Many of you may not have heard of coltan, but you have it in your cell phones, laptops, pagers and other electronic devices. It is important for everyday communication in the Western World, but it is creating instability and strife in the Congo region.

The image on the right displays Columbite-tantalite (Coltan for short) being mined by a teenage boy. It is a common practice in the Congo and in neighboring Uganda, to use young children to mine this substance. Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, the subject of a massive 2012 campaign to publicize his crimes, used children to mine this high-value mineral.

SEE COLTAN PAGE 2

Volume 46 Issue 8

November 25, 2013

outlookpress.netRockland Community College

Legendary cricket player Sachin Tendulkar played his last international test match

on November 18, against West Indies in his home city

of Mumbai.

“It’s hard for me to imagine a life without playing cricket because it’s all I have ever done since I was 11 years

old.”

SportS 18

“My father and I looked around the mall, feeling dazed, confused, and

disbelieving.”

opinionS 6

As if Black Friday wasn’t bad enough, stores will now

be available for people to shop in on the one day we should all have off to relax and be with the people we love.

“Receiving a thumbs up from moviegoers everywhere, ‘About Time’ is a silly yet heartwarming film starring

Rachel McAdams, Domhnall Gleeson, and Bill Nighy.”

Style 13

Was time travel ever needed for Tim to enjoy his

everyday life?

Lisa Rino, Student

Anuj Chokshi, Student

Suzanne Peguero, Student

Maneuvering down the walking, jogging and bicycling fitness trail at Nyack Beach State Park a few days after Hurricane Sandy was an eerie experience. The popular path was literally washed away during Hurricane Sandy, the fall 2012 regional “storm of the century.” Thanks to efforts made by several groups, the park is now restored to a safe and fully usable condition.

The high usage path, nearby trails and surrounding parking lots, which also give angling, hiking and picnicking access at Nyack Beach State Park were rendered unusable and dangerous from the storm surge caused by Hurricane Sandy last fall.

The battered path, which runs along the Hudson River from Upper

Nyack to Rockland Lake State Park, was partially re-opened in the spring; final repairs to the gravel pathway and parking lots were completed in the summer months. The New York State Parks Department, private companies and many volunteers worked up to 10 hours a day, six days a week to complete trail repairs and make park improvements.

Due to its beauty and accessibility, the park has 150,000 annual visitors w h o incorporate their fitness and nature-v i e w i n g r o u t i n e with the N y a c k B e a c h Path. “The p a r k i n g lot had

its pavement torn up, picnic tables were nearly in the water and the trees were either out of the ground or completely uprooted and unsafely hanging over the trail,” said Emily Selover, a Congers resident who frequents the path. The gravel walking surface along the path was washed away by the storm and replaced by hard-to-maneuver filler rocks, up-rooted trees and mounds of dirt and sand.

Finding volunteers to help restore the park to pre-Sandy conditions was no m a j o r challenge for the New York State

Parks Department. Specific days for volunteers to replant trees and resurface the trail alongside paid workers were announced and help from the community was called for. Volunteers worked with NYS Parks Department staff in Nyack Beach State Park to restore the trail and repair the park, spending a snow, sleet and rain-filled day re-planting the up-rooted trees that line the parking lot and trail. Selover was among the volunteers and said the uncomfortable weather was no major concern; “I get to use the path all the time, now that it’s been destroyed I feel good about being able to help out the cause to restore it.”

Volunteers provided basic but necessary labor, while hired crews worked on “building a gabion wall

SEE NYACK PARK PAGE 3

Stronger Than the Storm: Nyack Beach & Hook Mountain

Coltan Destabilizes an Entire Region, And Children Pay the Price

Jeffery JosephContributing Writer

Grant JardineContributing Writer

Student PressOutlook

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COLTAN FROM PAGE 1

Coltan is a dull metallic ore that is used to power circuit boards on almost all electronic devices. This material is located in the eastern Congo, which borders Uganda. The recent boom in technology caused the price of coltan to increase tremendously. Electronic and cell phone companies such as Apple, Sony, and Nokia are using this material. However, such demand causes the local warlords of the Congo Region to take advantage of the natural resource.

A controversial U.N. Security Council report recently outlined the alleged exploitation of natural resources, including coltan, from Congo by other countries involved in the current conflicts in the region.

Companies are taking advantage of the war that is going on by helping rebels smuggle the coltan illegally, according to the U.N. Such strife is not contributing to any solution. In the end, it is the companies and the warlords that benefit, based on their profits.

An example of such is seen with Joseph Kony, who was making children work in coltan mining operations. It was not until a group known as Kony 2012 brought his infamous actions to light that the issue was popularly acknowledged.

Kony, one of the world’s most wanted criminals, is currently on the run from the Ugandan government. He is believed to be

in hiding somewhere in the Congo.Jason Joseph, a student from Tappan

College, notes that Kony is just one face of the coltan-related abuses in the Central African area.

“I think this is my biggest problem with the people who became so obsessed with

the “Stop Kony 2012” nonsense in 2012,” he said. “It really didn’t do anything, it’s like they don’t really understand the situation that is really going on in the Congo. Even if Kony is somehow stopped, he has successors.”

The mining of coltan is currently Affecting residents of the Congo area;

many are expected to starve because of it. The land that should be used for agricultural purposes is instead being used for mining purposes. Mountain gorillas are also suffering from the situation because mining operations are destroying their habitat in Kahuzi Biega National Park.

The problem starts with the fact that no one seems to care about the fate of Congo

residents and the Congo area itself; not to mention all the illegal activity that circulates around the mining of coltan. In order to stop such disorder, we must be knowledgeable of the things that are happening in our world, and be proactive.

Coltan Mining Destabilizes Central Africa

3

November 25, 2013 News

COLTAN FROM PAGE 1 to protect portions of the trail from erosion” stated the NYS Parks Department. New York State invested an additional $930,000 to rebuild Nyack Beach State Park.

Following the completion of repairs, Governor Cuomo announced the reopening of the park in a New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation press release. Showing gratitude for the park’s many improvements, he stated, “This trail in

Nyack Beach State Park suffered considerable damage from the storm [Hurricane Sandy] and I am pleased to announce it is now back to its pre-storm condition. New Yorkers can once again fully enjoy the trail, which is a great outlet for healthy recreation along the Hudson

River.” Whether walking, bicycling, fishing or

picnicking, everyone who enjoys the park can

be grateful for the efforts of many to restore the river trail. Thanks to everyone who worked on repairs and reconstruction, the popular Nyack

Beach State Park is once again open for use and (hopefully not too much more) abuse, but either way, we can handle it.

Nyack State Park Recovers

The Student Government Association is always up to something new that in some way benefits RCC students like you! The SGA at RCC has a plethora of new ideas, activities and recourses lined up for the 2013-2014 school year. Furthermore, all students at RCC can get involved to help make their (as well as their peers) college experience at RCC worthwhile.

SUNY RCC’s SGA comprises of a group of devoted students that demonstrate leadership roles and use such skills to represent and voice the necessities of RCC students; they want to ensure that RCC students have fantastic educational as well as school/community involvement opportunities. More than a half a million dollars in Student Activity Fees allotted to numerous clubs and events on campus are overlooked by the SGA of Rockland Community College as well.

While the semester is coming to a close, most SGA activities and events are running their course with the help of SUNY RCC’s Student Activities Board and Student Involvement; one of which is the Toy Drive. Students of RCC are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys/gifts to Student Involvement in the Student Union, which are then given to the Rockland County Social Services and The Suffern PBA Annual D.A.R.E Toy Drive to supply less fortunate children in our community

for the holiday season. The deadline to bring toys and gifts is December 14, 2013. Additionally, the Blood Drive, in association with Good Samaritan Hospital, which took place on November 19, 2013 in the Student Union, was another SGA event in which students were given the opportunity to get involved in their community, and possibly save a life.

Fortunately, ideas for spring 2014 activities and events are flourishing among SGA members. In the Spring

2014 semester, they plan to co-host a cancer carnival with other Rockland County colleges such as Nyack College, Dominican College, and St. Thomas Aquinas College. The event will be open to the Rockland County community and

will take place at RCC. Not only do they hope to get some donations, they want to spread awareness about the different types of cancers and ways the communities can help cancer victims. Let’s also not forget that new discount cards are coming to RCC in January 2014. The current discount card is two dollars and can be bought in Student Involvement. Some of the establishments that are discounted with the card include the following: Dave and Busters, Subway, McDonalds, Fridays, Dominos, Bagel

Boys, Salad Works, Dairy Queen, Pizza Hut, and Planet Wings. The new stores that will be added onto the discount card are still under discussion.

Why not be a part of this fulfilling process and have a direct influence on the

success of your peer’s college experience? SGA is seeking new members for the spring 2014 and fall 2014 semester who demonstrate leadership qualities and have creative and helpful ideas for RCC! For those who are freshman and/or sophomores and want to run for a freshman senator or sophomore senator position, you must have completed at least 24 credits at RCC and have a 2.66 GPA. To run for an executive position which includes the following: President, Vice President,

Secretary, Board of Trustees Representative, and Student Activities Board Chair, one must have completed 24 credits at RCC and have a 2.75 GPA. Maritza Mendoza, president of Student Government Association, says, “If you meet the criteria, why not join? It’s a great way to voice your opinions, make a difference in the school and fluff up your resume.”

Ready or not, here comes the SGA! They’re constantly doing their best to ensure that you have a successful and purposeful experience at RCC. It’s important that you as RCC students do your part by participating in any events or activities they host; why not try and run for position too! Who knows, you could be the next person to make the decision of the semester that could have a long-lasting impact on RCC;

not to mention, decorate your transcript and be an essential part of the reason why RCC students really enjoy their college experience. That’s pretty great, right? The saying goes “You’re always up to no good.” Well, the SGA is always up to no bad.

Sienna JeffriesStaff Writer

SGA Strikes Again

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Typhoon Haiyan made landfall with the Philippines and left quickly afterwards, but the effects from its devastation will be felt for a long time. Haiyan, known as Yolanda, in the Philippines, is one of the deadliest typhoons in the country’s history. With the death toll to increase further as more bodies are found from

the wreckage, the storm may become the deadliest storm in the country’s history. Another of the country’s deadliest typhoons—Typhoon Bopha—hit the country less than a year ago.

Haiyan hit the central and southern parts of the Philippines as a Category 5 super typhoon. Winds were observed at speeds up to 315 km/hour (195 mph). These wind speeds made Haiyan the fourth most intense tropical cyclone ever observed.

When Haiyan made landfall with the archipelago country, these wind speeds made it the strongest tropical cyclone ever to make landfall. To put it into perspective, Haiyan had winds 70 mph higher than Hurricane Katrina when it made landfall with New Orleans.

The strong storm highlights a tough couple of months for the country. Last month, a devastating earthquake killed over 200 people and left thousands homeless. The location of the earthquake was in the typhoon’s path of destruction.

Prior to the typhoon making landfall, President Benigno Aquino stated his administration had made war-like preparations. Planes from the national air force, as well as ships and helicopters

from the navy, were on standby to aid once it was time.

Haiyan has killed over 3,500 people so far, with many more expected as wreckage continues to be cleaned. President Aquino estimated that the final death toll may be in excess of 10,000. Many cities and towns in the typhoon’s paths were destroyed. In Surigao City, over 11 inches of rain fell in just 12 hours. In the province of Leyte, Tacloban City faced storm surges of 17 feet.

Tacloban C i t y , p e r h a p s the most f e a t u r e d city among the media, has been d e s c r i b e d as a war zone by witnesses. W i t h m i l i t a r y p e r s o n n e l and aid e n t e r i n g into the city amid the destruction, t h e

description is fit. With disorder in the city, and complaints that aid has not arrived, looting has spread. Grocery stores, convenience stores, and gas stations were seen being emptied by affected citizens.

Tacloban City is not the only area in the hurricane’s path in dire need of aid. Even with the preparation by the government for Haiyan, many people still need help. There are many places where people have been affected and aid has been slow to arrive. Multiple media sources have reported many affected by Haiyan lack basic necessities, such as food, water, and shelter.

According to the United Nations, approximately 11 million people have been affected. Of these 11 million, many of them have been left homeless by the typhoon. Estimates

of the damage caused by Haiyan exceed US $1 billion.

Because of the catastrophic damage caused by Haiyan, many groups have sent aid to the southeast Asian country. The United Nations and World Health Organization have sent members to aid in the recovery and aid efforts.

Canada sent US $5 million to the Philippines, and will match any donations by Canadians into next month. Members of the Disaster Assistance Response

Team, a team of Canadian Forces personnel, were sent to the country to conduct search and rescue operations in the affected regions, using a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III from the Royal Canadian Air Force. Mexico sent US $1 million to the country, and Chile sent humanitarian aid to the Philippines.

Australia, pledged AUS $10 million to the country. New Zealand also pledged money to the Philippines, worth NZ $2.1

million.The United States has sent $20 million

so far to the country in aid, including food and other necessities. The Pacific Command was sent to the Philippines to help in the efforts. The USS George Washington and USNS Mercy have been sent to the country to help in conducting search and rescue missions, as well as in delivering relief supplies and general aid.

Vietnam, another country hit by the typhoon sent US $100,000 to its southeast Asian neighbor in aid. The Vietnamese Red Cross has also been active in relief, accepting donations. China, another country hit by Haiyan, sent US $200,000. In addition, China has sent $1.4 million worth of relief supplies to the country.

Hong Kong postponed the proposed economic sanctions on the country. Taiwan sent $200,000 to the Philippines. Japan sent humanitarian assistance, as well as a team from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the country. Singapore sent approximately US $345,000 in humanitarian aid. India sent 15 tons of

material to aid in the recovery efforts.From further west, Saudi Prince

Talal bin Abdul Aziz sent US $100,000 to the Philippines, and the president of the United Arab Emirates sent US $10,000,000.

From Europe, countries have been generous in their aid. Great Britain has sent supplies worth over US $16,000,000 to the Philippines, along with numerous armed forces personnel and equipment.

The Irish government sent over 100 tons to the country, along with US $1.5 million. The European Union gave $4.5 million in relief efforts. Germany sent 23 tons worth of supplies.

Norway sent 65 million NOK, or approximately US $10.6 million. Along with the financial aid, 70 tons of c o m m u n i c a t i o n equipment was sent to the Philippines. Donations through texting by the country’s citizens totaled over $3.2 million. Norwegian ships brought over

100 tons of supplies.While the total amount of supplies

may seem high, it still is not enough for the devastation left by Haiyan. Many organizations such as Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association are making their own efforts in helping the country. The Empire State Building was lit in the national colors of the Philippines, expressing their support for the country.

The Philippines was heavily devastated by the typhoon, and the damage assessed will likely increase in the upcoming months as more information is revealed. Archbishop Antonio Tagle of the Philippines declared days of prayer for fellow Filipinos.

With potentially over 10,000 lives lost and another tens of thousands of lives devastated by the typhoon, the road to recovery will be a long one for the country. Right now, all the Philippines can do is look to build its way back up from one of the worst national disasters in history.

Daniel TagleStaff Writer

Haiyan Leaves Philippines Devastated

November 25, 2013 Features

5

The moon comes out, the store lights come on, and the doors open up; it’s time to let in the overly excited shoppers with their minds set on one goal: buying as much as they can, for as little as they can. The night every shopper waits for, and the night mall employees absolutely dread… our beloved Black Friday. With exclusive sales and tons of deals, the Palisades Mall will be a zoo beginning at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving night.

For those working in retail, Black Friday is absolutely chaotic. The Palisades Mall becomes swamped with people, rushing and running towards the stores that open their doors first.

In case you fit into the category of the Black Friday shopper, here are some tips to help you survive the craziest day of the year.

Head out as early as you can. If you happen to believe in “early bird gets the worm,” well, bingo. The earlier you wake

up and leave, the better the parking space and the more selection inside the stores! According to online sources, Black Friday is beginning to happen earlier and earlier each year. Palisades Mall stores will be opening at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving night, earlier than the previous years.

Be sure to wear layers… things will get sweaty. Wearing the proper clothing

for Black Friday is everything. You want to look cute, but at 5 a.m., is that really a possibility? Be sure to wear layers! A vest on top of a sweater with a scarf and

t-shirt is perfect. Wear clothing that is easy to peel right off during those sweaty encounters with lines longer than the Great Wall of China.

Put on that pair of running sneakers… constant trips to the car are likely! With all of the sales and stores full of merchandise that is most likely going to catch your eye, whip out those Nikes

so you are able to walk quickly back and forth to the car! Most shoppers on Black Friday move very quickly and want to rush to the next store. Sneakers will be

your best bet for those darts from store to store.

Short people beware… Prepare to be stepped on. With the immense amounts of people, make sure you are aware that shoppers are not afraid to get aggressive. Here’s when those sneakers come in handy so that your toes don’t get broken. Your best bet is to steer clear of those speed

racers zooming around the mall! They have a mission, and you being in their way is not part of it.

Sign up for newsletters and promotional emails before hand. Black Friday is all about being prepared, and going online to your favorite store websites before you go shopping is a great idea. The website will most likely offer you to sign up for their emails; do it! It will save you time inside the store scrolling through your phone searching for a promotional code, aggravating the line of people behind you. Not only will you be prepared at checkout to show your

email, but the email will most likely have a discount code to get money off of your purchase. May the odds be forever in your favor!

Lisa RinoContributing Writer

How to Shop This Black Friday

Mike Vasilik Freshman

What three things would you like to do before you die?

“Hmm… Visit the country I always wanted to go to: China , sky-diving and

scuba diving.”

Does life fascinate you? Why?“Yes, because the amount of things you

can do in a lifetime is incredible.”

Jeffrey Mathew Sophomore

What is your dream job?“My dream job is to own a cyber-

security company and give my maximum in stopping cyber crime.”

If you have a chance, how would you cure world hunger?

“I would take out 20% to 30% of funding I get from the company I would be making up, and would donate to respective

charitable trusts.”

Michael C. AnthonyHypnotist on campus

How did you get fascinated in doing magic?

“Well, my uncle was a stage Hypnotist and that’s how I got fascinated about magic, but I started doing card tricks

and different magic tricks when I was a kid and that’s how I got fascinated about entertaining people, so since then I am

doing magic for 17 years.”

Krystal NugentSophomore

What is your dream job?“My dream job at the moment is to be

in a dealership, I major in Automotive and I am working on my way to be a service consultant on the professional fields.”

Did you get any kick start in your field?

“Well, I was an intern at Mercedes Benz.”

Anuj ChokshiPhotography Editor

On Thanksgiving day, many stores across the country will be open for Christmas shopping. As if Black Friday wasn’t bad enough, stores will now be available for people to shop in on the one day we should all have off to relax and be with the people we love. This day has been tainted by capitalism.

I have gone out during Black Friday only once in my life. I wanted to get a friend a particular gift, and my father saw that it was on sale that day. Not knowing what I was really getting into, I agreed, and we drove off to the mall, planning to just buy that gift and leave. This was not what happened. We got to the mall, and then proceeded to spend a good 20 to 30 minutes looking for a place to park. By the time we found a spot to put the car, we were already in an incredibly foul mood. We then entered the mall. My father and

I looked around the mall, feeling dazed, confused, and disbelieving. There were people everywhere, frantically scurrying around to get the “best deals” on their Christmas gifts (which was still an entire

month away), with exasperated, exhausted expressions on their faces. We looked at each other a moment, deciding whether

or not we wanted to go through with this, and then made the decision to just buy it and leave. Two and a half hours later, we emerged with the gift, and several other things we did not initially intend to buy

(which we didn’t actually need, and later felt stupid for buying). We ran to our car, jumped in, and made a solemn vow

never to go to the mall on a Black Friday again.

Some people I know genuinely enjoy shopping on Black Friday. I do not see why. In my family, both Thanksgiving and the

day afterward is the time we are able to be with each other and not scattered in several different places. What we do isn’t some strange, unheard of practice; this was how Thanksgiving used to be for people. However, thanks to capitalism and America’s compulsive need to consume (which is one of the reasons we are in such a great debt), it has turned into a day where you hurriedly scarf down your dinner, take your shopping list and go out to buy Christmas gifts (which, I repeat, is still an entire month away). The implication of this is that we care more about buying things than we do about our family. Is this true? Do we care so little about our family that we just leave in the middle of dinner to get a good deal? I don’t know if

this is the case with every family--I hope it isn’t--but sadly it is beginning to look that way.

Suzanne PegueroManaging Editor

Black Friday: Seventh Circle of Retail HellOpinions November 25, 2013

�

Outlook Student Press

Outlook Student Press is published every other week except during exam periods and summer. It is an independent newspaper produced by students and paid for by advertising revenue and student activities fees. Submissions and articles become the property of Outlook Student Press. Outlook Student Press invites you to submit your opinions and ideas for publication. We strongly encourage letters to the editor.Content does not necessarily reflect the views of the Outlook editors or staff. Submissions may be edited for clarity, length, style, and taste. Outlook does not accept anonymous submissions.

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Snail mail:Outlook Student PressRockland Community College145 College Road, Suffern, NY 10901

Professor Fuentes, Advisor

Marina Watts, Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Peguero, Managing Editor Julie DeVito, Production Manager

Anuj Chokshi, Photography EditorBenedict Tagle, Sports EditorIan Quinn, News Editor

Contributors: Grant Jardine, Jeffery Joseph, Lisa Rino, John Delfel, Nicole Hirschler, Danish L. Men-donca

Staff: Sienna Jefferies, Daniel Tagle, Valissa Hicks

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE

Thanksgiving food?.....

Like to write? E-mail us at outlookstudentpress@gmail.com

Ian Quinn

Marina Watts

Suzanne Peguero

Benedict Tagle

I love all the food. It’s impossible to have a favorite when the table is laden with so many good things. How are you supposed to pick just one? Thanksgiving is the holiday when I celebrate food induced comas. After the big meal, I eat until I’m a useless heap of life, unable to move one muscle. And then comes round two. Once I’m recovered from the first go around, I attack as if I haven’t eaten in days. It’s just too delicious. The next day, I feel so heavy and fat. But it was all worth it.

Asking me to name a favorite Thanksgiving food is like asking me to name a favorite band; I can’t just name one! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year--I like it even more than Christmas--and one of the reasons that is so is because of the food. Thanksgiving food is probably the most delicious food one can eat, and the fact that you can only get it once a year makes it even more delectable. Some of my favorites include turkey and stuffing (of course) scalloped potatoes, and a Puerto-Rican style shrimp people often prepare in my family. However, the thing I always look forward to is apple pie. You just can’t beat it.

My favorite Thanksgiving food is pumpkin pie. Topped off with a scoop of ice cream, or some whipped cream (or both), it is the quintessential fall dessert. Over the years it has become a major part of the dessert my family and I will eat after we feast on turkey, stuffing, vegetables, the whole nine yards. Dessert is the perfect finish to a good meal, especially before we all hit food-coma-mode in front of the TV to watch football. What better way is there to do it than with pumpkin pie? There was this one year where everyone who gathered with us brought pumpkin pie, limiting our dessert choices. The next year, no one brought pumpkin pie. It was, by far, the most disappointing Thanksgiving yet.

It is difficult to rank one food above the rest on the Thanksgiving table. I would argue that the exceptional quality of a Thanksgiving meal lies in the combination of a wide variety of dishes. Despite this opinion, I still have a favorite. To me, stuffing is what defines a Thanksgiving meal. I encounter every other type of food in many situations throughout the year. Turkey sandwiches, baked potatoes (sweet and regular), and steamed vegetables are all foods that I eat on a regular basis for either lunch or dinner. I have never heard of stuffing being served at any other time besides Thanksgiving day. The most probable reason for this is that it is used primarily to stuff the turkey. However, I prefer to eat it out of a bowl, smothered in gravy. If it were up to me, stuffing would be served year round in restaurants, cafeterias, and food stands throughout the world.

November 25, 2013 Opinions

Satire November 25, 2013

8

“Steroids and other performance enhancing drugs are ruining sports!” This statement has been oft-repeated among anti-steroid groups. Even the government agrees, with Congress participating in hearings against the use of performance enhancing drugs in baseball.

However, it looks as if PED usage may see an increase. “Well, let’s look at the history of steroids,” said an anonymous official from the world governing body of kickball. “Lance Armstrong at the zenith of his abilities brought an incredible amount of media attention to road cycling. With the increased popularity of the sport, came numerous sponsors. With more sponsors comes more money. How can anyone be against the growth of a sport and increased fiscal revenue?”

Kickball, a sport most frequently played among elementary school children on playgrounds, is trying to break into the mainstream sports world. With various ideas being played around with, it looks as if the most popular option is the introduction of steroids.

Anonymous sources within the

governing body of kickball are reporting that the recent rejuvenation of sports such as road cycling and baseball are the sport’s sources of inspiration.

“Cycling had its run of glory with Armstrong. Even when he was retired from the sport, cycling still garnered attention b e c a u s e of the accusations of rampant PED usage. To be honest, that would be great for our sport—even when our biggest stars retire, we’ll still have eyes on our game,” stated the anonymous o f f i c i a l f r o m k ickba l l’s gover n ing body.

W h i l e the plan

of introducing steroids is not yet set in stone, there are a few leading favorites for the new policy. One option the governing body is considering is mandatory PED usage. Before each sanctioned game of kickball, players would be tested for PED u s a g e .

To be eligible to

participate in the game for their team, players must meet the

required amount of steroids in their body.“We would love to increase the amount

of attention on the sport, but we want to try keep the playing field as level as possible,” said the anonymous kickball official. “That’s why we want everybody to have PEDs.”

This policy seems to be a favorite among players. Sipat Malayo, one of the current stars in the game, is heavily in favor of

the proposed policy. “When I first heard about it, I had my doubts,” he said. “However, the more I think about it, the more I warm up to the idea of this happening. Let’s look at Lance A r m s t r o n g . Who was he before he started winning the Tour de France? He

was me, some athlete the media didn’t care about. However, when he started using PEDs, they helped him dominate the sport. With winning came endorsement deals, a foundation, and fame. He became a millionaire. Imagine that happening to me in kickball. It sure sounds enticing. I

wouldn’t mind risking my body in order to dominate the sport and to become a millionaire. How’s that any different from today’s football players? They’re out there, trying to knock each other’s head off. They’re facing potential brain-related, life-threatening issues. Are steroids any worse?”

“The truth of the matter is that in order to grow bigger as a sport, we need something that the media will write about. Something that will turn eyeballs onto the sport. Look at the three biggest sports in the United States—baseball, basketball, and football. Baseball brought the home run back, increasing popularity. Football and basketball have had a sudden surge in their

popularity in the past two decades. During these last two decades, rumors of steroid usage have also popped up in those sports. Coincidence? I don’t know,” said

Malayo.Kickball is not the only sport that

seems to be willing to move in this new direction. Many of the more obscure sports are leaning toward the idea of being more lenient toward PED usage.

“When I first heard the rumblings of the potential new PED policy of kickball, I thought they were crazy. But are they really? The sports world is just another version of business. We’re actually talking

about our own version of a new PED policy right now,” said a n anonymous official from the world governing body of crab soccer.

“Look at track and field. Have they really suffered from the use of steroids? When we see Usain Bolt running, the whole world forgets about the history of the sport. He becomes the most popular man in the entire world,” the official said.

According to anonymous sources within crab soccer’s governing body, a new PED policy will “allow” usage of steroids. They will not be illegal in sanctioned play for the next five years, to attract new fans to the sport. After those five years, crab soccer will have their own version of the Mitchell Report. Any players caught with PEDs will be ousted.

“Sure our version of the policy may sound odd, but it will work. We’ll have the immediate satisfaction of increased popularity. When we slam these players five years from now, hopefully we can get Congress to join in on our fun. They’ve done it before for baseball, so why not crab soccer? With it we will transcend sports. Not only will ESPN, Fox Sports, and NBC Sports Network cover the ‘mind-blowing’ happenings, we’ll have CNN and BBC reporting—government intervention will speed up crab soccer’s introduction to the mainstream world exponentially,” the official from the sport’s governing body said, sporting a smug smile.

These lesser-known sports are desperate, and are looking for any way to increase popularity. When ESPN is broadcasting the World Series of Poker and advertising it as an actual sport, but not crab soccer or kickball, it raises concerns among the sports’ governing bodies.

“We need TV time. It brings in revenue and popularity to the sport,” said the crab soccer official. “How is poker getting air time, but not an actual athletic competition? That’s ridiculous. Even video games have their own

channel! If poker is on

ESPN and ESPN2, crab soccer’s equivalent would

be around ESPN29. If we want to be considered seriously, we need a shot in the arm,” he said, smiling at his pun.

More sports and events are leaning toward PED usage. Chess is considering a pre-match sprint between the two competitors, determining who moves first. This would allow for the introduction of PEDs into the game. Billiards is considering an arm-wrestling contest between the two competitors prior to each set, determining who breaks. All governing bodies are looking for some way to introduce steroids, so they can hopefully reap the benefits later down the road.

“We need this,” said Malayo. “I wouldn’t be surprised if other groups follow. Chess and hockey were most popular when the Cold War was still alive and well. America beating the Soviet Union was media attention gold for those two. Unfortunately, the sports’ governing bodies don’t have the power to cause nationalistic rivalries. This is the next best thing.”

Benedict TagleSports Editor

Sports Governing Bodies Approve PED Usage

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November 25, 2013 Satire

“Romeo and Juliet” is one of the most adapted plays, whether onstage or the silver screen. Many directors have tried to make the timeless story appeal to the masses. Nothing is like Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film adaptation of the classic tragedy. The violent and excessive façade Luhrmann creates for his audiences truly seizes what William Shakespeare tries to convey. Love is a

violent thing, and we shouldn’t fall in love because it can and will kill us.

Taking place in contemporary Verona Beach, Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Juliet (Clare Danes) are the “star-cross’d lovers” who fall irrevocably in love. In fact, they are so in love that the only way to rid of them of their sickening happiness is to kill themselves.

They first meet at a costume party that the Capulets are (Juliet’s family) hosting. Hyped up on ecstasy, Romeo and his friends Mercutio (Harold Perrineau) and Benvolio (Dash Mihok) crash the party. When looking through a fish tank on his way to the restroom, Romeo spies Juliet across the way. Not even knowing her name he declares he is in love with her. To love someone without knowing who they are (“what’s in a name?”) is when you know it’s real.

Upon this brief meeting, they decide to get married secretly, and become entangled in the deaths of respective family members in gang fights throughout Verona Beach. Unsure of how to escape this

madness, they plan together to fake their own deaths and run away together. There is a plot twist, however---they don’t make it out alive. They actually die. Alas, it’s a tragedy for a reason after all…

This film is a true cinematic treasure. It lacks in everything Renaissance as far as scenery and costume go. Instead of the beautiful Verona Shakespeare speaks of, this film takes place in a contemporary beach town,

where the Capulet and M o n t a g u e families feud over business empires. It’s so much more hip than silly Verona in Italy. Scenes taking place in churches filled with neon crosses and crumbled buildings throughout this ghetto town really proves that it doesn’t matter where you live. Anyone can be Romeo or Juliet.

Instead of swords and daggers, our characters walk around the street sporting guns. So tasteful, especially considering the current events going on. With such a wonderful setting,

why would we dress up in robes and tights? That may distract from the beautiful scenery. Instead, characters wear Hawaiian tourist shirts and contemporary clothing, making it all the more relatable to us.

The dialogue is the only thing from Shakespeare’s time that comes to the silver screen, and that’s all we need. The pen is greater than the sword, no?

This film proves that no matter how terrible the location, how exaggerated the characters are portrayed, it is indeed possible to keep Shakespeare alive.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Clare Danes performed like classic Shakespearean trained actors in this film, which is a shame. Their passion and articulation was completely anachronistic and just didn’t work with everything going on. They recited everything in perfect verse and iambic pentameter, and it got annoying after a while, even though they are the stars of the film, I guess. It’s pretty clear why Leo doesn’t have an Oscar. With a performance like this early in a career, no one could become an Oscar winner. They would be the only reason not to see the film.

Paul Rudd, who plays Paris, Juliet’s suitor, really is the one who steals the show. If it wasn’t for this film, his acting career would have never taken off. If Leo had gotten as minimal screen time as Mr. Rudd did, maybe Leo would have gotten somewhere in his life.

It also captures the essence of gang life, which grabs the attention of the MTV generation it targets. If we

focused on the language and not on all the anachronistic aspects, it would be difficult to understand what is going on with the plot. All the violence, guns, and fighting adds to the backdrop Shakespeare is able to provide us. In fact, Luhrmann covers it all up so well in this film, that at points we even forget we are watching “Romeo and Juliet.” Instead, we are viewing a true work of art.

The best part of the movie is the fact that it’s an abridged telling of “Romeo and Juliet.” All the unimportant parts are cut out, probably the boring ones, and plot details are shifted at the end, this way audiences are less confused. What brilliant liberty taken by the director! With this artistic licensing move, now we can cut right to violent and sexual aspects. Not the passion or the underlying lessons, but the more visual parts of the film.

If it wasn’t for this film, no high school or college student would ever want to read anything William Shakespeare wrote again. This film makes it all seem more relatable to us. After my first viewing, I was amazed.

I was able to relate to every dysfunctional character in the film. I just knew from that moment on, all directors are doing it wrong. Kenneth Branagh’s adaptations of “Hamlet” and “Much Ado About Nothing” are far below what Luhrmann does. In fact, he should take a lesson from Baz Luhrmann, the renaissance man of the silver screen.

This is possibly the best adaptation I have ever seen; “Romeo + Juliet” is truly a film everyone should watch. It will transform your views on Shakespearean literature faster than you can say “Wherefore art thou, Romeo?”

Marina WattsEditor In Chief

How to Shakespeare: Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet

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November 25, 2013 Style & Entertainment

Making a movie is no easy task. Regardless of the genre, it is difficult to complete; oftentimes certain ones bring tedious challenges. Time traveling

films are no exception. They stand in a category of their own, even though some may lean more towards a science fiction

background, as opposed to something more along the line of historical fiction.

Time travel films have to stay consistent throughout, however. They normally set up rules to the traveling, such as how long you can stay in the past or future for, or how you personally are affected by it. Some films fail to follow along the guidelines set up, however, which is why the second “Back to the Future” film didn’t work out so well. If you follow the rules though, it eliminates room for error and keeps a film from looking sloppy.

My love of films ranges from the old classics to the new mainstream films. Genres from sappy love movies to the intense apocalyptic films that make you grip your arm rests upon viewing. Time travel films always intrigue me, since directors take their own approaches for each. Here are some of my favorite ones:

“Midnight in Paris”This 2011 Woody Allen movie, shows

that if you get drunk enough in Paris, you can stumble into another time period. At least, that kind of fantasy is born from this film. Gil (Owen Wilson), an aspiring writer, finds himself transported back in time to 1920s Paris after a wine tasting one evening in France. The arts flourished in this city, as Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Picasso, and other figures documented their

exper iences. An excellent time travel film, as it teaches the lesson Gil l e a r n s - - -“The present is…a little unsat isfying because life is unsatisfying.” With an all-star cast, b e a u t i f u l s c e n e r y t h r o u g h o u t France, and an excellent s t o r y l i n e , “Midnight in Paris” will leave you

wanting to travel back in time to the birthplace of

the modern arts.“Back to the Future”

Imagine you could travel back in time, and prevent your parents from meeting and falling for one another, thus jeopardizing your entire existence. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd star in this film, where a plutonium powered car transports Marty (Fox) back to the 1950s. Anything he does to avert his parents from meeting affects his future, as Doctor Brown’s (Lloyd) messing with the space-time continuum creates the quintessential atmosphere for time travel films. The

butterfly effect becomes the name of the

game, as this concept sets the standards for all time travelers, helping them recognize the consequences of hopping from year to year. If you haven’t seen it yet, you better Netflix it ASAP.

“Kate and Leopold”Adorable and

heartwarming, this rom-com turns Hugh Jackman into a walking anachronism in contemporary New York. Leopold (Jackman) stumbles upon a time gap while following a modern photographer and is transported to the twenty-first century, where he meets Kate McKay (Meg Ryan). Lifestyles collide, as Leopold tries to make sense of modern-day conveniences we take for granted and Kate gets a taste of what genuine chivalry is all about. Inevitably, they fall for each other and both must make the decision whether they should live together in one time zone, or part ways to separate centuries. Ryan and Jackman have excellent chemistry, and the film will leave anyone longing for a Hugh Jackman-esque gentleman to come into their lives.

“Time Bandits”It’s old, a little corny, but nonetheless one

of my favorite time travel films. Starring John Cleese, Sean Connery and Shelley Duvall, “Time Bandits” is the story of a boy named Kevin (Craig Warnock). He accompanies a band of dwarves searching

for treasure, after they come through his wardrobe and invite him to come with. Along the way, they e n c o u n t e r N a p o l e o n , K i n g Agamemnon, and other h i s t o r i c a l figures. The map serves as the time portal for this film, and you will laugh your way

through the slapstick humor. This off-the-beaten-path 80s time travel film may not be an instant classic, but its strangeness definitely qualifies it as unforgettable.

“Donnie Darko”One of Jake Gyllenhaal’s earlier films,

“Donnie Darko” is not your typical time travel film. Darko (Gyllenhaal) is told

to follow a rabbit named Frank into the future, revealing to him when the world is going to end. While under Frank’s influence, Darko gets himself into trouble, in school and out, all while struggling with his own mental illness. The strange happenings throughout the film will keep you hooked. Although this sci-fi thriller doesn’t qualify it as a definitive time-travel piece, it crosses the line from psycho-thriller to sci-fi. The creation of the Tangent Universe plays a significant role in “Donnie Darko.” The Tangent Universe is a product of the Primary Universe, and is made of water. It is very unstable, and since Darko is unable to suitably break it down, it destroys the Primary Universe. “Universe jumping” along with the strange turns Darko’s life takes before the end of the world makes this film a must-see. As soon as you finish it, you will want to start it over again just to get a better grasp of things.

Marina WattsEditor In Chief

Travel Back in Time With These Films

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Style & Entertainment November 25, 2013

In recent memory, 2013 has been one of the weaker years for movies. 2012 was a huge year for movies; I wish I was writing about that year instead. There were two of the biggest, most anticipated blockbusters perhaps in history. There was “The Avengers,” built up through a series of movies featuring the Marvel superheroes starting with 2008’s “Iron Man.” There was also “The Dark Knight Rises,” the

final film in Christopher Nolan’s epic Batman trilogy. Those were the two highest grossing movies of the year, among other great films like “21 Jump Street,” “The Amazing Spider-Man,” “Django Unchained,” and “Argo.”

This year there were movies I anticipated, but was left a little underwhelmed. “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” is one example. I looked forward to this film, even though the first Joe movie was pretty bad. I looked forward to G.I. Joe because it starred Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in it. I’m a big fan of his, mostly because of his wrestling career, but I don’t really have a movie of his that I genuinely love.

This was decent, but I didn’t walk away from it thinking, “Man, that was awesome.” The next underwhelming movie was “The Wolverine.” I’m not really an X-Men fan, but I’ve always liked the Wolverine character. Hugh Jackman plays the role really well—at this point I can’t imagine anyone else playing the character—but the film was okay. It had good action, but it didn’t live up to my expectations. However the post credits scene redeemed it, setting up for 2014’s “X-Men: Days of Futures Past.” I’m still looking for that definitive Wolverine movie though.

“Man of Steel” was another okay film. I’m not really a Superman fan, but this had Christopher Nolan as a producer so I had high hopes for it. It wasn’t terrible, but it left me a little unsatisfied. The action was great and the visuals were amazing—I may buy the Blu-Ray just for that—but something felt missing. Hopefully the upcoming untitled Batman vs. Superman in 2015 improves on what “Man of Steel” lacked. Perhaps adding Batman to the mix does just that.

Since this year in movies has left it hard to come up with a top five favorite movies, I’ll give you my top three. Honorable mention goes to “The Hangover Part 3.” I loved the first one, one of my favorite comedies, but the sequels seemed unnecessary and

was just a n o t h e r way to cash in because Hollywood is lacking in ideas at the m o m e n t . But I did enjoy this more than the second one, which was basically just a recycle of the first. This had a different plot and had a good sendoff for these characters that we got to know over three movies.

“World War Z” will come in at number three. I thought this was a good zombie apocalypse movie, with a good leading man in Brad Pitt. I can’t think of a movie I’ve seen with

Pitt that I didn’t like. This film was pretty much what I expected. I wasn’t expecting a great movie, just a good time to relax and turn my brain off and have a good time. The film was a box office surprise, grossing $533 million worldwide, Pitt’s highest grossing film ever. With a number like that, Paramount wants to develop a sequel at some point. The script is being worked on now, and in an interview with Variety, Pitt said, “We gotta get the script right first to determine if we go further.” I’m definitely interested in a sequel because the ending left you believing there is more story to be told. I look forward to it.

Number two was the comedy “This Is the End.” Aside from the fact it had actors such

as Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and James Franco in it, I liked that it was something different.

Along with the above three actors, it included others playing f i c t i o n a l versions of themselves. Hill, Franco, and Rogen starred along with Craig R o b i n s o n , D a n n y McBride, and Jay Baruchel. They all find t h e m s e lve s staying in F r a n c o ’ s house after the ap o c a ly p s e comes during a house warming party,

It’s actually based off a short film, starring Rogen and Baruchel from 2007.

The movie is both hilarious and outlandish, but it just worked. The actors are playing exaggerated versions of themselves.

For example, Hill is portrayed as a super nice guy, while Franco was portrayed as full-of-himself movie star. There were lot of good cameos, too. I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a good laugh.

My favorite of the year was also my most anticipated, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3.” I’m a fan of all the Marvel superheroes and all of the movies, but ever since I was a kid, Iron Man was my favorite. Not many were familiar with the character when “Iron Man” was released in 2008, but the impressive box office film catapulted him into the likes of “Spider-Man” and “The Incredible Hulk.” That is not only one of my favorite superhero movies, but one of my favorite movies in general.

Robert Downey Jr. plays the role of Tony Stark so well, I can’t even imagine anyone else playing the character. “Iron Man 2” was released two years later in 2010. While good, I feel it was rushed a bit to capitalize on the success of the first one. Now we’re in 2013, with the big superhero team up “The Avengers” released last year. It was interesting to see how Marvel goes back to making

individual movies for these characters after they all came together in a fight for New York. “Iron Man 3” takes Stark back to his home in California, dealing with the events of New York and how it affected him, having seen aliens, giants, gods etc. I liked

this movie; it was good, but not great. It has a different feel than the first two, primarily because they had Jon Favreau as director and this one had Shane Black. Once again Downey is superb in the role, but I felt like for an Iron Man movie, there wasn’t enough action with Stark in the Iron Man armor.

The movie also has a dramatic twist towards the middle, which swayed a lot of fans one way or the other. I feel like had this twist not been included, and they went the way I thought, the movie would have went from good to great. Still, while a controversial twist, it did work. But I’d rather they’d gone in a different direction. The film was a box office juggernaut, grossing $175 million for its opening weekend, $400 million domestically, and $1 billion worldwide. With these numbers, it became the second highest grossing superhero movie of all time, behind “The Avengers.” According to Marvel executives, no standalone sequel is planned in the near future, but Downey

will be returning as the character in the upcoming Avengers sequels.

So while 2013 was a pretty average year for movies, some stuck out to me and have re-watch value, but I was very underwhelmed overall. Bring on 2014.

John DelfelContributing Writer

2013 Cinematic Ghosts

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November 25, 2013 Style & Entertainment

From the producers of “Love Actually” and “Notting Hill,” comes their latest film, “About Time. Critics are saying, “beautifully filmed and unabashedly sincere, ‘About Time’ finds director Richard Curtis at his most sentimental.”

Bringing in about $6.3 million to the box office, and receiving a thumbs up from moviegoers everywhere, comes a silly yet heartwarming film starring Rachel McAdams, Domhnall Gleeson, and Bill Nighy. The film tells the story about a young male who discovers a family secret on his 21st birthday, a special ability only the males in the family possess.

With an opening scene of a lousy New Year’s Eve party that doesn’t seem to be going so well, the audience is instantly fills with giggles as this goofy, red-headed character makes midnight extremely awkward. Desperate to find a girlfriend after a summer romance turns him down, Tim, played by Gleeson, realizes he can go back and change moments of his life with the gift of time travel.

Although we cannot rewind and change things in our lives, Tim uses his gift to change things that have happened to get a second chance. The difficult decisions begin, and here come the tears

for the audience when Tim realizes he cannot go back and change anything in his life without the repercussions of something else drastically changing. He has to pick and choose what is important to him, and what he can fix without time traveling.

Tim realizes maybe traveling through time is not necessary for him to enjoy life, and what happens in his life was meant to happen. Instantly, the film shows that instead of just trying to survive, but there is a bigger message to be understood each day, which I found to be quite amazing.

We are left with the question, was time travel ever needed for Tim to enjoy his everyday life?

Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson have a chemistry that is very believable and one that the audience is able to feel right from the beginning. Billy Nighy who plays Tim’s father, gives the audience plenty of laughs and a positive vibe throughout the entire film.

Anyone who enjoyed “Dear John” or “The Notebook” would absolutely love this tear-jerking film. Recommended for couples or friends who want to go see a heart wrenching film on a Friday night, this is definitely the one. Watching this movie, I began to realize that each day is rushed, filled with busy mornings and hectic work schedules, and I came to the conclusion we never truly have a moment to take it all in and appreciate the seconds that are ticking by.

This is a touching film with much meaning. The overall concept

of this movie is that everyday should be enjoyed and cherished, and tomorrow is not promised. It will leaves teary-eyed movie-goers with the realization that life is too short to take any moment for granted.

Lisa RinoContributing Writer

It’s “About Time” For This Feel-Good Film

On October 18, “12 Years A Slave” was released. Upon its premiere and arrival in the theaters, critics have universally lauded it. When I went to see it, I was expecting a film that was a masterful portrayal of slavery in America in the 1800s. Instead, what I experienced was a life-changing, eye opening cinema masterpiece.

“12 Years A Slave” was based off the book with the same title by Solomon Northup. Northup was kidnapped by two men and sold into slavery for a total of twelve years. This film follows his hardships during the years he is a slave until he is finally freed.

Chitwetel Ejiofor plays the titular

character, Solomon. He gives an incredible performance that is certainly Oscar-worthy. He plays his character with a quiet, persevering, powerful inner

strength, but does not hold back from showing the anguish, pain, and despair a slave experiences. His scenes are riveting to the point where you find yourself unable to blink, afraid to break the p o w e r f u l spell he has over the a u d i e n c e . During one scene, when the slaves are giving a deceased slave a funeral, they begin to sing a hymn. Northup, at this point feels despair, and does not sing. But as he listens to the words, hope begins to creep onto his face, and he begins to sing; quietly, at first, and then louder as his conviction grows. His performance leaves you breathless and feeling as though you have been punched in the stomach.

The rest of the cast is absolutely stellar as well. Lupita Nyong’o is compelling as Patsey, the slave of a cruel master, Edwin Epps (played by Michael Fassbender). Fassbender gives a brilliant performance as the slave master. He teeters on the edge of gleeful, frightening insanity and cruelty, leaving you on the edge of your

seat, desperately hoping he doesn’t fall into side of cruelty. These three stand out the most, but this doesn’t mean that the other performances are subpar. All of the incredible performances make it a film you are unable to turn away from.

More importantly, however, is the ability of this film to move you, to dispel any false notion of slavery you might have had, and open to your eyes to the horror of it. This is an incredibly forceful film; it does not hold back from depicting the brutality of that time. The there is no “Mammy” figure, as in “Gone With The Wind.” The slaves aren’t happy with their masters, nor indulgent with them. There is nothing that detracts from the seriousness of slavery appear to be a happy time. They

are the people telling them they aren’t really even human. They are the people beating them and tearing the flesh off of their backs with whips. They instilled racist ideas in America that still rear its abhorrent heads today, even though we would like to think America does not have racists living in it anymore. They made the lives of African-Americans today harder than the lives of whites. We want to forget this happened. We want to erase it and not have this period of time exist in our history, but we can’t. It happened, and it affected our culture greatly. We need to deal with this, and overcome it as humans, not different skin colors. And to do that, we need to begin to understand. This film can help us do just that.

Suzanne PegueroManaging Editor

“12 Years A Slave”: Film Review

Science & Health November 25, 2103

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Ingredients: 2 loaves of day old bread, cubed2 eggs, beaten2 cups chicken stock or turkey stock½ cup heavy cream or half-and-halfOlive oil2 cloves garlic, minced1 medium onion, diced2 stalks celery, diced¼ cup flat parsley1 tbsp. chopped fresh sage leaves1 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme leavesSalt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions: Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a baking

sheet with parchment paper and toast the cubed bread until golden (about 10 – 15 minutes). Put toasted, cubed bread into a large bowl. Whisk together eggs, chicken stock, and heavy cream. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Once olive oil is hot enough, sauté onions, celery, garlic, sage, and thyme together adding salt to bring out the water and sweetness of vegetables. Add sautéed vegetables to wet ingredients (heavy cream mixture) and add parsley and black pepper to taste. Pour wet mixture over breadcrumbs and mix together with hands. Transfer the bread mixture

to a baking dish, cover with foil, and refrigerate overnight.

Next day, preheat oven to 375º F. Check the stuffing and add more stock if it seems a little dry. Bake for 30 minutes covered, remove foil and bake for an additional 15minutes, or until golden brown.

Helpful tips:

-Bread type does not matter, go with whatever works best for you. But make sure you cube and toast it to remove all the moisture from the break. Dry bread absorbs the mixture better.

·Refrigerating the stuffing the day before baking is key to melding the ingredients together.

·You can personalize this basic stuffing to your liking by adding nuts, dried fruits, sausage, additional vegetables, etc.

·Bake the stuffing with the foil on, then remove it for the last 15 minutes of cooking time, this way the stuffing stays moist on the bottom but crunchy on the top.

Valissa HicksStaff Writer

Thanksgiving Stuffing

Ingredients:1½ cups canned pumpkin¾ cup sugar½ teaspoon salt1 to 1¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon¼ to ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg¾ teaspoon ground ginger3 eggs1¼ cups of milk1 6—ounce can of cup evaporated

milk1 9—inch unbaked pastry shell

Directions:Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Combine the canned pumpkin, sugar, salt, and spices. Slightly beat the eggs, then blend them in along with the milk

and evaporated milk. When the pumpkin filling has a smooth looking texture, pour it into the unbaked pastry shell (make sure you crimp the edges of your pie shell; there is a lot of filling, and it can pour out of the pie and onto the bottom of your oven if you don’t). Put your pie into the oven and bake it for 50 minutes, or until you can insert a knife and the edge comes out clean. Cool, then serve and enjoy with whipped cream!

Suzanne PegueroManaging Editor

Spice Up Your Thanksgiving With This Pumpkin Pie

November 25, 2013 Science & Health

15

Move over, little black dress; women’s athletic apparel is taking over. When it comes to everyday clothing, some women may spend $100 on a nice dress or pair

of jeans. Women are now doing this with athletic wear, too. Women will spend $98 on a pair of black stretch pants or a fitted workout jacket. This new craze is

becoming the preferred dress code and a social statement for women.

If women are spending the big bucks to take a spin class, why not spend the money on high-end athletic wear? Many women are moving towards a look good, feel good attitude. College student Mara Cilurzo says, “The nicer my workout clothes are, the more inclined I am to workout.” This concept is becoming more valid everyday. High-end athletic wear brands are catching on to the new trend. Lululemon, Nike and Under Armour are in a race to come up with the next hot style women will love.

Dressing down is the current social fad for women of all ages. It used to be function, not fashion; now, it is both. It is very convenient for women to take a kickboxing class and then run to brunch with friends. All you have to do is throw a little black sweater over your workout gear. Sari V, mother of two boys, is running around all day between errands and sports. “I am all for comfort! I want to look fashionable and be comfortable at the same time. If I am wearing athletic pants all day, I don’t mind spending the money.”

Private trainers, high-end gyms and specialized workouts are becoming

status symbols. Women are looking for that shiny silver Lululemon symbol or the Nike check on the streets and at the gym.

Athletic companies are getting inspiration from high-end designer

fashion lines. Prints, floral patterns and colors are in for fall. These designs will play a part in the fall athletic wear lines as well. High-end couture designs work

just as well with athletic apparel. While the Nike design team attends runway shows, they have noticed more and more designers pairing fancy apparel with fun, lightweight material sneakers. Women

can now wear a colorful pair of sneakers with boot cut jeans and run errands feeling stylish and comfortable.

Ten years ago, going to lunch in an athletic shirt and yoga pants was not socially acceptable. In this day and age, women are on the hunt for the newest style and the brightest color yoga pants to wear around town.

Athletic wear is a growing trend that is taking over the streets everyday. It is always possible to blend fashion and comfort into one. Take these six fitness fashion tips with you next time you head out or go to the gym.

1. Go bold and wear colorful patterns.

2. Slim, fitted sweat proof material is a must have.

3. Get the right fit.4. Wear a sweater or layer

workout clothing for the fall/winter weather.

5. Be creative, yet comfortable.6. Go for functional and fashionable

fitness wear.

Nicole HirschlerContributing Writer

When Sporty Goes Chic

Technology November 25, 2013

16

Why do most of us portray ourselves as something else on our social media pages like Facebook, Twitter and so on? It most definitely is not because we are ashamed of ourselves. Then, why is it that we have this make-believe world that we live in?

The history of social networking is probably quite a bit older than most people realize. The i n t e r n e t has made it possible for humans to remain c o n n e c t e d in ways that probably would have blown your father’s mind when he was a kid. The internet has its ups and downs; it certainly doesn’t fail to make us unhappy. In fact recent studies have shown that teenagers spend more time on Facebook and Twitter than they do in outdoor sports and studying. I am in no position to judge what’s good and what’s bad, but, I have always gone by dividing my everyday activities evenly and I wouldn’t spend a

lot of time on the computer as most of us know that it really isn’t good for your eyes, your posture and your brain.

The more you browse through your newsfeed, post comments, and like posts on Facebook, the more likely you are to come across things you wish you didn’t see. There has been far less research on the psychological effects of social media, even though more than 500 million people log on to Facebook every day and twice that many have profiles.

Social media use has become an integral part of our daily routines, regardless of whether we’re aware of its impact or not. Sometimes it’s just best to stay away from these things. Not just Facebook, there are many more websites that cause an annoyance and irritation every now and then. Some examples are

Match.com, POF.com and many more of these other dating sites. People tend to make themselves look like some kind of “Greek god or goddess” just to impress some stranger that comes across their

p r o f i l e . Ever hear the phrase, “It’s not what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside that counts?” I’m sure you have, and I’m sure a lot of people have heard that

their blind date had a “great personality” when asked about their looks.

It has been suggested that people judge others within the first eight seconds of

meeting the person. Not a lot of time to get to know the real “you,” is it? The same goes for a social media update. Even though the content on the other side of that

update may be beautiful, and some

of the best ever written, it’s

what’s evaluated on the other side, i.e., in the social update, that determines in the readers’ mind if this is worthy of pursuing further. Sometimes people just need to realize that sooner or later we are going to meet people of those websites and if the person is disappointed or thinks you aren’t what they expected, then the only one that’s going to get hurt is yourself and there’s no one to blame for that moment of unhappiness but yourself.

Don’t get me wrong. Social media can be very helpful as its main use would most likely be to keep in touch with people that we haven’t seen for a long time. And that creates joy and happiness. If someone were to ask me “What do you think of social networking sites like Facebook?” (or some other site), I would reply with

certainty that it is one of the best creations ever to be made. It most definitely has helped me keep in touch with so many of my long lost friends. At this point I don’t know a lot of people that aren’t on Facebook. I can literally count the number of people I know that aren’t on it.

These days, kids are on Facebook too. I don’t see what’s the big

deal about having a profile on Facebook or Twitter.

Facebook has a start off age of 16, but

kids lie on their account just

to get on it. Ac c ord i ng to a best-s e l l i n g a u t h o r , h a v i n g kids on

Facebook is like playing

with fire. Look at Amanda Knox

as an example. She sent explicit pictures

of herself that were posted by an anonymous man

on a social networking website. Another sad example is Rebecca

Sedwick, a misled teen who committed suicide because of cyber bullying.

As mentioned earlier, social media is a very good tool if used properly. Some of its benefits could be friends and relations, reducing communication barriers,

opportunities for jobs and businesses and many more. Some of the negative sides of social networking are that it can lead to addiction/ isolation, lower productivity, and so on. Think of it as a hammer. A hammer is very helpful when you have to hit a nail in, but if you accidentally drop the hammer on your feet it hurts really bad. Just like that, “accidents” that happen on social networking sites can be really harmful.

Now the question to be asked is, “Is social media a good thing or a bad thing?” To be honest, there really isn’t a correct answer. It all depends on how you make use of it.

Danish L. MendoncaContributing Writer

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly: Social Media

India’s heart skipped a beat when legendary cricket player Sachin Tendulkar played his last international test match on November 18, against West Indies in his home city of Mumbai.

Tendulkar is finally saying goodbye to international cricket. The man known as the “God of Cricket” left the field at age 40, leaving behind great memories and unbeatable records in the world of cricket.

On October 10, 2013, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after the series against West Indies in November. In India, a cricket crazy country, people will shut down whatever they are doing while Tendulkar is playing. Tendulkar’s announcement of retirement was very shocking for everyone. As soon as tickets of his 200th and final test match went on sale, there were 19.7 million hits on the official website during the first hour. The tickets were in such high demand, fans crashed the website.

India lost their greatest cricketer of all time when Tendulkar retired and left behind records which no one can possibly beat. Sachin made his international test debut against longtime rival Pakistan at just 16 years old, and played for team India with acknowledgment that he was

the greatest player of his generation. After playing his final and 200th test match, Tendulkar became the one and only player in the world to play 200 Test matches in his entire career. What stands out in his fantastic 24-year cricket career that made him so popular, and the best cricket player in the world?

Well, Tendulkar has played more matches, scored more runs and centuries than any other player in Test or one day cricket, and he became the one and only batsman to complete 100 centuries.

Tendulkar has scored 15,847 runs in Test cricket, beating the 13,388 scored by second placed former Australia captain Ricky Ponting. He has a record of 51 centuries

and 67 half centuries in international test cricket. His individual highest score in test cricket is 248 not outs. Tendulkar has been even more o u t s t a n d i n g in one-day i n t e r n a t i o n a l cricket. He has scored 18,426, which is 4722 more runs than number two Ponting. He has hit 49 first-class centuries and an amazing 96 half-centur ies. At 17, he became the youngest batsman to score his maiden 100 against England. These records are not only hard to beat but almost impossible to be broken.

In the 126-year-long history of cricket, Tendulkar is the only name we can take after World class Australian cricket player Sir Donald Bradman(1908-2001), a big achievement in itself. Sir Donald

has made a statement about Tendulkar: “I saw him playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I felt that this player is playing with a style similar to mine, and she looked at him on television and said yes, there is a similarity between the

two...his compactness, technique, stroke production... it all seemed to gel!”

Tendulkar, also called “Master

Blaster,” is a nightmare for the opposite team’s bowlers. One of the most famous Australian bowlers in history, Shane Warne, who took 708 test wickets, once said, “I’ll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for six. He was unstoppable. I don’t think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar. He is just an amazing player.”

Many players throughout the world have made different statements about Tendulkar and acknowledge him as a god of cricket. Famous players have said, “I have seen God, he bats at No. 4 for India.”

One of the fantastic bowlers from England, Andrew Flintoff, was so impressed with Tendulkar, that he made a statement saying, “When you bowl at him you are not just trying to get him out, you are trying to impress him. I want him to walk off thinking ‘That Flintoff, he’s

all right, isn’t he?’ I feel privileged to have played against him.”

With all of these achievements, he has received numerous awards. Among them are the Arjuna Award, by the Government of India in recognition of his outstanding achievement in sports; Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest honor given for achievement in sports; Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award; the Maharashtra Bhushan

Award, Maharashtra State’s highest Civilian Award; Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award;

and recently the Department of Posts in India, announced it was set to issue a

Miniature sheet of stamps and a sheetlet to commemorate his 200th test match. He has also won many international awards, and was honored by Madame Tussauds, with a wax statue in its London museum.

In a statement published by the BCCI, Tendulkar said, “All my life, I have had a dream of playing cricket for India. I have been living this dream every day for the last 24 years.It’s hard for me to imagine a life without playing cricket because it’s all I have ever done since I was 11 years old. It’s been a huge honor to have represented my country and played all over the world. I look forward to playing my 200th Test Match on home soil, as I call it a day. I thank the BCCI for everything over the years and for permitting me to move on when my heart feels it’s time! I thank my family for their patience and understanding. Most of all, I thank my fans and well-wishers who through their prayers and wishes have given me the strength to go out and perform at my best.”

The God of Cricket RetiresAnuj Chokshi

Photography Editor

Sports November 25, 2103

18

November 25, 2013 Sports

1�

College basketball fans should be excited for the upcoming season. The quality of the players in the newest freshmen class is the highest it has been in years. Imagine if the top high school players of yesteryear—such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady—didn’t bolt straight for the NBA and instead played a season of college basketball.

Imagine if these same kind of players were all in the same class, playing against each other throughout the regular season. This year’s freshman class is the most hyped class in years because of the talent located throughout.

Having already played their first games as college student-athletes, some of these gifted freshmen have already played against each other. These freshmen have garnered the attention of the NBA. Assuming the players declare for the draft following this season, NBA executives will have tough decisions to make this upcoming offseason.

Because of the freshmen alone, the upcoming draft is being regarded as one of the strongest drafts in league history. The draft is being hailed as the strongest since the 2003 NBA draft. That draft produced numerous All-Stars, MVP candidates, and other award winners. Among the names that were drafted in 2003 include LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

This year’s freshmen class may have the potential to match these now-superstars. For college basketball fans, they ought to appreciate them while they’re still here. Here are brief looks at some of the most prominent players.

Andrew WigginsWiggins was born to be an incredible

athlete. The son of a former NBA player, Mitchell Wiggins, and a former Olympic sprinter, Marita-Payne Wiggins, he is the favorite to be the number one overall pick in the upcoming draft.

A freshman forward at Kansas, Wiggins is the most hyped prospect coming from high school since James. During his high school years, Wiggins received many accolades for his performance

on the court. Wiggins raised up team’s potential drafting boards due mainly to his performances from AAU and other events outside of high school.

Having participated for the Canadian national men’s basketball program, Wiggins has had the opportunity to play against the best players at his age group from all around the world. Outplaying the opponents’ best players, he has proved his talent against other top prospects.

One of Wiggins’ greatest strengths is his athleticism. Combined with an incredible kill set that allows him to drive into the paint with ease, Wiggins is a nightmare for opposing teams to deal with. The combination of penetration and athleticism is similar to James’ own skill set. Like James, many clips of Wiggins’ posterizing dunks have emerged on the internet. YouTube has playlists of Wiggins dunking over opponents.

Wiggins is not only a dunker. He has shown that he has the ability to make p e r i m e t e r shots. With W i g g i n s , o p p o n e n t s will have a difficult time stopping him from scoring.

Wiggins has all the tools n e c e s s a r y to become a defensive d y n a m o . Blessed with good size and long arms, Wiggins will have no problem guarding

other small forwards once he reaches the next level.

Wig g i n s’ combination of ability of defense and offense will make for an exciting season for J a y h a w k fans.

Jabari ParkerB e f o r e

W i g g i n s reclassi f ied himself into the high school class

of 2013, Parker was the number one prospect in the class. Bumping into the

number two sport, Parker is perhaps the strongest player to hold that position.

Parker is a smooth-p l a y i n g forward from Chicago. His first year of high school, he was national f r e s h m a n of the year. He followed that accolade by being the national sophomore of the year the

following year. As a junior, he was the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Now at Duke, opponents facing the Blue Devils will have their hands full. His game has been compared numerous times to a previous Blue Devils standout, Grant Hill. Remember him, before his injury problems?

Parker has a very similar skill set. He

has the ability to shoot the ball, penetrate

the key, rebound the ball, and solid athleticism. Of all the freshmen this year in college basketball, Parker may be the most NBA ready athlete of all of them.

Parker is a very smooth playing player. He makes hard drives look easy, with a grace unrivaled by others. In an early season match-up between Duke and Kansas, he outplayed Wiggins. The match-up between Wiggins and Parker drew over 60 NBA scouts, proving Parker has the ability to show up when it matters.

Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder called him the “real deal.” For Duke fans, the remainder of the season will be exciting, being able to watch a potential NBA superstar every night.

Julius RandleAnother player that is causing a lot of

excitement among fans is a strong power forward now at Kentucky. Randle, like Wiggins and Parker, is making his case

to be the upcoming number one overall draft pick in the upcoming draft.

Heading into Kentucky as the face of one of the most heralded recruiting classes for a single school, Randle will anchor the frontline. With other talented freshmen on the perimeter, Randle will have many opportunities to showcase his talent at the college level.

Having already participated in prominent AAU tournaments and international competitions—and starring in those games—Randle has had a wealth of experience. In a game against

Michigan State—a favorite for the national championship and a roster filled with more experienced players—Randle showed he belonged in the conversation with Wiggins and Parker.

Randle has the game both inside and outside. He has drawn comparisons to Zach Randolph and Chris Webber. For Kentucky fans, the season will be fun to watch with Randle on the frontline and the freshmen Harrison twins on the outside.

When the NCAA tournament comes rolling around in March, it will serve as a preview to future NBA battles between the freshmen stars. Until then, college basketball will be exciting as fans get to watch these three freshmen—along with other talented freshmen such as Aaron Gordon—make their case to be the overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Benedict TagleSports Editor

Looking Fresh in the NCAAB

Sports November 25, 2013

20

One of the most prominent headlines from the early part of this NBA season is the aggressive stance the league has taken against flopping. With the recent changes the league made in its policy toward flopping, fines and warnings have been issued at a record rate.

One of the reasons the league has taken a more a g g r e s s i v e stance toward flopping is because of its growing p o p u l a r i t y around the league. Chris Paul and LeBron James are just two of the players often cited as instigators of this growing trend.

Flopping is often not called on the players during the game; teams may gain advantages for it. As a result, to prevent the practice, the league instilled a new

policy of punishing players after games are reviewed by the league.

With teams playing an average of less than 10 games so far this season, the league has already handed nine flopping warnings to players and one fine already. In the first two weeks of the season, the players targeted by the league are not relegated only to scrappy players, there are also big names amongst the offenders.

H o u s t o n R o c k e t s s h o o t i n g guard James Harden has r e c e i v e d s ig n i f ica n t m e d i a attention for his flopping d u r i n g the young season. If he c o n t i n u e s at this pace, H a r d e n —voted as the top shooting guard by e xe c u t i ve s

from around the league—would have a tremendous effect on his team. Harden would miss approximately 15 games due to flopping alone.

Last season, the inaugural year of

the new flopping policy, resulted in 24 violations for the entire season. This season is on pace for approximately 99 flopping violations. One of the reasons the league strives to eliminate flopping from the game is the precedent in soccer.

A practice popular in soccer, referred to as “diving”, is similar to flopping. Diving exaggerates the physical pain caused by contact from another previous player. In a d d i t i o n , players that dive fake contact with o p p o s i n g p l a y e r s —they pretend they’ve been hit even if the player made no contact.

Diving has become more p r o m i n e n t in soccer t h roughout the years. In fact, faking injury and diving have become part of the American perception of the game. The NBA is trying to eliminate the practice of flopping from the game before it becomes an integral part of the game as it did in soccer.

Support toward punishing guilty

players has garnered support from both fans and those in the league. Paul’s coach in Los Angeles, Doc Rivers, spoke the media prior to an early season matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder, saying, “If it’s something egregious, they’ll do it. But I think it’s much to do about nothing in the long run, because I don’t think we’ve overdone it. I was worried about that when we first put it in, but I think the NBA’s

done a really good job with it.”

Fans have s u p p o r t e d the NBA’s new policy. Reasons for support of the policy include maintain ing the integrity of the game—fans felt flopping was t a r n i s h i n g the game and c h a n g i n g the game

fundamentally.Fines start at $5,000, and each

subsequent offense leads to higher fines and possible suspension. While flopping has been a recent trend lately, the NBA’s strict policy will surely dissuade players.

Benedict TagleSports Editor

Clamping Down on Flopping

The greatest Olympic champion may

be making a comeback, just in time for the upcoming 2016 Olympics, set to be held in Rio de Janeiro. Having won 22 Olympic medals over the course of his career, Michael Phelps, the all-time leader for career Olympic medals, has changed his attitude when talking to the media.

Phelps, also the all-time leader for gold medals, with 18 to his name, went on the record for years stating he would retire following the 2012 Olympics. After a successful campaign in London, he frequently emphasized he was finished with competitive swimming. He wanted

to set a goal he had set out for himself years ago—to retire from the sport before the age of 30.

Speaking to numerous media sources last December, Phelps said, “Sure, I could

come back in another four years. But why? I’ve done everything I wanted to do. There’s no point in coming back.”

His longtime coach, Bob Bowman, revealed Phelps had returned to swimming training last month. Despite Bowman’s insistence that Phelps is back in the pool only to stay in shape, other actions indicate that it is a step toward a bigger goal.

Phelps has raised eyebrows because it looks as if he may compete in 2016. The United States’ Anti-Doping Agency revealed that Phelps underwent two tests

earlier this year. One may ask why this is important. The swimming world’s governing body, FINA, mandates that swimmers be tested for nine months for doping agents and other substances before

being allowed to compete at sanctioned events. By consenting to drug testing, Phelps has now set up the opportunity to compete next year during summer—the heart of the season—if he wishes.

The 2015 World Swimming Championships is the next major meet where all the top swimmers in the world are certain to compete, and will serve as an important step toward competing in the next Olympics.

It certainly looks as if Phelps is setting up a comeback. At the World Championships this past summer in

Barcelona, Phelps changed his stance, saying, I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

Recently, he’s worked himself into

shape, losing 15 pounds while training. In an interview with the Associated Press, Phelps gave his strongest indication yet of returning to the sport, saying, “If I decide to keep going and swim again, then I’ll compete.”

Phelps stated nothing concerning comeback was confirmed or planned, but Phelps’ recent actions are the most indicative of a potential return to the sport. His recent statements contrast greatly with the statements he made less than one year ago, and he has led the door wide open toward competing again.

Benedict TagleSports Editor

Possible Return for Rio