The official newspaper of Edina High School

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www.edinazephyrus.com Volume 33 Issue 4 January 25, 2013 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Every four years Washington D.C. elongates its moment in the sun to host one of the most public job signings in the world: the Presidential Inauguration. On January 21st, 2013, the fifty-seventh Presidential Inauguration inducted Barack Obama back into the White House for four more years. This multi-million dollar event featured a week’s worth of celebration, including the Inaugural Ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol, the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, and a variety of inaugural balls and galas to boot. Last Inau- guration, Barack Obama became the first president of color of the United States, and the event obtained historic and symbolic significance world- wide. A record-breaking 1.8 million people attended. It was, beyond a doubt, a huge moment in history. The 2013 Inauguration was the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the placement of the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol’s Dome under President Abraham Lincoln. In commemoration, the official theme of this year was “Faith in America’s Future,” highlighting the faith the builders of the Capitol Dome had in the future of the United States even as the Civil War threatened to tear the young republic apart. As if that wasn’t enough, the Inauguration happened to fall on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Ordinarily, the Inauguration takes place on January 20th, but because this fell on a Sunday the ceremony was moved to the next day. The president took the oath of office privately on the 20th and again on the 21st during the public Inaugural Ceremony. The 2009 Inauguration Ceremony was magnificent by any measure. It included musical selections ranging from Aretha Franklin and Yo-Yo Ma to the patriotic tunes of U.S. Military Bands. Afterwards, the Inaugural Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue drew media and spectators alike. Later in the evening, the Inaugural Ball attracted the presence of Washington’s most prominent politi cal figures, kicking off the myriad of celebrations that light up the capitol during Inauguration week. Few intended to make the 1,000-mile trip to witness the Inauguration in person, yet many students still said they planned to watch the Inauguration on television. Although any major enth- siasm toward this year’s inauguration is lacking, the interest is present. “He’s the president,” sophomore Nate Richman stated. “I am watching.” It may be 1,000 miles away, it may be for an incum- bent president, but the Inauguration nonetheless represents an important event for the United States and the world. It represents a choice made by Americans to stand by a president who has faced many challenges in the past four years, and will no doubt face more to come. Despite political differences, the 2013 Inauguration is a time for Americans to come together and remember our past while supporting the president’s faith in America’s future. Madison Hobbs, staff writer

Another Beginning

Edina’s Jerry’s Foods gets a renovation for the 21st century

Those who frequently drive on Vernon Avenue might have noticed a change at one of Edina’s best-known institutions: Jerry’s Foods has redesigned itself, even changing its iconic sign.

The new sign, a strange sight to some students used to Jerry’s classic look, has elicited mixed reviews.“Personally, I’m infuriated by this new sign. It’s just not the same,” said junior Adair Andre, a self-described Jerry’s fan.

The sign is just the most obvious of the changes at Jerry’s - the inside is where most of the renovations are taking place. The revolving door, a very popular entrance, has been removed in favor of a traditional automatic door. “I miss spinning around in endless circles,” Andre reminsiced. According to the Jerry’s website, the door was removed because it made the heating systems inefficient. Still, if you’re missing it, you can at least watch its last moments; Jerry’s has posted a video of the door’s removal on its website.

Jerry’s meat section will be revamped to include USDA Choice, USDA Prime and Certified Angus Beef. They will also have a greater selection of Jerry’s Signature Gourmet Burgers and other meats like kabobs and sausages.

The management will be adding a special cake design center, so you can personalize your cake orders. The rest of the bakery will be extended as well.

Additionally, Jerry’s is upgrading their refrigerators in the dairy and frozen aisles in order to be more energy-efficient. The gift, card, and floral selections will also expand.

Jerry’s will remain open during all of the remodeling, so don’t worry about your shopping being interrupted. Check out jerrysremodel.com for a blog, an interactive map, and more details and updates about the renovation.

Sarah Nealon, features editor full page art by Nick Crain

The new Jerry’s new logo, as seen on their sign on Vernon Ave.

photo by Sloane Nielsen

2 News www.edinazephyrus.com Volume 33 Issue 4 January 25, 2013 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

The tensions in Israel and Palestine are caused by conflict-ing claims to the Holy Land. For centuries this conflict has been going on, but recently it has become violent. With war efforts and bombs being dropped, the Holy Land is being painted red with blood.

The Holy Land is defined as the area between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea, and has deep religious ties to Judaism and Islam, as well as Christianity.

Judaism and Islam, along with Christianity, are Abrahamic religions. According to Wikipedia this means that they “are the monotheistic faiths emphasizing and tracing their common origin to Abraham or recognizing a spiritual tradition identified with him.”

All Abrahamic religions share many beliefs, Judaism and Islam especially, which is where the problem spurs from. The Holy Land is just that, holy. And both Israelis and Palestinians believe that the Holy Land is theirs.

The violence over the Holy Land has exponentially increased recently as the Israeli- Palestinian peace talks have been stalled mostly due to the dispute over Israel’s construction of settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. The Palestinians claim

the areas, along with the Gaza Strip, for a future state, although Israel captured the areas in the 1967 Mideast war.

In late November, the United Nations approved Palestine’s bid for a status increase. According to CNN.com, “The resolu-tion elevates their status from non-member observer entity to non-member observer state, the same category as the Vatican...”

Since this status increase Palestinians have been talking of filing war crimes charges against Israel, staging mass demonstra-tions in the West Bank, encouraging the international community to impose sanctions, and ending the security cooperation that has helped preserve quiet in recent years.

According to Time.com, “Palestinians also talk of increasing popular struggle, the term they use for demonstrations against Israeli soldiers. Such face-to-face confrontations frequently turn tense, with protesters throwing stones and troops firing tear gas and water cannons, and run the risk of growing more violent.”

No matter what you side you take on this issue, this reporter believes that the key to success with this conflict is to put down the weapons. Peaceful communication and negotiations are the only ways to resolve this power struggle.

Rayelle Washington, copy editor

Whether it’s in the library, commons, EPAC, or a classroom, laptops and tablets can be found in front of Edina High School students. According to Timothy Berndt, a techonology specialist for Edina Public Schools, the eLearning2 program is a “student centered learning initiative.” Edina Public Schools is working with Best Buy to offer either a Google Nexus Tablet, Samsung Chromebook, Lenovo Thinkpad Edge, or Acer Ultrabook Touch-Screen Laptop to students all at discounted prices. Best Buy is also sending Geek Squad members to the middle schools for a few hours up to two days a week. By having technological help students can go to them and not their teachers. Many students agree that electronic devices help them learn. “I like using my computer because it’s easier to organize all my classes while not taking up as much room as binders and notebooks,” said junior Sami Clarke. Maggie Lundberg, an eighth grader at South View Middle School, likes bringing her laptop to school because “there is so much homework online now. I can work on it in school when I have spare time.” Elizabeth Nimmo, an A.P. World History and A.P. Comparative Politics and Government teacher said that the integration of this new technology “will be a process, but in the long term it may be positive.” Berndt believes that this program is beneficial because students will have a choice in which laptop they get, and they also will have access to their homework and resources at all times. Teachers and students will

also be able to collaborate through laptops. Berndt also recognizes that theft could be a potential issue along with proper care and maintenance. He added that this is the most fiscally responsible way to get each student a laptop. The eLearning2 program is currently affecting the ninth grade students at Valley View and South View Middle Schools, where teachers have been offered opportunities to attend training on how to manage a classroom with these devices. The students will be able to access the internet through the school server, so they will not be able to access certain websites. Only time will tell whether this program will truly aid the students in the Edina Public School District, so for now, it is simply a pilot program. For more information, go to www.edina.k12.mn.us/elearning2, and if you have direct questions, you can contact Berndt at timberndt@edina.k12.mn.us.

Hannah Sommerville, features editor

“I drink two to three Starbucks coffees a day,” said senior Grace Cashman. “It’s kind of bad because I’ll be in third hour and text my mom to drop one off for me because I love it so much. Since the new Starbucks is on my side of town, it will be way easier for me to get even more coffee!”

Edina students are getting excited about the arrival of yet another Starbucks, which will bump the Starbucks count in Edina up to four. The store will be located at the West side of the Centennial Lakes Plaza (by Old Navy). The store plans on having an open floor plan and additional seating outside, which is great for frequent Starbucks studiers. With 1750 square feet, it will be a great place for EHS students to meet up and enjoy their favorite beverages.

Though the large coffee house plans to seat thirty to thirty-five customers, many will be excited to learn that the Centennial Starbucks will also have a drive-through. “Since there is going to be another drive-through in Edina, you won’t have to go inside. Instead you can just quickly grab a coffee without the hassle,” said junior Ben Kilberg.

Based on traffic reports, the drive-though is estimated to generate 1, 433 trips in one day, 75 trips in the afternoon peak hour, and 148 trips on the Saturday peak hour. Such high num-bers caused some worry by the City Council regarding car congestion in the parking lot as a result of the drive-through, but the project team has come up with a solution. Because the plan allows for thirteen waiting vehicles, the developers have agreed to a stacking agreement, which would forces them to add more stacking (idling) space if needed for cars in the line for the driving through.

In addition to the store’s convenience, the architects are working on making it visually pleasing as well. Landscaping will frame the Starbucks and outdoor dining patio, giving the site a softer and more environmental feel. The flora will complement and add to the existing landscaping completed the previous year for a uniform look. Furthermore, the building is incorporating brick, stone, and metal work that will match the new Whole Foods, giving the whole Centennial Plaza great curb appeal.

“Hopefully I’ll go to the new Starbucks so much the employees will know my name and order—a grande skinny vanilla latte,” exclaims Cashman. Starbucks’s prime Centennial location is predicted to bring in a hefty revenue and be a great addition to existing stores like Jason’s Deli and CherryBerry. The coffee shop is expected to be completed in 2014.

“I definitely plan on visiting the new store,” says Kilberg, “I love getting a standard dark roast with crème and sugar after receiving my paycheck!

Christina Dovolis, culture editor

eLearning2

Power struggle in theHoly Land

art by Julia Bolter

The Edina addiction

art by Elizabth Jarvey

photo by Talia Edelheit

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439 January 25, 2013 Volume 33 Issue 4 www.edinazephyrus.com

3FeaturesEdina Memes

Meet Patrick HardieHave you ever met one of those people who is incredibly awesome, but still genuinely nice? That’s sophomore Patrick Hardie. Hardie, who

grew up in Ireland, has a variety of interests that span from film to Honey Boo Boo. Late last year, the EHS sophomore even started his own online podcast, aptly titled, “The Podcast”.

“‘The Podcast’ was an idea that I got from my brother,” Hardie explained, “I really look up to him, so I thought, why don’t I do it?” While he was thinking of an idea for the online talk show, he thought of nothing, which is exactly what “The Podcast” is about. Nothing. Hardie says that this theme allows him the freedom to make it about, well, anything. “The Podcast” began only recently, and Hardie admitted he still wonders where the recordings will officially take place, but he says he wants to record in a car.

Where does he see himself in the future? “I see myself living in my mom’s basement,” he said jokingly. “No, I hope to go to NYU and major in something like writing and minor in acting.” And speaking of film, that is something else Hardie has a passion for. “My favorite movie is ‘The Dark Knight’ and I can’t wait for ‘Les Mis,’” he said.

Hardie plays numerous instruments, including the banjo, the trumpet, and the trombone. Band is his favorite class and he loves the tight-knit bandie community. Hardie’s outgoing personality makes him easy to talk to, and he loves being social. “I love being with friends, having fun.”

To listen to Hardie’s podcast, search “The Podcast” on Facebook or search for it on SoundCloud.Drew Davis, staff writer

photo by Jackson T. VanDyke

memes by Megan Couture, culture editor

Featureswww.edinazephyrus.com Volume 33 Issue 4 January 25, 2013 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

4

We’ve all heard the phrase, “that one time at band camp,” at least once in our lives, but what actually does go on there? Junior Jesse Marquisee remarked, “Band camp is near the end of August for a week and we start in the morning and then have band parties where attendance is highly encouraged. I love band camp.” Marquisee went on to describe the experience, saying “We have mandatory ‘fun-tivities’ intermixed with the awesome drills and marching.”

In addition to band camp, many aspects of Bandie life remain a mystery to outsiders. Senior Brian Wandrei seeks to clear up the misconceptions about band students by defining the term “Bandie.” He remarked, “People think that we are just a bunch of Mozarts, but we are actually much more than that. Many of us are also in sports, theater, and clubs.”

Fellow senior Hannah Bowlin agreed, and defined an EHS band student as “Someone who plays a band instrument (woodwind, brass, or percussion), marches with the marching band, plays with the pep band, and is an all around totally awesome person.”

Bowlin went on to describe the many perks of being a Bandie, citing “Band parties, trips, Bandie bonding, Mr. Kile, having three hundred best friends forever, meeting kids from other grades, learn-ing to manage your time wisely, and getting to hear PK’s amazing analogies every single day of your band career.”

Wandrei added, “A perk is that you are part of a large friend group. With over three hundred bandies, it is easy to make friends within an instrument section in class, marching, and pep band. We are also going to Singapore over spring break, which will be a once in a lifetime experience for many of us.”

Being a Bandie also can provide valuable life lessons. Bowlin reflected that being in band has taught her that, “Being early is on time, being on time is late, and being late is a double no.” Sophomore Julie Johnson added, “Practice makes permanent. The more you practice at something the better you get at it, and the more fun it becomes.”

Clare Ling, in-depth editor

Do you ever find yourself ranting incoherently at the weather – “Stop snowing!”, “There’s enough freaking rain already!”, “OHMYGOD A TORNADO! WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!” and so on and so forth? Well, most of us do. It’s only human to want some answers from this tricky fellow, but it seems like he never has the common courtesy to answer back, except with more snow or perhaps a hailstorm.

Well, we of Zephyrus are an intrepid breed. We tracked down Milton, the Min-neapolis-St. Paul combined statistical area’s weather demon (trust us, it wasn’t easy) and got a quick Q&A with the guy. Here are the answers to all those nagging weather questions:

Zephyrus: Let’s get straight to the question on everyone’s minds: what’s in store for the rest of the winter?

Milton, weather demon: Well, so far [stuff about weather so far in January]. I was thinking I’d mix it up a bit before spring comes, though. Snow is so overrated.

Zephyrus: Agreed. What do you have in mind?Milton: You know, it’s been so long since we’ve had a plague of locusts. I know

it’s been done and overdone, but you really can’t go wrong with that classic charm, you know?

Zephyrus: What would this... plague of yours mean for Minnesotans?Milton: Oh, you know. Streets blanketed – driving would be nearly impossible.

People will probably be skidding everywhere, so you might want to stay away from streets altogether. The electricity will probably be on-and-off, and locusts have a way of reflecting heat around themselves, so it’d be best to stay inside for a few months until the ice recedes.

Zephyrus: So, nothing we’re not used to already.Milton: Exactly.Zephyrus: Any word on whether we’ll get more rain? The drought’s been hitting

us hard this past year.Milton: Not likely, unfortunately. That’s Ted’s responsibility - he’s my intern - and

he’s kind of ticked off that the prayers have petered off. Nobody prays to the weather demons any more, you know.

Zephyrus: Would a rain dance help?Milton: Not much, unless it’s got some nice interpretive elements to it, and maybe a good

soundtrack. Ted likes Skrillex.Zephyrus: What can EHS students expect this semester in terms of school cancellations?Milton: Let’s see... I’ve got a nice tornado lined up for April – kids these days love tornadoes

– and my buddy Earl over in Nevada might be able to hook me up with a nice crippling heat wave come Finals. And don’t quote me on this, but keep your eyes out for a sandstorm in late March.

Zephyrus: One last question – can you give us a hint about what the weather event to watch for in 2013 will be?

Milton: I can’t say too much, but be looking for some sort of amphibian rain this October. Maybe salamanders.

Micah Osler, news editor

Let’s set the scene. Headphones around the neck or hanging on the collar. No music, just the ostenta-tious value of superiority.

Beats by Dre are simply an overpriced fashion statement. Especially when they aren’t being used to listen to music. The power and predomination assumed by these tyrants of social superiority is wrong and evil.

Why anyone would ever sit out in public wearing headphones without listening to music is beyond me. The mere fact that people have to bring head-phones with them out in public is enough. It’s just rude to have them with you. People want to have conversations and respect their peers, yet some sit there mocking and disregarding any attempt people make to build a relationship with them. Basically saying “well, as you can see, I’m really into music, and like spending a lot of money. Plus, I live on a whim. If I ever kind of feel like listening to music, I have these headphones right here. Even though you’re having a conversation with me, I might just start listening to music.”

I, by no means, am bashing music. Music is great, but these people aren’t listening to music. Just the mere idea that they might want to doesn’t give them the right to walk around like they’re the bomb dot com.

Jackson Van Dyke, staff writer

The secret life of Bandies

An interview with the weather

The Beefwith JTVD

art by Elizabeth Jarvey

art by Cici Holmquist

A pretentious sophomore’s take on life in the bubble

Sports 56754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439 January 25, 2013 Volume 33 Issue 4 www.edinazephyrus.com

Nordic vs. Alpine

photo by Slater Crosby

“Nordic is infinitely better than alpine for many reasons. For example, we took Hawaiian-themed team photos,” said senior captain Brian Wandrei. Junior Syver Johansen, another Nordic captain said, “Nordic skiing is the best because no other sport reflects hard work as much as Nordic does.” With the cross coun-try season underway, Wandrei’s expectations for the year are positive, “I think that all the hard work that everyone puts in will pay off, and we’ll eventually be able to move up.”

“I practice six to seven days a week and put in about three hours per day,” said Johansen. Depending on if there is snow or not, practices generally last an hour to an hour and a half, usually followed by weightlifting and a forty-five minute core routine. While Nordic practices are long and exhausting, skiers get a day off from practice for their races. “We usually race once a week at places like Hyland, Elm Creek, Theodore Wirth Park, and Giants Ridge,” explained Johansen.

Races are five kilometers long, with two different ways of starting. “Sometimes we do mass start, where everyone starts at once, or staggered, where some skiers may be finishing before others even start,” said Wandrei. Johansen added, “Races have two different forms: classic and skate. Throughout the year we alternate which form, but come championship season (conferences, sections, and state), we have to race both on the same day.”

Although becoming a Nordic racer takes a lot of commitment and determination, it is a sport that you can start at any time. Johansen said, “I started skiing in seventh grade. I wanted to find something to do in the winter with some of my Cross Country friends. What I like most about it is that you can’t cheat the system. You need to put in the time and always try to better yourself.” While Johansen started earlier, Wandrei started his sophomore year. “I joined Nordic because I saw that my older brother was enjoying it, and because I wanted to compete in a challenging sport with awesome people.”

Jack Hultstrand, sports editor

photo by Jake Freeman

Pretending to be sportya writer’s opinion on appearing athletic

Everyone these days wants to seem “sporty.” Honestly, I haven’t the slightest idea what that means. I asked junior Nick Oliver and he said that being sporty, “is that intangible aspect that makes one seem like the descendent of the warrior god.” It seemed about right. Anyway, whatever sporty means to you, I have compiled a comprehensive list of ways to make yourself seem, uh, sporty, I guess.• Buy an excessive amount of Lululemon prod-

ucts. Most people agree that it is better to buy the products on the Lulu side of the store and not on the Lemon side. Just sayin’.

• Join Core Power yoga and go directly to the highest level so you can brag to everyone about being a yoga master. Then get there and realize that the only position you can do is a very sad “downward dog.”

• Steal a varsity hockey player’s jacket, or better yet just steal a jersey and wear it around school to pretend you’re on the team.

• Wear yoga pants everyday, even if you’re a boy, they are unisex (or so I’m told).

• Cross country ski to school and then wear a skin-tight racing suit for the rest of the day. Ain’t nobody got time for that extra drag when walking from class to class and that spandex

makes you beyond aerodynamic.• Work references of the gym into 95% of your

tweets and end with the hashtag “getting swoll.” Also, add in random fitness terms to empha-size your sportiness. For example, “went to the gym today, my VO2 max is off the charts #gettingswoll.”

• The other 5% of your tweets should be profound and about other workouts other than the gym, “The outdoors. God’s gym. #gettingswoll.”

• Buy a ton of sporting equipment and put it in your garage. Every time someone comes over lead them into the house through the garage while casually gesturing at your brand new regulation bobsled.

• Buy the best Nike basketball shoes the world has to offer even if you don’t play basketball, the more expensive the better.

• Wear New Era 59 50 hats, preferably back-wards, sideways, crooked, or any other way other than forward. Also, leave all the stick-ers on because everyone needs to know your head size.

• Constantly sip on protein shakes, through a straw is ideal.

Matt Dulas, staff writer

photo by Hattie Van Metre

“Alpine is obviously better,” said senior Hattie Van Metre, one of the Alpine Skiing captains. The Alpine Skiing team has begun to come together and practice their intense, fast-pace winter sport. Senior Alexandre Pailhoux, another Alpine captain said that unlike Nordic Skiing, “Alpine is a very intense sport as the races are always under thirty seconds. It also requires way more skills, in my opinion, as you’re skiing pretty fast.”

Practicing everyday, the Alpine team “sets courses and takes multiple runs down them… We sometimes have time trials, which are races inside our own team,” Pailhoux stated. Competition is also a huge part of the Alpine team. “Junior varsity meets are on Friday at Hyland, while varsity meets are at Buck Hill on Tuesdays or Thursdays. There is a girls course, boys course and each athlete runs the course twice. Some meets, they reset the courses in between each run,” Van Metre said of her team’s weekly races. To make the meets a bonding experience as well, “a bunch of teams come out and they all grill, set up tents, and build fires,” said Van Metre.

Looking forward towards the end of the season, “We are hoping to go to state again and to win as many races as we can until that!” Pailhoux exclaimed. After winning second place in last years state tournament, the Alpine team has an extremely good chance of getting to state once again.

Van Metre and Pailhoux have been skiing on the school team for many years, but started skiing outside of school over five years ago. “I started skiing Alpine when I was about seven. I took lessons through Bliz-zard and then started racing for their team,” Van Metre recalled of her early training. For Pailhoux, “I started skiing when I was five and racing when I was fourteen. It was my parent’s idea at first, but after a while, I realized that I really loved skiing, so I kept doing it.”

Both the boys and girls Alpine skiing teams are looking strong for the upcoming season and EHS can’t wait to see where their hard work and talent takes them.

Talia Edelheit, news editor

Junior captain Syver Johansen during a Nordic race

Sophomore Dennis Bao during an Alpine race

Zephyrus writer Matt Dulas pretends to be sporty

Opinion8

Zephyrus Staffeditors in chief: Andrea Kimball, Ashley Smith copy editor: Rayelle Washington art editor: Sloane Nilsen managing editor: Anna Ellingboe advertising manager:

Alex Van Gorp coordinating manager: Ellie Lagorio news editors: Micah Osler, Talia Edelheit, Alex Van Gorp features editors: Sarah Nealon, Hannah Sommerville, Ellie Lagorio sports editors: Jack Hultstrand, Vivi Engen in-depth editor: Clare Ling opinion editors: Jake Freeman, Hayley Morrison, Alex Van Gorp culture editors: Megan Couture, Christina Dovolis, Ellie Lagorio back page editor: Sloane Nilsen staff writers: Sarah Aydinalp, Perry Bruder, Drew Davis, Matt Dulas, Madison Hobbs, Jackson Van Dyke, Matt Woolsey, Anna Zhou head photographer: Jake Freeman photographers/artists: Julia Bolter, Nick Crain, Talia Edelheit, Tom Gaasedelen, Abby Gieseke, Cici Holmquist, Elizabeth Jarvey, Anna Pugh, Raquel Radenbaugh, Zai Rutter, Jessica Smith, Annika Smith-Ortiz graphic designer: Tom Gaasedelen advisor: Elizabeth Barniskis

Zephyrus is a monthly publication produced by students of Edina High School; 6754 Valley View Road; Edina, MN 55439; (952) 848-3800 x3087. Zephyrus is an open forum for student expression that recognizes the First Amendment guarentee of freedom of the press, and abides by Tinker standard. Opinions published in Zephyrus do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff, advi-sor, administration, or entire student body. Submissions and letters are printed based on space available. Anonymous letters may be printed only if a Zephyrus advisor or editor knows the author’s identity. Letters should be mailed to the school or given to the advisor or a staff member. Zephyrus reserves the right to edit any letters for clarity and length.

www.edinazephyrus.com Volume 33 Issue 4 January 25, 2013 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Music classes are a popular activity at the high school. Not only do they provide a nice outlet for stressful days, but you get to have fun with your friends too. However, there might be a hidden aspect of this seemingly in-nocent activity that undermines the entire basis of musicianship itself. We know the political system of the government all too well. With the attack ads during election season, we see the immoral competition over something, like a government office non-stop. Unfortunately, a simi-lar system is inappropriately applied to the music system here at EHS. First chair. The praised and dignified goal of nearly every “serious” bandie, or “orch dork.” With all the expected, yet undeserved stigma, and superiority, that comes along with this all and powerful position, things seem to have gotten out of hand. Having played instruments since I was three, I would say I have a pretty good understanding of how music works. You sit down, and do whatever it takes, to express every one of your human passions. You bleed yourself free of the emotions weighing you down. It’s some-thing nearly indescribable. A feeling I am certain I couldn’t live without. N o n e t h e l e s s , i n s t i t u t i o n s h a v e t u r n e d t h i s n a t -ural, wonderful thing into a game of wits and superiority. There are people who are significantly better than others at playing their instrument; that’s just how it is. The range of players in any situation is obviously staggeringly large. But the purposeful institution of a strict social pyramid seems illogical and unnecessary. A s y o u e n t e r t h i s s y s t e m o f “ s u p e r i o r ” m u s i c i a n s , a n d y o u b e g i n t o e v o l v e a s a m u s i c i a n , i t g e t s h a r d t o k e e p t h a t s p i r -it of passion. You start to set goals to be among those in the dignified slots at the top. All you need to be happy is that power. All you need is to be better than the others. From a young age this competitive spirit is instilled in us, not only in music, but in countless other areas. We are taught that the best SAT score and the best GPA will al-ways bring a bright future, which is true. The college admission system is extremely competitive. And this makes people better in school. But why is music about get -ting better at your instrument? It’s about enjoyment, and emotion, and living your life to the fullest. But once put into the music system the situation, and the instructors sup-port what is considered getting to a higher level. From the youngest age the students want more, and more. They can’t stand the embarrassment of being beaten by that one person. I’m not calling every bandie a modern enemy of art. In fact I’m sure many of them feel the same way I do. But the system itself is what I see as the aspect prompting change. Maybe, I’m off base. Maybe, bandies do it for the thrill. Maybe this is what they like. Not a necessary evil, but a necessary joy. And who am I to stand in their way? That’s truly the way we should live. Happy, and content. And if people are most content with a game of competition defining their superiority in musicianship, then so be it. Nonetheless I will always cherish music and art forms in general, rather than the ruthless competition that has become music in modern institutions.

Jackson Tank Van Dyke, staff writer

art by Annika Smith-Ortiz

Battle of the bands

“Congratulations again on your admission… Please Note: Your offer of admission is con-tingent upon continuing to meet high standards of academic performance, personal conduct, and completion of all work in progress.”

And “Senior Slide” takes the gold medal again for the least understood concept of senior year. Known as the point in time after getting accepted into college when a senior bombs the rest of the high school, “The Senior Slide” is commonly used as an excuse for not doing a homework assignment, or watching “Friends” instead of studying for a test. But the extent as to which “The Senior Slide” is slid down is dramatized that I have to write this article to nuke all the faux rumors and remind all of you seniors: don’t be stupid.

After just having been accepted into college, I thought I could breeze through the rest of senior year. Until I read another email sent to me by the college where I was accepted. Seen in the quote above, colleges still require you to maintain your grades, or improve them, even after your admittance. Don’t get four C’s if you have had A’s for the majority of your high school experience. You know your limitations, and how far you can go.

Honestly speaking, if you have been getting A’s and B’s throughout high school, you will still be motivated to get A’s and B’s during the rest. And after failing that test you didn’t study for, you still feel the same after you fail any test: disappointment.

So no. Seniors do not get F’s and D’s, say “YOLO I’m wingin this A.P. Psych test,” and not turn in any homework assignments, despite the popular belief. Everyone is motivated to study, or do well and try their best. It’s more like seniors let some slack on their homework assign-ments and grades, but believe it or not the academic rope is still attached to them.

But let’s remember: it is good to know how far you can push your grades, and what you still have to do to maintain them, but senior year is your last year. Have fun. After having been accepted to college, you don’t need to stay up until three in the morning studying for an A.P. class. It’s unnecessary. And you don’t need to spend an hour on that simple homework assign-ment. You have pushed yourself so far for the past twelve years, and look what you have now. The era of overachievement is over.

Sloane Nilsen, art edtior

Public display of affectionart by Nick Crain

art by Julia Bolter

How much PDA happens at EHS? Where and why does it happen? All these questions are answered by proponents of PDA and witnesses to it. Sophomore Dan Liepke stated, “It happens in the hallways and definitely under the stairs during passing time.” Ms. Swenson said, “I don’t see it in the media center, probably because of the short bookshelves. In the commons maybe? I think people are so giddy in love that they forget where they are.” PDA opinions ranged from senior Peter Hussian’s “It’s okay if they are good looking” to Ms. Swenson’s “Only hand holding and a hug once in a while are acceptable.” Some of the participants of PDA do feel some insecurity like junior Rosalie Jiunta “Before I was dating, I hated PDA in the hallways.” This is contrary to her boyfriend Michael Vielante (11) who doesn’t care about PDA in the halls.

These are some moderately and strongly opposed opinions to PDA. My opinion is that PDA shouldn’t bother you. It’s other people who are just showing they care for each other and none of anyone’s elses business, despite the fact that PDA can sometimes be an eyesore. It’s not like it affects anybody else and I feel that people should be allowed to continue it.

People dating have the right to be affectionate with each other. They are in a relationship after all. PDA is a part of dating, if you walked through a busy street and say two adults kissing would you react the same if the two were teenage peers? No. I think most people acknowledge that PDA (kissing, hugging and gazing at each other, etc. while in public) are healthy and normal parts of any relationship- being infatuated with someone does not extend to off-campus.

Wazir Jafar (10) has a similar opinion. He stated, “I do not get embarrassed of PDA because I have a great girlfriend and I am proud of her, I want to show her off.” Everyone has a right to be affectionate towards another human being. He believes people freak out over his PDA because “I have a cute relationship and people are jealous of that. All people want is to see you drop and not have a relationship or be happy because that makes them feel happy.”

Publicly displaying affection doesn’t harm anyone. Sure, it might not be pleasant to look at all the time, but how does it pertain to you? Instead of analyzing a couple holding hands you should be thinking about your failing grade, your busy schedule after school, or even how you are going to be late to your next class.

I’m not in a relationship, but I believe people have a right to publicly display affection because holding hands is a way to show the world that there is somebody special to you and by all means go ahead and do just that. After all, holding hands and kissing is a much better alternative to “sealing the deal”- you know what I mean.

Perry Bruder, staff writer

9Opinion 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439 January 25, 2013 Volume 33 Issue 4 www.edinazephyrus.com

I have created a new, far more appropriate acronym for Speech Interpretation and Recognition Interface, or SIRI. STTHNPP, or Stupid Thing That Has No Practical Purpose is much better, wouldn’t you agree? The only problem is that it has no vowels and so when you say it, number one: you sound like an idiot, and number two: you spit a little (or a lot). Nevertheless, despite these obstacles, I am confident that my superior acronym will become mainstream slang on Urban Dictionary within the hour.

In all SIRIousness, SIRI is probably the most pointless creation on earth, besides maybe unsliced bread because, let’s be honest, ain’t nobody got time to slice bread! The main reason SIRI is useless is because it is so inefficient. Asking SIRI a question and having it search the internet takes ten times as long as actually Googling that same question yourself. Junior Nick Oliver affirmed this. He said, “It immediately goes to the web; it’s annoying, I’d rather just search it myself.”

However, there are times when it is nice to be able ask SIRI a question because it operates largely hands-free. The only problem is that SIRI fre-

quently misinterprets what you ask, and to say that it gets obnoxious is a gross understatement. “It can’t hear anything you say,” stated sophomore Ben Monchamp. Junior Anne Dovolis added, “It never understands me

because I mumble too much.” I’m sure the majority of the student body would agree that the only thing that is more annoying than the beeping tone that SIRI makes, is when it says, “I don’t know what that means.”

There are some up sides to SIRI. If you ask it where a restaurant is, it will sort them by distance and price, as well as give you the traffic (assuming it comprehends what you say). Also, you can change SIRI’s accent and then have it call you funny, self-esteem boosting names, such as “My Lord” or “Sexy Beast.” However, if you need to find out something as basic as, for example, where Edina is, you’re out of luck. As junior Reid Campbell explained, “It doesn’t understand the word Edina, it always says someone died in the Amazon or something. It’s weird.” Well played, STTHNPP, well played.

Matt Dulas, staff writer

The dirty truth about SIRI:

Some popular New Year’s resolutions year after year are as follows: “Lose weight, get fit, save money, stress management, get a better job, drink less, and quit smok-ing,” (according to usa.gov). Then you can view the Top Ten Commonly Broken Resolutions article featured on the Time Magazine website, the first being “Lose weight and get fit.” Next, “Quit smoking.” It gets better! Also featured are: “Eat healthier, get out of debt and save money, be less stressed, and drink less”. Sound familiar? That’s because almost every resolution made, fails.

So now, here I am, not surprised at all. Why? Society welcomes this useless tradition, that’s why.I’m guilty of having made them before, too. I honestly don’t know an American above the age of twelve who hasn’t. However, New Year’s is a time to celebrate with

family and/or friends, not to make silly little promises to yourself you’ll forget about come February, or March if you’re lucky.I remember going to the gym in early January of last year and the instructor made a remark about

the full class size then said right after, “I know this won’t last! Half of you will stop coming before three months are up!” How right she was. Week after week, that class size did indeed dwindle.

So why must we continue setting ourselves up for failure? Do we really find joy in making lists of all the things we desire to change about our daily habits and lives, only to sink into deep denial and convince ourselves we’re fine and we don’t need to change?

Even though I think it’s pointless and a waste of life, junior Lara Boman said, “I think they can be effective if you realize that there will be challenges, and that you will not suddenly be perfect.”

I can see where she’s coming from, but with that mindset, it makes more sense to start attacking your goals right away and not let the date hold any weight. Positive, can-do attitudes will come much more naturally if you make life changes on your own time rather than conforming to the typical January start date.

New Year’s puts so much pressure on a date and time which is what I really don’t like. Here’s the thing, midnight for Cinderella is a lot different than people in the real world. Nothing magical happens when the clock strikes twelve on December 31st; you don’t suddenly become a different person, unlike the popular fairytale. Boman made a final comment, “if you really want to change something, the date shouldn’t matter,” which is my point exactly.

Sure, it can be a good idea to go into the New Year with hopes and wishes, but unless you make a conscious effort to stick with those dreams, they will find a way to be filed away in the back of your mind only to be dusted off for the next midnight countdown. So do yourself a favor, remove the unnecessary holiday stress of the doomed and destined-to-fail New Year’s resolutions.

Sarah Aydinalp, staff writer

New Year’s resolves must be dissolved

I t ’s j u s t p l a i n s t u p i d

art by Nick Crain

art by Nick Crain

art by Cici Holmquist

Culture10www.edinazephyrus.com Volume 33 Issue 4 January 25, 2013 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Like this artist?

photos by Sloane Nilsen

Goodbye Franklin Street Bakery, Hello PizzaThe moment you walk into Pizzeria Lola, you are instantly drawn into the fun

eclectic atmosphere and the delicious aroma of freshly made pizzas. When you sit down you are pleasantly surprised by their wacky menu and delicious options. You can order pizzas with outrageous toppings such as potatoes, Korean Sausage, short ribs, and many different and unique cheeses.

Pizzeria Lola has been pulling people in since they opened. It has been so popular that co-owner, Ann Kim, decided to venture out and open a new pizza joint.

The new restaurant is called Hello Pizza and it is located next door to Convention Grill right off of France Avenue where Franklin Street Bakery used to be. And even though many people would like it to be a second Pizzeria Lola, it’s a completely different venture.

Kim made Hello Pizza a more casual and fast way for people to have fun and enjoy delicious pizza. According to a Pizzeria Lola waitress, “Hello Pizza is different than Pizzeria Lola. It will have delivery and be more of a cafeteria style pizza shop where people can buy their pizza by the slice.” She also said that Hello Pizza is going

to make their pizza in a completely different way, totally avoiding the wood-burning stove style.

Luckily for us, Hello Pizza is bringing Edina a piece of the East Coast with the slice-by-slice service they intend to put in place. Although Hello Pizza is going to include simpler pizzas, customers should expect nothing but the best when it comes to taste and price.

Although Hello Pizza will have a new and different atmosphere, Kim is going to incorporate some popular aspects of Pizzeria Lola into Hello Pizza. Some of the dishes that Kim plans on continuing are the house made fennel sausage, meatballs, and the signature and delicious soft serve vanilla ice cream.

Kim’s ultimate goal is to incorporate delicious and gourmet pizzas into a laid back and relaxed atmosphere where people can enjoy delicious food and have a good time. Hello Pizza is scheduled to open this month.

Ellie Lagorio, online culture editor

Ashley Smith, online editor in chief

Mumford & Sons

Macklemore

& Ryan Lewis

• Childish Gambino: Donald Glover (Childish Gambino), known for his wordplay, explores important topics such as racism, class, and sexuality in his lyrics. If you like “Can’t Hold Us” and “And We Danced” you’ll like “Freaks and Geeks” and “Heartbeat.”

• Grieves: Benjamin Laub (Grieves) is a Seattle based hip hop artist. Sometimes catego-rized as “emo rap,” Grieves raps mostly of heartbreak and addiction. If you’re into tracks like “Neon Cathedral” and “Starting Over,” you’ll love “Vice Grip” and “Wild Thing” off Grieves’ most recent album, “Together/Apart.”

• Marina and the Diamonds: Welsh singer/songwriter Marina Diamandis (Marina and the Diamonds) has a wide range of sounds, from keyboard-based ballads to full on up-tempo pop hits. If you like “Teenage Dream” check out “Lies.” If you’re into “Firework” and “I Kissed a Girl,” you’ll like “Primadonna” and “How to be a Heartbreaker.”

• Lily Allen: Lily Allen is an English recording artist who is known for her reggae, ska, and

electropop sound. “Not Fair,” and “The Fear” by Allen are similar to “E.T.” and “Wide Awake.”

• The Avett Brothers: This folk rock band hails from North Carolina and are also widely known for their use of banjo in their songs. Check out “I And Love And You” and “February Seven” if you like “I Gave You All” and “Not With Haste.”

• Noah and the Whale: British band Noah and the Whale is often compared to Mumford

& Sons for their folksy sound. If you like “Lovers’ Eyes” and “Ghosts That We Knew” you’ll like “Blue Skies” and “The First Day Of Spring.” If you dig “I Will Wait” and “Little Lion Man,” you’ll like “L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.” and “5 Years Time.”

• Snow Patrol: You’ve probably heard of “Chasing Cars” and “Just Say Yes” by Snow Patrol, but have you listened to any of their other songs? If you like “Yellow,” “Fix You,” and “The Scientist” by Coldplay, you’ll like “Velocity Girl” and “Fifteen Minutes Old” by Snow Patrol.

• Oasis: Oasis is an English band that shares the rock sound that Coldplay is known for. If you like “Viva La Vida” listen to “Wonderwall” or “The Shock of Lightning” by Oasis.

art by Megan Couture

try these!

Culture 11 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439 January 25, 2013 Volume 33 Issue 4 www.edinazephyrus.com

It’s older than dubstep, rap, and even rock. By this point, it’s been around more than seven times longer than the Beatles’ career lasted. Not a single person who scored a number one hit this past year was alive when it celebrated its twenty fifth anniversary.

And to the students in Concert Band, the annual Pops Concert is only improving with age. In February, the Annual Edina Pops Concert will be showing in Fick Auditorium, as it always has, and it’s shaping up to be one of the best yet.

This year, the concert’s theme will be “Once Upon a Pops” – fairy tales and folklore will be the stars of the show this time around. The sixtieth anniversary will reportedly be another of the concert’s major themes. While details are scarce, bandies are enthusiastic about the op-portunities these concepts bring.

“I think one of the most exciting things about Pops is getting to use the sixtieth Diamond Anniversary throughout the show,” said junior Allie Whiteside, a clarinet player and first-time Pops performer. “We’re starting to think about how we’ll incorporate the sixtieth, but you’ll have to come see the show to find what we come up with!”

Of course, Pops isn’t just a great performance – it’s an opportunity for Concert Band students to express themselves in ways that they wouldn’t usually. While the full band music is always the centerpiece, the skits, instrument-group interludes, and song-and-dance numbers are often what help make Pops an event instead of just another concert.

“One of my favorite things about working on Pops is planning for the secion skits and videos,” said junior Ken Shimizu. “You get to pick whatever piece you want and be as creative as you want to be.” Senior Brian Wandrei agrees. “I’m looking forward to being on stage in a way I have never been before,” Wandrei said. “Hopefully, I hope I don’t look too funny trying to dance…”

As fun as the skits and sectionals are, though, Concert Band plans to focus most of their energy on creating impressive, high-quality music - the hallmark of Pops and, most likely, what has propelled it to such great heights for these past sixty years. “We want to make Pops big for the sixtieth, but I think that rather than being super creative, we’re just going to practice a ton and make it sound amazing,” said junior Alex Ogren. “I think it’s going to be really fun, but there’s a lot of hard work that’s going into it too.”

Micah Osler, news editor

Ke$haAfter she endured an upbringing that in-

volved more hard work and determination than we could ever imagine, Ke$ha would go on to nearly ace the SAT, and then drop out of high school to become the ravishing pile teen immorality she is today.

Contrary to what you learned in tenth grade English, stereotypes are good, especially when it comes to musicians. Stereotypes allow us to love, or more commonly hate a musical artist with a less than justifiable cause. You can still argue that stereotypes are horrible and shouldn’t be taken lightly (and I would probably agree), nonetheless it is vital to be able to quickly identify these small bits of truth for everyday use.

Chris BrownHe’s over it.

MacklemoreClearly one of the greatest intellectual

minds of our time. Macklemore delivers deep political insight with his music, as well ad-dressing the hot issue of thrift shopping, Nike Air Max’s, and a whole array of outdated and irrelevant clothing.

Taylor SwiftShe would be really good if she didn’t

sing country.

Mumford and Sons“Sigh no more,” was a groundbreaking al-

bum that brought in a new style of music, they then renamed it “Babel,” put the exact same songs on it with new titles, and that made just made them so much better.

SkrillexHe’s the Devil.

Justin BieberRises above the rest of today’s artists with

vast amounts of musical talent coupled with powerful songs that everyone enjoys…

One DirectionAfter Simon Cowell blessed the world by

forming One Direction on the “X-Factor,” we learned to long for the days of *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. You really never know how much you miss something until something much worse comes along.

Netflix: the number one reason why students at Edina don’t get their homework done. Amongst a sea of comedies, dramas, and detective shows, students have not one, but thousands of options for distractions. But which one to choose? After interviewing fifty students, we’ve narrowed it down to the top three.

“The Office”This documentary-style comedy follows the lives of everyday office workers at Dunder Mif-

flin Paper Company. Working under boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell) the employees play pranks on each other, get involved in complicated relationships, and generally make fools of themselves resulting in a company with very low productivity, but a very high entertainment factor.

Typical episode length: 20 minutesSeasons currently on Netflix: all eight“Doctor Who”Described by many as having a cult following, “Doctor Who” is a British TV show that follows

the adventures of the Time Lord called the Doctor as he travels around the universe in his TARDIS, a blue British police box. The Doctor’s TARDIS allows him to travel through space and time saving civilizations and fighting crime, usually with a female companion from Earth by his side. Not only is this a great TV show, but is also a Guinness World Record holder for longest-running Sci-fi series.

Typical episode length: 45 minutesSeasons currently on Netflix: six out of seven“Gossip Girl”Chances are that sometime in the past month you couldn’t get any given girl to shut up about

the “Gossip Girl” series finale. If you haven’t, it’s time to get out from under the rock where you’ve been hiding. Anyhow, the show is narrated by the infamous and anonymous Gossip Girl, a blogger who knows anything and everything about “the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite.” The show follows main characters as they navigate the social scene of the Upper East Side and get involved in sabotage, crazy partying, complicated relationships, and love triangles. In addition to being highly dramatic and entertaining, all the actors are incredibly attractive.

Typical episode length: 45 minutesSeasons currently on Netflix: five out of six

Hayley Morrison, opinion editor

RihannaShe isn’t.

Artists #realtalk

The best of Netflix

Matt Woolsey, staff writerAl

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by J

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A diamond celebration

www.edinazephyrus.com Volume 33 Issue 4 January 25, 2013 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

12Back PageWHAT YOU REALLY SIT ON

EHS BATHROOM INSPECTORS

Pros & Cons

of utilizing the watercloset

PRO CON

CON CON

Reliable drinking water

Urinals smell worse thanHagrid’s armpits

Questionable presence of bacteria cultures

Garbages get bigger than a preggo Kim KStall parties

PRO