With the financial crisis in fullswing, local businesses come to their end
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Closed Down for the
Holidays
a student run publication Olathe East High School 14545 West 127th Street Olathe, KS 66062
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Sink or swim with Olathe East Subs
Advisor
KarenBourland Editors
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BenSchmitz EmilyFiore JohnWood Business Editor
SydneySwinicki Senior Staff Writers
CalieeBehnke BrettCrawford
East students give back to the community
Junior Staff Writers
EmmaBrockschmidt PeterDu TessaMagana NehaWahid EmilyFogle EricYarns AmandaEmslie TaraBoyd Sophomore Staff Writers
ZachHunter LexiPanfil MaggieHouston
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Winter woes of wrecked stationwagons
news
the hawk’s eye
3
Olathe East clubs help local organizations for the holiday season [tara boyd] With the holiday season in full swing, many service organizations around the metro need donations and volunteers. Clubs at Olathe East have been donating their time and hard work to help these organizations. The Kansas Association of Youth Services (KAYS Club) and the Spanish National Honor Society have teamed up to adopt families for Christmas. Bright yellow posters around the school urged SNHS mem-
“
The Operation Santa Claus box in Mrs. Swetz’s classroom filled with donations.
bers to bring gifts for their family after Thanksgiving break. Once the gifts were counted and the clubs figured out what they needed, KAYS club members spent an evening shopping for other items the families needed. The French National Honor Society, in conjuntion with the Della Lamb organization, worked to help families new to our country and community through Operation Santa Claus. Della
Food collected for families in need in our community.
Tara Boyd
We really just wanted to help families for Christmas. Lamb provides families with turkeys and other food items for Christmas. They also set up a place for the families to come and collect toys for their children. Junior Meghan Phadke said, “We really just wanted to help families for Christmas. Mrs. Sweetz actually introduced us to this organization. She has been donating to the foundation for years.” Members of FNHS as well as other French students at
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Olathe East collected toys for children ages six to twelve years old, canned food for a Christmas feast, and cash to help the organization pay for turkeys for the families. FNHS members were also offered the opportunity to volunteer for a day helping pass out gifts. In this season of giving, remember there is no better feeling than helping someone else have a happy holiday.
4 [zach hunter]
december 2008
news
SUB-PAR How To Avoid Sinking With A “Bad Sub”
Although you may not realize it, your teachers are human beings, and occasionally those human beings fall victim to the same diseases that ravage the student body. When this happens the effects of their ailments echo through the learning environment, and that echo is called a substitute teacher. When a substitute teacher enters the classroom everyone suffers.
“
It’s good to get a new teacher every once and awhile. It’s a nice change of pace.
some classes are harder to teach than others and therefore are trickier to get a good sub in. “Classes like Chemistry and Spanish are probably the hardest to find a good sub in. “ So how can you deal with a “Bad Sub?” You’re bound to get a couple, because they’re impossible to avoid. Here are some tips. • Ask Questions. If you’re stuck with a sub that has a hard time getting the lesson across ask as many questions as possible. Most subs are just a little nervous,
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Sophomore Jake Brinkman believes that on average a lesson taught by a substitute will not be as effectively conveyed into the minds of students as a lesson taught by your regular teacher, and that with a sub students generally learn less. However Brinkman also states that some subs are beneficial in the classroom, saying, “It’s good to have a different teacher every once in a while. It’s a nice change of pace. My favorite subs are laidback but focused.” He goes on to say that
just ask them some questions to break the tension; they’ll loosen up soon enough. Remember, don’t stop asking until you’re finished learning! • Don’t Freeze Up. If the lesson confuses you, don’t become a brick wall. The sub needs something to work with. Even something as small as nodding your head, or offering a tiny bit of feedback will give him that boost of con-
fidence that might help him become a better teacher in the future. • Ignore the Crazy. If you’re confronted with a crazy sub try to ignore the teacher and focus on what they are teaching. It’s hard, but it is possible to get at least a little information from a crazy sub. Also if you do get stuck with a bad sub don’t get angry with your regular teacher. Remember they were just looking for someone to hold the class together while they were out of commission for a while.
zach hunter
opinion
the hawk’s eye
Brett Crawford ’s
3
What To Do About:
Britney Spears I’m going to cut to the chase here. Everyone knows how deep our country is in our own crap, and how our economy is about as stable as a mother on Dr. Phil, but when in the last year did anyone decide that it was okay for Britney Spears to make a comeback, not once, but TWICE. I mean, I sat down to watch television about a week and a half ago, and all I saw was a special on Britney Spears and how she’s “back and better than ever.” Truth is, she’s not. Poppy, cliché diva choruses and lyrics about boys who’ve been bad to you are soo 2001. It’s bad enough we have to put up with another New Kids on the Block album, but no one should have said, “Hey let’s bring Britt back too!” It’s nothing but a recipe for disaster. Because once the limelight starts to fade again, more wonderful problems are going to arise, and that’s exactly what half of her supporters are hoping for. Let me be frank, I used to love Britney Spears. In-fact, the first CD I ever bought was her Oops… I Did it Again album (no lie, I was seven years old). And let me tell
you kids, those were some of the happiest days of my life. But you’ve got to remember, that was what kids were listening to when we were that age! Now it’s all about the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana Disney Channel stars. All of Britney’s old fans
“My first CD
was Oops... I did it again.
”
are either awkward High School Students, or 20-something adults with drinking habits. It’s too bad that things had to turn out this way, and thus I blame it all on back up dancer, Kevin Federline. However difficult it may be for me to pull myself off of this tirade of anti-Britney attacks, I feel it is the best thing to do. We all know the drill, so here it goes:
-Avoid the new Britney record AT ALL COSTS. However appealing it may be, or sweet it may sound, do not buy this record! -Keep away from any friends who say, “I don’t know guys, the new Britney record is pretty good.” They’ve obviously been brainwashed and don’t know the difference between good and evil. -If you see her on television, turn it off. Actually, just throw your TV out your window, because it has now been tainted. -Take any and all oppertunities to keep people from listening to her new album, which includes, but is not limited to: pushing, shoving, stealing, yelling, breaking, screaming, punching, kicking, and/or murdering someone to keep that record from getting into their ears. That being said, I think my work here is done, mainly because I am putting myself at risk for being at a computer this long. I feel like five more minutes here will be enough for me to fall victim to the new Britney Spears record, Circus, which hit the shelves November 28, 2008! Go check it out guys!
eature f Student Drivers Cope with Winter’s Chill 6
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december 2008
[eric yarns]
On Tuesday, December 9, the winter season officially began with the first substantial snowfall of the year. The snow began to fall around nine o’clock and was preceded by a fine layer of sleet. Students received their first taste of winter driving after school let out. Spinning tires, constant lines, and the christening of the trusty icescraper all marked the occasion. By the next day the snow began to melt and turn to that dark gray slush that accumulates at the curbside. Even though only a moderate snow storm, three more months of winter still lay ahead. In this most unfavorable season of the year, a mere inch of snow can prove to be an adverse situation for an unseasoned driver of the Midwest. As fellow Kansans, drivers must maintain a few rudimentary principles at all times when behind the wheel. Certain fundamentals must be acknowledged for a winter driver to be at his or her utmost precautionary form. The usually treacherous parking lot of Olathe East has been even more so this year according to Officer Jeff Jewett, the School Resource Officer at Olathe East. With a heightened number of traffic accidents in relatively normal weather conditions this year, Officer Jewett expects to see an increase in winter conditions as well. Certain precautions should be exercised this winter driving season to avoid such accidents. Firstly, you can prepare yourself for the elements by merely procuring certain must-haves for winter weather. According to common sense, an ice scraper and gloves are essential to overcoming the wrath of Mother Nature. Some additional items that may enhance your ability to ward off
those peaking snowdrifts which seem to barricade in your car, are: a small shovel – for those heightchallenged vehicles that can easily become entrenched in only an inch or two of snow, and de-icer – for relieving pains from scraping by helping to melt ice that has accumulated on the windshield. But being prepared is only half of the battle. Secondly, you can avoid accidents by adopting minimal variations to your driving habits. “Most accidents occur when backing out,” said Jewett. By pulling through parking spaces you can avoid backing out and also avoid any fender-benders. “Allowing extra distance, especially during winter, is important and generally the rule is three to four seconds,” said Jewett. Small alterations to your driving routine such as these may help keep Olathe East parking lots accident-free again this winter. If you find yourself stuck in the snow, a certain rule-of-thumb will help you get your car moving again. “Don’t sit there and floor it,” advised Jewett. When stuck, the most prolific actions you can take are first clearing some of the snow around your tires and then gradually accelerating until your tires can gain enough traction on the snow. Driving in the wintertime can be a beneficial and rather scary experience. By utilizing the correct tools and techniques you can fare just fine this winter season.
Eric Yarns
“
Don’t sit there and floor it. - Officer Jewett
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What To Do in the Event of an Accident
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Make sure that the other drivers and passengers are all okay. Immediately contact Officer Jewett in the front office. Exchange information with the other drivers involved. File an accident or police report with Officer Jewett. Contact parent / guardian.
Eric Yarns
student/teacher
student
« jesse jacobsen
Jesse Jacobsen
the hawk’s eye [Emma Brockschmidt] Would you rather be rich, famous or happy? Happy because being happy is the most fulfilling. What is one of your good habits? I love running. Bad habit? I chew a lot of gum. If a radio station played your favorite song nonstop, what would the song be? T-Pain’s version of “Change The World.” Best topping for an ice cream sundae? Chocolate syrup. You have one hour to live. How would you spend it? I would go sky-diving with my best friend because she has always wanted to go, but I’ve always been too chicken. If you won two tickets, what would they be for? The lil’Wayne/T-Pain concert in January If you could have one dance with anyone in the world, who would you choose? Clent Stewart- my fiance.
Miss Harwell is the new mathematics teacher at Olathe East. Would you rather be rich, famous or happy? Happy because its better than fame and fortune.
Best topping for an ice cream sundae? Anything chocolate. You have one hour to live. How would you spend it? With family and friends, probably playing something. If you won two tickets, what would they be for? KU vs. MU basketball tickets. If you could have one dance with anyone in the world, who would you choose? Reese Witherspoon
Jesse Jacobsen is a sophomore student at Olathe East.
teacher
If a radio station played your favorite song nonstop, what would the song be? “You Don’t Know Me,” by Ben Folds.
«
Bad habit? Flipping my hair.
miss harwell
What is one of your good habits? Remembering random facts.
Miss Harwell with fiancé Clent Stewart
teacher
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feature
december 2008
going
[caliee behnke]
out of B U
Christmas is coming and fast. Everyone should be preparing to shop till they drop at all the best stores. However many of our favorite stores are closing down. Taking a look at just how bad the economy is, after January many of our beloved stores will be closed. Some of the shops may attempt to keep their stores online open so don’t give up all hope yet. However all together with the numbers given over 1500+ stores will be closing, leaving hundreds of thousands people jobless right as the “most wonderful time of the year” approaches. Not only are stores closing however, yet numerous stores are laying off employees too. Although Christmas is coming it seems to feel more like depression is making it’s way into town instead. With the economy being in the worst shape it’s been in since the Great Depression, many holiday shoppers are turning to Wal-Mart. On Black Friday Wal-Mart had shoppers lined up at the door for hours waiting to get in to hit all the great deals Wal-Mart was offering. Not only that, one man was even trampled to death, while entering the store. Yet shoppers still stormed the store, rushing to grab any and everything their hands could hold before all the items were gone. In just one month Wal-Mart’s sales increased to an unbelievable 3.4%. That’s more then some stores raised in an entire year, due to the steadfast decrease in sales. While stores close down all over the nation we’re getting hit even in our own hometown. In the Kansas City Area, already Linens and Things by the Oak Park Mall has gone out of business and Harold’s, a jewelry store, will be closing on the Plaza as well as at Town Center as soon as all inventory is gone. Along with that Steve and Barry’s, a great sports clothing store is also closing down by the Great Mall. Circuit Cities in both Overland Park and Lenexa will be closing too and some Starbucks in the area maybe next on the list as well. The only thing left to do now is to keep our fingers crossed that the KC area doesn’t lose any more stores. Oh and a tip for the holidays, with so many stores going out of business gift cards probably aren’t the best gift idea. It may be in everyone’s best interest to give out good old cash and call it a day.
on the other hand Walmart
From November to December sales have raised 3.4% Net sales are at 94.1 billion as of the beginning of December.
S I N E S S
?
Pacific Sunware - going out of business, closing all stores Piercing Pagoda - going out of business, closing all stores Cache - going out of business, closing all stores Sharper Image - going out of business, closing all stores Linens and Things - going out of business, closing all stores Whitehall Jewelers - going out of business, closing all stores Wilson Leather- going out of business, closing all stores Bombay - going out of business, closing all stores Starbucks- closing 600 stores nationwide K B Toys - closing 356 stores Zales - closing 82 stores, 105 after January Circuit City - closing 155 stores Footlocker - closing 140 stores, more after January Sprint/ Nextel - closing 133 stores Disney - closing 98 stores, more after January GAP - closing 85 stores Eddie Bauer - closing 27 stores, more after January JC Penney - closing a number of stores after January Lowes - closing undisclosed number of stores Home Depot - closing 15 stores Ethan Allen - closing 12 stores Macy’s- closing 9 stores
the hawk’s eye
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december 2008
Happy
Holidays from
the
hawk’s eye
feature
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the hawk’s eye
Get to Know the They face down 40-page deadlines. They create witty headlines and visually pleasing pages. They donate Saturdays to their craft. They are the yearbook staff. Led by Mr. Mays, these 16 people work to produce a book, called the Aurora, for everyone in the school to enjoy. But who are they as people?
Yearbook Staff [emily fogle]
Mr. Mays (Adviser) Annie Beile (Editor) Shannon Walsh (Editor)
Courtney Balthazor Tessa Bell Jordan Ewonus Sam Felter Katie Johnson Andy Miller Dani Mouton Niralee Parikh Jun Quang Rachel Reynolds Rachel Vientos VyVy Vu Emily Willson Anna Zoller What do you miss the most about The theme of the 2008 Aurora being a little kid? Niralee: Having freedom to do whatever I want without consequences and spend time however I want.
What current fashion makes no sense to you? Jordan: “Uggly” boots. If you’re cold, put on pants. Don’t wear boots with your tights!
What color socks are you most likely to wear? Anna: Blue always, kind of a weird habit.
If you were to color your hair, what color would you choose? Mr. Mays: I would color it the color of more hair to cover that which is leaving.
Pet peeve? Shannon: Double texts!
Best piece of advice? Tessa: Never regret something that once made you smile.
Who is your hero? Andy: Mr. Mays.
What food would you never ever eat? Katie: Seafood.
Most effective way to get rid of hiccups? Annie: Peanut butter
Would you rather be on a plane or on a train? Emily: Plane
Best “undiscovered” band? Rachel V: Secret & Whisper
Favorite key on the keyboard? Dani: @, it’s fascinating.
Least favorite color? Rachel: Black
What do you see in your future? VyVy Vu: Going to med school.
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december 2008
feature
the hawk’s eye Tired of paying upwards of $40 for a pair of pants? Sick of spending more than $20 for a shirt made of low-quality fabric? Fed up with spending over $100 for a dress you’ll only wear once? Bored with looking exactly like everyone else? Shopping at a thrift store will change everything. Sometimes this brave act takes a little searching, but one can find a barely-worn pair of jeans that would have cost $50 at American Eagle for less than five dollars. Purchasing a $200 prom dress at a thrift store saves the buyer $175 or much more, depending on the store. A fashionable coat, gently used and valued at $100, costs less than seven dollars at a thrift store. Aside from having nice clothing at discount prices, most thrift stores benefit a noble cause of some sort. The Salvation Army uses its earnings to create rehabilitation centers for people in need. Goodwill provides jobs and education for the homeless, jobless, and people with other disadvantages. Halfy’s Thrift Boutique donates half its proceeds to the Pet Connection, a no-kill animal shelter.
[emily fogle]
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The Hawk’s Eye visited six thrift stores in the Kansas City area, and we found: Salvation Army Family Store 6219 Johnson Drive Open 9am-9pm Monday through Saturday, closed on Sunday With clothing organized by color, type of clothing, and whether it fits a man or a woman, the Family Store is enormous. It has separate rooms for clothing, furniture, and toys, as well as an area for the fitting rooms. We discovered a gorgeous pink formal gown for around eight dollars; however, someone bought it. This store seems to have everything.
TurnStyles 9750 West 87th Street Open 10am-6pm Monday through Saturday, closed on Sunday Another enormous store with highquality clothing, TurnStyles had the best deals. A $100 trench coat with minimal stains sold for four dollars. All pants sell for a dollar and all skirts sell for two. Even the fancy dresses sell for only three dollars. TurnStyles has large fitting rooms but only request that one return the clothing to the rack from which it came, leaving some visitors to leave pants and shirts and dresses behind.
an inside look at area thrift stores Thrift Store 9836 West 87th Street Open 10am-6pm Sunday through Saturday Cramped and slightly dark, Thrift Store still contains all sorts of clothing. In fact, some of the dresses overflowed to a rack outside; this seems like a bad idea on a rainy, windy day. The clothes did not appear stained or torn and seemed to be priced accurately. Lulu’s Boutique 6017 Johnson Drive Open 11am-8pm Monday through Thursday, 11am-6pm Friday, 11am5pm Saturday, closed on Sunday Upon walking into the store, one would never guess that Lulu’s is a thrift store. The clothing, all for ladies and mostly fancy, looks brand new. While a little pricey for a thrift store, the high quality of the items makes up for having to pay $30 for a prom dress. This store has three fitting rooms and smells slightly of vanilla and cinnamon.
Goodwill 8929 Wornall Road Open 9am-7pm Monday through Saturday, 11am-7pm Sunday Goodwill succeeds in having a large store, clean fitting rooms, accurate prices, and labeling everything. However, the store has no formal wear of any kind, making it a poor choice if one wants to buy a discount dress for a dance. The clothes were not outdated to the point of qualifying as vintage, a problem that occurs at many other thrift stores. Halfy’s Thrift Boutique 5732 Johnson Drive Open 10am-6pm Monday through Saturday, closed on Sunday A bright and cheerful little store, Halfy’s has a large selection that includes some high quality formal dresses, shirts for three dollars, and jeans for four dollars. Halfy’s organizes according to size and type of clothing. A clean fitting room and friendly workers makes this a lovely place to shop.
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feature
december 2008
New
Traditions
[tessa magana]
Traditions to start this holiday season with your family. he holidays are a busy time. T With all the shopping, wrapping, studying for finals, and avoiding those six car pile ups in the parking lot after 3pm, family can be the last thing on your mind. Here are some basic ways to remind the ones you love that you really do love them, just by spending some quality time together.
Break out the classic board games. Who doesn’t love board games? Okay, as long as it’s not Monopoly with your grandmother. Board games have been shoved out of the way in recent times, giving way to xbox’s and wii’s. You can never go wrong with a classic like Life or Taboo. Get the fam together around the kitchen table and get some bonding time in.
You
Could.. Spend a day baking. There’s nothing better than a warm oven on a winter’s day. Baking can incorporate family members of all ages, even if the only job you can give your little brother is licking the bowl. Cupcakes, gignerbread men, and candycane cookies are holiday favorites. Bring out the flour and sugar.
Watch a Christmas Movie Marathon A marathon including childhood classics such as A Muppet Christmas Carol, Frosty the Snowman, Home Alone, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Its a Wonderful Life are in order this Holiday season. Sit back with a bowl full of buttery popcorn and enjoy.
the hawk’s eye
GirlsStaff writer Amanda Emslie suggests giving each of your girlfriends $10 worth of ordinary drug store makeup. Try giving them new colors to experiment with or new brands they’ve never tried.
]
fior e
ily
[em
CKS
e BU r 15
S
STAFF
STARBUCKS GIFT CARD
GIFT
ITUNES GIFT CARD
’ s e ey
wk ha
PICK
BAKE COOKIES
Everyone loves cookies. Staff writer Neha Wahid says they can be as simple as classic chocolate chip, or one can go all out and make gingerbread men fully decorated with all sorts of icing. One of the cheapest things you can do- since most parents already have almost all of the ingredients to make cookies in their kitchens. Music is the universal language. Itunes gift cards start at $15, that’s 15 songs on itunes. Make sure the recepient of this gift HAS an itunes account.
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The bitter cold of winter offers the most rewarding season to enjoy coffee and tea. Give your friend the gift of choosing their own favorite beverage. You can buy him/her one cup of coffee ($5) or give them the chance for a few individual visits ($15). The recepient doesn’t like coffee or tea? Starbucks has lots of baked goodies as well.
und
CREATIVE CANDY
Find a creative way to give a quantity of a person’s favorite candy to him/ her. Here, staff writer Zach Hunter suggests buying a plain fish bowl ($9.99, Petco) and decorating it with puff paint. Use this as a candy dish for your friend.
t h e
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feature
december 2008
O V E R
Board
The Hill
Done
[amanda emslie]
[maggie houston]
There are so many shows out there that are calling out for some recognition. These lists are here to tell you which ones need more viewers and which ones need less. Along with a few cancelled but sorely missed shows.
Flight of the Conchords
Starring: Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie. Based off a Grammy Award-winning New Zealand comedy duo, come Bret and Jemaine. This program is a bit like if The Office and Scrubs were mixed together. Filled with comedic songs full of their dry humor, advances from their hysterical fan club consisting of one person, and their outrageous, joke-of-a-manager, Murray. Bottom line: this needs to be seen. JANUARY 18th - HBO
Friday Night Lights
Rugrats Ah the memories, who can’t remember Rugrats? Tommy Pickles and his gang, Chuckie, Phil, Lil and Angelica. These unforgetable toddlers explore the world with their imaingations. Running for 14 years, Rugrats is Nickelodeon’s longest running show, beginning in 1991 and ending in 2004.Then, in 1998 the first Rugrats film was released, The Rugrats Movie and later in 2000, Rugrats in Pairs. Rugrats also won a stunning 18 awards. It’s cartoons like these that need to be showed more often.
Starring: Milo Ventimiglia, Hayden Panettiere. Hiro: Save the cheer- The whole “With great power, comes great leader, save the responsibility,” saying is true for this powerful world. show. Just a word of advice: watch it from the very first season or you might be a little lost. For whatever reason, ratings have been declining, though the stories change at every turn. J.D.: Were you ever MONDAY - 8 PM - NBC planning on telling me? Starring: Zach Braff, Donald Faison. Kim: Yes, But I didn’t This show takes a while to get used to the offknow what to say. beat humor, but once you do, Scrubs will be your J.D.: How about, “I top pick for comedic television. The show fothink there might be cuses on the lives of several people working at something living inSacred Heart Hospital. The main character J.D., side my uterus.” has many ridiculous daydreams that add to the shows hilarity, aided by Kelso’s two-faced anSamantha: Is it our tics. Show some Vanilla Bear love and watch this show. JANUARY 6th - ABC song?
Scrubs
Clear eyes, full Starring: Connie Britton, Taylor Kitsch. hearts, can’t lose. A surprisngly real drama surrounding the -Panther Football high school football team and the citizens slogan of tiny Dillon, Texas. This down-to-earth program shows us what Texas life is really like played by a stellar cast. WEDNESDAY - 8 PM - DIRECTV Kenneth: Miss Lemon, may I speak with you? Starring: Tina Fey. Liz: Sure. Can you Even with many Emmy nominations, ratings walk and talk? have not risen much. The storyline moves Kenneth: Uh... along quickly, but if you can keep up with the usually, but now quirky characters set in a NBC production you got me thinkstudio, it is completely worth it. How’s it posing about it. sible to dislike loveable kenneth, or outrageous Tracy? THURSDAY - 8:30 PM - NBC
30 Rock
OVER looked Heroes
quotes Jemaine: I’m not cryin’. It’s just been raining... on my face.
Looked
Todd: No. We didn’t have a song. Every time I suggested one, you laughed at me and asked me if I was on my period.
board OVER Pokémon
Samatha Who?
Starring: Chirstina Applegate. Samantha just woke up from a coma and discovered she used to be a domineering, awful person. She now struggles amusingly to become a better person with the help of her outrageous friends and family. MONDAYS - 8:30 PM - ABC
Gotta catch ‘em all! Beginning in 1998, Pokemon grabbed the attention of children everywhere. Originally a Japanese animated series that was adapted to English, is a story of Ash Ketchum, a young boy from Pallet Town who receives his first Pokémon, from Professor Oak, and sets out to be the greatest Pokémon trainer ever. Expanding from the show came Pokemon trading cards with such famous charaters like Pikachu and Charizard. Just remember, Pokemon! Gotta catch ‘em all!
Scooby-Doo Where Are You! Ruh Roh! You cant forget this classic show. There is nothing better than watching Fred, Velma, Shaggy, Daphne and Scooby chilling in thier Mystery Machine soving unusual mysteries typically involving tales of ghosts and other supernatural forces, on Saturday mornings. Scooby-Doo originally aired on CBS in 1969 through 1976.
the hawk’s eye
OVER hill the
Nick Andopolis: Hey, I believe in god, man. I've seen him, I've felt his power! He plays drums for Led Zeppelin and his name is John Bonham, baby!
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FREAKS AND GEEKS Starring: Seth Rogen, James Franco Set in the 80’s, this comical show is about a group of teenagers who face the trials and tribulations of growing up with their friends and face everything with ridiculous manners.
Seth Rogen and James Franco got the start they needed to succeed in the hilarious Pineapple Express, but we still wish it wouldn’t have ended!
Starring: Jason Bateman Who wouldn’t love this hilariously dysfunctional family? The jokes go fast, but when caught, they’re the most original ones out there. How could anyone forget Gob and his Segway? This beautifully done show deserved a lot more.
They brought in guest stars like Charlize Theron and Scott Baio but, without the large audience, the show was cut. Keep an eye out for the movie coming in 2009!
Starring: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel This strikingly unique dramedy about a mother and daughter living in the extremely quirky, small town of Stars Hollow is sure to please all audiences. With the most pop culture references in any series, you have to be quick to fully catch this rapid, witty banter. Experts still call it an injustice Lauren Graham wasn’t awarded an Emmy for her oustanding work. Their explanation is the questionable genre of the show. The Emmys just weren’t sure which category to put the show under, drama or comedy, so they let it go, despite Gilmore Girls having the best writing, heart, and humor of any show around.
Yet again the CW network cancelled one of its highest rated shows. One of the actors didn’t even find out about the shows end until his local video store clerk mentioned, “Sorry about your show.” Not only did the network handle the show’s end unprofessionally but they also did not inform the cast and crew of it’s end until after they had all shot the season finale. The fans, instead of getting a memorable series finale, got a measly season finale.
“...the only hour-long sitcom I’ve ever seen that sustains funniness for its full 60 minutes.” -Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
Buster: [Confronting Lucille about his birth father] “You lied to me... you said my FATHER was my father, but my UNCLE is my father. MY FATHER IS MY UNCLE.”
“...the funniest show that nobody watched.” -The New York Times GILMORE GIRLS
Lorelai: Women don’t eat at all. They just look at food then jump on the treadmill.
OVER done
“A lively, literate breeze of dialogue and gentle fantasy that make it one of television’s best shows.” - Jonathan Storm, The Philadelphia Inquirer
the hills
my name is earl
knight rider
If you have ever seen Joel McHale make fun of this show, you probably thought, “There’s no way they really just had that conversation. They must have tweaked it.” They did not. The talks between the fake girls are unbelievably dull, posing the question of how this show fills up its entire thirty minutes of “entertainment.” Wouldn’t it be great if MTV(Music Television) decided to make a show of actual substance? Or, even crazier, a show about music.
Once upon a time, this show was fresh and lively. Now, the show is expected and obvious. You can almost hear the words about to come out of lottery winner Earl’s mouth before he says it himself. Either this show needs some new writers or it needs a better delivery from the actors. Hopefully they can figure out the problem because we’re all rooting for it to get fixed and become the show it used to be.
That is the actual given title to this David Hasselhoff remake. Sounds cheesy enough, right? A talking car and partner fight crime. When watching the first few minutes, you’ll quickly write it off as a parody, but as the show goes on the realization will hit you that this is a real show.When will network execs learn not to make descendants of originally substandard shows?
news >>
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February 3
The New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots 17-14 in Superbowl XLII.
January
Hollywood mourns the sudden death of Heath Ledger, who died as a result of a prescription drug overdose.
Oil Prices exceed 100 dollars per barrel
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January 22
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February
April 7
Kansas Jayhawks defeat the Memphis Tigers in the men’s college basketball championship.
>>
March
After starting in every game since 1992, Brett Favre bids his final farewell to the Greenbay packers.
>> November 8
The Olathe East gymnastics team takes the first place spot at State competition. The Hawk’s Eye takes a look back at the events of the past year. [Neha Wahid]
The New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots 17-14 in Superbowl XLII.
>>
November
November 4
America reaches a political milestone with the election of Illinois senator Barack Obama as president.
68 million dollar bond is passed in the Olathe School District which proposes moving sixth-graders up to the junior high level and freshmen into high schools.
>>
>>2008 in Review
december 2008
>>
18
December
At a startling 6.7%, the U.S. reaches its highest unemployment rate since 1974.
review :
MUSIC
the hawk’s eye
Kanye West
808s and Heartbreak
19
With the death of his mother, the Louis Vuitton Don sculpts introspective electro-pop. [john wood]
First, he was The College Dropout, crossing genres and topping charts with his whimsical, sample-heavy style, delivering fresh, political confrontations like “Jesus Walks.” His sophomore album, Late Registration, solidified his position as a dynamic hip-hop icon, fascinating fans with intricate orchestrations and vulnerable lyrics about the struggles of fame and fortune. The track list was a musical feast of styles, from the hilarious stomp-inducing hit, “Gold Digger,” to the heart-warming ballad, “Hey Mama.” Graduation saw West at his most exuberant— from the glowing melodic buzzes of “Flashing Lights” to dazzling dance-club hits like “Stronger,” which Spin magazine honored the best song of 2007. However, on his fourth studio album, 808s and Heartbreak, West’s sound has changed. It travels to the gloomiest and most heartbroken places of Kanye’s memories, echoing the tragic events of his recent past—the split with his long-time fiancée Alexis Phifer and the death of his mother, Donda West, due to complications from plastic surgery. What listeners witness on 808s and Heartbreak is an artist lamenting
from the deepest trenches of tragedy and loneliness. This is a new Kanye West. “I’m a monster/I’m a killer/I know I’m wrong,” he croons on the stunning ballad “Amazing,” and on “Heartless,” he confesses, “Well, I got homies/But in the end it’s still so lonely.” Sonically, the most obvious change on 808s is its vocals. Instead of rapping, West sings the entirety of the album through Autotune, a recording device that allows for the warbly robotic effect made famous by West’s colleague, Young Jeezy. Where West goes wrong is his over-indulgence. The opening track, “Say You Will,” is initially promising with frosty drones and thoughtful melodies, but the six-minute length is its downfall, as it reverts to a series of monotonous beeps and boops for an entire three minutes. “Bad News” takes a similar approach, and is ultimately forgettable. However, the overwhelming majority of tracks are superb, making beauty out of bleakness. “Coldest Winter,” is a heart-wrenching high point of 808s. On this tribute to his mother, West exposes himself deeper than we have ever seen before as he asks himself, “Will I ever
love again?” “Robocop” is a hilarious romp with brilliant orchestrations and robotic sound effects that stands as the album’s only up-beat track, and perhaps its best. “Street Lights” mixes electronic buzz with piano whispers, melding with the vocal melody of a time-stopping love ballad. Whether or not you enjoy West’s departure into metallic pop music, none can deny his ability to create an album that is so different from his previous efforts, with more imagination than any of his contemporaries.
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news
december 2008
Hawks On Ice The players behind the face masks Team captain Matt Curry rushing in to help his teammates
Hockey Terms To Know attacking zone: the area between the opponents’ blue line and their goal.
TEAM ROSTER
backcheck: an attempt by a player, on his way back to his defensive zone, to regain the puck from the opposition by checking or harassing an opponent who has the puck.
Luke Artzer Tyler Borchers Scott Culala Matt Curry
[lexi panfil]
S
deflection:
was “glad to accept the offer.” causing any pass or shot to stray from its Coach Still is very proud of his intended course; a shot or pass that hits young Hawks, commenting, “Play- some object such as a stick or skate and ers who really stand out are Jake goes into the net for a score or when a Pope, Tim Ediger, Connor Smith, goalie hits the puck away. John Hagy, and Tyler Borchers. enforcer: It’s hard not to name everyone also called the policeman this is usubecause they all play as a team, ally the most penalized player on a every game!” team; he has the job of protecting Matt Curry, the team captain his teammates from harm; generally and junior from ONW, proudly a larger player who is not afraid of holds fifth place in varsity scoring any fight. with seven goals, three assists and penalty box: a grand total of ten points. “Matt an area with a bench just off the ice, is a leader on and off the ice. He behind the sideboards outside the playing area where penalized players serve their rallies’s the players in the locker penalty time. room and when we fall behind in a game,” said Still. Hockey is an action Sophmore Tim Ediger skating against packed sport known as Blue Valley West a collision sport rather than a contact sport. With lightning fast skating, intense body checking, and the occasional spewing of foul language, it is easy to see why so many men are captivated by the sport. Game schedules are posted at http://www.icemidwest.com the Hawks would love some support from their school.
Tim Ediger
Students at East are certainly aware of the major sports held Aaron Donnell at Olathe East. Hundreds of fans go out and support their team, Justin Donnell creating an energetic and exciting atmosphere for all. However, one sport that students are not Tim Ediger aware of at Olathe East is hockey, a sporting event held at Pepsi Ice John Hagy Midwest. Olathe East participates in a Kyle Maxwell junior varsity league as well as a varsity league held at Pepsi Ice Seth McKeown Midwest in Overland Park. Currently the junior varsity team holds a fifth place spot in their league Jake Pope with three wins and three loses. Stephan Sundberg is listed as the Adam Sedlacek #3 goaltender in the junior varsity league and Dakota Barnett is listConnor Smith ed as the #7 scorer in the league with four goals and one assist. Jarrett Snider The varsity team coached by Ed Still, is currently ranked at third Jason Sturtewagen place in the league with three wins and one loss, trailing behind JefBrandon Cunningham ferson City High School and Rockhurst High School. Head Coach Ed Still grew up in Alaska and started playing hockey when he was six years old. He coached the Blue Valley North hockey team for four years. When offered the coaching spot on the East team, Coach Still
Tim Ediger
carom: a rebound of the puck off the boards or any other object.
opinion
S
the hawk’s eye
CHMITZ
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mit
ch nS
[Be
and
GRINS
The MU Tigers have one thing holding them back Dear Missouri Tiger fans, please quit. Just give up! Because in this life, you can’t win. Sure, you can try, but you’re going to lose… big time! Okay, okay, you caught me. I stole that line from Jack Black in one of his genius comedies, School of Rock. But, not only does it apply to a bunch of elementary school kids who are naïve and looking for a role model, it also works for MU fans who… are naïve and looking for a role model (yes, please notice the similarities between immature young boys and adult Tiger fans). You may be thinking, “Ben, why do you say that Missouri fans are naïve?” To those people, the answer is right in front of you. Gary Pinkel couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag. He has some unbelievable, game-breaking, NFL-training athletes added to his team every single season, and yet he cannot seem to completely break through the national scene a.k.a the brown sack. Pinkel’s offensive coordinator holds his
souri guy WOULD pass up millions to stay in school and “get an education” (a little side note: that excuse made by any sports figure is getting real old). But, the big guy on campus is leaving. Chase Daniel, the all-this, all-that quarterback who has been a Heisman trophy finalist, blah blah blah, will take his last snap against Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio on December 29th. In this game, Mizzou will, indeed, succumb to surprise and lose to the Wildcats. Northwestern has a pretty stout defense and will not allow Daniel to get off any pass he wants to, which is what he’s basically done all year. After this game, though, Daniel may not see the field again. In the NFL, the only way he’ll become a starter is if he’s placed around a ton of athletes, like he is at Missouri with Maclin, Chase Coffman, and Derrick Washington. Sorry to tell you this, MU fans, but your chub-of-a-QB just won’t make the cut... or the weight, for that matUniversity very often, but this dude has ter. game. He can rush, catch, return, and I Best of Luck, You’re Going to need It: ‘m pretty sure he’s thrown a few passes in his career, also. Breakneck speed is what separates him from opponents, literally and figuratively. But, the chances of him staying around for a full four seasons is pretty slim. Then again, a Mishead coach’s life by a thread. But now that Dave Christensen is leaving for the head job at Wyoming (which further proves that being an MU Tiger makes you delirious) one can predict Pinkel will soon begin to fail. Jeremy Maclin could, though, save Pinkel for a few years at least. He’s only a sophomore now and he is impressive, to say the least. I don’t give out compliments to Missouri athletes, coaches, fans, or to anyone associated with the
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Chase Daniel won’t compete in the NFL
”
-Ben
PREDICTION
MU- 31 /////// NW- 34
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news
december 2008
Dread the [maggie houston]
W
hen the first snowflake falls from the sky, our minds go wild. Thoughts abound from our head, normally irrational, about a blizzard coating the roads, school being cancelled and, of course, sledding. Either you have been excitedly anticipating this week’s chance of a snow day, or you’ve been dreading it. Some students say, “I’ll take one where I can get one.” Others are upset about the increase in hours we would all have to be here for. Everyone agrees that, if a snow day did come into play, sledding would be written at the very top on their list of priorities. Close to the top on that list is drinking a steaming cup of hot cocoa and watching a great movie while warming your toes in your favorite thick socks and slippers after coming in from a hard, but fun day of racing down the best slopes. Even though Kansas is thought of as being as flat as a flapjack, there seems to be enough elevation to make anyone, of any age, jump with joy. Everyone knows that one of the best sledding inclines around town happens to be the hill near Lowe’s but the Hawk’s Eye is here to tell you about those hills you maybe haven’t heard about just yet.
sled
We scoured the town and beyond for your benefit so that this list will help you out over this holiday break to make some winter memories that won’t easily escape your memory. Naturally, we’re not crazy enough to broadcast our absolute favorite spots throughout the entire school, but we will give you many of the best locations we’ve discovered. If you can’t drive miles and miles to our neighboring state of Colorado for your tall hills, then try checking out the ones that are
just around your own home. You’d be surprised at the amount of inclines there are when you’re out there looking for them. Whether you are searching for an extreme slope or somewhere you can take a little brother or sister for a time they won’t forget, this list should cover it.
Top Drops We’re not completely sure about these hills being legal to sled down, but what’s winter break without a little danger? Just as a precaution, you may want to dress up in all white so as not to draw attention to yourself. This is all a matter of how much you want to risk.
:::119th Street and KC Road
This one has an incline of about 60 degrees and can get a bit crowded on snow days, but if you get there early with a cup of hot chocolate to keep you warm, it can be remembered as one of your favorite hills.
:::Sledding hill off 435 and Metcalf in Corporate Woods.
Hold onto your hats for this one kids. This steep slope also has an incline of about 60 degrees and can be viewed from the highway. It’s one of the longest hills we’ve seen in a while, so be prepared for a lengthy trek back up the hill.
:::119th and Rosehill, adjacent to Stoll Park
Just to clarify, this is not actually in Stoll Park, just nearby. It has a great incline and can get a bit crowded, but is almost always worth it.
:::Hills behind Bentwood Elementary’s soccer field
This is for the younger siblings you might be bringing along to make their day. It can get particularly dangerous if you get too much momentum going down a hill, though. Just watch out for fences. That’s all I’m going to say.
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dates to remember
E T U C ng i k O r o w TeO ” s e elv “ f o r b T Num N U ’s O y c TOatCMa
]
Dec16 FINALS Begin Dec18 Winter Break Jan1Happy New Year Jan7 Back to School
10 300 9 9 2
ed d e e n s n o i icat l p p a f o ’s y c a M Pages t a f” l e “ n a e to becom of r e b m u n st Estimated a E e h t a l tO a s e r o m o soph ore m o h p o s of r e b m u n y a d w Estimated o n s t firs n o s e h s cra
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Jessica Alcorn
Quote of the Issue
Just because we’ve been dealt a certain hand, it doesn’t mean that we can’t choose to rise above- to conquer the boundaries of a destiny that none of us wanted.
Stephanie Meyer Author of the Twilight series
winter in kansas city All photos courtesy of
Emma Brockschmidt
Holiday lights
View from room 609 of the front parking lot Plaza on the eve of the lighting cermony
Kitchen Sink on Nov. 27th Plaza Lights
holiday traditions