March 2012

Manzano High School Volume LII Issue V

We are all looking forward to the day our dreams become reality. One Monarch has already made her dream come true. Emily Tidwell, a senior at Manzano, wrote a children’s book, Super Animals, and had it published at the age of 18. Tidwell has been writing ever since she was little and plans on continuing this hobby as a career. Her grandfather, who is also a writer and one of her inspirations, helped her publish this book and another one online. “It came to me like an idea or dream,” Tidwell said, holding her book. What makes her story even more remarkable is that Tidwell is autistic. Writing is her creative outlet and it has become a very important part of her life. When she doesn’t have a pen in her hand and an idea in her head, she enjoys playing basketball, poly hocking, watching TV, and playing video games. Writing, however, consumes most of Tidwell’s time. Even during school hours, Tidwell is writing and expressing herself through her own creativity, whether it be a book, journal, or just a thought piece. It took Tidwell approximately seven months to write Super Animals, and everyday she thought about someday soon seeing her book displayed in bookstores and available on the Internet. She stilll has ideas swarming in her head about animals that have super powers, and she recently published a second book,Gadget the Robot Dog. “She’s constantly writing,” said her friend Gloria Trujillo, Tidwell herself said that when she writes, she fi nds herself absorbed in her own world where fantasies become real. Each word in every sentence has sentimental value to her. Though Tidwell is in high school for only two more months, she plans to continue writing after graduation. She is still contemplating on where to go. With her peers, teachers, friends, and family helping her along the way, Tidwell has confi dence and determination to move forward and get many more books published. Her love for writing will continue and inspire others to chase what they want most. “I’m starting at the bottom,” Tidwell said with a smile on her face. High school is often a time where students worry about fulfi lling their dreams and aspirations. Tidwell, having started in on fulfi lling her dreams, is certainly an inspiration.

Trying a musical at the high school level is intimdiating, and not many schools would undertake such a task. However, Manzano’s Drama deparment’s production of the classic Oklahoma! took on such that task, and wowed all Manzano’s population. Oklahoma! was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein and was fi rst performed March 31, 1943 on Broadway. Then, more than sixty later, this musical was performed at MHS. “The musical was very successful,” said senior and Drama student Stephanie Smith. This was the fi rst musical Manzano performed in over eight years. Choir, band, and orchestra helped in the production. “We worked almost non-stop from early January all the way to closing night, including weekends later on in rehearsals, and ended up with a magnifi cent show,” said senior and thespian Nick Handley The theatre had been in need of some major upgrades and progress was made in acquiring a new sound system and lighting equipment needed to stage the musical effectively. It took about six weeks for the Drama department to get the rights to put the musical into production. “Once we were given the green light, we held auditions in early December, and students were sent home with their scripts over winter break,” said Ryan Morris, director and head of the Drama department. The fi rst rehearsal took place on January 5th and the show opened on February 22nd. The rights to the musical were $2,000 and the overall production costs were $5,000. However, the price was not the only problem; another problem was would there be enough seats for everyone in the PAC? After opening night, the word spread across the MHS campus that this was a 'can’t miss’ event. The musical is set when Oklahoma was just on the brink of statehood. This romantic comedy is based on two cowboys and a peddler fi nding love in the Oklahoma territory. The main leads Curley (played by Handley) and Laurey (played by junior Chloe Jew) fall in love, but have a hard time being open with each other. No one in the theatre was anxious to leave during the near three-hour production. Instead, the audience was enthralled, just as they would have been watching a phenomenal movie; and at the show’s conclusion the audience rose and applauded, shouting, “Bravo!” “Manzano has fantastically talented students,” said junior Kaity Brave. Much of the production took place behind the scenes. The pit where the orchestra and band played was opened up, and the music played was not the watered-down high school version, bu the music from the original Broadway production. Prior to opening the show, Drama rehearsed the choreography with recorded music and the band and orchestra started playing live on February 13th. This gave seven full runs with live orchestration to align musical cues, and

A Writer in Our Midst

MHS’s Latest Production Draws Rave ReviewsTyler Gallegos 2012

Continued on page 4

Maria Griego 2014

Senior Emily Tidwell with both of her publications. Photo courtesy of Maria Griego.

More than 70 people were involved in the production, including the actors. Photo courtesy of Yearbook.

Editorials on page 7 MHS Tennis on page 5Page 2

PAW PRINT Critics’ Corner2 This year, the Paw Print’s critics

are using an “A+ -- F” grading scale.

March 2012

If ten years ago you’d been asked “Who’s David Guetta?”, your answer might have been, “I don’t know. Maybe some French cook?” But now the answer is obvious, with his records at the top the of world’s music charts. David Guetta, a French house music producer and DJ, makes his fans dance to his singles from the new album Nothing But The Beat. Let’s break it down track by track. Guetta’s fi fth studio album was released on August 26, 2011, but many of his fans had heard about it way earlier: on May 2nd, the fi rst single, “Where Them Girls At”, hit the radio stations. The track became Guetta’s third Top 20 hit in the US. “Where Them Girls At”, and it features Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida. The song mixes Guetta’s amazing club sounds, Nicki’s unique vocals, and Flo Rida’s drive. This is why the album is so fresh and unique: every song on the album is a collaboration with pop, R&B, or hip-hop stars, and Guetta managed to balance every track so that the listener hears Guetta’s club music and the vocalist’s style, and, at the same time, every track fl ows like it’s only one artist performing. “You got me saying: go little bad girl, little bad girl...” On June 27th, ‘Little Bad Girl’, the second single was released. Repeating ‘go little bad girl’, Taio Cruz helped the song reach

Guetta on the BrainAnya Soboleva 2013

Anya is the Paw Print’s foreign exchange critic

“Hardcore has played a big role in my life; it has led me out of gangs along with the help of my family and has kept me off the streets.” ~Phillip Archuleta, vocalist of Albuquerque hardcore band Epiphany. In the realm of artistic expression, music is one of the most widely witnessed, enjoyed, and appreciated mediums; the pulsing beats of electronic dance music

The Wonder of HardcoreDavid Jio 2013

David is the Paw Print’s music critic

instill an algorithmically perfect and euphoric splendor in the listener; the raw and bodacious stomp of hip-hop fl oods the listener with a sense of power and prominence; the soothing warp of jazz

bounces around the listener’s brain and both calms and excites the listener at the same time; the sturdy hum of country hits home with the listeners and refl ects on the struggles and pleasures of life.; metal converges upon the listener with brutal fury and a rush of inimitable might. Within this vast spectrum of music lays a hidden beast; infl uential, powerful, and emotional, yet its depth remains widely unnoticed by the majority of music listeners, both mainstream and underground. It has the power to bond together complete strangers in a close, spiritual, sentimental camaraderie; it has the power to move the listener by refl ecting the struggles of everyday life and the genuine expression of hardships experienced and overcome; it has the power to create within itself a tightly knit community despite the lack of radio play or worldwide promotion and recognition; it has the power to be aggressive, angry, fast, hurtful, stomping, desperate, furious, hateful, loving, intimidating, and beautiful all at once; it is hardcore. Tracing its genesis to the punk rock scenes of large cities in the 1980’s, such as Boston, Los Angeles, and New York, hardcore originated as an amplifi cation of the haphazard counterculture and sound of 1970’s punk; fusing the speed and intensity of punk rock with the weight, melody, and structure of metal. Originally, over-the-top, angry bands pushed punk rock past its limits to create early hardcore;

bands such as Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, The Freeze, and Negative FX created the chaotic atmosphere from which modern hardcore would spawn and develop. By the 1990’s, the metal infl uence began to play a bigger role in the music; bands such as Madball, Hatebreed, and Earth Crisis pioneering elements that became signatures of hardcore. By the 2000’s, modern hardcore had come into its full-fl edged identity; the emotional and passionate verses and choruses balanced with crushing breakdowns were perpetuated and perfected by bands such as Stick To Your Guns, The Ghost Inside, Terror, and The Acacia Strain. “Hardcore is...angry. Generally low-tuned guitars, angry, moving drums and loud vocals that make you want to hit things. But it all works together in a beautiful manner,” says Adam Johnstone, guitarist of Albuquerque hardcore band Ruin. The fanbase grew to an astoundingly large yet close brotherhood; creating an entire subculture going unnoticed in the every day life of the participants. Hardcore’s “image” is a subtle one; hardcore eschews the bright and fl ashy merchandise of metal and punk rock in favor of monochromaticism; grey, black, and white shirts usually bearing little more than the band’s logo and song lyrics, paying tribute to the underground and secure state of the music scene itself. The well-known social movement known as straight-edge is also a product of hardcore culture, with the band Minor Threat coining the term and the “edge” lifestyle (refusal to buy or use drug products, including tobacco and alcohol) becoming prominent in mainstream culture, signifying the subtle and unrecognized infl uence of hardcore on subculture as a whole. “I love the communal aspect of hardcore. It’s like one huge family. At shows, no matter who you are, you’re at a hardcore show, and you’re all friends. It’s amazing,” says Johnstone. From this stone-set identity arises a community of positivity, support, and familial acceptance. The lyrics of many hardcore bands deal with overcoming obstacles in life, cherishing friends and loved ones, and living for the

present. “We are a family, we will fi ght for each other and ourselves. We will not let forces harm us, each other, or our family,” says Phillip Archuleta, vocalist of Albuquerque hardcore band Epiphany. “I’ve never been one who has fi t in, you know, ever since I was a kid, I always felt on the outskirts of society and those around me. Hardcore has made me part of something bigger than me, a family that was always there even if my own seemed to not be. It has also made me see the good in people, but to push out the negativity at all costs. To maintain a strong sense of self-respect and family respect, and to take care of those who love you, and to block out those who hate you.” The music, characterized by crushing breakdowns offset by emotional chorus ad verse sections, inspiring lyrics, passionate vocal delivery, and communal crowd chants espouses positivity and the communal aspects of the music, is known for the intense live performances, with the crowd often engaging in “hardcore dancing,” a complex type of dancing unique to the genre that uses the energy of the music to its advantage; hardcore dancing, on the outside, appears to be a chaotic cluster of fl ailing limbs and spin kicks. “I love hardcore dancing; it takes rhythm, timing, and all the while you’re dodging other fi sts and spin kicks coming your way. It’s an organization of utter chaos, in rhythm with the beat,” says Archuleta. Hardcore is a type of music that binds the listeners together in a unifi ed camaraderie unseen in other types of music; despite the inaccessibility and intimidating aesthetic of the music, hardcore manages to perpetuate an entire community towards self-identity. “Hardcore has passed what words can defi ne to me. This is something that has helped keep me out of trouble, seek challenge, and kept me on my feet when life has knocked me down. I’ve faced adversity in death, mental illness, and alcoholism. Hardcore has helped me to not only stay alive through it, but to stay positive and healthy. Hardcore means more than life to me, and keeps me moving forward, to fi ght for each day,” said Archuleta

B+

number two in US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard). “I can’t look, I’m so blind, I lost my heart, I lost my mind without you, without you...” On September 27th, the third single hit the radio stations and we heard Usher singing “Without You”. Unlike the fi rst two singles that reached the charts with their dirty lyrics, the lyrics of ‘Without You’ are very nice and sweet. And the result? The song is number four in the US Billboard Hot 100. “You shoot me down, but I won’t fall I am titanium...” December 9th, Sia’s incredible voice was heard for the fi rst time in Guetta’s amazing track “Titanium”. Critics seem to like the song and are positive to call it one of the best tracks from Nothing But The Beat. I’m very happy to know that critics support my opinion as “Titanium” is my favoite. It’s as strong as its title. Very impressive. “Make me come alive, come on and turn me on, turn me on, turn me on, turn me on...” December 14th, another Minaj-Guetta’s collaboration was released

and that’s what Guetta said about working with Nicki to the UK newspaper The Sun: “People don’t really know her as a singer and she’s killing it on that track. People know her for her crazy rapping but that shows what she can do as a singer... For a year I wanted to work with her and she was hard to reach. But the moment we got into the studio and had the music it was great.” And its greatness helped the song reach number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. “Oh, everytime, it will bring me to life, I can only imagine, only imagine what it’d be like...” “I Can Only Imagine” was introduced to the public for the fi rst time at the Grammys 2012, performed by Chris Brown, Best R&B Album winner, and Lil Wayne, who was nominated for the Best Rap Album. This track mirrors Brown’s F.A.M.E. and Wayne’s lines make it sound better, but still it’s not the best song. Guetta could have worked harder on this one. “I wanna make you sweat” repeats Snoop Dogg in the remix of his single “Wet”. Unexpected, right? Released on March 4th, “Sweat” reached number four in the US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard). Honestly, I’m not very impressed with Snoop Dogg’s part, but Guetta’s beat is high-quality, and it made club-music listeners love it. “I wanna know, was I the one or just a chick on the side?” asks Jessie J in a bold break-up song “Repeat”. Jessie wrote the smart lyrics and Guetta made it even more daring with his beat. Their fi rst collaborating experience seems to have been successful. Now, we’re looking forward to hear their other single, ‘Lazerlight’. “Love me, baby treat me right, make it eternity and not only one night. If you love me til the end of time, then I will promise you the night of your life...” Goes the chorus of “Night Of Your Life”. And I was quite shocked, realizing that it sounds too much like Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In The World)”. But it’s still good. Jennifer Hudson’s vocals make the song sound very powerful. It’s very easy to get stuck in your head, but there’s nothing to worry about, because it’s worth it. “The way she crank it up...” Akon’s “Crank It Up” became a huge disappointment. Guetta didn’t seem to try hard on this one. It’s hard to enjoy the song when the lyrics are terrible and music on the background makes it even worse. “A-a-b-b-c-c... F Me!”... I said something before about dirty lyrics. Forget about it. That’s the dirtiest lyric from the whole album. Jacob Luttrell, the writer of “I Just Wanna F”, thanks for trying, at least, to cover it with the alphabet. Performed by Afrojack, Dev, and Timbaland, the song probably isn’t going to become listeners’ favorite. “Nothing really matters in a club...” Growing louder and stronger, the music and the beat of the song brings more color to will.i.am’s lines “Nothing Really Matters” is a typical song about escaping the problems and forgetting yourself in the music. It might easily improve your mood and send you to a club-life dream for a while. “Nothing But The Beat” might become your favourite, or you might just ask ‘can I even call it music’. If you love club music, you have to have this album on your iPod.

A-

PAW PRINT 3Critics’ Corner

Sandy is the Paw Print’s junior fi lm critic

Bree is the Paw Print’s video game critic

If you have an idea for a

story, would like to see more

of a certain section, or if you

would like to place an ad,

please see Mr. Kraus in room

K-212 or email the Paw Print at

manzanopawprint@yahoo.com

March 2012

The Notebook meets Dear John in a new romantic fi lm called The Vow, inspired by true events that happened to a Farmington, New Mexico couple. After being married for just a few weeks, Leo Collins (Channing Tatum, Dear John) and Paige Thorton-Collins’ (Rachel McAdams, The Notebook) love life gets disrupted and crushed with a tragic car crash. Paige is left with a head injury that causes memory loss, not remembering anything that happened in the last 18 months. Before moving on, here is some background information about the real-life couple of The Vow – Kim (48) and Krickitt (42) Carpenter wrote

The Vow Wows AudiencesSandy Nguyen 2014

about their lost and found love life and the traumatic times that they went through after the accident. Their story began when they met over the phone

in 1992. Kim was a baseball coach at New Mexico Highlands University, and Krickitt worked at a sportswear company where Kim ordered uniforms and jackets from. The two started a long-distance relationship and as it got more serious, the couple spent some time together face-to-face, not just phone-to-phone or letter-to-letter, and they exchanged rings on September 19, 1993. The night before Thanksgiving, just two months after their marriage, everything changed with a major car crash. Now, don’t ask me why the names in the movie are different from the real couple, or how the screen couple is super gorgeous. (*cough cough* Channing Tatum; who is more memorable than the actual romance in the movie) But that’s what Hollywood is nowadays; movies fi lled with gorgeous couples that you drool over and gorgeous people that you will never meet in your entire life. Hey! What can you do?! Besides sit back, relax, and enjoy the

show, like a boss. Knowing both Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum starred in movies that were based on novels by Nicholas Sparks makes you want to see The Vow very badly! Since this is a love story, you wonder if you’re going to be bawling your eyes out to the very end of the movie. But it’s not like that. Instead it’s mostly devastating. Devastating to see Leo try his hardest to help Paige regain her memory while her snobby family is jumping in and getting in the way of everything, which gets irritating after a bit. The Vow is somewhat predictable, and the storyline is uneven with the Hollywood sprinkles on it. But everything cancels out when you have two good looking actors making a pretty convincing couple, even thought the plot doesn’t necessarily draw you into the movie. It feels like it is missing some parts and it seems like it goes by really fast, but it covers up most of the happiness and heartbreaking love that most romance fi lms have. Suffering from brain trauma, Paige doesn’t remember all the giggles, laughter, kisses, or adventures she’d have with her husband. Thinking that the solution to regaining her memory is for her to move back in with her husband, who’s a complete stranger, makes Paige look like a lost puppy in the city. As the days go by, you’d be praying for Paige to regain her memory and pray that her parents will a get a punch or two, or more, from Leo. It makes you want to grip on the armrest of the chair or chew on your nails to see where Paige and Leo will end up.

It has been three years since the last Soul Calibur game came out. In the game’s time, however, it’s actually been 17 years. Now, in Soul Calibur V, the quest for the Soul Swords continues. Although this game feels the same as every other Soul Calibur, this one focuses more on the new characters that are descendants from the past. Created by Namco Bandai, it follows the idea of the two Soul Swords, the Soul Calibur and Soul Edge. In the new storyline you’re playing as Patroklos, son of Sophitia, as he battles his way through numerous characters and combatants to reach his long-lost sister, Pyrrha. These two siblings begin on a journey across Europe that will eventually lead them to

Not the Same CaliburBree Vargas 2013

B+

C-

the Soul Swords. A few updates have taken place in Soul Calibur V; For example, the new modes to explore, new characters, the unlimited character creation option, Critical Edge system, and a new story mode. They kept in the original arcade and soul mode. Namco Bandai brought in the new character changes that have

surely ticked off a few Soul Cal fans. Not that us fans mind small changes like that, but the whole idea behind basing the newly introduced characters off of the old ones, like their children or students, is just redundant and it drags away from the story. Another thing they did that bugged old players is getting rid of Kilik, a character that has been raised up since the fi rst ever Soul Calibur, and his fi ghting style has been completely changed. Instead, a new character has taken his old fi ghting style while his has been replaced with a “normal” one. One mode that stands out and really catches your attention is the Critical Edge system created for new players who don’t know any of the characters’ moves. It helps inexperienced players perform unique combos for their selected character. Using this not only helps them see their characters’ moves, but easily use a critical hit on their opponents using fewer buttons. These players have a lower risk of breaking their controllers trying to get down a combo. I’m not very fond of this system, nor would I recommend it for any player, but it’s really up to the new players and how they want to step into action on their fi rst Soul Calibur game. The new character creation mode is one of the best in any fi ghting game I’ve ever played. The Soul Calibur series has never failed to update their creation mode; it’s one of the very few things that is keeping players around. Players say this is one of the most intense Soul Calibur games they’ve ever played, but I would have to disagree and say that this game’s storyline was awful. Bringing in Patroklos and Phyrra made it seem like Namco got lazy with this game and it just didn’t reach max potential. It took them three years to put together a game that I would say is nothing close to a masterpiece. Yes the multiplayer is amazing, but that’s never been a fl aw for the Soul Calibur series. This game wasn’t what I expected and it ruined the series.

What would you do if you solved the mystery of an undiscovered island? Sean, an adventurous, stouthearted boy did not hesitate; he was ready to go. In the opening scene, Sean (Josh Hutcherson, The Kids Are Alright), is riding away from the cops on his dirt bike, fl ying through backyards and hopping over fences, but the chase is over when he, along with his bike, drops into a swimming pool. After the police catch him, they call Sean’s stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson, Fast Five) who goes to pick him up. Sean refuses Hank as his stepfather, calling him more of a legal guardian; though after a little more convincing

A Journey for the Whole FamilyKayla Vandever 2013

Kayla is a fi lm critic in Journalism

Sean eventually agrees to go home. Sean did get what he was looking for, a code that was sent to him by his grandfather (Michael Caine, The Dark Knight) who happens to be a crazy adventurer. Decoding the Morse code, Sean and Hank fi nally have a moment where they’re both “on the same page”. Wanting more of that father-son relationship, Hank decides to take Sean to the Mysterious Island. On the way, Sean meets an unqualifi ed pilot, Gabato (Luis Guzman) and his self-reliant, headstrong daughter, Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens), who tag along without a choice on their journey. Because this movie is rated PG, I knew (walking into a theater full of children) to expect a ‘cheesy’ comedy. All in all, I thought this movie was good for all ages. A good, family fi lm; that’s all you can expect. I love all the bright, vivid colors. This movie has good CGI animation in certain scenes. As well as the amazing visual effects, which makes fl ying on a bee much more real. I thought the scenes were very well put together with the mixture of real, Hawaiian scenery and the visual effects, it makes the Mysterious Island look as real as could be. Nothing gets me more than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a kind-hearted children’s fi lm. It proves that “The Rock” can play a soft, affectionate character, and in this fi lm, I think he did a pleasing job. It’s not everyday you see a former pro wrestler playing a ukulele and singing “What a Wonderful

World” by a campfi re. The actors in this movie all did a great job portraying their characters; Josh Hutcherson playing a rebellious, adventurous teen; Kailani as an independent, young lady; Gabato, a funny, caring father and of course, Alexander the grandfather; a comedic, smart-alec character. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island took me into another world, bringing my inner imagination out, and made me believe I could be in a world where large things are small and small things are large. This is a movie for families and will make everyone laugh.

PAW PRINT4 School NewsMarch 2012

Is your job affecting your future? An increasing number of teens are hard at work in the employment market. But are after-school jobs interfering with students’ grades and schooling as well? Although having a job can teach you some of the basic fundamentals of the real world, like discipline, responsibility, and the value of a dollar, some young people in the workforce say that sometimes there are sacrifi ces that have to be made academic-wise in order to keep a job. “Sometimes after coming home from a shift on a school night, it’s hard to stay motivated to do homework. I get really worn out,” said Celeste Chacon, MHS sophomore. Experts are saying 41.5% to 47.5% of teenagers, ages 16-19, holding down a full or even a part-time job, slip in the area of academics. This can be caused from a lack of sleep, or just simply not enough time in the day to complete your at-home assignments Child labor laws have also been set into play, causing many companies to give out fewer work hours to teens. Take into consideration that back in the day, teenage employment was actually frowned upon by most companies because they thought, and still do think, that teenagers are too immature to carry out a responsibility

that is meant for an adult. “I feel like even though the economy isn’t all that great, there are a lot of people that will still hire you, especially a young person because it’s cheap labor,” said Tamera Maes, MHS sophomore. Today there is actually an increasing demand for teenage workers by most companies. It allows them to draw in a pool of unskilled individuals willing to work for minimum wage. “I know that since I’m young I’m probably not going to get paid much. I just really want to fi nd a job somewhere because eventually it will start to add up,” said Autumn Quillen, MHS sophomore. Although a job and a paycheck at the end of the week may seem glamorous, keep in mind that what an individual decides to do now, especially in high school, can affect their future in the long run. “I used to have a job for a while, but it just started to become really hard to get good grades and work at the same time, so I just quit,” said Shantel Trujillo, MHS junior. Whatever students decide as far as jobs go, they should keep in mind that they will have to be more organized in order to keep their academics in order.

Teens in the WorkplaceMariah Chavez 2014

Many clubs around Manzano have an important impact on the future of its students; no club personifi es this ideal more than FEA. FEA is one of the most infl uential clubs at MHS, shaping future careers for its members. Future Educators of America was founded in 2010 by Francesca Martinez and Camille Gonzales, both teachers at MHS. Martinez said they formed the club for two reasons. “The fi rst reason is the teacher cadet class needed a student organization associated with the class,” said Martinez “Second, I wanted to give students who are interested in the education fi eld an opportunity to explore their interest.” FEA, like any other club, is involved in a number of events on campus every year. The money raised from the events FEA does goes toward a scholarship given to a Manzano senior going into teaching. “It makes me very proud and happy as a teacher to see students choose teaching as their career pathway,” Martinez explained. “It’s exciting knowing that the FEA scholarship is helping them reach that goal.” FEA meets every other Thursday in K-214, Mrs. Gonzales’ room, about ten minutes after lunch begins. At the meetings, the members talk about what events are coming up either at the elementary schools or MHS, and how FEA can be a part of them. Also, at the meetings members brainstorm on how they can raise more money for the scholarship they give. “I honestly think it’s one of the most important clubs at Manzano that gets hardly any recognition,” said MHS senior Monique Otis, president of FEA. “It’s the only club that supports our teachers when they do so much for all of us. Our club represents teachers in a way that is not represented anywhere else.” FEA doesn’t stop there; the club has and will continue to go to elementary schools, like Apache Elementary, and assist with events at the school, like the Fall Fiesta, where the members hand out prizes and make the fi esta safe and fun for the students and their families. “When I go to Apache, it’s a very warm feeling,” said Sherri Gurule, FEA member. “I feel so privileged to be able to be in a classroom that shows me and gets me ready to go into a career I might possibly see myself in” Among the clubs at Manzano, FEA is one of the most dedicated to the future of students looking to fi nd a rewarding, lifelong career. By giving hands-on experience in a teaching environment while pushing students toward their goals, the Future Educators of America is helping to shape many students into teachers in a time when they are needed most.

The Teachers of Tomorrow Terri Swingle 2012

technical transitions. “The musical exceeded everyone's expectations because of the level of professionalism in the preparation and production of the show. The students took total ownership, set their sights on a professional production, and were wildly successful,” said MHS teacher Brett Rimer and Oklahoma! organizer. The dancing in the play was also extraordinary. The choreography for the show was taught by Cindy Sikelianos from Triple Threat Performing Arts. This involved students with varying levels of dance capabilities. “Mrs. Sikelianos worked as both a choreographer and teacher, and she was brilliant,” said Mr. Morris Around 70 people came together to put this musical together. Many involved in the production were concerned about the level of diffi culty of the play, which involves acting, singing, and dancing. “Being one of the leads in this production was so far one of the most exciting things of my life. I was so worried that I was going to mess it all up, but as showtime came closer I just got more and more pumped,” said Handley. The pre-production work was one of the key components in making this musical as great as it was, with staff as well as students helping to make props and work sets. This four-day musical event left the Manzano community stunned. “The play was a tremendous success due the strong work ethic of the Manzano Fine Arts Department and the 70-plus students involved,” said Mr. Morris. After Oklahoma!, the MHS community is looking forward to Drama’s spring production, Of Mice and Men. Any who saw Oklahoma! will know that it will be hard to top.

Continued from page one, Oklahoma!

Recent School Events

Once a year Senate puts together an annual blood drive. This year it was in March, where students signed up for time slots so they could give blood.

On March 21st, the Manzano population gathered in the plaza to witness the destruction of a beater-car for Evolvement. To raise awarness of second-hand smoke, they demolished the car to “Kick Butts”.

PAW 5School News PRINTMarch 2012

At the start of this season, the boys tennis team was faced with the news that the former coach disappeared without a goodbye, a resignation, or any contact whatsoever. As the start of the season neared and no one was able to reach the coach, the position went up for grabs. When the fi rst practice of the season came around, a replacement had not been announced. Brian Pecorella, the girls soccer coach volunteered to fi ll the role temporarily. “I honestly don’t know, and I can say that in all honesty...no one knows (about the former coach’s disappearance),” said Coach Pecorella. At that fi rst practice, Coach Pecorella introduced Grigori Grigoriev, who goes by Grisha or Coach G. At the time, Coach Grisha was not certifi ed as a high school coach and could do little more than introduce himself, as he was not yet permitted by APS to act as coach to the team. Coach Pecorella explained that Coach Grisha was to be the head coach, while he would assist with paperwork, organization, and such until he was no longer needed. “I am glad and very excited in helping and becoming part of the Manzano high school boys tennis,” expressed Coach

Game, Set, Match: MHS tennis gets new coach

MHS senior Isaac Peina keeping his eye on the ball during practice. Photo courtesy of James Donnelly.Grisha. “The strategy for this year is to develop each player’s individual skills for single play and doubles,” said Coach Grisha. The coaches have also expressed a desire for a lot of net play, which means players close the distance between themselves and their opponents and attempt to “poach” balls out of the air. “I feel the change in coaches is better,” said Cesar Silva, one of the team’s seven seniors. “Last year’s coach was a good coach but he didn’t know about our matches until the last minute. We wouldn’t get excused for matches at school;

he would give us papers the day before matches.” Last year’s players have also said that there was no end-of-season banquet. “There was no banquet last year; it kept being postponed and eventually never happened because the coach was going on vacation,” said Silva. This resulted in at least one graduating senior not receiving a letter. Steve Wagner, the team’s assistant coach, spoke to the player, who said that the letter was the only one missing from his jacket. Coach Grisha’s career stretches back to 2001. “I’ve been playing tennis for a long time and teaching it to kids, young adults, adults, and the elderly since 2001 for the City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department,” he said. The coach is excited about the talent and desire of the tennis players; he says this promises to be an exciting season. He says his highest aspiration is “to have each player continue playing during the summer and in the off-season.” After the fi rst day of practice the newfound head coach departed on a two-week trip out of town. As a member of the Peace Corps, the coach says he will defi nitely stay with the team in the future, if the Corps allows him to.

James Donnelly 2015

Sam and Nate Andazola are Manzano graduates who are currently touring their music across the country. The Paw Print sat down recently to catch up with them on life on the road.

PP: When did you graduate? Sam: I gradutated in 2009. Nate: In 2011.

PP: Who was your favorite teacher?Sam: My favorite teacher was Mr. Rimer.Nate: I have two: Mrs. Cairns and Mrs. Erickson.

PP: What is your best memory of going to Manzano? Sam: Being on varsity with Coach Brown and almost winning state my sophomore year, oh and Cheyanne.Nate: My best memory is going to Branson, Missouri to compete with show choir and concert choir, and of course Cheyanne.

PP: What/who inspired you to do music? Sam: I have taken piano lessons since I was four

years old, but then I wanted to look into acting my junior year and thought adding music would help me in my acting. Taking Mrs. Erickson’s show/concert choir class my senior year sparked the fi re of our music.Nate: My brother.

PP: What has been your best show so far? Sam: My favorite have been the Camplifi ed East Coast Tour with all those camper kids. It was awesome. Our last one at

Disney’s Celebration City was pretty sick too. Nate: My favorite shows have been in T or C, New Mexico, and Camp Cory in New York, on the Camplifi ed tour.

PP:What are your music plans for 2012? Sam & Nate: To go on another tour and release more of our singles.

PP: Where can we go to hear all of your music? Both: www.samandnatemusic.com facebook:Sam&Nate, twitter:samandnatemusic

PP: Any encouraging words for those of us still in high school? Sam: Pursue your dreams and work hard; nothing worth having comes easy.Nate: Take a lot of dual credit classes now so it will be easier in college.

Every teen dreams of being the next big thing but very few make it. Manzano might have found the next Lil Wayne. The Paw Print sat down with 18 year old Isaiah Watts, an MHS student who wants to be a rapper and has a few words of advice for other rappers.

PP: What inspired you to rap?IW: My friend Derick Moyer. His beats made me want to start writing.

PP: What skills do you think you need to rap?IW: Creativity, imagination; you need to be innovative and have something new to offer your fans.

PP: What things do you rap

Interview with a Future Hip-Hop Legend?Sarah Beuzekom 2014

about and why?IW: I rap about things I know and the things I see because it helps to have meaningful lyrics.

PP: How do you feel about all the other kids who want to be rappers?IW: I feel their presence just makes me want to better myself,

so that I don’t have to worry about them.

PP: Does rapping ever get really competitive?IW: As of now not really; everyone has a unique voice and I’m just competing to be heard.

PP: Any advice for new rappers?IW: Be hungry, stay working, and be innovative.

PP: What are the downfalls of rapping?IW: Devoting time and money into something that most likely isn’t going to get you paid in the end and if you sign to some record company you may lose your creative freedom.

PP: What inspires you to keep

trying?IW: Innovative artists that bring something new inspire me to keep going because if I can perfect my style I can become better.

PP: Who are your role models? Do they inspire any of your music?IW: Naz, Nipsey Hussle, and Curren$y, and, yes, sometimes they’ll inspire me to try something different with my wordplay.

PP: Do you rap for a career or is it for fun?IW: Mostly for fun, but a career in it would be great.

Former Monarchs are Living the Dream

Sam & Nate are aspiring musicians from Tijeras. Photo courtesy of www.samandnatemusic.com.

Photo courtesy of Isaiah Watts

Miscellaneous6 PAW PRINT

March 2012

“I was on fi re. It’s my earlier memory. I was three years old, and we were living in a trailer park in a southern Arizona town whose name I never knew,” (pg 9). We all like to think that our lives are diffi cult and horrid when we experience a particularly rough patch of life, but I can guarantee that hardly any of you have lived through the same things Jeannette Walls and her two siblings have. Nomadic parents, eating lard sandwiches as the only other option other than starvation, a mother who never gave in to domestic activities, even when her children needed her to, putting up with a father who spent the little income his family earned on alcohol, living in second-rate houses at best, and always living in the shadow of the hope that her father would pull through and build the “glass castle” that he promised Jeanette since before she could remember. Similar to fi lm documentaries, I tend to circumnavigate memoirs. However, I love this novel. It fl ows very effi ciently. The novel begins with Jeannette in the modern day and the rest of the novel is, for all intents and purposes purposes, a fl ashback—Jeannette is laying out for us her life from the very beginning. Even after she caught on fi re, life didn’t get any easier. Neither of her parents ever held “permanent” jobs and, therefore, they never had a steady income. While a lot of the novel is shocking, it is not “R rated.” It simply shows people who have lead a relatively simple and easy life, what it is like to be on the other spectrum. While some are furious that they only got an iPhone for Christmas instead of the iPad and the laptop that they wanted, Jeannette and her siblings rarely received presents—if they did, they were only bought after they had been marked down to clearance—and hardly ever had a Christmas tree that wasn’t a recycled, already exhausted tree that someone else had decorated and then thrown away. Some girls rave about how they desperately want to be skinny, but Jeannette and her siblings were skinny involuntarily. They wanted to eat, but never had enough food to be anything but skin and bones. There is no exciting chase scene the way that people today think of them in this novel, but that in no way demeans the novel. It is intriguing and thrilling in its own, realistic way and it takes a really talented and unique author to do that. For instance, there is a scene when a kid named Billy Deel shoots at Jeannette and her siblings with his BB gun. Also, years later Jeannette’s father takes her to a bar in order to con a man out of money and she almost ends up being raped. The examples are copious. The children in the family soon come to the realization that if they don’t get out now, they never will and they will be stuck in the same situation that their parents are now. Jeanette begins to create an “escape fund” and soon the attention of the reader is focused on hoping and wishing that Jeannette and her siblings make it out. I have nothing bad to say about this novel. It teaches a good life lesson that, frankly, changed my take on life. I stopped feeling sorry for myself because I couldn’t have the “small things” that I wanted. I had to remind myself several times throughout the novel that the events in this novel were not fi ction. They really happened. It is an eye-opener in so many different ways. I rate this novel an A-plus for overall quality and sheer perseverance. My favorite quote is when they see a Joshua tree sapling, her mother’s favorite tree to paint, and Jeannette suggests digging it up and replanting it in front of their current house. “Mom frowned at me. ‘You’d be destroying what makes it special,’ she said. ‘It’s the Joshua tree’s struggle that gives it its beauty.’”

The Glass Castle Amanda Sims 2012

Stereotypes A+

On March 5th students heard the familiar rumble of school bus engines as they dropped off the new crop of eighth graders for eighth grade orientation day. This year, in addition to the usual tour of the school that the soon-to-be-freshmen get, the staff at Manzano took the initiative to try and get the eighth graders interested in all of the programs that Manzano has to offer, while also promoting teamwork and coercion among the class. Why Try? is a national initiative to involve incoming high school students in an effort to make them stay in school and stay away from illicit activities. Manzano is the fi rst school in Albuquerque to put on a Why Try? event. When Manzano principal Therese Carroll heard about these activities,

Why Try?: MHS tries a new approach to 8th grade orientationSean Cairns 2012

she wasted no time in organizing an event for this year’s orientation. Until now, eight grade orientation day has been more geared toward highlighting Manzano as a school, rather than fostering skills for incoming freshmen to have. “It’s been really geared more at getting to know MHS,” said Ken Tuley, Manzano assistant principal. “To a lot of them, it’s a big and scary place.” This year’s orientation had the same activities as all the years before it; Manzano representatives riding buses down to the feeder schools, telling about the different programs at MHS and answering any questions that the eighth graders may have. This year, however, once the eighth

graders returned to their respective schools, they were divided into groups randomly and given tasks that were meant to foster communication and collaboration among them. The tasks included shooting a basketball from varying distances, standing in a circle and throwing a ball in a certain pattern, getting out of a rope without using hands or feet, and getting two chocolate bars on opposite ends of a room while tied to a person. All of these activities were designed to make the eighth graders work together to achieve common goals and drive the message home that teamwork is a viable method of success in high school. The tasks received mixed reviews from the eighth graders, but for the most part the students did seem to do rather well at the tasks that were given to them. Greg Bunker, counselor at Grant Middle School, said that while the system may not be perfect, he was optimistic about its effects. By the end of the day, Mr. Bunker

was impressed with the results of the event. Whether the teamwork left a lasting impression on the eighth graders or not, only time will tell. “It’s one thing to go do team building activities, but if you don’t buy into it then there isn’t a point,” said Mr. Tuley. Mr Tuley went on to say that there are always people in the group who will be apathetic toward initiatives of this type, but if the people who benefi t from the event outnumber the apathetic bunch, then the event can be considered a success. There are defi nitely things that incoming students need to be aware of to survive in high school. According to Amanda Briggs, Manzano Biology and Anatomy teacher, the two most important things facing incoming freshmen are accountability and maturity. “This is their fi rst experience being accountable,” said Ms. Briggs. She explained that in middle school, the decision to hold back a student is made by the parents, not by the school, therefore, students are able to slip through the system whether they learn the material or

not. “They don’t believe it, until they see their transcripts. . . or they’re in the registration line and they’re freshmen again,” added Ms. Briggs. Up until this event, the closest thing to Why Try? was the IMPAC class that freshmen are required to take for one semester. IMPAC seeks to instill the same ideas that the Why Try? event does: To stress the importance of collaboration and cooperation, and foster coercive units of freshmen who are ready to tackle the throws of high school. The biggest problem that incoming freshmen face is usually keeping themselves interested in the material that they are learning. “ I think for a lot of kids, it’s not relevant,” said Ms. Briggs. Ms Briggs contested that more stress should be placed on the importance of not only high school, but on post secondary education as well.

Want to see previous issues of the Paw Print?Go to www.issuu.com and search manzanoHS!

PAW PRINT

7EditorialsMarch 2012

We all see that one person in class who is really quiet, keeps to him/herself, and because of this we may think that they’re lame, shy, and therefore we don’t even bother to befriend them or even look at them again. Harsh, huh? Well, let me be honest and admit that I am that person who “judges a book by its cover”. It’s wrong, I know. I’m working on it, though, because it is one of my bad habits that I need to get rid of. The Paw Print’s beloved editor-in-chief, and witty movie critic Billy Huntsman is a good example. Let me tell you how I thought Billy was: Quiet, innocent, and nerdy came to my mind, along with thinking that he spends a lot of time playing Oblivion on X-box. But, nooo! Billy is one of the funniest, kindest, and down to earth guys I have ever met. I started getting to know him after I was hearing, “Are you kidding? He’s so funny”, “He’s hilarious”, “You need to spend time with him to get to know the real Billy”. Okay, then. That’s what I did. Another example is one of my favorite girls ever, Felice Vigil Mora, one of MHS’s small cheerleaders, who’s usually always being launched in the air to cheer on the Monarchs. This girl (let me tell you) is not your stereotypical cheerleader.

She has some tomboy in her. Felice would be thought as being girlie because she’s a cheerleader, but did you know that she likes to bow (like bow and arrow)? If you see her, she’s not stuck up with her perfect make-up; she’s outgoing, loud, and loves to smile and doesn’t even wear much make-up. She’s a natural beauty. Judging someone right off the bat will only affect you. You may be missing out on some really great friendships. Meeting someone new can possibly bring more laughter in your life, and like my friend Renne Villegas said, “Laughter is good for the soul.” I once really disliked (I don’t like using the word “hate”) this one girl when I was in the seventh grade because I thought she was so snotty and rude. But guess what? Literally, like fi ve months later, we became best friends! I know, typical girls, right? Everyone has the right to form their own opinion about another person just at fi rst glance, but don’t let it stick. Meaning, don’t let that opinion control how you act toward that person. Be kind, get to know them, and if after that, you still don’t like them, then let your judgments stick.

StereotypesTaty Amaro 2013

Every now and then you will run into someone who has no clue that New Mexico is part of the 50 states and has been for 100 years. They believe New Mexico is part of Mexico. Mexico and New Mexico are two completely different places! Let me share some facts with these ignorant souls. In New Mexico you can drink the water and you don’t need a passport to enter. New Mexico is a beautiful state surrounded by mountains. On those mountains is beautiful wildlife like bobcats and rattlesnakes. The foliage is so green and alive. Occasionally there’s a fi re but that’s just how nature works. Kill off some of it and there’s more room to grow. New Mexico was the 47th territory to become a state; offi cially joining the United States on January 6th, 1912. Most of New Mexico was acquired by the U.S. in 1848 as a result of the Mexican war. The rest of New Mexico was acquired in 1853 with the Gadsden Purchase. New Mexico has been a large part of energy research and development. This happens in Los Alamos and Sandia National labs. New Mexico is also a place for nuclear research. Roswell, New Mexico is a large tourist city. With the myth of alien sightings, everything is about aliens, which attracts people from around the world. The restaurants are themed and the city of Roswell makes a lot of money. When someone says that they don’t know New Mexico is a state makes me very sad.This state is a wonderful place. The scenery is nice and there are many old school restaurants to eat at. Another thing that makes New Mexico great is Route 66. This old highway runs right through New Mexico and is also a popular tourist attraction. Route 66 was the main way to get across the United States when it was built and it is still used today. New mexico is beautiful and full of history. There is no reason for people to not know that New Mexico is a state. The air is clean and the water is drinkable from tap. If people don’t know New Mexico is a state, they need to do some research and stop being ignorant.

New Mexico is a State!Rhianna Szczesiul 2012

School or Peers?Bryanna Boughter 2012 Being accepted in high school is very important to many individuals. To some it is more important than others. Being a high school student, I see many different people trying everything in their power to be accepted; however, there are those people who do not care and those people stand out to me. Many high school students are stuck in a forked road. They feel like they need to choose between school or peers. Many student feel as if they can’t have straight A’s and a huge group of friends at the same time. The sad thing about this mindstate is that all these friends you have in high school will not lead to success in the future. When you become older you will realize how much your education matters. In my four years in high school, I have made many new friends, but also lost many friends. Each year I realize more and more how important school is. High school students would rather spend all their free time hanging out with friends, instead of studying for those tests that will help your GPA. You need at least a 2.5 GPA to get into most colleges, and many kids do not realize that until it is too late. The way you dress, the way your hair looks, and popularity have all taken a toll in high school life. It has all overpowered the education. Education is the reason we have schools. There are many countries in this world that would give anything to be able to get an education the way we do here in America. Many people take the things we have for granted. Each generation only gets worse. Popularity has always been an issue but not as bad as it is today. And those who want to be popular are the people who will easily give in to peer pressure.Some teenagers do not have what it takes to just say no to drugs and alcohol. I am a senior who is about to graduate and my hope is that some of you reading this will take it from me: school matters, your education matters. Wake up and take advantage of the great educational opportunities that are offered here at MHS.

The years are passing and things are changing, except one thing that hasn’t changed since the dawn of time: the Ego. People are getting older and all of a sudden think they are better. I was in class and we were having a class discussion, and these two seniors said they think that sophomores and freshmen should move aside for them in the halls or in the lines. I realized not an hour later that it’s not only seniors and juniors who feel this way, but sophomores as well! I hear kids all the time talking down on those who are only a few years apart. Because they are moving up, they make fun of kids who are just like them when they were their age. Having been the youngest of four, I constantly heard how my siblings thought they were so much better when they moved up a grade. I have heard that since the three of them graduated and I’m still hearing it today. Some will say “we never acted like that when we were their age.”Believe it or not, yeah, you did. I know it’s hard to admit it, but the truth hurts, doesn’t it? Each one of us has been loud and obnoxious, and for some, and I mean this in my most respectful manner, nothing has changed. Everyone gets annoyed with the kids who are younger, wishing that they would just grow up. In the very immediate future, they will and say the same thing about the next year class. So since they are growing up, why don’t you? If you don’t like it, then just look the other way. And seniors, although most of you are seventeen and eighteen, you can grow up too. I am sophomore and I won’t move for anyone. You want to get ahead of me, you can pass by me. So what if they are two or three years older? I can understand that maybe they want respect, but you can get it another way than being completely rude. We are all Monarchs; no one is better and no one is worse. We are equal and should treat each other all the same. I will respect you if you respect me. It’s really that simple. I know it’s close to the end of the year, but it’s time to grow up and get real.

Arrogance and RudenessMaria Griego 2014

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8March 2012

PAW PRINT

March 2012

Students

StaffAthletesMonarchs

Advisor: Matt Kraus

Editors-In-Chief: Cheyanne Herrera; Billy Huntsman

Junior Editors-in-Chief: Cloie Logan; Meadow Butler;

Heather Fisk Copy Editor: Billy Huntsman

Layout Design:Cheyanne Herrera

School News Editor/Head Writer:

Sean CairnsEditorial Editor/Lead

Writer: Tyler Gallegos

Ad/Business Manager: Sean Cairns; Shelby-Lynne Lujan

Phone: 559-5904 E-mail: manzanopawprint@

yahoo.com

Adam Simari

Gabby Maes

How long have you been playing this sport? First year.Favorite team or athlete?Phoenix Suns.What have you achieved from playing this sport? 1st place at meet, and it builds character.

Favorite thing about MHS? All the activites going on.Favorite High School class? . Drama Class. Free time?Chase a toddler, taking grad classes, read, cook, and knit.

Favorite Teacher at MHS? Mrs. Lewis. Favorite thing about Manzano? Going to the assemblies and good spirit.

Aaron Alexis David A. Chavez

Amanda Voeks Carrie Eaton

Favorite thing about MHS? The Apple computers.Favorite High School class? P.E. Free time? Mountain climb out with Mother Nature.

How long have you been playing this sport? 4-ish years Favorite team or athlete? I don’t have one; all tennis players are good. What have you achieved from playing this sport? New techniques.

(Track &Field )

(Tennis) (Librarian )

(Senior)

(Junior) Favorite Teacher at MHS? Ms. Martinez.

Favorite thing about Manzano? All the fun people like Cheyanne Herrera.

(Tech Coordinator)

and Sta�

Contact Information

A singular moment of hesitation can cause so much grief. It is the Winter Guard exhibition, and I am performing at the assembly in front of all my peers, I can see that spiraling silk, the glint of silver turning in the air above me, that split-second to reach out my hands, and grab what I can of six feet of pole and four and a half feet of silk, but for some reason it just doesn’t catch and I don’t understand what happened. I have a fear of failure. They always say “all the greats

Cloie’s Corner: Failure is the Best TeacherCloie Logan 2013

Cloie is the Paw Print’s social commentator.

failed many times before they succeeded” and I think that perseverance is what makes them great. It’s really hard to keep going after you fall, to get back up and face the world with smiling and endless grace. But it’s even harder

not to fall at all--no one is that perfect. The bolt clatters awkwardly against the pole, and I try to retrieve it daintily from where it has fallen. The moment has died, the music continues. The silk hangs limp from my hands and I try a tad desperately to resuscitate it before I have to set it down on the fl oor. I’m miraculously still smiling as I prep for the ending, but I really just want to crack the fl ag across my knee and sigh. Perseverance: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of diffi culties, obstacles, or discouragement. That’s what dictionary.com has to say about it, anyway. So, then, is it better to persevere or to fail? Well, one would say “persevere, of course!” but can you persevere if you fi rst do not fail? Many of you may be unsure about whether you will graduate with your designated year, or ever: but that’s all part of “diffi culties, obstacles, or discouragement.” Isn’t it? This time it is competition. I can’t mess up now. The fl ag is in my hand. I have practiced this hundreds of times, the music tumbles in my brain, a familiar friend. Prep. Breathe in. Push, pull, a fl ick of the wrist, hands behind my back. The silk is spinning, the metal glinting and winking… No one is perfect. There are always missteps and mistakes and failing grades. There are bad days and good days and normal days. Fantastic days. Abhorring days. But there are always other days. Productive days to cancel out the procrastinating days, graceful days to make up for the klutzy days. Because time is as it is, there will always be another day--for as long as I can foresee. Another moment to fi x things to be the way we want them. And that’s something concrete we can stack our bets on. It has succumbed to the pull of gravity, suddenly I grasp cold aluminum in a graceful sweep (how did that happen?), and an incredulous smile leaps to my lips. The show’s over and I did it, the silk purrs as I set it down, and it’s something I can be proud of.