What do I get him for Christmas?!

By Rhiannon Miller

It’s that wonderful time of year again, full of love and happiness. But I have no idea what to get my boyfriend for Christmas! Sure, I’ve had a few ideas, but nothing great. So, where do I go to find inspiration? Lucky for me, someone had my same problem and realized a way to solve it, not only for himself, but for millions of others. Gifts.com® is a place to find gifts of all prices for all people. I simply log on to the website and take the personality quiz located on the left side of the page. This handy shopping helper narrows down my search starting with gender, to age, hobbies, and weekend activities all while using clever personality types such as the gadget guru, the travel enthusiast, the music lover etc. The web site then puts together a list of possible purchases. But sometimes I don’t know which gift my friend would like more. In such instances, I simply purchase a gifts.com gift certificate and presto! Once my friend receives the certificate they can pick out their own gift. Now, what about those people who don’t know what give to me? Wishpot.com™ is another cleverly put together website. By logging on and signing up (which takes only a few minutes) I can create a personalized list that can be viewed by all of my family and friends. Making my list is so easy. After creating my free account, I drag the “wishpot button” to my tool bar, which allows me to add items I find online by simply clicking and dragging the item to the button (just like dragging an item to the trashcan on your Mac). These creative websites make holiday gift shopping quick and easy. Log on to the Internet and see for yourself. I’m sure your holiday shopping will never be the same.

The State of the School: A Letter from our President

By David Sanchez

The 2nd trimester is infamous for being the worst time in a student’s life. The onset of snow, the loss of daylight, and the dying motivation leftover from 1st trimester make the 3+ months of school seem like an eternity. Well, I can’t do anything about any of that [especially the motivation part] but what I can do is try to provide an outlet for your frustration.
According to Mr. Murphy, “First trimester was a success.” I agree. We had a great 5-DAY Homecoming Week, huge success among all the sports teams, and a pretty smooth finals week. However, it’s not first trimester anymore, and student government is going to start doing things differently. First, we’re trying to get the green light to have parent chaperones in place of faculty chaperones. After a long week of school, what teacher wants to stay up all night at a lock in? Not many. So as long as we can get parents to volunteer their time, I foresee a number of lock ins, informal dances, movie nights etc. Here’s the thing: we basically want to plan so many events so that if you can’t attend one, it’s totally okay because there’s another happening the next week! No one enjoys focusing completely on school without a couple breaks in the winter months. And that’s where students come in, we need your ideas! So starting after break, get ready – you shout the idea, we’ll make it happen.

Kennedy Space Center: No Boundaries to Possibility

By Jean Xin

The warm, humid Florida air hit me the second I stepped off the plane. Huge smiles spread across our faces as we realized that we were actually here. While I know that nobody likes looking through other people's vacation photo albums and getting to hear all about someone else's fun trip at length while they are stuck in Wisconsin, I ask you to bear with me, especially if you're interested in science. Aside from basking in the Florida sun (well, for two of three days, it was actually warmer in Wisconsin on one of them), we also met so many passionate people dedicated to absolutely fascinating research.

Dr. Weaver, Mr. Dan Barry, Tatiana Barry, Julie Iuliano, and I were fortunate enough to stay in Florida from Nov 11 to Nov 13, and it was am extraordinary experience. During late April/early May of 2009 (conveniently right in the middle of AP Exam induced panic, but that's another story altogether), we entered the No Boundaries contest after Mr. Vanden Heuvel brought it to our attention. It started as a good alternative to making a circuit (which reminds me a bit too much of daycamp craft projects and was rather conducive to third degree burns) or a photography contest for which I had no inspiration. However, as the idea evolved, it quickly became a lot of fun, despite the weekend during which I worked on it for about 6 hours straight on Saturday and then another 5 hours on Sunday. My eyes swam with HTML tags. We created a website and promotional video marketing a STEM career of our choice, astrobiology, to youth. According to the NASA educators we spoke to, the USA is suffering a severe shortage of people going into Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math fields. This is creating great concern for the future workforce of the large engineering firms, and especially for NASA, as they can only hire American citizens. While the making of our project was a story in and of itself, let's fast forward a few months to the actual trip.

Unfortunately, Kaitlyn could not make it, but the rest of us arrived at the Orlando airport the evening of November 10, and after a desperate scramble to find late night food, turned in quickly. The next day, we were welcomed to the Kennedy Space Center by a NASA educator. We had expected to spend only a few hours there, but we managed to stay the whole day. Kennedy Space Center is a great educational experience combined with a lot of fun touristy things. Some highlights include the Rocket Garden, Robot Scouts: Trailblazers for Human Exploration! (This would become a motto for the remainder of the trip), seeing two phenomenal IMAX films narrated by Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise, and The Shuttle Launch Experience, a relatively unexciting ride whose buildup was fantastic (complete with giant television screens, robotic arms, and way too many fog machines). Educationally, there were very accessible and well-designed signs everywhere, which gave a layman's explanation about the space program and application stemming from space research (e.g. the materials science research for the shuttles provide us with many of the heat resistant materials, and even metals, that we use today). If you're ever down by Orlando, it's definitely worth the stop.

Due to our fantastic time management skills, we worked for about six hours straight on the presentation we were to give NASA, which induced significant coffee consumption the next morning. Nonetheless, the five of us squished into the car, and shipped off to NASA. After a bit of a run-in with security (not nearly as dramatic as it sounds), we met people from NASA education and boarded an official government minivan. Our first was the Orbiter Processing Facility, where we were catapulted into a world of a zillion safety hazards, scaffolding, and some really excited people. I looked up, and that's when I realized that I was standing directly under the space shuttle Discovery. Someone with a great vertical probably would have been able to touch it. We talked about the insane temperatures that these tiles could withstand, despite the fact that they felt like a piece of Styrofoam. Most of the tiles on Discovery have been there since 1984! Seeing the orbiter up close was phenomenal, especially as we learned random facts. (Did you know that the external fuel tank, the giant orange thing, is held on by one bolt?) What struck me most was the atmosphere in the building, though. Instead of the daily drudge of your average corporate office or high school, everyone there was having fun and doing what they loved. Here's my shameless plug for NASA, but the employees at the OPF are truly being paid to do what they love, and how many people can say that? It's certainly enough to make me push a STEM career up on my possibility list. After, we went to see the engines after being ushered into a pristine white room, with a billion posters that warned of F.O.D. I know next to nothing about engines, but these are engineering miracles. Their material is designed to withstand the temperature of liquid hydrogen (−423.17 °F) and the temperature encountered in reentry (upwards of a thousand degrees). In fact, the nozzles on a space shuttle are actually made of little tubes, where liquid hydrogen flows as both coolant and fuel. They are capable of producing thrust up to 1860 kN at sea level- translated, it's insane. Ahem, excuse the geek-out. If you thought that sounded cool, though, you really ought to consider a STEM career.

After seeing the orbiter facilities, we were interviewed and spent some time at the launch pad, though we couldn't go up, since it was so close to the departure of the shuttle Atlantis and there were too many safety concerns (which is saying something, considering how many tanks of liquid gases I walked past). We also saw a gator, as KSC is also a wildlife reserve (I still don't really get that logic, but let's roll with it.) After that, we headed over to the Space Station Processing facility, another pristinely white building complete with a sticky floormat to prevent you from tracking in debris. Though much of the ISS is already up in space, we saw modules which bring waste, new clothes, etc. to and from the ISS. The Italians named them Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Yes, like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, although they were giving a nod to the great Renaissance talents. There's even a ninja turtle on their logo. The only (two, technically) word to describe the SSPF (NASA really likes acronyms and warning labels) is sci-fi.

Finally, we explored the Materials Science and Life Sciences labs. As far as materials science goes, *please prepare for geekiness overload,* I got to ogle electron microscopes and pretty much every spectrophotometer imaginable. They analyze unknown samples, since every minute detail must be checked and double checked. We took a quick break from touring here to give a presentation to the NASA education staff. Tip for all the Hawkeye 2.0 readers: if you don't want to pay for graduate school, go study a science. Honestly though, STEM careers have a lot of potential, not only for your career, but for the betterment of the world.

Afterwards, we went to the life sciences/astrobiology lab (appropriately, since we studied astrobiology) to see some really amazing experiments. First, we saw chambers that mimicked conditions for outer space living, and explored an experiment in which plants are grown in colored LED light (plant pigments only absorb a small range of wavelengths of light efficiently, but they also need other wave lengths for growth modulation). The second scientist we visited ran into a bit of a disaster that morning. After his microbial spore experiment spent about a month exposed the harshness of outerspace (makes you appreciate our ozone layer!), his experiment was shipped back to him that morning with a giant orange sticker that said, "X-rayed by the United Postal Service." While highly unlikely, these hardy microbial spores might have survived the radiation of space only to be killed by the USPS. Yikes. Finally, we talked to a scientist who has created the world's best "Mars Chamber," a pressure, temperature, radiation, and light controlled cylinder to mimic the conditions on Mars. In order to avoid "space pollution," we must be certain that we don't bring microbes to Mars that could mutate. He has been testing the hardiest bacteria on the planet, and none have survived the UVC exposure of Mars, so you can put that horror movie to rest for now.

Almost 1500 words later-- we basically had an absolutely amazing time. We go the movies to witness fantasy, but they say the truth is stranger than fiction. There is so much amazing research happening right now, and we're the generation that will push it forward. Don't miss that opportunity.

The Muniz Movie Reviews

by Mitchell Muniz

Note: These reviews are strictly my opinion; my goal is to give you some insight on recent movies.

“Paranormal Activity”

This film is utterly terrifying in every sense of the word. The ultra low-budget horror flick that was filmed in the home of the director has managed to make 10 times what it was made for, averaging 61 million at the box office. Katie and Micah are a young couple living together in a suburban home that becomes haunted by a demonic entity which, they find, becomes active in the middle of the night as they sleep. As each night goes by, the entity becomes more enraged, and Katie and Micah find out their lives may be at stake. This film is a celebration of what horror once was before special effects. Unlike other films, it makes you use your imagination and think for yourself. Filmed in the manner of “The Blair Witch Project,” this one proves to be much scarier!
5 out of 5 stars


“2012”

The new apocalyptic thriller from the director of “The Day After Tomorrow,” “2012” follows the journey of a father (John Cusack) trying to save his family from the destruction of the world the Mayan culture predicted. This movie is nonstop action all the way through. The special effects are jaw-dropping. This is a great movie to sit back and enjoy; there’s absolutely no need to think. But keep in mind this movie is two hours and forty minutes long! This is a highly intense movie, and very entertaining!
3 out of 5 stars

Personal Top 10 Music

by Ryan Anderson

1) “Cry for Help” -Shinedown

2) “The Good Life” -Three Days Grace

3) “Overcome” -Creed

4) “Lost in You” -Three Days Grace

5) “Spoonman” -Soundgarden

6) "In Memory"- Shinedown

7) "Show me how to Live"- Audioslave

8) "Breathe"-Popevil

9) "Break" -Three Days Grace

10) "I will not Bow"- Breaking Benjamin

Upcoming Trends in Fall Fashion

After spending the long weekend in New York City, the heart and soul of the American fashion industry, I am well prepared to document this fall’s upcoming trends. Everything on the runway is punk inspired-leather, studs, metallic neutrals, bold neon colors-but what makes this upcoming trend different is that the top designers are putting a feminine spin on these otherwise masculine fashion statements. Pastel floral prints, rounded collars, and bright handbags are incorporated into the punk trend to create a well-rounded high fashion look (think Coco Chanel meets Alexander McQueen meets Juicy Couture). Fall is my favorite month for fashion because the weather permits you to wear a complete outfit-jacket and shoes included. No flip-flops or tank tops; just boots, blazers, and trench coats. If you’re shopping for a new look this fall, I recommend heading to Milwaukee. Urban Outfitters and American Apparel can be found in the Historic Third Ward, and just around the corner is Bayshore Mall, where you can find Forever 21 and H&M, both inexpensive stores that inspire you to incorporate designer-inspired pieces into your simple wardrobe.

Although following trends is a large part of your own personal style, deciding for yourself what you think is fashionable is what gives you your own individual style. To offer you an example of this, I interviewed Mackenzie Naughton, a prestigious fashion icon at our own TPS.



Mackenzie’s Unique take on Personal Style:

Chelsea: So, Mackenzie, who is it in the industry that you gain inspiration from to create your own personal style?

Mackenzie: Juicy Couture. If I had one person to remake my room it would be Betsey Johnson or Juicy Couture.

C: Interesting! So from what I have observed, rhinestone hoops earrings and terry cloth bright sweatshirts are significant staples in your wardrobe, would you agree?

M: Yes because it represents my mood, and I am generally a happy go-lucky girl.

C: Very good. So when you wake up in the morning, what exactly is going through your mind as you are putting together this interesting ensemble?

M: Well, I just grab whatever is closest to my bed usually, but when I’m hyped up on my Adderall sometimes I try to look like a rainbow to be a shining light in the darkness that is TPS.

C: I must say, sitting next to you can be blinding. However, I enjoy the contrast to the usual sweatpants that Prairie students seem to begin to wear on a regular basis after they learn about the Junior Thesis. What is your favorite part of this fall’s fashion?

M: Probably nice cozy sweatshirts and Uggs.

C: What are your favorite stores?

M: Juicy Couture. That is my number one. Also Tiffany & Co., Forever XXI, and Chinatown.


C: If you had to pick one particular garment that represents your style, which one would it be and why?

M: My pink sweatshirt that has a big smiley face on the back and on the front it says “Be Happy”

C: Thank-you so much for your time Mackenzie, I look forward to seeing your upcoming wardrobe this fall. Any last thoughts?

M: I don’t like the tights you were wearing today.

C: Gee, Kenz, thanks; I guess that’s why it’s personal style.

Fashion Quote of the Month:


Fashion fades, only style remains the same.


Coco Chanel

Twilight: Misplaced Hatred

By Fiona Lochtefeld

By taking the pro-Twilight side of this debate, I am automatically setting myself up for ridicule. What used to be known as a “weird girly apple vampire book” is now suffering under the crushing weight of its own popularity. A lot of people adore the series. A lot more people hate it because they are tired of having it constantly shoved down their throats. I myself- and I admit this with only a modicum of shame- love the series.

Seriously. It’s one of my all-time favorites. But I’m not just saying that because I am obsessed with Robert Pattison or because I’m a screaming eleven-year-old with unrealistic expectations about what a good boyfriend is like. I started reading the series when it was still a weird girly apple vampire book—when vampires were only for Goths and emos. I have read other vampire books, including those by Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, and Ellen Schreiber. I have not been brainwashed; I am still capable of making rational judgments and pointing out flaws in the series. And while I’m glad that the series has done well, I think that its current popularity is absolutely appalling.

Because we are almost always surrounded by something with Robert Pattison’s face on it, it’s inevitable that the series has made enemies. Lots of enemies, who claim that Twilight has no literary merit whatsoever, because it is unrealistic or sexist, or just plain bad.

Is Twilight sexist? Perhaps. Bella admittedly depends on both Edward and Jacob to pull her through the current crisis. On the other hand, if she was completely independent, we probably wouldn’t like her much, either, because she would seem callous. If she always made the right choices, she would be obnoxious. And one might note that all of Bella’s escapades take place amidst creatures that are faster, stronger, and better trained in combat than she. Doesn’t it make sense for her to depend on others when she would be instantly killed if she did not?

As for unrealistic—it’s a vampire novel. Come on. The vampires may be scarily beautiful, but, seriously, how realistic can you expect a book about bloodsuckers and shape-shifters to be? Push the idea of realism from your mind already. Sit back and enjoy the ride that the book provides.

I don’t mean to say that Twilight is the Epic Of The Century. It is not, any more than Harry Potter is. Popular is not the same as profound. Engrossing is not the same as life-changing. And although Stephanie Meyer’s writing style is smooth, descriptive and engaging, it’s not anything special. She’s no Tolkien or Shakespeare. Then again, most authors today aren’t, regardless of how famous they are. J. K. Rowling’s writing style isn’t that special, either.

Many people are now saying that Harry Potter is a much better series than Twilight, both because it reached a larger demographic and because it came first. But if Twilight had come before Harry Potter; and it was Hogwarts, not Forks, from which we couldn’t escape, we’d probably hate Harry. We’d be claiming that Jacob would be eating Lupin for breakfast instead of vice-versa. And the only reason that we would be saying that would be because we would be so sick of Harry Potter that we would be unable to look at it impartially.

Ask yourself: do I really hate Twilight, or do I just hate the fangirls? If you had tried the series before they became hideously popular and had hated the book—well, what of it? You would have just tossed it aside and forgotten it. But you wouldn’t take the time to rail against it and anybody who likes it. You wouldn’t spend your time saying that it was a bad book. When we say “bad” in reference to books, we usually mean that we just didn’t like it. Similarly, when we say that it was good, we aren’t offering professional criticism on the writing style or plot devices. We’re just saying “good” because it’s understood that “good” really means “I liked it.” So unless you’re sure of your ability to criticize literature objectively, don’t say that it’s “bad.” Say that you hated it. Say that, by reading it, you wasted precious hours of your life and that you want a refund. But don’t use “bad” indiscriminately. Just accept that it wasn’t what you thought that it would be and move on. Let those of us who did like it like it without fear of being ostracized or mocked.

On the flip side, I would like to (nicely) ask all of the rabid fans to please, please shut up now. I’m begging you. You’ve had your day. You’ve come out of the closet and shown the world just how obsessed you are. Now, please get back into your closets, where you have left your well-loved copies and your book lights, and let the rest of the world go on its merry way. By shoving it in everybody’s faces, you are actually harming the series, not increasing its popularity. People who have never read it are turned against it without even giving it a chance. People who used to vaguely like it have been converted intoTwilight-haters. People who started reading it when it first emerged and cannot shake their obsessions have been forced into silence for fear of merciless ridicule. And everybody is being driven insane. You don’t have to go to such extremes for Twilight to be recognized as a great series that has attracted a lot of fans. If the world hasn’t gotten that by now, I don’t think it ever will.

If you like it, great. If you don’t, fine. But don’t hassle the other side. Don’t insist that yours is the only way. In fact, just avoid the topic altogether and avoid an altercation. Ignore the New Moon posters that glare at you from the theatre walls. Walk past the shelves of Twilight books at Barnes & Noble without making obnoxious gagging sounds. Don’t declare that the series is the epitome of All Things Good or scream every time you see a silver Volvo (no... not even if the license plate reads ED CULL). I’m not asking for reconciliation with the other side. I’m just asking that we reach a détente. This isfeasible. Harry Potter has proven that this can be done. So can we please try?