Table of Contents: 2012-2013 2nd Edition

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2012-2013 2nd Edition Table of Contents

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Welcome back to the Tower Review, dear readers! 

Please enjoy our 2nd edition of this year’s Tower Review class.  See you in June!

-Miss Howard

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Happenings
Mr. Grillo: 2013 Teacher of the Year by Jeff
This is…Teacher Jeopardy! by Jeff
RFH Tower Players Perform “Aida” by Emily
The RFH Annual Blood Drive Saves 219 Lives by Emily
RFH’s 2013 Talent Show Doesn’t Disappoint by Myles

Culture at Large
Travelling for Dummies by Lauren
Class Enrollment for Dummies by Lauren
A Night at the Oscars by Billy
Spiders: The Eight-Legged Hunters by Myles
Atlantis: A Spring Break Favorite by Josh

Media
Girl Power Song Power Rankings by Jeff
“30 Rock” Says Goodbye by Jeff
“That 70’s Show:” Where are They Now? by Josh
What’s Down at “Downton Abbey” by Lauren
What’s in a Password by Lauren

Opinions
Book Review: “Oryx and Crake” by Emily
Restaurant Review: JR’s in Red Bank by Josh
Legalizing Marajuana: Not a Good Move, America! by Alex
Review: “Game of Thrones” by Billy
Thoughts on the NFL Draft by Josh

The Final Word
Valentine’s Day: A Long Way from its Origin by Emily
Famous Williams Power Rankings by Billy

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Mr. Grillo: 2013 Teacher of the Year

by Jeff

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Every year, Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School recognizes the hard work and dedication of one staff member, and names him or her “Teacher of the Year.” This year, that award was given to Bill Grillo, RFH’s resident music man.

Growing up, Mr. Grillo did not always want to be a music teacher. While majoring in Jazz Performance as an undergraduate student, he decided to enroll in a five-year program to get his Masters degree in education. He looked to many teachers as inspiration, specifically his longtime percussion teacher, who taught him from eighth grade and throughout high school, as well as as a professor at his college.

Mr. Grillo teaches AP Music Theory, Music Theory, Songwriting and Recording, and Percussion Ensemble. On top of teaching these electives, he also is the fearless leader of the Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Pit Orchestra. While juggling these classes with these time-demanding activities can be a struggle, Grillo feels as if now is the perfect time in his life to take on such a heavy workload.

“I don’t have a family of my own yet, so I’m at a good point in my life where I can dedicate a lot of time to this school.”

Grillo has always had a passion for jazz bands, as it was his major in college. However, recently he has found more and more enjoyment from being the conductor of the pit orchestra.

“Throughout my life, I’ve worked in a lot of theaters, mostly as a drummer in a pit orchestra. I never ever saw myself conducting a pit orchestra; that’s something I really thought I would never have to do. Now, I really enjoy doing that because the culture here is really supportive of theatre.”

Conducting the pit orchestra led to one of Mr. Grillo’s proudest accomplishments at RFH, conducting the score to the 2011 spring musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

“Personally, there were many points throughout that production that I thought there was no way that I could do it, and there was no way that the pit orchestra could do it. It’s some of Stephen Sondheim’s hardest stuff. When we finished that Friday night performance, I couldn’t believe that we not only got through it, but it was extremely, extremely good.”

According to Mr. Grillo, the best part about his job is working with extremely talented people. The worst part of his job is paperwork.

“I do significantly less [paperwork] than, let’s say, a math teacher or an English teacher. I could never do their job because of all the paperwork.  But then again, they also really love to teach math and English, so that’s the tradeoff.”

I asked this year’s Teacher of the Year to offer advice to any RFH students who are considering teaching as a profession.

“You have to find a balance between being a friendly person and being a straight-forward teacher. You’re with your students 180 days of the year, so it can’t be all business all the time. You have to develop a relationship, but you can’t let that relationship get out of hand to the point where they don’t respect you or do any of your work.”

Over the past four years, Mr. Grillo has gotten better and better at developing this balance with his students.

Grillo is thrilled to be working here at RFH. He has developed an outstanding relationship with the administration.

“The fact that the administration here trusts me to do what I do makes me really proud. On a daily basis, they don’t bug me, they don’t look over my shoulder, they put a lot of faith in me to run everything smoothly and run the department how I want.”

While Mr. Grillo loves it here at RFH, he offered me some things that he would like to have added to the school.

“I would like to see some days built into the schedule that break the regular mold of the routine. When I was student teaching in Cherry Hill, they had a multi-cultural day where, basically, they had a bunch of workshops and assemblies that were based around other cultures.  It was really educational and it broke up the regular routine.”

While he’s not molding the minds of young musicians or winning awards for his masterful conducting, Mr. Grillo enjoys cooking with his girlfriend. The best meal that he ever made was a linguini with a white wine butter sauce and scallops. However, he is clueless when it comes to baking.

“I can’t bake. I literally tried simple brownies from a package, and I screwed it up.”

Mr. Grillo’s passion for music and teaching was extremely evident during my interview. I encourage any underclassmen who are remotely interested in music or music theory to sign up for one of Mr. Grillo’s classes. Prospective students need not to worry, Grillo does not play favorites. When I asked him who his favorite students were, he respectfully declined.

Clearly his passion has rubbed off on many of his students.

“Grillo is a great guy because he’s just as much a musician as he is a teacher–he’s always eager to learn about new music and talk about different musicians. Aside from that, he’s just a gentleman and a scholar. He can bring out the music in anyone,” said senior Ben Sherman.

“I’ve been with Grillo since his first day at RFH, and I have loved every moment of it,” said senior Josh Reed.

“Grillo is an amazing music teacher who can work in a classroom setting yet also is always available for extra help. No matter how hard a topic may seem, after Grillo has explained it, it’s simple,” said senior Clare Fitzgerald.

Award-winning thespian Harry Best also chimed in on Mr. Grillo: “Mr. Grillo is wonderful to work with during the musicals. Over the years he has taught me so much about music, and he’s always patient and understanding while students attempt to grasp some of the more difficult songs. His Teacher of the Year Award is well deserved.”

Grillo has left his mark on many alumni. Class of 2011 alum Gabby Kenny told me, “Grillo has actually been one of those teachers that was a life-changer for me and my friends who knew him during my time at RFH, and I didn’t even have him for a teacher! I worked with him in the musicals and concerts, and he was the first person in my life that empowered me to think about pursuing vocal music as a career. No matter how sassy he may get at the end of the day at a long Tower Players practice, I have a deep respect and my hat’s off to one of RFH’s finest. Congrats Grill, YOU DID IT!”

This positive sentiment was echoed with every student and alum I spoke to. When asked what winning Teacher of the Year meant to him, Mr. Grillo responded in an expectedly humble and endearing manner.

“Since being given the award, it’s been really nice to have the other faculty say ‘Congratulations’ and ‘Well deserved.’ Obviously, there’s so many other teachers who have been here longer and work equally as hard, and maybe they’re not as noticed in the community because they’re in a classroom all day.  But it’s definitely nice to go to work and know that people respect what you do. It’s nice that people have faith in you.”

In a world in which the arts are growingly and unjustly perceived as less and less important, it is wonderful to see a music teacher as dedicated and beloved as Grillo receive this recognition. Congratulations, Mr. Grillo, on a well deserved Teacher of the Year Award.

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This is…Teacher Jeopardy!

by Jeff

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Millions of Americans turn on their TV’s to watch the hit trivia show Jeopardy every night. On Thursday, February 28, over 100 people packed into the RFH auditorium to watch Teacher Jeopardy, which was hosted by the Social Justice Club. The whole event was the brain child of Ms. Burke, head of the club and Jeopardy enthusiast.

A preliminary set of Jeopardy questions were sent out via email for all teachers willing to compete in the event. Teachers were sorted by department, and the two highest department averages were selected to partake in the competition. The three highest scores from the winning departments represented their departments in the actual event.

The participants from the history department were Mr. Beatty, Mr. Emmich, and Ms. Lerner. The participants from the science department were Ms. Foster, Mr. Pennetti, and the legendary Mr. Margolis. In addition to the two winning departments, an “All-star” team of teachers was assembled, comprised of Ms. Flecca, Ms. Hansen, and Ms. Flanagan. After this collection of talent came together, the competition was ready to commence.

The Social Justice Club divided up into different committees and worked tirelessly to prepare for this event. Ms. Burke and some students formed a question committee to write the actual questions the teachers would be asked during the competition, while other members of the club focused on advertising and concessions.

The competition was a hit among both students and teachers. Mr. Wilson and Ms. Okeson served as the hosts for the event, and they certainly did not disappoint. They kept the audience laughing while the contestants answered a slew of difficult questions. There was a diverse array of categories, such as photography, classical music (which seemed to stump most teachers), 2000 Census data, and superheroes.

The “Final Jeopardy” category was “Greek Gods and Goddesses.” The question asked which Ancient Greek deity was depicted on many early Olympic gold medals. Think the answer is Athena? Well sadly, you, as well as the rest of the teachers, are incorrect. The correct answer was Nike, the goddess of victory.

Despite losing the Final Jeopardy question, the history department was able to maintain their early lead and hold on to become the victors of the first annual Teacher Jeopardy competition. However, the real winner was Pratham, an organization that promotes literacy in impoverished areas of India. The event raised over $570 to help their cause. On top of all this, many RFH students had a great time.

“I thought it was a lot of fun! It was interesting to see RFH’s intelligent teachers compete in Jeopardy style play,” said senior Andrew Faett.

“Exhilarating… A gut-busting, fun-filled event for the whole family,” said senior Julia Imperatore, “It was one of the most spectacular, exciting evenings in all my four years at RFH. I hope to see many more events like this.”

Overall, Teacher Jeopardy was an enormous success. However, the Social Justice Club is looking for ways to make it even better next year. Club member Elizabeth Bricker says that there will hopefully be a student team involved next year. Additionally, the club might consider adding categories that apply to RFH, such as teacher backgrounds. An example of this would be “this teacher was born in the year ______” or “this teacher graduated from ______.” The sky is the limit for this great new fundraiser.

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RFH Tower Players Perform “Aida”

by Emily

On March 22-24, the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional Tower Players performed their spring musical, Aida. Written by Elton John and Tim Rice, Aida takes place in an ancient Egyptian setting.  English and Drama teacher Mrs.Sweeny directed the play, as she has been for past musicals.

The plot of Aida revolves around a Nubian princess, Aida. Aida is captured by a powerful Egyptian war captain, Radames, while their countries are at war. As Radames takes Aida under his wing as a personal servant for his fiancee, a forbidden love evolves between the two. Despite their different social statuses, Aida and Radames’ profound romance paves the way to bring peace and civility to their war ridden countries.

The elaborate costumes, tribal music, and exciting choreography made the audience feel as though they really were in ancient Egypt. Aida was extremely successful and a truly great performance by the Tower Players.

The core cast of Aida included senior Clare Fitzgerald, starring as Aida and senior Harrison Best as Radames. Both lead performers have been participating in the RFH productions since freshman year, and lit up the stage one last time in their last musical.

“I’m really happy with how Aida turned out. It was a lot of hard work and long rehearsals, but it was definitely worth it,” said Best.

For the senior cast, the final performance of Aida was bittersweet.  However, many were glad their time with the Tower Players ended on a successful note. Sophomore Julia Mosby held a lead role as Radames’ fiancee and gave a stellar performance for one of the younger Tower Players. Other roles included a washer woman, servant, model, and other minor parts played by many freshmen and upper classmen within the ensemble. After seeing the play, it was apparent that Aida took many months of preparation by all Tower Players.

“We rehearsed nearly every day, perfecting every little detail in each musical number,” said senior, Shannan Kirchner. This was Kirchner’s first year doing the spring musical, and she described the experience as strenuous but rewarding. Like Best, Kirchner was very proud of all the Tower Players, and all the dedication hard work that went into Aida.

Each intricate detail of the performance went smoothly. Of course, the play would not have been such a success without the backstage work of stage craft and tech crew. The set of the play was very complex and detailed, making it look extremely authentic. Similarly, all lighting and microphone work ran smoothly, making for awesome performances all three nights. Last, but not least, the orchestra pit led by Mr.Grillo performed all musical numbers. Pit members included students who take various music classes at RFH and have volunteered their time. It was the work contributed by these “behind the scenes” Tower Players that helped the play become such a success.

Overall, Aida was a theatrical success and was nearly sold out all three performances. Those who saw say the play would agree that the Tower Players’ countless rehearsals definitely payed off. Congratulations to the Tower Players on a wonderful performance.

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The RFH Annual Blood Drive Saves 219 Lives

by Emily

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On February 25, Rumson Fair Haven High School held its annual blood drive. In the week leading up to the drive, students and staff members could make an appointment to give blood during lunch periods or in the nurse’s office. Throughout the day, students and staff members attended their respective appointments to donate blood in the auditorium.

The blood drive was held by the Central Jersey Blood Center. The CJBC has sixteen service centers throughout the state of New Jersey. According to CJBCblood.org, its mission is, “to provide an adequate, high quality, and safe supply of blood, and other related services to meet the needs of area hospitals.”

There is no doubt that hosting blood drives at institutions like Rumson Fair Haven High School is extremely beneficial to these organizations and their mission to save lives. The donated blood will go to cancer patients, trauma victims, and others that need life-saving blood. The entire process is free and those as young as 16 can participate with a parent-consent form.

“The entire process was very quick and painless. Everything went very smoothly and I was happy to donate what I could,” said Shannan Kirchner, an RFH senior.

To sign up, students simply made an appointment with the school nurse, received a pass in their homeroom, and attended the drive at their respective times, bringing a parent consent form and ID. This was Kirchner’s second year donating blood, and she encourages all students 16 and over to participate in next year’s blood drive. Donating at the blood drive is simple, convenient, and an effective way to raise awareness.

“By having the blood drive at RFH, we are exposing students to the importance of donating and they can donate in a comfortable environment,” says the RFH school nurse and Health Club advisor, Mrs. Nill.

This was Mrs.Nill’s tenth year running the blood drive with the Health Club, and she was eager to be a part of the cause. Mrs.Nill believes that by bringing the blood drive to the school, we are leading the way for students to become lifetime donors to a great cause that is always in need of aid. If students miss the annual blood drive they can donate at any other Central Blood Center in New Jersey just by calling and setting up an appointment.

At the end of the day, RFH’s blood drive was very successful. According to Mrs.Nill, despite the limited 72 appointments available, 81 people donated, collecting 73 units of blood in total. With one unit of blood saving three lives, that’s 219 lives saved.

The Central Jersey Blood Center was very happy with the success of the blood drive. The entire RFH community was eager to donate and as a whole made a big difference. Mrs.Nill and the Health Club encourage all eligible students and staff members to participate in next year’s drive. 219 lives saved is a tremendous accomplishment and those who donated or worked the drive should be extremely proud. With the generous and big-hearted RFH community there is no doubt that next year’s blood drive will be just as prosperous.

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RFH’s 2013 Talent Show Doesn’t Disappoint

by Myles

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During each school year, students dedicate themselves to earning the best grades they can possibly get, and deserve something to show for it. This is something that not only entertains whoever comes sees it, but that also allows them to participate in what we know as “The Talent Show.”

For many years, RFH’s students and teachers have done their fair share to present their amazing talents and have received recognition in and out of school. Some examples of teachers in the Talent Show is history teachers Mr. Beatty and Mr. Galante, as well as foreign language teacher, Mr. Herman.  They have performed in the Talent Show for many years and continue to participate so students can see their favorite teachers show another side of their lives.

In 2011, Mr. Beatty and Mr. Emmich, another RFH teacher, performed two favored songs from the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Stu’s Song” from the movie, The Hangover. Their act was great and entertaining.

AT this year’s Talent Show, freshman pianist Matt Hughes performed a piano solo and sang“Mad World.” It was an incredible performance that everyone was moved by. Being able to listen to a beautiful instrument that’s not on the radio, but up close and in the auditorium, is an amazing experience to enjoy.  It allows you to appreciate the years it takes a person to master that skill, and clearly Hughes has done just that.

Though from what he has learned and practiced for many years, Matt continued to practice for many weeks to perfect his act and finally auditioned for the Talent Show. So once it was time to present, he was mentally prepared so that Mrs. Maglione and the other selection committee members could decide who could be in the Talent Show and in what order.  I, similarly, auditioned with a karate act and was able to participate in the show.

The day before the Talent Show, there was a rehearsal where everyone would practice getting on and off the stage until it became presentable to the audience. Originally, I believed being one of the participants would spoil the actual day of the Talent Show, and planned to ignore the acts. However,  everyone’s talent was so amazing that  I couldn’t keep myself from watching.  The actual day of the Talent Show would take hours; the acts taking place in the rehearsal would be cut off in the middle to save precious time. Even with this great opportunity to preserve what I hadn’t seen yet, I was disappointed from how amazing the other performers were when they had to be cut off.

As each performer went on and off the stage, I realized how great everyone’s full acts were.  I began to forget why I came to Talent Show in the first place: to win the competition!  However, I then regained my focus. With that being said, I, Myles, had won the 2013 Talent Show!  I enjoyed every part of everyone’s acts and can’t wait to see who else has something to show next year.

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Travelling for Dummies

by Lauren

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Ever look at an empty suitcase right before you have to leave on a trip? Do you feel the anxiety or frustration creep into you as you throw clothes all over looking for what you think you need? Packing today is not what it used to be. Not only do you have to deal with just getting a full week of necessities ready, you also have the added restrictions from airports and airlines. Hopefully this article will help you get a jump start on the packing that you have dreaded for weeks now.  

Packing 101

The first step to packing is know your destination and the type of clothing you will need. Then you can decide on what is appropriate for the situation. If you are going to the beach, you will want a bathing suit; if you are going sightseeing you will want a comfortable pair of shoes.  The goal to packing is to pack what you will need, not end up with an overflowing suitcase. Packing with variety is a good way to ensure you always have what you need, but if you are going to a beach, a heavy jacket is not going to help you. Just remember to keep it simple and pack for necessity.

Airport Wiz

 Airports today are often hectic and have many rules. To make sure you are on the right side of those rules, always check with your airline on what they allow and what they don’t.  The basic allowed weight for a checked bag without paying extra is 50lbs. If you are carrying your suitcase on, your bag must be no more than 45 inches; length + width + depth of the bag. Additionally, airlines allow you one extra bag aside from your carryon bag that can be stored beneath your feet.  This bag should be small, such as a briefcase, purse, or camera bag.

Any gear you carry onto the plane must pass airport security or TSA. TSA rules state that sharp, flammable, or dangerous items may not be carried onto the plane. For all you guys out there, bringing your pocket knife is not a good idea. TSA also has a rule that any liquids may not exceed 3.4 ounces and must be held in a clear plastic container.  Always remember to double check what you pack; this will help you avoid a surprise bag inspection at airport security.  If you are unsure about a certain item you are packing or any questions, the TSA has a very helpful website:   http://www.tsa.gov/

Out-of-the-Country Essentials

When traveling out of the country, it is important to do your research on the particular country or area you are going to. During your research, check for any warnings such as dangerous areas, a high crime rate, or any other hazardous conditions in your destination.  Also, check if there are restrictions or requirements on goods, certain foods, and information/ identification papers.  Identification and passports are required so double check that you have them before you leave. If you are going to another country, look to see if your resort or hotel has different plugs and outlets, as you may need to purchase an adaptor.

A country’s currency may be different, so compare the value between the currencies and find out where you can exchange it for your destinations.  Usually there is a kiosk in the airport that will be available for an exchange. Packing for an international trip is much harder than staying within your own country. It is always best to pack slowly and ahead of time so you can remember all that you need. 

The Toiletry Bag

                One of the most important pieces in your luggage is your toiletry bag. This contains your liquids and basic hair, face, and body supplies.  Here is a simple list of what you may need.  This does not include everything. If you have a need for glasses, contacts, retainers, or any other supplies, don’t forget to include those. 

Girls	Boys
Toothbrush & Toothpaste	Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Face wash & Moisturizer & Makeup	Face wash & Moisturizer & Shaving Cream & Razor
Hair care products (brush, pony-tails, ect.)	Deodorant
Razor	Hair gel/product
Deodorant / Perfume	Nail care (Nail clippers)
Advil/Tylenol  (medication needed)	Advil / Tylenol (medications needed)

A one-week beach vacation

Here is an example of a one week beach vacation clothes packing list. This does not include everything; it is just a simple guide on what you might bring on vacation with you.

Girls	Boys
7 days of under garments	7 weeks of under garments
6 pairs of shorts	6 pairs of shorts
1 dress	1 pair of pants
1 sweater	1 light jacket
1 beach sandals, 1 sandals, 1 sneakers (socks)	1 beach sandals, 1 sandals, 1 sneakers (socks)
2-5 bathing suits	2-5 swim trunks
Sunglasses, tanning lotion / sun block	Sunglasses, tanning lotion / sun block

Now you are all set-good luck, and enjoy your vacation!

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Class Enrollment for Dummies

by Lauren

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It is weird to say that this year is almost over. Now is the time to start choosing your courses for next year.  For this year’s freshmen or next year’s sophomores, this process can be very overwhelming.  This year will be your first time picking out classes on your own. Today my job is to make this task a little easier for you by explaining a little more about your options.

To sign up for classes, first you must log into your PowerSchool account.  Once you are in the website, proceed to the “Class Registration” section in the toolbar on the side of your computer screen.  You will then be presented with a list of subjects. In the corner of each subject box there is a pencil. Click the pencil to open up another box with all the classes you are eligible to take. Once you have selected all your classes, you may click the “submit” button on the bottom.

Remember that each year there is a requirement of 35 credits.

To graduate, all students must have:

• English, 4 Years
• Social Studies, 1 Year World History
• Social Studies, 2 Years United States History
• Mathematics, 3 Years
• Science, 3 Years (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
• Health-Physical Education, 4 Years
• 15 Credits in Physical Ed.
• 5 Credits in Health
• World Language, 1 Year
• Visual or Performing Arts, 5 credits (equivalent of 1 Yr.)
• Career Education – Consumer, Family Life Skills, 5 credits (equivalent of 1 Yr.)
  Vo-Tech Education
• Financial, Economic, Business and
  Entrepreneurial Literacy 2.5 credits
  (Class of 2014 and beyond)

No need to start panicking—you will have four years to complete this. Financial Literacy, for example, is a required course that you will take one quarter during your sophomore year. This will be in the place of your study hall. This course includes useful information, and is something you can learn more about from talking to your guidance counselor.  If you book an appointment with the freshman guidance counselor, Mr. Lippart, he will help you make a four year plan that will include the courses that fill your requirements, and courses that you like, as well.

All guidance counselors came to English classes and explained how to choose courses on PowerSchool, as well as some of the options that are now available.  I sat down with Mr.Lippart to discuss the best tips and options for freshmen regarding their sophomore year schedule.

A huge difference between choosing classes for freshmen and sophomores is that for sophomores, they have more options to choose from. Also, sophomores have to pay more attention to the state graduate requirements.  Mr. Lippart explained that the best way to pick classes is by choosing what tells “your story” most thoroughly.

“Classes should show demonstrated interest and growth in the challenges you give yourself,” he added.

He urges students to not play “follow the leader” when picking classes. Just because your friends are picking a certain class does not mean you should too.  If you strongly dislike a particular class or topic, it might be a bad idea to take an honors class. 

During freshman year, there were many limitations on which classes you could take. Despite those issues, Ceramics and Woods are typically the most popular. During sophomore year, with more choices, a popular pick is Graphics.  But, it still all matters on your opinion. Mr. Lippart thinks Psychology is a great class, although it is not offered to freshmen or sophomores.  There is, however, an Introduction to Psychology class, a half-year course that is available sophomore year.

A great way to look at the classes and make your four year plan is go on the school website. Under the “Guidance” tab, you can find the course selection section. This area will have all the information you need. Also at the top left hand corner is the course catalog that is extremely helpful.  The catalog has every class described and a great graphic organizer that shows each class a course path you are eligible for each year.   This makes understanding the courses and making that four year plan so much easier.

Now that you have all the information you need to continue choosing classes, the process should be much easier.  Even if you get stuck, you can always ask a teacher or guidance counselor about their opinion.  You are the most important person in this process.  Don’t get stuck in a lame class because you followed your friends.  Go with your gut, and choose what right for you.

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A Night at the Oscars

by Billy

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This year’s group of films nominated for the Oscar Awards was strong across the board. Host Seth Macfarlane, creator of the hit show Family Guy, guided the audience through awards ranging from Best Sound Editing to Best Picture, and everything in between. There were 23 categories, but a majority of the films were nominated for multiple categories. The most prominent amongst the bunch were Les Miserables, Django Unchained, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, Lincoln, Life of Pi, Silver Linings Playbook, and Beasts of the Southern Wild.

You probably haven’t watched all of these movies, but I assure you the lineup was quite impressive. An impressive lineup, however, is only made possible by an impressive array of actors and producers. For example, Argo won the Best Picture category, which is not surprising considering Ben Affleck and George Clooney joined forces to produce the film. Bradley Cooper, who is the smoothest man alive, was nominated for Best Actor.  He lost, however, to Daniel-Day Lewis, who portrayed Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln. This particular film was produced by Steven Spielberg. Spielberg produced the legendary Star Wars saga, so it is not farfetched that another one of his films was nominated for an award.

Familiar actors like Hugh Jackman, Joaquin Phoenix (the guy who appeared in Gladiator as Commodus, the evil prince,) Denzel Washington, and Anne Hathaway, were all nominated for awards, or were part of a film that was nominated for awards.

In addition to the “main” awards, there were categories for Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects, and a couple of other technical aspects of movie making. To be honest, most people do not know the names of the most prominent tech crew members, but the technical aspects of a film are subtle, yet very important. Watching a movie in a theatre sets the perfect viewing setting, and amidst the candy, famous actors, and hot dates sitting next to us, we only register the technical works subconsciously.

But trust me, they are a largely important component to ensuring the enjoyment of all viewers. Sound editors have to use mixing boards to create the “cleanest” sound possible. I assume that their goal is to make the dialogue sound as if the viewers are in the same room as the actors. I cannot say I know how visual effects work, but they basically make the impossible possible.

For example, explosions and mythical creatures are all creations derived from computers. As technology advances, the people in charge of creating visual effects will be able to make impossible events look very real, which is why it is paramount that the audience appreciate the men who work behind the scenes. Their awards are well deserved.

In my opinion, the Oscars serve two purposes. The most obvious is to honor the people who are involved in making the productions that both capture our attention and make us think about real world issues. The second purpose is to advertise the movies that deserve attention. By commending various aspects of various films, it makes people privy to what they are missing by not watching movies. For that to happen, it is necessary for the Oscar presentation itself to be both interesting and honoring, which is why Seth Macfarlane’s ability to create humor was tactfully utilized. Who better to punctuate the more boring parts of a program with comic relief than one of the funniest guys on television?

While Seth Macfarlane was the main host, there was also a plethora of celebrities who announced the winners of each individual award. There was also an appearance from the talented musician Adele. I could rattle off a long list of names, but if there was an award for the most surprising and controversial appearance, first lady Michelle Obama would win unanimously. Thankfully, most of the controversy seemed to gravitate toward the nature of her appearance, as opposed to the more common form of controversy regarding attire.

I have never been someone who invested even minimal amounts of thought or research into understanding politics, yet from reading an article by Jack Kerwick, I have come to realize why her appearance was so controversial. At first, I simply assumed her appearance derived from the genuine desire to attend the ceremony. She is after all, a human being with interests and desires. I later realized that, as usual, politicians will read deeper into the “real” reason of why she was there. Some say it was to gain support from the politically uneducated who, like myself, would see her appearance as nothing more than a harmless visit from a woman who wanted to see the ceremony live, and just happened to be the first lady. To the politically uneducated, this would cast her in a light that made her seem involved and friendly.

The politically educated, however, have said that her appearance made the Obama’s seem weak, as if they were too overbearing in their attempt to be loved by America. Other say that her appearance encourages the appearances of celebrities at other cultural events, which retracts attention from the ceremony at hand and diverts it towards the celebrities in attendance.

In my opinion, people are thinking too far into the matter, and by doing so they are demeaning the actions of a woman who may have wanted to be a part of the ceremony. She wouldn’t have been able to appear unannounced, for obvious safety reasons, so it made sense that they incorporated her into the program.

Finally, I want to say that watching the Oscars was entertaining, but in reality the only aspect I really appreciated was the advertisement. It honestly made me want to go to the Monmouth Mall at once, and have a movie marathon.

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Spiders: The Eight-Legged Hunters

by Myles

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Spiders may be the most terrifying species on earth; no one wants anything to do with them.  However, they’re actually one of the most interesting. As for those who don’t care for spiders, they may not know or even understand their interesting qualities. Like Daddy Long Legs, for example.

Daddy Long Legs are most commonly considered spiders that don’t instinctively harm humans. As usual, people that do not understand spiders are corrected. Two experts by the names of Danielle and Noel from lhric.org, they found out that Daddy Long Legs are not spiders because they have six eyes instead of eight. Not only that, Daddy Long Legs are 1-20 mm in body length and 0.04 to 0.9 inches in length. Though being very small, Daddy Long Legs are venomous creatures.

In 2004, the TV show Myth Busters examined the myth regarding the effects of being bitten by a Daddy Long Leg. Many people believe that these spiders’ venom is the most poisonous, but that their teeth are not strong enough to puncture human skin.  One of the cast members were bitten by a single Daddy Long Leg. Though the “victim” reported mild burns in the punctured area, the pain quickly disappeared, just as it does with smaller insects that are bitten. This disproved this myth. The venom does affect an animal/human, but doesn’t cause death. Another interesting quality is the spider’s web.

Spider webs are the most common identifier of a spider’s presence. As many know, spiders construct their web or otherwise known as silk; they are common in areas of being strung are trees, bushes, blades of grass, and homes. They’re able to do this is by producing chains of amino acids, primarily glycine and alanine. Spider webs are five times stronger than steel and can stretch 30% longer than its original length. The reason how it can be so strong and flexiable, because from how quickly and tightly the silk is strung. This technique is what causes the webbing to be so strong and is why their prey have a hard time trying to escape.

There are many types of spider webs; funnel webs made by arachnids for tunnel-like habitats, orb webs that insects fly into, sheet webs made by Linyphiidae for capturing animals, and cobwebs made by cobweb spiders for capturing their prey inside homes. So anywhere spiders go, they create their nest completely made out of silk that are not only used for trapping their prey, but also living in the very spot their prey is tangled in.

On August 6, 2007, at Lake Tawakoni Park, rangers, who had been absent for two weeks, returned to find that the entire park was covered with several web sheets. The trees, bushes, and ground were covered. The webs that were tangling trees, the ground, and especially the bushes were intended to trap the animals in the forest. Web sheets have two layers; the first layer isn’t as sticky as the second layer, but its purpose is to scare animals into thinking they’re caught so they’ll break the layer into the sticky second layer. From here they are easier prey.

With webs strong enough to capture animals practically our size, spiders dramatically affect most people, resulting in Arachnophobia. Arachnophobia is an overwhelming fear of spiders in which even the sight of an empty web could cause panic.  However, there are also many cultures that love spiders and consider them a natural resource. Many Europeans ate them as much the French eat snails. So with spiders being so popular in so many ways, where does their reign of terror and deliciousness begin and end?

In Greek Mythology, there was a beautiful woman named Arachne who loved to weave tapestries. Her work was adored by others so much that she became arrogant and boastful. So she announced that she was the greatest weaver in the world, even better than the goddess Athena. Such a comment not only insulted Athena, but also the other Gods. So when Athena heard, she came down from Mount Olympus and threatened to kill Arachne. Though as she began to strike, Arachne offered Athena one of her best carpets and suprisingly changed the Goddess’s mind. Instead of killing Arachne, Athena challenged her to a weaving contest to see if Arachne’s comment was true.

The victor was no other than Arachne who not only won, but even impressed Athena. However, because she challenged the gods, Arachne was punished by Athena with the company of Zeus and turned her into what was once known as an insect, but is now known as a spider today. Today spiders are not known as insects or bugs, where we named the species “Arachnid” from the woman who challenged the gods.

There are many reasons to respect spiders.  First of all, they’re actually important to us humans. Without spiders, places that have crops with a large amount of vegetation would be consumed by insects, because they wouldn’t have a predator to prevent them from eating food primarily for humans. Most importantly, spiders are a form of protectors. As there are insects that like to bite humans for our blood, spiders can isolate insects away from us.

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