Issue 7

A

ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL

the Chris Brown, Alex Rodriguez and Michael Phelps have all faced the legal system.

Are these celebrities good examples for America’s young generation to follow?

WEATHER TODAY Mostly Cloudy

Informiing thee Atomss since 1954

703-642-4229

FEBRUARY 17, 2009

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8

FOUR YEARS, STILL STRONG

HEALTH MYTHS DISPELLED Ever thought toothpaste could get rid of pimples?

Health examines the origins of common myths and seeks the truth behind them

Dating and relationships are important aspects in the lives of AHS students

PTSA will hold a panel tonight to discuss possible solutions to the issue

High: 45 Low: 31

BY CASSADY KELLER AND TORIE DEIBLE Staff Writers

LUNCH TODAY JERALD SHEPPARD

BY THE NUMBERS

This survey was distributed on Feb. 13 during A, B, C and D lunches.

2568

was the number of students enrolled at the start of this school year. AHS became the fourth largest high school in Fairfax County for the 2008 school year.

The PTSA is holding a panel today discussing possible solutions to AHS’s over population issue.

Tonight the PTSA will hold a meeting to consider the issue of overcrowding as a whole and to discuss reasonable solutions to alleviate the concern. This open discussion will begin at 7 p.m. in the Lecture Hall, and both school board members and school facility staff have been invited.

Possible solutions, such as a boundary study and an addition of a quad will be further explored and explained

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Auditions held for the annual program celebrating AHS’s diversity, which will be on March 12

BY WALIHA GANI Co-Editor in Chief

pg. 13

6%

of marriages in the U.S. are interracial.

The International page interviewed AHS interracial couples and conducted a survey asking students how important ethnicity is to them in a relationship.

MARIAH POLLET

pg.14

Top: The Vietnamese group will be performing their Vietnamese Fan Dance at Heritage Night on March 12.

Left: Senior Twinkle Maan is participating in the event for the second year. “I love Heritage Night.

This is the most fun and best way to represent my Indian culture,” said Maan.

pg. 18

students left the AHS parking lot with digital cameras on Feb. 2. to participate in a scavenger hunt conducted by the Young Life organization.

pg. 20

Do you support AHS students being moved to other high schools as a result of rezoning?

38% Yes

35% No 25% No opinion *cut along dotted lines This survey was distributed on Feb. 13 during A, B, C and D lunches. Of 400 surveys distributed, 370 were completed and returned for inclusion in this graph.

MARIAH POLLET

30

Senior Ria Arshad felt her stomach tighten and the rush of adrenaline flow through her veins. When the Hindi music filled the auditorium, she looked at the judges, knowing that in her last year at AHS, she wanted to put forth the best performance to present her culture and talents.

“I felt the anxiety all over again. I felt like I was auditioning for the first time,” said Arshad.

On Feb. 9 and 11, auditions for Heritage Night, which will be on March 12 this year, took place. Heritage Night is an annual event that AHS has been hosting for eight years and in recent years, it has always been a sell out.

It is a night of celebration of the many cultures represented by the student population— from Egypt and Korea to Ethiopia and Bolivia, AHS diversity is fully showcased in this event in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd every year.

25 different groups auditioned and 14 made it, while six groups will be given an opportunity to re-audition. Some of the groups who will be part of the Heritage Night Program include Egypt, Afghanistan, India and Vietnam.

There were three judges and they looked for poise, confidence, representation and talent in the auditions.

“I look specifically for real cultural substance, artistic delivery and connection with audience,” said judge Glen Hirabayashi.

For many participants, Heritage Night allows them the chance to represent their culture.

“Heritage” continued on page 5

Elective Fair an opportunity to promote classes Student interest will determine the number of elective classes offered next year

BY SHRIYA ADHIKARY Co-Editor in Chief Sophomore Lucy Webb is often so engrossed in dreaming up characters for her newest short story that she does not even hear the teacher’s repeated calls. Her name rings out across the classroom once, twice, and only at the third shriek of “LUCY!” does she finally snap to attention with a disconcerted glance.

Webb, like most other students who had a say in choosing their electives for this year, immensely enjoys her elective class.

“My creative writing class is really fun and it gives a lot of opportunities and instruction on how to write creatively and do it well,” said Webb.

For students like Webb, who already know what types of classes they will enjoy and benefit from, choosing elective classes to sign up for is not a difficult task. Students who are not sure about what class to take next year will have a harder time choosing a couple of electives from the more than 70 courses than AHS offers. “elective fair” continued on page 4

AHS’s overcrowding has become a rising concern. The PTSA will hold a meeting tonight to discuss reasonable solutions.

Just World prepares for festival

BY AISHWARYA VENKAT News Editor Attending a school like AHS is an interesting experience. The diversity of the student body is astounding. Students from over 73 countries represent a wide variety of languages, cultures and concerns from all around the world. This diversity is just what the Just World/ Interact Club aims to showcase in the Just World Festival 2009.

The AHS tradition of holding an annual Just World Festival was started by AHS teacher Meredith Hedrick and IB Counselor Erin Albright in 2006. Both Albright and Hedrick have continued organizing the festival ever since then.

“The Annandale High School Just World Project/Interact Club holds the Just World Festival annually with the intention of empowering youth by raising awareness about global issues and offers resources to make a personal change for a more just and “Festival” continued on page 5

Juniors Vivian Chan (left) and Claudia Arevalo put up the poser for the Just World Festival, which will take place Feb. 27.

Staff opposes SLEEP WAKE hopes to prevent the time change in order to preserve extra-curriculars

BY EMILY FRUCHTERMAN News Editor

JENNIFER OAKES

8

“Overcrowding” continued on page 5

Heritage Night

to 250 students were awarded Student of the Quarter. The ice cream social rewarding these students took place on Feb. 9. Students indulged in vanilla or Neapolitan ice cream and were permitted to select from various toppings.

is the number of children Nadya Suleman gave birth to on Jan. 26. The 33-year old California native is a single mother who has given birth to 14 children in a period of seven years through In-Vitro Fertilization. She has been receiving $490 each month in food stamps.

at this meeting. Despite the incorrect reporting in the last issue of The ABlast, no decisions have been made in regards to any resolutions to the issue of overcrowding at AHS. All talk or ideas of solutions remain in the preliminary, developmental stages.

Rising attendance numbers over the past few years have caught the eye of county officials. AHS became the fourth largest high school in Fairfax County for the 2008 school year.

Keeping cultures alive:

pg. 5

Despite its diversity, do AHS students still create opinions about others based on outward appearances? In-Depth takes a closer look at the complexities that exist within the cafeteria

AHS adapts to over population

Do you think AHS is overcrowded?

Oven Fried Chicken w/ Whole Wheat Roll, Hot Ham & Cheese on Whole Wheat Croissant, PB&J, Yogurt w/ Pretzel

10-11 PREJUDICE IN THE LUNCHROOM

JENNIFER OAKES

3

MICHAEL PHELPS BONG INCIDENT

Visit us online: www.thea-blast.org

AISHWARYA VENKAT

VOLUME #54 ISSUE 7

44700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003

Junior Badou Hadidane gives out samples of chocolate mousse that the culinary students made during elective fair on Feb. 12.

At 5:30 a.m., sophomore Darlene Reyes reaches over to her bedside table to turn off her phone alarm, not quite ready for yet another day of school.

She stumbles tiredly into her bathroom to get ready for another long, busy day. Throughout the county, students follow the same pattern, all getting up though they wish for more sleep.

It is for this reason that a parent advocacy group, titled SLEEP, is pushing for a later start time in Fairfax County Public Schools.

SLEEP stands for the Start Later for Excellence in Education Proposal.

“SLEEP” continued on page 4

2 Do you think smoking should be banned in bars and restaurants?

“Yeah, smoking is dangerous and it’s dumb.”

—Beniyam Eshetee freshman

“Yeah, secondhand smoke is a health hazard.”

—Julian

Jordan

sophomore

EDITORIALS

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Smoking ban proposed for Virginia bars The risk of second-hand smoke hazards is too high to tolerate

BY ERIN JOHNSON Editorials Editor It is the end of the week and after a hard day’s work, many people go to a local bar to have a couple of drinks, smoke a cigarette, and socialize with fellow bar goers. After Virginia’s recent ban on smoking in most restaurants and bars, this picture changes dramatically.

On Feb. 9, the Virginia House of Delegates met to vote on the smoking ban, which gives the Virginia government a say in how the local restaurants and bars impose and create their smoking rules.

Tobacco has been a staple in Virginia’s trade and economy since the state was first colonized.

Philip Morris, one of the largest tobacco companies in the world, is headquartered in Richmond.

However, almost any form of tobacco is harmful to people’s health. According to the National Institute of Health, smoking kills over 400,000 people in the U.S. each year from emphysema or cancer which is caused by smoking or second-hand smoke.

The vote on the smoking ban comes at a perfectly controversial time. Since the economy at the mo-

for those who wish to smoke.

The health concerns over smoking and secondhand smoke has made 23 other states and Washington D.C. create bans like this one.

This is an especially important moment for anti-smokers in Virginia because Virginia has been considered “tobacco country” since the 1600’s, and now has created bans on smoking.

This ban, if made into a bill, would make Virginia the first Southern state to approve of a ban on smoking in restaurants and bars.

While this is a step forward, anti-smoking groups still find flaws. The ban does not completely prohibit smoking in all bars and restaurants, only in public establishments; which still allows for the danger of second-hand smoke in private places.

Also, the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and the American Lung Association all think that the proposal is not specific enough on what embodies the separate room that it required. They also argue against the consequence for violating this ban, which is a $25 fine for the establishment.

Second-hand smoke can be just as deadly as smoking, and the people who get sick from it are not even willingly choosing to smoke.

If the ban is passed, and smoking is stopped in bars and restaurants, the number of second-hand smoking deaths will decrease. Although the proposal has flaws, it is a step in the right direction.

ment is in an economic crisis, many might argue that this ban comes at the worst possible time.

Tobacco is critical to the state’s economy, grown and sold in every county, and it is possible that the ban could decrease tobacco sales, something like this could worsen the state’s economy.

Nonetheless, the state’s health is much more important than the state’s economy. Smoking kills,

and although a bad economy gets rid of jobs and money, it does not lead to death.

The ban does not, however, completely prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants. The proposal created by Gov. Timothy Kaine (D) permits smoking in private clubs and in bars or restaurants that have separately ventilated smoking rooms

Stimulus package won’t help economy

“Yes, because smokers don’t have to be around others to smoke.”

Not enough money is being given to produce jobs

—Ibsatu Koroma

junior

BY CHRISTOPHER YURKO Staff Writer “Yeah, it causes asthma.”

—Fudia Koroma senior

“Yes, because smoking is hazardous to health, but some smokers are so adamant about their rights to smoke.”

—Leonida Gibson math teacher

I hate Valentine’s Day

It has been barely a month since the Obama administration came into power and, as Vice President Joe Biden predicted, crisis has already confronted the new president. The Senate, finally finishing its three week debate over the stimulus package and how much money it would ultimately contain, has voted to pass the legislation. They passed the bill only after cutting the cost of the stimulus package from $838 billion to $790 billion to earn the votes of three moderate republicans to get the bill passed.

During the weeks of debate, Republican and Democratic senators debated back and forth on the issue of whether or not the influx of money into an economy as intricate and complex as our own would have that great of an effect.

Republicans had argued strongly against passing the legislation, hesitant to send what at one time topped over $838 billion, into a struggling economy that currently faces a collapse.

The bill has little specifics, which could lead to corruption at the hands of those who have control of where the money goes.

In his interview earlier this week Obama himself said that he was unaware of how the package would end up and that it is subject to change at any point, depending on how well the package does.

This shows that the bill’s fiercest proponents are not even sure about what the bill entails.

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Hasty spending of money is not the way to save the economy.

In Toronto, Canada they have created a Pillow Fight League. The league has about 13,000 members. It has rules, referees, a scoring system, and a human rights code.

You walk down the hall Flaunting chocolates and flowers But the sight of PDA Makes me vomit for hours I know it’s a day I’m not meant to despise But I can’t help but hate That its so commercialized Shouldn’t we celebrate love More than one day a year?

Why is Valentine’s Day So special and dear?

Why spend money on me To show your affection I know that it’s cute But I don’t see the connection You buy jewelry and chocolate And spend every dime When all I really want from you Is a little of your time

”

original $350 billion given as bailout money to the bank and auto industries did not ‘give us enough bang for our bucks.

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the government must take control in a pressing time and a crisis that is now up against us, but there are a few things that people need to take into consideration about the bill.

For one, we should not allow our memories to be so short. It was not even a month ago that the original $350 billion sent as a bailout was squandered away by reckless CEOs who used the money to increase bonuses and salaries and even in one case to redecorate their office.

The finance committee, which was appointed

PILLOW FIGHTING LEAGUE IN CANADA

Roses are red Violets are blue Romance is dead And that cheap bouquet is, too

to watch those funds and how they were spent, did less than a poor job, answering less than half of the questions asked of them about where the money went to when questioned by the Treasury Department.

The makers of this bill should be focusing on making sure that the CEOs do not squander the money again. Regulations should be set up to follow how the money is spent, with regular reports back to the government.

At any rate, everybody knows that something must be done, and to sit idly and do nothing is to sit and wait for the destruction of our economy.

However, hasty spending of money is not the way to save the economy, especially without the proper plans and details to give to the public.

The ridiculous thing about the bill is that Democrats and journalists have argued that the specific details of the bill are insignificant. They are basically arguing that the American public doesn’t need to know where their money is going and that blindly throwing money into the economy will undoubtedly fix the situation.

However, the biggest problem with the bill is that if it truly is going to top $1.5 trillion, it’s possible that our taxes will have to be raised in order to pay for it. Raising taxes to pay for this bill will do nothing for the economy. People will not spend any of their money because they have such high taxes, and the economy will go nowhere.

The country’s economy is getting worse everyday. The money that the stimulus package is giving out will, most likely, just go into the pockets of CEOs. Although one of the purposes of the bill is to create jobs, it is more likely that jobs will be lost by poor mismanagement on the hands of the companies that are given money.

Obama said that his judgment of whether or not the bill is a success will be by the number of jobs created, which he hopes to be anywhere from 3.5 to 4 million more.

On top of that, overall public and private spending on the bill is estimated to end up being over $1.5 trillion, this includes help provided to the housing market and banks, and that is only by conservative estimates.

Many Democrats have said that it is most likely that even more money will need to be put into the economy to jump-start it again, arguing that the

Rules of Thumb

–Academics Editor Doreen Bond and Arts Editor Travis Valle

Feb. 17, 2009

Rule: Create a pillow fighting league here in Virginia. Now.

TEENAGER ORDERS $37,000 OF CANDY A teenager in Ohio ordered more than $37,000 worth of candy and charged the bill to his former high school. He then had the candy sent to his home, where the police arrested him for the fake delivery. He now faces two counts of felony telecommunications fraud.

Rule: When ordering large amounts of candy, send the bill to your parents, not a public institution.

GIRL ASKS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT FOR PET A 13-year-old girl in Russia wrote to the president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, and asked him for a guinea pig. When the local officials found out about the letter, they went to her school and sent her to the principal’s office, where she left in tears.

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the Annandale High School 4700 Medford Dr. Annandale, Virginia 22003

Vol. 54 No. 7 Feb. 17, 2009

Staff

(703) 642-4229 email: theablast@gmail.com fax: (703) 642-4299

Editors In Chief: Waliha Gani Shriya Adhikary

Art Editor: Travis Valle Jeff Shim

Managing Editor: Laura Simpson

Video Staff: Joey Panther Natalia Schwien Emily Bagot Greg Nielsen

News Editors: Emily Fruchterman Aishwarya Venkat Editorials Editors: Erin Johnson Aya Saed

Photography Editors: Tanya Bellingham Annika Jessen Copy Editor: Jane Aman

In-Depth Editors: Nathalie Spita Charles Simpson

Ad Manager: Meredith Rutherford

Sports Editors: Kelsey Knoche Scott Plunkett

Circulation Manager: Kelsey Price Meredith Rutherford

Sports Xtra Editors: Logan Miller Marcus Mavlian

Online Staff: Connor Goolrick, Adeel Shams,

People Editors: Laura Ambrosio Stacey Irwin Weekend Editor:s Marie Benavides Marisa Tordella International Editors: Ndidi Obasi Manal Elhak Entertainment Editors: Kelly McGarey Lyndsay Jacobs Health Editors: Amy Steinbuechler Beelan Yonas Academics Editors: Emma Barker Doreen Bond

Staff Writers/Photographers: Alley Adcock, Jenn Allshouse, Gessica Azzam, Jake Barnes, Helena Belay, Carly Bouchard, Jose Candia, Rachel Coulter, Andrew Craig, Maggie Craig, Stephen Craig, Victoria Deible, Rachel Gallogly, Erin George, Connor Goolrick, Daniela Guevera, Kristen Hennessey, David Hookey, Adam Kasdorf, Cassady Keller, Bum Lee, Elizabeth Marcois, August McCarthy, Brandon Mitchener, Julia Moeller, Jennifer Oakes, Kelly O’Brien, Brenna O’Neill, Melissa Purvis, Mariah Pollet, William Risse, Jerald Sheppard, Hope Stadulis, Amy Stevens, Bob Stevens, Alexandra Torre, Travis Valle, Aishwarya Venkat, Katie Vu, Melissa Walter Ben Wolfenstein, Sam Young, Chris Yurko Adviser: Alan Weintraut

Rule: Obviously, go to a pet shop to buy your pets.

News stories courtesy of www.fark.com

The A-Blast is an award winning newspaper that strives to inform, educate and entertain the student body and community. Published every three weeks, The A-Blast will not print any material that is obscene or libelous; or that which substantially disrupts the school day, or invades an individual’s right to privacy.

The A-Blast is an independent, open forum for discussion that is printed at the Springfield Plant of The Washington Post. Signed letters to the editor of 250 words or less may be submitted to room 262 or mailed to the school. The A-Blast reserves the right to refuse advertisements. All submissions become property of The A-Blast, Copyright, 2008.

OPINION

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the

Feb. 17, 2009

Celebrities

Celebrities in trouble Amy Winehouse:

face legal system

Winehouse was arrested in 2007 after police discovered marijuana in her possession T.I.:

T.I. was charged with possession of firearms and silencers and marijuana.

Chris Brown, Michael Phelps and A-Rod not above our laws

Snoop Dog:

CREATED BY CORINNE REINERT

BY AYA SAED Editorials Editor They are held in high esteem as the vanguard of our society: Angelina Jolie, Bono, Oprah Winfrey and a multitude of others. These are all individuals that have become household names and globally recognized. They are the same people we read about daily; we know when they break up, when they have their first child, and how they overcome their obstacles, it is as if they are facing our personal issues under the public eye. Unfortunately, they are also the same people that have caused us to rethink our own ethical beliefs.

It was all over a short span of time that the public found out that some of our most beloved celebrities are in legal troubles. The sports world was shocked when a picture of Michael Phelps, winner of eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics, a number exceeding any other athlete, smoking pot surfaced in the British tabloid. But the news did not stop there, only a short time afterwards, Alex Rodrigez, the highest paid baseball star, revealed that he used performance enhancing steroids. Is this what famous stars do? Do they all succumb to the pressure, or are some actually the “knight in shining armor’ we make them out to be?

The public, understandably, is stunned at the lack of responsibility that is evident in these two incidents along with the “accident” that occurred between Hip-Hop Artist Chris Brown and Rihanna. Apparently, Brown violently challenged his girlfriend and left her with major bruises and scratches all over her body. The 19-year-old superstar was then released on the $50,000 bail and is now undergoing a strenuous investigation.

Phelps had been the ideal “American boy” with his phenomenal and inspiring performance in the Olympics and life story. He gave hope to those that do not fit into a little clique but believe that they posses a talent that distinguishes them from others. Many teenagers were motivated by his instant fame and, just like Chris Brown, he carried a “perfect boy” persona that is charming to many. Unfortunately, to the chagrin of all those that follow his success, his actions prove to those that are currently taking part in such illegal

behavior can succeed. Make no mistake about it, this is not the first time Phelps invited trouble; he was once caught driving under the influence, which has more severe consequences and potentially put lives at stake. His actions have turned him into a symbol for the reckless teenagers and young adults who believe that success is achievable even if they continue to take part in illegal and unacceptable behavior.

His actions are not only sending the wrong message, they are also detrimental to his swimming.

It is common knowledge that smoking any type of drug can lead to lung complications and, as a swimmer, his lungs are his most important organs.

Doing something that can have an effect on your abilities as an athlete makes no sense, especially since athletics is what sprung Phelps into fame.

It cannot be forgotten that he is a young man and as such is expected to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. However, what many adults do not understand is that now, drugs and alcohol are available to teenagers at a very young age. By middle school, kids would have already had to make that egregious decision. Phelps is 23, which legally makes him an adult, and yet in his apology he states that he is “not exactly a paragon of wisdom.”

But by the age of 20, it is believed that many stop such destructive actions and start adjusting to their new found responsibilities as adults.

Not only that, but Phelps is an icon and a symbol for people all around the world. By competing in

such public events, he also ushers in a life that will be scrutinized by the public. As the famous Spiderman quotation goes: “with great power comes great responsibility.” Phelps should be even more responsible for his actions, and should thus face some-what severe consequences. He clearly has some insecurity or need to act in such ways, and for his own good, people should make sure that this problem is resolved once and for all. This is not to say that he should stop swimming, he undoubtedly has a future and a gift; however, he should perhaps face severe restrictions from his endorsements.

Like Phelps, America’s young Hip-Hop phenomena, Chris Brown, has dealt with some parallel behavior issues. And consequently, should be punished accordingly. Both took part in embarrassing behavior and have endangered their image to their international audiences.

Quite simply, it is time for these “super heroes” to become aware of the consequences of their actions. No, they are not perfect, but many regular citizens are able to live their lives without being held up in any legal troubles. As major symbols in our society, they must attempt to do the same.

All three-Brown, Phelps, and Rodrigez- have to face the results of their actions. Any one of us would have been in jail, fighting endlessly for our sentences and seeing these stars walk away from their crimes with nothing but a scratch should not be acceptable.

BY JENNIFER OAKES Photographer We all know those types of people. The people, or should I say couples, who block our already crowded hallways. The kissy-faced couples bump, grind, lick, touch, grab, caress, nuzzle, kiss and squeeze in the seven minutes of heaven our school allows for passage in the hallways. These oh-so-beloved couples intend to use hallways, corners, and stairs as places to show public displays of affection, more commonly known as PDA. Please people! Annandale is not your personal Double Tree Hotel!

Each one of these couples can be divided up into categories just like a food pyramid.

The first group is our vegetable and fruit group. I like to categorize these people in the “healthy” group. They consist of tolerable couples that simply just like being together. Commonly known as the best friend-turned-boyfriend/ girlfriend, these couples keep their displays of love to a minimum and make you extremely aware of your singleness around Valentine’s Day. Next we have our milk, yogurt and cheese group. Gooey, inseparable, gushy, and romantic seem to go hand-in-hand with these love bugs.

Unfortunately I did not get the memo that the reenactment of Romeo and Juliet was now showing. From the moment of sight until departure, it is as if they fear never seeing each other again. Constant touching, holding, kissing and hugging gets a bit too dramatic for school. Putting all jokes aside, let’s be real guys. The other person will not suddenly be swept away into a different portal the moment they leave your side. They will not instantly turn into dust and you will see them after class. As for the hallway, take a lesson from Taylor Swift and Romeo, take her somewhere you can be alone…

This brings us to our last group, the fats, oils and sweets group. Let me remind you, there is a reason why nutritionists recommend to “use sparingly”!

You know the type. Famous for groping, sucking, slurping, deep throating, and practically getting it on. Here we have our shameless, freak shows that obviously need to get a room. Time, place, or the fact that your locker is right

behind them is by no means any reason to stop them from sucking face Look, just because your eyes are closed, doesn’t mean our eyes are closed as well. We can see you doing whatever it is you’re attempting and trust me...there is no ice cream on her face or neck, so stop licking it! I personally prefer to have an appetite when I go to lunch.

This is not to say that the couples have to “hide” their relaSeniors Rachel Wattenbarger and Nate Kaegi have been tionships, we are just dating for almost two years and rarley show PDA. asking for a balance.

Couples like Rachel Wattenbarger and Nate Kaegie, who have been dating for one year and eight months, have kept their gross public encounters to a minimum. “I think that when other couples show PDA it is inappropriate and kind of gross,” said Wattenbarger.

So thank you for letting the student population realize that Cupid is not feeling the effects of the bad economy and is in fact busier than ever.

However let’s remember that we are in school. It’s that place where you go to learn, but more importantly where we all go to learn. The main reason to come to school is not to rekindle your love flame, but to be a studios student.

Yes s-t-u-d-e-n-t. So next time you shut your eyes and go in for the big kissing session, please remember this one little word...respect. Aretha Franklin got it right and so can you. By all means, feel free to engage in behaviors after school in the privacy of your own home. For the sake of a healthier lifestyle and as a favor to those who come to school to learn please make appropriate, nutritious decisions regarding the food pyramid and limit your fat, oil and sweet intake.

COURTESY OF JENNIFER OAKES

Couples must realize that people are not interested in viewing their public affection

Advantages of Facebook

BY JEFF SHIM Staff Writer From the cell phone to the Internet, teenagers living in the 21st century are surrounded by a variety of new technologies that enable us share information. One of the most recent additions to this is the Facebook, which is an interactive site people can use to communicate and share documents and images. What many do not understand, however, is how academically helpful this site can be.

Many AHS teachers have profiles on Facebook, and communicate openly with their students online. One of the most successful is Robin Roth, who is the Career Center specialist. Roth has

befriended many students, from all age groups, and and unable to send themselves or other students has bee able to communicate and inform students important information.

It is understandable that many are scarred of of upcoming events. This is especially true for seniors and juniors who are currently facing the Facebook because with the many benefits, there are also some hazards. Posting information in a public college “marathon.” forum makes students vulnerable In addition, most teenagers to online abuses and a world in the U.S. interact with their of negative affects. However, friends through Myspace or Facebook users have the option Facebook. In recent days, it Facebook is a tool that of making their personal profile has become a common trend for private, or inaccessible by any adults to start using Facebook, people can use to stay other person. Also, only friends as it provides for a great means are allowed to read a user ’s of communication wand easy connected messages and view photos. So connections. Facebook is nothing Facebook can be very safe if but a tool or online gadget, the user takes the precautions similar to the cell phone, that necessary, just as in anything people can use to communicate else. in an interactive manner.

Once people fully understand the benefits that Such an innovative website should not be frowned upon. Unfortunately, Facebook is prohibited in come with Facebook, officials can hopefully make schools, leaving many students disconnected a more logical decision.

“

”

Snoop Dog has been in and out of jail several times as a result of his with pot, marijuana and of irearms possession.

What kind of couple are you?

PDA: Public Disturbing Acts

Students should be allowed to use Facebook during school

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In class you and your significant other... a. wink or smile b. occasionally show a sign of affection c. grope or kiss When you are out with a large group of single people you.. a. act single b. blend in and try not to make your relationship obvious c. make it obvious you are dating In the halls you... a. walk next to each other b. hold hands and kiss goodbye c. makeout At a school dance you... a. dance in a group with your friends b. slow dance c. grind all night long Is it acceptable to show PDA in a religious setting? a. Never b. Maybe c. Yes When you go out to lunch you sit... a. across from your boyfriend/ girlfriend b. next to him/him c. on his/her lap At the movies you sit.. a. center, up front to get the best view b. where there are two seats c. in the back to do more than just watch the movie On a field trip bus ride you.. a. both sit with your friends b. sit next to each other c. sit together and sneak in some kissing When you explain you two came late to practice because you were in traffic, everyone thinks you... a. are telling the truth b. might be telling the truth, but you probably slipped in some kissing while the car was stopped c. most definitely lying After school you... a. kiss and then go your separate ways b. drive home together c. park it anywhere there is space and start kissing

Mostly A’s Thanks for keeping you PDA to a minimum! You are considered to be in the “healthy” group!

Mostly B’s You like showing that you have a boyfriend or girlfriend. PDA is ok for you guys as long as you keep it to a minimum.

Mostly C’s You have some work to do. Keep your PDA acts to a minimum and please get a room!

--Jennifer Oakes Photographer

Issue 6 Jan. 29 Corrections –Staff Writer Bum He Lee was incorrectly credited on Page 3 in “Later start time is detrimental” –Kanye West’s song titled“Heartless” was incorrectly credited on Page 18 in Top 10 iTunes downloads –Britney Spear’s name was incorrectly spelled on Page 18 in Top 10 iTunes downloads

PEOPLE

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the Feb. 17, 2009

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High school sweethearts

Go to the Web

Although they have been together for four years, their relationship is still going strong

AM BR O

SIO

What do you look for in a girlfriend or boyfriend?

“Someone attractive who can make me laugh, who I can be myself and feel comfortable around.”

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True love is not just that over dramatized fiction from cheesy love movies; it is the closest bond that two people can share. Seniors Aracely Marquez and Alcides Rivas seem to have discovered true love in each other.

Rivas entered into Marquez’s class as a new eighth grade student at Edgar Allan Poe Middle School. The first time they set eyes on each other, the sparks were flying. “I thought she was gorgeous,” said Rivas. This is not unlike many AHS students who are attracted by first impressions and physical appearances.

By having several classes together, they got to know each other. “As we talked more, my feelings grew,” said Marquez.

One afternoon, when Rivas walked Marquez to her bus, he whispered in her ear, asking if she would be his girlfriend. On Nov. 6, 2004, they officially became a couple. It has been four years and three months since that day.

It takes a lot of effort to keep a relationship lasting and strong. It requires the ability to adjust to changing situations and to learn from one’s mistakes. Marquez attributes their long-term relation-

visit www.thea-blast. org for an online quiz

share in and out of school. In their fifth period, Preengineering class, “We get to work together and it’s like the only time besides lunch that we get to see each other,” said Rivas. In addition, every Friday they go eat at Chipotle for dinner.

Over their four years together, the couple has collected many memories. The two agree one memory that they will never forget was the first time they kissed. Their paths crossed on Marquez’s way to the clinic and Rivas’ to the water fountain. “I gave him a hug and he went in for the kill,” said Marquez.

Good memories like these keep the couple focused on the good times rather than the bad.

People may believe that relationships have to be perfect, but every couple goes through rough patches. “When we have problems, we find positive outcomes and it has made our relationship stronger,” said Rivas. They have learned that communication is essential to maintain a close relationship.

Seniors Alcides Rivas (left) and Aracely Marquez (right) understand Their experience of being in a long-term relationship has taught them to not stress about what it means to be in a long term relationship. the small stuff. “Our relationship has lasted The couple knows it is important to spend qualso long because we both have patience, trust and ity time together to allow their relationship more love,” said Marquez. opportunities to grow. They value the time they ship to the fact that the two grew up and matured together through those four years. “It’s easier to talk with each other and we undertand each other better,” said Rivas.

LA UR

BY LAURA AMBROSIO People Editor

—Tricia Counihan freshman

“My guy needs to look like River Phoenix and needs to be athletic, like Nick Jonas.”

He says, she says quiz: How well does this couple of nine months know each other?

Pablo Cossio

LAURA AMBROSIO

Nashia Curi

Pablo Cossio picks up his girlfriend Nashia Curi after school.

Senior couple Pablo Cossio and Nashia Curi were quizzed separately to see how well they know each other.

Neither knew what the questions were ahead of time.

First, they both answered questions about themselves.

Then they were asked the same questions about their significant other. Their answers were then compared to their original responses to see if they matched.

What is his favorite color?

Red When is his birthday?

Dec. 11, 1989 What does his family think about you?

They like me; they are so sweet. They invite me to birthdays and dinners.

What is he afraid of? snakes, spiders, and bugs What is his favorite dessert? fudge brownies What is his favorite subject?

Government What type of music does he listen to?

Same as me, rap and hip-hop. Also, he loves Bob Marley.

What is his favorite sport to play?

He likes lacrosse, paintball, and wrestling.

What is his pet peeve?

It bothers him when I don’t tell him how I’m feeling at that moment.

What does he want to be when he grows up?

S.W.A.T. What did you do on your first date?

We watched the movie The Strangers at Tysons.

How did you meet? .In 9th grade English class.

—Mackda Dinkeru sophomore

What is her favorite color?

Pink When is her birthday?

Sept. 11, 1991 What does her family think about you?

They like me. They think I’m a very honest guy and that I treat her well.

What is she afraid of? snakes and spiders, just like me.

What is her favorite dessert? cheesecake What is her favorite subject?

Her academy class, physical therapy.

What type of music does she listen to?

Rap, RnB, and hip-hop What is her favorite sport to play? tennis

What is her pet peeve?

She hates it when someone mocks her.

What does she want to be when she grows up?

She wants to be a physical therapist.

What did you do on your first date?

We went to Tysons and saw The Strangers.

How did you meet?

I met her in class. She started helping me.

“A good personality, they need to be nice and friendly. I’m not that picky with girls.”

—Waleed Karimullah sophomore

“Good looks and a sense of humor. This guy needs to be intelligent and most importantly loyal.”

—Ria Arshad senior

Despite their emotional breakup this couple finds themselves together once again High school relationships are notorious for the drama that comes along with them. It seems like couples go from beaming with happiness to shedding tears the next minute. For this reason, two expressions come to mind when thinking about high school relationships: breaking up and making up. Junior couple Joe Turner and Devon Merchant endured the pain of a break up once in in their lengthy relationship, but after four months they found themselves together again.

Turner and Merchant met in P.E. their freshman year, and the rest was history.

“I was interested in him at first because we were opposites. It was something different, so we started talking,” said Merchant.

Their relationship was solidified when Turner asked Merchant out on the phone during one of their many phone conversations. Now, the two can proudly say that have dated for an impressive nine months, excluding their break up.

Turner and Merchant have overcome the most difficult period of a high school relationship- the break up. After the first few months of dating, this seemingly perfect pair encountered some turbulence that led to a teary break-up.

“There were about four months when we weren’t together and that’s a lot of time to think about what went wrong. It was hard, but it definitely helped our relationship develop,” said Merchant.

“After we broke up, Devon was still there. I messed up, and I knew that if she was going to be there for me after all I did, then she always would be. That is why I knew we should get back together,” said Turner. Turner also admitted that the four months that he and Merchant spent apart were difficult, but during this time they both had a chance to come to grips and realize they were meant to be together. After Turner realized that he only had eyes for Merchant, it did not take him long to sweep her off her feet again.

Now, the ‘Facebook official’ couple spends time together on a regular basis, but constant hanging out brings its positives and negatives. “There are definitely little things that annoy us about each other, but that is part of being in a relationship. Sometimes Joe and I get on each other’s nerves, but our fights never last for more than a few hours,” said Merchant.

It is clear that in this relationship, the good aspects outweigh the bad by far. “I like being around her; she always makes me laugh,” said Turner. “I love knowing that someone cares for me as much as he does,” said Merchant.

The time and space that the break up forced upon the two helped them to realize that their relationship was worth fixing.

“Without the break up, Devon and I would have never faced certain problems that we had. The break up was hard to go through, but it was worth it in the long run because now Devon and I are always on the same page.” said Turner.

Who am I? • I have taught at AHS for five years.

• I attended James Madison University and Louisiana State University.

• I majored in communications for my BA and English for my MA. • In my spare time I like to run, read, watch movies, and do crossword puzzles.

• I like to listen to country and alternative rock music.

“Very tall, blonde, and extremely good looking. They need to be rich; coming from a wealthy family.”

—Ki Lee senior

February Celebrity Birthdays JENNIFER OAKES

BY HOPE STADULIS Staff Writer

Juniors Joe Turner (left) and Devon Merchant (right). “I messed up, and I knew that if she was going to be there for me after all I did, then she always would be,” said Turner.

Last Issue’s

1 2

Who am I

4 6 7 10 12 16 17

• I have taught at AHS for two years.

• I attended Pennsylvania State University.

• I majored in History and Anthropology.

18

• In my spare time I like to paint, read and ride my bike.

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• I like to listen to alternative and punk rock music.

20 21

• I have traveled to Japan and Europe.

• I have traveled to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, which are north of Scotland.

• My favorite part about teaching is helping students discover new ideas in literature.

• My motto is, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”

• My motto is, “Nothing is as bad as it seems.”

• My favorite season is fall.

• My favorite season is spring.

• I was born on Dec. 3 in Aston, Pennsylvania.

• I was born on April 14, 1960 in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia.

• My favorite part about teaching is getting to share all the parts of history that I love with my students and also the school supplies.

• Something interesting about me is that I have an identical twin sister.

Compiled by Stacey Irwin

22 23 26

Lindsay Watkins

Langston Hughes Shakira Christie Brinkley Gavin DeGraw Bob Marley Axl Rose Ashton Kutcher Emma Roberts Taylor Lautner Ice-T Michael Jordan Billie Joe Armstrong Paris Hilton John Travolta Dr. Dre Molly Ringwald Seal Haylie Duff Rihanna Jennifer Love Hewitt Ellen Page Corbin Bleu Steve Irwin Dakota Fanning James Blunt Johnny Cash

1902 1977 1954 1977 1945 1962 1970 1991 1992 1958 1963 1972 1981 1954 1965 1968 1963 1985 1988 1979 1987 1989 1962 1994 1994 1932

8 Diet Diaries Health column

HEALTH

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Go to the web Visit us at theablast.org for more infomation on the Special K Challenge and other diets.

What do you think about not texting while driving?

“I think it should be banned for certain age groups like people who have only had their license for one year because they have no experience.”

—Helen Medmim senior “You can say it’s a good thing because you can prevent accidents since most teens drive now and they’re the ones that are mostly texting.”

Feb. 17, 2009

Dispelling health myths

Handed down to us from our parents, relatives, or friends who have heard it from their parents, health myths are like tall tales, based on a grain of truth that keeps growing until it barely resembles its origin. Here are some of the common ones:

By Amy Steinbuechler

As a part of my New Year’s resolution, I have decided to start my very first diet. Although we are almost two months into the New Year, I recently started to take strides to reach my goal of losing weight and toning my body.

This February, I began the Special K Challenge. The challenge is a pretty simple diet of replacing certain meals with Special K brand foods.

Each morning I wake up and help myself to a bowl of Special K, yogurt and fruit, and cereal with skim milk. I normally do not have breakfast so I’ve struggled to fit it into my morning routine, but I’m slowly figuring out how to eat a bowl of cereal in under two minutes.

For lunch, I have replaced my regular cafeteria food with a Special K bar. The bar has 90 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. It tastes fine, but I struggled a little the first few days to eat such small servings. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps keep my stomach full.

For dinner, the challenge allows participants to eat a normal dinner and still expect to lose weight. I was really excited I would not be eating cereal 24/7, but skeptical of the outcome. To compensate, I have decided to eat normal home cooked meal each night, but ration my portions to control my problem of over eating.

I never realized how much I craved food until I starting dieting. While watching television or doing homework, it is really easy to snack on junk food. Since this diet started, I have resisted the temptation of snacking and started eating just three meals a day. After about a week, it has become my routine and I no longer desire snacks.

Now about a week and a half in, I have mixed feelings about this diet. I like the results I am seeing and the simplicity of my diet plan. On the other hand, I have become conscious of everything I eat. I do not like the way I judge everything I put into my mouth or check the calorie count in foods I consume.

I would like to encourage anyone to join me in my diet and even contact me for advice. If you would like to record your own diet successes or failures, send your story to ablasthealthblog@gmail. com and you could see them in the next A-blast.

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Coffee is bad for you Truth: There are so many false myths about coffee–it stunts your growth, it causes heart disease and cancer, it dehydrates you–but in reality, coffee has more benefits than most people are taught to believe, and is actually healthy to drink.

“I drink coffee everyday,” said sophomore Salma Kerfal. “My parents always told me not to drink it, but I didn’t listen to them. I talked to my doctor and he told me that [drinking] it would have no negative effects on my body.”

Coffee is high in antioxidants, which can battle such health concerns as cancer and Parkinson’s disease. It has also been shown to relieve headaches, and even lower the risk of heart disease. However, too much of a anything is always damaging, so it is best not to drink more than three cups of coffee a day to receive the full benefits it provides.

Toothpaste gets rid of pimples Truth: Toothpaste can clear up pimples; however, if you have sensitive skin, this cure may not be so effective for you. Toothpaste dries out the skin and the methanol found in it can cause itching and inflammation.

So, while toothpaste may get rid of that pimple that has been bothering you, it may leave you with red and irritated skin. Unless you are out of acne cream, toothpaste is not meant for the face.

Though some may find it irritating, senior Mini Yupari finds that it is the perfect cure to get rid of her stubborn pimples that will not go away. “When I have a pimple,” says Yupari, “I put toothpaste on it before I go to sleep and leave it on for five minutes. If I leave it on for longer it burns. [The pimple] gets smaller in two days and then I do it again and then it

Urinating on a jellyfish sting relieves the pain

Truth: This goes the same for any food that has been “proven” to cause acne. There is no connection between what you eat and the appearance of acne. Acne is caused by the accumulation of dead skin cells, overly oily skin, hormonal changes and heredity. So consuming chocolate, fries, soda, or any other junk food will not have an effect on your acne– just your weight.

Some studies have shown that chocolate actually has some benefits for the skin, improving its texture and reducing its vulnerability to UV rays. “Dark chocolate actually has antioxidants in it that are good for you. I eat it instead of milk chocolate,” said sophomore Kaitlyn Mann.

7 M

common health

AfricanAmericans cannot get skin cancer

Y T H S

Truth: Many people with darker skin believe that just because sun tans or burns do not show as easily means that they do not have to be wary of the sun or even use sun block.

“That’s ridiculous,” said senior Jerry Solomon. “Skin is skin. I hate when people say that because I’ve burned before. I always get darker in the summer than in the winter; just like fairer people get tanned I just get darker.”

Darker skin has higher levels of melanin, which is a dark coloring found in the skin and hair. It is true that melanin can resist the harmful UV rays of the sun, but it is still possible for those with darker skin to get skin cancer.

Truth: Urinating on a sting has been the most handed down tip on beaches, most likely because anyone can urinate on themselves when other materials are not available.

“I’ve always thought that was really dumb,” said senior Alba Fuentes. “Because when my brother got a jellyfish and someone peed on [his leg] the pain went away in the same amount of time as my cousin when he got a jellyfish sting and no one peed on his leg.”

Though it may seem like the trick has worked because the pain does go away after a few hours, it is not because of the Truth: Fish seems to have been labeled as being a urine, the mustard or cure-all, capable of preventing any damage to the body any other cure for the known to man– and it just may. pain that you may “My parents have always have heard of. In encouraged me to eat fish bereality, the pain cause it has Omega-3 in it,” Truth: How many times have we heard of a jellyfish said sophomore Salma from our mom to eat our carrots because they are sting naturally lessens. Some Kerfal. “So I eat a lot good for our eyes? Carrots were thought for years people urinate on their stings as a of fish at home. If I to improve eyesight due to the fact that they are full of way to clear the jellyfish tissue don’t eat it, I [will] vitamin A, which is essential for healthy a eyesight as well left on skin that contains the take vitamins [that as skin, but eating carrots will only improve your eyesight if sting cells. contain] fish oils.” you are suffering from a vitamin A deficiency.

Thus, the myth may Fish is full of Ome“I used to eat a lot of carrots so I [would have] 20/20 vision,” said have been misconstrued ga-3 fatty acids, which are just senior Adama Fullah. “But [after] I had been eating as soothing the pain, as good for the rest of the body as they carrots for a while and my eyesight never changed, I when urination was are for the brain. The fatty acids help doubted [the myth].” simply a solution with memory and, as you get older, slow This myth is said to have been started to getting rid of down the process of mental deterioraduring World War II by the British Royal Air jellyfish gunk. tion. Fish oil has also been proven Force. Germany was surprised at how well to cure depression, Alzheimer’s, the RAF was able to shoot down the German schizophrenia, and dyslexia. It is planes in the dark, and Britain, not wanting to recommended that you eat fish reveal its secret of using night radar, told them it twice a week. was because its pilots ate an abundance of carrots.

Germany believed the story.

Eating fish is good for your brain

Eating carrots improves eyesight

Compiled by Health Editor Beelan Yonas

SENIOR PORTRAITS Please visit our web site at www.briarcreekphoto.com to view our portfolio.

We specialize in outdoor portraits of groups and individuals.

—Kevin Ramirez sophomore “I think it’s good because it will prevent accidents that happen daily.”

—Mariela Gonzales senior

Chocolate causes breakouts

BRIAR CREEK PHOTOGRAPHY An Annandale Family Business 571-233-0377

SPORTS XTRA

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Feb. 17, 2009

Life and times of Melvin Robinson The switch from DC to Annandale was a positive move for Robinson

9 How do you think your winter sport turned out?

BY CASSADY KELLER AND TORIE DEIBLE Staff Writers

“Dive team went pretty well; I thought we had a strong team and next year we’ll do even better.”

—Patrick McCann freshman

LANCE MILLER

It is the fourth quarter, one-minute remains on the clock, and the team is down by four. Fans scream for victory, coaches howl their last minute commands and a stand-out player is needed. The crucial player emerges, stepping up his game, and whether he will win or lose, he fights to the bitter end. In all aspects of the game, on and off the court, sophomore Melvin Robinson is that player. Robinson came to AHS at the beginning of his freshman year, in order to escape the chaos rampant in the inner-city of Southeast D.C. Even before he arrived at AHS, Robinson had always been a go to player. Though the competition on the court is still intense, his day to day activities are less stressful since moving from the troublesome Southeast D.C. streets to Annandale, and enrolling at AHS. “My old school was crazy, and I am glad to be at Annandale,” said Robinson.

AHS is more than just a school to Robinson. It provides a stage to highlight his formidable athletic skills, teachers who care about his academic progress, and a safe, structured environment that fosters personal development and maturity. In a nutshell, AHS is now a part of Robinson’s surrogate family.

Despite his sly football moves, life for Robinson has not always been as marvelous as scoring the winning shot. Growing up in Southeast D.C., Robinson experienced the many problems of inner-city schools. From graffiti on the walls to teachers who could care less about their students’ performance, he endured what some could hardly imagine. With hallways filled with reckless students apt to cause problems, trouble in Southeast D.C. was inevitable.

“My old school was crazy–trouble was everywhere. There were set classes, but no one really went to them. It was hard to stay out of trouble,” said Robinson.

Trouble was brewing around every corner and as time went on, Robinson’s mother became concerned regarding his future.

“My mom was getting worried because there was some trouble in the neighborhood. So she called my cousin, who lives in Annandale, to see if I could stay with them,” said Robinson.

Melvin’s family ties took his life in a whole new direction. No longer would he live in Southeast D.C., but a new venue of Wakefield Chapel. When

Sophomore Melvin Robinson shoots a jump shot during the game against the Lee Lancers. The Atoms took the victory, winning 70-66. Robinson put up 12 points and had 8 rebounds to give AHS the win.

he moves in with his cousin, Robinson gained not only a new address, but also a new hope for life.

Athletic opportunities, a school to excel in, and a whole new family atmosphere were introduced.

Not only did Robinson move in with his cousin, he also moved in with his future teammates and best friends. His new house is surely bustling, but this time with a new type of excitement. With teammates and best friends, sophomore D’Angelo Boyce and junior Joe Turner under the same roof, the boys are always sure to have great company and good times.

“We’re definitely the loudest family in Wakefield Chapel because it’s just a bunch of boys.

We deserve our own reality TV show because it reminds all of us of MTV’s Run’s House,” said Robinson.

Although this new way of life introduced a new and exciting family, it also presented Robinson with opportunities to excel athletically. Robinson has played both football and basketball for AHS since freshman year. Whether he is playing wide receiver on the football field or power forward on the basketball court, his extraordinary athleticism is impeccably evident.

“His strength is shown with every play he makes. He’s an awesome rebounder and is great at following through on every play,” said senior Allen Stalp. “He’s a cool guy to have on the team.”

This admiration is shared by many students

at AHS. Robinson is not just well liked for his athletic abilities, but also for his easy-going and kind persona.

“Melvin is the man. I love living with him. It’s cool to have my best friend and teammate living right down the hall,” said junior Joe Turner.

Even though Robinson’s move to AHS opened a number of new opportunities, leaving behind his mother and his old home was hard for Robinson.

“It’s hard being away from my mom, but I make sure to call her everyday. I also visit her once a month,” said Robinson.

However, Robinson does not let being away from his mother hold him back.

“It’s good to be out of trouble here at Annandale, because in D.C. I went through a lot. Having good friends and not having to watch my back at school is good. The sports, teachers, and girls are just better here,” said Robinson.

Due to all of the challenges he has faced, including an unsafe academic environment, a chaotic home life, and limited athletic opportunities, Robinson’s life circumstances have strengthened him and made him an exceptional player. But his physical attributes do not end on the court or field.

Robinson has had his ups and downs in life and has learned to look forward and strive for a better future. No matter what the circumstances may be, Melvin Robinson will undoubtedly play on.

Gymnatics finish last season with positive outlook

Standing before the judges, balancing on a balance beam, sticking the landing on a mat, or bouncing from the springboard, the AHS girls’ gymnastics team worked hard at their last Districts meet. The meet was held at Lake Braddock High School on Feb. 6 at six p.m.

Sadly, the result was a loss. The team members had the following scores: Adrienne scored a 5.8, Rose received 3.5, and Anne-Marie had a 4.5. Although as a team they participated in the events with skill and poise, their low membership brought them down.

The size of the gymnastics team has been steadily dwindling through

—Aby Diop junior

“Winter Track was amazing; it can’t get any better, and each individual did their best and as a result we won Districts.”

—Ki Lee senior

“Distance running in Track; all the girls improved so it was a great season.”

NBA Trivia 1) Who is Shaquille O’Neal’s All-Star Magic teammate?

Sophomores Adrienne Williams and Anne Weiner, and junior Rose Broberg think back on their season. Gymnastics went 0-4 with only three gymnasts.

not be available next year and soon will be nothing more than an event to reminisce over.

Looking back on the Districts meet, junior Captain Rose Broberg said, “My favorite part was getting to the floor event. I was disappointed I wasn’t all-around because of time restraints.”

The gymnasts all expressed their frustration that their sport is being cut from the budget.

“It’s unfair [to cut gymnastics] because they shouldn’t cut a whole sport, they should cut pieces of some or make us pay to participate instead,” said Williams.

Basketball a common sport outside of AHS Club offers chance for basketball players

Kitmetou.

On Feb. 7, the Thunder Cats played the Vipers at Bren Mar Park Elementary. The Vipers played with intensity and came out on top 52 to 41. Junior Nathan Clayton was the high scorer for the Vipers with 20 points.

“Our key players are [junior] Nathan Clayton, [junior] Daniel Blasser, [junior] Kevin Brick, and [junior] August McCarthy,” said Fuller. August McCarthy plays as well as coaches team Viper.

“He is a really good coach. He makes good plays and influences the team,” said junior Stephen Novak.

With all of the team members being students at AHS, there is a strong rivalry between all the teams which makes for a more competitive and aggressive game.

“Our biggest rival is Cason’s team,” said junior Jeremy Gillcash.

“They beat us and it made me really mad.”

Most players find the league a way to goof off and have fun with friends, and still play basketball without the stress and time commitments that the high school teams entail.

“I play the whole game, they don’t take me out and I call myself Jordan Junior,” said Novak.

2) Which player was the NBA’s top rebounder (RPG) in the 06’-07’ season?

3) Which player won the 06’-07’ Defensive Player of the Year award?

4) Who won the Rookie of the Year Award in the 99’00’ season?

5) How many active players are among the Top 30 all-time scorers in the NBA? 6) Who is the youngest NBA player in the 07’-08’ NBA Season?

7) How many jersey numbers has Michael Jordan worn in his NBA career?

LOGAN MILLER

BY KELLY O’BRIEN Staff Writer With AHS’s reputation of having extremely competitive sports teams, it is beneficial that high school students have found a way to play the sports they love. The AHS Boys and Girls Club (ABGC) has no tryouts, any student can join, there are no skill requirements, and all participants are able to make a team. According to the Annandale Boys and Girls Club website, the league places athletes by school first and then zip code but they also accept registration of full teams, which is what many AHS students have done.

Many students have decided to participate in the Annandale Boys and Girls Club basketball league. “I am not good enough to play for the school and I already take up a lot of time with swim so the club team lets me play and have fun,” said junior Chris Fuller.

The Annandale Boys and Girls Club has a rule that those currently playing on a high school varsity or junior varsity team may not play on an ABGC club team. This rule was created to prevent ABGC teams from having an unfair advantage against others and to allow less experienced

“Basketball went pretty well and it was a lot of fun.”

— Phillip Harris track coach

COURTESY OF ROSE BROGBERG

BY ELIZABETH MARCOIS Staff Writer

the seasons. This year, the team ended with three members: Sophomore Anne-Marie Weiner, sophomore Adrienne Williams, and junior Rose Broberg. All three members went to Districts, but not with high hopes.

“We don’t have enough people.

There [are] only three of us and we need five to at least place,” said sophomore Adrienne Williams.

Despite their efforts and hard practice, the team came away from Districts with last place.

“We got ready [for Districts] throughout the entire season, but we used a whole week to prepare specifically. Annandale did well. I think it was one of our better meets,” said sophomore Anne-Marie Weiner.

Because the participation level is so low, gymnastics has been chosen as one of many teams and organizations to be cut from the budget. The budget cut has already taken effect this year, with both Patriot and National District events held at once to save money.

Unfortunately, gymnastics will

—Banna Gebremichael sophomore

Senior Ronny Kimetou listens to the play call from his coach during his club basketball game. His team has a game every Saturday against other AHS teams.

players a chance to present their talents.

Players who participated last year had a lot of fun and decided to sign up again to play this year. “I wanted to join the team because I did it last year, and even though we were really bad I had a lot of fun,” said junior Michael Armstrong, member of the Vipers. “The best part about the team is that everyone gets in and can play no matter how good they are.”

The basketball club league has three teams made up of Annandale

students, Team Eddy, the Bull Dogs, and the Vipers. The teams each have ten to fifteen players and a captain.

The teams were formed solely by the students and their own desire to play. “The team was made with the help of Ronny. He assembled the players and asked me to coach.” said head coach of Team Eddy, Eddy Ajaoudi. Ajaoudi’s team appears to be the top team with a record of 3 and 0.

“Our main contributors are [senior] Cason Kynes and [senior] Fawzi Fafa,” said senior Ronny

1) Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway 2) Kevin Garnett 3) Marcus Camby 4) Steve Francis and Elton Brand 5) Two 6) Kevin Durant 7) Three

Although sport will cut gymnasts look toward the future

“Girls basketball went well but I feel we are a better team then we played sometimes.”

IN-DEPTH

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the

Feb. 17, 2009

ance at AHS?

11 Do you have racist tendencies?

Test yourself

Glenda Ngo, senior Vietnamese& Chinese

Nick Chung, junior Cambodian& Chinese

Pablo Dauila, junior Argentine

Self-Segregation - Lunch Lines -

Mohammad Humza, senior Pakistani

Sarah Turay, freshman Sierra Leone

1. When telling a story about a person of another race and the point of the story is not about race, do you identify the person as a white woman or an AfricanAmerican lawyer?

Alhaji Bah, junior African-American

At lunch, students tend to sit with other students of the same race. Below is a graphic illustrating red day C-Lunch tables by racial categorization. Only six of 52 tables were ethnically mixed.

2. When you are in a meeting where your race is in the minority, do you feel nervous or uncomfortable?

3. If you see a person of another race where your race is dominant - say, your club, work, etc. - do you feel inclined to be especially friendly to prove that you are not prejudiced?

4. If a member of another race treats you rudely or especially nicely, do you question whether the unusual treatment is because of your race?

5. Would you hesitate to do business with a member of a different race?

6. Would you be nervous about walking around at night in a neighborhood of a predominantly different race, even though it looked safe?

7. Would you be more hesitant or nervous about making a sales call (whether to sell life insurance or to solicit participation in a neighborhood bake sale) to a person of another race?

8. Would you be less likely to stop and help someone of another race?

GRAPHIC BY: ADAM KASDORF

9. If you noticed a $10 bill missing from your belongings at work, would you first suspect a coworker of a different race?

- Entrances -

Middle-Eastern

Hispanic

Mixed

These statistics were observed on Feb. 3 during C lunch.

Unoccupied

Diversity dilutes prejudice man Hannah Kilmer, a Caucasian student while conversing with a Hispanic and a Middle Eastern friend after school. “Their friends of their own race will make fun of them,” said Kilmer. She believes others do not socialize with students of different races because of this, “They think white people can’t hang out with other races,” Kilmer said. “If I wear South Pole they say, ‘Don’t wear it’. When I tried out for soccer SpanBY CHARLES SIMPSON ish girls started making threats. People are scared of being called a whigger In-Depth Editor or something,” she said.

The progress of AHS from an all white institution to one of the most ethni“A lot of people think you might be trying to act black,” said sophomore cally diverse schools in the nation is truly remarkable. When the Supreme Tina Kiev.

Court required all U.S. schools to integrate, the ruling was met by angry “People aren’t used to other people mixing,” said junior Jasmine McLaurie. racist protests in Virginia. Today AHS is the epitome of school diversity and To reduce these counterproductive beliefs, many students suggested the creethnic variance, although the question of whether racism still persists in ation of clubs or activities that require interracial intermingling. school remains.

“We should have a day where people just mix with each other and with Remarkably, the general consensus of students is that racism is no longer different races,” said McLaurie. a substantial issue at AHS. There are in fact programs in existence to initiate just that. “Mix it up day,” When asked whether he has ever been affected by or witnessed racism at a project created by the Southern Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance Program AHS, senior Kane Boubacar, an African-American from Senegal, answered, requires students to, for one day, sit with another student they do not know “no, not at all.” His answer echoes the response from numerous other AHS of another race during lunch. The program supports students and faculties students of multifarious backgrounds and essentially every skin tone. “I think of schools across the country organize “mix it up” days at their school in order people recognize that racism is just destructive,” said Boubacar. to teach racial understanding and cooperation.

“This school is so diverse so people are used to it [other races],” said fresh“Mix it up” recognizes that 70 percent of students called the cafeteria the man Alfredo Orellana. Exposure and interaction with other races at AHS helps school environment where social restrictions most prominently exist. It atstudents learn about other cultural customs. It serves to prevent development tempts to eliminate these restrictions to teach tolerance and understanding. of prejudiced ideas among students and to dispel AHS has not yet taken part in the preexisting ideas. program and no efforts to do so have Racial Composition of AHS Outright racism is clearly not an issue at AHS, yet been expressed. but several underlying problems relating to racism Black Yet the importance of such a pro14.5% still persist. Briefly following Sept. 11, 2001, Muslim gram seems less important at AHS Hispanic Other students faced some degree of racial prejudice. than other schools of less ethnic diver29% 3.5% “People are racist against every Muslim out there,” sity. “It [diversity] opens your mind Asian said junior Majid Jamialamadi, a Muslim-American and teaches respect,” said McLaurie.

22% of Iranian decent. “People would ask me, ‘Were you “In Georgia where I’m from, it’s the cause of Sept. 11?’” just black and white. I had never “People used to make fun of my name because it’s met a Muslim person before I came like Saddam Hussein,” said freshman Bellal Hussain. to this school,” she said. “I’ve learned However, most Muslim students seem to feel that rerespect. I’ve learned about other cently improved widespread understanding of Islam cultures. I’ve learned how to respect and the Middle East has reduced racial prejudice people,” she said. towards the ethnic group.

Diversity allows AHS to teach be“It’s not really a problem much anymore,” said yond math and science and convey to Jamialamadi. students useful lifelong lessons of raAnother problem that persists is teasing or insults cial acceptance and understanding. aimed at students pursuing racial integration. Many Caucasian at AHS feel that students self-segregate, or are fearful 31% to socialize with other races because of judgment from their existing friends. source: www.fcps.edu “I pretty much hang out with everyone,” said freshGRAPHIC BY: ADAM KASDORF

The multifarious student at AHS allows students to broaden their minds and helps prevent prejudice

10. At night on a dark street, would you feel more threatened encountering a person of a different race than of your own race?

Scoring One “yes” answer: You have been remarkably insulated from racial differences or have overcome your prejudices to a high degree.

Two to three “yes” answers: You have fewer prejudices than most.

Four to seven “yes” answers: You are about the same as most people with regard to racial bias. Further consideration of your answers may change your reactions and reduce your bias.

Eight to 10 “yes” answers: You have a considerable amount of bias but also an opportunity to re-examine your beliefs and base your reactions on experience, not myth.

Quiz developed by Janice Ward Parrish. Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.

How to Avoid Offense By: Bum Hee Lee

•Do not refer to other’s ethnic groups as, “your kind” or “your people” •Do not laugh at racist jokes •Do not refer to all black people as “African.”

•Do not use over excessive slang when you are in a conversation with a black person.

•When talking to someone of a different ethnic background, do not bring up or emphasize stereotypes.

•Do not over emphasize the word “dude” when speaking with a Caucasian person.

•Do not refer to all Asian people as “Chinese.”

•Do not assume all Asian people are smart and can fix your iPod

—Aurelie Follies sophomore “I was at the McDonalds and a Hispanic person with a heavy accent was ordering.

The man taking the order couldn’t understand him.

So finally the Hispanic man said, ‘forget you’ and left..”

—Dela Mensah sophomore

“I was a victim in seventh grade by a teacher who was white because I felt like he never helped kids of any other race”

—A.J. Janwatin freshman “I was at a very nice restaurant and there were three Hispanic kids in front of my family in line to eat there. The manager said there was no more room for them but after they decided to leave the manager said there was room for us.”

—Katy Panther sophomore “I was talking about how blacks can do a lot of things with their hair and this girl said to me, you’re not black, you’re African.”

—Phelomina Miamah freshman

AHS: From segregation to integration 1954: AHS founded as an all white, segregated school

May 17, 1954: Supreme Court ruling of Brown v. Board of Education requires integration of U.S. schools

June 26, 1954: VA Senator Harry Byrd swears to prevent school integration

May 30, 1955: Supreme Court ruling of Brown II requires implementation of integration

Sept. 21, 1956 : VA school Board General Assembly requires all racially mixed schools to be closed

1959: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) files lawsuits forcing desegregated schools to re-open

1998: AHS was 44 percent white, gaining attention from Bill Clinton’s Advisory Board on Race Today: AHS is largely defined by its ethnic and racial diversity Compiled by: Charles Simpson

Feb. 17, 2009

Is there tolera

Juliana Jurenas, junior Lithuanian

Smith Norton, senior Welsh

Hailey Brown, freshman Caucasian& Black

Sam Bond, senior Peruvian

Ella Quimby, senior Pacific Islander

Mixing it up!

Bilal Hussain, junior Pakistani

Red Day C-Lunch

Is it race, or just a new face?

Two editors intermix during lunch to see reactions

BY HOPE STADULIS AND TORIE DEIBLE Staff Writers Walking through the cafeteria at AHS, one of the more diverse schools in Fairfax County, can be a scary experience for a student that does not know where to sit. If you were to scan the large room, you would see a variety of groups, and ethnicities–most of whom sit together because they share a common interest.

Still, AHS students cannot be classified in typical cliques that everyone sees in the movies: preps, jocks, Junior Hope Stadulis makes her first stop at a table of band geeks, mathletes… None of these titles apply freshmen girls. They were very welcoming and amito the AHS students that sit together at lunch. This able, but a little confused by the situation. makes one wonder, do AHS students subconsciously choose their friends, and judge those around them by race?

The only way to find the answer to this question is to simulate the experience. We decided to test a variety of students by sitting at numerous, random tables during lunch and observing the reaction of students when we interacted with them.

We attempted to choose tables that had an array of dissimilar ethnicities. That way, we were able to test whether students felt uncomfortable due solely to the fact that we differed in races, or if it was simply because we were complete strangers. We are both Caucasian.

First stop: a table of friendly looking freshmen.

This group of girls was composed of a variety of races including Middle-Eastern, African American and Hispanic.

We slinked into seats next to them and initiated conversation. As with meeting any new stranger, the first greeting and introduction was a bit awkward, Junior Hope Stadulis plays a game of cards with a but as our exchange began to develop, the mood lunch table of Asian students. dramatically changed.

We assumed that these gamers had stereoTheir attitudes were purely amiable and inviting, and we found ourselves delving into interesting typed us as snobbish, ditzy girls at first glance, and immediately did not want to be associated conversations with our new friends.

After it was revealed to this group that we were with us. This was a disappointment, especially surveying effects of race on interaction, they con- because it was difficult to understand exactly curred that they were only thrown-off by the fact what characteristics had inspired them to view us in that light. So we moved on. that they did not know us.

A seemingly intellectual group of boys “I did not even think about your race when you walked up to our table. I don’t think that very many seated at the end of a rectangular table was our people at AHS notice race because we are used to next target. After introductions, conversation ebbed interacting with everyone,” said freshman Abigail and flowed, and except for a few awkward glances, we felt comfortable. Unlike the other groups that Mesekerg.

It was time to move on to the next group that we had forced our way into, this group was clearly we had pinpointed: a quiet looking clump of boys united by Arabic culture.

“A lot of the time, we speak Arabic when we talk playing cards, mostly of Asian descent. Their demeanors were a bit intimidating from the moment to each other,” said sophomore Abdelwahab Hany. we approached them, and when we asked if we “I grew up in Egypt, so I am comfortable speaking could join their game they simply stared at us and it, and we all enjoy it.”

As the lunch bell rang, we realized that AHS stuthen continued on. Multiple times, we tried to get involved or elicit conversation, but all we received dents are not close minded when it comes to race.

Sure, we had earned some confused looks when were mumbles, and a whole lot of dirty looks. we sat at these random tables, but it was clear that

Asian

Black

White

these looks were made because we had never been acquainted with these students before. AHS students seem to live by the wise saying: Never judge a book by its cover.

By simply strolling through the hallways of AHS, one can clearly see the plethora of ethnicities blended into different groups. If all were to judge one another exclusively based on race, AHS would be an entirely different environment. There will always be the classic, “What are they dong here?” question, but what we learned today was that the question is not asked because we are of a different race, but simply because we were not familiar faces at their tables.

The science of prejudice Why we judge: An analysis of how intolerance and prejudice develops in human beings

BY NATHALIE SPITA In-Depth Editor By definition, prejudice is “stereotyping and attitudes that lead to the treatment of a particular social group to be different.” Throughout human history, mankind has exhibited a proclivity toward some form of prejudice. It has been prevalent during World War II with the Nazi’s attempt to terminate the Jews, women fighting to have their vote count and the strikes against same-sex marriage. These moments in history show human prejudice against social groups. Now the question is what causes such prejudice and is everyone inclined to show some form of it?

By nature everyone is inclined to have some form of prejudice toward other races or social groups. We subconsciously hold clichéd beliefs about various social groups; female and male, black and white, elderly and young, gay and straight, fat and thin. It is purely human instinct that certain scenarios cause stereotyping and attitudes that can lead to a change in treatment of a particular social group. Such behaviors affect and can hinder one’s judgment, perception and behavior, including who to eat lunch with, who to befriend, or who to work with on a class assignment.

Diversity can either put an end to these claims because it can force people to be more open to a multifarious population. Unfortunately, it can turn the other way and cause people to fall to prejudice.

In 2006, a study was conducted by Princeton University psychology researchers Lasana Harris and Susan Fiske after three Florida teenagers recently pleaded not guilty to the brutal beatings and in one case, death, of several homeless men. The beating, which was caught on a surveillance camera, shows how people can degrade and look down on socially outcast individuals, enough to engage in mockery, physical abuse and even murder. The study showed that

when viewing photographs of social out-groups, people respond to them with disgust, and sometimes do not even regard them as humans.

Twenty-four undergraduates from the university were chosen to view a multitude of color photographs of different social groups, some of which included Olympic athletes, business professionals, elderly people and drug addicts.

They also viewed pictures of objects including the Space Shuttle, a sports car, a cemetery and an overflowing toilet. Pride, envy, pity, or disgust were emotions elicited from these images.

The four emotions were derived from the Stereotype Content Model (SCM), which predicts differentiated prejudices, based on warmth and competence.

Warmth was determined by friendliness, competence by capability. The two emotional extremes were pride and disgust; pride elicited high warmth and high perception of competence, and disgust elicited low warmth and low perception of competence. Envy and pity were considered moderate prejudices; envy elicited low warmth and high perception of competence, and pity elicited high warmth and low perception of competence.

Medial Prefrontal Cortex (MPFC) brain imaging was used to determine if the students chose a proper emotion (pride, envy, pity, or disgust) as exemplified by each picture. The MPFC is only activated when a person thinks about himself, herself, or another human. When the students viewed a picture representing disgust, no significant MPFC brain activity was recorded. This shows that students did not perceive members of social out-groups as human. The area was only activated when viewing the images that showed pride, envy, and pity. Other brain regions including the amygdala and the insula were activated when viewing photographs of “disgusting” people and nonhuman objects. The MPFC only showed high activity when the brain contemplated or saw another human being. This study suggests that, “this lack of MPFC brain activity while viewing photographs of people proves that ‘members of some social groups seem to be dehumanized.”

Therefore, it is clearly evident that prejudice is inherent in human thinking to some degree. Our attempts to limit prejudice and its negative affects should be focused on limiting these inherencies and recognizing any wrongful assumptions that may develop.

GRAPHIC BY ADAM KASDORF

“My friends were fighting over a bench and a white lady sitting next to us said you people don’t know respect.”

A

CHARLES SIMPSON

Have you ever witnessed or been a victim of racism?

th

CHARLES SIMPSON

10

IN-DEPTH

Top 10 Ways to Get A’s 1. Study in a chair at a table.

2. When you study, set goals and take breaks.

3. Start or join a study group.

4. Study a little bit everyday.

5. Choose classes that you like and find interesting.

6. Finish your assignments on time.

7. Ask questions and volunteer to answer in class.

8. Sit in the front of the class.

9. Eat a good breakfast.

10. Actually attend every class.

SOURCE: WWW.HOWARD-BISON.COM

How did you choose your Student of the Quarter for second quarter?

“The student who had the grade that increased the most got student of the quarter.”

—Gail Chmura math teacher

“Highest grade or the student’s grade who improved the most.”

—Tom Chorman science teacher

“Student of the quarter this quarter I gave to the most improved student.

—Bonnie Vining English teacher

“I chose students who were exemplory, for second quarter.”

—Joel Jepson history teacher

th

A

Feb. 17, 2009

Recognizing student achievement Quarter],” said government teacher, Fred Zuniga. “I had a tie-breaker. I gave them a pop quiz and one got an A and one got a B+. The with the A got Student of the Quarter first quarter and the one with the B+ received the award second quarter.”

Not only is AHS diverse in its

BY EMMA BARKER ethnicity and race of students, but Academics Editor it is also very diverse in the teachOne student sits quietly in the ing styles. Depending on a teacher’s back of the class and sneaks in a teaching style, some students are good read during the teacher’s lec- able to achieve more than others in tures. Another is the smart aleck, a specific class. who speaks boisterously, mimics the “I got Student of the Quarter in teacher and disrupts the class. The English because of my excessive parother is the one who sucks up to the ticipation in class,” said sophomore teacher, and agrees with everything Lance Miller. “Mrs. Harar always has they say, not arguing one bit. high expectations for me, so I work as Although there are various types hard as I can.” of students, most teachers look for When students are awarded this the qualities which make a stu- honor, they continue to work hard, dent stand out: trying to adhard-working, vance their compassionknowledge ate, dedicated, and skills for friendly and In my R3, I had two students that the following intelligent. had very good grades and they all quarter.

It’s the end When deof the quarter competed for it. ciding on the and teachers Student of the are now faced Quarter, most with the task -Fred Zuniga teachers pick of determining History teacher the student whom they will who had the award the Stuhighest averdent of the Quarter. The only disad- age in the class for first quarter. For vantage for teachers is choosing one second quarter, teachers usually pick from all of their talented students for the student who improved the most this award. from first quarter.

“In my R3, I had two students Those students who are close to that had very good grades and they being the most improved or the one all competed for it [Student of the

Students are awarded for their effort at the end of the quarter

“

”

EMMA BARKER

12

ACADEMICS

Showing dedication to his work, sophomore Jaime Gallo is encouraged by ESOL teacher Evelyn Hsia with his academics after school.

with the highest average in the class try their best to be the one to get the invitation to the ice cream social.

Many teachers offer the advantage of extra credit options to ensure students have the opportunity to improve their grade. Extra credit definitely varies, depending on the teacher and the class.

“Students must wear a dress shirt and tie all day long on Fridays…I count the tie day as a test grade.

This enables them [students] to raise their grade,” said auto tech teacher Joe DeSio. “I give out 5-point bonus cards that students can attach to assignments to receive bonus points. I also give homework passes,” said English

teacher Noelle Davis.

While some teachers give students additional chances to raise their grade, others give the Student of the Quarter award to those who have an excelled academically.

“One student who received Student of the Quarter came from a foreign country and did extremely well in my class,” said history teacher Joel Jepson.

Those who were awarded this honor had the privilege of indulging in a little ice cream treat after school.

Not only were students able to satisfy their sweet tooth, but they were also given class recognition of their academic achievement.

Made it to the top Students share how they earned Student of the Quarter Ronny Kitmetou, 12 Government, Dr. Zuniga Q: Why do you think you received it?

A: I worked hard and didn’t miss any homework.

Q: Do you think you deserve it?

A:Yeah, definitely.

Q: Have you gotten it before?

A: No, not ever.

Q: Do you think you’ll get it again?

A: Yeah, I hope so.

Stacey Anderson, 11 English 11, Ms. Vining Q: Why do you think you received it?

A: I got Student of the Quarter becuase my grade improved the most in English.

Q: Have you gotten it before?

A: Yes, I got it last year in Algebra.

Q: Do you think you will get it again?

A: I hope I can get it this quarter in Arabic and Math.

William Bennett, 9

Margaret D’Amico, 10 English 10, Ms. Shroyer Q: Why do you think you received it?

A: I had the highest grade point average.

Q: Do you think you deserve it?

A: Yeah, because I’m Mar-great.

Q: Have you gotten it before?

A: No, because I don’t usually pay attention in class.

Q: Do you think you’ll get it again?

A: No.

Spanish 2, Ms. Estes Q: Why do you think you received it?

A: I had the most improved GPA. Q: Do you think you deserve it?

A: Yeah, because I had the most improved grade.

Q: Have you gotten it before?

A: No, I haven’t.

Q: Do you think you’ll get it again?

A: Yeah, in other classes.

PHOTOS BY AMY STEVENS AND DOREEN BOND

“I vary between highest grade, most improved, and class participation. I’ve even given Student of the Quarter to a TA because they participated more than the class. ”

—Jonathan York history teacher –compiled by Bill Risse and Amy Stevens

“Taking Pride In Road Safety” Good Questions to ask about any prospective driving school: 1. Are the instructors: - Licenced - Experienced - Patient 2. Is the school insured?

Go to the web for an update on the grading scale for next year visit www.thea-blast.org

Contact us by phone or by e-mail tandrivingsch@aol.com (703) 751 - 2193 (571) 271 - 1441

Why choose Titus’s Driving School Over Others?

1. Titus, the propreiter for the school is a professional transit and school bus driver for the past 15 years.

2. National background checks on all instructors.

3. The school will sometimes render free lessons to individuals to improve their skills.

4. Parents are welcome to ride along on teens’ lessons.

5. We emphasize strategic driving techniques, freeway driving and driving in adverse conditions (night, snow, rain and fog) and more.

VA. State LIC# 1503-000634

Bonded and Insured

PHOTO

A

the Feb. 17, 2009

p for the smarts

A sc

13 Go to the web

For a fun guess where photo game visit www.thea-blast. org

When the end of the quarter nears, every student wonders if they are lucky enough to indulge themselves in the AHS student of the quarter ice cream social.

Test your knowlegde on top ten ice cream consuming countries: Number each country 1 - 10, 1 being the highest.

___ Switzerland ___ Norway ___ United States ___ Denmark ___ Austrailia ___ Belgium/ Luxembourg ___ Canada ___ Ireland ___ Sweden Freshman Robel Solomon finishes his ice cream toppings with whipped cream.

Math teacher Teresa Lusby waits by the cafeteria doors to collect students ice cream passes. The ice cream social was hold on Feb. 9. after school.

___ New Zealand Source: www.makeicecream.

Principal John Ponton lends a helping hand at the ice cream social to keep in touch with the student body. The teacher staff purchases about twenty-two and half gallons of ice cream.

M&M’s are a popular topping among the participants at the condiments table.

The how to on ice cream: Homemade vanilla ice cream Ingredients: • 5 egg yolks • 2/3 cups of sugar • 1 cup half and half • 2 tablespoons butter • 1 cup whipping chip • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

The worlds largest sundae.

Juniors Caroline England and Hope Stadulis enjoy their ice cream after school while they socialize about their day. Each ice cream social there are about 225250 students who are granted with this treat.

Freshman Annie Rutherford sits and enjoys her vanilla ice cream with hershey syrup which she earned the privleledged of eating in her spanish class.

• 1 ice cream maker Directions: • Beat yolks and sugar until blended.

Pour in top of double boiler. Sitr in half and half. Cook and stir over boiling water until thickens. Set aside- stir in butter.

While cooling, stir occasionally until room temperature. Stir in whipping cream and vanilla. Freeze according to manufacturer’s directions.

Classic Hot Fudge Sundae

Hershey syrup and whipped cream allows students to create a unique sundae. The money to buy the ice cream, toppings, and cups is provided by school funding approved by John Ponton.

Katie Bui, sophomore Q: Whats your favorite brand of ice cream?

A: I like Ben & Jerry’s .

Q: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

A: I like Rocky Road.

Q: How do you make your sundae?

A: I put magic sprinkles, cherries and whipped cream.

Q: How often do you indulge yourself in an ice cream?

A: Every day.

Ronny Kitmetou, senior Q: Whats your favorite brand of ice cream?

A: I like Hagen-Daz. Q: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

A: Chocolate.

Q: How do you make your sundae?

A: With ice cream and toppings.

Q: How often do you indulge yourself in an ice cream?

A: Not that often.

Social studies teacher Gregory Reed fills a cup with neopolitian ice cream. Each student has a option of either vanilla or neopolitian, which is made up of chocolate, strawberry and vanilla ice cream.

How do you like your ice cream?

Annie Weiser, senior Q: Whats your favorite brand of ice cream?

A: I really like Edys.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

A: Chocolate chip cookie dough.

Q: How do you make your sundae?

A: With caramel, M&M’s, whipped cream, sprinkles. I love sprinkles.

Q: How often do you indulge yourself in an ice cream?

A: Atleast once a week, sometimes during the week.

Students gather around the lunch tables to top their ice cream with the condiments provided, such as nuts, chocolate chips and caramel syrup.

BJ Odom, sophomore Q: Whats your favorite brand of ice cream?

A: I like Edys.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

A: Chocolate chip cookie dough...has to be loaded with cookie dough.

Q: How do you make your sundae?

A: With chocolate syrup and chocolate chips.

Q: How often do you indulge yourself in an ice cream?

A: Once a week.

Willie Labarca, freshmen Q: Whats your favorite brand of ice cream?

A: I like Hagen-Daz. Q: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

A: Chocolate covered vanilla.

Q: How do you make your sundae?

A: With gummy bears, M&M’s, and chocolate sprinkles.

Q: How often do you indulge yourself in an ice cream?

A: Like every day...especially after swim.

Ingredients: • 6 oz. Vailla Ice Cream (2 scoops) • 2 oz. Fudge Topping • 1 oz. Whipped Cream Topping • 1/2 tsp Chopped Walnuts • 1 Maraschino Cherry Directions: • Place ice cream. Cover with warm fudge, top with fudge with whipped cream, sprinkle with nuts and top with a cherry.

Eat immediately!

15 most popular ice cream flavors nationwide 1. Vanilla 2. Chocolate 3. Butter pecan 4. Strawberry 5. Neapolitan 6. Chocolate Chip 7. French vanilla 8. Cookies and cream 9. Vanilla fudge ripple 10. Praline pecan 11. Cherry 12. Chocolate almond 13. Coffee 14. Rocky road 15. Chocolate marshmallow Source: International Ice Cream Association Answers to trivia above: 1. United States 2. New Zealand 3. Denmark 4.

Austrailia 5. Belgium/Luxembourg 6.

Sweden 7. Canada 8. Norway 9. Ireland 10. Switzerland

Boys basketball vs. Lee Feb. 10, 2009

Senior John Welsh looks to drive base line against a Lee defender.

Sophomore Karl Ziegler shoots free throws late in the game. The Atoms impressive free throw shooting was a big key in their win.

Senior Allen Stalp shoots over the out stretched hands of a Lee defender.

Photos by Lance Miller

Indoor Track Districts

Senior Oscar Michel competes in shot put during districts at Episcopal HS.

Feb. 17, 2009

Free throws crucial in bball win Sophomore D’Angelo Boyce steady at the foul line to cap off road victory against Lee

BY DAVID HOOKEY Staff Writer Free throws, free throws, free throws. Walk into any basketball practice and you are bound to hear those words sooner or later.

Varsity boys basketball head coach Anthony Harper stressed this point throughout the week and the focus on free throws proved crucial on Feb. 10 as the Atoms edged out Lee, 70-66, behind clutch free throws at the end of the game.

“It was a close game, but it was a really big win for us,” said sophomore Karl Ziegler, who scored 10 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the game.

After falling behind by five with just two minutes remaining, sophomore D’Angelo Boyce knocked down a three to cut the Lancer lead to 63-61. Following solid defense by the Atoms, senior Allen Stalp drove the lane and missed a short shot, but tipped in his own rebound to tie the game at 63.

On AHS’s next possession, Boyce was fouled and sent to the line for a one-and-one opportunity. He sank the first shot to give AHS the lead, 64-63, but missed the second one. Fortunately, fellow sophomore Melvin Robinson pulled down a tremendous offensive rebound, enabling the Atoms to reset their offense with one minute to play.

After killing close to 30 seconds off the clock, the Lancers were forced to foul and send the Atoms to the foul line in an effort to preserve time on the clock.

Unfortunately for them, they fouled Boyce, who calmly sank both shots. The Atoms continued to get defensive stops down the stretch and Boyce continued to make his free throws, and the Atoms held off Lee, 70-66.

“Free throw shooting was obviously a focus this week, and our guys did a good job sinking them when it counted,” said Harper.

“I was confident that I could make the free throws because we shoot them in practice all the time,” said Boyce, who finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. “I’m just glad we won.”

Stalp led the Atoms with 20 points and the team led by four at the half, 31-27. The game also featured an impressive alley-oop dunk by Robinson from Boyce in the second half. Robinson finished with 12 points and eight rebounds in the game.

“It was an exciting game and a very important win, because we pretty much sealed up the third seed in the District behind TC [Williams] and Hayfield,” said Harper.

The Atoms had their work cut out for them in the game, as it was a tall task to defend Lee senior center Frank Holloway Jr. The containment of him left a lot to be desired by the coaches. “[Frank] Holloway had like 22 points and 17 or 18 rebounds, so we really didn’t do as well as we would have liked against him,” said Harper.

The Atoms were able to rebound from a tough Hayfield game played on Feb. 6, where the team lost, 57-49, to win this important Lee game.

The Atoms did not play very well in the Hayfield game as they shot a mere 33 percent from the field.

“We didn’t play that well against Hayfield, and they’re a good team so they were able to capitalize on our mistakes to beat us,” said Ziegler, who had 12 points in the game.

Senior John Welsh led the Atoms with 13 points with three three-pointers, and Stalp added 12 for the team.

“The other coaches and I reiterated in practice that the reason we lost [the Hayfield] game was because we didn’t do the little things and we let the game get away,” said Harper. “We know that little things win games and we just didn’t do that.”

LANCE MILLER

For stats and recaps of the most recent girls and boys basketball games.

A

Junior Jon Williams looks to make a play against Lee. The Atoms won the game 70-66 behind clutch free throws from sophomore D’Angelo Boyce.

LANCE MILLER

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Senior guard John Welsh shoots a three-pointer as a Lee defender attempts to block the shot. Welsh finished the game with six points.

The team played their regular season finale at home on Friday home against West Potomac, but the game was played too late for this issue. This game was also senior night for the Atoms. The team has four seniors, Stalp, Welsh, guard Taimor Bhatti and forward Mohamed Abdi.

After the finale, the team now turns their focus to Districts, where they will be the third seed for the Patriot District. This means they will have a home game in the first round on Feb. 17.

“I hope we can get back to the Regional Tournament and advance further than we did last year, but we’re going to have to work hard,” said Boyce.

Harper agrees that it will take hard work, but he also noticed other areas that the team needs to emphasize to help their chances of advancing.

“If we’re going to be successful, we need to continue to limit our turnovers, play solid defense, and be strong on the glass,” said Harper.

Swim and dive prepare for Northern Region meet Team enters regionals after a successful district meet

BY KRISTEN HENNESSEY Staff Writer As the Atoms loaded the bus on Feb. 4, it was obvious that they were extremely pleased with their performance. With 98 percent of the team swimming their personal best, the team had every reason to be happy.

“Districts went really, really well. Our swimmers stepped up and swam great with a lot of top swims,” said head coach Neal Jarvis.

The Atoms were ready from the start, cheering loudly before the meet even began. “We were so pumped for the meet and there was a lot of excitement,” said senior Joey Panther. “We got all of the teams on our side of the pool to chant, ‘We want Braddock!”’

The Atoms continued to show that same intensity as they swam. The team ended up with four district champions, winning a total of five events.

Junior Sean McKinney won boys diving, sophomore Kyle Tyrell won boys 100-yard backstroke, junior Annika Jessen won girls 100-yard butterfly, and senior Rachel Burnett won girls 100-yard freestyle and 100 yard backstroke.

Sean McKinney also won diving for the Northern Region on Feb. 11.

“I’m seeded first in the 200 and 500 freestyle for regionals, so hopefully I’ll win both,” said senior

Rachel Burnett, who will attend West Virginia University next year on a full swim scholarship.

These individuals and many others also qualified in individual events. One of the most impressive qualifications was freshmen Jackson Hannam who qualified in the Boys 100 Breaststroke.

“Making it in an individual event as a freshmen is a really big accomplishment,” said senior Erin Price.

Seniors Bill Risse, Zac Manthos, and Adam Bergen also had great individual swims. “I could just keep going on and on,” said Jarvis when asked about stand-out performances.

In total, 12 relays qualified to regionals; three from the girls’ team, and nine from the boys’ team.

The boys continued to excel and turned in impressive times. “The boys team did better than they have in years past,” said Burnett.

“It was a successful meet and I swam the best I’ve ever done at districts,” said senior Bill Risse.

He has yet to decide if he wants to swim in college.

“It’s still a possibility,” said Risse.

The boys team ended up coming in third, only three points behind Lake Braddock, who was in second behind West Springfield.

“Even though we supposedly got third, we swam really well,” said Panther. Although they did not beat Braddock, knowing West Springfield did was almost just as good.

“At the end we congratulated West Springfield on beating Braddock and they told us we swam well,” said Panther.

CARLY BOUCHARD

16

SPORTS

AHS swimmers warm up to prepare for a fast district meet at Lee District on Feb. 4.

The team will now prepare this week for regionals which began with dive Feb. 10 and will go through until Feb. 14.

“I love regionals. It’s always a lot of fun,” said Price.

Jarvis emphasized the competitiveness of the Northern Region and praised the team for their tough accomplishments.

“The Northern Region is the toughest region in the state. It is probably almost as competitive as state championships,” said Jarvis.

Although it means another week of practice, swimmers hope their hard work will result in faster times and qualifications for the state meet.

‘Grappling Atoms’ come out with multiple first and second place finishes at districts

BY ALEXANDRA TORRE Staff Writer

The Atoms celebrate their district championship by taking a victory lap at Episcopal High School.

Photos courtesy of Ted Plunkett

The wrestling team hosted the 2009 Patriot District Wrestling Tournament on Feb. 7 and 8.

The Atoms finished third overall with 115.5 points, behind only South County and Lake Braddock.

Individually, two Atoms, seniors Victor Njomo and Shane Doty, won district championships for their weight class, and four other wrestlers qualified for the regional tournament, which was held Feb. 13 and 14 at Fairfax H.S. Freshmen Dane Harlowe, sophomore Jon Le, junior Ricky Adams and junior Stacey Anderson were all eligible to compete at the Northern Region championship due to their indivdual finishes.

Njomo won the 215-pound weight-class by defeating wrestlers from Hayfield, West Springfield, and Robert E. Lee. It took him only forty-seven

seconds to pin his opponent in the final round.

Despite his success, Njomo couldn’t help looking back to last year, saying “I took third last year, which wasn’t as good as this year where I placed first. I would have rather won last year too.”

Doty won the 285-pound weight-class by defeating athletes from South County and Lee. Adams, who lost in the 135-pound final, wrestled in that weight class for regionals. Anderson also fell in the finals, and will compete in the 160pound division of regionals.

Harlowe qualified for regionals in the 103pound group, Le in the 112’s.

“We did a lot to prepare for districts, by practicing, watching films, and working in the weight room. Our goal was to finish third,” said coach Keith Sholders. Sholders added that he was “proud of the six guys who qualified for regionals.”

The district competition, held in the main gym at AHS, was very intense. There were many supporters in the gym, including the varsity cheerleading team.

The Atoms’ believe that their hard work and dedication will pay off by qualifying for the Virginia AAA state tourmament, which will be held starting Feb. 20 at Oscar Smith HS.

COURTESY OF SHANE DOTY

Wrestling hosts Patriot District tournament Senior Alusine Kargbo runs during the district meet. The Atoms boys won the Patriot District championship.

Junior Ricky Adams takes down an opponent during the district tournament. Adams finished second in his weight class.

“We believe we have a good chance at having our wrestlers make states after the regional tourmnament,” said Sholders.

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Feb. 17, 2009

SPORTS

A

Girls lose a close game to Lee

Q&A with Alexis Williams

Despite beating Lake Braddock and Hayfield in consecutive games, Atoms can’t quite get in done in the fourth quarter against Lee

Williams, a senior guard, has played on the varsity team all four years of her high school career. Through 19 games this season, she has scored a team high of 238 points. The Atoms honored Williams, the team’s only senior, before their Feb. 10 game against Lee.

AUGUST MCCRARTHY

BY SCOTT PLUNKETT Sports Editor

Senior guard Alexis Williams brings the ball up the court during the Lee game. Williams finished the game with 17 points.

COURTESY OF TED PLUNKETT

As the 2009 indoor track season comes to a close, the boys track team is celebrating their Patriot District Championship, the first the Atoms have won since 1981. The girls team, on the other hand, finished seventh in the district, which is an improvement over last year’s team.

“I never thought it would happen, it was so unreal. When we won, it was the best feeling of my life. I couldn’t believe it,” said junior Michel Ejigu.

One of the most exciting and eventful event was the boys 4x800 which set the district record, automatically qualifying them for the regional and state tournaments. Other strong individual performances included Scott Plunkett winning both the mile with a time of 4:27 and two-mile race with the time of 9:53, and Daniel Blasser winning the 1,000 m with the time of 2:41.

The most dramatic part of the meet was watching the boys 4x400 relay, which, because of the close scores, would determine whethJunior Daniel Blasser hands off to senior Ki Lee er the team would during the 4x800 meter race. The boys indoor track win the district. As team won the district championship for the first time Blasser crossed the since 1979. finish line, the Atoms learned that they had won the Patriot District by 6.25 points, edging out Hayfield.

Throughout the season, the team as a whole has tried to improve on faster starts, better conditioning, and working up momentum during the races. With the season ending, coaches and runners believe that they have reached most of their goals by being district champions and working hard everyday.

“I think we did so well and improved so much during the season because we were very serious about achieving our goals and tried hard to get better at practice,” said sophomore Nathan Miller.

The boys are also looking forward to next year, and setting even higher goals.

“In the near future we want even more individual district champs as well as a team title and a repeat of this year,” said Ejigu.

Even though the girls team placed seventh in the district, they still improved from last year and the past years. The coaches hope that next years bigger, stronger girls team will be able to compete in both the regional and state tournament.

“Everyone did really well this season,” said sophomore Olivia Ko. “I am very proud of the boys, and hope that we win districts in the spring.”

Individual winning performances at districts included: junior Daniel Blasser for 1,000 meters, senior Scott Plunkett for the mile and two mile, and senior Emily Koppelman for shot put.

Regional qualifiers included senior Laura Burton who finished in third place in the 55m dash, senior Jaclyn Mohlman who finished in third place in the 55m hurtles and fifth place for high jump, junior Alhaji Bah who finished in second place 55m hurtles, senior Ki Lee 5th place 500m, senior Safwan Islam for 3rd place shot put, senior Oscar Michel for 4th place shot put, junior Michael Ejigu for mile and two mile, and senior Dale Lin for high jump and triple jump, and the boys 4x4 relay 2nd place.

Q: What’s your favorite AHS basketball memory?

A: My favorite AHS basketball memory would have to be the team bonding activities like movie nights, sleepovers, going to dinners before the gams and especially forking teammates’ yards.

Q: What are your plans for next year?

I will be attending college, but I’m not sure where yet. I also plan to play basketball in college. I’m ready to start working on my Marketing degree.

The Atoms’ lone senior, Alexis Williams, shares a moment with her parents before being honored before the Feb. 10 game against Lee.

“Hopefully we can pick up a win in the first round and make it to the Regional Tournament again this year.”

As the Atoms’ rocky season that’s been full of ups and downs nears the championship season, they look to be on an upward trend and look to be far more competitive with the more talented teams in the district and region.

“I think that we’ve improved greatly from the beginning of the season, and we hope to continue to do so,” said assistant coach Jennifer Hall.

Boys win distirct championship A false sense of outrage Defeat Hayfield by 6.25 points to win Extra first Patriot District title since 1981 Points ALLEY ADCOCK & KATIE VU Staff Writers

Q: How long have you played basketball?

A: I have been playing basketball for 11 years. I started playing when I was in first grade.

Q: What will you miss the most about basketball here at AHS? A: I think the thing that I will miss the most is all the girls that I have gotten to play with over the last four years.

The were great and I enjoyed playing with them.

BRENNA O’NEILL

As Annandale fans entered the gym on Feb. 10, they were greeted by signs commemorating the annual Senior Night. This year however, Senior Night was different. As made apparent by the lone Atom wearing a unique colored shirt and posters on the wall with the phrase “senior night” crossed out and replaced with “Alexis night,” the Atoms only have one senior on the team this year.

The Atoms started off the game slow and committed several early turnovers that led to a seven-point deficit with 23 seconds left in the first quarter. In the previous match-up with the Lancers a month ago, the Atoms got off to a strong start, but still lost by 18 points.

Sensing the urgency, the Atoms started a run. The lone senior, Alexis Williams, drained a three pointer to knot it up at 12-12, but the Atoms weren’t done there. Continuing to hold Lee without another basket until 6:05 remaining in the half, the Atoms built a four-point lead after being down seven minutes earlier.

Despite playing the Lancers with much more intensity and fight this time around, the Atoms fell just short of a victory, losing by seven by a score of 49-42.

“We needed better execution in the game,” said head coach Cleveland Williamson. “We had too many turnovers in the first and fourth quarters, so we need to cut down on them.”

The Atoms finished the game with 21 turnovers, with 16 of those coming in the aforementioned first and fourth quarters.

The loss also severely hurt the Atoms’ chances of finishing in the top four of the district heading into the Patriot District Tournament. This is significant because the top four teams get to play at home for the first round of the district playoff.

In the Atoms’ previous game, they defeated the Hayfield Hawks for the second time this season. The first time the two teams played, the game was close, with the Atoms winning by four points. That time however, the Atoms won with ease, with a 22-point margin of victory, as the final score was 55-33.

The Atoms prevented any Hawk from scoring in double digits, while having three of their own.

Junior Nikki Clarke, sophomore Kristen Hennessey, and Williams led the Atoms in scoring with 13, 12, and 17 points respectively. The Atoms also shot very well from the free throw line and got there often, as they made 17 out of 27 attempts for 63 percent free throw shooting.

The Atoms’ next game is Feb. 17 and it is the first round of the district playoffs. With a win, the Atoms will advance to the Northern Region Championships.

“We’re going to prepare for Districts by practicing our box and one defense, as well as our match up zone,” said Williamson.

17

As of today the American sports media is officially wacko over the “ARod did steroids” saga. The fact that America’s highest paid team-sport athlete took performance enhancing drugs is hardly a bulletin–he has been questioned about it for years.

Sports Column Because he has lied about it for so By: Kelsey Knoche long, the media are having a field day with him and with baseball and will continue to do so until the next time a star player has a run-in with the law or beats up his girlfriend or says something stupid to the media. And that could come any day now!

Right now A-Rod has a couple of things going for him. One is the unbelievably short attention span of the American public when it comes to stuff like this.

My guess is that most people on the street don’t really care that much about Rodriguez and the sport he plays and put the steroid stuff behind them long ago–when Mark McGwire refused to address the issue before congress and Rafael Palmeiro looked into cameras that same day and swore he had never, ever done steroids.

The cover of almost every sports magazine and website is covered with pictures and stories on Rodriguez, with analysts trying to make sense of it all. It’s being covered by everyone and anyone, much like the original outcry over Michael Phelps’ bong picture.

The second is simple. You have to give Rodriguez some credit for learning from those who stumbled before him. Pete Rose swore he had never gambled on baseball for a decade.

It not only kept him out of the Hall of Fame, it kept the issue of gambling in the clubhouse on a front burner long after its normal shelf life. McGwire never has come clean to this day.

As Americans, we are inclined to forgive and to grant the benefit of the doubt. By admitting steroid use now, Rodriguez will take huge hits but will head off a great deal of future problems. He still has nine years left on his Yankee’s contract and a lot can happen. My guess is that he puts up ridiculous career numbers, all the while apologizing for past sins, and ends up right where he probably deserves...in Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

But the thing is, after a few weeks, this story will not be that big until the day he is up for election for the Hall.

It will simply be something mentioned by the multiple broadcasters during future Yankee games. When the time comes that he is considered for the Hall of Fame, the scandal will once again re-surface, and will become a big story again.

That’s simply the way media works now. When something big happens, whether it’s sports or news of any medium, it is analyzed and magnified, but not for long. Eventually, the next scandal comes, and the last one is forgotten .

Ultimately, maybe the truth is a simple one: Nobody really cares. Baseball long ago lost its claim as “our National Pastime” to the NFL. While attendance is still good in major market stadiums, small market teams with no chance to compete are losing money every season.

The fact that there is no salary cap and no revenue sharing among teams means we will see the same teams in the playoffs every season–Red Sox, Yankees, Cardinals, Dodgers, Cubs–until the system is fixed.

Perhaps even more importantly, the pace of the game is so slow and the season so long, Major League Baseball is losing a great deal of its younger fan base to sports like lacrosse.

With a 162-game season, very few actually have the time or patience to follow their favorite team for the whole year.

Not only that, but the game lacks the fast pace and exciting plays that are clearly evident in popular sports today. While lacrosse takes on the nickname of the “fastest game on two feet,” baseball could easily be seen as the slowest.

While our fathers grew up with the sport and understand and love the subtle parts of the sport, most young sports fans would rate baseball pretty far down the list.

With a 162-game season, very few actually have the time or patience to follow their favorite team for the whole year.

Feel free to follow the Rodriguez story through all the appropriate media outlets. I thought I might be able to muster some false sense of outrage, but the truth is I really don’t care about it on any level.

Q: What was it like being the only senior on this year’s team?

A: Being the only senior wasn’t really bad because when you’re on a team, age or grade doesn’t matter. Before senior night, I wished I had someone to share it with but when I think about it, I did. All the girls on the team, my family, and my friends made it really special.

Q: What advice would you give to the underclassmen currently on the team?

A: I would tell them to enjoy everything that they can about high school because it goes by really fast. They should always play hard because you never know when it will be your last game. And most importantly, to make the best out of every situation and to have a lot of fun with the people that are around. Also, to be involved and to go to every school function possible.

Girls basketball vs. Lee Feb. 10, 2009

Junior Nikki Clarke looks to drive against a Lee defender.

The girls team gets pumped up before their senior night game against Lee.

Sophomore forward Isabelle Yaroch defends a Lee player during the Feb. 10 game.

Sophomore Kristen Hennessey and senior Alexis Williams (15), defend the Lancers in the second half of the game.

Photos by Brenna O’Neill

18

ENTERTAINMENT

A

the

Feb. 17, 2009

2009 Grammy Awards

– By Helena Bolay Staff Writer

Top 10 iTunes Downloads 1. Right Round Flo Rida

2. Crack a Bottle Eminem, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent

Meet The Scoons

Music

of the

Moment Music Review

By Brenna O’Neill and Erin George As you walk into sophomore Anthony Banaszak’s basement, you are not met with tangled cords from an X-box or week-old Cheetos. Instead you will find recording equipment that rivals that of a professional music studio. This complex setup has been erected as a rehearsal space for The Scoons, a band made up of sophomores Andrew Pack, Anthony Banaszak and Jordan Aman. The group was created in the summer of 2006 when Pack and Banaszak realized their potential.

“The reasonAnthony and I work so well together,” said Pack, The Scoon’s drummer, “ is because we started by just playing music and jamming together to discover our styles.

No bass, or vocals-–just jamming.”

Aman, the latest addition and lead singer, wasn’t initially too excited about his role as the band’s vocalist. However, his role has expanded to songwriting and playing the bass. Even though it has only been a year since he first started playing, Aman’s lack of bass experience is virtually undetectable.

One of the most frequent questions asked by fans is about the origin of the band’s name. “We had maybe close to 100 names. Clear Black Skies was the first, then Sketchy Landing. We’re not good with the band names,” said Pack.

Luckily, the quest for the perfect moniker came to an end when the boys were introduced to Scoons, a traditional Native American Food, by a friend. “We were eating them and realized that they’re good, and then we realized that we’re good. And so it just seemed to fit,” continued Pack.

Like any other band, they have had their ups and downs. “Before a performance at Ravensworth pool,” Pack said, “Our equipment absorbed water, so when we began to play, no sound came out of the guitar amp. Everyone just sort of looked at us when we stopped playing.”

Technical malfunctions aside, the band also claims to struggle with song writing. “Overall, I think we have written about 30 songs,” said Aman. “Right now we have 12 on the CD.” Their CD, ‘She’s Haught,’ is not what you would expect

ADAM KASDORF

There is only one award show that brings together the old and new generations of music.

This year’s Grammy’s did not dissappoint with its diverse line-up of popular stars. Performances by the Jonas Brothers and the legendary Stevie Wonder were very well-received, as was the collaboration between Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo, Smokey Robinson, and Duke Fakir, who was one of the four lifetime achievement recipients of the night.

Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist are the only awards that an artist can with out being restricted by genre. The country duo Robert Plant and Alison Krauss showed their appeal to all kinds of music fans with their multiple wins. The pair was honored with Album of the Year for Raising Sand and the Record of theYear for the song ‘Please Read the Letter,’along with three other trophies. Song of the Year went to Coldplay for ‘Viva La Vida’which they performed early in the evening. Best New Artist went to a shocked Adele, who performed ‘Chasing Pavements’ onstage with Jennifer Nettles.

Another surprise was when the nine month pregnant MIA came out in a revealing outfit to perform ‘Swagga Like Us’ with hip-hop legends Jay Z, Kanye West, T.I., and Lil Wayne. This performance was a shocker considering that it came on the rapper’s due date.

Thankfully, she made it through the whole performance and has not yet to give birth.

Tw o f o r m e r American idol contestants, Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson, graced the stage to pick up awards and to give exceptional performances. Carrie Underwood received her first Grammy for her song ‘Last Name’that she performed in an unflattering beige dress. An emotional Jennifer Hudson won the first Grammy of the evening, Best R&B Album, and said an emotional thank-you to her deceased mother, nephew, and brother-in-law who were found dead in their Chicago home in July.

Two stars who were notably missing that evening were Rihanna and Chris Brown. The two no-shows were scheduled to perform, but Brown turned himself in at an LAPD station after he was charged with an alleged domestic violence felony battery against a woman , who is reported to be the singer’s girlfriend, Rihanna.

Every year the Grammys prove to be more than just an ordinary award show for outstanding achievements in the music industry. It is an event like no other, where music legends come together and to humbly recognize each other for doing the one thing they love to-do; pulling off remarkable performances.

from a typical teenage garage band. Instead of consisting of a few mediocre tunes, which are aimed at mirroring the style of the group’s favorite artists, The Scoons’ original sound is focused on the creativity and talent that all three members possess. The Scoons, who describe their music as alternative, say that their sound is unlike any other.

But when asked about their personal inspirations, Pack jokingly named “The Jonas Brothers,” while Banaszak credited “Jimi Hendrix.”

“You’re Driving Me Crazy,” the album’s first track, is clearly about an ex-girlfriend, a trend that continues through the album. All three of the members agree that almost all of the songs are about past relationships that didn’t work out or everyday things that they experience.

Another song regularly played by the Scoons is “Count 2,3.”

A favorite of both the band and its fans, this tune’s drums and the vocals are dominant.

The style of the Scoons is unique to their personalities and differs from the music played on local radio stations.

Although their songs may only appeal to rock enthusiasts, the band is worth checking out. You can find them on Facebook or MySpace, see them live in the upcoming Battle of the Bands, or listen to a sample of their music at www. theablast.org/news/130.

Facing the truth when: Doubt The romantic comedy starring Gennifer Goodwin is full of embarring situations and cringe-worthy moments

McGarey’s Mark Entertainment Review

By Kelly McGarey Every February, the nation is shrouded with a dense cloud of pink, red and white. Cliched cards can be seen in the windows of every convenience store, and commercials hawking stuffed bears, chocolate and roses flood the TV screen. However, the worst part of this atrocity that we call Valentine’s Day is the deluge of sub-par romantic comedies that we are subjected to year after year. After months of TV spots and relentless promotion, He’s Just Not That Into You hit theaters on Feb. 6, just in time for the dreaded day. Understandably, I did not have high hopes for this film. Although it boasted an impressive cast of stars, the sickeningly-sweet tone of the season had left me expecting the worst.

To my surprise, the movie turned He’s Just Not out to be immensely entertaining.

That Into In following the complexities of the You relationships between eight thirtysomethings as they try to navigate the turbulent world of dating, marriage, and friendship, He’s Just Not That Into You contained several shockingly deep insights into the ways people deal

B+

with each other. Gennifer Goodwin stars as GiGi, a cute, socially-awkward romantic who is desperate to fall in love.

Unfortunately her clingy habits and stalkerish tendencies lead her to be rejected again and again. Claire (Jennifer Connolly) and Beth (Jennifer Anniston) try to give her advice, but feel obligated to lie to her, ignore her flaws, and blame her dating woes on the soulless, unfeeling men whom she has had the misfortune of meeting. On one fortuitous evening, GiGi meets Alex while attempting to stalk his friend. He shatters all of her ideas about relationships when he reveals the bitter truth: his friend, her old boy friends, and pretty much the entire male population in general is just not that into her.

Although it may seem horrendously stereotypical at times (all the men in the film treat marriage as though it is a death sentence, while the women are frenzied to commit, get married, and have families) some moments are sure to seem uncomfortably familiar to audiences. GiGi’s painfully ill-timed, embarrassing remarks, her obsession over ‘signals’ and over-analyzation of each second of every date are sure to make teen girls (and even adult women) rethink their relationship strategies.

Similarly, the portrayal of nearly every male in the movie as heartless and shallow players who treat the women in their lives as disposable goods may give guys in the audience a rude awakening and make them reconsider how they treat they their own significant others.

I gave this movie a solid B+ because of its hilarious dialogue and honest message. I enjoyed the fact that, unlike most romantic comedies, not everybody’s

story has a fairytale ending.

It is not an epic romance nor does it have a heartbreakingly tragic ending like Titanic or The Notebook, but it leaves the audience with a much more realistic hope at finding love.

Finally, the fact that the movie cherished friendship as the most important relationship was right on the mark. As any girl can tell you, handling the mania of day-to-day life is made exponentially easier if you have someone who you know will listen to your whining, calm your constant nerosis with compliments, and always be there to help you through each day’s series of mini-crisises.

Octuple Overexposure Nadya Suleman is drawing wide-spread criticism since she gave birth to octuplets Jan. 26

3. Dead and Gone T.I. amd Justin Timberlake

4. Poker Face Lady GaGa

Jeremiah Suleman

5. Gives You Hell

BY KELLY MCGAREY Entertainment Editor

All-American Rejects

6. My Life Would Suck Without You Kelly Clarkson

7. Chasing Pavements ADELE

8. Viva La Vida Coldplay

9. Heartless

Three weeks ago, the world was shocked to learn that an unidentified California woman had given birth to octuplets. Understandably, the media was shocked by this feat, which had only happened once before. News channels immediately picked up on the story, and ran articles with headlines proclaiming the miraculous birth of these children, praising the doctors for their remarkable care, and celebrating the mother’s amazing delivery.

However, it didn’t take long for this saga to take a decidedly sour turn. When Nadya Suleman’s identity was revealed and the details of her situation began to immerge, she was met with criticism from the American public.

Ann Curry of NBC’s Today show was able to give the world its first look at this controversial woman through a series of exclusive interviews. Through these discussions, it was uncovered that Suleman’s special delivery was not her first encounter with motherhood, and that she had six small children at home.

As the story developed, a clearer picture was painted of Suleman. The 33-year old California native is a single mother who had given birth to fourteen children in a period of only seven years using In-Vitro. Jobless, and receiving disability aid for three of her elder children and over $490 each month in food stamps, Suleman has expressed no regrets over having such a large family. When asked, she attributed her desire for children to the isolation she felt growing up as an only child.

This has outraged many Americans who feel that Suleman’s unusually large family

McCai Suleman

Maliah Suleman

is creating a serious drain on public services.

Junior Emma Whitmyre commented on this issue saying ‘it was irresponsible for [Suleman] to have so many children, and the of California should not be financially responsible for them. The welfare system should be helping people who are living in poverty, something that it is not adequately doing.”

Sophomore Melvin Robinson agreed, saying that given Suleman’s financial state, “It is not a good idea for her to raise all of those children alone.”

However, senior Kate Salpini disagreed saying “As long as [Suleman] is able to love all of the children and support them, she should be allowed to have as many children as she can handle.”

Though most seem to be blaming Suleman for her decision, medical experts are calling the judgement of the fertility doctor who treated her into question. Dr. Michael Kamrava, a well-known specialist, is now being reviewed by the California Medical Board for his part in the birth of the octuplets.

According to reports, Kamrava, who treated Suleman at the West Coast IVF Clinic, implanted six embryos into her uterus. This is highly unusal considering the fact that many doctors refuse to implant more than three embryos at a time. Two of these embryos split, creating twins, and eight embryos successully developed into the massive brood that Suleman is now supporting. The octuplets are expected to remain hospitalized for between six to eight more weeks. The total cost of their birth and follow-up care is expected to cost the state of California about $1.3 million because Suleman is on their Med-Cal insurance plan for the poor.

ALL PHOTOS FROM GETTY IMAGES

Kanye West

Josiah Suleman

10. Just Dance Lady GaGa and Colby O’Donis

Isaiah Suleman

Johan Suleman

Noah Suleman

Nahriah Suleman

the

Feb. 17, 2009

C Complain to Jane Advice Column

The Uninvited

Movie viewers beware, do not RSVP to this tacky flick

By Jane Aman Dear Jane, I have been going out with this guy for a couple of months now. I really like him, and he makes me laugh. I love being with him, but I don’t feel the same way I used to about him. I’ve started noticing other guys, which I don’t think is fair to him. I know that I should break up with him, but I don’t know how to do it. I don’t want to hurt his feelings, and I really want us to continue to be friends, just how do I let him know this while at the same time break off our relationship?

Sincerely, Wishing to be single.

Truthfully, there is no easy way to break up with someone. However you do it, the point will be the same, you do not want him any longer as he is: a boyfriend. So, for everyone, that transition from boyfriend/girlfriend to friend, is a hard one to imagine, let alone make.

But, all hope at a friendship is not lost. The best way to break up with someone is to just tell them how you feel, not using any clichés.

Tell him all of the qualities that you like in him and are afraid of losing. Do not just give him the “let’s just be friends” line. He will appreciate it if you are honest and open.

Perhaps you could suggest that you still go on group dates. Explain to him that you want to be single and that it’s not anything about him that you don’t like. Also, for future reference, noticing other boys is completely natural, so do not be uncomfortable about that. Just because you are in a relationship does not mean that you stop assessing people. It is how we are built, to find a mate (as pre-historic as that sounds) So, just be yourself and good luck!

--Contact Jane at complain2jane@gmail.com

S u d o k u

ENTERTAINMENT

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BY KELLY O’BRIEN Staff Writer After seeing the movie The Uninvited, I realized that I can no longer trust commercials. Watching the trailer scared me more then the The actual movie itself. My friends and I are Uninvited still laughing about the poor quality of the film.

The movie begins with Anna, Emily Browning, going home after being admitted into a mental institute for 10 months. She had tried to kill herself after her mother’s death in a boathouse explosion.

Anna returns home to her father, played by David Strathairn, older sister Alex, Ariel Kebbel, and her father’s new girlfriend Rachel, Elizabeth Banks, a nurse who cared for their ill mother before her death.

Anna’s friend and old boyfriend Matt had been trying to tell her something about the night her mother died since she had returned home, but every time he tried to, Rachel somehow interfered.

The night Anna plans on meeting him, he does not show up.

And the next morning his body is found in the lake with a broken back.

When Anna sees the ghost of her mother pointing towards Rachel chanting murder, she is convinced Rachel is the reason for the deaths of her mother and Matt.

Anna and Alex decide to conduct a Google search on Rachel and find out that she might really be Mildred Kempt, a woman who murdered three children

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after becoming obsessed with their father.

The girls relate their own situation to the three children’s and asume they will be the next ones to die.

This movie has a simple plot with a surprise ending that completely ruined it. The producers tried to make it unexpected but it was too far fetched. I walked out of the theater extremely let down. On top of that, the acting is pathetic.

Elizabeth Banks, who is supposed to be a creepy, psycho, killer, displays a disappointing performance. Her attempt at the line, “I don’t want to hurt you,” made me laugh so hard I forgot it was a horror film.

There is very little gore in this movie. You never see anything happen to anyone, only the stains of blood and damaging effects of a struggle between characters.

This is more the type of movie that makes you jump out of your seat due to little hands popping out and the classic look of the dead corpse covered in crusty blood.

The Uninvited showed so much potential, but poor acting and the worst ending made it one of the worst horror films.

All the scenes with ghosts and her nightmares seem pointless and forced that I felt that they found fou ound ou nd out information way too easily.

19 Horoscopes Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.18) This month is a time for celebration for you. Don’t let your excitement overpower your logic. Although everything seems hazy, you will find a clearing.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Although indulging yourself seems smart at the time, the outcome is not as rewarding as you may think. Take a break from spending and focus on lending.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Alone time is okay every once and awhile. But this month it’s time to get out, meet new people, and find a new passion. Have fun with life.

Taurus (April 20-May18) You are recovering from a sickness.

But stay strong and keep fighting for what you want to achieve. Set high standards for yourself and your future.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Pictured from left to right: Anna (Emily Browning) and older sister Alex (Arel Kebbel) both lead stars in The Uninvited.

Directions The objective is to fill out all the empty boxes with the numbers 1-9.

In each square you cannot reuse any number twice. In each row or column you cannot reuse any number.

You may notice the pace of your life picking up. Remember to take time to smell the fresh air and enjoy the changing seasons.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Plan a romantic night for your significant other.Your creativity and spontaneity will show how much you care.Your new romance will outshine all past relationships.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) You’ve been giving out a lot of advice lately but its time to turn the focus towards yourself.

Follow your own instinct and guidance for it will lead to happiness.

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sept. 22) This may be a stressful month for you, but work through all the tough times and your reward will be worth all the hard work. Focus on physical health for this month.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) An embarrassing secret has been revealed about you.

Don’t worry, people forget. Move on with a positive outlook, but be sure to avoid walking on thin ice.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Watch your temper during this month.

A slip of the tongue may leave you feeling with a slew of regret. Choose your words carefully and meditate when the stars are out.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Your recent success is bittersweet because even though you are excelling, some of your close friends are falling behind. Take a break from yourself and focus on your peers.

Capricorn (Dec.22-Jan.19) Emotions may be running rampant this month. You will face conflict with current and past romances. Make sure you make the right decision.

Go to the web For a review of the movie Shopaholic visit www.thea-blast.org

How to get started 1. Gather a group of about 20 friends, including drivers.

2. Divide into equal teams, taking into account age and mental capability.

3.Create a list of tasks to be completed. Make sure none of them involve illegal or dangerous activities.

4.Establish a set of common rules. Agree on penalties for breaking rules.

5.Decide on a beginning and ending location.

6. Make sure to bring a charged and functioning digital camera.

7. Set a time limit. Make sure it is reasonable.

8. Choose drivers that are legally allowed to have more than one passenger in their car.

9. Have fun!

The Do’s and Don’ts of Scavenger hunting.

•DO say please and thank-you to strangers you ask to participate.

•DON’T force someone to do something they are not comfortable with.

•DON’T speed while driving to complete tasks.

•DO obey all traffic laws and wear seat belts.

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Feb. 17, 2009

What are you looking for?

Scavenger hunts can be a fun and exciting way to explore the many parts of the town ANDY CRAIG AND BOB STEVENS Staff Writers On Monday night, some 30 to 40 Annandale students left the AHS parking lot armed with digital cameras and prepared to thoroughly embarrass themselves for the sake of competition. On Feb. 2, high school students involved in Young Life collaborated at the jock lobby to start their scavenger hunt.

Young Life is a Christian organization where high school students can hang out and have fun with their peers. It is held every Monday night usually from 8 to 9 p.m at a member’s house. On these nights at Young Life, there are many activities to do, such as singing, capture the flag, bowling and in this case, a scavenger hunt.

Sophomore Melvin Robinson walked up to a police car late on Monday night and asked, “Sir, may I please sit in your car.”

Why? This was one of the many activities that could have been done during this past Monday’s scavenger hunt.

There was a list of 30 tasks to be completed in a one-hour time limit.

“My favorite task was braiding a random girl’s hair,” said sophomore D’ Angelo Boyce.

This was another one of the many random tasks that could have been completed within the time limit. The points ranged from 10 points to 50 points. For instance, one task was to serve food at a fast food restaurant, which was worth 40 points and was one of the highest ranked point values on the list.

“We asked the manager if we could serve the food to the customers for her. Then she looked at us like we were crazy, but she let us do it anyway,” said junior Joe Turner.

Another task on the list, worth a lower amount of points, was to carry a stranger’s groceries to their car. This odd job was worth 15 points. There was also an option on the list to create your own task for your team to perform and these made-up tasks were given points based on how funny the action was.

“I sang a Disney song to a woman in the Safeway for my random task, but then she ran away,” said senior Cason Kynes.

Everyone that participated in the event was divided into teams of four or five people, and every team had a driver to get them from place to place to perform their various tasks. Sophomore Nathan Miller was riding in senior John Copenhaver’s car along with other sophomores and some freshmen.

“I rode with Cope, and we just went around doing crazy things. It was a lot of fun.”

Other than going out to do crazy things, Mondays withYoung Life can be spent insomeone’sbasementwheretherearemanyridiculousgames,hilariousskits,and loud music that will make you want to get up and dance. All of these activities are leading up to the biggestYoung Life event of the year. This event is held during the summeranditisaone-weekcampwithevenmoreenjoyableactivitiestoparticipate in. This year’s summer camp will be held in NewYork. These seven fun-filled days are a great experience to all that are interested.

“I am really excited for this year’s trip to New York. I have never been to Young Life camp but I am looking forward to it. All my friends tell me it is will be the best week of my life,” said sophomore Nathan Miller.

•DO plan out a sensible order to complete tasks before beginning to save time.

•DON’T do anything illegal in order to complete tasks.

STEPHEN CRAIG

20

WEEKEND

Freshman Ryan Miller, sophomore Nathan Miller and junior Joe Miller complete the task “joust in shopping carts.”

Scavenger hunt list Take this list with you this weekend for an endless night of adventure and fun.

1. Get a receipt for 10 cents of gas.

2. Take a picture with a limo.

3. Draw a mustache on a stranger (with washable marker!).

4. Take a picture of your team eating donuts with a police officer.

5. Start a congo line through a grocery store.

6. Get a restaurant to let you flip a burger.

7. Get a lock of red (ginger) hair.

8. Braid a stranger’s hair.

9. Chug a half-gallon of milk in one hour.

10. Find a pair of purple socks (cannot be purchased!).

11. Find a chocolate rose flower.

12. Get a piggy back ride from a cop.

13. Go to a restaurant, get water and bread, and then leave.

•DON’T cheat. Remember it’s only a game.

•DO have fun!

14. Get a stranger to push you in a shopping cart.

15. Jump in a lake or pond.

16. After a red light turns green, sit at the green light until it turns yellow.

Go to the web

Guess where the weekend hot spot in the photo is for a prize visit www.theablast.org

17. Walk through a drive thru.

18. Kiss a stranger’s hand.

19. While playing the game “Sweet and Sour” get at least three people to be “sweet” to you.

Upcoming Concerts

20. Get an elderly man to give you a Werther’s Original.

STEPHEN CRAIG

21. Help a stranger take their groceries to thier car.

Junior Joe Turner completing the task “kissing the hand of a stranger.” He was completing other tasks at the grocery and got this one out of the way.

Ne-Yo Wed., Feb. 18 Dar Constitution Hall 7:30 p.m.

Price: $64-74

22. Stand with a person behind the counter at Mcdonald’s.

23. Pose by a fire hydrant.

24. Find a guy that carries mouth spray.

M unchies & M

Thu., Feb. 19 Recher Theatre 6:30 p.m.

Price: $15

Thievery Corporation Fri., Feb. 27 Rams Head Live!

8:00 p.m.

Price: $40

Dropkick Murphys Thu., Mar. 5 Rams Head Live!

7:00 p.m.

Price: $24.00

MARISA TORDELLA

Escape the Fate

la Madeleine If you are in need of a slow down, la Madeleine is the perfect place to escape to. Walking through the door, I felt instantly soothed by the delicious scents swimming through the restaurant. The aroma was a mixture of the fabulous dinner entrees, scrumptious pastry selections and delicious bakery assortments.

The first thing I noticed, after the wonderful aromas, was the pastry counter. The glass case was filled with fabulous looking desserts, pastries, and breads. After admiring the scrumptious creations, I began to look over the menu. Everything looked enticing.

La Madeleine offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and at 7 a.m. on Sunday. The breakfast selections have a heavy French influence, ranging from crepes to croissants. The Cinnamon French Toast sounded the most intriguing to me. The menu said it is “croissant dough with raisins encased in caramelized cinnamon sugar, topped with fresh fruit, whipped cream and… syrup.” La Madeleine also offers more simple breakfast options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs and fruit salad. If you are looking to have an indulgent breakfast, the pastries are definitely for you. Breakfast pastries include éclairs, fresh fruit tarts and lemon tarts.

For lunch, la Madeleine offers sandwiches, soups, salads, crepes, quiches, and pasta. The

MARISA TORDELLA

Restaurant Guide

By Marie Benavides and Marisa Tordella

La Madeleine is located on bustling King Street in Old Town.

It is the perfect place to stop after a day out on the town.

The chicken pesto pasta is topped with fresh tomatoes. All the ingredients at la Madeleine are fresh and flavorful.

Chicken Caesar sandwich sounded like the perfect lunch choice for me. Although it is not a traditional French meal, it sounds delicious and refreshing.

Dinner selections were similar to the lunch selections; except for the additional bistro selections. When I finally decided what I wanted, I got in line. The man behind the counter greeted me in French. His authentic accent added to the lovely French theme.

La Madeleine is set up like a cafeteria lines, with trays and food to choose from. For dinner I had the Pesto Chicken Pasta. It was delicious. But I could not just grab it off the counter, it had to be prepared. I walked down the line and picked out raspberry lemonade and a breadstick to go with my dinner. After I paid and sat down, the waiter quickly brought over my pasta. I dove right in, and thoroughly enjoyed eating it.

The setting at la Madeleine made my visit especially enjoyable. I felt like I was actually sitting in a café in the French countryside. There were wooden tables, chairs and floors. La Madeleine was decorated with French relics and adorable French dishes.

I also enjoyed my visit to la Madeleine because it was quiet. I was easily able to converse with

my dinner guests.

After resting from my dinner, I decided I had to get dessert. I decided on a marvelous looking piece of chocolate cake and a cappuccino. The cake left a bit to be desired, it was not as moist and rich as I was hoping, but the cappuccino was perfect. My cappuccino was the perfect blend of espresso and foam topped with just the right amount of cocoa.

The la Madeleine locations closest to Annandale are at Tyson’s Corner, Bailey’s Crossroads and on King Street in Old Town Alexandria. I went to the la Madeleine in Old Town.

Location: 500 King Street Alexandria VA, 22314 (703) 739-2854

la Madeleine

Food: Service:

Price: $ $

Decor: out of 4 stars

out of 4 dollar signs