Nexus issuu 4 by David Winter

NEXUS

Henry W. Grady High School May 2013

In this issue we share selections from the archives of junior Axel Olson and senior Ciena Leshley. Photo. p. 4 Grady art director, John Brandhorst organizes and hosts the second annual Art Throwdown to recognize and challenge teams of talented students from various high schools in Atlanta

Visual.

p. 9

The Magentic Musical Festival increases in popularity while serving as an interesting prom alternative for some seniors

Audio.

p. 11

This Nexus issue gives recognition to the cute, new baby gorilla, Baby Andi, at Zoo Atlanta that attacts many facsinated event-goers Feature.

p. 16

In a story you can’t make up, Nexus staffer Luke Webster chronicles the events of his “best day of sports EVER”

Arena.

p. 20

Sitting around at the Braves game? Why not send your tastebuds on a run with some of the worthwhile food available at Turner Field

Cuisine.

p. 24

Nexus explores the final UrbanCouture fashion show before its reinvention and recreation for following years

Couture.

p. 27

Stress doesn’t have to consume you. In this issue, Nexus provides many proven ways to lower stress, manage school and activities, and promote a healthier lifestyle

Rostrum.

p. 29 Some people say that everybody has twin, and Grady students and their celebrity look-a-likes are no exception

Menagerie.

p. 30

Board Editorial People have always been trying to connect with animals, nature and themselves. In this issue of Nexus we explore the weird, the cute and the wild of Atlanta. From two adorable new additions to Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium, a quirky musical festival and an astounding art throwdown, to Grady students and their celebrity look-a-likes; we have highlighted some of the things that make our city and school unique. We have examined some of the new exhibits in Atlanta and bid farewell to Gradyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old fashion program. From beginning to end, our community has been everchanging and expanding. As we welcome new wildlife to our zoo and aquarium, we welcome you to the Animal Issue.

Nexus 2012 Staff: Tia Borrego, Amelia Christopher, Victoria

Dragstedt, Jakara Griffin, Claire Hasson, Mallory Hazell, Jordan Holiman, Alexander Jones, Devina Jones-Vargas, April King, Sarah Lanham, Valentina Makrides, Courtney Marshall, Tamara Mason, Peter Mastin, Mallory Mcfarlin, Sanjida Mowla, James Moy, Abby Orlansky, Nara Smith, Laura Streib, Kate Taber, McKenzie Taylor, Lily Trapkin, Luke Webster, and Kelsey Woods. Editor-in-Chief: Kate Taber Managing Editors: Valentina Makrides and Tamara Mason Adviser: Dave Winter Printer: Florida Sun Printing Advertising: Nexus is a nonprofit organization that relies on advertising and the generous support of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction to generate revenue to cover printing and maintenance costs. If you would like to advertise with and/or distribute Nexus, please contact us at nexusghs@gmail.com Submissions: Nexus accepts and welcome submissions of stories and photos. Submissions should be submitted to Mr. Winter in room E106, or to any Nexus staffer. They can also be e-mailed to us at nexusghs@gmail.com.

Nexus is a bimonthly publication of: Henry W. Grady High School 929 Charles Allen Drive NE Atlanta, GA 30309

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“ I can’t stand the idea of portrait photograpghy. I’m a huge fan of natural lighting when it comes to my filmmaking, so I like to photograpgh anything that catches my eye as a reference for future film work.” Axel Olsen, junior

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â&#x20AC;&#x153; I like to take pictures of the people around me. I find expressions and gestures to be fascinating. i like to try and capture an emotion or feeling through my photographs. i also put a lot of focus on lighting and shadows to give my images depth.â&#x20AC;? CIena Leshley, senior

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Five stars for Scary Movie 5

The Wayans brothers have done it again. Jodi and Dan Sanders adopt Dan’s two nieces and nephew After a seven-year haitus, the Wayans brothers have and consent to be the subjects of a psychological study in exchange for free lodging in the house which is fully found more ways to satirize popular and recent horror films with their newest “scary movie,” Scary Movie 5. equipped with cameras in every room. Originlly raised in the wild by a ghost named Mama, three troubled With the release of Scary Movie 5 on April 12 the Wayans children are freuently visited by an entity named Mama. took a step out onto the ledge. Abandoning their previous Dan becomes enthralled in his own ongoing storyline, they started brainlessness while Jodi gets caught anew with an entirely different plot up in competition for the coveted and a completely changed cast. role of the Black Swan in the ballet, Arguably, this movie cannot be leaving the children under the care of considered the fifth installment of an intellectually altered ape from Dan’s the Scary Movie series because of its incongruity and inconformity research facility and a stereotypical with the previous movies. Rather, Latin American religious zealot who the movie marks the beginning works as housekeeper for the Sanders. of a new series by the Wayans. a The Wayans weave together this series which includes films outside complex plot with parodies of of the horror genre. Scary Movie countless films from the past decade. 5 also spoofs movies such as 50 And of course it couldn’t be a Wayans’ comedy without a few poop jokes, Shades of Grey, The Rise of the sexual references and borderline racist Planet of the Apes, and Inception and includes well-known actors like stereotypes. It is a wonder the movie kept its PG-13 rating. Tyler Perry’s Madea, A Different Ridiculous, offensive, racy, World’s Whitley Gilbert, Lindsey unconventional or not, Sary Movie 5 Lohan and Charlie Sheen. Although Picture of the original Scary Movie 5 movie cover. the movie is a departure from is a credit to American comedy. The the pervious four Scary Movies, the movie humorously movie is filled with laughs and exclamations while cleverly contributes to the series by making another marvelous and effectively poking fun at the seriousnes of horror mockery of everything horror is supposed to be. movies and films of other genres. From cast to every last Scary Movie 5 was a well-mastered juxtaposition of three special effect and stunt, Scary Movie 5 is a masterpiece of main horror films: Mama (2013), the Paranormal Acitivity comically epic proportions. series (2007-2012), and Black Swan (2010). In the movie, -Tia Borrego

Seniors running the show

Each year at Grady, seniors have the opportunity to direct one-act plays that they choose and cast on their own. Typically these directors are students from Lisa Willoughby’s advanced drama projects class; however this year Aaron Attwooll and Kelsey Hubbard directed plays even though they weren’t in the class. There were also more plays this year than in the past two years, with eight being performed on May 3 and 4. “It’s a good chance for people who are interested in theater and directing to get a bit of experience working with a cast of their own,” senior director Josiah Garrett said. Garrett directed Action News Now With Percent More Action, a ridiculous newscast with Decker D’Alesio and Zoe Schneider as the anchors. Many of this year’s directors are veterans of the theater department who relished the opportunity to be on the other side of the production process. For senior director Sam Tomaka, directing took on a 8

unifying role. “I’m really more interested in the tech aspect of theater, but I also value directing as the joining of the acting and the tech aspects,” Tomaka said. He directed Who’s a Good Boy?, which tells the story of detective golden retriever Rex (played by Benjamin Simonds-Malamud) finding a missing fuzzy yellow ball. The auditions for the senior one-act plays were open to everyone. The event is completely studentdriven, with supervision from Ms. Willoughby, and the plays typically around 10 minutes long. These one-acts represent good chance for those who may be intimidated by being part of any of the largerscale productions to be introduced to the theater department. Plays from this year: The Pink Fancy

Forever Rose Who’s a Good Boy? Boise Idaho Action News Now With Percent More Action Of Love, Lunch, and Losers Roll Over, Beethoven A Tall Order -Alex Jones

Junior Preston Choi’s character Sir Ralph Waldo Emer-happy boasts of his awards and accomplishments

Eager artists from several Atlata high schools compete in the figure-drawing competition, drawing a live, posed model, in second annual Art Throwdown at the annual Dogwood festival.

Artists team up to throw down

Dogwood’s second annual Art Throwdown pits artists against the clock, each other The megaphone clasped in the hand of a Grady staff member looks out of place in Piedmont Park. The relaxed crowd nearby and the festive atmosphere of fried food, distant music and spring that accompanies the 77th annual Dogwood Festival are a sharp contrast to the bustling courtyard and cafeteria of Grady High School, the megaphone’s natural habitat. Raised to the lips of the faculty member, the megaphone, rather than barking orders to expedite a class change, announces the guidelines for the figure-drawing portion of the seond annual Art Throwdown. The Art Throwdown, organized by Grady art director John Brandhorst, consists of a variety of competitive timed art events that pit individuals and teams of students from different high schools against each other to challenge their talent and creativity. In front of the Piedmont Park community center near 12th Street, students had the opportunity to test their skills in several different media, with a live model for the figure drawing portion as well as other events for collaborative art, performance art and sculpture. The Throwdown is an extension of the Atlanta High School Arts Exhibition, an annual event at the Atlanta Dogwood festival that features sculpture, painting, drawing, photography and mixed media pieces from high school students in the Atlanta area. Itself the recipient of the Kaleidoscope and Pinnacle award from the Southeast Festival and Events Association and International Festival and Events Association

respectively, AHSAE awards internship opportunities, arts supplies, grants and even full-tuition scholarships to some of the young artists who place in the exhibition. In the otherwise capable hands of Grady’s art director John Brandhorst, the megaphone seems awkward, and indeed Brandhorst apologizes to the crowd for its use: “Believe me, if I didn’t have to use it I wouldn’t.” With the large turnout of young artists and spectators, however, the extra volume comes in handy as Brandhorst commences the event. At his signal, dozens of students, armed with easels, oversized clipboards, graphites and gigantic pieces of sketch paper begin to mark the paper, some timidly and some aggressively, with their rendition of the live model’s dramatic pose. Within the figure-drawing portion, there are further divisions into different time allotments of 5, 10, and 20 minutes, each of which is judged for a specific quality in the artist’s work, such as power, detail or artistic interpretation. Senior Sofia Economou returned to the Throwdown for her third year in a row to put her skills in figure drawing to the test in the 10-minute event. “[The Throwdown] is a great way to meet other artists,” Economou said. “Other students in different sports and different activities have opportunities to meet kids from other schools with similar interests all the time. Arts students don’t really have that otherwise because we are in our own little bubble.” -James Moy

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Slightly Stoopid, extremely amazing

The sparkling lights of the Georgia Theater lit up, the line wrapped around the side of the old brick building. The fans waited anxiously and the sound of the bass could be heard even at the very end of the line. After standing in line anxiously for what felt like an eternity, we were let inside the theater. The smoke was rising and the audience was swaying smoothly to the sounds of Tribal Seeds, the opening band. After a few more songs, the band members left and the intensity rose. The restless crowd started to chant, hoping to bring the band out from their moment of back-stage relaxation. The better part of an hour went by, then the lights dimmed, and the screams ensued. With their classic cargo shorts and torn-up sneakers, Slightly Stoopid took stage. The fans went wild. There were middle-aged business men, college frat boys, girly girls, grungy teens and everything in between. There were no typical or similar fans; everyone

was different, and everyone was just as enthralled as the next. The band’s trademark sound, reggae mixed with pop, blues and rock, is a sound unlike any other. They jammed like no other band I’ve ever seen or heard. The band members were like brothers and best friends. They jumped around stage, swapped instruments and utilized every bit of talent they possessed. Each song was different, but the reaction to each new song, ecstasy, was the same. Some song were slow and elicited raised lighters and a slow constant sway throughout the crowd. Others were upbeat and energetic. An hour or so went by and the band said their thanks and headed backstage. Immediately after, the chants began: “Encore, Encore Encore!” The fans wanted more. Stage workers appeared and started picking up instruments and props. The fans got antsy. Twenty minutes passed, and the lights went down again, the crowd went wild.

Slightly Stoopid was back and as excited as ever. “This is why we love Athens!” They started to play again, bringing in some timeless classics and then some new material. “The concert was amazing,” senior Abby Orlansky said. “I had a great time. I didn’t know many of the songs, but it didn’t really matter. They engaged the crowd and made it an all around good time.” The band did everything possible to make the show a memorable one. Even though they lacked the showyness displayed by many bands they didn’t need a spectacle to achieve fan approval. Their set was simple; their songs, relatable. They proved that you don’t need an arena full of lasers and special effects to put on a great show. With just a guitar, a bass, a set of drums and a few more instruments, Slightly Stoopid provided total satisfaction to all in attendance. -Amelia Christopher

Snoop Lion’s Reincarnated fails to Roar Snoop Lion, formerly known as Snoop Dogg, visited Jamaica in 2012. This visit turned into a spiritual journey for Snoop Dogg, who embraced the Rastafarian way of life, dropped his old monicker, and became the Lion. Before the release of the album, he released a featurelength documentary of the same name detailing Snoop’s spiritual trip to Jamaica. It’s hard not to raise an eyebrow when you hear of Snoop Dogg’s new incarnation. Some view it as an attempt to regain the spotlight, but only Snoop knows how genuine his claims are. The only insight we have into his new persona is through his new album, Reincarnated, which fails to deliver the soulful reggae sound and lyrics you could expect from his new name and identity. Instead, the album offers a mishmash of pop, dance, rap and reggae. The good things about the album are the attention to detail and the production value. It does have a good sound, but by the end of the album, every song sounds exactly the same. It starts off strong with “Rebel Way,” a rock reggae song about his new rebirth where Snoop sings, “Love is the cure; courage is the weapon you can use to overcome.” It seems to be a sincere introduction into Snoop’s persona. “Here Comes the King,” the next song, has a childlike chorus sung by Angel Hunte, and the line, “Smoke enemies like papers,” which sounds reminiscent of his hip-hop days. While Reggae in style, the song incorporates elements of electronic music, giving it a unique feeling. “Lighter’s up,” has a great beat provided by a Ja10

maican brass band that reminds you of one of your favorite hip-hop classics. “So Long” is an uplifting song with a more traditional reggae sound. “Get Away,” is dance music with a pounding bass part. “No Guns Allowed,” has a good message and features Drake, who delivers a solid verse. “Fruit Juice” is where the album starts to become melancholic. Every song starts to sound the same. All the songs are a mix of pop and reggae and do not stand out from one another. “Smoke The Weed,” talks about the troubles in the city, and how smoking weed (which is a sacred tradition in Rastafarianism) can help with your troubles. “The Good Good,” is a song with a jovial feeling. It is about love and how good it is. “Torn Apart,” is very electronic and uses auto tune to get that electronic effect. The last song on the album, “Ashtrays and Heartbreaks,” is about the people who have died along the way. Snoop and Miley Cyrus perform together on the song, filling up their ashtrays smoking weed to cope with their losses. The album is not terrible, but certainly not memorable. It is produced well, has lots of details, and you can certainly tell that a lot of money went into its creation. It’s content, however, is shallower than you would expect from Rastafarian music. A few of the songs may be pop hits, but the overall package is hardly worth buying. I would recommend finding the songs you like and then just downloading those. -Jordan Holliman

Shows

Big Boi June 7, Masquerade Dawes June 7, Buckhead Theater The Tallest Man on Earth June 9, Variety Playhouse Tame Impala June 17, The Tabernacle Cat Power June 18, Buckhead Theater Kendrick Lamar June 20, Tabernacle One Direction June 21, Phillips Arena Brad Paisly June 23, Aaron’s Ampitheater Village People July 12, Cobb Energy Center

Releases

June 3—Ciara, One Woman Army June 6—Houndmouth, From the Hills Below the City June 11—Jimmy Eat World, Damage June 11—Smith Westerns, Soft Will June 11—The Lonely Island, The Wack Album June 18—3OH!3, Omens June 25—John Legend, Love in the Future June 25—Wale, The Gifted

Magnetic Festival pulls seniors from Prom We arrive back from spring break and take a deep breath. There are only a few more weeks to go. As we quickly move along with the remainder of our high school careers, many important events make their way onto the calendar. The next thing most upperclassmen look forward to is prom, but for us, not so much. We made our debut into the world of expensive dresses, fancy dinners, pricey transportation options, and everything prom our junior year so we were ready to experience something new. Along with five fantastic dates, we decided to change things up a bit. Instead of the traditional prom fiasco, we chose to go to a brand new festival known as Magnetic Music Festival. The venue was located at Kennesaw State University’s sports and recreational field and has been announced to be an annual event. We chose to spend our final prom night this way for a few reasons but mainly because to us it seemed like a better deal, and we still got to incorporate our favorite aspects of a traditional Grady prom. The date: Consider us lucky because we were asked to prom by five wonderful ladies. We all got ready together, enjoyed a homemade meal, and carpooled to the festival. Spending the evening with our best friends was the true purpose behind the occasion. Together, we made final

high school memories that will last a life time. The dress code: For prom, we would usually spend hours finding just the right dress and then a few more for shoes to match. Because this special night only happens once a year, we still felt the need to get a new outfit for the occasion. Instead of stressing out over “perfect,” we just shopped for something fun that would also be comfortable to wear the whole day. We wore playful makeup and accessorized with a few glow sticks and glitter. The dance: With headlining artists such as Kid Cudi, Flux Pavillion, and Adventure Club, we got to dance all night long to fun beats and to our surprise, even a few slow songs. Some individual artists set up the stages with large colorful sets and others displayed amazing light shows that reached the tops of the trees in the surrounding woods. The crowds were energetic and friendly and ranged from high school students to adults. The venue was very safe with campus PD as well as local officers securing the shows. Today, there’s nothing we regret about making the decision to stray away from the typical prom night. We will always remember our senior prom as a fun time we spent together as friends. We just chose to celebrate in a different way. 11 -Nara Smith & Victoria Dragstedt

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HAILING

the ELECTRONIC AGE

n inflatable octopus, a palm tree and a banana attached to tall poles bounce in the air as thousands of bodies dance to and fro beneath it. Electronic synthesizer noises, bass drops and voices singing along to the lyrics of familiar songs fill the air, which is lit by glow sticks and glitter. The electronic music scene is rapidly gathering a larger fan base, one producer or DJ at a time. Along with electronic music, there is a very distinct lifestyle, one that is focused around spreading good energy and respecting all people. Fans often wear eccentric costumes at live shows, carry creative props such as totems and flags and dance enthusiastically. Senior Mckenzie Taylor has attended seven electronic music shows this school year. Electronic musician and producer Derek Vincent Smith, also known as Pretty Lights, wrote and produced hip-hop music while attending high school in Fort Collins, Colo. After graduating, he attended the University of Colorado at Boulder but dropped out his freshman year to focus on his music. In 2007 and 2008, Pretty Lights and Cory Eberhard began playing late nights for large acts like STS9, The Disco Biscuits and

Widespread Panic. In the summer of 2009, under the name of Pretty Lights, he played at major American music festivals such as Bonaroo, Rothbury, the Electric Daisy Carnival, Wakarusa and Camp Bisco. The following fall, he toured more than 50 U.S. cities. Alumnus Sarah Nicholson frequents electronic music festivals and has attended three this year. “Emancipator and Pretty Lights are literally the only music I have been listening to for the past month,” Nicholson said. “I like the slower, more instrumental electronic sound because I find it complex.” Smith also prefers the more complicated layering of electronic music over simple beats. Senior Sam Tomaka has his own favorites in the electronic music scene. “Passion Pit is a big name in electronica who specialize in uplifting tunes, synth riffs and falsetto vocals,” Tomaka said. “I view electronic music as the scene of rapid, socially cognizant musical innovation for our generation, just as grunge was to the ’90s and punk was to the ’70s.” Senior Matthew Copello says it’s the minor details that make electronic songs unique. Please turn the page

Michal Menert, a producer on the Pretty Lights Music label, gets the crowd moving before the headlining act at Counterpoint.

“You just don’t listen to [electronic music]. ... You feel [it].” -- Nara Smith

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“I’ve seen older couples and a 6-year-old girl dancing harder than anyone else.” Senior Hannah meachin strikes a pose in front of the CounterPoint Music Festival sign that stands in a wide open field in Fairburn. This the first festival at this location, attracting tens of thousands of fans from all over the Southeast.

Senior Nara Smith and Alumnus Sarah Nicholson decorate their faces for their favorite artists with colorful glitter. Audience members at CounterPoint.

continued from previous page “I love the chills you can get, the vibration of the subwoofer deep in your eardrums, the idea of peace, love, unity and respect that most electronic music influences,” Copello said. Musicians like Pretty Lights are hard to classify into one genre of music because they sample such a variety of music to create their unique sound. One song may contain elements of hip-hop, jazz, soul, disco and more. Taylor said these new genreblending producers can’t be contained to one genre. They do more than press play on a laptop; Pretty Lights conducts his own bands to create the distinct sound he wants and samples from old vinyl. Smith struggles when trying to describe the sound of this type of music to others. “It’s not electronic dance music, not only dubstep, but it is something completely new emerging from already established techno music,” Smith said. “I like getting jiggy with it. There is energy built into it. It’s music you don’t just listen to, but you feel.” Electronic music that uses synthesizers, drum machines and turntables has been around for decades. But Tomaka said the digitalized music created with computer technology is almost exclusively a product of the 21st century. “Inventions like digital turntables, sound production and editing software, computerized light displays and programmable launch pads have evolved electronic music from an underground novelty to a vibrant culture centered around musical innovation, social consciousness and energetic self-expression,” Tomaka said. Initially, Taylor was not interested in electronic music, but after exploring the variety available, found the style that she loves. “My mom has listened to electronic, trance and house music since I was born, so I grew up hearing a lot of electronic sounds,” Taylor said. “I love that electronic music can keep you guessing and it introduces you to sounds you have never heard in your life.” Tomaka said that in electronic music, it is almost impossible to run out of music to discover. “As an artist there are so many paths you can take with electronic music that you could very easily find yourself

pioneering a style that has never really been explored by other artists,” Tomaka said. “I love the lifestyle, but usually this type of concert is associated with drugs, alcohol and sex,” Taylor said. “Despite the crowd of people who go just to do those things, there is an entirely different side to it. There are tons of people who go to shows because they truly love the music.” Smith agrees that electronic music often has a bad reputation, especially amongst younger fans’ parents. “My friends and I try to stay out of the negative scenes at shows and focus on the more important message of enjoying the music for what it is and connecting with other people through it,” Smith said. Taylor’s first electronic show was Pretty Lights and Bassnectar, a twonight concert at Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre in Alpharetta, and said it was “like nothing I’ve ever seen before.” “I only went because my boyfriend was going, but after the show I slowly started listening to more Pretty Lights and I fell in love,” Taylor said. “I think I was too young at the time to appreciate the music for what it was. I was too caught up listening to iTunes top-10 songs.” Last year, Tomaka attended a show that DJ You, a Grady alum, performed at SheishunCon. “He’s a happy, hardcore DJ who is very talented,” Tomaka said. “Although it was heavy-sounding to me, I enjoyed his show.” Atlanta hosted its first major music festival, called Counterpoint, in September of last year. Smith, Taylor and Nicholson went to the festival that was 30 minutes away from the city in Fairburn. Attracting tens of thousands of electronic music fans from all over the Southeast, it lasted three days and nights with Bassnectar and Pretty Lights headlining. Taylor said Counterpoint was an experience that changed her life. “It was an amazing thing to go to shows all day and night for three days straight, camp with your best friends and a bunch of strangers who end up being your best friends, be exposed to new music, eat awesome food, and just enjoy the outdoors,” Taylor said. Senior Elia Green worked at a food truck called Bomb Squad Pizza while at Counterpoint and saw many live shows free of charge. “I’m new to this scene, so I haven’t gotten to know a lot of the music,”

“I love that electronic music can keep you guessing.” -- Mckenzie Taylor

As of 2012, fans have downloaded more than 6 million Pretty Lights songs for free. Green said. “But everyone there was happy and I met a lot of great new people.” Copello says he feels at home when he’s at a music festival. “I’m with thousands of people who might as well be my best friends,” Copello said. “We all share the love and same wavelengths.” It is often assumed that this music scene targets younger audiences, however, Taylor thinks that is not the case. “It’s not for a specific age group,” Taylor said. “Yes, there are a lot of young adults who mob electronic shows, but I think that’s because they are usually high energy, very social and it feels like one big party. But I’ve seen older couples in their 50s and even a 6-year-old girl who was dancing harder than anyone else.” Nicholson says electronic music naturally attracts younger audiences. “I think naturally our age group has grown to love [electronic music], and you can see how wonderful and powerful it truly is because now it’s branching off into other genres,” Nicholson said. “Rap artists and alternative artists are now teaming up with electronic DJs and creating some truly awesome music that will suit every type of person and their interests.” Nicholson, Taylor and Smith are all members of the Pretty Lights Family, a fan-based group that communicates virally to support each other and the artist. Electronic fan Robbie Beck created the Pretty Lights Family in 2012 after he was invited into a similar fan-based group, the Bassnectar Family. Beck and about 20 other fans of Pretty Lights often used the iPhone app to communicate about the music.In less than one year, the Family has expanded to more than 2,000 members that communicate through a Facebook page. “Everyone is more connected than in just a fan group,” Smith said. “I have developed relationships with people all over the country by relating to [Pretty Lights’] music and sharing our love for him.” Taylor joined the Pretty Lights family about six months ago, and even though everyone has not met, she said it still feels like one big family. Most fans of electronic music, and Pretty Lights, feel the songs have a positive underlying message filled with life lessons. “[Pretty Lights] encourages us to be happy ultimately,” Smith said. “To

let loose, love one another, as well as yourself; that having fun is awesome and that music can structure your life in ways you never imagined.” Taylor says there is a song for every mood or situation. Tomaka agrees that there are strong, encouraging messages amongst most electronic music. “I think [electronic music] is very important in a time where hope, euphoria and positivity are valued,” Tomaka said. “Electronic music can readily provide [these ideas].” Pretty Lights and everyone on his label, as well as other electronic musicians such as Bassnectar, Big Gigantic and Griz, have been altering the way the music industry works by giving away their music for free. A donation is available online, but these artists make all of their money through frequent tours, merchandise and playing several large-scale festivals. As of the year 2012, more than 6 million Pretty Lights songs have been downloaded off of the Internet. A recent editorial about information piracy in The New York Times points out that most musicians get a majority of their profit from gigs and advertising deals, not record sales. “[Buying songs] no longer applies to our evolving world,” Tomaka said. “Barring the possibility of a global crackdown on Internet rights, file sharing is the future of music distribution. Pretty Lights and other contemporary electronic artists have made the logical decision to accept and encourage it, rather than fight it.” Taylor said Pretty Lights is unique because he does more than stand on stage and press ‘play.’ “He gets into the music just like the crowd, which is a beautiful thing to watch,” Taylor said. “He wants to give everyone a chance to let go of worries and cares and have fun. That’s what music is about: pure enjoyment.” Tomaka says Pretty Lights is a poster child for the benefits of accepting file sharing. “Within the span of a few years, he went from being unknown to a headliner at major festivals like Bonaroo and Electric Forest,” Tomaka said. “What a wonderful thing is to see music falling from the hands of a profit-driven corporate industry and into the hands of the artists and fans who are driven instead by creativity and good vibes.” -- story and photos by Diana Powers (except for page 12 photo which is courtesy of CounterPoint Festival)

Fans carry a large Chinese dragon with Bassnectar’s symbol on the side, named the “bass dragon”, through the crowd, bouncing above audience members heads. Michal Menert and Derek Vincent Smith, also known as Pretty Lights, momentarily take the stage together before Pretty Lights put on the headlining performance of the festival.

Several amenities were available at the festival: a Ferris wheel, carnival games, art installments, food trucks and a bungee jumping station.

“Pretty Lights went from being an unknown to a headliner.” -- Sam Tomaka

(The Not-So-Beastly)

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN CITY Nexus offers you an inside look at Atlanta’s newest animal additions

Photos courtesy of Zoo Atlanta

Baby Andi zoo cute for words When was the last time you went

to the zoo? If you’re anything like me, probably not since you were about 7 or 8 and you could still fit comfortably on the carousel ride in the children’s play area. When I ventured back to the zoo for the first time since I used to wear matching outfits with my older sister, it took me back to my childhood. I felt like a little kid all over again because just like all the youngsters there, I too was completely fascinated with the largerthan-life animals. As I strolled through the park, I was even more captivated by how much nicer Zoo Atlanta is nowadays than it was back in the late ’90s and early 2000s. The real reason for my visit to the zoo was to

see the newest addition to the always interesting gorilla attraction: the baby gorilla. If you have ever watched the gorillas at Zoo Atlanta then you will have already noticed that they interact more with their observers than any other animals in the zoo. Everything from their mannerisms to the way they interact with each other will not only keep you laughing but also amaze you because they are so similar to humans. Gorillas live in groups called troops and have a dominant male, a silverback, who protects the entire troop. The troop usually consists of young males and several females and their offspring. At Zoo Atlanta, the proud papa and the silverback of his troop is Taz,

23, and the mother is Lulu, 13. All of the gorillas in the exhibit, which has been open since 1988, are western lowland gorillas. The new gorilla, Andi, is the seventh child of Taz, but only the first for Lulu. The baby gorilla is the grandchild of the late Willie B. who passed away in 2000 and was extremely popular at the zoo and throughout the city. The baby gorilla was born March 13 and is the 19th gorilla to be born in the 25-year-old Willie B. Gorilla Conservation Center at Zoo Atlanta. Zoo Atlanta is a timeless place and can be fun for anyone, young or old. The baby gorilla, Andi, is growing fast so the sooner you get to the zoo the sooner you can 17 observe the little tike.

(The Not-So-Beastly)

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN CITY Nexus offers you an inside look at Atlanta’s newest animal additions

Photos courtesy of Zoo Atlanta

Baby Andi zoo cute for words When was the last time you went

Photos by Laura Steib

Llamas and Aye-Ayes and Mammoths, oh my!

Fernbank isn’t always the most entertaining place for teens to go. Most of the permanent exhibits are intended for young children ,and much of what’s there doesn’t seem to belong in a natural history museum. There’s the Martinis and IMAX, where they ply patrons with alcohol just before throwing them down the Grand Canyon or into the abyss. The special exhibit in early spring centered on unicorns and mermaids, which aren’t exactly traditional natural history subjects. The current exhibition is a drastic improvement on its predecessor, by its subject alone. Extreme Mammals: The Biggest, Smallest, and Most Amazing Mammals of All Time runs from March 2 to Aug. 18. Visitors explore what it is to be a mammal and all of the evolutionary steps that it took for them to arise. Classifying organisms is a lot more complicated than it might seem. What used to be based on taxonomy alone now must change to fit genetic and evolutionary evidence, which often leads to reclassifying traditional groups. The exhibit breaks down all of the traits that mammals share and the many characteristics that make them different from one another. Defining mammals comes up more often than it might seem, especially among children. Children’s conversations often revolve around proving that they know

more than their peers, prompting the infamous “Did you know” stream. One of theses statementquestions is “Did you know that the platypus is the only mammal that lays eggs?” Responses include “No sweetie, that’s very interesting,” “No one cares four eyes,” and “If it lays eggs that means it’s not a mammal.” It is generally said that a mammal is any animal that is warm-blooded, gives live birth and produces milk. A mammal is not required to have any of these traits; they are only common among them. Definitions vary but mammalia includes the most recent common ancestor of living monotremes (platypuses and echidnas) and therian mammals (mammals that give birth without a shelled egg) and all descendants of that species. The exhibit also considers the array of head protrusions in mammals, horns, tusks, antlers and ossicones (the horn-like protrusions that giraffes have). There are replicas of the massive antlers and ossicones that some extinct mammals had. Then, just for the children of course, there are some true oddities like the horned gopher, the narwhal male whose 5-to-10-foot tusk can bend a foot in any direction, and a life-sized model of the 10-foot long trunked llama. The displays move through all the different kinds of teeth from filter-feeding whales, carnivorous

tigers and lemurs who use “tooth combs” to groom one another. The Thylacosmilus atrox lived 2 million years ago, weighed about 330 pounds, had large sabre-teeth, and carried its young in a pouch. One of the most provocative parts of the exhibit was a series of brain models, used to compare brain size and the brain to body ratio of a number of mammals. A graph in this section of the exhibit reveals that humans do not have the largest brains for their body size, but rather the Aye-Aye. The Aye-Aye is a lemur, named for the scream that natives of Madagascar make when they see this harbinger of death. After traveling through fur, scales, reproduction, prehensile tails and the return of whales to the ocean, the exhibition ends a little doleful. The same message is told again about human destruction and its horrible consequences. There are images of literal mountains of buffalo skulls, the Tasmanian wolf (extinct in the 20th century), and even a cave painting of a mammoth (who we may have helped into extinction). By that point, the bright lights of the gift shop can be seen over the partial wall and the façade of a continuous maze of mammals is over. Visitors are then tempted by stuffed opossums and mammoths, T-shirts, fake tar, and the screams of their children. -Laura Streib

Penguin chicks pave path for conservation Georgia Aquarium welcomes six penguin chicks into their predominately fishy fold

The Georgia Aquarium has had a lot to celebrate since

its opening on Nov. 23, 2005. Now aquarium officials can add the birth of the African penguin chicks to their list of achievements. Since the 2010 redesign of African Penguin habitat in the Georgia-Pacific Cold Water Quest Gallery to create an environment that mimics their natural environment, welcomed six chicks. The recent chicks hatched in early January within weeks of each other. Due to the recent delivery of these penguins they are not on display yet, but the staff at the Georgia Aquarium was very helpful in giving us access to their own pictures of the chicks. The seabirds are listed as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list. They were classified as “vulnerable” from 2000 to 2008 before finally being put on the endangered list in 2010.

Photos courtesy of The Georgia Aquarium

Skilled in penguin care, the Georgia Aquarium staff has been working with the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Costal Birds to study the health of freeranging African penguins. In addition, the aquarium is also a member of the African penguin Species Survival Plan and is affiliated with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The chicks will serve as animal ambassadors and help to raise awareness and educate guests about threats penguins face in the wild. It is unclear when the penguins will be officially exhibited. For more information on the status of the African penguin chicks you can visit the georgiaaquariumblog.com. -Tamara Mason

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Giving thanks to the golf gods

Author’s best golf day ever began with an ace and got better from there I can remember the day quite vividly. I remember what I was wearing and what I had to eat that day. It was a chilly, overcast November morning that looked like it inevitably would end in heavy downpours. For some reason, however, the rain held off that cloudy afternoon. It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in November of 2010. Because of a lack of things to do, I decided to meet up with two friends of mine to bundle up and play an autumn round of golf at Druid Hills Golf Club. The dull, cloudy weather and cold temperatures made my 15 year-old self, wishing I was still in bed. How my opinions would soon be changed. It all started on the first hole. After I stuck a drive in the fairway, I left myself 180 yards to the hole, give or take a few. Just an easy swinging 5 iron would get me to the pin in the front left portion of the green. I confidently, but somewhat nonchalantly, made a swing at the ball. I watched it slowly rise like a tiny balloon and curve in right to left straight at the pin. It bounced once on the green before firmly striking the yellow flagstick, ricocheting and coming to rest ten feet from the hole. I remember not thinking much of it, at the time a lucky shot that must have received a fortuitous bounce. I missed the short birdie putt anyway, so it didn’t really matter. On the first hole I ended up with a par. I thought to myself, “Hey, that’s not half bad.” And my next six holes of my round behaved that way for the most part. I consecutively parred the next four holes and then made an unfortunate bogey on the short par-3 sixth. After missing another short birdie putt on the seventh green, I was kicking myself as I walked to the eighth tee. The signature eighth hole at Druid Hills Golf Club is a 186-yard par 3 with a deep, rocky, ravine-like creek filled with dense vegetation and enclosed by high cobblestone banks running right in front of the green which, I am certain, has eaten its fair share of golf balls throughout the years. Five bunkers surround the elevated green, all acting like giant sandy catchers’ mitts, snagging even the most slightly errant of tee shots. This hole is closely bordered by Clifton Road, adding the ever-present sound of whirring vehicles. The only protection from golf balls it offers is sparsely scattered tree limbs, putting drivers at risk of taking Titleist’s through their windshields. Also add the sloping green with its well-defined ridges to the laundry list of things that make this hole difficult and intimidating. I was to hit last in my threesome on this particular hole. My first playing partner, Chris, stuck a ball in the middle of the green with ease. The next man to hit, Harry, teed up a ball very close to the ground and hit it straight in the creek. In the aftermath of the shot, he stormed away, muttering something to himself under his breath. As I bent down to tee up my ball, I saw that his wooden tee was still firmly planted in the ground at a good spot to attack the back left pin placement. It is common 20

golf superstition to avoid using a playing competitor’s golf tee after they hit a shot, especially if it was a poor shot. It is looked at as being extremely bad luck. Luck, shmuck. I placed my ball on his tee. I was hitting the trusty 5 iron again, with which I grazed the flagstick only seven holes ago. Not even thinking about the brush with glory I had on the first hole, I executed a generic swing with the club and compressed the ball perfectly off the tee, making perfect contact. Man, I hit it good. I watched the ball fly on a perfectly straight path, heading just to the left of the hole, on a line in between the flagstick and what seemed like the vast, sandy beach-like jail. The ball touched down on a grassy patch in between the green and the front left bunker, kicking slightly to the right towards the green and in the general direction of the fiberglass flagstick. The only thing I was thinking was “great, not in the bunker.” I saw the tiny white spec in the distance that was my ball catch a slope and run right at the hole. I saw it come to a stop, probably just a few feet behind the pin. I was more than satisfied with the result. As we toted our golf bags and crossed the wood stained footbridge over the creek, one of my playing partners lightheartedly suggested, “Hey, what if it went in?” I dismissed the idea immediately. I knew it hadn’t gone in. Countless times in my youth I was certain I had made an elusive hole-in-one only to be faced with the despair of getting up to the green and seeing my ball lying on the short green grass, not submerged in the small hole only four and a quarter inches in diameter. No matter how good of a shot I had hit, it was never the perfect ace. I had learned never to rely on this statistical impossibility to come through for me. For those of you counting at home, the odds of a holein-one for an average golfer are 1 in 12,000. On a hole 200 yards or more, it is a slim 1 in 150,000. Needless to say you would need a great deal of luck on your side to be able to pencil in the number one on your scorecard. Whether you call it luck or divine intervention on the part of the golfing gods, something was going right for me on that gray afternoon. As we walked up the steady incline to the green, I started thinking about the putt I was going to have. I was probably looking at about a 3-footer, an easy chance at birdie. The closer and closer we got to the green, the more optimistic I felt about the putt I was going to be faced with. “Wow, it sure is in there close,” I thought, “It’ll be an easy kick in.” I climbed the final grassy slope to the front of the green and I was surprised to not see my ball. Where was it? Did someone from the last group pick it up? No, there was no one else on the course but a group a few holes behind us. Perhaps an animal or something ran away with it. Squirrels

have been known to do “The closer and that with golf balls out closer we got to here. Then it hit me like a the green, the 500-ton freight train. It more optimistic I had gone in. The five minutes that felt.” followed that moment are foggy in my memory. It was almost an out-ofbody experience. I think a man in a BMW had stopped on Clifton Road to tell me my ball had gone in. A great deal of jumping up and down, yelling and giving some awesome high fives, all “I couldn’t things that are normally looked down help but upon on a golf course, ensued. This was an exception to the rules of pinch myself. etiquette. Nope, not I had made a hole-in-one. It felt dreaming.” weird to even say out loud, like I was speaking in tongues. Looking down at the hole with the flagstick still planted firmly in it and seeing my scuffedup Bridgestone ball with my name written on it in Sharpie was indescribable. Many golfers have played for their entire lives without making a hallowed ace. Heck, even some professional golfers have never done it. My feet didnt touch the ground for the rest of the day. All of a sudden my mind went through a transformation. I started thinking, “Isn’t this supposed to be one of the hardest sports to master? It can reduce even the greatest athletes to tears. I just holed a five iron like it was a mere two foot putt. I have conquered the game of golf.” Although this was a foolish, spur-of-the-moment opinion that I now know is of course not true, I felt invincible. I birdied the proceeding par five ninth hole to shoot a two under 34 on the front nine, the first time I had posted a nine hole score under par in my life. It is a longstanding tradition that if anyone ever gets a hole-in-one, they have to buy drinks for everyone. No one objects to it because it is a universally accepted universal rule. At the turn, I triumphantly bought a celebratory round of chocolate milks for Chris, Harry and me. The back nine was a blur. I remember coming up the par 5 18th hole. On the tee box, Chris informed me that I was one under par. I parred all but one of the holes on the back nine. Shooting under par is something every average golfer dreams of accomplishing. And there it was, finally in my grasp. All that stood between me and breaking par for the first time in my life was 500 yards of fairway with out of bounds on the left and right sides and a handful of bunkers surrounding the green. Suddenly I felt something that I hadn’t felt all day: nerves. I boomed a drive down the fairway. My second shot was a safe play down the middle, leaving me a mere 80 yards from the green. Hitting the green would mean that I had the historic round in the bag. I could do it.

But then chaos ensued. I pushed the wedge shot and missed to the left side of the green in a grassy swale. I had to get up and down to keep the dream alive. Wait, what dream did I have to keep alive? I had made a hole-in-one that day. Need I say it again? I had made a hole-in-one. What does it matter if I didn’t get this up and down? I had accomplished something that I assumed would have still been on my bucket list as an elderly man. I was only 15. I accepted that I would be satisfied no matter what the outcome. But like I was a princess in the end of a Disney movie who inevitably falls in love with her Prince Charming, I proceeded to chip it to five feet and then roll in the putt to shoot a 71. I had broken par for the first time in my golfing career. What seemed to be impossible had happened. But why not make it a bit more of a statistical anomaly? A gentlemen two holes behind me aced the 13th hole that day. Again, for you statisticians at home, the chances of two people

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making holes-in-one independently of one another on the same day are about one in 17 million. This truly was an abnormal day. Druid Hills Golf Club was a zoo that evening because there were free drinks multiplied by two. There were two holes-in-one on the same day, something no one had ever experienced before. The bar was filled with people. They were breaking out the Dom Perignon champagne. Everyone was jolly. After my partners Harry and Chris went home, I chose to go spend some time alone in the golf shop stroking putts on the argyle carpets with the Scotty Cameron putters they had for sale. Scotty Cameron, for those unfamiliar with golf equipment, makes the finest putters ever made. They are the Rolls Royce of putting equipment. They are what God himself would roll 3-footers with. Hand-milled in California, these putters are the weapons of choice for almost every player on the PGA Tour. The only thing that restrained me from owning one was their 300 dollar price tags. As I rolled 10-foot putts across the green and red carpet at a makeshift golf hole with the magic stick I had in my hand, a man egressed into the golf shop. It was the gentleman who also made a hole-in-one that day. There we were, two statistical irregularities standing in the same room. It felt like a scene in an old western movie. We congratulated one another once again. Then he told me he would like to buy me the Scotty Cameron putter I had in my hands as a gift for my accomplishments and a token to remember our special day by. I had my eyes on that putter since I was 7, a Scotty Cameron blade model Newport Two. How could I turn down this offer? Would I have to sell my soul to the devil in return? Next thing I knew I walked out of the Druid Hills golf shop into the November evening dusk. I failed to leave the course that day empty-handed. Hell, I had a brand new Scotty Cameron gifted to me. It had a red grip and a steel shaft, and they had given me a headcover of shiny silver leather with three symmetrically placed red dots sewed into the top and a velvety inside protecting the shiny head of the putter. Stitched on the side were the words â&#x20AC;&#x153;Scotty Cameron: the Art of Putting.â&#x20AC;? It looked like it was a scepter of futuristic warriors. I made my first hole-in-one, broke par for the very first time and acquired a state-of-the-art new golf club all on that day. This day before Thanksgiving could literally not have gotten any better. My brother picked me up from the golf course that night. As I sat in the backseat of the warm car, I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but pinch myself. Nope, not dreaming. -Luke Webster

Webster points from the ninth tee box to the eighth green at Druid Hills Golf Club in celebration of his hole-in-one.

Webster celebrates with the other members of his threesome, (from left) Harry Gaskin and Chris Harris.

Chatter Up!

Prioleau goes up to bat against opponents at Alonzo A. Crim.

Rain, heat, below freezing temperatures and even a little snow, it doesn’t matter. If it’s a baseball game, Oscar Prioleau is there, and he’s talking. “I love baseball because it’s a sport that you can have a lot of fun playing,” Prioleau said. “I can be myself on the field and talk as much as I want without anyone telling me to hush.” Prioleau, a junior shortstop who has played on varsity since his sophomore year, and is well known for his lively chatter both on and off the field. Whether its from the dugout or his spot in between second and third, his words of encouragement are incessant and impossble to ignore. “Oscar’s chatter on the baseball field keeps me in the game and pumps me up,” fellow junior and Knight pitcher and first baseman Liam Henry said. “As annoying as it is, it’s actually a big help.” Despite the occasional grumbling from some teammates about Prioleau’s constant enthusiasm, his teammates look to him for motivation.

Junior Knight baseball player keeps things loud on the diamond to motivate teammates and strives for an error free future

As annoying as it is,

“He has for the Knights, [Oscar’s chatter] is always brought he plays baseball actually a big help” the fun part with his traveling of baseball summer team, the Liam Henry to our team,” Atlanta Bluejays. junior Knight Henry, a centerfielder fellow Bluejay, and pitcher Luke has developed a Leonard said. friendship with Prioleau Prioleau was born through their year-round in Atlanta and lived here commitment to the alluntil age 9, when he moved to American sport. Panama, where his mother was born “Oscar and I have good chemistry and raised. He then moved back to both on and off the field,” Henry the States at age 13, because his said. “We go on lots of trip and stay parents wanted him to graduate in hotels, and he’s always fun to from an American high school. travel with because he and I can joke His love for baseball started around so much.” at a young age, when his father Prioleau hopes all his hard work introduced him to the game. He will pay off in the end, whether its a started playing on a league at age 5 scholarship to play ball in college, or and ever since, baseball has been his going all the way to the majors, but passion. either way, he knows what he wants “Baseball relieves my stress and I to be doing. forget all my troubles when I’m on the “In 10 years, I see myself playing ball field,” he said. somewhere,” Prioleau said. “But no During the school year, Prioleau matter where I end up, I know I’ll just can be found smiling, shouting, and be smiling like I always do.” sporting the number 12 at shortstop and batting leadoff. When not playing -Mallory Hazell

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This is why we chomp Atlanta’s Turner Field offers a variety of ballpark bites, from homerun burgers to base hit snacks

Dugout Diner Tomahawk Tavern

All- Star Lineup Kevin Rathbuns H&F Yicketty Yogurt

1B 1B 2B HR 3B 1B

Photo by Mallory Hazell

Since Turner Field’s 1997 opening, the Atlanta Braves’ home field has been more than just a baseball park. Its been a bustling Atlanta landmark and somewhat of a hub for Southern baseball fans, thanks to its revamped stadium design and specifically, the crowd-pleasing chow. On a good night, the atmosphere is lively and the game is exciting, but no matter the number of home runs Gattis and Upton (Justin, that is) have sent flying over the wall [or amount of strikes Kimbrel has thrown (guaranteed to be high),] the fans are always there for a good time. Despite the often unpredictable nature of a good baseball game, there’s one thing that never fails to satisfy the Turner Field patrons: the food. Like any other ball park, you have the classics. No game would be complete without Cracker Jacks, hot dogs, and a plethora of cleverly titled booths such as Dugout Diner, Tomahawk Tavern and All-Star Lineup. Hungry patrons can easily locate pizza, hamburgers, beer and peanuts on every level, or if their hunger has impaired their senses, one of the many eager, maybe sometimes even overly eager ushers can help them out. For the ultimate baseball venue menu, fans flock to the Braves Chophouse. For more upscale dining (that is, as upscale as a Photo by Mallory McFarlin

downtown ballpark dining area can be) there’s the 755 Club, the ever delectable Kevin Rathbun’s steak sandwiches and the recently added H&F Burger, which boasts one of the best cheeseburgers in the country. True to any consistently crowded major event, the prices are slightly jacked up, but especially for Rathbun’s and H&F, I’d say they’re worth all the Diamond Dollars you’ve got. In honor of the legendary retired third baseman Chipper Jones’s home run lingo, the Ted has also recently opened Yicketty Yogurt, a frozen yogurt shop with dozens of toppings. For me, I have a hard time picturing Chipper craving anything with the nickname “froyo” but the spot often attracts a sizable line on warm weather nights. For those who wish to avoid the nation’s froyo fascination, classic options like Dip N Dots, Mayfield ice cream and cotton candy are also available throughout the park. Regardless of a win or loss by our beloved Bravos, Turner Field always delivers triumph to your taste buds. From ball park classics to delicious Atlanta restaurant specialties, Turner Field is the answer to the slightly altered Braves slogan, “This is why we chomp.” -Mallory Hazell

Peter’s Perfect Burger

I am a huge fan of a good burger. In my opinion, hamburgers can be one of the most satisfying meals on earth. However, not just anyone is capable of creating a top-notch burger. It takes some talent to put together a quality burger. This guide will help you create a superior burger.

Step One - Prepare Your Bun

Step Three - Cooking

The type of bun (sesame, white or wheat) is to your preference but the main thing you should be aware of is the size. Make sure that you have a bun that will not be larger than your patty. You don’t ever want to be biting in to just bread. Also, you have to be aware of when you put your bun in the toaster. If you put it in too early, you will have a cold bun. If you put it in too late, you will end up with a cold burger. You need to put it in at just the right time and correspond with the cooking of the patty.

There are two ways to cook a burger, on the grill or in a pan. If you are doing the pan method, make sure you put enough butter in the pan so it won’t stick when you flip it. Depending on your preference of rare, medium or well done, (I recommend medium) let each side cook the appropriate length of time. Towards the end of cooking it, throw a slice of cheddar or American cheese on top (unless you’re lactose intolerant). Remember to finish toasting the buns around this time.

Step Four - The Extras

Step Two - The Meat

Once again, this step is up to you in terms of the type of meat (bison, If you put love into the making turkey or beef). I think ground beef of your hamburger, you will end chuck is the best choice because it has up with a beautiful sandwich. enough fat to guarantee a juicy burger. Use the steps given as a guide, When you form the patty, make sure but remember to add a touch of you don’t handle the meat too much your own personal flavor. Once because that will make the meat way you experience a great burger, too dense. The patty should be a little you will never have to settle for a larger than a hockey puck. mediocre one ever again.

Cowboy Cookies

This next step is the most important step to make your burger a true masterpiece. Of course, you can put the classic condiments like ketchup and mustard, but putting A1 sauce or Texas Pete on your burger will add that amazing flavor. Add some crunchy lettuce, a tomato and pickles. Be careful, you don’t want to over do that part or it will become a salad. If you like egg on your burger, make sure you cook it the same time as the patty and flip it over-easy once so there isn’t yoke everywhere. -Peter Mastin

Ingredients:

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 egg

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup of butter, softened

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp brow sugar

3/4 cups of oats

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder until it’s mixed well.

1/2 tsp salt 1.

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp white sugar

2. In a separate bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar together until it is creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and continue to beat until it’s well combined. 3. Slowly add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture until it’s fully mixed. Then, add the oats, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans and mix until it’s combined. 4. Spoon the dough onto the baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Put into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. Make sure to let them cool for a few minutes after taking them out. 5. Enjoy!

-Abby Orlanksy

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From high school bleak to college chic It’s spring semester your senior year, which means it is the perfect time to clean out your wardrobe. It’s time to get rid of clothes that are childish and switch them out for clothes that are sophisticated and tailored. This doesn’t mean you have to throw out your sweatpants and T-shirts because you will definitely need those for lounging around campus and to wear to class (who will really dress up for a lecture?). You will, however, need to update your wardrobe for parties, formals, luncheons, interviews and other gatherings that you may have to attend without your beloved sweatpants. These are some helpful tips to guide you through the process. -Mckenzie Taylor

New Accessories

update patterns

Invest in the basucs

DITCH THE OLD AND TATTEREED 1) Get rid of old, tattered clothes. There is no need to hold on to several pairs of worn-out jeans. Instead, replace them with a dark wash jean in a few different styles, such as skinny, straight and bootleg. Swap out your yellowed white T-shirts for a white T-shirt that either has a scoopneck or v-neck and is made out of a jersey or knit instead of cotton. This would also be a good time to get rid of unmatched socks and socks with holes. It’s always good to have a selection of neutral colored socks in different lengths, depending on the shoe you are wearing.

2) Invest in basics. Now is the time to invest in some staple pieces for an adult wardrobe. A black blazer can pull together almost any outfit, and it can be worn to an interview or other formal affair. Invest in one or two business outfits, such as a knee-length pencil skirt and blouse and a pair of slacks and a blouse. It is important to remember that when trying to impress someone older than you who might give you a job, you must wear a skirt or dress that at least hits your knees. Also invest in a wellmade pair of black ballet flats that fit you well, along with a pair of black pumps. It would also never hurt to purchase a few button-up collared shirts that could be paired with jeans and a

3) Buy accessories that can make an outfit. You don’t have to spend a fortune on jewelry and bags, but look for pieces that look timeless and expensive. For example, a black leather hobo bag can be bought somewhere like H&M or Target for less than $30 and can look almost identical to a $300 black leather hobo bag from Bloomingdale’s. You can also buy a few statement necklaces that are colorful and bold that can dress up a T-shirt and jeans. Having a variety of gold and silver jewelry can be useful to pull together any look as well. Scarves are versatile and can be used to dress and outfit up or down.

4) Update your patterns. It’s time to get rid of everything that has hearts, smiley faces, little animals, or anything else that would look cute on a fifth-grader. This includes accessories as well. Stripes can either look childish or adultish, depending on the colors and width of the stripes. A navy-and-white striped shirt with about 2-inch wide stripes and a blazer over it will always be in style and make anyone look pulled together. Even polka dots are ok, as long as the colors aren’t childish. Florals are appropriate at any age, but it is important to stay away from cartoonish floral patterns as you get older and stick with something more elegant.

UrbanCouture returns for final show The 10th and final UrbanCouture fashion show took place Saturday, May 11 in Grady’s practice gym. The show featured the complete lines developed by senior and three junior designers. As in the past, spectators saw impressive lines from 10 senior designers, but this year, juniors Kelsey Woods, Mary Condolora and Leslie Lang had a chance to show their work, as well. “I think it’s a great thing,” Condolora said. “It has totally prepared me for what to expect next year.” Senior designer Sophia Smith returned for her fourth, and final, year of being involved in UrbanCouture. “It’s bittersweet,” said Smith, “I have been with [UrbanCouture] for such a long time, but I’m definitely ready to get out to the real world and start working to have a line of my own one day.” There was also a joint line by seniors Taylor Searcy and Lauren Alford. “The main theme of our line was just

black-and-white, but of course since we are a joint line, people expected double team results, so we just tried to prove ourselves mostly,” Searcy said. There was a diverse mixture of themes and designs this year between all 13 designers. Spectators saw a little bit of simple, feminine, edgy, grungey, versatile and definitely extravagantly themed lines. “We all were under so much stress trying to finish everything, but we were able to pull it together and everything looked fantastic,” senior designer Lauren Ogg said. “Through everything, we made it work.” This year marks the 10th UrbanCouture fashion show. After nine years of fabulous shows, this year’s will end the era of UrbanCouture at Grady. However, the show must go on. UrbanCouture will now be known as “Trés Belle Revolution-Launching Visionaries”.

Senior Nara Smith models a piece from “Beautiful Chaos”, Senior Sophia Smith’s line.

Junior

Ansley Marks leads the models in a final walk of Senior Lauren Ogg’s collection.

-Mallory McFarlin

Style Profiles Where are your favorite places to shop? “I like to shop at Goodwill, Last Chance, H&M and Target for my socks.” What is your favorite article of clothing? “Khaki pants, Vans, and my crazy cardigan. Also funky shirts with squiggly designs.” Who is your style icon or inspiration? “People in bands that I like and Benjamin Searles.” Do you think your style stands out at Grady? “Sure. Aint nobody got the swag I got.”

Declan Farrisee

Where are your favorite places to shop? “American Apparel, Urban Outfitters, and I love to go thrifting.” What is your favorite article of clothing? “My high-waisted jeans from American Apparel. I love anything high-waisted.” Who is your style icon or inspiration? “Lana Del Ray, I love her.” Do you think your style stands out at Grady? “Yes because everyone here dresses the same, like wearing Jordans and stuff like that.I like to dress differently than whats in style.”

Photots and interveiws by Kelsey Woods

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There’s no place like home

As a senior, there are only two things on my mind: how long I can put off doing homework and how long before I leave for college. During the college frenzy at the beginning of the year, I knew my ventures would be less hectic than most of my classmates because I was already set on staying in state. In fact, it never even occurred to me to leave. As much as I hate to admit it, the one thing I will miss the most after leaving for college will be my parents. I have been accustomed to having both a tight-knit immediate and extended family, most of which we see almost every week. My extended family is an integrat part of my life. While searching for a college, I knew I wanted to stay close enough so I can come home at least twice a month, but far enough away so that I become somewhat independent from my parents. I came to the conclusion that the University of Georgia would be the right place for me. College expenses are by far the most important aspect people consider when deciding which college to attend. Georgia is unique in that it offers a scholarship funded by the state lottery. The HOPE scholarship essentially covers most to all of a student’s tuition depending on his or her academic standing. Although there are some restrictions, the HOPE scholarship can be a gateway to a child’s education. During my college quest, I was reminded that both my sisters accumulated loans as they wound their way throughout their college experience. I wanted to graduate

college debt-free and have to pay almost nothing out of my own pocket. After applying for almost 30 scholarships to date, I am exhausted, but still obsessed with the idea of receiving any amount that will reduce or eliminate what I have to pay for my college education. Because of the cost and because of the distance, out-ofstate colleges simply aren’t for me. The lower price tagis not the only reason I want to stay in Georgia. Born and raised in Georgia, I cannot imagine leaving just yet. In the future, I would love to experience a new setting with new people and places, but the familiarity of Georgia will make the stress of the first day of college all the more relaxing. I’m excited at the prospect of meeting people that have at least one thing in common with me and some that are from around the country. Most importantly, however, I know my way around Georgia and know exactly what to expect from it each year. I was once asked what my dream college was, and immediately the question caused me to wonder. As I thought about it, I realized that I never had one. My parents did not attend college in America, and my sisters were all new to it themselves. I was not completely unaware of colleges in America, but I was not sure what they were like and how to differentiate them. I was not overly attached to one, which made staying in Georgia even easier. I am excited at the prospect of becoming a Bulldog and attending my first football game at UGA -Sanjida Mowla

Academic bowl team rolls on to D.C.

Every year, cadets are selected to participate in the JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowls. All JROTC programs in the United States and territories participate in this rigorous competition. The competition has three levels: “The Challenge” (Level I), “Zero Hour Threat” (Level II) and “JROTC Academic Bowl Championship and the JROTC Tri-Service Academic Bowl Championship” (Level III). Each level contains a series of tests on different facets of general education; SAT and ACT topics including math, literature, language arts, science, social studies; current events; and leadership disciplines. The lower scoring teams are eliminated at each level of the competition. The Grady Knight Battalion teams advanced to the Level II competition for the first time during the 20102011 school year but were unable to advance beyond that point. This year, however, history was made for the Knight Battalion.

The academic bowl team, consisting of members Hank Persons, Jefferson Martin, Titus Zeigler and Tia Borrego is the first at Grady High School to rank among the 24 advanced to the Level III competition, held at George Mason University in Washington D.C. this summer. At he competition, the cadets will square off against other teams in one-on-one competition. The Knight Battalion academic bowl team is currently working on a unique peer-to-peer tutoring project. They are developing vocabulary flashcards with multiple-choice supporting questions which will be distributed to JROTC units at every school to help other cadets prepare for college-entrance exams and help them increase their overall test scores. The academic bowl team’s largest emphasis, however, on studying material for the big competition in D.C. this summer. “We need to keep up on our

current events, and even though the competition is in the summer, we need to stay sharp in our academics and curriculum knowledge,” junior Titus Zeigler said. The year was filled with struggles for the academic bowl team. They underwent tedious processes to find each member for the team and dealt with scheduling issues and technological difficulties like Internet drops and Promethean connection problems. Many people did not believe that the team would make it as far as they have. “People have been saying we are the underdogs all year,” Zeigler said. “People (other teams and cadre) have said we wouldn’t make it, but we made it to round three for the first time in history at Grady. We can overcome the odds, and the more people against us is all the more reason to put in effort to succeed.”

-Tia Borrego

Overexerted and under pressure

The weight of the world is on your shoulders. Your paper has its deadline, and projects have their due dates. Dance practice comes first, but you have to be at work by 6. The math homework can be done during your break, but don’t forget to bring home some coffee because this is going to be a long, long night. Many students overexert themselves with too many AP or honors classes, extracurricular activities and after-school and weekend jobs. These students spend time after school participating in sports, teams and clubs, then go to work for a few hours only to go home and complete piles of homework. “I do so many things that sometimes my stress is just through the roof, and I am trying not to selfdestruct,” junior Avanti Lemons said. A survey of seven randomly selected students reported that students spend as much as 17 hours a week participating in after-school activities, work up to 10 hours a week at their jobs and have as much as 18 hours of homework per week. This

adds up to more than 45 hours of activities and assignments per week and does not even take into account time for school, sleep, chores, eating or commuting. “Sometimes I feel like unless I can add a few hours to my day, there is just no way I can do everything I have to do,” junior Suhmer Robinson said. Surveys by the Bank of America and Seventeen magazine have shown that as many as 85 percent of teen girls and 75 percent of teen guys experience stress. A study completed by Dr. Roni CohenSandler showed that many students experience a sharp increase in stress as they enter their junior and senior years of high school. Students feel pressured to commit to many activities and challenging courses in order to obtain admission to good colleges and to earn scholarships. These students may also feel the need to impress their friends and families, or to work hard for their own personal gain. While much of this stress is unhealthy not all of it is necessarily bad. According to Dr. Michelle Cleere, eustress is a form of stress that encourages students to succeed. It is the stress that gives people the motivation and drive to complete their work and persevere. One of the only negative side effects of eustress is that it may give way to distress, which is the more colloquial connotation and understanding of stress. Distress, which for simplicity’s sake we will just refer to as “stress,” can have many negative effects on teens and their health. Stress can cause sleep deprivation, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, headaches and mood swings. Stress, however, does not always have to be this extreme: the key is management of the stress and finding healthy ways to relieve it. There are many ways that students can manage their stress. To reduce stress, students should maintain a positive outlook towards life, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods and get about seven or eight hours of sleep per night. It is also helpful for students to manage their time by

setting aside specific and reasonable timeframes to complete work and other assignments according to Dr. Louise Chang. “I try not to sacrifice sleep to do my work,” Lemons said. “I just have to stay motivated. I do my homework whenever I can and limit my TV watching during the week.” Established sleep routines and limited TV time are very useful strategies to healthily manage stress. Getting ample amounts of sleep is essential to stress reducion according to Jenny Everett of Women’s Health magazine. Also, limiting social media like cell phones, television and Internet is a way of disconnecting one’s self with the stresses of the outside world. This disassociation from stress is another effective way of limiting one’s stress, according to Dr. Manny Alvarez of Fox News. When feeling stressed, students should take a walk or engage in any other stress-relieving activities like yoga, meditating or deep breathing, according to Chang. It is also helpful to spend time participating in pleasurable activities like reading or listening to music; doing what one enjoys doing is a very simple means of limiting the negative stress while increasing the positive stress in their lives. While these are many of the most common methods of relieving stress, there have been other more experimental methods that have been discovered. According to Alvarez, a more natural way to relieve stress is with passionflower. Passionflower is an herb that has been used as a folk remedy to relieve insomnia and anxiety. B vitamins and aromatherapy are also natural methods of relieving stress according to Alvarez. Everett believes, simplest of all, one can relieve their stress merely through eating healtier. Overall, school, work and life can bring stress to many people, but that stress should not dominate their lives. One should simply take some time to participate in a few stressrelieving activities. It will improve one’s health, attitude and look on life. -Tia Borrego

ge ri e en a m

Separated at BIRTH?

A few Grady studends make the halls feel like the red carpet withtheir impressive look-a-likes.

You may think your

favorite celebrity is one-of-akind, but they’re not. Some of the biggest stars and Grady high school students will have Megan Prendergast, senior, resembles actress Drew Barrymore from 50 First Dates.

you seeing double. Maybe it’s the similar smile, or those evocative eyebrows but there’s something that connects the Grady lookalike to their famous counterpart. Think we’re making this up? Check

Oscar Prioleau, junior, looks like professional golfer and PGA champion Tiger Woods.

out these pairings and decide for yourself. Which pair is the most indistinguishable? Which is a stretch to be on the page? Make it a party game and discuss your ratings with your

Malik Mason, junior, and Zero from Holes physicaly have a lor in common.

friends and neighbors.

Hollywood Knights

RATE THESE LOOKALIKES FROM MOST TO LEAST INSEPARABLE.

1. 2.

Charlie Menefee, junior, and Taylor Lautner not only share the same facial features, but also the same height.

3. 4. 5.

Sebbi Di Francesco, junior, and Vinny from Jersey Shore look alike on the outside, and also share a pasion for fist-pumping.

KNOW OF ANOTHER PAIR THAT WE SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED? LET US KNOW ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. https://www.facebook.com/nexus.

When Assistant Principal Dr. David Propst is not roaming the halls, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keeping up his double life as actor George Lopez.

VANS mural painting by Decker Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Alesio