Home for the holidays

I am going back home for Christmas break! This is the first time in four years I will spend the holiday with my family in Korea. Although I went home during summer, I couldn't spend any holidays with my parents because there are no holidays during that time.

Humans are social beings that require close relationships with other people. As they live in this world, people make various groups. Among those, the closest relationship would be their family. That is why people say, "Blood is thicker than water." Especially in my culture, the relationship with family is one of the most important aspects in our life. We have to visit our parents and grandparents to show our respect. When they are old, we have to take care of them. As the youngest child in my whole family, it is my job to please my grandparents. Since I did not visit them for years, I felt bad for it.

When North Korea attacked South Korea a month ago, I was really depressed. I started worrying about my family. What if something happens to my family? Shouldn't I have to visit my grandparents often since they are so old?

So when I got this chance to go to home, I was so excited. If I was an American, who express their feelings well, then I would almost cry because I was so happy. The thing I am most looking forward to is talking--talking to my family and friends and sharing all the news. After that, I will eat Korean homemade food. I will meet my friends and visit all the places I want to go. Also, I will feel the warmth in my country since Chicago is freezing cold.

If anyone wants to come with me, you are more than welcome to.

By Yoha Lee

Firchau Day a Success

December 11 marked a day to remember: Westminster Christian’s first ever Firchau day.

The event, planned by the Pep Club, took place throughout all 5 of the games. Posters of Firchau covered the school while Firchau masks swept the stands; every fan in attendance was in for a night to remember.

Each game had its own special Firchau half time challenge in which 3 selected crowd members came up to compete. The half time events included Firchau trivia and pin the mustache on Firchau. Third place was awarded the famed starlight mints, proven to give energy and passed out to each of the varsity players before every game. Second place winners were given a glasses, nose, and mustache combo accessory. And the winner of every event received the $10 iTunes gift card.

The attendees of the games were encouraged to dress up like the Westminster coach. The most popular Firchau accessory was, of course, the legendary mustache. The top three finalists for best Firchau look alike were: Coach Flickenger (who nobly shaved off his own beard to create his own Firchau mustache), Taylor Battle, and Esther Kim. School spirit was in the air as Pep Club led chants of Firchau’s most famous quotes, including: “Jiminy Christmas!”, “Boy am I hot!”, and “I wouldn’t want to be in a foxhole with you!” In addition, special Firchau inspired cheers took place during the time outs.

All in all, Pep Club set the stage for true school spirit while honoring one of the school’s most renowned coaches.

By Ellie Fink 

Bergdahl's capture

In June of 2009, US soldier Bowe Bergdahl was captured by eight armed members of the Taliban. Recently, a video was released showing Bergdahl alive dressed in Afghan clothing. As of now, no one knows where he is. He appears to be thinner and covered in bruises in the video, showing that these Taliban members have mistreated him. They gave themselves away to the world as a terrorist group.

These guys better watch their backs. They think they’re all sneaky and cool because they have an American soldier, but they will regret it when we find them. It really hurts to think that someone would actually steal and torture an innocent person. I hope Bergdahl is still alive when they find him, his family deserves to sleep in peace.

By Kelly Beecher

A cheerleader’s perspective

A lot has been accomplished within the past two months for the cheer squad, which has many new additions from last year.

The first game the cheerleaders cheered at this season was the boys’ season opener in the Thanksgiving tournament. The stunts were great, and included basket tosses, twist-downs, and extensions. Personally, I’ve learned many new cheers and was excited to watch the squad's perfect our dance routine. Some of my favorite cheers are "Rock and Roll" and "Now We’re Ahead."

On Friday, Dec. 3, we cheered for our first away game at Rockford Christian. At first we were really psyched, but then we found out they also had cheerleaders, and became a little nervous. We tried to push aside our nervousness, and we got through the first half successfully. At half-time we were delighted to hear that the Rockford Christian Cheerleaders had snacks for us. After that we were no longer nervous.

In recent weeks we have finalized some new stunts. One of our new stunts includes a one man, which is when one base holds a flyer. Another is a full-liberty. This is when we go into an extension, and the flyer is on one foot and the other is held up, by the knee. Other stunts that we’ve perfected include twist downs, extensions and sweeps. We are planning to go to competition at the end of February. Till then, come watch us while we cheer at basketball games.

                        By: Ashley Kivikoski

Winter Pick Me Up

What is the thing that everyone wants when it starts to get cold out? Hot chocolate, of course! There are lots of different types of hot chocolate. Here is a recipe for my favorite gourmet version.

Ingredients: 

One half teaspoon of vanilla

Two scoops of Ghirardelli hot cocoa

One cup of milk

One candy cane

Put the vanilla and hot cocoa in the cup, heat up the milk and pour it over the cocoa and vanilla.  Then stir it with the candy cane and let it melt. There you have it-- a sweet, smooth, and festive hot chocolate.  Try it out and I hope you enjoy it on a cold day.

By Claire Kuda

Palin has followers

 How long would you wait in line to meet a celebrity? What about a politician? Or would you stake out to meet a political celebrity? A 66 year old man waited 17 ½ hours in line to greet Sarah Palin in Cincinnati. David Richardson is an elderly man who believes in Sarah Palin, enough to wait in line for countless hours to have her sign his book and tell her how much she means to him and America.

“I think she’s behind the single biggest change in politics and political discussion in the United States," said Richardson. “She’s inspired so many others to run for office at the local level, from city councils to township commissions,” Richardson added. “As those people begin to take office, it’s going to transform this country. And it’s all going to be because of her.”

Sarah Palin said she feels humbled by the experience of having so many people supporting her at such events. David obviously shows no concern for the fact that Palin is a woman, and he strongly supports what she’s moving toward. A man who grew up in a generation when women were not typically considered as “Equals” he sees this as a chance for history to mold itself. A woman is standing her ground and making an impact as we saw with the Tea-Party movement. Keep in mind that he was not alone in this line. Many people are backing up the Palin movement, and we’ll soon see how things turn out with Presidential candidates coming out for the 2012 elections.

By Anais Tabor

"High School Superstar"

"High School Superstar"

All around the nation there are high school athletes competing in various sports.  Some of these athletes are considered "superstars" or "celebrities" around the school, in the community, or in some circumstances the nation.  However, most of these gifted players don't play for their team or school.  I find that these "superstars" are just looking to put on a show and boost their own statistics.  I have personally witnessed a couple of these players in action. 

 I watched a student at the state finals 2 years ago play.  He was, of course, a highly talented player dunking and making several moves on offense to get his points.  However, he didn't hustle and played lazy for the most part.  This game was the state championship game too.  One would think since this was his last game of the year he would go all out and leave it on the floor.  This was not the case, however, and his team lost by around 6 points.  So maybe if this "star" left his ego at home and played for his team they could’ve won the state championship. 

 Another example that I recently witnessed was the play of a student from East Aurora.  He is a top recruit and player out of Illinois who has committed to the University of Connecticut.  I was expecting great things from his play.  He of course put on a show with his skills. The first example that he wanted a "show" and not a good team game was when he had an alleyoop dunk in the first half.  He proceeded to hang on the rim twist around and do a chin-up; of course he got a technical foul.  He's lucky he is a star player and not a regular one because the coach would’ve chewed him out.  Countless times during the game he would taunt the South Elgin fans making signals, like pretending to smoke.  The last example that really ticked me off was when his team was up by around 30 in the 4th quarter and his coach took him out.  He had 34 points and played a solid game statistically even though he didn't play much defense or with any hustle or passion for the game.  While on the bench he proceeded to get mad at his coach for taking him out.  He did this the rest of the game and didn't even cheer on his own teammates.  This is a clear sign that he clearly doesn't play for his team, just himself. 

Though these two players are highly skilled and will have good careers the "superstars" of the high school world have lessons to learn.  They need to respect the game and people who have played before them.  They need to play and act like a team, play with passion, and work hard.  They need to stop acting like "superstars" and act and play with the team.  This is how a true player plays.

By Andrew Mason

The best of Android and PSP

Playstation is making yet another gaming system, only this time you can make calls on it! The Sony Ericsson Zeus Playstation Phone, also called Zeuz Z1, will soon make its way on to the technology scene. It will have apps, just like the iPhone, plus an actual Playstation option. It's all touch screen until you turn it on its side and slide up to find the same buttons you would on a Playstation remote. Some people are calling it a PSP Go with a talking facility. It has  512MB of RAM and 1GB of storage. There's also a camera, which is 5 megapixels, and has a four inch screen. It is called Zeus because its creators' intend on it setting standard for ultimate gaming devices.

            By: Becky Welc

Update on Korea

On Nov. 23, North Korea suddenly bombed Yeonpyeong Island and killed two South Korean marines and two civilian construction workers. The attack was the first one on land since the Korean War, which ended in 1953. This attack also marked the first civilian deaths in an assault since the bombing of a South Korean airliner in 1987. According to the town hall, 44 islanders and marines were wounded in the attack, while 25 homes were completely destroyed and 78 more were damaged.

Most residents of the island fled to the South Korean mainland. Many of them are afraid of another attack and said that they will not go back to their home.

For nearly 60 years, North and South Korea have faced each other across one of the world's most heavily armed borders, since there was never a peace treaty signed. People say that one reason for bombing the South is to help North Korean's succession for a third generation. Even South Korea's intelligence chief has said that North Korea will likely attack South Korea again in order to bolster the handover of power from Kim Jong-il to his youngest son.

Many South Koreans are mad at the government for its response to the attack. South Korea's defense minister has resigned after facing criticism that the government responded weakly to North Korea's artillery attack when the South Korean soldiers responded to the attack by firing 80 shells back across the border.

This problem is difficult to figure out. The government is stuck in a dilemma because they want to demonstrate its resolve against North Korea while at the same time preventing war.

By Yoha Lee

Christmas Traditions

There is a great tradition in my family and I believe in many other families as well; putting up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. 

Every year after we have stuffed ourselves for the second day with stuffing and turkey, we get our tree and put it up.  My mom puts the twinkling lights on the inside of the tree, and I take over from there.  I wrap the tree with some more lights, non-twinkling ones, and put the ornaments on. 

There’s a theme to my styling every year.  This year I chose to use red and gold ornaments and some angel ornaments that we have had for years.  We usually make hot chocolate, put on some Christmas music and light a fire in the fire place to get into the Christmas spirit. 

So when you're putting up your tree, remember that it can be a great time for family.

By Claire Kuda

Time to take the test of the semester

 It is the season to be jolly, thankful, and, worst of all, stressed. Before all the sleep, play, and presents there are the dreaded finals. As the first snow begins to fall, students are anticipating the upcoming major event of the semester. Legs are shaking; nails are being bitten. The stress is building as the December days pass by. Study guides are made along with flash cards, practice tests, study partners, and end of the chapter reviews.

However, people find ways to keep themselves calm. Some like getting a good amount of sleep, while others like making sure they eat right. At times, people simply like lying around. Other ways of dealing with stress are listening to music, taking a walk, chatting with friends, watching fish in an aquarium, playing with pets, drawing pictures or coloring, dancing, praying, watching snow fall, pampering oneself, prioritizing, making a schedule, and many more.

The difficulty levels of dealing with stress are harder for some than others. For instance, students have been known to clean their room like there’s no tomorrow. Others push themselves harder in their sports’ games and practices. Also, some of the stressed people attempt to cook everything they can.

There is no way to avoid finals, but there are always ways to stay calm and relaxed. It helps to start studying ahead of time and to study little by little every night before you go to bed. Actually, it is proven that if you study or read something right before you go to bed, you can recall that information better.

Remember to take everything a step at a time, you can always ask for help, and it is fun to step in fresh snow to get your mind off of finals!

By Becky Welc

Actor Kills Mom with Samurai Sword

Michael Brea had minor roles in the ABC television show “Ugly Betty” and the movie “Step Up 3D.”  However,  he is  now achieving more fame,  but not from more television shows or movies. Recently he was charged with the of killing his mother with a samurai sword inside their apartment on Nov. 23, 2010, in Prospect Heights.

            Brea told the police that he had seen the devil in his mother.  According to police, he killed his mother shouting “sinner,” “repent,” and neighbors say they heard him yelling, “You never accepted Jesus.”

            However, neighbors are upset with the police about this particular situation.  They say the police waited about an hour before entering their apartment.  One neighbor said that he could hear her groaning, but she was not dead.  He also said that if police would have entered right away, Michael Brea’s mother, Yannick Brea, would have still been alive today. 

            According to friends and neighbors, Brea was a friendly man with no known history of mental illness.  However, Brea has been arrested for murder and is getting psychiatric treatment at Kings County Hospital. 

By: Elizabeth Farwell

"You Can't Take it With You" a Success

Dec. 4 was the opening night of the high school play, “You Can’t Take it With You.” 

This play is a comedy is about a young couple, recently engaged, who come from very different families. Alice Sycamore, played by Allison Sleeting, lives in a home whose family's social structure is far from normal, while Tony Kirby, played by Bryce McAuliffe, is part of a high class, structured, business family.

The pivotal part of the play was the dinner shared between the two families. This is when the drastic differences between the two families is brought out directly for the audience. The list of fiascoes starts with the Kirby family arriving on the wrong day. From then on, the night continues into a spiral of madness.

The play is high energy and rarely encounters a dull moment. The long line of somewhat random characters keeps the audience on their toes. The entire cast delivered a successful performance that provided the audience with a fulfilling comedic experience. Thank you to everyone who supported the cast by coming to the show and congratulations to everyone involved in the production!

By: Ellie Fink

The Forgotten Prince

With the media’s current infatuation with Prince William and his engagement to Kate Middleton, it seems as though the little brother, Harry, has been pushed aside. Well, I think it’s time he was given some attention!

Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales is third in the line of succession to the throne of 16 different countries, though primarily to the United Kingdom. He is the son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, and was born on Dec. 21, 1984.

He attended Eton College where he studied geography and art. After graduation, he spent a year in Australia where he worked on a cattle ranch and competed in polo and rugby. He also spent time in the African nation of Lesotho, working with orphans and producing a documentary known as The Forgotten Kingdom. He is responsible for the creation of Sentebale - a charity to aid children orphaned by HIV/AIDS based in Losotho. 

After his time abroad in 2005, the young prince returned home and enlisted in the Royal Military Academy. While in Afghanistan, Harry had called in United States Air Force air strikes, helped Gurkha troops repel an attack from Taliban insurgents, and performed patrol duty in hostile areas. In 2008 he was decorated with the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan.

Harry’s recent desire has been to fly military helicopters in the Army Air Corps, just as his brother, father and uncle did, and he was presented with his wings in early 2010. Clearly “His Royal Highness Henry of Wales” is worthy of more attention than he receives. At the young age of twenty-six, the prince has accomplished more than some do in an entire lifetime.

By: Anne Lehan

Yoha loves Brad Pitt

Age is just a number for actor Brad Pitt who was born in December 1963, making him 46 years old now. Although he is old, he is still active and doing a lot of work.

After being raised in the Midwest, Pitt moved to Los Angeles, two weeks before earning his degree. After working odd jobs, he landed his first starring role in the 1994 movie, Interview with the Vampire acting alongside Tom Cruise. In 1999 he furthered his acting career in the movies, Seven, 12 Monkeys and finally, Fight Club. Through these movies he became popular and still impresses many people with his acting.

Appearance is also very important to Brad Pitt and has been described as one of the world's most attractive men. He was selected as the "most attractive" man alive twice by People magazine. In the movie Fight Club and Troy, Pitt worked out to look strong. He took lessons in boxing, taekwondo, and grappling. Of course, people praised him for his work and physique.

Along with his acting career and flawless appearances, Pitt owns a production company named Plan B Entertainment. He is busy with acting and producing movies, being a hard worker, and continues to be the most attractive movie star in the world!

By Yoha Lee

Pull up your pants!

Pull Up Your Pants

Johnson was Black Friday shopping wearing saggy pants. While shopping Johnson faced ridicule from other shoppers, who decided to do something about this unwanted sight. The security guard approached Johnson and told him to pull up his pants, which he did. But, when the security guard saw Mario later in the checkout line, his pants were once again low.

As soon as Mario was reproached, the tensions rose. Profanity was shouted and fingers were pointed. The police arrested Mario Johnson at 5:30 a.m. He is now being charged with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct and is being held on a $500 bond in Shelby County Jail.

By Anais Tabor“Looking like a fool with your pants on the ground,” ---- This famous quote from an American Idol hopeful can also be applied to Black Friday Wal-Mart shopper, Mario Johnson, in Memphis, Tenn., who was arrested for indecent exposure. 

Comic book fun

One of the easiest and most popular ways to spend free time is reading comic books. With detailed description and interesting stories, comics will show you a new world.

Japan is well known for their huge comic market. Their comics,  called Manga, and animations not only earn a lot of money from other countries but also help create a good image of Japan.

There are hundreds of different comic books in the market. Here are some famous Manga:

"Bleach": This is about adventure of Ichigo, a soul reaper. He tries to defend people from evil spirits. Right now he is working on controlling his power and saving his friend. The series is not done yet and has unreleased issues.

"D. Gray - Man": A handsome boy, Allen Walker, becomes an Exorcist, and destroys Akuma, monsters. With his special left eye, he can distinguish between normal people and Akuma. One of his duties is to find Innocence, and fight against the Noah family. But people find out that 14th Noah has a connection with Allen. This series also is not finished yet.

"Case Closed": Also known as Meitantei Conan, this comic is a famous detective series. One day, Conan was attacked by strangers and became a little kid. Since he cannot speak in public as a kid, he decided to stay close to his friend's father, a private investigator. He helps solve criminal cases and helps people through the investigator.

"Dragon Ball": Although it is an old comic book, many people still love it. It is a story of Son Goku training his fighting skills and searching for seven dragon balls, which are known for answering one's wish. There are over 40 issues in this popular series.

"One Piece": This is the best-selling comic book in Japan. Recently the 60th volume was released and over two million copies were sold within a week. It tells of the adventures Monkey D. Luffy and his pirates have. Monkey D. Luffy is exploring the ocean and searching for the treasure, One Piece, so that he can be a Pirate King.

By Yoha Lee

Turkey Day recovery

Unfortunately, school’s week-long holiday break is over, and Thanksgiving along with it. However, is it possible to still be stuffed from all that food? I think so!

Many of you probably filled yourselves to the brim with turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, corn, pie, and more on Thanksgiving Day. When everyone had their fill of food and family, it was time to slip into a deep slumber.

Of course, it was probably no surprise that the next day would consist of the very same foods when it came to lunch time. Once again, most people continued to eating turkey, mashed potatoes, and more. By the third day, this giant feast of Thanksgiving food was most likely not as appealing as the first day, not to mention that your belly might be feeling a bit full.

Now that we’re back in school, some of you still might have Turkey Day hangover. This means that your lunch is made up of many Thanksgiving food items, your stomach feels like it’s about to burst, and you most likely just want to sleep. Well, have fun eating up all of those delicious Turkey Day leftovers for days to come!

By: Brittany Booth

Multi-faceted Fruit

What do you think of when you hear the word apple?  Do you think of a sweet, juicy red apple?  Or a crisp green one with a sour bite?  Maybe you think of apple pie, or caramel apples.  There are tons of different kinds of apples, each with their own unique flavor and use.  Some apples are used mainly for eating, such as Gala, or Red Delicious.  Some are just for baking, like the Cortland or Haralson.  But no matter what, apples are a great, healthy snack.

Remember an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

            By. Claire Kuda

The Exciting Saga Continues

The most widely anticipated movie of the year is coming to theaters in less than two days. Tickets for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" (part 1) are already getting sold out. This news is very exciting, but also quite bittersweet at the same time. Harry Potter, the world’s longest running book-movie franchise, is coming to an end.

These books and films have grown into a worldwide phenomenon, starting back in 1999, when the first book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," topped the New York Time’s best sellers list. Two years later, the first Harry Potter movie was made, becoming instantly popular.

Six books and five films later, people all over the world have become attached to the enchanting story of a boy wizard and his friends who help him battle the forces of evil. This week, the first part of the seventh movie is about to come out. This will surely be an exciting and emotional journey for everyone who watches.

By: Brittany Booth

This week in chapel

This week Pastor David Williams of Westminster Presbyterian Church spoke in the high school and middle school chapel.

His message on the Lord's Prayer was a continuation from the previous week. Pastor Williams first focused on the hallowed name of God. In today's society, the name of God is used both lightly and in vain. Calling God's name hallowed, or Holy, gives His name a place of reverence, one that is too often ignored. His Holy name also creates separation. In order to align with Christian principals, one must keep the Father as the number one priority. Anyone who does not live as a Christ follower says the Lord's Prayer in hypocrisy.

Mr. Williams will be continuing his series at the return from Thanksgiving break.

By Ellie Fink

Prince William Engaged

After rumors lasting two weeks regarding Prince William proposing to long time girl friend, Kate Middleton, his proposal was officially announced on Tuesday, November 16.  The couple met about 10 years ago at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.  When the two started dating there was some disagreement because she is not royalty and it is was expected for William to marry a woman of royalty.  However, many announced that they were happy for the couple.

It has been reported that Prince William respectfully asked his own father for permission to marry Kate.  He proposed with Princess Diana’s ring, which she received from Prince Charles.  After the marriage they plan to move to Wales.  Prince William and Kate Middleton are planning the wedding to be in London, in either  spring or summer time of next year. 

            

Prince William is second in line for the throne after his father, Prince Charles, and Queen Elizabeth is currently on the throne.  After Prince Charles takes the throne Kate Middleton will be the princess.  Royalty watchers are anticipating this wedding to be the wedding of the century.

By: Elizabeth Farwell

Theaters stop moviegoers from quality entertainment

The Day was November 5th and right when I got home from school, I went straight to the computer and looked up show times for Danny Boyle's new film “127 Hours” which had just been released. But, to my dismay, I noticed that it wasn't playing at the Lake in the Hills theatre or in Elgin. So then I checked Barrington, which usually shows more independent films since they have more screens. I was almost sure this would be the case, but then to my complete anguish I saw that it wasn’t showing there either.

At this point I realized that to see this movie I would have to go into downtown Chicago. I was very frustrated, to say the least. I thought that with Danny Boyle's recent mainstream success in the form of his film “Slumdog Millionaire," people would jump on his next film, at the very least because of his past popularity. Also, it stars James Franco, who is a very popular actor. The fact that it is based on a true story, alone, should get some people curious about the film. But I shouldn’t have been surprised about the films limited release.

Only a month earlier a film that was receiving a lot of hype in the indie film community, “Buried,” was supposed to be released in limited theatres on Sept. 24th. Like “127 Hours,” this film was also released in limited theatres, and also like “127 Hours” I didn't quite understand why. “127 hours” and “Buried” both have a very popular lead actor. In “Buried” Ryan Reynolds was the lead, who had just garnered a lot of popularity in his film "The Proposal” in 2009.

Now, turn back the clocks to August-- there was a little Australian gangster film called “Animal Kingdom” that looked amazing, and of course--you guessed it!--that movie was released in an extremely small number of theatres as well. And this is just to name a few--the list goes on, and over the years it seems the list has been getting longer. Why has this happened? Why is it that the society we now live in promotes films like "Vampires Suck," which has literally no cinematic quality whatsoever? These "movies" (since actually referring to them as movies is degrading to the term) get months in theatres worldwide and make millions of dollars, while small independent films never get to see the light of day.

In the end, my ranting is most likely falling on deaf ears since it is you, the viewer, who is to be blamed for all this. Since there is no demand for quality films anymore, theatres don’t show them because they are trying to run a business, and, to do that, they want to make some money. Sure, movie theatres have become extremely greedy lately with high ticket prices and ridiculously expensive snacks, but that’s another debate for another time. I understand the argument that each person is entitled to his/her own opinion. But I refuse to believe that I'm the last moviegoer in the world that demands high quality films. Please, if you read this and you also enjoy watching movies, then you should speak up. Movie lovers everywhere have to speak up and save what you love. On the other hand, if it is the case that I am the last movie fanatic left in the world, then the future of cinema is going to be very bleak and it will only get worse from here.

--Ben Stevenson

Obama still on tour

Obama has been on tour for quite some time now. He recently returned from his exhausting trip and hasn’t much to show for it. He was on tour through India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan for a total of 10 days. He was hoping to make a free-trade bill with South Korea but failed to do so.

“I think Asia is eager for American engagement and leadership," Barack Obama said on Air Force One on his way back home.

However, the results of the trip speak the opposite of what he thinks. It’s as though the governments of the Asian countries he visited banded together to work against him, rather than with him. It’s very obvious that with these results the world is responding in accordance to how they think they’ll get immediate results.

The world wants results, as the American people have recently proven in the elections. The economies of Asia are “moving,” as Obama said.

“We should feel confident about our ability to compete, but we are going to have to step up our game,” Obama said.

In this economy and in the recession, the American people do not want to “step up the game.” We want recovery and jobs. One of the last things on American minds is the Asian economy. We need to stop competing with other countries and focus on our own. Was it not enough we voted most of his people out in the previous election? Obviously Obama needs to listen to the people and focus more on fixing ourselves, rather than be the world's police.

By Anais Tabor

Interview of the Week: Tim Pienkowski

             Freshman Tim Pienkowski is in his first year here at WCS. Another name his friends call him, besides Tim, is “Ethy.” He’s a fighter and participates in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). He also plays the guitar and likes to air soft. His favorite color is black and his favorite sport is, of course, MMA. Like many pet-owners, Ethy has a dog. Also, he has two siblings. Tim’s favorite class of the day is study hall.

    If you’re interested in completing an interview and letting your fellow students get to know you better, please contact Becky Welc or Miss Shloss for more details.

    By: Becky Welc

Students overwhelmed with workload

Many high school students today feel overwhelmed by the amount of schoolwork they receive. The balance of academics with the arts, athletics, and other social involvement requires a particular use of time management. Despite the students’ efforts to manage their responsibilities, the strain of academics remain.

A recent poll taken within the Westminster walls shows that 80 percent of the high school students feel overloaded by homework. Such a high percentage reflects the overwhelmingly high effects of school bombardment. The poll displays that well over half of the student body is, quit simply, stressed.

Stress seems to be a close friend of today’s society. Do the extreme stress levels really begin before students are even out of the house? If an adult was to explain his or her day as going to work for eight hours, then engaging in an activity for two to three hours, until finally returning home at night and doing an average of two to three more hours of work, and then repeating the process five days a week, they would most likely be labeled a workaholic. Why is it then that the high school students have been forced into such a lifestyle? If the work pattern has been labeled unhealthy for adults, wouldn’t it be even unhealthier for a teenager?

The level of expectancy students are given are both overwhelming and unrealistic.

By Ellie Fink

What you see is not always what you get

College websites: Navigating within the sites can be a hard and tedious task. A college may look as if it’s your ideal place to be for the next four years, at least until you visit. College marketing is a large market in today’s society. The universities can make their school look as if it’s the most beautiful campus, with the most attractive student body. This is why you need to be sure that you’re going to visit schools.

 

Once you arrive for the visit, be sure to ask the guidance counselor a variety of different questions. Ask questions about the student body, activities on weekends, transportation, even scholarships. Also be sure to check out the student body and make sure that you’d be comfortable with them and would hang out with those kinds of people. Also, one of the most important is to sure you like the professors. Now, realistically, you’re not going to like every professor you have, but you should get a feel for what you’re getting yourself into. Also, a tip for when examining websites. When you’re looking at schools online be aware that they’re presenting you with their best possible information and that you’re looking at the best of the best, and when you get the school it most likely won’t look like the pictures presented.

 

Don’t be discouraged! Just be sure to schedule in a visit to your top schools before you pick. Visits can change anything.

by Anais Tabor

get peppy.

Coming this year to Westminster Christian is a new club, the PEP CLUB!  The main goal of this club is to, of course, enhance the school’s spirit. With the clubs purpose statement being, “To spread school spirit throughout this great land” you know that this is a fun club with a lot of enthusiasm for supporting peers.  The club will be trying to get more kids to come out to games, drama performances, and miscellaneous school activities. One brilliant idea the club has is to make “theme” days for the basketball games.  These may include anything from pajama days to dressing up like Coach Firchau himself. There will also be fun games and contests students can participate in.

The club is looking for more members and ideas on how to make Westminster games and activities more entertaining and school spirited.  Talk to the creative, enthusiastic co-leaders of the club Mo Sleeting or Whitney Vanden Bos for more details.

Just remember, get peppy.

By Andrew Mason 

The Christian's Hope

Many of you are likely to be familiar with the famous story “The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan. As I read through it once again, a particular scene stood out to me. When Pilgrim is visiting a house along his journey, he comes across a strange situation. On a table is an oil lamp which is barely still aflame. Beside the table there is a man, and this man  continuously poured water over the flame. However, this light did not go out; the flame stayed alive. But how? The man could not figure it out, nor could Pilgrim until he looked around the wall. Behind the wall was another man who was constantly feeding the flame with more oil. No matter what the man with the water did, he could not put out the flame. Though the flame was barely flickering, it was still alive because the man with oil was taking care of it. This flame represents the Christian. The man with the water represents Satan, and the man with the oil represents God. This scene is very meaningful to the life and walk of the Christian. When we are struggling and when life seems most difficult, the Lord will not leave us or forsake us. As it says in Isaiah 25:3, “A bruised heel he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out."  When you feel like you’ve got nothing left, let this be your one source of hope – God will not let you out of His hands.     By: Anne Lehan

America gets an extra hour!

On Sunday morning this week, something wonderful happened. When the clock struck two, it actually struck one. In other words, daylight savings time ended for the year in the United States. This means that Americans all over the country paused to change the time on their clocks  one hour back. One way to look at this situation is that everyone was potentially able to get an additional hour of sleep. The origin of this act of “winding back time” was instituted during World War I in order to save energy for war production by taking advantage of the later hours of daylight. Unfortunately, daylight savings time will begin again during late winter and we will technically “lose an hour” when we set the clocks sixty minutes ahead. But for now, enjoy the extra hour of daylight!

By: Brittany Booth

Interview of the Week: Patricia Winsauer

    Patty has been a part of WCS for two years. She was previously at Chicago Junior School, Crow Fox River, Country Day School, and Quest Academy. Her favorite colors are lime green and hot pink, and she listens to any kind of music. Patricia goes by multiple names-- Patty, Pattay, Pattison, Patrish, Trish, Trisha, Patrice, Patsy, Patsy-Watsy, Perla, PJ, etc. Trish enjoys Chemistry, English, and Band. Her favorite Bible verse is John 8:12,“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”.

By: Becky Welc

Conan a Success on TBS

Last night Conan O'Brien made his highly anticipated return to late night television as a talk show host.

In the premiere of his new show, Conan jumped right back into the spotlight without missing a beat. Conan’s first interview of the night was with Seth Rogen, who discussed his new film the “Green Hornet.”

Following the hilarious interview with Rogen, Conan sat down with  popular television star Lea Michelle from the hit show “Glee,” and Jack White of The White Stripes performed.

Conan's first show sums up to be an all-around hilarious and fun experience. So, in the long run Conan's opening episode of his new series was a success and hopefully this will be the start of a long career with Conan on TBS.

Conan is on TBS every  Monday night at 10 p.m. Next week Conan boasts big name guest stars Tom Hanks and the band Soundgarden.

By Ben Stevenson

Seatbelts Save Lives

All of us that have been through Driver’s Ed. can agree that the teacher regularly stresses wearing a seatbelt. Like the Driver’s Ed teacher, I don’t think seatbelts are taken as seriously as they should be. A lot of people don’t use them properly, if at all. On Saturday, Nov. 6^th, my best friend Angela was in a roll over car accident. She and her friend Ashley were driving on a gravel road that had bad traction and a deer ran in front of the car. Ashley swerved to avoid the deer and they flew off the road. The car flipped at least six times and landed upside-down in a ditch. They pulled themselves out of the car and ended up walking away from the accident with only a few minor injuries. It’s an eye opener to think that if they had chosen to be dumb and not put on their seatbelts, my best friend would probably be dead right now. It seems like no one really takes the dangers of driving seriously. Anything can happen in a matter of seconds; we should take advantage of those spare seconds to do something that might change our lives forever.

By Kelly Beecher

Fellowship Dinner Changes Pay Off

A new change occurred for this year's annual Fellowship Dinner. While previous dinners have taken place in March, this year the event was held Nov. 5.

As custom, guests gathered at Stonegate to partake in Westminster’s primary fundraising event. The evening opened with three worship songs performed by a collaboration of the High School worship team. This went so well that many guests noted afterwards that their only complaint was wishing to have sung more.

After the time of praise was a Westminster alumni testimony. Mr. John Mravik, former student and student teacher of Westminster, told his story of the school’s positive affect on his life, particularly after his motorbike accident, which left him paralyzed from the neck down. Mr. Mravik stressed the significance of Westminster’s support. Although the school has undergone significant growth and development, he noted the consistent community atmosphere.

The main speaker, Dr. Kevin Leman, connected comedy with the study of birth order, creating an amusing yet insightful presentation.

The success of the night, however, did not end with the dinner. The first sale of the jewelry for the Uganda ministry took place succeeding the event. God provided the Joy of a Child Ministry with 800 dollars worth of jewelry. All of the profits support the AIDS widows who create the necklaces and bracelets, and David Kamanzi and his ministry.

The overall accomplishments of the night revealed God’s presence during this unique gathering of the Westminster community.

By Ellie Fink

Why we hate the cold

Cold! Isn’t it just wonderful? It’s one of the greatest parts of winter time. How could you dislike the bitter, bone-chilling, teeth-chattering, freezing cold of winter? Like me, it is probably most people's favorite part about the season.

            Ok, so maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit. Ok, maybe a lot. I am sure that most people who have to deal with the harsh winters of Illinois do NOT favor the cold one bit. After all, no one likes getting goosebumps or shivering constantly (or so I would imagine). Runny noses, sickness, and frostbite are all common symptoms of this frigid weather. The cold even makes it harder to get out of bed in the morning!

So as we can all see there are plenty of downers about the winter time. However, although it may be tough to realize, there are also benefits to this season. Even though the cold can be quite unbearable sometimes, we must be thankful for all the seasons that God has given us. Look at the bright side! Snow is a great thing that comes with low temperatures! We also would not have fun winter sports if it were not for the cold. Personally, I think the absolute biggest plus about the lack of warmth in the air is NO BUGS!

Maybe the cold isn’t so bad after all.

By Brittany Booth

Life As An Only Child

            I have been told that sophomore year is the most challenging year of high school.  I soon realized it was true, but not because of the hours of homework I have to do, although that plays a part.  One of the reasons why I find sophomore year so different is because it is my first year of being the only child at home. That is because my brother, Ben, left for college late August.  I knew that I would miss him right away, but it took awhile for it to soak in. Well, it definitely has.

            August through October, my schedule was packed with either volleyball practice, games, or a tournament.  I never had time to relax on the couch and watch television.  Now that volleyball season is over it has hit me hard that Ben is now at college.  He used to drive me and Mike Hall home after school, and when we got home we would watch television, play the Wii, or grab our computers and sit on the couch.  Whatever I was doing he was always there with me.  Whether it was sitting on the couch next to me, or in the next room, I always knew he was there.  

            Even though I am still getting used to being the only child there are some good things about it.  The fact that I have a lot more time to myself is a good thing.  Everyone has those days when they just want to be alone.   Also, it is nice to have my parents to myself.  They do not have to worry about him and me all the time.  They have more time to spend with just me. 

            Although there are reasons why I like being an only child, there are also some bad things about it.  One reason is that when my parents are at work I am home alone.  No one is there to drive me where I need to go, play a game with me, or even just to watch television with me.  Another reason why I do not like that Ben is not here is that it causes me to have too much time to myself.  It is nice to always have someone there to do something with you.

            Even though it has been challenging to adjust to being an only child at home, it is reassuring that I’m not really an only child.  It is helpful to know that I can always text, call, or message him on Facebook.  Thankfully, there are ways to contact him whenever I need to talk to him. 

By Elizabeth Farwell 

Midterm elections call for change

The results of the 2010 midterm elections are in! This year’s elections have been met with enthusiasm from voters and candidates nationwide. On average, a minute twenty percent of our country’s voting population shows up at the polls. This year, it is estimated that approximately double that number came out to vote. This is a great sign of the American people’s increased desire to have input in their government. This increase in voters had a strong effect on the outcomes of each race.   The House of Representatives gained a total of sixty-one republican offices, overturning the previously Democratic House and subsequently instituting the new Speaker of the House, John Boehner. Boehner will be replacing previous Speaker Nancy Pelosi. As of November 3^rd, eleven seats remain still undecided. In the Senate, the Democrats lost eight seats but were still able to hold their ground with a total of fifty seats – fifty-two including the two independents who vote with the Democrats. The Republicans gained six seats in the Senate giving them a total of 46. Two seats are still undecided.

Back home in Illinois, Democrat Bobby Rush beat Republican candidate Ray Wardingly in the race for the House seat, with eighty percent of the vote. The seat for the Senate was gained by Republican Mark Kirk, who won with forty-eight percent of the vote against Democrat Alexi Giannoulias. The race for Governor is still too close to call, with a recount likely in its future. Republican candidate Bill Brady and Democratic candidate Pat Quinn are near a tie, each with forty-six percent of the state’s vote. We will most likely know within upcoming days.

By: Anne Lehan

Health officials suspect source of Haitian cholera

Health officials may know what caused the recent outbreak of cholera in Haiti, according to a report from National Public Radio on Monday.

Researchers suspect that the disease may have come from a United Nations base that recently received a number of Nepalese peacemakers. This base is located near a tributary to the Artibonite River, which flows down to the area of Haitian countryside that the cholera outbreak was first discovered. Additionally, recent lab tests have revealed that the strain of cholera affecting Haiti is common in South Asia, where Nepal is located.

A minimum of 337 people have died and 4700 have been hospitalized since the outbreak first came to light.
On October 25th, health officials were optimistic that an outbreak could be contained, but seemed certain that the disease would eventually reach the dilapidated capitol of Port-au-Prince. “I have no doubt that it will arrive in Port-au-Prince, because people are moving a lot. It will arrive during the next week, probably,” said Dr. Ariel Henry, chief of staff of the Haitian Ministry of Health.

The best way for officials and aid workers to battle such an outbreak would require clean water to treat dehydration (the most lethal symptom of the disease), adequate treatment and isolation facilities, and good personal hygiene among the Haitians at risk. Even though containment is achievable, the Pan American Health Organization and WHO are readying themselves for cholera to break out nationwide in Haiti, according to NPR reporter Richard Knox.

However, as aid workers scramble to prepare for the disease in the capitol, other necessities have fallen by the wayside. Namely, it has prevented preparation for the looming Tropical Storm Thomas, which will have become a hurricane by the time it reaches land in Haiti.

By Katie Pluymert

Fall Foods Are Here Again

    It's fall once again--the leaves are falling, it's getting colder.  It's time to break out your favorite comfort foods and hot drinks again.  Fall is the best time to eat because everything is geared toward warming you up and reversing your bad mood caused by the lack of sunlight.  There are all those great foods: pumpkin pie, pot roast, beef stew, chili, turkey, and squash-- not to mention the hot cocoa and apple cider. I don’t know about you, but after all that Halloween candy, I always start to crave some good, home-cooked meals. That turkey for example-- there’s just something about it that, no matter how cold it is, it warms you right up, just as much as it puts you to sleep in a content mood. After Thanksgiving dinner, you can enjoy a big slice of pumpkin pie with a mountain of whipped cream on top.  Sound good?  Well, here’s a simple recipe that I got on foodnetwork.com on how to make a delicious pumpkin pie.

Crust:
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons sugar
dash of salt
4 tablespoons butter, frozen, cut in pieces
1/4 cup vegetable shortening frozen, divided
1/2 egg, lightly beaten
2 to 3 tablespoons cold water

Pumpkin pie filling:
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 eggs
1 (15-ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk

Directions:
In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade, process the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the frozen butter and process until it is the size of large peas, about 5 seconds. Add the frozen shortening and process for 3 seconds. In a measuring cup, combine the egg and the water. Add egg mixture and process for 5 seconds. Empty the dough onto a counter and incorporate Remaining flour without overworking the dough. Let rest 2 hours.

Pumpkin pie filling:
In small bowl, combine sugar, salt and spices. Beat eggs in a large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and evaporated milk. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 and bake for 45 minutes or until firm.

By Claire Kuda

Comedian rally gets laughs

This past weekend on October 30th at the National Mall in Washington D.C., popular television anchors Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart held their satirical rally dubbed "Rally To Restore Sanity and or Fear."

Of course, it can easily be inferred that the rally would be a good time, filled with hilarious speeches from both Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, because the name of the rally and the people behind it. The rally also boasted several big name guest appearances, such as Yusef Islam (also known as Cat Stevens), Sheryl Crowe, and Ozzy Osbourne to help make this rally a blast for everyone involved.

However, as much fun as this rally sounds both Stephen and Jon still did try to make a valid  point. In between all their jokes they said that although it is true we are in difficult times, it is important that people come together to get through this tough time and not get hung up on whether or not someone is a Democrat or Republican, since in the end we are all in the same boat.

By Ben Stevenson

Interview of the Week: Callie Krueger

    For starters, no, she’s not related to A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger. Callie is a junior and new to WCS this year. She has been going to private schools since second grade, starting at Good Shepherd, then to Fox Valley Lutheran Academy, and now here. Krueger loves hanging out with friends in her spare time. She also loves anything the color green and playing with her soon to be 3-year-old nephew, Devin. Currently, Callie’s favorite class at WCS is Psychology. In the future, Callie wishes to be a Clinical Psychologist and open up her own clinic. 

    By: Becky Welc

Athlete's Foot: The Silent Killer

It’s a hot and sticky day; you’re drenched in sweat. Now let’s switch gears. It’s a freezing cold day, you're shivering, trying to warm yourself up so that you’ll stop uncontrollably shaking. How on earth do these days connect?

On both of these types of days you’d probably be wearing tennis shoes and socks. And when you wear tennis shoes and socks, you can only imagine the kinds of bacteria that’s building up in there. The prime conditions that are escalating in there are perfect for foot fungus to develop!

Another common name for this is athlete's foot. But, little do you know, you don’t have to be an athlete to get this. With all the sweat and bacteria pilling on top of each other, you’re in immediate danger! Foot fungus typically is in between the toes, but when it goes untreated and it spreads, it goes to the toenails.

Fungi are plant organisms, such as mold and mildew, and they grow best in conditions that are moist (just like in your socks!) Bacteria may thrive as a secondary infection, which worsens the symptoms and makes it more difficult to cure. A fungal infection is one of the most difficult nail and foot conditions to treat, so you need to make sure that you catch it before it gets that far. To prevent foot fungus, you should wash your feet thoroughly and make sure when you’re done washing them that you thoroughly dry them. After they're dry, make sure to put them in DRY socks. And if you’re in a safe environment, you should opt to leave your socks off and let your feet breathe!

WATCH OUT FOR THESE SYMPTOMS: (if you have them, seek treatment immediately!)
• On the skin:
o Reddened, cracked, and peeling skin
o Some bleeding
o Itching
o Burning
o Stinging sensation
o Development of small blisters (Blisters often lead to cracking of the skin. When blisters break, small raw areas of tissue are exposed, causing pain and swelling. Itching and burning may increase as the infection spreads. In severe cases the skin may thicken, like a callus, and begin to scale.)
• On the toe nail:
o Change in color (yellow or brown)
o Nail gets thicker
o Bad odor
o Debris collects beneath the nail
o White marks on the nail

By Anais Tabor

A first timer tries Panera

My friends are always talking about how delicious Panera Bread is. Unfortunately I was never able to agree with them because I had never had Panera Bread. That all changed last Friday.

I’m not sure why I've never had it--maybe just because it never came to mind when wanting something new. When I went there I got a turkey and cheese panini and a cup of New England clam chowder soup. The turkey and cheese panini was a great choice. It had chopped oven-roasted turkey and I believe 3 or 4 different kinds of melted cheese. The sandwich was put on a griddle of some sort and was warmed up to a crisp. The sandwich looked so appetizing. When I took my first bite I was taken over by a delectable taste. It was one the best sandwiches I had ever eaten.

And don’t even get me started on the soup. The soup was scrumptious. The clam was not too overwhelming, but it was plentiful. What made it even better was the side of bread they gave me to dip in the soup--exquisite. I would one hundred and ten percent recommend this restaurant if you're looking for a small, but filling meal. I can’t complain about the price either. The pricing is quite affordable. If you have never had Panera Bread before, I advise you to try it!

By: Ashley Kivikoski

Reconsider our American duty

In the past ten years, the United States has helped Afghanistan tremendously, and now President Obama is planning on taking the troops out of Afghanistan. Our troops will be leaving even though they are essential in helping train Afghan soldiers how to capture and kill terrorists, so they know how to defend themselves. Although the U.S. has been a great help to Afghanistan, they still have a long way to go and will have a hard time fighting off terrorists and other hostile countries without us.

Clearly, this war has taken a toll on our economy. We have plenty of our own problems to worry about; however, it would be cowardly and un-American to bail on them now when they have already come so far. It puts a bad name on our country to think that just because we are now having complications here, our country believes we can leave the people we are helping, and that rely on us.  No, Americans stand up for what’s right. We don’t leave people behind for our own benefit. If we had no intention of helping them push through to the end, we should not have gotten involved in the first place. What happens if they retaliate after we leave and try to get back at us for not helping them when they needed it most? That would cause a greater conflict than what we’re already dealing with. Obama has good intentions, but he should seriously reconsider what he might be getting the United States into.

By Kelly Beecher