Eastside: February/March 2010

www.eastside-online.org

Vol. 43 No. 8

Cherry Hill High School East: 1750 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

February/March 2010

Smart application of today’s technology ■ By Avra Bossov (‘11) Eastside News/Features Editor

The 1930s had the radio, the 1950s had the television, the 1970s and the 1980s had video games. Here, today, is the computer. However, in addition to the computer, students are privileged enough to have the world at their fingertips via cell phones, especially smartphones.

Smartphones are cellular phones that offer advanced capabilities such as Internet access.

While Research in Motion (RIM) introduced the first BlackBerry device in 1999 as a two-way pager, and the BlackBerry smartphone as it is known today was released in 2002, the smartphone age jumpstarted when Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, which was soon named Invention of the Year by Time magazine.

BlackBerrys were first used as business devices due to their BlackBerry Connect software utilized to receive and send e-mails directly from a BlackBerry device, but soon, BlackBerrys evolved into the contemporary smartphone, used more for entertainment, as it

contains the mobile telephone, text messaging, e-mails, web browsing and many more applications found in BlackBerry App World, a store similar to the App Store, which reached the onebillionth downloaded application available for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, in its mere seven months of existence.

According to Samsung Mobile Display, 14 percent of people in 2009 own smartphones, and that number is predicted to increase to 29 percent of people by the year 2012.

RIM and Apple are not the only companies to invest in the booming industry. Other companies have followed suit, such as Google, having released the Android, and Nokia, having released the N900 models and having acquired Symbian Software Limited, a certain smartphone operating system, in 2008.

Q3 2009 unit figures from Canalys, a service providing analysis of high-tech industry, indicate RIM and Apple are honing in on Symbian, compared to Q2 2009 figures showing Symbian 50.3 percent, RIM BlackBerry 20.9 percent, Apple iPhone 13.7 percent, Windows Mobile 9

Making smartphones smarter: the brain behind LuciD messenger app

Eastside asked 300 students about smartphones and found that...

■ By Amanda Michelson (‘10) Eastside Editor-In-Chief

125 students own smartphones.

175 students do not.

BlackBerry is the most popular smartphone.

42/125 of students who own smartphones have had them for six months to one year.

The EnV2 and the EnV3 are the phones most commonly owned by non-smartphone users.

96/175 of students who do not own smartphones do not wish they had one.

Non-smartphone owners use their phones 4-5 hours a day or more.

Non-smartphone users most cited the reason for not having one as “I dont need one.”

Smartphone users say that having one has impacted their social lives.

Out of all 300 students surveyed, texting is the most used application.

93/125 smartphone owners do enjoy having a smartphone.

Art by Avra Bossov (‘11)/ Eastside News/Features Editor

Inside This Issue

percent, Google Android 2.8 percent and others, including Palm, at 3.3 percent, as far as global smartphone sales.

Smartphones are gaining popularity as various cellular networks compete to have the most popular models coincide with the most reasonable prices, considering the global economic climate. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, “the average price for smartphones dropped 3 percent in the third quarter of this year” and “the average price [of a smartphone] is down nearly 17 percent from a year ago, to $177.”

As a point of reference, the iPhone 3GS starts at $199 and the iPhone 3G starts at $99, through AT&T, as the BlackBerry Storm 2 smartphone is available for $179.99 and BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone is available for $49.99 with Verizon Wireless.

Despite the economy’s decline, smartphones and their development are nowhere near declining—in fact, they’re increasing in both popularity and in sales rapidly, as a generation continues to grow accustomed to technological instant access.

Those who enroll in business courses envision themselves one day becoming the next Donald Trump or Bill Gates, but only a select few will attain such high goals. Eighteenyear-old East graduate and freshman at the University of Miami, Tyler McIntyre (‘09) has taken a step forward in becoming a young business mogul by pursuing his creation of a new phone application, LuciD. LuciD is a mobile application that allows communication between BlackBerries, iPhones, iPods and Droids. It is similar to the Blackberry’s “BBM,” but McIntyre believes it surpasses BBM’s capabilities. He said that the main advantages of LuciD over BBM, besides the fact that it connects different types of phones, include not needing a pin number, chat options, better account accessibility and international capabilities.

Rather than needing a pin number to invite people into messenger contacts, those who have the LuciD application will automatically be

added to any phone that has LuciD and the person’s phone number in its contact list. Instead of messaging with only one person at a time, LuciD allows chats to be formed with multiple people at once, regardless of phone type and provider. LuciD can be used with WiFi in other countries for free because the application has its own network that goes around the carrier.

While BBM allows owners to message from their own phone, any person who has LuciD can log into their LuciD account from any other phone with the application and speak to anyone in their contacts.

Roaming LuciD messages also cost two cents in comparison to a fifty-cent roaming text message.

“There hasn’t been an application where you can talk between all these platforms and text in chats...IM can’t do it...I went completely around all t h a t

[other technology] from phone to any phone,” McIntyre said.

He proposed the idea to the Launch Pad, a business building at the University of Miami that helps people start their projects. He was told to bring in a mock-up of his idea, and a week later he returned with one, ready to pursue his idea.

He then hired nine devSee LuciD, pg. 4

Tower art and photo by Amanda Michelson (‘10)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief Brain art by Nicolle Rochino (‘10)/ Eastside Art Director

Add a smart-start to your day

Interim distribution: not so smart

Smarten up your game with 3D

Community, Pgs. 5-6

Opinions, Pg. 8

Underground, Pgs. 10-11

NEWS/FEATURES Page 2

EASTSIDE

February/March 2010

Teacher to Feature: Ms. Rocchino ■ By Avra Bossov (‘11) Eastside News/Features Editor

A staple figure in the East community, Ms. Rosanne Rocchino has been at East for "too many years to remember," she said.

In fact, Rocchino said, "Sometimes I feel as if I was born here."

Rocchino has taught all levels of English except for English 4AP. In addition to teaching English, she teaches the SAT Review elective.

During her time here, a lot has changed within the halls of East.

"Students have added a whole lot more to their interests. [They're] not so focused on academics. It's probably because of the computer and the cell phone and the iPod. [The students] are into music and texting – they socialize constantly," said Rocchino.

In her opinion, "[education] has become much more diverse in English especially. We've incorporated a wide spectrum of literature just by trying to relate to the multiple ethnicities in our school. We've allowed female voices to come into our classrooms, which is a big change from what things were like when I was growing up.”

Rocchino can usually be

found in her classroom, ple think it is – too strict. self [in order to] develop a B235, after school most [I try to create] an order good rapport." days helping students or that promotes an academic "On the first day of administering make-up atmosphere where a stuschool, I thought she was tests. Always willing to dent can focus on learnvery strict and a little stay after to help her stuing." scary. Now, after a semesdents, Rocchino is ter, I think she is always "trying to really nice and do anything that funny," said Chriscan motivate [her] sy Paolini ('12), a students." student of Roc"Her teaching chino this year. methods were very "She tries to incorclear and thorporate everything ough.

She we are learning, explained everylike vocabulary, thing in great sentence strucdetail. When she tures and the book was teaching my [we're currently class how to take reading] at the proper notes, she same time. It's would go through pretty impressive." every page of a In recent years, book and point out teaching English significant quotes," II, she tries "a said Natasha dynamic approach, A n d r i y a n y ch e v a where I don't stick ('10), who had Rocto a lesson plan. chino sophomore [Class discussions] year and works are student diwith Rocchino as rected under my Kevin Yoo (‘12)/ Eastside Staff president of the guidance. Students Ballroom Dance Rocchino can typically be found in the take themselves English wing: second-floor B-wing.

Club. to a place in the "Knowing my topic that they can subject well, and trying to Mina Zakhary (‘11) said, get to. [My class] is more inspire my students to "After having Ms. spontaneous than prohave a passion for it as I Rocchino, my testing scores grammed, because the do," are both part of her soared.” class [itself] dictates it," teaching strategy, she said.

Since her classes are she said.

Rocchino also believes usually of a smaller size Eitan Scheinthal ('12) "having a sense of humor is due to a seminar style, agreed: "I won't look at vital and having discipline Rocchino enjoys "building another book the same way that is fair and consistent, a sense of camaraderie again," he said. but isn't –- well, some peoamong students and myIn her earlier years at

East, Rocchino was adviser of FACE, which was a club “to recognize the need for gender equality. It was both boys and girls, and we addressed the issue on an international level where there are problems of inhumane treatment based on gender," she said.

At one time, she was Chinese Dance Club adviser, was a cheerleading coach "because [she's] very into sports" and "directed plays, although absolutely not at the caliber of East [plays] now."

In tune with her love of sports, outside of school Rocchino is a Phillies fanatic and fan of the Eagles "when they don't get on [her] nerves." For a time, Rocchino and a group of other teachers were what they call “skating groupies” where they would follow ice-skating competitions, as spectators of course. She likes to play golf, and enjoys "all the things a usual English teacher would like: literature and the theater.”

“I love live theater,” she said.

"Being in a classroom interacting with students is my favorite part of teaching," said Rocchino.

Indeed she does, for Rocchino remains a legendary part of the East faculty.

End-of-course testing for math to begin 2010-2011 ■ By Darby Festa (‘13) Eastside Staff

Think back to the days of middle school, when there was an entire week reserved for standardized testing. There were no classes, no grades and best of all, no homework. In high school, students believed that they had graduated from the NJASK days. However, now students throughout New Jersey will be required to take a new standardized test every year, including high school students.

The test is known as an

end-of-course test. At the end of May, students will be assessed on the math skills they developed over the school year. Mr. Anthony Trongone, the math supervisor for the district, said, "The HSPA does not prepare students for entry level, college mathematics courses.”

According to Trongone, unlike the HSPA, the tests will apply to students from seventh through twelfth grade, not just juniors.

The purpose of this test is to evaluate students and make sure that the correct material for the course is being taught, according to

Mr. Joseph Dilks, East math teacher.

The state plans to administer the tests in the spring of 2011. However, Dr. John Burns, the director of Mathematics and Physical Science, said, "This is the plan for now, but with a new governor and a new commissioner of education, it is subject to change."

According to Trongone, the end course assessments will begin next year, starting with Algebra 1 only. This means that any student who is enrolled in either Enriched Algebra, Algebra 1R or Introduction

Mathlete numbers soar ■ By Devon Braunstein (‘10) Eastside Managing Editor

East students have been participating in the New Jersey Mathlete math contests for the past thirty years, competing against students from at least one hundred other schools in New Jersey.

The math contests are held every month or so in select classrooms in the math wing. Mr. Jeff Killion, who runs the contest at East, asks other math teachers to volunteer their time and classrooms from 2:30 to 3:00 to distribute and proctor the tests. Each round Killion, along with

about ten volunteer proctors, hands out 300 tests to eager students looking to challenge themselves with the six complex math questions.

According to Killion, up until just a few years ago, only around 120 to 150 students participated in the contests. During the past two years, however, the math contests have drawn up to 300 students, which is apparent through the crowds of students flocking to the math wing on math contest days.

After each round of the contest, Killion collects and grades each test, taking the top six scorers and

submitting those scores to NJ Mathlete to represent the school. Then, NJ Mathlete ranks the participating schools. At the end of the school year, the top student and top school are honored with plaques.

Two years ago, East ranked eleventh in the state and last year ranked third. East has also been ranked number one out of the South Jersey schools for the past decade. As of the third contest this year, East is ranked number one. Looking at the students' progression thus far, Killion predicts that East will place even higher this year.

to Functions will be required to pass the test.

Two years later, students will have to take and pass Algebra 1 and Geometry assessments. Four years later, they will take assessments on Algebra 1 and 2 ,as well as Geometry.

Dilks said, "I think [the test] is a good idea. If you have a diploma, you want it to mean something. I think that students will rise to the occasion and pass this test."

The end-of-course test is now part of graduation requirements: if students do not pass the test, they cannot graduate. However,

the test scores will not count for a class grade, according to Burns.

There are two parts to this test. The first part must be completed without a calculator, and the second part allows a calculator. "There is a mix of multiple-choice questions and open-ended,” Dilks said.

So welcome back to the days of standardized testing. Remember, get a good night's sleep, eat a filling breakfast, and bring a number 2 pencil.

Art by Avra Bossov (‘11)/ Eastside News/Feature Editor

NEWS/FEATURES February/March 2010

EASTSIDE

Page 3

Career fairs: helpful in this era?

■ By Jheri Grossman (‘11)

We asked them: “Who is your role model and why?”

FRESHMEN:My grandfather, who lived during the Holocaust.

Greg Weinstock When he (‘13) tells me the horrible stories of his childhood, he shows me the importance of courage and audacity. He taught me about the importance of hope. His bravery amazes me as he was only around my age when he was forced to separate from his mother and see her face for the very last time. He is someone who I look up to every day.

SOPHOMORES: Sure, I could tell you that Derek Jeter Adam Rosenthal is my role model, but (‘12) that's someone who is a role model for many. However, I feel that a role model should be someone who you interact with and impacts your life on a daily basis. My parents are my biggest role models in life, as they’re people that will always be there when I need them and will help me to live a successful life. I can always look at my entire family as everyday role models.

JUNIORS: My role models are B a r a c k O b a m a , G i s e l e Avra Bossov Bündchen, (‘11) Yao Ming, John Valore and Rob Incollingo. Why? I look up to all of them. All kidding aside, I have a friend who once said, “being different makes a difference.” In accordance with that statement, my role models are not people who don’t care about what people think, but those who pay attention to what people think and make those people think even more.

SENIORS: There are many people that are worthy of admiration.

My mom is my role Lauren beReudiger (‘10) model cause she has such strong morals. My sister is my role model because she never lets anyone tell her what to do. I also marvel at the typical heroes like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., JFK, Princess Diana and even Lady Gaga. However, my role models are the people who go to work day after day just because they love what they’re doing. I revere their sincere happiness.

Mr. Mike Dappolone also feels that college is the more important thing right During the ‘80’s, society now. He said that a “comgot rid of a lot of things: bined college and career disco balls, platform shoes fair” would work or an and … career fairs. event that aided students Cherry Hill East used to in choosing “classes in high have a career fair, in which school that are required for one day a college for year several the chosen professioncareer.” als, such as A l s o , lawyers, when asked doctors and to choose business among a p e o p l e, college fair, would come a career in and talk fair, or a about their combinajobs to the tion fair s e n i o r (both colEnglish lege and classes. career), 55 This fair percent of was availseniors able to all chose the seniors and combinagave them a tion fair. taste of Seeing as many popu94 percent lar careers. of last Mr. Matt year’s gradCarr said he uating senthought iors continthey were ued their “worth the education, effort” and and only 14 Courtesy of the 1983 Eidolon percent of that they “let kids be According to the yearbook caption, “This ongoing tradi- seniors suraware that tion gives out students some hands-on, face-to-face expe- veyed wantthere are rience with a variety of possible futures.” ed to rem a n y instate the options” out there. classes,” he said, which career fair tradition, But are career fairs realhelps prepare students for Cherry Hill East seems to ly beneficial to students? career life, along with the be doing pretty well withEast Principal Dr. John final fact that there are out them.

O’Breza, who was an just so many more “opporO’Breza said, “I don’t English teacher at the tunities outside school” know that many people time, has a few reasons as nowadays. doing what they set out to to why he believes the traO’Breza also made the do in high school, or [even] dition was put to sleep. point that “career educacollege.”

The “loss of instructional tion is not a primary conOverall, the career fair time” was a main reason, cern at this point;” helping tradition seems fine just along with the fact that with the college process is. where it is… in the past.

For Eastside

“since then the school has become much more sophisticated in the kinds of things we wanted to do with the students” to get them prepared for life outside of high school.

Also, “more and more kids are taking business

East dreams the impossible dream ■ By Alexis Baker (‘11) Eastside Staff

The prestigious Cherry Hill East Theater Department will be performing Man of La Mancha as this year’s Spring Musical. Based off of the popular Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, Man of La Mancha is written by Dale Wasserman and has appeared in theaters nationwide since its debut in 1959.

The musical follows a very unfortunate Cervantes, who has been put into a dungeon with all of his possessions for the charge of foreclosing a monastery during the Spanish

Inquisition.

While in prison, he creates the character of Don Quixote. Another very important character in the musical is Aldonza, the female lead that Don Quixote shows interest in and joins him on his journey.

In the East version of the popular musical, Ian Parker (‘11) and Luke Kappler (‘10) will be playing the part of Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote. Aldonza will be played by Arielle Sosland (‘11) and Erica Cavaliere (‘10). The play will be performed March 5, 6 and 7 as well as 12, 13 and 14.

Despite the fact that there will not be special effects sound-wise, the set will include a raked stage, which means that it is a set on an increasing angle.

With the increasing height of the set, there will be platforms placed behind, which will be the way into the prison and where the Captain of the Inquisition will stand. This will create the tone of the play.

Taylor Brody (‘11), playing the role of The Padre and Anselmo, said, “Well, this is bound to be one of the more memorable shows to be put on the East stage...the message sent to the audience is unforgettable. As for the work being put in, it’s going to be a challenging show from a performing perspective because it is a ‘Show within a Show.’

Actors need to be able to start as one character, and then play another in the matter of seconds.”

Shayna Penn (‘10), the stage manager, said that the show brings a message of hope.

“One of the messages of the show is ‘To Dream the Impossible Dream.’ Mr. [Tom] Weaver is hoping that with the recession, bad economic times and the wars, people will be inspired after seeing the show,” Penn said.

Art by Danielle Hu (‘11)/ Eastside Staff

As the g o v e r n o relect comes into office and the state deficit is projected to be a Jungwon Byun (‘10) staggering Board of Ed $8 million, Representative the Board has to make critical decisions regarding the budget. As a result, it plans to impose a spending freeze on all but necessary, daily goods such as paper and tissues.

Along with the Curriculum and Instructions Committee, it has also been reviewing the high school curriculum. At the meeting on January 12, Dr. Claudia Lyles and Mr. Anthony Trongone delivered a presentation regarding the course maps for math and science classes at the two high schools. For future years, they recommend that various mathematics curricula be revised so that the Advanced level class of one year in math will not be the Honors level of a previous year.

Furthermore, the mapping will begin at the middle school level so that children can prepare for advanced classes earlier.

However, some of the board members feel that evaluating the academic potential of sixth graders and setting them on a specific path is too constricting, especially since math often affects the science classes a student takes.

In addition to the changes in the math curriculum, Lyles also presented modifications to the science curriculum.

Beginning in 2012, the QPS and CPS classes will be phased out and replaced with Environmental Science classes.

Then, the path will progress from Environmental Science freshman year to required Biology sophomore year. Afterwards, the student can choose. Lyles said that this course will be much more hands-on and more in line with the state requirements.

The Board also discussed participation in the “Race to the Top” program. Various other states will be applying for the federal scholarship, but New Jersey has begun its process months after the other states. Although the grants would be extremely helpful during these times, the programs they impose may result in greater costs.

Finally, Dr. Maureen Reusche delivered a presentation regarding SmartBoard use in all of the classrooms. The conclusion based on a 25-minute video is the SmartBoard is a great contribution to the school district.

NEWS/FEATURES Page 4

EASTSIDE

February/ March 2010

LuciD messenger approved: McIntyre’s aspirations made clear Continued from pg.1 elopers from India, with whom he came in contact when working for a website solutions company for a six-month contract to work on his project.

McIntyre hired one project manager, two iPhone developers, two Blackberry developers, two Android developers and two database server side developers. He only communicated with Suresh Nariya, the project manager, who sent him updates about the progress being made.

“I would finish all my work at 2 a.m., go for a run and then from 3 to 4 a.m. I would conference call to India and tell them what I wanted to change, then wake up at 10 and have a release e-mail [from Nariya] updating me on the work they did.”

Besides the endless making of moderations to the application, McIntyre also put in the hours to publicize it. He formed a LuciD website, a fan page on Facebook and presented his product at the Mobile Application Gaming Summit in Miami about a month ago, alongside famous business lines such

as Best Buy and Alienware.

BlackBerry and Android have both approved LuciD. McIntyre was awaiting approval from Apple, which he recently received in late February.

LuciD first existed on six testers’ phones. One of the testers was Sam Stern, (‘10), who said that he liked LuciD because it was “fast and easy.”

McIntyre also attributes the application name LuciD to Stern, which is supposed to, according to McIntyre, “provide an idea of clear communication between people.”

Currently, McIntyre works at the Launch Pad at his school, guiding other inventors to launch their prospective businesses. He is already working on version 2.0 of LuciD for Windows-operating phones that will have more capabilities, like allowing people in a LuciD chat to invite those who do not have the application to join the chat via their text messaging.

McIntyre doesn’t view LuciD as his life’s work, but rather he said it was more of a “weekend project.” He still wishes to

possibly pursue a career in banking/financing or to invent technology that he wants to feel is more revolutionary than LuciD. McIntyre graduated early from East because he had taken all the business electives at East and wanted to move on, since he knew business was the profession he wished to pursue.

At East, he was NJ DECA treasurer in charge of managing how to spend about $300,000 and coordinating events for about 7,000 people. He came in first place in the DECA State Competition for Internet business plan and retail merchandising, and qualified for Nationals.

Around the same time, he received the McKelvey’s Scholarship Award for $40,000 for his hosting company making websites for different companies.

On January 12, McIntyre spoke to the business classes at East about his creation of LuciD. Regardless of which path McIntyre takes, his high aspirations reveal that for this rising entrepreneur, the sky is the limit.

Coming April 14th...

Special issue exclusively online!

Proceeds will benefit Haiti relief efforts.

(More Information Coming Soon)

Amanda Michelson (‘10)/ Eastside Editor-in-Chief

COMMUNITY February/March 2010

EASTSIDE

Page 5

In and out of the South Jersey area, there are breakfast places for all morning risers.

Logo by Julie Coben (‘11)/ Eastside Community Editor

Sabrina’s Café ■ By Julie Coben (‘11) Eastside Community Editor

Across the Ben Franklin Bridge lies a breakfast that no one should miss out on.

Sabrina’s Café, located at both 910 Christian Street and 1804 Callowhill Street in Philadelphia, holds the recipe for morning bursts of delicious breakfast dishes combined with a perfect atmosphere to brighten anyone’s day.

As one walks into Sabrina’s Café, a sense of coziness and friendliness takes over, providing a welcoming ambiance.

The staff, all dressed with personal style, makes the café appear hip, while adding a flare of tranquility to the incoming customers during morning hours. While waiting to be seated, one can expect his or her taste buds to become increasingly eager to grab hold of the meals coming from the kitchen, as they are seen being delivered to the tables of highly satisfied customers.

Such meals include caramelized Challah

french toast toppled with sweet powdered sugar, full-stack fluffy buttermilk pancakes smothered with fresh strawberries and bananas, or any of the specialty colorful omelets, cooked to perfection, and sided with Sabrina’s homemade, spiced home fries.

It is no surprise that this irresistible breakfast and brunch hot-spot has been able to maintain its honorable reputation throughout the years of its business. From 2002 to 2009, ZAGAT, a resource for restaurant reviews, surveys and guides for various cities in the United States, rated Sabrina’s Café as “excellent” with a "diverse menu featuring innovative comfort food combinations,” according to a survey conducted in 2009.

With its abundant amount of delicious breakfasts and its immediate ready-toserve, ready-to-please, positive impression, it is worth the early morning “rise and shine” to drive over the bridge to Sabrina’s Café.

According to the 200 students surveyed, the most popular food to order when going out for breakfast is pancakes.

Shelly Tan (‘10)/ Eastside Video Editor

The Crepe and Ribbon ■ By Laura Kane (‘11) Eastside Community Editor

Breakfast hot-spots in the Philadelphia area: Honey’s Sit n’ Eat Continental Du Jour

Photo courtesy of thcphotography.com .

Bridge by Jason Park (‘10)/ Eastside Staff

Immediately upon entering The Crepe and Ribbon in Haddonfield, customers feel as if they just stepped into a picturesque French café. The walls are adorned from top to bottom with pictures of stores and restaurants, making it seem like one is eating outside on a Paris street corner. The warm and upbeat atmosphere makes it a great place to start the day with a delicious breakfast.

Similar to French-styled restaurants, the menu offers mainly crepes. However, the restaurant does serve other lunch and dinner options, such as sandwiches and salads.

If one prefers sweets in the morning, the Nutella or Chocolate-covered Banana Crepe are the best options. The more traditional breakfast diners will love the Morning Cinnamon Toast Crepe or a crepe filled simply with a fruit of their choice.

While French restaurants tend to serve customers in a fancy manner, The Crepe and Ribbon provides service that is the exact opposite. The waiters are very outgoing and friendly, adding to the already-comfortable environment in the restaurant.

Just a few minutes from home, The Crepe and Ribbon offers breakfast lovers a morning meal that tastes like it was cooked across the globe, yet is read- Nickee Plaksen (‘10)/ Eastside Photo Editor ily accessible close The Crepe and Ribbon has an intimate feeling. by.

COMMUNITY Page 6

EASTSIDE

Feburary/March 2010

Here are some examples of delicious, “wake-up early”-worthy breakfast hot-spots:

Heart to Heart Café ■ By Paige Hymson (‘10) Eastside Entertainment Editor

Heart to Heart Café, located right in the heart of Moorestown, NJ, is a quaint restaurant that serves breakfast all day long. Although small in size, the large local feel really adds to the overall dining experience.

The two owners, engaged at the time of its opening and now married, present a warm welcome and friendly service in the restaurant. With a motto similar to LP, standing for love and peace, it is clear how friendly the eating environment has become. The service is very quick, as many employees are family or friends of the owners. The café focuses on breakfast, specifically three-egg omelets of all kinds. Breakfast sandwiches, along with pancakes and waffles, are also great additions to the menu. The café offers breakfast specials that vary on a daily basis, such as the Strawberry Chocolate Chip Pancakes, which is just one of many examples.

Although Heart to Heart is known for breakfast, it serves up lunch all day long as well. It also serves delicious coffee in a variety of flavors. It is no question that the Cafe certainly lives up to its name, Heart to Heart.

Logo by Julie Coben (‘11)/ Eastside Community Editor All suns by Nicolle Rochino (‘10)/ Eastside Art Director

For additional “top picks” in the area, visit eastside-online.org.

Other favorite breakfast places in the SJ area of East students...

Local: Marlton Diner Ponzio’s Short Hills Deli The Pop Shop Down the shore: Uncle Bill’s Ozzie’s Junior’s Shelly’s

Paige Hymson (‘10)/ Eastside Entertainment Editor

Outside of the Heart to Heart Café

“Shore-ly”

Hannah-G’s

■ By Sari Soffer (‘10) Eastside Editor-in-Chief

Art by Jason Park (‘10)/ Eastside Staff Beach photo by Nickee Plaksen (‘10)/ Eastside Photo Editor

The Ocean City boardwalk is no longer bustling. The famous “Lucy Beach” is no longer overbearingly crowded. And the cool beach breeze is no longer soothing. Yet, the shore’s popular Hannah-G’s continues to attract residents to the Ventnor City shore with its delicious menu during all months of the year.

Hannah-G’s, which opened in May 2001 on Ventnor Avenue, provides options for the ordinary sweet tooth, as well as the healthychoice eater. Its owners, Donna and Kevin McCarthy, named their restaurant after their two daughters, Hannah and Gabrielle, and later incorporated other family and friends into the menu’s dish names.

The owners deem their omelets the most admirable breakfast option; yet, Hannah-G’s is also extremely well known for its unique

Multi-grain Power Blueberry Pancakes, homemade granola (which Kevin claimed was wildly popular during the summer months) and numerous homemade multigrain and whole-wheat muffins. Omelets are always cooked to perfection with each facet spread evenly throughout the filling three eggs. The homemade pancakes, granola and muffins taste like no other breakfast place’s: the pancakes and granola feel healthy, yet quench any diner’s sweet tooth. The muffins, which range from flavors such as wholewheat blueberry to multi-grain power carrot and nut, leave a warm sensation of so many flavors left in the consumer’s mouth.

Kevin, who said that his restaurant has “just kind of become a joint,” knows exactly how to satisfy his costumers. Hannah-G’s, now with its new lunch and dinner restaurant across the street, keeps the Jersey shore’s summer warmth spreading even during the cold winter months.

OPINIONS February/March 2010

EASTSIDE

Page 7

Requiring community service Expanding the community An unwanted sentence ■ By Julia Finkel (‘10) Eastside Opinions Editor

Beyond the walls of Cherry Hill East exists a world of diverse people, exciting opportunities, frightening situations and occasional disappointments. However, many students are sheltered from the outside world, consumed by a routine life of homework, sports, activities and friends.

As students learn to manage their own lives, it is important that they understand their responsibility to contribute to their community as well. Involvement in community service will provide students with the opportunity to grow and learn through life experiences that cannot be taught inside a classroom.

Determining a minimum amount of community service hours as a graduation requirement will benefit both the East students involved and the surrounding community.

Whether volunteering at an animal

shelter, food kitchen or local hospital, students will gain positive realworld experiences, mature through moral and social developments and learn leadership skills that will benefit them in many aspects of their lives.

In addition to encouraging the values of selflessness and acceptance, requiring community service will help students when filling out college or job applications. Almost every college asks for the applicant to list the community service he or she has done during high school, while businesses look for potential employees who have had experience giving back to their surroundings.

Although students may argue that their schedules are already busy enough, or that requiring community service seems like an oxymoron, many students will find that they actually enjoy volunteering and interacting with others after they begin community service.

For those students who already generously volunteer their time to help others, requiring community service will simply give them credit for their work. For the remainder of the students, requiring commun i t y service t o graduate will e n c o u ra g e them to g i v e back to the world and will provide them with valuable life lessons.

Karina Korneyeva (‘10)/ Eastside Photo Editor

Student willingly completes communtiy service by planting flowers in a community garden, enjoying the effects of her volunteer work.

■ By Sherin Nassar (‘13) Eastside Staff

Community service is more than just an enhancement to any college resume: it creates a fulfilling feeling to those who administer and receive it, whether it benefits just one person or an entire community.

However, volunteer work should truly be voluntary. Establishing a requirement that students at East must complete a certain number of community service hours before graduating would defeat the purpose of volunteering and simply add another stress factor to the lives of students.

Dr. John O’Breza, principal at East, said that the Cherry Hill School District is a district for those who do community service genuinely.

“My hope would be that all students would [seek] an opportunity to look beyond themselves and help others,” he said.

But forcing students to do required community service would benefit neither the student nor those who would potentially benefit from it. The hours spent volunteering would then be regarded as an annoyance, causing students to have a negative attitude and not make an effort to truly help those in need.

Cherry Hill East has never required community service hours for students to graduate, but there are plenty of activities at East that give opportunities to those who seek it.

For example, Habitat for Humanity provides monthly outings and a spring break trip for students to help

build houses for underprivileged citizens. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) hosts a holiday party for special needs children with the help of East students to decorate the rooms and provide friendly faces at the party itself. Also, Character Education has trips to the Ronald McDonald House to provide meals for the temporary guests living there, while their children undergo medical treatment at the hospital.

Under the already growing pressure to maintain good grades, while balancing sports, clubs or other after-school activities, it is unfair to add another activity to a student’s schedule—especially one that is not voluntary.

Karina Korneyeva (‘10)/ Eastside Photo Editor

Student shows disinterest while volunteering to pick up trash, thus completing the task carelessly.

Learning beyond the textbook ■ By Alana Kopelson (‘12)

to the students.

Ms. Jen Dolan, a history teacher, tries her best to disBreaking news: it happens cuss important current every day, every hour even, events in class but believes and gets coverage all around that “the best way [to discuss the world. But, how much current events] is to take coverage do these stories get what we are studying in class in school during the day? and tie it into what is With all the current happening in the events going on today, it is news,” she said. very difficult for students Teachers can even to be knowledgeable assign graded points about the news in the for students who come world. into class every day In order to fix the probwith a new piece of lem of students being news. unaware of the news, Although teachers social studies teachers can say that students should make it a priority who want to know to fit a daily dose of curabout the news can rent events into their research it on their own class curriculum. time, teachers at East Mia Holley (‘12)/ Eastside Staff should want to discuss Mr. John Bryant, a long-term substitute for History classes should incorporate important topics in the Ms. Megan Mikulski, current events into daily discussions. news. believes that “current Current events are events are a very important makes students more educatwhat make up America’s hisaspect of history,” and that ed about the world they live tory, and the students at East they should most definitely in. Even a small amount of should be educated when it be discussed with the stucurrent events each day will comes to knowing about the dents. provide sufficient knowledge world in which they live.

Eastside Opinions Editor

Every day, Bryant tries to weave small amounts of current events into his classes, but finds it difficult because there is a strict syllabus that needs to be followed.

Being aware of what is happening in the news

OPINIONS Interim reports lose importance

Page 8

EASTSIDE

February/March 2010

■ By Rachel Lisner (‘12) For Eastside

The days spent anxiously awaiting interims during homeroom are over. Students no longer need to linger around after each class, begging a teacher to move their “C” up to a “B,” and complaining that the teacher made a mistake when calculating a grade marked on his or her interim.

Instead, students can view a daily grade report with specific assignments, due dates and point values for each class on ProgressBook.

Furthermore, students do not need to worry about missing homeroom the day that interims are issued, because grades can be viewed at any time on ProgressBook. East should no longer issue physical copies of interims to the students. It is simply another means of wasting paper, spending money and hurting the environment.

Many documents issued by the school, including interims, fail to make it home, especially when given to a student in school at the beginning of the day. Rather than creating an argument between students and parents regarding a lost interim report, parents can view their son’s or daught e r ’ s grades online and can contact the teach-

Nickee Plaksen (‘10)/ Eastside Photo Editor

Student casts aside interim report to check ProgressBook, viewing her updated grades and assignments in each class online rather than relying on a class estimate on paper. ers online for any reason. nology-obsessed society, it is ProgressBook allows stuThough opponents just as easy to find a comdents and their parents to Cherry Hill School District may argue that the puter as it is to come to check grades daily. uses approximately 25,172 school must issue formal school.

By the time that interims East should be an active are issued, most students sheets of paper, the equiv- interim reports to students because it cannot part of the global efforts to already know their grade— alent of about three trees, be assumed that each “Go Green” by reducing the and it is typically a more to issue interim reports for household has access to a number of paper issued to accurate version than what computer, this claim is no students—beginning with is printed on the interim students in grades 6-12. longer valid. In the techthe elimination of interims. report.

Test coordination ensures fairness

■ By Hailey Edelstein (‘12)

Eastside Online News Editor

Teachers of the same class and level often collaborate to make a common test for all students enrolled in that particular class. However, this can sometimes hurt students’ grades if assessments do not focus on what their teachers have emphasized.

Coordinating tests forces each class to be at the same pace and level. It also ensures that all teachers in that subject area are communicating and planning with each other effectively. A curriculum with a rigid structure would keep all of the classes together.

In Physics A, Mr. Mark Brandreth, Mr. Michael Hischak and Mr. William Segrest all work together to keep the unit extremely uniform. Almost all physics A-level tests are held on the same day and contain the same problems, but with different numbers to prevent cheating throughout periods. Subtle changes in tests will keep them extremely consistent without allowing later periods

to memorize answers.

For example, the Chemistry A-level teachers have a difficult time creating

to review test averages.

Coordinating tests will Coordinating tests also ensure that all main would eliminate any stupoints of a lesson are dent complaints that could taught in all classes, arise from a difference in instead of some teachers difficulty. Students may emphasizing one aspect, not claim that it is unfair while others emphasize a that they have a particular different topic. Therefore, teacher because that when final or state-wide teacher’s tests are harder assessments are taken, all than another class's of the students will be equally same level. prepared and no individual Students taking upperteacher can be blamed for level math classes occanot teaching a sionally experience this specific problem. topic.

“The assessments are consistent but not identical,” said Mr. Jeff Killion.

“We’re looking for problems that enforce the same type of skills.”

While the Math Some students are given an Department teachers simieasier version, Form A, of larly meet each week for geometry quiz covering unit collaborative meetings, 3.2. students still feel that it almost identical tests for is unfair when one class all classes. may use a calculator on a There are “eight teachtest while the other class is ers, over two floors and two not allowed to during the hallways” to work with, same unit. said Chemistry A teacher, In order to ensure conMr. Gregory Rouen. sistent results for every Instead, the teachers have class, teachers should a common planning time coordinate their tests to Other students take a more diffionce a week to discuss include the same prob- cult version, Form B, of a geometry quiz covering same unit. what is being covered and lems.

Throughout the History Department, teachers often use their own tests for their classes. World Civilizations A and US History 1A teacher, Ms. Eunice Sung believes that having a test created by the student’s teacher should only help the student because it only covers the material that the particular teacher covered and emphasized.

However, the easiest system for the student may not be the most beneficial when it comes to the final assessment at the end of the year, which is the same for all classes in a subject area.

Coordination of all aspects of a unit helps to make classes fair for all students, but unless tests are coordinated, this may be detrimental to students.

If teachers can work together to make sure that all students are receiving the same knowledge and completing the same activities, coordinated tests will be effective.

Art by Nicolle Rochino(‘10)/ Eastside Art Director

EDITORIAL February/March 2010

EASTSIDE

Page 9

Editorials represent the views and opinions of the Eastside Editorial Board.

Cherry Hill High School East

Everyone must take role in improving efficiency of school technology systems It is difficult to imagine how a school of 260 faculty and administrators, each with at least one or two pieces of complex technology in their classrooms or offices, manages to function with just one school technician. The Eastside Editorial Board has first-handedly witnessed our technician, Mr. Rick Friedman, installing newspaper software on the Eastside computers into the late evening. Friedman has worked through the night multiple times and during this past summer, the busiest time due to the incoming of new computer shipments, software installations and upgrades, worked for 36 hours straight. Even the smallest installations, such as installing printer software, often end up being just as time-consuming as larger tasks, such as repairing the Aramark server, assisting with the school security camera system and managing the Nextel phones.

Up until two years ago, East students were able to help Friedman complete basic tasks, such as setting up printer and computer software, allowing him to utilize his time at work for more complex projects. However, due to security reasons, administrative passwords or keys are no longer given out to students, putting an end to the added efficiency.

Located on the East website is the Request for Service (RFS) System, a system in which East faculty can log in and input any technological help they need. Still, with our classroom adjacent to Friedman's office, the Eastside Editorial Board has observed several teachers and staff visiting Friedman's office throughout the day with favors in mind rather than using the RFS system, ultimately slowing the process and disrupting the conceptually fair system.

1750 Kresson Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 Phone: (856) 424-2222, ext. 2087 Fax: (856) 424-3509

In order to better utilize Friedman's hours to complete tasks that only a technician has the expertise to perform, we need more enthusiasm from East comEastside Online munity members to educate themselves http://www.eastside-online.org on simple technological techniques.

Teachers can set aside time to read and Publisher follow the pre-made "how to" screenshots that pop up on faculty computer home Fort Nassau Graphics screens, which provide a simple set of Thorofare, NJ instructions for common tasks like setting up an email account or using Microsoft Office programs.

Letters to the Editor At the beginning of every year, teachers Submit signed letters to FO87 receive a list of software. In order to educate teachers on the new software in an Awards organized and efficient manner, Friedman, along with other technologically The International Quill and Scroll Society, The American savvy faculty, can hold tutorial sessions in the beginning of the year, as was done Scholastic Press Association, The Garden State Scholastic Press Association, The Temple Press Tournament, and during the initiation of the new attendance system of Chancery this past The National Scholastic Press Association.

September. Friedman is also able to set up an "intranet" networking website The school district could cost-effectively hire a within East where teachers, staff and adminisrecent high school or college graduate to serve as tration in the East community could post quesa floater between East and West, filling a similar tions or discussion topics regarding various techrole as the past student volunteers. The technonologies as a sort of school-wide blog system. If logical setups and installations for high schools faculty effectively utilizes the tentative intranet require much more expertise than those for midsystem, Friedman would be able to answer quesdle and elementary schools, thus a floater tions in one sitting, rather than answering simibetween high schools would fully help. lar questions multiple times, giving him more With the new structure in place, East can time to work on complex necessary projects greater achieve its goal of having more functionwhile still abiding by his "open door policy." al technologies in the classrooms, from netCreating this school-wide communication networked printers and scanners to electives havworking system would not require any funds: ing the software they need. just the time and effort put forth by faculty.

Eastside thanks... the following people who have donated to Eastside in 2010:

Editorial Cartoon

Benefactors Ronnie and Rob Coben The Soffer Family The Michelson Family Ellis and Darcia Medoway The Conn Family Ju Tan

Nicolle Rochino (‘10)/ Eastside Art Director

Chaos ensues as school day ends and the math contest begins.

Sponsors Dr. and Mrs. Perlman Joel and Karen Weiss The Perilstein Family

Abigail and Jeff Schervone Shirley and Bill Kane Gary and Vicki Edelstein Mike and Julie Bathke Avelino and Merian Rochino Lynne and Don Rosenblit The Kessler Family Contributors Beth and David Kagan Miriam and Alan Feldman Judy and Barry Epstein The Braunstein Family Alan and Evelyn Berkowitz Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smaldore Deena Freedman Avelino and Rolita Rochino David Romisher The Gurkin Family Patrick and Karen Regan Ellyn and Chris Cominetto Carol and Jack Kanoff The Ohnona Family Molly Ruttenberg The Klein Family Sherrie and Jeff Cohen Neil and Nancy Schwartz The Markowitz Family

Patrons Marilyn and Len Weintraub Jen Grossman Natalie Ohnona Robert and Betsy Schwartz Mr. Rouen Arthur and Lois Simon Sara Wint Julia Burns Lindsey Roth Michele Freed-Madrack Shaylin O'Connell Courtney Workman Kyra Holiday Brittany Muniz Paige Hymson Melissa Medoway Courtney O'Rourke Sara Rausch Margie Medoway Sylvia and Leonard Cohen Concetta Gartiser Toni Winoker The Desrochers Family The Brill Family The Susini Family The Caton Family Sam Flomenberg Donna Dimuro

2009-2010 EASTSIDE EDITORIAL BOARD Managing Editor: Devon Braunstein News/Features Editors Avra Bossov Rebecca Ohnona Brooke Weiss Sports Editors Mike Davis Nate Mulberg Community Editors Julie Coben Laura Kane Opinions Editors Julia Finkel Alana Kopelson

Editors-in-Chief: Rob Incollingo, Amanda Michelson, Sari Soffer

Entertainment Editors Paige Hymson Meredith Medoway

Art Directors Nicolle Rochino Sally Yang

Global Commentary Editors Dan Perlman Moriah Schervone

Photo Editors Karina Korneyeva Nickee Plaksen

Humor Editors Andrew Huff Zach Schwartz

Video Editor Shelly Tan

Underground Editors Jason Cominetto Steven Markowitz

Radio Manager Autreen Rahbari Adviser Mr. Greg Gagliardi

To contact a member of the Eastside Editorial Board via e-mail, Online Sports Editor type the person’s first name Max Cohen followed by a period, his/her Business Managers last name and “eastsideAlex Feldman online.org,” ie: Somya Mawrie shelly.tan@ eastsideonline.org.

Editorial Assistants Nupur Mital February Staffer Elana Perilstein of the Month: Dillon Rosenblatt Jake Tromme Gaby Kains (‘12)

Online News Editor Hailey Edelstein

Page 10

EASTSIDE

February/March 2010

UNDERGROUND

February/March 2010

EASTSIDE

Page 11

Three-dimensional entertainment through the ages ■ By Avra Bossov (‘11)

■ By Steven Markowitz (‘10)

Eastside News/Features Editor

Technological advances in lighting, image quality, sound quality and presentation of films over the past fifty years have made the entertainment industry very successful. A technological advancement that has helped the box office hit Avatar accumulate over one billion dollars is its projection in the third dimension: viewing images in a way that makes the objects appear more realistic and have depth to a viewer wearing 3D glasses.

Compared to the old method of the stereogram, an optical illusion of depth created from a flat, two-dimensional image, the anaglyph image creates a 3D effect when viewed with the classic red and blue glasses. The stereogram was actually demonstrated as early as 1856 by J.C. d’Almeida, an effect he created by projecting two different images of the same scene alternately in accordance with the red and green lenses of the glasses audience members wore. Using the colors in such rapid succession, the visual cortex of the human brain combines the two images into one, three-dimensional image. Upon d’Almeida’s discovery, products called the Holmes and the Brewster, which were simple dioramas that portrayed images with exaggerated perspective views enabling a third-dimension effect, grew in popularity. Wilhelm Rollmann, in the area of Leipzig, Germany first developed anaglyph images in 1853.

Although discovered quite a while ago, exploration of the third dimension in the entertainment industry did not lift off until the 1950s when used in Batman comic books where images were carefully drawn and printed in colors appropriate to match the glasses that converted the image to 3D. As computer graphics were being developed by William Fetter in the 1960s, 3D images are created through 3D modeling, which makes the shape of the object, the layout and animation to show the motion and placement of the objects within the image and 3D rendering that actually creates the image. 3D computer graphics are still used today and have been developed even further. In the 1980s, 3D reached another peak in popularity due to 3D Monster Maze (1981), which was the first 3D home computer game. From that point on, 3D effects pervaded the gaming industry.

Today, 3D technology is used in areas anywhere from high-grossing films to visual components in the study of the z-plane in calculus.

Eastside Underground Editor

From 3D optical illusions to full 3D televisions, three-dimensional technology has changed the face of entertainment since its invention in the late 1800s, and continues to influence the media today.

Witness the possibilities of 3D gaming at the 3D Gaming Summit ■ By Davina Perera (‘10) Eastside Staff

The highly anticipated 3D Gaming Summit, a new event hosted by Unicomm LLC, will be held on April 21 and 22 in Los Angeles, California. Executives, developers and analysts in attendance will have the opportunity to discuss the future for stereoscopic 3D gaming.

Stereoscopic 3D (S-3D) technology, which emphasizes depth in visual entertainment, is expected to be one of this year’s biggest developments. While experts predict more HD and wireless technology, 3D is still a relatively new area for consumers, with all its possible applications having yet to be explored.

Positive consumer reception of 3D technology in the film industry is a definite influence to the rising trend: four of last year’s top ten highest-grossing movies were in 3D. 3D dominated this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in January. With many major companies unveiling 3D TVs, the reality of experiencing 3D right at home is fast approaching. Companies like LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony are expecting to release 3D displays this year, while other companies such as Discovery and ESPN have already confirmed the launch of 3D channels in the US. One potential downside of these models is the need for the 3D glasses that come with them, though auto-stereoscopic TVs, which create the 3D effect without the need of special glasses, could be available soon enough. Nonetheless, market research firm Insight Media foresees over forty million 3D TV displays available to gamers by 2014.

Gaming has been changing drastically over the last few years. With the release of peripherals and accessories designed to create a sense of realism comes an increasing demand among consumers for the last step in creating a virtual world: three dimensions.

April’s summit marks a big step in that direction. According to the official website, the two-day event “will explore how videogames, aided by new technologies like stereoscopic 3D and augmented reality, are bridging the gap between interactive and linear entertainment.”

Topics for discussion range from how laptops and mobile devices can incorporate 3D, to the effect of 3D on professional gaming on a global scale, to consumer trends. One case study will feature Ubisoft’s game version of James Cameron’s Avatar, which is the first 3D console game. The program will include presentations, demonstrations, panels, interviews, speakers and more.

Even though the summit is only open for executives, developers and members of the press, be sure to read all about what is unveiled at the conferences and the future of 3D this April.

3D technology dominated the Consumer Electronic Show this past January as many major electronic companies (including Sony, Samsung, Toshiba, LG, etc.) demonstrated the future of 3D and the entertainment industry.

The biggest products at CES were 3D televisions, many of which will be available later this year. Most of the 3D TVs on display ran at maximum resolution (1080p) and could convert 2D to 3D across any medium, including television and gaming.

For early adopters, there will be two television channels that will broadcast exclusively in 3D. First is ESPN in 3D, which will broadcast a variety of sporting events, such as FIFA. The second is a collaborative effort between Sony, Discovery and IMAX. No other information on the channel exists, except that it will feature programs such as Planet Earth.

Also announced at CES were 3D Blu-ray players from Sony and Panasonic. Set to be released this summer, the first Blu-ray movie will be Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, which will be rereleased in 3D this summer with more 3D titles to be announced this spring.

During Sony’s press conference, the company showed off an IMAX camera that could record an event and translate the image into 3D live. Also discussed during the conference was the impact of 3D on music. Sony talked about restoring concerts into 3D, starting with old Jimi Hendrix concerts and branching out to all genres of music.

Another big hit at CES was 3D gaming. Sony confirmed that a simple firmware update will make all Playstation 3’s, regardless of model, 3D capable. 3D game demos on display were Super Stardust HD, WipEout HD and Gran Turismo 5, with game trailers shown for LittleBigPlanet and Killzone 2. While Microsoft stated that they are investing in 3D, it is not as big of a priority for them.

Although there was a demo of Gears of War 2 in 3D, running on a 2D to 3D ■ By Bryan Sheehan (‘13) converter, there were many graphical glitches, slowdown in the frame Eastside Staff rate and decreased resolution.

Just like color changed the film industry in the late 1920’s, 3D is 3D isn’t just for the movies anymore. here to change the entertainment industry in the near future. So Now, thanks to new technology, viewers can start saving up for a brand new 3D TV, because the next revenjoy the amazing visual effects associated with olution in home entertainment is here to stay.

3D from their homes. From televisions designed to work with 3D, to sleek 3D glasses that are a world away from the red and blue lens paper glasses that were given out at kids’ movies when 3D was first popular, 3D has certainly evolved. There is even a new camcorder built exclusively for filming in 3D. The most inventive uses of the advancement in 3D technology are definitely found in 3D televisions. One television model, the “Toshiba ZX900 Cell 3D TV,” not only has 3D capability, but also a method of “converting regular 2D television into a sort of 3D,” according to msn.com. Basically, with this model, speculated to cost more than $11,000, viewers would be able to watch any show as if it were taking place in their own living rooms.

Another television model, the “Samsung 9000 3D TV,” seems to take it a step further. The 9000 series is literally as thin as a pencil, 0.3 inches thin, and also converts 2D content into 3D in real time. The most innovative part, though, is its touchscreen remote that has the ability to display live television while viewers enjoy a DVD or Bluray on the television. In theory, one could watch television exclusively on the remote of this TV. The Samsung 9000 is set to come out at some point in early 2010, but no price has been set yet.

But how can people watch their new 3D television without their cool new 3D glasses? Enter the Gunnar Optiks 3D glasses. These sleek glasses have a sunglasses feel to them and will be available for about $90 in the second quarter of 2010, with a prescription version available later in the year.

To go along with these new 3D televisions, channels such as ESPN have been announcing plans to make 3D-exclusive channels. ESPN said that its new channel, ESPN 3-D, would broadcast as many as 85 sporting events beginning this summer, just in time for the World Cup in South Africa.

Not only can live-action television be converted from 2D to 3D using these TVs, but Panasonic has Characters by Nicolle Rochino (‘10)/ Eastside Art now come up with a camcorder that films in 3D. Director The “Panasonic full HD 3D camcorder,” which will cost around $21,000 when it comes out this fall, Glasses by Diana Li (‘12)/ has two integrated lenses and memory cards, Eastside Staff instead of the current system used for filming 3D, which involves two camcorders.

Photo Illustrations by Nickee 3D Technology is approaching like wildPlaksen (‘10)/ Eastside fire, and seems like it will revolutionize Photo Editor television, just like HDTV did when it came out in the latter part of the 1990’s.

Gear up for 3D

ENTERTAINMENT Page 12

EASTSIDE

Apple iPad disappoints many ■ By Gabrielle Kains (‘12) Eastside Staff

Just when it seems that technology is slowing down, here comes Apple with the newest invention, the iPad: an internet browser, music and movie player, e-book, game console, calendar, address book and more – all within the touch of one’s fingers.

Critics and customers everywhere have anxiously anticipated the launch of this new product, which was January 27, 2010 at an event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, California. Though the product has been released, it will not ship until sometime mid-March.

The iPad is small and sleek with dimensions of 9.6 inches by 7.5 inches and a depth of half an inch; it looks like an enlarged version of the iPhone or

Courtesy of Apple.com

The iPad is a touch screen that is only half of an inch thick. iPod Touch. The iPad costs as little as $499. But, if one wants more than the minimum of 16GB or WiFi and a mobile plan, the price will rise to as much as over $800. Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, said that it was extremely difficult for

Apple, Inc. “to build a sub$500 computer that is not a piece of junk.”

The pricing is right ontarget and according to user reviews, the iPad is not just a “piece of junk.”

But, it is not as great as it was intended to be. Aside from critics expressing dislike for the name “iPad,” they also are unhappy with the lack of a camera, inability to use more than one application at once, no USB port and no flash player. The Huffington Post said the iPad is “ahead of its time” - in a bad way. It was expected that this new creation would possess all of the functions of the MacBook and iPhone combined, which would have been a great selling point. But, disappointment prevailed.

Still, technology is on the rise, and the iPad may just be the beginning of a new era.

February/March 2010 Scale by Sally Yang (‘11)/ Eastside Art Director Thumbs by Nicolle Rochino (‘10)/Eastside Art Director

Having cast of “Jersey Shore” on talk shows. It’s best if we keep them quarantined.

The plan to turn “24” into a movie.

g. in the makin Zoolander 2 work. er Sequels nev

um to ew alb n ’s c a : 2p n 2010 rdebut i sive conside te. s e a t r s p t Im curren ing his

Next Ha movie corry Potter ming ou 3D. t in New season of “Project Runway.”

Actors go unrecognized entire careers ■ By Moriah Schervone (‘11) Eastside Global Commentary Editor

Other than being actors, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio have one big thing in common: neither win any Oscars.

Although people may know their names, their faces and their movies, famous celebrities like Depp, DiCaprio, Hugh Grant, Amy Adams and Drew Barrymore have yet to receive the highest prestige in Hollywood: The Academy Award.

This award comes with the appreciation, title and recognition that actors strive for. Of course, the common perception of a “good actor” varies among audience members. To say the least, the Academy Award does not measure the true acting ability that these “unappreciated actors” possess.

Since the award process is very subjective, an actor’s recognition lies in the hands of around 6,000

people. These are the memof an accounting firm have velopes. The Academy calls bers of the Academy. They knowledge of the results. the Oscar “the highest level come from all walks of the These two are the ones to of achievement” and is movie-making process and place the winning names in basically a 13-and-aget to watch almost every the famed, sealed enhalf inch gold-plated movie created metal knight. The actors throughout the who do not get to make an year. Yet before acceptance speech can be these members can called “unappreciated vote for their winactors.” ner, an Academy Take, for instance, Johnbranch chooses the ny Depp. He has multiple nominees.

Only faces and a wide range of branches that are characters in each one of composed of prohis movies, from Edward fessionals can Scissorhands to Alice in nominate from Wonderland. Depp fully their respective embraces each character peers. For example, and each role. However, only film editors Depp was not always the can nominate peoactor people perceive him ple for the Achieveto be. Depp dropped out ment in Film of high school when he Editing award. was 15 in order to jumpAfter the nominees start a music career. That are announced to is, until he met Nicholas the public and Cage. At the age of 21; made official, all of he debuted in Nightmare the members vote on Elm Street and after Photos courtesy of a.oscar.go.com and that, his career took off. for their favorite cdn.sheknows.com artist. When all of Although he was nomiThe actors often attend the awards nated three times, he has the votes are in, only two partners show only to leave empty-handed. yet to receive the golden

statue.

To prove the point of subjectivity even further, Leonardo DiCaprio is also an actor nominated three times for the Oscar. He evolved from Titanic to Blood Diamond, proving that he can play the romantic and heroic, in different accents nonetheless. He had a rough start on the set of the television show, “Romper Room,” as he was almost kicked off due to misbehavior. After numerous challenging roles in movies and TV shows, DiCaprio became a heartthrob in Romeo + Juliet and even more so after the highest grossing movie ever, Titanic. Although he has won numerous other awards for his acting, he has not won the ultimate award.

As of now, these actors retain their titles of “unappreciated actors,” as they have not won over the hearts of the Academy members…yet.

Blast from the Past: Angela Anaconda ■ By Paige Hymson (‘10) Eastside Entertainment Editor

“Angela Anaconda” (1999-2002) “Angela Anaconda” is a Canadian “cutout animation.” This unique style of animation is rarely seen today. The show features a method by which all of the characters are created out of cutouts of black and white photographs. The show actually began as a short skit on Nickelodeon’s show “Kablam!” It first became a hit on Fox Family, which later became ABC Family.

The series focuses on the adventures of Angela Anaconda and her three closest friends, Gordy,

Gina and Johnny, who live in the fictional town, Tapwater Springs.

Angela, who is very imaginative, is the leader amongst

her group of friends.

Together, they work to help Angela handle the difficulties with her older brothers, as well as work to stand up to the

French, rich, snobby teacher’s pet, Nanette.

And NOT starring Nanette Manoir.

Theme Song: My name is Angela, hey hello. Welcome to my very own show. I’ll introduce my friends to you.

Other Characters:

Oh no!

It’s Ninnypoo! Shoo-beedoobee-doo wapwaa. My name is Angela and you are not .

Nanette Manoir is a stuck-up jerk face snot [Spoken] And now to today’s story, starring me.

January and Karlene: Nicknamed the “Copycat Clone Club” by Angela, these two girls are Nan-ette’s best friends.

They are always seen foll o w i n g Nanette around, acting almost as her servants.

T h e y always agree with everything Nanette says and look to her for advice that usually deals with their hair and make-up.

Josephine Praline: Josephine acts as the good girl of the class, as she is a very devout Catholic and positive character. She is well liked by her classmates and tries to help Angela see the good in her enemy, Nanette.

Mrs. Ephegenia Brinks: As the dedicated third grade teacher, Brinks has a great influence on Angela. She is known for talking with a very masculine voice and has oddly large hands. She views Nanette as a perfect child. Oftentimes she punishes Angela by making her clap erasers at the end of the day.

ENTERTAINMENT February/March 2010

EASTSIDE

Page 13

on the 1931 version of After storFrankenstein the movie. seeing Frankenweenie (one of ies, “Alice in Additionally, Burton Burton’s shorts), Paul Reubens Wonderland” and plans to took an interest in Burton and “Through the m a k e asked him to direct a film based on Looking a nother his character, Pee-wee film, star“I've always been Glass,” Herman. t h e ring Burton chose Danny misrepresented. You m o v i e know, I could dress Elfman to compose the follows ■ By score for Big Adventure. in a clown costume A l i c e and laugh with the He has continued to rely Meredith Kingsly on Elfman for all of his happy people, but (Mia Wasikowska) as she Medoway they'd still say I'm a films except for Ed Wood ventures to save (‘10) Johnny and Sweeney Todd. dark personality.”

Wo n d e r l a n d Eastside Entertainment Editor Depp, based However, Burton’s recyfrom the Red Queen on the TV cling of cinematic elements has (Helena Bonham Carter) show “Dark From Pee-wee’s Big never been uncommon. He who has been torShadows.”

Adventure to Big Fish, frequently casts Johnny turing the fairytale land. Alice Tim Burton’s prolific Depp, Helena Bonham has no recollection of career has thrived for Carter (Burton’s fiancé), visiting Wonderland severdecades with various hit films, Michael Keaton and al years before.

Currently, Burton lives with and continues to flourish today Christopher Lee, among In an interview with Blast magpartner Helena Bonham Carter with his new theatrical endeavors. others. azine, Burton said, and their two children, Billy Ray Burton continued his “Seeing other Burton and Nell Burton. The famiBackground career by writing, directmovie verly splits their time between living ing and producing a myriad numsions of it, in London and Los Growing up in Burbank, ber of successful films, includI never felt Angeles. Burton conCalifornia, Burton, 55, was “I wouldn't ing three Batmans, Edward an emostantly works on a Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, more interested in art and know tional conadding to his colmovies than his schoolwork. good script Big Fish, Charlie and the nection to lection of visual His penchant for monster if it bit me Chocolate Factory and Sweeney it. It was masterpieces movies such as Godzilla in the face.” Todd. always a and if you’ve yet inspired him to make short girl wanto see any, then films using animation techniques.

Art dering you’ve got a very After graduating high school, " . . . you always a r o u n d important date to make at Burton attended the California Burton was never a have to feel from one the theatres.

Institute of the Arts. In 1982, one-trick kind of guy. like [the mov- c r a z y Burton produced his first short Art by Sally Yang (‘11)/ In addition to his ie’s] gonna be c h a r a c Eastside Art Director, Nicolle film, Vince, centered around an many film projects, he the greatest, ter Rochino (‘10)/Eastside Art to original poem based on his screen has an art collection even if it's a . . . another, and I Director and Meredith idol, Vincent Prince, a star in variMedoway (‘10)/Eastside that encompasses you know . . . never really ous horror movies. Burton continEntertainment Editor forty years worth of piece of [junk]." felt any real ued to create short films and began work. “The Art of Tim emotionto attract the attention of film Tim Trivia: Burton,” a collection of his older al connecindustry kingpins. and also more recent work, • Nearly everywhere he goes, he tion. So it’s an includes film concepts, illustracarries a pocketsize sketchbook attempt to Career in tions and Polaroid photographs all and a small watercolor kit. really try to Movies taken by or directed by him. give [Alice in From November 22, 2009 until • Usually dressing in black, he Wo n d e r l a n d ] Burton had April 26, 2010, the Museum of doesn't like spending too much some framework huge success Modern Art is displaying seven time matching colors. of emotional with his first hundred pieces of Burton’s grounding that • He was voted the 49th Greatest film, Pee-wee’s artwork. The pieces range has never been in Director of All Time by Big Advenfrom drawings, to stoany version Entertainment Weekly and was ryboards, to maquebefore. So that’s the youngest director on the list of ttes, many of which the challenge to fifty. come from Burton’s me… the real never-before-seen per• He played water polo and swam attempt was to try sonal collection. The for Burbank High School in and make Alice feel exhibition will not tell California. more like a story the history of Burton’s as opposed to a • He made six films with Johnny career or his series of events.”

Depp, who is the godfather of his method of movie A Wii, Nintendo DS and son, Billy Ray Burton. m a k i n g ; Windows PC video game for the instead, it • His characters often wear movie were released the same will simstriped clothing, particularly week that the movie came out as ply be a display black-and-white stripes. well. of Burton’s As for future projects, Burton multitude of • He frequently features dead or plans to make a Disney feature work. dismembered dogs and scarelength film of Frankenweenie, one crows in his movies. of Burton’s first short films based Current and Future Burton’s Biggest Hits: Projects • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005): made $475 million box office.

Alice in Wo n d e r l a n d , • Batman (1989): made over $400 million box office. ture, which Burton’s most grossed forty current project, • Planet of the Apes (2001): made over $362 million box office. million with came out March a budget of 5, 2010 and is • Batman Returns (1992): made $266.83 million box office. seven milavailable in 3-D. A lion.

• Sleepy Hollow (1999): made $206 million box office. sequel of Lewis Carroll’s original

GLOBAL COMMENTARY Dedication to preserving cultures Page 14

EASTSIDE

■ By Rebecca Schuck (‘13) For Eastside

A person’s background, beliefs and personality are all shaped by his or her culture. These are the main factors that contribute to each person’s unique character.

Tibet is a land with an endangered culture. China is encouraging its 1.3 billion citizens to emigrate to Tibet and if current rates hold, the amount of Han Chinese (the dominant ethnic group) will overwhelm Tibetans in Tibet. Tibetan culture will vanish.

However, Tibetan culture has so much to offer the world. For example, society could learn a lot from Tibetan Buddhism.

The concept that heaven (nirvana) is actually on earth right now and everyone, no matter what happens in his or her life, can achieve nirvana’s eternal happiness and tranquility, is a valuable one.

Similarly, their art is stunning. They fuse their devotion to Buddhism with vibrant colors, exquisite

textures and modernism.

In fact, many modern artists use Tibetan art as inspiration for their own creations.

Fortunately, there are many dedicated organizations that preserve vanishing indigenous cultures.

One organization, Cultural Survival, encourages others to get involved by organizing an international writing campaign.

They send letters to important government officials who can influence what happens to cultures threatened by mining and logging and the populations they bring. Likewise, Cultural Survival’s Native Language Revitalization Campaign is very important because language is the core of culture. The program helps the Native Americans to reestablish their language. To accomplish this, they lobby in Washington, and although they still need more money, they convinced the Senate and the House to quadruple the money going to Native American language programs in 2009.

Additionally, Cambridge University has decided to create an online archive of oral history. Without this archive, many traditions would be extinct as a result of the last singers’ and storytellers’ deaths. This way, if a culture dies, their histories will remain accessible.

However, if culture is not preserved, parts of history that bear significance to how the world is run today will be lost.

For example, when the American government was invented, the inventors based it off of the government of England, Greece and others. There are so many other examples of the cultural impact on civilization, but the point is culture has so much value, and without it, civilization would not be as rich and interesting as it is today.

According to writer Manali Oak, “culture is that invisible bond, which ties the people of a community together.” People bond over culture and it can give them a sense of belonging.

February/March 2010

Courtesy of tibettraintravel.com

A Tibetan woman, with new modern infrastructure

Canadian Winter Olympics take heat ■ By Andrew Huff (‘10) Eastside Humor Editor

What a bitter winter for Vancouver, British Columbia. Initially perched atop a fluffy cloud nine upon receiving the winning bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver has managed to fall onto thin ice.

The prospects of hosting the games glitter like gold: construction and service industry boons, glamorous new sports facilities and international recognition as “the chosen one.”

Every ring comes with a price, though, and the Olympics consist of five.

Vancouver hilariously expected to abide by a budget for constructing an Olympic Village as an epicenter for the games. Initially expected to cost $750 million and to be completed by November of last year, the project was $125 million over budget. The Vancouver Organizing Committee expected to utilize the Village as post-Olympics condos; however, dismal pre-sales and slipping selling prices have cast a shadow over the games already.

Fortress Investment Group financed the Millennium Development Corporation project, but Vancouver taxpayers may end up footing a $1 billion bill. Vancouver already allocated a secret $100 million emergency loan to work on the Olympic Village and an additional $458 million was later given towards the project by the provincial legislature in an emergency session.

After altering the Vancouver city charter, the money flowed forth with-

out public approval from a vote. The gold medals of these economic games, however, go to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who said “We will not be funding cost overruns at the Olympic Vil-

and the content of her dissertation, in addition to whether she would discuss the 2010 Olympics. It appears as if British Columbia has offered more than just Vancouver to the I.O.C.-free speech and free-

protest, including the purpose of the protests as well as those involved. Vancouver has targeted even passive forms of protest, however. The police reportedly raid homes which sport anti-Olympic stickers.

Diana Li (‘12)/ Eastside Staff

lage,” and to the International Olympic Committee, which refuses to contribute to any amount of debt amassed by a country hosting the games.

The strong likelihood that Vancouver citizens will end up “donating” their money to hosting the 2010 Olympics has sparked reasonable and justified protest. Amy Goodman, traveling from Seattle to Vancouver to speak at the Vancouver Public library, said she and two colleagues reached the border and were then interrogated; one border guard demanded her notes

dom of the press. David Eby, the executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Union, told Goodman, “protestors and activists have been identified as the No. 1 security threat to the Olympic games.”

Protests could only be held within “safe assembly areas,” according to Games Organizers, that are in relatively close proximity to the media, the games and spectators. The police call them “free-speech zones,” while Eby has labeled them “protest pens.” Two years ago in Beijing, protestors had to file applications to the government to

In November, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Union decried the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) for a clause in its artist contracts requiring them to “refrain from making any negative or derogatory re-marks respecting VANOC, the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Olympic movement generally,” in addition to “sponsors associated with VANOC. This understated warning harkens back to an earlier, almost prophetic, controversy surrounding the 2010 Olympics logo. The

design beat out 1,600 others, is childish-looking, stocky five-piece stick figure resembling a person.

Native leaders contend that the logo, modeled after Inukshuk, Inuit symbols representing safety, hope and friendship, is not actually Inukshuk. Vancouver seemed to have no reservations about the meaning behind this art, a far cry from their subliminal, subversive attitude now. The Olympic torch itself has drawn controversy for its resemblance to a marijuana joint when lit ablaze.

For citizens of Vancouver, those who are not elite or athletes, there loomed great threats to their wellbeing. The city reduced funding to many social service projects to fund a bid to host the games. Now, they can look forward to an elevated cost of living, as basic necessities like food will dwindle with the influx of tourists. And yet, there remains a more depressing threat: “street sweeps.”

Similar in theory to the ban on spitting in Beijing prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, police and other law enforcement attempt to force a migration of the homeless and the poor off of city streets in an effort to beautify the area. Some landlords of low-rent hotels and apartments evict tenants so tourists will stay there. Profit, therefore, spurs the cycle of poverty, all for some hollow image of a perfect nation, a perfect city, and a perfect sporting event. The infrastructure of the Olympic Games really is quite repulsive.

GLOBAL COMMENTARY February/March 2010

EASTSIDE

Page 15

Old cures slow to phase out ■ By Diana Yu (‘11) Eastside Staff

Normally when people are sick in America, they go to the doctor, take some pills and sleep. In Japan, however, some people instead eat willow bark in order to bring down a fever.

This folk remedy works because willow bark has salicylic acid, which is the active component of aspirin.

There is actually a vast amount of exotic cultural medical practices derived from ancient beliefs and philosophy, some of which are as effective as Western medication. Before medical research had really been conducted, doctors had to use experimental approaches to treat patients.

Through the years, and especially in the twentieth century, contemporary medicine has evolved in a way that has made folk medicine obsolete in some areas. In China, for example, Western medicine has largely replaced traditional Chinese medicine although standards of practice still need improvement.

These cultures were mostly reluctant to adopt the new Western medicinal practices, but ultimately abandoned their old remedies. This shift of medical practices is a result of the huge amount of progress in science that has made treatment cheaper, more effective and more widely available.

People can choose which path of treatment to undergo and may use traditional cultural medicine like herbs or

acupuncture to supplement the more legitimate Western medication.

In other cultures, Western medicine is still not widely used. In many cases, it is because the medication is unavailable and treatment options are too expensive. The World Health Organization states on its website that in several Asian and African countries, 80 percent of the population is still dependent upon traditional cul-

countries in the Tropics, people have little access to modern medicine. In the remote areas of Congo there is virtually no infrastructure for the transport of imported medicines even if the majority of patients could afford them.”

Because Western medication is not offered in these areas, he has to resort to using traditional herbal medicine to treat his patients.

Sometimes, the clash

Photo courtesy of whitesidemanor.com

Opium is used in Afghanistan in lieu of scarcer drugs. tural medicine. This practice is not always negative, as traditional medicine consists of health practices passed down from generations. However, the people in these countries do not have a choice in health care as people in America do.

Innocent Balagizi, an aid worker in Congo who provides people with health care, said, “In many

between traditional and modern medicine has disastrous results. Almost sixty children, some less than a year old, are raped every day in South Africa because of a so-called “cure” for AIDS. Professor Heinz Rode, who works at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, said, “As a result [of the government’s ban], people seek desperate ways of cur-

ing themselves. The reality is that witch doctors have spread the idea that if you have sex with a virgin, you can cure yourself of AIDS." Treatment for AIDS is expensive enough in the United States, but in South Africa, where one in nine people are afflicted, it is utterly impossible to get.

The government is not doing anything to prevent this belief from spreading and bans the distribution of AIDS medication.

The usage of traditional medicine still remains a topic of debate. A lot of modern medicine has its basis in cultural remedies.

Cultural herbs are present even in the pills that line drugstore shelves. Yet, sometimes it is better to use traditional medicine only as a supplement to contemporary treatment.

Herbs can help alleviate pain, but Western medication should be used to treat more serious diseases like hepatitis.

Above all, people in other countries should be given the choice between traditional medicine and modern treatment. If they are denied modern medication, then they may resort to dangerous, unregulated procedures with potentially devastating outcomes.

The ability to choose between different medications prevents misinformation and malpractice.

Ultimately, traditional medicines should not be eliminated, but a harmony must be achieved between the traditional and the modern to provide people with safer and more effective health care.

Indian bio-crop controversy ■ By Paige Hymson (‘10) Eastside Entertainment Editor

In the early 1990’s, genetically modified (GM) foods were first put on the market. In what may seem like a complicated process to understand, genetically modified foods are simply foods derived from genetically modified organisms.

More specifically, such organisms have had alterations to their DNA through the process of either cisgenesis or transgenesis. Basically, the insertion or deletion of genes causes genetic modification. Such practices take place mostly in North America.

A company called Calgene produced the very first genetically modified food: a tomato. It was released in 1994, and was made so that tomatoes can ripen without getting soft.

Today, there are a number of food products created due to genetic engineering.

Soybeans, corn, cotton, potatoes, sugar cane and rice are among some of the foods that are currently being genetically modified.

The main reason that genetically modified foods are even available is due to the overall food supply issue in the world.

However, many question if such a process will actually aid in world hunger. While some think an increase in GM foods is necessary to facilitate ending hunger, others believe the amount of food is just fine: the problem is the way in which it is distributed.

T h e Monsanto C o m p a n y, headquartered in Missouri, is the world’s leading producer of genetically engineered seeds. The company is well known in the legal field, usually due to the health issues and risks of its Danielle Hu (‘11)/ Eastside Staff products.

Monsanto believes that genetically modified foods are a solution to world hunger and poverty in developing countries.

Monsanto has been operating in India for over 50 years, and has spent a lot of money trying to persuade the government to adopt the practice of GM crops.

Just recently, Monsanto got the approval to begin commercializing some of its biotech corn in India. The company feels that with the adoption of these products, India will gradually begin to thrive.

Due to lack of crop production in certain developing countries, GM foods would ensure a continuous production without the ruinous factors of weather.

GM foods could also be made resistant to many diseases and pests. These crops can also grow at a faster pace while not going bad as quickly as natural crops. And because the crops are genetically engineered, healthy minerals can be added to them, therefore providing health benefits for the people.

Scientists look and hope to

develop cancer-fighting foods and even edible vaccines in the future through this genetic process.

Because genetically manufactured foods are so new, it is difficult to tell the future effects they may have on human health and the environment. Due to this process, scientists can unknowingly transfer certain known allergens into varying foods, or even create new allergens. The basic unpredictability alone of GM processing is an overall disadvantage for everyone. Also, labeling which foods are genetically modified on the shelves of each supermarket is not legally necessary.

Therefore, one can be eating something made by genetic modification and not even know.

Monsanto thinks that within five years, it will be commercializing these genetically engineered crops in India. Skepticism is still growing in India due to the Monsanto Company’s intents. And while GM food comes with advantages, there are still disadvantages to match.

■ By Dan Perlman(‘10) Eastside Global Commentary Editor

After World War II there was a dispute between two thinkers, Martin Heidegger and Herbert Marcuse. Heidegger (a German philosopher who had been loyal to the Nazi government) made a point to Marcuse (a Jewish Marxist theorist), that while Marcuse was condemning the conduct of the Nazi regime in murdering millions of Jews and Gypsies in camps, the Allies as well could be accused of horrible conduct in their forced relocations of millions of East Germans. Marcuse replied by saying that the difference between exterminating a population and liquidating one for political purposes was the difference between “barbarism and civilization.”

Now, there is much more to that, but let’s run with it and take a look at the war in Iraq: is it barbarism or civilization?

The war in Iraq was declared ostensibly to prevent a dangerous state from becoming a purveyor of weapons “of mass destruction.” There was a narrative of liberating Western values and liberal democracy. Nobody can deny that it is the way the war was officially meant to appear. Heidegger held to Marcuse the fact that most Germans did not even know about the concentration camps. The Nazi barbarism then had an appearance which belied its effects, according to Heidegger; so does that matter? In terms of objective consequences, it does not matter in a way what the public thinks: what matters is an event’s historical effect.

And so talk of values aside, Iraq is the shattering of a country and the expansion of American power. The illusion is an optimistic one, that this is a violence which serves a noble political purpose.

There is a purpose of sorts in fact—to bring Iraq in line with the global power structure. It is not random destruction, but the kind of “chaos” which is produced by the normal international functioning of our country. The camps were the natural consequence of Nazism, the innate end of its logic, and Iraq is a homologous consequence of America’s historical global role. We see Iraq dominating the illusion of our own justice and forcing us to act vicious—as we really are, as it proves we must be. Maybe the significance of the illusion is not that it excuses barbarism, but that it is evidence of it.

HUMOR Page 16

EASTSIDE

Oscar Mayer moves to Hollywood ■ By Zach Schwartz (‘10) Eastside Humor Editor

Hollywood has fallen on hard times after James Cameron’s Avatar saddled the industry with an impossible burden.

With a cinematic deficit of roughly a hojillion-babbillion dollars, the value of our entire solar system, Hollywood accountants have reported that it will take at least three human lifetimes to repay the loans filmakers borrowed to purchase Cameron’s new filmmaking technology. Or, as Cameron told reporters, “two Na’vi lifetimes.”

Industry bigwigs spent days in isolation carefully deliberating on how to increase profits prior to the 82nd Academy Awards.

Sympathizing with filmmakers sacrificing food to emulate Avatar, the Oscar Mayer meat company generously paid for the new technology overhaul.

In return, the company recieved an uprecedented product-placement deal.

“We were going to give them a mention during the ceremony, maybe put a billboard in the back of the podium,” said Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak.

A visit from Oscar Mayer representatives changed his opinion, though.

New heaters melt paint ... and hearts An effort to provide a proper learning environment backfires, causing the trademark colors of Cherry Hill East to melt, blend together and give rise to an aura of romance.

■ By Gina Villecco (‘11) Eastside Staff

When the Board of Education witnessed a hoard of students huddled beneath one of the particularly warm hallway vents in early January, their hearts grew three sizes each, and they ordered new heaters to be installed.

However, more than just warm air has been stirred up: love is circulating through the school as well.

Yolanda Ghaf, the Assistant Manager of Heat-Me! Heating Company said, “Cherry Hill East was misinformed... Pete Larson, our installations manager, set up the system at the school, well, he’s not a bad mechanic, but he has such a heavy accent and he’s hard to understand.”

Ghaf continued to explain that Larson failed to successfully communicate

that the thermostat cannot exceed 78 degrees, ever.

“They thought he was telling them he had to go home because he had a disease,” Ghaf said.

According to Dan Winder, Cherry Hill East’s head mechanic, faculty were so excited about the new heaters that they were all turned on simultaneously, which led to a dramatic rise in the school’s temperature, recorded as 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

The heaters, operating at maximum capacity, melted the red and white paint on the walls together, creating a pink “gunk” everywhere.

“I walked into school one day and everything was pink… I don’t know how it happened, but it made me happy.

Until now, I’ve never realized how much I love those little cockroaches that run around the girls’ locker room. I love love!” said Lilly Button (‘12).

The entire school seems to be affected

East girl shocks community Eastside Entertainment Editor

An East student discovered a way to harness the power of a thousand suns February 10 after walking around her overly-dry home wrapped in a warm, convenient, blue fleece cover up: a Snuggie.

Berry Meadows (’13) had no idea that she would soon obtain the power equivalent to that which Napoleon held over France when she slipped on her brand new Snuggie after becoming a little chilly in her house. Gradually, as she roamed the household wrapped in the blanketwith-arms that is only meant for use while lying down, she noticed that a static force was growing around her.

“Every step I took, more and more crackling and more and more sparks began to surround me. I liked it. I wanted more,”

by the paint’s love spell. One principle side effect has been a profound decrease in the amount of school work completed: teachers, obsessing over Brinkley textbooks, now waste hours gushing over past U.S. presidents. Students, who claim their teachers are acting just the same as before the paint melted, have been affected also: hundreds were found carving love letters into their desks.

Wentz Joan-Anne (‘13) said, “The SmartBoard in room C121 is so attractive. I purposely walk by my math class before and after lunch just so I can see him in the classroom. I’m still lookin’ for his number in the instruction manuals.

He gives me butterflies.”

Everyone blames the pink paint for the love spreading around the school, yet some are still looking for the real reasoning behind these feel-good vibes.

Creyg X a n d e r, the Dean of Science at the University of Pennsylvania, said, “The chemical reaction from combining red and white paints, when wet, releases an endorphin-like energy into the air that puts living organisms in an excessively amorous state.”

With everyone falling in love, many divorce attorneys are losing their jobs.

“Business has declined more than ever,” said Harold Reiss, an attorney at Reiss Law. “I’ve never liked love. But I’ve always loved money. I think I’ll get ordained… I hear they need more priests these days.”

It looks like cupid isn’t the only one going out of business this season.

Art by Sally Yang (‘11)/ Eastside Art Director

See Oscars, Pg. 17

■ By Meredith Medoway (‘10)

February/March 2010

said Meadows (’13) Suddenly, a ball of electricity encompassed her.

“I felt so…powerful. So, I decided to use this power for evil. Sorry,” she said.

Meadows has recently taken over the United States and is now aiming to conquer the world.

Averse to anyone ever equalling her power, she has demanded that Snuggies stop being sold everywhere on the planet.

“Snuggies are like diamonds,” Meadows said.

“They can only be harmed by themselves. I know that’s true because I learned it in CPS. Thus, by my reasoning, no one else can have one.”

National authorities will continue to attack Meadows, but as of 4:30 p.m. on March 1, all have failed.

“The most successful attempt was by the National Guard, which snuck up behind Meadows

with metal bleachers,” said Commander Sam Pillman.

“She was immediately drawn to it, not able to resist the urge to watch a Little League game in her cozy outfit. With all the static, she almost electrocuted herself.”

The National Guard refuses to reveal its future plans but assures the planet that Meadows will be stopped.

The Department of Homeland Security has since raised the TerrorAlert Chart to Severely Over Par. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napoleano said, “We raised the terroralert level for... symbolic reasons. Yes, Meadows has ravaged our beautiful, beautiful nation, but the system is working just as beautifully.”

She ended with, “Please don’t take your anger out on the Snuggies: they’re so innocent.”

HUMOR February/March 2010

EASTSIDE

Scandal sparked by sophomore ■ By Bryan Sheehan (‘13) Eastside Staff

A Cherry Hill East student was expelled yesterday amid the growing controversy known around the country as Sparknote-gate.

Jamie “Sparkles” Jamison (’12), who earned her nickname for her love of ponies, rainbows and the Twilight book series, was caught using a website to get information on the book A Separate Peace instead of actually reading the book.

School authorities are still shocked as to her motives for debasing the education system in what is now being called an abomination to all that is, was and would ever be good and just in the Cherry Hill curriculum.

Ever.

“I don’t know, like, why I did it, like, I just did it, out of, like, umm… desperation,” said Jamison while being pulled out of the school and escorted into an FBI squad car. “I went online, and literally just, like, typed in the book. I didn’t expect anything this

bad to ever come out of it. I was just like, ‘Maybe I don’t have to read the book. This website totally does it for me!’ So I just glanced at the notes, and pretended that I had read the book. It was really the perfect plan.”

Jamison’s English teacher, Mr. Cecil Hampton, said, “I don’t know why Sparkles would have done this. She seemed so prepared, until I asked a question about a specific quote. She stood with her mouth agape, and her eyes went blank. I didn’t become suspicious, though, until she started rolling on the floor, shrieking about separate pieces of pies. Then, I knew.”

Hampton proceeded to inform the principal, who took over the situation.

Principal Ron O’Schmeeza called for the school to be searched and for Jamison to be taken into federal custody. School officials have assured Eastside reporters that the crack team of campus police had not found anything emanating sparkles or character analyses.

Page 17 depressants.

Feminists bombard Man of La Mancha rehearsals asking where the woman is.

Logo by Sally Yang (‘11)/ Eastside Art Director

Freshman drinks coffee, school goes into lockdown.

Local man uninstalls internet, goes fishing.

Late bus shows up early.

Cheerios actually loaded with anti-

Teacher makes double entendre, doesn’t realize it.

Bird poops on window; students shout, “Oh my God, snow!”

To raise school spirit, live cougar purchased to roam East hallways.

Custodian dreams of a Wing Bowl where no one regurgitates.

Oscars unspoiled by Tinseltown troubles

Eastide Humor Editor

On April 1, 2010, East will implement a new “NoSneeze” policy, following the brutish actions of Melanie Smith (’10), who knocked out Tyler Rosen (’11) on February 24.

“He sneezed once, and I said ‘Bless you,’” Smith told school officials. “But then he kept sneezing and I was like, ‘I already told

Poor Prognosis Boy: Glitter is like the herpes of craft supplies.

You can’t get it off.

Huh? Girl: Only wierdos don’t get popcorn down their pants.

Who Needs Water?

Girl: I like eating the hot chocolate mix with a spoon.

Beauty Beyond Measure Girl: She’s prettier than a meter stick.

Sit Back, Relax Girl: It’s like the perfect Sunday night show. I don’t have to think, it’s so bad.

Well... Now We Know Boy: Do you sleep?

Teacher: No... I’m a vampire.

CHE College Decisions Teacher: Forget about college, you’re not going to college. We’re going to start a motorcycle gang!

East to ban sneezing ■ By Andrew Huff (‘10)

Logo by Sally Yang (‘11)/ Eastside Art Director

I Meant It As A Compliment Boy: Your glasses are really clean.

Girl: I’m a clean person, are you not?

you ‘bless you,’ now knock it off.’”

When Rosen, who suffers from a chronic allergy to black ink, sneezed a third time, Smith attacked him.

“Well, he didn’t appreciate my heartfelt blessing, so I shut his nose up. Some kids these days just don’t have any manners whatsoever. It’s sad.”

Rosen has yet to return to school.

In This Economy Girl: Breathing is for... cheap people.

So True Boy 1: It’s no plot, all character development.

Boy 2: Like “Jersey Shore.”

Be Strong!

Girl: He almost fainted in the hallway because he bit his tongue chewing baby carrots.

Photo Illustration by Alex Herman (‘10)/ Eastside Staff

Carlton Jones ecstatically displays the alluring Oscar-Mayer Award at the 2010 Academy Awards.

Continued from Pg. 16 in exchange for promotion.

Among the changes “Once Oscar Mayer made in the ceremony, offered me a chest full of award winners will be gold doubloons, rubies and required to end their a jewel-encrusted tiara, I acceptance speeches with suddenly realized that “...brought to you by our financial situation McDonalds: I’m lovin’ it!” required more…generous and each actor and actress donations.

Now, the in attendance will have ‘Oscars’ have become the several different company ‘Oscar Mayer Awards’ as logos tattooed on their part of a deal between extremities.

Oscar Mayer and the “I don’t really see what Academy, and the Oscar all the fuss is about,” statuettes are now beMichael Cera told ing smelted gripping delireporters, revolver pressed cious Oscar Mayer hot against his temple. “I dogs.” mean, sure the tattoos are “Our stock is through kind of excruciatingly the roof! Money is so abunpainful, and the electricaldant right now, I just ly-charged obedience colbought the nation of lars we’re being forced to Singapore. I had no idea wear seem kind of inhucountries were publicly mane, but it’s all worth it traded, but who’s comso I can be secure in the plaining?” said one Oscar knowledge that I’ll live to Mayer accountant. see another sunrise.”

Several other compaSherak was last seen nies have made generous boarding a flight to payments to the Academy Mexico.

That Must Be Why Girl: I was looking through my closet and wondering why I have so many black shirts. Then I thought, ‘Oh, maybe I’m just trying to reveal my true colors.’

Holy!

Boy: Jesus Christmas, that’s ridiculous.

What A Camaraderie Teacher: If there’s one thing that unites all teachers, it’s poverty.

How Cheery Boy: Those wheat plants had to die for you to have your frosted Cheerios.

That’s One Theory...

Teacher: Does anyone know why ice floats?

Boy: It’s because ice is cold and it wants to get warmer and wants to float closer to the sun.

Tweet Overheards to twitter.com/ eastside_humor

COMICS Page 18

EASTSIDE

February/March 2010

Tell ‘em Girl! by Havisha Desai (‘11)/For Eastside

Jersey Snore by Zach Schwartz (‘10)/ Eastside Humor Editor

Relaxation Time at the MIB by Rich Hanna (‘10)/Eastside Staff

Check out more comics online! eastside-online.org

Show your Cherry Hill East ID card and get $.50 off any size smoothie.

We also have sport supplements, healthy snacks and vitamins.

1150 White Horse Road, Voorhees, NJ 08043 856-520-8101. We are located next to Bally’s.

SPORTS February/March 2010

Patrone rehabs shoulder in preparation for next year ■ By Karina Korneyeva (‘10)

back into shape by practicing often and swimming in numerous races.

As a freshman in 2007 However, the injury bug Kathleen Patrone (‘11) soon came back to again made a significant contrihaunt Patrone. After dealbution to East’s girl’s varsiing with joint pain in her ty swim team. Patrone’s shoulder for many years, future as a prominent girls’ Patrone’s shoulder disloswimmer looked bright cated right before this past after she swam the fiftysummer’s end. Her shoulmeter free and hundredder injury caused her to meter free for the varsity miss the entire 2009-2010 team that year. But at the swimming season. begin“As a ning of person, her h e r i n j u r y sophmade her omore s t r o n g e r. school She is defiyear, her n i t e l y swimmissing m i n g the swimcareer ming astook a pect. But, I flip turn. think that I n she is October stronger Courtesy of Kathleen Patrone because of of 2008, Patrone Patrone rehabs her shoulder by it,” said became doing elastic band exercises.

East girls’ ill with swimming Lyme’s Disease, which coach, Ms. Anita Ricci. caused her to miss school Right now, Patrone is from October of 2008 to working on getting back May of 2009. Because of into the pool. Orthopedic her illness, she also missed surgeon Dr. Robert Dalsey the entire 2008-2009 swimand physical therapist Mr. ming season.

Jim Ross are both trying to “The hardest part of not strengthen Patrone’s being on the swim team shoulder and get her back was probably the social into the pool for a strong aspect. Not that swimming 2009-2010 senior season. is all about socializing, but Ricci expects Patrone to it was [difficult not seeing be back in shape and join my teammates],” said the team once again as a Patrone. senior, and make signifiAfter missing almost cant contributions as she her entire sophomore year did in 2007. due to her sickness, Said Patrone, “As of Patrone returned to the right now, I plan to conwater for her local summer tinue swimming. But it swim team at Kingston just depends on what Estates Swim Club. During happens with my shoulthe summer, Patrone got der.”

Eastside Photo Editor

Q: Where can you find daily Cherry Hill East news and sports stories, comics, radio shows, video clips and much, much more?

EASTSIDE

Page 19

Eastside’s Dillon Rosenblatt’s (‘11) top ten sports movies ■ By Dillon Rosenblatt (‘11)

Director (John G. Avildsen), Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is a There have struggling boxer living in been hunPhiladelphia who tries to dreds and become a top boxer. hundreds of When boxing legend Apollo s p o r t s Creed comes to town, an m o v i e s exhibition match is set made since the 1900s. Out up between Creed and of all of the ones I have Rocky. The boxing match seen, here are my top ten offers a great opportufavorite sports nity for an ordimovies of all nary man with time: little importance.

1.

M i l 5.Remember lion Dollar the Titans Baby (2004): (2000): In the Won four of segregated town seven Academy of Alexandria, Awards it was Virginia, two nominated for, schools combine including Best to form the Picture. Stars black and white include Hilary T.C. Williams Swank, Morgan High School.

Freeman and The combinaClint Eastwood, tion of schools and it was proves to be directed by very difficult for Clint Eastwood. the players as Swank plays a well as the female boxer coaching staff. named Maggie 6. Jerry MagFitzgerald who uire (1996) is desperate for 7. Glory Road a trainer.

(2006) Frankie Dunn 8. 61* (2001) (Eastwood) 9. Caddy refuses to help Shack (1980) a woman, bePhoto illustration by Nickee Plaksen (‘10)/ Eastside Photo Editor 10. Seabiscuit cause “Woman (2003) should not be in a boxing stars Kevin Costner as an ring,” he says. An ex-fightIowa corn farmer who Want to see the descriper of Dunn’s, Eddie “Scraphears voices saying, “If tions for the final movies on iron” Dupris, suggests that you build it, they will Rosenblatt’s top ten? Go to training Fitzgerald would come.” Costner thinks the www.eastside-online.org to be good for him, so he voices are those of seven see the rest of Rosenblatt’s accepts and brings Maggie dead players from the condescriptions. to the championship boxtroversial 1919 Chicago Also, check Eastside ing match.

White Sox team, telling Online to see Sports 2.

The Wrestler him to build a baseball Editors Nate Mulberg’s (2008): Nominated for two field. (‘10) and Mike Davis’ (‘10) Oscars, the movie won Best 4.

Rocky I (1976): and Online Sports Editor Actor in a Lead for Mickey Nominated for ten Oscars, Max Cohen’s (‘12) lists of Rourke and Best Actress in winning three, including the all-time top sports a Supporting Role for Best Picture and Best movies.

Eastside Editorial Assistant

Brian Lussier (‘11)

Last year as a sophomore, Lussier was the co-captain of the wrestling team, an unheard accomplishment for an underclassman. This year, Lussier had a record of 26-3 in the 189 lb. weight class and is arguably East’s top wrestler.

Eastside has INSIDE ACCESS

A: www.eastside-online.org

Subscribe to the Eastside Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/ eastsideonline to get live updates...

Or subscribe to our daily e-mails via eastside-online.org to have each day’s new stories sent to you each evening.

Join the thousands of people worldwide who already visit the site each week!

Marisa Tomei. Rourke plays a character similar to himself as Randy “The Ram Jam” Robinson, with his toughest match-up being his relationship with his own daughter (Evan Rachel Wood).

3.

Field of Dreams (1989): Nominated for three Oscars, including Best Picture, the movie

• What do you think about before hitting the mat?

I just think about what I am going to do. I am just keeping a positive attitude, telling myself I am going to win, and focusing on not letting my nerves get to me.

• Who is the greatest influence on your wrestling career?

My brother Mike Lussier (‘06), who also wrestled at East. He is the one that really got me into wrestling. He’s like my second coach. Since I was

really young, he has been my coach trying to make me better.

• Who is your favorite wrestler and why?

My favorite wrestler is Cael Sanderson. He was an Iowa State University wrestler who was undefeated in college and is now the head coach at Penn State University.

• Favorite food?

Chicken.

• Favorite teacher?

My favorite teacher is my workshop teacher, Mr.

Leonard.

• Favorite television show?

“Entourage” • Favorite pre-game song?

My favorite pre-game song is “All the Above” by Maino. Rap gets me the most pumped up before matches.

Logo by Nicolle Rochino (‘10)/ Eastside Art Director

Check eastside-online.org for more athletes’ profiles.

SPORTS February/March 2010

EASTSIDE

Page 20

Rubin returns serve-ice to East tennis ■ By Harris Blum (‘13)

play for East, Rubin trained in Philadelphia on a regular basis last year and also traveled Max Rubin (‘10), the a lot in order to play in third-ranked tennis player tournaments around the in New Jersey and twostate.

Now as a hundredth ranked player senior, Rubin says he no in the country according to longer feels the same pressure, much of which is because he accepted an athletic scholarship with Division I Duquesne University. Rubin chose Duquesne over a plethora of other schools because he felt he fit in with the school’s team perfectly.

This year the Cougar tennis team, already loaded with talent, expects Rubin to be the missing piece in their puzzle.

“I think my return will be great for the team. I am good friends with [returning varsity singles players] Mike Davis (‘10) and Nikhil YegyaRaman (‘10), and I think that our competitiveness for the Karina Korneyeva (‘10)/ Eastside Photo Editor battling The Duquesne University-bound Max Rubin (‘10) stands on East’s home tennis court. top spots will make After taking a one-year break from playing high school tennis, Rubin will return this us a [better team].” year as one of the Cougars’ top players.

Eastside Staff

www.tennisrecruiting.org, has announced his return to East’s tennis team after missing his junior year. As a freshman and sophomore, Rubin played on the varsity team as a key contributor. However, last

year as a junior, he decided to take a year off from the school team.

“I was under a lot of pressure and I did not have enough time [to play last year],” said Rubin.

Even though he did not

Cougar swim team overcomes losses ■ By Max Cohen (‘12)

replaced them with depth we didn’t have last year,” said Brahms.

After losing a plethora The freshman class, in of experienced seniors at particular, gave the team the conclusion of the 2008extra depth. As of late 2009 season, East’s boys’ January, the team had swim team did not miss a eight freshmen who qualibeat this year, as they comfied for the Coaches piled a 9-2 regular season Invitational Meet, a meet record and were ranked as for which swimmers must qualify in order to compete.

Other key swimmers who made significant contributions as non-seniors were Alex Dintino (’12), David Shull (’12), Wesley Ho (’11) and Michael Krohn (’11).

Looking back on the team’s success this season, Brahms admits that she didn’t expect them to do quite this well.

“I didn’t realize how much talent we had in the freshman class,” said Brahms.

The boys’ Karina Korneyeva (‘10)/ Eastside Photo Editor swim team East’s boys’ swim team had a successful season this year despite losing the heart and soul their of last year’s team. The Cougars went 9-2 in the regular season and earned the number-one showed prowess in the seed in the first round of the playoffs. East ended up losing to Bridgewater Raritan in the pool this year. It state championship. is clear that the loss of last year’s key high as number two in reasons why the team had gram to increase the work swimmers did not phase South Jersey by both the so much success this year ethic of the swimmers. this year’s team.

Courier Post and after losing the heart and Another reason for the Said team captain Matt Philadelphia Inquirer. soul of a team that won the team’s success in ‘09-’10 Radziwill (‘10), “We [didn’t] This year, the Cougars Public Central A Division was the outstanding depth have the stars we did last were also the number-one Championship in 2009. of the team. year, but our depth [overseed in the Public Central One of these factors is the “Even though we lost came] that.”

A Swimming Tournament, impact that new head very fine swimmers, we Eastside Online Sports Editor

which was the first round of playoffs for East.

After last season, the team lost five swimmers due to graduation who currently swim in college (Adam Schneider (’09), Jason Ho (’09), Jeff Rowe (’09), Michael Smith (’09) and Geoff Richter (’09)).

There are numerous

coach, Mr. Joe Cucinotti, had on the team. Last year’s head coach, Ms. Marilyn Brahms and Cucinotti have shared the head coaching duties this season. Both were integral to the success of the team.

Cucinotti implemented a weight training program as well as a dry land pro-

■ By Mike Davis (‘10) Eastside Sports Editor

The year 2009 was a very ordinary sports year: Another Steelers Super Bowl, another Lakers championship, another Yankees World Series and more titles for tennis phenomenon Roger Federer.

But for high school sports, 2009 was anything but ordinary. Here is my countdown of the Top 5 Craziest High School Sports Stories of 2009: 5. Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Kansas lost its gymnastics state title because of a complaint from its coach.

Coach Jackie Cipollini questioned the referees about a call regarding the scoring. The question resulted in a one-point penalty, thus changing the school’s position from first to third in the tense competition.

4. The boy’s cross-country team of Parkton Hereford High School in Maryland lost its title at the Baltimore County Championships because one of its runners was disqualified for the white stitching on his black compression shorts. The rule states that all undergarments must be a single color so teams can be easily identified.

3. The football team of Pulaski Academy High School in Little Rock, Arkansas decided to not kick field goals or punt during football games in 2009. The school’s coach, Kevin Kelley, came up with the idea from a documentary by a Harvard professor, which explained the benefits in not punting or kicking.

2. Anthony Avalos, a 22year-old man who was attending Yuma Kofa High School in Arizona, played on the school’s basketball team, hoping to get a college basketball scholarship. Avalos had previously graduated from a Florida high school in 2005. Avalos was caught after being forced to produce a birth certificate.

1. The girl’s basketball team of The Covenant School in Texas won a game 100-0. The head coach, Micah Grimes, claimed he didn’t intend to run up the score. Grimes was asked to apologize, refused and was fired from his position as girls’ basketball coach soon after.

Logo art by Sally Yang (‘11)/ Eastside Art Director Mike Davis picture by Karina Korneyeva (‘10)/ Eastside Photo Editor