Tiger Times

An Analy High School Student Publication January 2014 “dimidium facti... ...qui coepit habet

Page 2 Fifi Perkins gives rave reviews for a variety of music artists. See what the future has in store with January horo-scopes. Chad Grieves provides insight to the current weather conditions for the ski season.

Page 3 Genean Wrisley inspires us to keep our New Year’s Resolutions. Saja Spearman-Weaves gives us an insight to the girl’s basketball program.

Page 4 Add a Red Velvet Cupcake recipe to your collection. Alya Bohr educates on the history of Valentine’s Day. Cameron Hill guides girl’s to a successful Turnabout proposal. Keep up with what

the tiger’s are saying in S.F.T.T.M. Wally the Walrus has some fun tips. Page 5 Learn more about Analy’s dance team. Ivan Ost reviews the Hobbit. Page 6 Madeline Camilleri continues her article, “Yosemite Adventures.” Ashton Fandel catches up with Interact Club. Page 7 Ashton Fandel interviews Mr. Compagno. Molly Houston tells us about the Garlock Tree Farm. Madeline Camilleri summarizes the Golden Globes. Page 8 Quincy Zlotnick continues his Ukraine article. Ivan Ost updates us on the world’s weird news. Enjoy a winter poem by Molly Houston.

Tiger Times Articles

www.analy.org/tigertimes tigertimes.ed@gmail.com

The girl’s JV basketball team supports eachother during a free throw.

Golden GlobesBy Madeline Camilleri

Kicking off the new-year in true Hollywood season, the Hol-lywood Foreign Press Association hosted the 71st annual Golden Globe Awards January 12th at the Beverley Hills Hilton Hotel. For the first time in a decade, the awards show received more than 20 million viewers. This stellar upturn in ratings could be attributed to the charmingly witty hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, who hosted the awards show for a second year in a row and are signed to host the awards show next year. In true awards show tradition, the 2014 Golden Globes were filled with clever banter at the expense of fellow actors, sharp suits, elegant gowns, and proud moments as Hol-lywood’s best received this presti-gious award.

For a little background information on the origin of the Golden Globes, the awards are decided by the Hollywood For-eign Press Association. HFPA was founded by a group of Los Angeles based journalists around World War II who met to share informa-tion, contacts, and gossip. In 1944, the association held their first awards gala in Beverley Hills. That year “Going My Way” won best picture; while, Ingrid Bergman and Alexander Knox won best ac-tor and actress. Later in 1951, the best picture category was split into

A Ukrainian Wake Up CallBy Quincy Zlotnick

For the past decade or so, the most exciting news to come out of Europe has generally consisted of accounts of unfaithful politi-cians, music festivals gone awry, and farmers demanding greater subsidies by, well, spilling milk. Interesting, sure, but nothing out of the ordinary in the western world. However, the recent eruption of massive protests in Ukraine calls this image of Europe as an island of stability into serious question. 800,000 people rarely take to the streets without significant provoca-tion.

Over the past eight weeks, massive spontaneous and increas-ingly violent protests have rocked Ukraine’s capital, Kiev. While originally peaceful, clashes between protesters and police have grown more violent as president Viktor Yanukovych’s disputed regime has sought to calm the unrest through force. At one point, a group of pro-testers attempted to break through a police line using a front-loader truck, a piece of heavy construction equipment. Many openly call for the president’s removal from power, and the presidential residence has become a rallying point for the protesters. As Yanukovych held his ground, the protests continued to grow in size and intensity, reaching their peak of around three-quarter million in the capital city of Kiev around the second week in Decem-ber.

Yosemite AdventuresBy Madeline Camilleri

On Martin Luther King weekend, Analy’s Advanced Biology class, taught by Mr. Sherron, embarked on a once in lifetime trip, as far as high school class field trips go, to the beautiful Yosemite National Park. It only took two buses and a train to arrive to the famous destination. Over the four days, students and parents alike bonded over the beauty of the park, expe-rienced nature’s glory in challeng-ing hikes, polar bear swims, and informative presentations.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, students, who were half asleep, shuffled onto the first bus to Yosemite. Fast forward from six in the morning to two in the

A group of Advanced Bio students take a moment to relax and enjoy the gorgeous mountain views at the top of Nevada Falls.

afternoon, and our group of fifty-eight enjoyed their first walk to Lower Yosemite Falls. Because of the drought, the falls were lower than usual, and the snow was almost non-existent. In the eve-ning, we enjoyed an insightful, yet somewhat scary presentation from John Dill, a member of Search and Rescue. Throughout the presenta-tion, he shared real life photos from Search and Rescue stories, some of which did not have a happy ending. Another night, the class enjoyed a presentation from Park Ranger Di-vine about the history of the park and the inner workings of Yosem-ite. In this presentation, we learned that Yosemite was the first National Park created by the federal govern-ment in 1854. It was first taken care of by the Buffalo Warriors. This year is the 150th anniversary of Yosemite.

The first hike of the trip took place “Yosemite” continues on p. 6

“Globes” continues on p. 7“Ukraine” continues on p. 8

TIGER TIMES, January 2014Page 2

January HoroscopesBy an Intrusion of Cockroaches

Aquarius January 20 -February 18

Your birthday is right around the corner, and this year will be un-like any other. You will have new opportunities, which you should be open to exploring.

Pisces February 19 -March 20

2014 is your year to shine. Embrace the fresh start that will bring you a new perspective on the world and different experiences as a result.

Aries March 21 -April 19

Remember to see the things in the world that are worth smiling about. There are more good things in your life than you realize.

Taurus April 20 -May 20

By the end of the month you will begin to see a new adventure that life has in store for you. It will bring about a change in your life that will give you a new frame of mind.

Gemini May 21 -June 20

Your wit and open-mindedness will bring you success, but only if you remember to stay committed and focused to accomplish your goals.

Cancer June 21 -July 22

When you are faced with a diffi-cult situation, remember to listen to your inner voice, which is wiser

than you give it credit for. Your intuition can help you more than you think.

Leo July 23 -August 22

Your responsibility and enthusiasm will bring you far, but remember not to be too overconfident.

Virgo August 23 -September 22

You work very hard at everything you do, but try not to get caught up in the search for perfection. If you can worry less about the little things in life, you will have more fun and still be able to accomplish your goals.

Libra September 23 -October 22

If you're having trouble making decisions, try not overcomplicate them and just follow your gut in-stincts. You'll make the right choice and things will turn out well!

Scorpio October 23 -November 21

If you follow your passions, your life be very rewarding. If you dedicate yourself to the things you enjoy, your many talents will shine through.

Sagittarius November 22 -December 21

Restlessness doesn't have to be a way of life, get up and take some risks! You will discover new things, while still having fun.

Capricorn December 22 -January 19

If unexpected changes come your way, try to be flexible and open. Now is a good time to make new connections.

All of the MusicBy Fifi Perkins

I have a pretty wide range of music taste, and I truly believe that there are tasteful and distasteful songs in every genre. Personally, in order for my passion for music to grow I try to keep an open mind. I hope you keep an open mind while reading this and discover some good artists and tunes out of it that you might not have expected!

I tend to listen to both newer and older music. I always get excited when one of my favor-ite artists or bands has just come out with a new album. But I feel the same excitement when going through my grandparents vinyl records.

Some newer albums that I've really been enjoying are Ma-tangi by M.I.A, The Pixies' EP2, “Mosquito” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the extended version of “ Pure Her-oine” by Lorde, “Yeezus” by Kanye West, “Beyonce” by Beyonce, and “New” by Paul McCartney. Many of these are artists I've been following for a while, and a couple of them I consider my guilty pleasures.

M.IA is an artist that I always go back to. Ever since hear-ing her song “Paper Planes” that became popular because of the film Slumdog Millionaire, I knew she'd stick around. She gives off a certain dramatic and hard-core vibe, but I don't think she is out of place. She does sing about real things, and has an intriguing cultural background.

The Pixies are one of the most influential punk or alternative bands and they have been around forever. They have a very signature

sound that no one could replicate. None of the band members lack an ounce of talent, and lead singer Frank Black wrote their hit song “Here Comes Your Man” at only fourteen or fifteen.

The album Mosquito by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is one of the most raw and inspiring albums I've listened to in a long time. Lead Singer, Karen O, seems crazy yet relatable, and everything about their music and style is entertaining.

Pure Heroine by Lorde is a favorite of many, because of the fact that Lorde is only sixteen and sings about things that the youth of today can vouch for. Contrary to many songs on the top charts, “Royals” by Lorde represents a life-style that is not all about drinking, drugs, Ferraris, Gucci, and club-bing.

Those in particular are all

the recent albums that really hit home for me and that I enjoyed not only sound-wise but lyric-wise.

For those who can ap-preciate some older souls, there are those bands and artists that I always go back to. Although she is no longer with us, Amy Winehouse remains one of my favorites. Even if only for a little while, she gave us a taste of that old-fashioned Sinatra, Jazz, and soul music.

Some other artists that I'm always listening to are Neil Young, A Tribe Called Quest, Lauryn Hill, The Cure, Fiona Apple, Beastie Boys, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, and Florence & the Machine. Of course I could go on, but anyone can take it upon them-selves to check out these artists and continue to expand on their cur-rent music taste.

A Skier’s DilemmaBy Chad Grieve

This year a substantial region of California and Nevada is experiencing one of its worst droughts in over 163 years. Due to the importance of water, a drought causes a chain reaction in a whole network of environmental disas-ters. A lack of water increases the chance of disease and wildfires, while destroying fish and wildlife habitats.

Even more pressing a mat-ter, to a skier, a drought means a sub-par winter with lackluster snow. Every skier dreams of a mountain with plentiful crys-tal snow raining down from the heavens above. So far, this year has yielded a pathetically small amount of snow that mocks the dreams of skiers. Although many mountains in Lake Tahoe, such as North Star and Squaw Valley, produce their own snow, there is really nothing quite like skiing on natural thick powder.

The difference between crusty ice and powdery snow is very subtle and almost unnotice-able to the eye. The difference becomes immediately obvious right as one drops off of the ski lift for the first ride of the day. The cur-rent state of crud ice caused by the drought gives off the sense of skiing on asphalt rather than snow. Every turn made feels like a quick loss of control. When skiing on crud, one will try to initiate a turn and quickly skid to a long screeching halt. Without previous experience in powder, such snow can still be incredibly enjoyable even though it

may sound like a frightening, bone-shattering event. People who prefer skiing downhill groomers may not even care about whether the snow is perfect.

Truth be told, skiing may very well be more dangerous as snow becomes softer and thicker.

When snow levels are just right, skiers can achieve a new level of control and comfort. They will un-doubtedly gain a new sense of false confidence upon noticing their new precision and finesse. At times this newfound confidence may lead to drastic life choices. Such choices can be to up one’s speed, choosing to represent an inner devil or to venture into the unexplored trees.

Cross-country skiing through forests is truly wonderful in powder, as there is a new sense of challenge and solitude. In the trees, skiing is no longer about speed and technique, but control and survival. The ground may seem like a perfect landing zone in the powdery snow; however, trees sadly retain their concrete stature.

These skiers take advantage of the rare fresh powdery snow.

TIGER TIMES, January 2014 Page 3

New Year’s ResolutionsBy Genean Wrisley

As each New Year comes and goes, people brainstorm new ideas to improve themselves and their lives. While some people resolve to make huge changes, like be a better person, eat healthier, exercise more, or get better grades, others make smaller resolutions that they feel will be easier to keep such as only being late to a class once a week, or not hitting the snooze button more than twice when getting up for school.

This simple, but hard to keep New Year’s resolution was what Haley, a senior at Analy, chose to focus on for the New Year. She said that while she did not have a specific plan for getting this done, she felt that she was dead set on keeping her resolution and that her deter-mination would allow her to keep it. So far, Haley has been successful, but she did admit that she did not feel that it was a very realistic New Year’s resolution. Senior, Katie Imbach, on the other hand, hoped to eat healthier this year and not miss more than five days of school. She felt that this was a realistic goal and has been able to keep her New Year’s resolution so far; how-ever, she has not been able to keep her resolutions in the past. Sarah Poplack, grade twelve, hopes to get through the year without too much senioritis and as little procrastina-tion as possible. She also hopes

to get a time of one minute and eighteen seconds on her hundred meter breast stroke for swimming. Sarah feels that these goals are realistic. While she does not have a set system for accomplishing them, she believes that she can accom-plish whatever she sets her mind to. Katie, Sarah, and Haley all have ambitious resolutions that seem like they may be a challenge to keep up for a whole year, but with determination, and maybe a plan these girls can work to make their goals become a reality.

While some choose to improve themselves for the New Year, oth-ers take a different approach to the holiday. When talking to Mr. DelMonte, he said that he had not made any New Year’s resolutions for the first time in his life. He usually resolves to diet or exercise more, but after many years of com-ing in short of his goal, he decided to not let the New Year change him. Marie Alameida and Clare New-ell both had a different reason for not having New Year’s resolutions. They believe that people should not need a holiday to motivate them to change. These two girls felt that one should make a change in themselves or their life whenever they feel the need or the inspira-tion. They bring up the important idea of working towards becom-ing a better person, getting good grades, exercising, or eating healthy and implementing that into a daily reality that is not associated with the New Year but rather something that one just wants to do.

It turns out that even if one feels

motivated to make a change, a New Year’s resolutions might not be the best way to go; instead, New Year’s intentions are the better choice. The first reason is that a resolution has the connotation of something that cannot be broken, once one breaks the resolution it does not apply anymore. Most resolutions are bro-ken after two weeks because people do not have the motivation to keep them up. They see that they have broken the New Year’s resolution, so why start back up again once it has been broken? An intention on the other hand can be broken. If someone vows to go to the gym twice a week, and only goes one time one week, as an intention it is not broken, and the person can continue to go to the gym twice a week after that one particular week. In addition, resolutions bring about the idea that something is wrong with the individual. An inten-tion does not look at the flaws of the person, but it just hints at the things that they hope to do. Setting intentions rather than resolutions is one strategy of success.

One of the most common New Year’s Resolutions is to become a better person. This can be broken up into being more honest, car-ing, understanding, or just simply a nicer person. One way to achieve this goal is to start small. Rather than taking on “becoming a bet-ter person” one can try to make someone smile every day, or ask how someone is more often. By setting smaller goals for oneself, a larger goal can be easier to ac-complish. Instead of making the resolution to always eat healthy,

one could resolve, or rather intend to only having a sweet twice a week rather than every day. By breaking up these goals, they can become realistic and possible.

Becoming a happier person is also a popular New Year’s Resolution. Alya Bohr had the idea of putting good experiences in a jar. Anytime anything good or optimistic hap-pened to her she would write it down and put it in a jar. Then on New Years of the next year, she got to read all of her highlights from the previous year. Not only does this give a person something to look forward to at the New Year, it helps them put a positive spin on their life. Another idea to help someone become more optimistic would be to write down some-thing that one is grateful for every day. At first, one could start out with general things, such as fam-ily, friends, running water, food, clothes, and other such things, but then after a month or so these things would become more specific such as a good book, a sandwich, a smile from someone, or anything else that made one feel happy. By doing these activities, one can gain a more optimistic view on life, thus hopefully creating a happier one.

With the New Year ahead, it is im-portant to think about what things we want to accomplish this year. Making plans and taking action can be the most satisfying way to achieve those New Year’s inten-tions. The New Year gives everyone a chance to put the past in the past, live in the present, and plan for the future.

Girl’s Basketball ProgramBy Saja Spearman-Weaver

As the teams gear up for league play in the new year, it would be nice to give the whole school an idea of what to expect on the court, as well as what to imagine behind the scenes of the Lady Tigers 2013-2014 Basketball Program.

The varsity program has in-troduced a new head coach and as-sistant coach. The new head coach, Tom Corriveau, and his assistant, Don Jensen, have acclimated very well to their positions, replacing the well-loved Earl Pasamonte. The two coaches have introduced new plays while maintaining the same team spirit and camaraderie that have been traditional for the Lady Tigers. Every varsity game is a battle, with different stars shining each night. The varsity program has taken on two freshmen, Bailey Hunter and Isabella Nieoermair, who both are contributing greatly to the team. Senior Jessie Davidson and her upperclassmen teammates have helped these younger players

feel at home. We all look forward to seeing this varsity program grow and develop over the next four years, though we will miss the invaluable seniors greatly in years to come. Senior post Sina Fuiava says, "Varsity best works together when we all cheer each other on. I don't know about you but if I do something horrible and one of y'all comes up to me just to help me out, it truly helps me pick up my head." Teams cannot function with-out unity, and that is exactly what makes Analy girls basketball great.

In relation to the junior varsity program, I may have some bias, as I'm a member of the team. How-ever, I will try to be as objective as possible! The JV program is also under new management this year, with last years' coaches moving up to varsity. Raquel Gomes took over the head coaching position this year and had big ambitions for the team from day one. Though this is the kind of thing one does not wish to jinx, JV currently holds a 12-0 record, and has the Girl’s Junior Varsity Lady Tigers Classic Tourna-ment trophy in their possession. This team has established a kind

of sisterhood that is rare and im-measurably helpful towards success on and off the court. Sophomore guard Sarah Brown provided some explanation for this uniquely strong team unity, saying, "We are all there for the same reason and when you all have that, no stupid drama gets in the way, simply because we all know it will hold us back. I love all of my teammates like sisters and I know that's how we all feel. It's not just a team, we're a big family of all-amazing girls and that's how all teams should be."

The freshman-sophomore team, coached by Jason Weaver, is a key component to the program. A place where individual skills are developed and team camaraderie is established, it provides a base from which girls will launch themselves into JV and Varsity in the years to come. In the first few weeks of practice, the team organized bond-ing sessions, and has now become tight and faithful to one another, setting a tone that has prevailed throughout the season. Fresh-man guard Sophie McFadin leads the freshman-sophomore team in points scored, and provides a very promising image of what kind of

players this year's freshman class will send up through the levels of the program.

One of the beauties of the girl’s basketball program is the unity between the three teams. The head varsity coach told all potential players on the first day of tryouts that this is a program and the team divisions should be nothing more than titles. That is a philosophy that would serve us all in life, not just sports. Different levels of an athlet-ic program or any program should be incentives for improvement, but that does not necessarily require di-vision between the people in those programs. Success is achieved when people help each other, when those who know more reach out to those who wish to learn. That is how this basketball program is improving and will continue to improve, and that is how we should all strive to act. Everyone has a skill that some-one else would like to have as well. Especially around the new year, perhaps we can all make an effort to help one another, armed with the knowledge that such actions don't just make strong athletic programs, but strong people as well.

TIGER TIMES, January 2014Page 4

How To Ask Someone to the FunaboutBy Cameron Hill

The Turnabout dance has been a high school staple for years. What makes this dance ever so special? It is the reversal of the traditional boy-asks-girl scenario, which brings relief to the boys and panic attacks for the girls everywhere. It makes sense that it would be an intimidating experience. Girls in general are used to the other team doing the grunt work in the “asking” department, so having to figure out how to ask someone to the dance is new territory for many of them. There are, of course, those brave enough to march up to their chosen guy with ease, but for the average female, there is Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, The Notebook, re-watched for the thousandth time, and articles like this one to make up for the lack of courage.

One dilemma that lies near the root of the girl-asks-boy problem is how to perform the somewhat forward act of asking someone to the dance while still feeling attrac-tive and feminine. The traditional choreography of romance has the guy pursuing with the girl drawing him in. The male is the one who goes out on a limb, chases the girl and pops the question. The girl is the passive counterpart; she acts coy, “runs” away, and accepts the ring. Now, this is alright for most

of the year. Girls are usually just fine with giving the boys the risky part in these situations. However, when February rolls around with the Turnabout (or this year Fun-about), girls are faced with a tricky situation: How in the world am I supposed to ask out a guy?!

First off, some useful tips. It is im-portant to always keep in mind two golden rules: “Respect the person’s personal space bubble (aka don’t be creepy),” and “If your master plan for asking the person out involves parachutes, ninja costumes, illegal activities, or any combination of the above, it is too elaborate (aka don’t overthink it).” Some other handy tidbits picked from the brain of a bona-fide male: don’t allow yourself to sweat so much that it looks like you need medical at-tention, don’t cry, don’t forget to check your teeth after your salad, do not twerk, and do not say “or else.” Here are some rules from a bona-fide (Turnabout experienced) female: (1) make sure they don’t know you’re planning to ask them before you’ve asked them, (2) make sure to have reliable people helping you if your plan includes others’ assistance, (3) red roses are nice, but there are plenty of bouquets sitting in Safeway that are a heck of a lot more exciting, and (4) if you interrupt an entire class with your invitation, make sure you give them a worthwhile show. And if you’re really stuck, one word: chocolate (for the guy, but don’t forget to save some for yourself). Most impor-tantly, remember to have fun with your turnabout proposal!

Valentine’s Day Treat:

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ingredients 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk, room tempera-ture

2 large eggs, room temperature

2 tablespoons red food coloring

1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 pound cream cheese, softened

2 sticks butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Chopped pecans and fresh raspber-ries or strawberries, for garnish

Directions:Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers. In a medium mix-ing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake

tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frost-ing.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla to-gether until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incor-porated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Garnish with chopped pecans and a fresh raspberry or strawberry.

Cook's Note: Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife or pipe it on with a big star tip.

Make these Red Velvet Cupcakes for your significant other, a friend, family, or maybe yourself.

Fifty Shades of PinkBy Alya Bohr

While today Valentine’s Day is celebrated with chocolates, flowers and the sharing of love, its origins are not so angelic. As a mat-ter of fact, its history is quite dark.

The holiday began in an-cient Rome, in celebration of the feast of Lupercalia between Febru-ary 13th and 15th. In this “celebra-tion” the Roman men would sacri-fice goats and dogs and proceed to whip women with the hides of the dead animals. Women would line up for the beatings as they were believed to bolster fertility. Fur-thermore, the celebration served as a matchmaking party in which men would pull women’s names out of jar and then…spend time with them.

The term Valentine has its origins in the 3rd century AD, also in Rome. Emperor Claudius II sen-tenced two men to death, both with the same name Valentine on Febru-ary the 14th (though in different years). Allegedly, while in prison one of the Valentines fell in love with a young girl and sent her a card signed “from your Valentine.” The Catholic Church honored the death of the men with the celebra-tion of St. Valentine’s Day.

In the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I joined St. Valentine’s Day and Lupercalia in the attempt of abolishing the pagan elements of the ritual. It continued to be a day of love and merrymaking, but with more clothes.

From there the holiday continued to progress. Shakespeare and other authors romanticized Valentine’s Day and it became quite popular throughout Europe. With the booming industry of the 19th century, factory-made cards came

into play.

In 1913, Hallmark Cards started producing large amounts of cards and soon found itself in the midst of a very successful indus-try. Last year, it was estimated that Valentine’s Day sales reached about $18.6 billion.

Whether you’re spending this Valentine’s Day by yourself, with friends, in the company of a loved one, or (hopefully not) like the Romans, I wish you lots of joy and chocolate. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sources:

Brown, Abram. "Valentine's Day 2013: What's Behind This $18.6 Bil-lion Holiday (Infographic)." Forbes.

Forbes Magazine, 13 Feb. 2013. Web. 21 Jan. 2014.

Seipel, Arnie. "The Dark Origins Of Valentine's Day." NPR. Web. 21 Jan. 2014.

Praetorius, Dean. "The History Of Valentine's Day." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 Feb. 2011. Web. 21 Jan. 2014.

I'm not prejudiced, I'm just right.

-Quad

My New Year’s Resolution is to not be a fifth wheel.

–Sullivan Rutherford

This apple juice is grass fed.

–Advanced Bio Yosemite Trip

Straight from the Tiger’s Mouth

Wally the Walrus"Have a cold? Use cloth tissues to

prevent nose irritation"

"Want a more cultural hot choco-late experience? Sprinkle cinnamon

into your drink to make Mexican hot chocolate."

TIGER TIMES, January 2014 Page 5

Film ReviewThe Hobbit: The Desola-tion of Smaugby Ivan Ost

The Hobbit: The Desola-tion of Smaug is a film tasked with living up to an oversized reputa-tion. Peter Jackson extracted every possible ounce of anticipation from his adoring fans when he directed the first Hobbit movie. Way back in 2012, that was quite a lot of anticipation, as momentum from the immensely successful Lord of the Rings trilogy continued to drive the director forward. Come 2013, hubbub about the Hobbit is still around – and that, frankly, is baf-fling. While the movie had many upsides – an all-star cast featuring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, and Stephen Fry (who plays prob-ably my favorite character in the movie – a mayor of Lake Town so generally awful as to be a hilarious caricature), solid special effects in many places, and the support of

one of the best fantasy directors of our day, it still manages to fall short. Like a Hobbit.

The movie was two hours and forty-one minutes long, and felt every second of it. At the two hour mark, the audience in my the-ater was restless, and people were walking out every few minutes to get a glass of water or to use the re-stroom. Normally, should one leave the theater, one would have to do so only during a pause in the action to make sure the plot makes sense upon re-entering the theater. In The Hobbit, however, few seemed to feel such a necessity. The vast, vast majority of footage felt entirely superfluous; there was no need for the scenes depicting Gandalf 's en-counter with Sauron, nor of Kiri's drawn out recovery – indeed, the movie could have been half as long as it was, and had it been, it would probably also have been twice as good.

That raises another issue: the few scenes that did actually drive the story forward, which were few and far between, were disjointed, sprinkled about in a confusing sequence that laughed in the face of good pacing and obliterated any sense of cohesion. Shots were random, there was no cause or explanation for changes in scenery, and even when one figured out what was going on, there still was no point to the action. Impor-tant scenes, like when Bilbo and Crew tumbled down a waterfall to freedom from the land of the Wood Elves, still felt drawn out and un-necessary. By the end of the dra-matic waterfall scene, I was tired of constant, trivial combat, and near misses with death with as little real significance as skipping breakfast. A few brief comedic moments did little to relieve the tedium of what felt like a 30 minute long look at someone else's whitewater rafting photos.

The insignificance of the combat was also a sore point. The primary opposition to Bilbo and the gang were orcs: huge, loud, dirty, angry creatures that were determined to use their variety of barbaric weapons to stab, spear, and dismember every charming dwarf and screaming child that they could find. Fortunately for our protagonists, not once during the film did they present any real danger. Any orc – in fact, scores upon scores of them – could be easily dispatched by the grunt-ing efficiency of a single dwarf or Orlando Bloom's bizarrely sweat less Legolas. In contrast to the hundreds of dead orcs, not a single dwarf or human died over the course of the movie, and a grand total of one injury was suffered by a character who later completely recovered. The Orc’s poisoned arrow shaft was forced to yield to

Tauriel, the one major female char-acter’s, healing herbs and spells. Desiring her Dwarven friend to be at full strength so they could get more intimately acquainted, the elf worked to heal him, carrying on an incongruous love story shoe-horned into the already drawn-out plot. Legolas perfectly summed up the triviality of the movie’s antago-nists after a fight with the Big Orc Baddie: he, upon realizing he had a bloody nose (barely), was shocked and redoubled his efforts to kill his opponent. This was the worst injury Orlando suffered, and was representative of the fact that the main characters were actually in no real danger.

Finally, the lauded special effects of the film were disappoint-ingly spotty. While some moments translated well – the dragon Smaug was a highlight, with a real sense of hugeness and fire that really felt hot -- others were lost, particularly some of the sets. Mirkwood looked like it extended back about 20 feet and just looked fake, and Dol Gol-dur more closely resembled a block structure with an Ian McKellan miniature traipsing melodramati-cally about. The scenes involving molten gold towards the end of the film were the worst of the bunch; in many cases it looked like anima-tion from an early 2000's adven-ture video game (the first person to demonstrate to us a better gold animation will win $3. Yes, three, because it should take you all of twelve minutes.). It was so bad, in fact, that when the statue of the dwarven king made of molten gold was revealed near the end, I could only think that it looked nearly exactly like a chocolate dwarf wrapped in golden foil, and not the grand, boiling hot statue it was meant to be. This is not to say the film had no impressive special ef-fects moments – again, the dragon was spectacular, as were the wargs and certain shots of Lake Town – but others dragged it down consid-erably.

Ultimately, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was impres-sively unimpressive. It was a film with big dreams that failed to be re-alized in its messy, uncoordinated, uninspired production. This truly feels like the middle of the book, which is exactly what it was – it is the filler, the cheap stuff we don't much care about and soon forget. A few exciting scenes were simply not enough to salvage an otherwise boring movie. While it might be hard to recognize with all the de-capitation, almost nothing actually happens over the movie's duration, and even less is actually of inter-est. The second Hobbit movie has failed to live up even to the moder-ate standard of its predecessor. All hope at this point lies with the final film.

“The Little Dance Team that Could”By Anonymous

While it may not be a mas-sive, ultra-competitive program, the Analy Dance Team has made a name for itself in the last two years. Since its beginning, the Dance Team has been focused on adding spirit to the school and pumping up the crowd through their upbeat and lively dances. This small but powerful group of girls has worked hard to get to where they are now, and they can only go up from there.

When the team was first created, the eleven girls had never danced together, and many of them had never met. Five of them were incoming freshmen, four were juniors, one was a sophomore, and one was a senior. When they arrived at the United Spirit As-sociation Dance Camp in Santa Cruz, CA in June of 2012, they did not know if the team was going to work, if there would be drama, if everyone would hate each other, or if everyone would become best friends.

Thankfully, everyone got along perfectly. They all became close friends at dance camp, be-cause what else can you do when you have to live with each other for three days. After the camp, where the team earned the most improved award, they continued to practice, three hours a day, three days a week. The hard work paid off, and the team was welcomed onto the football field for the first time with raucous applause. After many more successful rallies, games, and other spontaneous performances, the first year of dance team came to a close. They said goodbye to their only senior, and prepared themselves to welcome the new members.

In its second year, the dance team now has more support than ever. With three new fabulous members, the team is thriving. They performed at three football games, including the Apple Game, and are performing at basketball games throughout February. The team worked just as hard over summer, learning a total of five dances, two of which they learned in just one day! They got a second coach, another choreographer, new friends, and more experience so their performances could be flaw-less. This year has not been easy for them, but their constant effort has strengthened the team, along with the bonds within it.

Clare Newell, a freshman on the dance team, said that she joined the team because she wanted to meet more upperclassmen before the year started. She loves how close the members of the team are. She hopes to continue danc-ing throughout high school and college, and wants to dance at the National level in Ballroom. Clare is one of the two freshmen that joined the team this year. Both her and Tara Grismer bring incredible energy and spirit to the team.

The dance team’s captain, Melanie Mesagno, said that she joined the dance team because it is a fun way to get involved in the school. She loves the school spirit that the dance team brings to rallies and games. Melanie plans on con-tinuing to dance into college, which is just a few short months away for the senior. Melanie has led the team along with three other seniors this year.

Clare, Melanie, Tara, and all of the other girls have found that dance team is an athletic, fun, spirited way to get involved in Analy’s community. To anyone who is thinking about trying out for next year’s team, just have fun, be confident, and give it your all. Good things will come of it.

TIGER TIMES, January 2014Page 6

Sunday morning up to the gor-geous Vernal Falls. While only a mile and a half round trip, ev-eryone was forced to catch their breath, as they climbed the steep stone steps up to the waterfall. Up at the top of the falls, there is a great lookout area that allows hik-ers to admire their ascent up the mountain and the waterfall rushing down. As we took in the handy

work of mother-nature, we enjoyed a picnic lunch of various snacks like trail mix, sandwiches, and lots of water. For the more adventur-ous hikers, Mr. Maloney took a group up to the top of Nevada Falls, which is just above Vernal Falls and below Half Dome. This second hike totaled seven miles, and required about twice as many stops to rest for a moment. Upon reaching the top of Nevada Falls, senior, Sophia Ayala claimed “My glutes, quads, and hamstrings, better be rock solid after this hike.” Many other students attested that

they felt the same way and would probably be swearing off the gym for the next week after return-ing home. The hike consisted of numerous switch backs of stone steps, glimpses of the valley below, and Nevada Falls itself. It truly is a rewarding hike that people from all over the world come to experience and words cannot really express the beauty of it.

After a half a day of rest, the Ad-vanced Bio group was ready the next day for the trek up Upper Yosemite Falls, which also consists of a seven mile hike full of switch backs, gravel, sand, and stone steps. While the hike is estimated to take six to seven hours, a group of about ten students were able to finish it in three hours with a half an hour lunch. Shelby Buchmann, one of the first girls to reach the top, recalls the hike. “Reaching the top of the falls was a great triumph and experience. Being one of the first people was even better. It’s great

to look up at the falls now and say I was at the top of it.” To get to the overlook, there is a narrow one way natural staircase we had to climb to get down. At the overlook, one can see Yosemite Valley below and the trail leading up to the top. The falls is just a few feet away and allows people to see it crashing down. According to Mr. Sherron, he has made this hike a little over thirty

times and the fourteen mile hike up Half Dome seven or so times.

Between the hikes, we were left to our own devices and had the freedom to explore all the park had to offer. Some students chose to complete the scavenger hunt that included trips to the famous Ansel Adams photo gallery. Those dedicated students were rewarded with prizes at the end that included fuzzy blankets, and Yosemite t-shirts. Other students chose to bike ride around the valley to destina-tions like Mirror Lake and the vari-

ous meadows. A couple popular places students explored frequently were the Spider Caves and the Lower Yosemite Falls, which in-cluded a swimming hole. In the Spider Caves, it was impossible to see a five inches in front with-out a flashlight. Needless to say, being the last person in the cave was less than enjoyable, as some places in the cave required crawling and fitting into small places. The cave was true to its name, as a few students saw a black widow or two in their exploration. At the lower Yosemite Falls, a few brave students including Patience Vogt, Nick White, Jaxon Cantu, and I dared to jump in the freezing cold water below the waterfall. We continued to swim around in the pool until we were practically on the verge of hypothermia, as we started turn-ing lovely shades of purple and red. At night, some students took advantage of the lack of lights and civilization and went stargazing in the meadows on their own or with a park ranger, who provided infor-mation on the constellations.

Overall, the trip was a tremendous success like it has been every year. Many memories were made, mus-cle built, and personal goals were reached, as students expanded their horizons and reached new heights (figuratively and literally). Many students are inspired to return again and tackle Half Dome. While this was the last trip to Yosemite an Advanced Bio class with Mr. Sher-ron will take, I encourage everyone else to travel there on their own time and discover the endless ad-ventures of Yosemite National Park.

“Yosemite” from p. 1

To the left, students take a polar bear swim in the lower Yosemite Falls. To the right, an adventurous group relishes in their accomplishment of hiking three and a half miles to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls.

Interact with the CommunityBy Ashton Fandel

The Interact Club here at Analy has long been a successful program, though admittedly one that goes without much recogni-tion. (That is, if you haven’t spotted the notorious green shirts at the Club Fair). Through the Sebastopol Rotary, high school members do volunteer work in the community, including acting as servers at crab feeds, cleaning local beaches, and other activities, as well as a large, annual international project which the students elect.

One of the annual fundrais-ers that the Interact Club puts on is the “Tri-School Dance,” an event open to middle schoolers from Brookhaven, Hillcrest, and Twin Hills. Admittedly, the dance was not necessarily a fruitful endeavor in years past–according to Interact

Secretary/Treasurer Sonya Dexter, a whopping total of six middle schoolers attended last year. Pros-pects for the Winter 2013 dance were not looking so hot.

However, the “Interacters” remained hopeful, and the Friday of the dance arrived at the cafeteria at 5:30 to decorate (Note: directly following wrestling practice. Love-ly.) When the doors opened at 7:00, the lingering smell and overall feel-ing of dampness that presided from earlier was abated by the strings of Christmas lights and hanging snowflakes that peppered the walls. A few stragglers cautiously entered the cafeteria, and promptly del-egated themselves to the farthest corners.

However, by some miracle, within the first twenty minutes the cafeteria was chock full of preteens. In an attempt to encourage the kids to dance, Interact members pulled out their best moves; however, junior Gabe Ghirann reports that, “Kids were telling me that they were being scared.” Well, the enthu-siasm is what counts. Junior Zach Vangrin, who served as the deejay

for the night, says, “It was really fun to help out, and see all the middle schoolers and high schoolers having a good time together. My favorite part was definitely the ‘Cha Cha Slide.’” Overall, the dance was a massive success, with the club making near $500.

Just days before Christmas arrived, Analy, as well as numer-ous other local Interact groups, participated in what many consider to be the most fun, gratifying event of the year. In the annual Adopt-a-Family program, groups of students receive a family who don’t have spare money for Christmas pres-ents. With money provided by the Rotary Club these students go out and buy presents for all the chil-dren.

On the first day of Winter Break, members met at the Gold Ridge Fire Station to wrap their presents, and soon were ready for the best part: delivering them. A caravan of cars, led by a fire truck, pulled out of the station’s parking lot and embarked upon a journey across Sebastopol, with everyone un-piling from cars at every stop

to bring the presents and boxes of food to the doors of the family, whose genuine smiles were altered only slightly by the pitchy rendition of “We Wish You a Merry Christ-mas” that was sung at every stop. The surprised kids were thrilled to get to go on the fire truck, and excited to see Santa, who happened to come along for the deliveries driving a red convertible.

Member Alya Bohr remarks that, “It’s a really rewarding experi-ence to be able to help people and also see the direct effects of it.”

It is events like this one that truly embody the spirit of the Inter-act Club, and with the holidays fresh in our minds and the New Year an open canvas before us, we would all do well to remember the type of personal gratification one can only receive through selfless-ness. If you’re looking for an outlet to give back to the community, meet some awesome and enthusi-astic people, or wear a super green shirt that makes everybody look good, you should check out the Interact Club.

TIGER TIMES, January 2014 Page 7

Teacher Insight: Mr. CompagnoBy Ashton Fandel

1. What's the best nickname you've ever gotten?

Sunshine Superman.

2. Being a chemistry teacher, what element would you describe yourself as?

Unobtainium.

3. If you could have front row tickets to any concert, what would it be?

Pink! Because I love her, and I’d marry her, if she’d have me.

4. What's the last drastic appearance change you had?

I had plastic surgery to look like Brad Pitt, but it didn’t work out for me.

5. Deep-dish or thin crust pizza?

Thin crust, ya know, cuz it’s all about the meat and cheese.

6. What words would you tell your teenage self?

Get a life.

7. What's something you have too much of?

Sense.

8. What's something you'd like more of?

Reckless abandon.

9. Since Valentine's Day is approach-ing, what's your favorite Valentine's Day memory?

The first year that the kids dressed up and went around and did Sing-ing Valentines, I hired the group of boys, and gave them forty dollars to drive to Healdsburg and sing for my wife. And I got major bonus points for that!

10. Something interesting about yourself?

I used to be a back-up singer for Michael Jackson.

The Garlock Tree FarmBy Molly Houston

The Garlock Tree Farm was originally a chicken farm before the owners turned it into a tree farm with the first trees planted in 1966. Bob and Sally were the people to start this lovely place. Now it is owned by their son Keith, his wife Becky, Keith’s brother, Bill, and his wife Debbie. Both Keith and Bob were graduates of Analy High School. At the tree farm, one can buy not only beautiful trees but hot cocoa, hot apple cider, cookies, donuts, popcorn, hot dogs, and Christmas decorations such as ornaments, wreaths, mistletoe, and other Christmas accessories. The Garlock Tree Farm is about making family memories and having a wonderful time, not just cutting down one’s tree. To help make those memories, they have pony rides, a petting zoo, a jumpy house,

and even Santa Claus! Another great aspect of this tree farm is that it is dog friendly. Feel free to bring a pooch to join in on all the fun and games, just make sure to bring their leash. They have several different types of trees and they are sold by the foot. They average at around 6-10 dollars a foot for most of them. They also have pre-cut trees if one doesn’t want to cut one down. They make sure to put the tree in a shaker machine

that gets all the bugs out if desired! Then they put the tree in plastic netting that makes transporting the tree much easier. It is located at 2275 Bloomfield Road, Sebastopol CA 95472. Their phone number is 707-823-4307. One could even check out their website at garlocktreefarm.com

Make sure next year to go and check out The Garlock Tree farm right here in Sebastopol next year!

musical or comedy and drama in order to ensure one genre was not favored over another. A few years later, the awards categories were expanded again to recognize televi-sion actors and actresses and their programs.

Fast forward to this century, and there are about twenty-five different awards ranging from best actor or actress to best song. While all the winners should be recog-nized, I will only touch on the more significant awards. To start off, the ultra-popular show among teenag-ers and adults alike, Breaking Bad, was rewarded in two categories. It won “Best T.V. Series, Drama”, and Bryan Cranston, who plays the main character Walter White, won “Best Actor in a T.V. series.” Cranston has been nominated for a total of five times, with this being his first triumph. Actually, this is the first win for the television series overall, and it came as a perfect time, as the show ended its fifth and last season. For the women, Amy Poehler wins “Best Actress” for her role in “Parks and Recre-ation.” Parks and Recreation is on the other side of the spectrum, for it is a comedy known for its hilari-ous situational comedy.

Moving onto movies, 12 Years a Slave won “Best Motion Picture.” This movie focuses around Solomon, an African American living in upstate New York who is sold into slavery. Mainly the movie deals with the great oppositions he faces and his meeting with a Canadian abolitionist. It is praised for its ability to capture the horrific truth of American slavery. Known for their dashing looks almost more than their acting talent, Matthew

McConaughy and Leonardo Di-Caprio won awards for “Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama” and “Best Actor in a Comedy.” This is McCounaughy’s first win and it is for his role in Dallas Buyer’s Club. DiCaprio was rewarded for his role in A Wolf on Wall Street.

As or the ladies of Hol-lywood, notable actresses Cate Blanchett, Amy Adams, and Jen-nifer Lawrence basked in glory and triumph. Blanchett won for her role in the drama Blue Jas-mine. Adams won for her role in the musical American Hustle. Lastly, the beloved Jennifer Law-rence won best supporting actress for her role in American Hustle as well. American Hustle actually won three awards all total includ-ing “Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical.” The adorable Disney movie Frozen took the prize for “Best Animated Feature Film.” The movie is noted for its contempo-rary outlook compared to other Disney movies, as it promotes more independence for girls instead of the idea that princesses must find their prince.

Almost more important than the actual awards show are the glamorous gowns and sharp suits Hollywood’s best struts down the red carpet. Looking as gorgeous as ever and sporting the pregnancy glow were actresses Olivia Wilde in a dazzling, emerald green Gucci gown and Drew Barrymore in a flowery Monique Lhuillier frock. Sandra Bullock stood apart from the others in a plunging V dress color blocked with pink, blue, and black. Stealing a look from the guys, Emma Watson adorned an orange dressy pant suit by designer, Dior. Although one would be hard

pressed to mistake her for a male with her pink lipstick and elegant jewels she paired with the ensem-ble.

Not to be forgotten are their male counterparts, who are often pushed to the side and forgotten when it comes to the world of fash-ion. Proving that men have just as much style were Bradley Cooper, a former holder of the title “Sexi-est Man Alive”, Usher, and Orlando Bloom. While the cuff links on Cooper’s suit were dazzling, his blue eyes are arguably his best ac-cessory. Straying from tradition, Usher donned an oxblood tuxedo. Bloom turned heads in his black-navy Lanvin tux.

Overall, the 2014 Golden Globes was a success once again for this annual awards show. This is only the beginning of awards season, so stay tuned to see the best of Hollywood in these upcoming galas.

“Globes” from p. 1

Leadership UpdatesOn February 5th, Ms. Williams will be hosting a Gate Seminar in the •dance room from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Senior night for girl’s basketball is on February 5th against Elsie Al-•len at 6:00 p.m.

Senior night for boy’s basketball is on February 11th against Con-•sumnes Oaks HS at 7:00 p.m.

Senior night for wrestling is February 12th at 6:00 p.m. against •Healdsburg HS.

Friday February 28th from 7:30-8:30 a.m. is Tiger Pause with Mr. •Heller.

TIGER TIMES, January 2014Page 8

Latin Translation: “He who has begun has the work half done.” http://www.inrebus.com/latinphrases_a.php

Tiger Times StaffEditor in Chief- Madeline Camilleri

tigertimes.ed@gmail.com

Assistant Editor- Larissa Birthelmer

Assistant Editor- Ashton Fandel

Advertising Coordinator- Kate Stewart

Advertising Coordinator- Alya Bohr

Layout Designer- Julian O’Leary

Staff Photographer- Genean Wrisley

Faculty Advisor- Joel Stickel

jstickel.ahs@wscuhsd.k12.ca.us

Visit us on the web at www.analy.org/tigertimes

As The Snow FallsBy Molly Houston

I look outside my window

my breath fogging up the glass.

The window pane is frozen

and so is the grass in my yard.

It isn’t snowing here,

but it’s just as cold.

Somewhere else in the world

snow falls in flakes.

The wind swirls them,

making beautiful white puffs.

The snow probably is gathering

making piles on their lawns.

Sticking to the roof,

and children’s out stretched tongues.

Here we don’t get to have

the wonders of a white Christmas.

As the snow falls on the

roof tops of houses somewhere else

I think about what it would be like

to just once,

have snow gather in piles on my lawn.

Weird NewsBy Ivan Ost

A Philadelphia man has been of-fering women money to touch him with a slice of Swiss cheese. Police are offering a reward for any infor-mation.

Another Pennsylvania man recent-ly stole 12 bottles of hand sanitizer from UMPC Altoona hospital in central Pennsylvania. When con-fronted, he claimed that he mixes the hand sanitizer with orange juice and drinks it for the alcohol.

An Iowa high school teacher who ate only McDonald’s for 90 days as part of an experiment with his class actually lost 37 pounds, and he experienced a significant drop in cholesterol.

A woman in Australia was so absorbed in her phone that she walked off a pier; she had drifted more than 60 feet offshore by the time she was rescued.

A Canadian woman who had re-

cently experienced a head trauma woke up with a strong Scottish accent. She had never been to the British Isles. Apparently, certain types of head trauma can leave pa-tients with any kind of accent from German to Russian.

When an 18 wheeler hauling beer caught fire due to brake problems, a passing firefighter and the truck’s driver teamed up to use cans of beer to extinguish the blaze.

Mile Marker 420 in Colorado has always been stolen frequently and even more than usual now that recreational marijuana is legal in the state. To combat this, highway officials have replaced the sign with “Mile Marker 419.99” just 53 feet away from the original marker.

An escaped convict in Kansas turned himself into the police, since he wanted to get inside from the freezing cold.

A recently divorced man erected a 12 foot tall brass statue of a hand with an upheld middle finger, which directly faced the home of his ex-wife, who lived next door.

Although echoing 2004’s failed Orange Revolution, which arose in response to Yanukovych’s controversial election, the current protest movement centers around a more international issue. Many in the Ukraine have long sought to obtain closer relations with the Eu-ropean Union, moving away from their historic ties to Russia.

A week ago, this goal seemed within reach, as their presi-dent was set to sign an agreement that would have created a virtual free-trade pact between Ukraine and the EU. However, at the last minute, Yanukovych backtracked and refused to sign the accord, likely influenced by Moscow.

Under Putin, Russia has fought to regain much of the influ-ence it lost following the collapse of the Soviet Union. This has placed many of its former satellite nations in the awkward position of being caught between an increasingly unified Europe and a resurgent eastern neighbor. Russia has even proved willing to fight to regain its clout in the region, as shown by its 2008 war with pro-Western Geor-gia.

Ukraine, as one of the larg-est former communist bloc nations, has found itself increasingly pres-sured by Russia to abandon its EU dreams. Widely-held suspicions that Russian manipulation was behind the eleventh-hour shift in

Yanukovych’s plans were seem-ingly confirmed on December 17th, when the Ukrainian president signed a deal with Putin netting the smaller nation $15 billion in debt relief.

With many returning home to family during the holiday sea-son, the protest movement lost much momentum around the new year and early January Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas celebrations. However, it appears the festivities may have only given the country’s embattled government a temporary reprieve.

Last week, the brutal beat-ing of a prominent opposition leader at the hands of government security forces rekindled the rallies, with an estimated 50,000 appear-ing in Kiev. While a far cry from the massive demonstrations at the movement’s peak, this show of strength illustrates that the struggle over Ukraine’s geopolitical orienta-tion is far from over. With the dis-traction of the holidays passed, and few concessions yet forthcoming from Yanukovych, it seems likely that the protests may grow again.

Although Ukraine’s protests have not yet led, as many hope, to a revolution, they still provide a dramatic illustration of the con-flict sweeping Eastern Europe. As Putin’s Russia makes ever-greater attempts to exert its influence over its neighbors, it is placing itself in direct opposition to the Euro-pean Union. While the general consensus in most of the nations Moscow seeks seems to lie in favor of greater westernization, many of these countries are still heavily reliant on Russia economically. As in the case of Ukraine, this creates serious internal strife, as the will of the people grapples with the power of the purse.

Until this conflict is re-solved, the protests in the Ukraine will likely continue to rage. Even if the current uprising fails, the Western world would do well to take heed of the demonstrators’ message.

As the largest nation in Eastern Europe, Ukraine’s fate may well prove an omen for the smaller countries surrounding it. Should it fall entirely under Russia’s renewed influence, its neighbors appear likely to follow, and the West may be faced with half a continent plunging back into Moscow’s fold.

If the US and its allies in the EU hope to halt Putin’s authoritar-ian advance across Eastern Europe, they should be loath to ignore the struggle of Ukraine’s protesters.

“Ukraine” from p. 1