Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Ivy Day

Ivy Day
Alex Levitskiy


   This time of the year is especially exciting for students who are waiting to hear back from their dream universities.  For many students, it is a matter of waiting to receive a mailing from their colleges, notifying them of their acceptance.  In the midst of this happiness, countless of those who applied to the eight participating Ivy League institutions await one looming day: March 31, 2016.  
   The universities in the Ivy League have what is called an Ivy League Agreement, which states that they will release admissions decisions at the same time though exceptions do apply.  For the most part, Ivy hopefuls will be accessing portals beginning at 5 pm on March 31st to see the results.  As an applicant myself, I can surely say that the application process is not just something to complete in one sitting; rather, it involves preparation, reflection, and thought.  Our school has multiple applicants who applied to Ivy League institutions, so during this stressful time of the year, be sure to commend them for their hard work, no matter the result.  

It may be a celebratory day for some, or a down day for others; however, the events of March 31, 2016, will help shape the aura of the day for sure.  On a final note, do not let a few college decisions dictate your path, as everything happens for a reason.  Stay strong during this last week—it is finally here!

Casino Night

Casino Night
Skyler Powers

March is coming to an end and that means two things: all of the March Madness brackets have failed and have been tossed in the garbage, and Casino Night!  That's right, Homer High School’s Student Government is holding its ninth annual Casino Night this Friday, April 1st. At this event, you can play card games, dance, or do them both at the same time, if you like to live on the edge.  Tickets can be bought ahead of time for $13 or $15 at the door.  If this night wasn't enticing enough already, to sweeten the deal even more, you will get one free bubble tea. So if you like card games, dancing, bubble tea, or all of the above, come on out to Casino Night and have a blast with your friends!

10 Cloverfield Lane Review

10 Cloverfield Lane Review
Skyler Powers

10 Cloverfield Lane is a thriller starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, and John Gallagher, Jr. Winstead plays a young woman named Michelle who has left her boyfriend.  While driving down a country road at night, Michelle gets into a car accident which leaves her unconscious.  She awakens in an underground bomb shelter built and maintained by Howard (John Goodman), an obviously unstable, middle-aged man who claims that there has been a chemical attack that has left the air on the surface unbreathable and that they must live in the shelter for a year or two in order to survive.  Also living in the shelter is Emmet (John Gallagher, Jr.), who helped build the shelter and allegedly witnessed the chemical attack.  However, a series of clues leads Michelle to believe that Howard could be lying. What ensues is a tense psychological thriller about a woman trying to discover the truth and plot against her insane captor with the help of Emmett and her impressive wit.  
First of all, the acting in this movie is fantastic. Winstead and Goodman steal the show with strong acting abilities and very interesting characters. You really root for Winstead’s character because of her kind nature and intelligence.  Her intelligence is also worth shouting at since most lead protagonists in films of this genre lack the intelligence of an average human as evident by their tendency to go where it is obviously dangerous and to not have common sense. Michelle is very smart and is usually one step ahead of the audience, which is very refreshing. Goodman plays his role extremely well too. He portrays a character that comes off as subtly insane most of the time while also having moments of complete sanity and complete insanity. Such range in an actor’s performance is always impressive. Now, there is an underdeveloped character in this film as there is in most movies, and that is Emmett.  He mostly provided comic relief and served as an aid in Michelle’s rebellious schemes. It is obvious that most attention was given in developing Winstead and Goodman’s characters. However, this is only a minor flaw.  
I also must applaud the atmosphere and setting of this movie. The majority of this movie takes place in a bomb shelter, which could pose a problem for the average director. With such little space, you can only make a movie so long while still keeping it interesting. However, this movie is always interesting.  It is constantly tense and as aspects of the movie are revealed, the plot goes through many twists and turns. There is the signature twist ending that is to be expected in a movie of this nature that manifests itself in the middle of the ending action sequence. I was very surprised by the ending, and, at first, I didn’t care for it. It felt abrupt and out of place but after thinking about it for a while, I realized how ingenious it was, and now I love it.   
Other than the underdeveloped character and an initial lack of satisfaction from the ending, there is only one other negative I can find in the movie, and that is its name. I have a feeling that many people are expecting a large sequel to Cloverfield, which starred a gigantic monster rampaging through New York City. However, that is anything but the case. This is a confined thriller that is scary on a human level that has very few, if any, ties to the original movie. It could possibly take place in the same universe, but that is the only legitimate relation. If you don’t go into this movie expecting a large scale monster movie, then I think you will love this movie as a thriller as much as I did.

Homer High’s South Pacific: Fantastic!

Homer High’s South Pacific: Fantastic!
Reed Cleland



The magic of theater not only tells a story but communicates emotion in a way that allows the audience to believe that they have lived the story. As said by Shannon L. Alder, “If you were born to change someone’s perspective or emotions, never waste that gift. It is one of the most powerful gifts God can give-the ability to influence.” Well, Homer High School’s presentation of South Pacific, a Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, did just that; it was a very powerful and thought provoking performance.
Homer has never had a shortage of talented actors, singers, and musicians. Months and months of hard work culminated in two spectacular performances! The statistics alone indicate the reputation of Homer’s gifted theater participants . Over 800 people attended the two performances, occurring on March 4th and 5th. Of course, many thanks and praise should be given to the show’s adult staff. Their dedication of time shows how much they have invested in the success of their students. Additionally, the credit for the success of a show must always be contributed to the talent of the director. In her entire career at Homer High School, Mrs. Cara K-B McLaughlin has never disappointed expectations, and her students are very lucky to have such a theatrically experienced woman as their director.

To the students, I would say thank you. You not only told your audience a story, but you made them believe that they had lived it. I was lucky enough to watch as your extraordinary talent unfolded in front of your many supporters. No part in a play is small, and it was obvious that the entire team was working for each other. Thank you for sharing new experiences with us. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of Homer’s South Pacific. Thank you for sharing your gift with us.      

War for the White House 2016: 3/1 - 3/7

War for the White House 2016: 3/1 - 3/7
Reed Cleland



Democrat and Republican presidential candidates competed in two of the most significant days in their War for the White House this week. Super Tuesday and Super Weekend were the two largest competitions of the war so far. Let’s take a look at what happened:

Pre-Super Tuesday and Super Weekend
Democrats: Before Super Tuesday and Super Weekend, Bernie Sanders was seen as the underdog candidate. Indeed, he still is considered the underdog. Although the two candidates effectively tied in Iowa and Sanders handily won New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton’s firewall ignited in South Carolina, spreading throughout the Southern states. She smashed Sanders in South Carolina by nearly fifty points.
Republicans: The number of Republican candidates did not disappear as quickly as the number of Democrats had. Slowly but surely, the number dwindled to six candidates in South Carolina and then to five after the suspension of Jeb Bush’s campaign. Five candidates, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, and John Kasich were left to battle it out on Super Tuesday.

Post-Super Tuesday and Super Weekend
Democrats: Of the eleven states that voted on Super Tuesday, four of them went to Sanders and seven to Clinton. Sanders found his strength in the Midwest, as well as in his home state of Vermont. Clinton’s firewall ignited in every state from Texas to Virginia, as well as Massachusetts. Super Weekend saw Sanders bounce off the wall when he took Maine, Kansas, and Nebraska. Clinton only won Louisiana. Furthermore, Sanders stunned the entire political field when he won Michigan, the largest political upset in history. Many believe that Michigan provided Sanders the turnaround he needed in order to win other Rust Belt states, as well as narrow the delegate count between himself and Clinton.
Republicans: Donald Trump won seven of the eleven states on Super Tuesday, Cruz won three, and Rubio won Minnesota. Ben Carson dissolved his campaign the following Friday and Rubio was dealt a severe blow; many thought he would be the poster-boy of the Republican establishment. On Super Weekend, Senator Cruz made a slight comeback, winning Kansas and Maine, although Trump won in Louisiana and Kentucky. Furthermore, Trump came away with Michigan, Mississippi, and Hawaii while Cruz was victorious in Idaho. Trump appears to be slipping further away from his rivals in delegate numbers. Unless Rubio or John Kasich can make comebacks by winning their respective home states of Florida and Ohio, they would appear to be out of the race for good.   

Be sure to watch the next contests on March 15th, a day many people are referring to as ´Super Tuesday 3´. Will Bernie Sanders pull off another political upset against a once inevitable Hillary Clinton? Will Donald Trump become unstoppable, or will Kasich, Rubio, and Cruz hold on? These many questions will be answered this Tuesday, March 15th, by Americans in Florida, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, and Missouri.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Drew Hunter: Senior, Athlete, Champion

Drew Hunter: Senior, Athlete, Champion
Alyson Witt

Everyone wants to achieve something in high school, a memory that will remind them of their high school career and will one day make a great story to tell their grandkids. Many people dream of becoming someone great, someone who inspires others, someone who will be remembered and will make others strive to be like them. This dream is quite common among athletes, who are always working hard to break records, whether it's school records, state records, or national records. For many, the idea of breaking a national record seems impossible, but not for Drew Hunter.
Drew Hunter is an eighteen year old senior at Loudoun Valley High school in Virginia and has already made his mark through his many achievements as a runner. Hunter has already broken many records in both track and cross-country. He has many cross-country victories under his belt and has already broken a national record. Hunter has also won the Footlocker cross-country national title with a time of 14:55. He is also the Gatorade State Runner of the Year and has set a course record of 14:26 at the Foot Locker South Regional Championships. Out of his many achievements, the most outstanding was breaking the national record for the boys high school indoor track mile record, with a time of 3:58.25, at the Millrose Games earlier this month.
This amazing achievement will not be Hunter’s last, as he plans to continue running in college as a professional runner, giving him many opportunities to improve and achieve. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to run at the University of Oregon on an athletic scholarship next fall. With outdoor track soon approaching, Hunter still has opportunities to break a few more records during his high school career.  

Sources:
Emert, Jacob. "Loudoun Valley's Drew Hunter Breaks Alan Webb's U.S. High School Record in Mile." Washington Post. The Washington Post.

Kissane, John A. "Drew Hunter: Five New Insights and One Intriguing Question." Runner's World. 03 Feb. 2016. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.

Teacher Feature: Mr. Podsiedlik

Teacher Feature: Mr. Podsiedlik
Alyson Witt

So far, throughout my high school experience, I have been given many opportunities, many of which I have learned a great deal from. These opportunities include the chance to meet inspiring teachers and amazing people. I have also learned many critical things from them, that have shaped me into the person I have become today. I have already met many of the amazing teachers at Homer High School. However, there are also many that I haven't had the opportunity to meet. So I decided to change that by interviewing some of these teachers that I am not familiar with, in order to get to know them, and maybe even learn something from them.
One of these teachers is Mr. Podsiedlik, who I have realized is a hardworking and enthusiastic coach and teacher at Homer High School. As I interviewed Mr. Podsiedlik, he talked a lot about his family, his wife Terrie, who is an RN nurse, and his two kids. His daughter, Erin,  is a 6th-grade teacher at the Junior High. He also told me about his hobbies outside of school, including his passion for camping and fishing. He has enjoyed camping with his family since 1989, and still continues this passion today. He started camping in popup campers, until 1992 where he bought an old 1973 Coleman camper and fixed it up. He also mentioned that he enjoys going fishing with his brother, who he described as an amazing fisherman. During his life at school, he is a math teacher and a football coach and has helped with basketball for the past 33 years. He also helps at the college, teaching methods classes to help future teachers, giving them advice on how to be not only a great teacher, but also a supporter and friend. Mr. Podsiedlik also told me that he feels like his career started at age 12, where he took part in a small construction business.
       Before interviewing Mr. Podsiedlik, I knew very little about him. I knew he was a math teacher, football coach, and a very friendly person, as he always says hello to me in the hallways and usually compliments my converse sneakers. But after talking to him, I learned a lot more about him. In my further years at Homer, I intend to get to know him even better, become his student, and get the opportunity to learn many more things from him.

Monday, March 7, 2016

South Pacific Review

South Pacific Review
Skyler Powers

Every year, Homer High School performs their annual musical, and manages to excite and impress onlookers every time.  This year’s production was the famous musical, South Pacific.  The musical centers around a young, Arkansan nurse, Ensign Nellie Forbush (Bailey Kote),  stationed on a Pacific island. Nellie falls in love with a middle aged plantation owner, Emile de Becque (David Perfetti), who has a mysterious past and racially mixed children, which Nellie has trouble coping with.  Other supporting characters who star in the production include Rowan Travis as Lieutenant Joseph Cable, Kenian Ulrich as Luther Billis, Kate Halstead as Bloody Mary, and Jenniellen Withers as Liat.  
First off, I prefer last year’s production, Bye Bye Birdie, to this, but that is only because I was personally more interested in Bye Bye Birdie’s storyline and characters.  However, that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this musical, and it is a fantastic musical production.  I do not have any negative complaints about this production, but certain aspects of it stood out.
Now, I must applaud this musical’s comedy.  Whether it be subtle romantic banter or a flamboyant dance sequence involving a male character dressed in a grass skirt and wig, this musical was never anything less than hilarious.  This comedy was an advantage to the production as it provided entertainment and a lively feel even in the slower parts of the musical that would have normally made me check my watch.  From a comedy perspective, two performers stood out: Kate Halstead as Bloody Mary and Kenian Ulrich as Luther Billis.  These two were always providing hilarious comic relief to even the most sincere moments, and this is not a bad thing.  They were extremely entertaining and performed their roles very well.
Next up is the music.  After all, what is a musical without good music?  The music and choreography in this production were spot on and very impressive.  This musical had everything a music lover could ask for from slow songs with French elements to exuberant songs accompanied by great dance numbers.  Some songs that stood out were “Dites-Moi,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Bali Ha’i,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” and “Honey Bun.”  The dancing was particularly impressive in “There Is Nothin’ Like A Dame,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” and “Honey Bun.”  Props were often also used in these dances which only enhanced the performance.  
Lastly, this review would not be complete without praising the performers.  Every single performer in this production did a fantastic job, however, some stood out.  As I mentioned earlier, Kate Halstead as Bloody Mary and Kenian Ulrich as Luther Billis shined from a comedic perspective, but they were also very impressive from a dramatic perspective as well.  Each and every supporting performer delivered a satisfactory performance whether it be Drew Gustafson’s Commander William Harbison or Evan Ulrich’s Captain George Brackett.  Lastly, the two lead performers shined the most:  David Perfetti as Emile de Becque and Bailey Kote as Ensign Nellie Forbush.  They delivered stellar performances and, when they sang, they conveyed an astonishing level of talent.  The rest of the people in the auditorium must have felt the same way because when Perfetti and Kote came onto the stage to bow, they received a standing ovation, and, in my opinion, they definitely deserved it.  

All in all, this was a superb production filled to the brim with vibrant songs and choreography, and impressive acting.  The Homer High School’s annual musical, no matter what it may be, never fails to impress.  The acting and music are always stunning, and I cannot wait to see what musicals will be performed in the future.  No matter what the choice may be, I am confident that the future musicals will be just as enjoyable and impressive as past ones, if not even more extraordinary.  

Friday, March 4, 2016

Species Spotlight: Grey Peacock Pheasant

Species Spotlight: Grey Peacock Pheasant
Alex Levitskiy

During this terribly cold spell, I have selected the Grey Peacock Pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum) as this week’s featured species. The Grey Peacock Pheasant is native to south-east Asia.  The males of this species have an overall grey body that is dappled with tiny white dots.  The wings are covered with ocelli that are purple ( they can change to appear blue depending on the lighting) and outlined in black.  The ocelli feathers are tipped with white and the ocelli themselves become larger the closer they are to the tail. The tail consists of tail feathers that are blocked off on the end and have two blue-green, large ocelli.  The breast is a pattern of white and black scallops that lead up to a white chin. The crest is elongated and bushy looking.  During a display the crest is extended over the beak, the wings are raised to show off the ocelli, and the tail is opened.  The hallmark feature of individuals belonging to the genus Polyplectron are the spurs, which males can have multiple sets of.  The hens are mostly grey, but they also have ocelli; however, their ocelli are mostly black with a speck of purple.  The wing feathers are edged with white.  The hens have a tail with elongated purple ocelli, although their tail is shorter than that of the males.  They too have a white chin.  Both sexes have grey legs.
Grey Peacock Pheasants are considered Least Concern by the IUCN, and they are the most commonly kept Peacock Pheasant in captivity.  Being a tropical species, they are unable to take the cold very well, although they are the most cold-hardy Peacock Pheasant.  If someone wants to work with Peacock Pheasants, it would be the wisest choice to acquire Grey Peacock Pheasants first.  They are an enjoyable species to own, and they do not need a large pen to be content.  As with any Peacock Pheasant, the Grey Peacock Pheasant is awesome for the aviculturist with an obsession for tropical pheasants.

Photo Credit: Alex Levitskiy

Grey Peacock Pheasant Male


Grey Peacock Pheasant Hen


Homer International Club Fundraiser

Homer International Club Fundraiser
Isabell Berthelsen

Homer’s International Club is having their annual fundraiser, and they need your support. Every year the club supports an international project, this year the International Club will support two teenage girls that live in an orphanage in Nepal by helping continue their education. The two girls have just finished their first ten years of school and are now only missing two years of school before finishing. The two girls are Mina Sapkota, who is nineteen years old, and Kalpana Baram, who is eighteen years old. They both like to read, knit, hang out at cafes, and drink hot cocoa.
Mina and Kalpana are a part of the orphanage NHOCCA (Nepal Highlander Orphan Children's Care Association), which is located in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. NHOCCA is a support organization for the orphaned children of the Nepal Highlands. The primitive and very poor conditions in the Nepal Highlands have caused a great number of neglected and orphaned children, who are without access to food, shelter, medicine, or education. So NHOCCA was established in 2003, and Vibeke Pedersen is the Danish founder of the organization. She became a part of the organization when the first children were brought into the orphanage at the establishment in April, 2003. Vibeke follows a lot of the children’s process and development, and she’s also responsible for keeping contact with Danish sponsors.
At the end of April, 2015, Nepal was hit by a major earthquake. The great earthquake destroyed a lot of buildings and injured a lot of people. NHOCCA was hurt as well and they had a hard time getting the orphanage rebuilt because of the many reconstruction tasks all over Nepal. The orphanage got help from a lot of unskilled people, and after a long time the orphanage was repainted and rebuilt with new bathrooms and a new water tank. More damaged than the actual building were the orphanage's children, but the orphanage has done a lot of work with trauma redemption to heal and help the children. Today, everybody is still affected by the terrible experience, but they are developing in a positive direction.
NHOCCA, Mina, and Kalpana need your support to continue their future. Please donate money and spare coins to Homer’s International Club. You can donate by contacting a club member or visiting Mrs. Zimmerman’s room, and by donating to the project you will receive a very nice HIC sticker.   

Read more about NHOCCA here; http://nhocca.org

Youth & Government Spaghetti Dinner

Youth & Government Spaghetti Dinner
By: Tighe Gugerty


Do you like spaghetti? Do you like government? Then come to the Homer High School Youth and Government Club’s annual spaghetti dinner! It is being held this year on Monday, March 7, the dinner will feature all you can eat spaghetti with a multitude of appetizing sides and plenty of dazzling desserts. You will also be able to learn about what the club does and what they will be doing at the upcoming State Conference. Lucky diners may also get a chance to debate on a bill written by the teens. So come on down for a feast fit for a governor!

The dinner will be held Monday, March 7 at Homer High School in the cafeteria. Doors open at 5:30 P.M. and close at 7 P.M. Tickets are $5 per person or $15 for the whole family. Donations are also gladly accepted. All proceeds will go to the funding of the club.