The Lion's Tale - Volume 49, Issue 5

Girls’ soccer team places runner up in state competition, and makes it to final four for the fourth year.

LION’S TALE F e b r u a r y 13 , 2 0 0 9

Volume 49

Gold medalist smokes more than competition

601 K ing Street

CHECK OUT THE

Carson Bailey staff reporter

A

picture is worth a thousand words as Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps recently learned.

On Feb. 1 the infamous photograph of Phelps smoking marijuana out of a bong surfaced in the British newspaper News of the World.

“It was surprising to hear that such a successful swimmer would be smoking marijuana,” said sophomore AJ Wynne.

“But we all make mistakes.”

Senior Amanda Hampton believes that the example Phelps has set is not a good example for kids and teens.

“The example that Michael Phelps is setting as a role model is not one to follow,” said Hampton. “He should be punished just like anyone else would be, kids need to understand there are consequences for your actions.”

Also opposed to the actions of Phelps is sophomore Jenny Atkinson, a member of the swimming and water polo teams. “ B e i n g a swimmer I know how vital the lungs are to being successful in swimming,” said Atkinson.

“We all know ‘11 what an amazing AJ Wynne swimmer Phelps is, so my question is why would he smoke marijuana and knowingly risk damaging his lungs?”

Many questions have risen from this case, but the one big question is will Phelps be facing any drug charges? As of Feb. 16 the answer is negative. Sheriff Leon Lott, who has been investigating the case, released a statement on Feb.16 stating he would not be going any further with the case.

“I’m glad the case has been dropped.

Phelps apologized for his wrong doing and that’s enough for me,” said junior Jessica Gross.

Although Phelps will not face any drug charges he did not get through the scandal unscathed.

Along with the emotional consequences, the USA Swimming suspended Phelps for three months and Kellogg Co., which has been plastering Phelp’s face on their cereal boxes, will not be renewing their endorsement deal with him.

“The three month suspension Phelps is getting may be just what he needs,” said sophomore Lara Scherer . “It will allow him to think about what he has done and possibly regain some respect from the outraged public.”

In the eyes of sophomore Lindsay Broadhurst the Kellogg Co. has gone a little too far.

“Phelps is a human and makes mistakes just like any other,” said Broadhurst “It seems as though Kellogg doesn’t understand that. By having his face still on the cereal boxes it would show that yes people make bad choices but they are also able to overcome them.” see MARIJUANA, page 3

Issue 5

Wizard OF OZ

page 19

Oviedo, Florida

When: April 17, 18, 19 Where: Gerald Cassanova Performing Arts Center Cost: $5 for students $8 for adults

BLOWN AWAY BY THE WIZARD. Junior

Mark V. Harriott rehearses his part as the Lion in the musical Wizard of Oz.

photo/CORY CADOGAN

Misplaced gates deny access to class Miranda Ghali to the back of the building isolated co-editor-in-chief and unsecured.

W

ith the current construction underway at OHS, the new aspects to campus leaves students both frustrated and curious. The new gates placed in a range of locations around campus causes one big question: “What’s with the gates near the library?”

Sophomore Rayah Gutek said, “I’m curious and a little frustrated about the random doors and gates. I don’t understand their purpose.”

Locking the gates placed between the old gym and Building 5 (old Building 21) leave students who need access

Principal Robert Lundquist said, “The architect made a mistake not counting on the back part of Building 5. They didn’t realize the students that needed to enter the back hallways - the newspaper, art, and yearbook students.”

The idea of the gates is to keep intruders out, but leave students to exit easily in case of an emergency.

The gates were to be locked at all times from the outside, but unlocked from the inside.

Lundquist said, “With those yard gates we need to allow students to go to class. The question is how they are going to get back through. We will have to make an exception with Building 5 because [students] are

LOCKED OUT?

The gates between Building 21 (now called Building 5) and the old gym have caused a stir between the students and some teachers.

Not only will the gates keep intruders out, but could leave students out too. photo/MIRANDA GHALI

going to have to go to class.”

The other concern is the giant gaps between the security gates and the walls in which they should be connected with. Lundquist asserts that they will be fixed shortly.

The yard gates should help OHS become safer from intrusions, though

no current emergency procedures will be affected.

Lundquist said, “The yard gates really will not impact any of our current emergency procedures. It just helps prevents people from coming into our campus without having to go through the front of the school.”

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News

February13, 2009

News

The Lion’s Tale

State expands school grade to include AP and graduation rate Tova Kranz

Summer school remedial only; no acceleration for any classes, history and PE included Students can no longer attend summer school for acceleration purposes. Due to budget cuts, summer school is only available for students who need remediation or who need additonal credits to graduate. Unlike last year, this includes PE and history classes, which are now available to be taken online at flvs.com.

Session one of summer school runs from June 15 through July 2. Session two from July 6 through July 23.

Summer school will run on a four-day-a-week schedule.

Florida Virtual School is still available for those who wish to get ahead. Speak to your guidance councelor for more information.

OHS cheerleaders out-cheer at competition

Varsity Cheer recently competed in Nationals at UCA at Disney’s Wide World of Sports and placed 12 in the nation out of a collection of 65 other top-ranking squads.

Junior Varsity also had their share of success at nationals: after placing at three previous competitions, JV made it to finals for the first time in five years at nationals and placed 6 in the nation.

Superior performers to raise money at Robert Locke Night of Stars

OHS Thespian Troupe 4564 received 18 ‘superiors’, and two ‘excellents’. These winning performances will perform at the Robert Locke Night of Stars. The money raised goes to the Robert Locke scholarship fund raiser on Tuesday February 24, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the Gerald Cassanova Performing Arts Center.

BLUE RIBBON BASICS.

Freshman Neel Patel explains his project to a group of onlookers. “My project is about communicating information throuh sound. The process is called sonification. Some applications include uses where visual communication isn’t availabe, such as at night or for the blind or people with special needs.” he said. “I would definitely encourage others to participate in science fairs. The process of discovery is extremely exciting, and there are many opportunities for prize money or scholarships.

Students place at county science fair, head to state and nationals

Freshman Neel Patel (pictured above with his project at the Seminole Town Center) and senior Travis Lindsay placed in the 2009 Seminole County Regional Science, Math, and Engineering Fair in Computer Science and Biochemistry respectively. Lindsay received second place for his project, entitled Algae to Oil. Patel placed first, and will continue on in state and national level competitions. If he places in international, he will have the opportunity to choose a name for a star.

S

staff reporter

tarting in the 2010-2011 school year, the school rating system will include more than just FCAT. “[The school grade] will no longer be all FCAT. Half [of the grade] will be FCAT and the other 50 percent will be graduation rates, the number of students in AP classes, the results of the AP tests, how certain groups of students perform on the FCAT test, and the number of students enrolled in dual enrollment classes,” said Principal Robert Lundquist.

Sophomore Ryan Fuller believes that the school grading system definitely needed a revamp.

“Basing a school’s score on FCATs takes the school’s focus away from its students and their grades,” he said.

One major change of this new system will be the encouragement of Dual Enrollment classes, which may open up Dual Enrollment classes on campus, some taught by Oviedo High School teachers. The classes will still count as college credit, but they will be fitted into the school day.

“I think that’s a great idea,” said Junior Iesha Lewis.

“Some people just don’t perform well on the FCAT, and [the addition of Dual Enrollment to the school grade] gives them and their school the chance to prove themselves.

AP classes, also becoming part of the school grade in two years, are a big part of school for some students, and will be for more students as the faculty continues to encourage driven students.

“We will always encourage our students to take AP [classes],” said Assistant Principal Anna McCarthy.

This new system will also be more inclusive than the former school grades, which were based only on FCAT scores.

“I think the focus is to make it more comprehensive in scope rather than to just focus on one test,” said Lundquist.

It remains unclear whether the new method of grading will make it easier or harder to earn the ‘A’ average every school aims for.

“They did a comparison with the new grading system and we averaged out to an ‘A’, so hopefully we will be able to keep our ‘A’ grade,” said Lundquist.

Though a general framework has been put in place for the new school rating system, no arrangements or details will be permanent until next photo/CARLY MCCARTHY school year.

“It’s still what I would HAIR RAISING EXPERIENCE. Junior Jennifer Ward places her hand on a Van Der Graaf generator during an in-class call a work in progress,” demonstration in Troy Soos’ AP Physics class. The new school rating system, which now takes AP classes and pass rates into account, may mean more emphasis from teachers and administration to do well on the AP exams and Dual Enrollment classes. said Lundquist.

Merck provides juniors with incentive to pass science FCAT Brooke Fidrick

T

staff reporter

hanks to seniors who Christmas-treed last year’s FCAT science test, doing well on this year’s test could pay off like Christmastime for juniors.

In an effort to raise the low scores earned by the last year’s juniors, Assistant Principal Leon Merck plans to offer incentives such as prom tickets, homecoming tickets, free parking, and sports passes to high-performing students.

For the past five years, OHS ranked second among Seminole County public high schools in FCAT Science scores. This year, due to apathy and a lack of preparation by this year’s seniors, the ranking slipped to third.

“Word came back to teachers and administrators that since [the FCAT science test] did not count towards

graduation, there wasn’t a priority to do well. Also, the test is difficult because it covers four different subjects. Many times students have not even seen earth and space science since middle school,” said Merck.

The FCAT science test covers physical/chemical science, earth and space sciences, life and environmental sciences, and scientific thinking.

Each of these four disciplines carries a weight equal to 25 percent of the total test score.

Out of 455 seniors who took last year’s FCAT science test, 231 received scores of 3, 4, or 5.

These scores are considered “proficient”, whereas scores of 1 or 2 are considered “not proficient”.

Out of the 231 proficient seniors, only five achieved scores of 5, 46 received scores of 4, and 180 earned scores of 3.

“Our seniors this year were 50.8 percent proficient.

Fifty-point-eight percent of the senior class, when they took the FCAT Science in their junior year scored a 3, 4, or 5.

Roughly 50% scored a 1 or a 2,” said Merck. “We had to somehow initiate incentive for students to do well on the test.”

Scores of 4 and 5 on this year’s FCAT Science make juniors eligible for a slew of incentives.

Those who score 4 or 5 automatically receive free parking on campus. Merck plans to distribute five homecoming tickets, five prom tickets, and two sports passes. He will hold a drawing of 12 names from all students who achieve a 4 or 5, and pick winners from there.

Merck hopes these incentives will help to raise FCAT Science learning gains––– by ten percent. He sees no reason for the incentives not to continue in subsequent years.

The Lion’s Tale

February 13, 2009

News

3

Seven periods bring flexibility to schedules, variety in courses Victoria Persampiere

T

intensive reading or math some more

news editor flexibility,” he said. “It potentially allows

here’s a lot of uncertainty floating that students could advance themselves and around school about the new seventh compete with Orange County high schools. period. Some students are ecstatic – [who have more periods than Seminole others worry how the new period will affect County schools.] Students who have taken all AP and haven’t had the opportunity to their workload or their GPAs. Mostly, though, people seem to be take newspaper, chorus, TV production now misinformed. “You can take something fun!” they can say ‘Wow, I can still take advanced some say. “It’ll murder my GPA!” others classes and band.’”

According to Lundquist, the seven-period moan. day should also help alleviate some of the There isn’t a facet of the average student’s stress caused by choosing classes with only day that won’t be altered somehow by the one or two blocks offered. new schedule. More Certain AP classes and classes means less time School Start Date Debate per class, which may lead The state of Florida has offered electives are only taught to more homework. It high performing districts the option once or twice a day; this means less passing time to start school on Aug. 10. Brevard often times causes conflict. between classes, and the County will exercise this option, With more periods, the definite possibility of opening 14 days before Seminole student numbers will be more evenly distributed, one lunch. However, the County. schedule change offers Seminole County was also and the problem would be many new opportunities given this option, but has decided solved. photos/BROOKE FIDRICK While the newer, more for students. not to take advantage of it at this MAKING ROOM. Senior Debony Meagher uses bright paints and water to make unique shapes in her artwork “I think the seven- time. School will start on Aug. 24. flexible schedule benefits while senior Hannah Richards works on her project about the evolution of music lyrics. With seven periods, more students as far as their class period day thing is a students will have the opportunity to take elective AP classes such as AP Art. good idea because it gives the students a choices go, it also causes some problems for chance to take another class colleges may teachers, who now have to rearrange their next year,” said LMHS junior Connor McCarthy. to get from class to class, we’ll have to carry more So do the LMHS kids have any advice for because we probably won’t have as much time to get like. I’m taking another AP class with my plans in order to fit their curriculums into the students at OHS? to our locker,” said freshman Sarah Davis. shorter periods. extra period,” said junior Shelby McGrew.

“It’s a big difference from the usual six-period One lunch next year?

“I’m going to have to teach more, teach faster, McGrew is not alone in her decision to The school’s low enrollment rate leaves enough take another advanced class; according to and teach for less money because of all the budget day,” said McCarthy. “Sometimes, in the beginning, American History and Civil War Studies cuts. I’m so excited,” said Barbara Kelly, who you’ll forget your seventh period because you’re space for just one lunch period next year. The idea teacher Mary Woods, the social studies teaches five periods of Algebra and Pre-Calculus just not used to it being there. I wouldn’t say that is generating a lot of excitement around campus; it’s any harder, really – it’s just more challenging to although, like everything else concerning the sevendepartment is already seeing a rise in this year. keep on top of your homework.” period day, there is a lot of controversy about whether “Wednesday is going to be rapid,” said enrollments in AP classes.

Homework, Morris agrees, is the only really the change is good or bad.

Lundquist.

“Not only is it a short day, but now we’ll “Students now have the ability to add negative difference between a six and a seven-period “I love the idea of one lunch. I’ll be able to be also have shorter periods.” another AP course,” she said. “We’ve seen day. with all of my friends. Starting school this year So the big higher enrollments in “We have a lot of extra homework.

The teachers seemed like a bittersweet scenario; on the up side, question: how will this AP Art History and AP “Hopefully, now that we have have less time but still have to teach the I had first lunch and got to eat earlier, change students’ day European History - the seven periods, I won’t have to same amount of material, so you just but on the flip side, a lot of my friends to day school life? sort of classes some can’t cover it all in class.” were at second lunch,” said O’Sullivan.

“I definitely think students didn’t have choose between a class I need to Woods has already changed her “Now we won’t have to worry about that it will help me an opportunity to take take and a class I want to take.” plans for her AP American History class that.” because now I will [when they had six in anticipation of a shorter class time next Not all students share O’Sullivan’s Charlotte Robinson, ‘11 have another elective periods].” year.

“I’ve assigned a more extensive opinion. each day.” said In addition to “I think that it’s really bad. Half freshman Stephenie summer homework assignment this Stephanie O’Sullivan‘12 supplementing an AP year,” she said “And they’re going of the school fits perfectly into one curriculum, the seventh period could be used O’Sullivan. “Instead of having four core classes to have to expect homework during lunch, but with double the amount of to fit two or three electives into a semester. and two electives, I’ll have four core classes and winter break and spring break, too.

We may have people per lunch, things are going to be hectic,” “I really wanted to take Chorus this year, three electives. I think it will make the school day to simply skip some lessons – you can only give said Davis.

“The lines will be long again and a lot but I had to take a different class for a sport,” seem shorter.” so much homework at a time! That’ll hurt students’ of people will probably have to sit outside of the said sophomore Charlotte Robinson. “Mr. Seven periods makes room for AP cafeteria, like in the amphitheater.”

Students at Lake Mary High School have been competitive edge when they take the exam.”

Schult wasn’t happy. I was pretty sad leaving A few changes will be made next year to attempt Lundquist, however, is confident that the whole a class that was so fun; I really miss it. on a seven-period day schedule for almost a year to lengthen class times. student body will be able to fit comfortably in the now, and the review has been generally positive.

Hopefully, now that we have seven periods, I “That’s always been our main focus – to make cafeteria.

“I think that the seven-period day is a good won’t have to choose between a class I need “If worst comes to worst and it didn’t work out thing. We get to learn more and take more classes,” sure students and teachers have as much academic to take and a class I want to take.” time as possible in a day,” said Lundquist.

“We know we could always just change back,” he said. said Rachel Morris, a senior at LMHS. “Sometimes, More periods increase flexibility we can reduce passing time [between periods] from “Pretty much everyone in the district switched though, it seems like the day never ends.

I know it’s Principal Robert Lundquist says that the seven to five minutes because the new, open campus to a seven-period day, but we all went about it not technically any longer, but it still feels incredibly new schedule will guarantee some more won’t have any congestion in the walkways.

That differently.

Our process was to seek the opinions long.” wiggle room for students with solid academic should add some time to classes.” of the teachers, since it directly concerns them, and Morris used her extra period to add another AP schedules.

“At first I was very happy about the seven period the Student Advisory Council.

The decision was class to her already packed schedule – she’s now “The extra period should allow students day because I could get my gym requirement out of pretty much ‘let’s go and try this and see if it can who have been locked in schedules with taking six AP classes and an Honors elective. the way.

I’m still happy about that, but with less time help the kids.’” said Lundquist.

“I know kids who are taking seven AP classes While the possession of marijuana is illegal in most of the direction while others disagree. from MARIJUANA, page 1 “Marijuana could be legalized and taxed, just like with United States that could soon be changing.

Despite Phelps admitting his mistake, apologizing, alcohol,” said junior Frankie Bannigan. “There should be an The Orlando Sentinel reported that and pledging to do better as a role model it isn’t enough “... there is a whiff in the air that U.S. policy is age at which you can buy it, and a limit on how much you can for the media and press. when it comes to medical buy at a time.”

“All I hear is what a bad role model Phelps is over and about to change Bannigan goes on to say that the legalization of marijuana over,” said Wynne. “He has had enough embarrassment marijuana.” could actually reduce drug abuse among students, paving the President Barack Obama said in the from this whole ordeal and it’s time for the media to move article, “I think the basic concept way for sensible moderation. on to harass their next celebrity victim, Chris Brown?”

“I really believe that if it weren’t so taboo, people wouldn’t using medical marijuana Phelps may have been the only one in the headlines of purposes and with become fiends for pot,” said Bannigan. but he wasn’t the only one smoking marijuana the night for the same Junior Kyle McCarthy hopes that one day marijuana will the same controls as other that photograph was taken. by doctors, I think become just as common place as alcohol and tobacco.

“It’s funny how Michael Phelps took all the public drugs prescribed “The fact is, the reason that marijuana isn’t legal already, appropriate.” embarrassment because he has celebrity status while that’s entirely This change would allow citizens, to is that the drug isn’t rooted in tradition,” said McCarthy. “The there were eight other people involved in this case,” said obtain and carry small doses of marijuana founding fathers drank, but because marijuana wasn’t the drug Gross. of the day, it remains unpopular amongst many Americans without being punished.

During the Michael Phelps investigation seven of “I think that the decriminalization of small amounts of today. I guarantee you that if they knew there was a market the eight people were charged with simple possession of for it in the fifties, Joe Camel would have been pushing pot on marijuana which carries a maximum penalty of 30 days marijuana is a good thing,” said senior Heather Jaeger.

Many students see legalization as a step in the wrong kids.” in jail or a $575 fine.

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February 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

Opinion

“A man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her. ”

Oscar Wilde LION’S TALE

OUR WORD

Exams after break fail in practice

Earlier this year, the state of Florida offered to allow high-performing districts to start school on Aug. 10.

Brevard County chose to excercise this option, simultaneously agreeing to open the school year 13 days before our own district.

While Seminole County was given the same alternative, it opted not to take advantage of it at this time.

As a result semester exams had to be scheduled after Winter Break, an alteration that drew a ton of flak from the student body.

Instead of demonstrating a positive attitude about the change, students failed in their obligations to study.

Rather than expanding their minds or dedicating precious minutes to the process of learning, knowledge accumulated over the year was gradually erased by time.

It is with this bitter experience in mind that we would welcome an administrative decision to revert to the way they were.

As positive a change as it would be, the damage has already been done to the students.

By ignoring their studies, many appear to have suffered from a temporary lapse in judgment.

A persistent reminder of this blunder now stains countless progress reports, report cards, and college transcripts.

This sudden show of laziness shouldn’t shock the faculty and staff, either. When presented with the opportunity to buckle down or indulge in their own sloth, we should all know that the majority of students are going to take the route most heavily traveled.

Sadly, this is also the path that requires the least amount of effort.

Despite the circumstances surrounding it, there are a variety of details that should have to be considered before making such a drastic change. Not everyone has the chance to crack open a textbook during the busy holiday season.

With the advent of Santa Claus it can be hard for anyone to focus on doing work.

Oviedo High School 601 King Street, Oviedo FL 32765 • Phone: 407-3204199 • Fax: 407-320-4213

The Lion’s Tale belongs to CSPA, NSPA, and FSPA. We reserve the right to refuse ads. The views of the staff do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, staff, or faculty of Oviedo High School. Advertising and editorial policies are on file in the newspaper room. (21-020) Editors-in-Chief: Miranda Ghali, Stacey Sterling News Editor: Victoria Persampiere Features Editor: Tiffany Ray Diversions Editors: Carly Brower, Emily Cottrell Sports Editor: Connor Bailey Opinion Editors: Kevin Baird, Jordan Hugh Sam Photo Editors: Graham Christensen, Brooke Fidrick Staff Artists: Miranda Harmon, Michael Mangos, Kevin Baird Staff Technician: Graham Christensen Advertising Editors: Ryden Butler, Caitlin Smith Faculty Advisor: Deborah Jepson Administrative Advisor: Anna McCarthy Principal: Robert W. Lundquist Staff Reporters: Carson Bailey, Caitlyn Braswell, Tien Holmes, Nirvani Khan, Maggie Kipi, Tova Kranz, David Parsons, Colin Perry, Julia Thorncroft, Kevin Veloso Lion’s Tale is accessible through the OHS web page.

Naturally, things are in no way alleviated when, upon return, only a limited amount of time is provided for review.

It’s decisions like these that make us feel like the higher-ups are spending less and less time considering the opinions of the very pupils they’re meant to nurture.

Rather than being offered a chance to partake in the decision-making process, we’re forced into arbitrary impositions that could potentially do serious damage to our educational well-being.

We have no doubt that the state had the best of intentions in mind when they originally conceived this plan. Admittedly, it is a method that probably looked amazing on paper.

In spite of the good intentions that brought it about, the concept didn’t exactly pan out for many students. This presents an opportunity for Seminole County to learn from its mistakes.

Despite their obvious care, we think that they should reconsider this decision in an effort to do what is best for the grades of the students.

Lion’s Tale Newspaper apologizes for the Jan. edition. We attributed flawed information to Dean Robert Williams. Use of dip or similar products is punishable by 16 hours of community service or a $25 fine. In addition, the violating student is required to attend a school-approved anti-tobacco program.

The Lion’s Tale abides by the journalistic standards of integrity and ethics and would never knowingly print false information.

Uniqueness’ negative connotations make me angry. I can’t say for sure, but I think it has to do with the fact that I regard “average” and “freak” as concepts conceived and propagated by the media to sell products.

Our culture has made us all the same.

No one is truly white or black or rich, anymore, because we’re led to believe we should all want the same things.

Kevin Baird co-opinion editor What kills me about people is that ot a day goes by that I don’t they spend far too much time and energy wonder why the Google search worrying that others will see them in a engine churns out almost half-anegative light if they don’t fit into this million sites that equate being different societal mold. to being a bad thing. Or why synonyms Faced with any issue, man’s greatest for “distinctive” most commonly include concern is always that, somehow, his downbeat terms like “peculiar” and response will result in alienation from the “strange.” human race. At least, this can be said of Every time I think about the possible those who conform to the masses and place repercussions or these facts – the inevitably too much value in their opinions. lowered self-esteem of millions of kids Whenever anyone wishes to appeal and continued misinformation about their to these sorts of people, they call upon individuality – it troubles me. altruism. With “Never mind your own I wonder how many children think they needs” as their mantra, most build their are going to grow up to be failures just lives and accomplishments around those of because they’re not like “everyone else.” others; stumble through the years without I wonder how many parents are setting making any contributions to humanity. themselves up for disappointment because Think of the needs of the state. Do they think they can gauge future success what’s best for the proletariat. Fight in the based on their kid’s interaction with name of the Good Lord. The list goes on “normal children.” and on.

This is what gets under my skin. And, Conversely, how many catastrophes well, it’s irks me too. have been sparked by the words, “Think for

yourself?” Considerably fewer.

For this reason, I say, to thine own self be true. Shake free of the clichéd chains that bind you, forget all prior misconceptions about normalcy and freakishness.

These terms are obsolete, with definitions that can be particularly difficult because their meanings are purely subjective and vary from person to person.

Is a poor person a freak? Is a person who doesn’t enjoy going to parties a freak?

Is someone who excels in academics but not in physical sports a freak?

What about someone who doesn’t care about the latest fashion trends? Is a factory worker out of the ordinary because he isn’t in a white-collar job or is it the other way around? Can something as simple as not having a date for Saturday night define who somebody is?

Doesn’t success in our world go far deeper than that? A man who doesn’t think for himself doesn’t think at all.

It seems like the only person who can decide whether I’m thriving in life is me, just like you’re the only one who can decide whether you’re doing the right thing.

I know this form of explanation portrays the argument over-simplistically.

I’m aware that we’ve all internalized a thousand labels and stereotypes throughout the years. But perhaps it’s time to shed all

those assumptions and judge ourselves by a more meaningful criteria.

We’ve all got good and bad in us. I just don’t think that the size of my bank account or waistline or my lack of desire to socialize should play any role in how I view myself – let alone how others should see me.

I choose to evaluate myself based on what I add to the human race. I judge myself based my moral achievements as a son and my academic achievements as a student.

I am different, but I don’t think I’m a loser. So if I don’t, it really shouldn’t matter to me if anyone else does. Society exists as a mental concept. In the real world there are only individuals. As such, individuality is man’s highest virtue.

It’s understandable, then, that man must be true to himself above all else.

He must let who he is and what he believes shine through in every action he commits and every word that escapes his mouth.

Correction

The human element

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illustration/KEVIN BAIRD

Be true to yourself and nobody else

The Lion’s Tale

February 13, 2009

One more period of pain and suffering As unbearably cheesy as it sounds, it’s up to us to look after each other, and in some ways this seven period Miranda’s day does just that. We’re giving everyone another chance.

Musings Personally, I see this as an opportunity to take electives I never could before. New classes like Creative Writing and SelfDefense could lead down some interesting roads. staff artist Miranda Harmon The-seven period day t’s official. Next year we’ll be dealing will also keep us in check with with seven periods. This means one an amendment stating that each more class crammed into the day, one classroom may hold no more than more subject to master, and one more 25 students. textbook to lug around all day. Right?

Smaller class sizes don’t only Not necessarily. Personally, I can comply with the law, but allow see this from two perspectives. The for more individual attention for additional class may be a burden, but also students. More manageable class an opportunity. sizes will hopefully lead to better So let’s look at the positives, as results. annoyingly optimistic as that may sound.

The new schedule will also help This new plan works out wonderfully us keep several teachers who would for some, especially those who have been otherwise be fired, another pro for the stuck in intensive reading or intensive new plan. math classes. This gives those students Well, all right then, that’s enough another elective, and a chance to actually optimism. Let’s take a look at the enjoy school. negatives.

With classes like intensive reading, First of all, this plan puts a much it’s no wonder that kids drop out of bigger strain on teachers. Not only do school. If a student is forced to take teachers now have an extra class to worry classes that he or she doesn’t enjoy, then about, but more periods crammed in the what’s keeping them here once they turn day mean shorter class times.

16? Sometimes the thought of graduation A few minutes less may not seem like isn’t enough. much, but it adds up. We’ll lose weeks of Everyone deserves a chance to teaching with the new plan. be happy, and an extra period allows This is especially hard on AP teachers some people that opportunity who may and students, who have to follow a pretty otherwise have a miserable time here. strict syllabus in order to prepare for the

Marvelous

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AP exams.

Aside from strained schedules, shorter class times generally mean more work and less play.

Although education is the first priority, it’s always nice to have a few extra minutes for conversation.

Besides an extra class for our teachers, it’s also an extra class for us. And for those of us who have the need to fill that extra spot with an AP class, things could get ugly.

To some parents, “an extra period” translates as “an extra chance for my child to prove their worth.” Not everyone is allowed to take an easy elective.

Sometimes students are pressured into taking more AP classes than they can handle.

Whether you love it or hate it, it looks like the seven period day is here to stay, at least for next year.

My advice? Use this to your advantage. Maybe this is a new opportunity to take an elective you’d never have experienced otherwise.

Maybe this will work out for the better.

Or maybe not. But in the end, it’s up to us how this pans out. Let’s hope we put this plan to good use.

Allegiance divided between two schools

County, consisted of several TV sets, deprivation of education, my family cameras, document cameras, and and I attended numerous School Board computers. Together, these ingredients meetings. My mother addressed the would lead to a video-conferencing Board itself in one meeting, listing our distance-learning system. complaints and practically begging Through this new technology, I could the board to let me continue my Latin be physically present at OHS while being education. However, our efforts would able to “call” into WSHS to take my prove to be in vain.

The board offered one concession—I Latin class.

Now I am enrolled in my final and could take Latin II through Florida fifth year of Latin. I have taken two Virtual School. Though marginally Brooke Fidrick co-photographer AP Latin courses, scored multiple satisfied, I knew I would miss the first place awards at regional and state first ventured into the realm of high communal, cooperative aspect of a competitions, and earned multiple gold school as an eighth grader taking a learning environment populated with medals on the National Latin exam. In Latin I course at Winter Springs High students and a teacher as passionate addition, I’ve become a hybrid student.

School. about the language as myself.

I’m lucky enough that I can now enjoy My expectations of being shoved I began my tenure at OHS in the being a Lion while retaining the Latin into a locker, stuffed into a trash can, or fall of 2005, thoroughly wishing to be education that was so dear to me. being lorded over by the upperclassmen nowhere other than WSHS. While my There are drawbacks to my situation. in general proved to be completely fellow freshmen found themselves elated ludicrous. Mr. Robie, my new teacher, by the prospects of high school, I trudged I do cherish the benefits of being present at OHS. My teachers at OHS have proved to be a hilarious comedian, a drearily through the halls, missing been nothing short of fantastic. The total nerd, and a decidedly more than both my friends and the opportunities I competent teacher. My classmates and would have enjoyed as a WSHS student. administration willingly jumps through whatever hurdles arise due to my peculiar I immediately bonded over a language Though I was still learning situation. However, I do not get to enjoy considered long dead. We played hard Latin and studied hard—pulling off victories through the in-class activities at WSHS. There are days when balancing such divided in Regional and State competitions, all FLVS, allegiance between OHS and the while cementing relationships and the WSHS grows tiresome. I having the time of our young lives. I still don’t understand couldn’t have been happier. why the school However, this wouldn’t be allowed board would spend to last long. The school board decided approximately to open a certain Hagerty High School $30,000—an in 2005, the year I highly anticipated amount of money entering WSHS as a freshman. equivalent to In order to allocate students to the starting Hagerty, the school board needed to salary of a new rezone the district. My neighborhood, teacher--on a literally on the border between the new technology new Oviedo High School and WSHS rather than districts, ultimately found itself on illustrations/MIRANDA HARMON allow me to the OHS side of the divide. attend WSHS. In April of 2005, my family received computer-based, solitary I can’t say that I never felt bitter the fatal letter. Though I was enrolled class I was taking paled in comparison to in the WSHS Latin program—and OHS my experience at WSHS. Also, the pace about my circumstances. When an educational body forces a student to did not offer Latin whatsoever—I would of the FLVS class lagged behind that of completely abandon his/her goals and be forced to attend OHS. Despite the my class at WSHS—I finished the first supplants these lost ambitions with a sort awards I had earned in my first year semester of the class so quickly that the of consolation prize, it’s hard not to feel of Latin, and despite my newfound school board realized that continuing a little jaded. I wouldn’t recommend intention to major collegiately in Latin, FLVS wouldn’t be a feasible option. that the School Board attempt to rezone my dreams and ambitions would grind to Instead, they decided to adopt a once more without realizing they must a screeching halt the moment I entered revolutionary new technology. This consider the human, emotional aspect of the halls of OHS. technology, which would lead to the their actions.

Completely outraged by this apparent first distance learning class of Seminole

Guest Column

I

Opinion 5

Guest Column Tien Holmes

staff reporter

Dark side of life know what it is like to be on the dark side. The

I

side where there isn’t any food. Where there aren’t any new clothes. The side where the threat of eviction isn’t a threat anymore, the pink sheet of paper is really tacked to the door and my clothes sit on the bare curb.

I’ve been without a mother. I am without a father.

Foster homes don’t count either, for the system is filled with people like Ms. Bertha who only wanted money; she didn’t care how she treated my sister and me.

Hatred, jealousy, anguish and misunderstanding used to bombard my young seven-year old mind.

In fact, I was confused until I hit thirteen.

Always asking why did this have to happen to me, begging God to answer. I never heard a response through the tears and the sniffles that pervaded my room at night.

Despite the challenges, I stand before you writing words from my soul, not angry at the stupid acts of my mother that put me in harm’s way from the beginning.

See, if she didn’t smoke crack every day and blow the smoke in my face when I was baby, if she didn’t keep me awake at 3 o’clock in the morning every night pouring loud music into my eardrums, I wouldn’t be sitting here fervently telling my story.

I’d be stuck in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Alone.

No future and no education. The majority of my friends from my childhood are either pregnant, selling drugs or taking them.

Life with my mother is a continuous cycle of ignorance. Wake up, drink, smoke, party, and fight.

That was my life. Well, until my father decided to pop into my life.

That was short-lived.

I think about the pros and cons of moving away from the place where I was born, the place that I swore I would go back to when I got older.

As much as it hurt to leave my family, friends and my seven-year old boyfriend that I thought I was going to marry, life is bliss.

It’s so much better than the dreams of the people still stuck in hell’s kitchen. Figuratively speaking of course.

Living in Oviedo and attending this high school, has granted me opportunities that Josh (my seven-year old crush) will never see in his life. I never knew what a complete wholesome family was until I moved here. I never understood the world, let alone knew anything about current or past history.

I know how to deal with obstacles. I know now that I don’t have to fit into a stereotype just because my mother is an addict, I’m going to be just like her. I know that I am somebody, not just smoke being blown from a blunt every couple of hours.

I owe my success not only to my best friend, Xavier and his family for being extremely supportive, my sister, Cheyanne for being my world, but also my guidance counselor, Nicola Johnson. She’s always been that ear to listen and to absorb every detail of my adversities. She’s a friend that I can count on and trust, not just because there’s a confidentiality agreement.

During my junior year when Mrs. Lightsey came into Mr. Mallory’s class and handed out these college pamphlets, I realized it was actually possible for me to go to college and everything that Dr. Johnson had been telling me fit like puzzle pieces.

I know people rooted in my birth city that won’t trust a teacher to save their life. Ms. Johnson cares, and the newspaper advisor Mrs. Jepson cares as well.

While being in room 21-020 for the last four years, I’ve been exposed to people who have the perfect lives, the generic white picket fences and drive Benzes.

I used to be jealous but I figured I’m just as rich as they are because the knowledge this one room has given is richer than social status. That car can wreck, but I will never be ignorant again.

Everything is achievable. From my clothes in a single bag on the curb, I dream of clothes by the truckload in my house with four bedrooms, a white picket fence, a Maserati and a master’s degree from the school of my choice, proving to the world that I can’t be stopped, no matter how dark the tunnel is.

6

Opinion

February 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

Political Debates:

W i t n essing h i s t or y i n t h e m akin g another feeling came up to surface. This emotion was pride.

I began to comprehend the tremendous opportunity that is bestowed upon all Americans, leaving race and ethnicity matters aside.

I realized that I was truly proud to live in a country where everyone has an equal shot at life, an equal chance to live out his or her dreams and ambitions.

In addition, I was proud of American Nirvani Khan staff reporter citizens themselves for relinquishing their discriminatory prejudices and for gradually learning that color is nothing but a result of possessing more melanin efore Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, I in one’s skin. believed that there were some Character and personal ingenuity things in the United States that were simply unattainable and impossible. cannot possibly be based on color and this was a concept that Americans were I believed that conventional and finally able to accept. orthodox ways of life were static; The final major feeling that overtook nothing, I mused, could or would ever me during the inauguration was hope. change accepted norms.

I hoped that more change would Unless a miraculous phenomenon come about that was as marvelous as an swept through the country, I assumed African-American becoming president.

America would never make any radical I questioned myself. Could racism changes. ever completely disappear?

But I had it all wrong.

Before this inauguration, I would Watching Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration on January 20, have instinctively shaken my head no.

After it, however, it’s not hard to 2009, had a substantial impact on my believe that it is a possibility. life and it also obliterated my outlook In summation, while watching this on America as never being able to make ceremony, I drastic transformations. wasn’t merely From my own personal account, the witnessing presidential oath resonated with the a raised sentimental side of my emotions. As right hand, Chief Justice John Roberts dictated the or simply words of the sacred oath to President hearing a Obama, the first feeling that overcame speech of me was one of social and moral future goals achievement.

I realized that less than 50 years ago, for America.

I was a the freedoms and privileges of Africanwitness of Americans were very limited and less than 50 years ago, the prospect of having a historical moment that an African-American president would marked how have seemed impossible.

African-Americans were deprived of much America has grown as a basic human rights, to say the least. As country.

Civil Rights activist Dr. Martin Luther I witnessed King Jr. had preached in his worlda turning point renowned “I Have a Dream” speech, and the sweet those of color were “still sadly crippled opportunity of by the manacles of segregation and the America. But most chains of discrimination.”

It took fervent, devoted activists, the importantly, I saw change will power of determined U.S. citizens, for the future and the enactment of the Civil Rights and I saw the Act of 1964 to finally erase the taint possibility of of segregation and inequality off of the so-called American society. impossible.

As Obama started his speech, yet

FROM THE

LEFT

Change realized

B

beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right.”

Clearly, the day would turn out to be only a bitter one - white guilt was healthier than ever.

And while many used the day to anticipate the upcoming change under the Obama administration, I chose to reflect Ryden Butler staff reporter on the white man’s so called history of “wrongdoing.” I recalled Abraham Lincoln, who morally erred when he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. recall the Inauguration Ceremony to be I recalled Harry S. Truman, who in 1948 one of bitter-sweetness. heinously desegregated the armed forces.

Bitter because my team lost, a I recalled Lyndon B. Johnson and the Democrat was installed in the White House. white members of the 89th United States Yet the sweetness was exuberant. For me, Congress, who violated civil rights by it symbolized the end of white guilt; after effectively ending segregation in 1964. all, an African-American would hold the I recalled President George W. Bush, office of President of the United States, the who irreverently relinquished the reins of Commander in Chief himself. power in “the smoothest transition of power So I was not deeply offended when in recent history” I bet the Oval Office’s President Obama appeared, strutting down computer still had all of the “O” keys intact. the blue and red carpeted steps with the selfI recalled the millions of white confidence of Narcissus himself. Honestly it made the Oath of Office debacle much more Americans who embraced what was wrong and cast their votes in the favor of a humbling for the Celebrity-President. previously anonymous Illinois Senator.

Nor was I disgruntled when President I recalled Dr. Stanley Ann Dunham Obama, in his Inaugural Address, explained Sutoro, a white woman who villainously the necessity of market regulations, and managed to raise two children despite omitted nuclear multiple travels between Honolulu, Hawaii power from and Jakarta, Indonesia. his list of She wronged humanity by paying the alternative tuition of the Punahou School, ranked one of energies.

America’s greatest, so that her son could be Naturally educated in the United States. Clearly she did I disapproved the wrong things by properly raising her son. of his policies His name is Barack Hussein Obama. in the As meretricious floats and marching speech, bands proceeded ad infinitum, I remembered just as I the multitude of Americans who criticized disagreed with them Bush because they differed from him, separating themselves from the actions of on the their country. campaign And I contemplated the ease with which trail.

I could adopt a similar attitude towards Yet Obama, an African-American Progressive. the true, But realistically, I recognized that this type unforeseen of ignorance is cut from the same cloth as insult came the words of Rev. Joseph Lowery and the from the racism which he paradoxically perpetuates Inaugural and denounces.

Benediction While the Conservative in me opposes by the many of Obama’s policies, and will for the Africanduration, the patriot in me understands that American it’s not about white or black; red or blue.

Rev. Joseph It’s about dropping the facade of a Lowery. In it politically correct America, calling a spade he proclaimed a spade, and tackling America’s problems “And in the based on intelligence and cooperation, not joy of a new with quick fixes, party politics, popularity contests, and stereotypes.

Undoubtedly America will experience change under Obama, but the fearsome illustration/MIRANDA HARMON unknown is in which direction.

FROM THE

RIGHT

Insult offends

I

“Yes, the seven period day gives people more of an oppurtunity to take classes that they need or classes they are just interested in.”

Skyler Showers ‘12 Poll out of 100 students taken 2/17.

• • • • The hiring of a lawyer is • an important decision that should not be based solely • upon advertisements. Before • you decide, ask us to send you free written information • about our qualifications and • exper0ience.

Family Law Real Estate Law Wills Trusts Estates Criminal Law Bankruptcy Personal Injury Business Law

“No, going to the seven period day means more work with less time in-class to try and do it. Teachers also have less time to teach.”

Kasey Donahue ‘11

The Lion’s Tale

Features

February 13, 2009

7

Leave stress behind

Peaceful minds, strong bodies goals of new club Carly Brower

T

co-diversions editor

o some, yoga may look painful, but to senior Clare Chura it’s a daily routine.

“When I was 12, I was in gymnastics and to maintain my flexibility I took up yoga and it stuck,” said Chura. “Yoga helps me in so many ways. It keeps your stress low, helps with your flexibility, improves balance and coordination, burns fat, and keeps your muscle tone in shape.”

Yoga is a 5,000 year-old practice that was originally created in order to enhance meditation.

“It [yoga] focuses on deep, controlled breathing accompanied by numerous poses, each one focusing on specific points in the body,” said Chura. “I love yoga for its versatility and because it’s filled with physical and psychological benefits.”

Chura obediently follows the practice by practicing at least three times a week for 60-90 min. and attending the local YMCA on the weekends.

“I usually got to the Y by myself and just meet new people there. Yoga is such a global practice that I meet people who travel to different places to practice yoga,” said Chura.

Churas’ passion for yoga is so intense that she organized a club where students can exercise and leave with a peaceful mind. A club that does not discriminate anyone for their sex, age or body type. A yoga club.

“AP Art History and Humaties teacher Didi Gibbs and I have known each other since my junior year. She mentioned one day that she used to instruct a yoga club at OHS awhile ago and I thought we should bring it back,” said Chura. “She [Gibbs] was established as the president of Humanities Club but it has been inactive for awhile so we just decided to change it to Yoga Club.”

At the informational meeting there were around 40 people and at the first two meeting there were around 30 people.

“I was really surprised by how many people came, but 30 is a good number,” said Gibbs. “It is a small space area but we just have to keep moving the desks back and forth to make the room.”

Yoga Club meets every Tuesday after school in Gibbs’s room, 8-026, from 2:30 until 3:15. Members should bring a mat, that can be found at Target or TJ Maxx, and wear a tight shirt, comfortable shorts,

and no socks.

“You should practice more than once a week to keep up, so we decided to make it once a week to give students some basis,” said Gibbs, “ I’m not sure if this will only be a spring club because I’ll be part-time teaching at UCF next semester so it may just be once a semester per year.”

Junior Emily Blair found that the first meeting for Yoga Club had the atmosphere of a real yoga session.

“I’ve done yoga before and I’m really glad that they offer it at the school now because yoga is relaxing and can help me keep me fit. After a long day yoga is something that helps reduce my stress and makes the rest of my day better,” said Blair. “I’m so glad that so many people came to see what it was all about. I know that we are going to learn more routines and stretches and I can’t wait.”

As the year progresses, the yoga will become more challenging.

“We will start off doing more seated poses and later on we will incorporate more balancing poses as well as pushups, crunches, and bicep curls,” said Chura. “My favorite pose is the pigeon pose, which we get to learn later in the semester.”

Yoga club is also planning on donating some of their dues to charitable causes.

“Right now we are really interested in Creativity for Peace, which is an organization that helps Pakistan and Israeli girls to resolve differences by sending them to a camp in New Mexico,” said Chura.

Gibbs believes that yoga should not only be on the mat, but off as well.

“I would like to have the club do some volunteering and fundraising with other clubs, such as Animal Rights, to teach the members to be focused and good,” said Gibbs.

Chura hopes to one day have a career that incorporates yoga.

“I want to complete 200 training hours in order to become an instructor. However, I am pursuing a different career in the medical field, which, of course, will somehow relate to yoga,” said Chura.

Easy yoga poses Child’s pose. Kneel and sit on your feet with your heels pointing outward. Your knees should be separated, about the width of your hips. Place your forehead on the floor, then swing your arms forward.

Rest your forehead on the floor, then bring your arms around and to your sides, palms facing upward.

Cobra pose. Lie on your belly, with arms folded beneath head. Raise forehead, look upward. The head falls backwards towards your back. Move your belly further backward as if someone is pulling your arms backward, causing your stomach to pull up and back.

Move your chest further upward with every breath out. You can tilt your head back.

Side angle pose. Stand straight, then place feet three to four feet apart. Hold arms parallel to the floor. Turn left foot in, and right leg ninety degrees. Extend left arm to ceiling, and then over head. Rest right arm or torso onto bent thigh.

PIGEON POSE. Yoga president junior Clare Chura demonstrates her favorite pose, the Pigeon.

photos/TIFFANY RAY

compiled from www.abc-of-yoga.com and www.yogajournal.com

Yoga club

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io into Warr lf e s r e h s n . positio es balance horncroft v T o r h p a im r a d n S mina a Senior t builds sta a th e s o p 2, a

AP Art History and Humanities teacher Didi Gibbs advises yoga club. Gibbs shows memebers how to do Warrior 1, which improves agility.

Gibbs h elp Trikonas s junior Kelsea J aq an strengthe a Triangle Pose ueth with her , ns the lo wer back a position that and uppe r legs.

photos/GRAHAM CHRISTENSEN

8

Features

February 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

Half and half Twins share joys, discomf or ts of living wit h a look-a-like sibling

Nirvani Khan

F

reshmen Jamie and Alexis Cairns, identical twins, exit their school bus and start to walk home together, right alongside one another. Physically, they look almost exactly the same, but on the inside, they’re two completely different girls trying to maintain some degree of individuality.

Although many can’t tell them apart initially, there is one thing for certain that anyone who has met them would quickly realize: they share a powerful bond, a bond that can’t be broken easily. They’re not just twins - they’re best friends.

“It’s like a love-hate thing,” said Jamie.

In simplest terms, they are one pair of twins, with two individual personalities, and one inextricable soul.

Going to school

The intimacy of the twins’ relationship starts to reveal itself at 6:00 a.m. on school mornings when Alexis wakes Jamie up so that she doesn’t sleep through her alarm.

When their school bus gets to their stop at around 6:30 a.m., they almost always sit in the same seat together and they talk about things including boys, school, drama, and friends.

Alexis said, “Usually we hang out with different groups of people in the morning [before school].”

However, school doesn’t completely separate these twins.

“We have two classes together and we eat lunch at the same table,” said Alexis.

After the Cairns twins arrive home from school, they are usually isolated.

After school day

Jamie said, “[Alexis] is more optimistic

staff reporter and I’m more of a pessimist.”

“Mostly we’re in our own room doing our own thing,” said Jamie.

But when the twins aren’t doing their homework or chatting with their friends on MySpace, they are usually interacting and entertaining each other.

Of course, having a twin has its advantages and disadvantages.

“The most annoying thing about having a twin would be people calling you the wrong name or when people come up to you to talk and you don’t know them. My favorite part is you get to do stuff together because you are the same age,” said Alexis.

Colleen O’Kennedy, a sophomore who has a fraternal twin, Katie O’Kennedy said, “When people think of me, they think of me as a twin. It’s always Katie and Colleen.

I’m kind of like a package deal.”

Jamie thinks the greatest disadvantage of having a twin is that “People judge you and think you’re exactly like your sibling, even if you’re not.”

Though, she admits the perks are worth it all.

“We wear the same size of clothes, so I could borrow anything I want as long as she doesn’t know it,” said Jamie with a wide grin.

In addition, Jamie and Alexis realize their similarities and differences.

On the contrary, “We are both alike because we’re fun and outgoing and also very goofy,” said Alexis.

There is not a doubt that Alexis and Jamie both admire each other, even while wishing to change certain aspects of the other’s persona.

Alexis said, “[Jamie] can handle certain situations better than I can, situations where you have to make a decision. She’s very fun and cares about her friends. But, I would change the fact that she’s stubborn.”

Jamie admires that her sister doesn’t care about what other people think of her and she believes that her sister can be really sweet.

Weird aspects of having a twin

Like most twins do, the Cairns twins sometimes have to deal with irritating questions.

“The most pointless question someone has ever asked me and my sister was if we had the same birthday,” said Jamie with a laugh.

Alexis said that sometimes, they’re able to finish each other’s sentences or know what the other is thinking about.

And when it comes to being attracted to the same guy, Jamie and Alexis are very mature.

“We used to always like the same guy, but now we try to stay away from that.

One time, we ended up liking the same guy and he liked both of us, but we just fought over him for like an hour,” said Alexis.

Through challenges and making tough decisions, Jamie and Alexis always support each other 100 percent.

The last thing Alexis would want to tell Jamie would be “to not change for anyone because she’s good enough just the way she is. I think my sister has taught me to be able to take risks, but also to be realistic at the same time.”

Jamie and Alexis are proud of who they are and they would never change for anyone.

“I don’t mind having a twin,” said Jamie.

Colleen agrees.

Colleen said warm-heartedly, “I would never have been able to get through without [Katie]. I love her.”

Pranking around

How can someone be a twin and not play a good old-fashioned trick on someone?

“One time, I pretended to be my sister when this girl I didn’t know came up to me and randomly started talking about her boyfriend. Then, she asked me if she should break up with him and I said sure. I never saw the girl again and Jamie didn’t know,” said Alexis.

Lastly, Jamie and Alexis understand their strong sisterhood.

Jamie said, “We both help photo/NIRVANI KHAN each other with everything and we both learn stuff from TOGETHER AND APART. Freshmen Alexis and Jamie Cairns may look each other.” alike in a picture but their personalities set them apart.

Modern Technology

Ryden Butler

staff reporter

Binaural beats enhance

T

mind developement

he science of sleep continues to deveop with a new phenomenon, known as binaural beats.

Without getting too technical, binaural beats are two distinct frequencies of sound which, when played simultaneously in different ears, stimulate specific parts of the brain.

The frequencies are distinct enough to confuse the brain’s natural reaction to noise, while remaining similar enough to be unnoticed by the human ear.

In this state, unique portions of the brain are activated without the user realizing that there is a noise, allowing the user to use its benefits even while sleeping.

According to a plethora of scientific analyses and studies, binaural beats can be employed to enhance brain function.

Depending on the frequency level and duration, claimed effects include lower levels of stress, fatigue, and mental strain, whereas the opposite end of the spectrum is renowned for its ability to improve memory, concentration, and alertness. More fantastic claims include out-of-body experiences, telepathy, lucid dreams, and other psychic phenomena.

Naturally, such a discovery has been developed for the consumer market. At the store, binaural beats can be found in the form of CDs and other audio devices, which disguise the already unobtrusive beats with the sounds of nature, gentle music, breathing guides, meditation instructions, and other relaxing media.

Prices on personal binaural beat can range anywhere from the $0.99 iPhone application to a $100 custom tuned CD/ DVD combination value pack. What works better is hard to say, after all, nobody can hear if it’s working or not.

Some raise the question of whether or not binaural beats could lay the foundation for mind control. In one sense, yes, they do allow the mind to be altered by means beyond those in daily life, but something as sophisticated as enforcing the power of suggestion is quite a stretch.

Ultimately however, the technology of binaural beats may be sophisticated and useful one. If it truly works as intended, functioning dually as a stress reliever and study aid, then there is no denying the potential in its use as a mental steroid.

This being said, it is a no-brainer that binaural beats are a technology to invest in for a competitive edge, especially with next year’s implementation of a seven period schedule.

k

‘0 9

9

Pa r

it

Features

g

out dance floor taking

February 13, 2009

Kw an

The Lion’s Tale

Paige Le n

hythmic pulses and called beats move through hip-hop dancer senior Kwang Park as he begins to

dance.

Dancing is his anti-drug.

“Once I get in my zone, I can dance and just let it flow,” said Park.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, junior Paige Lenssen, a ballet dancer, loves to participate in an art, but also partake in an athletic hobby. Kwang and Lenssen have one thing in common: their respect and adoration for dance.

However, each dancer brings a different vibe to the moves done and the music created from their movements.

“It’s just a hobby of mine,” said Park, who began dancing two years ago. “I just picked it up. It was a great way to express myself and a stress reliever.”

With dances such as Soulja Boy’s “Bird Walk,” hip-hop dance has been reinvented.

But, Park prefers a different style than Soulja Boy’s.

“I think my style is more like the Jabawockeez,” said Park.

The Jabbawockeez became huge when the group of six dancers performed on the first season of MTV’s hit TV show “America’s Best Dance Crew.” After eight weeks, the Jabbawockeez defeated all of the other squads and the title of America’s Best Dance crew became theirs, along with $100,000.

“The way I dance has a lot of popping, locking, and illusions,” said Park.

Hip-hop dancers can create the illusion that they are floating, or popping their chests in and out. Popping refers to the locking of joints and muscles that produce a jerking image.

Park moves the crowd with his dancing

ability, and partially natural skill.

“I haven’t performed anywhere, it’s kind of just a talent I’m just good at.”

Park and his friends come together on various occasions and try to choreograph routines.

“Me and my friends try to come up with stuff together,” said Park. “It usually doesn’t work ‘cause I just do what I do on the dance floor. We try to do some [break dancing] but we aren’t that good at it.”

Dance may be something Park just picked up, but Lenssen began ballet dancing 12 years ago. Lenssen dances with the Oviedo Encore and attends lessons at Studio 5D. “I take ballet, point, leaps and turns, jazz, lyrical, and modern dance,” said Lenssen.

“All of the dances require technique, even though the style of dance may vary, you still need the basics.”

Although Lenssen participates in the various genres of dance, ballet is her favorite.

“I got into ballet when I was about five,” said Lenssen. “My sister did ballet so I decided to try it out and I loved it. I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Ballet has been around since the late 15th century.

“I try to emulate the principle Russian dancers,” said Lenssen. “I’m not that good though.”

Both dancers have strong ties to dance and love what they do despite the differences between the dance types.

“Ballet is more technical, like there are certain moves that have to be done,” said Park. “And hip-hop is more just do what you think is right, its more improvisational.”

Lenssen agrees.

“Both styles of dance require a tremendous amount of practice and they are great ways to express yourself,” said Lenssen.

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CHRIS

R

staff reporter

GRAH AM

Tien Holmes

photos/

onthe

TENSE N

ssen ‘10

Dance Terms Ballet

Hip-Hop

Side Leaps: run, leap with legs in split form

Locking: arm movements that freeze into a fixed position

Pirouettes: controlled turn on one leg Chaines Turns: series of fast turns on alternating feet Chasse: a gliding step

Popping: contracting and releasing various muscles in the legs and arms to create illusions Krump: high energy movements involving the arms and chest compiled from dance.net and ABT.org

10 Features

February 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

Enthusiasts ‘test the waters’

Stacey Sterling

S

co-editor-in-chief

eniors Valerie De Leon and Tara Ingalsbe have realized that Senior Project is not here to ruin the life of seniors, but to enhance their future.

Both seniors view the senior project as a way to “test the waters”, in the field of marine biology.

“I have been passionate about marine life since I was a kid and now that I’m able to do a project about marine biology, I can figure out if this is something I can pursue,” said De Leon.

Most senior projects include mountains of paperwork, community service, and some sort of fieldwork.

“At times the amount of paperwork can be a bit overwhelming. Between research papers, advisor logs, and interviews, I can hardly find time to fit in work, my other five classes’ homework and time to sleep,” said Ingalsbe.

Apart from the paperwork and community service, De Leon and Ingalsbe participated in a manatee capture as part of their senior project.

“For my project I attended a manatee capture and volunteered at Save the Manatee Club. These two opportunities gave me hands on experience that helped me better understand my project and renew my interest in my project,” said Ingalsbe.

After putting in hours of community service at Save the Manatee club, filing and organizing documents the day of the capture arrived.

“On Dec. 11, 2008, Valerie and I accompanied Artie Wong to a manatee capture, in Crystal River, Florida.

It was an amazing experience being able to have hands on experience with the manatees.

Valerie and I recorded health related data such as heart rate, respiration rate, oral temperature, and carbon dioxide output,” said Ingalsbe.

De Leon and Ingalsbe experienced an amazing opportunity because of their participation in the senior project, with almost no regrets.

“If I could do the capture again I would have stayed to swim with the manatees afterward.

Other than that, I would not have done anything differently,” said Ingalsbe.

De Leon and Ingalsbe have both chosen the same path for their projects, and now share a common bond for what they would like to accomplish in life. “[Senior Project] has helped me to make a career decision and be able to experience first hand what its like to work with marine animals,” said De Leon.

Most seniors would advise to stay on track with deadlines, and keep up with the project. Ingalsbe said “Don’t try to do as little as possible just to get your project done. If you go out and take the opportunities given to you, you get to do a lot of cool stuff and you get to know a lot of cool people. So in short don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone a little bit.”

SAVE THE MANATEES. From the left seniors Valerie De

Leon and Tara Ingalsbe attended a manatee capture as part of their senior project. Both received hands on experience with the manatee, as well as experience documenting information, as is pictured above. photos/COURTESY OF TARA INGALSBE

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The Lion’s Tale

February 13, 2009

Features

11

NJROTC shoots for success Marksmanship team competes in Ohio for chance to win Nationals Stacey Sterling

­­T

co-editor-in-chief Georgia, and South Sumter High School.

“My favorite part of the shooting team is he sixth period bell rings, and the the friendship between shooters,” said Bates.

NJROTC shooting range sounds as if The ROTC marksmanship team has it is under attack by Avanti air pellet won states for four years and shooters Bates rifles. and senior Shayna Thompson have both The sixth period NJROTC class is shot at nationals. Next week the NJROTC designated for the NJROTC marksmanship Marksmanship team will try for a chance to team, drill team, and athletics team. go to Nationals in Ft. Benning, Georgia.

“It was my freshman “All of the year when I joined qualifying Navy NJROTC. I didn’t know teams in the U.S. “My favorite part of the shooting about the shooting team will be competing team is the friendship between at the time but once I did in Camp Perry I signed up,” said senior Ohio next week, shooters.”

Tommy Franz. and of those teams, Courtney Bates, ‘09 the top two will go There are divisions of the marksmanship team back to Ft. Benning such as Team A, Team B, to compete at Team C, and the novice team that all make up Nationals, which involve all branches: Army, the sixth platoon shooters.

Navy, Marine etc,” said Maresco.

“Teams are divided. We build up our Some may think that the team would be averages throughout the year with our daily getting pumped or excited, but less teams and shooting scores. The top four highest averages branches competing could actually be better. make A team, the next four make up the B “Shooting is different. I try to calm them team, etc,” said senior Casey Maresco. down. You have a sling around your arm, and The highest possible score to achieve is if your heart is beating quickly then it is hard 300. to steady the rifle. I tell them they are “Each target is worth 10 points. There are the best shooters; state champions.

12 targets per sheet, two for practice called All you have to do is do it,” said sighters,” said Maresco.

Master Chief Dale Marteney, Naval Senior Courtney Bates highest shooting Science instructor. score is 284.

The calming down process seems “Master Chief taught me how to shoot, and after a while it came natural. To some shooting comes naturally, others not so much,” said Bates.

The marksmanship not only participates in on-site shooting competitions but also postals. Postals are competitions where the team shoots the targets and then the targets are sent to and scored by the school hosting the postal.

“There are advantages to both postals and competitions. When we shoot a postal, we shoot at home in our own range. We are used to shooting there. We are already accustomed to the lighting and it is normal to us. When we shoot in shoulder-toshoulder competitions, there is more pressure. That can be a good or bad thing depending on what type of shooter you are.

Sometimes I shoot amazingly well under pressure, sometimes I shoot horribly,” said Maresco.

The shooting team also has a great bonding experience when they go on shooting matches that are in Ft. Benning,

to make the team at ease with confidence.

“Before we shoot, we set up everything and we can do something called ‘dry firing.’

Essentially, dry firing is pulling the trigger without anything being expelled, air or otherwise. While other teams are doing that, we just lay there and chill. We use our kneeling rolls as a pillow, or I do at least, and we just zone out until it is time to shoot,” said Franz.

This year the entire A and B team will be shooting at Camp Perry in Ohio.

“Learning to shoot is like learning to ride a bike. Even the uncoordinated can do it but it will take them longer. I was one of the uncoordinated. It took me two years to make it to the B team and Courtney was on it half way through the year of her freshman year,” said Franz.

But Franz stuck with it anyway.

“I’m glad I did. We are going to Navy Service Championship as a team. And this is a first for us to go to Navy nationals as a team,” said Franz. “Normally it would just be Thompson or Bates going, but the fact is that the entire team is going. That is amazing.”

photos/COURTESY OF CASEY MARESCO

AIMING TO WIN.

Top: Master Chief Dale Marteney coaches the shooting team.

Middle: sophomore Katie Elliott, seniors Casey Maresco, Shayna Thompson, Courtney Bates, and sophomore Bethany Baroody pose for a picture with friends after the state competition on Dec. 6, 2008.

Bottom: Team A Michael Fine, Tommy Franz, Shayna Thompson, and Courtney Bates kneel as they shoot in the state match.

NJROTC Leadership by Example

NJROTC Leadership

February 13, 2009

News

Seminole

The Lion’s Tale

ing d n u F y Count

480

)

460 440

ons in milli ( t e g Bud

12

420 400 380 360 340 320

‘09-’10 ‘08-’09 mid year cut ‘07-’08 id year cut m

SCHOOL CANC SCHOOL’S CANC

Diminishing budget leads to cuts in everything f Miranda Ghali

N

co-editor-in-chief and half percent of personnel could be cut. These take an additional c

cuts are the best way for SCPS to make the most money.

“That has a drastic impact on us,” said Lundquist. “Take five or seven and half percent of 115 teachers and you can see that seven or eight teachers that we would additionally lose for next year. That is something that I cannot fathom.”

Protests have been popular among teachers in the Florida school systems. Even OHS teachers are fighting for their jobs by protesting.

Librarian Carol Coulon-Woods will be attending a protest in Tallahassee on March 18.

She said, “It’s basically to show the governor and state legislature that we are disappointed in their response to education funding. I hope that the state legislature takes this problem seriously and develops a plan to fund public schools, because right now they don’t have a plan.”

Literary coach Sandy Traeger also feels passionately about the budget cuts and protests to prevent further cuts. She even spoke at the Feb. 11 protest at Lyman High School.

In her speech, Traeger said, “The state’s school system is the largest employer in the state. Aren’t teacher’s jobs worth preserving?

Aren’t new teachers worth pursuing? Do we not contribute to the economy? We believe educators and education are a huge part of the infrastructure of this state. An educated workforce will make Florida competitive in the future. Continuing to make cuts in education will eventually cost the state in economic growth and development.”

Cuts in personnel make it hard to keep small classes leaving, some AP classes filled with more than 25 students.

AP Language and Composition teacher Tom Jesse said, “I think it’s a shame that AP classes have become 30 student classes. We have to find ways to be more efficient. I know this sounds cliché, but it really does hurt the kids. When you have 20 kids, it’s awesome, but it’s hard to give feedback on 30 kids.”

Low student numbers lead to even The seven-period day coming into effect next more teacher cuts year may help ease large classes.

Without more students, more teachers will be Executive Director of Secondary Education losing jobs. Lundquist said that with the current for SCPS Walt Griffin said, “The seven-period budget scenario, anywhere from five to seven day will afford OHS students the opportunity to othing remains protected from the deteriorating economy, not even schools.

Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) alone has been cut a total of $39.3 million dollars from their budget since the 20072008 school year alone, with an additional $8.5 million cut for this school year announced Feb. 10. According to Orlando Sentinel dated Feb. 12, Superintendent Bill Vogel has been told to plan for another $64 million cut for next school year.

Principal Robert Lundquist said, “I do not know how we will be able to manage with that kind of a cut. We really don’t know how that’s going to impact us until after the legislative session is over with.”

Drops in the student population at Oviedo High School don’t help matters. According to Lundquist, OHS is expected to be under capacity by 700 students or more for the next school year.

Fewer students mean fewer teachers needed and less classes that can be offered.

In an attempt to change the low population of OHS, Lundquist wants to have student overcapacity transfers from other schools.

“Hopefully, with the continued nosedive with the loss of enrollment, the district will provide us with ways in which we can increase our enrollment. There has been conversation in regards to increasing student transfers via the method of over-capacity transfers. This means that potentially schools under-capacity can get transfers of up to 200 students from other schools,” said Lundquist.

The small number of students greatly impacts the amount of money the school receives. Less students equals less Full Time Equivalency (FTE) money and Advanced Placement (AP) money.

FTE money is awarded to the school according to how many students attend a school and what kinds of programs they are in while AP money is awarded by how many students pass AP Exams.

that AP, art, career, c will grow. In addi class size amendme seven period sched manageable to keep The seven-perio school year, will at and create more AP another class in the Lundquist said, AP program that i of money and fund year and if they co would mean furthe operating monies b money to operate ou equipment.”

Nothing appear not even summer sc “We are only lo and drivers educ Lundquist.

There will be no c purposes.

Big cuts, little

The high num students.

Junior Kristin E when she heard how from SCPS budget.

Eely said, “Is i that money from from more trivial preoccupied with? is being cut in othe budget, but these n to me.”

Eely also said tha might be more cuts She said, “It’s ki so much in educatio have to lose jobs an sports or fine arts w Many students a budget cuts.

“Since I was un seems that many o

The Lion’s Tale

THIS

JUST

February 13, 2009

IN...

As of press, President Barack Obama is signing his stimulus package which may help schools with their poor budget situation. Florida may not get the money they deserve because so many cuts have already been made.

With the budget of this year dropping below the budget of the 2005-2006 school year, the stimulus package may not be able to give Florida public schools the money they should receive. Florida Governor Charlie Crist has submitted an exemption request for Florida schools.

CELLED!?!

CELLED?!?

O G T N I O E G DAY W ?

ARE EAR A 4 Y E T HAV NEX K WEE

from teachers to programs

class each day. We anticipate computer, and elective courses ition, beginning in 2010, the ent rule will take effect and the dule will make it much more p class sizes at 25.” od day, to take effect next ttempt to save some programs P money by allowing students school day.

“We have built such a stellar it has generated a great deal ds here. They reduced it last ontinue to reduce it then that er reductions in our overall because we depend upon that ur school. It provides the latest

rs safe from the budget cuts, chool. ooking at remediation courses cation and that’s it,” said

classes taught for advancement

Eely said that she was surprised w much money was to be cut . it really necessary to cut all education instead of cutting things that the state may be I’m not certain of how much er areas outside of the school numbers seem extremely high

at she was sad to hear that there of teachers and programs. ind of sad that they have to cut on. I hate to hear that teachers nd students have to lose their which are important to them.” are unaware to the extent of the

naware of these budget cuts, it other students would be really

No one left out

Sports and clubs are also scrambling for more money. Orange County is currently looking at cutting sports programs for next school year to save some money.

At OHS, some students are worried that junior varsity sports may get cuts next year. While varsity volleyball player Hyung Jin, a junior, doesn’t worry about varsity sports cuts, he does worry that JV might be cut.

Jin said, “Next year’s [JV] players wouldn’t have proper training for varsity.”

Eley, who is involved in the chorus program, wonders about cuts in her extracurricular.

“I guess we’ll just have to do more fundraising if that’s what it comes down to,” said Eley.

Some speculation has been floating around that the Florida government may attempt to save the education budget by cutting a day from each school week. By making the school day longer and making students attend school only four days a week the budget could be cut in areas such as bus transportation and electricity.

Lundquist said he is not aware of this four-day week being possible next school year.

One other area of concern with the sevenperiod day and budget cuts are the new classes being offered at OHS. With the low budget situation now, questions arise to just how the school can provide these classes.

Jesse said, “I’m worried that we won’t be able to buy the books for the new courses we are offering. With every new class you have, you need new books.”

With all the budget cuts taking place, clubs, sports, academics, and art programs are all in jeopardy leaving students to feel the biggest impact.

Jesse said, “I think it’s ridiculous that students in school now are going to have fewer opportunities than students that have been through it in the past. This is your opportunity and you’re getting less than you deserve because people are greedy or because the economy is in the tank.”

photos/MIRANDA GHALI

awareness

mber of cuts shock some

surprised as well and might want to take action or find out more about Florida spending,” said Eely.

“It would be good if more people knew what is happening with the Florida education cuts.”

News

13

14 Features

February 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale One by One Tiffany Ray

Senior says ‘Hola’ to filthy, difficult, dangerous work to help orphans

S

enior Lauren Case stifles a scream. She jumps up from her mat on the floor to escape the terror of an earwig bug that woke her up from much needed sleep.

Checking that the horror is gone, Case lays back on the dirt ground in a cold Mexico tent to rest for the hard work ahead.

“I went to Mexico to work with orphans during the summer after eighth grade,” said Case. “My pastor at River Valley Community Church asked anyone who was interested to go. I wanted to go out of the country to get a feel for what was out there.”

Living in Indiana at the time, Case and a group of other River Valley members flew to California, drove over the border between California and Mexico, and then drove to a rural town.

“The camp we stayed at was in good condition for rural Mexico, but it wasn’t what I was used to. There weren’t any bathrooms - just an outhouse, and it was the first time I stayed somewhere without heat,” said Case.

The objective of the trip, however, wasn’t to experience a different lifestyle. Case and the group traveled to Mexico to spend time with and cultivate friendships with orphaned children.

“The kids were from an orphanage on the outskirts of Tijuajuana. It was really sad. They had bars on the windows, and it looked like a really lonely place to live.

My Niño’s [assigned child] name was Victor,” said Case.

Case and the other members stayed a week,

sleeping in tents on the campsite. During the day, they worked to rebuild the roof of the orphanage.

“The roof was old. It was all rusted. The wood was basically dead. We put a whole new roof over the walkway for when it rains. It was hard work, and we were covered in filth.

At the end of the day, you were exhausted,” said Case.

The work turned out to be slightly dangerous.

“I was putting up a roof and we had to take off shingles to make an overhang. Someone was using a crowbar, and a piece of jagged wood flew off and hit me in the arm. I looked down and realized a rusty nail had hit me.

I was bleeding, and people rushed around looking for anything with antibiotics. I didn’t have a tetanus shot, and I was really scared.

But, it turned out okay,” said Case.

Though Case is sure that accidents like hers are common in the poor conditions of the remote town, she remains convinced that the people who live there make the most of what they have.

“They have conditions that privileged Americans aren’t used to, but they deal with it, and make the most out of their lives,” said Case.

A STONE OF REMEMBRANCE. Senior Lauren Case keeps a momento from her time in Mexico helping orphans: a rock she painted with her niño.

by Miranda Harmon

photo/TIFFANY RAY

Jelly

Not only did the members on the trip work to rebuild, but they also spent time with their niños.

“We took them to the marketplace, to a park and to the beach. We went to a gazebo that was playing Spanish hip hop. Some of the ninos were spinning and doing crazy moves. It was so cool to see these boys start laughing and connecting with us since they were hesitant to be open at first. It wasn’t every day they could get out and go dance at a park,” said Case.

The niños weren’t the only ones who touched Case’s heart.

“I had met a young woman who cooked at the camp we were staying at. When we went to the beach, I bought her a turtle bracelet.

When I gave it to her, she cried, and said that no one ever noticed or did anything nice for her. I think it was about $2, but she acted like it was made of gold. It was so important to her,” said Case.

Along with field trips, Case did activities with the niños.

“We learned Spanish moves to songs, sang religious songs, and did crafts. By the end of the week we were all opening up to each other. We got to talk to the kids about how our stay was impacting their lives. I told Victor that I loved him and that it was an awesome week. He answered back, ‘I love you too’,” said Case, touched by his response.

This summer, Case plans to go to Greece with her church to help with endangered turtles.

“We’re going to mark nests, and talk to tourists about the importance of not disturbing the nests,” said Case.

No matter the adventures Case embarks on in the future, however, she will never forget her week in Mexico.

“I don’t remember a lot of things I did last week, but I remember that week vividly,” said Case. “It influenced my future. It opened my eyes.”

Editor’s Note: One by one appears in every edition of The Lion’s Tale, and features a randomly selected student.

This edition, a staff reporter interviewed the first person seen wearing black nail polish.

Lipstick contains fish scales, sneeze travels at 100 m.p.h.

• Nose prints are used to identify dogs, just like humans use fingerprints.

• A lump of pure gold the size of a matchbox can be flattened into a sheet the size of a tennis court.

• There are more plastic flamingos in the U.S, than real ones.

• A sneeze travels out your mouth at over 100 m.p.h.

• More people use blue toothbrushes, than red ones.

• More Monopoly money is printed in a year, than real money printed throughout the world.

• The praying mantis is the only insect that can turn its head.

• The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows. It was the fashion in Renaissance Florence to shave them off.

• When glass breaks, the cracks move faster than 3,000 miles per hour. To photograph the event, a camera must shoot at a millionth of a second.

• It is estimated that 4 million “junk” telephone calls, phone solicitations by persons or programmed machine are made every day in the United States.

• Most lipstick contains fish scales.

• It’s illegal to drink beer out of a bucket while you’re sitting on a curb in St. Louis.

• Over 2500 left handed people a year are killed from using products made for right handed people.

• The sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over a lazy dog.” uses every letter of the alphabet.

Compiled from: http://www.strangefacts.com

Diversions

The Lion’s Tale

February 13, 2009

15

Stand out at prom as ‘fashionista’

Prints, patterns, vibrant colors dominate fashion scene Marsha Gibbs

S

that designed the yellow chiffon gown for pressure to build up and the “what

“Style is an expression of individualism with charisma,” said John

staff reporter with metallic accents that Paula Abdul ifs” to become the center of attention. mixed

ay “hasta la vista” to the traditional Cinderella ball gown. This years’ prom trends focus on bold prints, and flashy metallics. Runway shows will feature vibrant printed dresses, making a fashion forward statement. The theme?

Brighter is better.

Seventeen Magazine offers examples of the prom look for less. In the article, runway styles are reinterpreted into a similar look proving that a chic ensemble can come with a budget. Couture gowns can be used as inspiration while red carpet appearances can be used to get ahead of the trends.

Keep a sailor watch for upcoming designers such as Basil Soda. His collection plays around with different textures and silhouettes. He is the artist

intage

was seen wearing on the Grammy’s red Kick the stress monster to the curb. Don’t carpet. worry about looking like the Plain Jane “I look in on the dance floor magazines or wearing the same in movies for “I’m not really focused on standing dress as another inspiration and prom goer. out. I just want to feel beautiful decide what I do As Erin Vaughn and I don’t care what others think and do not like. I said, “As long as will probably wear it’s not my best of it.” a lighter pink dress friend wearing the Lauren Jones, ‘09 same dress as me, and accessorize with silver jewelry,” and we’re not in said senior Lauren Jones. the same pictures together, it’s okay if Creativity can also strike its someone else is wearing my dress. I’ll unsuspecting victim during a busy day. know she has good fashion sense.”

“I get inspiration from random people.

Prom this year allows each girl to If I’m at school and I see a girl with an find her own “fashionista” within. With a outfit I like, then I get inspiration from wider spectrum of choices to choose from, that,” said junior Erin Vaughn. the chances of making a fashion “faux With prom held on a pedestal, it’s easy pas” are slim.

Inspirational Dresses

v

Dress: Allen Schwartz, strapless purple evening gown $350, www. edressme.com Earrings: Ralph Lauren glass pearl earrings $28 Shoes: J. Crew, white high heel slingback $175 Clutch: Macy’s, black clutch $82.49

Dress: Betsey Johnson, vintage strapless dress $400, www.betseyjohnson.com Purse: Betsey Johnson, vintage purse with gold chain Shoes: Payless Shoes, black platform pump $22.99 Ring: Claires, belt ring $8.50

Dress: Nicole Miller, lava dress-pink, orange, and gold- $495, www. nicolemiller.com Shoes: J. Crew, off-white patent heels $368 Ring: Betsey Johnson, large stone rectangle ring $40

Fairchild.

Fairchild was the chief of Fairchild Publications in 1955 improving Women’s Wear Daily, a fashion journal sometimes referred to as “the bible of fashion.”

Fairchild reminds people to incorporate style with personal preference.

“I like vintage, classic things. I like to mix in a little of the 21 century. I might have a trendy pair of shoes, but not the dress. I don’t want to look back at pictures and see pink sequence, but I don’t want to blend in with a plain black dress and an updo,” said Vaughn.

Take many fashion chances that are comfortable and enjoy the night rockin’ your own individual style.

“I’m not really focused on standing out.

I just want to feel beautiful and I don’t care what others think of it,” said Jones.

soph

istic

ated

Junior Kristin Eley favors dresses that are cute and classic. Eley is featured in her pink and black JCPenney’s prom dress to the right.

e inin

fem

Eley photo/CARSON BAILEY all other photos/compiled from product promotion webpages

Dress: Jovani, animal print with pink sash $149, www.jovani.com Earrings: Betsey Johnson animal rose studs $25 Shoes: Payless Shoes, black dress sandal $19.99 Clutch: Target, zebra print clutch $16.99

fierc

e

16 Diversions

February 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

point were probably all searching through their TV guides, this guy do his own sound effects? That’s getting your money’s worth, Sci-Fi. Excellent choice. praying for reruns of Walker, Texas Ranger.

Mace and his trusty sidekick Jack decide to unlock The team takes refuge inside the castle walls. A nonCGI raptor peeks around the corner; its head is then yanked a secret tunnel beneath the castle, but the man with the raptor hand-puppets returns. Give up, Mace – he’s just too back so violently that it’s obvious that all you’re watching good with those puppets. Not even Gepetto would stand a is a man playing with hand-puppets. chance.

A raptor breaks down a nearby door and…

David Parsons staff reporter A raptor somehow manages to knock Jack Ok. You know what, Planet Raptor? into the tunnel, even though we can see from Shut up. You know what you did here? three different angles (one of which is the You put an action figure in front of view of the raptor ITSELF) that it’s 30 feet here are few expressions in the English language that the camera, and knocked it over when away. you wanted it to die.

That isn’t special carry as much implied disgust as the phrase “Sci-Fi Once in the passageway, Mace and Jack effects.

That isn’t even EFFECTS. original movie.” I thought I had a pretty good idea of discover a raptor nest inside a volcano. what Sci-Fi was capable of…and then I saw Planet Raptor. That’s what five year olds do when Wait, where was this volcano for the first they’re having a sugar rush.

Other movies have been more painful, but Planet 90 minutes of this movie?

It’s apparently too risky to stay Raptor seems to be special in that it crosses the “So bad A few sticks of C4 are apparently enough it’s funny” line, and then somehow breaches the “So bad it barricaded inside the fortress. It seems to destroy the entire volcano, and the much more logical to run virtually hurts” barrier, finding itself in an entirely new category of remaining marines and scientists take cover unprotected through the town. But Mace movies that I had no idea existed. It’s actually so bad, that on a street corner. They are surrounded by says it’s “something to do.” the very things that made the movie too bad to be funny, the remaining raptors, a few of which get hit Really? You sure it’s not because turn around and make it funny again. I could probably make with bullets that no one is firing, because the a better movie with two hours of free time and a cell phone nothing of relevance has happened in team is completely out of ammo. I’m not sure the last half hour, and now the entire camera. why they ever bothered shooting. They can obviously walk project has run smack into a dead end?

A military team has been sent to escort a group of faster than Sci-Fi can animate. For god’s sake, their primary They run through the streets looking around corners scientists responding to a distress signal on an alien planet. defense mechanism is to growl at the camera! and under baskets for the next action scene.

Their guns are For some reason, however, they end up in medieval times.

The continuity then disappears entirely as the raptors also inexplicably pointed at the rooftops.

Uh, guys?

Sci-Fi I’m confused, this seems like a really obtuse place to can barely handle making these things walk. They certainly close in. Suddenly, they’re 20 feet away! Switching to set this movie. I get the impression that Sci-Fi somehow raptor vision, we see no other raptors within 100 feet, and aren’t going to come from the sky. conned the director into using a set from a previous Sci-Fi The action scenes are utter failures, by the way, because are given the impression that whatever owns the eyes we’re original movie to cut costs, and then forced him to come up looking through flies across the street like a falcon and into with some absurd explanation halfway through production. Sci-Fi couldn’t afford more than about eight shots of Quickly, the team comes face to face with Sci-Fi’s CGI footage. You’ll watch the same raptors die in the same ways the main character’s face! Then they’re 30 feet away. Then there’s a close-up of a raptor’s mouth presumably biting raptors, which are the most disgusting and worthless things in the same places about five times. Per scene.

Mace’s nose off. The CGI raptors then destroy your final It then comes out that this whole mission has been a you’ll ever see in ANY MOVIE in your entire life. It looks hopes of sanity by walking right through the people, the setup to test the raptors for use as weapons. They brought like a third grader scribbled on the film with a pile of halfin the head scientist to create vaccines for the raptor venom baskets, the walls, and any other barrier left in their way. melted Crayolas. Want to see better graphics? Break out I’m always shocked after I see a movie that I deem “the and to test them on Mace and company. This makes the your SEGA Genesis. Atari could do better than this, on its worst I’ve ever seen.” For this one, I stared at the screen for marines very angry at the doc, even though his vaccines worst day. a good three minutes, muttering nonsensical words under Captain Mace radios the spaceship over head and…wait seem to be saving their lives repeatedly. my breath. Where do I go from here? Will anything ever top Mace picks him up and throws him against a wall, a minute… screaming “BAM!” in time with the collision. Whoa! Does Planet Raptor? Unfortunately, I know the answer is yes.

That’s definitely not a spaceship. It looks like a toy the director pulled out of a Kellogg’s cereal box! What on earth HOW BAD CAN IT BE? does it run on – baking soda? moderately angering The captain sits on the bridge, which appears to be so bad it’s funny cruel and inhuman punishment made from colored construction paper and errant pieces of cardboard. Mace tells him to “stay tuned.” This line inherently stupid emotionally scarring was obviously meant for the movie’s audience, who at this so bad it hurts to live

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The Lion’s Tale

February 13, 2009

Diversions

17

Tube Talk

the Rebirth

Bobby Valentino R&B

Tien Holmes

A

fearless

Oracular Spectacular staff reporter

fter a decline, and dubbed a one hit wonder, R&B artist Bobby Valentino is back with his junior album The Rebirth and hit single “Beep”.

Bobby popped in the music scene when he was still on record label DTP (Disturbing Tha Peace) run by artist Ludacris. He topped charts with “Slow down” his first single and then he disappeared. It wasn’t until the middle of 2007 when Special Occasion was released.

The album was pathetic. If it was to be a comeback album, it should’ve been sent to a morgue first. The first single “Anonymous” featured a Timbaland beat and replicated Justin Timberlake’s “My Love”, released only a couple of months before. Special Occasion was supposed to be sexy but it was overdone. The entire 16-track c.d made Bobby seem like a sex addict as he talked about sex the entire CD. The album was sad.

The Rebirth is definitely a couple of letter grades up from Special Occasion. This 16-track album shows the maturity in Bobby’s voice, and lyrics. “Give Me Your Heart” and “Dance The Right Away” are just two of the songs that focus on love and compatibility. Although he is more of an R&B singer, Mr. Valentino came hard with newly released “Beep” featuring Yung Joc. Since Bobby Valentino debuted, first he was a star, then a copycat, now a reborn artist.

Taylor Swift Country

MGMT Alternative

Caitlyn Braswell

S

Stacey Sterling

staff reporter

tart with a 90’s Indie sound, combine it with 70’s disco breakdowns and vocals, mix in a little 60’s drum beats and add a dash of 80’s synth-pop and out comes Oracular Spectacular.

For a duo that just began selling records some five years ago, MGMT sounds as if they have personally lived through every musical era since the days of Woodstock. The band’s most recent single “Electric Feel” sounds like it was created decades ago with a 70’s disco-glam groove accompanied by falsetto singing while in contrast, the song ‘4th Dimensional Transition’ gives off more of a settling 60’s Summer Of Love feeling. All around, MGMT has set a new twist on classically familiar music.

photo/WHOISMGMT.COM

Up n’ Coming

A

Miranda Ghali

Jack comes back

co-editor-in-chief

s Taylor Swift’s second album debuted on Nov. 11 of 2008, she lived up to the high expectations of the public. The album entitled Fearless consists of 13 songs, that include songs that range from an anxious freshman to a broken hearted lover. Swift, at the age of 19 years, has already released two albums and has sold over 5 million, more than the Jonas Brothers.

Gypsy Punk

Gogol Bordello Alternative-Punk Caitlyn Braswell

T

staff reporter

he words “punk” and “gypsy” aren’t often used together to describe many things, especially a band. But for Gogol Bordello, it works. Because most of the members are immigrants ranging from Israel to Russia, it’s caused a slurry of cultural sounds in their most popular album Gypsy Punks: Underground World Strike. A mix between polka, punk, and cabaret, songs “Let’s Get Radical” and “Immigrant Punk” were naturally going to be catchy. With their spastic, energetic melodies drawn from the raw energy of an accordion and a fiddle and singer Eugene Hutz heavily accented singing; this album is hard to pass by without noticing.

Grab your tickets because these artists are heading our way

Bleeding Through

Morrissey

Modest mouse

Ludo

Jesse Mccartney

Lady Gaga

Thursday, Feb. 26 6:00 p.m.

The Social

Thursday, Feb. 26 7:00 p.m.

Backbooth

Sunday, March 1 8:00 p.m.

Hard Rock Live Orlando Thursday, March 5 7:30 p.m.

Hard Rock Live Orlando

Book Review

Teen tries to escape hurtful labels

Stacey Sterling

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co-editor-in-chief and causes her to devise a plan, to

hree years after Deanna’s father caught her having sex with Tommy Webber, she still cannot escape the role of ‘school slut’.

Deanna is trapped in the small town of Pacifica, California and only has two best friends in the entire school, who just happen to be dating.

She silently wishes her best friend Jason and her other best friend Lee would break up with each other and Jason would choose her, just to make her feel wanted.

Tormented by males treating her like public property, by her father who can hardly bear to talk to her, and by the fact that she feels like she isn’t good enough for anyone, Deanna is pushed over the edge

move out.

But when this perfect plan doesn’t pan out the way she wants, she realizes life is not always perfect.

Sara Zarr’s Story of a Girl, nominated for a National Book Award in 2007, is a great novel depicting how hard it can be to overcome labels in high school.

At the age of 16 Deanna faces many mature issues teenagers should not encounter until at least their 20’s, which makes this a great coming of age novel for teenagers.

Story of a Girl is full of unusual plot turns that keep readers interested until the last page.

A

co-editor-in-chief

Monday, March 9 7:00 p.m.

House of Blues Monday, April 6 7:00 p.m.

House of Blues

fter anticipating the arrival of what I think may be the best show on television ever, I was not disappointed. “24,” the real time show in which one season equals one 24-hour day, came back with a bang after the writer’s strike of 2007 caused the 2008 season to not air, and boy was it worth the wait.

Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), the hero of the show, starts out the day with a nice court visit after he came back to America from hiding. The show picks up a little after the 2008 two-hour TV movie “24: Redemption,” where Jack had been hiding out in a fictional African country called Sangala. In an attempt to save African school children, Bauer put his own life on hold, and was arrested by the U.S. government for past “crimes”.

The government has always been stupid in the world of “24.” This time, government is mad that Jack used torture and murder to get information out of terrorists, which is against the law. Even though technically Jack did break the law, they were terrorists for crying out loud! Now, I don’t know about you, but I think that if someone saved millions of American’s lives by torturing some terrorists, I would not think twice about it and thank the guy, not try to put him in jail!

In the middle of Bauer’s court hearing, the FBI comes and takes custody of Jack so they can use his help to catch some more terrorists in the act. Jack now has to report to FBI agent Renee Walker (Annie Wersching). If you’ve ever seen the show, you know that Jack doesn’t report to anyone. He does whatever he wants when he wants and he always gets the job done.

Here’s another big twist: the FBI has custody of one of the terrorists, Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), who used to work with Jack, but was supposed to be dead. They recap everything by telling Jack that Almeida’s death was faked by the terrorist group that he now works for, and works for the terrorists because he hates the government after they killed his wife.

Jack realizes that something must be going on - there is no way Jack’s old friend could be a terrorist. Jack asked to interrogate Almeida. The FBI let him as long as he promises not to torture the guy. Well of course, Jack ends up almost torturing him. Almeida gives Jack the info he wants to hear: a code that lets Jack know that Tony isn’t really the bad guy.

Jack contacts his old boss from CTU (the Counter-Terrorist Unit that Jack used to work for) with the code that Tony gave him and is soon caught up on the fact that Tony is really working undercover as a terrorist so he can help destroy the terrorist unit. This terrorist unit happens to be the same onefrom the “24: Redemption” episode. They are the killers from Sangala who are making soldiers out of little African children.

Jack soon escapes with Almeida from the FBI and decides to join the terrorists with Almeida so he can work from the inside to stop them.

All of this happened in pretty much the first two hours of the season of “24”.

I don’t think it’s possible to have a more adrenaline pumping show. Every time I watch it, I end up on the edge of my seat until the very last seconds of the episode and then I start cursing the writers who leave viewers on a cliff-hanger every episode.

New episodes of 24 air on Fox every Monday night at 9:00.

18 Diversions

February 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

Movie Reviews

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ brings in millions (Freida Pinto), a girl that Jamal befriends shortly after the 1992 riots. staff reporter Latika and Jamal grow very close, but rior to the release of the Academy are separated shortly afterwards. Jamal Awards nominations a few weeks ago, never forgets her, and much of the rest of very few people had heard of Danny the story focuses around Jamal’s attempts Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. Suddenly, it’s to rediscover and reconnect with the love of the talk of the film community, a rise that his life. parallels that of its main character in both The game show adds a nice touch of speed and prominence. originality to a storyline that otherwise isn’t Set in India, the film focuses on Jamal overly complex. But then again, that’s not Malik (Dev Patel), a young man from the why Slumdog is receiving so much praise. slums of Mumbai who wins a place on the The reason, plain and simple, Boyle.

Indian version of the game show “Who Boyle wowed critics and audiences alike Wants to Be a Millionaire?”. However, in 1996 with his spectacular direction of the his unlikely success coupled with his drug-drama Trainspotting. With Slumdog, uneducated background causes Jamal to Boyle once again brings his unique and be arrested on suspicion of cheating. After fiercely independent style back to the all, “Doctors... lawyers...never get past 60 forefront; arguably, it is this time even more thousand rupees. He’s won 10 million.” profound, daring, and exceptional.

After a night under the less-than-ethical What’s really impressive is how Boyle care of the Indian police, Jamal begins to managed to turn a story that could’ve offer his explanation. Conveyed in a series been highly generic and forgettable into a of flashbacks, Jamal begins to recount the compelling drama that feels anything but details of his childhood, which can only be conventional. described as a series of unfortunate events.

Rejecting typical cinematic techniques, Jamal, however, can draw upon these Boyle’s camerawork is nothing short of defining incidents from his past to correctly astounding. Each shot feels unique, and answer the questions in the present. further immerses the viewer in whatever For instance, one of the questions asks environment the director chooses. It what the Hindu deity Lord Rama holds reflects the Brazilian film City of God in in his hand. Jamal’s experiences in the style, and should be a shoo-in for Best Hindu-Muslim riots of 1992 afford him Cinematography in the Oscars. the knowledge necessary to move past a Boyle backed this up by choosing question he would otherwise have been exceedingly appropriate music with unable to answer. which to back his scenes. They not only As Jamal progresses through the game, fit the mood, but they’re also wonderfully we progressively learn more about his life engaging and every bit as fresh and unique all the way from the slums to the game as the film itself. In short, they’re perfect. show. Most notably, we learn about Latika In the acting department, Patel delivers

David Parsons

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Flick takes viewers back to ‘shop ‘til you drop’ days

photo/WWW.FOXSEARCHLIGHT.COM/SLUMDOGMILLIONAIRE

WHO WANTS TO BE MILLIONAIRE? In Slumdog Millionaire, Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), a young man from the slums of India, wins a place on the Indian version of the game show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Unfortunately, his unlikely success and uneducated background causes Jamal’s arrest on suspicion of cheating.

a wonderful performance as Jamal. The film with the character vacillating back and forth in their wake. required him to turn in two performance Though it may be a remarkably well(one for his interrogation and one for the filmed depiction of a rags-to-riches story game show) that differed slightly, yet were on the surface, symbolically it’s something both believable within the context of the much more.

As Jamal works his way character. To these ends, he succeeded through the game show, it’s magnificently. Also enjoyable clear that victory would mean are Anil Kapoor’s portrayal Rating: R far more than the 20 million of the show’s devious host and rupees, just as failure would Time: 120 min Madhur Mittal’s performance mean far more than the loss of as the oldest version of Jamal’s Grade: A+ that prize. In the end, we don’t brother, Salim care about the money – and In fact, Salim may be the neither does Jamal – just the most intriguing character in life reflected in the game.

Slumdog. A man of contradictions, Salim All in all, Slumdog is a movie everyone is a man of religion, yet seems to have no should see, one that the masses and the qualms with murder. He has close ties with critics can finally agree on. It’s without a his brother, yet is pulled in the opposite doubt my pick for Best Picture this year. direction by self-centered ambition. The motives wage war for much of the movie,

Stacey Sterling

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co-editor-in-chief

ho said shopping wasn’t fun? Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) thinks that shopping is the best adventure of all...that is until she maxes out her credit cards.

Confessions of a Shopaholic, based on Sophie Kinsella’s novels, fills the theater with laughter.

The world might just come to an end if Bloomwood cannot obtain the perfect belt or perfect handbag to make her seem just as perfect.

At least that is what she seems to believe.

Her obsession spirals out of control and Bloomwood must find a job. Ironically she ends up working for Successful Saving magazine, only because the job she wanted at Alette, the girly fashion magazine, was taken.

After one financial column, Bloomwood becomes an instant financial column wizard, and falls for editor of Successful Saving magazine played by Hugh Dancy.

Fisher, an unexpected cast, fills the screen with her wide eyes and bright smile. The way Fisher display’s Bloomwood’s passion for dresses, shoes, belts, Rating: PG and handbags from designer Time: 112 min vintage stores is witty and Grade: Aextremely believable.

Shot before the economic downfall this movie takes the audience back to when people could ‘shop until they dropped.’

This movie can take away all the stress, by taking the audience back in time when the public wasn’t worried about the recession, or where the best sale was. photo/ WWW.BLUEFLY.COM/MEDIA/PROMOTIONS/FLASH/SHOPAHOLIC

photo/WWW.TAKENMOVIE.COM

HELP ME NOW. Over-protective father and ex-CIA agent Bryan, (Liam Neeson), comes to the rescue when daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace) is abducted while on a trip around Europe.

Action scenes dominate thriller

Miranda Ghali

F

quiet place in the house where she’s staying,

co-editor-in-chief she witnesses people kidnapping Amanda

rom the looks of its trailer, Taken and fears that they will soon come for her. appears to be a decent action flick, She tells her father who warns her that they but it was so much more. The action will come for her, but to stay calm and that scenes leave the audience on the edge of he will be in Europe as fast as he can to save their seats until the end. her.

Even though the movie starts out sort Bryan finds out that the kidnappers are of slow, it’s only to give audiences a clear in the sex-trafficking business and continues background of information before the movie to fear for his daughter’s life. can pick up the pace.

While this movie, at times, seems Over-protective father and ex-CIA agent completely unrealistic, it is just a movie and Bryan (Liam Neeson) is completely worth watching. The is forced by his ex-wife action scenes continue one after Rating: PG-13 Lenore (Famke Janssen) the other until the very end of the Time: 93 min to let their daughter Kim movie and include car chases, (Maggie Grace) visit hand fights, and one scene where Grade: A Europe with a friend, Bryan alone takes out multiple Amanda (Katie Cassidy). men at once.

When Bryan reluctantly agrees, he makes Neeson is an extraordinary actor with Kim promise to call him when she arrives at an impressive resume consisting of Batman her destination and every night before bed.

Begins, Schindler’s List, Star Wars: Episode When Kim and Amanda arrive and are I, and many more. He doesn’t let fans down trying to get a taxi to their house, they meet in Taken. a nice young man who soon befriends them.

All in all, the movie leaves audiences While Kim feels uncomfortable, she doesn’t with no questions and no chance for a do anything and soon forgets the encounter. sequel, which is a relief from most other While Kim is calling her father from a movies out there.

The Lion’s Tale

Sports

February 13, 2009

19

Lions end season as state semi-finalists

Connor Bailey

R

to come back and win,” said sophomore center

sports editor mid-fielder Colleen O’Kennedy.

eaching the Final Four yet again was a picture perfect ending to another outstanding season.

The Lady Lions traveled to the University of Tampa’s Pepin Stadium to play against Melbourne High School in the state semifinals.

“Our goal for the season was to repeat our final four appearance like last year, but win the state title this time,” said junior stopper April Asby.

The Lions started the game off on a good foot with a goal from senior center mid-fielder Kara Mundelein in the first 15 minutes.

“When I saw it go in I was really excited and thought that we were going to win the game,” said Mundelein.

Melbourne answered right back however, with goals from Rachel Price and Kayla Campbell, both within two minutes of each other.

“Once they put up those two goals that fast I then really started to believe how good they really were, they really stepped up. On the other hand, I had all the confidence that our team would make a comeback because we have been in this situation before,” said sophomore sweeper Meagan Borger.

After half-time Melbourne was still leading, 2-1.

“During half-time I was feeling optimistic that we could score more goals and pull ahead of Melbourne, but I knew we were going to put in everything we had,” said Asby.

Midway through the second half Melbourne scored off a header from a corner kick boosting their lead to 3-1.

“After they scored the third goal I started to get really deflated and was thinking there was no way

However, with 32 seconds remaining senior defender Caitlin Milich netted a bullet from 40 yards out right into the goal.

The Lions were now only down 3-2 and realized they had a shot at tying the game.

“After Caitilin’s goal we experienced a surge of confidence, even though there was only 30 seconds left in the game. I really started to believe that we were going to come back, ” said Borger.

With five seconds remaining the Lions had a golden opportunity to tie the game off a corner kick, but right after the ball was kicked the buzzer sounded, ending the game.

“When I heard the dreadful buzzer, it really hit me that our season was over. I kept thinking that I would never be able to play with the seniors on the team again and I kept wondering if next years team’s chemistry would compare to this year’s,” said O’Kennedy.

The Lions ended their season with a record of 25-2-1 along with district and conference champions, the Lions have nothing to hang their heads about.

“We had an amazing season and I am very proud of our team for making it this far into the post season again this year,” said O’Kennedy.

The outcome of next year’s season partially depends on what class the team will play in, may it be 5A or 6A. “If we move down to 5A we will have to travel farther away to play our games, but coincidently Melbourne is also dropping their class to 5A because their school size is decreasing. Either way, I think we can make it to the final four and compete for a state title once again,” said Asby.

5.

1.

LIONS KEPT FIGHTING. (1.) Junior outside midfielder Lindsay Osbourn eyes down the ball while being heavily guarded by a Melbourne defender. The Lions traveled to Tampa to compete in the state final four at the University of Tampa’s Kepin Stadium, losing in the semifinals to Melbourne High School. (2.) Sophomore outside mid-fielder Morgan Campbell traps the ball and then looks to pass down the field to one of her teammates during the first half to the game. (3.) Junior defender Alenis DeJesus (#5) elevates into the air to head a ball preventing the Melbourne player from advancing towards the goal. (4.) Senior center mid fielder Kara Mundelein (#17) attempts to head the ball into the goal across from Osbourn during the final minutes of the game while teammates junior forward Jillian Peppiatt and sophomore sweeper Meagan Borger trying to assist in any way possible. The ladies were trying to get a fast goal, down 3-2 with 32 seconds left. (5.) Sophomore Katie O’Kennedy dribbles the ball down the field trying to break away from the Melbourne defender during the first half of the game, while twin sister sophomore Colleen O’Kennedy and DeJesus watch her.

2.

all photo credit/MOLLY O’KENNEDY

4.

3.

20

Sports

February 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

ACL tears down athletes an ACL tear are incidents such as severe staff reporter trauma and work injuries. Individuals who experience ACL tears usually describe njuries can affect players in all aspects a feeling of the joint giving out, or some of their sport. Injuries can cause early patients have often say they hear a “pop.”

Giesler said, “When it first pops, it fatigue as well as putting a wall up on hurts extremely bad and it feels like there Sophomore Paige Gisler’s performance.

Giesler suffered from an ACL injury is something missing and you can just previously this year as well as two collapse as you walk. But that only occurs preceeding years, one in 2006 and one in the first time, the other times you’re kind of used to the pain 2007, while playing so it doesn’t hurt as soccer.

Giesler said, “I “It takes a lot of effort to get back bad. It is just sore and pivoted my knee because you’re really nervous to go difficult to walk in the the wrong way and all out and push people because you beginning because you lose your range of it just gave out.” might tear it again.”

Once these sorts Paige Giesler, ‘11 motion.”

Ways to prevent of injuries occur, ACL tears include their recurrence is practicing neuromuscular training, which not out of the ordinary.

An estimated 200,000 ACL-related increases muscular strength, movement, injuries occur annually in the United and balance.

Overcoming the injury can be mentally States, with approximately 95,000 ACL ruptures. Approximately 100,000 ACL and physically overwhelming. Part of going through an injury is getting over the reconstructions are performed each year.

Athletes who participate in contact mental trauma.

Giesler said that to accept that she tore sports such as basketball, football, and soccer are more likely to suffer from ACL her ACL again and the fact that she would injuries than athletes who participate in have to go through all the physical therapy non-contact sports. At a rate 2.4-9.7, the again was the hardest part to deal with.

Giesler also said that while everyone is risk for females to get an ACL tear is much improving their skills as a soccer player, greater than males.

Soccer, Paige Giesler’s sport, is the she is falling behind.

The activity level of the patient, both second most common sport for athletes recreational and occupational, affect how who get ACL inuries.

An ACL tear most often occurs during fast their recovery will be. However, there sporting activities when the athlete suddenly are other aspects that can delay or speed pivots causing excessive rotational forces up the recovery, such as the expectations on the ligament. Other things that can cause of the patient, the ability and willingness of

Colin Perry

I

the patient to participate in post-operative rehabilitation, the degree of instability of the joint, and any other associated injuries to the knee.

As for the surgery, Giesler said that it wasn’t that big of a deal.

“Neither of them were too painful. They are just uncomfortable because before the surgery you can’t walk that well and you can’t really straighten out your knee completely or bend it,” Giesler said.

“Your knee is just sore and gets tired especially when walking through school. After the surgery it is uncomfortable because it’s really hard to move your leg because you lost so much muscle. My knee swelled up like a watermelon,” said Giesler. “So it’s not fun to sleep when you want to turn and when you get up to go to the bathroom, it’s a hassle. It’s also difficult to get on crutches and use your arms to move your leg slowly off the bed.”

WHAT UPSETS AN ATHLETE?

This is what a torn ACL looks like on the inside of a knee.

The item that is ruptured is the Anterior cruciate ligament, where it is seperated from the Posterior cruciate ligament.

illustration/MICHAEL MANGOS

The Lion’s Tale

February 13, 2009

Sports

21

Climbing burns fat, builds muscles

140 pounds or up to 974 calories an hour if staff reporter you weigh 190 pounds.

Climbing sessions usually last about two obby or career, rock climbing can be strenuous. Just ask senior Nate to three hours and exercises almost every Enos, who’s been climbing for muscle group. Rock climbing twice a week alone can improve strength, muscular and almost a year.

“I began rock climbing because it’s both cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and fun and good for you. That, and I like the mental toughness.

“Rock climbing is an excellent sport for adrenaline,” said Enos.

Although Enos has only been climbing a great workout that’s also tons of fun,” said for ten months starting last May, he’s kept Owens. “Thank God I never hurt myself.”

Unfortunately, there are some downsides up with the sport and found a new hobby.

Climbing three times a week, Enos has a to rock climbing. The sport can be extremely membership at Aiguille Rock Climbing dangerous and potentially fatal. In order to be safe, climbers should make sure they take the Center in Longwood.

Aiguille will soon be offering a yoga necessary precautions, have all equipment class in addition to rock climbing sessions, and gear, and always work in pairs.

Enos suffered from some minor injuries, and also has portable rock climbing walls that people can rent for parties and other pulling muscles in his back and hamstring, but most common physical problems faced gatherings.

Enos also owns all of his own gear, but by climbers include spinal syndromes, tendonitis of the forearm it doesn’t run cheap. and shoulder, carpal Basic equipment for “I began rock climbing because tunnel syndrome, and rock climbing costs finger strains. about $200, which it’s both fun and good for you.

As far as fatalities, includes rock shoes, That and I like the adrenaline.” main causes of death carabiners (lightweight Nate Enos, ‘09 associated with outdoor metal links), a harness, rock climbing occur and a rope that’s from equipment failure, specifically designed for climbing. And don’t forget the $35 a month human error, or simple recklessness.

Fortunately, that’s not a problem with Enos pays for membership at Aiguille.

According to the American Sport indoor rock gyms. Indoor rock climbing was Climbers Federation (ASCF), rock designed in order to make the falling distance climbing is both a mental and physical shorter than anywhere outdoors. But since an workout. While building muscles and artificial wall can be climbed more than once burning fat, climbers overcome the in a couple of hours, the repetition of difficult ultimate obstacle, fear. Fear of heights, maneuvers can strain soft tissues.

“I would never do outdoor rock climbing,” fear of falling, and most importantly, the said Owens. “Climbing indoors is easy to get fear of failure.

“Major disadvantages with rock used to, but outdoors would be brutal.”

While Owens climbs for leisure, Enos climbing are the fear of injuring yourself or possibly killing yourself. Especially if plans to be part of the rock climbing team at UCF. you’re pretty far up,” said Enos.

At UCF, there is both a rock climbing Sophomore Sara Owens feared initially about her safety, but learned that club and team. While anyone is welcome to join the club, the team is usually made rock climbing was a enjoyable sport.

“I always wanted to rock climb,” up of 15 club members and competes in the said Owens, “but was always afraid American Bouldering Series (ABS) and the USA Climbing (USA-C) Sport Climbing and that I would fall or hurt myself.”

When Owens overcame her fear, she soon Speed Climbing series.

“Rock climbing makes for a good hobby, realized that many benefits come from rock climbing. These benefits include a self esteem but I’d never play competitvely,” said Owens. boost and a great workout. Rock climbing can “That would seem a little dangerous.” burn up to 700 calories an hour if you weigh

Julia Thorncroft

H

Climbing Tips •A good sense of balance is the key to moving smoothly while climbing.

•Keep your body close to the wall •Find rest spots, taking rests will help keep stamina.

•Always warm up and stretch before you start climbing.

•Use your legs to hold your weight, not your arms. compiled from/indoorclimbing.com

nos

eE Nat ‘09 photo/CARSON BAILEY

Runners brave gator infested area to train Caitlyn Braswell

T

staff reporter

hough the basic idea of track remains the same, details of the team changed.

“This year’s different from last year.

We have a new boys coach, Coach Tom Hammontree, and there’s more integration between boys and girls,” said junior Fletcher Bell.

Coach Hammontree and Coach Alice Roseum, the girls track coach, both used to be assistants for each other in previous coaching jobs, which could be the reason why the boys and girls practice together more this year than in past years.

But this doesn’t change the main points of preparations for the new season, which began on March 6.

“I’ve been preparing by doing all the workouts and drills that Coach Hammontree has prepared for me,” said Bell.

Hammontree, in the past worked at Lake Howell High School, Winter Springs High School, as well as Miami for 11 years.

“Every school is unique and it’s fun to see the kids you’ve got. I’ve noticed that the kids here are more attune to being successful,” said Hammontree.

For Bell, who plans on running the 800

meters, the mile, the two miles as well as the 4x800 miles, the usual training can be anywhere from three to twelve miles every day after school.

“I’m a distance runner, so I’m probably going to run an 800 meter, which is synonymous to a half mile. I’ve been running quite a bit to prepare. On a short day, we usually run roughly four miles. In a long day, I can train up to seven miles,” said sophomore Zane Beard.

Hammontree’s main goal for this season is to be successful.

“We’re young, we’re inexperienced and the season is fresh. The goal is to develop talent and be successful at the end of the season,” said Hammontree.

Although they just began training Jan. 26, injuries to the runners already occurred.

“I sprained my groin, the ultimate injury that can happen to a male. Typically, you injure yourself from running which is why you stretch. I overstretched it by throwing my leg up on the top of a gate and pulled down. It wasn’t pretty,” said Beard.

More fortunate members, like Bell, dodged getting an injury so far, but it doesn’t mean he finds himself invincible, “Last year I injured my knee really bad because I didn’t stretch enough. This year

I’ve made sure to stretch much more to keep from getting hurt.”

To keep themselves occupied while running these long distances, the team usually just talks to each other and thinks while running alone. Some also listen to music to stay entertained.

“One time we decided to swim through waist deep water once while we were running. It was after all the rain we had during the summer, so this river was overflowed. So when we got photo/GRAHAM CHRISTENSEN there, we just decided to swim through it. We then found out AND THEY’RE OFF. Sophomores Danielle Deforest and Kodee Mann sprint to the finish line at track practice. it was a gator infested area,” said Bell. more gazelle-like every day. It’s brutal going With each new season brings new things through the practices though.” each member wants to experience and With a confidence in the new coach, accomplish. dedicated runners and long practices, many “I’m really looking forward to the races, of the players believe this season will turn they’re a lot of fun. I’m dreading all the out great. strenuous preparation,” said Bell.

“I think we’re going to have a really What Beard wants to accomplish, though, successful season, we have a really strong happens to be a little different. team this year and we’re all pretty dedicated “I’m looking forward to getting more and to the team,” said Bell.

22

Sports

February 13, 2009

The Lion’s Tale

Freshman ranks 68 in state

Maggie Kipi

A

staff reporter

lmost before she could remember, around the age of five, she hit her first tennis ball. Now, years later, freshmen Lisa May ranks 68th in the state.

With a rough start as a beginner tennis player, May still strives to be great.

“The first time I played tennis they made me play right-handed even though I am left-handed because I wasn’t sure which hand to use. After that I stopped because I didn’t pass the class I was taking since they made me play right-handed.

However, I tried again not to long after,” said May. Showing a great deal of determination, and willingness to succeed, May proudly fills her schedule with practice and more practice, and even challenges herself by honing her skills with tough competition.

“On Mondays and Fridays, I take private lessons. On Mondays, I hit at Azaela (in Winter Park) with Angie Zguna (her private coach). After I’m done hitting with her for an hour, I hit with one of the Rollins College tennis players on the men’s team, Guga. I hit with Guga to give hitting time where I can play out points with someone really good so I can get used to hitting with and against pace,” said May. Angie and Guga prove to be tough competition for May and she believes that practicing with them only makes her a more well rounded tennis player.

“I have been training with Angie for photo/JENNIFER IRELAND two years now, and yes she is definitely a tough coach. Her style of teaching is all HEADS UP. Freshman Lisa May hits a backhand to her opponent during her warm-up against Hagerty High School. Lisa lost a highly contested match against Hagerty’s number one player serious and very tough. She is very much Shannon Brewer, 8-4. The team lost their first match of the season against Hagerty, starting the season 0-1 into footwork, so it requires a lot of running said May. months later, seeing that shot finally start during practice. Guga is at Rollins College May endures long practices and intense coming together,” said May. and is definitely a tough competitor because workouts in order to achieve her outstanding Typically a solo sport; tennis also allows he hits with a lot of pace and spin. Hitting record of 68th in the state. doubles matches as an option. And although with them definitely has improved my “I have been working towards being as May enjoys both, she prefers doubles. game. Angie has improved my footwork high ranked as I can before I age out of the “I play singles and doubles, and I like especially and my strokes. By hitting with 14’s. There isn’t a certain spot I am working them both a lot. In doubles, it is more Guga I am able to hit with someone better for, just as high as I can go. But all the time relaxing because you have a friend out than me, who hits with a lot of pace and and effort has been worth it,” said May. there helping you along during the match. I Position Name spin,” said May. May used to specialize in the backhand like being on a team after always being by #1.

Dillion Kumar (11) May also participates in tournaments all shot, however, recently her skills have yourself on the tennis court during singles. #2.

Brandon Glenn (11) over Florida whenever she can, occasionally improved and her backhand and forehand Singles is still a lot of fun too, even though #3.

Kathan Kumar (12) going out of state when the situation faces now appear to be equally as good. the pressure can feel higher. But I love her.

May is also now playing for the Oviedo “My backhand has always been my shot tennis all around,” said May. #4.

Alex Mack (12) Lions Varsity Tennis team holding the that in the past I have used as a weapon Tennis also requires a tremendous #5.

Brandon Bates (10) number one position in the line up because I am so comfortable with it, but amount of endurance and stamina in order “I try to play two or three tournaments with all the effort I am putting into my to achieve total greatness and be successful every month,” said May. “The farthest I’ve forehand to make it really good is leveling every match. ever traveled for a tournament is Mobile, it out with my backhand. This allows me “Tennis requires a lot of energy, Alabama.” to be comfortable with both shots and I am emotionally and physically. You have to Position Name Although May enjoys tennis, able to run around backhands now without emotionally handle the game because if you #1.

Lisa May (9) occasionally she regrets how much time she hesitation and use the forehand as a weapon can’t you will end up beating yourself and puts into the sport. as well,” said May. give the match away practically. Physically #2.

Hannah McLean (12) “Sometimes in the past I have regretted Although not sure why she began playing you have to be in shape so you can run #3.

Margaux Milon (10) it because it takes a lot of effort and time in tennis (except for the fact that her mother the shots down and dictate the points and #4.

Katelyn Bobek (11) order to improve and I don’t always have signed her up), May enjoys playing tennis. match,” said May. “In tennis, every time you the leisure of hanging with friends and such, “My favorite part about tennis is working step on the court you require 110 percent #5.

Jordan Carbonneau (11) but I then realize it is all worth it in the end,” really hard to improve a certain shot. Then energy.”

LIONS VARSITY TENNIS

Boys Roster

Girls Roster

Lady Lions pitching towards homerun season Connor Bailey

S

sports editor

tarting the season with a record of 5-2, the Lady Lions Varsity Fast Pitch Softball team is off to a fantastic season.

One of the losses came to Timbercreek High School,1-0, a very talented team.

“It was very high quality game and it was just a little error that caused the run. We didn’t play our best however, we didn’t get that many hits during the game, but we learned from our mistakes and are working on them in practice,” said senior Dani Wilson.

The Lions are lead by a team full of

seniors with a lot of experience.

“All of the seniors have been playing with each other for awhile. We are all really good friends and have really good chemistry between us,” said senior second baseman Amber Evans.

Defense is a strong point for the team this season.

“Our defense is a very reliable skill we posses. We have good fielding technique and don’t commit that many errors,” said Wilson.

Sophomore Paige Matthews has also been a major assest to the pitching staff as well.

“Paige is a very talented pitcher. She

pitches a very fast ball and has unbelievable placement. She is also very young which is great because she is getting expierence for the future,” said Evans.

The team is looking to win districts and then make a run in the state playoffs, hoping for a state title.

“We should be able to win our district and then I think that our team can go far in the state tournament. we are playing well as a team at the moment and I think it’s going to pay off for us in the off season,” said Wilson.

THROWING CURVEBALLS. Senior Sarah Pettigrew pitches aganist rival Hagery High School.

photo/GRAHAM CHRISTENSEN

The Lion’s Tale

February 13, 2009

Sports

23

The Roar Carson Bailey

Girl’s lacrosse team brings in another win

GET THAT GOAL.

(Left) Juniors Callie Porcher and Alex Lopez accidentally run into each other in an attempt to get the ball back. (Below) Lopez sprints with the ball to score a goal.

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN. (Above) Senior

C

photos/GRAHAM CHRISTENSEN

Lisa Cooper blocks a member of the Melbourne Central Catholic High School lacrosse team from scoring a goal.

(Right) Seniors Ellyn Spangenberg and Paige Matherly try to get the ball back from a MCCHS team member. OHS won the game and the final score of this game, which took place at John Courier field, was 21-0.

Boy’s lacrosse prepares for the new season

omposed of several JV players from the previous year, this year’s team is going into the season with young but spirited players. With six days of practice off-season, and four during the season, they plan to be prepared for the up coming games.

The team is excited for this season’s prospects. This year two new assistant coaches with college level experience, coaches Jack Henry and Kevin Farrington join Armstrong. Returning 2008 OHS graduate Bobby Ryan will also be joining them as the new head JV coach. Armstrong is glad to have them, as well as the energy and class they will bring to the team.

“I’m proud of the team’s enthusiasm and fighting spirit,” said Armstrong. “We plan to be competitive at each game and conduct ourselves with pride.”

with Kevin Veloso

B

Boy’s baseball starts with a win

oy’s JV baseball played their first game of the season against Winter Springs High School. After an intense game, the Lions came out on top. Beating them 4-1, the boys have started out the season strong.

Boy’s volleyball goes into season with fresh team

S

everal freshmen and sophomores will be joining the team this year. And with the help of coaches Jason McDonald and Zack Densberger, Coach Rafael Valle plans to develop them to play at the varsity level.

With practice set for every Monday through Saturday, the team will likely build up to their goals. Key returnees this year are seniors Nick Goodwin and Taylor Malkus.

Shawn Dailey

Junior Shawn Daily on, off the baseball diamond

Lions Tale: What is your greatest fear?

Shawn Daily: Failure.

LT: When did you first start playing baseball?

SD: Four years old.

LT: Who first inspired you to play?

SD: My dad. He used to play in high school.

LT: Red or blue?

SD: Blue.

LT: Who is your favorite player?

SD: John Smoltz from the Red Sox. LT: What is your favorite part of baseball?

SD: Tough situations in the game and trying to help get out of them.

LT: What are your favorite baseball teams?

SD: Tigers, Braves, and Rays.

LT: Do you have any pets? If not, what would you have?

SD: No, I would get a Yorkie and name him Busta.

LT: What is your favorite TV show?

SD: “Sports Center.”

LT: Who is your role model?

SD: Justin Verlander who is a pitcher for the Tigers.

photo/MIRANDA GHALI

staff reporter

Olympic gold medalist proves to be only human

I

s the sports media on drugs?

Flashing all over news headlines has been gossip on the 14-time Olympic gold medal winner, Michael Phelps.

If you haven’t already heard, Phelps was snapped smoking out of a bong at a South Carolina University party last November. This photo has surfaced and traveled worldwide.

Surprising? Not really.

Phelps, a highly regarded Olympic swimmer and role model, made a mistake. I think what people are forgetting is that he is also human, flaws and all.

Of course Phelps disappointed many fans that looked up to him. He was suspended from swimming for a few months, and he lost his Kellogg’s sponsorship.

Yet the reactions of the media coverage has gotten ridiculous. When you listen to some of the media coverage you would think Phelps had partaken in a murder.

Phelps simply made a bad choice by smoking marijuana with unfamiliar people in the range of a camera. Once again he is a human. We all make mistakes.

In spite of his mistake, he isn’t addicted and doesn’t need to go to rehab, compared to some of the things other athletes and celebrities have done. For example A-Rod, Phelps doesn’t even come close.

Hollywood celebrities are portrayed as partiers and drinkers but are never reprimanded for it. So why should an Olympic medalist be subjected to such scrutiny?

Marijuana is not a performing enhancing drug. If anything the drug had a negative effect on Phelps and he still managed to win 14 gold medals. That says something.

Phelps is still a role model despite toking up at a party. He has apologized for his mistake and I think it’s time the media lay off him.

We have far greater issues to worry about, such as our down falling economy, than to follow the story of a 23 year old who smoked a bong.

Just as I don’t care to know who made out with who last night at the movie theater, I don’t need to know the times Michael Phelps smokes marijuana. ­

Upcoming Games 02/23

Boys Varsity Tennis @ Lake Howell - 3:30PM

02/25

Girls Varsity Lacrosse @ Lake Mary - 7:00PM.

02/28

Boys Varsity Water Polo vs Lake Howell - 10:30AM.

03/03

Boys Varsity Baseball @ Seminole - 6:00PM

The Lion’s Tale

February 13, 2009

Diversions 24

s u b e h t s e k a t e l a T s ’ n o i L

Adventures abound on Lynx trip to mall

Kevin Veloso

H

Florida, and there is a stop right in front of bus stop for our next bus, Link 30. Since all the paper said was “TRANSFER AT But what is the public bus system like? GEMINI”, we began walking farther down Gemini road looking for the Lynx bus I decided to find out.

I began my first-time experience on a stop.

Twenty minutes, a lot of walking in the Lynx bus by planning out my route to the Altamonte Mall. I went to the Lynx website sun, and a half-gallon of red Gatorade later, and printed out the route. And just in case, we find out that we had gotten off too soon.

I decided to print out the most detailed The bus stop for Link 30 was at the very version that included all of the stops that end of Gemini.

Printing out the location of all the stops the bus passed along the way.

The Lynx website estimated the whole we passed along our route proved to be trip would be almost three hours long! very useful when finding our way back to To prevent boredom-induced suicide, I our bus route. Stapling the numerous pages decided to make my friend James together would have been another good idea. It was a little scary chasing down skip work and come along.

The first bus was loose pages in the middle of the road.

Next to the Link 30 bus stop was a worn supposed to swing by the front of down bench with pealing white paint and the school every illustrations of male reproductive organs hour on the hour. scribbled along the side. The two of us took Unfortunately, a seat on the creaky wood, and waited about we managed to 30 minutes for the next bus to arrive.

It was immensely amusing to see all the miss the first bus and were passing drivers intently watch us instead of left to wait. But the road. But the best thing about our wait the closer we got was when some girls in a BMW thought to downtown, the we were in college and tried taking us to a shorter the time bar called Scoop. Lack of proper ID can be interval between quite a let down at times.

The two of us eventually got into Link buses.

Eventually a 30, paid up another two bucks, and were bright purple bus greeted by the slightly offensive aroma of with the words LINK what smelled like a mix of Taco Bell and 47 spelled out in warm sweat.

Almost every seat was taken, except for flashing yellow lights pulled up to the bus stop a few in the back. The closer we got to the at the front of the school. James and I busy parts of town, the more crowded the immediately stepped on and slipped our $2 buses became.

In the chair next to me, however, was bus fare into the machine sitting right next to the driver. It’s only 85 cents for students. an odd lady who kept swaying side to side But the machine didn’t give change.

After being out in the hot sun, the frosty while smelling a sweater air inside the bus was refreshing. The bus black was clean and had soft cushioned seats that she had in her were decorated with the Lynx logo and hands.

When it splashes of neon colors. Aside from us, our bus remained empty for a majority of the was almost time to ride to our first stop.

According to the schedule I printed switch to out, our first transfer point was a n o t h e r supposed to be at the Gemini entrance bus, we of UCF. Once we got there, I pulled ended the thin metal cable that ran along u p the inside of the bus to request a stop, and we stepped off into the warm air.

As James and I stood there on the sidewalk, we immediately b e g a n searching for the

staff reporter OHS.

e was a lanky middle-aged man wearing a red baseball cap and reflective sunglasses. Stretched comfortably over two gray bus seats, his relaxed facial expression revealed his experience as a frequent user of the public bus system-Something, which I would soon realize, I would never want to become The Lynx bus company moves people all across Central

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getting off a few blocks early again.

We eventually found our way around SR436 and got to the correct bus stop, but not without some loud pestering salesmen make an attempt at selling us a sleek looking black Nissan Altima.

James and I used the schedule to figure out that we could save money and time by skipping a bus. When the last bus of our trip finally slowed to a stop in front of us, it ended up staying there for about 20 minutes waiting for roadside assistance.

The big purple bus had ended up trading some of its paint with a big orange roadblock and a concrete barrier only about 50 feet away from us.

The bus was eventually ready to depart, and we were back on our way to the Altamonte Mall. I guess the bus driver was still dazed from the recent accident, because he somehow managed to miss one of the stops that had about 15 people waiting there, all of them just staring at us in disbelief as the bus drove away.

We met some interesting people on the final bus. There was an old lady that talked to us about her cats, a man wearing a red hat and mirrored sunglasses who beat boxed at random moments, and a balding man with a bad comb-over on his way to a garage band practice with his five buttoned Guitar Hero guitar.

Four and a half hours, instead of the estimated, but still ridiculous, three hours, James and I finally made it to the mall.

If the return trip didn’t take three more hours, I would have done it. But since hanging around in the dark and getting mugged didn’t seem like too much fun, I just had my dad pick us up.