SMNW Issue 6, Volume 41

northwest

passage Volume 41

Issue 6

December 4, 2009

food for thought

A look into life as a cafeteria worker yields a new angle on student food. Also, check out the nutritional value of the most commonly eaten cafeteria entrĂŠes. 12 sleep deprivation

Nine hours of sleep are recommended for teenagers, but few ever realize that goal.16

namaste

The mental and physical benefits of yoga are the perfect remedy for the stress of being a teenager. 20

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Shawnee Miss NW 3.667x5.0167.indd 1

10/29/09 12:36:51 PM

Shawnee Mission Northwest 12701 West 67th St., Shawnee, Kan., 66216

_________________________________ 04 / news briefs

news

04

See what’s going on around the school and in the community.

06 / happenings and numbers

Plan your schedule around this week’s happenings.

______________________________ 08 / looking backward and forward

opinions

A staff member reflects on her mother’s breast cancer.

08 / it’s the thought that counts, not the price 09 / there is more than one way to look at college JCCC offers an affordable alternative for unsure seniors.

09 / eating healthy is overrated Americans will never kick their unhealthy eating habits.

______________________________ scene

HANNA MEIGS

Put more thought and less money into your holiday gifts.

12 / food for thought Some fast facts about the foods consumed in the cafeteria.

16

13 / reviews A Christmas Carol, Twilight, now playing, etc.

HANNAH WILLIAMS

19 / scene static

________ w features

Apps of the Issue, Live Noise, Sudoku and the Student Shuffle

____________________ 16 / rise and sigh

Sleep deprivation is the norm for many high school students.

18 / trend of pretend Live-Action Role Players are invading SM Park.

20 / namaste Yoga can focus your body and strengthen your mind.

sports

top: Stacking non-perishable items in a box for the food drive, senior Max Wiebrecht prepares for Harvesters to come pick up the canned and boxed food donations. bottom: Studying for school late in the night, sophomore Liz Nelson struggles to stay awake. “I know I’m sleep deprived, and I know if something doesn’t change it’s going to get worse,” Nelson said “I’m still trying to change my ways.”

21 / the boss Best sports picture and athlete questionnaire.

25 / winter sports preview Wrestlers, swimmers and basketball players begin their seasons this week.

/ Ashley Lane backpage photo /Caitlyn Massy

cover illustration

The purpose of The Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As a newsmagazine, The Northwest Passage will cater to the interests and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students. The Northwest Passage is a 24-page newsmagazine. The paper will be distributed every two weeks during third hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. The Northwest Passage firmly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find a solution. In these cases, the co-editors-in-chief will the have final say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged, but will only be published if signed. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste.

Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The co-editors-in-chief reserves the right to refuse any letter.

staff

co-editors in-chief / david catt, ryan mccarthy copy editor / ed spaunhorst design editors / ashley lane, stephanie spicer

photo editors / david freyermuth, hannah williams graphic editor / tyler absher news editor /lauren komer opinions editors / david catt, ryan mccarthy features editor / maria davison scene editor / evan shinn sports editor / clay coffman ads editors / kayleigh bray, ashley calvert web technical / andrew keith web managing editor / mary salazar web master / stephanie rupp staff writers / nick alexander, jeremy allen, rachel alvey, nick feighner, rachel ferencz, kelsey gasser, andrew keith, brady klein, brianna leyden, maddie niemackl, cj reliford, madi watts, andrew zimmer

HANNAH MEIGS

Alec Kremers sorts through food from the school’s can food drive. After all the donations had been collected and counted Stuco was pleased to announce the school had exceeded its goal.

Jantsch’s fifth hour class wins canned food drive competition StuCo held its annual canned food drive the week of Nov. 16.

While StuCo was weary to set goals because of the economic climate, they were hoping to raise upward of 3,000 cans and $6,000. By the end of the week, they collected 6,415 cans and $5,869.93. While they were just short of reaching their money goal, they raised more than 2,000 more cans than last year.

“Even though we were short on our money goal, we more than made up for it in cans,” StuCo sponsor Sarah Dent said.

European History AP teacher

04/december 4

Beth Jantsch’s fifth-hour class collected the most overall cans and money. The class will recieve a pizza party as a prize.

“It’s one of the main things I like to do during the school year.

Everything goes directly to the food-bank and people are getting a hot meal out of it.”

All the cans and money collected go to the Johnson County Christmas Bureau, which serves needy people of Johnson County.

“It’s great because it’s the people that we live with that we’re helping,” Dent said.

Maria Davison

NHS inducts new members A group of more than 100 stu- members may benefit when applydents, both juniors and seniors, was inducted into the NW chapter of National Honor Society (NHS) on Nov. 16. Twenty hours of community service and a GPA of 3.5 are the minimum requirements for nomination to the organization.

“I see [NHS] as an opportunity to become involved at Northwest and also in my community,” junior Jenny Skells said.

Pledges completed papework and recommendation forms in September as a part of the application process. They had to prove leadership and community service through these forms but didn’t know if they were accepted until months later. Once chosen as members, students must follow the guidelines of NHS. “Students must demonstrate all four of the pillars well,” NHS sponsor Janine Deines said. “I think all students should do service.”

The four pillars are scholarship, service, leadership and character. To do this, students must keep up with high academic standards and involvement in school, while continuing to perform community service.

By following the guidelines, NHS

ing for college and scholarships.

“It’s the only nationally recognized service organization,” Deines said. “It looks great on [a student’s] transcript.”

18 91 3.5 20

Seniors inducted

Juniors inducted GPA required to hours of community service required

The induction ceremony honors all the students for their effort and officially admits them to NHS. Officers welcomed the juniors and seniors at the brief induction ceremony, where four candles were displayed representing each of the pillars. New and returning members were presented with their badges and pins.

“The ceremony didn’t drag on, but it was still cool,” Skells said.

“Both my parents and I were really proud that I was accepted.

Rachel Alvey

Harrington returns after leave of absence Principal Bill Harrington returned on Monday after a monthlong absence due to a recent hip replacement. Harrington’s surgery was performed on Nov. 2 and required a four day hospital stay. He spent the next three weeks in recovery. Harrington has battled arthritis in his right hip for approximately five years and decided on surgery to alleviate the pain.

“It wasn’t excruciating pain, but more of a constant discomfort. It made normal walking almost impossible.” Harrington said.

Many students may have noticed Harrington favoring his left side while walking during the past few months.

“All the pain that I felt before is gone.” Harrington said.

Although painless, Harrington still has limited mobility and cannot bend at the waist.

When walking outside or around many people he uses a cane for extra stability. He expects to return to normal in the next few months.

Although prepared for a sixweek absence and a January 4 return, Harrington’s recovery went so well that he is back after just four weeks. While absent, associate principals Lisa Gruman, Tom Moss and Eddie LyDay all pitched in to cover Harrington’s duties. Harrington kept up with whatever possible via e-mail and phone.

“Of course I missed [Northwest]; that is why I am returning earlier than planned,” Harrington said. Kelsey Gasser

For the second time in as many years, a NW publication has brought home the Best of Show trophy in its category from the national journalistm convention.

The 2009 Lair received the first place trophy in the large book category of the Best of Show competition, narrowly beating The Hauberk from SM East.

“The Mission from North also placed in this category. I don’t think any other district in that nation managed to walk away with three places in one Best of Show category,” Susan Massy, The Lair’s adviser, said.

But The Lair wasn’t the only NW publication to bring home honors. The Northwest Passage placed 4th in the news magazine competition and smnw.com placed 6th in the publication web site race.

Seven students were individual award winners in the national Write-off competition, but they couldn’t attend the awards ceremony.

Ashley Lane was one of the winners.

“I was kind of disappointed when they booked the flights before the awards ceremony, I really wanted to see if I had won anything. But it was pretty exciting to find out on the bus to the airport,” Lane said.

Write-off competition award winners were David Catt, Excellent in Feature Writing; Jeremy Allen, Excellent in Column Writing; Ed Spaunhorst, Superior in Yearbook Sportswriting; Kevin Buie, Superior in Yearbook Sports Photo; Caitlyn Hopkins, Honorable Mention in News/feature Photo; Hannah Williams, Honorable Mention in Photo Story and Ashley Lane, Honorable Mention in Photo Portfolio.

CAITLYN MASSY

Journalists bring home awards from D.C. convention

Cougar Pride marches through Hollywood The Marching Cougar Pride visited Hollywood for six days of marching and tourism last week.

“We take a trip every three years,” band director Penny Snead said. “[This trip] seemed to be a good opportunity for [the band].”

More than 100 band and drill team members flew to LAX from KCI to march in both the Hollywood Christmas Parade and a Disneyland parade.

The Hollywood Parade kept band members marching for about 2.5 miles down Hollywood Boulevard. The group also marched about half a mile through Disneyland and down Main Street Disney on Thanksgiving Day. “It was especially fun to march at Disneyland,” Snead said. “It’s just so Hollywood, for lack of a

Best of Show 2009

better word.”

The band competed in the Hollywood Christmas Parade for a ranking.

“Judges scored us, but the results haven’t come back yet,” sophomore Cameron Bock said.

The trip also included a day at Universal Studios, sightseeing on Hollywood Boulevard, a day at the ocean and three days at Disneyland.

“I got to meet Breckin Meyer from Garfield the Movie, which was awesome,” senior Genevive Schofield said.

“We were all at the Simpson Ride and they were experiencing technical difficulties,” sophomore Marcus Paccapaniccia said. “We became bored after the first 15 minutes, so we started a high

five line, giving our friends and complete strangers high fives.”

The entire group stayed at a Holiday Inn in Anaheim, just a few blocks from Disneyland. “[The trip] was fun even just hanging out with everyone at the hotel,” sophomore Cameron Bock said.

Marchers ate Thanksgiving dinner at Knott’s Berry Farm, even though it was the day before Thanksgiving.

“The stuffing was awful,” Paccapaniccia said, “and I didn’t like the pie. But I did enjoy the rest of the meal.”

Overall, the trip was a success.

“It was hard, but it was a really fun experience, too,” Schofield said.

Rachel Alvey and Lauren Komer

Financial Aid Night offers college advice

Shawnee Mission students were able to receive information about paying for college at Financial Aid Night on Nov. 18.

The cost of education is continuing to rise, and according to msn.com, tuition and fees increased 14.1 percent for public four-year institutions and 6 percent for private schools in 2009.

Financial Aid Night gives students an opportunity to hear advice about securing monetary sup-

port for post-secondary education.

It also explains the difference between a grant scholarship, a loan and work study programs and answers any questions that students may have. The main speaker was Perry Diehm, a financial aid officer at Mid America Nazarene University. “[Financial Aid Night] is an opportunity for parents of juniors and seniors to hear an overview of what aid the government will pro-

vide, what different types of aid are out there and how to fill out different financial aid forms,” counselor Angelo Giacalone said.

Financial Aid Night was very successful this year with over 200 people attending. Giacalone is considering holding another seminar in February. If another event is held later this year, he expects financial aid officers from multiple local universities to attend.

Rachel Ferencz

ways to Pay for College Scholarships

Yearbook NSPA

The Marching Cougar Pride marches in the Disneyland Parade on Nov. 26. The parade stretched for about half a mile.

A grant of financial aid awarded to students usually on a merit basis. Scholarships do not have to be repaid.

Student Loans

Offered to students by the government and private agencies to assist in payment of the costs of professional education. Loans must be paid back by students.

Grants

Financial aid provided by government agencies or private organizations that does not need to be repaid.

Work Study

Part-time employment programs for undergraduates and graduates to help with college expenses.

news\05

northwest passage/smnw.com

happenings

by the numbers

Dec. 8

7 p.m.: Orchestra concert with Blue Valley in auditorium

Dec. 9

7 p.m.: Gymnastics Banquet in cafeteria

Dec. 10

7 p.m.: Band concert in auditorium

Dec. 12

ACT test in academic wing

Dec. 16

7 p.m.: PLAN workshop

Dec. 18

1st hour: Semester exam 12:15 p.m.: Early dismissal

“

6/ 149/ 1,695/ 234,735/ 16/ 12/ 2/

days Marching Cougar Pride members spent on the band trip to Hollywood, Calif. people who traveled to Hollywood dollars for each person dollars for the entire Hollywood trip

chaperones who traveled with the Marching Cougar Pride

families who traveled with the Marching Cougar Pride

miles that the Marching Cougar Pride marched in the Hollywood Christmas Parade

�

When a dog bites a man, that is not news, but when a man bites a dog, that is news.

06/december 4

—John B. Bogart, New York Sun Editor, 1882 www.wan-press.org

$5.99 lunch specails

$10.99 Slabs

northwest passage/smnw.com

Looking backward and forward After finding out my mom had cancer, I thought life as I knew it was over. Now, I can see how bad news can eventually become good.

M

y mom compares finding out that she had cancer to getting hit by a car when you’re walking down the street. After the initial collision, you think you’re fine until you figure out that a piece of your shirt is stuck in the grill of the car, and you’re being dragged down the street hitting bump after bump.

It’s a pretty gruesome analogy, but completely true.

Cancer. The word itself brings to mind images of death and loss, so when you hear that someone you love has it, it’s horrifying.

My mom went to the doctor in June this year for a routine checkup.

A mammogram revealed a very small tumor. In fact, it was so small that, even though her doctor knew where it was, she couldn’t feel it. This microscopic tumor led to multiple surgeries and chemotherapy.

Looking back, I think I was abnormally stupid when I first found out she had cancer. My younger brother and I were in the backseat

of the car, and my dad had pulled into our house and turned the car off. I was confused. Did we forget something inside? He turned around and told us, literally out of nowhere, that the doctor had found a tumor in Mom and that there was going to be a biopsy to see if it was cancerous.

I was stunned and started to laugh haltingly.

“You’re kidding, right?”

Needless to say, it wasn’t a joke.

When one is hit by unexpected news, the reaction can take many forms. My first reaction was, of course, sadness. It again hit a couple days after the news. I cried myself to sleep two nights in a row just from listening to “A Little Bit Longer” by the Jonas Brothers. I know, cheesy, but it seemed like my eyes were welling up at anything those days.

Then there was anger. My mom is the health nut, the one who literally forces my entire family to eat enough vegetables and fruits, to put on sunscreen before heading out to the

summer heat and to make sure we get enough exercise. Then she’s the one diagnosed with cancer. How was that fair?! But I’m being selfish. It’s never fair to have to see a loved one experience pain under the influence of chemicals that are supposed to be saving her life. I know that I’m not the only one in the world, let alone this school, to have to go through that, and I sympathize with anyone in my situation.

That’s another thing I noticed.

People like to think that in the aftermath of grief, they’ll be selfless.

But we’re humans, and we’re weak.

We tend to focus first on how things affect us, and only later on do we figure out how to help others.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Those things that hurt, instruct.”

Everyone faces pain, but part of what makes people better, stronger and more empathetic is how we deal with that pain. We learn to adapt, grow and, eventually, if we are truly strong enough, help others who are

nBRIANNA LEYDEN hurting as much as we once were.

I know that although most of my friends had no idea where my head was at, or how I was dealing, the fact that they just tried to relieve my anxiety was enough. If you ever find yourself devastated and confused like I was, talk to someone immediately.

Thankfully, my mom is almost in full recovery, and has even been getting back to a normal life now; well, as normal as you can get while taking hormone shots for the next few years. My family’s been “recovering” as well, and we’re finally past the days where we’d snap at each other just because the tension was so high. I like to think that someday I’ll be able to regain the trust in God that I lost when I found out she had cancer, and maybe, I hope, I’ll be able to hear “Mom” without thinking of cancer.

It’s the thought that counts, not the price.

Stray away from the commercialism of holidays and find their true meaning.

T

he countdown has begun; 21 days until Christmas. Although it’s a month away, I can’t help but anticipate the days of relaxation to come.

The idea of catching up with old friends, spending time with my family consume my mind as I’m daydreaming in class.

Then, my dreams are shattered.

My blood pressure rises as I stress out.

Gifts.

What will I do about all of the gifts I need to buy?

I’m not trying to sound like Scrooge here; don’t get me wrong.

I truly enjoy giving my loved ones gifts. It’s the process of getting the gift that is overwhelming. How much money do I need to save? If I start

08/december 4

saving my paychecks now, will I have enough money? I’m just a teenager.

I don’t have a lot of necessities to spend my money and, yet, I still stress out. I can’t even imagine how parents must feel about buying gifts for their children.

When did the holidays become so expensive? Last year, according to christmasspirit.com, shoppers spent approximately $1,000 during the Christmas season. It’s ridiculous.

Yes, it’s an extremely kind gesture to give someone a gift, but it doesn’t have to burn a hole in your wallet.

Instead, people are acquiring large debts. According to Reuters’ “U.S. Holiday Spending Could be Again Cut: Survey,” 13.5 million consumers still haven’t paid off their holiday debt from last year. So, what do we

do, America?

How can we give gifts and avoid debt at the same time?

Try making some of your gifts.

There is no better way to personalize a gift than make it yourself.

One of the best gifts that I received was made by a friend three years ago. It was a large collage of pictures of my friend and me. It included photos and letters, and it summed up our friendship perfectly.

I couldn’t believe she put so much thought into it. It’s not the price tag that makes the gift; it’s the meaning behind it.

When thinking of gift ideas for a family member or friend, consider a joint gift. Every year, my siblings and I split the cost equally for gifts for each other. In the end we are

nMADI WATTS able to spend more money together as a whole, and as a result, we find the perfect present without breaking the bank.

When shopping for a friend or a co-worker, consider a white elephant gift exchange. Two years ago my friends an I tried doing this. Not only did it save money but it almost made it more fun while trying to figure out who was shopping for who.

The holidays are a wonderful time of the year, but remember it’s about loved ones not price tags.

There is more than one way to look at college.

While everyone else is scrambling to figure out what college they want to attend the next four years, I have decided to take a year at JCCC to figure out what I will do the rest of my life and save a little money, too.

W always

e live in a world that is looking toward the future. I can’t remember a day when somebody hasn’t asked me what I’m doing next year or that I don’t get a piece of junk mail from a college in rural Iowa and South Dakota or an e-mail saying, “Apply soon, the application deadline is approaching.” I have decided to take it slow. I am allowing myself an extra year to explore my options and to save a little money, too I remember my freshman year when all the teachers would talk about is the ACT. In every class, I was handed this chart to see what score I needed to get. I understand why many colleges require the ACT, but it does not reflect your achievements in high school.

Most of the material covered on the test is learned by the time you finish your sophomore year. That’s

why I only took the ACT once.

Even though I didn’t get the score I wanted, I don’t think one four-hour test should determine my entire post-secondary educational future.

Instead of focusing on the standardized test, I have focused on my studies and my extracurricular activities. In the last three years, my main focus has been the school newspaper and website. Putting in countless hours covering our school’s sports teams and laying out newspaper pages, I have learned a great amount about working at a high level. Because journalism is also a tremendous time commitment, I have learned how to manage my time.

Every day I write up a schedule, hour by hour, of what I need to accomplish. On the weekends, I spend two to four hours studying at the library because, though I would

rather be glued to the couch watching whatever football game is on, time management is something everyone needs before going to college.

I have the qualifications to be accepted to many universities, but it does not make the most sense for me in the long run. I will be in school for a long time, perhaps eight years after graduating high school. I plan to pursue my doctorate in political science or history.

That is why I am going to JCCC next year. When I tell people this, some stare at me and wonder. But it’s very simple: JCCC is a great school, and it’s about $10,000 cheaper than any of my other options.

I see JCCC as a small step before going on to a university.

JCCC enables me to knock out my general education credits in a small classroom environment, save a large amount of money and pursue all

nRYAN MCCARTHY of my options, whether I end up at a large university in a metropolitan area or a small school in the middle of nowhere.

This is one of the biggest decisions in my life, and I don’t want to make a long-term commitment until I am absolutely sure that a particular school is right for me.

It is not the way most high school students take on the college process, but I have seen too many members of my family and friends come back to JCCC because they were not ready for the university level.

College is something that should not be taken lightly. It will determine what will happen with the rest of your life unless you’re planning to go to school forever like me. With all that said, I am ready to move on to the next part of my life, but I’m going to do it at my own pace.

Eating healthy is overrated.

With fast food being shoved down American’s throats everyday, it’s doubtful That America will ever be able to leave the dllar menu. love fast food. There’s I nothing better than going out to lunch and stuffing myself full of grease and saturated fat. Not only do I love the feeling of my arteries clogging, but I love how cheap it is to do it. My “usual” at McDonalds (two McChickens, small fry and a large drink) is a mere $4.31. Yes, the fast food life is the best, and it’s safe to say that I may never be able to get away from it.

So when a friend posed the question, “Why not try eating healthy for today?” I stepped back, putting up a cross (made out of fries) in fear that the fast food gods would strike him down for this blasphemous statement. But his question actually cleared my mind of the greasy

burgers and fries and allowed me to think straight, or at least, healthy.

Then the large Coke knocked some sense into my head. We will never make America a truly healthy country. Sorry, Vince, but the SlapChop isn’t going to make America skinny again. I’ve found there are two things Americans hate the most: accepting new ideas and physical activity. Being healthy, unfortunately, requires people to do both of those.

Healthy. The term itself is a relatively new concept when it comes to the average American.

Our bellies have been filled with fast food for the majority of our lives and changing our eating habits could be treacherous to our stomachs’ values. Personally, I find “health”

food boring. If they presented it half as well as most fast food chains presented their grease burgers, then I’m positive sales would sky rocket.

C’mon, who wouldn’t want to eat food that is presented by a creepy clown?

It’s an issue of the food’s presentation. People love the fact that fast food is fun and cheap. That’s why I love it. I love that when I’m thinking about getting a fourth meal, I can have it my way; I’m lovin’ it.

I will be the first to admit, though, I have tried eating healthy. The food was incredible, and I left feeling a sense of accomplishment for not ordering food that made me feel like I was dying slowly. Thinking about it now, I’m pretty positive that I don’t

nJEREMY ALLEN like fast food. The only thing that keeps me away from it, though: the price. One meal, which in all honesty didn’t fill me up half as much as my “usual” at McDonalds would, cost me about twice the price. I thought that was ridiculous. So for now, I’ll stick to my “usual”.

I’m not sure if America will ever satisfy it’s never-ending appetite for fast food. Personally, I’m positive I will struggle leaving the dollar menu. Maybe someday I’ll learn to eat healthy, but all I know now is that if I stay in the drive-thru lane, I’m screwed when my metabolism gives out.

opinions\9

northwest passage/smnw.com

Twilight: New Moon Werewolves, vampires and damsels in distress ­— all part of the obsession sweeping teenage girls across the world.

I won’t lie; I was on the edge of my seat all day November 20, waiting for a big screen shot of Taylor Lautner, the werewolf Jacob, just like every other girl in the theater.

Dozens of “twi-hards” lined up outside, selling out theaters almost 24 hours after the premiere. I’ll admit, my $7 was much better spent

on the greatly awaited sequel than the first film. Luckily, a bigger budget allowed for better effects, plus the cast improved substantially from the previous movie.

After reading the series several times, I prepared myself to be disappointed with how the characters were displayed. Yet, Robert Pattinson, Kristin Stewart and Lautner didn’t let me down. Edward’s departure was just as heartbreaking as in the novel, and Jake was

as comforting as ever. I’ve always been on “Team Edward” but now I’m seriously considering adding a “Team Jacob” t-shirt to my closet.

Twilight is all about frustrating, but one-of-a-kind romances. Not only did the chemistry between Stewart and Pattinson carry over from the first movie, but she and Lautner portrayed their relationship beautifully, too. Still, I couldn’t help but miss Edward. New Moon is the beginning of Edward and

Jacob’s fight for Bella’s heart, and leaves readers and viewers alike wanting more.

In the end, Bella and Edward’s love conquers all. Although it’s a rather cliché ending, fans wouldn’t be satisfied any other way. The Twilight Saga’s forbidden love wasn’t lost in translation, and New Moon has only heightened my anticipation for the film debut of Eclipse.

Rachel Alvey

Gonzo: The Life of Hunter S. Thompson by Jann Wenner and Corey Seymour When I first received Gonzo: The Life of Hunter S. Thompson, I expected a typical biography with a set narrator, plot, etc.

What I expected and what I found were completely different, but I should have predicted this outcome. After all, there is nothing typical about Hunter S. Thompson.

Thompson was widely known for his excessive drug and alcohol use and eccentric personality; yet he acquired his fame as a journalist and an author, most commonly known for writing articles for Rolling Stone magazine. He wrote the psychedelic book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which would later come to life through the big screen. He was the king of “gonzo,” a style of journalism in which the reporter becomes so involved in the action that he becomes one of the central figures of his stories.

What I found in this book was something much more personal — 437 pages of the writings of close friends, colleagues, family and others who were part of Thompson’s life, recounting their memories of him. With every page, I be-

10/december 4

came more consumed by the book. It was like I became part of that life — a part of that group of friends for just a little bit.

I loved it.

I couldn’t put it down because, for just a moment, I had insight on the outrageous inner workings of an eccentric individual and “It was a little bit like being down the rabbit hole with Alice.”

One of this book’s strongest points is the raw truth it presents. No matter how controversial or ugly it may be, no topic was left out. From the pages poured accounts of drugs, alcohol, arrests, addiction, fights, love and, eventually suicide.

This book glorifies Thompson. By the end of the book, one can’t help but admire the man. When I reached the last page, I was amazed by the life Thompson led. This book kept my attention from beginning to end and is truly one of a kind. I believe that anyone would enjoy it because in a way it makes you examine your own life.

In the end, this book is entertaining, depicting all of Thompson’s ludacris shenanigans. Madi Watts

A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is perhaps one of the most recognized holiday stories within English culture, emphasizing empathy and charity to those less fortunate.

Although the thematic resonance was the same as the novel of the 19th century, the new 3-D film produced

by Robert Zemeckis lacked the warmth and humanity of Dickens’ original. In fact, it felt more like a melodrama rather than a 200-yearold parable.

Like Zemeckis’ other animated films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit , the animation in A Christmas Carol was nicely done. The film was enjoyable to watch because it captured the fine details not only in the setting, but in the characters’ faces as well. In scenes where it was snowing as well as when Scrooge was flying, the 3-D effects added to the film’s frenetic feel. The multiple voice performances by Jim Carrey

often added humor, but sometimes were not appropriately placed. One of the most disappointing aspects of the film was the character of Tiny Tim, who was exploited for a cheap “awww...” from the audience.

Despite the fact that it was labeled a Disney film, some of the scenes were not as “kid-friendly” as advertised. The darker parts of the book translated to the screen in a rather frightening way. Although, in the end, my 11-year-old brother and I enjoyed the film, the 6-year-old in front of me was scared enough to cling to her mother when the Grim Reaper-shaped Ghost of Christmas Future appeared near the end of the movie.

Despite the unexpected frightening moments and the cliche attempts at evoking Christmas cheer, the revamped A Christmas Carol is worth seeing. Lauren Minnick

now playing

Haught Style Haught Style, located in the Prairie Village Shopping Center, is a small boutique featuring designer clothes and accessories from Max & Leo, Latico Leather, Andrea Brueckner Bags, Emma & Posh and Tehya. When you first come into the store, it is easy to fall in love with Haught Style’s apparel, until you discover the price tags.

The store is a bit pricey but, more then half of the products are worth buying because of the originality.

But I did find great deals in the sale section in the back of the boutique.

The store comes with a variety of

clothes from classy to vintage as well as one-of-a-kind shirts. This boutique would be a perfect place to do some holiday shopping for a friend or family member who admires fashion. The merchandise is unique, charming and can open up your fashion sense. I bought a brown skirt for approximately $43 dollars in the sale section. It goes well with practically any solid color t-shirt and looks good with sandals or high heels. I made this skirt a casual outfit and then turned it into a classy one for a wedding rehearsal. Maddie Niemackl

Brothers

courtesy of rottentomatoes.com

When a marine goes overseas, his younger brother cares for his wife and children, becoming more attached to them by the day. When the lost marine suddenly shows up, conflict strikes between the two brothers.

The Road

courtesy of rottentomatoes.com

Based off of Cormac McCarthy’s novel, The Road takes place in a post-apocalyptic America where a father and son struggle to survive while walking south to escape the cold, endless winter. On their journey they avoid gangs, killers, cannibals and organized militants.

Everybody’s Fine

courtesy of rottentomatoes.com

A widower who realized his only connection to his family was through his wife sets off on an impromptu road trip to reunite with each of his troubled grown children.

scene\11

northwest passage/smnw.com

food for thought

From breakfast to lunch, cafeteria workers prepare food to meet FDA guidelines and to keep students full. y the time the 7:40 bell

B rings, kitchen manager

Joy Greenhalgh has already been at school for more than two hours.

Every day, she arrives at 5:30 a.m., ready to begin another day of cooking.

Cafeteria workers flit throughout the kitchen, simultaneously preparing breakfast and lunch for the students. The stainless steel appliances glint in the fluorescent lights; it’s difficult to hear over the clanking of pots and pans and beeping of timers. The freezers quietly hum, stocked with the food that will soon be in the stomachs of students.

All of the food for lunch must be done by 11 a.m., although normally head cook Mickey Robertson attempts to have the food done beforehand so the cafeteria workers can eat. Robertson has learned how much food is needed each day through her years of experience, Greenhalgh said.

“My cook’s pretty good. She’s got you down to the last entrée usually during lunch. She’s pretty good at knowing what you guys like and how much to make,” Greenhalgh said.

Robertson agrees.

“I’ve been here long enough to know now that if I don’t have at

least eight cases [of chicken nuggets], which is 400 orders, I’m in deep trouble.”

Robertson learns how much food is needed for each year in the first two to three weeks of school.

“This year, right now, I’ve got it down pretty good. But then next year, when the new ninth graders come in, you’ve got to watch them,” she said.

The cafeteria tries to have options for all dietary needs, as well as meet nutritional guidelines (see sidebars.) Alongside meat items, vegetarian dishes are provided, such as veggie burgers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as pasta with marinara sauce at the Carb Station. Fresh fruit and

vegetables are available as sides.

(See sidebar) The cafeteria also accommodates special diets.

“I’ve got one girl who brings her sandwich in to me and I warm it up because she has Celiac Disease. She has to watch her flour,” Robertson said.

Some of the hardest days for the cafeteria are late starts or early releases.

“I hate [early dismissals] because it seems like I no more than feed you guys and then you’re all back here looking at me wanting food,” Robertson said. “I said to one kid, ‘I just fed you breakfast, why are you back here?’”

Greenhalgh said the busiest days are Mondays and Fridays.

“We have a saying around here, on Fridays, you guys are filling up for the weekends and on Mondays, you’re coming in and filling up because you haven’t eaten all weekend.”

Robertson agreed.

“Sometimes I think parents tie you out in the yard and don’t let you in the house to eat.”

Lauren Komer

you are what you eat Check out the nutrional value of your favorite NW fare.

chicken parmesan

calories: 503 protein: 23 grams carbohydrates: 61 grams total fat: 18 grams saturated fat: 5 grams transfat: 0 grams sodium: 1016 milligrams

12/december 4

KSDE and USDA food guidelines no more than 30 percent of an induvidual's calories come from fat less than 10 percent from saturated fat provide 1/3 recommended dietary allowance of protein, vitamin A, C, iron, calcium and calories food based menu planning offer 2 meat alternatives each day offer a minimum of 15 bread units per week offer 8 ounces of milk cartridges daily offer half cups of fruit and vegtables daily

GLOSSARY Calorie: A unit of energy. Calories are the main source of energy from food. If too many calories are eaten, the body stores them as fat.

If too few are eaten, the body burns fat instead.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 3,000 calories for boys 15-18 and 2,100 for girls 15-18.

Protein: “An essential amino acid found in every cell, tissue and organ.� The RDA for boys 14-18 is 52 grams and girls 14-18 is 46 grams. rbohydrate: "Carbohydrates are sugar and starches found in foods like breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, pasta, milk, honey, syrups and table sugar. Carbohydrates are the preferred source of energy for [athletes]." The RDA for girls and boys 14-18 is 130 carbs per day. l fat: the sum of all fats

pizza Domino’s slice of cheese

calories: 170 protein: 7 grams carbohydrates: 25 total fat: 5 grams saturated fat: 2.5 grams transfat: 0 grams sodium: 360 milligrams

pumpkin pie calories: 320 protein: 6 grams carbohydrates: 37 grams total fat: 17 grams saturated fat: 6.4 grams sodium: 335 milligrams

tater tots

calories: 100 protein: 1 gram carbohydrates: 13 grams total fat: 4 grams saturated fat: 1 gram transfat: 0 grams sodium: 220 milligrams

hot dog

calories: 232 protein: 11 grams carbohydrates: 21 grams total fat: 12 grams saturated fat: 3.5 grams transfat: 0 grams sodium: 838 milligrams

rated fat: "A fat that is solid at room temperature and comes chiefly from animal food products. Some examples are butter, lard, meat fat, solid shortening, palm oil, and coconut oil.

These fats tend to raise the level of cholesterol in the blood." fat: "An unhealthy substance, also known as trans fatty acid, made through the chemical process of hydrogenation of oils. Hydrogenation solidifies liquid oils and increases the shelf life and the flavor stability of oils and foods that contain them. Trans fat is found in vegetable shortenings and in some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods and other foods." um: the amount of salt in an item. The RDA for 14-18 year old males and females is 2400 milligrams per day.

Sources from medicinenet.com

bosco sticks (2) calories: 420 protein: 24 grams carbohydrates: 48 total fat: 14 grams saturated fat: 7 grams sodium: 800 milligrams

apple slices

calories: 55 protein: less than 1 gram carbohydrates: 15 total fat: less than 1 gram saturated fat: less than 1 gram transfat: 0 grams sodium: 1 milligram

scene\13

northwest passage/smnw.com

STUDENT SHUFFLE

1 2 3 4 5

SUDOKU 6 5 6 9

Tanner Burton Junior

1 9 4 4 5 5 7 8 1 1 2 5 4 5 6 4 7 9 1 2 1 9 5 6 8 8 9 1 4 3 4 2 6 7 1 9 1 2 2 1 5 4 6 8 9 1 3 6 4 5 6 7 8 9 5 2 3 6 5 6 1 4 9 8 1 9 4 5 2 3 8 9

I’ve Got No Ceilings by Lil Wayne “This song is straight-up boss. It’s the remix of ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’ by Blackeyed Peas, and the way he changed the lyrics are awesome.”

Hush Pipe by Weezer “The intro to this song is so legit. Weezer is one of my favorite bands, and this is my favorite song from the Green album.”

At the Bottom by Brand New “Brand New is such a good band, and they have changed a lot since the 90’s, but this song’s progression is so tight.”

Boyz-N-the-Hood by Eazy-E “I may be a skinny white kid that lives in Johnson County, but when this plays, I turn up the volume, roll down my windows and pretend I’m a gangster in Compton.”

Jigsaw Falling into Place by Radiohead “This song is so trippy and awesome. I love to listen to it when I’m having fun with my friends, and plus, Radiohead is one of the best bands ever.”

LIve noise David Archuleta at The Midland by AMC, Dec. 8 Underoath at The Granada in Lawrence, Dec. 9

Apps of the ISSUE iTunes Application Store You can now attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After you receive your destined wand and are sorted into one of the four houses, you’ll be taught hand gestures for 14 spells.

Harry Potter: Once you’ve mastered them, duel against Spells the computer or a fellow classmate to receive points for your house. $4.99

Mayday Parade at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, Dec. 10 Kiss: Alive 35 at Sprint Center, Dec. 10

DriveSafely

by ISpeech.org

Sky Map

by Google

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14/december 4

BlackBerry App World Can’t live without your phone even when you’re driving? DriveSafely reads your text messages and e-mails out loud and automatically responds back so you can concentrate on the road. Prevent accidents and keep in touch with this free safe app. FREE Android Application Store Google Sky Map turns an Androidpowered mobile phone into a dynamic window on the night sky and uses orientation sensors to show a star map for your location. Learn and explore planets, stars, constellations and more.

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northwest passage/smnw.com

harmful

effects of sleep deprivation

Information from the National Sleep Foundation and the American Psychological Association

16/december 4

Risk of auto accidents. Sleep deprivation is the cause of thousands of traffic accidents every year. Accidents caused by sleepy drivers occur at a similar rate to those caused by drunk drivers.

Memory and concentration are compromised. The brain processes information while sleeping.

Without enough sleep, it’s much harder to retain information.

Depression.

The body is dependent on sleep to help process emotions and feelings.

Without adequate sleep, the mind is incapable of being objective about emotions.

Weight gain.

With a lack of sleep comes hormonal imbalances, leading to an increase in appetite and overeating. This can lead to obesity and diabetes.

rise and sigh Teenagers need about nine hours of sleep each night, but, for most high school students with homework, jobs and athletics, getting enough sleep is almost impossible.

Increased risk of illness. With a lack of sleep comes a weakened immune system, making the body more susceptible to colds and the flu, as well as cancer and heart disease.

On average, sophomore Liz Nelson gets about seven hours of sleep a night. Nelson goes to bed at 11:30 p.m. and wakes up around 6:45 a.m, at least 15 minutes after her alarm goes off.

“I usually wake up late because I’m tired,” Nelson said. “I intend to get up at 6:30, but I tell myself ‘five more minutes’ because I’m so tired.”

According to the American Psychological Association, adolescents need at least nine hours of sleep a night. If Nelson needs to wake up at 6:30 a.m. that means going to bed no later than 9:30 p.m. For most high school students, including Nelson, that is next to impossible.

On the national level, only 15 percent of high school students get more than eight and a half hours of sleep, on average, each night.

The average amount of sleep for high school students is 7.2 hours, according to sadd.org.

With a sport every season, Spirit Club executive board, two honors classes and a part-time job at Park Lanes Family Fun Center, Nelson only gets about seven hours of sleep each night. Another reason she doesn’t get more sleep is due to personal electronics.

Once she gets home from her athletic practice or Spirit Club event, she gets on Facebook or talks to her friends on the phone. Nelson will spend around an hour on the phone or staring at the computer before she even begins her homework.

When Nelson gets to school at 7:10 a.m., she goes straight to her locker to finish the homework she fell asleep trying complete the previous night.

But Nelson isn’t the only one who doesn’t sleep as much as she should. Students have sports practices, jobs, homework and other

responsibilities every night.

Freshman Jaylyn Jenks has three hours of basketball practice every night, along with the homework from her honors classes to finish when she gets home.

“I tell myself to do my homework quicker and not waste so much time being dumb, but I can’t.

I have to watch my stupid TV show or take hours to eat my dinner. But I get up fairly early every morning and don’t go to bed until pretty late at night, so I am for sure sleep deprived,” Jenks said.

Jenks also has basketball practice on Saturday mornings, so she can’t sleep in then, which is when many teenagers try to catch up on their sleep. But according to the American Psychology Association, “catching up” on sleep on weekend mornings leads to worse-quality sleep. That’s because the first three to four hours are the most beneficial. Anything more than nine hours has no beneficial physical impact on a healthy person.

As people go through their teen years, they tend not to be able to fall asleep until later at night.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, adolescents naturally go to sleep around 11 p.m.

“I try to go to bed early and can’t fall asleep for hours. It’s like a curse,” Nelson said.

Sleep deprivation in teenagers has lasting effects. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsiness and fatigue cause more than 100,000 traffic accidents a year and young drivers are responsible for more than half of them.

Lack of sleep can also lead to depression and other mental health problems. This occurs because during sleep, the brain processes emotions so that, upon waking, a person is able to be objective about her emotions. The brain

also works to process and store information during sleep, therefore, a lack of sleep leads to the inability to retain information.

The National Sleep Foundation also notes that sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain as well because losing sleep can cause a tendency to eat more sweets and fried foods.

“If I don’t get enough sleep, stress affects me more. I’m irritable,” Neslon said. “I’ve gained weight because I’m sleep deprived.”

Multiple studies have also proven that students would perform better in school if they got more sleep. In 1998, two psychologists completed a study showing that students who earned “C’”, “D”s and “F”s in school got 25 fewer minutes of sleep on average per night. In 2001, a study at the University of Minnesota found that when the start time of school days was moved back 75 minutes, students reported getting more sleep on school nights and being less tired during the school day, which contributed to higher grades.

“If I got 30 more minutes of sleep each night, I would feel better,” Nelson said. “But an hour, that would do wonders for me.”

Maria Davison

+ smnw.com

Look for more about sleep deprivation on smnw.com + Why “catching up” on sleep is so difficult. + The ideal bedroom for getting the best sleep possible + The impact of using electronics before sleeping. + Signs of that you are getting plenty of sleep. + How to prepare for bed in order to get great sleep.

features\17

DANIEL BAUER

pretend A trip to the Renaissance Festival inspired two students to bring medieval warfare to life in Shawnee Mission Park.

Breathing heavily, he sprinted down the hill attempting to eludetwo opponents — one armed with a bludgeon and the other with a spear. Adrenaline kicked in, but nerves were getting the best of him as he ducked behind a tree. Thinking he had escaped, the boy turned to see three more opposing warriors. There was nowhere to go.

In reality, he is in no serious danger, just taking part in a LARP (large action role playing).

After attending the Kansas City Renaissance Festival in September, seniors Sam McCrillis and Bobby Hoelting were inspired to do something out of the ordinary.

“It was a cool experience. We went home and watched Role Models, which also inspired our interest in LARPing,” McCrillis said. “We came home and tweaked the rules a little. We were really excited about getting it started.”

McCrillis and Hoelting, both members of the boys’ soccer team, shared their idea with the rest of the team, who welcomed LARPing with open arms. “[Coach Todd] Boren actually got pretty mad because people

were talking about LARPing way too much that practice instead of focusing on soccer,” McCrillis said.

“They were pretty excited about it.”

They had an idea. Now all they needed was a way to spread the word. McCrillis and Hoelting created a Facebook event and invited all of their friends to attend the first Northwest LARP event at Shawnee Mission Park.

“People were spreading the word throughout the school, and eventually everyone was talking about it,” McCrillis said.

Among the people to notice the Facebook event was Russel Haynes, a regular LARPer at SM Park. Haynes then contacted McCrillis over Facebook.

“He actually helped us out a lot,” McCrillis said. “He showed us how to make weapons and gave us lots of ideas.”

Once everything was planned, it was time for the action to begin.

The first NW LARP event was held Sept. 27 at SM Park. More than 70 students attended.

The winning team was the Compton Coons of Coonsylvania,

led by junior Jacey Drummond.

“It was cool to win. I felt like kind of a nerd at first, but once I started slamming people..,” laughed junior A.J. Spencer. “It got better as it went on.”

LARPing can sometimes be dangerous. A couple of injuries that took place at the first NW LARP. Sophomore Eric Zoellner’s shield was broken in half and he sprained his wrist. Sophomore Collin Pendleton was struck in the neck by junior Brooks Foreman’s weapon and knocked unconscious.

“When you see three people running at you with weapons, you really just want to take off and hide. It’s an adrenaline rush,” McCrillis said. “Essentially, you’re just swinging your weapon at people and trying not to get hit. It started really defensive because no one wanted to get hit, but eventually everyone started to attack.”

The next NW LARP event is planned for Dec. 19, but check the Facebook event page for changes. nEd Spaunhorst

.

DANIEL BAUER

northwest passage/smnw.com

trend of

LARPingweapons “We made probably 30 of these and gave them out to people at the LARP. They are made of duct tape, styrofoam and a PVC pipe.”

— senior Sam McCrillis

18/december 4

“Having a shield was really helpful during the game. It helped me block a lot of attacks. I basically just made it out of a little sled,” — senior Clay Coffman

“I started putting it together like 10 minutes before the LARP. It’s made completely out of things I found in my garage — a foam noodle, PVC pipe, a soccer ball, duct tape, a rope and a buoy.” — junior Brooks Foreman

rules of

DANIEL BAUER

LARPing

ABOVE: Senior Bobby Hoelting and junior A.J. Spencer run through a field at Shawnee Mission Park, waving their weapons for the day’s LARP event.

Initially the idea to start a LARP was a joke, but once the Facebook event was sent, the group of students interested in participating grew to around 200.

LEFT: Carrying a homemade wooden shield, junior Paul Beller tries to defends his team’s king and himself from being slain.

RIGHT: Sophomore Eric Zoellner is defeated when he takes a blow to the stomach. Once a participant is hit with a weapon, he must fall to the ground.

history of LARP

It’s difficult to pinpoint the origin of LARP (live action role-playing), because even childhood games such as “cowboys and Indians” and “house” are considered forms of role-play. Forms of LARP have probably been being practiced since the origin of the human race.

Ancient Romans and medieval Europeans organized events in which they pretended to be from an earlier time period. The book The Club of Queer Trades, written by G. K. Chesterton in 1905, con-

tained LARP-like adventures and may have been the basis for later ideas in LARP. Model League of Nations clubs formed in the United States in the 1920s. Participants reenacted history in these events which was seen as more of a recreational pastime than a game.

However, the term LARP was first used in the late 1970s, when individual groups began to practice fantasy role-play. The first recorded LARP group was called Dagorhir. It was founded by

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Bryan Weise in Washington, D.C., in 1977, and featured combat-oriented battles using foam, dark age weapons, such as swords, spears, axes, javelins and bows and arrows.

In 1981, the International Fantasy Gaming Society formed in Boulder, Colo., based their rules on the popular table-top, role-playing game Dungeon and Dragons.

LARP has since spread all over the world, taking many different forms of role-play.

features\19

northwest passage/smnw.com

namaste

Live well, be well, be good to yourself, be good to others. Let’s do some yoga.

Squatting on the ground, senior Brian Ayers leaned forward, placing his hands 10 inches in front of his feet. Supporting his forearms on his inner thighs, he leaned farther and lifted his feet off the ground, supporting his entire body weight with his arms.

Ayers has practiced yoga with the cross country team as a training element during the past two seasons.

Once a week, a yoga instructor from Element Fitness led the team through a series of motions aimed at improving flexibility and endurance.

“I’d be really tired after a long run, and we’d come in and do yoga.

It made me feel much better and relaxed,” Ayers said.

Yoga originated more than 500

years ago as a spiritual outlet for early religion in India, but it is more of a physical practice today. Roughly 16 million Americans practice some form of yoga today, transforming it into a multi-billion dollar industry, according to a survey by Harris Interactive.

According to Element Fitness yoga instructor Amanda Scott, the main goal of yoga is to unite the physical body with the mind to build positive thinking, which could be very helpful for insecure or stressed teens.

“Teenagers are so worried about what they’re doing Friday night. In yoga, the focus is about you. It’s about being present at this very second and shutting off the outside world,” Scott

12 yoga poses to get started

said.

Although there are many variations of yoga, most classes teach participants how to move through a series of motions that enhance flexibility, balance and strength. All movement is coordinated with deep breathing to create a feeling of relaxation. Yoga is also a time of reflection — a time to find out what the body is capable of doing.

“It’s hard for humans to turn off their ego, but yoga is about allowing your body to do what it’s able to do, not what others around you are doing,” Scott said.

With pose names like Downward Dog and Camel, many teenagers might think of yoga as a frivolous workout like step aerobics, but it’s

not.

“I expected it to be really easy and relaxing, but it turned out to be much harder. It was tough to balance and do a lot of the poses,” Ayers said.

“There were 50-year-olds doing the hardest poses that I wouldn’t think of doing. They were pretty intense.”

According to Scott, yoga combined with lifting and endurance sports strengthens athletes and enables them to recover quickly from injuries.

Although yoga classes are most popular with elderly people trying to regain their former mobility, they are open to beginners. So, if you’re interested in become a yogi, here are some tips and introductory poses to get you started. David Catt

Graphics by Tyler Absher

Mountain

Standing Half Forward Bend

Plank

up, feet hip width apart, arms at sides, palms facing forward, move arms up and down in coordination with the breath.

Goal: To warm up the body, prepare for workout and improve balance

backward, lean chest forward, keeping spine flat. Let arms hang and touch toes if possible. Do not bend back.

Goal: Stretch back of legs

hands to floor and feet back into a push up position. Keep back and legs lined up and lock arms.

Goal: To build arm strength and core strength

How to: Breath deeply. Standing straight

How to: From mountain pose, push hips

How to: From half forward bend, drop

Crane

Child’s Pose

Pigeon

place palms flat to the floor 10 in. in front of feet, shoulder width apart. Rest forearms on thighs and lean forward until feet come off ground. Hold pose.

Goal: Improve arm balance, strengthen wrists and forearms.

knees as wide as possible. Lean chest downward, with butt touching heels. Rest belly between your thighs. Rest forehead on the floor. Arms can be at sides or forward Goal: You should feel a relieving stretch in the hips, thighs and ankles.

to chest, bend knee outward, placing side of calf on floor. Drop hips and back leg to floor. Hold front leg down. Lean torso forward for deeper stretch. Alternate legs.

Goal: A deep stretch in the hips

How to: While squatting on balls of feet,

20/december 4

How to: Sitting on the heels, spread

How to: From plank pose, pull one knee

$5.7 $3.05

billion—the amount the yoga industry in America is now worth

billion—the amount the yoga industry in America was worth in 2004

16

million Americans practice some form of yoga.

72.2

percent of yoga practitioners are women.

Source: Harris Interactive Survey

So you want to start...?

Where can I start?

Element fitness

nHave a friend go with you the first time so you can both laugh about your flexibility limitations. nDon’t be turned off by the number of adults in the class. They’re there for the same reason as you, to enhance mobility, stay fit and gain strength. nFind a class for you. For a greater spiritual element, find an actual yoga studio to become a member of. For more of a workout, pick a health club and choose a flow yoga or PiYo class that keeps participants constantly moving. nFor couples, partner yoga is a great way to build understanding and trust.

7880 Quivira Rd. Classes included in membership 24 Hour Fitness

10328 Shawnee Mission Pkwy.

Classes included in membership 68 Inside Sports

11301 W. 88th St. Classes included in membership Schaffer Fitness

9312 Acuff Lane $10 per class

Downward Dog

Warrior I

Warrior III

under, raise hips, and push heels back to floor. Keep legs and arms straight and hands lined up with shoulders. Let the head hang. Breath deeply and hold.

Goal: Stretch back of legs and improve balance and strength.

foot forward and turn alternate foot at 45 degree angle, as in a lunge position. Keeping knee over ankle, lift arms vertically, lifting the rib cage. Look up at thumbs and hold. Alternate legs.

Goal: Improve balance, strengthen legs

forward leg, keeping arms in line with spine. Lean torso and arms forward, lifting back leg off the ground and forming a T position.

Goal: Improve balance, strengthen legs

How to: From plank pose, curl toes

How to: From downward dog, step one

How to: From Warrior I, stand up on

Boat

Camel

Corpse

ground, lean torso back while grasping calves. Lean back, creating a V shape with your body. Hold for 10 seconds at a time.

Goal: Burning in the abdomen

top of the feet to the floor. Reach hands back to grasp heels, then bring hips forward so they are directly over the knees.

Let your head fall back and hold pose.

Goal: A stretch in the front most part of your body.

arms at side, with palms facing up. Close eyes, breath deeply and relax. Stay in this pose for up to five minutes.

Goal: A deep sense of relaxation

How to: Sitting on hips with legs flat on

How to: Standing on your knees, flatten

How to: Lie flat on the back, and rest

features\21

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best of sports shot

The BOSS photo for this issue is the best for the fall season.

It was chosen based on the stop action and moment. K.C. Waterman runs the ball down the field at the game versus Lawrence Free State Oct. 10. By Kevin Buie

Shane Jennison Senior (Bowling) A.J. Spencer Junior (Basketball) Megan Musson Sophomore (Basketball)

Ben Koeller Freshman (Swimming)

_____ should play me on the big screen.

Last time I yelled at the TV was...

Megan Fox

When the Chiefs played

Samuel L. Jackson

A person I’d want to have interview me is...

My favorite meal at school is...

What I want for Christmas/Hanukkah is.....

Bob Marley

McDonald’s

Weezy’s release papers

Watching Judge Judy

Kareem Abdul- Jabbar

Chicken strips

Beyonce Knowles

Arnold Schwarzenegger

When I couldn’t find the remote

Lady GaGa

Nachos

Alex Nepote

Pauly Shore

When New Zealand lost the cricket world championship

Michael Phelps

School lunches are gross

Xbox 360

sports\23

players to watch

what to expect Despite the loss of coach Ben Meseke due to heart problems, the boys’ basketball team is set to follow up last year’s 16-4 record-setting season with a similar performance.

Two-year assistant coach Mike Rose will step in as interim head coach.

“Coach Rose is a gentleman; he’s a hard worker and people don’t realize that he’s a hard worker. A lot of people don’t see that in an assistant coach. He’s got a great passion for the game and he loves Northwest, obviously,” Meseke said. Rose graduated from Northwest in 1990 and played basketball here as well.

Rose also has some varsity coaching experience. Before returning to Northwest in 2007, he was the head basketball coach at Independence H.S. in southeastern Kansas. Rose realizes that Meseke’s situation is difficult for the team, but the mindset this season has not changed.

“I think we will all have the same goals,” Rose said. “I know that I do, and we will work as hard as we can to get there.”

“We’re really confident with him (as the coach) and fully behind him. We think he’s the perfect guy for the job,” senior forward Steve Carver said.

The team plans to redeem themselves after two disappointing losses in the state tournament last March to Wichita Heights and rival SM East.

“We’re trying to win state this year, and we have a good chance at it,” junior forward A.J. Spencer said.

In the KBCA preseason rankings, Northwest is ranked third in 6A behind Wichita Heights and Wichita East. nRyan McCarthy

Senior Steve Carver, 6’8” forward, junior Drew Goodger, 6’4” forward, junior AJ Spencer, 6’4” forward, junior Trey Fruehling, 6’2” guard, senior Nick Feighner, 6’0” guard . key games Dec. 11 at SM South.

Look for the Raiders to challenge Northwest all night.

Jan. 5 at SM East The controversial “chalk game” last season, the Cougars look for payback against the Lancers.

Feb. 19 vs Leavenworth Leavenworth was one of the few teams to knock off the Cougars during the regular season. The Pioneers will be challenging the Cougars for the Sunflower League championship.

players to watch

Seniors Carly Iverson and Erica Brand, sophomores Megan Musson, Katie Biggers and Jessica Johnson. Although the sophomores are young and fairly inexperienced, the girls have set high expectations for themselves.

key games

MARISSA BRUNS

Most of the important games for the girls this season will come before Christmas, including matchups against archrivals Shawnee Mission West and Shawnee Mission North along with Blue Valley Northwest and Lawrence.

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Senior Erica Brand is surrounded by Olathe North players. The girls basketball team hopes to exceed their record from last year.

HANNAH WILLIAMS

northwest passage/smnw.com

PREVIEW

Junior AJ Spencer initiates contact while jumping for a layup last year against Bishop Miege. Spencer was a leading scorer last year and is expectd to be an integral piece of the inside game this year.

what to expect

Coming off a 2-19 season last year, with their only two wins against Blue Valley West and Lee’s Summit North, the girls’ basketball team hopes to reclaim their reputation of winning. It will be coach Brian McIntosh’s second year as head coach, and he is set on having a more successful season.

“A lot people look at a team with a 2-19 record and think it’s just a bad team,” McIntosh said, “but your record doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not successful. I was satisfied with how our girls progressed last season. I look at the girls and how they matured throughout the season. With one year of our style of coaching under their belts, I think we will be more successful this season.”

“This year’s practices have been a lot more productive because now we’ve played coach McIntosh’s style of basketball for over a year,” Iverson said. “Hopefully, our team chemistry will show in games.”

With a different lineup this year, the girls will look to push the ball.

“Our style of play will be a little different this year,” McIntosh said. “We will be getting up and down the court a lot more since we have some pretty athletic girls. They should be fun to watch.” nNick Feighner

key tournament SMNW Bakers Meet (Jan. 13) will be the first big meet hosted by the Cougars for the 2010 season. The Bishop Carroll Varsity Tournament (Jan. 9) is a big tournament early in the season will give the team a look at how they compare to the competition.

CALEB AMUNDSON

players to watch Seniors Nick Michalski, Brett Dowell, Shane Jennison, Laura Highland, Sam Finely and junior Janie Senior Nick Michalski bowls during a Queral meet at Park Lanes on Jan. 28.

what to expect

With seven state qualifiers returning from last year, wrestling coach Howard Newcomb thinks he has one of the strongest teams he has had at Northwest.

“This is definitely the most experienced team I have had,” Newcomb said.

The team finished last year with a 3-5 record, placed seventh in Sunflower League and 21st at the state tournament.

This year, the Cougars only lost three starters to graduation, and, of those three, two were state qualifiers.

This year’s team is led by a core group of upper classmen, with two-time state qualifiers senior Will Greenhaw and junior Ross Whitmore, who placed sixth at the state tournament last year, leading the group. Senior Grant Berning is also returning after missing most of last season due to a knee injury. Newcomb also says that he is happy with the depth of the team this year. Freshmen Reed Bowker, Patrick Boisvert and Kelby Quint should all contribute to the team’s efforts this year.

“Prepare like champions ­— that’s what we want to do all year, whether it be at practice or anywhere else. We will prepare like champions,” Newcomb said. nClay Coffman DANIEL BAUER

With the 2009-10 season in sight, bowlers are gearing up for victory. The Cougars took fourth place at the state tournament last season, missing a trophy by just two pins.

“It was tough; I would’ve rather lost by 30,” coach Britton Haney said.

Although they did not qualify for the state tournament, the girls managed to place fourth at the regional and league meets. With five of the six bowlers returning, the girls will have a foundation to build on.

Lacking depth, the boys will have to push themselves to make up for lost numbers. Only two state qualifiers, seniors Brett Dowell and Shane Jennison, will be returning along with two varsity bowlers, senior Nick Michalski and junior Chris Goodman.

“All of the bowlers will be improving this year,” Haney said. nAndrew Zimmer

what to expect

players to watch

Seniors Will Greenhaw, Nick Caldwell, Ed Spaunhorst and Dylan Swoyer, juniors Ross Whitmore and Matt Vanausdall, sophomore Chandler Gordon

key tournament

The Johnson County Classic Tournament (Jan. 18-19, Blue Valley High School) will reveal how the Cougars stack up against the 6A competition within the county.

The Blue Valley Invitational (Jan. 22-23 BVNW HS) is always one of the most competitive tournaments in the eastern side of Kansas.

During a tournament last year, senior Will Greenhaw attempts to break down an opponent.

players to watch

After finishing 19th in state, and having an overall record of 17-4 the boys’ swim and dive team led by coach Scott Virden will once again try to make that push to state.

“I try to get them to swim for their best times early in the year and then to stay consistent until league. Once there, they need to rest well and perform really strongly through state,” Virden said.

The swim and dive team is a lot larger this season than most of the years past.

Virden said the biggest difference will be keeping track of everyone’s times. That will be more difficult due to the number of swimmers on the team.

“The fact that all of them are friends on the team is really impressive. They are there for one another and they push their teammates to do better which makes the team better,” Virden said.

The increased amount of swimmers on the team could make for an interesting season.

“They just need to work on paying attention to their personal sets in practice,” Virden said, “because how well they do in practice will reflect on their times in the meets.”

If the team can succeed at that, they should be set for the upcoming year. nBrady Klein

Senior Alex Severance, junior Jens Thomsen, freshmen Ben Koeller

HANNAH WILLIAMS

what to expect

key tournament

The Shawnee Mission East Invitational is an important duel against an impressive SME team.

The Olathe Invitational against Shawnee Mission, Olathe, and Blue Valley schools will also test this team.

Participating in a home swim meet last season, junior Zach Congrove competes in a freestyle 500-meter race.

sports\25

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upcoming games

Boys Basketball: Fri. Dec. 4, vs. SMN 7 p.m Sat. Dec. 5, vs. Washington 7 p.m.

Fri Dec. 11, @ SMS 7 p.m.

Fri Dec. 18, vs. Lawrence 7 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 19, Hy Vee Shootout vs. Rockhurst @ Avila University Girls Basketball: Thu. Dec. 3, vs. SMW 7 p.m.

Mon.Dec 7, vs. SME 7p.m.

Thu. Dec 10, vs. SMN 7 p.m.

Mon. Dec 14, vs. BVNW 7 p.m.

Fri. Dec. 18, vs. Lawrence 5:15 p.m.

Boys Swim and Dive: Fri. Dec. 4, SM Northwest Tri 4 p.m.

Wed. Dec. 9, Manhattan Swim Meet 3:30 p.m.

Fri Dec. 11, Olathe Invitational 4:45 p.m.

Mon. Dec. 14, SM East Invitational 4 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 9, NW Invitational 10 p.m.

Wrestling: Fri. Dec. 4, Steven Leslie Invational @ Pleasant Hill High School 5 p.m.

Sat. Dec. 12, 7th Annual Cougar Invitational Fri. Dec. 18, Johnson County Classic @ Blue Valley Sat. Jan 9, Dick Burns Classic @ Bonner Springs High 9:30 p.m.

Wed. Jan 13, vs. Blue Valley West 6 p.m.

USA Today NCAA Basketball Poll 1. Kansas (30) 5-0 2. Texas 5-0 3. Villanova 6-0 4. Kentucky 6-0 5. Duke (1) 6-0 6. Purdue 5-0 7. Syracuse 6-0 8. West Virginia 5-0 9. Michigan State 5-1 10. Washington 5-0 22. Texas A&M 5-1 BCS Power Rankings (NCAA Football) 1. Florida 12-0 2. Alabama 12-0 3. Texas 12-0 4. TCU 12-0 5. Cincinnati 11-0 6. Boise State 12-0 7. Oregon 9-2 8. Ohio State 10-2 9. Iowa 10-2 10. Georgia Tech 10-2 20. Oklahoma State 9-3 22. Nebraska 9-3

Robbed of his gold

The 2009 Gold Glove Awards were announced for the American League a couple weeks ago, and one name was definitely missing from the list.

The 2009 baseball season came to a conclusion with the New York Yankees winning their 27th World Series title Nov. 4. The season has been over for a month, and yet, there is still controversy involving the game. Not surprised, right?

But this controversy has nothing to do with steroids, which have plagued the game for over a decade.

The problem is about the American League Gold Glove Awards. For eight of the nine winners, it was a popularity contest, plain and simple; nearly all of these guys have their faces plastered on billboards and on TV screens across the nation. Most of them are hitting sensations or are on great teams, which really doesn’t reflect their defensive play at all. For those eight guys, I understand why they won. But for the ninth winner it is a complete mystery to me.

The first two winners in the outfield, Torii Hunter and Ichiro Suzuki, had both won their ninth Gold Gloves, and their stats in the field were impressive. The final winner in the outfield was Adam Jones. He is the center fielder for the Baltimore Orioles. He finished the season with a .986 fielding percentage and nine outfield assists, which are pretty strong numbers.

But was it third best? I don’t think so.

Our own Kansas City Royal, David DeJesus was much more deserving than Jones. He played all three outfield positions this

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season and did not make a single arm and great range. The position error at any of them, while Jones only has a bad name because it is a only played center. DeJesus’ fielding notorious spot for the worst fielders percentage was 1.000, which is in the league. But DeJesus was one perfect. Additionally, DeJesus had of the best in the league based on 13 outfield assists to Jones’ nine. Do his impressive defensive stats. So the math: DeJesus’ percentage was the position he played should not .014 points better than Jones’ and even matter. he had four more assists than Jones One center fielder, one left had. But it was Jones fielder, and one right fielder should win the who won the Gold award. That is how it Glove.

This would make works in the infield. more sense if the You don’t see three third winner was at least a basemen winning the big name, but he isn’t. award, so why should three center fielders win, Jones did not stand out this year in any especially one that is not B rad y K l e i n category. It seems like deserving of the gold. a lot of guys win because of a good Even so, DeJesus didn’t play left field offensive season or a good team, the whole season. He played a little but Jones did not have either of right and a good amount of center, jeremy allen these. He had a mediocre year at the where he went errorless as well. plate, and the Orioles finished even And still, I don’t understand why behind the Royals — a 64-98 record Jones won. Maybe it has something versus the Royals’ 65-97 record. to do with Zack Greinke winning How can a team with a season just the Cy Young, and the committee as bad as the Royals have a guy who thinks that the Royals only deserve played worse defense than DeJesus one award winner. win the Gold Glove?

All I know is that whoever votes All three winners in the outfield for the winners robbed DeJesus of were center fielders. Many people his trophy. He played in 144 games have said that left fielders basically out of 162 (Jones only played in can never win the gold glove because 118) and left it all on the field every it is an easier position than others. inning, just to have some unknown I believe this is incorrect, left field from the Orioles putting his hardcan not be that much easier than earned award in his case. center or right. It still challenges Well, maybe next year will be the defenders to have a strong different... but then again, how can it?

1st

inside the numbers

week of competition Points scored by Olathe North in the 6A for winter sports at Northwest. state football game.

The Eagles won the title, 37-3, against Wichita Heights.

19

Most games won in a season by the boys basketball team.

2

Returning bowlers who participated in the state tournament.

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IN focus

“It was really fun to be so far away from Kansas and have some fun in the ocean, but it was really cold.” —Sophomore Elizabeth Bures