Ed. 71 - Taking Sides

editors-in-chief

I (nglourious) B (asterds)? e

Time to vent

Martin Shores

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o whomever this may concern in the offices of the prestigious IB, Here’s the thing—I wrote the Extended Essay. I blundered through my oral presentations. I already sat through my fair share of exams, and that’s fine.

No educational organization in the world, American or European, public or private would exist without its tests. While it was a massive pain in parts of my body I shouldn’t refer to, the Extended Essay did give me an idea of what to expect in college in more or less the same way the taste of bile precedes that of vomit. No, my gripe isn’t with any of that. It’s with what qualities the IB seems to value in its tests and other requirements.

The students who do exceptionally well, even those who manage to do passably well, do so not through the use of their own intellect, but by understanding the system and how to exploit it (actually both, but it’s sillly to suggest that intellect is not highly significant).

While I’m not in any way demeaning the achievements of my classmates and other successful IB students (believe me, I’m not including myself in this), I must question a system that seems so rigid and quantified. The IB always seems to have a strict way for the student to do things: each question on a test has a set number of points and requires a particular number of facts. Of course, this helps structure the answer, but there are two limitations to this practice. The first is that students don’t necessarily understand the material, and in some cases memorize exactly what the IB expects them to know and regurgitate it on paper. The second, linked to the first but perhaps less obvious, is the elimination of subjectivity from both the grading and actual learning, fundamental to the learning process.

Time and time again, I find myself resorting to tricks I learned about how to squeeze extra points out of an answer.

There are a few easy universal responses that can be given to practically any question of that type. Take an IB History Paper One exam for instance. When assessing the values and limitations of any source with respect to its origins and purpose, there are a handful of answers that can be applied to any document.

While none of it can be considered cheating, a lot of it comes down to copping out of a proper, unique and thoughtful answer.

It seems like at times teachers aren’t teaching us the material

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so much as teaching how to get the highest amount of points from the IB. In a sense, we don’t necessarily demonstrate our knowledge in the subjects, so much as our ability to get the points the IB wants us to get. It all comes down to the surprisingly representative axiom “Quantity over quality.” Like the phrase, there was no originality behind me using it. Just a weak cliché filling the gap where creativity should be.

With all of that said, I move onto my petty complaints. What possibly can justify there being three exams for HL History? THREE?!

The last two are essays anyway and paper one has a mini-essay too; what’s the point of having two of them? Is it really too much to ask to allow students to be able to annotate their History Paper I exams during the five minutes of reading churchill.vsb.bc.ca time? Would it kill you to pay your examiners a little more for each paper they grade? And what, I ask you, is the point of CAS? It centers any community service activity around the individual, forcing him or her to do it for selfish reasons, which completely defeats the purpose of community service on the whole.

Then there’s the pointless bureaucracy. The IB has both its students and teachers jumping through hoops to meet every ridiculous demand it makes. The paperwork in itself dwarfs the pages upon pages we write for every assessment.

External assessments need multiple copies, cover sheets, forms, signatures and numbers. Even the Internal Assessments have to be moderated by external forces, and in these cases the teachers’ grading is graded. For that, there’s more paperwork, more signatures, and the list goes on for every, single class.

What arbitrary silliness. International Baccalaureate? HAH! I say Imbecilic Bureaucracy!

I write all this without the bitterness of a student who has finished all his IB exams. All I wanted was an education with a global perspective. Sure, by some bizarre twist of logic, being a full IB student may have gotten me into college and, presumably, contributed to a good education, and ToK was definitely fun while it lasted, but the program needs to be subjected to some serious questioning.

Please don’t fail me, Martin Shores

editors-in-chief

Our Politics A semi-comprehensive analysis of Graded high school dogma Andrew Shim

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his article represents an ambitious project I had created and especially when debate generates around individual freeeven before becoming Editor-in-Chief of The Talon; rather, I doms or lack thereof. I was curious if this sort of passion could like to believe that it got me this job. Unfortunately it was only be reproduced on the level of more internationally relevant realized after five editions and much harrowing debate, and on socio-political issues; thus, the origin of this article. the most tense month of the year (for many seniors at least).

To begin, it seems that grade level corresponded with Also regrettably, political interest; Political affilations at Graded the entire prothe number of recess of collecting spondents increased the survey data with each grade. and analyzing Eighty percetnt of it has not been these respondents without controalso claimed to be 8% versy, but in light concerned with 6% of this month’s socio-political isConservative theme (my idea sues “sometimes” 39% Slightly Conservative or more often, sugby the way, I’d like to emphasize gesting quite a large Moderate 25% that), controversy majority of Graded Slightly Liberal is completely welstudents are at least come. minimally acquaintLiberal Quite a ed with the following 22% number of peoissues. ple, both students In terms of personal and teachers, apcharacterizations of Andrew Shim proached me after ideology, 60% of the completing the recent political orientation survey I sent out respondents generally understand themselves as belonging and inquired about or pointed out a few generalizations and to the liberal category, while 25% identified themselves to be language issues that were hazing up the entire inquiry. I would moderates, and only 15% (myself included) called themselves first like to apologize for any confusion that might have arisen conservatives. Of course I am not aware of the percentage in the survey, and I would also like to explain the origin of these between the 20 faculty respondents that responded “slightly limitations before the actual analysis. liberal” or above, but let us not dismiss the idea that teachers First of all the survey was organized for the conve- might be raising little political clones of themselves so that nience of organization, and this personal desire for expediency they can dye the future with their personal ideologies. resulted in some awkward wording and generalized answer Many respondents (according to the feedback received choices. Secondly, the questions themselves were not original, on the days following the survey release) claimed not to have and I would like to acknowledge that I selected a few interesting understood the quote, “from each according to his ability, to inquires from politicalcompass.org, a site I highly recommend each according to his need.” Considering 56% of all responfor people who want to measure their personal political affili- dents agreed with this quote, perhaps some will be surprised ations in depth with a relatively objective standard. to learn the quote is attributed to Karl Marx. If you did not With this clear, I would like to point out that the results were understand the quote and answered arbitrarily, I apologize nevertheless intriguing, yet amusingly predictable consider- for the confusion, but then again I did not originate a highly ing how the mass atmosphere of our school has always been contentious ideology that resulted in the death of millions (not inclined towards a certain direction. One thing is for certain: that anyone agrees with this, mind you). The quote basically Graded students are fond of discourse, in all shapes and sizes, affirms the basic principle of communism: one works to his or

Distribution of Political Affiliations

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editors-in-chief her own capacity but gains only as much as he or she needs. the Partido Verde’s Marina Silva, and a 4% vote for the PSB’s Great idea, right?

Ciro Gomez.

Continuing on, the respondents’ degree of patriotism Maybe it was encouraged by a rampant dislike for the current was tested in the question regarding unconditional national- government, but the Worker’s Party candidate (and Lula’s seism. Some people managed to connect this query to a position lected heir) Dilma Rousseff was only able to garner 3% of the on “American overseas contingency operations,” but I did not Graded Brazilian vote. intend any direct implications. A vast majority, 82%, stated they One can only speculate over why Graded students would not agree with their country if it did something wrong. overwhelmingly disapprove of the Worker’s Party. Maybe they’re In line with this type of thinking, the respondents were con- elitists who absolutely do not want to see their tax money sistent in the followbeing redistributed, ...and the United States ing question when or perhaps they only 74% agreed that all want to see a more efauthority should be ficient and less corrupt questioned. government in place of Either 50% the scandals they have of Graded conseen for the past eight sists of potheads years. One respondent or merely socially put it simply: “They’re liberal citizens, I all the same but I am don’t know which, going to vote for whobut there was defiever stands the best nitely a clear machance against that jority who wanted ‘terrorist’ Dilma.” I’m cannabis liberated not Brazilian, so I can’t as the opiate of the vote nor judge. masses. Fun. One peculiar eleAbortion ment was very consiswas the issue that tent in this survey, and was supposed to infinitedial.com this was the number of incite an internal “I don’t know” answers ethical dilemma, yet 65% of the respondents felt that abortion for each question. Perhaps this unswerving 10% (in the assumpwas a matter of personal choice. Hating schedules, the IB, and tion that they could be the same people) have absolutely no going to Flex, Graded students seem like staunch believers of clue about anything in the survey, or perhaps they were unindividual freedoms and choices. dergoing a personal ideological split during this process, but I The ninth question dealt with a realistic controversy am nonetheless glad they were honest in this choice. that countries embracing socialist policies often find themselves A wise man once said “Times tow thinking”. No, actuscrutinizing. A few people asked me afterwards who would be ally I made that up. But it presents the idea that our minds and “able but unwilling” to work. I don’t know, maybe, lazy people? opinions really may have been subjective to not much more Or in Republican jargon, simply, “welfare bums.” Little do 68% than the context of our current historical reality; 8 years under of the respondents realize that they agreed with both Marx Lula has made Graded a PSDB stronghold, and 8 years under and Fox News when they agreed that these folks should not be a certain former American president has left half the world aided by society. embittered and prObama.

Lastly, if Brazil were only made up of people of similar In conclusion, I propose we follow the school’s unique political conscience of Graded students, 2010 would definitely and “pluralistic” mission statement and respect each other’s produce a change in government, especially since 51% selected ideas, because from personal experience I know that convincing current São Paulo governor José Serra as their likely pick for another out of his or her dogma is near impossible, as imposthe upcoming elections. He was followed by a 17% choice for sible questioning the school’s authority.

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point of view

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This hostility sometimes blurred the real purpose of holding the Olympic Games. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the International Olympic Committee, believed the Olympics would “promote peace” by understanding cultures through athletic competition. His view was neglected again this Olympics when nations competed to be ranked higher than other countries for winning the most medals. Most newspapers and websites created sections that show the rank of the number of medals, eliciting reactions of pride or disgrace from different nations. As people focus on the results of competition, the Olympic Games tend to lose their aim of creating peace.

Nationalistic movements during the Olympic Games have bitterly criticized other athletes or the judges. When athletes are perceived to have been treated unfairly, people have taken different sides of the argument about judges’ decisions; some condemn judges with conspiracy theories and some insist on what they see as justice. Condemnation can sometimes turn into a national hatred. I recall Korean rage in 2006 against Apolo Anton Ohno, an American short-track skater. A Korean skater, Dong Sung Kim, lost his gold medal due to the decision of a judge who claimed that Kim impeded on Ohno’s track. The Koreans accused Ohno as being a mere a “Hollywood Actor,” and many parodies and cartoons about him flourished.

Displays of intense national fervor are common not only during the Olympic Games but also in competitions such as the World Cup and the Miss Universe Pageant. No matter which side people support, with respect to the judges’ decisions of

different countries, they must not forget to appreciate the effort of all competitors from different countries. Coubertin’s idea of acquiring world peace can hardly be achieved in this rabid environment, but both athletes and fans must embrace the spirit of sportsmanship.

I wonder whether this kind of understanding about peaceful competition is present at Graded. Since I moved to Graded a year ago, I have loved the competitiveness among students that propelled and motivated me to make more effort as well as contribute to the discussions in which everybody participates enthusiastically. However, I realized that during competitions or class discussion, we have learned different etiquette during discussion such as listening to the another’s full argument and not interrupting while others are talking.

Nonetheless, once we become emotional, those basic civil rules collapse with surprising ease. I often witness not only interruptions but also aggressive condemnation while others are arguing.

We all are aware that strong, persuasive arguments cannot be made by being emotional or being aggressive. Before renouncing the opinions of others or making our own points, it is necessary to put ourselves in others’ shoes. Just as the Citation is Trebuchet MS 8pt Italic conception Olympic Games stress the understanding of other cultures more than the winning of medals, we must appreciate the opportunity to know more through others rather than trying to win over everyone else. We do not have to be so consumed by “losing” in discussions or in any competition, but should be concerned about making the best effort and understanding.

Coubertin’s vision has been distorted on many occasions, and, unfortunately, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been significantly influenced by political and economical interests. For instance, many countries boycotted participating during the Cold War because of ideological clashes and the IOC has been accused of taking bribes when choosing host cities. From national hostility between countries to IOC’s struggle, the Olympic Games have sadly been a bit of an example of conflict rather than peace. Yet if we respect each other, the glory of winning medals would be shared by many.

Coubertin’s idea on world peace may sound lofty and idealistic, but for us carefully listening to others’ arguments in class discussion—particularly in our international environment—can be the start.

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Facebook Frenzy

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Facebook was no longer a very welledited reflection of our lives. Our lives became a reflection of Facebook.

I first noticed this when I was out with a specific group of friends who took pictures incessantly. I realized they were not really enjoying the moment. Yes, they were smiling widely and striking all kinds of quirky poses. But those strained smiles and awkward gestures lasted the five seconds it took to aim and click. As the pictures appeared on my news feed less than twenty-four hours later, it occurred to me that posting extravagant photos had become the sweet compensation of going out. By posting the photos, people granted legitimacy to the experience and their identities. They proved to whoever was amused or bored enough that they had fun. People no longer create memories, they simply tag Facebook albums.

Facebook not only targets how other people view us, but it even affects how we view ourselves. If someone we just met immediately adds us on Facebook, we feel glad and worthy of their attention. If someone posts awful pictures of us where we look disheveled and silly, we begin to believe that we actually are exactly that: disheveled and silly. Through the constantly updated Facebook statuses, people attempt to seem

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witty while assuming that others are genuinely interested that they are up all night tackling the math portfolio or stuck on page thirty-three of The Great Gatsby. Therefore Facebook trumps reality, making us all more vain and narcissistic. Although we doubt the authenticity of the whimsical statuses and coded posts that erupt on Facebook, we still have the uneasy feeling

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Isabella Freyre

that these people might be enjoying their lives more than we are. This fear lingers at the core of our generation’s insecurities.

Facebook knows us too well. Our favorite quotes, our wild vacation photos exposing reckless behavior, enlightening comments on those photos—all are posted for the vast amusement of others, and users become paranoid if they are not being watched. It seems like a life not publicized is not truly a meaningful life. Thus, we waste valuable hours skimming through Facebook instead of finishing our essays and spending quality time with our families. We have grown accustomed to the idea that we need to compare our lives to those of others’. Sadly, we cannot help it. I cannot help it: six hundred and ninety-eight buzzing tech-savvy acquaintances and counting.

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When You Come to Think of It...

On whose side will Lula stand?

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The controversy lies on the fact that Iran denies any intentions in developing nuclear arms, arguing that it has already told the UN “nuclear watchdog” agency, or the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) that the enrichment program will be used for a medical reactor only and therefore does not present threats to the international community. Nonetheless, countries such as the US, Germany, France and Russia disagree, saying that Iran does not demonstrate real effort in proving to the world that it does not plan to develop an atomic bomb. Together, many western countries are calling for tougher economic sanctions against Tehran to force Iranian leaders to “open up” to further IAEA inspection.

Brazil, who is currently holding a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, plays an essential role in this delicate situation. As some may recall, Lula hosted President Ahmadinejad last November and plans to visit Tehran in the upcoming months. According to Julia Sweig, the Council on Foreign Relations’ director for Latin America Studies, “Brazilians do have a channel with Iran…so I would say rather than fully dismiss this as a spoiler, wait and see whether the Brazilians actually have something to deliver in terms of modifying Iranian behavior.” Sweig means that leaders from other countries, instead of forgetting about Brazil in case it really decides to stand on

Iran’s side, should work alongside it and try to collaboratively discourage the development of the Iranian nuclear program.

President Lula believes that Iran should not “be put against the wall,” as he suggests the other western countries are doing. Instead of isolating and sanctioning Iran, the Brazilian head is willing to defend the nation’s sovereignty. Some argue that the reason why Brazil is defending Iran is that the latter is also a developing country with huge oil reserves and that it is in Brazilian interests to increase trade with Iran. uol.com However, others believe that the country has turned into a symbol of Brazil’s increasing self-esteem in international diplomacy. Brazil’s Foreign Minister, CelsoMSAmorim Citation is Trebuchet 8pt Italicsays that by going against the opinions of countries such as Germany, the UK and especially the US, Brazil demonstrates that it can think with its own head and that it will not lean towards a consensus it does not agree with. He reiterated that his objective is the same as that of other nations: to have a world without nuclear weapons. However, he believes that issues like these cannot be solved under pressure and that he is unsure whether the sanctions will have positive or negative effects on Iranian diplomacy and decision-making.

President Lula is now standing on the spotlight. Criticisms against Amorim’s policies are varied. Some say that Brazil’s defense of Iran just leads to our own isolation and increasing distrust from the international community. Others believe it is extremely arrogant and short-sighted to go against measures proposed by the UN that clearly attempt to maintain a balance of power in the Middle East. Yet others consider it immature for Brazil to make such important decisions in a rebellious so-called anti-American demonstration and even more absurd to stand beside a president who has made anti-semetic comments and the reputation that Ahmadinejad holds internationally. In short, the opinions around this subject are heated and various. Now it is only up to Lula to decide which side he will take.

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An Intellectual Approach

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It is notthrough enoughand to merely sure that all boldsout and are draw conclusions ofitalics everything correct. and pride ourselves in our ability to do so. Somewhere along the way, we need to leave our judgments aside and take action. At some point, we must stop dwelling on the nature of the human race and recognize that we only reach that understanding through experience.

I recently had a discussion that reflected on that very uncertainty that people go through when they deeply analyze issues. It left me thinking about the flaws that come with having such a critical and intellectual approach to the nature of other people’s decisions, opinions, and actions.

On March 6, Facebook statuses were flooded with Operation Hibernation reminders from GEE and StuCo members, frantic to get people to attend the event. Among the many “OPERATION HIBERNATION TONIGHT, SIGN PERMISSION SLIP”, there appeared a status with a different message. Intended to make people question the sincerity and reasons behind their charity, it said that we would care for Haiti temporarily, but in little time would go back to our indifference of their suffering, just as we had before the earthquake.

Quite the insightful comment… Though, as much as it bothered me that it made the event at hand seem selfish and pointless, I couldn’t help but understand where the person was coming from. It is true that prior to the disaster in Haiti a lot of us hardly knew or cared for anything regarding the impoverished country. In fact, we most likely couldn’t have even located it on a map and, in all honesty, come June and the next school year, we will most probably have stopped raising funds and paying attention to Haiti-related news reports. The tragic event will have dissolved into our busy minds.

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But, rather than being judged as selfish and insincere for conforming to the trendy “Hope for Haiti” cause, it should be admired and appreciated. In spite of our ignorance about Haitian history and past situations, we were drawn to act by the disaster, we cared, and we took a step by making an effort to help. Should the fact that we know nothing about the poor old lady trying to cross the street stop us from giving her a helping hand? Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that we decided to help her because she was in need, just like we do with disasters like Haiti or Hurricane Katrina.

Is it in great part due to influence and pressure from the media that we are so aware and frenzied to help these? Sure, but in the long run we learn and slowly lose some of that ignorance due to the information the media provides. Do we possibly help because it makes us feel good and gives our ego something to feed on? Maybe.

Andrea Estrada However, what is wrong with feeling spiritually rewarded after helping a nation in need? It is actually a positive aspect that Citation Trebuchet MS 8pt Italic charities gainisbeyond those immediate monetary contributions because they motivate people to continue caring. It shouldn’t be a burden for us to help others.

It is admirable to examine the reasons behind people’s involvement in community service as a result of such disasters.

It truly is important to understand the nature of our actions for, indeed, sometimes they are not for the right reasons. However, priding yourself for being smart enough to realize such a thing, and letting that stop you from helping someone in need is not admirable. We are all guilty of that kind of pride, simply because it is human to boast in the greatness of our discoveries.

Inevitably, a disaster as big as the Haitian earthquake ends up becoming somewhat of a “celebrity charity” that people join in ignorance. But being a well-informed and intelligent person and sitting back just for the satisfaction that you are not conforming to the crowd of ignorant followers is allowing your mind’s potential and power to go to waste.

If we cooly approach things at such a wholly critical level, life will pass us by, and we will look back only to realize we spent too much time analyzing and not enough acting. While if we put aside our pride and make use of our minds and hearts, then we become able to instigate true impact and change.

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Operation Hibernation Could more have sacrificed one Saturday of their lives?

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Haiti appealed for humanitarian aid, and it is receiving help from many countries and organizations, but their situation is so dire that it is not enough for them to fully recuperate from this catastrophe.

Many Graded students were concerned about what we could do to help Haiti recover from this earthquake and rebuild lives, so a group of individuals met and took on the mission of planning an event to raise awareness and funds for Save The Children. Several weeks later, these individuals, along with GEE came up with Operation Hibernation, an in-school sleepover: the idea was for everyone to sleep in the Student Center, together, as a gesture towards the victims of the earthquake and to generate hope and a sense of compassion within the Graded community for all of those who are suffering due to this natural disaster.

Two videos, many posters, copious meetings, and innumerable Facebook status updates later, the event was ready to go. It would be from 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., and there would be different activities (including storytelling, card-making, and bracelet-making) related to Haiti with the aim of creating a positive, hopeful environment. Then nine o’clock came and everything was ready... except for the people. Our high school consists of more than 400 students, yet there couldn’t have been more than 60 people sitting around the mats. At first, I was disappointed. How could it be that all of our effort had culminated in a few people hanging out? Where was everyone?

However, as the “We Are The World” video was playing, and as I saw all of those singers dedicated to our same cause, I pushed this thought out of my mind and focused instead on our goal: transmitting positive energy and helping Haiti as best we could.

As the night went on, the small group of people that was pres-

Isabella Krell

ent transformed. We had arrived as individuals, but as the night progressed, as hackneyed as this might sound, we became one.

Our mission united us and let us see the situation in a positive light, and we were dedicated to “make a better day.” We sang, we danced, we laughed, and we helped Haiti—what could posCitation is Trebuchet MS 8pt Italic sibly be more valuable than that? At the end of the night, we all put our sleeping bags on the gym floor, cuddled together, and fell asleep knowing that what we’d done was right. The next morning, sure, we were exhausted, but to put it simply, it was worth it.

After the event was over, however, my initial concern came back: why hadn’t people showed up? It simply doesn’t make sense to me that people couldn’t sacrifice one Saturday of their lives, that they couldn’t pause their social lives for twelve hours to support a cause that needs them. I’m aware that many couldn’t sleep over for various reasons, but to not even show up? Even for an hour? My intention is not to criticize those who simply donated, because—it’s true—money is essentially what Haiti needs to move forward, but a smile, a hug, and a sense of solidarity can come a long way, too. What’s even more disappointing is that I know that the Graded community is capable of much more than 60 people. We have the energy and the resources to make a difference, so why is it that when it comes down to something that truly matters we, as a community, couldn’t leave our comfort zone and give one day of our precious weekend to the children of Haiti?

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Usually when I say that I am against the whole institution of political parties, people do not understand why I would possibly feel that way. After all, political parties organize people’s common beliefs into a single solid platform and then nominate candidates to represent these ideals and try to take them to the next level by using them to lead a city, state, or even a nation. While that is true, I believe that political parties, in the United States

ey? While I practiced

in particular, have become too categorical. It seems to me that now people have the mindset that once they belong to a party they are theirs for-

a religion, I never felt the need to talk about it. While I knew that my mom hated the current president at that time,

ever and there is no way to change. Also, especially in the presidential election of 2008, I noticed that many people voted for a certain candidate

I never felt the need to even learn his name.

While I knew that there were such things as rich people and poor people,

not because they liked him for his viewpoints or voting record or even his personality but because he was the candidate Citation isjmg-enterprises.com Trebuchet MS 8pt Italic chosen by their political party.

I never felt the need to point out the obvious about people’s circumstances. It wasn’t until I got older and formed my own

This goes for both the Republican and Democratic parties.

The politicians themselves are also being affected negatively.

opinions that holding my tongue became difficult, especially in the realm of politics.

Interestingly enough, my parents probably told me to

Although I have never witnessed a presidential race free of political parties, I think it would be an interesting one to see.

As unrealistic as this all probably sounds, it is something

avoid these topics of discussion to save themselves, not others, from the burden of listening to me spew my opinions. Politics in my family is a very touchy topic, one that we save only to be discussed on special occasions since it tends to get a little out of hand. My parents and I have very different political views.

that needs to be considered. Instead of taking sides and getting involved in the constant war of words that has become the reality of political parties now, I believe that it would be more prudent for citizens to separate themselves from all of this. I am not saying that they should become passive and let their voices

My mother is extremely conservative and although she says that she is not exclusively Republican, her voting record proves otherwise. My father consistently complains about the political

be drowned out, but instead they should take this separation as an opportunity to evaluate who the best overall candidate is, and not just the one that fits the party profile. Imagine if

state of the United States and how the “system” is completely flawed. Although he is not specifically against politics, I have

candidates ran in elections only as UIndependents, then people would not have to get caught up with the technicalities of party

never in my life heard of him voting. I personally consider myself to be an Independent, not because I do not fall evenly into the conservative or liberal categories, but because I disagree with

affiliations and could simply vote for who they thought was the best overall candidate. It’s always good to form an opinion but it’s also time that we as citizens stop feeling the need to always

the whole idea of political parties.

pick a side. It’s time to find the middle ground.

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news

O privilégio do voto E a importância da cidadania na nossa geração Victoria Steinbruch

Q

uando eu era criança, adorava entrar no escritório do meu pai e observar-lo, sentando numa mesa de madeira, enquanto escrevia. Uma biblioteca obsoleta e escura, cheia de livros antigos, charutos, um mapa velho do Brasil e troféus de corrida de cavalo nos rodeava.

Parecia um universo paralelo, que só gente grande tinha acesso. Muito diferente do meu quarto, todo colorido e cheio de bonecas. Era um privilégio para mim poder sentar, encolhida num sofá antigo, e observar meu pai enquanto escrevia. Colunista do caderno de dinheiro da Folha de São Paulo desde de antes de eu me ver por gente, era assim, sentado praticamente no escuro que ele ponderava o artigo da próxima semana. Ver ele, tão concentrado, tão diferente do meu pai brincalhão era sempre um choque.

Porém, foi graças a essas inúmeras páginas brancas avulsas, cheias de rasuras e sempre numeradas, que eu comecei a me interessar por escrever.

Meus pais sempre acreditaram que o máximo que eles nos podiam oferecer era uma boa educação, e assim, nos preparar para o mundo. Esses artigos foram fundamentais para minha formação, pois despertaram em mim a questão da cidadania.

Ontem, tirei meu título de eleitor e assim, estabeleci uma nova obrigação com meu país. Um tanto emocionada e com um pouco de medo dessa minha nova responsabilidade, fui até o escritório com cheiro de charuto e resgatei umas pastas velhas e empoeiradas. Fiz isso com a esperança de que a sabedoria encontrada nas páginas dessas pastas pudessem refrescar a minha memória á respeito dos meus deveres como cidadã.

Encontrei o seguinte trecho: “Em 4 de outubro levei meus quatro filhos até a seção eleitoral. Julguei importante têlos ao meu lado como testemunhas e, de certa forma, co-participantes na hora em que 100 milhões de brasileiros iam às urnas para exercer o dever cívico e o privilégio maior da democracia, que é a escolha, pelo cidadão, dos seus representantes.”(O Brasil que eu quero, publicado em outubro de 1998). Em 1998 eu tinha apenas 6 anos, mas mesmo assim, por me levar com ele, meu pai já estava enfatizando a importância da cidadania, de votar, da consciência política e da democracia.

Em O que vou falar para Victoria, Felipe, Alessandra e Mendel publicado em 14 de julho de 1998, meu pai avalia

o Brasil que ele vai deixar para seus filhos. Ele diz que “O Brasil tem jeito. Cabe a nós todos materializar suas possíveis conquistas. Temos que construir, juntos, o nosso Brasil. Por nós, por nossos filhos, por nossos antepassados, pelas crianças que estão por vir.” No artigo, ele me descreve como uma pequena patriota; “Victoria, 6 anos, verde nos olhos e amarelo na camisa.” Meu pai, um ser idealista, acredita no Brasil. Sua ambição é poder passar pro seus filhos o otimismo necessário para enxergar que nosso país têm condições de melhora. E pra mim, é disso que o Brasil precisa. Pessoas que acreditam no estudandodireito.com.br Brasil, em sua capacidade e em todo seu potencial. Pessoas que querem trabalhar para atingir essas metas e melhorar as condições de vida para todos. E mais importante, o Brasil precisa de pessoas que fazem desse sonho de um futuro melhor o seu maior dever.

Agora, será que os alunos brasileiros da American School of São Paulo são alienados dos seus deveres cívicos por conseqüência de conviver tanto com a gringolândia? Será que aprender a cantar “Oh say can you see?” junto com “Ouviram do Ipiranga” dilui o nosso senso de cidadania brasileira? Será que tirar título de eleitor virou apenas um coisa chata, uma burocracia que nos toma o tempo que poderíamos estar assistindo American Idol ou America’s Next Top Model?

Somos uma geração importante. O Brasil está mudando, se tornando cada vez mais uma potência mundial. Precisa de uma nova geração que tenha consciência política e dos direitos dos cidadãos. Essa responsabilidade é nossa, Mas só vamos conseguir exercer o nosso dever com o Brasil quando superarmos esse conflito de identidade. Somos brasileiros mais falamos em inglês, estudamos em inglês, usamos marcas americanas, assistimos filmes e seriados americanos. Não tem nada de errado com isso, contanto que essa influência americana não nos aliena dos nossos deveres com o Brasil. E acima de tudo, que não tire a consciência de que somos brasileiros, e esse é o nosso país. A esperança de um futuro melhor para o Brasil está em nossas mãos, está em nosso voto. Tirem suas carteiras de eleitores não porque é uma obrigação, mais porque o poder do voto é um privilégio, a democracia é um privilégio. E mais importante, porque mostra que nós temos consciência de que somos o futuro e a esperança do Brasil.

the talon • 7

news

News Near and Far Lies, violence, and marriage

Danielle Aguilar

9

/11: “Big Lie”?

Early this month, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, commented on his opinion on the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. The Iranian president, who has been known for his often ruthless opinions on the Western world and Israel, said that the 9/11 attacks were a “scenario and a sophisticated intelligence measure.”

He later said that it was a “big lie intended to serve as a pretext for fighting terrorism and setting the grounds for sending troops to Afghanistan.”

This is, of course, not the opinion of the majority and is obviously controversial considering the pain and loss that came as a result of 9/11. Seeing as how 9/11 brought Americans together in the patriotic sense, his comments will be seen as offensive.

However, this is not the first time that President Ahmadinejad has denied the existence of historical events that are accepted by the mainstream public and the media. In the past he has stated that he does not believe that the Holocaust actually happened and that, because of this, Israel should simply be “wiped off the map.” Although President Ahmadinejad has a right to his own opinion, it is not unreasonable to say that at this point this particularly unfounded opinion, due to its insensitive nature, should be disregarded.

Christian-Muslim Violence In early March in Nigeria, the village of Dogo Nahawa was ravaged by attacks from Muslim groups, extending the effect of religious conflict in this already conflicted nation.

The village is predominately Christian, and this attack came only a few months after a nearby city was nearly destroyed by Christian and Muslim violence that left hundreds dead. After the attack, approximately 200 people, mostly women and children, were killed, many by blows inflicted by machetes.

Since it has been having a lot of this Christian-Muslim conflict in the past months, the area should have been under the watch of the military and should have had a strict curfew in place to

8 • the talon

protect the people. Although the military and the government have not released any statement as to what they believe the attackers’ motive to have been, it has been speculated that this was a reprisal for previous attacks. Whatever the reason, there is no excuse for why religious disagreements should turn violent; after all aren’t “do unto others” and “thou shall not kill” universal?

This is a situation when picking a side should not be necessary.

Same-Sex Marriage in Latin America On March 4, a law allowing same-sex marriage in Mexico City, was put into effect. This law also allows same-sex couples to adopt children together, instead of as individuals, which can cause problems if the couple breaks up or one of them passes away. Mexico City is currently holding workshops to teach judges how to deal with the issues and situations that might come along with this law, such as performing the weddings and other civil issues after the marfixco1.com riages. Supposedly no judge so far has openly stated any moral problems with the law and seem to have taken well to the workshops and procedures that have been put in place. Naturally, the Catholic Church was very much opposed to this law, but according to their officials, they have somewhat come to terms with its passing. The passing of this law comes as part of the wider acceptance of gay marriage and homosexuality in Latin America. This law came into effect just one day after the second same-sex marriage was performed in Argentina and only a few years after Uruguay became the first country in Latin America to approve same-sex marriage.

Although some countries have come to a decision concerning this, other countries still are undecided and have left this decision to local and state levels. However, times are changing so quickly now that it appears as if many of them will not be able to put off making a more orverarching decision on the topic for much longer. They will have to take a side.

news

A Right to the Internet The tool that is now a human necessity

Felipe Fagundes

E

very eighteen months the amount of information available to us doubles. That is one reason why we often feel overwhelmed. Currently it is estimated that digital data is at around 487 billion gigabytes. It would take 19 billion Blue-ray DVDs (5 times greater than a common DVD) in order to store all of the information. Yet, Facebook, Orkut, and mobile phone services create most of the data. The total amount of “real” information out there continuously grows, which has led some regulators to consider making the Internet a human right.

A survey by the BBC found that four out every five people around the world believe that the internet should become a basic human right. The reasons vary from the information it offers to individuals, to business opportunities. Countries like Finland and Estonia have already ruled that access to the World Wide Web as a basic need for its citizens, while countries like South Korea have 96% of its population wired. The survey results then indicated that the main reason people enjoy surfing the web is its freedom.

It allows someone to learn about things as varied as Russian medieval literature to how make a great Margherita pizza. In poor rural communities the access to such information is very important, considering the limited in printed resources in those communities. The importance of the Internet is so great that in countries like the UK the government has been willing to expand the broadband network where the private sector has deemed it unprofitable to do so. In countries like Ghana, India, and Nigeria, people also point out that the Internet gave them greater freedom to speak up on issues without the risks through other channels. Access to the Internet is no longer as much about communication as it was with the invention of email, but rather about gaining information and sharing ideas.

As the number of Internet users increases, the number of people connected to social networks also increases. Facebook has 400 million accounts with about 50% of users checking their accounts at least once a day. The average user of the website also spends about 55 minutes per day checking people’s profiles and uploading pictures. When looking at data by teenagers, the

numbers are even more impressive. However, the problem lies in that, while social networks are able to bring a great number of people together who would not or could not have otherwise, the diffusion of new ideas seems somewhat limited compared to other areas of the Web. People in Facebook end up talking to close friends that have similar views and interests, meaning that it will not have the same dynamism of a blog hosted by BBC about, for example, a certain article. With the consolidation of Facebook, people are spending more and more time on the websites living off “news feed”, instead of actually reading the news.

People are taking pictures to put on the website instead of experience a special moment.

The Internet then almost seems like two different places. When considering the situation in poor counsegala.com tries, NGOs and governments spends millions of dollars in order to give people access to almost endless information. In China people attempt to break free from the new “Great Wall,” a governmental firewall, to be able to learn more about the Tiananmen Square protests.

On the other hand, a lot of people who live where the Internet is unrestricted, end up not exploring its vast potential but spending time commenting on people’s status or checking the weather. The 70% of the people interviewed by the which BBC survey claim they cannot live without the Internet, which seems contradictory considering the unproductive activities of most users.

The internet is similar to the right to free speech: in the same way that the right to freedom of speech does not oblige people to protest every day, the enjoyment of easily accessible and seemingly endless information does not necessitate that people complete research every day. The important thing is that it is always available for when it is needed. The reason in some parts of society the Internet seems to be more important is that people always want to have the freedom to use the Web when they need and not be restricted either by geography or the government.

the talon • 9

news

Madness?!

This is HACIA! Motion to return to Costa Rica Eduardo Estrada

S

leep deprivation, long and uncomfortable flights, hardly any time to eat, months of preparation for a conference that only lasts three days, a pile of school work unlike any seen before and yet twenty-five Graded students and three teachers choose to participate in HACIA Democracy. What’s more, this year there were more applicants than ever before, meaning that people are actually competing to participate. Are they out of their minds?

You decide after this recap of our trip.

Natalia Arenas

We left Graded at 12:30 a.m. to catch a flight leaving Guarulhos at 5:00 a.m. (hence the sleep deprivation). It was a good thing we left that early: Doing the check-in for 28 people is no easy task, and there was also an issue with missing paperwork which cut our group down to 27 (but not for long). Finally, we got on the flight to Panama which lasted approximately five and a half hours. After a quick layover we got on the plane to San Jose, Costa Rica and needless to say we were exhausted when we got there.

After the bus driver was able to resolve a parking issue with the transit police, we were on our way to the Real Intercontinental Hotel. We were the first school to get there, but rest and relaxation were nowhere to be found. Our advisors asked us if we would rather have some down time at the hotel for the rest of the day or if we wanted to leave our luggage in the lobby and visit the Inter-American Court on Human Rights. The decision was almost unanimous, and there were no complaints despite the scorching heat and the long bus ride, during which the driver blasted reggaeton as music videos of dubious content played on the screens in the bus.

We finally got back to the hotel and actually checked in and were able to take a shower and relax for about an hour, after which we once again boarded the Daddy-Yankee-mobile and drove out of San Jose and up the mountains surrounding the city.

10 • the talon

We arrived at a restaurant perched atop a cliff overlooking the Costa Rican capital and ate typical local foods while watching a traditional dance performance.

The following day we woke up at 5:30 a.m. much to our displeasure but the trip we took was absolutely worth it. After a two-hour bus ride we arrived at a restaurant where we were offered a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, fruit juice, bread and… rice and beans. Yes, the rice and beans were surprisingly good even at eight in the morning. We then got on a truck that took us to a riverbank where we boarded inflatable rafts and embarked. Our sore backs and sunburned arms and legs were an inconvenience easily overshadowed by the awesome white water rafting trip down the Pacuare River. Upon arriving at the hotel that day we were greeted by a lobby full of Central American and American students who were there for the conference.

Somewhere in that crowd was the last Graded delegate who had stayed behind in Sao Paulo due to missing paperwork but whose commitment and perseverance got her on the next flight to San Jose. Our group was finally whole.

After two intense days of fun we finally suited up and got down to the business of diplomacy. Graded delegates represented Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Venezuela, Belize and Haiti in committees that ranged from the Pan-American Health Organization and the Commission on Women’s Rights to the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism and the OAS Special Mission in which delegates had to quickly adapt to made up crises which, true to life, could occur at any moment (3:00 AM included). To put it simply, Graded dominated. In every committee they were present at Graded delegates were at the center of resolution writing and bringing conflicts to an end.

The three Best Delegate and two Best Speaker awards that our school received are but a small demonstration of the ways that we excelled in. What really mattered was the recognition we received from each other every night during our Graded meetings in my crowded room. It was missing lunch to write a resolution; it was Ricky Suarez putting “experienced delegates” in order; it was Sami Isman receiving the Gavel of Greatness (the Graded equivalent of a Best Delegate award) during her first time at the conference; it was the friendships we made within the Graded group and outside of it; it was the Graded delegation dancing Rebolation in front of the entire conference and being joined by random people from the crowd. But above everything, it was the fact that we were all there with the purpose of learning, growing and finding solutions to problems to improve people’s lives as epitomized by Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Still think we are crazy? I’d beg to differ.

news

Bra-MUN

Images from the recent conference in Angra photos by Yana Ahlden, Michel Liu, and Ms. Stoneman

the talon • 11

features

Candidate Endorsements Fatal blows to media credibility

Karen Hime

D

uring the 1936 presidential campaign, the Chicago Tribune, under its arch-conservative owner, Colonel Robert McCormick, wholeheartedly endorsed the candidacy of the Republican Alf Landon. The paper was so fervently anti-F.D.R. (Franklin D. Roosevelt) that 10 days before the election, switchboard operators at the newspaper answered the phone by saying, “Hello. Chicago Tribune. Only 10 days left to save the American way of life.” In the next few weeks, newspapers in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania would also endorse candidates for President.

In fact, most of them would endorse both a Democrat and a Republican. In 2004, presidential candidates were endorsed by 418 newspapers across the country; 29% of all the papers in the U.S. I confess that I’ve never quite understood why newspapers endorse presidential candidates.

Sure, I know the history and the tradition, the fact that newspapers in the 18th and 19th centuries were often affiliated with political parties, but why do they do it now? Why do it at a time when the credibility and viability of the press are at all-time lows? More importantly, why do it at a time when readers, especially young readers, question the objectivity of newspapers in particular and the media in general?

Young news consumers are suspicious about traditional authority. They prize objectivity, straightforwardness and transparency. I doubt there’s a reader under 30 who understands why newspapers endorse presidential candidates. Most question the obvious: how can a newspaper be objective on the front page when it endorses a candidate on the editorial page? They’re dubious about whether the reporter who covers Hillary Clinton can be objective if his newspaper has endorsed Barack Obama, and vice versa. They’re right. At a time when newspapers are trying to ensure their survival by attracting younger readers, the idea of endorsements is both counterproductive and an anachronism. It’s certainly the prerogative of newspapers and

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their owners to endorse candidates, but in doing so they are undermining the very basis for their business, which is impartiality. It’s a recipe for having less influence, not more.

Opinion writers need to express a point of view in their stories. Those reporters and writers who write for newspapers are obviously experts. They have done their homework, and it is fair to believe that the writers will suggest that after thoroughly reviewing the candidates’ policies on health care, they find one more practical than another. That’s transparency. Media outlets should publish editorials and take positions, but the vote for President is the most personal decision we can make as citizens. No one wants to be told how to vote, and we make all kinds of judgments about the people who do try to tell us. www.ideagrove.com Journalists love to cite the fact that the press is the only industry protected by the Constitution. A free press, as Jefferson noted, is part of our system of checks and balances; it is one of the few guarantors of democracy. However, for the press to remain free, we need to preserve both the reality and the appearance of that freedom, and political endorsements undermine that.

What exactly does a newspaper deliver as a product?

I see two things. First is news, or information that isn’t generally known. Second, it delivers something that is harder to see.

That’s credibility. Without credibility, anyone who reads news stories may wonder if they’re true or not. That’s why the next of the media myths—“mistakes are no big deal”—is critical.

Reporters and editors are only as good as the credibility they earn through the accurate reporting of the stories they print.

Mistakes are the enemy of credibility. Good reporters spend a great deal of time and effort making sure the facts they report are correct, that the quotes they use are accurate and that the overall story is a reflection of “the truth” and is objective as possible.

features

“He started it! No, she started it!”

The darker side of sibling rivalry

Julia Greenwald

O

ne of my most vivid childhood memories is that of my brother’s first lost tooth. Not because it was his first lost tooth, but because I kicked it out of his mouth, quite literally. If my memory is as accurate as I think and hope it is, it was during a typical week-day dinner. After we finished eating, my brother, Peter Greenwald (a freshman—feel free to annoy him after reading this article), and I waited patiently for our parents to finish their meal. Struck with what I believe must have been boredom, a young Peter decided to disappear under the dinner table. I did not notice until I heard barking underneath me, and Peter exclaimed, “I’m a dog, just like Toby!” Weird? Very, but I decided to just ignore him. That is, until he decided to lick my feet, just like our dog Toby does. This caught me off guard, so as a natural reflex I kicked my foot forwards, screaming a little. The next thing I knew, Peter rushed out from under the table, holding his mouth, crying. My mom tried to calm him down, and when she finally got him to remove his hands from his face, his mouth was covered in blood, and his tooth lay on the palm of his hand, glistening white.

“MY TOOTH! YOU KICKED IT OUT!” I was shocked. I had not meant to knock his tooth out, I was merely trying to get his tongue as far away from my foot as humanly possible.

Another ten minutes later, my mom was able to calm him down, clean up his mouth and tooth, and easily distract him from his anger, using the Tooth Fairy as her bait. However before she left to tuck him in that night, I remember him asking, “Mom, PLEASE punish Julia!” This is where my memory fails me. I’m guessing we argued about this, tried to win my mom over, pleaded for forgiveness and understanding, and, eventually, forgot and became best friends again. But, all good things must come to and end, and before my mother could enjoy the peace, the war had begun again. “Mom, she started it!” “No , he started it!” “No, she started it!” “He started it!”

To many of us, this probably sounds familiar, if not normal; but for those of you who are not used to this bittersweet exchange of words, it’s a sure sign of sibling rivalry. The term itself is pretty straightforward: competition between siblings, that usually results from different problems or factors—some of which we commonly know. Older siblings can be jealous of the ‘baby’ sibling, who always seems to get more attention.

Younger siblings are can also be jealous of their older siblings because they always seem to get what they want. The middle sibling is usually characterized as the peacemaker, but can

also become angry at their siblings for always fighting, while stealing techniques from both sides. Also, we all know brothers and sisters can borrow our things and never give them back.

We see these rivalries in books, TV shows and movies; however there is more behind the portrait they depict.

Although sibling rivalry is seen as normal and is even expected as a form of healthy competition, it can become extreme, and even violent. We see sibling rivalry as far back as Biblical times: Cain and Abel are murderous brothers who fight over jealousy, pride and parental love, while Joseph’s coat of many colors is stripped off him by his jealous older brother, and discarded into the woods.

A recent study conducted on 2,030 children by Steven Finkelhor, of the University of New Hampshire, has shown that 35% of these children have been hit or attacked by a sibling.

Of those who have been attacked, 13% were injured, 6% were attacked with a weapon and 40% were attacked repeatedly.

These acts of violence led to severe symptoms, such as trauma, depression, fear of the dark and anxiety amongst those attacked. Makes your fights with your brother or sister seem like nothing, right? However, the study also revealed how violence amongst siblings is usually ignored by parents and doctors, viewed as an insignificant, natural part of the sibling dynamic.

I will be the first to admit that there are days were I hate my brother, yet reading about these studies made me sick to my stomach. Yes we fight, we hit, we push and shove, but never do I look and Peter and become depressed or anxious, and never have we fought so violently that we’ve emerged injured. We love to say that ‘deep down’ we love our siblings, but the truth is we love them all the time and you don’t have to go deep to find it—it’s on the surface.

Thus, if there is something we must learn from this study, it’s that sibling rivalry has a darker side, and can become as violent as serious as domestic violence amongst married couples and even considered as child abuse. We should be thankful that most of us have healthy relationships with our siblings, and if we don’t, let this be a reality check to change things.

I will never stop making fun of my brother or knocking his teeth out (which I did several times after that first incident), but what will change is my pride in the bond we share and my appreciation of what a brother or sister really is: a friend who will always forgive, no teeth attached.

the talon • 11

entertainment

Taking Sides

Four popular competitive TV shows Cássia Di Roberto

W

e turn to TV for entertainment, whether from boredom, or its attractions.In recent years, more TV shows have tried to appeal to the competitive natures of audience members, and several programs have been launched in which one can, well, take a side. Usually reality TV encourages its viewers to pick a contestant to root for and to tune in weekly to see if that person will endure and prevail.

Here are a few popular TV shows that have kept viewers on the edges of their seats: American Idol: The everpopular singing competition reaches its ninth season in 2010. A spin-off of Britain’s Pop Idol, it was created by Simon Fuller and debuted on June 11, 2001. American Idol has been one of the most highly rated TV shows in American broadcasting history.The interesting aspect comes from comments spoilerbuzz.com from the panel of judges who critique the contestants’ performances, Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, Randy Jackson, and newcomer Ellen DeGeneres. With host Ryan Seacrest, this show has brought many new stars onto the music scene like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks and Kris Allen.

Project Runway: Fashion, designers, and Heidi Klum—what more could you want from a TV show? For seven seasons, this fashionista must-watch has been a source of upcoming designers.

The contestants compete to create the most interesting and best made clothes while working with restrictions on time, materials, and theme. Originally a Bravo network show, it has been moved to Lifetime, which expects five blog.newsok.com more years of the glamour and

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glitz. With critical guest judges like Michael Kors, it is no wonder the young designers who finish in the finals become the most exiting new talents in the fashion world.

Dancing with the Stars: If your everyday average Joe can become famous on a show like American Idol and Project Runway, then why can’t celebrities become famous in different ways?

Dancing with the Stars is a reality TV show which airs on the American ABC network. Also based on a British television series, Strictly Come Dancing it whiteflashdiamonds.wordpress.com is part of an international TV show franchise. Hosted by Emmy-award-winning Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris, E! reported it showcases ballroom dancing. Popular celebrities like Drew Lachey, Julianne Hough, and Mario Lopez have participated in this world-wide phenomenon.

Top Chef: Bringing a little food to the table is Bravo network’s prize possession, their main entrée, Top Chef.

Amazing chefs compete in culinary challenges. The judges are chef Tom Colichicco and Padma Lashimi, along with a panel of professional chefs and other notable food industry moguls. Each episode concelebchefs.net tains two challenges. First is the Quick Fire challenge, where each chef is asked to cook a dish in a short time with certain item requirements. In the Elimination Challenge, chefs must prepare dishes and offer a whole meal. One chef is judged the worst and is asked to “pack his knives.” Full of flavor and zest this TV show is bound to make viewers either want to eat or take out their cookbooks.

entertainment

Na’vis versus Nazis

The award went went to... Kathryn Bigelow Luiza Justus

T

he 2010 Academy Awards ended in quite a surprising manner. Since the end of last year, people have been talking about whether the Oscar for best picture should be awarded to Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino’s artistic on-screen vengeance against the Nazis of World War II, or to Avatar, James Cameron’s epic film about exploration on a foreign planet and interaction with its natives, the Na’vi. However, the film The Hurt Locker, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, has only recently been the talk of the industry.

As many of you know, the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture, arguably the most prestigious award in show business, was given to Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker.

It seemed ironic in the show that the most important award was given in such a rush. Apparently they were out of time, joshsundquist.com because Tom Hanks gave the award by saying a series of jumbled up sentences ending with “the winner is Hurt Locker.” Not even the nominees were listed. A large percentage of people agree that Bigelow’s film deserved the award, even with such excellent competition from Cameron and Tarantino. Yet this year’s voting was approached in a different way.

Unlike previous years, in 2010 Oscar voters had to rank their choices from one to ten. The ballots were then collected and separated into different piles according to the voters’ first choices. Each movie had a different stack, and if one movie got fifty percent or more of the votes on the first round, it would automatically be the winner. However, this was unlikely to happen. Moving on to the second round, the film with the least first-choice votes would be eliminated and its votes redistributed to the other piles according to these voters’ second choices, and so on, until one stack ended up with a majority.

It is likely that this new system influenced this year’s results to Kathryn Bigelow’s advantage. “The issue with movies like Avatar and Inglourious Basterds is that people either loved it,

(placing it as their first choice) or hated it (placing it as their last choice),” said Toby Aickin, Graded faculty member. If this really was the case and those two films were not placed as anyone’s second or third choice, but rather as a first or a last choice, it would not get any votes from the system ofredistributed ballots (based on second or third choices). However, The Hurt Locker is a type of film that was most likely to be placed in voters’ middle range, therefore when the redistribution occurred, Bigelow’s film won more votes.

The discussion about which film would win best picture this year was mostly focused whether it would be Inglourious Basterds or Avatar. These two films were, unquestionably, the most prominent and debated films released in the last year. Avatar’s grandiose vision still resonates allthefestivals.files.wordpress.com among people, and most are still in awe over the film’s special effects. As for Inglourious Basterds, few could rewrite history in such an audacious manner like Tarantino. Not to in any way diminish were viewed by more people and Bigelow’s film or its quality, but Avatar and Inglourious Basterds affected the world in a grander way. It would be pointless to debate which of these three films is actually the best, for they are each unique and have different purposes. The Academy decided on The Hurt Locker, which portrayed a bomb detection unit in the Iraq War. This year was Kathryn Bigelow’s year, being the first female director to ever win an Oscar for Best Picture; and it was critically accalimed. She also won the award for Best Director.

However, even the most prestigious award ceremony in the film industry could not get rid of drama: though still friends Kathryn Bigelow used to be married to James Cameron, and ran against him both in the best picture and directing awards, of which she took home both. Look out, world: here is a record-breaking director who showed the world that she had a different vision than high-profit masterpiece her ex-husband make and, at the end of the night, she got to take home the golden statuette.

the talon • 5

entertainment

Trivialities

To take a side you need to know all kinds of useless information Luiza Justus • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

The Bible is the most-shoplifted book in the world.

It is a common practice in southern India for a man to marry his elder sister’s daughter.

About 10% of Jewish households have Christmas trees.

The convenience store 7-11 sells 10,000 pots of coffee an hour, every hour, every day.

90% of all restaurants fail during their first year of operation.

Colgate’s first toothpaste came in a jar.

If Wal-Mart were classified as a country, it would be the 24th most productive one in the world.

Nearly 22,000 checks will be deducted from the wrong account in the next hour.

The most productive day of the work week is Tuesday.

Due to gravitational effects, you weigh slightly less when the moon is directly overhead.

If Manhattan had the same population density as Alaska, there would only be 15 people living there.

The warmest temperature ever recorded on Antarctica was 3 degrees Fahrenheit, or -16 degrees Celsius.

About 1 in 30 people in the U.S. are in jail, on probation, or on parole.

About 10% of U.S. households pay their bills in cash.

French was the official language of England for over 600 years.

In England during the 1880’s, “pants” was considered a dirty word.

The word “gymnasium” comes from the Greek word “gymnazein” which means “to exercise naked.”

There was no punctuation until the fifteenth century.

A toaster uses almost half as much energy as a full-sized oven.

Car airbags kill 1 person for every 22 lives that they save.

It takes six months to build a Rolls Royce and only thirteen hours to build a Toyota.

A baboon called Jackie became a private in the South African army in World War I. If a surgeon in ancient Egypt lost a patient while performing an operation, his hands were cut off.

Leonardo da Vinci was dyslexic, and he often wrote backwards.

Napoleon had conquered Italy by the time he was twentysix.

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

In beer commercials, they add liquid detergent to the beer to make it foam more.

In the original version of Cinderella the slipper was made out of fur, not glass.

One in every four Americans has appeared on television.

The most popular sport as a topic for a film is boxing.

The Muppet Show was banned from Saudi Arabian TV because one if its stars is a pig.

According to U.S. laws, a beer commercial can never show a person actually drinking beer.

Dueling is legal in Paraguay, as long as both parties are registered blood donors.

50% of U.S. pizzas are sold with pepperoni on them.

A peanut is not a nut. It is a legume.

Apples are 25% air.

Coca-Cola was the first soft drink to be consumed in outer space.

Only 55% of Americans know that the sun is a star.

The Earth gets 100 tons heavier every day due to falling space dust.

Brad Pitt has been smoking since the sixth grade.

Cleopatra’s real name was Auletes.

Halle Berry’s stunt doubl, in the movie Cat Woman was a man.

In high school, Robin Williams was voted “Least Likely to Succeed.”

Jean -Claude Van Damme learned to speak English by watching the The Flintstones.

Source: www.funfactz.com

xoncemorewithfeelingx.files.wordpress.com

entertainment

What’s Going On in São Paulo Shows to see in the city

Marina Olivera

A

lice in Wonderland: Almost 60 years after the release of the famous Disney cartoon, director Tim Burton premiered his version of Alice. This time, it is a movie with actors including Anne Hathaway as the White Queen and Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. Alice is played by Mia Wasikowska. This story, however, is not the sameportrayed in the cartoon or in the novel by Lewis Carroll, though they are connected. This is the story of 19 year-old Alice who follows a white rabbit, and

March 5th, movie theaters in Brazil will begin to show this movie only on April 23rd.

her return to a land she had visited thirteen years earlier, Underland. Once there, she discovers that she must slay the Jabberwocky, the dragon guardian of the red queen of Undeland, in order to end her reign of terror. Classic characters, such as the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and the White Rabbit return in this version. Though it premiered in London on February 25th and was released in the U.S. on

teenager Tracy Turnblad, who fulfills her dream of being on the Corny Collins Show, a popular music show for teens.

Hairspray was put on all over the world, in countries such as South Africa, Argentina, China, and Sweden. In 2009, an adaptation of the musical aired in Rio de Janeiro. The musical recently premiered in São Paulo. Tickets are available at www.ingressorapido.com.br

Hairspray: The musical is now in São Paulo. From 2002 to 2009, the musical had over 2,500 performances and won eight Tony awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics). In 2007, a movie version of the musical was released. Set in Baltimore of 1962, it tells the story of

Childhood

A FALA student speaks out Luana de Oliveira Alves

C

hildhood is the most beautiful phase of our lives that marks us deeply. It is a period that is very intense and fast. As soon as we turn into teenagers, we soon become adults full of concern and responsibilities. That’s life, and we must accept this, or else we would be stuck in childhood forever, like Peter Pan. However sometimes it’s good to look back and see how much we changed, and sometimes we can go back to our childhood. Going back to our childhood is good; good for our heart and soul which are often tired of the harsh life of being an adult. The Little Prince, a French classic written, in part, for adults is a good way to remind ourselves of our childhood.

Our sense of being a child is still somewhere in our hearts and that sense is sometimes used to help understand

the difficulty of life. For this we must be able to see the simple details that make a difference in our lives, however, we cannot always see them. A sentence of The Little Prince explains this idea: “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Let’s practice this secret mentioned in the book so we can get the help of innocence inside our hearts.

Luana de Oliveira Alves has been a student of FALA since 2007 and studies business administration while working with quality management. She loves to read, and she says that they likes The Talon particularly because she says she can learn while reading the magazine.

the talon • 7

entertainment

Crossword A political puzzle

Andrew Shim and Martin Shores

ACROSS

DOWN

1 From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

2 Chairman of the National Defense Commission; rose to power in 1994

4 Mayor of Springfield 5 Byzantine emperor who made Christianity the state religion 7 He “did not have sexual relations with that woman” 8 European council chief 9 Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism 12 A misunderestimated hero 13 Roll 14 Thai leader in exile.

15 Ejército del Pueblo 16 Wake up in the morning feeling like _______.

8 • the talon

3 Capital which recently legalized same-sex marriage.

6 Terrorist in the 60’s and 70’s 10 Politician largely concerned about the dangers of climate change and manbearpig 11 The lampooning of this historical figure led to a massive boycott against a particular Scandinavian country

entertainment

Avatar & The Hurt Locker The 2010 Oscar battle Marina Oliveira

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his year a dispute arose between movie lovers. Which of the two favorites to win the 2010 Academy Award for Best Picture would take home the Oscar, Avatar or Hurt Locker?

The two extremely different films were fiercely competing for the award. Opinion was split between those who favor the thoughtful portray of war in Hurt Locker and those who were fascinated by the fantasy world in Avatar. At the box offices, Avatar enjoyed a smashing win, bringing in over 700 million dollars. However, at the Academy Awards, Hurt Locker took home the prize. Coincidentally, Avatar director James Cameron, who also directed the eleven time Oscar-winning Titanic, and Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow happen to be former spouses.

Set in 2154, Avatar depicts the conflict between humans who favor financial profit over the preservation of nature and the indigenous Na’vi people of Pandora, a moon of a planet in the Alpha Centauri star system, who believe in the sacredness of the land. The Na’vi are three-meter tall blue “people,” and in order to explore Pandora, humans are turned into Avatars, a Na’vi version of themselves. The film portrays human Jake Sully as he lives with a Na’vi tribe on a special mission by the RDA Corporation to convince them to relocate, since their current home stands over a valuable source of unobtanium.

If Avatar speaks of a fantastical other world, Hurt Locker is about raw reality. It is set in 2004 in Bagdad, Iraq, during the early stages after the invasion of the American troops. Bravo Company is United States Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, responsible for disarming bombs in the war. When Sergeant First Class William James takes over as the leader of the group, replacing a member who died on a mission, he clashes with his two subordinates, Sergeant JT Sanborn and Specialist Owen Eldridge, who do not approve of his recklessness. The movie follows the unit for the thirty-nine days of its deployment, showing not just the action involved in war, but the complex tensions between the three men, as well as the internal conflicts of each man.

In no way is Avatar a star because of its innovative storyline. It generally follows that seen before Hollywood formula of a lot of fast-paced action with explosions and gunshots everywhere, a Romeo and Juliet style romantic story. For the most part, it is one of those films whose end can be predicted before the movie is halfway through. However, it has some-

thing different to offer: highly innovative technology. Though all three-dimensional movies have the ability for the viewer to feel inside the action, Avatar takes this to another level.

Every inch of the screen seems to have tiny details, be they the ruffle of a feather in the wind or the texture of animal skins. There is also a coexistence between real-life actors and graphic animated characters that is different from all previous movies as well. What Avatar proposes is not to touch the viewers with an unforgettable lesson that will change them forever, but to surprise them with something new. The movie is considered a turning point in the history of animation.

On the other hand, Hurt Locker proposes nothing Avatar does, and everything it does not. Hurt Locker is a movie with highly dynamic characters with well-constructed, multifaceted personalities. In contrast to the more simplistic Avatar characters, it shows people with real issues viewers can relate to or at least comprehend. The attraction of the movie is not in its cutting-edge technology, since in this aspect, it does not exceed any picture that came before it. Rather, it is a movie that attracts by portraying a reality that viewers can recognize and relate to. It aims to have viewers thinking when they leave the theater, taking with them a lesson or a new realization. One of the main points those who cheered for Hurt Locker at the Academy Awards claim is that Avatar is highly commercial and simple, while Hurt Locker is more artistic and complex.

In essence, this is what the Oscar conflict came down to: personal opinion. Both movies propose very different viewing experiences. Avatar has no pretension of being a movie that brings up deep questions about humanity or provokes philosophical discussion. Though the story has a clear moral to it, that is not the main point. In fact, for the most part, the special effects completely distract from the story itself.

What it desires is to be a film that shocks viewers with its innovativeness and revolutionary technology, allowing them to experience the sensation of being a part of the action. On the other hand, Hurt Locker’s story content is the spotlight.

The life issues it presents, and the questions and universal themes it brings up, far exceed the clichéd ones of Avatar.

Your preference may have come down to your preference for being entertained or being moved to think.

the talon • 9

sports.

To Do a Double-take Video replays and football

Christopher Thomas

O

ne of the most controversial issues being debated in the footballing community is the use of video replays during matches. Many variations of this proposal exist, but the basic premise would be the following: should a questionable incident occur during a match, a request would be made to replay the incident on video to the match officials, to determine their ruling on the matter. Such a tool seems like a great asset to the world of sport, and many managers, players, and fans wish to see it implemented in matches.

However, there are also those who are strongly opposed to video review.

Traditionally, the match referee has always been the highest power on the football pitch, the judge, jury, and executioner. He has final say in all decisions when it comes down to it, though his linesmen and 4th officials can assist him if need be. Video technology would be a step in eroding the referee’s authority, it is argued, and no matter how biased or incompetent the official is, it is he who must make the decisions and face the consequences later.

The greater issue, however, is that the new rule would have to be amended into the laws of the game. What this means is that the official rulebook would require a clause which details the proper use of video replay technology. On the surface this seems simple, but it is not so. In football, all the laws of the game are universal—that is, they apply to any registered football club and league, from the top of the footballing pyramid right down to the Sunday League and grassroots level. All rules are in effect during any registered match. Even rules such as the required use of equipment such as shinpads and boots are in force, and the lack thereof means the respective player missing these items cannot play.

If video technology were to be put into practice, it would be unfair of the authorities to fail to include grassroots

20 • the talon

football organisations into their considerations. It is basically a question of, “If the higher leagues can get it, why can’t I? I am also being constantly cheated out of results as well.” In a community-based sport like football, it would be an injustice to give the right to video technology only to those who afford it.

Quite logically, it is easy to guess why many wish that video replays come to pass: the increased occurrence of diving and simulation in the game. Incidents such as Steven Gerrard’s dive (pictured) against Milan are becoming more commonplace and many feel that video technology will solve these problems. But rather than solve them, it will just add for one getty Images/daily mail more variable to the officiating process, and disrupt the flow of the game.

The best way to truly get rid of gamesmanship is to institute bans for anyone who does it, as well as have fellow professionals shun those who are convicted of this crime against the sport. Rather than video replays which would clear some incidents up but spark even more debate when video replay is uncertain, find a way to stamp it out from the source, instead of just finding ways of limiting the problem.

Video technology will be a raging debate for many years to come in the footballing community. Especially with the inclusion of things like Hawkeye in cricket and tennis and the video replays in gridiron football and hockey, there will be immense pressure from several camps to have it included. Knowing the International Football Association Board, however, it is likely that it will take a long time for this to happen, if at all, so the question will keep being discussed, perhaps indefinitely.

sports

Seeing Red

Butchering innocent animals or an honorable tradition?

Yana Ahlden

A

n old-fashioned arena on a sunny day is crowded with excited people jabbering non-stop about the occasion at hand.

Some are locals, but many are tourists, who want to see for themselves what bullfighting is really all about. One by one, the toreadors walk in a show off their skills without the bulls; then the fighting starts.

If it were not for the fact that 13,300 bulls are killed in official bullfights (the equivalent of 36 bulls every day), this sport would probably join the list of “forgotten” sports in the world. (www.league.org.uk) There is no doubt that animal activists look at the practice as a barbaric pastime, since the animal suffers extensively during the ritual.

They also differentiate between killing for meat—considered to be a necessity—and killing for fun.

However, this argument has its weaknesses. Even though it is undeniable that bulls die in the Fights, the total number can hardly be compared to the number of cattle killed for meat.

And since vegetarianism has been proven to be an alternative for meat eating, those who do eat meat usually do so by choice.

Thus they are not all that different from those who fight with bulls. They do it because they want and enjoy it. Whether the fun comes in the form of a 20-minute visual spectacle or a juicy hamburger, some might argue the result is the same.

Sure, it might seem that the animal suffers less when killed by an actual butcher whose job it is to kill things, but then again, how many meat eaters have actually watched a cow being killed? Probably not many. The argument has been made that a good bullfighter will kill the bull with mercy—quickly and painlessly. But how painless can a death by a sword that isn’t made to kill really be? Besides, by the time the toreador is ready to kill the animal, the bull has probably gone through enough suffering. Even if the fighter kills efficiently, the bull has been running around with spears stuck into at odd angles for a while. That’s enough pain to make up for a quick death, if there is one.

Then there is the argument of tradition. If something has been done for centuries, then why should it stop? It’s similar to saying to Americans, “Stop killing turkeys for Thanksgiving; it’s not right.” Of course, the circumstances might not be the same, but anyone would, be concerned when tradition that has been valued for a long time is put down mercilessly. It’s not

right to kill bulls, nor any animal for that matter, for fun, but it’s also not right to criticize people because of what others in their country are doing or have done. It’s like blaming any German for what Hitler did, or any Cuban for the consequences of the Castro regime, just a little less extreme.

Still, the way bulls are treated before and during the fights doesn’t seem right.

If two beings are fighting for their lives, the fight might as well be fair. This is not the case with a bullfight, since the terrified and confused bull battles with the main toreador and several other men, some of whom are on horseback. All are armed with weapons worse than the horns www.sportsillustrated.com and rage of the toro. If the unfairness of the fight isn’t enough to nauseate one, the treatment of a bull in the name of preparation for a fight should be. To disorient and weaken the bull, it is usually drugged. Also, so that the bull is more sensitive to pain, its horns are shaved. At the end of the fight, the bull may not be yet dead while his body parts are cut off to be kept as trophies.

There are people out there who support the tradition of bullfighting even in the face of this terrible treatment.

Apart from tradition, there is a simple reason to explain this: money. Spanish bull breeders receive EU agricultural subsidies, meaning that other European taxpayer money goes to support this terrible industry (www.league.org.uk). Many benefit economically from this horrifying tradition: organizers, bull breeders, seasonal workers, and others who work behind the scenes.

It is hard to say how many people of those who gather in the traditional bullfighting arenas to watch the spectacle are tourists excited to experience the infamous sport, and how many are actually locals who love and support the tradition of their homeland. But a strong argument can be made that if international public opinion continues to worsen towards this “sport” and tourists stop attending, the number of bullfights may dwindle as organizers find the events to be no longer economically viable. But so far, that’s the only thing that can save the animals in question. As long as bullfights continue, the cruel treatment of the toros will, too.

the talon • 21

sports

High Hoops

All about dwarf basketball Isabella Zevallos

B

asketball: the sport for the big, the sport for the skyscraping giants, right? I mean, you have the tallest current players of the NBA league, such as Yao Ming, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Hamed Haddadi, Shaquille O’Neal, Marc Gasol with corresponding heights of 7’6’’, 7’3’’, 7’2’’, 7’1’’, and 7’1’’.

And then you take some of the tallest current players of New York Towers basketball team such as Blaze Foster, Conor Ennis, Brian Galloway, Teddy Tilkin, Steve Cotia, all with the astounding height of—wait for it— 4’6’’,4’5’’,4’4’’,4’2’’, and 4’0’’? I am going to let you into this little (yes, little) secret: the New York Towers is a team solely composed of dwarf players. No, not the seven miners that follow Snow White, but the real small people that suffer from the condition of dwarfism.

“Well, but how do they play if the hoop is so far away?” you may ask. It so happens that the New York Towers have incredible skills with the basketball. Unimaginable speed, for example, when dribbling. Although, even with all the skills they possess, there are obviously some adaptations when playing against regular-sized people. There are two basic rules: the Rebound Rule, and the Bouncing Pass Rule. For the Rebound Rule, the opposing team has to let the ball bounce on the ground at least once after a shot is taken and rebounded, although the Towers do have the chance to get this ball before it touches the ground. For the Bouncing Pass Rule, well, it is pretty self-explanatory: the opposing team must bounce the ball when passing so that the dwarf team has the chance of stealing the ball or intercepting the pass in some way.

Yet, the team also plays against other small, per say, teams. In this case, the rules are exactly the same as if any towering giant were playing basketball in some big league.

“And so they use shorter hoops to be able to make baskets, right?” you might ask, again. Well, of course…not. According to

22 • the talon

the team, the“the rules, court size, and hoop height are the same as any other basketball team.” As Clinton Brown III, the 3’3’’ team manager, says “the concept itself is hard for some average-sized people to think about—small people playing a big man’s game.”

But a question still persists: how did this whole idea or concept even begin? The team was actually founded by the current team manager, Brown, with the help of the Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA), an institution that “puts on athletic competitions for little people” such as competitions in the LPA (Little People Association) Conference, the World Dwarf Games, and the Paralympics. Always newyorkwizards.com a competitor and sports fanatic, Clinton began the team in the year of the 2009 DAAA National Games in Brooklyn, earning, together with his newlyformed team, a bronze medal. The team now has, comparatively, a wide range of heights, going from 4’8’’ to 3’3’’, and ages, which go from 14 to 31 years.

The “little people” team of the New York Towers has truly surpassed boundaries common to those of that height.

They have awed many and still continue to impress more and more people each day. The team is on the rise to becoming to some a true inspiration. So let’s rephrase the sentence from the beginning of the piece: “and then you take some of the tallest current players of New York Towers basketball team such as Blaze Foster, Conor Ennis, Brian Galloway, Teddy Tilkin, Steve Cotia, all with the astounding heart, will, power, and skill as big as themselves, measuring 4’6’’,4’5’’,4’4’’,4’2’’, and 4’0’’.

To them, it almost seems simple to accomplish something some would have seen as impossible, but as one player said, “It just goes to show you that with a little bit of fortitude and heart you can accomplish what you desire.” Big words for a little, big-hearted man.

the talon • 22

sports

Are You a Sports Fan? Watch at your own risk

Ho Jun Yang

W

hen you think of fans, what do you think of? Enthusiasm?

Well, if you, like billions of people around the world, follow a sport, you might want to watch out on how “enthusiastic” you become.

Tom Duffy, a fan of the NFL Pittsburg Steelers, had had his down moments, but when the Steelers caught an interception, Duffy was down on the floor and screaming. “I screamed and something went off in my head,” says Duffy, 37, a pension analyst. “Immediately it was a huge headache, like my head was on fire.”

Still, being a fan, he stayed through overtime to watch the end of the game. Duffy said he was very discombobulated; after talking to his doctor, he immediately took a trip to the emergency room where he had to go through various tests, including a spinal tap, MRI and angiogram. Unfortunately for Duffy, during the game he had burst a blood vessel in his brain. For the next four days he was subjected to more tests and observation. As he was discharged from the hospital, his doctor left him with firm orders, to refrain from all the screaming.

Sports are great, providing stress relief and community bonding, but there are risks involved in following it. I’m not just talking about choking on hot dogs, but heart attacks and more.

According to Dr. Jeff Kalina, associate medical director of the ER at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, emergency rooms see it all. A lot of fans, especially the smokers and people with high blood pressure, come in with heart attacks from exertion or from the sheer stress of watching their favorite teams lose.

In addition, patients often receive treatment for extreme sunburn and dehydration from too much beer in the heat. Eating while being distracted by a game also causes big problems. Dr. Kalina said, “People eat hot dogs and they jump up to cheer for a touchdown and choke on the hot dog.” I’m not sure how many of you out there have choked on a hot dog, but I’m sure; it’s not pleasant at all. Now that’s not the end to the stupidity, often largely influenced by alcohol: some people have a nervous habit of playing with tabs on soda cans and end up getting their fingers cut.

Sometimes fans also end up hurting one another. Fights break out at games, and drunken fans jump around in their seats and fall onto the people below them. Unfortunately, losses also tend to lead to a spike in domestic violence.

Do you know that feeling that you get when you’ve drink too much Pepsi or Guarana, but you don’t want to go to the bathroom because you don’t want to miss even a second of the game? Well, don’t do that. The rather undesirable consequences include people’s bladders getting so full and distended that they can’t even pee anymore.

Screaming because your player just made a stupid mistake, or from happiness for the goal that went in before the game ended, can also lead to serious problems. Screaming isn’t the most salutary blog.pandora thing you might want to do because people can suffer even hernias from it. Another common and seemingly harmless scenario is shouting at that stupid referee about how he ruined the game and losing your voice. Okay, laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx) might not seem like such a big deal, but it’s a sign that your vocal cords have suffered damage. People can burst blood vessels in their larynx or voicebox, which would be completely solved by rest, but too much screaming leads to lasting problems like lumps and bumps on the vocal cords making the voice, chronically, crack and break.

Finally, in sports, eventually someone or some team will end up winning, and fans of the losing team end up take a blow to their mental health. “Loss is one of the most psychologically disappointing experiences that a person can have,” says sports psychologist Ian Birky, director of counseling and psychological services at Lehigh University in Bethlehem. For some, this is not just moping for a day or two, but not being able to snap out of that and facing depressive symptoms requiring professional aid.

Next time you watch a game or soccer of American football, take the screaming down a notch and remember, if your team happens to suffer a devastating loss, you don’t have to as well. Just take a deep breath.

The Talon

2010-2011 Staff Application

C ut a l on g th is l in e , n e a tl y.

Centered 30pt Title, Impact

It is time to select the dedicated, intelligent, and creative group of students to lead The Talon through its tenth year.

Interested in joining the staff of sophomores, juniors, and seniors? Are you curious? Do you like to write? Can you keep deadlines? Read and complete this14pt application carefully andGaramond submit this paper application and your article to either Mr. Centered Subtitle, Adobe Pro (AGP) Italics Berg or Ms. Pfeiffer on or before April 15.

R justified,12pt Name, AGP

In addition to this application you must submit an article and any accompanying images to be published in Edition 73 AGP, 11pt; justifiedpreferably (left (theFont last is edition of theparagraphs year) for indented, any of theR/L sections, the section in which you are most interested. If you are only interested in a non-writing bottom choice on paragraph palette). position, send submissions of your art instead of an article. The theme for Edition 73 is Renaissance. (See the back for details, and follow them closely.) If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask one of the current Editors-in-Chief (Andrew or Martin) or the advisors.

Family Name

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9

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Who is your current English Teacher?

What positions would you like to apply for? All staff members are required to submit to the magazine each month.

All Talon positions require the ability to meet deadlines, but some require more than that: the four section editors— News, Features, Entertainment, and Sports—are in charge of a team of fellow students; effective and demonstrated leadership, communication, initiative, and editing skills are essential for those positions. Rank your three top choices from 1 to 3, with 1 being the position you would most like. _____ Editor-in-Chief (the big boss: organized, wise, collaborative, involved, and skilled at verbal and written communication; besides running meetings and keeping watch over the other editors, the EIC writes an opening piece each month, and is in charge of the POV section; this job requires coming to school one Sunday a month) _____ News Editor _____ Assistant News Editor _____ Features Editor (focuses on the monthly theme) _____ Assistant Features Editor _____ Entertainment Editor (also edits the sub-section, Viva Voice; therefore, creative writing experience is a bonus) _____ Assistant Entertainment Editor _____ Sports Editor _____ Assistant Sports Editor _____ Photo Editor (puts together the inside back cover; has skills in both photography and page design; called on by section editors to take pictures for articles) C ut a l on g th is l in e , n e a tl y.

_____ Layout Editor (the format god, who works to design a clear, consistent, engaging layout in Adobe inDesign; may need to come to school one Sunday a month) _____ Columnist (contributes a monthly piece under the same column name in the POV section, such as an opinion piece, a chronica, or a personal experience tied to the monthly theme) _____ Blogger (a new position; for brief but regular online posts of text and photos) _____ Cover Artist (the face of the magazine, who, with guidance from the EIC, creates and produces the front and back covers, along with the monthly poster advertising the theme) _____ Artist/Cartoonist (illustrates certain articles and/or submits a monthly cartoon on the theme) _____ Contributing Reporter (indicate your preference by placing 1, 2, 3, 4 in front of the section name: ( ) News, (

24 • the talon

) Features, (

) Entertainment, (

) Sports.

List your planned academic schedule for next year, the classes and IB level, if applicable: 1. ________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________

editors-in-chief

Current staff members or contributors: List your articles that were published this school year.

Edition 65: Drama ________________________________ ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________

Edition 66: Promises ______________________________ ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________ 6. ________________________________________

Edition 67: Mission (Im)possible ____________________

7. ________________________________________

________________________________________________

8. ________________________________________ Not including The Talon, list in order of priority and time commitment the extracurricular activities in which you plan to participate next year and your after school commitments (which days?): 1. ________________________________________

Edition 68: Deadlines ____________________________ ________________________________________________

C ut a l on g th is l in e , n e a tl y.

3. ________________________________________

Edition 69: Seven Deadly Sins ______________________ ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________

Edition 70: Magic ________________________________

3. ________________________________________

________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________ 5. ________________________________________

Edition 71: Taking Sides ___________________________ ________________________________________________

Please answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper, attach to your application, and email it to The Talon.

1. What could you contribute to the Talon? Explain your experience. interests, and skills by giving specific examples that demononstrate them.

2. If you are a current staff member, explain why you would be good at the positions to which you are applying.

In addition to this form and the above responses, you are also required to submit a well-written 750-900 word article as part of your application, preferably for the section that you are applying for. Besides your name, please include a title and subtitle to the article, and its word count, along with at least one photograph or image that would accompany the piece—remember to cite the source of any borrowed material whether ideas or images. In addition to attaching the hard copy to this appplication form, send these elements electronically, as attachments, to talon@graded.br by 16:00, Thursday, 15 April. In the body of the email, make it clear 1) who you are and 2) what three positions you are applying to. (Note that if you are applying to a photographic or artistic position, submit to the Talon advisors a portfolio of your work that you think would be appropriate for the magazine.)

Name Signature E-mail (write this particularly neatly, please)

Date

C ut a l on g th is l in e , n e a tl y.

3. If appointed to a position, what specific ideas do you have to enhance the magazine and its role in the Graded community?

Telephone

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