you (even if you are not using it). It’s one thing to take cell phones when students use them during school hours, but collecting them when they are lying innocently on top of backpacks is taking it way too far. Administrators should give students a warning before just taking our belongings (even if many teenagers

are hard-headed and would just take their phones right back out again). It would be better if they at least made a deal with us that we could come pick our phones up from the office right after the period that we’ve had it taken away. What if there was an emergency going on in someone’s family? We would have never found out in time because one of the administrators took our phones. Taking our cell phones will not only upset us but will irritate our parents as well. Parents do not want to come to school to pick up their children’s phones; it would be

much easier if students themselves could complete the transaction. Moreover, some parents do not appreciate a teacher or administrator touching or taking their child’s personal belongings. If an administrator or teacher does not pay your cell phone bill, then they have no business touching your phone. Just like the police crackdown when motorists exceed the speed limit, our administrators are overreacting in their crackdown on students’ cell phones being seen. Students now more than ever need to be very cautious when pulling out their cell phones for any reason.

Ivy League students give perfect advice for choosing dream schools

Seniors share wisdom, prove college process is not as bad as you think x by Louisa Clarke & Sarah Levitt Seniors, it’s time to start choosing your future, starting off by selecting the perfect college. Funny thing though...there is no perfect college. Welcome to the real world, “grown ups.” Even though we are only pretending to know what we are talking about, we’ll try our best to help you, and who knows, we might even be able to figure out what we’re going to do with our pathetic lives. Let’s start off talking about the size of your potential school. Some people want big schools while others prefer small. There are pros and cons of both—actually, just cons, because no matter what size school you end up at, you will be miserable. Those of you who want to go to a big school, have fun getting lost and being a small fish in a big sea. No one will know who you are, and no one will care. Those of you who end up at a small school, on the other hand, can enjoy being in high school all over again. You’ll have the same drama, the same cliques, only now,

when rumors spread, you won’t have your mom to run home to. How’s that for the “college experience”? We’re sure you’ve all heard that we’ve both been accepted to Ivy League schools. Sarah has been accepted to Yale while Louisa has been accepted to Cornell, no surprise. Too bad all of our hard work hasn’t paid off like everyone says it will. Unfortunately, completing homework and passing tests does not pay the bills. When choosing a college, be aware of the price and whether or not you can afford it. The best of schools are the most expensive, so if you choose to go to an expensive school, good luck paying off your school loans for the rest of your life. For those of you who aren’t the most fortunate, you’ll have to settle like us. If you choose to settle, be prepared to later wonder what you could have been with a better education. We guess you fail at living your life with no regrets. Next, think about how far or close you want to be from home. Either way will suck, so don’t waste your time thinking too hard about it. If you’re planning on getting as far away from home as possible (because let’s face it…

Maryland blows) just understand that your parents would rather save gas money than spend it on seeing you. And most likely you won’t want to pay yourself, so say goodbye to security and hello to misery. For those of you who are staying close to home; don’t think we don’t have anything to say about you. First off, you’re all chickens who are too scared to leave mommy and daddy behind. You’re 18 years old; it’s time to grow up. You’re old enough to buy cigarettes and to drive a car. If you can buy porn and vote for the next president of the United States…we think you’re old enough to fly the coop. So basically, everyone is telling you that college will be the best time of your life…but everyone is wrong. College is hell, whether you go to a big school far away, or a small school close to home. Maybe we are just bitter because we haven’t decided on schools yet, or maybe we are just telling you the horrible, depressing reality of college life. Hopefully you’ll like college, but if not, we hate to say it but WE TOLD YOU SO! Take it from us; after all, we did get into Ivies.

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Late Night low: fallacy that is Fallon fatal for television

Angry senior needs talking headroom from barbaric Conan replacement x by Molly Wallace When I asked to write an article on Jimmy Fallon’s new late night show on a cold February day just three weeks ago, I had moderate expectations for the fledgling host. I thought I would calmly watch each episode for a week and end up writing a pretty mature, practical review—stuff about how the show can’t be judged for its beginning; everyone does poorly their first few months, but maybe it showed promise, blah blah blah blah. But

after viewing Late Night with Jimmy Fallon night after agonizing night, I cannot sugarcoat my reaction to the point of maturity. I am seventeen years old, and this is how I felt: OH MY GOD, IT WAS SO BAD. OH GOD IT WAS AWFUL. JUST AWFUL. PLEASE DON’T EVER MAKE ME WATCH IT AGAIN. I MISS CONAN. I MISS HIM SO MUCH. I did not like it. First of all, his monologue sounded like Jay Leno’s Cmaterial. Comments on the poor

economy and weather fell flat. Come on, now, Jimmy! Your core audience is composed mainly of stoned frat boys, so why not debase yourself to an immature sex joke? The Jimmy that giggled at inappropriate remarks is the one America enjoyed on SNL, and to bury him for the blonde mother demographic is straight up moronic. But the true crime of Late Night lies in the unbearably painful sketches. Lick it for ten? Seriously? SERIOUSLY? If I wanted to watch random idiots lick common household objects

for money, I would go to a strip club. Honestly, though, the show is on at 12:30! Take some risks, for God’s sake! Where are the horny manatees? The helpless Abe Lincolns? This late at night, safe is always boring. Perhaps what kills the entire spectacle the most, however, is the way Jimmy laughs at every single joke. Now, I didn’t hate it when he did this in SNL, because the jokes (and the people around him) were actually funny—his face would serve as a laugh track, reinforcing the hilarity. But at Late Night, the jokes AREN’T

FUNNY. So acknowledge this! Self-deprecation always saved Conan, time after time. I probably wouldn’t be as upset if Jimmy hadn’t taken over for the best host in the biz. In fact, if he had replaced Jay Leno, the transition would have gone a lot smoother—they both suck up to guests, create awful sketches, and book strange acts (the Pussy Cat Dolls remixing Jai Ho? WHAT?!)—but anyone replacing the perfection that was Conan will have to burn in Hades. The Roots were awesome, though.

Where are the horny manatees? The helpless Abe Lincolns? Safe is always boring.

Stop the Violence concert ironically turns into brutal street brawl x by Ryan Arrendell Last week, a “Stop the Violence” free concert was held in Downtown Silver Spring in honor of a slain 14-year old Montgomery Blair student, Tai Lam. Nobody thought the day’s balmy temperatures would foreshadow the heated confrontations to follow. But before you knew it, fights broke out in every direction; the night ultimately ending with 16 arrests. Talk about an oxymoron. It is a tragedy that people find it impossible to come together in one place and simply get along. It is a shame that the very thing that was sought to be avoided was instead grossly ignored. The issue itself goes beyond stopping the violence—it

needs to, and must be, stopping the ignorance: the ignorance that is fighting to no end. Nothing positive, nothing purposeful results from fighting. No beefs are squashed, no minds

teenagers and adults were arrested. How in the world are we supposed to look to adults for guidance if they are the ones throwing punches beside us? When I see fights break out at Blake, it’s the same story, different setting. You’ve still got people gawking, some even cheering and laughing, instead of, oh, I don’t know, trying to stop the violence. And you’ve still got the dire consequences that follow all fights. Who really wants to get pinned down by Mr. Harper? Body-checked by Mr. Leslie? Apparently sitting at home for ten days only to come back to a pile of make-up work and a tainted record is worth it. What sense does that make? All the fighting in the world won’t bring back Tai Lam and it certainly won’t promote the peace we so desperately need to attain.

The issue itself goes beyond stopping the violence — it needs to, and must be, stopping the ignorance. are changed, no transgressions are forgiven; instead, they are only heightened. One of the sad things about the incident is that both

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

The Blake Stage Company and Music Department proudly present

Rogers and Hammersteinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s musical masterpiece

Oklahoma! Blakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spring Main Stage Production

Daniel Arias Jeremy Baker Maia Chicherio Talia Chicherio Gretchen Corcoran Somala Diby Yanni Ellinghaus Mark Fearson Graham Flessas Elise Gifford Zach Goldberg Alyssa Gomes Chris Hall Brittany Hamson

Lauren Hubbard Lily Johnson Becky Joiner Samantha Kramer Ashley Larkin Zoey Lee Sarah Lomke Neel Madan Randall Morris Colleen Murray Sara Nuttle Uche Ogodi Justin Pereira

Jacob L. Perry, Jr. Caroline Pledger Grace Plihal Alex Reeves Max Sabelhaus Ben Schnapp Matthew Schnapp Lisa Staples Britney Stuart Nicole Tuttle Ian Walker Tina Wilbur Kira Williams James Wingate

Beautiful music, a talented cast and orchestra, and a guaranteed delightful night out.

April 24, 25, 30 May 1, 2 7:30pm

Child Development, Teaching as a Profession mold minds of future educators, p. C3

Section C

Blake Beat Features

March 20, 2009

Students open doors to personal lives, viewpoints through online portal Teenage bloggers share struggles, fashion sense, offer advice to followers x by Ryan Arrendell Forget pen and paper: it is time for journals to move over because there is a new sheriff in town, and it goes by the name of Blog, Mr. Blog. Says junior Joey Fruth, “I created my blog as an outlet for expression of anything I felt worth documenting in real life.” “Lately,” he adds, “it’s been about a lot of drama with my dad finding out about my sexuality and just high school stuff.” Posts, the online entries that contain the bulk of a blog’s contents, and how they appear are up to the creator’s

discretion, as are the title, design and type of blog. Says Fruth, “The name of my blog, ~J*~Blogger Extraordinaire, is not intended as conceit, just sarcasm.” While Fruth’s blog is mainly a personal blog, senior Simisola Olamide’s blog, www.notrelamode.blogspot.com is an outlet for her love of fashion. “I was in love with fashion blogs,” she says. “When I found out most of the bloggers were around my age, I was fascinated and [thought] why not share my little fashion knowledge and addiction in my blog?” Unless made private by the creator, blogs can be read by

virtually anyone and can be accessed from almost anywhere. “My cousin got a call once from a girl in Paris asking us to update it because she loved it,” says Olamide. “I’ve seen my blog’s name on other bloggers’ ‘Must Read’ blog lists.” Topics for her posts range from fashion for males and females to famous fashion idols. She hopes to soon include a section on do-ityourself apartment décor. Senior Alexandra Merino created her fashion-based blog, found on her MySpace page, www. myspace.com/kurtcobainlover91, to answer frequently asked ques-

DRESSING UP FOR COMIC EFFECT

tions about her clothing, which stands out in the halls of Blake High School. “When I go out, I am the person who I am, and the way I look and dress is already putting myself out there,” she says. “Posting blogs is just another way of doing that but with my words and opinions.” Blake alumna Jasmin Walters created her first blog, www. jazzybooboo.blogspot.com, in September 2007 because she wanted a place to document poetry. It has since been changed to www. eastcoastpost.blogspot.com and includes other authors because she

had trouble keeping up her blog by itself. She says, “When I couldn’t keep it up, readers would actually complain.” Walters’s other blog, www. boysdogsmen.blogspot.com, is very personal. “It usually has to do with the current male in my life,” she says, “but I write as the words come to me. I found that people don’t really want to read about your day to day life unless you talk about crazy observations or ridiculous catastrophes.” So has the pastime of journaling become obsolete? No; rather it has been modernized with videos, pictures and more.

Not cosplaying around: manga fans get animated for yearly conventions

awesome.” Romig cosplayed Sakura Haruno from NarTwenty-five thousand fans dressed as anime and uto at Otakon ‘08 last July. manga characters walk into a convention center. Sakura “daydreams about No joke. Otakon, the second largest anime convention in the romance and obsesses over United States, is a fandom’s paradise. “Conventions are a guy, but she’s still inintense,” says senior Danielle Romig, who has attended credibly smart and strongOtakon for the past three years. “It’s amazing to be in a place willed,” she says. “She’s where you can strike up a conversation with almost anyone, easy to relate to.” Although the consince you know the two of you already have something in vention is a major event common.” The three-to-five-day extravaganza in Baltimore is for the fandom, the truly jam-packed with activity, ranging from early release manga devoted manga and anime movies played in an HD theater, to Japanese concerts and lovers are dedicated to the raves, to a video game room and a manga library. “You get cause year round. Says about three to six hours of sleep per day,” says senior Ryan senior Zach Berg, the fans “are intensely loyal and Dean. “There’s quite a number of things to do.” At Otakon, fans also shop till they drop, stocking up love what they are into.” on another year’s worth of manga, music and movies. The Smaller conventions such Dealer’s Room and Artist’s Alley are both gigantic areas as Katsucon, and Anime for merchandise to be sold and advertised. “There’s a ton of USA occur in fall and winanime merchandise for sale that’s difficult to find anywhere ter, but pale in comparison to the scope of Otakon. else,” says Romig. In anticipation of the Cosplay, or costume role play, is an integral part of next convention, some fans the convention experience as fans impersonate characters realize they’ve been a part from shows and books not limited to anime. “You walk into CVS and see Goku from Dragon Ball-Z,” adds Dean. “It’s of the anime world for so long that they can’t imagine life without it. “Japanese animation really got my atten- Cosplaying Sakura Haruno, senior tion,” says Danielle Romig and her cousin Rachel Dean. “For as long as I can remember I was always into anime—it has just become normal to me.” “Manga is what really keeps my passion for it all alive,” adds Romig. “I will readily describe myself as a ‘manga junkie.’” Still, fans will have to wait four more months for their convention fix. “People at conventions seem more relaxed, more open because the conventions give a person a sense of freedom,” says Romig, “the freedom to really be themselves.” Adds Dean, “I thought these cons Senior Zach Berg, dressed as the Joker, enjoys Otakon ‘08 with Jack were stupid and for geeks but when I actually Sparrow. --photo provided by Zach Berg went I was completely wrong. I loved it.”

x by Tomiko Mason

Harris pose with Romig’s paraphernalia. --photo by Sacha Vega

Manga is what really keeps my passion for it all alive. I will readily describe myself as a ‘manga junkie.’ SENIOR DANIELLE ROMIG

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Bromantic relationship between boys cannot be destroyed

Bond of close guy friends provides chill relationship, no petty cat fights x by Ian Nyanin Many partnerships have withstood the test of time: Bert and Ernie, Beavis and Butthead, Spongebob and Patrick. These duos represent entries in the legendary tradition of the bromance. A bromance, defined by Urban Dictionary and Wikipedia as a close platonic relationship between men, is truly a rare thing of beauty. “One doesn’t find a bromance; a bromance finds you,” says sophomore Zakary Kronemer, bromancer of sophomores Lucas Frangou and Joey Morstein. What differentiates this breed of man love from others is the intensity of the bond. “We

basically know each other inside and out,” say seniors Nathan Tucker and Damian Worthy. Their relationship is so strong that many of their activities have melded together. “We climb trees and have intense philosophical conversations. We are basically dating. We aren’t usually seen apart.” What makes the bromance meaningful is the understanding shared only by two dudes. Says junior Quraan Addison, bromancer of junior Zach Macklin, “What’s cool about having a close guy friend is that you [have someone you] can talk to about your problems and the females. Especially the females.” This openness is one that

binds and solidifies their relationship. “I don’t always feel like I can be myself around my female friends,” adds Kronemer. “It’s a whole different type of social interaction with women than with men. In my bromance, nothing is off limits. We talk about everything.” For those who think the bromance is simply a novelty of youth, they need look no further than English teacher Michael Kelley and special education teacher Chad Wilson. “We are pretty tight,” says Mr. Wilson. “He will be in my wedding and I best be in his.” To be a part of a bromance is something that most will never experience. “I can’t lie, women

get jealous. I wish I was a guy so I could have a bromance,” says senior Liz Gipson. “There are days when I wish I wasn’t friends with girls. We can be stupid. When [guys] hang out, they can just chill. I wish girls could do that.” The bond between bros is unbreakable, even by the female species. “We like to abide to bros before [ladies],” add Tucker and Worthy. “We know that we are going to be friends for a long time, so it’s cool to take time with ladies.” Love in any form is hard to find, which is what makes the bromance so beautiful. Says Macklin, “I just like having someone around that I can depend on through thick and thin.”

You [have someone you] can talk to about your problems and the females. JUNIOR QURAAN ADDISON

Hallways hit with growing cases of crippling disease: JUNIORITIS x by Samantha Steinfeld Every year, senioritis rears its ugly head, crippling the work ethic and motivation of seniors everywhere. But this year, even juniors have been showing signs of this highly infectious disease. Early symptoms of senioritis include skipping school, avoiding homework, not paying attention in class and an overall lack of effort. While typically it has just been seniors who are susceptible to this virus, this year, we seem to have an epidemic on our hands—juniors are no longer safe. Says junior Michael Mugo, “Senioritis is everywhere. No one is even attempting to do any homework.”

Although there have been no proven causes of senioritis, most blame it on the nice weather and impending summer. However, some do believe that it is partly the school’s fault. The increase in afterschool activities, as well as assemblies, college visits and sports games, allows students to leave classes more often, which may lead to a decreased focus on academics. Says junior Mary Gillis, “We’re given the opportunity to do

all these afterschool activities, and once we get home from them, most of us don’t want to do homework, so we just avoid it.” Adds junior Maya Mandaiker, “If you know there’s going to be a college visit or assembly during a certain class, you’d be less inclined to do the homework for that class.” Junior year has often been called the hardest year of a high school career, so most juniors are expected to be working hard up

until the very last day of school. However, the pressure on juniors may actually be the cause of early senioritis. “We’ve worked for so long without a break,” says junior Maria Escobar. “Even on weekends and holidays we have massive amounts of homework, and now I’m just ready to be done.” Students need to remember that SATs, AP exams, HSAs and final exams still need to be taken but will not come until the end of

Senioritis is everywhere. No one is even attempting to do any homework.

Freshest Flowers In Town! Professionally Designed ~ Hand Delivered Sending flowers out of state? Place your order with us!

301-593-4700

www.hooverfisherflorist.com 24 Hour Ordering for Same Day Delivery 16 University Blvd. East @ Rt 29 Woodmoor Shopping Center

GO BENGALS!

JUNIOR MICHAEL MUGO

the year. Everyone needs to try and ward off the disease for as long as possible, and many agree that there are plenty of things the school system can do to help us fight off senioritis. “What would help me survive the rest of the year? Vacation,” says Escobar. “I think we should have a study hall/recess-type thing, where we can choose to either relax or do homework,” adds Gillis. For some, however, curing senioritis will require more than a restful vacation or more time to get work done. Mugo says, “Being secluded in an empty room with no computer, being forced to do work, is the only thing that would help me get over senioritis.”

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Working at Bagelry brings opportunity to meet new people

Rude customers, complex cash register prove to be biggest challenges

x by Shannon Gale

Only the lucky spend their after-school and weekend morning time making centerless treats at the Bagelry in Colesville. The Bagelry specializes in bagels, sandwiches, muffins and other treats, all brought to you by some of Blake’s own. Sophomore Joyce Bartlett says, “I was inspired to work there from my lifelong love of bagels and my desire to sell delicious circles of bread without centers.” Although Bartlett has only worked there for a short while, she has already discovered the benefits. “One of the perks is

being able to sample all the food,” she says. A typical day includes taking orders, washing dishes, mopping, sweeping, stacking bagels and checking inventory. Although there are many great things about the job, employees agree the hardest part is dealing with the customers. Senior Hannah Coll, a Bagelry veteran of over two years, says, “I have learned to always act politely, even when the customer is rude and potentially ruining your day.” She adds, “Some people will push your buttons, and there is nothing you can do but smile and nod.” “Working at the Bagelry is good for customer service because you deal with the

worst people,” says senior Shelby McCrone, who has also been working there for more than two years. “You get used to handling annoying customers.” Most student employees work after school or Saturday and Sunday mornings. “The schedule doesn’t cut into my weekend party time, luckily,” adds senior Ellen McManus. “It’s also really close to my house, so there is no commute.” One day, Bartlett hopes to gain Bagelry honor like their fellow experienced employees. “Handling customers is easy, but having good hearing, memory and listening will earn you a spot in Bagelry history,” says

Bartlett. Students from other schools work at the Bagelry as well. McManus says, “I’ve met some new friends and gotten closer with current ones, all while making money.” Once the employees learn the ropes, the position is relaxed and easy—but they all agree that at one point they struggled with the cash register or memorizing the orders and making them to the customer’s liking. “Right now the cash register really gets me,” adds Bartlett. “There are all these little buttons, and it’s always unnerving if you’re customer is cranky. Bagel selling is hardcore.”

Schoolwork becomes child’s play as these students prepare to teach x by Amelia Holgash Child Development’s preschoolers are quite lucky to hang out with cool teenagers all day, but these tiny tots are not the only ones with the sweet deal. Students enrolled in Child Development and Teaching as a Profession are able to prepare to become educators. Child Development “has helped me learn to become a teacher,” senior Sarah Kershner says, “because we not only have to learn to be patient when working with the children, but we also have to write lesson plans based on a curriculum.” For junior Jonathan Frame, the Teaching as a Profession course has been more helpful. “The main thing [Child Development] taught me was that I don’t want to teach little kids,” he says, “because I don’t have the patience for it.” Child Development focuses on interacting with children, while Teaching as a Profession highlights teachers’ duties and responsibilities. This is the first year that Teaching as a Profession is offered at Blake, a n d

there are currently only four students in the class. Says TAP teacher Beth Kauffman, “I think I have been really lucky for getting four highly motivated students for this first class. They already know what they want to teach and they write very thoughtful reflections on topics presented.” Adds Mrs. Kauffman, “My goal would be to get more students who want to teach specific subject areas in sec-

Sophomore Sydnee Bullard plays an alphabet game with six adorable kids in the Child Development class. The Child Development and Teaching as a Profession

ondary education where there are teacher shortages in Maryland. I would like more Blake students to consider this part of our teacher academy—math, science, English, foreign languages and all our arts and humanities classes.” Senior Kaithlyn Ayala is having trouble waiting for the day she can start her teaching career. Says Ayala, “I’m currently taking Child Development and it has only made my hunger for teaching increase. I’m so set on teaching preschoolers that I cannot wait for graduation and to get started in college.” Most aspiring educators choose to mold minds for a living because of their connection with children. “I love children,” Kershner says, “and the idea of getting to spend time with them as a job is great. I want to teach elementary school because those are the years when kids learn and develop the most.” Says junior Ashley Melendez, “I like the feeling of knowing that I helped someone gain a piece of knowledge. I see a lot of kids in school who always complain about their teachers and I want to change that.”

courses help aspiring educators get hands-on experience in working with children and learning the responsibilites of teachers. --photo by Jasmine Cogdell

Principal keeps tight bonds with previous pupils, now Blake parents x by Ian Nyanin Much has changed over the past 30 years, with trends going in and out of style from bell bottoms to the jerry curl, Rubik’s cubes to grunge music. But one thing has remained: the bond between a principal and some of her first students, whose children now attend Blake. “I always enjoyed the interactions with students, not just in the

learning environment but watching them grow and develop into adults,” says principal Carole Goodman. “I had the honor of teaching many incredibly talented and amazing kids who became fabulous adults.” These include students from Blair’s graduating class of ‘77 Julie Elie, Arlene Kisliuk, Robin Plunkett Madden and Pete Looney of ‘78. “Although her responsibilities have increased, she’s still the

same person. Personable, engaging, loves to laugh but takes her job very personally,” says Mr. Looney of his former art teacher. Even though time has passed, their relationship remains the same. “Nothing has changed,” Mr. Looney adds. “I still give her a big hug every time I see her and I think we both enjoy and appreciate being able to witness each other’s growth and happiness.” “Mrs. Goodman was a young,

energetic teacher,” says Mrs. Plunkett Madden. “She was a caring person who enjoyed being around teenagers, and that was evident in all she did.” While their roles have changed, her adoration for Mrs. Goodman remains. “Mrs. Goodman has always shown me respect, as a student and as a parent. She always represented authority, so I look to her to be a role model.” For Mrs. Kisliuk, having her

former teacher serve as her children’s principal is not surreal at all. “It wasn’t as much surprising as it has been comforting to know that she has been the principal of both of my children,” she says. Adds Mrs. Elie, “With her background in art and her strong administrative skills I felt she was the perfect choice for Blake. I couldn’t have picked a better principal for my kids’ high school.”

Visit The Blake Beat online at w w w.bla ke be at.net. (You can also access it from the Blake High School home page.)

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Thin Mint-eating gals help community, one cookie at a time

Girl Scouts prove camping, wearing vests, volunteering cool at any age

by Megan Bush x & Suzanne Walls

Female students are on a mission to change the world’s perception of the title ‘Girl Scout.’ While most envision elementary girls selling cookies, girls as old as seniors participate. Girl Scouts is a youth organization meant to help girls build self-esteem and character. Their achievements are recognized through rank advancement and by special awards, while membership is organized according to age group. Says junior Becky Doane, “Girl

Scouts is pretty much the girl equivalent of a Boy Scout, but we never did as much outdoorsy stuff.” “I first joined Girl Scouts because I really wanted to sell the cookies,” says junior Colleen McMullen. “It was pretty silly, but I’m very glad I did it.” Girl Scouts start at a level called Daisies and participate in confidence building activities, like camping, volunteering, and learning first aid. The highest rank is an ambassador, in which you are eligible to receive a gold award if you have participated in enough hours of community service. “I was so excited when I

learned how to start a fire,” adds Doane. “It was epic.” Now the girls find joy in helping out the community through volunteering and community service. Says McMullen, “We still make lunches for [a soup kitchen] and we’ve sent letters and cookies to soldiers overseas. Now we’re writing letters and sending packages to a Girl Scout with lymphoma.” “It is very rewarding to know that you brightened someone’s day,” adds junior Maggie Thomas. “It’s nice to know that you are helping people out while earning student service learning hours.”

The girls earn SSL hours by visiting nursing homes,, volunteering at homeless shelters, and working with young scouts. Says sophomore Heather Philips, “I like working with the younger scouts and being a leader towards them all.” While they are not working, the girls take trips to the beach, ski resorts, or woods to enjoy some camping. “The best part about it now is being able to keep in touch with my friends from other schools,” says Doane. “It would stink to lose touch with girls I have known for so long.”

Adds McMullen, “The fact that we earn tons of SSL hours and that it looks great on college applications keeps me involved.” There is one disadvantage to being a high school Girl Scout. “I do get teased a lot,” says Thomas. “But I think it is just the name “Girl Scouts” that makes it sound so childish.” Adds McMullen, “Kids are just jealous that we earn SSL hours while hanging out with friends… and that we can eat as many cookies as we want,” she says. “When we’re having this much fun, why would we ever stop?”

Digital artists point, click their ways to lucrative creative outlet x by Erin Washburn Pen, palette, pencil and paint. All of these are common tools for everyday artists. But for some, creating beautiful works of art takes no more than a click of the mouse. Seniors Brendan Lipton and Jonathan Yuen create art with the computer. Lipton’s expertise is in digital art, while Yuen’s is in digital photography. Says Lipton, “I like the freedom digital art offers. With these powerful tools, it’s possible to create…beautiful designs that aren’t possible in the more classical mediums.” Adds Yuen, “I like digital photography because I find it fascinating how you can capture a moment in time. That moment is a work of art in itself.” Both Lipton and Yuen got started with classes at Blake. In ninth grade, Lipton took Digital Arts I as an elective. “[I] found that I had a real affinity for it,” says Lipton. After dis-

covering his talent, Lipton began entering contests, including designing last year’s After-Prom t-shirt design and the cover design for the course registration handbook. Lipton also works more conventionally, painting and drawing, but “my real strength lies in the digital medium,” he says. “The wide array of tools allows me to fully realize my vision for pieces.” For Yuen, digital photography began with digital arts. He used digital arts to acquire the skills and tools needed to work Adobe Photoshop, but “found digital photography to be more my ‘thing,’” he says. Yuen has been pursuing digital photography for four years, with digital photography teacher Sara Hartenstein as his mentor. Eventually, Lipton began to work freelance on websites such as www.craigslist.org and www.threadless.com. When he saw how much money he was making, he convinced Yuen to put his work on www.craigslist.org as well. Says Yuen,

“I decided the money was really good for such little work.” Yuen now enters his digital photography on other websites. “Sometimes it’s a gamble with entrance fees,” Yuen adds, “but you have to spend money to make money.” As Lipton’s skills progressed, he began to work as an intern with Rockville’s Z-Design, Inc. Now, he works mainly for the school, designing posters for the SGA, Dance Company and Blake Stage Company, and working on projects for the administration. He also contracts out to the National State Theatre Company, Act Two Performing Arts and Montgomery County Public Libraries. Although Yuen only plans on entering photos into competitions for fun, Lipton will be attending the University of Maryland Baltimore County, double-majoring in graphic design and communications. “Digital art is really the only medium which has continued to evolve and develop,” says Lipton. “There is really a challenge involved in being a digital artist.”

Digital arts is really the only medium which has continued to evolve and develop. SENIOR BRENDAN LIPTON

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit

The Blake Beat online at

www.blakebeat.net. (You can also access it from the Blake High School home page.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Read to succeed: students, teachers post passion on walls x by Linda Hwang With a perfect smile, a striking pose and a passion for reading, many students and staff have combined their photogenic talents with an educational and enjoyable pastime for posters that can be seen schoolwide. The READ campaign was first proposed by media assistant Janet Smith after doing a similar project at Page Elementary School. READ posters of famous celebrities displayed in public libraries inspired her to recreate posters, except with high school students. Says Mrs. Smith, “It is a recognition of students’ efforts to improve themselves by reading.” The main purpose of the READ posters is to generate interest in reading. “When students see other students reading books in the posters, they may be encouraged to read also,” says Mrs. Smith. READ posters include a photo of you with your favorite book and a quote. The quote can refer to the book, a personal belief or it can be a message to others. Many teachers and students have gotten READ posters made, which can be seen all over certain hallways. Whether the photo is taken alone, with kids, friends or even stuffed animals, students find it interesting to look at the photos and see the books that people

are reading. Says senior Brit Hicks, who has yet to get a poster made, “It’s interesting to see the types of books that the teachers are reading.” Adds senior Kristin Williams, “I think it’s really fun to walk around and notice other people’s posters, the quote that they chose and what books they’re read-

ing.”

However, an interest in reading is not the only reason why students choose to get posters made. Because students can take pictures with their friends, the posters can also serve as a great way to take a picture with them

that will be hung up in the hallways for everyone to see. Says Williams, “It was a fun way to commemorate my friendship and have fun with books I love.” “Posters can serve as a remembrance of [people’s] good friendships,” adds Mrs. Smith. “Students enjoy seeing themselves with their friends on the wall.” Although many may want a poster made because they want their photo on the wall, some students actually want to contribute their ideas and favorites to other students. Says Hicks, “I think it’s great that students are, in a way, recommending their favorite books to other students.” Even when students go in to get a poster made because many of their friends have or because they want their picture taken, it slowly starts to turn into an activity that’s about reading. “It’s a peer pressure thing to do, but then you actually sit down with the books and pick your quote and it becomes more about reading,” says Williams. “Not only do you get a permanent keepsake of you and your friends but you get to do it while incorporating a great pastime like reading,” adds Williams. “When I see my poster on the wall, I think about my friends and the great books that we read and share.”

C8 Yes -------------------------------------------------Come see Doubt! -------------------------------------------------Rorschach=<3 -------------------------------------------------We’re just ordinary people…. -------------------------------------------------We don’t know which way to go… -------------------------------------------------Because we’re ordinary people… -------------------------------------------------Maybe we should take it slow… -------------------------------------------------Corn -------------------------------------------------Ian Nyanin, will you marry me? -------------------------------------------------I like corn -------------------------------------------------<3 H’Benuel Ostetter -------------------------------------------------Corn iz g00d. -------------------------------------------------Benguin <3 Hannor -------------------------------------------------Soviet Santa -------------------------------------------------Amanda Seyfried… YUCK -------------------------------------------------721 721 721 721 721 721 721 721 -------------------------------------------------721 721 721 721 721 721 721 -------------------------------------------------721 721 721 721 721 721 -------------------------------------------------I love Benuel -------------------------------------------------Seven Twenty-One -------------------------------------------------I am better than George Fontain III -------------------------------------------------I challenge ANYONE to a Duel -------------------------------------------------blair&chuck -------------------------------------------------Let me bang my head against the keyboard. -------------------------------------------------Karen Valentin <3 Emanuel Olano, thanks Marie. June 6, 2007 -------------------------------------------------elmo! Elmo! ELMO! -------------------------------------------------Don’t you remember, you was there too! Can’t touch this. This is legit. -------------------------------------------------She was in the closet after she fell asleep. -------------------------------------------------Dear Christopher P., You still owe me cookies and you definitely killed Jim. Love, your stalkers. -------------------------------------------------Today is my half-birthday. -------------------------------------------------BEACH WEEK 09. -------------------------------------------------Today, my boss fired me via text message. I don’t have a text messaging plan. I paid $0.25 to get fired. FML -------------------------------------------------82 days till graduation!!! -------------------------------------------------I met Linda Keegan. She wasn’t Mexican. -------------------------------------------------Ostrich egg looks like someone’s head. -------------------------------------------------Jello puzzle is the best. -------------------------------------------------It is warm, therefore school should cease operations. NOW. -------------------------------------------------All the ladies want Michael Powers. -------------------------------------------------Snow, snow, snowsnowsnow. DON’T COME BACK. -------------------------------------------------“I fell on ma bowlin’ ball, AGAIN!” -------------------------------------------------Team Swayze is almost all gone. -------------------------------------------------This is me fixing it. -------------------------------------------------Today, at a hard rock concert, a bunch of guys accidentally knocked down a porta-potty while moshing. I was inside that port-a-potty. FML -------------------------------------------------Snow, snow, snowsnowsnow. DON’T COME BACK.

March 20, 2009

BlakeBeat

UnClassifieds See any BEAT staffer to buy your Unclassified in our next issue. 70¢ for the first ten words, 5¢ for each additional word

PH+TM+MP+CM+ES+KS+KP+LL -------------------------------------------------Today, my fiancee broke up with me. Via a myspace message. While we were in the same apartment. FML -------------------------------------------------I am taller! I am stronger! I am more powerful! -------------------------------------------------Ms. Hartenstine’s favorite Yang is Brian. -------------------------------------------------“Nice man flops.” “Oh you mean Rainbows?” -------------------------------------------------“It was me…” MO JO JO JO -------------------------------------------------3/9/09 – worst day of Jonathan Yuen’s life -------------------------------------------------Dear teachers, stop giving seniors work. -------------------------------------------------Melis & Louis! -------------------------------------------------“It’s Jude.” -------------------------------------------------Do not respond. Do not respond. Do not respond. I know you want to respond, NED! -------------------------------------------------MG <3 JP -------------------------------------------------AVI, YOU ARE A CREEPER. PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM ME.

You can’t rise to the top, can’t get no twayee clap! -------------------------------------------------PING. -------------------------------------------------Girl, did Popeye’s hit ya? Cuz red beans and rice didn’t miss ya! -------------------------------------------------Workin’ hard or hardly workin’? -------------------------------------------------MCM ‘09 -------------------------------------------------L dies -------------------------------------------------Near is the coolest person -------------------------------------------------Mellow is cool too -------------------------------------------------But not as cool as Near -------------------------------------------------L’s death isn’t epic… sorry -------------------------------------------------3/9/09- worst day of my life. Car dies on Norwood Road + detention! -------------------------------------------------Joey loves Louisa -------------------------------------------------I hate there -------------------------------------------------Louisa is a text machine -------------------------------------------------I’m actually unable to call him honey. I just really can’t.

The Blake Beat No want it. -------------------------------------------------Louisa & Joey- best friends FOREVER and EVER -------------------------------------------------I hate Tara R. My favorite word starts with “f” and ends with “k”…firetruck. -------------------------------------------------It’s out of order for the next 40 days! -------------------------------------------------I can’t wait to ride in the orange wagon. -------------------------------------------------Peter : ) -------------------------------------------------Live. Love. SOCCER. -------------------------------------------------Hey carrot cake! -------------------------------------------------That guy is wearing yellow reflector tape on his head. -------------------------------------------------I left my wallet in chick-fil-a -------------------------------------------------I pledge my heart to Lily Bart. -------------------------------------------------Simon Rosedale – what a mensch! -------------------------------------------------Vote Tim Hwang for SMOB! -------------------------------------------------Vote Tim Hwang for SMOB! -------------------------------------------------Vote Tim Hwang for SMOB! -------------------------------------------------Vote Tim Hwang for SMOB! -------------------------------------------------Vote Tim Hwang for SMOB! -------------------------------------------------Vote Tim Hwang for SMOB! -------------------------------------------------fmylife.com <33333333 -------------------------------------------------I dislike InDesign. -------------------------------------------------June 10 2009: Graduation June 11 2009: Taylor Swift Concert June 12 2009: Beach Week BEST WEEK EVER. -------------------------------------------------GAY PRIDE. -------------------------------------------------I’m Gonna have a baby...a food baby. -------------------------------------------------Ms. Mohler fries Jeopardy and also has a beautiful haircut. -------------------------------------------------Alex Exis. -------------------------------------------------When I am bored and sitting in class, I tend to dream of Christine Conrad. I smile. A lot. -------------------------------------------------And Hayley Steffen. -------------------------------------------------Hayley Steffen for Miss Maryland 2010. -------------------------------------------------Melissa Goldberg for Miss District of Columbia 2010. -------------------------------------------------Mojo :( R.I.P. -------------------------------------------------AP Statistics is the best class ever. Mr. Fribush makes me laugh so hard. -------------------------------------------------Benguin <3 -Hannar -------------------------------------------------So take your shoes off and find a spot on the floor! -------------------------------------------------Nick Foley is MSM. -------------------------------------------------One day...I was walking through the woods...enjoying the beautiful sunshine... then I saw yo gabba gabba...I don’t watch this show but it was beautiful. End. -------------------------------------------------Today I was rejected from the University of Washington. My dad has been a professor there for 30 years, and is on the board of admissions. FML. -------------------------------------------------My life consists of two things: food and www.fmylife.com -------------------------------------------------Melanie Spaid for Miss New York 2010 -------------------------------------------------Today I asked my parents if the outfit I was wearing made me look fat. My mom looked at me and paused for a while and my dad said, “ Honey, that outfit doesn’t make you look fat. Your fat makes you look fat.” FML

Seniors Stevens, King, Smith, DeBernardis crowned as county champions, p. D6

Fasdmen;rit uhnbroiutbnsrtnrtnsrtjsrtj rysrjrstjsfsr Section D

Blake Beat Sports

D? March 20, 2009

Girls’ basketball reaches state finals after stellar season Despite regional title, Lady Bengals cannot dethrone queens of court

x by Nick Foley

By a score of 67-39, the girls’ varsity basketball team lost to the Roosevelt Lady Raiders in the state championship game last Saturday, shattering its hopes of finally capturing the title that has eluded the team for the past three years. The girls were unable to pierce the stifling Lady Raiders defense, trailing 13-5 with two minutes left in the first quarter. They were forced to go for far-away, unsafe jumpshots, but they still had their chances. “During the second quarter [when] we were down by four…we could have capitalized on the momentum and come back,”says junior Justine Allen. Although they fought to keep their hopes alive, the Lady Bengals were never once allowed to even the score, succumbing to the 25-point lead amassed by the Lady Raiders at the end of the third quarter. The girls never recovered from the deficit. “Towards the end of the fourth quarter,” says junior Gabi Hall, “I knew that our season had ended and that I would have to keep my composure.” The state title may have slipped through their fingers, but the team agrees that after its dismal start to the season, just being in the state finals was a pleasure. Says junior Megan Buonomo, “Being able to bounce back and play in a state final as a confident and successful team was an amazing feeling, regardless of the outcome.” The Lady Bengals made their state final dreams a reality by defeating the Linganore Lady Lancers, 61-53 March 12. They became Regional Champions March 7 after beating the Northwest Lady Jaguars in a close 55-51 encounter, and they edged past the Gaithersburg Lady Trojans two days before, winning 62-59. Their first two postseason wins were much less dramatic; they smashed the Blair Lady Blazers, 74-40 March 3 and trounced the Walter Johnson Lady Wildcats, 83-39, in their first round game February 27. The team’s talented junior contingent plans to carry on the Lady Bengals’ winning tradition next year. “I’m very much confident in [the] team…I think our chances will be better than ever,” says Hall. Adds Buonomo, “We all feel like it’s about time we won the state title.”

Sophomore guard and forward Nikki Ostrow avoids a Gaithersburg Lady Trojan to make a basket during the

Regional Semifinals March 5. The Lady Bengals snagged a win despite Gaithersburg’s top seed. --photo by Ben Martin

Baseball team strives to maintain chemistry, perfect defensive skills Boys strengthen themselves mentally to prepare for challenging spring x by Jeremy McDonald & Ian Nyanin After last year’s strong season, which concluded in an upset loss in the second round of the playoffs, the varsity baseball team is looking ahead to a stellar new start. The team, which has secured its position as one of the best in the state over the past few years, includes seven seniors and six returning starters. This experience looks to be a big advantage for them. “We have a lot of chemistry with one another and we know what to expect,” says senior center fielder Mike Schmidt. The main goal for the Bengals this season is not to reorganize their skills and strategies, two areas they are con-

fident in, but rather to tighten up their mental approach. This has become their focus after suffering the surprising loss to the Whitman Vikings, who they had defeated earlier in the season, in last year’s playoffs. The team’s match against the Vikings today promises to be an exciting opportunity for retribution. This looks to be the first of many games for the team which is in it for the long haul. “We can definitely compete for a state championship this year,” says Schmidt. This confidence stems from his belief in the team’s current roster. “I think we are definitely better than last year,” he adds. The team looks to be very well-rounded this year, which should increase their chances of bringing home a 4A division

title. “We have an excellent defense which is the glue for our team,” says Schmidt. “We also have a very good line up in which everyone can hit one through nine, and a pitching rotation that will be very good and surprising to most teams.” The new roster also includes returning pitcher and third baseman, junior Tommy Cunningham who made the Pre-Season All-State team. Freshman catcher Brian Battaglia has the challenge of handling the varsity spotlight. “I expect him to step up and have a good year,” adds Schmidt. Senior Benuel Hostetter has rebounded from a knee injury that sidelined him for most of last season. All of these factors, combined with many others, should spell a successful year for the Bengals.

Blake snowboarders tear up slopes, take advantage of wintry weekends, p. D5

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Smith brings home gold in wrestling state championship

McKenna, Madden also dominate mat in post-season tournaments

by Sarah Levitt x & Maureen Madden

Senior co-captain Rasheim Smith goes down in history as Blake’s first state champion wrestler after winning the final match at the University of Maryland Cole Field House March 7. Smith breezed through his first few matches until he met his rival opponent Kevin Beck, who took the gold from Smith in last year’s tournament. Smith stood in the same arena where he watched the state championship slip right through his fingers exactly one year ago, but this time he was victorious. “As soon as the final

buzzer went off, I knew all of my hard work was worth it,” says Smith. “Nothing can explain the feelings I felt when the ref raised my hand and declared me the state champion.” During senior co-captain Joey McKenna’s first match at states, he gave his opponent a brutal nosebleed that raised McKenna’s confidence. “My goal was to place top six in states,” he says, “and this win brought me one step closer to accomplishing my goal.” Scoring two points with three seconds left on the clock, McKenna qualified for the quarterfinals, winning 9-8. McKenna then dominated

in his second match, bringing the final score to 8-2, putting him into the semi-finals. Unable to keep his winning streak alive, McKenna lost his semi-final match, but won his final match in the double elimination round, finishing fifth in the state. Sophomore Eddie Madden, the youngest of the three Blake state competitors, did not place, though he received much experience and exposure in his first states appearance. Says Madden, “My opponent was stronger and older, and I gave my all, but I know that my turn to win will come.” With five wrestlers competing in the regional tournament at

Sherwood High School February 27-28, Blake finished eighth. Senior co-captain Nick Sacco ended his high school wrestling career with an 18-10 record. Both Smith and McKenna became regional champions after winning all four of their matches. Madden finished fourth in the region, snatching the last qualifying spot to compete in the state tournament. Senior Anthony Steffes competed in his first ever regional tournament, and finished fifth. “After not even qualifying for regionals or counties last year, it felt really good to place,” says Steffes. “It really showed how

much I improved.” The Blair Blazers hosted 25 teams for the county tournament February 20-21. Sacco had a disappointing loss his first match, but was already guaranteed a spot in the regional tournament. Steffes won his first two matches but lost his last two. Smith became county champion, while McKenna finished third. Overall, Blake finished tenth. While some star wrestlers will be graduating, coach Pinsky maintains that the future is still bright. “Although we’re losing some key leaders of our team,” he says, “we still have a good nucleus of ninth and tenth graders.”

Girls’ varsity softball eagerly anticipates new members, games Players look to improve communication after last year’s regional loss

x by Nick Foley

After mixed results and a devastating loss in the quarterfinals of the regional tournament last year, the girls’ varsity softball team is eager to smash this season out of the park. With a young but talented group, the Lady Bengals are optimistic about their potential. Says coach Jessica Garlick, “Our focus this year is going to be on building a softball program…We are a very young team but we have a lot of experience.” The team is working feverishly to prepare for the start of the season, focusing their efforts on base running and hitting, but most importantly, communication. “We’ve never really had a strong offensive game, which has been our weakness,”

says senior Gaby Ferra, “but hopefully not this year.” The most intriguing part of the team so far has been the three freshmen who managed to score themselves varsity positions. “I’m most looking forward to seeing what our three new freshmen are capable of,” says junior Jazmine Dandridge. “I definitely think they are up for the challenge.” Coach Garlick’s main goal is fostering a sense of closeness throughout the team. Says coach Garlick, “We want the girls to feel like a family, but [also] to know that when the game starts, it is time to step it up and play [their] hearts out.” Team members agree that the coaching staff is the best in the business and perhaps the most enjoyable part of being on the team. “All of the coaches are amazing at teaching us

different skills and techniques,” says Ferra. “Their open hearts and personable attitudes make it so easy to look forward to practice every day because it is just that fun.” Communication is also a focal point during practices. “We want to be one step ahead of the pitcher and the fielders at all times,” adds Dandridge. A lack of strong hitting has hindered the Lady Bengals in past years, and they are working to improve offensively, even taking it inside the classroom to watch college videos of batting drills. Although they are a developing team, the sheer talent and desire of each team member might be enough to bring every opponent to their knees. “We want Blake to be a team that is feared by our opponents,” says coach Garlick.

Boys’ lax takes group-oriented season approach x by Benuel Hostetter With a multitude of senior leaders, the boys’ varsity lacrosse team looks to improve last year’s record with a team-oriented attitude. A lackluster two-win season last year left many lax bros shaking their heads. Determined to leave a positive mark in the Blake record books, this year’s senior-dominated squad has been working hard both on and off the field to increase their chances of winning. “This year we are going with more of a team-first approach,” says senior Logan Marshall. Many of the players can be seen sitting together in the cafeteria, having made bonds that they hope will lead to success on the field. Having only lost one player to graduation last year, this spring the Bengals will have a lot of experience on the field. These boys have been playing together for quite some time and are comfortable with one another; however, confidence is a bit of an issue. Says senior Paolo Marinucci, “We haven’t had a lot of success in recent years; now we have to believe in ourselves in order to win.” “We have been doing a lot of conditioning this spring to get ready for long stints on the field,” adds Marinucci. Going to great lengths to improve is what it takes to win and this year’s Bengals have been thinking out of the box. Some team members have benefited from an in-school class to sharpen their skills. “A bunch of us took coach [Patrick] Howley’s 7th period floor hockey class together this semester,” says Marshall. Although they are working on their stick skills, they hope to avoid injury. Adds Marinucci, “Mr. Howley’s slapshot has been known to take down kids that don’t get out of the way.” The team’s first game is tomorrow at home against the Damascus Hornets at 12pm.

Senior Madison Wehling leaps through the air, demonstrating her athletic prowess. The Lady Bengals gymnastics team has

been practicing hard in anticipation for its first meet against the Blair Lady Blazers. --photo by Jasmine Cogdell

Gymnastics team excited about newfound talents

x by Morgan Cali

New faces prove to be just what the gymnastics team needs to gain more spirit and improve team chemistry. The constant changes the team has gone through have been no trouble for the members, who are the only athletes to win States. Being on the team for the past four years has allowed senior Madison Wehling to see many teammates come and go. This year, Wehling says, “The new girls fit in perfectly, and this is going to be a great season.” This is a relief considering the obstacles that a team can face when they don’t have good chemistry. Wehling adds, “Coach Parsons has already started putting us into different categories, and everyone is finding their

Bengal gymnasts continue to build team chemistry niche.” The gymnastics team has gone through many changes in the past four years losing key members who not only contributed with their talent but were also vital in cheering and boosting other teammates’ confidence with their motivational speeches and desire to do well. These key members were vital in contributing to the team winning counties and states in the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

The team spirit began to drop in the 2006 season after losing key members. However, this year the team is gaining momentum again to return with a vengeance. Despite losing one of their big scorers, junior Laura Treacy, to a shoulder injury and not having seniors Nicole Williams and Kayla Perry at every meet due to their other conflicting gymnastics meets, team spirit this year is on the rise with the addition of many new talented faces. Adds Williams, “From the first practice I could tell that we were going to be a close and strong team. We all get along well. I can’t wait for the season to start.” The Lady Bengals are looking forward to their first meet Thursday at Blair against the Lady Blazers at 5pm.

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Boys’ basketball hopes dashed with 56-53 loss to rival

Squad defeated in third match-up with Warriors

x by Benuel Hostetter & Jay Sharma

Sophomore Ryan Frasier drives by his Sherwood Warrior opponents en route to the basket. Although

they lost 56-53, the team still brought Bengal fans to their feet. --photo by Ben Martin

After an impressive 18-3 regular season and a first round bye, the Bengals were upset at home by rival Sherwood Warriors, 56-53, in the second round of the Maryland State 4A Playoffs. Leading by double-digits at times, the Bengals looked like they were on their way to the third round when the Warriors stepped up their defense, holding the Bengals to 13 points in the fourth quarter. The Warriors also picked up the pace of their offense, hitting a barrage of three pointers and scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter to come out victorious. Says junior captain Max Hedgepeth, “It was real tough; the hardest part was probably accepting that it was all over.” The Paint Branch Panthers came to Blake and defeated the Bengals 69-53 February 20. The Bengals fought hard, cutting a 20-point lead to just seven, but could not keep it up and took their third loss of the season. The Bengals could not stop the inside game, and allowed five Panthers to score in double figures. Says junior captain Nathan Dalgetty, “We had a tough time from the start; it was just an ugly loss.” The Bengals defeated the Northwest Jaguars 67-65 February 17, which was also senior night, where the four seniors were honored at their final home game of the regular season. It became a close game because the team was outscored 23-10 in the first quarter. However, they kept their composure and came back to win the game. Sophomore Brandon Hedley started alongside the four seniors. Says Hedley, “We started off slow, but the offense got going and we came back in the fourth quarter.” February 13 the Bengals faced the Whitman Vikings. Sophomore Ryan Frazier led the Bengals with 21 points. Two other Bengals scored double figures as they held on to win the game 63-57. Although this season came to a bitter end, the Bengals have a lot to look forward to next season. The team will bring back four starters and at least two key reserves that played substantial minutes. “This season was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” says Hedgepeth, “but we return eight players which makes us a very dangerous team for next year.”

Coed volleyball looks for deep run in playoffs after last year’s early exit x by Jay Sharma After an impressive 9-4 record last season, the coed volleyball team returns with much experience and hopes for an even better record this spring. The Bengals have seven returning players, and have only one who has not played volleyball outside of school. Seniors Adam Boussouf and James Parker played boys’ volleyball last season, but are now playing coed. Says senior captain Ricky Borchers, “The potential of this team is endless, and we have a lot of experience.” In addition to Borchers, seniors Micaela Perez Ferrero and Hunter Schallhorn

New additions, collaborations seek to enhance past season’s record serve as captains. All three have played either girls or coed volleyball at Blake since their freshman year. The team includes four players from this year’s girls’ team, whose record was a combined 15-2. However, the experienced boys are expected to take the team to a higher level. “The boys are really strong this year,” says Perez Ferrero, “and I think we have one of the strongest hitting teams in the county.”

Coaching the team is English teacher Leigh Tinsley, who has been the coed coach for three years. “I came to coed because there is great coaching,” adds Boussouf. “I think that will definitely help us succeed.” The team’s toughest obstacle will be running plays. Perez Ferrero says, “Plays can be difficult because everything has to run smoothly, and the new boys are going to have a hard time learning them.” The Bengals had an early exit from the

last season’s number one singles player, senior co-captain Nick Foley, and senior co-captain Duncan Hawvermale. In addition, a pair of brothers, senior Jonathan and freshman Anthony Bui, has proven to talented. Jonathan Bui has been playing since his freshman year, and his

team is sophomore Gabe Prata, who has just recently moved to the United States from Brazil. His outstanding potentials and skills as a singles player earned him multiple praises from the coach. Coach Damron adds, “Prata is very promising on the team.”

playoffs last season, winning only one game in the postseason and eventually losing to the number one seeded Damascus Hornets. “Losing in the playoffs last year was tough,” Borchers adds, “but I think this year we can go further.” Tonight is the first game of the season as the team travels to Wootton to play the Patriots. The game should go well, as the Bengals handily defeated the Patriots in their first game last season in three straight sets. Going four games above .500 is nothing to be ashamed of, but this year’s team has a different mindset. Says Perez Ferrero, “With a lot of practice, we could definitely go undefeated this season.”

No division between younger, older players on champion tennis team x by Rui Fu After clutching last season’s impressive Division III championship title with an undefeated division record of 8-0 and an overall record of 10-2, the boys’ tennis team advances to Division II and hopes to keep building and possibly move up to Division I next year. Says coach Brian Damron, “As we are in a new division, we hope to do extremely well, but things are a bit uncertain.” A new division means a different lineup of opponents, with only a few that they’ve played before in past seasons. However, despite doubts and unpredictability, the team is hopeful for another outstanding season. Junior Fletcher Kong adds, “We will win all our division matches and move up.” The team’s biggest advantage this year is a myriad of returning players, including

[Tennis] is all about harmony between skill and physical abilities.

SENIOR JONATHAN BUI

brother is now following in his footsteps and guidance. Says Jonathan Bui, “[Tennis] is about the harmony between skill and physical abilities, as well as reading an opponent.” One of the new recruits to the

Also new this year is Coach Damron’s initiatives to prepare younger players for future seasons. Unlike some other sports, boys’ tennis does not have a JV team. As a result, coach Damron was willing to add underclassmen to in hopes for

future team development. Coach Damron says, “We have a lot of young players this year that we added to the team to prepare for many successful years to come.” The squad’s first match is later this afternoon against Kennedy. The Cavaliers are a returning Division III rival from last season. Although the Bengals easily dominated the Cavaliers 7-0 last season, the game will nonetheless give the new players a taste and preview of the season to come. Adds coach Damron, “I see similar [winning] results for this opening contest.” However, an easy season opener does not imply a smooth sailing season. Division II opponents will prove to be much tougher than those in Division III. But with a strong core base of upperclassmen leaders and promising new recruits, the Bengals are guaranteeing another successful season.

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Lax on, lax off: varsity girls train hard to chop opponents

Talented team aims for perfect season

x by Hannah Mellman

Clockwise from top: seniors Sharon Metzger and Chelsea DeBernardis hold their sticks at the ready; senior Olka Forster puts her game face on; senior Nicky Wannen, junior Beth Hellman, senior Darin Murray,

juniors Ashley Martin and Jane Grenaldo, Metzger and DeBernardis, and sophomores Joyce Bartlett and Rachel Choppin represent their sport. --photos by Jonathan Yuen

Returning several key players to the field, the defending division champion varsity girls’ lacrosse team has high hopes for its season to come. “I’ve already seen how much talent the players have, along with their strong desire to build a highly skilled competitive team,” says coach Janis Maloney. “I am confident we will have a very successful season.” Blake’s team consists of many players who led last year’s team to the regional finals, which proves that another post-season run is attainable. The Lady Bengals look to juniors Ashley Martin and Justine Allen to be their offensive threats, assisted by senior midfielders Darin Murray and Nicky Wannen. Leading the Lady Bengals’ defense is senior goalie Molly Donaghue, who was named MCPS defensive player of the year last year. “I think we have a good chance of going undefeated and making it to the state tournament,” says Donaghue. “A lot of us have the same goals, so that’s encouraging us to go far.” Unfortunately, the team has not had the smoothest transition into its spring season. The girls were missing senior Kerry Irion and junior Mimi Boussouf due to their French exchange program, and Allen also made a late arrival because of basketball playoffs. Even though the team has been short for most of their preseason practices, they expect to gel quickly as their games approach. Saturday, the Lady Bengals hosted the annual Shamrock-n-Roll Play Date with teams from all around Montgomery County. Blake defeated the Whitman Lady Vikings, the Richard Montgomery Lady Rockets, and the Churchill Lady Bulldogs, solidifying its confidence for the regular season and beyond. The team looks forward to meeting last season’s rival, the Wootton Lady Patriots. The Lady Patriots gave Blake two of its only three losses last year—including the regional final. “Last year we had a couple of tough losses to Wootton,” adds Wannen, “But now we’re ready to beat them.” The Lady Bengals open their season tomorrow on the road against the Damascus Lady Hornets. Blake beat the Lady Hornets last year 13-6, “so we’re hoping to start off strong again,” says Wannen. The team’s first home game is Tuesday against the Gaithersburg Lady Trojans, and then Thursday they face their first division rival, the Sherwood Lady Warriors. “Everybody should come out and see our games,” says Donaghue. “We’re better than the boys.”

Star athletes sprint to success, transition from indoor to outdoor x by Joey Samowitz Several great athletes with proven ability highlight the spring 2009 outdoor track and field team. Much of this past season’s successful indoor track and field team is making the shift to the outdoor team. With football coach Anthony Nazarro at the helm, there’s no doubt that the team will have the necessary talent and discipline to develop that talent. One of the team’s brightest stars is senior Octavia King,

who specializes in the shot put. King is coming off an impressive indoor season in which she won the Montgomery County Championship. “I’m excited to try and repeat as county champion, this time in the outdoor,” says King. The team’s runners are also quite impressive, sophomore Brandon Simms, junior football star Kwabena Asante and returning sophomore Bevin Walker are among a group of talented male sprinters. “We have a lot of talent and speed,” says Asante. “We just

need to transfer the talent to the track.” Notable athletes on the girls sprint team include returning juniors Grace Oxley and Lauren Rheubottom, as well as sophomore Paige O’Flahavan. They represent an all around strong sprinting contingent which will likely lead the track team to success this season. The team is lacking long distance runners. Both the girls and boys teams lost several graduating seniors. “It’ll be a challenge

but we’ll work with what we have and we’ll all do our best,” says junior Kristin Corcoran. Although the team has only been practicing for a couple of weeks, they are already showing promise and the skills that will take them to the top. “Our sprinters are very talented and the distance runners definitely have a lot of potential,” says junior John Vernon. “I think by the time the meets roll around we will have fulfilled that potential.” The experience of many

of the junior and senior runners will undoubtedly aid the team throughout the season. “It’s nice to know what to expect at the meets,” says Becky Doane. “We can help out the freshmen and sophomores by telling them what it’s like.” Each practice ends with team stretching and a talk with the coaches. “The coaches tell us what to improve on and help us get mentally prepared to run,” adds Vernon. The team’s first meet is at Whitman March 25.

Boys’ volleyball bumps into new year, plans to spike competition

Despite short stature, prepared players set up solid strategies for success x by Rui Fu Despite its mere two wins last season, the boys’ volleyball team looks forward to a winning season with new additions to the team. Unlike previous years, where veteran players move on to play co-ed volleyball and new recruits were limited, this year’s team is composed of a well-established and loyal veteran base with an unprecedented number of new players. Says sophomore Matias Perez Ferrero, “We’re starting off with a bigger team with a lot of talent.” However, volleyball is no easy sport and proves to be difficult for most first years. Says freshman Michael Joiner, “My biggest challenge right now is how fast the ball is hitting onto both sides and how fast we have to react.”

And even for returning veterans, there are many improvements to be made and core skills to be learned. Says junior Jeff Brumfield, who, at 6’5”, plays a crucial part in the team’s offense, “We lost most of our taller players to graduation or the coed team and because of that I’m really going to have to step up and do the things they used to do.” “Our biggest challenge,” adds senior captain Travis Rogers, “is having the freshmen step up and play hard without having a lot of experience, but so far they are doing a great job.” The new players, with the help of coach Kim Gandy and veteran players, are quickly learning the basic skills of passing, setting and spiking. The team’s biggest disadvantage this year is height. Most of the new players average 5’6” while only two players make it past the 6

feet mark. The players hope to compensate for this disadvantage with exceptional teamwork. Adds Joiner, “I have learned that [volleyball] is a lot more of a team effort…you need to talk to each other or everything does not work.” The first game is tonight against the Wootton Patriots, a consistent team known for its outstanding outside hits and accurate serves. Starting out its season with a tough opponent will give the team insights into its own strength and weaknesses. Says Brumfield, “I hope we just learn to play as a team, and if that happens then I’m sure wins will follow.” But for most of the players, the most important part of the game is having fun. Says Rogers, “I just hope I get to play and have some fun with my teammates creating ridiculous plays and maneuvers, and playing close games that makes it all worthwhile.”

I have learned that [volleyball] is a lot more of a team effort... you need to talk to each other or everything does not work. FRESHMAN MICHAEL JOINER

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

NOT JUST A BOARD GAME

These senior athletes jump to conclusion that every day is snow day x by Justin Pereira Most high school students probably think of math when they hear the word “slope.” Rise over run, our teachers said. But try as they might, they’ll never get seniors Bryan Levillain and Daniel Rosenberry to picture anything but a snowy mountain. S n o w boarding provides them with an unsurpassable source of adrenaline, excitement, and, of course, epic falls and wipeouts. “If I could, I would do it for the rest of my life until I was old and crippled,” says Rosenberry. Adds Levillain, “The feeling you get when you land a steezy trick gives you a great feeling of accomplishment.” Almost every winter weekend, the two participate in competitions at local resorts. “I try to do as many as I can in a season,” says Levillain, “and I strive to try new tricks every time I’m there.” While the competitions are mostly about having fun and learning new tricks for Levillain and Rosenberry, the two also enjoy the opportunity to win prizes. First prize can be anything from a $300 gift card to an expensive new snowboard. Occasionally, there will be an actual trophy for the winner, “but no one really cares for them,” says Rosenberry, “they just want the money or stuff.” The prizes depend on what company is sponsoring the competition, and what particular type of competition it is. The most common competition types are the rail jams and slopestyles. In a rail jam, the competitors can do tricks off of rails and boxes but no jumps. On the other hand, snowboarders in slopestyle competitions can do both jumps and tricks. Competitions are judged differently too—some use the best run of three, while others let you do unlimited runs in a set amount of time.

There’s also a special type of competition, called a pond skim, that takes place only once per resort every year. The competitors start at a certain point on a slope and have to speed up and try to make it across the surface of a pond. In order to eliminate people, the starting point gets lower and lower on the mountain to give the snowboarders less speed to get across. Not all of the snowboarders at these competitions are experienced and serious— some, like senior Adam Boussouf, go to them with hardly any practice or intentions of winning. “Every now and then you’ll get an Adam Boussouf in there,” says Rosenberry. “Adam had never hit a rail before in his life.” At one point, Boussouf fell off a 20-foot ski-lift—a testament to the dangers of hitting the slopes. In fact, calling snowboarding dangerous probably does not even do it justice. A myriad of sweet scrapes, cuts, and bruises generally accompanies a particularly nasty snowboarding fall. Over the years, Levillain has broken his wrist and Rosenberry has chipped his teeth, dislocated his shoulder, and sustained a concussion. “Moral of the story: don’t ever go without a helmet,” says Rosenberry. “I don’t really know why I started snowboarding,” says Rosenberry. “I might have just seen the X-Games and thought

it looked fun.” Since starting in sixth grade, he has improved his skills through snowboarding as much as possible. “I wouldn’t really call it practice, though, because practice is lame,” he says. Levillain has seen improvement come through his dedication and patience. “It takes a long time to get the hang of it,” he says. “I’ve been snowboarding for 6 years and I still take some pretty gnarly falls.” Still, he is certainly seeing all of his hard work paying off. He says, “When I go to college, I might even be able to get a few sponsorships or something.” Snowboarding is not the cheapest sport to take up. High quality boards may cost as much as $500, and the expenses of buying gear and ski passes can add up to another $400. The bottom line is that those Clockwise from top: Senior who want take the sport Bryan Levillain board-slides seriously should be on a rainbow rail at Ski Liberty willing to part with a terrain park in a five stopconsiderable amount action photos merged into one; of their cash. Senior Daniel Rosenberry tries Both of the to keep his balance on the rail; snowboarders feel that Levillain soars through the air; new people should take Rosenberry takes a 360 degree up the sport, provided turn off a jump; Levillain gets they are willing to put crucial air off a 44-foot jump. in the necessary time --photos by Ben Martin and effort. “I always try and convince people to start it up,” says Rosenberry. “Once you get past the phase of falling on your face every ten feet it’s actually really fun.”

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

NCAA Final Four predicted, UNC expected to take it all x by Jeremy McDonald After a long and arduous season, 65 schools have begun or will begin their road to the NCAA national championship today. On “Selection Sunday” there were very few surprises. It became obvious that the committee preferred teams from major conferences. It can be argued that St. Mary’s, Penn State, and Auburn all deserve to be in the big dance, but their non-conference schedules damaged their chances in the end. Two local teams, the Maryland Terrapins and the American University Eagles made it to the tournament with 10 and 14 seeds respectively. Maryland coach Gary Williams has proved all of his critics wrong by motivating his team, led by junior Greivis Vasquez, and turning around the Terrapins’ season. The Patriot League champion Eagles

are led by guards Garrison Carr and Derrick Mercer. Don’t expect either to advance far despite the accomplishments each team has made this season. The Midwest region of the NCAA bracket is led by overall number one seed the Louisville Cardinals. The #1 ranked Cardinals enter the tournament fresh after winning the Big East conference regular season and tournament. Although the Cardinals are hot, they are slated for a tricky matchup against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Wake Forest has a solid basketball team that has the ability to win big games. Expect Louisville to prove they are an outstanding basketball team and overcome the tight matchup. Their length on defense will cause the Michigan State Spartans problems. Pick: Louisville The West region is highlighted by the Connecticut Huskies, Memphis Tigers, Missouri Tigers and Maryland. Vasquez will

carry the Terps as they upset the California Golden Bears, but their road will end in the second round against Memphis. Meanwhile Missouri’s pressure defense will end Memphis’ season in the sweet sixteen. Missouri’s biggest test will come against Connecticut. I don’t believe the Huskies are a strong enough team mentally or at the free throw line to overcome this battle. Pick: Missouri The East Region includes a strong Pittsburgh Panthers team that will enter the tournament as a number 1 seed for the first time in school history. The team includes former Blake alum and All-Gazette second team player Jermaine Dixon (formerly known as Jermaine Cooper). Dixon helped the Bengals get to the 2004-05 state title game. Expect the Panthers to coast into a matchup between the winner of Duke Blue Devils vs. Villanova Wildcats. ‘Nova’s guards will prove too much for the Blue Devils, and

Four star athletes dominate poms, wrestling, track, swimming to become county champs

Silver Spring native Dante Cunningham will help the Wildcats against Pittsburgh. Pick: Villanova The South Region boasts pre-season favorite the North Carolina Tar Heels and possible NBA lottery pick Blake Griffin. Look for the Tar Heels to take care of business and make it to the Elite Eight easily. Griffin and the Oklahoma Sooners will have a much harder time with the potential game against the Clemson Tigers but ultimately, they will beat the Tigers. The Syracuse Orange and its zone defense will prove too much for the Sooners. In the end North Carolina will make it to the Final Four. Pick: North Carolina North Carolina and Louisville will play each other in the final where a healthy Ty Lawson will propel the Tar Heels and end the Cardinals dominance. National Champion Pick: North Carolina

Senior athletes earn top honors at competitions x by Nick Foley & Andrew Padgett What do a pool rat, a shot put queen, a wrestling prodigy and a dancing diva have in common? They’re the four Blake students who emerged as county champs this winter season. Senior Matt Stevens, who competed in multiple swimming events at Counties, snagged a first place win in the 100-yard freestyle after a close race. “I wanted to save some energy at the end,” he says, “which allowed me to catch up and out-touch the other guy.” Stevens also placed fourth in the 200-yard freestyle at Counties and later posted the fastest time in the county in that event at the Metros Championships. Adds Stevens, “I’ll still be swimming on my club team and in college, so the people are what I will really miss.” Senior Octavia King, who has performed well in shot put at past county tournaments, became a superstar when she won first place at the MCPS Indoor Track & Field Championship. “I was really happy to get [first place],” says King.

“It took a lot of work over the past four years and it’s really refreshing.” While King eventually defeated her equally determined opponents, “the competition was really tough,” she says. “I had to push myself…to get the place I wanted.” Senior Rasheim Smith has become a Blake legend, notching 100 career wins on his way to winning his second consecutive MCPS Wrestling Tournament Championship. Says Smith, “It feels good. Shocking, but good to know that I accomplished so much in just three years.” Smith, an ardent worker, not only won Counties but also placed first in the 112-pound weight class at the Maryland State Wrestling Championships. The Poms Squad also finished the year phenomenally with a first place victory at Counties and with senior captain Chelsea DeBernardis winning the dance competition between individual team captains. Says DeBernardis, “My initial reaction as captain and as a team member was pretty much that my senior year on Poms could not have been more perfect.”

Chelsea DeBernardis

Rasheim Smith

Octavia King

Matt Stevens

Write a senior will! will! First 20 words free, each additional word 5 cents

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Junior Tommy Cunningham demonstrates the experience and poise that scored him a spot on the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches Preseason All-

state team, the first Bengal ever to do so. Cunningham will likely play Division I college baseball. --photos by Jonathan Yuen

Talented preseason All-State ballplayer has bases covered x by Benuel Hostetter Junior Tommy Cunningham is the first Blake baseball player to be named to the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches Preseason All-State team in school history. “Receiving this award has meant a lot to me,” says Cunningham. “Being included with all those great players from around the state was really special.” Bengals baseball has a history of exceptional individual players and has had a team member named to either the Washington Post’s All-Met team or the Gazette’s All-Gazette team every year since the varsity team’s inception. Earning the starting spot at third base as a freshman, Cunningham had big shoes to fill as All-Met third-baseman Matt Schrader had graduated the previous spring. Cunningham struggled at the plate, batting .175. On the mound, however, he made good use of his appearances, garnering 19 strikeouts in

21 innings of pitching with an Earned Run Average of 1.70. As a sophomore, Cunningham came back to the batter’s box with a vengeance. He increased his batting average by .317 points from his freshman year, finishing with an impressive .492 average, 25 runs batted in, 17 runs, 29 total hits and two home runs. “Tommy works harder in the off-season than anybody I know,” says senior shortstop Jake Lorber. The Blake coaching staff doubled Cunningham’s innings in 2008 and he responded by posting even better numbers: a 1.51 ERA and 55 Ks in 42 innings of work. Cunningham’s success on the mound seems to run in the family. The junior is the current Blake record holder for career ERA; the player that is second in that category is his older brother, Kevin Cunningham, who graduated in 2001 and was named to the second team All-Met that spring. Kevin Cunningham earned a baseball scholarship to Xavier University after leading the Bengals to the 2A State

Buy unclassifieds!

Final in 2001. Tommy Cunningham is in the middle of the recruiting process and has been speaking with representatives from competitive NCAA Division 1 programs such as Virginia Tech, University of Indiana, and the University of Central Florida. Says Tommy’s father John Cunningham, “[Our] primary goal is to find the right school that fits his academic and social interests. Baseball will likely play a role in this but it shouldn’t be the only deciding factor.” The Cunningham patriarch played his high school ball at Springbrook and continued his baseball career at the University of Virginia. The junior is certainly looking to the future of his baseball career, but makes sure to stay grounded in the present. “Ultimately I would like to play at a Division 1 school and hopefully continue my baseball career at a higher level after college, but right now I am focused on winning a state championship in this upcoming season.”

Want your voice heard?

Send us a letter to the editor and publish your ideas! Letter must be between 50 and 150 words and signed. E-mail to: Kevin_N_Keegan@mcpsmd.org

Hey, parents! Own a business? Know someone who does? Spread the word: advertising with The Blake Beat is

AWESOME!

For more information, contact Kevin Keegan at Kevin_N_Keegan@mcpsmd.org.

March 20, 2009

The Blake Beat

Now Open! Come check it out!

toan

Soup, Smoothies, Summer Rolls, Iced Coffee

736 Cloverly Street Silver Spring, MD 301-879-TOAN (8626) www.toansoup.com

Watchmen wonderful for readers of graphic novel, may be confusing for others, p. E3

Section E

Blake Beat Fine Arts

March 20, 2009

Designers out to prove FasXion never goes out of style x by Melissa Goldberg With nine designers, 20 models, about 90 outfits and over four months of practice, tonight’s annual FasXion show will transform the auditorium into Bryant Park during New York City’s Fashion Week. Although the theme was announced prior to the show in past years, the club members have decided to further the anticipation by keeping the it a secret. Says

sophomore Designer President Brooke Mellish, “We have an all-new theme this year, different than every other year…[we] all thought it was an important aspect of the fashion world that FasXion (pronounced “Fashion X”) has not recognized yet.” The club has worked with the community to incorporate many new aspects into the show. Between acts, Blake’s Vurci Crew will be performing choreographed dances,

commentary will introduce each scene and the Blake technical crew will employ innovative lighting techniques. “It will look like more than a high school fashion show,” says Mellish. “Anyone who has been to a FasXion show knows that it is much more than that.” For the models and designers, the show will be a celebration of the hard work and long practices that have been essential to the show’s success. Says Model President Jan-

jay Davis, “The hardest thing…is having patience and not losing your mind or sanity because being with 20 different girls with 20 different attitudes; you have to be really patient and open to everything.” However, neither the models nor the designers will be able to relax until the lights dim and the music starts. “It’s that adrenaline rush that keeps me working so hard,” says Mellish, “because backstage, you can finally realize the night

you’ve been waiting for all year is here and it feels like a real fashion show, maybe better.” Adds sophomore model Kemi Olowoofayoku, “I am most excited for the first time I go out on the runway. I can’t wait to hear all of the screams and claps coming from my friends and family.” If you have not purchased your tickets already, tickets will be sold at the door for $10 each before the show starts at 7:30 pm.

Musical ensemble gives ‘em old razzle-dazzle with Jazz Swing Night Big Band tunes keep energy up, cafeteria hopping for hours

x by Tomiko Mason Turning a school cafeteria into a smooth jazz club is no easy feat, but the Eubie Blake Jazz Ensemble, accompanied by the Eubietones quartet, met that challenge last Friday and got the place jumping and jiving at the annual Jazz Swing Night. “Swing night isn’t one of those ‘come sit for two hours and listen and be quiet’ kinds of concerts,” says senior pianist Alex Taub. The performance included dinner and dancing for the audience while the band played two solid hours of jazz standards by composers like Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and George Gershwin. Over 25 pieces were practiced for the event, including three songs with vocal accompaniment. Says Taub, the music was “just good classic jazz that’s good for dancing.” “The performance was received unbelievably well,” adds senior quartet singer Samantha Kramer. “It was a full room and…there were tons of couples on the dance floor the whole evening.” The Eubietones quartet, led by chorus director Johnathan Dunn, featured seniors David Tuttle and Kramer, junior Jacob Perry, and sophomore Ashley Larkin. “There has been a lot of intense preparation,” says Larkin. “The music we [sang] has a lot of dissonant harmonies and we are all by ourselves on our part.” Adds Kramer, “For a while it seemed we would never get it together.” The Jazz Ensemble, directed by band teacher Brian Damron, prepared intensely for the evening’s show too. “We had a few night and weekend practices,” says senior Nathan Tucker. “Mr. Damron [tried] to work us really hard.” Mr. Damron himself played an alto sax solo. Adds Mr. Damron, “The whole night is magical. It is reminiscent of jazz clubs of the 20s and 30s, where dancing and having fun is key.” For Perry, the best part of the experience was “the sheer excitement of performing with the ensemble.” Adds Larkin, “Every single person in that band is so talented and it was so much fun working with them. “

Band director Brian Damron busts out a sassy saxophone solo at Jazz Swing Night. From top row, left: sophomores Marco Escobar and Zack Kaye; middle row: sophomores

Gordon Gregg and Nirajj Raju; bottom row: senior Stephen Klingner and sophomore Joshua Kennes get ready to join in the song.--photo by Arieyl Jones

Stage Company heads west, goes into new frontier with Oklahoma! x by Laura Brady Oklahoma, as a state, would have a hard time fitting in the auditorium. However, the musical Oklahoma! will fit perfectly as the Stage Company tries it on this spring. Set in 1906, when Native American territory is becoming Oklahoma, the show focuses on two stubborn lovers named Curley and Laurey, while a secondary love triangle takes place in the background. Says junior Jacob Perry, who plays Curley, “My favorite part of Oklahoma!, besides its enchanting musical score, is the way the characters and the setting… develop and

Lighthearted musical promises to be good time for audience, cast alike reveal more and more about themselves.” With only one month to get their act together, the Stage Company has to sacrifice a large chunk of their time. They practice from 2:30 to 5:00 every day after school until the first show. “Rehearsals the week before a show opens are usually the most time-consuming and physically demanding,” says junior Becky Joiner, who plays Ado Annie. Adds Perry, “The hours are long and

tedious but the rewards of our hard work will be sweet.” The transition from serious musicals like Les Miserables to the lighthearted Oklahoma! was hard for some of the cast to accept. “I think we can all agree that doing this show is going to be really fun to watch and also to perform.” says senior Lisa Staples, who also plays Ado Annie. “The musical promises to be just as technically stunning and musically entertaining

as anything else we’ve done.” “For a production to be successful, the cast and crew have to be fully committed to the rehearsal process,” says sophomore Ashley Larkin, who plays Laurey. This includes memorizing the musical score, the script, the blocking for scenes, and learning the dance numbers. They even have to learn a southern accent, which is new to many of the cast members. The show is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm April 24, 25, 26 and May 1 and 2. “Everyone is important to the production,” says sophomore Daniel Arias, who plays Ali Hakim. “If they all realize this, the show will be a smash.”

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

Dance Company is hard at work preparing for their final portfolios. Clockwise from left: senior Lynn Poe practices moves from her portfolio piece; junior Sara Nuttle, and seniors Sarah Kershner and Corinne Chapman perfect their group choreography; seniors Nicole Williams, Natasha Gordon, and Victoria Adesanmi get caught up in the movement of their piece. --photos by Steven Sites

Dance Company becomes storytellers through movement Portfolio project challenges students to choreograph professionally by Blaire Hoffman x & Leah Rich As choreographer Martha Graham once said, “Dance is the hidden language of the soul.” Dance Company is ready to tackle challenges of creating stories through dance and embodying the words of Ms. Graham. They will perform a solo and choreograph a group piece portraying their inspiration.

Dance teacher Danielle D’Anna says, “I look for dance pieces that are like an essay— telling a story, with an introduction, ending and description.” Ms. D’Anna created the portfolio project three years ago to get her students ready for the real world of dance and to teach self-expression. She adds, “[I look for] something unique, original, and creative.” Along with the solo and group pieces, the portfolio proj-

ect includes a résumé, headshot, two pictures of movement and a two page reflection. Junior Laura Treacy says, “This project gives us a little glimpse into the life of a professional dancer and choreographer.” Treacy is choreographing a lyrical dance for her solo and a fun jazz piece for her group. This is the second time senior Chelsea DeBernardis has completed this project. “It’s a really big challenge,” she says.

“But it’s so beneficial because each year we improve so much and learn from past years’ mistakes.” DeBernardis plans to pursue dance in college and will use this project as her résumé to show off knowledge and improvement through the years. Senior Danielle Barlow is benefiting from this project by seeing if this is the profession she is interested in. She is performing a jazz/lyrical solo. Barlow says, “I

enjoy being able to create and use my personal qualities and infuse them into choreography and performance.” Her hopes are to learn how to make original and organic choreography. This project allows the students to express themselves through their own movement rather than dancing to someone else’s choreography. Treacy says, “We learn to push past all of our insecurities and to just dance.”

New Future Shock DC members Deshler, Salas electrify audiences Troupe teaches freedom of expression with popping, locking styles x by Melissa Goldberg While they may not be starring in America’s Best Dance Crew, juniors Lauren Deshler and Valery Salas popped, locked, and dropped their way onto the dance company, Future Shock DC. A chapter of the company Culture Shock, Future Shock DC is a hip-hop dance troupe for 12 to 18 year-old youths. Both Salas and Deshler are especially attracted to the troupe’s focus on hip-hop

dance. Says Deshler, “There is so much freedom of expression. You get to play around with choreography and experiment with all styles of hip hop.” Adds Salas, “When you step into rehearsal you are not judged by who you are or how you dance. Everyone is in there to dance and dance only.” With four-hour practices at least once a week, both girls struggle to balance meeting the troupe’s demands with keeping up with their schoolwork. Says

Salas, “The hardest thing has to be trying to keep up with all the choreography when we learn three dances a practice and are expected to stay sharp and clean.” “When it gets down to crunch time,” adds Deshler, “you really start to feel the pressure… It can be a lot to handle on top of school work and other activities.” Although the group has not competed in any competitions, their dances are showcased at events like the Walk for the Homeless and the Cherry

Blossom Parade. After being with the group for two years, Deshler and Salas have grown to appreciate the opportunity to connect and form relationships with their fellow dancers. “[Future Shock DC] is like a second family.” says Deshler. “It provides a place to just get away from anything you’re dealing with…and just be around people you know you love and would do anything for you, as you would do for them.”

The Blake Beat

March 20, 2009

REVIEWS FOR YOU

Jonas warming up screens nationwide, baby x

by Hayley Steffen

So your summer sucked, your pet bunny rabbit Fluffy died, you had to work almost every day babysitting bratty kids, and worst of all you couldn’t get tickets to the infamous Jonas Brothers’ “Burning Up” Tour. Fortunately, you are in luck because now the Jonas Brothers are in theatres and IMAX with their new 3-D concert experience. The 3-D concert experience really is unique because not only do you get a chance to hear the Jonas Brothers play live, but you actually feel like you are at the concert. The special 3-D glasses you receive when you get to the movie allow you to feel like you are in the crowd and even on stage with the boys at times. The glasses allow cool special

effects like drum sticks and guitar picks flying in your face. Not only does the movie make it feel like you are really at the concert, but the crowd in the movie theater does as well, with people singing and clapping along to many of the Jonas Brothers’ catchy tunes. Of course a large majority of people in the theater may be under the age of 13, but that is beside the point. While the box office earnings in the first three days of the movie was not up to industry expectations, it still came in second with about $12.5 million to Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail. This was a disappointment to many because of all the hype surrounding the movie and expectations for the movie to bring in $30-40 million. The movie also fell short to last year’s similar Hannah Montana

experience. Along with the live concert, behind the scenes action is also included in the movie. Although it is cool to see what goes on behind the scenes, much of it seems scripted and forced. I’m sure much of the audience didn’t even notice, being in elementary school and all. But the movie simply proves that the JoBros should stick to their boy band image and ditch the acting. All and all the movie was effective in giving a good performance from the Jonas Brothers, but do not expect to be blown away by their acting skills. The special effects make it seem like you are in the front row or in the massive crowd of glow sticks. If you miss the movie which is in theaters for a limited time, it is sure to be on the Disney Channel soon.

Hayley Steffen

Paper Towns’ fast-paced plot captivates, moves reader xby Christina deGraft-Johnson

Christina deGraft-Johnson

As the old adage says, you never really know someone until you walk a mile in their shoes. But if you’re Quentin Jacobsen, it would be a walk in their clues. Paper Towns by John Green is a cleverly-written novel that addresses the issue of identity by following the lives of seemingly unrelated characters. Quentin is in love with the most popular and beautiful girl in his high school, Margo Roth Spiegelmen, who has been his next door neighbor since they were two. As they grow up, their lives take two divergent paths. When Margo pressures Quentin into going on an adventure of epic pro-

portions with her, his life changes for what he knows will be the better. With a night filled with catfish, blue spray paint, and SeaWorld, Quentin returns to school with a newfound confidence. However, Margo never makes it back. At this moment, the book starts to really take off. Where did Margo go and why? And will her latest disappearance be as crazy and unreal as her past ones? As you follow the clues that Margo has left, you and Quentin find that Margo really isn’t who you thought she was. The idea that Margo is a spontaneous, impulsive and happy-go-lucky person goes out the door once we discover that she would often travel to abandoned

locations to be alone. This book is a very fast read, but the impact it leaves is phenomenal. Not only do you follow the transformation of the characters, but you, yourself, are transformed and are more aware of your identity and of those around you. The only disappointing aspect of this book, however, is how far in the climax is. After reading and getting so attached to Margo, you just want to know what happened to her. And once you find out, the book just sort of ends. After becoming close friends with these characters, you never really know where their lives are headed. But all in all, the book is such a good read. Everyone should pick up a copy and enjoy.

Be wary watching Watchmen without reading first Despite complex narrative, film is faithful adaptation x

by Erin Washburn

If you want to watch the Watchmen, I would suggest you pick up the graphic novel— not only because it’s one of the best graphic novels of all time, but also because otherwise you might not know what’s going on. Director Zach Snyder waxes rhapsodic in his film adaptation of this groundbreaking superhero story. Entire scenes are taken from the book line by line, frame by frame; the novel acts as the film’s storyboard. Unfortunately, this means that the film’s narrative is just as confusing as its source’s. If you’re not familiar with Alan Moore’s storyline, especially regarding Dr. Manhattan and his perception of time, you might find yourself confused as to why we’re suddenly examining

the Comedian’s exploits in Vietnam, or why we constantly hear the first Silk Spectre crying, “I was a hero, goddammit!” However, if you are familiar with Watchmen, you’ll find the movie to be fantastic. Although the Tales of the Black Freighter subplot has been cut and the ending has been changed, the plot is otherwise adapted nearflawlessly from page to screen. Performance-wise, no one could have been more perfect for the chilling vigilante Rorschach than Jackie Earle Haley. From his gritty voice to his scrawny build, it seems that Haley was born to play this role, and he does so with an exquisite understanding of the character’s fatalistic motivations and of his animalistic nature. Conversely, it boggles my mind that

anyone thought Malin Akerman could handle this movie, even as the “femme fatale” Silk Spectre II. Almost every scene she’s in falls flat. Even when she’s crying in heartbroken anguish, she manages the emotional depth of a stereotypical valley girl. Frankly, I think the only reason she was cast is because she can fake an orgasm. In this movie, that talent is important; the sex is graphic. Very graphic. In fact, most things about this movie are graphic, to the point of distraction. When Nite Owl II and Silk Spectre II are snapping limbs during a critical interview with Dr. Manhattan, the viewer may miss an key plot point. Regardless, Watchmen is marvelous. If you haven’t read it, you’re in for a bumpy ride, but if you have, sit back and enjoy.

Erin Washburn

Recent series Lie to Me seems intriguing but flawed

Truth be told, new FOX drama may lack sustainability x by Justin Pereira

Justin Pereira

How can we tell if a person is lying to us? I mean, without the aid of any sophisticated equipment. And when the perpetrator is especially adept at fabricating lies. Impossible, right? No, it’s easy: the answer is on all of our faces. Dr. Cal Lightman of FOX’s new TV series Lie to Me is an expert in the science of spotting deception. All he needs is a good look at the person in question; that person’s unconscious body signals—sweating, diverted eye contact, miniscule facial expressions, etc.—will take care of the rest. With his unique acuity for identifying dishonesty, he assists law enforcement and government agencies in solving high-profile crimes. Well, the series’ premise is certainly interesting. And it is made even more so when you consider that it is based on the

real-life work and findings of psychologist Paul Ekman. So while the show may not be free from all the clichés of its kind, it is not bad at all—and certainly better than most of the other ones you’ll find on TV. Lie to Me’s plusses include strong performances from its core group of actors, generally intriguing plot twists in every episode, and—my personal favorite— frequent connections to real-life politician and celebrity liars. In one instance of this, Dr. Lightman perfectly matches up the facial expression of Bill Clinton’s famous fib (“I did not have sexual relations with that woman!”) to that of one of the show’s liar. Pictures of George Bush and Simon Cowell abound to demonstrate expressions of “contempt.” It’s pretty hilarious to see such fitting links to our most ridiculed pop icons.

My commendation of the show has substantial limitations, though. Most importantly, I am concerned about Lie to Me’s sustainability. How long will the writers be able to keep it engaging? After all, this isn’t the first show we’ve seen about a brilliant guy who can spot microscopic clues (Monk, House, Psych, The Mentalist…the list goes on). My fear is that it’s only a matter of time before we get tired of seeing Lightman bust liars and then explain how he did it. So tune in if you’re up for a relatively entertaining, if unoriginal, mystery thriller that pokes fun at human behavior. I’m not going to lie to you (no pun intended), it won’t be the best show you’ve ever seen. But maybe it’ll help you spot all the liars in your life. If this show is any indication of reality, there are more of them out there than you might think.

March 20, 2009

The Blake Beat