V
oice
T he Volume XXIII
T he Pembroke Hi l l School
Issue V December 2006 Holiday Special Edition 2006
A Headmaster for the Times The Real Steve Bellis: The New Headmaster in his first Exclusive Interview
Adam Hallquist Contributor
T
he newly appointed I would like to create maintain healthy headmaster, Mr. and with the Steve Bellis, agreed communication to meet with me students and the constituents a!er school on a of the school. Monday a!ernoon in order to Photo from http://www.pembrokehill.org talk about both the future of the school and his new job. As we sat on the outskirts of the commons, I was astounded by the fact that he was able to recognize each of the students and teachers that passed by. When we began our interview, we were forced to move to one of the history classrooms in order to gain more privacy. Immediately, however, we began to get off topic, talking about not only the future of the school, but also business in general. Below is a compilation of what I gathered during my conversation with Mr. Bellis, The Pembroke Hill School’s newly elected ge#ing to know the man that headmaster, Mr. Steve Bellis. will soon lead the Pembroke Hill School. Adam: What do you consider to be the school’s overall Adam: What made you first greatest strength? want to make the move Steve Bellis: Student culture. from the corporate world of It is amazing walking around Hallmark Cards to working the school, seeing students talking with teachers and for Pembroke Hill School? Steve Bellis: For several years, communicating their ideas to I coached both Annie and their fellow students. Students Tomás’ basketball teams. I here are very actively engaged enjoyed the time with those and want to learn. Students young people so much that here consider it normal to have I knew I had to find a way to everyone paying a#ention and make that my vocation rather working with their teachers, than my recreation. I strongly but when people come in to believe that there is no more see the school, they tell me important work than the work how amazed they are with our student culture. of schools. Adam: What do you see as your biggest challenge becoming Headmaster? Steve Bellis: Communication.
Adam: Now, a li!le tougher question: what do you consider to be the school’s
biggest weakness? Steve Bellis: Balancing cost and income to make the school affordable to as many students as possible and making sure those who work for us are adequately compensated. Adam: What is your favorite color? Steve Bellis: Green, I love to be outside. Adam: What is your absolute favorite food? Steve Bellis: My Motherin-Law’s beans and rice. Adam: You are on a boat that is sinking with Sue Bloemer, Marsha Hirsch, and Barry White. You have two life jackets, who would you save? Steve Bellis: Well, I heard Barry swims pre#y well! (I don’t really mean that, Barry.) Adam: Who was your greatest influence growing up, and why? Steve Bellis: My mother. She was a nurse, and she would take me on her rounds. I saw her make other people feel good, and it made her feel good.
Adam: Your children, Tomás and Anne, currently a!end Pembroke Hill School. Which one of them is your favorite, if you had to choose between the two? Steve Bellis: Undoubtedly, Claire Brooks.
Adam: Where do you see Pembroke Hill School in ten years? Steve Bellis: I would like to have a greater global perspective: teacher exchanges, along with continued student exchanges with people from other countries. Adam: When you move into the headmaster’s house next to the Wornall Campus, what changes do you plan to make to it? Steve Bellis: I would like to add a Bocce ball court. I would also like there to continue to be no toilet paper in the trees, haha! Adam: Which do you think is be!er: The Voice or The Pinnacle? Steve Bellis: It is a close call between The Voice’s hard-hi#ing investigative journalism and The Pinnacle’s dazzling photography, but the Pinnacle’s Questionnaire tilts the balance their way. Adam: When you were in high school, what was your best subject? Steve Bellis: Latin, I am very proud to be a Latin scholar Adam: What excites you the most about your new job? Steve Bellis: Ge#ing to know the students and being apart of their growing up. The Voice would like to congratulate Mr. Bellis on his new position as Headmaster. The staff wishes him the very best of luck in this new endeavor.
Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center: The Realization of a Dream Rebecca Gilmore Assistant Editor
Local and national hero Buck O’Neil passed away on October 6, 2006. He served as one of the greatest ambassadors for baseball, a sport that he loved dearly. At his private funeral service, Julia Irene Kauffman,
g n i n r u T
thePAGE
daughter of Ewing Kauffman, announced a gi! of $1 million towards the construction of the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center. This project, a long-time dream of O’Neil’s, will cost approximately $15 million
Simply,
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YIGtastic.
Junior Hunter Chamberlainthrows out all “political-correctness” and gives an indepth look at being a YIGlet.
to build and is scheduled for completion in late 2007. It will be located in the historic Paseo YMCA Building where the Negro Leagues were originally founded in 1920. In the museum, visitors will be able to study every aspect
of the Negro Leagues. The Center will house more than 45,000 square feet of archives, educational areas, exhibits, conference facilities, and administrative offices. There is no doubt that O’Neil would have been proud!
the first annual
Holiday Special Edition
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The Ultimate Christmas List- In dire need of a gift? Sophomore Homayon Ghassemi shares some gifts that anyone would kill for. Teacher Versus Reindeer- Mr. Lewis = Rudolph? The Voice staff has painstakingly revealed the teacher’s true-identities, reindeer, that is. Chrismahanukwanzakah- What is it really? Junior, Axel Shum, investigates this, oh-so-grammatically incorrect, but thorough word.
The Rail Emily Cuddy Assistant Editor
I
t’s finally December. The best month of the year, in my opinion. With snow, snow-days, holidays, gi!-giving, gi!-recieving, good food, great movies, and spending time with friends and family, how can December not be your favorite month? But, I digress, here’s a look into what has happened so far... In school news- With the “unfortunate” snow storm that hit the Midwest on Nov. 31, the visit of French Ambassador Jean-David Levi#e to the United States, had to be cancelled. Also, the Upper School had one of its most successful food drives for Harvester’s in several years. Although it didn’t get the late-start it wanted, everyone should still be congratulated. In political news- The highly anticipated Iraq Study Group’s report was finally released on Dec. 6. Among its many recommendations, the most striking was its call for more ‘regional diplomacy,’ especially with Iran and Syria. Interestingly enough, at a press conference that same day, President Bush finally admi#ed that, “a new approached is needed.” In entertainment news- Can Mel Gibson regain his cleanimage in time to save his new historical thriller, Apocalypto? Only time will tell. Also coming to theatres this month, The Blood Diamond (feat. Leonardo DiCaprio), the Pursuit of Happiness (feat. Will Smith), and Dreamgirls (feat. Beyonce Knowles and Jamie Foxx). In celebrity news- The month of December has brought the gamut of proposals and breakup’s for celebrities. While Eva Longoria finally decided to tie the knot with her beau, Tony Parker, Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn ended their year-long relationship.
You don’t know
Jack...
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about PHS Basketball.
Junior, Jack Winter, doesn’t hold anything back while describing the in’s and out’s of this year’s Varisty basketball team.
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News
Credit to: Mrs. Runyan
Youth Poetry Symposium: A Success! Caroline Hodge Staff Writer
Each year, the Youth Poetry Symposium provides a forum for students to share their work with family, Pembroke Hill students, and teachers. This year’s symposium, held on November 11, was coordinated by seniors Zach Buckner and Morgan Dameron. A#er submi!ing original work, seventeen students from nine schools around the city were selected by local poets to read their poems at YPS and take part in the reading. The students spent the day at the Writer’s Place, an organization located in Midtown dedicated to creative writing. They met with local poets who helped them edit their poetry. The workshop ended with dramatic readings, which drew the largest audience in the event’s fourteen-year history. Those involved would like to thank everyone whp helped make the Youth Poetry Symposium a success.
Exploring
Kansas City Wesley Gross and David Kemper Contributers
Yig in front of the State Capital.
YIGTASTIC! Contributer Hunter Chamberlain gives an honest account of the famous event and gives plenty of reasons why we dig YIG! Hunter Chamberlain Contributer
It was 6:45 am, and my phone wouldn’t stop ringing. A frazzled Dr. Graves was on the other line quickly describing the current winter weather conditions. Ice and snow covered the city and locked the roads in a stand still. My mind was screaming: snow day! But, wait, it was Thursday, November 30, I was supposed to be leaving for Jefferson City in a few hours, not staying in Kansas City. To my relief (yes, I was excited), the trip down was only postponed for a few hours. At 9:30, I grabbed my bags and headed for Pembroke, braving the arctic tundra that was State Line. Finally arriving at base camp (Kroh Campus), I boarded the bus and se!led in for a three-hour ride to our glorious Capitol. The entire bus was packed full of studious freshman, juvenile sophomores, extremely a!ractive juniors, and, of course, decorous seniors. As we pulled out of school, I had an epiphany: we were Pembroke’s chosen students, the powerful men and women of Youth In Government. A#er co-authoring an inspiring speech, summarizing an amendment to section 167.229 of Missouri’s “Model School Wellness Program,” we stopped to eat in one of America’s finest establishments: McDonald’s. An hour later, we rolled into Jeff City’s Capitol Plaza Hotel and slowly unloaded the bus. I had finally arrived at my first nerd convention. Let the festivities begin! The lobby was crammed with “young
“
for girls) by 8:30 am. At nine, people went to their respective programs: judicial, legislative, executive, print-press, and lobbyist. Due to heavy snow, all groups met in the hotel for their commi!ees. A#er we had a wonderful lunch (haha), the Representatives and the Senators were sent back to the Capitol to resume session. Of the bills that were discussed in the House, a few undoubtedly stood out. The most memorable was a bill to “Criminalize The entire bus was packed College Selectivity.” full of studious freshman, The bill stated that academics and good juvenile sophomores, should not be extremely attractive juniors, grades required for college and, of course, decorous admission; instead the only caveat would be seniors.” the potential student’s financial background. In essence, the only Once inside the prerequisite for ge!ing into Capitol, Emily and I became Harvard was that if one lost on the fourth floor and could afford it, there would barely made it to the House be no discrimination against Chambers in time. The religion, gender, or academic royal ceremony began with achievement. A#er rejecting a parade of Supreme Court that bill, we went on to discuss Justices, Speakers, and her the legalization of prostitution highness, Christine Di Lisio: and the consequences of sexual our Governor. The pompous misdemeanors. Our session event concluded with over 400 concluded at 5:00 pm, where delegates taking an oath and we were rushed to a closing banquet and the Governor’s thanking God. Later that night, Ball. Now, I thought that we gathered and listened middle school mixers were to candidate speeches. We awkward, but try dancing with concluded our evening at 400 random nerds. Though 11:30 with Camelia anchoring Pembroke didn’t have any the “YIG Report” on channel students elected, we sure had the ho!est kids on the dance 14, and singing us to sleep. By sunrise, I had floor. Leaving on Saturday showered, eaten breakfast (a low-carb Nutrigrain bar), and a#ernoon, I felt a slight sense worked on my amendment. of remorse. I honestly had a YIGsters do not sleep! great time at YIG, and would Everyone was expected to be encourage all others interested up and in Capitol Dress (suits in government to sign up next for guys, and skirts and jackets year. adults” and “future leaders,” but there wasn’t a “normal” kid in sight. What did I get myself into? The “Secretary of State,” Emma, helped me register to vote and proceeded to hand me worthless sheets of paper and a ten-pound bill book. Around 1:30, all of us YIGsters walked hastily to the capitol building for Opening Session.
Kansas City’s urban life doesn’t get the a!ention it merits. Sure, the media has been filled with the news of the Power and Light Entertainment district’s progress, H&R Block’s brand new headquarters and new developments nearly every day such as J. E. Dunn’s recently announced headquarters as a catalyst for totally redoing the east side. For those who have experienced a First Friday or a Saturday at the City Market, many do not realize a very different downtown sometimes literally beneath one’s feet. Urban exploration, or Urbex, offers an u!erly unique perspective on our city. Whether it’s a new view of our city’s skyline from the top of an abandoned grain elevator, or the feeling while traversing a torrent of water with just a flashlight to find footholds on the slippery walls of a storm drain, the thrill of discovery is o#en the drive of urban explorers. In Kansas City there are groups, almost clubs, of these people who dedicate part of their lives to this pastime. Popular locations for explorers across the metro include abandoned factories, theaters, unused trolley tunnels, and the ever abundant sewers. History and photography are greatly emphasized in urban exploring. The ability to find beauty and photograph it among the chaos of a dilapidated building is a skill that is admired among the community. There is also great emphasis on the historical context of buildings. The experience of exploring a building untouched in decades provides an insight into the past which is difficult to find elsewhere. A major issue that arises in Urbex is its legality. Most explorers follow to the mo!o of “Take only photographs, leave nothing but footprints.” Those who break this rule are given the equivalent of an excommunication from the Urbex community. An example of this incident was a user of the city’s Urbex resources who blatantly tagged a popular site downtown and was immediately revoked access. For people who make it a habit of occasionally overstepping the boundary of public right, their ethics are superb. Whether or not immoral or illegal is more important is open to debate. Regardless, Urbex is an increasingly popular activity full of an abnormal number of risks and hazards but perhaps to some an equal number of merits, and assuredly, a far from ordinary view on our city. For those still intrigued by the concept of Urbex more information can be found at infiltration.org.
News s 3 FOOD SURVEY The
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You wanted to know, we’re here to tell you... staff members of The Voice investigated the school’s cafeteria food and uncovered the likes and dislikes of the Pembroke Hill community. Emily Smith, Caroline Hodge Staff Writers
Here at The Voice, we wanted to know what you think about the food you eat every day in the cafeteria. This year especially, there have been several noticeable (or so we thought) changes, ranging from differently shaped chicken sandwiches, to a new refrigerator full of salads and side dishes. In our cafeteria food survey, we asked you about everything lunchrelated, from what time you eat, to your favorite entrees and cookies, to where seniors go to lunch off campus, and now the results are in. The first order of business is the new chicken sandwiches, but most people didn’t even notice a change! Still, those who did notice a change noted it negatively, choosing “Yuck! I miss the old ones” on their survey sheets. Maybe if there were a huge new display case for these new sandwiches, they would get noticed; the refrigerated salads certainly did, with resoundingly positive feedback. Though many people like both prepared salad options, most prefer Caesar. Next come the cookies, whose results were the most decisive and predictable. As you will note in the graph printed below, an astonishing 66% chose chocolate chip as their favorite variety of cookie, and almost as many said that they would like to see them more frequently in the cafeteria. Unlike the cookies, people’s preferences as far as entrees go were much more widespread and indecisive, but pasta bar and taco salad nosed ahead, winning the poll with 20% and 16% popularity, respectively. Our survey revealed that most people do not use the salad bar or the variety of soups served on a daily basis; however, many people noted the unfortunate lack of signage detailing which salad dressings are which. Concerning lunch periods, 12:10 and 12:35 seem to be the most desirable, perhaps due to the decreased freshness and quantity of the food by the time the 1:00 crowd filters in. And though those with all three lunch periods free Nicolas Kemper Senior Editor
CHAVEZ- YE’ NEED not worry about him. He won in a landslide election, but the huge GDP growth Venezuela’s experiencing (10% this year) is entirely dependent on spending oil revenue. While oil stays up, Chavez will retain power and keep calling our President the devil. When oil goes down, he, and Venezuela, will be finished. In the meantime, a#er losing the election for the Security Council seat (remember the ‘el Diablo’ speech?) there is no indication that he can spread his influence beyond Venezuela. RUSSIA DOES merit some worry. The Litvinenko poisoning was not necessarily a Russian operation- there’s merely a trail of radiation going back to Moscow- but there are other concerns,
like the fact that the FSB now employs more agents than the KGB which it replaced, or that Russia has taken neighbor Georgia to the verge of war for embracing a democratic leader. IRAN is basking in a win-win-win-win situation. In Iraq chaos (which it may be feeding) is likely to either fracture the nation, creating an Iranian satellite
Shi’ite state, or lead to a Shi’ite dominated strong state. In Lebanon Iranian-funded Hezbollah’s wield newfound power, and because of high oil prices and our weak position in Iraq, there is nothing the US can do to impede their nuclear quest. IRAQ is in trouble. Well, not necessarily, but it is ge"ing there.
have been asked to a"end ONLY 12:35 lunch, Pod 12 remains nearly empty, as most choose to grab a quick bite at 12:10 before heading off to their free period. As for those privileged seniors who get to leave campus for lunch, most reported that they eat off campus either never, or 3 to 5 times weekly. Most of these seniors, not surprisingly, frequent Chipotle. Some seniors said they go home for lunch, and other popular lunch destinations included Panera and Planet Sub. We hope we’ve provoked you to think about lunch in a new and more mathematical way! Many thanks to everyone who participated, and to the faculty members who facilitated the distribution of this survey. Your input has been most helpful--maybe, now we’ll get chocolate chip cookies every day! The recently released ISG Baker report is more of a way out than a way to victory and violence continues to mount without abandon. On the bright side, Kurdistan is doing well, and new SecDef Gates- responsible for Soviet Union’s war-without-victory in Afghanistan by creating the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the 80s, should know what he is doing. Ideally, we would reduce our oil consumption (fixes... everything) and increase our troop levels in Iraq to provide security, but those are no longer politically feasible. NORTHERN SUDAN is experiencing an economic boom as oil proceeds, good fiscal policy, and trade with Southeast Asia li# the GDP. This means a stronger military, a stronger state, and that the US strategy of isolation is only going to isolate the US.
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Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...
Jingle All the Way!
With the holiday season upon us, this year’s Voice staff thought it would be fun to compare some of our most beloved teachers with some of our favorite reindeer.
On Dancer! Ever since we saw her moves at the Homecoming assembly, it is obvious that Mrs. Reams is the perfect choice for the most graceful and talented reindeer. Cha-cha boochie, cha-cha-cha boochie, roll call! She is also known to occasionally chime “boom boom boom” when doing problems on the board. Her students usually retort, “I want you in my room.” (I love that song…)
On Rudolph!
On Donder! Just like Donder knows how to straighten out the rest of Santa’s reindeer, Dr. Sal knows exactly how to put those noisy freshmen in their place (a good ol’ “Quiet comma damnit” usually does the trick). We also have it on good authority that Donder has been known to throw chalk.
On Cupid! Her recent marriage has made Mrs. Eshelbrenner the perfect candidate for our favorite romantic and lovable reindeer. Cupid, just like Mrs. Eshelbrenner, is also known for bringing joy to children all across the world, but in this case, to the Spanish room.
He’s… glowing…
On Blitzen! You don’t want to mess with this reindeer; he has been known to break up many reindeer games in the hallways. Also, legend has it (we don’t have evidence because nobody who has witnessed this phenomenon has ever survived) that Mr. McGee has a lightning fast heart stopping chest punch* which he uses to knock “fools” out who mess around in the commons. * Dr. Hibschman hired Mr. McGee on the grounds that he would revive all recipients of his lightning fast heart stopping chest punch.
Axel Shum Tech Editor
On Prancer! This newly appointed reindeer to the Pembroke Hill community is the most powerful of the bunch. We anticipate that he will lead our school as well as (or better than) Prancer leads Santa’s reindeer. By “lead” of course, we mean: call snow days the night prior, reinstate senior electives, and tear down Lottie D. ASAP.
Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah!
“Chrismahanukwanzakah,” although the word may sound like the u!erance of someone gasping for air while choking on a fish bone, actually embodies a very profound idea. Looking more closely at the word, it appears that “Kwanzaa” has been wedged in the middle of “Hanukkah” with “Christmas”pinned to t h e le" side for those of you who didn’t notice. The word etymology comes in handy here, comprised of –ety, meaning, “unwieldy words,” and –ology, which means, “the study of.” We’re le" with the root le!er m… which means, “by breaking them down into simpler bite-sized pieces.” Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza which actually means “first fruits.” Kwanzaa
is the name of a holiday that Ron Karenga founded in California in 1966 to celebrate African heritage and culture. Originally, it was supposed to be an African American alternative to other holidays; Karenga has recently clarified that it should be thought of as a common ground for African Americans of all religious backgrounds. The celebration takes place during the week of December 26th. Hanukkah is the Jewish celebration of the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BCE a"er its desecration under the Seleucids. There was only enough oil to burn in the menorah for one day. Even so, it kept burning until a new supply was provided eight days later. Christmas—originally observed exclusively by Christians as the traditional
birth date of Jesus in Bethlehem—has now been adopted by various secular traditions and is celebrated by many non-Christians as well. The original ideals behind the celebrations that make up the holiday season as a whole have gradually adapted more secular and commercial aspects, to the dismay of many individuals. As a result, it is exceedingly easy to annoy people and the general vicinity in December with regard to holiday affairs. The solution is Chrismahanukwanzakah: the politically correct holiday! It represents the spirit of the season, regardless of religious affiliation, gender, weight, race, etc. As painful as it may be, there you have it. On behalf of The Voice, Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah!
Holiday Spec ial
Put on Your Yarmulke, It’s Time to Celebrate Hannukah!
Brooke Vittor Assistant Editor
Thanks to Adam Sandler’s wi!y lyrics, several people are now more aware of the Jewish holiday that occurs for eight days every year at wintertime. Believe it or not, however, there is more to Hanukkah than just pu!ing on your yarmulke and naming off famous people who are Jewish. The holiday originates from when the Maccabees (the Hammers), a band of Jewish soldiers led by a man named Ma!athias and his son Judah, revolted against the Syrian King Antiochus IV. A#er they reclaimed their old temple, they were le# with a dilemma: there was only enough oil to keep the temple’s Menorah burning for one day. Luckily, a miracle occurred and
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the oil managed to last for eight days. Nowadays, Jews celebrate this miracle by lighting a menorah every night for eight nights and cooking foods that are fried in oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts). Jewish kids spin dreidels marked with the Hebrew le!ers Nun, Gimmel, Shin, and Heh, which represent the phrase “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham” (“a great miracle happened there”), in order to win chocolate coins called gelt. Personally, as a Jew, I am very grateful for Hanukkah because while all of my friends are counting down the days until their one morning of presents, I get to enjoy eight crazy nights of presents!
THE ULTIMATE GIFTS
Sophmore Homayon Ghassemi describes his epic journey through The Sharper Image to find some of the coolest and intrestings gadgets in stores now.
credit to: SharperImage.com
credit to: SharperImage.com
credit to: SharperImage.com
Homayon Ghassemi Staff Writer
$120
$500
$50
Recently, I embarked on a momentous quest, a journey to discover this season’s coolest gadgets. To do this, I ventured to a store we have all at some point found ourselves in, the Holy Grail of electronic shopping, The Sharper Image. As I entered the store, I saw the familiar massage chairs, the plasma TVs, the lavish stereo systems, and the all too common motorized tie rack, but among these items, I sought something different, something unique, something unusual. Then I came across a replica of R2-D2 from the Star Wars movies. This voice-activated, motorized droid is able to respond to 30 different phrases! With an expandable arm to hold drinks, this droid is also able to talk, whistle, play tag, and dance to a strangely amusing cantina song. This droid can be your assistant, your companion, and as sad as it may sound, it may become your friend. R2D2 can be yours around $120, but I recommend ge!ing friends instead.
As I continued through the store, I found something that may be considered a bit more practical. The ARCHOS 504 Pocket Digital Video Recorder is a device for all your favorite music, DVDs, videos, and photos. Forget the 20 or 30-gigabyte iPod. This 80 GB player can store up to 45,000 songs, 350 hours of video, and over 800,000 pictures. Stop squinting your eyes to view a video on your cell phone during class. This product has a generous 4.3-inch display for viewing all your favorite music videos and other programs. With a steep price tag of around $500, for many it is still worth the countless hours of entertainment that it will inevitably provide you.
I then came across the infamous personal hygiene section of The Sharper Image. Along with an assortment of James Bond-like razors, care kits, and travel packages, the salesmen directed me toward a product all of us need: nose hair trimmers. With a wide selection of these products, he directed me toward the Turbo-Groomer® COBALT, which he explained in the most advance device in nose hair trimming technology on the market today. The COBALT has dual-rotary blades composed of stainless steel and titanium cu!ing edges. For the less coordinated, it even includes a “bright white” display indicating that the grooming is complete. Though we wish to avoid the topic of nose hair and its spreading epidemic, for around $50 you can a!ain this advanced and necessary piece of grooming technology. Although there might be other stores, The Sharper Image will pleasantly surprise you with its unique electronic gadgetry.
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DOMO SUSHI
credit to: popmatters.com
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a&E Philip Noonan discovers one of Missouri’s best sushi restaurants. Philip Noonan Staff Writer
Will Ferrell contemplates life.
Stranger than Fiction Lights Up Theatres
Shajiah Jaffri Staff Writer
Nowadays movies are released le! and right, but it is not o!en that a movie buff like myself comes across a film such as Stranger than Fiction. Main character and IRS agent Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) lives a mundane life when one day a female voice, heard only by him, begins to narrate each moment of his life in alarmingly precise detail. At first Harold is annoyed by the voice, but he does not decide to get help until the voice mentions Harold’s “imminent death.” Because it’s his own life narrative, Harold goes to a literature professor, Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman). Hilbert decides Harold’s story is a comedy and creates a list of authors who may be narrating. Why is Harold’s
life story a comedy? Well, he is an IRS agent, and he finds himself a#racted to the bakery shop owner he’s auditing. Unfortunately, Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson) is the eccentric, chain-smoking author narrating Harold’s life…and she’s not on the list. When I first went to watch Stranger than Fiction, I thought the mix of Will Ferrell, an all-knowing voice, and the possibility of death would equal a movie as funny as Zoolander. While I was disappointed in that respect, this movie is still quite original. The film is about more than a man and his wristwatch; it takes a look at life, romance, and morals. Can you sacrifice a human life for the sake of a masterpiece? This is but one of many questions the movie
poses to its viewers. It seems like it will be all laughs, but there is a serious undertone. The film is funny in some parts but the humor seems to be on a more intellectual level. The film is well acted, but I kept imagining Ferrell as Mugatu from Zoolander even though he did be#er than I expected in a serious role. But Queen Latifah with her role as Eiffel’s (Thompson) “Let’s-get-thebook-done-on-time” secretary was unimportant and perhaps suited to someone else. The plot was good, but the only thing that really bugged me was the ending. The ending felt dissatisfying as some others may have even expected it. Overall, Stranger than Fiction was amusing, intelligent, and touching, and the movie flowed well.
Quality sushi is hard to to be relieved of their load. find in Kansas City, especially As I have gathered, from given the painfully obvious subsequent visits to Domo, fact that we live countless miles the main objective in the away from the ocean. In light restaurant is to create a of this discouraging fact, I was genuine experience for each pleasantly surprised to find a customer. first rate, yet fairly inexpensive The pricing for sushi restaurant right in the such exquisite sushi is not KCMO area. The restaurant is unreasonable, although, Domo Sushi, located just off for the average high school of Brookside Boulevard in the student, it is a li#le expensive building that (i.e. one sushi was formerly “The cost and pla#er equals an Einstein the quiet, yet charming, $12 dollars or, Brothers as some would bagel shop. ambiance makes it the see it, one sushi The inside of perfect place to bring a pla#er equals the restaurant small group of friends” two Chipotle is impeccable. burritos). B a m b o o The cost and window shades and tactical the quiet, yet charming, mood lighting give the place a ambiance of Domo Sushi peaceful, intimate aura that is make it the perfect place a rarity in busy Brookside. to bring a small group of When two of my friends or even, dare I say it, friends and I went, we were a date. Also, for those of you warmly welcomed and waited who cringe at the thought of upon almost immediately. consuming raw fish, Domo Our server paid close has a modest selection of a#ention to our needs, even non-sushi items including teaching my friend, a sushi steak, soup, and spring virgin, how to effectively rolls. So, whether you are use his chopsticks. The sushi a culinary aficionado or a dinners, each garnished with curious consumer, you will a purple orchid blossom, were undoubtedly enjoy your presented to us and arranged, time at Domo Sushi. I’ll even with graceful artistry, on bone bet two Chipotle burritos on white plates that just begged that.
I chose Truman over Harvard...
...for its intimacy and
attention, impressive rate of acceptance to medical and law schools, and a great undergraduate education at an affordable cost. Ashley Rufus – Truman pre-med student who was featured in the TIME magazine article “Who Needs Harvard?” (August 21, 2006).
Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri If you would like more information, call us at 1-800-892-7792 (in Missouri) or 1-660-785-4114 (outside Missouri), or go to our website at http://admissions.truman.edu.
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You Don’t Know Jack... About High School Basketball Jack Winter Contributor
E
because each contributes a li!le something special to the overall atmosphere.
catchphrase, “The Butler’s pantry is open!” each time he makes a shot,
Will Wurster- ball-handling, court-sense, and an innate sense of what it takes to maintain a two-and-a-half year relationship,
Alex Johnsonspeed, quickness, defense, (the best facial hair I’ve seen since Nick Thompson), and producing skills which rival those of PHS legend (and Whi!ier soccer star) Eddie Baker,
Will Preston- scoring, shooting, rebounding, defense, and most importantly, rapping. Preston is the ultimate Renaissance man, Spencer Ladner- consistent low-post scoring, defense, BEEF, and intensity. He’ll serve up a few Sladner Bombs a game, Ross Merrill- shooting, ballhandling, and perimeter defense, Joe Wilkinson- shooting, youth, and the ability to remain mute throughout his entire life, Nick Butler: Butler-defense, BEEF, versatility, and the opportunity for the rest of the team to u!er the sweet
Dancing with the Raiders Emma Eisemann Staff Writer
T
Above: Sladner goes in for the dunk. Below: The basketball boys chatting with Coach Frager.
Jake “Sugar” Cain- Caininterior passing and hustle. He greatly contributes to the team’s overall physical appearance, Ethan White- athleticism, the ability to guard four positions, a rockin’ mohawk, and the backbone of the entire organization, Jack Winter- BEEF!
Cheer-lead-ing
Jessica Jackson Contributor
one more routine when they compete again at the end of January. Also, although they performed at only a handful of games in the past, dance team will dance at every boy’s and girl’s varsity basketball home game this year. For these occasions, the team has prepared several new dances in a variety of styles like pom, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, and kick. All in all, the dance team loves its new opportunity to add spirit to the basketball games during hal"ime. They hope to continue seeing an equally large and energetic crowd at the rest of home games this season!
I
t’s safe to say that the cheerleading team the past few seasons has been, well... meager. Luckily, this season the cheerleading team has bulked up quite a bit. In fact, the team has nearly tripled in size. In case you missed the first boy’s basketball game vs. Lincoln Prep, the cheerleading team now totals eighteen. Junior basketball player, Tyler Murray, took note of their rejuvenation during the game, stating, “The cheerleaders were smoking!” Not only has their participation greatly increased, but their involvement and overall excitement have jumped exponentially as well.
This year, they plan on cheering at several more away games in order to both further school spirit (which is their job) and to become even more involved in school activities. Currently, their amazing posters are hanging in Phillips Gym. Furthermore, they want everyone to keep a look out for their new commons
decorations, which will hopefully further inspire all the winter sports participants. All in all, the PHS cheerleaders are excited for the 2006-7 winter season and hope to continue spreading their effervescent spirit throuought the PHS community. Do you have any spirit? Get some!
Photo by Jessica Jackson
his year, Pembroke Hill’s dance team is taking the program to somewhere it has never been before. Under the direction of second year head coach, Tina Keller, the program has been completely revamped. For instance, it recently competed in a dance tournament at Fort Osage High School. Unbelievably, this was the very first time Pembroke Hill had ever competed in a dance tournament. With this in mind, they did extremely well, placing 2nd in kick routine and 3rd in jazz. The dancers’ scores in both categories qualified them to participate in the state competition in February, and they hope to qualify in
Wya! Hilkenelow-post scoring and mid-range shooting. Wya! continues the Hilkene Tradition of being one of the best human beings ever to live, as Hilkene puts Ghandi and Mother Theresa to shame,
Photos by Rebecca Queen
ven though the Metro is absolutely stocked with individual and team talent this year, one team clearly stands out from the pack. Despite its recent seasons of sub -.500 play, it is looking on to bigger and be!er things in the ’06-07 season. For not only is the team unbeatable at home due to its raucous crowd, the Phillips Fanatics, led by Junior Charlie “Rocks” Mundy, it is also the team with the most moxy, goodlooks, talent, confidence, and chemistry. What is the name of this unbelievable team? Why, the Pembroke Hill Raiders. Having earned a 2-0 record (at “press” time), with wins against perennial powerhouses Lincoln Prep and O’Hara, the Pembroke Hill Raiders are finally living up to their vast potential. With all but three of their top fi"een players returning, the Raiders clearly have the right blend of talent and experience to make a trip to Columbia in March. Undoubtedly, the team would have very li!le success without their key varsity players
Wrestling the Pain Away
This past Thursday, the Pembroke Hill wrestling team took on West Pla!e. Individually, the Raiders performed perfectly, pinning all their opponents. The Raiders ended up losing the duel because they did not have the wrestlers to fill enough weightclasses. Tragically, Pembroke suffered a nasty injury. First year wrestler, Charlie Kelly, broke his collar bone while taking his opponent to the mat. This loss will be hard to overcome.
Photo by Alex Curry
Seth Pierce Contributor
Cheerleaders showing their school pride under the Christmas tree.
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Seth Pierce showing the Freshmen whose boss.
Rich Kaufman, Ph.D.
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8
The
Voice
Just for Fun
D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 6
The King of Would You Rathers and Either/Ors tells all in a exclusive interview.
Fight Mike Tyson or Talk Like Him? “Fight him, because we could definitely take him.” Juniors Kristina Young (left), and Cortney Patterson (right)
“Talk like him?” Freshman Emmo Jenkins
“Fight him. Duh.” Sophomore Will Bolen (left) and Junior R.C. Green (right)
Maura Sunkel Staff Writer
Mr. Medlock, known as a physics teacher, cross country coach, and college counselor, is famous among students for his either/or questions. Mr. Medlock’s students find themselves continually questioned, usually at the beginning of class, just before the “QUOD of the day” is discussed. “Mountain Dew or Dr. Pepper?” “Dream college and second choice job or second choice school and dream job?” “Power or Energy?” “Higher IQ and thirty pounds added to your bu! or stay the same?” The class answers, yelling “Higher IQ!” or “Um, excuse me, but stay the same!” Small discussions break out if it is a particularly good question. Mr. Medlock is also famous for striking his small gong prior to class when he wants complete silence. However, The Voice decided to turn the tables on Mr. Medlock, and ask him a few of our own Would You Rathers. Q: Pegged to death by Lite Brite pegs or assassinated by Cabbage Patch dolls? A: “Cabbage Patch dolls.” Q: Have time stop while
Be Aware... “Talk like him.” Sophomore Jake Myron
More than 5 0 0 people die each day, 15,000 a month because of the Darfur crisis. More than 2.5 million people have been driven from their homes. More than 200,000 have fled to refugee camps in neighboring Chad. As many as 1 million civilians could die in Darfur from lack of food and from disease within the coming months. 80% of children under five years old are suffering from severe malnutrition and many are dying each day. As of now, only 20% of victims of this conflict are being reached. Go online and see what you can do to help.
you sleep or never have to do laundry? A: “Laundry.” Q: Dance like Richard Simmons in “Sweating to the Oldies” every time you sing, hum, or get a song stuck in your head or only be able to communicate with your boss through interpretive dance? A: “Interpretive dance.” Q: Hit every red light for the rest of your life or always be wrong? A: “Hit every red light.” Q: Physics or philosophy? A: “Philosophy, because it’s bigger than physics.” Mr. Medlock states he likes physics because it “just always felt magical.” He loves the idea that what we can “conjure up in our brains matches the physical reality.” His favorite part of physics to teach is thermodynamics. Q: “What would students not guess about you?” A: “I get pre!y crazy on the dance floor,” he says. Mr. Medlock also stated that the best class he ever took was his high school calculus class, even though he recieved his worst grade ever, a C, in it. His favorite either/or is “Music or sports” because it is so difficult to imagine living without
Photo by Lilly Stitt
Would You Teacher of the Month Rather...
Mr. Medlock looking happy.
either. However, “pizza or Chipotle” is up there too. When asked if there was anything else he wanted to say, Mr. Medlock thought for a while, looking out the window. He stated that he is new to college counseling this year, but he says that at Pembroke, as with most private schools, the thought of college is an “undercurrent.” Students do not always succeed because they want to, or because they enjoy school, but simply because they want to be the best, and they want to get into a high-profile school. He calls this behavior “misguided,” and “wrongheaded.” His best advice is to “follow your passions more than being a high achiever because it’s the only way you’ll be happy.”
The Voice
Editors-in-Chief: Caitlin Snavely and David Lee Executive Editor: Amelia Wells Senior Editor: Nicolas Kemper Assistant Editors: Emily Cuddy, Rebecca Gilmore, and Brooke Vi!or Tech Editor: Axel Shum Chief Photo Editors: Alex Curry and Lilly Sti! Business Managers: Jordan Payne and Homayon Ghassemi Staff: Emma Eisemann, Caroline Hodge, Jessica Jackson, Shajiah Jaffri, Linnea Johnson, Philip Noonan, Greta Shum, Emily Smith, Maura Sunkel, and Jack Winter Contributors: Hunter Chamberlain, Wesley Gross, Adam Hallquist, David Kemper, Seth Pierce Faculty Advisor: Sara Eshelbrenner Assistant Faculty Advisor: Lauren Rosenfield The Voice is the official high school newspaper of the Pembroke Hill School. 5121 State Line Road. Kansas City, Missouri, 64112. The paper is an open forum distributed to students, faculty, parents, alumni, and other members of the Pembroke Hill community nine times a year. Reader response is welcome in the form of le!ers to PRSRT STD The Pembroke Hill School the editors. 5121 State Line Road Kansas City, MO 64112
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