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On November 9 an empowerment conference was held in Sheldon’s auditorium and workshops in some of the school’s classrooms from 9:30am to 2:30pm. The conference was intended to inspire students to be responsible and make their education count. Various other high schools from around Eugene also attended, such as North, South, Willamette, and Churchill. Many speakers took the stage, including a club from North Eugene high school, and Leon Lincoln, who organized the whole event. There were also singers, one being Sheldon’s own Moranda Rasmussen. One of the speakers was Paul Wilson, a sophomore here at Sheldon. When asked if he felt inspired by the whole conference, Wilson replied, “Defi nitely. The fact that the speakers that they had were all there, volunteering their time to advocate for the furthering and the betterment of each students’ education, and the promotion of a diverse education inspired me.”

Wilson also noted that he thought the best part of the conference was the beginning, where students got to voice their opinions on the education which they are being given. A strong message that the conference sent out to students was that now is the time to make important decisions about the future, especially in regards to education. Many people who attended the conference received a positive vibe. However, there were a few who didn’t feel as impacted. Sophomore Mikayla Watson said that she stayed for less than an hour because she came with her fi rst period class, and the conference didn’t start right at 9:30am. Within that fi rst forty minutes or so that she was there, she didn’t feel especially empowered. If the conference had started on time, and if the students coming with classes could have stayed just a little longer, then maybe some would have enjoyed the conference more. Although, with a large group of people, there were no guarantees as to when the conference would really start. After the conference, some of the speakers and other people held workshops fi ve of Sheldon’s classrooms. One could choose to attend three of the fi ve workshops which were: “Real Talk (Attitude)”, “Getting the Most out of Your Post-Education (Choice)”, “Leadership Empowerment (Perception)”, “Drug Education (Choice)”, and “Sports,

Education, Profession (Choice)”. The workshop about post-education was held by Frank and Velma Johnson, president and CEO of Teachable Moments. Throughout the conference and workshops, Mr. Johnson said a couple of times that, “all the really, really good stuff is on the top fl oor.” He also said later on to, “Keep your mind open and be fl exible.” During their workshop, they presented that we, as students, need to take the opportunities that come to us, and make a difference in our community. We can’t just assume that various opportunities will come easily to us; we need to work for them. We need to look at the opportunities that come to us as something that may never come again, and use them to help out our community, and ourselves. Otherwise if we take them for granted, then we may not be as successful in life as we could have been, and regret it later on. All in all, the empowerment conference put on a very good show, complete with speakers, singers, and a diverse group of students from around town. The fi ve hour session was focused on attitude, perception, choice, and directing students to focus on their future in education. Although not all received the chance to experience the whole conference, it is safe to say that those who went had an overall benefi cial and positive time.

Empowerment conference inspires students

Sammie Tracewellstaff writer

Counselors struggle to meet student needs

Kara Cheungstaff writer

Sheldon counselors rise to challenge of so many students looking for aid

With the limited funds for education due to the struggling economy, many opportunities are lost in school. The number of counselors and their working hours at Sheldon High School is currently lower than what would be ideal,

to say the least. Senior Sara Firth has frequently visited her counselor throughout her high school experience. She said, “I went to Chile my sophomore year, and the counselor helped me to sort out the credits that I would have to complete.” Although, Sara also said that, “sometimes I feel rushed, and things get cut short due to the limited times for meetings.” The senior concluded that the counselors play an effective role in the development of each student’s high school goals and experience, but she also states that their busy schedules negatively impact the students. In the community of Sheldon High School, the school staff also had opinions regarding the crunched schedules of the counselors, such as IHS secretary, Peggy Farris. When asked how the limited accessible time of the counselors affected the students she stated, “students have a harder time getting timely appointments.” Farris said that she believed, “They have too many students for each counselor, and too much work to accomplish.” The IHS secretary also added that the counselors of Sheldon High School are wonderful people, and that they play a big role on the student’s lives because they, “keep them steered in the right direction.” Not only do the counselors help with everyday issues and dilemmas, but they also deal with life impacting decisions as well. Senior Zulema Iboa stated, “As a senior, I had

many decisions that needed to be made. With the support of my counselor, it became easier to decide which choice would lead me down the path that I wanted to go.” The senior commented on her future college decisions, and how she’d like to attend an Ivy League school. She mentioned how she was able to fi nd scholarships to prestigious colleges by meeting with her helpful counselors. With this, she summarized the importance of the counselors and their crucial role to the seniors at Sheldon. Mr. Voss, one of the three counselors at Sheldon, discussed how there are no slow times of the day. He stated that, “if there isn’t a meeting, then I’m usually working on e-mails or taking care of requests from phone messages.” He added that he enjoys his job at the high school, but admitted that being the counselor of about 500 students can be “extremely diffi cult.” According to Mr. Voss, “There are two groups of students who seek help. The highly proactive universal students, and students who are barely going to graduate or face social challenges.” With the limited time, each case is evaluated on the degree of crisis, urgency, and importance before being fi tted into the counselors’ busy schedules. Counselor Mr. Voss stated that an addition of another counselor or half time counselor could reduce the crunched time.

Sheldon High School 2455 willakenzie Rd., Eugene, Or 97401 vol. 48 Issue 3 Dec. 14, 2012

page 4-5shstalisman@gmail.com

4j high school students learn about attitude, perception, and choice

“We want it more.” Of the many cheers which emerged during the OSAA 6A State Championship football game, this one said it all. The title game this year was a re-match from last year, but far from a repeat. Pitted against the Lake Oswego Lakers for the second year in a row after a devastating loss in last year’s game meant a shot at redemption. As the Sheldon boys walked away with a 13-6 victory, it became clear this second chance was not taken for granted. The student section was overfl owing with indescribable emotion from kick-off until the last whistle, without fail. In all the games of the season, cheers had never been louder, school spirit had never been stronger, and the desire to win had never been more real. Nearly 100 students made the trip to Jeld-Wen Field to witness their favorite football team do what everyone

Irish fight to win the 2012 State titleknew they could: bring home the state title. Junior Marcus McGovern said, “It was a really awesome experience to win it all, and I feel really lucky to be a part of something as special as Sheldon football.” It’s safe to say this game meant far more than a title and a blue trophy. Coach Phillipo said, “Making it to the state fi nals game, and then winning it, was very surreal. This is Sheldon’s fourth State Championship win, and this was only the second time that we weren’t expected to win. It just goes to show that our boys were able to improve and dominate all of the opponents, who were some pretty good teams, in order to get a 14-0 season. It’s all very fulfi lling.” Winning this game proved that hard work pays off; it proved that every ounce of dedication, sweat, blood, and tears poured into the team by each individual player paid off. This was the culmination of efforts made by each team member, each coach, and each fan.

Carly Goughstaff writer

Dirk Knudsen photo

Kara Cheung photoStudents patiently wait in the school career center.

the Talisman

Senior Taylor Alie characteristically runs the ball down the fi eld.

December 14, 20122 the TalismanNews

Benefi ts of plastic bag ban for EugeneThe new plastic bag ban is designed to reduce pollution by keeping plastic out of the environment

Jackson Darlandeditor-in-chief

Holly Fordbackpage editor

Sandy hits close to home for Sheldon students

Marijuana’s legalization has aroused mixed feelings from students

Noah Savagestaff writer

Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern shore of the United States on October 29. For numerous Sheldon staff and students, Sandy threatened the safety of friends and family living on the East Coast, as was the case for junior Sophie Deloretto. With the initial news of the advancing storm, Deloretto was not fazed, but as time went on she became more worried. She said, “At the beginning, I was really detached from it, but when I realized it concerned my

family, it got a lot scarier.” Deloretto has a cousin who lives in New York and she attempted to contact her shortly following the hurricane. Deloretto said, “We fi nally got a hold of her, and my mom was like, ‘Do you know where your fl ashlight, matches, and fuses are? Do you have an emergency pack?’ We were so scared. Our whole family was really nervous and jittery about it.” Deloretto’s cousin made it just fi ne, much to Deloretto’s relief. Mr. Schultz, who has been working in the Sheldon Academy for nineteen years, had similar feelings regarding the storm. Having grown up in New York, moving away from the East Coast when he was twenty-two years old, Mr. Schultz said, “[The storm] was defi nitely more personal because I had friends who I was concerned about. I didn’t know their circumstances. I didn’t know if they would be caught in the fl ood.” Schultz was eventually able to contact his friends living in the area affected by the storm, but he said that initially, “No phone calls were able to get through, and emails were not responded to.” The damage caused by Hurricane Sandy was immense. There were millions of power outages in twenty-one states, according to The Huffi ngton Post. Schultz said, “One family I know lost a home in North Carolina that washed out to sea. I

The ban on plastic bags in Eugene is new to the area and affects different locals in different ways. Senior Sora Boyd stated his opinion that, “It’s a good move but in the big picture there are a lot more changes we need to make.” To a majority of Eugenians, the environment is very important. When asked if he thought the change would benefi t the environment Boyd replied, “No, not a drastic amount, but yeah it will make a difference.” It may not seem a big deal, but switching from plastic bags to paper bags really impacts the environment. Once a plastic bag is littered, it can fi nd a way to the ocean, beaches, parks, or streets or, if burned, become a toxin that contaminates the air supply. In fact, plastic bags that get littered throughout the environment take about four hundred years to decompose. Trying to eliminate the use of plastic bags creates a cleaner community for not only the current generation, but for people to come. What if this is only the starting point for more laws that promote a healthy atmosphere? How will the future look? There are about 300,000 tons of plastic bags making their way to landfi lls each year out of the 100 billion single-use bags manufactured; at this point the future doesn’t look very bright. Furthermore, this information

arouses the question: what steps will an individual take to personally promote the environments well being? Recycling paper bags will help the environment and it will cost less money to make. Adding to Boyd’s earlier opinion, junior Haley Jones said, “I think paper bags are more easily recycled and cause less harm to the environment and ecosystem. I think reusable bags are best.” Jones later added, “This change will keep plastic out of the landfi lls and it will help animal habitats. I found out about the ban

Have you heard of recent bills being passed to legalize marijuana? Well so far it has only been legalized in

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Washington and Colorado, but that doesn’t mean other states won’t follow. More and more people are getting in trouble for using marijuana so some citizens are voting to legalize it. Freshmen Chase Davis said, “I [have] heard about the legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado” He also stated, “The legalization will boost the economy by selling marijuana.” Davis thinks legalizing marijuana will lower crime rates and that selling it in stores will increase business sales; he also thinks medical

marijuana cards should be legal in Oregon because a lot of people are in pain and they need cards. Davis thinks marijuana will eventually become legal in Oregon because Oregon’s neighboring states will infl uence Oregon. Davis said that the legalization of marijuana will affect people’s life by changing people’s attitudes. Davis stated that other states will legalize marijuana because it has already happened and it will happen again. Freshman Carter Johnson said he also heard about the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington and agreed, “Marijuana will eventually become legalized in Oregon because of its neighboring states.” Johnson also said, “Marijuana should not be sold in

of plastic bags from a man wearing a plastic bag costume. He was showing us how many plastic bags we use.” With the decrease of plastic bags distributed from store to store, hopefully citizens in Eugene take to the new ban kindly and reduce litter output. Some businesses in different communities are even charging customers for bags to encourage people to reuse bags. With any luck, in the future the reduced amount of plastic used in the community will benefi t the state of the environment in Eugene.

don’t think anybody was prepared for such a superstorm. [Sandy] reminded me of the footage of September 11.” Emma Catalano, a former Sheldon student now living in Litlitz, Pennsylvania, shared her experience after the storm. Even though she and her family were far enough inland that they weren’t going to be hit severely, Catalano said, “My family started fi lling empty milk jugs and other containers with water. We bought canned food and kept it in the basement along with other supplies. We started eating the perishable food from the fridge in case we did lose power.” Catalano is fully aware of the dangers that the hurricane posed, especially to those living in New Jersey or New York, but she was just fi ne. Even with all of the instant media coverage of Hurricane Sandy, Deloretto said that she thought Sheldon students took the hurricane rather lightly, especially those with little or no tie to the East Coast: “I felt like it was more of a family-oriented thing. In Sheldon, we were desensitized to [the storm]. There was a fake Twitter account pretending to be Hurricane Sandy. It was making jokes.” People like Deloretto and Schultz, with personal connections to those affected by the storm, clearly understand the gravity of the natural disaster.

stores because it will give everybody availability to get it.” Carter said, “Marijuana should be illegal unless you have a medical marijuana card because some people need it because they’re sick.” Johnson said other states will legalize marijuana because it has already happened, and it will have a big impact on society “because everyone will be messed up and acting weird.” Johnson stated that “I don’t think a lot of people in Oregon dot smoke marijuana because people don’t want to get in trouble.” Freshman Josh Harris said, “Yes, I have heard about the legalization of marijuana.” Harris stated that the “legalization of marijuana will affect the economy in Washington and Colorado because a lot of people will buy it.” He also agrees that marijuana should be sold in stores to help boost the economy. Harris said, “If marijuana was legalized in Oregon it would affect me a lot because a lot of people would be smoking it and it would be sold in stores everywhere.” Harris believes “marijuana should be illegal everywhere because it will be less of a problem because people wouldn’t smoke it because they don’t want to get in trouble.” Harris said that other states including Oregon will legalize marijuana because it has already happened. “Medical marijuana cards should be legal because some people need it because they are sick.” Harris also stated, “If marijuana was legalized everywhere it will have a big impact on society because marijuana will be legal so people won’t get arrested.”

Micah Tamasaka illustration

As Hurricane Sandy devastated the Eastern Seaboard, some Sheldon students and staff were left worrying about loved ones

Recently-passed state laws bring new “stoned” age

December 14, 2012 3the Talisman Entertainment

Ethan Hauckcopy editor

The new James Bond movie Skyfall has critics reeling

The newly-modernized remake of Red Dawn has many Hollywood stars

Vanessa Hendricksnews editor

MTV of today vs. the MTV of yesterdayWhat happened to the MTV that started a television revolution?

Ben Elyentertainment editor

Fifty years of Bond culminates in Skyfall

Imagine this: you are sitting on a train, headed through Constantinople. Out of nowhere, the back of the train is torn off. Then, amidst the dust, torn metal, and screams, a man casually jumps down out of nowhere and fi xes the sleeve of his suit, like he didn’t just rip the back off of a train. This mysterious man then casually walks through the rest of the train with a determined look on his face. This is one of the fi rst scenes in the explosive opening of the new Bond movie, Skyfall. So many people are saying that this is the best Bond movie yet, or at the very least, of Daniel Craig’s Bond movies. There are explosions, gunfi ghts, beautiful women, and sexy cars in this movie, all of the staples of Bond movies, but is it the best? Sophomore Jared Bays said, “I think that Skyfall is a great movie. It pays great homage to the classic Bond movies, but I don’t think that it is the best one. It certainly is the best of Daniel Craig’s Bond movies yet. It has

great stunts and special effects, but it doesn’t measure up to classics like From Russia with Love or Goldeneye.” Sophomore T.J. Strong said, “I love Bond movies. They are one of my favorite series. I think that the new one, Skyfall, is the best one yet, but remember I have only seen the three Daniel Craig movies, and Goldeneye. I think that the special effects are really well done in Skyfall. They have great fi ghts, huge explosions, and lots of great set pieces.” Junior Jamie Hauck said, “I love the history of Bond that they threw into Skyfall is helps show who Bond is, and why he is that way. They go to his family’s home in Scotland, called Skyfall, hence the name. You get to fi nd out, at least a little, about his parents. Em explains how James was recruited. You get to learn a lot about the character. Many critics have been exclaiming that, “Skyfall is the best Bond yet!” Apparently not everyone thinks that it is, although no one interviewed said that they didn’t thoroughly enjoy the

It was August 1, 1981, one minute after midnight, when the words “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll,” were spoken, launching the all new music video channel, MTV. Following that, the very fi rst music video was played. The song was “Video Killed the Radio Star,” by the Buggles, which was appropriate for the event. The next video was Pat Benatar’s “You Better Run.” MTV quickly became one of the most popular channels on television. But with popularity came changes. Nowadays, reality shows rule the channel, which brings up the question: what happened to MTV? When it was fi rst launched, MTV had one objective: music. Today, music videos seem like a second priority. In the 1980’s, MTV was run by fi ve video jockeys (VJ’s): Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, J.J. Jackson, and Martha Quinn. They would record music news, upcoming concerts, interviews with stars, and “intro” and “outro” segments for the music videos. The original VJ’s are no longer on MTV. Many went into radio, acting, and the four surviving VJ’s (Jackson died in 2004 of a heart attack) are on Sirius XM Radio’s The 80’s on 8. MTV was also innovative in the ‘90s. The very fi rst reality show, by the name of The Real World, was aired

on MTV. This just shows how far reality shows have come today. MTV still plays music, but not nearly as much as in the early days of the channel. According to Sophomore Ashlen Swick, “[MTV needs] to play more music. It’s just reality show after reality show.” Many agree, but MTV is still popular among teens and young adults today. For many, MTV was a part of their lives. Wake up, watch MTV, go to school, come home, do homework, and watch MTV. The 80’s were the golden years for MTV, but there were still opinions associated with it. Spanish teacher Ms. Weeks said, “[MTV] was pretty scandalous at the time. It

started a whole new era of what was acceptable as far as dressing and dance moves, so that just changed everyone’s thought process of what is okay, and what’s not okay.” When asked what her favorite memory of MTV was, she replied with, “Michael Jackson’s [video,] ‘Thriller’.” The concept of music television was an idea that revolutionized how we think of music. From the very fi rst video, MTV was an infl uence to aspiring artists, and provided hours of entertainment to young adults and teens alike. Although it does not stand up to its name today, MTV will go down in history with an amazing reputation.

Among the remakes Hollywood has made, with very few original movies in the mix, is Red Dawn. Now this fi lm isn’t exactly like its predecessor, and has been altered for modern day society to be able to relate to the dilemma that the teenagers face. They do this by making the invaders of the U.S. to be North Koreans and by using some very popular actors. Senior Danielle Duhaime said, “You just can’t remake a Swayze movie; you wouldn’t remake Ghost or Roadhouse.” But I believe this movie took a step in the right direction, away from

being just a remake and towards being its own movie. The older version of Red Dawn took place, and was fi lmed, in a time when Russians invading America was viewed as a legitimate threat and tension was high in our country. Social studies teacher Mr. Hahn said, “This fi lm seems a few years late, but one can always make money by exploiting American angst about ‘foreigners.’ The interesting aspect about American culture is how our general mood generates these types of fi lms.” Honestly, I agree with Mr. Hahn’s opinion about how the fears and mood of the general public can affect popular culture, especially the movies that are made. When watching the new Red Dawn I got a strong feeling that it was made to play on people’s fears, of our home being invaded for the fi rst time by a country we underestimated and of us losing the ones we love in a way we have never even imagined. When talking to students about Red Dawnthey agreed that the situation was plausible but not the

fact that teenagers would be the ones to fi ght back. They thought that teenagers would be more likely to “sit in a corner crying” than fi ght back. Senior Garret Johnson said, “The original was pretty good but a little corny in some places, but it seemed like it could happen.” While I agree that this movie wasn’t as plausible, I like to think that someone in the younger generation would step up to try and fi ght to get our home back. Even if the odds were against us I think that the only thing we could do would be fi ght, because America has always fought for freedom and Americans have always whole heartedly been a part of that fi ght. Red Dawn proved to be like its predecessor in many respects, though there are a lot of differences to allow it to be modernized. Red Dawn held its own and proved to be a great movie, fi lled with action and just enough emotion and drama to make it captivating, which shattered my slightest doubts about whether this movie was worth my money.

movie, not everyone said that it was the best. It was the Fiftieth Anniversary Bond movie, and it did a great job paying homage to the series. It made slight references to the classics, and stuck with the classic formula for Bond movies- beautiful women, sexy cars, and stunts on a grand scale. Yet, with all of that, it appears that Daniel Craig just isn’t The Man with the Golden Gun.

Red Dawn: Hollywood’s latest remakeMicah Tamasaka illustration

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2013 Mr. Irish pageant starting up As we reach the middle of November, something very big is starting to swing into action. People from around Sheldon High School and around the commu-nity are already dedicating time to an amazing event: the 2013 Mr. Irish pageant. Senior Hope Zima, a coordinator for Mr. Irish, said, “I was thrilled when I found out I would be able to contribute to such a great program. It’ll be a big-time commitment, but I know it’ll be worth it.” Even those who are not directly work-ing for the pageant are already looking forward to seeing the fi nished product. Senior Sara Firth said, “Mr. Irish is always so much fun to watch, and knowing that it benefi ts a really good cause just makes the whole experience even better.” So, what can people expect when attending the Mr. Irish pageant? Back in 1992, a boy named C.J. Martin started the event, which was basically in-tended to be a pageant that had boys as contestants and girls as coordinators. The proceeds of the event would go to Sacred Heart’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The pageant is split into numerous portions, including talent sec-tion, giving thanks to the boys’ mothers, and dancing. At the end, one boy is

Carly Goughstaff writer

The annual Mr. Irish Pageant is once again getting ready to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network and help kids all over the Eugene/Springfi eld area.

Various charities look to help during the winter

Cya Silvaopinions editor

Winter charities around Sheldon help: ‘tis the season for those who need it and can’t make ends meet

Julia Girod photoBack Row (left to right): Dylan Lewis, Taylor Alie, Colton Clark, Tony Tokatly, Ivan Faulhaber, Joe Ricken, Ryan Fisher, Brandon Hawks, Sam SenoMiddle Row (left to right): Jody Lee, Kaitlyn Perod, Shelby McCool, Claire Thompson, Sophie Roberts, Hope Zima, Emily Stringfi eld, Kelsey Sherman, Mellissa Jaffy. Front Row (left to right): Carly Gough, Lexus Diama, Simone Balazs, Ellie Combs, Natalie Cunningham, Jennifer Lewis

Although there are many new and interesting ways that someone can express a joke, the one that is taking the internet by storm is the meme. A meme is a con-

crowned the winner: Mr. Irish. Through the years that the Mr. Irish pageant has been active, the idea has spread. Over twenty other schools now host their own similar pageants, and millions of dollars in donations have been raised. Senior Jody Lee, one of the head coordinators, said, “I got involved because I love the idea of how a fun event could do so much good for the community.” Lee also worked with the pageant last year as one of two junior coordinators. “A lot of work goes into these pageants each year,” continued Lee, “and all of the hard work really does pay off. We’re raising a lot of money for an incredible cause.” So far, the Mr. Irish contestants have been announced and paired with their coordinators. Jars have been decorated and distributed at businesses around the Sheldon area in hopes of receiving donations from customers. In the coming months, there’s a lot to look forward to, like fundraisers, dance performances, activity nights including a basketball game, and much more. All of this leads up to the big night of the Mr. Irish pageant, which will take place on March 2, 2013.

cept that is used to make fun of things or people in a way that causes a reaction of either humorous proportions or a realization of something. “I do believe that memes come from Memebase because that’s where I go to fi nd them,” sopho-more Jonathen Howell stated. From knowledgeable sources, the conclusion cannot be made that memes only come from Memebase. Memes come from a wide source of things, whether it is from some funny still frame that someone found or if it’s something that someone made. There’s a wide variety of web-sites that offer a different variety of memes, but Memebase is the most popular. With many new and constant people logging onto the internet there are many more people discovering Memebase. Junior Ian Adair said, “I was referred to Memebase by a friend.” This is a common way to discover Memebase, but what does Memebase actually do to you? Adair said, “It has turned my brain into mush.” Many people have done things that can be considered completely ludicrous, but turning your brain into a boiling pit of mush seems possible. Memes, they come in a wide variety of, “should not have been done” to “hilar-ious” and then fi nally to “that was the best!” A subcategory to memes is where someone takes an actual photo and puts a paper face over it. Junior Keith Yager said, “I would have to say that the memes that I like the most are the troll face because it looks hilarious when posted over people’s faces.” With many people laughing it up with memes and more different kinds of memes showing up, the in-ternet has become more of a wide and free place that memes have come to control. Memes come from a multitude of places and yet they all get the same kinds of reaction no matter where they are posted. Whether it’s on a website, shown on a wall, or even brought up as a photo on your phone, they will forever get a laugh or an angry glare. They have withstood the passage of time and have even shown up on games. A popular one was in the fi rst Legend of Zelda, when an old man showed up and said, “Take this, it could be dangerous to go alone,” and after which he gave you a wooden sword that was completely useless. To a more stan-dard one that has appeared recently, “One does not simply walk into Mordor,” or some variation of that phrase. Memes will continue to pop up, and will continue to spread as long as there is a person who wants to make fun of people or things.

Memes are taking the Internet by storm

To many Americans, Thanksgiving is considered to be an important holiday. It is supposed to be a day full of family love as well as stuffi ng your mouth with so much food to the point you can hardly eat the next day. And on the next day is Black Friday. For those who don’t know, Black Friday is every shopper’s favorite day. It is called that because it’s a time when retailers go from being in the red (debt) to being in the black (profi table). Almost all retail, department and food stores open very early (around midnight to 6 a.m.) with large discounts to please the buyers. The real question is: Is Black Friday necessary for America? Teenagers and young adults show much interest to Black Friday. Senior Alec Schauer said, “I’ve been going to Black Friday since 9th grade.” High school and college students normally start attending Black Friday around 7th to 9th grade. As most stores shoot their prices down for that day even the thrift stores, whose prices can be lower than retail stores with discounts, knock their prices lower. It defi nitely makes a win-win situation for any avid shopper out there. Schauer said, “My favorite stores to shop at are Aeropostale, Ross, Macy’s and Wal-Mart.” These are popular choices for many teenage shoppers on Black Fri-day and most likely shows their biggest interests lie in clothing and electronics. Not only is Black Friday a positive for the shoppers, it also has a good effect on the stores. Despite the price cuts, sales volume goes up rapidly over that period of time. Senior Justin Graff said, “The cheap prices and the adrena-line rush of shopping is what makes Black Friday great.” Unfortunately, with

every positive there is a negative. While stores open early for customers, and prices are cheaper, it can get pretty violent from the numbers of shoppers rush-ing in to the store, fi ghting with others just for a shopping item, and even tram-pling people who were just there to have a good time. Graff also stated, “Some negatives of Black Friday are the consumer values taking away the Holiday spirit, since Thanksgiving was the day before, and the fact that it gets violent at some stores.” It can easily put pressure on employees who work during that time. One of the biggest concerns with the Black Friday tradition is will it last for the next 15-20 years? Considering the economy’s position now, recovering from a recession that started in December 2008, money is very important for retail com-panies. On another note people are always looking for any deal possible because some of them struggle with how much money is in their pockets. Senior Kieonna White is hopeful about Black Friday’s future. “I could still see Black Friday hap-pening in the next 15 years. A lot of people are needy for good deals so it will help them out.” Basically, it is a debate between what the seller and the consumer needs. Is Black Friday necessary for America? Well, it isn’t something that Americans need to have. Some people have been trampled when stores open. The fact that Black Friday comes right after Thanksgiving, the holiday in which people show what they are thankful for, reveals the dark side of Black Friday. But, with a strug-gling economy, any price cuts will attract attention. To some people, Black Friday is very necessary. Not only is Black Friday a positive for the shoppers, it also has a good effect on the stores. Despite the price cuts, sales volume goes up rap-idly over that period of time. Senior Justin Graff said, “The cheap prices and the adrenaline rush of shopping is what makes Black Friday great.” Unfortunately, with every positive there is a negative. While stores open early for customers, and prices are cheaper, it can get pretty violent from the numbers of shoppers rush-ing in to the store, fi ghting with others just for a shopping item, and even tram-pling people who were just there to have a good time. Graff also stated, “Some negatives of Black Friday are the consumer values taking away the Holiday spirit, since Thanksgiving was the day before, and the fact that it gets violent at some stores.” It can easily put pressure on employees who work during that time.

Black Friday tradition pros and cons

Tim Lawrencestaff writer

Black fi rday once again a big hit shattering records for money spent in a single day

Every year Sheldon High School is lucky enough to host a variety of exchange students from various places around the globe. These students are able to learn from us and gain experience of our culture, and in turn they are able to teach us about their homes and their cultures if we take the time to really talk with them. Foreign exchange student Ida Forssén sat down to answer a few questions about her exchange trip. Forssén, seventeen, recently came to the United States from her home in Stockholm, Sweden, in order to participate in an exchange program. She is staying through this school year, and so far is thoroughly enjoying her experience.Forssén described her time at Sheldon thus far by saying, “It has been like in American movies with football players, dances, and school spirit. It’s been very fun.” She stated that the students and staff have been very welcom-ing and friendly to her. Are you curious about her favorite and least favorite things about Sheldon as a school? Forssén likes the wide selection of classes and the friendliness, but hates when students ask her, “Are you from Swit-zerland?” So keep that in mind if you ever stop to talk to her in the halls.Forssén is most surprised by how much she likes the food here and by how rainy the weather is, which most of us Oregonians can understand. She also had previously heard that American high school is easy, but now disagrees with that statement. However, learning completely in a second language couldn’t be that easy for anyone. Forssén stated that the most prominent dif-ferences she’s noticed between here and her home in Sweden are that “Peo-ple wear shoes indoors here and in Sweden people shave their beards even if it’s November. Transportation is also very different.” In response to what she missed most about home she replied, “The Swedish candy and my friends.”Even though she seemed a little homesick about these things, Forssén got a smile on her face when she was asked if she was glad she took part in this exchange pro-gram. “Yes! Or else I would be home doing all the same things I’ve always done with the same routines and so on. Now instead, I am having the time of my life and when I get home I will see everything with new perspectives and also appre-

ciate the things I missed more. Like Swedish candy,” she ended with a laugh. She commented that she would without a doubt recommend the exchange experience to others who have the opportunity. She stated with excitement that she wants to revisit the States in the future to see her ”loved” host family, the friends she’s made here at Sheldon, and to possibly even attend American college for a year.Spanish teacher Lisa Albrich added that she believes exchange programs are ex-tremely benefi cial. She noted that, “The students are able to teach us about their culture as well as refl ect upon our own.” Albrich also stated that as a language teacher she knows how important it is for one to immerse oneself in the culture of the language one is learning, and exchange programs are able to do just that.Junior Sam Green said that having exchange students at Sheldon, “makes school more interest-ing because I’ve gotten to learn information about where they live and how the culture and everyday life differs from here.” She also said that she has gained a new perspective on exchange students by getting to know them. At fi rst Green thought they would be ex-tremely different from her, but she has now realized that they are really a lot like she is, but just from a differ-ent place in the world. This is an interesting idea because it shows that no matter how dif-ferent cultures are or how far away people live from each other, it

Exchange students exchange thoughts on Sheldon

As fall fades into winter, there is always a rise in charities for the needs of others in the Eugene/Springfi eld area. Times are tough, the economy down, and many families are desperately in need of the basic items for life. Shoes, toiletries, jackets, food, toothpaste, et cetera. There are a number of charities throughout Lane County: Toys for Tots, Tree of Giving, Make A Wish Foundation, Food for Lane County, et cetera… But what is Sheldon doing to serve this year? Athletic director and ASB advisor Matt Binkerd is in charge of a few of the charities going on this year. Snowfl akes of Joy, Toys for Tots, and a few others. Snowfl akes of Joy is where kids in need write on paper snowfl akes and give said snowfl akes to the administration at their school. Sheldon staff asks local

elementary, middle, high schools who is truly in need and selects a few, only identi-fi ed by their ID numbers—if tha¬t—to provide what they need/want that is written on their snowfl akes. “I think it is a good idea to help students in need,” said senior Kyle Mastrandrea. Indeed, it is, but so many students are unaware of all the charities going on at Sheldon. Talk to ASB for more information on how you can get involved. Toys for Tots has been a national organization that’s been around since 1947 run by the US Marine Corps Reserve, and NHS has the privilege to host it at Sheldon High School. Two boxes for toy donations reside in the school, one by the scheduling offi ce, and one in the main offi ce. “[A] big thing is knowing that you don’t have to be a millionaire to make a difference,” NHS President Maggie Schmaedick commented; “Awareness is the biggest thing. Plenty of people would like to contribute, but just don’t know how.” “People who have the ability to assist others do it more [now] because there are more [people] in need. Most understand that the economy is tough and look out for each other,” assistant principal Mike Johnson said. And that seems to be true. Those who can, give, and those who can’t, receive. “There are a lot [of people] who would give if asked,” Binkerd commented; “[Now,] there’s more of a need for help this season, [for] volunteers [to help] those in need.” Shel-donites are standing up and trying to do their part. What are you going to do?

Micah Tamasakagraphics editor

People everywhere tap creative comical and frustration-generating potential through the use of memes

Sheldon has many exchange students every year, but what is it like studying thousands of miles from your home?

Kennedy Pottsstaff writer

Ida Forssén is an exchange student at Sheldon.

Kennedy Potts photo

December 14, 20126 the TalismanOpinions

Sophia Moroskystaff writer

Basketball vs soccer: which is the better sport?

Sam Senofeatures editor

The future today: it’s all about speed

For those who are curious as to what both sides have to say...

Sam Foxstaff writer

Should you still attempt to wake up Saturday morning for cartoons?

Yes, here it is. The proof that society moves faster than it did 25 years ago. Go fi gure!

Society has evolved immensely since we’ve been born. We have gone from Backstreet Boys and Michael Jackson to Skrillex and Justin Bieber, diners to fast food, spin-dial phones to iPhones, and so much more. Our modern day society is all about speed. We are obsessed with making things faster and more “effi cient”. We are impatient and lazy in many aspects of life, always looking to improve and expand on the technology we already have. Senior Lane Davis said, “Our society is living for tomorrow and not enjoying today.” Now, I don’t want you guys to get the wrong idea. I’m all for technology and trying to build on the technological base that we have, I just feel that we are much to caught up in trying to improve what we have, causing us to miss out on a lot of the cool things that are available to us. But our need for speed and instant satisfaction does not stop there. It can also be found in the music we listen to. Last year dub-step took over the music world, becoming one of the most listened to genres of music by high-schoolers and college age students. Dub-step’s up beat hurricane of sound is just the type of music our current society would enjoy. You don’t have to wait for the beat to get bumping; it is loaded and intriguing from start to fi nish. Even lots of teenagers enjoy dub-step, there are still a few who don’t even think it is music. Sophomore Tristan Carpenter said, “It’s liquid garbage, it sounds like what you would hear when you are going between broken radio stations.”

Basketball and soccer are both competitive team sports, but is one better than the other? Most people would say yes, but which one they say is better varies. Freshman Evelyn Montoya, who played basketball up until this year was a post, which is the position she would have chosen if she could pick anything. Montoya said, “[My favorite part of basketball was] just playing the game because it was really fun.” According to Montoya, basketball is better than soccer. “There is more action in basketball and it’s more exciting,” she said. Freshman soccer player, Mollie Van Eekeren, plays

As teenagers, almost all of us have watched cartoons throughout our lives and some still do, cartoons like; Spongebob, Power Puff Girls and Scooby Doo, Oswald, Tom and Jerry, Kim Possible, Mickey Mouse, Captain Caveman, Hong Kong Phooey, Flinstones, Popeye and Looney Tunes. Many strongly believe that watching cartoons is good and everyone should do it, at some point. Freshman Bailea Nance said, “[I think that] it is good [for teenagers] to watch cartoons before [they] have to go back to [reality].” She later added, “[Some] cartoons are funny and can be educating.” Another freshman, Emily Bolivar, added a different take, “I like to read comics in the newspaper, because I don’t have cable to watch [cartoons] on TV.” Yet on the other end of the spectrum, freshman, Sara Choate said, “[I think that cartoons are] kind of a waste of time.” Bolivar disagreed, saying “No! I don’t think that comics are a waste of time.” As a fresh perspective, teacher, Mr. Brancato said, “[Cartoons] can be [a waste of time], just like any other TV show.”

Most teenagers have seen cartoons, but for those who haven’t, there are some ways to sum it up the for the people who have never seen a cartoon in their life, and need some perspective: Choate defi nes them as “animated shows,” Brancato calls them “funny stories about make believe people,” and Freshman Nalani Watkins says “[they are] characters who are funny, charming and never die.” To sum up cartoons, both for those who have seen them and those who have not, cartoons are great. People will read, watch and create comics and cartoons for many purposes, such as entertainment, education and, sometimes, no reason at all. Though they may be immature and even a waste of time in some people’s opinion, reality is, they will probably be around for a long time because they are so great and amusing. People are inspired and entertained by cartoons. In agreement Nance ended with “You can never be too old to watch cartoons.”

forward for Sheldon soccer. Not only does she enjoy playing soccer, she watches it too. “[I watch soccer because]it’s a good way to learn and improve,” Eekeren said. Eekeren also said, “[My least favorite thing about soccer is] when it turns into kickball,” meaning both teams are just trying to kick the ball up the fi eld instead of making good passes, making it go back and forth between the teams. Eekeren said, “[I like soccer better than basketball because] the fi eld is bigger, so there are more players at one time and it’s more fun.” Freshman basketball player, Mariel King, thinks basketball is the better sport. King states, “[My favorite thing about basketball is] the competitiveness of it because I like winning and the feeling you get after you win,” but she isn’t such a big fan of the running involved in the sport. “[Basketball is better than soccer because] basketball is more intense (has a faster pace) and there’s

Carpenter later added, “People are not making the music, it’s pure machine.” Now, I’m not saying its bad to listen to dub-step, I’m just using it as an example to show how we have changed as a society. One of the main technological items that is always changing is the smart phone. Today a high majority of the people who live in the United States own smart phones, and rely on them greatly. I am one of those Americans who uses their smart phones for everything. My iphone has my contacts, test dates, practice times, doctor appointments, emails, and I use it to fi nd directions when I’m lost. If I were to loose my iPhone I would be completely lost. And I’m not the only one. Junior Justin Horten said, “My life has gone completely down the crapper since I lost my phone.” We are not just obsessed with speed, we rely on it. Think of all the times that you get mad at your phone because it is not fast enough. Think of all the times when you weren’t able to do something because you did not have Wi-Fi, or all the times 4G was not enough. We rely on speed so much that it limits what we can do without it. Out of all the aspects in life where we are impatient there is one that shines over all. How many times have you been upset at Taco Bell because they took more than three minutes to make your tacos. Or how mad you were when Little Caesars was all out of their fi ve dollar Hot

Growing up’s old news: now back to cartoons!Talisman Staff

Jackson DarlandJackson DarlandVanessa HendricksBen Ely

Sam SenoKyle RadleyCya SilvaAJ SmithHolly FordMicah TamasakaEthan Hauck

Kennedy PottsTony LoveTanner MitchellSophie MoroskyJarred RogersNoah SavageSammie TracewellCJ VangsnesAustin Woosley

Greg Cantwell

Editor-in-ChiefFrontpage EditorNews EditorEntertainment EditorFeatures Editors

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Staff WritersKara CheungQuinn DanielSam FoxAlicia FroehlichCarly GoughSavannah JonesCesar LandrumTimothy Lawrence-Leighty

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more teamwork involved because there are less players playing at one time,” King said. I play both soccer and basketball for Sheldon and I would have to agree with King and Montoya. Although I like soccer, basketball is defi nitely my favorite sport. Soccer is more spread out and there is much less action for each player than in basketball, where as in basketball, the court is smaller and all players move around throughout the whole court. Basketball has a much faster pace to it than soccer and a lot more points are scored in a basketball game, making basketball more interesting to watch and more exciting to play. Another thing I like about basketball is, in a basketball game there isn’t as much time to think plays through and communicate with your teammates, unlike soccer, so it is more challenging and more important to know your teammates and how

they play.

A message from the TalismanThe Talisman is run by students for students. The views expressed in the Talisman are not necessarily those of the Talisman staff, those of Sheldon High School, or those of the Sheldon community. If you have any letters to the edi-tor, please e-mail the Talisman at shstalisman@gmail.com, or drop a letter in our box located in the offi ce. We kindly

reserve the right to edit all stories we print.

and Ready pizza. Food brings out the impatience in all of us. This impatience is one of the sole reasons why places like McDonalds, Burger King, and Taco Bell thrive. We have gotten to the point where we don’t care where the food comes from, we just care how fast it gets to the

table. Going out to a sit-down restaurant is becoming a rarer occurrence in America, and is something that we could start to fall off the map if we continue with our impatient ways. We have worked hard as a society to get to the point we are today, we need to slow down and enjoy the current moment along with all the stuff we have created along the way.

Micah Tamasaka illustration

December 14, 20127the Talisman Sports

The Sheldon Colleens compete well in Category Championships and other competitions

Tanner Mitchellstaff writer

The best teams are to the playoffs, but the bubble teams need all their luck to play past December

Many fans are critical of the current BCS system, and look forward to the future

Alicia Froehlichstaff writer

AJ Smithsports editor

NFL playoffs are around the corner and things are getting interesting

BCS rankings are questioned by many fanatics

The BCS standings have always been the main source of controversy around college football. The standings are a compilation of the Harris Poll, the AP Poll, and the computer rankings to sort teams into their current standing. The questions arise from the use of the com-puters’ role throughout the ratings. Sophomore Michael Chavez said, “I think that the computers are good at be-ing unbiased when giving the ratings, but they do not have any sense of how the games were played. They don’t account for whether a team like Oregon wins the

game in the first quarter and then puts the backups in so they don’t run up the score.” While this is true, the com-puters do recognize the strength of the opponent, and is a main reason why the Ducks have been further back in the polls than some think they should be. Chavez later added, “But at least the Harris and AP polls help balance the computers out. Overall, it is a fairly solid system.” Some believe that the computers are too powerful in the BCS system. Junior Isaac Bothman said, “The BCS is quite unfair to the teams that try hard all year and are not recognized for it. Just because a team has a weaker strength of schedule doesn’t mean that that should be the deciding factor in a team’s BCS rank, and ultimately which bowl game they end up going to.” Since every team has lost at least one game this year, except Notre Dame, it is even more difficult to deter-mine which team should be entered into the national championship game. This is why some have suggested

implementing the playoff system next year. The top four or eight teams would play each other in a pre-set bracket to determine the best team in college football. A playoff system has its ups and downs: more games would mean more revenue for television networks and universities, yet it would create more chance for in-jury and a longer season for the coaches and players. Some, like senior Nick Ault, think that the playoff sys-tem needs to be implemented next year, rather than in 2014. “The BCS system is flawed right now since it is biased to certain conferences. The team with the best record deserves to play for the title. It should be more structured like the NFL playoffs, with more teams having a shot, rather than computers picking teams. Then we would really know who the best team in the country is.” While this system is becoming more and more appealing to fans across the county, the current BCS rankings system will be here for the next year.

Dance team members ready to conquer another season

“I’m not excited at all [for Borderclash].” Junior Tobias Wright, a stellar athlete for Sheldon, said only a mere four days from his final race of this year’s season. Most people would be excited for this race if they qualified; however, there is a lot of nervousness in the athletes’ minds. Senior Maggie Schmaedick, a stellar runner here at Sheldon, said she was “nervous, because there are a lot of good runners and [the race] always stars off really fast.” There is a lot going into the athletes who qualified, however, this race isn’t going to be as important, aside from the tough qualifying standards. Brayce Forsha, head coach for the cross-country team said, “We always train up for the district and state meets. This race is kind of like icing on the cake.” The Sunday of the race inevitably came to greet the athletes, with terribly cold air and a light mist. The start line was on opposite sides of the field, with Washington towards the east and Oregon towards the west. The runners lined up on their respective sides of the course, ready to clash into one another. The start of the race came with the sound of a cannon, a cannon that strikes a moment of fear and anxiety in the athletes on the line. The racers, with extreme fervor, charged toward each other, and made a sharp turn as they neared the end of the chute, which was about a hundred meters from the start. Wright described it like “the first Greek charge in the movie Troy.” Even though the course was shorter than five-thousand meters, the pain and suffering this race entailed wasn’t any smaller. As the boy’s race progressed, Washington took the early lead and held it for the entirety of the race, with a few Oregon runners making the top ten. Wright placed seventy third and Jackson Darland, another qualifier and senior here at Sheldon, placed twenty ninth. With the girl’s race, Washington again took the early lead with three girls and continued to the end. Oregon got five girls into the top ten at the finish of the race. “I was really tired. It was a really tough race. It’s kind of a hard course because the surfaces were really slick.” Schmaedick qualified for Borderclash for the fourth time in a row during her high school running career, finishing her streak off with fourth place. In order to qualify for this race, a runner needs to be in the top eighteen places at their state meet. Schmaedick has done this four times, a truly astounding achievement. Another qualifier, who placed eighteenth with a painful grimace as she hit the line, was sophomore Gracie Todd, a second-time qualifier. “I felt happy with my race. The competition was hard, the weather was bad, but the team and I raced well and we had fun” said Todd. All and all, this year’s cross-country team was arguably the best in many years and the fact that the team had four varsity level athletes qualify for this race only solidifies this statement. Just as well, Borderclash may not have been the best race for some of the runners, but it will always be a crowning achievement for the runners who made it in.

On Saturday, November 10, Sheldon’s dance team competed in the Clackamas dance competition. Many of the dancers were nervous, but the team did great! Sophomore Victoria Johannesen, a dancer, said she has been doing dance team for as long as she has been in high school. Johannesen said, “The competitions or games I preformed in for gymnastics and soccer did help, but dance is very different because you have to memorize a routine and also perform as a team, dancing together as a group. Where in soccer you do not memorize a routine and gymnastics you perform as one; you do not usually have a team to perform with.” Every dancer had his or her own way to calm their nerves, and be less scared. To calm Johannesen’s nerves, she talks with other girls on the team and she also runs the routines through her head. For freshman Tailynn Cokan, it’s her first year on the team. Cokan said that she has only been in two competitions since starting the dance team. Although she was not able to perform in one of the competitions, she still went to cheer on her team mates. Cokan has been very committed this year, even though she hasn’t been dancing for long. Thanks to her friends who told her she should try out because they thought it would be a great idea for her spunky personality. Cokan said, “Performing in competitions is fun, even when I was not able to perform.” Sophomore Rachel Brungardt has been dancing all her life. She loves dance so much that she has not played any sports other than dance. Brungardt said, “I love competing; it’s so much fun because you get so much adrenaline from performing. The dancing and having everyone watch your performance pumps you up and makes you so ecstatic.” As you can tell, dancing is a big part of her life. Brungardt’s favorite part is when they announce the awards.

Jennifer Walter photo

There is a big drum roll and sometimes they play the song you danced to, every dancer at this point is full of emotions and everyone is hoping to hear their team’s name called. The Category Championships were on December 1 in Tualatin, Oregon at Tualatin High School. The Sheldon dance team showed great effort and did awesome! They placed first in Lyrical and second place in Jazz. They also placed third in Novelty and Hip Hop. The fall season for dance has ended and now it’s time for a new season. New dancers, returning dancers, and more competitions are in store for this winter season. Coaches are always happy about new dancers, exploring their ideas. There are plenty of students who are willing to try new things and in the end find out what new things they love.

December is the month in which football playoff hopes are realized or shattered. With only a few games left in the season for each team, some teams are jockeying for position. Other teams already know their fate of falling short of the playoffs. Making it to the playoffs in the NFL is no easy task; there are teams in the league that only make it once every twenty to thirty years. Making it to the Super Bowl is exponentially harder. Reaching the Super Bowl is huge because many people from around the world watch this game. Winning it means your team is the best in the world. Despite their struggles in the Super Bowl, sophomore Nathan Kim said, “I think the New England Patriots still have what it takes to win a Super Bowl. They still make really effective plays.” The last two Super Bowls the Patriots have been in have resulted in a loss to the New York Giants. A major factor contributing to their losses has been their subpar defense. In order to win Super Bowl championships, you need defense, and New England hasn’t had enough the past couple seasons. One team that is on the bubble is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sophomore Aaron Mueller said, “Since their starting quarterback is out, [their chances are] probably not very good.” Ben Roethlisberger has a separated right shoulder as well as a broken rib, the top one on his left side, which could puncture his heart on impact. Charlie Batch, the Steelers’ longtime third-string quarterback, will have to start until then. Roethlisberger will come back from this. The Steelers have to play division rival Baltimore two times in three weeks. Their playoff outlook is not very promising, since Baltimore is very strong. Rookie sensation Andrew Luck has the Indianapolis Colts in position to make it to the playoffs. The Colts stunk up the league last season at 2-14. The Colts have begun the post-Peyton Manning era remarkably well. Sophomore Corben Huffman said, “I think Andrew Luck will lead the Colts to the playoffs.” Indy’s playoff outlook is bright because outside of Indianapolis and Houston, the other two teams in the division are not strong. To wrap things up, playoff races are becoming serious and teams are pushing hard for playoff position. These three teams have things to work on, big injuries, or a superstar rookie quarterback. Things are coming to a head in the NFL regular season. This is the month the contenders will separate themselves from the pretenders.

XC Borderclash between statesEven with the terrible weather in Portland, Borderclash was a great experience for those runners involved

Kyle Radleyfeatures co-editor

Juniors Molly Walter [left] and Olivia Nilsen perform.

Bac k p a g eJarred Rogers

staff writer

The Best Bond Yet

Christmas TraditionsCJ Vangsnesstaff writer

Do you enjoy competing against other people? Ultimate Frisbee is a great, non contact sport for those who are competitive, with an attitude of good sportsmanship. It is an exciting game that you will easily get hooked on, and it is super easy to learn. What is Ultimate? It is a game played with a fl ying disc, known as a Frisbee to those newbies. It is played with two teams of seven. The objective is to get the Frisbee into the end zone, but the catch is that players cannot run with the disc. Ultimate com-bines aspects from football, soccer, and basketball. The game is simple, but demanding. Ultimate is played without referees, and it is for this reason, that Ultimate is known for its “spirit of the game.” The most important rule of the game is that players make their own calls. The rules are simple, and anyone can learn the game. Any newcomer will enjoy Ultimate. Not sure if you will like it? Give it a try, even if you aren’t athletic. Some athleticism is required, however a person will become more and more fi t as he or she plays. Anyone who tries Ultimate will enjoy it. Junior Keneda McVay, a Sheldon Ultimate player, enjoys Ultimate because it “has pushed my limits.” McVay has been playing for two years. Ultimate is also a great way to make friends. Junior Meagan Melendrez, another Sheldon Ultimate player who started playing this year, said, “I defi nitely have some new close friends now.” Players spend hours training with teammates, bond each practice, and walk away as friends. Recently, Sheldon played in a tournament. It was on the fi rst of December, and Sheldon played four games in a tournament. Two of the games were against South. South’s Ultimate team is ranked pretty high, and they’re also Sheldon’s best competitor. Sheldon was able to beat the fi rst two teams they faced with ease. For the next two games, South gave Sheldon some competition. Both games were pretty close. In the last game in the tournament against South, Sheldon managed a win within the last few minutes. Ultimate is a great sport for those who want to compete. Not sure if you will like it? Just go out and try it. Ultimate will push your limits, but who knows, you may like it in the end. Sheldon has a great Ultimate team, and it’s easy to sign up: just see the coach, Ms. Herbst, in the art room.

The Ultimate PastimeTony Lovestaff writer

This season has actor Daniel Craig returning as James Bond in the movie Skyfall. While many fans anxiously awaited the new installment in the Bond series, the overall opinion of Craig’s acting remains mixed. Junior Apollo Kenney said, “I think [Daniel Craig] has done a good job portraying Bond in recent movies.” Along with Kenney, others who support Craig’s acting feel that it captures the tragic character of Bond, and really emphasizes the darker tones of the new movies. Although some may like Daniel Craig’s performance, many prefer the actor who is largely considered to be the “Original Bond,” Sean Connery. Connery fi rst starred as Bond in Dr. No, the fi rst theatrical release to feature 007. Junior Daniel Kemp said, “Connery is the original and best Bond.” Connery is a very well-accomplished actor, appearing in such fi lms as The Highlander and The Untouchables. At the age of 69, Sean Connery was actually knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his renowned work in both cinema and politics. Other famous Bond portrayals include that of Pierce Brosnan and Roger Moore. Moore has played Bond more than any other actor, a total of seven times. Moore’s performance was generally well-received by critics, although some backlash had been received for an abundant, and rather obvious use of stuntmen. Moore would end his reign as Bond after twelve years with the movie View to a Kill. The movie was bashed by critics, gathering many negative reviews. Although the movie itself met with a rather poor reception, fans agree that it had one of the greatest theme songs of all time, “View to a Kill” by Duran Duran, which received a golden globe nomination for Best Song. Although some consider the topic of who made the best Bond debatable, Sean Connery was voted the best in several online polls throughout the years. In the end, though, there are just as many sides to James Bond as there are people playing him. Each actor brings something of their own to the franchise- whether it be Roger Moore’s humor, Daniel Craig’s I-couldn’t-care-less attitude, or Sean Connery’s epic stature in general.

“I love to celebrate Christmas because I grew-up with it and I love the gifts,” said sophomore Arianna Hamill. Her family does many things during the holidays. “At my father’s place we eat a ham dinner and give gifts, and at my mother’s place we eat a turkey dinner and give gifts.” Food is the essence of most holidays and Christmas is no exception to this logic. “We used to watch the entire Star Wars saga on Christmas, but now we just play Rock Band for hours, but I want to bring back our Star Wars tradition and maybe even get friends to join us.” Traditions change for families through the years, but all Ha-mill wants is to have that one back. “I also celebrate thanksgiving because of the food.” The wonderful food holiday at its best time. “We usually eat until we are full, then we start watching the entire Lord of the Rings movies in order, and eat a ton of desert.” The wonderful combination of sweets and movies means one thing: the perfect holiday. Sophomore Kim Miller said, “I love to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas because I get to spend time with my family.” Ah, family, the original friends or, more commonly known as the people you can’t stand on any other day but the holidays. “We usually watch both Charlie Brown movies each on their corresponding holidays.” Otherwise it would be silly to watch them on other holidays now wouldn’t it? Sophomore Gabby Bunnell said, “I celebrate Thanksgiving because of the tons of food we have.” Who loves to celebrate Thanksgiving because of some-thing other than food? “I usually eat tons of un-gravied mashed potatoes.” Really, who eats mashed potatoes without gravy?