Baker has grown to be an enor-mous school. In

the morning cars have to slowly move through the line watching for waves of high school kids who walk aimlessly. Baker is now the largest school in Mobile

Coun-ty. This year the school sur-passed

Murphy as the biggest in Mobile County Public School System. According to The Alabama Depart-ment of Education, Baker enrolled around 2,400 students this year com-pared to Murphy’s 2,285. That is a huge increase compared to when past students were enrolled, WAY back when, Baker did not even have a thou-

sand students. In fact, the schools Baker’s Freshman Academy alone has more students than Satsuma and B.C. Rain have in their

whole school. Baker has increased by one thousand students since 2003. The school currently has 120 teach-

ers to accommodate the growing number of kids. The students here are starting to feel the results of the increase. Once the bell rings, thousands of kids file into the hallways at Baker, slowly making their way to class, push-ing and shoving their way through so they are not late. However, Baker’s test scores have been top notch in recent years, which is making Baker an attraction to parents. Mr. Richardson is proud that Baker is doing so well. Although, with so many kids, of course altercations arise, but no more than an average high school, which is a big accomplishment for the number of students. Baker is not yet the largest school

in Alabama; Hoover is still ahead, but only by a very small margin. With all of the new businesses

and subdivisions that are opening in West Mobile, many people assume that Baker will soon pass Hoover High as well. The classes at Baker many times have between 33 and 40 students on the roll. Not so for the Fresh-man Academy, where the school tries to keep the classes under 30. The teachers at Baker are feel-ing the heavy load as they grade more papers than ever and have to deal with 35 high school students per class. People are now discussing the fact that eventually Mobile will have to put another school out near Baker to split the number of students up. Luckily all of the students currently at the school will most likely not have to deal with the change, for this will not happen for another several years, if at all. Until then, students will have to adjust to crowded classrooms and hallways.

HERALDB A K E R H I G H S C H O O L

Volume 1, Issue 4 February 2012

OnTHEInside

3Features

4-5Center

6Sports

7

8theStinger

2Though the year just

started, many anticipate its sudden end.

The Hi-Q team finishes with second

place standing.

Teachers prove that real life writes the best

love stories.

Get a preview of the baseball team’s upcom-

ing season.

Madison Bolt has some siri-ous app

problems.

New release, The Wom-an in Black, has already

attracted new fans.

HORNET

News

ChristopherPatrickStaffReporter

When most people think of beauty

pageants, TLC’s Toddlers and Tiaras and the Miss Congeniality movies prob-ably come to mind. But Baker’s Hornet Night, held on February 4th in the au-

ditorium, meant more than whiny toddlers and F.B.I agents.

Any girl from

Baker can participate in Hornet Night, and there were 22 contestants this year, each representing a different club, organiza-tion, or team from the school. There is a lot of work that goes into pre-paring for the big night, including a solid month of Friday rehearsals, dress fittings, and other routines that are necessary to pull off such an event. On the morning of the pageant, contes-tants went through a series of behind-the-scenes

interviews for the judges. These interviews play a part in the judges’ choices

of winners. The audience, however, did not witness

the interviews, and only saw the beauty/poise and talent section. The young

women participating in the pageant began by parading through the auditorium,

letting the crowd view all the glorious ball gowns. Next, Mrs. Blackburn

introduced the girls individually, listing their achievements or community participa-tions while the judges critiqued their poise and grace, along with their gowns. After the beauty portion, the tal-ent began. There was dancing and singing, along with guitar and piano playing, and a few other talents such as portraying come-dic skits. Then, Mr. and Miss Baker were

presented. This title is awarded to the male and female who are the most well-rounded and overall outstanding students. Congratulations to this year’s Mr. Baker, Ryan Wright, and Miss Baker, Riley Langford. At this point the judges had made their decision, but there were still a few awards to be given to the contestants.

Each year, a “Director’s Award” is given to the

young lady who attended all meetings and rehears-als and turned everything

in on time. This year’s Director’s Award was given to junior Halli Mont-gomery. Also every year, a “Miss Congeniality” title is granted, and this year junior Dallas Baggett received this honor. Finally, it came time to find out the third, second, and first runners up and Miss Hornet 2012. Congratulations to third runner up senior Bree Burrell, second runner up sophomore Carson Smith, and first runner up Dallas Baggett. Miss Hornet receives $500 scholar-ship money to any college of her choosing, for any program or major. This year’s Miss Hornet 2012, and $500 recipient is Dae Jackson, who was rep-resenting the National Honor Society. Everyone is a winner in this contest; congratulations once again to everyone who par-ticipated in Hornet Night 2012.

HannahMaineStaffReporter Dae Jackson is crowned Ms. Hornet 2012.

Half of an average class completely fills the room.

Op/Ed

Hornet Night finalists pose for a photograph.

2 News February 2012Ho r n e t He r a l d

On September 11, 2001, tragedy struck the lives of all Americans. As the twin towers fell upon the

streets of New York, the citizens of the United States of America knew that this

act of terrorism meant war. On March 19, 2003, President George W. Bush launched the first attack on Iraq. Since then, millions of American soldiers have been deployed, some more than once, to the land of the people who once took so many lives of the in-nocent. Now after al-

most nine long years, the current president, President Obama, says it’s time to come home. America’s troops have put their lives on the line long enough. President Obama stated that troops were to be dismissed from all foreign countries by the end of December 2011. With that being said, on December 15, 2011, President Obama made national news that the Iraq war was officially over.

As thousands of soldiers return to their homeland, they are welcomed by family, friends, and open arms. But people soon realize there would not be a parade like the soldiers deserve. According to UT San Diego, “A parade might invite criticism from those who believe the U.S. left Iraq too soon, as well as from those who feel the war was unjustified. It could also trig-ger questions about assertions of victory.” However, some Americans feel that the ap-propriate action should be taken to thank the many men and women who risked their lives for the freedom that Americans experience day by day. As soldiers settle in with their family once again, they later find out they still have one more battle to fight – fi-nancial hurdles. With a smaller paycheck, higher interests rates, and urges to splurge trying to make up for lost time, soldiers get faced with reality that they need to, once again, become employed. Companies all around America are now giving the military first choice in occupation positions. Some Americans are unsettled by the fact that most Americans have been trying to get a job for years while returning troops

automatically gets first choice and are still getting paid by the military. Soldiers are also faced with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after they return. They are home, but in their minds, they are still at war. Symptoms include hyper alert-ness, exaggerated startle response, reclusive from others, and disturbing nightmares and daydreams. This is a cause for medication which the government will not pay for. Not only do they risk their lives for their country, but some soldiers also have to come home to a life of painful and miser-able recollection of what has happened in the past. The soldiers of America should

be put on the highest pedestal, rather than being pushed into a world that has been

foreign to them for years. America was brought together through tears, anger, and pride to fight for the ones they lost and the ones that will never know how it felt on that tragic day.

Millions of men and women stood up to join together as brothers and sisters to come together as one. So welcome these troops home and know that September 11th will always be remembered in the hearts of Americans, but will be cherished for the bravery that flourished because of it. Welcome home soldiers.

JessicaLewisStaffReporter

A T i m e A p a r t

Grand Olde ReviewWith the upcoming presidential

election, candidates have been making themselves known.

These candidates are going to most states and campaigning at caucuses. These presi-dential hopefuls intend to garner enough

votes to make it to the general election. A caucus is a group of individu-als coming together to vote and discuss topics. When applied to the presidential

race, the caucuses permit voters to choose their delegates who will

represent them at the national conven-tion. This allows for the candidates to try and win votes by sending representatives in their place to argue on their behalf or make speeches on their behalf. These represen-tatives will have from one to five minutes to speak on their can-didates behalf. These votes are taken down on a small sheet of paper that has been stamped. The slips of paper are passed in and votes are tallied and placed in a book for viewing. There is a republican and democratic caucus. The republican caucus this year is the larger one of the two. The democrats have an incumbent so their choice is already decided. This means that majority of the caucus locations will go to republican candidates and representatives. It is up to the GOP candidates to spread their human resources and find a way to get to all caucuses and garner votes. This is

usually what stops many candidates from receiving votes. The front running candidates this year are Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain, John Huntsman, Ron Paul, and the often forgotten Buddy Roemer. The only candidates left in the race now are Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and Buddy Roemer. Mitt Romney leads the pack with a large 88 delegates. Newt Gingrich is following behind him with 33 delegates. Amanda Roesler said, “The Iowa Caucus was incredible. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I really want to see how this race plays out.” Ashley Place remarked, “I think it is insane for one state to have that much power. It is the first stop of the year and everyone gets so excited about it.” With many Baker High School

stu-dents being of age and hav-ing the ability to vote; the up-coming election is their chance to make a differ-

ence. Super

Tuesday is their chance to get out and hear their possible president’s representative answer questions as well as speak. Super Tuesday refers to the day where most of the country holds their primary elections to select their delegates. This is when many possible candidates choose to bow out of the race due to not gaining enough del-egates. Make your voice heard and get out and vote.

SterlingSpencerCo-Editor

Republican candidates battle for the nomination.

A soldier kneels on the battlefield.

The EndThere are a large number of people

who believe that December 21, 2012, the world as we know it will

end. They believe that a large portion of the humans on our planet will cease to exist. The Mayan calendar stops at the end of 2012. There are many religious, scien-

tific, astrological and historic reasons why the Mayan calendar foretells the end of life will cease to exist. The Mayan calendar was constructed by an advanced civilization

around 250-900 A.D. Evidence of the Ma-

yan empire stretched around most parts of the Southern State of Mexico, Gua-tannale, Belize, El Salvador and some of Honduras. The Mayans used many different calendars and viewed time as a combining of spiritual cycles. The Mayans combined two calendars to form the “Calendar Round” or long count calendar. This calendar, based on modern dating, goes back to August 11, 3114 B.C. The Mayan long count calendar ends 5,126 years later on Decem-ber 21, 2012. A new Age interpretation of the calendar’s abrupt end is that this date marks the start of time in which our world and its inhabitants may see a physical or spiritual transformation. It does not foretell the catastrophic ending of the world. Scholars from various disciplines do not think the idea of cataclysmic events

will occur in 2012. According to profes-sional Mayan Scholars, predictions of im-pending doom are not found in any of the classic Mayan accounts and the long count calendar ends 2012 does not represent Mayan history or culture. Astronomers and other scientist have rejected the idea of the Doomsday of 2012 as false science or state-ments that are not based on facts. Archae-ologist and mythologists believe what the Mayans predicted and age of enlightenment when the calendar ends. There is not much evidence to suggest that Doomsday will strike. The Mayan’s predictions may signal a religious miracle, not anything sinister. The 2012 phenomenon takes root in the New Age movement and the belief in the secret knowledge of distant times and places. There is no real proven basis

for these beliefs. Modern television and the movie industry have taken advantage of the 2012 projections and are adding “fuel to the fire”. It is possible that the year 2012 will bring the the end of the world as it is currently known. However, no one can know what the future holds. Preditions are

BrittneySmith StaffReporter

The Mayan calendar predicts the world to end in 2012.

Baker High School has assembled some of the brightest minds

in Mobile County. Enter the Baker Hi-Q Team led by Mrs. Keller and Mrs. Place and

con-sisting of ten mem-bers. The Hi-Q team has a wealth of knowl-edge and

lighting fast buzzer reactions. Each member of the team focuses on one of the sixteen specific areas of information ranging from topics such as literature or mathematics. The team members consist of John Scarborough, Kayla Cooper, Taylor Barber, Kevin Aria, Collin Miller, Alphonse Phillips, Chris Mar-

zullo, Kevin Lazarus, Shivani Vashi, and Ryan Santmeyer. A list of exceptionally talented students makes the Baker Hi-Q team tough to beat. Collin Miller, who is a vital member of the team, states that Kevin Lazarus and John Scarbor-ough could be con-sidered the heavy hitters of the team. This is no insult to the other eight members because everyone plays an imperative role as Baker stands 3rd in the county with 90 points, trailing only Davidson, 96 points, and Bryant, 110 points. Baker’s third place standing is a result of ex-treme dedication and hours upon hours of studying. Bak-er is hoping that their diligent work and vast knowledge

will pay off in the semi-finals on either Tuesday, February 28th, or Thursday, March 1st.

On Wednesday, February 8th, the Hornets faced off against fierce competitors Mary G. Montgomery and McGill Toolen. This challenge was not taken lightly by Baker be-cause both schools are recog-nized for their excellent Hi-Q teams and Baker did not want to fall behind either team in

point standings. Baker fell behind early but came roaring back to snag a late lead. They

had an impressive last second surge causes the Hornets to fall at the hands of McGill by seven points with Baker scoring 38, McGill 45, and Mary G. Montgomery plac-ing a distant 3rd with 31 points. A quote from Hi-Q member Collin Mill-er pretty much sums up the day, “The match was close and

McGill and Mary G. Mont-gomery played great games, congrats to both teams.” Overall the Baker Hi-Q team displayed admirable skills and superb sportsmanship and they have the support of the entire Baker community.

3Features February 2012Ho r n e t He r a l d

How did you feel when you found out you made trail?Completely relieved! All the waiting and anxiety was over. I was so excited I wanted to have a party on the spot! I could not stop jumping and I ran like crazy to tell my friends.What was your most embarrassing moment as Trail Maid?My most embarrassing moment was def-initely the time I missed a calendar shoot for my group. It was after band practice and I forgot! I felt awful for days. On my calendar I taped a picture of myself on the page I should have been on.What is your favorite memory as a Trail Maid?I probably had the most fun in Washing-ton D.C., I got to know a lot of the girls better. My favorite appearance though, was a question and answer session with a group of elderly people. It was fun be-cause we were celebrities. I look forward to Dinsey because I’ll be a princess to little girls from all over.How has Trail introduced you to new people?Everywhere I go I meet someone new. Being in a big dress attracts people, and it’s a great conversation starter.In your opinion, what is the purpose of doing Azalea Trail?I’d say the purpose of trail is to make Mobile look good. Trail Maids show the kind of charming, intelligent, and hospi-table people that live in our city.Advice to 2013 Trail Maids?Write all appearances on your calendar so you don’t forget! And check your email. Also don’t gain weight. To girls who want to try out, relax! Just be super friendly.

On the Trail With...Laura Powell

A Journey to the Past The progress from

one stage to another marks one of the key

ideals of the American jour-ney. The nation’s collective

derives from various ethnic and cultural back-grounds which serve

to make up the melting pot the country is today. This month, America recognizes one of the many nationalities that has struggled through opposition to achieve the

status held today. Black His-tory Month throughout the month of February serves as a reminder not just of one communities history, but the history of the nation’s

development. The traveling Smithsonian exhibit “Journey Stories” was recently hosted by Mobile’s National African American Archives & Multi-

cultural Museum. This educa-tional display delves into the pasts of ancestral journeys to America, the effects of which are seen in the nation today. Baker High School’s Multicultural Student Union is soon to set up a display of historical Afican American literature, art, and cultural displays in the Media Center.Inspired by “Journey Stoires,” the purpose of the project is to further expose the student body to the past and in effect greater prepare its members for the future. Students, fac-ulty, and staff are encouraged to check out Baker’s mini exhibit.

Historical literature will be on display in the media center.

MichellePhillips Editor

ChrisPrinceStaffReporter

On t he W inning Te a m

Big Man Josh ShelleyThis year’s Big Man on

Campus was revealed at the Baker versus

McGill basketball game on February 2nd. The recipient of this year’s BMOC honor

was Josh Shel-ley. The senior BMOC was Cody Miller. Josh would like to

thank everyone for voting for him and modestly said, “It’s pretty cool, I guess.” Cody Miller was excited be-cause he has been a winner in BMOC for all four years of his high school career. BMOC is voted on by students at each grade level for the Big Man they would like to win for their grade. The three who received the most votes from

each grade participated in halftime festivities in which the winners were announced. The winner of the freshman class was Christian Bos-ton, who is known for his strength in the weight room. The winner of the sopho-more class was Colin Wood,

who is a very talented cross country runner with great potential. The junior repre-sentative was Tyler Mcilwain. Tyler is an assistant drum major in The Pride of Baker Marching Band. The Big Men were not the only winners on

Thursday night. The basketball team was able to fend off a fierce McGill rally in the second half to pull out a close win. This highly anticipated matchup between the fifth ranked Yellow Jackets and the fourth ranked Hornets lived up to all of the hype. Ahead by eighteen at the half, it looked as if Baker may run away and hide in the second half. However, led by Jason Smith and T.J Lang, McGill took

the lead twice late in the game. The Hornets kept composure despite

the momentum change and were able to come away with the victory behind a raucous crowd at Daniel Bumpers Gymnasium. Once again, congratulations to all the Big Man on Campus winners.

TaylorMooneyStaffReporter

Colin Wood, Cody Miller, Josh Shelley, Tyler McIlwain, and Chrsitian Boston were each recognized at the game.

Competitors anticipate the upcoming question.

“You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.”

“I met Julie at church (in choir actually) during rehearsals for our annual Christmas presentation. I finally got enough courage to ask her on a date a couple of months later. Our first date consisted of a “romantic” walk around the indoor track at our church. Sur-prisingly, she agreed to another date. During the first several months of our relationship, Julie travelled almost constantly because of her job. I really think her time away helped our relationship as we had to really focus on getting to know one another in the limited time we had together.”-Mr. Walton

“My wife worked at the university bookstore. I came in to buy my textbooks. She asked for my schedule and I asked for a date. Actually, we were introduced to each other by a mutual friend. I have been with her since that intro-duction, sixteen years now, thirteen of which we have been married.”-Mr. Rice

“Steve and I met through church camp when we were thirteen yeas old. We kept in touch throughout school

and started dating in college.”-Mrs.Place

“I met Ashley at church. I don’t remember what the sermon was about because I was spending my time checking her out. We started going out a few days later.”-Mr. Daigle

“Terry and I met the summer of our sophomore year in high school. We began dating July 1988 and have been dating ever since.”-Mrs. Dixon

“You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.”

“My husband’s name is Brad. We met in the summer of ‘97. One of my dad’s friends introduced us and the day after we met, we had our first date. The day I met Brad, I just knew that he would be the

man I would spend my life with. Today, we have two hand-some boys, Cole and Logan.”- Mrs. Holbrook

“My wife and I have grown up knowing each other. She is five years younger than me, so I did not pay much attention to her. Later in life, we both went to a Mardi Gras ball without a date. My date stood me up. I noticed her then.

We attended several Mardi Gras balls after that and she turned out to be the one. We had a lot in common and she could throw a baseball better than some guys. I asked her to marry me after a half-Ironman in Panama City, Florida. After 15 years of marriage and three kids we are still getting to know each

other.“-Mr. Connick

“Tony and I both volunteered at Camp Smile. We became good friends first and then started dating several years later.”-Mrs. Barbosa

These teachers have some unique stories of how they met their sweethearts.

“I met my wife in the 9th grade. We were both students at Baker and had Spanish class together. We dated all through high school and college. We have been married 33 years and have two sons who attend Baker and four grandchildren. In the picture I was captain of the football team and my wife was homecoming queen. As captain, I had the honor of placng the crown on her.”-Mr. Richardson

Baker has been a renowned baseball team in the southeast

for years. The 2012 season should be no different for the Hornets. Most of the varsity

players have been together since they were six

years old, play-

ing Tee Ball at Westside Ball Park. Not many players can say they have been play-ing together through high school, but yet, this team has been together since elemen-tary school. The team shares chemistry both on and off the field. According to Cody Miller, the unofficial left fielder for the Hornets, “The expectations are high for this year, we have been playing to-

gether for a long time and we know how one another reacts to situations on the field.” As a team the Hornets have been practicing their whole life to win a championship at a high school level and to be part of the Baker High School baseball dynasty. Wil-liam Glover is the head coach for the Hornets and has had

many years of experience under his belt. With the help from assistant coaches and multiple skilled senior play-ers the team is looking for a ring. The players, coaches,

teachers, and fans all have ex-tremely high expectations for the 2012 baseball season and anticipate the players taking them to state championships. Senior players Cody Miller, Dylan Kiene, Blake Elmore,

Mark Smiley, An-drew Waller, Win-ston Mathis, and

returning from his injury Josh

Shelley, have plenty of expe-rience to lead the underclass-men in the right direction and show guidance to the other players. Baker’s depth chart is filled with strong pitchers

and multi-talented players who are very versatile in their positions; many players are able to adapt to two or three different positions on the field. The teams in their area

are MGM and Blount, and both of these match ups are must wins. Miller commented on who he thought would be the toughest op-ponents this year: “Bryant

is always a hard opponent but Fairhope is a team to watch out for this year and they have strong dynamics.” With that being said, Miller is con-fident in his teammates, and is certain that this year is the Hornets’ year. Come out and support the Baker Hornets and all their success in this year’s ball games.

Ho r n e t He r a l d6 SportsFebruary 2012

H i g h H e a tVarsity Baseball Schedule

Date Time OpponentFeb. 28 6:00 McGillMarch 6 6:00 DaphneMarch 9 5:00 SaralandMarch 10 11:00 CitronelleMarch 10 1:00 LeroyMarch 13 6:00 MurphyMarch 15 6:00 SatsumeMarch 20 4:59 SatsumaMarch 23 6:00 BryantMarch 24 11:00 DavidsonMarch 27 6:00 MurphyMarch 30 6:00 MGMMarch 31 1:00 MGMApril 3 4:00 TheodoreApril 3 6:30 DaphneApril 6 6:00 BlountApril 7 1:00 CitronelleApril 10 4:00 CitronelleApril 10 6:30 FairhopeApril 14 2:00 Faith April 16 5:30 St.Paul

W hat ’s G oing On?Your guide to Baker

Sports 2011-2012

Create a recycling bin for your room.• Even in this digital age, students gener-• ate lots of paper-be sure it finds its final place in a recycling bin.Use sites like Craigslist and Freecycle • to get rid of your old itemsUse empty cans for pencil holders, turn • old shoe boxes into storage, and moreGet used textbooks from stores, class-• mates, or websitesDon’t buy lots of unnecessary items-• you’ll save money and the environmentInstead of buying plastic water bottles • each day, bring your own to refillBuy your furnishings and supplies • locally.Choose biodegradable cleaning • products with minimal toxins for your house.Cut down on costs and save energy by • drying your clothes on a line.Cut down on electricity and heat • damage to your clothing by using cold water in your washing machine.Save thousands of gallons and pounds • of CO2 by reducing your shower time.Instead of plug in air fresheners, you • can use plants that improve indoor air quality.Use decor that you can recycle when • you’ve outgrown it or move out later.Turn on a fan, open a window, or take • a cold shower instead of running the air condition full blast.

CaseyMcSweeneyStaffReporter

Tennis Anyone?Yes, that is right! It is

that time again. Baker’s tennis team has a full

roster of talented players. The tennis team consists of: Kellie

Ballard, Lane Boguski, Jordan Da-cus, Caylin Davis, Hadii El-Sharkh, Braxton Gilbert, Lauren

Griffin, Lindsay Grosz, Tan-ner Hall, Cassie Hall, Janzen Hembree, Jessica Kalagian, Brandon Lawson, Spencer Nunn, Emily Roberts, Logan Singleton, Nathan Smith, Selena Smith, Bailey Smith, and Alex Tucker. The Baker tennis team consists of boys and girls both junior varsity and varsity. There are six girls on the girls’ junior varsity team that are playing on the team

for the first time, which will be a challenging and interesting obstacle for the team. It will be exciting to see how the newbie

athletes compete against the more seasoned players, while the varsity team will have some returning. These combinations will be sure to bring a thrilling and unpredictable season for the year. The first junior

varsity girls’ match was played against McGill Toolen High School’s team. Coach Jeremy Williams said, “I thought

the girls gave a good effort and I hope to continue to see improvement.” In the end, Baker’s junior varsity team did not come away with any victories on the doubles courts. But in the girl’s singles Kellie Ballard won 8-4 and

Cassie Hall won 8-5. Coach Williams commented that the entire team played the net very well and they used good, crisp

volleys. In ten-nis, net play is an essential fundamental to winning tennis matches. The team can build on these skills and develop their ground strokes also. Combining these skills will hopefully lead to victories later in the season.

The junior varsity and varsity boys and girls team will be playing a match Thursday, February 9, 2012, against St. Paul’s. This is sure to be an exciting match. Come out and watch the Hornet Tennis team ace the Saints. Go Hornets!

CollinMillerStaffReporter

Team members practice at the Mobile Tennis Center.

Coach Glover instructs the baseball team.

Basketball Pep Rally 2012

Player Cody Miller pitches the ball.

February 20th-24th

Ho r n e t He r a l d 7Op/EdFebruary 2012

Siri-ously?So everyone knows about the latest

craze, Siri, on the new iPhone 4s. And “everyone who’s anyone” is going out

and snatching it up. Siri, for those of you be-hind the times, is a woman’s voice inside the

phone that will suppos-edly tell you everything you need to know. Siri will tell you where to go, how to get there, and every-

one’s mama who will be there. Seems

like a lot of help right? If you answered yes, you are the weak-est link, goodbye. If you need to know where to hide a dead body, Siri is all about helping out a criminal by giving you information on local reservoirs and ditches to toss it in. I’m not saying I’ve asked, I’m

just throwing it out there. If you need to know where the closest hospital is, though, you might as well just go ask that dead body in your trunk because I guarantee you will get a better answer from it than you will Siri. Siri’s only answers seem to be “I did not understand that” or “hospital is not in your contacts, maybe you meant blah blah blah.” Siri is trifling, that’s all I have to say.

By the way, who decided to put a creepy, monotone voice like that in a phone anyway?

Why not pick a

voice that will brighten my day a little bit? I’d rather listen to Barney answer my questions

incorrectly all day instead of Siri’s stupid self. At least Barney would tell me he loves me. I really want to meet the woman behind Siri and sock her right in the mouth repeatedly until she can no longer speak. You guys with Siri will understand why I’m uncomfort-able with her when she starts talking to you, without you asking a question first, saying, “I know what you did last summer.” Best believe, if I had that phone and she said that to me, the phone would be thrown at the wall as hard and as fast as I could possibly throw it. I don’t even remember what I did last summer so why would you, Siri. In the end, do what you want boo boo. It is your money. Throw it at whatever device you want to buy, but all I’m suggest-ing to you is, don’t get the new IPhone 4s if you are getting it for Siri. It is not worth the money. Just go interact with a human, be-cause Siri is not even close to all it’s cracked up to be. Well, I mean… unless you’re an ax murderer.

A phone user is outraged by the app Siri.

He Said She Said

MadisonBoltStaffReporter

RandomActsofTrivia

A giraffe’s heart is as large as a human’s • headNo word in the the English dictionary • rhymes with “MONTH”.very year, kids in North America spend • close to half a billion dollars on chewing gum.A goldfish has a memory span of about • 3 seconds.Men are 6 times more likely to be struck • by lightning than women.The dot over the letter ‘i’ is called a • tittle.The only domestic animal not men-• tioned in the Bible is the cat.Cockroaches can live for 9 days after • their head has been cut off.In Cleveland, Ohio it is illegal to catch • mice without a hunting license.Tourists visiting Iceland should know • that tipping at a restaurant is considered an insult.Natural pearls melt in vinegar.• Cleopatra married two of her brothers.• Marilyn Monroe had six toes on one • foot Buttermilk does not contain any butter • There are no cemeteries in San Fran-• cisco, CA Kissing is healthier than shaking hands• The reported percent of women who • wash their hands after leaving a rest-room is 80%.If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 • days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.Butterflies taste with their feet• Right-handed people live, on aver-• age, nine years longer than left-handed people.

Mardi

Gras

Break

H e y M r . W e b s t e r , W h a t ’ s t h a t M e a n ? !People down south think that northerners or “Yankees” talk funny. But to us “Yankees,” you

“Rednecks” talk pretty funny too.

In the North: In the South: A rotary is a traffic circle, One of few roundabouts exists in Designed to control flow of traffic. Mobile, Alabama.

A lollipop is hard candy on a A sucker is also hard candy on stick, regardless of size. stick, but the big circular ones are lollipops.

A cart has wheels and A buggy is a basket on wheels as well, and holds groceries while you shop. also makes shopping easier.

Soda is a sweet and bubbly drink; Coke is the universal term for Dr. Pepper, brands include Coke, Pepsi, etc. Sprite, Coke, and any kind of “soda.” “Hey you guys!” is an expression used to “Hey y’all!” is what you say when you greet a group of friends, no matter the approach a crowd of more than one; not

gender. disrespectful around elders.

Girls think they are good at everything. Okay, I’ll give them cooking, clothes, and cleaning, but driving is definite-ly not one of their strong points. While they are texting and driving with their knees I’m in the passenger seat trying not to

have a heart attack. One more thing that women are terrible at is multitasking, although you may be good at cooking don’t

try to roll my sushi while you’re behind the wheel, doing your make-up and beating your children is also another negative while driving. It may be the girl’s car but the guy should always drive. Getting there quicker and safer is the objective and the man can do that.

Xbox! Xbox! Xbox! Guys love to play video games because we do not want to have to deal with our regular boring lives and our nagging girlfriends. Let me play this last Call of Duty match then you can control the rest of my life but in the mean time will you please go make me a sandwich. Yes, I didn’t text or call you back because I was playing COD, not because I was with another girl, not be-cause I didn’t want to talk to you but because I just wanted to shoot people in a video game. Please, girls, give us our 20 minutes or maybe 5 hours of peace and let us nerd out for a little bit and play video games. Every once in a while if you can’t beat them…. Join them!

First of all, can we get one thing straight? All girls are not bad drivers. Do I need to repeat that? All girls are not bad drivers. Who cares if you are embarrassed to pull up at a place and get out of the passenger side of the car, get over it. It is not a big deal at all. In case if some of you people did not know, boys insurance is higher than girls be-cause of their heavy foot, and their wondering eyes, and their daring minds to show off for the girls. Most of girls are so much more cautious while driving than boys. Majority of the girl’s wrecks is not their fault. Some girls actually pay atten-tion to the road and their surroundings, unlike the fellows. If your girl wants to drive, let her drive because there would be a less chance of a wreck happening, than if you are driving 90 mph in a 45 zone while you are on Facebook and texting. So next time, do the smart thing to save your life and let your girl drive.

X-box is by far the most worthless invention in the world. How is it possibly entertaining sitting in front of a T.V., with your eyes glued to the screen for hours at a time? It is ridiculous how much guys enjoy killing zombies rather than going out on a date with their girlfriends. It is accept-able to play the worthless game when you are completely bored, but when it is in the broad daylight and your friends or girlfriend want to hangout with and you become a low life and put X-box before them, that is when you have a problem. No one wants to be put after a video game. Can you take X-box to the movies? No. Can you take X-box out to eat? No. If X-box is in your daily, hourly life, then you should not even be worthy enough to have a social life.

Should the male or female dr ive on a date?

D o y o u h a v e d i f f e r i n g o p i n i o n s a b o u t X b o x ?

JordanMcElroy & CaseyMcSweenyStaffReporters

8The StingerFebruary 2012Ho r n e t He r a l d

The Hornet Herald is published by the Journalism class of Baker High School. The objective of the Hornet Herald is to publish a factual, informative, and entertaining newspaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints.

The opinions and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all Herald staff members.

The newspaper reserves the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment.

The Herald will not print obscene or libelous submissions, nor submissions that target an individual.

Advertisements that are obscene, misleading or illegal to minors will not be printed. The Herald reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Herald staff at 221-3000.

HornetHerald

Editor-in-ChiefMichelle Phillips

Co-EditorsLogan SingletonSterling Spencer

Staff ReportersMadison BoltJessica Lewis

Hannah MaineJordan McElroy

Casey McSweeneyCollin Miller

Taylor MooneyMatthew O’Neal

Christopher PatrickChristian Perkins

Chris PrinceBrittany Smith

Tiara Thompson

An A-List DebutWhether one is head-

ed to the “Frick Park Market”, or at

the livest “Party on Fifth Ave.”, chances are, he will be hear-

ing Mac Miller’s new debut album, Blue Slide Park. After releasing his latest, very suc-cessful, mix tape, Miller

introduced his first official album on November 8, 2011. The album, which features a unique blend of abstract beats, along with mind blow-ing lyrics, topped the charts for only a few days. In most

of the songs featured, Miller expresses his love of his home city, Pittsburg, and in one song, mentions his Jewish heritage. One thing that is notice-ably different from his songs compared to others is that, in my opinion, he does not go overboard when rapping about his money or all the girls he probably does not get. He is honest and that is all an artist needs to be. He came out of the blue as a wannabe rapper, who had not even put out an album. Now, however, he is an A-list celebrity singing and rap-ping about how he will never change, always smile back, and stay real. He has the music, he has the lyrics, heck, he even has some of the illest flows since the old school Ludacris! What more could a hip-hop

fan want in an artist? Miller’s new success has attracted more than a few critics or as he might call them, “haters”. These new “haters” were not unexpected. Face it; he is a rich, 20-year-old whose music is all but usual. While most of his songs are hip, some are a little off the wall. A few of the beats sound like something that one’s grandma might have listened to when she was a teenager. Whether people like his music or not, I can guarantee all that Mac Miller’s career is far from over. If what he says in his music is true, Miller will be working every day to outdo

himself, and to once and for all silence his haters. In one of his songs, Miller says, “You could have reality in the palm of your hands, but it don’t mean squat ‘till you change it”, and in my opinion, Miller has done just that. He has changed his own reality, along with the real-ity of the hip-hop industry forever.

ChristianPerkinsStaffReporter

T h e D a r k e s t 2 H o u r s Recently, moviegoers have been

herded like cattle into crowded theaters full of obnoxious teenage

girls anxiously awaiting the “jumpy part” so they can leap into the muscular arms of

their Hollister t-shirt wearing boyfriends. Movies like The Devil Inside and The Thing bring height-ened sales, as well as disappointment among audiences. It has been a long time since a horror movie has been released without over-hyping

itself in its trailer. Lucky for us, The Woman in Black is here to pull us out of this funk. Directed by newcomer James Watkins, The Woman in Black is a break from the norm. While it does have plenty of parts to make you spring from your seat, its plot and cast put it apart from other modern horror films. Though it isn’t

daringly original, The Woman in Black has something that today’s cookie-cutter hor-ror movies don’t; Daniel Radcliffe. When a name like his is thrown around, the excitement builds, and it’s shown in sales

with over $20 million brought in on its first weekend. After his enormous success with the Harry Potter series, Radcliffe has been looking for ways to break his label of “the

boy who lived”, and he found his refuge here. While he may remind viewers of a young wizard at the beginning of the film, this opinion will be changed by its conclu-sion. Based off of the novel by Susan Hill, the story begins with a lawyer named Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) preparing to set off on a trip to a small village to set-tle the estate of a deceased woman whose ghost has been terrifying inhabitants of the town. After staying in the house for a short while, Arthur uncovers dark mysteries about the estate that he never expected.The Woman in Black is a bone chilling film that will grab viewers by the throat at its climax, thrash them about, and choke them all the way up until its shocking conclusion.

MatthewO’NealStaffReporter