Full Sail A Battle of the Underdogs Lake Norman High's Debate team puts in a strong showing at state competition Don’t call it a comeback! Why comics and their heroes have always been a part of our cuture "The" Tyler Bryant Lake Norman's own singer/ songwriter has made a name for himself Full Sail 1 Section Name Table of Contents NC Public Universities Spike College Tuition Fees . 4-5 The NC General Assembly has caused colleges across the Gulliver’s Downfall . 25 Johnathan Swift rolled over in his grave once this children’s comedy came out in theatres. Comic Book Comeback? . 26-27 state to increase tuition prices for 2011 school year and beyond. The Beef on Taco Bell Meat . 6-7 Allegation made about Taco Bell’s “real” meat. The Narcissim Generation . 10-12 America has created a generation of young adults who feel entitled to all their wishes and desires. Senioritis Spreads Rampantly . 13 Seniors are dropping classes due to a want to get out ASAP Daytona 500 . 14-15 Trevor Bayne shocks the racing community as he wins the most prestigious race. “The” Tyler Bryant. 16-17 53rd Grammy Awards . 28-31 Who were the big winners on music’s biggest night? Mock Trial 2011 . 8-9 Lake Norman High School participated in the 2011 Mock Trial Competition. Tyler Bryant has the skills and know-how to get far in his life. Been There....Ran That. 18-19 Lake Norman is full of great athletes, but rarely can you find a national legend. Football Star makes a choice . 20 Wildcat Senior Linebacker Connor Donaghue commits to Elon University. Match Maker. 21 LNHS Student Council held a match making fundraiser in time for Valentine’s Day. The Antisocial Network . 22 Will facebook end on March 15th? MTV vs TLC . 23 The battle of the reality shows Sublime with Rome . 24 The 80’s band ska Sublime is back with a new twist. 2 Full Sail Staff Policy: The policy of Full Sail is to provide the students of Lake Norman High School with a public source of information and expression through timely articles based on student-related issues. The opinions presented throughout the paper do not necessarily represent the opinions of the whole staff or the students, administration of Lake Norman High School. Full Sail welcomes and encourages other students to express their opinions in the form of letters to the editor. The editorial board reserves the right to edit all letters. Contact Full Sail at gkeys@iss.k12.nc.us. Letter from the Editor Dear Students and Staff Amongst high schools it is evident that sports teams are the highest priority. Students and faculty praise athletes. Members of winning teams advertise championship rings and strut matching jackets, while various clubs and deemed lesser athletes, who also win championships, linger in the dust. In the gym, banners are displayed of various teams with congratuable records and status. The commons area also contains assorted pictures of individuals whom receive recognition. While these students deserve recognition, there are plenty of other students whom should be acknowledged as well. This past fall, a member of the English Royal Court came and awarded the Lake Norman High School Band the opportunity to play in England. Only a fraction of the high school population knew about this encounter, and even less of the population congratulated a band member. The girls’ golf team also received no credit after they won the state conference this past fall. The match was grueling, and the girls seized a victory by one point. Again, very few people knew of this event. Lake Norman High School also has various clubs whose achievements are under the radar. The debate club is attending the national Model UN in NY come spring. They also received various awards at the regional competition. It is fair to say that only students of Ms. Vowells and students friendly with the debaters know about their success. This year, Ms. Dowell led her Advanced Acting team, The Academy, to the regional competitions. When they won regionals, and states, they frantically scraped for money in order to attend nationals in the spring. Ms. Dowell and The Academy had a personal congratulation from the principal, yet no other support. Checks came from school organizations only after AA asked. Why is it difficult to donate money to an acting team’s national fund, but it is easy to fund a sports team’s trip to states? The only source that attempts acknowledging everyone is the High School Newspaper. The newspaper tries to accredit everyone, but when their medium is now through an online publication, even this becomes difficult. This school must find a way to unify and be happy for every member of the student body’s achievements. No one specific individual’s success is prominent over another. We are one unit amongst many individuals. We must stand together. Sincerely, Ashley Geraffo (editor) The Captain: Greg Keys Editors: Ashley Geraffo Cary Lynn Nabors Copy Editor: Kayla Schultz Writers: Tricia Bice Carly Castillo Mic Fortuna Ashley Gordon Brianna Marino Ben Herron Whitley Marshall Nina Mastandrea Zack McGee Peyton Soernssen Mary Parker Laney Portelance Rachel Spraker Jess Stamey Meghan Sheehan Lauren Steiner Full Sail 3 Section Name NC Public Universities Spike College Tuition Fees Peyton Soernssen The NC General Assembly causes colleges across the state to increase tuition prices for 2011 school year . As millions of seniors prepare for the start of college life after completing their vigorous high school careers, the talk of tuition comes into play. College tuition costs have been slightly rising every year for the past few decades. This year saw new record high tuitions due to the North Carolina State Budget cutting $99 million from public universities. Over the past three years alone, public colleges in North Carolina absorbed $575 million due to budget cuts. Even with these deficits, North Carolina public universities have strived to uphold the highly-recognized education while keeping prices remarkably low. Unfortunately, with this second major budget cut in two years, the educational quality may slightly erode. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports a current tuition fee of $26,000 for instate residence and $40,000 for out of state students. That fee is up eighteen percent alone from last year with students paying an additional $750 a year. North Carolina State University is also experiencing the effects of increased tuition rates, bumping costs up by $750. NCSU and UNC-CH are the two biggest colleges in the state, and they are seeing the most costly tuition increases. Nevertheless, both campuses will have to compensate for a $20 million deficit each. Although unpopular among those responsible for paying tuitions, the additional tuition money will be used by schools such as NCSU to fulfill important needs and uphold current practices. They will restore some classroom seats and course selections that were lost to previous budget cuts, as well as continue their renowned research programs and support professors and faculty. The increase in tuition is desperately needed to provide students with supplies, increase the cost of scholarships, fund Campus Activity Board programming, graduate assistance compensation, transfer students and health fees, according to uncg. edu. LNHS students show off their their favorite college choices. Scholarships and Financial Aid North Carolina in state grants: North Carolina Community College Grant North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship North Carolina Legislative Tuition Grant North Carolina Student Incentive Grant State Contractual Scholarship Fund UNC Need-Based Grant FellowShip Programs: Business Fellows Communication Fellows Honors Fellows Industrial Fellows International Fellows Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows 4 Full Sail Teaching Fellows North Carolina Scholarships: Virginia Elizabeth & Alma Vane Taylor StudentNurse Fund Carson Scholars Fund, Inc. NAPA Research and Education Foundation Scholarship Program NCAE Martin L. King, Jr., Scholarship Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship Program Charles H. and Dorothy S. Luedemann Art Scholarship Fund Cary Woman’s Club College Scholarship ESA Marsh Scholarship Program For more info visit scholarships.com Current Tuition Fees 2011: Students find enough challenge in trying to afford college without drowning in massive student loans, and these budget cuts are only hampering this process further. Students at Lake Norman High School worry about the new rates and the possible continuation of tuition increases in years to come. “I’m worried about getting into the colleges that I have my heart set on, but the cost of the schools is also majorly affecting my decision. Tuition prices are already sky high, and I have no idea how my family is going to afford to pay even more money for me to get a great education without rendering the consequences,” said a college bound Junior at LNHS. Economists agree that the tuition increases will remain for the next few years until the economy returns to average levels. In order to compensate for this financially unfavorable change, schools across the country are encouraging students to seek financial aid and look into the vast and differing scholarship programs. Hundreds of scholarship opportunities exist for high school students and they vary according to requirements, residency and university interests. To find the best financial aid program, see a school guidance counselor or visit the “Pay for College” section of CollegeBoard.com. Upon visiting this page, students and parents can complete a “Scholarship Search” to discover dozens of scholarships specified for them. The survey asks for personal information, academic information, the type of award, and affiliation information then presents users with a list of scholarship opportunities. Each scholarship then has a link so students can further research the details of the scholarship. Students can also reseach extensive loan programs and calculate their college finances in the “add it up”, “Ways to Pay” and “Loan Center.” The opportunities are out there and with initiative and planning, every college bound student can find a financial aid program ideal for them. $28,672 in state $43, 402 out $17,878 in state $30,633 out $15,000 in state $25,000 out $16,326 in state $27,638 out $16,128 in state $27,227 out $18,427 in state $31,362 out Full Sail 5 Section Name The Beef Over Taco Bell Meat Brianna Marino Allegation made about Taco Bell’s “real” meat. T aco Bell has been accused of not providing customers with actual beef in their meals. This mystery meat is better known as “taco meat filler.” An Alabama law firm is suing Taco Bell for false advertising. According to USDA law standards, 36% beef cannot legally be referred to as beef. The remaining 64% of their meat is made up of fillers, additives, and fibers. Because the meat is not actual beef, it makes the entire package of meat cheaper. This is why Taco Bell is able to sell tacos for only 99 cents. Alabama is only asking Taco Bell to change the name of their “beef ” to “taco-meat filler.” The law firm is not asking for any money whatsoever, just a name change. Their Reaction Taco Bell decided to set the record straight with the recent beef controversy. They are launching a nationwide advertising campaign sharing the truth about their beef. Full page advertisements will be placed in national publications as well as local market newspapers. “The company is also executing a campaign to reach its Hispanic customers,” stated the New York Tribune. The Advertising Copy reads: Thank you for suing us. Here’s the truth about our seasoned beef. The claims made against Taco Bell and our seasoned beef are absolutely false. Our beef is 100% USDA inspected, just like the quality beef you buy in a supermarket and prepare in your home. It is then slow-cooked and simmered in our unique recipe of seasonings, spices, water, and other ingredients to provide Taco Bell’s signature taste and texture. Plain ground beef tastes boring. The only reason we add anything to our beef is to give the meat flavor and quality. Otherwise we’d end up with nothing more than the bland flavor of ground beef, and that doesn’t make for great-tasting tacos. So here are the REAL percentages. 88% Beef and 12% Secret Recipe. In case you’re curious, here’s our not-so-secret recipe. We start with USDA-inspected quality beef (88%). Then add water to keep it juicy and moist (3%). Mix in Mexican spices and flavors, including salt, chili pepper, onion powder, tomato powder, sugar, garlic powder, and cocoa powder (4%). Combine a little oats, caramelized sugar, yeast, citric acid, and other ingredients that contribute to the flavor, moisture, consistency, and quality of our seasoned beef (5%). We stand behind the quality of our seasoned beef 100% and we are proud to serve it in all our restaurants. We take any claims to the contrary very seriously and plan to take legal action against those who have made false claims against our seasoned beef. Greg Creed President, Taco Bell Taco Bell’s Double Beef Burrito, filled with Taco Bell’s “taco meat filler.” Alabama’s Allegation The Alabama law firm said that the beef that the Taco Bell chain uses in their food does not contain a high enough percentage of “actual beef ” to be legally labeled as ”beef ” according to USDA standards. The politically correct name for their beef should be referred to as “taco meat filling.” Taco Bell’s response to the allegation stated that they believed the lawsuit to be bogus and claiming that the facts are all incorrect. Taco Bell claims that their beef is USDA inspected and the quality is just like something one could find in the supermarket. Taco Bell gives their percentages on every ingredient in the beef mix, and they suggest you visit their website if anymore information is needed. According to their website claim, Taco Bell is planning on taking legal action involving the lawsuit because it is the lawsuit that is making false claims, and they are not telling the truth. They followed up with this statement by giving the actual ingredients of their taco meat to their customers. While the ingredients come across as being actual beef, and containing fresh, and “healthy” ingredients, there is not a measurement of each ingredient. This results in the consumer not knowing the specific amount of beef that is in the taco meat. Following with another response to the meat controversy, Taco Bell has created a new commercial. It informs its viewers that the Taco Bell meat is actual beef. Any customer that does not agree with Taco Bell’s claim is directed to visit their website where direct ingredients are given, and president of Taco Bell, Greg Creed, makes his address. The commercial simply states, “Here’s the beef. Judge for yourself.” According to MSN, Taco Bell is not defending the recent Alabama Lawsuit. Instead they are using media to present their recipe to the world, and leave the rest up to their customers. One recent statement made by the President of Taco Bell is actually hurting them in the entire process. It has been stated on Youtube that the CEO is defending the recipe and the cheapness of Taco Bell’s food. He says, “Taco Bell= 12 pounds of food for 3 dollars. I don’t care whats in it, everything we eat is apparently gonna give us cancer and/or kill us anyway.” Customers have been blown away by this rude comment about the food they are eating. Taco Bell is still currently fighting the beef battle, with an end nowhere in sight. Taco Bell is not trying to hide anything in this controversy, but Alabama law firm believes that the USDA standards need to be met, and the correct terminology in the restaurant should be used. Taco Bell’s Beefy Crunch Burrito. Tacos Calories -Chicken Soft Taco 190 -Crispy Potato Soft Taco 280 -Crunchy Taco 170 -Double Decker® Taco 330 -DOUBLE DECKER® 360 Taco Supreme® 6 Full Sail Tacos -Fresco Crunchy Taco -Grilled Steak Soft Taco -Soft Taco Supreme® – Beef -Soft Taco-Beef -Taco Supreme® Calories 150 260 240 210 200 The ingredients for the “seasoned ground beef”: Beef, Water, Seasoning [Isolated Oat Product, Salt, Chili Pepper, Onion Powder, Tomato Powder, Oats (Wheat), Soy Lecithin, Sugar, Spices, Maltodextrin, Soybean Oil (Anti-dusting Agent), Garlic Powder, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Silicon Dioxide, Natural Flavors, Yeast, Modified Corn Starch, Natural Smoke Flavor], Salt, Sodium Phosphates. CONTAINS SOYBEAN, WHEAT Full Sail 7 lll Section Name Team Cats with a judge <---------------------------Team Cats preparing for trial <------------- Mock Trial 2011: A Battle of the Underdogs Cary Lynn Nabors On February 5, 2011, the Lake Norman High School Debate team participated in the 2011 NCAFJ Mock Trial Competition in Charlotte and High Point, North Carolina. The Debate team had some fierce competition, and still came home with three Best Witness awards and one Best Attorney award. Seniors Lora Gregory and Jill Tullish received best witness, along with Freshman Emily Kubera. Senior Andy Brown brought home Best Attorney, and he was also the coleader of Mock Trial with Sevario Longobardo. Both seniors were very important for the formation of the teams that went to competition and helped to hold many teams together. Preparation for competition was very difficult. Several teams dropped out very close to competition and many were unable to form an entire team until a few days before competition. Many brave people stepped up to the plate with less than a week to prepare. “Mock trial was a little slow to start, but I really appreciate the dedication of those that collaborated to get all three teams ready for competition,” says Senior Andy Brown. All of the days of preparation went to good use on the day of competition, and each team did very well. The way the Team Wild trials are done is that each team is given a case a little bit in advance. They have time to prepare for this case and have a maximum of 8 people on a team, some witnesses and some attorneys. A school can have more than one team, which is what LNHS did, but each team needs to have at least 5 people. At competition, the teams are put into a real court room and present the case to a judge as any lawyer would do every day. There are two trials for each team in the duration of competition, giving each team the opportunity to be plaintiff and defense. Real lawyers and judges in the NC judicial system judge the competition. One team from Charlotte actually had the newly elected District Attorney, R. Andrew Murray, judge one of their trials. The teams are judged on who took the information they were given and applied it in the best way to make their side win. The way that the trials are scored is that each witness and attorney is judged on each side, plaintiff and defense, for every thing that they do. The opening and closing statements given by attorneys are scored, and the attorneys are judged on their questions to witnesses as well. Witnesses are judged on their responses to the questions and the knowledge of their witnesss’ information. Each participant is given a certain score out of 10, 10 being the best and 1 being the worst. The total score at the end of the trial determines who wins the case. While the scoring seems fair, it is very biased in the sense that every person sees things differently, and someone who might have gotten a 9 from one person might get an 8 from another, which could completely change the competition. Each team in High Point and Charlotte varied with their wins and losses, but unfortunately none of them went to the final round. They put up a good fight, though, going against the winning team from last year. “We went up against last year’s state 1st runner up and held strong, but were unable to defeat the long-time reigning giant of Henderson High School. Although disappointed and confused by some scoring, I remain consistently proud and pleased with everyone’s dedication and team spirit.” Said Mrs. Cantrell/Vowels when asked about the competition. Next year looks very promising for the LNHS Debate Team, with many returning people for next year’s competition. Hopefully, Lake Norman will sweep the awards like they usually do and keep our reputation of total domination. Court house where the trial took place <------------------ Emily Kuberra on the stand as a witnessw 8 Full Sail Full Sail 9 Section Name What is Narcissism? The Narcissist GENERATION America has created a generation of young adults who feel entitled to all of their wishes and desires. By: Whitley Marshall 10 Full Sail Narcissism is defined as an “inordinate fascination with oneself ” and it’s quickly reaching epidemic levels among America’s youth. In a 2006 study, 80% of middle school students surveyed had a higher self-esteem than the average middle school student in 1980. Other studies have suggested that narcissism traits in college traits have also steadily risen since the 1970s, with over one-fourth of college students agreeing with narcissistic traits on a survey, compared to just one-seventh in 1985. One of the most well-known studies is the one published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry that states young people today are much more likely than older adults to have experienced Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The Causes can be anyone they want on the internet. Keyboards can lead them into believing they’re something they’re not. When teenage girls can pictures of themselves on Facebook or MySpace and receive comments on them, it undoubtedly boosts self-esteem. However, this temporary self-esteem often leads to an inflated ego. Young people are led to believe that what they’re posting is important and that therefore, they themselves are important. facebook or MySpace and receive comments on them, it undoubtedly boosts selfesteem. However, this temporary self-esteem often leads to an inflated ego. Young people believe that what they’re posting is important and that therefore, they themselves are important. The Role of Parents The cause of narcissistic Parents have played a huge role behavior in youth has in the narcissism problem. been widely disputed. Many parents constantly tell However, many believe their children “you’re special!” America’s public school or “you’re amazing!” While system pushes the traits compliments are a good thing, onto students. Students like most things in life, too begin school in an emomuch of anything is harmtionally vulnerable stage, ful. By telling children they’re normally around age six. “so unique!” children begin to Teachers are trained to think they truly are unique and deal with the vulnerabilthat no one else in the world ity and swoop in to the is. In addition to the constant rescue, acting somewhat praise, today’s generation as parents. Teachers are of parents arguably indulge essentially responsible for their children more than past educating their students generations of parents. In some while also maintaining The internet has been a major cause in the narcissism problem. towns, it’s practically a given their emotional well-being. To that once a kid turns 16, they get a car. Of course, fulfill these demanding requirements, teachers the children don’t have to pay for it because after offer praise. Teachers praise students for a job well all, it was a gift. The problem with this is that it done, for taking the initiative to complete assignleads kids to believe they are entitled to anything ments, or even for half-completing an assignment. and everything they want. This is done in hopes of raising the self-esteem of the child. The theory is that if a student has a high Perhaps the worst offender for increased rates self-esteem, they will perform better on tests and in of narcissism is the self-esteem movement that life. However, a problem soon arises: competition is began in the 1970’s. The movement, touted by the virtually eliminated. If everyone gets praised, where National Association for Self-Esteem, encouraged is the motivation to succeed? In turn, students parents and educators to treat all children the acquire a sense of self-importance and entitlement, same and reassure them that they are all special. traits of narcissism. In many schools, grading papers with red pens became outlawed, as it “hurts children’s feelings”. Technology is also a culprit. Since the early 2000s, In middle schools, one of the most popular P.E. the internet has exploded with websites that practigames, dodgeball, became forbidden, because it cally scream “Look at me!” MySpace, for instance, “wasn’t fair to those with lesser athletic abilities”. even has a key narcissistic term in its title-‘my’. It became the norm for teachers to give students a free 100 if they could return their report card The most well-known social website, Facebook, signed. In North Carolina, students can even fail even encourages mundane ‘status updates’ by its an EOC twice, and still possibly pass the class! users. It is not uncommon to see statuses such as The self-esteem movement has fundamentally “i love my new iphone! thanks mom & dad! While shielded children from failure, because if someall of these sites can be fun, the power they give to one fails, it could “hurt their feelings.” users is mind-boggling. Young adults Full Sail 11 Section Name Some critics have argued that these narcissistic behaviors are common behaviors of youth and yield no threat to society. However, it’s worth noting that youth who show signs of narcissistic behavior often lack empathy for others, cannot take criticism, and favor self-enhancement over helping others. These characteristics have resulted in a youth that worry only about themselves, believe they are always right, and work hard to make themselves look good. These traits are easily evident in American culture. Simply turn on MTV and watch shows such as “My Sweet 16” and the super-popular “Jersey Shore.” These shows yield no purpose rather than portraying the lives of average people, with the exception that they are rich and famous. For another example, go to the mall and watch some teenagers. The majority are shopping for themselves in hopes of looking good and impressing others. If you happen to live with or be around teenagers, listen to their conversations. The majority of it revolves around their own little “bubble”: themselves and their friends. The Solution So what’s a culture to do with a youth that has narcissistic behaviors engraved in them? The first thing is for schools to abolish the “self-esteem movement.” Fortunately, the movement has already been abandoned in many schools, due to pressure from the government to do well on standardized tests. Teachers also need to realize that students completing simple tasks do not require a “You’re so great!” compliments. Parents continue to feed the epidemic by spoiling their children beyond what is commonly appropriate. Not every teenager needs or even deserves a car on their 16th birthday. A San Diego State study conducted by professor Jean Twenge, author of The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement, has proven that kids are more likely to appreciate material goods if they have worked for them themselves. Lastly, America’s youth needs a wake up call and realize that the world does not revolve around them. America, widely considered to be the wealthiest nation in the world, has millions of people living at or under the poverty line, while many teens are whining about their parents not buying them the latest iPod or fashions, or (the horror!) they don’t get a car for their 16th birthday. America has raised a generation of youth with multiple narcissistic tendencies carved into their personalities. The traits are undesirable and do indeed yield danger to society, and it is only with the compliance of the media, educators, parents, and society itself that the traits can be reversed. Narcissistic traits help no one but the narcissist themselves; hopefully the youth of America will realize that. 12 Full Sail Are you a Narcissist? Someone suffering from Narcissitc Personality Disorder has at least 5 of the following characteristics: • exaggerates achievements and talents & expects •believes that he/she is “special” & unique and should only associate with people of the same status •requires excessive admiration •shows arrogant behaviors •has a sense of entitlement •is often envy of others or believes that others are envious of him/her •hyper-sensitive to criticism •often perceived as caring and uses this to manipulate others •conversation controller; must have first and last word •seldom expresses appreciation Senioritis Spreads Rampantly Dropping classes couldn’t hurt, right? Wrong! Mary Parker Senioritis: (n.) A class schedule set up by apathetic senior students in order to accommodate his or her will to skip out on irritating school traffic; The schedule usually involves the dropping of first block, fourth block, or a creative combination, so that students only have to be present for two to three classes per day. E ach year, senior students bombard the guidance office hoping to drop classes. I myself am one of those students. However, the question is… is it a good idea to allow students to drop classes? From a senior student’s perspective, I believe that is completely acceptable for senior students to drop a class or two, but only if he or she has a legitimate reason. For example, last semester I dropped my fourth block in order to job shadow Kelly Chappell, a fifth grade teacher at Lake Norman Elementary. It was an awesome opportunity and it actually helped build my college resume, not hurt it since I am considering becoming a teacher. In contrast, this semester I dropped my first block just because I could. I anticipated getting a job and being able to sleep in if I had to close, but again... senioritis isn’t exactly triggering me (along with many other seniors) to be proactive in any shape or form. From a teacher’s perspective, the dropping of classes hurts classroom time for seniors. The number of students in first and fourth block classes dwindle, while the numbers in second and third skyrocket. This creates an awkward learning environment because senior teachers may have 13 students in one class and 35 students in another class. For example, Gregory Keys and Alexander Kummerow’s fourth block classes were forced to combine two small classes into an extra-large class. Gregory Keys teaches the combined English IV class and Alexander Kummerow picked up an English III class. This huge drop in numbers probably happened because of the rearrangement of classes since students can’t drop English IV. However, the rearrangement of a schedule isn’t technically allowed unless approved for a specific reason. Several students who were originally told “no” that they can’t rearrange their schedule had his or her parent or guardian call, or come into the school to talk with a guidance counselor. That’s where the issue lies. However, parents don’t seem to understand the word “no,” so they annoy guidance until their child gets his or her way, but it messes up the organization of classes. As long as students go through with the application process properly which includes notifying colleges of the change and getting parental approval, then dropping a class shouldn’t be a problem. However, if people keep pushing to get their whole schedule rearranged then that will provoke a problem. It is likely that students will lose his or her privilege to drop classes because it will create a huge hassle for guidance. The students who were able to drop classes this year should be thankful because Mooresville High School students are not allowed to drop classes at all. Rising senior students who are considering dropping classes next year should incorporate that into their planning for next year’s classes. If all students would put genuine thought into next year’s schedule, guidance would have a lot less tedious work to deal with. Also, when signing up for classes rising seniors should consider how changing classes will affect class numbers. Students receive passes, which display his or her arrival and/or departure times. Students Drop Classes In Order To... narcissticabuse.com Full Sail 13 Section Name Trevor Bayne had just turned 20 the day before the race. It was his first time ever participating in the Daytona 500, and it would have been a tremendously successful day for someone with his credentials to finish in the top 10. Bayne surpassed all expectations though, and became the youngest driver to ever win The Great American Race. Tears streamed down the face of fans and crew members, as no one can deny the greatness of a young man’s dreams coming true. Daytona 500 Twenty year old Trevor Bayne shocks the racing community, as he becomes the youngest driver to ever win the Daytona 500. Carl Edwards’ pit crew races to get him out of the pits As the race progressed, the contenders for the win began to narrow down. Veterans like Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch all were in the lead at one point or another as the laps dwindled down. However, they were not the only ones, as spoilers such as Bobby O n February 20th, the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 took place in Daytona Beach, FL. Over 100,000 fans packed the grandstands to watch NASCAR’s premier drivers in the Sprint Cup Series battle it out. The Daytona 500 is the season opener for the series, and it is considered the most prestigious race in all of auto racing. Young drivers who lack experience are not supposed to win this race. However, that is exactly what occurred in Daytona when 20 year old Trevor Bayne crossed the finish line first. Full Daytona 500 Results Kyle Busch’s car sits on pit road during pre-race ceremonies The first caution came when Kyle Busch spun out. A few cautions for debris followed. The “big one” happened earlier in the race than normal, and took out a lot of contenders. Five time champion, Jimmie Johnson and his teammate, Jeff Gordon were involved. Dale Earnhardt Jr. in his AMP Energy Chevy The day started out like any other Daytona 500 race day. Fans and media flogged the infield for pre-race ceremonies, which included a Brad Paisley concert. Fan-favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. was on the pole, something that seemed fitting since it was the 10 year anniversary of his NASCAR legend father’s death. However, Dale Jr. crashed his car in practice, so he had to start at the rear of the field. When the green flag dropped, it became obvious to fans and drivers that the drafting style was going to be different this year. Due to the fact that track officials resurfaced the speedway, drafting was now taking place in two-car groups instead of huge packs. With speeds exceeding 200 mph and cars riding within inches of each other, wrecks were inevitable. 14 Full Sail Trevor Bayne celebrates after his victory Ryan Newman’s crew fills up his car with gas on the final pit stop of the race Labonte, David Gilliland, Trevor Bayne and Regan Smith all proved to be contenders. Due to some late-lap cautions, it became obvious a green-white-checkered finish would decide the race. Those who survived the last few wrecks, which tangled up leaders including Dale Earnhardt Jr., would have two laps to determine the winner of The Great American Race. Twenty year old Trevor Bayne found himself leading, but most expected him to fall behind at the drop of the green flag, as favorites Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart lurked in his mirror. However, the young man maintained his position, and he was able to hold off a last turn charge from Edwards to take home the victory. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. Trevor Bayne Carl Edwards David Gilliland Bobby Labonte Kurt Busch Juan Pablo Montoya Regan Smith Kyle Busch Paul Menard Mark Martin AJ Allmendinger Bill Elliott Tony Stewart David Ragan Terry Labonte Robby Gordon Clint Bowyer Jamie McMurray Martin Truex Jr. Steve Wallace Denny Hamlin Ryan Newman Joey Logano 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kasey Kahne Dave Blaney Jimmie Johnson Jeff Gordon Brad Keselowski David Reutimann Brian Vickers Travis Kvapil Andy Lally Matt Kenseth Greg Biffle Jeff Burton Marcos Ambrose Robert Richardson Joe Nemechek Michael Waltrip Brian Keselowski Kevin Harvick JJ Yeley Michael Waltrip drives his wreck car behind the wall after an on-track incident Full Sail 15 Section Name “The” Tyler Bryant Ashley Gordon Tyler Bryant has the skills and know-how to get far in his life. M ost musicians start their journey through music after being influenced by a favorite singer or star. However for Tyler Bryant, student at LNHS, his story is somewhat different. Instead of being influenced by other song writers, vocalists or musicians, Tyler picked up his first guitar after finding his deceased Grandfathers’ 1971 Japanese Kimberly electric guitar in his attic. After finding his grandpa’s guitar he decided to take the time to restore it. He made repairs to the neck, replaced the strings and put a new face on it. He then became interested in playing guitar so his father taught him how to play a G cord. That’s when his journey through music began. After learning the G cord, he then learned to play a few songs, mainly those from famous artists Green Day and Fall Out Boy, and was hooked from there. Tyler says that learning to play the guitar is something he did for himself, not an act spurred by the influence of other artists. “The guitar is pretty…therapeutic,” he says. “To be honest (and as cliché as it may sound), I really just play for fun and to make myself happy.” Tyler Bryant began strumming the guitar around five years ago and has come a long way since then, due to all the practice and time he has put into learning how to play. Tyler loved the instrument from the moment he picked it up, and although practicing was tedious, it was enjoyable and something he loved to do. Along with guitar, he also dabbles in bass, drums and piano. At one point Tyler was in as many as four bands. As of now he is in Backseat Audio, Dane’s Love Circus and I’ve got 16 Full Sail Another Project in the Works, although his biggest commitment is to Backseat Audio. The members of Backseat Audio consist of himself, Matt Nemeth (a senior at Lake Norman), JJ Nadreau (a student at CPCC) and Tre McKinney (a sophomore at William A. Hough High School.) Tyler and Matt both sing and play guitar, JJ plays bass and Tre plays the drums. Tyler and Matt write the majority of the songs, and the band Tyler singing and playing guitar at a show. considers itself “hard-rock alternative.” The boys are more than just a band; they are also really close friends that hang out with each other outside of band practice. One may recognize the name of these bands due to Tyler’s success in Battle of the Bands, a musical competition between students held at LNHS. Tyler has participated in Battle of the Bands three different times; however this past year he performed in three different bands which received first, second and third place by the Judges’ Choice. His band Negative Three came out on top but broke up soon after. Last year Tyler traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, with Cici Jansen, a local country singer from Charlotte who he plays guitar for. Tyler met Cici through a music school in Huntersville called Creative EJ. They recommended Tyler to Cici and he has been playing for her for about two years. Her producer (current keyboardist for Grand Funk Railroad), Tim Cashion, paid for Tyler’s flight, food and hotel so he could play for Cici in Nashville. Tyler played at venues such as the Blue Bird Café and says he met a lot of Grammy winning song writers and that it was an “awesome experience.” Tyler is also in Advanced Acting. He played stand up bass for the Advanced Acting play, Smoke on the Mountain. Tyler took Theater 1 his freshman year and has been a part of the Advanced Acting team for the past couple years. When asked what his favorite part about Advanced Acting was, he responded saying, “Just being around all the talent.” Tyler enjoys acting as much as he does playing guitar and he says that if he gets an opportunity in college to be a part of theater he will most likely take it. Tyler has applied to a bunch of schools and is likely to go to Appalachian State since it was his first choice. As of now Tyler plans to study advertising. He isn’t sure if the music industry is in the cards for him, but if he’s lucky he will “find a way to make a steady living in music.” But Tyler isn’t ruling out going into music all together. Rocking out on stage would be the life for anyone who loves music. Tyler still says that being a producer or song writer would be “cool,” but however his future turns out, Tyler is sure he will be happy. Most people know Tyler as “the Tyler Bryant.” When I asked “the Tyler Bryant” how he got that name he responded with, “That’s the name my folks gave me.” Although it’s a mystery as to where his famous name originated, one thing is for sure, Tyler Bryant is a unique individual. A member of Guitar Club, Debate Team and Advanced Acting, Tyler also enjoys spending time with his lovely girlfriend, Caroline Easom, who is also a part of Advanced Acting. Above: Tyler rocking out at Battle of the Bands 2010 Below: Negative Three playing by the lake Full Sail 17 Section Name ting t e g p o kee r.” t t n a w te “I just r, doing bet faste Lake Norman is full of great athletes, but rarely can you discover a national legend at your local high school. Track and cross-country star, Jenny Gallagher fits perfectly into this category. Jenny and the Lake Norman Team winning the I-Meck Conference. 18 Full Sail Ben Herron Jenny Gallagher H er name is on almost every school running record. Her performances constantly impress, and just when you think she can’t top her latest performance, she goes out and does just that. For Gallagher, it all started at age seven with her first 5K run and has not let up since. She participated in numerous races with her mother growing up, and became the avid runner she is today by doing just that. Brawley Middle School was the start of Gallagher’s competitive running. She was a top runner for the cross-country team and team captain her eighth grade year. In her early years of running, glimpses of greatness radiated from her performances, but no one could predict what she would soon become. Freshman year was a learning year for Gallagher. She transition from junior high to high school taught her many things about running and herself. Gallagher decided not to run for the school crosscountry team this year, rather train on her own in preparation for her future years at the school. She learned to run against herself and not worry about the other opponents, always trying to better her previous time. and county runner of the year award. Her times have also continuously improved, from 20:40 as a sophomore, to 18:45 as a junior and then 18:27 as a senior for 5K (3.1 mile) runs. Gallagher off to an early lead in the Conference Final run. Gallagher has not only brought individual success to Lake Norman High, but also inspired others to do well. In the three years that she ran at Lake Norman, the program has finished in the top six or better. On top of running, Gallagher also manages a 4.36 GPA and is an acclaimed actor as well as a member of the school’s drama club, The Academy at Lake Norman. She also enjoys playing basketball, and was a member of the junior varsity team her freshman year. Recently, Gallagher received a partial scholarship from Elon University to run cross-country and track. She plans on attending the University next year and extending her legacy to yet another school. me is s e t a v moti t a lf, my e h s y “W m eat b o t g tryin times” “What motivates me is trying to beat myself, my times,” Gallagher said. “I just want to keep getting faster, doing better.” Gallagher burst onto the scene during her sophomore year, when nobody expected her to even run. She made a last minute decision to run, three weeks into the cross-country season. Starting in the Iredell County meet she not only performed well, but came out and won the whole meet against some of the area’s best runners.. From that point on, she won, and won, and won. Gallagher received all-state and all-region honors for the exceptional times she put together her sophomore year. On top of that, she was voted the conference and county runner of the year. Junior year was not only a year of continued success in cross country, but Gallagher’s intrinsic talent met a new sport; track and field. She was awarded all-region in the 1600 meter for her track performance while still receiving all-region honors and conference and county runner of the year for the second consecutive year. Gallagher topped off her high school career with a third consecutive all-region and conference Gallagher finishing off her run at the I-Meck Conference Finals. Full Sail 19 Star Makes Dream Section Name Player Lifelong a Reality Zack McGee Most young kids have dreams of what they want to be when they get older. Playing college football was one of those dreams for former Wildcat linebacker, Connor Donaghue. Donaughe was a 3 year varsity starter, and is also the all-time career leader in tackles at Lake Norman. In the first game of the season, Donaghue went down with a serious knee injury. As a senior captain and a big leader on the Wildcat team, the defense seemed shaken without him. When the injury happened, it seemed as if Connor would be lost for the season. As it turns out, he came back in the 6th week and took over the Wildcat defense. Without Donaghue playing, the Wildcats went 0-5. With Donaghue back at full health, the Wildcats won 2 of their final 4 games to finish the season at 2-9. The presence of Donaughe back on the field was immediately felt. On February 2nd, Donaghue made it official that he would be attending Elon University. Even though Donaghue easily fell in love with 20 Full Sail Elon, he also said this was a very tough decision. This was a tough decision because of all the good schools that were after Donaghue. Among many others, the schools that Donaghue was most interested in besides Elon were Wingate, Concord, Gardner Webb, Wofford, and Pembroke. Elon was the right the place for Connor from the first time he attended the University. When asked why he chose Elon, Donaghue replied by saying “the atmosphere, the conference, the education, and the level of competition. I also felt like when I visited that this is where I belonged.” The Elon football program has had many troubles in the past and they have now hired a new football coach in the name of Jason Swepson. They posted a record of 6-5 in 2010, and look to have a lot of starters returning. They also have a bunch of big name recruits that will make an immediate impact for the Phoenix. Although Donaghue does not know whether or not he will be redshirted, he says he is ready for whatever the future has in store for him. MATCH MAKER LNHS student council held a match making fundraiser in time for Valentine’s Day By: Carly Castillo In a school of 2000-plus students, knowing Several students opted to not participate at all. everybody is almost impossible. Because of this, Madison Parker says, “I chose not to do this there is no way of knowing if one of those strangers because it’s not a very accurate test, there are so many would be your perfect boyfriend or girlfriend; which other things you have to know about someone else to is why matchmake.com has a fundraising program see if you are a good match for them and if they are a that matches students based on a questionnaire. Lake good match for you.” Norman High School students supported Student The match maker was pretty sweet Council and took the because it asked unique questions. test on Wednesday, February 2, during advisory. Kellan Baker The test is simple: each student is Students do not have to pay to take the test, but in given a doubleorder to see the results students pay $2. A percentage sided questionnaire of each results paper sold goes to the student council. that works like The results paper tells you your most compatible scantrons; you pick matches and friends from each grade, as well as your the best answer most opposite matches. Beside your match’s name and choice for each grade they are in, there are two percentages. One is the question and shade percent chance that they will like you, and the other is in the corresponding the chance that you will like them. Danielle Marek answer bubble on Becca Wilson says, “I don’t really know any of my the back side of the form. Each question asks you matches, but I would buy it again because it was fun to something about yourself, from hair color, height, and see them.” grade, to how you would react if you got ‘punked’. It also asks about your preferences for age, hair color, height and what you look for first in your potential matches. Matchmake.com then analyzes the results and finds your matches. The website says, “Every question is rated differently as to how important it is to the matching process. Our first eight questions cross match students preferences with reality. For example, tall students are rated higher with participants who prefer someone tall.” The matchmakers are meant to be a fun way to raise money for LNHS’ Student Council, but some teachers and students do not like the idea. On the back of the matches you get a variety of facts “ - match maker causes “ the drama and hurt feelings. it's a popularity struggle. ” Ms. Christie Michael Kuras says, “I thought the questions were not good to match us with because it was all stuff like physical features and not personality.” On the other hand, some students did enjoy taking the matchmaker. Lindsey Westmoreland says that the matchmaker is “fun because you get to see who you are matched up with in the school. The questions are multiple choice so there are more options. My favorite question is ‘When someone says ‘bite me’ you: 1) ignore them, 2) slam them back, or 3) their wish is your command’” ” based on your birthday and your star sign. There is a list with students and celebrities whose birthdays are closest to yours and events in history that happened on that day. One of the most interesting facts was how many days old you are, the number of breaths you have taken and number of times your heart has beaten. You are also given a biorhythm chart, which claims to forecast your physical, emotional, and intellectual highs and lows over the next 31 days. Sydney Smith says, “My favorite part besides the matches was the number of breaths I’ve taken. It was cool to see that and the other stuff about my birthday because my matches weren’t that great.” Mr. Kosal and a member of student council sold the results in the commons before school and at lunches throughout the week of February 14th. Full Sail 21 Section Name the antisocial network most unique addictions featured on the show, Adele shares that she consumed seven couches and two chairs so far in her lifetime and has no intention of quitting her unusual habit anytime soon. “I just take little bite-sized pieces and snack on it all day,” she said in her segment during the e pi s o d e. Adele’s uncontrollable addiction caused her to eat over two hundred pounds so far in cushion. The TLC version of reality is unscripted and uncast, so people like Adele are not what MTV considers “reality television.” Why is it, America, that w e allowed MTV to let us think that raging parties and crazy girls are reality? Why, for so long, have we invested our time into watching the ridiculous programs that MTV airs? If we had any common sense, we d e e would sit down and watch ov th something about people pr om m fr i just like us. We would find d r y. that TLC’s version of reality is an ; fa alit w n e much closer to the “real reality” ne isio of r a v that our lives consist of. s n e l e Will Facebook end on March 15th? Laney Portelance When it comes to social networking sites, nothing compares to Facebook. Although, with the publicity earned in the success of The Social Network and a user count quickly approaching 600 million, it is easy to see how Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg could be a little frazzled. Perhaps that explains why the young billionaire released a statement claiming that on March 15, Facebook will shut down. According to an article by Weekly World News, he announced in a press conference on January 9, “Facebook has gotten out of control, and the stress of managing this company has ruined my life. I need to put an end to all the madness.” Many social networks have come and gone since the start of the twenty-first century, but Facebook’s popularity is unmatched by sites like MySpace, Friendster and AOL. Millions of users worldwide log onto Facebook each day, and if one discovers something cool, one can “Facebook it” just as easily as they can “Google it”. So does it not sound drastic to simply hit the off switch on something so iconic? Weekly World News spoke to a Facebook insider who had some insight on the company’s big shut down. “We can’t just turn it off on March 15th. There will be a revolution. We have to prepare our users for the end of Facebook and offer them ways to keep their social networks alive.” Now, before the Facebook junkies frantically update their statuses to “The world is coming to an end!”, everyone should know that this could all just be a hoax. The problem is that there are conflicting opinions within the Facebook organization. While Zuckerberg seems to think his nearly 8 billion dollar company is going on lockdown, COO Sheryl Sandberg disagrees. “Facebook is not going to close down,” she says, “Not now, not ever. We’re just getting started.” This may be the case, but it is rumored that Zuckerberg himself will make an appearance at the Oscars this year, and that he will reveal some very important information. So is Facebook really coming to an end? Only 22 Full Sail C L T s u r TLC’s new reality programs feature more realistic situations that show everyday people instead of dumb blonds with big boobs. TLC promotes shows such as What Not to Wear, My Strange Addiction, and Say Yes to the Dress, all of which show real people that are just like you. MTV has brainwashed America into thinking that “reality television” should feature overproduced shows that seem fake and unreal. Shows like Teen Mom or Next are not reality America. Please think o uc ty te ersi logically. The people in d these MTV shows tro elai V v n r T i are bad actors C of y M L with poorly T ion az s cr written er V T M Soon millions of users may not be able to access their Facebook accounts. time will tell, but even if March 15 goes by and the poke wars continue, should the day arrive when the company decides to defriend the world, the uproar that is sure to follow won’t last. If Facebook actually plans to shut down for good, millions of people will be disheartened, but everyone will simply move on to the newest media platform. We may witness the end of the phenomena that is Facebook, but social networking as a whole has only just begun. e V v scripts. With TLC’s new shows however, viewers have the opportunity to see actual people in the everyday world. Say Yes to the Dress features women all across America that travel to Kleinfelds, a famous dress shop in New York City. Say Yes to the Dress illustrates the stress, the tears, and the difficulty involved in finding the perfect wedding dress. Real women with real husbands and real weddings appear on this TLC reality television program, not bimbos with boob jobs. In What Not to Wear, the TLC television audience sees men and women from all over the United States that wear ridiculous, odd, or just plain ugly clothes. Stacy and Clinton, the “clothing experts” fix the unfortunate individual up with five thousand dollars worth of new clothes, new hair-do, and makeup advice. The individuals on What Not to Wear are people like you and me that may need a little extra help with fashion advice. The fact is this is reality. There are people that need fashion tips all over America; in fact we see people like this every day. The Learning Channel’s latest edition to their array of television programs is My Strange Addiction, an intriguing one hour program that tells the stories of people across the United States with abnormal and addictive habits. Adele, a woman from one of TLC’s recent episodes, admits to her addiction to consuming couch cushions. Perhaps one of the Lauren Steiner “TLC’s new reality shows are more than dumb blondes with big boobs.” Full Sail 23 GULLIVER’S DOWNFALL Section Name Jonathan Swift would be disapointed with this rendition of his classic story Tricia Bice J Jess Stamey O The 80s ska band Sublime is back with a new twist. n May 25, 1996, right before ska/punk-rock band Sublime was scheduled to go onstage, a tragic incident occurred. When the band’s drummer, Floyd “Bud” Gaugh, went to front-man Bradley Nowell’s hotel room, he found the 28-year-old singer and guitarist dead of a heroin overdose. This devastated his friends and family, especially his wife of one week, Troy Dendekker, and their infant son, Jakob. Nowell’s death was also a big shock to the music community, as the band was just gaining ground. Jon Phillips, a manager of Sublime, said after Nowell’s death, “The band was ready to explode. The stage was set for greatness.” For the next few years, the other band members went about their own projects, but did not perform under the name Sublime. This is partially because some legal documents stated that they could not hire a singer other than Nowell to front the band. It seemed that Sublime was done for good. But in February 2009, the world got a pleasant surprise when Sublime performed for the first time in 13 years. Since they couldn’t hire a new singer to join the band, they opted to go on as Sublime with Rome—the original remaining band members featuring Rome Ramirez. Their performance was Upcoming Tour Dates 4/3/11 at Lollapalooza, Santiago, Chile 4/30/11 at Hard Rock Biloxi Hotel & Casino /Biloxi, MS 5/11/11 at Micro Stadium Malvinas, Buenos Aires/Argentina 5/13/11 at Via Funchal, Sao Paulo/Brazil 5/14/11 at Lupaluna Fest 2011, Curitiba/Brazil 5/15/11 at Prainha ASBAC, Brasilia/Brazil 5/18/11 at Pepsi Onstage,Porto Alegre/Brazil 5/19/11 at Chevrolet Hall, Belo Horizonte/Brazil 5/20/11 at Fundicao Progresso, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil 5/21/11 at Clube Portugues, Recife/Brazil 5/22/11 at Barraca Biruta Fortaleza/Brazil 6/18/11 at Hurricane Fetival/Germany 6/19/11 at Southside Festival/Germany 7/2/11 at Boonstock Festival/Gibbons, AB 24 Full Sail a success, so they began touring during 2010. Now that it is 2011, the band has big plans. Starting in March, they plan to spend a month and a half in the studio and then begin touring in April for the remainder of the year. They have already scheduled some tour dates. In an article on www.ultimateguitar.com, Rome said, “I can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on. Can’t wait to get back out there and play for our most radical fans ever.” Though they are just getting started under their new name, big things are expected from Sublime with Rome. onathan Swift’s classic novel, Gulliver’s Travels, recently hit the big screen in 3-D. The comedy starred Jack Black, Jason Segel, and Emily Blunt. The film takes place in modern day Lilliput, a fictional island inhabited by 6-inch people stuck in the medieval period. Lemuel Gulliver works in the mailroom at the New York Tribune downstairs from his crush, Darcey (Amanda Peet). He takes a travel writing assignment to impress Darcey. He boards a ship destined for the Bermuda Triangle, but when a storm hits, he finds himself shipwrecked and captured by Lilliputs’s tiny society. After a rocky beginning, the Lilliputans put Gulliver in charge of their army, considering that he is the biggest and bravest man capable of protecting the people from the enemy, Blefuscu. After weeks of countless stories of Lemuel’s courageous adventures from his mysterious homeland, he is forced to come to terms with his true self. The acting in a movie is crucial. Jack Black, although well-known, is not the best actor around. He specializes in physical comedy; such as, funny faces, dancing, and falling. Gulliver’s Travels is rated PG; however, Swift did not intend his symbolic novel to make young children laugh. It is insulting to the historic novel that Black leads a full-cast dance number to close the movie. Not to mention his dancing and singing is absolutely horrid. The actors chosen can make or break a movie, and in this case it destroyed it. 3-dimensional films quickly take over theatres everywhere, and raise the already steep prices. Whether it is a PG-rated animated film or a PG-13 action-packed thriller people pay an extra five dollars to have the picture jump off the screen. But it does not always compliment the movie in the way it is intended. The land of Lilliput is just fine when seen in 2-D. The extra dimension does not add to the movie quality whatsoever. So why waste your money? Overall, Gulliver’s Travels did not reach my expectations. It lacked quality acting and production, and offended the 18th century novel. Its’ crude and insensitive humor made me cringe rather than laugh, making my disgust for Jack Black grow even stronger. I do not recommend this film. It is a waste of time and money. You will get much more value out of reading the book. Other Box Office Flops “In a film of this kind a great deal depends on the chemistry between the lead actors,”and here Twilight falls especially short.” “This is a movie that tries too hard to cover the tearjerking bases, and in doing so manages to miss every single one of them.” “An endless series of tedious set pieces, flat characterization, lethargic visual effects, a waste of raw talent” Full Sail 25 Section Name Comic Book “Comeback” Many believe that comic books are making a sudden resurgence in pop culture, but what exactly are they coming back from? Kayla Schultz S everal decades ago, superheroes started appearing in comic books. Companies like Marvel and DC introduced the world to Superman, Spider-Man, and Batman (some of the most notable superheroes of all time). Nowadays, most people are talking about how superheroes have suddenly reappeared to dominate pop culture. What people do not seem to realize is that superheroes and comics never disappeared in the first place; they’ve been here all along. roles of superheroes are constantly being reprised by someone new. Since the 1960s, there have been three Batman franchises, each one as successful as the last. Superman also never seems to go away; just look at the Superman inspired television series Smallville that has been on the air since 2001. since its release on January 14, according to boxofficemojo.com. Other comic book stars, such as Thor and Green Lantern, will be making their film debuts this summer, as well as an entirely new group of X-Men in X-Men: First Class. 2012 will welcome a new Spider-Man, played by Social Network star Andrew Garfield. There have also been rumors circulating about a new Superman movie with fresh-outof-jail Lindsay Lohan. Although new heroes are arriving on the scene, it’d be wrong to say that the superhero genre has suddenly reappeared. It’s not that superheroes are coming back, but rather that the comic book movie demographic consists of a new generation of movie goers. Many of these movie goers were not even alive when the second installment of Batman began in 1989. With that being said, it would not be fair to say that comic books disappeared and are suddenly on a pop culture rise. Constant comic book reboots With the seemingly sudden comic book craze exploding all over the Hollywood scene, many people believe that superheroes are making a comeback. However, this is a common misconception, seeing as how superheroes never left. In the world of comic book movies, the As LL Cool J would say: A look inside DC Comic’s Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons The Origin of Comic Books According to januarymagazine.com, America introduced comic books in 1934, and they have produced more titles than any other country since then. Comics originated as comedic cartoons set up in strips, but the introduction of Superman in 1938 turned those small strips into a major industry. The success of Superman launched a wave of comic superheroes, commonly known as the Golden Age. DC Comics, home of Superman, Batman, and Flash, dominated the comic world; that was until the formation of Marvel Comics and the creation of new superheroes, such as Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, and the Hulk. Don’t call it a comeback Past Comic Book Films It is clear that in today’s pop culture realm, superheroes have become a vital part of box office success. The past decade has seen its fair share of comic book movies, and each one has raked in millions of dollars. In 2002, Tobey McGuire and Kirsten Dunst starred in the film adaption of SpiderMan. The Spider-Man series continued all the way into 2007 with three major motion pictures. Audiences also turned Superman Returns, Batman Begins, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, and The Dark Knight into worldwide sensations, which helped the superhero stock skyrocket. Sudden Superhero Surge This issue of Action Comics introduced Superman. 26 Full Sail As the new decade commences, more superheroes are getting their chance to shine on the big screen. The Green Hornet has already raked in a worldwide total of $170,687,895 1966 1989 2005 Full Sail 27 Section Name 53rd Grammy Awards Who were the big winners on music’s biggest night? Laney Portelance Paul McCartney Rihanna Eminem John Legend Cee Lo Green Alicia Keys & & The Roots Them Crooked Vultures Fantasia Jay-Z & Swizz Beats The Beatles Bruno Mars Sade Miranda Lambert Lady Gaga Neil Young 28 Full Sail Muse Arcade Fire Lewis Black Keith Urban Usher Michael Buble Lady Antebellum The Doors Iron Maiden Full Sail 29 Section Name Best Grammys Rap Best Rap Song- Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z & Alicia Keys Song of the Year- Need You Know by Lady Antebellum Best Rap Album- Recovery by Eminem Album of the Year- The Suburbs by Arcade Fire Best Solo Rap Performance- Not Afraid by Eminem Best Short Form Music Video- Bad Romance by Lady Gaga Best Rap Performance by a Duo/Group- On to the Next One by Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz Best Long Form Music Video- When You’re Strange by The Doors Record of the Year- Need You Know by Lady Antebellum Best Dance Recording- The Only Girl (In the World) by Rihanna Best Comedy Album- Stark Raving Black by Lewis Black Best Historical Album- The Beatles (The Original Studio Recordings) Best Country Song- Need You Now by Lady Antebellum Best Country Album- Need You Know by Lady Antebellum Best Male Country Vocal Performance- Til Summer Comes Around by Keith Urban Best Female Country Vocal Performance- The House that Built Me by Miranda Lambert Best Country Performance by a Duo/Group w/ Vocals- Need You Now by Lady Antebellum Best Rock Song- Angry World by Neil Young Country Rock Best Rock Album- The Resistance by Muse Best Best Alternative Music Album- The Brothers by The Black Keys Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance- Helter Skelter by Paul McCartney Best Hard Rock Performance- New Fang by Them Crooked Vultures Best Metal Performance- El Dorado by Iron Maiden Best Urban/Alternative Performance- F*ck You by Cee Lo Green Best Rock Performance by a Duo/Group w/ Vocals- Tighten Up by The Black Keys Pop Best Pop Vocal Album- The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album- Crazy Love by Michael Buble Best Male Pop Vocal Performance- Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars Best Female Pop Vocal Performance- Bad Romance by Lady Gaga R&B Best R&B Album- Wake Up! by John Legend & The Roots Best R&B Song- Shine by John Legend & The Roots Best Male R&B Vocal Performance- There Goes My Baby by Usher Best Female R&B Vocal Performance- Bittersweet by Fantasia Best R&B Performance by a Duo/Group w/ Vocals- Soldier of Love by Sade Special Merit Awards MusiCares Person of the Year- Barbra Streisand Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award- Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, Juilliard String Quartet, the Kingston Trio, Dolly Parton, Ramones, George Beverly Shea source: www.abc.net.au 30 Full Sail Full Sail 31