Vol 46 issue 4

1111 S. DEE ROAD • PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS 60068

VOL. 46, NO. 4

PHOTO BY CHRIS ANDERSON / ENHANCEMENTS BY MARJO PAJAJ AND ANNE

December 18, 2009

Guantanamo 2?

State Victory

Top 10 Albums

Gymnastics y

Possible site for detainees is Illinois prison Page 3

Constitution Team advances to National competition Page 8

Top album of 2009 is “Man on the Moon” by Kid Cudi Page 11

Girls’ season begins with a win at Niles West Page 17

DECEMBER 18, 2009

VOL. 46, NO. 4

NEWS

GRAPHIC BY MATTHEW ELLER

1.) The Virginia couple who slipped through White House security and shook hands with President Obama will invoke the Fifth Amendment and not testify for Congress.

2.)A jury convicted Amanda Knox in the murder case against her for the killing of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, on Dec. 4. She was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

3.) Four people were killed in two blasts in Baghdad Dec. 2, a day after a string of suicide bombings killed nearly 130 people and injured more than 400 in attacks on various districts.

4.) Reports of secret jails in China made news last week sparking investigations and allegations of cover-ups (see page 4).

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Wash., D.C 5

Italy

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Mauritania

Beijing

Baghdad

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Honduras

5.) Unidentified gunmen killed Honduras’ top anti-drug cop, Gen. Julian Gonzalez, director of the Office for Combatting Drug Trafficking, on Dec. 1.

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Indonesia

6.) Al Qaeda said Tuesday it was holding three Spanish aid workers hostage late last month in Mauritania. Spain’s Foreign Minister said the claim was likely “credible.”

7.) Thousands of protesters gathered in several cities in Indonesia on Dec. 2 to push the government to deal with rampant allegations of corruption.

Ice mounds discovered on moon by NASA’s newest lunar impact device Erica Bosco STAFF WRITER

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ASA’s Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) intentionally crashed into the moon during a mission to find water deposits in the south pole craters of the moon.

On Oct. 9, 2009, the Centaur crater was impacted successfully. On Nov. 13, 2009, NASA got the results back: they had found water.

LCROSS was sent to discover hydrogen on the moon, not water specifically. It was also sent to the moon to research a possible decision to colonize the moon.

When LCROSS was launched, it purposely crashed into the moon’s south pole. Four minutes later, a rocket was released into the debris from the crash. It was deployed in order to measure the amount of hydrogen and gather other data.

The impact of LCROSS has not damaged the moon’s surface or appearance. It was anticipated to be

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more visually prominent. The rocket made a hole 60 to 100 feet across.

NASA found 12 two-gallon bucketfuls, or 220 pounds, of water in the Cabeus crater of the moon. It was all in liquid form. Possible uses for the water have not been determined yet.

It may be used for oxygen on space stations or rocket fuel depending on the abundance.

“I’m here to tell you that indeed, yes, we found water. And we didn’t find just a little bit; we found a significant amount,” Project scientist Anthony Colaprete said in a press conference. No one is sure how much water is present or how it will react with other things. Scientists also are unsure if there’s water located elsewhere, other poles or regions for example, on the moon.

“The confirmation of water on the moon raises the possibility that humans may one day be able to extract drinking water or breathable oxygen as well as the raw ingredients for rocket fuel from moon rocks,” Michael Wargo, Chief Lunar Scientist

for Exploration Systems at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., said in the same press conference.

Looking into this data could shed light on how the solar system was formed. “Water samples from the moon might also help shed light on the early history and evolution of the solar system,” said physicist Greg Delory, a senior fellow at the Space Sciences Laboratory and Center for Integrative Planetary Sciences at the University of California.“The full understanding of the LCROSS data may take some time. The data is that rich,” scientist Anthony Colaprete said.

“Along with the water in Cabeus, there are hints of other intriguing subst ances. The p e r manent ly shadowed regions of the Moon are truly cold traps, collecting and preserving material over billions of years.” “After the Apollo program ended, we concluded that the moon was dead,” Schultz said. “Now what we’re seeing is a place with a reservoir of ices that have been collected over

GRAPHIC BY ADRIAN ADAMIEC

billions of years.”

LCROSS consiste d of nine instruments: one visible, two near infrared, and two mid-infrared cameras; one visible and two nearinfrared spectrometers; and a photometer. LCROSS orbited around Earth for 37 days before landing on the moon.

VOL. 46, NO. 4

DECEMBER 18, 2009

Guantanamo detainees possibly coming to Illinois prison NEWS EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAYLIFE.COM

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There are also concerns that those detainees could recruit from regular inmates in the prison.

How e v e r, t h e O b a m a administration says no visitors, aside from approved attorneys, would be allowed to visit the detainees in Thomson. The detainees would be

includes placing regular federal inmates in the now virtually empty prison, would generate between 2,340 and 3,250 direct and indirect jobs. The report also claims the move would inject more than $1 billion into the region’s economy over the first four years. “ This is an opportunity to dramatically reduce unemployment, create thousands of good-paying jobs and breathe new economic life into this part of downstate Illinois,” said Senator Durbin.

In a recent press release Jerry Hebeler, the Thomson Village president, said, “I know the word terrorist scares a lot of people, which it did me.” But Hebeler also sees the prison as an opportunity to reverse an economic decline in the area. Our unemployment in Carroll County is 10.5 percent. Maybe that would cut it down in half,” he said. People in the town have not made many comments to the media, but many wonder how they could allow Guantanamo Bay detainees to be housed in their town.

“I can’t imagine the people of Illinois would like to have these prisoners incarcerated in their state.

There may be some local officials who are going to support it, but I expect it will be a huge issue up in Illinois, probably in the U.S. Senate race up there next year,” U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told “Fox News Sunday.”

Any proposal to move detainees to Illinois would require final approval from Congress as part of an overall package to close Guantanamo Bay.

News

and legal hurdles are making it difficult for his administration to meet that goal. northern Illinois prison is a top “We may not hit it on the date, contender to house detainees of but we will close Guantanamo. And Guantanamo Bay. “The plans could we are making good progress toward include a purchase of the facility doing that,” White House senior by the federal government,” Illinois advisor David Axelrod said.

Governor Pat Quinn said.

Guantanamo Thomson Correctional B ay c u r r e nt l y Center, a maximum security houses about 215. facility that is virtually vacant The fundamentals is about 150 miles west of of the deal include Chicago. Due to the plan by the federal the Obama administration to government close Guantanamo Bay by the buying the $140 end of the year, the Bureau of million Thomson Prisons has been considering prison, leasing a two other prisons to house the separate section inmates: Fort Leavenworth to the Defense in Kansas, and a facility in Department for Standish, Michigan. detainees and “They are weighing their filling the rest of options and Illinois is among them,” said Robert Reed, a Thomson Correctional Center is a possible site for detainees the 1,600 cells from Guantanamo Bay. Thomson is one of three possible sites. w i t h r e g u l a r spokesman for Quinn. federal inmates.

It’s unclear how many Guantanamo The town of Thomson, detainees would be shipped to the in a self-contained section of the nearly-vacant Thomson Correctional prison and would have no interaction surrounding the maximum security Facility. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has with the regular prison population, facility, contains only 500 people, said fewer than 100 detainees would according to the administration. many of whom are in support of be housed there, but there is no Federal authorities have promised Thomson Correctional Center guarantee as to the exact number. to upgrade security measures at the housing Guantanamo Bay detainees.

A major reason some people are The Thomson Correctional Center prison to ‘supermax’ status, making it was built by the state in 2001 and has the most secure facility in the nation. pushing for the prison to become 1,600 cells, but houses only about The only other prison with ‘supermax’ open for Guantanamo Bay detainees is 150 minimum-security prisoners. status is the U.S. Penitentiar y the economic state in Thomson. Even The plan to transfer terrorists from Administrative Maximum Facility lawmakers who oppose moving the detainees to Thomson acknowledge Guantanamo Bay has drawn much in Florence, Colorado.

There are 215 detainees in the it would create jobs and economic opposition from many people. Critics have suggested there would be a controversial prison at the U.S. naval growth in a region that has a high chance terrorists could come to visit base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, unemployment rate. The Obama the terrorist detainees, a possibility prison which Obama has vowed to administration released an internal not pertinent at the Cuban facility. close by Jan. 22. However, political report saying that the move, which

Jackie Hazlett-Morris

Climate conference underway in Copenhagen Austin Bryniarski STAFF WRITER

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he 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (“COP15”) has created anticipation and raised expectations to cut greenhouse gas emissions, specifically those of carbon dioxide, in order to reduce the effects of climate change and construct a framework that will succeed the Kyoto Protocol.

COP15 is an extension of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a 17-year-old plan first put into place in Rio de Janeiro’s Earth Summit.

The meetings were not expected to create any legally-binding treaty,

but to create a thought-out blueprint to usher us into the next few climate talks. A legally-binding treaty will most likely be before the year 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol expires.

Certain countries have provided what they say are the goals that they will accomplish as far as the reduction of carbon emissions goes.

With the United States and China being the world’s top polluters, the pressure was on for these countries to reduce emissions.

President Obama came to the summit wanting to pledge a 17-20% reduction of carbon dioxide from 2005 levels, and a more ambitious 83% by 2050. The European Union has put into place a “20-20-20” goal,

where 20% of carbon emissions are reduced by 2020.

China, the world’s worst polluter, wanted goals that were outlined by China’s State Council and President Hu Jintao before the talks: “notable” cuts, somewhere in the range of 40%-45% by 2020 and car mileage restrictions greater than those of the United States.

India, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada, the world’s largest CO2 emitters after China and the US, have all put into place their own goals for taking care of emissions in their country.

“We can choose to go down the road towards green prosperity and a more sustainable future. Or we can

choose a pathway to stalemate and do nothing about climate change leaving an enormous bill for our kids and grand-kids to pay,” Connie Hedegarrd, the Minister for the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen, said. “It really isn’t that hard a choice.”

Not only did the talks try to curb the quantitative measures of greenhouse gas emissions, but new ways of utilizing clean, alternative energy were explored. Natural gas, wind and solar power were among those, along with the possibility of “clean coal” technologies, where carbon dioxide is trapped from coal plants before diffusing into the atmosphere.

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DECEMBER 18, 2009

VOL. 46, NO. 4

Classroom cuts looming in District 207 Sam Okrasinski

NEWS

NEWS WRITER

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nly a few short months after the district’s budget crisis came to light, major changes to the school are looming.

As many students and teachers have anticipated, or even feared, the changes that are being proposed are some that will affect class size, academic and extracurricular fees, teaching environments, and most other areas of school life.

The agenda for the Board Meeting on Monday, December 7, included a number of pertinent topics that could greatly impact the classroom environment for many students.

One main focus of the meeting was to be related to summer school fees. Many of the offered summer school courses will possibly face an increase in fees, the most notable being mathematics, which could face a fee increase from $10 to $180, and Drivers Ed, which could face a fee raise from $250 to $325.

This could be a source of problems for students with financial concerns; however, the MTA also wants the Board to consider making the payment schedule more flexible for some families.

Another potentially negative option being considered is eliminating classes for which there is low

enrollment. According to the MTA/ Administration Impact Bargaining summary from November of 2009, it is being suggested that any class for which the enrollment is less than 15 students by October 1 should be eliminated from the curriculum the following school year.

Additionally, for District 207 music programs a Traveling Teacher Program is being considered. If the enrollment in any music class within the district is too low, it is not fiscally prudent for that school to maintain a dedicated instructor for each of those classes. Therefore, a teacher who already holds a teaching position elsewhere will come to the aforementioned school to teach the class.

According to other topics of the Board Meeting agenda, teachers could also be facing some major changes in district policy and classroom situations.

One idea being proposed is an increase in the maximum class size for all regular through AP English and reading classes from 22 to 28 students and an increase in the maximum student load for English and reading teachers from 110 to 130 students per semester.

Ms. Visee, the MTA president, indicated that the board declined “limiting the scope of class size

i n c r e a s e s .” Ad d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Administration proposes to eliminate the policy of allowing “professional staff to petition the board for additional salary, for consideration of prior work experience, related to their teaching field.”

If this policy is approved, a teacher’s prior work experience can only be weighed toward their salary before being hired.

The board is also considering a proposal to suspend the Internal Un ive rs it y Pro g r am for s t af f development for the spring/summer of 2009/10. If the proposal is approved, courses will only be offered that pertain to new teacher mentoring.

The board may also chose to either re-structure or eliminate the program altogether.

It is clear that the board and MTA both have a lot to consider pertaining to District 207 staff conditions for future years.

Many changes to the school are well under way and while some of them may negatively impact students and staff alike, the MTA, Administration, and board are taking all angles of these issues into consideration. While very little is set in stone yet, any changes will surely be made with the best interests of the District 207 community in mind.

‘Black Jails’ in China cause government stir Jason Tan

NEWS WRITER

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report came from “Liaowang” (“Outlook”) magazine, a staterun magazine in China, revealing the use of “Black Jails” in Beijing. Chinese officials have yet to admit if this is true or not.

“Outlook” magazine is considered one of the high-end magazines written for the elite in the Chinese government, and is published by Xinhua, the official news agency of China. These so-called Black Jails are where local government officials supposedly locked up the petitioners in secretive, unknown places, like run-down hotels and rented houses.

These captives are usually beaten and tortured by the people who are running these jails. This isn’t the first time an issue concerning illegal jails has been on the news.

Black Jails have been documented before by human rights groups and other media around the world. These Black Jails in China were allegedly

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used to imprison petitioners who wanted to voice their complaints regarding various injustices to Chinese officials in Beijing, mainly because their local officials have been ignoring their complaints.

Many of these petitioners are victims of issues such as assault, land grab, or corruption, and want the central government to deal with these injustices. There are allegations that local officials would send agents or people from private security firms to hunt down the petitioners on the streets of Beijing and put them in these unofficial jails.

Local governments in China are often evaluated by the number of complaints that are filed by the citizens. These local officials are afraid that their superiors would give them bad marks if there are a lot of complaints.

In order to keep citizens from doing this, officials would lock up these petitioners before they are able to voice their complaint to the

central government. Local officials hoped that this would discourage the complainers.

This was also meant to send a message to all other citizens who want to complain to the central government, showing them what the consequences would be if they do. According to some of the news articles, these secret jails have created a new industry of people who are providing services for the detainees or helping local officials to hunt down the petitioners in Beijing.

The local government pays people to provide food, accommodation, and transportation for these captives.

They pay Black Jail operators 100 Yuan, to 200 Yuan which is about $20-$30 a day for each person held in their facility.

Now that the news has been exposed to the world, human rights activists see this as an opportunity to openly talk with the Communist leaders about this situation.

Maine South High School 1111 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL 60068

Signed letters to the editor should be delivered to room LRC 1 or given to a member of the editorial staff. SOUTHWORDS reserves the right to edit material for clarity and brevity and to reject obscene/libelous submissions.

Editors-in-Chief Caileen Bazarek Anne Wave News Editors Jackie Hazlett-Morris Ashley Kozubal Features Editors Asha Kirchhoff Joanna Madej Entertainment Editors Tayler LaBellarte Lydia Ramsey Commentary Editors Katie Hernandez Kaci Zimmerman Sports Editors Jimmy Loomos Michael Unti Charlie Vinopal Production Heads Matt Eller Ted Sherbin Graphic Designers Adrian Adamiec Marjo Pajaj Photographers Chris Anderson Miranda Kahrilas Abby Powell Adviser Mr. Stathakis

VOL. 46, NO. 4

DECEMBER 18, 2009

Christmas 2009’s ultimate wish list FEATURES WRITER

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Howe ver, some parents are spending the extra cash in order to make their teens extra happy on Christmas morning.

The iPod Touch is a portable music player and personal digital assistant with WiFi capability. The iPod Touch is being sold this year for $199.00.

App pple’s p iPod Touch has been available, Apple’s reported to be the most reliable.

“I know for a fact there are different kinds of music players out there, but I feel most comfortable using an iPod because I’m so used to the software.

It’s easy to install, and plus everyone uses it so it’s very easy to catch onto,” says Matt Blum, junior.

For the fashionista in the family, Ugg b o ots ill the are still er-one number-one n girls gift teen ing for. are asking Prices depend at style on what teens are a s k i n g f o r.

As for trendy clothing, teenagee girls are also asking for highwaist skirts riety of in a variety colors.

“Jeggings” are also what girls this year are re asking for. Jeggings are just st like leggings but are somewhat mewhat disguised to lo ok li like ke je ans.

Merchandis handis e from the “Twilight” Twilight” saga is one off the hottest gifts. “ Tw i l i g h t ” r o o m decorations, ations, jewelry, ry, and “ Twilight” light” t-shirts ts are on t op of this year’s most wanted gifts.

During the Christmas Ch hrristmas season, season n , familyy bonding bondi ng time is n essential essentia tiaal and can b e m a d e m o r e fun by playing a board game. Even though it may like board games are going out seem lik of style, many are still family favorites and can be enjoyed be even the most skeptical teenager. skeptica Cranium has been named one of Cran the Best Bes Board Games of 2009 and is a fun and riotous party game that brings friends and family together through 14 different activities.

“My parents had bought Cranium for my brother and me for Christmas one year, and at first I thought it was an okay gift, but once I played it I fell in love,” says junior Alyssa Pollina.

Cranium is sure to be a hit at this year’s New Year’s Eve party.

Voted second to Cranium is Scattergories. Scattergories is a fastpaced word game that is a real crowd pleaser. Each player takes a category

Features

ith the holidays fast approaching, many people have already experienced the stressful effects of holiday shopping first hand, like the crazy shoppers who will go out of their way to get the perfect gift or the sold out stores. All in all, holiday shopping could be a huge hassle or an easy activity to get done.

During this holiday season, there are a variety of different gifts that are being universally asked for, ranging from the newest iPod or video game to the latest clothing and accessories.

Beginning with technology and electronics, this yyear’s top p ggifts are the iPod Pod Touch and the Xbox 360. The Xbox box 360 is a game system that offers online nline playing and DVD capability.

Although lthough it does offer a wide ide range of services, it also comes with an expensive xpensive price.

For those more interested in video recording, Pure Digital Technologies has created the “Flip” camcorder. The Flip camcorder is about the size of a cellphone and strictly offers video recording.

Junior Alfredo Lopez says,“We got to use these cameras in one of my classes. It was real easy to use because it didn’t have all of those different buttons.”

To combine passions for music and video recording, consider the iPod Nano. An updated version of the “skinny” iPod nano released last year, this year’s model features a larger screen, a video camera, FM radio, and a voice recorder. It is available in 8 GB a d 166 GB G versions. ve s o s. and Although there are different kinds players of portable music

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Jenna Zawojski

list with 12 categories (such as vegetable, state, president, things you throw away) and must write down the name of one item that fits into each category. It sounds easy enough, but each item has to begin with a specific letter that is determined when the 20-sided die is rolled. This requires some fast thinking, because a round lasts only three minutes.

To thank the parents this holiday season, get them a considerate gift. If a parent is an avid reader, get them a book by a contemporary author, or cut out pictures of your family and create a collage. Either way, parents will love a special gift from their son or daughter.

While holiday shopping can be stressful, one can’t go wrong with some of 2009 2009’ss most popular gifts.

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DECEMBER 18, 2009

VOL. 46, NO. 4

Enjoy an international Christmas Kathy Wabiszczewicz FEATURES WRITER

FEATURES

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hroughout the years, most Americans have gotten used to the same routine: blasting holiday music, decorating houses, and opening up plenty of gifts. Although these are some typical Christmas practices in the U.S., every nation has its own traditions for the holiday.

Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo!

children wake their parents and serve them coffee and Lucia buns. On Christmas Eve, “lillejulaften,” or rice pudding, is served with an almond hidden inside. Whoever finds it is given a small prize. The Norwegian Santa Claus, “Julenissen,” rewards the good children with gifts. The time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is known as “Romjulen.” During this period, some children celebrate “Julebukk,” or Christmas buck, during which they visit houses and ask for sweets. This tradition originated in the Viking era, was forbidden during the Middle Ages, and is only performed by a small number of children today.

We s o ł y c h Narodzenia!

Gledelig Jul!

Christmas in Poland is a time for bringing the family together. One tradition, “Wigilia,” is a 24-hour fast beginning on Christmas Eve and ending with the Christmas dinner.

The dinner cannot start until the first star of the night appears, symbolizing the star of Bethlehem. The feast commences with the sharing of “opłatek,” special rice wafers, during which any wrongs from the past year are forgiven and people wish each other happiness for the next year. The dining table is traditionally adorned with straw to symbolize Jesus in his manger. An older tradition is setting an extra place in case a stranger should come. Christmas trees are simply decorated with many household crafts and are usually left standing until February 2.

Joyeux Noël!

Norwegians commence Christmas with the Saint Lucia ceremony on December 13. Traditionally, the youngest daughter of every family puts on a white robe with a sash and an evergreen crown with tall, lighted candles, and the boys put on long white shirts and pointed hats. The

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Maligayan Pasko!

The Philippines is one of the few Asian nations to celebrate Christmas.

Leading to Christmas is the “Misa de Gallo,” nine days of dawn masses spent in devout prayer. On Christmas Eve evening, a street pageant known as the “Panunuluyan” portrays Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter for the soon to be born baby Jesus.

On December 25, the “Misa de Aguinaldo,” the Holy Mass of Jesus Christ, is celebrated from sunrise to 10 p.m. since many Filipinos stay up all night with Christmas Eve celebrations. Children typically Feliz Navidad! receive gifts on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany.

Chicago has various celebrations honoring the traditions of different nations, including the Christmas Around the World and Holidays exhibit at the o f Li g ht of Science and Museum Industr y which remain open until Ja n u a r y In Spain, Christmas iss one of 3. the most important holidays ys of the year. The Virgin Mary is thee patron saint of Spain; therefore, Christmas ristmas is observed with devoutness ss and holiness. The Christmas season eason officially begins on December ber 8 with the Feast of the Immaculate ulate Conception. The great Gothic othic cathedral in Seville celebrates ates this occasion with “Los Seises, es,” or the dance of six. All homes mes are decorated with Christmas mas trees and “Belénes,” or Nativity vity scenes. Children look forward ard to the coming of the Three Wise Men on January 6, known as the Feast of the Epiphany. If children leave eave their shoes filled with straw aw for the Wise Men’s camels on n January 5, then they will find d gifts in place of the straw thee next morning.

GRAPHIC BY MATT ELLER

In Brazil, Christmas is one of the most important days of the year. Although the people have their own traditions, the nation still retains Portuguese costumes, from the influence of Portuguese colonists.

One Portuguese influence is the “Presepio,” or nativity scene. It is very common to see them displayed in churches, homes, and stores of northeastern Brazil. Huge electric light trees along with displays of fireworks are set up in major cities, including Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia.

“Papai Noel,” or Father Christmas, is almost identical to Santa Claus. He wears a red fur coat and boots, lives in Greenland, and leaves presents for all the good children.

Świąt

During Christmas in France, nearly every home centers around a “crèche,” or nativity scene. Small clay figures called “santons,” or little saints, are set in the crèche. Craftsmen also create figures of local public notables.

All the churches and cathedrals in France are wonderfully lit up and church bells ring out Christmas carols.

Although the traditional Yule log is no longer popular, the French create a Yule log shaped cake called “bûche de Noël,” or Christmas log. This cake and several other foods are seen at “le Réveillon,” a late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Before going to sleep, the children set their shoes on the hearth for “Père Noël,” Father Christmas, who B o ż e g o is dressed in a long red hooded robe, to come and fill. He gives the good children gifts while “Père Fouettard,” the Whipping Father, gives lumps of coal to the bad children.

VOL. 46, NO. 4

DECEMBER 18, 2009

Learn the 411 on lowering cell phone radiation Claire Cohen FEATURES WRITER

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use a headset or speaker. This keeps the cell phone away from the body, as when it’s not placed right next to the head there’s less of a chance of absorption of electromagnetic waves, ultimately reducing the exposure to radiation. For this reason,, keep ep p cell

phones an arm’s length away.

Another thing to keep in mind is when in a friend’s basement or out in the country there’s a good chance that there isn’t much service – avoid using a cell phone in these situations.

The fewer bars your phone has, the stronger the signal it has to send out to the cell towers, which means more radiation.

Most teens love to text, and it’s actually better in the long run.

Texting sends out less radiation than talking does, so it’s a better option than calling. If planning on having a long conversation, stick to the house phone. Harmful effects of cell phone radiation are directly related to the duration of the call, which is why a cell should only be used for calls that don’t last very long.

By following a few easy steps it’s possible to keep yourself healthy.

While scientists are still unsure of the exact effects of radiation caused by cell phones, research is still being conducted. Check the progress of these studies by doing some research online.

Features

GRAPHIC BY MATT ELLER

hristmas is just around the corner and one popular item on this year’s wish list is, yet again, a new cell phone. As high school students, it’s almost unheard of to meet someone who doesn’t own one and use it constantly. However, one thing that isn’t paid much attention is the danger that can come from using them, such as cell phone radiation.

Sam Usher, a junior at Maine South, says he doesn’t believe in cell phone radiation.

“Supposedly cell phones give off radiation, and if you’re on it too much it can give you cancer. It’s a myth.”

Cell phones work by sending out electromagnetic waves, a type of non-ionizing radiation, which has less energy than ionizing radiation.

Although non-ionizing radiation is known to be safer than ionizing, it is still potentially able to harm tissue in our bodies.

There is no clear connection between cell phones and brain cancer or other major disorders caused

by the radiation. According to “The Daily Green,” long term studies have shown that those who talk frequently on cell phones are more likely to develop brain and salivary gland tumors located on the side where they hold their phones. Also, twice as much radiation penetrates through the head of a child than an adult.

Studies revealed that cell phone use in young children or mothers who are pregnant can lead to emotional problems as well. It’s important to keep small children from using cell phones for things other than emergencies. Although much more research is needed to provide a direct link between cell phone radiation and cancer, it isn’t a myth.

“Yeah, cell phone radiation does seem a little dangerous, but I don’t give it much thought,” says junior Marissa Fischer.

The problem with cell phone radiation is that no one wants to accept the dangers of something that is now essential to our lives. The good news is that there are ways that to reduce it.

One way to reduce the risk, is to

Enjoy Chicago this holiday season Jimmy Loomos SPORTS EDITOR

Christkindlmarket: Nov. 25 - Dec. 24 Christkindlmarket is a German style market where visitors can purchase things from German crafts to delicious food to home goods. It is open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekends. It is a great diverse holiday event, and it is unlike anything else one will experience.

Best of all, it’s free. It is located Daley Plaza, between Washington, Clark, & Dearborn Street.

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light: Nov. 20-Jan. 3 This is a festive event at the Museum of Science and Industry, which features over fifty trees decorated to represent the qualities of a certain country. This event offers the opportunity to learn about the world’s countries and their culture. In addition to the tree exhibit, various dance groups and choirs perform to make the event all the more enjoyable. There are also many special events that will be waiting for you at Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light.

Ice Skating in Millennium Park: Nov. 18-Mar. 14 This is a fun activity to try right in the center of Chicago. One of Chicago’s gems is Millennium Park because of all it has to offer, and this is perhaps one of the most popular events. Iceskating in the park is a must because it is free, festive, and fun. It’s great for people of all ages, although, it is crowded on some days. If you bring your own skates it’s free, otherwise one will have to pay to rent skates. The ice rink is located on the Michigan Avenue side of the park.

ZooLights: Nov 27.-Jan. 3 The ZooLights are held at Lincoln Park Zoo and are spectacular. Not only is there a wide array of lights, but one can experience being with the animals first hand. These lights can be enjoyed daily throughout the holiday season, as well as the entire zoo and the treats that the neighborhood of Lincoln Park has to offer. Bring along the whole family because this event is enjoyable for all ages.

Chicago Botanic Garden Wonderland Express: Nov. 27-Jan. 3 The Chicago B ot anic Garden

Wonderland Express is like being at the North Pole in the comfort of Chicago. Outdoors there will be lights and winter flowers, while inside there is much more to explore. The Regenstein Center has a 10,000-square foot exhibition of model trains. They go through Chicago landmarks, under waterfalls, and around various obstacles. During the season, there will be special appearances by characters like Santa Claus, and different events and promotions as well.

B a n k of Am e r i c a Wi nte r WonderFest at Navy Pier: Dec. 4-Jan. 3 Who wouldn’t want to go to Navy Pier for holidays? The WonderFest is one of Chicago’s major events. Admission is free, but a wristband must be purchased to partake in many of the attractions. The WonderFest offers great rides for enjoyment late into the snowy night and different promotions offer the chance to score some free goods. On Navy Pier’s stage there will be different holiday shows, and for New Year’s there will be special fireworks. As always, Navy Pier has a wide variation of foods that

are sure to satisfy anyone, with plenty of discount coupons on the Internet for the economically savvy. One can’t go wrong with this exciting event.

Chicago Sports Fest: Dec. 27-28 This event, coordinated by Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Mayor’s Office, will help with burning off some of that holiday weight. The Chicago Sports Fest, held at McCormick Place will have various interactive zones, tournaments, and demonstrations.

Whatever it is that one wants to do, it can be done at this indoor event. The event attracts around 85,000 people annually, so no one ever knows what celebs may be found in the crowd.

Mac y ’s Holiday Happ enings: Through December This event is one that defines Christmas for many Chicagoans.

People flock from across the country to see the wonderful displays put up

by Macy’s on State Street. Every floor offers something special, but best of all are the window displays. All visitors are awed by the complexity of the decorations. This may seem like a boring event for high-schoolers, but it is truly a sight to see and something one will remember.

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DECEMBER 18, 2009

VOL. 46, NO. 4

C-team wins state for 16th year in a row Asha Kirchhoff FEATURES EDITOR

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understanding the foundation of the Constitution, team members must be able to relate political philosophy to contemporary events.

At the state competition, Maine South’s best overall unit was Unit 4, answering the question, “How does federalism try to avoid the overcentralization of unitary governments and the extreme decentralization of confederations?”

Team members Dan Kaitis, Katie Cottrell, Whitney Mann, Tony Aukett, and Dan Petrokas addressed

the question with a four-minute speech relating federalism to modern day issues such as gay rights, the healthcare debate, and several specific Supreme Court decisions.

“We gelled very well. We worked very well together as a team and that’s probably why we won,” said Dan Kaitis.

The ability of the team to work together well was essential to the success of the team, facing especially tough competition. “It was kind of expected that we would win,” said

FEATURES

aine South, fresh off of a second state football championship, now has another victory to celebrate.

On Friday, December 4, Maine South’s Constitution team won the Illinois state title for the 16th consecutive time.

The Constitution team, also affectionately referred to as C-team, is comprised of 26 seniors enrolled in A.P. Comparative Government.

All members of C-team participate PHOTO COURTESY ANNE WAVE. in this history class, taught by their coach Mr. Trenkle. To prepare for competition, team members also complete independent reading and attend after school practices with Mr. Trenkle and assistant coach Mr. Hansen.

Students study six categories relating to the U.S. Constitution and are then sorted into groups of four or five to specialize in one of the units.

Several themes discussed in these units include the political theory of the founding fathers, civil rights and liberties, political institutions, and public policy. In the competition, each unit chooses one of two questions and composed a four-minute group presentation addressing the prompt.

Then, the unit fields six minutes of questions from judges, lawyers, and Maine South’s Constitution team poses at the state competition at the college professors. In addition to Dirksen Federal Building.

Mr. Trenkle. “[The victory] is a weight off the shoulders of the team.

We competed well and are a little less nervous.”

“None of us really knew what to expect but we practiced really hard,” said Katie O’Brian. The fact that none of the schools could see any of the others compete added to the pressure to maintain Maine South’s 16-year winning streak. “The first thing that you see when you’re in that room is that every single person looks intelligent,” said Kaitis.

Teammate Lizzie McGuire agreed: “We were all pretty confident, but you never know.”

Despite initial anxiety, the team captured the state championship, defeating the second-place team, Lake Forest Academy. The team will now begin practicing for the national competition, which will be held the last week of April.

As Joe Anderson said, “The real question is how well we’re going to do at Nationals.”

Other members of the team include Louie Cordon, Anna Wolf, Jonathan Stevens, Matt Eller, Mike Mangian, Michelle Lis, Chris Ng, Jackie Kiem, Mary Diduch, Connor Doherty, Peter Kumon, Mike Diffendal, Ian Kahrilas, Anne Wave, Matt Ammerntorp, John Oberschelp, Elly Blandin, and Andrew Abtahi.

The Christmas gift that keeps giving Joanna Madej

FEATURES EDITOR

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or most, a big part of the holiday season is giving and getting presents. Even though it’s not, and probably shouldn’t be, central to the spirit of the holidays, the exchange of gifts is a heart-warming tradition that makes us and our dear ones feel special. However, why should this thoughtful act be solely confined to family and friends? What about giving to those who we know can’t really give us anything back?

The embodiment of true holiday spirit should come with selfless giving to those who need it most. Poverty, illness, abuse, and other calamities unfortunately don’t take a holiday.

And while it’s important to care for others all year long, the holidays are a trying time when support and care might mean the most. The ways to give back during the holiday season

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are as plentiful as they are varied, so everyone should be able to find at least one way that they would like to share the holiday spirit.

Donating to charities is a great way to give for those who might not have time to volunteer, but it’s really a wonderful act for anyone to do.

One does not have to donate to a random charity; as great as that is, it would be even more meaningful to find a cause that one is particularly passionate about.

If passionate about healthcare, one can give to charities that are going to use the money for research and medical advancement and/or care for the sick. Charities like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital reach out to the community especially around the holidays, making it possible to even donate at one’s grocery store.

Borders has a book-donation program that makes it easy to give a

book to an underprivileged child. The process is simple and quick; it involves merely picking one of the books involved in the program, buying it, and giving it to the cashier.

If one would like to make the donation process a bit more personal, there are multiple organizations that can help with that. “Every year my family adopts a family and buys them Christmas presents. I also did the DCFS program, where I get a child’s wish list and get them their gifts,” says sophomore Mike Klimmeck.

For the tech savvy, there are ways to donate online. Websites like www.justgive.org and www. networkforgood.org let the user donate online gift cards to a charity of choice.

If things are tight for one around the holidays, it is still possible to donate.

Websites like www.oneclickatatime. org and the famous www.freerice.com don’t require monetary donations

from the donor and are supplied by different organizations. After all, it’s the thought that counts.

For those who want to give back locally, church youth groups are a wonderful way to get started. The Saint Paul of the Cross Youth Group, for instance, runs numerous charity events that its members take part of.

Activities include sewing blankets, running a soup kitchen, and getting gifts, all for the poor or disadvantaged.

It is still not too late to join, and similar groups exist in other religious organizations.

Many Maine South students are already extensively involved in volunteering and charity work. “Every Christmas, I do the Toys for Tots and soup kitchens,” says senior Iwona Staszel. For those who haven’t tried it yet, giving to those less fortunate than us is truly a selfless act that adds to the holiday season.

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DECEMBER 18, 2009

Christmas is the time for snuggling up Josh Timm

STAFF WRITER

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ridiculous will be laughing out loud as they eventually become cold during the winter and search through their closet for the Snuggie. The people who think that Snuggies are useful will do just that; use them. Christmas is the time that people curl around the fire and watch old Christmas movies with their families, and if Snuggies are good for anything, then they

cheap places to take those that mean the most to you, and still have a great time. The thought is the real thing that counts when giving gifts, but better than giving somebody a card that says, “I thought about giving you a gift, but I decided against it,” you can give them a card with two or more tickets to one of their favorite places to go. Spending time with people at concerts, winter-fests, or even movie theatres can mean more to people than any flashy piece of jewelry or technology.

There can only be one holiday gift king, though, and this year, I’m betting that the Snuggie knocks the holidays onto their butt this year, but shortly afterwards gives it a sleeved blanket. Snuggies provide laughs, warmth, sleeves, but most of all, comfort. They’re not expensive (around $20), and almost anyone will love to receive a Snuggie on Christmas day. The Snuggie may not be everybody’s absolute favorite gift, but it will definitely be remembered for holidays to come. Nobody will forget the Snuggie when you take a picture of your uncle sleeping on the couch with a pink sleeved blanket wrapped snugly around him.

Entertainment

ost can remember the first days back from Winter Break when every kid in study was holding their iPod Touches close to their face, marveling at how cool the touch screen was. This year, with all new gifts out, things might be a little bit different. Broken up into 4 categories, this year’s holiday gift kings will be crowned.

We sometimes get our friends novelty gifts. Most of the time, novelty gifts relate to inside jokes or funny experiences which makes novelty gifts the perfect gift to give. However, giving a novelty gift to some friends or relatives with very PHOTO COURTESY THEPREPPYPRINCESS.COM serious personalities leaves Snuggies make the perfect gift for all ages both the giver and receiver this holiday season. dissatisfied because the novelty gift will not be appreciated by all. Fortunately, just like there are are surely good for that too. Even if exceptions to every rule, the novelty your friend or family member hates gift that is always safe to give is the the idea of a Snuggie, a blanket with Snuggie. Many people think that the arms is sadly a very useful invention, Snuggie is stupid, but that is what especially around the holidays.

Those not relaxing in front of the makes it a great present to bestow.

People who think that the Snuggie is fireplace during winter break with

the Snuggie will be in the basement playing “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2” with friends and family.

It’s not that your technology friends are anti-social; it’s just that “Modern Warfare 2” is too good of a game to not consider playing on Christmas day. This video game for the Xbox 360, PC, and PS3, is a great gift to give because of its crowd appeal. Anyone can gather around the TV and play a First-Person-Shooter with their friends, which is incredibly fun. The iPod Touch might have been the tech gift of last year, but not everyone can gather around it and look at all the cool apps it has, which makes “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2” the Holiday Tech Gift king.

“Modern Warfare 2” gathers people around the TV, but after all, it is just a video game. Gifts can be more thoughtful, and the best thoughtful gift around the holiday time is you. Buying tickets to an event or for a vacation can be the best gifts of all to give. You never have to clean your ticket, and you can make memories with loved ones that last for a lifetime. Even if you don’t have money, you can find many

Holiday gift ideas from your friends here in the entertainment section Max Mielecki

STAFF WRITER

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ecember is upon us, everyone.

It’s probably a good idea to spend time looking online for the best holiday gifts for everyone, and look forward to all the tomfoolery of this frigid, joyous season. While you’re whiling away the hours looking for the best gift, we here at Southwords have done all the work for you. These have all be recommended by the entertainment writers, and all of them are guaranteed not to be “regifted.”

“The Hangover”Max Mielecki’s Pick This movie swept the theatres this summer as the comedy equivalent of “The Dark Knight,” starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms of “The Office” fame, and Zach Galifianakis, is “The Hangover.” This movie explores a bachelor party in Las Vegas where the following morning they wake up to discover there’s a baby in the closet, a tiger in the bathroom, and the groom is nowhere to be found.

Racing against the clock to uncover the mysteries of a lost night, they

encounter a stolen police cruiser, a forgetful gangster, and have a run-in with Mike Tyson as they search to find the groom before the wedding begins. The film is excellently directed and intelligently written, not to mention absolutely hilarious.

“Up”-Lydia Ramsey’s Pick Disney/Pixar’s latest computeranimated romp is one of their best yet. The plot revolves around an old man named Carl, who once dreamed of adventuring across the world like an “Indiana Jones,” but now lives the life of a hermit after his wife’s passing.

After housing developers threaten to send him to a nursing home and tear down his house, he decides to take the adventure he always wanted to. Tying several thousand balloons to his house, he uproots it and flies off to South America. However, he’s not alone on this journey; a little boy who’d come to earn his “Assisting the Elderly” badge gets lifted off with the house. They land in Paradise Falls, a garden-of-Eden like jungle where Carl finds a talking dog named Doug and meets his childhood hero, who

after being laughed out the explorer’s league, has come to track down a rare type of tropical bird. This movie’s vibrant colors, cynical humor, and the usual Pixar dose of heart make for something you can show everyone in the family. And we’re not just saying that.

“Pure”- Max Mallory’s Pick Developer Black Rock Studios created this ATV-racing game which breathed some much-needed life into this stagnating genre. In it, you race across visually breathtaking scenes where the goal is not crossing the finish line first, but turning as many of the game’s insane tricks as possible. These are done at the turns drops, and ramps scattered all over the course. However, unlike similar games, “Pure” will punish you for repeating the same trick, so you must have variety in order to score any points. This is actually quite addicting as the tricks are easy to perform and fun to watch. Throw in five game types, responsive controls, and a killer sound track, and you’ve got a winner inside your Xbox 360 or PS3.

“A Very Sunny Christmas”Sam Iorio’s Pick For fans of the FX Network series, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” this straight-to-DVD special has been a must-have. The show revolves around “The Gang”, 5 friends who run an Irish-themed dive bar in Philadelphia. They are Charlie, played by Charlie Day, Dennis, played by Glenn Howerton, Mac, played by Rob McElhenney, Deandra, played by Kaitlin Olsen and Frank, played by Danny DeVito. The cast also serve as the shows’ writers.

In this special, it’s Christmas and the gang in enjoying it in the way only fitting the classic ‘Sunny’ style.

After buying himself an expensive gift, Frank becomes the target of a revenge plot by Dennis and Deandra to teach him a lesson by convincing his former business partner to take revenge on him. Meanwhile, Charlie and Mac exchange holiday traditions and ponder what the best way is to celebrate the holidays. It all combines the wit, heart, and twisted humor of ‘Sunny’ into one hilarious package fit for fans and newcomers alike.

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VOL. 46, NO. 4

... And here’s what you missed on fall TV Floy Laverty

STAFF WRITER

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s fall begins, more shows make their way on to television. It’s their chance to become the next hit.

One show that has definitely caught many viewers’ attention is, “Trauma.” The show is only ten episodes in, and already has an extremely high approval rating. “Trauma” has the drama that every show needs.

There are secret loves as well as family issues. There are the typical spats that co-workers get into, and considering it is a medical show, there are many different accidents to be seen.

The shows stars include Derek Luke who plays Cameron Boone. He rides along in an ambulance with Tyler Briggs, played by Kevin Rankin.

Aimee Garcia and Cliff Curtis ride side by side in the helicopter transporting patients from crime scenes back to the hospital. Anastasia Griffith plays Nancy Carnahan, a woman who is ready for any obstacle that comes her way as long as it doesn’t involve love. And of course there is Taylor Kinney who plays Glenn, the new guy. All of these actors put together a wonderful cast that show brilliance and action.

Within the first seven minutes of

the first episode, there is a helicopter crash. The show is filled to the brim with this kind of action, which continues to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Everything happens in an almost domino-like sequence. For example, a man gets electrocuted, and then a helicopter crashes, and then a twelve-car pileup accident occurs on the highway. Every episode is crazy and exciting. This show can be compared to the show “ER.” “ER” was on the air for a very long time, which bodes well for “Trauma.” “ER” normally took place in the hospital, while “Trauma” captures all the excitement that goes along with the transportation to the Emergency Room.

This show can be for anyone. It has the bloody scenes for those seeking a thrill, and the drama and love scenes for those wanting an emotional TV series. “Trauma” is extremely relatable; whether viewers have been in an accident, have found themselves in compromising situations, or just aren’t sure where to go next. This show deserves two thumbs up for action, for love, and for helping us understand the challenges that doctors and nurses go through every day.

Dominique Guerra

is an odd, illiterate gentleman who likes “ghouls,” and dislikes “people’s knees.” In this past season, when he was asked what his hobbies are, Kelly replies “magnets, just magnets.” His almost inhuman knowledge of cats’ needs, such as “Kitten Mittens” is also notable. Mac is a man of action, or at least he thinks he is. Although he tries to portray himself as a tough guy, he is probably the most sensitive member of the bunch. In a recent episode, Mac and Dennis’s friendship was threatened in part because of Mac’s need for Dennis to check in every hour. Frank Reynolds is Charlie’s disgusting father who once bragged about going to “’Nam.” Dee corrected him by saying “you went to Vietnam in the ‘90s to open a sweat shop.” His gross habits such as cleaning his nails with a steak knife and eating cat food make him the human version of Oscar the Grouch.

In short, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is about the people you love to hate. Although the show may come off as distasteful at first, it is actually an intelligent dark comedy that parodies the society we live in.

“Always Sunny” is a show to be enjoyed by the mature and immature alike.

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s the fifth season comes to a close, Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day deserve appraisal for producing the most consistently hilarious show on television. “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” centers on a group of hilariously ignorant owners of a trashy bar in Philadelphia called Paddy’s Pub. The characters constantly get themselves into comedic situations in which usually nothing is accomplished because of their ridiculous opinions and off-putting personalities.

Dennis Reynolds is an insecure narcissist and womanizer who will go to great lengths to defend his looks. In an early episode, Dennis decides to fast for several days after he is jokingly told he has a “fat face.”

Dee Reynolds, Dennis’s twin sister, is extremely manipulative and, like her brother, insecure. After she is told she is old and unattractive, she tries to prove the contrary by convincing a priest to quit his priesthood so that they could get married. After he permanently separates with the church, she tells him that she was just joking. Charlie Kelly

Have you turned into a ‘Gleek’ yet?

Wednesday Walesa

STAFF WRITER

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IMAGE BY MATT ELLER

ake one part “high-school,” add a spoonful of “comedy,” a dash of “musical,” and what do you get? One of the hottest shows of the fall season: “Glee.” It has become a phenomenon, sweeping the nation and turning teens and adults into hardcore “Gleeks.” The “Glee” Pilot had a dismal premiere, but after their cover of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” hit iTunes, it quickly jumped to the number one sales spot, and turned the little known show into a national must-see.

“Glee” takes place at McKinley High School in Ohio. The Spanish teacher Will Shuester, played by Matthew Morrison, decides to take on the role as director of the Glee club. He re-names the group “New Directions,” and after initial hesitation from most students, Shuester eventually is able to recruit a group of kids from all over the high school social spectrum.

There’s the club’s star and social outcast

Rachel Berry, played by Lea Michele. favorite Sue Sylvester who is the el is completely in love with cheerleading coach, and is played by Rachel all jock Finn Hudson, played by football Jane Lynch. Sue is determined to Cory Monteith, even though he’s destroy the Glee club and will go datingg Quinn Fabray, played through any means to do it. The

by Dianna anna Agron. The rest of show bounces from focusing lee club has even more the Glee on the students’ drama, to Will colorful ful characters including ding nerds, cheerleaders, rleaders, and a diva n a m e d Mercedes Jones,, played

by Amber Riley. y. But the Glee lee club isn’t all fun and games; Schuester and his t he y’ve life with wife Terri, collected played by Jessalynn Gilsig, e n e m i e s although Will is clearly in along their love with the adorable and long journey fashion- forward Social Worker to thee top. This Emma, played by Jayma Mays. The includes fan first season will second half of the first

come back after “American Idol” is done iin April, and builds up to a major sing-off showdown between the “New sing-o Directions” and their rivals “Vocal Direc Adrenaline.”

Adren “Glee” has been able to grasp hold “G of the nation; iTunes has had over 1.7 million downloads of Glee songs since millio May and a there is no end in sight. The has been promoting the show like cast h crazy all over the country, including TV spots on shows such as “The View,” and “Chelsea Lately.” They’ve View doing meet & greets at also been b various malls and shopping centers. variou turn, they’ve been able to attract In tur many more fans. There hasn’t been musical TV show like a successful suc this ssince “Fame” premiered in the 80s. ““Glee’s” first season will have a whopping 22 episodes, which is rare whop for new ne shows. It has captured the attention of teens as well as adults. attent Even critics seem to be singing its praises. The only question left is: will praise be tuning in? you b

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DECEMBER 18, 2009

2009’s most unforgettable music albums STAFF WRITER

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that however, most of the songs are just “electro party songs about electro party songs.”

5 . “K i l l s w i tc h E ng a g e” Killswitch Engage Featured Tracks: “Reckoning,” “St ar ting O ver.”

The first rock album on this countdown, Killswitch Engage’s second self-titled album is a powerful blend of power-riffing guitars alongside alongsid heavy drums and vocals with a cleaner, clean lessmetal sound. soun The s ong, “ Ta ke Me Away,” for Aw example, examp is a blend of all these ele elements.

Killswitch Engage is one of the founders fo of the genre “metalcore” yet “metalc finds a way to blend deep vocal

specifically points out flaws of popular media and political figures, such as Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian, and Sarah Palin. At the same time, the song “3 A.M.” is about a fictional night-time homicidal crusade and quotes the 1991 horror thriller “The Silence of the Lambs” with the line “She puts the lotion in the bucket, it puts the lotion on the skin, or else she gets the hose again.” “Relapse” truly gives us a look at more than one side of Eminem.

4. “The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies)”- Black Eyed Peas. Featured Tracks: “I Gotta Feeling,” “Meet Me Halfway,” “Boom Boom Pow.” In their first album since 2005’s “Monkey Business,” the Black Eyed Peas return with a mix of new songs with different styles and meanings.“I Gotta Feeling” is a club-inspired anthem for people looking to go out and enjoy life while the track “Meet Me Halfway” is a 1980s-style blend of romance and dance music. Past

melodies m into their heavier sound, sound all of which is shown on the album. alb 6. “The Fame Mon sster ter ” - L a d y Gaga. Featured Tr T a c k s : “ B a d R o m a n c e ,” “Alejandro,” “Telephone” (ft. Beyonce) It has been a pretty good year for Lady Gaga already, but now she has topped it off with the release of her new album, “The Fame Monster.” This album is a lot like its predecessor, “The Fame,” in that it combines a techno feel with a lot of pop. The songs on the album are about different things like failed romances and being harassed over the phone at a club. Just to show how big this album is, the music video for the song “Bad Romance” had about 25 million views only three weeks after being posted on YouTube.

It’s no “Charlie Bit My Finger,” but it is making a lot of progress, and fast.

Lady Gaga has used this album to cap off an already very successful 2009.

7. “21st Century Breakdown”Green Day. Featured Tracks: “21 Guns,” “Know Your Enemy.”

In their first album since 2004’s hit “American Idiot,” Green Day returns to the punk rock scene with their new album, “21st Century Breakdown.”

This album is divided into three parts and tells the story of two young lovers, Christian and Gloria, in a “post-Bush” America. They have been sold out by the church, shown in the song “East Jesus Nowhere,” their government in “21 Guns,” as well as every adult they’ve ever believed in. The song “Christian’s Inferno” shows Christian as a more impulsive and destructive character, while the song “Last of the American Girls” shows Gloria as a more political and idealistic character.

8. “Attention Deficit”- Wale.

Featured Tracks: “Chillin” (ft. Lady Gaga), “Pretty Girls” (ft. Gucci Mane & Weensey), “Let it Loose” (ft. Pharell) With his debut album, Wale has proven himself as one of the up-and comings of the hip-hop industry. In his first album, “Attention Deficit,” he teams up with some of the music business’s stars such as Lady Gaga for the single “Chillin,” Pharell for the single “Let it Loose,” and even Gucci Mane for the single “Pretty Girls.” The name of the album comes from the fact that Wale has attention deficit disorder, which has had a huge impact on his life.

9.“Backspacer”-Pearl Jam. Featured Tracks: “Just Breathe,” “The Fixer.”

In their ninth album, Pearl Jam returns to the old school sound we’re accustomed to hearing them play.

“Backspacer” is their most punk album, yet and brings back that ‘90s rock sound. The length of the album, is only 37 minutes start to finish, with the first three songs, “Gonna See My Friend,” “Got Some,” and “The Fixer” being the best nine minutes of the album. Another great song is “Just Breathe,” which, thus far, has been the most successful single on the album.

1 0 . “ Wo l f g a n g A m a d e u s Phoenix”- Phoenix. Featured Tracks: “1901,” “Lisztomania.”

The only French band on this countdown, Phoenix has gotten a lot of success from their fourth studio album “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.” The album has been their most popular album to date, and is what Phoenix is most commonly known for. The highlight of the album is vocalist Thomas Mars’ singing on their hit song “1901.” The album was so successful that it has gotten Phoenix appearances on Saturday Night Live as well as other late night talk shows.

Entertainment

his year has been full to the brim of good music, bad music, overrated music and underappreciated music. Here are the top ten albums of 2009.

1. “Man on The Moon: The End of Day”- Kid Cudi. Featured tured Tracks: “Day ‘N’ Nite,” “Pursuit of Happiness (ft. MGMT & Ratatat),” “Soundtrack 2 My Life,” “Make Her Say ay (ft. Kanye West & Common),” “Up,, Up, and Away.”

One word can describe be why this album is the number one of 2009: originality. In Kid Cudi’s debut album, he blends Indie and Alternative Rock with a hip-hop base to create te a one-of-a-kind sound. Also, unlike most hip-hop, the tist, lyrics are true to the artist, rack meaning that on every track from this album theree is a story behind the song. On the on,” Kid track, “Man on the Moon, ng asked Cudi sings about being rent?” His “why his music is so different?” response is “why not?” The main m was the influence on this album h was wheree death of his father, which all his “night terrors” come from.

“Night terrors” as well as loneliness and other personal issues are the main themes and inspiration behind tracks ss”” “Day ‘N’ like “Pursuit of Happiness, Nite,” and “Soundtrack 2 My Life.”

The album is divided into 5 parts to give listeners more of a look at the man behind the shaded glasses.

2. “The Blueprint 3” -Jay-Z. Featured Tracks: “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune),” “Run This Town” (ft.

Rihanna & Kanye West), “Empire State of Mind” (ft. Alicia Keyes).

Despite the fact that it is the third of Jay-Z’s albums under the name “Blueprint,” this album is much different from the other two. It is all about moving forward toward the future and adopting a different sound. Jay-Z gives us the story of his life from the Marcy Projects to his SoHo Penthouse, while along the way he compares himself to other famous New Yorkers like Robert de Niro and Frank Sinatra in the song “Empire State of Mind.” In the song “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-tune)” he talks about getting past the auto-tune trend and just moving on. Jay-Z once again proves in this album why he is one

of the biggest names in the hip-hop industry.

3. “Relapse”- Eminem. Featured Tracks: “Crack a Bottle” (ft. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent), “We Made You,” “Beautiful.”

In his first album in nearly five years, Eminem gives us a mix of songs making fun of the media and songs that are written with a deeply serious tone. The song “We Made You,”

IMAGE BY MATT ELLER

John O’Malley

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DECEMBER 18, 2009

VOL. 46, NO. 4

Winter Concerts Dylan O’Reilly STAFF WRITER

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s the end-of-the-year tours come to a close, its time for a fresh mix of artists to come and add some excitement into the Chicago music scene; here are some artists who are worth seeing.

ENTERTAINMENT

andrew bird Andrew Bird is a well-known artist in the world of Indie Rock. Bird’s music eclectic and creative; it’s almost like he tells a story with his music. This is a definite must see.

December 14-17 8:00 p.m.

PRICE: $25.00-$40.00 Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut Street

the bravery

Sci-fi movie hits theatres hard in 3-D

The Bravery is a fun witty band, with catchy melodies, and relatable lyrics.

Max Mallory December 15 6:30 p.m.

STAFF WRITER PRICE: $23.00 Maybe you’ve heard of the House of Blues, 329 N Dearborn 1984 science fiction classic “The St., Chicago Terminator.” Or maybe you’ve heard of the box-office-record-shattering movie, “Titanic.” What these movies have in common is one amazing cold war kids director, James Cameron. S o The Indie Rock band from hopefully, you’ve heard about the new California has a classic sound that is high-budget movie from Cameron great to all. Their most famous song called “Avatar.” is “Hang Me Up to Dry.” “Avatar” follows the story of January 30 7:30 p.m.

Jake Sully, a former marine who is PRICE: $21.00 paralyzed from the waist down. Sully The Vic Theatre, 3145 N Sheffield is selected to participate in something called “The Avatar Program” which will allow him to walk again. He is brought to another planet, Pandora, which is inhabited by an alien race tegan and sara These twins from Canada have a great called the Na’vi. The film depicts sound that you will often hear on the the story of how the people of Earth became at odds with the Na’vi and show “Grey’s Anatomy.” their culture, after finding some March 26 8:00 p.m. extremely valuable minerals, and PRICE: $30.00 Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W Lawrence also about what Jake Sully does about it. In 1994, Cameron wrote an 80page screenplay for “Avatar,” saying his inspiration was all the science fiction novels he had read as a kid. this providence Previously known as Sunday’s Best, He originally planned to make the movie after finishing “Titanic,” but this four piece band has a strong the plans were scrapped due to budget indie and pop punk sound. problems.

Now, technology has January 24 7:00 p.m. advanced enough for Cameron to use PRICE: $10 in advance/$12 day of cutting-edge special effects, and those the show. effects are fueling the movie’s hype.

12 SOUTHWORDS

For this movie, James Cameron has combined motion-capture technology, which is where actors’ movements are tracked and virtualized, with a digital environment that was tailored specifically for the scene. Then, it’s tied together with something called a virtual camera system, and in the words of Cameron himself, “It’s this form of pure creation where if you want to move a tree or a mountain or the sky or change the time of day, you have complete control over the elements.”

Another tool used to develop the movie is something called “The Volume,” which analyzes facial expressions. It’s a skull cap with a tiny camera on it that can look at an actor’s facial expression and send it to a computer. Using this, Cameron says that it is possible to transfer about 95 percent of the actors’ performances to their digital counterparts. Cameron has gone all out for this ambitious project.

One thing that’s different in this movie than Cameron’s other movies is the actors he cast. The actors are not well-known, and although the budget is still sky-high, there was some money saved by taking this route. Sam Worthington was cast for the role of Jake, and has signed on for any possible sequels. The only other big movie that Worthington has been in was “Terminator Salvation,”

which came out earlier this year. The main antagonist is played by Stephen Lang, who auditioned for a role in Cameron’s 1986 movie, “Aliens,” but didn’t make the cut. One of the princesses of the Na’vi tribe, Neytiri, is played by Zoe Saldaña, who has acted before in many notable movies, including “Drumline,” “Vantage Point,” and “Star Trek” prior to acting in this film. Some other notable actors include Sigourney Weaver, who was in “Aliens,” Michelle Rodriguez, who was in the “Fast & Furious” series, and Giovanni Ribisi, who was in “Public Enemies.”

There is heavy marketing involved with this film as well, including a video game developed by Ubisoft and a Mattel toy line. There have been three trailers released, one in 3D, garnering over 4 million views online. Cameron and some of the other people involved with the film appeared at a panel back in July, fanning the flames even more.

The film’s budget is expected to be around $500 million, which means that “Avatar” will be quite a gamble for Cameron.

The film will be released on December 18, and will also be released in IMAX 3D. With its high production costs, cutting-edge technology, and engaging plot, “Avatar” is sure to be one of the biggest, and possibly one of the most money grossing films of this year and into the next.

VOL. 46, NO. 4

DECEMBER 18, 2009

‘Twilight’ saga isn’t worth all the praise A

STAFF WRITER

Caileen Bazarek

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

T

hanksgiving break couldn’t have been better with the win for the Maine South football team, which led us to being “One More Time: State ’09” champs—congratulations to the players and coaches. It was great to see everyone downstate, dressed and painted, to support our school.

The turnout was so great, the sports announcers said our student section resembled a Division I college game, which is an accomplishment on its

that would find the prospect of death romantic.

Bella & Edward are the new Romeo & Juliet. On a surface level, maybe this statement is correct, in the first book. Forbidden love, problems with identity, and a vow to always be together are some facets. “Romeo & Juliet” is a tragedy and much better written.

The series is well written. This is perhaps my biggest beef with the “Twilight” series. It is a fairly simplistic story, but a lot of plots can be shortened to a sentence.

“Harry Potter is a wizard whose mission is to kill Lord Voldemort, the man who killed Harry’s parents.”

However, the character and plot development usually goes past the original statement. Bella remains a whiny girl. Edward remains an obsessive vampire. Their feelings are introduced early in the beginning and pretty much remain stagnant.

Just for fun, I will give her the benefit of the doubt and say that Meyer s redundant and ineffective Meyer’s writing style emphasizes the

extreme self-involvement of teenage girls. Maybe Meyer actually used phrases like “It was almost uncanny that anyone could look so… so… beyond description.” to show the lack of cohesive thoughts in love struck teens. But if she actually cannot find the words to describe a character that she made up, well then frankly, that is disappointing. Is it not the job of an author to find words?

This story is taken seriously by some fans, emphasizing the relationship between Edward and Bella that is less realistic than any Disney princess story. These exuberant fans are by no means the majority of Twilighters, but the staggering box office results and book sales are showing a growing trend of harmful tendencies. All in all, the “Twilight” series has little to do with reality, and I hope more people will realize the pure fiction that Stephenie Meyer has created. I am certainly looking forward to the day when I can walk into Borders without being surrounded by Edward Cullen s brooding stare and the Cullen’s incessant girlish screams of “Bite me, Edward!”

own. But now, it’s already December 18 and the countdown to winter break is finally over. I was just in the swing of getting my things back together at school, but, hey, I’m still happy.

I’m one of those people that love Christmas. I’ve been listening to Christmas music since the beginning of November, and I’m not sure if I’ve outgrown it, but sledding is still my favorite winter pastime. But when you take away all of the red and green decorations, the crowded malls, and the Salvation Army Santas, it’s really about celebrating with friends and family.

Christmas is the time of

year when we reflect on the past year—our achievements and our disappointments. As a senior, that can be a pretty great thing to do— reflecting on all of those memories that make your time at Maine South so special.

Christmas for me is a time when I get to see my out-of-town family members who I rarely see. They come down from Michigan and Wisconsin, and they love Chicago at Christmas.

They remind me what a great city we have, and we should take the time to enjoy its culture. We do things that we normally wouldn’t do because of how enthusiastic they are about being in the city. We take the train downtown

which is exciting to them, because they live in rural communities. We all love to see the window decorations, the tree in Daley Plaza and take the trolley. This year we’re taking my two little cousins to see Medieval Times, and what’s more exciting than people jousting on horses to kick off Christmas?

So I encourage you to look at your Christmas break as a time when we should be grateful for what we have.

Take the time to do something for someone else, and enjoy your time with friends and family. Try to take advantage of all that the Chicago area has to offer. Happy Holidays!

Commentary

ll this talk of the second movie inst allment of “ Twilig ht” breaking box office records has reminded me of some feelings close to my heart. No, it’s not the joy of Christmastime money spending. Nor is it the pangs of a lion-lamb-wolf love. This emotion erupting from my entrails can only be described as annoyance.

I do not hate the “Twilight” series; I just think that it is a poor example of literature and reflects badly on our society because so many people worship this saga. I will take it for what it is: a love story between a vampire and a teenage girl, with much drama. However, it is no more than that. Well, maybe it is a money maker.

Here are some arguments that Twilight fans like to make about the series, followed by my response.

Bella is a good role model for women, and women of all ages can learn from her journey. The only way I can see education coming out of Bella’s actions is if Bella provides a cautionary tale. I understand that Edward is the love of her life but by Chapter 2 of the first installment, Bella is consumed with passion.

Seeing as Stephenie Meyer writes in a “stream of consciousness” style, we know all of Bella’s thoughts. 95% (roughly) of these thoughts have to do with Edward. Bella is characterized as someone who is dependent on someone else, a male. This does not sound like feminism to me. Not that all female characters have to be a feminist ideal. I just would like Bella to not be so pathetic.

In “New Moon” after Edward breaks up with Bella, for her own protection, “love, life, meaning… over.” Bella is no longer able to complete sentences. As if that was not enough, she trips and decides to stay on the ground, crawling up in a ball. Then she discovers that she can be close to Edward if she can be close to death. This results in many suicide attempts. If this is not the picture of a healthy emotional state, the world has lied to me, and you will find me on the forest floor questioning why my life is over…

She is quite vapid as well. In her countless passages about Edward, much is about how beautiful is and how his skin sparkles. Call me a hopeless romantic, but I thought the basis of a good relationship was not primarily based on looks. I guess all those inspirational messages about beauty being skin deep were just pretty ways of feigning the truth.

Also, Bella reads “Wuthering Heights,” a novel about a selfdestructive gothic thic romance, for fun.

I have read “Wuthering uthering Heights,” and I would never consider this a book to read “again” forr the fun of it.”

“Twilight” promotes healthy relationships. Edward dward is supposed to be this ideal guy and creates ionship with a loving relationship dward likes Bella. Yet, Edward eep, stalk to watch her sleep, ams her, and dreams of drinking herr blood. Maybe they are perfect for each other, w because I know lity no one in reality

GRAPHIC BY MATT ELLER

Stephanie Bergren

SOUTHWORDS 13

DECEMBER 18, 2009

VOL. 46, NO. 4

Looking for the true meanings of the holidays Teddy Sherbin PRODUCTION HEAD

COMMENTARY

D

uring the month of December (and the two to three prep months), it is impossible to go anywhere without hearing something about the holiday season. It seems that all around, from the lights to the music to the very atmosphere, the world screams “Holidays” at anyone with eyes or ears. With all of this surrounding noise, it gets easy to lose the real meaning of the holidays.

And so I ask, what does the season really mean to people? Nowadays, the holiday season is just another time to get gifts. People upset themselves with what to buy and picking out the perfect gifts for themselves and everyone else.

Riots start if someone mentions a “Christmas break” as opposed to a “Winter break.” But is this what the so-called “holiday season” is all about? Should people really obsess over material goods? Should people start arguments about whose holiday is more or less important? Is this the “holiday spirit” that warms homes across the world (well, the northern world) during the wintertime?

On any normal day, I am a

14 SOUTHWORDS

somewhat less than spirited, but when the Christmas season comes around, that changes. I love the holidays. Starting December 1st, my radio is tuned to 93.9. All of the holiday decorations come up, from the garland, to the wreathes, to the Christmas tree. But none of these things alone are what make me happy.

None of these things are what makes the holiday season so special. So what does?

For me at least, the holiday season is about family and friends. It is about coming together with the ones that you love. It is about giving and wanting nothing in return except the joy of someone else’s joy. The music cheers the room and people sing together. The decorations warm the houses and make things a little brighter. Decorating the tree is fun, so long as I have a cup of hot chocolate in one hand and the rest of my family around me.

Most importantly, I enjoy giving gifts. I only give a very select few, but the gifts that I give are as good as I can afford. I spend my money and time to make sure that someone else can have an enjoyable holiday season.

The holiday season for me has always been one of giving, but most students

that I have talked to prefer getting gifts to giving them. Not that they don’t give gifts, just that they prefer getting them. Don’t get me wrong: this is entirely natural. If there is something that you really want, you are going to be more thrilled when you get it, but there is something about gift-giving that is so much more attractive that gift-receiving. I’m not trying to make myself out to be the perfect child and the most joyous student ever. Even I have things I want, and I love getting them. Still, the joys of giving just aren’t as common as they should be.

The most upsetting part of the season is the arguments over the holidays. Everywhere you look, everything has become “holidays” themed. People have lost any right to their own specific holidays. Kwanzaa is hardly heard of, nobody seems to talk about Hanukkah, and God forbid that anybody mentions Christmas.

What is the reasoning for this?

I can’t find any reasoning other than that people get upset that some holidays get more publicity than others. The facts are that in certain neighborhoods, there tend to be higher percentages of certain religions than others. Why should people take offense when other people are simply

celebrating their holidays? Granted, there is a time and place for “Happy Holidays,” but presently, there is no place for a “Happy Hanukkah.”

There are a lot of things about the holidays that can put a damper on the holiday feelings. We’ve all seen a lot of Scrooges around, putting down the holiday season, but there are a few things that continue to warm my heart in this snowy season: after talking to a number of students, it surprised me to hear how many people do, in fact, listen to holiday music (of their own free will) and willingly help to put up decorations around the house. There are a number of people that do silently enjoy the holiday season.

And so I say to all of these silent enjoyers: this is your time to rise up.

We need to dash the negative spirits that are dulling this beautiful season.

It’s time to sing winter songs in the hallways. It’s time to shout “Happy Holidays” at the top of our voices. I challenge you to make this season as joyful for one person as it is for you and me. Happy holidays – to those of you celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and even those celebrating Festivus – and have a happy New Year as well.

COMIC BY ADRIAN ADAMIAC

VOL. 46, NO. 4

DECEMBER 18, 2009

Best seasonal sweets this season Katie Hernandez

COMENTARY EDITOR

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GRAPHIC BY ADRIAN ADAMIEC

Chocolate with Holiday Fudge shake is a sweet white chocolate flavored shake with mouth-watering chocolate fudge throughout mixed. It then is topped with whipped cream, m, more chunks of holiday fudge and a maraschino cherry.

4.Chocolate Truffle Mouse Cake: This cake owns all other cakes made during the holiday season. Made by Fanny F May, this rich and fluffy r turtle ccake is topped with decadent dark chocolate mousse, choco dark chocolate shavings and sprinkled shaving powder. with cocoa c may think this One m much chocolate too mu but the contrast of the with dark chocolates ch turtle cake turns a the turtl piece of this cake into a slice of heaven.

3.Hot Fudge Pe pp ermint Sunday : This Brownie S mouth-watering ring desert comes from Oberweis. is. It is basically all the things good in the world, and is a perfect mixture of hot and cold. The ice cream is Oberweis’ special peppermint creation which is topped with pieces of warm, soft, brownies, hot fudge, fluffy whipped cream, and a bright, red, maraschino cherry.

2. Caramel Brulee Latte:Every

year around this time, the gods of coffee bless the world with Starbucks’ seasonal coffees. Now, even if coffee isn’t your c up of te a, these lattes are something else. Along with last year’s Pepp er mint Mo c h a , a n d returning f av or it e Gingerbread L a t t e , Starbucks introduced a new espresso drink. The Caramel Brulee has the tantalizing taste of the caramel dessert, crème brulee. It tastes like someone melted a crème brulee into a drink and served it up in a little cardboard cup.

1. Chocolate Mint Chip Cookie: Tollhouse’s chocolate chip cookies with Mint swirls are a limited edition so make sure to go out and buy this one. This desirable creation is one of Tollhouse’s finest and can be found at any Dominick’s. It is a slight change to the classic chocolate chip cookie, but the addition of the mint swirled morsels takes these cookies to a whole new ne level. For the cherry on top, add walnuts before you bake them to give the cookies a g crunch. cr S o if you’re looking for a taste of the holiday season, try out these sweets.

And hey, Santa can afford to eat a few billion cookies all in one night, so feel free to try all these treats without worrying about the calories, that’s what New Year’s resolutions are for anyway.

Commentary

veryone has at least one thing they like best about the holiday season.

Because I have the sweet tooth of a third grader in a candy store, I must confess that the thing I like most is the seasonal food specials that come out during Christmastime. The list below is a compilation of the top-ten holiday treats this season.

10. Peppermint Bark: Peppermint bark is a holiday twist on the very delicious English toffee. It is two thin layers of chocolate with a peppermint surprise. The bottom layer is sometimes milk chocolate, but is usually a dark chocolate which provides a great contrast to the sweet white chocolate that layers it. The chocolate melts and mixes, and the peppermint pieces within the white chocolate provide an unexpected crunch. This can be found at a variety of stores, but Macy’s makes cially exquisite kind. an especially umpkin Pancakes: 9. Pumpkin These pancakes are a t w i s t o n I H O P ’s regular pancakes.

They aree made with real pumpkin ces. The and spices. t aste will w i l l g ive shbacks to you flashbacks iving, that’s how Thanksgiving, ny and delicious pumpkiny e. To top it off, a they taste. dolllop of whipped cream perfects the dish. ggnog Milk shakes: 8. Eggnog For all you eggnog haters out there, I seriously suggest you try this. This is probably one of the cheapest things on the list because it comes from the ever-so-famous dollar

menu establishment, McDonald’s. The milk shake tastes like a sweetened vanilla milk shake with a hint of Christmas mixed in. The eggnog flavoring is added with perfect proportion to the vanilla flavor of the milk shake. The flavoring is most likely artificial, but what do you expect, organic for less than three dollars? I think not.

7. Pepperidge Farm Ginger Family: These little gingerbread cookies can be boughtt at any local grocery store. The box contains an entire family of gingerbread rbread men, a dad, a mom, m, a daughter and a son. The cookies have just the right amount of saltiness mixed throughout the gingerbread bread flavor. Anytime this holiday oliday season you’re feeling lonely, onely, just grab your box of ginger family and chomp away. y. Don’t worry, no need to feel guilty, these cookies aren’t enchanted chanted like the ones in “Shrek.”

6. Cinnamon Crumb bC Coffee Cake: This spongy bundt bund dt ccake can be found at Panera and d stands staands about six inches tall. It is made w with yellow cake that contains a special speci surprise of cinnamon swirls throughout. th Then it is toppped with a plentiful amount of cinnamon crum crumbles, and I’m talking the big crumbles, not cru just the little dinky ones; and finally it is sprink sprinkled with a layer of powdered powdere sugar.

Chocolate 5. White C w i t h Ho l i d ay a Fu d g e Steak Shake: Every year y and Shake provides provide limited time milk shake flavors flavo for the holiday season. If you’re a fan of Portillo’s cake shake, you will find this shake delectable. The White

What are you doing over break?

“Making a list and checking it twice.”

- Ryan Clark ‘10

“Going to California to visit colleges over break.”

- Kate Griffin ‘11

“Skiing in Michigan.”

“Going to Wisconsin.”

- Caroline Unger ‘12

-Peter Eugenis ‘13

SOUTHWORDS 15

DECEMBER 18, 2009

VOL. 46, NO. 4

Professional snowman making for dummies Kaci Zimmerman

COMMENTARY EDITOR

very year, one of the most popular winter activities is making a snowman. Now, anyone can stack three different sized snowballs on top of each other and call it a day, but only the snowman-making pros can make the “perfect” snowman. With my help, you’ll put everyone else in the neighborhood to shame with your perfect snowman.

1.) First off, you’re going to need snow — a lot of snow. The good kind of snow too, the kind that sticks well. Make sure you have waterproof gloves too, or you will suffer immediately.

2.) Following that, you have to pack some snow together in your hands. Keep adding more and more until you get to the point where it’s big enough to be the base. You might want to smooth it out so your creation doesn’t have a lumpy rump.

3.) The next step is the stomach region. As we all know, Frosty isn’t exactly flat in the mid-section, so make sure your snowman is pleasantly plump. Start with a small ball like before and and make it bigger by packing more and more snow. Don’t forget to make sure that it’s petite compared to the base, though.

4.) After you have the tummy properly pudgy, you have to lift the middle and place it on top of the base.

When that’s done, you can move on to the head.

The head is probably the most crucial part of your snowman. The

IMAGE BY ADRIAN ADAMIEC

COMMENTARY

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cranium needs to be skillfully sculpted and proportional. You can’t let your snowman have an awkwardly puny skull... that’s not appealing. Having a snowman with a monstrous head is just plain weird. Smaller than the middle but bigger than a grapefruit is what you’re aiming for.

When you’ve reached the precise size for the head, once again transport it to the top of the other two sections.

After screwing the head on right, give your snowpal the good ole pat down and fix all of their little imperfections.

5.) It gets chilly during winter, so your snowman is going to need a scarf and hat. You need your snowman to be as comfy as possible and stylin’ to show up the other snowmen on the block. Go ahead, use your mom’s favorite scarf and your dad’s expensive hat that he always wears— your snowman needs to look good.

The eyes, buttons, and mouth are the final steps to creating the perfect snowman. These features can all be made using chunks of coal roughly the same size. The nose can be represented by a carrot, not the little carrots that you eat with ranch. Oh no, the old school carrots- the kind that horses eat with the stem still on them. They’re longer and those carrots resemble a nose better.

To put the finishing touches on your stylish snowman, add some arms to it. Get two sticks that appear the same size, and jam them into the side of the stomach section.

Voila! You have successfully concocted the perfect snowman.

16 SOUTHWORDS

VOL. 46, NO. 4

DECEMBER 18, 2009

Daniella Kroschel

SPORTS WRITER

W

ith the snow, wind, and frigid temperatures of the winter season comes Girls’ Gymnastics, already off to a great start. The team is a combination of returning varsity members and new girls, forming a balanced attack for every event.

Head Coach Robinson is ecstatic about this team. In her eighth year as head coach, she can already tell this team is stronger than most after their first meet.

“As a team, we feel very confident of the upcoming season,” says junior Sarah Russell.

The CSL South is very tough conference, and the girls will be put to the test against various teams including New Trier, Glenbrook South, and state powerhouse Niles West.

Along with their conference season, the gymnastics team will also be in many difficult invites paired up with even tougher teams.

The s ame varsity s quad is competing this year with an addition of Paula Papaioannou. Papaioannou, a talented senior, joined the team this year after being on a club gymnastics team and Coach Robinson feels that she and Jamie Brocker are off to a great start. She believes that both girls will be sectional qualifiers and, if they work hard at practices, hopefully head down to state.

Many of the other girls will also

SPORTS EDITOR

• The Hawkettes have just kicked their competition season underway, and things are looking great. Not only do they win the state championships ever year, but they are also ranked on the national stage. Last year at Nationals, they finished fifth, and they are hoping

to finish in the top three in the Kick Division this year. In their other dance, the Jazz portion, they hope to qualify for the national finals.

So far, they look like thay are on their way to reaching their goals. At the Glenbrook South competition earlier this year, the varsity team finished first in both the Jazz and Kick competition, beating Crowne

Freshman Haleigh Sirr competes in the balance beam event at the the team’s first meet of the season on December 1. The Hawks went on to beat Niles North 133.15-126.35. off-season work, along with early get tougher but this group of girls is success, could be an indicator of ready to flip, tuck, and spin their way what is to come. The road is sure to to a CSL title. matches against teams like New Point High School from Indiana.

Trier and Waukegan will be a true Crowne Point finished fourth at test of the Hawks’ skills and a sign Nationals last year, one place ahead of what is to come. The Hawks of Maine South. The Hawkette’s have also cracked into some top-25 talent seems to increase each year. rankings across the state. With their • The boys’ basketball team is latest victory over Evanston, the off to a great start. They won the Hawks improved to 6-0 for the first Warrior Thanksgiving Tourney time since the late ‘80s. over the recent break, going 4-0 and solidifying themselves as a top tier • The cheerleading teams at Maine South are getting ready to begin team. They won all of their games their competition seasons. They by over 15 points, with one 94-16 hope to rebound after losing many win over Sullivan High School. seniors, two of which are cheering at In the championship game of the the collegiate level. Gianna Bosco is tournament, they beat Northside currently cheering at the University Prep 66-38 with junior Casey Bruce of Illinois, while Colleen Kessey is at leading the Hawks with 15 points, the University of Indiana. As always, and junior Matt Palucki adding 12. their goal is to advance to the state After their tournament, they came finals, but with a young team it could back to beat Lakes High School 58be difficult. The upcoming years 46. The Hawks are now undefeated look strong with many talented with a 5-0 record and are looking underclassmen already gaining to continue their dominance in varsity experience. the upcoming weeks. These tough

Sports

Jimmy Loomos

attempt to advance through the various qualifiers. Their experience is sure to help them in stressful moments and propel them through different competitions.

Although injuries have hurt the Hawks and kept key varsity members, like Brocker, out of some of their usual events, the team still looks to be headed in the right direction, after a strong performance in their opening meet.

Last year, the team’s highest score for a meet was at conference with a total of 127 points. In their first meet this season they ended up with a total of 133.150 points. That means they have already outdone themselves from last year, and it is a very good score for their first meet.

“All the girls did a great job and were very prepared,” says Coach Robinson, clearly pleased with the team’s performance, “There is room for some improvement, but overall they did a great job.

The team was hoping to get 135 points, but they were still pleased with 133 points to open the season. With such a strong start, Robinson plans on raising the team’s standards.

Robinson estimates that their new goal will be around 140 points, which is a high mark, but with this group of girls, is certainly attainable.

The girls feel that this year is their chance to beat teams like New Trier and Niles West and capture the CSL South title. They feel that their

PHOTO BY JOSIE FIORETTO

Gymnastics impressive in early opener

SOUTHWORDS 17

DECEMBER 18, 2009

VOL. 46, NO. 4

Girls’ basketball rebounds with great tourney Charlie Vinopal School. They won the game 62-40, a convincing win for the ailing squad at the time. A second sophomore, Olivia Pappalardo, came up big in the contest with nine steals and five assists to help lead the Hawks.

The Hawks’ second game against Libertyville was when the excitement really began. Down 9-0 early in the game, the Hawks rallied to close within one of the Wildcats.

With about ten seconds left in the game, the Hawks were down 35-34 when Becca Hoffman hit a jumper to give them the 36-35. Hoffman led the scoring with 13 points. Not only did this game have a great finish, but it also helped Coach Smith and Coach Pasier notch their one hundredth win as Maine South coaches.

Their next game was on November 28 against Crystal Lake South, where the squad continued their winning ways, topping the opposition 5346. Amanda Brait came up big in the game with 15 points to add to Hoffman’s 12.

“Even though we have all four age groups on the team we still get along really well,” said Pappalardo.

The team’s chemistry is an intricate part to their success.

In the final game of the tournament, the Hawks played Buffalo Grove and,

once again, they won in exciting fashion on a basket scored by sophomore, Michelle Maher, giving the Hawks a 53-51 edge.

Though they did win the game, Libertyville ended up winning the Bison Classic. Although the Hawks did not win the tournament, they came out with a good amount of confidence.

“When it comes to the games, it’s simple.

We are fighters. We are competitors. We may have a young squad this year, but we don’t play like one,” said senior Amanda Brait.

The Hawks continued their hot streak on December 1 Sophomore Michelle Maher controls the ball in against Highland Park a home game in late November. topping them by ten, 51-41. This win made it their fifth Niles West, but were able to quickly in a row. bounce back and beat Warren 48-40, On the December 3, they lost for but then lost again to Evanston, 42-28, the first time in nearly two weeks to on December 8.

PHOTO BY CHRIS ANDERSON

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SPORTS EDITOR

lose calls, last second shots to seal the deal, and bringing home some hardware marked the girls’ basketball team’s break.

Although the girls had success during the break, before then, it was a difficult stretch for the Hawks. On November 17, in their first game of the season, they lost big to Wheeling, 53-29, but Wheeling was a top-five team a year ago and the Hawks are still young and developing.

“This year’s team has approached practices and games with the same intensity,” said Head Coach Mark Smith. “As a result, when games are on the line, our players can fall back on their many successful simulations in practice.”

The team continued their losing streak, with a much tighter 39-33 loss to the Barrington Broncos, but were then able to excel in their Thanksgiving Tourney.

“We did not let the losses faze us, but instead we looked to improve what we failed on doing and that helped us win five straight,” said sophomore Nina Duric.

The games referred to by Duric began on November 21 when the Hawks played Regina in the Bison Classic, held at Buffalo Grove High

Postseason disappointment now a motivation Kevin Hemphill SPORTS WRITER

SPORTS

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he Hawks look to capitalize on new leadership this year while continuing the late success of last year. With a disappointing fifth place in conference last year, the Hawks stepped up their game to place fifth at sectionals. From sectionals, one individual and one relay team posted times good enough to qualify for state.

Of those who qualified for state, there are three returning members: senior Jared DeGrazia, junior Andrew Salomon, and junior Adam Wojciechowski. Coach Kura will certainly look to them and other upperclassmen to lead the squad this year.

Coach Kura took over the varsity squad this year, replacing long-time coach Mr. Deger. Though this is his first year, Mr. Kura certainly has high expectations for this year’s squad. He hopes to qualify three individuals

18 SOUTHWORDS

and two relay teams for state. He also looks for the Hawks to finish at least fourth in the CSL South this year.

To accomplish this, Coach Kura will need excellent performances from his four seniors: Kevin Polston, Brandon Yagihashi, Sean Ryan, and DeGrazia. Accompanying them is a solid group of junior swimmers including Tom Graziano, Jon Prinz, Martin Ruskov, Mike Oulvey, Wojceichowski and Salomon. But perhaps the biggest indicator for the future are the three sophomores on the team: Matt Sherbahn, Michael Zadlo, and Drew Whitenack.

DeGrazia hopes to have a great senior season, especially considering that he sat out most of last year.

Jared specializes in backstroke but was unable to compete for most of last year with a back injury. As a sophomore, he set the school record in backstroke.

Salomon is the top freestyle

swimmer for the Hawks. He qualified for state as a sophomore, and hopes to continue that trend this year. He has a heavy workload racing both the shorter and longer distances this year.

The Hawks started off the season well with a fourth-place finish at the Deerfield Warrior Relays. Looking forward, the Hawks hope to continue to improve and also place well in their own Hawk Relays.

Sophomore Matt Sherbahn swims the breaststroke at a December 9 meet.

VOL. 46, NO. 4

DECEMBER 18, 2009

Wrestlers off to a strong start with early wins Katie Hernandez COMMENTARY EDITOR

he football team likes to say that, “The way to the title is through Maine South,” but is true for the Maine South wrestling program as well. In the world of Illinois high school wrestling, Maine South’s program is known for its success.

Since the year 2000, Maine South has taken the title eight times. Coach Craig Fallico, the varsity wrestling coach of ten years, is “hoping to defend the conference title for a fourth time in a row.”

This year, there was a record turnout of 127 wrestlers. About a month into their season, 115 wrestlers remain and the team has won six out of their eight varsity meets.

This record is “better than expected,” said Fallico, considering 12 of their athletes, including a team captain, Cody Fallico, have been gone due to the football team’s success. By the time the match up against New Trier, top wrestlers will be back from injuries and other sports to bring the Hawks to full strength The coaches teach their boys self-motivational skills and good virtues. The wrestling squad has the saying, “after wrestling, everything else is easy.”

The wrestlers at Maine South don’t only learn how to perfect a halfnelson, but they learn a way to take on

PHOTO BY CHRIS ANDERSON

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Senior captain Joe Brewster holds down his competition at a December 4 meet against Niles West. The Hawks went on to win the match. everyday life. obvious loss for the other team, but it wrestlers as well this season.

The varsity team has four cheats the team out of watching their Sophomore Nick Schaeffer was brought up to the varsity squad. captains, Marjo Pajaj, Cody Fallico, best wrestler win.

“We just expected him to fill, but Joe Brewster, and Dale Cornille. Pajaj So, for example, senior Joe has a record of 3-3 with an injury, Brewster is usually backed by junior he stepped it up and got two pins,” Brewster has a record of 6-1 (he didn’t John Gobbo and senior Brad Egan; said Fallico.

The wrestlers and coaches have a wrestle his 4th match), and Cornille and when an opposing team plans to has a 6-2 record. forfeit to Brewster, Coach Fallico will lot to look forward to this year. They “I am really excited about this most likely make the decision to send beat their conference rival Niles West, year the boys have great attitudes; out Gobbo or Egan to take the forfeit and state ranked St. Pat’s but still have some tough competition in their they’re upbeat, not complainers, and or wrestle in Brewster’s weight. get to work,” says Caoch Fallico.

Then Brewster would move up conference to face, like Glenbrook There are 14 weight classes that and wrestle in the 160-pound weight South and New Trier.

Fallico’s goal this season is for the wrestlers participate in, but class. Brewster, who is ranked top five usually 16 wrestlers are weighed in. in the state and top 25 nationally, can the team to win the regional, and This is because, in wrestling, some handle the competition, including with their impressive success so far, that achievement doesn’t seem out other teams will forfeit to a team’s the heavier 160-pound wrestlers. “superstar” which results in an There have been many surprise of reach.

Abby Amelse

Mike Zimmeran

Lana Romano

Sports

P.J. Killean

What do you want for Christmas?

Money

Country Thunder tickets

New shoes

Clothes

Best Christmas movie?

“Home Alone”

“Miracle on 34th Street”

““Christmas “C C Vacation”

“It’s a Wonderful Life”

What’s you New Year’s Resolution?

Get a tan

Get scholarships

Get jacked

Get accepted into U of I

Favorite holiday song?

“White Christmas”

“All I Want forr Christmas””

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside”

“Santa Baby”

SOUTHWORDS 19

BOYS’ BASKETBALL • GIRLS’ GYMNASTICS • BOYS’ SWIMMING • WRESTLING • GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Julian Douglass

SPORTS WRITER

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he senior super fans shirts read, “One More Time, State 09.” The confidence was high. The school was buzzing with excitement, and the players met the pregame expectations.

At about 10:30 p.m., the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the Maine South Hawks repeated as State champions with a convincing 41-17 win over Marist, but the road was not easy for the Hawks.

After convincing conference victories over Niles West, Evanston, and Waukegan, the Hawks faced their first test since facing WheatonWarrenville South during week two.

The Hawks faced the 19th-ranked Glenbrook South Titans. The Hawks, who had not lost to the Titans since 1991, came in to the game with hopes for their ninth conference championship in a row and their 45th straight conference victory.

The Hawks jumped out to a tenpoint lead, before trailing 34-21 in the middle of the third quarter. The Hawks then went on to win 45-34, taking advantage of a missed PAT and field goal. Matt Perez, rushed for 350 yards from scrimmage. The Hawks then closed out the season with a 2814 victory of New Trier, finishing 9-0 for the second straight season In the first round of the IHSA playoffs, the Hawks defeated Oak Park River Forest 28-14. In the second round, the Hawks faced a scare versus Leyden, trailing 16-7 late in the first half before a touchdown reception by junior receiver Luke Mottley that put the Hawks within two, but more importantly shifting the momentum of the game. The Hawks scored 27 unanswered points to win 34-16.

The Hawks then faced GBS for the second time, this time with a more convincing 44-23 win over the Titans.

Matt Perez was the main highlight, rushing for more than 300 yards again, while only practicing two days while fighting off the flu.

The Hawks were one win away from State, facing the Loyola Academy

Ramblers, in what felt like a State Championship atmosphere at Wilson Field.

“You’ve got to approach it like every other game,” said senior long snapper Adam Mueller. “We’re going to leave it all out on the field and play hard like we always do.”

“We’ve got to keep going, we’ve got to give it our all. Every single down, every single play,” said Alex Spanos.

“We’ve got to play our game. If we do that, we can’t lose.”

The Hawks were certainly on their game. With the largest crowd in Maine South history, the defending 8A champions won a thriller, 21-14.

Matt Perez was held to only 70 yards and had to leave the game with a deep thigh bruise. Thankfully, Tyler Benz threw for a couple of touchdowns.

The key play, though, was a 45-yard interception return by senior safety Mike DiVito.

Then came the final stage, the championship. The team left on Friday to make it down-state early. On Saturday, the defending champs went to Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois.

“Last year we came in and got all our giggles out, we kind of know what the rhythm is this year,” said junior safety Julian Cardona about his nerves and preparation.

Julian was one of the 14 thensophomores to get called up to the 2008 squad. “We know how to handle the big crowds, the publicity, and the big stadium.”

“Last year we didn’t get on the field, but we saw from the sidelines what it takes to be a champion,” said senior running back Mike McGrath.

“We’ve been working so hard this offseason to get back to this point.”

After all the pre-game hype, the time had come to play. Both teams had three-and-outs on their opening drives. Then, the Hawks drove down the field for a score, with Benz capping off a 57-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run.

Having broke through the ice, Maine South began firing on all

PHOTO BY CHRIS ANDERSON

One more time, for state ‘09

Matt Perez rushes for one of his multiple touchdowns in the state victory against Marist. Along the way, Perez set the record for most rushing yards in a state championship game with 316 yards. cylinders. With interceptions by sophomore call-up linebacker Luke Lenti, Tyler Benz, and Ronnie Muck, the defense certainly played one of its best games of the season, and at the right time. Giving up only 270 yards on defense and allowing 17 points was a big success for defensive coordinator Rick Magsamen.

After the first touchdown by Benz, the game became the Matt Perez show. Perez had touchdown runs of 11, 28, 47, 26 yards and the big 76yard touchdown run after breaking numerous tackles. With this, he surpassed the 300 rushing yard mark for the third time, with 316 yards.

“The adrenaline was pumping and I felt great. We wanted to prove that we were the best team in the state,” said Perez.

Perez’s accomplishments were record setting. His 316 yards were the most in a state title game, surpassing

the old 308-yard mark set by Paul Bauer, of Seneca, in the 1990 2A championship game.

He also set the mark for most yards in the 8A game shattering the old mark of 164 yards set by former teammate and current quarterback at Vanderbilt University, Charlie Goro.

Perez finished the season with 2,247 yards and 38 touchdowns to cap off his Maine South career. He is now headed across the border to play for Indiana and continue his dominance next season.

“Twenty-eight in a row, what extreme focus,” said Coach David Inserra. “These kids were able to handle the pressure. They were able to block out all the distractions during the year and focus on the goal as a team.”

The Hawks are currently #8 in the nation and hope to crack the top five by the end of the year.