Volume 82, Issue 2Lee’s Summit High School

Students prepare for auto repair. -Page 12

Hi.Life

CONTENTS

2 Contents

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6 Sick Minded A look at hypochondriacs- beyond the thermometer.

7 Boyfriend Brawl Revenge of the ex’s.

9 Indie Films The life behind an independent fi lm maker.

10 Making Memories How people ask their dates to Homecoming

15 Guitar Class Possibility of guitar class being offered in school

FEATURES

NEWS4 Dangerous K-9’s Pitbulls aren’t the only dangerous dogs.

5 Generation Tech Students are becoming more dependent on technology.

18 9/11Reel Life Two different movies, one important message

19 Bringin’ ‘Sexyback’ Justin Timberlakes sound evolves

ENTERTAINMENT

16 Letters to the Editor Letters from Caitlin Hatchette, Eric Williams, and Monica McCarty

17 Bark at the Moon Fills us in on what is really going on in Dafur

OPINIONS

21 Pass, Set, Hit Experienced volleyball team off tophenomenal start

22 Varsity Softball 8 Things to know about softball

23 Cross Country A look at cross country’s familiar faces

SPORTS

It was a day like any other. The early morning sky was fi lled with fresh sunshine, looking down upon the thousands of innocent New Yorkers going about their routine. People were sitting down at desks or in cars with work on their minds. Nothing especially exciting was going to happen that day…as far as they knew. More than 10,000 people worked in the World Trade Center on an average day

prior to the fateful a t t a c k s on New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. Along with that, nearly 140,000 v i s i t o r s entered those doors every day. When hijacked planes Flight 11 and Flight 175 crashed into these towers, more than 2, 500 victims were claimed. In the same day, Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington,

Virginia and Flight 93 crashed into an open fi eld on the outskirts of Shanksville, PA. Flight 93 passengers managed to heroically take over the cockpit before the hijackers could crash into the Capitol.

As she tumbles b a c k w a r d s , Katherine Parker realizes that her opponent is no underground boxer to reckon with. His name is Clark Richter. He is mean, unfair, and most of, all a coward. Just two hours ago Richter sent his goons to break Parker’s hand with a crowbar. They almost succeeded. It is the last round. The odds are on Richter’s side, as well as a mound of riches. The only thing he is lacking now is principles. Parker, not quite ready to throw in the towel, takes her chances as she crawls up off the mat. Duck, swing, duck; a series of

Lights, camera, facts,

ferocious jabs take Richter off his feet, leaving him staring at the stars on the ceiling. Parker accomplished the impossible, she had won the fi ght. “A movie like this could have easily cost 2.5 million dollars in L.A. but in Missouri people are actually excited to let you use their homes or businesses for free,” director Jonathan

Dillon said. Dillon is the director of a feature called Rigged, which is a work in progress about a female boxer, and her journey to get to the top of the underground boxing coalition.Like the majority of other fi lm students Dillon produces, directs, acts, edits and writes independent fi lms, for independent fi lms. It is necessary to know basically

Teens plagued with the worries of accidental pregnancy oftenn turn to emergency contraception. The brand Plan B pill is available now over the counter at pharmacies but only to people 18 and older. Teens 17 and younger have to obtain a prescription to receive the pill. The U.S. has the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the western world. The age restriction could hinder efforts to halve the nation’s annual 3 million unplanned pregnancies. E m e r g e n c y contraception is not the abortion pill. It has no effect on a woman who is already pregnant I understand that some feel that emergency

Pit bulls are vicious, ferocious predators that will attack anything on a whim. Pit bulls are born mean and aggressive. There is no obedient pit bull. At least that is what a large majority of people in Lee’s Summit think. “There is no specifi c breed of dog, no genetic code that makes a dog a pit bull,” Linda Pulse, the owner and manager of Summit Pet Care said. “There are no naturally aggressive breeds of dogs.” One reason some people are

afraid of pit bulls is the news and media focus only on them. “The dogs got out to look for anything they could eat. There is no naturally aggressive or mean breed of dog, it all depends on how they are raised and treated,” Pulse said. By focusing the minds of the people on pit bulls, every other breed slips their minds. There is no ban yet for the Lee’s Summit area that is banning dogs of any sort. The requirements that will affect dogs if the ban are: any

dog that weighs in at 30 lbs. and up will have to be spade or neutered, taking away a dog’s testosterone will make it less aggressive a u t o m a t i c a l l y ; any dangerous dog must be impounded, two or more bites qualify a dog as dangerous; all dogs must have proper v a c c i n a t i o n s appropriate to there area of residence People are often intimidated by the size of dogs, which is why more attention is paid to bigger dogs, when smaller dogs are usually the more

Top 5 Dangerous Dogs

1) German Shepherd2) Rottweiler3) Doberman Pincher4) Labrador Retriever5) Sharpi

1.

2. Speed kills.

3. Bunt, Bunt, Bunt.

4. Discipline. It not

5. Look the ball in.

6. Play with heart and

7. Communication.

Africa, even the name instills ideas

of wild animals, diamonds, native tribes…and

poverty. Africa is one of the world’s leading

distributors in problems. Africa

is also the number one exporting country for AIDS and genocide. The reason the US hasn’t jumped onto the bandwagon for all these

commodities is one large reason: no one wants them.

Africa is in desperate need of help from anyone that can do so. The media doesn’t help by showing anything that goes on over there, and so in turn you, haven’t heard anything about it except that Chris Martin, the singer from Coldplay and Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) are on a crusade to adopt as many African children as they can. Really the problem that lies within America is more than just laziness, it is selfi shness. What does a teacher do when half of a class doesn’t understand something and the other half does? You work together on it. Why should Africa be any different? Should we just leave our second largest country to suffer under an

epidemic that has killed 20 million already and is still killing 2 million every year? Should the country Darfur, be subjected to the killing of all of its people, just because english speaking countries think its name is to hard to pronounce? If it were America do you think anyone would listen? Of course they would, the one with the biggest gun, wins.In this day and age, we have the power to stop starvation, AIDS, poverty, and anything else, worldwide.

Isn’t that something that should be looked at? You can always go and tivo the new episodes of “Grey’s Anotomy.”

Africa, even the name instills ideas

of wild animals,

is also the number one exporting country for AIDS and genocide. The reason the US hasn’t jumped onto the bandwagon for all these

one

The Hi.Life is an open forum to provide up to date and pertinent information compiled by high school journalists. The magazine exists to credibly explain all facts in a professional, yet entertaining manner. We will be a bold and trusted publication that raises the bar of high school journalism.The Hi.Life newsmagazine is a student led publication. Our obligation to readers is to provide credible information to the student body. None of the opinions in our publication refl ect the views of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District. The Hi.Life is composed of the original ideas and opinions of our staff. The Hi.Life strives to create a professional news magazine that provides accurate insight and entertainment with confi dence and excellence, with an obligation of creating an unbiased and reliable publication.

Wrong. Wrong.

Animated Outlook By Josh Wallace

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CRANIUM CONVERSATIONEDITOR’S LETTER

There has been a recent recall that all kids should know. It is not any kind of technology, or toy. It is not precious stylish clothes. It is not even a vehicle that is recalled, it is spinach. What I would like to know is where was this recall when I was little and forced to eat this “food” as some call it. I would also like to make the self-proclamation on the recall of Brussels sprouts and asparagus. This food is no longer healthy to eat, plus they taste like rotten water and yes water rots, in my mind. I have also decided that with this recall the food pyramid should be changes once more removing most vegetable unless covered in another food group. I also propose chocolate covered be made into a group. With these changes I am just chasing the American dream of a large burger, large fries and diet cola.

It is what it is,

Courtney Stoddard Staff List

Contact Us!Courtney Stoddard- Editor-in-Chief- CStoddard@r7mail.leesummit.k12.mo.us

Matthew Gratton- Opinions Editor- MGratton1@r7mail.leesummit.k12.mo.us

On The Web

www.jlabmag.com- for extra photos and interviews not seen in this issueAlso check out our podcast on this site.

Editor-in-chief: Courtney StoddardGraphics Editor: Garrick HallPhotography Editor: Cameron WileyFeatures Editor: Josiah Jones, Jordan MarkwayNews Editor: Kelsey LeftwichOpinions Editor: Matt GrattonEntertainment Editors: Erik Dierking, Sydney RohanSports Editor: Bobby HagedornFashion Editor: Crystal LawsonWebpage Designer: Greg KinmanWebcast Editor: Ashley MoranCopy Editor: Casse OberweatherBussiness Manager:Kelsey HedbergWriters: Aaron Hanshaw Jason Kingsolver Ryan AtkinsAmber Laddish Laura Reed Ryan WilliamsAndrew Hoien Meighan Walsh Tyler FromsonBethany Nonnemaker Melanie McIlroy Caitlin Swdley Melanie RobersonCaty Case Michelle HubbardChris Mathews Rebecca BurdantPhotographers:Adrien Cappanetto David FiserBaily Greer Danny ShawbakerChris KinmanAdvisorMarc Russell

3 Things I Learned From This Issue

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Payback is something I would never want to deal with myself. Especially if it was from Senior Ashley Washington. Page 7

I have always wondered if my cat looked my someone famous but a few people at catsthatlooklikehitler.com have figured out just what theirs looks like. I never knew about these websites. Page 8

Justin Timberlake is bringing sexy back and I have been wondering where it went. Page 20

NEWSNEW

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BY: KELSEY LEFTWICH NEWS EDITOR Teens worried about accidental

pregnancy might turn to

emergency contraception.

The brand Plan B pill is

available now over the counter at

pharmacies, but only to people 18

and older. Teens 17 and younger

have to obtain a prescription to

receive the pill.

The U.S. has the highest rates

of teen pregnancy in the western

world. The age restriction could

hinder efforts to lower the nation’s

annual three million unplanned

pregnancies.

Emergency contraception is

not the abortion pill. It has no

effect on a woman who is already

pregnant

I understand that some feel

that emergency contraception

encourages teens to have

promiscuous sex, but this isn’t

true for several reasons. One

reason is the Plan B pills cost

between $20 and $40. Also

the Plan B pill does not protect

against STDs. A condom is still

necessary for protection from

STDs.

According to the Prescribing

Information from the Plan B pill’s

website the Plan B pill is safe for

use by pre-pubescent and post-

pubescent adolescents.

The FDA is responsible for

making sure the products that

American’s use are safe, not

decide what is acceptable

according to their beliefs.

I know there are a lot of people

who disagree with me, but it’s not

anyone’s place to tell who can

use what because it goes against

their own personal beliefs. Last

time I checked it was a free

country.

Beyond Pitbulls Terrified, staring at a full grown German Shepard, junior Tyler Stewart fell back as the dog jumped on top of him. “I was at my uncle and aunts house in Iowa and I don’t know I was like 7 or 8 or something.” Said Stewart. Tyler was looking at the dog as it was sleeping. He irritated the dog and it jumped up and bit him on the nose and near his eye. “I had to get about 40 to 50 stitches by my eye,” stewart said as he pointed to a scar near his left eye. “it kind of tore up my nose so I had to get surgery,” Stewart said. “ it really didn’t affect me much though.” Tyler Stewart moved on after this horrifying experience and now owns a pit bull. “Pit bulls have a huge miss conception,” Stewart said. Linda Pulse, the owner and manager of Summit Pet Care agrees. ”There is no specific breed of dog, no genetic code that makes a dog a pit bull,” Pulse said. One reason some people are afraid of pit bulls is the news and media focus only on them.

The legend began with a mythBy: Chris Kinman

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“The dogs got out to look for anything they could eat. There is no naturally aggressive or mean breed of dog, it all depends on how they are raised and treated,” Pulse said. By focusing the minds of the people on pit bulls, every other breed slips their minds. There is no ban yet for the Lee’s Summit area that is banning dogs of any sort. The requirements that will affect dogs if the ban are: any dog that weighs in at thirty lbs. and up will have to be spade or neutered, taking away a dog’s testosterone will make it less aggressive automatically; any dangerous dog must be impounded, two or more bites qualify a dog as dangerous; all dogs must have proper vaccinations appropriate to there area of residence People are often intimidated by the size of dogs, which is why more attention is paid to bigger dogs, when smaller dogs are usually the more excitable ones. “Dogs that are commonly confused with pit bulls are the Pressa, the Canaryo, and the Louisiana Catahoula leopard dog,” Jack Volz, who’s grand daughter Jennifer Volz is the owner of a pit bull, said. Volz has spoken with fourty-two people either in person or on the phone to question

their opinion on the pit bull ban. Twenty-five of them say that the owner should be held responsible for their dog’s actions. Fifteen people were for the ban, and two had no opinion. “If you treat an animal with love and compassion, then they’ll be very docile,” Volz said. “Pit bulls were nowhere on the list,” Volz said about the New York City ordinance pertaining to vicious animals. “Washington D.C.’s ordinance against vicious animals was the same, no pit bulls.” “I personally believe that all dogs should be spade or neutered, unless they are either a show dog or a breeding dog,” Volz said. “Breeds do not just naturally bite, the ones that are raised to fight, and the dogs that have a greater population to a community are the ones that are more likely to bite.” Volz said. There are more lab bites and golden retriever bites than pit bull bites in Lee’s Summit, because there are more labs and golden retriever. “Any dog that is left unattended will attack,” Volz said. “ The only time I have ever been bitten by a dog was once in my life and it was by a Chihuahua.”

Top 5

Dangerous Dogs

(Infomration provided by veterinarian Bud Hertzog)

1. German Shepherd2. Rottweiler3. Doberman Pinscher4. Labrador Retriever5. Shar-Pei

Junior Tyler Stewart was attacked by a German Shepard a few years ago. “There are no naturally aggressive breeds of dogs,” Summit Pet Care owner Linda Pulse said. Photo/ Chris Kinman

There is a difference between middle class and upper class. While the middle class is slowly moving into debt and filing for bankruptcy, the upper class is flourishing in their money, big houses, and fast cars. The middle class is gradually denied the dream of every American dream; having wealth and fortune. Just one generation ago, the typical American family could get by on one spouses income. In more recent years it now requires two incomes for a modern day family to live a middle class life according to USA Today.

Harvard Law professor and co-author of The Two Income Trap, Elizabeth Warren stated that today, much of a family’s second income is not profit, but goes to paying for a nice suburban home located within a good school district. Yet with all of the financial trouble, people in the middle class are much more prone to fall into debt and resort to bankruptcy. According to USA Today ninety percent of families with children file for bankruptcy for one of three key reasons: loss of job, divorce, or medical problems. Nearly one-third of the families whom filed for bankruptcy owed nearly an entire years salary on

By: Michelle Hubbard

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their credit cards according to USA Today. In the House of Representative’s review, they stated that the Bush Administration has put a tight squeeze on the American middle class. While the middle class is barely getting by, the CEO’s of large corporations bring home an average of 8.1 million dollars per year which is more than a typical American see in his or her lifetimes. With the facts clear and straightforward the middle class is going out of style fast. The rate of the rising economy is slowly taking a toll on

the middle class lifestyle. “I may not be middle class anymore, but I am faking it. I am going to fake it until I make it,” said recently laid off Niki Flademolaei, stated in The Washington Times.

There are few things in the past decade that have had a sound influence on the lives of teens. Clothes, society, even the hip-hop culture, but one thing that teens have truly become dependent on is technology. “Teens nor technology take on the sole blame for dependence on technology. In fact society takes most of the responsibility,” science teacher Bruce Holder said. According to Holder, society and marketing have the biggest impact on the astonishing dependence of technology for teens. “Computers are like guns. It’s not the technology that’s the problem, it’s the people that operate them,” Holder said. Due to teen’s dependence on technology, Holder feels that math skills are suffering. “Kids can’t do simple math without taking out the calculator and plugging it in.” Junior Afton Anderson concurred adamantly with the above statement. “My kids must finish their chores, homework, and piano lessons before they are allowed to use the computer. Even then, I still give them time

restrictions.” Anderson addressed the fact that computers do make teens lazy, but said that computers are fast, more proficient, and allow papers to be nice and neat. “Technology has improved life. E-mail and cell phones are faster and more effective ways to get in touch with people.” Anderson agreed that cell phones could cause class distractions and allow students to cheat. “The school policy needs to be enforced more. Teens should not be given warnings for having their phones out. Teachers and administration should take them right away.” Cell phones, and mp3 players included, are thought to be just material items and found to be nonessential to life. Holder claims that money should be saved for something of value. “Kids do not have enough goals set nowadays which leads to pointless purchasing of material things. I paid cash for my first car at 21 and my first house.” Peer pressure, as well, has

lead to the technology dependency on teens confirmed Anderson. “Teens who do not have the latest technology have a strong desire to get it. Students should be saving their money for things like clothes, Homecoming tickets, and class rings.” Many people also question the use and purchasing of such hi-tech and expensive material things like the I-pod, computers, or cell phones. “I do not see things changing. Technology has become a way of life and will always be a part of life.”

CLASS DISMISSEDThe middle class slowly fades

GENERATION TECHTeens are becoming too dependent on technology

By: Ryan Williams

Tech Specs. Senior Zach Hubbard feels like technology is just what this generation needs. “Maybe computers are making us smarter, we need that extra help in this day and age,” Hubbard said. Photo/Adrian Caponetto

Short Change. The middle class suffers as the upperclass flourishes. Credit card debt and inflation are taking their toll. Photo/ AP

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Sick MindedBy: Melanie McIlroy It could all be in the mind

Sophomore Kelsey Cindrich has been in and out of hospitals and doctors for as long as she can remember. She even had to leave school and have a tutor last year. She was at home sick, more than she was able to be in school. Cindrich has had countless sicknesses and many surgeries. Some doctors think that the problem might be all in her head. “Hypochondrias is a preoccupation or fear of having a disease of sickness. A person thinks there might be a sickness when that is not necessarily the case,” school nurse Helen Enright said. A person with hypochondrias believes they have something wrong with them when there really is not. They are so afraid of becoming sick that they become extremely obsessed with their health. “Nobody knows for sure what is the cause of hypochondrias. There are different theories as to why someone may become a hypochondriac. We do know it is related to different types of anxiety disorders and disorders,” psychology teacher Debbie Baanders said. Someone who has had a serious illness early in childhood is likely to become a hypochondriac. “After experiencing a death of a

close friend or family member one may become a hypochondriac,” Baanders said. If one is a hypochondriac there are some things that will help. One has to learn to change the way their mind works. There is something called cognitive restructive therapy. This restructures how one interprets their body’s signals. Instead of thinking that death may occur one learns to realize that it may just be the flu. “Some people have a tendency to doctor-shop, meaning they go from doctor to doctor,” Baanders said. People, such as Cindrich, who are not hypochondriacs, may be categorized as one. Many times if patients go to a doctor repeatedly and do not find any relief, they may try a new doctor. After going through this a few times a doctor may just diagnose them as a hypochondriac. Other people are receiving medicine when they do not actually need it. “For awhile I was passing out a lot. When we told the doctor he said that there was no reason it should be happening and that I was probably making myself do it. I got really upset because I knew that I wasn’t making myself do it. It was really frustrating to have people tell me that there was nothing wrong, or taking medicine that I knew wasn’t helping,” Cindrich said.

Always sick. “Hypochondria is similar to a phobia of being sick.” Psychology teacher, Debbie Baanders said. Photo/Bailey Greer

Taking antibiotics when Cindrich may not need them could be harmful to her body and cause more harm than help. “When you take an antibiotic and you don’t need it your body builds up a tolerance to the antibiotic so when you actually need it, it won’t be as powerful,” science teacher Bruce Holder said. In the general population only 1-5 percent of people have hypochondrias, but other people are being misdiagnosed. Being able keep from laying on the couch every day, feeling sick, could be as simple as changing the way one’s mind works.

What is a Hypochondriac?

“A hypochondriac is a type of car,” sophomore Jay Pollitt said.

“A diseased person,” senior Chris Brixey said.

“A crazy person,” freshman Catherine Jones.

“A person who likes to sleep a lot,” freshman Daniel Skinner.

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Boyfriend Brawl At the time of the year that everyone loves senior Ashley Washington’s winter break did not end the way she had hoped it would. Going back to school was not Washington’s most challenging problem after ending an eleven-month relationship. Betraying and being betrayed by a friend, and a violent confrontation with a soon to be ex-boyfriend was a diffi cult problem. “I drove by my friend’s house to see if she was home. I saw my boyfriend and her hanging out,” Washington said. Washington raced inside of her friend’s house to see why he was there with her. “I was thinking to myself, ‘How could they do this to me?’” Washington said. Washington immediately began to yell at both of them, and she and her boyfriend started to argue.

A relationship torn to pieces.

“He and I got into a brawl, a ‘throw down’, per say,” Washington said. It was then that Washington’s boyfriend tried to tackle and push her across the room. “Then he tried to pull me up the stairs by my hair, but I resisted,” Washington said. She had many different feelings rushing through her body at the same time. “I was really emotional, really upset, and hurt physically. I got a fat lip,” Washington said. The piercing anger that was in Washington took some action of its own. “Two months later I got revenge by getting with her ex-boyfriend of two and a half years. My boyfriend and I got in a fi ght because of anger,” Washington said. Psychology teacher, Debbie

Baanders, said revenge is usually triggered by an emotional reaction. “Revenge is not well thought out and is usually associated with anger,” Baanders said. Baanders believes that revenge causes more problems than it solves. “Because every time you react on emotion, you are reacting on impulse, and it is not well thought out. A lot of people think revenge is a good retribution and satisfi es feelings, but it does not,” Baanders said. Looking back, Washington would have taken a different approach to the hurtful situation than she did. “I would have left it alone and not

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Secret Sites By: Caitlin SwadleyWebsites to entertain the bored

Laughter comes from the near student sitting at a computer desk searching for something to do, while coming across websites to amuse them and merely entertain them for the slight moment of boredom. “I just came across this weird website a little while back where you can rent midgets for wedding, or just parties. It was on www.rentamidget.com,” sophomore Michael Cantwell said. On rentamidget.com, there are midgets that can be ‘rented’ if wanted for television work, parties, grand openings or basically any other event a midget might be wanted around at. “On www.hxcmp3.com there is a lot of music that is usually all new bands that are trying to get their name out,” Cantwell said. This site claims to be the source of hardcore mp3 downloads and was made to help every artist get their

name out to more fans. There are over 30,000 hardcore bands. “There is this really cool website called www.hornblasters.com where you can get super loud horns to put in your car and scare people with them,” freshman Robbie Splawn said. You can order train horns and get them installed into your, car, truck, SUV, boat or almost any other vehicle. “I know of two sites that are a lot like Google. One is www.dogpile.com, and the other is www.askmomma.com. You can just ask a lot of questions and it almost always comes up with exactly what you are looking for,” Splawn said. Splawn suggested another website for clothes at www.zumiez.com. This

website has free shipping with all purchases. “Another cool site is www.teagames.com because it has a lot of cool games. It’s a lot like all the other sites with a ton of games on them, but this one looks cool too,” Splawn said. On www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com, random fans send in pictures of their cats to post on this site. The cats are renamed as ‘kilters’ because they look so much like Adolf Hitler. Other websites are all over the internet just waiting to grab the attention of bored victims looking for something to do.

1) Catsthatlooklikehitler.com- Photo gallery of the dictator reincarnated into cute cats2) Teagames.com- Fun games to cure boredom3) Askmomma.com- Search engine 4) Dogpile.com- Another search engine5 )Hxcmp3.com- New hardcore bands and new music from alreayd known bands

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As she tumbles backwards, Katherine Parker realizes that her opponent is no underground boxer to reckon with. His name is Clark Richter. He is mean, unfair, and most of, all a coward. Just two hours ago Richter sent his goons to break Parker’s hand with a crowbar. They almost succeeded. It is the last round. The odds are on Richter’s side, as well as a mound of riches. The only thing he is lacking now is principles. Parker, not quite ready to throw in the towel, takes her chances as she crawls up off the mat. Duck, swing, duck; a series of ferocious jabs take Richter off his feet, leaving him staring at the stars on the ceiling. Parker accomplished the impossible, she had won the fight. “A movie like this could have easily cost 2.5 million dollars in L.A. but in Missouri people are actually excited to let you use their homes or businesses for free,” director Jonathan Dillon said. Dillon is the director of a feature called Rigged, which is a work in progress about a female boxer, and her journey to get to the top of the underground boxing coalition. Like the majority of other film students Dillon produces, directs, acts, edits and writes independent films, for independent films. It is necessary to know basically everything about filmmaking to make a film. This can include anything from lighting, to camera angles, and editing. “If you want to get involved with the industry, you need to go to some sort of film school” director Matt Allen said. “Your fellow students will be the most helpful, because they will help

Lights, camera, facts, and…

you create a large network for you when you get out onto the field.” Producer Bobby McGee also knows the importance of a network among peers. “I went to KU to study film making for six years, which is not necessary except for the strong connections you make among fellow students. This causes an extensive network of producers, videographers, and other jobs involved in making a film. The piece of paper you get with your name on it saying that you are an experienced and professional film maker is very important as well,” McGee said. McGee who has worked on independent films including: Rigged, The Empty Acre, and More than Puppy Love suggests watching movies intently, and to focus on details of the production, not just the story line if you want to become involved in the business. “You have got to watch for hints on how they made something float in midair, or how it exploded because everything

has its tricks,” McGee said. Although the thought of working in independent films may sound like a lot of fun and games, it does require a high tolerance for stress. “Well everybody enjoys their job but it is a high maintenance, and a high stress job. There’s a lot of hurry up and waiting involved,” Allen said. Becoming involved in independent films has become a lot more accessible in other places besides Hollywood. In fact many film directors have started to come to Kansas and Missouri for cheaper resources. “You can find work in any major city for a film crew or any other production staff, depending on your career through a website called CraigsList.com,” Allen said. Getting involved with the filming industry may not be easy, but if you can handle the high stress and constant devotion, it can be a great choice for a career.

Quiet on set!. Director Jonathan Dillon calls the shots, literally.” Its Million Dollar Baby meets Fight Club,” Dillon said. Photo/Adrian Caponetto.

By: Adrian CaponettoThe secret life of Indie films are revealed.

the main office and had him called up to get it,” Merwin said Thinking of sentimental ways to do things for that special someone is not always easy. Before asking senior Lauren Wilson, junior Mitch Wilson thought of various ways of asking her the question. “I thought of a lot of different ideas, but the one I decided on was holding up signs at a football game. I yelled her name at the home opener near the end of the third quarter and she looked back, nine people had up signs that made a sentence asking her to Homecoming and an arrow pointing to me. She looked really surprised and she said yes.” Wilson said Not every person does things in such a big way. Whether it be expensive and for every one to see, or more personal way the task of asking someone is hard and should be done at just the right moment. Junior Melissa Boatright was asked in a simpler, more casual way. “Denny Chandler and I were talking one night on AIM about Homecoming and all of the sudden I had gotten a lot of emails, like six I think. In each email it had one word asking me to Homecoming. I have to admit, it was kind of really lame, but

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ctober 6, 2006

Making Memories

Standing in the PAC lobby in the early hours of the morning c o n v e r s i n g with friends, s o p h o m o r e M e l i s s a McCracken gets a surprise. Junior Max Smith calls out her name handing her a tall frappuccino from Starbucks. On the cup it is handwritten ‘Will you go to H o m e c o m i n g with me?’ “I was excited that he asked me… I feel stupid talking about this, dang it. I was happy I got some Starbucks. People had told me he was going to ask me but I didn’t know how he was going to or when he was going to ask me,” McCracken said. She was pretty impressed he took the time to figure out her favorite drink from Starbucks and when through all that trouble surprised at the way he did it. “I was flabbergasted at how much effort he put into it. I felt really special when he asked in such a unique way,” McCracken said. Weeks before Homecoming, a buzz begins around school about who is going to ask who and how they are going to ask.

How people ask others to HomecomingBy: Caty Case

People spend days racking their head for a unique way to ask that special someone to Homecoming. When people finally come up with that amazing way to ask, it is all anyone can talk about for days to come. Most guys find ways to make any girl’s heart melt. It is not just single guys asking girls, couples find creative ways to ask each other to Homecoming as well. Senior Matt Musgrave and junior Johanna Merwin are one of those couples that discover new ways to awe each other every day. “After fourth hour one day, I opened my locker and on the door there were seven paper, drawn flowers and five others taped around the inside of my locker, just placed there. On the very bottom of the door there was an envelop underneath the lock that had my name on it,” Merwin said. When she opened the note it said, ‘To Johanna Lee Merwin, so the question is…’ and on the back it said, ‘Will you do me the honor of going to Homecoming with me?’ “Apparently he had done all of this before school but I was completely oblivious to it all day! For my reply, I typed up my response on a sheet of paper in my Computer Apps class, then I left it in

See Signs. Homecoming week was oct. 2 - 6. There were different spirit activities each day from colors on Monday to Tigers on Friday. Photo/Cameron Wiley

How would you want to be asked?

“Spelled out in candy hearts,” sophomore Collin Russell said.

“Just ask them,” sophomore Nicholas Hatfield said.

“It is the thought that counts,” sophomore Sabrina Leech said.

“I really don’t care,” sophomore Travis Kanies said.

in his own way, it was sweet of him to do,” Boatright said.

This could be because women are more verbal than men. It also could be because men are better at making quick decisions. “It depends on the student. Mostly, girls have better fine motor skills and boys have better gross motor skills,” sociology teacher Janet Sloan said. In the past, it always seemed that males were naturally better at school than females, but today there is more pressure from society for girls to do well in school. “We’ve created a culture where girls take more responsibility on education and care more about school and grades than boys,” Sloan said. Also, it is more accepted for girls to compete with boys today than it was in the past.

One of the biggest thrills of going into middle school was getting a locker for the first time. Buying mirrors, sticky notes, magnets, and finding all sorts of pictures of good memories was the first task on most people’s lists. Lockers are probably not the biggest excitement in high school but they are still very important to us. “I need my locker because I need a place to put my books and lunch in,” junior Kelsie Greenlee said. Not many students want to run around the school with all their books in one arm and all their journals and binders in the other. It is very nice to be able to go to a locker to switch out books and get others things that is needed. “I use my locker to put my volleyball bag and clothes in because I have nowhere else to put it,” freshman Miranda Schoonover said. Many students who do not have

cars need a locker to be able to put the items they need for their extra circular activities. So it would not be surprising to see bags and snacks for the end of the school day in students’ lockers. “I go to my locker around three times a day,” senior Jared Edwards said. This year instead of lockers being separated by grades, the administrators put a locker near each student’s fourth hour class. Instead of having a locker next to people that are in the same grade a locker that belongs to a senior could be next to a locker that belongs to a freshman. Jared Edwards’ locker is next to a bunch of juniors. He does not mind because he never really pays attention to who is next to him. “I got the front of my locker decorated because we had a home soccer game the next day and we were playing against North,” senior

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Clay Stanger, said. Even though decorating the inside of lockers with pictures and things are not very popular, getting lockers decorated by your parents or friends are a lot of fun for a lot of people. People always get excited to see their locker decorated. It is a way to see what other students are involved in. “Having a locker is very helpful,” sophomore Mallory Shull said. High school would be very difficult without lockers. Even though lockers are not used in the same way lockers were used in middle school they are still significant.

What is in your lockerRevamped locker layout provides convenience

By: Bethany Nonnemaker

X Beats Y Girls are smarter than boys. At least, that’s what the scores of the SAT convey. This year girls scored higher than boys in one section of the SAT as opposed to scoring lower than boys in all the categories. “Traditionally [girls] have scored lower despite the fact that they take harder courses in high school, get better grades and then do better once they get to college,” Harriet Brand of the Princeton Review said. Starting last year, a new form of the test was administered. Analogies and some reading comprehension were taken out and a new essay section was added, making the test 3 hours and 45 minutes long, instead of 3 hours. “In the latest SAT scores, women scored higher than males in one section only, the essay section,” Brand said.

Females advance in academic success

“I don’t think girls are more competitive. It is just more obvious what the differences are. What they’ve chosen is different because in society it is more accepted for girls to be competitive,” Sloan said. Society may allow girls to be more competitive, but there is still a natural factor that allows girls to be better at certain things. “Girls are natural writers. They are able to e x p r e s s themselves better than b o y s , ” E n g l i s h t e a c h e r S t a c y Allison said. There are ways s t u d e n t s ,

By: Meighan Walsh

Shortcuts Galore. Senior Matt Mus-grave learns many tips for the ACT dur-ing the ZAPS Prep Class. “The class is helping me learn the format of the ques-tions, learn shortcuts, and help man-age my time better,” Musgrave said. Photo/ David Fiser

even boys, can increase their writing abilities. Writing alone can help to improve your writings’ flow. “Hopefully teens improve their writings by writing a lot in school and taking their writings seriously,” Allison said.

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12 Features

Hi.Life-O

ctober 6, 2006

Gas prices are going down, but that doesn’t mean that students are not frustrated about gas. There are still students that drive around in cars that are not gas-efficient. They are paying for it at the pump. “I drive a 2002 Chevy Suburban and I fill up once or twice a week. It costs me $75 to fill up,” senior Mary Cirese said. People who drive gas-efficient cars tend to not have as many complaints about gas. “I drive a 2007 Honda Fit and I fill up once every two weeks. It costs me $35,” sophomore Matt Sweeten said. Students use gas or credit

Fill Er’ Up By: Ryan Atkins

cards more often than cash to fill up. “I use a gas card, usually,” Cirese said. Students usually go to local stations to fill up on gas. “I go to Conoco or Phillips 66,” Cirese said. Students either pay for their gas or their parents do. “Sometimes my parents pay, sometimes I do,” Sweeten said. Even as gas prices continue to drop, the landscape of our roads have been changed forever. Gas-efficient cars will continue to bring fewer complaints from their owner than owners of less gas-efficient cars.

Graphics: Danny Shawbaker

Gas prices are going down and what students are saying.

Gas Race Edmunds.com gives their top 3 cars on gas mileage.

Gas mileage is normally a key characteristic in the search for the perfect car. The top 3 cars on the Edmunds list all are hybrid vehicles.

Fuel Fight. Both QT and Casey’s General Store came in with the lowest prices at the pump as of press time. However QT’s premium was higher than any of the others. Graphic/ Danny Shawbaker

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As the summer driving season comes to an end, prices for cars are going down. However, this doesn’t mean that service for repairs isn’t going away. “We get anywhere from 20-30 repairs a day,” Jennifer Gray, service writer and shop manager at Lee’s Summit’s Meineke said. When people get into accidents, the price for repairs

can be expensive. The repairs that car companies specialize in can have quite a bit of range. “Repairs cost from $100-$500” Gray said. Repeat customers are also a big part of car repair companies. According to Gray, they account for 50 percent of all customers. Price and service draw people to get their car fixed when they get into

Under the Hood By: Ryan Atkins

an accident. What students do when maintenance arises may surprise some. The way some students repair their car is to buy supplies to do it themselves. “The last time I changed my oil was two days ago,” junior Vince Liccar said, “I don’t remember how much it cost, but I know it wasn’t too expensive”. However, students usually

have someone else change their oil to avoid the mess and the hassle of doing it themselves. “I went to Valvoline to get my oil changed a day ago” senior Falisha Haynes said “it cost me $20 to get my repairs at Valvoline,” Students have had trouble with their cars as well. These issues can potentially make a car into a three-ton uncontrollable weapon. “I had to get my car realigned,” Haynes said Realignment is needed when a car can only steer in one direction, or has trouble steering in any direction. Other problems plague students in their driving and, starters are an issue for some cars. “My starter began to go bad. It would sometimes take two times just to start the car. It was easy to fix though,” Liccar said. Other places have maintenance as well. With maintenance being expensive for students with a conservative budget, some just do the repairs themselves.

Rotating Rubber. Mechanic Dustin Moss explained the ease changing a tire. “It only takes a few minutes to change a tire, thanks to this machine.” Moss said. Photo/ Danny Shawbaker.

What students do when cars need to be repaired.

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ctober 6, 2006

Roaming ConnectionsBy: Rebecca BurandtConnecting to the internet is getting easier all the time.

Walking down the hallway with computer in hand while chatting with friends. The clicking of the keys is endless. The future of internet is approaching. No more cords are needed to get a connection. No more sitting in one spot to be on the internet. Moving around is the new stationary. “Get a wireless router for your house,” freshman Kellen Wheaton said. Doing this can be expensive though. It is difficult to install and in some cases it is possible to have to hire someone. Best Buy sells routers for anywhere in between $50 to $200 depending on how many ports are available, but having wireless internet in the home eliminates the possibility of having to replace damaged cords. “Try it out first,” Wheaton said. Going to a free hotspot around town will guarantee saving money. It is expensive and trying it out first will be the deciding factor in if buying a router would be a good idea. Fifty dollars is too much money to waste on something that is useless

“I think it’s ridiculous to charge extra [for wireless internet]. It doesn’t cost me anymore to provide it,” Michael Thornton, the owner of Honkerbeans Coffee and Gelato said. “I want my customers to have a great experience here.” Honkerbeans Coffee and Gelato, located behind Wendy’s on Douglas, has free internet access with any purchase of a drink or dessert. Java Internet Café also has a free WIFI connection. This café is located on S.E. Blue Parkway. IHOP, on highway 291 is the commonly forgotten hotspot in Lee’s Summit. The Lee’s Summit branch of the Mid Continent Library system offers one day passes that allow you to access wireless internet in the library for that day. And for an absolutely free connection, the school is the place to go. “It’s communication,” Thornton said. Computers are not the only source of wireless connections anymore. PSPs, Nintendo DS’, PS2s, and Xbox 360s all have connections. Verizon Wireless offers a connection as an accessory on their phones. They also sell broadband access cards for laptops. With these, a connection is possible anywhere. With the fast pace of increasingly

better technology, WIFI hotspots are not the end. Soon we might be able to get access to the internet anywhere, anytime. The possibilities are endless. It is impossible to know what is going to happen next with the internet.

Techno Knot. The school’s server shows just how messy wired servers can be. But, the wireless server has helped teachers immensely. “It’s really nice to have. This is our third year having them, and I really appreciate it. I don’t take it home though, but I know a lot of teachers do,” choir teacher Carla Oliver said. Photo/ David Fiser

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Guitar ClassBy: Aaron Hanshaw

Guitar program may be coming to your school

A pick dances from string to string as calloused fingers move skillfully up and down the neck. The pick strikes the strings in one swift motion, and music is made. You know that sound; it’s a guitar. According to orchestra teacher Paul Morales, that sound may be coming to our hallways. “This class would be designed to teach music theory, as well as how to play guitar. It would teach chord structure and other aspects of music,” Morales said. “Scheduling is a major problem, though,” Morales said. “We just cannot seem to find a way to fit it into the school day. We’ve done some visiting about doing it in summer school, but the way things are in our district, all three high schools would have to agree to do this. It also may have to be in a club format.” Morales has some questions about how the class schedule will work. “I just have no idea how this could be worked out.” Morales said. Some students seem to like the idea. Sophomore Denny Chandler believes that the idea could work in the school. “A guitar program would be awesome,” said Chandler. “It would be a great way to learn guitar.” Former students seem to like the idea as well. Mike Metheny is an LSHS alumnus who has a master’s degree in music education and is currently a professional musician. He believes it would be a more modern approach to music

that would benefit students. “Even years later, I’m glad to hear when they are adding new things,” Metheny said. “I am happy to hear when the music program at my alma mater ponders getting more music classes, and to add a program like this would be good news.” . With enough support, this class could be put in place, and this scene could be played out. So, while there may be many hurdles to jump, for this idea to be put into action, current and former students like the thought of hearing that magnificent guitar sound in our hallways. “I think it’s a great idea,” Metheny said. “As a graduate of the outstanding music program in the Lee’s Summit School District, I think the more music, the better.”

Tuning Up : Sophomore Travis Sterrett believes that there would be a great amount of students interested in taking a guitar class in school for a practical arts credit. “That would be more than amazing,” Sterrett said. Photo/ Adrian Cappanetto

Quick licks: One-on-one guitar lessons in school could help students advance in the musical direction they have been asking for. Photo Illustration/ Adrian Caponetto

Quick PicksPicks are used for striking

the strings on the guitar. So here is a little preview of different kinds of picks.

From top going clockwise:-Standard plastic pick-Imitation turtoiseshell pick-Plastic pick with high-friction coating-Stainless steel pick-Triangular plastic pick-“Shark’s fin” pick

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-senior Christina Leaderbrand

OPINIONSO

16 Opinions

Hi.Life - S

eptember 06, 2006

A reoccurring problem in Lee’s Summit High School has been the water fountains. Everyone has a special water fountain that they use because it fi ts their specifi c needs and wants. Water is necessary to human life and any kind that is received would be a blessing, but is it that much to ask for some niceties in a school that can reach top ten in the over all MAP test scores? All of our water fountains should be revamped to fi t better standards. We should have colder, better purifi ed water. No one should have to buy a bottle of water instead of just using the water fountain for free. Besides the poor quality of our body’s preferred beverage, the drinking fountains themselves are not the most charming fi xtures to look at. It is unfortunate to the interior decor that gum-studded water fountains aren’t too fashionable, and the health department might cringe at the fact that some students have made a daily routine of using our refreshment utilities for brushing their teeth. Students and teachers alike bend down to these unsavory dispensers, to quench their thirst after a hard days work at school. Considering that the body, in order to stay in good health, needs at least eight glasses of water a day, we spend an awful lot of time kneeling to drink. The average bottle of water contains 2.5 servings. We spend about one third of our day at school, and if we each get eight hours of sleep a night (which isn’t likely for high school students), then that means that the other third that we are conscious for we must drink our full. A bottle of water ranges from $.60 to $1.50 if purchased from our cafeteria and drink machines. Therefore, after all that math--you are spending too much.

Dear Editor, The problem is the doors. There are two doors connected an in door and an outdoor. Everyone seems to think it is just an out door, so the people trying to get out, can’t, and the people trying to get in have to push their way out.

-senior Caitlin Hatchette

Dear Editor,I have been getting a lot of parking tickets lately, and for no reason at all. I have purchased a parking permit but sometimes I drive a different car to school and I don’t transfer the sticker.The sticker loses its stickiness when you move it back and forth, so they should give everyone more stickers in order to keep the stickiness.

- senior Brigham Cook

Dear Editor, I fi nd that the API system is unneccsary in our school. It doesn’t really help anyone and many consider it to be a nuisance.To fi x this problem, API should be discontinued, classes should resume as normal without advisory.

-senior Tyler Daugherty

Fellow students, I have witnessed a terrible epidemic that has consumed millions. This disease takes up hours of peoples lies, leaving them drained and sluggish. Other symptoms include being anti-social, fear of leaving a certain room and many hours

of doing absolutely nothing. What is this frightening plague? Online blogging. That’s right, Myspace, Xanga, Facebook, Livejournal and many many

more sites created for the purpose of talking to friends online. Okay, so it might not be as bad as I made it out to be, but

think about it. I know people who spend hours making their Myspace perfect or spend

every fi ve minutes checking for comments on Xanga or get as many photos as possible on Facebook. What happened to the good ol’ days where you had to talk to people face to

Staff Editorial

Featured Columnistface or call someone from your landline (telephone). I don’t mean to rag on blogging because I think it keeps people current. All you have to do is hop online and se where all your friends are hanging out. I personally don’t have a blog site and I know I feel a little in the dark sometimes. I have to get people to actually call me and tell me whats going on. So let’s get this straight, I don’t hate myspace or xanga and I don’t think you shouldn’t use them at all. I think there needs to be a balance between the virtual world and the real world. In my opinion, ther needs to be a healthy balance between getting online and seeing people in person. Spending three hours checking your site is way too long. So here is my challenge, let’s keep it real.

Letters to the Editor

By Sam Dusing

Have a problem in the Lee’s Summit community? Want to express that problem with other people through the Hi.Life? Write a “Letter to the Editor” and drop it off in Room 227 or Email us at mgratton1@r7mail.leesummit.k12.mo.us

OPINIONSO Fellow students, I have witnessed a terrible

epidemic that has consumed millions. This disease takes up hours of peoples lies, leaving them drained and sluggish. Other symptoms include being anti-social, fear of leaving a certain room and many hours

of doing absolutely nothing. What is this frightening plague? Online blogging. That’s right, Facebook, Livejournal

more sites created for the purpose of talking to friends online. Okay, so it might not be as bad as I made it out to be, but

think about it. I know people who spend hours making their

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6Wrong. I don’t know what that is.

Wrong.What is Darfur?

Man on the Street

Wrong.His mom just died and he’s struggling to maintain his activities.

What is going on in Darfur?

Bark at the Moon Africa, even the name instills ideas of wild

animals, diamonds, native tribes…and poverty. Africa is one of the world’s leading distributors in

problems. Africa is also the number one exporting country for AIDS and genocide. The reason the US hasn’t jumped onto

the bandwagon for all these commodities is

one large reason: no one wants them. Africa is in desperate need of help from anyone that can do so. The media doesn’t help by showing anything that goes on over there, and so in turn you, haven’t heard anything about it except that Chris Martin, the singer from Coldplay and Brangelina (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) are on a crusade to adopt as many African children as they can. Really the problem that lies within America is more than just laziness, it is selfi shness. What does a teacher do when half of a class doesn’t

understand something and the other half does? You work together on it. Why should Africa be any different? Should we just leave our second largest country to suffer under an epidemic that has killed 20 million already and is still killing 2 million every year? Should the country Darfur, be subjected to the killing of all of its people, just because english speaking countries think its name is to hard to

pronounce? If it were America do you think anyone would listen? Of course they would, the one with the biggest gun, wins.In this day and age, we have the power to stop starvation, AIDS, poverty, and anything else, worldwide. Isn’t that something that should be looked at? You can always go and tivo the new episodes of “Grey’s Anotomy.”

Africa, even the name instills ideas of wild

animals, diamonds,

problems. Africa is also the number one exporting country for AIDS and genocide. The reason the US hasn’t jumped onto

the bandwagon for all these

By Matthew Gratton

The Hi.Life is an open forum to provide up to date and pertinent information compiled by high school journalists. The magazine exists to credibly explain all facts in a professional, yet entertaining manner. We will be a bold and trusted publication that raises the bar of high school journalism.The Hi.Life newsmagazine is a student led publication. Our obligation to readers is to provide credible information to the student body. None of the opinions in our publication refl ect the views of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District. The Hi.Life is composed of the original ideas and opinions of our staff. The Hi.Life strives to create a professional news magazine that provides accurate insight and entertainment with confi dence and excellence, with an obligation of creating an unbiased and reliable publication.

-junior Austin Domingue-senior Christina Leaderbrand -sophomore Courtney Cottle

Wrong.It has African kids that are starving.

- f r e s h m a n

Dylan Pate

Animated Outlook By Josh Wallace

“Goood...as long as she keeps shakin it, we won’t have to look at that guy.”

ENTERTAINMENT

18 Entertainment

Hi.Life - O

ctober 6, 2006

It was a day like any other. The early morning sky was filled with fresh sunshine, looking down upon the thousands of innocent New Yorkers going about their routine. People were sitting down at desks or in cars with work on their minds. Nothing especially exciting was going to happen that day…as far as they knew. More than 10,000 people worked in the World Trade Center on an average day prior to the fateful attacks on New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. Along with that, nearly 140,000 visitors entered those doors every day. When hijacked planes Flight 11 and Flight 175 crashed into these towers, more than 2, 500 victims were claimed. In the same day, Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia and Flight 93 crashed into an open field on the outskirts of Shanksville, PA. Flight 93 passengers managed to heroically take over the cockpit before the hijackers could crash into the Capitol. It was a day to remember and, like every day worthy of remembering, a day to make a movie about. Don’t worry…Hollywood has it covered. World Trade Center and United 93 are two movies right on the line of fact but cross the line of reality. WTC made viewers believe more of what the characters were feeling because all the dialogue (and there is a lot I might add!) came directly from the two surviving Port Authority officers: John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno. In United 93, viewers try to believe that “this actually happened” but are stuck tripping over the fact that no one onboard survived. How could anyone have known that what happened on that plane is what actually happened, based on phone

calls alone? It makes for a better movie experience. Oliver Stone’s film WTC and Paul Greengrass’s film United 93 were alike in one way. Both gave off a sense of being there and experiencing terror right along with the characters. When WTC officers John (Nicolas Cage) and Will (Michael Pena) were lying in the rubble of the towers, talking about life, death, and seeing Jesus with a water bottle, the audience was there. When the 40 or so passengers of Flight 93 decided to all band together and break into the cockpit, the audience was there. Not many movies can do that to somebody. The films are also tearjerkers, so when viewing them, have a box of tissues handy. During the first half of United 93, the film focused more on the several air traffic control centers involved and seemed authentic. The actual people who first got calls from the hijackers while taking control of the cockpit and who tracked the four planes as they flew their fateful routes, portrayed themselves in the film. Even the phone calls themselves were eerily similar to the actual ones. When WTC came out, people were concerned that it was too ‘Hollywood-ized’, so to speak, due to the use of some pretty well known actors and a heavily productive director known for his immensely controversial political films, such as JFK, Nixon, and Platoon. Not only is Stone a very busy, boisterous man, but an organized filmmaker as well, as seen in the film’s tidy sequence and layout. A movie of this caliber is more of a big production, focusing on special effects and strong dialogue, whereas small-budgeted United 93 focused on raw emotion and the connection between the characters. Not to say the characters from WTC did not connect (when Pena started talking about his

Written by: Tyler Fromson

favorite TV show to Cage while trapped under huge slabs of concrete, there was something there!) Both films have large amounts of controversy in them, to the point of people leaving the theatre or refusing to see the films altogether. This is because many believe the films were made too close to 9/11, and there are some who think that five years is not enough time. Nevertheless, the films made moviegoers think of what happened and allowed them to reflect. That’s what these movies really are:reminders of the evil in this world and also to remind that this nation is strong and will not be put down very easily. It’s hard to swallow that it’s been five years since that dreadful day. It’s also hard to watch these films without thinking of what a perfectly normal person (perhaps a neighbor) would be doing if they were on Flight 93 or inside the Twin Towers. 9/11 changed the way people think about a lot of things; whenever they see a plane sail through the clouds, they no longer see it as a vehicle of transportation, but as a symbol, a universal symbol, a symbol that forces the world to remember the tragic events of Sept. 11. And that is what these films tried to get the world to

Director’s Cut. Oliver Stone is seen here directing WTC. The movie was based the the events that took place at the world trade center on Sept. 11, 2001. Photo/AP

Two different movies, one important message

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i.Life - October 6, 2006

Bringing ‘Sexyback’By: Laura Reed Justin Timberlake’s sound evolves

Sexy Back Justin Timberlake has reinvinted his sound and image saveral times. With the release of FuturSex / LoveSounds, he takes yet another step into a new image and genre photo / AP

If you are one of the unfortunate souls that was unable to make it out to Starlight Theatre to see Hairspray, you missed out. It is one of the best shows I have ever seen, including Broadway shows. Hairspray takes place in Baltimore, Maryland in 1962. It tells the tale of Tracy, a stout girl who has dreams of being famous. After overcoming her weight and winning a part on a local TV show, Tracy’s new challenge is beating out the producer’s daughter, Amber, for the title of ‘Miss Hairspray’. Tracy sparks a romance with Amber’s boyfriend and star of the show, Link. Tracy soon realizes how unfair the segregation going on in her town is. The ‘Miss Hairspray‘ title takes a backseat in Tracy’s life while protests take front. After riots and jailbreaks, Tracy barely makes it in time to participate in the contest. She breaks onto stage and blows the audience away. Tracy is crowned ‘Miss Hairspray’. Hairspray is a courageous story of a girl whose heart overcomes her dress size. It is both heart-wrenching and comical. The dance numbers are very true to the time period. They are upbeat and lively. I am sorry to say that Hairspray is no longer running at Starlight. If you did miss this once in a lifetime opportunity, you could always rent the movie.

Hairspray

One of the best musicals

By: Sydney Rohan

He has hung up his ears, he has spit out his gum, and he is here to bring sexy back. Justin Timberlake’s new hit single ‘Sexyback’ is shooting up the charts. His new album titled F u t u r e S e x /L o v e S o u n d s shows how he has evolved musically and developed an urban hip-hop style. Several of his new songs are about girls and dancing in clubs. Specifically on his album, he has a song titled ‘Lovestoned’ in which he is very descriptive in his lyrics; leaving little room for imagination, making it obvious that he has grown up musically and lyrically. The second song on his album,

‘Sexyback’, is currently his single out and it has been a hot topic in music industry recently. He has made quite the change from being a teeny-bopper in the boy band

N’sync, to going solo in his album Justified, to now, F u t u r e S e x /LoveSounds. His new album is mostly up-beat songs with a techno/beat-box sound. JT features other artists in his new CD, including Snoop Dogg. T imber lake has had many c h a n g e s

throughout his career and all of his different styles have been successful. After such a unique new album, fans can only dream of the possibilities the future brings.

For years, Mewithoutyou has been known primarily in the world of underground music. This third album released by the group, Brother, Sister, is fresh new and something unexpected from the band. Their previous two records have had an overall aggressive sound, with loud shrieks and distorted guitars carefully placed in each song. The new album has a more melodic sound and the lyrics more passionate. The delicate layering of sounds and melodies create for a different experience, yet leaves the listener feeling satisfied with what they just experienced. An interesting feature of Brother, Sister is that the song ‘Nice and Blue (Pt.2)’ is a sequel to a song found on their previous album [A-->B] Life. This is a pleasant surprise to devoted fans of the band. The repetition of lyrics such as, “you

were a song I couldn’t sing” and, “you are the wineglass” and following it with new lyrics like, “I was once the wine”

add new dimension to the songs. Mewithoutyou has the ability to reinvent their sound, but maintain their appeal. The pleasantly performed song ‘Orange Spider’, only confirms this. The mellow arrangement of horns, acoustic guitar and smooth vocals add a new dimension to the album. Even though the song is short lived (only 1:10 long), it is a pleasant

transition between the rough sounding ‘The Sun and the Moon’ and the jazzy ‘C-Minor’. The album closes with the boisterously innovative ‘In a Sweater Poorly Knit’. The hodge-podge of instruments and vocals close out the album in an unforgettable manner, leaving the listener satisfied, but wanting more.

Mewithoutyou

Fresh Sound Brother, Sister features a new sound from Mewithoutyou. Their approach is unique and fresh. photo / AP

By: Erik Dierking

Brothers and sisters, listen up!

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conference game,” Schnell said. The move down in conference affects football the most. “We are Class 5 in football, but every other sport is still in Class 6,” Schnell said. Some people however were not pleased with the change. “Some coaches were really disappointed, but they understand the process,” Schnell said. The choice however was never Schnell’s to begin with, as the conferences are dictated by the size of the schools. “Last year on September 25th every school had to have their enrollment count in. Ours was 1,698. The top 32 teams were

The fans poured out of the stands and raced towards the southeast corner of the field. There they joined the already jubilant football players in celebration. Moments earlier Lee’s Summit had beat Lee’s Summit North, on North’s home field. However, the recent conference change for Lee’s Summit was supposed to put an end to that scene. Athletic Director Dan Schnell put those fears to rest. “We will always play North,” Schnell said. Even though Lee’s Summit is no longer in Class 6, Lee’s Summit North will still be on the schedule. “They are a huge rivalry, but instead of them being in conference, it will be a non-

put in Class 6. According to Schnell Lee’s Summit was number 37 or so, which means a move down to Class 5. In fact, Schnell believes that in the long run, Lee’s Summit will be better off in Class 5. “We are still playing great teams.” Schnell said, “But we aren’t playing the elite teams, the Rockhursts, the Blue Springs Souths one right after the other, our schedule allows us to still play good teams, without playing the elite teams week after week.” Fans shouldn’t worry though; the players aren’t

Dropping Down

As junior Devin Nevels stretched for the wall, he knew he was close to making state. Drenched and exhausted, the boy’s of the 200-medley swimming team anxiously meandered over to coach Bruce Holder, who had their relay time, which was only one second away from making sate. “It was pretty exciting, I didn’t think we would be that close. We were all pretty pumped.” Holder said. The members of the 200 Medley are sophomore Michael Beck, sophomore

Austin Gallick, senior Chris Brixey, and Devin Nevels, junior. In the 200 Medley, Beck swims the backstroke, Gallick swims breast, Brixey swims Butterfly, and Nevels sums it up with the freestyle. Rather than feeling disappointment, all of the boys were very excited to hear they were only a second short of state. “I was not upset; it was only the first meet. It came down to one turn and one start. I was pretty excited; our

goal is to make it to state.” Nevels said. A f t e r swimming his leg in the race, Beck cheered on Nevels, the final swimmer on the relay, and anxiously waited to see

how the fate of their team would turn out. “I was thinking, ‘Devon, go faster! You have to get moving,’” Beck said. Unfortunately, North and Park Hill finished ahead of Lee’s Summit, both teams qualified for state. “I felt happy for them, but I thought they should give us one, they have already made it to state. But it motivates us to go faster.” Beck said In order to qualify for state and beat North in an upcoming meet, the team has some things they want to improve on. All agree they need to work on having better starts, and making their turns better and faster. As the season progresses and the boys get stronger, they feel that the team is going to do very well. “The season is going awesome. The guys are working really hard.” Holder said. The 200 Medley has started the season out with a bang, They have eight more meets to meet their goal, what all high school athletes aim for, state.

A Stroke Behind Swimming relay just barely misses state

By: Amber Laddish

Flying Home: Senior Matt Gratton perfomes the Butterfly stroke at a meet. “We have a relay very close to state and we are working very hard,” Gratton said.Photo Courtesy/David Fiser.

Big Drop. The new conference will affect all sports , hovever football is the only sport dropping classes.”We are excited to play new teams,” junior David Gerke said. Photo/Bobby Hagedorn

All sports effected by drop in ConferenceBy: Andrew Hoien

letting the new conference change their focus. “The coaches are doing the same thing, everyone is preparing the same way, you have to take it game by game,” Sophomore David Gerke said. No matter what conference Lee’s Summit football is in, Schnell is confident that the fans will still come. “We have the best fans around,” Schnell said.

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With a new season already beginning, the Tiger volleyball team has already started to achieve their goals and is one of the hottest teams in the metro. “I think we will be really good this year. We have lots of experience this year,” junior Kelsey Knoche said. This year, the Tigers return 6 players from last year’s team. Last year, the Tigers finished 15-16-1 and fourth in the Suburban Big 7 Conference. Returning this year are seniors Sarah Becker, Whitney VanDeVyvere , and Brooke Whyte. Juniors Kelsey Knoche, Julie Strope, and Lisa Moore. With all of the returning players, the time together has helped the girls get to know each other over the past year. It has also helped them learn how each other plays. With all of this experience, the team has set their goals high.

“Our goals are to be u n d e f e a t e d c o n f e r e n c e c h a m p i o n s and then go to state,” Moore said. This year, the Tigers will move from the Suburban Big 7 to the S u b u r b a n Big 6. With this drop in con fe rence , many of the players feel that they have a good chance to achieve their goals. They have spent a lot of time this summer trying to become conference champs. “Over the summer, we spent a lot of time working out and practicing in the gym,” Moore said. This summer the team participated in a league that played every week. Other schools in this league were Lee’s Summit North, Lee’s Summit West, Belton, O’Hara, Truman, and Pleasant Hill. They also had team camps and open gym. At the team camps, the team worked on setting the pass, hitting the ball and techniques. Along with the different camps and leagues they also had their weights and conditioning. After all the lifting and practicing, the team found some time to do a little team bonding. “Over the summer, we all went over to coach Martin’s house, in Lake Jacomo, to have some fun and do some team bonding activities,” junior Julie Strope said. When they were at Coach Martin’s house, the team split up in to a varsity, junior varsity, and freshman teams. The three teams had to work together to get through an obstacle course that was three and a half miles with seven different sections with challenges at each section. Some

Pass, Set, HitExpeirenced volleyball team off to phonmenal start

By: Chris Matthews

Serve: Junior Julie Strope (2) serves the ball in a home game for the tigers. “We are off to a great start , we are in second place in conference,” Strope said. Photo/ David Fiser

of the challenges were cutting wood and relays in the lake. At each section there was a flag and the first team back with all of the flags won and got a pizza party. Team bonding must have been good for the team because it has propelled them to one of the best starts in the city “We are doing good so far this year. We started off the season very strong against a tough Lee’s Summit North team,” fourth year head coach Roy Martin said. The team has been very good so far this season with an 8-3 start and still undefeated in confererence play. The team has the tougher part of their schedule ahead of them, but with all of the confidence the team has got from winning, they feel that they should be ready for anyone.

Getting Ready: Senior Brook Whyte and Junior Julie Strope prepare to recieve a serve. “I think the season is going great, we have really come together as a team,” Whyte said. Photo/ David Fiser.

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1. We before me. The defense has to work together to get the job done, and the offense has to rely on each other to move around the bases.

“Everyone has to be included it’s a team sport. There’s no I in team, you always put your team first,” pitcher Mallory Lagud said.

2. Speed kills. Whenever you need to score you get the fastest player on first base. “In our lineup the fastest people are first, because they are bunters and slappers,” outfielder Megan Eagleburger

3. Bunt, Bunt, Bunt. Short game is key it’s how games are won. “In high school, ball bunts are what makes it happen, it’s how we score runs. We use bunts to move girls into scoring position,” Eagleburger said.

4. Discipline. It not only takes discipline at practice to become better players, but it also takes discipline during the game. “You have to be disciplined at plate in order to get good hits or your going to strike out. Players on field have to be there mentally and in the zone,” infielder Anna Stetzler said.

5. Look the ball in. Players have to always keep their eyes on the ball no matter where it is. “You have to look the ball completely into your glove before you make the throw,” Eagleburger said.

6. Play with heart and passion. It takes 110% in practice and during games. In order to win games, players have to play with heart. “When we play with heart we do better as a team,” Eagleburger said.

7. Communication. Communication is key to help the outfielders keep tract of the ball and just to know what is going on. “We communicate so you don’t get hit in the head with the

ball. You have know where you’re going and be heads up for next play,” Lagud said.

8. Never let up and have fun. In order to have a successful softball team, players have to enjoy what they are doing. “If you don’t have fun you’re not going to want to play. You will lose the game and let them back in if you are ahead,” Lagud said.

Bring’em Home. Infielder Lynette Galvan tries to score as the ball is hit far into the outfield. The team ended up beating Truman 8-0. “State is coming up, and I think we’ll do well. We have a good team this year,” Galvan said.

By: Jason Kingsolver

Strike Out: Megan Dwork (11) walks back to first base after a strike out against Ray-Pec. The Tigers won 6 to 5. Photo Courtesy/ Colin Taylor

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Court to Field

By: Bobby Hagedorn In the last couple of weeks one of our major boys sports teams has been rocked with the suspension of four of its major contributors. This once again raises the ques-tion of whether or not it is fair to punish athletes for some-thing that happens outside of school. The event in question not only happened outside of school but outside of the state. In no way am I condon-ing what these athletes did, but simply questioning the merits behind the suspen-sion. These athletes were not caught by the police, but by a photo that was posted on the Internet. If this happens to any other student, they receive no punishment. All athletes know the punishment they will re-ceive for their actions it has been driven into their heads by their coaches. However, this raises many questions. The administration contends that athletes are held to a higher standard, but why. In the world of profes-sional sports athletes are not punished harsher than any other citizen, so why should they be punished harsher in high school. If you are going to punish athletes for actions they take outside of school then all stu-dents should receive some sort of punishment as well. Another issue is, I believe that there should a state-wide pol-icy so that all school districts have the same policy for ath-letes across the state.

Familiar Faces of the Cross Country Team

By: Craig Williams

Name: Steve Ardoin

Grade: Junior

C o m p l e t e d Races: 6

Best Finishs: 1st out of 652nd out of 400

Opponents: LSN, LSW, Raytown South, Blue Springs

Preperations: Monday- 8 mile runTuesday- 4 mile repeatsThursday- Hills

Pre-game Meal: Pasta, ice cream, and pop tarts

Name: Dave Guinta

Grade: Junior

Completed Races: 6

Best Finishes:17th out of 8014th out of 120

Opponents: LSN, LSW, Raytown South, Blue Springs

Preparations: Monday- 8 mile runTuesday- 4 mile repeatsThursday- Hills

Pre-game Meal: Fazoli’s, half a bowl of oatmeal and a banana

Name: Jessica Craddock

Grade: Junior

Completed Races: 5

Best Finishes: 25th out of 50 24th out of 150

Opponents: LSW, LSN, Liberty

Preparations: Mile repeats, hills, and ladder routine

Pre-game Meal: Peanut butter waffle

Name: Lauren Voss

Grade: Senior

Completed Races: 5

Best Finishes: 57th out of 15061st out of 130

Opponents: LSW, LSN, Liberty

Preparations: mile repeats, hills, ladder routine, park run

Pre-game Meal: Pasta and a 16oz. Monster energy drink

Track Time: The boys cross counrty team led by Steve Ardoin prepares for their next meet.”I want to be in the top 5 at state,” Ardoin said. Photo Cameron Wiley

Turf Time: Sophmore Emily Neuberger (right) practices for the next meet. “We are a young team, but we are working to over come it,”Neuberger said. Photo/ Cameron Wiley.

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Photos: David Fiser 1- The band perfoms in the bleachers to create school spirit.2- The pre-game show gets the fans pumped for the game.3- The tenors pound out funky beats that get the crowd jumping.4- Hannah Berberich performs her mellaphone during the half time show.5- Senior Drum Major Alex Giddings conducts the marching band.6- The band plays the half time show.7- The band welcomes the football team to the field.

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