The NOHS Art Department
by Shaiann Daniels and Sarah Coutts
(Artwork left by Jess Cruise, Art 2)
Red, blue, and yellow make up the primary colors on the color wheel. Without them, we would not have the secondary or tertiary colors. In the same way, Mr. Miller, Mrs. McLaughlin, and Mrs. Slonaker blend together to form the variety and excellence of our Art Department.
The students of the Art I, II, III and 3D classes, have enrolled for different reasons. Some come to improve their art. Some come for the credit, but many others come for the love of it. This year the art classes will be working on wire sculptures and the influences that contour lines have in everyday art.
Many lucky teenagers from NOHS have gotten the privilege to meet and learn from Mr. Miller in Arts II, III, IV, or Art Portfolio, and even some independent study. Mr. Miller has been here long enough for his fellow colleagues to remember and cherish being students in his classroom.Mrs. Slonaker said that she was his student once and that "he was an amazing art teacher." To many of his students, Mr. Miller is an idol. To others, he is an everyday hero who shows us how to love our work. Sadly, Mr. Miller will be moving on to paint greener pastures as he plans to retire at the end of this year. But he and the members of the Art Department were kind enough to take some time and tell us more about the program which continues to produce so many talented students.
New this year for Mrs. Slonaker’s class are the design works, relief sculptors. In her class, students will even get the chance to attempt mosaics. A few in the advanced art category will get the chance to expand independently when they take 3D portfolio.
Where do the secondary colors come from? They evolve from the primary. Art teachers get their ideas for projects by simply opening their eyes to the world around us. An act as simple as walking down the street and seeing something in a store window can provide a moment of inspiration. They also get their ideas from other teachers, computers, museums, or their own creative imagination.
Mrs. Slonaker and Mrs. McLaughlin wouldn’t change much, but if they could, they say they would change the size of the art rooms. So many students want to take art that they can’t accept all of them due to the small room size. They would like to add another room with another teacher. A larger class room would allow them to offer something new, like art history. If they had more room in their classrooms, they could also add more pottery wheels.
All of our art teachers have had prior teaching experience. Mrs. Slonaker has taught middle school for thirteen years before she moved to the high school. She says that younger children are difficult to teach especially when they don’t enjoy art. Mrs. McLaughlin has taught all of the grades except the first grade. Both teachers would agree that high school teaching is their preference since students elect to take the course instead of having to take it.
What makes a teacher want to teach, let alone teach art? For Mr. Miller, who has been teaching for 33 years, it is the sense of accomplishment he instills within the child who has a burning desire to become better: “Well, one is seeing students who are really interested go on and make a career out of it. I’m really proud of them. Also, having a student come in and saying at first, ' I’m not that great....' but then making something that looks amazing. They light up, and I love it. It’s just great.” A child learns from the things they do, and those around them affect what they will grow up to be like. Mrs. McLaughlin always knew that she was going to do something with her love of art, “Both my parents did things with art, my dad was a carpenter and my mom was always crafty.” Mrs. Slonaker was an artist from an early age. “I always loved art, it wasn’t until I went off to college that my mom showed me that I had drawn all over her mattress as a child.”
Blue-green, red-orange and yellow-green are tertiary colors. Without the influence of the primary colors and the secondary colors there would be no blue-green. Mrs. McLaughlin stated that all teachers are happy to see a good percentage of their students going to art school and all the positive things they will learn there. The teachers of New Oxford High School Art Department are a blessing to have and have influenced many to go on with what they truly love.
New Oxford is fortunate to have an Art Department that is supported by the district, unlike some schools, where art sometimes finds itself on the bottom crust of the expenses list.
Thank you to all the teachers and students of our Art Department for helping to beautify our world.
Erica Hemler, Portfolio Project
"WE ARE THE NOMB--"
NOHS Band Goes All Medieval on Us! by Hannah Fernandez
“Drum Majors, is your band ready?"
The New Oxford Marching Band (NOMB) is ready to take the field for this year’s show entitled Medieval Images. The music in this show is based on the music Upon a King written by Frank Sullivan. Mr. Rohrbaugh is hard at work, making this a one-of-a kind show. All the elements of the medieval era, from the guard uniforms, to the battle-scenes, to the feel of “early music” instrumentation will enhance this year's presentation.
In June, they began practicing for a season that had only just begun. Every Wednesday until August, the band and guard came for a weekly practice where they learned the music and the marching and color scheme. In August, they began the perennial Band Camp. Their “camp” is held back at New Oxford High School Monday through Friday for one full week. On the final day of camp, they give a show for family and friends which gives them a look at what has been accomplished at camp. For the next 14 weeks, they will be at school almost every night working to perfect the show. With every passing week, championships are getting closer, and that means the end of the season and for some, a good-bye to New Oxford Marching Band.
Mr. Rohrbaugh and his staff decided on the show after listening to an array of possible choices. They chose Medieval Images for the “intensity of the music, and the many different visual options that we could explore.”
Medieval Images is a four part show that presents the chief features of this bygone age. From the unique piece the guard uses to announce readiness to the final note sounded by the band, everything about this show conjures up images of the age of chivalry. That "unique piece" is a sword like no other band has, and has been especially made for the talents and kinteticism of the guard. It was designed by the guard staff, Mr. Rohrbaugh, Karen Rohrbaugh, and Deb Warntz, and built by the Sheaffer family. Mr Rohrbaugh provided us with an overview of the show:
“The first part of our show is a call to arms as our knight prepares for battle. The second movement is the actual battle scene which involves the entire band using swords, sticks, and shields. The third movement starts with a reflective section on what has occurred and then leads into a slow section which depicts our valiant warrior being knighted for his duty in battle. The final movement sees our knight heading off to battle again to face a dragon and ultimately being triumphant in his quest.”
When you watch the band next time, see if they take you back to the time of chivalry, honor, glory, knights and dragons.
“New Oxford High School Marching Band, you may take the field in competition!”
Video Credit and Photo Credit (above): Michelle Fernandez
A New Elective for Piano Lovers: Class Piano 1
A new wave in music education has begun this year with the help of Miss Knorr and the Music Department—Class Piano 1. We had the chance to ask Miss Knorr some questions about this new and exciting program because we all know that music education is a vital facet of learning. We are sure that it won’t be long before her students begin to make sweet music that will give them joy over many years to come.
Silhouette: How did the idea for the new piano course come about? What are its aims?
Miss Knorr: For many years, the music department has been working on creating additional electives in music that meet the needs of our student population. We offer courses for non-musicians (That’s Entertainment), for musical performers (Band, Orchestra, Girls Chorus, and Concert Choir), and for those who were planning to become professional musicians or music teachers (Music Theory). Outside of band and orchestral instruments, the two most popular instruments are the guitar and the piano. We’ve added guitar instruction to the 8th grade general music curriculum and two years ago decided to add piano instruction to the high school course offerings. Our aim is to offer a wide variety of musical options to the students at NOHS, so that we can work with as many students as possible who are interested in learning more about music.
We began the process by piloting piano instruction in the Music Theory course two years ago. Students who elected music theory were given approximately two weeks of piano instruction as part of the theory course. At this time, the school only owned two electronic keyboards, so we enlisted the help of faculty members throughout the district. Using keyboards that we borrowed from faculty, we were able to pilot the course that first year.
After evaluating the success of the pilot program, we began the process of designing the course and proposing it to the Curriculum Cabinet (which makes all curricular decisions for the district). As a part of this proposal, we conducted a survey of student interest in the course. The response was overwhelmingly positive and almost 100 students indicated an interest in electing the course during their high school years. Armed with this information, we investigated the cost of the course, researched the equipment and materials we would need to purchase, wrote the course curriculum, and presented our proposal to the faculty, the administration, and to the Curriculum Cabinet. The proposal was approved and the course was offered this year.
Silhouette: How many “slots” are available in this course and are there any pre-requisites in signing up for it?
Miss Knorr: We have room for 15 students each semester. All 30 available “slots” are taken for this year. We decided on 15 as our maximum number due to space limitations. We also wanted to be sure that there was a reasonable student to teacher ratio so the teacher could spend as much one-on-one time with students as possible.
There are no pre-requisites for the course. We are looking for students who have very little or no previous piano background. Everyone begins at the beginning!
Silhouette: Is it possible that higher level piano courses could be added at a later date?
Miss Knorr: We have discussed adding Class Piano 2 at a later date. I teach Class Piano 1 and we would have Miss Mack teach Class Piano 2 if it becomes available. Class Piano 2 would concentrate more on technique and working with the acoustic piano, rather than the electronic keyboard. At this point, if a student wants to pursue a second level of piano instruction, it would have to been done through an independent study in music.
Silhouette: Can you tell us about the piano lab itself—the kinds of pianos that we have and how they came to be chosen? Are there any special features like recording / playback of performances, rhythm / drum accompaniment within the digital pianos that aid in student learning?
Miss Knorr: We purchased Yamaha YPG235 Portable Digital Grand Piano keyboards. It was important that we choose keyboards that met our needs and were cost efficient. The Yamahas we purchased fit the bill perfectly. They have 76 full-sized keys (regular pianos have 88) and best simulated the response and touch of an acoustic piano of the keyboards we found in our price range. We were looking for keyboards that are MIDI capable, so that we have that feature available if we are ever fortunate enough to add a computer component to the lab. They have additional features, but we use these mainly for variety when practicing.
Silhouette: So when will the record come out?
Miss Knorr: No records, but we will be presenting a recital at the end of each semester for parents and friends. Plan to come and see how well we’ve done!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thanks to Miss Knorr for taking the time to tell us about this new and exciting program. In speaking with some of the students in the class, it is clear that they are finding the individualized instruction with state of the art electric pianos a very rewarding experience. Of her time in the course, Nicole Rondeau has said: “The course is fun and interesting. We’re working from the Adult Piano Adventures book series at a good pace. While I already know a little bit about playing the piano, it doesn’t hurt to have more practice at learning the notes and sight-reading.”
Another student in the class, Bianca Garcia likes the learn-at -your- own pace aspect of the class, She says that “while I don’t really plan on becoming a pianist, I have a deeper appreciation now for the way music works. And if I ever strike it rich, I’ll be sure to get a beautiful grand piano just to help jazz up the VIP parties at my estate.”
It is good to know that with Miss Knorr’s professional guidance and the curiosity and work of her students, the timeless and universal language of music will keep being spoken into the next generation.
In closing, we’d like to share a highly educational video entitled "The History of the Piano" for the benefit of the new Class Piano 1 along with an audition video we have just received from a possible future student. Enjoy!
Meet Your Makers:
An Interview with the Creators of Film School
by Bianca Garcia, Jimmy Arrison, & Villain Teacher
There is a first time for everything, and we’re pretty sure that the production of Film School represents a first in the history of our school. First, as in never done before; first, as in outstanding achievement of independent film making.
I am referring to the film that was written, produced, and directed by seniors Andy Robinson and Derek Sullivan, starring various and sundry eager high school students and teachers. The film enjoyed its red carpet premier last year in Mrs. McLaughlin’s room. Since then, Film School has taken on underground cult status going on to limited release in living rooms throughout the New Oxford and Hanover area. Perhaps in twenty years, we will see these gentlemen on James Lipton's Inside the Actor's Studio.
The Silhouette caught up with Andy and Derek to ask them about their love of films and what motivated them to produce a satirical “day in the life” of a typical New Oxford teen. The film features Tim Baublitz, who plays the part of “Student” – a young man who wonders what he is going to do with the rest of his life; Jake Smith, who plays the part of "The Dude;" Erich Miller, whose role as "Guidance Counselor" will forever change the life of said "Student;" and Livy Long, who plays the unforgettable role of "The Don," an art student who knows how to twist some arms to get things done. There are a number of other great cameos by Jon Abend and Erica Hemler in addition to a whole host of teachers who volunteered to be directed by Andy and Derek. You will just have to see the film to enjoy any of these Oscar-worthy performances.
Silhouette: Can you tell us about the genesis of the film? What led you to undertake the project?
Andy : When I realized that the graduation project was a requirement, I wanted to do anything but Apple Harvest. Seriously, I wanted to do something that had meaning for me personally, something memorable.
Derek : I remember Andy coming up to me on the bus and asking me if I’d want to join up.
Andy : Yeah, we were on the same bus, still are….and I got to thinking, you know Derek knows movies; he’d be perfect for helping get at some of the film jokes that only a real movie buff could understand.
Derek : So I said, awesome, let’s give it a shot. And here we are.
Silhouette: What interests you most about doing films? I mean, judging from what you have done with the movie, it appears films have taken on a kind of obsession for you.
Derek : In a good film, you have the combination of every medium – there’s literature, music, cinematography, good acting.
Andy : Yes, it is for us, the easiest outlet to get ideas "out there."
Derek : Think about it…more people will go to a movie than will go an art gallery these days or read my haiku. Or maybe I just like the thought of being able to project my ideas into impressionable young minds.
Silhouette: Can you remember when the idea of making films first hit you?
Derek : Well, when I was 12, I happened to come upon Pulp Fiction quite by accident—it was the made for TV version—but I thought, man, this is the coolest thing ever.
Andy : I must have been a late bloomer. For me, it was in Mr. Sheffer’s class and we were watching The Sting. I thought that Paul Newman was just great—the whole buddy comedy thing against the backdrop of the depression era of the 1930’s. I thought how much better this film was to the kinds of films that get put out nowadays. I hate how directors use explosions to drive the plot. You have to have a totally believable storyline or the movie is DOA. I thought it would be worthwhile trying to come up with a story that had the kinds of elements that I like to see in films. And I’ll watch any film with Paul Newman.
Silhouette: So what makes a great film?
Andy : Writing is essential; without a strong script, there is no hope for the film. Everything starts right there in the writing room.
Derek : You have to have strong performances from your actors to carry the story along, too. Casting is big.
Andy : Yep. A lot of times, we’ll just look at the names of the actors we’ve enjoyed and know that most times it’s going to be worth watching. Another thing, most movie-goers want that element of escapism. The movie has got to take them somewhere away from the stuff that’s happening in their everyday lives.
Silhouette: Now that the “Film School” project has had close to a year to “stew,” how do you feel about the whole experience?
Andy : For the way everything came together pretty fast-- putting up the posters, holding auditions, making a shooting schedule, just all of the contributions from people who wanted to make this thing happen – brilliant.
Derek : For a first shot, getting everyone on board and committed to making something we’d all enjoy, pretty good. A lot of what people see in the film were done as first takes, too. We wanted to keep the spontaneity in it and make it fun for everyone. Nothing too artsy.
Andy : First takes? There was one day…we must have had ten takes with Jon Abend in the library scene. I just could not stop cracking up...."Here, smell the book." -- just the way he kept delivering that line. If I'm going to be shooting films, I guess I'll need to work on that.
Silhouette: So then can we expect a sequel at some point—or perhaps something new?
Andy : Hmmmm.....I feel a road trip movie coming on.
Derek : Yeah, the van....sweet.
Sihouette: Thanks, Andy and Derek. We wish you all the best in your future artistic endeavors.
Andy Robinson (R) and Derek Sullivan (L), the co-creators of "Film School"
Our Up and Coming Fab Five: An Interview with The Hopefuls
by Ace Black
I recently had the chance to sit down with our local band, The Hopefuls. This Christian band is on the rise, ready to light up New Oxford. From just sitting down with the band, I could feel the energy they want to share with the rest of you. Here’s a little Q and A with four out of the five hopefuls.
Silhouette: Who are The Hopefuls?
The Hopefuls are: Zach Knight (vocals, rhythm guitar), Jordan Britton (drums), Luke Stoltzfoos (Keyboard), Alex Brown (guitar), and Zade Roth (Bass). These guys consider themselves a Christian band that started out in 8th grade. They are also out to prove that there’s a meaning behind their music.
Silhouette: Who came up with the name and is there any meaning behind it?
Zach: The man on the keyboard Luke came up with the name while the band was practicing one day. The band believes Christians are “hopeful” in what they do and that “hope + faith = trust”. ...that’s what The Hopefuls are all about.
Silhouette: Are you working on anything right now?
Zach: We’re working on a lot of songs as of right now.
Jordan: Mostly just working on finishing tracks we’ve already started. We are also heading towards an alternative sound and hope to put out a CD soon.
Silhouette: What are your goals as a band?
Zach: The Hopefuls have many goals as a band, such as playing the best we can and just having fun while doing so.
Luke and Jordan: We're also all about spreading our message to others.
Silhouette: Who is the “leader” in the band?
Alex: We all kind of “co-lead” in different ways. Although they all balance each other out, Jordan is in charge of scheduling for the band.
Jordan: Yes, but let us not forget--Zach leads with his beard.
Silhouette: What made you want to make Christian music?
Luke: We all basically grew up in Christian households. We also have many influences from our parents.
Jordan: Most of us don’t fit in with this new music you hear on the radio with certain language and of course the sex appeal. We try to go opposite of that as a band.
Silhouette: Do you guys plan to play the talent show?
Zach: The Hopefuls have a something more than just one show planned for us.
Jordan: We plan on doing three or four different shows with different people besides of course playing as a band. Zach and I have been talking about performing something acoustic. Maybe a rap or hip hop song featuring some talented dancers from the junior class.
Silhouette: What’s one way you get your band “out there”?
Zach: The Hopefuls mainly use the Internet world to reach the public. We also hand out demos occasionally.
Luke: We play certain parades and of course play the talent show every year.
Silhouette: What’s the next step for The Hopefuls?
Zach: The band is currently working on putting out a CD.
Jordan: Hopefully, the next thing we accomplish is getting an official CD finished. The Hopefuls are also very excited about competing in a fine arts contest.
Good luck to the band. We look forward to hearing your music in the months and years to come. Anyone interested in hearing performances by The Hopefuls may visit the link above. Enjoy!
Child Star Checks In
by Kristen Gregory
The sudden fame, the adoring fans, the lavish parties - these trappings of the Hollywood and TV industry are sometimes too much for an adult to handle. So imagine what it might be like for a child to endure the pressures of becoming a star. The path may be different, but the end is the same: too often these children grow up to find themselves in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation facility. Many stay addicted and struggle their whole life with this problem. One child star in particular is on the road to recovery after escaping from a turn down the blind alley of addictions--Drew Barrymore.
Her father was none other than John Drew Barrymore Jr., an in - demand Hollywood screen actor who later became known for his drug arrest and hippie lifestyle during the 1960’s. Her mother is Ildyko Jad Barrymore, an actress and model, who gave birth to a baby girl on February 22, 1975 in Los Angeles, California. The Barrymores didn’t waste any time before putting their little girl in front of the cameras. As an 11 month baby, she made cuter- than- ever commercials to sell Puppy Chow. Soon she was acting in top films at the age of 5. As a popular young star, there were high expectations for her to behave in a way proper to her celebrity socialite lifestyle. She was found dancing until 2 a.m. at a New York City nightclub--not exactly the most normal life for a child. Looking back on these times in her childhood, Drew has said, “I was this 7-year-old who was expected to be going on a mature 29.” At the age of 9, she was drinking heavily and often became drunk at parties. At 10, she was smoking pot; by her thirteenth year, she had escalated to cocaine. At such a young age with so many problems, her mom had her checked into ASAP Family Treatment Center, a private drug and alcohol rehab hospital in 1988. But she stayed for only 12 days before leaving to film Far from Home.
After checking in and out of rehab at 14, she attempted suicide and was admitted once again back into rehab for three months. Afterwards, she spent three months with musician David Crosby and his wife, Jan Dance, both survivors of alcohol and drug abuse. The relationship with her mother had gone sour after rehab, and her relationship with her father had been non-existent for years. At 15, she went to court with an emancipation decree which granted her legal adult status with the same rights and privileges as an 18 year old. She argued that her mother had been a bad influence on her, and apparently the judge agreed. Living on her own, she did not exactly graduate to adulthood responsbilities. She called this period of her teenage years "Little Girl Lost"--which in 1989 became the sad title for the memoir chonicling her struggles to find herself. In the book she writes of those years when she modeled for a series of racy Guess ads. Fortunately, her last chapters allow a more mature and positive person to emerge. Despite all of her difficult times, she carried on and was filmed in respectable movies such as Boys on the Side. This helped her get back on track so that she could aspire to become a more serious actress.
Drew Barrymore is a rehab success story. While she had a rough start in life, she survived her struggles and overcame many difficulties. Drew Barrymore has become a well known and respected actress in Hollywood.
Halo Wars Game Review
by Dustin Schultz
It is February, 4th, 2531… you are Sergeant John Forge, on a routine Scout patrol when you get a distress signal from the command base. You look over the summit and see them, the enemy. They are not the terrorists of a bygone era; that is, they are not human terrorists. Your enemies are aliens, and not the phone-home ET kind—these creatures are genocidal aliens, hellbent on the destruction of all mankind. But you are Sergeant John Forge, and you are ready to answer the call and show them that they picked the wrong race to attack.
Halo Wars, the fourth game in the Halo series, is a real time strategy game, meaning that you and your enemies constantly create units to battle one another. The Halo series has proven very popular with gamers, since its inception with Halo: Combat Evolved, released for X-Box on November 15, 2001.
The Halo Wars Campaign takes place twenty years before the events in Halo: Combat Evolved. You take control of the ship Spirit of Fire, to combat the Covenant, alien beings bent on the destruction of mankind. The game begins as the main protagonist, Sergeant Forge is patrolling an area when the Covenant strike. Whether the game ends depends on you.
There are a few modes to play Halo Wars, including a 15 level campaign, Basic and Advanced tutorial for beginners (referred to online as Noobs), offline skirmish, and online skirmish. The game supports up to 3 versus 3 on X-box Live. Both campaign and offline skirmish have 4 levels of play: easy, normal, heroic, and legendary. Most players can beat the game under par time on easy and normal, but only serious players can beat it on heroic. Legendary is reserved for the truly elite—the kind that may lead to Sergeant John Forge knocking on your door for possible recruitment.
I would consider that you buy this game and take it up on every difficulty by yourself at first. Then move on to X-box Live, where you will have hours of fun invested in Halo Wars, creating your own strategies and trying them against the rest of the world.
5 out of 5 scarabs
by Shaiann Daniels
A perfect world is a fantasy people love to dream about, but what if that perfect world was built on a lie?
The Giver by Lois Lowry is about a boy named Jonas who lives in a “perfect” community. Everything is the same. There are family units with a mother, a father, a son, and a daughter. No child is biologically related to their parents though for reasons that we will see as we go deeper into the book. As the years progress, the children get something for each ceremony they take part in. The ceremony of 12, the most important of all ceremonies, begins to mold Jonas’ life throughout the rest of the novel. He is not assigned to a job, but selected out of everyone to be the new receiver. This job, however, comes with physical pain, and Jonas isn’t sure if it will be such a great idea. When he starts receiving memories from the Giver, he learns that his community isn’t so perfect at all. There are no colors, no love, no grandparents, and the worst part is, Jonas can’t do anything about it.
This book is a thrilling fantasy/fiction novel. It’s one of those books that I could not put down until I had read it all. While the cover of the book could be better—the wrinkly, grey-bearded old man is not the best choice for a story about a young boy-- we have to remember that "you can’t judge a book by its cover". Once the reader gets past the gnarly cover, the story itself is a journey that we don’t want to end with its astonishing twists and turns. It captures readers by going deep into their wildest imagination. Highly recommended.
A Review of Stephen King's Collection of Short Stories
by Kari Herren
Just in time for Halloween, Stephen King's Nightmares & Dreamscapes is ready to take us on a journey into the darker realms of the human mind. With titles such as "Head Down," "You Know They Got a Hell of a Band," "Dolan’s Cadillac," and "The Fifth Quarter." There are twenty-four entries in this book, some of which have made it to the big screen in 2006. Nightmares & Dreamscapes is his first short story collection since Skeleton Crew in 1985. In this collection, Stephen King paints a set of characters that allow the reader to see themselves in each character of the story. Because of that, the horror that inhabits these tales becomes even more frightening.
In "Dolan’s Cadillac" we are introduced to the narrator, Robinson (no first name given), who confesses to us that he is a childless widower. We learn that a man named Dolan, a wealthy crime-boss, has had Robinson's wife murdered in order to prevent her from testifying against him. The murder (by ignition bomb on her 1968 Chevrolet) is never solved, and Robinson, unskilled in the arts of revenge, has no recourse. Over a seven-year period, however, haunted mentally by his wife's voice, Robinson devises a scheme of retaliation. Discovering that Dolan regularly makes the same cross-country road trip in his gray/silver Cadillac, Robinson sets an elaborate trap on a desert road in Nevada: he takes on a summer job with a road - paving crew just so that he can learn to operate the heavy equipment he needs to execute his plan - excavating a funnel-shaped ditch just long and deep enough to contain a car, but not so wide as to allow escape through the doors.
The trap works. Dolan is stuck in his Cadillac in the bottom of the pit. One of the goons in the car with Dolan is killed instantly in the crash; the other, crushed by the engine block, screams at the top of his lungs out of pain and panic, prompting Dolan to silence him with his gun. Robinson then greets Dolan and announces his intent to bury him alive. Dolan then asks his tormentor, "Is your name Robinson?" Surprise prompts him to lean over the roof of the car, just as Dolan fires a few bullets skyward. He misses Robinson, who proceeds with the burial. Dolan, who becomes more increasingly desperate, pleading with Robinson for his freedom. He offers him a large sum of cash (which Robinson refuses without question), before Robinson advises him he will be released if he can scream "as loud as eight sticks of dynamite taped to the ignition of a 1968 Chevrolet." Robinson gleefully listens to Dolan's screams as he completes the burial and paves over the car. With what must be the last gasp of air left to him, Dolan screams out, "For the love of God, Robinson!" --as the latter drops the last piece of paving into place.
Robinson pays a relatively small price of undergoing much physical and mental exhaustion, but he feels satisfied that he has done a great service to the memory of his late wife, whose voice finally falls silent. The press report Dolan missing, ironically joking that he is "playing dominos or shooting pool somewhere with Jimmy Hoffa."
In the short story entitled "The End of the Whole Mess," we are introduced to Howard Fornoy as he records his life in the form of a personal journal. Fornoy recounts the life of his genius younger brother, Robert. Bobby, a child prodigy whose adult interests led him to study a variety of scientific disciplines, discovers a chemical that reduces the aggressive tendencies of humans and other organisms. While doing sociological research in Texas, Bobby collects crime statistics and comes up with a sort of topographic map that displays geographical patterns of violent crime. Examining the map, Robert noted high levels of crime centered around the town of La Plata. But when he arrives to investigate, he finds that this town has never had any violent crime. Bobby is ultimately able to determine that the cause of the non-aggression is the presence of a chemical to the town's water supply. Even a small amount of exposure to the chemical will calm down an angry person or animal, and Bobby works to isolate the chemical and reduce it to a concentrated form.
At a time of international chaos, suggestive of an approaching total nuclear war, Bobby and Howard, with the aid of a volcano, disperse a large quantity of this substance throughout the world, in the hope of preventing a catastrophe. Indeed, the effects are quick and expected: a massive decrease in hostilities around the globe.
Several months pass and it is discovered that, to the Fornoys' horror, there was another constant about La Plata that was not studied until after the substance was released. While it eliminates aggression, it does the job too well. The chemical builds up, multiplying out of control, in any subject's system, ultimately giving them symptoms resembling dementia or Alzheimer's disease and eventually resulting in death. Howard's journal entries after this point begin to include increasing amounts of grammar, spelling, and other mistakes, eventually devolving into incoherence as Howard succumbs to the effects of the chemical and (presumably) dies. It is implied the human race will also eventually die out as adults start to forget how to care for newborn children.
"Brooklyn August" is a departure from the other stories in that it is presented as a reflective poem that takes a a nostalgic look back at what many consider to be the glory days of baseball as America's national past-time. We are led back to the time when the team we call The Los Angeles Dodgers made their home in Brooklyn and were the toast of the town. The Dodgers were then under the management of Walter Alston. The poems' title reflects the tone of the poem, as it describes the team's 1956 heyday at their Ebbets Field Polo Ground, now long since demolished (but forever remembered as the place where Willie Mays made one of the greatest outfield catches of all-time). The poem mentions many of the players associated with the club, celebrating their accomplishments and ends on a wistful note. The persona can still see it if he closes his eyes, again bringing in the main theme of the poem -- the golden age of baseball.
In the story, "You Know They Got a Hell of a Band," we meet Clark and Mary Rivingham, a young couple traveling through the forested regions of Oregon. Clark's job as a computer programmer will soon take him to another state, so the two head for the peace of the Oregonian woods. The two plan to visit Tokokee Falls, and Clark insists on taking a road through the deepest forest. Mary disagrees, but Clark is adamant. The two drive off, and eventually become lost on a stretch of bad road.
Mary notices that the telephone poles have disappeared along the roads; the car's tape player malfunctions, ruining and melting the tape in a cassette. Mary begs Clark to turn around, but he notices a large sign in the distance. The two near, and read the lettering: "Welcome to Rock and Roll Heaven." The previously unmarked road instantly becomes clean and well-marked. Mary still asks Clark to turn around, but Clark insists on taking the "good" road they've been so lucky to find. They discover that "Rock and Roll Heaven" is a small town, with a strong 1950-era atmosphere. They also begin to notice that the people in the town have a strange resemblance to some of their favorite rock and roll stars, you know, the ones who are dead! The mayor of the town looks an awful lot like Elvis. .... then there are guys who look like Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Holly.
"Rock and Roll Heaven" is described as looking identical to a Norman Rockwell painting. But Mary grows worried about the "perfect" town, citing the short stories of Ray Bradbury and Hansel and Gretel. Clark is irritated at Mary's fear, and the two argue. Clark eventually wears Mary down, and the two venture into the town. He pulls up to a diner and enters; Mary follows, afraid to be alone. Inside, the diner's friendly proprietor greets and jokes with them. A weary-looking young waitress leads the two to the counter--she is a dead ringer for Janis Joplin. Mary and Clark sit down, and Clark notices that the proprietor, cleaning the authentic jukebox, bears a strong resemblance to Janis Joplin. Mary observes this and has a panic attack, as she feels that somehow, the waitress is Joplin. Without giving too much away, find out what happens next!
Those are just four out of twenty-four writings in Stephen King's collection, Nightmares & Dreamscapes. There are many more awaiting you! If you like a thrill, you picked the right book. Check it out now, you will fall in love with Stephen King's writing, just like I did.
Funny Girl
by Kensy Hernandez
As a shy, nerdy student in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, she wrote a satirical column for The Acorn, her school newspaper, taking aim at the usual subjects -- rigid teachers and even more rigid school policies. Her writing didn't propel her to cool kid status, but it did make people laugh. She is Tina Fey, who rose to become an American writer,comedian, and actress, best known for her work on Saturday Night Live.
Tina Fey quickly made her way to Chicago's famed Second City after finishing drama studies at the University of Virginia in 1992, maintaining her livelihood with a job at the local YMCA and rapidly excelling through Second City's exhausting course load. Advised by her instructor to skip forward to the more selective Second City Training Center Fey took him up on his advice and, though rejected at first, she was eventually accepted into the fold. When Saturday Night Live came to Second City seeking some fresh new talent in 1995, Fey and friend Adam McKay stood out from the pack. It was McKay's prompting that eventually found Fey hired as a writer for the enduring sketch comedy series. In addition to opening the door for her entrance into SNL, her tenure at Second City also found Fey making the acquaintance of future husband Jeff Richmond, who served as director for the Chicago comedy troupe. After joining the cast as a staff writer in 1997, Fey soon made history as SNL's first female writing supervisor two short years later. She was Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program three years in a row from 2001-2003, and her mark both behind the scenes and as one-half of the Weekend Update crew (opposite SNL favorite Jimmy Fallon) was unmistakable. In the midst of her hectic schedule at Studio 8H, Fey somehow found time to perform the critically praised two-woman comedy show Dratch and Fey in both Chicago (1999) and New York (2000). Fey's other work has included writing for such programs as the confrontational comedy series The Colin Quinn Show, shown on pay-cable mainstay Comedy Central. If fans had wondered when -- as all high-profile SNL cast members eventually do, Fey would set her sights on feature films, their curiosity would soon be answered when it was announced that Fey would be writing and appearing in Mean Girls (2004), an adaptation of author Rosalind Wiseman's popular book Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Boyfriends and Other Realities of Adolescence.
In September and October 2008, Fey guest appeared on SNL to perform a serious of skits as Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. On the 34th season premiere episode, aired September 13, 2008, Fey imitated Palin in a sketch, alongside Amy Poehler as Hilary Clinton. Their repartee included Clinton needling Palin about her "Tina Fey glasses". The sketch quickly became NBC's most-watched viral videos ever, with 5.7 million views by the following Wednesday. Fey reprised this role on the October 4 show, and on the October 18 show where she was joined by the real Sarah Palin. The October 18 show had the best ratings of any SNL show since 1994.The following year Fey won an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Guest Actress In a Comedy Series for her impersonation of Palin.
After completing nine seasons as head writer, cast member and co-anchor of the "Weekend Update" segment on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." Fey became an Emmy winner and two-time Writers Guild Award winner for her writing on "Saturday Night Live."
Since her transition to being in front of the camera, she has won much acclaim, including being named The Associated Press' Entertainer of the Year in 2008, one of Entertainment Weekly's Entertainers of the Year, one of People Magazine's "Most Beautiful People" (three times), and one of Time magazine's "Prestigious Time 100."Tina Fey writes, executive produces and stars as Liz Lemon in NBC's two-time Emmy Award-winning comedy series 30 Rock, a workplace comedy where the workplace exists behind-the-scenes of a live variety show. Her performance as 'Liz Lemon' has earned Fey an Emmy, two Golden Globes, two SAG Awards and a People's Choice Award. This past year, 30 Rock was nominated for 17 Emmy Awards. 30 Rock"has earned her two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, a Golden Globe for Outstanding Comedy Series, a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, two Writers Guild Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series and two Producers Guild Awards. She has also won two Gracie Awards and a Made in New York Award.
Movie Review: The Time Traveler's Wife
by Sidra Veriatch
Movies based on books can be dangerous enterprises. The Time Traveler's Wife is no exception.
Based on a popular best- seller by Audry Niffenegger and directed by Robert Schwentke, The Time Traveler's Wife is a romance story wrapped up within a science fiction scenario .
Eric Bana plays Henry DeTamble, a research librarian from Chicago, who also suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Chrono Impairment. The disease causes him to vanish at any given moment and travel through time and space. He has been time-traveling since birth, and there are no known causes or cures for his condition. During all of his many travels, he keeps mysteriously returning to one person who is central to his life--Clare Abshire, who is played by Rachel McAdams.
Henry first meets Clare when she is only six years old. The older she grows and the more she sees Henry, she falls in love with him. She believes that they are destined to be together. While he's working at a library, he bumps into her again, and they fall in love when he realizes that he's met her somewhere before. They soon decide to get married and have children. Clare finally has a baby after several unfortunate miscarriages. She tries to build a normal life and family with Henry, especially challenging when dealing with the uncertainty of not knowing when he will vanish or re-appear. The movie showcases their love's struggle and desperate attempt at making the marriage work.
Henry tries to do his part by finding a geneticist to help his condition in hopes that he can lead a normal life; however, he soon realizes that his conditions is incurable. He can't change the past, present, future or his fate. He's stuck with the "disease" and must accept the bitter reality of leaving his friends and family with no warning and the life to which he will inevitably be transported. Juggling one reality is tough enough for most people, but two...?
Many people watched the movie after reading this fine novel, only to be crushed by the two dimensional compression of the storyline. The movie had hopes of being a touching, tear-jerker romance, but instead it leaves viewers confused. The movie doesn't explain why Henry can't change anything when he travels, which could leave people confused. If you think of the contradictions and logical difficulties involved, it's hard not to come out of the movie scratching your head.
The movie is rated PG-13 due to the several semi - nude scenes. And poor Henry loses all of his clothes each time he is ripped out of his present moment. Another reason for the PG-13 rating is from a birth scene when Clare delivers her baby. That scene might be a little too graphic for younger viewers. However, with some deft fast forwarding maneuvers with the remote, it's possible to enjoy this as a good family movie.
The plus side of the movie has to be the casting. Both Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams deliver stellar performances. They are likable together and manage to easily pull off the love connection they are supposed to have over their lifetime.
The Robert Schwentke directed film crams too much into the movie, and, to this writer, loses the beauty of the novel. We recommend watching the movie with some low expectations...or better yet, read the book. Since, as often happens, the page is sometimes livelier than the stage.
by Aaron Marks
This article is about none other than George Romero, the grand daddy of all zombie film makers. George Romero was born on February 4th, 1940 New York City. Before he made it to the big screen in living ghoulish color, Romero was directing banal commercials. One of his first commercial films was for Mister Rogers’s Neighborhood; Mister Rogers was getting a tonsillectomy which is very painful. Apparently, poor Mr. Roger's trip to the hospital got him thinking about the attack of zombies in the Pittsburgh area. And that is what started George Romero’s horror career.
In 1968, he made his first film the most renowned film, The Night of the Living Dead. He also made the commercial for Resident Evil 2 the video game. He also made the original Dawn of the Dead in 1978, but he was not involved in the remake in 2004. He also did Land of the Dead in 2006. This zombie film had the highest budget of his movies, a whopping $16 million. Romero has also has done many other movies, including The Crazies, There’s Always Vanilla, and Jack's Wife.
George Romero has been worked with many other famous people. For example, he and Stephen King are collaborating on The Creep Show, a collection of five different horror stories designed to frighten us into losing our popcorn.
George is one of the most celebrated movie makers of all time in the area of "cult films." He is credited with having started the beloved and much lampooned zombie movie craze. Before Shaun of the Dead let us chew on our funnybone, we feasted upon the zombie banquet known as Dawn of the Dead.
The Power of the Far Side: The Life of Gary Larson
by Brant Seal
Gary Larson was born August 14, 1950 in Tacoma, Washington. His father sold cars his mother was a secretary.
At a young age, Gary had a desire to draw. Even though his classmates preferred to draw tanks, cars and other machines, Gary drew animals. Gary didn’t take any drawing classes; he didn’t even expect to become an artist.
Once in high school, Gary concentrated on music and playing jazz on his guitar. After he graduated, Gary went college in Washington (Washington State College). At college he majored in communication. After college he hoped to do work in advertisement to get rid of the old and bring in the new and more interesting ones. While in college, he also took science classes.
After he graduated in 1972, he didn’t immediately start a career in advertisements. Instead he started a jazz band and during the day worked in a music store. Even though Gary had doubts in his music career, he still pursed it.
In 1976, Gary revived a sorely neglected hobby of drawing and sketched six cartoons. Gary submitted them to a local magazine and was surprised when they offered him $90 for the collection. Gary then managed to convince them for $3 for every weekly cartoon. In 1979, Gary was finally hired full time by the Seattle Times, drawing the feature cartoon “Natures Way”.
Gary didn’t stop at the publicity and money. Instead he drove to San Francisco and waited a full week in the receptionist area of the San Francisco Chronicle before being interviewed. To Gary’s surprise, the Chronicle wanted him to do a cartoon called “The Far Side” for thirty issues around the country. When Gary retuned home he found a letter saying that the Seattle Times had dropped his cartoon due to too many complaints of dark, bizarre humor.
As it turns out, the quirky and sometimes bizarre humor was just what the American public began to appreciate more and more. The Far Side cartoon gained in popularity, appearing in more newspapers even though some controversy still continued in its tracks. By 1983, the cartoon was being published in 80 papers, but the figures jumped to 200 in 1985. At its zenith, Larson’s “gallery” made it into 20,000 different newspapers in 17 different languages.
In 1987, Gary married an archeologist named Toni Carmichel. Starting in 1988 and continuing for about fourteen months , ary took a long vacation from drawing cartoons. He spent more time with his wife, playing the guitar and traveling the world. When Gary got back, he negotiated his way to draw five cartoons instead of seven.
Gary decided to retire from drawing cartoons on January 1, 1995. For fourteen years, the Far Side legacy generated loyal fans and thousands of books. Gary went to make two movies even though he is retired. The two movies are “Tales from the Far Side” I and II. Today, Gary is still in retirement and spending lots of time with his family. But the Far Side cartoon books continue to sell like hotcakes at an all-you-can eat ant picnic.
There are many fan sites on the Internet. You might enjoy this one.
Create - a - Caption Poll and Contest !
by the Silhouette Staff
One of the most popular websites on the Internet is I Can Has Cheezburger, an interactive website that specializes in "posterizing" cats in their--or their owners-- most psychologically revealing moments. We will be doing a feature article on for the next issue. We thought it might be fun to host a "create a caption contest" and have the student body vote on the caption they like best. You may need to click and zoom on the photos here for a larger view.
So to kick things off, vote on the best caption you like for the first picture (the bassett hound in the air) based on entries from our Journalism class. The choices are given below courtesy members of the Period 1 Journalism class.
And for the second picture (the "singing" cat), turn in your entries to Mr. Farrelly by writing them down and turning them in to him in Room 586. We will pick the best five and then in our Winter issue, allow the student body to vote on the best captions. This will be open to students and faculty alike.
If your pets at home would like to star in one of these contests, please send us a pic as long as they fit the bill. .
And for your own creative captions, may I introduce to you.....
