The Hoof Beat - December 2011

Shakespeare still funny in the 21st century

Th The Student Newspaper of Northside College Prep HS December 2011, Volume 12, Number 4 Online at thehoofbeat.com

The Northside Certamen team sweeps at all levels

by Timothy Suh On Tuesday evening, Nov. 1, the Northside Latin Club Certamen Team started strong with wins at the novice, lower, and upper levels in the first round of the Northern Division of the Illinois Certamen League (ICL). Team members buzzed in to answer questions about Latin grammar, literature, Roman history, culture, and more in the quiz bowl competition known as certamen. The novice team won with 525 points, the lower with 435 points, and the upper team with an enormous 705 points, more than double the second place finishers. The first round was hosted at Northside, marking a new year and new goals for the upcoming certamen season.

“We will win at nationals,” David Jaffe, Adv. 206, said. “If possible, we will also win at state.”

Other participating schools in the Northern Division included New Trier, Evanston Township, Loyola Academy, Libertyville, and Glenbrook North. The round was divided into three individual rounds for each level, in which three certamen teams face-off in a quiz bowl style. Although Northside was able to come out victorious in all three levels, the competition did get close. In its second round, Northside’s novice team lost by 5 points, the closest margin possible.

ICL is just one of the many competitions that the Northside Certamen Team competes in. Others include the City of Chicago Latin Olympics and the Illinois Junior Classical League State Convention, which occurs over a period of three days. Alongside ICL, the state convention is often the top prize coveted by Northside’s team, as they face off against traditional suburban rivals like Lyons Township.

A strong start for the team members bodes well for the rest of season, especially because teams have to be reformed every year as students move up the levels of Latin. For example, this marks the first competition for the novice level team that consisted of Pedro Juarez, Adv. 201, Devyn Rigsby, Adv. 503, Tulsi Patel, Adv. 504, Sarah Saks-Fithian, Adv. 501, Fatima Sattar, Adv. 507, and Lesly Marroquin, Adv. 500. All the teams have been practicing since September, meeting nearly every day after school until 5 p.m., though students have often stayed later. The teams usually practice their buzzing as either Mr. William Nifong, language department, or a fellow student reads practice questions that the teams have accumulated over the years.

“My favorite question of all was a Latin to English translation,” Jaffe said. “‘Translate into English: Nemo cantact dulcius tua sorore.’ No one sings more sweetly than your sister.”

Maggie Darrah, Adv. 307, and Connor Blake, Adv. 309, act in ahumorous scene on Saturday. | SHARON FLORES

Phoebe Thatcher, Adv. 207, and Olivia Klevorn, Adv. 300 , have a confrontation on stage. | SHARON FLORES

Northside’s “Twelfth Night” leaves audience laughing

by Sharon Flores From the lighthearted oldies background music to the minute the light shone upon an amusing beach setting populated by inflatables, audience members knew this would be a humorous production of Northside’s fall play, “Twelfth Night.”

Written by William Shakespeare, “Twelfth Night” tells the story of Viola, a young aristocratic woman who takes on the disguise of a man named Cesario after she is convinced her twin brother Sebastian has drowned in a shipwreck during a storm. Viola, disguised as Cesario, seeks work as a messenger for Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, and quickly gains his trust while simultaneously falling in love with him. Unfortunately, Orsino’s affections are for a woman named Olivia. When Cesario is sent to deliver Orsino’s love messages to Olivia, Olivia falls in love with Cesario, complicating things further.

Meanwhile Sebastian, who survived the shipwreck, believes that his sister Viola is dead. He arrives at the household of Count Orsino with his caretaker and protector Antonio. Olivia asks Sebastian to marry her, believing it is Cesario, and Sebastian accepts knowing she is wealthy. Antonio is arrested and turns to Cesario for help, thinking he is Sebastian, but feels betrayed when Cesario denies knowing him. When Orsino and Cesario visit Olivia’s house, she greets Cesario as her newly wed husband, making Orsino furious. Baffled, Cesario has no idea of the wedding until Sebastian appears in the scene, revealing the existence of the siblings to one another, and clarifying their roles.

Northside’s production of “Twelfth Night” was an amusing, original interpretation of Shakespeare’s play. Many audience members were initially taken aback and intimidated by the fact that it was written by Shakespeare, knowing the language would be difficult to understand, but quickly found themselves following along with the char-

Kelsey Waxman, Adv. 202, sings a song as Feste. | SHARON FLORES

acters. The cast realized this challenge and worked harder to connect the material to the audience in a way that would make the old language enjoyable.

“I think the biggest difficulty with performing Shakespeare is making sure that the audience understands what’s going on,” actor Samatha Delacruz, Adv. 301, said. “We tried really hard to use our delivery and blocking to help with that and to make it an enjoyable performance to watch.”

To connect to the audience, the production incorporated a modern twist in the humor through contemporary songs. In some scenes, characters showed glimpses of familiar silly dances, pulling a laugh from the audience.

“I never thought Shakespeare could be that enjoyable, but the cast really did an amazing job of making it amusing for the whole audience,” Mary McInerney, Adv. 301, said. “My favorite part was the scene where they sang What is Love, Bohemian Rhapsody,

Julius DiLorenzo, Adv. 208, and Ashley Gonzalez, Adv. 209, during a an emotional part of the play. | SHARON FLORES

and Bye, Bye, Bye. I could not stop laughing through it.”

All of the cast members portrayed their characters well, no matter how outrageous the play called them to be and it was apparent they were having just as much fun performing as the audience was watching them. All of the actors had great chemistry together, feeding off of each other’s energy to make their delivery even more believable and enjoyable.

“My favorite part of performing is working with all of the other actors because I got to know so many great people in the cast,” Delacruz said.

This production was no doubt a success as evident from the laughter heard during several scenes and the applause as each cast member bowed at the closing.

“You could definitely tell that all the hard work everyone put into the play really paid off, and it was definitely worth it to go see it,” McInerney said.

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NCP News • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat ONLINE

NCP NEWS Student Council Report Money raised at Turkey Bowl to help former Northside teacher

by Carly Jackson The council organized and facilitated the 5-on-5 Turkey Bowl flag football tournament on Wednesday, November 2 at 1:30 p.m. after colloquium. Sixteen teams registered, at $3 per player, and $400 was raised for the family of former Northside teacher Mr. Isenberg, who is suffering from brain hemorrhages, via the Community Betterment Organization, a donation mediation website. A trophy for the winning team was created by June Murphy, Adv. 204. Council members refereed the games and scheduled the tournament bracket with a lot of support from advisors Ms. Lisa Volesky, science department, and Ms. Veronica Hetler, social science department. Photos of the event have been posted on the school website.

The deadline for class t-shirt designs was Nov. 7. The shirt designs will now be priced, and then a shirt for each class will be chosen through majority vote. Five t-shirt designs

For information on the Matt Isenberg Fund, visit http://mattisenbergfund. bbnow.org/

were submitted for the Class of 2015; 11 designs were submitted for the Class of 2014; two were submitted for the Class of 2013; nine were submitted for the Class of 2012.

Advisory representatives met with student council the first week of November. They got more information about the class t-shirt design process and the 5-on-5 Turkey Bowl flag football tournament. The representatives then relayed Turkey Bowl details to their advisories and encouraged students to submit tshirt designs. Thirty-three of the 39 advisory representatives attended the meeting.

The council will begin to plan Northside’s homecoming dance. The dance will be held in Northside’s gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 13.

The homecoming basketball game will be the next day. In order to improve student council dances, a survey has been made available on the council’s Facebook page.

Student council’s bulletin board has been updated with information about grant proposals. Any questions about grants can be directed to an advisory representative or emailed to ncpstudentcouncil@gmail.com.

Grant proposals can be submitted to any student council member and can be found on the Northside website under Student Life, then Student Council, and then Resources.

Photos: Christmas Around the World at the Museum of Science and Industry

by Jamilah Alsharif

Local School Council (LSC) Report

by Zobia Chunara Meeting: November 8 Present: John Ceisel, Kathleen Andrade, Cathy Quigley, Crystal Melto, Robert Albritton, Barry Rodgers, Vicky Andrews, Gail Myers Jaffe, Diane Monnich, Meredith O’Connor, Zobia Chunara Principal’s Report: -Northside was ranked No. 1 by both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.

-Northside nationally ranks No. 16 among STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) schools.

-Printer contract of $11,287.50 was paid

by Friends of Northside for maintenance and service of 60 printers throughout the school.

Four high volume printers will be replaced in the library. The cost of the contract went up $100, and Northside is looking into replacing print management software that is compatible with Windows 7.

-During the visit to the Planetarium in March, all students will participate through a series of colloquium days that emphasize the scientific side of astronomy.

-Bid process for security cameras: Northside was looking in the $20,000 range; however, the bid process returned amounts closer to $60,000. There is a need to convert the system from analog to digital and to replace old, broken cameras. Northside will see what can be done and possibly appeal to CPS to match the cost.

- The school report card was received as part of a first-time process for the new CPS administration. The metrics include how students perform on standardized tests such as PLAN, EXPLORE, ACT, etc., and also the cultural makeup of the school as reported on surveys. Northside’s report is positive but also includes areas of potential growth.

-The local sorority of a Northside alum

sponsored a Flag Football tournament on Nov. 11 at Sheridan Park near the UIC campus, with all proceeds going to the Matt Isenberg Fund. Mr. Isenberg is a former Northside teacher who is recovering from a traumatic brain injury.

Teacher Report: -Teachers are working diligently to help students get into college by writing recommendations and are bracing themselves for the second round.

-Northside is keeping an eye on the Common Core state standards, which is mandatory next year for math and English. Mr. Albritton reiterated that the math department is already implementing most of the practices and can be a leader in the CPS community.

-At the union meeting, there was talk about limited rights on which the union can negotiate, and the longer school day is not negotiable. Teachers can negotiate salary, but this can be taken away.

-Pension issue due to the pension reform bill allows employees to have three options – leaving current pension exposed financially, teachers can pay 9 percent now and get fewer benefits, increase contribution to 12 percent to get the same benefits, or invest somewhere else on their own.

-There was discussion about allowing Mayor Rahm Emanuel to have representatives on the pension board. This would not bode well for teachers, according to Mr. Albritton.

Parent Network: -$800 are needed to print the student directory and for other costs, so a request for future funding is forthcoming.

-There is a search for five parent volunteers to do weekly or monthly reports for the EPIC, the parent newsletter of Northside.

Christmas trees light up the museum exhibit. | JAMILAH ALSHARIF

Employees and volunteers decorate trees with themes from around the world. | JAMILAH ALSHARIF

NCP News • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

Journalist covers global issues through photojournalism David Rochkind presents his work on the TB epidemic

by Jamilah Alsharif Photojournalist David Rochkind exposes the high drama and conflict in places where they have become mundane aspects of daily life. He puts himself in danger to get images that will document the stories of people that face those problems. On Nov. 3, Rochkind gave a presentation at Northside on his coverage of the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic.

“One of the hardest things is just funding it,” Rochkind said. “There’s not a lot of money available for journalism right now. You have to be really creative for where you look for funding.”

Winning the 2009 Stop TB Partnership Images to Stop TB Award helped Rochkind report about TB in the slums of Mumbai, India.

Among the organizations that have funded some of Rochkind’s other work include the International Reporting Project at Johns Hopkins University and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

In his presentation, Rochkind referred to his picture of a TB victim that he met when he was covering the TB epidemic. Meeting the victim and her family impacted Rochkind on a personal level.

“They had to decide between support-

ing themselves or getting treatment for their mother,” Rochkind said. “That really impacted me because you really see how TB affects people’s lives. If one person has it, the entire family is affected. I could never imagine making a decision like that; making a decision between food for my children or my own treatment.”

Rochkind graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Sociology. After graduating, he pursued a career as a photojournalist.

“When I was in college, people would ask me what I wanted to do after graduation,” Rochkind said. “I would say that ‘my dream job would be to be a photojournalist, but that’s impossible so I’ll do something else.’

And somebody said to me ‘that’s the stupidest thing I have ever heard. If you want to be a photojournalist just start doing it.’”

Rochkind got an internship with a newspaper in New Mexico and then went to Venezuela where he started working as a freelance journalist. He continued his photojournalistic work in other nations as he found more topics that needed more exposure. In Mexico, he focused on the drug war. In India, Moldova, and South Africa, he focused on the TB epidemic in Africa.

For the last three years, Rochkind has been based in Mexico, working on a story on Mexico’s drug cartels. His photojournalistic work can be seen on his website www.davidrochkind.com.

Photojournalist David Rochkind speaks about his photos in Northside’s auditorium. | JAMILAH ALSHARIF

Northside may choose to buy electronics from conflict-mineral free companies

by Carly Jackson According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook, the mining of gold, tin, and other metals is the largest industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. The Enough Project, which works to end crimes against humanity and was cofounded by former U.S. Director for African Affairs John Prendergast, has begun a campaign called Raise Hope for Congo.

The purpose of the campaign is to explain to American consumers how their purchase of electronics containing Congo’s minerals incentivizes armed groups in the Congo to trade these minerals in order to grow stronger economically and in physical force. These armed groups, according to the Enough Project’s first-hand reporting from the army commanders themselves, are thus able to continue the violent conflicts in the Congo that have killed the most people out of any war since World War II, and these minerals are used to construct cell phones, laptops, and many other electronics.

“Institutions, by denouncing or restricting consumption of conflict minerals, are trying to give electronic companies an incentive to change the inputs in the products,” Mr. Michael Sliwicki, social science department, said. “This in turn could have a positive effect on the crisis in the Congo... If demand for the minerals dropped enough, it certainly would make the armed groups less effective.”

There are many ways for school districts, colleges, and other institutions to denounce or restrict their use of conflict minerals. As suggested by the Enough Project, an institution could commit to buying conflict-free electronics when available, prioritize companies which are improving the transparency of their mineral supply, or consider conflict minerals when making new agreements with electronics companies. Institutions could also consider creating a general statement that acknowledges the conflict caused by minerals from the Congo and denounces their usage. “[Northside] is under Chicago Public Schools guidelines for which electronics we

can purchase,” Dr. Margaret Murphy, assistant principal, said. “There is an approved list; those are the only companies we can buy from.... but we would have to do more research, see this from multiple sources, and figure out how we can support this, if possible.”

Northside may already be buying from companies which mostly avoid conflict minerals. Northside currently purchases electronics from HP, Dell, and Lenovo.

“We [the technology coordinators] base all of our decisions on prices and quality of services,” Marcos Alcozer, technology coordinator, said. “The service from Dell is so great.

We can fix them so fast and get them back into students’ hands so fast.”

Dell is one of the few companies currently investigating whether their products include tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold from eastern Congo. According to a Dell representative, the company has not yet created a conflict-free product. HP and Lenovo share similar characteristics. Most electronics com-

panies, including HP, Canon, and Apple, are unable to trace these minerals back to their mines of origin.

“Right now, I don’t think requiring transparency of electronic companies’ supply chains is something that could get passed in Congress,” Sliwicki said. “On the other hand, if enough people spoke out about it, elected officials would take notice. Consumers too, could achieve the same effect by voting with their pocketbooks and buying fewer conflict mineral laden electronics, ultimately forcing companies to become more transparent about their supply chains.”

On April 19, 2011, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania became the first American city to pass a Conflict-Free City Resolution for Congo.

Pittsburgh’s statement calls for electronics companies to begin the process of eliminating conflict minerals from their supply chains because of the six million and counting deaths in the Congo. Could a conflict mineral-free Chicago be in the near future, too? It depends on citizens.

Shake your tail feathers: Northside gives back through Turkey Bowl

by Calum Blackshaw After colloquium on Nov. 2, students gathered in the back field for Northside’s annual flag-football tournament, Turkey Bowl. Sixteen teams signed up to play for a trophy and bragging rights. Each year, Student Council sponsors Turkey Bowl, and the money earned from selling tickets go to a predetermined cause. Student Council President, Adira Levine, Adv. 204, elaborated on what was this year’s cause for Turkey Bowl.

“Northside holds this event every year for different charities,” Levine said. “This year, the money is going to Mr. Isenberg’s family.

Matt Isenberg was a former teacher here at

Northside, who has recently suffered brain damage that his insurance will not cover. This money is going to help him and his family.”

On this afternoon, Northside students were ready to play some football, with homemade team jerseys and plays ready to be put into action. The teachers overseeing Turkey Bowl were Mrs. Veronica Hetler, social science department, and Ms. Lisa Volesky, science department. Student Council members not participating in the tournament were referees and kept track of the games. There were eight games in the first round, followed by the quarter-finals between the eight winners.

After two semi-final games, the remaining two teams faced off in the finals.

The first games began at 1:30 p.m., with three fields behind the soccer field made up for the games. Aside from some expected trash talk during the game, the players were having a good time just playing football.

After the quarter and semi-finals, the audience had gradually dispersed, leaving a handful of students to watch the last two teams; the names of which were Team 1 and Team 5. By 3:45 p.m. the last two teams were ready to finish up the tournament.

The teams went point for point in the first half, tied at 2-2. Ramiz Memon of Team 5, Adv. 401, made an interception in the second half that helped his team, but Team 1 got the ball back with their own interception by

Zen Iwankiw, Adv. 400. The teams were at 3-3, then Team 5 got intercepted for a touchdown by Team 1.

The score was then 4-3 with two minutes left in the game, and Team 5 needed at least another touchdown to tie the game, or two to win. But then Team 1 made another interception from Team 5 to score a touchdown and win the game, 5-3. The winners received a trophy from Student Council and everyone was thanked for their contribution in helping Mr. Isenberg.

“We played today because there’s no football at Northside and we like football,” said Sufyan Menk, Adv. 303. “It doesn’t matter how it turns out, it’s about playing the game.”

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NCP News • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

Women’s volleyball contributes to a cause

Northside students take advantage of college fly-out programs

by Sylvia Wtorkowski

The women’s volleyball team poses for a photo after the Be the Cure tournament. | MARIA FLORES

Volleyball tournament raises money for children with brain cancer

by Maria Flores On Nov. 5, the Northside gym was full of loud music and the women’s volleyball team was breaking a sweat. They were part of a twelve hour tournament from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. of non-stop volleyball playing in order to raise money for children’s brain cancer research.

“People have made flat donations in addition to pledges for how many hours the girls will play,” Coach Nicole Flores, math department, said. “Some of the girls will play for twelve hours. On average, each girl plays 11 to 11 and a half hours.”

The group became interested in helping out this cause when Coach Flores heard about Casey Patton, a high school volleyball player who lived in Downers Grove with an inoperable brain tumor. She, with the help of friends and family made and sold t-shirts to raise money to donate to the Children’s Memorial Hospital, the hospital that helped Patton. Patton, in a further effort to help the hospital and other patients going through the

same process, started a foundation called Be the Cure, which helps raise money for brain cancer research.

A lot of the volleyball players felt a personal connection to Patton’s story because some of them have friends and family members that are facing similar situations.

“I have lost a lot of family members to preventable diseases and cancer,” Adriane Walther, Senior Varsity Captain, Adv. 200, said. “It makes me feel better that I’m raising money for a cause that will perhaps help prevent this in the future so that other families and people don’t have to go through the same things that I’ve gone through in the past.”

The volleyball team has been hosting this event for four years and has raised around $25,000 for this cause. The money that the team is able to raise goes into the volleyball account and then a paycheck is made out to Children’s Memorial Hospital in that dollar amount.

In the afternoon, Patton herself was able to come and play with the girls.

“It inspired me, to feel what her family has been going through and what she has been going through, and see that’s she’s still pushing.” Walther said. “It was really inspiring that she had the strength to show the world that they still have hope.”

These sort of events are beneficial for the players and others. It shows young adoles-

cents that they are influential enough to be able to use their talents and help others as well.

“I think it motivates them to stay active and healthy,” Coach Flores said. “I think it motivates them to continue to play volleyball in general, and develops awareness to them about things that are happening in the world.

And that one person can help and make a difference.”

“We’ve enjoyed to combine charity work with something we really love,” Kacie O’Connell, Senior Varsity Captain, Adv. 204, said. “So not only are we feeling good about ourselves because we’re doing good for other people, but also because we’re doing something we love so much.”

The volleyball team has another fundraiser planned for brain cancer research called Have a Ball. During this fundraiser, sporting goods companies donate balls, which the volleyball team sends to local and national artists. The artists are asked to create works of art with the balls, and they are auctioned off at Northside.

The women’s volleyball team hopes to have an even greater impact and to be able to help more people affected by diseases with the support of the Chicago community. A possible future project for the team will be to encourage people from the Northside’s community to also play in the tournament.

Check any Northside seniors’ inbox and you will see it is flooded with emails announcing various “fly-out” programs. While many seniors do not take advantage of the opportunities, others have been seizing them to explore more colleges. Yuwei Lei, Adv. 202, has participated in five fly-out programs.

These include the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana Research Apprenticeship Program, the Swarthmore College through Discover Swarthmore Program and the Tufts University through Voices of Tufts Program.

In these programs all expenses are paid in full by the participating colleges.

According to Lei, students listen to admission officers speak about the college, interact with current students, and sit in classrooms to experience a lecture during the college fly-out programs.

“The experience taught me a whole different aspect of colleges,” Yuwei Lei said, “that two schools might look identical on paper, but you are only going to fall in love with one when you visit.”

Greesham Simon, Adv. 209, has participated in two programs with the University of Michigan College of Engineering. The first trip was in December of his junior year to explore the College of Engineering at University of Michigan. During this program, students attended an Engineering Design Expo in which college seniors displayed their projects.

The main event of the other University of Michigan program was called Tech Day, in which students that have interest in the College of Engineering can explore the campus, the majors, and the engineering subfields.

“I thought the second event was more rewarding, as it showed me many perspectives of the University of Michigan experience,” Simon said. “This may sound corny, but you also experience the ‘feel’ of the campus, and this may greatly impact your choice of attending the given college.”

Aside from majors and financial aid, an important aspect of the college experience is the people who attend it. Fly-out programs also allow students to meet other students from all around the nation.

“When I asked a Mt. Holyoke admissions officer what the most important thing at the college was, she responded right away with, ‘the people,’” Lei said. “I agree with her in that the most important thing you can take away from these college visits is your connection with the people.”

Dinner, diplomacy, and the Dutch consulate general

Students learn about Foreign Service from an ambassador

by Regine Sarah Capungan Dr. Hans Heinsbroek, the Dutch Consulate General of Chicago, and his wife Mrs. Donna Heinsbroek, devoted both their time and their residence to a group of Northside students and teachers during the evening of Oct. 18. The event consisted of both a dinner and a discussion about the purpose of diplomacy, as well as the life of a consulate general.

“I thought it was wonderful, and I was

impressed by the hosiptality and kindness that Dr. Heinsbroek and his wife showed,” Mr. Charles Milbert, social science department, said. “I was also impressed by the place where they lived and the artwork on the walls.

I could tell that artwork meant a lot to them.”

Teachers Mr. Charles Milbert, social science department, Mrs. Veronica Hetler, social science department, Ms. Lisa Volesky, science department, and Ms. Anne Huestis, world language department attended the dinner with 13 of their students from Student Council and the Global Initiative colloquium. One of these students included Honglin Xiao, Adv. 201, Student Council Senior Senator.

“I went to the dinner because I thought

it would be interesting to see how an ambassador works,” Xiao said. “I’m interested in possibly pursuing that career, or something like that, in the future.”

During the discussion, Heinsbroek shared stories about his Foreign Service career and the different cultures he experiences during his travels. Heinsbroek, a native of the Netherlands, has traveled to several countries for both visits and extended stays. Before residing in the United States, Heinbroek traveled to China, South Korea, Zimbabwe, and more.

“I really liked hearing about his travels and about the culture shock he’d experience sometimes,” Xiao said. “It was impressive to

learn about the number of languages he mastered. It [diplomacy] definitely takes a lot of work.”

The students left Heinsbroek’s house with their stomachs filled with food and their heads filled with new information about a possible career path.

“I thought it [the dinner] was tremendous,” Milbert said. “For some students, it was the realization of what goes on in the Foreign Service. Other students got a general awareness of living in a foreign country and the challenges that come with it. Despite how cliché this sounds, it showed that despite our differences, how similar we all can be.”

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Special Features • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Best books to browse Fantasy novel charms judges, National Book Award finalist Franny Billingsley keeps readers spellbound

by Miranda Roberts “Part mystery, part fantasy,” said Holly Black, author of the Spiderwick Chronicles, “this beautifully written page turner explores guilt, mercy, and love.”

“Chime,” by Franny Billingsley, was a finalist in the Young People’s Literature category as part of the National Book Awards. Her new novel is is a haunting mystery-romance that follows a seventeen year old girl named Briony Larkin.

Briony is the daughter of the reverend of the small town of Swampsea at the beginning of the twentieth century. She has a power that lets her see mythical creatures that inhabit the swamp including creatures she names Mucky Face, the Brownie, and the Dead Hand. Briony learns that the deadly Swamp cough is somehow related to the draining of the swamp, but does not know how to tell the town because everyone sees her only as the odd motherless daughter of the reverend..

After her stepmother’s death, Briony devotes her life to caring for her sister and hating herself with a fiery passion for hurting her step-

mother and sister when she was younger. She finds that changing when the Eldric, the son of a man boarding with the Reverend, comes to live with her family. He calls himself a bad boy, but he helps Pearl, the resident housekeeper, who cooks dinner and joins Rose under the table while she works on her tedious paper collages.

When Rose runs off into the swamp, Eldric and Briony rescue her from three witches with flaming red hair. All seems calm after that, but a paranoia of a witch hunt sweeps over the town.

Briony is soon in a fight for her neck, and the outcome is something no one in the town saw coming.

This novel is well written from the voice of an adolescent Briony. There are times where the story becomes particularly grisly and bloody, but those moments are contrasted by light-hearted exchanges between Eldric and Briony or some of the benevolent swamp creatures. The narrator is very strong willed and never hesitant to give her opinion of the personality or lack thereof in other characters.

“If Eldric were to tell the story, he’d likely begin with himself. That’s where proper stories begin, don’t they?” said Billingsley, “when the handsome stranger arrives and everything goes wrong? But this isn’t a proper story, and I’m telling you, I ought to be hanged.”

The reader gets a sense that Briony is tell-

ing her story from across the table or through letters rather that in a novel. The writing style personalizes the story and all but pulls you into the book as a new character or a confidante of Briony. This directness is seen throughout the book as the mystery of the Swamp cough, Stepmother’s death, and the witch trials seamlessly come together.

“Chime” was selected for the Young People’s National Book Award by the 2011 panel of five judges. These judges have written and published works in that particular genre. They are nominated by previous National Book Award winners and finalists; however, the Foundation’s Executive Director gets the final say on the judge list after consulting the Board of Directors. “Chime” made it to the top five this year. Billingsey will receive $1,000 and a bronze statue as a reward to commemorate this achievement.

“Chime” is a unique novel with original characters that seem so realistic they could step right off the pages. The author kept the reader enthralled by hinting at the answer to the mystery slowly while Briony tries to put the pieces together. This would be a perfect book for readers interested in Sherlock Holmes mysteries and the “other world” experience of “Bridge to Terabithia” or “The Chronicles of Narnia” that is seen whenever Briony enters the swamp.

Chime Franny Billingsley Dial Publishing, 2011 368 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

Heroes wanted in a quest to save the immortal race Rick Riordan’s new series answers old questions and raises new ones

by Maria Flores Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” story continues with a second series. The first book in the series, “The Lost Hero: Heroes of Olympus, Book 1,” starts after the battle of Camp Half Blood when the reader finds out that the long awaited heroes of prophecy are still yet to be found. New demigods will come and their decision will dictate the course of human kind, but no one knows when.

The story begins when the main character Jason, son of Zeus, finds himself on a field trip to the Grand Canyon with a bunch of juvenile delinquents. He is flanked by a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo and has no idea who he is or what he is doing among strangers who claim to be his friends.

Before he can get his bearings straight, he and his friends get whisked away by a storm cloud to a place on Long Island known as Camp Half Blood, a camp for demigods, or children of ancient Greek gods. These

children indulge in archery, Pegasus riding, fighting with hell hounds, cliff climbing while avoiding hot molten lava. Here, Jason finds that he is the son of the thunderous Zeus, and Piper is the daughter of the lovely Aphrodite, goddess of love, even though she does not care a cent for good looks. Leo is the son of the black smith god, Hephaestus, and loves tinkering with his own new creations.

Some of the old characters from the old series take center stage. A missing son of Poseidon, Percy Jackson is out on some crazy mission, leaving Athena’s daughter Annabeth worried sick. But the book centers more on the new generation and the new troubles to come.

The heroes are sent on a journey, which involves travelling on a haywire gold dragon and saving the queen of the gods Hera who is being held captive by some unknown evil force.

The series also introduces new villains, but not as fitting as the one that we saw in the previous series. Mother Earth compared to the king of the Titans Kronos seems unrealistic. The use of a powerful female character was a nice change. Women wield more power than in the previous series.

The book is witty, spontaneous and makes for a really quick read. The heroes are sent on crazy missions to preserve mortal human civilization. The author also high-

lights how fragile the world of the gods is with the abduction of the queen of the gods Hera, which reminds us that even though a god might have been worshiped, the world moves on and one can be quite easily forgotten.

This book was very interesting because we get to see the more Roman and war-like version of the gods. Jason starts reciting prophecy he’s never heard about in Latin and referring to gods he comes across by their Roman names. This opens up a whole new situation for demigods. The next book in the series “The Son of Neptune” is already available for those who want to venture further into the ancient world of the Greek gods.

More from the Rick Riordan Series “The Lost Hero” is preceded by: The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and The Olympians, Book 5) Rick Riordan Hyperion Book CH, 2011 416 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON. COM

Followed by: The Lost Hero (Heros of Olympus, Book 1) Rick Riordan Hyperion Book CH, 2010 576 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON. COM

The Son of Neptune (Heros of Olympus, Book 2) Rick Riordan Hyperion Book CH, 2011 544 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON. COM

6

Special Features • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

Have your candy ready

by Calum Blackshaw Death, no matter who you are or what you have done, is inevitable. Since the beginning of time, many people have questioned what happens after death. Theories of reincarnation, enlightenment, or sanctum have filled religious and scientific books for centuries, but author Chuck Palahniuk gives a glimpse into his idea of the afterlife in his book for 2011, “Damned.”

“Damned” is a narrative about 13 yearold Madison Spencer, who died of a drug overdose and was sent to Hell without a reason.

Madison finds herself in the demon’s forge with a variety of characters straight from John Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club.” There is the jock in a jersey, a geek spouting random points about the history of Hell, a spiky-blue haired head-banger in leather and combat boots, and a queen bee in fake heels and a gauche bag, and Madison sees herself as the outcast. “It does not matter what your take on religion is,” Madison tells the reader, “you either wind up [in Heaven] or down here.”

In Hell, Madison’s goals are to find out why she is in Hell and get around without horrible mutilation by the demons that lay waste to it. Along this endless path, Madison and the quad meet with demons and telemarketers, pass oceans of insects, aborted fetuses, and other obscene landmarks too gross to detail. The Pit, a name used to describe Hell, is home to all sorts of celebrities, former factions, and “sinners.” Hell is less of a condemnation, and more of an eternal soiree of old faces from history.

Despite the whole ‘eternal damnation’ idea and pits of human waste, Madison does not take her situation too hard, as she is trying to lose hope of getting out and just try to get along without being cliché, starting every chapter with “Are you there, Satan?

It’s me, Madison,” and an upbeat note to go with Palahniuk’s reference to a novel by Judy Blume.

The story is taken entirely from Madison’s view, and you see her going back and forth between her time in Hell and her memories from her life, as well as her friends’ reasons for why people are sent to Hell. While this gives the plot depth, it can make situations in the story lose their feel as you are taken from glimpses of her life back to her standing in the Underworld.

Palahniuk has made a career of writing humorous yet discerning novels, including Fight Club, Snuff, and Choke. Damned is no different from Palahniuk’s older creations.

He combats setting with tone to create a piece fans are sure to enjoy, like gaining favor with a demon who, only seconds before, had stripped one character of the lower half of his body. For people who have not read his work before, they may not be used to some of his usual writing style, but if insecurity is set aside, “Damned” can be an enjoyable piece.

Damned Chuck Palahniuk Doubleday Publishing, 2011 256 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON. COM

A story of youth, investigation, adventure

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Mark Haddon Vintage Books, 2004 226 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

by Sylvia Wtorkowski Mark Haddon’s third book for the Book Awards Challenge, “The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-time,” has it all: lies, cheating scandals and family secrets. The novel is a real-life murder mystery where, rather than following the investigation of a human death, the story looks into the murder of a neighbor’s dog, Wellington.

The story is written through the perspective of a 15 year old autistic child who, refers to himself as Christopher John Francis Boone. Because of Christopher’s emotional detachment and separation from his thoughts, the book is narrated in a way that he feels is most logical. If Christopher finds it difficult to describe something to his readers

he includes charts and diagrams. When he becomes agitated, he performs difficult “A-level maths” problems in his head to calm himself down, and often displays them in the book and explains his process of solving them. As for the titles of his chapters, he uses prime numbers rather than words simply because he likes them. His point of view regarding his decisions when wording his sentences or explaining an event lets the reader gain insight into an autistic child’s perspective.

Christopher does many things that might seem strange to those who he refers to as not having “special needs.” Within the first few pages of the book, Christopher spends his night walking up and down his street just after midnight, pretending that he is the only person on the earth, as he often does. As he comes across Mrs. Shear’s lawn, he sees her black poodle, Wellington, laying on the grass will a large garden fork sticking out of his back.

“The Hound of the Baskervilles,” which features Sherlock Holmes, is Christopher Boone’s favorite book of the great lot he has read. Christopher, who looks up to Holmes, wants to be just like him and convinces himself that he will discover who killed Wellington and write a book about his investigations and experiences along the way.

As he does so, Christopher runs into many problems due to his inability to understand human emotions and actions. The story follows his run-ins with the law on multiple occasions and the way he upsets a great number of people while he tries to communicate with them. In one instance, a woman kindly asked Christopher “Is there anything I can do to help you?” and he responds by saying, “I’ve got a Swiss Army knife and it has a saw blade and it could cut someone’s fingers off,” because he thinks that all strangers are “bad” people and are out to get him. When reading sections of the book such as this one, the reader can get inside of his mind and more effectively understand the strange logic behind the way Christopher interacts with others.

Christopher has numerous behavioral problems aside from his detachment from others. If there are too many people in a con-

fined space and he is among them, he groans loudly and he screams if touched. Christopher detests the colors yellow and brown and refuses to eat anything of those colors. He does, however, show a strong liking for the color red. The autistic boy demonstrates this by using the colors of the cars he passes on the way to school each morning to determine whether he will have a good day or a bad day “The next day I saw 4 yellow cars in a row on the way to school, which made it a Black Day, so I didn’t eat anything at lunch and I sat in the corner of the room all day and read my A-level maths course book..“ Despite being logical, this is one of Christopher’s exceptions and he refuses to change his ways despite his school instructor’s advice.

As his journey continues, Christopher discovers the secrets behind his parents’ marriage and those of the people whom live in his neighborhood. His reaction to each new piece of information is what makes this book like no other in existence.

The way Haddon manages to write Christopher’s story, twist after twist, keeps the reader on edge. Readers will want to follow Christopher John Francis Boone’s experiences as they learn the secrets regarding both his neighbors and family members.

After Wellington’s unexpected murderer is revealed, Haddon keeps his readers interested down to the final page by displaying the lies, cheating scandals, and secrets that encompass Christopher.

The time Haddon has spent with autistic children greatly influenced this narrative piece, where Haddon used his experiences with autistic children to write a better story through the voice of Christopher. Although the language is not complicated, the novel, written from the perspective of an autistic child, includes a great deal of detail of every aspect of Christopher’s investigations, in virtually every sentence in this novel.

Saying that this book was written well is an understatement by all means. It is one that can be read in a few short hours, but one whose impact of understanding autism will undoubtedly last a lifetime.

Following “The Adventures of Augie March”

by Christopher Ceisel The Great Depression of the 1930s was a time when it was hard to just get by for most Americans.

For Augie March, the main character of Saul Bellow’s “The Adventures of Augie March,” living during the Depression was not easy. The story begins with the introduction of Augie, a boy growing up in downtown Chicago during the Depression.

Throughout the book, Augie is faced with unexpected situations, beginning when he and his brothers were forced into the care of Mrs. Lausch, a stern Russian lady who grew up in Communist Russia, instead of their half-blind mother.

Wherever Augie goes, love follows him. He falls in love for the first time with a young girl he meets in a hotel by Benton Harbor. However, this does not work out, and Augie is forced to move on.

Although Augie has trouble finding love, his brother does not. He married into a rich family, and through that connection, Augie gets engaged to the cousin of the bride. However, his fiancée breaks off the wedding after uncovering something Augie had done and hid from her.

Augie moves on from this and meets many interesting people. Through his interactions with these people, the reader realizes that Augie is quite charismatic. The people Augie meets try

to get Augie to join them in their plots, ranging from handling prize-fighters and smuggling immigrants, to selling army supplies in Europe. They all seem to have a goal in life, something that Augie has not been able to figure out for himself.

Augie eventually leaves his friends due to his fear of commitment, which is evident in many of his relationships—none of which last more than a short while.

Through the novel, Augie craves affection. He is at his happiest when people love him. Augie is in love with being in love, and this leads him to only experience the “honeymoon” phase of a relationship before he needed more. He always finds himself needing “something new,” and he leaves what he has to find something different.

In one part of the book, Augie tries to help the current girl he is with to train an eagle to catch lizards, something that could not help him at all.

He did it simply to do something new that he could forget about at any time. This is why he never settles down throughout the book—he has nothing to hold him down.

“The Adventures of Augie March” can be a difficult read because the author uses a unique language and style that requires a patient and steady reader to follow. This book is not for those who

The Adventures of Augie March Saul Bellow Viking Penguin, 2006 616 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON. COM

want a light read; the reader needs to be fully engaged to digest everything Augie experiences if he or she really wants to understand the story because of the unusual language the author uses.

This book is fascinating because it seems to have an older style of writing, but it is still something that would interest people today.

“The Adventures of Augie March” is a great book because it is so unique, but it may be difficult for some readers. This book has a unique style and should be on everybody’s reading list.

7

Special Features • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

Taking a look at the world through a child’s eyes “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” educates and inspires

by Nelson Ogbuagu Young adults watch them play with toys, race merrily to swing sets, and listen to them complain about the difficulty of two digit addition. But as they sleep at night, tucked under their blankets with their eye lids fluttering in and out of consciousness, many cannot help but wonder what a nine year old child can possibly have to dream about or what runs through children’s minds when they are not running through playgrounds.

However, in Jonathon Safran Foer’s novel “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” it is the mind of a nine year old child that evokes the profoundest of thoughts and moves the story of the novel in directions that can continually captivate a reader.

The story is told through the eyes of nine year old Oskar Schell, an inventive, imaginative, and incredibly curious boy, who is coping with the loss of his father during the attacks on the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001. Oskar continuously speaks of potential inventions to help make the world better, such as speaking teakettles and mini-microphones that let the world hear the beating of hearts. But behind the typical bubbly exterior of a young child lies a boy

who feels lost after losing his father. It was not until the journey that Oskar makes after finding a key in his father’s closet that Oskar finally found the closure and healing that he desired.

Oskar and his father, Thomas, had always been fond of riddles, and before he died, Thomas had engaged in another riddle with his son that never had the opportunity to be solved. It was from this that Oskar, when he saw that the key read “Black,” took this discovery as a mission to find what door this key opened—what the answer was to his father’s final riddle.

The novel, from the first pages, makes one reconsider the ignorance of a child. It illustrates just how deeply even a small child can analyze any situation, while ensuring that the reader understands that the boy has not even reached an age in the double digits.

The use of diction, in which the narrator often repeats a lot of what he says, imitiates the common language spoken by a toddler. “My first jujitsu was three and a half months ago.

Self-defense was something that I was extremely curious about for obvious reasons… so my first jujitsu class was three and a half months ago,” is an example of this repetition.

However, it is with the juxtaposition of this informal and immature form of speech with the child’s mere recollection of events and his strange curiosity with concepts like death and religion, that makes Oskar seem unique from other kids his age.

Safran Foer incorporates many differ-

ent novelistic aspects in this piece as well, making the reading dynamic in that there are pages with long winded observations by Oskar, or just short yet intriguing lines per page like “Help,” and “I’m sorry.” Some pages were completely blank, creating mystery and suspense within the plot. Other pages had signatures in color, and some pages had words, phrases, and names circled in red pen, often marks on letters written by the grandparents of Oskar.

One of the most memorable artistic literary devices employed in this novel is the series of pictures dispersed throughout the novel. They all succeed in illustrating the thoughts that the narrator has. The most powerful of these series of photos is the flipbook of an individual falling from one of the buildings of the World Trade Center during the tragic attacks. However, in the context of the story, the flip book is reversed so that the man falling off the building seems to be floating back to the top of it. This has particular value to Oskar, as he wonders if it is his father that is falling from that building. This question leads him to create this flip book, in order to create the illusion that he has rewound the tragedy that was occurring.

One of the most profound pieces of the novel, depicted by pictures, was the section at the very end of the novel in which Oskar rewound the occurrences from the moment his father died to the night before, when together they had been looking up at the projected stars on his ceiling. It spoke to the

imagination of the child, as well as the connection he still had to his father after making such a journey. Each of these pictures were from references made by Oskar to help him describe a lot of the emotions he was feeling, as children generally uses drawing and pictures as a medium of expression. Each picture augmented the thoughts of this child.

“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” allows readers the opportunity to appreciate the power of youth. It provides insight into the lives of all people affected by tragedy, the thoughts that they have while coping, and the realizations that they encounter while on the journey to self-healing. This powerful novel has the potential to make one think to themself whether the minds of adults and children are really that different.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Jonathan Safran Foer Houghton Miflin, 2005 368 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

First “Madam Secretary” shares diplomatic insights Former Secretary of State provides inside information about international conflicts

by Carly Jackson Madeleine Albright, our nation’s first female Secretary of State, has been a strong advocate for democracy and international diplomacy since her childhood and an example for young women throughout her professional life.

In her memoir, “Madam Secretary,” Albright describes instances of her life including her parents’ escape from Europe’s Czeckoslovakia and her own trips there as an American diplomat. She describes issues in the U.S. State Department during Bill Clinton’s second presidential term, 1996 to 2000, and candidly discusses the personalities of her colleagues and world leaders like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kim Jong-Il, and current Secretary of State and former First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Albright’s book also describes how she often felt a lack of support from the United States government, and how difficult it was to persuade Congress to fund the State Department’s diplomatic efforts.

“I support generous funding for our armed forces,” Albright wrote. “But even most U.S. military leaders agree that there is a gross mismatch between what we allocate for military purposes and what we spend to advance our overseas interests by other means.”

Albright’s work with foreign policy began

when she started an International Relations Club at her high school in Denver, Colorado.

Her father worked with the Czechoslovakian Foreign Office, and was forced to move the family to Denver to avoid arrest by the Nazi Gestapo due to his work with democratic op-

Madam Secretary: A Memoir Madeline Albright with Boll Woodward Miramax Books, 2003 576 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

position forces. Albright attended Wellesley College, but became involved in politics after teaching at Georgetown University later in life. One of Albright’s main goals while working with presidential campaigns, as part of the United Nations, and as Secretary of State, was to show that “hundreds of thousands” of troops were not necessary to encourage other governments and groups around the world to take action on important issues. In her memoir, she explains how to end human rights violations in Serbia and pressure Iran about weapon proliferation when her team at the State Department favored “diplomacy and the threat of force.” Albright expresses her confidence in the ability of democracies and individual rights to transform other countries and describes her own efforts to celebrate democracies.

While Albright describes the interactions between the United States and governments abroad, her memoir is hardly one-sided. Albright frequently quotes and describes the views of American and international officials supporting and opposing the Clinton administration’s foreign policy, while she provides background information about the conflicts she handled. Albright also makes policy recommendations using her experience.

“A serious policy toward North Korea would encompass four principles....it must include a willingness to engage in direct talks with North Korea, not as some reward to [North Korean capital] Pyongyang but as a means of doing what is necessary to prevent proliferation and the risk of war,” Albright wrote.

Albright also included many footnotes, which clarify the essential work done by her staff. Particularly fascinating aspects of her

memoir are the recounted dialogues between her team and representatives from other governments, who would attempt to plan a solution to a problem by digging through a list of issues bullet-point by bullet-point.

One historically contentious topic, President Clinton’s impeachment because of an alleged affair, is not described with much detail in Albright’s memoir. From her descriptions, the incident does not seem to have a large impact on her work, but she does explain how she understood her close friend Hillary Rodham Clinton’s desire for privacy.

Albright’s memoir will not meet expectations for a general, self-promoting book filled with irrelevant information, as many memoirs are. “Madam Secretary” provides firsthand insight about conflict resolution from one of our nation’s top-ranking officials and is engaging in style as well as content. Albright’s unique insights in “Madam Secretary” are accompanied by sixteen pages of color photographs from Albright’s personal life and professional work, and about one newspaper cartoon per chapter. Albright’s memoir paints her as witty and self-aware, because she often writes humorous and self-deprecating anecdotes that will entertain readers. “‘Time’ put me on its cover wearing an Air Force leather jacket and talking into a cell phone, with an expression that would have scared most children to death,” Albright wrote about a magazine article on her Serbia policy.

Overall, the memoir describes world events still relevant today from Albright’s perspective and encourages citizens to get involved in their own governments, no matter what age or gender they may be, or where their parents were born.

8

Special Features • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

A major league adventure

“Kafka” is a thrill to read

by Andrew Hague In July of 2000, the ratio of the payrolls of the seven richest and seven poorest teams in baseball was 4:1, in professional basketball it was 1.75:1 and in professional football 1.5:1. This statistic represented a wide understanding of what determined success in baseball: money. Michael Lewis’ book “Moneyball” tells the story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane and how he changed the game of baseball forever through examining statistics.

Billy Beane was always a star. By his junior year in high school he was six foot four, 180 pounds and still growing. The Rancho Bernardo High School diamond in the San Diego suburbs was infested with major league scouts who came to watch him play. In one his first games in front of the scouts, Billy pitched a two-hit game, stole four bases, and hit three triples - a California high school record.

“There are good guys and there are premium guys,” Roger Jongewaard, New York Mets general man said in the book, “and Billy was a premium premium guy. He had the size, the speed, the arm, the whole package. He could play other sports. He was a true athlete. And then, on top of all that, he had good grades in school and he was going with all the prettiest girls. He had charm. He could have been anything.”

In his senior year, Beane was given the biggest choice of his life: attend Stanford University on a joint baseball and football scholarship or get picked first overall in the Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets.

He ended up choosing the money, signing with the New York Mets and forgoing any opportunity to attend the prestigious university.

He would end up playing in 148 games, ending his career with a .219 batting average and three home runs. Billy Beane was a bust.

This is where the story behind Lewis’s “Moneyball” takes off. Beane, as the general

by Regine Sarah Capungan Haruki Murakami’s “Kafka on the Shore” is a tale of a teenage runaway, Kafka Tamura, and an old man, Nakata. Since the publication of its English translation in 2005, “Kafka on the Shore” has become a national bestseller and has been listed as one of the New York Times’ 10 Best Books of 2005.

The stories of Kafka, who renamed himself in honor of writer Franz Kafka, and Nakata run parallel to each other before finally converging toward the end of the novel. The novel begins with 15-year-old Kafka in a confrontation with a boy named Crow, a character that is suspected to be Kafka’s alter-ego.

There, Kafka is given advice to be “the world’s toughest fifteen-year-old” before packing his bags to run away from his home in Tokyo. He does this in order to escape a family curse and search for his mother and sister, who disappeared from his life when he was a child.

Nakata’s story is introduced in the following chapter, through a classified interview between U.S. army officials and a school teacher named Setsuko Okamochi. The interview looks into a UFO-related incident that happened during World War II, when all sixteen children in Okamochi’s class suddenly fell unconscious during a class outing. It is revealed later that Nakata was one of the children in class, only instead of quickly regaining consciousness, Nakata remained unconscious for several weeks. As a result of the incident, Nakata lost his memory and ability to read during the incident, while gaining the ability to communicate with cats.

Although most of the plot circles a 15 year old, the themes in this novel are more mature than that of young adult literature. Both violence and sexuality are present throughout the novel, some of which may disturb even the most mature readers. There is an encounter between Kafka and the 15-year-old ghost of a

manager of the Oakland A’s, loses his three best players in free agency because his team doesn’t have the money to keep them. His team tackles the challenge of assembling a baseball team on one of the poorest budgets in the league. They develop newly advanced statistics in the sport, which allowed them to see the game from a perspective no other front office has. The A’s became the league’s biggest surprise story and other teams want to find out the secret to success.

Lewis captures the moments behind the scenes of a major league baseball front office with great detail and information. The story moves at a pace that allows the reader to learn about the sport in a completely new way.

“Moneyball” documents the rise of advanced statistics and technology in baseball, and Lewis uses his witty and captivating writing to create a thriller of a story. The book became a critically acclaimed film in 2011. Directed by Oscar nominated director Bennett Miller snd starring Brad Pitt, Philip Seymour-Hoffman, and Jonah Hill, “Moneyball,” is still in theaters. Baseball lovers are going to pick up the book and never put it down and even readers who do not like sports are going to be entertained by what Lewis has to offer.

Moneyball Michael Lewis W.W. Norton & Company 2003 288 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

woman who may be Kafka’s long-lost mother and a scene during which Nakata violently stabs Kafka’s father, a man who slaughters cats in order to create flutes.

The world of the novel involves frequent occurrences with talking cats, UFOs, and the supernatural. However, many such incidents are never explained, like the UFO incident in chapter two. Kafka and Nakata’s double plot within the novel may also cause confusion for some readers.

The description of the novel describes Kafka’s escape from home as an “escape from a gruesome oedipal prophecy,” as the plot of the novel reflects that of the Greek drama “Oedipus the King.” The themes of murder, incest, and paranormal activity in “Oedipus the King” are prominent throughout “Kafka on the Shore.”

Although the incidents in the novel may seem improbable at times, and the flashbacks to World War II are not historically accurate, “Kafka at the Shore” is still an entertaining read that keeps readers engaged. After the first cat opens its mouth to talk to Nakata and Kafka begins his quest, the audience is left to wonder, “What in the world will happen next?”

Kafka on the Shore Haruki Murakami Vintage, 2005 480 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

A radioactive tale of love and fallout A story of Pierre and Marie Currie

by Brendali Rios A glow in the dark cover and illustrations made by cyanotype and arranged in a scrapbook-like method make “Radioactive” come to life right before the readers’ eyes. Lauren Redniss, an illustrator, writer and author of “Century Girl: 100 years in the Life of Doris Eaton Travis, Last Living Star of the Ziegfeld Follies” has put out a new graphic novel titled “Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and Fallout.” The book has been chosen as a finalist for the 2011 National Book Award. Redniss’s work has also been published in the New York Times, which nominated her work for the Pulitzer Prize.

Redniss’ graphic novel was like none other.

Although the tragic and inspirational story of the Curies has been told several times through numerous biographies, children’s books, films, and TV miniseries, Redniss presents it in a way that incorporates her own creativity to make the story truly come to life.

The luminosity of the pages, created through cyanotype printing, a process in which exposed pieces of paper with amonium iron citrate and potassium ferricyanide turn an eerie shade of dark blue, go along well with Marie Curie’s description of radium as “spontaneous luminosity,” while providing a ghostly background, which leaves much to the readers

own interpretation. This process was common among engineering circles in the 20th century, since it gave them a low cost alternative to making larger scale copies of their work. The result then became known as blueprints.

The story of Marie and Pierre is one of love, romance, and passion for science.

Marie Sklodowska was born into the family of a secondary school teacher. She decided that she wanted to go off to college and moved away from Warsaw in 1891 to try and pursue her education, during a time where women were not allowed to continue their studies past general studies or grade school. While studying in Poland, she caught Pierre Curie’s attention.

Pierre was a director of one of the laboratories that Marie had worked in. Their tale is simply put and anything but ordinary. The author captures Marie’s “delicate and grave” manner as a young student.

Pierre tried every possible method to convince her to marry him and gave her ample marriage proposals.

Redniss portrays the story of love and quarrel through her mix of drawings, photocollages and text. The illustrations follow the plot and fit in with the story of two scientists who fell in love while conducting research that led to the discovery of radium and polonium.

Their tragic deaths, and the effect that the research had on their lives really ties this graphic novel not only into the scientific field, but also to a non-fiction romantic tale of two scientists in love and their struggles through life.

The illustrations provide special insight to the story that has been told many times before.

Redniss makes sure to paint a picture about the setting that the Curies work in. On their four year journey, she expresses their working condition in a shed in Paris with 40 tons of corrosive materials. All of this effort was just to extract one-tenth of a gram of radium chloride.

Details like this make the reader more aware of the limits of passionate scientists.

The author also makes sure that key historical events, such as Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Chernobyl are highlighted throughout the story, giving some background information to provide a setting for events that will follow.

One of the most striking aspects of Redniss’ graphic novel is the idea that the illustrations can stand on their own without the text and still portray an accurate story of Marie and Pierre. “Radioactive” is a good piece for any reader, even those who are not scientifically inclined. The scientific facts presented to the reader are explained along the way, so the difficulty to read is minimal. The way in which facts are presented can make the reader forget that they are learning historical events while reading the graphic novel. By weaving things like FBI documents and a picture of the first x-ray ever taken into the narrative, “Radioactive” is a great read, whether one has leisure time or just wants to get away from a hectic schedule.

Overall, Radioactive will surely leave one reconsidering the magnitude of time and effort invested in research science.

Radioactive Lauren Redniss HarperCollins Publishing, 2010 200 Pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

9

Special Features • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

A reading that breaks free from the pack “Nightshade” hits the mark

by Zobia Chunara Imagine following a path that someone else has chosen for you: unable to break free, unable to face your fears of what you would do off that course. Andrea Cremer questions the consequences of changing a fixed path in her fantasy-fiction novel, “Nightshade,” in which Calla Tor, a form-shifting werewolf, challenges her fate as a Guardian for the Keepers. The Keepers are her elders, the royals who possess the magic of the world and who decide the lives of their Guardians.

From the day she was born, Calla knew what her life would hold: “My job, the duty of all Guardians here, is to protect Haldis Cavern from our enemies. The Searchers.”

However, she begins to question her life when Calla stumbles upon a human teenage boy named Shay Doran when she is out fulfilling her Guardian duties of patrolling the mountains. She saves Shay’s life by tackling a bear that was ready to attack him, and she knew that the Keepers would punish her if they knew that she had saved a human. What she did not know was that this one act would change her life forever.

Bound to the life of a Guardian, Calla and her werewolf pack have the duty to follow the Keepers. They have decided that she would marry Ren Laroche, the alpha leader of another pack. Together, they would join their groups, and rule side-by-side, ultimately an-

swering to the Keepers and protecting sacred pack sites. However, Calla also becomes close to her high school classmate Shay, and this creates tension when Ren’s jealousy gives into his fights with Shay. Slowly, Calla and Shay search and learn about the Keepers’ history, their magic in his uncle’s extensive library, and they begin to question what is real.

Turning away from her role as a Guardian and alpha, her impending marriage to Ren, and her perception of Searchers, whom she has been taught to regard as her enemies, Calla takes charge of her own life and follows her heart and intuition, even though she may lose everything she knows to be true.

Anyone who loves reading about worlds full of lexicons, symbols, and other customs of living, will enjoy this book. In addition, Calla’s experiences are relatable to what readers may see every day. Sometimes when authors present strong-willed characters, they come off as unfeeling, but Calla is someone who is unmatchable, and her emotions are apparent to readers at the same time. When Calla and Ren begin to rule their wolf pack, he begins to take the male-dominant role by making all the decisions, leaving Calla to feel that she has lost her power. Through her struggles to maintain control, the reader is able to relate to Calla and put herself in her shoes.

When reading through, it was confusing to decipher which pack Calla belonged to and what her relationship or standing was among other werewolves and amid the Keepers. It takes half of “Nightshade” to realize the significance of the Keepers to the wolves. If it

Caught in the middle

by Minna Khan Starting as a beautiful girl who turned heads everywhere she went, things began to change once puberty took its course. Calliope grew to be 5-foot-10 at the age of 14, her voice dropped, and she began to grow facial hair. Calliope was not alarmed. She believed that she would grow into her awkward body as a girl, and certain female characteristics would arrive as puberty continued.

“Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides explores the journey of developing one’s gender identity, and tells the tale of a hermaphrodite named Calliope Stephanides. When she turned 14, Calliope was forced to make a decision about whether she wanted to continue living as a female or if she wanted to act more like a male after making the discovery that she has both male and female hormones that cause her to develop abnormally.

Within the first page of the novel, readers find out that Calliope was identified as a girl upon birth. However, she underwent psycophysical transformations as she began to mature and became Cal, her male counterpart. At 41, Cal decides to venture into the extensive history of his Greek family, and tries to justify what exactly went wrong with his genetic pool. Cal, the narrator of the novel, explains that he wants to take readers on a “roller coaster of a single gene through time.”

In order to effectively do this, Eugenides divides the book into four sections to go into detail about Calliope’s obstacles on her journey toward becoming Cal, and to explain the dynamic of the Stephanides family before Callie’s birth.

After learning about the Stephanides family history in Book One, readers delve into the life of Calliope in Book Three and meet Cal in Book Four.

All the details and stories leading up to Cal’s life tie into the theme of rebirth. With the different sections of the book, an understanding of the many aspects of the main character is easily developed.

When reading “Middlesex,” it is hard not to

had been made clear earlier that Calla was a guardian, an alpha of her own pack, and oppressed under the rule of the Keepers, there would have been things the reader could have picked up on reading the first time, rather than the second time through.

The love triangle between Shay, Calla, and Ren does not pull the reader toward Shay.

Shay is the character who comes into Calla’s life, representing forbidden love and everything that is against her stringent guardian life. He is supposed to be the one who sweeps her off her feet and the one who the reader cheers for. Cremer, however, makes Shay come off as a tad bit flat. On the other hand, the reader is able to fully experience Ren’s emotions and relate to him. Because of this, one feels inclined to root for Ren, who is the one Calla turns away from because she does not want to be forced by the Keepers to marry him.

People who love fantasy fiction and enjoy “Nightshade,” may want to read the second book of the series, “Wolfsbane,” which continues Calla’s story after she is kidnapped by the Seekers.

Even in your time away from Nightshade, one will be inclined to wander back to the book’s plot and think about what will happen to Calla next, and this is what a good book should do. “Nightshade” presents the world Calla has come to know in the midst of traditions, lies, love, and destiny, a refreshing take that is different from other books about fantasy. The third book in the series, “Bloodrose,” will be released on January 3, 2012.

Read the rest of the Nightshade trilogy by Andrea Cremer Nightshade Andrea CremerThe Penguin Group 2010 452 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

Wolfsbane Andrea cremer Philomel 2011 400 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

Bloodrose Andrea Cremer Philomel 2011 416 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

Humanity prevails in tragedy

feel strong emotions and disbelief, through the mentions of war tragedies, or the rebirth of Calliope Stephanides as her male alter ego Cal. This book is unlike other fictional novels. It experiments with multiple stories and plots of three different generations. Rather than diving right into the story of this hermaphrodite, Calliope’s family history provides a suspenseful and intriguing buildup into her life as Cal. The book demonstrates so many of life’s struggles ranging from cultural and romantic issues to discovering a person’s sexual identity.

Many readers can connect to this book because of its “coming of age” plot. From the beginning to the end of the book, “Middlesex” proves to be an outstanding epic, and touches base with many concepts and struggles within society. It is uniquely written, and it is evident within the text that Cal is a spectacular story teller, conveying not only his emotions but also the emotions and tales of those around him.

Eugenides, a Pulitzer Prize Winner, spent 10 years working on his bestseller, “Middlesex.” The novel keeps readers entertained and filled with emotion with every turn of the page. Following a riveting story of the struggles of life and family acceptance, “Middlesex” does not disappoint.

Middlesex Jefferey Eugenides Farrar, Straus, and Giroux Publishing, 2003 529 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

“Little Bee” is hopeful

by Sharon Flores “How I would love to be a British pound.

A pound is free to travel to safety, and we are free to watch it go,” says Little Bee in a novel written by Chris Cleave, a story about a Nigerian woman named after a honey bee and a British woman named Sarah, whose accidental cross of fate builds an unusual relationship in a time of tragedy.

Little Bee is a Nigerian refugee who has learned to survive in a British immigration detention center for two years under horrendous conditions by teaching herself to speak like the queen. Once released, Little Bee, alone without a single family member or friend, finds herself telling the taxi driver to go to Kingston-upon-Thames, home of the British couple whom share a dark past with Little Bee. When they first crossed paths with Little Bee, Sarah, a white British magazine editor and her husband Andrew had been vacationing on a beach in Nigeria, in an effort to save their marriage after one of them has an affair. Later, Little Bee comes to live with Sarah during a terrible time after something tragic has happened to the British family. Together the two women learn to help each other in an unlikely, yet seemingly natural friendship in a time of tragedy where humanity prevails.

Going into the book, it is hard to know what to expect, from simply reading the lighthearted title or the brief summary on the back which reads, “We don’t want to tell you what happens in this book. It is truly a special story and we don’t want to spoil it.” This description leaves too much for the reader’s imagination and builds high expectations. Even with the

risky description, “Little Bee” seems to catch the reader by surprise and fulfill a different set of expectations, leaving a reader with no regrets after picking up this book.

Although terrible, tragic events occur throughout the book, revealing the dark side in humanity, Cleave also shows that there is still good and hope in people. Cleave does an excellent job in using ironic prose and, at times, humor in his book about such serious events and themes. Cleave tells us through this story that our lives can change instantly by things that are out of our control and that our actions will not only effect our futures but the futures of those closest to us. With these themes, Cleave intertwines a hard look at immigration laws of refugees seeking aid and asylum. The book carries great meaning with each character, making them relatable and realistic.

Although it is a tough book to read, it is worth it. “Little Bee” is recommended to those who can handle a tragic story and be rewarded by the ultimate hope it resonates.

Little Bee Chris Cleave Simon & Schuster Publishing, 2010 271 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

10

Special Features • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

What to do when the enemy is your own government

For every way there is to die, there is a way to survive

by Timothy Suh When we think of hackers and gamers, the first thing that crosses our minds is not that they are the best hope for the future. In Cory Doctorow’s “Little Brother,” Doctorow makes a strong argument for the crucial role of hackers and gamers in a near, more technologically advanced future as sentries against those who try to impose restrictions on the freedom of speech, even through IMs. “Little Brother” begins in the future when technology has vastly improved, for better and for worse. At Cesar Chavez High School in San Francisco, Marcus Yallow is one of the students under high survelliance. The school’s administration carefully watches all of the students’ laptops and tracks them through gait-identifying cameras. Marcus is an experienced hacker, able to slip through the cracks in the school’s security system to wreak havoc on the administration. His carefree life of small hacks and live-action role playing with his friend ends suddenly after a terrible terrorist attack rocks San Francisco and the rest of the country.

Caught in the middle of the destruction, Marcus and his friends find themselves in a hidden prison, subjected to cruel conditions by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). When he is freed, Marcus finds that one of his friends has disappeared. Meanwhile, every move of the citizens of San Francisco is now under the careful watch of the DHS. Based on arbitrary evidence, thousands of innocent civilians are treated as criminals. It is now up to Marcus to bring together the city’s most devoted gamers and hackers to take down a system set up by the government itself and get down to the bottom of his friend’s disappearance.

The novel is captivating as it relays Marcus’s thoughts and actions, particularly when he is working furiously through technology to wage war against the DHS. Doctorow clearly describes the many technological terms and processes used in the book in a way the reader can understand when they could have easily be-

A survival handbook for any adventurer

come bogged down in the narrative flow. Marcus’s character, in particular, is very real; the reader can relate to and understand his frustrations, his fears, his joys, and his sadness.

The novel’s message fascinatingly parallels the many elements in today’s society including Occupy Wall Street, illegal pirating, and the idea of a “Big Brother” government. The stories of police brutality, the small man vs. the big man, and the question of citizen protection under the Constitution are all common themes in the novel.

Any reader interested in computer gaming or hacking will enjoy this novel, but anyone who is following the events surrounding Occupy Wall Street and other protests, may also be drawn into the reading. The action is enough to keep the story interesting, but the true gem of “Little Brother” is the underlying lesson it teaches. The novel attempts to rouse the reader to action, to reconsider what rights are being sacrificed and at what costs, and to stand up against authority rather than blindly follow it.

However, readers should also read with a grain of salt: it is up to each person what he agrees and disagrees with while reading “Little Brother.” Through it all, readers will come away from the novel, challenged to think about how many liberties they are willing to give up for the sake of “the country’s safety.”

Little Brother Cory Doctorow Tor Teen, 2008 384 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

by Andriana Mitrakos “To ‘survive’ means ‘To outlive, to remain alive or in existence; live on. To continue to exist or live after,’” “Mountain” Mel Deweese says in the forward to “The Worst—Case Scenario Survival Handbook,” a short but informative handbook to surviving the most unexpected situations.

Authors of the handbook, Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht set up the instructional manual from expert accounts and suggestions for people in the face of potentially life-threatening danger. Resembling a sort of Bear Grylls, “Man vs. Wild” survival manual, the small booklet features commonly known strategies such as starting a fire without matches and step by step directions on breaking down a door, as well as some uncommon dangers such as escaping a mountain lion, floating in quicksand, and performing a tracheotomy.

This handbook is separated into five themed chapters: Great Escapes and Entrances, The Best Defense, Leaps of Faith, Emergencies, and Adventure survival. Each section has at least five realistic but mostly improbable situations and instructions for the best strategy or route toward survival.

This is a comic read, with plenty of serious and applicable information. Piven and Borgenicht do well in their attempt to give readers pertinent information about how to survive the oddest of situations while keeping a light hearted and humorous tone. The handbook is detailed with pictures for every situation, showing important tools, postures, or object placement for the optimal survival approach. This guide is interesting and captivating. Readers will want to know what unexpected situation they will be guided through

next. Surviving in a desert, fending off a shark or surviving jumping out of a plane with a failed parachute.

Although the handbook is light hearted and fun, the authors began with a warning to the readers. “We do not guarantee that the information contained herein is complete, safe, or accurate, nor should it be considered a substitute for your good judgment and common sense,” they write, explaining that even though the book has been created using expert insight, it is in no way supposed to be used as a deciding factor in dangerous situations. With the disclaimer set out, readers can freely look through and enjoy the survival handbook.

This popular title spawned a series of 13 related books as well as games and a television show by the same name. The series of books details specific scenarios under a general theme including parenting, college, weddings and LIFE. Judging from the original, the series runs with the same style of strategic instruction, some books more humorous than others.

“The Worst- Case Scenario Survival Handbook” and the following series are a must have for adventurous readers as well as those searching for a quick and interesting read.

The Worst - Case Scenario Survival Handbook Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht Chronicle Books, 1999 176 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

Quit stressing over food, learn to live life with allergies An insight to foodallergic living

by Jamilah Alsharif “Everyone has something,” Sloane Miller says in “Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies,” “whether it’s weight gain or weight loss, money troubles or in-law troubles, hairlines that recede or hair that grows in unwanted locations, lack of sleep or chronic oversleeping, a doughnut problem or a video game problem, everyone has something.” Miller’s book however, is focused on people with food allergies. Her own experiences with allergies to nuts, fish, and shellfish help guide people in search of the same positive lifestyle she leads, fearless of trying new foods and teaching others about the dangers of allergic reactions.

Miller immediately sets a light tone for the topic of food allergies with an anecdote about her experience kissing a date who had cashew residue in his beard. She provides humor while still emphasizing the importance of following precautionary methods to avoid reactions to food allergies.

Separated into three sections that explain how to create a “Team You,” a group of

trusted people that understand the challenges food-allergic individuals face, how to create relationships outside the family, and how to enjoy social experiences with the rest of the world, the book is an instructional reference for people with food allergies. Every chapter lists scenarios that people may face and Miller uses her own experiences to provide different ways a food allergic person could react.

At some points in her book, Miller loses her focus on food-allergic people and provides explanations of how others should react to them. In one chapter, Miller begins telling the reader how a waiter is supposed to do his job.

Although it may be helpful for people who do not dine out very often, she crosses a line between doing her job as a food-allergy coach and someone else’s job. She repeatedly mentions that an allergic person does not want to cause trouble when invited to someone else’s event or call attention in a public place.

Irony arises throughout her entire book: “engage with those around you, but realize that no one’s listening; envision your outcome, but have a beginner’s mind; assume that everyone should be able to service your needs, but don’t think that every event can be tailored to you; and take your needs seriously, but laugh and the world laughs with you.” Her

Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies Sloane Miller Wiley, 2011 272 pages | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

advice works with every scenario presented.

However, sometimes the same advice applies to different scenarios and it becomes difficult to know what advice to take in the many situations Miller brings up.

Miller even instructs people on the correct way of treating others when requesting special treatment. Her advice includes smiling, asking politely, and providing “many pleases and thank yous.” Some of her advice becomes unnecessary, as it starts focusing on manners rather than on how a food allergic person should choose food from their menu; however, it works with her aim to advise people on how to lead a positive lifestyle.

Food-allergic people can refer to Miller’s book for advice on how to lead a lifestyle with many food options or for information on finding support groups or allergists. Miller, though sometimes digressive, successfully advises people on dealing with food-allergy related issues. Miller addresses food-allergic individuals from the very beginning, and it is clear who her target audience is throughout the book. Her experiences provide a narrative for all the factual evidence she presents, but aside from learning manners, people who do not have food allergies may not find reading “Allergic Girl” beneficial.

12

Arts & Entertainment • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

LIVE EVENTS Television

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“How to make Whenever you itneed work” a laugh Top 10 series sure to get you to crack a smile

MUSIC

The underground king is sure to make headlines with this album Drake’s sophomore album “Take Care” astounds fans

by Brendali Rios

The highly anticipated sophomore album

by Aubrey ‘Drake’ Graham, “Take Care,” was finally released on Nov. 15. After Drake’s first album “Thank Me Later” released June 15, 2010, which included singles such as “Miss Me,” “Over,” and “Fancy,” among others, sold more than 447,000 copies in the United States in its first week; “Take Care” had yet to live up to its hype.

When Drake’s new album leaked nine days before its release date, all he had to say was “Enjoy it.” Since he first announced he was working on “Take Care,” he made sure that people knew that “Thank Me Later” did not show his best work, no matter its success. Drake felt the production on his first work was rushed, and he wanted to make sure that did not happen again. With this in mind, Drake struggled to find something that would work and distinguish this from every other rap album. Collaborating with a variety of artists, Drake made sure to bring something new to the fans.

From Stevie Wonder playing the harmonica in “Doing It Wrong,” to the use of dancehall rhythm on the title track “Take Care,” to collaboration with music mogul Rihanna, Drake has packed this album with something completely different than what the audience has heard from him before. Andre 3000, another featured artist on the album is heard on the track “The Real Her” which also includes a verse with Lil Wayne. On “Take Care,” Drake also collaborates with The Weeknd, Birdman, Nicki Minaj, and Rick Ross. A mix tape, made

by Drake and Rick Ross, will feature many other artists and will give the fans even more

Cover of Drake’s sophomore album, titled “Take Care.” |COURTESY OF AMAZON. COM

to talk about.

“It’s official; the music is most definitely official,” Ross said in an interview with MTV on the speculations of the mix tape.

Drake has gotten heavy criticism and has even been deemed “overemotional and whiny” by other rappers for releasing songs about love, heartbreak, and deception. On the “Take Care” album, songs like “Look What You’ve Done,” an open letter to his mom,

uncle, and Bubi (his grandmother), we see Drake at his best: heartfelt and honest over Static Major’s background vocals. Recording the majority of this record in his home town Toronto seemed to have really helped him see all that he has achieved.

“I thought about how I got there, what happened,” he said. “Why did I drop out of school? And how did I ever dig my mother out of this hole of debt we were in? I just address

it all on the album. I tell every story I can remember leading up to this moment right now and tried to vividly capture this rise,” said Drake in an interview with MTV. “Take Care” is not just filled with emotions from the rapper as he has seen all that he has accomplished, but it also talks about situations that an average person goes through.

On the track “Doing It Wrong,” Drake talks about getting out of a relationship, but still being emotionally attached and not wanting to see that person happy with anyone else. He also brings up society, and how no one necessarily wants to be committed, yet, they do not want to be alone either. “We live in a generation of not being in love, and not being together/But we sure make it feel like we’re together/Because we’re scared to see each other with somebody else,” is a line from “Doing It Wrong” that shows how people can be selfish and possessive over those they love.

Drake’s sophomore LP has debuted at the No. 1 spot in the Billboards Top 200 albums chart as of Wednesday Nov. 23 after selling approximately 631,000 copies since its release on Nov. 15. In an interview with MTV, Drake expressed his gratitude towards his fans and all of his supporters who continue to be with him through every step of his career. Even though his expected sale of 700,000 copies was not reached, label CEO Lil Wayne said that he is more concerned with how “Take Care” is received critically rather than the actual number sales since “money isn’t an issue,” as he says in many of his songs.

“We just want to get a perfect point across, a swell opinion across,” Wayne said, after being asked how he felt with the short fall of sales.

“Take Care” is worth a shot, whether you are stuck in traffic, doing homework or just want to venture into a new genre. Drake is on top of his game right now, so take a listen to his sophomore album, “Take Care.”

MOVIE

Broken water and broken hearts in this exciting new saga Part one of “Breaking Dawn” captivates audiences

by Maria Flores Many people might experience wedding jitters and have a hard time sleeping the night before the wedding. And what would create even greater tension and anxiety would be if a bride had a dream, in which she and her fiancée drain the blood out of everyone who attended the wedding. This is the nightmare that Bella Swan (Kristen Stuart) has before she marries the love of her life, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) in the Twilight sagas latest film installment Breaking Dawn Part 1.

After much time and many near death situations, Bella and Edward finally get married.

This movie covers the first half of the novel titled “Breaking Dawn” by Stephenie Meyer.

It starts with Bella’s wedding preparations for, what Bella’s future sister-in-law, Alice Cullen, hopes to be the most extravagant and

The movie poster of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part I.” | COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

beautiful wedding ever she has planned. The wedding is dazzling. At the wedding party,

Bella’s father Charlie admits that he knows Edward will be good to Bella because he’s a cop and knows these things. Afterwards, the newly-weds head off, among cheers, to a honeymoon on a remote island.

Soon, things take a turn for the worst when Bella becomes pregnant because the baby is destroying Bella from the inside out.

Bella refuses to give up the baby even though she knows that she has only a slight chance of being able survive giving birth; she hopes, however, that she will be strong enough to give birth and go through the vampire transformation.

The movie was interesting because different pieces were told from either Bella’s or Jacob’s perspective. Bella’s delivery was seen through her eyes. It really highlighted how painful and bloody the ordeal was. When Jacob thinks about Bella being sick, the audience sees his anxiousness through his eyes, which gives great insight into how chaotic it is to be a werewolf. Jacob’s mind is especially chaotic because he shares his thinking space with many other wolves and everyone knows

all the different emotions He goes through.

Fans might have learned more about the life of Jacob when he is a werewolf if the movie had followed him through his months of isolation and as he commands his new pack.

This movie centered on the importance of family and would touch many Twilight fans. The Cullens’ “extended family” comes to the wedding. They are not blood related, but they are so close that they see each other as cousins. The Cullens are willing to risk their lives in order to save Bella’s. The wolf pack also stresses the importance of family and how protecting your loved one is always the right thing to do. Bella emulates this when she lies to her father by hiding her condition to make him think that she is seriously sick and that she is in a medical facility in Sweden.

This movie did justice to the first half of the book and brings the audience to the brink of Bella’s new adventure. Everyone will be anticipating the final chapter in the “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2” which is scheduled to be released on Nov. 16, 2012.

12

Arts & Entertainment • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

TELEVISION

AMC’s modern twist on a western genre “Hell on Wheels” looks to be a promising series

Laughs on the small screen

Top funny TV series for Northsiders

by Calum Blackshaw

by Sylvia Wtorkowski After American Movie Classics, a national television station typically known as AMC, debuted a series of television shows including ”The Walking Dead,” “Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men” to their audiences, viewers had high expectations for AMC concerning the release of its latest show. Fortunately for AMC, “Hell on Wheels” exceeded these expectations when it aired on Nov. 6, 2011.

AMC made attempts to redefine classic Western television shows through incorporating convincing characters whose intentions and actions create tension and scheming plots. The characters include Cullen Bohannon played by Anson Mount, Thomas Durant played by Colm Meaney, Lily Bell played by Dominique McElligott and the Reverend Cole played by Tom Noonan. The characters were far more than interesting and allowed viewers the opportunity to have a deep insight into life on the Western frontier.

Corruption behind the politics, slavery, and the building of the railroads all tie into the conflicting feelings between the characters and the problems that the settlers face regarding the Native Americans.

The show began with a focus on a former Confederate Soldier, Cullen Bohannon, motivated to take revenge on a group of corrupted Union officials after his wife was killed. The show portrays the main character as a stubborn man whose strong will leads him to gain enough status to overpower the Union officials and get his revenge:

TELEVISION

Poster of the new series |COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

“Do you not believe in a higher power?”

“Yes sir, I wear it on my hip.”

The audience soon learns that Bohannon views his pistol as his God. When he presents himself in such a way, many viewers expect him to remain the point of focus of the show, following his every move as he seeks a means to avenge his late wife. However, “Hell on Wheels” seems to focus much more on the way of life during this 1860s time period, rather than the Confederate Soldier himself.

AMC’s new show began with someone being murdered within the first two minutes and interesting bribes and negotiations taking place, and it continues to be quicklypaced throughout the entire premiere.

This action-packed Western has many twists and numerous angles on the various characters involved in Cullen Bohannon’s search for revenge, which is what makes this show one that will continue to be watched for seasons to come.

AMC’s Western show will undoubtedly receive high ratings and great amounts of views alongside its competitors, “Walking

For most Northside students, as well as students in schools all over Chicago and nationally, homework, tests, and other matters can cause intense amounts of stress. However, for moments when students are in need of relaxation, these shows are sure to bring laughs and lessons on how to sit back and have a good time.

The Inbetweeners For individuals that like British humor and childish antics, this is the show to watch.

Students and their friends may make fun of these four guys for the hilarity of their lives in high-school, but the friendship they share can make individuals appreciate the value of friendship.

Doctor Who This show is based on science fiction, but it also utilizes a wacky sort of humor. The Doctor and his companions face new adventures all the time, and amidst all the pulsepounding action, the Doctor makes witty remarks and jokes out of context, brining laughs to viewers.

dealing with their own problems, showing real character personality that viewers can connect with, and peaks into some of the early roles for a few of today’s well-known actors.

The Office The show’s is set in a small paper company in Pennsylvania, but from the snide remarks to work-place romance and wild practical jokes, viewers cannot believe how anything can get done in this business.

Community For people who find themselves without a university to attend after high school, or realize later in life they could more with a degree, there is community college, where new opportunities can be achieved by hard-working attendees. This show follows members of

ART

Artists gather at SOFA Chicago

by Andrew Hague Artists, designers, collectors, museum curators and more gathered at the back end of Navy Pier, at the Festival Hall in Chicago for the combination of two world famous art conventions, Sculpture Objects and Function Art (SOFA) and The Intuit Show of Outsider and Folk Art. At SOFA, expositions, international galleries and dealers display their designs and fine arts. These works range from sculptures, jewelry, and different types of paintings. A lot of the work that was presented was based off different cultures. Orley Shabahang, a Persian artist, designs antique and contemporary carpets; more than thirty of them were shown and up for sale at the convention. The works were set up in different galleries scattered around the hall while the galleries were made up of groups of artists that all created similar works.

The Intuit Show of Outsider and Folk is produced by The Art Fair Company. The show brings together many dealers and galleries from across the United States with a wide arrangement of self-taught art, outsider art, visionary art, and many other styles. Every piece was available for sale. The show was a key addition to the SOFA convention because it added many pieces of art to the showcase.

The Intuit Show contributed most of the paintings and glass sculptures, as SOFA tends to be based off of jewelry and ceramics.

Some of the pieces were priced at a

high level. Abstract art, paintings made up of splattered paint across a canvas sold for $7,400. A maroon, glossy, and bulky hot glass sculpture, about the size of a shoebox created by two Czechoslovakia artists Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová, was sold for $110,000. “Carton O Fries and Ketchup”

by John Miller was another hot sculpted glass work of an oversized McDonald’s pack of french fries glazed with ketchup was sold for $60,000.

Students from Northside were among the crowd of newcomers to art conventions.

“I was kind of surprised initially when I saw the prices of the artwork,” Aja Rhodes, Adv. 209, said. “But the overall collection of wood pieces and huge glass sculptures in different galleries from all different types of artists in the world were really cool to see as an aspiring artist.”

There was more than just artwork for sale at the joint convention. Off in the corner of the hall, the Corning Museum of Glass put a display on stage with artists creating glass sculptures using hot rods and ovens to mold the glass while over a hundred artists and families watched. The process took about an hour and ended with a fine spiraled, hollowed out glass piece that stood three feet high and was later offered for sale as art.

The joint convention provided entertainment for all of its visitors. Artists found work that they appreciated and were introduced to museum curators and collectors who were interested in purchasing their work.

The Colbert Report/The Daily Show with Jon Stewart These may be two different shows, but one cannot have one without the other. Both comedians make it a point to be funny while poking fun at the choices and decisions of the world’s policymakers. Jon Stewart’s charisma is matched only by Stephen Colbert’s eccentricity.

Freaks and Geeks This was an early project of series creator, Judd Apatow, before he started making movies i.e. “Knocked Up” and “The 40 Year-Old Virgin.” It is about a couple of highschoolers

a study table, each of whom has a twisted or fanatical persona for fans to follow. In each episode, someone or something is causing mischief, and this motley crew must work together to overcome these problems.

Glee For people who ever feel uncertain about something or have an issue they cannot contend with, this is the show to watch. Its characters are all weird in their own way, but the way they work together to solve their problems, whether in some dramatic, over-thetop scene, or through their own interpretation, and can help viewers who can associate with this colorful cast of characters.

Arrested Development A show too smart for its time is mak-

ing its return for this decade’s TV viewers.

This show features another demented family of misfits and malcontents, always trying to openly work with each other and secretly against each other. Before it comes back with a fourth season, however, make sure to check out the first three seasons to see the insanity that is the Bluth family in its entirety.

12

Arts & Entertainment • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

LIVE EVENTS

If only the show could have been as sweet as the frosting Cupcakes the best part of the comedy show

By Chris Ceisel The Cupcake Comedy Cabaret is not a well-known event. It should stay that way.

The bar on 2020 N. Oakley Ave. that holds the event on Thurdays from 6 to 8pm is dimly lit, has a questionable group of regulars, and a bartender that looks like he just got out of prison. The Cupcake Comedy Cabaret was located at the back at bar, and was composed of a stage elevated about 6 inches above the ground with a few microphones and a piano.

The event was supposed to start at 6 p.m., but didn’t begin until well after 6:15 p.m. When the show began, it got off to a slow start. The host, Casey Brown, is a University of Michigan graduate who organizes the event every week. He had a vulgar sense of humor, and constantly made jokes that were targeted at the non-existent 7th grade audience, sparking polite laughter from the audience.

The host also had a pianist accompanying him, playing random classics to add ironic humor to whatever the host was saying. The pianist turned out to be one of the funnier performers, adding quick remarks to make fun of the host or to twist his words.

The show worked by starting with the host, then he would introduce another comedian, then go back on after the comedian.

This repeated until the end of the show.

The first comedian, Tyler, was a California native who had recently moved to Chicago to follow his girlfriend. Unfortunately for him, his girlfriend broke up with him days before his flight was scheduled. Obviously a lot of his material was about his girlfriend and different “aspects” of her. He had a more adult sense of humor, but resisted the vulgar aspects of adult humor and got roaring ovations from the crowd, proving he was the favorite of all the comedians.

“I almost passed out because I was having trouble breathing he was making me laugh so much,” Maggie, a member of the audience, said. ”He was born to be a comedian, and I would not be surprised if I am watching him on TV someday.”

Therese, the second comedian that performed was a Chicago native who decided to focus most of her jokes on her childhood.

She focused her jokes on the Chicago Public School system which got laughs, but also caused the audience to remember the problems Chicago is going through, which took away from her overall performance.

The third comedian, John, was a Boston College graduate who had a more sophisticated sense of humor. He decided to focus his humor on politics, which some of the patrons knew nothing about. This led to a mixed reaction from the audience.

“I didn’t think he was very funny,” one audience member mentioned. “He was talking about people I don’t know and kept saying jokes then looking at us as if we were idiots for not laughing. He definitely thought he was better than us.”

Not everybody thought he was mean.

The people that understood him thought he had a refreshing sense of humor.

“I’ve never heard someone make jokes like that,” A woman in the audience said. “He definitely has a different type of humor. I think he’s funny.”

Katy, the final comedian was a good friend of the host. The audience could tell because they said they were friends, and they had similar senses of humor. They both decided to focus on vulgar jokes that seemed to make nobody laugh, because nobody in the audience was in their pre-teens anymore. She just had jokes for the wrong audience.

The best part of the performance was the free cupcakes. There were about 40 cupcakes that were up for grabs, and were the classic jewel brand type of cupcakes. There were also drinks at a reduced price, but they were alcoholic, so that wasn’t something that enticed many of the members of the crowd.

The show ended with a quirky group song where all the comedians gathered together on stage and sang a song that the host had chosen. Unfortunately, the funniest comedian, the guy from California, realized that this was not a funny show, and left the show early.

This was not a very comedic comedy show. Anyone who is planning on attending this show should change their plans. The Cupcake Comedy Cabaret is not worth going to because of its poor line-up and dry jokes.

The cupcakes were fantastic though.

LIVE EVENTS

Magic Cabaret puts in good effort at The Greenhouse Theater P.T. Murphy and David Parr perform their magic act

by Minna Khan Magic is the art of manipulating aspects of reality by invoking the supernatural. Rather than getting in touch with spirits, magicians P. T. Murphy and David Parr use illusions and tricks of the hand to perform their version of magic at The Magic Cabaret located at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Every Wednesday, these two performers put on a 75 minute show in a small room that seats 50.

Chicago has an extensive history when it comes to magic, and these magicians are determined to carry on the magician legacy in the Windy City. Although they provided their small crowd of five people with an abundance of humor and energy, their routine was not completely flawless. Some of their tricks were executed too quickly, and audience members were left not knowing what the purpose of the trick was.

The show, for example, started out with a card trick that involved two members of the audience. After selecting two members and giving each of them a playing card, the magicians did not quite explain the purpose of the trick. The trick felt slightly rushed, and minutes later it was discovered that the card given to the participants changed into another card as they were holding it. Abruptly, Murphy broke into character.

“You cheated! That is not fair!” P.T. Murphy exclaimed as he stormed out of the room.

Parr, along with the other audience member’s seemed bewildered, and Murphy’s dramatic exit was not what people expected to be a part of the magic act. Soon enough, Murphy reentered the room and at this point, it was known that this was their form of an introduction.

David Parr performing a string and needle magic trick. | COURTESY OF DAVID PARR

Following this, Murphy and Parr pulled up two chairs, and talked about how magic shows in Chicago have changed throughout time. Places like Ivanhoe Theater and a pub named “O’Donovans” used to be hot spots for magic shows, but it has become less popular and magic shows are no longer as in demand as they used to be. Since 2007, these performers have put their minds together to have audience members be perplexed by tricks while laughing at their jokes in between.

Not only are these individuals magicians, but after sitting through one of their acts, it becomes apparent that they are also talented actors and comedians.

Following the card trick came another trick that used cards but in a different fash-

P.T. Murphy performing one of his card tricks at the cabaret. | COURTESY OF DAVID PARR

ion. A member of the audience was told to write his name on a card that he picked out of a deck, and Parr ripped up the card into four pieces and managed to put three of the four pieces back together. Although the presentation was entertaining, the trick would have been much more impressive if Parr was able to put all the pieces of the card back together.

There was an illusion during this routine that was surprisingly both shocking and amusing. Murphy took the stage and began his well–executed trick. He consumed two shots of whiskey, a long string and about 20 needles. Then, he proceeded to pull the string out of his mouth with needles strung along it.

The audience was amazed, and Murphy performed the trick with confidence being sure not to give away any of the secrets to the

illusion in the process.

Throughout the act, it was evident that the two magicians had good chemistry that allowed them to work off of each other and improvise. Each joke was told with ease, and each story was told with confidence. The show primarily had to do with interacting with the audience rather than performing elaborate and intricate tricks. The duo kept things simple, and seemed stronger when it came to their anecdotes and delivery rather than the actual tricks.

This magic show would be appropriate for people who are into the history of Chicago and take a strong interest in magic. The show only takes place every Wednesday night at 7:30, and the tickets are priced at $20.

14

Sports • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat Cross country

SPORTS

Basketball

A historic finish

Setting an example

Cross country makes state finals for the first time

Two basketball seniors prepare for their last season at Northside

Women’s basketball puts the pieces together The team crushes Roosevelt 58-24, working on limiting turnovers

by Chris Ceisel Northside’s Varsity women’s basketball team proved it could pick up right where it left off last year in its 58-24 victory over Roosevelt Monday November 28.

Northside, led by veteran, guard Cecile Franke, Adv. 202, looked great playing together. They scored a lot of fast break lay-ups and had a lot of steals which allowed them to get ahead early and stay ahead.

“We lost a lot of good seniors last year,” Franke said. “But we’ve been able to fill those roles well this year, and I already think we’re playing like most teams do towards the end of the season.”

Northside’s shot selection is testimony to the disciplined basketball that coach Michael Heavey has trained the team to play.

“Part of the reason we’re doing so well is because we’re great at finding each other on the court,” forward Lauren Antosz, Adv. 201, said. ”We’re able to beat teams by moving the ball faster than their defenses can transition.”

Northside did, however, seem to have a

Cecile Franke, Adv. 202, prepares to inbound the ball. | CHRIS CEISEL

lot of turnovers. While they didn’t try and force shots, they did sometimes try to force the ball down the court, instead of setting up their offense. This led to a lot of balls being thrown out of bounds, wasting good defensive stands.

“We got out to a great lead,” guard Brianna Cirrincione, Adv. 302, said. “Sometimes we need to recognize that there isn’t a fast-break

Northside’s Pom-Pons team changes things up

by Minna Khan Northside’s Varsity Pom-Pons team strives to perfect their intricate dance moves, deliver energetic choreography, and entertain crowds at their performances. In order to achieve these things, the Pom-Pons team must work for many grueling hours at their intensive practices, even if that means enduring blood, sweat, and tears.

“We usually start practices by warming up and doing 60 to 70 jumping jacks,” Lizzie Tran, Adv. 303, said. “Then we stretch for about 15 minutes. Depending on what we need to work on, we usually work on turns, leaps and jumps, or we just go straight to dancing. Practice can be tiring, but it is really important to get routines down.”

The team practices are after school until 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The team use their practice time wisely, in order to make sure they are able to give great performances, and so that the dancers can build strength and endurance. In terms of performances, the Poms team is determined to step up their game this year and impress audiences with their routines.

“We want our first performance to be during Northside’s first varsity basketball home game of the season, and we’re trying to do as many home basketball games as we can,” Tran said. “Obviously, we are looking forward to the homecoming game.”

Last year, the team lost four senior members of the squad. Due to the fact that two of these members were captains, the team really had to keep an eye out for new talent and seek out dancers that were motivated.

This year, the squad consists of 17 members, which is a step up from their 13-member squad last year.

“Losing our senior girls last year was definitely difficult because they were an im-

portant part of our squad,” Tiana Chan, Adv. 305, said. “We were all so close to each other and we were not sure what talents we would get this year.”

The team ended up gaining more than they lost when it came to their members, and the new members are excited to be a part of the Poms team. The new members guarantee a different and dynamic season this year because the team can incorporate more things into their routines with a large number of dancers.

“I’m a sophomore and I saw Poms performing last year, and they were really amazing, which is what motivated me to try out,” Devin Hilly, Adv. 405, said.

The squad is dedicated to performing to the best of their ability, with creative and precise moves at competitions. Last season, the team worked hard to come up with their routine, but ended up placing a close second to Taft High School at the CPS City Competition. Due to this, the team wants to try and improve by working on their technical dance moves and by having a fun and lively dance mix, which is vital to a strong performance.

By having a strong mix, it allows the team to make easy transitions with their moves, and it pleases the crowd.

“We thought our routine last year was the strongest it has ever been, and our goal this year is to top it,” April Swanson, Adv. 200, said. “We also want to focus on music for our performances this year, and we’re looking for someone to mix songs for our performances. It is nice to have someone from the student body to work on our music because it is personable.”

This year, the Poms team is ready to learn new routines, get close to the new members, and impress the school with memorable performances.

opportunity and slow the ball down. If we cut down on some of our turnovers, we would be a lot better of a team, and would be able to compete with better and better teams.”

Northside recently came out of a tournament with a 2-2 record, which could have been better if they had fewer turnovers. They lost to rivals Lane Tech by five points, however Northside committed 38 turnovers. If

they could bring that number down, they could beat Lane Tech.

“I can’t wait to play Lane again,” guard Anastasia Jermihov, Adv. 300, said. “We have the skills and chemistry to beat them, but we came out a little off against them the first time we played them. We are definitely going to be a better team the next time we play them, so they definitely need to watch out for us.”

If their shots fall the way they did against Roosevelt, only a handful of teams would be able to beat Northside. Northside seemed to make almost every shot they took, making the game look like a shooting clinic.

“We started making our shots early,” forward Veronica Schwartz, Adv. 302, said. “As soon as our first few shots fell, we got more confident as a team, and then there was no turning back after that. We could hardly miss.”

What makes the team so threatening is that every single player can handle the ball, shoot the ball, and drive to the basket and finish under pressure. The team plans on using its skills to have a great season.

Running the distance

Cross country team runs well at State Finals

by Nelson Ogbuagu On November 5, the men and women’s varsity cross country teams made Northside history by being the first cross country team to make it to the Illinois High School Association State Championships in Peoria, Illinois.

This was a shining moment in Northside’s sports history and each runner made sure to make the most of the experience.

The men finished 24 out of 25 teams at the championships, with a team score of 533 points; the first place team scoring 110 points.

Pat Duffy, Adv. 205, finished 95th with a time of 16:09. Ezra Edgerton, Adv. 208, finished 109th with a time of 16:17. Patrick Brennan, Adv. 306, finished with a time of 16:37. Cesar Rufino, Adv. 400, finished 155th, with a time of 16:38. Malcolm Grba, Adv. 508, finished 156th, with a time of 16:38.

Simon Kafka, Adv. 400, and Mac Melto, Adv. 209, finished 178th and 195th with times of 16:51 and 17:11, respectively.

The women also finished 24th out of the 25 competing teams, with a score 654 points; the first place team scoring 74 points.

Elizabeth O’Conor, Adv. 505, finished 126th, with a time of 19:24. Madison Weatherly, Adv. 501, finished 127th with a time of 19:24. Mary Coomes, Adv. 403rd, finished

Pat Duffy (left), Adv. 205, and Ezra Edgerton, Adv. 208, sprint to the finish. | COURESTY OF MUSTANGSXC.COM

161, with a time of 19:59. Caroline Owens, Adv. 508, finished 192nd, with a time of 20:39. Taylor Provax, Adv. 307, finished 197, with a time of 20:54. Lisa Wendt, Adv. 203, and Karly Raber, Adv. 205, finished 206th and 207th with times of 21:38 and 21:49, respectively.

Diver finishes season with a splash Ashley Bernardo places 22nd at state finals

By Andrew Hague

Northside women’s varsity diver Ashley Bernardo, Adv. 306, finished 22nd at the state championships last month.

Bernardo finished with a score of 156.10.

Erin Purdy of Deerfield won the state title with a score of 405.95.

Bernardo was the only Mustang who participated in state championships at New Trier High School on November 18. Bernardo placed first in diving at the CPS city championships and second in sectionals. She broke her older sister’s record for six dives at the city championships this season.

14

Sports • December 2011 • The Hoof Beat

Gearing up for the final season

Tae Woo Lee gets back in the game for senior year

Veronica Schwartz looks forward to her last year Varsity basketball and volleyball player discusses the years of his sports experiences

by Miranda Roberts

Veronica Schwartz, Adv. 203, always had a passion for basketball, and that passion has been consistent throughout her years at Northside. She not only plays for the school’s varsity team, but she also plays for the spring travel team, “All for Full Package,” while balancing other sports and pom-pons as well.

“Basketball has always been one of my favorite sports,” Schwartz said. ”I’ve always loved watching [basketball], so I figured in seventh grade, when I started playing, why not? I’ve been hooked ever since.”

Schwartz has played as the power forward or center position from the start of her basketball career. These positions are posts around the basket, and require an adept shooting ability or defense. She’s grown comfortable in the forward or post positions, and she worked on and off the court with her team.

“It’s a really good feeling when your teammates are counting on you to finish that layup or to pick up that rebound, and you successfully deliver,” Schwartz said. “Our team is close off the court as well; every colloquium day we come in and shoot free throws from 7:00 - 7:30 in the morning. Afterwards, we kind of take over the locker room and order breakfast or pick a new show to watch episodes from on Netflix.”

Another way that the team comes together is with the Big Sister/Little Sister program.

The entire program is divided into smaller families in order to help them become closer.

“Families consist of upper and under classmen, and we try to put one member from each grade level of the team,” Schwartz said. “This helps underclassmen by providing someone older that they can look up to as sort of a mentor or guide that they can ask for homework help or talk [with] personally.”

Schwartz thinks the team will go far this season. According to her, some strong points of the team are athleticism, talent, dedication, and familiarity amongst teammates.

The team aims to work on some of the weak points they noticed last year as well.

“We like to play jokes on each other and

by Carly Jackson

Veronica Schwartz, Adv. 203, dribbles up the court | MIRANDA ROBERTS

make fun of one another, but no one takes it to heart because we all know that it’s all in good fun and if it does bother someone, we make it right.” Schwartz said. “Last season one of the things that we needed to work on was finishing our lay-ups high off the glass and completing our free throws whenever we were given the chance to take them.”

The relationships Schwartz has made will be missed as she moves on to college.

“Honestly it breaks my heart [to leave Northside],” Schwartz said. “I can honestly say that it will feel like I’m missing something. The season hasn’t even ended and I’m already thinking what I wouldn’t give for one more season, one more game, one more minute. I’m going to miss my basketball family, which includes the coaches, the most. Without them the program does not exist. They make this program what it is, and they make every minute worth it.”

The basketball season has just begun and volleyball will start in spring, but Tae Woo Lee, Adv. 204, is already improving his skills on the court and in the classroom.

Lee was a newcomer to school sports as a freshman at Northside.

“I didn’t play sports in grade school because my parents wanted me to focus on academics,” Lee said. “But when I started high school they gave me a choice. They said, ‘You can play sports but make sure academics are first.’ I got their trust to make my own choice.”

During his freshman year, Lee played on the freshman basketball and volleyball teams. Even though he had not played school team sports before, he was moved up to varsity basketball by the end of his sophomore season.

“I had to work as hard as I could so the coaches could see what kind of player I was,” Lee said. “The first game I played for varsity, I played the last two minutes of the game.

Immediately, I came in and hit a three-point [basket], got an offensive rebound and we had a turnover. The next game I played a quarter of the game and [the game after that] I played half, and then at regional championships, our most important game, I started on the court and played the majority of the game.”

Lee continued playing basketball and volleyball in his junior year, and last season, the Northside varsity volleyball team made it to city finals.

This school year, Lee hopes to be the captain and shooting guard or small forward for varsity basketball in the winter, as well as the captain and setter for varsity volleyball in the spring.

“Our goal for this year in volleyball is to win conference championships,” Lee said.

“This is our year, because it seems like we probably have one of the best varsity volleyball teams in four years. For basketball, the Pack the Gym games and the homecoming games are very fun, and we always want to win for our school this year.”

Tae Lee, Adv. 204, goes up for a layup |CARLY JACKSON

Lee wants to win sports games for Northside and encourages school pride because of his love for the Northside community. As a co-president of Pep Club, the school spirit club, Lee is writing school chants for basketball season and helped film a video about the student experience at Northside for the 2011 Open House.

To balance sports and extracurricular activities with his class work, Tae Lee is conscious to always put academics first. His basketball practices begin at 7:30 p.m., so he goes home after school to finish his easier homework and then returns to school for group practice in the gym. Then, after group practice, Lee may stay in the gym until it closes. These individual practices allow Lee to focus on the techniques that he wants to improve.

Even though it’s necessary for a student to work hard in sports, Lee would recommend that other Northside students still try out for sports teams.

“They just have to remember that academics are always first,” Lee said. “Don’t let the sports overwhelm your academic life, but try sports out. It might not be the best thing for you, but always try it because in high

Precision and patience Chess Team on its way to bigger victories

by Brendali Rios A perfect score is a rare thing in chess; one must have determination and the power to think on the spot. On November 5, Northside’s chess team competed against some of the top teams in the state from schools such as Niles North and Stevenson at the Evanston tournament and demonstrated that they are off­­­­­­ to a strong start. The Mustangs received a perfect score of 68 points and beat the top teams. Last year, the Chess team placed second in the state and eighth among all classes.

With returning players and its junior varsity team, the team’s coach Jeff Caveney believes they can be even better this year.

Coach Caveney, one of the team’s two coaches, has been playing chess since he was a young kid, and then went on to play for his high school team in Georgia from 1987 to 1990. Inspiring young children to play chess through coaching and working for the Renais-

sance Knights Chess Foundation since 2007, Caveny points out that Northside is his first high school team coaching experience which began in 2009. Alex Bologna, Adv. 300, has also played chess since a young age.

“I have been playing for almost a decade. I learned to play chess over Christmas break in first grade and have been playing ever since,” Bologna said. “I would encourage people to join chess regardless of prior experience. Although it will be very tough and may take a long time to reach the varsity team, it is a rewarding sport and will be worth your while.”

In chess, there are eight players per team.

The team’s best player faces the other team’s best player, called first board. The team’s second best player faces the other team’s second best player on second board, and so on, up to the two team’s eighth best players on eighth board.

In chess, there is a weighted scoring sys-

tem: 12 points for the first board, 11 points for the second board, and so on, to 5 points for the eighth board. That adds up to 68 total points, so a team has to score more than 34 points to win a match. On November 12, against 14 of Chicago’s best varsity teams, Northside’s varsity team finished second, and Northside’s JV team finished fourth.

“One or two good players is not enough to win a team match. You need to have a complete team of good players,” Coach Caveney said.

Northside prides itself in the training that it gives its players, regardless of which board they are on. Since each match can last up to two hours (each player gets an hour for his total moves), people on the chess team find the tournaments, which consist of four matches in a row, even more exhausting than actual physical sports.

“You need critical thinking skills, a

strong memory, and sheer concentration,” Bologna said. “You exercise all of these parts of your brain while playing chess. Although you would not think of chess as a demanding sport, it really is draining. At the end of the day, I find that I am more exhausted after a chess tournament than a cross country race.”

Chess is more than a competitive sport.

It is a something that requires a lot of training, and it teaches its players skills that can be applied in other areas of life.

“The most valuable life skill that chess can teach players is the importance of consistently disciplined good decision-making to achieve success,” Coach Caveney said. “The players put in a lot of hard work to be successful. We began practicing right at the start of the school year on Sept. 10, and we will continue through the CPS Championship in January, the State Championship in February, and beyond.”

16

Editorials • November 2011 • The Hoof Beat

EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL

Success comes from failure

Starting the holidays early

How Northsiders can cope with failure

Should the holiday season be extended?

Failing is the only way to suceed...eventually Accept failure as a part of life

Rejected. Unsuccessful. Let-down. Disappointing.

To anyone, this may mean that life is over, one is unworthy, and will be unable to move on. What drives many students at Northside is fear of failure. That is why we try our hardest, giving 100 percent to what we do, double and triple checking our answers to homework, applying to different programs while making sure to mention every activity in which we participate and staying up until 2 a.m. to make sure that we can make it through the next day without a scratch.

We try so hard, which is why it can be extremely heart breaking to receive a low mark, a disappointing look from parents, or a letter in the mail that begins with, “Thank you for applying to the XYZ Program. We regret to inform you that you have not been selected. The qualifications of this year’s applicants were very strong, and we received a record number of applications…This made it extremely difficult for us to select the finalists.” The first rejection may be tough, and the second one may be scolding, or all of them may be devastating. However, one should realize that those rejection letters are the most valuable thing in your life. Accepting failure is the first step to success, and what you do with it is what matters the most.

There are two groups of people, those who think and never do, and those who do and never think. Applying to programs, internships, jobs, and scholarships takes a lot of courage. Many students think that they have no shot at getting the opportunity, so they do not even try. However, there are those students who think, “What do I have to lose?” and the winds just may shift their way. They go for it and end up getting that job as an Arling Wilson model like Simone Meer-

brey, Adv. 203, did.

“I did it because it was what I love. I love being in front of the camera, and working with my figure. Overall, when it comes to pursuing your passion, it comes down to making yourself happy,” Meerbrey said. “Your success is from within, and you don’t need others approval to get to be where you want in life. If you don’t go for something, it’s not their loss, it’s yours. Remember you’re the one in charge of yourself, and it should stay that way.”

To succeed, you have to fail more. In order to fail more, you have to accept failure as a part of life. Just think about it, if you set out to hit a target board with darts, and keep on trying for hours, days, months, years, one day you will get it.

“Remembering that you’re going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking there’s something to lose,” Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., said in his commencement speech for Stanford’s 2005 graduating class. That is right, in the face of death, everything seems miniscule. Just because there is that great possibility that you may not succeed in your endeavor, whether it be getting good grades in school, trying to shoot a three pointer in your next basketball game, or trying to get into the University of Chicago, that does not mean you should not try. You are losing nothing by trying.

Nothing, nada, zilch.

If you succeed in your goal, that would be great. However, by failing, you gain something invaluable, which is that experience and insight into what you can do differently next time.

For example, George Kolovos, Class of 2011, had been set on going to Northwestern ever since he was young. He applied; however, he did not get in, and felt disheartened.

“It sucked,” he said. “But, after I got over the rejection, I realized I got accepted into an equally prestigious university, and I’m completely satisfied with enrolling at U of M [Uni-

versity of Michigan].”

Kolovos may not have gotten into his top choice school, but what he did with that experience was what led to his decision to pursue the University of Michigan.

“I ‘failed’ in a sense, because I did not get into my top choice,” Kolovos said, “but with proper preparation, I was able to ensure that I get a quality post-secondary education.”

Getting rejected can lead to three things.

First, one may realize that what you had gone for was not really what you wanted, and you are indifferent about it. Second, you may be sad, take some time to get over it, and vow never to try again. Lastly, you may realize that this one failure means nothing in the grand scheme of things. You may be so passionate about becoming a soccer player that even though you did not make it into a club team does not mean you will be stopped from pursuing your passion to one day play for Spain and win the FIFA World Cup. In whatever you attempt, it is crucial to love what you do.

In fact, Jobs said that being rejected from Apple was the best thing that could have happened to him because he realized that no matter what, he would continue to love and improve technology. All he needed to do was follow his curiosity, intuition, and what his heart said. “Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future,” Jobs said. The point is to believe. Believe that what you want will come your way, work for it, and one day it will happen.

What some people miss is that failure breeds success. There is not one scientist, one president, one Nobel peace prize winner, who has not failed at something. As Steve Jobs said, failure is a chance to begin with greater intelligence. These people took their experiences and pushed forward because they believed that one day they would succeed. After all, the only failure is to fail to try.

Embrace the holidays months in advance Reasons to enjoy an earlier holiday season

“It’s the most beautiful time of the year /lights fill the streets spreading so much cheer,” Justin Bieber croons on his hit Christmas single, “Mistletoe.” Chances are if you have been following 93.9 Lite FM, creating your own Christmas playlist, or even been shopping at stores while music plays in the background, you have been hearing this song since early November.

However, the date also stirs up a timeold debate: when is it too early to celebrate Christmas? There was once a time when the Holiday Lite FM began the first day of December; this year, it officially started on Nov. 13.

The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, a staple feature of the holiday season in Chicago, began on Nov. 19, and the Magnificent Mile organization promoted “holiday traditions and shopping” since Nov. 1, according to the Magnificent Mile website. Perhaps most importantly for Northside students, Starbucks brought back its “buy-one-get-one-free” pro-

motion on its holiday drinks. Whether people agree with the early start or not, the general consensus has been pushing the holiday season earlier every year. It is time we should learn not to complain, but to embrace the movement.

One reason for an early holiday season is that Christmas is often what counteracts the growing darkness and gloom of an approaching winter. Mid-November often marks the beginning of sharp drops in temperature, a noticeably shortened day, and even a few flurries. People often rely on the hope and spirit of the holidays to brighten up the otherwise bleak prospects of a long winter. Particularly this winter, one many have claimed would be the harshest winter in years, has come particularly quickly upon Chicago and perhaps explains why people are looking for early festivities.

A bigger reason is that late November events are closely tied to, if not a direct part of, the holiday season. It is undeniable that the memories of Christmases and Thanksgivings past are intertwined, and the two holidays share many values and traditions. Both focus on the importance and appreciation

of family and celebrating as a community.

Both even share their dishes: roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, apple cider, and pecan pie.

Finally, the Christmas season will often feel surprisingly short. After a rush of last-minute school projects and tests, time spent planning gifts for teachers and friends, and one last push for college applications, Christmas will be abruptly over because no one celebrates Christmas after Dec. 25. Many holiday purists will argue that the season should officially begin on Dec. 1, but this only leaves 25 days of holiday spirit, something that admittedly takes a while to build in the cold weather.

While it is hard to argue any other official date, why not maximize the amount of days for feel-goodness and happy memories?

People’s annoyance and even rage against the early holidays is understandable. However, students should appreciate the extended days of Christmas music and holiday spirit, particularly when we only have finals, college application deadlines, and the end of first semester to expect. Let us embrace the spirit of the holidays, welcoming it into our lives a little earlier and a little longer each year.

MASTHEAD Northside College Prep H.S. 5501 N. Kedzie, Chicago, IL 60625 Tel: (773) 534-3954 Principal Mr. Barry Rodgers Assistant Principal Dr. Margaret Murphy Advisor Ms. Dianne Malueg Print Editor-In-Chief Zobia Chunara Web Editor-in-Chief Timothy Suh NCP News Editor Regine Sarah Capungan Special Features Editor Andriana Mitrakos Sports Editors Andrew Hague Arts and Entertainment Editor Nelson Ogbuagu Staff Reporters Jamilah Alsharif Calum Blackshaw Regine Sarah Capungan Chris Ceisel Zobia Chunara Maria Flores Sharon Flores Andrew Hague Carly Jackson Minna Khan Andriana Mitrakos Nelson Ogbuagu Brendali Rios Miranda Roberts Timothy Suh Diego Vela Sylvia Wtorkowski SUBMISSIONS The Hoof Beat welcomes opinion editorials from its readers. Letters to the Editor and Op-ed submissions may be sent to hoofbeat.editorials@gmail.com. Submissions should not exceed two pages.

CONTACT The Hoof Beat is a monthly publication produced by the Northside Prep Journalism Class. As a student-run newspaper, your opinions are important to us. If you have any comments, corrections, or questions, please e-mail Ms. Dianne Malueg at hoofbeat.malueg@gmail. com or the Editor in Chief of the Hoof Beat at hoofbeat.drafts@gmail.com.