Craze Issue Six: Transformation by Craze Magazine

cra

ze The Transformation Issue issue 6|volume 5|april 2014

table of

contents

CONTENTS AND CONTRIBUTORS

RECREATING THE QDOBA TACO BOWL

ISSUE INTRO: SUNSET

BECOMING THE YOU YOU WANT TO BE

ALTERED APPEARANCES

ASK A TEACHER

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS CLOSE

REOCCURING FASHION TRENDS

OMAHA’S NEW SPIN ON OLD FOOD

IMC INTERVIEWS

STREET STYLE

MAKING THE BEST OF DIVORCE

OVERCOMING YOUR SHYNESS

OLD VS. NEW MUSIC

SHOWS FOR YOUR NEXT BINGE WATCH

A PHOTO ESSAY ON LEAVING HOME

TIME LAPSE PHOTOGRAPHY

THE NEXT STEP FOR SENIORS

FEATURE: BECOMING A FAMILY

HOW TO MAKE YOUR ROOM AMAZING

MUSIC THROUGH THE AGES

CALENDAR

a note from the editors... s this issue finishes, there is one thing on all of our minds: the seniors. Craze’s staff and its readership have been home to some of the best people I have ever met, and this year’s seniors are no exception. They are the people who helped shape us. They’re our friends, our classmates, and, for freshman, the tall scary people you avoid in the hallways. I shudder to think of the half empty Social Studies IMC and all of the other places that will feel strange without the seniors in it. But this issue isn’t about mourning our loss. It’s about accepting change. For all of you that are leaving us, remember this: This is not just the end. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in your life and all of those other cliché things you’ll hear in the graduation speeches in a few weeks. For all those who they are leaving behind: It’s time to step up. To be role models for the kids who will be coming up to the high school next fall, to keep our sports teams successful, and our publications something that we can be proud of. We know that we here at Craze have been proud to be a part of your high school experience. Hopefully you’re glad we were too.

FACEBOOK

8-TRACKS

transformation

ISSUE INTRO

CONTRIBUTORS

Contributors to this issue... Editor-In-Chief: EVA PHILLIPS

ABEGALE HEADLEE

Managing Editor: LIA HAGEN

JENNA HYNEK

Design Editor: ALLIE LAING

CASEY ARRITT

Photo Editor: ALLY STARK

MADDY LOOKE

CAMILE MESSERLEY

JAKE LARSEN

KIRSTEN MCCORMACK

AUDREY MCCANN

ESTELLA FOX

GRACE WOLFE

TOMMY HUERTER

SARAH LEMKE

LILLI MARVIN

JAYLEE JOHNSON

ALADDIN TEES

SCREEN PRINTING AND EMBROIDERY

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transformation

ISSUE INTRO

SUNSETS

Transformation PHOTOS AND DESIGN BY KIRSTEN MCCORMACK

To be honest, I don’t particularly feel like giving you a lecture. I know that’s what this theme calls for: long rants about how change is the only constant, debates on whether or not people can really change, and cheesy stories about miraculous revelations and other life-changing events. I just kind of want to look at the sunset. Because this issue? It isn’t about any

of that. It’s about finding the beauty in movement, and so that’s what we should do. Take your time. Enjoy all the little transformations you see around you. Because April showers don’t just bring flowers, they bring AP tests and finals and more stress than we really know what to do with, and it’s hard to step away from that. Try. I promise you. It’ll be worth it.

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SNAPSHOTS

body modifications

BODY MODS Don’t tell your parents. STORY AND DESIGN BY LIA HAGEN, PHOTOS BY ALLY STARK his winter, I learned to hate my old hair. It hadn’t been cut since seventh grade and required minimal effort every morning. The sight of it started to drive me crazy. My hair became a symbol of all I wanted to change. The past curled and flowed down my shoulders. Split ends reminded me of all I had ever wanted to leave. It pulled me through the door of the local beauty school, seeking the cheapest change possible. My hair stylist was a silly girl. She was a student there with a bad dye job and thin, wispy bangs. When she came to help me, I pondered asking for someone else. I can still feel the clench of my stomach, the utter panic I felt as she pulled out the scissors. I never thought about whether or not I would look pretty. All I thought about was change. After I cut my hair, I went to a store and wasted all of my money on makeup. I had a clear image in my head at the time of who I was and who I wanted to be. I wanted to be the kind of girl who wore her beliefs on her sleeve. It only lasted a few weeks, but I don’t regret the decision. In fact, there’s something about the makeup’s mere presence in my medicine cabinet that comforts me. If I want to be someone different, if I want to feel something new, I can pull it out. We’d all like to say that we don’t care about how we look, but there is a power to our appearance. Everyone has something they want to convey with their outfit every morning. Don’t be embarrassed of it. Don’t worry about what other people have to say. The way you present yourself to the world is important. If you’re looking at yourself in the mirror and feeling unhappy, there’s something wrong. So make the change. Learn to love the way you look. Keep your makeup in the medicine cabinet and a smile on your face. If you don’t like it, don’t worry. Hair grows back; piercings close up. You are the constant. t

STUDENTS FEATURED (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): FERNANDO VARGAS, ARADIA MCCLEAN, REHTAEH MEEKS, TANNER PIPER, KENDRA WINTER, ANDY PINTADO, HALIEGH BRINSON

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SNAPSHOTS

body modifications

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SNAPSHOTS

body modifications

transformation

chuck close

ART

the blank canvas Students create Chuck Close inspired artwork story and design by allie laing, photos by ally stark

1 he hours pass by. As it nears midnight, you’re still sitting in front of a canvas over half the size you are. Stress takes over your body when you realize you are two hundred squares behind for tomorrow’s deadline. You try to focus and work diligently, but at the same time you take your time to perfect your painting with each brush stroke. You mix more paint, wash your brushes, and continue to work while casually glancing at the clock. For the past two months, 32 Drawing and Painting 2 students, including myself, have hauled around a three foot canvas in a desperate attempt to meet painting deadlines. Our class created a piece of art based on the art of Chuck Close, an artists from Monroe, Washington. Our portrait sizes were larger than life. How hard can it be, right?

When the project was first being introduced to our class, Chuck Close quickly became an inspiration to me. He has the ability to create some of the most incredible portraits I have ever seen by building up values and balancing his use of colors. During his career, Close suffered from a spinal rupture and was nearly left paralyzed. He is now permanently confined to a wheel chair. Painting had transformed him into the person he was and still is to this day, and leaving that behind wasn’t an option. Despite his health condition, he continued to paint. His hand no longer had the strength to move, so Close taped a paintbrush to his wrist. Through countless brush strokes, his artwork has become more abstract and incredible than ever. Close’s portraits are nine feet tall, three times the size our the ones Westside artists are making. Each student

4 artist selected a photo they wanted to paint. Most chose to do a self portrait. The only instruction or advice we were given was to portray our own individual style through our art. Some students took on a realistic approach and used a neutral color palette; others crosshatched or dry brushed with more vivid colors. After countless stressful nights of staying up late to finish all 864 one inch gridded squares, seeing everyone standing next to their final product showed me how each person has their own vision of what art is. We all started out with the same materials: a canvas, paintbrushes, paint base tones of yellow, red, blue, and white, and only a photograph with a grid to go off of. With that, we were on our own. Yet none of our end products looked anything alike. We all developed our own styles as artists. To me, that is one of the most

beautiful things about a painting. When you are in a room full of people assigned the same thing as you are, no one has the same approach to it that you do. We all start with a blank canvas, and we all have the ability to transform it into something real, something uniquesomething beautiful. t

Student Work 1 sean ackerman, senior 2 lexis garza, junior 3 hope lawlor, junior 4

allie laing, junior

david basile, junior

lauren reynolds, junior

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Shake it up Classic foods make a comeback STORY BY JENNA HYNEK, DESIGN BY CASEY ARRITT, PHOTOS BY ESTELLA FOX

here are some foods that stick with us throughout our lives. The smells of hot dogs and pretzels immediately hit you as you walk into the baseball stadium, the belches of diehard fans lingering in the air. Once again it is Monday morning, and the only thing you can focus on is your momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pancakes staring back at you, waiting to be devoured. We have all spent hours around a crackling campfire with our friends,

sharing stories and drinking a iced cola on a warm summer night. These foods are the classics that we could never give up. Still, now that we are continuously starved teenagers, our taste buds are craving something new. Some restaurants have improved their recipes like weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve improved our pallet. The classics are still the classics, but now they have a new spin to keep them on our plates.

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local restaurants

revamped

Breakfast

Amato’s

LOCATION: 6405 Center St, Omaha, NE 68106 HOURS: Tuesday - Friday: 6:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Saturday - Sunday: 7 a.m .- 1 p.m. A WELL-KNOWN LOCAL RESTAURANT THAT TAKES ITALIAN COOKING TO A NEW LEVEL.

he small Italian bistro Amato’s looks strangely out of place among sky scraping apartment buildings and shopping centers. Amato’s serves quality classic food such as Pasta Marinara and Sweet Roasted Peppers. However, among the originals, there’s one breakfast item that stands out: Ricotta Pancakes. Without even knowing about what ricotta was, I gave it

a try. The unusual cheese ingredient changed the flavor of the pancake and gave the simple breakfast food life. It made it stand out when compared to the mixes you buy at the supermarket. The typical pancakes have a new taste and melt in your mouth, giving you a reason to come back down to Amato’s.

Lunch

Chicago Dawg House

LOCATED: 3157 Farnam St, Omaha, NE, 68131 HOURS: Sunday: 11 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday: 10:30 am - 9 pm A MID-TOWN EATERY THAT HITS HOTDOGS ONE OUT OF THE PARK.

atching baseball in the summer heat with friends, rooting for the home team, and eating ungodly amounts of food is one of the greatest American pastimes. Chicago Dawg house owner Kelly Keegan embraces this baseball culture and combined all of those things into one restaurant. Along the walls are original seats from Rosenblatt Stadium that make the restaurant feel like a real stadium. “I wanted the ball park theme,” Keegan said. “I wanted you to feel like you were at Wrigley Field.” This sport themed restaurant really captures the iconic feel of baseball and its most popular food, hotdogs. However, it isn’t full of your typical stadium food. There’s a variety from Italian Sausage to corn

dogs. Somewhere in between those two, Chicago Dawg House hit a home run with its signature dish. It may seem like an average concession stand hot dog, but it is refreshed with seven ingredients. These include: two tomato slices, a kosher pickle spear, and a dash of celery salt all laying on a poppy seed bun. However, that isn’t their only delicious dish. Every dish we tried tasted delicious. Every bite you take is a new flavor, and one hot dog seems like it’s made of 12 different combinations of flavor. One minute you’re tasting the crunch of a kosher pickle, and the next you’re chewing a juicy tomato. Just be sure to follow the number one Chicago rule: don’t add ketchup to your hot dog!

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local restaurants

revamped

Drinks

The Kitchen Table

LOCATED: 1415 Farnam St, Omaha, NE, 68102 HOURS: Sunday: 10 am - 2pm, Monday - Friday: 11 am - 8 pm THIS URBAN BARN OFFERS DOZENS OF UNIQUE CHOICES.

ason jars hang from the ceiling, and plants grow from the walls. The wood floors creak beneath your feet. It isn’t a barn, but a small restaurant in downtown Omaha. You’re greeted by a warm smile and a cheerful hello from owner and manager Jessica Duggan. Duggan explained the wood tables were from a cousin’s barn that was being torn down. The tables and counters are not the only things that are original in the restaurant. The Kitchen Table offers homemade soda in three flavors: vanilla creme, lemon

lime citrus, and ginger ale. The sodas are made from a natural syrup that the employees make themselves. “We wanted to serve everything the best way we can,” Duggan said. “We decided to do them by scratch with simple syrups.” Though I was somewhat skeptical about abandoning my traditional Dr. Pepper obsession, I completely fell in love with the lemon lime soda. It was refreshing and different from your typical brand name drinks. The vanilla creme and ginger ale are both tasty, and, of course, all three are served in the iconic mason jar.

Dinner

Voodoo Taco

LOCATED: 5402 N 90th St, Omaha, NE, 68134 HOURS: Sunday: 11 am - 9 pm, Monday - Saturday: 11 am - 11 pm DESPITE THE SINISTER NAME, VOODOO TACO OFFERS A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE.

here’s a neon sign that glows subtly behind black lettering. Inviting you inside is an eerie doll face hanging above the door. Hidden behind the counter in average street clothing is manager and chef Jared Birchard. He was one of the pair who came up with the theme of the restaurant. “We figured everybody could go out and get ground beef anywhere,” Birchard said. “We wanted to do something more modern and contemporary.” Voodoo Taco takes a sinister spin on average tacos by adding sauces that contain peppers from chipotle to trinidad scorpion. They’ll scorch your mouth from the

heat and have you running for the milk jug. Items on the menu such as the Raspberry Scorpion sauce rank a five out of five on the intensity meter for hotness, and I know from personal experience that you’ll be in tears by the time you’re paying the check. However, the menu does offer less sizzling options like a surprisingly tasty spaghetti taco. There are exotic choices, including an alligator taco, made from alligator sausage with a Portuguese red pepper sauce on top. Voodoo Taco is a great place to hit up that isn’t your typical Taco Bell. The variance will keep you coming back for more.

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FASHION

STREET STYLE

On the Street

pretty in pastels Spring has indeed sprung. Students mirror the lighter weather with these bright hues. Check out these pictures of kids getting into the swing of spring. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sure to be inspired to lighted up your wardrobe for the weather.

story and design by grace wolfe, photos by all staff photographers

Featured 1. AYA ABDULRAZIG 2. DASHAUN O’NEILL 3. HARPER NEWELL 4. MADDISON VESLEY 5. LAURA SCHENKEN 6. EMMA LLOYD 7. HANNAH WARREN 8. DEACIA NEELON 9. BRYCE HARVEY-SIMI 10. JOSEPH CARL 11. JAMES BUCKLEY

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opinion

social anxiety

Uh, Hi Guys. This is my article Overcoming social anxiety and shyness story by jake larsen design by abegale headlee

s I was growing up, my overly hyper personality was never very popular with my peers, but little by little I was talking less and becoming much more shy. Once middle school started, it was a rare occasion if I said a word. During group projects, I seldom talked to the people I didn’t know. During a project in American History in eighth grade, I was put into a group full of future high school athletes, cheerleaders, etc. In other words people I believed were much better than me at everything. Throughout the project I did very little at all besides the work I was assigned to do. On the last day we had all finished our work early, so everyone(like anyone else would) in my group conversed with each other. Well everyone in my group except me. Eventually someone figured out that I was in fact still in their group and

asked me “Why do you never talk?” How would I respond to that? “Oh sorry, I didn’t know what I was supposed to do”? Not only that, this was the first day that I thought that my shyness could bring more harm than good. It came to a point where I was fed up with myself and my negativity and depression. The best solution was to change myself for the better. During my ongoing battle, I’ve learned a lot about myself, others and social anxiety. I’ve learned I’m (obviously)not the only person with social anxiety and I kept track of what helped me overcome my shyness and compiled a list of many tips I believe can help those who feel shyness can take too much control. BE YOURSELF AND DON’T CARE WHAT OTHERS THINK OF YOU

Okay, I’m apologizing now for this horribly clichéd tip, but it seriously works. During middle school I almost always chose to stay quiet and hope people would eventually notice me. While I made friends during this time, nobody ever seemed interested in knowing about me. Why was this? The whole time I was being quiet, I appeared to be a dark cloud to everyone. It was one thing to be a quiet person, but I never wanted to talk to anyone and a lot of kids thought I was just stuck up. In other words, my amazing strategy backfired pretty bad. So what made me learn what the true way to meet new people was? After making show band, early in my sophomore year I went to camp Kitaki for the show choir camp for ATSC. I met a kid who taught me a lot before I ever talked to him. The

kid I met was was incredibly outgoing and was the least bit trendy. He did his own thing, didn’t care what others thought of him, and tons of people respected him for that. My fellow band member taught me that just by being yourself more and more people will notice you and like you for who you are. What if someone doesn’t like your personality? Then you don’t let that person get to you. I know it’s very difficult to not let someone like that get to your head, but not everyone’s going to like you. If you remember that, your openness and general happiness will be much higher than it used to be. Trust me, I’ve learned from experience.

Doing the little things for people take you a long way in getting recognition from others. Just doing one good thing can change the opinion somebody has on you. Whenever the opportunity appears, do what you can to make someone think highly of you, and there’s a lot of those opportunities.

He is very successful at his job and is respected and befriended by many. I always thought he was an outgoing person. Wow was I wrong. While my dad still struggles a little today with shyness, he has improved greatly since he was my age. Like I mentioned earlier, I would have never guessed that he too was not very outgoing during his years. Learning his story was a big confidence booster for me. I also learned my dad wasn’t the only one to overcome severe problems with shyness(again, a pretty obvious statement). Celebrities such as Ricky Williams, Jim Carrey and Johnny Carson all put in a lot of work Having faith in yourself to overcome your problems is an important universal rule. If you believe you can overcome your problem, you can. If you don’t believe you can, then you won’t. The more confident you are the quicker you can overcome your problems. If the celebrities I mentioned earlier were able to change their lives and become as successful as they were, I don’t know why you can’t either.

DON’T LOSE CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF

DO WHAT YOU LOVE OR FIND SOMETHING YOU’RE GOOD AT

The day I found out I had social anxiety, I broke. I thought my only option was to give up. Eventually my dad heard about the news, and the next day on the way to school he tried to talk to me about my social anxiety. “Jake, mom was talking to me about your problem with shyness at school...”. “Dear God, here we go” I thought to myself. I was ready to get some class A dad advice like “You really need to man up”. They way my dad finished his sentence was a way I was not ready to hear. “I know exactly how you feel.” He ended up telling me about his trouble with his shyness during high school was absolutely no different from mine. What was strange to me was that I would never guess that my dad had social problems growing up.

It seems strange how this can help out with social anxiety, but it could be the most important piece of advice i’ll give. I often found doing nothing but staring at a wall. I felt that I couldn’t do anything. One night I came to the realization that instead of sitting and doing nothing, I needed to motivate myself and do dig myself out of the hole I was in. Doing something I liked got my mind focused on more positive things. Using my love for tennis, music, humor and writing, I was able to make the school tennis team, CJB and ATSB and Craze. In each of the four groups I met new people who I could relate to as I was able to connect to them with similar interests. Almost all the

BE A GOOD KID!

people I’ve met that have encouraged me to conquer my social anxiety I have met in one of the four groups i am apart of. Find something you like to do, and use it to meet people. There are tons of clubs at the school and throughout the area you can join, for whatever it is you like to do. Get yourself involved! If that one thing you like to do doesn’t have a club or group for it somewhere close by(which I doubt will be the case), use what you enjoy doing to get your mind off whatever is bothering you. Contrary to popular belief, I am not a world class psychologist, so reading this article won’t immediately cure you. You have to put effort into following these steps and be patient, as results show after months or even years. These are just some of the steps that worked for me. If they don’t work for you, just know i’m far from being your only hope for solving your social problems. There are plenty of counselors you can talk to and tons of resources online. This was not a one man job for me, as I talked to a counselor, and got motivation after learning about celebrities who also battled social anxiety and difficulties with social interaction. I was quite happy to see that former Miami Dolphin Ricky Williams went from having severe social anxiety to having a football highlight reel so dirty that it’s listed as NSFW. If you really think it’s necessary to talk to me, go right ahead. I’ll find plenty of time to help you out. The only place I recommend you don’t look for help is Web M.D. After my diagnosis of social anxiety, Web M.D. let me know I only had a week to live because social anxiety was rotting my soul. From what I’ve learned, social anxiety doesn’t rot your soul, so there’s nothing to worry about. The only thing that matters is how much will you let social anxiety control your life. Will you let it?

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opinion

LONELY GUY Because talking to people is hard 1. STORY OF A LONELY GUY // BLINK-182 2. HIGH ANXIETY // SUICIDE MACHINES 3. BETTER OFF DEAD // NEW FOUND GLORY 4. WHY CAN’T WE BE FRIENDS? // SMASH MOUTH 5. BLOOD ON THE GROUND // INCUBUS 6. THE I ROC Z SONG // THE HIGH SPEED SCENE 7. BE MYSELF // LINKIN PARK 8. EVERYBODY’S BETTER // MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES 9. LITTLE THINGS // GOOD CHARLOTTE 10. UNWELL // MATCHBOX 20

social anxiety

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the new

transformation

entertainment

if you like...

REVAMPED TV story by grace wolfe, design by lilli marvin

It’s a pastime older than the sticky pop can sitting in the back of your fridge, something that even the most committed studier indulges in every once in a while. That’s right, it’s television. T.V. has evolved since the days of black and white boxes. Still, however advanced technology is, the objective is still the same: to entertain and move audiences. In the beginning, television was an escape from the hardships of life. It focused on light-hearted topics without

ever touching on the heavy stuff. As pop culture boomed, so did the themes of T.V. shows. Now we have a wide range of genres to accompany every emotion. With the conveniences of the Internet, anyone with a Netflix account has access to hundreds of movies and shows from any time period. There are many goladen shows, old and new alike, and the transformation television has gone through is evident in any show you could watch.

If you like... Supernatural

When I began writing this, I had to take deep breaths just to control myself. My love of “The X-Files” (1993-2001) began when I started watching the series on Netflix after winter break. I thought it would be a nice little show. Wrong. My grades at the beginning of the quarter dropped because I had to go home and watch Special FBI Agents Mulder and Scully. Having religiously watched the show “Supernatural” (2005-present) prior

to my “X-Files” adventure, I noticed many similarities between the two. On “Supernatural,” brothers Sam and Dean Winchester travel across the country fighting ghosts, demons, angels, and other beings that lurk in the dark. There are even some “Supernatural” episodes that have exactly the same plot as an “X-Files” episode. Both keep a consecutive mythology throughout the entire series. “The X-Files” is devoted to revealing government

conspiracies to the public, and “Supernatural” aims to stop both demons and angels from taking over the world. The exciting and unpredictable plots of science fiction shows make them addicting to watch, and these two are prime examples of good television.

Try...

The X Files 29

If you like...

American horror story

To put it simply, both of these shows make me poop my pants in fear. While “American Horror Story” (2011-present) is much more grotesque, “The Twilight Zone” (1959-1964) has a sort of Stanley Kubrick-psychological scariness that chills you to the core. Both are anthology series. “The Twilight

Zone” changes plots every episode, while American Horror Story transitions every season. “The Twilight Zone’s” episode topics can range from aliens and serial killers all the way to deadly magic. However, if you are looking for a more in-depth storyline, go with “American Horror Story.” Though there may not be as

many different categories of horror in American Horror Story, each season features many scares and even includes social issues like race and gender. Both series are located on Netflix if you’re in the mood for a summer binge watch, but make sure to watch them with the lights on.

Twilight zone

Try...

If you like...

Modern Family

From West Philadelphia born and raised to... a comfy suburb in Los Angeles? Modern Family (2009-present), the Emmy-winning comedy, tells the story of a–you guessed it–modern family. From the simpleton dad to the highstrung uncle, every character has their own quirks and place in the

family. For decades the primary thread of American television has centered around goofy families like this one. For example, the iconic Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996) stars a young Will Smith living with his wealthy Aunt and Uncle in Bel Air, California.

While Fresh Prince (like any ‘90s sitcom) is a bit slapstick-y, it still holds valuable lessons that are sure to leave a sweet tear in your eye.

Try...

Fresh prince of bel-air

If you like...

House Of cards

When Netflix began airing original series last year, I was skeptical. How good could something produced by a website be? Boy, do I stand corrected. A prime example is the show “House of Cards” (2013-present). Starring the always-spectacular Kevin Spacey as a shifty political candidate, “House of Cards” is a

gritty political drama smoothed over with an amazing script. The West Wing also gives us a look into (what we assume) is the life of politics. The West Wing follows the president and his political staff dealing with the main issues that arise when protecting the country. These shows will make you slam your hand down in surprise as the

next secret is exposed. All in all, I wouldn’t mess with the characters in either of these dramas. Their quick wits and smooth words could intimidate anyone, and the great writing will send shivers down your spine.

The west wing

Try...

If you like...

Saturday Night live

“Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” If you’re like my family, your Saturdays are spent on the couch watching the best comedic artists make a fool of themselves. For decades, the comedy show “Saturday Night Live” has been displaying new talent and hosting celebrity guest stars. Complete with a musical performance, it’s no wonder SNL

has lasted over 30 years. So what do you do if you’ve somehow already seen every episode of “Saturday Night Live”? Well, that comedy thirst can be quenched by watching “The Carol Burnett Show” (19671978). “The Carol Burnett Show” revolutionized comedy, and it significantly influenced “Saturday Night Live”. Think of the funniest ladies on SNL (Kristen Wiig, Tina

Fey) and multiply that by 10. That’s Carol Burnett. Most shows are full of drama, which can get exhausting. Luckily, Saturday Night Live and Carol Burnett have kept us laughing for years, providing a breath of fresh air from the stress of television.

Try...

The carol burnett show

transformation

snapshots

time lapse

capturing the speed of light Bringing darkness to life with time lapse photography design amd photos by kirsten mccormack

transformation

feature

adoption

BECOMING A FAMILY Freshman’s experiences with adoption story and design by lia hagen, photos by estella fox

he music plays, and the young girl turns again. Her blond curls spin around her, and her sister, Sarah, laughs from her spot off camera. The song is “Best of Both Worlds,” a theme made famous by a twirl more graceful than this elementary school student’s. Her clothes are too big for her because, naturally, they

T 36

are not hers. They are her sister’s; for a few minutes, she is the MiniMe so many older siblings have dreamed of. It’s a familiar scene to all of us who grew up with sisters. The playful teasing, the elaborate re-enactments- they’re a part of the fabric of our childhoods. For freshman Stephanie Wheeler,

however, these were new experiences. Stephanie spent the first seven years of her life living with one sibling: her brother, John. She had her own space and plenty of opportunities to be alone. When they sat in the car together, she could have a seat between them. It was not until her parents’ deaths

in 2006 that their life changed dramatically. Fortunately, Stephanie’s extended family decided to take on the responsibility of raising her and her brother. Her aunt and uncle took her and her brother into their home, introducing her to a whole new life with her cousins: the Wheelers. “Right off the bat, they started treating me and John just like they treated their other kids,” Stephanie said. Still, despite the Wheelers’ best efforts, it was clear that everything was not the same in the lives of Stephanie and her brother. For the first time in her life, she had four siblings. Now she just had to get used to everything that came with

One day, after Stephanie got on their nerves, she found herself going into hiding. It was morning, just before school. Normally, she would leave for the bus stop with her siblings at around this time. This time, they left without her. It was silly, older siblings trying to teach their bratty little sister a lesson. She didn’t realize they had left until after they were already gone. Panicked, she headed towards the bus. She got to the bus stop in time, and today it reminds her of the times she and her siblings didn’t always get along. Still, as they grew up and got used to each other, those times became less and less significant. Her siblings became a key part of

it was not until she was twelve that she was officially adopted. It was then that she made the choice to refer to her Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike by new names - Mom and Dad. “They told me that I didn’t have to if I didn’t want to, like I could still call them Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike,” Stephanie said. “[...] When I was younger, [...] whenever I referred to them as my aunt and uncle rather than just my parents, I would always have to explain it. [...] It’s just easier to call them my mom and dad because then I don’t have to explain it to every single person that I talk to.” Stephanie never felt conflicted, never worried that she was disrespecting her biological parent’s

“I FEEL LIKE IT DEFINITELY CHANGED MY LIFE. I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOU CHANGES YOUR LIFE.” -Stephanie Wheeler

them. “At the beginning it was sort of weird, knowing that there would almost always be another person in the room wherever you are,” Stephanie said. “I [had already] spent a lot of time with them [...], but it was weird being with them all the time.” It was more than just getting used to their presence. It was also getting used to each other’s personality quirks and growing to love all of the little things that drive us crazy about our siblings. “I was really annoying when I was little, so I had a lot more people telling me that I was annoying,” Stephanie said. “I guess I probably got on their nerves more than they got on mine.”

her life. Her entire new family did. They helped her grow and change, to become a new person. “It’s like growing up in two different lives,” Stephanie said. “I would’ve grown up a lot differently with divorced parents then I would have with five siblings, people to show me what I’m supposed to do and how I’m supposed to act. [They are] like role models. I would’ve been a completely different person.” Her siblings were great role models for Stephanie, the youngest of the group, but they were not the only family members that she gained. She also gained two additional parents. That’s not to say the change was immediate. Though her parents died when she was seven years old,

memory. “All that really mattered to me was that I know that they’re not replacing my mom and dad,” she said. And she does know. She has no way of really knowing how different her life would be if she still lived with her biological family, if she’d never made Hannah Montana music videos or hid instead of going to school. But she can know how important it is that she experienced both of these families. “It’s not always on my mind, so sometimes I forget it,” Stephanie said. “I feel like it definitely changed my life. I feel like everything that happens to you changes who you are. [...] I wouldn’t be the same person today if it never happened.”

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inspiration web

music

kanye west

lady gaga

a tribe called quest nas jayz wu-tang clan

david bowie akon madonna queen elton john

2pac snoop dogg donny hathaway ice-t

stevie wonder ice cube dr. dre cameo

james brown bob dylan

prince

led zeppelin the supremes hall&oats

the who jimi hendrix the rollingstones

sly&the family stone joni mitchell santana

muddy waters bo diddley

paul mccartney

marvin gaye

johnny cash

paul simon hank williams

john lee hocker

hank williams

everly brothers the beatles

t-bone walker

frank sinatra ray charles smokey robinson louis armstrong nat king cole duke ellington

buddy holly elvis presley chuck berry fats domino b.b. king jimmy reed ike turner

*obviously all of these bands have listened to and been inspired by more than this limited list.

nothing is original The evolution of music throughout time story by estella fox, design by eva phillips *source: shmoop.com

I remember the first day I got my guitar. There I was, 8-year-old me, struggling to finger an E chord on an acoustic guitar about the size of my body. After a frustrating 20 minutes, I set it down. The next day, I walked in on my brother effortlessly playing “Twist and Shout” by the Beatles on MY guitar. Being the jealous younger sibling that I was, I ran to my mom to complain. She told me that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. That made my blood boil. Wasn’t that just a justification for him copying me? In hindsight, she was definitely more right than I thought. As babies, we learn by example. We imitate everything to survive and

communicate. The primary example of this is how we learn to communicate. Language is solely based on copying. The words we learn aren’t original, but the way we string them together becomes a gateway for new interpretation and inspiration. The basis of communication forces us to construct new things from our interpretations, and art is the same way. Hardly any ideas just spring up by themselves. Behind the blank canvas in front of us lies the absorbed inspiration of every single thing we have ever liked. Even the artists that seem the most original got inspiration from somewhere. David Bowie, the world-renowned musician especially known for his uniqueness, said, “The only

art I’ll ever study is stuff that I can steal from.” When artists soak up any form of art that spoke true to them, the compilation of inspired work that is produced is completely authentic. As independent film director Jim Jarmusch said, “Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent.” In this music web, we wanted to show the interconnectivity of artists and how their unique sound has been inspired by music from generations before them. While I was angry at my brother for ‘copying’ me, his imitation of artists he admired led to the discovery of his own musical talents. He wasn’t the first musician to do this, and he certainly won’t be the last.

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FOOD

taco bowl

Spicing up the kitchen Craze staff takes on taco bowls story by estella fox, design and photos by abegale headlee

Honestly, is there anything more rewarding than a taco bowl from Qdoba after a long school day? While they are a delicious spin on your conventional hard shell taco, these salads do come at a price. We decided to make our own, cutting down on money and using ingredients you could find in your house.

Eat ade em

taco bowls

hom

instructions:

ingredients:

Tortilla: Take one 12-cup muffin tin and turn it upside down. Then, arrange one taco sized tortilla in between 4 cups to create a bowl. Bake at 375 for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

2 tomatoes

Lettuce: Chop up 1 cup of lettuce.

1 head of lettuce 2 cans of black beans 2 cups of white rice 1 pound of ground beef 6 tortillas 2 avocados 3 squeezed limes 1/2 cup of cilantro 1 taco seasoning packet 1 jar of salsa 1 block velveeta cheese

Queso: Take 2 cups of Velveeta cheese and put it on a sauce pan over medium heat. Once it has melted, add 1/2 cup of your favorite salsa and stir well. Meat: Take 1 pound of ground meat and put it in a pan over medium heat. Add 1 taco seasoning packet and follow the directions on there Guacamole: Cut up 2 ripe avocados and add them to a bowl. Then, take 3 tablespoons of cilantro, 1/2 of a lime, 1/3 cup of green salsa, and 1/2 diced tomato, and add it to the avocado. Combine well Salsa: Use your favorite salsa! (We suggest Pace)

Beans: Rinse 2 cans of Bushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s black beans. Place them in a sauce pan over medium heat, and add 1/4 of an orange. Stir until heated through. Rice: Follow the instructions on the back of the rice bag to cook 2 cups. Once cooked, add 1/2 of a lime and 2 tablespoons of cilantro and stir to combine.

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how to

GLORY days. Being the teenager Hollywood promised youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be STORY AND DESIGN BY LIA HAGEN

glory days

eing 16 years old was supposed to solve all of my problems. A part of me thought of it like some magical key, a password to a door you hadn’t known existed. You turn 16, and your life is cool. Boom. There was just something so special about that age. I thought that when you were 16, you could do anything you wanted. To a ten year old me, it was the epitome of freedom. My adolescence was all about achieving the ideal, about having best friends and a life worth writing about. I desperately wanted to have the adventures I’d been reading about since I first bought a novel. I would run my fingers over the spines of books, breathe in their words, and imagine myself pressed inside of the pages. I pictured running around with my friends at midnight. We would have deep conversations and totally random adventures. We’d eat tacos in parking lots and meet cute people. Maybe we’d even get to kiss them. I was ten years old and creating an image of my glory days. As it turned out, things didn’t work out quite as I expected them to. My friend groups splintered and changed, first in middle school and then in high school. People changed. I changed. Life got hard. It wasn’t the romanticized, fun version of a hard life either. It wasn’t beautiful, dark, and mysterious. It was just kind of bad. I was 16 years old and miserable. The only reason I was up at midnight was to work on homework. Upset with my friends and bored out of my mind, nothing was going as planned. Worst of all, I still couldn’t drive. For the first time in my life, there was no magic key to look forward to. There was no secret password to make everything alright. High schoolers have all been promised an incredible four years. TV has taught us that these are the best times in our lives, and that we must live them to the fullest or else be considered a failure. For most of us, this feels wildly unobtainable. Let’s face it. We’re boring people. We get stuck in ruts. We can’t find ways to think outside the box, whatever that means. But that doesn’t mean we have to take the boredom lying down. I know that I didn’t.

I didn’t care about random adventures or kissing cute people anymore. All I wanted was to be out of my rut. All I wanted was to be happy. Somehow, some way, I was able to. I was able to escape my old patterns, to drag myself out of my rut. My life still isn’t perfect. It’s hard, and it sucks a lot of the time. But I’m living it the way I always wanted to. Happily. Wildly. Actively. I’m not an expert, but I do think I can help. After all, we could all use a little help shaking things up every once in a while.

STEP ONE: ADMIT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM No one wants to admit that their life is not working out the way we wanted it to. We all like to think that we’re the exception to the rule, the one interesting person in a sea of the monotonous. Here’s the thing: we’re not. All of us get stuck in ruts. All of us have a hard time connecting with others sometimes. You have to be willing to try new things if you want to transform your life. New things are scary, and they’re hard. They require you to leave your comfort zone. The important thing to remember is that your comfort zone is part of the problem. It’s holding you back, and you have to break it if you want things to change.

STEP TWO: I THINK YOU SHOULD SEE OTHER PEOPLE Listen: if you’re stuck in a rut, your friends probably are too. It’s rare that you’re the one boring person in your friend group. Chances are, you’re all spending your nights at home in front of the TV. I’m not telling you to dump your friends or anything. I’m just telling you to branch out. If your friends are also interested in mixing things up, then invite them to come with you. Making new friends exposes you to completely new activities. One of my best friends in the world only became my best friend in the months after I turned 16. I had always vaguely known her through mutual friends, but I never took the time to hang out with her. As soon as I started asking her if she wanted to hang

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HOW TO

out, we clicked. We hung out every day over the summer, becoming regulars at our favorite restaurants and getting to know each other during countless sleepovers. She exposed me to new people and new activities. I taught her new concepts and ideas. Perhaps most importantly, I made her watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Becoming friends with her was one of the most important steps in making myself happier. Today, I can’t imagine my day to day life without her. Meeting people can be difficult, but there are so many different ways you can go about it. Talk to your partner in class about something other than how much your project sucks. Get to know your acquaintances better. Trust me, it pays off.

STEP THREE: FALL MADLY IN LOVE. (BUT NOT WITH A PERSON). No life has ever become interesting through sheer force of will. You have to have something going for you. (Well, unless you’re Kim Kardashian. She’s pretty good at making uselessness into a pretty cool existence). For me, getting involved in school was the biggest factor in becoming happy. Activities like journalism are what get me up in the morning. They’re the parts of my high school career that are worth remembering. Sitting in school five hours after my last class ended, laughing with my staff, I feel like I am a part of something bigger than myself. Joining Craze helped me find purpose in life. Realistically, most of you will not fall in love with journalism. Still, Westside has dozens of clubs and activities you can join. Not into clubs? The internet exists for a reason, folks. There are literally millions of websites dedicated to anything from a TV show to spelunking. (Don’t worry, I don’t know what it is either). Read books. Watch movies. Research artists. If you don’t find something to fall in love with, you’re not trying hard enough.

GLORY DAYS

STEP FOUR: LEARN WHEN TO BE IRRESPONSIBLE Sometimes you just have to ignore a rule. I know this is blasphemy coming from a high school publication, but it’s the truth. Fun is not always made by the book. It is often made late at night, when you’re supposed to be doing homework or sleeping in your bed. Sometimes it’s made doing things you can’t tell your parents about Now, don’t go overboard with this step. I’m not telling you to steal a car and do donuts in your parents’ driveway. It’s easy to get carried away once you’ve started bending your morals. Make sure what to know what you can and cannot handle. Miss curfew for an awesome hangout, but don’t do it often enough for your parents to get angry. Skip the occasional daily assignment, but don’t forget to study for your big test. Once you find the balance, your life will become much more fun.

STEP FIVE: DITCH THE IDEAL Stop getting hung up on what you think life should be, and start appreciating it for what it is. That doesn’t mean give up. It just means grow up. Allow your expectations to adapt. Focus on what you know makes you happy rather than what you think would be awesome. If my only goal was to have random and unique escapades, I would have never had any fun at all. My new friends would be annoyed by my attempts to be random, and my hangouts would all feel forced. After all, your ten year old self had no idea what it was like to be 16. The books, movies, and TV shows telling you what your high school life should be like were written by people in the midst of their midlife crisis. Chances are, you’re not going to be able to go on wild adventures every night. That doesn’t mean you can’t have an amazing high school experience. You just have to try. t

WHITE TEETH TEENS A playlist for the Hollywood teen (and everyone who wants to be them) 1. WHITE TEETH TEENS //LORDE 2. NATIONAL ANTHEM //LANA DEL REY 3. FLAWLESS** //BEYONCE 4. WE WERE ROCK AND ROLL //JANELLE MONAE 5. GIRL NAMED HELLO //OF MONTREAL 6. BARLIGHTS //FUN. 7. THE PAINTER //I’M FROM BARCELONA 8. OUT ON THE TOWN //FUN.

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mrs. spisak

Q&A

Ask a teacher

Mrs. Spisak

story by tom huerter story by casey arritt, design by kirsten mccormack

olly Spisak, a literature and senior project teacher here at Westside High School, has analyzed novels for years. Books are the perfect way to learn about life. Novels like Romeo and Juliet, a play written between 1594 and 1595 by William Shakespeare, still have situations that can be related to everyday life in 2014. Do you live with any regrets? Spisak takes the same approach as the characters in the play by moving towards what she wants. Authors like William Shakespeare have written novels with dozens of similar morals. These novels have allowed Spisak to learn from other’s mistakes. This trait makes her an exceptional person to get advice from for this issue’s “Ask a Teacher.”

What do you look for in a job? Caleb Siemer, sophomore

I look for a job that is intellectually stimulating, one where I continue to learn and grow as a individual, and where I feel like I’m making a difference. [Do] things that are important to you. If making a lot of money is important for you, going for broke in the corporate world is where you want to be. If helping people is something you want to do, maybe looking for jobs in a non-profit sector is where you want to be. I think just figuring out what is important to you [will help you with] finding the job that is right for you.

Do you live with any regrets? Anonymous, junior

No. I don’t think that’s a way you can live. You will always be thinking of what could’ve been, and that seems counterproductive to a happy life. You just [have] to take what you’ve been given and keep moving forward. Keep working on what you want to be and who you want to be.

How do you pick what college to go to, knowing the commitment and knowing you have to stay there for four years? Mckenzie Meradith, sophomore

Well, you don’t have to stay anywhere for four years. I wanted to get as faraway from Omaha as possible, and that is how I ended up in New York, though I came back. You want to follow your interests and see where you end up, and if you don’t like it go somewhere else. Both location and what they offer are important.

How do I get my grade from an incomplete to an a in a week? Kate Hammitt, freshman

Stop waiting. Don’t get there in the first place. I mean, it’s sort of the Westside way to think that you can always make stuff up after the fact, but, honestly the way to be in an A range is to do your homework. If you have an incomplete, that’s probably not happening. You might be able to get from an incomplete to a C in a week, but if you really want As you have to consistently keep up with your work.

At what point in your life did you realize what you wanted to be when you grow up? Jacob Kent, sophomore

I got an English degree first, but I had no desire to teach. I went to New York City and worked in business for a little over a year, and I really hated that. I went back to the restaurant where I worked in college and sort of floundered and didn’t know what to do. Then ended up being a teaching assistant, and I stayed there for three years and found thats where my passion lied. I couldn’t go beyond becoming a teacher’s assistant without a degree, so I went back to college and got a teaching degree so I can be a English teacher.

What is the one moral or value that carries you the farthest in life? Morgan Novacek, junior

I would say kindness. Showing kindness to others is one of the most important attributes that you can give to other people. If everyone was a little bit more kind, the world would be a better place.

How do i tell my parents I lied to them? Anonymous, junior

Honesty is always the best policy. Even though the punishment might be immediate once they found out you’ve done something, I think the act is always worse than the deceit. Parents know that teenagers are going to make mistakes but to make mistakes and lie to them, you are sort of doubling the severity of your act. So being honest and upfront is always the best act even though you will get in trouble initially.

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fashion

revolving trends

revolving

Trends story and design by allie laing, photos by ally stark and abegale headlee

For decades, fashion trends have been a revolving door. When one thing goes out of style, another comes back. Although we come across the occasional fad that we pray never becomes popular again, some of the most acclaimed fashion trends today originated years ago. While the fifties may seem ancient to you, prominent trends from that decade have become reinvented. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion begins with the high wasted pants and shorts that were in style over sixty years ago and is combined with a new take on accessories and shoes that were seen in the nineties. Men and women who walk the streets of Omaha are inspired by clothing from decades ranging from the 50â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to present day. Through unique individual styles and forms of expression, old fashion trends had been shaped and altered to suit the fashion taste of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world. Craze magazine went on a hunt to find articles of clothing that are making their own fashion statement after being out of style for decades. With these pieces, we hope to show you that good fashion never really goes out of style.

1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 3

4 2

1 hot pants: 2 chukkas:

Shop at modcloth.com. Prices range from $30-$40.

Shop at Zappos.com. Prices range from $90 - $150.

3 saddle shoes:

Shop at polyvore.com. Prices range from $40 - $60.

4 peter pan collar:

Shop at forever21.com. Prices range from $10-$30.

fashion

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revolving trends

1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s & 1970â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2

1 circle sunglasses:

Shop at urbanoutfitters.com. Prices range from $15-$25.

2 mens colored pants:Find at Pacsun, Express, or Banana Republic. 3 wire headbands: 4 skinny ties:

Shop at etsy.com. Prices range from $5-$20.

Shop at skinnyties.com. Prices range from $15-$50.

1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s & 1990â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1

crop tops:

oxfords:

mens cuffed jeans:

Shop at charlotterusse.com. Prices range from $10-$25.

Shop at zappos.com. Prices starting at $50. Shop at any mens clothing stores.

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geature

imc interviews

Imc interviews Westsiders in their own words story and design by jaylee johnson, photos by abegale headlee

oing out of my comfort zone is not something you’ll find me doing very often. When I joined Craze, I was forced to go out into the halls of Westside and talk to people I had never talked to before. I got to know people and made friendships I never would’ve seen coming. Unfortunately, not everyone does this. We are often close minded about who we hang out with and get to know. There could be cool people around us, but we don’t take the time to talk

to them and get to know them. If we all went out of our comfort zone at least once in a while, we could find out things about people no one else knows. In order to get to know more Westsiders, I went to IMCs and did impromptu interviews, Mad Libs style. I got to know three more people, and now it’s your turn. I bet you never knew one person could love McChicken’s so much. photos from left to right: shalan farwell, shaket chaudhary, hannah pred

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feature

imc interviews

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opinion

divorce

Glass Half Full Making the best out of having divorced parents story and design by maddy look, photos by abegale headlee

didn’t understand what my parents meant by ‘taking a break.’ Even though it was seven years ago, I still remember the life changing conversation in the living room. The words that filled the room still haunt me. Break. We still love you. Not your fault. Two houses. My mind raced to decode the message. I remember the look I gave them: confused, worried, and guilty. I immediately wondered what I did wrong. Then I realized that parents split up because of their problems, and it has nothing to do with the kids. My situation isn’t as bad as many kids who go through this change. Even though we had a custody

As time passed, the whole situation became less raw, and I began to heal. Still, I felt uneasy about it. One of the hardest parts was going to school and realizing that out of all my friends, I was the only one with split parents. My friends supported me, but they didn’t truly understand exactly what I was going through. Feeling alone is something that comes with divorce. I never truly opened up to my parents because I worried a parent would feel bad. My feelings were just buried in unorganized piles of worry and fear. The guidance counselor at my school heard what I was going through and invited me to join a divorce support group. Mondays turned into my favorite day of the week. I looked forward to the biweekly meetings.

I spent a lot of time worrying about my parents. I wanted them to be happy because I knew this was hard for them, but you have to realize that your needs are important too. For example, my dad had a girlfriend and wanted her to move in with us. I liked her, I just didn’t feel comfortable with the idea. At first I wanted to say yes to make my dad happy, but my counselor made it clear that if I didn’t speak up, my dad wouldn’t know how I felt about her moving in. I sat down with my dad and brother and told them I wasn’t ready for her to move in. My dad was surprised because I had never shown discomfort before. He respected my feelings and slowed things down with his girlfriend. Since then, I have

“THIS IS A BIG CHANGE THAT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND IT’S NOT ALL BAD.”

schedule, my parents were very open to giving up their time. They look out for each other and always put our needs in front of theirs. Still, after the divorce, I found myself crying a lot and dwelling on the fact that things will never be the same. It can be hard to adapt to the new schedule and get used to the missing chair at the dinner table, but you have to remember that your parents care about you and still love you- just not under the same roof. Sundays were extremely emotional for me because that was the day I packed everything up and switched houses. I remember getting all of my things in the car and making the silent journey to my mom’s house. I opened the car door and saw my mom waiting for me, but before I left I would look back to watch my dad drive away. During the first couple of months, I would go straight to my room and cry. I was focused on the bad and unable to find much good.

My parents were able to see me mentally transition from being sad to being able to make the absolute best out of the situation. I was able to talk to kids my age and relate to them. After two meetings, I knew things about these kids that I never would’ve known if I didn’t go to these meetings. I talked to my new friends more than my original friends. I felt like I belonged with them. Even though we met and bonded because of the divorce, I still felt happy with them. The good was uncovered, and I was happy again. Finding someone you feel comfortable talking to is so important in this process, whether that be a parent, friend, teacher or any other person in your life. Talking about it helps clear your thoughts. I recommend talking to someone who can offer advice, like a counselor, rather than a friend who will just tell you what you want to hear.

never been afraid to say what’s on my mind. Neither of my parents have ignored my concerns. Whenever you find yourself dwelling and feeling sorry for yourself, find something fun to do. Going outside was my favorite past time. I was able to get out of the house and be alone even as I did something active. It felt good that I was able to drift away from my situation. This is a big change that happens to a lot of people, and it’s not all bad. It’s important to find the positive outcomes. Though the whole change was mainly negative, there were also many positives. I gained a great stepfamily, and the communication in my family is better than ever. Looking back, I know life would not be enjoyable if my parents were still married. They communicate better, and the decision they made was the best one. It hurts, but I know it should be this way. t

old vs. new

music

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music review

Old vs. New

story by lilli marvin and jenna hynek, design and photos by kirsten mccormack

For decades, artists all over the world have been battling it out on the music charts, an everlasting struggle to be on top, to be number one. Here tonight we have old classics vs. the new

top hits. Artists like Nirvana and The Doors square up against Chris Brown and The Chainsmoker’s top hit, “Selfie.” Who will prevail, the albums and artists that created the very foundation of music we

have today, or will the new up and coming artists kick them aside to usher in a new era? Find out as Lilli and Jenna battle it out to answer the question everyone wants to know. Which is better... old or new?

London Calling Artist: the clash release date: december genre: british punk

Lilli rating London Calling is by far my favorite song by The Clash, an English punk band from the 1970’s. This whole album is fantastic, full of musical talent. Like many great songs of their time, the song is heavily carried by the guitar track in the background. They aren’t your hardcore rock, but they certainly aren’t your average hippie band. Sure, London Calling is a easy listening song, not heavy rock yet not so mellow you fall asleep. Yes, they might be a little rough around the edges, but each and every member has tons of talent, and The Clash is guaranteed to please. The Clash is your classic 70’s band, and yet they have produced tracks such as “London Calling” that set them apart from the rest.

14, 1979

Jenna rating As “London Calling” played through my head phones, I thought I was listening to an amateur high school band trying to make it in a cheap gig. The voices sounded young, weird, and uncomfortable. As soon as the singing started, I wanted it to stop. It was a little bit of yelling and a little bit of growling as well. I pictured the lead singer as some sort of wolf man telling me a story with a guitar solo in the background. I could have sworn that I heard better vocals at the Battle of the Bands this year. Also, the amount of repetition in this song had me ripping my hair out. “London Calling” was in the chorus, every single verse, in the background, everywhere. We get it. You also live by the river, we get that too. Overall, I don’t know how music this bad made it anywhere. This band needs a stern talking to by Simon Cowell. saying “I don’t understand how other people haven’t told you to stop playing yet.”

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OLD VS. NEW

MUSIC

(album) Artist: chris brown release date: not genre: pop

Lilli rating The mix of piano, harmonica, drum, and guitar are pretty sick sounding. Until that’s all you listen too. There are long musical solos that are way over drawn in this album. It’s boring. It had me spacing off and not even realizing the song was over. However, I do give this band credit for the vocal diversity of their songs. Each song was something different which was interesting, but that doesn’t excuse the fact of boring their listeners with extreme guitar solos that last what feels like 30 seconds at a time. The Doors also stuck with about the same beat throughout the album which was alright but did not compare to their vocals, making it kind of awkward to listen to at times. I was left thinking I was listening to the same song but with an entirely different voice. I feel like this album could have been made better, it was not the worst thing I have ever heard though. That was Nirvana.

yet released

Jenna rating Seconds into each single, artwork fills your ears. Every song on Chris Brown’s album has a new beginning, with varying paces, pitch, and subjects. His voice ranges from Michael Jackson to Tyga, and the variance keeps listening interesting. Even though Brown has had a lot of personal ups and downs, this album deserves a sky high rating. This is easily one of my favorite albums that Brown has produced because it is easy to sing along to. Songs such as “Loyal” that have extremely catchy lyrics that had me singing to friends and family. It’s been about two years since Chris Brown has released an album, and the wait was well worth it. His beautiful voice was shining through every song. Although I can not connect on a personal level with each song, Chris Brown knew how to make me a fangirl. Brown’s range astounds me every time I listen to this. It’s full of quality music that will keep die hard fans like me satisfied for a while. (Or at least until he says he’s working on another).

Morrison Hotel (album)

Artist: the doors release date: february genre: psychedelic rock /

Lilli rating The Doors have always been one of my go-to bands. When I first heard them as a kid, they taught me there actually was decent music made before I was born, contrary to my 11 year old mindset was convinced Lady Gaga and P!nk were the only decent musicians to exist ever. They were my gateway into the fantastic realm of Nirvana, The Clash, The Pixies, and INXS, to name a few. Morrison Hotel is full of amazing tracks, all backed with sheer musical talent. In songs like “Peace Frog”, get excited for the track ahead, simply for the fantastic guitar intros. Throughout the album, The Door’s style of music is prevalent, never varying from their signature “psychedelic rock” style. These songs in general put listeners in a much better mood, The Doors found a way to really connect to their listeners, and involve them in the music, which is another thing I love about the album.

9, 1970 blues rock

Jenna rating The mix of piano, harmonica, drum, and guitar are pretty sick sounding. Until that’s all you listen too. There are long musical solos that are way over drawn in this album. It’s boring. It had me spacing off and not even realizing the song was over. However, I do give this band credit for the vocal diversity of their songs. Each song was something different which was interesting, but that doesn’t excuse the fact of boring their listeners with extreme guitar solos that last what feels like 30 seconds at a time. The Doors also stuck with about the same beat throughout the album which was alright but did not compare to their vocals, making it kind of awkward to listen to at times. I was left thinking I was listening to the same song but with an entirely different voice. I feel like this album could have been made better, it was not the worst thing I have ever heard though. That was Nirvana.

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OLD VS. NEW

MUSIC

#Selfie Artist: The chainsmokers release date: january 29, genre: edm

Lilli rating Two words. Train. Wreck. When I first started listening to the song, I was immediately disappointed by the techno beat. I resigned myself to listening to the standard techno Top hit. But boy, I would have been much more happy with that than with what awaited my ears. The second the vocals started, I knew I couldn’t wait to get through the song. The whole track is literally just a snarky voice nearly just speaking on top of a standard club music background. That being said, it is a brilliant satire to the “white girl race”. Mocking what now seems like a norm behavior in a good chunk of our population, #Selfie pokes fun at how girls obsess over their photos, social media posts, and how they obsess and over scrutinize every detail concerning someone they are crushing on. However, no matter how perfectly mocking it is, I don’t know if I am physically or mentally capable of listening to this song ever again. Between the snarky, spoken lyrics simply added on top of a standard dance club track, can this even be considered music?

2014

Jenna rating “But first, let me take a selfie.” This, the most iconic line in the entire song, has become a favorite of any teenage girl. It has turned into a caption for countless posts on Instagram and Twitter, and I would say this is the Bible for our generation. I became attached to this song immediately because of the words. I can sadly associate myself with this song. I’ve used the exact phrases in this song in my everyday life. I mean, who hasn’t thought about taking down an Instragram post that only got 10 likes in the last five minutes? The Chainsmokers nailed this. #Selfie is the song every basic girl has been dreaming of. The lyrics are just our daily vocabulary with a beat behind it. This has been my go to song when going out with friends because its easy to memorize lyrics cause us all to break out into song. I would consider #Selfie a bonding tool for teenage girls everywhere. It sums up our lives and speaks the truth about us in just three minutes and forty three seconds.

Bleach (album) Artist: nirvana release date: june genre: grunge rock

Lilli rating Nirvana’s debut album, “Bleach,” was the first of many famous albums to be produced by the band. Now, I may be slightly, (okay very) biased, as I am a die hard fan of Nirvana. With the recent 20th anniversary of the passing of grunge legend Kurt Cobain, I wanted to give this album the stellar review it truly deserves. Throughout “Bleach,” the style of the album stays consistent enough to fit the band’s style, yet still has a variety of songs to not make it boring. The sheer amount of talent on this album is amazing. I’ll admit, this album may be for a select audience, as not everyone loves the grungerock style of music, but is definitely worth a listen simply for the instrumentals. Whether it be Chad Channing carrying the song on some tracks on drums, or Krist Novoselic on the bass, the whole album is full of intense, skilled riffs (check out the intro of “School”) and instrumentals. Each and every song works it’s way into your head, slowly drawing you in, and then a wall of sound hits you and boom you’re hooked. Instrumentals aside, the album has many things going for it, especially the general attitude of Nirvana. Kurt and all of the member’s didn’t care about what their audience thought, telling their fans, “If you don’t like it, simply don’t listen. Don’t complain to me.”

15, 1989

Jenna rating As Nirvana is a classic band, I was willing to give this album a shot. I’ve heard of them before, but I had never really heard a specific song until now. The songs all began with a guitar solo, and at first I enjoyed it very much. Listening to the guitarist strum away, I was excited to hear what the singer had to offer. Boy, was I in for a treat. “Wait, what did he just say,” ran through my head as some sort of mumbling was going on. The singing was a jumbled mess. I’m pretty sure the artist didn’t know what he was saying either. The mumbling took away from the entire album and masked the great music. This is unfortunate because that’s what actually got you into the song in the first place. I may sound basic, but I prefer a song that I can sing along to. I don’t want to rack my brain and try to figure out what the lead singer is saying. I felt like I was in some foreign country. Spanish listening activities are almost easier to decode then this album.

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leaving home

leaving home packing up, saying goodbye story and photos by camile messerley, design by eva phillips

he day that I received my college acceptance letter, I was literally dancing in the street. Being accepted into college was a big step for me. It was also an eye opener to the fact that in just a couple of months, school will start, and I’ll pack my whole life into just a few boxes. It’s time to start my adult life, but one thing my guidance counselor never taught is me how to tell my family and friends goodbye. As a senior in high school, change can be difficult. However, through a couple tears, some laughs, and a tank of gas, I’ve discovered that it’s possible and worthwhile. It’s terrifying to know that I’ll be on my own in just a few months. Then I remember that I will no longer spend my afternoons sitting in math class, thinking about all of the things I want to do in life. Instead, I’ll be out doing them.

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snapshots

leaving home

feature

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seniors

OH, the places you're going Three seniors doing interesting things next year STORY, PHOTOS, AND DESIGN BY AUDREY MCCANN

“What are you doing next year?” It’s the question every senior has heard, one every grandma who can’t remember their grandchildren’s first name has asked. It’s the unanswerable question. What are we doing after high school? Every year, a group of excited, scared, and totally adult seniors who don’t need their parents advice leave to seek the answer. (As well

as returning every few weekends to have their laundry done and eat something other than baked potatoes and Ramen). While it may seem that a lot of seniors are barely getting things figured out, we found a few who have a good idea of what their futures hold. Read about what they’re doing next year, and try not to be too jealous.

Wenrui Lin Q: A: Q: A:

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR? “I’m going to Parson’s, the New School for Design in New York City [to] study fashion design. My goal is to be a fashion designer, and I think I will minor in some interior design for fun. Also, I think I will participate in some modeling. Every summer I go back to China, and I model for some [of] the local magazines.”

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR OTHERS WHO WANT TO PURSUE FASHION? “Draw what you want to draw, and do what you want to do. Sometimes you will like to keep a little notebook with you because sometimes the inspiration is [there] suddenly [...] [I find inspiration] everywhere. I can even find inspiration from cabinets and flags.”

Christian Hagan Q: A:

WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING NEXT YEAR?

Q: A:

HOW WOULD YOU TELL OTHER STUDENTS TO PREPARE FOR SIMILAR FUTURES?

Q: A:

“Next year I’m going to go to Northern Illinois to kick. [I’m going to study] either business or physical therapy. I haven’t decided yet. I need to see how it goes.

“It’s hard to be recruited out of Nebraska, so you have to go to a lot of camps. That’s how I got seen by Northern Illinois because I have a contact who knows the coach there.”

HOW HAS WESTSIDE PREPARED YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY? “I think it’s done well. [My experience] playing football and trying to manage school and sports is gonna help out a lot next year because that’s the biggest change, trying to manage time. My dad has helped out a lot, and my main contact for different schools is Jaimie Cole. He’s the number one kicking guy in the nation, and I know him pretty well so that helps out a lot. He’s the one who knew the coaches at Northern Illinois.”

Kershaun Stewart Q: A: Q: A: Q: A:

where are you headed next year?

“The acting school that I’m attending is the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. It is the oldest acting school in America, and they have two locations. One is in New York which is mostly stagecraft and plays, the other is in Los Angeles California which is mostly film and tv. I’m attending the school located in California.”

what was the audition process like? “I had to write two essays about why I wanted to attend the AADA and what prior experience I had in acting. I had to fill out background information on my parents and myself. I also had to get two letters of recommendation. Lastly, I had to go to St. Louis to get interviewed by one of the teachers and perform two contrasting monologues. One was contemporary and comedic, while the other is classical and dramatic.”

did you originally plan on going to the l.a. area to pursue an acting career? “Well I really wanted to go to LA for acting, but I actually only applied to this school. I missed the deadline for most of the other ones, so I ended up only applying to South Dakota and AADA. So it was my only opportunity so I gave it my all.”

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diy

bedroom

REVAMP YOUR BEDROOM Make your room as cool as you are story by tom huerter, design by abegale headlee, photos by abegale headlee and kirsten mccormack

hen I was four, I moved into the first room I can remember. It had blue walls and a bunk bed, the perfect childhood room. Then, last year, everything changed. My room no longer felt like me. I spent weeks throwing a life long collection of miscellaneous things into trash bags. Everything had to go. Walls were painted, and the furniture was replaced. When I first walked in, I saw my perfect new room, just like a room from a furniture catalogue. It was only missing one element: me. I needed to put myself back into my room. I set out on a new project to find easy ways to transform my room into a usable and cool space.

.. .. .

1. geometric paintings

2. mason jar storage

. ..

3. burlap canvases

Get canvases, cheap paint, and some masking tape. Use masking tape to make random or organized geometric shapes. Make sure that the tape is securely on the canvas. Pick one or two colors and paint all of the remaining white space. Let dry and remove the tape to reveal the perfect white lines that make these canvases stand out.

Pick up some burlap canvases from any store that sells art supplies. Also pick up some thread. Thread a simple design on the canvases. Hang on the wall and admire your simple new art pieces. They can go anywhere.

. . ..

Get four mason jars from almost any craft or grocery store and grab your glue gun. Glue the first two jars together, and then glue the second two jars together. Glue the sets of jars together, making a square. Let them dry, and then use them as storage on your desk, bedside table, or in the bathroom.

4. collaged ceiling fan

. . ..

You will need Mod Podge, a stack of magazines, and a ceiling fan. Pick a color for each blade of the fan, and then cut out everything in the magazines of that color. Mod Podge the different colors onto each blade. Turn it on and admire your colorful new fan

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calendar

APRIL MAY This year, April showers and May flowers are nothing compared to the events that come with them. STORY AND DESIGN BY LIA HAGEN, PHOTOS BY KIRSTEN MCCORMACK

april / may

Concerts

Visual Art

April 30: Jake Bellows @ The Slowdown // 9 p.m.

May 2: Alternation of Mood @ Kent Bellows Studio // 6 p.m.

May 2: DJs From Mars @ Sokol Underground // 8 p.m.

May 3: Visions of Lewis and Clark: An Exhibition of Art Kites @ Josyln Art Musuem

May 2: Uh Huh Her @ The Slowdown // 9 p.m. May 4: Handsome As Sin @ The Slowdown // 9 p.m.

May 4: Last day of the 1968 Exhibit @ the Durham Museum

May 17: Projekt Luna @ Sokol Underground // 6 p.m.

Poetry and Comedy

May 22: Turnpike Troubadours @ The Slowdown // 9 p.m.

April 30: The New Backwaters Press Reading Series feat. poets Twyla Hansen, Barbara Schmitz, Greg Kuzma, and Michael Catherwood @ The Shelterbelt Theater // 7 p.m.

Theater and Film

May 4: TAPESTRIES feat. four poets, spoken word artists, and rappers @ The Sydney // 7 p.m.

May 7: Wicked @ The Orpheum // 7:30 p.m.

May 7: Comedy Open Mic @ Legend Comics // 6:30 p.m.

May 10: Encore Filmakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Screening: Hank and Asha @ Film Streams // 4:30 p.m.

May 10: The Omaha Poetry Slam and Open Mic @ The OM Center // 7:30 p.m.

May 17: Last day of The Battle of Battles @ The Shelterbelt Theatre

May 4: Handsome As Sin @ The Slowdown // 9 p.m.

May 21: Special Screening: The Rape of Europa @ Film Streams // 7 p.m.

May 15: Verbal Gumbo @ House of Loom // 7 p.m.