November 2018 • Estd. 1892 • Vol. 126 #3 • Published Monthly • www.ihstattler.com Ithaca High School, 1401 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 • FREE
Mitrano and Reed Campaigns Come to IHS Pages 4 to 6
Editorial
Leveling the Student-Teacher Relationship
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n our contemporary schooling system, there exist inherent hierarchies. When students walk into classrooms, they generally expect that there will be one authority figure: the teacher. Likewise, the teacher usually expects that students will take notes on the concepts they present, and will memorize the necessary information in time for the inevitable examination. This method works well enough, and schools pump out competent young adults, ready to join the workforce and hopefully utilize some of the skills they have learned. However, within the classroom, there are power structures that render education not liberating at all, and rather a system that enforces hierarchies. If students are to become freer through education, we must fundamentally change the way we think about the relationship between the teacher and the student. The relationship must be transformed beyond the binary teacher/student dichotomy to a freer alternative, where both parties can learn from and teach the other. Although IHS is unique in many respects, it does contain these often harmful power structures. Teachers do often make an effort to engage students more in their classes, but a 2
radical reimagining of the classroom is rarely seen outside English classes. In history classes, students are generally lectured and expected to memorize information, rather than critically interacting with the subject matter. This practice is repeated in many science classes as well, although here it is understandably harder to avoid. Still, memorizing scientific terms only to repeat them on some tedious final does little to foster students who are equipped to examine their surroundings. Within English classes, a more equal student-teacher relationship can be facilitated through group discussions, although in many cases, the teacher remains an authority figure who insists on a single interpretation of a text. This can be the root of low participation in class—students sometimes feel as though their interpretations of material are worthless. Students who voice opinions that differ from those of the teacher should not be subjected to wanton criticism or embarrassment. This is not to say that IHS teachers are oppressive, or that a complete restructuring of the school system is needed. In recent years, there has been an effort to reform classroom practices, but there is still more work to do.
These changes should be built on the well of teacher talent that exists at IHS. Possible alternatives to the current method include more seminar-style courses to facilitate a mutually respectful and increasingly discursive classroom. In addition, testing, when possible, should move more towards individual interpretation of material, rather than repeating what the teacher has said in a standardized thesis. Reduction of class size, when possible, also makes it easier for more students to talk, and to express themselves. There is not a clear-cut solution to this problem, since teachers are required to teach a certain amount of material in a certain amount of time, and students invariably must sit for their end-of-year exams. However, this does not mean that the process of gaining that information should not be a liberating one for all parties involved. Increasing respect, diversifying teaching methods, changing tests to be reflective of skill application, and allowing students to present a broader range of ideas will help make the classroom a more productive and freeing environment for students and teachers alike.
Editorial
PE in GPA Staff 2018 – 2019
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hen IHS Principal Jason Trumble announced at the September 25 Board of Education (BoE) meeting that PE classes would be counted in the calculation of GPA for the 2018-19 school year, many students were shocked to hear the news. The announcement came after a long few weeks of widespread confusion among the student body. At the beginning of the year, PE teachers announced in their classes that PE grades would count in GPA calculations. However, several concerned and skeptical students contacted members of the guidance office in an attempt to find a definitive answer, and guidance department replies generally indicated that PE would not be included in GPA. In terms of the subject of GPA, the IHS student body generally holds the guidance department in high regard, and this misinformation was rampant until the tables were turned again with Mr. Trumble’s announcement. Communication between the administration and the student body has long been a major concern in the IHS community, and the fiasco of the addition of PE classes to GPA has become another chapter in that discussion. But in this case, the most glaring issue is perhaps that confusion was not limited to the student body; parts of the school administration did not seem to understand the situation either. According to a survey of 347 IHS students conducted online by The Tattler, nearly 70 percent of respondents heard conflicting information about the addition of PE in GPA, and the most common explanation for this confusion was a widely-circulated email from the guidance department. As stated before, the guidance office, a part of the school administration that students trust to have correct information, appeared to not be aware of the situation at hand. The failure of the upper levels of the administration to communicate with those who students interact with the most suggests that said upper levels did not communicate effectively about the progression of this policy. But perhaps more significant than the lack of communication between levels of school administration
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The Tattler is the monthly student-run newspaper of Ithaca High School. All currently-enrolled students at Ithaca High School are welcome to submit writing and photographs. As an open forum, The Tattler invites opinion submissions and letters to the editor from all community members. Email submissions to editor@ihstattler.com or mail letters to: The Tattler 1401 North Cayuga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Send submissions by November 8th to be included in the November issue. The Tattler reserves the right to edit all submissions. All articles, columns, and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of editorial staff. To read The Tattler online, visit our website at www.ihstattler.com.
was the lack of transparency in the way in which PE was added to GPA. The addition of fine and performing arts classes into GPA in the 2017-18 school year was one that was spearheaded by the IHS Student Council the year prior. After several meetings on the issue which tackled student and administrative concerns, including a public discussion in which students expressed their feelings about the issue, fine arts classes were added to GPA the next year. Students were not only aware of the discussions that were taking place about the topic, but they had the chance to participate in them directly to express their affirmations and reservations about adding fine arts to GPA. In contrast, 75 percent of respondents to the Tattler survey noted that they did not know that PE would be added to GPA prior to hearing the news this year at school. This lack of information about a major academic change is unacceptable, and it stemmed from the hushed manner in which the IHS administration went about implementing this change. As the administration prepared to make the pedagogical and logistical changes necessary to add fine arts classes to GPA, it seemingly tacked on PE classes to this plan, giving the PE department an additional year to revise its curricula. While students were allowed to engage with administrators the year prior about adding fine arts classes to GPA, at no point last year were students even contacted about this change. This lack of transparency has carried over to this year, when there has continued to be no clear indication of when the necessary registrar changes will be made to add PE to GPA calculation. Amidst the confusion surrounding this change, it’s no surprise that the IHS student body has responded negatively to the addition of PE to GPA. In the Tattler survey, over 50 percent of respondents stated that they were “generally opposed” to the addition of PE to GPA, compared to only about 20 percent of respondents who were “generally in favor of ” the change. In addition to more nuanced and comprehensive assessments of student activities in class, students are now expected to watch videos outside of class and complete assignments outside of school. For those students who may not have expected PE to be included in GPA, a lack of completion of that work, under assumption that they would still pass the class, may now have significant ramifications for their GPAs. Of course, the administration had reasons for adding PE to GPA. As the only remaining class at IHS to not count towards GPA after the addition of fine and performing arts last year, there was a sense of urgency to add it, especially considering the lack of attentiveCONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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ness and participation in PE classes. However, nothing can justify the administration’s lack of communication about the issue. In making such a significant educational decision, the opinions of the student body should have been considered, and it was partic-
ularly disappointing considering the precedent that was set during the process of adding fine arts to GPA. But perhaps more importantly, executing such a change requires communication with parents and students, and especially with different levels of school administration.
In order to smoothly execute transitions of this magnitude in the future, communication will be key, and IHS administrators should reflect on this situation to better deal with upcoming changes.
Mitrano Campaign Comes to IHS By JULIAN PERRY and VAYNU KADIYALI
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n October 15, Democratic congressional candidate Tracy Mitrano spoke to IHS seniors enrolled in Government and Economics about her life, civic engagement, and her campaign against Republican representative Tom Reed. Mitrano, a cybersecurity expert and political newcomer, is running in New York’s 23rd Congressional District, home to Ithaca as well as more conservative areas in New York’s Southern Tier. The event, which was held in Kulp Auditorium, began with Mitrano telling students about her own life. She emphasized her roots in Upstate New York, as the child of parents who owned a restaurant in Rochester. She then described her experience as the first in her family to go to college, at the University of Rochester, and she went on to receive a PhD in history and a law degree, from Binghamton University and Cornell University respectively. In addition to working as a professor for many years, Mitrano served as Cornell University’s Director of Information Technology Policy from 2001-2014. After her introduction, Mitrano left most of the period for answering questions from students in the audience. One point, brought up by multiple students, was the challenge Mitrano faced in uniting Democrats in the district after only narrowly winning a primary in a field with numerous candidates. When asked how she would be able to address this, Mitrano emphasized the value of having lifelong roots in Upstate New York and, to much applause from the audience, embraced a common goal of getting Tom Reed out of office. In responding to other audience questions, Mitrano expressed support for a variety of policies, from campaign finance reform to legalization of recreational marijuana to the implementation of universal healthcare. One issue where she deviated somewhat from traditional progressive orthodoxy was that of gun rights, where she holds a more nuanced position. While explaining her support for comprehensive background checks, Mitrano also made clear her skepticism of some gun restrictions and disappointment in New York State’s SAFE Act. After speaking to the senior class as a whole and answering the questions of some individual students, Mitrano was able to take the time to talk with us at The Tattler for a brief interview. Julian Perry ’19: What made you decide to run for office? Tracy Mitrano: Politics, democracy, and citizenship have always been the focus of what I’ve done, whether as an American historian, a policy 4
23rd District Democratic congressional candidate Tracy Mitrano
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analyst, or even in internet and cybersecurity policy. I got involved because I was concerned about Russian interference in the election, and I looked to see if anyone in Congress has a background in cybersecurity currently—they don’t. I thought about offering my thoughts to my congressman, but I realized that Tom Reed wouldn’t want to talk with me because he makes fun of people who live in Tompkins County and he routinely pays no attention to people who disagree with him. After considering my children, who have both graduated and left the home, I decided it was time to throw my head in the ring. JP: Much of your career has been spent working with or at institutions of higher education, and you seem to strongly value education. How do you think we should deal with existing barriers to education? TM: We have to get rid of the usurious interest rates of college loans, and we have to provide better preparation so that students can navigate their way to college. This isn’t as true for Ithaca, but it’s very true for the majority of students in other schools in our congressional district. Educational institutions beginning with pre-school and elementary are where the problems of society come to light—the poverty, the lack of medical care, the lack of adequate parenting, the drug problems— they’re all part of the parcel when kids enter the classroom. If we don’t start to address these problems, we’re not going to effectively address the problems that more disadvantaged students face, and these kids
News won’t be effectively prepared to enter higher education. JP: You are one of a record breaking number of women running for Congress this year. Still, men outnumber women at seemingly all levels of elected office. How do you think this impacts the state of politics, and what is your message to women thinking of getting involved? TM: I think it’s a good idea for us to be thinking about people in families and in neighborhoods and communities instead of always making it seem like a contest between men and women. If we did it that way, men would understand the effects of discriminating against their mothers or sisters, or of sexual assault against their mothers or sisters. If we thought this way, voters would be more inclined to believe that politics aren’t a contest of men versus women, but that it’s a contest about all of our humanity. For example, if a male loses his job and his family is now relying on the salary of his wife, do you think he’s in favor of her being discriminated against? No! So we need to start thinking of ourselves in our relationships with other people, beginning with our children and our spouses, and in our larger families and communities. Otherwise, it seems like a zero-sum game, which it’s definitely not. JP: The opioid overdose crisis is one that significantly affects this community. Ithaca’s may-
or, Svante Myrick, has been at the forefront of the fight to promote clean injection sites for addicts, while your opponent believes harsher criminal sentencing for some drug offenders is part of the solution. How do you think we should deal with the opioid crisis? TM: There are a lot of spokes to this wheel—I think we should be bringing legal action against pharmaceutical companies that knowingly pumped out substances that are highly addictive. I think we should be revisiting the role of the DEA and investigating how they’ve failed to control a 50-year plus drug epidemic that’s only gotten worse. With the marriage of legal opiates and illegal ones, I think we need to try to think ahead of the game. Every time that we try to plug a hole, like two decades ago when airline employees were stuffing drugs in hidden parts of planes, another one emerges, like fentanyl coming in illegally via the mail from China—a wall won’t stop that. So I believe we should have actions against pharmaceutical hearings, hearings on why the DEA hasn’t been able to stop this epidemic, healthcare and publicly funded help for recovering addicts so they’re not left on the streets, and devoting funding to finding the best and most effective treatment methods for opioid addictions. Overall, poverty, a lack of community, and a lack of education are all issues that relate closely to this one, and in the long run, we’ll need to solve these to fix the overall problem.
JP: Recently, parts of the country have faced some of the most devastating natural disasters to date, and report after report has shown the increasing severity of the effects of global climate change. How do we as a nation balance our energy needs, while also ensuring that our generation inherits a clean planet? TM: The first thing is getting back to the Paris Climate Accords. More generally, we need to keep our eyes on the ball, not only in terms of how we can reduce our footprint, but also how we can help other industrializing countries, particularly India and China, to be in a position to move towards renewable energy sources over fossil fuels. As a more local matter, I think we need to have a more responsible EPA and FEMA, both of which need to think more proactively instead of retroactively. We have once-in-500-year events happening every other year, and once-in-100-year storms happening multiple times a year. I’ve seen in various areas in our own district—Lodi and in parts of Cattaraugus County—the effects of climate change, and we need desperately to work with civil engineers to clear streams and build infrastructure, because when our waterways are backed up, we get tremendous flooding. So, in addition to national steps that we need to take, there are a lot of steps that we can do to prepare ourselves here in our community.
Reed Campaign Comes to IHS By VAYNU KADIYALI and JULIAN PERRY
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n October 22, the Republican candidate in the election for New York’s 23rd congressional district, incumbent Representative Tom Reed, came to IHS to speak to seniors and to discuss public policy. Reed, an attorney and the former mayor of Corning, has represented the 23rd district since 2013, and he visited IHS a week after his opponent, Democratic nominee Tracy Mitrano. Reed’s event differed greatly from that of Mitrano the week prior. While Mitrano gave a stump speech and left time for student questions at the end, Reed structured his event as a conversation with students. After his introduction, the discussion immediately shifted to marijuana legislation. Reed spoke about the
Congressional Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group composed of equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans, that Reed currently co-chairs. Reed noted that in this caucus, he and other members often debate on behalf of the side they oppose to better understand the opposing stance on policy issues, and in the discussion, Reed asked students to generate a list of ideas in support of and in opposition to recreational marijuana legalization. Reed stated his support for medical marijuana legalization, and noted that although he currently opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana, he is open to changing his mind if medical research comes to new conclusions about its health effects. When Reed asked students why people
choose to smoke marijuana, the discussion briefly shifted to mental health issues. The relative sense of calm in Kulp Auditorium was disturbed when one student asked to shift the discussion to the issue of abortion, a request that was initially refused. When another student asked a question about environmental legislation, a shift in the discussion did occur. Reed spoke briefly about his desire to see environmental legislation enacted at state levels, and his decision to oppose legislation that detrimentally impacts corporations that sustain communities. Finally, after a few minutes, Reed did acknowledge the question of abortion. He stated that he is pro-life except in cases of rape, incest, or medical harm to the mother. He acknowledged the difficulties he faced in comCONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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ing to this stance, but noted that he was influenced greatly by the situation of his mother, who had 11 children before giving birth to Tom Reed, and who was encouraged by doctors to abort her last pregnancy. Several students engaged with Reed on this issue, and the discussion grew increasingly heated before a student question shifted the discussion away from the topic. Despite political differences between the Congressman and members of the audience, the event was remarkably civil, and Reed’s visit covered many varied areas of policy. After nearly an hour of discussing issues with students and answering questions, Reed was able to speak with The Tattler for an interview. Vaynu Kadiyali ‘19: Right now, there seems to be great division within our congressional district. Do you see a divide between parts of our district that voted for Donald Trump and places full of those your campaign has described as “Extreme Ithaca Liberals,” and if so, can anything be done about it? Tom Reed: First of all, I’d like to clarify what that term is. It’s not about residents of the city of Ithaca, or the town of Ithaca. Rather, it articulates the extremism that I try to fight against, both on the left and on the right. If you can recall, during the Tea Party movement of 2010, I would stand up in our town halls and I would call out some of the right wing that has embraced an extreme ideology, too. What I’m trying to encapsulate is that I hear from folks in Tompkins County and Ithaca that they live in “10 square miles surrounded by reality,” and I’m trying to show this mindset and fight against it. I have consistently fought against extremism, and I don’t try to label individuals. VK: The opioid overdose crisis is one that significantly affects this community and others around the district. Ithaca’s mayor, Svante Myrick, has been at the forefront of the fight to promote clean injection sites for addicts, which you have voiced opposition to. What do you believe should be done to help victims of the opioid epidemic and stop its spread? TR: I think injection sites are an extreme position, and will have a detrimental effect going forward. However, I totally see there being common ground on this issue in regards to the prevention and awareness of the issue, and about why folks are seeking this high and getting into this. I think mental health has to 6
be a big component of any plan given that it’s an issue that we need to address as a community and a nation. Perhaps most importantly, our first responders need to be in a position to respond to this crisis, and law enforcement needs to be a component of a solution. Who I’m really trying to target with law enforcement are individuals who are using and manipulating addicts to carry and distribute drugs. I have a lot of compassion for addicts themselves and I want to help them, and I think that starts with stopping those who are exploiting addicts and trafficking these drugs. VK: Do you believe the campaign finance system in our country is fair, and if not, what changes would you like to see enacted? TR: I think a lot more transparency on campaign finances is needed. I think the issue of money in politics is best solved by putting a spotlight on where this money is coming from, where it’s going, and citizens should be in a position to ask informed questions. Republicans get asked all the time about campaign donations, and Democrats do too, and to me, asking these questions is the best path to finding a solution to the issue. VK: Just recently, the Department of Health and Human Services announced its intention to create a definition of gender within federal programs, based on the genitals a person was born with, and with any dispute being resolved through genetic testing. Do you support this effort, which does not recognize transgender Americans? TR: I have a clear record on LGBT issues, and I’ve stood with anti-discriminatory measures throughout my career. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney, a Democrat from New York who has led on this issue, and I have worked together to be at the front of standing with LGBT individuals. I’m going to stand and fight against any discrimination on the federal level, because from my perspective, we should embrace everyone. VK: The Trump administration is considering using harsher deterrents to prevent entry of undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers through the southern border, which is rumored to include renewing the policy of family separation. Do you support the president’s interest in being less open towards asylum seekers? TR: There are definitely abuses in the border
that need to be fixed. I do believe in a border that’s secure. That said, I also believe in a border that’s functional. When you’re dealing with asylum seekers and people who are legitimately and legally coming to America for the dream and opportunity that it represents, I’m supportive of that. Having more judges, more resources to process and evaluate these cases, I think is a prudent measure. Having a border that’s secure doesn’t just mean a wall—it also means technology. In doing so, we should also streamline the process of helping asylum seekers, and particularly of accepting temporary workers who fill underserved sectors, like in farming, and who return to their families. Julian Perry ‘19: In regards to climate change, you have supported market-based solutions. As such, would you support a tax on carbon emissions, which has gained support from within your caucus? TR: I’m not in favor of a straight carbon tax. But I am intrigued by a carbon fee and dividend, which is a type of carbon cost that you put on companies, with the dividends going back to the American people. Right now, there’s an insatiable appetite for revenue in Washington, and they want to tax everything for the sake of having more federal money. This approach is interesting to me because the costs allow for the market to respond appropriately to these changes, while also putting money directly in the American people’s pockets.
23rd District Republican congressional candidate Tom Reed
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News
IHS Teacher Receives Fulbright Grant By ASHA DUHAN
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he Fulbright Fellowship is a cultural exchange program that emphasizes the importance of intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the United States and various other countries across the world through educational grants. The Fulbright Fellowship is considered to be one of the most competitive and prestigious fellowships, with competitively-selected citizens—including students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists—traveling abroad to learn about new cultures to refine their own skills and expand their talents. The program provides 8,000 grants annually, and one of the 2018-2019 Fulbright Scholars is IHS social studies teacher Keith Thompson. Thompson will be traveling to Belfast, Ireland for one semester through the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching program, where he will be conducting research on the role of education in a community. I sat down with Mr. Thompson to discuss this remarkable opportunity and what he hopes to gain from the experience. Asha Duhan ‘19: Why did you apply for the Fulbright fellowship? Mr. Thompson: I’ve been teaching U.S. History and politics for eighteen years, and psychology for five. Over time I’ve noticed that students are generally less knowledgeable about political ideologies and how they influence current trends and events as well as how they impact the future. Students and adults also seem to be less comfortable talking to people who don’t necessarily have the same beliefs. While some of this may be due to technological and other dramatic changes since I came to IHS, it is pretty troubling when you think of how important dialogue, empathy, and compromise is going to be in the next few decades. I was trying to find a way to look outside of my classroom and outside of Ithaca to explore how other people were approaching this issue. AD: What was the application process like?
itary crackdowns, car bombings, and over 3,600 people were killed and tens of thousands injured. Despite this, people have been working for decades to bring together the divided communities and start the healing process. Schools played a huge role in this, bringing together students and schools to share experiences, education, and ideas in order to bridge the gaps and create a lasting peace. Through Fulbright, I’m lucky enough to be working with the Centre on Shared Education through Queen’s University Belfast. They helped to pioneer this process, and I’m going to investigate how it works by meeting with educational and community leaders, visiting schools, and taking classes in conflict resolution processes at Queen’s. AD: What do you hope to gain from this experience? KT: Professionally, the simplest answer is that if the people of Belfast can use education to help heal after decades of armed conflict, I think they have something important to teach us about how to work through some of the divisions we have in the U.S., and even in Tompkins County. Personally, while I spend most of my time outside of teaching traveling around the world, I haven’t had the opportunity to settle in one place outside the U.S. and live as a local. I’m incredibly excited to live in Belfast and soak up as much as I can of the local history and culture. Also, much of Game of Thrones is filmed there. So I may be spending a good deal of time hiking in the Dothraki grasslands and Winterfell! AD: How will you use your Fulbright experience to enrich your teaching? KT: Besides the general goals of my project, it really is hard to say. Every time I’ve visited another part of the world, it’s changed the way I viewed U.S. History and psychology, and provided plenty of new ideas to share with my classes. As for Northern Ireland, it will definitely give me a different perspective on politics! Why don’t you talk to me next year and I’ll let you know!
KT: Think about applying for college. Then think about trying to include everything important you may have done or thought about for the past 40 years. Then try to fit it all in a 20 page or so application process that included 11 separate essays, each limited to a specific number of characters. Then there were further rounds of questions, an international skype interview, and review by the State Department, US-UK Fulbright committee, and a background check. It was pretty intense. AD: What will you be doing specifically in the Fulbright program? KT: It’s funny, when I talk to a lot of people, their first response is, “it must be exciting to be able to teach abroad!” Actually, the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program is a research grant, so I’m heading to Belfast, Northern Ireland to conduct research. Between the late 1960s and 1990s, Belfast was the center of a massive conflict—mil7
Opinion
Why You Need to Chill Out By FIONA BOTZ
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uring the school year, as students, it often seems our lives revolve around high school. We play sports, we sing in choir, we study for standardized tests, we participate in clubs, we do homework every night, we play a musical instrument—the list goes on and on. How could there possibly be time for relaxation? In fact, what does “relaxation” even mean? More importantly, why would I do it when I have a huge Spanish test tomorrow? Let’s go over a few reasons why it is essential to take some “me-time” if you plan on having a positive high school experience. “Me-time” is when you are doing an activity that makes you feel any positive emotion; it is when you are completely separated from anything that stresses you out. So, in my opinion, going for a walk while listening to a lecture explaining the Declaration of Independence doesn’t count as relaxation if you’re listening only because you have to study for your U.S. History quiz on Tuesday. If the activity is not something that is evoking positive emotions, it probably isn’t “me-time.” I relax by going for hikes, drawing, baking, and reading. How do you relax? It is important to find these things out about yourself so that you know how to get out of future encounters with stress faster. Making time for yourself is easier said than done. With all the homework, extracurricular activities, sports, and possibly jobs, how can you make room in your schedule to relax? The answer is to find little breaks
in your schedule and become extremely efficient. If you get to class early, start your math homework. You could get to class early four times out of eight classes at least. That’s fifteen minutes. Get to your bus early; if you really try, you could have upwards of twenty minutes to work. Now we are at 35 minutes. By this time, you’ll have your math homework done, and you probably could have started your biology homework! We didn’t even get to doing work on the bus, either. You get my point, though. Now, when you get home you have almost 40 minutes to relax and do something you truly enjoy. Master the art of using every minute in the day wisely. This strategy will benefit you throughout life in general. Relaxation is great because you get to take a break. However, there is an equal, if not greater, benefit at hand: you will become better at what you do if you take breaks. Think about it. When we are working our tails off on an English paper all night long, towards the end of the paper our writing will start to sound worse and we may even drift from the focus of the essay. My suggestion is to take short breaks. After thirty minutes of writing, take a ten-minute break. Not only will this make your writing better, but you will probably be able to catch mistakes in the writing you just did ten minutes ago. Being able to look at something with fresh eyes is a major benefit of taking a bit of time away from your work. Take time to consider what activities allow you to relax and find ways to fit those activities into your weekly schedule. You, and your English teacher, will be much happier.
The Best: Waterfalls By ZACHARY FOLEY
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thaca is known for its waterfalls. Whenever a guest or family member comes to town, I always debate which waterfall to take them to. However, recently, I’ve realized that my favorite waterfall to take people to is Ithaca Falls because it is both one of the most accessible and also the most stunning waterfalls in Ithaca. Ithaca Falls is very accessible and easy to visit. Right outside downtown Ithaca, it is very close and easy to get to whether you are using a car, bike, or walking. The walk from the parking lot to the waterfall is a very short one with a wide path, and it is mostly flat. For the small bit of downhill walking that one must do on the walk to the waterfall, there is a railing to help. This makes the waterfall easy to get to and is a plus for many when they compare it to the long hikes needed to get to some of the other Ithaca waterfalls. Also, the waterfall is just a single drop, so you just need to walk to one place to see the waterfall, in contrast to waterfalls like Buttermilk falls which are spread out and multi-tiered. What’s more, there is a beautiful view of the waterfall from the bridge so you don’t even have to leave your car or go on a hike to experience the Falls, meaning that Ithaca Falls is accessible even to handicapped or elderly visitors. Another feature that makes Ithaca Falls a trip worth making is how close you can get to the waterfall. The only fences by the waterfall are to keep visitors away from the side of the gorge, and not on the side of the waterfall, meaning that visitors can walk right up to the waterfall and get as close as they want. Because the waterfall is a dramatic drop and not spread out, there is a lot of mist and a cool breeze that comes from the waterfall. Another pleasing aesthetic detail is that the waterfall makes a loud calming noise as the water crashes down the waterfall. 8
Between the cool temperature and calming noise, Ithaca Falls is an ideal place to hang out in warm weather. Although the waterfall is often the focus of many people’s trips to Ithaca Falls, the creek is amazing on its own. Since the creek has a low bank near the waterfall, you can see dramatic changes in the width of the river with the weather. Sometimes, if you are lucky and come a few days after a big storm, you can see the wet rocks and natural debris on the bank that tell you that that area was underwater recently. Although Ithaca Falls are often crowded, there is enough brush and trees along the creek to offer more calm solitary places away from the crowds. If you sit along the creek with shrubbery and trees blocking you from the rest of the visitors, you will feel an overwhelming sense of calm and connection to nature. Another perk of the creek is that it is lined with large rocks which are great for sitting on in these areas. These little spots are also great to read or do homework. Since IHS is only a minute walk away, Ithaca Falls is a great place for students to go after school and do some homework while waiting for a ride or for an event to start. The creek is also a fun place to hang out even if you don’t have any work to do or books to read. There are lots of flat rocks around the creek which are great for skipping. If you want to explore some of the local flora then the American Sycamore is your best bet. American Sycamore trees line the bank of the creek. These trees help hold the bank and can withstand flooding. Many of these trees have exposed roots that you can see. Without dirt around the exposed roots you can see some things that would normally be underground such as the roots wrapping around rocks. Although there are many waterfalls in Ithaca, Ithaca Falls is definitely a must see for anyone visiting Ithaca and is a spot for Ithacans to visit again and again and find something new every time.
Features
Japanese Students Visit Ithaca
Here are some photos taken from the visit
By RYAN CUNNINGHAM
W
ouldn’t it be fun to go on a high school field trip to an entirely new country? In early October, a group of about 40 Japanese high school students visited the United States on what could be considered an extended field trip. After flying in from their school in Kanazawa City, Japan, visiting New York City, and doing a brief homestay at Princeton High School in New Jersey, the Japanese students came to the city we love and cherish: Ithaca. The Japanese students visited the Ithaca Ecovillage, a tightly-knit community with a focus on sustainability and agriculture found on West Hill. There, they spent the day discussing issues they chose to research, such as biodiversity and the refugee crisis, and learned about the farms at Ecovillage. Many of the students had never visited the United States, so they explored the American lifestyle during both their homestays and their visit to Ithaca. One Japanese student, Takashi, commented that he was surprised by the food
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portions in the United States, which tend to be significantly larger than those in Japan, mentioning that he had trouble finishing his food here. Another Japanese student noted that he enjoyed the fast food that has come to characterize the American lifestyle, although he found it a bit greasy and unhealthy compared to Japanese cuisine. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to partake in this experience along with the Japanese students. Upon arriving, I was surprised by the idiosyncratic design of some of Ecovillage’s buildings. Although the design of the buildings varied greatly depending on which part of the settlement they were in, the first cluster of buildings I noticed had a unique shape and were equipped with many solar panels. I then met with the Japanese students in the Ecovillage common room, called “Frog.” From that point on, we divided into small groups of roughly 5 students. Once we assembled into groups, we walked around Ecovillage with a few kind Ecovillage volunteers, and went on a brief tour, though we had to duck inside for shelter when the rain got too
heavy. After the rain let up, the volunteers took some time to explain the setup of the garden and how it allows the community to sustainably grow crops. We also worked together on a lunch that included homemade nigiri rolls (like sushi but made with cucumbers, tuna salad, or other fillings) and a home-made soup cooked from vegetables grown at Eco-Village (see photo above). The hosts were Ecovillage residents Kurt and Chieko, and, being bilingual, they helped those not fluent in English. Altogether, I found the experience very enjoyable and I found the Japanese very amiable, kind, and easy to talk to. I was surprised by their relative fluency in the English language― many Japanese are stereotyped as being inept at English, but these students were able to communicate with relative ease with the Ecovillage volunteers. From what I observed, the Japanese were able to understand even some fairly complex terms. For all those interested in learning the Japanese language and culture, I recommend the new IHS Japanese Language and Culture Club, with meetings on Thursdays with Ms. Wilcox in G-209. 9
Features
From the Archives:
Excerpts from the Tattler Issues of Yesteryear By AURORA WULFF
There is a small handful of people at IHS who know about a very small, very pink room at the very end of the E-wing. Although small and unassuming, this room is the deepest one can go into the chronicles of IHS. In that room, there are four average-looking filing cabinets that contain annals of IHS Tattler history, dating back 126 years. Here follows a selection. Read more online at https://tattlerarchive.wordpress.com/ Note: The current Tattler does not necessarily endorse the opinions published in historical Tattlers.
November, 1989
Excerpt from HOUSING NOW! By BECKY TOBIN It all started at 1 A.M. on a Saturday morning in the parking lot of Woolworth’s Department. The National March for Housing Now! took place in Washington D.C. October 7, 1989, and was attended by approximately 250,000 people. About 25 of those people were Ithaca High School students chaperoned by IHS vice principal Patrick Letourneau and Social Studies teacher Otto Salsbury. Once we started moving though, I got caught up in the spirit of the march. We ended up in a group of college students carrying musical instruments and making up impromptu songs. As we turned the corner and came in sight of the capitol, everyone started cheering. At the rally, there were speeches by Jesse Jackson, Coretta Scott King, actors Gregory Hines and Lou Gossett Jr., and actress Susan Dey. There were also
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performances by Tracy Chapman, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, and Richie Haven, who performed at Woodstock and is a staple of capital city rallies. Other powerful speeches came from members of the New Exodus Movement, a group of homeless who had walked 250 miles from New York City, braving bad visions to join the rally. They were joined in Washington by a similar but smaller group form the South. These groups overcame and conquered awesome obstacles to reach their destination. Members of the movement related stories of women having miscarriages and high winds and rain from the tail end of Hurricane Hugo. The group from the South was pursued by members of the Ku Klux Klan. One might wonder why people would bear these hardships to attend a march. “This proves homeless people aren’t just lazy,” said one of the marchers.
Features
November, 1988
Excerpt from Halloween LXXXVII By JEREMY BLYTH Over the years, Halloween has been a day associated with fun, trick-or-treating—and vandalism. Vandalism has been the subject of a great deal of discussion during recent years. Police Response In the last four to six years, the Northeast area on Halloween has become a battleground for students equipped with shaving cream and eggs. It is a tradition that most students at IHS will participate in at least once in their four years at Ithaca High. Most students know that if they go they will be involved in a messy war. Because of the complaints of Northeast residents, a good portion of the Ithaca police force is in this area at the time. Police officers in the area have the goal of breaking up groups and sending people home. Chief Wall noted that everyone who participat-
ed at Northeast could be charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. In fact, only two students were taken in for questioning about the Northeast area. Another major concern that Chief Wall had was the use of paint gun toys. Their use is dangerous, since a police officer cannot tell when a weapon is a toy or real gun. Overstepping their bounds While the need to protect the rights of individuals is indeed a great responsibility, do police officers have the right to be excessively violent in their efforts to subdue suspects? While only two arrests were made in the Northeast area many people feel that they were searched in an illegal manner or that the police officer in question vented his frustration on them. No formal complaints have been made to the Cayuga Heights Police Department, but many have claimed that their rights were infringed upon.
November, 1988
College Essays Made Easy By ERIN WHIPPLE Do you have writer’s block when it comes to your college essay? You are not alone. Many seniors are now facing a difficult task, and fortunately, we have been given some sound advice. On October 8th Ken Gabbard, Dean of Freshmen for the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, made the trip down the hill to talk to students during lunch periods about the composition of the college essay. He began his presentation with a few basic guidelines: In general, the essay should be from one to two pages long. The topic should be something that is important to you, that you are able to write about with passion. The most common topics he referred to as the Three D’s: drugs, divorce, and depression. Gabbard made it clear that you should by no means shy away from a topic because you are worried about offending the admissions staff. Your opinion does not matter; it is how you present your ideas, your thoughts and creativity, how well you represent yourself through your essay and your style of writing, that are important.
In terms of physical appearance, the essay should be neat, and spelling and punctuation should be correct. Gabbard agrees that using the computer spell-check doesn’t catch everything. For example, “Cornell” is not spelled D-U-K-E… It is necessary to proofread your essay after you print it out, in order to catch such mistakes. Gabbard suggests proofreading backwards. He feels that “although it may seem kind of nutty,” it is very effective. As part of his presentation, Gabbard brought in a packet of essays to share with students and he discussed their strengths and weaknesses. For the most part, the essays that he considered to be strong were those with a focused topic, where the attitude of the person was really reflected in the writing. The essays that were considered to be weak were more general, and lack substance. The college essay is a big deal, but try not to stress too much. Don’t procrastinate! Get started now! Have people that you trust (parents, teachers, friends, etc.) read your essay and make comments. Improve it, if you think you need to. Remember, your essay represents you. Send something you’re proud of. 11
Features
Hall Monitor By TONY YANG
Where do you see yourself in twenty years?
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“Obsessively searching for the Loch Ness Monster in a decked out rowboat.”
“I hope I will be homeless or get a job at Google.”
— Lynne Walker ’19
— Christopher Rachlinski ’19
“In Canada with a golden toy poodle.”
“Dead.”
— Lily Joseph ’21
— Anna Rodgers ’20 and Jian Clermont ’20
“Living in an apartment and working a minimum wage job.” — Noah Reifenheiser ’22
Features
“Working as a doctor” — Alice Hu ‘20
“On a yacht with my private helicopter landing with 20 gallons of shrimp” — Kyrill Mueller ’22
“As a high quality designer of Tazim (my designer brand).”
“Married with at least one kid, working at the Culinary Institute of America”
— Lazim Jarif ‘22
— Noga Cohen ‘21 13
The Best Planets Discovered by NASA By Anna Westwig
HD189733b This blistering blue gas giant lies around 63 light-years away from Earth, but if it was closer, I’m sure people would be fawning over it, slightly before being vaporized by its intense heat. The planet achieves its 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit (or 930 degrees Celsius) by circling tightly around its star, HD189733. Because of its high temperature and the large number of silicates in the atmosphere, it has weather that ranges from raining molten glass (which causes the planet’s cerulean atmosphere) to 4,500-mph winds. Altogether, it’s not that different from Ithaca.
TrES-2b This pitch-black planet reflects less than one percent of the sunlight that falls on it due to the lack of reflective ammonia clouds that our Jupiter has. This coupled with an eerie red glow makes this planet truly seasonally appropriate. TrES-2b may never be habitable, nor would we really need it to because it’s 750 light years away, so no one will be settling there any time soon.
Kepler 1625b Kepler 1625b is special, not because it's possibly a habitable planet but because orbiting around it is possibly the first exomoon ever discovered. And the moon is a monster one: it’s approximately the size of Neptune. Even though this moon is colossal that doesn’t mean most moons are; it’s just way easier to detect moons if they’re huge. This is a monumental discovery, if an anticipated one, considering the ubiquity of moons in just our own solar system.
Gliese 667 Cc Gliese667 Cc is one of the few Goldilocks planets detected by instruments like Kepler and Hubble but what makes it interesting is that one half of it is always dark and one half is always light. This is due to tidal locking(something our own moon has) and could throw a wrench into its habitability. Perhaps life could be sustained along the twilight edge of the planet but one shudders to think of what things might have evolved in perpetual darkness.
Kepler-62e 1,200 light-years away in the constellation Lyra, this possible water-world is maybe one of the most suitable prospects for life. If it weren’t for the fact that there’s no land, this world might be the perfect substitute for a beach vacation on the Mediterranean, as it’s warm and humid up to both of its poles.
GJ 504b GJ 504b is a pink planet, still glowing from its robust formation at a shade similar to a cherry blossom. It’s the lowest-mass planet ever detected using direct-imaging techniques and is about four times the size of our familiar Jupiter. If you’re born between August and September 23, this planet may be for you, as it's within the constellation Virgo. But Virgos, known for their love of order may have a hard time with this planet as it challenges preconceptions on how Gas Giants form. The accepted theory is that they form out of the gas, surrounding a newborn star, but GJ 504b is about nine times further away than the determined distance.
BACKGROUND IMAGE FROM NASA
Arts
Review: Cayuga Sound Festival Year 2 By IRENA ROSENBERG
T
he second annual Cayuga Sound Festival, hosted and curated by the X Ambassadors, was held at Stewart Park on September 21 and 22. The festival was a celebration of music from many genres, including rock, hip-hop, alternative, and pop. Two X Ambassadors members, brothers Sam and Casey Harris, attended Belle Sherman Elementary School, Boynton Middle School, and IHS as kids. Their intentions, for both this year’s and last year’s festivals, were to give back to the community that raised them and formed them into the successful people they are today. Ithacans are more than proud that some of “our people” have made it big. This year’s festival had a few alterations from that of last year. In addition to a change in headline performers, the festival went beyond the Stewart Park stage. A series of local events, talks, and activities preceded the two days of musical performances. These included a pre-party on Thursday and an after-party on Friday, both at The Haunt. The talk series consisted of two talks on Friday titled “Live Music and Its Impact on the World” and “From Ithaca to the Billboard Charts—The X Ambassadors Story,” in which live music was discussed within the context of its potential for positive social impact, with a focus on the history of the X Ambassadors as a local band. Moreover, in addition to the musical performances, the event planners, DSP Shows, made a special effort to go above and beyond in sculpting a more wholesome experience. Musically, the festival was stunning. Every artist came on with infectious positive energy and a desire for a good time. The stage effects were high quality, with a multipurpose screen, lasers, and smoke. Last year, The Roots headlined alongside the X Ambassadors. This year, 16
there were many names that I recognized, including Young the Giant, Towkio, Sofi Tukker, and Matt and Kim, although they might not have been known by everyone there. In particular, I loved hearing Towkio and other hip hop artists that came all the way from New York City. The festival was perfect in that it allowed more people to become exposed to new artists and their music. An important result of the change in lineup this year was that the Cayuga Sound Festival most definitely brought in a different sector of society this year, as The Roots had catered to a more middle-aged crowd last year. In contrast to last year, there was only one big stage in Stewart Park. This focused the attention on the main stage, which added to the hype during performances. The X Ambassadors were, of course, amazing. Their musicality and craftsmanship never ceases to amaze. Lead singer Sam Harris belted multiple incredibly long, high notes. The band also revealed a few sneak peeks of songs they have not yet released. On a more serious note, Harris also commented on Ithaca’s inherent inclusivity. He is so passionate about his message of ‘inclusivity’ that he promised, live in concert, a full festival day dedicated to hip hop artists solely in Upstate New York. After all, the festival is largely celebratory and is meant to promote Ithacan pride in recognizing underrepresented people and musical genres. Overall, the festival was a huge success for the second year in a row. The only improvements that could be made would be to have more food options, lower ticket prices, and more seats, especially handicapped-accessible ones. Last year there were significantly more food trucks and stalls, while this year there were fewer food trucks, only one ice cream stall, and only two other food stalls. Besides the lack of diverse food, the prices
of the tickets increased significantly this year. It does make sense, considering the first year was such a success and that organizers realized this festival could be a real money-maker. However, in order for the festival to be for all Ithacans, they should either make the festival free or at least lower the ticket prices. Lastly, the venue largely consists of grass and open areas, as it is usually a park. The majority of the people stood or brought inflatable lounge chairs. But, considering the rowdy environment, it would be nearly impossible to accommodate someone in a wheelchair or on crutches in the crowd. The solution is not clear-cut, but it would be beneficial to consider more handicapped-accessible options, so absolutely everyone can enjoy the fantastic music scene. Though there are some minor adjustments that could be made, there is nothing like hearing live, internationally-acknowledged, local music. The festival is a tradition that I hope continues on as long as possible.
Arts
In Classic Michael Moore Fashion, Fahrenheit 11/9 is Dismal but Inspiring
Michael Moore made a new documentary about President Donald Trump titled Fahrenheit 11/9
By CHLOE MOORE
A
cclaimed filmmaker Michael Moore is not known for being subtle, so the fact that his new film, Fahrenheit 11/9, was shocking came as no surprise. The film is comprised of footage shot by Moore and collected from various outside sources, including news sources and social media. It tracks not only the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election (on November 9th of 2016, hence the name), but also explores the political trends that paved the path to his presidency. The film covers a wide variety of topics, from the water crisis in Moore’s hometown of Flint, Michigan, to the corruption of the Democratic National Convention. It also covers more recent events, including the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and the subsequent wave of youth-led activism, and some of the new faces in the Democratic party, such as Democratic candidate for Congress in New York’s 14th district, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The film is brave in its criticism of various individuals and institutions, including ones sympathetic to Moore’s cause. He ferociously takes on the Democratic National Committee, which nominated Hillary Clinton as the Democratic candidate using the votes of superdelegates, despite the fact that her primary challenger, Senator Bernie Sanders (IVT), won more counties than she did in many states. Regardless of one’s views about either candidate, the system is undeniably flawed and unrepresentative of voters’ wishes. In West Virginia, for example, Sanders won all 55 counties in the primaries, yet the state awarded a majority of its votes to Clinton. Moore also takes on the press, especially the New York Times, which ran a series of columns and opinions designed to discourage more radically progressive Democrats from running. Moore takes responsibility for his own complacency as a member of the independent media, reflecting on previous interactions with Trump’s campaign adviser, Kellyanne Conway, former advisor Steve Bannon, and with Trump himself on Roseanne Barr’s former talk show. In recounting these interactions, he expresses regret for not asking them tougher questions or holding them accountable, and for giving them a platform to espouse their views. The film’s dark satire is characteristic of Moore. He sprays Flint water
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on the lawn of the Michigan governor’s mansion, occupied by Republican Rick Snyder, who perpetuated, attempted to cover up, and denied the Flint water crisis. He describes the feeling many get when looking at injustice in America as “throwing up a little in [your] mouth.” He addresses the hopelessness that many voters feel, which leads to low turnout rates in critical elections. Interspersed among this grim portrait of modern America are glimmers of hope. He features candidates for Congress such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Richard Ojeda, a Democratic State Senator running in southern West Virginia who describes the poverty of his district and dismisses the idea that it is possible to be civil in modern politics, saying, “I don’t care who you are; I’ll fight you right outside.” The most uplifting part of the whole film (if one can call the circumstances uplifting) is the focus on the teenage activists that have risen from the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Moore brings the viewer intimate footage from inside the house of Cameron Kasky, who volunteered his living room to be the headquarters of the movement when activists launched the campaign that would go on to become the nationally known March for Our Lives. He includes most of activist Emma Gonzalez’s speech at the March for Our Lives in Washington, DC, including some of when she stood silently on the stage, holding the attention of the camera and the nation, for six minutes and twenty seconds—the length of the Parkland shooting. Both grim and funny, bleak and inspiring, the film offers lots of material about which to be angry. It is a critical analysis not just of the corruption, racism, sexism, and xenophobia that has poisoned the politics of much of the right, but also of the complacency of the traditional left. The film stops short of offering a real message of hope, and indeed, for high school students who are not of voting age, it leaves the viewer feeling rather hopeless. Much of the film is focused on either voting or on changing the structure of one of the two major political parties, options that are not open to most teenagers. The courage of the Parkland students, however, is proof that teenagers can make a difference without being able to cast a ballot. The film is not one to watch if you want to feel optimistic, but rather one to watch to motivate you to speak up, use your voice, and make a change in the world. 17
Arts
Anxiety During Anxious Times Album Review BERNSTEIN SYMPHONY 2 “AGE OF ANXIETY (AFTER W.H. AUDEN)” BERLIN PHILHARMONIC SIMON RATTLE, CONDUCTOR KRYSTIAN ZIMERMAN, PIANIST By JEFFERSON SHENG
P
erhaps one of the most influential musicians, conductors, educators, and humanitarians of the past century, Leonard Bernstein’s centennial was celebrated this year by orchestras and musicians around the world who revisited, with performances and new recordings, the operas and symphonic and chamber works of his acclaimed career. Accompanying the occasion was the departure of Simon Rattle as the music director of one of the most famous orchestras in the world, the Berlin Philharmonic (BPO), to take up his current post as music director of London Symphony Orchestra. With its long association with music giants such as Herbert von Karajan and Wilhelm Furtwängler, the BPO is one of the signature sounds of the European orchestral scene. Rattle’s parting gift from BPO to us was a collaboration with long-time recording partner Deutsche Grammophon and Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman, who is thought to be one the world’s finest living pianists. Perhaps also one of the most seasoned veterans with the piece, Zimerman also has a connection to the composer himself, having played the same composition under Bernstein in Vienna 32 years ago. Zimerman recorded Bernstein’s Second Symphony, titled “Age of Anxiety” (after W.H. Auden’s poem of the same name) with Simon Rattle leading the BPO this past summer. Along with Rattle’s versatility as an inter18
Conductor Simon Rattle and pianist Krystian Zimerman after their performance of Bernstein’s 2nd symphony at the Philharmonie in Berlin
preter and conductor, BPO’s enthusiasm for modern compositions helped to reproduce a rendition of the much-beloved Bernstein’s symphony in prime condition, contributing to the abundant amount of other modern compositions BPO now present to their audiences, many of which Rattle introduced to the orchestra during his reign. The focus of the piece is unusual for a symphony; it is on the piano in a pseudo-concerto style (a soloist accompanied by an orchestra) rather than a four-movement symphony, defined by Bernstein’s distant classical predecessors. Bernstein’s “Age of Anxiety” is constructed into six sub-parts that are split into two equal movements that resemble the construction of W.H. Auden’s poem. Opening in a tranquil yet chaotic manner, a soulful clarinet duet sets the stage for a group of dejected friends to gather, only to get drunk and become a lively quartet during an uneasy time (World War II), which is embedded with “false hilarity” throughout (as Bernstein described the composition). Indeed, Bernstein intended his second symphony to be nothing less than compulsive, a trait that he carried over to his symphonic work. With vastly different technology compared to the recording technologies used by Bernstein in his own recordings of this work, Rattle produced a rather radiant rendition of a symphony that is otherwise heavy in the themes with which it deals. Zimerman’s own brilliance cannot be ignored, as both cadenzas in the twopart symphony are carefully designed while
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tightly packed in a rather modern interpretation of Bernstein’s more punctuated version in his earlier recordings with the New York Philharmonic and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. The denser and heavier woodwind sections that are iconic of German orchestras is also evident throughout, where the listener often senses a rare, deliberate overpowering of double reeds on lower strings. Notably, the percussion is highlighted by its dazzling clarity in the Masque section compared to the often muffled quality in Bernstein’s recordings. The symphony concludes in a heroic but ironic Epilogue, where the piece finally resolves in a roaring major key that is accompanied by the horns’ ascension into what seems to be an eternity, as W.H. Auden notes in Epilogue of the original Age of Anxiety poem: We would rather be ruined than changed We would rather die in our dread Than climb the cross of the moment And let our illusions die. As a captivating interpretation of Bernstein’s Second Symphony, Rattle’s last recording as chief conductor with BPO is well-worth a listen to hear the stark contrast between Rattle and his predecessor’s take on the breathless composition. Even if you’re not into modern American compositions, “Age of Anxiety” takes you to a different realm of the diverse American culture that defines generations to come, including the search for faith during a desperate time.
Arts
Tin Can
By ADOWYN ERNSTE
How would you complete this story? Submit your ideas to https://goo.gl/forms/ TcMcqC3byclKefpJ2 by November 9th!
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Sports
Will IHS Ever Have an Esports Club? By RYAN CUNNINGHAM
T
he official IHS esports Club has many students excitedly waiting on the edge of their seats, wondering whether this conceptual gaming club will, at last, become a reality. Unfortunately, the club has yet to be started at the time of this article’s completion—perhaps owing to the many inherent shortfalls of the club. So, will this gaming group finally be established? Only time will tell, but there is a reasonable chance that it may not come into existence anytime soon. For those unaware, the IHS esports Club is a proposed club that would focus on the competitive playing of online video-games, particularly those made for desktop computers. E-Sports stands for electronic sports, and represents an up-and-coming, albeit slightly controversial scene in which large-scale video game tournaments are held, some of which
have immense prize pools. While many are drawn to the alluring, bright world of esports, the sport (if you may call it that) has, on numerous occasions, come under criticism for being what is essentially glorified gaming. However, the establishment of such an unspecific club comes with plenty of complications and obstacles. One pressing issue is which video game should be played out of the sea of existing video games, many of which are recognized and played as esports. With a myriad of games such as Counter-Strike, Defense of the Ancients 2 (DotA 2), Fortnite and Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), the club has many options. It may be difficult for the club to decide and focus on a single game, for many students have their own video game preferences and may be reluctant to play unfamiliar video games. Furthermore, for an esports club to function at its best, cutting-edge and fast hardware
will be necessary. Some of the games that may be played in esports club are very demanding, and run-of-the-mill office computers simply won’t cut it. Therefore, gaming computers may need to be built or purchased. Naturally, the latest and greatest of hardware comes at a cost. A solid gaming computer can cost upwards of 1000 USD, and the club will most definitely require more than one PC. Thus, it becomes unclear how the funds required for esports to run will be raised. Until the slew of issues plaguing the supposed esports Club is resolved, it is difficult to see how this club will be successfully established. In a world with endless numbers of video games, the club is at a crossroads. Since the path that a club like this must take is indeterminate and faced with outstanding budget and hardware issues, one must wonder whether we will ever see an esports Club at IHS.
New York NFL Teams: How Do They Rank? By EWAN TODT-TUTCHENER
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ew York has never been a powerhouse when it comes to producing Super Bowl winning teams. There have been some exceptions—the 1968 Jets and, more recently, the 1986, 1990, 2007, and 2011 Giants. These teams and their intermittent achievements, however, have only teased supporters. Most of the time, fans of any one of the three New York football teams are faced with disappointment by the time the postseason begins. This year looks like no exception to the rule, with all three teams beginning with mediocre starts in the first four weeks. With this being said, however, do any of the New York teams still have a chance to make it into the playoffs? After all, no one thought the Buffalo Bills would have made it to the playoffs last year, yet somehow they did. Will at least one of the three New York teams do the state justice, or should fans expect the same frustration and disappointment? 20
New York Jets Four Week Recap: The Jets started their season off with a dominating 48-17 win over the Detroit Lions. Sure, rookie quarterback Sam Darnold threw his first ever professional throw for a pick-six, but after that everything went superbly for the Jets. Running back Isaiah Crowell looked unstoppable and wide receiver Terrelle Pryor efficiently achieved first downs. The defense also had a great game with five interceptions against the Lions’ experienced quarterback, Matthew Stafford. The following three weeks, however, have been nothing short of a catastrophe. The Jets lost week two 12-20 to the Miami Dolphins as Sam Darnold was unable to carry the whole team on his shoulders. In week three, they fell to the Cleveland Browns 21-17, handing the Browns their first win in 19 games. A hot Jacksonville Jaguars team beat the Jets in week four 31-12.
How Do They Rank? Frankly, the Jets are pretty terrible. Management has put all their hopes in rookie quarterback Sam Darnold, and the team expects results from Darnold in his first season. Traditionally, rookie quarterbacks need time to adjust to the league and learn a whole new playbook. Yes, two good showings, but the Jets have hedged all their bets on Darnold when he is clearly not ready for the responsibility that comes with the position. It also does not help that the rest of the team has severely under-produced since the first week. In order to not completely fail this season, the Jets need to work on two key areas: the offensive and defensive lines. The offensive line falls apart incredibly easy. Because of this, the Jets can not get any sort of running game working. The offensive line also needs to protect the quarterback for longer. New quarterbacks like Darnold need more time to adjust to the league because they are inexperienced. If the offensive line does not provide the ex-
Sports “NEW YORK NFL TEAMS: HOW DO THEY RANK?” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20
tra protection, Darnold is forced into making more errors than usual. Defensively, the Jets need someone who can rush the passer. As of now, the Jets have no way of disrupting the quarterback, which is key to having a competitive defense. So can the Jets turn their season around? Sorry Jets fans; probably not.
Buffalo Bills Four Week Recap: Unlike the Jets, the Buffalo Bills had an atrocious start to the season. In week one, they lost 47-3 against the Baltimore Ravens. Part of the reason they lost was because of their erratic quarterback situation. The Bills started Nathan Peterman, the man who midway through last season replaced Tyrod Taylor as starting QB. Many had their doubts on whether or not Peterman could perform. It looked like the Bills questioned Peterman’s performance as well, as they picked QB Josh Allen in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Those doubts became a realization against the Ravens as Peterman played abysmally. When Allen came into the game, the Bills looked more comfortable, but the game was already lost. The next week, the Bills lost 31-20 against the Los Angeles Chargers, in which they were destroyed in the first half but then mounted a near comeback in the second half. In week three, the Bills shocked the NFL (and probably themselves) with a 22-6 win against the Minnesota Vikings. A number of factors played a role in this Bills win, but the Bills did show that they could play good football. However, they returned to regular form for week four with a 22-0 loss against the Green Bay Packers. How Do They Rank? The Buffalo Bills have a decent defense. The rookies are settling in and making significant contributions for the defense, and cornerback Ryan Lewis has proved that he can play against top tier quarterbacks. Their offense, however, looks about as uncoordinated as a pre-K dance recital. All parts of the points-making side have struggled, and if the Bills want any chance of recovering their season, they need to fix it immediately. Their offensive line needs to hold back other teams’ defenses and provide an avenue for the run game. Quarterback Josh Allen needs to settle in and learn to scan the entire field. Granted, it is hard for him to stay in the pocket as the offensive line falls apart in nearly every play.
Elijah McGuire, a running back in the New York Jets
Additionally, the wide receivers need to find more openings than they are currently. While they are winning some matchups, they need to be quicker in order to compensate for Allen’s lack of time in the pocket. So, will the Bills reach the playoffs for two years in a row? Probably not alone. They are going to need a lot more Andy Dalton miracles.
New York Giants Four Week Recap: Last year, the Giants suffered one of their most disappointing seasons ever. Any performance they gave in week one would look good in comparison. And, indeed, the 20-15 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars did look good for the Giants. They looked like they had the elements of a respectable football team, even though they could not quite pull it all together for the win. While there were glaring mistakes, the week one game gave them hope for week two against the Dallas Cowboys. Hope that was quickly washed away with a 20-13 loss. The offense could not produce and the offensive line allowed quarterback Eli Manning to be sacked six times. The Giants bounced back in week three with a 27-22 win against the Houston Texans before losing in week four to the New Orleans Saints 33-18. How Do They Rank? Honestly, no one understands what’s go-
IMAGE FROM GETTY IMAGES
ing on with the Giants. I don’t think even the Giants know what the Giants are doing. One week they look like a professional football team. The next week they look like that episode of SpongeBob SquarePants where all the little SpongeBobs in his brain go mental and light his brain on fire. Their defense is meh, but it gets the job nearly done. It’s the Giants’ offense that seems to be in need of the most help, yet no one can seem to figure out why. They have all the tools (except for a good offensive line) to score points. Odell Beckham at wide receiver and Saquon Barkley with Eli Manning should be a points producing machine. So what’s the problem? Is it the terrible offensive line? Does Manning have PTSD from the amount of hits he has taken? Do the Giants not yet fully trust Barkley? First off, the Giants need to fix the offensive line. It’s terrible, but not the worst in the league. The Giants, however, do not have a mobile quarterback in Eli Manning. So when the offensive line falls apart, often times, Manning is dead in the water. He also is missing one-onone match-ups which, for a 2007 Eli, would be easy throws. Now that Eli is 37 years old, is it time for the Giants to consider a new quarterback? Only his performances later this season will tell. Can the Giants turn this season around? No, probably not. If you’re a fan it’s probably best to abandon the sinking ship that is the 2018-19 Giants season and join the bandwagon for the Rams or the Chiefs until next season. 21
Sports
The Unparalleled Success of Ithaca Girls’ Swim and Dive: An Interview with Team Captains By ASHA DUHAN
T
he Girls’ Swim and Dive Team has enjoyed unprecedented success for numerous years. With an undefeated season this year and historically strong performances in the postseason, the Girl’s Swim and Dive team serves as the epitome of the exceptionalism of Ithaca athletics. I talked with team captains Zoey Zentner ‘20, Lexi Moravek ‘20 and Gwen Lindberg ‘20 on their astonishing success and how they have maintained their focus and determination for so many years. Asha Duhan ‘19: Why did you choose to swim? Alexis Moravek ‘20: I’ve always loved swimming. My older sister joined the varsity team her freshman year and I followed a year later, joining in 7th grade, because she was really inspiring to me. I started swimming with ITAC (a competitive club) at 10 years old, and really enjoyed that. Gwen Lindberg ‘20: I loved spending time in the pool and I was not particularly good at any other sport, so swimming was the obvious choice for me. Zoey Zentner ‘20: It just kind of made sense for me to swim. Aside from being clumsy and hating running, I always loved being in the water. I swam with the YMCA swim team before doing ITAC in fourth grade and joining varsity in 7th. AD: Why do you think Ithaca Girls Swimming has been so successful? AM: I think our team has been so successful because of everyone’s dedication and hard work. Without our tenacity, teamwork, and courage, we would not have gotten as far as we have. We are a very close team and always try to build each other up, like a family. GL: We have a great swim program at Ithaca College that helps draw kids into swimming and trains them for varsity. We also have really good values on the team, emphasizing each person’s character and creating a great atmosphere for growth and success. ZZ: I think that it is important that we have a program that really values teamwork and growth over individual achievement and getting great 22
swimming times. That’s not to say that we don’t think times are important, but we always strive for a positive team atmosphere. AD: What are your team and individual goals for this season and upcoming seasons? AM: I hope that our whole team can maintain our winning streak and end up being sectional champs. I hope that everyone feels accomplished in something by the end of the season in whatever ways that comes. My personal goals are making States in an individual event and in a relay. GL: I hope that we can recreate our winning streak and everyone has a successful season, not only concerning times but also socially, making new friends. ZZ: I hope our seniors have a great final year and that we win sectionals. AD: What is your favorite part of the season? AM: My favorite part of the season is probably tapering (reducing exercise before competitions) because we all come together and start preparing for sectionals. Our nerves are high but its such a team bonding experience getting physically and mentally prepared for a very important end of the season meet. Plus practices become a little more fun and have less hardcore yardage. GL: My favorite part of the season has to be going to our overnight trip to Shenendehowa. The night at the hotel and the long bus rides allow us to bond together as a team and have a lot of fun with each other, making good memories. Not to mention, the meet itself is really exciting and fast, and a lot of people get their personal records there, so it’s really fun to watch and participate in. ZZ: I could say sectionals or team bonding because I love that stuff, but my favorite part of the season is diving in at the start of every race. Meets are loud and chaotic, but there is this amazing sense of calm and silence that rushes over you for a split second right when you dive in. The water rushing over you is like the calm in the center of the storm. Before a race you can feel like you are bubbling over with stress, but those milliseconds make you calm down and focus on the race.
Sports
Figure Skating Changes: Young Russian Girls’ Quads and New Rules
Evgenia Medvedeva of Russia, a two-time world champion figure skater
By KATIE LIN
F
igure skating is a stunning sport that maintains the perfect balance between artistry and hard-core athleticism. As a figure skater myself, I compete in singles skating, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience this sport and all it has to offer. I’ve also been able to see how the sport of singles skating has changed and learn how the judging system works. Figure skating competitions have a very complex judging system. The main system is called International Judging System (IJS), in which skaters are judged based on their technical ability and their artistry. It used to be that triple jumps, which are jumps with three revolutions in the air (a triple axel is 3.5), were the hardest level jumps performed. But now, many skaters, mainly men, do quad jumps, an insane four revolutions in the air (a quad axel is 4.5).
IMAGE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES
In recent years, young women have started to jump quads, also, introducing one way that figure skating has changed over the years. The young age at which these girls are breaking records is astonishing and inspiring to everyone, but they are so young that many, including me, worry that their health is in trouble. It makes me question if the pressures are becoming too high, and if the intense competition could cause many skaters to develop health problems. In the midst of all of this, new rules are being created for competitions, many of which I believe will bring the sport back to its true purpose. Russia hosts the best up-and-comers of the sport. Alina Zagitova, student of Eteri Tutberidze, won the gold at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and Evgenia Medvedeva, former student of Tutberidze, claimed the silver. Now, very young girls under Tutberidze CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
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Sports
“FIGURE SKATING CHANGES: YOUNG RUSSIAN GIRLS’ QUADS AND NEW RULES” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23
are showing the whole world this sport isn’t just for men to make history. During the Junior Grand Prix, a series of competitions for junior skaters, many of these young Russian girls have made history. For example, Alexandra Trusova, 14, has already completed a quad toe and a quad salchow in competition, the first woman to do so—but more recently, at the JGP in Kaunas, Lithuania, she became the first woman to attempt a quad lutz, arguably the hardest jump, and a quad toe in combination. Although her quad lutz was marked “under-rotated,” Trusova became an inspiration to girls around the world. I have watched men like Vincent Zhou and Nathan Chen complete these jumps beautifully, but seeing young girl like me attempt one shows me and every skater that women can jump quads, too. Another young girl, Anna Shcherbakova, has also attempted a quad lutz in competition, and shows everyone that women can do the jumps but also be artistic, and tell a story, in a program. While these girls have made history, their feats do come with increased health risks. At such a young age, the girls are still developing, and the hardness of the falls and the impact their bodies have to take is huge. When I fall on a double or triple jump, it already hurts— imagine falling on a jump ten times harder. Brian Orser, coach of two-time Olympian Yuzuru Hanyu, once commented: [Trusova] is doing quads now: how is she going to be when she’s 17 or 18?’’ Orser also said, “ It’s all fun, with everybody marveling on social media about her, but it could be a very short-lived phenomenon.” I have to agree with Orser. If the young girls fall so hard, will their growth be stunted, and what kinds of lifelong body damages will they have when they retire? A very possible option is to start raising the minimum age to compete in a senior division or to jump these quads, but I also believe this would be received very badly, as skaters wouldn’t be allowed to skate to their full potential. In an NTV interview with Tutberidze, she said, “This is true, it’s very dangerous. The risk is huge. But since it’s dangerous, an athlete that does it should get twice as much [points]. An athlete should see the reasons to take risks.” When asked about the dangers to her skaters’ development, Tutberidze argued, “Sasha is sturdier. I think it’s very important to learn 24
the jumps before these physiological changes, because after it, a girl can only retain what she already has.” Personally, I believe Tutberidze must be more careful with Trusova, but I understand the pressure to ensure that her skaters know the jump before they undergo physiological changes. A skater does their best to repeat a jump many times, so that they can perform the jump and rely on their technique on even the worst days. While so far, we have not seen these young girls suffer from injury, I worry that their health will slowly deteriorate and fail them in the long run. The last thing we want is to see these prodigies having to bow out of competitions because the pressures are becoming too high. There is also a big chance that overpressured skaters could develop eating disorders so they can be lighter when they jump, or be compelled to keep skating one step further and hurt their bodies. After seeing Yulia Lipnitskaya have to retire from anorexia, which broke my heart, I do not want these girls to go through the same thing. These girls are inspiring beyond compare, but we should be teaching them to train themselves for the long run, not one short-lived period of glory. Amidst all the Russian prodigies, there are many rule changes that are being proposed or put in place. For me, the biggest upset of PyeongChang was how Zagitova got the gold over Medvedeva. Not to say Zagitova doesn’t work hard; everyone knows how hard you must work to even get to the Olympics. However, Zagitova won because she back-loaded her programs, which means she put all of her jumps in the second half of her program so she could get an extra points bonus on all the second-half jumps. While this shows an amazing amount of endurance and strength, I feel Medvedeva deserved to win because her stunning program told a story, and she portrayed the character beautifully. This is why I am in favor of a new rule, nicknamed the “Zagitova Rule.” This new regulation reduces the bonus for jumps in the second half of the program. For the short program, only the last jump of the program would get the bonus, and for the long, only the last three jumps would get the bonus, as opposed to all jumps in the second half in both cases. I believe this will benefit skating
as a whole, because it will encourage skaters to focus more on telling a story and being artistic instead of worrying only about points. For example, while I admire Trusova so much, I feel her programs are not as artistic as they could be. Many programs are becoming too mundane, only organized so skaters can accumulate the maximum amount of points. Some steps in the right direction include the shortening of the length of men’s long programs by 30 seconds to match ladies’ lengths, so now men can only jump seven times as opposed to eight. Another is that the GOE range has been lengthened. A GOE is a grade of execution, and is what the judges rate a skater’s element as. The range used to be from -3 (the lowest, such as a fall) to 3 (a perfectly executed element). However, the range is now from -5 to 5. Personally, I think the jump repetition rule, the time rule, and the new GOE rule will again help skaters go back to the sport’s root of artistry. With less jumps to repeat and execute, skaters can focus on doing every jump better and taking advantage of getting a better GOE for every element, instead of reducing programs to point-getters. Figure skating has endured many changes. Young Russian girls are clearing the way for women to accomplish the unthinkable. They are jumping quads that no woman has ever tried before, showing everyone that this sport isn’t just for men to make history, and encouraging women to try these impressive jumps. This is incredibly inspiring for skaters like me, who are beyond excited to see that there is more to accomplish in the world of figure skating. However, esteemed coaches like Orser worry that their health is going to deteriorate and take the blunt of their jumps, and I feel the pressure is going to encourage female skaters to brush aside health concerns. I hope the several new rules are going to encourage every skater to go back to the root of figure skating: the artistry. Skaters should try to focus on every element and the feeling of the music, not just accumulating all points possible. Figure skating is one of the most beautiful and captivating sports to watch, and I am extremely excited to see how these new changes affect skating in the future.
Literary
November Haiku Contest
Winner: On Preparing For College
Path of the Forest
By Andreanna Downing Zheng
By Yoonsuh Kim
the most important field to fill when you apply? “no, do not send mail”
Blight, Deep, Fierce Forest Shambling All About the Road There’s Somewhere to Rest
Fall in Ithaca
Hayk-Coup
By Zachary Foley
By Joseph Yoon
Fall in Ithaca Warm and cold are together Leaves fall from the trees
Hayk Shakhzadyan, confronted with injustice, will now overthrow
Wolf
200 (Ha) IQ
By Kyeson Bradley
By Reynold Gao
Composure, decreased An old, dreamy wolf wallows above a flower.
I am a rebel I don’t follow the rules Ha, that’s only six
Untitled By Emily Herman Deep below the sea Beauty is flowing freely Colors mottled art
Stress By Wynne Williams-Ceci Junior year is here: APs, SATs, no sleep. Will June ever come?
The Return to the Womb “Theory” By Leland Xu Thanatos, death drive Send me back into the womb Sigmund Freud was right
CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
25
Literary “NOVEMBER HAIKU CONTEST” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25
Untitled
Fall Feelings
By Sankofa McLaurin
By Anna Rose O’Bannion
I really want to win this It better be good I hope this poem wins this big
Falling Leaves, pumpkins That is the smell all of fall cozy, hot cocoa
As The Sun Shines
Lucid Dreams
By Sankofa McLaurin Flurries of orange fall from branches brimming with green He likes how the red of her dress matches the red of the nearby trees Conversation twists its way into laughter As people pass he manages to keep only her face in the light His dark eyes turn sweet As if they were dipped in honey We daydream of the night sky Of the path that would unfold if we were to follow the North Star
Still Cows By Zachary Foley Cows, stoic as they stand Watching over the green land When their presence on the grass Has come to pass The plants will grow long Birds still in song And now a new batch head through the gate To the grassy fields that await 26
By Chance Freeland I’m airborne, lost but Able to hold the storm down But only tonight As tomorrow comes I awaken, and wish I slept For tomorrow rains But by the next night I sleep, I feel, I keep it To hold the storm down For tomorrow rains And the day coming from that And the day after But not in my sleep In my sleep I hold it down and the nights are bright During every day The storm could rage, but yet, no It chooses to rain Because in my sleep I hold the storm down at night So it rains for me Because it wonders What I could do whilst awake And to that end, no For today rains and there’s nothing I can do as I am awake.
Penultimate
Surrealio By Ethan Carlson
“Oh what!? We could fly this whole time?”
Sudoku 4
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The Signs as Paintings of Dogs By SOPHIE WRAY
Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21):
Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19):
Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22):
The Coolness Spectrum Cool
Sagittarius (Nov 22 Dec 21):
Fleece lined pants Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22): Capricorn (Dec 22 Jan 19):
Apple cider season
Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20): Voting
A really good hat that keeps your ears nice and toasty Gemini (May 21 - June 20):
Thanksgiving meat alternatives Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22):
Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18):
Already hearing Christmas carols
Cancer (June 21 - Jul 22): Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20):
Gorge trails are closed
Ithaca going from Summer straight to Winter
Losing a really nice sock
Uncool