November 2011 iPad Invasion!

November 2011
Vol. IV, No. 1
iPad Invasion!
By: Sonia Chinai
According to a news release last June, Apple had sold
25 million iPads since the product was released in early 2010. That works out to about 87,000 per day. This
school year, Branson decided to provide iPads to all
Branson students. Naturally, there has been discussion
among students, parents and teachers about the advantages and challenges of using an iPad in school, as well
as the pros and cons of an iPad versus a laptop. An interview with headmaster, Woody Price, shed light on the
questions surrounding the iPad.
Mister Price explained that the process of adopting an
iPad program occurred methodically. First ten or fifteen
iPads were purchased by Branson and given to teachers
to see if they would be useful. The department chairs
started talking about ways in which they might benefit the learning process and approached Mr. Price with
feedback that they found multiple uses for the device.
The iPads were deemed potentially very helpful and faculty members wanted to experiment to see if they could
make them available to students. In the past, teachers
had expressed that they did not want a laptop program at
Branson. Not only does the iPad makes a good e-reader,
it is also flat, which enables teachers to see what students are doing in class and have eye contact with their
students. The absence of a fold up screen made the iPad
a better solution than laptops. Of course, Mr. Price is
not suggesting that kids are not going to be using their
iPads for non-school related activities in class, but there
is a greater chance that a teacher will notice. Also, in
the future, the iPad can become a textbook replacement.
That reality will take time, as many textbooks are not
yet available in electronic format.
Branson did not model this program on other schools
that have already adopted iPad use. Other schools that
are using iPads are starting at about the same time as
us. Mister Price explained that we do not really have a
program as much as a process of experimentation. This
experimention is why Branson did not charge students,
because the school did not really know how valuable
iPads would be to the learning process. Faculty and department chairs will present feedback, in the middle of
the year, as to how things are going and whether they
believe the iPads are worthwhile. Teachers will also poll
students to find out their opinions and Branson might
even explore training students on how to get the most
out of the device.
Branson does not have a specific testing timeline to see if
this program is worthwhile for Branson to continue, but
there is the goal of a timeline. That is, the administration
wants to know if the iPads are benefitting students and
faculty by January 2012 for practical purposes, because
that’s when they start planning for the next year.
It is yet to be determined how the school will find the
iPads for all students in the future. This year, iPads were
bought through fundraising activity. There is a hope that
once most textbooks are available in electronic format,
they could be loaded on to the iPads. Then, the iPads
would be cheaper than purchasing an entire collection
of textbooks, which would make the program less costly in the long run. There is a tradeoff - trading textbooks
for iPads. So, students who normally receive 70% financial aid would only have to pay 30% of the usual iPad
price. While Branson experiments, we will probably try
to find a donor for the next year, or maybe the prices of
the iPad will come down. At this point, funding future
purchases is not a major concern.
Continued on page 3
RIP Steve Jobs
(February 24, 1955 –
October 5, 2011)
Introducing the new Athletics Dean, Anthony Thomas
By Jenny Golden
You may have noticed someone new attending many of your sports games this past fall – his
name is Anthony Thomas and he is the new Athletics Director at Branson. Sports always were
and still are a large part of his life, both professionally and personally. Before coming to Branson, Anthony Thomas worked as an Athletics Director at Urban, Sacred Heart Prep, and International High School. He was also the Dean of Students at New Roads in southern California.
When he was younger, Mr. Thomas played baseball and football throughout high school, and
played college baseball at UC Santa Barbara. He later transferred to UCLA. According to Mr.
Thomas, his commitment to sports helped him to stay out of trouble as a kid. In addition, he valued the sports he played because they were his motivation to do well in school.
As our new Athletic Director, Anthony Thomas has planned quite a few things he hopes to accomplish at Branson. He has already developed the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, where
students will receive the opportunity to have a voice in the Athletics Program at Branson as well
as maximize every student-athlete experience. Another hope is to expand the Strength and Conditioning Program. Anthony Thomas said he was glad to see 40 kids in the program one day. Mr.
Thomas aims to build a sense of pride in what we do, which goes beyond the scoreboard. However, in order to serve best all our athletes, he is also aiming to provide a competitive program
that competes at the highest level so that all athletes will be challenged. In addition, he wants
access to the best facilities. The school is already looking at ways to improve them on campus
and make them available to all students.
Anthony Thomas cares about athletes and sees athletics as a way to help student athletes to grow
and develop as people. He believes that living a life filled with healthy habits is extremely important. Most importantly, his first goal for this year is for the whole school to be able to recite
the “I believe” cheer! So, when you see Anthony Thomas on campus or at a game, give him a big
welcome to the Branson Community.
2
Community Topics
Community First, Branson Style
By Olivia Williams
This year, the community service department is really seeking to get the Branson community more
personalized within the system. The goal of the
community service department is to involve the
entire school in doing service because the students
want to help, rather than just for the hours. In doing
so, the community service coordinators meet twice
a month and discuss how to achieve this goal in the
best way possible. We are also making an effort to get
families involved in community service outside of
Branson so that individuals can grow passed requirements and into the community outside of Branson.
For The Love of Tennis
By Krish Chinai
When a soccer player looks at a soccer field,
a golfer gazes upon a fairway, or a swimmer
walks past a pool, they probably smile as they
think about their passion. When a tennis player
passes the courts at Branson, they probably
wonder why they look the way they do now.
The answer was revealed in an interview with
headmaster, Woody Price. The courts were put
out of use during Branson’s construction work
a few years ago. According to Mr. Price, while
creating new buildings at Branson, the town of
Ross required the school to “provide a place
to park construction vehicles to park off the
street.” Sadly, the tennis courts were the place
they had to use. This was just the beginning of
the tennis courts’ mistreatment. Lately, the tennis courts have been used for big school events
where extra parking is needed. With the nets
down, the courts can hold about 40 cars.
Before the construction project, and before
Branson had an agreement with College of
Marin to use their tennis courts, these were
our main courts. As time progressed, JV Tennis continued to be practiced on the courts.
At times, even some matches were played on
Branson’s courts.
The courts, which are now in a sad state with
cracks and faded paint, are now used for the
wrong reasons. Last summer, plans to resurface
the tennis courts were cancelled because Branson learned that when the temperature rises
above 80°F, cars parked on the courts could
damage them, as turning of wheels can cause
buckling. At the time, the school wanted to be
able to use the courts for tennis as well as emergency and overflow parking for special events.
However, the town of Ross has expressed that
they do not want the courts to be used for parking. Therefore, plans to resurface the courts are
now confirmed.
According to Mr. Price, the courts will hopefully be resurfaced this fall - and definitely before
November 2011
the spring boy’s tennis season. This is expected to cost roughly 57,000 dollars. The project will take
about five days to complete. Mr. Price stated, “It really depends on how fast we can get them done
before the rain starts.”
Mr. Price mentioned that once the courts are resurfaced, students will be allowed to use them during
school on a regular basis. Students will be able to play at lunch, during a free, and after school. Also, a
club could be established for play. Soon, the tennis courts at Branson will be restored and once again
used for their true purpose, and when tennis players walk past the new courts, they will probably
smile.
The Branson Parents’ Association - an amazing group of amazing parents!
By Cameryn Steiger
Have you ever wondered what the Branson Parents’ Association is and what it does for you and our
school? To begin, every Branson parent is automatically part of the Branson Parents’ Association
when they have a student attending Branson.
The Branson Parents’ Association has an Executive Board, which is made up of a President and an
eight member Executive Committee. Within the Executive Committee there is a 1st Vice President,
2nd Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, two Members at Large, and two Auction Chairs.
The general Branson Parents’ Association includes 24 committees and countless volunteers who
serve as committee chairs. There are also committee members who provide support for the arts,
athletics, fundraising, community service, parent education, and overall student life at Branson.
Over the years, the Branson Parents’ Association has made a huge impact on our community as
well as on the greater Bay Area. Apart from the above-mentioned activities, it sponsors guest
speakers and greatly adds to the success of our school.
I interviewed PA President Mary Buie, aka wife of Jim Buie, and mother of Andrew Buie, Branson
’13 and Courtney Buie, Branson ’07. I emailed Mrs. Buie to get to know her better and to learn
about her role in the PA at Branson. Here are her responses to my questions.
CS: How long have you been associated with Branson and how did you become the PA President?
MB: I have been associated with Branson since 2003, when my daughter enrolled as a freshman.
My son enrolled at Branson in 2010 and is currently in the junior class.
I became the PA President after working in several volunteer positions for the Parents’ Association
at Branson.
CS: Why are you so involved with Branson and what do you like most about Branson?
MB: I have been involved in education in one way or another most of my life, including as a teacher for 15 years. I appreciate Branson for being a very special learning community, which supports
our excellent faculty and very successfully brings out the unique potential of each of our extraordinary students.
I am happy to contribute in any way I can to support this wonderful effort.
CS: What do you like most about being the PA President?
MB: I have greatly enjoyed getting to know many wonderful students, faculty, staff, and parents
through my role as PA President.
I am very lucky to have lots of support from other parent volunteers who make my job easy!
CS: What do you like least about being the PA President?
MB: So far, it is all great.
What activities/events/programs does the PA sponsor?
MB: PA volunteers work on over 24 committees, which provide support for the arts, athletics, community service, and many other aspects of life at Branson.
The PA plans community building social events such as potluck dinners and hikes for the parents
and ice cream socials and billiards nights for the students. The PA sponsors family Community
Service events, including habitat restoration at Muir Beach and lunch
Continued on page 3
November 2011
Community Topics
Parents Association continued from page 2
service at St. Vincent de Paul. Interesting speakers are featured at monthly PA meetings and at
special parent education events.
The PA runs the Used Book Sale, the school
store, sells spirit wear, decorates for holidays
and graduation, and plans receptions and a Grad
Night party. The PA provides monthly treats for
the faculty and plans a Thank You Luncheon to
show them our appreciation. Members of the PA
help to plan the Spring Fundraiser, which raises
funds for financial aid at Branson.
The Parents Page on the Branson website has lots
of information for parents about our programs
and events.
CS: How do you get the families involved and
how do you get them to stay involved?
MB: Branson families are very generous with
their time. Many volunteer by filling out the PA
Volunteer Survey form. Others are encouraged
through announcements at Parents’ Day and at
the PA meetings.
The members of the Branson community are
interesting, fun, and very appreciative of the
work of the parent volunteers. Our families enjoy
being involved.
CS: How closely do you work with Woody, the
Head of School?
MB: I have regular monthly meetings with Dr.
Price and he is always available at other times to
give input or to answer questions. Woody speaks
at each of the monthly PA meetings where he
shares news about Branson.
CS: What does the PA do with the money it
raises every year?
MB: The money raised by the PA is used to fund
the many programs and activities that I outlined
previously.
CS: Do you have a favorite place or spot that you
like to go to on the Branson campus?
MB: I enjoy walking down the driveway at Branson and looking at the beautiful campus nestled
in the foreground with the spectacular view of
the hills and trees in the background.
CS: Is there anything else you would like to add
or share with the Branson community?
MB: Go Bulls!
I would like to thank Mrs. Buie and the entire
Branson PA for all of the hard work that they
do for the students, parents and faculty. A lot of
their work is behind the scenes and goes unrecognized.
Their dedication allows us to thoroughly enjoy
the wonderful school that is Branson, and I really
appreciate everything that they do for our entire
school community.
So, remember, when you see a parent or a group
of parents running around the school, carrying food or decorations, thank them! They are
probably doing something special through the
Parents’ Association, which ultimately greatly
benefits Branson and you!
iPad Invasion! continued from cover
There were many challenges in creating a Branson
wide iPad program. Training teachers, and getting
the new website up and running to coordinate with
the use of the iPads were the two main challenges.
The new website has a lot of features that the old
3
one did not, so that took a lot of work, particularly on Lori Deibel’s part.
When asked the question, did teachers have any concerns about the program? And if so, what were
they? Mister Price replied that teachers did not have many concerns with the iPad, but there were some
concerns with technology use, in general. For example, would the devices be a distraction, or help? The
conclusion reached by the faculty was that we are going to have technology all around us, so we have
to use it and whatever questions we have, we have to address those rather than pause. There are some
practical questions that need to be answered; such as how will the learning process change with iBooks?
Maybe students will be able to rent digital textbooks during the school year, which will save money and
make the learning process more convenient.
So far, it is a learning process and students and teachers are getting used to it. The biggest complaint may
be that the virtual keypad is not so great. It takes more effort typing quickly on an iPad than on a device
with a regular keyboard, such as a laptop. However, using a keyboard with the iPad is one solution to this
challenge. Additionally, the iPad is great for receiving information, but maybe not so great for creating
things. Mister Price was concerned about the ability to store – and not lose - data. The solution to this is to
save files to Dropbox. According to English Department Chair, Ms. Moore, she likes “instant assessment
of all students in class in relation to the day’s lesson; instant research as cultural knowledge is required for
reading; collaboration galore through Dropbox, Google Docs, etc; course website access for all instantly;
recording abilities for sound and visuals as we capture the day’s learning. I’m sure it’s only going to get
better as we learn more.” However, there has been some frustration among students. One student who
wished to be anonymous clearly stated, “I do not use them for school and they are primarily a distraction.” On non- school related activities in the classroom via iPad use, Branson senior, Sarah Christensen
stated, “I’m not sure if there’s a perfect way to resolve this, since the school can’t control iPad use, but
despite this conflict I still believe that the iPad is a really valuable tool for students and teachers.” It might
be too soon to judge, but the iPads may just make learning and teaching at Branson more fun. In the end,
learning is about taking new ideas and technology, and adopting them to make the experience more interesting and meaningful.
Suggested Apps
By Sonia Chinai
Entertainment:
Facebook (Free)
Words with Friends (Free)
Hanging with Friends (Free)
Pop Booth ($2.99)
Skype (Free)
Zombie Highway ($0.99)
Asphalt 6: Adrenaline ($0.99)
Ziggo TV (Free)
Tiny Tower (Free)
Books:
Kindle (Free)
Book Crawler ($1.99)
Education:
EasyBib (Free)
The Official SAT Question of the Day (Free)
Graphing Calculator ($1.99)
Productivity:
iTeacherBook ($4.99)
iHomework ($1.99)
Dropbox (Free)
Reference:
Terminology Ph ($1.99)
Articles for iPad ($4.99)
News:
Instapaper Pro ($4.99)
Zinio (Free)
CNN (Free)
Wall Street Journal (Free)
The New Yorker (Free)
Time (Free)
How it Works (Free)
Wired Magazine App (Free)
Misc:
Flipboard (Free)
FitnessClass (Free)
4
Student Perspectives
The International Corner
By Camille Reisfield
The goal of the International Corner is to allow
students to express themselves on diverse topics
in a first, second, or third language. Being able
to speak three languages – French, Spanish, and
English – I wanted to reach out and connect with
other Branson students who enjoy languages and
challenge them to develop their craft. I picked a
creative fiction piece I had to write in Spanish III
(and translated it back to English) in the hopes that
you, dear reader, will try to work on your skills
as well and possibly even submit a similar piece
for the next edition of the newspaper. This story is
hopefully the first of many!
La Creación de Las
Estrellas
Una tribu de los
Olmecas obedecen a
las estrellas. Ellos
creen que las estrellas
nacieron hace muchos años, cuando el rey Accao reinaba. Este rey era malo, cruel, y violento.
El rey escuchó la leyenda de Rixila, la diosa del
agua, la que lloraba joyas preciosas. Al rey le gustaría conseguir más poder y riqueza. El rey Accao
comenzó a planear cómo podría capturar a la diosa
y utilizar sus lágrimas para enriquecerse.
Accao pensó en un plan. Su plan se pondría en acción cuando sus súbditos celebraran la Fiesta del
Río Xuchlo, una fiesta que la diosa visitaba cada
año. El rey Accao le ofrecería una caja mágica,
creada de metal y piedra. El sacerdote y el mago
del rey hicieron esta caja para Accao. Tomó cincuenta días y cincuenta noches hacerla.
La fiesta empezaba cuando amanecía y el primer
rito terminaba. La diosa surgió del Río Xuchlo en
forma de una mujer humana.
Los indígenas estaban impávidos ante esta visión
y poco a poco, comenzaron a aplaudir y seguir los
rituales, bailes, y festejos. Al final, antes de que
Rixila se fuera, los súbditos de Accao ofrecieron
regalos a la diosa. Una concha con los colores del
atardecer, una cesta de algas, un girasol, y productos de la cosecha fueron algunos de los regalos. El
rey Accao se acercó con su caja y la presentó a la
diosa Rixila. ¡La diosa abrió la caja y DESAPARECIÓ! Mientras la multitud quedó asombrada, el
rey cerró la caja, y sus soldados llevaron la caja al
templo.
En el templo, Accao, su mago, y sus sacerdote
encendieron un fuego y pusieron la caja cerca del
fuego. El mago y el sacerdote trabajaban juntos
y mezclaban hierbas y polvos en el fuego. La
caja comenzó calentarse y a silbar. Una niebla se
levantó de un agujero pequeño en la caja. De la
niebla empezaron a caer diamantes, rubíes, zafiros,
esmeraldas, perlas y más joyas. ¡El plan de Accao funcionó! El rey ordenó a sus siervos recoger
las joyas que se caían al suelo y ponerlas en su
cámara. El ordenó a su mago y su sacerdote que
continuaran la niebla y el rey salió del templo.
Por dos meses, la diosa Rixila se quedó encerrada
en la caja. Por eso, el agua en todo el mundo se
secó. Pero el rey se quedó en su palacio, cada día
más rico y más poderoso mientras la diosa continuaba llorando. Los campesinos de la tribu de
Accao se enojaron porque que estaban sufriendo y
muchos murieron de hambre y sed. Aún así, el rey
no les ayudó.
Finalmente, un día, la población invadió el castillo. Mataron al rey Accao, los soldados, el mago,
y el sacerdote. Los indígenas abrieron la caja y
liberaron a la diosa Rixila. Ella salió de la caja
como olas de una tormenta. Las olas envolvieron
y sumergieron la tierra. Las joyas que el rey mantenía guardadas en su cámara fueron empujadas
contra el cielo y se quedaron pegadas allí. Rixila
dio prosperidad y una vida feliz a la tribu que
la liberó. Por eso, la tierra de esta tribu siempre
será fértil. Por eso, los Olmecas piensan que las
estrellas son símbolos de su libertad y está agradecidos y por siempre a la diosa cuando por las
noches, miran a las estrellas.
The Creation of The
Stars
An Olmec tribe obeys
the stars. They believe
stars were born many
years ago when King
Accao ruled. He was evil, cruel, and violent. This
king had heard of the legend of Rixila, the goddess of water, who cried jewels. The king wished
to gain more power and wealth. King Accao
started to plan how he could capture the goddess
and use her tears.
Accao thought of a plan. It would start when his
subjects celebrated the Festival of the Xuchlo
River, a celebration that the goddess visited every
year. The king would offer her a magic chest made
of metal and stone. The king’s priest and sorcerer
created this chest for Accao and it took them fifty
days and fifty nights to make it.
The festival began as the day started and the
first rite finished. The goddess emerged from the
Xuchlo River in the form of a human woman.
The population, mesmerized by such a sight,
started to applaud and soon the rituals, dances,
and feasts began. At the closing stage of the festival, before Rixila left, Accao’s subjects offered the
goddess gifts. A conch with the colors of sunset,
a basket of seaweed, a sunflower, crops from the
harvests were examples of some of the gifts. The
king Accao approached with his box and presented it to the goddess Rixila. The goddess opened
the chest and DISAPPEARED! While the crowd
stood stunned, the king closed the chest and his
soldiers took it to the temple.
In the temple, Accao, his magician, and his priests
started a fire and placed the chest in the flames.
The magician and the priest worked together and
mixed herbs and powders into the fire. The box
began to heat and whistle. A fog rose from a small
hole in the chest. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires,
emeralds, pearls and more jewels tumbled from
the fog. Accao’s plan worked! He ordered his servants to collect the gems that fell to the floor and
to put them in his vault. He ordered his magician
and priest to continue the fog. The king left.
For two months, the goddess Rixila stayed locked
up in the chest. Because of this, the water in all of
the world dried up and the towns died of hunger
and thirst. But the king remained in his palace, every day richer and more powerful as the goddess
continued to cry. The farmers of Accao’s tribe
grew angry since they were suffering and many
had died of hunger and thirst. And yet, the king
did not help them.
Finally, one day, the population invaded the castle,
killed the king Accao, the soldiers, the magician,
and the priest. The indigenous people opened
the chest and liberated the goddess Rixila. She
left the box like waves from a storm. The waves
enveloped and submerged the earth. The gems that
the king kept were pressed against the sky. They
November 2011
got stuck there, becoming stars. For the Olmecs,
Rixila will always be remembered as the goddess
who gave prosperity and a joyful life to the tribe
who set her free. Their land would forever be fertile. That is why the Olmecs believe that the stars
are symbols of their liberty and they are forever
grateful when looking at them at night.
America #1
By Michael Petruzzelli
If we’re going to be honest, America simply
isn’t what it used to be. We are over 14 trillion
dollars into debt. We have been in over half a
dozen major wars in the last 40 years, including the Cold War, Vietnam, Operation Desert
Storm, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and the current
involvement in the Libyan No-Fly Zone, just
to name a few. We are becoming the stupidest
country in the world, and the politicians aren’t
dealing with the real problems. America needs
major changes now, and if those changes don’t
happen soon, the youth of America is going
to spend their lives cleaning up the mess that
their parents made.
If America is going to help its youth, the first
thing to do is balance the budget, which will
require major reforms. Medicare was established when the average American lifespan
was 62 years, meaning that most Americans
would never reap the benefits from the new
tax. While the average American lifespan
grew, Medicare stayed the same, and more
Americans were able to benefit from it. The
second major reform has to be social security.
Entitlements, the biggest of which are social
security and Medicare, account for 39% of
government spending, and they have seen an
increase of 200% since 2000.
The final cut has to be to defense. There are
many countries in Europe, including France
and Germany, which spend under four percent
of their total spending on military. Fourteen
percent of our total spending is in military.
In over half the wars listed above, the people
didn’t want to help themselves, and we are
wasting time and money there. If people need
help in another country and ask for it, we will
help them accomplish what they want. However, if we forcefully occupy an area, the native
people aren’t going to be happy with us and
will make an effort to push us out.
Lastly, we need to learn how to count. In
public education, students rarely get even
close to the kind of care every Branson student
gets. Furthermore, there aren’t nearly enough
resources for a successful learning environment. This could explain why the politicians in
Washington didn’t realize that once spending
Continued on page 6
November 2011
Student Perspectives
5
Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Blend
By Madeleine Lamm
It’s all-natural, dairy free and Gluten free. It only has
7 g of sugar, much less than other leading chocolate
hazelnut butters. It’s rich and thick, but easy to spread.
It’s yummy!
So, why buy Justin’s?
Two main attributes set Justin’s apart from other nut
butter companies. One is that Justin’s is constantly
working towards reducing its environmental footprint. It strives to be a more sustainable company that
reduces its environmental footprint. Justin’s headquarters is solar powered and their cartons, boxes, and
caddies made with wind power. All cardboard is made
with 100% recycled paper. Justin’s products don’t
have GMOs nor VOC since they use Zero VOC inks
on cartons and squeeze packs. Their jars are BPA-free
as well. Justin’s has all ingredients sourced as locally
and sustainably as possible, except for high priced
hazelnuts. The second reason to buy Justin’s products
is that it supports Conscious Alliance, an organization
that provides youth awareness programs about severe
hunger issues through outreach initiatives.
If you want to learn more about this socially and environmentally responsible company, go to http://www.
justinsnutbutter.com/.
Suggestions for Consumption
Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter is really, really
scrumptious on toast! It is delicious on rice cakes. It
is incomparable with fresh berries, especially strawberries and raspberries. Try just eating it plain on a
spoon!
Yum!
Word Search
By Bianca Capretta
“Geronimo!”
By Sarah Christensen
Two things might have come to your mind when you read the title of this article. Either you’re a
true American and you know that “Geronimo” was the code word used by the Navy SEALS who
pursued Osama bin Laden to indicate his capture or death, or you are a proud Whovian and you
know that the Navy SEALS really stole this phrase from the Doctor.
Or, as the case may be, you’re just very confused.
When someone asks you the question “What is the longest running science-fiction television
show in history?”, you might be inclined to respond with “Star Trek”, which first aired in 1966
and ran for 28 years, if you want to include the later spin-off series. But in fact you would be
wrong.
The BBC television series “Doctor Who” first aired in 1963 and has been running ever since,
with the exception of a hiatus between the years 1989 and 2003. That amounts to 33 glorious
years of the most quintessential British television show ever created, currently number 15 on the
iTunes list of popular TV series.
“Doctor Who” is the story of an extremely intelligent and slightly deranged Time Lord, who
despite his human appearance is very much an alien, and who calls himself the Doctor (though
he couldn’t tell you why). The Doctor can travel anywhere in space and time with the help of his
trusty TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space), which due to a malfunction can only
take the form of an ordinary blue police box. If you don’t know what a police box looks like,
imagine one of those red telephone booths, only with smaller windows and colored a dark blue.
If you don’t know what a red telephone booth looks like, brush up on your Britishness.
The Doctor hops from planet to planet and era to era throughout the universe, accompanied by various human companions. Being a Time Lord, the Doctor never dies - he just
regenerates, assuming a new look and a new personality but retaining all of his previous memories. Thus far there have been eleven regenerations of the Doctor, played
by eleven different actors. The most current Doctor, number eleven, is played by Matt
Smith. If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter movies you might recognize Doctor #10,
played by David Tennant, as the mad Barty Crouch Jr. of Harry Potter and the Goblet
of Fire, the dark wizard who takes over Madeye Moody’s identity in order to get closer
to Harry. Every Doctor is known for their personal quirks and signature phrases. If you
ask any English citizen born after 1963 there’s a good chance that they’ll be able to tell
you all about “their” Doctor. Every fan is partial to a particular Doctor, and one could
have long conversations about the good and bad aspects of each incarnation.
Many of the Doctor’s most famous enemies have carried over since the very beginning of the series. Hence, there are times when modern special effects are put aside in
favor of keeping the old, somewhat ridiculous appearances of old rivals. The Daleks
are a good example. When they appear in modern episodes they don’t seem the least
bit frightening. Daleks look like very fake plastic thimbles with laser gun eyes and
electronic voices. It’s hard to imagine why the Doctor would be so afraid of them. But
when the Daleks first made an appearance in the very first series, they scared the living
daylights out of viewers. Times change, but some things in “Doctor Who” remain the
same, even if they look a little out of place in the “Doctor Who” of 2011.
If you’re dying for some entertainment and you’ve already watched the most recent
episode of Jersey Shore, take up the remote and switch to channel 162 or search iTunes
for the wonder that is “Doctor Who”. Once you become a fan of the Doctor, you never,
ever stop.
Word Search Solution - check your emails!
6
Student Perspectives
America #1 continued from page 4
was greater than our GDP, we’d lose money and
go into debt.
The way to prevent these failures in politics from
occurring again is changing the way the legislative
branch works. The vast majority of politicians are
only worried about getting re-elected, so their interest isn’t necessarily for America, but for themselves. Furthermore, it is now considered wrong to
ask a member of the other political party to work
on a bipartisan compromise. Take a look at Obamacare. It passed both in the house and in senate
with three combined republican votes! Rather than
thinking of everyone as an American, they are
thought of based upon their political views, and
nobody wants to work with someone who isn’t the
same as them.
The definition of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting a different outcome. If people
have been in office for over 10 years and things
haven’t changed, how can the American people
expect anything different from before? The new
rules that have to be implemented are single term
limits, with both the house and the senate members serving four years, and then stepping down
for good. The house and senate will vote upon
other high positions of power, with re-elections
only possible for the secretary of defense and the
secretary treasurer. People need to sacrifice for the
country. If they don’t, it will get much worse.
The United States of America once was a prospering land. It was the goal for many foreigners, the
promise land. It is no longer is what it used to be
because people haven’t thought carefully about
every action and what its potential consequences
may be. The next 10 years in America will influence every student at Branson. Some will go into
politics and try to change it for the better. Others
might become humanitarians. However, every
student us going to have a time when they have to
look inside and say, “How can I make this place
better for my children?”
November 2011
Social Networking and Youth
By Olivia de Raadt - St. James
On the surface, Sophia Davenport seems like most sixteenyear-olds her age; she loves music, hanging out with
friends, playing sports, and working hard at her local Bay
Area high school in the hopes of one day attending her
dream university. However, her avid interest and dedication to one particular extracurricular activity sets her apart
from most individuals her age. Each week, Sophia spends
approximately fifteen hours blogging photographs and
videos on tumblr, her favorite social media site. By the
end of this year, she will have spent 780 hours, or 46,800
minutes, blogging on tumblr.
Although the amount of time Sophia spends on tumblr may seem unusual or excessive, it is not entirely
unheard of. Recently, I created a poll on SurveyMonkey that asked Branson students about the way in
which they used social networking sites. Of the one hundred students that replied to the survey, 18.6%
stated they utilized social media sites for seven hours or more each week. The fact that usage of social
networking sites is so high among youth has fueled much discussion and research into the correlation
between increased usage and the potential affects it could have on the adolescent mind. A study by
the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University that was performed in
August 2011 suggests that frequent social network users are more likely to participate in illicit activities
such as underage drinking or drug abuse. The results of the study, which have been quite controversial,
found that adolescents between the ages of twelve and seventeen who visit social networking sites like
Facebook and Myspace at least once daily are five times more likely to use tobacco, three times more
likely use alcohol, and twice as likely to use
marijuana compared to those who do not visit
the sites.
While the research into the correlation between
frequent social media use and illicit behaviors is
new and controversial, the results of this study
and others like it are enough to worry parents
and academics alike. The concern is related to
the long-term effects that large amounts of time
spent social networking will have on the adolescent brain. Youth are more at risk than adults
because the adolescent brain is more impressionable, and still developing neurologically,
compared to the fully developed adult mind.
At this point, there are few, if any, real alternatives to Facebook or other social media sites.
Until there is more conclusive research into
the effects of spending large amounts of time
social networking, it is unlikely these behaviors will change. For now, what is important
for Sophia as well as the Branson students who spend large amounts of their time social networking,
are the greater social and neurological effects that may, according to this study, come about from such
dedicated usage.
Comeback Bands From the 90s
By Kennedy McCone
Well, some of them never went away. With new and expected albums and tour dates, some of our favorite bands that catapulted into fame during the nineties are “back” to stay.
THIRD EYE BLIND
“We have been in hibernation. And now, we have awakened.
And we are hungry for spring, and we want to feed and
thrive.” Lead singer and songwriter Stephan Jenkins likens
his band to the bear that adorns its latest album cover. Ursa
Major is the constellation of the Great Bear, as well as the title
of Third Eye Blind’s first studio album in over six years. Why
the wait? We cannot be sure. Possibly because Jenkins was
producing and co-writing for then-girlfriend, Vanessa Carlton.
We may best remember this San Francisco-based band for its
single “Semi-Charmed Life,” released in 1997. Jenkins noted
that the hip-hop component of the song stemmed from his desire to stay modern in the Haight-Ashbury
music scene. On the new album, “Summer Town” exhibits the same hip-hop influence and even references M.I.A. We can also recognize “Semi-Charmed Life” as a prime example of Third Eye Blind’s
classic magic: mixing dark lyrics with upbeat melodies. Indeed, the band’s popish sound is what won
many of us over, but Jenkins’s soul-searching lyrics and deep examination of human relations is what
has made the true fans come back for more, even after a six year wait. That, and perhaps the joy of seeing Stephan Jenkins making a damn cool fool out of himself onstage.
This time, Third Eye Blind released their album under their own label, Mega Collider Records. Jenkins
Continued on page 7
7
Entertainment
November 2011
Comeback Bands continued from page 6
and drummer Brad Hargreaves remain the staples of the band. After a brief period away from the band, Arion Salazar was featured in the music video for
“Bonfire” and is back to being a (hopefully) full-time member. Guitarist Tony Fredianelli unfortunately appears to be gone for good.
HANSON
“MMMBop,” Hanson’s first single, is such an infectious song that even Sir Mix-a-Lot has proclaimed his love
for it. Hanson is composed of the three eldest brothers of the Hanson family, Isaac, Taylor, and Zac. They recorded “MMMBop,” in their tween years, showing unmistakable musical talent and wisdom beyond their age.
More than ten years later we can see that their talents have grown (and will hopefully multiply with the eight
children they now have between them).
Hanson had a brief pause at the beginning of the millennium due to conflicts with their label. Like 3EB, they
started recording under their own label, 3CG Records. The brothers traveled to South Africa to record with a
Suweto children’s choir for their album The Walk. They then partnered with TOMS Shoes and led one-mile
barefoot walks with their fans before each concert on the album tour, raising awareness about the necessity
of shoes for many African children. Songs from The Walk expressed a deeper, more thoughtful side of Hanson, proving that the band gains its merit from more than simply upbeat, infectious songs. The album also showcased the individual songwriting skills of the
youngest brother, Zac, healthily taking lead singer Taylor out of the spotlight for a few songs.
To promote their most recent album, Shout It Out, Hanson created hundreds of brightly colored paintings. The music video for the first single, “Thinking
‘Bout Something,” recreates “Shake a Tail Feather” from The Blues Brothers, one of their childhood favorites. Lead singer Taylor argues, “While the new
album exudes the ease of a veteran band with over a decade of music behind them, it retains elements of the fun, pop-soul tinged old sound.” Good to know
that Hanson is still good old Hanson.
On the side, the brothers invite songwriting friends each year, including Weird Al Yankovic and Jason Mraz, to their home studio in Tulsa for the Fools Banquet. The writers get into groups and go crazy for a week, putting together both awesome and ridiculous songs, some of which have been released on recent
albums. In 2009, Taylor joined the power pop group, Tinted Windows, also composed of Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick, James Iha of The Smashing Pumpkins, and Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne. Most recently, you may have seen Hanson among the eccentric group of cameos in the music video for
“Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” by Katy Perry.
Other big bands from the 90s that we should be watching are blink-182 and No Doubt. With the recent release of blink’s latest album, I’ll leave their review
to those who have attended their ongoing tour, although I think its safe to say that Travis Barker’s mohawk has continued to command the stage through his
stint with +44. No Doubt, a band historically full of turbulence and changeover, went on hiatus in 2004 after touring with blink-182. They toured in 2009 to
promote the album they were soon to write. It was set for release in 2010, but now the band will make no promises until 2012. We can only hope that Gwen
Stefani’s fashion line and solo act are not what’s slowing the band down. Until then, 90s fans have plenty of new music to keep them crunk.
Album Review
By Olivia Williams and Kate LaHorgue
Suck It and See- Arctic Monkeys
Suck It and See, the Arctic Monkeys’ fourth album, represents yet another shift in the band’s ever-changing style. While their first two albums
consisted mostly of rowdy adolescent rock and 2010’s Humbug ventured
into a darker, more subdued territory, Suck It and See is a collection of
lively retro pop songs that draws references to 60s era music. The band’s
most impressive feat in this album is finding a comfortable balance between lead singer Alex Turner’s deceptively clever lyrics, and maintaining a straightforward sound that appeals to a wider audience. Suck It and
See achieves this level of accessibility with ease, creating catchy tunes
without compromising the band’s best qualities. From the ridiculous but
hard rocking “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” to the
sweet pop melody of the title track, Suck It and See is the Arctic Monkeys at their best.
The Living Room- Magic! Magic Roses
In Magic! Magic Roses’ debut album, The Living Room, the first aspect that the trio conveys is the simplicity and sweetness of their
sound. Although the chord progressions are somewhat straightforward
throughout the album, the layering of the guitar and finger picking add
to the depth of their songs. One example is “Joshua Trees”, which also
conveys their mellow harmonies and intricate patterns of vocals. Their
raw sound, in result to the band’s home recording, does their music
justice, evident in songs like “Weather” and “Sunset Sunset”, making
the messages of their music coherent to their melodies. The only thing
missing from Magic! Magic Roses’, The Living Room, is some variation in sound, which is partly in due to the two guitars and light drums
used on the album.
The Rip Tide- Beirut
In Beirut’s third full-length album, frontman Zach Condon experiments with
a new sound by sticking mainly to the instruments he knows best: trumpet,
ukulele, and piano. The majority of the album is devoid of the synthesized
effects that appeared in some of Beirut’s earlier work, giving it a more natural and organic feel. While the basic structure of the songs on The Rip Tide
are a clear contrast to the elaborately arranged pieces in his previous albums,
Condon makes up for the apparent simplicity with his greatly improved vocal
ability. For example, the straightforward piano playing in “Goshen” showcases Condon’s powerful voice, and “The Peacock” is likewise an impressive
demonstration of Condon’s vocals against the singular sound of an organ. On
the other hand, more complexly layered tracks such as the album’s opener,
“A Candle’s Fire,” and “Vagabond” feature remarkable arrangements of
the core instruments and even include appearances of more unconventional
instruments. What the album lacks, however, is one of the spectacularly overthe-top instrumental pieces that characterized the band’s earlier albums, and
this absence makes the album noticeably shorter and less versatile. Although
lacking the band’s signature instrumental song, Condon managed to create a
third album that is produced well live and sets him up for success in albums
later to come.
The Blazer
The Blazer is printed three times per year and is
written entirely by and for Branson students.
STAFF:
Co-Editors: Camille Reisfeld, Sarah Steinhart
Contributors to this issue:
Bianca Capretta, Krish Chinai, Sonia Chinai,
Sarah Christensen, Jennifer Golden, Olivia de
Raadt-St. James, Kate LaHorgue, Madeleine
Lamm, Kennedy McCone, Michael Petruzzelli,
Camille Reisfield, Cameryn Steiger, Olivia Williams
FACULTY ADVISOR:
Angela Alonso
Congratulations!
To all those who participated in
the successful fall play, Pride and
Prejudice!
As well as the terrific Fall Sports teams!
Cross Country
Girls’ Golf
Girls’ Tennis
Girls’ Volleyball
Boys’ Soccer