Countryside High School Paw Print Newspaper Volume 32 Issue 3 by Center for New Media

Page 6-7: Valentines Day Page 8: Countryside Soccer Team Page 12: Pawparazzi 3000 S.R. 580

Friday, Feburary 11, 2011 - VOLUME 32, Issue 3 www.cnmcountryside.com

Clearwater, FL 33761

Features ...Need a prom dress? Head over to Seminole Mall, where Belle of the Ball and Dream a Dress will be giving and taking donations for prom dresses. This operation will go down March 12, 26, April 2, 9, 30 and May 7 from 10:00 am-2:00 pm. So if you do not have the money, the time, or the effort to put into finding a prom dress, head over to the Seminole Mall, next to the Ross Department Store, where you will find your fairy godmother.

‘11

staff writer

For anyone dreaming about their senior prom, they tend to imagine one of the best nights of their life. However, these fantasies do not normally include all the possible outcomes to their “perfect” evening. These dreams about their “special night” always exclude the possibility of being in a vulnerable position by their poor judgment and dangerous activities. Every year, teenagers are making poor decisions that could affect the rest of their life such as partaking in unprotected sexual activities, driving under the influence, going to unsupervised “post prom” parties and other illegal activities. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more teenagers are killed during the months of prom and graduation than any other time of the year. This has left concerned parents and teachers to pose the question: “How can we protect our teens from themselves?” In a continually “politically correct” country, raising awareness is always the first response to dealing with the dangers that concern most issues. Education about a harmful issue can only increase the awareness to the student body. “We could help raise awareness about the possible dangers so people can protect themselves against destructive decisions like drinking and driving,” said senior, Aggie Boron. While education about risky behavior has had posi-

“A Night of

Enchantment” -This year, prom will be on April 15th at The Kapok Tree from 8:0012:00. -Recent rumors of dance bracelets and the lights on to prevent inappropriate dancing have been confirmed to be false. However, dance chaperons will not be tolerating such behavior, therefore advising against it. -There is not a set dress code, but attendees must dress within reason to be allowed entrance into the dance. -Tickets will be on sale starting March 21st . The initial price is $50.00 but will then be raised to $60.00. -There will be a limited 400 tickets, so be sure to purchase yours early!

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tive results on many students, it has led to even more complications. Who would be responsible for educating the students: the school or individual parents? Some of these concerns are probably outside the realm of a school’s moral authority. Regardless of the answer to this question, will this be enough to win the war with all the dangers during prom night? Some people are suggesting a simpler route than trying to raise awareness to the masses. “Have more police officers that could enforce the outside of the dance to make sure no one is showing up intoxicated. This would really cut down on the number of people showing up drunk and doing illegal stuff,” suggested junior, Kylee Stapp. With more college kids running around with badges, many prom goers would be less likely to partake in illegal activity for fear of spending the “best night of their life” behind bars. Others have said there should be restrictions on who can attend prom. But even with beefed up security force at the prom and attendance restrictions who will monitor after-prom parties that most students go too? While there is no clear cut solution to the issues surrounding prom, there are a few promising suggestions that are currently being thrown around. Probably, the most effective option for all students is that it time for them to stop acting like children. Prom attendees need to start making the right decisions like the adults they are about to become.

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Combating the dangers of prom

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Opinion

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Life: the cold hard truth susanCOVA

staff writer

Everyday we learn something new, whether it be intelligence wise or maybe even how to live. The choices we make in life, may help you, or even maybe even hurt you. Life is not easy, it is the people in our lives who make it easy. Life is full of consequences and hard decisions. It is the choices you make that will get you where you are going. Choices such as school, parents, friends, relationships, and even addictions. You may dread school but where would you go in life if you do not finish? These days there are not very many job opportunities that will hire you if you do not have a high school diploma. How about those parents? Whether it be a mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, they can still be considered parents or guardians. They tend to get under your skin and drive you absolutely insane. Usually it is just because they want what is best for you. Making the choice of having a good relationship with your parents/ guardians is

a good idea because they do not come and go like friends, they are always there. Picking and choosing your friends is a hard choice as well. Most of us look at it as, “who should I hang out with to be cool?” You do not want to hang out around with the people who will pressure you into things you do not want to do, or with the people who are a totally different person when you are not around. High school relationships come and go. Not very many will last forever like you hope and dream for, like most of us do. If you are in that group of people who stay away from the relationships, good for you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with waiting. In this day and age, it will not always be easy, but most choices in life are not easy. Just these couple of examples are some of the choices you will have to make. When put in a tough situation, take a step back, and think like Junior Memory Johnson, “There are a lot of choices that will reflect on your future and how you will live life.” Will the choice you are about to make help you, or hurt you?

“Don’t waste your time on someone who isn’t willing to show they care.” Jon Witkowski Senior

“Live life to the fullest.” Tommy Kelly Sophomore

“Respect your parents because they will be there longer than friends.” Ian Jones Sophomore

photo credits Susan Cova

Opinion/Puzzler

Vegetarian trend strikes the nation kellyPETTIT

staff writer

If you have ever heard the term vegan or vegetarian, you may be wondering what the difference really is. A vegetarian is a person who strictly chooses not to eat meat. Where as a vegan does not consume or use any animal by products. Estimated in 2008 by “Vegetarianism in America”, 7.3 million U.S. citizens were vegetarians, .5% of which were vegans. In considering the differences, a question came to mind. Why would you pick one lifestyle over the other? If you are against the cruelty towards animals, wouldn’t being a vegetarian be hypocritical? One reason for being a vegetarian is in fact not because of the animals themselves, but concern for ones own health. In recent years, farmers have been put under pressure to produce more animals faster, therefore making more money. Their solution has been to inject growth hormones into the livestock. This method has improved the process, particularly among cattle, but with every quick fix, problems have begun to present themselves. It has been proven that traces of the growth hormones and nitrates have been

a person who strictly chooses not to eat meat. J Caberto and

photo credit A

Caleb Carney

left in the meat being sold. It’s suspected that these are causing young girls to reach puberty sooner as well as the nitrates to be causing some forms of cancer. However, as of now, studies haven’t shown enough decisive information to sway the FDA (Food and Drug Association). Currently, they are approving of 5 different hormones and will allow the continued use until more data is presented. Therefore, some of the nutrient savvy consumers have taken matters into their own hands and have decided to cut meat out of their diet. But let’s face it, being either a vegetarian or vegan could not be easy. Everywhere you go you must be conscientious of what you are ordering and purchasing. The stereotypical teenager is supposed to be lazy; so why are they putting on this extra burden and converting to vegetarianism? Could it be that our nations youth suddenly became aware of the injustice occurring in the factory farms across the country? Or perhaps they have been watching the news and heard about the latest health concerns? Frankly, I believe these causes are unlikely. Though some teens are genuinely sincere in their choice; I believe there must be some other contributing factor at play.

Veget

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Vegan

Perhaps the largest influence is PETA2, the youth branch of the organization PETA (Protection for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). This group has been established since 2002 and within nine years the program has become the largest youth animal rights group in the world. Madison Cousin, a junior at Countryside High School has been a vegetarian for over two years now and has shared her personal experience. “ I was coming out of a concert that was promoting vegan and vegetarianism by PETA2. As I left they handed me a pamphlet with information to take home and as I went through it and thought about it, I decided it was the right thing to do, for me...” She went on to explain how, in hindsight, it scares her that she ever ate meat because she struggles with distinguishing between the meat we eat and the pets we love. Reasoning for this dietary transformation have evolved anywhere from personal health reasons to the noble strike against unethical animal treatment. As a result of the growth of established animal rights organizations and the current condition of the meat market, it would appear that a rapid vegetarian trend is descending upon the 21st century.

a person who does not consume or use any animal by products

Aquarius’ Horoscope

katelynWABNUM

Celebrities

Jan

photo credit Hollywoodcelebritypictures.com

28TH

31ST

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6th

staff writer

Happy Birthday! With a new year of life comes new opportunities. Although, this may be to your satisfaction be conscious of the harm that unhealthy relationships, situations, or habits can cause you. Before basking in the joy that often comes with change. Cute, clever, and charismatic, the moon’s current setting brings out your most cunning characteristics. A true visionary at heart, the new moon on the third inspires a surge of ingenious ideas to fill your subconscious. Make sure you pay special attention to them because you never know who will recognize your impressive work. Often tolerant of the routine your daily activities seem to leave you in, by the end of the month all your new innovations will have left you in a lazy stupor of inactivity. Even if you feel ultimately frazzled, all you will need to return to your former chipper self, is a 24 hour break from your usual mundane duties.

Thank You!!! Thank you to all of our sponsors for their support!

~Mr. Schlereth Aquarius Dates: January 20th- February 18th -Astrological information received from Lunaf.com -Birthdays found in records of shine.yahoo.com -This zodac’s personality traits and the lunar calender references where confirmed through research in the book of Astrology by Christine Grenard.

The following content, contained in this article, is purely for entertainment purposes .Also any or all changes affiliated with horoscope columns is strictly related to persons born after 2009 and nations (not including America) following the lunar calendar.

~Student Government Association ~Mr. Settle ~Officer Cavaliere ~The Bookkeeping Staff

Entertainment

2011 Entertainment parkerANDERSEN

Movies

photo credit amctheatres.com

Rating

2/25- Drive Angry............................................................R 2/25- Hall Pass............................................................NYR 2/25- Shelter.....................................................................R 3/4- Adjustment Bureau............................................PG-13 3/4- Rango.....................................................................PG 3/11- Jane Eyre.........................................................PG-13 3/11- Battle: Los Angeles.................................................R 3/11- Red Riding Hood..............................................NYR 3/11- Kill The Irishman....................................................R 3/18- Limitless............................................................NYR 3/18- Paul.........................................................................R 3/25- Sucker Punch..........................................................R 4/1- Source Code......................................................PG-13 4/8- Your Highness...........................................................R 4/15- Scream 4............................................................NYR 4/22- Born to be a Star................................................NYR 4/29- Fast Five............................................................NYR 4/29- 13 Assassins......................................................NYR 5/13- Priest.................................................................NYR 5/20- Thor...................................................................NYR 5/20- Pirates/Caribbean: On Stranger Tides...............NYR

entertainment editor

In 2010, the world of entertainment was far from disappointing. With sequels of many popular video games and movies being released, there were many options for just about any average movie critic or gamer to be entertained throughout the year. But now that 2010 is over, we can only hope for 2011 to keep us all entertained. The beginning of 2011 has a short, but promising, lineup of movies, video games, and local events. Hopefully the entire year is as good as these anticipated releases make it look.

photo credit sptimesforum.com

Local Events

2/18- Ozzy Osbourne 2/24- Jeff Dunham 2/26- Nuclear Cowboyz 3/6- Disney Live! Mickey’s Magic Show 3/12- Harlem Globetrotters 3/26- Steve Harvey & Kirk Franklin 4/16- Lady Gaga 4/17- Iron Maiden

*NYR= Not Yet Rated

Faces of YouTube alexANDERSEN

technical director

When people think of the website YouTube, some types of videos that come to mind are cute cat videos, people doing stunts with their friends, and lonely people talking to their webcams, but YouTube has so much more to offer. It is full of quality content that it’s community works extremely hard on for many grueling hours. Yes, most people just upload videos of random things that no one will ever watch, and others vent about what went on during their day to their camera, but a lot of the videos on YouTube are much more than that. YouTubers like Shane Dawson , iJustine, Shay Carl, Mystery Guitar Man, and Charles Trippy all create a wide variety of videos, and work very hard on each and every one of them. Shane Dawson, one of YouTubes most iconic stars, has over two million subscribers and obtains around three to four million views on each of his hilarious videos. Shane plays many different characters that he has created for his videos. Some of those characters include a nerd, a gangster, a girl with an attitude, and himself. On his channel, youtube.com/shanedawsontv, he produces a video at least once a week. Shane is such an amazing role model to all of his subscribers and is never a dissapointment. iJustine is the third most subscribed female video maker on YouTube. She creates music videos, tech reviews and vlogs. iJustine has been a guest star on the television show Law and Order: SVU, where she was unfortunately a victim to a crime in the first few minutes of the show. Some of iJustine’s videos include dancing in Apple Stores, because she is in love with everything Apple related, including Steve Jobs. iJustine has a fun time making all of her creative and highly viewed videos. All photos from Youtube.com

Shay Carl is a family man that video tapes his daily life. He is a video blogger, “vlogger” on his youtube.com/ shaytards channel, and creates skit videos on his first channel youtube.com/shaycarl. He has a wife and four children that his viewers get to watch everyday. His viewers have watched him and his family move several times from Idaho to California, seen him create hilarious videos, and even witness the birth of his fourth child. Shay and his subscribers share an unbreakable connection. Mystery Guitar Man is a musical YouTuber who makes amazing videos where he composes music out of random items. He also is extremely gifted in editing videos together, so that you will want to come back for more. He has created music with guitars, bottles, kazoos and even vuvuzelas. He comes out with a few videos a week and each and every one of them is amazing. Mystery Guitar Man, a.k.a. Joe Penna, goes above and beyond all expectations with every video he dishes out. Charles Trippy is a vlogger that takes his camera around with him and records his daily life. His channel, youtube.com/ctfxc, is like a reality t.v. show, but not scripted. He has gone on many trips around the world for his subscribers viewing pleasure. He lives in Florida with his fiancé Alli, and their two dogs, Zoey and Marley. They go on all sorts of crazy adventures and they are a joy to watch. He also has another channel, youtube.com/charlestrippy, where he puts up skits and other various videos. Charles, Alli and his CTFxC army will soon show that the “Internet Killed Television”. So all and all, YouTube is so much more that just dumb, unedited videos. It has many creative directors and actors that have yet to be discovered. So go out there and subscribe to some amazing and talented people!

Video Game Releases

photo credit slashgear.com

Systems

2/15- Marvel vs Capcom 3......................(PS3/ Xbox 360) 2/15- Nascar 2011............................(PS3/ Xbox 360/ Wii) 2/22- Bulletstorm..............................(PS3/ Xbox 360/ PC) 2/22- Killzone 3.........................................................(PS3) 2/22- Knight’s Contract...........................(PS3/ Xbox 360) 3/8- Dragon Age 2............................(PS3/ Xbox 360/ PC) 3/8- Home Front...............................(PS3/ Xbox 360/ PC) 3/22- F.E.A.R. 3................................(PS3/ Xbox 360/ PC) 3/22- Crysis 2....................................(PS3/ Xbox 360/ PC) 3/29- WWE All Stars..............(PS3/ PSP/ Xbox 360/ Wii) 4/18- Portal 2.....................................(PS3, Xbox 360, PC) 4/19- Mortal Kombat...............................(PS3, Xbox 360) 5/3- Duke Nukem Forever.........................................(PS3) 5/10- Hunted: The Demon’s Forge...(PS3, Xbox 360, PC) Games release date TBA: May: Red Faction: Armageddon.......................(PS3, Xbox 360) June: Star Wars: The Old Republic.......................................(PC) Max Payne 3.....................................(PS3, Xbox 360, PC) Brink........................................................(PS3, Xbox 360) Operation Flashpoint: Red River......(PS3, Xbox 360, PC) T.C.’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier..(PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

Duffy sells her soul haleyPETERS

staff writer

Duffy, known for her big voice and equally big lips, recently released her second album, Endlessly. Her #1 hit “Mercy” captivated audiences in 2008 who had never heard such a soulful voice come from somebody from the 21st century, let alone a platinum-haired Welsh girl. In her sophomore album, Duffy added pop influences in hopes of appealing to a larger demographic. However the album lacked the very thing that originally appealed to Duffy fans everywhere; her originality, her soul, and that great big voice. In “Well Well Well” her voice takes on a high pitched, Britney Spears-like tone that sounds completely unlike her previous album. Her newer songs are filled with fast-moving, overly peppy songs that lack the emotion she once possessed and communicated effortlessly through her sorrowful ballads. All and all, Duffy’s second wind was a flop. In an attempt to make everyone happy she transformed herself into a cookie cutter pop artist, leaving her faithful following behind. (1 out of 5 stars)

photo credit mp3crank.com

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Best Valentines Day Flicks a.j.CABERTO

opinion editor

When people think about Valentine’s Day, they think that "it’s a day of love", but it’s more than that, it is trying to make a romantic evening for your special somone. There are many ways to make it an unforgettable night; a little effort and creativity are all you need. Unfortunately, some couples are very limited, like the non-drivers, they cannot just take their parents with them as chaperones. Staying at home and watching movies is not so bad; not only will you save money but you will not have to beg for a ride. Listed below are five movies that will help make your day perfect. Watching movies at home is one way for an exceptional Valentine’s Day and some students seemed to agree. A survey was given to 50 students here at Countryside. The poll consisted of 14 movies in which the students picked their five favorites. Guess what came in first. 1) The Notebook: If you are someone that enjoys chick-flicks, then this is the perfect movie for you. It has everything from suicidal dating tricks to disapproving parents to eventually coming together in the end. Popular opinion is that this PG-13 movie is very addicting and full of romantic events that will not disappoint. The story starts off with an old man ( James Garner) who tells a love story to an old woman (Gena Rowlands) from an old notebook. The story from the notebook follows a couple, Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Allie (Rachel McAdams) who fell in love but were later separated by Allie’s parents and World War Two. Later, they were united by a newspaper article, and find eachother after choosing different paths.

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2)Titanic: Who says old classical movies cannot be romantic? If you are one of them then Titanic will change your mind. Movie star Leonardo Dicaprio, plays an artist named Jack who fell in love with a rich engaged woman named Rose. The plot of this story can be summed up as, “boy meets girl, he’s poor, she’s rich, parents do not approve”. It was not until Jack was saved by Rose, when the ship was sinking, that they realize that they have fallen for each other. 3) Superbad: If you are in for a laugh, then this rated R movie is a good way to start your night. It may have some adult scenes and plenty of inappropriate language to go through, but the rest will make your stomach hurt from laughing. The movie follows the story of three boys ( Jonah Hill, Micheal Cera and Christopher Plasse) who are trying to impress women and become more popular before their graduation day. Unfortunately before all that happens, they have to go through many unusual situations. From idiotic policemen to a drunk criminal to a wild party and even an angry father with a shotgun, you just cannot ask for a better movie than this. 4) The Proposal: They said laughter is the best medicine, so then if you are sick from thinking of the perfect movie to watch then this is the show that will cure your romantic evening. This PG-13 movie stars Ryan Reynolds and award winning Sandra Bullock. This is a revised story of “the boss falling in love to their secretary”. With Bullock, who is playing Margaret, being the almost deported editor in chief and Reynolds, who is playing Andrew, being the miserable assistant who is trying to become an editor, a lot can happen. Everyone has their horrible days but as Margaret is being fired and deported to Canada, she devises a plan involving Andrew having to marry her. A deal has started and as Margaret is using Andrew to keep her job and Andrew using Margaret to get promoted a love/hate relationship has been created. 5) Valentine’s Day: This movie shows a series of many couples and singles who are trying to make their Valentine’s Day special. Unfortunately, not everyone gets what they want. So, as this movie goes on, many interesting make ups, break ups, and new relationships form. Valentine’s Day shows plenty of the most talented and good-looking actors of our time, from Taylor Lautner to Jessica Alba and even Taylor Swift. This is the movie that will provide the entertainment and charm every couple or individual is looking for.

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Sweet or just plain sour? haliKUDLER

staff writer

Groundhog Day, the Super Bowl and President’s Day are popular events that take place in the month of February. If we are to believe conventional wisdom, all of these events can’t compare with Valentine’s Day. If you listen to most television stations during February, none of these events are more popular for women than Valentine’s Day. The entire month of February has been branded the month of love due to this one day. With its increased popularity, some people are starting to question the true meaning of the fourteenth of February. Is this day really about being with the one you care about or is the hidden message of St. Valentine’s Day ‘your relationship is only measured on what you are given by that special someone’? Trying to find a personal gift for your special someone to show that you really care about them is a difficult task for adults, let alone teenagers. For high school students, there is enough chaos in everyday activities without adding on the pressure of finding the ‘perfect’ Valentine’s Day gift. In a recent unscientific poll, 36 of 50 Countryside High School girls find the holiday a little too overdone. Is it time to throw a tradition that dates back to ancient Roman times to the history books? This holiday is meant to treasure the one that means the world to you; however, for many people, this does not hold true. For many single souls out there, Valentine’s Day is just another reminder that they

haven’t met the right one yet. “Although Valentine’s Day is supposed to be lovey dovey and all, I feel like more people get their feelings hurt on [Valentine’s Day] than any other day,” said junior Kristin Mitchell. High school students witness ‘love’ first hand everyday in the halls with the number of couples who express their affection towards each other openly. Is a whole day devoted to love necessary for high school couples who probably won’t last a month compared to the possible psychological effects that can affect a single person for years to come? Many girls feel that the holiday is a little pointless and that love should be expressed continuously, not just on a single day. Isn’t love more than a gift you receive from your current ‘significant other’ on this day in February? Junior Alyssa Anderson agrees, ”it’s kind of cheesy. If you love someone, you should celebrate everyday instead of one day a year.” While it is nice having the security blanket of knowing that you are cared about, true love is being able to express your feelings throughout the year on any given day, not just once every year. Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday to generate business for those companies relying on the amorous desires of loving couples. It can be a practical idea for long-term couples trying to spice up a routine or fading relationship. But for high school students, it seems a little out of place. To be real, how many relationships are going to last a year? Are we, as high school students, possibly being lead down a prim rose path designed by influential commercial advertising?

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Sports katieGLOWGOWSKI nicoleHARRIS

staff writer sports editor

As the ball is dropped and the whistle is blown, the boys’ soccer team has kicked it into the 2010-2011 season. Last year, the boys varsity team made it to regionals making their record 1 5 thrilling wins, 1 loss with 1 tie game. So far, the boys are doing amazing, only being scored on 6 times, and scoring 79 goals. These hard working boys made it to district regionals and are now making their way to states. Making it to states would complete their high school dream. With many returning faces, and only a couple new ones the team has bonded into a growing family. They communicate across the field using crazy nick-names for each other such as Boo, senior Ryan Struder, D, when talking about Derya Ekran and Kirkers, sophomore David Kuckkahn. They also use or say fun sounds to get each others attention without letting the team know who is open and who wants the ball. The boys and coaches are always giving positive feedback to each other. Working together is their biggest thing, they want to work together to improve. No one is left out. Three out of ten seniors will move to play college soccer next year with scholarships. The three of the them are, Jagger Martinez who commited to Northwestern , Hunter Maricle who is going to Virginia Tec, and Nikolai Hammer is going to Ferman in South Carolina with a full ride scholarship. Also,many of the juniors such as, Danny George are being looked over by many Florida coaches. “Prove it”, their team slogan explains the them as a whole, and was thought up by the boys as a team. Prove it, comes from how the boys sound on paper

and how wonderful they look written down, but now how amazing they are to watch. Everyone told them they couldn’t do and and wouldn’t make it together to states as a team, but despite everyone’s doubts they are well on their way to proving themselves by making it to regionals and

a r e on their way to states. The boys are now ninth in the nation and working their way to first. With a stat of 24-1-1, the Countryside High School soccer team has definitely made an impact. The boys have been fighting every step of the way. On January 23rd the boys took on St. Petersburg for the PCAC boys soccer title. The boys took an early lead when senior Zach Shriver threaded the ball to Nikolai Hammer who made the goal without a thought. The boys played so hard with an outcome of 3-0, sending the Devils home heads hanging. With the game against Riverview for the 6A-7 district title, the Cougars blew them away with a score of 1-0. In the first half, niether team was really getting any momentum going. During halftime, Sica told the boys he needed more, and they knew they had to deliver. Alex Zindini of the other team, with a 30-yard free kick, almost scored on the Cougars, but Maricle was there for the save. Jagger Martinez made the only goal of the game, but it couldn’t have been possible without his team right behind him. “We still have our work cut out for us if were going to make it to states.” Explained Junior Danny George when he was talking about the next up coming five games. The boys played their hardest game of the season on February 3,

2011, against the hardworking Bloomingdale Bulls team. It was their most strenuous, and best game of the season. The whole game was 0-0 sending the boys into overtime. With 5 minutes remaining in overtime, senior, Derya Ekran, made t h e connection with Jagger Martinez to make the winning goal. The team was so excited they tackled Jagger Martinez to the ground, mak~Co

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ing a g i gantic dog pile. The fans went wild, and went running on the field joining the pile of enthusiatic players and coaches. Countryside High School has never been able to beat Bloomingdale before. The last time they played Bloomingdale was 16 years ago in the same game, the regional quarter finals, but they lost that game. In the regional semifinals, the Cougars came out on top with 2 goals in the first half one from Dalton Martinez, the other from Niklai Hammer, in the last half Cory Sauerwine got the last goal of the game. All of Whartons efforts were blocked beccause of the Cougars 6-foot-5 goalie, Maricle. He got 12 saves, 3 of which were from point blank range. He was on top of his game, not letting the Wildcats have a chance. The game ended witht the score board flashing 3-0, Cougars semifinal winners. The Countryside soccer team is definitly a team to be proud of with 24 wins

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and only one loss. The boys have been working together, to be the best they can. Hopefully, the Cougars will be able to bring home a state championship trophy! photo credit, all pictures: Katie Glogowski

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yle Eichof (top left) shoves the ball from a Sickles player, while Nikolai Hammer kicks the ball to a winning goal (middle right), and Hunter Maricle makes a save while practicing before the big district game.

Sports

Losing is not an option Pinning points nicoleHARRIS

sports editor

“I love basketball, everything about it. My favorite part is when the crowd is packed and I make a shot and everyone yells, it’s the best feeling.” said senior Andrew Sheldon. The boys basketball team has been in full force since November 22, 2010 with a game against Osceloa. The boys kicked the season off with a defeat of the Cowboys leaving the game with a score of 58-52. Also, in a game against Springstead the boys won 54-41. The cougars scored 20 points in the 3rd quarter while Springstead scored 9. They really proved that they could play. “It really boosted our confidence and made us want to keep it up.” said junior Ryan Vince. The varsity team lost some of its best players last year, including Dino Tabakovic, Kyle Kinnear and Jared Low. The boys have had to practice hard to reach the level they were with the three super seniors, a couple of whom have went on to play college ball. With the seniors leaving it gives last years juniors time to shine. Andrew Shel-

don, and Aman Amhad are a just couple. The boys have been playing their hardest, and it has been paying off. In a game against Dunedin on December 29th, the Cougar boys really showed their talents with a final score of 71-48. Ryan Vince, averaging 13.8 points per game, was shooting the best. Senior, Andrew Sheldon, was not going to let the Falcons beat them. Not only are the boys on a roll, but the Countryside girls basketball team has been doing well with only 4 losses and 10 wins. The girls have been winning game after game, showing that girls know how to shoot hoops too. In their first game of the season against Tarpon, the girls proved that they could play when the Cougars left with the scoreboard flashing 56-30. “It was a great feeling, knowing that our team was working so well together, we have been working very hard. Losing is not an option.” said senior Jessica Stamper. The girls also hope to make it to states. Both of the basketball teams here at Countryside are teams to be proud of.

Farewell Favre zachSTEELE

staff writer

will argue that he is the greatest quarterback of all time, however he lacks the Superbowl rings of even younger quarterbacks like Tom Brady and his gunslinger throwing mentality often led to his downfall. While it is debatable if he is the greatest, there is no doubt he is the toughest, well respected, and admired quarterback of all time. Brett always left everything on the field, even with all the drama he brought when he took the pads off. Although it doesn’t seem like a fitting end to the legendary career of Brett Favre, whether he likes it or not, it eventually did have to end.

When looking over Brett Favre’s career, it’s hard not to notice the contrasts. He holds the record for most touchdowns thrown in a career, while also holding the record for most interceptions thrown. He played most of his career with the Green Bay Packers, just to turn around and play for the Packer’s divisional rival the Vikings. He is a Superbowl champion, but only once in his entire 20 year career. And of course, who could forget the numerous retirements, just to return to football months later. One thing is for sure though, Brett never keeps the sports world relaxed, that is until now. It seems at long last, Brett is calling it quits...and he is serious this time. When Brett finished the 2009 season, he was one play away from the Superbowl. Of course he carried on with his retire-unretire sequence, eventually returning to the Vikings with dreams of the Lombardi Trophy and encouragement from teammates. Well how did the 2010 season end for Brett? The Vikings were a disappointing 6-10, Brett had career lows in nearly every statistic, and Brett also racked up injury after injury ending his amazing consecutive starts record. That just touches the surface, Brett was involved in a sexual harasses ag im ment case with a Jets employee and played e l og go a huge role in the firing of former Vit: i d cre kings head coach Brad Childress. Brett to ho p announced his planned retirement after the final game of the season against the Lions, in which he didn’t even play in. So if this really is the end for Brett, what legacy has he left on football? Many

kelleyBUTTERFIELD

staff writer

Looking to improve on their record from last year, the wrestling team is fighting their way back into the rankings. There are about 20 new wrestlers this year and 11 of them have a good future in wrestling. There are 12 returning wrestlers from last year and some are battling for grades to qualify and compete. Some of the athletes participate in more than one sport though, and that can be a challenge. With Marquis Matt participating in football, he weighed in at 230 when wrestling season started. He dropped 40 pounds in 1 month and is currently wrestling in the 189 pound weight class. Matt says “I had to change my diet and run a lot! Everyone encouraged me and my coaches were proud.” Weight is just one of the many barriers that go with wrestling. There are benefits and drawbacks when it comes to wrestling. Sophomore, Justin Adriance says “You get physically fit but it sucks losing” There are many skills required in the sport as well. Adriance says “It requires a lot such as agility, strength, and cardio just to name a few. I would say my biggest dilemma with wrestling is trying to maintain a 2.0 grade point average to participate.” Some wrestlers are out this season because of grades but are working hard to get back into it. The team has improved their record to 10-7-1 overall. Charles McDaniel holds a 28-5 record, Ryan Hartman with a 25-3, and Andrew Mashburn having 21-10 record making the season look good so far. Having promising new wrestlers such as Tucker Shivers, improved wrestlers such as Tyrell Neal, female wrestlers such as Gabby Aguilar, and determined wrestlers such as Marquis Matt we are hoping for a good season this year and an even better one next year.

News Defining Beaut y meganMASON

editor-in-chief

High School more or less is breeding grounds for self-esteem issues – especially for the female population. Influenced by popular celebrities who always appear ready for a “photo-op” – although many don’t realize these celebrities have a full make-up and hair team prepping them every step of the way – girls often take to shielding themselves with a veil of makeup to cover perhaps less blemishes and more insecurities. For many teenage girls, makeup has become a crutch in surviving the harsh world of high school. Putting on makeup is no longer an option; suddenly freshman year comes around and it seems it’s a requirement to being considered normal. Girls that struggle with acne, scars, and other simple, superficial blemishes are condoned to wearing at least two layers of foundation lest they face the repercussions of social suicide. Aware of the pressure for girls to appear blemish-free and “beautiful” one-hundred percent of the time, one Texas high school decided to fight the c o n f o r m i t y. Colleyville Heritage High School, just west of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, has been recognized across the nation for their inspiring club, Defining Beauty. Founded by six upperclassmen who realized the necessity for girls to feel comfortable in their skin, the club was in part inspired photo credit commons.wikimedia. by the website Operation org and gettyimages.com Beautiful. One of the founders, junior Nina Smith told Star-Telegram of Fort Worth, “We’re not against wearing makeup, we're really against girls feeling like it's a shell to hide in." And with 183 members and growing, it’s obvious her peers possess the same beliefs. Above all, these numbers are quite substantial for a club that’s only been operating since mid-August; and reflect society’s desire for a new outlook on the pressure for young women to appear flawless. Club members come to school fresh-faced and make-up free every Tuesday,each wearing a simple shirt with the slogan “Defining Beauty; one girl at a time”. But these dedicated girls aren’t the only ones encouraging a natural look; boys at Colleyville Heritage have formed support groups to aid the cause. And neighboring schools have taken to the idea as well, many with plans of forming their own club in the near future. "The big message is that we just want to empower women to feel self-confident about themselves," said additional founder Lauren Gilby in an interview with ABC news. With numbers growing by the day, Defining Beauty is an outstanding club with an inspiring cause. Thanks to this group of motivational Texas teenagers, one day in the future girls may be less inclined to put on makeup than to do their homework.

Germs on the Prowl abbyMILLS

staff writer

All around us right now are tiny organisms and there is no escaping them. The common folk refer to them as germs. With germs, the phrase out of sight out of mind somewhat applies. We can’t see the microscopic creatures, but they are definitely there, throughout our day making negative impacts. Germs are what cause us to get colds, viruses, and infections. Are you aware of what is on the items you touch? It doesn’t come t o mind how many germs are still lingering around from the past person. Around our school there are many places that have a high population of germs waiting to latch photo credit blog.joeylombardi.com on and infect a host. The bathroom is one of the most obvious culprits of producing germs. The flushing of toilets cause’s germs to go airborne, then germy hands touch stall doors and bathroom passes, and finally sinks and cell phones receive a fresh blanket of infectious germs. But, it is well known that not all students take the time to wash

up before heading back to class. So those bathroom germs get a free ride to other parts of the school. Find yourself dozing off in class and using the desk as your personal pillow? You might want to think again because the classroom desks are loaded with germs. There is approximately 19 bacteria cells per square inch, and that is taking into consideration that the person before you didn’t sneeze all over the desk or use the restroom and return without washing his or her hands. When your head reaches the desk , you’re a u t o matically increasing your chances of getting sick. The germs have many chances to get inside your body through your mouth, nose, and ears, all the while you think your sneaking in a much needed cat nap. Other germ hot spots are earphones in the language learning lab, computer mouses in the computer lab, and vending machine buttons throughout the concourse. Germs can remain on the surface for many hours and given the right condition, days! Students use these common devices on a daily basis, class period after class period. The amount of transferring germs around school would make you think twice about touching doors and using the restroom. Helpful tips such as washing hands, sanitizing, and limiting contact with shared supplies around school can help you keep unwanted germs away.

Tips for Internet Safety zachSTEELE

staff writer

Millions of people go on the Internet everyday, to shop, chat, do research, and sometimes to just goof off. However, there is a very serious matter going on, that isn’t so laughable. Most activities done on the Internet require some personal information. Your name, your e-mail, your home address, and when it comes to purchases, your credit card information. Now these are all things we wouldn’t just give to anybody, but for some reason, have no problem typing in on the Internet. It’s common sense not to tell a complete stranger where you live, so why would you post it up on the Internet so everyone can see? Even worse, people obsessed with websites like Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube, pretty much accept anybody as a friend, giving strangers complete and easy access to personal information. Not to mention the scams taking over the Internet. Loads of pop-ups telling you that you have won some prize, and just need to fill out a small form, and next thing you know

your computer has a virus, and your e-mail is getting spammed like there’s no tomorrow. Worst of all, is when people give away their credit card numbers, trying to buy something online, when it’s just a trap. So what can you do to protect yourself from all this? For starters, only accept friend requests from people you can trust. We all want to look cool, and have large amount of friends on websites, but just accepting anybodies friend invite could put you in danger. Next, if something pops up on your screen, just exit out of it. No matter how tempting the prize is, it’s not worth the risk. When it comes to making online purchases, do a little research on the website your buying from. It only takes a moment, and it’s worth it if it keeps some stranger from going on a shopping spree with your money. Now don’t get the wrong idea, the Internet is great, but the bigger it becomes, the more people are going to exploit it. So next time you’re typing, make sure you are keeping you personal information to yourself.

News

Tucson Arizona Shooting katWILLIAMS

editor-in-chief

It was a normal Saturday for democratic congresswoman Gabriel Giffords. She was doing what people often complain politicians do not do; connecting with the people. Instead of sitting in her office or relaxing at home, Giffords was holding a public forum in front of a Walgreens in her district. People came to hear their representative speak. Among them a nine year old girl interested in politics and Gifford’s friend, republican Judge John Roll who came to simply say hi and thank you. Shortly after 10 a.m., a 22 year old man came and took the life of these three promising people as well as others, shooting 20 in total. It is one of the worst moments in politics as of late. There have only been five instances in history when a congressman was severely injured or killed by violence spanning from an 1838 duel to the shooting today. In the interest of being accessible to the public, politicians often deny the use photo credit healthrelatedinfos.com of security. This was no different with Giffords. The congresswomen did not take advantage of local police or other forms of security but it is the opinion of other politicians that increasing the security detail would not have changed the outcome of the event. When asked about this issue on Fox News, Speaker of the House John Boehner stated the following: “I think it’s also fair

to say that even if there had been a protective detail there, of these videos spouted anti-government banter and somewe do not believe it would have stopped this particular thing he called “New Currency.” Though none of these incident from occurring.” Boehner also said, in reference videos directly mention Giffords, the police and other offito the nature of a political job, “We’re out in the pub- cials are looking at them as insight into the man’s motives. It is important not to forget the heroes of that mornlic. We’re talking to our constituents, out talking to the ing. 74 year old Bill Badger American people. We have a seized Loughner, another very open society in America. hit Loughner with a folding There is risk with our job.” chair. 61-year old Patricia Jared Loughner is a name Maisch reached for a magathat will go down in Amerizine for the gun as he tried can history as nototirous like to reload. Dorwan Stodthat of James Earl Ray, John dard dove on top of his wife Wilkes Booth, or Eric Harof 15 years Mary and was ris and Dylan Klebold. The killed saving her. And who former Pima Community can forget the nine year old College student was asked to girl, Christina Taylor Green, leave school pending a mena baby born on 9-11 featal evaluation. The school retured in the book Faces of ports that Loughner exhibited Hope: Babies Born on 9/11. strange behaviour that led to This day will go down multiple confrontations with as a sour mark in Americampus police officers. He can history. January 8, had been denied by the milihese were the six victims of the Tucson, 2011 will be remembered tary and reportedly had an alArizona shooting. photo credit blackenterprise.com and so will the victims. ter adorned with skulls in his Jared Loughner, who apbackyard. It is also reported that he had met Giffords at her “Congress in Your Corner” peared in court on January 10th and 24th, is being repevent in 2007. She opened the floor to questioning and resented by Janet Clake and plead “not guilty.” ABC his inquiry did not receive a sufficient answer, at least in news reported that, “Every federal judge in the southern the eyes of Loughner. Ever since then, he held a grudge district of Arizona recused themselves from the case beagainst the congresswoman calling her “fake.” Youtube cause one of Loughner’s alleged victims was federal judge videos that Loughner had created were discovered. Most John Roll.” His next court date is set to be March 9th.

Seatbelt Safety Caring Cougars Lend a Hand Saves Students danaHARRIS

kelleyBUTTERFIELD

staff writer

Car accidents are very dangerous. Only six out of 35 people live during the deadly car accidents when thay are not wearing their seat belts. “It’s not cool and I don’t want to. Everybody has to die some day” said sophomore Ryan Hartnett. He does not wear his seat belt when he is a passenger in the car but does when he is driving. According to Buzzle.com, if you wear your seat belt you are 50% more likely to not have injuries. Mr. Bryant, Anatomy and Physiology teacher on the opposite end of this conflicting subject says, “Yes, I do wear my seat belt! It is the law. I even wear my seat belt in my motor home.” The only injuries you would have from wearing your seat belt are a few bruises and at worse, a broken collarbone where the seat belt locked and prevented you from flying through the window. A seat belt prevents you from being jerked to the side or to the front of the car in an accident. It will protect your brain, and heart from being seriously injured and prevent you from becoming brain dead or require a risky heart transplant. There are seat belt laws in all 50 states. The Florida Law Book says anyone under the age of 18 is required to wear their seat belt in a car. Seat belts are designed to protect you. That is why Toyota uses their seat belt statistics to make football gear safer. According to NHTSA.com, in 2008, seat belts saved more than 13,000 lives-enough to fill a large sports arena. “Basically, seat belts have what’s called a ‘pretentioner’ located down in the floor. It ‘locks’ the belt in place when the car feels certain movements, like an abrupt stop, or even taking a turn too fast. They are also wired to the car’s control unit that activates the air bags. It makes sure to lock the pretentioner before blowing the air bag. Airbags should be used with seat belts. Airbags deploy quickly (about 0.04 seconds) and with a lot of force. Seat belts help reduce the forward motion of the body. Everyone should wear a seat belt, always. I prefer to wear a seat belt while I’m testing cars at work. It holds me tighter to seat, which gives me more control of the car,” says Heather Lynch a Nissan’s test driver and engineer who gets paid to ensure that you are safe. Now that you have heard it from your classmates, statistics, and a professional will it influence you to stay safe and wear your seat belt? You want to be the 6th out of 35 people whos lives are saved during life threatening accidents. Start filling that sports arena NHTSA.com is talking about!

staff writer

Twenty-five percent of Pinellas County’s population consists of residents of the age of 65 or older. In Pinellas alone there are 300 assisted living facilities that hold 9000 residents. Many live alone and have few visitors. Hands that Care is a new club at Countryside High School. Two Seniors, Daniel Rojas and Madelyn Pandorf created the club. The club creates a partnership between students and the Senior Citizens. It fosters inter-generational friendships by teaching students how to communicate and how to relate to senior citizens. Hands that Care gives older residents a young face to look forward to. Hands that Care meets every Thursday after school. During the meetings members discuss which students are able to make the visits and which patients they will see. At the present time, the club members only go to Advanced Health and Rehab, a residential home and rehabilitation center. In the future, the club may add more Senior residential centers to their visits. In addition to scheduling and assigning visits, the club members create crafts for the patients they will be visiting. Past craft projects have included foam turkeys, throw blankets and cards. In the

future, the club would like to showcase the talents of their members singing, dancing, and acting abilities during scheduled visits. And the club would like to create a legacy for the residential home by interviewing each resident and documenting them into a scrapbook for others to see. The club visits about 40 patients at the Advanced Heath and Rehab one Wednesday and one Saturday each month and most are patients who need additional assistance. Each student has a minimum of two people who they visit. Club co-founder and vice president, Madelyn Pandorf said, “Visiting the patients makes me feel great. It fills me with happiness and I leave with a smile on my face. I look forward to the visits and so do the residents”. The patients adore the clubs visits especially since many of them don’t receive much company. They wait eagerly at the door of their room when they hear that the students are coming. Talking with the elders gives students the ability to care about someone other then themselves, to have patience and to listen and learn about what a lifetime of learning is all about. For more information about Hands That Care, contact Ms. Erickson in the guidance office. Club requirements include attending at least 70% of club meetings, a five dollar due, visiting the nursing home a minimum of five times, and staying once a month to make arts and craft projects.

Pawparazzi

A R.O.C.K.in’ teacher ajCABERTO

opinion/grub editor

Recognizing students is what our school is all about. They use everything from the R.O.C.K. award to the hall of fame wall so everyone will have their chance to shine. But what about the teachers? You know, the ones that have been teaching in this school since it was created. These teachers have been giving their one-hundred percent effort on the best way to educate the students. However, one teacher does above and beyond. He makes sure that all his students are filled with plenty of interesting historical information before the bell rings. From getting to school earlier than the other teachers, to his ultimate dedication to teaching American History; whether it be honors or AP, this teacher just does not want to be out-done by the other educators. He even has a great way to entertain his class during his lessons to prevent his students from falling asleep. This teacher is just a really hardworking person; a one-of-a-kind person that is hard to find. Are you ready to see what really goes on in that “historical” brain of his? “He’s hilarious! He’s amazing! His class is a lot of work but I enjoy it,” juniors Hannah Helms and Jordan Rodnizki said. These students are two of the top pupils in this teacher’s AP American History class. Yes, it is our favorite American History teacher, Mr. Scott Kitchen. Mr. Kitchen’s choice of career was not always to teach, in fact, he had always dreamed of becoming a doctor. Unfortunately, you do not get everything you want and he knows that; he knows that life should not

always be about taking risks. He was very practical, and chose the right path of becoming a teacher. Luckily, he loves everything about it. When asked what motivates him to get up early he happily responded, “Not hating the job, and having the chance of working with society’s future young adults.” He has also mentioned that as a teacher, he was happy to be teaching high school students rather than the younger levels of the education system. It is not only the Pawprint staff that thinks Mr. Kitchen should be acknowledged for his hardworking ways, but also his students. Kitchen has a unique srategy that he uses to teach yet entertain his students. Most of his students enjoys this; even junior Hannah Helms, who admitted that she used to hate teaching methods like his until Mr. Kitchen became one of her teachers. In his lectures he makes sure that his student are listening to him, and he accomplishes this by involving the students in his lessons; using sarcasm, ofcourse. An example would be telling one of his students that they look like a historical person in the text book, this of course would make his pupils laugh. All his students love the way he uses this method. Helms said, “it really helps me remember a lot.” “He is simply the best of the best,” said Rodnizki after asking why he thinks that Mr. Kitchen should receive some sort of “appreciation award.” Kitchen has created many teaching techniques that has helped both his AP and honors level class. If that is not what you call hard work then who knows what it could be?

MR. KITCHEN

photo credit www.appsumer.org

10 things you didn’t know about Mr. Kitchen 6. My grandfather almost

1. My favorite colors are

blue and orange. 2. I was national coach of the year for softball. 3. I’ve been teaching in this room for 32 years. 4. I like to watch jeopardy and play golf badly. 5. I saved Mr. Bryant’s life at Outback.

photo credit Hali Kudler

bought Clearwater beach. 7. I was run over by a dump truck when I was 2 years old. 8. I was on a cruise ship that ran aground. 9. My wife teaches here and my daughter goes here. 10. I’ve smuggled money behind the berlin wall.

What Countryside says about him... Blake Huber,

Mr. Angelo,

Junior

photo credit Haley Peters

“Though he calls me doofus and I respond to it, it is one of my favorite classes. It is one of the classes that I study for and enjoy. I love it, but don’t tell him that!”

Campus Monitor

Lori Boegershausen, Junior

“I like the fact he pokes fun at people and I can make fun of him as well... Which is kind of easy to do”

“I never saw anyone sit Indian style on a table to teach before. I always go in there and he is sitting like that.”

photo credit Haley Peters