4March 2010Hi Times Issue 6 Vol. 101

Ladies, the weather is going to be warming up soon and everyone is ready to shed their layers and layers of warm clothing for a more light and fun look. The spring brings blooming flowers, sunshine, new life as well as new fash-ion trends. The spring 2010 fashion trends are fun and playful, and of course, consist of bright and cheery shades of colors. “I am so excited to start wearing all the new spring trends. I am especially excited to put away my thick sweaters and replace them with lighter dresses and bright colors,” said senior Natalie Pope. Perhaps the biggest spring trend is the uses of floral prints. Although florals are not earth-shattering for spring, we are seeing varieties of floral prints. Some florals seem light and natu-ral, as others are very geometric and bold. A new twist on florals is also pairing them with bold stripes or sequined pieces, as well as mix-ing the natural and bold floral prints together with one another. The floral print also allows very bright and springy colors work their way back into our winterized closets full of blacks and grays. Pretty is back and decadence is key while dressing this spring. Glam becomes everyday and a new fun color combo making an appear-ance on the runway is lime green and a soft pink. Fun materials are being used with basic cuts. For example, a simple cut pencil skirt may be adorned with feathers and jewels, mak-ing basics especially glam. Again, this spring is all about the leg and skirts are back and as big as ever, especially skirts with fun detailing, such as complicated embroidery. These de-tailed skirts can be paired with a basic white tee and practical as well as super chic. Ruffles could be seen on runways of several designers, ruffles are feminine and chic. Incor-porating ruffles into a spring wardrobe adds whimsy and a girly flair. Ruffles create a soft edge to any look. “I love ruffles, they make me feel so girly and glamorous, they help me become in tune with my girly side,” Pope said. Tribal prints are also making a comeback, but are doing so in a chic way. Tribal prints are being used on dresses, shirts, skirts and with bright, vibrant colors. Along with the tribal prints, animal prints are remaining a wardrobe staple through spring, but the animal prints are being used in more neutral colors, which can then be paired with more vibrant and bright accessories. Also, safari-inspired khakis are hitting the runways but in a fitted and chic way. This spring the city walk ways and streets will be filled with bright, textured, shiny clothing adorned with sequins and feathers, and also lots of leg. The number one rule for spring 2010 is to look fierce and go glam every day. After all, every day makes the runway that is your life, so put on an amazing show

and dress appropriately.

Spring is on the way, with new fashion trends for allErin SassStaff Writer

Wayne Carter, Lil Wayne, went to jail on February 9th, 2010 be-cause of gun possession. He will be in jail for about 12 months de-pending on his behavior. “When people get famous they take advantage of it and if they think they are big enough to act dumb then they are big enough to take the punishment they deserve,” said junior Diana Fenton. Carter previously pleaded not guilty which were filed after the NYPD found a .40 caliber handgun on Lil Wayne’s tour bus in July of 2007. But after the court ruled that DNA evidence found on the gun couldn’t be used, Wayne decided to take the plea bargain. If Wayne was found guilty following the trial, which was set for January 2010, the charges against him would be a three-and-a-half year sentence in jail. “I still look up to Lil Wayne, he only made one little mistake. The cops could have let it slide. Look at T.I.; he had a truck full of guns. Lil Wayne was probably only carrying it for self defense purposes,” said sophomore Dijah Gunn. Come to find out, the only real reason Lil Wayne’s tour bus was searched was because cops smelt marijuana after his show at the Bea-con Theatre in New York City. Before Wayne Carter was sentenced to jail he spent a good amount of time with his family and friends. He shot plenty of videos with Young Money and recorded tracks for the new album Tha Carter IV. “This is Lil Wayne going to jail. Nobody I can talk to can tell me what that’s like,” said Carter during an interview. “I just say I’m look-ing forward to it.” Even thought Lil Wayne is in jail, he still has beats being sent to him through his iPod. Tha Carter IV is planned on hitting stores shortly after Lil Wayne gets out of jail. “I believe Lil Wayne is a good person and has a lot of potential, but he has affected a lot of his biggest fans,” said senior Darius Kincaid.

Lil Wayne faces trial, sets bad example for teenagers Danielle HenryStaff Writer

Bioshock 2 opens with the in-troduction of Subject Delta, the first Big Daddy bonded to a Lit-tle Sister. 2K Marin and Irratio-nal Games have seized control of the dystopian franchise and taken everything amazing about the first game and revamped it for a more challenging tour of the underwater warzone, Rapture. In contrast to 2007’s Bioshock that introduced the mysteri-ous sweater-wearing protago-nist, Jack, Bioshock 2 puts you in control of a Big Daddy who has maintained his free will and has the ability to use plasmids (DNA-altering tonics that give the user inhuman powers). This time around Rapture presents a greater challenge so be prepared to fight for your life!Presentation: 10/10 All the basic controls have found their way into the sequel, giving the player the feeling of a new but familiar adventure. The original “plumbing” hack-ing game has been replaced with a real-time mini game, which forces the player to in-teract with the world around them while hacking devices. The new leader of Rapture is Sophia Lamb, the successor to Andrew Ryan and a commu-nistic enforcer. Under the new leadership, Splicers (the drug-ridden thugs of Rapture) now work together to destroy their enemies to collect Adam (the

Bioshock 2: Impressive sequel to challenge hardcore gamersRichie FinlayEntertainment Editor

It happens to everyone. The snow is falling and doesn’t look like it has any chance of stopping soon. The roads are icy, and no one wants to drive. This means teenagers are stuck at home to rest on their laurels. While there aren’t many activi-ties for one to participate in at the homestead, one option will always be there: board games. Board games are often associ-ated with boring “family nights” and various college kids, but when played with a competitive streak and large groups of peo-ple, they can turn a “so-so” day into an awesome one. “I associate board games with social interaction. If a board game is played silently then it becomes boring. Communicat-ing with other players is impor-tant,” said junior Lisa Brewer. Apples to Apples, besides being a college staple, is also known for its focus on humor, fun and pleasing the judge. Once the cards are dealt, the players pick a card out of their hand that best describes the card the judge put down. The players, excluding the judge, then put their best de-scriptive card down, and who-ever’s card the judge picks wins the round and gets the card the judge put down. To win the en-tire game, a player has to get at least 4 “judge cards” before any-one else. “It’s as easy as compar-ing Apples to Apples.” Scattergories is a classic game that will never go out of style. The objective is to, after three

Jordan BelloStaff Writer

rounds against a timer, get as many words as possible writ-ten down on the provided pad of paper involving a certain cate-gory starting with a given initial that no other player has written down. Although it technically isn’t a board game, it is almost guaranteed to entertain and amuse board game fanatics. Cranium, “the game for your whole brain,” has something for everyone. It involves mold-ing clay, humming, charades, and drawing, so everyone has their chance to be in the spot-light while playing. The game is played in teams, and whichever team gets to the end of the board first while completing different tasks along the way wins. This will definitely please the outgo-ing people in your life. The Game of Things… is easier, and not to mention more fun, to play with larger groups of people. That makes it harder to guess who wrote what in response to the topic given and that’s the whole premise of the game: to guess who said what. This game is by far one of the most interac-tive and social board games that are on sale today, and for being a newer one that is an accom-plishment. “Board games teach teamwork skills, but I think they have be-come less popular because of new technology taking over,” said Brewer. Board games are beneficial to the mind and to the soul, and they help out with social issues. So the next time a friend asks, “What do you want to do?” Say, “Play a board game!”

Entertainment Issues KeepBoard games offer excitement for all

Photo by Cassy Swanson

Apples to Apples is a popular game for teenagers to play.

substance that allows them to alter their DNA with Plasmids). With a stronger player charac-ter, enemies obviously had to be more difficult. As a Big Daddy, you can adopt Little Sisters to gather Adam yourself, but be prepared for a fight. Enemies are more intelligent and deadlier, so set traps wisely while your Lit-tle Sister drains the Adam from the corpses found throughout Rapture. Gameplay: 10/10 Waking in the year 1968 (eight years after Jack’s appearance), Subject Delta rises from the water in a relic of a building in the outskirts of Rapture. With no memory after his death, he is drawn by an invisible force to find his Little Sister to whom he was bonded in 1958, Eleanor. You soon discover that Rapture has drastically changed since Andrew Ryan’s death. The halls are filled with whispers and screams of crazed enemies, bod-ies as a result of the never-end-ing war are strewn across every room, and your presence has caused an unprecedented rip-ple effect all the way to Sophia Lamb, who wants you killed at all costs. With new Splicer classes and the new Big Sisters, your travels will be hindered by many fierce enemies who will ALL fight to the death.Story: 10/10 The graphics of Bioshock 2 completely overshadow that of its original counterpart. Advanced facial physics and

smooth combat cinch a savage-ly satisfying game. Bioshock’s graphics of 2007 focused more on that of Jack and his arsenal (physical weapons and Plasmid powers) while sacrificing that of enemies and other characters. They were pallid and frighten-ing, which worked for the most part. However, the ability to see the mangled figure of a Spider Splicer as it lunges at you makes the experience that much more realistic. Visuals for the Plas-mids have been upgraded and weapons are more detailed. Set pieces inside and outside of the city are incredible. They bring you into a dark and beautiful world unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.Graphics: 10/10 Don’t let the similarities be-tween the two games turn you away. The whole reason a sequel is developed is the mass appeal of the first. Gameplay that has been updated for a more power-ful character matched with ter-rifying and calculative enemies takes you down underwater to Rapture for an adventure you don’t ever want to end. From be-ginning to end, Bioshock 2 will keep the player on the edge of their seat with stunning graph-ics, a plot rich with detail and intrigue and challenges that de-mand thought and planning. Be-come the most powerful entity in Rapture and shake the foun-dations of a lost city in a game that earns an overall rating of 10

out of 10! Keep gaming!

Photo by Sam Holifield

Senior Sara Benefiel is known for her fashion sense.

Hi Times Issue 6 Vol. 101March 20105

With technology evolving at such a fast pace, people are adapting more and more to being de-pendent on cell phones, laptops, iPods and other electronics. What would’ve been considered luxuries to people just a mere decade ago have now become parts of Americans’ everyday life. While it’s convenient to be able to get in con-tact with anyone, anytime, anywhere, could it be that instead of bringing society together, tech-nology has exactly the reverse effect? “I think that people communicate more than they used to because we have texting and IM,” said senior Jon Weigel. However, even though people may be com-municating more and making themselves more easily accessible, the constant attachment to technology can minimize the amount of time that families and friends spend socializing face-to-face. Senior Maria Wagner said, “I think that tech-nology makes people talk less in person, because more and more people are texting and email-ing.” Additionally, children are getting cell phones as soon as elementary school. This is an age where most high school students remember going out-side and getting on a bike when they wanted to go visit their friends. And if all else failed, one would have to pick up the landline and call who-ever they wanted to talk to. But now, many peo-ple are learning from a young age that in order to contact someone, it’s as simple as punching a few keys and sending a text message. “Kids are getting all these electronics, and some of them barely even talk to their parents anymore because they’re too busy playing with their iPods and cell phones and everything,” said sophomore Coburn Hoffman. Wagner said, “I think it’s ridiculous that kids get cell phones at such a young age. I didn’t get a cell phone until I was in high school. I don’t think kids really need cell phones until high school.” Like anything, technology is good in moderation, but can cause problems when it gets out of hand. However, the need to spend time with people face-to-face will always exist. “You can’t really have a relationship, at least not a good one, with someone via electronics. You have

to be able to go out and do things together instead of just text and call,” said Wagner.

Technology is often more harmful than helpful, especially for teensMelanie BeresEditor-In-Chief

Teens Busy During Winter

St. Patrick’s Day is known as a day of celebration and festivi-ties, but very few people know the true story of St. Patrick and who he really is. By tradition, he is a patron saint of the Catho-lic religion. It is legend that he heard angels and they helped him in his decisions. All in all, he is known as the patron saint of good luck and blessings to the Catholics in that era up until the 21st century. St. Patrick was a real person born in the time around 400 AD in Roman Britian. He was born with the name Maewyn,but his name changed until he was in the monastery. After 8 years of being enslaved in Ireland, he escaped at the age of twenty-two, and legend has it that an angel directed him to spend twelve years in a monas-

tery near Paris, France, where he adopted the name Patrick. It was during this time of captiv-ity that Patrick found God and developed the habit of praying throughout the day to strength-en himself and to be closer to God. It is recorded in the Con-fessio (St. Patrick’s autobiogra-phy) that he would often pray up to 100 times a day. One night, while in the monastery, he said he heard many voices that were calling him back to Ireland to help the remaining slaves. At this time he was somewhere in his mid thirties and so he an-swered the callings. He became one of the first Christian mis-sionaries in Ireland. He was confident in his reli-gion, and he traveled in Ireland, baptizing the Irish. Patrick was successful at converting Ireland to christianity. And he even made conversions among the royal families. For 20 years

he had traveled throughout Ire-land, establishing monasteries, schools and churches, which would aid him in his conver-sions. He died on March 17th, the day St. Patrick’s day is cel-ebrated. It can be seen how this origi-nally this was a Catholic holy day, but today St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a cel-ebrated holiday. Or, rather, 'be Irish Day '. Historians believe it may be a popular holiday, be-cause spring is comes a few days after. The most common traditions on St. Patrick's Day include wearing green, enjoying Irish folk music and food. Parades are held annually to celebrate this holiday. Chicago has made it a tradition to dye the Chicago River green since 1962. St. Patrick’s day is a holiday to celebrate Irish Heritage, and commemorate St. Patrick.

Scott DonaldsonStaff Writer

St. Patrick’s Day brings traditions for everyone Watching too much television can cause a brain-dead feeling. Ac-

cording to a new study, it might also shorten life expectancy. The more time spent watching TV, the greater the risk of dying at an earlier age -- especially from heart disease, researchers found. The study followed 8,800 adults with no history of heart disease for more than six years. Compared to those who watched less than two hours of TV per day, people who watched four hours or more were 80 percent more likely to die from heart disease and 46 per-cent more likely to die from any cause. All told, 284 people died during the study. Each additional hour spent in front of the TV increased the risk of dying from heart disease by 18 percent and the overall risk of death by 11 percent, according to the study, which was published on the web site of Circulation, an American Heart Association journal. The pattern held even after the researchers took into account the educa-tion level, overall health of the participants, their age, whether they smoked, their cholesterol and blood pressure. Television isn't lethal in and of itself; the real problem appears to be that sitting is the "default position for TV viewing,” says lead study author David Dunstan, Ph.D., the head of the physical activ-ity lab at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, a national re-search center in Victoria, Australia. "Prolonged watching of television equals a lot of sitting, which invariably means there's an absence of muscle movement," Dun-stan says. “If your muscles stay inactive for too long, it can disrupt your me-tabolism.” What's more, exercise doesn't necessarily make up for long ses-sions in front of the tube. Dun-stan and his col-leagues figured into their analy-sis how much the study partic-ipants exercised. Sophomore Aus-tin Putchaven says, “I feel this affects our age group, because some kids go home, eat then watch TV all night long. Being in sports, keeps kids away from

television.”

Scott DonaldsonStaff Writer

Watching TV can be bad for health

Photo by Jordan Bello

Senior Jordan Beasley takes time during school to check the news on TV.

Photo by Alex Lopez

Senior Lorenzo Montgomery listens to his iPod, technology that some students can’t live without.

• EarMuffs Day - March 13• National Open An Umbrella Indoors Day - March 13• International Fanny Pack Day - Second Saturday• International Ask A Question Day - March 14• True Confessions Day - March 15• Napping Day - Monday after daylights savings time• Buzzard's Day - March 15• Lips Appreciation Day - March 16• Everything You Do Is Right Day - March 16• Awkward Moments Day - Marcch 18• Lets Laugh day- March 19• Snowman Burning Day - March 20• Proposal Day - March 20• Corn Dog Day - coincides with the Saturday of the final 32 teams in NCAA basketball tournament • Memory Day - March 21• National Common Courtesy Day - March 21• As Young As You Feel Day - March 22• International Goof-Off Day - March 22• Kick Butt Day - March 24• Letting Go Of Stuff Day - March 25• Make Up Your Own Holiday Day - March 26• Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day - March 27• National "Joe" Day - March 27 Everyone who hates their name is called "Joe" today.• Hot Tub Day - March 28• Grass Is Always Browner On The Other Side Of The Fence Day - March 30• Pencil Day - March 30• National She's Funny That Way Day - March 31

March is full of weird holidays

Dates provided by www.brownielocks.com

Students surf couches to help the worldEmily JorgensonStaff Writer

“Participate in creating a better world, one couch at a time.” La Porte high school graduates, Tim Werner and Bruce Coston signed up for a program called Couch Surfers to travel the U.S. in a different perspective. “We stayed at three different houses, one in Bejing, South Dakota, and Terre Haute. The Italian couple in Bejing, Ales-sandro and Serena, gave us a key to their apartment the first day we arrived, and told us to come and go as we pleased,” said Tim Werner. “Alessandro took us to an Italian Café in Bejing. The

‘café’ is just like a hot espresso shot in a teacup with an Italian twist,” said Coston. Couch Surfers.com is a non-profit organization that allows individuals to travel the U.S. The website supplies a profile, photos, and feedback informa-tion of individuals who allow travelers to stay in their homes for a night or two. “I haven’t had a couch-surfing experience I didn’t like. It’s all people just looking to adven-ture, experience new things, live a little; in order to do those kind of things, you have to be patient, open minded, and ready to improvise,” said Coston. Couch Surfing is completely free. The individuals who al-low couch surfers in their home

have been registered and are said to be legit. “It’s actually really exciting getting to know new people, hearing their stories, and get-ting worldly advice,” said Cos-ton. “You only live once,” said Werner, reccommending couch surfing to any who would like an experience of a lifetime. “Just go for it,” said Coston, “nine times out of ten people say ‘man I wish I could have done something like that!’ The best part is, most people can. It’s just a matter of taking that frist step out of your comfort zone. You get to a point in your life when the words of your elders become less like orders

and more like advice.”