Volume XLIV - Issue11

VOLUME XLIV ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 19, 2013

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THE

RECORD

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THE RECORD VIZ/PRIORY IS DECEMBER 7th VOLUME XLIV ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 19, 2013 Editor In Chief

Andrew Cammon ‘14

Layout Editor

Lucas McGartland ‘14

Content Editors

Michael Herman ‘14

William O’Brien ‘14

Eric Stange ‘14

Faculty Moderator

Ms. Layton

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Contact

theprioryrecord@gmail.com

314.434.3690 ext. 221

The Record Disclaimer

The Record is the official student publication of Saint Louis Priory School in St. Louis, Missouri. It is produced by students/staff members. Its purpose is to inform students of events in the community; to encourage discussion of local, national, and international issues; and to serve as a training ground for budding journalists, photographers, and graphic designers. The Record accepts contributions from all members of the Priory community, including students, faculty, and alumni. The Record will not publish content considered legally unprotected speech, including but not limited to: libel, copyright infringement, unwarranted invasion of privacy, or material disruption of the educational process. Opinions in articles do not always reflect the opinion of the publication or the school. Student editors apply professional standards to the production of the newspaper and are solely responsible for all content, both explicit and implicit. Letters to the Editors are always appreciated.

Feedback not intended for publication is also welcome.

By Taylor Dubray ‘14 STUCO Secretary

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If you have not already noticed, the weather is changing.

Mounds of leaves are piled up on the streets, hot chocolate cravings are becoming more and more common, and Mr. Shake is finally rolling out his assortment of extremely flamboyant sweaters. With Thanksgiving nearly upon us and Christmas looming in the near future, it can only mean one thing: the Viz/Priory dance is

almost here.

On December 7th, Viz will host the annual Viz/Priory Ball.

That means you have less than three weeks to find a date, find a restaurant, and plan your outfit. If you have never been to VP, you need to know that Priory guys are notorious for going “all out” at the dance. You may be asking yourself, “What should I wear?” Well, wear as much red and green as possible.

Santa hats, ugly sweaters, and almost anything of the sort that you can find is acceptable.

If you need any help at all, seek the advice of the love doctor William O’Brien. Last year, Will picked up his date in a horse-drawn carriage and then sang her Christmas carols on the way to the dance. This legendary act exemplifies what Viz/Priory is all about. Tickets will be on sale soon, so start looking for a date and get excited for what will undoubtedly be a night to remember. If your looking for other ways to ask a date, please see George Ahlering’s article in this issue.

Cross Country State Meet Recap

By Daniel Martin ‘14 Cross Country Captain

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As the last sport standing, Priory cross country drove down to Jefferson City to run in the biggest race of their lives. After winning League and District, they were ready for the next opponent. After all, there is absolutely no further a team can go than the state meet. Every single runner had worked incredibly hard to get to this point, to the final race. For the seniors, this was it, and for the sophomores on the team, an opportunity to prove everything for both this season and next.

Everybody knew that the competition would be stiff, but there was no turning back.

When it came time to race,

everyone was ready for the best race of their lives on the most perfect day to do it. A soft course, slight breeze and cool temperature begged for the fastest times, and Priory gave it just that. While most of the pack started off like rockets, Priory steadily gained places, continually taking places through the middle mile and onward. Packing just as usual, Dan Martin, Thomas Lowell, and Jake Drysdale all moved up together in that last mile, running the race of their lives. In that final uphill finish, Andrew O'Sullivan ended his last high school race with a new PR at 17:29, and the trio finished all under 18, the best Priory has ever finished this year. Even Chris Chivetta, having come

Hardest Exams: 7. Sophomore Chemistry

back from two weeks in China, dropped an 18:10 as the fifth man, towing George O'Sullivan to a great finish as well, with Luke McGartland only a little off that pace. With several PRs, and a magnificent race by everyone, Priory took 9th place of 16 full teams, beating out MICDS, and so many other great teams.

Priory had had the best race they could, capping off an absolutely amazing year with an amazing finishing race.

Look for those guys in the hallway, and congratulate them.

They helped hold up Priory sports this fall with some of the best team racing ever seen. I can only imagine what the future has in store for this Priory cross country team.

W RI TIN G ! Writing Spotlight: The Cold Gate Student

3 JFK Theories

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By Anonymous

By Jarret Lowell ‘14 Phyllis Corbet Writing Contest

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At sunset, a man with loosefitting shoes trudged along the littered sidewalk of Fifty-Third Street. Cars and trucks rushed past the sidewalk, drivers switching lanes and talking on their cell phones. Angry vehicles honked as they tried to dodge other pedestrians. Although several skyscrapers blocked it from view, a train moaned as it clapped along on rusty rails.

The man shuffled his feet to a stop at the corner, barely escaping the wrath of a car turning at the changing light signal. He could see the sigh that escaped from his lips as he shivered in his black hoodie and sagging pants. From under the bill of his tattered Expos cap and thick black hair, he peered at the front gates of the empty baseball stadium.

The man made his way to the gate and pressed his nose against the cold metal as he glimpsed the field, no longer bothered by the din of the late afternoon traffic. A week earlier, he had watched as the grounds crew managed to prepare the field for the winter.

Now, a heavy tarp blanketed the infield, and it was bolted down to shelter the dirt from the harsh winter winds. The outfield grass was left uncovered, but a thin layer of frost settled on the brittle blades. And towering above the field like a lone sentry, the black Jumbotron stared ahead

blankly beyond the empty red bleachers.

The man looked down at his shoes, his toes poking through a hole in the front.

When he lifted his eyes again, the field before him was alive with activity. An announcer’s voice boomed from the loudspeakers. Players were doing warm-up jogs and shagging fly balls. Smells of soft pretzels, hot dogs, and Cracker Jacks mingled in the air.

He looked up into the eyes of his father, who was smiling down upon him. The crowd pressed in around them, and he squeezed his father’s hand even more tightly. The ticket master reached down to collect his ticket and beckoned him toward the game. In an eager response, he pushed the metal gate, about to enter the world he knew and loved.

But the gate rattled under its shackles of lock and key and would not budge. The harsh winter winds echoed in response, carrying away all the noise of the clanging metal. It was silent, eerily silent.

“You just have to keep believing,” someone had told him earlier that day at the soup kitchen. “You’ll find your way back again.”

“Believe?” the man had thought, almost laughing out loud at the mere concept of it.

“What’s left to believe in?”

A small snowflake landed on his pale hand. More and more fell all around him, muffling all sound. The man re-

leased a slow sigh. He was in no hurry. All he wanted was to escape the noise, the honking cars, the angry pedestrians. He could have stayed there for a week, maybe a year, staring silently into the stadium.

The man’s hands gripped the gate while the wind knifed into his frame. He could see his reflection in the cold metal, his weathered face staring sadly back at him. The scraggly beard that covered his cheeks barely concealed his wrinkles, and the black hair under his hat had grayed in the cold air. He shook the locked gate violently, desperate to erase his image.

“Hey you!” A shrill voice sounded behind him. “Wha’ d’ya think yer doin’? Tryin’ to bust yo’ ass in there, ain’t ya, old man?” A security guard had crept up on him unexpectedly.

The man attempted to say something, but his mouth moved without words. He slowly turned, bundled himself tightly in his hoodie, and began to walk away.

“Yeah, that’s right. I been watchin’. Now git, ya old geezer! Don’t let me catch ya prowlin’ around here again, ya hear?”

But the man was already out of earshot, trying hard not to think about the icy chill that had taken control of his body.

He took one last sidelong glance at the cold metal gate of the baseball stadium before he continued his trudge along Fifty-Third Street, in search of his next warm meal.

6. AP Physics

On the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination, many conspiracy theories are being talked about. However there is one major difference between these theories and theories about other events. They are listened to. A 2003 ABC News poll found that 70 percent of Americans believe Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone when he assassinated Kennedy. A November 2013 Gallup poll found that 61 percent of Americans believe there's more to the story.

I have spent many study halls this week reading about JFK conspiracy theories. I wasn’t even alive when the assassination occurred, and what’s more, my parents were very young. But these conspiracy theories read like snapshots from a thriller movie.

Theories blame Lyndon B. Johnson, “the mob,” or simply argue that there was some sort of coverup. Other theories, however, are much more interesting are, to some, well-founded. One theory blames the military-industrial complex, sighting motive as JFK’s hinting at pulling troops out of Vietnam. Proponents of this theory also argue that this powerful partnership definitely would have had the recourses to pull the assassination off. Another theory blames the CIA. These theorists argue that the CIA, after JFK found out about the plan to kill Castro, thought that JFK was going to disband them.

Supporters of this theory also point out that Allen Dulles, former head of the CIA, was on the Warren Commission and could have pushed blame away from the CIA if the organization every became suspect.

Reading an article that mentions a conspiracy about the JFK assassination will more than likely lead to an hour-long dive into said theory. These conspiracy theories are more interesting, prevalent, and based in reality than most. They offer readers a chance to imagine events, seemingly taken straight from a movie, could have happened.

4

PUZZLE S

! Hard, Medium, and Hard Sudokus:

Crossword Puzzle ACROSS

1. Perch

6. A feat

10. Cushions or mats

14. Wrath

15. Initial wager

16. Beige

17. Drumming

19. Tibia

20. Sleeping sickness carrier

21. Deity

22. Adolescent

23. Postage

25. Mother hen

26. Conspiracy

30. Complex in design

32. Cost

35. Die

39. Boulevard

40. Escort in transit

41. Akin

43. Yield

44. Inuit

46. Historical periods

47. Trap

50. Not tight

53. Animal foot

54. Representative (abbrev.)

55. Battalions

60. River of Spain

61. Restlessness

63. Countertenor

64. Portent

65. Stockpile

66. Accomplishment

67. Makes lace

68. A Musketeer

DOWN

1. Awestruck

2. 1 1 1 1

3. Monster

4. Religious offshoot

5. A framework of beams

6. Petrol

7. Conundrum

8. Hunched

9. Care for

10. Plague

11. Hurt

12. Desiccated

13. Not cloudy

18. Collection

24. Citrus drink

25. Breakfast strip

26. Pinnacle

27. 66 in Roman numerals

28. Not closed

29. Beginner

31. A style of design

33. Medical professional

34. Search

36. Affirm

37. Fizzy drink

38. Visual organs

42. Quandary

24. Citrus drink

25. Breakfast strip

26. Pinnacle

27. 66 in Roman numerals

28. Not closed

29. Beginner

31. A style of design

33. Medical professional

34. Search

36. Affirm

37. Fizzy drink

38. Visual organs

42. Quandary

43. Play Quidditch

44. Write For The Record

45. Go to Viz Priory!

Brain Teaser Our local scrap merchant had to travel to the county recycling plant, 60 miles away.

On the way there he could only manage a steady 12mph, fully laden.

On the way back, he could manage a steady 16mph.

He placed 24 gallons of fuel in the tank ready for the round trip, thinking that this would be enough as the wagon managed to travel 8 miles per gallon. Unfortunately, a piece of metal pierced his fuel pipe at the start of the trip and the wagon started to lose 1 gallon of fuel per hour.

Luckily he only lost fuel when moving and he lost no fuel whilst unloading his scrap metal.

!

Were 24 gallons enough for the round trip?

5. AP Latin

FLUN K ! Nun Part Two Nan the

By Fr. Ralph, OSB Monk

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Currently Nan was rampant in Rome on a permanent away assignment from her convent.

She had various bones to pick with the post-Vat-II Church and one of the more immediate was the new liturgy. She wanted to put the mass back into Latin or, better still, Hebrew and get rid of the greeting of peace which she regarded as a hypocritical slice of sentimental nonsense designed to make pharisees of us all.

Besides this she wanted to ‘STOP THE EXEGETES!’ (the ambiguity and vigor of the slogan was typical). Everything Nan thought, said, or did had at least two exclamation points after it. She only thought in Megatons.

She was about to conduct a One Nun Demonstration in St Peter’s Square holding a banner that read EVE NOT EVOLUTION and carrying a large apple with a bite out of it in her left hand. Her habit was the traditional isosceles triangle type, and she always smoked a heavy pipe (the smoking of pipes and cigars in convents was for her the greatest liberation of Vatican II). Her pipe, her Mother Abbess used to say, kept her aggression within bounds.

In Nan the Nun Carl knew immediately that the storm had arrived and, as he left her after that first encounter, he knew that by the following week there would probably be atleast-one-nun demonstration proclaiming BAN THE PLAYING CARD. He went in search of Flunk.

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(the next episode tells of the No-Nuke demonstration that Flunk and Gloria ran in St Peter’s Square Rome. We pick the

5 Fall Break

story up where Nan enters...)

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...Flunk and Gloria stepped out from their Restaurant to reconnoiter. Of course who should they happen straight into but Nan the Nun who had just picked up an article on the NoNuke Rally in Central Park, New York and was throwing a tantrum. Who, she wanted to know, was going to protect HER from die Sovieten if all those hidealhistric (sic) youths and unfortunately panted Vomen in Central Park had their way. It was alright for vem to talk wid die grosse Atlantische Vasser between them but die gentle Schwestern in her poor convent would be rent asunder and put like pfeffer on die communist scrambled egg if die nuclear button did not remain

under die Reagan finger to keep back Russia and their godless Panzerrot Menschen. Gloria thought the time had come for a confrontation even though confronting Nan in a tantrum was a little like grooming a tiger with a blow torch.

“What about turning the other cheek?” the glorious Dawn suggested quietly like a vet slipping a syringe into a foaming stallion. Odder cheek!

Odder cheek! Flunk thought Nan was literally going to explode.

“You no try to teach me dee Religion! What about dee Philistinen and der David! He gave them plenty trouble. We David. Dem Reds Goliath. We

need dee little wee stones of dee nuclear button if we defend us gainst dee great Goliath Red Menace!” she fumed. “You’ll see, sie werden sehen - very soon - ganz bald!” With that she stomped off.

When the rally came around Gloria and Flunk launched a catechetical balloon float - as they called it - in St Peter’s square. Nan was there having borrowed a couple of nuclear rocket launchers from a friend of hers in NATO and having bribed a few Vatican officials to let her bring a couple of supporting tanks with her. She made good use of the Tank flanks for her own slogans: NEW COKE (nuke OK) she hazarded, trying to parody Flunk’s SEWP (Spoken English Written Phonetically) approach.

Fortunately almost nobody could distinguish her message from the simple beverage. One of her messages ran: NAN RIGHT REDS WRONG BANG BOMB REDS GONE The primitive nature of her verse made Flunk squirm but, as he remarked from his control balloon to Gloria, each time Nan attempts to score a Nuke point the No-Nuke cause wins two. Her congenital clumsiness was an integral part of the metacatechesis as he called it.

The inter-Continental -Ballistic Missile carrier had scrawled along the side of it in sow’s blood: ’KEEP DEE NUCLEAR FIST AGAINST DEE RED CHID RED CHIN’- just inept, flought Flunk.

The smooth balloon demonstration displayed Flunk and Gloria’s milder fladages and made a deep impact on the Cardinals, Bishops and Monsignori who could be seen with binoculars gazing up at them, and pondering the fladages.

4. Theology IV (Fr. Ambrose)

By Rohith Perla ’15

Staff Writer

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The end of the fall term happens to be the week before Thanksgiving, but there be a break that connects the end of Term 1 to Thanksgiving, or not? I, for one, am a supporter of such an event because, after two and a half months after school starts, there is no major break (aside from a few days off on either Fridays or Mondays).

Due to the constant activity of juggling school, extracurricular activities, service, studying for the SAT/ACT, and time with family, each term can seem quite long.

Also, on top of that, there are exams at the end of the fall term, so a longer break is in order. This would give students a chance to get everything in order before the new term begins and possibly a chance at rejuvenation so the new term can be seized.

The first term is where one can be at his best performance (because of a summer break), and the last term usually encourages better performance because after it, there is summer break.

However, how does one manage to keep his performance up in the winter term?

If there is a break in the middle of the year, then keeping up a solid performance might be possible. However, there are also certain disadvantages to it as well. Even with no break, students are hard pressed to finish all the material in the course of the term. If there was a break, then the situation would be that much harder for the student.

A fall break could bring about renewal, but it could also complicate things as well. In that case, which course of action would be the most logical? As difficult as it is to say, the lack of a fall break would benefit all, because then students would not be hampered down with work as soon as they come out of break.

It is difficult, but that is the way it must be.

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6

MOVIE S

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Incessant Ramblings: What Are Bronies?

By Trey Erbs ’15 Staff Writer

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Maybe you have heard, maybe you haven’t, but this Saturday (Nov. 23) is a big day. Really big. Huge. People everywhere will huddle around their TVs to watch the highly anticipated premiere of a highly acclaimed show.

Well, let me say that better.

Bronies everywhere. Still lost?

Let me explain.

Bronies are the avid grown-up male fans of the 2010 revival TV series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. No. That’s really a thing.

Really.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the brainchild of writer Lauren Faust, who wanted to take a show aimed for selling toys and make it into something both girls and their parents could enjoy without gouging their eyes out. That explains the massive internet fandom behind the show: the bronies. And I mean massive.

Songs, fanart, fanfiction, even whole fan-generated episodes soon flooded the Internet as the bronies started to make their presence known.

Now let me guess what you’re thinking. “What crazy people could like a little girls show about ponies?” Magical ponies running around talking about friendship isn’t really the

definition of masculinity. Ask any brony if they think they are odd. If they say they aren’t then they are lying to you. But try to answer this question yourself. Is it bad?

Struggling to find an answer?

Sure, there are some extremely odd parts as there are with all fandoms, but it is is bad in and of itself that there are actual grown men who watch a show about pink magical ponies running around the mystical land of Equestria learning about friendship?

Let me state that differently. Is it bad that grown men watch an Emmy-nominated show with a Broadway-themed score and about 6 imperfect friends who have problems and lean on each-other to solve them? That may sound more palatable, but that doesn’t save bronies from the fact that they are odd. Very odd indeed.

Maybe eccentric is a better word. “Eccentric: deviating from the recognized or customary character, practice, etc.”

The stark contrast between bronies and the established norm of masculinity is like night and day. If you ever needed an example on how to stand out from the crowd, they would be it. Bronies are the manifestation of what we were taught in elementary school: don’t just melt in with the crowd. They

are taking “being yourself” to a whole new level. But maybe real question here is why?

I don’t mean “why do they like it?” but “why are so many people flocking to a girl’s show?” Truly there must be some fundamental reason behind it all. People have attributed it to the stress and fear of a post 9/11 society where it seems that every day there is some new terrorist threat or another school shooting. Others say it’s a push to something more wholesome, instead of the new standard of reality TV and suggestive themes becoming more prevalent in modern entertainment.

But it’s more likely these hypotheses just look too deep.

The real reason why young men are around a show so different from the norm is because it’s simply a good show. Look at other shows like Star Trek, Dr. Who, and Adventure Time who also have cult followings. Ask any of their fans why they like the show and they would say simply because they enjoy it.

Bronies aren’t much different.

They just find enjoyment in one of the oddest of places, and they like to show it. A lot. They are even starting to meet up at conventions; the largest BronyCon is hosted in Baltimore with over 8,000 attendees wearing elaborate costumes and buying merchandise like shirts and life-size

plushies. Hasbro even makes merchandise just for the bronies, like dog-tags, headphones, and even lunch-boxes.

So why are a few social deviants buying pink ponies at Toys-R-Us important? Every day these bronies become more of a community and less of a fad. Some say they are starting to change the definition of masculinity, but I think that is a little stretched. Maybe Lauren Faust, the ‘Queen of the Bronies’, can sum it up for us: “The fact that they [gave the show a chance] and that they were open-minded and cool enough and secure in their masculinity enough to embrace it and love it and go online and talk about how much they love it - I'm kind of proud.” I couldn’t say it any better. People may like things different than your own tastes but that doesn’t make it inherently bad, it just means they are different than you. However, something like My Little Pony isn’t for everybody, and bronies are infamous for stuffing their love for ponies down people’s throats. It’s a two-way street.

If you want to learn more about bronies and what they love, come visit us Friday mornings (7:30) at Room 8 in the Junior School. It may make you about 20% cooler in 10 seconds flat.

Is It Too Early To Listen To Christmas Music?

By Andrew Cammon ’14 Editor-in-Chief

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102.5 FM has already switched from its normal programming to Christmas music. When is the acceptable starting point for playing Christmas songs? The place for Christmas songs is the

“Christmas season,” but the exact beginning of this period is hard to define. The U.S. Fire Administration defines the “Winter Holiday Season” as the period from December 1 to January 7. Yet this time period is mostly used for grouping statistics on fires.

O n e

more date that must be taken into account in Thanksgiving. It is widely accepted that one may start looking toward Christmas, once it is over. However, Thanksgiving does not have a set date either. W h e n o n e takes it and Advent into account, the Christmas season

3. AP Euro

could start as early as November 23, when Thanksgiving falls on November 22, or on a late November 27. The best rule of thumb for the beginning of the Christmas season is November 27 or 28, but the earliest one can listen to Christmas music is November 23.

S E LF H ELP ! To Find A Viz/Priory Date Where

7 The Beatles

1 Hey Jude The Beatles

2 Let It Be The Beatles

3

By George Ahlering ’16 Staff Writer

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As most of us here at Priory don’t actually hang out with girls, I’m sure you all are still in need of a lovely woman for the Viz-Priory Dance that is quickly approaching. All you dateless gentlemen could be boring and take the traditional routes to a date: asking the girl of your dreams, asking a girl to go just as friends, getting set up, or Facebook Messaging a random girl.

Let’s get this straight, asking the girl of your dreams isn’t all that great. Face it, you barely know the girl and, besides the fact that you stalk her on every social media app, you only occasionally make small talk with her through this beforementioned social media page. Sure, she’ll look great in photos and you’ll make your friends jealous, but once you walk through the doors of the dance, say bye-bye. She’ll most likely ditch you and you will be chasing her around all night; it won’t be fun.

If you ask a girl to go “just as friends,” you’re doin’ it wrong. You’re essentially saying “I know zero girls and don’t have many friends, so you’re my last choice and I don’t really want to go with you. But I need a date.” This won’t go over well with Betty Sue and

trust me, the night will be full of awkward vibes.

Getting set up by your friends isn’t a bad last resort. However, unless you make small talk right away, you can bet your buns that you won’t actually get to know your date and she will probably ditch you.

Two words that every girl cringes: “Facebook Message.”

This is the lowest of lows. Heck if you don’t have her number get it from someone who does!

Do Not, I repeat DO NOT ever even think about asking your date to any dance ever via Facebook Messaging. You shouldn’t even think about communicating with any member of the opposite sex via Facebook Message, unless you want to instantly become that “one weird stalker who messaged me and couldn’t even keep up a conversation with me.” I’ve been there, trust me, you’ll regret it.

Now I know what you’re thinking: how could any woman ditch such a stunning, fratastic, scholarly gentleman such as myself? But trust me, we’ve all seen it at every dance: It happens, and it’s not pretty. It has even been known to leave strong, noble men (such as yourself) in tears at the end of the night.

With all those ideas out the window, I’ll come in and save the day. Sports Authority

(namely: 8340 Eager Rd, St Louis, MO 63144) has been known to employ women looking for dates to the Viz Priory dance. Just last week I happen to be in store picking up some protein powder, creotine, and spandex. As I was checking out, I was also checking out the cashier, a lovely, respectable woman with a pristine personality, and as an added bonus, impeccable beauty. I guess my striking good looks and overall muscle mass attracted her as well. As she finished ringing me up, she asked me if I wanted the receipt with me or in the bag, classic cashier pickup line.

However, I went into my playbook and made the best decision of my life, thus far: I played hard to get. And simultaneously thought to myself “Oh how the turn-tables have turned” (this is another characteristic women look for in potential mates: ability to multitask).

This sly and well-played move forced her to take our relationship a step further and write her name on the receipt. (I later documented this encounter with a high quality photograph.) I proceeded to walk out the door, I’m above that child’s play. If you play your cards right you may be fortunate enough to land yourself a date with this lovely lady friend of mine.

2. Form III Biology

4

Twist And Shout The Beatles

She Loves You The Beatles

5 Eleanor Rigby The Beatles

6 Help!

The Beatles

7 Yesterday The Beatles

8

Lady Madonna The Beatles

9All You Need Is Love The Beatles

10 Come Together The Beatles

8

S P OR TS

Varsity Soccer Shocking Season End

By Eric Stange ’14 Content Editor

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After wrapping up the regular season with a record of 16-7, doubling the win total from last year while also slicing the number of losses in half, the Rebels entered postseason play in arguably the most complete district in all of Class 2. The Rebels earned the top seed in that district over late-surging Westminster, pesky Parkway Central, and dangerous Parkway West.

On November 5, we took the field against Westminster after Parkway West had just wrapped up a 2-1 win over rival Central, their first since 2008.

In that Westminster game, it was clear they had made some adjustments to combat our style of play, as we had already handled them twice (2-1 and 3-0).

Overall, the Rebels dominated the middle of the field as well as possession. After a great buildup between Ryan Mulqueeny and David Gantt, and an emblematic goal by Mulqueeny followed. The game was tied later in the half by an incredibly uncharacteristic goal allowed by Tristan Hellmuth.

Despite some potentially deflating instances, the Rebels picked everyone up and came out looking to dominate and put Westminster away for the third time of the season. A winner was found early in the second half off my head on a loose ball after a great corner by Danny De Simon, who probably played the best out of anybody the second half of the season.

An insurance goal was added

by Mulqueeny on a fantastic long ball from all the way in the back by Blake Anselm. The celebration of the emphatic win was short lived as the focus instead went right away to the next game against Parkway

West. If the Rebels were to move on as they rightfully thought they should, their level of play and effort would need to be top notch.

The main components of that Parkway West team included the Klemm brothers and talented midfielder Tucker Watts. The elder Klemm, Chandler, had scored over 80 goals in his high school career, and 34 this season alone before entering the District final against us. For perspective, we have scored 47 goals as a team this season entering the District final. Chandler's younger brother Nicholas is a strong versatile player who plays both defense and striker. Finally, #3 Watts

controlled the pace and play of the West squad as their most complete soccer player. With these players having to be accounted for, the Rebels knew that it would be a battle. And it sure was, and it was a high profile one to boot.

With the largest crowd Priory has drawn since 2011, and probably the largest for Parkway West ever, this game had many indications it would be an instant classic. The game proved to be just that. As we overcame some edginess in our own play early, Priory dominated possession and had several good looks on goal throughout the first half. Fueled by some big time saves by impact goalie Tristan Hellmuth, the Rebels

finally broke through on a great headball goal by birthday boy Danny De Simon with a little more than a minute left. However, on their own field and in front of their own home crowd we knew they would not go down easy.

While still playing very well with strong bench support on and off the field, not to mention the riveting crowd presence from the Priory Soccer Faithful, Parkway West improved their own play dramatically. The game was equalized almost exactly halfway through the second half after Nicholas Klemm broke free and buried a nice shot. While Parkway West had some more chances, the Rebels had the better quality ones. This remained true through regulation and even in the first overtime period. However, Parkway West came out into the second overtime period firing on all cylinders, but we were still determined to finish the fight and pull out the district title.

After a few consecutive corner kicks and long throws, Chandler Klemm ended the Priory season by putting away a throw in that came all the way to him at the top of the box. The bodies strewn across the field said it all. Shocked, the Rebels could not help but look on at the celebration and realize how close it was to being theirs.

Nonetheless, the district Priory competed in was undoubtedly the most competitive in Class 2, as well as the section, which included powerhouses St. Dominic and Ladue.

There is no shame in this soccer season for Priory, as it was a privilege and incredible to be a part of, cheer for, and witness.

The Rebels finished 17-8 (9-3 at home and 8-5 on the road) while scoring 47 goals and allowing 35.

1. AP Chemistry

Calendar Tuesday, November 19

AMC Math Contest - Junior School

Lunch: BBQ Chicken

Spaghetti and Meatballs

10:15AM University of Alabama Huntsville

1:00PM Lindenwood University

!

Wednesday, November 20

Lunch: Pot Roast

Enchiladas

!

Thursday, November 21

Lunch: Kielbasa

Burgers

! !

8:15PM V Hoc. vs. Lutheran South @ Queeny Rec Complex

Friday, November 22

Lunch: Lasagna

Tilapia

!

Saturday, November 23

8:30AM University of Richmond University of Rochester

1:00PM Vassar College

2:00PM Hillsdale College

!!

Sunday, November 24

9:00AM Fontbonne University

2:00PM University of Missouri Columbia

!

Monday, November 25

Lunch: Philly Steak Herb Roasted Chicken

Sweet ‘n Sour Chicken

1:00PM Missouri University of S and T

2:00PM University of Southern California

!! ! !!

Tuesday, November 26

Lunch: Thanksgiving for Lunch

9:00AM Xavier University