Mounds View High School Viewer 12/21/11

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VIEWER

Mounds View

http://mvviewer.org Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Volume 59

2011-2012 Issue 5

<editor@mvviewer.org>

INSIDE

Pledge of allegiance The recent omission of the Pledge of Allegiance has really caused a stir.

MV Bowling We have a bowling team?

Health and Fitness How to and how not to stay in shape over the winter.

L

PH LES

Facebook’s broken security sys tem

by Christina Yoon staff reporter On Nov. 15, a widespread attack of explicit and pornographic images ambushed Facebook over a span of 24 hours.

According to the Washington Post, this attack was one of the “worst security breaches in the young web site’s history.”

Facebook’s users were tricked into copying and pasting malicious script into their browser bar. This action, called cross-site scripting, allowed hackers to gain control to the users’ accounts and post

the disturbing pictures. Such inappropriate pictures included celebrities in sexual positions and an abused animal. This caused many Facebook users to become distressed to the extent of deactivating their accounts.

Facebook does not know who or what attacked the site. Many people believe Anonymous, a hacker group, were the perpetrators; however, this is not the case, according to Facebook.

Mounds View students have also had their Facebook accounts hacked. On Black Friday, Jonathan Kim, 10, was a victim of a hacker attack.

“I couldn’t log in, so I had to change my password. And when I finally got in, it said I wrote all over people’s walls saying stuff like ‘Wanna lose 10 lbs with me?’” said Kim. Kim and many of his friends were irritated at the spam because of the lack of security measures on Facebook, such as approving unknown developers to make Facebook’s applications and not securing every web page on the site, allowing hackers to easily bypass the system.

Amanda Chen, 11, also had her Facebook account hacked. “It wasn’t that much of a problem.

I couldn’t get into my account,

but Facebook sent me an email telling me that my account was hacked and that I just needed to change my password. I think less and less people are getting hacked. So yes, its security is improving,” said Chen.

Fortunately, no data or account information was compromised during the recent attack. But people have raised concerns about the site’s security. Recently, the US Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with Facebook over alleged privacy issues. However, Facebook assures its faithful users they have nothing to worry about.

Here we go again...

Freshman Social Studies curriculum undergoes changes

Life is sweet Candy. Where to get it, how to make it, and why it’s bad for you.

Staying in Shape Students demonstrate activities to stay in shape over the winter.

by Nathaniel Nikoi and Tony Blustein staff reporters This year’s changes to the freshman science curriculum are going to be followed up by more changes, this time to the freshman social studies curriculum.

Students are currently required to take one semester of U.S. History 9 and one semester of economics. The new plan will cut U.S. History 9 and replace it with a choice of Geography or AP Human Geography.

AP Macroeconomics will also be available as a challenge for some accelerated ninth grade students. For sophomores, U.S. History 9 and U.S.

History 10 will be combined, while still leaving the option of AP US History (APUSH).

These modifications to the curriculum originated from coming changes in state standards. According to the Minnesota Center for Social Studies Education, the changes include clarifying the standards and focusing on the most essential content of each branch of social studies.

Although geography has always been a state requirement, it has been less clear where Mounds View students would meet that standard since the removal of World Areas from the curriculum.

“The [current] Social

Studies curriculum at Mounds View Schools is not the best program for the students’ successful mastery of the state standards,” said social studies teacher EmaKate Brohman.

The new AP options will provide students a level of learning beyond state requirements.

Since freshmen aren’t offered many AP classes, these changes give freshmen even more ability to challenge themselves.

“I think it’s great that the district is offering such courses for students who are up for the challenge. It’s something I’m really looking forward to taking advantage of!” said Emily Ruan, 8.

Some non-freshmen are envious because they wish

they had the same options.

“It’s a bit of a pain to me because freshmen will now have these provisions, and I didn’t get the chance to have the same,” said Roddy Talledo, 10.

Others are concerned, worrying that freshmen will burn themselves out with so many AP social studies options.

“It has always been challenging adjusting to high school. Are there some kids that can handle it? Sure. But for the most part, adding these AP courses adds undue pressure to adjust, and without teaching them about balance in life,” said AP European History teacher Kathryn Miller.

2editorials op T 10

December 21, 2011

Secular Santa

Worst things to do on Christmas

10 8

Slaving away in Santa’s workshop

Spending time with the Grinch

Cleaning up reindeer poop Talking to your crazy catlady Grandma

6

Trying to keep Mrs. Claus company

4

Having a dinner conversation with Keshav Mangalick

2

Explaining to your aunt that she should give up her culinary school dreams

Telling Rudolph that his knees are too bad to play in any reindeer games

Very last minute gift shopping

Stuck in your chimney wearing a scratchy fake beard

2010-2011 Viewer Editors Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor News Editorials Features Spread Variety Reviews Sports Gallery

9 7 5 3 1

Ryan Slechta John Ke Max Wang Zane Muller Alyssa Belsito Tristan Gustafson Nimmy Koshy Mali Bacig John Knopf Alvin Ma Akshay Patke Camry Kelly Catie Mattson Lauren Nguyen

Business Manager/ Online Erika Batiz Design Editor Megan Ruan Photographers

Adviser

Youngjun Park Anders Nygaard Ben Kaiser Martha Rush

Staff

-- Tristan Aschittino, Anthony Blustein, Anastasia Brodsky, Brian Burke, Neal Callinan, Alexandra Fream, Aaron Hammerly, Allison Hare, Peter Ingraham, Martha Kauls, Benjamin Kramka, Paul Kroska, Selin Kurtoglu, Margaret LaMere, Zachary Laughlin, Thomas Lazorik, David Liu, Ryan Mackey, Quinn Madsen, Helena Nguyen, Nathaniel Nikoi, Peter Olson, John Petersen, Alexander Safanov, Nicholas Schmidtke, Stephanie Schuba, Alexandra Severson, Christopher Severson, Madeline Shaw, Adam Toninato, Matthew Voges, Alexander Wald, Conner Walsh, Mikaela Warner, Joy Xie, Christina Yoon

The Viewer is published by the student editors at: Mounds View High School 1900 Lake Valentine Rd Arden Hills, Minnesota Sauk Centre Publishing

Secret Santa, one of the favorite gift-giving pastimes of people everywhere, has taken on a bit of a controversy over the word “Santa.” Why? Because people claim he’s a Christian figure. Santa is most definitely secular, and anyways, “Secret Winter Friend” just doesn’t have the same ring.

The history of Santa Claus is entangled deep within a winding path with no clear start. Sparse connections can be made between Santa and St. Nicholas, a fourthcentury Greek saint, as well as a number of pagan Dutch religions. Ultimately, the modern Santa Claus that we have known and written letters to since childhood is based off of secular American works in popular culture. Clement Moore wrote a poem in 1844 called The Night Before Christmas that is most likely the modern

basis for Santa. Thomas Nast’s cartoon depictions of Santa in an 1862 edition of Harper’s Weekly molded the gift-giver into a plump, grandfatherly figure that had a house in the North Pole with elf workers producing hoards of gifts for children around the world.

In our time, Santa’s remote relations with Christianity have been further degraded through consumerism. Santa can be found everywhere in advertising, whether posing in front of “50% OFF” sale signs, or doing a bad rendition of disco dancing on TV commercials. The general public has taken little offense to these advertisements; on the contrary, these marketing strategies have been a huge success. Santa can be used to market to Jews, Muslims, atheists, etc. without worry of backlash.

staff ed itoria

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Santa Claus did not originate just as a Christian symbol, and through the past two centuries, has been portrayed as a secular figure of generosity and gift giving.

The name “Secret Santa” is not meant to offend, but only to extend the spirit of benevolence Santa carries with him. Anyways, it’s not only Christian boys and girls that go to sit on Santa’s lap; Jewish children, Islamic children, Buddhist children, atheist children—you name it—can go to him to ask for gifts for the holidays. This treasured photo courtesy of mctcampus.com pastime should not fall to the way-side simply because some Santa wants you to stop whining religions want to claim jolly St. and enjoy the Christmas spirit.

Nick as their own.

14 Editors Agree, 3 Editors Disagree

Movie meltdown

Why remakes are a tell-tale sign of declining creativity

by Tom Lazorik staff writer Film is quite possibly the most expressive form of art the world has ever known.

Photography, written story, and music all make up what is seen in essentially every film - even silent films had music scores for when the camera rolled.

It is undeniably one of the most popular choices of entertainment among people of all ages. But what happens when filmmakers cannot even come up with their own good or bad movie idea?

The result of this lack of craftsmanship can sometimes be known as: a remake.

Movie remakes have existed about as long as film itself. Motion pictures such as The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Scarface (1983) are wellknown films, but few know they were remakes. The best remakes are usually the ones that could be mistaken for originals.

A poor example would be Gus Van Sant’s Psycho (1998), which was a shot-by-shot redo of the original 1960 classic.

Yes, the act of remaking movies has been around for over a century, but now this form of adaptation is increasingly becoming a highly favorable choice with Hollywood producers. Perhaps because it’s a quick way to make money. In the last ten years, the world has seen many films redone.

The horror genre is an especially popular target. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974, 2003), Halloween (1978, 2007), Friday the 13th (1980, 2009), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, 2010), The Wolfman (1941, 2010), and many more have been victims of the movie remake epidemic.

In the 2000s, it is no question that the creativity level is low as far as motion pictures go. 2011 alone has presented us with remakes such as Fright Night, The Thing, Footloose, Conan the Barbarian, and Straw Dogs.

Of course, there are still original films that come out today. Next to original films there are also many novel and comic book adaptions, along

with many sequels and the occasional prequel. Remakes do not dominate film, yet they have been steadily growing to the point where they may soon engulf the entire art form.

Although difficult, it is very much possible to make a nearly unique remake. An excellent way for a filmmaker to make a classic picture their “own” is to redo the movie in a way that delivers respect to the original film, while still showing a great deal of innovation. An example of this would be Brian De Palmas’ Scarface (1983). The movie is based on the 1932 motion picture of the same name. In the more recent version, names of characters have been changed, many plot points have been modified, and the overall style is completely different.

Another successful approach for considering remaking a movie is by basing them on foreign films.

Different countries have different film styles. The Ring (2003) was originally a Japanese film, The Grudge

(2004) also Japanese, and Let Me In (2010) was Swedish.

These are all excellent foreign remakes that express their country’s style and culture.

The 2006 film, The Departed, is probably the best example. It is an American adaption of the 2002 Chinese film, Internal Affairs. For the remake, Director Martin Scorsese puts a huge twist on the original by adding to the plot, characters, and prominence of American culture. The film won five Academy Awards, as well as many other awards.

What does the future hold in store for film?

Remakes of The Birds (1963), Ghostbusters (1984), Dirty Dancing (1987), and Jurassic Park (1993) are currently in the works. Hopefully Hollywood will cut down on the remakes, and American film makers will rediscover their creativity. Perhaps something new will come into the picture.

Viewer Mission Statement 1. To publish news, information and opinion articles for and about student, faculty and administration activities, interests and policies.

2. To maintain high ethical standards with regard to fairness, personal and legal rights, responsibilities and accuracy.

3. To provide a forum for free and responsible expression of student opinion and present well-balanced, locally researched coverage of issues of broader student interest.

4. To strive for a high level of competency in the technical aspect of writing, including grammar, spelling, clarity, and precision.

5. To welcome diversity and increase the scope and depth of our coverage in order to heighten mutual understanding and awareness throughout our entire school community.

Articles and letters to the editor appearing on the editorials pages represent solely the opinions of the writers and do not represent in any way the viewpoint of Viewer, our advertisers, Mounds View High School or its staff.

The editors of the Viewer welcome and encourage the publication of all viewpoints.

Corrections from the 11/18/11 issue: Peter Cole was mistakenly identified as a boys hockey captain

December 21, 2011

edit rials3

Hacky sacked

Administration is wrongfully suppressing playing of a simple, harmless game

by Neal Callinan staff writer On a normal day at Mounds View, students are bustling from class to class while a few enjoy a peaceful game of hacky sack without a worry in the world.

Then all of a sudden, the serene atmosphere is disrupted as a faculty member ends the game. The students are puzzled, uncertain what they were doing wrong. The usual response to the question -- “because” -- tells students nothing and only causes further confusion.

Mounds View expresses on page 15 of the student handbook: “Students are expected to be courteous, respectful, and cooperative...

Mounds View High School recognizes that it is all but impossible to list behaviors that are unacceptable in a learning community such as ours. By necessity, the school must reserve the right to disallow any behaviors or dress that, in our best judgment, are not acceptable.”

“The main reason is safety,” said Principal Julie Wikelius. “We also don’t want the halls blocked. We feel like it’s great when the patio is open because it’s a perfect place to play hacky sack. But when

groups of students gather to play hacky sack, it disrupts the flow in the hallways. It also affects teachers’ classrooms;

a group of five or so students playing hacky sack off to one side of a hallway disruptive, shouldn’t they also find the groups of 15 to 20 students who feel the need to huddle together - all but blocking off the entire hallway like a blood clot stemming off blood flow disruptive?

If the teachers feel a need to shut down a nondisruptive game of hacky sack, then they should also begin a crackdown on these annoying groups of students who act as if they own the halls.

Often, hacky sack is played during passing time between classes. No harm is being done to the institution of learning. Students are just trying to relax for the seven minutes of free time photo by Youngjun Park they get before they have to move on to Phil Boje and Tony Louwagie, 12, play their next hour-long hacky sack during passing time. class. teachers get upset because it’s Playing hacky sack is disruptive.” a healthy way for students If faculty members find to interact with one another

Convert through faith, not fear

by Ryan Slechta editor-in-chief Fire and brimstone. Eternal damnation. The Antichrist conquers the world. The brains of infidels boil in the Islamic hell of jahannam. In our increasingly polarized society, threats such as these have become propaganda for rightwing religious groups of all sects in their crusade to “save” non-believers. The mere idea of attempting to scare potential converts into joining a certain religion is atrocious.

Zealots who attempt to convert non-believers are promoting a new social paradigm in which it is acceptable to hold hostage the promise of a person’s afterlife

Editor opinions What your Viewer editors think of various issues.

and take a break. In this increasingly technological world, a little face-to-face interaction between students is not only healthy but also necessary. This break may even help them concentrate more on their next class.

Many students agree that the game of hacky sack should not be classified along with other non-acceptable behaviors, such as fist-fights, stealing, or consuming alcohol. What could possibly happen while playing a game of hacky sack? Simply said: nothing.

Hacky sack is played with a loosely threaded, nonbouncing ball filled with tiny beans. The ball will not harm any students or the Mounds View facility itself.

There should be absolutely no consequences for playing hacky sack at Mounds View.

When staff members confiscate a student’s hacky sack, they are not only taking away a fun, safe game, but they are also limiting a students right to express him or herself.

“I think the school should have designated hacky sack zones. Also, hacky sack is one of the many ways for me and my friends to blow off steam and release stress while at school,” said Richard Carlson, 12.

in exchange for religious allegiance. To these radicals, the conversion of non-believers has become a primary goal.

Rather than seeking to attain converts by feeding the poor or helping those in need, extreme right-wing members of numerous religions have elected to threaten eternal damnation in an effort to attract adherents.

Theologically, the effects of a conversion based on the threats of a zealot or radical can hurt a person’s chances for salvation. In Islam, for example, the deepest pit of jahannam (very similar to Christian hell), Hawiyah, is “meant for those hypocrites who claimed aloud to believe in Allah and His messenger but denounced both in their

hearts.” In essence, it is better for one to openly denounce Islam than it is for one to falsely subscribe to it - which is a probable result of a fearmotivated conversion.

While Christianity does not have a specific hell designated for hypocritical pseudo-Christians, most denominations do emphasize the development of a personal relationship with God. Should a scared yet doubting potential Christian be brought into the fold by a radical, Antichristpreaching pastor, isn’t it more likely that he or she will be driven away by their ridiculous, condemning beliefs than experiencing a genuine religious transformation?

Granted, there is a possibility that should a

potential convert be brought into a specific religion by a seemingly sanity-less preacher, he or she would become a genuine, practicing adherent to said religion. In addition, it could be argued that salvation is the most important part of a human’s earthly life, and the priority in its attainment trumps all physical needs.

However, by basic logic it can be determined that the first argument is exceedingly unlikely, and the second argument is open to discussion, or varies by faith. In either case, religious leaders should emphasize good works as a mean to encounter God(s), rather than threatening the boiling of one’s brain should he or she choose not to adhere.

“Rocksmith will not actually teach you how to play guitar.

If you want to learn guitar, buy a real guitar and actually practice. There’s no shortcut to learning music.”

- Akshay Patke Reviews editor

“Weekend Updates with Seth Myers is by far the best way to get your news. Also Seth Myers is a fine piece of newsman.”

-Nimmy Koshy Features editor

“When the boys cross country team exits through the commons to go on a run, they should be able to have their shirts off...”

- Max Wang News editor

Keeping Your Electronic Gifts Safe

by Deputy Gulden guest writer

As winter break begins we are all looking forward to some time away from school and the joys of the holiday season. It is my guess that there are a lot of phones, Ipods, Ipads and lap top computers on the gift lists this season.

When setting up your Ipod, pad or phone be sure to enter your full name in the settings section. This allows me or whoever finds your device to get it back to you in a timely manner. When a phone is found, I often look under the ICE (In Case of Emergency) file or just “Mom” to locate the owner. In the past, I have also looked at the screen saver picture or the picture file to identify students who will know who the owner is.

Recently there have been several thefts of cell phones and Ipods. Some of these items were stolen right under the noses of the owners who thought their property was safe sitting next to them.

Leaving your electronics on your desk, in the mesh pocket of your backpack, unsecured in the locker room or outside the media center is nothing but a gift to a would be thief.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Deputy Tim Gulden 651-621-7123 Tim.Gulden@ moundsviewschools.org

Cop’s

C

or er n

“...and should provide blindfolds to all those in the immediate vicinity.”

-Zane Muller Editorials editor

4features

December 21, 2011

Library crowded due to free hour students Administration considers relocation options

by Allie Severson staff reporter Students taking hybrid classes and Post Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) are crowding the library, making it hard to find study space some days. While this may seem to be a nuisance to some, Becky Stouten, media specialist, disagrees. “It’s a wonderful problem to have,” she said.

According to Stouten, there are about 600 to 900 students in the library each day, and 30 to 40 of them are students with free hours.

“We do homework and study for tests. It’s nice because we can do make-up work when we have open hours, too,” said Keshav Mangalick, 12.

Stouten doesn’t wish for fewer students. However, she said, “I wish we had more seating and more computers.”

The number of hybrid classes and PSEO students has been steadily increasing over

the past few years. According to Stouten, library attendance averages 150 more students per week than last year.

“The extra students don’t get in the way, but it does get noisy and it is hard to give instructions,” said SkillsUSA Advisor Lynn Nelson.

School-level administration also recognizes the problem of where to put these free hour students, especially as hybrid course offerings are increasing. While students with free 1st and 6th hours are not required to be in the building, students with other free hours don’t have enough time to leave. Even students who could leave often don’t, due to carpool arrangements.

According to Associate Principal Doug Bullinger, the career center will be used to accommodate these students next year.

“We’re converting the career center into a space for PSEO and hybrid students.

We’re revamping the space for students to use,” he said.

The administration is planning to name the space “Paddock,” which means a “fenced area for grazing horses,” but the name is still a work in progress.

“We’re looking at making it more of a place of student connectedness,” Bullinger said.

To that end, the school will be supplying the room with computers, tables, and possibly even a copy machine and flat-screen TV. Although there will not be one staff member supervising, as there is in study hall, Scott Wiens’ office will still be adjacent.

Bullinger said in addition to freeing up library space, this change will make better use of the career center space, as it is “not being used the way it used to be used.”

One time the career center is busy is during college visits, but he said those will be moved to a different location,

photo by Youngjun Park

possibly the Forum.

In an effort to create more space in the library, the librarians would also like to free up the back classroom in the facility. However, this would depend on finding a different available classroom

for English as a Second Language (ESL) learners.

Stouten stated, “We are trying to be pro-active in order to accommodate everyone.”

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COMPETE IN AN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP. UNLEASH THE POWER of a liber al arts education.

For a visit, call 1-800-GUSTAVUS. gustav us.edu

Sophomore boys create X-Box business

by Max Wang and Ryan Mackey staff reporters Very few students may know that Mounds View has a group of technological innovators walking the halls.

Sophomores Arlo Stafford, Jaison Thompson, Brandon Krueger, and Christopher Oien have turned a hobby, fixing broken X-Boxes, into an enterprise, known as “360 Reborn.”

The four group members were all friends before they became business partners. 360 Reborn was created last year after they discovered a shared interest in technology.

“We’re all really good with technology, and we all really like taking things apart,” said Stafford. “I, personally, have always loved to see how everything works.”

The company is in the business of modding and hacking X-Box 360s. They also modify controllers. Modding an X-Box is modifying the console interior or case to meet the buyer’s preference. Hacking an X-Box is “hoodwinking” the X-Box, allowing players to get items or skip difficult parts of a game. Modding a controller upgrades a normal controller by adding lights, sounds, or extra buttons.

What 360 Reborn does is far from simple to the average student. But to Stafford and his friends, it is simple. The team starts with a broken X-Box. They spend about 20 minutes taking it apart and locating the

photo courtesy of wikipedia.com

problem. Then they fix that problem and proceed to modify or hack the X-Box. The team then reassembles the X-Box and sells it. Since last year, Stafford and his team have fixed, modded, and sold 15 X-Box 360s. Prices for a modified X-Box range anywhere from $200 to $1200.

For the group, it is a point of pride that they have undergone no training. “We’re all self-taught. This is really just a passion for what we do,” said Stafford.

360 Reborn isn’t really a job for the group members, as much as a pastime.

“For us, this is fun to do, this isn’t really work. This is just us getting together and having fun fixing and making things look cool,” said Stafford.

“If it were my decision this would be my career for the rest of my life.”

December 21, 2011

5 features

Spare time

Bowling team creates bonds

by Allison Hare staff reporter This year, Mounds View’s bowling team finished with a 7-9 record.

That’s right, we have a bowling team.

If this fact surprises you, you’re not alone - in a survey of 100 students, 66 students said there was not a bowling team, 23 were unsure, and a mere 11 said they knew about it.

The team has actually been around since the early ‘90s, although no one on the team seems to remember who established it. Bowling is not an official, school-sponsored sport, yet it still functions like other sports teams. The players have a season, games against other schools, a captain, and a head coach.

The team has seven players in total, which is the smallest it has been in many years.

Some players, however, feel this has helped them to grow closer as a team.

“We’ve all become pretty good friends,” said Andrew Schlais, 11. “We’re not best friends or anything, but we talk

every day and hang out occasionally.”

The team’s season is over - it lasted from early September to mid-November. They performed well in their 2011 season; as stated, the team nearly defeated St. Anthony High School, which is ranked 2nd in state for bowling, during the Minnesota High School Bowling sectional tournament.

The head coach is Dan Delano, who graduated from Mounds View in 2005. Every Monday, he coaches the team for an hour and a half to practice for their weekly Friday tournaments at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl. During these sessions, players bowl and compete in a friendly, relaxed way.

When asked about last season, Ross Smith, 11, said that “it was pretty chill... We just bowled, [and] did drills. We only practiced once a week and competed once a week so it wasn’t that big of a commitment.”

When it came to how players felt about the lack of recognition of their team at Mounds View, some did not seem to mind, but others wished for a little more

awareness.

“It would definitely be nice to have some more recognition. I think if we became a letter sport that would really help,” said Bill Quick, 10, the team’s captain.

Anyone who is interested in signing up for the bowling team should contact Quick at school or through Facebook.

“I wish we had more people, because it’s fun and very relaxed,” he said. “All the bowling season we’re having fun, laughing, and enjoying great competition.”

photo by Anders Nygaard

The perfect gift for the holidays

by Maggie Lamere staff reporter The holidays are just around the corner, and millions of people are flocking to malls.

Thousands of shoppers are all trying to hunt down that perfect gift to give to that special someone.

There are many different possibilities for gifts. Some people know exactly what they would give.

“I would get her an empty box, because that’s what I would be without her,” said Michael Frye, 10.

Others may not be quite sure of what kind of present they would give. If this is the case, a technique to try is listening to helpful hints that friends and family give you.

“I take the subtle hints that my family and friends give me and

then I think of a present from that,” said Cody Erickson,12 Austin Heath, 10, seems to want to bring romance in the air with his idea of a perfect gift.

“I think the best gift would be a love letter and homemade cookies,” said Heath.

Another romantic at Mounds View is Carly Gelderman, 12, with her opinion of the best gift.

“I think that the best gift could be a dinner date, because it’s meaningful and sweet,” she said.

Just because the perfect gift may be hard to find, it does not mean that it’s unattainable.

Allie Severson, 10, received a heart-shaped diamond necklace from her boyfriend last Christmas.

“It was the best gift I could have received. I know he spent a lot of time choosing the ‘right’ gift for me, which made

it all the more special,” said Severson Whether it’s searching for a personal gift or just one for someone to be friendly, some may start off by narrowing what gift they should give by heading back to the basics.

Sid Sabane, 11, said that for him, “it depends on the person, age and gender. If it’s a kid, I’d get them a gift card or a game. While if it’s an adult then something more personal,” he said.

Another affordable way to make a friend say “wow!” is by finding unique and creative gifts at vintage or thrift stores.

To Josh Torkelson, 11, thrift stores are great for presents because of the variety of items available.

“Sometimes I see something that reminds me of someone I know, and then I get that for that person. Last year I

photo by Youngjun Park

got a one foot tall coffee mug for my friend who loves coffee.”

Whatever the perfect gift could be, all that matters is venturing out and searching for it with a person in mind.

The right gift for the right person will lead to a truly happy holidays. With so many unique options, what matters is seeing that person smile. That is the ultimate gift.

Obesity: A growing problem A nationwide epidemic, but how bad is it here?

by Aaron Hammerly staff reporter

In the past few years, Americans have become increasingly obese. In spite of constant public efforts to inform people about nutrition, such as constantly changing the food pyramid and teaching young kids the risks of obesity, people still don’t seem to get it.

In 2010 the Center for Disease Control (CDC) stated that no state had an obesity rate of less than 20%. With the obesity epidemic in full swing, how does Minnesota stand up to the rest of the country? Are we just like the rest of America, clogging our arteries day by day and plumping up our

“

There is a lot more fried food in Memphis.

-Louisa

”

Strange, 12

children like we’re about to roast them for Christmas dinner, or have we finally started to listen to what experts have to say?

Every year, (CDC) measures the number of obese Americans by conducting telephone interviews with over 350,000 adults. Through information collected, the CDC then calculates average BMI for the nation and individual states.

BMI is calculated by multiplying a person’s body

weight by 703 and then dividing by the square of a person’s height in inches; anything greater than 30 is considered obese. A healthy BMI is considered to be 18.5. to 24.9.

From 1985 to 2010, Minnesota’s obesity rate increased from less than 10% obese to 20-24%, yet Minnesota has always been one of the slimmer states.

Out of the 50 states, Colorado is the healthiest state, with 21% obese in 2010. After Colorado, the next fittest states/districts are the District of Columbia with 22.2%, Nevada with 22.4%, and 12 states later Minnesota.

At the other end of the spectrum is Mississippi, with 34% of its population obese. So what are states such as Colorado and D.C. doing compared to the heavier states like Mississippi and Alabama?

25 states have joined the CDC in addressing the problems associated with obesity. They work together to help the states inform people about the risks of being obese and teach them healthy eating habits.

Colorado has created the Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program (COPAN) which is a partnership with the nonprofit organization Living Well Colorado. COPAN goes into communities and implements healthy eating and active living, such as teaching them ways to excersise. Colorado has also used The Smart Meal Seal program which is working with places like McDonald’s to help customers make healthy decisions for meal choices.

However, most of the severely obese states have not partnered with the CDC to stop obesity. This could definitely be a reason why they have such high numbers. Also, many of the

southern states are also the poorest. Because of their low income they have less opportunities to cook healthier meals, and less money to join exercise clubs.

But the more obese states that do partner with the CDC still find that many of their citizens eat less vegetables and fruits than other states, get less activity and drink more pop even after the partnership.

Louisa Strange, 12, grew up in Memphis before moving to Minnesota. “There is a lot more fried food in Memphis, especially fried chicken. Beer is popular everywhere, but from what I noticed it was more rare for an adult to not drink in Tennessee.

“There is also a lot more barbecue and sweet tea,” said Strange.

Minnesota is one of the states that partnered with the CDC. In 2007, the CDC conducted a study in Minnesota, they found that about 17% of Minnesotans have said that they do not get any kind of physical activity, and only 19% eat their five servings of fruits and vegetables.

The Minnesota Legislature created the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP). The program aims to reduce health care costs by reducing the number of overweight or obese people and/ or who use tobacco products. The government has also given millions of dollars to communities in hopes of teaching the community how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Whether the cause is diet or too little exercise the

United States as a whole doesn’t do something about this obesity problem, things are going to get out of hand even more then they are now.

If something isn’t done soon by the time 2020 comes along threefourths of Americans are going to be obese or overweight.

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Fitness fibs “No Pain, No Gain” - This expression, of course, is a myth. Pain is the body’s way of telling you that something is wrong! When you feel pain during an activity, stop and figure out what’s going on with your body. This approach is terrible and could get very dangerous very quickly.

ould be eliminated from your diet’ - Says who? We all It is when you eat excessive amounts that get you into The body needs fat in order to absorb nutrients. However, lot of junk food can lead to heart disease and weight e key is to eat fewer foods that contain “bad fats” (trans saturated fats) like butter and cheeseburgers.

you lose weight’ - Skipping meals actually does the ered calorie intake will force the body into “starvation body conserves calories from what you have already olism and stores more calories as fat, which actually Skipping a meal can lead you to consume more ecause you are hungrier than you normally would be. information compiled by Alex Fream

e state scale of obesity

Although the snowy, pillowy white of Wonder Bread may appeal to many, it is important to take a step back and look at the benefits of wheat bread. There are many nutritional differences between the two types of bread. Wheat bread offers a higher amount of fiber, which is an extremely important part of one’s diet.

It has been proven to help the digestive system and also lower one’s risk for heart disease. In a 2003 study conducted by the University of Washington, switching from white bread to wheat bread can decrease your risk for heart disease by 20 percent. Try sandwiching some turkey between two slices of wheat rather than a meat patty on a white bun.

Eat this, not that

While the allure of a cream-filled pastry proves too much for many to ignore, taste does not need to be sacrificed for health. By substituting a homemade cookie for dessert cakes such as Twinkies and Swiss Rolls, you will be healthier and satisfied longer. Homemade cookies are filled with complex carbohydrates that take the body longer to digest, keeping you full for hours. However, the same is not true of the temptress of dessert cakes that is Hostess, which are made with highly processed grains. Despite their high caloric content, you may find yourself craving sweets again all too soon.

Mississippi 34% South Carolina 31.5% Ohio 29.2% Florida 26.6% Minnesota 24.8% California 24% New York 23.9% Colorado 21%

compiled by Megan Ruan

Eat this, not that

Flavored drinks are becoming more and more popular, but what consumers do not realize is that they are often extremely unhealthy.When considering a flavored water, look for words like corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose, or fruit juice concentrates; these words are tell-tale signs that the drink contains high amounts of sugar. Instead of buying these expensive, unhealthy drinks, opt for water or milk. Drinking water is a key component of keeping your body healthy and it has zero calories. To make a glass of water more exciting, add a slice of lemon or cucumber. Milk contains a high amount of calcium which helps to strengthen bones. It is also a good source of protein which serves as a photos by Youngjun Park and Anders source of energy.

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information compiled by Malia Bacig and John Knopf

8variety Life is sweet December 21, 2011

Regina’s brings old school candy to St. Paul

by Joy Xie staff reporter

cooked to perfection in our copper kettles (some of which are original).

When ready, it is poured onto one of our original antique marble tables where it is hand stretched and allowed to cool.”

The use of old equipment doesn’t sacrifice the taste though. As a matter of fact, their entire store smells like a candy wonderland! I decided to buy their famous peanut brittle, and my entire family has become obsessed with it. The peanuts were enveloped in a generous amount of caramelized sugar, and the nuts added extra crunch and flavor to the product.

Regina’s uses fresh ingredients and makes their candies at the store. Pizinger said, “We don’t use any thinners in our chocolates. Some places…will put thinners. It gives it more of a shine, but it also gives you more of a waxy taste.”

They also use real fruit, as well as real whipping cream instead of butter for their fudge. At Regina’s, they pack their chocolates by hand and even the wrapping looks as if it were homemade.

Regina’s is special because they’re located in a small neighborhood and the candy is made in-house. Many candy shops in the area have gone out of business, but Regina’s continues to make candies from Elliott’s original recipes, 85 years later.

If there is anything that Americans look forward to during the holidays, it’s all the delectable sweets that are going to be consumed. Although famous storebought chocolates such as Ghirardelli and Lindt are convenient to buy, some may prefer locally-made candies. It turns out that these treats are made surprisingly close to home.

Regina’s Candies, located in St. Paul, has been making their own candies since 1926. It all started with Frank Elliott, a “young Greek craftsman and his bride, Regina.”

According to Cathy Pizinger, who works for Regina’s, Elliott started by making brittles and fudges in the back of bakeries. The candy shop is now owned by Elliott’s grandson, Mark Elliott. The family makes over 400 varieties of sweets such as English toffee, caramels, and their most popular winter item, peanut brittle.

The neat thing about Regina’s Candies is that they still use some of the original operating equipment to make their products.

According to Regina’s website, “We make our Peanut Brittle the old fashion way. We start by using quality ingredients. The batch is photo by Joy Xie

Sugar is not so sweet on health Relax. It’s candy, not calculus

by Sasha Safanov staff reporter No Christmas memory is complete without embellished gingerbread houses, candy canes and homemade cookies, but too much of a good thing can be sour for your body.

Sugar is usually fine in moderation, but it can be hard to keep sugar intake moderate as harmful sugars such as high fructose corn syrup are found in all types of foods, including cereal, bread, and soft drinks.

Pennsylvania State University conducted an experiment that showed that under certain circumstances, sugar can be considered addictive. Sue Grigson, professor at Penn State, observed how dopamine, the substance responsible for the pleasure that causes addictions, increased among humans and rats after they digested sweets.

A few of the more severe effects of sugar may include tooth decay, suppression of the immune system, obesity, diabetes, and certain types of cancers, according to rheumatic.org.

Entire books, such as Nancy Appleton’s “Lick the Sugar Habit,” have been written about the harmful effects of sugar. “They say that 1 in 10 people will have diabetes in the future,” said Cheryl Hiner, Mounds View’s health specialist. “The best thing to do is to follow the guidelines in the food pyramid, after all everything is fine in moderation, and sugar is no exception.”

How much is moderation? According to mayoclinic.com, the daily value established by American Heart Association is no more than nine teaspoons of added sugar for men, and no more than six for women. What the average American eats is quite startling: 22 teaspoons for the average American and 34 for teens, according to the American Heart Association.

So will there be a consumption of sweets during Christmas? Of course! Just don’t let the addictive properties of sugar take control of you once the Christmas tree has come down.

by Martha Kauls staff reporter

Ever stared at a candy recipe, too intimidated by the seemingly complicated series of steps to try making it? It’s true--many sweets have a bad rep among bakers for being difficult to master, but some of the best candy comes from simple recipes like caramel and fudge. All it takes to make yummy goods are the three P’s...precision, patience, and practice.

When making candy, it’s important to be very precise about ingredients and temperature. First, always make sure you are using a high quality ingredients. It’s very important to start with good ingredients in order to get a good result.

Recipes for candy are very picky about the order the ingredients are mixed, and can turn out badly if an ingredient is added at the wrong time. Sugar is a picky substance, and can be treacherous if handled incorrectly or mixed in erroneously. Sugar in caramel, for example, can burn in seconds if you’re not careful.

Chocolate can also burn if it’s not heated very very slowly.

It’s also important to make sure the temperature of the candy is just right, so make sure there is a candy thermometer on

hand before starting. Knowing the temperature is crucial when adding things. ‘Hard’ and ‘soft’ stages of the process need to be determined by temperature.

Although a candy thermometer is useful, the best candy is made from relying on your nose and eyes.

Everyone gets a little impatient at times, but when attempting to make sweets, this can be a major downfall. If the recipe says “stir for five minutes”, that doesn’t mean “stir until you get bored”. Follow the directions exactly, and the results are usually good.

Most candy making has to be done at high temperatures, so wear oven mitts and a long sleeve shirt. Things can get messy when adding ingredients, and burns from boiling hot sugar hurt, trust me!

Trying something new can be frustrating, and beginners at candy making are often discouraged by their less-than-perfect first attempts. But keep trying!

Homemade candy makes a great gift, and after some practice, it’s fun to make. I love marthastewart. com for recipes, and with the holidays coming up, you might as well indulge in some sweet treats.

So next time you open a cookbook and see the sweets section, don’t be intimidated, it’s just candy.

December 21, 2011

9 reviews

Breaking Dawn

Part One of the end of the Twilight Saga

by Lauren Nguyen gallery editor Lines of girls crowd around the theater doors as they wait in anticipation to run to their seats and see the fairy tale creatures of their dreams on screen. The theater is quickly packed, and the movie begins.

Three seconds into it, the crowd gets a glimpse of what they have been waiting for -- Jacob Black, shirtless in the rain. This is the new Twilight movie, Breaking Dawn: Part 1.

At last, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), and her vampire lover, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), get married. Their union causes a stir of complications in the vampire, human, and werewolf worlds.

Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), a werewolf who is unconditionally in love with Bella, is so upset that Bella and Edward are getting married that he declines his best friends’ wedding invitation. The struggle between Jacob and Bella becomes more intense when he finds out that Bella and Edward are planning to have sex on their wedding night -- before Bella is transformed into a vampire, which will not happen until the next movie.

This decision puts Bella’s life in danger. Because Edward is a vampire, he could end up killing Bella.

Though Jacob disapproves, he cannot interfere because she is now a part of the Cullen family, and the other vampires would stop him.

After the wedding night, Bella wakes up with bruises all over her body. Despite this, she wants more affection, but he ignores her as he does not want to hurt her again. Soon after, it seems as though Bella becomes obsessed with sex. There is a full 30 minutes of Bella trying to seduce Edward, which turns out to be very awkward and possibly too explicit for a movie that is rated PG-13.

Finally, after Bella gets the affection that she had been desiring, she discovers that she has

become impregnated with a vampire baby. When Bella and Edward rush home, the Cullen cult realizes that the baby is slowly sucking the life out of Bella, in more ways then one. Everyone tries to coax Bella into aborting the baby but she refuses, and this makes up the majority of the movie.

The movie was much better than previous Twilight movies due to the movie’s cinematography and frequent points of humor.

But overall, the movie still dragged on endlessly.

There were moments where one scene seemed to replay itself for minutes on end. For example, the scenes in which Bella tries to get Edward into the bedroom take up a good part of the movie and only succeed in boring viewers.

The most thought-provoking part of the whole movie was watching Bella become more sickly over time because of the demon within her body. The computer graphics and make-up that was used for Bella was incredible; they managed to make her look so thin and frail that a bone would snap if she stood up.

Although the movie did have its share of positive points, overall it was just another chick-flick for the public to drool over. The fact is that the book was unnecessarily split into two parts when this movie only needed to be 15 minutes long. Breaking Dawn: Part 1 is only entertainment for those who have been keeping up with the series.

5.5/10

by Tristan Aschittino staff reporter

6.5/10

photo courtesy of cf.restaurantimages.menuism.com

A prevalent menu item at Domino’s Pizza is the Ultimate Pepperoni Feast pizza. The small, ten-inch pizza is made with a hand tossed crust and costs $12.84, including tax. The pizza was ready in just under ten minutes, but that may have been because restaurant was not busy.

Fast food pizza of any type is never a low calorie food and Domino’s is no exception with about 1000 calories in the entire pizza. The pizza itself was overly salty from the first bite, but still decent. It had a mildly spicy, undesirable aftertaste and contained a generous quantity of pepperoni.

The pepperoni was cooked well, with a perfect amount of crunch. A second layer of cheese was sprinkled over the pepperoni, but it was overly seasoned and crunchy, detracting from the quality of the rest. The pizza was slightly dry, especially in its crust, although the crust was well seasoned. The sauce had an unpleasant sourish taste that added nothing to the pizza.

Overall, it was satisfying and tasty to a moderate degree, but nothing exceptional at all.

or

Pizza Hut, a similar establishment to Domino’s, offers the equivalent to the Ultimate Pepperoni Feast Pizza, the Pepperoni Lover’s pizza with cheese baked into the crust. The restaurant does not offer small pizzas, but their medium, 12-inch pizza costs only $10.71, a much better deal than Domino’s.

From the first bite, it was delicious, though quite greasy. It was well seasoned and not too spicy or sour.

The sauce was sweet, but zesty, a perfect combination. The cheese in the crust really added a lot, with a perfect amount of mozzarella cheese. The pizza fell apart slightly, but was not very messy. It had similar, well cooked pepperonis compared to Domino’s and the nutrition content was nearly the same.

The pizza was much better than its Domino’s equivalent.

The Pizza Hut box design was really the only thing that Domino’s could compete with.

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photos courtesy of www.sidereel.com

Singles

Justin Bieber- “Under the Mistletoe”

The Bieb’s new song is an annoying wanna-be hipster mix of “One Time” and “Baby” except it’s about Christmas.

Sounds like: A whiny boy begging for a peck on the lips under the mistletoe.

-Lauren Nguyen 2/10 gallery editor

The Eagles- “Please Come Home for Christmas (Cover) ” In their cover of Charles Brown’s Christmas classic, The Eagles combine cheery Christmas bell with bright, bluesy singing for a sparkling record

Sounds like: Rock band Christmas carollers -Max Wang 8/10 news editor

D Trix and Ryan Higa“Christmas Swag”

8.5/10 photo courtesy of www.couponcravings.com

If you want a good laugh before the holidays, look no further. Higa and D Trix’s terrible rapping skills, hilarious lyrics, and even some light dubstep combine to form a halfdecent song.

Sounds like: Grandma’s iPod got run over by a reindeer.

-John Ke managing editor 6/10

10sports

December 21, 2011

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ld issue, I wou the previous in e d ri p g an f ed on Must r perspective. ous amount o adison touch While Mr. M from a student and senioudent body for the enormfall and so far e st the that like to add tolike to personally thank thu have displayed throughn of excellence that o io y ld I wou the tradit assiness ss eness, and cl has continued rity of the Cla spirit, cohesivr sports seasons, which iew. I know a large majo nselfishly give into the winteeloped here at Mounds Vsay your willingness to u erience thus far we have dev ld agree with me when I has made our senior exp of 2012 wou ing and raucous support otino-Grace. ame versus T to those g ip your unwaver memorable. sh n io p ick it Cham exceptionallyg to focus on the Sectionr us. A chance to finally stey pay 12 grand a th fo e se am au g I’m goin l bec a monumenta hool is better This was suchG kids who think their sc at were ing. Cheers thr, and m el h w pretentious Tere. er v o , junio as truly year to go th ol spirit we displayed wngle freshman, sophomoreate that night, st si e y th er in ev The scho y way, est usiastically b section the b idn’t fall our screamed enthndance made our student nfortunately the game dn’t buy class. senior in atte e Totino-Grace students.Uproved that money does r undying love outshining thView students once again at we will all continue ou d tore up but Mounds r sports begin, I know thas we packed the stands anwe must focus on As winte ustangs. For as well l season, y taken a ng the footbal M ri e u d th h ts it n u w ou have alreadut even more ta y ir f g o in affa y m o an o b M r r. inte s,” b ith ou opponents w e“Mustang Mania” this wp “MV Winter Sports Fan the easiest and u is th ro it g g in as k u o n in o ti jo ill eb con urage you to ining the Fac here games w big step by joyet to do so. I greatly encosports about when and wecifics. of you have to get info for all winter , and other important sp ts as you are able. quickest way es most people will be at ter sports games or mee nces you will be, what gam ou to attend as many winithout a doubt the experieto miss. Every one I invite y et rts, it is w you want n’t enjoy spos events will not be ones m the fans, and the fans g the o d u o y if en es o rt Ev o fr am sp y g g w e er ie m en o eir wh nds V have at Mou portant; the players get th let’s make Mounds Vie er h im et g ly ! o al y T u la s. p eq er is r opponents to from the play their energy ost frustrating places fo m loudest and NGS!

GO MUSTA

-Alx Wald

photo by Allison Hare

Silence in the Stands

By Maddie Shaw staff reporter When was the last time you attended a basketball game? Besides the select few regularly seen cheering in the stands, most Mounds View students don’t go to games.

Basketball has never been as popular as football. In the fall, students from all grades make an effort to be at games, usually dressed to represent whatever crazy theme has been put in place, and cheering at the top of their lungs to put the other team’s student section to shame.

At the Mounds View game against Totino Grace many people commented on Mounds View’s intense student section.

Jeff Daughtry, TG running back said, “Every time I tried to get our fans pumped up they were immediately drowned out by you guys (Mounds View fans). To be honest I was scared, I just wanted to get off the field.”

Jeff Dahl, a MV parent said, “Unfortunately I missed the game, but I was driving to TG to pick up my daughter and her friends towards the end of the game. From my car stopped blocks away I could hear deafening roars of ‘I believe that we will win.’”

But, as the seasons change, most fans disappear.

Bob Madison, Mounds View’s Activities Director, believes the games are normally attended by a set group of people.

“Attendance ebbs and flows. It tends to be the senior class,” he said.

However, there are students who strive to show their spirit - the ones seen at every game yelling at referees, homemade signs in hand.

Through Facebook, seniors have managed to connect with more than 500 students, allowing them to stay updated on all Mounds View sporting events.

Matt Herringshaw, 12, is one of several students helping to inform sports fans of events.

“Some of us seniors are trying to boost the attendance at athletic events this year,” Herringshaw said. “Facebook pages have been set up by Alx Wald and Nick Helgeson to help keep everyone updated with certain events.”

Though the pages were originally created by seniors Wald and Helgeson, Herringshaw and many others have since taken leadership in the groups as well.

One reason these seniors are striving to increase attendance, making groups like “MV FOOTBALL 2011” and “MV Winter Sports Fans,” is for the players’ benefit.

Fans and players alike have agreed that a large, spirited crowd can help the team play better.

“Personally, it’s a lot more fun playing in front of a huge crowd, and I think it gives us a

lot more energy and endurance when playing in the game,” said senior basketball captain, Brett Burckhardt.

When a Facebook user clicks on this season’s sports page, ‘MV Winter Sports Fans,’ a series of posts are displayed including everything from times and locations of games to videos featuring chants seniors hope will catch on.

Students can post questions about different winter activities they are curious about in hopes that one of the other 300-something members will be able to answer them.

The page is a great way to stay connected and learn more about what’s going on with various events.

The group, which not only promotes Mounds View basketball, provides insight on wrestling, hockey, boys swim and dive, and several others.

As the season continues, seniors such as Helgeson, hope more students realize the

entertainment that basketball games entail. “[It’s] a fun way to get out with friends, cheer on your peers, and watch good basketball being played.”

The leaders of the Facebook group are also working hard to show off their unique spirit. “We’re currently working on chants for the games and getting green sports coats to emulate the great Coach Kauls,” said Helgeson.

This spirited group of seniors is working hard to bring a larger crowd to all Mounds View sporting events.

So far, that hard work has paid off; most games, matches, and meets have had decent attendance this season.

Fans are a crucial part of any sport and can enhance a player’s performance.

“Depending on the sport, [fans] absolutely make a difference,” said Madison.

December 21, 2011

An Insider’s Guide to the Weight Room

sports11 From the gym... to the gym? photo by Youngjun Park

Students trade in school sports for other alternatives

by Matthew Voges

staff reporter

Seniors Ben Kramka, Tom Lazorik, Neal Callinan, and Quinn Madsen demonstrate workouts availible in the Mounds View’s weight

photos by Anders Nygaard

Jena Kocur senior

Athlete of the Issue

During the winter season, there is a notable drop in Mounds View sports participation. Activities Director, Robert Madison, pointed out that registration in non-winter sports “can be almost two hundred more.”

This is primarily due to the nature of winter sports to have “more cuts,” compared to sports of the other seasons such as football, tennis, and track. Indoor facilities are more costly to maintain and many of the sports that utilize them require a smaller team.

One student, John Petersen, 11, pointed out that “I have too much stuff going on in winter. Also, its a really good time to sleep.” Students like this might not have the time to spend on a highly structured school sporting event like Nordic despite the lack of cuts.

This presents a potential problem because students still need a way to stay in shape, a venture made all the more harrowing by icy roads that can hamper jogging outdoors.

As it turns out, however, there are a plethora of opportunities for those students with their physique in mind.

Some students attend the Mounds View weight room after school for exercise.

Bryan Krier, 12, goes “to get stronger, [I] love to work out.”

Nate Douvier,11, goes “to get big.” Krier uses the bench press which can, according to livestrong.com, “build your strength for push-ups,

Jena Kocur,12, has participated in both Dance and Theatre all four years of high school. She balances her time between dancing and acting.

Q: Are you in any other activities?

A: I am in theatre, when it is convenient. I do the spring musical every year, the fall play this year, and I do the dances in Shakespeare.

Q: How do you balance your activities?

A: I have to talk to my

coaches and directors a lot, and do a lot on my own.

For the play this year I only missed a week or two. With the musical, the first few things are music, which I can do on my own. I think I have found a balance which works.

Q: What is your favorite thing about dance?

A: I use dance as an outlet for my emotions.

Q: Do you prefer dancing at football games or in competitions?

A: I prefer dancing in competitions.

improve your power for sports performance and build bone density in your upper body.”

“I do some aerobic exercises,” said Douvier.

Aerobic exercises are a great way to stay in shape, according to mayoclinic.com, aerobic exercises can keep away excess pounds, increase your stamina, and help you live longer. All of these are available in the Mounds View weight room, free of charge.

Of course, students can resort to easy home exercises such as push ups, sit ups, and many others. According to livestrong.com, “Incorporating push-ups into your fitness routine will tone and strengthen your upper body and help you reach your fitness goals.”

Students can also purchase potentially expensive, but helpful clothing that can benefit cold weather runners.

Clothes made of polypropylene and goretex can be helpful materials for keeping warm and dry according to www. drpribut.com.

Community centers such as the Shoreview Community Center, can provide a good way to stay in shape. According to their website, “the center now features a large stretching area, treadmills, crosstrainers, bikes, free motion pieces and an expanded, spectacular free weight area. You’ll find trained and dedicated fitness trainers readily available to help meet your fitness goals.”

“I think for the price its a nice place to work out. In fact, I see a lot of students there already.” said social studies teacher Jonathan Nuss.

A three month membership for adults costs $125 for Shoreview residents, and $165 for the general public. Rates are lower for those under seventeen at $100 for Shoreview residents and $125 for everyone else.

Lifetime Fitness, and other gyms can also help students stay in shape. Lifetime fitness has several nearby locations, including in Fridley and White Bear Lake. Lifetime Fitness offers weight loss programs, personal training, yoga, weights, aerobic exercise equipment, group cardio classes that can involve dance, cycle, kick boxing, and access to sporting facilities for basketball, tennis, swimming, squash, and other sports according to their web-site. “I go to Lifetime because I’m a rich arrogant prick,” said Tyler Wiegert, 12, “There are rows of TV monitors...There are some pretty attractive tennis players.” Lifetime fitness’ membership costs vary wildly, but are about $60 per person monthly.

With home exercises, community centers, and gyms-among other possibilities-Mounds View students have no excuse not to meet their personal fitness expectations even during a sport-free winter season.

See mvviewer.org for a list of free fitness opportunities over winter break

I like the style better. There are less girls, so it is easier to get to know them better, and that makes us stronger as a team.

Q: Do you have any advice for dancers and actors?

A: Just go for it, whether it is a role you really want or try out for the team.

It is a great thing to be a part of, they are great people to be with. Even if you don’t get the role you want, with theatre it is more about the memories you make.

photo by Allison Hare

information compiled by Anastasia Brodsky

12gallery

December 21, 2011

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information complied by Stephanie Schuba

Top 10 Worst Gift Ideas

olstice e winter sme fun. th e c in s t, o s o ally it’s n t m having ll, technic’t stopping me fro shoveling the foo e W r! te It’s win ed, but that isn aking my back veway, I called t bre y dri ppen hasn’t ha king up and almos dly dumped on m ady for some epic re a in , k w rk d r a a e h P Aft at winter t to Como k by the of snow th nds, and we wen ver! I thinct for e ie p fr m y ra m t e up the larges ck -- perf sledding. orked on building. The snow was sli mp, I must have ss We w foot tall unched off the ra missed a few cro s about a ly end, it wa and every time I laseconds. I narrow rt. , u 5 g h t in s s a d a d w le late e sle hot choco e air or at lly, no on been in thkiers, but thankfu prepared a mug of d cream, and dark s, country sr coming home, I mallows, whippe warmed my handy Afte alread ce and -- marsh e fixings . I sat by the fireplaoon yet, and I had th ll a h it n w shavings It wasn’t and chocolate the next activity. chowder, ur favorite r m la fo c y , d ie a o re , ken pot p uch. d playing done so mh consisted of chiciends and I starte a good three hoursxtra r c e fr e y fo n d Lun M o e . h y e s it n. We pla and chee , I won w macaroni e, Settlers of Cataast us. Ultimately and getting ten m rd p a a board g me just whizzed ongest Road” c and the ti ce, getting the “L r to my went ove kated on the e w r, e n “road” pieoints. with din and we s may victory p we were finishedrge bonfire going, hockey. While it the e d c y la n On and b of po had a ptu game s intense, ouse. He friend’s h started an improm me, the action wa ed down lake. We n just a friendly ga few bruises. . As I walkthe aurora d e a fi e s e ti ly b a e s e it n d t: hav were defi . e, tired an other sigh end, therelly, I returned homI was treated to an und the night sky ro , r? a e te s d Fina e u in h o w h as rst day of alk to my s colors fl the sidew I stood amazed, a ect ending to the fi borealis! ld be a more perf What cou