Vol. 54, Issue 4 December 15, 2015 Oak Grove High School www.thewarriorbeat.com
INSIDE
THE WARRIOR BEAT
See Ya at State By: Lauren Parker, Staff Reporter, @laurenparker24
The award-winning Oak Grove Theatre Department presented its n e w e s t show See Ya at the Savoy on November 12, 2015. The show, an original by director and arts teacher Suzanne Allmon, tells the story of Lily, a young southern girl from Georgia, played by Brianna Weiss, who starts swing dancing at the Savoy Ballroom Attention in South Harlem, New Hattiesburgers: York. She and her NEW EATERIES> PG 2 dance partner Jimmy, played by Tony Reimonenq, soon find Table for one themselves concentratSINGLE AND ing less on the dancSECURE > PG 4 ing and more on their feelings for each other. The only issue with the two “lindy-hopper lovers” is Jimmy’s being African-American in the year 1939 when the country was experiencing racial turmoil. But even though the couple faced trying and unfavorable OG gives back circumstances, the performance PHILANTHROPIC demonstrates FUN > PG 2 how true love will always prevail. Merry Christmas? See Ya at the Savoy is directed SEEING RED (AND by Suzanne AllGREEN) > PG 5 mon with the help of Laura Jackson and student director Elizabeth Magee. Allmon decided to write the play for the twentieth anniversary of the beginning of the department. “My first love has always been dance. I had looked for a show Local vocals about swing dance in the THE DLX & GROOVY past and couldn’t find anyNOONOO > PG 9 thing really, so I started
Tis the season:
A NOT-SO-HOLIDAY MOVIE GUIDE > PG 10
Cowan Wars THE FORCE AWAKENS >
Best of 2015 REVIEW >
PG 11 PG 10
EAGLEPALOOZA
doing some research and came across the Savoy Ballroom and the Lindy Hoppers. I knew that I had to write this show. I felt that I had the right students who could really make this story come to life, so I knew I had to write it for this group,” said Allmon. The Savoy Ballroom, which was in operation from 1926 to 1958, was a popular dance club where the color of one’s skin was not judged, just the skill of one’s dance. The site of the creation of the Lindy Hop, the Savoy was the dance space for an elite group of dancers coined Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. Each year, the space hosted the Harvest Moon Ball where the Lindy Hoppers could demonstrate their talent, and this festival and group of dancers are shown in the performance. The show also distinguishes itself from past productions in that it is the first to be performed at the new OGHS Performing Arts Center, which opened its doors at the beginning of this school year.
SUZANNE ALLMON PHOTOS
See Drama on PG2
By: Hannah Lee Staff Reporter @hanblanklee
Nearly everyone is familiar with one of Hattiesburg’s largest and most anticipated annual events: Eaglepalooza. It took off in 2004 but (to no one’s surprise) has grown in multitude to nearly 10,000 in recent years. Past artists have included Gavin DeGraw, We the Kings, and Phillip Phillips. This year, the line-up included Figure 8, and Echosmith, and local band the DLX. Despite the freezing weather, Eaglepalooza most certainly spiked in attendance. The DLX (consisting of lead singer Shawn Chambliss, electric guitarist Ethan Manning, drummer Mark Wheat and keyboardist Joy See Eaglepalooza on PG2
THE DLX Shawn Chamblis of The DLX hypes the crowd at Eaglepalooza during his set opening for Echosmith.
SHAWN CHAMBLIS PHOTO
2 news
coming
UP Soccer vs Petal December 17
Soccer @ Oxford December 18 Basketball Christmas Tournament December 18 Christmas Holidays December 19-January 4
December 15, 2015
Hattiesgrubbers: New burg eateries The restaurant selection in Hattiesburg is about to get a tasty expansion. As most of you are aware, Little Caesars is opening a new location in the old Bops location next to Keith’s gas station on Old Hwy 11. It is set to open in mid December 2015. Robert St. John is also opening a new restaurant. Ed’s Burger Joint is opening in the old Little Tokyo restaurant next to Cres-
Basketball vs W. Jones January 6 Basketball @ Meridian January 8
Soccer @ Gulfport January 9 Soccer vs PCS January 11 Basketball vs Brandon January 12 Soccer vs Meridian January 12 Basketball @ Petal January 15 Soccer @ Brandon January 15
Oak Grove gives back: Philanthropic fun
By: Katie Williams Staff Reporter @kt_williams_
Oak Grove has dozens of extracurricular afterschool activities for anyone interested in almost any hobby at our school. Among them are the clubs that participate in the community and help others. Beta club has recently taken up items such as toys and clothes for the Christmas tree Shoebox Operation, and Civitan is constantly raising money to donate to the Abbie Rogers Civitan Camp. Key Club just benefitted the community by collecting canned foods and also
Drama
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Mesquite Fajita Factory will move in the old Mellow Mushroom building. They are expected to open in mid-December.They intend to keep the same idea of an open kitchen as mellow mushroom. They will offer healthy options such as Mesquite Grilled Angus Ribeye Ranchero, Chicken Chorizo, and Fajita Factory Chicken Pasta Bake. On the other side of healthy, the dessert menu will offer chocolate dipped key lime pie, strawberry stuffed churros, and mango changos.
MYCAH KENNEDY PHOTOS
Soccer @ Ocean Springs January 5
Soccer @ Laurel January 8
cent City Grill located on Hardy Street. The menu is nothing flashy. They will offer a variety of burgers, hotdogs, appetizers, salads, and desserts. The atmosphere at the restaurant will be very family friendly. It will include indoor and outdoor seating, and will also include yard games. They hope to open around the week of January the 4, 2016. Next, on Hwy 98 Panda Express opened on Friday, November 27. They will offer many favorites such as sweet and sour chicken and sesame chicken. The Manola
By: Alec Hudson Staff Reporter @AlecHudson13
Caitlin Leiva, senior and four-year Oak Grove thespian said, “Being a part of the Oak Grove Theatre Department has always been an absolute pleasure and one of my favorite activities to participate in during my high school career. For so long, we have only had Mrs. A’s black box classroom and the OG Primary PAC as our performance venues; so now, to have our own auditorium to perform in is absolutely amazing and beyond compare. We are so thankful to finally have a beautiful facility to call our home. I feel so honored to be a part of Oak Grove Theatre’s first performance in the new auditorium!” The troupe competed
beat’s bits
helping with Pancake Day downtown to serve people a nice, warm breakfast and to promote the Senior Key Club, the Kiwanis. The National Honor Society is raising money by selling candy cane treats and sending the money to the Angel Tree Christmas Child Program. NHS plans to have many more service projects in January. The Thespian Society is also collecting money and items to donate to the Angel Tree Child Operation. Our school has many more opportunities for us to lend a hand in our community, and we should take full advantage of all the amazing life lessons we can learn from them.
Continued from PG1 with See Ya at the Savoy at the South Mississippi Drama Festival on December 4 and 5. The cast was awarded: Allstar Cast - Brianna Weiss, Best Actor - Tony Reimonenq, Best Supporting Actor - Jermaine VanBuren, Best Choreography, Judges Choice Award - Andrew Sisters, Peer Choice Award, and the Glen Menna Overall Theatrical Experience. They advanced to the state competition in January.
Eaglepalooza
Wheat) opened the show with a cover of Drake’s “Hotline Bling”, to which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. The band recently announced an upcoming EP and gave the audience a sneak peek through an upbeat, fresh mix of songs. In tribute to Paris, they performed a heartfelt cover of Coldplay’s Fix You, and more than a few tears were shed in the nearly silent crowd. Their new single, “Wake Me Up,” drifted away from the more somber tone and returned the crowd to its prior energetic state. The DLX’s performance was a vibrant dynamic and certainly unforgettable. Figure 8, a cover band from Mobile, Alabama,
NEWS
Colorado Planned Parenthood Shooting
Two civilians and a police officer were killed on Friday, November 27 at a planned parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The gunman, Robert Lewis Dear, has been charged with first-degree murder and faces a minimum of life in prison, and a maximum of the death penalty. Sources say that Dear appeared at the clinic carrying duffel bags full of handguns and assault rifles. The police have not yet found a motive for this serious crime, but the case is gathering new evidence daily.
Waffle House shooting
On Friday, November 27 at a Waffle House in Biloxi, a waitress, Julie Brightwell, was fatally shot in the head. The suspect, Johnny Max Mount, pulled out a handgun and fired at the waitress over a dispute about smoking in the restaurant. After firing the fatal shot, Mount walked into the parking lot, removed the pistol, set it on a white Toyota Tacoma truck, and then walked back inside the restaurant to use the restroom. He was charged with first-degree murder.
Continued from PG1
conducted a few, lively songs and carried a bright energy that tied the crowd over to the headliner. Echosmith went above and beyond the crowd’s expectations and even went as far to bring a couple of audience members onto the stage. Junior Bailey Walters was one of the lucky two and danced with the electrifying band. After a few well-received quips, the set was over, and Eaglepalooza came to an end. The event always seems to measure up to Hattiesburg residents’ standards, and we cannot wait to see what next year will bring.
By: Alec Hudson | Staff Reporter | @AlecHudson13
Amazon Prime Air
Amazon prime air is the continued plan of Amazon’s drone delivery service. The concept was released for the first time in December of 2013. Prime air is a future delivery service that will deliver packages up to 5 pounds to your home or office in under thirty minutes. To comply with the FAA’s regulations, the drones will not fly over 400 feet in the air, they will weigh less than 60 lbs., and will have “sense and avoid” technology so they can fly over 10 miles from the drone center.
December 15, 2015
Warrior football season comes to an end By: Drew Herring Staff Reporter @drew_herring2
On Friday, November 21, the Warrior football team traveled to Meridian to take on the Wildcats to qualify for the South State championship game. With their state championship hopes riding on this one round of the playoffs, the Warriors were determined to score early and often, and they did not take very long to get their offense clicking as they scored on just the second play from scrimmage led by senior signal-caller Alex Ward; however, the Wildcats were as well seeing as how this game quickly became a bit of a shootout between the two teams. The score at halftime was 2113 in favor of the Wildcats, but the Warriors adjusted in their locker room. Soon after coming out in the third quarter, Ward connected with receiver Jordan Duncan down the field for a 76-yard touchdown strike, bringing the Warriors within one point of the Wildcats. Following this, Meridian came back strong with senior quarterback
On December 5, both of the Oak Grove soccer teams traveled to Laurel to play in a tournament. The lady Warriors kicked off the tournament by playing Madison Central. The game was close from the start, but Madison Central pulled out the 3-2 victory. Madison Central had a multiple game streak of shutting out its opponents which came to an end at the hands of the lady Warriors. The following day, the Warriors played St. Andrew’s, another tough opponent. The game was close before the lady Warriors caught fire and ended up winning 4-1. Their next game came later that day against Northeast Jones. The Warriors played with confidence and were led by sophomore forward Lonnie Mul-
WARRIORS FALL TO THE WILDCATS The Warrior defense stands tall to sack Tray Warren.
Tray Warren leading the Wildcats down the field and eventually passing for a score. As the Warriors’ offense again took the field, this time down by 8 points, Ward found his favorite receiver Jordan Duncan again for a 34-yard touchdown with 11:40 left to play in the 4th quarter, but they would miss the two-point conversion, bringing the score to 28-26. Warren, who had 4 touchdown passes in the game, again led his team down the field and added a rushing touchdown on a 5-yard run. The Warriors would go on to get
MARY MORGAN GRATWICK PHOTO
the ball back and kick a field goal, making the score 35-29 in favor of the Wildcats. The Warriors’ defense stopped the Wildcats and forced a punt. However, this drive would not end so well for the Warriors, as the Wildcats would come up with a clutch interception to seal the game. Coach Drew Causey in his first season as head coach led his team to the playoffs and maintained a 10-3 regular season record, and the Warriors are determined to come back after the offseason even better.
ligan who scored 3 straight goals. The final score was 3-2 in favor of the Warriors, bringing their record to 8-1-1. The boys team began their tournament on Friday with a dominating 4-0 win over St. Martin. Saturday, they played a talented team from Resurrection High School, and after a hard fought game, the Warriors came out with a 1-0 loss. The team did not allow this loss to bring them down though, as they soundly defeated Picayune 3-1. Junior Marin, senior, Enrique Marques, senior, led the team in scoring. After this tournament, the boys team has a record of 5 wins and 5 losses. Both teams are extremely talented and have yet to play their best soccer this season. They both have tough schedules, but the teams have proven that they are capable of defeating any team they may face.
WARRIOR SOCCER DOMINATES FIELD
HUNTER FORD PHOTO Seniors LT Massey and Junior Marin skillfully maneuver the ball down the field in an attempt to add points to the scoreboard.
College football bowl games By: Alec Hudson Staff Reporter @AlecHudson13
The regular season for college football has finally come to an end, but don’t get too sad yet because it’s bowl season!! For 80 football teams, their dreams of continuing to play an extra game has come true, and for 4 lucky teams, they get to compete in the playoffs for the national championship. Clemson, Alabama,
Michigan State, and Oklahoma are the 4 teams. USM made a bowl game for the first time in 3 years, Ole Miss has made their fourth consecutive bowl game in 4 years, and Mississippi State is making their sixth consecutive bowl appearance in 6 years. These are the bowl games that you should be paying attention too. The Heart of Dallas Bowl; Washington Vs. Southern Miss December 26, Texas Bowl; Texas Tech Vs. LSU December 29, Belk Bowl; NC
beat’s bits Rousey Takes a Fall
RAPETTI’S SPORTS CORNER
By: Christian Rapetti Staff Reporter @c_rapetti
Soccer season strong start
By: Drew Herring Staff Reporter @drew_herring2
sports 3
State Vs. Mississippi State December 30, Peach Bowl; Florida State Vs. Houston December 31, Orange Bowl; Clemson Vs. Oklahoma December 31, Cotton Bowl; Alabama Vs. Michigan State December 31, Sugar Bowl; Oklahoma State Vs. Ole Miss January 1, Rose Bowl; Iowa Vs. Stanford January 1, and Fiesta Bowl; Notre Dame Vs. Ohio State January 1. The last few weeks of the College Football season are among us. Enjoy them wholeheartedly.
SPORTS
On November 14th, former UFC Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey received her first loss in her UFC career to the new Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm. This fight was arguably the biggest upset in the history of the sport. Rousey was knocked out at the start of the second round by a kick to the head from Holm while Rousey was on her knees. “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey now has one loss on her permanent UFC record while Holm remains undefeated.
Kobe Bryant Retirement
Kobe Bryant, arguably one of the biggest stars in basketball history, announced his retirement from the sport on Sunday. Bryant is retiring after his 20th season in the NBA, bringing an end to one of the most decorated careers in athletics. He has been saying that this season would likely be his last but he has made his decision, announcing his retirement through a poem. Basketball will be saying goodbye to a tremendous athlete.
For this edition of Sports Corner, I am going to talk about the current NBA season and my predictions for this year. Basketball is in full swing and even though the season has just begun, history has already been made by the reigning champions, the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors broke the record for the best start of any team in NBA history. The previous record was a 15-0 start and it was held by the 1948-1949 Washington Capitols and the 1993-1994 Houston Rockets. The Warriors have currently set the record at 23-0 but it looks like they will be raising the bar even more with their upcoming schedule. On the other end of the court, no pun intended, is the Philadelphia 76ers who have broken the record with the worst start of any team in NBA history with a record of 0-16. The previous record was held by the 20092010 New Jersey Nets and the 76ers have also extended their record with 28 straight losses, so I guess you could say they are having a jaw dropping, record breaking season. In my opinion, at least they are consistent. I think I should get a bet going on whether the Warriors will get to 70 wins before the 76ers get to 70 losses. On that note, it is time to talk about my predictions. Clearly, I am choosing the Warriors to take home the title this year. That being said, I have the Cavaliers to take the Eastern Conference and to face the Warriors in the championship game. Too bad for the Cavaliers that I think their title chances this year are as nonexistent as Lebron’s hairline. Drop the mic.
By: Christian Rapetti | Staff Reporter |
@c_rapetti
Rutgers Fires Coach
Rutgers announced Sunday that they have fired their head football coach Kyle Flood and athletic director Julie Hermann. With Flood’s 27-24 record for the past four seasons, the firings were not surprising to the public. The assistant head coach, Norries Wilson, will serve as Flood’s temporary replacement until a new coach is found. Patrick Hobbs has been hired to replace Herman as athletic director.
4 opinion
By: Lucy Pruitt Editor @LucyLu_too
A humanitarian crisis, a welcoming government, an unwelcoming people, and an obviously faulty program that seems doomed from the beginning--none of this was a choice, but did we really expect the United States federal government to deal with it intelligently? Not to be a pessimist, of course. There have been a lot of rumors surrounding the United States’ acceptance of potentially 70,000 Syrian refugees. The federal government claims it has outstanding security clearance on each refugee, so terrorists could not possibly enter the country. And you know, we should probably trust them. After all, the government never lies to us, no need to be afraid of a Syrian Refugee Flood-“gate.” The resettlement plan for the refugees covers cost of living and expenses for all Syrian refugees for the first three months in the United States. After arrival, they’re given a
government funded plane ticket to another part of the country that must be “repaid.” There is no long-term subsidized housing, just a $1000 stipend to spend during the first three months on “affordable” and “suitable” apartment living, but refugees are responsible for paying rent as normal tenants after three months. And while all of this plan sounds humanitarian and sensible, we must keep in mind that one of the other aspects to these provisions is that the American government will not track the refugees after they arrive. Which led me to wonder, if we do not track them, how are we supposed to enforce the “pay-back” of the plane ticket? And how are these refugees expected to be able to get jobs that can support their families? Are these Syrians going to be paying taxes? Not unless they become citizens, and, let’s be honest, they won’t because they’re refugees, not immigrants. So will they apply for government aid? Probably. And, once again, none of this is the Syrians’ faults, and yes, it is necessary
we help, but this has been so poorly thought out. And last but far from least, we have nearly 50,000 homeless veterans who fought for this country and its rights to continue being a leader in the world. If we can resettle 70,000 Syrian refugees now, why could we not have resettled 50,000 honorably entitled veterans years before this crisis. I understand the need to lend a--rather large--helping hand, but once again, the Obama Administration has let its country down.
Table for one: Single and secure
By: Katie Williams Staff Reporter @kt_williams_
The label “single” doesn’t have to be attributed to being in a relationship. No, what I want to touch on is the complete nonsense of our generation’s need to be with someone constantly. Nowadays, no one wants to be single in any situation. Teenagers instantly associate single with a negative connotation when, in reality, single doesn’t always equate to being lonely or sad as we automatically assume. Now we all know that couples can barely handle a one class apart without scouring the halls for each other to try to squeeze in some ‘meaningful’ talk for a whole two minutes before the tardy bell, but when you can’t walk into the football stadium or to the bathroom by yourself, that’s when being clingy takes on a whole new meaning. Today, even guys won’t go somewhere without their “fam” included in the fun. Guys and girls alike strongly refuse to go anywhere alone. As much as I love hanging out with my friends,
I personally would rather have time to myself once in awhile. This crazy psychological mindset has been created by young people not having the desire to meet new individuals. What happened to the joy of making new friends? No one can walk into a party alone, and people will go so far as to wait for someone they know for thirty minutes outside to feel more secure. If anything this irrational idea only makes you look more INsecure. To always want the attention and comfort of someone by your side creates self-doubt within yourself and increases your declining chances of being stable by yourself. Our generation has lost the selfconfidence to build friendships on their own without feeling vulnerable and awkward. This illogical idea that being surrounded by people boosts confidence contrasts so differently with our society’s reputation of being independent and responsible. We are supposed to be self-sufficient when all we show to our elders is our growing need for someone, anyone, to be near us constantly. I hope that this fear of apprehension fades
What is it about the New Year’s that somehow motivates people all around the country to make promises to themselves that they will be better, hotter individuals in 2016? Perhaps it is Ryan Seacrest’s television ready face counting down the final seconds of 2015 that motivates women to embark upon trial free gym memberships. Perhaps it is the Statue of Liberty’s sonnet which, if I am correct, says something along the lines of, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to have perfect summer bods.” But you know, to be entirely honest, I think that it is quite odd that New Year’s is the time during which people most are motivated to change. If you ask me, the moment that should most motivate America’s masses is December 8th at 9/10 central (the premiere of the Victoria’s Secret fashion show), but what do I know? If you are anything like me, your
New Year’s resolutions always run a bit askew. You are more than motivated to be better this time. You want to start eating healthy, run more, and spend less time immersed in the mind numbing and static world of social media and catch up with your mother or whatever. You are going to go to Walmart, buy out the entire frozen food section which supplies the town with off brand Lean Cuisine, you are going to run maybe one or two times, and then you are going to reluctantly accept the less than angelic body that your two weeks of death defying hard work left you with. See, the problem that I have with New Year’s resolutions is that we have the ability to invoke change in ourselves literally 365 days of the year, and so if we decide to hold off changing for the better until New Year’s, then we must not have cared all too much about changing in the first place. Whenever we decide to hold off improving ourselves for some relatively arbitrary day on a calendar that the ancient Mayans decided on 2000 years ago, does
INTERNET PHOTO
INTERNET PHOTO
as we grow older and more self-assured, but the fact is that if we continue on in this vicious cycle of need, we will only cultivate more uncertainties and doubts within ourselves. So don’t feel the need to have someone attached to your hip all the time. Be independent and self-reliant. Challenge yourself to hold your head high next time you walk into a football game without your friends. Go to church camp, attend a concert by yourself, make new friends and show that you are self-poised and in charge of your life.
Resolving to keep your resolutions
By: Abby Nguyen Staff Reporter @2busybeingabby
OPINION
Humanitarian action, horrendous outcome
December 15, 2015
the ridiculousness of making New Year’s resolutions begin to become clear. They were not right about the end of all times and they cannot decide when you finally want to make a change that matters to you. It is no wonder that people always end up breaking their own New Year’s resolutions. All of the longterm changes that I have ever made in my life have never fallen on New Year’s. They are the kind of changes that I decided to make the moment I realized I had a problem.
THEWARRIORBEAT The views and opinions expressed on this page are of an editorial nature and do not necessarily represent the views of The Warrior Beat staff, advisers, school faculty, or administrators of Oak Grove High School or the Lamar County School District. Oak Grove High School 5198 Old Highway 11 Hattiesburg, MS 39402 601.264.7232 www.oakgrovehighschool.org
EDITORS Lucy Pruitt Abby Nguyen STAFF REPORTERS Christian Rapetti Noah Farrar Alyssa Bass Hannah Lee Grace Wilkes Mozingo Drew Herring Lauren Parker Katie Williams Alec Hudson DESIGNER Elizabeth Magee PHOTOGRAPHERS Mary Morgan Gratwick Mycah Kennedy ADVISER Simmons
opinion 5
December 15, 2015
Merry Christmas is fine. By: Lucy Pruitt Editor @LucyLu_too
I honestly struggled to begin this editorial for days because I was worried about how my words would come across to some readers or if my true opinion was too harsh to publish. But then I realized: the exact concept I am worried about is the exact issue that I am trying to word. Political correctivity. Because as of late, apparently opinions and freedom of speech are only acceptable if you do not contradict anyone else’s opinions. This social epidemic has become so tiring, it’s probably the reason people like Donald Trump, who will say anything to get attention, are so popular. People are tired of shallow language that beats around the bush of declaration and lives in fear of being persecuted by others who fancy themselves social activists. This exact issue has even pushed its way into my favorite holiday season. To the classic, traditional, and meaningful “Merry Christmas” some wish to say goodbye only to say hello to the vague, but politically correct, “happy holidays.” I find it interesting that these two words
can stir up so much controversy; even Donald Trump has to speak in full sentences to get a rise out of people. But really though, no matter what holiday, if any at all, you celebrate this time of year, Christmas is and always will be a holiday on the calendar. Workers will be let off work, people will put icicle-like lights on their houses, and Hobby Lobby will have glitter and stockings spilling out of its doors for weeks. Regardless of what you believe, Christmas is a day on the calendar, and that is something from which you cannot escape. So when I say “Merry Christmas” all I really mean is “have a happy day on the calendar that I celebrate.” After all, Christmas’s opposite holiday is Hanukkah, but if a Jewish person told me in December to have happy Hanukkah, I wouldn’t be offended. Actually, that’s a whole eight days they want me to be happy; how nice of them. It is really time for people to put their grown up pants on and stop getting offended by harmless wishes of good cheer. So in honor of no political correctness this holiday season: I wish a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Happy Kwanza/Hannuka/or anything else you celebrate.
Happy Holidays is mine. By: Abby Nguyen Staff Reporter @2busybeingabby
In a world full of pretentious, politically over-correct, nuisances, it can be easy, tempting even, to just throw away the very concept of being politically correct at all just to spite those who are constantly itching to correct you. With politically correct Crusaders flinging their two cents all over the darned place, we have to choose which battles to fight very carefully, and I would argue that the Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas argument is well worth waging. In the United States, there are myriads of holidays that happen to occur on the same day as Christmas, and I will admit that while outlining this article, I googled “satanic holidays that happen on Christmas” because I wanted to make a point. That point being that if a Satanist walked up to you and wished you a “Happy Walpurgis Day” while jovially ringing a hollowed out animal skull with bells inside of it, you would be pretty offended. But then I realized that Satanists are pretty difficult to sympathize with and that I had better choose another religion with which to make my point. The biggest reason why
you or anyone really should wish people “Happy Holidays” is that it is just more considerate. When looking at situations that are religiously and politically charged, it can be difficult to side with the wronged. For example, in a Mississippi town, there was outrage about tax money being spent to erect Jesus statues, and on the surface, there does not appear to be anything wrong with this. Upon closer inspection though, there is something very much wrong. When you are part of the majority, you are not as aware of the struggle of the minority. Majorities do not always understand how much the little shows of majority bias affect religious, racial, or gender minorities. All in all, when we say “Merry Christmas” we unintentionally suppress the religious observances of others. “Happy Holidays” is a way to say “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah,” “Happy Kwanza,” or just “Hey, enjoy this holiday season.” Originally, I wanted to comment on the age old war between “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays,” but now I think that the answer is more than obvious. “Happy Holidays” is a purposefully vague statement that allows the recipient to take it as they want.
pgrade or dow grade?
By: Alyssa Bass | Staff Reporter | @sassyaly_
I have never been a college football fan or an expert in the game, but I also thought it was common knowledge that Southern Miss was average when it came to playing football, which made me wonder why people even bothered going to the games and cheering “Southern Miss to the top,” when they were actually at the bottom of the totem pole. However, I have recently noticed that Southern Miss is stepping its game up. On November 28, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles won 58 to 24 against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Their domination earned them a spot to play in the Conference USA game against Western Kentucky, which ended in an unfortunate loss, but was a great season for the Golden Eagles.
Southern Miss Actually Going to the Top! upgrade
downgrade Goodbye Football Season
I hate to bring this up, but there is no denying that our football team not advancing to the MHSAA Football 6A Championships is disappointing. After losing to Meridian 35-29 on November 20, the Warrior Football Team will no longer be competing for the title. Although I was not at the game, I cringed when I found the final score on Twitter and was upset that I missed,unknowingly at the time, our last game of the year. However, I knew that our players were the most devastated and instantly felt sorry for them. Thankfully, students and teachers have acknowledged the boys’ great season and still genuinely say, “We got your back.”
Just when I was starting to believe that public school was a joke and all of its students were a lost cause, my hope was restored when Niche, a website that ranks K-12 schools and colleges based on parent and student reviews as well as other standards, ranked Oak Grove High School second in the state. We excelled in almost every category, earning A rankings in academics, administration and policies, educational outcomes, resources and facilities, student culture and diversity, and teachers. Thanks to Niche, I no longer doubt that our school is anything less than amazing.
Coming in Second Isn’t So Bad upgrade
downgrade Expressing Disgust for Panda Express
After months of anticipation, Panda Express has opened near Target, and I have to say that I am anything but impressed. The rice and chicken taste like rubber, making Panda Express possibly the most obviously unauthentic Chinese food I have ever had. I should have never listened to the hype because all it did was let me down. Also, let us not forget that we already have a plethora of Chinese places in Hattiesburg. While it was nice to have the chance to try food from the over-hyped restaurant, I think I’ll stick to eating Chinese food from J&J Cajun Grill in the mall.
December 15, 2015 77
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Merry christmas ya filthy animal While most people are so anxious to know what “Santa’s” presents are that they wake up at 3am, peek into the living room, and then are exhausted for the entire day (me!), others sleep in and actually strive to be productive throughout the day. Chayann Lambert says, “The men in the family go hunting in the morning as a tradition,” and Michael Baxter and his brother always play golf together after Christmas morning. However you spend Christmas Day spend it with your family and celebrate together.
Jerome Guab and his family have an
interesting tradition for Christmas. Not only do they open their presents at 12am, but they also have a contest on who can buy the worst last minute present. The rules are that they can only buy a present that costs less than $10 and they can only buy the gift on the way to the Christmas party. His examples of past worst presents were a “USB keyboard vacuum, a mini travelsize broom, and a banana.” He describes all the presents as “terrible.” This is a creative and unique tradition that Jerome and his family do to celebrate the joy of the season.
Carmen Swilley says “At
Thanksgiving, my girls and my husband and I draw names. For the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we try to do secret nice things for our ‘person’, like make their bed, or do their part of the dishes, or just simply be kind. We find a special gift for our person, too. On Christmas eve, we reveal our name and exchange the gifts. It makes the month of Christmas so much more pleasant.”
Hal Broome says “I have a group
The Popcorn Garland
Christmas Tree Toppers
History of the Christmas Tree
The leading, number one present this year is the new iPhone 6s or 6s+. Money is the next favored gift; no one can go wrong with money. Between long distance relatives to close friends that have clue what they want, money is the easiest and best gift because it can never be declined at a register like an old gift card, and you never have to worry about buying the perfect present. Another sought-after present is the popular hoverboard that seems to be only for focused, coordinated people, and I commend anyone who has the skills to use one while simultaneously looking like a celebrity. The Apple Watch and True Grit pullover bring up the rear in the lineup as the most tech-savvy and comfortable gifts for 2015.
Placing angel ornaments on top of Christmas trees continues to be a beloved holiday tradition. Today we see a huge variety of angels: shiny metallic angels, fabric angels crafted with loving care, fragile glass or porcelain angels that have been passed down through generations, and even doll-like angels that can move and sing to music. In the Bible, angels play an important role in the first Christmas. When Gabriel, the Archangel of Revelation, informed the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ on Earth, an angel visited Joseph in a dream to tell him that he would serve as Jesus’ father on Earth, and a vast amount of angels appeared in the sky over Bethlehem to announce and celebrate Jesus’ birth as the world’s savior. Many people also place stars or bows as tree toppers; it truly depends on the aesthetic that they are trying to achieve when decorating their Christmas tree.
People put all kinds of crazy decorations on a Christmas tree, but perhaps one of the strangest is the the popcorn garland. Stringing literal food onto a tree, if you really think about it, is a little odd. So where did this strange tradition originate? The custom originated in Europe, and is scattered across the countries in various forms. Dating all the way back to the 1600s, some cultures would have the tree adorned with berries, other with nuts and smaller candies. Now, modern day Christmas decorations have taken on a similar idea, but in strings of popcorn. The now mainly American-custom, is one the most popular decoration ideas for families, and has brightened homes for a very long time.
In 16th century German, Christians would bring evergreen trees into their homes in honor of the birth of Christ near the upper Rhineland. Soon after, the people began to decorate the trees brought inside, and the custom began spreading throughout the country. By the 1800s, almost all German families celebrated the winter solstice time by adorning evergreens with berries and nuts, candles and toys. Eventually other countries and regions took notice of the holiday traditions, with Russia and Vienna taking up the custom of decorating “christmas” trees. The trees popularity only grew, spanning all of Europe, and eventually reaching North America as well. Today the Christmas tree is a worldwide practice, existing in all cultures all over the globe. Some families still have real evergreens, others artificially made. Now you can find, white, red or blue, even rainbow, but the original theme remains prevalent even after all these years.
The Advent Calendar
This particular Christmas Tradition stems from an older custom that originally began in the 19th century. An unique way to keep track of the days leading up to Christmas, the advent calendar started in Germany, with families drawing lines of chalk for each day past. Eventually, the tradition took on a shape on an actual chalkboard with little candies or goodies for the Yuletide countdown. When World War II began, a lapse in production of the calendars halted the custom until 1946. With the War over, the christmas tradition once again became popular, and over the years has developed into different forms such as the shelves Timmur Ponder mentioned. Today you can find advent calendars, clocks, candles, some with themes and others with presents. The custom comes with paintings, sometimes made from paper or glass, but even cardboard occasionally. For each family, the tradition varies, but the theme remains the same: a way to pass the days leading up to Christmas Day.
Holiday Hotlist 1. Elf 2. Grinch 3. Home Alone 4. Christmas Vacation 5. The Polar Express 1. “White Christmas” Bing Crosby 2. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” Michael Buble 3. “All I want for Christmas is You” Mariah Carey 4. “O Holy Night” Carrie Underwood 5. “Let It Snow” Jason Mraz
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of friends from high school (and then college) who meet the day after Christmas at a farm owned by two of us who married. This has gone on since the early 1980s! We usually have around 20 people attend, the original friends and their families. People fly in from all around the country (and sometime the world.) We all joked when the movie The Big Chill came out that it was based on us 8). It’s like a second family for all of us, and we’re still amazed that we’ve stayed in touch after all these years.”
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December 15, 2015
How to holiday in Hattiesburg
By: Grace Mozingo Staff Reporter @gracewilmo
As the Pine Belt gears up for Christmas time, Hattiesburg has much to look forward to in regards to holiday celebrations. For those who do not just love this time of year but also enjoy the events that tag along with December, this year’s lineup is more festive than ever. The Saenger has a fantastic list of happenings in honor of Christmas. The season kicked off with the beloved classic The Nutcracker put on by the South Mississippi Ballet Theatre and set to open on December 3rd. Forgotten Carols will be the next Yuletide themed performance taking place on the 12th. An adaption of the birth of Jesus, this story is seen from the eyes of the shepherds
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and innkeeper. Then, on the 21st and 22nd, head downtown to see a number of holiday films like Elf, Meet Me in St. Louis, Frozen, and Love Actually. The Holiday Art Walk will also be lighting up downtown but on the 14th from 4 to 8pm. Artists, musicians, and all walks of life will decorate the streets along with an array of restaurants and various forms of art, and during this cultivated event, the streets of downtown Hattiesburg will be covered in over 14,000 Christmas lights. If the Art Walk isn’t enough to convince you, then at least go to see the illuminating decorations that will line the ‘Burg’s streets. During the month of December, the Hattiesburg Zoo will be transformed into a winter wonderland in an ode to this festive time of year. “My family and I went to the zoo’s Christmas event last year, and now we’re going again. It’s become a sort of a tradition for us,” senior Mina Franzen said. “The details that go into everything, especially something local—I can’t imagine the work they put into everything.” The zoo will also be hosting the ZooLights Holiday Event which will take place every Sunday and Monday from the 6th to the 21st. This year’s holiday
bash will be highlighted by a train ride through an illuminated zoo all in 3D. Passengers will be given 3D glasses as they tour through the magical twinkling lights illuminating the zoo. Of course, there are lots more festive themed events lighting up the town this year. Around this time, it is hard not to feel a sense of contentment, especially with all the lights and decorations set up around town. So get up and visit Santa at the mall, maybe head out to find the best and brightest home decor. And while sitting down to enjoy a Hallmark Christmas movie is always fantastic, why not try out all the neat, winter-only opportunities right around Hattiesburg?
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Christmas around the world
By: Lauren Parker Staff Reporter @laurenparker24
December is finally here, and for most people around here that means decorating Christmas trees, buying gifts, and jamming to Christmas music. However, to many people in other parts of the
world, the Christmas season holds a completely different set of traditions. Navidad: In Mexico, the custom of Posadas, which in Spanish means lodging, is held from December 16th to Christmas Eve to commemorate Mary and Joseph’s looking for a place to stay. Each of the nine nights, children go around with candles and sing at neighbors’ home. The children then ask if there is room to stay to which they are told no. The children go around until that there is room, and the house that lets them in hosts a big party with food, piñatas, and games. The Posadas come to a close Christmas Eve with a midnight church service. Weihnachten: Germany also has some very different traditions. On the evening of December 5th, children leave their shoes by their front door, so during the night, “der Nikolaus” can leave candy or fruit in their shoes. In some parts of Germany, it is believed that a monster named Knecht Ruprecht accompanies Nikolaus and leaves twigs in the shoes of children who misbehave. Shèngdàn: Christmas is not commonly celebrated in China, but the country does have a few different
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customs. Instead of Christmas balls and lights, the few who have Christmas trees adorn it with paper flowers, lanterns, and chains. Also, on Christmas Eve, people give each other apples. The Chinese refer to Christmas Eve as “Ping An Ye”, and the word for apple is “ping guo”, which sound alike. Ganna: In Ethiopia, people celebrate Christmas on January 7 because the country still uses the Julian calendar. While most people usually have a big dinner on Christmas Eve, Ethiopians fast all day. The people also dress in traditional white robes called “shamma” to attend Ganna mass, which starts at 4 a.m.! At mass, everyone is given a candle, and they sing while walking around the church three times. In the center is the holiest place where the priest serves Communion. These Christmas customs and traditions might be different than the ones celebrated here in the United States, but everyone is united under the same belief in and celebration of Christ’s birth.
Hattiesburg
By: Lucy Pruit | Editor Hattiesburg, MS: population 47,556. How many do you know?
Santa Claus
In a single free moment over the Thanksgiving break, after his grand appearance in the Macy’s Parade, the always jolly Mr. Claus granted a moment to this Warrior Beat writer to answer a few questions about his annual all-nighter. Of course, we are all familiar with Old Saint Nick and his many philanthropic stories and legends, so I decided to ask the more personal questions. From his favorite cookies to the little human insecurities, Santa humbly answered without any obscurities. LP: How old are you? SC: Let’s just say I remember your grandmother sitting on my knee, and her grandmother too. I guess I am just old enough to have celebrated Christmas from the very beginning. The very first celebration of the Birth of the Christ child. LP: What is your idea of happiness? SC: It makes me laugh to deliver gifts to children that appreciate the spirit of giving and understand the reason we celebrate this season. LP: What was the worst day of your life? SC: Every year it’s the day after Christmas. I don’t ever want it to be over. LP: What do you hate the most? SC: It’s not good to hate anything. That’s such a harsh word. There’s no room for that. LP: What is your most prized possession? SC: My sleigh? No. Maybe my elf workshop? No. My reindeer are my friends, not my possessions. Maybe my red suit. There’s nothing better than that to keep old Santa warm on those cold North Pole Nights. LP: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
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December 15, 2015
Local vocals: The DLX and Groovy Noonoo
The city of Hattiesburg, Mississippi has always been admired for its quaint qualities, but recently, local music has amped up to a new caliber of electric nuances and sparkling originality. Artists such as Andrew Newman and Shawn Chambliss from the DLX have painted the city with colorful creativity and undoubtedly left a mellifluous imprint on rising musicians everywhere. Inspired by his best friend’s older brother acquired guitar skills, then 6th-grader Shawn Chambliss persuaded his parents to buy him the same instrument for Christmas. A little frustration set the instrument aside, and two years later, Chambliss rekindled
his motivation to pick it up. Since then, he hasn’t set it down. Quite a few years later, he would be showing demos on his iPad to future band members Mark Wheat (drums), Joy Wheat (vocals), and Ethan Manning (guitar), who all wanted to be a part of his music. Chambliss says he is most influenced by OneRepublic, Ryan Adams, and Twenty One Pilots for the variety in their music, honesty in their lyrics, and their intelligence and purposeful nature in crafting a song. The DLX recently finished recording a new EP in Nashville, which will hopefully be released early next year. Chambliss said, “From front to back, I’m proud of every song on the album. I feel like it really covers a wide spectrum of sounds.” Meet Andrew Newman, aka Groovy Noonoo, a bright addition
NOONOO MIXES GROOVY NEW WAVES Andrew Newman is a one-man band, playing and producing tunes for you to groove to while driving at night.
ELI BAYLIS AND ANDREW NEWMAN PHOTOS
By: Hannah Lee Staff Reporter @hanblanklee
Chillin’ at winter formal By: Alyssa Bass Staff Reporter @sassyaly_
For Oak Grove students, winter formal is only heard of and seen in movies, but the junior class officers along with the PTA have decided to plan and host a winter formal as a fundraiser for prom in 2016. The winter formal is also serving as an alternative to the homecoming dance that many students missed happening this year. For those who have never heard or been to a winter formal, Wikipedia defines it as a dance held by high schools in the United States that students may use as a test case to see if their date has interest in continuing the relationship before committing to prom. On the first day of Christmas break, December 21, the Oak Grove winter formal will be held at the Canebrake Club House from
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A look at the finest fresh artists that the ‘Burg has to offer
THE DLX ROX THE STAGE Shawn Chamblis , Ethan Manning, and Joy and Mark Wheat command the stage and deliver stellar performances at various venues.
to the new generation of young artists. A PCS senior, Newman is a primarily self-taught musician who creates all types of music, specializing in R&B, beach, and pop music. He incorporates a variety of instruments, including the guitar, the banjo, and the piano, into his music and loves the idea of designing something innovative and individualistic. In the past year, he released an album/mixtape called “Groovy!”
9 P.M. to 11 P.M. The junior class officers advise that girls wear cocktail dresses rather than long formal gowns and that guys wear a button down and a tie with slacks or khakis. Juniors and seniors will be able to attend for only ten dollars for what is bound to be a great time. Junior Callie Farris said, “I’m personally very excited about it, and I’m glad the juniors are getting to host it! It will be as fun as we make it, so I hope everyone has a great time.” However, it’s not only the juniors who have hope for the success of the winter formal. Senior Kendall Franzen said, “When I found out about it, I was so excited, especially since we didn’t have a homecoming this year. I’ve always wanted to have a winter formal and feel like our high school was like the ones in movies! I’m glad I will be able to go before I graduate. Plus I love getting the chance to dress up and dance with
and hopes to launch a new album this year. Newman is inspired by artists such as Kanye West for his passion, Tame Impala for his production, and Brian Wilson for his songwriting and plans to collaborate with connections in Oxford area when he attends Ole Miss next year. Newman says that “music is his dream, and that should an opportunity arise to turn music into a career, he will pursue it.”
my friends!” Over the next few weeks, students can expect to see the return of winter form-posals (that might eventually encourage couples to prompose) and plenty of stylish pictures on Instagram because the junior class is expecting winter formal to be a huge success and a tradition for years to come.
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Sweater weather: This winter is HOT. By: Abby Nguyen Staff Reporter @2busybeingabby
In southern Mississippi, winter means that the weather dips below a spine tingling 50 degrees Fahrenheit! So yes ladies, break out your Ugg boots (or not)! This year, the winter fashion trends that are breaking European runways all across the board are kitschy plays on age old snowday favorites. Ralph Lauren and Valentino draped their models from head to toe in swaths of smooth, black velvet. The water like movement of the fabric gives any of its wearers a sort of grace that Grace Kelly herself would be envious of. The classic velvet dress fell out of grace in the rebellious mainstream of the early 2000’s but is making a strong comeback, evoking a traditional but still cut-
ting edge bygone era of effortless and flowing elegance. Fendi and Chanel models looked “sew” cool donning quilted jackets in a myriad of colors and textures. The appeal of puffy, textured outerwear is that it is not just a look for the runway models of Paris, rather this look can be mastered by even the most everyday individuals looking to revamp their winter wardrobes. Gucci and Valentino saluted military personnel everywhere when marching models stitched in sleek, sharp, dark uniform-like clothing onto the front lines of fashion. These looks solidified the ever increasing popularity of tight braids, bomber jackets, and straight hemmed blazers. Hattiesburg may not get much colder than 50 degrees this year, but that does not freeze out the various possibilities of dressing to impress this season.
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SC: Ho Ho Ho! I love all kinds of cookies and pastries, but everyone already knows that. LP: Which talent would you most like to have? SC: Honestly, I’d like to learn how to surf. LP: Who is your favorite fictional hero? SC: Well, I’ve known them all. It’s hard to pick just one. LP: What is the trait you most deplore in others? SC: It disappoints me to see selfishness. There’s no real reason the spirit of Christmas shouldn’t last all year. Speaking with Santa was my childhood dream come true, but before long he had to bid me adieu. I looked to the reindeer for one last magical second, said my goodbyes, and gave Vixen a carrot. So much work to be done in these next couple of weeks, though he said he enjoyed my family’s Thanksgiving treats. I’ll never forget that jolly old elf, or the charming way he excused himself. Picking up one last cookie and a Coca Cola for the road, Santa sat on his sleigh and headed back to the cold. And with the reins in his hand and spirits all bright, he spun around once more to yell, “Merry Christmas to all! Oh how those Warriors can write!”
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December 15, 2015
Best of the best for 2015 By: Noah Farrar, Staff Reporter, @MrFarrar24
Best Gadget
Best Transportation The IO Hawk or more commonly known as a hoverboard has made a huge splash in 2015. The hoverboard is the most innovative and stylish form of personal transport in miniature form. It compacts beauty and speed all in one. The hoverboard is a segway without the ridiculously large wheels or childlike scooter attachment . The hoverboard was not always so popular especially with its demanding price. Many remakes and low-end versions of the board have come about this year making this item highly demanded as a christmas gift.
There is no doubt that the iPhone is one of the most useful gadgets of all time. From casual social media surfing and stalking to business use, the iPhone is versatile in every way makes life a little easier. Accompanying 2015 was the new year’s model of the iPhone, the iPhone 6s, and with the new phone came great new features to make the already refined applications go even further. The beautiful looks and functions working seamlessly in unison are what put the iPhone above its competitors. Grab one this holiday to see for yourself.
Best Player
Best Game “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain” is the final game in the Metal Gear franchise and went out as one of the best-looking, best-playing, and most ambitious games in the series. The Phantom Pain was the penultimate work of Hideo Kojima and capped the series with grace. The final game boasted beautiful graphics that were executed by the Fox Engine. The new engine was combined with new generation hardware to produce a stunning visual masterpiece, leaving every stealth junkie and Metal Gear aficionado in awe.
For the NFL, I grant the award of Best Player of 2015 to Devonta Freeman of the Atlanta Falcons. This was a tough choice and there was a lot to consider but Freeman had big shoes to fill this year and he filled them excellently becoming arguably one of the best running backs this year. For college football, I basically have to give the award to the running back Leonard Fournette of the LSU Tigers. Fournette is the star of the NCAA this year and the centerpiece for the Tigers. He is one of the clear favorites to win the Heisman.
Tis the season: A holiday movie guide Theatrical release info for not-so-holiday films Ah, Christmas, the season of giving and joy. A time of presents and carols, families and feasts. But what is the Christmas season truly about? Movies. And I don’t mean Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer or Hallmark holiday type films. The end of 2015 will being paying homage to cinema with a lineup of movie releases riddled with Oscar buzz and fan-hype galore. And so we begin our winter movie schedule with the comedy Sisters, slated for a December 18 release, stars the dynamic duo of Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. The two comedians play siblings who
could not be more opposite: one an uptight divorcee and the other a rebellious wild child stuck in the past. After their parents announce that they will be selling the girls’ childhood home, they opt to have one last big party before letting go. The remake of 90s classic Point Break will be hitting theaters on Christmas Eve. This action-filled adventure follows a young FBI agent sent undercover to watch a cult like group of extreme sports athletes believed to be involved in a number of major heists. The Revenant, a highly anticipated flick and critic favorite, is set to hit theaters on the 25th. Starring Leo DiCaprio as a furtrapper in the unexplored American mid-west, the story follows his gruelling survival epic that begins with his being brutally attacked by a bear and abandoned by fellow scouts to die. Inspired by actual events, the movie is backdropped by a harsh winter and the unforgiving lifestyle of the frontiersmen. What could possibly be more holiday themed/celebrating than a good ole horror movie? The up-
beat’s bits Sorry We Doubted You, Justin
coming Krampus, set to premiere on the 3rd, centers in on a family celebrating the most wonderful time of the year when a dreadful snowstorm strikes. On Christmas Eve, trapped in a house full of giddy kids and exhausted adults, rising tensions take their toll on Max, one of the children. After the boy disregards the holiday, a more sinister version of Santa known as Krampus decides to punish the non-heralding family. Other films to look out for are: Joy (24th), an Oscar hyped, loosely based biopic starring Jennifer Lawrence as the inventor of the Miracle Mop, and the newest Quentin Tarantino flick, The Hateful Eight (24th) filled with merciless bounty hunters, wild law men, and a fugitive wanted
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The whole world was shocked when Billboard announced that Justin Bieber broke a record previously held by The Beatles and Drake. Bieber currently has the most songs on the Billboard Hot 100 with 17 songs in a single week. Three of those songs are in Billboard’s top five. Though Bieber has yet to push Adele out of the top number one spot with her song, “Hello,” the Billboard charts and the rest of the world have welcomed him back.
Hangin’ Out with the Best
Fans of the Hangout Music Festival were excited to learn of the lineup three months earlier than expected, and 2016’s lineup looked better than ever. Headliners like The Weeknd, Calvin Harris, Florence and the Machine, Ellie Goulding, Panic! at the Disco, Alessia Cara, Walk the Moon, and Fetty Wap will be performing in the sandy white beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama for three days on May 20-22 in 2016. Tickets for the festival are on sale at hangoutmusicfest.com.
‘dead or alive’. Of course, there are other movies like mega-hyped Star Wars: The Force Awakens (18th), the seventh installment to the space epic; the adaptation of Hermin Melville’s Moby Dick, the classic tale about a monstrous whale with In the Heart of the Sea (10th); and an on-screen telling of Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth (3rd) starring Michael Fassbender as Scotland’s warrior king. 2015’s movie stretch is finally coming to a close with an amazing sound off steeped to keep audiences more than pleased. With back to back release dates, theaters will be packed all month long, so bring the popcorn and eggnog because it’s Christmas time.
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By: Grace Mozingo Staff Reporter @gracewilmo
By: Alyssa Bass, Staff Reporter, @sassyaly_
Keeping Up with Kylie’s Lips Teen girls no longer have a reason to pucker their lips in a glass to achieve full lips like Kylie Jenner. On Monday, November 30, Kylie Jenner released her very own lip kit. Appropriately named Lip Kit by Kylie, the kit includes three liquid matte shades of brown: Dolce K, Candy K, and True Brown K. The liquid lipsticks come with lip liners, so buyers can overline their lips to achieve that plumper look instead of going under the knife like Kylie.
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December 15, 2015
CoWAN WARs The force awakens
By: John Cowan History Teacher by Day StarWars Expert by Night
This time of year regularly makes most people excited, and for good reason because of its association with so many traditions: holidays, presents, good food and time with friends and family. This year though? People are excited in late December for a totally different reason: stars, with an emphasis on their wars. T h e e a gerly anticipate d S t a r Wars: The Force Awakens hits t h e aters on December 18 officially, though if you’re like me, you’ve already got tickets for the “midnight showing” which is inexplicably now held at 7:00 p.m. on December 17. Seriously, when did theaters start doing “midnight showings,”
literally hours prior to midnight? Talk about making release dates irrelevant. The Force Awakens will be the first film installment in the Star Wars franchise since the flashy, yet shallow, Episode III Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. The Force Awakens will also be the first Star Wars film created without the input of the franchise’s original creator George Lucas; in 2012, Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney for an astounding $4b. The new creative team has placed an emphasis on creative diversity and practical effects, which is a far cry from unquestioned decision making and overuse of computer animation in the prequel trilogy. The Force Awakens will be bringing back much of the original cast from the original trilogy of the 1970s and 80s. Many fans expect these classic characters will be used primarily as a bridge to introduce the new heroes of the Star Wars franchise, primarily the new characters of Finn (John Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac). These three, along with some new villains, like Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) are seemingly being set up as the stars of the new era of this franchise. The movie’s three official trailers have done an excellent job at building excitement by teasing things to come, without giving away the entire plot. This is a huge problem in the film industry
right now, I shouldn’t be able to watch a two minute trailer and be able to tell you exactly what happens in all three acts of the film. With that said, the trailers have sparked a flurry of fan theories about what might happen; these theories range from plausible to absurd. One of my favorite theories, on the absurd end of the spectrum, involves the epitome of all that is wrong with the prequel trilogy: Jar Jar Binks. In this particular fan theory, originating from Reddit user Lumpawarroo, Jar Jar Binks, the much maligned comedic relief from the Prequel Trilogy, is actually a Sith Lord. The basis of the theory is that Jar Jar worked closely with Palpatine throughout the Prequels aiding him in his establishment of the Galactic Empire. Jar Jar only pretended to be a bumbling fool in order to prevent his discovery as a Sith. This particular theory goes on to state that Jar Jar will actually be revealed as the “big bad” of the upcoming sequel trilogy, beginning in The Force Awakens. It’s honestly, such a bizarre theory that a part of me hopes it’s actually true. Darth Jar Jar has a wonderful ring to it and it would really help tie the whole saga togeth-- nope, sorry, I can’t do it. Other theories concerning Episode VII and its sequels are much more plausible. These include: Luke may have turned to the dark side; and Rey could be the daughter of Han and Leia and/or possibly the twin of, sup-
posed villain, Kylo Ren. Some theories suggest a major character from the original trilogy will be killed off in the middle of Episode VII. I don’t know anything for sure, but all of those sound better than more Jar Jar. No matter what happens though, I’ll tear up when the opening title hits the screen along with the blaring brass accompaniment of John Williams’ score. I’ll excitedly slap my wife on the leg every time I see a classic character on the screen for the first time, and she’ll roll her eyes. I’ll be smiling ear to ear when the final credits begin to roll, and, because this is now a Disney film, I’ll stay through the end of the credits hoping for a teaser scene snuck in at the end. Start your winter break off right, and go see Star Wars: The Force Awakens, like eight times.
of Oak Grove
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December 15, 2015