Gael Winds, March 2012

March 2012

Gael Winds

M A R C H 2

My Journey to Japan

By Stephanie Flynn (’06) Editor’s Note: This article was written by Stephanie Flynn, a Kennedy grad from the class of 2006.

Stephanie writes about her years in college -- including her search for a rewarding field of study -as well as her venture after college to the far reaches of Japan to pursue her interests and experience a culture that has long fascinated her.

0 When I was a high school 1 student, I thought I knew for 2 sure what I wanted to do in

college and for a career. I was very interested in computers, both how they worked and the various uses they had, especially regarding video gaming and design.

I decided that I wanted to be a computer engineer, and I attended Rochester Institute of Technology beginning in fall 2006.

During my first quarter there, I very quickly learned that I wasn’t so sure about my future after all. Even the beginning programming classes I was taking were a huge challenge for me. I was placed in a Women in Computing program with other female classmates, but I still felt very alone. I felt like I was the only one who couldn’t understand even the simplest Java programming. My engineering labs didn’t go much better. I found that while I could un-

derstand the physics behind circuitry on paper, in a practical lab I was very lost. I started to worry. I had applied to RIT specifically because I wanted to be an engineer.

Now that I was sure that I was in the wrong major, what would I do? Would I have to change schools?

Thankfully, RIT had a career exploration program in place to help students in my situation. For one quarter, they helped me figure out where my interests lay, what skills I had, and what RIT had to offer. Even if I decided to change schools, the mentors in the program would help me find one that fit. I learned that RIT had a new program at the time, International Studies. It was an interdisciplinary program which focused on world history, international relations, foreign language, and economics. I knew I had found the right major for me.

In this interdisciplinary program, I could choose a specific global area to focus on,

such as Europe, Latin America, the Middle East or Africa.

I decided to study East Asian history and language, specifically Japanese. My Japanese language professors told my class about a study-abroad program in Kanazawa, Japan, that RIT offered. I applied right away and was accepted. In summer 2008, I spent two months at Kanazawa Institute of Technology, studying Japanese culture, language, and history. My fellow students and I toured the city and surrounding areas, and we got to see Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen (which is considered one of the three most beautiful parks in Japan) and the fishing villages at Nanao and Wajima.

I fell in love with Japan, and I knew that I wanted to go back.

Inside this issue: My Journey to Japan

1-3

The News

3-7

Holidays

8-9

The Arts

10-11

Sports and Features

12-19

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Journey to Japan Continued

The Gael Winds Team Editor-InChief Jena Lynne DiFrisco Faculty Adviser Mr. Katz Special Thanks To Everyone Who Contributed To This Issue

During my senior year in college, various professors recommended that I apply for the JET Program. The JET Program, or Japan Exchange Teaching Program, is run by an organization in partnership with the Japanese Ministry of Education. In this program, native English speakers (as well as Chinese and Korean speakers) are hired to teach English to Japanese students at various levels, from elementary school through adult level English classes. My Japanese language professors at RIT had all worked for the Japanese embassy conducting interviews for the JET program, and several of my history professors were JET alumni. They said that with my interest in Japan and my previous experience in study abroad, I would be a good fit.

I applied just before graduation, but I wasn’t accepted.

I was upset, but I decided not to let it get me down too much. The JET Program is extremely competitive, and a large majority of people who apply are not accepted. I decided to look into other jobs or exchange programs in Japan or other parts of Asia, such as Korea. In the meantime, after graduation I worked temp jobs near my home to save up money.

When applications for JET opened again in November, I decided to try again. I poured over my application from the previous year. I refined everything I could in the application, and I made sure to include my most recent work experiences. Sure enough, come February, I learned that

I had been accepted for an interview. I was delighted, but very nervous. I went to the Japanese Embassy in New York City, where I met many other hopeful applicants. I was worried during the interview, because I didn’t have much formal teaching experience.

But one of the interviewers was a Japanese professor from Kanazawa, and he had taught at RIT. We chatted in Japanese for a bit about Kanazawa, and my anxiety slowly disappeared. I felt more confident that I would be accepted this time.

On March 11, my mother woke me up early in the morning and said I should turn on the news. A massive earthquake and tsunami had devastated northeastern Japan, with thousands of people dead or missing. The nuclear reactor in Fukushima had failed, and radiation was flooding the surrounding areas. I was worried for the Japanese people, and for friends I knew who lived in the Sendai area, and I wondered how this would affect the JET Program. Applicants to the JET Program later received e-mails saying that the process was continuing as normal, in spite of the horrible devastation from the earthquake and the tsunami. We later learned that two American members of the JET Program had perished in the catastrophe. My family and I had a long discussion, and I made it clear that I still wanted to go to Japan.

At the end of April, I received news that I had been wait-listed for the JET Pro-

gram. While I was delighted that I wasn’t outright rejected, it proved to be the start of a difficult time. I was unsure how to proceed. I didn’t want to start looking for other work right away or apply to graduate school, because there was still a chance that I could be accepted to the JET Program at any time. But I also needed a solid back-up plan if I didn’t get in. I began scouting out which schools I might apply to for graduate studies, and I applied also for more part-time work positions. It was at the end of July that I finally heard the good news. I had been upgraded from the wait list to the short list, and I would be leaving for Japan in one month. I had to scramble to get my papers in order before I left -- a work visa, a change of residence tax form, a foreign driver’s license, and more. I received an e-mail from my new supervisor in Japan, who told me that I would be living in Niigata, a large city on the west coast of Japan, and that I would be teaching at four senior high schools as well as one special needs school.

I arrived in Tokyo last September 7, after a 14 hour flight from New York. Normally, new JETs receive a two-day orientation in Tokyo to prepare them for teaching and living in Japan. But because I was a late arrival, I had no such orientation. As soon as I landed, I had to take the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Niigata. I had one day for my JTEs (Japanese Teachers of English) to show me around Niigata, get me set up in my apartment, and help me open a Japanese bank account.

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Journey to Japan Continued The next day I had to start teaching. It was a daunting task. I had no teaching experience prior to JET. Every school and every class was totally different in terms of skill level, student attitude and teaching methods. Some classes were very low level, with students who could not read English, while some were very advanced, with students who could write critical thinking essays on a variety of topics. Some days, I have classes that are very eager to participate in English activities; we play games, chat in English, and have an enjoyable lesson. Other days, no matter how good the lesson is, the students don’t want to participate; they talk in class, put on make-up, or even flat out ignore me. On days like that I can feel like I’m a terrible teacher. But I know that it’s all part of the learning process. Learn-

ing how to adapt my lessons, how to motivate students, and how to handle cultural differences both inside and outside the classroom remain difficult challenges for me to this day.

I’m thankful that my education prepared me for living in Japan. Although I still experience culture shock, because Japanese society can often be very different from American, I think that classes I took and my study-abroad experience adequately prepared me for this lifestyle change. A group called the Association of JETS (AJET) has an extensive support network, and it frequently organizes events in the prefecture for the teachers like me. I’ve attended Niigata Albirex soccer games, the Niigata Soh Odori (Dance Festival), international cooking classes, and a Chinese Erhu concert.

I’ve also had opportunities during my breaks and vacations to travel

President Vetoes Keystone Pipeline

By Lara Manbeck (’14) President Obama’s recent decision not to approve the Keystone Pipeline System has created controversy. Many say the pipeline is the next step towards American energy independence, while others think it poses an unacceptable threat to the environment.

Proposed in 2005 by TransCanada Corporation, the Keystone was to transport synthetic crude oil and diluted bitumen from Alberta, Canada, to various places in the United States.

Those opposed to the pipeline argue that it would threaten drinking water sup-

plies, fish populations and wildlife habitats. “Instead of supporting the transport of dirty tar sands oil, [the government’s] focus should be on harnessing truly clean, renewable energy sources like solar, wind and biofuels,” says CNN founder Ted Turner, whose ranch in South Dakota is located near a portion of the site for the proposed pipeline.

Those in favor of the Keystone XL say its operation would reduce our reliance on Middle Eastern oil, create jobs and lower gas prices. They do not see an environmental threat in the pipeline and believe that it will make our nation “safer and stronger for the

around Japan. Over Christmas break, I visited Tokyo with friends from college, and I spent one week in Okinawa with a friend’s family on the military base. I look forward to further travel opportunities, not only within Japan, but in other parts of Asia as well, such as Korea, China, Thailand, and the Philippines.

I think it’s important for students and graduates to study foreign language and cultures. So many colleges and universities offer programs and opportunities for travel and study abroad. I think challenging one’s world view, stepping outside one’s comfort zone, and experiencing a culture totally new is an excellent way to grow as a person. It took me a year to find what I truly loved. College is a time of exploration. It’s important to take a variety of classes, ones that may not be in your major, and not to be afraid to ask for help.

Finding one’s passion is a difficult process. But it’s worth every step and misstep. -S.F.

American people,” according to United States Senator John Hoeven, a Republican from North Dakota.

Last month, President Obama denied approval of a permit to build the pipeline, because he felt that the deadline for the decision set by Congressional Republicans was too short to review the proposal for an alternate route that would not go through an environmentally sensitive area of Nebraska. TransCanada, in response, said it would immediately apply for another permit. It is uncertain whether or not the Keystone Pipeline has a future, once TransCanada seeks a new permit.

-L.M.

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The Wild Republican Primary Race of 2012

By Mr. Katz (Social Studies Department) I’m sitting here on a Tuesday night in late February, watching the results of the Michigan and Arizona primaries. The race for the Republican presidential nomination should have been over a month ago.

At least that’s what I’ve told my students in both American Government and AP Government & Politics. But somehow, amazingly, the race is just getting started.

The candidates for the Republican nomination for president have dwindled down to four at this point – Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and the putative frontrunner, Mitt Romney. Before the first contest – the Iowa caucus in early January – the clear-cut favorite was Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and successful businessman. In fact, Romney seemed to have little strong opposition. He had been through the process in 2008, and although he fell short to Senator John McCain, the strong conventional thinking was that in this race, the combination of his prominence and his large-filled campaign coffers would lead him to a rather easy victory.

Once that happened, the race for the upcoming fall election would be set – Mitt Romney vs.

President Obama. But a funny thing happened on the way to

the coronation of Romney as the Republican nominee.

First, Rick Santorum fought Romney to a draw in Iowa.

Out of about 122,000 ballots, S an to r u m won by about 30 – essentially, a d e a d heat.

Then, after Romney won handily in New Hampshire, Newt Gingrich won big in the South Carolina primary.

W h i l e Romney rebounded with some w i n s , Senator Santorum won three states in one night – Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado. Which brings us to tonight’s activities.

Tonight, there are primaries in two states – Arizona and Michigan. Governor Romney was early declared the winner in Arizona, where Santorum put out little effort. The race in Michigan was quite close, but Romney won a narrow victory. Governor Romney is considered a Michigan guy.

His father was an auto executive there, and later he (the father) served two terms as governor. So in essence, Romney is running in his home state. If he had failed to

win the race in Michigan, some pundits said he would have little chance to get the nomination.

So his narrow win gave him a bit of momentum. Still, next week there are primaries in ten states – the so-called Super Tuesday – and Romney faces challenges in many of them.

So that’s the picture as I sit here. At this point, there’s no clear-cut leader. The race has come down to two guys, Romney and Santorum. There’s talk that maybe neither of them will win enough primaries and caucuses to get the majority needed for Republican nomination. In that case, another candidate may rise up. Some say it is Governor Christie of New Jersey. My students in American G o v e rn me n t seemed impressed with him.

T h e field could definitely be wideopen. There’s even a chance that the choice may not be made until the Republican Convention this summer. In the last 60 years, the parties have typically settled on a candidate before their national convention. But in this year, the story could be different. That would be exciting to people who really follow politics. Political nerds, get excited! -F.K.

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Election 2012

By Andrew DeMarco (’14) The presidential election season is upon us, as you have most likely realized, based on the beginning of the Republican primaries and caucuses in Iowa on January 3rd. This phase of the presidential election will take five months (January 3rd –June 5th), and, if all goes as normal, it will leave us with a Republican candidate to run against President Barak Obama. Of course, this campaign has been very different from normal.

Four men stand in line to be given a chance at defeating President Barack Obama. They are Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul. These men have taken part in many debates in which they discussed their policies with the American people. They can be very entertaining if you are interested in politics and the future of our nation. Some candidates have already withdrawn from the race: Michele Bachman, Rick Perry, Jon Huntsman, Tim Pawlenty and Herman Cain.

Willard Mitt Romney attended Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School and received both a law degree and an M.B.A. He took over as president of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee and helped save the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games from financial problems. This achievement is a major strong point for Romney, which he can use to back his plans to fix our nation’s economy. Romney was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2003. He ran for president in 2008 as well but lost the Republican nomination to John McCain.

Richard Santorum is a legal professional and a former member of the U.S. Senate. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from

Pennsylvania State University, and an M.B.A from The University of Pittsburgh. He earned his law degree from Dickens School of Law. Santorum was also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives before his election as a senator. He is known as the “true conservative” in this race, meaning that he takes a traditionalist view on many issues.

Newton Gingrich was a member of the U.S. House of Representa-

tives and an author. He received a Ph.D. from Tulane University, in history. In 1994 he was elected Speaker of the House, the first Republican in 40 years to hold that position. In 1999 he resigned from Congress, but he stayed involved in politics as a commentator.

Ron Paul graduated from Gettysburg College and earned a degree from Duke University of Medicine. He served as a doctor in the United States Air Force from 1963 to 1965 and in the United States National Guard from 1965 to 1968. He later practiced obstetrics and gynecology in Texas and is said to have delivered more than 4,000 babies over the course of his career.

Ron Paul became a member of the United States House of Representatives in 1978; he served for six years and then returned to his private practice in 1984. But he returned to politics in 1988, and he has served a second stretch in the House since 1997.

The Republican National Convention will be held from August 27- August 30 in Tampa Bay. At the Convention, the Republican Party will formally select a candidate to run against President Obama. Normally, that candidate will have been decided in the various primaries and caucuses from January to June, but as mentioned above, this campaign seems anything but normal, and it’s possible that the nominee will have to be decided in a drawn-out battle at the Convention itself.

The Republican nominee will have a difficult challenge opposing President Obama.

President Obama will be credited with ending the war in Iraq, killing Osama Bin Laden, and stabilizing a rough economy. He is also a very well educated man and an influential speaker. The two candidates will participate in a rigorous schedule of debates, speeches, and other public appearances, where they will rally for the support of the American people. It will be interesting to see how the candidates plan their election strategy and target key states and the electoral votes needed to win the election.

The two candidates in the 2012 presidential election are sure to have vastly different views and approaches to key issues such as the economy (including how to deal with the current high rate of unemployment), alternative sources of energy, foreign policy, and health care. Personally, I can’t wait for election night. Whoever is elected will be responsible for the future of this country -- as well as my future as an up-and-coming American taxpayer.

-A.D

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Costa Concordia Accident

By Amy Sniffen (’14) On January 13, 2012, the Costa Concordia was sailing off the coast of Italy, near the Isola de Giglio.

The captain, Francesco Schettino, as a favor to the head waiter, deviated from the ship’s regular route and sailed closer to the coast than he usually did. The headwaiter’s family lived on the coast and as a salute to them, the captain agreed to blow the ship’s horn. However, the captain, while maneuvering his ship along the coast, sideswiped a submerged reef. The collision tore a 230-foot gash in the port side of the ship. Water rushed in and the ship began to drift, finally settling on a rock shelf. Passengers were told that the ship was experiencing an electrical fault, and not to panic, everything was under control. The ship’s crew told inquiring maritime officials that the problem was merely a “black out” and would be fixed as quickly as possible. However, the problem was much more dire than an electrical issue; the ship had begun to take on water and was developing a list. While the crew reassured passengers that they had nothing to worry about, the ship was sinking deeper and deeper.

Evacuation efforts on the Costa Concordia were somewhat delayed; the captain was hesitant to let anyone know that anything was wrong, so he refrained from giving the order to abandon ship. By the time he called for the lifeboats, however, many of them could not be deployed because the portside list was so severe. Many people (passengers and crew) became trapped inside as the ship listed farther and farther, and they could not be rescued until divers arrived

on the scene and cut holes in the ship’s hull to free them.

Even with lifeboats being deployed, many people were unsure of where to go. A lifeboat drill had been scheduled for the upcoming Saturday, so passengers had not yet been informed of the evacuation proceedings. The captain, rather than help his passengers, left on one of the first lifeboats. When he arrived ashore, Italian coast guards ordered him to return to the ship until every person aboard had been rescued, but the captain refused to go back.

The local fire station launched a rescue mission to the site of the nearly capsized ship and saved nearly 160 people from the wreck.

Five helicopters from the Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force took turns picking up survivors and carrying them to the shore. A ferry rescued about 600 people from the ship and carried them back to the

mainland. Rescue divers explored the submerged portion of the wreck, searching for missing people, but Italy’s Civil Protection agency halted the diving effort because the damaged hull was unstable and could hurt a diver who got too close. The ship also began to shift, and people began to worry

that the ship would be pushed into 224 ft. waters.

Officials have started to worry that the oil tanks carrying the ship’s fuel will begin to leak, so, as a precaution, a floating oil barrier has been put in place to protect the environment from ill effects of the sinking. The amount of diesel fuel and lubricating oil aboard the Costa Concordia is equal to that of a small oil tanker, and any leakage would be toxic to the plant and animal life.

On February 9, the CEO of Costa Cruises said they will have a plan to remove the ship by mid-March. The first step the company has seemed to agree on is to remove the fuel from the hull of the ship. How they will salvage the wreck from there is not clear. The state of the ship is being monitored by satellite imagery, and although the ship is not at immediate risk of sliding off the rock shelf, the ship could very well collapse on itself.

The M.S. Costa Concordia was the first of six sister ships commissioned

by Costa Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation. She was launched on September 2, 2005 at Sestri Ponente, Genoa, and her maiden voyage was on July 14, 2006. In total, the Costa Concordia cost $570 million dollars to build and has a capacity of 4,880 persons (3,780 passengers and 1,100 crew members). The ship is now lying on her port side in sixty feet of water. –A.S.

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(NOT) Seeing Red

By Mrs. Morris (English Department) I was reading the paper the other day and my eyes were drawn to an article about the Empire State Building and Cardinal Timothy Dolan. It seems that a request was made by Rep. Michael Grimm of Staten Island to the building's owner Anthony Malkin. He was asked to honor Timothy Dolan on the occasion of his elevation to Cardinal by lighting the building in red. The request was denied.

I am angry but I am also not surprised. I remember the controversy in 2010 when a similar request was also denied. At that time, Mr. Malkin refused to honor Mother Theresa on what would have been her one hundredth birthday.

What is the reason these two inspirational and iconic figures were not considered worthy of such an honor? To find out, I went to the official website of the Empire State Building (http://www.esbnyc.com/ current_events_tower_lights.asp) and found the following information: “The Empire State Building (ESB) celebrates many cultures and causes in the world community with iconic lightings. Its tower lights recognize key milestones, events, charitable organizations, countries and holidays throughout the world, not political or religion-related events. Outside of its tradition of lightings for the religious holidays of Easter, Eid al-Fitr, Hanukah and Christmas, ESB has a specific policy against lighting for religious figures, religious organizations, and additional religious holidays.”

I wasn’t really satisfied with the above explanation, so I decided to do some research. I discovered some very interesting information.

The Empire State Building is lit up

quite frequently for a plethora of reasons. First of all, there are the observances of secular holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Independence Day. Next, there are lightings in support of wonderful charitable organizations such as the New York Police & Fire Widows' and Child r e n ’ s Benefit Fund and the United States Marines’ Toys for Tots.

Some of the lightings help r a i s e awareness such as W o r l d AIDS Day, W o r l d Cancer Day and Autism Speaks. In addition, the building is lit to salute Broadway shows and NY and United States sports teams and players. It has been green in honor of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and blue to pay tribute to the Blue Man Group. Lights shine for International occasions such as honoring the wedding of Great Britain’s William and Kate, celebrating the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Caribbean Week and to remind the world about the plight of dolphins in Japan. I could go on and on. I really have no problem with any of these reasons for lighting up the Empire State Building. I think it is a great thing, whether it is to raise awareness, for tributes, for pride, or for fun.

What I do find objectionable is what I perceive to be the anti-Catholic sentiment of Mr. Malkin. He claims

not to light the building for any religious or political events. Yet, the building is lit to commemorate Mexican Independence Day, which I consider a political event. It is also lit for the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York’s 63rd Annual Celebrate Israel Parade, which I consider both a political and a religious event. The lighting that really makes me shake my head occurred in 2009 to celebrate the anniversary of the Communist takeover of China. How could this NOT be conceived as a political event? The building shines red on February 14th and green on March 17th. I guess Mr. Malkin has not come to the realization that these are days that honor two Catholic saints – St. Valentine and St. Patrick.

So back to my original question. Why are Mother Teresa and Cardinal Dolan deemed unworthy of an honor that has been accorded to so many others? Is Mother Teresa considered simply a “religious figure”? Is giving up all worldly comforts to spend a lifetime tending to the poor and sick not good enough? Why is a man who is loved and admired by Catholics and non-Catholics alike considered unsuitable? Cardinal Dolan is a humanitarian and a man of great compassion and humor. He is a wonderful role model for New Yorkers.

The days leading up to his elevation and the ceremony itself were covered extensively by the media -most notably the New York media.

Accolades poured in from all around the world and from people of all faiths. Mr. Malkin should be ashamed of himself. But I am sure he is not. He is probably too busy contemplating which cartoon character to honor next. -C.M.

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Valentine’s Day: The History of Romance

By Elizabeth Varoli (’14) Editor’s Note: There seem to be many legends about the origin of Valentine’s Day. Here is one of them.

Everyone loves Valentine’s Day. People think of it as a day full of silly and exciting love, except many people do not know the real origin of this saint’s day. The story of Valentine’s Day is one of devotion and sacrifice.

The origin of Valentine’s Day starts in Rome, during the third century. The Emperor of Rome during this time was Claudius II, or Claudius the Cruel.

Claudius concentrated on developing a gigantic army.

But Claudius had trouble pulling together enough men to create his dream army. The men were resistant to joining the army, because they loved their homes and did not want to leave their wives and children. In Claudius’s view, the men were too caught up in their romances. So he forbade all marriages and engagements. Overall Claudius’s goal was to get rid of romance, so that the Romans could create the best military the world had ever seen. But the Romans did not like Claudius’ actions. They were distraught that their engagements were forbidden. So they looked for someone who could overthrow Claudius.

According to the Catholic

Encyclopedia, there were many martyrs called Valentine. One of these Valentines took a stand against the cancellation of marriages and engagements. Valentine was a priest, and therefore he felt it was his God-given duty to join couples in the union of marriage. Whenever he could, he

would secretly marry couples.

Rumors began to spread, until word of Valentine’s secret ceremonies got to the Prefect of Rome. Valentine was sent to jail over his secret nuptials, while the state decided what his sentence would be. In jail, his jailer was Asterious. Asterious had a daughter who was blind, and hearing that Valentine had some healing powers, he brought his daughter to Valentine, hoping that she could be healed. Through Valentine’s strong faith, he was able to cure Asterious’s daughter.

Claudius II met the prisoner and attempted to convert him to pray to Roman gods and to agree to stop marrying couples. But Valentine refused to cave in to these

unholy acts. And so Valentine was ordered to be executed.

Meanwhile, Valentine had formed a close bond with Asterious’s daughter, who Valentine had cured of blindness. The girl was distraught that Valentine was going to be executed. Right before Valentine was sent to be executed, he wrote the girl a goodbye letter.

Valentine started the famous Valentine’s Day signature when he signed this letter with “from your valentine.” Valentine was executed on February 14, 270 A.D. Thus February 14th is the day of lovers.

Valentine became a saint in the Catholic Church, for his devotion to God and love. As time went on Valentine’s Day began to develop an interest and a following. In the fourteenth century, this new holiday became associated with love. Then in the eighteenth century, Valentine’s Day became associated with gift giving and sweets, despite the attempt to keep the day holy.

As Erica Jong once said, “Love is everything it's cracked up to be. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for.” St. Valentine definitely understood how important love is, love for each other and love for God. He fought for the ability of couples to express their love. So next Valentine’s Day, dig down deep beyond the chocolates and sweethearts, and think what love really means and how far you would go to gain it.

-E.V.

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The Feast before the Fast

By Ellen Spillane (’14) Editor’s Note Mardi Gras was celebrated this year on Tuesday, February 21st. But what exactly is Mardi Gras?

Traditionally, Mardi Gras is a day of feasting on the day before Ash Wednesday. “Fat Tuesday,” formally known as Shrove Tuesday, represents a day of merrymaking and eating richer foods before the Lenten season. In the late 17th century, Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville arrived in North America. On March 3, 1699, the expedition landed where New Orleans is today. In honor of the holiday, they named the spot Point du Mardi Gras (French: "Mardi Gras Point") and called the nearby tributary Bayou Mardi Gras.

During Mardi Gras in 1827, a cluster of students wore colorful costumes and danced through the New Orleans streets, imitating the festivities they had experienced in Paris. The first recorded New Orleans Mardi Gras parade occurred ten years later. In 1857, the Mistick Krewe of Comus, a secret society of businessmen, initiated a torch-lit parade with marching bands and floats. It set the tone for future communal revelries in the city.

The most ostentatious of Mardi Gras celebrations in North America concludes in an uprising of parades and hordes of laughing and dancing people in the streets of New Orleans. Every year thousands of people flock to the city for the celebration. The confetti covered streets of New Orleans host parades including masks, music and mayhem. In the French Quarter, jazz music spreads through the streets with more than three hundred fifty floats. Thousands of spectators arrive at the scene by

early dawn on that famous Tuesday to claim the best spots on the streets.

Another famous Mardi Gras festival attraction in the United States is in Texas. In the barrierisland city of Galveston, Texas, a twelve day phase of grandeur leads up to Fat Tuesday. It was first held there in 1867. Today, more than 200,000 people arrive in Texas to join in the celebration. The Texans merriment includes Cajun dances, jazz performances, masked balls, royal coronations, and, of course, parades.

All over the United States, crowds attend carnivals and festivities to celebrate “Fat Tuesday.” Louisiana is the only state in which Mardi Gras is a legal holiday. Across the world, festivities are celebrated to commemorate the day before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season begins. The Brazilians celebrate Carnaval, one of their most famous holidays. In Germany, they celebrate Mardi Gras, which is known as Karneval, Fastnacht or Fasching. Fastnacht translated means “Eve of the beginning of the Fast.” On the Monday before Ash Wednesday, called Rosenmontag, the Germans hold famous parades in Cologne, Mainz, and Dusseldorf. Fettisdagen, celebrated in Sweden, comes from the word “fett” (fat) and “tisdag” (Tuesday). Italy also has a pre-Lenten celebration, called Carnevale. Carnevale was the forerunner to Mardi Gras. The French borrowed the idea and made it popular. –E.S

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“Anything Goes”

By Jenny Weisberger (’14) At Kennedy Catholic High School there is a very talented group of people. They work endlessly for months to create something truly special. The Kennedy Catholic Players do everything they can to create a fantastic school play and to truly make the show a special occasion. I am fortunate enough to be a member of this outstanding group. The atmosphere is just so friendly, and everyone is openhearted. Over the past two years I have witnessed two great shows come together, all thanks to the amazing people who devote an enormous amount of time to give an outstanding performance. Everyone in the cast is friendly to each other, and we have formed a special bond that I would never even be able to explain. So now let me tell you about the Kennedy Catholic Players; let me tell you about my family.

The show this year is Anything Goes, a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The basis of the plot is that Billy Crocker, a stowaway on the cruise ship the S.S. American, is in love with heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to Sir Evelyn Oakleigh. Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and Public Enemy number 13 Moonface Mar-

tin aid Billy in his quest to win Hope. Along the way there are many enjoyable musical numbers and numerous comical moments.

The play in itself was an excellent choice for the Players and fits the cast very well.

This year our new director, Mrs. Merritt, decided that she wanted to try double casting.

This means that there are two entirely different casts performing the show.

The show will be performed on the first, second, third, and fourth of March, with the Green cast performing on the first and third and the Blue cast performing on the second and fourth. A few of the characters are played by the same person all four nights, such as Billy Crocker (Dennis McDaid), Sir Evelyn Oakleigh (Matt Infantino), and Bonnie (Maika Delacruz).

However, many of the leads are shared by two people. In the Green Cast, Reno Sweeney is played by Megan Callaghan, Hope Harcourt is played by Jenny Weisberger, Moonface is played by Phil Prinzivalli, and Mrs. Harcourt is played by Shannon Spillane. In the

Blue Cast, Reno Sweeney is played

by Lara Manbeck, Hope Harcourt is played by Natalie Burke, Moonface is played by Matthew Pereira, and Mrs. Harcourt is played by Gabriella Burra. Natalie and Jenny share the roles of Hope as well as one of Reno’s backup dancers or “angels”, Megan and Lara share the roles of Reno and a reporter on the ship, and Matt and Phil share the roles of Moonface and the Captain of the ship. Both casts are phenomenal, and each brings its own style to the stage.

The Kennedy Catholic cast and crew have worked endlessly for months, and with “hell week” (the last week leading up to the opening) fast approaching, there are many more hours ahead of us. We very much appreciate the wonderful costumes made by Ms. DiSenso and Sister Barbara, the amazing set made by Mr. Tieber and the crew, and the wonderful music played by Mr. Kuhn and the pit band. Without all of their efforts, the show would not be possible. Each member of the cast is truly special, and without even one of them, the show would not be what it is today. So come see us perform during the first weekend of March. You never know what you will see because remember, anything goes! -J.W.

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Costume Creations “Anything Goes: The Musical”

By Tillie O’Reilly (’14) The time of the year has come again to start stitching, sewing, cutting, pinning, and labeling future costumes for the upcoming p l a y , “Anything Goes,” at Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers, NY. Not many people may be aware of the timeconsuming process undertaken when fabricating these cloth pieces into wearable costumes.

This intricate process of assembling one dress can take several steps until it finally reaches completion. Usually the first component when creating a costume entails finding and cutting out a pattern of the article of clothing that you want to construct. Once the pattern is cut out, it is then pinned on to the fabric that is used for the dress. The fabric and pattern collectively are then cut out and ready to be sewn together with other pieces that make up the dress as a whole. In the end, all the hard work is definitely worth it. What was once just a picture has come to life as a real dress. Although this is only a general overview of the dress-making process, one can only imagine how much time this can amount to when done

properly. It is sad to see that the manufacturing of clothes in the home is becoming extinct; however, dress-making is alive and well at Kennedy Catholic.

Not every article of clothing worn by the actors and actresses is made by hand. The endless supplies of costumes down in the dressing rooms consist of casual and formal clothes, which provide a great variety for the cast to wear. Each student in the play is sure to find the perfect-fitting costume for his or her character, considering the personality, time era and fit.

The original production of “Anything Goes,” written by Cole Porter, was staged in 1934. This charming musical, filled with wonderful songs, takes place on the luxury liner S.S. America, sailing from New York to England, with some interesting characters aboard.

The show is also filled with suspense and humor. The distinct fashion of the 1930s made creating costumes for the play so much more enjoyable. Women generally wore long, stylish dresses either as a solid color or with a pattern. Almost always a hat would accom-

pany the dress. Men’s fashion consisted of double-breasted suits, full-cut trousers and tuxedos. This show definitely encompasses 1930s fashion to its fullest.

But none of these wonderful costumes would be possible without all the people behind the action who spend countless hours devoting their time to create such a wonderful look.

We are very fortunate to have two teachers involved in this project. English teacher Ms. DiSenso (also a Kennedy alum) plays a tremendous role in this whole process; without her costuming work, the production would definitely not be possible. At the same time, Sister Barbara Heil contributes a great deal to this project; her contributions include hard work, dedication and terrific knowhow.

In addition to these teachers, volunteer students and parents put in a great deal of time to make this costuming project successful.

We hope you have a chance to see the Kennedy Catholic production of “Anything Goes”. We also hope you enjoy the wonderful costumes and appreciate the hard work that went into creating them! -T.O.

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Girls’ Varsity Basketball – The Playoff Run

By Leah Greene (’14) Editor’s Note: This article was written by Leah Greene, a player on the Girls’ Basketball team. The team lost the game at the County Center, but it was a great season.

As most of you may know, the Kennedy Catholic girls’ basketball team (the Lady Gaels) has made it into the playoffs with a 14-6 record and a historic undefeated league 6-0 record.

Most people do not know all the hard work it took for the Lady Gaels to make the playoffs, which has resulted in getting an opportunity to play at Westchester C o u n t y Center – the goal of every high school basketball team in the Hudson Valley area.

After a challenging and tough season last year, the Lady Gaels entered the current season with most people underestimating our potential. After losing two seniors last year, our team was rebuilt and retooled. Many thought we would have an unsuccessful season. However, we displayed continued growth and tenacity all season long and played each game with skills and good sportsmanship on and off the basketball court. Because we were so severely underestimated, we ulti-

mately shocked the Westchester County basketball area with our league championship. Now, we will be going to the County Center to play top-seeded Irvington High school on Tuesday, February 28th (tip-off time 8:15 pm).

Newspaper articles and

blogs tend to concentrate only on the success of players who score the most, get the most rebounds or have the most assists. Unfortunately, they do not talk about the players behind the scenes. We have a team of twelve girls who contribute both offensively and defensively and give tremendous support to each other on and off the court. Each player has individual skills and talents that she brings to the team, and collectively, we play as a cohesive unit. Each player on the Lady Gaels is equally important. Our commitment to rigorous team practices (while balancing our

academic requirements) along with guidance from our strong coaching staff has enabled us to capitalize on our strengths and grow as a team.

The coaches of the Lady Gaels all feel that we deserved to play at the County Center against the best team, because of all the hard work that we put into practices and games. Head coach Al Morales feels excited about his team in the playoffs and its progress.

“We reached our second short-term goal of getting to the County Center,” Coach Morales said, “ and as long as each player plays with 100% effort, we will live with the end result. We are privileged to represent Kennedy Catholic by playing at the County Center against one of the great teams in our area. Like us, our opponents sleep, breathe and cry, and anything can happen on any given day.” With these motivational words from the coach, the Lady Gaels will play against Irvington with confidence and 100% effort, while knowing that we finished strong this season against all odds. –L.G.

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JV Girls’ Basketball Coach Sonja Killeen: A Profile

By Juliana Gullotta (’14) Sonja “Sunnie” Killeen, born in Rockford, Illinois, has been coaching for Kennedy’s JV Girls’ Basketball team since 2010.

Brought to our school by Head Coach, Al Morales, Coach Killeen has done a terrific job, in her two years, of reshaping the JV girls program. This year, the team wound up with a record of 12 wins and 5 losses.

Coaching, it seems, is in Coach Killeen’s blood. Aside from her own long list of accolades, some of her siblings are currently coaching for successful basketball programs, including Trinity International University and the Sleepy Hollow High School JV boys’ team.

Coach Killeen, along with her husband Michael, has also coached her children’s recreation basketball teams. When asked what she enjoyed most and least about coaching, she respond that she enjoys just about everything: the practices, the games, and watching intensely as her team puts everything they’ve learned into motion on the court. Losing, which fortunately doesn’t happen often, is a way for the team to focus on areas that may need improvement.

Like all good coaches, Coach Killeen has developed a sense of care and concern for each of her athletes. She often refers to them as her “children”. When asked about what her goal is in coaching, she said, “My goal is for my girls to master all the skills necessary to play varsity basketball.”

She makes sure that this goal is carried out by having a rigorous practice schedule, iinvesting extra time and attention on individual plays that we need to improve upon, and congratulating us once we have mastered those plays. In this way, she not only betters our basketball skills, but she also teaches important values of faith and compassion, which were taught to her through her role model, her father.

Standing at an impressive six foot two inches tall, Coach Killeen started her own basketball career in seventh grade, when a friend asked her to play on her father’s club team. This was not, however, the first time she had heard of the sport, being that both of her older sisters were very athletic. When she started, she was put in to play either forward or center. She continued playing basketball throughout her years in high school and continued to develop her love of the sport while attending Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.

Coach Killeen achieved great success in college. Among other awards, she was named to the American Womens’ Sports Foundation Freshman All-American Team.

She was also encouraged to travel to St. Louis to try out for the 1984 Olympics. She graduated Wheaton as the school’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots and scoring average.

Coach Killeen’s love of basketball did not stop after college. It pushed her to find places where she could continue her passion. For a few years after moving to New

York, she took part in the Empire State Basketball Games. She also played with a semi-pro team known as Riverside Church, which traveled to Texas for tournaments..

Coach Killeen has also found success in both field hockey and volleyball. She played for three years in high school on the field hockey team, and when that program was cut, she decided to play on the volleyball team. At Wheaton, she resumed her field hockey career and played for another three years.

Today, Coach Killeen plays in a women’s volleyball league in her spare time. She enjoys picking up a basketball and starting a game with her children and friends. Two of her children have shown an interest in playing basketball, and one of them plays on a club team coached by Coach Al Morales. She also has many other hobbies, including cooking, baking, playing bass guitar and creating her own greeting cards.

Her advice for any studentathlete considering playing a sport in college is to “go for it”, as she feels it could be one of the best experiences of their life. But she also points out that one has to have both self-discipline and excellent time management skills in order to be successful both academically and athletically. You have to find a balance. –J.G.

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Kennedy Hockey—Rebuilding

By Yaroslav Jakymec (’14) Last year was an amazing year for the Kennedy/ Putnam Valley hockey program.

Led by a very talented group, the team made it to the Section One semifinals. Alas, last year's g r o u p moved on, and this y e a r ' s young team experienced a transition season.

This year was a season of rebuilding and learning for the y o u n g t e a m .

Though this season pales in comparison to last year's, it has helped to mold this young team with talent and potential into a more unified and stronger group. This unity and perseverance allowed them to come together and regroup to defeat Fox Lane in two consecutive games after a string of difficult loses had tested the team’s composure and resolve.

The seniors who led the team this year were Captain Andrew Rodriguez, Josh Loizeaux, Tommy LeBlanc, Adam Jacobs, and Jimmy Lutz. Captain Andrew Rodriguez rose up to take a larger and more vocal role with the team and without out a doubt became the heart and soul of the team. Through the long and hard season, Andrew did not lose faith during tough

games, and he saw the strong character and potential that the players had. The high point of Captain Rodriguez's season was leading Kennedy to victory over Fox Lane

with a hat trick. He is hopeful for Kennedy’s hockey future and will e n j o y coming to future Kennedy hockey games.

Another k e y member of the team was Josh Loizeaux, a s o l i d defenseman whose amazing shot- blocking skill, great individual technique, and cool and calm demeanor greatly assisted the team.

Tommy LeBlanc was an honorary captain this year. Tommy

could not play this season, due to injuries suffered in an accident, but he was still very important to the team. He kept up he team morale during the whole season, and his pregame talks motivated the team to play the best they could and inspired everybody to persevere. Adam Jacobs, a goaltender, became a solid back-up and helped boost the team’s spirit during the difficult season. Jimmy Lutz, a student at Putnam Valley, had a very instructive and positive effect on the young team. Jimmy’s hard work in games and at practices, and his dedication throughout the season, set an example for the rest of the team.

These players and their leadership will be missed as they graduate this season. But the lessons and examples that they

have taught and demonstrated will be used and followed as our team matures and gets better in the future.—Y.J.

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My Experience Playing Club Sports

By Caroline Erb (’14) Lately, many people are starting to get more into sports, and instead of just playing them during the school season, they are choosing to play them all year around by joining a club team. In my case, the sport is volleyball. There are club teams for almost all sports, such as volleyball, soccer, lacrosse and hockey. Some of these teams play games in the local area, and some of them travel to tournaments that are sometimes several hours away.

Why should you play? There are many reasons why playing a club sport could be a great choice for you. First, if you make a team, you can become great friends with your teammates from all the practices and tournament you will have. Second, you will improve your skill level and, in so doing, you can stay more fit and healthy. Third, you

get to learn how to prioritize and manage your studying, sport and social life. It can be difficult to do all of that, but the experience of managing all of these things will come in handy later in life, like when you get to college. Finally, if you play on a traveling club team, you have more of a chance to play in college, because college scouts and coaches come to watch players in several major tournaments that you’ll play in.

Unfortunately, like many things in life, there is a downside.

The two main downsides of club sports are that they can become time consuming and that they tend to be expensive. There are practices several times a week, and sometimes, depending on the level of the club team, there are practices during major school va-

cations. Tournaments also take up at least one day, and sometimes, even an entire weekend.

Depending on the team you play for, either local or travel, the prices can vary from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Also, some families have several children who play club sports, and the expense for them can be extremely high. Luckily, some clubs give discounts to families who have more than one child playing for their teams.

Playing a club sport is a great way to show your dedication to a sport. Overall, I think playing is a wonderful experience and more people should really try to participate. –C.E.

Want to write for the May issue of Gael Winds — the year-end senior issue?

Please see either Jena Lynne DiFrisco or Mr. Katz.

We’re eager for you to have your say!!

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Faith through the Eyes of Tim Tebow

By Julia Hughes and Elizabeth Terceira (’14) Editor’s Note: This past NFL season saw the eruption of Tebow-mania, the wild popularity of the Denver Broncos’ young quarterback Tim Tebow. The young Denver Broncos’ quarterback led his team to the playoffs. But more than that, the nation took to his clean-cut religious image. This winter, our own New York Knicks have found a similar experience in the development of Linsanity, the wild popularity of the young point guard Jeremy Lin. While Lin’s contribution on the basketball court seems to surpass Tebow’s on the football field, Lin is also being appreciated for something he shares with Tebow – a deeply religious background.

Although many people in the spotlight tend to drift away from their morals, Tim Tebow has stayed loyal to his faith. As an infant in his mother, Pamela’s womb, Tim T e b o w would produce complications for her during pregn a n c y .

When Pamela’s doctors warned Pamela that she need to abort the child, Pamela refused to do so. Instead, she turned to her Christian values and prayed that the child would be healthy. Tim Tebow was born a miracle baby to Pamela and her husband, Robert. As the youngest of five children, Tim Tebow and his siblings were raised as devote Christians. His strong foundation in his faith would lead him to success in the future.

Tim Tebow played on the football team at Nease High School in Florida. Tebow also played in the U.S. Army AllAmerican Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, a game for high school all-stars.

At Nease, he was

named Florida’s high school football player of the year, and he was considered one of the nation’s top recruits to play college football.

An ESPN documentary tells Tebow’s story well.

Entitled “Tim Tebow: the Chosen One”, the documentary tells how Tebow displayed both dedication and tremendous talent during his high school football career. But his successes did not lead him to be self-centered. He didn’t forget those who were less fortunate, and for three summers he aided his father, Robert, in missionary work in the Philippines.

Tim Tebow excelled in college football at the University of Florida, and his exploits caught the attention of the people in the National Football League. He won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, the first sophomore ever to win it. He also became MVP of the college football national championship game.

But Tebow also began to reveal his deep-seated religious conviction. He often put the number of a bible verse

in the eye-black he wore for games.

In the 2009 BCS championship game, he put the words John 3:16 into his eye-black.

Shortly after the conclusion of his senior year, Tebow was drafted in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. After spending most of his first season as a back-up, Tebow became the starter after five games of the 2011 season. Remarkably, he began leading the team to victory, and the Broncos made the playoffs.

Although Tebow created a media storm, he remained true to his faith. Whenever Tebow’s team wins or scores, he gets down on his knee and thanks God. Many players celebrate a victory when they defeat their opponents. But Tim Tebow wins with humility. Sadly, however, he is ridiculed for getting down on one knee and thanking God for his talent.

In society, it seems that immoral actions are often accepted.

Yet Tim Tebow’s action of praising God for all he has given him is mocked. God has given all people different talents, yet some decide to abuse them. Tim Tebow continues to thank God, and he does not transform himself for society.

-J.H. & E.T.

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My Super Bowl Sunday Experience

By Brittany Perez (’14) Super Bowl XLVI was one of the best championship games I have ever seen. As everybody around here knows, the New York Giants faced the New England Patriots. For this special occasion I went to the house of one of my best friends, along with several other girls I slightly knew. Everybody was a huge fan of the Giants except for Grace. She was that oddball in the crowd – the only one rooting for the Patriots -- which was somewhat awkward because when most of us would get up and cheer, she would just sit on the couch silently, her eyes filled with envy .

Before the game started we ordered a wide variety of food, including pizza, spicy Buffalo wings, garlic knots and baconchili cheese fries. We also had potatoes, brownies, chicken fingers and macaroni salad which various of us had brought, and one girl even brought a football cake, to make sure our appetites would be satisfied. This may seem like a huge amount of food for six teenage girls, but don't worry, none of it went to waste.

Once the game started and the Giants had the ball, we were all on the edge of our seats, watching with intensity. Some of us were yelling at the screen nonstop, as if the players were actually listening to us. After the Patriots were called for a safety, giving the Giants a 2-0 lead, we were all cheering and running around with the alacrity of fouryear-olds – well, except for Grace. After Eli Manning threw a touchdown pass to Victor Cruz to make it 9-0, you wouldn't believe how crazy we got! One of the girls even spilled her soda. Of course, Grace was not too excited; she kept murmuring to herself how Tom Brady needed to pick up his game on offense.

All of us Giants fans got a little overconfident when the Patriots settled for a field goal to make the score 9-3. But the Patriots went ahead 10-9 at the end of the first half, and by that point, our joy and confidence had been replaced by frustration and disappointment. Now it was our turn to vent instead of Grace, as we started yelling at the TV screen.

The Giants had dominated for almost the entire half, but they didn’t have a lead to show for it.

After an unusual and bizarre halftime show performance by

Madonna, my friends and I went into the third quarter with renewed hope for the Giants, while Grace said that the Patriots were going to win all along. Quickly, it seemed that Grace would be right, as Tom Brady carried out a textbook drive that concluded with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez. Patriots 17, Giants 9. My friend was ready to give up her Giants jersey, and at this we couldn’t even eat our food. We expected the worst at that point, at the same time still hoping for a better outcome.

As we continued watching we saw the Giants get a field goal, which brightened our moods, and suggested that the Patriots were in for a game. Another field goal brought a smile to our faces, reducing the deficit to 17-15. We didn’t know what expect at that point; it was anyone’s game. My friends and I stood on our tippy toes as we watched running back Ahmad Bradshaw score the goahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. It was surreal.

Bradshaw really didn’t want to score, so the clock could continue to run, but his momentum carried him over the goal line, sitting down. The Patriots made one final desperate effort, but to no avail. All of us – well, except for Grace -- were elated and exuberant, and we started dancing in celebration. This was one game that I will never forget. It set my mood for the whole ensuing week. What a game it was! - B.P.

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Twitter: A Super Bowl Story

By Matt Tomaszewsky (’15) Twitter has become very popular over recent years. It started out small, as most social sites do, but quickly grew into a huge, worldwide side challenging the likes of Facebook and MySpace. Unlike Facebook, where posting a status message every couple of minutes is frowned upon by your friends, Twitter is meant to be updated every few minutes or hours.

One thing that attracts people to Twitter is that they can follow the real accounts of their favorite celebrities or sports stars. Once a famous person joins Twitter, they can get their account verified, and millions of people can “follow” their updates without having a “friend request” accepted. Millions of people tweet their favorite stars every day, trying to get a “retweet” or a “mention.

Twitter is also used to talk about live events, such as the Grammy Awards, the Super Bowl, or the earthquake in Japan. During these live events, Twitter tracks the number of “Tweets Per Second.”

Twitter was widely used during Super Bowl XLVI. In fact, the final minutes of this year’s Super Bowl broke the record for most tweets per second, with an average 12,233 TPS. Instead of telling the Super Bowl story from a regular point of view, I thought it would be interesting to tell the story using “Twitter language” – hashtags, mentions, and retweets. The following are highlights of a Twitter Super Bowl Story from the point of view of a diehard New York Giants fan – me.

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@Patriots win the coin toss.

They’ll kick it off to us. Ends the streak of NFC winning the coin toss. #ohwell #letsgo and #SB46 is under way! Lets go @Giants !!! #NYG #GMEN #believe nice return by Jernigan. Now we know where Eli Manning will start his day #pumped g r e a t p u n t b y @Weatherford5 !!! inside the 5-yd line! #safetytime ??? and theres a #safety !!! great way to start the game! #BigBlueWreckingCrew 2-0 @Giants , did anybody predict this? #icalledit @Giants get the ball back after the #safety#uh-oh , Cruz with the fumble…but theres 12 men on the field for the @Patriots ! #lucky Victor Cruz + Touchdown = #salsatime #salsadance 9-0 #G-MEN, #letsgo #keepitup Pats might score here #interceptionplease Nice job by the #G-MEN to hold the pats to a field goal. 93 now.

Everyone said this game would be low scoring, guess not @Giants driving here, lets get another TD 4th and 4, heres the punt. @Weatherford5 punts into the endzone. Touchback. #whoops A penalty gives the pats the ball on the 1-yd line. 99 yards? #wonthappen Tom Brady is lookin good ( #notgood ) and the pats are 4 yards away from a touchdown

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#cmondefense W h e r e ’ s t h e #BigBlueWreckingCrew ? ??

Touchdown @Patriots , Brady to little Woodhead #MadonnaTime I don’t get this halftime show #kindaweird Patriots get the ball to start the half, why is Bellicheck so smart?

Patriots driving down the field again #stopthem Finally, a crucial stop for t h e #BigBlueWreckingCrew 17-9 @Patriots , I still have #faith in my team #letsgo Now it’s the @Giants turn for a good drive, right? #weneedthis NASTY HIT ON HAKEEM NICKS BY PATRICK CHUNG #wow Field goal tynes? #ITSGOOD , 17-12 now #cuttingdownthelead 3-and-out for the Pats, its @Giants time, baby!

Another drive, another field goal, another step closer to a SB ring. 17-15, @Patriots with the lead #gettingcloser 17-15 at the start of the 4th quarter, here’s where Eli become Elite! #FunFact : Eli Manning set the record for most TD passes in the 4th quarter in one season, with 15 (beating his big bro) #INTERCEPTION !!!!

CHASE BLACKBURN!

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Twitter: A Super Bowl Story Continued   

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That’s my boy!

Blackburn came out of retirement just to do that #haha @Giants ball now, can they go 92-yds for the score???

To answer the question in my last tweet, no they cant… punting time Decent punt by @Weatherford5 , this guy is playing a huge role in this game so far #betterthandodge Sometimes Brady looks great, sometimes he just doesn’t #goodforus WES WELKER DROPPED THE BALL! #wow #thingsthatneverhappen @Giants are soooooooo lucky with that dropped pass by Welker People are gonna say its Welker’s fault for dropping the ball, but it wasn’t a perfect throw by Brady I think if Welker catches that, @Patriots go on to eat up the clock and then score we are #solucky @Patriots punting it to us with a little less than 4 min to go What time is it? #CrunchTime I am not worried at all right now. Fourth quarter. 3:46 to go. Super Bowl on the line.

The ball in Eli’s hands MARIO MANNINGHAM!!!!!!! WHAT A CATCH! UNBELIEVEABLE! #SuperMario Can’t believe that catch by Manningham #spectacular #SuperMario My dad picked the wrong time to walk the dog, missed the #PlayoftheGame Is it bad that my dad heard me screaming from outside?

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#dontthinkso Keep showing the replay, NBC – I could watch this catch alllllllll dayyyyy “The ruling on the field stands.” #duh Another first down to Manningham!

2 minute warning. @Giants eating up the clock #wegotthis Is it just me or are the @Patriots not really trying on D? Okay, so the @Giants don’t want to score and the @Patriots want them to score? #Confused It’s a chess game from here on in – now its Bellicheck vs.

Coughlin Bradshaw better not score…

Touchdown @Giants why am I not happy? Oh yeah, cuz he shouldn’t have scored…

The @Giants score the Touchdown they didn’t want to score #weirdgame #wow the @Patriots let Bradshaw score!

So, Bradshaw falls into the endzone, trying to stop. Pats D was ready to push him in anyway 57 seconds is waaayyyy too much time for Tom Brady Trying to calm down, this is #tooscary INCOMPLETE! Tipped away

by Corey Webster! That’s my boy!

DROPPED THE PASS! #Butterfingers SACKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JUSTIN TUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!! #CaptainTuck #clutch wow, Brady made a perfect throw to Branch on that

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one…. #uh-oh the drive continues #pleasestop 12 men on the field for the @Giants ! #smartpenalty What a #smartpenalty by the G-MEN. That ate up 8 seconds – which is a huge amount of time in the final 2 min of a game Incomplete pass to Deion Branch Now for the Hail Mary that will decide the winner of the game……..

INCOMPLETE!!!! INCOMPLETE!!!! INCOMPLETE!!!! GIANTS WIN!!!!!!!!!!

Crying tears of happiness #sohappy Congrats to my New York Giants for winning Super Bowl XLVI !!!! #goodjob

After the game, Giants’ safety Tyler Sash tweeted: “@TSash : To God be the Glory. I can do all thing in CHRIST who strengthens me. Phil 4:13” The New York Giants’ up-anddown season came to an end in fantastic fashion – with a Super Bowl Victory over the New England Patriots. Congratulations to the New York Giants! Dejá Blue!

2012 Kennedy Catholic President’s Dinner Honoring His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan

Thursday, May 24, 2012 6:00 PM Monteverde at Oldstone Cortlandt Manor, NY