overload
ECG Literary Magazine Club “The Overload”
The Early College at Guilford 2010-2011 Volume 1, Issue 1
EARLY COLLEGE AT GUILFORD
Volume 1, Issue 1
The Bir th of “T he Over load” Letter from editor:
Inbox
1
ECG News
2
National Headlines
3
Literature
4
ECG Idols
16
Reviews
18
With yearbooks being passed around, phone numbers exchanged, and promises to meet once a week during summer, everything is finally sinking in—the school year is ending. It’s difficult to say whether I am jubilant or tearful to leave sophomore year. It was definitely difficult relationship with the amount of workload we had. If I look back upon our hectic year, there is only one word to perfectly describe it: a rollercoaster. During this “rollercoaster,” there were bumps and times when we would frantically hold onto
the person sitting next to us. Although we faced these challenges, we still had friends to hang onto. We supported each other and told ourselves, “We will survive,” and other times that “We’re screwed.” It was adventuresome, thrilling, and emotionally challenging; we all cried, laughed, and acceptingly greeted our dark circles, but it has finally come to an end. With so much having gone by in only a year, it’s going to be hard to remember all of our irreplaceable memories. So the ECG Magazine Club presents you
Hae ji n Song
with the very special “overload.” It is our first literary magazine which we miraculously managed to publish during this whirlwind. In closing, I would like to thank the Magazine Club staff members for all of their hard work! Enjoy.
Drawing/ 20 Photography Inbox: Dear Natalie... Q: What do I do if I develop feelings for a teacher? A: Repress them and channel your emotions into something positive, like studying, spending time with your friends, or skydiving (w/out a parachute). Q: How can I look good in pictures? A: If you want to look good in a picture then it is important to be aware of the tone of the picture. There’s always someone who is unaware that the group is taking a serious picture and ends up making a face or ends up with a terribly
terribly forced smile. In any situation it also helps to try to accentuate your best feature. (Cheese!) Q: How can I learn to moonwalk? A: If you want to learn any new skill, like a particular dance, then it helps to find someone who already possesses that skill. They may be able to help teach you or offer advice while you learn. To learn how to moonwalk you could start by looking up tutorials on YouTube. (Check out “newcoolsounds”, one of our amazing staff member’s YouTube account!)
Q: Does it get easier? A: School? Life? No. LOL JK. It definitely does get better with time… after sophomore year. The more you get acclimated to the new challenges that ECG offers the better it will get. Q: What are some positive aspects of sophomore year? A. Sophomore year may seem extremely scary and impossible to survive but I promise, all that work isn’t for nothing! During sophomore year many students see improvement like they’ve never seen before.
*The opinions expressed on this column are solely those of Natalie.*
The friendships grow tighter and you will learn to conquer anything you put your mind to. Believe that! Q: How will I ever survive ECG? A: TIME. MANAGEMENT. This may seem like the same old advice but that’s because it will benefit you the most! If you’re at this school then you’ve already shown that you’re intelligent, you just need to figure out how to handle the work load. If you find yourself becoming overwhelmed, talk to your friends, teachers (Mr. Bryant!), and family. That will help you get some stress out of your system and they can help you.
P
Individual Achievements
“..more than double the second place team, NCSSM.”
ecgnews
FALL EVENTS
SPRING EVENTS “Party.”
Academic Events
AGE
2
V
OLUME
1,
I
SSUE
1
P
AGE
worldnews Osama Bin Laden’s Execution: The US Claims the Victory By: Sam Gibson
The mastermind of the devastating September 11th attacks has finally been killed by the US government. US leaders have been searching for the elusive terrorist leader ever since the term of Bill Clinton. Finally, under specific orders from Barack Obama, an elite team of Navy SEALS besieged a massive compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Two couriers, a woman, Bin Laden and one of his sons were killed in the attack.
helicopter in accordance with sacred Muslim law. DNA tests later confirmed to the president that it was indeed Bin Laden. Obama later addressed the nation to debrief the public on the death of Bin Laden. The announcement was met with much jubilation in DC, and throughout the US. A wild celebration gathered outside the White House the very night of the announcement, May 1st.
Bin Laden's body was disposed at sea from a
Many political leaders from home and
Donald Trump: Presidential Candidate? By: Sam Gibson
abroad such as Bush and the French president Nicolas Sarkozy, commended Obama and America for the momentous accomplishment. Reactions in the Middle East are mixed, while some lament his passing and others passively accept it. The fight against Al Qaeda may not be over yet, but the entire American nation has boldly declaimed: "If you pursue terrorism, we will pursue you."
“Donald Trump often appears on Fox, which is ironic, because a fox often appears on Donald Trump's head.”
3
P
AGE
4
When I am Old… When I am an old man I shall live in a knotty English cottage. I shall wear sparkly top hats in blue, purple and green. And I shall take all my grandchildren on a tiny boat when they are still little. And tell them of pirates and sirens and all my other friends. I shall whine to the teenagers in the park when they are kissing too loudly. And wear polka-dot bowties that light up and sing And have a glass greenhouse filled with plants whose names no one can pronounce And build a city of books in a Victorian library with porcelain and columns I shall write long letters to all my friends all over the world And forget names of my grandchildren on purpose
Au t u m n a l e qu i n ox
Sam gibson And dance along stone walls mumbling to myself You can walk on the grass and complain of the heat And enjoy the simple things and watch TV all day Or only daytime television and soap operas And make the suburbs your playground of retirement But now we must be quiet when our orders are wrong And consider other people’s peace of mind And not yell obnoxiously when frustrated We will have our rooms cleaned and smiles when opening unwanted presents But maybe I ought to start looking for nice English realestate? So people who know me aren’t too mystified and befuddled When suddenly I am old and live in a knotty English cottage.
a m a n da i n g m a n
Faint sonatas resound through ornate rooms as dust sifts across sun-faded floors Outside leaves cascade from brittle twigs in droves Somewhere, someone closes the heavy oak door and a chill sweeps down the parlor hall as the great clock chimes once and the sonata abruptly stops, while those who stood paused, listening suddenly awake and resume the search for the key that should open the second door in the west wing hall.
Photo by Ali Fourqurean
P
AGE
5
T h e c r e at i o n o f t h e wo r l d I don’t know a whole lot, but I sure wish I did. It perturbs me to not know why things are what they are. I don’t know what the universe is other than what anyone else can make of it. It makes me wonder why I’m here. I wish I knew about myself. Thus, I’ve set out to figure out all this stuff, all on my own. I think I’ve come up with some stuff, but it’s weird stuff. I really want to record it. So…here it goes. How shall I begin? I suppose I will start to endeavor to put my thoughts into words by describing the heavens as I see them. I think they are a vacuum. Yes, a vacuum. Like any vacuum, the heavens, or rather, the cosmos, while very large, are very full of nothing. Beware, though. “Nothing” has its qualities. It is orderly and extensive. One trapped in an empty vacuum will never find its ends, for he is a prisoner of this nothing. Nothing is, however, an ideal setting for dreams. Dreams. Thoughts. Think about the universe, what lies beyond, and patterns recurring in our own consciences. What goes through human minds to us is real, concrete material; a clear-cut image is produced every time our memories connect with the things we experience, an image so feasible to us that we can act it out exactly as we thought it. The boundary between reality and imagination is quite blurry to us. The board itself upon which we draw our thoughts is abstract and quite difficult to describe; yet, strangely, when we visualize things upon this board, we see them as if through our very eyes, and feel and hear our thoughts as if vibrating upon our very vocal chords. Those are massive connections. You think the cosmos is connected? I think they could be much
like the human mind. Our consciences make connections because we are animals. The human brain is designed to connect in a way that spurs imagination. Might the universe and the worlds beyond act as brains themselves? Could we be thoughts, simple imaginings of a mind-like structure? As I see it, yes. The cosmos is bigger than our world, that is, the universe we can see. We scientists can break down and toss around in our minds the things we observe all we want, but it won’t answer our most bothersome questions. We may “figure things out”, but we really haven’t figured things out until we realize through imagination alone what the universe really is. I imagine that it’s a dream. An unreal, yet feasible mental imagery created by the currents that uphold order in the cosmos, a vacuum of such immense nothingness. After all, what are our thoughts? One couldn’t touch them. One couldn’t prove their origins; a tangible chemical reaction is not the same as the intangible imaginings that occur in our minds. Thoughts alone are not concrete. As real as they feel, they are not. Well, what is a vacuum? A vacuum does not exist! It’s a nothing! Like our minds, the cosmos is simply an open void. Yet, though I imagine the cosmos as an emptiness, we’re still here. Likewise, though our consciences are intangible, our thoughts are still quite feasible. And if our thoughts are simply dreams, recurring waves in an open space…then we ourselves are a dream. I’ll try to clarify. We are trapped in something our science can by no means describe, something unobservable. We are a piece, a stimulant like the little chemicals in our brains, of something I cannot imagine as anything other than a vast abyss that, though we may define it by di-
Erica perine mensions, does not have humandefinable boundaries. You know how our thoughts seem to come out of nowhere? Well, our universe comes out of nowhere. Nowhere is boundless. Yet, if we scientists really want to, we can still organize it. Dimensions. First, second, third, fourth…that’s all we know. We use dimensions to define parts of our universe that appear to take shape. The tangible edges of things. The shapes defined by those edges. Depth. The broadest dimension we know, space-time. Even that is a contour we can define only with our imaginations. The mind-surpassing complexity of dimensions make it quite hard to theorize about our universe’s beginnings by means of science. Doubtlessly, the cosmos contains dimensions beyond the ones we know. The cosmos contains all dimensions. Little do we consider, we are transparent particles in the context of everything. Still the question remains, why are we here? What gives us form? Why do we move? Why do we each have a distinct shape? Why are the universe’s points of gravity uneven? There seems to be a warp. But there probably isn’t. In spite of everything, we know nothing of the dimensions beyond time. We cannot fathom them, and therefore cannot possibly try to judge the perfection of the cosmos using the infinitesimal world we know as context. The great vacuum I imagine might be perfectly balanced; its balance might rely on our movement and taking up of shape. The “warp” of space-time might assure order. The dimensions we do not know probably further regulate this space. An abyss so immense contains some stuff after all. That is my fathoming of the giant space we live in.
P
AGE
6
Confessions of k-pop fan girls caroline fried and whitney zhou
On a stormy afternoon, you’re making your way past the Frank Family Science Center when you see two girls facing the doors to the lobby and rubbing their hands together in a dance-like fashion, muttering “sorry sorry sorry sorry”. Noting the impending rain, you think, “What are those crazies doing?” Noticing you staring bemusedly, the girls stop dancing and stand sheepishly until you leave. You safely assume that they will continue dancing as soon as you’re out of sight. Are they possessed? Are they drunk? Are they just a couple of random college girls being...college girls? The answer is “No.” You have just witnessed the power of Kpop. It’s no secret that we love Korean pop music. Or at least it isn’t anymore. Some of our closest friends might go as far as to say that we have an unhealthy obsession with the stuff. We use Kpop to get us through our homework. We spend hours upon hours clandestinely learning the dances. Apart from Facebook, our most visited websites are fan blogs and Kpop news sites. And of course, we’d be nowhere without YouTube. We’ve been solely listening to Kpop so frequently and for so long that virtually any modern American music leaves us like a deer in the headlights. How many times have we turned on the radio in the futile hope of hearing something worthwhile, only to immediately shut it off in dissatisfaction? “But why,” you may ask, “why can’t you just follow American artists like the rest of us?”
Well, where’s the fun in that? Many people cannot seem to fathom why we would prefer to listen to music in a language we can’t even understand. Contrary to popular notion, we get more enjoyment out of Kpop because we don’t understand the lyrics. If you’ve ever listened to a song in a foreign language you might find yourself paying more attention to the musicality: the melodies, back beats, harmonies, and the like. This is exactly why we love Korean pop: no lyrics to think about that get in the way. Just music. On the occasion that we do look up English translations for the lyrics, an obvious pattern arises of lyrics that are embarrassingly sappy and romantic by American standards. Even in funky, dance Kpop, the lyrics may fit just as nicely in a sentimental ballad. Sappy as they are, they are a welcome break from the mindless, sexually charged lyrics of American songs. Male singers, especially in the dance/hip-hop genres, can’t seem to sing or rap about anything more profound than women’s bodies. You won’t find a Korean song titled “Smack That,” thank you very much, Akon. The most unique plus of Kpop: every single has its own infectious dance. Dancing always makes any performance more dynamic, and most groups can hold their own without backup dancers because there are so many members. Korean groups are famous for their perfect dance formations - the result of years of training. Each member can ACTUALLY sing and dance, unlike many American art-
ists who are highly deficient in one or both. The dances themselves range from relatively simple to difficult but are always as catchy, with each dance having a signature move (i.e., Super Junior’s Sorry Sorry chorus, the “handcuff” dance from SHINee’s Lucifer, and the “crab walk” from SNSD’s Gee). Most of all, they are learnable, with a plethora of covers and tutorial available on YouTube so that avid fans can turn listening into an interactive (and aerobic) activity. Korean idols are among the hardest working entertainers around. They need not only raw talent to make it in the booming entertainment industry, but also undergo years of rigorous training (sometimes starting from when they are only 12 or 13 years old) in dancing and singing before they debut. In addition to dancing, countless singers and rappers also act and host television/radio shows. And despite what you might hear about Korean stars all going under the knife to attain perfect noses and double eyelids, the fact that not all of them look the same attests to the hyperbolic nature of this statement. Why can’t people just accept the fact that Korean idols are naturally gorgeous? Especially the guys. Jealous Asian guys sneer at the idea of men wearing makeup or doing things that otherwise compromise their manliness. But they couldn’t be more wrong. Male Korean idols can wear eyeshadow for performances and dress up as giant vegetables just to have some fun because they have supreme confidence in their manliness, not
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
P
dismiss us as stereotypical fangirls. But we have made our case in an articulate fashion that beats the incoherent spazzing of other fangirls(i.e., “OMG HE’S JUST SOOOOOO HOT!!!” amidst the
hyperactive squealing of other rabid fans). For us it started small, but with each new artist and song we discovered, we grew to love the stuff more and more. Not only is the content more wholesome than
mindless American pop, it is much more fun to listen to. So if you still ask “Why Kpop?” our answer is “Why not Kpop?”
A d u lt s d i l e m m a
h a l e y h aw k i n s
When I was a child My view was unobstructed I had no other inkling No knowledge to be abducted
When I was a child My voice flowed like warm springs Instead of like a frosty chill That threatens all with its sting
When I was a child I never would’ve led Myself to this troubling crossroads Instead I would’ve fled
When I was a child I had a tutu made of tulle Which hangs on a hook in the back of my mind Begging me to be its fool
Because when I was a child I never would’ve known Anything but my pounding heart And my soul’s incessant drone
When I was a child I would’ve surrendered with pride But now I may not do such things As I’m caught in life’s rip tide
When I was a child My blood flowed pure and swift Instead of congealing like it does now In its cold lethargic drift
Which leads me quite conclusively To question my current state For what would my kid self think of me? What would she think of her fate?
Promises Aren't Forever Valentine's Day A new beginning Diamond-like raindrops Something's coming Evening message Quick assumptions Proven correct Ready rejections Special event Regrets brew Lost and searching Searching for you Open offers Always and forever
Shying away Yes to together Messages back and forth Longing, painful longing A new day arrives With you, belonging Days go by Beautiful days Clutching lifelines Forever and always Schoolgirl effect Eyes so close Seven days with Jewel Coming to a close
AGE
anonymous
Conflicting emotions Fear of betrayal Hidden meanings The blow that’s fatal Stated permission Implied resent Oblivious, foolish Regretting consent New assumptions Once more right Parting ways Rainy night
Glazed stares Across the space “Cheerful” airs Still making my heart race Hopes of renewal Fade away Three months pass by Day after day Endless days Final phrase: The end... But maybe a second?
7
P
AGE
8
I n d e t e r m i n at e s o u l s A well established principle that seems to elude the common masses is the indeterminate nature of morals. Most believe in some basic set of morals, such as the usual thou shalt not steal, kill, etc. Yet, they do not understand why they believe those morals. The usual belief that is that morals are what they are simply because that is the way it is, that there is some unexplainable absolute law that ruled upon the relations of man and decided it to be so. This is simply shocking, because more often than not morals hold great influence on the actions of man. How could someone allow such a significant influence to simply go unanalyzed and unquestioned?
centuries implies the morals of man has shifted continuously over the years, far from the absolute and unwavering idea of morals most people occupy today.
ya s i r a z a m
I have with the “religious texts say all” argument is that religious texts simply hand you the morals, they don’t offer a real reason as to the why behind the morals, simply What exactly are morals? “God said so.” Perhaps the comMany believe that they are prehension of morals are simply beyond the faculties of man, so simply rules, defining “good”, the explanations were left out of “evil” and sometimes the “grey area” in-between. I say, nay. Mor- the texts, however I am more inclined to forge my own morals als are the standards of society than proceed on blind faith. Let it defining what is acceptable and what is not. They shift and wane not be misunderstood, I still follow the moral guidelines prewith the undulations of society. sented within my own religious Thus, as an extent, this means text of choice, the Quran, but I humanities concepts of “good” and “evil” are in constant state of still seek to understand and justify my moral beliefs as best as I can change. There is no absolute, no higher quality ascribed that makes on my own. an action intrinsically on one side Thus, while I admit religion can of the moral spectrum as opposed be a source of absolute moral law, The truth of the matter is to the other. I am inclined to believe if morals, that, contrary to popular belief, Religion is an oft cited ref- real, absolute morals, can be demorals are not simply “defined” erence in opposition to the inde- termined then they should be inand “absolute”. What is good and terminate morals belief. I admit dependently verifiable through evil today could just as easily shift most religious sources do provide inner inspection as opposed to to completely opposite spectrums absolute laws governing moral relying on a books of good intentomorrow. You ask for proof? decisions. However, most of said tions but questionable origins. Just look at the views man previ- morals provided by religious texts Seeing as there is (currently, as far ously had on slavery, on the sub- are simply not practical, contraas I am aware) no way to conclujugation of women, on the sever- dict today’s accepted morals, or sively derive absolute morals withity of punishments for crimes. All contradict other morals presented out the imposition of an arbitrary of these have shifted significantly within the work itself. Another “system” or “goal”, such as utiliover the years. These different tarianism or hedonism, I maintain notable feature of the morals of views represent different aspects religious texts is the sparing use of that morals are most certainly of of the morality of man at points indeterminate nature. a “grey zone” for good and evil, in time. The fact that such views in most cases said zone is practiand stances on these topics have cally non-existent. Another qualm changed significantly over the
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
P
Warning
AGE
Amanda ingman
When I am an old woman I shall recount stories to strangers sitting on park benches, with a gleam in my eyes
a pencil stub And make the cashier count out your change at the grocery store
I shall sit in a wicker rocking chair on a white screen porch and drink lemonade
Or only curl up under a quilt, pretend to be cold and listen to the radio
And I shall hum nostalgic tunes that everyone else has forgotten
And drink green tea at noon
And sit by windows and watch raindrops slide down and trace patterns on the glass I shall wear the same pearl earrings every day And carry tissues in my left pocket And smooth rocks in my right pocket And smile warmly at small children and reminisce I shall never tell anybody that I do not have time And plant lavender and rosemary in a little garden And decorate my house with delicate glass figurines and lace You can label photographs in a fading album with
But now we must fly through days with an air of importance And pretend to be overcome by stress and adrenaline And speak in clear, concise, intellectual sentences We will have foreign cars and offices and flawless smiles But maybe I ought to make irrelevant conversation with people at train stations So people who know me are not too worried When suddenly I am old with crinkly laugh lines around my eyes and start to tell stories to strangers on park benches
2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 1 R e f l e c t i o n s : “ To g e t h e r w e c a n … ” Together
Rain. Gray, bitter, freezing rain. It soaks their tattered clothing, Seeps through their being, Envelops them in an inescapable cold. I watch them from my throne, And gaze across vast sidewalks Overflowing with living corpses and Crumbling skeletons molded by years of neglect. I see twelve, huddled under a rusted shack With dying hopes for opportunity. I see one, sitting alone in the
Lillian Zerihun
muddy street With dying hopes for life. I cast an indifferent glance at their scabbed knees and bloody hands, Into their cloudy, black eyes As they silently scream stories of lives plagued with hunger and disease. As they silently cry out for death. Alone, We sit on these thrones of abundance As kings of the Earth, In heated homes In food filled kitchens
And watch them die On plasma screen TV’s in our lavish living rooms, While the sickly grandmother loses herself in lonesome reminiscences, While the orphaned child huddles in a murky corner, crying into her soiled blanket, While the crippled man drags his scarred hands across the concrete. Together, We leave our thrones behind. Together, Adults give them care. (CONTINUED)
9
P
AGE
10
Together,
Throw their greed away.
Hope for a brighter tomorrow,
Governments
We have the power to
If we could only work
Throw their differences away,
Heal the broken,
Together.
Throw their wars away,
Help the wounded,
For America Q. Explain how your work related to the theme? A. I created a fictional story in order to convey the American soldiers' willingness to sacrifice for both this nation and the people. I wanted to express how together the American people could always remember that freedom shouldn't be taken for granted and realize that it is a privilege we all should be grateful for.
I awoke from the familiar smell of hot crispy bacon and homemade, buttery biscuits. I sniffed several times wanting to make sure I was not dreaming. I could not move for a moment, I wanted to but I felt as if my whole body had frozen. I put on my slippers and rushed down the stairs almost tripping over my own feet. “Whoah, slow down there kiddo!” I heard a familiar voice which I had not heard in several years. I slowly turned around and my legs felt like butter, and tears started to pour down. It was really him, right in front of me, it was my dad. I ran into his arms, embracing him and holding him, making sure he was truly there. Not wanting to be apart from him ever again. My pa’s an American soldier. A firm and rough man who rarely shows any emotions. Always getting back up on his feet and brushing off any challenges that come his way. I guess it is a family trait that somehow missed me. Yet even with his toughness he was a jocular and caring man who I was proud to call dad. My pa always teases me by saying I couldn’t be his daughter. I’m too sentimental, he says. After my dad managed to adjust back into our lifestyle, I was eager to do
Haejin Song the things we used to do together when he was home. I convinced him to go to a football game, just him and me like in the olden days. He gave me a wide grin that had not changed over the years. “You bet.” I skipped across the street to our town’s old and run-down football field pulling my dad along with me where we sat down on the beaten bleachers, nice and close to the action. Just the way we used to like it. It was not an important game but simply having the chance to be with my dad and sitting right beside him made it seem like the best game. A local singer wearing red, white and blue made her way to the center and placed her hands on the microphone. She closed her eyes for a moment as if she was remembering someone and then began to sing. “O, say can you see by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming…” I glanced at my dad who was proudly saluting to our nation’s flag. It was only then I started to notice how older my dad had become; his face was rough and coarse and he looked somewhat exhausted. Nevertheless I could only look at him with awe; he was a true American soldier, a true hero. His eyes caught mine observing his roughened features and we both smiled. He ruffled my hair just like when I was a young girl. I wanted to savor every moment, I wanted to remember
everything he did and said, and I wanted him to stay forever. “Hey, dad?” “What’s up kiddo? Is something troubling you?” “Nah, nothing much. I was just wondering what it was like, you know, being in Afghanistan…” “Well, when you’re a soldier it’s not easy. You’re always on the lookout, watching out for your brothers and sisters and wondering if you’ll make it through. But, hey! I’m here with you right now and that’s the important part.” I wanted to be satisfied with his answer but I wasn’t. “But dad, why did you choose to become a soldier? You know, you didn’t have to. You could have gotten a job in town and always stay close to ma and me. You wouldn’t have to worry about your life being in jeopardy every day.” “I understand honey. But this is my duty. Without me, that’s one less person defending America. I just always have this feeling that… with my countrymen and women we really can achieve our goals. I feel as if together we are inevitable and together we can do anything.” I didn’t pay any attention to the game, I was too busy contemplating about what my dad had said. I started to understand his destined duty, and his unconditional love for his country. After the game we slowly walked home, talking about my life and his life. I realized that even though my
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
pa did not change, we had lived in two completely different worlds. When we arrived home, my mom equally thrilled as I am, made all of my dad’s favorite dishes: sweet potatoes, chicken noodle soup, homemade mashed potatoes… It was a nice change to his usual canned soup or canned vegetable dinner back in Afghanistan. Nothing could have possibly gotten better. All of a sudden the phone started to ring and everyone looked at one another. My pa gave me an assuring smile before answering. “Hello? Yes, this is he… I see… Now? Yes, sir. I will do that sir, good bye.” I hammered him down with questions, “Dad! Who was that? What did he want? What are you going to do? What’s the problem? I need to know!!!” But he did not answer right away, rather he sat down and ushered me to do the same. He took my hands and folded them over his. “Look, this may not be easy for you to hear. Heck, it’s not even easy for me. But I gotta do what I gotta do. You hear me?”
P
I managed to whisper, “What dad? What happened?” “I have to go to Afghanistan right now. This is real tough for me honey but this is an emergency.” I simply looked at him, tears brimming on the edge of my eyes. He continued, “I have to do my job for our country. Our nation needs us, soldiers. You have to do your job too, take care of mommy for me and be a brave girl for me. You’ll do that, won’t you?” I gave him a limp nod, and we embraced each other for the final time. I watched my ma and dad hurriedly go to the airport. I watched my dad’s gait, always full of purpose and confidence until the car disappeared into the night. “Bye pa, make your country proud” I said softly. It has been about five years since I have seen my dad. Unfortunately, five years ago would be the last time I would ever see my dad. He was one of the ten men to be killed last year in Afghanistan, always fighting for his nation. Today, I attended a memorial service in our town that honored all American soldiers who
AGE
11
courageously fought for this nation. I can still remember a war veteran’s speech that was delivered during the ceremony. He stated, “Today, we remember the brothers, sisters, wives, and fathers who sacrificed their lives for this nation and its people. They may no longer be here with us physically, but they will always be here with us in spirit, watching over us. Their bodies may not last forever, but their deeds and legend will never be forgotten. While many of us have experienced tragedies, do not consider the loss of these soldiers to be one of them. Do not be saddened for their deaths but rather be glad that such men and women were willing to sacrifice for our country. Let us wave our proud American flags knowing that freedom is not free… Together we can remember America’s true heroes. Together we can pray for the men who are on the battlefields right now. Together we can make our nation and fallen soldiers proud, by following in their footsteps and promising to carry on our country’s duties.”
P
AGE
12
34 Reasons to Love, Love 1. Looking at her 2. Falling over because your knees gave out 3. Sitting somewhere quiet and just, talking 4. Sunsets 5. The ocean breeze 6. Quickly dodging the waves as they approach your toes 7. Having a candlelit dinner, with corn on the cob 8. Enjoying a movie 9. Walking around the mall, just grazing 10. Trying on things at the mall 11. “Does this make me look fat?” 12. Cruisin’ with Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow 13. Walking along the pier, enjoying #4 and #5 above. 14. Listening to music 15. Dancing to music in the kitchen 16. Trying to make dinner while dancing 17. Cuddling on a rainy day
Michael Hebert 18. Waking up and finding her laying there, asleep, peaceful, and more beautiful than ever 19. Smelling her morning breath. 20. Having dinner with her parents 21. Obtaining the approval of her father 22. Waiting at the alter 23. Laying on a beach in Tahiti with matching metal on your fingers 24. Coming back home and returning to the workday 25. Buying a home 26. Fixing the air conditioning, by yourself 27. The day you go from dude to dad 28. The day you go from daddy!, to pops 29. Looking for colleges, again 30. Paying for college, again 31. Holding your grandchild 32. The big R word, retirement 33. Settling down in Florida, were all the old people go 34. Just looking at her
Powers and Problems and Prophecies, Oh My!
I turn around, my long light brown hair flying in every direction. There he is, with the sunset's red beams glinting off of his golden hair, the boy of my dreams. I run towards him, arms swinging side-to-side in sync with my legs and my soundless flip-flops. My short skirt is limiting my leg motion, but it doesn't matter. I land into his waiting arms, tears welling up in my eyes. “I knew you'd come," I whisper delicately as my tears spill over and begin to run down my face. He lifts my chin, and I can see his soft, heart-warming/melting smile, his calm blue eyes that sparkle like sapphires. His soft, luscious lips brush against my wet eyelashes as he kisses my tears away. “Of course I came," he says as I bury my face into his warm chest, "You are and always will be my Prin―" "Ariseth! Are you paying attention?"
May Wang
I snap out of my daydream to find myself being stared down by my teacher, Ms. Kilfer (not Mrs., since no one in their right mind would marry this lunatic). I ignore the snickers from the rest of the class and stare right back at her, my face not revealing the annoyance building up inside me. She sniffs and points to the board. "Could you please, for the last time, answer this problem?" Her eyebrows go up, challenging me, daring me to say the correct answer. I glance at the board, at the problem responsible for the interruption of my daydream. Ah, math. I'd be lost in any other subject. "X equals the square root of forty-two," I say, not hesitating one second as I take out my calculator and punch in the numbers. "And what is the approximate answer, since that is what the question is asking for?" But I already have the answer before she finishes. "Six point four eight." She glares at me over her outdated glasses that look like they're on the verge of falling off her hawk-like nose. But she has nothing on me, so she turns around and writes my correct answer on the board, but not
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
P
AGE
13
before she says, "In the future, Ariseth, I would like an answer "You are and always will be my Pri―" the first time I ask." I block her out and drift off back to my I am woken by a tap on my shoulder. I turn towards daydream as she starts writing another problem on the board. the intruder in annoyance. Can't a daydreamer daydream in "You are and always will be my P―" peace? Alexander stares at me, no emotion on his face, his eyes a startling blue. There's a knock at the door. As soon as Ms. Kilfer opens the door, a wave of strange energy washes over me, but "You should pay attention in class." it hits me so hard, I can't breathe for a few seconds. I look Oh no he didn't. towards the door, but it's only the principal of the school, Mr. I step off the crowded school bus and make my way Rose, an easy-going guy who looks around his late-20s, short home, ignoring the other person at my stop. I reflect over the dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, polo shirt, dress pants...overall an ordinary-looking guy. Ms. Kilfer smiles and day, and especially over Alex. nods politely, trying to make a good impression. The demon "That…-really annoying person-!" I mutter to myself. only comes out to greet the students. He had constantly kept me from my daydream, and I was actually forced to pay attention. I promise to myself that I'll Someone else walks into the classroom, someone I didn't notice before. Medium height, light brown hair (slightly keep my cool around him in the future, but a little part of me darker than mine), eyes too far away for me to see what color. doubts it. I'm pretty sure this stranger is the reason behind that wave of I step onto the driveway of my two-story house. It energy that almost knocked me over. The boy scans the class- looks like all the other houses on our street, which has always room quickly. I don't think I imagined the sharp interest in his bothered me. No identity...smothered thoughts...what does eyes when they met mine. The demon smiles at Mr. Rose and that remind me of? I quickly brush off that thought, but I'm nods, and the oblivious principal leaves. confused by this familiar feeling of forgetfulness. Surely everything's cleared up by now...? The demon returns to her true form as soon as the door closes and barks out, "This is a new student. His name is As I open my front door, I push my bangs behind my Alexander Sinthe, and he will be in this class." The guy, Alex- ear to tune in to any sound waves in my house. Hearing the ander, bows. almost silent snoring of one of my parents in their bedroom, I tiptoe the rest of the way to my room and shut the door, maHe bows. nipulating the sound waves to produce no sound. The demon looks around and spots the only empty As my daily ritual, I head straight to my closet and get desk next to me. out my secret box, full of "secret items". The only thing in "You will sit next to Ariseth." All the students flinch, this old shoebox is a letter, which actually is secret. I carefully but she doesn't notice. Everyone remembers the last guy who open the envelope and remove the three items, reading the used to sit there. It's only been a few months since his words I have read over and over before, and could recite if "mysterious" disappearance. No one sits there anymore. Until asked to. now. Making sure my door is locked and checking again Alexander slides into the desk, oblivious to the stares for any sounds, I begin to recite the "Prophecy of the and open mouths, and ignorant to the gasps and squeaks from Ones". the female preps. He just stares straight ahead at the problem "When Darkness claims the Earthly Throne, on the board. He raises his hand. Thy Savior shalt awaken. "Yes?" the demon asks, eyebrows raised, annoyed When Earth and Sea combine as one, that someone dared to raise his hand while in her lair. Thy pathway shalt be taken. "The answer to the next problem is x equals eight Late to rise, yet power-filled, plus or minus two i root thirty-one," he says calmly, almost When Four align and prove thy will, expectantly. I look at the board, only to find that he had anThy Light shalt not be shaken." swered correctly. Ms. Kilfer grumbles as she writes the answer
I flip the scrap sheet of paper face up and smirk. down, and even from the back of the room I can hear the words "another smart aleck". I smother my snicker and slowly I recited correctly. begin to, once again, drift off into my daydream. No, this isn't some action-flick fantasy. This is reality.
PAGE 14
There are people in this world, or so the letter tells me, who are called the "Ones". The "Ones" have Powers, magical powers that could range from increased hearing (my first Power) to invisibility (my second Power) to...something really powerful, I guess. (I don't really know of any other "Ones"). The Prophecy of the Ones talks about an age of "Darkness", and how the Ones will need to find their "Savior". Or so says the letter.
first Power, merely that I was taught about the Ones. Apparently, my first mom needs me to stay under the radar for some reason... Of course, I didn't believe any of this when I found the mysterious letter at my school (after I had been adopted again) addressed to me, until I saw the third and last item in the envelope:
A photograph. This letter, a folded sheet of faded printer paper with And in this photograph is a small girl, smiling cheersome ball-point pen writing, is from my mom. No, not the fully in a frilly pink summer dress, pale green hat, belt and "mom" sleeping in her room right now, my first mom. shoes, and a necklace I still wear. Beside this restless girl is a According to the letter, every "pureblood" One fam- young lady, possibly late-20s, with light brown hair (about the ily has to send one of their children to a human family. Unless same shade as mine), with T-shirt and plain blue jeans. The the family has a close human family friend (which usually is two stand in the middle of a vast field of flowers, with a barn the case), the child they pick (usually their first born, but there in the background. can be exceptions) gets sent to an orphanage, like I was. On the back of the photograph, the words "You alMy first mom happened to be a One, and took me in, knowing I was also a One. She raised me for almost seven years, and secretly taught me things about the Ones (the Ones that got sent into the human society are only told when they receive their first Power).
ways did like that necklace. It was a gift from your dad for your 5th birthday" are written.
Unfortunately, she was found out when I got my first Power, increased hearing, when I was about nine years old (usually, your first Power comes around age ten). My first mom had used some Power to keep me hidden, but when my Powers came, the protection was gone, and I was taken away, my memories sealed.
Suddenly, the sound waves from my parents' bedroom tells me my mom woke up, so I quickly replace the items to the envelope, the envelope to the shoebox, the shoebox to its hiding place in my closet.
So, the Ones are real, the Powers, obviously, are real, and this family is not my true family. (Nor is my first mom, but let's not go there.)
Want to read more? Go to fictionpress.com and The letter goes on explaining the secret to hiding search for “Powers and Problems and Prophecies, your Powers, since the Ones still don't know I already got my Oh My!”
Time for Annihilation Review Papa Roach formed in 1993 with Jacoby Shaddix, Tobin Esperance, Jerry Horton, and Dave Buckner and achieved mainstream success with the song “Last Resort” from their 2000 album Infest. The band evolved from a kind of hard-rap-rock band to a hard-alternative rock band and went on to release five more albums. You’ve probably heard “Scars,” “Forever,” “… To Be Loved,” “Lifeline,” and, more recently, “Kick in the Teeth.” I suppose that it’s possible that you’re unfamiliar with the band if you don’t listen to rock much, but they’re main stream enough that they should show up on some pop charts. At the end of August 2010 Papa Roach released Time for Annihilation: On the Record and On the Road which
Thomas Martin featured 5 new tracks and live recordings of nine favorites. I started listening to Papa Roach a good few years ago and I’ve developed a taste for heavier styles in the past year or two but they’re still good. The new songs have kinda the same feel as their last album, Metamorphosis. You can tell that Shaddix has feelings. The album’s kinda angsty in its lyrical content. There’s some hate on it. Jerry’s got some great guitar riffs in there. Tobin pretty much follows him on bass in his own way. The new drummer Tony Palermo’s great (not at all comparing him to Dave). He sets the tone nicely and has very good articulation. It’s more than just constant, heavy, sonic battery. On their own, none of them would
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
PAGE 15
be much. Together, they’re one headbanging ride! It sim- put together here. On that note, I need to mention that ply sounds good. It works. It’s music that’s got power they put a “Parental Advisory” sticker there for a reason. and flow in both the vocals and the instruments. Shaddix has some “colorful” language. Still, I’d rather The live part includes what I’m guessing are the expose my kids to this than most of the eroticism that the pop industry pumps out. songs in their current touring setlist. The number one complaint that I hear about live albums is “The crowd makes too much noise.” There is relatively little crowd noise on these songs. It’s mostly about the band. I can’t think of another way to put it, so I’ll just say this: These songs sound better in the studio. The band’s great but Shaddix can’t handle runnin’ around on stage and putting on a show and interacting with the crowd and singing. Also, Jerry’s not much of a back up vocalist. Jerry does add a beautiful guitar solo in the intro of “Forever,” though. Tobin’s got the most improvement live. He adds in some really nice bass fills where they are otherwise lacking on the album. Don’t buy the live stuff unless you’re both a live performance fan and a Papa Roach fan like me. I like that crowd noise and I like hearing how the band plays stuff differently live.
Give it a listen. If you like it, buy it. Don’t go download it from some “file-sharing” site. I’m not tryin’ to be “The Man” crackin down on crime, I just think of it this way: If you like a band, you fund them by buying their albums and merchandise and going to their shows so they can go back to the studio and record new stuff and get on the bus and drive around for you. If you buy this album, you’ll probably like Metamorphosis and maybe The Paramour Sessions. I’d take a look at their other albums too. I need to mention that Infest is a really different. It’s Rap-Rock. It’s the closest thing to rap that I like but I don’t think that exclusively rock fans will get as much of a kick out of it. ENOUGH!!! I’ve talked too much already and you’ve read for waaay too long. Go get an earful.
The most notably sub par aspect of this album is Warning: the lack of decent music videos. There are separatelyPapa Roach may cause intense headbanging that sold music videos for the studio songs “Kick in the may lead to upper spinal injuries. Teeth” and “Burn,” both great songs. The videos basically show the band playing with some muddled semExercise Caution. blance of a story in the back. They’re nothing compared to the power, imagery, and storytelling of their old music videos of those of Slipknot. If you really like Swedish death metal, you’re out of luck. Sorry. If you’re into bands like Three Days Grace or Green Day, I’d take a look. I’m really not sure what best to compare their sound to. It’s definitely modern, though. I chose to review a Papa Roach album because it’s music that’s not too hard for the average listener. Heck, I think that a Lady Gaga fan may also like this (though for completely different reasons…). I’d like to add a little something here in summation. Here’s my bias: Papa Roach was my first love. It was the first music that I ever followed or cared about. Papa Roach’s and Jack Black’s combined influence are the reasons that I play music and formed bands. On that note, I am not a mindless fanboy. There are other bands there that I like better and I’m not going to sit here and tell you “Papa Roach is the best band evar!!!1!eleven!!” I’m trying to give you an honest appraisal of what they’ve
STATE STREET CROSSING 2104 GEORGIA ST. GREENSBORO, NC 336) 333-0002
2939-B BATTLEGROUND AVE. GREENBSORO, NC 336) 286-6777
PAGE 16
MOVIE MANIA
And the winner is… TWILIGHT!!!
Land of the Lost
Fight Club
Lion King
Inception
Big Mammas House 2
Elf
Mean Girls
The Notebook
Grown Ups
Drillbit Taylor
Salt
Harry Potter
(lol jk)
And TV Shows...
Idol American House Despera
Grey’s Anatomy
te Hous ew
NCIS
ives
PAGE 17
VOLUME 1,
MUSIC MANIA Mark Gorton The Sound of Madness— Shinedown Another One Bites the Dust—Queen Born to be Wild— Steppenwolf Barracuda—Heart Working Man—Rush Katie Myers X&Y—Coldplay Your Hand in Mine— Explosions in the Sky Won't Stop—OneRepublic Look After You—The Fray Meteor Shower—Owl City
May Wang Fall For You— Secondhand Serenade The Diary of Jane— Breaking Benjamin Let You Down—Three Days Grace Bring Me To Life— Evanescence Teenagers—My Chemical Romance
Vivek Dakoriya Supplication—Sami Yusulf Sorry, Sorry—Super Junior Express Yourself— Madonna Ice Ice Baby—Vanilla Ice Abracadabra—BEG
Akshay Iyer Nolia Clap—Juvenile ft. Miles Martin Wacko & Skip A Little Piece of Heaven— Born to Make You Avenged Sevenfold Happy—Britney Spears Snuff—Slipknot Sonata For Alto Saxophone And Piano Op.19— Shogun—Trivium She Loves Me Not—Papa Paul Creston Leh Meshtalek—Nawal El Roach Zoghbi Solitaire Unraveling— Alysia Promislow Wake up—Rage Against Mushroomhead Sixteen Military Wives— the Machine The Decemberists You are Not Alone—The Akosua Bekoe Caroline Fried My Girl—Mindless BeSanctus Real Come Back You Bad Perhavior. Fur Elise—Beethoven son—Kahi You See Right Thru Me— Cowboy Casanova— Nicki Minaj Le Tunnel d’Or—AaRon Carrie Underwood The Story Only I Didn’t Mockingbird—Eminem Son of the Century— Know—IU Toy Soldiers—Eminem Green Day Sweet Dreams—Beyoncé Under Pressure—Queen ft. David Bowie Dylan Caskie Black Moon—Rainie Bobby Kroma Rainbowarriors— Here Comes the Sun—The Yang CocoRosie Beatles Salute Your Solution— Samantha Topper The Raconteurs Electric Feel—MGMT Hero—Enrique Iglesias Dress Up In You—Belle Put Your Records On— Hey Soul Sister—Train and Sebastian Corinne Bailey Rae Gravity—John Mayer Everything Went Numb— Bossy—Kelis Angels on the Moon— Streetlight Manifesto Dancing Queen—ABBA Thriving Ivory I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire—The Ink Club Can’t Handle Me— Spots Flo Rida ft. David Guetta
Thomas Martin A Little Piece of Heaven— Avenged Sevenfold Spit it Out—Slipknot Hit the Floor—Bullet for My Valentine Get Out Alive—Three Days Grace Say You'll Haunt Me— Stone Sour Rebekah Stephens White Winter Hymnal— Fleet Foxes Sleeping Sickness—City and Colour The Scientist—Coldplay In Shallow Seas We Sail— Emery Meddle—Little Boots Matt Gorton The Shattered Fortress— Dream Theater Never Enough—Dream Theater Octavarium—Dream Theater As I Am—Dream Theater Universal Mind—Liquid Tension Experiment Phillip Brown Afternoon—Nickelback Hold My Hand—Akon ft. Michael Jackson Not Afraid—Eminem Beautiful Day—U2 Hero—Skillet
PAGE 18
Pictures from top-left going counter-clockwise: Photo taken by Erica Perine, Drawing by Erica Perine, Drawing by May Wang, Drawing by May Wang, Photo taken by Ali Fourqurean, Drawing by May Wang, Drawing by May Wang. Photo taken by Ali Fourqurean
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Historical Figures of US History
PAGE 19
PAGE 20
Pictures from top-left goin clockwise: Drawing by Erica Perine, Drawing by Cardinal Do, Drawing by Erica Perine, Drawing by Erica Perine
PHOTO TIME!
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
ECG’s TOP LEGIT!
PAGE 21
ECG Magazine Staff... Haejin Song (Editor-in– Chief) 1) She can never hear alarm clocks; it is almost impossible to wake her up! 2) Her guilty pleasure is eating chocolate 3) She is not related to Kim Jung Il
Samira Dahdah (Secretary) 1) Has been to Abu Dhabi 2) Has an uncanny love for macaroni and cheese 3) Was Piglet for Halloween when she was four
Caroline Fried
Abby Duffy
Sam Gibson (Vice President) 1) He is secretly a historian 2) His grandpa used to live in Japan 3) He loves writing
May Wang (Treasurer) 1) She loves to sing! 2) She likes writing stories, and is currently working on one 3) She takes "Chinese Dance"
Madison Price
1) She likes Asian pop more than American music.
1) When she was little she ALWAYS wore her little red cowboy boots
1) She plays softball
2) Clowns scare her.
2) She got her black belt when she was 7
2) She loves to cook and bake
3) She’s a fan of the New York Yankees
3) Her cousin is trying out for the Olympic Bobsledding Team, and she met the Jamaica Bobsledding Team's Coach (From Cool Runnings)
3) She almost moved to Virginia in 4th grade
Thomas Martin
Mollie Sewell
Sara Stewart
1) He plays the bass guitar.
1) During her childhood, she had a horrible fear of dogs
2) He listens to Melodic Metalcore.
2) She can quote Ghostbusters
2. Her favorite restaurants are Applebee's, Red Lobster, Zaxby's, and Bojangles.
3) He doesn’t think there is a good natural temperature and that those in charge of thermostats
3) When she’s mad, she bites the heads off of animal crackers
3. Some call her “Grande,” but she is not sure why yet!
Haley Hawkins 1) She had a short internship at News & Record in 8th grade! 2) She loves indie rock and cult classic movies 3) She sometimes wants to wake up and find herself living in Greece!
Miles Martin 1) He cried at the end of the last Lord of the Rings movie. 2) His favorite musical genres are metal and metalcore
Amanda Ingman 1) She does not think in English. She thinks in Swedish, mixed with Finnish and various French/Spanish phrases 2) She has read all seven Narnia books every summer for the past five years 3) Her favorite ice cream flavor is pistachio
Davis Ranson 1) She really hates feet. Really. 2) She lived in China for 8 months as a kid, but she no longer knows any Chinese 3) She enjoys sleep more than anything in the world
Erica Perine 1) She composes piano pieces and draws architectural floor plans in her free time. 2) She wishes she were the highest intellectual achiever at ECG 3) She has not read the Harry Potter series.
Ali Fourqurean
1. She once killed a hamster (accidentally)
Arianna Salvaterra 1) She has a cat named Leonardo DeCATrio. 2) She takes pride in playing World of Warcraft knock-offs. 3) She likes watching really old science fiction movies and laughing at their perception of "the future”
Cardinal Do
1) Her eyes change colors
1) She likes drawing.
2) She is technically only 3 and 1/2 (since she was born in a leap year!
2) She loves playing the piano 3) She can speak three different languages
Yasir Azam 1) He is an avid reader of philosophy. 2) One of his favorite artists is Eminem. 3) He has 24 pet chickens.
To learn more about our staff we asked them to give us 3 interesting facts about
Aisha Santos
themselves… you’d be surprised at the stuff we found
1) She used to live in New Jersey 2) Her name was going to be Enriquetta 3) She is Puerto Rican
out!
The people who made this possible!