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AC/DC- Can I sit next to you girl?

NBA Season Preview

   by Jack Satzinger

(In regard to the student poll about contenders for this year’s NBA Championships)

  Overall, I agree with the data from my poll. The Miami Heat are now a trendy pick for the championship because they have a dynamic trio of Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh. However, they lack a defensive post presence that the Celtics, Lakers, Magic, and Nuggets all have. This will certainly hamper the Heat in their quest for a Championship, especially when they play against the Magic’s Dwight Howard and the Lakers 7’1” Andrew Bynum and 7’0” Spaniard, Pau Gasol. Despite all of the moves that the Heat made this summer to better their roster, the back to back defending champion Lakers are the favorite.  Their skill and strength inside will be difficult for the Heat to contain. 

     Although weak on the interior, one could argue that the Heat now possess the two best drivers in the NBA, Dwyane Wade and Lebron James.  Their constant attacks will wreak havoc on their opponents.  However, the Lakers have the best perimeter defender in the league, Ron Artest.  In addition, the Lakers signed Free Agent Matt Barnes this offseason, a UCLA alumni who harassed Kobe Bryant last year when they played against each other.   Barnes repeatedly took shots at Bryant when they faced each other in the regular season. After the Lakers added Barnes to their roster, Kobe commented, “Anyone crazy enough to mess with me is crazy enough to play with me.”

     These two defenders won’t be able to stop Dwyane Wade’s slashing moves, which gave him the nickname ‘Flash’, or Lebron’s burly and violent pushes to the basket, but the tattooed ‘bad boy’ tandem of Artest and Barnes surely will slow them down.  This powerful Lakers defense combined with their strength inside and their deep bench make them the favorite to win the title for a third straight year.  Oh yeah, they also have this guy named Kobe Bryant, the most clutch player in the league.  Last season Kobe made six game-winning shots in the regular season and averaged twenty-seven points per contest.  He also finished third in the M.V.P. voting behind the Heat’s Lebron James and twenty-two year old Oklahoma City Thunder phenom, Kevin Durant. 

     The Celtics, who lost to the Lakers in the seventh game of the N.B.A. Finals by just four points, are also a legitimate contender for the championship this season.  The Celtics return to the hardwood with their starting five of Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kendrick Perkins.  However, this offseason they signed Shaquille O’Neal.  The 7’2” center that helped Kobe and the Lakers win three championships from 2000-2002 now plays for the Lakers bitter rival, the Boston Celtics.  Although the Celtics have the strength on the interior to challenge the Lakers and great perimeter shooters in Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, their core players, (with the exceptions of Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins), are all over 30 years old with their skills and athleticism only declining with age.  It will be difficult for the Celtics to play the eighty-two game regular season and also advance deep into the playoffs on their old legs.  This N.B.A. season will certainly be intriguing with the new-look Miami Heat, the Celtics having maybe one last shot at a title with their older players, and the Lakers going for three championships in a row.  The N.B.A. season begins on Tuesday October 26^th with a pair of games: Heat at Celtics 5:30 MT on TNT and Rockets at Lakers 8:30 MT also on TNT.  However, the Basketball world eagerly awaits the Lakers vs. Heat Christmas Day matchup: a preview of what many think will be the 2011 NBA Finals. 

http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/index.asp?ID=40bc329423ef49b5ac4abb5989d31745

The Key is Chemistry

By Jack Satzinger

            In the fall of 1998, a small group of 5 year olds began playing soccer for the first time.  Their team, the Diamondbacks, needed to practice so that they would be ready for their first game.  The field was muddy and full of puddles, so there were plenty of things that could distract the pint-sized players from their game of fun.  However, even at a young age, nothing could hamper these serious competitors from progressing.  They were focused to become better players.  They won their first game, and three of those little Diamondbacks still play together and have been on the same team for eleven years.  When these same players were just 9 years old, they began playing with several more of their current teammates.  Their constant work and play together has created team chemistry that has a monumental effect on their successes.  Over the years they have grown together to become the cohesive unit that they are today. 

            The three little Diamondbacks, McCall ‘Macky’ Sides, Brian ‘The Hammer’ Lewis, and Clay ‘The Professor’ Wilwol are the leaders of Santa Fe Prep’s 2010-11 Boys Soccer Team.  Although they have played for a great number of years, this season is by far their most important.  “It’s our last year, we need to do everything we can to win”, says Senior Mccall Sides, the team’s leading goal scorer with 26. 

     The Blue Griffins have created ambitious goals for their season. “Win districts in order to get a high seed at state” says Senior Clay Wilwol.  “The overriding goal is to win state”, claims Mccall.  Even though the Griffins had the best start for a Prep soccer team since 1995, with 6 wins and 0 losses, plenty of obstacles lay in their path.  “Our biggest District obstacle is St. Mikes, they’re always tough.  Out of District, we will have trouble against Hope Christian, Sandia Prep, and Bosque, the defending state champions”, says senior Alex Delgado.  Alex was right, the Griffins lost to Hope Christian 1-0 by a penalty kick at the end of regulation.  Prep also lost 1-0 against juggernaut Bosque   Andrew Brown, one of the team’s Center Backs, challenges Alex’s claims “St. Mike’s has some good looking guys, but, overall they don’t compare with our looks.  Plus, we’re a funny team…we all really like jokes”.  Prep beat the Horsemen 1-0 at home amidst a crowd of hundreds.  However, St. Mike’s came back to beat the Griffins 2-1 on their home field to steal the district championship from Prep.  The Griffins rebounded from that crushing loss by defeating Sandia Prep, one of the best teams in the state.  Entering the state tournament, Santa Fe Prep is ranked 3^rd, behind bitter rival St. Mike’s, and Bosque. 

     Prep seniors that will not be with the team next season include: Mccall Sides, Brian Lewis, Clay Wilwol, Alex Delgado, Andrew Brown, Kevin Lowe, Sam Cicci, Warren Peterson, Jorge Martinez, Derek Nunner, and Willie Blaine will all be graduating in June.  Of the eleven starters, only three will still be sporting blue and white next season: Danny Quinn, Graham Sides, and Connor Mullins.  “Next year will be a challenge.  It’s up to us to fill the shoes that the seniors will leave.  Particularly, Max, Tobias, and Griffin need to put in a lot of work this offseason to get better”, says Keeper Danny Quinn.  “It’s going to be hard for them, we’re doing so well because we have a lot of experienced seniors.  Experience is the key to winning”, explains Clay Wilwol. 

     The Prep team certainly has a lot of seasoned veterans, but much of their successes stem from their feeble beginnings in elementary school.  Clay, Mccall, Graham, and Alex Delgado began playing together as a group when Alex moved to Santa Fe from California.  At this time, Alex was and his peers were 9 and Mccall’s younger brother, Graham, was only 7 years old.  The time that these four players have spent together has created a bond that engineers success.  “All four of our forwards are great friends”, says Clay Wilwol, “That chemistry off the field combined with countless hours playing alongside one another just makes us that much better on the pitch”. 

     In early matches with the Blue Griffins outscoring opponents by several goals, their chemistry has flourished.  However, when playing against highly-ranked teams such as Hope Christian and Bosque School, Prep has struggled to score goals. “We have to start playing better in the 1^st half, we start off too slow and maybe concede a goal.  We play much better when we attack first because we have a lot of attacking power,” says Mccall Sides.  The Griffins know what they need to work on but only have a short time to rectify their mistakes before the state tournament, which usually falls on the week of Halloween. 

     However, in the grand scheme of the senior’s lives, winning a lot of their games isn’t what really matters.  The end of their season will mark the termination of a twelve-year run.  A run that some players have enjoyed together since they have learned to kick a ball.  Although their Soccer careers in the Prep uniform will be over by November, the friendships that seniors have collectively built will last for a lifetime.  At this juncture in their lives, Soccer is of the utmost importance, but the time that they have left to play their beloved sport is almost out.  What really matters are the friendships and bonds that these teammates have shared over a many number of years; that is something that will last a lifetime.  However, we shouldn’t belittle the avenue that these great friends have used to become close to one another: Soccer.

En español: La herencia

   

By Ms. Sheldon

   Last week we visited the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. The students toured the museum exhibits, the library and enjoyed the display of Hispanic art. We received a warm welcome as the first group of students to view the opening of Frederico Vigil’s mural master piece “The Torreon”.

A los estudiantes de Espanol 1 del 8vo. grado les gusta celebrar la Hispanidad.   Ellos visitan el centro de estudios del Español , The National Hispanic Cultural Center en Albuquerque.  Ahí visitaron los museos, la biblioteca, los teatros y apreciarón una bella colección de arte Hispano.  El grupo de la Señora María Sheldon  recibió una gran bienvenida como “el primer grupo de estudiantes que visita la obra maestra del famoso artista Nuevo Mexicano,  Frederico Vigil – “El Torreón”.  Esta obra maestra tiene más de 4,000 pies de arte “fresco”.  La obra representa la historia de la Hispanidad desde la prehistoria hasta el presente. 

Aquí hay unas fotos de la visita al centro.

 

     “Una visita al museo es más interesante que estar en la clase” dijo Noah Gollin, estudiante del 8vo. Grado.   “Me gusta el museo” dijo Kate Broyles.  “A mí me gusta la biblioteca” comentó Griffin Sides. “El restaurante en el centro es fantástico” dijo Erika Penczer una de las chaperonas.  Los estudiantes en la clase trabajaron con el Menú en Español y crearon  diálogos para ordenar comida.  Después de hablar con el director del centro, la Señora Sheldon les mencionó a los estudiantes que era necesario “….disfrutar el viaje, los meseros en el restaurante no hablan Español!”

 

Joseph Koney and the Invisible Children

by Aaron Stevens

Prep was recently graced by a visit from the Invisible Children Program (ICP). This organization has been trying to end Joseph Kony’s use of child soldiers in his Lord’s Resistance Army and restore peace to the war-torn areas of Northern Uganda. ICP’s efforts have begun to succeed. H.R. 2478, titled “The Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009”, was unanimously passed into law by congress on May 24.

            The bill reads as “To support stabilization and lasting peace in northern Uganda and areas affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army through development of a regional strategy to support multilateral efforts to successfully protect civilians and eliminate the threat posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army and to authorize funds for humanitarian relief and reconstruction, reconciliation, and transitional justice, and for other purposes”.

            The biggest issue in the bill is the elimination of the Lord’s Resistance Army. This won’t be easy to do. The LRA has been in existence since 1988, making it one of the longest standing revolutionary groups in the world. Based in southern Sudan, they have been abducting, raping, and killing civilians from Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Central African Republic. Most of these civilians were children and teenagers who were forced to learn guerilla tactics. The LRA also allied itself with other revolutionary groups in the Sub-Saharan area, most notably the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda. As of late, the LRA has begun leaving northern Uganda and moving east into the Congo.

            How is the U.S. going to “support stabilization and lasting peace”? What will the “multilateral efforts” be? These are all questions which the bill fails to clarify. If we want to truly help Uganda and remove the LRA, we will have to use our own military. Giving the Ugandan government a few million bucks won’t solve the problem. What could, however, would be using a “covert operation”, similar to what the CIA did in Afghanistan to help fight the Soviet Union. This sort of operation would end with Kony and his top generals assassinated or imprisoned. However, the nationality of the assassination squad would be one of the key factors. It would probably be a group of CIA-trained Ugandan soldiers equipped with high-tech weaponry. If the U.S. wished to be more direct, then a team of Special Forces agents or Army Rangers would probably be sent into Uganda with higher-tech weaponry to remove Kony from the picture or potentially detain him.

Governor Race 2010: Martinez takes a Ten-point lead over Denish

by Aaron Stevens

(Note: Since the deadline, voters went to the polls and gave Susana Mtz a decisive, 8-point victory)

Republican Susana Martinez has taken a ten-point lead in the New Mexico gubernatoral race over Democrat Diane Denish. 500 likely voters were polled in the Rasmussen Reports Poll conducted on September 29. 51% support Martinez, while 41% are behind Denish.

            In an associated poll by Rasmussen, 69% of voters viewed Martinez favorably, 38% unfavorably, and 2% were unsure. This is Martinez’s first poll with over 50% support. Her previous high was 48% in late August. Partisan support tells a similar story; 90% of registered republicans (and 25% of Democrats) supported Martinez, while only 69% of registered Democrats back Denish.

             Denish’s goals in the office are similar to some of Richardson’s: improving schools and promoting small businesses. Despite her goals and role in the Richardson governorship, she has been trying to break the association since day one of her campaign. But at least some Democratic voters aren’t buying it, as evidenced by the 25% of Democrats supporting Martinez.

Martinez’s goals are far more controversial: eliminating illegal immigration and, most import for many voters, the elimination of corruption in the state government. She has no affiliation to previous state politicians, but has received endorsements from noted Republican Mitt Romney and Tea Partier/Momma Grizzly Sarah Palin.

The startling percentage of Democrats behind Susana Martinez is more telling of what Democrats thought of Bill Richardson then what they think about Diane Denish. The Richardson Era was a mixed blessing for New Mexico. On the positive side, DWI rates decreased by 30% during the Richardson Governorship, and more than a billion dollars in tax cuts were implemented. However, new highs in corruption were reached (most notably the “double dippers”, state workers who “retired” for ninety days to begin receiving their pension money and then returned to their previous jobs to be paid a full salary in addition), and millions of dollars were invested into the Railrunner commuter train (which has yet to make a significant return on that investment), and the movie industry (which has yet to bring more than a smattering of big-money productions into the state). Denish served as Richardson’s lieutenant governor, and was the first “active” lieutenant governor (in that she was actually involved in the gubernatorial decision process) in New Mexico state history.

I think that whoever moves into the Governor’s Mansion in January won’t be what New Mexico needs. A Denish governorship will probably be little more than a continuation of the Richardson Era with a new face in front. But Susana Martinez is perhaps a little too extreme of a change in momentum. Staying the course in New Mexico won’t work, but a total about-face from the left to the right almost certainly wouldn’t either.  

Unfortunately, one of the potential solutions lost the Republican primary in July. That man is Pete Domenici Jr., son of former senator and Albuquerque mayor Pietro Vichi “Pete” Domenici. Junior is an environmental lawyer and a moderate Republican. As a republican with one of New Mexico’s greatest politicians as his father, Pete Domenici Jr. would have been ideal for the liberals in Santa Fe and the conservatives in the south of New Mexico in that his policies were moderate (working on green energy sources, reducing taxes, shrinking state government).

Ask Rob

 

 

Dear Rob,

How come no one comes on Hiking Club hikes?

Sincerely,

Fearful of Nature

Dear Fearful,

Oh! The nights I’ve spend pondering such a question. The club was founded in 2009 by Maria Ashkin, Sebastian Stokhof DeJong, and the humble author of this passage . Being young people with a passion for the outdoors – open spaces, the songs of birds, Vitamin D, rivers, lakes, mountains, rocks – we set out to set up an organization at Prep that would give students an opportunity to explore the many wild and beautiful areas of our state. However, it took a year for there to even be Hiking Club’s first outing. Few students showed interest, and of those who did , most found themselves busy on the weekend time scheduled for hiking.

It’s an interesting phenomenon  – we are a very active school, a very environmentally conscious school, and are blessed with a picturesque site with hiking trails five minutes from campus. But, hiking and backpacking are not popular. It seems, then, that the hustle and bustle of Prep (sports, model UN, theatre, homework, social life, and most notoriously Facebook) keeps students from getting out into nature. If one has a road game Saturday, and three hours of homework on Sunday, there’s little motivation to find time to trek up Atalaya, or explore the branching streams of Big Tesuque.

Maybe the intense life-or-death wilderness moments depicted in the videos have made students uneasy. Or the fact that shirtless Dan is just too amazing to handle. Then, there’s the sad reality that no one smells or looks pretty after walking through the woods all day long. And the excessively philosophical discussions that always manage to take place. In fact, one may think, why should I go to the woods at all?

I leave the reader with some quotes to ponder, uttered by men whom I consider wise throughout the ages:

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown. For ‘going out,’ I found, was really going in.” ~ John Muir

“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” ~ George Washington Carver

“The poetry of the earth is never dead”.  ~John Keats

“Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another.”  ~Juvenal, Satires

*   *   *

Dear Rob,

What is Poolside Nation? I hear everybody on campus talking about it?

-Curious Man

Dear Curious,

Poolside Nation is taking the country by storm.

To consider the nature of Poolside is to consider that of your own soul when it is at its happiest, when you have reached that point of utter relaxation and carelessness – a joyous sensation which many experience while lounging on the side of a swimming pool.

Poolside Nation, then, is a clothing line which intends to give its clientele high quality apparel that represents this carefree spirit. Founded in the fall of 2010 by three pioneering , charismatic young businessmen – Jackson Alexander, Andrew Brown, and McCall Sides – Poolside Nation is excited to announce that their Fall Line 2010 will soon be released. It will include both tall tees and decals which show the spirit and energy of all “Poolsiders” across the nation.

I sat down with co-founder Jackson Alexander to learn a little more about this growing enterprise. He provided me with a copy of the company’s mission statement, which is as follows: “Our vision, as Poolside Nation of America, is to supply quality products and bring a new and different look to the “POOLSIDERZ” of the world. If you’ve ever lounged Poolside… you know what we’re about.” Alexander displayed extraordinary enthusiasm about the Poolside t-shirts and decals, which he says should be hitting the streets this month. “Basically, we’re just excited about the future. We’ve already got designs for sunglasses, a line for women, and a few special surprises,” he added.

With already more than 200 fans on Facebook, and their high reputation spreading like wildfire, the future looks bright for Poolside Nation. “And don’t forget,” co-founder Andrew Brown told me, “Individuals who rock Poolside apparel are by far the best looking people.”

Fall Line 2010 coming soon