November 12 Issue 2010

Preview of fall play, Tale of the Arabian Nights, offers new twist on classic, p. E2

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Volume12 Number 2

Teens topple treacherous trouble on Capital Hill
by Delilah Gates x& Lily Hua
Comedy Central comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert co-hosted a three-hour rally on the Washington National Mall Saturday October 30 known as the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. The rally brought together over 200,000 people from all over the country to witness a comical, yet serious message about the partisan issues facing the nation’s government. “I definitely appreciated the comedy and the interwoven truth,” says senior Jalen Marshall. “The truth never gets old.” The message of the rally was non-partisan, voicing the belief that those in the government should work together, not against one another, to solve issues. “I supported what [the rally] stood for, not restoring sanity,” says senior Julia Baker, “but the promotion of news awareness among the American citizens and how ridiculous the separation our country has [become] because of political parties.” Whereas Colbert provided a humorous satirical perspective, Stewart took on a more literal role denouncing Americans on their unhealthy tendency to stereotype and blow things out of proportion. Says senior Zakaria Kronemer, “I loved that both comedians were able to emit

Satire supporters converge in DC to promote sanity, fear

James Hubert Blake HS

300 Norwood Rd Silver Spring MD 20905

Online http://www.blakebeat.net

November 12, 2010

Community grieves over loss of alumnus
IN THIS ISSUE:
Blood drive surpasses goal, page A3

Junior Karen Vanegas and senior Zakaria Kronemer enjoy a lively political atmosphere at the October 30 Rally to Restore Sanity and/ the same message in completely them if they learned to stop opposite ways.” generalizing about people. Stewart criticized how “If we continue to perthe media gave Americans fake petuate fear, if we…let [the] connotations and called the media feed us their overwhelmmedia the “country’s 24-hour ingly negative messages,” says politico pundit perpetual panic Kronemer, “our problems as a conflictator.” For issues that our country will never be solved.” country faces, Stewart believes Other students voiced similar that Americans can overcome opinions when asked about

or Fear. They joined a cheerful crowd of 200,000 while musical guests and celebrities performed. --photo by Cecilia Girolami their agreement to Stewart’s comedians, the rally featured message. performances from musicians Though it conveyed a Sheryl Crow, The Roots, Yusuf serious message, the rally was Islam, Ozzy Osbourne, The not without some serious en- O’Jays, John Legend, Kid Rock tertainment and fans. Junior and Tony Bennett. Mythbusters Eugene Litman says, “My hosts Adam Savage and Jamie favorite part of the rally was Hyneman, and basketball star just seeing Jon Stewart and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were Colbert.” In addition to the also present. the influence of alcohol on the morning of his accident, Kyle’s drinking habits were not unlike many other teenagers. Says senior Cameron Lancon, brother to Kyle, “He [partied] as much as any other kid in our area...it could’ve happened to anyone.” The loss of an alumnus has served as a wake-up call prompting many students to think twice about drinking and driving, or drinking at all. “I’m not drinking until I’m 21. I probably won’t even drink after that,” says Cameron. “Alcohol is a poison.” Continued on A2

x by Somala Diby & Blaire Hoffman
Friends and family continue to grieve after alumnus Kyle Lancon was pronounced dead October 10, following a fatal car accident early morning October 9. Lancon, who was driving from a College Park party, was on his way to visit girlfriend and alumna Camille Hart at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). After multiple attempts by his friends and Hart to prevent him from driving, Lancon, under the influence of alcohol, got a hold of his keys and left

Car crash tragedy affects Lancons, friends forever

the party. Once on U.S. 29, Lancon drove northbound into the southbound lanes of U.S. 29 and struck another driver. From the site of the accident, Lancon was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. After numerous tests and operations had been done, Lancon’s critical condition did not improve; his parents then decided that it was best to let him go. Sunday afternoon Lancon was pronounced dead. Before the accident, Kyle was attending Montgomery College and had planned on joining the Army National Guard Reserves. Though he was under

Fans excited for latest Harry Potter film, page E1

Bengals live unusual farm lifestyle, page C7

Senior gives her own interpretation of the steps teens take before dating: “talking,” p. B1

Messy hallways, lazy attitudes trouble entire school
x by Kemi Olowoofayoku
Since the beginning of the 2010 school year, students and teachers alike have observed the messy behavior exhibited in hallways during lunch. As a result, swift actions have been taken to prevent further trashing of the school. “The hallways after lunch are gross to say the least,” says junior Amanie Musa. She, along with other students, constantly finds herself weaving and dodging to avoid slipping on food left in the hallways. “It’s not that hard to find a trashcan, they’re everywhere,” adds Musa. “The problem is people are just plain lazy.” This laziness has been a trend at Blake throughout the years. Special Education Resource Teacher Antoinette Jurado-Hilton has noticed a common factor when it comes to hallway slobs. Says Mrs. Jurado-Hilton, “Each year, it seems like the ninth grade students have a tendency to leave their trash expecting someone else to pick [it] up.” Whether it is the freshmen or other students, one thing is clear; dirty hallways are not something teachers are willing to deal with. As a result, several hallways have been covered with signs explaining that food is prohibited in the posted area. Building Services has also added more trashcans throughout the school to make throwing away food more convenient. “A lot of people expect to be cleaned up after,” says senior Joyce Bartlett, “But there are no maids or

A2

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Trash cans neglected as clutter climbs; faculty promotes cleanliness
There are no maids or fairy godmothers to magically make the trash disappear.
Joyce Bartlett
fairy godmothers to magically make the trash disappear.” Bartlett, along with some of her peers, makes it a habit to constantly clean up after lunch is finished. “How can you not feel bad about being a slob and expect someone to pick up after you?” adds Bartlett. “It’s just bratty.” Having dirty hallways produces fire hazards, increases the chances of accidents and diminishes the appearance of the school. It is important that every student is accountable for his or her own mess. Adds Mrs. Jurado-Hilton, “I would like to think students would leave the hallway the way they find it before lunch: clean.”

It’s not that hard to find a trash can, they’re everywhere.
Amanie Musa

Yearbook staffers visit Jostens publishing factory
x by Somala Diby
Yearbook staff and Tempo creators explored the production process of high school yearbooks through a guided tour of the Jostens publishing plant in State College, Pennsylvania November 4. After a four-hour bus ride, the yearbook staff arrived at the plant and was greeted by Customer Service Consultant Brenda Sovino, who led them into a room filled with archived Jostens yearbooks from the last 30 years. While at the plant, Tempo’s staff was guided through the factory, visiting customer service consultants stationed at different areas along the way. For Tempo sponsor and English teacher Allison Finn the trip was her second visit to the factory since she attended middle school. Says Ms. Finn, “I [was] excited for [the staff] to see how books are printed.” Planning pages and placing pictures in yearbooks can be very exciting; however the process of producing one is long and grueling. Jostens first receives the yearbook in 16-page groupings called signatures; customer service consultants then soft-proof pages and put them into highresolution PDFs. “I learned that it’s quite a rigorous process and that one small mistake could cost the whole book,” says Coverage Editor and senior Lucas Frangou,

Students see printing process
“so we have to be on time, and they have to be on time.” Signatures are proofread and made printer-ready through Prinergy, an electronic page fileplacer. Pages are then etched into an emulsion, which is washed off inside a trendsetter, and mounted onto metal plates. From there, the book is printed, the pages are sewn together and the cover is placed. The trip was made possible by Jostens Sales Representative Jen Massey, who is Tempo’s liaison. Along with selecting Blake as a launch for the Yearbook Yourself option to students, Ms. Massey chose Tempo’s staff to visit the publishing plant. “The staff [is] fully engaged...excited, and ready to try new things,” says Ms. Massey. “I knew they would embrace it.” Jostens prides itself in its environmental awareness: from printing with recyclable vegetable-based inks to the option of printing on 100% recycled paper. Jostens strives to reduce its landfill contribution to zero tons. Tempo’s staff was able to repose and discuss the trip at a creamery at Pennsylvania State University before the four-hour bus ride home. Many members of the staff found the trip to be exciting and enlightening. Says Ms. Finn, “We’re...on the cutting edge of yearbooks and I want [the staff] to know that and be proud of it.”

Tragic event triggers fight against drunk driving
Continued from A1 Others believe that prevention of such a situation is the first step. “If you see someone considering driving drunk, do everything in your power to stop them,” says senior Jordan Hart, sister to Camille. “I would never want any of my fellow students to have to deal with what the Lancon family, my sister, my family, and those closest to Kyle are going through.” Though the passing of Kyle has been saddening, students and teachers alike remember the selfless and compassionate facets of Kyle. “He was so goofy and carefree,” says Jordan. “He really looked after me...and was willing to help me with anything.” Senior Brooke Mellish is also a close family-friend to the Lancon’s and has been friends with both Cameron and Kyle since childhood, having spent every Christmas with them. Kyle was also her softball coach in the past. “Kyle was a really good guy and I miss him,” says Mellish. “[This accident] made me realize I need to cherish my life.” During his time at Blake, Kyle was a star player on the Varsity Soccer team. Says Victor Loun, sponsor of

Tempo staff pose with Customer Service Consultant Alyssa Marsh in front of sewing and binding machines. From left to right: Sophomore Cory

Camp, Senior Joyce Bartlett, Junior Courtney Cristaldi, and Senior and Tempo Coverage Editor Lucas Frangou. -- photo by Aron Crews

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and English teacher, “[Kyle] was a vivacious student and a good soccer player.” In the near future, SADD hopes to release a short segment to be aired on Eubie TV in response to the passing of Kyle. Others in the Blake community are also making efforts to commemorate Kyle. Alumnus Dominic DiPietro has created the Kyle Lancon Foundation, a charity with a mission to “inform the world about the seriousness of drinking and driving.” Parts of the foundation’s efforts are giving out memorial bracelets in exchange for donations. The Lancon Family held a wake for Kyle October 15 at the Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home. His funeral was held that Saturday at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Olney. Many Blake students and alumni attended to pay their respects to the passing alumnus. The tragedy has prompted many students to make better driving decisions and be more conscious of their actions. Adds Mr. Loun, “Remember all the people you will affect by your decisions - people who will always carry your memory around with them.”

The Blake Beat

November 12, 2010

A3
ize that it is illegal to send nude pictures as a minor. But those who are aware often refrain from sending pictures and prefer to only receive. Says alumni Mackenzie Lowry*, “Sexting isn’t that bad as long as you’re not the one sending the pictures.” Putting the risks aside, many students find enjoyment from sexting. As technology advances, teens are finding ways to take sexting even further. They can now use their webcams to have “Skype sex,” or use blogs such as Tumblr to post explicit pictures and messages. Colleges and employers are also able to access a database of registered sex offenders, which could greatly affect a young adult’s future. Says Ms. Hayes, “The biggest risk is that what was meant to be private gets seen by other people… I wouldn’t want that on my resume.” It is important to remember the consequences of sexting before pressing “Send.” *Names have been changed

‘Sexting’ on rise among teens, risks damaging future
by Kristen Frese x & Leah Patterson
In recent years, the trend of sending nude pictures or sexually explicit messages via cell phone, also known as “sexting,” has been on the rise - especially among young people. Teenagers tend to feel more confident and comfortable when using technology. Sometimes they do and say things they would not in person. Without the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, many students feel it can be a safer way to be sexually active. Says senior Scott Michaels*, “I love it. It gives me an adrenaline rush.” There are risks to sexting, however, ranging from the pictures being spread to legal consequences. Says guidance counselor Jeannette Hayes, “Unless you are ready for your parents to see it at some point, don’t send it.” More seriously, minors can be charged for production and distribution of child pornography and become registered as a sex offender. The risk of the images being seen by multiple people prevents many students from sending sexts in the first place. “I just think it could lead to worse things, like forwarding and spreading,” says junior Anna Wilford*. It is especially easy now with the new forms of technology for people to upload other students’ pictures onto the internet. Many students do not real-

Students give blood for cause

Goal overreached despite troubles
x by Michael Joiner & Britney Stuart
Filling out all of the spots on the sign-up sheet, October 6, Blake managed to donate 61 units of blood to Inova Health System, which was 11 units above its goal. Due to their hard-working, campaigning and advertising, Blake’s SGA and Leadership class, who were in charge of the drive, were able to get all their spots filled, adding even a few extra to allow more donations. “It’s a good [cause],” says SGA sponsor Christina Gelb. “It’s hopefully something they could do for the rest of their lives and contribute to helping others.” Although the blood drive was a success, some students began to feel dizzy and lightheaded, and three students passed out. One of the students was junior Lucas Irvin, who passed out right after giving blood early in the morning, and hit his head on the floor. To ensure Irvin’s safety, he was sent to Montgomery General Hospital. “I thought I was fine,” says Irvin. “I’ll just make sure to eat and drink some more so this doesn’t happen again.” The students go through screening and tests before having their sample blood drawn by the phlebotomists, specialized workers who draw the blood, to make sure that they are qualified to have their blood taken. Phlebotomist trainer Terrence Cochran, assistant director of Inova AJ Hughes and senior account manager Sandi Bourget made sure all the phlebotomists were well-prepared for the event by setting up stations properly, making sure students felt comfortable and informing participants of the blood-taking process. Says Ms. Bourget, “There is nothing more rewarding to [anyone] that can directly affect someone’s life than donating blood.” In spite of the few troubles, Blake was able to continue the day with more success. Senior David Anderson played a significant part, taking the leadership role in making sure everything went according to plan and ensuring every station had a helper ready at command. “I don’t consider myself any different than anyone else in this class because we all worked together,” says Anderson. “I am just doing this because it really is for a good cause.”

Experts train pupils in money matters, help avoid financial faux pas
by Savannah Doane-Malotte x & Samara Tu
Find out all the essentials about college tuition at Blake’s annual Financial Aid Workshop Thursday at 7pm, where many knowledgeable guest speakers will be sharing their insight on the topic. This workshop is available to all students, but will mainly benefit juniors and seniors. It will focus on state and federal aid programs and how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). “It’s the time of the year to think about financial aid,” says College and Career Coordinator Katherine Moore, “and this workshop is a great way to learn more about it.” Financial aid, unlike scholarships, is given to anyone who has need, regardless of talent or grades. It is dependent not only on parental income, but also on number of family members and age of parents. This way, it is easier for students to attain aid. “My parents’ income is not enough to pay for a four year span of college,” says senior Andrea Archila. “I’m hoping [the workshop will help me learn] ways to earn college money.” Melissa Gregory, the Director of Financial Aid at Montgomery College; Wendy Maldonado, the Outreach Counselor in the Office of Financial Aid at Montgomery College and Mrs. Moore will be speaking at the event. All three women are experts on the matter, with years of experience in helping students obtain and apply for financial aid. “The goal is to give parents an overview of the types of financial aid and how to apply for financial aid,” says Ms. Gregory. “It’s basically a ‘Financial Aid 101’ course.” Subjects that will be stressed are financial aid types, how to apply for aid and the FAFSA. The FAFSA is especially important because all colleges require it when applying for financial aid; the workshop will clarify all questions on how to fill it out. The workshop will also cover some scholarship information, and alternative ways to help pay for college; it will be given in English and Spanish in the Amphitheatre and the Career Center respectively.

Junior Joal Chen suffers through a little pain for a great cause during this year’s blood drive sponosored by Inova Health

System. Because of the SGA’s efforts, the blood drive was able to donate 61 units of blood. --photo by Aron Crews

It’s the time of year to think about financial aid and this workshop is a great way to learn more.

Katherine Moore

A4

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Blake students had no trouble enjoying themselves on Halloween. Junior Daniel Louloudes (top left) gets dressed up as Spiderman while junior Sarah Prather (bottom left) dresses as the Mad Hatter with sophomore Jourdan Lewanda dressed as a yellow power ranger. Juniors

Students treat themselves to favorite Halloween traditions
xby Andrea Rizkallah & Shannon Wade
Trick-or-treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat. This has been the Halloween slogan for generations and it was no different this year. Even though Halloween took place on Sunday this year, the festivities started long before. The preceding Friday, many students showed their enthusiasm by showing up to school in full costume and character. “I thought school was a great place to show off my costume and get started on the Halloween spirit,” says junior Alex Morales. But the spirit did not end there. Many students took part in activities throughout the long weekend such as going trick-or-treating, visiting the Haunted Forest, attending local house parties and hitting DC hot-spots. Some believe that trick-or-treating stops when you reach high school, but others believe it should be an ongoing tradition no matter how old you are. “Come on, you walk around and get free candy from strangers,” says senior Michael Shriner. “Who doesn’t want that?” One of the local trick-or-treating hot-spots was Hallowell, which was filled with teenage candy-goers. “I come trick-or-treating here every year and I always run into a lot of friends,” says senior Shelby Morales. “Everyone knows that neighborhood gives out the best candy.” On the other hand, some students decided to try something different. One of the main attractions was the Haunted Forest in Poolesville. “We decided that trick-or-treating wasn’t our thing anymore,” says senior Aracelys Lopez, “but this still kept us in the Halloween spirit.” The Haunted Forest is a scream fest, with a surprise around every corner ready to scare the next unwitting victim. Among these many attractions, were the local house parties. Some were thrown for people to dance and mingle with friends, while others were thrown to relax and watch scary movies. Says Shelby, “After trick-or-treating, my friends and I crashed at my house to watch scary movies and trade our spoils.” All the houses were decked out for the occasion, sporting decorations such as ghouls, fog and creepy sound effects to match.

Christian Domaas and Brianna Lopez (top right) enjoy the jelly bean look while juniors Courtney McKenna, Julie Lopatka, and Emily Lindsey (bottom right) show off the Charlie’s Angels look. --photo of Spiderman by Karen Vanegas, other photos by Cecilia Girolami

Teens never grow too old for getting candy, dressing up in costumes

For all the legal adults out there, DC was a big hit for celebrations. The few seniors that are above 18 hit clubs, such as Bistro and Ultrabar, which both held big costume events. “Bistro is always a hot spot on Friday nights, especially for Halloween,” says senior Sidney Nascimento. “Everyone goes all out and participates in the contests and has a good time.” For those who have nothing to do, you can never go wrong with partying in DC. The four-day weekend that Halloween landed on was convenient because it gave everyone a chance to find something to do. Whether keeping up with tradition or trying something new, Halloween is always a highly-anticipated event for everyone no matter how old.

The Blake Beat

November 12, 2010

A5

Secretaries Krystal Prillman-White and Denice Wepasnick (top) dressed up as Snow White characters. Senior Mark Fearson (middle left) transformed into Link from Zelda, junior

Zach Radov (bottom left) became a pirate, and freshman Kevin Wright dressed up as an elderly man. Snow White photo by Cecilia Girolami. Bottom three photos by Karen Vanegas.

End of first quarter marks start of Renaissance events
by Sammi Levitt x & Savannah Tryens
Every year the Renaissance program finds a way to creatively honor students who have excelled academically with dinners, rallies, tea parties and various other events. Renaissance events are not only for students who make the Honor Roll. “By recognizing students…we hope that the students [will] continue to work hard,” says Renaissance director Hector Morales. “We hope those students continue to raise their grades to one day be on the Honor Roll.” Beginning the second quarter, students who raise their GPA .5% can attend the Renaissance festivities. The All A’s dinner, Wednesday, will mark the beginning of the Renaissance program’s events for this year, the dinner will be followed by a Top 25 Tea November 23 and the Renaissance Rally November 24 which will conclude the celebrations for November. The Renaissance program is a club made up of 20-40 students who work to organize these events to commend their classmates. Wednesday’s dinner is not the first one the program has held. Renaissance prefers dinners because the parents are able to attend but breakfasts will be held later on in the year because students are more inclined to attend during classes. The dinner will be held in the Blake cafeteria at 5:30. The Top 25 Tea, held at 6pm in the cafeteria, honors hardworking students who raise their GPA the most. Both parents and students are invited to partake in the night’s activities, which will be attended by administrators and hosted by Mr. Morales and the student committee. The first quarter Renaissance rally is for students who are considered to be the cream of the crop, those who made Honor Roll. The rally is the most prepared event Renaissance organizes. Says junior Renaissance member Ghulam Sallman, “We prepare for upcoming events at all of our meetings, but the rally has the most attendees so we have to make it memorable.” The rally will be held in the auditorium, the morning of the 24th. The celebration will have games such as limbo, pie eating and marshmallow eating competitions and tricycle races. Poms and the Blake Percussion Band will both be performing at the event. Renaissance holds events at the end of every marking period in order to motivate students to do better the next term. “Our ultimate goal is to have more students performing at a higher level,” says Sallman. “ If a student gets a B instead of a C because they want to play musical chairs or limbo at one of our rallies our job is done.”

A6

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Students are recognized for hard work in classroom, academic excellence
By recognizing students... we hope that the students [will] continue to work hard.
Hector Morales

Despite hysteria, 2012 Mayan apocalypse not all it is cracked up to be
x by David Hylton & Simone Taylor
Recent studies have shown that the current calculation of the Mayan calendar may be off by almost 50 to 100 years, affecting the recently hyped 2012 apocalypse date. The Mayan calendar is a sophisticated system of almanacs created by the Mayan civilization that developed the concepts of months and years. Some people believe that the world will end when the Mayan calendar ends; December 2012. After recent calculations though, that date may be false. “This ‘delay’ seems to be a cushion net if the world doesn’t end in 2012,” says junior Anthony Bui. The mistake occurred when historians tried to convert the Mayan calendar to the current calendar, the Gregorian calendar. A mistake was made when determining a conversion value. However, some believe that this release of a “new apocalypse date” is just to cover up something they believe may not happen. “They probably found evidence that would contradict everything they’ve been trying to advertise to believers,” says junior Erica Wang. “After 100 years, the new [historians] will predict another [new date].” Some classes at Blake let students watch videos covering various Doomsday predictions, including the Mayan calendar theory. “[Mythology and Astronomy] totally reinforced my disbelief about this whole deal,” says senior Corinne Konoza. According to Konoza, the only significant thing about the end of the Mayan calendar is that all the planets will be aligned. There is no evidence that the Mayans noted December 2012 to be the end of the world. Despite believers’ efforts to convince the public that 2012 is serious, most students disagree. “Most of my friends and peers joke around about it,” says Wang. “‘Why does homework matter? We’re just going to die in 2012 anyways.’” Bui adds, “After Armageddon, Y2K, and 6/6/06, how many times are [people] willing to believe the world will fall?” The research field is not the only place that has experienced the 2012 hype. News stories are constantly covering families that are getting ready for the end; saving water jugs and packing other essential items that they believe may be scarce after the notorious date. Hollywood has shared its bit of hype when movie industry Columbia Pictures distributed the film 2012. Despite disbelief, Wang admits she will miss the hype. “I [guess] I’m kind of relieved,” says Wang, “but at the same time I was looking forward to an end of the world party…just kidding.”

This ‘delay’ seems to be a cushion net if the world doesn’t end in 2012.
Anthony Bui

The Blake Beat

Newsbeats
Iren e Le mbe ros

November 12, 2010

A7

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n Triumph provides excellent SAT practice as students learn test-taking tips, take real SAT practice tests or sections, get feedback on those tests and use practice questions to help eliminate weaknesses. To use the Triumph software, students input their six-digit ID number for their user name and then use that same sixdigit number as their password. Students can also use the Triumph software from a home computer. n n n

Para-educators were welcomed to Montgomery County Public Schools at an orientation October 15. Senior Sydnee Bullard, one of two student speakers, spoke about her high school experiences and the positive impacts of para-educators in the classroom. The Leader of Office of Human Resources and Development Carole Goodman also spoke. n n n

Senior volleyball star Meagan Lagerlef recently committed to Howard University. She accepted a full-ride scholarship offer and chose Howard over the University of Pittsburgh. Lagerlef chose Howard for its exceptional sports therapy program and for the new direction the volleyball team is headed under new coach, Dawn Barnes.

Seniors Julia Baker, Alex Raul, Linda Powers, Nicholas Tax, Lauren Barlow, Rainier Gomez, Grace Mlingi, Delilah Gates, Andrea Archila and Kevin Lee, juniors Brandon Weber, Irene Lemberos, Rachel Jaffe, Phillip Dang, Robert Korycinski, Rhea Wyse, Lucas Irvin, Jonathon Parks, Jahmila Roberts, Victor Chau and Charles Cheng, sophomores Gina Gomes and Samantha Carpenter and freshman Yujun Cao participated in the University of Maryland Math Competition Part I October 20. n n n

Beginning Monday, the D253 computer lab will be open before school for students to use the Triumph SAT software available on the MCPS website at montgomeryschoolsmd.org, where students would then click on the test preparation icon on the left side of the homepage.

The It’s Academic team took on Mt. Vernon high school and Robinson secondary school October 23, winning handily with a score of 560-385-320. The game will air December 11 at 11am on NBC 4. This years’ team starts junior captain Lucas Irvin and seniors Conor Wallace and Dylan Hysen.

NOV OCT

0 12

BLAKE
November 15 November 16 November 17
All A’s dinner, 5:30pm Club and sports group pictures, 7:30am-2pm Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB): Career Exploration Test administered, 7:30am

CALENDAR
November 19
Club and sports group pictures, 7:30am-2pm Fall play: Tales of the Arabian Nights, 7:30pm

November 12
Fall play: Tales of the Arabian Nights, 7:30pm

November 13
Black College Expo at University of Maryland College Park in Reckford Armory, 9am-5pm Preparing for success event for high school girls at Montgomery College, 10am-4:30pm Fall play: Tales of the Arabian Nights, 7:30pm Varsity Cheerleading Competition at Blair, 9:30am

November 20
Fall play: Tales of the Arabian Nights, 7:30pm

November 18
Seniors’ financial aid workshop, 7pm Fall play: Tales of the Arabian Nights, 7:30pm Morehouse College recruiting at Gaithersburg, 6pm

November 23
Top 25 Tea, 6pm

November 24
Renaissance pep rally, 9:39am

A8

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Students wear purple to remember tragic suicides in the LGBT community, p. B3

Girls think too hard, guys play along with their games
x by Sonia Polyzos
“Talking”: the stage in which you are still single but interested in another person. This ends when the dating stage begins, as defined by Urban Dictionary. Every girl prowling for a high school sweetheart goes through this exhausting yet thrilling stage; guys, I’m going to give you a girl’s over-thought perspective on this grueling process. Girls, preach with me here. Guy starts talking to Girl very casually; maybe a Facebook chat, a quick exchange at lunch. This one conversation tends to be very successful and all of a sudden: BOOM! Girl’s already doodling hearts on her notebook. The next few days, Girl “plays hard to get.” She stays up late on Facebook waiting for him to appear online but she doesn’t message him, and when a “hey” pops up in her chat box, she waits five extra minutes so she does not seem too interested. Girl and Guy talk. He asks for her number very casually after about four days. Secretly, this is the moment Girl’s been waiting for all week. Guy texts Girl about a few days after that with a simple “hey what’s up” (usually 9pm or later) and Girl freaks out. Conversation seems to be going well… Guy doesn’t talk to Girl next day. Girl thinks to herself, “Okay, I can break my rule just this one time” and texts Guy something slightly flirty, glancing at her phone every 20 seconds. Girl’s plan fails. Guy thinks he has all the power. The conversation for the next few days is as dry as your lawn in November. They stop talking for a few days. Girl doesn’t want to seem annoying. Guy thinks Girl will text him again. But she doesn’t. “What am I doing? I’m supposed to be the one who’s ‘talking,’” thinks Guy and texts her. Conversation runs smoothly...

Section B

Blake Beat Opinion

November 12, 2010

Girl and Guy begin to chat every day. Slowly, it leads to texting until three in the morning. Girl ends up falling asleep on her doodled math journal in class. Guy begins to call girl every night. Guy makes move: “So when will we finally hang out?” The rest is history. Girls, maybe we do put too much thought into when to talk, how to act, what rules we can break, and what rules should remain unbreakable. But guys, you play along too. Every unofficial couple knows the rule of “talking”; it’s simply a guilty pleasure.

Survive Black Friday storm of shoppers
x & Savannah Tryens
Forget the food on the table and loved ones; come Thanksgiving all we will be thankful for is the 50% off sales and early bird specials going on at our favorite stores. For most, Black Friday is just another tale about a women being trampled by mobs of crazed shoppers, but for the brave few who dare to participate, a couple of tips would never hurt. Choose your location wisely: your favorite mall, like Columbia or Montgomery, may be nice for a weekend shopping trip but not for Black Friday. If it is your favorite mall, chances are it’s a half-a-million other people’s too. Stick to low-key places or forget malls all together. Places like Rockville Pike or Wheaton Mall usually fly under the radar. Turn off your alarm clock: it’s an urban myth that shoppers need to wake up at 4am to walk out satisfied. Sure, an extra 5% off is nice for an early bird special but

by Sammi Levitt

an extra five hours of sleep sounds a lot better to us. By then, the lines outside the doors will be gone and you will have more energy than everyone else. Set a budget: when it comes to a pair of fresh new

kicks or a cute shirt from Nordstrom, we tend to ignore price tags. No more! It may be tempting to buy superfluous clothes and accessories but you need to stop somewhere. If you blow all your birthday money in one day, you’ll have

to wait until your next birthday to get it back again. Finally, make a wish list: this is no day to be “just looking”; you need to have a game plan. If you know what you want, you will also know where to find it. This keeps

you from wasting your time, and everyone else’s. Black Friday is an occasion everyone can take advantage of; just make sure you know what you’re doing before you walk into the danger zone.

No need for 3D glasses to see money popping out of your wallet
With overpriced snacks and movie tickets, it’s no wonder people are complaining.
x by Lily Hua
One small soda: $5.25, a pack of Twizzlers: $3.50, one large popcorn: $8.00, two 3D movie tickets: the opposite of priceless—$30. Remember when you could go to the movies for $20 and have enough for the ticket, snacks and dinner? This concept is now long gone. With the overpriced snacks and movie tickets, it’s no wonder people are complaining about prices. And for those who don’t complain, they can’t say they haven’t snuck food into the theatre at least once. A regular movie ticket costs about $11 after 6pm for the matinee movie. Before 6pm the tickets cost only $9. It’s not that huge of a difference in prices between matinee and evening tickets, especially once you compare it to the extra $4 fee you need to pay in order to watch a 3D movie. Now you would think, “Why don’t I just watch the 2D version instead of the 3D version?” Well, after a certain time period, coincidentally before 6pm—the time before the night movie crowd comes in—there won’t be any showings in 2D, so you’ll either have to wait until the next day or pay extra to watch it in 3D. It used to be somewhat special when there was a 3D movie out, but now it’s so commonplace that it’s no surprise if the next great movie to hit the big screens is shown in 3D. Since 3D movies are so common and popular with audiences, film makers are utilizing this and creating most of their movies with 3D visuals. The issue with this is that most of these movies will turn out with poor storylines or acting, and all they will have are just good graphics. Film directors should take note of the growing popularity of 3D movies, but they should also make sure that their movies are exceptionally great, even if they are shown in 2D instead of 3D. Three -dimensional graphics are meant to enhance the movie experience, not to be used as an excuse to make a poor movie into a satisfactory movie.

Ticket prices go out of control as new trend emerges in movie theaters
It’s no surprise if the next great movie to hit the big screen is shown in 3D.

Addicting social network prevents junior from doing work
x by Lucas Irvin
Normally, I would try to begin an article with some sort of creative lead, but I got distracted on Facebook, so I have to rush through this like all my other homework. It is nearly impossible for me to do anything on a computer without checking Facebook at some point, even if there’s nothing to check. With so much time to spend and nothing to spend it on, I ended up wasting time changing my language to Pirate and seeing what I understood. It took me about ten minutes to change the settings because I couldn’t understand that “Ye Ship’s Rigging” meant “Profile Settings.” Such loss of focus is incredibly common and leads to groups like “You know you’re addicted to Facebook when…” (One of the many pointless but popular lists) and “I’m sure grade averages have dropped since Facebook started.” Facebook always makes homework take a little longer to finish. In fact, while I was “researching” for this article, I repeatedly lost track of my thoughts and started Facebook-stalking. (Don’t try and deny it; everyone does it.) The allure of Facebookstalking often leads me to look at entire photo albums, even if I’m only in one or two of the photos. The day after Halloween, I went through whole albums to see how many costumes I could find from the video “13 Costumes You’ll See At Every Party.” Unfortunately, I found only a couple, unless you count each Jersey Shore costume, which would probably make up for the rest. Facebook’s newest creation, group chat, is one of few features that actually has potential for productivity. Theoretically, a large group of people can chat together and help each other with class work. But since everyone in the chat is notified when one person decides to comment on something outside of the chat, everyone else is pulled off track too. So unless you’re talking with some devoted scholars or people who are cramming for tomorrow’s exam, not much is going to be accomplished. Regardless of how much I’m distracted by Facebook, I’m still often led to other sites that further my distraction. After I saw that a few of my friends were playing Tetris, it rekindled an old addiction and made me see if I was still any good. YouTube is another site my mind commonly wanders to, because it is impossible to see a fan page with such an awesome name as “Is it a Good Idea to Microwave this?” without wanting to see someone stupid enough to actually do this. The unending entertainment diversion that Facebook provides keeps me from doing anything productive and is an addiction that needs to be cured.

B2

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Student procastinates, uses Facebook instead of completing assignments
It is nearly impossible for me to do anything on a computer without checking Facebook at some point.

Smash hit television show not as ‘glee-ifying’ as everybody thinks
x by Abby Ramlagan
If you ask any die-hard Glee fan about a song featured in the show, they can tell you which characters sang it, the scene it was from, how good or bad it was and so on. But if you ask them anything about the original versions of those songs you will get nothing but silence. I watch Glee every week and I buy some songs, but I don’t buy every single one. Not all of them are good, but to obsessed fans, this doesn’t matter. They only care if “smoking hot” Puck or androgynous Kurt sang it. Sense my pattern here? Glee songs featured are in the top ten every week not because the original version is loved, but because they are featured during the show. Unfortunately, Glee fans don’t realize that some of the originals songs are better than the newer versions performed on the show. For me, after hearing a Glee song, I automatically buy the original because it’s not a question of whether the Glee Cast sang it better…I know that answer. It’s obvious that they can’t sing the song better than the original artist, so why then do they get as much, or even more, attention? The cast of Glee thinks that by singing covers of the originals, they are doing a service to that hard-working artist by making it popular again. In reality, however, they are not because the Glee kids are the ones getting all the attention. Pretty unfair, right? With most songs, the editing consists of cutting it up and changing the beat and tempo, which completely butchers it. Besides that, some of the original artists aren’t even alive to see their work being disrespected. But we, the fans, are. And we should be very protective of them

Cast covers songs greedily, stealing stardom, credit from original artists

and their work. Some Glee fans don’t know anything about the original version and artist because the only tribute made is when Mr. Schuester says; “This week we are making a tribute to [insert famous singer here.]” What a truly sincere and informative tribute. Thanks Mr. Schuester! I’m pretty sure that if the artist’s name wasn’t mentioned, most Glee fans would never know who sang the original song and some might even conclude the performer on Glee is the original artist…scary thought. Glee has really brought some songs out of the dust and into the light, but sadly, those great songs come on twice every season, whereas the ruined songs air on every other episode. I think I speak for many when I say that I am tired of getting frustrated because Glee continues to ruin and disrespect quality music.

The Blake Beat

November 12, 2010

Legend’s death exploited by Sony
x by David Hylton

B3

Junior wants record company to “Beat It”
Michael Jackson was one of the most talented performers in history. Unfortunately now that he is no longer living, the music industry is using his success and popularity to make a profit. In March, record company Sony Music Entertainment announced that it would release a series of posthumous albums from the late King of Pop. The first installment will be released December 14. I could not wait to add new songs to my daily jam sessions from the person that brought us hits such as “Thriller,” “Beat It,” and my personal favorite, “Smooth Criminal.” But once the high wore off, I began to question Sony’s intentions in releasing the albums. Most CDs these days contain 12, sometimes 15 songs, but Sony announced the first installment would feature only ten previously unreleased songs. Why give small pieces of music to fans when you could supply a whole chunk? Oh right. This isn’t about giving fans what they pay for, it’s about making money; and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that more albums equal more profit. Many fans are under the impression that Jackson’s three children will be given a large sum of the money made by Sony. But, after looking into it, I realized that it has never been officially announced. So now fans will buy these albums thinking that their money will help three young kids who have recently lost a father, but in reality, their money is going to some wealthy businessman. This isn’t Sony’s first attempt to use Michael Jackson’s death to cash in at the bank. Last October, fans pre-ordered tickets to go see the limited theatrical run of This Is It, a film documenting the rehearsals of Jackson’s would-be comeback tour. The Jackson family had expressed how little they supported the film, yet Sony produced it anyway, and will continue to release products featuring the King of Pop because they are confident in the success of future sales. Because let’s face it, Michael Jackson was a legend and fans will do anything to hear new music from the King of Pop, even if it’s from a corporation who makes money off the mourning of someone’s death.

Gay harassment leads to tragic suicides within LGBT community
x by Sam Glatt
September 22 was a very sad day for the members of the gay community. This was the day that Tyler Clementi took his own life by jumping off the George Washington Bridge in response to being bullied because of his sexuality. Clementi’s roommate secretly filmed him having an intimate encounter with another male and broadcasted it to all of his friends over iChat. Days later, after learning of this, Clementi jumped off of the George Washington Bridge outside of the Rutgers University campus in New Jersey. Clementi’s suicide catalyzed what seemed to be a horrific chain of events. In the last month, there have been over nine suicides of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) teenage youth in the news, and still more that haven’t been featured in the public eye. October 20, the community exhibited its support of gay rights by remembering the LGBT teens who took their own lives due to bullying and abuse. Dan Savage, a famous journalist and media pundit, started a YouTube campaign after these events entitled, “It Gets Better.” This campaign features YouTube users (both famous and normal everyday people like you and me) telling others that even though it may not seem like it now, it will get better. Some celebrities in on the campaign include musical artists Ke$ha and Adam Lambert as well as the gay couple from the television show Modern Family played by Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. These videos are made to tell the viewers that it genuinely will get better, and let’s hope it actually will. Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) started a campaign over Facebook and Twitter that allows users to change their profile pictures to the color purple to represent their support for the gay community. Many people asked the question, “Why wear purple? Why not blue? Or pink? Or green?” The purple represents spirit, according the gay pride flag. When others see people wearing purple and they ask why, people will tell them that it was in remembrance of the spirits of those who took their lives because of how others treated them. I think it’s horrible how the gay community is being treated. The government and the people

surrounding them in everyday life are treating LGBT like they are nothing, worthless; like they shouldn’t even by allowed to be a part of this nation. It makes me sick that in this day and age, people are telling others that the gay community means nothing. Even our government says that gays are worthless. They refuse to give them rights that everyone else has and it’s just plain wrong. It’s time that our nation recognizes the LGBT community as people too. The last thing we should ever want is innocent teenagers ending their life because of how others are treating them.

Sad singles look to warm up their hearts in chilly months to come
x by Ricardo Mancia
Short dresses, tank tops and pool hopping are out of season, along with being single. Now that there’s a chill in the air, it’s time to bundle up with a jacket, hot chocolate and hopefully someone to cuddle with. Throw in your jersey; it’s time to quit the game and “save.” To break it down for you, cut off all the booty calls and keep that main “joint.” In other words, this means stop “talking” to all the people who you aren’t serious about and pick one person to be with long-term. Teens flirt – it’s natural. It’s not so much of a stretch to keep those flirtations limited to one special person; keep that one contact in your phone that says “baby” or “boo.” Please don’t expect to find the right one on the first try; you’re still young – love comes and goes. With the cold weather, it takes just a little more hard work to find the perfect fit, but boy is it worth it. Find someone you can bring home to mom and dad and announce to them that “we’re dating.” Two day relationships just don’t cut it; I’m talking about month-long relationships. You need stability to get you through the blizzards and snow days. Boys look to find girls that are pretty and who they can chill with, while girls look for boys that will cuddle with on snowy nights. However, both males and females can agree that they want someone there during the cold season. Who can turn down a winter night watching one of your favorite movies with someone you love? I’m not saying you’ve got to find someone who you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. We aren’t looking for husbands and wives here—just find someone that you can keep around for a while and if it works out then more power to you. Let’s just be real—high school relationships usually don’t last after the caps get thrown.

Love is in air when winter season brings romantic hopefuls together
Let’s just be real--high school relationships usually don’t last after the caps get thrown.
So wrap up those ongoing “friendswith-benefits” flings, catch up on your game and remember the cardinal rule of saving season; build trust, because no relationship will get through the ice without it.

To break it down for you, cut off all the booty calls and keep that main ‘joint’.

Lack of creativity becomes reel pain for movie-goers
x by Isak Shah
Movies are supposed to take us out of our boring, monotonous world and thrust us in to the land of fantasy where everyone is airbrushed to perfection, and where life actually does have theme music. However, when this dream world begins to unravel and fold over upon itself, repeating like a broken record, the true allure of the movie industry loses its glitz and glamour. The Disney classics we grew up with, like The Lion King and Bambi, now sport obnoxious sequels, introducing new characters and annoying plot twists that ruin the perfectly good endings we knew so well. Saw has become a disgustingly long saga, extending even after the death of Jigsaw. And just when we thought Rocky was done fighting, and he and Adrian could finally retire in peace, out comes another movie, Rocky Balboa with “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over,” as the slogan. I mean, really Mr. Stallone; shouldn’t this fight have been over about 3 movies ago? Everyone loves Rocky, but isn’t it time he had a happy ending once and for all? Now, not all current movies are terrible sequels and remakes- some are just brand new terrible ideas. Featured in the “coming soon” section of Fandango.com, is a movie simply titled Rubber. Sounds fairly harmless, right? Wrong. The movie is about a killer tire- yes; a tire, as in the tires on your car –with psychic powers. The tire roams the country causing objects, like human heads, or birds, to explode in its wake. I’m sorry Mr. Quentin Dupieux, but no amount of incredible footage and cinematography will ever make a tire scary. I know we’ve all heard the phrase, “Let sleeping dogs lie.” With so many screenplay writers in the industry, how is it possible that there aren’t more new storylines? With

B6

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Audiences unimpressed by drawn-out film sagas, ready for improvement

exorcism after exorcism, animated mice in abundance, and a slew of monster movies on the way, it becomes difficult to differentiate between the movies you saw last week, and the ones from last year. All we ask is that the story lines change it up a little, so that we’re actually surprised after paying a whopping $11 to see the latest “new” flick. More realistic films like Juno or (500) Days of Summer certainly wouldn’t hurt, or maybe a couple of new faces on screen to stir the pot of new star crushes would improve the boredom. A little less of the vampy Robert Pattinson might actually push the bloodsucker craze back in to 6th grade, where it’s always belonged. No offense, Twilight fans, but really, it’s only the shirtless boys you like, not the pale vampires or the weird wolf boys. We need more Breakfast Club and less supernatural junk; more Singing in The Rain, and a lot less Snakes on A Plane- get on it, movie industry.

Monstrous energy, sport drinks proven villainous to athletes’ health
x by Tatiana Creppy
Ever since they first arrived on the market, energy and sports drinks have grown popular amongst men and women of all ages. Drinks such as Gatorade, Propel water, Five Hour Energy and Monster have been said to improve people’s health and give them an extra boost. Commercial after commercial shows the many benefits of energy and sports drinks, but what they fail to mention is how these drinks can lead to health risks. Energy drinks are a huge example of the industries’ failure to advertise the serious health risk behind the drinks they produce. Energy drinks can lead to many diseases and can ultimately kill you. Luckily, I was able to obtain a package of information on energy drinks form our nurse Darlene Battle and believe me, what I found out is alarming. Energy drinks have been known to cause jitteriness, nervousness, dizziness, dehydration and accelerated heart rates which increase your chances of having a heartattack. They also affect a student’s ability to focus in class and staying on task. So if you are trying to stay awake in class, stay away from the energy drinks. Sports drinks have many advantages when used properly. By properly, I mean that sports drinks can only be consumed when or after exercising due to the significant amount of sugar put in drinks such as Gatorade (for example G2 has seven grams of sugar per serving). Most people do not consider the repercussions of consuming energy drinks. Exposure to excessive amounts of sugar on a regular basis can lead to obesity and potential diabetes in the long run, just to name a few. As for athletes, imbibing sports drinks on a daily basis may help you when it comes to keeping your body hydrated during workouts. According to W. Larry Kenney, who is a professor of physiology and kinesiology at Penn State, sports drink may actually be better to drink than a bottle of water. Sports drinks contain many ingredients not found in water. Components such as electrolytes which help regulate your body’s hydration, nerve, and muscle function that enable you to move more effectively during workouts. Sports drinks also contain carbohydrates which provide energy to the body during a long period of exercise. This will help you remain focused, limiting the chances of you losing your breath. Sadly, these sports drinks are not beneficial to your dental hygiene. According to a study of

No longer hiding under bed, concealed side effects emerge from darkness

Dental Research in Miami, sports drinks can cause major tooth damage. This damage varies from the deterioration of your dentin to the weakening of the enamel which can increase the possibility of infection. Everyone tries to find things that will help them function better day to day. Sports and energy drinks have become a part of many people’s daily activities. Though energy drinks were created to help your body they unfortunately have harmful consequences that aren’t advertised. Next time you pick up a Gatorade or a Monster drink, think about how it will affect your health and your teeth.

The Blake Beat

November 12, 2010

Guide to get boredom out of your mind
x by Larisha Winley

B7

No more dull days with junior’s list of useful advice
You’re sitting at home flipping aimlessly through television channels, in a desparate search for something – anything – to watch. So when you realize there is absolutely nothing on, you head to the computer where you spend hours on end stalking friends on Facebook, playing games and tweeting to your 15 followers. Every day you find yourself doing the same thing – nothing. Well, I think it’s time for a change. Lucky for you, here’s a list on how you can stay productive when you are bored to tears. Volunteer or find an organization to join. It’s so easy and simple to get involved; there is no excuse not to. You can volunteer at any Montgomery County school, library, dog shelter or hospital (they are everywhere!). An added bonus is that you will earn more than the required 75 SSL hours. Visit the nation’s capital. D.C. offers a variety of fun places to explore and they are all just a Metro ride way. Many of the museums downtown are free of charge and give you a chance to discover things you may not learn in school. There are also plays, concerts, cultural festivals, restaurants, architecture and so much more that you won’t be able to see it all in just one day. Find a hobby. Being able to text with your eyes closed is not a talent to boast about. Find something to do for fun and you might just discover you possess far greater gifts. Take classes, join a club and find your true potential! Read a book…for fun. I realize you have tons of school work and that it’s difficult to find the time to read, but if you exchanged those hours you spend shopping online for reading, it could be done. You can read books about drawing, animals, football, politics or just a magazine; at least you’re reading and spending your time wisely. Do your homework or study. After being in school for five days a week, seven hours a day, the last thing you want to think about is all the work your teachers have given you. But believe it or not, doing your homework ahead of time will leave you feeling less stressed than procrastinating and doing it all the night before will. And if by some chance you have no homework, study and review what you have been learning in class.

Couples link through technology
x by Rachel Babcock
When was the last time you actually picked up the phone and called the guy or girl you are talking to right now? Confrontation scares teens to death now-a-days, so we end up coping by making all of our moves through technology. Now we get butterflies in our stomachs when we get attention through technology. Whether it’s when text messages light up our cell phones; chats on Facebook pop up at the bottom of our computer screens; juicy statuses and tweets have us gasping for air; and of course, those occasional flirtatious inbox conversations that eventually lead to exchanging numbers, talking in person does not occur. My point is that technology has taken away the true meaning of getting to know someone, and has made relationships very impersonal. We stress ourselves out by constantly checking our significant others’ wall posts and pictures, making sure nothing sketchy comes to

Teens depend on social networking systems to form virtual relationships

surface; and heaven forbid a picture is taken with their arm around someone’s shoulder that isn’t you—then of course all hell breaks loose. Not only does technology have us wrapped around its fingers, it also takes us away from reality and thrusts us into an electronic world where tone and emotion do not exist. It makes us upset if the text did not “sound” interesting or upbeat, when in reality, it is simply unspoken words that are hard to attach emotion to, unless the person says it themselves. We are slaves to technology and it often breeds false perception in our minds. I cannot tell you how much time girls spend racking their brains wondering why “he” did not text her back when in reality he probably only got his phone taken or it was just not with him. It is not that they are crazy; it is that the break in consistency through technology that causes girls to take everything so personally. Technology has evidently taken a large toll on society – I am sure we are not too far from virtual roses and chocolate.

The Blake Beat

November 12, 2010

B8

Students, staff take part in new technology craze as proud owners of kindle, iPad, p. C2

Unique renovations put ubiquitous Eubie TV in spotlight
Seniors motivate, provide experience for underclassmen
by Dylan Hysen x & Conor Wallace
Eubie TV might still have the same focus, but it has a completely new feel to it this year. With a new format and set, the news looks to start your morning off with a bang. “We have changed the entire format and we’re not finished yet,” says first period news production teacher Sara Hartenstine. Eubie TV has begun the year with improved categories such as Meetings, Classnotes, Activities, Events and Sports. However, there are plans to revise the Sports and Classnotes sections and to possibly add a weather section. The changes this year to Eubie TV do not stop there: a new set designed by Media Services Technicians John Ovington, Nick Piegari and Robert Lodge is now present. “We wanted to give the settings a more modern feel and appearance,” says Mr.

Section C

Blake Beat Features

November 12, 2010

I wanted to present what I felt was an idealized version of Blake: artful yet accessible.
John Ovington
Ovington. “I wanted to present what I felt was an idealized version of Blake: artful yet accessible.” Everyone is enthusiastic about the new set. Says senior and TV Production manager Daniel Bell, “The news is a lot better this year because of our changed set.” Changes this year accompany an influx of younger students into TV Production. Previously consisting of mostly seniors; this year there are more sophomores. Says Ms. Hartenstine, “We have younger, more enthusiastic students who are really willing to step up and get involved.” However, having a younger staff does have some negatives. Among these prob-

Senior and lead anchor of Eubie TV Janjay Davis sits enthusiastically on newly updated set of the morning news lems are inexperienced anchors in the news rotation. Senior and TV Production manager Andrea Archila says, “We are in the process of training anchors because we don’t have as many properly-trained people as we would have hoped.” Due to this training, the staff has not had time to create new openers or promos yet this year. For now, Eubie TV has two lead an-

show. Students and staff of production hope renovations will engage and impress peers to watch. -- photo by Aron Crews production,” says Archila. “Call me a dork for loving it so much, I could care less.” Ms. Hartenstine wants students in TV Production like Archila and Bell to really be involved in making the news. “I want the students to feel connected and make many of these decisions themselves,” says Ms. Hartenstine. “I want the students to have a vested interest in the news.”

Search for cure continues as seniors fight to survive college process
x by Lily Hua
Senioritis strikes again! Class of 2011 is fighting against the urge to procrastinate as college application deadlines grow near. As the priority, early action, and early decision dates pass, seniors who have been postponing their college applications must work to make sure they turn their materials in promptly. “Know when all your deadlines are and exactly what you have to do by those dates,” says senior Nicholas Arnold-Medabalimi, “[because] nothing [will matter] if you miss them.” As most seniors are learning, college applications are not difficult; they are just tedious. Each applica-

chors, senior Janjay Davis and junior Michael Joiner. TV Production rotates hosts and sports casters and hopes to have more anchors trained in the future. In addition, managers like Archila have their own rotation between studio manager, operations manager, features manager and general crew members. Archila has been in TV Production for all four years of high school. “I love TV

‘Doctor’ Hua and Alumna Gifford prescribe remedies, seek to give hope to students
tion requires multiple components such as SAT scores, college essays, recommendations, and transcripts. Not to mention the compiled resume and the student brag sheet – that must be completed before any recommendation letters can be written. “It takes awhile to do a college application,” says guidance counselor Jamie Raley. “If you wait until the last minute to do them you may not get them in on time.” The major factor students need to be aware of is time; teachers and counselors need at least 15 days to write recommendation letters and the registrar should be given three weeks to process transcripts, so make sure things are handed in early. Blake alumna Elise Gifford advises students – including those who have yet to finalize their schoolsto inform teachers beforehand if they are planning on asking them for recommendations. “Each day I waited I got more and more stressed,” says Gifford, “even though it was an easy problem to fix.” One of the best ways to final-

ize the college list is to visit each school. The importance of finalizing a list is so students will be able to save money on application fees. Ms. Raley recommends touring the campus to help narrow down the college list. If campus tours are not possible, another option is to attend college information sessions available in the Career Center. Developing a relationship with the university’s admissions office will help students’ chances since most schools will note each time they are contacted. If there

are any specific questions about a school that cannot be answered by looking on its website, then applicants should email them. “You are entrusting these people with your education for the next four years,” says Gifford. “So you should be as impressed with them as they are with you.” The essays or personal statements are pertinent pieces to the application packet, so make sure plenty of time is spent writing them. Before submitting applications, students should review, proofread, and print out an extra copy of their application. “The application process,” says Ms. Raley, “allows for colleges to get a big glimpse of who you are as a student and a person.”

You are entrusting these people with your education for the next four years, so you should be as impressed with them as they are with you. Elise Gifford

C2

November 12, 2010

iPad, Kindle touch electronic junkies
x by Molly Cohen & Adele Leishman

The Blake Beat

Latest gadgets acquire acclaim around globe
You know the feeling you get when you spot that one thing you just cannot live without? Well, for all you tech savvy teens, there is a new and improved technology that has your name written all over it…literally. Apple’s latest invention, the iPad, and Amazon’s Kindle both allow users to download e-books and read on-the-go. However, the iPad enables users to download music and browse the web as well. Junior Devon Dey says, “The iPad is great, with dozens of apps, you can do almost anything with it.” Recently ranked fourteenth among the Top 100 MustHave Gadgets for 2010, the Amazon Kindle is also very popular. AP Language and Honors English teacher Allison Finn says, “I just really wanted one. I can’t even explain why; I just needed one.” With a rechargeable battery that can last up to two weeks, this device is great for readers everywhere. The screen is designed to eliminate eye strain and fatigue caused from staring too long at the product. Although the Kindle does not provide complete internet access, Amazon’s wireless Whispernet serves as a program that enables you to download e-books virtually. “During the snowstorm last year, it was invaluable,” says Ms. Finn. In times of cabin fever, the Kindle allows one to download new books every time he or she finishes the last one. The iPad, listed as fifth on the list of the Top 100 MustHave Gadgets, comes with a variety of apps including Safari, YouTube, and Facebook. Dey is one of the many students who enjoys the latest Apple product. “I like the iPad way better [than the Kindle],” says Dey. “The Kindle is for reading - I hate reading.” Not only is the iPad larger than the Kindle, but it also includes a color touch screen. The ability to turn the iPad sideways allows you to watch videos and read in landscape view. Although Dey admits he would never attempt to type an essay on the iPad, he says, “It is the ultimate way to entertain yourself. You can do anything with it.”

Junior Devon Dey shows off his iPad and preference of the Apple product over Amazon’s Kindle. The

iPad allows user to download music, browse the web and play games. photo by -- Aron Crews

Tumblr becomes new hot spot for social networking
Teen users feel safe expressing feelings, opinions through blogging
by Leah Patterson x& Karen Vanegas
Twitter. Facebook. Myspace. Our generation experiences countless trends in social networking and the microblogging site Tumblr is the new “in.” “My favorite part about this site is getting to express myself without boundaries,” says junior Grace Plihal. Tumblr allows users to blog their feelings and thoughts to the World Wide Web. Students can post pictures, text, videos, GIFs, quotes and audio to their “tumblelog.” Tumblr has been growing in popularity amongst Blake students this past year. Students sometimes use it as a platform to discuss social matters, pop culture, and current events. Junior Erika Arancibia says, “You can express your social life on the internet, and see a positive side of the world.” Tumblr’s popularity may be accredited to the image it has received on Facebook and Twitter. The blogging site allows users to notify their other social networks when a new blog post has been added. This allows students to share their blogs posts with other friends who do not have a Tumblr account, encouraging them to share their own ideas and opinions. Along with this, Tumblr enables students to share more than a simple 140 character status or a video captured in their rooms. Tumblr allows its bloggers to explore different layouts, allowing uniqueness to reach its full potential. With this, users can explore blogs that appeal to them. “I like logging in everyday knowing that I’ll find something that would relate to me,” adds Arancibia. However, the increasing popularity among their peers does not sit well for some Tumblr users. A few students don’t want to have too many followers they actually know from school. These blogs often contain personal stories and opinions some would like to have only open to the current Tumblr community. Plihal says, “[More Blake students using Tumblr] kind of destroys the sacredness of the site.” A sense of privacy is a plus, as many students’ names cannot be easily identified. The only way to really know who you are following is if you actually know the person. In this manner, different views can be expressed without any fears. Some users see this blog almost as a diary to share with the web. With the freedom to post, comes certain risks that users take once they log on to the site. While it can be informative, interesting, and witty, some blogs contain inappropriate or risqué content. Junior Vanessa Newman says, “I think Tumblr gives people a false sense of security and self-expression.” Despite new trends, the Tumblr fad is here to stay.

The Blake Beat

November 12, 2010

C3

Erika Arancibia

Students well on way for college courses through beneficial Capstone class
by Danny Lee x & Brianna Livesay
Entering high school can be an overwhelming experience, but by joining an academy, a student can structure their schedule based on their career interest and preferences. The Academy programs at Blake include Arts and Communications; Business and Consumer Service; Humanities and Public Service; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - each of which has its own pathway of courses a student can take to qualify for a Senior Capstone Experience. “Capstone has given me time to organize my portfolio,” says senior Connie Dai. “It’s helped me make time to apply for college.” The Capstone Experience is a senior-only course in which students spend 75 hours per semester working on a project specific to their career goals or aspiration. Dai is working on her college art portfolio, while fellow classmate senior Jalen Marshall is doing a scientific research project for his STEM Capstone Experience. Marshall says his STEM Capstone experience has prepared him for college level study and has motivated him to do well on his project. “It has prepared me for various college programs that I wish to pursue,” says Marshall. “I am excited to conduct research like this at a university.” Students are even encouraged to find mentors who work within their field of study to aid them in their research. The Capstone class is lead by teachers Barbara Podnos and Harold Hilliard, both of whom are dedicated to aiding their students in their studies and research. “I was nervous at first - giving the students so much free time to work on their projects,” says Mr. Hilliard, “but the students have really proven to be dedicated and hardworking. I’m really proud of the class as a whole.” The Capstone class has helped Blake Alumnus such as Robert Bennett, who focused his project on videotography. Bennett’s hard work has paid off; the Capstone Experience helped land him at the University of Miami where he is studying Motion Pictures. “I had ample time to work on my portfolio and get feed back from [Ms. Podnos] and the other students,” adds Bennett, “it was so much easier to apply to college having everything I needed finished in capstone class.”

Senior Steven Rodriguez’s capstone project slideshow on his anticipated veterinary career.

Every student in the class creates a presentation like his. Screen shot by Brianna Livesay

Group of animated seniors gets together to discuss comics
x by Paige O’Flahavan & Tara McIntyre
ZIP! ZAP! POW! The phenomenon of the action packed comic books from our parents’ generation has come back with a new force among young people in graphic novels. The range of graphic novels is just as wide as that of its’ readers spanning from romance to action, and sci-fi to fantasy. “My favorite part is getting into the storyline and being able to connect with all the characters,” says Senior Toan Nguyen. Graphic novels have also been made to convenience their readers and are physically printed or even published online to create easier access. “What’s great about graphic novels is that they are read like comics but are thick and have a novelistic plot,” says Nguyen. Japanese originated graphic novels, such as manga, have several differences from your every-day narrative. “Most Japanese styles you read from right to left; from the back of the book to the front of the book,” says senior Shelby Morales.

C6

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Anime Club reads into Japanese culture in fast-paced manga mania

My favorite part is getting into the storyline and being able to connect with all the characters.

Students turn towards keyboards, leave behind elegant penmanship
x by Kemi Olowoofayoku
“Once you go to middle school and for the rest of your life, you will have to write in cursive. If you don’t know how, you can’t succeed in life.” We have all heard our fifth-grade teachers preach these words. Yet here we are, years later, still not writing in cursive. So what went wrong? “I think it’s really sad that people don’t know how to write in cursive anymore,” says senior Stella Song. “It’s just another thing that’s become obsolete because of technology.” Students would now rather type out an assignment on the computer than spend time attempting to construct a perfectly written paper in cursive. The lack of student’s ability to write in cursive is especially evident while taking the SAT. One section of the test involves copying a short statement that must be in cursive. From this simple act that should take no longer than five minutes, test takers find themselves waiting ten minutes for everyone to complete the task. “It’s so weird to write in cursive during the SAT,” says senior Brooke Mellish. “I was like… this still exists?” Whether it is the overall lack of know-how or laziness to produce a legible product, writing in cursive has become archaic. “What’s the point of slaving over your paper trying to write perfectly in cursive when you can just type it up?” adds Mellish. Most teachers rarely give students the opportunity to do homework assignments in cursive, so students are not allowed the chance to practice the skill. Says Song, “The

Shelby Morales

Graphic novels often have two to four artists and often times only one author. Graphic novels have grown so popular throughout Blake’s student body in the past years that there is currently an Anime Club. Every Friday the three year old Anime Club consisting of about 20 students gathers. Morales states, “Basically it’s a place where those interested in graphic novels can meet and discuss, as well as be themselves.” The Anime Club’s president is Senior Shannon Wade, and is accompanied by Morales and Delaney Cruickshank as vice presidents. Club members bring in a variety of different anime shows and graphic novels to get everyone Toan Nguyen else into a series. In order to keep matters exciting, the Anime Club often takes trips to graphic novel conventions which can be quite crowded and chaotic. At these conventions, excited fans are shown new releases of anime in an area called the “dealers room”. In the dealers room you can purchase anime products, which are usually priced between $20-$40, depending on the novels popularity and author.

problem with cursive is that it’s supposed to be pretty. A lot of people just don’t have pretty handwriting.” Not everyone believes that cursive is something that only belongs in old movies and love letters. “I think it’s really sad that people don’t write in cursive,” says sophomore Konner Johnson. “It’s just another beautiful thing that’s become part of the past due to technology.”

New game causing ‘chain reaction’ among classmates
Clever mind puzzle keeps brains busy, gains momentum throughout halls
by Sammi Levitt x & Savannah Tryens
From TV to the hallways, Chain Reaction is creating a stir amongst students who are reacting positively to the new sensation, playing it whenever they get the chance. Chain Reaction is a game where a chain of words is created; each word must be somehow connected to the word above and below it creating a two-word phrase. For example: Final F S D Party would comes out to be Final Four, Four Square, Square Dance and Dance Party. Senior Bridget Hawvermale, despite watching the show when she was younger on the Game Show Network (GSN), picked up Chain Reaction from friends seniors Linda Powers and Leena Owen. “I play all the time,” says Hawvermale. “Even during classes…sometimes I’ll think of one and text [a friend] to see if she can get it.” Though it is not played competitively, students play with friends and get them to join in on the craze as well. Hawvermale and junior Sarah Hagan began to play at field hockey practice. “I’ve watched the show on GSN for a couple years now and as soon as I heard it was floating around Blake I had to play,” says Hagan. Although Owen created an impressive 30-word long chain, length does not necessarily matter; it is the cleverness that counts. Junior Brian Battaglia spends his time in biology class and at lunch making chain reactions. “My best one was only five words but almost no one could get it,” says Battaglia. “Once I explained it everyone realized how smart it was.” The game has become a huge phenomenon and is addictive for all who play it. Says Hagan, “People find it so fun because it’s a brain teaser and once you start you can’t stop until you’ve completed it.” For many students, practice time, class time and spare time, is consumed by Chain Reaction. Fads like these come and go, but this game has created more of a reaction than any other recent rage, chaining students together with a common interest.

The Blake Beat

November 12, 2010

C7

“It’s a brain teaser and once you start you can’t stop until you’ve completed it.”
Sarah Hagan

Bell, Lyons experience farm life, raise animals with family members
Senior, freshman balance work at home, academics
x & Britney Stuart
by Savannah Doane-Malotte

For most, the fact that old McDonald had a farm was just part of a silly childhood song. But for senior Daniel Bell and freshman Duncan Lyons, working on a farm with their families is part of their everyday lives. Both students have grown up on farms practically their whole lives, due to their parents’ strong interest in farm life. Bell’s mother has been riding horses since she was a teenager, and could not wait to get her son involved. Says Bell, “My favorite part of working on a farm is interacting with all the different horses because each one really has its own personality.” Bell works at Greystone farm in Brookeville, training and riding horses as well as doing odd jobs. Lyons’ family has owned and lived on Willow Grove Farm in Olney since he was two years old. When they bought the farm, his parents both had very demanding and busy careers, but decided they needed some peace and quiet at home. Running a farm was the perfect solution. Lyons says, “[My parents] were both always cooped up in their offices, but always wanted to live on a farm.” On Lyons’s farm, there are more than a dozen goats, two horses and six chickens, which means there is always a lot of work to be done. To help his parents, Lyons performs several jobs on the farm; such as feeding the animals, milking the goats, stacking hay, cleaning out the barns and many others. Both students aide their families as much as they can, working after school and on weekends. Lyons became involved with farms due to his mom, who had worked on a dairy cattle farm while she was growing up, and because of the county 4H program. Owned by Anne Crowles and her daughter K.C., Bell’s farm is primarily a horse farm. “I mainly ride a lot of the horses at the farm,” says Bell, “and help train them.” Even though their farms are important to them, both students balance out working on the farm with their personal responsibilities at work and school. Bell adds, “I have to balance out working at the farm with lacrosse and hockey and my other job.” Despite the amount of work, farming seems to pay off in the end for these Blake students. “I have learned that I have to put other priorities before [my own],” says Bell, “in order to take care of the things I truly care about.”

Senior Daniel Bell tries to balance school work with working at his family’s farm where he trains and

rides horses. Bell’s involvement stemed from his parents’ strong interest. -- photo by Aron Crews

Birth names left behind; students choose new, signature identities
x by Abby Ramlagan
One common thing you hear teenagers complain about is names—they are too weird, too long or too simple. So some kids have nicknames that make them unique and show off their amazing personality; they don’t want to be just another “Katie” or “John”. “Brooklyn represents everything about me,” says senior Joshua Hubert, who has a very interesting alias: Brooklyn. His family members started the creative idea; they used to call him “Big Brooklyn,” his little brother “Little Brooklyn,” and his older brother “New York.” Because Hubert is the middle child, they just left it simply as Brooklyn. He has been called that for so long at home and at school that it is more comfortable for him than his birth name. Junior Kimberly Adams simply never used her real name. After her birth, her parents agonized over baby names; her mom favored McKayla, which is her middle name, and her dad wanted to call her Kimberly. Her dad surrendered and she grew up being called by her middle name. Since she is rarely ever called Kimberly, Adams is usually uncomfortable when substitutes or teasing friends use it. “It bothers me because I don’t feel like that’s my name,” says Adams, “but if I had always been called that my entire life then I wouldn’t [be bothered].” Junior Selene Bae has a different explanation for using a double-name. Growing up, she was called Kyeongseon only by her family, which means “have mercy” in Korean.

Upperclassmen find comfort, make connections to creative alias titles

Nowadays, she goes by Selene in efforts to ease the pronunciation problem for her peers and teachers. Bae now sports both a Korean and American name. For her, choosing an American name was not something difficult for her, but rather an exciting experience. Bae says, “I’m interested in stars/constellations and the name Selene is related to my constellation Libra.” So admire these students, and others, that take inspiration from family, friends and creativity to find a name that truly suits you.

C8
Well here I go again with life ____________________________ Thank you so much Mrs. Branson for my recommendation! ____________________________ Class of 2011! ____________________________ Who pays for unclassifieds, anyways? ____________________________ I love Holly Stein with all of my heart. <3 ____________________________ Mes amis français m’adorent beaucoup. Vous me manquez! ___________________________ You’re beautiful. Please smile! ____________________________ What’s an unclassified? ____________________________ It should be Thrilling Thursday, not Terrific Thursday. ____________________________ I believe I can fly with Aron Crews and his amazingness. ____________________________ I love Aron and Ellen Wood. ____________________________ Should I ask her out? ____________________________ What is better, Guava or life? ____________________________ Guava ____________________________ Sitting next to Savannah in class is an honor ____________________________ We are who we are!! ____________________________ I whip my hair back and forth, I whip my hair back and forth, I whip my hair back and forth. Best song ever!!! ____________________________ Kristen & Nick are the cutest couple! -DH ____________________________ 10 DAYS UNTIL NICKI MINAJ’S ALBUM!! ____________________________ Mr. Ho is the best ____________________________ Come see Tales of Arabian Nights!! ____________________________ A man. A plan. A canal. Panama. amanaP. lanac A. nalp A. nam A. ____________________________ Bacon-Stephanie Rivera ____________________________ To love and be loved is to feel the sun on both sides. ____________________________ Lucas Irvin, will you marry me? Love, B-Ham ____________________________ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ____________________________ Only for you, Lucy. ____________________________ Thanks Josh for paying for my unclassifieds. ____________________________ The quads are amazing.

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat
Come Dance with Fuego Latino! Make A Difference With Project Change! ____________________________ Happy Early Thanksgiving! ____________________________ Feliz Cumpleanos, Mamita! <3 ____________________________ Come to Improv! Every Friday at lunch in the amphitheatre! ____________________________ Seriously, come to Improv! ____________________________ Derek Glocker is my manz! ____________________________ D^2... ____________________________ Nick Tatnall <3 ____________________________ Mr. Madison, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherrent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. -Kristen, Lucas and Matt ____________________________ Bombing ____________________________ Julia Baker is a beautiful princess. Happy late birthday <3 ____________________________ THE DREAM TEAM! ____________________________ Did you know that FREE SAT Prep is avialable online through the MCPS website (www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org)? Log on to the homepage and click on “test prep” on the upper left corner, then click on SAT Prep. Your six digit student ID is your username and that same six digit ID is your password. LOTS OF GREAT STUFF AVAILALBLE HERE! Including tips for preparing, actual SAT tests and practice excercises. ____________________________ The Blake Beat is already looking for ideas for are our mid-December issue, and we are especially interested in story lines about Blake students and their out-of-school interests. Give your ideas to any Blake Beat staff member or our adivsor, Mr. Keegan. ____________________________ The Blake Beat is also looking for digital photographers for second semester. If you are a junior with considerable knowledge of Photo Shop, please see Mr. Keegan in Room A205A before school. ____________________________ BUY UNCLASSIFIEDS!! ____________________________ Cupcakes. ____________________________ Floccinaucinihilipilification. ____________________________ Team D! ____________________________ Wikka wikka fresh! ____________________________ Take Blake Journalism. I mean really, take it! ____________________________ Keeg’s crack ups: “Listen up, weenies.” “Kill the door.” “Hey, sports fans.” “Keegan to Earth.” ____________________________ I like cake, cake is good. Cake is great!

UnClassifieds
See any BEAT staffer to buy your Unclassified in our next issue. 70¢ for the first ten words, 5¢ for each additional word
Josh’s loaning company-coming to a newspaper near you! ____________________________ Caroline and Brit are awesome! ____________________________ I <3 you pie! ____________________________ Yes Savannah I’d love to marry you- Alison ____________________________ Foursome First! ____________________________ Sammi Levitt needs to get off Twitter ____________________________ Lindsey Comer, I love you ____________________________ BVGS Seniors <3, you’ll be missed. ____________________________ Claudia Gomes, Carolina Camacho, Leah Patterson, Kathryn Evans…LOVERS! ____________________________ Alison Scher. It’s your belated birthday! Love ya smexy person! ____________________________ The best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time!! The bell forgot to ring a minute ago. ____________________________ There’s ponies on my driveway ____________________________ I will hurt you, with Jon Stewart ____________________________ I refuse to take jokes seriously ____________________________ That was random to the point of redundancy ____________________________ Forever & always ____________________________ Devon Dey is my best friend ____________________________ I love Abby Ramlagan-Your secret admirer ____________________________ I.J. <3-by You-go ____________________________ I love USA ____________________________ Kaylie Deshler can’t sneeze ____________________________ March 8 can’t come soon enough ____________________________ Lucas Irvin bleeds a lot ____________________________ Je réfléchis et je te dis plus tard ____________________________ Lucas + Kristen=<3. Bui, watch out ____________________________ Friends 4 life ________________________________ Happy Birthday Lafortune!! ____________________________ Gifty A.-can cross the road by herself now!! ____________________________ I thought we were BF’s forever…Sadie B. ____________________________ Kitty is stupid ____________________________ Hi Valentina ____________________________ Hi Jake ____________________________ What’s in the name? ____________________________ Does anyone else love life!? ____________________________ Beware of the Bengals! ____________________________ Come to ACTION! ____________________________ Be the change ____________________________ Don’t get caught! ____________________________ Buy unclassifieds ____________________________ Don’t laugh, it hurts too much ____________________________ Smile. You know you want to. ____________________________ RIP Kyle Lancon…stay strong Killa Cam ____________________________ I love you Lil’ D ____________________________ Ricky & Kemz 4evaaa ____________________________ Kanye West is a musical genius and everyone should bow down to him ____________________________ I can’t wait to go to college and leave all you gossiping groupies ____________________________ Everybody buy Runaway ____________________________ I love pumpkins. ____________________________ I’m really going to miss Snooki. Come back. Wahhh ____________________________ Rachel B. loves Kemi sooooo much _________________________________ BUY UNCLASSIFIEDS FROM KAREN VANEGAS! ____________________________ Join The Hispanic Leadership Club! ____________________________

Former Bengal Jermaine Dixon now playing professional basketball in Japan, p. D7

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Section D Blake Beat Sports

D? November 12, 2010

Junior quarterback Julian Carr prepares to throw a pass as senior captain runningback Steven Penland blocks an oncoming rusher from the Einstein

Titans. The Bengals lost 21-7 in a game where they led at halftime due to a senior captain runningback Brandon Simms’ rushing touchdown.

Football team finishes tough season, seniors bid farewell
 by Eddie Madden & Josh Paunil
Despite a 1-9 final record, the varsity football team played well throughout the season as they often took the lead early in games; however, in most games they could not hold on for the win. In the Bengals’ senior night game against the Rockville Rams, the team was unable to pull out the victory in a 29-6 loss. The Blake defense was incapable of slowing down Crusoe Gongbay, the metropolitan area’s leading rusher, who ran for over 100 yards and four touchdowns. “Our defensive line wasn’t getting any penetration and he has great field vision,” says senior captain TE/LB Willy White. When the team squared off against the Quince Orchard Cougars in their final away game, they lost to the Washington Post’s fifth ranked team, 44-20. Despite taking an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by senior captain RB/DB Brandon Simms, the Bengals could not hang on as they gave up 28-unanswered points on three touchdowns runs and a 67-yard punt return. Simms led the charge for the Bengals’ offense by scoring three rushing touchdowns on two four-yard runs and a one-yard run. “The offensive line did a great job blocking,” says Simms. “They opened up huge holes and gave me a lot of space to run.” Before Blake played the Cougars, they took on the Einstein Titans. Even though the Bengals held a 7-0 lead at halftime after a Simms’ touchdown run, they gave up 21 unan-

Despite disappointing record, Bengals remain tight-knit on, off field

swered points in the second half resulting in a 21-7 loss. Reminiscent of the team’s losses to the Cougars and Titans, Blake took an early lead against the Seneca Valley Screaming Eagles on a ten-yard touchdown pass. However, the Bengals could not hold on as the Screaming Eagles scored 40 unanswered points in the last three quarters of the game. “They just came out firing on all cylinders,” says senior captain RB/LB Steven Penland. “And we didn’t come out with the mindset we should have.” Although the Bengals did not have as good of a season as they would have liked, the seniors are still going to miss playing for the team. Says senior OL/DL David Anderson, “It was a great experience playing for Blake. I’m going to miss my team; they were my second family.”

Girls’ varsity soccer wins first division title but falls short in playoffs
A loss to Linganore ends 6-6-1 season with undefeated divisional record
by Ricky Mancia  & Matt Present
After winning their first division title in school history, the girls’ varsity soccer team fell short this year, losing in the first round of the playoffs. October 28, the ten seed Lady Bengals traveled to face the seven seed Linganore Lady Lancers to open up the playoffs. However the Lady Bengals lost, 5-0, ending their 2010 season. “Linganore came out really strong and we had a rocky start,” says senior captain forward Lea Diggs. Despite the early playoff exit, the team is still proud of its accomplishments. “I’m really proud to be a part of a division champion team,” adds Diggs. “We made history and we worked really hard to get there.” The girls ended the season with a tough loss as they fell to the Blair Lady Blazers, 8-1. Sophomore midfielder Denise Venero had Blake’s lone goal. “Our fear of Blair showed and no one stepped up to show that we could beat them,” says senior forward Kristina Valerio. October 21, the Lady Bengals played the Quince Orchard Lady Cougars to a 2-2 draw. Junior midfielder Sammy Comer scored just before time expired in double overtime to preserve the tie. “I was in shock,” says Comer. “It was with my left foot and I scored to tie the game against a team we lost to last season.” Prior to the tie the Lady Bengals had won six straight, including five division wins and a victory over consortium rival the Springbrook Lady Blue Devils. The girls defeated the Lady Blue Devils, 4-0, with goals from Diggs, Valerio, sophomore midfielder Lindsey Comer and freshman midfielder Kaylie Deshler. The girls’ defeated the Rockville Lady Rams, 3-0, October 12, as Valerio, Diggs and Deshler scored. November 11, the girls played the Wheaton Lady Knights and executed efficiently with a 5-1 win. Valerio tallied two goals while Diggs and Comer added a goal apiece. This was one of the girls’ many dominant performances in their run to the top of their division. The Lady Bengals took on the Einstein Lady Titans and won a close game, 1-0. Diggs scored the only goal for the team that led them to victory. Diggs is one of the many seniors leaving this year and as a captain she has left her mark on this season. Comer adds, “We are losing 12 seniors and we are all were very close to them.”

Girls’ tennis team enters playoffs with high expectations
by Michael Joiner x & Andrew Markowitz
Entering the tournament with a 6-5 overall record and a 5-3 record for Division 3A, the girls’ tennis team was hoping to do well, knowing their competition would be challenging. The first doubles team, senior co-captain Linda Powers and junior Kristen Frese, won their first match against the Watkins Mill Lady Wolverines in straight sets October 18. However, they lost their second match against the Walt Whitman Lady Vikings, who was the first seed in the tournament, 6-0, then, 6-2, October 19. “It is really hard to compete with people who have so much more practice time on the court with private coaches,” says junior Irene Lemberos. After a first round bye, senior co-captain Joanne Park and Lemberos lost to the Sherwood Lady Warriors’ second doubles, 6-1, then, 6-0, in the second round of the tournament. “The tournament is really difficult, because you have to play against teams in all different divisions,” adds Lemberos. Senior Shannon Wade, the second singles, and senior Shannon Bell, the fourth singles, both won their first matches against the Lady Wolverines by default. However, in the second round Wade lost to a Bethesda-Chevy Chase Lady Baron and Bell lost to a Lady Viking. “I was prepared but not as prepared as I could have been for the tournament,” says junior Lynne Virgil. Virgil, who was the first single, lost to a Northwood Lady Gladiator. After showing a lot of progress throughout the season, junior Stella Fotso moved up to the third singles position but lost to a Lady Gladiator. “It did not go as I had expected,” says Fotso, “I imagined it was going

D2

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Despite tough competition, squad gives it their all in postseason play

Varsity field hockey reaches regionals
x by Sammi Levitt & Savannah Tryens

to be easy since I had already beaten her before.” Senior Rachel Babcock and junior Joal Chen, the third doubles team, lost in their first match against the Wootton Lady Patriots, October 18. However, the team feels its season was more successful than previous seasons regardless of the losses in the tournament. “[We] really did have fun this year,” says Park. “I really am going to miss them.”

Lady Bengals fall to QO after a great year
With another winning record under their belt, the varsity field hockey team finished their season after a disappointing 2-0 loss to the Quince Orchard Lady Cougars in the Regional Championship game. Ending the regular season 9-6, the Lady Bengals had an impressive playoff run, defeating the Tuscarora Lady Titans and the Clarksburg Lady Coyotes. In the championship game, the team was able to keep the Lady Cougars to a close score of 1-0, but after a penalty stroke which resulted in a goal, the team could not catch up. “We really wanted to go to states like last year,” says junior midfielder Hayley Glantz. “The Quince Orchard we played in the regional match was not the same Quince Orchard we played at the beginning of the year. They got a lot better and that’s why we lost.” In their game against number two seed, the Clarksburg Lady Coyotes, the number three seed Lady Bengals pulled off an impressive 2-1 victory in double overtime. Glantz and sophomore forward Caroline Wannen scored the goals, but it was Wannen who scored the game-winning goal. Says Wannen, “It felt good to score that goal for my team, it was a big boost of motivation for the next game.” The Lady Bengals defeated the Lady Titans with an easy 3-0 victory. The Lady Titans were seeded 11th, so the Lady Bengals had home field advantage for the first round. “It’s best to have home games during the playoffs so you have strong support from your fans,” says junior forward Sarah Hagan. Hagan scored the first goal along with junior Lane Flynn and sophomore Francesca Inman. The girls finished their season with a two game winning streak over the Damascus Lady Swarmin’ Hornets and the Walter Johnson Lady Wildcats. The Lady Bengals defeated the Swarmin’ Hornets 4-0 and the Lady Wildcats 2-0 bringing their division record to 3-2. Throughout the season the team was led by Hagan, who had the most goals countywide with 15 recorded goals. “It meant a lot to not only lead my team but to also lead the county,” says Hagan. “I worked hard at every practice and I’m happy it finally paid off.”

Junior midfielder Ellen Wood fends off an attack from a defender on the Tuscarora Lady Titans in a 3-0 victory

in the 3A West Region Quaterfinals. --photo by Aron Crews

The Blake Beat

November 12, 2010

Boys’ soccer team starts season low but finishes high
xby Paige O’Flahavan & Karen Vanegas

D3

After slow beginning, Bengals pick it up in second half of season
Despite a slow start to begin the season, the varsity boys’ soccer bounced back in the second half of the season, going .500 and tying their archrival, the Springbrook Blue Devils. In the Bengals’ opening round playoff game, they squared off against the Linganore Lancers October 29. However, Blake lost this game 5-2 leaving them with a 3-72 record to finish the season. Junior captain defender Trey Cooper and sophomore midfielder Tanner Giles-Tucker scored the Bengals’ only two goals in this match. The team’s notable 20 minute response in the second half against the Lancers was accomplished by a formation change that allowed the forwards to get their job done. “Linganore was a pretty good team,” says junior goalkeeper Jacob Gill. “They were good at taking advantage of any and all of our mistakes.” The team traveled to play the Blair Blazers October 26 in their last game of the season, which resulted in a 4-1 loss. “We could have done better, but we did not play as a team,” says sophomore midfielder Steven Botto. October 21 brought a 3-1 loss for the team against the Quince Orchard Cougars. “[It] was a tough loss,” says sophomore midfielder Christopher Richard, “We were not focused on the game. Failure to focus is the sole reason we were unable to hold a winning season.” The Bengals were able to keep the Blue Devils off the board in a 0-0 tie October 18. Sophomore defender Cole Bradshaw says, “We put up a good fight...because we all knew a lot of players on their team.” October 12 gave the Bengals their third win of the season, as Botto scored the lone goal to defeat the Rockville Rams, 1-0. The team then traveled to play the Wheaton Knights October 11, ending with a 2-1 loss. Cooper says, “We just were not focused for that game at all [and we] did not execute.” Looking forward, sophomore midfielder Patrick Richard says, “What really gives me hope is [how much of a] connection we have with each other on the field now.”

Girls’ volleyball earns three seed, dominates early in post-season play
x by Robert Krakaur & Danny Lee
Dominating their first postseason game against the Kennedy Lady Cavaliers, the Lady Bengals advanced to the regional semifinals with confidence and ease. Blake won the first set 25-12, the second set 25-5 and the third set 25-10. “We served and received very well today,” says Coach Leigh Tinsley, “[senior captain outside hitter] Meagan [Lagerlef] and [sophomore outside hitter] Francesca [Kuhney] played well.” The Lady Bengals were very vocal and energetic the whole match. Says Lagerlef, “We were able to pull out of a rough beginning…we had a lot of energy.” After a three game losing streak, the team finished off their regular season with a win against the Wheaton Lady Knights. Blake won against the Lady Knights in straight sets 25-6, 25-15 and 25-14. The Lady Bengals lost to the Gaithersburg Lady Trojans, the Poolesville Lady Falcons and the Magruder Lady Colonels. Blake lost all three sets to the Lady Colonels 25-17, 27-25 and 25-18. “We weren’t playing as a team,” says junior captain Tara Mitchell. “We would have a run of adrenaline and then a series of mistakes would occur on our part.” Blake won against both consortium rivals the Springbrook Lady Blue Devils and the Paint Branch Lady Panthers. Blake defeated the Lady Panthers in straight sets. “We are pretty much equally matched with them so we stayed strong throughout the match” adds Mitchell. “Once you get into their heads nothing can stop you.”

Sophomore midfielder Patrick Richard dribbles past a defender from the Linganore Lancers in a first

round 3A West playoff game after a 3-7-2 season. --photo by Karen Vanegas Keran Vanegas

October 14, Blake won against the Lady Blue Devils in five sets: winning the first 25-16, losing 25-28 in the next two sets and coming back to win the last two 25-14 and 17-15. In the first set, the Lady Bengals played well, energetically beating the Lady Blue Devils. Mitchell says, “The first [set] we played like we thought we would, with total confidence.” Blake lost the next two sets, but came back to win the final two. Says Mitchell, “We pulled ourselves together and worked as a team to come back.”

Cross country gives valiant effort in practice, shows in playoff run
x by Lucas Irvin
Following a near-perfect regular season, the boys’ cross country team’s year drew to a close after Saturday’s regional championships, while the undermanned girls’ team worked to improve their skills. Without four of the top runners participating for medical reasons, Blake was knocked out in regionals, the last round before the state championship. “[Looking back at the season] everyone really worked hard and it showed in the races,” says senior captain Rohan Raju. “I am very happy and proud to be part of such a great team.” In the October 23 Montgomery County Championships, Blake did not place very high, finishing twentieth, but it was enough for them to move on to regional level. Those who also ran in last year’s county championships all improved on their individual rates. In the Scorpion Crawl and Georgetown Prep Classic on October 11 and 16, the boys’ team did not do so well, finishing in 12th and 29th. However, there were strong times from the veterans of the team and younger team members showed potential with surprisingly low times, such as sophomores Tony Harris and Connor Gaffney. October 5, the team went up against division rivals Paint Branch, Seneca Valley and Springbrook high schools. Raju adds “Springbrook [was] the only team that [gave] us a challenge for the division title.” The Bengals were not able to beat the Blue Devils, but they squeaked by the Panthers, with only a three point score difference, and won significantly against the Screaming Eagles, winning 19-40, ending the regular season and bringing their record to 6-1. The Bengal’s strong performance against the Panthers, Screaming Eagles and Blue Devils secured their spot as second in their division for the third year in a row, behind only the undefeated Springbrook. The team will be losing several players, but that doesn’t seem to concern senior Danny Lee. “The team will [miss] a lot of determined and long-time runners next year,” says Lee, “but I hope that they can still stick together and win some races.”

Bengals finish 6-1, reach regionals, overcome key injuries to top runners
[Looking back at the season] everyone really worked hard and it showed in the races... I am proud.
Rohan Raju
Rohan Raju

D4

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Morgan Bailey

Miles Sabin

Teresse Rewoldt

Tracy Velazquez

JV athletes finish season, begin transition to varsity
by Paige O’Flahavan x & Matt Present
As the fall sports season drew to a close, junior varsity players had one last chance to battle it out on the field. For some, these last games marked the beginning of the transition from JV to varsity. JV boys’ soccer finished the season on a good note with a 2-2 tie against the Quince Orchard Cougars October 21. However, the Bengals finished their season 1-8-2. The Bengals lost, 5-0, to the Springbrook Blue Devils October 19. Says freshman midfielder Miles Sabin, “The season overall ended up not the way we had hoped.” The team suffered back-toback losses against the Wheaton Knights, 3-0, and the Einstein Titans, 2-1. Although they struggled, they were able to hang in and make the games close. Freshman defender Larson Shilling says, “I think our weakness would be that we weren’t used to playing with each other.” The JV girls’ soccer team faced the Lady Cougars in a 1-0 loss, finishing the season 6-3-2. Junior defender Tracy Velazquez says, “Even though it was a loss, we won inside because it was one of the few games that we played with heart.” The Lady Bengals earned a great win, defeating consortium rival, the Lady Blue Devils, 2-0. Sophomore midfielder Andrea Ortiz says, “Anything can happen…we weren’t expecting to be as good as we were.” Winning, 5-0, October 11 against the Lady Knights was a confidence boost for the Lady Bengals that proved they were capable of pulling out a strong win. “Our weakness was trusting each other,” says Velazquez. “But that changed quickly and became our strength.” The Lady Titans proved to be a tough opponent for the Lady Bengals as the match ended in a 1-1 tie October 5. The JV field hockey team ended the season on a good note beating the Walter Johnson Lady Wildcats, 2-0. They lost to the Whitman Lady Vikings, 7-1, after tying the Clarksburg Lady Coyotes 1-1 and playing the Paint Branch Lady Panthers to a scoreless tie. Prior to that, the Lady Bengals lost two close games, to the Blair Lady Blazers and the Sherwood Lady Warriors, 1-0 and 2-0. After the season concluded, sophomore midfielders Anna Galeano and Franny Inman joined the varsity squad and got a glimpse into the competition they will face next fall. Sophomore captain defender Morgan Bailey also looks forward to playing at the varsity level. “On varsity…I hope to continue to provide encouragement, fun and have a successful season,” says Bailey. Despite a difficult end to the season, the girls’ JV Volleyball team managed to remain over .500 finishing the season 7-6. The Lady Bengals lost three straight matches to end the year as they

were beaten by the Gaithersburg Lady Trojans, 25-21 and 25-15, in their final game. They were also defeated by the Poolesville Lady Falcons 25-11 and 25-21 and the Magruder Lady Colonels 25-11 and 25-20. Prior to their losing streak, the Lady Bengals beat the Lady Blue Devils 25-11 twice, as well as defeating the Lady Panthers and the Kennedy Lady Cavaliers in straight sets. “I feel that even though we had a winning season we could have done a lot better,” says sophomore Kelly Crabtree. At the end of the JV season Crabtree and sophomore Teresse Rehwoldt moved up to varsity. Says Rhehwoldt, “[Moving up] will definitely help me to work… so I can get up to their level.”

The Blake Beat

November 12, 2010

D5

Sophomore runningback William Scott rushes past the arms of an oncoming defender from the Rockville Rams as the JV Football team wins 28-0 en route

JV Football team ends season undefeated for first time
x by Eddie Madden & Josh Paunil
For the first time in Blake’s history, the JV football team finished the season with an undefeated 9-0 record. In the Bengal’s final game of the season, they defeated the Rockville Rams, 28-0. This was the team’s fifth shutout of the year and the fifth time they scored at least four touchdowns. “We have believed all year that we had the talent and the work ethic to be 9-0,” says Assistant Coach Dustin Jeter. After traveling to face the Quince Orchard Cougars, Blake kept their perfect season alive with an 8-0 shutout win, scoring the only touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter. Their defense caused multiple turnovers and penalties in the game but also had turnovers and penalties of their own, resulting in this low-scoring affair. October 21, the team had an impressive win over the Einstein Titans, 29-14. Thanks to a quick start and 29 unanswered points to begin the game, the Bengals were able to take out their starters in the third quarter and get others playing time. “The team consistently came to practice ready to get better and the results showed,” adds Coach Jeter. While the game against Seneca Valley was supposed to be challenging, the Bengal’s offense was too much for the Screaming Eagles as Blake won, 22-8. The game was close until the fourth quarter when the Bengals scored two touchdowns to seal a victory over their best opponent to date. The Bengals shut out Kennedy Cavaliers at home October 9, with an impressive score of 36-0, giving the Bengals their third shutout of the year. Throughout the season, the Bengals outscored their opponents, 259-44, showing their

to an undefeated season for the first time in Blake’s history. This win was the team’s fifth shutout of the year. --photo by Aron Crews

Historic year includes five shutouts as squad outscores opponents by 215
remarkably balanced offense and defense. Says Coach Jeter, “[They] worked really hard in the off-season to turn this team around.” Although the team was proud to be undefeated, they never became over confident and never lost their focus. “It didn’t take much to keep them focused on their goal,” adds Coach Jeter. “The chance at making history as the first Blake undefeated team and the opportunity to gain respect around the county was enough motivation for the team.” Head Coach Isaac Williams is in his second year coaching at Blake and has seen much improvement from last year’s 4-5 record. “The reason for the team’s success is that they finally understood the meaning of three very important words,” says Coach Williams, “commitment, pride, and respect on and off the field.”

Burgundy and gold fumble away win before bye week
After a great start with an undefeated division record and 3-1 conference record, the Redskins stumbled into their bye week losing two of their last three games. The big problem for the Redskins on offense has been the offensive line. They have given up the second most sacks per game and block poorly in the run game leading to the ninth-worst rushing attack in the NFL. The lack of pass protection has also lead to Donovan McNabb being at the bottom of the league in passer rating, completion percentage and touchdown to interception ratio. Solving the problem of the offensive line struggles would do wonders for Washington’s offense. Just protecting McNabb in the pocket would allow him to complete more 50-plus yard passes, a stat he leads the NFL in, which is especially important for the Redskins considering they struggle to keep drives alive. A better rushing game would also cause defenses to put more defenders in the box opening up the passing game for Washington off play action. Fixing the offensive line also allows Santana Moss to perform at a high level as he has for the first eight weeks of the season. Moss is top-five in the NFL in both receiving yards per game and in catches per game. His speed also stretches the defense vertically opening up opportunities for his teammates such as Chris Cooley (who is second amongst tight ends in receptions).

D6

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Solid goaltending helps Ovechkin led Capitals in October resurgence
x by Andrew Markowitz
With just a flick of his wrist, Alexander Ovechkin knows how to get a crowd going and that is just what he has been doing as the Washington Capitals close out the month of October on a high note. After a rocky start in the season opener against Atlanta, the Washington Capitals have rebounded quite nicely with a solid record of 7-4. Backed by solid performances by goaltender Michal Neuvirth and left wing Alex Ovechkin, the Caps are slowly but surely starting to look like the President’s Trophy winners from last year. However, seven victories cannot cover up for the Capitals’ struggles on special teams. The team’s power play unit is currently ranked 13th in the NHL, only managing to score 17 goals on 42 attempts. However, the penalty killing unit has greatly improved from last season, killing off 90% of their penalties, earning 4th place in the league. The power play went silent for five games before the Caps scored three man-advantage goals in a 7-2 victory against the Calgary Flames October 30. The power play wasn’t the only thing that took five games to get going. Ovechkin went on a five game scoring slump of his own before scoring the lone Washington goal in a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Ovechkin had his second multi-goal game of the year against Calgary, scoring two power play goals in 18 seconds. The 25year old Russian currently has seven goals and 13 points in 11 games. The real MVP of the Capitals early on has been Neuvirth, who is building a strong case that he deserves the number

The way the Redskins can fix their offensive line woes is simple: keep their starters healthy and add depth at the same time by signing free agents or making a trade. The problems begin for Washington when they have to put

in back-ups such as Stephon Heyer who hold the defensive lineman or simply don’t block them. One thing Washington has done a good job of is pulling out wins even though they are performing poorly in every statistical category besides two: the final score and the turnover ratio. The Redskins lead the NFL in turnover ratio with +8, meaning they have eight more takeaways than giveaways, and cornerback DeAngelo Hall has more interceptions and defensive touchdowns than anyone else in the NFL. Another new development that has helped Washington is the emergence of Brandon Banks as return man. Not only is he top-ten in average return yards, but he gives the Redskins an explosiveness they have not had in a long time, shown by the kickoff returned for a touchdown against the Lions. Despite the Redskins’ .500 record, their future is brighter than meets the eye since they are still undefeated in the NFC East and 4-2 versus conference opponents. Washington has the opportunity to keep up this successful winning percentage as they take on division rival the Philadelphia Eagles Monday, which is a muchneeded win.

Team flourishes offensively, defensively despite power-play troubles

one spot. Through 11 games, Neuvirth is 7-3, with a save percentage of 92.6%. Neuvirth was awarded a great milestone in his young career when he earned his first NHL shutout in a 3-0 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. Tied for first in the NHL for wins (seven), Neuvirth looks to build on his strong success between the pipes. The Capitals hit the road tomorrow when they face-off against Ryan Miller and the struggling Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena. The Sabres have lost three of their last four meetings against the Capitals.

The real MVP of the Capitals early on has been goaltender Michal Neuvirth.

The Blake Beat

November 12, 2010

Hawvermale breaks down stereotypes, outlifts many male jocks
x by Isaac Appel & Savannah Doane-Malotte
In one corner of the weight-training class, we have the average male jock, feeling cocky and ready to bench boatloads of weight, waiting to see who his lifting opponent could possibly be. Imagine his surprise when senior Bridget Hawvermale emerges, ready to put this guy in his place. With three years of weight-training under her belt and plenty of athletic experience, Hawvermale is a worthy challenger of anyone who wants to compete with her. “Girls can definitely be stronger than guys,” Hawvermale says. “Just because I’m not a guy doesn’t mean I can’t lift weights.” She has always participated in many sports, including varsity softball, field hockey and indoor track at Blake, along with snowboarding and the Riviera Beach Spirit softball team outside of school. Hawvermale has been one of the few girls in her weight-training class since her sophomore year, and takes the course to get stronger and to prevent injuries. “I think I’m stronger than most guys,” Hawvermale says. “Showing them up is [the] main reward [of the class].” She also has a weight room in her house which she uses regularly to stay in shape for her various athletic activities. Her interest and ability in sports have led her to success at Blake. Last spring, Hawvermale had a batting average of .608 in varsity softball, and helped her team win its first regional title. “I’m very intense about sports and I take it seriously,” Hawvermale says. Her varsity field hockey season has been going well too, with the team’s last game November 22. And with all of this going on, she has managed to maintain a 4.6 weighted grade point average. This varsity athlete plans to continue her sports career in the future, as she has already committed to the University of Maryland to play Division 1 Softball. Hawvermale says, “I’m really excited. I want a challenge, and I want to get better at what I do. It’s exactly what I want.” Both of her older brothers, Dan Hawvermale, and Blake alumnus Duncan Hawvermale attended and attend UMD respectively. Every day, through her athletic ability and determination, Hawvermale breaks down stereotypes about women and paves the way for female athletes that will come after her. It is apparent, that with her skill and work-ethic, she will go far, after Blake and beyond.

Senior handles heavy weights of school work, extracurriculars

D7

Senior Bridget Hawvermale outlifts the boys as she prepares for softball and field hockey. Hawvermale had a

Former Bengal standout Dixon now playing professionally in Japan
x by Eddie Madden & Josh Paunil
Jermaine Dixon is a former division one basketball starter for Pittsburgh, a player for a professional basketball team, the brother of famous Maryland basketball star Juan Dixon and has a chance to be drafted in the NBA. He is also a Blake alumnus. Dixon is currently playing for the Phoenix Hamamatsu, a professional Japanese team that plays in the BJ League. “I love my team in Japan,” says Dixon, “This place is great.” Although he joined the team a month ago, Dixon has been starting ever since he began playing for the team. In his first experience playing professional basketball overseas, Dixon played for KK Bosna in Bosnia, a team who recently had a player in the NBA. Dixon looked to continue the trend of sending players to the NBA by leading the Bosna in rebounds, assists and steals. “Playing basketball in Europe was great,” says Dixon, “I enjoyed every minute of it.” However, due to financial reasons the team was disbanded. “I loved my team in Bosnia. I wish that they had the money to keep us around because that was going to be a special group.” Before joining KK Bosna, Dixon was a two-year starter for the University of Pittsburgh. During his tenure, he helped lead the team to an elite eight appearance and a #6 ranking to end the season in his junior year. During Dixon’s time at Blake, he helped lead the team to the state finals his senior year 2005 and he says he owes it to former Blake basketball coach, Damon Pigrom. Says Dixon, “He helped make me the player I

.608 average last year in softball and has committed to play for the University of Maryland --photo by Aron Crews

am today. I loved playing for that guy.” Even when he was in high school, Mr. Pigrom thought he had a chance to be successful playing basketball. “I thought he had a chance to play overseas,” says Pigrom. “He’s got a tremendous work ethic… he’s always trying to get better.” However, even with all the success Dixon has accumulated, he has not forgotten where he came from. “Me and my team from Blake are always talking,” say Dixon, “We will always keep in contact because we had a family not just a team.”

Fantasy football fans feel fantastic for favorite players and stats
x by Lucas Irvin & Matt Present
It’s changing the way people see football, forcing fans to decide whether to root for their favorite NFL team or the team they handpicked online. It’s the obsession of people across the nation: fantasy football. In fantasy football, owners draft teams of 16 real NFL players and gain points based on their starters’ statistics. They play head-to-head against other owners in their league and whichever team has more points for that particular week wins. Since there are only nine starters on a team at a time, choosing who to start when, is a significant part of team strategy. This game has become increasingly popular in recent years and is popular among many Blake students. Says junior Nick Tatnall, manager of the Manville Partiers, “I like winning, and it keeps you more in touch with football around the league instead of just watching one team.”

To me it’s always home team over fantasy team.
For some, the motivation is winning nothing other than bragging rights or maybe a little prize money. Others try to prove that they really can manage a team better than their favorite team’s general manager. “It’s fun to have a competition with my friends,” says junior Brandon Weber who owns the San Juan Vipers. One of the toughest things for fantasy owners is rooting for their players when they go against their favorite teams. “To me it’s always home team over fantasy team,” says junior Ryan Deane, manager of the Deane Machine, “but if [Saints quarterback] Drew Brees throws for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns

Ryan Deane

[against the Redskins] I wouldn’t be upset about it.” Many managers put a lot of creativity into their team names, such as junior Mark Cirincione who owns the Italian Stallion and junior Edwin Rodriguez who owns the New York G-Gangstaz. Staying up to date with the players also takes time as nobody wants to lose as a result of starting someone who was injured or had a bye week. Since the beginning of fantasy football, when all stat recording was done by hand, many ways to track your scores have evolved. Tatnall regularly checks ESPN.com, Rodriguez has a fantasy football application on his phone and Weber watches NFL RedZone, a television channel that launched last season a shows fans all scoring plays as they happen. Fantasy football seems to be a hit with just about everyone who has played. “It has enchased my life completely,” says Tatnall. “I just love football way more because I know a lot more about the players and their stats.”

D8

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Blake Theatre Company premieres Tales of the Arabian Nights tonight at 7:30pm, p.E2

Section E

Blake Beat Fine Arts

November 12 , 2010

Junior Alex Reeves (left), and seniors Erin Yates (middle) and Aimee Kohorst (right) show off their excitement for the seventh installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry

Legions of fans excited for Harry Potter’s magical return
x by Gillian Spolarich

Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One which is to be realeased November 19. The three definitely have a bias for Gryffindor. ---photo by Aron Crews

Deathly Hallows promises to enchant many Potterheads next week
Fans will be flying to the theater to be enchanted and captured as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One is released worldwide November 19. “Nowhere is safe” next week as the Death Eaters infiltrate the Ministry of Magic and an inevitable war begins that leaves Harry, Ron and Hermione with little time to find the remaining Horcruxes that could destroy Voldemort forever. All six of the Harry Potter films have had mixed reviews; some fans have consistently praised the adaptations and some have been left disappointed by the outcome. “The movies obviously don’t even come close to how amazing the books are,” says junior Bridget Gratton, “but they managed to do a fantastic job with them nonetheless.” Any die-hard fan would be eager for the new movie regardless of some missing scenes. “I’m really excited for some of the opening chapters - the Order of the Phoenix taking Harry to the Burrow, the wedding, [and] running away from Death Eaters,” says senior Brittany Hamson. “They’re some of the coolest scenes in the book.” Many fans have raised a similar concern about the movies’ ongoing plot differing from that of the book. Says Hamson, “The movies have left out plot lines that are pivotal in Deathly Hallows. Fans who haven’t read the books won’t really know what’s happening.” Nonetheless, many factors hinder the movie from being exactly like the book. “You can’t put everything from the books

Local concert band strums community’s heartstrings with performances
by Regina Cameron x & Brianna Livesay
Percussion, wind, strings! The Olney Concert Band (OCB) fearlessly performs at scheduled events, producing beautiful melodies for the ears of hundreds. The OCB proves that “band geek” is no longer an appropriate term for instrumentalist who play for an audience. In fact, anyone who’s seen the OCB play has been just as pleased as its members. “[The] OCB has been a great experience for anyone in it,” says senior bass clarinetist Sylvester Gates. “It’s the epitome of what I want from life; it’s a love for music.” Blake’s OCB members include Gates, senior contra-alto clarinetist Cassandra Smith, senior B-flat clarinetist Delilah Gates and senior percussionists Gregg Nicholson and Victoria Vanlear; all joined because of their affiliation with Brian Damron, music teacher and conductor of OCB. “He’s a different person [in OCB] than in school. He’s more casual and treats us as peers,” says Nicholson. The rest of the members are talented musicians from across Montgomery County and its neighboring cities. The OCB plays mainly at retirement homes and community events founded by Mr. Damron. They practice every Wednesday from 7:30pm to 9:30pm in preparation for shows. Says Smith, “It’s like any other commitment; it’s worth the time that you have to sacrifice because the overall experience is positive.” Smith, Vanlear, Sylvester and Delilah have all been in the band for one year, while Nicholson has been in it for a total of four years. Having been in the program for so long, the students have experienced many audiences and venues. “My favorite event was a performance we did outside,” says

into the movies. It’s just impossible,” adds Gratton. “You’d have a seven hour movie and it would cost a fortune. But they really got the main stuff down.” Reprising their roles and leading the cast in Deathly Hallows is Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger). David Yates directed the film along with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Fans can learn and see more about part one of the final installment on the official website: http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallows/index.html, where stories, videos and a gallery among other features are available. Part two is due to be released worldwide starting July 15.

Strathmore keeps interest in arts alive with holiday performances
intersection of the arts and life. Founder and CEO of Strathmore, Eliot Pfanstiehl, was the graduation speaker for the class of 2010. As a proponent of the arts in schools, he says, “The arts are like lawn sprinklers. Wherever they are, everything seems to grow better.” Before Blake’s opening in 2000, Mr. Pfanstiehl testified to establish Blake as an arts signature school. In that vein, Mr. Pfanstiehl works hand-in-hand with the Board of Directors at Strathmore every year to create a season of music that spans the interests of many. Specifically for teenagers, Strathmore created “Friday Night Eclectic,” a 9:30 club like atmosphere in the Mansion that features up and coming bands for only $10. With free parking, great artists, no handling fees, a close location, and a nearby metro stop at Grosvenor/Strathmore, how can one not make the journey to see at least one sensational performance this season? Regardless of what you may think of a classical performance space, Strathmore defies the expected. With information and performances on Facebook and Twitter, students can start their journey at home and end up at the in-house café following anything from folk to international acts. A real connection has been established between Strathmore and Blake thanks to Mr. Pfanstiehl’s continued interest with keeping the signature program alive. He adds, “Strathmore has long been supportive of Blake and its music program.” Strathmore even provides

Sylvester, “people were just sitting on lawns enjoying our music. It was nice.” It’s not the hype that the students enjoy, nor the fancy show for gatherings, but the relaxing and involved feeling that the students achieve by playing music for their community. Any local musician can join this group and Blake’s OCB players wish that more students get involved. “It would be more beneficial if we had more students,” adds Nicholson. “It just feels so awesome to be doing something good for the community that everyone can enjoy— especially [us].”

x by Caroline Pledger
Constantly intriguing artists and unique music fill the halls of Strathmore, but who knew this year’s season of enchantment would begin October 30 with an atypical performance: A Night with Chuck Brown:The Father of Go Go! With an annual budget of $8 million, a beautiful property boasting 21 acres, a mansion and a 2,000-seat concert hall, Strathmore in Bethesda embodies its slogan: an

students with an affordable option: A pass that gives a 10% discount on everything. The most anticipated show of the season for teens showcases Kris Kristofferson tomorrow night at 8pm. If family fun is what you’re looking for, shows like the Smooth Jazz Christmas with Dave Koz December 6 or the Great Russian Nutcracker by the Moscow Ballet December 8 and 9 are great options. Mr.Pfanstiehl adds, “Strathmore is very much busy during the holidays…now is the best time to go.”

Annual fall play opens
by Kristen Frese

E2

Novmeber 12, 2010

The Blake Beat

Show brings new costumes, casts, effects
x & Leisha Winley
Autumn is great for lots of reasons: bonfires, the changing leaves, football games, getting candy on Halloween and most of all, the fall play. This year the Stage Company is performing Tales of the Arabian Nights, which opens tonight at 7:30pm. The play is about two lovers overcoming an evil scimitar, played by junior Alex Reeves, to find happiness. Says sophomore Jourdan Lewanda, “We’re turning the play into a fantastic show and incorporating lots of modern music and dancing.” “It’s a great show,” says sophomore Laura Savary. “We’re adding music and dance to a play that doesn’t usually have any.” Another feature that makes this play special is that the cast strays away from their more classical pieces and fuses pop culture into an old production. With songs from artists such as Lady Gaga, this is a must-see. The play is different than many from past years because students in all grades have lead roles. Some of the 24 roles are shared among multiple cast members, such as Lewanda shares the lead role of Sheherazade with senior Maia Chicherio. The ensemble will act, dance and sing throughout the whole production. Says director Michel D’Anna, “This is a very talented cast that enjoys playing the characters from these tales.” The cast members will also be throwing in some twists for the audience members. Sophomore Charles Harper says, “The most exciting thing about this play is that we are interacting with the audience a lot.” Their rendition of the play also includes many cool vibrant costumes. The cast and crew have been working to keep many of the new special effects and costumes a secret, so students will have to go see the play to find out what they have planned. Says Harper, “I think [the play] will keep the audience glued to their seats.” Tales of the Arabian Nights will be showing tomorrow night, next Friday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:30pm. “[The play] is way more of a family-oriented play and closer to theatre for children,” adds Mr. In the fall play opening on the Blake stage tonight, junior Richard D’Anna. “It’s wild fun.” Muhammad who stars as Sharir and junior Alex Reeves plays

Scimitar in the lavish stage production of Tales of the Arabian Nights. --photo by Aron Crews

Natural History Museum provides cousins side-by-side experience
by Delilah Gates x & Kemi Olowoofayoku
Most teens find themselves working within a typical range of jobs, from a burger joint to your local clothing store—a museum is definitely out of the ordinary. But for seniors Jalen Marshall and Antionette Pullman, the opportunity to work at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History was more than ideal. “It was one of the best options, as far as pay and environment go,” says Marshall. “I don’t have to scrub off french-fry grease or anything.” Working at the museum’s IMAX Theater, Marshall spent his time taking tickets, sanitizing 3D glasses,

Seniors seize opportunity to dive into history with educational jobs
My favorite part is working with people all around the world.
Antionette Pullman
manning the cash register, and overseeing the theater during IMAX shows. Besides getting the chance to watch free IMAX movies, Marshall’s job came with an added bonus—his cousin Pullman also worked at the museum. “It was kind of strange, knowing she was there,” says Marshall. “But often we didn’t end up working together.” Pullman started working at the museum three years ago as a cashier and was recommended for the job by her aunt. She then inspired Marshall to pursue a job alongside her. “My favorite part…is working with people all around the world,” says Pullman. “It’s really rewarding to be exposed to such different cultures.” Although it may be the Smithsonian, work is still work. Marshall did a lot of

standing around at the job. “[Watching] IMAX 3D repeatedly for free…that gets old,” says Marshall. “The only difficult thing I have to encounter…is boredom.” Marshall stopped working at the National Museum of Natural History two months ago. Says Marshall, “I was getting a little antsy working and going to school at the same time.” Managing school and work has also been an issue for Pullman. The National Museum of Natural History is the most visited of all the Smithsonian museums and is open 364 days out of the year. “It’s definitely a lot of work but it’s something that I enjoy,” says Pullman. “It gives you an education you can’t find in school.”

The Blake Beat

November 12, 2010

E3

REVIEWS FOR YOU
Student raves about eccentric DC hot spot
x by Damon King
Take a bit of Borders and mash it together with modern afrocentric ambiance. Throw in jazzy music, and a pinch of liberal poetry. Shake it all up, top it off with amazing food, and voila, you’ve got yourself Busboys & Poets. Busboys, which is located at 14th and V in DC, was established in 2005 by IraqiAmerican activist, Anas Shallal. Busboys & Poets has been described as a safe haven for intellectuals, poets and musicians to come together and promote progressive social and political thinking, feeding both DC Metropolitans’ stomachs and minds. Upon entry, you’re bombarded with abstract art pieces, soulful music, and diverse patrons that definitely establish the restaurant. If you find yourself there on a busy weekend, you will be pointed in the direction of its personal library-lounge to wait for available tables. The eclectic selection of novels, poetry compilations, children stories, and African-American biographies fill the shelves. Once you peek your nose from behind one of your books of interest you’re flagged down by one of many young, friendly waiters. They direct you through the dimly lit lounge where diners can enjoy their meals on sofa chairs, taking advantage of the restaurant’s free Wi-Fi. Eventually, you find yourself in a separate section of the restaurant where you spot a stage framed with pictures and trimmings. Throughout the week, this stage is used for shows performed by DC’s very own artists; shows range from open mic nights to book releases. I am sure anyone who enjoys the occasional trip to Fudruckers will be more than satisfied. Same goes for people who enjoy vegan or vegetarian choices. On busy nights the service may be a little slow, but once your smoking plate slides on to your table and your first whiff of the aroma is followed by the first satisfying bite, all is forgiven. My personal favorite is the Mediterranean Burger: a burger with goat cheese and grilled tomatoes served in a whole wheat pita pocket, paired with delicious sweet potato fries. If you’re tired of the monotony of typical restaurants, taking a trip to U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo or one of the two other locations, soon to be four, will definitely be worth the commute. It’s an experience every DC Metropolitan has to indulge in.

Damon King

Monumental film holds rainbow of life’s perspectives
x by Isak Shah
At first glance, For Colored Girls seems almost off-putting; the title is certainly an attention-grabber, perhaps for all the wrong reasons- but stick it out, and you will find that you aren’t watching a “train-wreck,” as others might describe it—you are taking a tiny glimpse in to the life of every woman that has ever lived and ever will live. It’s real, it’s raw, it might make you cry—but not seeing it would be nothing short of a crime. The film is filled with monologues that overlap and wind themselves throughout the plot, enhancing the experiences of each woman and drawing the audience in to the movie. One by one, the ten women, all connected by some strange twist of fate, bend, break, and weep under the pressures of crushing tragedies. They are drawn together by this series of foundation-shaking events, despite the boundaries of class, pay grade, and pride by the one thing they all share: the endurance of hardship. In addition to the brilliant storyline, the movie’s cinematography and score are flawless. The shots are intimate, without revealing too much all at once. The silences in the script speak volumes, as do the tears that flow alternately from the eyes of each woman. As we watch their worlds crumble, we can empathize, because we, as women, have all felt the hardships of womanhood. The reality is that everyone hurts, and has secrets and hidden feelings. The beauty of this film is that it brings all of those things to the surface, complete with music and montage. It lays out the dark corners of every human mind for all to see—it provokes self-evaluation and it leaves us with the distinct impression that life must be appreciated. So, no—For Colored Girls is not just for colored girls, nor is it just for people of color. It is for everyone who has ever hurt inside, for everyone who has ever loved and suffered, and for every woman who needs to rediscover the happiness she once lost. The movie gets a whopping 5 stars from me, and I recommend it to everyone who will appreciate it for all its immense worth.

Isak Shah

Book guides students through labyrinth of finance
Debt Free U relieves senior of college tuition stress
x
by Caroline Pledger Thanks to the constant bombardment of emails, letters and even phone calls, colleges are giving me the biggest headache of my life when it comes to deciding which one I will eventually call my home. However, no matter how cute the campus may look in the pictures or how perfect the programs may be, it still all comes down to one factor: cost. It’s so easy to get swept up in the statistics or tuition costs of colleges when comparing them all side by side, so when I stumbled across the Zac Bissonnette’s book Debt Free U, I knew I had found a source that would present the real facts about financial aid packages one can receive. What drew me to the book in the first place was that it declared right on the cover the success of its 21 year old author, currently enrolled as a senior at University of Massachusetts, who is paying for college without the aid of loans or his parents. The point he emphasizes right from the get-go is that in these poor economic conditions, a student has to be motivated to seek out methods in which they can save money on their own, and not turn to private loans that will sink them into debt for the rest of their life. Unlike any other college guide I’ve read, this has been the most helpful because just four years ago Bissonnette was in my shoes—filling out the same tedious online applications and stressing over how much money the FAFSA would give him to pay for his ambitions to come true. But what I found most intriguing was the way he balanced talking professionally enough for my parents’ approval, with breaking down scary terms like Return of Investment or Expected Family Contribution for me. Though I don’t necessarily agree with all his suggestions, I think he shares vital insights as to what is really important when choosing a college- finding a comfortable fit, but opening your options up to schools you never considered, that for a cheaper cost, could get you much farther in life. Go check it out!

Caroline Pledger

Documentary series tries to break social barriers
x by Maria Nassanga
MTV’s documentary series, If You Really Knew Me breaks down walls and boundaries of young teens, one high school at a time. The show is filmed in coordination with “Challenge Day,” a social program in which trained leaders visit high schools and try to break down the emotional barriers and social “boxes” that keep students from getting to know one another. The show hopes to make a shift in the typical pattern of teenage social interactions and communication. It clearly draws inspiration from different high schools in its depiction of Challenge Day. It helps students’ voices be heard, and allows them to express their emotions and deepest secrets. Each high school student has a different character that is built in the story line. The character defies stereotypes and decides whether they’re willing to cross the lines dividing their subcultures. Though it is difficult to carry all your burdens alone, students make themselves feel better through making fun of others. High school is notorious for cliques. Some students say “it’s a tradition,” so what if the jocks, nerds, emo kids, mean girls, popular or the outcast tried to learn more about each other? When these students pass the “Story Line”, a line students cross if asked questions that apply to them, they are facing their biggest fears. These

MTV’s If You Really Knew Me changes perspectives

Maria Nassanga

stories and experiences may be different, but the common thread felt by all of them is the want to be accepted in society as individuals. The goal of the show is to allow each and every student across the nation to express who he or she truly is, to celebrate the gift of life each student has, and demand the acceptance each student deserves. If You Really Knew Me encourages students to take risks in order to connect with others that they otherwise would not have tried to connect with. I have seen each episode and it has changed my perspective of how I view things. I think this show reminds everyone of how we aren’t so different from one another.

E4

November 12, 2010

The Blake Beat