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HI.LIFE NOV 2010 : ISSUE 3 : JLABMAG.COM : $1.00
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Gotta Get Some.
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STUDIO ART THEATRE
PHILOSOPHY
ELECTRICAL COMPUTING ENGINEERING
MUSIC COMPOSITION
COMPUTER SCIENCE GEOLOGY
MUSIC PERFORMANCE
A UNIVERSE OF KNOWLEDGE IN A CITY OF OPPORTUNITY.
DECIDING
HISTORY
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
SOCIOLOGY
MUSIC EDUCATION
UMKC has hundreds of ways to get a life. Find yours at
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umkc.edu/getalife
GET A LI FE
S:5.25”
MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS
CONTENTS:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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HI.LIFE : THE STUDENT MAGAZINE OF LEE’S SUMMIT HIGH SCHOOL NOVEMBER : VOL. 92 : NO. 3 : JLABMAG.COM
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ON THE WEB
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Jlabmag.com got a facelift. The new website design will be up and running later this month, as well as all new stories, photos and media.
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Page 6 | Voting Effects The 2010 elections that took place on Nov. 2 have more behind them than the average election. Find out why the results turned out the way they did and what factors could affect our government leaders. Page 17 | Harry Potter The first part of the final installment in the Harry Potter series leaves Potterheads wanting more. From hallows to horcruxes, there’s never a dull moment. This film is undeniably a magical experience.
Page 11 | By the #s Waking up the day after Thanksgiving, the average shopper finds that crowds have already swarmed the stores. This is Black Friday. Mobs rush to the shopping centers hours before they open, prepared to do what they need for the best deals. Page 25| Yoga Yoga is a smart alternative to aerobic workouts and traditional weight lifting. Unlike other exercises, yoga is a whole body approach. Newbies do not struggle and the oldies never get bored or out of shape.
Page 13 | Animal Control
13 V-necks and sperrys have claimed LSHS. Hilifethreads.tumblr.com hosts students who have mastered these styles.
Since the beginning, man has taken it upon himself to control and tweak his own environment. This is fueled by desire--desire for land, companionship, and possessions. Man’s selfish quest comes at a high cost, however, a cost that involves extermination and unnatural reproduction. But it’s all worth it in the end, right?
Have any questions, concerns, or criticisms? Drop them off at the Jlab (room A227) or give them to any staff member. JLABMAG.COM
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LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
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Giving Thanks
hat a surprise, right? The letter from the editors, a written piece intended to address the student body about morals and such, is about being thankful. In the November issue. We’re sure you will find this incredibly insightful and will put this publication down with a smile on your face and say to yourself ‘Yes. I should totally be thankful about everything I have in my life. I will now go give all my belongings to a homeless family.’ Well, that’s not exactly what we were going for. We do hope you get something out of what we have to say every issue, and helping the homeless is always really cool, but we want to go more in the angle of maturity. Ask any high school student what they are thankful for, and you’ll understand what we’re talking about. Actually put this down right now and ask your neighbor. Did they answer with any of the following: Family, friends, dog, bros, car, or food? Yes? Really? Shocking. Those are all really nice things to be thankful for, and without them most of us wouldn’t be the people we are today, but how about being thankful for an opportunity, for an education, for a future? Most of the time, a teenager will not give that response. This certainly doesn’t make all teenagers immature, but it’s the truth. A lot of us are always stuck in the present, when we should be peeking into the future at times. We’re not necessarily recommending hiring Sybill Trelawney as a personal psychic, but we are recommending being thankful for what you have that will get you where you want to be. Like our school, for example. We have awesome opportunities here to prepare us for any pathway in life. Maybe it’s just that we’re seniors and we want to give some words of wisdom, but we want to encourage everyone to fully utilize those resources. Don’t be too preoccupied with the future, though. Have fun and be thankful for all of those things listed above, but keep in mind those usually forgotten things when you stuff your faces with turkey.
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ABIGAIL MAX JULIA
PEOPLE who make it happen
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF : Abigail Jones, Julia Duckworth & Max Belanger PHOTO EDITORS : Bradley Roberts, Laina Gunsallus & Brittany Webster NEWS EDITORS : Luke Jarnevic, Nick Cappo & Nathan Baker FEATURES EDITOR : Mikayla Frommer ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS: Lindsay Nelson FASHION EDITOR : Jordan Shawhan OPINION EDITOR : Kevin Adams SPORTS EDITORS : Nate Day, Nathan Williams, & Erin Rottinghaus ONLINE EDITOR : Patricia Sjuts ADVERTISING MANAGERS : Summer Richards & Sierra Lewis PAGE DESIGNER : Rebecca Wadle COPY EDITOR : Sia Nero ADVISOR : Marc Russell
WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jacob DePeralta, Eric Fabi, Jordan Julian, Nick Rellihan, Mary Roccaro, Najee Sears, Haley Gillilan, Kim Tabe, Jacob Valentine, Tyler Wilmore, Aaron Wood, Derek Brooks, Ashley Burrison, MaRyah Cooper, Victoria Fangrow, Ashley Hagan, Michelle Hurley, Shelby McNealy, Hayley Mershon, Jennifer Rhoades, Stephanie Rowden, Laura Schierhoff, Paige Seymour, Audrey Stetzler, Miranda Vaughn, Jesse Butler, Zac Harris, Tori Carlile, Elaine Fouchia, Jonah Graves, Tre Harvey, Wendy Hayworth, Benjamin Nazworthy, Morgan Pena, Marissa Raukar, Tyler Robertson, Timmy Snook, Ronnie Thomas, Zac Harris & John Wood JLABMAG.COM
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NEWS
OBAMA METER
Barack Obama took office through a revolutionary election sporting the chant ‘Yes We Can’. Ever since Obama has been making strides towards living up to the massive expectation that he set for himself. The ObamaMeter below shows some of the main accomplishments the president has done, as well as some promises waiting to come to fruition.
WHAT HE’S YET TO DO:
-Double the size of the Peace Corps
-End income tax for senior citizens earning less than $50,000 a year
-New Immigration Bill
-Removing Troops From Afghanistan
WHAT HE’S DONE:
-Repealing ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ (Policy keeping homosexuals from serving openly in the armed forces.)
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-Health Care Reform (Required everyone to purchase health care, and keeps companies from denying coverage to anybody.) -Cash 4 Clunkers (Sparked the car industry by providing motivation for people to trade in their old cars.) -Financial Reform Bill (Regulates wall street’s excesses and provides protection for everyone invested in them.)
Voicing Opinion’s. People vote to express the change they want in the government. Sometimes the change is not always what everyone wants. This year the presidential party was the one who did not want the change, but got it anyways.
Elections 2010
MORE THAN THE AVERAGE ELECTION
There is a general trend that is seen during the mid-term elections; the presidential party suffers. Nov 2 was no different. This year, however, the presidential party suffered much more than usual. The Democratic party lost 60 seats in the House of Representatives and 25 percent of the total seats up for election could have gone either way, unlike the 2008 elections where 13 percent were up for grabs. This gave the Republicans an even bigger chance at taking a chunk out of the Democratic party. Another oddity is that the House of Representatives switched houses, making the Republicans the majority leader, while the Democrats were able to hold on as the majority party in the Senate. The biggest reasons for these changes was the African American voter turn-out and the Tea Party. Advertising has some effect as it always does but these two subjects are things that have had an even bigger effect these past couple of years than they normally have. The number of African American voters is a factor that would not normally have such a large effect except for in the 2008 elections an African American was running for president for the first time. This caused a much larger turn out of black
voters at the ballot boxes. In the 2010 elections, however, the turn out of black voters decreased noticeably and the presidential party suffered a little. It is a little known fact that the economy is not as it was in past years and the finger gets pointed every which way. This example just shows one way people are angry at the government or specific people for that matter. Another major issue is the recently passed Health Care Bill. People are more angry now than they have been in a long time and the Tea Party is there to point it out to the public. The Tea Party brought recognition and spread their own party’s ideas mostly in the last couple of years. When the elections came around, local groups voted for a more conservative government. The downfall is that it also gave a bad name to part of the Republican party and in a larger scale, like the Senate, the Republican effect lessened and the Democrats were able to hold on as majority leader. Other than the regular advertisement that invades the television, other facts took place in the elections this year. These elections were a bit more interesting than the average mid-term elections. Only time will tell the true outcomes of this election.  by Nick Cappo photo by Laina Gunsallus
NEWS
Tardy Fear
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by News Editor Luke Jarnevic
Candle Lighting. Candle Lighting is an annual non-denominational educational program the day before winter break. “Religion has been taken out of schools, it can cause some sorts of tension among students,” Simpson said. Candle Lighting has been an important tradition in LSHS for many years, and it has more years to come.
Candle Lighting
THE POWER OF CANDLE LIGHTING AND WHAT IT MEANS TO STUDENTS. Dressed in their best clothing, students wait for their class to be dismissed for the ceremony. The only thing heard is the tapping of the heels coming down the hallway. Silence is the key to enter candle lighting, showing respect to all religions. “Most schools don’t have the opportunity to go through with candle lighting ceremonies,” Senior Christian Simpson said. “Religion has been taken out of schools, it can cause some sorts of tension among students,” Simpson said. “Students at Lee’s Summit High School take for granted the little things, such as a simple Candle lighting ceremony,” Simpson said. Lee’s Summit High School is one of the few schools that does this ceremony. Every year, ultimate respect for different religions is shown at candle lighting ceremonies. From the time students are released from class to the end of the school day, students remain silent. It is just one of the many ways that participants go about being respectful of other people’s beliefs. “It’s one of the few times where the majority of the student population does
something in unison,” Senior Seth Brennan said. “Candle lighting means more than just lighting candles. It shows that our school does care about its students and their beliefs,” Brennan said. Even though some students choose not to participate in the ceremony, they still respect the fact that they’re supposed to remain quiet,” Seth Brennan said. Candle lighting is taken very seriously, students that do not cooperate or those students that choose to talk can get themselves into trouble. Students that do not want to join the majority, have the option of going to another room and remaining silent until the ceremony is complete. “The only time I have ever seen students come together so well is at sporting events,” Senior Emily Gorman said. “Everybody cooperates and stays quiet the entire time,” Gorman said. Everyone shows respect for religions by being silent during candle lighting. Most students are dressed up and look very nice for this special occasion. by Ronnie Thomas photo by Timmy Snook
In LSHS it is assumed that a student should always have their planbook with them, or risk having a detention. If a student forgets or misplaces their planbook for only one day, and they happens to get a tardy, that student risks having to have a two hour detention. This expectation is unreasonable for many reasons. A student will at some point forget or lose their planbook and possibly on the same day receives a tardy. These events will in turn lead to the student getting a two hour detention. This is unfair for a student who loses their planbook and gets the first tardy of the year on the same day, there should be a warning for not having the planbook or a system that does not lead to a two hour detention on their first offense. Also keeping the tardy records
online would eliminate the student from having a tardy page in their planbook. This is a redundant process, having to keep the tardy record on two separate systems does not make sense. The school could increase the online system, when a teacher counts a student tardy online, the system should pop up with the students past tardies or alerts showing the student has went past the allowed tardy limit. This would allow both the student not to worry about a missing plan book and would save the teacher the time to record the tardy in two different systems. Our school needs to rethink the planbook policy or make some changes that allows the student a little less worry when they lose or forget their planbook for the day.
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FEATURES
BRIANNA KORYCKI: THE INTERVIEW
by Marissa Raukar pphotos by Morgan Pena
Brianna Korycki is a senior that has plans set in stone for after high school. Korycki plans to join the Air Force but her reasons for joining may come as a shock. For many seniors in high school, it can be surprising to find out how much college or vo-tech school can be, but Korycki had already decided what she wanted to do and nothing would stop her. sI was talking to my step dad about college and what I wanted to do after high school, and we decided that it would be a better choice money wise and experience wise to join the Air Force. So, after high school I am going into the Air Force for four to six years if I want. The reason I decided on the Air Force is because I would have no student loans and I could even go to college while in the Air Force. I found another way to do what I want to do, I just didn’t want to pay off an $80,000 education loan. I can also go to school for a while and get my Bachelors. sI go to the recruiter’s office in Blue Springs to train for basic; if you can’t handle the training before it would be really hard to survive basic. I go once a month and we do fitness games and we weigh in. We have to keep a certain weight. In basic, women have to do 2 miles in 15 minutes, 27 push ups and 46 sit ups in one minute intervals. sIn the Air Force DEP, or Delayed Entry Program, a recruiter sends you to the MEP station to take the A.S.V.A.B. test and that basically tells you if your qualified. After the test, you will have a full physical. I talked to the Air Force liaison about six jobs that I was interested in and qualified for. I picked physical therapy, which
I am wanting to get, Image Diagnostics, Public Affairs because I’m in year book so that’s an easy thing for me, and Recognizant Imaging. sI will be leaving for basic training, which is eight weeks long, in San Antonio, Texas on Aug. 11, 2011. We will cover combat and medical among other things. I can’t have any tattoos and I can’t drink or have gauges. Right after basic, I will either take a few months break or go straight to tech school for the job I’m assigned to. sAfter the the eight weeks of basic, it is ended with the key ceremony which our families get to come down to Texas for and go on the Riverwalk. During the key ceremony, we have to stand at attention and we can not move until someone in our family touches us. The thing that I’m not looking forward to is acutely having to do what I’m told. But I’m excited to do my jobs because I picked really good ones. Korycki had plans for after high school to be a physical therapist until she discovered how much college was going to be. She then decided to take another approach to achieve what she wanted to do.
Air Force. While most students are preparing to go to college, Brianna Korycki is preparing to go to basic training for the Air Force. “I go to Blue Springs to get ready for basic, if you can’t handle the training before it would be really hard to survive basic,” senior Brianna Korycki said.
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FEATURES
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DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING IS ALWAYS BY THE NUMBERS: THE CHAOTIC. HERE IS THE NUMBER CRUNCH FOR Black Friday BLACK FRIDAY
578
The number of shoppers at the Summit Woods shopping center
400
The number of early bird specials at Kohl’s
$15
The price for a pair of jeans at Old Navy
5 hours before Best Buy opens their doors
24
19 The number of isles in Petco
The number of checkout lanes in Target
$41.2 million
spent last year on Black Friday story and photos by Zac Harris
A Different Kind Of Sisterhood LIVING WITH A SPECIAL NEEDS SIBLING CAN BRING MANY ADVANTAGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Living with a sibling with special needs brings many opportunities and rewards. “If I could describe my sister in one word, it would be ‘funny.’ She always makes me laugh,” Junior Anastasia Wohletz said. Wohletz’s sister, freshmen Cecilia Wohletz has a mental disability. Living with a sibling with special needs can be a challenge for some, and a privilege for others. “The benefit of growing up with a sibling with special needs is that they do not judge you. You can tell them anything and they will listen,” Anastasia said. While there are some benefits, there are also some disadvantages. Wohletz’s biggest fear is worrying about what her sister is doing that may cause her to have a seizure. At times, sisters and brothers have their disagreements and their arguments; some more than others. Anastasia explained that she and her sister have ever had any fallouts and arguments. “No, we do not have disagreements, and I cannot think of a time that we have had an argument,” Wohletz said. It can be very difficult being the sibling of a child with special needs. There can be conflicting feelings that troubles one’s thoughts.
Sisterly Love. Anastasia and Cecilia Wohletz pose together, demonstrating their sisterly bond. “No, we do not have disagreements, and I cannot think of a time that we have had an argument,” junior Anastasia Wohletz said.
Examples of these feelings are: jealousy because their brother and/ or sister receives more attention from their parents, and resentment because they feel that no one is concerned about their problems and thoughts. Gladly, Anastasia is not one of those siblings: “I have never felt any kind of jealousy or resentment when my parents tend to my siblings’ special needs. The reason is because I know that they need the attention, so it doesn’t bother me,” Wohletz said. Anastasia and her sister have a very close relationship. Wohletz has two other siblings who have special needs as well, so when she found out that Cecilia was going to be another sibling diagnosed with a mental disorder, Wohletz’s told Hi-Life she was ‘use to it’. Although it can be very difficult living with a sibling who society labels as ‘different,’ there can also be some great advantages and rewards. But whether one’s sibling has special needs or not, it is quintessential to have a tight bond with one’s sister and/or brother. Love is the key to every great relationship, and it is obvious that by Kim Tabe photos by Jake DeParalta Wohletz loves her siblings. JLABMAG.COM 9
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FEATURES
No Shave November TAKING A LOOK AT NO SHAVE NOVEMBER
Oh, November. The time of year when the temperature starts to fall, leaves start to drop, and a forest of hair is growing everywhere. No Shave November is as simple as it sounds. It encourages boys to look past the razor and embrace their natural five-o-clock shadow. Some participate for charities, others for bets, and some simply do it so they do not have to take on the extra burden of shaving. “I want to be a bum, it’s my senior year,” senior Miguel Morales said. Participants of No Shave November are sure to prepare themselves for some booming opinions. They might get stares, glares and gawks from many on-lookers. They do not only get the criticism in public, but they can get it at home, too. “My mom doesn’t like it, but my dad is hairy too,” freshman Joey Pagnotta said. Some parents are dismayed while others encourage it, but most participants claim that some of their family members are also shaggy, and while families are not the only ones with the opinions, girlfriends hand out a fair share too. “My girlfriend hates it, not that I care,” Pagnotta said. No Shave November seems like it is all fun and games, but it can have its drawbacks. Not only is it itchy, but the boys can get self conscious. Walking around with full grown beard can definitely attracts some eyes, and not in a good way. “It itches sometimes when you don’t condition it,” junior Jordan
The beareded Mewmaw. Junior Jordan Mewmaw is sproutin some facial hair in support of no shave november
Hairy by choice. Junior Jake Gatilin plans to continue the beard growth. “ I’ll probably keep it, just to see how long it can get,” Gatlin said.
Mewmaw said. After a drawn-out month full of itching and scratching, most would want to shave their whiskers off the moment Dec. 1 came around; but not junior Jake Gatlin. “I’ll probably keep it, just to see how long it can get,” Gatlin said. Gatlin is not the only one who would like to keep their beard. Mewmaw actually prefers the scruff. “Hairy, I like the natural look,” Mewmaw said. No Shave November has been around for many years, and has been a growing trend ever since the beginning. At the end of November when all the leaves are gone and snow starts to fall, the whisker will fall with the flurries. by Shelby McNealy photos by Michelle Hurley
Brittany Lietz didn’t think that indoor tanning could hurt her. She didn’t know UV light from indoor tanning can actually increase your risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Brittany, a frequent indoor tanner since she was 17, was diagnosed with melanoma when she was 20. She is a melanoma survivor, but current estimates show that one person dies from melanoma about every hour. Don’t be one of them. Indoor tanning is out. To read Brittany’s skin cancer story or to learn more about protecting your skin go to www.aad.org/media/psa
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FEATURES
BEHIND THE SCENES: TIGER BRODCAST
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WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT THE BROADCAST TOGETHER & WHAT THE PUBLIC DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT ITS CREATION
Students might think that putting together Tiger Broadcast is easy, but they have not gone behind the scenes in the broadcast lab. Tiger Broadcast can teach anyone how to broadcast through their past examples, great practicing, and tireless brainstorming. Students would think that it would not require that much effort. They are dead wrong. There are a little more than 10 things that the reporters in Tiger Broadcast need to know, or jobs that they need to do. “There are lots of jobs for the kids to do. In advanced journalism, they do many number of things, but all of the kids have to know how to run a camera, edit, handle an interview, handle equipment, and basically the whole all-around package in that sense,” broadcast teacher Elaine McDonald said. Before the student broadcasters can even start recording, they have to fill out something called a ‘Pitch Sheet’ which is a sheet of paper that the students have to write down some of their ideas for the broadcast for the rest of that day. The next day, they would speak with each other in class and try to solidify their ideas so they can be used in the broadcast. Finally, the broadcasters can start recording, go interview people from other classes, log on to the computers to edit what they recorded, and put it all together with the rest of the class’s recordings. The Tiger Broadcast crew has to follow a deadline if they want to get their work broadcasted. The broadcasters have to record and edit their stories before each of their deadlines. The students that have written for newspapers or magazines before have a slight advantage over everyone else that has little experience. A similarity between newspaper journalism and broadcast
The Cappies THE ‘CRICTIC AND AWARDS PROGRAM”. BEING A CAPPIE
Every year there is a group of high school theater and journalism kids who join a program called The Cappies, an up and coming group of critics the journalism world is looking at. The students will gather for a school theater’s production and review it. They then create a review 300 to 400 words long which is then published in a local paper. So its not something that is just for fun. Joining this group enables each member to gain experience in the journalism field.
Pre-Production. Sarah Mahoney films for Tiger Broadcast. She completes interviews and helps put the show together.
journalism that happens outside of the paper and the broadcasts is the way that the writers and broadcasters interview. In short, Hi-Life newsmagazine and Tiger Broadcast interviews people in the same manner as one another, other than the fact that Hi-Life writes what was asked, answered, and said at the interview, while Tiger Broadcast records the interview right on the spot. “Well, they do similar to what Hi-Life does. They knock on the door, they ask the teacher, ‘May I have this student?’ and they have some questions that they ask them,” McDonald said. Anyone working behind the scenes of any broadcast would try to learn how to broadcast by watching what the professionals do behind the scenes, going to great classes on which they are taught to view this modern day of age’s broadcasts in a different way, and hours of work that can consist of gathering information to editing broadcasts. People that think that something like broadcasting would be so simple and easy that they could just rush at it without any preparations whatsoever, would still be wrong with their assumptions. by Jesse Butler photos by Elaine Fouchia
The local papers that publish the aspiring critics’ works also help to train the dozens of people in the group. Not only do they write reviews shows, but they have critic discussions. The critic discussions are held before the show, during intermission, and after the show. The discussions are open, but guided by an adult. After the show has ended and their conversations are done, each member goes home and writes their personal review. They are supposed to include their own opinions and criticize, but they are not to put the blame on any specific person. Even though all of the Cappie critics write a review, only five or six are chosen to be published for each show. Once the reviews have been selected, the show host gets a copy of it.Towards the end of the year, the young critics will pick up to five shows to be nominated for each of the 35 categories. Over all one can gain many relationships, tips, pointers, and a lot of experience from joining the Cappies. This program is without a doubt rewarding. by Mikayla Frommer photo by Brittany Webster JLABMAG.COM
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NIMAL CONTROL
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SINCE THE BEGINNING, MAN HAS TAKEN IT UPON HIMSELF TO CONTROL AND TWEAK HIS OWN ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS FUELED BY DESIRE-- DESIRE FOR LAND, COMPANIONSHIP AND POSSESSIONS. MAN’S SELFISH QUEST COMES AT A HIGH COST, HOWEVER, A COST THAT INVOLVES EXTERMINATION AND UNNATURAL REPRODUCTION. BUT IT’S ALL WORTH IT IN THE END, RIGHT?
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photo by Abigail Jones
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Devastating Conditions. Volunteers work to save the lives of a litter of boxer puppies rescued from a puppy mill. Without their devotion, these puppies would have no chance of survival.
PUPPY MILLS & KILL SHELTERS
DOGS ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY. FEW PEOPLE COULD TREAT THEIR PETS AS DISPOSABLE MERCHANDISE. SOME PEOPLE, HOWEVER, MAKE A LIVING OFF OF IT.
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nameless female puppy is born along with her brothers. She lives in a wire crate with a few other dogs. Her crate is stacked on top of another, while a third crate is stacked above her still. These crates line the walls of the flimsy, dark shack in which she lives. Her only interaction with a human being comes when she is given a minimal amount of food and water, only what is needed to stay alive. Through the blistering summer days and freezing winter nights she will struggle to survive. This is the poor creature’s life in a puppy mill. “When these animals are rescued, their environment is beyond imagination,” Heart of America Humane Society volunteer Beth Harris said. Dogs born and raised in puppy mills suffer from many medical and social problems. “They have never been socialized and do not trust humans, thus resulting in fear aggression. Early socialization is very important in the development of an animal. If socialization does not happen, then the dogs can develop undesirable behavior traits. Puppies raised in hyper close environments 14
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are much more likely to have early health problems, including respiratory infections, distemper, worm infestations and parvo, which is deadly,” Harris said. The females are kept and bred. A female will spend her entire life in a cage. Once she goes into heat, she is bred, and the puppies are born. This continues until she can no longer produce a litter of puppies. When this happens, she is killed. “They breed the dogs, get the pups, and sell them. It’s a vicious cycle,” breeder and animal activist Tom McMillian said. Most puppies are sold to pet stores who often have no idea of the conditions they are receiving these puppies from. Some dogs are kept to continue the cycle of breeding. Occasionally a puppy will be born with a disability or an undesirable physical trait. These puppies are born with absolutely no chance. They too will be killed. “They don’t get to be dogs. They don’t get to run and play,” McMillian said. McMillian told of his own experience opposing these great injustices. “It was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. It was a hot day in July and I went
out to look at some pups. A guy takes me around to the back of the house and there was a concrete slab. They had about 10-12 dogs just crammed onto this thing. A black cloud of flies rose up as I approached. One of the puppies had her head lying on the door of the dog house. She was gasping for air. I turned and asked the guy what he was doing. ‘You can’t tell me what to do on my property. Either she’ll make it or she won’t.’” McMillian returned home and immediately went to the authorities. Two weeks later the guy was in hand cuffs on the evening news. Missouri is known as the puppy mill capitol of the United States. More than 40% of dogs sold in pet stores nationwide come from Missouri commercial breeders, and almost 98% of dogs in pet stores come from puppy mills. With this being said, all hope is not lost. With the recent passing of Proposition B, large-scale breeding facilities must meet certain requirements such as adequate resting time between breeding cycles, veterinary care, exercise, and ample food, water, and living space. “Everybody needs to stand up and stop this. Don’t ignore it, don’t walk away from it. The law is there, let’s make this work,” McMillian said. Puppy mills aren’t the only thing dogs have to worry about. Many people don’t realize how much time and work goes into raising and caring for an animal. Sadly, this means that many people turn their beloved pets over to shelters. “We as a society must take full responsibility for the existence of shelters,” Harris said. Both no-kill and kill shelters face the same problem. There simply isn’t enough room or resources to house and care for all the animals that need it. An estimated two million animals are abandoned yearly. “I think it’s important to realize that all shelters operate on very minimal budgets and space limitations. They are also faced with serious decisions on who they can care for and re-home, and they have to evaluate each animal’s situation to make this determination,” Harris said. To abandon a member of the family is unthinkable. While most shelters do their best to care for the animals that come through their doors, not all of them do so. “These shelters have no funds to purchase even the basics of animal care, much less euthanasia products. Many of these areas practice in mass gassing and worse. I once followed a story of a shelter, if that’s what you can call it, located in a rural area in the South. It literally was just a large, outdoor kennel that was crammed with dogs. It
didn’t have any staff other than a few volunteers who came by daily to feed and water them, and then hose them down. If the kennel was too full, the volunteers would have to shoot some. That was their euthanasia practice,” Harris said. Oftentimes, shelters have no choice. They have to put an animal down. Whether it’s lack of space or lack of funds, they simply cannot take care of the animal. “They have to euthanize to make room for the animals who enter the shelter daily. Even no-kill, private shelters face this same problem. If an animal is turned away
because there is no room, it will eventually be taken to a municipal shelter, and the cycle continues,” Harris said. That doesn’t mean that nothing can be done. There is hope for the millions of homeless animals out there. “Many of us believe our society must collectively change how we view our animals to control the overpopulation problem and develop a value system in which animals are not considered a disposable commodity. Low cost spay and neuter programs are making some headway, but until people stop viewing their dog or cat as a disposable commodity,
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the problem will continue,” Harris said. A ray of hope shines down upon on the nameless female puppy. A neighbor has become suspicious of the questionable business running next door. The cops are called and a rescue team is sent out. Dozens of volunteers rush to the scene. They rush the dogs to the nearest veterinary clinic to be treated and inspected. The volunteers then work to find these dogs a loving home. These dogs have been given a second chance at life. story by Wendy Hayworth I photo provided by Beth Harris
POPULATION CONTROL
THE DEER POPULATION HAS RISEN TO A NEW HIGH CAUSING ACCIDENTS EVERYWHERE. DRIVERS SHOULD BE EXTRA CAREFUL WHEN DRIVING NEAR WOODLANDS.
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hether it be vibrant tree colors, cooler weather, or elaborate Halloween costumes there is no denying that they are all part of the autumn experience. But for hunters everywhere, this season means one thing and one thing only: deer season. The deer population in Missouri has significantly risen in the last few years. Along with the rising population, concerns are also becoming more frequent. Motorists everywhere should keep an extra careful eye out for these animals especially during the hunting season. “Missouri as a whole has been ranked in the top three states in which the deer vs. motorist accidents occur,” said State Farm insurance agent Jeff Schnell. “With the population growing, it really does not help. Most vehicle accidents involving deer happen in the last three months of the year due to the rut, or mating season, of the deer.” There are certain times in which the chance of coming into contact with the deer are greater. “Drivers should be most careful around dusk and dawn and try to avoid wooded creek areas when the deer are most active. During this time, the males are so concerned with finding a female to mate with that they are almost completely oblivious to their surroundings which can prove fatal for oncoming traffic,” Schnell said. There are numerous different ways to go about solving this problem and help keep Missouri’s drivers out of danger’s way. Swope Park recently had a tremendous impact on the issue by hosting their very first deer harvest for 35 lucky hunters. It is hoped to bring the population explosion down at least 60- 70 animals. “The deer population here is about three times what it should be for a healthy deer herd and a healthy ecosystem,” Forest Decker, superintendent of Kansas City Parks and Rec, said in a Fox 4 News interview. Now is the perfect time to conduct an organized hunt. “This time of year is actually the peak of the rut, so it’s the time of the year where they are moving around the most. Currently, there are about 80 deer per square mile. It should not be over 25, ideally. We only allow bow and arrow hunting here for those 35 hunters who were given permits,” Decker said. However, it is not taking place throughout the entire park.
“The deer hunting is only taking place in the more remote sections of Swope Park. Out of 1,800 acres, hunters only have access to about 750,” Decker said. “Swope Park also happens to have a protected natural area within it that is basically been completely eaten away and devastated by the over population of deer.” The hunters who have gained permission to hunt in Swope Park had to complete an education course to be eligible. They also were required to attend an orientation meeting. This headline-breaking hunt ends November 30 in hope that the numbers of deer will slightly fall. Other conservation centers are also doing their part in reducing the ever raging deer populations by hosting hunts. Great results are expected in the end. For many, hunting is viewed as a sport and a large 20- point buck is the true reward. But for others such as those involved in the Swope Park hunt, helping the deer population gain control is the reward. Although harvesting these magnificent creatures may seem brutal, it is what must be done to ensure the safety of Missouri’s citizens and the rest of the deer population at large.
Mischief Managed. This sign recently blocked the entrance to James A. Reed, informing visitors that a managed hunt was in progress. These hunts are established in order to lessen the deer population, the rise of which has caused many a car accident.
story by Tyler Robertson I photo by Abigail Jones
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.Call of Duty: Black Ops ENTERTAINMENT
Artillery strikes, bullets raining, clips reloading, and soldiers scrambling are just some of the endless descriptions about Call of Duty Black Ops. Call of Duty Black Ops is one of the most anticipated games of 2010. Gamers anxiously counted down the release date. Black Ops was released on Nov. 9, 2010 and sold over seven million copies worldwide in just one day. Multiplayer mode is the most popular mode on Call of Duty. new Black Ops multiplayer mode differs greatly from past COD games. The new currency point system allows gamers to purchase different guns, perks, attachments, camo, and gun customization. XP points are still acquired, but they only allow you to level up, not unlock these various items. Improvements on this year’s COD are the new kill streaks and customization features. Gamers can choose what their character wears,
what color their gun is, and even put their clan tag on a gun. Releasing those vicious dogs we all remember from World at War has also been revamped, so gamers can look forward to using them. Also newly added wager matches allow players to bet money for win or lose all situations, it’s fun to gamble earnings and destroy opponents. Even though all these new Multiplayer features make the game highly better, the multiplayer mode has a few down falls. The online lag continues to linger throughout different matches in the game. Also the respawning is terrible. One can literally kill someone and 5 seconds later that exact guy has respawned behind you gunning you down. It makes no sense to respawn the opposite team so close to fellow players. In Black Ops Co-op campaign mode doesn’t exist, which is a head scratcher considering it
has been in past COD games. Campaign mode, however finally pulled of the right balance of character development and the action-infused fast pacing of their previous titles. In different missions, gamers are allowed to use special weapons that cannot be unlocked in multiplayer, and use several vehicles. While this action packed campaign mode is full of fun it is way too short. A gamer can complete this mode in 1-2 days which just is not challenging enough. A big thing gamers are pleased with is the return of the greatly successful Nazi Zombies game mode. In this game mode, the soldier is now trapped in a huge abandoned mansion and has to locate the power switch in order to survive longer. The game mode is enjoyable, of course, but COD should have given gamers a little bit more help in finding where different items and switches are located.
People from all around need a hero. In this case there is potential for two. In the exciting
thriller “Unstoppable” there are many people trying to stop an unmanned and deranged train. The film follows Will, a fresh out of training railroad conductor (Chris Pine) and Frank a railroad industry pro, (Denzel Washington). On Will’s first day out on the job he is put to the test to see what his training has really taught him. Along with the help of Frank, these two men have to use a trial and error work method to stop the deadly, runaway train. If the train is not stopped it will run off a bridge, straight into a town and blow up. Struggle after struggle these men fight to stop
the locomotive. In the beginning Will and Frank are not the best of friends. As the train chase goes on these two build a strong bond, and find they will do anything to protect each other. There were many good parts of the film, the perfect match of these two actors, the train effects, and the dramatic race in time to see if the train will be stopped or not. All throughout the film the action just keeps coming. The lengths that the men go to, to stop the unstoppable, will infuse you with an adrenaline rush. The effects of explosions, and the roar of the train as it rushes through
Overall Call of Duty Black Ops is a fun, action packed, addicting game that I would recommend for any gamer that desires a satisfying war based game. With all the different flaws the game contains, the pros out weigh the cons. This game is worth every penny and really is a step up from last year’s Modern Warfare 2. This game deserves a 4.5 out of 5. by Najee Sears
Crazy Train “IN TRAINING YOU JUST GET AN ‘F’, OUT HERE YOU GET KILLED!” different towns is ear wrenching. There were, however, very some bad points. When a train is going over 60 miles per hour a person, most likely, would not be able to run across the top. Since it was Denzel Washington it makes total sense that the wind did not sweep him off his feet, but he was able to run across the top of the fearless train. The film was action packed, heartfelt, and wildly entertaining. Overall this movie was capturing and a very well made film.
by Tori Carlile photo by John Wood
5Books IN FIVE WORDS OR LESS picks of Michael Russell
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HI.LIFE 2010
Post-apocalyptic fight to the death.
Wounded soldier in Iraq.
Girl tries to escape polygamists.
Post-grad cross country bike ride.
Best. Book. Ever.
ENTERTAINMENT
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HARRY POTTER and the DEATHLY HALLOWS
PART ONE OF THE LAST INSTALLMENT OF A MAGICAL PHENOMENON IS UNVEILED The story of The Boy Who Lived is rapidly coming to a close. Part one of the final installment of Harry Potter started showing at midnight this past Friday, and fans were definitely not disappointed by what they witnessed. The movie opens with the Minister of Magic trying to reassure the wizarding world of their safety, striking a somber tone with the audience. The next few minutes are devoted to the trio preparing to leave each of their homes. It sets a touching and nostalgic view for everyone. There’s action right from the beginning, with a huge chase scene in the sky. Several characters meet shocking ends and the whole thing was put together really well. The movie quiets down a bit at a wedding in the Weasley family, then picks back up again. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are forced to go into hiding after Death Eaters come searching for them, and
they know they must continue their hunt for horcruxes in secret. For a while, the only actors the audience sees are Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint, who all did a fantastic job of bringing their characters back to life once again. Throughout the whole movie, they make sure the audience feels each emotion that they feel themselves. A disastrous trip to the Ministry of Magic sets all three of the protagonists on edge. They leave with a horcrux in hand, but the audience knows that not all is well. Sure enough, when Ron leaves, everyone in the theater feels Harry’s anger, Hermione’s desperation, and Ron’s frustration with the lack of progress. For a while, Radcliffe and Watson are left clueless and without hope, until they decide to venture to Harry’s place of birth in search of more
horcruxes. What takes place there shocks and amazes the entire theater. The special effects throughout the movie are phenomenal, and in almost every scene, there’s something to amaze the audience even further. After a while, Ron heroically returns to the group, saving Harry’s life and destroying a horcrux in the process. Visually, the destruction of the horcrux was very cool, but it was just an awkward moment in the movie. Grint did a nice job of portraying emotion, but overall, the scene could’ve done without a few things. Soon, Harry, Ron, and Hermione run into trouble. A group of Snatchers capture them and take them to Malfoy Manor, where the Death Eaters are convened. Bellatrix Lestrange, played by Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd), is exceptional in her part as a villain. She makes the
audience fear her as she tortures Hermione for information. After several minutes of this torture, Dobby the house elf comes to save them, and the group is able to escape before Voldemort returns. Since the movie is split into two parts, many people were wondering where exactly they were going to cut it off. All the spectating came to an end when the movie dramatically closed with Voldemort stealing the Elder Wand right out of Albus Dumbledore’s grave and shooting a burst of lightning into the air. For nearly ten years, the story of Harry Potter has kept the world captivated. Now, as the end nears, devoted fans rush into theaters everywhere to see where Harry and his friends will end up. The first part of the last movie won’t leave anyone disappointed. by Mary Jo Rocarro
used with expressed written permission from Warner Bros. Inc.
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FASHION
McKee Fashion
SPANISH TEACHER SUSAN MCKEE EXPLAINS HER UNIQUE FASHION CHOICES Fashion is something that varies from person to person; it can serve as a form of self expression. Spanish teacher Susan McKee’s fashion sets her apart from most. “I do wear brighter clothes than others do. I also wear clothes from other places like Africa, Spanish countries, and Medieval times,” McKee said. McKee thinks other cultures styles are more colorful, and more interesting. “You look at them, and they look cool, because clothes are boring today. They can also be used to teach about what people used to wear,” McKee said. McKee gets her clothes from a variety of places such as A Touch of Africa, different Spanish conventions,
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and Museum Replicas. “I have 70 sweaters, two closets of skirts, one closet of Medieval clothes, and one closet of vests,” McKee said. McKee’s favorite outfit is a Spanish ropa. It has a high collar, and has a hoop skirt that poofs out. The dress is blue and gold, and looks like Queen Elizabeth. “Style is personal; have fun with it,” McKee said. McKee gets some criticism about how she dresses, but does not let it get to her. “Life is short; laugh at yourself,” McKee said. Fashion is something that is unique for everyone. It can show your interests and personality. McKee uses fashion to express herself and has fun with it.
Life is short; laugh at yourself. -Susan McKee
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by Jennifer Rhoades photos by Stephanie Rowden
Air Jordan Kicks
Air Jordan is a popular shoe that nearly everyone loves. Michael Jordan always satisfies his customers by releasing hot new shoes, or re-releasing retro shoes. The shoes may be expensive, but there is a price to pay for the best product. Here are some anticipated shoe releases that customers are looking forward to purchasing. by Najee Sears
AJF 4 Premier- White/Varsity Red-Black.. release date: 12.27.10.. price: $150 18
HI.LIFE 2010
Air Jordan 7 Retro PremioWhite/Del Sol-Black-Challenge Red.. release date: 11.26.10.. price: $175
Air Jordan 11 Retro- Medium Grey/White-Cool Grey.. release date: 12.23.10 price:$175
Air Jordan 13 Retro- French Blue/University Blue-Flint Grey.. release date: 11.26.10 price: $160
FASHION
Love it or Leave it
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Students give insight on the trends they loved this year, and the trends they do not
} Leave it
{ Love it
There’s only one month left until everyone says good-bye to 2010. Some of the trends this year were great and will stick around for the new year. But some other trends will leave students wondering, “What were they thinking?”
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-Satchels“Satchels are a great trend because they are so much easier to manage. You don’t have to hold a big bag everywhere,” freshman Jourdyn McGrath said.
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-Vera Bradley Bags-
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“I like these bags because they are really cute and I love the paisley design. It’s original,” sophomore Darby Beatty said.
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-Miss Me Jeans“Miss Me Jeans are a great trend because no other jeans have jewels on the pocket. They’re one-of-a-kind,” junior Taylor Berg said.
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Jordan’s Column
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-Silly Bands“I don’t like silly bands because everyone overwears them and they just get really annoying after a while,” sophomore Abbey Brake said.
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-Plaid“I dislike plaid with a burning passion because everyone wore out plaid,” sophomore Nikki Perrilloux said.
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-Moccasins-
“I really don’t know why moccasins are popular. I think they are incredibly ugly and people wear them with ridiculously bright socks,” sophomore Bailey Smith said.
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by Jordan Julian
photos by Morgan Pena
It is that time of year to break out the coats and jackets, but first you should know about a new jacket trend for this season. Military jackets are sprouting up in stores everywhere. There are a few different types of military jackets: the long cargo version, the bulkier double button version, and the thinner fitted version. The latter type of jacket is a great way to add some style to any outfit. Whether wearing it with a skirt; tights;
and flats, or skinny jeans and boots a military jacket will make the outfit a little more current. Also the bulkier military jacket can be a replacement for your peacoat from a couple winters ago. Military jackets can be found in many different stores including: Macys, Target, Maurices, and Forever 21. So, when selecting a winter wardrobe or making a Christmas list do not forget to add a military jacket or two. JLABMAG.COM
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OPINIONS
Making Things Happen
by Opinions Editor Kevin Adams
Beginning with last year’s freshman class, the number of fights at Lee’s Summit High School appear to have dramatically increased. This has become a fairly large issue for the school compared to the years prior to 2009. This problem all boils down to students and to their decisions. This increase forces one of the many questions. What causes a fight? Well, there is not a definite answer to this particular question. Each fight is sparked by a different problem or situation that may be similar to another, but is ultimately unique. Some reasons are simple, such as the stealing of clothes. But this could be talked over as opposed to fighting. Other reasons may be more complex. Say, if a person just lost a loved one and somebody insults their memory. The times when the urge to lash out is so strong, it cannot remain contained any longer. Both are the moments when human nature is truly tested. On the other hand, it seems that no student ever attempts to stop the fighting. Each one that stands around the quarrel either eggs on the fighters or stand and watch in awe at the event. Like many Americans, LSHS students like to flirt with danger. It doesn’t matter if it’s lighting fireworks or standing in a lightning storm, people like to be near
the excitement, but the only way to keep students from standing by and watching would be to administer punishment. Maybe that could become a motivation to keep everyone moving along. If people would not stand around and give the attackers the attention that is desired, then there would be less of a reason to fight. If there is less of a reason to fight, then there would be fewer squabbles. If there was a deterrent, then that would make school a safer place to be. And if school is a safer place to be, then it is also a better place to be. If there were more prevention methods in place by teachers and administrators, then there would be fewer fights in the first place. The school is as much at fault as the fighters. One example of prevention has the instances in the previous year where there has been prior knowledge of the squabbles. When this does happen certain steps are taken to attempt to avoid what might be to come. Even if a fight can be avoided, it shouldn’t have to be because t the situation shouldn’t have occurred in the first place. he situation shouldn’t have occurred in the first place.
School should be a place where students are able to see their friends, eat some lunch in a cafeteria, and get a quality education. It definitely should not be a place where students should have to be worried about the possibilities of chaos and disorder in the hallways. If the administration could develop a system or network of cameras in every hallway, several fights could be prevented before they ever begin.
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HI.LIFE 2010
Letter to the Editor
OVER THE PAST YEAR THE NUMBER OF FIGHTS AT LSHS APPEAR TO HAVE BECOME EVEN MORE FREQUENT
Dear Editor, One thing that should be different about the school is the fact that the students and staff should be able to eat outside. They should be able to eat outside because we need our fresh air during the day, not just the three to four minutes during passing period. Also the students should be able to enjoy the weather. If the students and administrators think that the problem with having lunch outside is that there is not enough supervision, we should be trusted to not leave the school premises. Other schools trust their students to eat outside during lunch and if the administrators and teachers can trust us enough to walk outside then what is an extra ten minutes of eating outside. In the lunchroom it is crowded, dark, and people have to basically yell across the table because of how loud it is in there. If we are able to eat outside then we would have a chance to have a normal conversation.
Macey Johnson
Do you think that students should be able to use the B Courtyard? “I think students should be able to because it will help students get to class faster,” freshman Jaren Locke said. “Yes, I think it would be nice to get outside if you only have classes in B building, and it could save people from getting tardies,” sophomore Alexandra Burciaga said.
“Yeah I think so, it will be easier to get to classes. It will save people time and taries. Plus I would like some fresh air throughout my day,” junior Laith Al-Habashi said. “Yes, I think so because for one it could be faster to get to classes and second it would be cool to go outside and get some fresh air,” senior Ariel Foley said. by Timmy Snook
Staff Editorial
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STUDENTS WANT TO OBTAIN THE CHOICE TO MAKE USE OF THE COURTYARD IN BUILDING B. Sometimes a brisk walk through a beautiful courtyard is all that is needed to reduce stress and replace it with blissful relaxation. The courtyard in the B building could do just this for students and staff members alike. However, it is locked and off limits to the student body and is used as a place for the Special Education class to take care of. It has been locked for over ten years, and many students would like to see this changed. Thanks to our Special Education class, this gorgeous courtyard is extremely well kept. With blooming flowers in the spring and vibrant tree colors in the fall, it shows off Mother Nature’s true bounty in great detail. However, it remains off limits due to the fear that it may become corrupt by the inconsiderate. Students should be able to utilize this courtyard during passing periods at the least. As long as students simply pass through, no harm will be done to the courtyard. It is, after all, all too inviting and should be viewed as a privilege, not a right. To open the doors to this courtyard is to open a new and improved way to get to class. We have many other shortcuts to take in order to get to class on time, but none compare to this lush garden. Students and staff members alike would appreciate being able to cross through such a peaceful area. Just one walk through it could turn a miserable morning into a brighter outlook on the day to come. It also contains a few benches and tables which would create an ideal environment to study in for a small class or students that stay after school to complete work. All that would be needed at that point would be an installed clock to display the time and maybe a trashcan or two to prevent littering. The courtyard only connects one hallway of the B building to another but, students that have most classes in this building would receive the opportunity to wander outside if these doors were to become unlocked. No amount of money would be needed to help improve the school in this way. All that it would take would be to permanently unlock two doors. Simply allowing the student body to use this breathtaking courtyard during passing periods would significantly lighten the overall moods of the students.
ETCH-A-SKETCH
Man on the Street
OPINIONS
by Tyler Robertson illustration by Tish Sjuts
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.Editorials OPINIONS
Homeless Night
Media Malfunctions
WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVENT HOMELESS NIGHT g Aaron Wood “One Homeless Night” was a school event that took aim at giving students an opportunity to get a real-life experience of how homeless people would spend their nights when faced with the problem of having no place to go. But while the event’s intentions where sincere, the way it was executed may have given an impression that trivializes homelessness. On Friday, Nov. 12, Lee’s Summit High School had scheduled its One Homeless Night, looking to give students the opportunity to simulate the cold reality of what it is like to be left without a place to go home to. But it is questionable that they got the message that tried to push its way through the entertainment part of the event. The event was to originally take place on the grounds of Longview Community College. Those who showed up would sleep in cardboard boxes, eat with friends and then go inside for more activities. But the event never happened because it was canceled by rain. Homeless Night was rained out. When someone sees the posters around school: ‘Are you tough enough?’ ‘the Homeless Aren’t Only in Haiti’ et cetera, do they show up thinking of getting sent home because of something like rain? Those who were planning to come sleep outside in cardboard boxes instead filed inside of Longview under a roof: a luxury that the actual homeless cannot afford. They had a hobo fashion show, a cardboard condo contest and watched a movie: activities that could be interpreted as things that could make homelessness seem less severe than it really is. Of course, the original idea for Homeless Night was to give someone an idea of how bad poverty can really be. Sleeping outside in a box for the night was supposed to give mostly-middleclass kids a dose of harsh reality that reaches past their world of cell phones, iPods, cars and jobs into one of alleyways, hunger and violence. That message is understandable and is one that deserves more attention than it gets, which makes the idea commendable. In its defense, it was understood from the start that Homeless Night would not be able to give an accurate impression of true poverty. Also, homelessness is a hard (and probably an unsafe) thing to duplicate. An accurate replication of poverty would require staying in an unsafe place that would carry the risk of participants getting hurt or sick. Of course, this is not a reasonable option; but it shows how hard it would be to duplicate what is a very serious problem. Anyone can appreciate what Homeless Night’s goal was; but the way that it was decorated with friends, food, and fun waters down what could have been an insightful message.
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POL ICY
DISTINGUISHING FACT FROM FICTION g Jacob Valentine
Most of the time the color green means go such as on stoplights, but in this case the color green has sereral students saying no. The green light in the lunchroom has been one of the many changes to our school’s policies this school year. The green light, believe it or not, has been hanging on the cafeteria wall directly above the trashcans since before physical education Coach Don Graham attended Lee’s Summit High School as a student over 30 years ago. Back when Graham was a student they had to have their trays dumped, be sitting down, and have their belongings gathered and prepared to leave in order for the light to turn on and dismiss them. Among the numerous policy changes at school this year, such as dance policies and the extension of half days, the green light seems to be one that most students will agree to be useless. Rarely does anyone in the cafeteria wait for the green light to dismiss them. In fact, many other students are still unaware of its existence. Instead, almost everyday, students wait to get released by one of the lunch supervisors via the microphone. According to assistant principal Jamie Argotsinger, the student administration had a meeting with the lunch supervisors before the start of this school year. They had good intentions in looking for an easier way to dismiss students from the cafeteria this year. However, the green light has not caught the eye of students. It is not being used as intended and maybe its time to stop using the green light.
The Hi.Life is an open forum to provide up to date and pertinent information compiled by high trusted publication that raises the bar of high school journalism. The Hi.Life newsmagazine is a readers is to provide credible, reliable, and unbiased information to the student body. None of the of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District. We strive to create a professional newsmagazine that
HI.LIFE 2010
school journalists. We will be a bold and student led publication. Our obligation to opinions in our publication reflect the views provides accurate insights and entertainment.
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Expires Nov. 30, 2010 JLABMAG.COM
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.Kneaded Specialties HEALTH
LOCAL BAKERY OFFERS HEALTHIER OPTIONS
T
he case inside the door can be overwhelming, filled with stacks of cookies, freshly baked cakes, and different types of bread. Kneaded Specialties is a bakery that makes sweets and breads for people who have allergies or Celiac Disease. Located just north of downtown Lee’s Summit, Kneaded Specialties is a family-owned bakery that uses products without gluten, dairy, soy, and much more. Owner Sherry McGarrah opened the bakery about 15 months ago due to the encouragement of her family She has been cooking and baking for many years. “I have Celiac Disease and the food that has been offered was not very good, so I thought I could do better. Also, people in my family had been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and they encouraged me to open a bakery so that’s what I did,” McGarrah said. McGarrah herself is a victim of Celiac Disease. “I was very sick, and I had lost a lot of unexplained weight. He [the doctor] also figured with me having allergies that I should get tested I found out 5 1/2 years ago. You are born with Celiac Disease. Its 99.9 percent genetic. If someone has major surgery it makes the genes kick in,” McGarrah said. Celiac Disease is an inherited, autoimmune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged from eating gluten and other proteins
found in wheat, barley, rye, and occasionally oats. The bakery uses rice flour and sorghum instead of wheat flour. They use rice flour because wheat flour damages a person’s small intestines who is afflicted with Celiac Disease. These unique baked products can be found in several locations around Lee’s Summit. “We sell our products in our store and other stores like Hy-Vee, metro area Price Choppers, Hen Houses, and natural food stores. We also deliver to restaurants like B2 Burgers, Waldo’s Pizza, Minksy’s Pizza, Next Door Pizza, and a lot more,” McGarrah said. The prices range from $5.50 and up. People with Celiac Disease and Autism should not be eating gluten filled products. When they eat wheat it is like a poison to their bodies. Gluten free food is a healthier way of eating. Kneaded Specialties does not think their foods taste different from foods with gluten in them. Kneaded Specialities does not use gluten, soy, dairy/casein, or nut products. Due to this limitation of ingredients, the bakery has certain items they can not create. “We can’t make cheesecakes but we do make fruit pies, and pumpkin pies,” Kneaded Specialties worker Kath Wickman said. The bakery does many specials orders, such as wedding cakes, birthday cakes, and cakes for baby showers. They even catered to the CSA ( Celiac
Delightful Delicacies. “We can’t make cheesecakes, but we do make fruit pies, and pumpkin pies,” Kneaded Specialties worker Kath Wickman said. Even though they can’t eat all foods, gluten free bakeries help people with Celiac Disease be able to enjoy tasty dishes, without having to worry.
Sprue Association) Conference for people with Celiac Disease. “Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, many people order ahead of time. People have to call ahead of time if they want something made a special way.” Wickman said. Besides following her family’s suggestions to open a bakery, McGarrah had her own reasons as well. “Food is such an important part of life, and an autoimmune disease or food allergy shouldn’t take the joy of food from you,” McGarrah said. From cookies to cakes and breads to pies, Kneaded Specialities works to provide gluten free products in a gluten filled world. by Tyler Wilmore I photo by Victoria Fangrow
Lori McCoy
Hair Stylist and Nail Tech “We train harder–it’s a tradition” Specializing in Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, and Judo 825 NW Commerce Drive Lee’s Summit, MO 64086 24
HI.LIFE 2010
200 SE. 3rd Street 816-673-9120
Bending Backward
HEALTH
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YOGA HOLDS MENTAL AND PHYSICAL BENEFITS When the word yoga comes to mind, it is typically imagined that people must be as flexible as a gymnast. If someone is unable to do so, the words old, unfit, or tight come to mind. However, the truth is everyone has the ability to improve flexibility. Yoga can benefit a person in many ways. “You can benefit from yoga physically, mentally, psychologically, spiritually, and so forth. Yoga is an incredible form of exercise that can benefit you in literally anyway imaginable, where as many other types of exercise only benefit in a few,” yoga instructor Grace Duckworth said. Yoga is commonly known as an exercise that helps increase flexibility, but it also calms and relaxes the mind. However, if a person wants to fully benefit from yoga, the person needs to completely clear their mind. “You cannot benefit as purposefully with a clouded head. Clear everything out, any thought what so ever and literally put everything you have into connecting mind and body,” Duckworth said. One of the key benefits of yoga is not only concentrating on the connections between the mind and body, but also utilizing the actual poses. “Some of the more well known yoga poses are Downward Facing Dog, Crocodile pose, Dolphin pose, Mountain pose, Warrior Two, Head Stand, and many more,” Duckworth said. Yoga is not limited to one specific type; there are many types including Hatha, which is usually when poses are held longer and the breathing is slower, and there are various poses that help strength and flexibility. This type of yoga is good for people who are looking to focus. Another type of yoga is Vinyasa Flow. This type of yoga involves poses that go along with a specific breath, and usually is a quicker pace. This type of yoga is typically for people you have a hard time staying still. Another type of yoga is Hot Yoga/Bikram Yoga. This yoga is done in very warm or hot temperatures that are around 98-104 degrees, and usually takes around an hour in a half to two hours to complete. “All of these are excellent for strengthening, flexibility, balancing, etc. It is a great way to lead into meditation,” Duckworth said. Not only are there several types of yoga, but there are also several branches of yoga. These include Yama, Niyma, Asanas, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. Once a person has experienced yoga, they will not have to think old, unfit, or tight. Instead, the words young, fit, and flexible can come to mind.
Strike a Pose. There are many benifits to doing yoga. “You can benefit from yoga physically, mentally, psychologically, spiritually, and so forth,” yoga instructor Grace Duckworth said. Yoga helps to sooth and relax the body.
Benefits of yoga:
Yoga is extremely beneficial in the fact that it helps form the connection between the mind and body which aids in relaxing the body. Due to this, yoga has proven itself to be a unique form of exercise. However, many people would disagree and say yoga is more of a lifestyle.
Needed for yoga:
In order to perform these poses, a mat is usually preferred. However, some people prefer to use props, such as blocks or straps, towels are also necessary to help with slippery hands or sweat. All of the props are used to help increase the benefits of yoga.
Tree Pose. There are many different poses in yoga. “All of these (yoga poses) are excellent for strengthening, flexibility, balancing, etc. It is a great way to lead into meditation,” yoga instructor Grace Duckworth said. The Tree pose, specifically, helps to strengthen the thighs, calfs, ankles, and spine.
photos provided by Grace Duckworth story by Paige Seymour
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SPORTS
Turkey Day Football
A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING DAY FOOTBALL GAMES
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hanksgiving, a time for family, friends, and since 1934, a time for some NFL football. Yes, every Thanksgiving since 1934, the NFL has been serving up some classic football contests. Here is a look on how this Thanksgiving tradition got started. Once a high school and college football tradition, Thanksgiving football had generally disappeared throughout the nation. Except for the cities of Dallas and Detroit, where the two football franchises have been battling it out on the holiday for years. Dallas has played the game on Turkey Day every year since 1966 (with the exception of 1975 and 1977). However, the team that started it all was the Detroit Lions way back in 1934. Back in the 30’s, professional football was still not very popular among the people, taking a backseat to Major League Baseball. Seeing this as a problem, the owner George Richards decided that he needed a way to stir up excitement about his club. So, Richards decided to schedule the game on Thanksgiving to make he clash with the undefeated Chicago Bears a little more alluring to the people of Detroit. The results were just what Richards wanted. Two weeks before the game was to be played, all 26,000 tickets to the game were sold out. If the stadium would have been able to hold more people, it was estimated that another 25,000 tickets would have been sold. The game itself was very interesting, as the Bears edged out the Lions 19-16. Ever since that Thanksgiving Day back in1934, the NFL has kept the tradition alive, scheduling teams to play every Turkey Day. Thanksgiving football has also had some of the most memorable NFL games of all time. Like the “Coin Toss Game”. In 1998, The
Lions were hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers, the game was gridlocked at 16-16 and sent into an overtime session. During the coin toss, Steelers running back, Jerome Bettis, was heard by the microphone and the entire nation, as calling tails. When the coin landed on tails however, official Jim Luckett awarded the ball to the Detroit Lions. Mass confusion set in, and Bettis, along with the rest of the Steelers team did not know why they did not get the ball. According to Luckett, Bettis began to say “heads”, but stopped and said “tails”. Detroit still got the ball and later kicked a field goal to win the Coin Toss Game 19-16. Another memorable game that has fans baffled is the 1993 contest between the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins. Any football fan who is familiar with Leon Lett remembers how strange this game was. The first thing that was unique was the fact that it was snowing, in Dallas, Texas. The second strange thing was something Cowboys fans everywhere will never forget. Nursing a 14-13 lead with a few seconds remaining, the Dolphins lined up for a last second field goal attempt. When the kick was blocked, the Cowboys thought they had it won, all they had to do was not touch the ball. For some unknown reason, Dallas defensive lineman Leon Lett attempted to recover the ball. Because he touched it, the Dolphins Recovered it and then kicked another field goal to win the game 16-14. So after being stuffed like a turkey, while watching the game with your friends and family this Thanksgiving, just realize that Turkey Day just would not be the same without a little bit of the old pigskin. story by Nick Rellihan
MOST THANKSGIVING DAY GAMES Played: Detroit Lions- 60 games Dallas Cowboys- 40 games Green Bay Packers- 31 games Chicago Bears- 30 games Arizona Cardinals- 22 games
statistics by Nick Cappo
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HI.LIFE 2010
We Are LS AFTER A GREAT RIDE THE TIGER FOOTBALL SEASON IS OVER
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ith Fall sports coming to an end we can look back on and acknowledge all the great seasons our sports teams had this year and recognize that each team should be proud. The football team has done very well this year and has achieved an amazing achievement especially when you consider the last 5, 10, 15... well past seasons are irrelevant. There are many factors that have contributed to the success of this season, from coaches, to players; but, in the end, it is the team as a whole. From North, to Branson, to West, to any number of home games, the school was able to show its support for the entire tiger football team. As an attendee at each game I can say it was a better senior year than could have been asked for. The team never failed to amaze whether it was a last second touchdown, Sam Sealer laying out for an amazing catch, an important interception to give us the edge, or any number of other occurrences this season. Some people may try to look at the last game in a negative light. Possibly referring to the fact that the refs forgot there was another team on the field who was also capable of being penalized or when they gave the fumble recovery back to West who then scored on the next play, but that aside, it is the season as a whole that must be looked at. In the end, everyone should be proud of our tiger football team, look forward to Winter sports, and show just as much support for them as football. No matter what anyone says, this is our town. story by Nate Day
Upcoming Thanksgiving games: Patriots vs Lions (12:30 pm et on CBS) Saints at Cowboys (4:15 pm et on FOX) Bengals at Jets (8:20 pm et on NFL)
SPORTS
Chill Time
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by Nathan Williams
This summer, NBA free agents LeBron James and Chris Bosh left their respective teams through free agency and joined up with Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat to create a superstar team in South Beach. With that came a lot of expectations that the team would dominate the league with around 70 wins this season and cruise to multiple championships in the upcoming years. So far, it does not look like that will be happening. The Heat currently sit at 7-4 and have one win over a team with a winning record. With much speculation over why the team is not performing highly, albeit early in the season still, some of the players have made some questionable comments about the team. LeBron James recently said that he did not like all the minutes he was getting and that the coach would figure need to figure something else out. “Coach knows he has to meet us halfway, he wants to work, we wanna chill, but we are going to have to work to get everything down, to get our timing down, and to get our chemistry down.” said Chris Bosh after a win over the Phoenix Suns last week. Team work ethic seems like it could be one of the problems after those two quotes. The Heat just want to “chill”. Their biggest problem actually lies in their front court though, they have no big men to play up front, and help might not be coming soon. Even with all of that, this team has more than enough talent to win a lot of games and make the playoffs. Fifty or 60 wins is not out of the scenario either, and neither is winning the championship. But for now, they do not seem as though they are the powerhouse that everyone thought they would be. So lets just chill with the expectations of domination, and let the season play out for now.
We’ve Got Spirit
VARSITY CHEARLEADERS PLACE THIRD AT STATE
The varsity cheerleading squad had a great time showcasing their never-ending Tiger spirit at Cheer State last Saturday, bringing home a third place trophy.Most people don’t know what State is. “Cheer state is basically a cheerleading competition with schools who qualified at Regionals in the summer.” sophomore Bria Jones said. Cheerleaders put in a lot of hard work to prepare for State. “We have practice after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for at least two or three hours. We also have to be at the school at seven in the morning on Sundays. But Saturday, the day of State, we had to wake up at six, and be ready by seven,” Jones said. Even with having to wake up early on the weekend, Jones said it was definitely worth it. “I wasn’t exactly thrilled with waking up at six on a Sunday, but it was really worth getting third place,” Jones said. Jones admits she was really nervous when the squad first walked onto the mat. “I was excited more than I was nervous when we were doing our routine in front a
huge crowd. My adrenaline was pumping, and I just gave it my all. I was excited because this is my first year doing varsity cheerleading and I’ve never been to State before,” Jones admits. Though the girls are happy with getting third place, Jones really wanted to do better than Marquette High School, who received second place at the competition. “Our biggest competition was definitely Marquette or Liberty. They both have a really good squad. We were a little disappointed because we didn’t get first place, but I think that next year we’ll do better than them. I’m still really happy with what we got,” Jones said. Whether the varsity cheerleaders are competing at Mizzou or cheering on the Tigers, they always give it their all and represent Lee’s Summit High School, doing it all with a smile on their face.
Cheer State School Placement 1: Liberty High School 2: Marquette High School 3: Lee’s Summit High School 4: Lee’s Summit North
story by Jordan Julian
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BEHIND THE LENS OF THE CHAOS photos by Laina Gunsallus and Bradley Roberts
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1. 7:42 A.M. Yearbook advisor Karla Thompson motivates and directs the first club photo of the day. 2. 8:01 A.M. Student Senate was just one of many clubs to show their spirit with matching shirts. 3. 9:27 A.M. Senior Laura Muckey helps guide senior Haley Merriott through the group photo day schedule. 4. 9:52 A.M. Longtime photographer, Ted Haub, captures yet another priceless moment for the yearbook. 5. 10:36 A.M. A large group of seniors get hyped for the always crazy senior photo. JLABMAG.COM
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