Journal-issue 2- 2010-2011

the

Journal By and for the students of Guilderland Central High School

This Issue

Volume 62 Issue 2

Guilderland Center, NY 12085 November 2010

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‘Harry Potter’ Strikes

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Photos by Abby Levy and Beatrice Malsky / The Journal

Anastasia Mazur

There is magic in the air. It is nine o’clock on a Thursday evening, but the theaters are full at Crossgates Mall. This can only mean one thing: it is Harry Potter season, and the release of this year’s movie does not disappoint.

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Where else can one cross paths with the likes of Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore, or take pictures with the real life ghost, Nearly Headless Nick? This is not simply a movie; it is a full-out event.

On the evening of November 18th, teenagers chatted amongst each other dressed to the nines — with swooping capes, cascading beards and of course, Ollivander’s wands!

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Audience members prepare for the midnight premiere of the latest Harry Potter installment.

GradeSpeed causes mixed feelings within district

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Join our Facebook group The Journal 2010-2011 Follow the Journal on Twitter theJournal518

Bram Peterson School is out for the holidays, and you think you’re home free for the next couple of weeks. There is one possible spoiler for the vacation: report cards have been mailed. As you are anxiously watching the mail, you are at least hoping you get to the mailbox before your parents do.

However, this age of waiting for those troublesome manila envelopes is coming to a close.

Re placing the re por t cards is GradeSpeed Gradebook, a newly introduced grading system to the Guilderland school district. This new system creates a new level of accessibility for parents and students, allowing parents and students to view a student’s grades and assignments.

GradeSpeed puts all of this information

in one convenient portal, already up and running for Guilderland parents and students.

“We agreed to purchase some software from Schoolnet to use with our districts,” explained Carl Strang, an Assistant District Superintendent for Technology and Innovation with the Northeast Regional Information Center (NERIC). NERIC works across 12 counties with 137 school districts in northeastern New York State to provide affordable technology systems to schools districts. “NERIC coordinates doing all the legwork…and has been fantastic in providing technical support,” said Aaron Sicotte, an Assistant Principal at Guilderland.

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November 2010

Journal 2010 - 2011 Staff

Winner of a $25 Crossgates Mall gift card, chosen by Facebook “likes:”

“Oh come on! I hate these internet dating sites.” - Emily Benson Runners-up:

“So Timmy, how’s the project on gamma radiation going?” - Issac Malsky “So, a one eyed monster?!..Okay, what else? My tie is deforming, my fingers are morphing into one, speech bubbles are forming above my head, and my eyebrows! What are my eyebrows doing up there!?...My mom was right, it’s time to stop drinking the chmicals I create!” - Sam Segal

The Journal is published by and for the students of Guilderland High School and is the school’s official student newspaper. We publish accounts of, and perspectives on, people, issues, and events that affect members of the school as well as the community.

Although initialed by the writer, editorials reflect the majority opinion of the editorial staff.

Reviews, columns, commentaries, and letters to the editor, however, represent the view of the individual writer and not necessarily those of the staff.

Although we try not to solicit advertisements from competing businesses in a given issue, we cannot guarantee that a conflict involving advertising will not arise. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their respective advertisements. We are not responsible for printing and/or typographical errors that may occur in a given advertisement. We reserve the right not to print a given advertisement. Also, we cannot assure that columns, editorials, news, reviews or feature stories will not cover issues or events relating to any advertiser in this newspaper.

We welcome signed letters from our readers.

To be printed, letters must be of a reasonable length and contain neither libelous, slanderous, nor profane material. We reserve the right to reject any letter received. Unless otherwise noted by the editor-in-chief or the managing editor, all accepted letters will be printed in the letters to the editor section. We reserve the right to edit for length, grammar and content.

How to contact The Journal Mail:

The Journal c/o Guilderland High School Guilderland Center, NY 12085 Phone: (518) 861-8591 Ask for The Journal Email: journal@guilderlandschools.org -Management-

by

Tucker Seinberg

Editors-in-Chief Michael Marcantonio Beatrice Malsky Managing Editor Gregory Barber Associate Editors Tony Pitkin Ved Tanavde -ContentHallways Editors Abby Levy, Devon Gingrich Fine Arts Editor Noah Rubin Pop Arts Editor Anastasia Mazur Around Town Editor Haejin Hwang Opinions Editor Libby Gioia World & Cultures Editor Meghan Bodo Copyeditors Hannah Cohen, Jimmy McQuade, Larry Gerchikov, Rory Carroll, Hannah Liu -DesignPhotography Editor Devin Keenholts Graphics Editor Katherine Bickmore Layout & Design Editor Mike Dvorscak -BusinessBusiness Manager Mike Crupi Advertising Manager Matt Simon Marketing Manager Austin Cornell Distribution Manager Tara Jackson Faculty Advisor Christopher Mazura Building Principal Brian McCann Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marie Wiles

by Victor Rau-Sirois

Journal November 2010

In this section:

Hallways

-Culinary Master - page 4 -GradeSpeed causes mixed feeling within district- page 5 -Freestyle Friday - page 5

Non-Euclidean Navigation Isaac Malsky

There seems to be a consensus among students about the hallways of GHS; they’re too crowded. Invariably, if you’re rushed for time and need to get somewhere quickly, the front lobby and music hallways have turned into a maze that you probably do not have the time to solve.

Often times, the shortest distance between two places turns out not to be a straight line.

One of the origins of the congestion in the hallways may be the new change to the advisory system. Without an hour Photo by Dev Keenholts / The Journal and a half to socialize, students looked for a surStudents fill the lobby to its limits during passing time, making halls difficult to navigate rogate time to make plans.

The hallways are without city roads, the problem stems from the the lobby and go to their lockers. Almost doubt wide enough to handle the fifteen few people that are going well below the like boomerangs, dozens of students are hundred students or so that must change speed limit. Before school there is always back by the front, talking and making classes every eighty-five minutes. Like on a leisurely walk as kids branch out from the area nearly impassable for latecom-

ers. On a small scale this does not pose any problems, but more often than not it creates human traffic jams in the hallways.

For many freshman, the transition to high school from middle school showed a marked change. “It’s a tradeoff in the hallways. There is more freedom, but it comes at the expense of being in charge of your own time and getting in trouble if you don’t manage it well,” says Annie Walsh. This seems to be the common feeling among incoming students. Unfortunately, the high school’s increased responsibility does not also come with superpowers to swing around congested intersections at incredible speeds.

Some students are more blasé about the GHS atmosphere. “The traffic jams only cut off two or three minutes and it does give you time to talk to people,” says freshman Matt Martin.

Figuring out how to manage your time and to find Zen in chaos is one of the most important things to learn before leaving high school. That’s why, for now, if you’re caught in rush of students at passing time, just go with the flow.

Club Spotlight: Students and Teachers Against Racism Rachael Ellenbogen a member of S.T.A.R. The club is meant to try to stop racism within the school and community.

This year, S.T.A.R is trying to get back to its old days with a high member count.

The club now has a board of students that have some ideas they are trying to get rolling. They are going to make signs to post around school to get more members, as well as trying to explain to students that “the club is here for people that want to change our school for the good,” said Shamyr McCain, a member of S.T.A.R. Amber McNeal, treasurer of Students and Teachers Against Racism, remembered a time when she was hurt by a comment she’d taken as racist. She said, “I was in my neighborhood, near a senior living center, and was taking pictures for photography class.

An old Caucasian woman came up to me. I said hello to her and asked her how her day was, but she just gave me a dirty look.

She asked me where I lived, so I pointed to a big white house down the street. The old woman didn’t believe me. So she asked me, ‘Are there any apartments in the area?’ I let it go and just told her to have nice day, and then continued to take pictures.”

McNeal has had to deal with racist comments in her life, both in and out of school. Her story Photo By Dev Keenholts/ The Journal shows that there are bits of racStudents and Teachers Against Racism (S.T.A.R.) meets to discuss ways to end racism and break ism everywhere, which is why cultural and ethnic boundaries. she joined S.T.A.R., to try her

“I believe racism affects everyone whether they are black, white, or other.”

Mr. Rahman explains. “Besides the victim, the person who is being racist obviously has an issue, and the bystander also has an issue.” Guilderland High School’s S.T.A.R is a club for everyone, no matter ethnicity, to stand up against racism.

S.T.A.R (Students and Teachers Against Racism) was started 15 years ago by a group of students and a few teachers. One of those teachers was Mr. Rahman, a science teacher here at GHS. “The first year that S.T.A.R. ran,” Mr. Rahman said, “there were 30 to 40 highly

motivated young people.” Last year, there were only 12 students in S.T.A.R. and this year there are only about five students so far. The difference in numbers is large, and it affects the school as a whole. This country becomes less racist every year, but that will slowly come to a stop if clubs and programs like S.T.A.R. are not put to good use. The uniting of the school, community, and country together, regardless of ethnic background, starts with a simple school club; that is where S.T.A.R comes in. Students and Teachers Against Racism is “a club that unites people of different backgrounds, “Said Shante Papa,

best to put an end to racism. She wants to help “break down racial boundaries” within the school and community, and she wants to get other people to join the cause as well.

Each year, the club sets up an event called “Mix it up lunch,” an optional event at lunchtime where students can choose to break outside their comfort zone, and sit with different people for lunch. It allows them to meet possible new friends and to socialize with students of other ethnicities. In general, there is a fear of the unknown, and this fear is the basis of racism. Extinguishing that fear requires that brave people join together to fight against it.

Racism affects everyone, and everyone should be involved to try to stop it. Mr. Rahman said, “Each year, S.T.A.R has a core of black students. In the beginning, the club was very diverse, with the presence of Hispanics, Asians, and East Indians. If you go back, the president’s position has been filled by many different ethnicities, including white students.”

S.T.A.R. is trying hard this year to get people to see that they should join, regardless of their background. As McCain and Papa said, “The main purpose of Students and Teachers Against Racism is to promote the acceptance of all and to become united.”

STAR meets after school on Mondays. See Mr. Rahman for details.

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Journal)

Hallways

November 2010

Chris Mosall: Culinary Master Beatrice Malsky

While some high school students are still struggling about seventy people in the United States.

I saw, I felt like I wanted to do what they were doing.” with grilled cheese, GHS senior Chris Mosall is putting Mosall’s interests in the culinary arts have a long his- When a friend told him about the Capital Region Career on his chef ’s hat and cooking with this area’s best. On tory. He recalls watching cooking shows with his father and Technical School’s culinary program, he knew it was November 7th Mosall won a silver medal in the 20th when he was little. He remembers thinking, “I liked what the place for him.

Annual Culinary Cornucopia, which Career & Tech students spend part is billed as a showcase of the Capital of their days on campus at the center Region’s finest restaurants and catering learning skills that will prepare them services. directly for jobs after high school or The morning competition was college. Some higher level classes are fierce, featuring chefs from perennial connected to Schenectady County Comfavorites such as Sperry’s, Real Seafood, munity College, and students have the and the Illium Café. “Even though opportunity to earn credit while still in we’re a school we’re counted as a reshigh school. taurant and we got lucky enough to be The culinary program consists of able to compete in the competition” about 20 students from all around the says Mosall.

Capital Region. In addition to Mosall, That evening the chefs collectively Guilderland students Hannah Rosen catered a buffet-style banquet at the Aland Bryan Snow also attend. It’s an ideal bany Marriott to benefit the Living Relocation for hands-on learning and real sources Foundation. The organization life experience in a particular field. offers services for the developmentally “It’s a really lively school,” attests disabled and those with traumatic brain Mosall, “we don’t just sit in one area. injuries. The Culinary Cornucopia sells We’re actually spreading out, we’re over 500 tickets each year at $150 each. broadening our horizons, we’re trying Despite the magnitude of the event to get out there. We’re not trying to stay and his unusually young age, Mosall still trapped in one little area.” found the competition friendly and his It appears that commitment is really competitors welcoming. “Everything paying off for Chris Mosall. Although that went on in the competition is all modest, he knows exactly what he wants about having fun, it’s all about being to do and the Culinary Cornucopia was creative, it’s all about showing off what just a showcase for his ever-growing you’ve learned,” he says. The comtalents. “It was really who was serious petition was judged according to the about culinary. Who wanted this. Who Photo by Chris Mosall / The Journal guidelines of the American Culinary wants to succeed, who’s trying out there, Chris Mosall and Mark Brucker, his instructor and competition partner, with their Federation by three certified master who’s serious about it.” award in the 20th Annual Culinary Cornucopia. chefs, an honor bestowed upon only

Freestyle Friday a fan favorite Libby Gioia

Harry Brodsky made a decision one day to take the cafeteria crowd by storm.

Every A/C day that falls on a Friday, those in the cafeteria during third lunch

are graced by his presence as he and agroup of senior boys including Jordan Weeden, Christian Kernozek, JP Horan, Alex Sands, Chris Kaszluga, Kevin Bates,

sion, I guess, but quite honestly we’re not doing anything wrong so I don’t feel that we need anyone’s approval… I’ve gone up in front of the cafeteria to some awesome crowds and rapped, which was pretty tight.” All he’s doing is enjoying his senior year and leaving his mark. Surely, people will remember Freestyle Fridays for years to come.

Brodsky raps about whatever comes to mind when he gets up in front of his crowd, “I like to put jokes into my lyrics and hit on current events. I rap about girls, too.” Hopefully, he will continue to please the crowd and - Harry Brodsky give us a little entertainment every other Friday afternoon. After he at now, but people seem to graduates, Brodsky feels that “if anyone like it.” This could not be wanted to carry on the legacy, I would be any more true as Brodsky, his boys, and Freestyle happy to see it keep going.”

Fridays are the new thing to see during school. He’s Check out Freestyle Friday for added a little spice to A/C yourself! The boys will be back at lunches. it after break...

He didn’t start it for any other reason other 12/3: (A/C day) during 3rd lunch than “requests by other 12/17: (A/C day) during 3rd lunch people. We have permis-

Naeem Gibson, Nick Flaherty, and others freestyle and beat box. “It started off really small,” explains Brodsky, “and then was exclusive to the senior boys table. It has, just recently, blown up to the boss status that it is

If anyone wanted to carry on the legacy, I would be happy to see it keep going.

Photo credit Abby Levy/ The Journal

Senior boys (from top left) Chris Kaszluga, Jordan Weeden, James Faciullo, JP Horan, Elijah Cooley, Chris Yankowski, (second row) John Quinn, Nick Flaherty, Nick Mastrianni, Kevin Bates, Jorda Burns, (front row) Alex Sands, and Harry Brodsky get pumped for the next Freestyle Friday.

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Hallways

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November 2010

Gradespeed causes mixed feelings within district continued from pg. 1

Beginning early in early 2010, tions] but it’s still not showing the averGuilderland is acting as a guinea pig for Guilderland commenced preparing for ages…and I can’t get the grades to be the rest of the NERIC school districts, the transition from Starbase, the former weighted... [GradeSpeed] times out very Sicotte commented that “In some ways attendance and information system quickly,” said Lumley, a past user of we are.” The difficulties Guilderland used, to GradeSpeed. “The Starbase GradeQuick, of the new system. “Gradteachers are experiencing are the result parent portal isn’t a great system,” said eQuick is easy but I’m not doing it this of a new technology in the district, which Sicotte. Sicotte and the rest of the east year because I’ll have to switch within will take getting used to. “As we all get a office workers three years anyways.” little more accustomed to it, there won’t were responsiNot all teachers are be any surprises,” added Sicotte. ble for running upset with new system.

“We’re just learning how to do it as we Guilderland was one Starbase, and “GradeSpeed can do some go along, and it will get easier over time,” assumed the of the first districts we things SnapGrades can’t agreed Donnelly, who is in favor of being responsibilities started the integration do,” said Guilderland one of the first in the Northeast to use of GradeSpeed High science teacher the new software. “It’s just that teachers with. upon its arrival.

Bernard Rahman, referwere learning how to use it the first week - Carl Strang, NERIC The change ring to such features as of school, which was hard on top of evto GradeSpeed the attendance-tracking erything else,” continued Donnelly, “But will now allow which was not available by the time midterms happen, it should teachers to track grades, attendance and with SnapGrades. “I like the idea that be second to nature to [teachers].” create progress reports all in one place, eventually every teacher has to use it,” Although GradeSpeed may be new to while also allowing parents and students continued Rahman, also commenting on NERIC and Guilderland, the program’s higher accessibility to these aspects. the districts three-year integration plan. roots began over twenty years ago. The Parents will even be able to receive text Another new feature GradeSpeed first prototype was developed by a history message alerts when their students skip offers is the ability for teachers to teacher Bobby Knuth in 1988, and first or miss class, or have a test grade posted. access their class’s introduced to schools “Parents wanted it, students wanted it and grades and assignin 1991. GradeSpeed We’re not totally teachers wanted it.” said Sicotte, who even ments from anywhere is used today by over cutting edge, but we’re 200 school districts referred to the switch to GradeSpeed as with internet access. “common sense”.

This offers teachers close to the forefront. throughout the U.S., GradeSpeed is a new system to the much more flexibility including several district, and like anything else new users compared to the old among the 100 largest - Aaron Sicotte, Assistant school districts in the have been having trouble adapting to system which only Principal the change. While the district does not allowed teachers to country such as Dalplan to make GradeSpeed mandatory for enter grades in the las ISD, San Antonio another three years, over 90% percent building. This added ISD, Northside ISD, of Guilderland High School teachers are accessibility also meant the system must Ysleta ISD, Pasadena ISD and Chicago already using the grading portal, although be safe. “One of the concerns about PSD which enrolls almost half a million not all of them successfully. “Updating SnapGrades was the security features,” students. The version of GradeSpeed on [GradeSpeed] tends to be hit or miss,” said Sicotte, pointing out another reason currently being used at Guilderland was said Vivian Donnelly, a math teacher at why GradeSpeed was picked for the first introduced to U.S. schools in 2006.

Guilderland. “It’s very particular about switch.

“We’re not totally cutting edge, but how you need to do things,” continued “Guilderland was one of the first we’re close to the forefront,” said Sicotte Donnelly, referring to the new “Update” districts we started the integration with,” on Guilderland CSD. When being close button feature with GradeSpeed, a fea- said Strang. Guilderland, along with to the forefront in the technologic age ture other web-based gradebooks such three other NERIC school districts, there is always the risk of running into as SnapGrades and GradeQuick didn’t began using GradeSpeed this school problems, but the time will tell whether require. year marking the first time Guilderland the benefits will outweigh these problems.

Guilderland Spanish teacher Michelle has been unified under a district-wide Lumley also has had problems with grading system.

GradeSpeed. “I’ve done [the instrucWhen asked about whether

1.) GradeSpeed allows teachers, parents, and stutdents to track grades and attendance all in one place

2.) Parents will be able to receive text message alerts when their child skips or misses class, or has a new grade posted

3.) 90% of GHS teachers are currently using GradeSpeed

4.) GradeSpeed will be mandatory for all teachers in three years

A Timeline of GradeSpeed Bobby Knuth developed the first GradeSpeed prototype

1988

October 19: Letter mailed to parents with GradeSpeed Login information

June 2: Teachers were introduced to GradeSpeed

November 5: End of First Marking Period

2014

2010

1991

June

GradeSpeed was first introduced to schools

July

August

August and September: Teachers attended GradeSpeed training

September

October

November

GradeSpeed becomes mandatory for teacher use October 22: Students received letter in advisory with Login infromation

In this section:

Journal November 2010

Around Town

- Politics ties knots impossible to undo - page 6 - Raising the bar for breast cancer awareness - page 7 - Local business brothers seek new franchise - page 7

Teen troubles “Take a hike!”

Julianne Legnard

Brisk air heightens your senses. Fallen leaves crunch satisfyingly under the worndown soles of your shoes. The colorful forest landscape of Five Rivers Nature Preserve in Delmar, NY offers a therapeutic taste of autumnal beauty. Serving teens and families all over the capital district, these 455 acres stimulate a rejuvenating hiking experience to improve physical, social, and mental health.

So what makes a presumably ordinary walk in the woods appealing to “on-thego” Guilderland teens? First of all, Five Rivers is a great place to socialize outside of the High school setting. Venture away from the halls of GHS and really bond with a friend or date alongside the stunning shores of Beaver Pond. Trekking through the quarter-mile Woodlot Trail, teens can also clock in some quality family time, encountering vivid signs of wildlife throughout the voyage.

Hiking at Five Rivers is also a great way to promote physical fitness. Nature enthusiasts can challenge themselves with a variety of eight different trails, ranging from a quarter to two miles long. Looking to get in shape? Give the North Loop a try; two miles of uphill-downhill alternation will undoubtedly sculpt and strengthen calves, quads, and glutes.

Even seasoned varsity athletes use Five Rivers to mix up their typical training routine. GHS field hockey player Megan Meyers concurs; “Hiking builds my stamina, it’s pretty fun too!”

Lower blood pressure, weight loss, and improved mental state are other

positive effects of this enjoyable, relaxing activity. Staff director Craig Thompson explains: “Outdoor exercise is always beneficial to body, mind and spirit, but is especially important in late fall and winter when people naturally tend to stay indoors in pseudo-hibernation”.

In fact, winter inactivity can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of depression characterized by lethargy, social withdrawal, overeating, and poor school performance. SAD substantially diminishes the mental health of teenagers. Naturally, it can only be cured with a dose of the great outdoors!

In addition to a refined state of mind, visiting the grounds during the late fall and winter months is an aesthetically pleasing experience. The array of colors strewn across the forest is a serene and tranquil contribution to any fall afternoon.

Can’t beat Jack Frost to the preserve?

No problem. Views of the grounds are just as captivating during the wintertime. “Once fall foliage has fallen, the

landscape reveals itself best” says Thompson. It’s during winter that deer, rabbit, hawks and blue jays are most easily spotted through the trees.

Walking in a winter wonderland will astound teens, and make hot chocolate afterwards taste even sweeter.

Although May and October are the Center’s busiest months, much of its 65,000 annual visitors come in the winter to ski and snow-shoe. Several other year-round activities are permitted as well: hiking, stargazing, photography, and picnicking. The Visitors Center also has various hands-on exhibits, fun guided nature walks, and an observatory bird-watching station. You may even catch a glimpse of the infamous “Barbara,” a resident Turkey who often hangs out near the Visitors Center.

Come one, come all, to the Five Rivers Nature Preserve open to the public sunrise to sunset. Meandering through its scenic trails, the demands and pressures of teenage life are easily cast away.

Photo by Nina Obwald / The Journal

Photo by Alexandra Sima / The Journal

One of the scenic paths from the Five Rivers Nature Trails (left). Above, the Visitors Center provides directions to many different trails.

Politics ties knots impossible to undo Justina Liu

Pull the curtain shut. A worn cloth hangs draped from rings of metal, enough to seclude you for, perhaps, a moment.

Quarreling voices have been hushed. No doubts, grasp the lever.

Every fourth year in the Empire State, a night in November settles all the madness built up. Men and women drive to booths scattered across New York. They cast their ballots and pray for a victory.

At the end of the night, the decisions of the people will have been crunched into numbers. From these numbers, a new governor will rise.

Recalling the primaries back in September, Carl Paladino was chosen over fellow Republican Rick Lazio. It was a big win for Paladino, who pulled in 68% of the votes. It then became ‘Cuomo versus Paladino’, the overarching theme in the majority of election reports. You stopped hearing about the other guys. We were back to the old red and blue.

Let’s go back even further in time, to

when the race had just begun. Candidates rallied up supporters and accepted donations graciously. They would then pledge to the public hefty numbers, the dollar amount going into their campaign. As of October 24th, Democrat Cuomo’s spending totaled 17.4 million dollars. Paladino’s campaign expenses summed up to 5.6 million dollars. Combined, two candidates spent 23 million dollars.

It is the twenty-first century, the age of technology. We live in the United States, where no amount of money is too large.

23 million dollars funded exclusive parties. It paid for interviews perhaps with questions one didn’t need to ask. It seems that there is no escape from the political world. Miniature billboards on the side of the road, slogans stuck in between favorite TV shows, and bumper stickers galore.

Passing Cuomo’s face three times on the way to school is not worthy of lunch table gossip. 23 million dollars—no big deal.

‘It’s all for the campaign.’

What is the campaign for? Look past the media, past the rallies. Past the big words and pep talk. Past the suits, ties, and shined shoes. It’s just two men, fighting and fighting. To stand for one’s morals is a stand worth taking. Look at Cuomo and Paladino: no morals to defend, but only the desire to better the state.

Politics is like a string that makes knots no one knows how to u n d o .

That’s how the knots get bigger.

Someday the knots might get too big, and if they

do, things won’t work anymore. It’ll be too late for anyone to undo knots, and they’ll need a new string.

The race, it’s not that kind of race.

Not everyone finishes. Watch it to the end, for there will only be a donkey and an elephant. They’re not thinking, not feeling. Just running.

Graphic By Mike Pultz

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Journal)

Around Town

November 2010

Raising the Bar for Breast Cancer Awareness Bernadette Javier While the month of October is famously defined as the month for pumpkin carvings, ghost-related stories, and worrying about how to lose those expected ten-pound weight gains after eating infinite amounts of sugary sweets from a night of trick-or-treating, the hyped up anticipation for the festivities of Halloween is not the only occasion symbolized in this chilly month of Au-

tumn. The month of October is also celebrated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness about breast cancer and offer support to the vast amount of women diagnosed with such a terrible ordeal each year.

On October 17, the Capital Region had eagerly jumped onto the wagon of breast cancer awareness by holding its 15th annual “Making Strides Against

Graphic by Abigail Kedik

Breast Cancer Walk” held in Albany’s Washington Park. Thousands of people from all across the Capital Region, including breast cancer survivors, families, and friends, turned up to participate in the 5K walk in order to help raise money for breast cancer research and treatment.

“Some people donated as little as a dollar, which always helps, and there were actually some people who were so generous—I know of one individual who donated up to $2500, which was crazy,” Brittany Lynch, a current senior at GHS and a first-time volunteer, explained at the registration table for the American Cancer Society this year.

The “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk” is the largest breast cancer awareness walk in the area, with many schools and companies coming out in groups to come participate in this event.

Able to work in the busiest section of the event, Lynch had an opportunity to interact with many of the pink-clad supporters that day, including breast cancer survivors. Those who had heroically overcome this awful disease had received hot pink shirts, the symbolic color of breast cancer, with the words “Survivor” plastered on them. Other participating members of the walk had custom-made shirts with pictures of their diagnosed loved ones on the front.

“A lot [of the survivors] were middleaged women, but there were also a lot of young women and it’s really sad to hear, but also really inspiring what this walk means to them,” Lynch said of the experience.

In the last two years alone, groups in the Capital Region has raised over a million dollars, which is an incredible feat. All the money raised went to the American Cancer Society, an organization that specializes in cancer research to find cures, better treatments, and improve early detection of diseases.

With the standards for breast cancer awareness set at a very high bar in the Capital Region, it seems like the frightening Halloween decorations plastered around many of our homes are now rivaled by a sudden blooming of pink ribbons, the popular symbol associated with increasing awareness for breast cancer during this month. There are many ways to show support of breast cancer awareness, but so far these pink ribbons have shown up in many forms in order to earn proceeds for breast cancer research, including t-shirts, bumper stickers, and the ever popular bracelets, such as the “I Love Boobies” bracelets that have been a major trend this year. It looks like the nation is on the right path towards better treatments.

Local business brothers bring fresh food to Crossgates Mall Austin Cornell

Two aspiring businessmen and brothers, Mike and Bob Gourlay, searched for an innovative restaurant franchise that separated itself from “a pizza place or something like that,” stated Mark Jackson.

He said he has found this while working as manager at the new restaurant chain Fresh Healthy Café, a partnership between the Gourlays. The two brothers looked beyond America’s borders and into Canada, where they found the new franchise. They had previously sought to open a fit flipside to today’s greasy and nearly virulent chains, and have now found the solution to dissolving such atrocities.

This restaurant can be found at Crossgates Mall, behind the notoriously unctuous Johnny Rockets and directly in front of the Dick’s Sporting Goods mall entrance facing the movie theater.

The new chain displays its bright green apple-filled logo prominently in front of a popular athletics department store, a common destination for healthy individuals looking for even more ways to be fit.

Also nearby are two of the greasiest and fattening food-producers in the building, giving the customers of Fresh Healthy Café the nearby guilty pleasure.

The café’s menu emphasizes a large variety of different alternatives to meals in other restaurants, substituting calorieridden salads and sandwiches with light, seasonal, and delicious soups, wraps, and salads consisting of real ingredients made right in front of your eyes. Other substitutes that really make the mouth water are freshly prepared smoothies and juices, squeezed and pressed as you wait in line to get your order. Which brings up our only problem with the restaurant… the service. The time it takes to make these dishes takes too long for them to

be considered fast food. It is still highly recommended that you try this fascinating franchise for your own health benefits despite this small exasperation.

This branch, for now, is a hidden

gem in a world of unhealthy options.

According to Manager Jackson however, they intend to grow as a chain claiming that, “the owners will soon expand their domain of Fresh Healthy Cafés through-

out New York”. For those looking for a healthy, fresh and delicious option while shopping this holiday season, the Fresh Healthy Café is the place to be.

Photos by Austin Cornell / The Journal

The healthy menu consists of delicious wraps, sandwiches, soups, salads, and fresh smoothies (above). The new café boasts a chic entrance and L-shaped counter (below).

In this section:

Journal November 2010

Fine Arts

- Harvery Pekar: working class hero - page 8 - Ender’s Game is worthwhile sci-fi read - page 8 - Vienna Vegetable Orchestra - page 9

Harvey Pekar: working class hero Andrew Fedorov

k Review o o Journal B

In 1954 Fredric Wertham, a man claiming to be a child psychologist, attacked comic books. Along with the Senate Subcomittee on Juvenile Delinquency, he almost toppled the flourishing industry.

This stupidity caused “concerned” and uninformed parents, who, despite their lack of knowledge, saw fit to destroy art and burn comic books. The children of these fools, who had been denied comic books in their youth, witnessed a change in the medium that would eventually make it accessible to them later in life.

This change was started by the comic book of the everyman. It was started by Harvey Pekar.

This past summer a regular guy died the regular death that is reserved for none of us, but left in that plain colorless box for us to find at the end of the block.

Harvey Pekar died at a respectable age of seventy on July 7. He died alone.

He did not have to face the looming specter of death. His life did not did not come screeching to a climactic halt.

That was just not his style. He just died the plain death that most of the guys you see, but never notice, eventually just experience.

He lived in the bleak city of Cleveland

all his life. He stumbled through what was, on the surface at least, an ordinary life.

Making a living as a flunky file clerk in a veteran’s affairs hospital. Casually pushing his cart through the halls, conversing with the nurses once in a short while, he avoided poverty. He was one of the countless insignificant worker bees in that great hive of an organization.

Pekar once told a story about his exploration of the local phone book.

He learned that even his name was not unique. There were two other Harvey Pekars, neither related to him.

He did not live an exciting life. He spent his time working at his meaningless job, collecting the cheapest jazz records he could find, once in a while writing a review in an obscure magazine, facing crushing loneliness, and trying to avoid boredom.

Why feature an article about some boring file clerk? Shouldn't this be in the obituary section of his local newspaper and not some high school paper almost 500 miles away from where he spent his life? Well, despite his unremarkable position in life he was somehow able to change an industry. His life was good enough to fill many pages of countless

comic books. There was something unique about the stories that made up his apparently boring life.

The vehicle that initiated the change was his comic book, American Splendor.

He chronicled the life of the "man off the street:" his life.

Pekar once said, “I think you can find all the elements that you can find in great literature in mundane experiences.” He conveyed the experiences that make up real life. This was a new thing in a medium once called “funny books.” It was not about some fantastic superhero; it was about a real life, and the main character was a lonely chump. People could relate to it. It was the first step in the difficult, ongoing process that is legitimizing comic books.

He came from the streets of Cleveland and he reported from the world of the working stiff, and against all odds made

his mark. Now he's gone, but his legacy will linger and eventually spread through a society that had once attempted to destroy it.

Ender’s Game is worthwhile sci-fi read Ali Sima Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game Ender realizes that there is no way to esdives deep into human psychology and cape the flow of the games because they the people’s interdependent relationships. consume the students of the school and Ender, a young boy, is chosen by military the students are taught the games from leaders who are searching for a bril- such a young age that they can’t imagine a liant commander different life. who will be Ender’s Game was able to lead the first science-fiction the humans to book that I’ve ever read ...he is trapped victory in the and it opened my eyes in a neverwar against the to a whole new world aliens. of books on the other ending cycle of Ender faces side of realistic-fiction. decisions that no I thought that the book games. one else at his was extremely intense age could ever because of its focus on imagine and Ender’s emotions and feels the presthoughts. Ender’s life was sure of the demanding leaders of the so different from mine that at first it was Battle School, where he is sent to train hard for me to imagine how so many lives in games between teams. The games can could depend on one person. It was great only be won by the team with the best to read how Ender overcame the military military strategy. Ender leaves his family strategies of opposing teams. If you like and his loving sister Valentine behind this book, you may also want to try out the and feels unwelcome by the students at book Dune, by Frank Herbert. the Battle School because of his precocious abilities.

Be sure to check out the sequel, Speaker Ender’s abilities are exploited by the for the Dead, and an “interquel” under the title Ender’s Exile, both by Orson Scott Card. leaders of the Battle School and he is trapped in a never-ending cycle of games.

Ender’s Game Orson Scott Card $6.99 352 pages

November 2010

Fine Arts

page 9 (theJournal)

ienna Vegetable Orchestra wows with works of “Choppin’, Beetoven” Andrew Fedorov They gently glided onto the stage of a half-filled Proctors Theater, costumed in dark turtlenecks and pure black, well-pressed pants. Compared to their audience of misshapen weirdoes, myself included, they were, at first glance, seemingly tame. But I was soon to find out that their initial appearance contrasted greatly with the maddeningly unique sounds that would violently burst from their finely carved vegetable instruments.

How were we to know that within 15 minutes these perfectly sane looking Austrians would start pulverizing cabbages, right on the stage? Calm looking Austrians can surprise you like that and turn crazy, kind of like Freud-- or perhaps Ludwig Beetoven.

They played techno/house music, a sort of music that I do not usually appreciate because it seemingly doesn't take much skill. The Vegetable Orchestra

may be heavy on rhythm and lacking in melody, but really, it was the method, not the melody, that mattered. To play those sounds on a salad bowl assortment of instruments is obviously impressive. To create new instruments at so rapid a pace, having to remake instruments for every concert, is simply incredible.

I t wa s n ' t a l l some gimmick; it was a fully realized idea. But they took it to an extreme. “What can we do with a vegetable that will terrify and intrigue an audience?” they asked in their heavily accented English. As an afterthought they added, “and what vegetable pun

goes with it?”

They were a strange bunch indeed.

According to the program most of them studied a variety of unrelated subjects in college, such as philosophy. That might be the reason for their nontraditional approach to music and the arts. Their ideas will not be accepted because of their strange background, strange hair and foreign accents.

Think about it, what was the last lasting instrument? The Electric Guitar?

After an hour (which was over in what seemed like a minute), it all came pouring down in the form of vegetable

soup as a farewell gesture. The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra has created a totally original array of sounds, and they've only been working at it since 1998! They are strange and because of this I am afraid there innovations will not outlive them, so enjoy them while they're still here.

Celebrate unconventionality.

The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra (Gemüseorchester) is a group of independent Austrian musicians who have developed something a little...different.

Using fresh vegetables (yes, that means they have to remake all of their instruments on a regular basis), the orchestra has been producing unique sounds since 1998. On Wednesday, November 3rd, they visited Proctors Theatre in Schenectady. To hear sound samples, visit http://www. vegetableorchestra.org/ Graphic by Kate Bickmore/The Journal

page 10 (theJournal)

Novemb

How does Guilderland ill Just fine, th Extremely Immoral 8.5%

LimeWire: sliced open by the government Michael Marcantonio Instead of being greeted by a vibrant green lime, recent LimeWire users were welcomed by an intimidating government statement. It pronounced “that LimeWire is under a court-ordered injunction” and warned that “downloading or sharing copyright content without authorization is illegal.”

At the end of October, U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood ordered LimeWire to stop the services of their file-sharing software, according to a court injunction. This decision put an end to one of the world’s biggest systems for people to share music, movies and TV shows for free over the internet.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which consists of the biggest music publishers in the U.S., has been fighting a grueling battle with LimeWire for years, and was exultant with the outcome. Back in 2007, the RIAA filed a copyright complaint against LimeWire and its founder, Mark Gorton, but because the matter was very convoluted due to copyright laws, no action had been taken until recently. The RIAA put out a statement on their website concerning this issue, stating that LimeWire and its operators had violated the law, and in doing so, enriched themselves immensely. According to the injunction, the RIAA will now seek damages that could easily top $1 billion with LimeWire paying close to $150.000 for each song distributed through its services illegally, not to mention TV shows or movies. The RIAA said that this recent injunction represents a significant step in the bright future of digital music.

But will illegal downloading of music and other entertainment cease with the destruction of a file-sharing system that once had 50 million users a month (according to Zeropad.com)? Seniors Kelly Nash, Dan Japikse and Kayla Leach don’t think so.

“I don’t think it will stop just because LimeWire [was] shut down,” Nash claimed. “There are so many other systems like Bearshare, Frostwire, etc. which make it really easy to illegally download music.”

Leach agreed and said, “Someone somewhere will find another way to get people their free music. [What] it all comes down to [is] greed; if people want something, they’ll get it. From one artist to another, the way I see illegally downloading music is like someone making copies of my art so they can hang it in their room without my permission. It’s just wrong.” Many people agree with Leach, but still download anyways. In 2007 LimeWire’s file-sharing system was installed on 36.4% of all PCs in the U.S., or about 1.66 million desktop computers.

Senior Megan Malamood believes that LimeWire’s increase in users over the years is directly related to the price of music. “Although I’m not an avid user of LimeWire, I know many people who are, and maybe if the prices [of songs] were lowered, there would be less illegal downloading, and there wouldn’t be such a controversy over this.”

And what many people don’t consider when they click “download” off a file on LimeWire is that it could potentially contain malicious spyware and/or viruses to harm your computer. But Japikse claimed it’s worth it to get your favorite music because there is always the possibility of getting a virus.

And now there are rumors circulating online that LimeWire is back from the dead. Just last week TorrentFreak reported that a “secret dev team” has resurrected the beleaguered file-sharing system as LimeWire Pirate Edition. LimeWire responded by saying that they are not involved or connected to this “boot-legged” version.

Despite whether LimeWire comes back from the dead, the unsolved topic is that illegally downloading music does not seem like it’ll be stopped in this current time.

GUILDERLAND BY THE NUMBERS

71

percent of GHS students have illegally downloaded 120music.

100

80

60

40

Moral

44 5

Neutral

No

Yes

150

43

Slightly Immoral 33.9%

120

%

90

think that illegal downloading poses little to no risk.

60

percent of students who have downloaded music illegally have used LimeWire.

30

20 Extremely dangerous

Dangeous

Slightly dangerous

Little to no risk

0 Extremely Dangerous Dangerous Slightly Dangerous Little to No Risk

0

Mediafire

MediaFire

Y t co

Yo

ber 2010

page 11 (theJournal)

legally download music? hank you.

Neutral 43.5%

Moral 14.1%

Editorial

Moral integrity vs. free music: the great debate?

Extremely immoral

Available, free, and (gasp!) legal music

Beatrice Malsky

4 57

Slightly immoral

%

consider downloading morally neutral.

Youtube to mp3 onverter

LimeWire

ouTube

Limewire

It’s ok, don’t beat yourself up; the consumer is not the villain.

Let’s start with some assumptions. First, music is easily accessible for illegal online download. It’s free, it’s abundant, and the world’s teenage population knows this quite well. Second,

Individual artists no longer need record labels to the extent that they once did; the system is in flux and a new music industry is gradually taking shape. those who illegally download do not generally do it with the intent of bankrupting the music industry. In fact, it’s likely that those who are downloading the music are precisely the ones who have the most interest in its continued production. Thus we arrive upon the paradox of the Internet Age. With the advent of social networking sites and peer-to-peer sharing, information is experiencing the kind of freedom usually reserved for political rhetoric and the sixties. Anyone with a computer has instant access to incredible amounts of data and media. Because of its abundance, content becomes less valuable. As SUPA economics teacher Ms. Whitman would confirm, supply to the sky means down for demand. On the other hand, there are some pretty legitimate motivations to pay for music.

For one thing, music is an art and artists need the support of their fans and admirers to continue to produce content. And there is that whole small matter of, you know, copyright law.

However, if an album is available in twelve free online formats and you make eight dollars an hour, the importance of federal law and moral reciprocity may start to pale next to your desire to hear Willow Smith sing about her hair.

In October of 2007 the alternative rock band Radiohead released their seventh album, In Rainbows, as a digital download.

Rather than setting a price, the band offered the entire album free and asked fans to donate the amount they saw fit. This promotion lasted for three months, after which the record was available through normal business outlets.

By the time the first physical CDs were hitting shelves, In Rainbows had already sold 1.2 million copies. Although Radiohead has not released any sales figures, it has been confirmed that the album made more money in those first three months than the total sales of their previous album, 2003’s Hail to the Thief.

Radiohead was pushed to such innovative measures not purely by creative drive, but also by financial and legal woes after the end of their contract with record giant EMI. In an interview with TIME, frontman Thom Yorke publicly stated that he did not see the need for a huge label and called the record company a “decaying business model.”

continued on pg 18

PureVolume

Many artists use PureVolume to get exposure and host their mp3’s, with the option of a free download.

www.purevolume.com

P

Pandora Radio

Pandora Radio is a great site to discover music, although there are no downloads, you’ll find yourself coming back for more. www.pandora.com

Grooveshark

Grooveshark is a free site that allows you to listen to 1000’s of songs, without downloading any music.

listen.grooveshark.com

fuse

Fuse

Fuse spotlights up and coming artists on their website. The site is refreshed monthly to keep content fresh. www.fuse.tv

theJournal November 2010

In this section:

Pop Arts

- Harry Potter - page 12 - Dave Matthews comes back to the Capital Region - page 13 - Going ‘Phishing in Amherst - page 14

Harry Potter craze continued from page 1

Waiting for hours did not seem to faze anyone and the overall mood was quite cheery as the late hours of Thursday trickled past.

Looking back on the evening, Guilderland senior Carli Jurczynski commented, “We sat there for six and a half hours, but it was so worth it. It was an epic movie!”

The anticipation is tangible; this is, after all, the beginning of the end. Part one of the final installment of J.K. Rowling’s beloved series has been in the making for almost a decade. With the young wizards of Harry Potter, the fan population has matured from elementary aged to highschool and older. Yet the age of the mass that populated the theaters last night did not matter; full grown adults to young children were out for the premiere.

“So many people of all different ages come out to see the Harry potter movies, it’s crazy. There is so much energy and excitement in all of the theaters while waiting for midnight,” said senior Emily Nagle.

The waiting, however, did not stop people from entertaining; a young boy stood in front of the crowd of people, thrusting his hips to another’s iPod, the entire theater cheering him on. Others posed for photos with newly acquainted Harry Potter fans.

“Some of the best costumed were adults; I just got a picture with Fawkes!” commented senior Aimee Denn, in at-

tendance at the midnight premiere.

Eventually things calmed down as the movie screen extended and people waited with bated breath for Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, the trio that has captured the hearts all over the world, to reunite. When the credits rolled, there was a distinct bittersweet feeling; with the last part of The Deathly Hallows movie out in July this is, in essence, the end of something great. But as the beloved headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry once said, “let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”

Harry Potter fans show their magically side with senior Amber Hedjazi waving her wand (middle left) and Kyle Levy fist pumping, due to excitement.

Photos by Abby Levy and Sarah Sonenberg/ The Journal

Two Horns and a Bandful of Soul Rory Carroll

At about 8:00 pm Uncle bers of the band, each Joel’s Comb was out tobreaking into the other’s wards the stage entrance, sentence, adding every checking out the band on vital piece of informastage, jokingly dancing tion available. Soon joking to the music, laughing at commenced, each ragging the stereotypical hardcore on the other or otherwise joking about a song. At breakdown the other band is employing. one point Travers told the tale of one of their newer “The drummer is actually pretty good,” said songs “Paul’s Jam (I Don’t guitarist Cody Okonski, Know Where I Am)” jokingly sobbing, while in the “he just needs to not be flailing around so much.” background Bintz played a quintessential, sorrowHe then began jaunting away, jokingly head bangful song on the piano.

As the interview began ing as he left. Other memto wind down we headed bers of the band were peppered throughout the for the door, anxious to see the headliner band lobby; some were standing Photo by Dev Keenholts / The Journal near the merch table, oth- Uncle Joel’s Comb performs at the the Annual Carrotfest several weeks ago (above). Band members from left Secret Secret Dino Club. to right: Luke Olsen, Cody Okonski, Alex Koste, Paul Travers, Chris Moehringer, Clay Kaledin. ers talking with friends in Soon UJC got in the mood, and in moments they startthe crowd. Drummer Clay One by one the band took the stage, the ist Jon Bintz accidentally jettisoned his Kaledin and bassist Luke Olson were four piece dressed as fruits and the horns slide into the crowd. Still later trumpeter e d a f a u x - m o s h i n t h e c r owd . standing near a table discussing the on- dressed as Pacman and a ghost. The band Paul Travers was forced to remove his To put it as drummer Clay jokingly said stage band’s performance. They both went headfirst into the classics such as costume and reveal his pants-less legs. “We’re a pretty mediocre band, but we knew that in thirty minutes people are “Eh, Ok” and “Let’s Have a Party,” chang- After dismounting the stage the band make up for it by being funny and modgoing to be doing the same thing to them. ing some lyrics to fit the Halloween motif. seemed pleased with their performance, erately good looking.” However, with A half an hour later the band was getting Then, after a quick introduction, they even with the few hiccups throughout. two years of experience under their belts ready to play. They were hauling gear up went on to play “Halloween Song,” a bash Soon the band gathered in the recording it seems as though Uncle Joel’s Comb onto the small stage, putting on their of Halloween’s changes with such lyrics studio for a slightly impromptu inter- has made their way from Niskayuna costumes (some with more difficulty than as “pretzels aren’t candy” and “I’ll tp your view which consisted mainly of patched garage band to Capital Region royalty. others), and practicing their embouchures. house.” Midway through the set trombon- together reports from different mem-

November 2010

Pop Arts

page 13 (

Journal)

Familiar act, fresh location Dave Matthews come back to the Capital Region for the second time this year, only this time at the Times Union Center

Laura Muller On the night of November 5th, the Dave Matthews Band performed at the Times Union Center for the first time since 2002. With a mix of classic songs from various albums, thousands of hardcore fans of all ages sang along to the tunes while being amused by the impressive special effects.

Since the band announced that they will be taking at least the next year off, this was the last local gig for awhile.

Compared to the annual concert at

SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center), this show was much more animated. The colorful lights, great acoustics and close crowd were a recipe for an interesting night. There was not a time when I saw anyone around me sitting down. Dave Matthews is known for putting on an entertaining, fun and loud show so that everyone will stay tuned in, and he did just that.

Songs like “Seven”, “Shake Me Like A Monkey”, “Lying in the Hands of God”, “All Along the Watchtower” and

“What Would You Say” highlighted the evening. The audience continued to roar after the band left the stage, so they decided to come out for an encore. They played three extra songs including the hit, “You and Me” from the most recent album Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King.

Once again, Dave Matthews gave the crowd just what they came for! Be sure to pay close attention to his next tour dates. This show is a must-see.

Photos By Meghan Meddleton / The Journal

Fear the Nerd:

How Hollywood created cracks in The Social Network

Andrew Fedorov

Fear the Nerd: How Hollywood Created Cracks in The Social Network You may think that you’re getting the use of the powerful social networking tool for free but in reality your behavior is a valuable commodity. Facebook’s users are growing at a truly astounding rate.

This probably caught your interest because you are among the citizens of what would be the third largest nation on the planet. Their loyal legions exceed five hundred million users. That nation is of course the almighty demagog, Facebook.

You are aware that they monitor you’re activity and that they sell it to ad companies. Yet like the pathetic pale crawling addict that you are you return and divulge an ever flowing stream of information.

They don’t even have to struggle to inspire you to return. Obviously because it is a revolutionary website and nobody does it better.

Now Hollywood has decided to cash in on Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s herculean labor. They are lazy parasites who can’t or at the very least won’t come up with their own stories or ideas; they no longer think!

The leaches are taking the thrilling story of an incredible tech company with a genius at the helm and they have a hard time generating art that matches up to those wondrous drifting lines of code the programmers at Facebook have spawned.

The social network is a master work of fiction. Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue is as good as can be expected. The music’s perfect. Fincher’s film making is first rate.

But despite all this they could not stop that one thought from ringing out in my mind “Calumny! Lies! That’s all this is!” It seems the creators haven’t noticed. The film’s writer Aaron Sorkin claimed, on The Colbert Report, that the film is non-fiction.

The Zuckerberg character in the film is characterized as a conniving evil little outcast, a Machiavellian figure. He is transformed into today’s Charles Foster Kane and the real life Zuckerberg is made into a Hearst except, in the new transparent world Zuckerberg has molded, they are no longer so kind as to change his name.

In the New Yorker, Zuckerberg explained his reservations about the film, “I think a lot of people will look at that stuff, you know, when I was nineteen, and say, ‘Oh, well, he was like that ... He must still

be like that, right?’”.

The story of Facebook is more cinematic than any film could ever capture.

They disfigure it, making it plainer than life.

Many of the false statements and lies stem from Ben Mezrich’s libelous waste of paper, The Accidental Billionaires. If you read it you would understand why I hesitate to call it a novel. The book is what the film is based on not life.

The main source for the two creations is Eduardo Saverin. He is a sucker who got kicked out of Facebook because he didn’t read the fine print, a jealous vengeful little man, gave the story in a way that would make him look good. The Social Network and Mezrich’s book are Saverin’s vehicle back into high society.

In their dorm there were sparsely covered bookshelves. Decorations is all that books are to pseudo intellectuals like the Winklevoss twins who are the other source along with their partner in ConnectU(Formerly Harvard Connect), Divya Narenda. They created a college dating service with the help of Zuckerberg and Zuckerberg’s website

did better than theirs. They decided that greed would rule over the honor code.

The litigious students decided to launch a law suit against Zuckerberg. This was done because for once something in the lives of these rich kids did not go as they wanted it to.

All of the above mentioned sources have sued Zuckerberg and are obviously very biased and bitter individuals.

It is an excellent film and worth seeing but Zuckerberg is not a humorless, intensely private, pale, and snickering demon as he is depicted in the film. He is another visionary with a, as he will tell anyone willing to listen, “Fried chicken addiction”.

He claims that the reason for the inaccurate portrayal is that the filmmakers “can’t wrap their head around the idea that someone might build something because they like building things.”

Zuckerberg is the son of a dentist but in a rebellious act he is not a diabolical madman. He may be awkward and shy but he is not evil.

As Zuckerberg was listed on the about page of Facebook he is “Founder, Master and commander, enemy of state”.

page 14 (

Pop Arts

Journal)

November 2010

Phish Pleases ‘Phans’ in Amherst Matt Simon

As thousands of devoted “phans” waited inside of a packed Mullins Center, Phish took the stage.

Smoothly sliding into a rare “Meatstick” opener, guitarist Trey Anastasio and bassist Mike Gordon performed a dance as the crowd relaxed into the subtle grooves. An energy was born with the classic “Golgi Apparatus” and persisted for the entire show. “Tweezer” showed Amherst the power of what Phish does best: jam. The fourteen minute session highlighted the first set with its funk. The tempo was slowed down during “Lawn Boy”, as keyboardist Page McConnell took Page McConnell and the rest of Phish perform one of their popular hits, “Lawn Boy” for their fans. the spotlight with his vocals.

Then, the focus shifted to dress-wearing “My Friend, My Friend”, the band was in in the Velvet Sea”, a soulful song capable drummer Jon Fishman for one of his infa- the zone. After a couple low tempo num- of choking up any concert-goer. The mous vacuum solos. An energetic “Twee- bers, Phish continued to bring the funk second set was concluded with a twenty zer Reprise” closed out this quirky set. with “Boogie on Reggae Women”, getting minute rendition of the epic “You Enjoy Nothing can end an intermission quite the whole arena bumping. They followed Myself ”, which has been described as like the booming bass of “Down with this with the epic and eerie “Maze”, classical music in a rock setting due to its Disease”. Mike plucked out the distinctive featuring ear-splitting guitar from Trey. elaborate composition. The encore was notes perfectly as the crowd embraced the After some high intensity jamming, Page a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Shine a beat. Flowing seamlessly into a stirring broke out his keyboard skill on “Wading Light”, which proved to be a great tune

Photos courtesy of Phish.com

to end an amazing night. The audience of “phaithful phollowers” left pleased. After all, a band doesn’t get such a devoted following without playing all top-notch shows. Phish never disappoints, and they played a spectacular concert at the Mullins Center.

Album Reviews

Mike Pultz When making any kind of album, whether it’s heavy metal or jazz, an important thing to consider is dynamics (or, simply put, the changes of volume in a song or album). An effective use of dynamics is to have a soft song in the middle of a metal album. When done right, it will not only prove that the band is talented enough to play a different way than their usual, but it will also make all the heavy tracks seem heavier in comparison. …For We Are Many, the newest album by American metalcore band All That Remains, is almost completely devoid of anything resembling dynamics. The result is an unrelenting wall of sound that makes the record difficult to listen to.

That’s not to say it’s a bad effort. By themselves, the tracks are impressive; nearly all of them have great solos (especially “Some of the People, All of the Time”), and a few have audible and great bass moments (which most modern bands sadly neglect) such as in “Dead Wrong”.

But listened to as a whole, it doesn’t take long for the repetition to set in. There is the aforementioned dynamics problem which severely restricts the album’s heaviness. It’s also disappointing that ATR relies so much on their “chugga-chugga” style riffs because while they are fantastic they get old quickly. All of this, combined with boring verse-chorus-verse song structures, make…For We Are Many a disappointing step backwards for ATR.

Photos Courtesy of Creative Commmons

Maggie Rogers

Popular rock band Escape the Fate proves that they just get better with time. The band’s third full-length, self-titled album, released on November 2nd starts with a calm intro track titled “Choose Your Fate” which leads into the brutal single “Massacre”. There are tracks that are as catchy as they are intense, and Escape the Fate seems to have found the genre they belong in; their own. Their sound has become a great mix of modern metal and 80s rock, as well as the screaming and guitar riffs that they are most well-known for. Bassist Max Green was quoted as saying that the album would “rewrite rock music as you know it”, and he was right.

The album is less of a step-forward, and more of a giant leap. Vocalist Craig Mabbitt exhibits his strong voice in this album more than the second, and haters will have a hard time saying that the album is anything less than superb. Old fans will love the album due to the inclusion of another “Guillotine” song—there have been songs following the same plot titled Guillotine on every album, and were generally the hardest songs on each album, and this is no different. The album wraps up well with 11 tracks of rock genius.

Key tracks: “Zombie Dance”, “Prepare Your Weapon”, “The Aftermath (G3)”

Anastasia Mazur Hellogoodbye returns with their sophomore album Would it Kill You bringing an infusion of indie from the likes of Vampire Weekend. Best known for the infectious power pop song of 2008, “Here (In Your Arms)” which ranked top in the charts, their new album breaks away from the straight techno-love-song shtick that concentrated their first album, Zombies! Aliens!

Vampires! Dinosaurs!. With more guitars and back up vocals the band strays from what brought them fame.

While playing with the sounds not necessarily a bad thing, after a while it begins to be a monotonous drone of cheery chants and doesn’t stand out or break away from the mold already set by previous indie-pop bands.

The band lacks their synth-pop zeal that brought to the forefront the geeky charisma that the band stands for, which leaves the listener looking for more.

Key Tracks: “Finding Something to Do”, “When We First Kissed”, “Would it Kill You?”

Journal November 2010

World and Cultures

Divali: Hindu Festival of Lights

A six day, joyous celebration symbolizing the “triumph of good over evil”

Hannah Cohen Upon entering my friend Sindhura Mandava’s house on Friday night, I expected to find her in her usual state, hanging out, watching TV, or relaxing.

Instead, I found her at the computer, on the common application website. When I asked her what reason she could possibly have for working on her college applications at eight o’clock on a Friday night, she responded, “I’m trying to get as many apps submitted tonight as I can, because it’s a very lucky time for us.” By us, she meant those who practice Hinduism. The reason behind the aforementioned luckiness is the Hindu holiday Divali, the festival of lights. The holiday is significant because it symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and the uplifting of spiritual darkness. It is also one of the New Year’s celebrations observed in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, and Fiji. The holiday holds significance to those who practice the Jain and Sikh religions. Ceremonies are held in the temple to celebrate Divali, but families like Sindhura’s can also observe the holiday with a puja (Hindu religious

Photo courtesy of Hannah Cohen/the Journal

ceremony) in their home.

Divali is celebrated differently in different regions of India and in other countries, even what it is called varies (Some other names for the holiday are Deepavali and Diwali), but certain aspects of the holiday are the same everywhere.

Celebrations are often lively, gifts and sweets are exchanged, and fireworks and special oil lamps called diyas light up the sky. The celebrations last about five to six days, depending on the region.

At Sindhura’s house, they have a prayer shelf where they perform their pujas. On

this night it is lit by candles and incense and adorned with offerings of food and flowers. There is a spicy dish and sweet dish resting on the shelf, as well as fresh fruit. Family members often gather for the holiday, and Sindhura’s aunt, uncle, and cousin join us. When we approach the shelf, we take a spoonful of both the sweet and spicy dishes. They are delicious, something that is especially impressive tonight because it is the Divali custom not to taste the offerings before placing them on the shelf, and yet they were still seasoned perfectly.

After the puja is over, we all go downstairs to eat, the food is always amazing, impossible to refuse, and a treat no matter how many times I have it. After over a decade of friendship with Sindhura, it was nice to see some of what her religion entails, especially since it was such an important and joyous occasion. I can only imagine how much fun it much be to celebrate Divali in India or any of the other countries where it is a national holiday, where sweets are plentiful and fireworks turn night into day.

Smiling in Barbados: A Reflection Exposure to a new culture brings a learning experience and new perspective Luxi Peng In Barbados, the first thing a tourist such as myself notices is the cloudless blue sky and balmy sea breeze. If you walk down to the beach, warm turquoise water as clear as glass greets your weary feet after a long day, and the fine white sand feels like velvet.

... before he once again flashed us that million-watt smile.

The native people are friendly and smiling, eager to give you a tour of the island they proudly call home or sell you homemade wares and locally grown tropical fruit. It is a similar story all over the Caribbean, from Grenada to St. Maarten, Puerto Rico to Trinidad, and everywhere in between; gorgeous beaches, perfect weather, a warm welcome from locals, and fabulous shops. Despite cultural and historical differences, there are definitely characteristics that many of the islands in the Caribbean share.

There is, however, one more similarity that not everyone notices. Hidden in plain view, between stores such as Diamonds International and Harrison’s, are small, rundown buildings that highly resemble shacks. They have no running water, no electricity, and no heat. The floors are

nothing but hard-packed dirt, the only charge us, and he replied furniture consists of two small wooden with a simple, “No charge. chairs and some plastic sheets to sleep on. Free.” Despite this, my Shocked, I looked around. It was not just dad pressed a $10 bill into that one example. Next to stores selling the palm of his small hand, millions of dollars worth of jewelry and and I watched as an expression brightly lit cosmetic skincare displays of wonder came over his face, were run down lean-tos. Taken aback, before he once again flashed us I took yet another look around, and that million-watt smile. The boy noticed something even more troubling: took us to where his mother it seemed as if I was the only one who was selling handmade jewelry saw. I saw several women with designer and souvenirs, and I noticed handbags and logo-adorned sunglasses that her goods were set up in simply turn away when the children play- a small shack whose walls and ing in the street dared to look at them, ceiling were made of cane tied saw their husbands take their arms and together with rope. Still, she greeted quickly usher them into the nearest shop us with a warm grin as we fell upon her with a perfume ad in the window when a jewelry; the rays of the hot, midday sun brave toddler dares to take a step in their bouncing off the many facets of the direction. crystal necklaces.

Perhaps what touched me most was a What cast a small shadow on the more personal experience. On Dominica, blinding brilliance of that vacation was we were taken to see the country’s boiling the unchanging, uncaring expression lakes by a local boy who knew our taxi of the tourists who passed by the driver. The boy was a few years younger people in those shacks as if they did than I at the time, maybe 10 or 11. He not exist. Could they not have stopped was dressed in a simple black Nike shirt, just long enough to just give a smile? white khaki shorts, and flip flops, all of That smile, I think, would have made a which were too big for him. He spoke difference in both parties’ lives. I know, about the boiling lakes (in excellent, albeit because I smiled at a little boy, running accented English) as if he had rehearsed around in nothing but his diapers. every word, but going on exuberantly How do I know it made a difference with a huge smile lighting up his face for him? whenever we asked a question.

He smiled back.

We asked him how much he would Photos courtesy of Albany Symphony Orchestra/Gary D. Gold Photography Photo courtesy of Luxi Peng/the Journal

A tour guide smiles after showing travelers a boiling lake.

page 16 (

Journal)

World and Cultures

November 2010

“Luck of the Irish” is shared with International Club Kathryn Casey presents on Ireland, sharing traditions, culture, fun facts and a delicious treat

Emily Benson Another day, another dollar, another month another new meeting! And as October rolled around once again, the students of International Club rolled out another new informational club adventure. On what this month? Nothing but the wonders of good ‘ol Ireland, where the clovers are plenty and the pubs are always packed! Told by Katharine Casey, of Irish heritage herself, the meeting was nothing short of funny and entertaining.

International club is a club made for promoting, learning and sharing the wonders of other cultures and life styles of other countries. Each month a meeting is held once or twice, headed by the respected advisor, Mrs. Mackey.

The presentation officially started when the room grew dark and the powerpoint came on, the Irish flag standing tall in all its glory on the white screen.

From then on, just about every aspect of Ireland was talked about: From the holidays, to the cultural dances, to the food, the entertainment, the music, and the history all was condensed and shared in pictures and funny stories all in a span of 40 minutes time. Freshmen in Mackey’s class took notes like crazy, and everybody is the room smiled politely and listen attentively.

And, as always, there was food. But not

just any food, this meeting served an Irish favorite: Irish chocolate cake! It may not have been the most exotic dish prepared so far in the club, but that just made it less of an acquired taste, and perhaps open to more people. After all by the end of the meeting, the plate was licked clean... literally!

The meeting seemed to have ended as quickly as it started, but it was amazing while it lasted. The part of International club that makes it so much fun, is that the presentations come from the heart of the person presenting it. There was information shared to the listeners at the meeting that anybody could have gone to a library and looked up, but it the answers found in the book would never be as in depth or entertaining as the information found within the stories shared at every meeting.

These meetings, and this club, is one of the few things left in our high school that hold on to the ideas and lives of other countries with out judgment.

They’re always fun, busy, informative and entertaining, needless to say it’s very special club that everybody should get a chance to experience at least once during there high school lives. So keep an open eye for the next meeting, because it’ll be here before you know it!

Right, Bottom left: Kathryn Casey, Ireland presentor.

Bottom Right: Kathryn Casey talks about various symbols in the Irish culture.

Photos courtesy of Sarah sonenberg/the Journal

Archaeological dig in city of David provokes controversy Katherine Hutson The raging battle between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East has been storming on for decades over rights to land. Unfortunately, it looks like a resolution is still far off. Recently there has been yet more conflict between the two groups over a controversial dig that’s taking place within the heart of Jerusalem’s oldest neighborhood, the dig for the City of David.

The tunnel that lies within the City of David, right under the streets of Jerusalem, is 3850 years old and the structure is believed to have been there during the times of Abraham. In his time David was the king of the Jewish capital city of Jerusalem and people say that he captured the city through the underground tunnels that run beneath it. Hundreds of ancient Israeli artifacts that recall and provide new insights to the history of Jerusalem have already been discovered through the course of the dig.

However, right on the edge of the City of David dig there is a Palestinian neighborhood. The dig is yet another point of contention between Palestinians and Israelis who argue over which group has the rights to the area and the dig itself. The disagreement between the two groups has led to injuries and death on both sides.

In October a CNN 60 Minutes special aired featuring the dispute over the City of David; Lesley Stahl was sent to Jerusalem to investigate. The special provided

Holidays and Cultural Events in December What: Battlesight: Dispatches from Iraq and Afghanistan When: Now-December 19th Where: The Arts Center, 265 River Street What: Meeting for people interested in dancing in the Cultural Fair When: Tues, Nov. 23rd, Advisory (2nd session) Where: Room 715 What: Hanukkah When: December 5th-12th What: St. Nicholas Day When: December 6th What: Human Rights Day (UN) When: December 10th What: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe When: December 12th

the public with some great film into the goings on of the dig but also provided a new basis for dispute. In the report Stahl accuses the Israelis of using the City of David dig as a political tool and to confirm stories from the Bible. Many people were outraged by Stahl’s report which

they considered bias and harvested even more public debate over the issue.

Although a peaceful settlement over the rights to the dig seems far off we can only hope that no one else will be hurt while fighting over a piece of history that is so sacred.

What: St. Lucy Day When: December 13th What: Forefathers’ Day When: December 21st What: Christmas Day When: December 25th

In this section:

Journal November 2010

Opinions

-School shirts are for more than just school spirit - Page 17 -Inconsistent rules lead to confusion in student body - Page 17 -Fresh, soph, junior & senior perspectives of first days of school - Page 18

The rise and fall of Silly Bandz Armane Robinson

From zoo animals to princesses and recently Justin Bieber, these fun-shaped rubber bands, also known as Silly Bandz, have become the hottest new trend in the U.S. Robert Croak, the man behind this evolution of Silly Bandz, came up with the idea after finding a similar product designed for Japanese offices and that idea has made him a fortune. BCP Imports LLC, the company that makes Silly Bandz, is constantly coming out with new shapes, forms, and styles made out of these silicone rubber bands.

Kids across the country have gone crazy over these bracelets; they collect them, trade them, and wear them, “I would get jealous when everyone had Silly Bandz and I didn’t”, said Jia Gao, a student at GHS. The main question that most people want to know now is whether or not Silly Bandz is still a huge trend or was it just a onetime obsession?

Not only are kids obsessed with these fun-shaped rubber bands, adults have gotten into the trend as well; they’re either buying it for their kids, students, or themselves. Mrs. Young, an English teacher at Guilderland High School and a huge fan of Silly Bandz, thinks this latest fashion trend is “adorable and cute”. Young has a container full of Silly Bandz in her class room, which she calls her “Bin of Fun”, she was very eager to show, all of the different shapes she had collected. Mrs. Young stated that “this is a great way to practice communication skills because

we’re so used to using the internet [to communicate]”.

On the other hand, not everyone gets excited about purchasing Silly Bandz; Mackenzie Collins, a student at GHS, thinks Silly Bandz are pointless and unfashionable. She doesn’t understand why most people would wear them; “It’s like a song playing over, and over again because you see them all the time”. She believes this trend is a onetime obsession.

Silly Bandz is not only a fun accessory to wear, its making a statement and bringing awareness to the world. Save the Gulf Silly Bandz is one of the first Silly Bandz that will debut thermo-chromatic technology and help raise awareness for the disaster that occurred in the Gulf this year. This new technology will cause the Silly Band to change color like a “mood ring” as the temperature changes, whether it’s in the freezer, in the sun, or even from your body temperature.

Seeing the positive impact that Silly Bandz has on society, it must seem like BBC Imports LLC would be a great place to work. Teresa Flores, a customer care representative at BBC Imports LLC, stated that working at that company is a lot of fun. She states “everyone wears their Silly Bandz to work and is very optimistic [at work]”. Most of the employees that work at BBC Imports LLC are residents of Toledo, Ohio, which has been the home of Silly Bandz for more than three years. Flores was very upbeat

Students’ work load too heavy Tara Jackson

After seven hours of school, who doesn’t want to spend four more on homework? Homework is important to reinforce what students learn in school, but too much can be a problem. Homework for certain classes became tedious and unnecessary. Once a person surpasses the two hour amount of homework, the work becomes ineffective. Students begin to worry about getting work done rather than doing it correctly. After asking APUSH teacher, Mrs. Rudolph, about the time she believes students spend on homework, she stated that “students

should take one to one and a half hours on just APUSH each night.

After interviewing a selection of students in her class, it was found that, on average, they spend two to two and a half hours on AUPSH each night. This is a huge commitment each night and keeps students up until ridiculous hours of the night.

However, this is what these kids signed up for when they decided to take the class.

Not just AP level classes give strenuous amounts of homework. Honors level and some regents level classes give a lot of work, as well. Having a mixture of regents level, honors level and AP level courses, the amount of homework received is outrageous. This large amount of homework restricts kids from having a life outside of school and prevents them from a social life.

Life is all about balance but, with the excess of busy work that teachers give every night, it is virtually impossible for students to finish homework, make time for friends, and be successful in other aspects of life.

during the interview and seemed to really enjoy her job.

The Silly Bandz trend has not come to an end yet; Robert Croak and BBC Imports LLC have made a huge impact on people because of this innovation. Silly Bandz

are worn by people of all ages. People will continue to collect, trade, and wear thesm for a long. The talk about Silly Banz may have calmed down a bit but, they will surly continue to be a popular product on the market for a long time.

Is Gradespeed helping?

Laura Tang This year a new online grade keeping system has been introduced to GHS. Though teachers have used other grading systems before, such as Snapgrades, GradeSpeed is currently in its first stage of implementation. Due to that reason, only a few classes have grades that are able for viewing. GradeSpeed seems like a useful program to increase awareness of grades for parents and students alike, but only if used effectively. As of right now, students and teachers seem content with it but not overly enthusiastic.

Student opinion on the new grading system is varied. Most students think that it is useful, while some do not like the fact that their parents are able to view their grades in an instant. One student says, “GradeSpeed is more informative, having all our grades together.

You can also see individual percentages for each category—homework, tests, quizzes, etc. Once it becomes school wide it will be useful.” Other students remark, “It’s great!” and “I like it.”

Some students are still unsure about the new system, though. “I like Snapgrades better,” one student says, “the address of GradeSpeed is too long.” Another student agrees, “On GradeSpeed, it doesn’t show how much each individual grade affects your average overall like in Snapgrades.” One student says “I don’t know, it’s alright I guess. I used it once.”

There have been some objections made by students as well. A few sophomores reflect on the program negatively, simply by shaking their heads no when asked if they like the new program.

GradeSpeed has been a big leap for teachers as well, perhaps an even larger one than for students. For many teachers, it became necessary to have to change their grading style and learn

how the new system works. Even so, most teacher remarks were leaning towards the positive side. “I like it so far”, says one teacher, “I never used Snapgrades so it’s a little weird, but I enjoy the responses. Students are happy with it, and it’s fairly efficient.” After asking some teachers, it is evident that the new program does take some time to get used to. Another teacher says, “It’s okay. It’s a little slow but it gives students a chance to see their grades.”

Teachers also say that it keeps them on their toes because they need to update their grades more often instead of waiting till the end. When asked about her opinion on GradeSpeed, one teacher replies, “It’s very good. The transition to it was hard because it was a little too close to the first quarter report, but it makes students more aware of their grades. Fewer students ask what their current grade is.”

Along with the availability to view grades, students and parents can click on other links for other useful tools such as a calendar with important dates and attendance records. Once the few bugs and kinks are worked out and it is put in use by all teachers it can turn out to be an efficient program that informs students and helps parents monitor their child’s progress. As long as everyone continues to use it productively, GradeSpeed can become a useful tool for everyone. There seem to be few negative views in general about this new system, and slowly the Guilderland School District will hopefully learn to embrace this new grade-keeping system, as long as it is not squandered.

page 18 (

Journal)

Opinions

Patent office needs to better itself Andrew Fedorov

The patent office is fundamentally flawed. It is a collection of bored civil servants who could not find any other white collar jobs. They file away ideas so that the inventor who created them are the only ones who can use them and access them later for use in a law suit. They are inefficient they’re lazy and maybe America could survive better without them. They were created to keep ideas safe,

but not only can they not do this properly, they have stunted their growth. Maybe it’s better to have complete anarchy, in this area of our society.

They have a backlog that their director, David Kappos, is very proud of, he says on his blog it is “725,000” he believes that it’s

“pretty reI agree,

markable”, and just as remarkable as the degree of incompetence they’ve

Graphic by Dana McLaughlin

achieved. That’s 725,000 inventors who have been waiting for years for their patent to be approved. Following the normal process it takes about 7 years for a patent to be filed The office isn’t getting better, it’s getting far worse. They no longer plan on giving citizens an equal chance at success, the director wrote, “we proposed a new patent examination initiative that would provide applicants greater control over the speed with which their applications are examined”, how you ask? Well he will provide creators with “prioritized examination for an additional fee”, meaning in laments terms that: the rich come first.

The U.S. Patent office is a collection of boring rooms, filled with the symbol of pure modern efficiency, the cubicle. It is a plain office filled with uncreative unhappy people who are meant to handle i n n ova t i o n s from creative people. Bureaucracy has run rampant and between the time when the idea is submitted and when it is filed the inventor’s enthusiasm dwindles and this technology that could have an immeasurable improvement on our society. Ideas should run free and here they’ve been caged and if things don’t change it will be as Jim Morrison sang, “This is the end”.

November 2010

Politicians will do anything to win Evan Snow

October and the preceding months have been catastrophic as far as politics go. You try to watch TV, and find yourself plagued with an over-abundance of political commercials. “Vote for Andrew Cuomo,” or “Vote for Kirsten Gillibrand,” because “I’ll cut taxes, and I won’t send jobs overseas…” It gets annoying after a while. “Chuck Schumer will prevent health insurance from being taken away… saving all the senior citizens in the state from poverty and under-insurance.”

These politicians try to peek our interest at a personal level, but how personal can they be? In all reality, they are only on TV. I’ve even come to the point where political commercials just don’t mean anything anymore. The fact that our TV’s h ave b e c o m e plagued with

mudslinging political battles is just infuriating. I’m tired of the fact that politics has become a war for fame, money, and corruption, and the unintended consequences results in us, the general consumer, who politicians should be fighting for, damaged and poverty-stricken. Those who try their best to pay for health insurance and mortgages are the ones who are getting their money taken away from them by corruption and greed. Has a politician ever once stopped to think about what could happen to the people they are trying to protect? I would say the overall consensus is a big ol’ no.

Graphic by Zach Sicard

Chilean miners should not be considered heroes Amber Hedjazi After two months of being trapped down in a mine, the thirty three Chilean miners are now being deemed heroes.

Yes, it is incredible that they survived in the beginning with a limited amount of food, and were all able to come out of this alive, but they were in fact doing their job. A coal miner is aware of the risks of their jobs, and a mine collapsing isn’t uncommon. Many people have lost their lives in the mines, but FOX news isn’t broadcasting it all over the world.

Do these miners really deserve a free iPod touch, jerseys signed by the players of Real Madrid, a trip to Greece, and Oakley sunglasses? No; hero’s do things

for others as an instinct, or by chance.

These men were unfortunate enough to get trapped underground for sixty nine days, they did display courage and perseverance, but why should they be rewarded for this?

They did those things to save their own lives, not someone else’s, and it was their job. They weren’t trapped in the mine trying to save a little boy; they were down there because they were being paid to provide a service to their country.

What exactly are they being awarded for, surviving? In that case, I suppose everyone in the world should be given a pair of Oakley’s.

Steal this music: downloading in the modern age continued from pg 11

Over the past century, artists both established and emerging have relied on labels to manufacture, distribute, and market their music. Increasingly, this is not the case. The lightning-fast communications that make illegal downloading so easy are precisely the technologies and infrastructures that are making record companies irrelevant. It is possible today more than ever for artists to organize their own production and advertising, and to get the the revenue that a label would have previously skimmed off the top.

Individual artists no longer need record labels to the extent that they once did; the system is in flux and a new music industry is gradually taking shape. Record labels are desperately clinging to the past as their business model is pulled out from under them.

For the first time in history, consumers who want to support a particular artist do not necessarily need to do it through a record company. The internet itself acts as a marketing device, allowing fans to give their money to the artist and not the

industry. Artists, for their part, are slowly finding new ways to make money outside of the traditional companies. Shows, shirt sales, and other things that can’t be compressed into .zip files will have to be a larger part of the music industry of the future. For now, copyright law is protecting an outdated system. Violating it is still decidedly illegal, but the industry giants are leaning increasingly on financial rather than moral reasons. Asking the consumer to look aside and pretend that nothing is happening is unreasonable.

In the summer of 2009, Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and Sparklehorse (Mark Linkous) were deep into a legal dispute with EMI over a new album titled Dark Night of the Soul. It was starting to look like the music would never see the light of day.

Instead, the duo released a thick book of photography by David Lynch along with a blank disc simply labeled: “For Legal Reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.”

It is in this winking acceptance that the future of music lies.

In this section:

Journal November 2010

- NCAA recruiting - pg. 19

Sports

- Guilderland hockey - pg. 20 -Overview on basketball season- pg. 20

From 8th Grade to a freshman … in college.

Student athletes are being recruited earlier and earlier, committed to colleges as early as their freshman year in high school

Shelby Iapoce “I’ve been playing my whole life. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t play a sport,” says Jess Marini, a senior at Guilderland High School. Love of the game drives high school student athletes to become college student athletes.

Jess is one of the thousands of students across the country that is being recruited to play a sport in college. She is being recruited for soccer and lacrosse, but has chosen to play soccer in college.

For the 104 years that NCAA has been around, recruiting has happened. Over time students have begun to be recruited earlier and earlier- as young as 8th grade.

This has not gone unnoticed by the NCAA, and anyone else for that matter.

“It seems as though people are committing much earlier than when I committed,” Says Katie Rowan, a Syracuse University lacrosse All-American who graduated in 2009 and is a returning player on the US Women’s National Team, “In order to get the top recruits schools were trying to beat each other out by pushing up the deadline that they give to prospective student-athletes.”

This brings up a violation in the NCAA recruiting calendar for each sport.

According to the NCAA colleges aren’t allowed to send the prospective student athletes any type of personalized email, make telephone calls, or meet the athlete in person, until it says so on calendars, which can be viewed on the NCAA website.

Technology has changed the recruiting process- so much in fact that it is almost a completely different process.

Nowadays, when students sign the National Letter of Intent, they definitely have a spot on that specific team. In the past, this was not the case. “We applied to the colleges and showed up to play,” says Gary Chatnik, who played lacrosse at Siena College in the late 1970’s and is now the Girl’s Varsity Lacrosse coach at Guilderland High School.

The new system of e-mailing has made it easier for students to talk to coaches.

Prospective student athletes for Division II and III schools are allowed to communicate with coaches via Facebook and Twitter according to espn.com rise. “Players and coaches are able to communicate on a regular basis through email, mail, and phone calls,” says Tony Stanish, a junior at Guilderland High School, who is experiencing first-hand what the recruiting process is like.

Stanish is being recruited for both football and lacrosse, and hasn’t yet decided which one he’d like to play. Although he still doesn’t know which sport he’d like to play in college, he does know how to get noticed- “By going to as many good camps as possible and performing for coaches”. Sending out e-mails doesn’t hurt either.

Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Northeastern, Tracy Leone, tells ESPN rise that “E-mail has been a huge asset

to the recruiting process, from both sides.” It’s helpful for coaches to be able to visually see who will be playing where, and when they will be playing so they can watch.

This technology has caused many students to verbally commit to schools.

These commitments have been becoming more popular as the years have progressed. “It’s okay as long as everyone lives up to the agreement,” says Chatnik about verbal commitment.

The Division I Recruiting Athletic and Personnel Cabinet have proposed to end early verbal commitment in all sports though. A prospective student athlete can commit to a school, even before the admissions office knows that they can pass a ninth grade history regents. The proposal states that a 5-7 semester transcript be sent before a place at the school can be offered to make sure the student athlete won’t fail out.

Academics seem to have taken a back seat in many cases of student athletes choosing the right college. “Sports are a good way to get into a school, but you’re not going to stay in school if your grades aren’t good,” says Curtis Snyder, a present day multi sport high school coach, and Geneseo soccer alumni.

According to the NCAA, a student athlete is qualified to play at a Division I school once they have completed 16 core classes- 4 years of English, 3 years of Math, 2 years of Science, 2 years of Social

Science, 4 years of extra courses, and 1 year of extra Science, Math, or English.

They also have to have a combined SAT/ ACT score that matches their GPA in core classes. This scale is available online at the NCAA eligibility center.

Stanish and Marini agree that academics are a necessity in choosing a college.

Both are taking into account the division of the school, the academics, the size of the school, and the location for their prospective colleges. This is criteria that is very important to students in choosing a college, which is often looked over..

It’s really important to make sure that the school is the right fit for you all around. “I fell in love with it,” says Amanda Santandrea, about Drexel University, a freshman, who now plays goalie for their Division I team, and was on the Guilderland Girls Lacrosse team for four years. “I loved my coach when I met her.”

Applying for college is stressful enough, without the need to make sure there is good team chemistry, keeping up with the grueling schedule of being a student athlete at the college level, and the . There will always be a stress in applying to college, whether you play a sport or not, agrees Santandrea and Rowan.

The NCAA proposals hopes to take some stress off of young athletes, and the changes will be voted on in the 2011 NCAA conference, and, if passed, be put into play in January or April.

Hockey Schedule

Boys Basketball Schedule

Saturday 12/11 1:30PM vs. Shaker High School Tuesday 12/21 7:00PM vs. Niskayuna High School Monday 12/27 5:30PM @ Niskayuna Tournament Tuesday 12/28 12:00PM @ Niskayuna Tournament Wednesday 12/29 3:45PM @ Bethlehem Tournament Thursday 12/30 11:45AM @ Bethlehem Tournament Tuesday 1/4 8:00PM vs. South Glens Falls Central H S Saturday 1/8 7:20PM @ LaSalle Institute HS Tuesday 1/11 6:00PM @ Queensbury High School Saturday 1/15 7:30PM @ Niskayuna High School Wednesday 1/19 7:30PM @ Shenendehowa Central School Saturday 1/22 2:30PM @ Plattsburgh High School Tuesday 1/25 8:00PM vs. LaSalle Institute HS Friday 1/28 7:45PM @ Glens Falls Tuesday 2/8 7:30PM @ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake CSD Saturday 2/12 12:00PM vs. Bethlehem

Tuesday 12/7 7:00PM @ Mohonasen High School Friday 12/10 7:00PM vs. Colonie Central High School Tuesday 12/14 7:00PM @ Columbia High School Friday 12/17 7:00PM vs. Saratoga Springs Tuesday 12/21 7:00PM @ Shaker High School Tuesday 1/4 7:00PM vs. Shenendehowa Central School Friday 1/7 7:00PM @ Ballston Spa Tuesday 1/11 7:00PM vs. Averill Park Friday 1/14 7:00PM @ Bethlehem Friday 1/21 7:00PM @ Niskayuna High School Friday 1/28 7:00PM vs. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake CSD Tuesday 2/1 7:00PM vs. Mohonasen High School Friday 2/4 7:00PM @ Colonie Central High School Sunday 2/6 TBA @ Mohonasen High School Tuesday 2/8 7:00PM vs. Columbia High School Friday 2/11 7:00PM @ Averill Park Tuesday 2/15 7:00PM vs. Bethlehem

Come support our Dutchmen!

Come support our Dutchmen!

Sports

page 20 (theJournal)

November 2010

Hopes are high for 2010-2011 season For players, determination starts now Jimmy McLaughlin With help from the 2009-2010 junior varsity team, the boys’ varsity basketball team is definitely a team to watch out for. The junior varsity team, which went 15-3 last season, gives the Flying Dutchmen a whole new look on this year’s season.

There are six seniors returning to the team this year including, Jordan Weeden, Justine Horne, Chris Yankowski, Brendan Doak, and Trevor Nelson. The potential juniors that will make the team this year include, Mike Doynow, Cameron Dobbs, Matt Breton, Peter Libertucci, Brandon Courtney, Taylor Dubose, Alex Gaines, Tyler Fronte, and Won-ki Sohn.

“I have done a lot of shooting and lifting. With basketball many people say you shouldn’t but you really need to,” claimed junior Mike Doynow. Off-season training has been a big part of Cameron Dobbs’ becoming a much better player. “I make at least 300 shots a day and take about 500 shots. I do dribbling drills, conditioning, defensive drills, and most important, lifting” said Dobbs. After a spectacular season, basically the entire junior varsity team plans on trying out this year, which may help the varsity team this season.

Junior Matt Breton said, “Most definitely, our JV team had good chemistry and we’re all good friends, we all can have fun but, we also know when to play serious.” Peter Libertucci added, “The chemistry that the JV team had

last year was really good because most of us have played together for a long time now, it should help us be better this year.”

“This year we have the seniors, so of course the team is going to be a little different. We just need to develop team chemistry early,” Doynow said.

Some of the players like, Taylor Dubose, Cameron Dobbs, and Tyler Fronte go to the Guilderland District YMCA to play pickup games.

The JV team from last year seems like it will be a very key part for the team this year. Assistant Varsity Coach Maceo Dubose said, “I most certainly believe that players that were part of last year’s JV team will help the Varsity work toward a successful season this year.” Last year’s Varsity team had an 8-11 record. Dubose said, “I felt that last year’s team was a group that started slow, but worked extremely hard every practice.” Dubose also added, Photos by Dev Keenholts / The Journal “Their work ethic helped our team ent. “I can’t wait!” make a great improvement as the With the basketball season just season progressed.” Coach Dubose around the corner. The team looks continued to say that he always is like they can’t wait to get on the excited about the beginning of the court and win some games. season and this season is no differ-

Senior Chris Yankowski and junior Taylor Dubose work on their offensive and defensive moves, while Coach Osinski looks over their shoulder (top). Chris Yankowski goes for a lay-up (right).

SeeBasketballschedulepage19

G-land and Mohon team up on ice John Evans When the Guilderland hockey players take the ice this winter, they won’t be the only ones scoring for the Dutchmen. Due to the lack of Guilderland players, they will be joined by players from Mohonasen high school. The merger brings the two schools together and for the first time in Guilderland hockey history, they will play with another team as teammates.

The merger brings many changes including the new logo, and new players.

However, they will still be practicing and playing home games at the Union College hockey rink and head Coach John DeRubertis remains in position as head coach. Coach DeRubertis believes it won’t be a whole lot different coaching players from another school. “I was the coach of the combined Columbia and Troy High School hockey team so I have some experience with this. It won’t be too different.”

Senior Winger Conor Hurley talked about his opinion on the merger, saying,

“I’m not particularly happy about the merger, but it needed to be done because we didn’t have enough players, but now that it’s being done, I believe they will make us a better team.” Senior Winger Jared Kline agreed, “Merging with them might mess up the lines, and the chemistry between players who have been playing together forever, but we needed the players.” He went on and added, “Mohon does add a few good players to the team though.” Neither player shied away from the fact that the addition of the Mohonasen players will make them a better team.

Junior center Ryan Ghizzoni believed it was very important for the two schools to merge. “It was necessary for both programs to merge. Programs like Schenectady/Nisky and Shaker/Colonie have already merged so it was a good time for us to become a stronger hockey program.” Junior defender Bram Peter-

son also realized the importance of the merger, “We wouldn’t have been able to have a team if it wasn’t for the merge, so I’d much rather play hockey with another school than not play hockey at all.”

“People probably won’t give us much respect at the beginning of the season so we are going to have to play hard and prove ourselves…I think we’ll be able to compete with teams at the top of our division.” Says Ghizzoni. Head Coach John DeRubertis seems to agree, “I think we will have an opportunity to sneak up on the competition this season and I say that because I don’t believe the other teams in our section are aware of how good we could be.”

Last season the Dutchmen had an overall record of 7-13-1. Mohonasen/ Shalmont (Shalmont, removed from the team due to the merger with Guilderland) had a record of 1-20 last season.

Hurley believes that there might be a

shot at a section II title this season because “there should be a lot of parody in the league this year.” Ghizzoni believed the Dutchmen could have a shot at it as well. “I honestly think we have a shot. We have a couple tough teams to deal with in Shenendehowa and Saratoga, but I think we will end up near the top of our division and hopefully make a late run for section II.” The team begins its journey to the top of Section II against Shaker/Colonie on Tuesday 11/23 at the Union College hockey rink. Hurley says, “It is important to start off well so when we get into the middle of the season we are playing our best hockey.” Come support the newly merged Guilderland/Mohonasen Dutchmen as they aspire to take out Shaker/ Colonie and get the season off to a good start.

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