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Environmental Clubs efforts to end recycling contamination prove successful, p.

A2

Eaglin gets chance to shine in Bieber, Carey music video


by Larisha Winley x & Leisha Winley
Junior Emily Eaglin appeared in Justin Bieber and Mariah Careys music video All I Want For Christmas Is You, which has over 11,000,000 views since its premiere on YouTube November 30. The music video was filmed at Macys in Times Square in early had our moments, says Eaglin. Mariah was the nicest and looked like an angel on set [and] Justin was so much fun and such a kid at heart. While on set, Mariah Carey also taught Eaglin her backup vocals for the song. Eaglin found out her call time for 10pm from her manager and went to dress code for the video. Eaglin, who was accompanied by her mother, Christina Eaglin, then had to go to Macys to get her makeup done. Says Eaglin, It was one of the most amazing things Ive ever done. The shoot lasted until 9am the next day. Says Mrs. Eaglin, It was exhausting, but you really dont mind the lack of sleep because of the energy, and the people were so much fun to hang out with. A few weeks after the video was filmed, it premiered at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting. My mom and I literally jumped up and screeched when we saw our first frame. I knew my career was finally going somewhere, says Eaglin, who appears 12 times throughout the music video, but [I] had no clue I would get recognition from people who didnt know I was in it as they tuned in. Eaglins mother appears alongside her in the music video. Adds Mrs. Eaglin, Emily is self-driven and truly takes her acting as a serious career. It was wonderful to see her on national television. Mrs. Eaglin was not planning to appear in the video, but when a producer

Volume 14 Number 3

James Hubert Blake HS

Silver Spring, MD

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/blakehs

December 16, 2011

Junior has cameo appearance in All I Want for Christmas is You


asked her to partake she couldnt pass up the chance. I am glad I [participated]; it was a wonderful experience to share with my daughter. Eaglin has been acting since she was six years old, when she appeared in a Freddie Mac commercial. She has since done numerous commercials, print ads, television projects and professional musical theatre. I am thrilled to support her dream, watch her blossom and reach her potential, says Mrs. Eaglin. I think its important, not only for Emily, but for anyone to go after their dreams, adds Mrs. Eaglin. If you sit around and never go after something you really want with all your heart, you will never know how successful you would be. Eaglin also has future projects in the works.

November. I mostly chilled with Mariah, [her dog] Jill E. Bean and Santa, though Justin and I

Forever 21 for the winter

Graphic by GhulamNabi Sallman

Gay, bisexual students recount their experiences in coming out


by Savannah Doane-Malotte x & Kristen Frese
Coming out of the closet, or revealing ones sexuality to the public, is a very difficult and life-changing decision for any gay, lesbian or bisexual teenager, and has affected many of our own Blake students. Even at a school like Blake, people who are gay are seen as odd or weird, says Allies for Equality sponsor Mary Wagner. Coming out is a risk because you dont know how people will treat you afterwards. Many students at Blake have exposed their sexuality, which is acknowledged as a giant step in each of their lives. Senior Malcolm Jenkins came out in middle school, but has felt more than comfortable at Blake as an openly gay male. Jenkins came out before 7th grade because he no longer wanted to hide his true sexuality. Jenkins says, Its easier to just be myself and not have to deny who I am when people ask me about my sexuality.

Decision to reveal sexuality changes teenagers lives exponentially

If [your friends] accept you, thats all that matters.


Malcolm Jenkins
The friendly environment within the school has helped Jenkins embrace himself more and find many

people who accept him for who he truly is. I was already out when I got to Blakebut the vast majority of students and all of the staff are either vocally supportive or havent directly addressed it, says Jenkins. Both responses create the ideal environment for gay people. Though he is aware that homophobes exist within the hallways, he has not had a direct encounter and tries to ignore them. As for coming out, he believes that telling friends and allowing them to spread the word is the best way to inform classmates about ones sexuality. Says Jenkins, If they accept you, thats all that matters; if they dont, they arent your true friends. CONTINUED ON PAGE A3

Girls varsity basketball opens season with blowout game, p. D1

Alumna teen mom reveals her cherished time with baby, p. C1

New gaming sensation scores high among teenagers, p. C3

New TLC show hopes to end anti-Muslim behavior, challenge stereotypes, p. B1

New curfew bill stalled as County Council debates merit


by Savannah Doane-Malotte x & Kristen Frese
Montgomery Countys controversial youth curfew bill has been tabled indefinitely after a 6-3 vote by the County Council December 6, putting the proposed law on hold until council members vote for reconsideration. The legislation would prohibit teens under the age of 18 from being out 11pm 5am on weekdays and 12am 5am on weekends. The county really shouldnt be able to have that [amount of] control over people, says junior Maddy Bruffy. I think that it will really put a damper on parties for everyone who goes out and walks home. County Executive Ike Leggett originally introduced the bill in result of the July gang-related stabbing in Silver Spring. Events such as the flash mob thefts of the Germantown and Silver Spring 7-11 stores have also contributed to support for the bill. Many of the laws supporters are concerned with teen safety as well as the

A2

December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

Students, teachers outraged on law limiting hours of activity, question constitutionality


youth crime rate. However, many believe that the bill is not an appropriate approach to fighting crime and is not necessary for most Montgomery County teenagers. Raised concerns for racial profiling and infringement on youths civil liberties led the council members to put the law on the back burner for the time being. NSL Government teacher Mary Wagner says, I think it is outrageous [they should] punish the lawbreakers, not the innocent teens who are following the rules. The bill says that due to a lack of maturity, minors are more susceptible to partaking in crimes. Says senior Daniel Louloudes, A few bad kids are ruining

things for the silent majority; people dont pay attention to the everyday kids who do what theyre supposed to. Many students are outraged at the potential curfew bill, stating that plans do not always have a set end time and they should not be punished because of that. The bill allows minors to be at a movie theater past curfew as long as the film started before the curfew time, but still restricts many other late night teen activities. Some people are arguing over the constitutionality of the bill. Law teacher Donna Phillips says, It is not unconstitutional, in my opinion, especially because it specifically states that teens retain their first amendment rights. In addition, according to the 10th Amendment, local governments have the authority to control matters such as curfew. Mrs. Wagner disagrees with the constitutionality of the bill, however, saying, I think [the bill] is punishing kids for something they have not yet done.

Environmentally conscious Bengals fill school with new recycling bins


Community makes necessary changes to lessen Blakes contamination
by Karen Vanegas x& Jake Gordon
Attempting to improve Blakes recycling rate to more than 30 percent from last years 21 percent, the science department and the Environmental Club recently teamed up to promote the usage of tall, sleek recycling bins. This recycling initiative is present county-wide in an effort to reduce amounts of trash. Environmental science teacher Nicole Houchens says, In general, staff and students should remember that it is our world, so we should conserve our resources. Before the new and improved recycling bins, called Slim Jims, were introduced, the recycling bins of first-floor classrooms were at an astonishing 70 percent contamination level, while second-floor classrooms were at a whopping 77 percent. A paper recycling bin is considered contaminated if it contains any trash or non-paper item. However, contamination levels and the amount of infamous green notifications on classroom doors have decreased by more than half since the beginning of this operation. We may only be one small club in a local high school, but all mass movements start small and build from the base up, says senior Anthony Bui, So our role is nevertheless important. The Environmental Club has played a pivotal part in creating awareness on this issue, helping spread the philosophy of environmentalism. Its members have even reached administration and negotiated with them to make sure that all recyclables actually get recycled. The School Energy and Recycling Team (SERT) also encourages staff and students to recycle bottles and cans in designated bins located in the schools hallways. Energy conservation is the committees other focus. Orange signs have been placed in classrooms as a reminder to turn off the lights. School faculty members are reminded to turn off electronic devices, turn off lights, shut blinds and close all windows at the end of the day. Were definitely on our way to fulfilling [our goals for this campaign], says senior Tai Ramsey.

Anthony Bui

The Blake Beat

December 16, 2011


Junior Anna Steinfeld, recently inducted at the ceremony, is eager for the upcoming year as well. Im excited to learn how I can be a better leader in my community, says Steinfeld. I will learn the qualities necessary to be successful in life. Being in the NHS requires an elevated resume. Members must have an unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.5 or weighted GPA of 4.0, 60 Student Service Learning hours and demonstrate good behavior during class and extracurricular activities. [NHS members] are held to a really high standard, says NHS sponsor Beth Shepherd. They have to think about the decisions that they make. To be accepted into NHS, students submit their applications to the faculty advisory committee, who reads them over to make sure they meet the criteria. There isnt a limit to the number of students who can be admitted to the NHS, but due to the requirements, only a select number of Blake students are eligible. We want [NHS members] to be role models and leaders here at Blake, says Ms. Shepherd. We want them to pull other kids into positive activities. Along with organizing service projects, NHS members tutor students in the Academic Commitment to Excellence program during lunch. The induction is really just an outward sign that youre in, says principal Christopher Berry. [It] says youre here [and] youve made it... [now] heres whats important about this organization and heres what you need to do. As a new year for the NHS approaches, students will quickly find themselves busy aiding each other in charitable endeavors.

New NHS inductees walk stage proudly


Most outstanding Bengals become part of prestigious club
x by Ann Cirincione & Maryam Outlaw
Twenty-eight juniors and seniors became the newest members of the National Honor Society (NHS) in an official induction ceremony December 5. The ceremony included musical performances, speeches by current members and encouraging words from the faculty. Its something that makes it real, says NHS sponsor Katie Kodan. Everybodys dressed up and the parents are thereits a nice way to welcome [students] to NHS. After signing a book to indicate their acceptance, fall inductees formally joined the schools largest club. All members will have to complete community service activities to remain part of the club. Says senior and NHS co-induction chair Derick Ansah, New members of NHS have the responsibility of continuing this level of participation in our community and possibly making it even greater.

A3

Anna Steinfeld

Classroom meets congress in constitutional knowledge showcase


x by Janine Taira & Karen Vanegas
Today, local and state officials will be at Blake acting as judges for the regional Mock Congressional Hearing (MCH) in which Global Issues and the Law students will discuss local, national and international topics. In the MCH, students will testify before a panel to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles for four minutes. Judges will question the speakers, who will have opportunities to take, defend and evaluate positions on historical and contemporary issues. This is truly civic education at its best. Students [obtain] real-world experiences, says social studies teacher Donna Phillips. Since Blake is the only school competing in the region, the team will automatically move on to the State Simulated Hearings taking place February 3 in Annapolis. If Dr. Phillips class wins first place in state, they will advance to the national Simulated Congressional Hearing in Washington, D.C. taking place next April. Even so, the idea of public speaking can intimidate most high school students. Senior Nick Tatnall says, I am pretty nervous, but I [have practiced] very hard and I feel like Ill go out there

Teens attain valuable experience in American politics, public speaking


This is truly civic education at its best. Students [obtain] real-world experiences.
Donna Phillips

and succeed. Dr. Phillips and other staff members created Global Issues and the Law after the success of eight students who attended a mock hearing as an exhibition team. This experience really changes the students who participate in itit gives them much more of a stake in our democratic system, says Dr. Phillips. In the classroom, the group benefits from contact with Congress members and the support of various organizations. Guest speakers including Maryland state senator Paul Pinsky, and Mary Beth Tinker, from 1969 Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines, have been invited to speak with the class in the near future. The class will also observe the Maryland General Assembly soon and is planning to go on a field trip to the Supreme Court. Although many of the students currently enrolled do not plan to pursue political science as a career, the course has helped them grow as individuals. I am not that great of a public speaker but I know that all of the speeches we have to give and write will help me in the future, says senior Kim Toxie. Dr. Phillips adds, [These students] are more likely to participate in politics. They are also able to keep up with current events and make better informed decisions.

MCPS policy says yes to struggling students seeking second chance


Re-take option reassures quiz-takers, eliminates underachievement
by Danielle Moore x & Nicole Sterling
Controversy has recently risen over MCPS retake policy regarding quizzes; some believe giving this extra chance is a positive, while others believe it is sending the wrong message to students. The progressing issue with the retake policy questions whether or not students are taking advantage of the policy and getting a second chance that they dont truly deserve. The retake policy doesnt really prepare us for life because in life you rarely get second chances, says junior Becca Schwartz. Many students rely on retakes to improve their grades. However, there is a growing trend in not studying the first time, knowing there is always another option to fall back on. Last year I used to not study the first time for some classes because I knew the retake was the same as the first one, says senior Julie Lopatka. While the retake policy provides students with another opportunity to get a better grade, it does tend to add to the pile of work for teachers. However, biology teacher Elaine Power doesnt mind the extra work. What I want to make sure is that [students] know [the material] before the concept shows up on their unit test, which they cant retake, says Mrs. Power. Teachers and educators arent oblivious to the retake trend, but most agree that students are only hurting themselves by not putting in the time or effort to learn. Not all students rely on the retake policy, but they do feel more comfortable knowing that it is a backup option. Senior Erica Wang says, It is nice to know that when I havent studied enough or didnt understand the content, I will still have another chance to improve my grade. Most students see a huge increase in their overall grades at the end of the quarter because of the boost that retakes give. Although retakes seem helpful, they come with the task of re-studying and potentially having to prove to the teacher that one understands the material. Many teachers are known for making students do infamous quiz corrections as a way to reinforce what they learn. Its better to study for the first one, so you dont have to take time out of your life to sit through [the quiz taking] horror again, adds Wang.

Homosexual minors possibly face oppression, bullying in real world


CONTINUED FROM A1 Foy encourages students to openly talk about their feelings about their sexuality in order to deal with the struggles of being homosexual and coming out. Talk it out with any and everyone whos willing to listen, says Foy. Not all students feel as safe announcing their sexuality or do not have the proper support. Gregory Johnson* tells only a select group of people about his bisexuality, in fears of hatred and rumors being spread. Johnson does not want his family to discover his sexuality as he believes they are very judgmental. Says Johnson, I dont think I would ever be accepted in my family, therefore I dont think I will ever come out [to them]. He was hoping to come out to the student body next year, but is no longer sure because the news would reach his family. Johnson believes the hatred of homosexuals is decreasing, but still worries about the torture many gay

Blake provides adolescents safe haven from harassment, ignorance


Senior Steven Alvarado decided to announce his bisexuality at the end of his junior year as he believed that peoples opinions wouldnt affect or upset him. Having already told many of his close friends, Alvarado posted a Facebook status in May to tell other students about his sexuality. Though aware of the bullying he could face for coming out, Alvarado decided that his openness and happiness was more important than what bullies would have to say. Senior Kealea Foy, who began to identify herself as bisexual in seventh grade, decided to officially come out sophomore year after joining Allies for Equality. Says Foy, I came to Blake as the shy new girland joining [A4E] made me not only feel welcome but also completely safe and respected, which was refreshing. students around the world endure. Johnson says, Its really not anyones business to know my sexuality, [so] it really shouldnt bother people. Mrs. Wagner also acknowledges that these same problems exist for those who are perceived to be gay, or seem to fit the homosexual stereotype. These students have a hard time defending themselves, says Mrs. Wagner. We need to remember to be supportive of everybody. Students and staff alike encourage homosexual or bisexual students to make the decision to come out at their own time. Adds Alvarado, Students should come out when they feel ready and not simply because theyre being pressured to come out by people who already know. These teens also urge teenagers who are burdened by their sexuality or dont know how to come out to find support within their family and friends. *Name has been changed.

A4

December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

AIDA REWIND PHOTOS

Aida finished its strong run November 19 after performing six shows. From top, Aida, played by senior Alex Reeves (double cast with senior Yasmin Wamala), holds an Egyptian guard captive. Center left, Zoser, played by junior Sam Jaffe, plots the Pharaohs death. Center, Radames, played by senior Yann Ellinghaus (double cast with junior Ryan Reynolds) returns to

Egypt from war in Nubia. Center right, Amneris, played by junior Jourdan Lewanda (double cast with sophomore Michelle Carter) sings the story of the two lovers, Aida and Radames. Bottom left, sophomore Rebecca Hill strikes a pose in a fashion show. Bottom right, Wamala as Aida, leads her fellow Nubians to redemption. -- photos by Dennis Chan

Recent grads to share college experiences with seniors seeking advice


x by Molly Cohen & Emily Simmons
Juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to discuss the college experience with Blake graduates at the Alumni Panel in the amphitheatre next Friday at 12:30pm. The Alumni Panel has been a tradition since Blakes first graduating class of 2001. Alumni at this years panel will include current college freshmen Aron Crews and Daniel Arias. The panel will discuss college advice, among other topics. You need to have a plan for your life, says Crews. It doesnt matter if you only have a rough idea. You need to have goals and plans set for yourself. College and career counselor Katherine Moore recommends the panel to all juniors and seniors. We hope that our juniors and seniors listen to the advice from our 2011 grads, says Mrs. Moore. She advises students to start planning ahead, work towards good grades, take rigorous courses and participate in extracurricular activities and community service opportunities. Says Arias, I know that [last year] I greatly benefited from talking with people who had already been through the application process. The panel may provide the extra boost needed to help ease students through the college application process. at Blake. Arias, who attends Yale University, enjoys the freedom and vast experiences that come with the college experience. College offers a unique and wonderful opportunity to meet cool people, engage in exciting projects and mature as a person, says Arias. There is no other [experience] quite like it. Blake was really great at helping make that transition as smooth as possible, says Arias. The panel is strategically placed in the middle of the school year, as many students are eagerly awaiting acceptance letters from the colleges they have applied to. The hope is that it will make ease the nerves of stressed-out students. Arias has one last piece of advice: Be yourself. I know its totally clich, but if you express your unique interests and show your genuine enthusiasm in pursuing them, you will stand out among the crowd. Arias and Crews are the only confirmed participants at this time, but more are expected to take part in the panel.

The Blake Beat

December 16, 2011

A5

Alumni Panel event allows former students to speak minds, give guidance

Blake was really great at helping make that transition as smooth as possible.
Daniel Arias
Crews, a freshman at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, is taking part in the panel to share his wisdom with the students of Blake. I love helping others, adds Crews. I want to share my knowledge with all of the amazing people

Limiting passes perfect solution for teachers


Lillian Watkins. I think teachers do it so people do not use the bathroom as an excuse to skip, but not all of us skip. Watkins, as well as many others, would appreciate more trust and freedom from their teachers. Biology teacher Elaine Power believes that any missed class time is crucial to a students learning and gives each student a bathroom sheet with four passes per quarter. She suggests leaving the classroom for only three minutes. [Using the restroom] is really disruptive, and an enormous waste of everyone elses time, says Mrs. Power. It becomes an easy way to get out of class, which often means they miss important concepts. I have found that SAT prep, with its long testing sessions, inspires wanderlust among students and generates

Lillian Watkins

Student complaints pertaining to teachers in our school who give out a limited amount of bathroom passes during the year have been increasing because of its annoyance and unfairness. Environmental science teacher Nicole Houchens limits the number of passes to three times per quarter. She has a very systematic way of letting students out of the classroom and she sticks to it the whole year. I only let one student out of the room at a time, so they usually know that they have to get back, says Mrs. Houchens. Most students do not agree with the teachers view on restroom usage. I find it to be restricting, adds junior

by Priya Dadlani x & Jane Hwang

a great number of hall pass requests, says English and SAT prep teacher Joseph Caulfield. Although he says he would never deny anyone from going to the bathroom while they had an emergency, Mr. Caulfield gives any student who has used up their passes, which Mr. Caulfield hands out to students in the beginning of the year for the entire semester, a 20 minute lunch detention if they have a crisis. Complaints about these enforced bathroom rules have only grown in the past year. We cant control when we have to use the restroom; teachers are humans just like us and they should understand this, says junior Patrick Richard. However, teachers do not reteach things to students who miss class because of bathroom visits.

[Using the restroom] is really disruptive, and an enormous waste of everyone elses time.
Elaine Power

Students, teachers benefit from Zero Tolerance for Zeroes


x by Joal Chen & Janine Taira
Freshmen ineligibility decreased first quarter and the percentage of students on honor roll increased notably under the Zero Tolerance for Zeroes (ZTZ) campaign, which promotes zero-free grade reports and an improved freshmen mentoring program. From fourth quarter last year to first quarter this year, 178 extra students made honor roll, making a 31% increase in the number of students on honor roll. Spanish teacher Monica Abuliak, who started the ZTZ program with other resource teachers, believes that the program has contributed to the school-wide progress. [ZTZ] brings awareness to the school community that zeroes are unacceptable, says Mrs. Abuliak. She believes that this system will lead to students checking their grades more frequently. Adds Spanish teacher Denise Ramos-Roman, [ZTZ] has its pros and cons, [but] weve had a lot of girls going over the 2.5 GPA that we ask for. In 2011, the overall freshman ineligibility dropped by 3.4% . But when broken up by race, African-Americans, Asian and Hispanics saw a decrease in ineligibility while there was no change in Caucasian freshman. ZTZ, unlike the mentoring program, is a school-wide initiative to stop zeros. In the first quarter, students who had no zeroes in grade reports were able to receive Coke Zeros, while in the beginning of the second quarter Propel Zeros were provided to students without zeros. A free soda may be a nice reward for people who dont have zeroes, but it does not provide much incentive for people who are already falling behind on their schoolwork, adds senior mentor Danielle Blocker. Mrs. Abuliak, along with other faculty members, hopes that these rewards prompt students who may be receiving zeroes to make a change. I think they hear the [ZTZ] message and subliminally it makes them think twice about an assignment they might otherwise [not complete], says Mrs. Abuliak. Adds junior mentor Michael Kister, ZTZ shows students that administration cares, which can provide some motivation, but what will really get the student to do their work is a personal commitment to success. Though the program is intended for all students, not everyone is feeling the effects of the program. Junior mentor Erik Barrios says, I dont think there is a change in attitude among the students because of ZTZ. Since our mentees are just freshmen, they arent really aware of the [school] policies. The program cant make every student a straight-A student, says Kister, but it has helped individuals gain a stronger work ethic and a lower tolerance for bad grades.

A6

December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

School policy results in decreased ineligibility, increased work ethic

Percentage of Students at James Hubert Blake Who Were Ineligible First Quarter for 2010-2011 and 2011-2012
2010-2011 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 30.70% 19.70% 9.30% 13.60% 2011-2012 29.90% 19.30% 12.20% 9.20%

Online attendance updates leave educators at ease, teens on edge


Edlines technological advancements hitting way too close to home
by Adele Leishman x & Ellen Wood
Since the beginning of second quarter, Edline now informs parents and students of absences in each class, the date of the absence and whether or not it is excused. Living in a world full of technology with constant advancements, school policies have changed, whether for better or for worse. The new attendance feature on Edline has everyone on their toes. Many, like senior Courtney Cristaldi, are trying extra hard to get to class on time and get their absent notes in. Sometimes I forget to have my mom write a note, and by the time three days goes by, I no longer can get that absence excused [even if its supposed to be], says Cristaldi. With this new [policy] thing, Im afraid of failing with these mistakenly unexcused absences. For teachers, this policy may be a sigh of relief. They no longer have to bounce back and forth between two different programs. This eliminates the hassle of forgotten passwords and tedious screen names for each time a teacher wants to take attendance or enter in a grade. Says history teacher Mrs. Rowe, Its phenomenal. It really makes [the process] easier in the long run. Now, its just one simple program for both attendance and grades. Although Edline benefits teachers that are already bogged down from grading at the end of the quarter, some students take an opposite stand on the new attendance policy. I dont think there is really a difference between [attendance] voicemail and email, says freshman Daniel York*. It just makes no sense and wastes time. The policy, though strictly enforced, makes mistakes that displease students like sophomore Luke Marks. [It makes me mad because] my parents have punished me several times already for the false accusations of being late or absent, Marks says. The new Edline policy has left inaccurate emails to Markss parents, saying that he is not in class. Most students feel the policy is a burden rather than helpful. While some parents and staff rejoice the program, many students are sitting at home on weekends, loathing the new attendance policy for punishing them more than the regular voicemails did. Says Marks, Lets just hope Edline doesnt add more into the mix- then I would officially have no social life. *Names have been changed.

I dont think there is a real difference between [attendance] voicemail and email. It just makes no sense and wastes time.
Daniel York*

THE BLAKE BEAT WANTS YOU TO HAVE A SAFE & HAPPY BREAK!

The Blake Beat

Newsbeats
December 16, 2011
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For the first time in four years, Fuego Latino participated in the MCPS Annual Latin Dance Competition. Senior Ginayra Garcia placed second in the Jack and Jill division with Einstein High School senior David Cuevas, and Garcia placed third in the Salsa couples division with senior Diego Vallejos. Junior Katia Segura and her father placed third in the Parent-Student division. Senior Karen Vanegas was awarded the Leadership Award by the After School Dance Fund. n n n Senior David Hylton was awarded the Posse scholarship to Pepperdine University in Malibu, California December 7. The Posse scholarship is a full tuition scholarship awarded based off of leadership, community service and diversity. Hylton went through a three-stage interview process, the first in September and the last December 7. The Posse

Foundation is an organization that recruits, identifies and trains students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential. Hylton will be attending an award ceremony January 4, congratulating him on his accomplishment. Starting in mid-January, Hylton will be attending weekly meetings at the Posse headquarters in DC with nine other individuals from across the DC-Metro area who also got the scholarship for Pepperdine until he goes to college in August. Hylton was the only winner from Blake this year. This scholarship was awarded to two Blake students last year. n n n

letics December 6.

Juniors Andrew Latona (guitar), Hannah Wynne (alto saxophone) and Greg Chaimson (trumpet) made the 2011 All County Jazz Band. They performed Tuesday night at the Kennedy Center. The band members tried out in the beginning of the year by performing a piece given to them by their band instructor. They practice once a week at Walter Johnson High School. n n n

Looking for a new way to stay connected to Blake athletics? The athletic department has created a Twitter account providing fans the latest updates on Bengal athletic events. So if you cant make a game, @BlakeAthletics is your source to catch big plays and score updates. Two Magnus Richards dunks and Blake Varsity boys are up 10-0.- @BlakeAth-

Senior Samuel Rivera, member of Burtonsvilles troop 480, became an Eagle Scout Saturday in a ceremony attended by family and friends after multiple years participating in his troop. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, Rivera completed a community service project building benches in the courtyard at Benjamin Banneker Middle School. Rivera plans on assisting his brother through the Boy Scout process and will continue to help his troop in their activities.

Dec OCT

0 16

BLAKE
December 19
Varsity Girls Basketball at Wootton, 7pm Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Wootton, 7pm JV Girls Basketball at Wootton, 5:15pm JV Boys Basketball vs. Wootton, 5:15pm

CALENDAR
December 21
Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Springbrook, 5:15pm Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Springbrook, 7pm JV Girls Basketball at Springbrook, 3:30pm JV Boys Basketball at Springbrook, 5:15pm

December 16
Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Quince Orchard, 7pm Varsity Boys Basketball at Quince Orchard, 7pm JV Girls Basketball vs. Quince Orchard, 5:15pm JV Boys Basketball at Quince Orchard, 5:15pm

December 17

Boys Swim and Dive vs. Poolesville, 9:15am Girls Swim and Dive vs. Poolesville, 9:15am Varsity Wrestling vs. Einstein, 1pm Varsity Wrestling vs. Rockville, 1pm

December 20
Varsity Wrestling at Walter Johnson, 6pm JV Wrestling at Walter Johnson, 7pm PTSA Meeting, 6:30pm Choral Concert, 7:30pm

December 22

Varsity Wrestling vs. Clarksburg, 6pm JV Wrestling vs. Clarksburg, 7pm Holiday Band Concert, 7:30pm

A8

December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

Senior doesnt understand Taylor Swifts appeal, questions if success is deserved, p. B7

Hot trend captures art of tarnishing snapshots


x by Lucas Irvin

Section B

Blake Beat Opinion

December 16, 2011

Photobomber antics give new meaning to picture perfection

Locked up students face repercussions for the rest of their lives


x by Vanessa Newman
All of us probably know at least one student who has gotten arrested, but what a lot of students dont know is how getting arrested now can affect the rest of ones adult life. Lets face it; teenagers can act pretty stupid sometimes. From the one time you decided to drive home after illegally consuming alcohol at that house party, to the time your headphones broke and you figured stealing a new pair would be more convenient than buying new ones, you should know that these actions have the potential to render some serious consequences. Some of the top reasons teenagers get arrested include driving under the influence, shoplifting, assault, overly exercising ones right to free speech (i.e. participating convictions is drug possession. Its hypothetical situation time Lets say youre 17 and you just got convicted for possession of marijuana. Well, you can forget filling out the FAFSA; drug convictions automatically

Photo op! You make sure your hair looks perfect, put one arm around the person with you, position the other on your waist and put on your prettiest smile. And when someone finally snaps the picture, some random person is jumping and screaming in the background. That random person is likely to be me. Combining my inability to take myself seriously for a fraction of a second and the opportunity to peeve my picturesquely posed peers, photobombing is among my favorite hobbies. It is especially fun because anyone can participate, be it around friends or complete strangers. Photobombing is always entertaining, regardless of how you do it, whether by jumping, flailing your arms or simply making the most disturbing face possible. However, if you want to elevate photobombing into an art form, you must move past these basic, overused attention seekers and get more creative. As an improvisational art form, you cant plan exactly what to do, but you can be prepared when the opportunity strikes. Be on constant lookout for opportunities and be able to make instantaneous judgment calls on what would best (or from the view of the photographer, worst) action to take. Props and partners help, giving you more possibilities. Eating disgustingly is nice, juggling on a unicycle is better. Whatever you do, make sure you detract as much attention as possible from the actual subject of the picture. If you think that you have reached the position of master photobomber, you may be eligible to join the Ordo Fratrum Bombrum, a centuries-old society of masters going all the way back to the era of painting bombing. Submit your portfolio of your best work to me and we will deem you worthy or not of entry. If you survive initiation and become a member of the Order, you can get your own portrait (there are some pretty hilarious ones mounted in the Lodge) and come to meetings. Next Saturday, were all dressing up in gorilla suits and going to the Mall to photobomb as many unassuming tourists as possible.

When you make decisions...they can damage your life far beyond your teenage years.
in out-of-hand protests) and drug possession. So you got arrested for one of these things, now what? In my opinion, the worst of all these disqualify you from financial aid. No big deal, you didnt think college would be for you anyway. So youre considering the Navy, Army or Air Force.

Or perhaps you have plans of working for the government or a bank after high school. Well, I wish you luck because each of those jobs could choose not to hire you because of your criminal record. So now youre 18. Your parents kicked you out the house because youre now officially an adult. But because of that one adolescent mistake, you now cant afford college and in todays economy, you probably cant find a job either. This scenario doesnt sound like the life any teenager wants to live out. So keep in mind, when you make decisions, dont make stupid ones; because they can damage your life far beyond your teenage years.

Many Americans views of Muslim community shaped by stereotypes


x by Savannah Doane-Malotte

Americans have a superficial image of what looks like a terrorist imprinted in their minds basically anyone who looks like Osama Bin Laden.

Upon seeing a man with tan skin, dark facial hair and a turban, or a woman with conservative clothes and a traditional hijab covering her hair, most Americans cant help but to think one thing: terrorist. A terrorist, according to Google Dictionary, is a person who uses terrorism (violence or intimidation) in the pursuit of political aims. But within the past decade, Americans stereotype of a terrorist has changed. Because of the September 11th attacks, the Iraq War and other related events, those who are MiddleEastern American or Muslim American are seen as our countrys primary enemies. This trend has grown to be so widespread that it has gained the official title of Islamophobia. It is appalling that our nation, where so many come to escape persecution, is still persecuting its own citizens. Middle Eastern Americans do not deserve this prejudice that is heaped upon them, as they are just as American as anyone else. Americans have a superficial image of what looks like a terrorist imprinted in their minds basically anyone who resembles Osama Bin Laden. This results in hatred and oppression of those who arent even Arab, Muslim or Iraqi. Because of their similarities in appearance, there have been many incidents of attacks

on Christian, Sikh and Hindu Arabs, Iranians (who constitute a different ethnicity than Arabs), as well as South Asians. This stereotype therefore not only affects Arab and Muslim Americans, but also those who only appear to be Arab or Muslim. This mindset against these groups is not only wrong, but is strongly racist. There is no difference between this discrimination and the discrimination of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The question is: did we learn our lesson, or are we going to continue to blame an entire race or religion on one groups actions? The new TLC show, All-American Muslim (which airs Sundays at 10pm), aims to break down the racial barriers against Muslim Americans. In the show, Muslim American families acknowledge the existence of opposition against their faith and background, while enlightening viewers on who they truly are. I most definitely recommend this program to the public - it will make you think twice before you stereotype. The next time you want to classify someone as a terrorist, dont look to Middle Easterners. Someone who talks about hating America and is planning to bomb a historical landmark, for example, is probably more likely to be a terrorist. So I ask of you, stop the religious and racial prejudice against our fellow Americans. Its immoral, ignorant and against our nations core values of tolerance and acceptance.

All I want for Christmas is you..to stop playing music


x by Michael Errigo
Radio stations seem to go crazy when the holiday season rolls around, playing the same holiday classics over and over again. This repetitive music turns the most wonderful time of the year into a nightmare. Some radio stations began playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving. Whats the point of this? If their goal is to make their listeners despise these holiday tunes by the time Christmas rolls around, then mission accomplished. Holiday music is a great background for activities such as decorating the tree and opening presents, but not for buying a turkey. Christmas music and Thanksgiving just do not mix no matter how hard radio stations try to force them to. Not only do radio stations repeat the same songs, but they play some songs that are down right bad. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer? Really? That song is an insult to Grandmas and Christmas lovers everywhere. Also, I dont know about you, but for me, nothing says happy holidays quite like Madonna singing Santa Baby. Theres just something about a pop star telling us about how she loves Santa a bit too much that warms the soul. I hope this diatribe doesnt make me seem like some kind of Scrooge. I dont hate all Christmas music. In fact, there are some songs that Im quite fond of. But this fondness tends to disappear when the radio plays them to death. Silver Bells is played so much that Im pretty sure Kenny G himself is sick of hearing it. I understand that the point of this music is to get people in the Christmas spirit, but when I hear Feliz Navidad three times in an hour the only thing I want to say is adios. In a world where every station (even our favorite HOT 99.5) seems to play the same ten songs on a loop and the Delilah After Dark show is considered cathartic, bad radio is not unusual. I guess I just assumed that it would be hard to tarnish Christmas music and the joy that it brings; many times. The Christmas season is a time of gifts and all I want this year is one simple thing: some variety. All I ask is that these radio stations switch it up a bit. Throw in some lesser played songs like Run, Run Rudolph by Chuck Berry or This Christmas by Chris Brown. Songs like these have a modern flair to them that is sure to appeal to the masses. Having said that, if I ever have to hear a song from Justin Biebers ill-attempt at a Christmas album on the radio, I may just throw up. Maybe I am a part of the minority. Maybe there are people out there who can stand to hear the same songs an infinite amount of times. I f

B2

December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

there are, then these radio stations will never stop. So, while Bing Crosby is busy dreaming of a white Christmas, Ill be dreaming of a a November day during which I can turn on the radio and not hear the same incessant Christmas music.

When I hear Feliz Navidad, the only thing I want to say is adios.
but it seems that I was wrong. I cant be sure of this but these holiday radio stations may secretly be the reason why the Grinch stole Christmas. He mustve heard the Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas song one t o o

Students hooked on top choice before receiving acceptance letters


x by Leah Patterson
After hours of visits, searches, essays and applications, responses from colleges are beginning to roll in. For some seniors, this is a series of uplifting acceptances and disappointing rejections. But for others, the decision of one school can make or break their entire future and lead to some crushing disappointment. While its okay to have a number one school, no school is perfect. Every college is either going to have boring food or terrible weather or strange professors. Some students spend so much time romanticizing the idea of their dream school, which can really lead to a bitter disappointment when its not everything they imagined it to be. What people should also understand is that much of the admissions decision is completely random and has nothing to do with you. Colleges are looking for specific numbers to shape their school body. Theres a chance you might not get in, even if it seems like the perfect school for you. Students shouldnt invest all their energy into one school that might reject them for reasons they cannot control. This mindset probably starts way before seniors start rushing to fill out their applications. With all of the college-search sites and social media we use now to help us shop for colleges, we spend so much time narrowing down our list that our list becomes a single college. Its so much easier to find something wrong with all the colleges that arent your number one choice in order to rationalize your fixation on that one school. Its important to find a way to search for schools with an open, fresh mind. Every time you go on an interview or visit a campus, focus only on that school. If you spend too much time comparing it to another school, it will never live up to the other school and the ideas youve built up surrounding it. And whats most important to remember is that youll probably be fine wherever you end up if you keep an open mind. Its okay to be excited about a school, but it would be to your benefit to consider the vast array of other options. The possibility of rejection is bitter and painful, and it can only be made worse if you focus your hopes too much into one college.

Seniors need to keep college options open during application process


But for others, the decision of one school can make or break their entire future.

Senior reforms school course offerings, dreams of classier future


Curriculum gets revolutionized as Joiner calls for new studies
x by Michael Joiner
Reflecting on my years at Blake, Ive come to realize that its high school curriculum lacks imagination and needs some pepping up; so I have developed the following courses that will add the zing back into school. In Cooking for a High Schoolers Palate, students will learn how to prepare all of their most favorite foods, including such complex foods as microwaveable Easy Mac, Strawberry Frosted Pop Tarts, Movie Theater Buttered Popcorn, and Cup o Noodles soup (students will be supervised for safety purposes). Not only will students be able to eat these delicacies, but the class will have an entrepreneurial aspect allowing for sales to other starving students. All students who take a foreign language class will agree with me that online translators have become their best friends. In Languages of the World, Google Translate is your teacher as you become immediately fluent in any language. You wont have a full sense of the difficulty of the language, but as long as you can communicate your thoughts, does it really matter? Lets chat about Mime Class 101, or actually, lets not say a word! Mime class has one of the easiest lesson plans: dont talk or youll fail. Some students will struggle at firstespecially those professional conversationalists in each gradebut as soon as students realize that the teacher wont be talking either, theyll realize its their dream class. I ask you, what could be better than a 45-minute class without an annoying teacher nagging and lecturing you? MCPS officials will love The Art of Naptime. Students in this class will snooze away to sounds of chirping crickets and rushing waterfalls. No longer will the county be haunted by the specter of tired teenagers or worried about the early start time for high schoolers. Now students will be able to simultaneously recoup those lost hours of sleep and improve their GPA. Ive heard too many times from Blake teachers that we students take our historically rich environments for granted, but fear no more my soon-to-be former teachers, we are about to be the adventurers you always wanted us to be. In Field Trips Extraordinaire, our new classroom will be the great outdoors. From our nations capital to the beaches of Florida (my personal favorite), we have no boundaries for where we can learn. When we are hours away from Blake, I dont think we will be hearing any more comments from the disappointed staff. No doubt these classes will be highly popular, and should they be added to the curriculum, I might just have to repeat my senior year.

The Blake Beat

December 16, 2011

B3

No doubt these classes will be highly popular, and should they be added to the curriculum. I might just have to repeat my senior year.

Tweeters take desperate measures to top total Twitter followers


Determined teenagers post usernames in attempt to gain social status
x by John Beers
Ever since its beginning in 2006, Twitter has taken off among celebrities and highschool students alike. However, there is something that the everyday teenager doesnt seem to understand: having a Twitter does not make you a celebrity. It has become a trend among Twitter users at Blake to go to somewhat extreme measures to gain followers. What started as simple as Ill follow you if you follow me has escalated into antics such as posting their Twitter names on Facebook with the plea FOLLOW ME! Those desperate for followers have turned to writing their Twitter names on the chalk boards throughout the school, hoping to lure extra readers for the endless stream of tweets. The difference between these people and celebrities is that the general masses really dont care about what normal people thinkthey just care about what celebrities have to tweet. While many would like to consider themselves among the likes of Lady Gaga (16.1 million followers), Justin Bieber (14.6 million followers) or even President Obama (11.2 million followers), the simple fact is you arent on their level, Twitter or otherwise. When celebrities tweet about the release date of their latest movie or newest album with a picture of them with their latest romantic interest, people flock to it quicker than Rebecca Black can name the days of the week. However, if people cared half as much about your tweets on how the test you are not studying for is ruining your life or how disappointing the latest Redskins game was, you would get more than the occasional re-tweet. So next time you think that your tweet about #thingslongerthankimsmarriage was the funniest thing since the idea of Kim Kardashian actually getting married in the first place, stop and ask yourself: Is this really so funny that I need to nag other people to follow me just to see it? More often than not, the answer will be no.

Blackberry iPhone 4S Baby Shiloh Baby Knowles American Idol X Factor Trees ICC Class of 2011 Class of 2012 Twilight Hunger Games Selena Gomez Emily Eaglin Planking Slothing/Tebowing Toddlers and Tiaras Dance Moms Mariah Carey Adele Vans Toms Oprah Anderson iPods in class Phones at lunch Cougar couples Dating your own age Sarah Palin Michele Bachmann Rams Head Fillmore
Graphic by Ellen Wood

WHATS IN:

WHATS OUT:

Senior goes ham on lunch lines, demands organization


Congestion, lack of management proves headache for Blakes hungriest
x by Robert Krakaur
The 10:51 bell rings. You run down the stairs and into the cafeteria, only to be disheartened by the hordes of people already pushing and shoving their way for food they may not even get. Anyone who has tried their luck at buying lunch knows what Im talking about. Within one minute of the bell ringing, the two center lunch lines (the only two out of the four with good food) are mobbed with hundreds of Blakes hungriest. The line on the left is titled Soup/ Salad & Deli. I am by no means expecting the servers to adhere to these titles. They are meaningless to me. But I think the fact that this line only serves chips and cookies while people are waiting almost all of lunch for food is ridiculous. How can anyone expect us to eat a healthy meal when its so difficult to get real food? We have clubs to go to, teachers to see. Most people dont have time to camp out for 40 minutes for a hamburger. This mismanagement line organization has only one exception: the line on the right, titled Hot Food. This is laughable because they serve NO FOOD. It was closed last year; the explanation given was because of rude people. If administration thinks rude people are going to stop being rude, I can assure them that its not working. If anything, they are even ruder because there are fewer lines for more people. But Robert, dont they have anyone to slow down the chaos? They sort of do... security is in the cafeteria, but they just stand at each line, relaxed, arms folded. The mad scramble for food outside is of no concern to them. So after waiting 35-40 minutes for that steak and cheese sub, you get to the front and they tell you there are no more. This happens all the time, and it begs the question: why not buy more? I am sure the servers would not lose money, as there are always people looking for more fries or cheese dippers. I write this urging administration to either: 1. Open all the lines to promote efficiency, or 2. Give Blake open lunch to reduce congestion in the cafeteria. Before you tell me to take a bagged lunch to school, I encourage you to try my moms tuna sandwich (the FDA is still investigating the tuna).

B6

Decemer 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

Students recognize fads that stand test of time, stronger than ever
Chucks, Beatles, SNL still rage after decades of recognition, prominence
by Kristen Frese x & Nicole Sterling
With the new year approaching, we all like to find the things that are In and those things that were SO 2011 (See B3). But as we put together this list, we couldnt help but notice that there are some trends that just never lost popularity. Lets start it off with our favorite drink: Coca Cola. Nothing can get as timeless as this; its in every vending machine, every restaurant, and has even spun off a series of flavored Coca Cola drinks, such Coca Cola Zero, Coca Cola Cherry and Coca Cola Vanilla. The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, thrilled us all with every song he released. Although he passed away, his music is still very much alive. Dances like the Dougie and the Cupid Shuffle may be Youtube hits for a while, but no dance will ever exceed the fame of Thriller. Even our own Poms squad performs this hit every year on Halloween. And lets not forget The Beatles. Do we even need to talk about how theyre timeless? Theyve been proven to be one of the most successful bands in music history and their songs will forever live on. After their albums were added to iTunes in recent years, their popularity has soared once again. Now lets move on to fashion- Levi jeans, anyone? You probably have at least one pair in your dresser and the vintage styles from the 1930s are now even more in than a brand new pair of Hollister jeans. Grease by itself is a movie well never stop loving, but its the shoes that Danny wore that will truly never stop being stylish. Chuck Taylors, by Converse, can be found in any teenagers closet, regardless of gender. Though they all started out black and white, they now range in different patterns and colors. Created in 1917, your grandparents might even own a pair. The standard for appearances changes every year. One year girls should be curvy and voluptuous, the next year thin is the only way to look. But girls can always turn to their little black dress to make sure theyre stylish. When full figures are in, these tight black dresses can accentuate curves. When being skinny is back in, black dresses help girls look slim. In terms of TV shows, it seems there is a new series coming out every month. When a new show gains popularity, another show ends and is quickly forgotten. But Saturday Night Live (SNL) has been on for over 25 years and still keeps us up until 1am watching. This is one show where a new cast doesnt hinder the quality of the show. So, while throwing out your Blackberry and Vans to keep up with the latest 2012 trends, dont forget to stop and remember these timeless classics.

We couldnt help but notice that there are some trends that just never lose popularity.

Happily ever after: more of a fantasy than it seems


x by Hayley Fixler
Cue the heavy rainstorm, the dramatic music and star-crossed lovers confessing their passionate affection for one another, and youve got yourself a romantic movie scene that captivates us all. Weve all seen romantic movies that make us sigh with envy and hope, that one day our own prince will come. But are these movies really helping us by providing us an escape from reality and hope for the future? Or do they give us a false sense of romance and relationships? From an early age, Disney has drilled into our brains that love will prevail; that some perfect guy will come to rescue you, sweep you off your feet and carry you (with those amazingly toned arm muscles) to his castle. As we grow older, we learn that not everyone can become royalty and that fairy godmothers arent real. However we still cling to the notion that the perfect love and the perfect fairy tale romance still exists. Im not a cynic. I believe in true love, and appreciate romantic comedies and tear-jerkers like any other

The Blake Beat

December 16, 2011

B7

Movies create Prince Charming persona that are not authentic


17-year-old girl. But while watching The Notebook (for the 20th time) with some friends a couple weeks ago, I realized that no matter how hard I look, I will never have a Noah Calhoun. And for that matter, there will never be a Landon Carter from A Walk To Remember or Titanics Jack Dawson or any other perfect guy who devotes himself to the girl he becomes infatuated with. This is not to say that guys like that dont exist Im sure some do. But they are the exception, not the rule. Movies have created this fantasy; this flawless image of a perfect boyfriend, fiance or husband that the real male race cant possibly fully live up to. As a result, females have become picky, over-analyzing each prospect and finding the flaws in every one of them. So while we all love romantic movies, its important to realize that that kind of love is not real. Love is real, but the image that we have when we close our eyes and envision our future lover isnt. Its imperative to take a step back and be thankful for all the wonderful guys out there that arent Hollywoods Prince Charming, but rather our own special prince.

Storybook fairy tales join to create new happily ever after


Once Upon A Time, others emerge as fresh twists on classics
Once upon a time in a land far, far away...well, you know the rest. Or do you? Recently, the classic fairytales that we all know and love have come back into our lives with unexpected twists. This year alone, two new shows based on fairytales, Once Upon a Time and Grimm, as well as two movies, Beastly and Red Riding Hood, were created. And lets not forget last years Tangled and Alice in Wonderland, which are undoubtedly new classics. I am personally addicted to Once Upon a Time, which centers on a little town in Maine where fairytale characters are unaware of their real identities, for the wicked queen has cursed them to live in an alternate world our world. And Im not ashamed to admit that I know all the words to the Tangled soundtrack and own the DVD. Sometimes, however, these new spins on old classics spin out of control. Producers and directors try-

x by Niki Byrd

ing to improve fairytales often push the envelope a little too far, creating a dark and morphed version of the original. For instance, in Red Riding Hood, instead of a little girl going to grandmas house, Amanda Seyfried is offered as a sacrifice to a werewolf and is caught in a love triangle. This is just the beginning. Word has already spread that two new versions of Snow White are in process, as well as a new Hansel and Gretel and a new Sleeping Beauty. But why the sudden return to fairytales? I think fairytales are a source of common ground for everyone. We all know them, and whether we deny it or not we all have a soft spot for a happily ever after I know I do. Fairytales never get old, and I will continue to come back to my ancient VCR to watch Cinderella. And thats why these new versions are such a success. Despite the new, modern, and sometimes dark twists (which are occasionally overdone) they still remind us of when we were children, and that never gets old.

Taylor Swift still reaps benefits from notorious Kanye West VMA incident
x by David Hylton

Pop country artist triumphs at award shows due to American sympathy vote
Taylor Swift is an amazing artist, but what has she done that makes her so special? All she does is write songs calling out the things her exs have done wrong (side note: if every song is about a different guy, maybe you are the problem), whine on stage (no, not sing, but whine) and try to win hearts over by acting like a 17 year old girl (I swear, shes been 17 for five years now). So why is she winning all of these awards? Because people still feel bad for her due to the MTV 2009 Video Music Awards incident in which Kanye West interrupted her acceptance speech, receiving Americas sympathy; but do we need to continue to harp on it? Its been two years now. I feel as though people make it sure that she wins whatever awards she is nominated for in order to cancel out her horrible experience. For example, Billboard

Yo Taylor, Im really happy for youIll let you finish. But Adele had one of the best albums of all time! This is what I wished interrupted Taylor Swift as she accepted her award for Artist of the Year at the 2011 American Music Awards (AMA). The victory of this 22-year-old girl triumphed a woman who has undeniably one of the best voices of all timethe worlds new favorite star: Adele - or an artist who made history this year (Katy Perry tied Michael Jacksons record for most number one singles from one album), is an absolute conspiracy. First off, can anyone think of any major hits Swift had this year? Hello? (Crickets chirping) Oh right, she hasnt. People like to think that

named Taylor Swift Woman of the Year for 2011really? Yeah, it completely makes sense to ignore Katy Perry who became the first woman ever to score five number ones off of one album, I mean thats not a big deal or anything. Its not like Taylor Swifts Speak Now album sold millions less than Adeles 21 album even though it has been out longer, I mean pshh who cares about that? When it comes down to it, Taylor Swift, although some may disagree, is just a come and go artist, as I like to call it. When she releases new material, people go crazy about it for a week or two, until they realize shes just written the same vengeful or heartbroken lyrics just to a different tune over and over again. Does this type of artist really deserve the same awards that have been given to the legendary Beyonc? MmmI dont think so.

Selfish wannabes pull incredible stunts to get fifteen minutes of fame


x by Emily Eaglin
These days, you can be a reality star by doing just about anything: from getting pregnant at 16 to getting drunk and partying your pants off to airing all 19 of your children for the world to see. Only two Bachelor couples have actually had a happily ever after. Fame and scandals have torn apart the majority of the couples including the most recent bachelorette Ashley Herbert and her beau J.P. These shows cause viewers to think there are a group of young and attractive people out there who would fight for them, but how real can a reality show centered on finding your soul mate be? And then there are families like the Kardashians. They are frequently referred to as Americas favorite family but what have they actually done? They do not deserve to be famous just because they have good genes and a daughter with a sex tape. And now we have to question if Kim was really desperate to get married just for the fame. The reality show Real World portrays people doing stupid things like getting disgustingly drunk and hooking up with strangers. The people on this show degrade themselves just for the fame and fortune of being on TV. It seems that people have no limit as to what theyll do for attention, but there is nothing real about creating fake relationships for a few extra bucks. Im not bashing all reality TV. In fact, lots of the reality TV shows that we have to select from are as close to real as

Attention seekers lack talent on reality TV shows, frustate junior


a reality show can get; and they actually serve a purpose. The cast of The Buried Life, the documenters of True Life, and Andrew Jenks show World of Jenks all remind us that reality shows dont have to be trashy. Ace of Cakes and DC Cupcake (both close to home) are also prime examples of how everyday professions just like catering can turn into something entertaining and huge. Instead of watching all these scripted and bogus shows, live your life and make your own reality.

The Blake Beat

December 16, 2011

B8

The James Hubert Blake administration, faculty & staff congratulate these students on making 1st Quarter Honor Roll
9th GRADE Barnabas Afley Sarah Ajih Oritsetsolaye Ayuka Troy Alexander Andrea Andrade Princess Anyaibe Tiffany Azenon Dyniyah Beaudouin Sage Bennett Zachary Berry Nathan Bonsu Taylor Boone Bronson Boyd John Bunke Kate Campbell Elana Carr Alexis Carter Joshua Chaimson Chun Chan Keith Chen Richelle Claytor Alison Comer Aaron Cooke Erika Cornejo Katherine Delaney Margaret Delaney Zana Dempsie Brian Dicken Vinson Do Kieran Dollemore Buffee Dorsey Logan Dreher Kira Dunlap Maya Eaglin Kathleen Edquiban Olivia English Bronwyn Evans EMILY EVANS NAOMI FESSEHA Juan Fisher Nailah Fisher KHALIA FLORES-MADISON Gabriella Garcia-Ruiz Brook Gil Malcolm Gilbert DANIEL GOLDBERG Ariel Gomez Tenay Graham Alyssia Graves Elizabeth Gross Andrea Guirola Melissa Guzman BENJAMIN HALEY ELANA HARRIS Zoe Hatzes Markel Hawkins Sophie Hayman Frank Hedgepeth Jordan Holbrook Jina Huleis Jolin Huleis Courtney Hutchinson Ashley Jackson Orlando James Jr. Brandon Johnson Grace Johnson Cameron Jones Colleen Kalkofen LEVKO KARMAZYN Dina Khadder Samuel King NIKOS KOUFOS FILIP LAESTADIUS Jaleel Larkins Mark Lee Keenan Lo Amanda Long Samantha Lowenthal Samantha Luckert Michelle Markward Chloe Martin Poteet Nijaee Mathis-Butler Wyatt McInturff Ashley McLaughlin Janelle McLaughlin Jordan McLean Summer Meile Naila Mendonca Mariatou Mendy Stephen Michur Allysa Mulrain Melissa Mulrain Kate Murphy Olivia Ndebumadu Jamal Nganga Anh-Thu Nguyen Tyler Nine Madeleine Noonan-Shueh Christopher Nugent MAX OGRADY Adedamola Orimolade Emily Park Cameron Payton Camila Penaloza Keyri Perez-Roque Adassa Phillips Thomas Plihal Leon Polyzos Avery Potts Taanya Puthran Jenna Ramirez Lexxus Ransom Amber Reese Bryson Reyes Marygrace Reyes Shianne Richardson Taylor Riddick Leslie Rodriguez Francesca Sabelhaus Martha Sam Kyla Schweber Adrian Sebion Gerardo Serrano Jr. Stacy Shin COLLEEN SIMMONS Emerson Sirk Ian Smith Charles Spaid Kimberly Specht Samantha Steel Sydney Steel Nicholas Steffes William Taggart Maika Taguchi Renee Treacy Datena Trinh Isaac Umar Alice Umoh Natalia Ventura Chensley Villasson Jacqueline Villatoro Keri Walker Darien Waters Deborah Waters JORDAN WEBER Chloe Wehling Ebony Wolfe Sydney Wolk JOAN WOOD Leon Yeung 10th GRADE Alexis Afamefune CLAUDIA ALARCO Stephania Andino-Escobar Abigia Arage MARY ARONNE HUNTER BALOG Edward Bamfo Tiffany Barrett Nicole Barriga Zachary Bartlett Sean Bartley Gregory Bell JULIA BELL Adam Beuttler Grayson Boone Sarah Bridegum TORIE BROER Asha Brown Niara Brown SILVIA BUGLIO KEVIN BUI Kimberly Callahan Jewel Campbell Tayahd Campbell Devin Cannon Sherry-Mae Canoy Jasmine Carter MICHELLE CARTER Justin Chan Samantha Chau Chukwujindu Chiazor Shoshanna Chito ANN CIRINCIONE Bryan Citrenbaum Matthew Clanton Casey Clark Kaelyn Clark Myles Clark Jay Cleofe Kaylah Cooper Rene Cordon Alison Coyne Alexis Crispin RILEY CRUICKSHANK Gabrielle Cudjoe Dario De Los Santos Yancy Del Cid Yodit Denu Kaylie Deshler Natalie Domaas Miles Douglas Ashley Escobar Jahmilla Fisher JASON FLEISCHER Morgan Fletcher Xavier Fox Emma Friedman MAIA GADSDEN Kimia Gaines Shawn Gamarra Jason Glantz REBECCA GLATT Tavares Glover Leah Goldberg Betsy Gomez Andy Gonzales Patrick Griffin Sandra Guevara Alexandra Hadyka LILLIAN HALLMARK Bethany Hamson ASHA HENLEY Rebecca Hill Kirsten Hines Cathleen Ho Thao Hoang George Hyde Jacqueline Hyman Hyla Jacobson Ashley Johnson Gabrielle Jones Madeline Kalen Dong Kang Daniel Keller Eunseo Kim Amanda King Sophia Klein Jocelyn Ko Alana Kominski Mina Konaka Emily Kong John Kos Alexandra Krakaur Clauton Kum Zachary Kushner Meyer Lahat Cassie Le Gracia Le Jamie Lee THEODORA LEMBEROS Nicole Lertora Christina Lim Faubricio Lopez Laura Lopez DUNCHADHN LYONS Mahdi Malik Oscar Mariscal Kevonn Martin THEODORA MARTIN Kristina McKenna Logan McMurray Tatyanna Mitler Angela Mix Mary Molloy Nyah Muhammad Diego Munoz Jamie Nathlar Radelle Ndi Brigit Ngaleu Kevin Nguyen VAN NHAN NGUYEN Danielle Norris DAPHNE OGRADY Demonte Ojinnaka Chukwunonso Okonkwo Kimberly Ann Omar Emmanuel Oppong Maryam Outlaw Melanie Outtarac Nicholas Park Matthew Parsons Estefania Perez Victor Phimphachanh Sheyla Pintado Samuel Preza Meghan Proctor Julieta Quiroga JEREMY RADOV Diarra Radway Maiah Richards Tiara Royal Matthew Russell Kara Savercool Ada Seye Ashley Sheibaniagdam Larson Shilling Brett Silverman MARGARET SIMPSON Joel Sorto Thomas Stanton David Steele Noah Sturdivant Safra Tadesse Nina Tan Caroline Tatnall Melinda Tchokogoue Dianne Techwei Jonathan Tober Kelsy Turner Karley Valdes Stephanie Van Albert Heather Veli Gerson Villanueva Tan Vo Robert Walker Capria Williams Tanner Williams Amielia Wilson Victoria Wolsh Dashawn Woody CAROLYN WORDEN Kevin Wright Samantha Wright Fatou Yatassaye FELICIA YAU Michelle Yeung Joseph Young Bayron Zepeda 11th GRADE MOHAMMED ABBAS Aiman Abdelmouti Phrasaengd Adhatamsoontra Nora Adjah-Provencal Kwame Asante Kristina August Nader Ayoub Angela Bair INDIA BANKS JENNA BEERS John Beers Madeleine Benjoar KATHERINE BLACKFORD Paul Bourelly Lillian Bradley Cole Bradshaw Carla Brizuela Graylyn Broadnax Michelle Brooks Lilet Broomes Michael Brown Madison Bruffy Toure Burgess Thais Calderon Megan Cameron Cory Camp Devora Castillo Rebeca Cedillo GREGORY CHAIMSON Ryan Chang Maurya Chaurasia Kevin Cheung Deanna Chirigos Ryan Choe Hoyoung Choi Peter Chu Reyna Claytor Nicholas Colburn Lindsey Comer Andrew Conchas Miya Cook Nicholas Corsillo Cory Covington LYDIA CURDTS PRIYA DADLANI BRANDON DAVIS Nicholas Davis Aliya Dean Brandon Deane Jeenaba Deme Julia Dennis Alison Dionne Albert Djoum Julia Doh McKenzie Dreher Emily Eaglin Darien Ellis Monica Eng Michael Errigo Mauriel Espinoza Jessica Flores Alexus Ford ARYN FRAZIER Connor Horseman Gaffney Megan Gagern Corey Glocker Derek Glocker Daniel Gonzalez Chante Goodger Jamil Gordon ERIC GOTTLIEB Jose Grandados Anjelica Grant Candace Grant PAUL GREGG Emily Greitzer Duncan Grundham Anna Haley DaShawn Hall Brittany Hargrave Charles Harper Antony Harris BRADLEY HARRISON MARVIN HART IV Kellen Healy Vivian Henderson Breon Herbert Azalia Hernandez RACHEL HEWITT Olivia Hubbard Jodeh Huleis Jane Hwang Ryanne Hyatt Samantha Ignacio Justin Ingram Karen Jacob Zachary Johnson Irene Jones Melania Karmazyn Tharana Karzai MANPREET KAUR HAMZA KHAN-TAREEN Barzillai Kim Yoseph Kinfu Rute Kiros Michael Kister Ava Koufos Franchesca Kuhney Cecilia Kwakye Dae Kyu Lee Westin Lee Francisco Lendor Jourdan Lewanda Blaine Lowry Cindy Luu Camile Maddow Krystal Martindale Mayia McKenzie Rosie Meile Marissa Metzger Cianna Miller Richard Miller Yvette Mingia Brandi Murrell Michelle Nguyen Brenna Noone Adefolarin Orimolade Andrea Ortiz Olivia Park Jennifer Perez Heidi Petersen Kevin Pharaon Mariuxi Pintado Jared Puwalski Vijay Raju PRADIP RAMAMURTI Timothy Ramey Karelin Ramirez Rosa Reyes Ryan Reynolds Christine Ricciardi Christopher Richard Patrick Richard Lara Richli Andrew Riedel Aldo Rivera Anika Rumph Estefan Santos Rebecca Schwartz Katia Segura Min Shim Stefan Sigwalt Sandra Simmons Samantha Sinanan Janelle Smart Laura Smethurst Rebecca Smith Danielle Snowden Joo Yeoung Song Anna Steinfeld Nicole Sterling Sarah Sterling Julia Stewart Kelly Stock Suriya Subha Rao JANINE TAIRA Lucas Tax EMILY TCHAI Emily Tempchin Valdes Tita Lena Traore Sopheak Ung Calvin Vasquez Estefania Velez Denise Venero Natasha Virjee Wanjiru Waithaka Russell Wanke CAROLINE WANNEN Lillian Watkins Deneen Watson Matthew Weiss Chris-Ann Whitehead Natalie Wiggins Kionna Wiley Bryan Wilkerson Deasia Winslow Cassandra Wolsh Karissa Wong RACHEL WOO Hannah Wynne Rebecca Yim 12th GRADE Cody Acker Kimberly Adam Francisca Agbodzah Nicole Alexander DERICK ANSAH Henry Aparicio Isaac Appel Erika Arancibia Mohammad Ashrafi Mamadou Bah Brian Battaglia SARON BIREDA Danielle Blocker Stephen Bonhag Brittany Bradley Daryl Brooks Jordan Brooks Christina Buckley ANTHONY BUI Katya Buresh Elizabeth Butler Nicole Byrd Javian Caceres Alexa Calderon Edwin Callender Carolina Camacho Bria Campbell Selena Castillo Estevan Castro Man Chan Joshua Chang Deja Charles Victor Chau Joal Chen Charles Cheng Mark Cirincione Molly Cohen Cameron Constantine Charles Conteh Dashae Cooper Nero Cooper III Courtney Cristaldi Bethany Crump Giancarlo Curzi PHUC VU DANG Ryan Deane Angelo Dibiasi Savannah Doane-Malotte Christian Domaas Moortala Drammeh Alexis Earley Johnyie Edwards Sara Elalami Faith Ely Antonio Escoto Maricana Esteves Kathryn Evans Matthew Evans MARY FERNANDES Anthony Fischetti Hayley Fixler Angelique Fleming Jennifer Flores LANE FYLNN Manyi Foncham Angelica Fortunak LINUS FRANCIS Amanda Freeman KRISTEN FRESE Kathryn Fuchs Reina Fuentes Matthew Gagern Neva Gakavian Valentina Garcia Jacob Gill Hayley Glantz Shawn Glisson Catherin Gonzalez-Mata Jake Sloth Gordon Mathew Grady Ramanda Graham Bridget Gratton Charles Gross Wossen Hadero SARAH HAGAN Kimberly Hanson Lucy Harrelson Jack Hawvermale Nana Hayford Amy Heim Heather Heim Jamaal Hopkins Tyasia Hutchinson David Hylton LUCAS IRVIN Amina Irving Bruce Jackman Dorienne Jackson Rachel Jaffe Malcolm Jenkins Christian Jeong Devon Johnson Michael Joiner Thayzel Jones ASHLEY JUDAH Rebecca Kalinich Sandra Kindete Cross Klemko ROBERT KORYCINSKI KEVIN LAM Melina Latona ZOEY LEE Adele Leishman IRENE LEMBEROS Peyton Leonard Samantha Levitt Chelsea Lewis SARAH LIPKOWITZ MATTHEW LIPSHULTZ Eugene Litman COLLEEN LIVINGSTONE Dontava Lodenquai Jenny Lon Zachary Long Monika Looney JULIE LOPATKA Brianna Lopez Daniel Louloudes Stephanie Luk Kayla Mack Huma Mahmood Ricardo Mancia Leslie Mata Meredith Mathis Travon McMillian KYLE MCARTHUR Courtney McKenna Melissa McNabb Charis McNamara Jeramiah Medina Matthew Mehallick MacKenzie Meyer Tara Mitchell Danielle Moore Alexander Morales Juan Moscoso Marcus Murray Mihir Nakrani Michala Nathlar Vanessa Newman Victor Nicholson Tayler Nine Nnamdi Odoazu Damilola Oluremi Alexis Page Alexandra Paintsil Lauren Paniati Seong Hwan Park Jonathan Parks Leah Patterson Susana Pena Antonella Perez Ferrero Jessica Perla Mandy Pham Grace Plihal Sarah Prather Matthew Present Zachary Radov Erica Ragland Andrea Ramirez Tai Ramsey Maurice Rankins III Lenasia Ransom Shardae Rawlins Kevin Reedy Alexandra Reeves BROOKE REHMAN Elizabeth Ann Reyes Magnus Richards Samuel Rivera Jahmila Roberts Ryan Romig Traceyan Rosel GHULAM SALLMAN Amanda Salmon Alison Scher Brianna Scott Jamila Seasay Emma Shannon Kyle Shaw Andrew Simmons EMILY SIMMONS Jehwo Sims Danielle Smith Bilguissa Sow Taneigha Swingler Nicholas Tatnall Kara Thompson Maiha Thompson Kimberly Torchenot Emily Touch Emma Towriss Kimberly Toxie Savannah Tryens-Fernand Samara Tu Taylor Turner Jean-Claude Tzeuton Joann Valentin Karen Vanegas Lynne Virgil Phabiene Volcimus Antonio Wade II Jonathan Wahler Cadijah Walcott Cheyenne Walker Denise Walker Yasmin Wamala Erica Wang Zhichen Wang BRANDON WEBER JEFFREY WELDER REBECCA WELLMAN Melissa Whitaker KIELAN WILCOMB Jenna Williams Larisha Winley LEISHA WINLEY Ellen Wood RHEA WYSE Grace Yoo Kevin Zelaya

Names in all caps indicate Straight As

Online dangers cause students to think twice about posting information, p. C4-C5

Barnett feels motivated to raise her toddler while attending college


xby David Hylton & Rachel Jaffe
Health classes all over the nation show statistics that stress how teen pregnancy can be a difficult and overall detrimental situation for those who are affected by it. Class of 2010 alumna Natalie Barnett, however, has been able to find light with her junior year pregnancy and how it has changed her life. When Barnett found out that she was pregnant in October of her junior year, her life took a turn that she believes was for the better. She says, I feel like such a better personthe joys of having my daughter outweighs any of the chaotic moments [I] have had. Surprisingly and proudly, Barnett does not get offended when people say that teenage pregnancies are mistakes. She agrees that the pregnancy itself may be a mistake, but the baby should be viewed separately. Babies are a blessing no matter the circumstance, she says. They are innocent and have no idea about the situation, so its unfair to say anything bad about them. While Barnett has dealt incredibly well in balancing her college education and motherhood, there were many difficulties that she faced because of her pregnancy in high school. It was hard telling my family, she recalls. The worst feeling in the world is feeling like you disappointed the people you love. Despite her familys initial reaction, they ended up being very supportive and encouraged Barnett to keep her baby.

Blake 2010 alumna overcomes teen pregnancy obstacles

Section C

James Hubert Blake High School

December 16, 2011

Babies are a blessing no matter the circumstance. They are innocent and and have no idea about the situation.
Natalie Barnett
With the support of her friends and teachers, Barnett says that the Blake community was very supportive of her pregnancy. She did find it necessary, however, to be homeschooled for the second half of her junior year due to the physical discomfort her pregnancy brought. Currently, Barnett commutes to college classes in order to pursue her dreams while living at home with her mom and her daughter, Keira. I will never forget the day I was told that I wouldnt do anything with my life and that I was just going to become another statistic, says Barnett. Keira is my motivation to keep all things possible in my reach. I dont doubt myself or my abilities to have a good job and [to] be able to support myself and Keira because I know I can do it.

Non-exclusive Bengals cannot commit, would rather hit and quit


by Larisha Winley x & Leisha Winley
Forget candlelit dinners and late nights snuggling on the couch. Nowadays, Bengals hit it and quit it without as much as a hello. Non-exclusive dating. Past the point of talking, but still no titles. The new-age way of having a relationship. Some people like being in a committed relationship, and maybe that works for them, says junior Monica Webb*. But high school relationships dont last. I dont see the point of putting myself out there and being exclusive with someone if were most likely not going to last. Many students have found that having a non-exclusive relationship lessens the stress that is usually present in committed relationships. Im a senior in high school and

New epidemic hits Blake, curious students choose to swim their way through dating pool, remain single
theres no point in starting a relationship when Im leaving for college in a couple months, says senior Walter Jacobs*. Other reasons students have chosen to be in non-exclusive relationships are, avoiding the break up and any emotional damage an exclusive relationship may cause, not being tied down but still being able to do the relationship stuff. Dating has simply become getting to know someone without a commitment. Not all people can be in a nonexclusive relationship, warns Jacobs who names jealousy as the biggest problem with non-exclusive dating. Senior Josh Chang believes nonexclusive relationships go against the very nature of relationships, which Chang defines as a commitment between two people. Non-exclusive dating kills love that is so integral to relationships, says Chang. [It] breaks trust bonds and [increases] jealousy issues. Senior Amanie Musa views nonexclusive dating as unstable, adding, it allows for an uncommitted relationship and

doesnt teach people about the responsibilities of being in a true relationship. While some students see many benefits in having a non-exclusive relationship, others see it as beneficial for only one partner. Non-exclusive dating is basically friends with benefits, says junior Debbie Corn*. Its just a way for guys to use girls. However, these relationships can take a turn for the worse when one of the participants wants to make things official. Webb is currently dealing with the downside of her non-exclusive relationship. I wish I could say we were on the same page but he wants something more serious; and maybe were working towards that by just dating, but for now I hope [hes okay with] being relaxed. *Names have been changed

Hydrating tutorial promises results, uses organic products


by Priya Dadlani x & Jane Hwang
Tis the season to be jolly, but not to have dry, cracked lips. With the first winter snow fall and cold winter days come dehydrated, chapped skin. There are all different types of lip balms you can invest in, but nothing compares to the occasional exfoliating of lips. Instead of buying a pricey brand name exfoliant that contains unnatural ingredients, making your own organic exfoliant is easy and fun to do. All you need to create your exfoliant is honey, sugar and Vaseline. First pour a tablespoon of honey into a small bowl, and then add two teaspoons of sugar. Afterward add a dime sized amount of Vaseline into your mixture. Mix the ingredients together so it looks like a grainy paste. For the best results, dab your lips with a wet, hot towel for around 5-10 minutes as this will help to strip away dead skin cells during exfoliation. Using your fingers, apply the paste on to your lips, gently scrub, reaching all parts of your lips. Gently rub for about one minute, and then just wash off the excess scrub. This will leave your lips feeling healthier and smoother. Sophomore Gabby Jones says, I would love to try this method because the ingredients can be found around the house and it is 100% natural. If you dont own these ingredients they can be easily purchased at the grocery store. If youre allergic to any of these products, you can substitute them with any product with a similar texture. Chapped lips are unattractive on everyone, not just girls. Guys should take care of their skin just as much. I hate having dry lips; its so annoying and unpleasant to look at, says junior Ryan Choe. The typical methods of lip moisturizing are chapsticks and lip balms, but sometimes those products just dont cut it and do not remove the dead skin cells Junior Estefania Velez adds, In the winter, the dryness of the air causes not just my lips to dry out, but my skin too.

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December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

Bengals bring style behind hot wheels

Juniors, seniors ride without restrictions, experience freedom


x by Dorian Purse & Michelle Ung
Remember dreaming of the car you would ride when you got older? Our fantasy cars were our tickets to freedom and adventure. Some Bengals ride their dream cars as their everyday transportation, making others envious. I dont miss riding the bus because I hated waiting for [it] and it was crowded, says senior Kevin Wang. I get more privacy [with my car]. Wang has been driving a 2012 Ford Mustang since September, but he started driving to school since last year. Wang drives to work, friends houses, the mall and anywhere else he needs to. I feel like with my own car I can go anywhere without any restrictions. I dont feel confined to my neighborhood, adds Wang. Senior Paris Broadus has been driving her BMW X5 since the summer of 2011. Broadus has not ridden the bus since 6th grade because her mother would give her rides to school. I have a lot of freedom with having my own car. I can be out and not have to worry about being home

I feel like with my own car I can go anywhere without any restrictions.
Kevin Wang
so someone else can use it, says Broadus. Getting my car wasnt really a reward but more of a convenience for my mom, says junior Emily Tempchin, who drives both her brothers to their practices and herself to dance practices which are about the only places that she drives. Tempchin drives an Acura RDX that she has had for almost three months. Tempchin has been able to drive legally with her license for five months. Her biggest fear about parking in the student parking lot is her car getting scratched up. Broadus has a hard time saying no to friends who ask for rides. A lot of people do ask for rides, mostly because they know I have a car, says Broadus. Similar to Broadus, Wang is generous with the rides that he gives out. He drives friends who do not have cars or people who have an emergency. Adds Wang, I dont charge gas money unless its really far because I feel its rude because friends are suppose to help each other out, not be stubborn over a small favor [like driving somewhere].

From top to bottom: senior Kevin Wang proudly exhibits his Mustang, junior Emily Tempchin poses next to her Acura and seniors (from left to right) Valentina

Garcia, Julian Carr, and Edwin Rodriguez pose on Paris Broadus (not pictured) BMW X5. -- photos by Tram Truong

The Blake Beat


by Molly Cohen x & Samara Tu
BREAKING NEWS: the Scrabble game that your parents once bugged you to play on family game night just became a new online trend. Words with Friends allows students to battle it out with their vocabulary to score as many points as possible. Players are given more than 24 hours in between turns to make a move and, just like Scrabble, they take turns forming words horizontally and vertically. I grew up playing Scrabble so I like these word games, says senior Tai Ramsey. Its fun to play [against] your friends and to beat them. Its a new mobile twist to the traditional family game. Available to play on Android, Facebook, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, Words with Friends connects friends at any time of day. As a result, students find themselves checking their phone often to see whos made a move on the board. Adds Ramsey, Its really cool how [the game] is connected to Facebook. It makes it a lot easier to find people to play. While the game is slightly different from Scrabble, students have found the game addicting. Adds senior Doug Steinman, I find [the game to be] very distracting especially when youre in the middle of a texting conversation and find yourself more focused on a game of scrabble.

December 16, 2011

C3
Words with Friends uses words from the Enhanced North American Benchmark Lexicon (ENABLE), a list used by many word games. Even though students use words that they know for the game, they often find themselves making up words to see if its acceptable or not. At times the game can get competitive. Some players go as far as cheating by taking a screenshot of their board to look up words that fit the existing letters and spaces. This is how you know the game is serious: when people get this defensive, says senior Gloria Henriquez. Even though it may be a good game for some students, players have recommended some improvements to Words with Friends. Senior Nick Tatnall would like a check button so the player will know if their answer is correct before it is submitted. As for others, Ramsey suggests the addition of a hint button to recommend words to the player. Although some students play the game for fun, it has its benefits as well. It allows players to connect with friends wherever they are and gives students a place to use their newfound SAT words. Senior Erica Ragland adds, It helps you learn some new words and it makes learning fun.

Sparknotes, Schmoop keep students from acquiring passion for reading


by Emily Caulfied x & Hannah Kenney
With family dinners, afterschool activities and AP classes, Sparknotes and a newer reading resource site, Schmoop, take some of the strain of everyday stresses off of students. A popular subject that varies from student to student is which internet sites have the most accurate and helpful information on chapter summaries, as well as book analyses, meaningful quotes and theme statements. Senior Marsha Mathers* says, The themes and significant quotes are really helpful in comparing my thoughts to those of others, and help me form stronger opinions and understandings of the book. Schmoop seems to be unfamiliar to most students compared to the more popular resource sites such as Sparknotes and Pink Monkey. The book summaries have been found to have very accurate and precise detail as far as book summaries go. Says sophomore Tiffany Smith*, Even though Schmoop doesnt have an analysis, the summaries are ten times better and easier to understand, allowing you to develop your own analysis. However, sophomore Marty Millsboro* disagrees about Schmoops efficiency. The only reason I use a summary resource sites is to get a quick understanding and analysis, says Millsboro. Schmoop has a good summary but no analysis therefore making me do more work than I want. Also a fan of Sparknotes, junior Brian Ketchum* says, Being in AP Language, I have a lot of trouble analyzing Shakespeares text because the language is confusing, but Sparknotes No Fear Shakespeare section helps me out a lot. No Fear Shakespeare has back-to-back Shakespearian literature from the Elizabethan era translated into modern context. Like Sparknotes, Schmoop also offers unique educational features like photos for visual learners and practice quizzes. Senior Perry Huffington* is team Sparknotes but still believes that Schmoop has more variety in the resources it offers. After I read the analysis off of Sparknotes, I take a few practices quizzes on Shmoop just to test what I learned, says Huffington. Schmoop also offers more features not relating to book summaries like SAT and ACT preparation, college 101, AP exams, flashcards and several different sections dedicated to subjects like music, economics, biology and algebra. Senior Murphey Buddsworth* says, When combining Schmoop and Sparknotes, it is a great way to know the book without reading it, but the best option is to read the [book].

[These sites] are a great way to know the book without reading it, but the best option is to read the book. Murphey Buddsworth*

Digital Graphic Artists Wanted


If you are a freshman, sophomore or junior and have talent in the digital arts, the Blake Beat wants to talk to YOU! Send five examples from your digital portfolio to adviser Kevin Keegan at Kevin_N_Keegan@mcpsmd.org.

Attention all witch, wizard, goblin and ghoul lovers...

C6

December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

Fantasy book club welcomes readers of the magical sort to share their literary experiences
Blake Reads Fantasy Book Club displays some of their favorite imaginative books. Top row: media specialist Susie Treat, sophomore Kirsten Hines, seniors Emily Dollemore and Kealea Foy and junior Ryan Reynolds; middle row: juniors Catherine Wingate and Cecilia Kwakye and sophomore Riley Cruickshank; bottom row: sophomore Catherine Wingate and junior Michael Cheang. -- photos by media assistant Janet Smith. enjoy reading a variety of books in different genres, says Mrs. Treat, rather than discussing one particular book in depth we read thematically. Mrs. Treat explains that the book club reads books by themes to focus on what students liked or disliked about the book as well as to compare how the book goes under the genre that it is placed in. Even though the book club is organized in this way, there is lots of room within those parameters for students to select something they will enjoy. If a student does not want to read the same book as the book club, he or she is free to choose their own and suggest it to the rest of the club. Reading is the portal that opens up new worlds, says sophomore Riley Cruickshank. Recently, the book club has read best sellers such as Wicked Lovely in 2009, The Hunger Games series in 2010 and the Heir trilogy this year. Students of all ages are united through the book club and find it a great way to make new friends. What is one thing, aside from books, that all the book club members enjoy? The good food, as junior member Ryan Reynolds puts it. Make no mistake, though - all of the members are there for the books. Everything here is a joy to be a part of, says senior Emily Dollemore. The members of the book club encourage all readers to come into the librarys office every other Tuesday, grab some sweets, brace themselves for some fun conversation, open a book and READ.

by Emily Eaglin x & Johnelle Revelle


Intimate discussions about the latest books and authors, a get-together with friends, a catered and delicious lunch and, best of all, media specialist Susie Treat; if this sounds like some good times, then check out one of the Blake Reads book clubs. Blake has two different book clubs: Blake Reads and Blake Reads Fantasy Book Club. Because of the high demand for fantasy book discussion from Bengal bookworms, our school has added a new fantasy branch. All fairy, witch, warlock, vampire and troll lovers are welcome to join. Many students see the librarys club

as a relaxing break in their school day. Its the best way to unwind during school, says sophomore Kirsten Hines. In a time where books and stories have been replaced by a virtual world of entertainment, many believe that joining a book club is just what some students need to not only improve their learning experience, but also to enhance their knowledge. Its better to cuddle up with a book than to be cuddled with a game controller and blow up zombies, says junior Yadira Aguilar. Some students feel limited by their English class where they are assigned books so they join book clubs that allow them to choose their next read. Mrs. Treat created these book clubs to unite Bengal readers three years ago. We

x by Robert Krakaur & Andrew Markowitz


Weve all seen it while walking down G hallway: a glimpse of the light from the swinging nunchucks of junior Kyle Mangels. You cant help but wonder what that kids up to. What Mangles does is called poi, and he became hooked to the hobby by his friends. They came into my house with a poi and I was immediately interested, says Mangels. He doesnt do it for competition or performance. I just like to do it when Im walking home or to class, adds Mangels, I actually spin just about anywhere, all the time. Poi is the performance art of swinging tethered weights through a variety of rhythmical and geometric patterns. It originated in New Zealand with the Maori

people and has expanded to other countries. Junior Richard Miller is a close friend of Mangels. He, among a few other friends, has tried swinging once or twice. I picked it up a few weeks ago with one of Kyles practice ones, adds Miller, It was fun; I might like to get into it. But Im nowhere as good as Kyle. Miller is especially attracted to the bright lights and the fast swinging. Says Miller, I [cant help but] stare at the poi when Kyle swings. Its really cool. Mangels is not done adding to his poi collection yet. He has one set, and plans to get another, and maybe another in the future. Id like to buy one that lights up a different color, says Mangels. Most of the guys I know have multiple poi, and I dont want to fall behind. On the website www.homeofpoi.com, the range of prices can be from 15 dollars to 45 dollars.

Animal lovers dress pets in holiday spirit


x by Samara Tu & Melissa Whitaker
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, and Donner and Blitzen, but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? Of course, your dog Max dressed as one of Santas reindeer. For the holidays, students and their families have made sure to include their pets in their family traditions by giving them presents and dressing them up as one of Santas little elves. Along with Christmas gifts every year, senior Francesca Salazar dresses up her two cats, Heidi and Anastasia. I think as long as your pet doesnt feel bothered by [dressing up]then I think its fine, says Salazar. I would never force them if they refused to put on something. I take their feelings into consideration. She plans to buy them elf hats and antlers for the Christmas season. While many students enjoy dressing up their pets, others oppose the idea. Senior Claudia Gomes owns a cat, but does not dress it up for the holidays. Gomes says, I think [people who dress up their pets] are weird. Most animals have fur for a reason so we dont really need to put anything else on them. Senior Kathryn Evans believes that those who spend money to dress up their pets can do what they want as long as its not abuse. However, for her, spending a substantial amount of money on her cat is unnecessary. Evans says, The way I see it some children dont get clothes and Christmas presents, so Id rather spend my money on charity than a sweater for my cat. Although there are students who would not spend money on pet clothes, there are some who would spend money on gifts for their pet. Senior Emily Minter has a stocking for her Pomeranian Cassie that she fills with doggy treats and new toys. We think of Cassie as family, says Minter. She is so close to us in every way. We treat her like family by feeding her people food, and letting her sit on our laps and sleep in our beds and on our couches. Adds Salazar, My pets need as much care as you would give anyone else. I just believe that [my cats] life is worth as much as ours. People might say that theyre just animals but they have personalities and emotions just like you and me.

Senior Emily Minter shows off her holiday spirit along with her Pomeranian Cassie and her

Fashion over finances, looking good comes first for a lot of students
Trendy teens seeking aesthetic allure tend to ignore steep pricetags
By Grace Plihal x & Sarah Mansaray
Polo brand shirt for $35. Air Jordan Concord sneakers for $200. Levis for $50, a snapback hat for $55 and a $140 Northface jacket to top it all off. An outfit for $480 sounds a little ridiculous, but believe it or not, many students today will pay this much or more just to look good and fit in. In a world where everyone has to have the newest, coolest, sleekest new item, its only fitting that clothes are no exception. I buy more expensive clothes because I want people to know that I can afford better, nice things, says senior Jean-Claude Tzeuton. Some of it is peer pressure. Tzeuton began splurging on shoes in middle school. It has become increascash on name brand clothes, shoes and accessories. My outfit totals to about $350, says senior Edwin Callendar, who is wearing sweatpants, a T-shirt and some sneakers on this particular day. senior Janet Jackson. The newest Underarmour brand clothes can sell for hundreds of dollars just because of how highly anticipated they are. Victorias Secret bras can sell for up to $150. Nikes to be released. But for some teenagers, its not all about the brand name. Senior Malachi Broadus, who can be seen proudly representing brands like Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch, says, I shop at expensive stores because their [clothing is] usually better quality. Whether it is to impress someone, to go along with the crowd or to just want to look good, spending a good portion of a paycheck on clothes has become a ritual for teenagers today. I think its [out of control] to spend hundreds of dollars on an outfit, says senior Sara Asomaning.

I buy more expensive clothes because I want people to know that I can afford better, nice things.
Jean-Claude Tzeuton
ingly common for teenagers in America to place extreme importance on the way they look. For some people, this means spending a plethora of Girls also splurge on certain items, especially expensive shoes. Even though [Uggs are] expensive, I am willing to pay for a nice, warm pair, says And its not rare at all to see a mile-long line of adolescent boys in front of a shoe store at strange hours of the night, waiting for the newest

-- p h

Students gather around Mangels as he practices surprising poi skills during lunch

oto by Al lie M a

Junior attracts crowds, lights up hallways with swinging nunchucks

The Blake Beat

December 16, 2011

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us rc

Actual poi is not the only product offered on the website. There are free online lessons, as well as lessons where the pupil goes to a local poi gym, which is very popular in New Zealand. There is a list of 92 poi products and accessories including wands, spinning plates, nylon ropes, and clubs. Next time you see Mangels swinging in the hallways, dont resist going up to him and asking about the art of poi. Says Mangels, I like it when people go up to me and ask me what Im doing. [Its fun when] they give it a try.

stocking in front of the Christmas tree. -- photo by Cecilia Girolami

C8
Joey E = Youre an awesome boyfriend and You Rock!! -----------------------------Join Sign Language Club! -----------------------------Janine Taira is the biggest, baddest, meanest, cooliest mama taco in the galaxy -----------------------------Michelle Ung sucks <3 -----------------------------Kelly <3 Taylor Swift -----------------------------Hello sweetie -----------------------------You are reading this -----------------------------Call mesexy <3 -----------------------------I <3 you. Do you love me? -----------------------------Happy Early B-Day Kelly Stock!!! -----------------------------Happy birthday Michael Joiner <3 -----------------------------What time is it?? #TebowTime -----------------------------Do you have hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia? -----------------------------In Chicago, you cant fish while on a giraffes neck -----------------------------In Marshalltown, Iowa, horses cant eat fire hydrants. In Galveston, Texas, you cant throw trash from an airplane -----------------------------In Florida, it is illegal to sell your children -----------------------------In New York, the punishment for jumping off a building is death -----------------------------If only the Redskins had a quarterback like Michael Bolt -----------------------------How can you tell someones a compulsive liar? I mean, assuming that their pants arent on fire! -----------------------------Dont be exactly of an 11 lb black forest ham! -----------------------------Wheres Perry? -----------------------------Pumpkin spice latte= perfection -----------------------------I dont like frost on my windows -----------------------------Hey whats up I dont like Lucas hes annoying -----------------------------InDesign does not cooperate

December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat


------------------------------I bet you cant do what my owner can do! ------------------------------My name is Booies owner and you know what I got? ------------------------------What do you got!? ------------------------------Youre the one Boo, one Boo, something about them paws that you walk on. Got the body of a Great Dane! ------------------------------I hate Joal Chen! Janine is the best. Love gingy. ------------------------------I love Emily and Emily and wittle cheeseburger and G. ------------------------------Jourdan Lewanda Is friends with the bus driver. His name is Carlos. ------------------------------Dear Sandra, I love you! Bye ------------------------------Tim Tebow is Jesus Christ #TebowTime #TebowNation #Tebowing -------------------------------FREE MATT BIRD! -------------------------------FREE MATT BIRD! -------------------------------FREE MATT BIRD! -------------------------------Come to the Blake Basketball home games! Be loud, be proud, be the 6th man! ------------------------------Dr. Phillips has a greater social life than I do! ------------------------------Good luck to everyone in #GTL in their Mock Congressional hearing today! #Winning ----------------------------------Slothing through the day keeps the doctor away ----------------------------------Shout out all those kids freezing their butts off on Indoor Track. #DEDICATION ----------------------------------Why did Matt Bird get kicked out? ----------------------------------Yo Fairy, you ever heard of second chances? ----------------------------------The reign of Mr. DuBoyce has begun. Dark times are upon us! ----------------------------------The Unclassifieds page is difficult ----------------------------------Why dont you focus your life on some-

UnClassifieds
See any BEAT staffer to buy your Unclassified in our next issue. 70 for the first ten words, 5 for each additional word
-----------------------------Trying not to be frustrated -----------------------------9 days until Christmas! -----------------------------GITL LOVE <3 Nationals bound! -----------------------------Marry me Ms. Powell -----------------------------I want to be Dr. P when I grow up -----------------------------Your feet are gross -----------------------------We sweat 4 gallons a day -----------------------------If you were a booger, Id pick you first -----------------------------There are no stupid questions-just stupid people. -----------------------------Poms! -----------------------------An apple a day, keeps the doctor away -----------------------------But if the doctor is cute - screw fruit -----------------------------12+83=6 -----------------------------Matt Lipshultz is the worst math tutor -Jessica -----------------------------Happy Christhanukwanzaa -----------------------------So youre just gonna let it hang there? -----------------------------Erica likes to get freakayy with her piano -----------------------------Thank you Carolina Camacho, Lillian Hudroge, Becca Schwartz, and the beautiful Cassandra who I just met and gave me 50 cents. Also Leah Patterson, you guys saved me from the corner. -----------------------------Becca Schwartz is an amazing girl who gave me $2 for unclassified ads in the last 10 minutes before school started. Thats how awesome she is. -----------------------------Hello boys and girls -----------------------------The Blake Beat staff is actually amazing and we are all so proud of you guys for working so hard. Youre all the best! -----------------------------I was born in a ditch, sir! Josiah Bounderby -----------------------------Its all a terrible muddle. Stephen Blackpool -----------------------------Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts! Thomas Gradgrind -----------------------------Father, father! Pray dont hurt the creature who is so fond of you! -----------------------------The Thquire thtood by you, Thethilia, and Ill thtand by the Thquire. -----------------------------I will hold thy hand, and keep beside thee, Stephen, all the way. -----------------------------YOU DRANK MY JUICE! ------------------------------I cant wait until Lauren gets her wisdom teeth removed ------------------------------My name is Booie and you know what I got! ------------------------------What do you got!? ------------------------------I got some paws that are hotter than hot! ------------------------------How hot is hot? ------------------------------My F.H. is perfect <3 ------------------------------Walking annnnnnnddd running too! ------------------------------Uh huh uh huh? ------------------------------If your English teacher didnt take you laser tagging youd be mad

Controversial BCS full of matchups of electric players in legendary programs, p. D6

Fasdmen;rit uhnbroiutbnsrtnrtnsrtjsrtj rysrjrstjsfsr

Defense gets Lady Bengals off to impressive 2-1 start


by John Beers & Lucas Irvin
Girls varsity basketball has started the season strong, winning two games by an average of 31 points and holding a record of 2-1. Monday night, the Lady Bengals won in their second shutout of the season, crushing the Wheaton Lady Knights 57-21. Says junior guard Caroline Wannen, It was a solid win for us and we were able to work on important things like finishing on offense. All eligible players scored, with both Wannen and senior forward Alexis Earley finishing with 10 points. Junior forward Fran Inman also added 11 rebounds and junior center Danielle Snowden got eight assists. Says Earley, Once we step out on the court we need to come out with full intensity each and every game. The Lady Bengals tenacious full court press and persistence at the rim were not enough December 9 against the Walter Johnson Lady Wildcats, as they lost 48-37. All of our individual talents gel well together, adds Earley. We are starting to become good at pressing the other team on defense and getting steals. However, they played a bit too aggressively,

Section D

James Hubert Blake High School

December 16, 2011

D?

Girls basketball rebounds from loss with blowout win by young team

Senior guard Alexis Earley passes a defender on a fast break en route to a 62-36 win against the Einstein Lady Titans December 6 in which Earley scored 14 points.--photo by Dennis Chan

landing them in foul trouble throughout the game. Wannen led the team in scoring with 14 points, with Earley and Snowden both finishing with nine points. The team realizes that, even with their strong start, they need to work on their fundamentals to better themselves. Says Snowden, We all work really hard and were always correcting our mistakes to get better. The Lady Bengals began their season with a resounding 62-36 win over the Einstein Lady Titans. The team rebounded after falling behind 7-0 early on in the game, and never trailed after taking a 12-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. Were good at being aggressive and fast breaking, but we need to work on our set offenses, says Wannen. The aggressive defense was also the key in this game as the Lady Bengals forced 22 turnovers. Snowden and Inman each posted doubledoubles while Earley threw down points. The Lady Bengals have a very young squad, with Earley being the only senior on the team. Im the captain and I love being the leader of the squad, says Earley. It will be better for them next year becausethey will all already have played together for a full year. The girls face the Quince Orchard Lady Cougars tonight at 7 at Blake. Says Inman, We have good defensive strategy and our offense has been coming together nicely, so I think were going to win.

by Matt Present & Michael Errigo

Upcoming opponents include Quince Orchard, Wootton, Springbrook


Three games into the regular season and the boys varsity basketball team is undefeated after a 71-46 win over the Wheaton Knights Monday. Blake led start to finish as they dominated the inside game, feeding big men, senior forward Avery Ugba, with 12 points, and senior forward Magnus Richards, with 18 points, against the Knights two-three zone. Blakes size, which has been a weaker point in past seasons, also held their own on the defensive end, blocking shots and intercepting passes into the paint, allowing the Bengals to get out in transition. Its a great start, its all you could ask for right now, says coach Marcus Wiggins. Were tall and were athletic so we should be in every game, but when that pressure time comes and division games start, well really see what were made of. The boys traveled to take on the Walter Johnson Wildcats December 9. It was a nail-biter, as the Bengals struggled to hit their outside shots, but hung tough on the defensive end. Blake was able to hang on to win 58-54, led by the efforts of Ugba who had a game high of 22 points, most of them coming in the second half. My teammates fed me the ball when we werent shooting well, says Ugba. I was all about me getting the 50/50 ball and getting rebounds and put backs. However, the team shot just 14-23 from the foul line, something they will need to improve on in a hurry if they are going to pull out close games down the stretch. The Bengals opened the season on the road against the Einstein Titans. Senior forward Magnus Richards got the team energized early with two slam dunks. I try to take advantage of every opportunity I get to show off my athleticism, says Richards. I like to get my teammates excited during the games. Blake continued to dominate, outscoring the Einstein 45-6 in the middle two quarters. Everyone on the team played and scored, led by Ugba and senior guard Ricky Barnes with 13 and 11 respectively, as they routed the Titans 82-29. Today the team will go on the road to face the Quince Orchard Cougars at 7pm. The Cougars have a reputation for playing a high pressure, full court defense which should play into Blakes hands. We need to work harder in executing our plays properly, says Barnes. But that comes in time. For now were a transition team and we execute that well. The squad will conclude the 2011 portion of their schedule with back-to-back home games, first against the Wootton Patriots Monday, followed by a showdown with consortium rival, the Springbrook Blue Devils Wednesday. Blake
Magnus Richards Avery Ugba Ricardo Barnes Akindele Jones Ryan Deane Edward Bonsu Stefan Sigwalt Sakoo Lebrew Deshante Brown Jamil Gordon Breon Herbert

Richards pours in 18 points in win over Wheaton Knights


PTS
18 12 8 7 6 5 5 4 2 2 2 10 9 6 6 4 4 3 2 2

Blake 71, Wheaton 46

Wheaton

Lloyd Ferguson Shakir Metellus Jalen Hawkins Yonas Million Langston Payne Ayinde Warren Ibrahim Kallou Travaris Rogers Javaunne Walters

PTS

When that pressure time comes and division games start, well really see what were made of. MARCUS WIGGINS

Varsity wrestling hopes for undefeated season under new coach, p. D3

Swim and dive makes splash with strong start to season


x by John Beers & Brandon Weber
With new coach Ryan Burnsky, the Blake swim and dive team opened up the season strong with great efforts by both new and veteran members of the team. The Bengals second meet of the season had them matched up against the Northwest Jaguars December 10. Senior Shawn Glisson and freshman Nikos Koufos led the team with impressive efforts throughout the competition. The younger members of the team also stepped up including freshman Frankie Hedgepeth who won his race while fellow freshman Thomas Plihal put forth a great showing in the 500 freestyle. Says senior captain David Altobelli, Everyone on the team has a job to do: go as fast as they can. The defending division champs tested their ability against the Paint Branch Panthers December 3, winning the scrimmage 148-33. The boys were led by standout performances from Altobelli and junior captain Cory Camp, while the girls featured strong performances from senior captains Rachel Jaffe and Amanda Freeman. Camp took first in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke, while Altobelli won the 50 and 100 freestyle. Jaffe and Freeman dominated all of their events, including 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. We have a great team this year [that] can compete with any other team in the division, says Camp. Heading into the season, the Bengals were faced with the challenge of replacing longtime coach Jared Fribush, who became Blakes Athletic Director. Mr.Fribush was a great coach, adds Altobelli. A lot of us were wondering who he would place us with. Their new coaching staff consists of coach Burnsky and assistant coach Kevin Heyden. Burnsky is a very good coach, says senior Mark Cirincione. He makes all practices tough, and I admire him for that because it makes the team better. Even with the loss of Mr.Fribush and 1st-Team All-Met swimmer Spencer Sterling, the Bengals still believe they have what it takes to win another division championship. Adds Camp, We lost some great seniors last year, [but] we have a great upperclassmen group that can hopefully lead us to repeat as champs and possibly even regional champs. Our team always goes in and comes out with a strong spirit, says junior Laura Smethurst. The Bengals look to show that resilient spirit as they take on the Poolesville Falcons tomorrow at Germantown Indoor Swim Center.

D2

December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

New coach brings toughness, hopes to drive team to farther depths

David Altobelli

Indoor track and field strides towards goals, hurdles over inexperience
Bengals hope to continue record setting pace, replace lost seniors
by Jake Gordon x & Rachel Jaffe
Despite the loss of many senior runners, the boys and girls indoor track and field teams are off to promising starts, capturing an invitational track record and achieving respectable times early on. December 10, the running Bengals traveled to the Community College of Baltimore County and proved that even with their significant losses-they are still a force to be reckoned with this year. Juniors Marc Assoua, Justin Ingram, Graylyn Broadnax, and senior Leroy Radway set a CCBC track record of 1:19.26 in the 4 x 160 meter event. This year we lost a lot of seniors but were putting people in the right places to make big things happen, says Radway. Our team goals are to have everyone get to states. The Bengals had their first scrimmage December 3. Seniors such as Amina Irving took the opportunity to set an example for new members. Being a captain this year takes patience because its hard to teach people things that youre already so familiar with, says Irving. At the scrimmage it was good to see all of the new people working their hardest against their competition and seeing how they react to the new atmosphere. Many athletes are proving that they potentially have what it takes to qualify for the upcoming state meet. One of these athletes, junior Darius Oxley, had an impressive performance at the scrimmage in the 500m, finishing second in his heat with one of the top three times of the day. Irving finished 7th out of 35 runners in the 55m hurdles with a 9.95 at CBCC, already a fraction of a second away from a future state qualifying time. Head coach Charlie Simms is encouraged by both the teams veteran and novice performances thus far. This years girls and boys teams are young, but everyone shows a lot of promise, says Simms. Our season goals are to improve from the scrimmage and get as many kids to the state meet and get people around the county talking about Blake track. Seniors such as Cameron Constantine plan to fight to the finish this year. Says Constantine, We need to stay motivated, put in effort and encourage others to do the same. Im excited because this is my last time to shine.

The James Hubert Blake Administration, Faculty and Staff congratulate these members of the 2011-2012 National Honor Society:
Angela Bair Jenna Beers John Beers Thais Calderon Michael Chheang Ryan Choe Lindsey Comer Lydia Curdts Alison Dionne Aryn Frazier Eric Gottlieb Rachel Hewitt Hamza Khan-Tareen Michael Kister

NEWEST INDUCTEES:

Westin Lee Jourdan Lewanda Michelle Nguyen Pradip Ramamurti Anna Steinfeld Julia Stewart Kelly Stock

Janine Taira Denise Venero Natasha Virjee Russell Wanke Caroline Wannen Rachel Woo Ellen Wood

Derick Ansah Anthony Bui* Danielle Blocker Joal Chen Charles Cheng Savannah DoaneMalotte Christian Domaas Kathryn Evans Mary Fernandes* Lane Flynn* Linus Francis Kristen Frese

Kathryn Fuchs Neva Gakavian Hayley Glantz* Jake Gordon Ramanda Graham David Hylton Lucas Irvin* Rachel Jaffe Christian Jeong Robert Korycinski* Kevin Lam Adele Leishman Zoey Lee

PREVIOUS INDUCTEES:

Irene Lemberos Sarah Lipkowitz Matthew Lipshultz Eugene Litman Monika Looney Julie Lopatka* Stephanie Luk Melissa McNabb Mihir Nakrani Lauren Paniati Seonghwan Park Leah Patterson Grace Plihal

Andrea Ramirez* Jahmila Roberts Ghulam Sallman Nick Tatnall Samara Tu Erica Wang Kevin Wang Brandon Weber Jenna Williams Larisha Winley Leisha Winley Rhea Wyse
*Asterisks indicate Spring Inductees.

The Blake Beat

December 16, 2011

D3

The Bengals traveled to Blair High School December 7 to face off against the Blazers. Junior Brandon Deane (171) acheived the first win of his varsiry career

with a pin early in the first period. The squad went on to defeat their opponents 45-36 on the road in a tough late match victory. -- photo by Niki Byrd

Head coach Jeter looks to continue wrestlings success


by Sammi Levitt x& Savannah Tryens
After an impressive undefeated season last year, the varsity wrestling squad hopes to pin down another victorious season; however, the loss of the head coach and four seniors who all were in the state tournament will prove to be difficult obstacles to overcome. Last weekend, the wrestlers competed in the annual Mad Mats tournament at Magruder High School. Overall, the squad finished fifth out of 11. However, many of the wrestlers placed in the top five in their weight classes. Senior William Sewell finished first in the 220 weight class, senior Edwin Callendar finished second in the 182 weight class, senior Brian Battaglia finished fourth in the 160 weight class, and senior Jack Hawvermale and junior Folarin Orimolade each finished fifth in the 132 and 195 weight classes, respectively. Adds Callendar, Im impressed with the team so far; we have a lot of wrestlers that will win us matches. December 7, the squad traveled to Blair for their first match of the season. The first seven weight class matches were all determined by pins. At the halfway point, the Bengals were down 30-12, with all but two of their wrestlers being pinned. But the Bengals bounced back and won their next five weight class matches, bringing the score to 45-30. The boys won the match 45-36. We werent sure how we were going to do against Blair, says Battaglia. Fortunately we were able to overcome our inexperience and get the win in the last half of the match. With the loss of several star wrestlers last season, many of the new varsity members now have a chance to step up and prove themselves, many of whom were JV champions last year. Says Coach Dustin Jeter, We have a great team that has the potential to be just as good as last year. The young team fortunately has four returning wrestlers, including Callendar, who was a force at states last year and is currently ranked number one in the county

in his weight class. Though the team lost former head coach Rob Pinsky, who now coaches for the Clarksburg Coyotes, he left the Blake wrestling program in great shape. Coach Jeter believes one of the teams biggest strengths is its success last year because the wrestlers understand the work they need to put in to achieve success once again. He looks forward to going against Clarksburg next Thursday. Adds coach Jeter, Hopefully we can pack the gym and get a big win.

Bengals overcome patch of thin ice, skate towards improvement


x & Michael Joiner
Three games into the season, the Blake Community Ice Hockey team is having a rough time getting started, but the players continue to improve their skills as they gain experience. The Bengals began their game strong against the Damascus Hornets December 9, jumping out to a 1-0 lead after an offensive attack in the first three minutes of the game. The Bengals scored on a three-sequenced pass to junior center Pradip Ramamurti who sent the puck to the back of the net. The team this year is a lot better compared to the previous years, says Ramamurti. We work a lot harder than we have in the past. Blake, however, was unable to hold its lead and maintain its intensity against the Hornets. I think that right now our team is

by Kristen Frese

Despite winless start, Community Ice Hockey remains strong, resilient


under performing, says sophomore Aidan Bittenger-Esser, a center on the Blake club team even though he attends Sandy Spring Friends School. Everyone is working hard and improving though. The game ended in a 9-1 loss for Blake. December 2 the Bengals took on the Poolesville Falcons in a hard fought 7-0 loss. Though the loss was a letdown, the team is focusing on improving for upcoming games. Says Bittinger-Esser, Were still a pretty young team, but the players seem dedicated to winning and the upperclassmen have stepped up as leaders. Starting off the season, the Bengals played the DC Stars November 18, but lost

We work a lot harder than we have in the past.

Pradip Ramamurti

6-0 as they struggled to keep up both offensively and defensively. Says Ramamurti, [I think] we have a strong offense when we skate hard, yet we tend to not finish. The team hopes to improve their skills in order to pull out a win later in the season. Last season, the Bengals had a disappointing record, losing the majority of their games and tying only against the Richard Montgomery Rockets. This year, the coaches have intensified practices in hopes of surpassing their previous records. Says junior right wing Tanner Giles-Tucker, The coaches are very helpful and knowledgeable and have personally helped me develop my skills. Tonight, the Bengals take on the Richard Montgomery Rockets at 4:40pm at Rockville Ice Arena. The team also looks forward to its rematch against Damascus January 27.

Strong defense sparks Bengal pride in undefeated start


Young boys hoop squad hopes to hone skill, looks ahead to winning record
x by Matt Present & Michael Errigo
If defense wins championships, then the JV boys basketball team is on the fast track to a flawless year, having shown relentless opposition in the first three games of the season. The Bengals defensive prowess and offensive electricity were in full effect Monday as they defeated the Wheaton Knights 73-42. The game got off to a quick start as the team showed an airtight, full court man-to-man defense from the opening tip. This defensive pressure led to many Wheaton turnovers, which turned into points as Blake grabbed a 22-9 lead by the end of the first quarter. We did all the little things that are necessary for a great performance, says sophomore forward Matt Russell. After seizing the early lead, the Bengals kept up the defense and never let up their scrappiness. The second half was just like the first as the team crashed the boards, grabbing numerous offensive rebounds that led to second chance points. The third quarter was an offensive display, including a dunk by sophomore forward Demonte Ojinnaka that ignited the crowd. The Bengals came into the game against Wheaton on a high note after defeating the Walter Johnson Wildcats 59-51 December 9. Building on tactics that worked in the season opener, the team focused on working as a team in order to get the victory. We have to hustle and keep our energy up if we want to win games and we did that today, says freshman forward Emerson Sirk. We are definitely looking to build on this early success. The Bengals started the season December 6 with a strong win over the Einstein Titans 57-40. Strong defense and team play got the team started early and they never looked back. The season-opening provided confidence for the young team. We simply had more talent than the other team and we showed it, says coach Ernie Williams. Coach Williams leads a very young, inexperienced team this year that features eight freshmen. Despite their youth, the team remains confidence that they can make up for their inexperience with a dedicated work ethic. Adds coach Williams, We as a team have to understand that in order to be successful, we will have to work harder than every other team.

D4

December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

Sophomore guard Tavon Ngangum pushes offensive efforts against the Einstein Titans. The boys went

on to defeat the Titans by a 17 point margin on the road December 6. -- photo by Rebecca Kalinich

Bengals still going through growing pains as they begin season


by Jamil Gordon x & Michelle Ung
Three games into their season, girls JV basketball has shown great effort in their victories and a lot of resiliency in defeat looking forward to what they hope will be a successful season. Leading this years girls JV basketball team is head coach Ashley Marshall. This is Coach Marshalls first year coaching the team. She wants her first year as coach to go well and hopes that her presence will help the team do well. I expect a growth of knowledge and understanding of basketball while having fun at the same time, says coach Marshall. The team suffered a 50-21 loss at home against the Walter Johnson Wildcats. The Lady Bengals played a tough game, but were unable to hold up on the defensive end and couldnt quite get shots to fall. As a team, we need to work on being more aggressive on the defensive end and on rebounding. The ladies have an opportunity to have an all-around great game against Wheaton, says Coach Marshall. The first game for the girls finished with a score of 29-16, beating the Einstein Lady Titans. At half time, the girls were only up 12-11 but came back and put in 17 more points. Leading the win against the Lady Titans was sophomore guard/forward Kimia Gaines, who finished seven points, five steals, and four rebounds. Says sophomore captain forward/center Brigit Ngalea, I think the game went well. We worked hard as a team. Ngaleu played an outstanding game, grabbing eight rebounds. Another one of the teams captains, sophomore point guard Melinda Tchokogoue, believes that she and her teammates will have a very promising season. I think we have the potential to win most of our games if we just keep working hard, says Tchokogoue. Coach Marshall looking toward the future of the girls season optimisti-

After opening win, JV girls basketball comes up short in second game


cally. I believe that the ladies have the potential to finish the rest of the season with only one loss on the record completely. coach Marshall says. It will be up to the ladies to determine their focus and willpower to achieve this. I believe there is potential for players to move up to varsity - leadership on and off the court and skill development will determine who will move up. Come support the Lady Bengals at home as they take on the Quince Orchard Lady Cougars this afternoon. Upcoming matchups include the Wooton Lady Wolverines Monday and then consortium rival Springbrook Wednesday.

JV wrestling starts year with impressive victory against Blazers


x by Robert Krakaur & Andrew Markowitz

Team continues winning example set by varsity, pushes toward glory


Weve been training really hard and it paid off when we won our first match against Blair, adds 106 pound junior Becca Schwartz, It felt really good to win. Schwartz is the only girl on the team, and she feels it affects her a bit on the mat. Its harder for me since Im not built the same way, but I feel I can wrestle with them. The team is pleased to see success early in the season. At the Blair match, we had a couple of dominant victories, adds coach Lawrence Steel. But they did not surprise me at all because ours were essentially varsity wrestlers that did not win a spot in the varsity line-up. Coach Steel appreciates the way that the team executes the fundamentals. I loved the way Redd executed a basic move exceptionally well and pinned

Traveling to Blair for their first match of the season, the Blake Bengals JV wrestling team began their season with a big win. They faced the Blair Blazers December 7, picking up an impressive 48-33 win with victories by pin from 126 pound sophomore Jason Fleischer, 138 pound sophomore Larsen Schilling, 160 pound junior Daniel Gonzalez, and 170 pound senior Ken Redd. It felt great to get on the mat for the first time, says Redd. The excitement to watch my teammates and win my first match made it a memorable experience for me.

his opponent, adds coach Steel, It is very satisfying to see a kid do something that you know you taught them. Although the JV and varsity compete in separate matches, coach Steel does not consider them two separate teams. We are really just one team and everyone works together to improve as individuals. Coach Steel admires his teams resiliency in fighting through injuries. All wrestlers have some nagging aches and pains at some point during the season, but they usually fight through, says coach Steel. He is glad to have many athletes on the team. Adds coach Steel, The advantage of having [a lot of athletes] is that they push one another and demonstrate good moves to one another.

We are really just one team and everyone works together to improve as individuals
Lawrence Steel

Two girls grapple their way onto male-dominated team


by Sammi Levitt x & Savannah Tryens
Anything you can do, I can do better. I can do anything better than you. Junior Becca Schwartz and sophomore Emily George are out to prove to the Blake community that they can be a part of a traditionally all boys wrestling team. Schwartz and George didnt conspire to try out together; it was completely coincidental. On the first day of try-outs, they met and decided that they would stick out the season together. Having another girl on the team makes me feel a lot more comfortable, says George. The two are in the same weight class and wrestle against each other in practice. George, who is a swimmer, was ready to take on a new challenge. Says George, I swim outside of school and I wanted to try something different. She also had to take on a battle against her parents, who prevented her from going to practice at the beginning of the season because they thought she would get hurt competing against a lot of boys. However, George was able to convince her parents otherwise and she is now working her way back on the mats. Schwartz, who is a member of the Varsity field hockey team, had similar reasons for joining the squad. Field hockey season ended and I wanted to continue competing in a sport, says Schwartz. So far, Im loving it. As for the remainder of the season, Schwartz has many aspirations. Adds Schwartz, I hope to get stronger physically and mentally, and broaden my horizons. JV wrestling Coach Lawrence Steel has a lot of experience coaching girls. He states that although they do not have the upper body strength of boys, their quickness, leverage and flexibility gives them an advantage. Once practice starts, gender is not an issue, We do not run practice any differently

The Blake Beat

December 16, 2011

D5

Schwartz, George defy gender roles, look to get stronger with wrestling

when girls are on the mat, says Coach Steel. Although some may be intimidated by the boys on the team, the girls are very comfortable with them. The boys on the team have been more than I could have hoped for, says Schwartz. Everyone is super welcoming and supportive and Im so thankful for that. Come out to see the girls wrestle, and support the team, Tuesday at Walter Johnson High School.

Everyone is super welcoming and supportive and Im so thankful for that.

Becca Schwartz

Cooper becomes first boy Bengal to commit for Division I college soccer
by Michael Joiner x & Brandon Weber
Senior defender Trey Coopers outstanding Blake soccer career has ended, but a new chapter begins as he verbally commits to play for Towson University, becoming the first male Bengal to play Division I soccer. Cooper feels content with the decision he made November 21, after heavily weighing the other offers he was given from the University of Mary Washington, Eastern University, Mount Saint Marys University, and Wake Forest University. I picked Towson because its close to my family and friends, says Cooper. Its also a big school with a great team and coaching staff. Cooper is the first athlete of Towsons freshman class of 2016 to commit to the university. The Bengals started this past season with a new coach, David Edlow, who put the Blake soccer program on the map. Coach Edlow has had countless players from previous schools that have gone to the college level. Trey has a lot of potential, says coach Edlow. His strength and physical style of play will help him to be successful at the Division I level, along with his drive and work ethic. Seeing room for development, coach center defender and was the backbone to the teams incredible defense (having one of the fewest number of goals-against in the county). Says Gill, He has the sheer skill and athleticism and has more than enough heart to succeed [at D-I]. In the offseason, Cooper plays

All-Gazette team member uses athletic abilities to pursue dreams


At the fall sports program, Cooper was presented with the Male Athlete Award. Treys impact on the soccer program has been tremendous, says athletic director Jared Fribush. Having an athlete be recruited by, and signing with, a D-I program shows the rest of the team what is possible. Both Cooper and senior striker Moussa Traore have been named All-Gazette (Cooper as first team and Traore as second team). However, unlike Cooper, Traores decision hasnt been finalized. He is looking at potentially committing to Loyola University of Maryland, as well as several other colleges for soccer, as he also looks to play Division I. Many athletes end their careers in sports after high school, but Cooper has hopes to continue this path even beyond the college level. My dream will forever be [to play] professional soccer, adds Cooper. I either hope to be in the 2016 MLS Draft or playing somewhere in Europe.

[Coopers] strength and physical style of play will help him to be successful at the Division I level.
David Edlow
Edlow adds, He needs to improve his technical abilities, speed of play, and overall speed. [Cooper] is in charge of everything on the field, says senior goalie Jacob Gill, who played with Cooper for two years on the varsity team. The Bengals finished their season with the best record in school history, 10-4-2. Cooper played with his club team, The Pachuca Dragons, which is currently ranked as 18th in the nation and 3rd in the state. Its a privilege to play with [Cooper], says junior midfielder Patrick Richard, who has played soccer with Cooper for both the Bengals and the Dragons for several years. Hes a great leader and knows a lot about the game.

Thrilling season sets stage for five entertaining matchups


As Redskins fans turn to college football as an antidepressant, so will we, with this preview of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) games leading up to the Louisiana State Tigers-Alabama Crimson Tide rematch in the January 9 National Championship. Rose Bowl (January 2) The Rose Bowl features two of the nations top running backs in Montee Ball of the Wisconsin Badgers and LaMichael James of the Oregon Ducks. Both rushed for over 1,600 yards on the season, and Ball had an astounding 32 touchdowns. Both teams also have the luxury of a quarterback who can make plays on their feet with Oregons Darron Thomas and Wisconsins Russell Wilson. Although the statistics would indicate that the teams are very similar, Wisconsin tends to sustain long drives, while Oregons run n gun mentality gives them a more big-play oriented offense. Oregon frequently goes for two-point conversions, putting additional pressure on the Wisconsin defense. Our Prediction: Oregon 34, Wisconsin 27 Fiesta Bowl (January 2) The days action will continue as offensive powerhouses Stanford Cardinal and Oklahoma State Cowboys air it out in Glendale, Arizona. Both teams average over 40 points-per-game and boast a 3,000 yard passer. Oklahoma States Brandon Weeden has passed for 4,328 yards and 34 touchdowns on the year. Wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who has 1,336 yards and 15 touchdowns receiving, will be a focal point in the Cowboys offense. Stanford, son. He leads the Wolverines in passing and rushing and has totaled 34 touchdowns on the season. Virginia Tech will look to the running game, led by 1,600-yard-rusher David Wilson, ACC player of the year. Our Prediction: Michigan 27, VT 21.

D6

December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

Capitals endure rough month, turn to new management for success


x by Andrew Markowitz
Sooner rather than later, the Washington Capitals are going to have to figure out whether their recent rough patch is the fault of the players or coaches as their struggle to win continues. November proved to be devastating for the Caps, winning only five of 14 games, which led to the firing of head coach Bruce Boudreau. Management decided that the players were no longer responding to Boudreau and brought in Capitals legend Dale Hunter to take the reins. However, since Hunters come onboard, Washington continues to struggle, winning only three of Hunters first seven games as coach. The biggest battle that the Caps continue to lose is on special teams, possessing the 12th ranked power play in the NHL, a major improvement from past weeks. The Caps went five games without scoring a power play goal until they managed to tally one against the Ottawa Senators December 7. This team has way too much talent to not have scored a power play goal in five games but chooses to spend its time passing instead of shooting. At this point, the Caps should worry less about making a highlight reel play and more about actually putting the puck in the net. Penalty killing is usually a challenging task but the Caps make it look too easy for teams to score. Washington currently possesses the NHLs 24th ranked penalty kill and showed it by allowing three PPGs to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a dreadful 7-1 loss November 19 and the Florida Panthers December 5 in a 4-3 defeat. In addition to the power play goals allowed, the Caps have also given up four shorthanded tallies, including two to the Phoenix Coyotes November 21 in a 4-3 Capitals victory. On many teams, there is one scapegoat, and for the Capitals, that player is left wing Alexander Semin. Despite being one of the most talented players on the team, Semin has a reputation for taking foolish and costly penalties. Semin is currently the highest penalized player on the Caps and in the entire league with 18 minor penalties, which is uncharacteristic of a player of Semins caliber. Also, Semin makes a habit of turning the puck over while trying to make an additional stick-handling move and frequently misses the net while shooting, which may explain why he only has five goals this season. Washingtons best Novem-

led by Heisman finalist Andrew Luck, will use more tight ends and running backs in their pro-style passing attack. Our Prediction: OSU 42, Stanford 38 Sugar Bowl (January 3) The Michigan Wolverines and Virginia Tech Hokies will battle at the Superdome in New Orleans. Both teams allow fewer than 20 points-per-game, but the Hokies have the difficult task of containing one of the biggest dual threats in the country: Michigan quarterback Denard Robin-

Orange Bowl (January 4) Clemson Tigers fans will try to fill Sun Life Stadium with orange as their Tigers square off against the West Virginia Mountaineers. Look for freshman sensation Sammy Watkins to receive plenty of targets from Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd. Clemson will hope to balance the attack with 1,000-yard-rusher Andre Ellington. West Virginia needs to contain the great speed in Clemsons offense if they are going to have a chance. Mountaineers

quarterback Geno Smith should surpass the 4,000-yard passing mark in this game, utilizing two receivers who each have put together 1,000-yard campaigns. Our Prediction: Clemson 35, WVU 19. BCS National Championship (January 9) The title game will feature an SEC rematch between Alabama and LSU. The Crimson Tides only loss of the season came at the hands of the undefeated Tigers November 5, in a 9-6 overtime thriller. In that game, the time of possession was split within the minute, and Alabama out-gained LSU by just 56 more yards. However, what killed the Crimson Tide was their four missed field goals, allowing LSU to hang around and eventually pull out the victory. The past two weeks LSU has put up over 40 points, defeating third ranked Arkansas and 14th ranked Georgia. Two of the nations best defenses will be on display as Alabama leads the nation in allowing just 8.8 points-per-game, and LSU is second, allowing 10.5 points-per-game anchored by the big play ability of Heisman finalist Tyrann Honey Badger Mathieu. Alabama counters with a Heisman finalist of its own in running back Trent Richardson who put up over 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns on the year. Our Prediction: LSU 16, Alabama 13

Boudreau out, Hunter in as local NHL squad hopes to reach full potential

ber performance came in an impressive 5-1 outing against the Carolina Hurricanes November 4. Rookie center Cody Eakin scored his first career NHL goal and added an assist to finish with two points and was named first star of the game. Three other Capitals put up two-point nights and goaltender Michal Neuvirth made 24 saves for his second win. Washington heads up to Colorado for a match-up against sophomore sensation Matt Duchene and the struggling Avalanche at 9 tomorrow night. Duchene is the Aves second-leading scorer with 11 goals and 21 points.

Blake alum, senior affected after UMCP cuts eight sports


by Sammi Levitt x & Savannah Tryens
For many Blake athletes, the chance to compete at a college level is a dream come true; unfortunately for one former wet Bengal, that dream became difficult after the swim team was cut at his college, University of Maryland at College Park. University of Maryland officials announced November 20 that they are cutting mens and womens swim and dive, along with six other varsity teams. However, to combat the cuts, the swim team started Save Maryland Swimming and Diving, which is a fundraising non-profit organization. The president of the university gave the non-profit until July 2012 to raise enough money to keep the program for eight years. Many community members and famous swimmers, including Michael Phelps, have supported the efforts. Blake alumnus Spencer Sterling is a freshman at Maryland and is currently a member of the swim team. Sterling, who is on scholarship, will be able to keep his money as long as he stays at the university. Although Sterling hopes to stay at Maryland, he will be looking at other schools. Says Sterling, I am planning on going on recruiting trips in the spring because I dont want to miss out on any potential fits for me. Adds Sterling, [Maryland] was the perfect situation for me, and I am still hoping that we will find a way to keep the team. As one of their fundraising efforts, Save Maryland Swimming and Diving held a pro-dual swim meet, which hosted both Maryland swimmers and Olympians. Closer to home, Blake swimmers who were interested in Maryland have had to look elsewhere to fulfill their Division I swimming dreams. Junior Cory Camp who was considering swimming at Maryland is now looking west for schools. I think it is ridiculous that they had to cut the swimming program due to the mismanagement of money in other programs, says Camp. Camp, who is hoping for scholarship money, is no longer considering swimming at Maryland. Despite the cut, senior diver Rebecca Kalinich is strongly considering the university due to its proximity to home but she still isnt completely ruling out other schools. I am hoping they will somehow find a way to keep the program, says Kalinich, But if they cant I will probably go to another D-I school. Although this is a devastating blow to the University of Maryland and high school swimmers, the Maryland community is trying to remain positive, hoping they will be able to raise enough money by the summer.

The Blake Beat

December 16, 2011

D7

I am still hoping that we will find a way to keep the team.


Spencer Sterling

PSA to ESPN: Stop talking and let us watch the game


xby Lucas Irvin
It looks like they didnt have enough defenders to defend defensively.-Tony Siragusa. Such depth of insight is not uncommon all across the world of sports commentators, and commentaries like this has led me to believe that announcers are verbose, obnoxious and unnecessary. For the numerous people who know enough about football to be able to understand whats going on, the play-by-play adds nothing. I dont need Chris Berman to tell me that the ball was kicked through the goalposts to add three points to the score. As a person with eyes, I can tell that. There are also the Jon Grudens who make up terms that make no sense and mean nothing. All of the players are always in space. The so-called uphill and downhill runners are always playing on a level surface. If a player did not come to play, they would not be on the field playing. I understand what the terms mean, but they are illogical and are just added to fill space with words. It is easy to tell when the game is not a marquis matchup because the commentators always come to the same point, saying nothing new, but continuing to talk. After hearing repeatedly about Tavaris Jackson playing through his pectoral injury, I can only seem to pay attention to how terrible the announcers are. The worst has to be when the commentators comment on something unrelated to the game at hand, particularly themselves. I turned on the TV to watch a football game, not to hear about the glory days of a commentator past his prime who was not even noteworthy as a player. The personal commentary is irrelevant to and distracts from the game-a history textbook tells you what happened and why it was significant; the writer does not add how an event affected them personally because, frankly, no one cares. Commentators get paid to talk, so they dont stop talking, even when they dont have anything to talk about. When it comes to the Super Bowl, when there are weeks to talk about what will happen in one hour, they still have to talk, so they attempt to predict the outcome based on random stats like third down conversion percentage. Commentators also like to provide fake insight by saying something like the offensive line needs to protect the quarterback, which sounds intelligent if you are not paying attention, but is actually glaringly obvious. There are a few good announcers, like Al Michaels and Troy Aikman, but almost all of the legendary commentators like John Madden are long gone, replaced by lackluster talkers. And I dont think they should be done away with entirely. For example, during the World Cup, the announcers didnt talk much, because they let the game happen and they added commentary only when necessary. The NFL announcers need to follow this example and stop distracting from the game.

From Cinderellas to March Madness, 10 things to watch this season


x by Michael Errigo
College basketball has gotten off to a wild start with powerhouses crumbling and several new teams entering the limelight. All this action has fans eager for the excitement that is sure to be in store this season. Here are ten things to watch for this year: 10. The recruitment of Shabazz Muhammad: Muhammad is the diamond in the rough in a generally weak recruiting class. This guard from Las Vegas has almost every program in the country yearning for his commitment. 9. The development of Austin Rivers: This years top freshman headlines a young Duke team that has something to prove. Can Coach K reach his 12th Final Four or will the Camden Crazies be silenced yet again? 8. The Ohio State Buckeyes: Player of the Year candidate Jared Sullinger leads a strong Ohio State team that has their sights set on a championship. So far this season Sullinger has appeared like a man amongst boys, putting his hunger for a title on display. 7. The Big Matchups: Every year, there are games that every college basketball fan circles on their calendar. Some of these big games include Baylor vs. Kansas (January 16), Connecticut vs. Syracuse (February 25), and North Carolina vs. Duke (March 3). 6. The Local Teams: Both Maryland and Georgetown are in the midst of a rebuild. How will the Terps respond to the retirement of their coach of 22 years, Gary Williams? Can the Hoyas start a new chapter after the loss of key players Austin Freeman and Chris Wright? 5. The Cinderella Stories: Every year there is a breakout team or two that turns some heads. This year, Xavier and Baylor are two teams that have enough firepower to make a postseason run. Dont be surprised if the glass slipper fits for one of these two squads come March. 4. The UConn Huskies: The defending champions took a big hit when Kemba Walker, the heart and soul of their championship squad, graduated this past spring.

Errigo enumerates endless upcoming excitements of college basketball

But the return of guard Jeremy Lamb and the emergence of freshman Andre Drummond have the Huskies talking repeat already. 3. The North Carolina Tar Heels: Roy Williams and company easily have the most talent in college basketball this season. Freshman phenom Harrison Barnes decided to return for a sophomore year, leading to thoughts that the Tar Heels had the championship in the bag. Despite early stumbles, those assumptions might not be that far off. 2. The Kentucky Wildcats: Coach John Calipari has another stellar freshman class, including forward Anthony Davis who has NBA scouts drooling already. These diaper dandies along with sophomore forward Terrence Jones should keep the Wildcats towards the top of the polls for a while. 1. March Madness: Every college basketball fans favorite time of the year is sure to be even crazier this season. Buzzers will be beat, hearts will be broken, and a champion will be crowned.

Buzzers will be beat, hearts will be broken, and a champion will be crowned.

D8

December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

The James Hubert Blake Booster Club congratulates these Minds in Motion student athletes for maintaining a 3.25 GPA during First Quarter while playing a Fall sport.
Mohammed Abbas (Coed Track & Field) Tara Adhatamsoontra (Poms) Oritsetsolaye Akuya (JV Cheerleading) Claudia Alarco (JV Girls Volleyball) Nicole Alexander (Varsity Football) Isaac Appel (Cross Country) Mary Aronne (Cross Country) Kwame Asante (Varsity Football) Mamadou Bah (Varsity Football) Nicole Barriga (Girls Tennis) Gregory Bell (Cross Country) Sage Bennett (JV Girls Soccer) Danielle Blocker (Girls Tennis) Grayson Boone (Cross Country) Taylor Boone (Varsity Cheerleading) Cole Bradshaw (Varsity Boys Soccer) Graylyn Broadnax (Varsity Football) Torie Broer (Varsity Girls Soccer) Niara Brown (JV Girls Soccer) Madison Bruffy (Poms) Christina Buckley (Varsity Girls Volleyball) Megan Cameron (Varsity Girls Soccer) Tayahd Campbell (JV Football) Kate Campbell (JV Girls Soccer) Elana Carr (JV Girls Soccer) Joal Chen (Girls Tennis) Bryan Citrenbaum (Cross County) Samantha Comer (Varsity Girls Soccer) Lindsey Comer (Varsity Girls Soccer) Nero Cooper III (Varsity Boys Soccer) Alexis Crispin (Varsity Cheerleading) Courtney Cristaldi (Varsity Field Hockey) Priya Dadlani (Varsity Cheerleading) Brandon David (Coed Track & Field) Julia Dennis (Varsity Football) Kaylie Deshler (Girls Varsity Soccer) Alison Dionne (Girls Varsity Soccer) Christian Domaas (Golf) Natalie Domaas (Poms) Buffee Dorsey (Girls JV Soccer) Miles Douglas (Cross Country) McKenzie Dreher (Poms) Darien Ellis (Poms) Monica Eng (Varsity Cheerleading) Lane Flynn (Varsity Field Hockey) Xavier Fox (Boys JV Soccer) Emma Friedman (JV Field Hockey) Reina Fuentes (Girls Varsity Soccer) Maia Gadsden (Girls JV Volleyball) Connor Gaffney (Cross Country) Anna Galeano (Varsity Field Hockey) Brooke Gil (Poms) Malcolm Gilbert (Boys JV Soccer) Jacob Gill (Boys Varsity Soccer) Hayley Glantz (Varsity Field Hockey) Derek Glocker (Golf) Leah Goldberg (Girls Tennis) Chante Goodger (Varsity Cheerleading) Jake Sloth Gordon (Cross Country) Candace Grant (JV Field Hockey) Bridget Gratton (Girls Varsity Volleyball) Alyssia Graves (Varsity Cheerleading) Sandra Guevara (JV Field Hockey) Sarah Hagan (Varsity Field Hockey) Benjamin Haley (Cross Country) Lillian Hallmark (Girls Varsity Volleyball) Lucy Harrelson (Varsity Field Hockey) Elana Harris (Girls JV Soccer) Marvin Hart IV (Coed Track & Field) Zoe Hatzes (JV Field Hockey) Breon Herbet (Varsity Football) Azalia Hernandez (JV Cheerleading) Rachel Hewitt (Girls Varsity Volleyball) Cathleen Ho (Girls JV Volleyball) Thao Hoang (Girls JV Volleyball Olivia Hubbard (Varsity Field Hockey) Jane Hwang (Girls Tennis) Justin Ingram (Varsity Football) Dorienne Jackson (Poms) Orlando James (JV Football) Christian Jeong (Golf) Devon Johnson (Poms) Grace Johnson (Girls JV Soccer) Michael Joiner (Boys Varsity Soccer) Kendred Jones (Varsity Football) Gabrielle Jones (Varsity Cheerleading) Cameron Jones (Boys Varsity Soccer) Kaela Jones (Girls JV Soccer) Colleen Kalkofen (Girls JV Volleyball) Melania Karmazyn (Varsity Field Hockey) Yoseph Kinfu (Boys JV Soccer) Mina Konaka (Girls JV Volleyball) Emily Kong (Girls JV Volleyball) Franchesca Kuhney (Girls Varsity Volleyball) Clauton Kum (Boys JV Soccer) Zachary Kushner (Boys JV Soccer) Melina Latona (Varsity Field Hockey) Irene Lemberos (Girls Tennis) Theodora Lemberos (JV Field Hockey) Francisco Lendo (Varsity Football) Nicole Lertora (Varsity Field Hockey) Samantha Levitt (Girls Varsity Soccer) Julie Lopatka (Varsity Field Hockey) Brianna Lopez (Poms) Samantha Lowenthal (Varsity Cheerleading) Dunchadhn Lyons (Boys Varsity Soccer) Meredith Mathis (Varsity Field Hockey) Wyatt McInturff (JV Football) Courtney McKenna (Varsity Field Hockey) Kristina McKenna (JV Field Hockey) Summer Meile (Girls Varsity Volleyball) Terah Minor-Jones (Poms) Tara Mitchell (Girls Varsity Volleyball) Nyah Muhammad (Cross Country) Diego Muoz (JV Football) Kate Murphy (Girls JV Volleyball) Amanie Musa (Varsity Cheerleading) Brigit Ngaleu (Girls JV Soccer) Tyler Nine (JV Footall) Madeleine Noonan-Shueh (JV Field Hockey) Brenna Noone (Girls Varsity Soccer) Emmanuel Oppong (Boys JV Soccer) Adefolarin Orimolade (Varsity Soccer) Andrea Ortiz (Girls Varsity Soccer) Lauren Paniati (Girls Varsity Volleyball) Cameron Payton (JV Football) Camila Penaloza (Girls JV Soccer) Kevin Pharaon (Varsity Football) Michael Phelan (Golf) Adassa Phillips (Girls JV Volleyball) Avery Potts (Poms) Matthew Present (Golf) Erica Ragland (Girls Varsity Volleyball) Jenna Ramirez (JV Field Hockey) Tai Ramsey (Girls Varsity Volleyball) Lenasia Ransom (Varsity Cheerleading) Bryson Reyes (Coed Track & Field) Christopher Richard (Boys Varsity Soccer) Samuel Rivera (Varsity Football) Ezra Roschu (Boys JV Soccer) Anika Rumph (Poms) Francesca Sabelhaus (JV Field Hockey) Kara Savercool (Poms) Kyla Schweber (Girls JV Soccer) Stefan Sigwalt (Varsity Football) Colleen Simmons (JV Field Hockey) Sandra Simmons (Girls Tennis) Emerson Sirk (JV Football) Rebecca Smith (Poms) Thomas Stanton (JV Football) Samantha Steel (Girls JV Soccer) Sydney Steel (Girls JV Soccer) David Steele (Boys JV Soccer) Sarah Sterling (Girls Varsity Soccer) Kelly Stock (Girls Varsity Soccer) Kenneth Stone (JV Football) Taneigha Swingler (Varsity Cheerleading) Maika Taguchi (Cross Country) Janine Taira (Girls Tennis) Caroline Tatnall (JV Field Hockey) Melinda Tchokogoue (Girls JV Soccer) Dianne Techwei (Girls JV Soccer) Emily Tempchin (Poms) Renee Treacy (Poms) Stephanie Van Albert (Varsity Cheerleading) Tracy Velazquez (Girls Varsity Soccer) Heather Veli (Girls Varsity Soccer) Denise Venero (Girls Varsity Soccer) Lynne Virgil (Poms) Natasha Virjee (Girls Tennis) Robert Walker (Boys JV Soccer) Keri Walker (JV Field Hockey) Erica Wang (Cross Country) Caroline Wannen (Varsity Field Hockey) Darien Waters (Boys Varsity Soccer) Lillian Watkins (Girls Varsity Soccer) Tanner Williams (Boys Varsity Soccer) Sydney Wolk (Girls Tennis) Rachel Woo (Girls Tennis) Ellen Wood (Varsity Field Hockey) Joan Wood (JV Field Jockey) Rebecca Yim (Coed Track & Field) Kevin Zelaya (Boys Varsity Soccer)

Chen gives mixed review to modern-day version of Shakespeares Much Ado p. E3

Chorus, band prepare for next weeks Winter Concerts


by Alex Reeves x & Yasmin Wamala

Section E

James Hubert Blake High School

December 16, 2011

Music department plans to dazzle, amaze audience with bold new pieces
Coming soon to Blake are the performances of the season the winter choral and band concerts, which will take place at 7:30 pm on December 20 and December 22 respectively. The choral departments performance will showcase all three choral classes: Vocal Ensemble, A Cappella and Honors Concert Choir. Each choir has individual pieces as well as a combined piece. Vocal Ensemble is doing very well, says vocal ensemble teacher Sarah Goldsmith. I think were in a good spot right now. Sandra Zinkievich, A Cappella and Honors Concert Choir teacher, is also very confident in how well her classes are preparing despite singing in French, the possibility of adding choreography, and the difficulty of some pieces. A Cappella is certainly performing a difficult number, the theme song to Hawaii Five-O, says Mrs. Zinkievich. It has nine different voice parts plus some vocal percussion. The Instrumental concert is going to be a big hit as Brian Damron, music chair, and Jonathan Eising, music teacher, have chosen a video game theme. Junior Cassandra Wolsh says, A lot of people play video games and find the music enjoyable to listen to; I think people would find this concert really entertaining. The instrumental classes are performing many pieces including Aeris Theme from Final Fantasy VII and Suite

from Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Their big number, however, is Video Games Live; it was the inspiration for the entire concert. Wolsh adds, It has parts from three different video games and is a really beautiful piece to listen to. Friends, family and music lovers alike are all encouraged to come out, see both concerts, and support all the hard work and effort put in by the students. Says Ms. Goldsmith, Its a nice show to come see right before the holidays.

Bengals creativity flourishes through digital arts in, out of school


x by Adele Leishman & Samara Tu
Every day people look at the cover art and the logos of their favorite artists, but they rarely question who the artist behind it is. If you have the band XclusiveGoGo on your iPod, then you might be interested to know that the artist who created their logo is senior Jenny Lon. Lon designs for go-go bands XclusiveGoGo and the Popular Demand Band (PDB). Combining her love for go-go music with her passion for digital arts, these jobs were perfect for her. With about 10,790 subscribers on Youtube, XclusiveGoGo has broadcasted her artwork on their channel to a wide audience to the point where the band references Lon to their friends. She always reaches out for any opportunity to use her skills in digital arts, says senior Emily Touch, a friend of Lon. The go-go work was great for her and the site as well. In seventh grade, Lon started experimenting with Adobe Photoshop. Once she became enthralled with what Photoshop could do, she decided to come to Blake to participate in the signature arts program and pursue the digital arts. Ive always been into art ever since I was a little child, says Lon. When I drew by hand, it was hard; I was not improving. But with Photoshop, it [has been] easier for me to manipulate. Lon has taken the digital arts class for three years and is now in the AP Studio Art class creating graphics for projects both inside and outside of school. Im excited for her, says digital arts teacher John Overman. She has a passion for the arts, for graphics. Shes the type of student whos diligent, hardworking. Lon considers her two best works to be Fenced In and Beauty. In Beauty, she depicts her perception of beauty and societys impact on it. She was inspired by plastic surgery and explains how the girl in the image tries to conform to societys expectation of beauty. In Fenced In, Lon describes the loss of identity through the use of dark typography. Adds Lon, A face is what identifies an individual, but the girl in this piece does not have a face and therefore she has lost herself as a person. In the future, Lon hopes to pursue arts education in college and hopes to return to Blake and teach future students. She has found herself through digital arts, adds Touch. She enjoys it, and I know that she can use these skills in the future.

Senior Jenny Lon uses her digital arts skills to create this piece called Beauty, which shows how society

affects teenage girls self -esteem through the use of images and typography--image provided by Lon.

Senior pianist learns firsthand that keys to success start on big stage
x by Molly Cohen & Leah Patterson
Senior Erica Wang has crescendoed her way through life with music and is now gaining the opportunity to have professional experience playing the piano. Wang has performed in various school-related and out-of-school events and has even received professional compensation. [Music] seems like one of the only things in my life that will remain stable, says Wang. Its a comforting presence, having music to turn to. She has played piano at school in plays and in band performances. Shes also attended and played at Summer programs like the Summer Piano Institute and the International Institute for Young Musicians and competitions like those at the Washington Music Teachers Association. As a winner of a contest for the International Association for Musically Gifted Children she will perform at the Embassy of Austria in January to commemorate Sigismund Thalbergs bicentennial. She and the other winners will also play at Johns Hopkins Hospital in January, The National Institute of Health in March, McGill University in June and the National Centre of Arts in Canada in July. Other Blake students have had the opportunity to work with Wang as well. For a small fee, she has accom-

panied students and alumni in various performances why she is going to go very far in the music world. and auditions, including senior Marciana Esteves Wang has taken advantage of Blakes music last year. Erica did a great job; [shes] better programs. She has been in clarinet choir and than any accompanist Ive had before, says woodwind quartet. Currently, she participates in Esteves. wind ensemble, marching band, jazz band and Because she plays at a professional pit orchestra. level, Wangs schedule is busy with rehearsAlthough Wang began her career in music als and performances. Says Wang, Someat the request of her parents, she now plays times it sucks that I cant hang out with my for herself. A piano player of 11 years, Wang friends or relax as much Id like, but in knows what works and what does not. She the end its for the [best]. She often understands that music is a big commitpractices from an hour and a half to ment, but she is ready for the challenge. three hours every day. When asked what she has learned from Though Wang dreams of the experience so far, Wang says, I becoming a professional musihave to make time for myself to cian, for now she must get practice. through college auditions For now, Wang plans to conin January and February tinue her musical endeavors, both for schools like Oberlin professionally and personally. Conservatory and Boston As for the future, she hopes we University. She has lots will see her in some of the best of natural talent and an ear orchestras around one day. Adds for music, adds Esteves. Esteves, laughing, I just hope But she also works exshe doesnt forget me when tremely hard and thats shes famous. Erica Wang

The Blake Beat

December 16, 2011

E2

Celebrities thrive even after passings


by Joal Chen x & David Hylton
Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakurall these artist have one thing in common: even though their lives have ended, their careers, apparently, have seemed to keep pushing. All three of the artists listed above are music legends, and although the idea of hearing work that they were never able to release sounds appealing, we need to ask if it is really the right thing to do. The biggest problem with releasing CDs after an artists death is that the artist may not have wanted to release them in the first place. Michael Jackson was well known to be a perfectionist; if he didnt want to release the album Michael before his death he probably would not have wanted it released afterward. Michael, which received mixed reviews from critics, may have damaged Jacksons musical reputation. Another point we would like to add is that if the artist did not release it while they were alive, the track itself probably is not going to be a big hit. I mean think about it, unless the artist was working on an album at the time of their death, any unreleased material was pushed to the side for a reason. Michael Jackson always had favorable reviews for his albums. Do you really think

Record companies make money from artists deaths

Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson and Amy Winehouse have all come out with albums after their untimely deaths.

Mainstream addicts overlook upcoming talented underground artists


x by Grace Plihal
Radio stations like 99.5 and 93.9 seem to think that Drake, Wiz Khalifa, Wale and Lil Wayne are the greatest - and only - rappers in the world. But there is a whole underground movement of extremely talented artists slowly making its way to the top. Arguably, underground rap has been around since mainstream rap first appeared in the late 1980s. But the modern movement all started with the winner of the VMAs best new artist award, Tyler, The Creator. His homemade instrumentals and offbeat lyrics that first turned most die-hard Young Money and Taylor Gang fans off are now beginning

if he was proud of those tracks that Michael would have had mixed reviews? Probably not. But we have noticed that with record labels releasing posthumous works, the respect of that artist as a whole rises. When Michael Jackson was alive, people harped on his alleged child molestation cases (that he was never actually charged with) and people made fun of Amy Winehouses addictions and joked that she was going to drop dead any minute. But as soon as these artists died, everyone who criticized them before became their biggest fans. Unfortunately, death brings artists the respect they deserved when their talent was overshadowed by personal struggles. One has to question, however, the intentions of these record label companies. Do they really mean to give fans the chance to hear unreleased works? Or are they just cashing in? Tupacs record label has released eight albums since his death. We have to wonder if the record label is being overly generous or tremendously greedy. We want to believe that the record companies are giving fans a chance to honor the late artist, but with the money made from these CDs being sent directly to the record company all we see is people cashing in on the new-found fan base of these talented stars, and that just is not cool.

Radio stations overplay certain rappers, cement them in spotlight


to spark a revolution. Artists are realizing that rap does not have to be all about fornicating women and acquiring currency to get people to listen. Silver grillz and gold chains dont make someone a good rapper anymore; with underground rap, it is the lyricism and individualism that really matters. The up and coming formerly underground rapper, and my personal favorite artist, Kendrick Lamar, was deemed mainstream when he collaborated with Drake on his most recent album Take Care. Which brings up the very controversial point: what makes music underground and what makes it mainstream? According to the American public today, the most basic way to tell if music is mainstream is if it is played on the radio. I believe that another way music is dubbed mainstream if the artist raps about subject matter that is shallow and does not give much insight into deeper subjects. If you turn on the radio for an hour, most of the song lyrics you will hear flooding out of the mouths of Big Sean and Soulja Boy will have

something to do with money, a girl who got away, a few references to alcohol and marijuana and a key line that goes a little something like I am the best rapper alive, everyone bow down to me. It is ephemeral; unlike the rap artists of the early 1990s, much of these fluffy lyrics will fail to make an impact on the future of music. So look up Shabazz Palaces new album Black Up. Listen to Wales mixtapes from years ago, before he became a product of the mainstream. Take in the lyrics of Kendrick Lamar on his life in Compton and how Reaganomics still affect America today. Do not overlook Danny Brown just because he looks a bit like a cross between a homeless man and a preteen skater. Look underground.

The Blake Beat

December 16, 2011

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REVIEWS FOR YOU


Much Ado could improve, remains enjoyable
x by Joal Chen
Shakespeare Theatre Companys production of Much Ado About Nothing is an interesting take on the comedic classic that, with minor changes, has the ability to be excellent. Much Ado tells the story of a group of lovers, who through misunderstandings and plots, find true love. Set in 1930s Cuba, the director wisely used the brewing Cuban civil war as a backdrop for the events taking place. We are presented with a tranquil Cuban sugar plantation and a gorgeous set which truly portrays the beauty and sensuality of Cuba. The bright set and lighting creates a steamy setting that mixes perfectly with the play. Not only did the director take advantage of the Cuban scenery, Spanish music and dance is also incorporated in the play. The play is populated with salsa beats and tangos and cha-chas galore. Only once does the dancing seem unnecessary (a confusing scene that only those familiar with the play would understand); otherwise the dancing seamlessly blended into the play. As a whole, the cast was remarkable, but there were definitely several standouts. Benedict, the male lead portrayed by Derek Smith, stole every scene he was in, bringing humor and wit to all his interactions. Mr. Smith was willing to break the fourth wall, and directly speak to the audience, engaging the audience and forcing them to invest in his character. Claudio, a second male lead played by Ryan Garbayo, channeled the right mix of navet and anger in his interpretation of the wronged lover. Unfortunately, I did not feel any attachment or connection to any of the female characters. Though the play had a strong cast, there were barely any Spanish cast members. I felt that an opportunity was lost by the lack of diversity in the cast, especially since the play was located in Cuba. There was also the annoying inconsistency of some actors attempting an accent (and failing miserably) and others not even trying. Much Ado has many great aspects, and if you can ignore minor infractions, hop the red line, arrive early (you may be able to score $15 tickets) and enjoy an entertaining and funny performance. The play will run till January 1 at the Sidney Harman Hall in Washington, DC.

Joal Chen

Veronica Roth debuts first of trilogy with Divergent


x by Alex Reeves
With the threat of 2012 so near, another dystopian novel was just what the youth of America needed. The innovative page-turner, Divergent, by first time author Veronica Roth, is the first book of a trilogy that I could just not put down. The novel follows the journey of Beatrice (Tris), a girl who is forced to make the decision between faction (a group of people with common goals) and family- her values over blood. Once she is chosen, Tris ends up in a faction where death is a common occurrence and pain equals pleasure. The book is not all battles though; there is also a steamy forbidden romance. The story and theme bares a close resemblance to the popular Hunger Games books. Having read them both, I would be lying if I said there were not some distinct similarities. The biggest similarity is that both main characters, Tris and Katniss, are strong willed sixteen year old girls. Like Katniss, Tris has a whole set of inner battles to overcome, though there is a different message to teach the reader. Divergent seeks to prove that it takes a variety of different people and viewpoints to make a world work, that too much of the same thing is futile and maybe even dangerous.

Student claims novel to be fun, creative page-turner

Alex Reeves

There are so many positives aspects of Divergent, but my favorite is that it is not your run of the mill, fluffy teen novel. Tris was easy to relate to, both in the choices she made and problems she had to overcome. Divergent is a good enough book that it would appeal to girls, guys and a wide variety of personalities. Divergent was such a captivating book that I found myself reading it at every free moment. The second book in the trilogy is set to come out in May 2012 and I can hardly wait. This book will make you laugh, cry and maybe stop breathing during the particularly thrilling scenes; it is definitely the book to read.

Original yet predictable romance takes big screen


Ensemble movie New Years Eve lets down viewers
x by Melissa Whitaker
New Years Eve was cute, but not amazing - not by a long shot. The cast was filled with big names from all over Hollywood, and while humorous, it was painfully predictable. Before I say anything else, let me say that it was a good movie, just not for me. I hate romance movies; I find that they all tend to be the same thing: two people meet, they have several heartwarming scenes together before someone or something comes and tries to ruin their relationship, and in the end they always wind up together. I do have to say that the movie,
thankfully, was not the exact same plot as sister film Valentines Day, a movie consisting of characters living rough love lives. It actually had a lot of heart, and I found it rather touching. That being said, a fair portion of the dialogue was useless and I found myself losing interest more than once. New Years Eve is an ensemble movie, meaning it follows multiple people through the film. However, certain stories were just better than others. I loved every scene with Halle Berrys character and I loved every single second Jon Bon Jovi was on screen, as well as Josh Duhamel and Hillary Swank. Their stories were the only ones I had a real interest in. Even though I love Zac Efron, Michelle Pfiffer, Lea Michele and Ashton Kutcher, I felt like most of their scenes were there for comic relief and that they did nothing for the rest of the film. New Years Eve was a good film great for a date night or just to see with a close friend - but I wont be buying it on DVD. It was enjoyable, definitely, and I do recommend seeing it because some of the parts in the movie were fantastic. New Years really is just a time to think about the year you have had and what you will change for next year; which is exactly what Hillary Swank says in the movie.

Melissa Whitaker

Book offers new point of view from Hamlets lover


x by Priya Dadlani
Most have read, or at least heard of, the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. We are familiar with the unforgettable Hamlet, Claudius and the loyal Horatio. But do you remember Ophelia? Hamlets secret lover and bride, who climbed the social ladder in a world ruled by men? Ophelia may not have been the most talked about or popular character from Hamlet. This may be because Shakespeare killed her off, but if she did not die, if she took Hamlets recommendations and went to live in a nunnery, how would her life turn out? Lisa Klein has written many books taking place in the past, but her novel Ophelia might have been her biggest accomplishment. Taking place in Denmark in the 1600s when King Hamlet was in rule; this novel focuses on the life of Ophelia and the trials and tribulations of her life. A love affair between Ophelia and Hamlet is the backbone of the story. The necessity to keep their love a secret causes a lot of the drama in Ophelias life. In this time period, men were always on top and always in charge. Women were looked at as ornaments, to be pretty, quiet, quaint and lady like. They were never given any power and were never expected to step out of line and act spontaneously. Ophelias life however, was tumultuous, with ups and downs of great lengths even before she reached the age of 18. A secret love affair, a fathers death, a pregnancy, a fake death and joining a nunnery and the love of her life dying were all things that Ophelia experienced at a tender age. She did

Fresh twist on Shakespeare impresses student

Priya Dadlani

not have anyone to divulge her feelings to and she had no one to give her advice. Many teens can relate to Ophelia, maybe not because theyve had secret love affairs or faked a death, but because they feel like they cannot tell anyone their problems. They might feel like no one understands and that is exactly how Ophelia felt while dealing with Hamlet, her family and their secret. I have read this book four times and every time I read it I connect with it on a different level, according to the way my life is going. You do not have to have read Hamlet to appreciate this book. You do not even have to be a girl to read this book. This book is perfect for any person who can identify with feeling judged, unaccepted, pressured and heavy hearted.

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December 16, 2011

The Blake Beat

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