Issue7

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the 3

ROSIE VS. THE DON

Donald Trump and Rosie OʼDonnell continue their feud.

High: 42

Low: 29

Today’s Lunch

Today’s Flex This Day in History 1865 — General Robert E. Lee named commander-in-chief of Confederate army.

1964 — Twenty-fourth amendment ratified, barring poll tax in federal elections 1991 — “Seinfeld” debuts on NBC

NEWS BRIEFS Immigration reform seminar held tonight

The group “Generation Engage” will be sponsoring a seminar tonight at the James Lee Community Center. This event is designed to inform people about immigration reform. Student’s from AHS’s Hispanic Leadership Club will be attending the event.

The event will feature Geoge Taplin as a guest speaker. Taplin is the director of Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, VA . Chapter.

He will speak on the topic of immigration reform in the United States.

Immediately following the speaker, there will be a reception in which food will be served. Additionally, a T.V. will be available to watch the live coverage of the President’s State of the Union address.

This event will be held at the james Lee Community Center, which is located at 2855 Annandale Road. The event will be held from 7:30p.m. until 9:30p.m.

If you would like to attend, please e-mail ChrisLewis@GenerationEngage.org as soon as possible.

Broadway husband and wife to appear at Artspeak!

Broadway stars Matt Bogart and Jessica Boevers will be appearing at Artspeak! on Feb. 6. The performance will be held in the lecture hall at Poe Middle School.

Everyone is welcome to attend, and admission is free.

Bogart is returning to Artspeak! for the first time. He first appeared in 2003 and he is the first Artspeak! guest ever to appear more than once. Bogart has starred in countless musicals, including Damn Yankees, Miss Saigon and Aida. Additionally, Bogart will perform hits has from his two solo CD’s at Artspeak!

In his second Artspeak! appearance, Bogart will perform with his wife, Jessica Boevers. Boevers is a broadway star as well, having appeared in productions such as Les Miserables, Oklahoma, Rent and Beauty and the Beast.

On average, how many minutes of exercise, including playing sports for AHS, do you get per day?

36%

60 minutes or more

30-39 minutes

50-59 minutes

19% 18%

10-19 minutes

0 minutes

Students share stories about their racially mixed relationships.

18

CDS ARE SO LAST YEAR With downloading services becoming more and more popular, CDs are considered

recipes from their native countries.

Three times every year, students get into theAtom spirit by dressing up and donning costumes on themed days, energetically answering the question “HeyAnnandale, how do you feel?”, and participating in good, old class rivalry.

Last week’s spirit week featured many of the same traditions and activities, as well as new ones, that AHS students enjoy, culminating with the winter pep rally on Jan. 20.

From Tuesday to Thursday, students showed off their enthusiasm on jersey, culture and vogue days. Friday was a day of class spirit, as freshman wore red, sophomores wore white, juniors thre on face paint, and seniors proudly marched the halls in their togas.

During the pep rally, held in R5 flex, students gathered in the main gym to watch all of the winter sports be introduced. The varsity boys basketball team showed off their talent as they made free throws, while the cheerleading

squads, dance team and step team entertained the school with their performances.

“We had a great time at the pep rally. The crowd really energized us and motivated us to perform well,” freshman dance team members Julie Jurenas and Jennifer Oakes said.

Atoms also participated in a spirit competition, based on which class wore the most appropriately themed attire and could cheer the loudest. Both the juniors and seniors were declared the victors, respectively earning fifty dollars for each class.

“I think everyone actually had fun. That in itself is a success,” said Junior Laith Abu Taleb, a leadership student.

“It was energetic. The cheerleading squad, dance team and step team really got the crowd on their feet and it was an overall great pep rally,” he said.

While winter spirit week 2007 was a success, many students do not realize just how stressful planning it is.

“Putting together a spirit week is a lot harder than many people realize, but it definitely paid off,” senior Brandon Healy said. “The leadership class had to decide on which spirit days to have, what events to plan, and where it would be held. After that we had to decide on where to place each teacher and class,” he stated.

‘It’s Academic’ places second was held during the afternoon of the same day.

During the regional tournament, the Atoms participated in three rounds. During the first round, theAtoms competed against Thomas Jefferson High School and lost. During the second round, the team won against Loudon Valley High School.

“Loudon had the highest score of all the teams in the northern region during the district tournament,” said history teacher and It’sAcademic sponsor Meghan Saladino.

During the third round of play, the Atoms went up against WoodI am so amazed that we son High School and lost. Overall, Saladino made it that far and did as estimates that AHS’s well as we did performance during the regional tournament would put them in fifth —MeghanSaladino place for the northern It’s Academic sponsor “Academic” continued on page 5

AHS ‘It’s Academic’ team places high in Patriot District tournament

BY ALYSSA NAVARRETE Co-Editor in Chief For the first time in years, the “It’s Academic” team finished second in the Patriot District. The tournament, composed of seven rounds, was held the morning of Jan. 20 at Thomas Edison High School. The Atoms ended the district tournament with five wins and two loses.

This impressive district record allowed the AHS It’s Academic”team to finish in second place. The victory qualified them for the regional “It’sAcademic” tournament. This tournament

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Preparing for Valentine’s Day

Boevers

6%

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BY CLAIRE BUI Staff Writer

Tues., Jan. 23— R3/R7

21%

8

COLOR BLIND DELICIOUS DISHES Culinary arts students COUPLES share their favorite

Students show their school pride by participating in themed days and pep rally

Turkey Hot Dog on Bun Macaroni and Cheese w/ Wheat Roll Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Yogurt w/Pretzel

Bogart

703-642-4229

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2007

AHS shows spirit

Today’s Weather Partly Cloudy

700 Medford Dr. Annandale, VA 22003

This survey was distributed on Jan. 18 during B, C and D lunches. Of 500 surveys distributed, 423 were completed and returned for inclusion in this graph.

BY EMILY SAMPLE News Editor Roses are red, violets are blue, Valentine’s Day is coming, how ready are you? Even if the fateful February date is sneaking up on many, several groups are already prepared to make this Valentine’s Day out of the ordinary.

The senior class is doing double duty the week before Valentine’s Day, selling both Matchmaker results and Valentine’s dance tickets. Matchmaker results are selling for $2. Quizzes were taken the week of Jan. 8 through 12. Questions ranged from what color eyes people have and what people prefer, to body type people have and what people prefer. Theses quizzes were sent to an outside company that process them and returns the answers to the school. Answers are returned in three categories, the five people who

would be compatible, the five people that would be good as friends, and the five people who should be avoided. “This might cause some break-ups…” said senior class secretary Kelly Scrivener. “But it’s going to be really interesting. We really wanted to do it, I mean look at us—its 13 girls in office!”

These results come at the same time that the class is selling tickets for a dance to be held on Friday, Feb. 16. Tickets are $5, but if the Matchmaker and tickers are bought together, the combination is only $6. The dance is, of course, Valentine’s Day themed, but “it won’t be your typical school dance,” said Scrivener.

“It won’t be like Homecoming, but it’s going to be a lot of fun.” Activities include couples dance contests and door prizes. During school on Valentine’s Day, the choral department will be delivering Singing “Valentine’s Day” continued on page 5

Senior John Chu sees eye-to-eye with Healy.

“The leadership class had a lot of great ideas and activities planned for spirit week.

We put a lot of time and hard work into it.

I thinkitcame together really well in the end,” he said.

This winter pep rally was the firstAnnandale has had for the 2006-2007 school year. The fall pep rally was cancelled due to a power outage in the neighborhood. And while the spirit week was only four days, it did not stop AHS students from showing off their Atom pride and having a good time.

Senior Samantha England shows her school spirit by dancing with the AHS Step Team during the winter pep rally.

Immigration stories at AHS This is the final installment of a three part series on the immigration stories of AHS students

BY ALYSSA NAVARRETE Co-Editor in Chief “In my life in Ethiopia, I never saw my mom and dad,” said junior Yonas Mamo. “In ten years, they only could come to visit for 16 days.”

Mamo moved to the United States from Ethiopia a little over a year ago. His parents moved to the U.S. ten years before he was able to. His parents came over after winning a visa lottery. Because Mamo did not receive this visa, he remained with his grandmother, aunt and cousin for a little over a decade.

“I had to process all my papers and go to the U.S. embassy in Ethiopia [in order to come to America],” Mamo said. “I went to the embassy around 35 times and we spent a lot of money on a lawyer so I could come to America.”

Additionally, prior to moving to the United States, Mamo had never met his younger sister and brother because they were born after his parents left Ethiopia.

“A big difference between here and my country is I didn’t know how to live with a family because I didn’t live with them,” Mamo said. “Now I love my family a lot, my sister and brother are so funny.”

The biggest reason why Mamo believes that his transition to the United States was beneficial is because of the education offered here.

“Immigration” continued on page 5

Broadway Desserts shines 12th annual performance remains a popular choral event

BY MICHELLE RISSE News Editor “Come on along and listen to the lullaby of Broadway. The hip hooray and bally hoo, the lullaby of Broadway.” The flashing lights and enormous theatres were not present on for theAHS choral production of Broadway Desserts, but the sold out crowds were gathered in the lobby of the George Mason University Performing Arts Center.

Every year, the choral department stu-

dents have a Broadway production, singing songs from various Broadway musicals. Unlike the typical chorus concerts that showcase the choral ensembles, the Broadway Desserts production highlights the singers individually. “The kids do small groups or solo numbers so it gives them a chance to “shine” as individuals rather than just in a group as they do in choral ensembles,” said choral director Carleen Dixon.

This performance is different from other choral recitals because everything is done by the students. They choose the songs they want to sing, who they want to sing with, and take care of all their costumes. “I love Broadway desserts because Broadway Desserts because it’s a chance to perform really “Desserts” continued on page 5

MICHELLE RISSE

VOLUME #52 ISSUE 7

ANNANDALE HIGH SCHOOL

Freshman Michael Lazar and John Odom perform the song “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” from the musical “Spamalot.”

2 Frank Hargrove makes racial comments I suppose Virginia politicians cannot go even two months without saying something idiotic. By this point, we must all know about former Senator George Allen’s ‘Macaca’ remark.

Just as the controversy over that died down another Virginian, Del. Frank D. Hargrove of Hanover, gave some enlightened remarks. Saying that blacks “should get over” slavery and rhetorically asked “Are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?” A true gentleman, to say the least.

Before getting too carried away, it would probably be a little irresponsible to judge Mr. Hargrove based on a few sound bites.

However, regardless of context or other circumstances, the question that ultimately comes to mind is: “Why?” Mr. Hargrove ought to be the charter member of the T.B.Y.S. club (Think Before You Speak). What he said accomplishes nothing. It is nothing but fiery, inflammatory rhetoric from an old man who wants to be heard.

What it does, however, is continue to add to the stereotype of Virginians being racist, ex-Confederate, yokels. As the 2006 elections showed, of the “Two Virginias”, the progressive, urbane, modern Virginia is wielding more power than the old, tobacco-growing and NASCAR-loving Virginia. What Hargrove serves as is a symbol.

A symbol of a time that once was, and is steadily on its way out. More men will say things like him, but less and less as time goes on.

–Tim Yuskavage Copy Editor

Standard Level courses a waste of time and effort Come May, a plethora of students will sit down to take AP and IB endof-the-year exam. For a select few, they will be taking IB tests, and if they score high enough, it will make them eligible for the prestigious IB Diploma.

Even more will be taking exams for AP and IB Higher Level courses, which, if scored high enough, will potentially allow them to receive college credit for their freshmen years of college.

However, for non-IB Diploma candidates taking Standard Level (SL) courses, the end-of-the-year exam will be nothing more than a terrific waste of time.

No college that I know of will accept SL exams for credit, regardless of the score. Thus, for all you IB Geography, or IB Environmental Systems or SL Math, assuming you are not diploma candidates, your exams are worthless and a waste of your time. Sure, a good exam might help the school’s overall average, but for the student there is no incentive to do well at all.

It is discouraging, to say the least, that a student could answer every single question right and have the same result as one who answered none right.

What should AHS do about it? Either lobby colleges to take SL scores if a high enough score (6 or 7 perhaps) is attained. Otherwise, end this ridiculous policy of forcing students to take SL exams that have no impact on them at all.

It is an insult to the hardworking senior student to force him or her to sit down at exams that will have absolutely zero impact on their academic careers.

EDITORIALS

In the rail article on page 1, Kregg Stovner was mistakenly said to have been fired from the school. Stovner is actually on unpaid administrative leave, with the investigation still being conducted.

Daniel Henderson was also mistakenly identified as the new full-time orchestra teacher. He is actually the interim teacher filling in for Stovner until the investigation has ended.

On page 10, in the article titled “Santa Isn’t Coming to Town” senior Brendan Fields name was misspelled.

On page 9, sophomore Leslie Burns was mislabeled as a junior in the “Best Dressed” list.

On page 10, in the article titled “Santa Isn’t Coming to Town” senior Sara Negron’s name was misspelled.

Jan. 23, 2007

The growing Iranian crescent We need to avoid falling into the trap of sectarianism AMINA MOHAMED STAFF WRITER Twice this month, the phrase “cultural extension” popped up in the final statements of two key Arab organizations, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council. This is clearly refers to what many regard as the growing Iranian-Shiite influence in Iraq.

It was not the first timeArabs expressed concern about the Shiite revival that followed the toppling of Saddam Hussein. Two years ago, Jordan’s KingAbdullah warned of a rising Shiite “crescent” extending from Iran to Lebanon.

In another surprisingly frank warning, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Shiites in Iraq and across the Middle East are more loyal to Iran than to their own countries.

Thus, it appears that Shiites in the Middle East, led by Iran are moving toward an era where they are the most powerful Islamic group. Arab nations appear increasingly worried about the Iranian influence in Iraq and the possibility that the situation there will stir up Shiites across the Middle East.

This mistrust emerged immediately after the end of Hussein’s rule, as did the monopoly of minority Sunni Arabs over Iraq’s governing structures that had been held since 1638, when Sunni Ottoman Turks captured Iraq and incorporated it into their empire. The empowerment of Shiites has sent shivers across the region, raising fears of a region-wide Sunni-Shiite split that Arabs would be powerless to control and could potentially benefit Iran.

WhileArab governments have expressed their alarm in diplomatic language, some religious Sunni quarters have been more direct. In Iraq itself, while Sunni political leaders

such Adnan Al-Dulaimi and Harith Al-Dhari have been vociferous in criticizing the Shiite-controlled government, more radical Sunni groups have been calling for jihad or Islamic holy war-against the Shiites. These groups generally call for appeals to rally Sunni Iraqis against Shiites.

It seems that Iran is meddling not only in Iraq, but also in Lebanon, where Iran backs Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a Shiia Islamic militia and political organization based in Lebanon. It follows a version of Shiia ideology developed byAyatollah Khomeini, leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Some Arabs have discussed a “Shiite International” in the making, which would bring about a “domino” effect, energizing Shiite communities in other countries. Still others talk about anAmerican-Zionist-Iranian alliance aimed at weakening, and later controlling, the Sunni dominated Arab world.

If this is the case, the ramifications will echo throughout the Middle East, which itself is a mosaic of religious, sectarian, and ethnic communities. Iran appears to have created a Shiite “state within a state” in Iraq, providing support to armed groups and funds for social programs.

For someArabs, the Shiite phenomenon is not an internal problem; rather, it is an American-created problem. By ousting Hussein, the Bush administration has empowered the Shiite majority.

While American officials avoid discussing the advantages of such a development, it could be a chance to build bridges with the Shiite population as a counterbalance to radical Sunni groups in its fight against terrorism. That would also serve, in the long run, the goal of promoting democracy in the Arab world.

As for Shiites in Iraq, they see it as a moment of opportunity for which they have been waiting for more than 80 years. The Shiites insist that they only seek empowerment proportional to their majority in the Iraqi population. Shiite leaders also counter allegations of an Iranian link, saying that while they may naturally have ties to Shiites in Iran,

There is growing concern about the possibility of an Iranian controlled region in the Middle East, also known as the “Iranian crescent.”

they are not Iranian stooges. Instead, they believe Sunnis both inside and outside Iraq simply resent their new power and the general Shiite regional momentum.

The region faces a daunting challenge. What Arab leaders and civilians should do is avoid falling into the trap of sectarianism, which unfortunately many are doing by pushing debate on Iraq from the realm of politics into the realm of sectarianism and racism. First and foremost, Arabs should look at Shiites in their countries as being citizens and Arabs. Second, Arabs leaders should avoid what happened in Iraq during Hussein’s rule and build nation-states and civil governments where people can share the power and wealth equally. Sectarianism, as the Iraqi experiment has proven, feeds on injustice and autocracy. author’s email: amina.mohamed@thea-blast.org

Time for Congress to step up recent elections are a big positive, but for those Democrats who have been downing Bush and talking about how much better they could run everything (count me among them), the pressure has shifted. We can’t conveniently sit back and complain anymore without

BY LUCAS HIGGINS having to worry about taking any STAFF WRITER of the blame. With the opportunities now presented to Pelosi and So where do we go from here? The the Democrats, the agenda that country obviously called for change. We has been pushed for by Demohave newly elected Democrats from crats finally has an opportunity many states that are traditionally seen to be put forth into action. as red states: places like Missouri and Our lovely President Bush Montana. Even Tennessee was tight has called for an additional until the very end.

21,500 troops to be shipped off to So rejoice kids, we have a DemocratIraq to stabilize what has become controlled Congress that can slow down an increasingly volatile situation. what has been one of the biggest presiThe issue of abortion is not godential failures inAmerican history. We ing away. The issue of gay rights, are taking gigantic strides forward in marriage namely, is not going to many different ways. go away. The issue of immigraA woman has attained more power tion is not going to go away. The than any of her predecessors. True number of people whose hopes equality is starting to sound more and rest on this new-look Congress more possible every day. So with Nancy is astronomical.

Pelosi wielding her gnarly fist of justice, Nacy Pelosiʼs televised swearing in cerAll of this has the feel of the emony was a moment that Democrats all and what is looking to be a more and over America savored. night before the big game. The more progressive government, everyquiet before the storm. We wait thing should be okay, right? We can sit back, take a deep with baited breath to see if the Democrats can actually fix breath, and watch the Left work its magic in fixing our Iraq and cure what ails us as a nation. Simply and bluntly country’s problems…right? put, it’s time to put up or shut up.

Wrong. We are far from being “in the clear.” Yes, the Officially in office, it’s time for the Democrats to stop

Democrats need to put their plans into action soon

MAking the GrAde Nancy Pelosi sworn in as Speaker

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—By Tim Yuskavage Copy Editor

Issue six, Dec. 19 corrections

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On Thursday, Jan 4., 66-year-old Democrat Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as the Speaker of the House. This is a monumental event, as it not only signifies the first time in 12 years the Democrats have gained control of the House, but also the first time ever that a woman has served as Speaker.

Pelosi promises many improvements and changes on various issues in the coming months.

Frozen embryos now babies

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Rebekah Markham, from New Orleans, is about to give birth to a child, who was actually implanted into the Markham. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when all of New Orleans was submerged in water, the baby was only an embryo that was about to thaw after the hospital lost electricity. Because of a few police officers’ bravery, the embryos were rescued, and now many happy parents are receiving their bundles of joy.

Banned from baring brown

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Students at Molloy Alternative High School in Massachusetts have been banned from wearing the color brown because it is being considered a gang color with the emergence of a new gang called the Brown Mafia. The administration is telling all students, regardless of their behavior, to stop wearing brown or go home. What ridiculous rule with they come up with next, stop wearing pants?

North Carolina woman goes “nuts” Rebecca Arnold Dawson, 34, of Lillington, North Carolina, has been charged with malicious castration after a scuffle with her boyfriend. The two were at a Christmas party hosted by Dawson’s boyfriend and became heavily intoxicated.

A fight broke out and Dawson, without the use of a weapon, disfigured her boyfriend. Dawson was recently released from police custody on a $500,000 bond.

celebrating, shake off the victory hangover and start dealing. Pelosi’s “100 hours” agenda is going off without a hitch, the only bump being raising minimum wage taking longer than expected.

But after Bush stated his plan to send over another massive amount of young men and women to the war zone, the Democrats have been given their first big opportunity to play some real defense before getting back to offense.

Pelosi and Co. have said they plan to block funding for the increase, which, if successfully done, would be a very nice start to the next couple years of Democratic control.

If you pull yourself out of the fray and look down at the setup of the executive and legislative branches right now, it really presents itself a lot like a sports contest. One of the most famous clichés in sports is the old support of quality stopping-power, “offense wins games, but defense wins championships.” In order for the Democrats to really nail their reign, they need to put a stop to this troop increase.

The only problem is that the last time this happened, it was during the highly unpopular Vietnam War. The setup of the Vietnam War-era government was very similar to the current one, except then President Johnson was a Democrat. After forcing complete withdrawal, a Democratic controlled Congress took heat for years and years for a lost war. Could this be the same? Possibly. But that said, the public is counting on the Democrats, and that’s what truly counts.

Put up or shut up.

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author’s e-mail: lucas.higgins@thea-blast.org

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

Vol. 53 No. 7 Jan. 23, 2007

(703)642-4229 email: thea-blast@thea-blast.org fax: (703)642-4299

Editors in Chief, Print: Alyssa Navarrete David Sherman Editor in Chief, Online: Erick Vu

Photography Editor:

Managing Editor: Krista Silano Copy Editor: Tim Yuskavage Online Editor: Bryan Krzywicki Design Editor: Matt Camilli Kevin Leach Graphics Editor: Adam Kasdorf Circulation Manager: Kyle Knoche

Sports Xtra Editors:

Margaret Crowley Julianne Simpson Sports Editors: Avery Adcock Greg Rosenstein

Jeff Dean Matt Johnson In-Depth Editors: Paul Mathis Chrissy Osipchak Weekend Editors: Kate McCormack Tim Shadyac Online Staff: Samah Janpanar Amy Steinbuechler Ad Manager: Amy Stevens Marisa Tordella Academics Editors: Michael Craig Matt Camilli Cason Kynes CJ Sidener Taylor Hobson Emily Vincent Videographers/Editors: Gus Nielson Spanish Consultant: Antonio Rivadinera Drew Wildes Staff Writers/Photographers: Ben Hendrickson Bud Ireland, Daniel Fishman, Arts Editors: Lyndsay Jacobs Rachael Burnett, Ebony Chambers, Charlie Laura Simpson Winters, Lucas Higgins, Lea Nicherson, International Editors: Vanessa Cerro Meredith Rutherford, Julie Tumasz Waliha Gani Brandon Williams, Greg Young, Nathalie Editorials Editors: Shriya Adhikary Cladera Carrera, Claire Bui, Nicole Swiger, Mohamad Elbarasse Aya Saed, Caroline Merz, Cristian Roldan, Laith Abu-Taleb, Amina Mohamed Entertainment: Layluma Hotaki Adviser: Alan Weintraut Jenny Jacobs Health Editors: Becca Grimsley Sarah Waiter Trophy Class News Editors: Michelle Risse Pacemaker Virginia High CSPA Emily Sample National Scholastic School Silver Crown People Editors: Julie Baker Press Association 2005-2006 2004-2005 Lindsey Downen 2004-2005 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 m the school. The A-Blast reserves the right to refuse advertisements. All submissions become property of The A-Blast, Copyright, 2007.

EDITORIALS

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Jan. 23, 2007

Wrongful executions In today’s cultivated and supposedly progressive world, 68 countries still retain the death penalty. From these, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States are the only fully developed and democratic nations to implement the legal killing Opinion of humans.

By Shriya Adhikary Perhaps the most recent and publicized death penalty sentence was the execution of Saddam Hussein on Dec. 30. The gruesome video of his hanging has been viewed close to 16 million times on Google Videos alone, but a simple web search will generate many more websites that boldly flaunt the 2 minute 36 second clip.

Fifty-two percent of people surveyed worldwide either support or are in favor of the death penalty, while 65 percent of people feel the same way in the United States, so maybe this sordid interest in executions and hangings is not shocking to some.

I for one, find it appalling, and am highly disgusted by the thought that people are entertained and amused by witnessing the death of another human being.

Hypocrisy. It’s the only word that can be used to describe the majority of the world’s thoughts and feelings towards capital punishment. When someone hears about someone else dying prematurely or being killed by a murderer, they tend to be horrified and think about how society is being overrun by killers. Yet, is not a supporter of capital penalty doing the same thing?

Encouraging the killing of a human beings is just the same as acting as the murderer yourself. How can you condemn assasins and then turn around and advocate the ending of lives? Taking a life is morally wrong, no matter how you try to spin it. The Saddam execution might or might not have been caught on video with an alterior motive, but just the same, it is repulsive that people find amusement by witnessing the humiliating end of a human being.

Legalizing murder and passing a bill to name it “capital punishment” does not change the fact that a life is being taken, and that another crime is being committed in retaliation for a past one. Irony is flaggrant in the justice that governments deliver when they find it morally right to punish the killer by becoming the killers themselves.

Religions all over the world consider the extermination of life a sin. If you are faithful in whatever religion you practice, you will be going against your faith by favoring capital punishment. No one should have the right to decide who should live and who should die.

We did not create life, so we do not have the right to destroy it.

Furthermore, to people who strongly believe that capital punishment is the ultimate retribution—think deeper. When you sentence someone to death, you are relieving them of the daily struggles of life. No one truly knows what happens after death, so how can anyone be sure that death is the greatest punishment? Plus, there is always the chance

What do you think about sending 20,000 more troops to Iraq?

Shriya Says

“I think that we should send 20,000 troops now and have a plan to leave Iraq as soon as possible.”

—Casey Nealy sophomore

that the offender is not guilty or false documents have been provided. And that is not even an unreasonable chance. It has been proven that these mistakes have been made in the past. No one wants the risk or blame for this unforgivable blunder, so let us not take chances with human lives.

Rather, these felons would suffer and regret their crimes much more if they were imprisioned or made to undertake grueling work in service of their victim and victim’s families. Capital punishment almost seems like a reprive from facing the consequences of criminal actions.

So what are countries, states, and people trying to ahieve when they promote and assist the death penalty? Maybe we are not as modernized and advanced as we claim, as practices that were common in 1700 BC are still being followed today.Ancient civilizations used the “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” statute to justify killing people as a form of punishment. Yet if everyone were to follow that principle, the world would be filled with one eyed individuals—and where’s the justice or logic in that? Yes, justice is said to be blind, but please do not take it literally. author’s e-mail: shriya.adhikary@thea-blast.org

First, let me say that the Iraq War is not our gener- years of lies and deceit were released to the public.

Whether or not President Bush deliberately lied is still ation’s Vietnam War. While it is convenient for critics of the war to quickly declare that parallel, that is more of under debate, but many claims made to justify the war an emotional move than a use of logic. That being said, have since been proved baseless. Most notably, there were there are many aspects from Vietnam which are strikingly no weapons of mass destruction. This may be the most striking error made by the war department of Bush, but similar to the situation in Iraq.

The question that we must ask ourselves is have we many more also became realized. According to the 9/11 learned our lessons from Vietnam over 30 years ago, or Commission, there was no connection between Iraq and are we going down a similar path, making the same Saddam Hussein and the 9/11 attacks, as many in the Bush administration claimed. mistakes?

The theory that the war would make the Middle East Recently President Bush announced during an adsafer seems quite unlikely to be true, dress to the nation, a new proposed and even Bush’s infamous “Mission policy as well as a call for a troop Accomplished” banner showed the “surge.” The appeal has been made definite difference between what for 20,000 more men to fight a war Bush and his men have said and that supposedly had already seen the what the truth actually is. Whether end of “major combat operations.” . . . his credibility is shaken; or not this is an active campaign to Over 30 years ago, President deceive the American people or Lyndon Johnson called for a troop a recent Gallup poll showed just a massive series of errors in increase in Vietnam, which at that judgment, there is no doubt that point had dragged on for years. In that Bush is not trustworthy his credibility is shaken; a recent the case of Johnson, the troop increase Gallup poll showed that Bush was ultimately did not bring victory. not trustworthy.

It took a new president (Nixon) Just as in Vietnam, as the war and a policy of Vietnamization to has dragged on beyond what it bring an end to American involveseemed like it would originally take, ment. With an election looming in 2008, it is entirely conceivable that the mess Bush cre- the Iraq War has caused a credibility gap between Bush ated could spill over into a new administration. There is and the American people just as it did with Johnson.

Finally, the lack of a clear goal has been a hard conno reason to believe that the Iraq conflict will be finished stant found both in Iraq and in Vietnam. “Major combat soon based on the progress we have seen.

The term “perception gap’”or “reality gap” was coined operations” have ended, yet the military is still around, to show the differences between the reality that Johnson with no real end in sight. At what point does its mandate and his staff wanted to create about the war, and the ac- expire? At what point is it no longer needed?

Elections have already been held, a constitution drafttual reality of the war. Perhaps this was no more exemplified than with the release of the Pentagon Papers, where ed. If the president was waiting for Iraq to be a sovereign

“

”

Opinion

By Mohamad Elbarasse For almost a month now, Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell have been exchanging words in a heated feud.

It started with O’Donnell’s dissatisfaction with Ms. USA, Tara Conner, being let off so easy by Trump for underage drinking.

O’Donnell continued to make fun of Trump’s hair and called him a “snake-oil salesman,” and claimed that he was bankrupt. Trump retorted with a barrage of insults regarding O’Donnell’s physique and mental capacity.

A bit immature for so-called celebrities, wouldn’t you say? Well, if you haven’t connected the dots between this timely feud and the new season of The Apprentice, allow me to disabuse you from the front that has been so cleverly concocted by these two masters of deception.

Conner was caught drinking in public in early December. This would have been fine if she had been of age, but unfortunately she was not. Trump is the president of the Miss USA pageant, and was responsible for deciding the consequences that Conner would face.

After Conner was let off with a little more than a slap on the wrist, O’Donnell got to work voicing her opinions on The View, the talk show hosted by notable women such as Barbara Walters and . . . did I mention Barbara Walters. But Rosie didn’t just say what she thought; she

went far enough to make fun of a business tycoon who could buy the land from under her feet.

But Trump didn’t do that. Rather, he capitalized on the opportunity by dealing with O’Donnell like a child and hurling insults back in her direction. Notice that the O’Donnell-Trump affair started on Dec. 21, just a few weeks before the season premier of the new season of The Apprentice, Trump’s primetime show that airs on NBC. I am sure that both the ratings of The View and The Apprentice grew in their numbers in hopes of viewers seeing more confrontation between O’Donnell and Trump.

So, I applaud the two on their powers of persuasion and manipulation. But I beseech you; don’t become the average American rube who tunes in waiting for a fight.

If you like either show, go ahead watch, it is a free country.

But do not fall victim to the hype.

It seems that the only thing that attracts any attention these days is controversy. It is always name calling, sex, violence, drugs, anorexia, etc. Do we really have that much free time? Do we really need to know where Lindsay Lohan was last Friday or how much Nicole Richie weighs? No. There are tabloids, news channels, websites, and millions of blogs all dedicated to the slightest actions of the rich and famous. At one point, Gawker.com enabled people to send text messages to the website informing them of celebrity sightings. Then the name, place and time that the celebrity was there are posted to a Google Maps interface so users can easily discern when and where the celebrities were.

Who knew that being a celebrity came with its own personal GPS system?

Americans today are too involved in other peoples business. Why is it that we feel the urge to know so much about some kid in skintight jeans with a screechy high-pitched voice? I think everyone should take a step

—Fardousa Wardere sophomore “I think it’s a good that we are sending more people over to help the Iraqis. It’s also bad for our troops because it puts more of them in danger.”

—Elijah Sloan sophomore “I think it might be better than doing nothing. I think it was a good idea to go to war, but I don’t think Bush handled it well.”

Tim’s Take

—Alex Shurts junior

Opinion

By Tim Yuskavage nation, that moment has long since passed.

By not answering that question, the door has been left open for an indefinite period of time for the troops to be in Iraq. The same can be said for how it was in Vietnam.

The case was never made to the American people on what the military was trying to accomplish and when their goal would be done. As American men continued to die, they were no closer to their goal, as they never had one in the first place.

As stated earlier, it would be naïve to call Iraq a new Vietnam. To do that is to be lazy and not scrupulously look over the details of both events. However, President Bush should have learned lessons from the Vietnam War. These three problems presented are not the only ones, just the most glaring ones.

It is time for either President Bush to step up and take a cue from history or for Congressional Democrats to force him to not make the same mistakes made in the 1960s and 70s. History judged Johnson unkindly, and it is shaping up to do the same to Bush. author’s e-mail: tim.yuskavage@thea-blast.org

O’Donnell and Trump go head to head Mindset

“I think its not a good idea because Saddam, Hussein is not there anymore to terrorize the people. They should be left alone to make up ther own government.”

Saddam Husseinʼs execution was caught on video by a cell phone camera and uploaded to the Internet for all to see.

America relearns Vietnam lessons

Mo’s

3

back, turn off the television, power down their computer and enjoy the silence or nature maybe, if there is still any left. author’s e-mail: mohamad.elbarasse@thea-blast.org

The Play-by-Play Dec. 20th: OʼDonnell calls Trump a “snake-oil salesmen” and says he is bankrupt.

Trump answers back by threats of filing suit against OʼDonnell.

Dec. 27th: OʼDonnell writes in her blog about talking bad about an emperor with an eratic comb-over.

Jan. 15th: OʼDonnell calls Trump a “combover bunny.” Trump says that OʼDonnell is a “slob” and a“degenerate.”

Jan. 16th: Trump releases a letter allegedly from Barbara Walterʼs that says OʼDonnell “wonʼt be here for long.”

Jan. 17th: Walters and OʼDonnell are shown on The View high-fiving each other and saying that Trump “canʼt let go.” OʼDonnell added that she was “am happy to say his show tanked. So we can go back to things that are more important.”

“I think it’s wrong.

Why are we going to invade their privacy when we have or own problems here?”

—Valerie Conable junior

“I don’t think that us being in Iraq is actually helping them, and I think we have already caused enough problems.”

—Sarah Locke senior “I feel like it remains to be seen.

If I knew it would bring democracy to Iraq, then I’m all for it. However with such religious divide, I’m skeptical.”

—Brandon Cooley assistant principal All photos taken by Meredith Rutherford

Gay/Straight Alliance Club bill killed On January 17, a bill that would require students to have a signed permission slip to join an extracurricular club failed by a tie vote.

The bill that died on a 9-9 vote by the House Education Committee would require students who wanted acceptance in a gay club to have their parent’s permission.

Ridiculous, I know. The whole point of clubs such as the GayStraight Alliance is to protect the student’s privacy all the while providing emotional support. Also, I don’t believe that students in high school, who should be mature enough to make their own decisions, should have to request the permission of their parents for everything they do.

Although parents have a right to know what their children are up to, they don’t necessarily need to things that their children aren’t ready to tell them that won’t aversely affect them.

—Mohamad Elbarasse

ABC-7 news anchor Maureen Bunyan has been announced as the graduation speaker for the class of 2007. Bunyan will speak at the graduation ceremony that will be held on June 13 at D.A.R Constitution hall.

Bunyan has been a primary news anchor for ABC-7 News since 1999. Prior to this, she held jobs at numerous other news organizations. Bunyan is also the founder of two journalism organizations: the National Association Bunyan of Black Journalists and the International Women’s Media Foundation.

In order to get someone of Bunyan’s caliber as the graduation speakers, the senior class officers began looking for a speaker at the end of the 2006 school year.

Senior class vice president Rachel Navarrete is responsible for getting Bunyan as the graduation speaker for the 2007 commencement ceremonies.

“My grandpa has been a journalist for years,” Navarrete said. “I knew that he had a lot of friends in the journalism business who would be willing to speak at graduation and he immediately suggested Maureen Bunyan.”

Navarrete and the other senior class officers sent a letter to Bunyan requesting her as the 2007 graduation speaker.

She accepted the offer immediately.

Tuberculosis scare

In November, the AHS public health nurse notified school officials that a student had tested positive for tuberculosis.

The AHS public health nurse, along with Fairfax County Health Department officials, met with Dean of Students Rebecca Julca, Director of Student Services Steve Sengstack, and Principal John Ponton to discuss and review recommended protocol.

Based upon extensive interviews with the affected student, who cannot be identified due to confidentiality, Health Department officials were able to determine individuals that were in daily contact with the student. Those individuals have since been contacted and have been apprised of the necessary steps they should take.

“If you have not been contacted, you were not identified as an individual who had regular daily exposure to the affected student,” said Ponton in a statement to the AHS faculty.

A person must be exposed to TB germs for an extended period of time, usually in an enclosed area, to be infected. A person is infected with TB by breathing in TB germs that are spread when a person with active TB coughs, sings, shouts or sneezes, according to the Health Department.

If a person tests positive for TB, this does not necessarily mean that you are sick or contagious, it only means that you have been exposed to it. A positive TB skin test means that you should see your doctor of Health Department for further testing immediately.

Despite common belief that testing positive for TB is fatal, the disease is treatable. The prescription medication given for TB, called INH, is given to persons who test positive for TB before they are even ill. The prescription, which is in pill form, must be taken every day for six to twelve months.

However, if the disease is not treated or properly diagnosed and treated, one can develop a serious health problem.

Signs and symptoms for TB include the following: loss of weight, coughing (especially coughing up mucus or blood), feeling weak, sweating at night, loss of appetite, chest pains, or a fever that lasts longer than a week.

—David Sherman Co-Editor in chief

The following students met the qualifications for the Science National Honor Society

AHS students participates in a Model U.N. competition and wins high distinctions

BY ALYSSA NAVARRETE Co Editor-in-chief

Fifty-eight AHS students met on Jan. 12 with a mission: to solve the world’s problems. Students traveled to Gar-field Senior High School to participate in the 2007 IB Model United Nations conference.

“Last year was the first conference we participated in,” said IB coordinator Erin Albright. “We were only on one committee and only took one teacher and about 15 kids.”

This year,AHS had a much larger impact on the conference. With fifty-eight members attending,AHS was able to have members on all of the committees. Not only did AHS students attend, they dominated, taking home some of the top prizes available at the conference.

The awards that were won include “honorable delegation” and “outstanding delegation.” Ten AHS delegations received such distinctions. In addition, freshman Ben Wilson was awarded the title of “best delegate” of the country Ukraine on the committee U.N. Development Program.

“It was just a great conference,” said Model UN sponsor Jonathan York. “It was a smaller conference, but the caliber of our delegates was outstanding.”

To prepare for the conference, students were given countries that they were expected to represent on specific committees. During this conference, committees were offered in three languages: English, French and Spanish.

“AHS had by far the largest delegation,” said history teacher John Hawes who attended the conference. “We were well represented at every level and in all three languages, so we looked pretty good.”

The purpose of the conference was two fold. First, it was to participate in a mock United Nations setting. This was so that students could learn how the real UN functions. Second, the program was designed to enhance the IB program.

COURTESY OF NICOLE SWIGER

Maureen Bunyan to be 2007 Graduation Speaker

Nita Avary Seemal Awan Kyung Choi Arlene Chung Sahar Gani William Gibson Kelsey Grant Yamen Hama Janssen Marie Han Dana Hardbower Kathryn Janssen Wafa Khadraoui Ah-Ram Kim Tina Le Ben Lord Omar Mayassi Josh Miller Reema Naz Amanda Nguyen Diem Nguyen Hama Linda Than Nguyen Truc Anh Nguyen Y-Van Pham Abdullah Rahmanyar Bethlhem Teshome Michelle Tran Jonah Williams Nausheen Yusuf

Jan. 23, 2007

IB Model U.N. wins S

NEWS BRIEF

Science National Honor Society

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Members of the Model UN participated in the IB MUN competition. Sophomore Emily Koppleman, far left, won Honorable delegate for representing Algeria.

PTSA held membership competition Low student participation in the PTSA leads to a raffle drawing for a bistro lunch

BY CAROLINE MERZ Staff Writer The AHS PTSA membership has been lacking this year, so a contest was held to help spur membership.

The contest was available to all students, teachers and parents. Membership flyers were handed out to teachers during their flex period and the teacher with the highest percentage of new members to the PTSA would win a free lunch at Annandale’s Bistro. Membership forms were due on Jan. 5 for eligibility in the contest.

So why does the PTSA want increased membership? They have but one goal which is, working for the school. Each year they set a goal of raising $50,000 to support educational, social and professional development activities atAnnandale High School.Additionally, they aim to provide a communications network for the AHS community according to The Courier, the newsletter of the PTSA. All of the money and fundraisers go directly to student and teachers for supplies, events, and scholarships. By advertising with a contest and free meal at the Bistro, the PTSA hope to attract more members and strengthen their basis for the organization. Mr. Shapiro’s class was the class that had the highest percentage of student members to join.

In addition, the PTSA serves as an information guide for its members, especially parents who are sometimes unable to access from information at AHS. Awareness was another key aspect to this contest.

“The fact that a man like Mr. Shapiro was able to get the students enthusiastic about becoming members was a huge success [for the organization],” said fundraising supervisor Cary F.Vu. Unfortunately, the contest only brought a modest increase to the PTSA’s membership.

The number of parent members remained about the same prior to the contest. Student membership is down 30 percent from last year, and teacher membership is still down 40% from last year. President Jackie Hess still considered the contest a success.

“Some things just build,” said Hess, “this was our first time trying something like this and it ran pretty smoothly, maybe if we do it next year it will be an even greater success.”

“We’re trying to get everyone under the same umbrella,” said Vu. The PTSA has many plans for the future. First, they plan on finding a way to bring all boosters (organizations) together like sports, music, and drama.

Second, more fundraisers are being planned. Current fundraisers include the inkjet and cell phone drive, and coming in March, flower and bulb sales.

They are also working on planning a student marathon.

Their third part of their plan includes reaching out to the community. The PTSA is looking for support across-the-board, especially including teachers.

The PTSA has $6,000 for teacher funds but has only distributed $1,000 due to few requests by teachers, mainly because they are unaware of what resources they have, according to Vu. “I think there are only about 60-65 teachers who are members [of the PTSA], which is ridiculous considering there are 200 or more staff members in the whole school,” said teacher representative Linda Slesinger. Slesinger described how the PTSA works for the teachers and it would be in their best interest to join. Part of the PTSA mission is to support Annandale High School faculty and administration in carrying out the mission of Annandale High School.

Officer suspended in Brown case

BY DAVID SHERMAN Co-Editor in Chief The Alexandria police officer that shot and killed AHS alumnus Aaron Brown in the parking lot of the International House of Pancakes on Duke Street on Feb. 25 has been suspended for three to 30 days.

Alexandria police officials announced on Jan. 2 that they have suspended Officer Carl Stowe, and that they are revising their policies on shooting at, and stepping in front of, moving vehicles.

The staff alerted Stowe, an off-duty officer at the IHOP, that six teenagers were suspected of leaving without paying their tab of $26. Stowe exited the restaurant to find the teenagers already in their car.

Stephen J. Smith, also anAHS alumnus and the driver of the Jeep, told investigators that Stowe kept moving in front of the vehicles path, like the two “were doing a dance.”

Stowe said that he was standing in one of the narrow lanes within the IHOP parking lot and signaled the Jeep to stop.

According to Stowe, the Jeep then swerved and looked to be heading straight for him.

Stowe stepped back and fired six shots in rapid succession as the vehicle approached and then passed him. The bullet struck Brown in the upper left arm, entered his chest and pierced his lungs and heart.

Alexandria Police Chief David P. Baker met with Brown’s family on Jan. 2 to inform them of Stowe’s suspension. Baker told the Browns that, although he would

not face criminal charges for the shooting, Stowe would be suspended.

“We are pleased that Chief Baker has announced a new policy that strengthens the policy against policy officers creating confrontations with moving vehicles,” said Jeff and Cheri Brown. “We hope this prevents needless other deaths.”

Alexandria already had a policy that prohibited police officers from firing at moving vehicles except when absolutely necessary.According to Lt. James Bartlett, that policy has been redefined. The policy now prohibits firing at a moving vehicle unless it is an ultimate last resort. Firing at or from a moving vehicle now must only be used “in the most extreme and exceptional circumstances when required to avoid the immediate and foreseeable danger of death or serious injury to police officers or other individuals,” according to Bartlett.

Alexandria officers regard Stowe’s suspension as a major disciplinary action. Under Alexandria policies, the next step beyond a 30-day suspension is termination.

Jeff and Cheri Brown said in their statement that their son “would not have died if Office Stowe had followed his police department’s rules. He should not have put himself in front of a moving vehicle and should not have fired into a vehicle which he knew contained innocent passengers.”

It is still unknown whether or not the Brown’s will file a lawsuit against Alexandria for the death of their son.

Adopt-a-landmine

remove the land mines but also going to

BY RACHAEL BURNETT help those suffering from the injuries. AdStaff Writer ditionally, countries in poverty are having A landmine claims a new victim every trouble to support the new technology 22 minutes, a third of whom are children needed to help with these issues. “Four to and 80 percent of whom are civilians. five thousand dollars is a lot of money, is not The AHS Student Government Asso- practical for this issue becuase removing ciation (SGA) is working to help remove landmines expesive, however I think its a good effort” said senior landmines and spread Josh Miller. awarnesss throughout The SGA is worried the community. The SGA about not getting enough collected money during all money to help out because lunches and at basketball of high expenses. games. At the basketball Health teacher Gagame on Jan. 16, the school briel Romano says that collected only $70, followhe hopes this project sucing short of their $5,000 ceeds, and that hopefully goal. All the donations in a few years technology recieved will be used to will be able to remove help save lives and remove these landmines instead landmines in Ethiopia.

The SGA is trying to Victims suffer from lost append- of people being threatcollect a total of $5,000. It ages due to landmine accidents. ened. “My whole class was moved by this and costs approximatly five dollars to put a landmine in the ground, but it is very touching to see these innocent a total of three hundred to one thousand people losing limbs. I back this effort one hundred percent”. dollars to remove one landmine.

The SGA is very pleased with their Senior John Chu is in leadership and said “I feel it’s a good cause that is why I efforts and is not just trying to recieve a choose to be on ths committee and try to lot of money, but to raise awarness among students so that in the future they will be help out all the people who suffered.”

The money is not only being used to well informed.

COURTESY OF THE BROWNʼS

4

NEWS

Aaron Brown was shot last Feb. 25 in parking lot of an IHOP.

Sudoku tournament held

BY GREG YOUNG Staff Writer On Jan. 8, the final sudoku tournament was held in the AHS cafeteria. The event was sponsered by the Math Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta.

The students were given one sudoku puzzle that was rated “hard with approximately 45 minutes to finish it.

However, various people in the club admitted to making the puzzle easier to attract more people.

Several of the students were able to finish before the 45 minute time limit and leave early.

“If we allowed the club members to compete, people would have thought that it was a conflict of interest,” said the math honor society president Tim Yuskavage.

The overall winner was senior Yvan Pham, followed by senior Ashuarya Ventak and junior Mohammad Elbarase.

‘Im excited that I won,” said Pham, “I praticed a lot to develop different stradegies to complete the puzzles.”

The remarkable thing about Pham winning is that she only started completeing

sudoku’s about six months ago, defeating students who had been doing sudokus for at least one year.

Sudoku is a number game that was created in Japan about 20 years ago. It has exploded in popularity in the United States, where books full of sudoku puzzles have filled store shelves and newspapers publish the puzzles daily. The puzzle involves filling in a nine by nine chart with the numbers that are given. The amount of numbers that are given and the placement of the numbers that are given determines the difficulty of the puzzle.

This will be the final sudoku tournament of the year. Attendence at these tournaments have not been stellar.

“While he [Mr. Evens] mentioned the idea, we were really the people that took the idea and ran with it,” said Yuskavage.

Though this is the last sudoku tournament of the year, club members are hoping to continue the tournaments next year.

“It has definetly created exposure for the math honor society,” said junior Jeremy Hsu, “I hope we can do this again next year.”

Jan. 23, 2007

NEWS

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Former golf coach dies

BY RICHARD MCCORMACK Special to The A-Blast Long-time Annandale High School teacher and golf coach Earl Gill died on Sunday, Jan. 7 of liver failure.

Gill, 73, was a teacher at Annandale for 31 years, from 1958 until 1989. After that, he worked with the AHS golf team for an additional 15 years, starting in 1990 and finally retiring in 2004 at the age of 71. Gill was a sweet, caring, patient and dedicated man.

As a coach, he committed himself fully to the members of the golf team. He did some amazing things for the team. When the team went to Patriot District matches, he would use his own money to buy buckets of range balls in order for the players to warm up before teeing off. Throughout the season, he was always buying players lunch, snacks and dinners whenever the team went to tournaments or on overnight trips, and he never thought twice about being reimbursed. He drove players literally thousands of miles every season, and never asked for a dime for gasoline.

One time, a team member wasn’t dressed properly and the pro at the private country club asked him to leave the premises prior to the start of a match. Coach

-- Richard McCormack coached golf with Earl Gill for nine years, from 1996 to 2004.

NEWS BRIEFS AHS teacher nominated for teacher of the year

ANTENNA YEARBOOK 1992

Coach and teacher Earl Gill served AHS for 46 years

Gill drove the player to a clothing store and purchased the “proper” attire. They returned a half-hour later with the player looking snappy, ready to tee off. Coach Gill did something else that was entirely unique: he never cut a single player. This was not an easy thing to do, but he had a philosophy of inclusion rather than exclusion.

Most teams keep only the top 10 or 11 best players.

Everybody else is told to go home. Some years, the Annandale golf team had more than 30 players.

Ask any golfer how hard it is to get a tee time in the Washington area, and they’ll tell you that it’s difficult. Now imagine getting 10 consecutive tee times.

Hundreds of AHS students were able to learn how to play golf and play at some of the most exclusive country clubs in the area thanks to Coach Gill.

Prior to being a teacher at Annandale, Coach Earl Gill was a member of the Marine Corps and fought in the Korean War, though he possessed not a single quality of a warrior. He was a sincerely nice man. He didn’t carry a grudge. He didn’t judge people. He never swore. Never had a fit. He never spoke ill of any one at any time. He was quick to volunteer. He treated everyone he met -- especially his students -- with respect and honor. He was buried with full military honors at the Quantico National Cemetery. For 46 years, Earl Gill made Annandale High School a better place.

Coach Earl Gill, left, poses with the 1992 Golf team. Gill taught at AHS for 31 years, and coached for an additional 15 after that, finally retiring in 2004.

A magical night on Broadway “Desserts” continued from page 1 fun songs with your friends in a group,” said senior Erika Rodden.

Preparing for an event as big as this should take a long time, but actually, auditions, dress rehearsals, and the performance takes about ten days.

“The preparation time from auditions to performance is less than two weeks, which is an incredibly short time to prepare a program like this,” said Dixon.

However, students take time outside of school to rehearse their selected pieces with private voice teachers and the other members Junior Derrick Elmore and senior Erika Rodden of their groups. perform “Buddy Blues” from the musical Follies.

“This year I had six pieces to prepare for Broadway Desserts,” said Rodden. “It was a people to the event because it is off school challenge to find enough available rehersal grounds and there is more space for the intime.” creasing crowds.

This was the twelth annual Broadway Des“Overall we sold 808 tickets. There was a serts production, all of which have been held slight increase from last year,” said Dixon. The at the George Mason University Center for the increasing ticket sales reflect the students’ and Performing Arts. community’s increasing interest in this cabaret “AHS has been presenting Broadway Des- showcase. serts ever since 1995, my second year here,” “The show is so well received because everysaid Dixon. one likes Broadway music,” Dixon said. “It’s easy Having the GMU facilities draws more to understand and it’s fun.”

MICHELLE RISSE

MICHELLE RISSE

Sophomore Whitney Ackridge performs her solo, “Light in the Piazza” from the musical Light in the Piazza.

Brain Dunnell, a lead teacher for the Student Acheivement Model (S.A.M.) program, was nominated by the PTSA for the Fairfax County Public School Teacher of the Year Dunnell 2007 and The Washington Post Agnes Meyer Award. From every Fairfax County school one teacher is nominated, and Dunnell is the AHS nominee for the award.

“I’m honored and humbled. I’m humbled because there are so many teachers in this school who deserve this. But this is my 15 minutes. I’m very excited,” said Dunnell.

All Night Grad Party tickets on sale, volunteers needed

Plans for the annual all night grad party, held immediately following the senior graduation ceremony, are underway.

In order for this event to be successful, tickets must be sold in advance, and parents must volunteer to help.

The party is designed to give seniors a fun, safe and substance free celebration to congratulate them on their accomplishment.

To prepare for and put on the event, it takes over 200 volunteers. The PTSA, which is sponsoring the event, encourages freshman, sophomore and junior parents to volunteer to help out because the parents of seniors are often busy with other graduation preparations.

Volunteers are needed in all areas: ticket sales, set-up/decorating, carnival games, casino games, pool activities, prizes, security, food and clean up.

For more information on how to volunteer, contact Nicole Bracken or the PTSA.

Sweetz cheesecake sale

COE students are selling cheesecake until Jan. 24. The cheesecakse will be delivered before Valentine’s Day. If you can’t find a COE student, contact Monica Bentley in room 223.

Atoms decal sale

Static clings with the atoms logo are on sale for $2. Clings will be sold at lunches, basketball games, on teacher workdays, and at PTSAmeetings. With the purchase of a cling, a ticket is entered in a raffle, to be announced at the basketbal game on Feb. 2. Prizes include a portable CD/Radio and a home entertainment system.

Parent Outreach Classes

School to community outreach programs are being held throughout Feb and March. Vida Sanchez is the coordinator who has scheduled the following programs: Learning the Basics of using a computer:A beginners class for Hispanic parents; Getting to know AHS; Immigrant parent support group: Session #1; Parent leadership classes. Dates and Times to be announced.

Contact Vida Sanchez for more info at (703) 642-4270 or at vida.sanchez@fcps.edu.

Valentines Day approaches

AHS choosen for Nations report card

AHS has been selected to participate in the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Pregress (NAEP). This assessment will take place on Feb. 6. A random sample of seniors will be selected to take a 90 minute test consisting of subject-area questions and background information. results will not be announced except for on a regional, state and national level. For more information visit http://nces.ed.gov/ nationsreportcard.

ALYSSA NAVARRETE

“Valentine’s Day” continued from page 1 Valentine’s. As of publication, songs had not been finalized but it was expected that the Men’s Chorale would sing “Blue Moon”, the Annandale Singers would perform “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You”, and the Women’s Ensemble would sing “When I Fall in Love”.

Songs cost $3 to buy and will be sung to whomever—including teachers.

The culinary students are a new addition to the available goods on Valentine’s Day. Starting on Jan. 22, cakes go on sale until Feb 2. Awhite 8” round cake with a pink heart detail is $5, a pink 8” heart shaped cake is $7.

“It’s a wonderful way for students to share with each other,” said head chef Christine Gloninge. This “sharing” comes in the form of messages written on the cakes. The options of messages range from “I love you” to “Your secret Admirer” and are available in Spanish.

Personalized messages are a $2 extra charge. Cakes will be available after school on Feb. 14 outside the cafeteria, or available for pick up in the Bistro after lunch on the same day.

Whether this Valentine’s Day is spent with friends or with a partner, AHS is doing its best to make sure that everyone has several options for making this day special.

5

Students enrolled in the Freedom of Expression program, sponsored by the Freedom Forum visited AHS Jan. 16.

Students were from Azerbaijan, Jordan and Tajikistan. Students came to the publications lab to learn about student publications, took a walking tour of the school and ate lunch at the Bistro.

‘It’s Academic’ wins

“Academic” continued from page 1 Academic” team with the NBC-4 show It’s Academic, this event was not videotaped for region.

The Atoms team was made up of four television.

“We have a taping seniors: Tim Yus[for the show] on Feb. kavage, Chirssy 10 at NBC-4 studios,” Osipchak, Alyssa said Saladino. “We’ll Degner-Lopez compete against Oxen and Marie Han. Hill High School and According to SalaWoodrow Wilson High dino, Yuskavage School.” was the highest “We’re looking forscoring member of ward to going on the the team. show in a few weeks,” “I’m resaid Degner-Lopez. ally proud of our “We’re hoping to do as team, the entire well there too.” experience is reOverall, the It’s Acaally amazing,” said demic tournament was Degner-Lopez. a huge success for the “We were kind of AHS team. the under dogs, “I am so and being able to Itʼs Academic sponsor Meghan Saladino is amazed that we made it place well against “amazed” the team made it so far. that far and did as well all these different as we did,” said Saladino. “I think it’s aweschools is pretty amazing.”

While many people associate the “It’s some.”

Immigration stories “Immigration” continued from page 1 “The education is very different here,” he said. “I learned English here, when I was in my country I didn’t know English at all.”

Mamo added that the education he gets in America could help him if he ever decided to move back to Ethiopia.

“Education here is so important because if you learn in the U.S. and then go back to my country you can work anywhere,” Mamo said.

Though he believes an American education could benefit him if he decided to move back to Ethiopia when he gets older, Mamo plans to stay in the U.S. for the rest of his life. His ultimate goal is to become a famous soccer player.

“My favorite thing is soccer because in my country I used to play soccer,” Mamo said. “In my country I won three awards [for soccer].”

The awards that Mamo won include “best player” and two awards for the most goals scored in one game (12 and

14). While living in Ethiopia, Mamo said he spent the majority of his free time playing soccer on a local team and with his friends.

When he arrived at AHS last year, Mamo was immediately attracted to the school’s soccer team.

“Last year I tried out and I passed my physical and try outs,” said Mamo. “But since I was new, I didn’t have any grades so I couldn’t play.”

However, after spending more time at AHS, Mamo now meets the grade requirements, and plans to try out for the team in the spring.

Overall, Mamo has enjoyed the transition to the United States. He feels as though the opportunities for things such as education, athletics and careers are much better in the United States.

“To me, the U.S. is the biggest, it changes people’s lives,” Mamo said. “In Ethiopia there’s war, no democracy and we don’t have good leaders. Things are so different here.”

Ethically Speaking Ethics Advice

By Layluma Hotaki

Hey SEC, I have a problem. My two friends got into a fight and are giving each other the silent treatment. I really would want them to be friends again. I’ve waited to see if time would do something. It’s been a while. What should I do? Should I be the middle man and try giving them advice back and forth to each other? But what if they end up hating me?

Sincerely, Stuck in the Middle Dear Stuck in the Middle, I see how you can be considering both options. My first advice to you is, if you’re not involved in it, try not to be. Let them work it out by themselves. If they can’t and you don’t feel comfortable choosing between one or the other, let them know. I don’t think being a “middle man” will help because usually things are misunderstood and lost in translation. This will also only cause you to be more hectic. If you can get them two to talk about it, that would be just fine. Don’t get stuck in the middle! Good luck!

Sincerely, The SEC If you have an ethical dilemma and would like advice on how to handle the situation, submit your questions to layluma.hotaki@thea-blast.org. All submissions will be confidential.

ACADEMICS

A

t

Jan. 23, 2007

Students grade AHS Survey says students’ attitudes toward AHS depends on grade level

BY CASON KYNES Academics Editor A survey of over 400 students in B, C and D lunches was conducted to find out students’thoughts on different aspects of AHS. Students were given the opportunity to grade various facets of our school in a unique role reversal, where the normally graded became the graders.

The survey asked students to give a letter grade, A through F, to these aspects of AHS: teaching staff, food and cafeteria, sports programs, administration, school facilities, clubs and extracurricular activities, school activities such as dances and pep rallies, and technology.

The responses were calculated in two different ways to come up with overall grades for each aspect. The first way grades were found was by recognizing the most frequent responses, or the mode. For instance, the teaching staff received 33 As, 141 Bs, 119 Cs, 33 Ds, and 53 Fs. The most frequent response was a B, so this would be the overall grade for teaching staff using this method.

This system is used in the graphic below.

The second way of calculating the data was more complicated. Grade point average was used to determine the average grade that the aspect would receive. Every A counted for four points, every B for three points, and so on. An F received zero points. The number of points was added up and then divided by the total number of responses to determine the average GPA, which was then converted into a letter grade.

According to the first method of calculation every

aspect had a B as the most frequent response except juniors gave it a 2.1, also a C. This downward trend in for the food and cafeteria and school activities such as approval is obvious according to the survey.

“After four years of the same routine you just get dances and pep rallies, which both received Cs.According to the second method, every aspect had an average of a tired of it,” said senior Trevor Daggle. “Ninth graders C except for sports, which had a C+, and school food and like it more because it’s a big step up from middle school. school activities, which both had D+s. Throughout the There are more friends to make, more opportunities and more freedom. But school loses entire survey, 411As were given, its excitement. It’s just repetitive. By 1,004, 834 Cs, 418 Ds and 437 Fs your senior year you are ready for the were given out. transition to college.”

The aspect of AHS that My overall reaction to the “Freshmen are excited to start students rated the highest was something new,” said freshmen Anthe sports programs. The sports survey is that it undernika Jessen. “We don’t know all the programs average GPA was 2.7, bad things yet, and we haven’t been a high C+. It received the most evaluates . . . here long enough to get tired of it.”

As and Bs, and the least Cs, Ds, According to Jessen, it’s the sports and Fs. The aspect of the school —JohnPonton that make high school more appealing. that got the lowest rating was principal “All the seniors are used to it by now, the school food which received but it’s new to us.” the highest number of Ds and “I think the graduating seniors, Fs and the least number of As. “My overall reaction to the survey is that it under- they’ve been through the ringer. In their time here they’ve evaluates, but my feeling is that even if we are doing well had multiple principals, the school was under renovation, we can always do better. We just have to look for ways so they dealt with a lot of uncomfortable things. They are to continue to improve in all those areas,” said principal at the end of the line,” said Ponton.

This survey, though not flawless or entirely scienJohn Ponton. “Before I applied for this job there were a lot of people that said a lot of negative things about tific, does present a basic idea of the students attitude Annandale, and so one thing we’ve tried to do is to toward their school. A students’ perspective is certainly dispel the negative perception of this school and I think not the most accurate indicator of how a school is actuwe’ve taken a lot of strides there. For every one or two ally doing.

“In my year and a half here, I see things every day complaints or concerns I get, I probably get ten positive that never cease to amaze me about the students, facilthings said about this school.”

An interesting thing found through the survey is that ity, custodians, support staff, parents, and things that freshman gave the school an overall 2.5 GPA, which is a are going on in the community. I think we have a really C+, whereas the seniors gave the school a 1.9 GPA,which good thing going here,” said Ponton. is a D+. Sophomores gave the school a 2.2, a C, and the

“

”

7 In their own words

Athletic Director “A C+ is just a little better than average, but our sports programs are way above average. It makes us feel proud Angelo Hilios because relative to the other grades the sports programs did well. Our training department is excellent, and our coaches provide many services to the athletes.

The sports department does a great job of connecting with the entire AHS population. The booster club has helped the sports programs a lot.”

Cafeteria Manager “I would give the cafeteria a C. I think that part of the reason is because our menu does not change, it’s a 4 week cycle.

Conny Schiller I think that the students are bored, although the quality of the food is pretty good. We have 40% of reduced lunch kids and we are trying to keep a good inventory. It’s a guessing game with student choices.”

B/C

C/D+

B/C

Mode Mean “Overall, we have nice computers here. The technology area has all new computers which are really nice. A few classes have smart boards so the notes can be posted on the Internet. That way I don’t have to take notes in my math class.

Our security system is up to date. To imRory OʼConnor prove our technology, I would replace some of the older computers with new ones. Students should all have laptops and wireless internet like T. C. Williams. Better scoreboards like South County with graphics would be cool. But this school is cheap so we can’t do any of the stuff I just mentioned,” said Rory O’Connor, senior.

GREG ROSENSTEIN

Mode: most frequent response

B/C

ANNANDALEATOMS.COM

B/C

Mode Mean “Our school facilities are pretty good. The biggest problem is that it is too small. It was made a long time ago and built to fit a lot less people than there are now. A few kids standing in the hallway can block the way. I like the new fields with bermuda grass. The front of the building looks a lot nicer now, after the renovaDae Hwan Kim tion. People are not treating the school with respect. The school is too small, but thats the only thing I don’t like. Compared to other schools the gym is not as nice. The upstairs gym was awful before the renovation, now it is nice,” said Dae Hwan Kim, senior.

Mean: average of all responses

Clubs and Extracurricular Mode Activities

B/C

Mode Mean “I think that the administration deserves a B because they’re not really good and they’re not really bad. They are average for me. I don’t really like how they patrol the halls and roam around the school, but I think that they do a good job because I feel safe at school. My opinion of the administration would change in a positive way if the administration organized more Jen Oakes school related activities. They should allow the students to have more spirit weeks and other school sponsored events.

In general, I’m saying that the administartion is not as good as it could be, but not bad,” said Jen Oakes, freshman.

School Facilities

MIKE CRAIG

Technology

Administration

MIKE CRAIG

Mode Mean “The school lunch deserves a C because it’s not very appealling, but it’s still edible.

I don’t want to bring my own lunch, so its good to have food provided. Sometimes I get tired of having the same food every day. Lots of times its overcooked or too greasy. They could put more effort into how it is prepared to Teddy Oh improve it. Sometimes people don’t clean up after themselves in the cafeteria, and those little speeches people make on the microphones can be really annoying. People cut too much in line.

There needs to be more order. The food is cheap, which is a good thing,” said Teddy Oh, sophomore.

“It is hard for me to give a response to this grade. It is unfair because if you asked ten people to elaborate you would get ten different an- Jamie Carayiannis swers. Students may disagree with the decisions that administrators make.”

Mode Mean “The sports programs deserve a B because they actually know what they are doing. The jerseys and gyms are new and better than most schools around. They don’t deserve an A because they are not succeeding.

The coaches are doing an OK job, some better than others. A lot of people are involved in Taimoor Bhatti sports, which means that a lot of people enjoy them. The programs are exceeding in getting kids involved. Its not organized very well, the practices are not at set times. Football did a good job by working hard and winning the district. I would improve the sports programs by having more practices and making the athletes more committed,” said Taimoor Bhatti, sophomore.

Chemistry teacher Ms. Morgan

Food and Cafeteria

B/C+

“I think that everyone can improve, and if the students gave the teachers anAit would be unrealistic because there Bruce Fisher would be no room for improvement. I see lots of professionalism in the teaching staff here atAHS. I think a C is a little harsh because in the Math department I see a lot of effort from the teachers. I think students should give teachers a chance to finish the year before giving them a grade. It’s like grading your coach before the season ends.”

Administrator

Mean

“I think that the clubs at AHS are good but not great. I think that the clubs could do a better job at advertising their club to get new members. I’m in DECA, the snowboard interest Matt Ashford club and model U.N. I think that they all deserve a grade of a B. Sometimes I don’t go to the meetings, but I think that they all deserve a good grade.

I like clubs because they help me get into college, so they can’t be that bad,” said Matt Ashford, junior.

School Activities

C/D+ Mode

Mean

“I think that the school activities deserve a grade of a C. I haven’t seen a Pep Rally at AHS yet because this is my first year. I was Logan Miller really disappointed when it was canceled and it wasn’t reschelduled. I need to be able to show my school pride. I’m looking forward to the next Pep Rally, but I wanted to see the one in the fall, too. Also, I think that the dances need work. The administrators need to relax at the dances. They need to have less lights at the dances and get better music,” said Logan Miller, freshman.

BUD IRELAND

Mode Mean “The teaching staff deserves a B because if I gave them an A that would be too flawless and many of my teachers are not perfect. A high B is a good grade because they go above and beyond to help the stuMax Augliere dents learn. Some of the teachers don’t trust the students enought but you can’t blame them because most students are not trust worthy. Most of the teachers seem to really care about the students. They want them to get into college. The foreign language teachers could do a little bit more to help me learn. Some teachers have too high of expectations for students. Overall, the teachers do a really good job,” said Max Augliere, sophomore.

Sports Programs

CASON KYNES

Teaching Staff

ADAM KASDORF

Teaching Staff

ACADEMICS

A

t

Jan. 23, 2007

Students grade AHS Survey says students’ attitudes toward AHS depends on grade level

BY CASON KYNES Academics Editor A survey of over 400 students in B, C and D lunches was conducted to find out students’thoughts on different aspects of AHS. Students were given the opportunity to grade various facets of our school in a unique role reversal, where the normally graded became the graders.

The survey asked students to give a letter grade, A through F, to these aspects of AHS: teaching staff, food and cafeteria, sports programs, administration, school facilities, clubs and extracurricular activities, school activities such as dances and pep rallies, and technology.

The responses were calculated in two different ways to come up with overall grades for each aspect. The first way grades were found was by recognizing the most frequent responses, or the mode. For instance, the teaching staff received 33 As, 141 Bs, 119 Cs, 33 Ds, and 53 Fs. The most frequent response was a B, so this would be the overall grade for teaching staff using this method.

This system is used in the graphic below.

The second way of calculating the data was more complicated. Grade point average was used to determine the average grade that the aspect would receive. Every A counted for four points, every B for three points, and so on. An F received zero points. The number of points was added up and then divided by the total number of responses to determine the average GPA, which was then converted into a letter grade.

According to the first method of calculation every

aspect had a B as the most frequent response except juniors gave it a 2.1, also a C. This downward trend in for the food and cafeteria and school activities such as approval is obvious according to the survey.

“After four years of the same routine you just get dances and pep rallies, which both received Cs.According to the second method, every aspect had an average of a tired of it,” said senior Trevor Daggle. “Ninth graders C except for sports, which had a C+, and school food and like it more because it’s a big step up from middle school. school activities, which both had D+s. Throughout the There are more friends to make, more opportunities and more freedom. But school loses entire survey, 411As were given, its excitement. It’s just repetitive. By 1,004, 834 Cs, 418 Ds and 437 Fs your senior year you are ready for the were given out. transition to college.”

The aspect of AHS that My overall reaction to the “Freshmen are excited to start students rated the highest was something new,” said freshmen Anthe sports programs. The sports survey is that it undernika Jessen. “We don’t know all the programs average GPA was 2.7, bad things yet, and we haven’t been a high C+. It received the most evaluates . . . here long enough to get tired of it.”

As and Bs, and the least Cs, Ds, According to Jessen, it’s the sports and Fs. The aspect of the school —JohnPonton that make high school more appealing. that got the lowest rating was principal “All the seniors are used to it by now, the school food which received but it’s new to us.” the highest number of Ds and “I think the graduating seniors, Fs and the least number of As. “My overall reaction to the survey is that it under- they’ve been through the ringer. In their time here they’ve evaluates, but my feeling is that even if we are doing well had multiple principals, the school was under renovation, we can always do better. We just have to look for ways so they dealt with a lot of uncomfortable things. They are to continue to improve in all those areas,” said principal at the end of the line,” said Ponton.

This survey, though not flawless or entirely scienJohn Ponton. “Before I applied for this job there were a lot of people that said a lot of negative things about tific, does present a basic idea of the students attitude Annandale, and so one thing we’ve tried to do is to toward their school. A students’ perspective is certainly dispel the negative perception of this school and I think not the most accurate indicator of how a school is actuwe’ve taken a lot of strides there. For every one or two ally doing.

“In my year and a half here, I see things every day complaints or concerns I get, I probably get ten positive that never cease to amaze me about the students, facilthings said about this school.”

An interesting thing found through the survey is that ity, custodians, support staff, parents, and things that freshman gave the school an overall 2.5 GPA, which is a are going on in the community. I think we have a really C+, whereas the seniors gave the school a 1.9 GPA,which good thing going here,” said Ponton. is a D+. Sophomores gave the school a 2.2, a C, and the

“

”

7 In their own words

Athletic Director “A C+ is just a little better than average, but our sports programs are way above average. It makes us feel proud Angelo Hilios because relative to the other grades the sports programs did well. Our training department is excellent, and our coaches provide many services to the athletes.

The sports department does a great job of connecting with the entire AHS population. The booster club has helped the sports programs a lot.”

Cafeteria Manager “I would give the cafeteria a C. I think that part of the reason is because our menu does not change, it’s a 4 week cycle.

Conny Schiller I think that the students are bored, although the quality of the food is pretty good. We have 40% of reduced lunch kids and we are trying to keep a good inventory. It’s a guessing game with student choices.”

B/C

C/D+

B/C

Mode Mean “Overall, we have nice computers here. The technology area has all new computers which are really nice. A few classes have smart boards so the notes can be posted on the Internet. That way I don’t have to take notes in my math class.

Our security system is up to date. To imRory OʼConnor prove our technology, I would replace some of the older computers with new ones. Students should all have laptops and wireless internet like T. C. Williams. Better scoreboards like South County with graphics would be cool. But this school is cheap so we can’t do any of the stuff I just mentioned,” said Rory O’Connor, senior.

GREG ROSENSTEIN

Mode: most frequent response

B/C

ANNANDALEATOMS.COM

B/C

Mode Mean “Our school facilities are pretty good. The biggest problem is that it is too small. It was made a long time ago and built to fit a lot less people than there are now. A few kids standing in the hallway can block the way. I like the new fields with bermuda grass. The front of the building looks a lot nicer now, after the renovaDae Hwan Kim tion. People are not treating the school with respect. The school is too small, but thats the only thing I don’t like. Compared to other schools the gym is not as nice. The upstairs gym was awful before the renovation, now it is nice,” said Dae Hwan Kim, senior.

Mean: average of all responses

Clubs and Extracurricular Mode Activities

B/C

Mode Mean “I think that the administration deserves a B because they’re not really good and they’re not really bad. They are average for me. I don’t really like how they patrol the halls and roam around the school, but I think that they do a good job because I feel safe at school. My opinion of the administration would change in a positive way if the administration organized more Jen Oakes school related activities. They should allow the students to have more spirit weeks and other school sponsored events.

In general, I’m saying that the administartion is not as good as it could be, but not bad,” said Jen Oakes, freshman.

School Facilities

MIKE CRAIG

Technology

Administration

MIKE CRAIG

Mode Mean “The school lunch deserves a C because it’s not very appealling, but it’s still edible.

I don’t want to bring my own lunch, so its good to have food provided. Sometimes I get tired of having the same food every day. Lots of times its overcooked or too greasy. They could put more effort into how it is prepared to Teddy Oh improve it. Sometimes people don’t clean up after themselves in the cafeteria, and those little speeches people make on the microphones can be really annoying. People cut too much in line.

There needs to be more order. The food is cheap, which is a good thing,” said Teddy Oh, sophomore.

“It is hard for me to give a response to this grade. It is unfair because if you asked ten people to elaborate you would get ten different an- Jamie Carayiannis swers. Students may disagree with the decisions that administrators make.”

Mode Mean “The sports programs deserve a B because they actually know what they are doing. The jerseys and gyms are new and better than most schools around. They don’t deserve an A because they are not succeeding.

The coaches are doing an OK job, some better than others. A lot of people are involved in Taimoor Bhatti sports, which means that a lot of people enjoy them. The programs are exceeding in getting kids involved. Its not organized very well, the practices are not at set times. Football did a good job by working hard and winning the district. I would improve the sports programs by having more practices and making the athletes more committed,” said Taimoor Bhatti, sophomore.

Chemistry teacher Ms. Morgan

Food and Cafeteria

B/C+

“I think that everyone can improve, and if the students gave the teachers anAit would be unrealistic because there Bruce Fisher would be no room for improvement. I see lots of professionalism in the teaching staff here atAHS. I think a C is a little harsh because in the Math department I see a lot of effort from the teachers. I think students should give teachers a chance to finish the year before giving them a grade. It’s like grading your coach before the season ends.”

Administrator

Mean

“I think that the clubs at AHS are good but not great. I think that the clubs could do a better job at advertising their club to get new members. I’m in DECA, the snowboard interest Matt Ashford club and model U.N. I think that they all deserve a grade of a B. Sometimes I don’t go to the meetings, but I think that they all deserve a good grade.

I like clubs because they help me get into college, so they can’t be that bad,” said Matt Ashford, junior.

School Activities

C/D+ Mode

Mean

“I think that the school activities deserve a grade of a C. I haven’t seen a Pep Rally at AHS yet because this is my first year. I was Logan Miller really disappointed when it was canceled and it wasn’t reschelduled. I need to be able to show my school pride. I’m looking forward to the next Pep Rally, but I wanted to see the one in the fall, too. Also, I think that the dances need work. The administrators need to relax at the dances. They need to have less lights at the dances and get better music,” said Logan Miller, freshman.

BUD IRELAND

Mode Mean “The teaching staff deserves a B because if I gave them an A that would be too flawless and many of my teachers are not perfect. A high B is a good grade because they go above and beyond to help the stuMax Augliere dents learn. Some of the teachers don’t trust the students enought but you can’t blame them because most students are not trust worthy. Most of the teachers seem to really care about the students. They want them to get into college. The foreign language teachers could do a little bit more to help me learn. Some teachers have too high of expectations for students. Overall, the teachers do a really good job,” said Max Augliere, sophomore.

Sports Programs

CASON KYNES

Teaching Staff

ADAM KASDORF

Teaching Staff

8

Did you Know? ∞ Non-Hispanic whites marry other whites 96.5% of the time ∞ In 73% of black-white marriages, the husband is black ∞ 86% of black-Asian couples consist of a black husband and an Asian wife ∞18% of Asian wives have white husbands, only 7% ofAsian husbands have white wives ∞ 6% of black husbands are in an interracial marriage compared with only 2% of black wives ∞ In 2000, the most common type of interracial couple in 2000 was a white husband married to an Asian wife. ∞ In 1970, fewer than one percent of all married couples had an interracial marriage.

–2000 Census data

DEBATE One of the arguments surrounding interracial dating is that it leads to a “color-mute syndrome”, in which people disregard the race completely. A psychology professor from the Gender and Racial Attitudes Lab at the University of Texas-Austin argues that interracial dating tends to make people “colorblind.” Experts debate on whether the racial inequality in society is ever addressed and if interracial dating will lead to a future generation of ignorance of American culture.

Student response: “I think it [interracial dating] brings people together, but the stereotypes of different races still exist. If you have a friend that is a specific race, you might not put that friend under the typical stereotype, but that doesn’t really stop the negative stereotypes about the group as a whole.

–senior Sarah Bracken Student response:

“I see interracial dating bringing people together and different cultures meeting. Even if there are certain stereotypes about different races, those stereotypes are slowly dying out as people intermix.

–senior Andrea Carbajal

Are you in or have you ever had an interracial relationship?

56% 44%

INTERNATIONAL

A

t

Jan. 23 , 2007

No limits on love It was not long ago that staying within one’s culture was not a choice, but mandatory under the law, when tolerance in society did not exist. Anti-miscegenation laws were passed in the 1600s to prevent marriage between freed slaves and whites. More laws forbidding interracial marriage were passed in the 1700s and 1800s as many Chinese and Filipino laborers immigrated to the U.S.

BY WALIHA GANI It was not until 1967, when the International Editor Civil Rights Movement reached its Since the days of Martin Luther King, Jr., the United States has made tremendous apex, that Congress ruled that misceachievements towards racial integration, as best seen by the increase in the number genation laws were unconstitutional in of interracial marriages and relationships. the Loving v. Virginia case.

Interracial dating, or miscegenation, is the mixing of different ethnicities or races.

For some students, the beauty of With the influx of immigrants and increased globalization effecting communication, interracial dating lies within datmanyAmericans are now much more open to interracial relationships than they were ing someone outside their own three decades ago. culture to fit in more.

43 years ago, King dreamt of a day when his children would not be judged by the Seniors Zain Javaed, color of their skin. The echo of King’s words is heard in the opinions of many AHS’s a Pakistani, and Raquel heterogeneous student population. Not only do many students have friends from difAguire, a Bolivian, have ferent ethnicities, several have had or are currently in a relationship with someone been dating each other for from a different culture or race. three years.

Freshmen Tiffany Medrano and Chris Yurko have known each other since “I prefer having relationseventh grade. Medrano is El Salvadorian and Yurko is Caucasian. They have ships outside my ethnicity been dating each other for two years. To them, race means nothing. because dating a Pakistani No boundaries girl is just too much trouble “Tiffany is Hispanic, I’m white, and we are coming from different sides of the and drama,” said Javaed. globe, but so what?” said Yurko. “When I met her, I wasn’t thinking about the color “I’m not a super-Paki guy, of her skin, I was looking through that.”

I just wouldn’t fit in with Yurko and Medrano are among the approximately 46.3 million Americans, most Pakistani girls.” ages 14 to 24, part of the most diverse generation in American society, who are On the other hand, more tolerant and open-minded than generations of the past about interracial datsome students prefer staying, according to an analysis of studies by the Center for Information and Research ing within their own culture on Civic Learning and Engagement. when it comes to dating.

However, the acceptance of interracial marriage has not come about “I have had some relaso quickly.According to USA Today, six percent of marriages are intertionships with guys outside rcial, whereas in 1970, it was less than one percent. my race, and it just didn’t To the majority of AHS students, race is irrelevant when it comes to work out. Since he couldn’t love.According to a poll conducted, 56 percent of 500 students said speak Spanish, I just didn’t that they currently are or have been in an interracial relationship. think he could express himThe survey also shows that 58 percent of students said that they self that sweetly. It was sweet, would consider a serious relationship with someone of but it just wasn’t the same,” another ethnic group, with a 42 percent who said sophomore Cherry Silva. disagreed.

“We just viewed things differ“I like Afghan food. I like McDonently. I was a quinceaera type alds. I like tacos. I like the East and and he was more of a “sweet 16” the West. The world is just filled with guy,” said Silva. so many different people with different Freshman Meena Rahmanyar ideas. I want to take part in all of that,” agrees with Silva. said sophomore Ahmed Al Afrangy. “I have had rela“I click more with my Afghan tionships with girls from a different race and religion culture. I want a guy with the same than me. I take advantage of all the different, wonderful customs as me, so he could be more cultures diversity brings together.” understanding and interact with Interracial dating today is very different from the past. It my family,” said Rahmanyar. is fairly common to see an African American/Asian couple, a The cultural differences bePakistani with a Hispanic, or a Jewish/Muslim couple.

However, tween Javaed and Aguire do not historically, interracial dating was only known to be between African form any discrepancies in their Americans and Caucasians. In fact, in the late 18th century, many white relationship. segregationists accused African Americans for using interracial marriages as a “The first time Zain tried eating way of destroying the white race. an orange the Bolivian style, it was Yurko and Medrano believe interracial dating broadens people’s minds and hilarious because he couldn’t do it exposes others to diversity. properly even after I showed him “At first, some of my family members weren’t used to Chris around. They several times,” said Aguire. “My were skeptical about it, but then as time passed, they all became used to him, family and I still joke around about and enjoyed his company too,” said Medrano. that with him,” said Augire.

“People used to give us stares, While Augire, Yurko, and but then when they got used to us, Medrano’s parents are supportive and we showed them that we are no of their children’s relationships, different than any other couple, then Javaed’s is kept in secrecy.

I’m not a super-Paki guy. they backed down, and got the mes“I can’t tell my parents I just wouldn’t fit in with sage,” said Yurko. about her [Augire]. I’d just Many parents are obstinate to their get in trouble. Interracial most Pakistani girls. children dating within the same culture Freshmen Tiffany Medrano, an El Savadoranian, and Chris dating isn’t common in our and race. culture,” said Javaed.

Yurko, a Caucasian, have been in a relationship for two “I want my daughter to bring home a nice years. Despite their different ethnicities, they are just like any Most students agree —ZinJavaed Pakistani boy home. He must speak Urdu other couple. Race is not a factor in their relationship. that interracial dating helps senior and understand the Pakistani customs,” decrease all the negative stesaid sophomore Hira Asif’s mother, Robina reotypes of specific races.

Asif. “I won’t allow her to date anyone besides “When people start having relationships with others outside their race, others are that. She must stay with her own culture.” more exposed to different cultures. It slowly works to seize some of the racism,” said Sophomore Amy Luong’s father, Shawn Luong, agrees with Asif. sophomore Alexis Williams.

“Dating and marriage is a huge step for my daughter. It’s not that I don’t like it [inter“By getting to know him, I have learned more about Muslim people and how they really racial dating], but it would be just so much easier for the family to easily interact with a are. There aren’t any races. We are all just one race: the human race,” said Aguire. boy who speaks the same language as us and knows the culture well,” said Luong.

Many students integrate with other ethnic groups and cultures when it comes to dating

“

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Student’s opinions ∞ 30% of students are not open to being in an interracial relationship due to worries about disapproval from friends or family/public embarrasement, 19% believe that they would not get along with someone from another race, 16% have a firm belief that we should stay withtin our own race, 35% is for other reasons not mentioned. ∞ 78% say that their religious beliefs or family upbringings have not affected their position on interractical dating, whereas 22% say that it has. ∞ 61% say that they feel happy when they see a member of their race dating someone from another face,13% feel angry, betrayed, or disguisted.

–Taken from student survey conducted Jan. 10

Sophmores Shane Doty and Tricia Wayland are one of the intermix couples at AHS

Junior Lara Coulter and senior Matt Un continue to fight prejudice from family

Sophomore Shane Doty, whose heritage is a mix of Puerto Rican, Caucasian and African American, is dating one particular young lady: sophomore Tricia Wayland: a Caucasian. It all began a year and three months ago.

“He played for my dad’s football team, at first he wouldn’t say ‘hi’ to me, but then we started dating a year ago,” said Wayland.

Both sophomores agree that they see their relationship lasting for a while.

“We get along great,” said Doty.

To both Doty and Wayland, it is less about color and more about what they can grasp from each other.

“He doesn’t speak Spanish, he’s smart though, I learn a lot of stuff from him,” said Wayland.

Doty and Wayland’s music taste of music is very different. “She tries to make me listen to country music, but I’m more into rap and hip hop” said Doty.

The best part of dating outside on ones own race for Doty?

“It’s the fusion of a culture, like some say, love is blind.”

Junior Lara Coulter and senior Matt Un having been dating for four and a half months. Coulter is Caucasian, while Un is Cambodian. Coulter and Un met through a friend, and quickly began to notice they were different from one another.

Coulter who is Jewish, and Un, a Christian, noticed that with different religions and backgrounds comes a new level of learning and understanding.

“I think I learn more about Christianity from him, because we’re both of different religions,” said Coulter.

From both sides, Coulter and Un experienced some dislikes from family members towards each other.

“My grandparents have a problem with it, they’re racist to everyone,” said Coulter. “My grandpa asked what Matt looked like, and you could tell he was bothered by it, he didn’t really say anything though.”

With Un’s family, he recieved a similar reaction.

“I showed my aunt a picture of Lara online and she got really upset, she was like ‘what?’ And I told her she was Jewish and that made everything worse,” said Un. Junior Lara Coulter and senior Matt Un have

Even though sophomores Shane Doty and Tricia Wayland are from different ethicties, they find ways to work their differences out.

been in an interracial relationship for four and a half months.

VANESSA CERRO

This survey was distributed on Jan. 10 during B and C lunches to 500 students.

Out of 500 distributed, all were returned.

VANESSA CERRO

No

Yes

More than just skin color

ARTS

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Jan. 23, 2007

The poetic side of AHS Yavari expresses love forAmerica

BY LYNDSAY JACOBS Arts Editor

My Country

Usually found socializing in the hall, junior Chester Yavari is a poet that you would not normally know about.

Yavari started writing poetry in “4th or 5th” grade, mainly because of Yavari “boredom and lack of activity” said Yavari.

Yavari typically writes poetry when he is bored about history or people who have accomplished something in there life. Although some people have a special book that they write poems in Yavari just writes them on anything that he has.

Typically Yavari writes sonnets because they are simple to write and when he is not writing a sonnet he writes poems that use various rhyme schemes.

When writing his poems Yavari feels inspired, “When I do write poetry I am really relaxed, everything around me has to be quiet so that I can focus” said Yavari.

Being a male poet, Yavari is embarrased by his poetry. “I dont want people to know about my emotions,” said Yavari.

I’ve fought for Arkansas, through Nashville From Wilmington to Jacksonville For Atlanta To Savannah For everyone that sits, stands, or leans For Louisiana and its New Orleans I fight for the greatest Robert E. Lee And for my family back in Montgomery I was there for my men at Fort Sumter To the clashing of the Merrimac and Monitor I am a husband I am a father I am a soldier To fight for my country The Atlantic to Mississippi To stand and fight for what I believe That is what I shall achieve.

LIMERICK - A five-line poem written with one couplet and one triplet. The rhyme pattern is A A B B A. They are meant to be humourus and often contain hyperboles, onomatopoeia, idioms, puns and other figurative devices.

HAIKU - A poem that orginated from Japanese culture. Haikus are usually written about everyday things like nature, feelings or experiences. It is meant to have simple words and grammer. The standard set up for a haiku is three lines, the first line having five syllables, the second line having seven syllables, and the final line having five syllables.

SONNET - The word is derived from Italy meaning “little song.” It is a poem that contains 14 lines with a strict rhyme scheme and logical structure. There are Italian sonnets and English sonnets, which differ by inventors and origins. Poets usually use iambic pentameter for their structure of the poem.

ACROSTIC - An acrostic poem is a simple poem that can easily be written by children or adults. The set up of the poem is unique having the first leters of each line aligned vertically to form a word. The word that is formed is usually the subject of the poem.

CONCRETE - A concrete poem is a poem that forms a picture of the topic or has the lines flow in a certain pattern to suggest the topic. It is sometimes known as “visual poetry” and its goal is to tell the story of the poem through the picture it is creating.

COUPLET -Acouplet is the simplest form of poetry with two lines of rhyming poetry that usually have the same meter. The ending of the lines must rhyme or else it is not condsidered a couplet.

AHS student dances her way to success Senior Rachel Frank receives Washington Post Music and Dance Scholarship when I was announced and we both got so excited, and we bumped heads when we hugged, it was a really good surprise,” said Frank. In order to be eligable, she submitted a transcript, personal essay and a prepared ballet piece. Frank did not have to choreograph her own piece and was able to use a variation from Act III of the ballet Swan Lake.

Frank rehearsed her piece for three weeks beginning at the end of May of last year. She preformed the piece at her end-of-the-year ceremony at her dance school.

After she learned she had been selected as a candidate for the scholarship, Frank started rehearsing again for her performance at the Historic Warner Theater.

Frank has been dancing since she was four years old, but began intense training at the age of nine. Currently, she dances at the Arlington Center for dance and plans to attend Butler College for Dance next year.

Her main ambition is to dance for a company and she is currently trying out for a few of them. “I really want to be able to dance for a company, but I can’t pin point a certain one because they are very selective so I can’t be too picky about it,” said Frank.

The award is a huge accomplishment in Frank’s early career and she is hoping to continue her rise to success.

COURTESY OF RACHEL FRANK

The Washington Post Music and Dance Scholarship Awards are awarded for high school seniors. The winners of the awards receive scholarships to put towards their college funds.

The dance scholarship competition is held every year and was established in order to recognize and promote excellence in the artistic and academic abilities of high school seniors in the Washington Area. The competition was produced by Rickey Payton, the Sr. CEO of Urban Nation Inc. On November 4, 2006, senior Rachel Frank was one of the few recipients of the scholarship that was given to 12 out of 150 applicants from students around the Washington/Metro area. She received a $1500 scholarship to put towards her first year college funds. Applicants are judged on the basis of academic records, performance tapes and essays on the importance of arts in society.

“I was sitting with my dance coach

BY LYNDSAY JACOBS Arts Editor

Bush

“[I like to write poetry] because it helps me express myself said, junior Nick Bush about why he writes poetry.

Poetry is typically used as a way to express oneself and thats the case

for Bush also.

Bush likes to write about anything that comes to his mind. “If I could I would write about sports,” said Bush who is an active member of Annandale’s Varsity basketball team.

Free verse is Bush’s favorite type of poem because “it gives me the freedom to say whatever I want without getting in trouble,” said Bush.

Inspirations for writing includes his family, friends and whatever is going on in his life.

Bush has been writing poetry since the the first grade. He now has a large collection of poems, but he has only really liked seven of them.

The Fight For Freedom “We heard footsteps coming from a far A treacherous night of running left many bearing the scar Chains rattled and branches crumbled, as they were very close to us now people stumbled People jumped and tried to run, but were surely stopped by the sight of a gun One by one we marched aboard the wooden ship they laid in the sea And as we stepped foot onto its belly, it swallowed us whole without hearing our pleas A vigorous journey indeed it would be a vigorous journey for me I would see For what felt like years crippled down to days on new land my feet now lay As my knees touched the ground of this brand new horizon, I was pushed and shoved me Body was aching and frightened, As I gazed upon a creature that reached out to me, whose skin was white and hair that Was straight and had eyes that were filled with hate” This isnʼt where Iʼm supposed to be...”

Iʼm not where Iʼm supposed to be...”

Can you think of a poem off the top of your head?

“Roses are pink, violets are yellow, you really stink but I’m a cool fellow.”

—Garrett Hall freshman

“Oh my god I can’t believe that I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it. Now I’m standing here in Literature class, hoping I pass.”

—Abdul Koroma sophomore “Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you!”

— Debbie McCoy junior

Wieser looks towards the Filament

Types of Poems:

BY LAURA SIMPSON Arts Editor

Bush strives for freedom

9

Rachel Frank, center, leaves school early each day in order to practice dancing for special events.

BY LYNDSAY JACOBS Arts Editor Using poetry as an outlet to express what is going on in her life, sophomore Annie Wieser writes poems whenever time permits.

Wieser gets Wieser inspired by her friends because they all are such a good writers. Also things that she sees around her contribute to them.

Wiesers most recent Poem is titled “Two Beating Hearts” which she wrote for an English poetry project that was suppose to be about you or related to you in some way.

Most people enjoy rhyming poems but that is not the story for Wieser. “I hate rhyming poems” said Wieser who likes free verse ones because you can express yourself easier and say whatever you want.

Two Beating Hearts “Being grown up isn’t half as fun as growing up!”

Her mom called her stupid, Her father only sighed.

Her boy friend said “Not my problem.”

Her friends turned their backs, She simply cried.

Why me God, why?

That was her constant prayer, As she wondered what to do.

She had to make a choice for both of them, The hardest decision of her life.

She had no help from those around her.

Her only company was the tiny life inside, Like an invisible and silent angel.

Should she let “it” live or die?

But as she thought she knew “it” must live It would mean nine months of sacrifices.

No friends, disappointed family and no love, But look where love had gotten her.

She knew she could do it, For that little heart beating hers not far above

—Arcadia Lacoma senior

“Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness from hatred.”

- MLK

—Ron Stanley English Teacher

Featured Artist Annie Leibowitz was born in Westport, Connecticut in 1949.

Leibowitz started to publish her photos in Rolling Stone Leibowitz is known for magazine her many photo magain 1970 zine covers on Rolling as a inde- Stone such as the John penden Lenon photo shown photogra- above. pher. Not long after, Leibowitz graduated from the Institute of Art of San Francisco in Fine Arts. Leibowitz is most famous for her photos of celebrities. Some of her most famous ones include pictures of John Lennon with his wife Yoko Ono, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Leibowitz’s work was exhibited in the National Gallery of Portraits of the Smithsonian Institute of Washington D.C. in 1991. Leibowitz has won man awards such as Photographer of theYear, Rewards of Photographic Innovation of the American Society of Photographers, Award to the Campaign of the Decade of the Magazine Advertising,etc.

This photo of Lance Armstrong is one of the more popular. Leibowitz takes photos of many famous people.

This photo is located in one of Vogueʼs issues. Leibowitz regualrly photographs for magazines such as Vogue.

12 What have youth sports taught you?

“I learned team work and learned how to be a better athlete.”

—Stephanie

Burns freshman “I learned teamwork and how to organize my time”.

—Arielle Pak sophomore

“I learned how to manage my time better and too have more fun”.

—Joseph Ingberg junior “I learned that you have to share the glory”.

—Shakia Branch senior

“I learned that teamwork goes a long way at the end of the day”.

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Youth league helps all

BY MATT JOHNSON AND JEFF DEAN Sports Xtra Editors

“I was proud because we pulled together as a team against a really good opponent,” said junior Zach Flynn.

This is one of Flynn’s fondest memories from his days playing in the area’s youth leagues. Youth sports are where the average goal becomes an extraordinary memory. Flynn and the members on his team will forever that spring day.

“I can use my left hand much better,” said Flynn.

“My whole game has improved.” Now a varsity lacrosse player, Flynn still appreciates the experience and hopes to maintain a good relationship with the youth league. The Annandale lacrosse program also shares Flynn’s goal.

“I do whatever I can for the Brittons [head of the Annandale Youth League]. If they need practice space, for me to set up clinics, or just to have my players help teach; I’ll do it because it benefits the kids and the community,” said head lacrosse coach Bill Maglisceau.

The Annandale Youth lacrosse program has connections to theAHS program. TheAnnandale youth program practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Chapel Square, which is the same place that the AHS team practices.

On both Tuesdays and Thursdays the AHS players stick around after their practices and help coach the youth The eigth Grade Annandale Youth Lacrosse team in 2004 contained 6 future AHS Lacrosse players. From left to teams. This is valuable experience for the youth players right: Matt Perez, Zach Flynn, Matt Johnson, David Waiter, Zach Sells, and Michael Craig not only because it provides valuable coaching points, but it also exposes them to the high school lacrosse environEvery summer there is a very popular week-long camp “I believe that connecting the young kids with the ment. hosted by the basketball program. The camp is attended high school program is important because this is where The time that the lacrosse team has been putting into the youth program has paid off for the AHS team. Many they will go to school, and the sooner the better that we by a plethora of kids from 7-14 year olds. The camp spends of the current varsity players played in the youth league get them in here instead of them being out and running a lot of time teaching the fundamentals of basketball that for many years. As the Annandale youth lacrosse league around. It’s a way of giving back to the community,” said are probably not prevelant on the blacktops.

The camps results have been seen as numerous current continues to give valuable experience to youngsters,AHS’s coach Ron Abrigo.

Coaches from the Annandale staff are now coaching players sport their Annandale Basketball Camp t-shirts lacrosse team will continue to receive skilled players.

Baseball coach Ron Abrigo is helping out the youth young players during the off-season so that the fundamen- at practices. The success of this camp has been a result of leagues around the area that feed into Annandale to help tals that coach Abrigo wants the players to learn are the not only teaching the fundamentals of the game but also build up the baseball program. The baseball pool of talent same that are being taught at the little league level. Not making it very fun for the young kids.

The relationship between the high school sports has been empty for many years in the Annandale area, only are they being coached on the field, but also they are but with the new approach of reaching kids while they are being brought into the weight room after school to help get programs and the youth leagues in the area are very the players stronger and ready for the high school level of important to the the popularity of the sport and also the young, the baseball program looks to be heading up. realtionship between the two in the community. play faster.

Little leagues leave lasting impression High School sports can dominate an athlete’s time and interests, and it is easy to forget where it all started. The majority of all participating athletes began their athletic careers in the region’s little leagues where they learned the fundamentals of the game.

John Copenhaver keeps playing ball from 6 to 16 John Copenhaver is a sophomore at AHS who plays baseball for AHS. He made the Varsity team as a freshman last year through his talent and dedication. He plays baseball regularly to stay in shape and get ready for the spring season.

—Geoffrey Jospitre senior

Q: How long have you played baseball?

A: It been a really long time. I have played since I was six years old.

Brian Van Balen used to play little league with me and now he’s here on the team with me at AHS.

Annandale Boys and Girls Club

COURESTY OF JOHN COPENHAVER

•Founded in 1959, the Annandale Boys and Girl Club offers football, lacrosse, basketball, soccer, baseball, boxing, and cheerleading

Phone Number: 703-941-4411

Braddock Road Youth Club •BRYC offers baseball, basketball, bowling, football, cheerleading, recreational and travel soccer, girl softball, volleyball and rugby

Phone Number:703-3782792

Fairfax Police Youth Club •FPYC offers basketball, cheerleading, football, lacrosse, rugby, track, soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling.

Sophomore John Copenhaver poses for one of his many little league photos he had taken over his years of playing.

Q: What are some of the most memorable moments you had in little league?

A: My favorite moment was when my team won the championship at the major league level of competition. My worst moment in little league happened during the game when I was trying to bunt and I got hit in the thumb. It started bleeding pretty badly and eventually my thumbnail fell off.

Q: What have you done to advance your skills since little league?

A: My skills have overall increased, I’ve gotten much faster and my understanding of the game has improved. The Virginia Baseball Club sessions have helped me become a better hitter. I was also on a school summer league for Annandale.

Q: Who does your U16 team play?

A: We play other high school summer teams in the region like West Springfield, Hayfield, South County, and Lake Braddock.

Q: Do you have any desire to continue your sport after Annandale?

A: Maybe in college but I am not sure. It is fun and challenging so it woud be fun to play in college but i dont know if I will or not.

Tiffanie Le learns late in life Junior Tiffanie Le has played lacrosse and field hockey for three years at AHS. She has worked hard to learn the sports because high school was the first time she ever played. Lacrosse is her favortie sport and she enjoys being a part of the team. Le spends time outside of school improving her skills to get ready for the upcoming season.

Q: What do you do to get ready for the lacrosse season?

A: I go to Change your Level Lacrosse Camp at George Mason University on Sunday nights from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Phone Number: 703-591-3792

Little River Soccer Club •The LRSC (Little River Soccer Club) has two sections; a house league and a travel league

Phone Number:703-256-3979

Jan. 23, 2007

Q: What do you do while you are at the camp?

A: The first hour we learn new techniques and tricks. The coaches teach us shooting techniques and dodges and different defensive and offensive positions.

Q: What was one of your favortite things about the camp?

A: We played a lot of games and met a lot of new people. It was nice because there were six other AHS lacrosse players who did it with me.

Q: Do you think the camp was beneficial?

A: Defintely, I will bring the things I’ve learned from camp to the team.

I have picked up lots of new skills that will help me in the season.

Q: What teams have you been on previosly at Annandale?

A: I made JV my freshman year and Varsity my sophomore year. The camp will help me become a better player this year.

Interview complied by Meredith Rutherford

Zach Sells sticks with lacrosse Junior Zach Sells commands the midfield for the varsity lacrosse team. He attributes much of his success in high school sports to the valuable experience that he gained in the Annandale Youth Lacrosse League.

Q: How long did you play youth lacrosse?

A: I started playing youth lacrosse in fifth grade.

I had played soccer before that and wanted to try something new. I played youth lacrosse until I started high school.

Q: Why did you like playing?

A: It was great playing a new sport after playing soccer for so long. I also got to meet new kids.

Q: How do you think it has helped you in high school?

A: I had a great advangtage over beginners coming into high school, most kids that try out have never played before.

Q: What did you learn from youth lacrosse?

A: I learned fundamentals that I needed for high school ball, all of my coaches were very helpful and dedicated.

Q: What was your favorite memory of youth lacrosse?

A: When my team won the league championship my eigth grade year.

Interview compiled by Matt Johnson

Jan. 23, 2007

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Behind the Scenes of The A-Blast

13 How a News Story is Made

Every three weeks The A-Blast publishes 3,500 copies of its awarding winning newspaper and distributes them throughout the country. Because of a unique realtionship with The Washington Post, The A-Blast is printed for free, saving the school over $25,000. The publication’s cycle begins with a copy meeting and ends with The A-Blast in your hands. Pictured below is an inside look at what goes on behind the lab doors.

JULIANNE SIMPSON

Step 1: News stories are put up on the board and assigned to staff writers.

Students listen while senior Editors in Chief Alyssa Navarrette and David Sherman go over page ideas for the next issue. Planning for the upcoming issue is done at copy meetings .

MARGARET CROWLEY

JULIANNE SIMPSON

Step 2: Editors in Chief distribute story checklists to staff writers.

Story checklists tell the writers the angle of the story, how many words it should be, who they should talk to and the questions they should ask.

Senior People Editors Julie Baker and Lindsey Downen work together on placing stories and perfecting their page.

Above: Senior Entertainment Editor Jenny Jacobs passes out surveys during lunch. Right: Sophomore Staff Writer Marisa Tordella looks up student schedules for her story. Most stories must have at least three sources.

MARGARET CROWLEY

Step 3: Staff writers work on their stories and talk to sources as needed. They normally have a week to a week and a half to get their first draft in to editors.

MARGARET CROWLEY

Above: Sophomore Cultures Editor Waliha Gani asks students questions for a “man on the street.” This consists of asking students questions they have an opinion about, and then taking their picture, also known as a mugshot, for the newspaper.

MARGARET CROWLEY

Junior Paul Mathis, In-Depth editor, looks at the pages on the dummy board. Throughout the process of making the paper, editors are required to put drafts, or dummies, of their pages. Dummy pages act as an outline for how the page will develope throughout the next few weeks.

Right: Junior Sports Editor Avery Adcock works with the layout of her page. Editors decide what type of layout they will use and their pageʼs topic.

Step 4: Editors make corrections to each story. Stories are usually read at least four times before they can be put on pages. Both Editors in Cheif read the story, followed by the Copy Editor, The A-Blast advisor Alan Weintraut, and at least one other student.

JULIANNE SIMPSON

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Junior Health Editor Sarah Waiter takes her frustration out on the computer while on deadline. Deadline can be a stressful time, as the editors try to get stories and pictures together. The staff can usually be found working in the lab until 6:00 p.m. on deadline days.

Above: Senior Weekend Editor Kate McCormack concentrates on finishing her page during her W2 Journalism class. Left: The A-Blast adviser Alan Weintraut meets with seniors Emily Sample, News Editor, and David Sherman, Editor in Chief, to discuss Sampleʼs news page. All stories are read by Weintraut before they are approved for the newspaper.

Step 5: Editors place the final copy on their pages. Stories range anywhere from 300-600 words.

Layouts for pages are usually done before stories are assigned, so placing stories on pages is done last.

JULIANNE SIMPSON

JULIANNE SIMPSON

Senior Sports Editor Greg Rosenstein podcasts his column after it has been published in print.

Podcasting allows strories to be recorded and then put on the Internet, and enables them to be downloadable on iPods.

JULIANNE SIMPSON

ALYSSA NAVARETTE

Senior Copy Editor Tim Yuskavage proofreads pages before they are sent to The Washington Post. Below: Juniors Matt Johnson and Jeff Dean, Sports Extra Editors, take a break from working to enjoy some Taco Bell.

Senior Editor in Chief David Sherman collects The A-Blast from the Washington Post plant in Springfield the morning before they are distributed. On distribution day, The A-Blast is taken to every class and to the four red distribution stands located in AHS.

Step 6: The final step to completing a stories cycle is putting it on the web. This involves logging in and loading onto the webpage www.the-ablast.org. This makes the newspaper accesible to people with computers around the world.

PHOTOS BY PHOTO EDITOR JULIANNE SIMPSON

MARGARET CROWLEY

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Jan. 23, 2007

What’s cooking at AHS Atoms who matter

Best Laugh “Derrick really deserves this because every time I see him in the hall he laughs so heartily and it warms my day. His laugh just makes everybody’s day a little better and you know he’s having fun,” said senior Whitney Clark.

—Derrick Beste senior “I was probably voted for ‘Best Laugh’ because other people’s laughter makes me laugh three times more,” said senior Lisa Ottenheimer. “She has a very unique laugh and it’s contagious,” said her friends, seniors Taylor Hobson and Emily Vincent.

Pho - Vietnam

Ingredients: 4 quarts low-sodium beet broth 2 large onions, thinly sliced 6 slices of fresh ginger 1 cinnamon stick 1 star anise 1 teaspoon whole black pepper pepe 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed rcorns 1 pound sirloin tip, thinly sliced small bullet 2 8-oz. packages dried rice nood les Preparation: In a large stockpot, add broth, ger, cinnamon, star anise, pepp onions, ginercorns and garlic. Bring to a boil then redu low and cover. Simmer for 1 houce heat to occasionally.Arrange garnish ingr r, stirring separate plates and bowls at theedients into rice noodles in warm water for 15 table.Soak until softened then drain (do not minutes or rinse

Food: It is a universal language understood by people of every country, but unique to each country as well. In the AHS culinary arts classroom, students bring ideas and knowledge of their homeland’s foods to the kitchen under the direction of teacher Christine Gloninger. Students who can enroll in this class are juniors and seniors. The class teaches classically French cuisine, but students often give input and suggestions from what they have learned at home about cooking.

“At holiday parties, I ask students to bring their own recipes. I like to see what they do on their own,” said Gloninger.

Here, a few culinary arts students share the recipes from their native countries.

“Iʼve had this dish since I was a little kid. Itʼs a good family meal. It has an original taste and itʼs hard to find a recipe like it.”

Jamez Thach

with cold water.) Place equal noodles in soup bowls and cover amounts of slices.You can add different spicewith raw beef s or sauces to the soup, to fit to your liking. Sug nishes: basil or mint leaves, hot gested garlime wedges, jalapeno peppers. pepper sauce,

Arroz con leche - Latin America

(right): The Vietnamese dish Pho has become very popular in the U.S. Junior James Thach likes this dish because of the versatility of its ingredients. You can add different flavorings to it to fit your craving.

Ingredients: 3 cups whole milk 1 can sweetened condensed milk 2 teaspoons vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cinnamon sticks m 1/2 cup raisins, soaked in war water to soften n 1 cup rice, short or medium grai

—Lisa Ottenheimer senior

Preparation: rice, Bring milk to a simmer. Stir in er add in cinnamon sticks and simm 0 until rice is softened, about 15-2 s minutes. Remove cinnamon stick nts. and stir in remaining ingredie Bring to a slight simmer and

“I was picked because when I laugh I make others smile,” said junior Nick Bush.

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—Nick Bush junior

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—Chelsea McCarthy junior “Erin looks really happy when she laughs, like she’s really having fun,” said sophomore Paul Bernfeld about his friend.

—Erin Price sophomore

Freshman Paullina Sorbi says, “I’m happy a lot. I think you should enjoy life so I laugh a lot.”

—Paulina Sorbi freshman

Celebrity Birthdays for January 2nd - Kate Bosworth (24) 5th - Marilyn Manson (38) 7th - Nicolas Cage (43) 13th - Orlando Bloom (30) 14th - LL Cool J (39)

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nts: our Ingredie urpose fl -p ll a s 2 cup r ga r g powde 1/4 cup su on bakin 1 teaspo oon salt ) 1/4 teaspest (of one lemon ld Lemon z nsalted butter, co 1/2 cup u 2 eggs eavy cream 1/2 cup h s. Mix to0 degree d lemon n: 5 o 3 ti a to r n a e d A Prep convection ov in a bowl. until Preheat ll dry ingredientsCut in the butter ell in . a w e r a e e mbin geth eal. Makand heavy toss to co zest and re looks like oatm eggs ix M . tu re ix Add the tu the m r of the mix all bowl. the dry sm r e te n th o ce to the ce gether in an all at on cream to cream mixture nts until mixture ie d d n egg a nts. Mix ingre ingredie

Zereshk Polow -

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Ingredients: 2 chicken breasts 1 tablespoon m 1 cup of tomatoinced garlic 1 package of an sauce salt (amount de gel hair pasta Half of a large sired) onion, diced

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ual to two eq dough in ll, and place e th e id n into ba a 1ether. Div holds tog Form each portiolatten each intorush F b s. . n le to io b rt ta sh o p ystal astry bru y floured on lightl k disk. Use a p. Sprinkle with cr with s ic k e is th g d d e e ch w in 1/4 inch tly over th lined milk lighut each disk into n a parchment grees o e C d r. ce 0 a 5 la g 3 p su Bake at nife and a chef k n 1/2 inch apart. a p t e e sh

Prepration: Boil the chicken salted water. Af in a pot of lightly cooked, removeter the chicken is and shred the mfrom pot, drain, back in the pot aloeat. Put chicken garlic, tomato ng with minced sauce, and dice onions. Add cook d ed pasta to this

Ingredients: 2 cups basmati rice 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs 2 onions, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon saffron Milk for soaking the saffron 1/2 cup plain yogurt and 1 egg 2 ounces barberries Preparation: Soak 2 cups basmati rice in cold eral hours. Season 8 boneless, skinsalted water for sevless chicken thighs with salt and pepper. In a large fryin sliced onions in 1 tablespoon butter g pan, fry 2 thinly until lightly colored.

Remove onions from pan and reserve. spoon butter and sprinkle the chick Add 1 more tableturmeric. Brown the chicken gently en with 1 teaspoon cup water and simmer, uncovered, foron both sides. Add 1 the chicken is tender and the liqui 20 minutes, or until d is syrupy. Remove the chicken from the pot and cool, sepa rately reserving the cooking liquid and onions. Soak 1/2 teaspoon saffron in a little milk until brightly colored, cup plain yogurt, 1 egg, and the chick then whisk in 1/2 Wash 2 ounces barberries well, drainen meat. Set aside. ,

James Velazquez

mixture. Cook minutes and re for five more This dish shou move from heat. pico de gallo. ld be served with

“We eat this when my family comes over. This is not a bland dish at all, itʼs very colorful and flavorful.”

Judy Elahi

and cook in a small pan with 2 table 1 tablespoon sugar for several minu spoons butter and tes, stirring, or until plump. Drain the soaked rice and rinse Bring 6 cups salted water to a boil, add under cold water. for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse with the rice, and cook cold water. Preheat the oven to 300˚F. Brush a large casse tablespoons butter and spread in half role dish with 2 the chicken mixture over the rice. Com the rice. Arrange mixture with the remaining rice andbine the barberry spread over the chicken. Spoon the reserved onions rice. Cover tightly and bake for 1 hourwith liquid over the . Remove from oven.

Rest the casserole for 15 minutes befo

Zereshk polow is an Iranian dish. Zereshk polow can be made in many different forms with various mix-ins for flavoring. It is also often made with fruits and nuts mixed in.

re serving.

Last Issue’s

• I have taught at Annandale for two years • I attended Penn State • I majored in African American Studies • His hobby is collecting • I like to listen to go-go and rap • I have traveled to some states in the United States like Florida, and Chicago • In my spare time I like to sleep • My favorite season is fall football season • I was born in Portsmith, VA on August 29, 1982 25th - Alicia Keys (26) 28th - Elijah Wood (24) Nick Carter (27) and Joey Fatone (30) 29th - Andrew Keegan (28) 30th - Khleo Thomas (18) and Christian Bale (33) 31st - Justin Timberlake (26)

“This meal is fairly flexibl e to go with your likings and itʼs great for when fa mily comes over .”

Iran

Who am I?

Who am I? 17th - Kid Rock (36) and Jim Carrey (45) 24th - Mischa Barton (21)

utes cook for an additional 20 min is or until almost all of the liquid absorbed and rice has a pudding like consistency.

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Junior Chelsea McCarthy said, “my friends are really funny and they make me laugh a lot.

In my group of friends I would say I’m the one who is laughing the most.”

Rebecca Sandoval

HTTP://WWW.FARHANGSARA.COM/FOOD/ZERESHK-POLOW

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“My family eats this during the holidays because itʼs really easy to make. The taste is very different.”

• I enjoy playing Madden and coaching football • My biggest pet peeve is when people do not try and do not listen to other people compiled by Bud Ireland If you know the answer to “Who am I,” come to the Publications lab to claim your prize

• I have taught at AHS for three years • I attended Virginia Tech • I majored in business • My hobby is traveling • In my spare time, I enjoy taking my dog to the dog park • I like to listen to alternative rock • I have traveled to Russia, Brazil, and Europe • My motto is ‘always have a positive attitude’ •I was born on December 9, 1977 in Portland, Oregon

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• In my spare time, I enjoy reading • My favorite part about teaching is when the information that I teach “clicks” with my students • My pet peeve is bad drivers

HEALTH

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Jan. 23, 2007

Chapsticks, and chapped lips...

Lip balms become increasingly popular with their almost addictive moisturizers that leave lips feeling softer than ever before

BY SARAH WAITER Health Editor For years lip balms have bulked pockets Wirdzek. “If I don’t wear it, my lips get so alongside extra change and candy wrappers. chapped and I start to lick them which These addictive cylinders hydrate and sooth makes them even worse.”

Lip licking can make your chapped lips dry, irritated lips with multiple moisturizers far worse because saliva evaporates on the and other beneficial factors.

Junior Meagan Harlowe carries mul- lips leaving them dry. It is important to tiple lip balms in her backpack as well as refrain from the awful habit as much as her car. “I can’t stand my lips dry so I always possible.

Many brands produce an overnight have some sort of chapstick around,” said Harlowe. While Harlowe sports all different lip treatment to keep lips soft and looking brands of lip balm, her favorite is one less healthy even while you sleep. These treatments nourish and popular. condition tired lips.

“Soft Lips brand is “I wake up a lot with the best. It comes in a chapped lips if I don’t really skinny tube so I want a girl to have a nice wear lip balm because it doesn’t lump my I sleep with a fan on,” pockets. It also smells kiss, a smooth one, not a said Harlowe. like candy and leaves Lip balms are my lips feeling tingly,” crackly one. becoming increasingly said Harlowe. popular among teens The tingly sensa—OmarMayassi because of the wide tion that so many junior variety of flavors and people enjoy is caused scents available. by an added chemical Starburst produces called menthol. This covalent compound is extracted from pep- tasty and colorful chapsticks with flavors permint and mint oils. It provides a cooling such as strawberry blast and orange, while sensation that relieves irritation and is used Chapstick sells originally scents such as cherry and spearmint. to treat sunburns.

Chapstick is currently taking part in a Many lip balms contain sun protectants to minimize swollen lips and sores caused popular fundraiser for breast cancer. For my sun damage. Sun Protectant Factors every pink pack sold, Chapstick donates (SPF) often range from four all the way twenty cents to the Susan G. Komen up to 45. It is important to wear chapstick Foundation.

Whether you are looking to make your whenever you are in direct sunlight.

Cold weather and winds quickly can own lips soft or looking to get compliments chap your lips also.Applying lip balm before after a kiss, lip balm is the way to go. “I want hitting the slopes or hiking in cold weather is a girl to have a nice kiss, a smooth one, not a crackly one,” said junior Omar Mayassi. reccomended to reduce any irritation.

“I always have a Chapstick in my jacket when I go snowboarding,” said junior Danny

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Editors’ picks:

Health Knowledge Quiz 1. Which chain has virtually eliminated trans fats from its menu?

Appearance: 6 Feel: 8 Tingle: 5

History: ChapStick was invented in the early 1870s. When the product was not successfull locally, Fleet sold rights to the product to John Morton. Morton melted the chapstick mixture, cooled it, and cut it into sticks. The product began to sell rapidly. Chapstick became a registered trademark and refers to any lipbalm contained in a lipstick-style tube and applied in the same manner as lipstick.

Appearance: 8 Feel: 7 Tingle: 8

Appearance: 5 Feel: 5 Tingle: 7

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a. McDonalds b. Wendy’s c. Burger King d .Pizza Hut 2. A large order of fries at Mc Donald’s is how many grams of trans fat? a. .5 b. 2 c. 12 d. 8 3. A Fiesta taco salad from Taco Bell has less saturated fat than a cheeseburger at McDonalds. a. True b. False

History: Burtʼs Bees is a earth-friendly company that uses only natural or organic ingredients. The company began in Maine in the 1980s orignally bottling and selling honey.

C

4. How many grams of fat does a two-ounce package of ranch dressing add to your salad at Burger King? a. 20 b. 10 c. 15 d. 5

History: Blistex started in 1947 and has expanded into 70 different countries around the world. It is well known for its strong minty scent. Celebraties such as Cameron Diaz, Matt Damon, and Emeril Lagassse use this product frequently.

Pucker up if you know what’s good for you • Kissing is very good for the teeth. Research has found that kissing can help prevent plaque build-up because it stimulates saliva flow.

• Kissing is good for the heart, as it creates adrenaline, which causes the heart to pump more blood around the body.

• Studies have indicated that those who kiss their partner good-bye each morning live five years longer than those who do not.

5. According to market research, how many fast food meals does the average American consume each year? a. 25 b. 37 c. 156 d. 98 6. Which breakfast has the most calories? a. Starbuck’s non-fat grande latte and bagel b. Dunkin Donuts glazed cake doughnut

• Kissing can aid in slowing the aging process. A fairly passionate kiss exercises as much as 29 muscles in the cheek and jaw, not to mention the asthetic benefits it brings to the color and fullness of the lips.

• Kissing is known to be a stress-reliever, triggering the release of oxytocin, the “feelgood-all-over” hormone.

WWW.SELFGROWTH.COM

7. Getting your pizza topped with pepperoni adds more than 100 calories per slice. a. True b. False

What do you use to moisturize your lips?

Answers: 1. B —Wendy’s. A large order of its fries has only 0.5 grams.

2. D—8 grams trans fat “I like Blistex chapstick.

It’s really the best. It gives me a really refreshing and soothing feeling on my lips.”

—Leslie Burns sophomore

“My favorite is Bert’s Bees, it makes my lips nice and tingly.”

—Dinh Tran senior

“I prefer cocoa butter for my lips. It feels good and makes my lips extra soft.”

—Robin Scott sophomore

“My favorite is Chapstick brand with moisturizer.

It’s cheap, protects from the sun, and keeps my lips feeling soft for a really long time.”

“I don’t use Chapstick ever. I perfer lip gloss.”

—Jenny So sophomore

—Linda Ngyuen junior

Is it good to be thin?

The truth comes out:being skinny and being healthy aren’t actually the same thing

BY BECCA GRIMSLEY Health Editor Next time a skinny person goes walkIn America, magazines and T.V. give out the message that skinnier is better. ing by, don’t be envious. She might look Models walking down the catwalk look great on the outside and in that short skirt, but is she able to do 10 pushups or practically anorexic.

But is it really all that good to be skin- run a mile?

This article isn’t saying all skinny ny? We’ve all heard that it is. Sometimes people in the world are unbeing skinny is not all that healthy or that all fat people great, especially for those are healthy. It just depends people who can be dubbed on whether they exercise or “skinny-fat”. It sounds like a if they just lie around being oxymoron and it’s nearly imcouch potatoes all day. Some possible to tell who’s skinny people are able to refrain or skinny-fat by looking from exercising but can still because they will look pretty stay healthy through a good much the same. balanced diet.

Skinny-fat means that Sophomore Pamela Eggwhile someone looks skinny, erton said she doesn’t do any they have a high percentage Junior Sophia Chafik school sports because they of body fat and are actually maintains a healthy unheathy. Many people as- weight eating a variety of have no attraction for her. She might not have muscles, but sume that skinny means fruits and vegtables. she does try to eat well and healthy, but that is not always true, just as there are people who take vitamins. “I come from a family of weigh more than the average skinny per- incredibly high metabolisms,” said Eggson but have a lot of muscle. Muscle weighs erton. Junior Sophia Chafik keeps weight more than fat, therefore it cannot be said off just by eating healthy. “I drink plenty of that a thinner person will be stronger than water all day long,” said Chafik. She has chosen not to do any sports this year. a heavier person.

Chafik has eliminated red meat and These people are in every school. That thin guy who claims he can eat a whole nearly all bread from her diet. Instead she pizza at a time and never needs to work eats grilled chicken and plenty of fruits and out? He may, in truth, be unhealthy. That vegtables daily to stay healthy. model who shares her diet of caffiene and donuts and says she has a great figure no matter what she does? She could be skinny-fat.

3. B—False. A salad sounds healthy. But put it in fried tortilla bowl and top it with cheese and sour cream, and it’s not. It has 14 grams of saturated fat, while a regular cheeseburger, has about 6.

4. A—20 grams. Use a low-fat vinaigrette instead to be healthier.

5. C—156. According to a report by the NPD Group, a market re search firm, Americans eat an aver age of 156 fast food meals per year—or about three per week.

6. A—Starbuck’s latte and bagel.

Even if the latte is “skinny” and the bagel has no butter, this break fast still adds up to 640 calories. A glazed doughnut has only 350 calories and19 grams of fat.

7. A—True. A slice of cheese pizza from Sbarro already has about 486 calories. Pepperoni gives it150 more calories and 11 grams of fat per slice.

Source: www.msn.com

Parasites proven beneficial A study done by researchers in Argentina has shown that parasite infection may be good for patients with mutiple sclerosis (MS). The infections can change the way the immune system responds, which in turn affects the disease Twelve MS patients were given a parasite infection and 12 were not.

They were observed for 4.6 years to see what happened.

It turns out that there were 56 relapses in the group without the infections and only 3 in the group that did.

The people who did the study think that the parasite infections reduce inflammatory responses caused by MS. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

These worms can help someone with multiple sclerosis

Girls Basketball Box Score:43-67 How the game went 1st quarter:

Senior Denay Wood looks to pass to senior Tori Clark, while avoiding a pick.

2nd quarter:

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Athletes soar at AHS Girls Basketball: Jenna McRae

Wrestling: Jesse Kruse

Year: Junior Years Playing: 3 Why he made it: high jump at 6’ 5”- best in school Events: high jump, triple jump,4X4 relay Height: 6’3” Weight:155 Must-see meet: 4X4 meet Biggest Influence: Zach Sykes Superstitions: prays before meets Worst part of practice: running

Wrestling hopes to pin down district title

BY AVERY ADCOCK Sports Editor

3rd quarter:

Winter Track: Lane Craggs

Year: Junior Years Playing: 3 Why he made it: placed 6th in PA tourney Position: wrestles 189 Height: 5’ 8” Weight: 185 Best match: match against Edison Record this year: 13-3 Must see match: pack the pit Biggest Influence: coaches Superstitions: none Music Before the game: Metallica

Year: Junior Years Playing: 10 Why she made it: scored 24 points against Garfield in tourney Position: small forward Height: 5’ 11” Weight: 135 Record this year: 7-9 Must-see match: Senior night at South County Biggest Influence: Kara Watson Superstitions: has to wear black socks and red spandex Music Before the game: shuffle Worst part of practice: suicides sprints

Senior James Godbout and more go the extra mile to get one step closer to title

Sophomore Alexis Williams quards a Lee guard. The Atoms lost on Jan. 19 43-67.

Jan. 23, 2007

As the winter season starts to wind down, the varsity wrestling team is just starting to kick into high gear. While many athletes are starting to like the idea of a snow day much more than a day in the gym, varsity wrestlers are training harder than ever to get one step closer to the district championship.

When most kids are still dreaming at 6 a.m., wrestlers like senior James Godbout are in the gym before school to get an extra work out in. Not only does the pre-school training challenge these athletes physically, but most of all mentally. “Training in the morning has really helped me. It’s really good to come in and get a good workout before school. It takes a lot of dedication but it’s worth it,” said Godbout.

Despite the immense senior leadership this season, their source of winning has come from an unlikely source: freshman. There are six freshman starters on the team that have stepped it up in every match, not only to please expectations, but to exceed them.

“This season is different because we have so many young wrestlers.

We have six freshman and two sophomores starting on varsity,” said Godbout. “Ricky Adams and Damien Stone have really stood out among the freshman.”

With an impressive record of 13-3 so far, the team is looking to continue their success into the district playoffs, regionals and states. Already passing their previous season record of 11-7, the Atoms are serious about continuing to improve. Junior Jesse Kruse

is counting on their top performers to lead the team strong into the district tournament.

“We are really focusing on getting ready for districts. Practices are getting longer and tougher as we refine our technique. We will be looking for strong performances from Bud Ireland, Oscar Santos, Nick Chung, Ricky Adama, Baha Awadalah, James Godbout, and Wade Akridge,” said Kruse.

Despite a poor showing at the CAADuals on 1/19-1/20 theAtoms are not letting that hold them back. Senior Wade Akridge thinks that nothing can stop them with the way they are performing lately. “We should send a lot of our guys to regionals this year, and many more than last year,” said Akridge.

While varsity wrestling has surpassed expectations for this season, they look to amaze with a district championship.

AVERY ADCOCK

16

SPORTS

Girls basketball coach, Williamson talks to players during a timeout speech.

Freshman Tamika Jones looks to beat a Lee defender with a bounce pass.

Practice Pictorials: Winter Track

Senior James Godbout and junior Jesse Kruse handfight to set up a take down

Sophomore Alexis Williams looks to dribble past a Lee defender. The Atoms lost on Jan. 19 with a scrore of 43-67.

Junior Jesse Kruse picks up senior James Godbout with an overhead move.

ALL RAIL PHOTOS TAKEN BY AVERY ADCOCK

Members of the varsity track team adjust to the cold weather during their warm-ups laps.

They are preparing in tough weather for their next meet on February 3 at Episcopal H.S.

Girls fall to R.E. Lee Track adapts to cold this team do nothing of the sort. Senior

BY BRANDON WILLIAMS and co-captain, Kelli Munchmore, feels Staff Writer the coaching deserves more respect. “I Midway into the season, and the feel the coaching staff is full of energy lady atoms still are facing major prob- and work very hard for the team,” she lems. They stand at an unimpressive 7-9 explained. team record, with a 4-4 district record.

Munchmore, who has been a The team has been trying to catch their member of the varsity team since her second wind and pull out some well freshman year, has been a positive asset needed wins, but it has yet to happen to the team for multiple seasons and is for the ladies. Only time can tell the fate continuing her positive image. of this confused team.

Although the team is in a slump The lady Atoms have had numer- at the moment, the lady Atoms are alous opportunities to win games, but ready trying to overcome their problems. have fallen short of the victory on many Starting 3 guard, Jenna McRae has occasions. They have put so much time found some faults with the team, and and effort into their explained what craft and are now she as a player beginning to slip and captain, is away from title con- I feel the team can do better doing to correct tention. them.

It seems that the working as a unit, rather “I feel the team can use a lot of team can do betre-adjusting to make than as individuals. ter with working it back on top. Junior as a unit, rather Kamilla Stevens feels ---JennaMcRae than individuthat she can do more senior als. It seems like to help the team. “I majority of the feel I can help the confusion of the team win by staying team comes from focused before the game and keeping a having to adjust to the new coach.” clear mind,” she said. Stevens who has McRae has been a strong contribuplayed on every level at Annandale, is tor to the team, with scoring and defense playing for the varsity team this year. skills, and feels the team has more to give She said she had a lot of transitions to then what the fans are seeing. make, coming off the bench this year.

For our dear Atoms to get back on “It’s a bit of a transition coming off the track, the team has to realize they are a bench this year because I have been a team and have to function as one. With starter for the past two years and now half of the season already behind them, the ladies have to focus on simply playI’m not” When a team is not doing so well, ing good basketball, and keeping a clear spectators would normally question mind, and with out a doubt, they could be the coaching staff, but the players of in the regional championship that they so deeply desire to capture.

“

Senior Oscar Santos is pinned down by freshman Ricky Adams .

AVERY ADCOCK

AVERY ADCOCK

4th quarter:

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throat and lungs. Because of that, practice has become more enjoyable.”

“The best thing about track is the meets because you get to hang out with all your friends for hours and only have to run a one

BY KYLE KNOCHE minute race,” said junior Claire Welling.

Circulation Manager “Even the bus rides to and from the meets As the winter sports season begins to are fun. The meets are really long so you wind down, the AHS winter track team is have a lot of down time to chill.”

Practices, led by Coaches Phil Harris and just beginning to heat up. Having begun the season with a strong outing on December 14, Zach Sykes, can be long and difficult, but the team has now competed in three of their team members say that during the meets, all of the effort that is put into practice durfour scheduled non-district meets.

Despite countless meets throughout the ing the week is rewarded.

“I have to work hard in practice, but regular season, all runners look to qualify for knowing that I am respected by Coach districts and regional meets. Many hoped that the cold weather would stay away, but it Sykes makes it worth it. Since this is my first year I didn’t reseems that their wishes ally know much about will not come true. jumping but now I am Throughout the completing all of my season’s track meets, The air not being so cold personal goals and which have been doing better every day. held indoors at The makes it easier on your I also have become a Thomas Jefferson much better jumper,” Center in Arlington body and on your lungs said junior Omar and Episcopal High Mayassi, a jumper on School in Alexandria, a —DannyWirdzek the boys team. “I can’t number of Atoms have junior wait until spring, I’m triumphed over their definitely going to do competition from both track again.” the Patriot District and Not having certain star preformers from other districts in the Northern Region whom last year to lead the Atoms on has been a they race against.

On the boys team, key players include major disadvantage. They have had to senior Reid Runolfsun, junior middle dis- rely on younger runners to lead them into tance runner Brad Grabo, and junior Joseph qualifying meets.

One thing is for sure; theAtoms will have Ingberg, a long distance runner. For the girls a lot of work to do if they want to qualify at team juniors Lien Vu and Rachel Sykes, along with junior sprinter Seemal Awan least five runners to regionals.

Their next meet will be at Episcopal are some of the team’s fastest runners.

“It has been a really warm winter so far, High School on Feb.3 at 7:30 A.M. Districts but it is just started to get really cold,” said will start on Feb.7.

The Atoms hope that a strong showing junior Danny Wirdzek, a long distance runon Feb.3 will lead them to qualify as many ner. “The air not being so cold makes it easier on your body. It is much less painful for your as they can.

Runners look to qualify for regionals

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Jan. 23, 2007 Junior Van Phan is the only female member in the wrestling program.

Currently on the JV team, Phan is 44 on the season.

17 Sports

Spotlight

(Right) Phan prepares to take down an opponent in practice. “My friends think it is cool, and respect me for participating in the sport.”

Sports Column

Compiled By Greg Rosenstein

WADE AKRIDGE

GREG ROSENSTEIN

The popularity of female wrestling has increased greatly in the last decade, more than tripling from 1,629 female wrestlers to 4,975.

Phan challenges stereotype and wins

BY GREG ROSENSTEIN Sports Editor The boy and girl had their arms wrapped around each other tight. Moments later…wham! The boy is flung hard to the ground with his lips touching the floor. Was it a sudden relationship problem? No. It was junior JV wrestler Van Phan taking her opponent hard to the mat.

Phan decided to pick up wrestling as a sophomore because no other sport really appealed to her.

“Wrestling was different than the other sports,” said Phan. “I like it because it is challenging, rough and aggressive.”

According to Sports Illustrated, each year the amount of female wrestlers in U.S. high schools increase across the country. In the last decade alone, the number has tripled from 1,629 to 4,975. There still are, however, more than 50

times as many males who participate in the sport.

Locally, added interest has been growing due to the success of female wrestler Firen Gassman of Herndon High School. Gassman, a two-time All-State qualifier, provides many local female wrestlers with the inspiration that they can compete against the boys.

“Last year, I would never see any girl wrestlers,” said Phan. “But since [Firen] went to States, I have seen at least ten this year. The amount is growing.”

Despite this sudden increase, Phan is still the only female wrestler in the AHS program. But the JV team has made her feel just like everyone else.

But do members of the team take a different approach to wrestling when facing a female rather than a male opponent?

“In practice when we wrestle, [my approach] is not much different,” said freshmanAndrew Sells, one of Phan’s

practice opponents. Jesse Kruse, a varsity member questions that.

“I think guy wrestlers would take it a little easier,” said Kruse.

Phan said that she has noticed a little of both styles in competition, however.

“When I face a guy wrestler, they might be either timid or overly aggressive at first,” said Phan. “It’s a lose-lose situation for them. If they win, its ‘you only beat a girl,’ but if they lose it’s embarrassing.”

Phan is 4-4 thus far in the season and is looking to be more victorious. “Last year the bright spot was pinning my opponent from Thomas Jefferson,” she said. “Hopefully I can do more of that this season.”

Phan believes joining the wrestling team two years ago was a good move. “I was a little hesitant at first, but it turned out great,” said Phan. “I love it.”

JANINE RUDZINSKI

Year: Junior Sport: Track and Field Note: Improved 200 meter and 300 meter times to 28 seconds and 68 seconds, respectively, at TJ Middle School on Jan. 5. Also, improved 300 meter time by a second at DCIAA Invitational meet on January 10.

Player Quote: “I have been trying a lot harder in recent meets,” said Rudzinski.

“Hopefully I’ll improve and get better times in future.”

Atoms look to turn around Swim team enters districts season before tournament

BY GREG ROSENSTEIN Sports Editor

TheAtoms swim and dive team concluded their regular season on Saturday, Jan. 19, defeating T.C. Williams by a combined score of 430-217.

As the score indicated, the meet was a blowout, with AHS winning in every event except boys diving.

“We blew them out of the water,” said the senior boys captain, Chris Fitz.

“T.C. doesn’t have enough depth to really compete with the top teams in the district and we knew that we weren’t going to have any trouble against them” said head coach Bruce Fisher.

Several of the swimmers were also fighting for the opportunity to compete in districts, with the meet against T.C. Williams as the final chance to qualify this season.

The girls finished their regular season with four wins and three loses, while the boys finished with five wins Senior captain Megan Price and two loses.

“I anticipate us swimming the best times of the season at the district meets,” said Fisher.

Overall, the AHS swim team has demonstrated clear improvement throughout the season. Several of the key swimmers will be returning next season, including junior Amy Fleming, sophomore Rachael Burnett, and freshman Annika Jessen. Burnett has also qualified to swim in the state meet at George Mason University.

“The guys have really been successful, and the girls have improved tremendously throughout the season,” said Fitz.

“The girls had a lot of spirit this year, significantly more then last year,” said sophomore Erin Price.

Next year the team expects to continue its improvement. Fisher expects another strong freshman class, which could boost the team into the upper echelon in the Patriot District.

“We are becoming more competitive with the top teams in the district, such as West Springfield and Lake Braddock,” said Fisher. “Next year, I hope to continue to close the gap between them and us.”

After going 2-1 in Westfield High School’s “Bulldog Bash” tournament during the winter break, the Atoms seemed as if their early season woes were going away.

Well, think again. Since a Dec. 27 victory over Robinson, the team is riding a six-game losing streak.

At 4-11 on the season, the Atoms sit sixth in the Patriot District standings. Six games remain before the district tournament on Feb.13, and head coach Anthony Harper and team members agree the Atoms have much to improve on to vie for a higher seed. “We don’t share the ball enough, look inside to Erik [Etherly],” said Harper. “We need to limit the turnovers and make better decisions.”

An issue plaguing the Atoms all season has been turnovers. “No verbal communication and no eyecontact leads to turnovers,” said senior Antwan Buggs.

“Turnovers are our main struggle,” said junior Nick Bush. “We need to have a higher basketball IQ and play as a team.”

Multiple times this season the team has led or has been within five points of its opponents, yet was unable to pull out the victory. “We’re breaking down mentally,” said junior Erik Etherly. “We don’t have the stamina to keep up the full four quarters.”

“The fourth quarter has been hard for us to pull out,” said Buggs. “Basketball is 99% mental. That is why we need to start thinking.”

While the ability to stick with an opponent a full 32 minutes is crucial to winning, theAtoms feel importance also lies with the start of the game. “We are digging deep holes for us to get out of,” said Etherly. “Other teams are coming out ready to play. We are coming out flat and are giving [our opponents] a chance to run up the score.”

Despite the areas of improvement, positives coming in recent weeks have been the improved play off of the bench. “Rehman [Bhatti], Brian [Ma], and Nick [Bush] the last few games have been playing well,” said Harper.

Added junior forward Bush, “I have stepped up because I realized we can’t have all of the weight on [the starters] shoulders.”

One change Harper hopes to see is an increase in fan support at both Tuesday and Friday night games. “The team feeds off of the crowd,” said the first year varsity coach. “The atmosphere was great against T.C. [Wil

ELIZABETH FLINT

Year: Freshman Sport: Gymnastics Note: Achieved third place in her category against Lake Braddock on Jan. 10.

Player Quote: “I enjoy the success because of how hard I have worked,” said Flint. “ The team is getting better as the season continues.”

BRANDON WILLIAMS

GREG ROSENSTEIN

BY GREG YOUNG Staff Writer

The

Extra Point Sports Column

By Greg Rosenstein OK, I’ll admit it. Before this basketball season, I not only lost interest in the NBA – I hated it. I hated the fact that the players competed more for their paycheck than the team. I hated how when I would go to NBAgames or watch on television, the atmosphere would be close to nothing. I hated, how, with 82 games in a season, a loss didn’t mean much in the long run. I was a college basketball guy.

But this year, something changed. Adaily habit became reading pro basketball articles online and in newspapers.

Instead of looking away when NBA highlights came on SportsCenter in the morning, now I’m paying close attention. Why? Gilbert Arenas.

The star guard for the Washington Wizards is not like other players, and never will be. Everything about Gilbert is a story in itself.

Take his childhood. His mother left him at the age of three with his father in Tampa, Florida. At seven, when his father wished to pursue his acting dreams, the two piled

Year: Senior Sport: Track and Field Note: Qualified for Regionals in 500 meter dash with a time of 1 minute and 8.6 seconds at DCIAA Invitational on Jan 10.

Player Quote: “I work very hard when it comes to the races,” said Williams. “I have to be a leader and set the standard for the team.”

Sophomore Alan Stalp drives hard to the hoop against Lake Braddock on Jan. 12. The Atoms are 4-11 on the season with six games remaining.

liams], but the following Tuesday against West Potomac barely anyone was there. We need the fan support.”

Although the season has not met expectations, the Atoms feel there are still enough games left to make noise in the district standings. “The problem is we don’t know how to convert what we learn in practice into a game situation,” said senior Tim Shadyac. “But we can see it developing.”

Added Harper, “I think if we come together and play as a team, we can finish in the top four seeds of the district, which would give us a first round home game for the tournament. Once the tournament starts, it’s wide open.”

Arenas: The new face of D.C. sports into a van and drove to Los Angeles—with $25. The first night in California, they slept in their car at a park. The next night they got kicked out of park by the police and moved to a drugstore parking lot. A few nights later they found hospitality at a local YMCA, where they slept on a mattress in the auditorium. A man at the Y who noticed young Gilbert bouncing a basketball, soon after offered his father a job as a clerk for his company. This enabled them to rent an apartment in Van Nuys, a suburb of Hollywood.

Take his tenure at the University of Arizona. After he committed to play basketball for Lute Olson and the Wildcats in his senior season of high school, critics Arenas said he would play zero minutes as a bench warmer in Tucson. In response, Arenas chose to wear the number zero to prove doubters wrong.

His freshman year, he started for the powerhouse school. Two years later in 2001, he led Arizona to the Final Four and chose to go early to the pros.

Take his career in the NBA. Doubted once again at the start, critics said he was undersized and would not make it at the next level. He was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 31st overall pick (2nd pick of the 2nd round).

Still wearing his number zero jersey,Arenas wreaked havoc on every other team in the NBA, especially the ones that passed over him in the draft for the likes of DeSagana Diop, Rodney White, and Joseph Forte. After winning the Most Improved PlayerAward his second season in the league, he

Year: Senior Sport: Varsity Wrestling Note: Earned eight place out of 24 wrestlers in the 215 weight class at a tournament in Conestoga, Pennsylvania on Dec. 30.

Player Quote: “The competition at this meet was tough becasue Pennsylvania is known for being a wrestling state,” said Akridge. “My conditioning really helped my performance.”

tested the free agency waters and came to Washington.

In his four years as a Wizard, Gilbert has been spectacular, averaging over 26 points and 5.6 assists per game. He is also one of the most clutch performers in the game today.

In Game 5 of the first round of the 2005 NBA playoffs in Chicago against the Bulls, he hit the game winning shot with no time remaining to advance the Wiz to the second round. This season alone he has hit 11 buzzer beaters (halftime included). As of Monday, Gilbert is averaging 29.7 points, 6.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 4.5 rebounds for the top team in the Eastern Conference. He is a leader both on and off of the court and should be a front-runner for the NBA MVP come May. Take Gilbert’s personality. He is funny, likeable, quotable, and sometimes just flat out weird (in a good way).

Here are some examples: Before every game, he hides a teammate’s jersey and makes him look for it. ESPN reported in October that Arenas had converted his home to simulate high-altitude conditions, so that he will have more energy late in games. (Don’t tell me that isn’t brilliant.) This season he has begun to shout “Hibachi” (a Japanese grill) as he takes a jumpshot. Arenas has publicly stated that he works out nine hours a day and only sleeps three.

As much as the fans love Arenas, he loves them back.

After each game, regardless whether home or away, Gilbert tosses his jersey (which he pays $250 each for) into the stands. He is also donating $100 for every point he scores each home game to local D.C. area schools.

Gilbert Arenas is the best thing to happen to Washington area basketball in the past decade. And at just 24, we can hope for a lot more of the same.

RACHEL SYKES

Year: Junior Sport: Track Note: Achieved eighth place out of 22 competitors in the Triple Jump event at the DCIAA Invitational on Jan 10.

Player Quote: “I try my hardest each time I practice so I do well at meets,” said Sykes.

Additional reporting by Marisa Tordella, Rachel Burnett and Caroline Merz

Atomic Athletics The records of JV Sports around AHS

JV Boys Basketball

4-1 JV Girls Basketball

7-3 JV Wrestling

Record not reported All sports records taken from www.annandaleatoms.com

18 How do you get your music?

“I downloaded music yesterday. I prefer to download muisc because it is cheaper.

ENTERTAINMENT

“Yesterday I downloaded a song, and I prefer to download because it is quicker and cheaper.”

—Maggie Cregge freshman “I haven’t bought a CD in like years, I prefer downloading music because it is faster.”

—Joel Waters sophomore

“I like to download music because it is cheaper.”

Jan. 23, 2007

Death to the CD? Say good-bye to the CD and welcome the future of music: downloading

BY JULIE TUMASZ Staff Writer

—Mike Ejigu freshman

A

t

The CD industry is singing the blues. All around the country, CD sales are dropping. In a Times survey of 2,000 music fans aged 16 to 24, 60% of fans predict the CD will die out within five years. But while the CDs are spinning slowly down, downloadable music is singing strong.

Although it may look like teens are listening to less music, it is not true. Kids are listening to just as much music, but they are getting them from different sources than their local record store.

Although music-industry lawsuits stopped early file sharing networks like Napster andAimster, others like KaZaA, WinMX, LimeWire and iMesh are only in their prime. Teens know when they are using illegal networks, but many feel it’s not their problem.

Senior Sarah Bracken, a Metallica fan, says, “I don’t really care either way. The only thing that sucks about illegal downloading it that you are ripping off the artist and I want to try and respect my favorite artists.”

Bracken owns an iPod, but she still likes CDs better because she can keep them for longer than she keeps MP3 files.

But while Bracken is leaning toward CDs, Senior Carmela Tanedo says, “I stopped buying CDs years ago. It went from listening to CDs to burning them and then once you get an iPod, that’s it, no more CDs.” The local Tower Records on Little River Turnpike has recently closed it’s doors on account of the rapidly decreasing popularity of CDs. Senior Matt Kishiyama said, “Living right near Tower Records, I used to go there occasionally just to browse through the rare albums. I think the closing of Tower Records will have a direct effect towards the decrease in CD sales. However, there are still many retailers such as Best Buy and Circuit City which are beginning to build up a good selection of CD’s

themselves.”

Many different opinions were made about the fateful closing. It has been called an “indifferent” change by junior Chris Santamaria because “it’s all about FYE, not Towers” and “truly sucky” by Bracken because “my best friend used to live right near the Tower that closed down, and we used to go there a lot.”

Senior Lucia Schaefer said, “It was a bummer. They were an outlet for smaller local artists. Unfortunately, according to big businesses, individual small scale creativity isn’t profitable.”

Besides file sharing networks, new gadgets and technology are increasing the needs and wants of teens for easy assess to music. Phones equipped with music playing technology have recently been brought to the public’s attention. A few weeks ago, the famous company that brought us the iPod, Apple Computer Inc., released the iPhone.

Schaefer says that, “The iPhone is amazing. There was this whole thing on it in last week’s Time Magazine. It does everything.” She worries though.

“I hope it doesn’t destroy the market like it did for mp3 players.

The iPod has the unofficial monopoly over everything.”

Interesting enough, Apple Computer Inc. has also just changed their name to Apple Inc. because its managers believe that people should realize that they sell other things besides computers. Schaefer thinks with their unofficial monopoly on iPods they really don’t

need to change their name for people to realize they sell iPods.

Kishiyama does not want a iPhone or any of the new music playing cell phones. He says, “I think they are fascinating, but not worth the steep price tag. I merely use my cell phone for its intended use: talking.

I’d rather have separate devices each specialized for one purpose rather than a bunch crammed into one with lesser quality.”

The problem for the CD industry is that all these new gadgets are not using CD’s to play music but downloadable music. Soon, CD’s will be singing a sad song goodbye to all their listeners.

R.I.P.

1982-2007

—Anita Obasi sophomore

Children of Men is absolutely stunning

“Last night I downloaded a song. I like downloading because its faster cheaper.”

We do get some background knowlIt is the year 2027. Women are infertile and the youngest human being edge when main character Theo (Clive on the planet (Diego Ricardo, 18) has Owen) meets his hippie, pot growing just died. This is the setting for Alfonso friend Jasper, beautifully played by Cuaron’s thrilling new film Children of Michael Caine in a role that we have never seen Men. out of him We are taken before. into a dark and The The decahopeless future that dence of the looks shockingly world looks all similar to the world too familiar as we live in today. Porefugees are litical undertones Movie Review thrown into revolve around the camps and story at all times

By Drew Wildes transported with quick referfrom check ences to past events and conflicts going on right now around point to check point while being harshly mistreated by the police. This the world.

The premise for the film is simple: all startling world created by Cuaron is hope has been lost around the world be- slightly haunting but also visually cause women have become incapable of remarkable.

We follow all of the action along with having children. No one knows exactly why this has happened and the truth is the camera which gives you a front-line sort of feeling, resembling such films as never revealed.

That seems to be the only aspect left Apocalypse Now and Saving Private out of the dialogue. It is never explained Ryan. Cuaron uses several long unhow the world got this way which causes broken sequences to intensify the action some scenes to be quite confusing but and take you deeper into his view of a leads to interesting conversation after world with no hope. the movie is over.

The semi-fascist Great Britain has

—Ava Blennerhass sophomore

Drew

Review

“Last time I bought a CD was over the weekend, I prefer to buy CDs because downloading is unfair to the artist.”

—Kat Reach junior “Two days ago I downloaded a song. I prefer downloading because I don’t have any money.”

—Zach Flynn junior

“Download music, it’s a new era!

I downloaded a song yesterday.”

“Yesterday I downloaded a song, I prefer to download music because it is easy.”

—Hilda KSmith senior

“Last Christmas (2005). I’ve never downloaded music because I don’t know how to and I don’t want to. ”

—Mr. Carayiannis assistant principal

infertility problem and seems to be the world’s last resort.

The broke Theo eventually accepts the Fishes offer of £5,000 for his services thus beginning the action packed journey, which could eventually decide the outcome of the human race.

Cuaron incorporates social problems including racism and terrorism drawing parallels from our modern world to a world with no hope.

This is the kind of film that raises questions, which should not be forgotten in the bustle of every day life. A truly stunning and remarkable cinematic achievement, Children of Men is a film

that everyone should see.

The Black Parade brings the best of ‘06 LUCAS HIGGINS Staff Writer

—John Derrickson senior

become the only functioning country left causing enormous masses of illegal immigrants to travel to the country only to become captured, beaten, and tossed into cages along the sidewalks like animals.

The movie takes place in the collapsing city as we follow former student activist Theo as he slowly discovers that humanity still has one faint glimmer of hope left, a pregnant young girl, Kee (Claire-Hope Ashity).

Theo is eventually kidnapped by the Fishes, a group of “terrorists” fighting for equal rights for the illegal immigrants in England. The group is headed by Theo’s past love interest Julian (Julianne Moore) with whom Theo had a kid with that died several years before. The Fishes need his help to get transit papers for Kee and help them get her to the coast where they can hand her off to the Human Project.

The Human Project is a group of scientists dedicated to finding a solution to the world’s

Raise your hand if you are getting tired of this whole “emo” thing. My own hand is twitching.

A couple more months, four more “it” bands later, and my hand will be up when asked that question. Originality is getting harder and harder to come by. Lyrical genius? More and more scarce.

So let’s pessimistically delve into the latest band to become huge, My Chemical Romance, and their second album, The Black Parade. Everybody has heard the title track blaring over the radio with what seems to be almost “How to Save a Life”-regularity. Okay, it is a well-crafted song that attains the tag of “epic” because a piano-to-punk build up just can’t miss. But what about the rest of the album? Are they

actually trying to make a concept album? Surely not.

Leave that to the Early November, please.

Actually, the answer is no. Although many critics have slapped the “concept album” sticker onto this effort, that is not what “The Black Parade” really is. While a few of the songs do tie together nicely (“The End.”, “DEAD!” and the title track), each song will grab you in its own way. Gerard Way proves his lyrical merit with “Teenagers,” a song in which the lyrics read like a letter to Mr. generic, lonely, kicked-

to-the-curb-by-every-clique-imaginable Jersey kid.

“The Sharpest Lives” is one of the many testaments throughout the album to MCR’s ability to be dark and oh-so-catchy at the same time. And did I mention just how epic that title track is? It’s five minutes and eleven seconds of pure empowerment.

So yes, My Chemical Romance is mainstream. My Chemical Romance does wear makeup. My Chemical Romance is, like all these other bands, from New Jersey.

But man, are they good at it. The Black Parade is easily one of the best albums of 2006, and sets a precedent for all these suck-bands to live up to in 2007. This one goes out to the scene-dwelling emo kid in all of us, no matter how small he or she may be.

Download this: “This is How I Disappear”, “The Sharpest Lives,” “Teenagers,” “Famous Last Words.”

Adventures of Brew By Drew Wildes & Ben Hendrickson

ENTERTAINMENT

A

t

Jan. 23, 2007

What’s on your iPod? If you had an iPod, what would your most played list look like?

Here are some teachers and students from AHS who were put to the test and asked to reveal their most played playlist. Check out their top 10 songs here.

Leon Mavlian junior

Mishell Hernandez sophomore

Rebekah Ralston English teacher 1. Two-Step, Dave Matthews Band 2. It’s My Life, No Doubt 3. Black Tambourine, Beck 4. Sunday Morning, No Doubt 5. You and I Both, Jason Mraz 6. Stay or Leave, Dave Matthews Band 7. Long Road, Beanie Man 8. Ain’t No Other Man, Christina Aguilara 9. Are You Going To Be My Girl, Jet 10. Love Song, 311

1. Mezz’ora, Zero Assoluto 2. Such Great Heights, Postal Service 3. Foxtrot, Bloodhound Gang 4. Jerusalem, Matisyahu 5. Minimalismi, Zero Assoluto 6. Why You Wanna, T.I. 7. Dedicato A Te, Le Vibrazioni 8. Gone Going, Black Eyed Peas 9. Dream a Dream, Captain Jack 10. Baby Britain, Elliot Smith

1. Sleep, Azure 2. Here I Am, Keane 3. Simple and Clean, Utada Hikaru 4. All For You, Janet Jackson 5. Fergalicious, Fergie 6. Maneater, Nelly Furtado 7. Only Time, Enya 8. This is Halloween, Danny Elfman 9. Unforgettable, Nat King Cole 10. Duel of the Fates, John Williams

Fabrice Kabeya senior 1. Shoulder Lean, Young Dro 2. Chevy Ridin’, Cool and Dre 3. Top Back, T.I. 4. Luv It, Young Jeezy 5. Go To Church, Ice Cube 6. That’s That, Snoop Dogg 7. What You Know, T.I. 8. Stuntin’ Like My Daddy, Lil’ Wayne 9. Let’s Ride, The Game 10. Stay Fly, Jim Jones

19 Download This: 1. Runaway Love, Ludacris 2. Top Back, T.I. 3. It Ends Tonight, The All American Rejects 4. What Goes Around, Justin Timberlake 5. Wasted, Carrie Underwood

Horoscopes Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.18)

Angering situations can be blown over quickly if you let them.

From opening doors to eating, there are many things you can’t do with your fists clenched.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Staying cheerful will set an example to those around you.

Remember that your rivals will back down as soon as you stand up for your beliefs and your property.

Bryce Donald senior 1. It Ends Tonight, All American Rejects 2. Back in Black, AC/DC 3. Gasoline, Audioslave 4. Swing Swing, All American Rejects 5. Praise You in This Storm, Casting Crowns 6. Feels Like Today, Rascal Flatts 7. Stuntin’ Like My Daddy, Birdman 8. Fast Cars and Freedom, Rascal Flatts 9. Beautiful Letdown, Switchfoot

Max Kirkon freshman 1. Black Republican, Nas 2. Hail Mary, Tupac 3. Internally Bleeding, Immortal Technique 4. Juicy, Biggie 5. My Block, Scarface 6. One Mic, Nas 7. When Thugs Cry, Tupac 8. We Right Here, DMX 9. Virginia, Clipse 10. Into the Arms of Angels, Jedi Mind Tricks

Tobias Dienstfrey Math teacher

Carina Rivera sophomore

1. Stairway to Heaven, Led Zepplin 2. Lola, The Kinks 3. Behind Blue Eyes, The Who 4. Free Bird, Lynyrd Skynyrd 5. Yesterday, Beatles 6. Dream On, Aerosmith 7. You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Rolling Stones 8. Ruby Tuesday, Rolling Stones 9. Black Dog, Led Zepplin 10. You’re Just What I Need, The Cars

1. La Ex, Wison Y Yandell 2. Dime Como Olividarte, Rakim 3. Days of Life, Bone Thugs 4. My Love, Justin Timberlake 5. Runaway Love, Ludacris 6. Irreplaceable, Beyonce 7. Hip Hop is Dead, Nas 8. Juicy, Notorious BIG 9. Butterfly, UBC 10. Ridin’, Mary J. Blige

Caitlin Counihan senior 1. Well Whiskey, BrightEyes 2. I Woke Up With This Song in My Head, BrightEyes 3. 180 by Summer, Taking Back Sunday 4. Always, Blink 182 5. 1979, Smashing Pumpkins 6. Work, Jimmy Eat World 7. Man and Wife, Desaparecidos 8. Recluse, Cursive 9. Vital Beach, Blood Brothers 10. On the Brightside, Fear Before the March of Flames

Nas brings Hip Hop back from the dead “First off this ain’t no diss record/This for some of my homies that were misrepresented...”

First off, this isn’t a diss review either. I thoroughly enjoyed the album, even if the lyrics don’t always match the beat. In Nas’latest album, Hip-Hop is Dead, he writes the obituary of the hip hop world, listing in detail the missing players in today’s music industry.

In the usual style of hip hop, almost every track is shared with another artist.

Including the Black Eyed Peas Will.i.am, Kanye West - who does a spectacular job - Kelis, Snoop Dogg, LeRoi Moore, Jay-Z and The Game, as well as several others.

Some of these additions sincerely better the song, others make the song

like Snoop Dogg, and still others bring down what could have been a good song.

In “WhereAre They Now,” Nas proclaims that “Rap is like a ghost town, real mystic/Like these folks never existed/They the reason that Nas rap became addictive.” Nas looks back Hip-Hop is at the roots of his industry and laments Dead that the real reasons that people fell in love with rap and hip hop are gone for good, and that not enough people are pausing to mourn the end of their era.

At the same time, he takes a glance back at his own roots, in “Not Going Back”. He maintains that even in his mansion or his private yacht he can hear the shootings and the crime of his former hood, and promises that though he cares, he’ll never return to the life there (“I know the guns that were used how much money the shooter got/Cause on the private yacht I’m still within earshot of it all”).

“Still Dreaming” pairs the real tones of Nas with the appeal of Kanye West, creating one of the best overall songs on the album. The track follows a the pattern between the singers, West sings his end with little or no profanity, while in every line of Nas’ addition there is at

B+

BY LAYLUMA HOTAKI Entertainment Editor What would people have to say if a game designer created a game that depicted what happened on September 11th? How would people react to that? Probably the same as they are reacting to the creation of the game based on the Columbine High School shootings that happened in 1999.

Rated “M” for mature, Super Columbine Massacre RPG first made its appearance on the Internet as a free downloadable game. The description given on the website says the “game delves into the morning of April 20th, 1999 and asks players to relive that day through the eyes of Eric Har-

ris and Dylan Klebold, those responsible for the deadliest school shooting in American history.”

Senior Kwaku Osei, who has played the game only once said, “It’s kind of stupid and not very fun. I can’t complain that it’s a really bad video game because there’s been worse.”

It does not say that in the game players learn about the shooters as they prepare for the killing spree that occurred that spring morning. They also learn about the shooters’ backgrounds, obsessions and the friendship they shared.

“I can see why people are mad about it thought because it’s too soon to talk about it. It just happened like five years ago,” said Osei.

Some share this opinion, but others feel stronger about the topic. “I think it’s really messed up and [they] shouldn’t recreate what happened,” said senior Andrew Awadallah.

“The kids that play this video game might think it’s cool and want to do it themselves.”

This is quite the controversy considering the story about the gunman Kimveer Gill. He was a fan of the game be-

You’re in an outrageous mood. If it can be overdone, your subconcious mind seems to be working in hyperspeed to figure out a way to overdo it.

Taurus (April 20-May18)

Recent excitement has knocked you out of your usual pattern. There’s comfort in returning to the routine, yet it’s not exactly the same. It might never be the same again.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Time to once again be your own supernanny, separating yourself from the bad influences. This is tough, especially when the most persuasive troublemakers are closest to you.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

least one word that would keep parents from buying this album for their kids.

This trend is noticeable in the other songs as well, but is best highlighted when compared to an equally famous MC is able to make his point without vulgarity. This album is different from any others that are currently on top, and it’s a welcome reprieve. It’s an album worth listening to on the whole, but definitely not in the car with your parents.

Download this: “Play on Playa,” “Still Dreaming,” and “Hip-Hop is Dead”

If all endings are beginnings, does that mean that all beginnings are endings? Try your best to add people to your life without changing too much.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

You long to feel the crash of a waterfall, the cool breeze, or the humidity of a rainforest. Anything but stale, indoor air. A mini break might do you well.

author’s e-mail: emily.sample@thea-blast.org

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sept. 22)

Is a video game about Columbine wrong?

How far are game designers willing to go in order to express themselves?

Aries (March 21-April19)

fore he went on a shooting spree last year in Montreal and then killed himself.

Creator of the game Danny Ledonne said he was bullied as a kid and could have possibly led the life of the Columbine shooters if he had not found another path. He said he wanted to explore who they really were, but didn’t have the funding to make a film, according to The Washington Post.

“I would never play it because it’s based on a real event,” said junior Eric Loch.

Assumptions are dangerous. When in doubt, ask. When not in doubt, ask. You can’t be too careful on days like this, when a tiny error can cost you hours.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Accept praise. Don’t deflect it to your friends. You deserve a little recognition, too.

Tonight you’re inspired by the promise of love.

You’ll go to impressive lengths to thrill someone.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

What was once adequate compensation now seems a mere pittance. Bite your tongue while you research. You’ll need to make a strong case in your arguement.

Sudoku

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

medium

WWW.DAILYSUDOKU.COM

easy

WWW.DAILYSUDOKU.COM

Fill in the blank spaces in the grid so that every vertical column, every horizontal row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9, without repeating any. There is really only one solution to each puzzle.

This puzzle is based upon reasoning and logic. It does not require any arithmetic.

Loved ones need help in overcoming negativity. Don’t indulge them in their untrue story. Shed light on the way life really is. You’ve got a gift for talking.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Relationships are complex and will put you to the test. You’ll make the strong choice, although it’s hard to say whether it takes more emotional strength to hold on or let go.

Thrift and Consignment stores in Fairfax County: Thrift Stores Clco k Tower Thrift Store: 5503 Leesburg Pike, Bialey’s Cross Roads 703-845--8023 Fair Oaks Hospital Thrift: 9667 Lee Highway, Fairfax 703-273-3519

Good Will Industries: 4714 Columbia Pike, Arlington 703-979-5947 Joseph’s Coat: 3022 Annandale Road, Falls Church 703-538-6289 LookAgain Resale Shop: 900 King Street, Alexandria 73-683-2558 Salvation Army: 6528 little River Turnpike, Alexandria 703-642 -9270 Sisters Thrift Shop: 7395 Lee Hwy #H, Falls Church 703-846-0362

Consignment Stores

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t

Jan. 23, 2007

The price is right Even beyond thinking that used clothes are dirty, the Salvation Army does not shun away customers that are from lower income families.

Many make the assumption that you must need financial aid Our clothes are so boring, just modern mass-produced sewn to shop here. Salvation Army is a charity organization in that their pieces of cloth. Where is the originality? Where profits go to helping the poor. They appreciate any business they is the flavor? We were out of luck until our can get. visit to our neighborhood thrift store, SalvaSalvation Army sells much more than clothing. In ‘the annex’ tion Army. located up a ramp in the store, sells the most unusual items. Items Rows upon rows of clothes, racks filled in the annex range from bowling alls, records, with donated clothing of others. We did not even know televisions, radios, and silverware. were to start.

Furniture and sports equipment are sold The first row we decided to rummage through was on the main floor of the store. When it comes the row of shirts and sweaters. Available at Salvation to furniture, typically one must purchase a Army are some of the world’s ugliest clothes, but also complete set. some of the most unique clothes that you may not be Because of the recent boom in sales of able to find anywhere else. Any color, any style, any fit flat panel televisions, once can find dozens of imaginable can be found. functioning tube style televisions.

The only problem with these massive amounts of Do not let Salvation Army deceive you. clothes is the lack of organization. There is no separaUsed products are underrated. Salvation tion of size or color, just the style of the clothing, but Army offers its customers clothes and other this is what can make your trip to Salvation Army an good for far less money than one would typiadventure. cally spend.

Because you cannot go to a specific section to find Most T-shirts are$.99 and most collared what you are looking for, you are forced to look through shirts range from between $2 and $4. Pants all of the clothing, which often helps customers find great and sweaters can be found from anywhere things they might normally not even notice. between $5 and $10.

The next area was the pants rows. This is where If you are looking for new clothes that no your Salvation Army experience may get al little comone else has, give Salvation Army a chance. plicated. It is very difficult, nearly impossible, to find Do not let your preconceptions about the pants in your size, your favorite material, and your Although bags and shoes are store turn you away from shopping at a thrift messily displayed, there are favorite style. of interesting designs to be store.

If you plan on shopping at Salvation Army, you alot found sin the clutter.

The SalvationArmy is located right outside should be willing to spend a good hour to search for of Annandale on Little River Turnpike. It is something you really want. close to Home Depot and Hollywood Video. Its While you may be thinking, used clothes? Gross.

This is not the case. Contrary to what many believe, the Salvation location makes it one of the closest thrift stores in the area.

Cheap clothes. I was able buy four great items for under $10.

Arm does wash donated clothing. We still encourage you to rewash Look to save your money like I did when you need a new style. any items you purchase.

BY TIMOTHY SHADYAC Weekend Editor

KATE MCCORMACK

20

WEEKEND

Tim’s shopping cart

Sweater: $4.99

Polo Shirt: $0.99

Sweater: $4.99

Bag: $5

VHS: $1

Consignments Unlimited/ Corner Cupboard 2649 North Pershing Drive, Arlington 7030276-0060

Vogue to Vintage: Lake Anne Plaza, Reston 703-787-5700

Upcoming Concerts 9:30 Club

Tue., Jan. 23

Incubus

Fri., Jan. 26 Sat., Jan. 27 Cowboy Mouth Fri., Feb. 2

Goo Goo Dolls Mon., Feb. 5 Tue., Feb. 6

The State Theater Perpetual Groove Thur., Jan. 25 Blue Oyster Sat. Jan 27

The Birchmere Isaac Hayes Thur. Jan 25

Verizon Center

Red Hot Chili Peppers Thur. Jan. 25 Rod Stewart Fri., Jan. 26

Thrift store shopping

BY CLAIRE BUI Staff Writer While thrift and consignment stores used to be retreats for die-hard bargain shoppers, they have now become a place to follow mainstream style and spot that “ultimate find,” without having to break open the piggy bank. From furniture, to clothes, to knick-knacks, thrift and consignment stores offer secondhand stuff, proving that “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”

Every now and then, Beth Hertel, junior, likes to stop by The Remix orAnnie Creamcheese, vintage thrift boutiques in Alexandria and Georgetown, in the hopes to find chic and unique pieces.

“Sometimes I shop at these places because it allows me to have a piece of clothing or jewelry I that know no one else will be wearing,” Hertel said. “I’ve also seen designer goods at other thrift stores, like vintage Gucci handbags,” she added.

Although you may not always come across designer duds or doodads worth big dough, shopping at secondhand stores can often save you money.

“I like thrift stores because it’s wonderfully inexpensive and you always can walk out with something,” senior Colin Webb said. “I’ve bought mostly shirts and sweatshirts, but the advantages to shopping at these

Chow Down Restaurant Guide

By Kate McCormack and Tim Shadyac

stores are that you don’t have to spend a lot of money and you look more original,” he stated.

“One time I found a cool lemonade dispenser and I bought it and gave it to the kids down my street who have lemonade stands,” said Samantha England, senior.

“I also found some cool picture frames for only a dollar,” she added.

The growing popularity of thrift and Shane Keady holds up the new flannel shirts he found at consignment stores have made places such as the the Salvation Army.

Salvation Army and TIM SHADYAC

Blue October

Total: $13

Goodwill, both national charities, trendy places to find hidden treasures, regardless of how much money one has in their pocket.

“You can always find cheap clothes, cool brands and unusual styles that can’t easily be found in regular stores for clothes,” junior Danny Wirdzek said. “I’ve bought track jackets, jeans, winter coats and t-shirts from thrift stores.”

Every store offers something different, as people are constantly donating their cast-offs to them.

Senior John Chu enjoys thrift shopping for collectables.

“I try to look for vintage stuff that I can’t find nowadays. Like wild 1994-1995 Bulls gear,” he said.

“Going to a thrift store is always a gamble, because you never know what they will have there,” Webb said.

The trend of secondhand shopping has slowly ballooned throughout the country, and it seems to have hit the Annandale area in a big way.

The Treasure Trove Shop, Joseph’s Coat, and Annandale Surplus, along with the Salvation Army and Goodwill, are all consignment and thrift stores, popular for their clothing, accessories, furniture and other amenities.

them to your tastes.

Everything is stylishly presented, for example, the spring rolls are served in a martini glass with sweet and sour sauce in the bottom.

Red chopsticks sit in vases in the middle of each table adding a more contemporary feel. The décor is mostly red and white with plants all around and neat lighting.

The menu is full of good bargains; each dish has more than enough food for one person and each comes with a bowl of rice. Since there is more than enough food for each person, dishes can be shared amongst a group for less money.

The restaurant is also a bar and is popular on weekends but during the day it is not very crowded. If you go on a weekday during lunch hours there is a special menu in which everything is $5.99 and spring rolls are only a dollar more if added.

Bangkok 54 is located on Columbia Pike about five minutes from the District. The surrounding area is not particularly agreeable but Bangkok 54 stands out. Located next door is the restaurants grocery shop along with a small movie theater two shops down.

I looked over and saw it. A whole fish lying on a plate, with its eyeballs still in. I’m not one to try that sort of thing, but at Bangkok 54 on a Saturday night it seemed that many people had ordered it and were happily eating it directly off of their plate.

Bangkok 54 has a staff of all native Thai people making it the most authentic tasting Thai I have ever eat Upon entering I was quickly ushered to a seat by the hosts. It was clear at once that all of the staff is from Thailand from their accents, which can make it somewhat hard to understand them. However, all were extremely friendly and helpful in their service.

Thai food is my favorite food and Bangkok 54 had the best I have ever eaten. There is something on the menu for everyone; the Everything at Bangkok 54 is Pad Thai has a subtle hint of peanut sauce served stylishly. Spring rolls are but not overpowering, making it delicious. served in martini glasses with All of the curries are spicy, but you can alter sweet and sour sauce.

For more information please see ww w.bangkok54restaurant.com or visit them at their restaurants: VA

2919 Columbia Pike, Arlington 703-521-4070

KATE MCCORMACK

Treasure Trove Shop: 7036 Columbia Pike, Annandae 703-256-7715

Picture Frame: $1 Compiled by Kate McCormack

KATE MCCORMACK

Once is Not Enough: 428 N. Columbus St., Alexandria 703-549-1129

Total: $9

Record: $1

Classy Consignments: 7104 Brookfield Plaza, Springfield 703-644-4655

New to You, Inc.: 108 W. Broad Street, Falls Church 703-533-1251

Record: $1

Kate’s shopping cart

Auntie Te’s Consignments: 5244 Port Royal Road, Springfield 703-321-9363

E C’s Closet: 9415 Old Burke Lake rd., Burke 703-503-0772

Polo Shirt: $1.99

Bangkok 54 is located on Columbia Pike in Arlington. The surrounding area is not especially classy, but Bangkok 54 stands out among the rest

Food: Service: Decor: out of 4 stars