Holiday 2013

HAWKEYE

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HOLIDAY 2013

the hawkeye

December 5th7th11th13th14th18th23rd25th31st-

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Calendar

End of Hanukkah SAT Testing BHHS Financial Aid Night Progress Report #2 ACT Testing Blackhawk Oscars Winter Break Starts Christmas New Year’s Eve

the hawkeye

HAWKEYE

2013-2014 Advisor

Christina Hammitt

Editors-in-Chief Anshu Chen Ryan Moonka Lizzie Nagel

Managing Editors Section A: Narmeen Rehman Section B: Annie Reed Section C: Sarah Kovan Web: Matthew Webster

Associate Editors Section C: Brendan Eathorne Maddy Pazner

Section A: Julia Lee Yusra Niazi

Web: Section B: Noah Cicurel Maitreyi Anantharaman Jonah Newman Courtney Zhu

Page Editors

Brittany Andrews Hannah Bradley Jake Freed Shelbi Jouni Jasmine Sharma

Cartoonists

Maggie Smith Jordan Wooten

IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON TOO COMMERCIALIZED?

watches: To wear or not to wear

working

holiday spirit, small talk, resolutions, failing, black friday, and non-Christians on Christmas

The gift of giving

buffalo wild wings, pizzeria biga, cheesecake factory

frozen,catching fire, delivery man

charlie brown, elf, love actually, grinch, a christmas carol, it’s a wonderful life

12 days of Hawkeye christmas

Writers Minhal Asim Daniel Bordener Tess Garcia Liza Hsu Josh Inwald Ally Jaksen Nisa Khan Zoe Lis

4-5 NEWS 6 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 8-9 SPORTS & FEATURE 10 EDITORIAL 11 PRO/CON 12 PHOTO ESSAY 13-15 COLUMNS 17-21 FEATURE 23 HAWK TALK 24 FOOD 25 MOVIES 26-27 BATTLE 28 MUSIC 29 TECHNOLOGY 30-31 FASHION 32 GIFT GUIDE 33 HOW TO 34 STAFF PICTURE 35 ONE LAST THING 36 COMICS

Mayssa Masri Aidan Menchaca Paul Pal Michelle Phillips Sadhna Ramanathan Steve Yoo Merrick Weingarten

xbox1, PS4, santa tracking app

ask the expert, lark & co., winter weather accessories

make a gingerbread house

Dayana Schemel-Gord

The 2013 December cover was made by Narmeen Rehman. She designed it as a present because the Hawkeye is our gift to you!

Contents

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the hawkeye

WHAT WORLD

Malala Yousafzai received the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

Shanghai students top international rankings in mathematics, science, and reading.

IN THE

france

China

UKRAINE

AMERICA

Pictures from: CNN and USA Today.

How does it make you feel when people say “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays?”

Cameron Brown

Sophomore

“

“ People should say

“Happy Holidays” because not everyone celebrates Christmas and it can be offensive.

news

Jubilee Jackson

“

THINK?

Junior

“ If they’re speaking to

me personally, I’d feel happy because of my background and religious foundation.

Abdul Harris

“

DO YOU

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Ukraine fears meddling from Russia after opposition fails to oust the government.

Senior

“ I don’t mind it. It

makes me feel joyous for the upcoming holiday season.

Kerry Hu

Senior

“

WHAT

Detroit becomes the largest U.S. city to be eligible for bankruptcy.

“ If someone tells me

“Merry Christmas” I’ll just be like, “Cool!

Yeah, you too!”

the flyer the Hawkeye

S

he wouldn’t let anything stand in her way.

“I think most things in life, if they are valuable, are challenging,” says retired BHHS English teacher Maggy Zidar, clad in her “Maggy’s Milestone Marathon” t-shirt.

“School is challenging. A career is challenging. Marriage is challenging.

But is it worth the effort? Absolutely.”

Zidar almost did not finish her 149th marathon.

“My feeling was, I was so close,” says Zidar of falling 200 feet before the Grand Rapids finish line. “You just don’t run all those miles to go ‘Ah, no. I think I’ll stop’. Of course I wanted to finish.”

According to Zidar, her goal for every race is to complete the 26.2 miles under four hours.

“I was aware of how close I was.

A policeman said to me, ‘You gotta slow down a little, I don’t want you to fall again.’ And I kept thinking, I am going much more slowly than I wanted. I want to break four hours.”

And she did--at the cost of a broken bone, which resulted in a gap in the back of her left elbow.

Zidar says that if she wanted to straighten her arm, she would have to get surgery. However, she was one race from 150. Two days before the surgery, she ran her 150th marathon in Niagara Falls.

“I wasn’t going to worry about time, just the distance. It’s nice to be able to feel the freedom of not worrying about time,” Zidar says of the Niagara Falls trip which was a milestone in more ways than one.

“I have a fondness for Canada. I remember my mother saying that I had

been there when I was a toddler. I always wanted to go back to Niagara Falls. Under the falls, knowing that my parents are both now deceased, it was like feeling their presence. It was even more meaningful to me than a marathon--it felt like a reconnection between me and my parents, and their memories are so very powerful to me.”

Former student of Zidar, Imani Smith, says, “I think it’s an inspiring story of using motivation and effort to our own benefit no matter what age we are or what goals we want to achieve.”

Bloomfield Hills High School teacher Kari Griesbeck comments on Zidar’s decision to run despite the injury.

“It’s both shocking and exactly like her.

She has incredible spirit and devotion to running; she has run through injuries.

She ran the Boston Marathon, where there was the bombing and she ran to the end. Nothing can keep her down.”

Two days after her race, Zidar had a five-inch metal plate inserted in her back elbow. According to Zidar, her orthopedic surgeon suggested that the running motion is soothing for her.

“It was not as easy as I thought it would be. But I will go through therapy; I am not doing too badly for a 63year old woman. Years ago, they would have put people in a cast for months for that kind of injury.” Zidar says. ”I am thrilled that I can still go out and run because that is my main priority.”

“The marathon is a metaphor for life,” She concludes. “You fall, you get back up. We get back up and we try to finish what we started.”

--Nisa Khan, Staff Writer

Maggy’s milestone MArathon Retired BHHS teacher runs 150th marathon with a broken elbow

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the hawkeye

response to “soaring to States”

Suggestions for a future article

I am writing in response to the article “Soaring to States” by Ally Jaksen.

There are few magical moments in time that have the ability to unite a group of people. The 1980 “miracle on ice”, the 1992 dream team, and the inaugural season of the Bloomfield Hills High School men’s soccer team are rare sporting events that were able to transcend sports. The Blackhawk’s season provided our school a jolt of adrenaline to rally around, allowing us to feel pride, focusing us on our similarities, and defined what it truly means to be a Blackhawk.

Nick Lucci, Sophomore

Recently, I have been hearing a lot about the sea level rising because the polar ice caps are melting due to global warming. Now I for one do not enjoy these rumors. The fact that sea levels are rising is a horrible circumstance that if we don’t deal with it now, it will come to haunt us in the future. The majority of the people in the world are not worrying about this because they think it will only doom the future generations and so it has no effect to them. I think that if we are able to inform more people about the terrible doom that will befall us if we don’t take action soon, we can really make a change in this world!

Gilbert Chen, Sophomore

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Discussing Pizza reviews In the article A Pizza Our Mind, I liked the way that all three writers presented their arguments as to whether or not one should order from these pizzerias. I think that Zoe Lis was able to make the best argument as to whether or not the reader should order from Hungry Howie’s. Personally, Hungry Howie’s is my favorite pizzeria, and I liked a lot that not every review was positive, as I don’t really like Jet’s either.

The article was well written, and helped to shape my opinions on pizzerias in Bloomfield Hills.

Jarrett Black, Sophomore

Rebuttal to “reflektor” Dear editor, yesterday during advisory when I read the newspaper I couldn’t help but read the review on the new album, Reflektor by Arcade Fire. I wondered why the author gave it 2 stars, so I read the article and noticed that the author usually listens to “upbeat pop songs” and can only “tolerate hipster-like songs”. I was left wondering why somebody who didn’t like alternative music gave it a review. I understand that EVERYONE has his/her right to an opinion. Perhaps in the future individuals that like the type of music, like me, should be guest writers and review the albums to give a more accurate review of that album.

Andi McKendrick, Sophomore

thE HAWKEYE

Price information at thehawkeyenews.com/contact-us/advertise/

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the hawkeye

Best in The Nest three black hawk athletes to keep an eye on this school year

katie friedman {12}

sarah holmes {10}

Varsity Poms Team

Girls’ Varsity Ski Team

“When my sister was in high school, a lot of her friends were on poms so I always knew that it was something that I wanted to be a part of poms [when] I was in high school. My favorite part would have to be all of the performances and picking the music for all of our dances and choreographing them. I love hanging out with all the other girls.”

“My mom and dad both grew up skiing so my whole life has always been out on the slope. High school skiing has helped me make so many new friends and I would have to say that it is my favorite part about the sport. I love to ski and I would never want to give that up just because I am graduating from high school. It is a passion of mine and I really enjoy it.”

drew hauk {11}

Boys’ Varsity Hockey “My brother introduced the sport to me eight years ago and I fell in love with the sport ever since. The feeling you get after you make the perfect save is definitely one of my favorite things about hockey. I plan on continuing to play hockey after high school, but not competitively, I will always love hockey and I can’t imagine not playing.”

evaluating michael jordan comparisons Despite sounding intruiging, the next Michael Jordan is unpredictable

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The next Michael Jordan? Really? This phrase really gets on my nerves. Before even thinking about it, I brush this comment off, knowing it doesn't mean much.

The thing is, it's nearly impossible to predict something of that magnitude.

Jordan didn't even make his school's varsity basketball team until he was a Junior. Meanwhile, many

SPORTS

four-year varsity athletes will never even play in college. The difference was that Jordan had something special: the determination to be the best.

His work ethic proved he didn't always have it easy. He wasn't always considered the best. In fact, when he was growing up, he rarely was.

After two years of not making the team of a sport you love, many would “throw in the towel”. Jordan did the opposite. He worked harder than ever to improve his chances of making it the next year.

Aside from earning a spot on his Varsity basketball team, it was moments like these that made him great.

The fact is, everything he achieved in his career was earned. Not given.

Jordan's story should serve as motivation. Regardless of the sport, no one is born destined to be the best. The work you put in makes you the best.

Sometimes negatives ultimately lead to positives. One of Jordan's most famous quotes was when he said, "I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed."

In the long run, it's the roadblocks that lead to extreme success.

My point is, no one can predict who the next Michael Jordan will be.

Or even if there ever will be a next Jordan. Players have gone from the best in high school, to the worst player on their college teams. Others have gone from the worst player on their high school team, to the best on their college team. No one knows. For all we know, the next Michael Jordan could be a Blackhawk.

--Jake Freed, Page Editor

the hawkeye

Celebrating the holidays in an Interfaith family FAMILIES WITH MIXED RELIGIONS CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS STUDENTS SHARE THEIR WAY OF CELEBRATING DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS WITH PARENTS OF DIFFERENT RELIGION

She believes her two religions are better than just one.

“I see being part of an interfaith religion as an opportunity to learn about different religions in depth rather than one,” shares senior Sarah Khan, who was born into a Catholic-Muslim family. “This has made me very accepting of others.”

From Eid to Easter and Hanukkah to Holi, students like Khan will be celebrating Christmas along with additional holidays. According to June Horowitz, associate professor in the psychiatric-mental health department at Boston College who leads counseling groups and workshops for interfaith families, there has been an increase in interfaith families causing more families to celebrate multiple holidays in the year.

“My dad is Muslim, and my mom’s Roman Catholic.

My family goes to the mosque on Islamic holidays such as Eid, and we go to church on Catholic holidays such as Christmas and Easter. We celebrate the holidays of both religions how any other family of one religion would celebrate them. However, no matter what, every holiday is spent together as a family. My parents respect each others religion, and there’s never a holiday that my mom celebrates that my dad doesn’t, or vice versa.”

Along with Khan, junior Josh Richter also comes from a family of mixed religions.

“My dad practices Judaism, and my mom’s Roman

Catholic,” explains Richter, who personally practices Roman Catholicism. “My family celebrates holidays from both of the religions. However, when we celebrate Jewish holidays, it’s a lot more casual than Catholic holidays. For example, for Hanukkah, I don’t get presents because I eventually get presents during Christmas.

We definitely focus a lot more on the Catholic holidays, especially because Hanukkah is originally not meant to be largely commercialized like how Christmas is.”

According to Khan, her family doesn’t struggle with being part of a family of two religions.

“Being part of an interfaith family isn’t really a problem to me,” shares Khan. “When my parents teach me about a religion, they don’t teach me the pros and cons of why I should pick one over the other. Instead, they focus a lot more on the similarities between both.”

While Khan is still straightening out her religion, Richter has settled with his with the help of his parents.

“I’m not Roman Catholic necessarily by my choice,” explains Richter. “I’ve just been raised as a Roman Catholic and have followed the traditions. My parents decided that I was going to be raised Catholic when I was younger, and my dad, who’s Jewish, is completely okay with that.”

“When parents cannot agree upon how or what to celebrate in their home or even the religious identity of their children, they are running the risk of com-

municating that same ambiguity and spiritual insecurity to their children as well. However, there are solutions, explains Horowitz. “There’s really no single way to celebrate because every family situation is different. Try something from both holidays. Buy a Christmas tree. Light the menorah. But don’t feel like you have to make a 20-year commitment. Try different approaches, but don’t make it into a competition.”

“My parents are pretty liberal, and they don’t push either of their religions on me,” describes Khan. “Instead, they have given me and my sister the freedom to choose whatever path we want to follow. Personally, this has made me become open to different views and overall, has made me a more open-minded person, just like my parents.”

According to the manager of Michigan Interfaith Movement, Micah Saks, interfaith parents can be a good influence on their children.

“It can help the children become more accepting of others. When couples learn to see holidays through the eyes of their partners and not only through the lens of their own upbringing, they can enrich their own lives and give their children the tools with which to experience different religious traditions in an open and nonjudgmental way.”

“I encourage families to participate in family traditions. A Jewish child learning about Christmas is not going to change his or her identity,” concludes Horowitz.

- Yusra Niazi, Associate Editor

What makes up an interfaith family?

A family with each parent practicing a different faith and religion. Children in mixed religion families are twice as likely to be brought up in their mother’s religion as their father’s faith.

Jews are the most likely to marry out of their religion, and Mormons are the least likely.

Generally, it is considered true that Christianity and Judaism cannot be practiced at the same time. You can be open to the other faiths, but you cannot be both.

In Islam, only men can marry out of religion.

However, the non-Muslim he chooses to marry must convert to Islam.

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Our take

the hawkeye

hawkeye editorial

IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON TOO COMMERCIALIZED? The Hawkeye Staff weighs in on the controversial debate

HAWKEYEstaffthinks

the

Seewhat

Aiden Menchaka Sophomore I find the commercialism of the holiday season detracts from the true meaning of the holiday season.

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with visiting relatives. The industry aspect of the holidays has desensitized us--it has convinced us that the gifts we give are as valuable as the time we spend with those that matter most: family.

Of course gift giving is a hallmark of many holidays, but it shouldn’t come before family time. And as high school students, we are more limited than anyone else when it comes to family time. With college on the horizon for many of us, these holiday seasons represent the dwindling time we have before being forced into the real world.

So go shopping at Somerset this weekend. But also help mom prepare the Christmas dinner. Cherish the lighting of the family menorah. Drive siblings downtown to skate at Campus Martius Park and take pictures next to the Christmas tree. Gather the family to watch “A Christmas Story.” Remember that no gift, regardless of price, will ever be worth the time spent with family this holiday season.

--Ryan Moonka, Co-Editor in Chief

Editorial

Cartoon by Jordan Wooten

Do YOU think the holiday season is too commercialized?

Courtney Zhu

Junior

I think all the products and advertisments really defeats the real purpose for why people celebrate the holidays.

Seewhat

Rohan Sinha Senior The holiday season is still about being with family and friends so the other factors dont’t affect it.

HAWKEYE

the

Nothing more embarrassingly symbolizes the commercialization of the holidays than the rise of Black Friday.

Emily Jane Fox, writing for CNN, reported that store websites logged 139.4 million visits over the Black Friday four-day weekend in 2012. As a society, in just four days we dumped $59.1 billion into stores--a number that unfortunately ticks up a few billion dollars each year. And this doesn’t even include the growing fad that is Cyber Monday. As this affinity towards spending on gifts thrives, our original purpose for celebrating fades.

The real problem with commercialization is that it has changed the reason we gather and celebrate the holidays--it has changed their essence. The overarching theme from Christmas to Hanukkah to Kwanzaa, among other things, is togetherness. This means not time spent at the mall or online hunting to find the perfect deal, but time spent with family watching classic holiday films or rekindling relationships

studentbodythinks

Phillip Shamsuddoha Junior Being a Roman Catholic who is very into the holidays, I do feel it takes away from the season.

the Hawkeye PRO

CON

From pocket to wrist, watches are irreplaceable.

Since as early as 1530, watches have been a part of people’s lives. So why stop now? Just because your phone can tell time doesn’t mean that that should be its main and only purpose. Yes, we are all addicted to phones and have them, but watches have a seemingly endless use of benefits.

One of the most unique aspects about watches is that they can be a very important heirloom to families. Passed down from generation to generation, a watch can tell time forever, and be a very special way to feel connected to one’s family and roots. How gut-wrenching would that scene in Pulp Fiction be if Bruce Willis lost his phone as opposed to his dead father’s watch? Answer: not very.

They’re also a great conversation starter. Just like any other accessory, “Oh wow, I love your watch!

Where did you get it?” And just like that, a friendship is born. From Fossil to Michael Kors, the options for people to express themselves seem to go on forever.

These simple timepieces also make great gifts. I remember being a kid and getting my first watch and thinking of myself as a Big Kid. Watches are like a rite of passage, from childhood to adulthood, and make a good gift for anyone, especially during the holiday season.

Watches also possess the ability of being aesthetically pleasing as well as a simple casual convenience. High-end watches are a status symbol that one can’t help but ignore; not meant to show off, but to look nice and serve a purpose. And it’s not very polite to pull out your phone during a fancy dinner or an important meeting, but a simple flick of the wrist is all you need to let you know when it’ll be over, and it’s a lot less rude.

This is all without saying the amount of jobs that are provided simply by the sale of watches. From analog to digital, from fashion to tactile, watches provide work for millions around the world. Trade in counterfeit watches alone is a 1 billion dollar industry per year.

Not to mention the fact that not everyone carries their phone on them at all times, and even if they do, their phone can die. And even if watches are losing ground to cell phones, 19% of Americans bought a watch in 2011, and last time I checked, 42 million people is still a lot of watch-users.

Overall, watches should never go out of style. They serve many benefits that cell phones are incapable of providing. Watches should stay on the timeline.

--Lizzie Nagel, Co-Editor in Chief

The digital age dawns and leaves room for the digital watch.

The revolution of technology is the advent of the twenty-first century. Smartphones and tablets are no longer luxuries; they are necessities.

And on every smartphone, with just the click of a button, is the time.

Smartphone owners are inherently afflicted with an universal addiction to their cellular devices because they have the world at their fingertips. I am, by nature, guilty of this.

Waiting in the long line while running errands at Kroger, I might as well glance at my phone to see who texted me. Five text messages, my screen reads. I should be courteous and respond, I say to myself. And while my phone is still on, I might as well refresh twitter and check out the latest scoop.

Essentially, smartphone users always have their phones on them. It’s in human nature to be constantly manipulating it.

Apple reported this November that a grand total of 421 million iPhones have been sold world wide.

On every one of those retina displays, with just a click of a button, is the time.

So why, I ask, are watches even necessary?

Yes, they’re a great accessory. The Michael Kors revolution is the latest fashion phenomenon. But $249.99 for a basic stainless steel watch? Why waste the money on a time-teller when you already have ready access to one on your phone?

That’s not even the worst of it. Watches are priced up to thousands and thousands of dollars. The retail price for the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Men’s watch is $10,000.

That money can just about pay for a Michigan State University student’s year-long tuition.

Time has become increasingly important in the modern world. Students restlessly sit in class and count down the minutes till lunch; businessmen race from the coffee shop to their office, constantly checking the time, in hopes of making it to the 8AM meeting; parents pick up one kid from school then drops off the other at 4PM ballet class, with a couple minutes to spare.

Time is crucial. We always need to know the time. But time is all around us.

Whether it be in the car, at the workplace, or on smartphones, the time is always available to us. There is no longer a need to drag around a heavy, outdated accessory on your wrist.

--Courtney Zhu, Associate Editor no

{Wearing watches} PRO/CON

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the HAWKEYE

WORKING THE STAGE

1) Cast member Shelbi Jouni applies mascara backstage. 2) Student Bailey Burkhart helps younger cast member Bronti Burkhart. 3)Miles Eckenhorn talks about the life of a mailman. 4) The cast of Working ends the musical with the final number. 5) Amith Lohitsa and Erin Croom play the tear jerking roles of a senior woman in a nursing home and her caretaker. 6) Josh Alexander recites his touching monologue. 7) A group, led by Nora Manz, plays the role of housewives.

Photos Courtesy of Haeji Kim

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PHOTO ESSAY

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The Hawkeye

longing for christmas past

awkward holiday small talk

new year’s resolutions

the holidays are bitterly nostalgic

teenager shares her ideas on winter break parties

A different new year’s resolution

‘Twas the night before Christmas of 2012...and I really didn’t feel much of anything. I wanted to feel restless, unable to fall asleep, thinking of nothing but the enchanting day to come. I wanted to feel like a little kid again.

Sadly, I spent the night being a regular teenager, checking Twitter and Instagram until my eyes hurt, in no hurry for the sun to rise.

Christmas doesn’t have the same thrill it once did. The decorative lights don’t shine quite as brightly. The snow doesn’t sparkle the way it should. During the holidays, my life feels a bit like an overplayed ABC Family movie.

The month of December used to feel like a different world. It was a Winter Wonderland, filled with all the happiest things I knew. Waking up to the sound of my siblings’ footsteps, I’d rush downstairs in a footie-pajama-ed frenzy to find a fresh pile of presents under the tree. Usually, we were all too excited to notice that it was just five in the morning. My parents certainly did.

The holiday season is supposed to be a magical time for everyone. However, it’s hard to feel the kind of magic that’s meant for kids who are half your age. When you’re busy prepping for finals, the wonder of Christmas isn’t exactly the first thing on your mind.

I’m not saying I hate Christmas. I’m no Ebenezer Scrooge. Christmas time is still the most wonderful time of the year, but some of the things I once loved about the season have lost their original luster. Santa, if you’re reading this, I want you to know that all I want for Christmas is to feel the magic again. (A boyfriend would be nice too.)

--Tess Garcia, Staff Writer

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Tis the season for you to keep your small talk at least 12 feet away from me.

Why do we feel the need to talk about useless topics to awkward party goers over tiny little finger sandwiches? A dirty look is the only saving grace in situations like this.

Countless of times people have asked me how my winter break’s been going and most of the time I let out an inaudible grunt, and this discourages their unwanted approaches. Unfortunately, that is not an option in a madhouse under the watchful eyes of the parental units.

I don’t want to be at the party. You don’t want to be at the party. So, let’s just make a little bit more bearable by skipping the excruciatingly annoying small talk. If I give you an over-frosted cookie, will you leave me alone?

Personally, I’m okay with sitting here by the fancy little crudites and eating the entire tray.

I really don’t need to socialize with you unless you have something important to say to me or you’re a cute boy in a hideous sweater.

No, that does not make me a jerk. Technically I’m saving your precious time and not talking about pointless things that neither you or i care about.

Holidays are a feeding ground for unnecessary small talk that makes me feel like finding the nearest building and jumping off it. Mind you, I’m not trying to be “too cool for school”. It’s just that odds are, after the tiny awkward conversation, you’ll probably forget everything I said.

Not to be cynical or anything, but most people have an on and off switch when it comes to caring about what the party talk consisted of. After the conversation, the switch goes off, and the contents disappear into thin air.

--Liza Hsu, Staff Writer

We all do it just as the clock strikes twelve on December 31st.

As the countdown to the new year approaches zero, I have already pieced together the year’s resolution in my mind. Countless ones throughout the years have included: eating better, exercising daily, not fighting with my brother, being open-minded, and the list goes on and on.

But I’m only fooling myself when I make these resolutions, knowing they won’t last past mid March.

As an annual participant myself, I know from experience that making New Year’s resolutions is simply a ritual that is never completed. With all the hype of the countdown to the new year, I subconsciously make a change I have no intention of following through. What is the point in making goals I have no intention of achieving? Why make a resolution when I honestly won’t work to live by it? Does the new year have to be the only excuse to make positive changes to my life?

I’m all for trying to start fresh and turning over a new leaf for another year, but the promises we make should be ones we have an intention of keeping. The whole concept of using New Year’s as the only time to find ways to better our lives seems so wrong to me. What about December 31st makes it so much more special than the rest of the 364 days of the year? Not just on New Years night, but any and every day we should set goals for ourselves.

So this year as the clock strikes twelve on December 31st, I plan to change cliche traditions and make my own; a resolution to better myself on each and every day of the new year.

--Jasmine Sharma, Page Editor

the Hawkeye

Falling is not FAiling “failing is not the falling down but the staying down.”

I fell down.

As 365 days slip away from my very hands, I am confronted with this cold, inevitable truth. This year, I fell down. A lot.

No, this doesn’t mean I took a tumble down the stairs. It means I messed up.

Just last month, I forgot that hydrogen carbonate has a -1 charge during a chemistry test. I neglected to study for a trigonometry quiz and as a result, received the lowest grade I’ve ever gotten.

To anyone but a student in Bloomfield Hills, these little fumbles might be just that. Yet to those buried in the bubble, anything other than an A on the transcript can destroy a perfect 4.0 GPA, and Harvard will, without further ado, toss that application right to the reject pile. These are not just little fumbles; they are the start of the domino effect.

But since when did falling become synonymous to failing?

As toddlers, we were encouraged to take risks. Before taking the first stumbling steps, kids naturally fall just by trying. After detaching the training wheels, kids will suffer a few tumbles and wounds before biking to school.

Falling prompts kids to learn. Everyone, not just kids, learn from their mistakes.

Unfortunately, high school students don’t have room for mistakes.

For college admissions officers to even glimpse at an application, students must be perfect from

start to finish. If I want to go to an Ivy League institution, a 4.0 unweighted GPA is undoubtedly a prerequisite, class schedules better be stacked with nothing but AP classes–with all fives on the AP exams, of course. Let’s not forget about after-school engagements. I should already have demonstrated that I can be the next Bill Gates… right?

Burdened with the expectation to be flawless and more perfect than perfect, I am fearful of failure.

But I’m not alone. Fellow teens are also bounded by this mindset.

Yet, even Ivy League representatives promote taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from them.

But why shouldn’t we be afraid?

Harvard University, ranked the number-one private institution in America, has an acceptance rate of 5.7%. Out of the 34,303 students who applied, a slim 2,076 applicants were admitted. What happens to those other 32,227 students? Are they failures?

No, they are not failures and neither am I. This year was different for me. I took on more challenges than I’d ever imagine. I shattered the walls of my comfort zone.

And I fell. A lot.

Each time, however, I got back up and tried again. And you know what? They may not like me for all the mistakes I’ve made, or they may like me for the same mistakes I learned from.

High school is supposed to prepare us for the next chapter of our lives. This is the time to learn; now is the time to make mistakes. Don’t be afraid to fall.

--Courtney Zhu, Associate Editor

why Black friday needs to go Black Friday has turned into little more than predatory business

The results are in, and it’s not looking good for America’s brave mall-goers.

Black Friday shopping has finally gone too far. It is materialistic to the point of overshadowing the true “spirit of the holidays” and unacceptably dangerous to retail employees and shoppers.

Sorry shopaholics, but we’d be better off without it.

First coined in 1961 to refer to post-Thanksgiving Day shopping in Philadelphia, Black Friday has become a staple of American culture, and it’s not hard to understand why: thousands of retailers depend on Black Friday and subsequent December sales to turn an annual profit (literally putting them “in the black”). Because each extra day and every additional hour of shopping reaps unusual profit after Thanksgiving, Black Friday’s expansion is just as sensible as it’s media celebration.

In and of itself, Black Friday is not harmful. If Americans want to work off a minuscule portion of their Thanksgiving calories and jumpstart a sluggish wintry economy, let them.

However, by emphasizing the grosser parts of capitalist excess, Black Friday now contradicts the values of sincerity and modesty that the winter holidays are supposed to represent. For example, only in America would the grand irony of insatiable materialism following a day of lit-

eral thanksgiving be permitted.

Furthermore, the expansion of Black Friday into more retailers and even more countries (Black Friday deals now stretch across American borders into Canadian and Mexican retailers as well) has also extended the shopping extravaganza into Thanksgiving Day itself. If this trend continues, millions of working class families may not have much of a holiday at all.

Not only is Black Friday’s Thanksgiving Day-spillover taking the holiday away from Walmart, Target, K-Mart and other retail employees who make up more than 3% of the U.S. labor force, it is endangering their lives too. Every hour on Thanksgiving Day, it seemed, another story was reported about shopping-related violence.

Be it pepper sprayed shoppers or trampled sales associates, Thanksgiving 2k13 had it all.

And on top of it all, unnecessary gun violence (this year over a parking space): what could be more American than that?

On a less sarcastic note, we as a society need to reevaluate the Black Friday tradition. Are cheaper PlayStations and discounted jeans worth the physical and emotional costs?

Will another year of #WalmartFights and BlackFridayDeathCount.com be enough to put an end to the pandemonium? Probably not, but there’s no harm in wishing for another holiday miracle.

--Josh Inwald, Staff Writer

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the hawkeye

Getting in the Holiday Spirit

WRITERS DESCRIBE WHAT THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS LIKE FOR THOSE WHO DON’T CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS a muslim christmas It’s the most wonderful time of the year...but not for me.

Growing up, I would always hear how many friends would eagerly run to their Christmas trees and plunge into a pile of presents, while I acted like Scrooge on Christmas day, grumpily stomping around my bland home wishing I would have the chance to feel the same excitement for a holiday.

But, instead of opening presents, I’d find myself thinking back to Eid morning, when I would enthusiastically run down the stairs to be greeted by a generic, cold card with cash from my parents. Don’t get me wrong, money is always nice, but at that time, a toy sounded better than a twenty. Why couldn’t I get a thoughtfully chosen and beautifully wrapped gift?

I remember looking around my dreary home on Eid, failing to be amused by the lack of decorations that many homes sport during Christmastime to set the holiday apart from any average day. Where’s my Eid tree?

When I was younger and my friends would ask me “What’s Eid?“ I would find it easier to explain it to others as “a Muslim Christmas.”

But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that that label doesn’t quite do it justice. There’s so much more to Eid that sets it apart from Christmas.

For those of you who don’t know, Eid-al-Fitr is an Muslim holiday that celebrates the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. To me, Eid is basically a reward after completing the tough task of fasting for a month, and a chance for a fresh beginning.

Now when I think back to Eid, I think about all the fun festivities I overlooked as a child, like going to morning prayers fully clad in my newest clothes, comparing henna tattoos with my friends, stuffing my face with my favorite foods in broad daylight, and spending quality time with my family.

As Christmas morning approaches this year, I’ll be less Scrooge and more Buddy the Elf. May--Narmeen Rehman, Editor be Eid doesn’t get a whole 25 Managing days of Christmas, but three days of celebration with family and friends is more than enough for me.

a very dawkins christmas

another boring chrismukkah

My inner sensationalist wanted to unleash torrents of bad satire about exchanging gifts in the name of evolution, but I don’t really have that kind of passion. Christmas, to me, represents no more and no less than a week off.

My opinions on religious holidays are not too exciting. For me, being atheist means just that: the absence of religion from my daily life. I’m not picketing sermons or burning Bibles because I have never felt threatened by anyone’s religion.

A few centuries ago I might have been executed for heresy. Now my religion (or lack thereof) is a non-issue. I’m just Anshu, not the token atheist.

Truthfully, the holiday spirit is contagious and I’ve caught a severe case. Symptoms include uncontrollable smiling and an insatiable craving for pie. I tend to like everyone much more around the holidays. It’s like a light switched on inside of my family and friends, illuminating all their great qualities that I somehow missed. Does this mean that I have to hand in my atheist card to a disappointed Richard Dawkins? I hardly think so.

As long as I’m being maudlin, I admit that I like Christmas carols. They celebrate being alive and putting aside work for a few days of feasting. What difference does it make that they attribute that to a deity? I love singing along when they come on the radio. I find meaning in “Silent Night” like non-Hellenics find meaning in the Iliad. The best carols, like “Auld Lang Syne”, are just about how awesome it is to spend time with friends. Sign me up for that.

While it’s semantically unfair that Christmas gets so much coverage compared to other religious holidays, the issue doesn’t affect me enough for me to get angry over it. I’m looking forward to the break. I’ve got my movie list, my hot chocolate, and my comfy paChen, Co-Editor-in-Chief jamas all ready --Anshu to celebrate with my family before going away to college. That’s really it.

Now that we’ve straightened that out, anyone up for some evolution presents?

Pass the Lo Mein, please.

Out of all of the nights in a year it seems that December 25th is the busiest for most Asian cuisines, at least among the Jews of the world. Sadly, this is my Jewish family’s only Christmas tradition.

I love driving around and looking for Christmas lights just like the majority of people do, and I even give props to those who go all out. However, the fact that Jews are unable to share our holiday with the world with the same acceptance is disheartening.

Why is it that my desire to put up blue and white lights is frowned upon? Why are my neighbors who put a dreidel and a Star of David on their lawn shunned? Is our attempt to conform and join the fun so horrible? My neighborhood, which is largely Jewish, is pretty much completely dark after 6 o’ clock during the holiday season. It seems as though, for my neighborhood, the holiday season is coming off more depressing than cheerful.

Not only does driving down the street strike me as prejudice, but TV is also strictly for Christmas. 25 days of Christmas on ABC family? Christmas is ONE day. Is it necessary for every single commercial to have a Christmas theme or Christmas music in the background? Probably not, but they are appealing to the masses. Unfortunately, for me, I am not one of them.

Not only that, but the only Hanukkah song that I can think of is the joke of a song written by Adam Sandler, listing off the small handful of Jewish celebrities while simultaneously making fun of them. On the other hand, Christmas has several FM radio stations devoted to it. I cannot seem to be able to listen to the radio without a small portion of at least one Christmas song, no matter how fast I scroll through the channels. It just does not seem right.

The neglect of Hanukkah is clearly a reflection --Maddy Pazner, Associate Editor

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the HAWKEYE

The Gift Of Giving

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Popular Holiday Charities d

Season’s

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ish W A e Mak ation Found The tion Army Salva

Givings

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Tis the season to spread holiday spirit, a time that calls for us to give back to those in need. Through donation and volunteering, we can begin to ensure ourselves and our lessfortunate neighbors a very happy holidays.

for ty t a t i b a H Humani

Grace C of Hoepneters

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74%

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of U.S. adults will give this holiday season

d

1.8

million Americans receive care from free clinics annually

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$316 billion donated to charities last year

5

meals provided for every one dollar food bank donation

12.7

billion hours of volunteer work contributed last year

Centerspread by Brendan Eathorne. Additional information provided by Charity Navigator and The National Philanthropic Trust.

Holiday Giving Statistics

the flyer the hawkeye

g n i v i G f O t f i G e h T A charitable challenge Donating Shouldn’t Stop In December

T

his holiday season, while millions of Americans lined the sidewalks outside of department stores to catch Black Friday deals, thousands of others lined city streets in despair. In a near-mocking gesture, privileged shoppers were rewarded with luxury clothing and gadgets for a night in the cold, while our nation’s growing numbers of urban homeless are continually met with indifference and rejection during their time living without shelter.

The realized disparity between these two walks of life during the holiday season helps to make the months of November and December the highest in which charity donations occur. According to Charitable Navigator, a charity research corporation, fifty percent of the cash and checks doled out by the fortunate in generosity come during the holidays. However, if we truly want to make an impact on the lives of the many disadvantaged people in our communities, we must be willing to give back year-round.

It will take more than dropping a couple of dollars into the Salvation Army bucket this Christmas to count as a year’s worth of philanthropy. Charitable contributions should be a societal standard every month of the year, not just during the ones that explicitly remind us of its importance.

Opening checkbooks is not the only way to open your heart, either. Volunteering with a charitable organization is one of the most helpful and rewarding acts an individual can participate in to improve their community. Food banks, homeless shelters, and environmental foundations all seek dedicated volunteers to assist them in tasks ranging from large-scale events to daily efforts in the area.

This year, a movement known as Giving Tuesday has seen a major increase in support. Since its inception in fall 2012, Giving Tuesday has been

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FEATURE

intended to rival days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday in consumer participation. Its goal is simple, to create a new day for giving back, and on the day of Tuesday, December 3, global charities, families, businesses, community centers, students and more came together to support the cause.

But why not take this a step further? We should demand that events such as Giving Tuesday become seasonal or even monthly occurrences, to promote a selfless lifestyle that has for too long taken the backseat in this country. Time should be taken to partner communities with local organizations, as well as provide for the less-fortunate in our area, which are too often overlooked.

Life in Bloomfield has provided us a world of

50%

of donations occur during

opportunities, but among these, obligations.

Communities and school districts in Detroit and Pontiac struggle to support both at-risk and impoverished men, women, and children. Instead of further isolating ourselves from the troubles of our neighbors, let’s invest ourselves into the charities and foundations that fuel their revival.

As holiday benevolence turns to New Year’s resolutions, we must not lose focus of our responsibilities as a society in the coming year. Widespread donations made to charities throughout the year must continue their incline, and community involvement efforts must become more farreaching and effective. Only when we dedicate ourselves to philanthropist roles, will we be capable of delivering the greatest of holiday gifts.

--Brendan Eathorne, Associate Editor

December

November

30% in December

the HAWKEYE

g n i v i G f O t f i G e Th

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junior jubilee jackson and her family host charity dinner for underprivileged families

hey are giving the phrase “family dinner” a whole new meaning.

“I believe that you are given blessings from God. Our family is blessed, our children are blessed, so we decided it is our job to help others who are not as fortunate as we are,” explains BHHS father Bishop Wayne T. Jackson.

This holiday season, junior Jubilee Jackson and her family will be holding a Christmas dinner for underprivileged Detroit families.

According to Jubilee, giving back over the holidays is nothing new for the Jacksons.

All my life, I have known my parents to be giving people. All I’ve known is love and support. When I see others who are less fortunate, it makes me feel blessed to be under the household of my parents.”

“Throughout the years, we have done different types of charitable events around the holidays,” says Wayne. “This year is one of a kind. We are holding a dinner that we are headlining as ‘Dinner With The Jacksons’ at our historic Detroit mansion on December 23rd.”

He continues, “We contacted people from the Detroit public schools to gather needy children in the district. We asked teachers to invite students they see coming to school without their necessities our dinner.

We are going to host about twenty families.”

As the holidays approach, the family is busy preparing for the event.

“Right now, we are finding all of the servers who will work at the dinner,” says Jubilee’s mother Beverly Jackson. “I still

don’t know what we are going to serve.

My mother is going to be doing the cooking. We will probably have a ham, macaroni and cheese, chicken, sweet potatoes and of course some vegetables.”

She adds, “We are collecting clothes as well. A lot of these children don’t have winter jackets, so we thought it was important to make sure that they stay warm over the holidays. It is also a way to give them each a little Christmas gift.”

Wayne and Jubilee agree that giving back is an important part of the holiday season.

“I want to make them feel that everybody is important. All of us are human. If we can help a child and give them a coat, or school supplies, and a gift, it makes us feel better. My family is used to these things. We come home and have our Christmas dinner,” explains Wayne.

“It is important to give back over the holidays because that is the time that it is the most depressing for people who are unfortunate because they don’t have anywhere to go,” says Jubilee. “I believe that it is very important for us to step in on those days when people really don’t have things. It doesn’t have be a big event like our family is doing. It can be as simple as buying a toy for a child to make them feel warm for the holidays.”

Wayne concludes, “Search out those who are less fortunate. There are a lot out there because of the current economy. Reach out and help someone. It could be as close as your neighbor.”

-- Sarah Kovan, Managing Editor

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Hawk Talk See Who’s Tweetin’

“

“

Can we start a procrastination team at BHHS? Shotty

8th hour aka quizup 101” -@jaygudes

captain”

-@mollyrachelk

“

How successful would a Starbucks at Bloomfield Hills High School be? #right?”

-@JordanGarcia123

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What if we had a tree-fell-on-theschool-day” -@MaxThrelkeld

“

The most dangerous thing at BHHS: Turning the corner.”

-@Mykebatez

23 HAWK TALK

Buffalo Wild Wings bar and grill proves to be lord of the wings

The popular chain restaurant Buffalo Wild Wings, or BDubs as most like to call it, may have found the secret to the restaurant business.

Compared to BDubs, ordering wings from places like Leo’s may be acceptable for the first few times, but with no sauces and seasonings, it gets old fast. BDubs offers a wide variety of sauces. Ranging from the salt and vinegar seasoning to the spiciest blazin’ flavor, the restaurant explores every point of the spice spectrum.

After being seated by a waiter, I quickly noticed how modern the place looks. Not only do the tables and walls look clean and sleek, but I’m surrounded by high definition TVs, constantly playing sports. No matter where I could have been seated, I always would have had a comfortable view of the current game.

My first selection was the Asian zing flavored boneless wings ($8.69), which offered a very sweet flavor after the first bite, while leaving your tongue with a touch of spice. Having a mouth for spicy food, I also ordered mango habanero wings. I advise you to take caution when ordering these because they made me want to rip out my tongue. Ironically, I couldn’t stop eating them, adding more pain to my already burnt mouth. It helped that my waiter made sure my glass was always full. That being said, I’ll probably order them again the next time I’m there.

Overall, BDubs is an excellent restaurant to dine in. The restaurant offers a large variety of food, as well as excess entertainment.

With chicken wings, a bar, and large TVs playing sports everywhere, I would go as far as to say it is the epitome of the American Dream.

If you want your own piece of the American Dream, visit Buffalo Wild Wings in Troy on Big Beaver and John R Road, open from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Monday-Thursday and until 2:00 a.m. Friday-Sunday.

--Steve Yoo, Staff Writer

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FOOD

Pizzeria biga

cheesecake factory

fresh, delicious pizza is right around the corner

popular chain restaurant serves up a slice of heaven

Located off of Northwestern Highway and 13 mile, Pizzeria Biga is a convenient and tasty alternative to your average pizza experience.

With plenty of room, including a bar as well as a patio for the warmer months, it didn’t take long at all to be seated by a hostess. My family and I made our way to the designated table and prompty had our water glasses filled up while bread and olive oil were delivered.

The two page menu provided us with choices ranging from salads to pastas to soups to appetizers as well as the full page of different pizzas, categorized as with tomato sauce and without.

My family and I ordered the margherita and thefunghi, both $13.50, as well as the wood-roasted chicken wings for an appetizer ($11). The wings arrived first and coated with seasonings and grilled onions are hot and delicious and could be a meal on their own.

Despite taking a bit longer than expected, when the pizzas arrived they were well worth it as well.

Hot out of the wood-fired oven, the pizzas come out on large platters and are placed on the table.

We dig in and the first bite of my margherita, despite being scalding hot, was quite delicious. Since it’s wood-fired, the crust is perfectly charred and creates a unique, tasty, smoky flavor with every bite.

The funghi pizza, coated with mushrooms and had no tomato sauce, is very unlike your average mushroom pizza. The flavors that come out of every small bite are enough to fill you up after just a few slices.

So, if you’re every in the mood to spice up your pizza, or instead of going the “order in” route, try Pizzeria Biga, who also has locations in Ann Arbor and Royal oak. And since their hours range from 11-10 on Mondays through Friday, as well as from 3-11 on Saturdays and Sundays, you could give Biga a try for lunch.

--Lizzie Nagel, Co-Editor in Chief

Michigan is home to some of the most renowned factories, and it has just added one more.

My hour long wait at The Cheesecake Factory, located at Twelve Oaks Mall goes to show how popular the restaurant has become.

Now you may wonder, “why would I not just go to Brio or PF Changs?” The answer is simple: The Cheesecake Factory offers more choices than these restaurants combined.

A 15 page menu; with over 200 choices of appetizers, salads, pizza, Mexican, Chinese, and pasta along with the two pages of cheesecake flavors.

And the portions are enormous, which make it impossible to leave hungry. Was the food delicious? Do all girls at BHHS wear leggings? Personally, I loved the entrees and this is definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I went to the restaurant with a party of five and I ordered the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo ($17.95), which was warm and very filling. Also, I tried the Chicken Enchiladas (13.95), which were on par with local Mexican restaurants like Mex and Rojo.

Unlike those of other crowded mall restaurants, the wait staff is extremely friendly. They consistently checked on how I was doing, they updated me on my approximate wait time for my food, and they were always friendly.

When the waitress brought my cheesecake, it was superb. The Hershey’s Chocolate Cheesecake ($6.95) had a great chocolate flavor and almost tasted like chocolate cake instead of cheesecake. The Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake ($6.95) was amazing, specifically its chocolate crust which had an immense amount of flavor.

There is no excuse not to go to the Cheesecake Factory except if you’re lactose intolerant, but I bet there is still something on the menu for you.

--Merrick Weingarten, Staff Writer

all open on christmas; Hours may vary

THE HAWKEYE

the hawkeye frozen

Catching fire

Delivery MAn

Disney’s new fairytale masterpiece

The Hunger Games’ sequel does not disappoint

Predictable and Cheesy, delivery man still charms

Frozen melted my cold heart.

I was so excited to see another animated movie from Disney that I didn’t care about the strange looks parents were giving me in the movie theater, or that I was sitting in a large room of screaming kids.

“Frozen”, was a thrilling tale by Walt Disney Animation Studio, of a young princess Anna (Voiced

by Kristen Bell, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) who’s likable personality has me routing for her as she tries to find the queen, her estranged sister Elsa (Idina Menzel, Enchanted) who possess the power to create ice. She is aided by a mountain man, Kristoff (Jonathan Groff, The Conspirator) and his comedic reindeer Sven, who had me in stiches the entire time. As Anna embarks on this unforgettable journey to save the Kingdom of Arendelle from an eternal winter, I was frozen to my seat to see who the real villain was in this story.

I came out theater thinking “WOW” this is a good Disney movie. This new PG film, directed by Chris Buck (Surf’s up) and Jennifer Lee (Wreck-it Ralph), had what I thought was flawless animation, a fantastic soundtrack, dynamic characters, and an alluring story.

Disney’s animative genius is best displayed, in my opinion, when Elsa is creating an ice palace using her powers and singing the song “For the First Time in Forever.” The song was catchy and joyful and the animation in the scene was clean cut with smooth motions, bright colors and captivating lights. This allowed me to connect with what the character was feeling and made the movie more engaging for me.

Frozen is a great family movie. I would recommend this to any children who enjoy an hour and thirty minutes of heartwarming fun and engaging characters.

--Maggie Smith, Guest Writer

She survived the Hunger Games with the promise to live the rest of her life in peace but President Snow had something else planned.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, directed by Francis Lawrence (“I am Legend”), made $135 million within just 24 hours of its November 22 release, and rightfully so. The PG-13 film exceeded my expectations that had been developed by the book series written by Suzzane Collins.

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”) and her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson, “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island”) who had both just survived the Hunger Games, are forced to go on a trip to other districts to pay their respects to the fallen tributes. Along the way, Katniss is unable to show respect for the games so President Snow (Donald Sutherland, “Pride and Prejudice”) forces her to re-live them.

Jennifer Lawrence’s performance was outstanding. Her acting shows genuine emotions when she loses her temper during the speech and when she opens her heart to those who lost their loved ones in the last Hunger Games.

The movie’s graphics and sound effects also made it a huge success. The fight scenes and animations, from the monkeys to the deathly gas, fool us into believing that they are real.

Although the movie has its violence, the director includes an appropriate dose of humor throughout.

From the initial introduction of Katniss, where she is ambushed by a stranger kissing her amongst the congratulating, I immediately knew there were two hours and forty-three minutes of amusement ahead of me and I was going to enjoy every second.

The length of the film may seem daunting, especially for someone like me who cannot sit still for long, but worry not! Every minute becomes more intense than the last. My eyes were fixated on the screen from the title up until the credits.

--Minhal Asim, Staff Writer

Released on November 22nd, Delivery Man deliver, but it isn’t the whole package.

A remake of the 2011 Canadian film Starbuck, Delivery Man tells the story of slacker, David Wozniak (Vince Vaughn, Wedding Crashers), once he finds out he has fathered 533 children through sperm donations in the early ‘90s.

Although labeled as a comedy, this 105 minute film doesn’t feel like one in the slightest. The occasional jokes feel lazy and dumb, seemingly made for 12 year olds instead of the PG-13 audience.

Not to mention that the plot is clumsily delivered and certain things seem out of place, such as several minor plot holes that are never answered. This didn’t really affect my experience very much though, since the film was completely predictable. No twists, no turns, just a simple story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Snooze.

But what Delivery Man lacks in humor and excitement makes up for in heart. This film has an undeniable charm that couldn’t help but make me smile.

Although the concept of man-child, goingthrough-a-redemption-phase character is a bit played out, Vaughn is able to take the sweet message the film has and convey it quite effectively.

The characters are another enjoyable aspect of the film. I haven’t found very much to like in Vaughn’s previous roles, but to my pleasant surprise, Vaughn was able to take his character and turn him into one of the most redeemable aspects of this film.

The acting wasn’t great by any means, but director Ken Scott worked with what he had. From the 533 extras to actors most used to being on television as opposed to film, such as Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) and Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), they were able to give acceptable performances.

Overall, Delivery Man has a very sweet message that, if delivered correctly, could have been a very satisfying film. If you’re looking for a warm, fuzzy feeling when you leave the theater, this could be the perfect combination.

--Lizzie Nagel, Co-Editor-in-Chief does

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the hawkeye

clash of the classics charlie brown

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What’s a holiday without Charlie Brown?

Every year for Halloween I cry of laughter watching Charlie Brown say the classic line, “I got a rock.”

For Thanksgiving, I wait to see when Lucy moves the football away so Charlie Brown can’t kick it.

Every Christmas, I look forward to watching the timeless tale of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Some may say the Peanuts are old and outdated. Some may say that the crude drawings from the 60’s don’t belong on your model tv. Some may say they have better things to do than sit and watch a classic program with their family. But I have a question, do you love your parents, your siblings, your friends? Do you love just being around them, quoting classic lines, and laughing and loving just for the sake of laughing and loving?

I do, that’s why I watch the Peanuts.

Every time the Peanuts’ song is played a little smile emerges on my face. I watch the same scenes over and over again but just like how I don’t get sick of being with my family for the holidays, I could never get sick of Charlie Brown.

The Peanuts are what Christmas is all about. By watching you sit with your family, laugh with them, and love them. All that and watching is free. Charles Schultz created the cartoon to stress this idea of family.

There is no commercialism involved, no paying for a gift you don’t believe in, no saying I love you through your teeth while your eyes say get me out of here.

The special, which first appeared on television in 1965 was shown on December 2 on ABC. A Charlie Brown Christmas is a timeless tale that teaches important lessons about why Christmas is about family and friends not gifts.

It is these timeless lessons that makes families watching and watching, year after year.

--Noah Cicurel, Associate Editor

BATTLE

elf Just as Buddy the elf stands tall against the North Pole elves, “Elf” continues to stand tall as a modern Christmas classic.

“Elf” is a timeless comedic masterpiece that was released on November 7th, 2003 in theaters. Now this 97 minutes of pleasure can be seen on DVD or easily on ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas.

Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”) and written by David Berenbaum (“The Haunted Mansion”), “Elf” tells the story of Buddy, a 30-year old man-child who encounters the human world for the first time after living among elves in the North Pole. Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City in search of his father and struggles to understand and adapt to human society.

The acting met my standards of a Will Ferrell comedy. Ferrell is simply hilarious in his witty and sarcastic way as he acts as an innocent and oblivious elf full of “Christmas spirit.”

Throughout the whole movie, I couldn’t stop laughing at Ferrell’s almost mocking way of acting as a stupid man-child. He eats cotton balls, screams for Santa at the mall, and can’t fall asleep without being tucked in. It’s hilarious.

Although the sarcastic and witty humor in this comedy is the main focus throughout “Elf,” what made me love this movie even more was the genuine Christmas spirit. With gentle humor and lovable characters that encapsulate the broken family of Buddy’s father, “Elf” warmed up my Christmas spirit to focus on friends and family this holiday season.

“Elf” made me laugh, tear up, cringe, and love all at the same time. With sarcasm and sensible stupidity, “Elf” crafts a kind of amiable yet hilarious humor that makes this film a classic Christmas comedy for adults and kids alike.

--Julia Lee, Associate Editor

love actually “If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.”

It’s a line in the opening monologue of British director Richard Curtis’s 2003 film Love Actually, and it seems to be the line that sets the tone for the entire movie. Because the movie is all about love. First loves, old love, marital, sibling love, forbidden love, love between best friends, married love, budding love: every kind of love.

Set in London, Love Actually revolves around ten separate stories that intertwine throughout the duration of the film. It follows the couples and families in the five weeks counting down to Christmas.

The abundance of storylines is essentially both a strength and a flaw of the movie. The plenty of unique and lovable characters are very entertaining, and each of them have their own relatable problems and experiences. I could attempt to summarize all of them, but it might take a while. Unlike similar movies, like Garry Marshall’s Valentine’s Day), almost all of the characters add something to the film, although there are a few storylines the movie could delete, which would solve another small problem with the movie: its 136 minute run time.

The British ensemble cast is phenomenal and almost every character is done justice by accomplished and well-known British actors, like Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, and Colin Firth. Hugh Grant (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Notting Hill) delights as David, the recently elected Prime Minister, who develops a relationship with a new member of his household staff. Emma Thompson (Angels in America, Nanny McPhee) has a standout performance as Karen, a wife and mother of two children. The scene in which Karen discovers her husband has been unfaithful is one of the best scenes in the entire film.

Love Actually is rated R by the MPAA for sexuality and language, so it may not be the best movie to watch your grandparents and young cousins after holiday dinner, but it’s truly a movie anyone could love.

--Maitreyi Anantharaman, Associate Editor

the hawkeye

clash of the classics A Christmas Carol

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

If you have never seen an old man harassed by four apparitions then you haven’t lived; A Christmas Carol is a classic.

This Disney movie directed by Robert Zemeckis and released on November 6, 2009, is the animated retelling of Charles Dicken’s novel describing the spooky journey of a grouchy old man by the name of Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey, Dumb and Dumber). Scrooge, who bah-humbugs Christmas spirit, finds his way to redemption.

The story is very well known and the filmmaker remains faithful to the storyline of Dicken’s classic novel. However, in my opinion, the movie takes the images that people have become accustomed to and transforms them into something that looks and feels like a scene out of a PS3 or Xbox game in a childish yet sometimes chilling manner.

Due to its cartoonish nature, emotion seems to really be lacking in this adaptation regardless of the fact that the storyline hits all the notes. I just did not seem to really care about Scrooge’s path to redemption as much as I had when viewing the story through other mediums, such as a play. I believe the director should have focused more on attempting to employ emotion into this adaptation. Emotion is very important when connecting with any character and this movie fails to create that bond with the viewer.

What the animated version of the classic lacks in emotion, it makes up for in action. I found the jokes and action-packed chase scenes to be a refreshing change for older viewers. However, some of the scary images presented might not be suitable for the movie’s intended PG audience. If you’re looking at a modern take on a classic, A Christmas Carol is the movie for you.

--Paul Pal, Page Editor

As I settled onto my couch (with my large mug of hot chocolate) to watch my favorite holiday movie, I knew I was in for a Christmas treat.

Based on the popular children’s book, the 1966 version of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is an animated Christmas classic for all ages. TV Guide ranked this made-for-TV special number one on its 10 Best Family Holiday Specials list and I fully agree.

For those of you who don’t know, the Grinch is a lonely, cold-hearted schemer who plots to ruin Christmas for all the citizens of the fictional town of Who-ville. I can remember being scared of the green and hairy Grinch when I was younger, but as I got older, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” quickly became one of my must-see holiday movies. Every year, I just have to watch this movie multiple times between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

Most of the story is told in rhyme and is perfectly narrated by Boris Karloff.

This movie also features five upbeat holiday songs, adding to its festivity.

I love “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” because it shares the true meaning of the holiday season: the holidays are about being with family and friends, not about material goods. My favorite part of the movie is the ending, where the Grinch brings Christmas back to Who-ville and shares Christmas dinner with all the Whos.

That part always brings a smile to my face.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” can be purchased on iTunes for $7.99 or at stores like Target for $12.99. It is the perfect movie to get anyone into the spirit of the holidays.

--Hannah Bradley, Page Editor

It’s a Wonderful Life Is it really a wonderful life? I think so.

Though I sometimes cringe at the thought of sitting through black and white films, as I cozied up to a cup of tea and my computer screen, I found I was pleasantly surprised.

Directed and written by Frank Capra (“It Happened One Night”) as well as Frances Goodrich (“Father of the Bride”), Albert Hackett (“After the Thin Man”), and Jo Swerling (“Crash Dive”), this classic tells the tale of George Bailey (James Stewart, “The Philadelphia Story”) as he struggles to find happiness in his life.

The movie is what I would call old-fashioned but was extremely charming nonetheless. I couldn’t stop smiling as Bailey danced with his soon-to-be wife, Mary Hatch Bailey (Donna Reed, “From Here to Eternity”) at the school dance on the moving gym floor.

The acting was also pleasing in addition to the directing and writing. Stewart even earned a 1946 Academy Award nomination for his performance, and rightfully so. I fell in love with his character instantly as he promised to lasso the moon for the girl he loves.

I adored the holly-jolly happy ending that concluded this two-hour and ten minute-long film as well.

When Bailey is shown by his guardian angel that his life really is wonderful despite the hardships he faces, I knew tears were unavoidable. I just about melted as he embraces and celebrates with his family and friends on Christmas Eve. This scene alone could make any Grinch reevaluate his attitude.

With a meaningful, heartfelt theme and a festive, wintery ambiance, “It’s a Wonderful Life” left me feeling warm and fuzzy and I know I’ll be appreciating everything and everyone I have this holiday season.

--Ally Jaksen, Staff Writer

battle

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the

On the twelfth day of Christmas HAWKEYE gave to me

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days of

Blackhawks 10

12 seniors skipping 11 iPhones buzzing 10 players hooping 9 north face backpacks 8 cups of starbucks 7 boys swimming 6 students sleeping in class 5 purple advisories (per week) 4 tests on the same day 0 minutes to get out of the 3 parking lot 2 crowded hallways

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Music

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a Blackawk in a pear tree

the Hawkeye x-off xbox on gift list Xbox One fails to beat competitors It took long enough, but it’s finally here. The Xbox One: our hopes, our dreams, our… disappointment.

The Xbox is a low-quality console, and only rises from mediocrity as an entertainment machine. This means that it doesn’t play games very well, but does manage to do other activities, like playing T.V. and movies adequately. Think of it as a cable box that happens to play video games. Speaking of that, boy, does it look like a cable box. The Xbox One is huge, and it looks quite dated. At least the hardware inside is a little fresher, if only that.

The Xbox One has a big launch lineup, but titles such as Dead Rising 3 and Killer Instinct aren’t anything worth buying the system to play them. Having only received aggregated scores of 78 and 73 of 100, neither of these games are system sellers.

The Xbox One does, however, have one intriguing piece of kit associated with it: the Kinect 2.0. Yet, this also seems like a waste of money. Gaming involving human motion doesn’t seem to quite work yet. All it does is make the Xbox One slightly more convenient as well as more expensive. Not a worthwhile trade off.

Looking at the Xbox One long term, I feel the price of $500 is simply too high for what’s being offered. Maybe once it’s cheaper it’ll be a good deal. But if you’re looking for a fun experience this season, I’d suggest looking elsewhere. However, it would be best advised to invest in something like the PS4 rather than waiting for the Xbox One to drop in price.

-Daniel Bordener, Staff Writer

Can’t Play PlayStation Sony’s new console struggles under limited game selection Japan: a land of immense beauty and rich culture, but also of powerful, cutting-edge consoles. Consoles that lack the games to be worth a recommendation.

The PS4 is a small iteration upon the well-loved PS3. Having been released late November, the console comes with fairly powerful components out of the box, which allow it to process its new titles in 1080P at 60 frames-per-second. This means the video will not only look better, but also play more smoothly. In addition, The Playstation 4’s hybrid of black matte and pearl paint make it aesthetically very pleasing as well.

The controller has also received an overhaul. The primary addition is the motion sensor. It can be used to track controller movement relative to the console and might be useful for more innovative games, while being unobtrusive for those uninterested--probably the best implementation of the technology to date.

Ironically, the PlayStation has a serious lack of games to play, and even fewer that are exclusive to the system.

There are some games. Games like Killzone: Shadow Fall, and Knack are available, but both have received middling Metacritic scores of 74 and 55 of 100. This won’t be a permanent issue, but I can’t in good conscious not bring it up when we’re talking about a $400 machine.

To summarize, the PS4 is a good console that currently lacks the games it needs to be a sound purchase.

But if this small issue doesn’t offend you, be sure to look for the Playstation 4 in stores this winter season.

-Daniel Bordener, Staff Writer

track santa with santa app App allows smartphone users to “follow” Santa Santa Clause is coming to town, and now he can be followed.

Thanks to Ontecha, the app Santa Tracker allows the tracking of Santa’s travels during this holiday season; it even allows bad boys and girls to countdown the hours until Santa arrives in the chimney. First released on December 18th, 2011, this app allows both those on the naughty and nice list to follow Santa around on his big night, it also lets you see pictures captured by the Santa tracking team of all of Santa’s big adventures.

When I looked at the app, I saw that Santa was still in the North Pole making a list and checking it twice. Even though I have outgrown the excitement and antics for Santa’s arrival, it is nice to see how real the creators are making his existence this holiday season.

This jolly app is available for Apple’s iPhone and requires a cost of $1.99, which personally I feel is too much for a seasonal app that will only be used during the holidays. I feel that this app is more directed for adults who are adamant for keeping the tradition of Santa Clause alive in their children. As a sophomore in high school, I think that the idea of letting children track Santa’s travels is nice but I would not waste the time and money downloading an overpriced app when there are many other Santa tracking app alternatives that are free.

When counting down the days until his arrival, or discovering all of Santa’s travels, I would recommend this app to anyone who has a little one that is bursting with holiday cheer. It is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit upon the big night.

-Michelle Phillps, Staff Writer

Technology

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the hawkeye q

When did your store open and what kind of merchandise do you sell?

store, Heads and Tails opened on a My October 21st 2013. I sell all fur products,

mainly accessories including key chains, hats, scarfs, gloves, vests and light jackets.

q a

For teens, I think accessories is definitely the way to go. They are easy to wear and look good without overdoing it.

is your favorite part about q What fashion? . aI think fashion is one of the

q

q What inspired you to open your store? a I wanted to bring fur fashion to the

q

biggest factors of expressing what kind of person someone is. My favorite part is the variety and impact fashion has on people today.

youth of our community. I think my store will do that because it will give consumers a store around the area that makes fur affordable and easily accessible.

ask

In your opinion, what is the best way to wear fur?

How did you become interested in fashion?

a Ifirminterned over

at an interior design the summer in Chicago so I moved towards fashion and started going to fur buying shows.

What advice would you give to others interested in fashion or opening a store?

goals for yourself and know how a Make to work well with people. It is important to be very clear on what you want done so you can easily explain your idea to others and hopefully they will like your idea and want to help you reach your goals.

the

expert

senior cammy swartz talks about owning her own fur shop 6335 Orchard Lake Road West Bloomfield Township, MI 48322

Photo provided by Cammy Swartz

LARK & CO. disappoints d ow n tow n b i r m i n g h a m s to r e d o e s n ’ t i m p r e s s c u s to m e r Urban Outfitters, I have clearly found an amateur trailing your footsteps, one that cannot compete with you. Adding to the high-end boutiques that those in the Bloomfield Bubble waste money in is the newly opened general store, Lark & Co. Located on 138 West Maple Road in downtown Birmingham, Lark & Co. sells everything from jewelry to quirky home accessories.

Walking into the store, I instantly felt surrounded by the aroma of vanilla scented candles and uniquely crafted antiques. I noticed the wooden floors and walls decorat-

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FASHION

ed with inspiring quotes; the rich color scheme matched the calming indie music quietly playing in the background.

With the homey and welcoming environment of the store, I found the hostile attitude from the owner of the store quite ironic. His rude stares and short answers ultimately left me uncomfortable and in a rush to leave.

Despite the discomfort I felt, I decided to continue my search of the store.

The colorfully knitted scarves ($40), embroidered bracelets ($30), and trendy handbags ($60) caught my

eye, but so did their steep prices. However, if it wasn’t for the unfriendly service, I may have considered splurging on a few of the overpriced accessories anyway.

For the average high schooler, Lark & Co. exceeds the regular spending money the majority of us can afford. For those who don’t mind lavishly spending their savings on small quirky items, Lark & Co. may be a store worth visiting. The next time you happen to be roaming the streets of downtown Birmingham between the hours of 11am to 7pm, pop in if you don’t mind spending a small fortune.

--Mayssa Masri, Staff Writer

the hawkeye

What to Wear this

1

Winter $14.99 Target’s Solid Knit Beanie

2

3 $29.00 Urban Outfitter’s Fair Isle Convertible Glove

$10.80 Forever 21’s Standout Infinity Scarf

4 5 $199.00 North Face’s Women’s Thermoball Full Zip Jacket

$18.50 Roots Cabin Sock

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Wondering what to put on your wishlist this holiday season?

The Hawkeye has you covered with gifts for everyone.

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For the Techie: Clockwise from top: JBL Micro Wireless Speaker $59.95 available at Apple Stores or apple.com; Gold Polka Dots iPhone case $35 society6.com; Hulu Plus 3-month gift card $23.97 available at Target Stores or target.com. For the Style Maven: Clockwise from left: Comfy Cable Knit Scarf $14.80 available at Forever 21 stores; Kenneth Cole New York Men’s Round Leather Strap Watch $89.90 at nordstrom.com; Rainy Day Umbrella $35 Madewell Stores or madewell. com. For the Athlete: Clockwise from left: Nike + FuelBand SE $149.95 available at nike.com; Camelbak Eddy Insulated .6L $20.00 available at camelbak.com; Women’s Armour Braided Mini-Headband $11.99 available at underarmour.com

GIFT GUIDE

the flyer the hawkeye

How to: make a gingerbread house Ingredients * 2 Egg Whites

* 1tsp Lemon Juice * 1 box confectioner’s sugar * 1 large box of graham crackers * Hard Christmas candies for decoration

Step 3 Place large spoonfuls of the royal icing into quart-size zipped style freezer bags. Avoid regular thickness sandwich bags because the plastic is too thin and will not hold up to the punishment of being used as a pastry tube. Approximately 1 cup of icing each bag is enough. Make sure that each gingerbread artist has his or her own bag of icing. Use scissors to snip 1/4” (6 mm) of 1 corner of the icing filled bag. You now have an “icing tube”. As you decorate, you’ll squeeze the icing toward the snipped corner and use it to dispense a bead of icing on your gingerbread house.

Step 1 Separate your Christmas candies into bowls. This step saves the hassle of opening bags of candy with sticky fingers later. Place an aluminum pie tin upside down in front of you.

Step 2 Combine egg whites and lemon juice in a large bowl to make royal icing.

Add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar at a time and blend the mixture with a mixer until the icing has the consistency of stiff peanut butter. The icing will secure the graham cracker walls of the house and adhere the candy decorations to the surface.

Step 4 Count out 6 whole, uncracked, unseparated, unbroken crackers. Set 4 of them aside to form the roof and the 2 long sides of your house. Cut the 2 remaining cracker sheets to form end gable pieces. Use a gentle “sawing” motion with a serrated knife. Use the short end of a cracker to measure the angled line from the center of the long side to the centerline of the cracker.

Step 5 Place the long edge of the wall cracker vertical to the base edge of the gable end cracker.

Stick the side edge of the gable end cracker to the bead of icing on the flat side of the wall cracker. The walls should hold each other up.

Add the other gable end and wall in the same manner. Use a bead of icing along the bottom to stick the pieces to the pie tin. Also, use a bead of icing where the 2 walls will join at the corners. Add the roof crackers in the same manner as the wall crackers, but pipe the icing on the flat of the roof, not on the edges.

Then, stick the flat of the roof to the top edges of the gable ends and walls. Allow the icing to set for 15 to 20 minutes before touching the house again. If you place candies on it too quickly, you risk collapsing the house.

Step 6 Use your imagination and decorate the entire house whatever way you like.

How-To

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season’s greetings!

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from, PICTURE WITH SANTA

The Hawkeye

ONE

LAST with THING

the hawkeye

Dayana Schemel-Gord spanish teacher

“my last new year’s resolution was to floss much more. My dentist is always telling me I need to floss more.“

What is the last holiday song you listened to? ”’Jingle Bells.’ My kids have a stuffed animal that sings that song and they love to press the button. I have been hearing that song a lot lately.”

What is the last christmas movie that you watched?

“Four Christmases with Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon. It was awful. I prefer Home Alone”.

What was the last thing you received for christmas?

“Boots.”

What is the last christmas gift you gave?

“my last winter break was spent with the family.

My sister came in from Canada. We basically just talked and ate a lot.”

“my last piece of advice Be nice. Your character will impress me more than your brain.

Being nice and respectful will get you places in life.”

“Last year, I gave my son diapers.

He opened them and was so excited. He is little, so he doesn’t know any better. It was a practical gift.”

35 one last thing

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Maggie Smith

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COMICS