February 2010 by JHS BlackandWhite

Black&White

YIMING QIN: illustrator and activist the black and white. february 2010. volume 19 issue 6. 5152780449. 6501 NW 62nd ave. johnston. iowa one copy free

ON THE COVER illustrations by Yiming Qin photo by Kristine Hayes

check us out online

p21 p10

www.theblackandwhiteonline.com

NEWS 3 4

REVIEW 9

Snow day decisions Will we be in school until July?!?

news briefs Education reform

Make sure we are accomocdating

Be careful when picking college Don’t base decision off athletic program, loyalty

Julia Manning

Kallen Kramer layout

The Black and White is published solely by the Johnston High School newspaper staff. Its goal is to inform, enlighten and entertain Johnston students. It is an open forum. In accordance with Iowa law and board policy, students assign and edit material. The paper is published nine times per school year. The paper will avoid material that is libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. The law does not require parental permission to use student quotes. Ethically, we believe students can speak for themselves. Staff editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Editorial and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the adviser, school officials or the district. Letters to the editor must be signed. Like all material, letters may not be libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. Bring letters to room 413 within one week after publication to be considered for the next issue. The Black and White strives to report accurate and timely information. If you believe that an error has been printed, please contact the editor at jmanning867@gmail.com. The Black and White is a member of CSPA, NSPA, Quill & Scroll, and IHSPA. Recent issues of the paper earned these honors: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist, National Scholastic Press Association First Class rating, Quill & Scroll Gallup Award, IHSPA state placings.

Random spotlight

Sophomore Tyler Koonce

Artist + activist

Unlikely bowlers

Senior football players give the sport a chance Required exercise, hard to come by

Ames game

Dragons challenge Ames in the second half

Wrestling diseases

Cleanliness is enforced in this full contact sport

Super bowl star

Senior Yiming Qin

Local business owner used to tear up the field

Cancer

Teachers’ personal experiences with the disease

BACKPAGE

Overcoming insecurities Senior Marissa Broich breaks free

Perfect match?

Lessons are not being learned, content and originatlity are lacking

Apex Athletics

Exploring the compatibility quizzes

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The Buried Life

What do you want to do before you die?

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SUB-EDITORS

CC PM EO KM KM LG

Catherine Caracci news

BW KK MK DL KS YQ

Brennan Winget lifestyle

Philip Mortens

Kelsey Kruse

Eric Oatts

Matt Knoedel

opinion

entertainment

Kelly McGowan fashion

Kiera Morrill photo

Lauren Gehrke managing

index

New student help

Benefits to everyone’s guilty plessure

Overtime

Best and worst of JD’s

FEATURE

Re-introduce 5th grade music

EDITORS IN CHIEF

LUNCH ROOM!

14 15 16 17

Chocolate = <3

SPORTS

Their importance to the music industry

12/13

Music for life

STAFF JM KK

DOUBLE TRUCK

Stop ignoring the facts and putting yourself at risk for cancer

Megan Davis shares her modeling experiences

DUNGEON

Record labels

Deadly risk of tanning

p18

Apple’s newest toy

Stop complaining about things you have control over

What is T.V. teaching?

HEALTH

iPad

Hu cares

Restaurants representing varaties

Learn about this editing systen

Stop whining!

OPINION

Auto-tune

Project Runway

A look at popular local places

ENTERTAINMENT

Race to the Top and other legislation

EDITORIAL

FASHION

Sports bar & grill

Regional cusine

stuco updates

p7 p18

feature

sports

Dwight Lykins online

Kyle Soyer photo

Yiming Qin illustrator

STAFF WRITERS Jon

Houp

Blake Schlawin

Michael Knoedel Ryan Smaha Chris Caracci

Zach Winjum

Mike Shi

Kevin Hu

Kristine Hayes

Evan Culbert

Lauren Coffey

Michael Carlson

Andy Halterman

Spencer Vasey

Scott Monroe

Liz Waller

Ethan Meng

Alyssa Czapla

Monisha Kumar

Ian Dunshee

news

Feb 10

Snow days cause student, staff confusion words & layout Lauren Coffey On Feb. 19 and April 12, formerly pro-

recent results.

upcoming events.

in-progress.

Cancer Awareness Week

Hoops for Haiti

Blood Drive

Raised approximately $7,400+ throughout the week for the American Cancer Society.

Feb. 28. in the gym. Teams of 4, $5 per person. Free throw/three point contest included. Sign up in room 202.

April 7 in the gym foyer. If under 18 must have signed parent permission.

editorial

Feb 10

Whining; more than just a bad habit Seriously, shut up or quit. You’re the one that signed up for it.

They want me there all night, and then expect me...

Do not let constant complaining become a part of your character Complaining is a distraction from

the pain in life that individuals do not wish to accept, executed by drawing

out a whine to gain sympathy from

peers. It can be understandable, a brief vent, but when overused it becomes an obnoxious characteristic.

The irony with complaining is the

speaker most often is responsible

for the situation they are put in; they

In school activities, especially,

work that should be assumed when

when the individual chose that hobby

Very few schools offer the variety

chose to participate in too many

there is no room for complaining

effectively.

and has chosen to invest time into it.

and numbers of events Johnston

for whatever sport, club, or ensemble

size, not too big that nobody has

activities or cannot manage their time

Consider why people whine in the

first place; because they have to cover someone’s shift, they were benched, they were moved from center stage

to back row. To the speaker it seems

On the other hand, when you go out

interests you, and you are allowed to be involved, consider yourself lucky.

Taking multiple AP classes is a

appropriate to complain when they

choice that some students make.

with

effort than a regular class, and this

are frustrated, their mind is fogged clouds

annoyance

Although,

the

disappointment.

and

unfortunate

listener, this means another 15 minutes on the phone hearing about sad situations that cannot be fixed,

constantly repeating “Oh, I’m so sorry,” or “Gosh, that really sucks.”

AP classes take a lot more time and

should be expected. Students who complain about rigorous classes that

they themselves overloaded into their schedules are to blame for the hours of homework that the classes require.

Appreciate the opportunity to be in the

classes, do not complain about the

signing up for an AP class.

does, our school is also an agreeable

a shot at the spotlight, and not too small that we are not recognizable competition to other schools.

For

students involved in, and complaining

about multiple activities, there is a solution. Either quit whining, or quit the activity. This issue in complaining

excessively, it becomes habit, a habit that develops into your character, an unpleasant character.

Issues that

seem huge right now really are not, and other people may care, but not that much.

5 ways to avoid complaining:

1 2 3 4 5

define the issue analyze the situation think of the parties involved and their points of view on the subject recognize your contribution to the situation give yourself credit for what you are doing and leave everyone else alone

opinion

Feb 10

Philip Mortens/BW

When looks can kill: the tragic price of tanning for malignant melanoma by 75 percent. Melanoma is the

choice to swallow it, or watch customers go away.”

over 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths are melanoma

portion.

unfortunately for many Americans, adults and teens alike,

due to it.

don’t know what to believe,” Blackford said.

ally.

like “this could never happen to us”. Junior Tanner Grill

are the need for vitamin D and the ability to help prevent

of being tan all year round, people feel pressured to do

til about three years ago when he lost his mother due to

treme as the tanning industry would like you to believe. In

current solution to this problem is using the increasingly

on tanning.

to know, or even understand, is that these beds give you

sun, is just not good for you, it may make you look good,

words & layout Philip Mortens

deadliest form of skin cancer that a human can develop,

With the economy hurting from a recession, most would

think that prices were dropping all across the board. But

the price of beauty has been rising to deadly levels. Liter-

related. In fact, an American citizen dies every 62 minutes Many people feel immunity to such things, saying things

When society puts such an emphasis on the beauty

was no different than the rest, he felt the same way un-

whatever is necessary to achieve the “bronzed look.” The

melanoma. After such a loss, Grill’ has a new perspective

popular tanning bed. But what many people do not seem more than you bargained for. Cancer.

“Tanning in general, whether it’s in a bed or out in the

but it is better to be pale and healthy than tan and (dead),”

Blackford feels that the fight has been blown out of pro“The exaggeration on both sides has made where you The main argument salons present for their services

sunburns. While these claims are valid, they are not as exthe case of vitamin D, you can drink a glass of fortified milk

or take a walk outside. In the case of preventing sunburns, the only real way to effectively prevent a sunburn is with the proper application of sunscreen.

“God gave us water because we need it to drink, God

Grill said.

gave air because we need it to breath, God gave us food

known human carcinogens. With this addition, tanning

tempting to help raise awareness and to discourage users

proven that vitamin D is a need, it’s not a want,” Blackford

arsenic, plutonium, and mustard gas. According to the In-

Denny Blackford, owner of Bronzing Experience in

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

recently added artificial tanning beds into the category of

To help with this growing problem, the government is at-

beds are now placed in the same category with things like

away by mandating a ten percent tax on tanning beds.

ternational Journal of Cancer, tanning just once in an arti-

Johnston, realizes that this tax will have an effect. “It’s go-

ficial tanning bed before the age of 30 increases users risk

cares

words Kevin Hu

You might be in tears after the recent

Feb.14, or maybe in joy. I personally think the day hosts a very important holiday, one

ing to truly hurt,” Blackford said. “You are going to have the

because we need it to eat, He gave us the sun because it’s said.

While it is true vitamin D is a real need for human life

and that tanning beds can help fulfill this need. But what does the cancer that comes along with it qualify as?

The week of education and love that all of us need to take a notice to and

adults of the risks of unprotected sex and

learn something important.

has contributed to the fight against the

What, Valentine’s Day? No... I’m talking

spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

about National Condom Day.

Many young adults neglect taking con-

The week of Valentine’s hosts National

traception seriously. According to a study

es and institutions across the country take

of pregnancies among American women

Condom Week, a week where many colleg-

by Finer LB and Henshaw SK, nearly half

advantage of the week of love to educate

are unintended, and four in 10 of these are

the public about sexual responsibility and

Illustration/Yiming Qin

It started at UC – Berkeley back in 2006,

National Condom Week has proven to still

safety.

originally intended as a humorous holiday,

be an effective tool at educating young

terminated by abortion.

Sex is natural, say what you want to say.

But safety should always be your number one concern.

opinion

Feb 10

Music for life Children need music to inspire, encourage learning. words & layout Blake Schlawin Three years ago, the school district removed fifth grade

chorus from the curriculum, citing “fifth grade scores are

going down and they need more classroom time.” However, the district and schools filled the 35 minutes a week, originally for chorus, with a computer course. Children need music to inspire and encourage learning.

Music helps students academically. According to the

1999 College-Bound Seniors National Report, students

taking courses in music performance and music appreciation scored significantly higher on the SAT than students

with no arts participation. Performance students scored 53 points higher on the verbal, and appreciation students scored a 61.

Too many of today’s schools are following the input-

output model of the business world. It may be years before

anyone sees the effects of cutting music programs. Music

works the right side of the brain, which corresponds with creativity. “In fifth grade chorus we were able to teach the students the basics of choral music, behavior and harmony,” Sandy Miller, Timber Ridge Elementary music teacher, said. “We have already seen a decrease in students

accepted to OPUS honor choir, since we cut fifth grade choir.”

I started out in fifth grade chorus, as a singer and a pi-

ano accompanist. I learned, from experience, that music can do so much for a person. “In elementary, I see it all

Kyle Soyer/BW

Fifth graders, left to right, Matthew Terrell, Sadie Miller, Ben Dixon, Ethan Bettis, Jessica Bigelow, Carson Mithelman, at Timber Ridge Elementary put solfege patterns down on music staffs made from yarn. the time where kids struggle in the classroom but excel in

any sports. In sports, kids learn how to work together as a

I performed, and still perform, in music classes and ac-

in music. “We work as a whole team,” Miller said. Sports

out in fifth grade chorus and gained confidence and poise

tive influence on a student’s life, but student’s lives need to

views, public speaking, casual conversations. Music class

Everyone can sing, make music, and be creative. No

music,” Miller said.

team, and can build their physique. But no one is excluded

tivities. I learned how to be in front of an audience starting

build community, make money, and can also have a posi-

in front of people. This affects our everyday lives; job inter-

be balanced, or we are going to lose our musical culture.

and chorus can be the start of many people’s confidence

one is excluded. We start the football players young, so

Schools cut a bunch of music classes, such as music

music long after you step off that football field or leave the

in those areas.

why do we not start the chorus kids young? You can make

theory and late-elementary chorus, but they do not cut

classroom. Taking music out of our schools will only hurt our community, our culture and our world.

Group facilitates successful transition for new students bers of the JHS community,” counselor Audrey Bell said.

words & layout Catherine Caracci

The group helps new students make friends at school

Terrified, I made my way down the empty halls the first

and learn about the building and the courses and activi-

two minutes late, my classmates whirled around in their

department made after the 7-week session, “the majority

ties the school offers. According to a report the guidance

day of sophomore year. As I walked into my geometry class

of the new students had a positive experience in the group

seats. All eyes were on me as I found a seat in the back.

and generally had more positive feelings about being a

What terrified me most about that day was not whether

new student.” Groups such as this really do help students

my classes would be difficult or if I would like my teachers.

by providing a support group of individuals who are also

It was that I knew only one person in the entire school, and

trying to adjust. Simply knowing that one isn’t alone helps

we had no classes together. I had just moved to Johnston, and no one had given me a tour of the school or explained

what to do if I arrived late or how to go through the lunch line. I felt lost and alone every day, and I found it difficult to

Yiming Qin/BW

thetic toward new students. Students should try to be more

the guidance department began a new student group to of-

der simply by walking through the school doors each day.

here, new students now have a source of help. Last year,

looking back, I do not think there was anyone I felt I could

fer help to students as they adjusted to a new school. “The

trust completely yet. Few of my teachers seemed to know I was new, and not many of my classmates knew either.

Ultimately, faculty and students need to be more sympa-

While there were few resources for me when I moved

adjust to the new school and my new classmates.

I did not feel like there was anyone I could go to, and

more than most people know.

purpose (of the group) is to facilitate a successful transition

to JHS and help (new students) become contributing mem-

welcoming and understand the stress new students are unAfter eating alone for days, weeks or even months, being invited to sit with someone else at lunch means to a new student that he or she is finally beginning to be accepted.

opinion

Feb 10

Athletic prejudices breed academic distress words & layout Michael Knoedel In a time of great athletic victories come great athletic preju-

dices, none quite like that of the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry. For gen-

University of Iowa

erations, the Iowa Hawkeyes have competed against the Iowa

Iowa State University

advantages in academics:

This rivalry breeds hatred beyond just the athletic teams; it breeds

advantages in academics:

-business -medicine -law

dices get in the way of their future.

-veterinarian medicine -engineering -agriculture

State Cyclones in one of the most anticipated games of the year.

hatred to the actual college. Students should not let athletic prejuUnless you are planning to compete in college athletics, col-

lege choice should be on the academics, not athletics. Most of the

time it is not the specific students fault that they follow the rivalry, typically it runs in the family. “I’ve been brainwashed since birth to love Iowa State and hate Iowa,” senior Alex Grieve said. He isn’t

even considering Iowa as a college choice because the blind loy-

alty to Iowa State is so intense. The fault doesn’t lie on Grieve, but he and many others at least have to realize what is best for them, regardless which side of the rivalry you are on.

Students should keep their options open and consider schools

for their academics not athletics. Take for example, Cyclone fan Ryan Francois. “The college team and the college itself take on two separate entities really. Since I am a Cyclone fan, you may think that I would be mostly looking for Big 12 colleges, [Iowa

State’s conference], but instead I’ve been looking at more Big 10 schools [Iowa’s conference],” Francois said.

I know that if I end up staying in state, I will go to Iowa State,

not Iowa. Even though I don’t like the Cyclone football team, the school has a superior engineering program to Iowa’s. High school Provided/Pat Ward

students need to realize the importance of academics over athlet-

Provided/Iowa State Daily

ics when choosing their colleges or else their prejudice towards a football team might impair their future.

It’s morphin’ time... for our culture words & layout Kevin Hu I’ve had plenty of time to do nothing after

applying to colleges. Sitting on the couch, I was able to finally watch some T. V. for

the first time in quite a while. Unfortunately, my younger brother is quite the remote hog

and dictated much of what I watched. What I witnessed was absolute... garbage...

Where did all the good shows go? All I

saw this entire winter break was corporate marketing of pretty adolescents in practically the same show across the network, mainly

the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. After a numbing Christmas Day, what appeared

to be one long show was apparently eight

different shows. Take two or more teenag-

ers, high school drama, generic romance,

and the same friendship forever crap and

you have every youth network show. Even

Cartoon Network played odd cartoons that seemed impossible to hold anyone’s attention. Shoot me please.

I looked for Power Rangers, Pokemon,

Transformers: Beast Wars, the shows I remembered from my childhood, only to be in-

regarding violence in shows. No more

Dragonball Z, no more Transformers, no more Power Rangers, Teen Titans, Pokemon, Spiderman, Batman, anything.

Mothers complaining that the violence is

plaguing our childhood and causing in-

when all the kids would watch “Beast Wars”

so-called violent shows seem

time! Standard television, not cable! Is there a reason why shows are becoming mindless

sludge, fed to the new generation through school lunch boxes, folders, and cheap, monotonous music?

I only see one cause for this, and that is

the networks avoiding issues with parents

brother will look back at the Jonas Brothers and think the same.

Well, that’s false. According to

FBI, crime rates have been drop-

on weekday nights! Weekday nights! Prime-

childhood and me. I really wonder if my little

creased rates of crime.

formed that apparently they are only played on early morning Saturdays. I still remember

I enjoy looking at a Megazord and think-

ing back at how bada(pple) it was to my

ping for the past 20 years. The to

decreasing

crime

rates. Because of the antiviolence

hype,

now

have the same Jonas-Mon-

tana sludge that can’t be dis-

tinguished from each other unless

you keep running tabs of the actors

and actresses’ distinct characteristics.

Yiming Qin/BW

entertainment

At Legend’s Sports Bar

in the wall by every booth

sure to meet you with a

televisions mounted on the

and Grill, quick service is

words Ian Dunshee layout Kallen Kramer

SPORTS BARS Two local options for big game eats

Feb 10

smile. This well known restaurant may not have quite the emphasis on sports as one might hope for, but they

make up for their imper-

restaurant quality classic

burgers, salads, and appetizers the size of regular meals (around $12 each)

can satiate any hunger and any set of taste buds. A fact

well complemented by the small hi-definition screens

ing and 3 waiters on staff;

large, spacious room filled

anyone be watching their

favorite team play at an awkward angle.

Though impersonal and

can still easily become the

The large selection of

dream for sports fans. The

walls, so never again will

their food.

with

of the afternoon with only 4

Grill is nothing other than a

to some, expensive, Leg-

prices

Overtime Sports Bar and

along with the large plasma

sonal service and slightly overcharged

end’s Sports Bar and Grill

place to watch all of your much

anticipated

sports

events at. The roomy atmosphere of every table, booth,

and

room

won’t

leave you feeling crowded, and the food will leave you feeling the bang you got for your buck all night.

with sports memorabilia, advertisements of events

other groups in the buildhardly the reported crowd on their busy nights.

Yet the evil meets the

and beer posters sends

good, as this sports bar

mind...sports! The moder-

events and requires no

only one message to your ately priced food, sporting

$14.99 for a three-topping

and grill plays pay-per view charge at the door.

So whether your party

medium pizza, is everything

fancies themselves a group

a sports bar, greasy but

types, or simply a couple of

you

would

expect

from

good. However the service was not as satisfying. A 20

minute wait just to be given

menus and another 20 minutes to get the bill was not exactly timely in the middle

of extreme sports fans of all people looking for a quick place to eat, the Over Time

Sports Bar and Grill will

easily meet your desires... if you are willing to wait.

Regional American dives in the Metro words & layout Zach Winjum “The Black and White”

meats plus a half a slab of

often found in the Midwest.

menu also has Hawaiian-

the Des Moines area whose

also provides you with corn

University Ave has diverse

cano chicken consists of

four sides. The barbecue

Spam

seasoned to perfection.

block of rice with

never had better barbe-

and a slice of fried

beats out any chain res-

seaweed.

One

also consists of over twenty

interesting

is- Volcano chicken

found throughout the woodHawaiian cuisine is not

reviewed two restaurants in influences come from the Southeast and the Pacific.

Jethro’s BBQ in the Drake neighborhood offers some

of the highest quality barbecue in the Des Moines

area. The menu consists of

typical barbecue favorites such as pulled pork, beef Zach Winjum/BW

Dinner for two at Jethro’s BBQ consists of: pork ribs, smoked sausage, pulled pork, mashed potatoes, waffle fries, jalapeno creamed corn, macaroni and cheese, and corn muffins.

brisket, ribs, smoked sausage and smoked turkey.

Each portion is enormous.

A dinner for two is $24.95. You receive a choice of two

smoked ribs. The platter

Alohana Hawaiian Grill on

muffins and your choice of

island food for a low price.

is smoked all-day long and

consists

can honestly say that I have

a sweet sauce

cue in Iowa. Jethro’s BBQ

spam wrapped in

taurant. The atmosphere

serving of this

televisions and stuffed pigs

land

en rafters.

wrapped in seaweed does

musubi of

style barbecue dishes. Volslices of fried chicken with volcano sauce over top.

The dish also

gives you a side of rice and pasta salad

all for $6.25. Hawaiian

music

videos

are constantly being

streamed on two flat-screen

televi-

is only 99 cents. If spam

the orange walls.

Fake

not sound appetizing, the

Hawaiian atmosphere.

favorite

sions mounted on

palm trees also add to the

entertainment

Feb 10

p10

words & layout Andy Halterman You can’t go very long without hearing some sort of

and record music. Many artists use it as a staple of their

notorious software used for this today is Auto-Tune. Just

tensively to give their voices their trademark “electronic”

tuning or audio program used in a song. By far the most how notorious you ask? Well, “Tik Tok” by Ke$ha, Kesha,

or Keisha, whatever, and about 90 percent of what you

sound. Artists such as T-Pain and Lil’ Wayne use it exsound.

While Auto-Tune is used extensively, many of the songs

hear on KISS has extensive use of Auto-Tune, including

raise questions in people’s minds as to where original mu-

Auto-Tune is a computer program that allows you to edit

ists, like Jay-Z and Death Cab For Cutie, that refuse to

everything from Taylor Swift to Owl City.

the pitch of any recorded sounds. In the beginning of AutoTune’s use, it was just for simply editing little mistakes. The first popular example of it was in “Believe” by Cher. It helps

artists to correct errors that they make while recording so

sic ends and artificial sounds begin. There are many artuse Auto-Tune, and are trying to get fewer artists to use it.

Jay-Z even went so far as to release a song titled “D.O.A”, or “Death of Auto-Tune”.

Either way, Auto-Tune is not some all-encompassing

that the song sounds better by correcting any human er-

evil force attempting to brainwash you, and believe it or

Since then, it has evolved into a whole new phenom-

neath all of the artificial effects. However, Ke$ha remains

rors.

enon, changing the way songs sound and how artists write

not, there is usually some inherent talent in the artist underdebatable.

photos provided/Columbia/RCA Records

Apple’s newest toy has everything but wings words & layout Dwight Lykins In 1984 they launched “The Macintosh” the first per-

sonal computer. In 2007 they brought us the iPhone, the phone that changed the smartphone industry. Now the

depending on size and if you want your iPad to run of AT&T

to connect to a wireless network.

with this thing, all though It would be pretty entertaining

and a iPad, the major one is the introduction of a book store.

you can wirelessly browse the Internet instead of having

cations you can now access a bookstore and purchase a

cell network. This doesn’t mean you can make phone calls

to see you with this thing up to your ear. Instead it means

Messiah of fan boys everywhere, Steve Jobs, is bringing

Similar to iTunes for music or the App Store for your applibook from several big name publishers, and have it download right to your iPad. No more need to carry around three

us the newest revolution in technology to me and you. With

or four books at a time, you can carry as many as you want

the iPad?

all on your iPad’s virtual bookshelf. Five years from now a

Obviously the product has a ... interesting... name, but

student may carry only iPad instead of all their textbooks,

is it really all that revolutionary, it does just look like a big

saving trees and their backs all at once.

iPod touch. Essentially the iPad is just a big iPod touch

Now not everyone is going to run out and get one three-

with a 9.7 inch screen. It comes in 3 different model sizes a 16, 32 and 64 GB. Ranging in price from $500 to $830

But there are a few key differences between the touch

months from now when they are released but I know one provided/Apple

guy who’s going to be waiting in line to see the future.

Feb 10

entertainment

p11

Record labels boast talent, styles words & layout Eric Oatts Labels are arguably the most influential part in determining whether a musical artist succeeds in the music indus-

try or dwindles out completely. In today’s music industry, artists cannot thrive on talent alone, as sad as that may be. Music companies offer top-notch recordings and great artist-development to all varieties of musicians.

Record labels are what keep the music industry breathing. There are primarily two different types of labels: major

and independent. Major labels possess most of the artists that have songs played on network radio stations, appear on MTV and VH1, and win Grammy’s (popular music and major labels are basically in cahoots). Independent labels offer an alternative to artists who have either been turned down from major labels, or who are looking for a company offering a less “mainstream” feel, or for those who just want to start or be apart of a more personal music group. If

an artist or group can get in touch with a record label of any kind, it will benefit them exponentially and will not only

further their chances of expanding musical horizons, but the artist will also be introduced to new demographics.

Record labels have “street teams”, which are groups that help promote, or “plug”, concerts, album releases, and all that good stuff that comes with musical success.

“Indie” Labels

Artists who seek a more “intimate” relationship with those producing their music will generally spring for this independent record labels. There are literally hundreds of labels like these.

Brushfire

Artists sound likeBlues + Folk + Surf Rock Whose on it? Jack Johnson, G-Love & Special Sauce, Matt Costa, ALO, Money Mark, Rogue Wave, Zee Avi How it startedBrushfire, formally called The Moonshine Conspiracy Records, was started by guitarist and surfing-enthusiast, Jack Johnson. Brushfire records was created as a means to make music for Johnson’s surf videos. The surf films, produced under the film label, Woodshed Films, now feature music by Brushfire artists. Self-described as “filmmakers/musicians/artists/surfers”, this “little” company is beginning to go on to do big things around the world, producing critically-acclaimed albums and soundtracks.

Royal Family

Artists sound likeSoul + Jazz + Blues + Funk

Whose on it? Soulive, Lettuce, Eric Krasno, Chapter 2 , Break Science, Fyre Department How it startedThe company’s “commander in chief”, Eric Krasno (bottom picture, far right), also happens to be the most outstanding musician on the label. As a founding member of Soulive, Lettuce, and Chapter 2, Krasno and gang offer listeners a variety of different grooves and styles. Krasno has collaborated with artists such as Dave Matthews Band, Ledisi, and 50 Cent. Based on the East coast, Royal Family artists tour the northeast region of the states frequently and have appeared on the “Jam Cruise”. Recently royalfamilypresents.com was launched as an “online community” for Royal Family fans and artists.

“The Big Four”

In the popular music category, four music groups reign supreme. “The Big Four” as they have come to be known as, produce most of the artists dominating airwaves and downloads.

EMI

This historical music group publishes catalogues containing over a million songs and owns such labels as Blue Note and Virgin Records. Notable artistsThe Beatles, Coldplay, Queen, Lady Antebellum, Daft Punk, Switchfoot, The Kooks, Kieth Urban, 30 Seconds to Mars

Sony

Headquartered in New York, and with worldwide offices, this company has dozens of specialized labels such as RCA, Epic, Jive, and Columbia Notable artistsMichael Jackson, Beyonce, Shakira, Alicia Keys, Third Eye Blind, AC/DC, Susan Boyle, Dave Matthews Band

Universal

Universal pretty much is always in touch with the public by offering sweepstakes and contest, etc. to win concert tickets, chances to meet artists, and other fun stuff. Notable artistsKanye West, Lady Gaga, Jonny Lang, Mariah Carey, Marc Broussard, Black Eyed Peas, Colbie Cailat, Nine Inch Nails, Maroon 5

Warner Music Group

WMG prides its self as being the only “publicly-traded major music company”. They are notable for their ability to develop artist and give them the tools they need to succeed. Notable artistsJosh Groban, Bee Gees, Robert Randolph, Jason Mraz, Green Day, Sean Paul, Eric Clapton, Niel Young, Linkin Park, Ramones

double-truck

Feb10

healthified. What is your favorite lunch food?

NUTRITION INFO

All entrees served at JD’s meet Child Nutrition (CN) guidelines.

Pepperoni

(2 sticks) Calories: 360 Carbs: 28g Protein:18g

e Cream

late Chip Ic

Spicy Ch

Mint Choco

Calories: 180 Fat: 9g Sugar:16g

icken Sa

ndwich

Calories: 336 Carbs: 35.5g Protein: 20g

Sundae Crunc

h Bar

Calories: 170 Fat: 9g Sugar:15g

Pepperoni Power Slice Pizza

“As far as amount of food; we buy the most pizza.”

Michael Walker-King (‘12)

Rebecca Christiansen (‘10)

Kala Pfundheller (‘10)

chocolate milk (bottle)

pasta bar Friday

Breakfast for lunch

“It tastes better than (the carton).”

“I might try it.”

“It’s everything I want. it fills my plate.”

Boe Stoebner high school Nutrition Manager Calories: 460 Carbs: 45g Protein:18g

Eric Aldridge (‘12)

chicken tetrazzini

strawberry ice cream

“It’s a blast of flavor in your mouth.”

How do you feel about no soft-serve next year? “Next year, I’ll just have to get cookies.”

Lexie Reicks (‘11)

spicy chicken sandwich and potato soup

(1 cup) Calories: 140 Carbs: 15g Protein: 8g

A LA CARTE TO GO 2010-2011 (not the complete list) Nutri-Grain Bars Soft-serve ice cream Sun Chips Special K Bars Rice Krispie Treat (choc/caramel) Oatmeal To-Go Sundae Crunch Bars Orange Cool Tube

over and my still tired body drags itself out of bed. I nearly freeze to

for it on my own. Also, it is fairly convenient to walk through the

death as I defrost my car. The only thing I look forward to on these

lunchroom on my way to class to grab a coffee or to get a little

days are my morning coffee. That is why I really appreciate that our

pick-me-up coffee at lunch. It certainly beats waiting outside the

school has a coffee machine in the lunchroom that students can use

drive-though window. The coffee machine has been a great benefit to both the

in the morning and at lunch. Before I realized there was a coffee machine at our school, I

school and students. It started with the opening of the new serv-

went to various coffee shops such as Friedrich’s or Starbucks but

ing area. Lunch supervisor Bo Stoebner thinks the coffee ma-

the problem was that it was incredibly expensive. If you get a $3.00

chine is a good idea. “It gets students down here [the lunchroom]

coffee every day for 300 days, it adds up to a lot of money, you do the

and attracts them to breakfast for a meal,” Stoebner said.

down the car window to let the frigid winter air into the car.

o Tortilla S

Fritos

the machine is I can charge it to my parents rather than paying

Getting students to eat breakfast at the lunchroom could lead to healthier choices. “Participation [at breakfast] is good,”

That is why I can really appreciate the coffee machine at our

Stoebner said. “Our meals far outweigh the cheeseburgers or

school, the quality of the coffee might not be quite as good, but it is

other unhealthy foods students might otherwise buy at break-

half the price and I can hardly tell the difference. Another benefit to

fast.”

Chocolate

Ice Cream

Cup

Calories: 90 Fat: 0.5g Sugar: 5g

HERE TO STAY: Baked chips

Choc chip cookies Fruit snacks Cereal Bars 100 Calorie Packs Popcorn Yogurt Sunflower seeds Whole-grain Poptart Rice Krispie Treat (original)

The Healthy Kids Act: a la carte overhaul Say goodbye to soft-serve hankerings, and even nutri-grain bar health kicks; food served a la carte in JD’s Cafe is getting revamped

Stoebner said. “Compared to the rest of the country, we are way ahead of most schools.”

and healthified for next year. Due to the new Healthy Kids Act that

For those students who rely on the vending machine pop to

will be enforced July 1, requirements on food sold in schools around

get them through a block class, new tactics will be needed for

the nation will be tighter than ever. These new guidelines are meant

staying alert. No carbonated beverages will be sold during the

to keep kids balanced and more conscious of the food eaten during

day, not even the 100 percent juice carbonated drinks sold dur-

school hours and form habits that last outside of school as well.

ing lunch. Sports drinks will stay, however. Even the caffeinated

LaRae Doll, Director of Nutrition Services for the district, is work-

coffee drinks are permitted under the Healthy Kids Act.

ing on more options to replace those that will be removed for next

“A la carte is really secondary to school lunch,” Doll said.

year such as ice cream. “I’m working on finding a frozen yogurt that

However, it is not secondary when it comes to budgeting. “We

would work in our nice machines,” Doll said. She believes that more

rely on a la carte to offset the cost of meals; we under-price the

options will be available, as big food companies will have to recre-

meal and overprice a la carte.”

ate products to keep selling them to schools. There are already new

With recent budget cuts, the new changes may affect the

whole grain items in the works such as a whole grain pizza and even

amount of a la carte sold and as a result cause the district to

Rice Krispie Treats with oatmeal added.

have to tighten its’ belt even more.

Entrée’s won’t be affected, but some new items will be added as

With some student favorites being taken away, there will

they normally are. The meal food sold is not affected as long as it

be new items added, and some items, such as chocolate chip

carries a Child Nutrition (CN) label. If it does not, the item is required

cookies, may simply be tweaked a little. “It is a good thing for

to be less than 400 calories. “99 percent of our food sold is either

schools to model positive habits, and this is a positive habit,”

CN labeled or meets guidelines,” high school Nutrition Manager Boe

Doll said.

words & layout Kallen Kramer

Clayton Bormann (‘12)

As I wake up in the cold, dark morning, my eyes have crusted

math. Also, it is difficult to drive out to a shop, wait in line and then roll

HEALTHY OPTIONS Chicken

Thanks a Latte!

Pizzatas

words Matt Knoedel

JD’s:

p12/13

feature

Feb 10

Get to know

p14

Tyler Koonce

words Kelsey Kruse layout Kallen Kramer With over 1,300+ students attending the school, it’s impossible to know everybody. Each month the B&W will randomly select a student from a class list we have and use a calculator to generate a random number, coinciding with a student. This month’s student was sophomore Tyler Koonce; get to know him!

Black&White Quiz

Zach Winjum/BW

Sophomore Tyler Koonce and his dad engage in a card game while eating dinner, a normal occurrence.

Sophomore Tyler Koonce and his family are tight. “Pass the butter.”

rience Tyler has had with his dad was when

those were the only teams I could beat him

Sophomore Tyler Koonce and his family

a bathroom into their basement. “We got a

cheer for those teams, but not necessarily

“Just wait, let me finish my turn.”

play cards while eating dinner every night.

he was 12. They were working on installing

big jackhammer, and I got to destroy the

They either play cribbage or “oh hell,” but

with,” Tyler said. Now, Koonce continues to on Nintendo.

Tyler also said his dad is the one person

board games are also a favorite for the

he looks up to the most. “He teaches me all

“We play a lot of games together,” Ty-

good role model,” Koonce said. “He didn’t

Tyler’s eighth grade sister Peyton came

respectful of people.”

family of four.

these life skills. He’s a good person and a

ler’s mom Elaine Koonce said.

drink until he was of age, and he’s really

Tyler and his family are what some

up with the idea of playing cards at the

would consider to be pretty tight. Elaine

table. “We would play after dinner anyway,

said they have many family traditions, like

and the cards were just sitting on a lazy susan in the middle of the table,” Elaine said.

getting together with cousins on “cookie

“So we decided to play while we eat.”

floor,” Tyler said.

if they are handled by sticky fingers. “We

a Koonce family tradition. “(My dad’s) dad

said.

cause he lived on a farm,” Tyler said. “If I

have family time. Tyler’s ideal weekend is

Since he was about 8, he has been helping

else do it, otherwise I’ll be teaching my kids

“My mom really likes movies so whenever

stead of hiring people, we do it ourselves,”

Also from his dad comes Tyler’s inspira-

The cards are old, so it doesn’t matter

Doing things themselves is, in a way,

don’t care if the cards get dirty,” Elaine

also made him do things by himself be-

Tyler and his family are very close.

become rich and famous I’ll have someone

his dad with projects around the house. “In-

how, too.”

Tyler said. He enjoys helping his dad out

tion for sports teams to cheer for. “When my

The best around the house project expe-

chose the Detroit Lions or Raiders because

and learning how to fix things.

The “Dragon”

dad and I used to play Nintendo, I always

day” to bake around Christmas time, or going to the grandparents on Thanksgiving every year and having a dart tournament.

However, it doesn’t take a tradition to

spending time with his friends and family. we have a free night we rent a couple or watch some we own,” Tyler said.

“We’re a close family,” Elaine said. Tyler

and his family like to play games, but even better, they like to play them together.

In seventh grade, sophomore Zach Winjum took a picture of Koonce with his camera phone in negative mode. “I thought he looked very reptile-like and we concluded that he was surely part dragon,” sophomore Mason Waetke said. The boys laughed about it for a little while, but wouldn’t have ever guessed it would have stuck as Koonce’s nickname.

feature

Feb 10

The many faces of

Yiming

Discover more about the artist behind the many masterpieces design. Qin has no doubt that art will be an integral part of her life forever.

The other side of Qin is her inter-

est in diversity and equality. “I’ve always been very proud of my culture,

and I’ve seen, not as much here but

maybe in South Carolina, how people get made fun of for their culture,”

Qin said. “Even now, I feel like, you know, people just don’t know enough

because they were never exposed to things like that.”

She lived in South Carolina for

four years before moving to Johnston. She said there was not much tolerance for diversity in culture there. “Johnston is more careful provided/Kristine Hayes

She wants to make a difference,

spired Qin in art and became one of

sity and beauty. You may have seen

artistic endeavors. Her father, Zhish-

sues of “The Black and White” and

calligraphy as well.

for the Diversity Club she started.

obvious that her biggest interest is

family, Yiming Qin got a head start

draw people. “I love to draw people,

since I was five I would spend my

cal person, like, change them up,”

and we would draw together, it was,

to make them bigger or something,

The weekend mornings with a friend

She enjoys making people more

and make art. She cares about diver-

the most essential people in Qin’s

some of that artwork in previous is-

eng Quing, also taught Qin Chinese

maybe you’ve seen advertisements

In any of her illustrations it is

Growing up in a very art-oriented

working with pencil or charcoal to

on her career as an artist. “Ever

and I like to alter the traits of a typi-

mornings with a neighborhood boy

Qin said. “I would change their eyes

like, kind of my activity,” Qin said.

sort-of cartoon-ish but not really.”

and paper gave Qin an opportunity

animated to bring out their beauti-

is a pastime for her whole family. Qin

them visually appealing. “To be hon-

her mother taught in her home.

to draw [a person] from my head

art as well so she wanted to give me

said. Qin has published her artwork

Qin’s mother, Bo Han, has sold her

like to get it into other magizines. At

cal art gallery and online. Han in-

and major in visual arts or graphic

to start drawing at an early age. Art

ful features or less realistic to make

used to sit in on the private classes

est, it takes a shorter amount of time

“She’s [Yiming’s mother] really into

than one from an actual picture,” she

the environment to draw,” Qin said.

in “The Black and White” and would

own art professionally through a lo-

this time, she plans to go to college

words Kristine Hayes layout Kallen Kramer

about what they say and I don’t hear

racial terms as much,” Qin said. This prompted her to start a club to help

students understand and accept other cultures, this thought turned into the Diversity Club. Qin wants the club to teach students to be aware

of other cultures and respect them. She also wants the club to help students understand that cultures are

not something to make fun of or ostracize but something to accept and

respect. The club has been very active in learning about other cultures.

“In the past we have attended cultural events and also did a fundraiser for Nothing But Nets,” Qin said. The

group is currently deciding what kind of projects they would like to do in the future.

Qin pulls her thoughts and politi-

cal ideas into one with her art. She does this by drawing different cultures and emphasizing diversity as

well as helping others to realize and

accept their differences. “All I try to do is emphasize the beauty of all faces,” Qin said

p15

& feature

Feb 10

p16

Teachers battle disease raise awareness words & layout

Lauren Gehrke

Corcoran confronts colon cancer While coaching her freshman girls’ basketball team, heath teacher

Lacey Corcoran tried to ignore the cramping pain in her abdomen. She

went home, talked to her fiancé and tried to go to sleep. Around 9:30 p.m. Corcoran woke up with excruciating pain. As she laid in bed, she realized she could not tolerate the pain any longer. She called her dad and he took Kat

ie L

her to the emergency room.

ash

ier

and

“I have a really high pain tolerance,” Corcoran said. “My dad knew that

Fai

sal

Ala

going to the ER was a big deal for me so he came over right away.” bsi

/Th

Corcoran was put on morphine right away, but it did not seem to help

and the cramping persisted. Around 2 a.m. she had

rag

a CAT scan. She had an intussusception, where

one portion of her bowels slid into the next. She

was admitted to the hospital and the intussusception was fixed, temporarily. She was scheduled for a colonoscopy and surgery the next day.

“The colonoscopy confirmed that I had a tumor

that was causing the intussusception,” Corcoran said. “But the cancer was taken out.”

The removing of 41 lymph nodes helped to dis-

cover that Corcoran had cancer in four of them.

Mattingly fights cancer at a young age a

Walking

routine

into

sports

physical at age 16, special

teacher tingly

Which required the need for chemo.

When Corcoran found out that she had cancer

in her lymph nodes, her first thought was, ‘I’m go-

He had to drive 30 minutes to Ames from

ing to live a short life.’

“Chemo can be good, and it kills the bad

her how much I loved her and how much she meant to me and that I was

Boone for IV chemo for three months.

Corcoran’s fiancé, Seth Fulton was positive from the beginning. “I told

education

cells,” Mattingly said. “But it makes it so you

going to be with her every step of the way. That we were going to fight

discovered

He worked hard and graduated both

much support she has from so many amazing friends, family members,

Pat

Mat-

that he had testicular cancer.

“It was scary,”

Mattingly

Lacey Corcoran

Mattingly said. “One

can get diseases much easier.”

this together and deal with it as a team,” Fulton said. “I reminded her how

high school and college on time. Mattingly

colleagues, kids at school, and people in the community, and that she wont

had flexible teachers and was at school as much as he possibly could.

have to deal with this alone.”

Corcoran then had surgery to place a port on the upper right side of

By age 21, Mattingly was cancer free

her chest. The port makes it possible to receive her chemotherapy treat-

Mattingly has also spent time talking

46 hours. The port does not affect her daily life except when she is hav-

in 300 men are diag-

and has been for 20 years, now at age 41.

ments. She has a needle inserted into the port and has chemo infused for

cancer every year.”

with Corcoran about what to expect with

ing chemo. She carries around a fanny pack holding a bag of chemo that

“(Cancer awareness week) helped peo-

to the fanny pack and remembering it bring it with her, the port is not a big

motherapy when he was 20.

said. “People don’t necessarily want to talk

After the surgery, Corcoran was cancer free and continues to feel good.

my hair and had numerous surgeries.”

should continue to do this.”

nosed with testicular

her cancer.

pumps the chemo into her body at the correct rate. Other than getting used

had three bouts of this cancer and had che-

ple be more in tune to other cancers,” he

deal for Corcoran.

“I was really sick,” Mattingly said. “I lost

and things get thrown under the rug. But we

There are a few side effects from the chemo such as sensitivity to cold and

Few people die from this type of cancer

because treatment is so good. Mattingly

some nausea, but other than that she is feeling good.

feature

Feb 10

Broich breaks free, belts it out

p17

Senior performer pushes hindrances aside as she pursues her passion in music words Monisha Kumar | layout Kallen Kramer Looking up form the floor of the auditori-

um, senior Marissa Broich was met with the gaze of the administrators standing above

her while she lay fully conscious as her body shook uncontrollably; this wasn’t her

first seizure-like episode. It started when

she was diagnosed with depression/anxiety last year and was prescribed a higher dosage of medication than her body could handle.

A combination of her medication and

her constant fears of being made fun of, has caused her to have intense panic attacks that sometimes last over thirty minutes at a time.

“All through middle school and high

school I’ve been made fun of so I always feared what people are going to say next,” Broich said. The attacks have impacted her

this year by interrupting her during vocal rehearsals, show choir practices, class time

and even out with her friends at football games and parties.

“When the Innovation choreographer

was at one of our practices I got really ner-

vous, like, am I too fat to be in the front? Or am I going to do the right dance moves? I

am my worst critic,” Broich said.

She also has had fears about having

these episodes themselves. “I would find myself thinking about what my next attack would be like and start worrying which sometimes would give me a panic attack.”

Fears like this hindered her pursuing

her passion in music, which Broich realized

and quickly made changes in her life so she didn’t have to quit the things she enjoyed.

“My parents have had to come to prac-

tices so they can make sure nothing happens… and I don’t really mind it that much,” Broich said. She also had to drop a few classes so that she would not fall behind

was first faced with her attacks,” vocal mu-

As for show choir, Broich did not get to

“To see her mature and take ownership for

in school.

sic director Sarah Van Waardhuizen said.

always rehearse with the group in the be-

her solo has really blown me away.”

and practicing privately she got to perform

and she does not have the panic attacks to

Nebraska-Lincoln and when I got off stage

thing I have to deal with; I don’t want people

danced my butt off,” Broich said. Also at

was hospitalized after a really bad attack,

male vocalist award.

more then I had to; it just made me realize

ginning but by attending every rehearsal

Broich’s medications are now corrected

at their first competition. “I got to dance at

the degree she used to. “This is just some-

I fell to the ground; that’s how I know I

to feel sorry for me,” Broich said. When I

this competition she won her first best fe-

I saw kids that had to deal with so much

“Marissa has come a long way since she

how blessed I was.”

Monisha Kumar/BW

Broich sings her vibrant solo at rehearsal getting ready for the Urbandale competition held on Feb 13. Her spotlight is in the song, “Change the World.”

Compatibility test plays cupid; finds your match? words & layout | Alyssa Czapla Sitting in homeroom junior Allie Crist

warm, wacky and sweet. All of which have

their best friends. Everyone was matched

is supposed to be filling out. Reading down

“I don’t think that people take [the

other grades, 12 compatible friends and the

stares blankly at the Matchmake survey she

the same cross match questions.

with 16 people from their grade, 16 from the

the list of questions she wonders aloud how

questions] too seriously,” Crist said. “For

the school. She is not alone. How is know-

guess, but don’t put too much thought or

both juniors, who have been best friends

If everyone did fill in their bubbles hon-

other’s lists. “I thought it was funny [we

these can match her with another person in

the most part people answer truthfully, I’d

ing the number of colors in the rainbow, or

intensity into it.”

what they do after school going to match them with a potential soul mate?

The answer is actually simple, according

to the company Matchmake. “Students are matched with each other based on cross

match questions,” Rudy Schirrmeister, an employee at Matchmake said.

Cross match questions are easy; they

are the first eight questions we all answered

on the survey in homeroom. They are there to help determine what kind of person you

estly, would anyone make the leap and talk Yiming Qin/BW

would most like to be with.

to new people?

“To some extent I know I will laugh the

6 most opposite people from them.

Margaret Brimeyer and Amber Solberg,

for years, were placed number one on each

were matched] because it seems like those things are never right,” Solberg said.

Whether you are like Crist, and sat in

Although Matchmake is not exactly sci-

whole thing off,” Crist said. “Some of the

homeroom confused about the questions

over the last 20 years from questions on

just know you would never consider them

the lucky ones who was actually matched

entific, its questions have been developed

people they give you in each category you

school surveys and custom questionnaires.

as friends or a romantic interest.”

Our school took the ‘fun’ survey. Among

one with their potential soul mate are the

All together there are nine different surveys.

others are hot, sizzling, phat, tropical, cool,

The same questions that match some-

same questions used to match a person with

you were answering, or if you were one of

with your best friend, or significant other, one thing is true. There is actually a reason

behind being matched with these people, whether or not they answered truthfully.

Feb 10

straight off

fashion

p18

The Runway Two years ago 2008 graduate Megan Davis was in Hen-

ness and Mattingly’s American Government class at John-

words & layout Kelly McGowan

ston High School. She participated in activities like show choir, cheerleading, and tennis. She enjoyed hanging out with her friends. “I can’t say I did anything special, I am pretty normal,” she said.

Davis is now pursuing a big-time modeling career,

traveling around the world for photo shoots, and recently participated in the Lifetime Network reality shows “Project

Runway” and “Models from the Runway.” “Being given the chance to model is amazing. At the audition [for the show]

I was like, do I really want to do this, but who can say they have been on a reality show?” Davis said.

It was a new experience for her to wake up with camera

crews in her face and living with 16 other girls for the show, much different from her modeling beginnings.

She had her senior pictures taken by Deena Byrd, who

sent them in to a competition. After that Davis got sponsored for the IMTA modeling conference where she got 60

callbacks, third place in the model of the year competition and met her current agent.

So far she has be able to travel to St. Lucia Island for

photo shoots, where she snorkeled, sailed, and modeled.

“That was the most beautiful place I have ever seen,” she

said. In the future she would like to do some acting for commercials, possibly movies, and her ultimate goal is the Vic-

torias Secret fashion show. “That show is what inspired me to start modeling,” Davis said.

Megan’s tips for future models

Learn to be self employed. You will need to be able to take care of accounts and do your own taxes.

2) 3) 4) 5)

Get involved in Peak, a Des Moines modeling agency and talk to agents about the IMTA conference. Put in four times more work than everyone else, it is a tough world out there in L.A. Take fashion classes in high school to learn about the way clothes lay on your body. Keep your morals where they should be. Check out www.theblackandwhiteonline.com for more about JHS models Photos provided by Megan Davis

health

Feb 10

simple indulgence:

p19

chocolate words Liz Waller

layout Julia Manning

Casanova called chocolate the “elixir of love” and drank it instead of champagne. Aztec Emperor Montezuma was said to drink chocolate in large amounts before visiting his harem

of woman. Some people’s accounts say he drank up to fifty cups. Contrary to many myths, chocolate is not an aphrodisiac (a food, drug, or potion that arouses sexual desire) but it does

contain small amounts of phenylethylamine (PEA) that is a mild mood elevator. PEA releases dopamine, a neurochemical associated with pleasure. Chocolate also contains tryptophan,

a building block of the neurotransmiter serotonin, which affects mood in our bodies. When this level is higher, we are naturally happier...which explains why many find it to be the cure

to almost any kind of heartbreak. It is important to know how and what kind of chocolate you should eat and how it will effect your health. Similar to other foods, moderation is key. Chocolate can be very caloric and consuming an excess amount can increase your risk for

obesity. Aside from the normal negatives of “sweets,” chocolate has many benefits. Along with antioxidants and essential minerals, dark chocolate also can help reduce your risk of

heart disease as well as improve your mood and ease premenstrual symptoms. So next time you reach for that dark chocolate chunk (in moderation) ....don’t feel so guilty!

healthy recipes

chocolate fondue

indoor s’mores

peanut butter & pretzel truffles

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped 2 tablespoons heavy cream 1 tablespoon brewed espresso 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Per serving 345 calories, Vitamin C (90% daily value).

2 whole graham crackers, broken in half 4 marshmallows 2 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips, melted

1/2 cup crunchy natural peanut butter 1/4 cup finely chopped salted pretzels 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips, melted

Per serving 98 calories

Per serving 64 calories

photos and recipes provided/EatingWell Magazine

dungeon

Feb 10

p20

Competitve cheerleaders commit time and energy in an attempt to achieve national victories Katelyn Fritcher

WHAT IS APEX ATHLETICS? Apex Athletics is one of the best competitive cheerleading gyms in the Midwest. Rampage, the senior level 4 squad is composed of 36 girls from Johnston and surrounding schools. Apex cheerleaders train year-round and compete in regional and national competitions

Aug.-May. “There is no off-season,” junior Jocelyn Schneider said. Brooklyn Drake

“When we’re not competing, we’re doing conditioning and working to get better.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORTIE PART OF BEING AN APEX CHEERLEADER? “My favorite thing about being an Apex cheerleader is that when I’m at the gym I feel like it is my second home,” junior Briana Wengert Casey Holt

said. Others on the team love the competition. “I love when you know you performed the routine well,” junior Alexa Probst said. “But the best part is calling out our team name.”

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE AN APEX CHEERLEADER? Anybody can be an Apex cheerleader, but to be a member of Patricia MIller

Rampage you must be able to do certain tumbling skills such as

a standing tuck and a roundoff back-hand-spring. Rampage practices range anywhere from six to eight and a half hours a week. “It is a serious way of life,” senior Allison Rawls said. “I had to quit my job when I joined Rampage.” Jacey Elmer

WHAT COMPETITIONS DOES RAMPAGE ATTEND? In December, Rampage qualified for the Universal Cheerleaders

Association National Championships by winning the regional competition in Des Moines. They will travel to Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Florida this March to compete for the national title. “We’re Kirsten Ingersoll

the best team in the Midwest and hopefully the country,” junior Alexa Probst said. Rampage were named the division three national

champions at The American Championships earlier this year. They also won the level three Windy City Championships in Chicago in January.

words Spencer Vasey & Michael Carlson layout Brennan Wnget Lexis Schumaker

Spencer Vasey/BW

Megan Parker

Jessica Hansen Jocelyn Schneider Taylor Smith

Briana Wengert

Christina Davis

Allison Rawls

Nicole Hoffman

Alexa Probst

sports

Feb 10

p21

Seniors spare the turf; strike the lanes Football players bring new life to bowling team words & layout Evan Culbert As seniors Alex Greig and Blake Hart-

team,” sophomore Amanda Teel said. “This

they began brainstorming winter activities

are always joking around and just laughing,

sook’s football careers came to an end,

to keep them busy. “Alex and I were on the

bus coming back from Ankeny from our

year is so much more fun because those two they make practice and meets fun.”

Before meets, Greig and Hartsook can

playoff game,” Hartsook said. “We thought,

be seen by themselves in front of the lanes,

son to keep us busy?’ We needed some-

the lanes before meets, it’s hilarious,” Teel

‘what are we going to do until baseball seathing to keep us occupied, so we decided

to go to the bowling meeting, and see what it’s about.”

Bowling was a hobby for the two. “We

both had fun bowling before the team, so

we decided we should just go out and prac-

tice, and see if we could make the team,

doing warm-ups. “They do stretches across said. “They do tin soldiers, and then lie on

the ground and stretch each other. Every-

one cracks up, and it totally lightens the mood.” Along with calisthenics, the two can be seen doing their signature handshake after bowling a strike.

“(Hartsook and Greig) bring enthusiasm

and we did,” Greig said. After the boys se-

and excitement to the team,” coach Vicky

faced another problem.

group; they encourage each other dur-

cured spots on the junior varsity team, they “We didn’t have bowling balls going into

our first practice,” Hartsook said. “Lucky enough, (Plaza Lanes) gave us really nice bowling balls and bags so we didn’t have

to buy them. We were really blessed to use that equipment.”

The change of pace from intense foot-

ball workouts to laid-back bowling practice

Borich said. “The JV boys team is a strong ing meets and practices.” Both the JV and varsity teams have winning records and

high-reaching ambitions. “The team is very competitive,” Borich said. “They have goals

of being the best JV team in the state. During meets they want to beat the opponent’s varsity.”

As the bowling season comes to a close,

was welcomed by the seniors. “It’s just a lot

the only regret Greig and Hartsook are left

sure,” Greig said. Twice a week at Plaza

team. “We just kind of found our love for

of fun and really chill, with not much presLanes the duo keeps practice interesting with a variety of amusing antics, keeping the team entertained.

“They have definitely spiced up the

OVERTIME

with is waiting until senior year to join the

bowling, just out of the blue,” Hartsook said. “I’ve always liked it, but once we learned

the techniques by giving each other pointers, we had to put our skills to the test.”

With a look of determination, senior Blake Hartsook practices technique at Plaza Lanes. The JV bowlers have only lost one match.

I knew the day was going to suck from

hood obesity. They plan to do this by forc-

in the winter. Last time I checked, taking a

parking lot. It was another one of those late-

to sign a sheet of paper. Ooooooooh. Fear

with homeroom as one of the last things I

the moment I drove into the deserted school start Wednesdays, and I had completely forgotten about it... again. I sat down and

Yet another quality column by Scott Monroe

Kyle Soyer/BW

ate a mediocre breakfast for half an hour,

ing every student in Iowa and their parents

has been stricken in the hearts of grades six through twelve across the state.

sheet of letterhead paper? This is just like

possible. Everybody that has a gym says

first two periods of the day, I made my way

trying to outlaw texting while driving. How

to learn about how desperate the school is

for after-prom volunteers, or some other announcement I didn’t care about.

Then a sheet of paper was slapped on

my desk that absolutely made my day. Ap-

parently the greatest legislature ever has decided that they want to monitor child-

I am part of a group of about ten high

school students that look for a gym to play

exercise and the decline of fatness. But a

to Hollingsworth’s homeroom and prepared

want to do. So what is the alternative?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for daily

and headed off to my first period class.

After a half-hearted effort to focus the

morning jog in this weather is right up there

the heck is that supposed to be enforced?

I’m sure parents will be more than willing to report to the government about how their son or daughter only logged 112 minutes

the past week. Shame on them for not go-

in nearly every single day, but it’s nearly imyou must be a member, or need a 21 year

old with you. That includes all schools and churches. I’m sorry that my parents don’t

want to watch us play basketball for three hours.

Solution: make gyms and workout cen-

ing the extra eight.

ters more accessible, or shut up. I don’t

whole thing: exercise is hard to come by

and then get denied when I try.

And here’s the ironic part about the

want to hear about how I need to exercise,

Feb 10

sports

p22

DRAGONS BATTLING BARNES 61-53

ames

johnston

Senior Mitch Fondell

words Ryan Smaha

layout Julia Manning and Kallen Kramer

You hardly had time to blink during Tuesday night’s game, and the number one ranked Ames Little Cyclones had taken a 20-2 lead. Their prized player, Harrison Barnes, scored 11 of the 20. This is a normal occurrence for the Little Cyclones, the opposing team usually gives in to the fate of a blowout. But something about this game seemed different from the moment the ball was tipped. Maybe it was the packed crowd, maybe it was the hype, but the Dragons found a way to claw back into the game and become the first team all season to reach a single digit final margin against the Little Cyclones. The 61-53 final score is a testament to the Dragons’ preparation, work ethic, and talent. “This year we started off with a slow tempo, but caught up and got back into the game,” senior Bryce Johnson said. “It is nice to be the first team to lose under double-digits, but we could have played better.” Probably the most telling stat however, is the three-point percentage. In the first half, the team shot an awful 1-9 from the three-point line, and went into the locker room losing 33-17. However, once the shots started dropping, the team had new life. In the second half, the Dragons shot 6-10 from the three-point line, and ended up outscoring the Little Cyclones 36-28 in the second half. The team also found a way to control the Ames superstars in the second half, with Barnes scoring nine points, and fellow senior University of Northern Iowa recruit Doug McDermott only scoring 6. The Dragons focused on defense in preparation for the game as well. “We tried to stop Doug (McDermott) and Harrison (Barnes), but they are both really good players so it’s a tough thing to do all game,” junior Matt McDermott said. “We thought of it as a normal game, we just worked more on the defensive

Seniors Bryce Johnson and Nick Smith

side,” Johnson said.

3 point6 stats 7 Ames

Johnston

McDermott 3 2 Weber 1 Barnes

Fondell Schaefer Mcdermott Stitz Blackburn

3 2 1 1 1

all photos Kyle Soyer/BW

sports

Feb 10

p23

Kyle Soyer/BW

Freshman Margaret Standish wrestles a Southeast Polk competitor on Jan. 28 at a home meet.

Wrestlers keep infections down for the count wrestling quickly. “It only lasted three days and I took medi-

words & layout Matt Knoedel

cation for it,” Shaffer said.

The IHSAA (Iowa High School Athletic Association) has

As he looked down at his arm after wrestling practice,

guidelines about grooming and skin conditions that coach-

knew something was wrong. After having it checked out,

The wrestling mats are disinfected two to three times a

senior Stephen Shaffer noticed a red rash on his arm. He

es, parents, and wrestlers must follow.

he later discovered that he had contracted ringworm.

day with disinfectant, the wrestlers wash with anti-bacterial

wrestlers who come into close physical contact with others

washed after every practice or meet. Coach Aaron Techlen-

Infections, fungus, and bacteria are a constant threat to

on a regular basis. Other sports do not really have to monitor the spread of skin diseases.

soap before each meet, and workout gear and equipment is berg realizes how necessary these procedures are.

“[They are] pretty basic precautions, but they just be-

One of the most common infections that occurs is Tinea

come more critical in a sport like wrestling that requires a

in a ring formation with a clear center. Ringworm is highly

In wrestling, and really any sport, it is possible to con-

Corporis (ringworm). The infection appears red and scaly

lot of contact,” Techlenberg said.

contagious and can develop in many different areas of the

tract skin diseases but according to Techlenberg, wrestling

fections.

about it in sports like football, for example, where the skin

body. Fortunately there is treatment for these types of in-

gets a bad reputation for it. “Typically, people don’t worry

Shaffer caught it early so he was able to get back to

condition may be covered by a uniform or equipment,”

IHSAA guidelines for cleanliness Wrestlers should keep their fingernails trimmed short. Open the doors to the wrestling room each night and use fan to lower heat and humidity. Coaches and wrestlers should do frequent skin checks. Techlenberg said. “Although it’s just as contagious covered or not.”

It is the work that the janitors, coaches, and wrestlers do

to keep things sanitary that helps to keep the transmission

of skin diseases to a minimum so that the wrestlers can do what they do best without having to worry.

Two-point stance to two-topping pizza words & layout Andy Halterman The Super Bowl draws millions of view-

ers each winter. A little known fact, however, is that someone who played in the 1995 Super Bowl works less than a mile from the high school.

Dennis Gibson, owner of Encore Pizza

on Merle Hay Rd, played middle linebacker

for eight years in the NFL. Gibson grew up

in Ankeny and played at Iowa State. “I really wanted to play Division I football, and

Iowa State was the only Division I team that offered me a scholarship,” Gibson said. “So it just made sense.”

After his college career he was drafted

Provided/Dennis Gibson

A Dennis Gibson football card when he played for the Lions.

by the Detroit Lions. However, he did not

decide until his senior year that he wanted

to play professionally. “I really had no inter-

est in it, but after playing in a Senior Bowl

some scouts approached me and said that

Francisco 49ers, 49-26. “I don’t feel bad

interested in signing me as a free agent,”

year,” Gibson said. “You should only feel

if I didn’t enter the draft that they would be Gibson said.

He played with the Lions for six years,

from 1987-1993. In 1994, he signed with the San Diego Chargers, where he played

about it, the 49ers were a great team that bad after a loss if you know you could’ve

done something better that would have let you win. They were just the better team.”

Gibson acknowledges that he may not

for two years.

have been the most dominant player on the

made the game winning play in the AFC

lete in the world to go pro, you just have to

In his first year with the Chargers, he

Championship game against the Steelers, by knocking down a pass in the end zone. This gave this a Super Bowl berth. “The

main reason people know of me is because

of that play,” Gibson said. “The next week

field. “You don’t have to be the greatest athlove the game.”

After one more year playing profession-

ally, he felt his body giving up on him, so he retired from the NFL.

Gibson returned to Iowa to find work.

when we were at practice everyone on my

That led him to starting Encore Pizza. “My

in honor of my play.”

ing some construction,” Gibson said. “I had

team taped 57 (my number) over their own The team was unable to continue its’

success and were defeated by the San

uncle owns the building and I was into do-

also worked at my family’s restaurant as a kid, so I already knew the basics.”

backpage

Feb 10

p24

JHS

BURIED LIFE

words Chris Caracci and Ethan Meng layout Julia Manning

what do you want to do before you die Many of us, although just teenagers, are coasting through life without direction. On the new television show “The Buried Life,” four friends travel across America fulfilling all of the things they want to do before they die. This inspired us to ask you the same question. What do you want to do before you die? “The Buried Life” began when four friends decided that something was missing from their lives. Their goal is to cross off 100 items from “the list,” which is a type of bucket list, and help as many people as they can along the way.

In March 2006 the cast of “The Buried Life” had its first discussion about creating a list of what they want to do with their lives. They came up with a list of 50 things and had a goal of helping 50 people, but as they completed half of this list in just two weeks, they added to it. Their name is derived from a poem of the same name written by Mathew Arnold in 1852. One of the cast members read the poem for an English class and thought that it fit what he and the rest of the cast were feeling about their lives. The show airs Monday nights at 9 p.m. on MTV.

“Learn to write decently with my left hand because It would be cool to write with two hands at the same time and it’s a challenge for me to overcome.”

“Start either a humanitarian or refugee program because I want to be able to say that I have made a difference in somebody’s life.”

“Own a ‘69 Camaro SS because I like that model and because my mom’s uncle owned a ‘72 Camaro.”

Lucas Wittman‘12

Monika Sehic ‘11

Brett McGinnis ‘12

“Own a gluten free bakery because I love wedding cakes and I have celiac disease.” (allergic to gluten)

Carly O’Keefe ‘10

“Build a giant tower out of Legos. I want to do this because no one else has a big giant lego tower, and it would be super cool.”

Sam Sparland ‘12