Issue 3-- December 2011

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In-Depth p. 6-7 Walking in a winter wonderland: All about everyone’s favorite season.

Volume 32 Issue 3

Sports p. 5

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Girls conquer the competition: Edina girl’s swimming wins once again.

December 16, 2011

Senior William Rurik created two apps,“Bomb Defense” and “Dodgeball Mania,” for your Android phone. @edinazephyrus.com

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

99% Take a Stand in the Occupy Movement

One of the many protestors at the Occupy MN camp in downtown Minneapolis. In spite of several arrests, protestors have remained at the camp since October 7.

photo by Jake Freeman

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n September 17, 2011, the Occupy Wall Street movement began in New York, and within a month, the protest had spread to over seventy major cities in the United States, including Minneapolis. People of varying age, race, and economic status have taken their protest to the Hennepin County Government Plaza in downtown Minneapolis, wanting their voices heard.

With the slogan “we are the 99%”, protestors are expressing their outrage about the large gap between the top 1% of Americans with a large income, and the other 99%. They also address issues ranging from stopping political corruption to ending homelessness. The Occupy

MN website stated that, “our current objective and purpose is to establish a forum where our voices can meet and we can work on building a resolve to all of the issues at hand.”

This mostly peaceful protest is problematic because some protesters vandalized stores and businesses and disrupted public activities. Seven protesters were arrested on October 20, after police had told them to vacate the intersection of 6th Street and 2nd Avenue. They were arrested after they refused to leave with the rest of the protesters, who numbered around 50 people.

On November 15, the center of the Occupy Movement, Zuccotti Park in New York City, was forcibly cleared by the police force. Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor of

New York, claimed that the park had become unsanitary and a threat to the public health. After the park had been cleaned, protesters were let back in, but with some new restrictions. It’s now illegal for them to set up tents or tarps, or to have sleeping bags.

The protest lacks a designated leader and has garnered some negative media attention, but a poll by Time magazine showed that 54% of Americans approve of the protests, while only 23% have a negative view.

Although the Occupy Wall Street movement has yet to see any concrete result, it has brought many prevalent issues to the attention of a wide audience.

Maddie Kopiecki, staff writer

City builds new veterans memorial to honors those who have served The Edina Park Board has proposed a Veterans Memorial for Utley Park, across from St. Stephen’s church and Wooddale Park. The memorial will recognize Edina’s veterans from past, present, and future conflicts and will honor Edina residents killed in action with an engraving of their names.

The V-shaped commemorative area will represent victory, and the rest of the memorial will consist of three lit flagpoles, several benches, and space for about 150 people.

Sophomore Sophia Bornowski’s older brother is in the Marines, and she believes it is crucial to honor those in the military. “I would say most people don’t think about people going to war and how that affects them. We should honor them because they are willing to risk themselves for our country; they deserve the highest honor we can give them,” she said.

The proposed cost of the memorial is $400,000. $30,000 will be paid with tax dollars and the other $370,000 needed to complete the project will come from outside contributions as

well as grants. According to Park and Recreation Director John Keprios, “once the funds are raised in their entirety, construction should take about three months. The artist cannot begin making the sculpture until funds are raised. It will take the artist about nine months to complete his work.”

Mr. Keprios hopes the memorial will pay tribute to those Edina residents who have served in the armed forces. “The purpose is to honor Edina veterans and not to celebrate battles, wars or conflicts,” said Mr. Keprios. It is believed that there are 5,000 veterans in Edina. 32 residents have been killed in action, though none during the war in Iraq. The intent of this memorial is to “create a pleasant and respectful place to reflect and to honor veterans,” said Mr. Keprios.

Bornowski believes that this memorial will help our city understand the sacrifice our veterans have made.

“I think it would put veterans into people’s minds...Before my brother went into the Marines, I would not think that

much about the army; I pay attention now. With the memorial, [people] would pay attention more.”

Grace Meyer, staff writer

The official newspaper of Edina High School

photo by Ashley Eickhoff

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News

Volume 32 Issue 3

December 16, 2011

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Obama announces Iraq troop withdrawal This is heartening news for junior Claire Madden, whose brother Jim served in Iraq from 2003 to 2008. While he was abroad, she received a phone call from him about once a month.

“It’s so hard to have people over there and you don’t know if you’re going to see them again, or if they’ll be the same person,” she said.

In October, President Obama announced that all U.S. military forces in Iraq will be withdrawn by the end of 2011. “As a candidate for president, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end,” Obama said. The plan will be a move toward fulfilling this promise. It signals a shift toward ending the Iraq conflict, which has lasted almost nine years.

At present, there are around 6,000 US troops still stationed in Iraq, all of whom will be home by the end of the year. There were some previous discussions over whether a few thousand troops would remain in Iraq as a training entity, though the Iraqi and US governments have not agreed on how many troops will remain or in what capacity they will serve. Obama confidently reported that both he and the Prime Minister of Iraq—Nouri al-Maliki—were in full support of the withdrawal plan.

Also supportive is Air Force veteran and Valley View Middle School math teacher Chris Hoffman, who was deployed five times in Afghanistan and Iraq between 2002 and 2010. “I trust that they’re making a good decision,” he said. He soon added, however, “If I could do it all over again, based on my experience, I would do it all over again. The one thing I would change is that I would do and give more.”

Tyler Gieseke, opinion editor

photo courtesy of www.army.mil

The concept of equity

photo by Elizabeth Barniskis

Edina’s Equity Team, or E-Team, meets before school hours to discuss issues related to race, such as the achievement gap between white students and minorities.

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“Fairness. Balance. Equal opportunity,” is how YSY coordinator Rachel Pream Grenier defines equity. Equity means different things to different people.

Edina High School English teacher Jackie Roehl said, “Many people confuse the word equity with equality, and that is a big mistake. Educational equity involves giving each student what he or she needs.” These two are just a couple of the many teachers who are involved at the Equity Team at EHS. The Equity Team works to equalize opportunities for everyone while learning at the same time. They want to reach out to all kids and give everyone an equal opportunity to learn.

According to Grenier, the E-Team’s mission is “to shift the culture of the school/district toward embracing equity and excellence for all students.”

The “E-Team” plans to accomplish their goals and eliminate the achievement gap at EHS with the help of all four committees on the team. The committees are: EHS Equity Leadership Team, CARE Team, Dare to be Real, and the Parents Committee. Each of these committees have jobs they do including staff development and adressing school climate in terms of race and equity issues.

To close the achievement gap, different teachers use a variety of techniques. Roehl believes that using thinking maps is a great way to learn about a student and how they think so she can help them in the future. “Students use thinking maps to explicitly show on paper what’s happening in their brain, and the final product of the Thinking Map varies from student to student. I love being able to quickly look at what a student is thinking,” she said.

The Equity Team also has Equity Walks around EHS supporting the idea of equity at EHS. English teacher Elizabeth Barniskis took part in an equity walk in November and plans and being part of a larger one this week. The point of the equity walks are to “look for specific things teachers do to support equity and take note of areas that we can improve equity,” said Barniskis.

Ellie Lagorio, features editor

Edina’s recycling rates

n late October, the Minneapolis Star Tribune wrote an article on recycling rates in the West Metro area.

The city of Edina was rated 23rd out of the 41 cities in Hennepin County. The statistics were based upon annual pounds of recycling per household. Edina recorded 532 pounds per household in 2010, which was below the County average of 543 pounds. The leading city, Minnetonka Beach, averaged 306 pounds more than Edina. It isn’t clear what leads to more recycling pounds per household in various cities, or whether pounds per household is a fair and accurate measure of a city’s recycling program.

Statistics show that there is no correlation between how much recycling a city has based on what the average number of people in each household is, the average household income, or the average age of the city households. For the average number of people per household, the most recycling pounds per household included Hopkins, with one of the smallest average persons per household, and Minnetrista, one of the largest. For the average household income, both Minnetonka Beach and Hopkins were in the top 5, but Minnetonka Beach has one of the highest average household incomes with $130,000, while Hopkins has one of the lowest with $45,549. No correlation seems to be found between the top 5 cities - or for that matter for the next 20.

Edina’s pick-up is provided by Allied Waste. Edina has a two-way sort recycling system, splitting recycling into two groups. One contains newspapers, magazines, and mixed paper. The other group has cans, plastics, and glass. Edina resident Nancy Otteness said, “Our two way sort recycling system is very time consuming and hard to separate. I would much rather have a single sort system as it would be so much easier!” The cities reporting the most recycled pounds per year, have a single sort system. Could single sort be the solution for improved recycling for Edina?

Not necessarily. Edina’s Recycling & Solid Waste Working Group Chairwoman Dianne Plunkett Latham said, “There are several problems with single sort recycling. Residents need a larger bin in their garage, replacing the small 18 gallon bin with a 60-90 gallon bin, creating a problem for some homes as they do not have enough room. Also, the rates will rise for residents, making them spend more cash in order to replace a simple task of sorting.”

Plunkett Latham also explained how single sort recycling may be misleading when pounds per household are measured. “Participants become sloppier when they single sort. As a result, all things being equal, a single sort batch will weigh more than a dual sort batch because the single sort batch has more garbage mixed in with it. Having more garbage, means more residuals [non-recylclable solid waste]. Residuals go up to 3% rather than 1% with dual sort, making our recycling contaminated with more trash.”

To Edina’s credit, the city has one of the highest recycling participation rates in the State - and in the nation.

Moreover, Edina was one of the first cities in Minnesota to recycle.

Jack Hulstrand, staff writer

Dances before ACT

Another year, another Sadie’s dance.Sadly, Sadie’s was once again the night before the ACT, meaning a short night for many juniors and some seniors. Here’s what students had to say about this unfortunate matter.

Hector Balenger, senior: “It went horribly. I showed up to the wrong testing center with a calculator I couldn’t use. I didn’t get to sleep until two or three, but at least I got a good essay topic.”

Taylor Otterlei, senior: “It sucked. I had to leave my after party at 12:30 was really tired.

It was my last chance to improve my scores before I have to send them to colleges” Claire Caschetta, junior: “I had to leave the dance early and completely skip my afterparty. It was hard to get up early, and most of the people testing were not in their best shape.”

Carly Crist, senior, president of Student Council: “Sadie’s is traditionally the Friday night of the second week of December.

When selecting the date, we consider the availability of facilities, athletic schedules, and holiday conflicts. The dates are set a year in advance. Student Council does not purposely schedule dances before ACT or SAT test dates.”

Michael Jacobson, news editor art by Anne Cavanagh

Features

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

December 16, 2011

‘Tis the season

Volume 32 Issue 3

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December student feature:

Making the best of the holiday blues Oh, the holiday season - from the daylong shopping trips at MOA, voracious appetites filled because of Grandma’s famous mashed potatoes and that oh-so-tempting box of truffles your uncle brought over, and on top of that all of that well spent family time throughout break, many ask themselves, what’s next? Rather than mope around and wait for Valentine’s Day to put you in good spirits, Zephyrus has a few tips for ways to have fun after the winter holidays are over.

Shop til you drop!

So you survived the madness of Black Friday, but ‘After Christmas Sales’ can be an even bigger deal. With all of the gift cards and money racked up from the holidays, this day in particular can be a great day if you’re willing to brave the crowds at the department stores.

Popcorn anyone?

Whether it be a full-priced blockbuster at the Southdale AMC or a three dollar movie at the Hopkins Cinema 6, going to the movies is always pleasant even during the slump of the winter season. Some films that are being released this winter include “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” and “We Bought a Zoo.” Winter Wonderland Activities!

As for outdoor activities there are community ice skates in the warming houses on Lake of the Isles and in Powerhorn Park. Not in the mood for skates? How about tubing at Sunset Hill near Theodore Wirth Park. Admission is free, bring your own sled, snow tube or toboggan and go sledding. You can also rent tubes directly in the park for $8-$12.

A night at the theatre!

There is something lovely about the live performance with actors and actresses that can be a magical experience. The human touch of the performers in front of you and the beautifully grand scheme of the theatre are sights of their own, and the comedy, tragedy, and love these performances possess can be heart-wrenching and entertaining. Plan a visit to the Ordway, Children’s Theater, or the Guthrie Theater.

Hockey anyone?

For those sports enthusiasts, rather than watching a game at home, a visit to either a professional or college game can bring out more team spirit. Nothing like being in the stands with other rowdy fans can be exhilarating. Consider visiting the Xcel Energy Center this winter and watching a Wild game or visit the U of M and watch a Gophers game.

Krystal Walker, editor in chief

Shelby Rosen

photo courtesy of Shelby Rosen

Meet Edina High School sophomore Shelby Rosen. She is not your average Edina thespian.

Rosen started her acting career at the age of five. She has been performing on stage in plays and musicals since. She just finished understudying at the Children’s Theater for “A Wrinkle in Time” in the role of Meg. This was her first time understudying and, according to Rosen, it was hard work. “I don’t get any rehearsals. I take notes during the lead’s rehearsals and watch her,” she said.

Because of the unpredictable schedule for an understudy, Rosen called the theater every day to check in. She made it on stage once when the lead was gone because of a test.

Now Rosen is playing Liesl, in “The Sound of Music” at the Minnetonka Community Theater which opened on December 9.

Other plays Rosen performed in include “Hellen Keller” when she was in fourth and fifth grade, “Hellen Burns,” where the cast went on tour around the country and “Jane Eyre” where she used a dialect coach to perfect her British accents.

Rosen is also dabbling in film. She recently starred in the independent film “As I Fade.” She hopes to become more involved in films in the future and is crossing her fingers for more casting calls.

Rosen describes film as “a lot more personal and real” while “theater is a lot bigger, you have to project and be this large character.” She finds that in the hardest part for auditioning in theater is “learning her lines and songs” while film is “what to wear. Some things look terrible on camera!”

For the rest of the dates for “The Sound of Music” go to the Minnetonka Community Theater website.

Natalie Paule, art editor

Furry friends of EHS

photos by Rebecca Kidder

Mrs. Raasch’s leopard gecko gets to stay at a student’s house over summer vacation.

Mr. Burfeind’s map turtle not only enjoys kissing the fish who share its tank, but eating them as well.

When most people think of a teacher’s pet, they think of one of their peers sucking up to a teacher.

However, some teachers actually have pets in their classrooms, reminiscent of the tadpoles and hermit crabs in kindergarten classrooms.

Science teacher Eric Burfeind has an unnamed Mississippi map turtle. “I don’t give it a name if it won’t come when I call, but I let the students name it each year,” said Mr. Burfeind. Over all school breaks, the custodians feed the turtle. He eats goldfish flakes, shrimp pellets, and, occasionally, the minnows who share his tank.

“The turtle slaps the big fish in the face, and then he kisses him. You can watch it,” said sophomore Jalen Giles.

“I let my students play with him because I think they learn just from holding him,” said Mr. Burfeind. If you want a closer look at this turtle, Mr. Burfeind teaches in room 225.

English teacher Fred Cheng has a hamster and two gerbils, who mostly relax in their cages each day. The hamster’s name is Hermione (he is a Harry Potter fan) and the gerbils’ names are Iggy and Oreo. He takes them home over longer breaks, including the summer. He has different class pets each year. Last year, he had guinea pigs.

“I have pets because I like the vibe, they make class more fun, and I’ve always liked hamsters,” said Mr. Cheng. If you want to see his pets, look in room 376.

Science teacher Mrs. Raasch has two snakes (Tornado and Sampson), a tarantula, a leopard gecko, and some goldfish. Mrs. Raasch has had Tornado for four years, and Sampson for three. All of her pets have been donated, except for Sampson, whom she bought. Her tarantula belonged to a former student’s brother’s ex-girlfriend. Sampson eats two live mice twice a week, and Tornado eats two frozen mice a week. Over the summer, Mrs. Raasch gives her pets to students who show an interest in caring for them. When students take the snakes out, the creatures will crawl around and explore.

“I have them because the animals are therapeutic for some students. Also, when I’m teaching, they make it easier because I can actually show students what the scales look like, or how to tell the difference between male and female snakes.” Mrs. Raasch and her pets can be found in room 326.

Sarah Nealon, staff writer

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Features

Volume 32 Issue 3

December 16, 2011

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Is there a snow day in our future?

That once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to skip school

D

ig out your old winter gear because it’s nearly the season for snowmen, snowshoeing, and snowball fights—everything snow related but snow days. I’m sure some students are rattled that Edina’s probability of a snow day is about the same as that of the Vikings going to the SuperBowl this year. Now, before you think about doing something rash, like popping all the snow plows’ tires, take a look at the exclusive interview I was able to get with Ric Dressen, our very own superintendent. Although he didn’t guarantee me a snow day this year, he did spill some insider info.

Who has authority to call a snow day?

I do.

Do you ever let anyone else call a snow day?

Nope, but it is a team decision. I work with the business manager, who works with the transportation director, who works with city maintenance, who assesses the road conditions.

I also make sure to stay close with the superintendents of other districts, and to contact all the local media, so they can let the public know our final decision.

What’s the most important factor in your decision?

Student safety. Getting the students to school and getting them home safely.

What is the timing like?

We need to be two hours ahead of schedule, which means we sometimes have to guess what we think the weather’s going to be like.

Do you ever do it the night before?

We have. If we know conditions are “no way.”

What’s the latest time in the morning you would call it?

5:30 a.m.

Would you ever send kids home once they got to school?

We typically don’t do that. But last year, when we had the chemical spill, we sent students home. In the other school districts where I’ve been [like Alexandria] we’ve sent students home.

Is calling a snow day one of the fun parts of a superintendent’s job or one of the hard parts?

One of the more challenging, because you can never please everyone. When school is in session, it’s helpful for the parents.

However, the kids would rather stay home. Also, I have to deal with the availability of staff getting to school or not.

Have you called a lot of snow days in your career?

In Alexandria, prior to Edina, I cancelled about three or four times a year. Six years ago I cancelled in Edina because of weather. Had the snow storms last year happened on school days, instead of weekends, a snow day could have happened.

Tell us about one of the craziest snow days you have had as a superintendent.

One time I cancelled school because we were expecting freezing rain, which would mean icy roads.

However, then it got warm and rained all day. So I had to deal with angry parents, mad at me for cancelling school because of rain.

What’s the probability that you’ll call a snow day this year?

Because we are expecting a heavier than normal

snowfall this year, it is greater. However, we have great plows, and outstanding city maintenance. I am hopeful for bad weather this year though so students will get a surprise vacation.

Is there anything the students could do to make sure we have a snow day this year?

(Laughs) No. So there you have it. All we can do now is sit back, relax, and watch the snow fall (and hopefully fall and fall and fall), and wish for that highly coveted snow day.

Anna Ellingboe, features editor

Art by Anne Cavanagh

Study like a boss

How

to

On November 11, club promoter and EHS junior Sara Eslamlou made our wishes come true: she showed us around Myth Nightclub, located in Maplewood. Eslamlou’s favorite teen clubs include Epic Nightclub, located in downtown, and Myth Nightclub.

On a wondrous journey to Myth, we learned that, surprisingly, Myth is exceptionally clean and chic. Multi-colored low lights illuminated the crowded area. In fact DJ Tony Wathen, told us that he loves “the club atmosphere and feeling onstage.” 16+ events get anywhere from 1,500 people to 2,500 people per night, according to Vance Trendov, owner of Liquid Entertainment.

The club is located in a nice commercial area, much like West End in St. Louis Park. Security and safety is generally not an issue at Myth. A security guard told us that “sometimes, people don’t listen, but they usually do.”

Teen club attendees danced the night away in five-inch heels, animal-print dresses, and light-up earrings. Eslamlou informed us that “dancing is a way to express yourself.”

William Roach, another club promoter, said he loves to go to the club to pick up “girls that like to dance.” Two club attendees from Woodbury High School mirrored this statement, “we like to meet new guys.”

As teen club rookies, we had no idea how to get into the exclusive VIP area.

After some snooping around, we discoverd that you just pay an extra ten dollars after paying the initial thirteen dollars to get in the club. The VIP section of the club is merely a cordoned-off area next to the area that serves water.

Our club adventure was interesting, to say the least. Check out their next 16+ event so you can experience the twilight zone of teen existence.

Jake Freeman and Tara Gupta, staff writers

Photo by Tara Gupta

Reality check. We spend a majority of our time outside of school doing things that relate to school. We get more than three hours of homework per night, not to mention studying, and on top of that we want to live a normal life. It might be hard to live normally when you go to EHS, but you can have some of your life back if you know where to be the most productive.

Consider the following places to go when you’ve got more on your plate than you can chew.

Barnes and Noble Café The Barnes and Noble Café, which is a Starbucks, is an ideal place to study late at night. Usually fairly full, the café has little noise, and you will not be bothered. According to junior Zach Gardner, “It is very easy to concentrate there. All of the people at the café are super nice and easy to get along with.” Not only will you be productive studying for your tests, you’ll get to sip on a warm, luxurious chai latte as well. The only vice of the café is that the seats are uncomfortable, so it is advisable to bring either a pillow or snuggie. Now we’re talking cozy!

Caribou Coffee This Caribou takes you to new heights, located right above Lunds at 50th and France. And

you thought being on the ground level was cool.

Now while you’re studying for your exams, you can enjoy a nice view of D’Amico and Sons or even the Wells Fargo bank! Quite like Starbucks, Caribou offers a variety of teas and coffee for your pleasure and utter enjoyment.

You’ll feel entirely relaxed, and who knows?

You might just get that A on your next test.

Perkins Restaurant As featured right on their website, Perkins says, “Breakfast is just the beginning.” And just the beginning is right! Not only will you be able to study and spend the whole night at Perkins, you’ll be able to have a huge pile of food in front of you. After eating you’ll study more effectively, so why not get a stack of pancakes and study at Perkins? Even though you’ll pack on the extra calories, who cares?

You’ll get an A on every test with the amount of brainfood you’re inhaling!

So put on those study caps, and pick a location that fits your needs. Your grades will improve significantly, and you won’t have your parents ranting about your unfortunately poor grade.

Sloane Nilsen, culture editor

infographic by Jamie Jones

Sports 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Volume 32 Issue 3

December 16, 2011

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Tschida on the prowl

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all photos by Vivi Engen

hen most people hear the word cheetah, the first thing they might think of is a speedy feline. But for students at Edina High School, the definition is different. Steve Tschida (pronounced cheetah), the athletic trainer at EHS, waits in his office near the first-floor locker rooms ready to pounce on any injury or ailment with cat-like speed.

Referred to simply as “Tschida” by students, coaches, and parents, the trainer has been helping injured Edina student athletes stay healthy and recover from injuries for 18 years. Stop by his office and you’ll find him taping a bad ankle or strapping ice over an athlete’s bruise. The room is filled with EHS sports posters, training equipment, and a lot of students.

Tschida figures he treats about 40 students per day.

Sometimes, the injuries are more serious. Senior football player Cavonte Johnson tore his ACL in last season’s second game. Almost immediately after the injury, Tschida “came over and gave me a long talk,” Johnson recalled. “He told me I would come back stronger.” As Johnson recovers, Tschida “pushes me to do my physical therapy and puts up with my whining,” he added with a laugh.

In his spare time, Tschida even prepares multi-flavored concoctions of Gatorade to help Edina athletes plow through Eden Prairie, making opponents wonder why they’re from Wayzata or wish they weren’t from Minnetonka – and not just because no one knows what a Skipper is.

Tschida might be a medical expert, but he views his job as being mostly about “customer service.” When students go to see a doctor about an injury, 99% of the time the prescription will be to ice, rest, and take some Advil to bring down the swelling. Tschida adds more of a personal touch. “I keep in mind how I would want to be treated,” he explained. “If I was hurt I would want a plan.” And a plan of action is exactly what you will get.

“He wants what’s best for the kids but also understands how important it is to get back in the game as quickly as possible,” said girls varsity basketball coach Matt Nilsen. “When it comes to a player’s injury or health, what Steve says goes.”

Tschida gets some nice perks with his job, including front row seats to any Hornet sporting event. He also gets to travel with the teams to state tournaments. But what he likes most about the job are the relationships he develops with student athletes. “I would have quit a long time ago otherwise,” he laughed. “It’s kind of like I have 500 kids!”

Speaking of kids, Tschida has two youngsters his own, who are as you would have guessed it, total studs. Kylie, 11, is a soccer and basketball player, and hopes to run track this spring. Her brother, Justin, 14, golfs and also plays basketball.

Although he will always remember his first state championship experience in 1997 with the boys hockey team as one of his best moments as a Hornet, his favorite memories “come not so much from big games, but from great plays and great effort by players in the regular season.”

Teachers sometimes wonder when students are excused from class to visit Tschida; some even claim that he doesn’t exist. “I honestly had no idea who he was until this year,” said English teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Barniskis. But now you know that, at least at EHS, a Tschida is something more than just another cat.

“I call him my leopard!”

- Senior Cavonte Johnson

“He is easy to talk to and makes more sense than a doctor.”

- Junior Meghan Hennessy

“I cried when I broke my foot and he was really comforting.”

- Senior Evan Panken

Vivi Engen, staff writer

Girls conquer the competition with a splash!

On November 19th, the Edina High School girls’ swimming and diving team not only won their second state title in a row, but also twice made state history by scoring over 300 points and winning all three relays.

The 200 medley relay team of junior Madeleine Eden, freshman Olivia Anderson, senior Paige Haller and senior Maryellen Campbell started the meet off with a win that was quickly followed by Nikki Larson winning the 200 freestyle.

Junior Heather Laedtke placed fourth in the 200 individual medley and freshman Emma Wittmer placed ninth in the 50 freestyle. Divers Yasmeen Almog and Kim Larson, a junior and a senior, placed fifth and fourteenth. Nikki Larson came back in the 100 fly with her second win of the night, edging out Allison Schumacher of Rochester John Marshall in the final 50 of the race. Two events later, Nikki helped set a state record in the 200 freestyle relay with junior Amelia Anderson, Wittmer and Campbell with a time of 1:34.40. Edina’s best performance of the night came in the 100 breastroke, where Olivia Anderson, Campbell and Laedtke placed first, second, and third. Anderson said that it was “a great feeling to know that Edina was owning the top three podium spots.” The team capped off the meet with a win in the 400 freestyle relay by Wittmer, Amelia Anderson, Eden, and Nikki Larson.

Nikki Larson said that she was “really happy about winning twice” and was “really proud of the team. It feels good to have a lot of new kids who like the team as much as [the seniors] do. They’ll be able to carry on the tradition” of the team. She added that she was “going to miss it so much.” Kim Larson, also a captain, said the divers “had a great season” and they gave the state meet everything they had.

The boys’ team, whose first meet is on Friday, December 9th at South View, will be hard pressed to match the girls’ performance. Senior captain Andrew Petersen is optimistic about the team’s prospects, though, saying that “even though we lost some of our top swimmers, we gained a lot of possible state scorers. Though we won’t have as much firepower this year, I think we have more depth.”

Erik Rehnberg, editor in chief

“

photo by John Soma photo by John Soma

It feels good to have a lot of new kids who like the team as much as [the seniors] do.

They’ll be able to carry on the tradition.

”

8 Opinion

www.edinazephyrus.com

Volume 32 Issue 3

December 16, 2011

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Occupy everywhere What do you think about the Occupy Movement?

Vote at www.edinazephyrus.com!

photos by Monica Omodt

Connect responsibly The trouble with teachers on Facebook Recently in our nation, students have been committing suicide due to cyberbullying amid a lack of school intervention. There have been a deluge of somewhat sensationalistic stories about the dangers of Facebook, which has culminated into Missouri’s controversial law restricting online access between students and teachers – thus pushing dialogue about social media to the forefront.

Some question why students need Facebook accounts in the first place (a complaint I have had directed at myself in the past). Others ask if there could be a safer alternative. Even more wonder whether a single policy regulating social media, whether national, statewide, or local, could ever adequately address all the issues that these innovations bring up. In the end, though, all these can be reduced to a single question: what is the role of social media in education?

Standing fi rmly on the freer end of this spectrum is Edina High English teacher Fred Cheng. He is known by his students for his extensive use of technology, both in the classroom and at home. A text-messaging system alerts his students of assignments and schedule changes. TurnItIn.com is used in lieu of paper copies of essays. Most importantly, though, he has a separate Facebook account for communicating with his students. “It’s an excellent way to contact students,” Mr. Cheng told me. “There’s such great access online.”

Despite this, Cheng said that he would oppose a district-wide mandate on social media, even if it required teachers to use Facebook, bluntly stating, “I don’t see the need for a policy.”

My view on the matter is much the same. If the issue is privacy online, then officials should realize that there are easy ways to utilize Face-

book’s built-in privacy controls. The tools are easy to use and can easily transform Facebook into an educational utility. While these settings are freely available, part of the reason that so many people are anti-Facebook is simply because they aren’t aware that these options exist.

On the other hand, though, I can’t support a policy requiring teachers to use social media.

Part of the reason that so few educators utilize it now is because they simply don’t like it, which is something that can’t be “fixed.” Also, the primary concern of many parents is not Facebook’s privacy settings, but the potential for unprofessional conduct between students and teachers in the laissez-faire realm of the Internet. Undoubtedly, this would occur much more often if teachers were required to friend all their students on their personal accounts. This is another instance in which Mr. Cheng’s system is superior – having separate accounts for school and home helps maintain the air of professionalism that goes with school.

Social media is just another innovation beginning to catch on. There are dangers inherent with radio, telephones, television, computers, and the Internet in general, and I’m certain that teacherss at the times of their inventions had a similar reaction to modern concerns about Facebook. However, as time went on, these formerly dangerous things were tamed, not by banning them or requiring them, but by allowing teachers a slight glimmer of choice in a strictly regulated profession. The same, I suspect and fervently hope, will happen to social media. After some time, administrators nationwide will undoubtedly realize that the best path is not one of draconian restriction, nor is it one of total requirement, but simply one of following a precedent of freedom.

Micah Osler, staff writer

Where apathy does not belong Let’s get this out of the way quickly: apathy is cool. Everyone from the hipster to the Fonzie has implemented the technique of not caring and they are nothing but calm, cool, and collected. After all, which would you say is cooler: sobbing uncontrollably, or shedding a single tear? No, no, don’t wipe that tear. That tear, along with the close up and Radio Head’s “Exit Music (For a Film)”, briefly offers the world a glimpse through your gritty outer shell and into the soft soul that lies within.

Apathy is fine when you are walking away from an explosion, (see “Iron Man”, “The Dark Knight”, “Robo Cop”, “No Country for Old Men”, “Power Rangers”, and literally hundreds of other movies), but in the classroom, it’s obnoxious. We all know and have experienced at least one apathetic student in class. They generally make disruptions, make fun of the material, or battle with the teacher about why they should be motivated. Not only is this flat-out annoying, it’s not even truly apathetic. A truly apathetic student wouldn’t bother us because all they would do is walk in to class, become completely quiet, and utter “whatever” when addressed.

Apathy is generally seen in required classes like math and language arts, whereas electives tend to generate less apathy. There isn’t really much of a fix for this. A teacher can be great and engaging, but if a student isn’t interested in a topic, you can’t force him to be. In the end, the student just has to suck it up. The requirements are set by the state and the district and there really are reasons to take these classes, they all teach you skills that you will inevitably need in college. Well, most of them anyway (I’m looking at you, phy-ed.)

If you have one of these students in your class my advice to you is to be apathetic about their apathy. That’s right, apathy within apathy. If you do this correctly the student should stop caring about not caring and you should be able to get on with your business. But, be careful with this method, if this goes wrong all of EHS could turn into an apathetic wasteland, with zombie like students walking around sighing and muttering “I don't care.”

Thomas Matthes, staff writer

“art” by Monica Omodt

Apathy: We would have gotten some art for this article... But what would be the point in doing that?

Zephyrus Staff

editors in chief: Alma Pronove, Erik Rehnberg, Krystal Walker copy editor: Monica Omodt art editor: Natalie Paule advertising manager: Michael Jacobson news editors: Stephanie Coleman, Michael Jacobson features editors: Anna Ellingboe, Ellie Lagorio sports editor: Rayelle Washington in-depth editor: Andrea Kimball opinion editors: Tyler Gieseke, Monica Omodt culture editors: Sloane Nilsen, Ashley Smith back page editors: Natalie Paule, Alma Pronove staff writers: Emily Cherkassky, Megan Couture, Vivian Engen, Jake Freeman, Tara Gupta, Jack Hulstrand, Maddie Kopecki, Clare Ling, Grant Marks, Thomas Matthes, Grace Meyer, Sarah Nealon, Micah Osler, Hannah Sommerville, Alex Van Gorp photographers/artists: Connor Bjornnes, Julia Bolter, Anne Cavanagh, Kelsey Ehrlich, Ashley Eickhoff, Jake Freeman, Cici Holmquist, Elizabeth Jarvey, Jamie Jones, Rebecca Kidder, Claire Kouatli, Raquel Radenbaugh, Zai Rutter, Anna Schmiel, Kat Skibbe, Emma Westbrook webmaster: Will Rurik advisor: Elizabeth Barniskis

Zephyrus is a monthly publication produced by students of Edina High School; 6754 Valley View Road; Edina, MN 55439; (952) 848-3800 x3087. Zephyrus is an open forum for student expression that recognizes the First Amendment guarentee of freedom of the press, and abides by Tinker standard. Opinions published in Zephyrus do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff, advisor, administration, or entire student body. Submissions and letters are printed based on space available. Anonymous letters may be printed only if a Zephyrus advisor or editor knows the author’s identity. Letters should be mailed to the school or given to the advisor or a staff member. Zephyrus reserves the right to edit any letters for clarity and length.

Opinion 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Volume 32 Issue 3

December 16, 2011

9

www.edinazephyrus.com

Wood smoke proposal is legitimate

W

hen rumors circulated that a proposed city ordinance would ban all wood-burning fireplaces in Edina, I couldn’t help but want to find answers. To me, this proposal was ridiculous. Individuals should be able to decide whether or not they want to burn wood on their own property, even if it may be a threat to the environment and their own health. When I dug deeper, though, I discovered that the rumors are fictitious, and that the actual current proposal is pretty legitimate.

The current proposal is simple: to convert the three wood-burning fire places inside the Centennial Lakes Park Centrum Building to gas. In the Centrum Building, people can rent out a space for special events, or hang out inside and take a break from the ice skating offered from midDecember through mid-February.

Although I personally enjoy the warm cozy feeling and nostalgic smell affiliated with wood burning fireplaces, I had to think in a broader sense and agree with the proposal for a couple of reasons. First of all, black carbon soot produced from wood smoke makes up 50% of toxic atmospheric emissions, according to the head of the United Nations Environment Program. Not only do the toxic atmospheric emissions from black carbon soot contribute to air pollution, but it also puts everyone’s health at risk. Health hazards directly related to wood smoke exposure include cancer, lung conditions such as emphysema, and reproductive birth defects. In addition, the transportation of firewood contributes to the deadly spread of insect-borne tree diseases such as emerald ash borer. So, if the public within the Park Centrum Building is involuntarily exposed to wood smoke, and converting the fireplaces to gas eliminates toxic atmospheric emissions, then this proposal is pretty legitimate.

Not only does the Park Centrum Building’s conversion to gas fireplaces eliminate the negative wood smoke effects, but it also eliminates unnecessary costs for the city.

Gas fireplaces would save Edina $900$1375 a year. Not to mention the expected payback period is 7 years.

It is important to realize that wood smoke’s negative effects should never endanart by Monica Omodt ger people occupying city property, where the city has control over air quality. Though it may be our right to choose to burn firewood on our private property, we should think twice about the negative effects that burning firewood entails, and consider converting to the safer and more profitable gas fireplaces.

Monica Omodt, copy editor

Readers Say...

art by Emma Westbrook

How-to: SparkNotes

S

parkNotes. For students, it is a haven.

The best website in the world when you just don’t want to read yet another book for that AP lit class you now realize you shouldn’t have signed up for in the first place. For teachers, it can be the enemy. You know your students are going to go home, leave

“SparkNotes is often the best resource students have when it comes to an English or literature class.” their books in their backpacks, and head over to SparkNotes for some summary, some character description, and even a healthy dose of prepackaged analysis (sometimes not too different from what students come up with in class discussions, truth be told). There’s no way to stop it, so what do you do? Do you tell students to never access SparkNotes and try to catch the ones who do? Or do you realize that some people always aren’t going to read, but that SparkNotes can still be a good source (at least better than the oft-vilified Wikipedia) for lit students trying to comprehend the verbose prose of a long-dead author who may well have been paid by the word?

Can SparkNotes completely replace the experience of reading a quality book? No. Can it serve

There’s no reason to restrict a popular past time (52%, 57 Votes)

•

Wood smoke should only be restricted in public (21%, 23 Votes)

•

No preference (17%, 19 Votes)

•

All wood burning should be banned in Edina: it pollutes the air and creates a hazard for those with asthma (10%, 10 Votes)

thing.” She did remark, however, that, “as with all tools, it gets misused” and that “there’s a certain percentage of students that only read SparkNotes.”

For Froehlich, SparkNotes can be “a great thing” in class, provided it’s used properly.

SparkNotes is often the best resource students have when it comes to an English or literature class. The key, though, is using it responsibly. When you need to clarify something in the text at, say, 2 a.m., it’s your best friend. If you’re solely relying on it and never reading the book, you’re doing it wrong. Oh, and if you’re bored while reading, there’s always the SparkNotes blogs.

Be warned, however: They might end up being more addicting than even YouTube or Facebook.

Zephyrus staff

s? u r y Zeph

What is your stance on restricting wood smoke emissions in Edina?

•

as a way for students to better understand the books they’re reading for class? Absolutely.

English teacher Jessica Froehlich agrees that SparkNotes can be valuable, saying “some people use them properly. They read the assigned reading, whatever the assigned reading is, and then they read SparkNotes to clarify or to see if they missed any-

of h g u no e t e g Can’t Fol low us o @e din n Twit aze t phy er! rus

Vote in the next Opinion poll online at www.edinazephyrus.com art by Tyler Gieseke

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10 Culture

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Volume 32 Issue 3

December 16, 2011

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

20 Presents Under $20 Ugh. Holiday season is here. You’re getting paid minimum wage at your average job. What if you can’t even afford to give gifts to all of your friends and family? Look no further because this is your guide to the 20 best holiday gifts under $20 for anyone on your list. You won’t have to spend a penny over $20 for each friend this season!

Bookmark This!

“People of the Book”

by Geraldine Brooks Do you get a kick out of historical fiction? Even if it’s not for everyone, this genre gives the author incredible possibility to expand on events that have already occurred. Geraldine Brooks took this interpretation to the extreme when she created the tale of the making of an ancient Jewish manuscript called the Sarajevo Haggadah.

The physical book, probably created around 1350, is considered a piece of art and Jewish culture because of its beautiful illustrations and colors. It exists today, protected, in the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Impressively, the Haggadah survived the Nazi purge of Jewish culture during WWII. Brooks will admit freely that her work is largely fiction, but just as readers want to believe in a secret code hidden in the Mona Lisa or a message on the back of the Declaration of Independence, you want to believe in the mysterious secret of the manuscript’s journey.

This book is a whirlwind of adventure and romance. The main character is a young Australian book expert named Hanna who is called to repair and restore the Haggadah upon its discovery in the 1990s. Through the discovery of an insect wing, a splash of wine, and a single hair in the book’s binding, she is able to delve deeper into the past of the extraordinary book and imagine how it survived over all these years. Hanna studies the Haggadah, falls in love with a business partner, and uncovers a sinister plot, but her story is not the only one told. Through a series of flashbacks, the history of the Haggadah emerges, marking its journey from the day it was written to its survival through centuries of anti-Semitism.

I was drawn in by the promising story and was not disappointed. Unfortunately, there were so many characters who played a part in the Haggadah’s journey, and the time and setting jump around, so sometimes the book was a little hard to follow. Around the end of the book I realized that each chapter comes labeled with a date and the name of the character whose perspective it was written from. So, my advice to you is to read “People of the Book” if you’re into captivating books with historical significance and a whole lot of substance.

Bookmark This! is a monthly column where I feature truly fabulous books that EHS students may have overlooked. If you have a book suggestion or comment, you can contact me at bookmarkthisreviews@gmail.com. Keep reading!

Andrea Kimball, in-depth editor

all art by Julia Bolter

Five Gifts for the Fashionista 1.

Scarves are a must-have for the harsh Minnesota winter. Senior Jackie Werner said, “Scarves give me an excuse to be artsy!” They can turn any plain jeans-and-a-t-shirt day into hours full of compliments.

2. Cardigans can make an outfit go from drab to fab! Sophomore Leanna Latanision stated, “A cardigan is the perfect accessory! They come in any color and match any outfit.” Werner added, “They are so cuddly and warm.” Listen up men!!! Girls love a cute boy in a cardigan. Target has many types of cardigans, in every color imaginable.

3. A nice pair of tights can make a spring skirt re-usable in the winter. An even better pro to wearing tights? “Tights are a great gift so people don’t have to shave in the winter time,” sophomore Lydia Gutowsky said. Check out Urban Outfitters for their 2 for $20 deal!

4. Oxfords are a nice touch to any outfit to make it the perfect combination of class and artsy, boys and girls alike!

5. This year, feathers are the new big thing. Sophomore Vivian Shubert explained the imagery behind them. “Feathers are like free spirits. They float on the breeze and go wherever the wind takes them.” American Eagle has so many feather necklaces under $20 right now!

Five Gifts for the Gadget Guru 1. It’s pretty much a given that belting out songs when no one can hear you is going to make you giddy. Shower radios are the perfect solution for those friends you have that are too ashamed to sing alone! Junior Meg Anderson said, “If I owned a shower radio, I would sing in the shower.”

2. No one can resist a knit penguin. Urban Outfitters carries a furry case that is sure to keep an iPod or iPhone safe and adorable at all times.

3. A nice pair of Skullcandy headphones do wonders to the ear. Their “Ink’d” earbuds are cheap and great quality. They come in lots of color options for the ultimate personalized gift.

4. Puppy Tweets is a hilariously useful gadget from Amazon.com for those animal lovers in your life. It’s a dog tag that connects to your computer’s WiFi every time your dog is on the move. If your dog barks, it is very well possible that you will see a Tweet on your Twitter homepage from your dog’s account that says “I miss you, hurry home!”

5. When your brother is gaming too hard and his computer starts to overheat, it’s probably a good time to put a surface between him and the laptop. Micro Center is great for finding laptop cooling pads.

5 Gifts for the Fit Friend 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Everyone knows yoga is the best way to get in shape while relaxing at the same time. Get a friend into the yoga craze with a yoga mat at Dick’s Sporting Goods!

The perfect gift for lax bros is a sack of lacrosse balls.

Socks. Of course this is a gift that people groan at when received, but they’re secretly excited when they get the kind they want. People are surprisingly picky when it comes to socks.

We’re all y jealous of our fit friends, but they all have weaknesses, too. Thirst. Quench it in a cute way with a Bobble water bottle. “It looks pretty and it makes a funny noise when I squeeze it so it entertains me,” said sophomore Josie Thuma.

The Shakeweight. A hilariously entertaining way to get those toned arms that your not-so-fit friend has been craving!

5 Miscellaneous Gifts 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Obviously if your friends aren’t with you, the only thing they can be doing is studying.Why not get them a gift card to your local coffee shop so they can study in peace?

With all royalties going to charities, this is one gift you won’t want to miss out on. The Indie Rock Coloring Book is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a coloring book with activities like connect the dots all revolving around indie bands such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Shins.

Who can resist this gift from Amazon.com?

Urban Outfitters sells a sandwich coin purse. Why someone would not want to casually pull out what seemingly is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from their pocket is beyond me.

Chipotle. Must I say more? Just get your friends a gift card and no one will get hurt.

Coal.

Megan Couture, staff writer

11

Culture

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Volume 32 Issue 2

December 16, 2011

www.edinazephyrus.com

Restaurants for l♥ vers Address Book

The Cheesecake Factory Monday-Thursday: 11a.m.-11 p.m.

Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

2715 Southdale Center, Edina 55435 (952) 653-3333

Duplex Restaurant

Everyday: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

2516 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis 55405 (612) 381-0700

Famous Dave’s

Sunday-Thursday: 11a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

4264 Upton Avenue, Minneapolis 55410 (612) 929-1200

Snuffy’s photo by Stephanie Coleman

Monday-Saturday: 11a.m.-8 p.m.

Sunday: 12 p.m.-8 p.m.

4502 Valley View Road, Edina 55424 (952) 920-0949

Famous Dave’s is a great place to go in a group for some barbecue or have a fun, casual date.

Looking for a place to take that special someone that isn’t infested with families? No worries! Zephyrus has compiled a list of restaurants around town that will surely get the conversation flowing. Screaming children and bad food not included.

The Cheesecake Factory: A safe choice for those couples searching for something close by, yet delicious, after a movie at AMC. Inside is rather large and open, omitting intimacy, but the friendly restaurant chatter encourages a pleasant discussion. The food provided is rich and delicious and it is doubtful that you’ll go home hungry or disappointed. Be careful of the pricing here though-- as it is easy to go over most high school students dinner budgets if you order a high-priced Italian meal like Pasta Da Vinci ($16.95) or Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake ($7.95) for dessert.

Duplex Restaurant: For those couples who are real food lovers and appreciative of the aspects of fine dining, this place is for you! It provides a quaint, intimate setting with a variety of more sophisticated foods at an extremely reasonable price. Papparadelle with duck, coconut curry black bean soup, potato gnocchi, tomato fennel tart, and poutine, are various selections found on the menu, all under $15.00. This place is, dare I say it, out of the bubble though, so best be safe and go here after multiple successful dates when you are seeking more of an edible adventure!

Famous Dave’s: Fun, rustic, and casual. Three words that fit the description of this setting

This issue’s poll: Edina’s favorite mythical creature

The Loch Ness Monster

Vote for next issue’s poll on edinazephyrus.com

to a tee. It’s perfect for a group of close friends, but not so much for a first one-on-one outing. It could get awkward quickly. Just imagine. A failed attempt of “trying” to keep clean by restraining from devouring amazing ribs... not gonna work. A love for meat is a requirement and nerves should be out of the question for this engaging atmosphere.

BONUS for the Brave: Take your date to the Uptown Famous Dave’s on either Monday or Tuesday night for some quality dancing. Monday is swing dance night with free lessons at 7:15 p.m. and music coming on at 8pm. Tuesday night offers a chance to salsa dance at 9 p.m. Either would be a very memorable experience!

Snuffy’s: This neighborhood malt shop is great for a casual date. Although once known as the “Best Restaurant for Kids” by the Twin Cities Reader, it’s nostalgic style is great for high school couples because of the feeling of fun and comfort as soon as you walk in. The checkered red and white tablecloths and vinyl booths are not intimidating when it comes to first dates. Food is brought to your booth quickly, so there isn’t time to spare for any possible awkwardness. Just slurp a malt to share, eat a delicious bacon cheese burger and release the first-date tension with a smile.

So next time you want to ask that special sweetie out, ditch Noodles or Chipotle and bring her/ him to a classy Zephyrus approved restaurant. You won’t regret it!

Stephanie Coleman, news editor

@twitter #defined On November 28 senior Chris Mullis tweeted: “@ paulwalltall I’m looking at you right now in windigo, and you may need a flow chop now #justsayin” Five years ago most people would ask, what is a “@ paulwalltall”? Is that # a typo? Why is Chris Mullis looking at me right now? Why is he telling everyone?

Twitter’s tweets, #hashtags, @mentions, and followers, can be hard to pick up on. Ask any tweeter to explain the phenomenon and they’ll find themselves at a loss for words. I’ll try my best.

Let’s begin with the concept of a “tweet”. A tweet is a bite-sized message containing 140 characters or less. It can be something newsworthy, artsy, insightful, emotional, or funny.

Within this 140 character word limit you can include a hashtag: a “#” followed by a word or phrase that embodies or comments on the topic of your tweet.

Technically, hashtags are used for people to track what others have to say about a common topic such as #blackfriday. If enough people tweet the same hashtag, it becomes a “trending topic”, meaning that it’s one of the most popular topics on Twitter.

Tweets can also be used for direct communication. In this case, tweeple “mention” their fellow tweeter. A mention involves the “@” symbol, followed by a person’s Twitter

name. Mentioning another person in a tweet will send them a special notification via phone alert, email, or text.

Following someone on Twitter means subscribing to their tweets. Each Twitter user has a Twitter feed that displays the tweets of who they follow in chronological order.

Through Twitter, students at Edina High School find out what our friends are doing without seeming creepy. We receive school updates from athletics @edinahornets and the principle @Doc_Loc, jokes from @FillWerrell and @Lord_ Voldemort7, and the occasional hot gossip from each other. We find refuge on Twitter when we’re bored, can’t sleep, looking for plans, or find ourselves in awkward situations—you know, the kind where you just need to look down at your phone. 140 characters (or less) never seemed so helpful.

To answer your first question, @paulwalltall is senior Paul Nordquist. In plain English, Chris’ tweet from November 28 reads “Hey Paul, I’m looking at your right now in Windigo, and you may need a flow chop now (Just saying)” On December 3 @paulwalltall announced to the world that he was “Finally getting a haircut...you’re welcome @That1kidchris” Emily Cherkassky, staff writer *check out the backpage for more EHS speak

Back Page www.edinazephyrus.com

Volume 32 Issue 3

December 9, 2011

12

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Webster’s Hornet Dictionary A brief history of the Hornet language

From the first day of school in 1949, Edina High School students have been morphing the English language to fit their daily desires. Shortening, combining and creating, the student body has created a host of popular slang terms that many do not fully understand. Look here for ye definitions of thy dialect that doth mess with thy mind.

bender \’ben-der\ 1. An insult

mack \’mak-\ 1. To flirt exces-

for a person with low athletic ability,

sively. <I was lying down a thick mack

derived from bending ankles of the

yesterday, there is no way she can ever

hockey skaters. <He’s such a bender,

resist this.>

look at the way his ankles swish from side to side.>

The Mar \’mär\ 1. A nickname for Braemar Hockey Arena, because

bur \’bur\ 1. A slang word for

two syllables is just way too many for

Canterbury Park. A horse racing hot

us to handle. <Did you see that game at

spot for 18 year old boys to go and

The Mar? Totally wicked, broski.>

throw away money while betting on the world’s most majestic animals.

rattled \’rat-tull-ed\: 1.To irritate

<Dude, are we hitting up the Bur this Fri-

someone to no end. <I totally ratted

day? I’m looking to burn through $300.>

her when I told her that ponchos were so sixth grade.> 2. To become extraor-

chirp \’chee-erp\ 1. To insult

dinarily frustrated. <I was so rattled

someone <Why doth thy administration

when I realized there was no toilet paper,

need be shutting down thee students who

AFTER I already went>

be chirping at games?> 2. The sound birds make when they wake you up

scoop \’sküp\ 1. A more contem-

at seven in the morning after a night

porary version of Charlie Sheen’s

of partying. <Gosh Darnit! I only got

#winning. Major emphasis on

3 hours of sleep last night because of all

the “ooooo” (think Minnesota ac-

the chirping.>

cent). <My AP euro test was canceled.

SCOOOOOOOOOOOOP! Another day of

flow chop \’flo-‘chäp\ 1. When a

procrastination!> 2. A game gentlemen

boy gets his hair (flow) cut (chopped).

play, where one sneaks up on another

<When your hair hits your shoulders, its

and flicks their pectoral muscle while

time for a flow chop man.>

shouting “scoop”. <SCOOOOP! I got you good bro!>

Alma Pronove, editor in chief & Natalie Paule, art editor